City of College Station Blog

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By Colin Killian, Public Communications Director

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council meeting on Thursday, Aug. 27. The meeting starts after 6 p.m. and is streamed live on Optimum Channel 19, cstx.gov/cstv19, and YouTube. It’s not the official minutes.

You can participate online via  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#.  

6:01 p.m.

The meeting has started. The Council acted on two items coming out of executive session:

• The Council unanimously voted to end its agreement with the Greater Brazos Partnership for services related to the Plug and Play program following an evaluation of the program’s benefits relative to its costs.
• The Council directed staff to finalize purchase and development agreements to bring a 14-acre Bass Pro Shops, along with an additional 14-acre mixed-use development by Dallas-based Corinth Group, to the 28-acre property north of Costco.

6:10 p.m.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Mayor Nichols joined Brazos County Judge Duane Peters and Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez in proclaiming September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to honor lost loved ones, celebrate survivors and support families.

The Mayor encouraged everyone to join the Color Brazos Valley Gold initiative by wearing gold on Wednesdays and decorating local spaces. These efforts culminate on Sept. 23 with the Community Celebration and Children’s Cancer Muster. Joining the Mayor for the presentation were Lindsey Bolline (Adam’s Army founder), Kathryn Bradley, and other Adam’s Army families.

>> Read the Proclamation

6:14 p.m.

Texas Extension Education Association Week

Mayor John Nichols proclaimed Aug. 31-Sept. 4 as Texas Extension Education Association Week. Originally founded here in 1926 as the Texas Home Demonstration Association, the organization returns to its roots to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

The observance marks a century of empowering Texas families through lifelong learning, leadership development, and volunteerism in partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Joining the Mayor for the presentation were Dr. Joyce Cavanaugh, Mrs. Knellen Quinteros, Holly Narro, Alice Kirk, Jo Beth Wolfe and several others.

>> Read the Proclamation

6:46 p.m.

Hear Visitors

Eight people spoke during Hear Visitors, where citizens may address the Council on any item not on the posted agenda.

• Roy May expressed concerns about Flock license plate readers.
• Peter Bastian, speaking on behalf of a group of seven, spoke about the City’s purchase of the former Macy’s building four years ago.
• Ivan Svrcek, Sam Baker, Kyle Abraham, Kody Fox and John Hamilton spoke against the use of Flock license plate readers.
• Shirley Dupriest thanks the Parks and Recreation Department for saving a venerable oak tree in Brison Park.

6:47 p.m.

Consent Agenda

The Council unanimously approved the entire consent agenda:

• A contract not to exceed $170,100 with Buyers Barricades Houston for the postgame traffic control for Texas A&M’s 2026 football season.
• The second reading of a franchise agreement ordinance with Texas Disposal Systems for the collection of recyclables from commercial businesses and multi-family locations.
• An amendment to the real estate contract with The Corinth Group.
• A contract not to exceed $399,579.78 with MTL Construction for electric yard improvements at the College Station Utilities Service Center on Graham Road.
• A 153,708 contract with Dudley Engineering for the design of slide improvements at Adamson Lagoon.
• An amendment to the City’s Code of Ordinances related to utility meters.
• An amendment increasing the terms of the lease agreement for office space with St. Mary’s Catholic Church by $105,156.
• A purchase not to exceed $213,693.17 for two radio dispatch consoles from Motorola.
• The first reading of a franchise agreement ordinance with Texan Waste Services for the collection of recyclables from commercial businesses and multi-family locations.
• A $400,800 funding agreement with the Brazos Transit District for FY26.
• A resolution waiving interest for early repayment of outstanding principal under the City’s HUD-assisted HOME program contract with Santour Court.

8:44 p.m.

FY27 Tax Rate Public Hearing

Five people spoke during a public hearing on the advertised FY 27 tax rate of 53.0254 cents per $100 valuation. The Council is scheduled to adopt the tax rate later tonight.

9:21 p.m.

FY 27 Budget Adoption

The Council voted 6-1 to adopt the proposed $576.4 million FY27 City budget and 5-2 to ratify the property tax revenue increase reflected in the budget. Councilman Bob Yancy voted against both motions, and Councilman David White voted against ratification.

Yancy earlier moved to cut the budget by about $2.7 million to maintain the existing FY26 tax rate of 51.1872 cents per $100 of valuation, but the motion failed 6-1.

The total budget increases by about 21.5% from FY26, while the operating budget increases by just 1.2%. The FY26 budget was $474.2 million, which was a 12.4% reduction from FY25 ($541.5 million). The proposed budget will generate about $4.9 million in additional property tax revenue over last year.

