Live from City Hall: Thursday’s City Council meeting (Oct. 23)

By Colin Killian, Public Communications Director

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council meeting on Thursday, Oct. 23. 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#. 

6:03 p.m.

The meeting has started. The Council took no action after its executive session.

Councilman Scott Shafer is absent tonight.

6:12 p.m.

Municipal Courts Week

Mayor John Nichols proclaimed Nov. 3-7 as Municipal Courts Week in recognition of the essential role local courts and their personnel play in the criminal justice system and the larger community.

Municipal Courts Week celebrates the dedicated municipal judges, court clerks, court administrators, prosecutors, bailiffs, and warrant officers who comprise Texas municipal courts. Pictured below are College Station Municipal Court Judge Ed Spillane and staff members.

6:18 p.m.

Texas Arbor Day

Mayor John Nichols proclaimed Nov. 7 as Texas Arbor Day to celebrate the crucial role trees play in our environment and communities, and to inspire the next generation with a passion for forests through fun and educational activities.

The A&M Garden Club, in partnership with College Station Parks and Recreation, is hosting an Arbor Day Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 7, at Richard Carter Park. Pictured below are members of the Parks and Recreation Department, Cateri Dixon and James Campos of the Texas A&M Forest Service, and Carmen Billings of the A&M Garden Club.

6:19 p.m.

Hear Visitors

No one signed up to speak during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the Council on any item not on the posted agenda.

6:30 p.m.

Consent Agenda

The Council unanimously approved these consent items:

• Accepted a $2.57 million federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to help fund 12 additional firefighters for Fire Station No. 7, which is set to open in the fall of 2026. Homeland Security’s Award Letter is on pages 32-58 of the meeting packet.
• Authorized $349,140 in funding to the Aggieland Humane Society (General Fund).
• A $5,000 funding agreement with Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley for FY 26 (General Fund).
• A $35,000 funding agreement with the Arts Center of Brazos Valley for FY 26 (General Fund) for the operations and maintenance of programming and gallery operations at the Arts Center facility.
• A $583,406 funding agreement with the Arts Center of Brazos Valley for FY 26 (Hotel Tax Fund) for the Affiliate Grant Program, operations and maintenance, and tourism marketing and public art.
• A $25,000 funding agreement with the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce for FY 26 (General Fund) for the annual banquet and Economic Outlook Conference.
• A $49,230 funding agreement with Keep Brazos Beautiful for FY 26 (Solid Waste Fund) for operations and maintenance, community enhancement projects, and KBB events such as the Annual Awards Gala, Texas Trash-Off, and other public landscape and litter-abatement projects.
• A $30,000 funding agreement with the Memorial for All Veterans of the Brazos Valley for FY 26 (Hotel Tax Fund) for America 250 Celebration Revolutionary War/War of 1812 site enhancements.
• A $350,000 funding agreement with the Greater Brazos Valley Partnership for FY 26 (General Fund) for operations and maintenance.
• Raised the statutory threshold to $100,000 for competitive bidding and competitive proposal requirements to comply with new state law.
• The 2025 Property Tax Roll of $79.76 million.

The Council pulled this item for a separate vote:

• The Council voted unanimously to remove stopping, standing, and parking from 2:30-4:30 p.m. on Timber Drive, Timber Creek Lane, Buffalo Creek Loop, and Cottonwood Creek Lane to address safety concerns near Greens Prairie Elementary School. More details, including a map, are on pages 29-30 of the meeting packet.

7:16 p.m.

Northgate Small Area Plan Update

The Council discussed the Northgate Small Area Plan Engagement Report that was presented in July. Staff initially presented the report on July 10, and the Council asked for time to digest the report and the community’s proposed action items.

Staff put 50 community action items into three categories. The first consists of items that, in various ways, are already being explored or enacted. The second includes items that could be classified as components of various engagement efforts, such as the Active Transportation Plan update, that would be incorporated or acted on by staff during a future process.

The last category comprises 33 action items that require Council direction. Alternatively, staff could continue the Small Area Planning process, analyze the ideas for feasibility and alignment, and generate an implementation plan that the Council could adopt. That would allow future councils, staff, and the community to know the direction and goals for Northgate for the next 10-20 years.

8:29 p.m.

Overnight Residential Parking

The Council discussed overnight parking options in residential areas near the Texas A&M campus, specifically Eastgate and Southside. The Council’s consensus was to further explore the impact of excessive parking on services and public safety.

Engagement efforts featured a well-attended public open house meeting on Sept. 30 and a public survey that received 1,416 responses. The predominant opinions expressed at the open house concerned emergency and solid waste vehicle access, enforcement of existing laws, and a preference for a permitting system.

The survey was not statistically valid due to non-random sampling. About 4 of 5 opposed the removal of parking. Almost half the respondents had lived in their residence for less than a year, and about 4 of 5 had lived there for fewer than five years.

Survey respondents indicated that, if overnight parking limitations were adopted, most preferred enforcement between 3-6 a.m. More than half said they lack sufficient on-site parking, guest parking is routinely needed, and overnight street parking is the norm in Eastgate and Southside.  

9:11 p.m.

VPAC, Midtown Baseball Fields

The Council voted 5-1 to direct staff to continue pursuing a public-private baseball development in the Midtown Business Park — while preserving the remaining developable land for business uses — and to cease development of the new fields at Veterans Park. Councilman David White voted against the motion.

The Southern Roots project was proposed for the Midtown Business Park earlier this month.

9:18 p.m.

2013 GOB Cash Defeasance

The Council unanimously approved an ordinance redeeming a portion of the City of College Station’s General Obligation Improvement and Refunding Bonds, Series 2013, and a related escrow agreement.

