City manager outlines timelines for multiple capital projects, reports emergency notification failure and habitat-plan delay

City Manager Ryan Havelock told the City Council on Sept. 2 that several capital projects are nearing completion and that staff will have multiple ribbon cuttings in October–November. He also reported an issue with the city’s emergency notification system tied to a recent boil-water notice and said staff are working with the vendor and regional partner to resolve it.

Havelock gave this timeline and status updates: emergency generators are in the final installation stages; the animal control facility and senior center are expected to be complete around October–November; municipal court renovation work was awarded and is expected to finish in October; and Fire Station No. 3 expansion is anticipated to be complete in late November or early December. Havelock said multiple ribbon cuttings are likely in October and November.

On emergency notifications, Havelock said the system (formerly branded Code Red, now OnSolve/Code Red 2) did not deliver a boil-water notice to all residents on one recent alert. Staff are working with Citcog and the vendor to determine why the message failed and to ensure future notices are delivered.

Havelock also reported delays in the Bell County regional habitat conservation plan (HCP). He said the consultant changed hands after the contract was awarded and that committee members and the consultant disagree about the remaining time and cost to complete phase 3 of the plan. Because phase 3 is incomplete, Havelock said he does not expect the council will be ready to decide on proceeding to phase 4 at the next meeting. He said staff are negotiating with the consultant over contract language and will report again when phase 3 is complete.

Other items in the city manager’s report included: staff support for upcoming street-maintenance utility town halls (Sept. 7, 8 and 10 with specified commercial and residential focus), completion of a citizen survey with more than 500 statistically valid respondents (full results to be presented in October), and work on multiple grant-funded projects (EDA roadway work, rail-railhead studies, energy-resiliency projects).

Havelock said the parkland-dedication ordinance work by the subdivision technical advisory committee and the quality of life committee did not meet the council’s previously set deadline; staff will work directly with committee liaisons to prepare a recommendation.

Council received the report; no action was taken at the meeting.