Sunnyvale council accepts resignations, names interim town manager and approves traffic‑signal purchase

The Sunnyvale Town Council on July 14 accepted multiple personnel changes, approved a traffic‑signal equipment purchase tied to a Beltline corridor project, and moved forward with local planning and charter review committees.

Council began the meeting’s formal actions by approving the consent agenda, then later in the meeting returned from executive session and recorded three personnel motions. Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Clark moved to accept the resignation of Councilmember Mark Eldridge; the motion carried unanimously with one council seat absent. Clark then moved to accept the retirement and resignation of Town Manager Jeff Jones and “to authorize the town attorney to draft a separation agreement consistent with his employment agreement and authorize the mayor to sign the agreement once reached.” That motion also passed unanimously. Finally, Clark moved to appoint Bill Vargas as interim town manager pending a search for a permanent replacement; the council approved the appointment 6‑0.

Council also approved a purchase order for traffic signal poles and related equipment for the Beltline Road intersection improvement project “in an amount not to exceed $181,733” so the town can meet an opening deadline for a nearby grocery development. Staff said the order responds to long lead times for the specific signal equipment and to a project schedule tied to the developer’s timeline. The council approved the motion 6‑0 with one member absent.

On development matters, the council held and closed a public hearing on a residential replat and final plat that combine tracts at 636 East Tripp Road and 657 Saint James Alley. Staff said the combined area is approximately 9.942 acres and recommended approval; the council approved the plat. The applicant told the council the replat will enlarge an existing Lot 10 in the Saint James Park subdivision so a single‑family home can be built and to preserve trees and drainage features on the adjacent acreage.

The council also voted to: (1) appoint Ryan Finch as one of the town‑council representatives to the comprehensive plan steering committee; (2) approve Resolution 2025‑16 to establish a 2025 charter review committee; and (3) adopt the first reading of an ordinance that designates the Board of Adjustment members as the Building Standards Commission for substandard‑structure matters. Those motions carried on recorded voice votes (typically 6‑0 with one absence indicated during the meeting).

The meeting went into executive session under the cited Texas Government Code sections and returned to open session at 11:17 p.m., at which time the council recorded the personnel actions above and then adjourned at 11:19 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (items 1–6): approved (motion recorded as passed 6‑0; one member absent). - L1 — Residential replat and final plat (636 E. Tripp Rd; 657 St. James Alley, ~9.942 acres): approved (unanimous as recorded). - N1 — Purchase of traffic signal poles for Beltline intersection improvements, amount not to exceed $181,733: approved 6‑0 (one absence noted). - N2 — Appoint council representative to comprehensive plan steering committee (Ryan Finch): approved by council vote. - Resolution 2025‑16 — Establish Charter Review Committee: approved 6‑0. - Ordinance (first reading) to establish Building Standards Commission / appoint BOA members as commissioners: approved on first reading 6‑0. - Executive session outcomes: acceptance of Councilmember Mark Eldridge’s resignation (motion: “I move to accept the resignation of council member Mark Eldridge.”); acceptance of Town Manager Jeff Jones’s retirement/resignation and authorization to draft a separation agreement (motion quoted in full during the meeting); appointment of Bill Vargas as interim town manager (motion: “I move to appoint Bill Vargas as the interim town manager pending a search for a permanent town manager.”) — each approved 6‑0 where recorded.

Context and next steps - Staff said the Beltline corridor signal purchase is time‑sensitive because of long lead times and an anticipated December opening tied to a grocery developer. - The comprehensive plan process is underway with consultant Housel Levin; the steering committee will meet early in the consultant’s engagement and council expects to finalize additional community appointees at a subsequent meeting. - The charter review committee will meet on an expedited schedule (initial meetings in late July) with the possibility of moving any proposed charter amendments to a November or later election depending on timing.

No financial terms beyond the traffic‑signal purchase amount and no substantive changes to municipal code or land‑use policy were adopted beyond the ordinance first reading; the council’s first reading vote will produce a second reading or adoption action at a later meeting if advanced.