By Colin Killian, Public Communications Director
The College Station City Council meets at City Hall after 6 p.m. on Thursday. The meeting will be streamed live on Optimum Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19.
You can participate online through Microsoft Teams by entering Meeting ID 287 987 474 175 and Passcode gZw5cS. You can also call 469-480-7460 and enter Conference Number 168 564 318#.
We also encourage you to follow our live meeting blog here at blog.cstx.gov.
To address the council about any item on the workshop or regular agenda, register with the city secretary by 4 p.m. or call 979-764-3500 and provide your name and phone number. Written comments will be provided to the council members.
Here are five items to watch:
1. $3.88 Million CSFD Grant
As part of the consent agenda, the council will consider accepting a $3.88 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The grant will fully fund the salaries and benefits of 12 firefighters for three years at Fire Station No. 7, which is set to open in 2026.Â
2. Budget Amendment
After a public hearing, the council will consider a $39.1 million amendment to the FY 24 budget, including a $27.4 million electric utility Transmission Cost of Service (TCOS) refund and $5.9 million in grant awards. The TCOS item will also be discussed separately.
The complete list of amendment items can be found on pages 174-176 of the meeting agenda packet.
3. Housing Action Plan
After a public hearing, the council will consider adopting the Housing Action Plan as part of the city’s Comprehensive Plan to create and incentivize more housing of various types to meet demand and to produce and preserve affordable housing for residents.
The 13-member Housing Action Plan Steering Committee worked with City Staff to develop a plan based on extensive research, public outreach, and stakeholder engagement. The plan starts on Page 178 of the meeting agenda packet.
4. $3.6 Million HUD Grant
After a public hearing, the council will consider authorizing an application for a $3.6 million grant from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help identify and remove barriers to affordable housing production and preservation.
Recommended uses for the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing grant would be a Density Bonus Study, Housing Capacity Study, and an Acquisition and Disposition Housing Program for rental and homeownership. The resolution also identified matching funds from future Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Program funds over the next five years.
5. University Industrial Center Rezoning
After a public hearing, the council will consider a request to change the zoning from M-1 Light Industrial to Commercial Industrial for about 11 vacant acres in the University Industrial Center at 151 Graham Road.
The change would allow uses not allowed by right under the retired M-1 Light Industrial zoning.
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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