Live Blog: Thursday’s city council meetings (Aug. 14)

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

5:50 p.m.

The workshop has started. Councilmember James Benham is out-of-town but is participating in the meeting through a digital feed.

5:56 p.m.

Council Agenda Discussion

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

• 2015 Bond Citizen Advisory Committee: This item creates a citizen committee to make recommendations for a bond election in November 2015.

 6:16 p.m.

E-Cigarette Regulations

The council discussed proposed regulations regarding electronic cigarettes, which are battery-powered devices that look like traditional cigarettes and are designed to simulate the experiences of smoking. The devices don’t use tobacco but may contain liquid or synthetic nicotine. The use of e-cigarettes is known as “vaping” because the heating element vaporizes the liquid solution, creating a cloud resembling smoke. Staff recommends that the city’s smoking ordinance be amended to include these provisions:

1. E-cigarettes cannot be sold to minors (17 or younger).
2. Minors cannot be in possession of e-cigarettes.
3. E-cigarettes are prohibited in places where tobacco cigarettes are prohibited.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

6:30 p.m.

FY15 BVSWMA Budget

The council voted unanimously to approve the proposed FY2015 BVSWMA, Inc., budget, which includes $7.2 million in revenue and $8.1 million in operating expenses.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

6:55 p.m.

FY15 City Budget

The council received its first look at the city’s proposed FY15 budget, which includes no utility rate increases for residential customers and the first property tax increase in four years. The council will conduct a series of in-depth budget workshops Monday thru Wednesday. A public hearing on the tax rate will be held on Sept. 3, followed by a public hearing on the tax rate and budget at the council’s regular meeting on Sept. 11. Final adoption is scheduled for Sept. 22.

• Document: FY15 Proposed City Budget
• News Release: Proposed FY15 budget addresses College Station’s brisk growth

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

6:58 p.m.

After the council discussed its calendar, future agenda items and committee reports, the workshop meeting was adjourned. The regular meeting will start after a short break.

7:12 p.m.

The regular meeting has started.

7:16 p.m.

Hear Visitors

One person signed up to speak during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the council on any item that doesn’t appear on the posted agenda. Ben Roper recognized Marine Cpl. Jesus Martin Antonio Medellin as part of the Fallen Heroes Memorial program. Medellin, a 21-year-old from Fort Worth, was killed in Iraq on April 7, 2003.

7:17 p.m.

Consent Agenda

The council voted unanimously to approve these consent items:

• A General Election on Nov. 4 to elect councilmembers for places 1, 3 and 5, established early voting locations, and made provisions for conducting the election.
• An interlocal government agreement for Brazos County to conduct and manage the City of College Station’s General Election on Nov. 4.
• A $74,166 purchase order with Alfa Laval to overhaul the centrifuge at the Carters Creek wastewater treatment plant.
• Creation of the 2015 Bond Citizen Advisory Committee.
• A $28,900 contract with Dudley Construction to replace playground equipment at Pebble Creek Park.
• A $100,000 contract with Kimley-Horn Associates for an Americans with Disabilities Act self-evaluation and transition plan.
• An amendment to the economic development agreement with the Research Valley Partnership and PM Realty Group.
• A $341,078.31 contract with Jamail & Smith Construction for various facilities corrective maintenance services.
• Authorization for city staff to negotiate the purchase of easements needed for the Nimitz Street Rehabilitation Project.
• The second renewal of a $977,490 contract with Brazos Paving for the purchase and installation of Type D hot mix asphalt.
• Authorization for city staff to negotiate the purchase of easements needed for the Southland Street Drainage Project.
• A $2.14 million contract with Elliott Construction for the Cooner Street Reconstruction Project and a resolution declaring intention to reimburse certain expenditures with proceeds from debt.
• A public hearing regarding the city’s FY2015 proposed budget on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers.
• An award not to exceed $140,000 for the city’s annual copy and print service price agreements to AlphaGraphics ($80,000), Copy Corner ($40,000), and Office Depot ($20,000).
• An interlocal agreement with Brazos County for emergency ambulance service.
• A change in the effective date from Sept. 15 to Dec. 31 for Ordinance No. 2014-3569, which was passed by the council in May.

 7:34 p.m.

Texas Avenue South Rezoning

After a public hearing, the council voted unanimously to change the zoning district boundaries from General Commercial and R-4 Multi-Family to R-4 Multi-Family on about 2.6 acres at 2315 and 2317 Texas Avenue South to allow for development.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

7:45 p.m.

Annexation Petition

After a public hearing, the council voted unanimously to approve a petition by the owner for the city to annex about 70 acres generally bordered by Wellborn Road, Greens Prairie Road West and Royder Road.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

 

8:15 p.m.

Annexation Discussion

The council discussed the possible annexation of several properties related to the annexation petition approved earlier tonight. Included are a pair of small tracts fronting Wellborn Road, a tract owned by the College Station Independent School District, and part of the Estates of Royder Ridge. All are areas identified for eventual annexation in the city’s Comprehensive Plan.

This map outlines the properties being considered:

8:29 p.m.

Historic Preservation Committee

The council voted unanimously to have the Historic Preservation Committee again report directly to the city council, not the Parks & Recreation Board as it has done since March.

8:29 p.m.

The regular meeting has been adjourned. The council meets for a series of budget workshops starting Monday. The next regular meeting is Monday, Aug. 25.

We want to hear your comments about tonight’s meeting, especially the budget presentation.

What did you think?