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ROUND ROCK NEWS

The City of Round Rock launched the redesign of roundrocktexas.gov Friday, July 9. The website showcases a new look and feel while continuing to provide valuable City services and information. The redesign includes significant changes to the site’s navigation to help visitors more easily find the information they need in a format that is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate. The site’s homepage features a prominent search bar that can easily connect users with the best resources for their inquiry. Take a look to see all of the services the City offers online.

Outdoor spaces for gathering and recreation have always been an important component of Round Rock’s overall quality of life, but this past year has proved what we’ve known to be true all along: these public places are essential to residents’ physical and psychological well-being. Our community has long seen the value of investing in these recreational opportunities for the future. We will continue to ensure our outdoor spaces are exceptional and that we are taking innovative approaches to providing areas to gather and feel connected to each other.

On July 8, the Round Rock City Council approved an amendment to the City’s mobile food establishments ordinance, allowing for food truck parks. The amendment creates a new category of food truck permits to allow food truck parks. As with other types of mobile food establishments currently in the code, these permits are issued to the owner of a site.

Round Rock City Council approved a contract at its July 8 meeting that will improve the state of specific streets within the Forest Creek subdivision. In recent years, the City has devoted $4.2 million annually in improving residential streets. Since the program’s inception in 2012, over $25 million has been expended to improve the roads in over 20 neighborhoods in the City.

FEATURE STORY

One athlete’s forgotten gear is another athlete’s treasure, thanks to a program to give back to those in need created by City of Round Rock employee Joey Salazar.

Footballs, soccer balls and athletic gear are often left behind by out-of-town athletes visiting the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex, where Salazar serves as the Sports Maintenance Lead. The facility holds these items for two weeks to wait for an owner to claim them, and previously donated unclaimed items to Goodwill.

Salazar, who has worked for the City for seven years, began to notice a missed opportunity to give back directly to athletes in our own community who find themselves in need. He partnered with local sports groups, donating 689 unclaimed items to local youth. The donations also included 14 coats for Coats for Kids, a charity that provides jackets to local children in need.

“Sometimes you might get a good pair of sneakers for a child that doesn’t have any,” Salazar said. “I just hope that it continues…to grow and maybe inspire other people.”

July is Smart Irrigation Month, and the City has several programs to help you save water and money! Here are just a few of our programs for City of Round Rock water customers:

The City of Round Rock filed a lawsuit asserting that a change made by the Texas Comptroller to a sales tax sourcing rule is "invalid" and should be overturned. The rule would source sales tax revenue from online purchases to the buyer’s location instead of the seller’s place of business, which could cost Round Rock taxpayers millions of dollars a year in lost sales tax revenue, most notably from online sales made by Round Rock-based Dell Technologies.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The class meets 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays, from Sept. 7 to Nov. 23. Applications are due July 30. Get a behind-the-scenes perspective of your local police department by learning more about each unit, from SWAT to K9. You can even test drive a police vehicle! 

Check out one of Round Rock's new outdoor spaces during Friday Fun Nights this summer. Bring the entire family to Yonders Point in Old Settlers Park and enjoy fun, themed activities on select Friday nights in July, August and September. Yonders Point, located just southwest of the baseball fields in Old Settlers Park, includes landscaping and trees, pergolas with swings, terraced seating and lounges. The events are free and open to the public.

UPCOMING CITY EVENTS