HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 031103-K - Round Rock Higher EducationRESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GEORGETOWN, TEXAS SUPPORTING THE CITY OF ROUND
ROCK'S EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A HIGHER EDUCATION CAMPUS
AND ENCOURAGING THE STATE OF TEXAS TO PURSUE THE
LOCATION OF A PERMANENT CAMPUS FOR THE ROUND ROCK
HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER IN ROUND ROCK
WHEREAS, the location of a permanent higher education facility in Williamson
County is critically important to our region's continued economic growth; and
WHEREAS, the Round Rock community initiated the formation of the Multi -
Institution Teaching Center, currently composed of Southwest Texas State University,
Austin Community College, and Temple College at Taylor, now known as the Round
Rock Higher Education Center; and
WHEREAS, the Round Rock Education Center is currently operating out of a
limited -space facility; and
WHEREAS,
there
is a tremendous demand
for higher education services in
Williamson County,
Round
Rock, and the surrounding
area; and
WHEREAS, the State of Texas has determined that it will need 500,000 new
classroom seats by the year 2015; and
WHEREAS, the Round Rock community has secured the donation of up to 100
acres of land and has established an incentive package of approximately $8,455,000,
including land for the location of a permanent higher education campus in Round Rock,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Georgetown supports
Round Rock's efforts in the development of a higher education campus and encourages
the State of Texas to pursue the location of a permanent campus for the Round Rock
Higher Education Center in Round Rock.
RESOLVED this 111h day of March, 2003.
Mary r
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
E. Carls
City Attorney
ATTEST:
City Secretary
• Need for classrooms in Central Texas
o 50,000 additional students in Central Texas in the next 10-12 years
(equivalent to UT enrollment). UT, SWT are not expanding. There is no
permanent public campus in North Austin/Williamson County area.
o Course times and offerings — Existing RRHEC courses can only be offered
at night because the only available classrooms are in portable buildings at
the high school. Course offerings are limited because of space situation
(e.g. - cannot teach computer sciences with no permanent computer lab).
Economic development
o Workforce training is a vital and necessary part of a vibrant business
community
o Business Retention/expansion (see Major Employers Served)
o Business recruitment/job creation attractiveness
o Working population would be able to achieve master's degrees
o Diverse groups served (all ages including working adults and more
affordable for those who have to live at home)
Major employers served
o Dell
o Sears.com
o (These and other companies are huge sales tax generators for the WHOLE
STATE OF TEXAS. Dell alone should generate more than $300 million to
State from 1999-2004 in sales tax revenue.)
o Others - Cypress, Motorola, Abbott, Farmers his., and many more
•:� Reduce I-35 traffic
o We have thousands of Williamson County residents traveling 50, 100, 150
miles each day into Austin or San Marcos for their education. Almost all
of them are adding to the congestion on I-35.
• Local contribution
o $8.5 million toward $35 million
o Avery family
o City of Round Rock
o Business community
o Williamson County
o RR Chamber