City Council Meeting Live Blog (Nov. 10)

8:50 p.m.

After discussing the council calendar, future agenda items and committee reports, the meeting was adjourned.

8:22 p.m.

Animal Shelter Board

The council unanimously approved the appointment of Chantal Vassali as the city’s new representative on the Brazos Animal Shelter Board. The regular meeting was adjourned and the council returned to the unfinished portion of the workshop agenda.

8:20 p.m.

Rezoning for 6100 Victoria Avenue

The council unanimously approved  a rezoning request for 6.86 acres west of the Castlegate Subdivision on Victoria Avenue to allow residential development. The proposed rezoning is compatible with nearby properties, which are being developed for single-family residential uses. Here is the Powerpoint presentation received by the council:

8:10 p.m.

Rezoning for 2041 Holleman Drive West

The council unanimously approved a rezoning request for 1.217 acres on the northeast corner of the Holleman Drive and Harvey Mitchell Parkway intersection to allow commercial development. The rezoning would include a buffer yard along the property lines of nearby apartment complexes. Here’s the Powerpoint presentation the council received:

7:55 p.m.

Consent Agenda

The council unanimously approved all the consent agenda items except for c, f, g, p and s. Item g, which deals with a clinical affiliation agreement with the College Station Medical Center and the Emergency Medical Services Program, was passed by a 5-0-1 vote, with Mayor Nancy Berry abstaining. Berry sits on the hospital’s board. Items c, p and s were approved by a 5-1 vote, with Jess Fields voting against all three. Item f was approved by a 6-0 vote after it was amended at the request of Council Member Karl Mooney.

7:40 p.m.

Special Presentations

The rest of the workshop agenda was suspended until after the regular meeting out of consideration for people waiting for a pair of special presentations, which were scheduled for the start of the regular meeting. Members of College Hills Baptist Church were presented with a city historical marker for their church building, and the College Station Police Department was recognized for receiving the Thomson Reuters Award for Excellence in Investigations from the International Association of Police Chiefs.

7:10 p.m.

Revenue Rescue Cost Recovery

The council unanimously approved the concept of the Revenue Rescue Cost Recovery Program, which will recover some of the costs associated with emergency responses by the College Station Fire Department. The City of Bryan and Brazos County already have similar programs in place. Examples of responses where costs will be recovered include vehicle accidents where hazardous materials are spilled and accidents where hydraulic rescue tools are used. The funds will be collected from the responsible party’s insurance company. Private property that’s not commercially owned, operated or zoned, or individuals without insurance, will be exempt. Estimates indicate the program will generate about $125,000 annually. Here’s the Powerpoint presentation received by the council:

7:02 p.m.

The workshop meeting has resumed.

5:14 p.m.

The council has gone into executive session and will resume the workshop agenda when it returns at 7 p.m.

5:12 p.m.

Electric Deregulation in Texas

The council just finished hearing a presentation by Mark Zion, Executive Director of the Texas Public Power Association, on how electric deregulation has affected public power utilities in Texas. In 1999, the Texas Legislature passed legislation requiring all investor-owned utilities in the ERCOT region to offer retail deregulation beginning in 2002. This same legislation also allowed municipal electric utilities and electric cooperatives to opt out of retail deregulation. The presentation reviewed what has happened in Texas since the 1999 legislation was passed and how it has affected public power. Zion said none of the 72 municipally-owned utilities in Texas have opted for deregulation. The council agreed to continue the discussion in future meetings.

4:00 p.m.

National Junior College Football Bowl Game

The council received a presentation regarding a proposal for an annual National Junior College Athletic Association football bowl game in College Station beginning in December 2012.  The council will consider approving a formal request for the bowl game on Nov. 21. In August, Blinn Collegebegan working on the proposal with the Bryan/College Station Convention and Visitors Bureau. The group has met with Texas A&M officials and has compiled anticipated attendance numbers, budget and other items.  The Brazos Valley Bowl presented by Blinn College would be played at Kyle Field on the Texas A&M campus. Hotel Occupancy Tax funds will be requested to assist with the proposal and eventual event. Here’s the Powerpoint presentation received by the council: