Live Blog: Thursday’s city council meetings (June 14)
(L-R): Bob Brick, Linda Harvell, Jerome Rektorik, Karl Mooney (mayor), John Nichols, Barry Moore, James Benham.
By Colin Killian, Public Communications Manager
Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, June 14. It’s not the official minutes.
The meetings can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online. An archive of previous council meetings is available on the website.
5:05 p.m.
The workshop has started. No action was taken out of executive session. Councilman James Benham is participating via teleconference.
5:19 p.m.
Consent Agenda Discussion
The council will vote on items listed on the consent agenda during tonight’s regular meeting. Councilmembers pulled these consent items for discussion:
- A&M Consolidated School Zone: The extension school zone time to 4:15 p.m. around A&M Consolidated High School on Nueces Drive, Welsh Avenue and FM 2818.
- Stop Signs: The addition of stop signs at various intersections.
- Wire & Cable: A $712,700 bid award to Techline for the purchase of wire and cable to be maintained in inventory.
- Tree Trimming Services: A $1.5 million, three-year contract with All Around Tree Service for electric right-of-way tree trimming services.
- Solid Waste Collection Fees: The first increase in fees for residential solid waste collection services since 2006. The last commercial rate increase was in 2014. Click here to see the proposed rates.
- Economic Development Incentives: The resolution would re-adopt the city’s guidelines regarding property tax abatement as required by state law.
6:11 p.m.
Homestead Tax Exemption
The council directed staff to bring back an ordinance creating a five percent Homestead Property Tax Exemption. Homestead exemptions remove part of a home’s value from taxation, such as the first $25,000 or $50,000 of assessed value. The ordinance will be considered at the June 28 council meeting.
To offset the estimated revenue loss of $664,000, the council will consider a 3/4-cent tax increase as part of the FY19 budget process later this summer.
Here are the PowerPoint presentations:
6:36 p.m.
ETJ, Annexation Agreements
The consensus of the council was to extend the city’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) from 3 1/2 miles to five miles. The ordinance will come back for a vote at a future meeting. Council also opted to offer new 10-year annexation agreements to several property owners in the ETJ.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
6:37 p.m.
Mayor Mooney adjourned the workshop after the council discussed its calendar and received committee reports. The regular meeting will start after a short break.
6:47 p.m.
The regular meeting has started.
6:59 p.m.
Hear Visitors
Two people spoke during Hear Visitors when citizens may address the council on any item that doesn’t appear on the posted agenda.
- Robert Rose gave a short presentation on the Austin Veloway and suggested College Station pursue a similar amenity for its citizens.
- Stacy Watt also spoke in support of a local veloway.
7:02 p.m.
Mayor Mooney proclaimed Girl Scout Gold Award Day in College Station and recognized local girl scout Ashley Poprik for creating a winning documentary entitled Camp for All. Ashley recently graduated from A&M Consolidated High School and plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin.
7;03 p.m.
Consent Agenda
The council voted unanimously to approve the entire consent agenda:
- The extension school zone times to 4:15 p.m. around A&M Consolidated High School on Nueces Drive, Welsh Avenue and FM 2818.
- The addition of stop signs at various intersections.
- A $712,700 annual bid award to Techline for the purchase of wire and cable to be maintained in electrical inventory.
- A three-year, $1.5 million contract with All Around Tree Service for electric right-of-way tree trimming services.
- A $364,759.40 contract with Palomares Construction for sidewalk improvements along Southwest Parkway between Wellborn Road and Welsh Avenue.
- An inter-local agreement with the City of Cedar Hill for cooperative purchasing.
- A $409,825.90 contract with Binkley & Barfield for engineering services related to the design of the Greens Prairie Trail Widening Project.
- The first increase in fees for residential solid waste collection services since 2006. The last commercial rate increase was in 2014.
- Established fees, rates and charges for commercial and residential burn permits.
- A $93,272.19 change order to a contract with Acklam Construction and a time extension of 45 days for changes at the Larry J. Ringer Library.
- A $1.34 million contract with Forbes Bros.Timberline Construction to replace 12 transmission poles and hardware and 5.62 miles of steel shield wire on the transmission line with optical ground wire fiber optic conductor.
- A $425,203 contract for the purchase of right-of-way for the Capstone/Barron Road Realignment Project.
- A resolution to re-adopt the city’s guidelines and criteria governing property tax abatement.
- Ratification of the city manager’s authority to designate Experience Bryan-College Station as the local organizing committee to coordinate the funding application for the 2018 American Quarter Horse Association Youth World Cup and approval of the event support contract.
7:11 p.m.
