Council approves higher Star Center package; members debate $45M vs. $64.4M figures

The Northlake Town Council voted 5–2 on Oct. 10 to approve the item tied to the Star Center construction package after a lengthy public exchange over project costs and funding sources.

Mayor Brian Montane told the council the facility’s core building is covered by the bond‑funded guaranteed maximum price and “the building itself is still 45,000,000 plus 2,200,000.0” for energy upgrades, paid in part through anticipated federal grants and energy‑efficiency measures. Drew (staff) and other presenters said site improvements — parking, drainage and some sewer capacity work — will be funded through the town’s TERS program (a dedicated development/revenue source) rather than the general fund.

A public commenter, Joel McGregor, told the council he believed voters had approved $45 million and that later figures (which he cited at roughly $64.4 million) were not the number voters expected. “If I bought a house and signed the contract on it, and then after I signed the contract, I find out that it’s 40 plus percent higher … I wouldn’t be real happy about that,” McGregor said.

Staff answered that the $45 million was the building GMP and that additional line items — including a $2.2 million energy package and separate infrastructure work — account for larger headline totals. Staff explained the financing mix includes lease payments, an eighth‑cent sales‑tax allocation from each development corporation, hotel occupancy tax proceeds and TERS funds tied to developer contributions. They also said the design‑build contract is a guaranteed maximum price, which the town cannot exceed under the current contract.

Council members pressed staff for more line‑item detail and an itemized breakdown to help public understanding; staff said they would provide line‑item schedules and funding‑source documentation to the council and post them publicly. Supporters argued that delaying the GMP or withholding approval could stall the project and jeopardize coordinated infrastructure timing with TxDOT and developers.

With the motion approved 5–2, staff said construction preparations will continue under the GMP and that the town will pursue the federal grant and other revenue sources described during the briefing. The council did not amend the contract price during the meeting; rather, it approved the item as presented, with staff to provide the requested additional documentation to council and the public.

What's next: Staff will publish the detailed line‑item and funding breakdown and proceed with GMP‑constrained work that staff says is time‑sensitive to align with other road and utility projects.