Live Blog: Thursday’s city council meetings (April 10)

This is a live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, April 10. 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.

6:42 p.m.

Consent Agenda Discussion

The council will vote on items listed on the consent agenda during tonight’s regular meeting, but these items were pulled for workshop discussion:

• Free Parking on Boyett Street: Approval of this item would establish four free parking spaces on the west side of Boyett from Patricia Street to Church Avenue, which would bring to 17 the number of free on-street parking spaces in the Northgate District.
• USGS Joint Funding Agreement: The joint funding agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey for stream stations would help provide actual field-measured data for the calibration of engineered flood studies. The city’s regulated floodplains impact hundreds of properties valued at millions of dollars, and many of the city’s major capital projects are influenced by flood studies, which also impact associated flood insurance rates and development regulation.
• Water Conservation Grant: The inter-local agreement includes a $57,500 grant from the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District to create a system to help residents avoid overwatering their landscapes and lawns. The system would include a weather station and rain gauges that auto-report to a database and website created by Texas A&M Agri-Life.
• Enterprise Resource Planning Replacement Project: The consent agenda includes two items related to the ERP project to replace the city’s wide-ranging business software: (1) A $69,000 software maintenance and support agreement and a $531,000 license and installation agreement with CRW Systems, Inc.; and (2) a master agreement for $1,421,077 with Tyler Technologies for software licenses and implementation services.
• Emergency Management Plan: The 2014 Emergency Management Plan outlines the approach of local government entities to emergency operations and provides general guidance for emergency management.

7:07 p.m. 

P&Z Commission Plan of Work

The council unanimously voted to accept the Planning and Zoning Commission‘s 2014 plan of work.

 7:54 p.m.

Rental Registration Program changes

The council discussed recommended changes to the rental registration program and related code enforcement efforts. The council did not vote on the proposed changes, and a public hearing will be scheduled at a later date. For more detail on the recommendations, see pages 9-14 of the workshop packet.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

8:04 p.m.

After the council discussed its calendar, future agenda items and committee reports, the workshop meeting was adjourned.

8:05 p.m.

The regular meeting has started.

8:08 p.m.

Rock Prairie Behavioral Health Day

Mayor Nancy Berry revisited its April 7 action of proclaiming that day as Rock Prairie Behavioral Health Day to mark the grand opening of the new mental health facility on Normand Drive near the College Station Medical Center. The 55,000-square foot, 72-bed facility treats children, adolescents, adults and seniors. Pictured below are (l-r): MaxAnne Jones, RPBH director of Human Resources; Laurie Garrett, RPBH executive administrative assistant; Mayor Nancy Berry; Duane Runyan, RPBH chief executive officer; and Anthony Moore, RPBH director of Business Development.

8:24 p.m.

Hear Visitors

Six people spoke during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the council on any item that doesn’t appear on the posted regular agenda: Ben Roper recognized Cpl. Brian M. Kennedy of Houston, who died in 2003 in Operation Iraqi Freedom; members of the Brazos County Health Department promoted National Public Health Week; Two people spoke in support of the rental registration program and increased fines for violations; one person was against the program because he said existing ordinances address rental housing issues; and one person said he was concerned about privacy and compliance issues in the program.

 8:25 p.m.

Consent Agenda

The council unanimously approved the entire consent agenda:

• A $147,628 contract with CENTEX Hydroseed, plus $11,000 for one alternate, for improvements to athletic fields in Veterans Park and Athletic Complex.
• Four free parking spaces on the west side of Boyett from Patricia Street to Church Avenue, bringing to 17 the number of free on-street parking spaces in the Northgate District.
• A joint funding agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey for water resources investigations for stream stations.
• An estoppel certificate with Northgate and the Research Valley Partnership.
• An inter-local agreement that includes a $57,500 grant from the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District to create a system to help residents avoid overwatering their landscapes and lawns. The system will include a weather station and rain gauges that auto-report to a database and website created by Texas A&M Agri-Life.
• A $69,000 software maintenance and support agreement and a $531,000 license and installation agreement with CRW Systems, Inc.
• A master agreement for $1,421,077 with Tyler Technologies for software licenses and implementation services for the Enterprise Resource Planning system.
• A payment of $140,001.90 to the Brazos Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau for preferred access to Texas A&M University facilities.
• The 2014 Emergency Management Plan.

8:29 p.m.

Montclair Avenue Rezoning

After a public hearing, the council unanimously voted to change the zoning district boundaries from Duplex to General Suburban for about a half-acre of land generally located at 805-809 Montclair Avenue.

8:31 p.m.

Barron Road Rezoning

After another public hearing, the council also unanimously voted to change the zoning district boundaries from Rural to General Suburban for about two acres generally located at 2670 Barron Road.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council (this presentation also includes the Montclair rezoning from the previous agenda item):

 

8:52 p.m.

Barracks II Rezoning

After a public hearing, the council voted 6-0 to change the zoning district boundaries from Rural and Planned Development District to Planned Development District for about 88 acres in the Barracks II Subdivision, which is generally located at 12470 Barron Road. Place 5 Councilmember Julie Schultz recused herself from the vote, citing a conflict of interest.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

9:08 p.m.

Budget Amendment No. 3

After a public hearing, the council unanimously voted to amend the FY 14 budget to provide $46,327 in additional hotel tax funds for the Bryan-College Station Convention and Visitors Bureau’s grant program.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

9:08 p.m.

The regular meeting was adjourned. The council meets again April 24.