[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6678059,"mediaKeyId","2156196-b9d8d8eaf000be92e75c7b70dbdbcf4b","parentId",2156196,"title","Council orders May 3 general election and approves two‑year drone‑show contract","audioSeconds",277,"startMs",4977000,"endMs",5254000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2156196-b9d8d8eaf000be92e75c7b70dbdbcf4b&start=4977&end=5254","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2156196-b9d8d8eaf000be92e75c7b70dbdbcf4b/thumbnail_4977000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6678059/Sunnyvale/Dallas-County/Texas/Council-orders-May-3-general-election-and-approves-twoyear-droneshow-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678059-a67b85c806a64e967c52b1f6e894c912/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204433&Signature=buR4XN2fBL8U2r85CRObU0wgd88nuuv5kAfd7dOS~9kIfJn6yrJX91s9yct9Ev00tRYilPPJl6XheA8QNQfIcxTkTG8P3Qlbtxsdjta3kKZi~CgdXk1d5lFJLHnJCzT4bKYidesYayqkmnX-GoFDmemOGQAFyK7RVLQoejnEtdfpZiN04d8zBm6maU5W1RXSTTk7eCmfo4Z19gdjpwRx7WaRaTKA-0Qdy0cUTW2SHup-IgPIf~2xm8kwtPm03ShkHbayRGE~4DLyTZSESjJ7YEGw3e0b4WLvKPBYYQ~HFmpvfCLIMgANC-ZgtdZt-szQQwU2jomB54JXiBAoQzpUPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sunnyvale","date","2025-01-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Sunnyvale Town Council took two separate, recorded actions on Jan. 27: it adopted an ordinance ordering the municipal general election for May 3, 2025, and it approved a two‑year contract for drone shows to support town special events.

On the election item, staff advised the council that early voting is scheduled for April 21–29 and that town hall will serve as a polling place; the ordinance orders the general election for May 3, 2025 and designates June 7, 2025 as the runoff date if no candidate receives a majority. Staff said the contract with the Dallas County Elections Department was expected to be finalized by the end of March and that the election cost is budgeted in the current fiscal year, but the town’s final cost will depend on the number of participating entities. Council approved the ordinance on a single reading by recorded vote.

On the events item, staff presented revised quotes from Sky Elements Drone Shows and recommended entering a two‑year agreement for four drone shows (two per year) in 2025 and 2026. The contract approved by motion authorizes the town manager to execute the agreement for the package the council selected; the motion as recorded set a not‑to‑exceed amount of $90,000 for the contract. Council members who spoke in favor said they considered the drone show a high‑value attraction and some advocated for larger packages; staff noted the company has an extensive operating record and that the two‑year arrangement secures availability for the requested dates.

Both motions passed on recorded votes. The election ordinance passed 6‑0 (one member absent) and the drone‑show contract was approved 6‑0 as recorded. Staff said they would return with the Dallas County election contract for council review and would pursue any additional contract terms the council requested, such as pricing clauses, in follow-up negotiations with the drone vendor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sunnyvale - Town Council - Jan 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council ordered the May 3, 2025 general election (with a June 7 runoff date if needed) and approved a two‑year contract with Sky Elements Drone Shows for four performances (two per year) not to exceed $90,000.","taxTitle","Sunnyvale, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",69453,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6678063,"Council receives quarterly financial and investment reports and adopts investment policy",3085,1731000,4816000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2156196-b9d8d8eaf000be92e75c7b70dbdbcf4b&start=1731&end=4816","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2156196-b9d8d8eaf000be92e75c7b70dbdbcf4b/thumbnail_1731000.jpg","/articles/6678063/Sunnyvale/Dallas-County/Texas/Council-receives-quarterly-financial-and-investment-reports-and-adopts-investment-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678063-d442d2c14b6a3e00781737c63dbfb93e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204433&Signature=Mbfp1~DnXpMK191hxWC-cepmK-sqPEt31ep9Ofx9Vt41FBEAcSDBcHPpKliE4BelAIJbjR92uHep~Ya6B65jGKBOPJoUspyq4FAVhTE0O5nI0TNr2eCzVH00GAvV7eRF3fV2gJb4Qju5Gs~MCP8xcS5Wklch4RoIWczcmrtBphUn71ffIN2RnmK1LvGJRjvN~xdyRglGEOnhpOM4gz8rLj3mf3vUjAjmcxY~S5o~EHzW9SDtZrt6U078CN1VRWTP9riRTXdBpnvdrAJ2adxjiuHJ-~iwG0fGqoyh8mF5Url6wGnmY~y9NDHNnA-QpNbj4MxTMpCDCR8O7h4Y3SIymQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town finance staff presented Sunnyvale’s quarterly financial report for the period ending Dec. 31, 2024, and a separate investment‑portfolio report before the council approved the town’s annual investment policy as required under Texas law.

