Liberty Hill adopts 2025 Water Master Plan and raises water impact fees

Liberty Hill City Council on Feb. 12 adopted a 2025 Water Master Plan and approved a revision to the city's water impact fee schedule, actions intended to guide water-supply decisions as the city plans for rapid growth.

The City adopted resolution 2025R-002 to accept the Water Master Plan and passed ordinance 2025-O-007 updating the fee schedule (attachment A) to correct effective dates and increase the water impact fee per LUE as recommended in the study. Council voted 4-0 on both measures.

Why it matters: The study, prepared by HDR in coordination with Susan Roth Consulting, projects aggressive growth that could require more than five times the city's current supply by 2050 unless the city implements additional supplies, conservation and infrastructure upgrades. The plan provides a roadmap for negotiating interlocal and surface-water contracts, pursuing an advanced water purification facility by 2035 if needed, and updating the capital improvement plan to integrate new sources.

Consultant Zach Stein of HDR summarized the technical findings to council, saying the study evaluates nine supply strategies and recommends pursuing three in combination while pursuing partnerships and federal/state funding. The consultant's presentation said projected demand could increase by 12% per year for the next 10 years and then grow at 16% toward 2050 under the planning assumptions.

Council discussion focused on clarifying packet language (the cover sheet referenced wastewater in error), reconciling capital improvement plan (CIP) differences between departments, and the timing of public hearings and rate discussions. Staff confirmed the public hearing on the impact fees had already been held Jan. 22 and noted corrected dates to attachment A to reflect Feb. 12, 2025 implementation timing.

Actions taken: Council adopted the master plan (resolution 2025R-002) and approved ordinance 2025-O-007 amending Appendix A (fee schedule), article A22.001, increasing the water impact fee (vote 4-0). The city manager and staff will integrate the plan's CIP recommendations into the budget process and bring water rates and implementation timing back to council for next steps.

Council members and staff said the plan should be updated regularly to reflect actual supply/demand changes and to adjust the timing for new supply projects.

The city will pursue interlocal agreements and federal/state funding programs and continue negotiations for contracted surface water deliveries while implementing additional conservation measures and infrastructure projects outlined in the plan.