Hutto City Council members questioned whether delaying design work on a proposed justice center could significantly increase construction costs, pushing back on planning assumptions tied to a future bond election during a Jan. 8 council meeting.

The big picture: City staff and consultants presented updated planning and cost estimates for the justice center, a long-term project intended to consolidate police operations, emergency management and municipal court functions. The estimates were based on a timeline that assumes a May 2026 bond election, with design beginning in September 2026 and construction starting in 2028.

How we got here: Hutto City Council first identified the need for a new justice center in June 2025, pointing to overcrowding at the city’s roughly 10,000-square-foot police facility and rapid population growth.

A massage studio, coffee shop and sushi restaurant are among the latest businesses already open or with plans to open in Pflugerville and Hutto. Check out these five updates:

Now open

Hippo Massage: The business offers full body massages with options ranging from 30 minutes to two hours. Customers can also visit to receive couples massages, pregnancy massages and foot massages. To enhance the experience, customers can choose from a selection of add-ons, including cupping, essential oil and CBD oil.

Black Rock Coffee Bar: Residents of Pflugerville have a new drive-thru coffee option with the opening of Black Rock Coffee Bar. The new Pflugerville location is drive-thru only and offers a menu of customizable coffee and espresso drinks, teas, smoothies and the company’s signature Fuel energy drinks.

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office will apply for a grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation to purchase a swift water rescue boat.

The details: The $35,519 grant would cover the full cost of the inflatable boat, accessories and the trailer for the swift water rescue team to use during flash flood emergencies, according to county documents.

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation provides grants to purchase public safety equipment, training and education, and is funded in part by sales at Firehouse Subs restaurants. There is no match required from the county.

Some context: The sheriff’s office owns one boat for the swift water rescue team. The additional rescue boat will ensure there is always at least one operational boat available to the sheriff’s office, according to county documents.

Check out the top trending stories in the Austin metro Jan. 5-8. 
1. City of Bee Cave reaches settlement agreement with West Austin Business Park developers
2. Bastrop Starbucks takes coffee break through late January
3. Georgetown’s largest development projects moving forward in 2026
4. The new Old Settlers Park: Round Rock makes progress on $259M expansion
5. Construction on a new Chipotle Mexican Grill expected to begin in Leander this year
6. Mercado Libertad now open in Liberty Hill