Live Blog: Thursday’s city council meetings (June 26)

This is a live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, June 26. 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.

5:53 p.m.

The workshop has started. Councilmember Julie Schultz is in California and is participating through a video feed. State law requires governmental bodies to provide for two-way communication that allows all participants to hear and see one another, including the public.

6:01 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:

• Parking Removal on Caudill, Lawyer: The amendment to the city’s traffic code would remove parking along sections of Caudill and Lawyer streets to provide access to emergency vehicles. During planning for the South Knoll Area Neighborhood Plan, residents and property owners identified streets with heavy on-street parking. The Fire Department evaluated these streets and recommended removal of parking on the bends only on Caudill and Lawyer. All residents who attended a public meeting last month supported the plan.
• Contingency for Northgate Police Office: This item is a $47,000 general fund contingency transfer for the outfitting and renovation of Police Department office space in Northgate, which will be used by a full-time unit of eight officers and a sergeant. The larger office will provide a storage and mechanical area for police bicycles and adequate workstations.

 6:37 p.m.

ITS Master Plan

The council was updated on the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Master Plan. In early 2013, Kimley-Horn was contracted to evaluate the city’s traffic signal system and develop a deployment plan to upgrade existing traffic control technology, add technology for better monitoring of traffic conditions at strategic intersections, and manage special events.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

7:02 p.m.

Safety City Program

The council heard a presentation on the Safety City Program, which develops facilities to teach safety to children.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

7:19 p.m.

Community Development Action Plan

The council reviewed the proposed FY 2015 (PY 2014) Action Plan and Budget. New grant amounts available for FY14 include more than $1 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and $401,912 in HOME Investment Partnership Grant (HOME) funds.

These funds may only be used to benefit low- and moderate-income people, aid in the elimination of slum and blight influences, or meet a particular urgent need. CDBG funds may also be used to meet local needs through community development activities, while HOME funds may only be used for affordable housing activities.

The proposed plans and budget were developed using public input from a series of hearings, program committee meetings, and citizen comments. Historically, the city has used these funds for affordable housing programs, direct services to low-income families, and infrastructure and public facility improvements in low-income areas.

 7:19 p.m.

The workshop has been suspended. The regular meeting will start after a short break.

7:29 p.m.

The regular meeting has started.

7:37 p.m.

Hear Visitors

Four people signed up to speak during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the council on any item that doesn’t appear on the posted agenda. Two thanked the council for its participation in the Chamber of Commerce’s recent trip to Washington, D.C. and its support of local businesses. One thanked the council for its service to the community. Finally, Ben Roper recognized Master Sgt. George Fernandez as part of the Fallen Heroes Memorial. A native of El Paso, the 36-year-old Fernandez died in Iraq on April 2, 2003.

7:37 p.m.

Consent Agenda

The council unanimously approved the entire consent agenda:

• A $192,832 contract with Avinext to upgrade cameras and other components of the video surveillance security system at various water facilities.
• A change order of $16,593 to the agreement with NextGen Parking for Northgate Parking Garage equipment maintenance.
• Renewal of an annual price agreement not to exceed $147,960 with Brazos Paving for the purchase of cement stabilized sand.
• A semi-annual price agreement not to exceed $960,000 ($64 per ton) with Knife River for Type D hot mix asphalt for street maintenance.
• Renewal of the annual price agreement not to exceed $526,000 with Knife River for installed Type II, FGSMA hot mix asphalt.
• Removal of parking along sections of Caudill Street and Lawyer Street to provide emergency vehicle access.
• A $101,348.12 contract with Goodwin-Lasiter-Strong or the design of sidewalk improvements along Langford Street and Guadalupe Drive.
• An $81,000 contract with Jones and Carter for professional engineering services related to the conceptual design for the Luther Street Rehabilitation Project.
• Ratification of expenses for temporary employment services for FY13 with Express Services ($68,164.26); temporary employment services for FY14 to-date with Express Services ($37,256.50); temporary employment services for FY14 to-date with Spherion Staffing ($19.808.75); and approval of FY14 anticipated expenditures with Express Services ($15,000) and Spherion Staffing ($15,000).
• A contingency transfer of $47,000 for the outfitting and renovation of Police Department office space in Northgate.
• The second of two renewal options for an annual blanket purchase of $80,000 with Boundtree Medical for EMS supplies.
• The second reading of an amendment to the natural gas franchise ordinance with Atmos Energy.

7:45 p.m.

Agreement with Kalon Biotherapeutics

The council unanimously approved an economic development agreement with Kalon Biotherapeutics, a private company established by the Texas A&M University System to provide advanced biologics development at the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing. The total incentive will not exceed $1,093,548.61 over seven years and is calculated as a percentage of property taxes paid.

Kalon is obligated to create $70 million in real and personal property valuation, along with 100 full-time equivalent jobs with an annual payroll of $6 million beginning in 2018. The economic development agreement is available in the City Secretary’s Office.

In 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services established three Centers for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing (CIADM) to develop and manufacture medical countermeasures. The Texas A&M University System was selected to lead one of the centers in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Lonza and Kalon.

As GSK’s development partner, Kalon Biotherapeutics is responsible for cell-based pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccines and is a commercial development and manufacturing organization for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear vaccines and medical countermeasures.

The agreement is conditioned upon the City of Bryan approving an agreement to grant to Kalon its portion of the shared revenue received, which is estimated to be not less than $411,451.39.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

7:50 p.m.

PUE Abandonments at Chimney Hill

After a public hearing, the council unanimously abandoned 11 public utility easements in the Chimney Hill retail plaza to allow for development.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

10:07 p.m.

Rental Registration Changes

After a public hearing, the council voted 6-1 to revise the city’s rental registration ordinance to include a citation provision and a requirement that the lease be presented upon request to the administrator for review. Councilmember James Benham voted against the motion. The revisions take effect 45 days from today.

Twenty four people spoke during the public hearing — 12 opposed to the ordinance, 11 in favor, and one neutral. Eighteen people submitted written comments.

An earlier motion by Benham to allow the city only to request relevant contact information for tenants, and not the lease, was defeated by a 4-3 vote. Julie Schultz and Steve Aldrich joined Benham in voting for the motion.

Proposed revisions presented on June 12 included a requirement that a notarized affidavit be provided as part of the registration, but that item was removed in favor of a strongly-worded acknowledgement on the rental registration form.

The citation provision gives the city the option of assessing a civil fine ranging from $180 for the first offense up to a maximum of $500 for three or more offenses. However, each day the violation continues is deemed a separate offense. An individual who receives a citation is entitled to due process, including an administrative hearing and the right to judicial appeal.

The city retains the authority to criminally prosecute offenders, but administrative penalties for code violations may now be imposed in addition to criminal prosecution. The amendment allows the city the additional option of civil enforcement to provide as much flexibility as possible.

Effective enforcement will require additional resources and additional code enforcement personnel will be requested in the FY15 budget process.

To see the entire ordinance, go to pages 124-129 of the council’s regular meeting agenda packet.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

10:10 p.m.

Floyd Appointed to P&Z Commission 

The council unanimously appointed Rick Floyd to the Planning & Zoning Commission to replace Brad Corrier, who recently resigned.

10:10 p.m.

The regular meeting has been adjourned. The workshop meeting will resume.

10:19 p.m.

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

Please note that the July 10 council meetings have been cancelled, and the next council meeting will be July 24.

What do you think about tonight’s meeting?