This is a live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Feb. 14. It’s not the official minutes.
Both meetings are being broadcast live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and can also be watched online. An archive of previous council meetings is available on the website.
6:15 p.m.
The council is still in executive session. The workshop will start in a few minutes.
6:21 p.m.
The workshop meeting has started.
6:37 p.m.
The council discussed several items on tonight's consent agenda, including the Traffic Operations Master Plan, Cafe Eccell lease and the agreement with the Brazos Valley Softball Umpires Association. The consent agenda will be voted on during the regular meeting.
6:46 p.m.
Annual Financial Report and Audit
The council unanimously accepted the annual audit reports and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for Fiscal Year 2012, which ended September 30. The reports summarized the city's financial position. The audits were conducted by the city's external auditor, Ingram, Wallis and Company, which complimented the city on its sound financial practices.
Here's the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:
7:09 p.m.
Rock Prairie MMD Boards
The council heard a presentation on the composition of the boards of directors for Rock Prairie Municipal Management Districts No. 1 (West) and No. 2 (East). It was recommended that all board members be residents or property owners in the city.
The West District board will be required to have 11 members:
- 1 representative of Scott & White Hospital.
- 1 representative of the College Station Medical Center.
- 2 representatives of medical service providers not directly employed by Scott & White or the College Station Medical Center, such as a dentist or doctor's office.
- 4 representatives of businesses not affiliated with medical services, such as retailers or service business owners.
- 1 representative of the City of College Station.
- 2 representatives of property owners within the district who are not affiliated with Scott & White or the College Station Medical Center, such as owners of undeveloped property or shopping centers.
The East District board will be required to have five members:
- 3 representatives submitted from property owners within the district.
- 2 representative of the City of College Station.
Staff also recommended the following process for soliciting names of potential board members for the council to consider:
- West District: Staff will contact the specific entities and solicit names for consideration. For those without specific entities, staff will correspond directly with business and property owners and place a general notice on the city’s web site soliciting names for consideration.
- East District: Staff will convene a meeting of the property owners indicating an interest in participating and will solicit names for consideration.
7:10 p.m.
The workshop has been suspended. After a short break, the regular meeting will begin.
7:18 p.m.
The regular meeting has started. Fire Chief R.B. Alley led the Pledge of Allegiance and the opening prayer.
7:35 p.m.
Three people spoke during Hear Visitors, when citizens can address the council on items that don't appear on the posted agenda. One citizen spoke against selling the College Station Conference Center property, and the other two spoke against the private landfill that's been proposed west of the city.
7:36 p.m.
Consent Agenda
The council unanimously approved these consent agenda items:
- A contract for $209,195 with Environmental Safety Services, Inc., for construction of the Emerald Forest Drainage Improvements Project.
- A contract for $122,100 with Kimley-Horn Associates, Inc., to develop a Traffic Operations Master Plan.
- A contract for $152,000 with Glen Fuqua, Inc., for the installation of a two-course seal coat on McCullough Road, Live Oak Street, Madison Street, Church Street and Royder Road in the Wellborn Area.
- Authorized city staff to negotiate for the purchase of easements for the Bee Creek Parallel Trunk Line Project.
- The second and final reading of a franchise agreement with Brannon Industrial Group d/b/a Premier Metal Buyers for the collection of recyclables from commercial businesses and multi-family locations.
- The second and final reading of a franchise agreement with Budget Roll-Off Services for the collection of construction and demolition debris from residential locations.
- A 45-day lease extension for Cafe Eccell on the First Street property.
- A contract for $76,997 with KIT Professionals, Inc., for design, bidding, construction administration and construction materials testing for the 30-Inch Water Transmission Line Reinstallation Project.
- An annual bid award of $75,000 to Mustang Rental Services of Bryan for the rental of heavy machinery.
- A "Resolution Declaring Intention to Reimburse Certain Expenditures with Proceeds from Debt" for the city’s portion of the construction of the Health Science Center Parkway IB and Phase 2A.
- Amended the authorized representatives on the local government pool account, TexPool.
- Amended the authorized representatives on the local government pool account, Texas Short Term Asset Reserve (TexSTAR).
- The application and acceptance of a grant from the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division (CJD) to assist with the expenses incurred by the capital murder and subsequent investigation of Constable Brian Bachmann.
- A bid award to TSE International, Inc., for a trailer mounted underground cable puller.
- The annual blanket purchase order of $60,000 for the purchase of replacement parts and components for city vehicles from Varsity Ford Lincoln.
The council voted separately on this item:
- By a 6-1 vote, the council approved an agreement not to exceed $190,000 annually with the Brazos Valley Softball Umpires Association to provide officiating services for city athletic leagues, programs and tournaments. Councilmember Jess Fields voted against the item.
7:48 p.m.
Sale of First Street Property
The council unanimously approved sales and economic development agreements with the Research Valley Partnership and Asset Plus Realty Corporation for the sale of 3.36 acres of city-owned property at the corner of Wellborn Road and Church Avenue in the Northgate District, also known as the First Street Property. Asset Plus will purchase the property for almost $3.6 million. After the city acknowledges a grant of $580,000, the final purchase price will be just under $2.98 million.
The $30 million development project will be a four-to-eight story multi-family housing development and associated parking structure and will be finished by Jan. 1, 2016. Asset Plus has also agreed to negotiate a lease with Café Eccell to incorporate it into the final development.
Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:
8:07 p.m.
Oak Terrace Easement Abandonments
After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved the abandonment of three public utility easements in the Oak Terrace Addition to allow development by the Texas A&M University System.
8:31 p.m.
Oak Terrace Right-of-Way Abandonments
After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved two right-of-way abandonments in the Oak Terrace Additions to allow development by the Texas A&M University System.
8:36 p.m.
Council Board Appointments
The council unanimously approved Councilmember James Benham for the BVWACS board, replacing Councilmember Fields. The council also voted to postpone until Feb. 28 appointing a replacement for former Councilmember Dave Ruesink on the Sister Cities board.
8:44 p.m.
Board and Commission Appointments
The council unanimously approved these appointments:
- Scott Shaffer for the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Advisory Board.
- Gary Ives and Jerry Redman for the Historic Preservation Committee.
9:24 p.m.
Green College Station Action Plan
The council unanimously accepted the Green College Station Action Plan, which focuses on fiscally responsible and environmentally conscious programs and initiatives. The plan is on file in the City Secretary’s Office.
Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:
9:24 p.m.
The regular meeting was adjourned. The council will resume the workshop agenda.
9:39 p.m.
After the council reviewed the council calendar, discussed future agenda items and received committee reports, the meeting was adjourned. The council meets again on Feb. 28.