Ahead of Friday’s Liberty Fest celebrations, the Leander City Council convened for its regular meeting July 2 to discuss items relating to development, roadways and the city’s budget. Here are three takeaways from that meeting.

Hero Way construction near Harmony Science Academy: The Leander City Council approved an interlocal agreement with Williamson County for $329,352.63 in roadway improvements along Hero Way near Harmony Science Academy. The approved project will install a temporary traffic pattern intended to shift school traffic away from Hero Way before the school year begins.

Life Time zoning: The City Council also approved a planned unit development for a proposed Life Time facility at 11675 Hero Way West.

City budget: The City Council also approve a budget adjustment of a little under $4 million in response to revenues that were higher than anticipated. Items funded by this budget adjustment include a grant application to improve safety at the rail crossing of Crystal Falls Parkway and US 183, improvements to fire stations and replacing the HVAC system at the police headquarters.

Cedar Park City Council approved an economic development deal June 25 with construction materials company Texas Materials centered around a $2 million grant and a rebate of sales tax revenue generated by the company.

The framework: Under the agreement, the company will establish a new regional headquarters at the Town Center Office Park, located northeast of the intersection of Bell Boulevard and Whitestone Boulevard, Chief Economic Development Officer Arthur Jackson said. The company will receive the grant from the city in exchange for establishing and occupying its new headquarters by May 21, 2028.

The agreement provides the company a sales tax revenue rebate of 100% for the first two years, and an amount gradually decreasing to 75% over the first 10 years. Provided Texas Materials meets the requirements laid out in the agreement for the first 10 years, the sales tax rebate will be extended another 10 years.

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro.

Upcoming projects

New Braunfels EDC invests $405K in pedestrian improvements: The NBEDC is funding the final design of Phase 2 of pedestrian improvements along five roadways. If approved, construction is expected to begin in 2028.

Ongoing projects

Legacy Ranch Drive expansion
Project: Crews are working to expand approximately 0.6 miles from Seward Junction North Loop in Liberty Hill to a CR 258 extension east of US 183, including new signals, pavement improvements, and turn lanes serving a future LISD site. 
Update: Contractors broke ground March 6.

• Timeline: completion expected this summer
• Cost: $1.4 million
• Funding source: Williamson County 2023 road bond

Former state Sen. Don Huffines was appointed as the Texas comptroller of public accounts, Gov. Greg Abbott announced July 2.

Huffines, a Dallas-area native with a bachelor's degree in business administration in finance from The University of Texas at Austin, will take over as the state's finance and budgeting officer from acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock. Huffines will officially begin his service Aug. 1.

Huffines defeated Hancock, who became acting comptroller one year ago, in the March Republican primary. He'll now face former state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt in the November general election for a four-year term.