Here’s a quick look at some of the items the College Station City Council will be considering Thursday (May 26) at its workshop and regular meetings. This blog is not intended as a complete and official agenda. Click here to see the complete agenda packets.
New Council Members
The three newly-elected city council members – Julie Schultz, Blanche Brick and Karl Mooney — will be taking part in their first official council meetings. The trio was sworn in on May 19.
Workshop Meeting (3 p.m.)
Appointments to Boards, Committees and Commissions
The city council will hear an overview of the process of making appointments to various boards, committees and commissions. Vacancies on various committees are advertised from April through June, and the council makes appointments in July. Each staff liaison is contacted to obtain updated contact information from each committee member and to notify current membership of the application process if a member wishes to re-apply. The City Secretary’s Office will conduct a mandatory orientation for all boards, committees, and commissions after the council makes its appointments.
Taxicab Ordinance Update
The city council will discuss an update to the existing ordinance that regulates taxicabs operating within the city limits. The council first discussed the ordinance last fall but did not take any action at that time. At the council’s direction, staff has completed a review of the ordinance and will recommend changes to address the operation of taxicabs.
Update on FY12 Budget Process
The city council will hear an update on the FY 12 budget process.
Regular Meeting (7 p.m.)
Consent Agenda
This is not a complete list of consent agenda items. Click here to view all the consent items.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Administrative Services Contract
The city council will consider an administrative services agreement contract renewal with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas for the city’s medical, dental and prescription drug plan in the amount of $434,189. The city’s benefits consultant negotiated a 3 percent decrease on the combined medical and dental administration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The required funds are available in the employee benefits fund.
Franchise Agreements for Medical Waste, Residential Debris Disposal
The city council will hear the first reading of a two non-exclusive franchise agreements. One would be with Stericycle, Inc., to collect and dispose of medical waste from local health care-related facilities. Since untreated medical waste is not allowed in any BVSWMA landfill, the city privatized the state-mandated service in 2005. The other agreement would be with BCS Stop ‘N Go Potties to collect construction and demolition debris from solid waste industry containers at residential sites. Under these proposed five-year agreements, the franchisees would pay the city 5 percent of the revenues generated from their collection services. The city charter requires three separate readings of each before the council can approve these franchises.
Woodcreek Park Improvements
The city council will consider a construction contract in the amount of $57,132.50 for the renovation of Woodcreek Park, which was built in 1991. The bid amount is more than $15,000 under the projected budget of $72,850. The project will be funded with bond money that was approved by voters in the 2008 city election. Improvements would include new sidewalks, drinking fountain, pea gravel for the playground, earthwork, sodding and resurfacing of the existing basketball court. Many of the repairs are related to safety or replacement of items that are no longer in good or acceptable condition. The renovations also will address compliance issues with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Regular Agenda
UDO Amendment for Campus Wayfinding Signs
The council will discuss an amendment to the city’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) related to sign requirements, which is part of the continuing efforts to make the city more business-friendly. In January, the council directed staff to pursue UDO amendments identified by a subcommittee of the Mayor’s Forum on Development. The UDO currently provides limited options for wayfinding signage within a development. Signs that are not easily identified from beyond the property line or right-of-way are exempt from the sign requirements when they meet a specified distance from the property line and when the height of the copy or logo is restricted to a specified size. In addition, only one directional traffic control sign is allowed per curb cut, with a maximum size of 3 sq. ft. and height of 4 ft.
The proposed amendment would allow campus wayfinding signs within unified developments or planned development districts of 20 acres or more in size that contain multiple buildings. These signs would be limited in height to no greater than 6 ft. with a maximum total sign area of 30 sq. ft.
Watch the Meetings Live on Ch. 19
The workshop and regular meetings can be seen live on Suddenlink Ch. 19, or online at the cstx.gov/cstv19. Previous council meetings are archived on the site.
