Manor City Council approves final change orders, ETJ boundary swap with Austin, committee appointments and 8.43‑acre letter of intent

The Manor City Council on an evening vote approved two final deductive change orders on wastewater construction contracts, adopted an ordinance to adjust extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) boundaries with the City of Austin and approved a companion water and wastewater service-area transfer, made multiple Planning & Zoning and committee appointments, and authorized a letter of intent to buy roughly 8.43 acres.

The council voted to approve a deductive change order of $4,500 on the Bell Farms and Presidential Glen Lift Station expansion contract with JM Pipeline, reducing that contract from $1,985,403.39 to $1,980,903.39. Michael Burrell, interim development services director, described the change as a final “truing up” of quantities: plans showed two stabilized construction entrances but only one was necessary. The motion to approve the change order was made by Councilmember Anne Weir and seconded by Councilwoman Sonya Wallace; the motion passed by voice vote.

The council also approved a final deductive change order of $21,500 on the Cottonwood Creek West Tributary wastewater main project, lowering that contract from $2,559,564.68 to $2,538,064.68. Burrell told the council the reduction reflected removal of two line items — temporary fencing that was not needed because of livestock rotation, and the removal of an unnecessary gate at a crossing. Councilwoman Muir moved the change order, Councilwoman Wallace seconded, and the council approved it unanimously.

On an ordinance (No. 772), the council agreed to an ETJ swap along Blue Bluff behind New Tech High School: the City of Manor will release about 6.609 acres of its extraterritorial jurisdiction to the City of Austin and will accept approximately 13.791 acres of Austin’s ETJ into Manor, adjusting the municipal boundary between the two jurisdictions. The ETJ ordinance motion was presented by a council member and was adopted by the council.

Accompanying the ETJ boundary adjustment, the council approved a water and wastewater service-area transfer agreement to reassign certain water and wastewater certificates of convenience and necessity (CCNs) between the City of Austin and the City of Manor. Assistant City Attorney Veronica Rivera told the council that costs for attorney and engineering work on the transfer are covered by a deposit agreement with the developer; if that deposit is exhausted, the developer understands the city would request additional funds. Councilwoman Sonya Wallace moved approval of the transfer agreement; Councilwoman Misra seconded it and the motion passed.

The council conducted a series of reappointments and committee assignments. For the Planning & Zoning Commission, the council reappointed Julie Leonard to Place 1, Jeffrey Stensland to Place 5 and Jim Terry to Place 7; Gabriel Nila was appointed to Place 3 and the alternate No. 1 seat was declared vacant. The council also appointed Emily Hill as mayor pro tem for a two‑year term.

Councilmembers named chairs and members for several standing committees for two‑year terms, including PID (public improvement district) and parks (with Councilwoman Sonya Wallace named chair), economic development (Mayor Harvey named chair), emergency management (Maria Mesquah named chair with Mayor Harvey, the city manager and chief of police as members), public safety (Emily Hill as chair), capital improvements (Dasia Hill as chair), health care (Anne Weir as chair), and the community collaborative committee (Mayor Harvey as chair with Mayor Pro Tem Emily Hill). Staff liaisons named for various committees included Scott (city manager), Ryan Phipps (chief of police) and Scott Moore/Morrison (staff liaison — name used in the meeting transcript). Motions for the appointments were made and seconded across councilmembers and passed by voice vote.

After an executive session to discuss the purchase of real property, the council returned to open session and authorized a letter of intent to acquire approximately 8.43 acres out of an 84.3‑acre tract in the A.C. Caldwell survey, Abstract 154, in Travis County. Councilmember Aaron Moreno moved the motion to approve the letter of intent and authorize the mayor and city manager to execute it; Councilwoman Sonya Wallace seconded and the motion passed.

The council adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Bell Farms & Presidential Glen Lift Station (change order #5, deduct): $4,500 reduction; mover: Councilmember Anne Weir; second: Councilwoman Sonya Wallace; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Cottonwood Creek West Tributary wastewater main (change order #2, deduct): $21,500 reduction; mover: Councilwoman Muir; second: Councilwoman Sonya Wallace; outcome: approved unanimously. - Ordinance No. 772 (ETJ boundary swap with City of Austin): release ≈6.609 acres to Austin, accept ≈13.791 acres to Manor; outcome: adopted. - Water/wastewater service-area transfer agreement (CCN transfer) with City of Austin: costs covered by developer deposit agreement; mover: Councilwoman Sonya Wallace; second: Councilwoman Misra; outcome: approved. - Planning & Zoning appointments: Julie Leonard (Place 1), Jeffrey Stensland (Place 5), Jim Terry (Place 7), Gabriel Nila (Place 3), alternate No. 1 declared vacant; outcome: approved. - Mayor Pro Tem appointment: Emily Hill, two‑year term; outcome: approved. - Multiple committee appointments and chairs (PID, parks/tree, economic development, emergency management, public safety, capital improvements, health care, community collaborative): various members and chairs named as recorded in meeting; outcome: approved. - Letter of intent to purchase ~8.43 acres (A.C. Caldwell survey, Abstract 154, Travis County): mover: Councilmember Aaron Moreno; second: Councilwoman Sonya Wallace; outcome: approved and mayor and city manager authorized to execute.

The council’s actions included final contract reconciliations, an intercity boundary adjustment that affects service areas and CCNs, a cluster of local board and committee appointments, and authorization to pursue a land purchase via a letter of intent.