By Colin Killian, Public Communications Director
Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13. 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#.
6:26 p.m.
The meeting has started. The Council took no action after its executive session.
6:30 p.m.
Hear Visitors
One person spoke during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the Council on any item not on the posted agenda. Elizabeth Cunha spoke about changes in her property tax bill.
6:41 p.m.
Consent Agenda
The Council unanimously approved these consent agenda items:
- A $1.42 million contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates for the design of the Carter’s Grove Utility Rehabilitation Project.
- A $2.65 million contract with Marek Brothers Construction for the CSU Operations Expansion, plus the City’s contingency of $265,315, for a total appropriation of $2.92 million.
- A $176,078 contract with Concord Commercial Services for the Veterans Park entryway signage construction for the Harvey Road and University Drive entrances, plus the City’s contingency of $17,608, for a total appropriation of $193,686.
- A $7.72 million contract with Larry Young Paving for the Krenek Tap Road Project, plus the City’s contingency of $772,329, for a total appropriation of $8.5 million.
- Authorized the chief of police to apply for a $64,098 VOCA Grant from the Governor’s Office to cover the remaining salary and benefits for one of CSPD’s crime victim liaisons.
- Authorized the chief of police to apply for a $342,898 grant from the Governor’s Texas State Crisis Intervention Program for the second year.
- Authorized the chief of police to execute documents for the release of $10,400 in grant funds from the Homeland Security Division to purchase nine Comtac VIII headsets for the Hostage Negotiation Team.
- The second amendment to a 10-year master service agreement with Axon Enterprise, adding AI-assisted report writing, for an increase of about $944,580.
- A three-year renewal of a $270,900 software subscription from Environmental Systems Research Institute.
- A resolution confirming compliance with Federal Rules and Regulations and designating officers required for compliance with the Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) grant.
- The removal of on-street parking for sections of Ascend Lane, Bramber Drive, Brayden Drive, Brianna Loop, Foxglove Court, Houberry Loop, Maycomb Drive, Tradewind Drive, and four Public Alleys located in the Midtown Reserve Subdivision.
- A $137,500 contract with Paragon Sports Constructors for Little League and Senior League field redevelopment at Brian Bachmann Community Park, plus the City’s contingency of $13,750, for a total appropriation of $151,250.
- A purchase not to exceed $128,382 from FarrWest for hazmat equipment.
- The FY2025 Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Annual Review.
- The repeal of the Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund Event Grant Application Policy, which was administered in coordination with the Bryan-College Station Convention & Visitors Bureau.
This item was voted on separately:
The Council unanimously approved the City’s Indefinite Delivery/ Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) list, where identified firms are pre-qualified to provide professional on-call services for 22 different categories, as needed, based on their qualifications. An earlier motion removed Halff Engineering from the list.
7:20 p.m.
Tourism Strategic Plan
The Council heard a presentation on the City’s Tourism Strategic Plan, developed by Jones Lang LaSalle Americas (JLL). The final plan is expected to be completed and presented to the Council in February.
JLL conducted stakeholder interviews, collected comparative data, and held monthly meetings with the City’s Tourism Committee. From July 28-31, JLL conducted focus group sessions across various sectors of the local tourism economy. Individual meetings with local stakeholders complemented the sessions.
7:42 p.m.
A&M Off-Campus Student Services
The Council heard a presentation from Texas A&M’s Off-Campus Student Services about its programs, services, partnerships and outreach efforts to students living off-campus.
OCSS works to meet the holistic needs of students, whether referring to Student Assistance Services for basic needs support, partnering with SMVP for Party Smart programming, working with NSFP to provide information to students’ families, or connecting a student with the students’ attorney for legal advice.
Online New Student Orientation includes information about living in Aggieland, including local ordinances and how to be a good neighbor and roommate. The interactive in-person presentations at the New Student Conferences reinforce that information and engage students in thinking through how they would work through common conflicts with neighbors or roommates.
Support Services include individual consultations covering housing searches, lease questions, maintenance issues, health/safety concerns, and roommate conflicts. The Good Neighbor Network addresses issues involving maintenance/repair, roommate conflicts, and lease clarifications.
The City again hosted the Off-Campus Student Carnival at City Hall. Student feedback indicated they valued the opportunity to connect with representatives from the City, local organizations, and fellow students.
10:14 p.m.
Greens Prairie Road Rezoning
After a public hearing, the Council voted 5-2 to deny a request to rezone about 238 undeveloped acres from Rural to General Suburban/Restricted Suburban on Greens Prairie Road, east of Greens Prairie Road and W.S. Phillips Parkway. Councilman Mark Smith and William Wright supported the motion.
