By Colin Killian, Public Communications Director
Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council meeting on Thursday, Dec. 12. 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 287 987 474 175 and Passcode gZw5cS. You can also call 469-480-7460 and enter Conference Number 168 564 318#.
6:51 p.m.
The meeting has started. The council took no action after its executive session.
7:11 p.m.
Hear Visitors
Four people spoke during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the council on any item not on the posted agenda.
- Karen Hall spoke against TxDOT including medians as part of the Wellborn Road widening project.
- Nicole Gallucci spoke about the conditions at the Southgate Village Apartments before the recent gas line issues that are still being repaired.
- Neo Jang advocated for connecting more places in the City with greenways, trails, and paths.
- Charles Coats spoke about the Southgate Village Apartments and the lack of local affordable housing options.
- Scott Lovett spoke about the rights of property owners to petition for release from a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction.
7:31 p.m.
Consent Agenda
The council voted unanimously to approve these consent agenda items:
- The 2025 Council Calendar.
- Rejection of bids and cancellation of invitation to bid (for underground electric cable installation projects).
- The $ 135,000 purchase of current and potential transformers for the proposed Northwest Substation from Texas Electric Cooperative.
- A $230,695 bid award and agreement for substation transformer refurbishment services from RESA Services.
- A $232,894 contract award to Techline for concrete pull boxes for electric warehouse inventory.
- A $316,657 contract with Iteris for the design work to extend fiber optic cabling and controls to the final six traffic signal locations.
- A $1.21 million contract with Paragon Sports Constructors for synthetic turf removal and installation, plus the City’s contingency of $120,975, for a total appropriation of $1.33 million.
- Master real estate appraisal services agreements with Lowery Property Advisors, S.T. Lovett & Associates; Allen, Williford & Seale; and Integra Realty Resources – Fort Worth.
- The $245,082 purchase of three 2000 kVA pad mount transformers from KBS Electrical Distributors for the Water Wells 10,11,12 and Collection Project.
- A $292,307 contract with Larry Young Paving for the sidewalk improvements on Foster Avenue from Walton Drive to Francis Drive and from Gilchrist Avenue to George Bush Drive East. The project uses CDBG funds.
- A change order increasing by $62,860 the contract with Sterling Global Industries for the Electric Directional Bore Projects.
- A $17,000 grant application with the Brazos Valley Council of Governments for the Regional Solid Waste grant program.
- Authorized the police chief to execute a grant application to the Office of the Governor for the Texas State Crisis Intervention Program.
- A $133,000 contract with R.R. Cassidy for annual electric substation testing and maintenance.
- A resolution on an interlocal agreement with the City of Bryan and Brazos County for expenditures related to the FY 24 JAG Grant.
- The Texas Settlement Subdivision Participation and Release Form for the Kroger opioid settlement agreement.
- A $140,000 condemnation settlement agreement with 47 Oaks.
The council voted separately on this consent item:
The council voted 6-1 to deny an extraterritorial jurisdiction release petition for about 8.38 acres at 10010 & 10022 State Highway 30. Councilman Bob Yancy voted against the motion.
7:31 p.m.
Mayor Pro Tempore
The council unanimously elected Councilman Mark Smith as mayor pro tem to act as mayor should Mayor John Nichols be absent or disabled.
9:22 p.m.
Northgate Redevelopment
The council discussed redeveloping the Northgate District with a small area plan, stakeholder engagement, and the process for selling and developing the City-owned surface parking lot on Patricia Street.
9:52 p.m.
Holleman Drive Land Use/Rezoning
After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved a request to change the land use from Mixed Residential/Natural & Open Areas to Urban Residential for about 11 acres at 3182 Holleman Drive South northwest of Holleman Drive South and Deacon Drive West. The applicant intends to develop a 55-and-over adult community consisting of single-story duplex cottages and a multi-story apartment building.
After another public hearing, the council unanimously approved a request to change the Planned Development District zoning for the same property.
10:01 p.m.
VPAC Baseball Fields
The council unanimously approved a $1.6 million contract with Pendulum Studio to design three new baseball fields at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex. The fields will be adaptable to different age groups, and one will be a championship facility with increased seating, locker rooms, and other amenities.
10:01 p.m.
Committee Appointments
The council is considering appointments of council members to boards and commissions.
Arts Council of the Brazos Valley: Scott Shafer
BioCorridor Board: Scott Shafer
Brazos County Health Department: Bob Yancy, David White
Emergency Operations Policy Board: John Nichols, Mark Smith
Regional Mobility Authority Board: Veronica Morgan
Sisters Cities: Dennis Maloney
Spring Creek Local Government Corporation: John Nichols, Bob Yancy, Mark Smith
INTERNAL COMMITTEES
Architectural Advisory Committee: John Nichols, Melissa McIlhaney, Scott Shafer
Audit Committee: John Nichols, Melissa McIlhaney, Mark Smith
Budget and Finance: John Nichols, Bob Yancy, David White
History Sub-Committee: William Wright
Compensation and Benefits: John Nichols, David White, Mark Smith
Economic Development: John Nichols (chair), Bob Yancy, William Wright
Transportation and Mobility: Melissa McIlhaney
10:11 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 meets again on Thursday, Jan. 9
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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