u/PflugerMel

The biggest update from Tuesday's water supply briefing is the City's plan to secure and accelerate delivery of a replacement membrane train for the water treatment plant. The new membrane could arrive as early as late June or early July and be installed in just two days at a cost of approximately $759,000. This would allow the water treatment plant to return to its full normal operating capacity.

If the 42-inch waterline is operational as expected by the end of June and the replacement membrane is installed shortly thereafter, City Council could consider lifting the remaining Modified Stage 1 restrictions as early as July 14. That would return Pflugerville to the normal year-round conservation stage, allowing outdoor irrigation up to twice per week under the existing conservation schedule.

Estimated Project Timeline

• June 10 – Pumping resumes.

• End of June – 42-inch waterline expected to be fully operational.

• Late June / Early July – Replacement membrane installed, restoring full water treatment plant capacity.

• Mid-July – Major excavation and replacement work on the damaged 30-inch line expected to be completed.

• July 14 – City Council will revisit water restrictions and could consider returning to normal year-round conservation measures based on system conditions and project progress.

Additional Updates

• A future 1-2 day shutdown will still be needed after a header pipe failed inspection, but staff indicated it should not impact operations and may be coordinated with routine maintenance.

• The existing 24-inch bypass line will remain in service until either the 42-inch line or repaired 30-inch line is fully operational.

• Staff reported that the water treatment plant expansion remains behind schedule. Contractual completion dates have already passed, with substantial completion now estimated for October 2026 and final completion projected for December 2026. Staff indicated the reasons for the delays are still being evaluated.

Thank you to the City staff, operators, engineers, contractors, and crews who have been working around the clock for months to find solutions, maintain service, and move these critical projects forward. Their efforts are helping create a path toward restoring normal operations for our community.

City Council approved the Historic Colored Addition Beautification Plan on 5/26/26, marking another step in recognizing and preserving an important part of Pflugerville’s history and identity.

The plan includes future storytelling, public art, neighborhood signage, and beautification elements developed through community input and collaboration with the Equity Advisory Board, residents, churches, and founding families.

Council also recognized the Youth Advisory Council and heard reflections from students about their experiences this year. It was encouraging to hear how the program helped students better understand local government, leadership, and civic involvement while also giving them an opportunity to share ideas and perspectives with the city.

Whether preserving community history or investing in leadership opportunities for students, both efforts reflect the importance of investing in people and strengthening the connections that make Pflugerville special.

One proposed Charter amendment from the citizen-led Charter Review Commission would require City Council to adopt protections governing the collection, use, retention, and oversight of data, facial recognition, surveillance technologies, and artificial intelligence (AI).

The proposal would also require:
• transparent approval processes for these technologies,
• a responsible AI framework,
• and standards intended to ensure these technologies are used locally for a legitimate basis established by law.

As technology continues to evolve, cities are increasingly using tools involving cameras, data collection, automation, and AI for areas such as traffic management, public safety, utilities, infrastructure management, and other government operations.

Several Council Members had already expressed support for policies addressing AI and data governance before the Charter Review Commission brought forward this amendment. The amendment would place a Charter requirement on City Council to adopt and maintain policies addressing these topics, which have not yet been formally adopted.

What protections or transparency requirements do you believe should exist for government use of AI?

Some important updates from Tuesday’s City Council meeting regarding the water treatment plant, water line projects, and lake levels:

Water Treatment Plant Update:
• Staff indicated the plan is to remain under Modified Stage 1 restrictions until the expanded water treatment plant is substantially complete, currently projected for October.

• The City continues operating under treatment limitations due to aging membrane equipment, with one of the five membrane trains currently down and undergoing repairs.

• The expanded water treatment plant is anticipated to reach substantial completion in October, with final completion projected for late December.

Water Line Update:
• Staff indicated the City is currently not on schedule to have either the permanent repair to the existing 30-inch line completed or the new 42-inch line fully online before the planned June 10 pump restart date.

• To help avoid a second full pump shutdown, the current plan is to partially complete the connection work, restart pumping between phases, and then finish the remaining work afterward.

• The current estimate is for the new 42-inch line to be operational by the end of June, assuming the pump station header pipe work stays on schedule.

• During the planned two-week pump shutdown through June 10, Lake Pflugerville could drop about one foot if treatment remains around 4 million gallons per day. This is not expected to impact lake activities.

Interesting fact:
Peak water demand during normal conservation stages actually occurs between approximately 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Reminder:
Under Modified Stage 1, irrigation system inspections and repairs are allowed uses.

