By Colin Killian, Public Communications Manager
Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Monday, Oct. 8. 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.
5:13 p.m.
The workshop has started. The council took no action out of executive session.
5:15 p.m.
Consent Agenda Discussion
The council will vote on items listed on the consent agenda during tonight’s regular meeting. Councilmembers pulled this consent item for workshop discussion:
- Field Maintenance Materials: The annual bid award of $97,499 is for athletic field maintenance materials such as fertilizers, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, infield material, grass seed, and turf amendments.
5:42 p.m.
Police Building Renovation
The consensus of the council was to move forward with plans to relocate several city departments into the existing police station when the new police headquarters is completed in early 2020. The current building will require $5 million in renovations and repairs after police personnel move to the new facility.
The plan is to relocate community services from rented space at 511 University Drive to the existing police building, which would save $10,000 per month on leasing. Fire administration also would move into the renovated facility.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
5:58 p.m.
City Hall Financing Plan
The consensus of the council was to move forward with the financing plan for the new city hall, which will be located near the existing city hall at 1101 Texas Ave. In September, the council approved a design contract with Kirksey Architecture.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
6:00 p.m.
Mayor Karl Mooney adjourned the workshop after the council discussed its calendar and received committee reports. The regular meeting will start after a short break.
6:10 p.m.
The regular meeting has started.
6:16 p.m.
Imagine a Day without Water
Mayor Mooney presented a proclamation to Water Resource Coordinator Jennifer Nations for the Imagine a Day Without Water campaign.
6:18 p.m.
Ken Bost Retirement
Mayor Mooney presented a proclamation honoring Ken Bost upon his retirement after 33 years as director of the Brazos County Health Department. Councilwoman Linda Harvell accepted the proclamation on Bost’s behalf.
6:25 p.m.
Mark Lord Presentation
Mayor Mooney presented a shadow box to Texas Amateur Athletic Federation Executive Director Mark Lord. The box contains mementos from the TAAF’s 2018 Summer Games of Texas that were conducted here in July. The event attracted more than 26,000 visitors to town. B-CS will again host the Games in 2019.
6:29 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.
- Chantal Vessali spoke about the removal of a rezoning item that had been previously scheduled for tonight.
6:30 p.m.
Consent Agenda
The council voted unanimously to approve the entire consent agenda:
- A resolution approving the city’s investment policy, investment strategy, collateral policy and investment officers for the FY19 fiscal year.
- A $581,300 contract with Freese and Nichols for the preliminary design and route analysis for the Carter Creek Lift Station and Force Main Project.
- An $893,795.30 contract with Binkley and Barfield for engineering services related to the design of the Lincoln Avenue Rehabilitation Project.
- An annual bid award not to exceed $188,180.95 to BWI Companies ($97,498.87) and Helena Agri ($90,862.08Z) for athletic field maintenance materials.
- The Arts Council of Brazos Valley’s budget and a $325,000 funding agreement with the city for operations and maintenance.
- A $397,976 agreement with the Arts Council of Brazos Valley’s affiliate funding and art and tourism marketing.
- The Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce’s budget and a $25,000 funding agreement with the city.
- A $15,000 funding agreement with the College Station Noon Lions Club.
- Easterwood Airport’s budget and a $114,376 funding agreement with the city.
- A $350,000 funding agreement with the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation.
- The Memorial for all Veterans of the Brazos Valley’s budget and a $25,000 funding agreement with the city.
- A resolution authorizing expenditures of $273,196 to the Aggieland Humane Society.
- A $49,190 funding agreement with Keep Brazos Beautiful.
- A $588,950 funding agreement with Experience Bryan-College Station to administer the Experience Bryan College Station Grant Program.
- Experience Bryan-College Station’s budget and a $2.4 million tri-party funding agreement with the City of Bryan and the Experience Bryan-College Station. College Station’s portion is $1.9 million with Bryan’s part being $539,052.
6:31 p.m.
The regular meeting has been suspended, and the council has gone back into executive session.
7:30 p.m.
The meeting has resumed. The council took no action out of executive session.
7:40 p.m.
Police Headquarters Guaranteed Maximum Price
The council unanimously voted to approve an amendment to the contract with J.T. Vaughn Construction accepting the Guaranteed Maximum Price of $24,833,300 for construction of the new Police Headquarters.
Groundbreaking is scheduled for Nov. 16, with substantial completion expected in early 2020.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
7:41 p.m.
Experience B-CS Board Appointment
The council voted unanimously to re-appoint Steve Miller and Robert Holzweiss and appoint Councilwoman Linda Harvell to the Experience Bryan-College Station Board of Directors.
7:44 p.m.
The council discussed and reviewed future agenda items.
7:44 p.m.
Mayor Mooney adjourned the meeting. The council meets again on Thursday, Oct. 25.
About the Blogger
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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