Finance presenter Mikaela reviewed preliminary year‑to‑date numbers: general‑fund revenue was about $5.7 million through Dec. 31 and the town had collected roughly 36% of budgeted revenue despite being 25% through the fiscal year, a timing pattern driven largely by property‑tax receipts received in late December/early January. Sales tax receipts were slightly above budgeted expectations and the general fund’s year‑to‑date expenditures were approximately 19.7% of the annual budget, excluding a $500,000 contingency line item. Mikaela said the town expects to finish near or slightly below budget and that the debt‑service payments due Feb. 15 would be approximately $3 million.

Rachel, the town’s investment officer, briefed the council on the investment portfolio. She said the town held about $38.9 million in investments at quarter end, including $7 million in tax notes received in October. The portfolio was roughly 68% in liquid funds (money markets and pools) and 32% in fixed‑income securities (CDs, agencies and municipals). Rachel reported a portfolio yield‑to‑maturity at market of 4.69%, outperforming the three‑month U.S. Treasury benchmark (4.39% at 12/31/24) by about 30 basis points.

As required by the Public Funds Investment Act, staff recommended the council adopt an annual investment‑policy resolution that reiterates safety, liquidity and yield as priority objectives and lists the town’s authorized investment officers and training requirements. The council voted unanimously on the motion as recorded: the resolution (identified on the agenda as item K‑1) was approved by a 6‑0 vote (one councilor absent).

Council members asked about permitted investments and noted the current maximum maturity in policy is three years; staff said they may return later to propose longer maturities to lock in yields if market conditions warrant. No changes to authorized investment types were proposed at the meeting.

The council took no other fiscal actions at the meeting; the investment‑policy ordinance was the action item the council approved during this portion of the agenda.","Finance staff reported Q1 financials and an investment portfolio overview; the council approved the annual investment‑policy resolution as required by the Public Funds Investment Act.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6678068,"Town outlines 2025 capital-improvement program, highlights water and transportation projects",740,3384000,4124000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2156196-b9d8d8eaf000be92e75c7b70dbdbcf4b&start=3384&end=4124","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2156196-b9d8d8eaf000be92e75c7b70dbdbcf4b/thumbnail_3384000.jpg","/articles/6678068/Sunnyvale/Dallas-County/Texas/Town-outlines-2025-capital-improvement-program-highlights-water-and-transportation-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678068-89082f0eaa503d5c09c9b8d8565f833c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204433&Signature=K~~847BXgaoGGBmT6hG21e41C9u2XYUCdqyxCbvQ1ihlljU0RenjRil~U4cmz392T~i-ABAoqxX-z0BFMkIzeVyTywcT-vn0i2tYXGjYCq1ZEhOMF7U45cGCi4EaY0W4ZAVqfdHFb37NgOmIn1aXyU7i5tDkt0gZrtAwywHZ5JzZ~L7eVdCZZmYkGSTR~Uxgove568x1GsLAWZpuwsGK0KfAAPzVgSpfgotDt7ZWPwGp05sJ1QSm6pBPbGqlqxEqPOLrS2IPcBxVCs3zf9cbSInJmL2LVj-Zj5PrNKFghI-Bv854pSbcOR~GPLqZj~bx788kgUvWJkKDh-C-iE53DQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff reviewed Sunnyvale’s 2025 capital-improvement program on Jan. 27, describing design and construction timelines for transportation, water, sewer and parks projects that staff expects to carry through 2025 and into 2026.

