[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6613275,"mediaKeyId","2874059-220ef791738cbe40d73827a3bd684d18","parentId",2874059,"title","Votes at a glance: Leander council approves consent items, zoning case; authorizes legal engagement","audioSeconds",3436,"startMs",2727000,"endMs",6163000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2874059-220ef791738cbe40d73827a3bd684d18&start=2727&end=6163","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2874059-220ef791738cbe40d73827a3bd684d18/thumbnail_2727000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6613275/Leander/Williamson-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Leander-council-approves-consent-items-zoning-case-authorizes-legal-engagement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6613275-825ab87d458dd329731d51e18660fad8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148216&Signature=UIFAnqRiBNvygxiYpk0mOA4oJjWhSouL5Ehsn4WIoFNZO7asJqg00oP0v3chpkoc5VO~9c7WWWq1IipdmeAg5AwRwaNcVOcOW~edjeO1XD5s78AgUNHVsTL5nNq~sDEdoWOMhLl4y~8pFzZMdpHLAzW3CxptlqRygJcxF-VLd8rdW1Z1Dic4SAieQ2tQ2B6MCDcvpT2M67-6gV~0Uim4yNQfh39d1JvV67JRd13bcNlCNEMYyqqdhMBsefvCKopMd6fpCkZdwm-jBHOJ~r~qUHqvAw9LWe9UpCypz~2q4rvbloazjPOxUEeB3T82YDHfEEFruWWn3~Sb0i3rOWjnYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Leander","date","2025-04-03T00:00:00Z","article","The Leander City Council took the following formal actions during its April 3, 2025 regular meeting.

All votes below occurred during the meeting and were recorded on the council floor.

- Consent agenda (Items 10–16): Council approved the consent agenda by motion with a second; the motion carried unanimously. The consent agenda covered routine, administrative and budgetary items listed on the published agenda. (Motion and second recorded; unanimous approval.)

- Zoning case Z24‑0154 (McCall Capital minor planned unit development): Council conducted a public hearing, heard no public speakers, and moved to approve an ordinance to amend zoning to GC‑C (general commercial) for about 4.06 acres adjacent to the Bryson subdivision. The planning and zoning commission had recommended approval and staff also recommended approval. The motion to approve carried unanimously.

- Legal engagement following executive session: Council authorized the city manager to proceed as discussed in executive session and to execute a letter of engagement with Fletcher Farley Shipman LLP regarding case number 20‑0217‑C425 (Daniel Brown, Maria Brown, ZG Properties LLC v. City of Leander). The motion passed with a second and a recorded majority vote.

Council also entered executive session under Texas Government Code sections disclosed in the public agenda and reconvened to take the engagement vote; no other executive session actions were recorded for public disclosure.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Leander - City Council Regular Meeting - Apr 03, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 3 meeting the Leander City Council approved the consent agenda (items 10–16), unanimously approved zoning case Z24‑0154 for a McCall Capital minor planned unit development, and authorized the city manager to execute a letter of engagement with Fletcher Farley Shipman LLP following executive session.","taxTitle","Leander, Williamson County, Texas","taxId",2825,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6613279,"Leander staff pursues federal earmark requests: Hero Way, fire station and San Gabriel phase 3 among priorities",119,2386000,2505000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2874059-220ef791738cbe40d73827a3bd684d18&start=2386&end=2505","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2874059-220ef791738cbe40d73827a3bd684d18/thumbnail_2386000.jpg","/articles/6613279/Leander/Williamson-County/Texas/Leander-staff-pursues-federal-earmark-requests-Hero-Way-fire-station-and-San-Gabriel-phase-3-among-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6613279-0b99314953a0b36421283358bfde46b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148216&Signature=GRMhUVZNjN5bdxIO7QDPgl5Rm~kM1xjBOXZf1-eAZw9GKYtr5STBVISzTafZp0yzjW0SIBTcmh6SSIWA3KxabtRrvZq6zn3WL1VGMad5UU7p1PNPelCeev8Nj-cSK5EO5Md9eGvnbCPpgcRHdwE-R2g8zvVksB173iSjVu9Kx70UaRSq93zRRrEYdlIujx7eg36YfY-0FY7LTf0hOliOBKA4jwaeuqzceKyHoTJAY7KtZtVOTHN0VdbY4hsrvCF-VGYIh-QSunqnjV2~q3DPZKpFHajvO2acW6yi9IKKIZ0HMydnTlgWX4Q6h7V0f3BY~yArrWL~pWUagUfYpDsGkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff gave a federal legislative update on April 3, 2025, summarizing meetings at the National League of Cities conference and the rapid submission of congressional funding requests through a member‑directed appropriations process.

Federal affairs staff said the delegation met with congressional offices and identified three priority projects submitted for possible earmark funding on short notice after a meeting with the congressman who sits on the House Appropriations Committee.

The projects submitted were:

- $30,000,000 to expand Hero Way (listed in staff materials as a 4‑lane divided roadway from 183A through Ronald Reagan to Southwest Bypass, including shared use paths and frontage roads);
- $13,000,000 for acquisition, design and construction of Fire Station No. 6 in the northeast portion of Leander; and
- $9,000,000 to construct San Gabriel Parkway Phase 3 as a four‑lane divided arterial.

