Live Blog: Thursday’s city council meetings (Oct. 22)

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. 22. It’s not the official minutes.

The meetings are streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. To join the meeting online, go to Zoom or call 888 475 4499 and enter meeting number 910 2349 1784. if the call-in number isn’t working, access will be limited to Zoom.

• Complete agendas and background materials
• Previous city council meeting blogs

5:12 p.m.

The workshop has started. 

5:28 p.m.

Consent Agenda Discussion

The council pulled these items for discussion from the regular meeting’s consent agenda:

• Northgate Parking Removal: The ordinance would add “No Parking Here to Corner” signs at entrances and exits to public garages and parking areas in the Northgate District, and also addresses four intersections with sight clearance concerns in the area. Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:

• Water/Wastewater Impact Fee Study: The $300,000 contract with Freese & Nichols is for an update to the  2016 water and wastewater impact study. The contract will include the calibration of the existing water and wastewater extended-period models, updates to water and wastewater capital improvement plans, and updates to land use assumptions to determine the potential maximum fees under the Texas Administrative Code.

5:49 p.m.

Neighborhood Street Sign Toppers

The council voted unanimously to approve the Neighborhood Street Sign Toppers Program, which involves installing sign toppers on existing city traffic-control signs at prominent neighborhood locations.

Here’s the PowerPoint Presentation:

6:04 p.m.

Destination Marketing

The council discussed and endorsed the city’s destination marketing strategy for tourism and economic development.

Here’s the PowerPoint Presentation:

6:34 p.m.

Small Business Advisory Group

The council discussed the formation of a small business advisory group and ways the city can engage with the small business community.

Here’s the PowerPoint Presentation:

6:38 p.m.

After the council discussed its calendar and received committee reports, Mayor Karl Mooney adjourned the workshop. The regular meeting starts after a short break.

6:55 p.m.

The regular meeting has started.

7:01 p.m.

Bill Harris Proclamation

The mayor issued a proclamation honoring Dr. Bill Harris for representing the city on the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District’s board of directors from 2013 to 2020.

7:04 p.m.

Hear Visitors

No one spoke during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the council on any item that does not appear on the posted agenda.

7:05 p.m.

Consent Agenda

The council voted unanimously to approve the entire consent agenda.

• The renewal of master agreements not to exceed $30,000 each for real estate appraisal services with Duff & Phelps, JLL Valuation & Advisory Services, Lowery Property Advisors, Paul Hornsby & Company; S.T. Lovett & Associates, and Valbridge Property Advisors.
• An annual price agreement not to exceed $900,204 with KBS Electrical Distributors for electric three-phase pad-mounted transformers.
• The renewal of an inter-local agreement with Brazos County for housing College Station Class C misdemeanor prisoners in the Brazos County Jail.
• Annual price agreements not to exceed $1,351,302 for electric warehouse inventory materials with Anixter ($32,803), KBS Electrical Distributors ($288,083), Techline ($999,886), and Wesco Distribution ($30,530).
• The removal of street parking at entrances and exits to public garages, parking areas, and certain intersections in the Northgate District.
• A $140,000 funding agreement with Catholic Charities to provide case management and assistance to residents affected by COVID-19.
• A $257,234 lease agreement for the property at 614 Holleman Drive East among the Brazos Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of College Station and TRDWind Wolf Pen.
• The first renewal of the master agreement not to exceed $150,000 with The Reynolds Company for Rockwell Automation products and services to maintain SCADA infrastructure.
• A $4.61 million contract with Brazos Paving for base failure repairs and pavement treatments.
• An ordinance prohibiting left turns from Gilchrist Avenue to Williams Street on school days.
• A $300,000 contract with Freese & Nichols to update the city-wide water and wastewater impact study.
• The 2020 Property Tax Roll of $52.5 million.
• A real estate contract to convey one-acre of city-owned property at 1820 Harvey Mitchell Parkway in Bryan.

7:18 p.m.

Bond Refunding

The council voted unanimously to approve the issuance and sale of as much as $17,085,000 of Certificates of Obligation Series 2012 and General Obligation Refunding and Improvement Bonds Series 2012. The refunding would reduce overall bond costs by about $2.19 million (amount corrected 10/23).

Here’s the PowerPoint Presentation:

8:00 p.m.

COVID-19 Assistance

After a public hearing, the council discussed COVID-19 assistance provided by the city to residents and businesses, other community needs caused by the pandemic, and an additional $822,000 in available CARES Act funding.

Here’s the PowerPoint Presentation:

8:02 p.m.

Baylor Scott & White Reimbursement

The council voted unanimously to approve a public health reimbursement of $748,000 with CARE Act funds to Baylor Scott & White for public health labor expenses and supplies related to COVID-19.

Here’s the PowerPoint Presentation:

8:04 p.m.

CHI St. Joseph Reimbursement

The council voted unanimously to approve a public health reimbursement of $641,168 with CARE Act funds to CHI St. Joseph Regional Health Center for public health labor expenses and supplies related to COVID-19.

Here’s the PowerPoint Presentation:

8:17 p.m.

Greenway to Parkland Conversion

The council voted unanimously to approve the conversion of 110.5 acres of greenway property to parkland in the area bordered by the Midtown Business Park, Rock Prairie Road, and State Highway 6.

Here’s the PowerPoint Presentation:

8:27 p.m.

Disaster Declaration Extension

The council unanimously voted to extend the mayor’s COVID-19 disaster declaration.

8:29 p.m.

After the council discussed future agenda items, Mayor Mooney adjourned the meeting. The council’s next workshop and regular meetings are set for Thursday, Nov. 12.

 

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About the Blogger

Colin Killian has been with the City of College Station since 2010 after serving 23 years as the 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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