Major items in the CIP briefing included:
- Collins Road landscaping and a separate state-highway landscape project on South Collins (SH‑352), both in design or ready to bid; North Collins work expects completion in late summer/early fall.
- Clay Road pavement rehabilitation including concrete panel replacement and median landscaping; bid expected in February, construction in spring, with an estimated Q1 2026 completion.
- Beltline Road traffic-signal coordination and intersection improvements to support a new Tom Thumb grocery development at Towne East and Beltline, including a northbound right-turn lane to eastbound Towne East and fiber for coordinated signals.
- East Trip Road water-line work and conduit placement for future fiber, with bid and construction expected this spring and completion in fall 2025.
- Utility relocations tied to TxDOT’s US‑80 widening project, with roughly $5 million of water‑utility relocations to be bid in the Feb–Mar timeframe.
- Riverstone pump station and storage planning to add a roughly 3,000,000‑gallon storage tank and additional pumping capacity; staff expects to procure design services soon with construction anticipated to begin in spring 2026.
- A proposed water‑meter/radio-system project (estimated approximately $22 million) to replace aging commercial and residential meters and upgrade metering systems.
- A sewer master plan and impact‑fee updates for water and sanitary sewer timed to follow the water master plan and mobility-plan results; impact fees must be updated every five years.
- Rails‑to‑trails Phase 1 design adjacent to the Sunnyvale ISD campus (federally funded elements) with environmental reviews underway; staff hopes to start construction later this year and open the section by the end of 2026.
- Barnes Bridge Road bridge replacement (Duck Creek) work was recently bid by TxDOT; the contractor plans to start Feb. 10 and complete in September; the town plans parallel waterline, pavement, drainage and safety improvements.

Staff emphasized coordination with state and regional projects (TxDOT and NTTA) and noted that some park construction timing will depend on the scope the council approves after upcoming public briefings. A councilor urged staff to accelerate park improvements in response to public comments about youth-sports field shortages.

No final construction approvals were taken at the meeting; the presentation served to update council on schedules, design procurements and upcoming bid milestones.","Town staff detailed the 2025 CIP including road and utility relocations tied to TxDOT projects, pump‑station and storage work, water‑meter replacement planning, rails‑to‑trails design and park-concept planning for Jobson Park and Sandler Farms North.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6678072,"Council hears updated mobility plan recommending roadway upgrades, trails and right-of-way changes",845,2503000,3348000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2156196-b9d8d8eaf000be92e75c7b70dbdbcf4b&start=2503&end=3348","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2156196-b9d8d8eaf000be92e75c7b70dbdbcf4b/thumbnail_2503000.jpg","/articles/6678072/Sunnyvale/Dallas-County/Texas/Council-hears-updated-mobility-plan-recommending-roadway-upgrades-trails-and-right-of-way-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678072-7a1cfff811f659ee106aae508c3d14ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204433&Signature=j8iQY9JOBABdodUb82Dj3eeSgo4QGdgFuNxHQ8JJ4hnP2TbVKBz9Oh8EHIsG9jW2GpBJKQyCRtnuXgmHY8FHTl2fb1K4LsaKLaIqB6uy4XgRQLZ3qzzzoALYk077SCTloIdFuptRCbctkgXQCitmXA4IWB51iXg3ZtfOYf4xWHxz09XR2BjsSrTP4nDJsYnZFlma8AfGzGAGP09doj3JnhhxWBbvyRypZn7CQxzh0R7gq2pWyvswHiHzLn8VtFdoePhULg045a5LCS2mcxtEwQy~ZGkONT-M5NUsEdT8X1ldanpKyeGlHGbo8F~6Idl~FKVGJbyTNuVMKSWOZUEygA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Consultant Jeff Whitaker of Kimley‑Horn and Associates presented the town’s updated mobility (thoroughfare) plan to the Sunnyvale Town Council on Jan. 27, recommending several collector additions, an upgrade to Towne East Boulevard, expanded rights-of-way and a set of trail alignments intended to improve connectivity and qualify the town for future grant funding.

Whitaker said the update uses technical traffic counts and the regional travel-demand model to size roadways for future conditions, and it adds intersection improvements the town can use to justify impact-fee projects. “The top volume is the current existing count,” Whitaker said. “The volume below that is the 2045 projected count,” language he used to describe the model outputs used to size future facilities.

Key recommendations include:
- Reclassifying Towne East Boulevard east of Collins from a two‑lane undivided collector to a four‑lane major divided arterial to accommodate projected traffic increases from regional facilities, notably impacts tied to the planned President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT) alignment.
- Adding three new collectors north of Towne East to be planned as development occurs and removing two collectors (small cleanups) whose function will change when regional projects are constructed.
- Increasing right-of-way widths—major arterials from 100 to 130 feet and collectors from 60 to 80 feet—to allow trails, sidewalks and landscape buffers and to provide space for drainage on rural collectors.

Whitaker discussed the PGBT/toll-road alternatives and timeline provided by regional partners: the draft environmental-impact study (EIS) is expected in summer 2025, a schematic in summer 2026 and final design and construction to follow thereafter. He said the plan includes preferred and alternate trail alignments and that the preferred alignments were chosen to maximize connectivity while avoiding being routed behind private homes when possible.