“We put our heads together, and, you know, the top project that we identify from our CIP... is the expansion of Hero Way,” federal affairs staff said during the presentation, noting Williamson County support for the regional project and that staff assembled the requests quickly to meet the appropriations deadline.

Staff briefed council on national priorities discussed at the conference — streamlining federal programs, bolstering affordable housing, infrastructure investment, broadband, workforce development and public safety — and said those themes helped guide the city’s project selection for federal requests. The city manager and council members thanked staff for the rapid coordination that enabled timely submission.

Council received the update and asked staff to continue coordinating with congressional and state staff. City staff noted they would track appropriations committee activity and report back when the projects advance through the federal process.","Staff reported on a trip to the National League of Cities conference and said the city submitted three funding requests to Congressman Michael Burgess' (transcript named Congressman Carter) appropriations channel for Hero Way expansion ($30M), Fire Station No. 6 acquisition/construction ($13M) and San Gabriel Parkway phase 3 ($9M).",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6613284,"Leander staff highlights East Woodview/Raider Way improvements; residents press for bike‑lane answers",186,1582000,1768000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2874059-220ef791738cbe40d73827a3bd684d18&start=1582&end=1768","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2874059-220ef791738cbe40d73827a3bd684d18/thumbnail_1582000.jpg","/articles/6613284/Leander/Williamson-County/Texas/Leander-staff-highlights-East-WoodviewRaider-Way-improvements-residents-press-for-bikelane-answers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6613284-b66ebe382aad5105e63740c5e67dfc8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148216&Signature=QZH8oStYMKS8XkU0ITSyBtmW97fganPViaVp50qIHMAluhrphI5ZU0qnyjy8t7OEVU7od6LIDShi9SKzyphObIt6K-GKrbuqMKwMJ8aRX1FNQqfsl0ymaR~s8xZWKRoyYDspk31T4v9ob2U7~RdE8jobZwitiiWXNXbQzPImenOyeFKyQ4AoFwrOmv0R1wqIfeILT7OQrLTNKqxUJ13pUP7hujXnFyrIrGO0b-viC2KSGukGxO-YCqvMoppko~lukbg-6wAfE3LlDkJOY2pa5lV4Ar-plA3eGdvPrPfGcqor9pwqGP1c6SJ5ex9fujfpjuvvOTbGA8mO0zdgQFcnqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a Capital Improvement Program update on the East Woodview Drive / Raider Way project on April 3, 2025, showing completed geometric and pedestrian improvements near Rouse High School and Wiley Middle School and describing an 8‑foot shared‑use path intended for both pedestrians and bicyclists.

Staff said the multi‑use path runs behind the curb and grassy buffer, which staff characterized as a protected facility compared with an on‑street bike lane. “On the right hand side of the picture is an 8 foot wide path that is designed for both walking and bicycles,” the CIP program presentation stated during the meeting. Staff also described a new right‑turn lane and other intersection work completed after a project that began in 2017.

Residents and parents used the public‑comment period to press the council and staff for explanations about changes to the striping and the removal of an on‑street bike lane near Crystal Falls Parkway and Raider Way. Christopher Cleveland, who said he lives near the schools, asked, “Where is the bike line? The protected bike line?” and requested answers for students and parents.

Resident Anita Chumnavec, who said her neighborhood received a roughly $15.6 million pavement and right‑of‑way project (her figure reported from the city process), said the final striping removed an expected bike lane and replaced it with parallel parking. She told council: “We lost a bike lane and gained parallel parking.” She asked for additional outreach and for the city to share the transportation plan standard that guided the final striping.

Staff explained some design choices reflect safety concerns where the roadway narrows near a roundabout and that the shared‑use path gives cyclists a protected option separate from vehicular traffic. “We give them the ability to actually get up onto that shared use path,” staff said when answering a question about pinch points near the high‑school driveway.

Council members asked for clarity about the project timeline and historical approvals: staff recalled the city council approved the project concept in July 2017 and said the work reached current completion in 2025 after several phases and weather delays. Residents warned that on‑street parallel parking could increase congestion during drop‑off and pick‑up times if frequently used.

At the same meeting staff also reported on the Baghdad Road / Collaborative Way CIP project, saying construction was nearly complete with sidewalks, revegetation and traffic signal activation remaining. Staff said the signal at Baghdad was active and the project field crew would remain on site while finishing remaining items over the next few weeks.

