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Council approves cost-share with St. George Episcopal School and amends budget to buy school-zone flashing beacons
Summary
The council approved a cost-sharing agreement with St. George Episcopal School to purchase two programmable school-zone flashing beacons ($46,659.78 total), accepted the school's reimbursement of up to $23,330, and adopted a budget amendment to fund the purchase from the child safety fund.
The Castle Hills City Council on June 9 approved a cost-sharing agreement with St. George Episcopal School to install two new remotely programmable school-zone flashing beacons on West Avenue and adopted a companion budget amendment to fund the purchase.
City Manager Christopher Duke told the council the purchase price including installation is $46,659.78. "St. George Episcopal School has agreed to fund half of the purchase cost and installation in an amount not to exceed $23,330," Duke said. The school will reimburse the city and staff described the arrangement as a reimbursement rather than an up-front donation.
The council also considered and adopted Ordinance 2026-06-09-B to amend the FY2025–26 budget so the child safety fund covers the city portion of the purchase; Duke said the child safety fund had an available balance of about $139,000. The budget amendment also reflected prior purchases (child safety kits) in a community program line item, which staff said required housekeeping adjustments on the ledger.
Staff requested authorization to purchase the beacons via a state-approved contract; the council authorized the purchase unanimously and staff said installation and programming training for school staff will be completed before the start of the next school year. Duke said school staff will handle programming so the beacons align with class schedules.
Separately, staff noted they had intended to bring a related item to relocate a fourth beacon but postponed that decision until July 14 to resolve a code definition in Chapter 44 that defines "school zone" as every street and public way within 1,000 feet of school boundaries. Staff and the city attorney will review that language; police staff will be involved given the public-safety implications.
The adoption included direction for staff to publish the ordinance and proceed with procurement and installation per the contract terms.
