Votes at a glance: Lockhart council approves $2M TxDOT sidewalk application, terminates Colwell Valley MUD agreement, preserves SH-142 striping and approves Jun

Key outcomes from the Lockhart City Council regular meeting:

- The council voted to submit a $2,000,000 application to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) transportation alternatives program to fund new sidewalks and pedestrian links, with a 20% local match requirement.

- The council adopted a resolution terminating the Colwell Valley development agreement for a 426.85-acre parcel in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction to allow a planned data center to proceed under standard ETJ review rather than a residential MUD development agreement.

- The council passed a resolution requesting that TxDOT preserve the current lane-striping configuration along State Highway 142 between Medina Street and Blanco Street rather than adding a continuous center turn lane.

- The council approved an interlocal agreement with Caldwell County giving the county exclusive review authority for phases 9, 10 and 16 of the Juniper Springs (formerly Clear Fork Ranch) subdivision within the city’s ETJ.

- The council considered, and ultimately defeated, a motion to adopt Resolution 2025-O3 (a repeal of Resolution 2024-37 that would have removed a December policy position on how to treat the voter-approved Lockhart Freedom Act). That motion was defeated in the meeting’s earlier business; the council left the December policy statement in place.

Votes, movers and outcomes (as recorded in the public meeting):

1) Sidewalk grant application — Motion to approve submission of a $2,000,000 TxDOT transportation alternatives grant application (20% match required). - Mover: Council member (unnamed in the record who verbally offered the motion) - Second: Mayor Pro Tem Gonzales Sanchez - Outcome: Approved (motion passed; voice vote recorded as passed) - Match requirement: 20% (city would plan to budget $400,000 over time) - Project scope noted by staff: roughly 13,000 linear feet (about 2.6 miles) of new 4-foot sidewalks in prioritized corridors (commerce/downtown approaches, San Jacinto, State Park Road corridor). Pre-application deadline noted as Feb. 21; final application would follow if the pre-application advances.

2) Colwell Valley Development Agreement termination — Resolution to terminate development agreement covering 426.85 acres in the ETJ to allow a proposed data center to proceed without a residential MUD. - Mover: Councilman Larson - Second: Councilman Westmoreland - Outcome: Approved (motion passed; recorded as passed by the presiding officer) - Notes: Staff said the original MUD was never submitted to TCEQ and the landowner is pursuing a non-residential (data center) plan that does not require a MUD.

3) SH-142 striping configuration — Resolution requesting TxDOT preserve the existing striping (maintain on-street parking and do not add a continuous 14-foot center turn lane from Medina to Blanco). - Mover: Councilman Larson - Second: Councilman Westmoreland - Outcome: Approved, 6-0 - Notes: TxDOT presented a 60% design that included a continuous center turn lane on a section of SH-142; staff and several residents expressed concern about loss of on-street parking and the local character of the corridor. TxDOT retains final authority over state highway design.

4) Interlocal agreement with Caldwell County (Juniper Springs phases 9, 10 and 16) — Resolution approving county review of those phases within the ETJ. - Mover: motion made on the record (“So moved”) - Second: Councilman Michaelson - Outcome: Approved, 6-0 - Notes: The agreement formalizes previous informal arrangements and recognizes that sections were not part of the ETJ when the earlier MUD consent agreement was made; the county will take exclusive review for the referenced phases.

5) Resolution 2025-O3 (repeal of Resolution 2024-37 regarding Lockhart Freedom Act) — Motion to adopt and repeal the December policy statement. - Mover: Councilman Larson - Second: Councilman Castillo - Outcome: Defeated (motion rejected in voice vote) - Notes: City Attorney Brad Bullock explained the legal distinction between a voter-approved charter amendment (which the attorney said went into effect when the vote was canvassed) and the December resolution (a policy statement). Council members cited litigation risk and uncertainty about state/city law conflicts; public commenters urged enforcement or caution on both sides.

What the votes mean for implementation and next steps

- Sidewalks: Staff recommended pursuing the $2,000,000 application and will seek a council resolution of support before the final application; the city would plan for the 20% match across future budgets if the pre-application advances.

- Colwell Valley termination: By terminating the earlier residential MUD agreement, staff said the property may proceed under normal ETJ/subdivision review for the new data-center plan.

- SH-142 striping: The council’s request will be submitted to TxDOT; TxDOT retains final authority over the state highway project and has framed the continuous center turn lane as a safety and capacity measure.

- Juniper Springs ILA: The county will handle review of the named phases per the interlocal agreement.

Ending: Several resolutions passed unanimously; the council left the enforcement posture on the Lockhart Freedom Act unchanged while awaiting court guidance and further staff recommendations.