>> Summary of Council-directed changes

The budget includes $394.75 million for operations and maintenance and $181.6 million in capital projects. The City’s enterprise funds, including electric, water, wastewater, and solid waste, total about $192.9 million. Governmental funds total $171.9 million, and Special Revenue funds total $29.9 million. The City maintains a $42.4 million unassigned fund balance.

The budget funds eight additional police personnel, including six officers. To remain competitive, it funds continued annual step increases and a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for public safety personnel. The budget also includes a 3% across-the-board pay scale increase for all employees and a 1% market adjustment for non-step employees, along with a merit pool for top performers.

The Council received the budget on July 6 and held budget workshops July 13-14. The City Council held a public hearing on the proposed budget on July 23.

9:26 p.m.

FY 27 Tax Rate Adoption

The Council voted 5-2 to adopt an FY 27 tax rate of 53.0254 cents per $100 valuation, the Voter Approval Adjusted for Sales Tax, a 1.8382-cent increase from FY 26 (51.1872 cents). Councilmen Yancy and White voted against the motion.

Property tax revenues fund the general debt service of the City and a portion of the operations and maintenance costs of the General Fund. The tax rate has two separate components – Operations and Maintenance ($0.327608) and Debt Service ($0.202646).

The value of median-valued homestead property in the city is $369,123. The City’s portion of the property tax bill for that median-valued homestead property for FY 26 was about $1,889. With the adopted tax rate of 53. 0254 cents, the estimated property tax bill for that same value in FY 27 will be $1,957 – a $68 increase ($5.67 a month).

College Station’s share of the local tax bill in FY 26 is about 27%. CSISD’s share is around 51% (.9753), and the County’s share is about 22% (.4197).

9:31 p.m.

FY 27 Fees, Rates and Charges

The Council unanimously adopted the City’s FY 27 fees, rates, and charges. The resolution includes no rate increases for metered electric, water or wastewater services.

To keep pace with inflation, roadway maintenance, planning and drainage fees will increase by 3% (CPI-U), and solid waste rates by 5% (CPI-W/T/S). The total impact on the average household utility bill will be about $1.88 per month.

The resolution also includes a slight increase in the Transmission Delivery Adjustment (TDA) fee and a slight decrease in the Renewable Energy / Net Metering credit.

The complete resolution is on pages 418-476 of the meeting packet.

9:31 p.m.

The Council is taking a short break.

9:46 p.m.

Harvey Road Townhomes

The Council unanimously approved a request to change the zoning from Planned Development District to Townhouse for about 9.8 undeveloped acres west of Harvey Road and Boonville Road. The applicant intends to develop townhomes, which the existing zoning does not allow.

The property is at the end of Ascend Lane’s temporary turnaround, which is intended to be built out as part of the project.

The property was zoned Planned Development District in 2003, with allowed uses of duplex and parks/open space, and a concept plan was not provided. The rezoning intends to follow the 2007 approved Master Development Plan for the property, which indicated the area for high-density single-family residential uses, similar to nearby developments in the plan.

9:51 p.m.

Regional Sports Complex

The Council unanimously voted to change the land use from Business Center to General Commercial (106 acres) and the zoning from Light Industrial to General Commercial (93 acres) on City-owned property east of Midtown Drive and Corporate Parkway.

The changes support a coordinated effort between the City and the developer to bring a regional sports complex and hospitality development called “The Station” to the area.

9:59 p.m.

Corporate Parkway Extension

The Council unanimously approved the removal of the future extension of Corporate Parkway between Midtown Drive and William D. Fitch Parkway from the City’s Thoroughfare Plan and Active Transportation Master Plan. The removal is tied to the regional sports complex development, which would prevent the street from being fully extended.

10:06 p.m.

Active Transportation Advisory Board

The Commission unanimously approved changing the name of the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Advisory Board to the Active Transportation Advisory Board and removing its greenways-related responsibilities.

With the adoption of the new Active Transportation Master Plan in May, the Unified Development Ordinance needs to be updated in several sections to reflect the name change from the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Master Plan. Responsibilities related to greenways are being incorporated into the new Parks Master Plan.

10:12 p.m.

Easement Abandonment

The Council unanimously approved a request to abandon an 11,759-square-foot public utility easement in the West Park Addition to accommodate redevelopment along Fidelity and Highlands Streets.

10:20 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, Sept. 10.

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