Defeasing the 2013 Series General Obligation Improvements and Refunding Bonds will save the city $664,147 in cash flow over the life of the bonds and represents a net present value savings of 5.5% compared to the opportunity cost of the funds used to defease.

The City takes an active approach to managing its debt service obligations and seeks ways to reduce them. The City uses refunding bonds to refinance eligible bonds and, when available, uses cash to pay off (defease) eligible bonds early. Constant evaluation of the interest rate market and available funds identifies opportunities to reduce the City’s debt service obligation.

Each new issue bond becomes callable or available for early payoff 10 years after its issuance. The city targets a net present value of savings of at least 5% when evaluating whether to pay bonds off early or refinance.

The defeasance was planned and budgeted in the Debt Service Fund for FY 26. More details are on pages 295-317 of the meeting packet.

9:31 p.m.

Greens Prairie Widening Condemnation

The Council voted 4-2 to approve a resolution determining that fee simple interests, public utility interests, public access and landscape easement interests, and right-of-way interests must be acquired by eminent domain proceedings from landowners for the Greens Prairie Road Phase 2 Widening project. Councilman Bob Yancy and Councilwoman Melissa McIlhaney voted against the motion.

The roadway will match the previously completed four-lane concrete sections along Greens Prairie Road. The project will replace the existing two-lane asphalt road with a four-lane concrete section featuring a center turn lane, shared-use paths on both sides, and streetlights and utilities.

Of the 18 parcels requiring acquisition, acceptable settlements could not be reached with six landowners, necessitating the use of eminent domain to acquire the right-of-way and easements:

• The Riewe tract was appraised at $20,984 by S.T. Lovett & Associates. The City and the landowner have not settled on the cash fair market value for the right-of-way and easement.
• The Brunson ROW tract was appraised at $13,441 by S.T. Lovett & Associates. The City and the landowner have not settled on the cash fair market value for the right-of-way.
• The Frew ROW tract was appraised at $12,982 by S.T. Lovett & Associates. The City and the landowner have not settled on the cash fair market value for the right-of-way.
• The Mayfield ROW tract was appraised at $38,262 by S.T. Lovett & Associates. The City and the landowner have not settled on the cash fair market value for the right-of-way.
• The Conole ROW tract was appraised at $14,902 by S.T. Lovett & Associates. The City and the landowner have not settled on the cash fair market value for the right-of-way.
• The Creek Meadows easement is a nominal-value acquisition that involves a Public Access Easement.

A combined budget of $12.4 million is available in the Street, Water and Wastewater Capital Improvement Projects Funds. A total of $134,314 has been spent or encumbered to date, leaving a combined balance of over $12.26 million for this item and future expenses.

The resolution and exhibits are on pages 320-337 in the meeting packet.

9:40 p.m.

Victoria Roundabout Condemnation

The Council voted 4-2 to approve a resolution determining fee simple interests and right-of-way interests need to be acquired through eminent domain proceedings from landowners to install a single-lane roundabout at Creek Meadows Boulevard and Victoria Avenue. Councilmen Bob Yancy and David White voted against the motion.

The project will install a single-lane roundabout at Creek Meadows Boulevard and Victoria Avenue. The work includes drainage work, a water line relocation, and a shared use path along Victoria from Creek Meadows to Woodlake Drive.

Four tracts need to be condemned as part of the resolution:

• The Van Noord ROW tract was appraised at $9,660 by S.T. Lovett & Associates. The City and the landowner have not settled on the cash fair market value and damages for the right-of-way.
• The Ling ROW tract was appraised at $9,557 by S.T. Lovett & Associates. The City and the landowner have not settled on the cash fair market value and damages for the right-of-way.
• The Creek Meadows Partners tracts are two right-of-way areas associated with adjacent residential development. The City and the landowner have not settled on the cash fair market value and damages for the right-of-way.

A budget of $4.3 million is available in the Street Capital Improvement Projects Fund. A total of $601,991 has been expended or encumbered to date, leaving a balance of almost $3.7 million for this item and future expenses.

The resolution and exhibits are on pages 339-355 in the meeting packet.

9:50 p.m.

WPC Amphitheater Promoter

The Council unanimously approved a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for a live entertainment promoter to manage programming at the Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater.

Earlier this year, the City received an unsolicited proposal from a promoter interested in overseeing live entertainment operations at the venue. Staff prepared the draft RFP to initiate a competitive solicitation process.

The Council is being asked for feedback, comments, and direction regarding the scope, structure, scoring, and language of the draft RFP. Costs associated with the RFP are not included in the City budget. After responses are received and evaluated, the potential annual fee, revenue sharing, and capital impact should be considered.

The draft RFP is on pages 358-362 of the meeting packet.

10:01 p.m.

VPAC Baseball Fields

The Council voted 5-1 against the Construction Manager at Risk’s (Crain Group) proposed Guaranteed Maximum Price of $3.66 million for Phase I tributary work for the Veterans Park and Athletic Complex Baseball Fields. Councilman David White voted for the motion.

Earlier tonight, the Council voted 5-1 to cease development of the fields at Veterans and pursue a public-private baseball development at the Midtown Business Park proposed earlier this month.

10:02 p.m.

BVSWMA Board Appointment

The Council voted unanimously to re-appoint Mayor Nichols to another term as one of College Station’s three representatives on the Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency’s Board of Directors.

10:03 p.m.

City Manager Bryan Woods paid tribute to retired Bryan City Manager Kean Register for his service and long and successful tenure at the City of Bryan.

10:18 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 Nov. 13.

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