Round Rock Edition | January 2023

CITY & COUNTY

Top city & county stories to watch in 2023

2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE

COMPILED BY BROOKE SJOBERG

City leaders lay out priorities in anticipation of the largest proposed bond in Round Rock history

Master plan updates to map future of water, infrastructure ROUND ROCK The city is updating several master plans that will help guide future city planning for water usage

OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2023

POTENTIAL PROJECTS Some of the larger projects proposed for inclusion in the 2023 bond for $274 million are geared toward enhancing public safety and include: Quality of life projects...................... $230M Other Quality of life projects...................... $83M New amenities in Old Settlers Park................. $147M Rec Center Phase 1............ $60M Multipurpose complex expansion and tennis relocation......... $60M Lakeview Pavilion................$15M Rock N River Phase 3...........$12M Driving track and classroom expansion.............. $11M Central Fire relocation and two new stations.................. $33M Public Safety....................... $44M

Grith building to be renovated City ocials have conrmed that with the opening of the new Round Rock Public Library, the unoccupied Robert G. and Helen Grith Public Library building will likely be renovated to accommodate the Round Rock Chamber, Round Rock Arts & Culture and a Visitors’ Center. Candidacies announced for City Council Four city of Round Rock ocials have declared candidacy ahead of the city council election set for May 6. Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan conrmed Dec. 6 that he will seek re- election, and Place 1 Council Member Michelle Ly issued a press release Dec. 12 announcing her intention to run for reelection in May. Planning and Zoning Commission Vice Chair Greg Rabaey announced Dec. 15 his candidacy in the race for Place 4. Place 4 incumbent Frank Ortega also announced his candidacy for reelection on Jan. 2. The deadline to le for candidacy for the May 6 election is Feb. 17.

start that design for the next expansion there.” Similarly, the Stormwater Master Plan will identify where and what kinds of infrastructure updates are necessary to address ooding in the area during instances of extreme weather. Ocials ordered the Water Master Plan update in late October to assist with the completion of the city’s impact fee study, but it will serve a similar purpose as the waste- water update, Thane said. “We’re doing this because we’re seeing some tremen- dous growth and construction costs continue to rise,” Thane said. CONTRACT COSTS Round Rock ocials approved over $768,012 in contracts for master plan updates for stormwater, water and wastewater utilities in 2022. Here is a breakdown of that cost:

and related infrastructure in the decades to come. Ocials said the updates, which were approved throughout 2022, will serve as a map to help ensure that residents receive adequate water services as the city population increases in the next 20 years. Utilities Department Director Michael Thane said all of the plan updates will help city sta examine the existing state of infrastructure used to render some utility services. Additionally, master plan updates give the city’s utility department an opportunity to ascertain what needs improvement or expansion, Thane said. In March, the city was forced to evaluate its existing wastewater infrastructure following heavy rains and ongoing issues that caused a wastewater treatment plan in the city to become overwhelmed and release excess euent into Brushy Creek. To address some of the causes of this issue and prevent future overwhelm, City Council approved a contract for a Wastewater Master Plan update. Once updated, the plan will help partner cities Austin, Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock determine infrastructure needs such as the timing of the next plant expansion. “With the rapid growth we received from the four cities, we need to make sure we get ahead of the game,” Thane said in August. “So we’ll get a good report of that when we

ROUND ROCK The largest bond proposal in Round Rock history is expected to come before city ocials by February to meet a deadline for a May election. Under consideration are up to $274 million in general obligation and certicates of obligation, otherwise known as bonds, to fund projects intended to improve quality of life and enhance public safety. Many of the projects included in the bond proposal, such as a new high-speed driving track for the Public Safety Training Center, new sports facilities and additional re stations, are already in various City sta and elected ocials met for a workshop at the Round Rock Police Department Dec. 8 to discuss projects and priorities for the possible upcoming bond election in 2023. stages of long-term planning, according to city information.

At that workshop, Assistant City Manager Brooks Bennett said city ocials anticipate that the council could call the bond election at a meeting set for Feb. 9, three months ahead of the May 6 election. While individual propositions and exact wording for the bond have not been made ocial, the city has programmed around $230 million for proposed quality-of-life improve- ments and $44 million for public safety items, should the voters approve the use of funds. If approved, bond funds will also allow for maintenance of existing city facilities and infrastructure. Bennett pointed out that new projects will likely be built to a higher standard than previous ones, as the city of Round Rock now has a General Services Department. “Now that the Clay Madsen Center is coming up on 30 years old, we’re

discovering as we’re making renova- tions that some corners were cut,” Bennett said. He said the department often works directly with contractors and vendors to ensure that the quality of work is up to par, preventing newer projects from needing as much maintenance down the line. The 2023 bond could also include roughly $147 million in additions and upgrades to Old Settlers Park such as relocations of the tennis courts and an expansion of the multipurpose complex. City of Round Rock Chief Finan- cial Ocer Susan Morgan said between the maintenance & opera- tions rate and debt rate, the total tax rate should voters pass the bond is expected to increase $0.069 cents, or roughly a $21 per month increase in property taxes for the median homeowner.

Water: $115,000

Stormwater: $350,434

TOTAL: $768K

Total proposed cost of 2023 bond............. $274M

Wastewater: $302,578

SOURCE: CITY OF ROUND ROCKCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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