The consultant emphasized that the thoroughfare map preserves right-of-way for future roadways and positions Sunnyvale to be eligible for state and federal transportation funding if projects are included in the master plan.

No formal action was taken at the meeting; the presentation was a briefing intended to inform future planning, impact-fee updates and capital projects.","Consultant Kimley‑Horn presented a revised Sunnyvale thoroughfare and trails plan including new collectors, a proposed Towne East Boulevard upgrade, and alignment choices tied to the future PGBT toll project; no council action was required.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6678076,"Sunnyvale residents press council for more ballfields and park improvements",4201,247000,4448000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2156196-b9d8d8eaf000be92e75c7b70dbdbcf4b&start=247&end=4448","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2156196-b9d8d8eaf000be92e75c7b70dbdbcf4b/thumbnail_247000.jpg","/articles/6678076/Sunnyvale/Dallas-County/Texas/Sunnyvale-residents-press-council-for-more-ballfields-and-park-improvements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678076-aca80fb96e82b6ffacda4a4a13d9caf9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204433&Signature=al2MoDGaR8PmVQS6c~BFMKmYtw5t7NqiaAIpO6DAbjMzdklIqUw2DdB63SxGYBg-BoPi~oWakHpVjyWYrUnBZkJTtMGoKnKNBVy86l1IHYlCGx1bD0wQ36E07snBxhU31xd0d0KQk2088acREhtE8ESiCGD621rbbTM8iZrRo7PP4WNRJt6p~cTx8FN~RQtrGNfhfzBno8O1zuHnr3mXm5AN~bymzJb8KHJHp1XLjknxYzNm~fVRrY7S1X8BGuccuQKicJi-De5M05Q9kH-hi3vWJ3TCqvfoDv1jukDwNQoZ3Lv4s5sgzgDd6tKxu78XDdERhS-D5jW0LWjhWzTnCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple residents asked the Sunnyvale Town Council on Jan. 27 to accelerate construction of additional ballfields and park improvements, saying the town’s youth programs now far outpace available playing space.

The requests were made during the public-comment period by parents and volunteers who said one maintained town field—at Jobson Park—is insufficient for the number of teams that play in Sunnyvale. The speakers asked the council to prioritize park upgrades and take action so another generation of children does not lose out on local sports opportunities.

The most direct appeal came from Ross Mericle, who identified himself as president of Sarissa and the Sun Devil Raiders Youth Sports Association: “Currently, our baseball and softball teams utilize one baseball diamond at Jobson Park,” he said. He and other speakers described a compressed schedule and difficulty scheduling practice time without lights.

Several other residents and coaches echoed Mericle. A speaker who said he was directly involved with local baseball for eight years reported that Sarissa has “135 plus baseball players” registered this season and said the league faces roughly 13 teams that must share a single town field. Another speaker said the town’s small T-ball field lacks lights and that families routinely must borrow high-school facilities to accommodate demand.

Speakers urged using town-owned land at Jobson Park to add fields and noted prior planning conversations about expanding parks that have not yet produced construction. One resident suggested working in partnership with Sunnyvale ISD and homeowners to add lighting with limits to reduce neighborhood impacts.

Councilors and staff discussed the parks program later during the capital-improvement-plan briefing. Staff said concept planning for Jobson Park and Sandler Farms North Park is underway and that final design and construction timing will depend on which improvements the council approves after upcoming public briefings. Staff also said some less-complex improvements—trails or passive-recreation features—could be constructed sooner, while larger projects would take longer to design and build.

Residents pressed for a faster timeline. A council member said they would “push it forward,” and several residents pressed the council to avoid repeating past delays that have left successive cohorts of children without access to fields. Staff described Q1 2026 as an approximate completion target for design for some park work but emphasized that the final construction timeline depends on the scope of improvements the council approves after the next round of public input.

The public comments and the subsequent CIP briefing made parks and sports fields a recurring theme of the meeting, with volunteers asking the council to convert planning discussions into sooner action so current youth teams can use expanded facilities.","Multiple residents and youth-sports volunteers told the Sunnyvale Town Council the town lacks enough fields for baseball, softball and other youth sports and urged faster action on park upgrades, a theme councilors returned to during the capital-improvements briefing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council orders May 3 general election and approves two‑year drone‑show contract

Council receives quarterly financial and investment reports and adopts investment policy

Town outlines 2025 capital-improvement program, highlights water and transportation projects

Council hears updated mobility plan recommending roadway upgrades, trails and right-of-way changes

Sunnyvale residents press council for more ballfields and park improvements