By Colin Killian, Public Communications Manager
Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Feb. 22. It’s not the official minutes.
The meetings can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online. An archive of previous council meetings is available on the website.
5:23 p.m.
The workshop has started. No action was taken out of executive session.
5:27 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:
- Hanson South Water Sale: As part of tonight’s consent agenda, the council will consider a contract with Burleson Water Resources to pump water from the existing ponds on the Hanson South property for hydraulic fracturing of oil wells. BWR will bear the costs for equipment and pipelines and will pay the city 10 cents a barrel, which is the industry standard rate. The city will have a contractual guarantee for at least $150,000 of revenue for the Water Fund during the first 12 months of the two-year contract. BWR must use an above-ground pipeline to move the water. Prudent safety and environmental protection provisions are also included in the contract.
5:51 p.m.
Basic Public Purchasing
The council discussed the city’s policies, procedures, and legal requirements for spending public funds.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
6:08 p.m.
Comprehensive Plan 10-Year Update
The council discussed the city’s progress on updating its 10-year Comprehensive Plan.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
6:45 p.m.
Park Acreage Exclusions
The council discussed why Lick Creek Park and Veterans Park have not been included in the city’s count of community park acreage. It also considered the effects of that acreage exclusion to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and parkland dedication fees.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
6:49 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.
6:58 p.m.
The regular meeting has started.
7:08 p.m.
Hear Visitors
Four people spoke during Hear Visitors when citizens might address the council on any item that doesn’t appear on the posted agenda.
- James Benham recognized Army Lt. Benjamin Britt as part of the Fallen Heroes Memorial program. The 24-year-old Wheeler native died Dec. 22, 2005, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position during a dismounted patrol in Baghdad, Iraq.
- Jerome Rektorik recognized the College Station Police Department for its quick action last weekend in apprehending the A&M Consolidated High School student who made a terroristic threat on social media.
- Robert Rose voiced his support for the bicycle parking requirements that will be discussed later tonight.
- Richard Woodward of the College Station Association of Neighborhoods spoke against the council making zoning changes over the objections of neighborhood residents.
7:09 p.m.
Consent Agenda
The council voted unanimously to approve the entire consent agenda:
- Awarded an $83,000 contract to Ramtech Building Systems for a 24-by-56-foot modular office building at the Utility Service Center.
- A $468,000 contract with CRT Construction for the development of Reatta Meadows Park and upgrades at Crescent Pointe Park.
- Reissued a not-to-exceed $1.5 million contract with H&B Construction for annual electric system construction and maintenance labor.
- Ratified a contract for Burleson Water Resources to purchase pond water from city water wellfield property called Hanson South.
- The city’s participation in inter-local cooperative purchasing programs with Choice Partners National Purchasing Cooperative and GoodBuy Purchasing Cooperative.
- Amended the building use agreement with the Arts Council of Brazos, changing the terms to month-to-month for the building at 2275 Dartmouth Dr.
7:34 p.m.
Rezoning at Raintree and Highway 6
{this item was corrected from the earlier version}
After a public hearing, the council voted 6-1 to approve a request to changing the zoning from General Suburban to Suburban Commercial on about 1.9 acres at 2201 Raintree Drive, which was revised from General Suburban to General Commercial. The change will allow for development.
8:22 p.m.
Land Use at Rock Prairie and Fitch
After a public hearing, the council voted 4-3 to approve a request to change the land use designation from Restricted Suburban to General Commercial for about 29 acres south of the Rock Prairie Road-Fitch Parkway intersection. Mayor Karl Mooney, Councilman Bob Brick, and Councilwoman Linda Harvell voted against the motion.
The change will allow for development. One person spoke during the public hearing.
Here are the PowerPoint presentations:
9:05 p.m.
Bicycle Parking Requirements
After a public hearing, the council voted unanimously to amend the city’s Code of Ordinances related to bicycle parking requirements.
An earlier motion to change additional language in the existing ordinance failed, 5-2. Councilmen Barry Moore and Jerome Rektorik voted for the motion.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
9:16 p.m.
Non-Residential Architectural Standards
After a public hearing, the council voted unanimously to ease the city’s non-residential architectural standards related to screening, architectural features, and the color palette:
- Amendments to Section 2.2 “Planning and Zoning Commission” and Section 2.8 “Administrator” include the removal of authority in reference to the color palette.
- Amendments to Section 5.8 “Design Districts” and Section 5.10 “Overlay Districts” include the removal of references to the color palette.
- Amendments to Section 7.10 “Non-Residential Architectural Standards” include removal of references to the color palette, removal of mechanical screening requirement for all zoning districts other than Suburban Commercial and Wellborn Commercial, and add architectural relief options.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
9:17 p.m.
The council discussed and reviewed future agenda items.
9:17 p.m.
Mayor Mooney adjourned the meeting. The council meets again on Monday, March 5.
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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