Round Rock City Council Packet Briefing - October 6, 2026

The Round Rock City Council held a packet briefing on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 7:30 AM in City Council Chambers. All council members were present. The meeting served as a pre-meeting discussion for items scheduled to be voted on at the October 8, 2026, City Council meeting. No formal votes were taken. Key topics included a right-of-way acquisition for the Gaddis School Segment 2 road project, an amendment to a real estate contract for a future water tank and fire station, and a proposed ordinance amendment to address graffiti removal on private property.

Discussion Items

• H1 – Right-of-Way Acquisition for Gaddis School Segment 2: Staff presented a proposal to acquire 0.143 acres (approximately 17 feet by 350 feet) from a property on the north side of the project corridor for $195,000. The acquisition is needed to complete right-of-way for the Gaddis School Road Segment 2 project, which will run from near Wendy Park west to Lawnmont Avenue. The project will maintain two lanes in each direction with a center median, left-turn lanes at Green Lawn, and a shared-use path. Bidding is planned for spring 2027, with completion expected in fall 2028. Councilmember Flores asked about potential bottlenecks due to the lane reduction; staff responded that traffic models show reduced volumes west of the segment and that further widening would be difficult due to existing development. A brief discussion also considered the narrow segment between Mays Street and the frontage road, which staff agreed to continue monitoring.
• H2 & H3 – Real Estate Contract Amendment with Nelson Homestead: Staff requested approval to amend a previously acquired 7-acre property (purchased from the John Nelson Family Trust) to adjust the closing date due to an Atmos gas easement issue. The property includes 4.5 acres for a future water tank and pump station and 2.5 acres for a future fire station. The amendment allows recording of a dedicated gas-line easement, releasing the blanket easement that covered the site. Staff confirmed that the re-aligned easement will not impact planned development. The project uses ARPA funds that must be spent by December 31, 2026; the adjusted closing schedule remains on track.
• Ordinance – Graffiti Removal (Chapter 14 Amendment): Chief of Police and a neighborhood services representative presented a revised ordinance transferring graffiti enforcement authority from the police chief to city directors (especially Neighborhood Services). Key changes: a 15-day compliance window for property owners (replacing the previous 72 hours), a 7-day period during which the city will offer free removal, and a subsequent legal process that can include property liens for non-compliance. Staff emphasized a cooperative approach, noting that neighborhood services can contact property owners more effectively than police. Councilmember Flores expressed concern about the speed of moving to liens on residential properties, but legal staff clarified that such liens are discretionary and rare, similar to existing code enforcement liens. Chief reported an observed increase in graffiti, particularly along transportation corridors and bridges, and stated that the city catalogs graffiti to identify repeat offenders. Councilmember Ortega asked about the use of cameras; staff responded that they rely on property owners for evidence. Staff also assured that paint matching is done to minimize visual impact, though some variations may occur.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken during the packet briefing. All items discussed are scheduled for action at the October 8, 2026, City Council meeting.
• Staff indicated that three additional right-of-way acquisitions for Gaddis School Segment 2 will be brought before the council in the coming months.
• The overall Gaddis School Road improvement program (including segments 2, 4, 5, and 6) is expected to take approximately three years from the start of segment 2 construction, with full corridor completion anticipated around 2029.
• The graffiti ordinance amendment is expected to improve response times and increase voluntary compliance through neighborhood services’ outreach. Staff will present before-and-after photos at the October 8 meeting.