Council asked staff to provide follow‑up information to the neighborhood: documentation of the striping decisions, the project’s conformity with the city’s transportation master plan, and outreach records showing who was notified and when. Residents asked the city to post schematics and to clarify whether the parallel parking was a permanent change or a temporary striping decision.","City staff showed new drop‑off improvements and an 8‑foot shared use path at East Woodview Drive/Raider Way; residents and parents asked why an on‑street bike lane was replaced by parallel parking and requested community outreach and clarification.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6613286,"Leander council declines to endorse toll feasibility study for Ronald Reagan; asks for more data",2572,2852000,5424000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2874059-220ef791738cbe40d73827a3bd684d18&start=2852&end=5424","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2874059-220ef791738cbe40d73827a3bd684d18/thumbnail_2852000.jpg","/articles/6613286/Leander/Williamson-County/Texas/Leander-council-declines-to-endorse-toll-feasibility-study-for-Ronald-Reagan-asks-for-more-data","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6613286-5058c2d56849e2ae867ee5acd8e396c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148216&Signature=bn-fRN2bylphE05IhYMNfh3g11D21zQku5ptTQv6~Nj3KaT7mQ~7lZjuF01eV-x-W8o~hupkY28bnEbiHJSr9x3-pgsSXSb2Ht2L~xXbY~W33Rjk4Jn54m1NrMSfulUaAQMxlE~k5h3Wl9D-SSH3rpqRYD~mgEJ~Ozf~EG~BPqmCOkA8DFILHEVELXeVMnTy-QZMThyrpcFIAydyd0ZIErmxqmP7kEv0yQpadhGWgL5R2XlgL~GxhrqRnF1YI2GCi40hzvVmNibuuNoVLNmxNIzHqPR7p7LWC92s9y8rDkVAwDVKzUx46BTKgmf7Ew98uyeFqXXq745cGH0e5mBDDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leander City Council discussed a Williamson County request to refer a traffic-and-revenue feasibility study for converting the Ronald Reagan Boulevard corridor (segment A, 1431 to I‑35) into a tolled facility but did not approve the resolution on April 3, 2025.

The item before the council was narrowly focused: whether the city would support asking the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) to analyze a toll-road option and return data on traffic projections, fiscal feasibility and risk. City staff and county representatives stressed the vote would not authorize construction or convey right-of-way; it would only request technical analysis.

Council members and residents said they wanted more information before taking a formal position. After a lengthy presentation and more than a dozen speakers from the public — many of whom opposed tolling — the council declined to move the resolution forward and asked staff to gather additional technical, financial and planning details for later consideration.

City staff described the request as a way to obtain “data to make a data‑driven decision,” noting CTRMA can perform a traffic‑and‑revenue (T&R) study at no direct cost to the city and that the authority would share results with affected jurisdictions. The city presentation outlined a conceptual 8‑mile segment in Leander with four tolled mainlanes in the center, two non‑tolled service/frontage lanes to either side, and a series of grade separations at key intersections; an early schematic also showed multi‑use paths for pedestrians and bicyclists.

“It's really there to provide technical data back to the city so that you can make some database decisions,” City Manager (presenting staff) told council, emphasizing the resolution would not commit the city to construction or right‑of‑way transfers.

Williamson County Commissioner Cynthia Long, who spoke to the council, described the corridor as part of a countywide transportation plan and said federal policy increasingly favors user‑pay approaches. “If we had $500,000,000 to do this without tolling it, that would be awesome,” she said. “The reality is we don't.”

Public comment was strongly critical of tolling. Resident Chad Morris argued the city should exhaust lower‑cost, locally controlled alternatives — signal timing, grade separations and phased intersection improvements — before considering a toll road, saying: “This should be an absolute last resort because it's a very final decision.” Mike Sanders said the county had not sufficiently engaged Leander voters or residents before bringing the request and called the timing “impulsive.”

Other residents warned that a toll option could shift traffic to parallel, non‑tolled roads or add an ongoing cost burden for daily commuters. Commissioner James Oliver, who spoke in favor of studying the toll option, said a tolled design could generate revenue and accelerate construction: “Designating this a toll road would generate the necessary funds to complete the project probably in a timely manner.”

Council members sought detail on what a CTRMA study would include and how local priorities and access management would be protected. Staff said the T&R study would estimate future trips and revenue potential, include a risk assessment (for example, if traffic falls short of projections) and present recommendations; CTRMA would generally present findings to affected cities after the study is complete. Staff also noted that CTRMA is an independent legislative entity created by state statute and that the authority can make project decisions subject to its board processes.

After the public comment period and council discussion the body declined to advance the resolution and directed staff to compile further information for council — including (a) an updated assessment of local traffic‑management options already identified in the city’s corridor plan, (b) schedule and cost estimates for implementing those local improvements, (c) the expected scope and timeline of a CTRMA traffic‑and‑revenue study if requested, and (d) a shared schedule to coordinate interjurisdictional review and public outreach. Council members emphasized the city would not be relinquishing land or control by receiving study results, but several members said they wanted more time and detailed analysis before taking a formal position.

The discussion underscored the tension between local control and the scale of regional transportation funding: large corridor improvements require substantial capital, and residents and council members asked for clearer information about the likely community, economic and operational impacts before committing to the next step.","City council discussed a county-backed request to have the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority study a toll option for Ronald Reagan Boulevard but took no action after hours of public comment and council questions about impacts, oversight and alternatives.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Leander council approves consent items, zoning case; authorizes legal engagement

Leander staff pursues federal earmark requests: Hero Way, fire station and San Gabriel phase 3 among priorities

Leander staff highlights East Woodview/Raider Way improvements; residents press for bike‑lane answers

Leander council declines to endorse toll feasibility study for Ronald Reagan; asks for more data