City of McKinney Reinvestment Zone Number 1 board members heard an update Tuesday on a multi-block plan to provide 100% fire-alarm and sprinkler coverage for the historic downtown core.

City staff presenter Barry Shelton said the project goal is “100% coverage of our downtown historic core with fire alarms and fire sprinklers” and stressed the priorities of protecting historic buildings, preserving economic and tourism value, and securing stakeholder buy‑in before construction begins.

Shelton said the city issued a request for qualifications in May and selected Reed Fire Protection Engineering to prepare planning, design and construction administration. He told the board the design phase — which will include 30% construction documents for all nine target blocks and as‑built surveys of historic structures — is expected to take about eight to 10 months. Shelton gave a rough estimate of $250,000 to $350,000 for the overall design phase and said construction costs per block are anticipated to be in a similar $250,000–$350,000 range, though final budgets will come back to the board after scope and fees are finalized.

Shelton described the city’s intended role: the city would fund and build mains, riser rooms and underground taps that would make each block “ready to go,” while individual property owners would partner to tie their buildings to that infrastructure. He said the council previously directed that the city use TIRZ (TIRZ/TIRS) dollars for design and to fund the public-side construction work that sets up blocks for individual connections.

Board members asked how owner cooperation would be handled. Shelton and other officials emphasized the project relies on blocks where property owners agree to participate so mains can be run without repeatedly passing through nonparticipating parcels. One board member noted insurance savings could prompt owners to elect fire suppression, while another suggested the board might choose to skip blocks without full participation and return to them later.

A public commenter, Jim Schwalz, urged the board to support the study and asked that TIRZ/TIRS consider allowing some funds to be advanced to property owners rather than only reimbursing costs after completion.

Shelton said staff expects to have a scope and fee to present to the TIRZ board and then to city council in early November, and that construction would be phased over multiple years.

Because the plan remains in the design and stakeholder‑engagement phase, no board vote was required Tuesday. Staff will return with a contract and funding request when Reed Fire Protection delivers the detailed scope and fees.