This is a live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Monday, May 14. It is not the official minutes.
The workshop and regular meetings can be watched live on Suddenlink Ch. 19, or online. An archive of previous council meetings also is available on the site.
9:04 p.m.
The workshop meeting has adjourned. The council meets again May 24.
8:46 p.m.
The regular meeting has been adjourned. The council will now complete the workshop agenda, including the council calendar, future agenda items, committee reports and the council's strategic plan.
8:45 p.m.
Naming Policy for City Facilities
The council voted unanimously to table changes to the naming policy for city facilities and sub-facilities until the next council meeting on May 24. The revised guidelines include definitions of facilities and sub-facilities, naming criteria and guidelines, restrictions on the naming of facilities, procedures for the naming process and guidelines for the renaming process. The revisions also address plaques, markers and memorials.
Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:
8:28 p.m.
Residential Utility Deposit/Commercial Delinquent Fees
The council discussed a proposal to raise utility deposit amounts for residential customers and the delinquent fee for commercial customers to help offset the amount of write-offs due to non-payments, which have increased in recent years. The council will consider approving the changes at its May 24 meeting. Last year, College Station Utilities had to write-off more than $623,000 and already has written off more than $554,000 so far this year. CSU's good-paying customers eventually pay for these write-offs.
Here's the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:
7:58 p.m.
Public Utility Easement Abandonment
After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved the abandonment of a 0.1444 acre, 20-foot wide public utility easement near University Drive and Church Avenue to allow for future development.
7:40 p.m.
Youth Advisory Council
The council received the annual report on the Youth Advisory Council, which was created in 2007 to help educate youths about city government, departments, programs and activities. Made up of high school students, the group assists the city council in making informed decisions on issues impacting local youths.
7:34 p.m.
Consent Agenda
The council unanimously approved these consent agenda items:
- The FY 13 operating budget for the Brazos Valley Wide Area Communications System (BVWACS) and the city's quarterly payments of about $52,976 (an annual total of $211,904).
- Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchasing Agreements with National Intergovernmental Purchasing Alliance, National Joint Powers Alliance and U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance. The council also authorized the city’s executive director of business services to apply for membership through the organization’s websites.
- The second renewal of a bid to Knife River to provide a six month agreement for the purchase of Type D Hot Mix Asphalt for the maintenance of streets in an amount not to exceed $630,000 ($63 per ton). The council also authorized the city manager to execute the renewal agreement on its behalf.
This item was pulled from the agenda for a separate vote, and passed by a 5-2 margin:
- The Section 3 Plan Implementation Plan and Administrative Guide to comply with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines. The Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1994, requires employment and other economic opportunities generated by HUD funds be directed to low- and very low-income residents as much as is feasible. Council members Jess Fields and Karl Mooney voted against the motion. Earlier, Fields and Mooney made a motion to delay the item so it could be discussed at a future workshop. The motion was defeated, 4-2. Council member Dave Ruesink was absent.
7:27 p.m.
Eight people addressed the council during "Hear Visitors."
7:02 p.m.
The workshop meeting was temporarily adjourned, and the regular meeting has started. The council will return to the workshop agenda after the regular meeting.
7:01 p.m.
Strategic Plan and FY 2013 Budget Update
The council received an update on its strategic plan and the process for the Fiscal Year 2013 city budget. City staff will prepare the proposed budget in June and July, and present it to the council by early August. Budget workshops will be conducted in August and September, with final adoption required by Sept. 27. A public hearing has been scheduled for August 23. The city is seeing moderate growth, including a slight increase in sales tax revenues, but growth in property values is expected to be minimal.
Here's the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:
6:14 p.m.
The mayor presented a proclamation recognizing May as National Bike Month.
6:10 p.m.
The workshop meeting has started.