By Colin Killian, Public Communications Director
Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council meeting on Thursday, July 11. It's not the official minutes.
The meeting starts after 6 p.m. and is streamed live on Optimum Channel 19 and cstx.gov/cstv19. You can participate online through Microsoft Teams by entering Meeting ID 223 427 023 174 and Passcode MvPmTr. You can also call 469-480-7460 and enter Conference 952 310 468#.
6:23 p.m.
The meeting has started. The council took no action after its executive session.
6:31 p.m.
Parks & Recreation Month
Mayor John Nichols proclaimed July as Parks & Recreation Month with a presentation to the city’s Parks & Recreation Department employees. For nearly 40 years, the nation has celebrated Park and Recreation Month in July to promote building strong, vibrant, resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation.
This year's Park and Recreation Month theme is "Where You Belong." It celebrates how park and recreation services create a sense of belonging by offering welcoming programs and essential services for people of all ages and abilities and safe, accessible spaces for building meaningful connections.
6:32 p.m.
Hear Visitors
No one spoke during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the council on any item not on the posted agenda.
6:56 p.m.
Consent Agenda
The council voted unanimously to approve the entire consent agenda:
- A $122,469.50 emergency contract with Brazos Paving for emergency repairs to Foxfire Drive and Rock Prairie Road.
- A franchise agreement ordinance with Organix Recycling to collect recyclables from commercial businesses and multi-family locations.
- An extraterritorial jurisdiction release petition for about 97 acres of land at 5445 Stousland Road.
- A contract with USA Track & Field for hosting the 2024 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships on July 22-28, 2024. The event is estimated to have an economic impact of $10 million in direct visitor spending.
- A memorandum of agreement not to exceed $950,000 with Texas A&M University for event oversight and execution of the 2024 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships. Revenues will include athlete registrations, ticket sales, and reimbursement of up to $644,443 through the Texas Event Trust Fund.
- A construction manager at risk contract with Lott Brothers Construction for the $18 million Fire Station No.7 project at 2981 Greens Prairie Road. Voters approved the $18 million project in the 2022 bond election. Construction is set to begin in early 2025 and is expected to be completed by the fall of 2026.
7:06 p.m.
Barracks II Middle Housing/HOO
After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved a request to change the zoning from Planned Development District to Middle Housing with a High Occupancy Overlay for about two acres at the south corner of Tang Cake Drive and Old Wellborn Road in The Barracks II Subdivision.
7:21 p.m.
Annual Action Plan
After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved the Program Year 2024 Annual Action Plan and the Fiscal Year 2025 Community Development budget.
Next year, the total grant funds available are $3.17 million, including $1.17 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, $1.18 million in HOME Investment Partnership Grant funds, and carry-over and recaptured funds from previous years.
7:27 p.m.
Richards Street Parking
The council unanimously approved the removal of parking on the northwest side of Richards Street between Texas Avenue and Crest Street while re-establishing parking between Lassie Lane and Crest on the southeast side.
7:39 p.m.
Mayor Nichols adjourned the meeting after the council discussed its calendar, items of community interest, committee and board reports, and future agenda items.
The council gathers for budget workshop meetings next Monday through Wednesday. The next regular meeting is Thursday, July 25, which also include a budget public hearing.
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. He has also worked as a reporter and editor for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and Lewisville News. A native of Hobbs, N.M., Killian graduated from Texas Tech with a bachelor's degree in journalism/political science.
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