Following a two-and-a-half hour discussion regarding a potential roads and parks bond election proposed for May, Pflugerville City Council voted in favor of a reduced transportation bond package from the one presented by the city's citizens bond committee, as well as to postpone consideration for a parks and recreation bond election until November. Council voted 4-3 in favor of a May transportation bond election, with Council Member Doug Weiss, Mayor Pro-Tem Omar Peña and Mayor Victor Gonzales voting against the motion. For the parks and recreation vote, Weiss and Council Member Jeff Marsh voted against postponing a potential parks and recreation bond call until November.
Residents who spoke during council's public hearing on the proposed bond package largely spoke against the package due to its approximately $188 million cost. The transportation portion of the project initially proposed $101.7 million in infrastructure improvements, prior to council's vote to reduce the scope of the package.
“The sticker shock of $188 million is not something we can just say ‘eh, sure,'" Peña said.
Under the amended version, council voted in favor of deducting construction costs from the Main Street extension project by an approximate $5 million, while still allowing for right-of-way acquisition and preliminary engineering services. Following the reduction of the $5 million, the transportation package set to go on the May ballot is now listed at roughly $96.7 million.
