Pflugerville City Government Glossary

City and policy terms

These definitions explain how terms are used on this site. An ordinance, contract, meeting packet, or other official record controls when a legal definition matters.

Automated license plate reader (ALPR)

A camera system that reads license plates and records the plate number, time, location, and an image of the vehicle. Flock Safety sold the ALPR system Pflugerville used until Council ended the contract.

CAPCOG

The Capital Area Council of Governments, a regional planning organization of local governments in the Austin area.

Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)

A multi-year plan for major public projects such as roads, water lines, wastewater facilities, parks, and public buildings. The plan identifies expected projects, timing, and funding sources.

City Council

Pflugerville's elected governing body. Council adopts ordinances, approves the budget and major contracts, sets policy, and hires and evaluates the City Manager.

City Manager

The official appointed by City Council to manage city operations and staff and to carry out council policy.

Consent agenda

A group of routine meeting items considered together through one vote unless a councilmember asks to discuss an item separately.

Emergency Services District (ESD)

A local government district that provides or funds fire protection, emergency medical services, or both. Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2 serves Pflugerville and the surrounding area.

Fixed utility charge

The part of a utility bill charged regardless of how much water a customer uses. A high fixed charge can make the effective price per gallon higher for low-use households.

FY27 (fiscal year 2027)

The City's budget year that began October 1, 2026 and ends September 30, 2027. FY27 water and wastewater rates took effect on October 1, 2026.

Impact fee

A one-time charge on new development that pays for part of the water, wastewater, or roadway capacity needed to serve that growth. State law limits how cities calculate and use these fees.

Legistar

The online system where the City posts Council agendas, legislation, minutes, and votes.

No-new-revenue tax rate

The property-tax rate calculated to produce the same amount of taxes from properties taxed in both the current and prior year. The full state calculation includes adjustments, including the treatment of new property.

Planning and Zoning Commission

An appointed board that reviews land-use and development matters and makes recommendations to City Council when council has final authority.

Utility rate study

An analysis of utility costs, debt, customer classes, usage, and revenue needs. It tests how different rate structures would distribute costs among customers.

Right-of-way

Public land reserved for streets, sidewalks, utilities, drainage, and related infrastructure. Construction within it is controlled through city permits and standards.

SAFE Act

Pflugerville's technology policy, adopted by Council on October 27, 2026. SAFE stands for secure, accountable, fair, and explainable. It requires a public Council vote before the City buys, renews, or expands high-risk technology.

Taxable value

The portion of a property's appraised value used to calculate property taxes after applicable exemptions and legal limits are applied.

Unified Development Code (UDC)

Pflugerville's rules for zoning, subdivisions, site design, streets, landscaping, and other parts of land development.

Water-rate tier

A usage range billed at a stated price. Tiered rates can charge different prices as a household uses more water during a billing period.

Official references

Texas law supplies the controlling definitions and calculations for several terms on this page. See the Texas Comptroller's truth-in-taxation guidance, Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395 for impact fees, and the Travis County Emergency Services District directory.