Rezoning on Lakeway Drive
After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved a request to change the zoning from Rural to Planned Development District for about seven acres along the south side of Lakeway Drive near the Medical Avenue intersection. The change will allow a senior housing development.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
7:23 p.m.
Non-Residential Landscaping and Buffer Requirements
After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved an amendment to the city’s Unified Development Ordinance regarding landscaping requirements and buffer standards.
Here’s a summary of the changes:
- Encouraging drought tolerant irrigation by increasing the point credit from 10 percent to 20 percent for water-conserving irrigation systems.
- Providing an extra 50 percent increase in landscaping points for Texas native plants.
- Incentivizing the retention of older or larger trees by doubling the point values for each protected tree.
- Creating administrative flexibility to waive buffer requirements adjacent to residential common area and exempting buffers adjacent to FEMA 100-year floodplain.
- Removing the double landscape point requirements for building plots over 10 acres.
- Removing the heightened 2.5-inch caliper tree requirement for building plots over 15 acres and allowing these sites to meet the 2-inch caliper tree requirement of other sites.
- Providing water conserving landscaping options such as xeriscaping in lieu of sod.
- Requiring buffer by developed or proposed use instead of by zoning district.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
8:14 p.m.
Caprock 31 Rezoning
After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved a request to change the zoning from Rural and General Commercial to Planned Development District for about 31 acres southwest of the Arrington Road-Greens Prairie Road intersection.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
8:23 p.m.
Rock Prairie Road Improvements
The council unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with Brazos County for improvements to Rock Prairie Road from Holleman Drive to Wellborn Road. The proposed cross-section of the roadway is two travel lanes, a continuous two-way left turn lane, bike lanes, and sidewalks.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
8:35 p.m.
Experience B-CS Appointment
The council unanimously appointed Karen Bonarrigo to fill the last two years of Paul Bonarrigo’s term on the Experience Bryan-College Station board. Mr. Bonarrigo is stepping down due to competing responsibilities.
8:35 p.m.
After the council discussed and reviewed future agenda items, Mayor Mooney adjourned the meeting. The council meets again on Thursday, June 28.
About the Blogger
Colin Killian (@ColinKillian) has been with the City of College Station since 2010 after serving 23 years as associate media relations director for the Texas A&M Athletics Department. Killian has also worked as a reporter and editor for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and Lewisville News. A native of Hobbs, N.M., he graduated from Texas Tech with a bachelor’s degree in journalism/political science.
If you found value in this blog post, please share it with your social network and friends!
Live Blog: Thursday’s city council meetings (Feb. 8)
(L-R): Bob Brick, Linda Harvell, Jerome Rektorik, Karl Mooney (mayor), John Nichols, Barry Moore, James Benham.
By Colin Killian, Public Communications Manager
Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Feb. 8. It’s not the official minutes.
The meetings can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online. An archive of previous council meetings is available on the website.
5:43 p.m.
The workshop has started.
5:44 p.m.
Gilman Appointed Interim City Manager
The council unanimously appointed Chuck Gilman as interim city manager, effective April 1. Gilman has been deputy city manager since 2014. Before that, Gilman served as the city’s public works director. He will fill the role vacated by Kelly Templin, who will leave at the end of March to become director of the RELLIS Campus for the Texas A&M University System.
6:10 p.m.
Texas Weekend of Remembrance
The council unanimously endorsed the Texas Weekend of Remembrance, a special event scheduled for Memorial Day weekend (May 25-27).
The event will be a time for military members, veterans, and their families to come together and honor the memory of their lost loved ones through camaraderie and commemoration of their sacrifice. The TWR could become a precursor to Memorial Day and restore its original intent by allowing everyone to show their pride and respect to the men and women who have paid the ultimate price.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
6:16 p.m.
Consent Agenda Discussion
The council will vote on items listed on the consent agenda during tonight’s regular meeting. Councilmembers pulled these consent items for workshop discussion:
- Electric Switchgear: The not-to-exceed $539,000 bid award to Techline is for the annual purchase of pad-mounted 15 kV solid dielectric switchgear.
- Southeast Park Design Project: The $1.22 million contract with Halff Associates is for design and construction phase services for the Southeast Park Project. The facility will ultimately include 8 ballfields with associated infrastructure and amenities. The contract provides construction services for Phase 1, which is proposed to include four ballfields. The overall project will be funded by $6 million in certificates of obligation and $4 million in hotel occupancy tax revenue. The debt for the project hasn’t been issued, but expenditure in advance of issuance was authorized by the council in November.
6:17 p.m.
Mayor Mooney suspended the workshop, which will resume after the regular meeting.
