By Colin Killian, Public Communications Director
Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14. 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#.
6:27 p.m.
The meeting has started. The Council took no action after its executive session.
6:42 p.m.
Hear Visitors
Four people spoke during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the Council on any item not on the posted agenda.
- Anna Lowery thanked the City for its work on Rock Prairie Road East and spoke about the need for better access and signage for the Midtown development.
- Susan Ferreri spoke about drainage issues on Rosewood Drive in the Emerald Forest subdivision.
- Shelby Behm thanked the Council for hearing the concerns of Midtown residents.
- Cheryl Wenck spoke about what she feels is the City's responsibility to resolve drainage issues in Emerald Forest.
6:56 p.m.
Consent Agenda
The Council unanimously approved the entire consent agenda:
- A contract not to exceed $135,273.60 with Buyers Barricades Houston for 2025 Texas A&M football postgame traffic control.
- Established speed limits on FM 2818 from State Highway 6 to the city limits. The temporary speed limit of 45 mph, in place since the start of the FM 2818 widening project, will no longer be in effect. The speed limits will range from 45 to 60 mph, except for the 35-mph school zone near A&M Consolidated High School.
- A contract not to exceed $111,000 with Stateside Right of Way Services for real estate services.
- A $185,106.21 agreement with Avinext for installing cameras on Parks buildings.
- The removal of on-street parking for sections of Agarita Court, Coral River Road, Crossvine Lane, Dandelion Court, Lantana Way, Legendary Drive, Oldham Oaks Avenue, Rivercane Court, Storyteller Court, and Sudden Breeze Drive.
- The removal of parking on the northeast side of First Street within 203 feet northwest of the First Street and Church Avenue intersection.
- The removal of parking on the northeast side of First Street between Patricia Street and Church Avenue.
- A $730,000 contract with Freese and Nichols for the 2025 Water and Wastewater Master Plan Update.
- The $116,446.20 purchase of a meter test bench from Ferguson Enterprises.
- The $186,550 purchase of replacement servers from Avinext.
- The repeal of the City’s requirement for a permit for mobile food vendors in response to recent state legislation. Vendors still need a permit from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- The repeal of the City’s overoccupancy ordinances in response to recent state legislation.
7:08 p.m.
Call Tax Rate Public Hearing
The Council unanimously called a Tax Rate Public Hearing for Aug. 28. Approval of the proposed budget and the final tax rate is scheduled later in that meeting.
For the public hearing, City staff recommended, and state law requires, the highest rate without going to an election. In this case, that rate is 51.18, which still represents a reduction from the current rate of 0.513086. That rate serves as a placeholder for discussion at the public hearing.
Related: City Council reconsiders proposed FY 26 tax rate after revised property valuations (Aug. 12)
On Thursday, the City of College Station joined Brazos County, the City of Bryan and the school districts on a call with the Brazos Central Appraisal District to discuss the significant valuation impacts this year. The key takeaways:
Property Tax Litigation: A backlog of property tax litigation cases was settled this year, resulting in lower values on the settled properties. Refunds from the taxing entities for past years have been processed, and the impact on the current year tax rate calculations was higher than it has historically been.
Ongoing and significant litigation will likely be settled into the new year and have an impact on future year valuations.
Moving forward, the Appraisal District will send monthly reports of the status of litigation to the taxing entities. The taxing units will also meet quarterly with the Appraisal District to discuss trends, the status of litigation, and other matters that may affect the taxing units.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment: The Appraisal District also informed the City of College Station that a state constitutional amendment related to increasing the personal property exemption to $125,000 will have a significant impact if it passes.
A detailed analysis of that impact has not been completed. However, preliminary estimates indicate property tax revenue losses of as much as $1.3 million to the City of College Station, equaling about 1 cent on the property tax rate.
If approved by the voters in November, the change would be effective for next year’s tax rate calculations. If the ballot initiative passes in the fall and the expected settlements continue over the next few years, setting our tax rate this year will be critical for the City Council to make strategic decisions for College Station’s future.
8:22 p.m.
Impact Fee Amendment Process
The Council discussed changes to state law regarding the impact fee amendment process, including the makeup of the Impact Fee Advisory Committee. The Council will consider changing the roadway impact fee collection rate to $0 on Jan. 22.
S.B. 1883 was adopted into law and takes effect Sept. 1. Due to the timing of the law, the Council needs to post and appoint a new Impact Fee Advisory Committee (IFAC). The existing IFAC consists of the Planning and Zoning Commission and two at-large members.
S.B. 1883 does not allow the P&Z Commission to serve as the IFAC, and the IFAC composition must include at least 50 percent of its members from the real estate, development, or building industries.
8:51 p.m.
Summit Crossing Expansion
After a public hearing, the Council voted unanimously to change the land use and zoning on properties south of University Drive East and East Crest Drive to allow multi-family and townhome development.
The land use changed from General Commercial to Urban Residential for about 4.7 acres, and the zoning was changed from General Commercial/Rural/Townhouse to Multi-Family (28.9 acres) and Townhouse (9.4 acres).
8:59 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’s next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 14.
About the Blogger
Colin Killian has been with the City of College Station since 2010, following a 23-year tenure as 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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