Live Blog: Thursday’s city council meetings (June 12)

This is a live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, June 12. 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.

6:07 p.m.

The workshop has started.

6:13 p.m.

Council Agenda Discussion

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

• Game Day Traffic Study: This project is a follow-up to the 2013 game day traffic study and will include traffic management and implementation plans. The Texas A&M University System has contracted with Texas A&M Transportation Institute for $200,000 to complete the project. The remaining partners will contract individually with the system to fund their respective costs -- $35,000 each from Texas A&M Transportation, Texas A&M University System, City of Bryan, 12th Man Foundation, and City of College Station, and $25,000 from the CVB.
• Wastewater Capacity Study: Water Services routinely monitors the flow levels in the wastewater collection system, and excessive flows during rain events have been detected in the Northgate and Southwood Valley sewer shed areas. The sources of this inflow must be identified and corrected to regain the capacity in the sewer mains and lift stations. This study will identify potential pipe failures, hydraulic capacity issues, and possible illegal connections. In addition, rehabilitation projects will be identified and prioritized. The study will be paid for with wastewater operating funds.

6:27 p.m. 

Reclaimed Water Agreement with Apache

The council discussed an agreement to sell reclaimed wastewater to Apache Corporation for well drilling and fracking. The contract will be voted on as part of the consent agenda later tonight. The first two years of the agreement could result in about $5 million in revenue for the city's water fund.

Under the agreement, Apache would build and operate a pump station near the Carter’s Creek Treatment Plant that will transport effluent through a pipeline to private storage ponds. The city would provide three million gallons per day, which could be increased to five if adequate surplus exists. Apache must still get a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to transport and use the reclaimed water.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

6:39 p.m.

Ringer Library Expansion Project

The council unanimously directed staff to proceed with the design for the Ringer Library expansion that was outlined in the recent library audit report. The $8.4 million project was approved by voters in the 2008 bond election. Construction is expected to be finished by the fall of 2016.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

6:44 p.m. 

After the council discussed its calendar, future agenda items and committee reports, the workshop meeting was adjourned. The regular meeting will start about 7 p.m.

7:03 p.m.

The regular meeting has started.

7:08 p.m.

College Station Cougars Day

Mayor Nancy Berry proclaimed today as College Station Cougars Day in recognition of the school capturing the Class 3A state baseball championship on June 5 in Austin.

The Cougars were led by Head Coach Scott Holder, and assistant coaches Kyle King, Chris Litton, Jason Oualline and J.D. Sullivan.

Team members who achieved this accomplishment were Israel Martinez, Jaxxon Grisham, Jordan Yeatts, Kyle Richardson, Anthony Flores, Matthew Bennett, Cole Whittlesey, Jarrod Norwood, Baylor Rowlett, Cannon Davis, Reece Easterling, Walker Davis, Tristan Roberts, Cody Stabb, Nick Kennedy, MacGregor Hines, Steven Dennis, Dylan Carnes, Jake Acker, Mark Golladay, Jake Georgiades, Ryan Johnson, statisticians Tre Cole and Keaton Shrank, student trainers Emily Sykes and Leah Towslee , and athletic trainer Sam Goodey.

7:28 p.m.

Hear Visitors

Five people spoke during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the council on any item that doesn’t appear on the posted agenda. Ben Roper recognized Chief Warrant Officer Scott Jamar as part of the Fallen Heroes program. A native of Sweetwater, Jamar died in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Four people spoke against Blinn College locating a new campus at the current Science Park site in College Station.

7:29 p.m.

Consent Agenda

The council unanimously approved all the consent items:

• A two-year contract not to exceed $645,638 contract with BerryDunn for providing project management services for the replacement of the city’s business management software system.
• An annual registration fee $50 for each physically separate credit access business in the city limits.
• Amended the natural gas franchise agreement with Atmos Energy.
• The $62,908.83 purchase of network access control system licenses, configuration services and training from Accudata Systems.
• Annual retreaded tire services from Strouhal Tire Recapping Plant for $70,000 through the State of Texas tire contract.
• A resolution directing publication of notice of intention to issue series 2014 certificates of obligation and providing an effective date.
• A resolution declaring intention to reimburse certain expenditures with proceeds from debt for the Royder Road/Live Oak Sewer Extension project.
• A $95,000 letter agreement with Ingram, Wallis & Co.  P.C. for auditing services for the FY14 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.
• An interlocal agreement with the Texas A&M University System for a follow-up study to evaluate and improve game day traffic operations. The city’s portion of the cost is $35,000.
• Implemented all-way stop control at the intersection of Church Avenue and Tauber Street.
• A Deed without Warranty that will convey a small, 20-foot wide strip of land in front of the former College Station Conference Center to the College Station Independent School District.
• The first renewal of an annual price agreement not to exceed $462,000 with Superior Crushed Stone for crushed stone for city streets.
• A $130,705 contract with Binkley and Barfield for the design, bidding, and construction services associated with the Eisenhower Street Extension project.
• Cancelled a blanket purchase order with Joe Orr, Inc., and approved contracts totaling $100,000 with Joe Orr and Binkley & Barfield.
• A treasury management agreement with Branch Banking & Trust.
• A change order for $53,975.55 with TxDOT on the Rock Prairie Road Bridge project.
• A $731,135.28 bid award for steel, fiberglass, and concrete electric distribution poles to Creative Pultrusions ($143,920.05), KBS Electrical Distributors ($163,578), RS Technologies ($317,115.23), and TransAmerican Power Products ($106,522).
• A $184,815.50 contract with InterraHydro for an investigative study of wastewater collection system capacity in the Northgate and Southwood Valley areas.
• A reclaimed water supply agreement with Apache Corporation. This item was discussed in the workshop.
• Budget transfers between several departments within the General Fund.

9:15 p.m.

Rental Registration Revisions

After a public hearing, the council unanimously voted to table until its June 26 meeting a motion to revise the city’s rental registration ordinance. The proposed revisions include administrative penalties, requiring a notarized affidavit, and authorizing the administrator to review a copy of the lease. Ten people spoke during the public hearing.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

9:15 p.m.

The council is taking a short break.

9:26 p.m.

The meeting has resumed.

9:32 p.m.

Rock Prairie Road Rezoning

After a public hearing, the council unanimously voted to change the zoning district boundaries from Rural to General Suburban and Townhouse for about 21.8 acres at 3270 Rock Prairie Rd. West.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

9:34 p.m.

Barron Road Rezoning

After a public hearing, the council unanimously voted to rezone about 2.961 at 2668 Barron Rd. from Rural to General Suburban.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

9:38 p.m.

University Drive Easement Abandonment

After a public hearing, the council unanimously voted to abandon a 574.6-square foot drainage and public utility easement at 511 University Dr. East.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

9:56 p.m.

Local Oil and Gas Development

The council heard a presentation on the potential economic impact of local oil and gas development.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

10:10 p.m.

2015 Bond Election Timeline

The council discussed a tentative timeline and the creation of a citizen advisory committee for a November 2015 bond election. The schedule includes meetings with council-appointed boards and commissions and the community at-large. A final list of recommended projects will be presented for council consideration at the end of the process.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

10:10 p.m.

The regular meeting has been adjourned. The council meets again June 26.

What items on tonight's agenda grabbed your attention?