6:17 p.m.
The regular meeting has started.
6:25 p.m.
CSHS State Championship Football Team
The council recognized College Station High School’s state champion football team. The Cougars began their 2017 season with a 1-2 record but won its remaining 13 games to finish the year at 14-2. The Cougars defeated Aledo High School, 20-19, in the 5A-Division II state championship game on Dec. 23 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The district opened the doors of College Station High School not six years ago and did not achieve full enrollment until the 2014-15 school year.
6:30 p.m.
2-1-1 Day
The mayor, acting on behalf of the City of Bryan and Brazos County, proclaimed Feb. 11 as 2-1-1 Day. 2-1-1 Texas is a program of United Way of the Brazos Valley in partnership with the State of Texas Health and Human Service Commission.
6:32 p.m.
Shen Yun Performance Day
The mayor proclaimed Feb. 13 as Shen Yun Performance Day.
6:41 p.m.
Science and Technology LEGO League
The council heard a presentation from the Science and Technology LEGO League about a water conservation app. Pictured below with Mayor Mooney are members of H2Owls (l-r): Yura Song, Sami Mahapatra, Izzy Toth, Miriam Demlow, Bowen Tian and Claire Connally.
6:50 p.m.
Hear Visitors
Three people spoke as part of Hear Visitors when citizens address the council on items that don’t appear on the posted agenda.
- Councilman James Benham recognized Army Lt. Tim Cunningham as part of the Fallen Heroes Memorial program. The 26-year-old College Station native died April 23, 2008, in a vehicle accident in Balad, Iraq.
- Morgan Heien spoke against item 2f on tonight’s consent agenda, which would remove parking along one side of Oney Hervey Drive.
- Larry Johnson spoke in favor of item 2f on tonight’s consent agenda, which would remove parking along one side of Oney Hervey Drive.
6:51 p.m.
Consent Agenda
The council voted unanimously to approve the entire consent agenda:
- A not-to-exceed bid award of $539,000 to Techline for the annual purchase of pad-mounted 15 kV solid dielectric switchgear.
- A contract amendment for PGAL to use the Construction Manager-at-Risk project delivery method for the design of the new police headquarters.
- A $109,060 bid award to Techline for materials related to transmission pole replacement.
- An advance funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for voluntary local government contributions to transportation improvement projects with no required match for the FM 2818 Widening Project.
- Removed parking on the west side of Oney Harvey Drive to the end of the road, on the east side from Holleman Drive to 140 feet down the east side of Oney Harvey Drive, on the north side of Southland Street to the end of the road, and from Wellborn Road to 125 feet down the south side of Southland Street.
- A change order reducing reduction the contract with Larry Young Paving by $253,599.11 for the Royder Road Expansion Project.
- A $1.22 million contract with Halff Associates for design and construction phase services for the Southeast Park Project.
- An annual not-to-exceed $150,000 contract with All-Around Tree Service for landscaping and tree trimming and removal services.
- The annual traffic contact report required by the state.
6:58 p.m.
Angry Elephant Conditional Use Permit
After a public hearing, the council voted 6-0 to approve a conditional use permit for a bar called the Angry Elephant in an existing commercial space at 650 William D. Fitch Parkway, which is near the southwest corner of the intersection with Arrington Road. Councilman Barry Moore recused himself from the vote.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
7:16 p.m.
Comp Plan Amendment and Rezoning Criteria
After a public hearing, the council voted unanimously to amend the city’s Unified Development Ordinance regarding the criteria used in considering Comprehensive Plan amendments and rezonings. An earlier amendment to change some of the wording in the amendment also passed unanimously.
No criteria in the UDO assists applicants and guides decision makers in their consideration to amend the Comprehensive Plan. The questions asked of applicants are taken from guidance provided by the Comprehensive Plan to analyze amendment requests. While the amendment adds language to the UDO, it offers predictable expectations for applicants, and sound decision points to policymakers when considering changes to the city’s long-range plan.
The criteria in the UDO for rezonings have been criticized for being difficult to understand and confusing to apply. The amendment is intended to establish clear standards for rezoning with less redundancy.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
7:20 p.m.
Wolf Pen Creek Design District
After a public hearing, the council voted unanimously to approve criteria for administrative approval of site plans, buildings, and signs in the Wolf Pen Creek Design District. The changes are intended to streamline the development review process.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
7:36 p.m.
FY18 Budget Amendment No. 1
After a public hearing, the council voted unanimously to amend the city’s FY18 budget by $3,079,541 and to increase the full-time employee count by two. A $54,000 inter-fund transfer was also included.
