On Tuesday, City Council will consider approving the sole-source purchase of water meters from Core & Main, Inc. for $4,299,996; a purchase that would be funded through the water fund balance and would mark the final phase of San Angelo’s multiyear Neptune Water Meter Replacement Program.
The Water Utilities Department is in its fourth year of the citywide meter replacement effort, which was designed in phases to manage costs and reduce impacts on annual operating capital. According to city documents, this final purchase will allow the program to be completed by late spring or early summer of 2027.
The purchase would draw $916,512 from the Water Operating Budget and $3,383,484 from the Water Fund Balance, according to agenda documents. Funds from the Water Capital account and additional fund balance would cover remaining costs.
The effort is tied to San Angelo’s compliance obligations under the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revision, which requires data submission and public availability of service line testing results by October 2027.
Installation Contract for Water Meters and Service Line Testing
Council will also consider a related contract with Core & Main, Inc. for the installation of water meters and citywide service line testing. The proposed $2.5 million agreement would be funded in fiscal year 2026 through the Water Capital account.
The contract falls under an HGAC cooperative purchase and represents the final installation phase needed to replace outdated water meters and confirm that no lead service lines remain connected to any customer meter in San Angelo.
City staff said the installation work is expected to be completed by spring 2027 to meet federal requirements. The city’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system will incorporate the new meters for automatic usage reporting and billing.
New Plan for Improving Santa Fe and Downtown River Parks
Council is scheduled to review a proposed contract with SWA Group for the Santa Fe/Downtown River Parks Master Plan and design services. The $198,600 agreement would be funded through the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ), the San Angelo Development Corporation (COSADC), and the General Capital Projects fund balance.
The planning effort will create a comprehensive conceptual blueprint for Santa Fe Park and the adjacent downtown river parks, including Civic League, Sunken Garden, Bart DeWitt and Rio Concho. It will also integrate the Concho River Legacy Trail sculpture series, a public art project endorsed by Council in 2025.
The project includes landscape planning, trail connectivity, public meeting processes and coordination with local stakeholder groups, including neighborhood associations, arts organizations and city advisory boards.
According to city documents, SWA Group was selected following an RFQ process that drew 11 submissions. A committee shortlisted and interviewed three firms before recommending SWA for the project. The master plan will include conceptual designs for Kids Kingdom, riverfront coordination, a general management framework and landscape plans for art installations.
Animal Shelter Improvements: Proposed Kennel Pods and Facility Upgrades
Council will also hear a presentation and may provide direction on proposed improvements at the Animal Shelter, including construction of new kennel pods and a future administration building. City staff said the current shelter, which has undergone multiple design revisions, faces electrical system limitations and high projected costs for temporary animal housing during construction.
The updated concept calls for building four kennel pods, each containing 20 to 25 kennels with private outdoor runs, designed to reduce disease transmission and modernize shelter operations.
The city has $2,030,028 allocated for the project, with each kennel pod estimated to cost $350,000 to $500,000. Construction would be completed in phases, with initial design work projected to conclude by May 2026 and full project completion estimated in fall 2027.
Council will consider authorizing design services to advance the concept.
Attend a Meeting
The San Angelo City Council will hold a regular meeting at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 2 at the McNease Convention Center South Meeting Room, 501 Rio Concho Drive. The meeting is open to the public.