Over 20 people spoke at the public hearing, most of them opposed to the zoning change.
The applicant wanted to build an 880-lot subdivision of smaller homes. The rezoning request would have allowed the applicant to develop the property to the smaller size standards of General Suburban, allowing for greater density of lower-cost single-family homes.
Rural zoning requires larger lots and dimensional standards for single-family homes. The property was automatically assigned to the Rural zoning district upon annexation in 2002.
10:19 p.m.
Park Place Rezoning
After a public hearing, the Council unanimously approved a request to rezone a half-acre at 1612 Park Place A & B from General Suburban to Middle Housing. The lots are developed as a two-story, 4-bedroom home with associated parking.
The rezoning intends to increase the property’s marketability for future development.
10:36 p.m.
McCullough Road Rezoning
After a public hearing, the Council unanimously approved a request to rezone about 3.6 undeveloped acres at 3768 McCullough Road, northeast of McCullough and Wellborn Road, from Rural to Planned Development District with a base zoning of Wellborn Commercial.
The applicant seeks to extend the nearby PDD use for Brazos Moving and Storage, including buildings, driveways, detention, and a landscape buffer. The base zoning of Wellborn Commercial does not allow self-storage uses if established after 2011, but self-storage use will be allowed as part of the PDD.
Four people spoke in the public hearing. Two were against the rezoning.
10:42 p.m.
Technology Way Easement Abandonments
After a public hearing, the Council unanimously approved a request to abandon two easements about 550 feet northeast of the intersection of Technology Way and Lakeway Drive in The Business Center at College Station.
The first is a 0.082-acre portion of a 30-foot-wide Landscape, Access, and Public Utility Easement. The second is a 0.252-acre portion of a 30-foot-wide Landscape and Utility Easement.
The applicant plans to construct a commercial building, a drive aisle, and parking in the area where the easement is located. Existing utilities are housed within an adjacent right-of-way and public utility easement.
10:47 p.m.
Building and Electrical Codes
After a public hearing, the Council unanimously adopted the 2024 International Codes, the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), and related amendments, effective Jan. 1.
The International Code Council and National Fire Protection Association issue updated codes every three years. The City has been using the 2021 edition of the I-Codes and the 2020 edition of the NEC.
Changes in the latest codes clarify intent, improve energy efficiency, and strengthen requirements designed to safeguard public health, safety, and general welfare. Staff presented an overview of the changes to representatives of the Greater Brazos Valley Builders Association in July.
10:51 p.m.
Fire and Life Safety Codes
After a public hearing, the Council unanimously approved the 2024 International Fire Code and the 2024 NFPA-101 Life Safety Code, along with associated amendments.
The updated codes ensure the City of College Station keeps pace with trends in building materials and techniques to enhance the overall safety of our citizens, visitors, and firefighters.
11:00 p.m.
Midtown Baseball Fields
The Council directed staff to negotiate with Southern Roots to develop baseball fields in the Midtown Business Park while also building a City-owned championship field.
11:06 p.m.
Veterans Park Baseball Change Order
The Council unanimously approved two deductive change orders for the Veterans Park Baseball Fields Project in response to the Council’s recent direction to halt the project.
The first is a $266,586.55 deduction on the contract with Pendulum Studio for design work. The second is a $5,000 deduction from the Construction Manager at Risk contract with Crain Group for pre-construction services.
The action formally closes out both contracts.
11:08 p.m.
BCAD Board Nominations
The Council unanimously approved nominating Susan Pesl to the Brazos Central Appraisal District Board of Directors.
Effective Jan. 1, the appraisal district will be governed by a board of nine directors. The taxing units appoint five directors. Directors must have been residents of the appraisal district for the last two years. Each eligible jurisdiction may nominate one person for each of the two available positions.
An employee of a taxing unit participating in the appraisal district is prohibited from serving as a director unless the employee is also an elected official or member of the governing body of a taxing unit.
11:10 p.m.
Impact Fee Advisory Committee
The Council appointed Marc Chaloupka, Jason Cornelius, Chandler Arden, John Magruder, James Murr, Julie Schultz, Valen Cepak (ad hoc) and Richard Woodward (ad hoc) to the Impact Fee Advisory Committee, which provides recommendations to the Council on the development, monitoring, and updating of impact fees.
Legislation passed last summer required changes to the committee’s composition, and ordinance amendments adopted in September brought the City into compliance.
The restructured committee now includes eight members: four from the real estate, development, or building industries who are not employees or officials of the City or any governmental agency; two members of the Planning and Zoning Commission, including the Chair or designee; and two ad hoc members.
11:19 p.m.
Mayor Nichols recessed 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 Monday, Nov. 24.
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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