He voted for $365 million in debt without a single election. Pflugerville now owes $1.71 billion.
Voters approved the recreation center in November 2020. Downtown East added a new City Hall and a parking garage, and all of it is borrowed.
Purchase prices reported by Community Impact, March 12, 2025.
City Council minutes, 2025-03-11, p. 4 · Official PDF
Mayor Gonzales moved to approve the item. Mr. Weiss seconded the motion. Mayor Pro Tem Holiday was not present for the vote. The vote was as follows: Mr. Weiss - yes, Mr. Ruiz - yes, Mayor Gonzales - yes, … Ms. Ryan - no. The motion carried.
City Council minutes, 2025-03-11, p. 4 · Official PDF
Mayor Gonzales moved to approve the item. Mr. Ruiz seconded the motion. Mayor Pro Tem Holiday was not present for the vote. The vote was as follows: Mr. Weiss - yes, Mr. Ruiz - yes, Mayor Gonzales - yes, … Ms. Ryan - no. The motion carried.
City Council minutes, 2025-10-14, p. 4 · Official PDF
Mr. Metayer moved to approve the item. Mr. Ruiz seconded the motion. The vote was as follows: Mr. Weiss - yes, Mr. Metayer - yes, Mayor Gonzales - yes, Mr. Ruiz - yes, Mayor Pro Tem Holiday - yes, Ms. Ryan - no, … . The motion carried.
On June 22, 2021 residents told the council certificates of obligation should not be used for a City Hall that was not an emergency. The council voted, with Ruiz present and all in favor, to prepare a May 2022 bond election. It never happened.
City Council minutes, 2021-06-22, p. 3 · Official PDF
Tamara Edwards, Grand Mission Way, stated that COs should not be used for non-emergency items and stated while a new city hall is needed it is not an emergency. James Selman, Purple Marting Drive, stated he does not approve of the use of COs for non critical assets and is not the original purpose of CO Bonds. Terry Newsom, 12th Street, stated while most citizens recognize the need for a new City Hall using COs is not the way to get it and provided information about legal limits. He asked that council look at the needs and go to the voters.
All voted in favor; the roll call lists him present.
City Council minutes, 2021-06-22, p. 8 · Official PDF
12F. 2021-0639 Discuss and consider action regarding preparation for a General Obligation Bond election in support of the development of a mixed use municipal complex and direction to the City Manager to engage a consultant for preparation of supporting documentation, renderings for the same. Mr. Fletcher provided information and answered questions from the council discussing possible election dates. Mr. Fletcher stated that a May 2022 election would allow the city time for preparation. Discussion followed regarding timing and a bond committee to discuss the general obligation bonds. … Mr. Heath seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The motion carried.
Certificates of obligation let a council borrow fast when a flood washes out a bridge. On April 8, 2025 a council member asked about taking the debt to the November ballot. Ruiz voted to issue $127 million anyway.
City Council minutes, 2025-04-08, p. 5 · Official PDF
6D. ORD-0826 Conduct a public hearing regarding the Issuance of City of Pflugerville, Texas Combination Tax and Limited Revenue Certificates of Obligation, and approving an Ordinance on first and final reading with the caption reading: Ordinance Authorizing the Issuance of City of Pflugerville, Texas Combination Tax and Limited Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2025; Levying an Ad Valorem Tax and Pledging Certain Net Revenues in Support of the Certificates; Approving an Official Statement, a Purchase Agreement and other agreements; Establishing procedures for selling and delivering the Certificates and Authorizing Other Matters Related to the Certificates. Mayor Gonzales read the item and opened the public hearing. Ms. Waldron reviewed the notice of intent to issue that was approved February 11th not to exceed $142 million, and that the current issuance is $127 million after reviewing the most current projects. Dusty Traylor, RBC Capital Markets, discussed the city's AA+ bond rating which means it is ready to obtain exceptional bond prices when the markets cool down and stated the parameter resolution is only for 90 days, if it is not issued within that time it will come back to council. Ms. Ryan asked about projects included and discussing bringing the item to a vote in the November election. Discussion followed regarding removing the pavement maintenance project and adjusting the timing. Mr. Traylor provided information about the bond issuance processes. There was no one present wishing to make public comment. Mr. Weiss moved to close the public hearing. … All voted in favor. The motion carried. Mr. Metayer moved to approve the ordinance on first and final reading. Mayor Pro Tem Holiday seconded the motion. The vote was as follows: Mr. Weiss - yes, Mr. Ruiz - yes, Mr. Metayer - yes, … Mayor Pro Tem Holiday - yes, Ms. Ryan - no, Mayor Gonzales - yes. The motion carried.
