This is a live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Jan. 8. It’s not the official minutes. Both meetings are being broadcast live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and can also be watched online.
5:55 p.m.
The workshop has started.
5:56 p.m.
Council Agenda Discussion
The council will vote on items listed on the consent agenda during tonight’s regular meeting. No items were pulled for workshop discussion.
6:49 p.m.
Aquatics Assessment
The council received a comprehensive assessment of the city’s aquatics programs, including facility conditions, operations and maintenance, cost recovery and management options. Recommendations include possibly discontinuing city programming at the CSISD Natatorium, outsourcing aquatics operations and maintenance, renovating or demolishing Thomas Pool, and adding spraygrounds to various facilities over a four-year period.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:
6:53 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.
7:06 p.m.
The regular meeting has started.
7:15 p.m.
Hear Visitors
Three people spoke during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the council on any item that doesn’t appear on the posted agenda. One spoke in favor of strong oil and gas regulations and another spoke about the city's assessment of its aquatics programs.
Ben Roper recognized Marine CWO Andrew Arnold as part of the Fallen Heroes Memorial program. A native of Spring, the 30-year-old Arnold was killed in a non-hostile accident with two other soldiers when a rocket-propelled grenade launcher malfunctioned near Al Kut, Iraq, on April 22, 2003.
7:16 p.m.
Consent Agenda
The council unanimously approved the entire consent agenda:
- An annual $50,000 blanket purchase order with Siddons-Martin Emergency Group (through the BuyBoard Purchasing Cooperative) for repair parts and labor for fire apparatus.
- A $108,575 contract with Elliott Construction for an electric manhole, conduit and bore under Wellborn Road and the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way.
- An inter-local agreement with the Texas A&M University System to help fund Task 5 of the Kyle Field Game Day Plan to evaluate and improve game day operations. The city’s portion of the $100,000 project cost is $18,000.
- A $75,000 annual pricing agreement with Mustang Rental Services for the rental of heavy machinery.
7:32 p.m.
Budget Amendment No. 1
After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved a $4.63 million amendment to the FY15 budget, with most being funds allocated for FY14 purchases that were not completed due to timing issues. For a complete list of amendment items, see pages 33-34 in the regular meeting packet.
Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:
7:35 p.m.
Council Board and Commission Appointments
The council unanimously approved these appointments of fellow council members to various boards and commissions:
- Arts Council of the Brazos Valley: Steve Aldrich
- Arts Council Ad Hoc Committee : Nancy Berry, Julie Schultz
- Audit Committee: Nancy Berry, Steve Aldrich, Karl Mooney
- Blinn College Brazos Valley Advisory Committee: Nancy Berry
- Brazos County Health Department: Blanche Brick, John Nichols
- Brazos Valley Council of Governments: Nancy Berry
- Brazos Valley Area Communications Taskforce: James Benham
- Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce: Julie Schultz
- Budget and Finance: James Benham, John Nichols
- BVSWMA: Nancy Berry
- BVWACS: James Benham
- CEOC Policy Advisory Board: Nancy Berry
- Compensation and Benefits: Blanche Brick, Karl Mooney
- Convention & Visitors Bureau: Karl Mooney, Julie Schultz (alternate)
- Economic Development: John Nichols, Julie Schultz
- Intergovernmental Council: Nancy Berry, Blanche Brick, Karl Mooney
- Joint Neighborhood Parking Task Force: Blanche Brick, Julie Schultz
- Lick Creek Park Nature Center Advisory Board: Blanche Brick
- Metropolitan Planning Organization: Nancy Berry
- Research Valley Partnership: Nancy Berry, Julie Schultz
- Research Valley Technology Council: James Benham
- RPO Transportation Committee for Council of Governments: Blanche Brick
- Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board: Blanche Brick
- Transportation and Mobility: Blanche Brick, John Nichols
8:00 p.m.
Citizen Board and Commission Appointments
The council unanimously approved the appointments of these citizens to various boards and commissions:
- B/CS Library Committee: Diane Rektoric, Mary Troy
- Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board: Brandon Boatcallie, Philip Lasley
- Construction Board of Adjustments: Joe Fix, Linda Harvell, William McKinney
- Design Review Board: Rory Cannaday, Ceci Matthews (alternate), Susan McGrail, William McKinney
- Historic Preservation Committee: G. David Higginson, Joel Mathai, Jeremy Nichols, Marilyn Randall
- Joint Relief Funding Review Committee: Shawn Pulliam
- Parks and Recreation Board: Louis Hodges, Douglas Kingman, Roger Reese, Debe Shafer (chair)
- Planning and Zoning Commission: Roger Joseph, Barry Moore, Jodi Warner, Jane Kee (chair)
- Zoning Board of Adjustments: Rory Cannady, Linda Harvell (alternate), G. David Higginson (alternate), Ceci Matthews, Scott Simpson
8:02 p.m.
The regular meeting has been adjourned. The council meets again Jan. 22.