By Colin Killian, Public Communications Manager
Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Oct. 26. It’s not the official minutes.
The meetings can be watched live on Suddenlink Channels 19 and 119 (HD), or online. An archive of previous council meetings is available on the website.
6:03 p.m.
The workshop has started.
6:14 p.m.
Consent Agenda Discussion
The council will vote on items listed on the consent agenda during tonight’s regular meeting. Councilmembers pulled these consent items for workshop discussion:
- Wood Pole Treatment and Inspections: The $312,177.50 contract is for the inspection and treatment of about 2,400 wood power poles. Most of the city’s wood power poles were installed in the late 1970s and late 1980s. After 30 years, the industry standard is to inspect and chemically treat the poles every 10 years.
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Parkland Dedication Amendments: The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board's suggested ordinance changes include verbiage that allows parkland dedication fees to be used for improvements to existing parks, extends the right-to-refund term from 5 years to 10 and includes the verbiage of "fees encumbered or expended" as not eligible for a refund. At its Sept. 21 meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved the inclusion of improvements as an allowed use but disagreed about extending the time period adding verbiage to include "encumbered or expended" regarding the use of fees.
6:39 p.m.
Annexation Update
The council received an overview of the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and annexation plans, including the status of non-annexation development agreements that will soon expire.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
6:53 p.m.
Sanitation Audit
The council voted unanimously to accept the first internal audit of the city’s sanitation operations. The audit found that the high level of service the Sanitation Division provides to its customers leads to increased costs and slower collections.
The audit recommends that the division investigate routing methods to increase employee and citizen accountability, adjust hiring guidelines and employee advancement systems, and revise collection scheduling as well as construction and development standards. The audit also recommends the creation of sanitation safety videos for the public.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
7:40 p.m.
Sanitation Rate Studies
The council voted 5-2 to reject staff's recommendation regarding a rate increase for sanitation services. Councilwoman Blanche Brick and Mayor Karl Mooney supported the motion. Recent third-party studies that found existing rates are competitive with other cities but don’t adequately recover the costs of service.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
7:54 p.m.
Architectural Advisory Committee
The council discussed the creation of an Architectural Advisory Committee that would be involved in the planning of municipal facilities. The council-appointed committee will consist of three council members and two qualified citizens.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
7:54 p.m.
Mayor Mooney adjourned the workshop after the council discussed its calendar and received committee reports. The regular meeting will start after a short break.
8:04 p.m.
The regular meeting has started.
8:10 p.m.
Rodgers Cited for Serving Local Seniors
Mayor Mooney presented a proclamation to Senior Services Coordinator Marci Rodgers citing her service to the senior community. Rodgers has served the city for 24 years in various capacities and administers dozens of senior programs. Rodgers is pictured below with Mayor Mooney and members of the Senior Advisory and Historic Preservation committees.
8:14 p.m.
Hear Visitors
One person spoke during Hear Visitors when citizens might address the council on any item that doesn’t appear on the posted agenda. The citizen expressed concern about safety at the intersection of Boyett and University and requested a traffic study.
8:15 p.m.
Consent Agenda
The council voted unanimously to approve the entire consent agenda:
- A $1.97 million contract with McDonald Municipal and Industrial for electrical improvements at the Carters Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- A $419,000 contract with Jones & Carter for the final design and construction-phase services for the Royder Road Phase 2 Project.
- A $312,177.50, two-year contract with Smith Mountain Investments for wood pole treatment and inspections.
- Authorized $263,047 in expenditures to the Aggieland Humane Society.
- The Semi-Annual Report on Small Area Impact Fees and system-wide impact fees for water, wastewater, and roadways.
- The 2017 property tax roll of $43.3 million.
- The annual master purchase agreement not to exceed $150,000 with the Reynolds Company for Rockwell automation SCADA products and services.
- A participation agreement with College Station Town Center, Inc., to share the cost of constructing a sanitary sewer trunk line in the Medical District.
- An amendment to the city’s Unified Development Ordinance setting rules and regulations relating to Parkland Dedication.
8:20 p.m.
Ruffino Retail Center Rezoning
After a public hearing, the council voted unanimously to approve a request to changing the zoning to General Commercial and Natural Areas Protected for about .62 acres at 1600 Texas Avenue South. The applicant plans to improve the existing commercial development on the property.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
8:23 p.m.
Gateway Monument on State Highway 6 South
The council voted unanimously to approve a gateway monument on State Highway 6 South just north of Peach Creek Cut-Off. The project will require approval by the Texas Department of Transportation.
The first gateway monument is located near the University Drive intersection on north Highway 6.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
8:34 p.m.
The council discussed and reviewed future agenda items.
8:34 p.m.
Mayor Mooney adjourned the meeting. The council meets again on Thursday, Nov. 9.
Colin Killian (@ColinKillian) has been with the City of College Station since 2010 after serving 23 years as associate media relations director for the Texas A&M Athletics Department. Killian has also worked as a reporter and editor for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and Lewisville News. A native of Hobbs, N.M., he graduated from Texas Tech with a bachelor's degree in journalism/political science.
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