I appreciate staff continuing to provide updates as these projects move forward. Reliable water infrastructure is critical for our community, and I know residents are eager for progress and long-term stability in the system.

One proposed Charter amendment would authorize monthly compensation for the Mayor and City Council Members:

• Mayor: $750/month ($9,000/year)

• Council Members: $500/month ($6,000/year)

Pflugerville City Council has historically served as an unpaid volunteer body.

A similar proposal was placed before voters in 2023. That proposal would have provided annual compensation of:

• $12,000/year for the Mayor

• $9,000/year for Council Members

Voters did not approve the measure.

The current Charter Review Commission proposal would authorize lower compensation amounts than the 2023 proposal.

During discussion, it was mentioned that compensation could help offset expenses associated with serving, such as childcare and other costs that may create barriers for some residents interested in public service. Others believe Council service should remain volunteer-based.

The final Charter Review Commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 4. Residents interested in sharing feedback on proposed Charter amendments are encouraged to participate in the process.

What do you think about the proposal?

Thank you to everyone who shared feedback regarding the proposed Lake Pflugerville and park rule changes discussed at the 5/12/26 City Council meeting. Several changes were made following resident input and Council discussion.

Updates approved for Lake Pflugerville include:

• 24/7 fishing access language was added back

• Electric motor fishing boats/trolling motors will continue to be allowed

• Park (Beach, pavilion, and playground) hours will be 5 AM – 9 PM

• The trail surrounding the lake continues to remain open 24 hours per day (this was not a proposed change but I needed to clarify what the park hours affected)

• Restrictions related to alcohol, amplified sound, commercial activity, tents/shelters 10 ft spacing, and other park uses were approved.

Staff shared that the proposed alcohol restrictions were partly driven by increasing attendance, 911 calls, incidents involving intoxicated patrons, and conflicts between groups over amplified sound during busy summer weekends and holidays at Lake Pflugerville. The city wants local residents to feel safe using the lake amenities.

Regarding the earlier closing time, staff explained that although the park officially closed at 10 PM, it often took an additional 1–2 hours for large groups and parties to fully exit the area. The revised 9 PM closing time is intended to allow the park to clear earlier and reduce late-night impacts.

The proposed grill restriction (only using city provided grills) was not approved yet and will return on the 5/26/26 meeting for additional discussion regarding safety along with the broader park rule changes.

Council also discussed concerns related to e-bikes and other single rider/tandem motorized vehicles on trails. Revisions are expected to focus on a 12 mph speed limit and safe operation requirements. This is an issue many park systems across the country are currently trying to address as motorized device use on trails continue to increase.

Thank you again to everyone who took the time to review the proposals and provide feedback.

Revised park rule changes for items noted above will be posted on 5/20/26 for consideration on 5/26/26.

I highly encourage residents to email council if you have feedback so that all council members hear directly from you.

Here are a few key updates shared during the Pflugerville City Council recent water system discussion:

• Modified Stage 1 water restrictions will remain in place due to treatment capacity limitations and the planned pump station shutdown.

• Lake Pflugerville is currently near/full level at approximately 635.5 ft, so the temporary bypass pumping line is currently turned off.

• Recent rain washed away some of the blocks/supports holding portions of the temporary bypass line in place, so other methods of securing the line are being pursued.

• Construction continues on the 42" secondary raw water line and related pump station work.

• Materials for the permanent 30" raw water line repair are expected around 5/20/26. Current work includes field preparation, dewatering, and coordinating installation through the tunnel area.

• Staff explained the planned pump station shutdown is primarily needed for switchboard/electrical work. Even if the 42" line connection and permanent 30" repair are not fully completed during the initial two-week shutdown, the remaining work can be completed afterward without requiring another full pump station shutdown.

• Another current concern is preserving the aging water treatment plant membranes until the expansion project is completed in approximately six months. Replacing the existing membranes would cost about $1 million and take around six months to receive, while the expansion will use a different membrane system.

• Because of that, the City is trying to limit treatment volumes to roughly 4–5 million gallons per day when possible to preserve the remaining life of the existing membranes.

• At this stage, the primary concern is no longer simply lake level, but maintaining enough treatment capacity while protecting aging infrastructure until the plant expansion comes online.

I’ll continue sharing updates as work progresses and additional timelines become clearer. Thank you to everyone continuing to conserve water and stay engaged throughout this process.