See pages 104-105 of the regular meeting packet for more details of the budget amendment.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
7:47 p.m.
Board and Committee Appointments
The council voted unanimously to make these appointments:
- Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeal: Joseph Fix, Janet Kountakis, Bill Mather, James Sharp, Rachel Smith, Elianor Vessali (alternate).
- Design Review Board: Ray Holliday.
- Historic Preservation Committee: Gerald Blackmon, Gerald Burgner (chair), Shirley Dupriest, Helen Frisk, Louis Hodges, William Wright.
- Joint Relief Funding Review Committee: Nancy Berry, Chace Murphy.
- Zoning Board of Adjustments: Howard Mayne, James Sharp (alternate).
7:49 p.m.
The council discussed and reviewed future agenda items.
7:49 p.m.
Mayor Mooney adjourned the regular meeting. The workshop will resume after a short break.
7:59 p.m.
The workshop has resumed.
8:12 p.m.
Capital Improvement Plan Update
The council discussed the status of the city’s Capital Improvement Plan, including projects recommended by the Citizen Advisory Committee.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
8:23 p.m.
Krenek Tap Overlay
The consensus of the council was to move forward with a city-initiated rezoning to remove the Krenek Tap Overlay zoning district. The concept of deleting the zoning district from the city’s Unified Development Ordinance requires the rezoning of properties under the overlay to remove its application.
The Krenek Tap Overlay zoning district was adopted in 2004 to enhance the views along Krenek Tap Road and create a sense of identity for the city, not only along the municipal property but along Krenek Tap Road. At the time, the city was pursuing a City Centre Concept for the development of the municipal property.
The overlay heightens the development standards for properties along Krenek Tap — including single-family — by requiring parking behind structures and limitations on façade and fence materials and roof and signage options. The overlay is applied to properties from the Krenek Tap right-of-way and back 750 feet in each direction.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
8:36 p.m.
Public Hearing Notifications
The council discussed community notification requirements and practices for cases involving a public hearing.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
8:46 p.m.
Non-Residential Landscaping Standards
The council discussed the city’s non-residential landscaping requirements, including streetscaping, buffer standards, and options for encouraging water conservation.
Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:
8:49 p.m.
Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition
The consensus of the council was to provide a budget for a council representative to attend meetings of the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition. The estimated cost would be about $900, which includes airfare and hotel accommodations but not meals.
8:53 p.m.
Mayor Mooney adjourned the workshop after the council discussed its calendar and received committee reports. The council meets again on Thursday, Feb. 22.
About the Blogger
Colin Killian (@ColinKillian) has been with the City of College Station since 2010 after serving 23 years as associate media relations director for the Texas A&M Athletics Department. Killian has also worked as a reporter and editor for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and Lewisville News. A native of Hobbs, N.M., he graduated from Texas Tech with a bachelor’s degree in journalism/political science.
If you found value in this blog post, please share it with your social network and friends!
5 things to watch at Thursday’s city council meetings
By Colin Killian, Public Communications Manager
The College Station City Council gathers Thursday at city hall for its workshop (5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings.
Here are five items to watch:
- Capital Improvement Projects: In the workshop, the council will discuss the status of the city’s Capital Improvement Plan, including projects recommended by the Citizen Advisory Committee.
- Public Hearing Notifications: The council will have a workshop discussion about community notification practices for rezoning and other cases that involve a public hearing.
- Non-Residential Landscaping Standards: Another workshop item is a review of recommendations regarding the city’s landscaping requirements, including streetscaping, buffer standards, and options to encourage water conservation.
- Southeast Park Design Contract: As part of the consent agenda, the council will consider a $1.22 million contract for design and construction phase services related to Southeast Community Park on the south side of Rock Prairie Road near the old landfill. The project includes the development of eight ballfields with associated infrastructure and amenities.
- Conditional Use Permit on Fitch: After a public hearing, the council will consider a request for a conditional use permit for a bar in an existing commercial building west of the intersection of William D. Fitch Parkway and Arrington Road.
At the start of the regular meeting, the council will recognize College Station High School’s state champion football team.
The meetings can be watched live on Suddenlink Channels 19 or online. We’ll post a detailed live blog on this site.
Related Links:
About the Blogger
Colin Killian (@ColinKillian) has been with the City of College Station since 2010 after serving 23 years as associate media relations director for the Texas A&M Athletics Department. Killian has also worked as a reporter and editor for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and Lewisville News. A native of Hobbs, N.M., he graduated from Texas Tech with a bachelor’s degree in journalism/political science.
If you found value in this blog post, please share it with your social network and friends!
