“Civic responsibility means taking a healthy role in the life of one's community.”
-- Former astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn
By Lacey Lively, Marketing & Community Outreach Coordinator
You may also wonder how to become more directly involved in local government decisions that determine the kind of community in which we live.
Here’s your chance.
You can make a genuine and meaningful difference by volunteering to serve on a city board, committee or commission. The only qualifications are that you live in College Station and are a qualified, registered voter.
The application deadline is Thursday, Dec. 31. The city council will consider appointments at its Feb. 25 meeting.
For complete details and an application, visit cstx.gov/committees.
Here’s a quick look at the committees that need your help:
B/CS LIBRARY COMMITTEE
The library committee encourages development, recommends policies and programs, and cooperates with other public and private groups for the advancement of the Bryan/College Station Library System.
- Membership: The committee has eight members serving two-year terms. It’s composed of four College Station and four Bryan residents.
- Meetings: The committee meets on the third Tuesday of odd months at 5 p.m.
BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN & GREENWAYS BOARD
The Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Board advises the city council, Planning and Zoning Commission, and other appointed boards/commissions on matters concerning biking, walking and greenways. The board provides recommendations on adopted plans, policies, standards and determines priorities, programs, and advocacy.
- Membership: The board has seven members serving two-year terms, each focused on one of these areas:
- Real estate, banking, finance, economics or law.
- Recreation, health or kinesiology.
- Running and walking.
- Transportation or urban planning, engineering or architecture.
- Environmental/ecological sciences, stormwater/floodplain management or natural resources.
- One member shall be chairperson of the council’s Transportation Committee, or his designee.
- Meetings: The board meets on the first Monday of each month at 3 p.m.
CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS
The Construction Board of Adjustments hears appeals of decisions, considers interpretations of the building official, and considers variances to the terms of technical codes.
- Membership: The board has five members. Two members and the chairperson serve two-year terms while the remaining two members serve one-year terms.
- Meetings: Members are on-call as needed by the chairperson.
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
The Design Review Board hears and takes action on design district site plans and concept plans for Planned Development Districts and Planned Mixed-Use Districts, as well as other duties as outlined in ordinances.
- Membership: The board has seven members and two alternates who serve two-year terms. Included on the board are a registered architect, business person, landscape architect, developer or landowner in a design district, a resident knowledgeable in aesthetic judgment, and a citizen-at-large. At least two members must be property or business owners, a resident or an individual employed within a design district. The board also includes the Planning & Zoning Commission chairperson or his designee.
- Meetings: Meetings are called as needed by the chairperson.
The Historic Preservation Committee helps collect and preserve College Station’s history, provides educational opportunities, and designates historical areas. The board carries out other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the city council.
- Membership: The committee includes nine members serving two-year terms.
- Meetings: The group meets on the first Monday of each month at 4 p.m.
JOINT RELIEF FUNDING COMMITTEE
The Joint Relief Funding Committee reviews funding requests from charitable or other public or private assistance-type agencies and makes appropriate recommendations to the city council.
- Membership: The committee has six members serving three-year terms. Three members reside in College Station and three in Bryan.
- Meetings: Meetings are called as needed by the chairperson.
LANDMARK COMMISSION
The mission of the Landmark Commission is to enhance College Station’s ability to identify and protect historically or culturally significant districts, areas, sites and buildings with expertise related to the designation of Historic Preservation Overlay Districts.
- Membership: The commission consists of seven members and two alternates serving three-year terms. Included are one member from the history or archeology field, two owners of property in the city’s Historical Marker Program or in Historic Preservation Overlay District, and two members representing any professional combination of architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning or historic preservation. It also has one member from either banking, finance, economics, real estate or law.
- Meetings: The group usually meets on the third Monday of January, April, July, and October at 5 p.m.
PARKS & RECREATION BOARD
The Parks & Recreation Board advises the city council on the establishment, maintenance, and operations of city parks and recreation programs. The board carries out other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
- Membership: The board has seven members serving two-year terms. Members are appointed on a staggered basis with three terms expiring in odd-numbered years and four expiring in even-numbered years.
- Meetings: The group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
The Planning & Zoning Commission is a review body that recommends changes in development codes and zoning ordinances and has final authority over submitted plats. The commission also studies and makes recommendations about proposed annexations.
- Membership: The commission has seven members serving two-year terms. Four members -- including the chairperson – are appointed in even-numbered years, and three are selected in odd-numbered years.
- Meetings: The group meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS
The Zoning Board of Adjustments hears and decides appeals of zoning interpretations, special exceptions, and variances, as well as use permits and other duties as outlined in the ordinances and statutes from which it is created.
- Membership: The board consists of seven members serving two-year terms.
- Meetings: The group meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.
As you can see, you have plenty of opportunities to make a difference in our community’s quality of life by serving on a board, committee or commission. With your help, we can continue to make College Station one of the nation’s best places to live, work and play.
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