At its Oct. 1 meeting, the Leander City Council voted to update several municipal fees and to create a fee waiver for pool demolition permits tied to alkali‑silica reaction, commonly called “concrete cancer.” The changes are part of the city’s annual budget adoption process and aim to streamline services for residents and developers.

Key fee adjustments

Among the items approved:

• The city eliminated its notary service fee, reflecting that Leander no longer offers public notary services.
• Drivers who illegally pass school buses will now be charged a flat $25 fine, regardless of whether the violation occurs in a school zone.
• Fire‑department permit fees were revised to provide clearer cost structures for applicants.
• Traffic‑study fees for development projects performed by outside consultants rose from $500 to $1,000.
• A new $500 zoning‑determination fee was added.
• Consultation fees for city‑reviewed projects increased to $250.

Robin Griffin, executive director of development services, explained that the council reviewed neighboring jurisdictions to keep Leander’s fees competitive while adding transparency for customers.

Pool demolition waiver for “concrete cancer”

The ordinance introduces a waiver for homeowners seeking demolition and rebuilding permits for pools affected by alkali‑silica reaction (ASR). Since 2023, Leander has issued 46 demolition permits for pools, 28 of which were linked to ASR. Residents paid a total of $5,310 for those permits, averaging $115.43 each.

Mayor Na’Cole Thompson recommended that the city also reimburse residents who have already paid for demolition or pool permits related to ASR. The council incorporated that recommendation into the ordinance, providing direct financial relief to affected families.

Jury‑duty pay increase

The council approved an increase in jury‑duty compensation from $6 to $10 per day, matching the rate used by nearby Cedar Park. For comparison, Round Rock pays jurors $15 per day, Georgetown $6, and Liberty Hill does not provide pay.

Future considerations

Leander leaders indicated that additional fee changes for parks and recreation services will be presented to the council at a later date, continuing the city’s effort to keep municipal costs transparent and fair.

Overall, the fee package reflects Leander’s commitment to responsible budgeting, support for families facing costly pool repairs, and alignment with regional fee standards.

Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.