This is a live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, July 11. 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.
6:10 p.m.
The workshop meeting has started.
6:49 p.m.
Brazos Central Appraisal District Update
The council received an update from the Brazos Central Appraisal District on the property evaluation process, property tax law changes, protest procedures and timelines, and other appraisal related issues.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:
7:03 p.m.
BVSWMA Budget
The council unanimously voted to the FY14 proposed budget for BVSWMA, Inc., which operates the Twin Oaks Landfill and maintains the old Rock Prairie Road Landfill. The budget includes revenues of about $6.88 million and expenses of almost $7.65 million. The Twin Oaks landfill handles about 300,000 tons of municipal solid waste each year.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:
7:13 p.m.
After the council discussed its calendar, future agenda items and committee reports, the workshop was adjourned. The regular meeting will start momentarily.
7:25 p.m.
The regular meeting has started.
7:27 p.m.
Hear Visitors
No one signed up to speak during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the council on any item that doesn’t appear on the posted agenda.
7:29 p.m.
Consent Agenda
The council unanimously approved these consent items:
- A “Resolution Declaring Intention to Reimburse Certain Expenditures with Proceeds from Debt” for expenditures related to the Rio Grande/2818 Signal Rehabilitation project, the FM 2818 School Zone Signalization project, the Wellborn/F&B Signal project, the University Drive Pedestrian Improvements Phase II project and electric utility capital projects.
- The first of two renewal options of an annual blanket purchase for $80,000 with Boundtree Medical for EMS supplies.
- A contract for $57,980 with Safran MorphoTrust USA for the replacement of handprint and fingerprint systems at the Police Department.
- A reimbursement of $44,094.84 to the Texas Department of Transportation for the Wellborn Road Widening project.
- A Quitclaim agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for easements that were acquired for widening Wellborn Road.
- An interlocal agreement with the City of Denton for cooperative purchasing activities.
- A contract for $75,000 with Alan Plummer Associates to prepare renewal applications for the city’s three wastewater discharge permits.
- An advance funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the Rise at Northgate.
- A local agreement with Brazos County and the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office for the disposition of forfeited contraband seized under Chapter 59 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
- An interlocal agreement with the College Station Independent School District for School Resource Officers.
- A contract for $50,000 with Dunham Engineering for services related to the rehabilitation of the city’s 5 million gallon ground storage reservoir.
- An amendment to the Front End Loader Container Lease Agreement with Texas Commercial Waste, and a one-time increase of $30,568 to the existing lease purchase order.
This item was voted on separately:
- Council voted 6-1 to approve a contract for $219,990 with Faithful + Gould for facilities assessment and maintenance planning. Councilmember Jess Fields voted against the motion.
8:06 p.m.
Kyle Field Agreements
By a 6-1 vote, the council approved a pair of agreements affecting the Kyle Field redevelopment project. Councilmember Fields voted against the motion, The funding agreement with the Convention and Visitors Bureau secures the city’s reserve, unallocated hotel tax funds for access to Texas A&M facilities that will attract large-scale events to town. The assignment and assumption agreement with A&M and the CVB ensures A&M will receive the same funds for the entire 30-year-term if the CVB ceases to be part of the relationship.
Public funds for this project will come entirely from Hotel Occupancy Tax, which is collected from visitors to the community. A 0.75 percent countywide Hotel Occupancy Tax was approved last month by the state legislature and signed by the governor. This source is estimated to generate at least $22 million over the next 30 years. A portion of the current City of College Station Hotel Occupancy Tax also will be used through a facilities access agreement for access to certain A&M facilities at preferred rates. This source is estimated to generate $14 million over the next 30 years.
Between the county hotel tax and the College Station hotel tax, a minimum of $36 millions will be provided to A&M over a 30-year period. According to A&M, the budget for the Kyle Field renovation project is $450 million, of which$18,150,000 will be financed through the preferred facilities access and associated agreements. The estimated annual debt service is $1,199,625.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:
8:32 p.m.
ERP Replacement Update
The council heard an update on plans to replace the city’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software applications for its finance, planning and development, utility customer billing and human resource functions.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:
9:17 p.m.
Community Development Action Plan and Budget
The council reviewed the FY14 Community Development Action Plan and Budget, which includes about $1.4 million in new federal grants to benefit those with low and moderate incomes. Final approval of the plan is scheduled for August 8.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:
9:17 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned. The council meets again July 25.