A facilities master plan commissioned by the city of Round Rock will assess city-facility needs through the year 2035. The plan could impact the use of city buildings such as the McConico building (top) and facilities on Luther Peterson Place, such as the city’s vehicle service center.[/caption]

Round Rock will pay more than $250,000 for a long-range city plan officials said will save more taxpayer dollars and city staffers time in the long run.

A facilities master plan commissioned by the city of Round Rock will assess city-facility needs through the year 2035. The plan could impact the use of city buildings such as the McConico building (top) and facilities on Luther Peterson Place, such as the city’s vehicle service center.

Round Rock City Council approved the deal in mid-December to pay Dallas-based firm Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum LP up to $275,000 for a facilities master plan gauging the citys needs for the next 20 years. City forecasts show Round Rock should near its estimated population cap of 250,000 residents by about 2035.

"We never had a really long-term, thought-out plan, which isn't obviously the most economical way to put up new buildings or expand new buildings," City Manager Laurie Hadley said. "[Creating a plan] just made sense."

General Services Director Chad McDowell, speaking to City Council in December, said he has full confidence HOK can deliver a valuable guide.

"HOK is a qualified firm, just to point out a couple things: They write the book on architecture. They write the book on master planning," McDowell said. "These guys have built cities before."

City staffers saw the need for the citywide master guide while planning for the future of the citys facilities on Luther Peterson Place that houses the public works departments, McDowell said.

The scope of the master plan includes cataloging existing conditions and forecasting future requirements for almost every department for the next two decades. Included in the plan will be guides for primary departments, such as utilities, transportation and parks; secondary departments, such as finance, technology and human resources; and other departments, such as police, fire and communications, according to city documents.

"It's going to be pretty exhaustive," Hudder said regarding HOKs process, which will include interviews with city staff in multiple departments.

Overall, city officials said they expect the project to be more valuable than its cost.

"In the long run this is going to save the city a lot of funds," Councilman Will Peckham said in December..

Round Rock Transportation Director Gary Hudder said the city government could benefit both in efficiencies and in spending by having a long-term forecast of facility and personnel needs to help plan expansions.

For example, the plan could help city officials locate future facilities on land that may be much less expensive now than it will be in the future. The plan should also help staff plan for upcoming expenses, which would improve the budgeting process.

"[We have] leadership in place at the city that sees wisdom in planning for our future growth rather than waiting for it to hit and reacting to it, " Hudder said.