Every certificate of obligation of his term. Pflugerville now owes $1.71 billion, the most of any similar-sized city KXAN compared.
All voted in favor; the roll call lists him present.
City Council minutes, 2023-05-23, p. 9 · Official PDF
Mayor Pro Tem Weiss moved to approve the ordinance on first and final reading. Mr. McDonald seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The motion carried.
City Council minutes, 2023-03-28, p. 6 · Official PDF
Mr. Metayer moved to approve the item. Ms. Holiday seconded the motion. The vote was as follows: Mr. Ruiz - yes, Ms. Holiday - yes, Mayor Pro Tem Weiss - yes, … Mr. Metayer - yes, Mr. McDonald - yes. The motion carried.
City Council minutes, 2026-01-27, p. 3 · Official PDF
favor. The motion carried. Mr. Metayer moved to approve the ordinance. … All voted in favor. The motion carried.
Texas Bond Review Board figures reported by KXAN.
$16,143 for every resident, counting city and utility debt. That is more than twice Austin's.
Texas Bond Review Board, principal outstanding as of Aug. 31, 2025, divided by the population the Board uses for every city. Pflugerville on the BRB Data Center. Using the city's own higher population estimate, Pflugerville's figure is $12,464.
In August 2026 the council considered putting a park bond on the November ballot. Ruiz voted no.
City Council minutes, 2026-08-11, p. 4 · Official PDF
planning on the projects. Mr. Ruiz discussed the issues with the animal shelter, but also facing the issues of how much money citizens are already paying. … Mr. Mize provided information about the project process. Mr. Metayer discussed impacts of inflation and the needs of the city. Mr. Coffman discussed having the projects closer to ready before going to bond. … Mr. Metayer requested an amendment to just do Reunion Park. … Mr. Metayer seconded. The vote was as follows: Mr. Coffman - no, Mr. Ruiz - no, Ms. Ryan - no, … Mayor Pro Tem Holiday - yes, Mr. Metayer - yes, Mayor Weiss - no. The motion failed.
Board members of the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation who objected were replaced, and PCDC money went to the project on the claim that a City Hall would drive economic development. A small police facility was added to the building to help justify the financing.
About $230 million over roughly 69,000 residents, before interest. Hutto had a developer build its city hall in exchange for city land.
| Date | Item | His vote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-07-26 | Fund and solicit a master developer for Downtown East | Yes | Minutes |
| 2023-01-10 | Select the master developer | Yes (unanimous) | Minutes |
| 2023-11-28 | Preliminary development agreement | Yes (unanimous) | Minutes |
| 2024-11-12 | Up to $8,000,000 of TIRZ money for the parking garage | Yes (unanimous) | Minutes |
| 2025-11-25 | Create the Monarch condominium association | Yes | Minutes |
| 2026-09-08 | Lease space inside the new City Hall to a coffee shop | Yes | Minutes |
| 2026-09-22 | Same lease, second reading | Yes | Minutes |
| 2021-06-29 | Notice of intent: $5 million COs for EMS | Yes | Minutes |
| 2023-07-25 | Certificates of obligation ordinance | Yes (unanimous) | Minutes |
| 2025-02-11 | Notice of intent: COs Series 2025, up to $142M | Yes (unanimous) | Minutes |
| 2025-12-09 | Notice of intent: $52,995,000 COs | Yes (unanimous) | Minutes |
| 2025-12-09 | Notice of intent: $27,180,000 COs (he seconded) | Yes (moved/seconded) | Minutes |
| 2026-01-27 | COs Series 2026B, $27,180,000 | Yes (unanimous) | Minutes |
| 2026-03-24 | COs Series 2026C | Yes (unanimous) | Minutes |