Live Blog: Thursday’s city council meetings (May 25)

Back (L-R): Linda Harvell, Jerome Rektorik, James Benham, Barry Moore. Front (L-R): Blanche Brick, Mayor Karl Mooney, Julie Schultz.

By Colin Killian, Public Communications Manager

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, May 25. It’s not the official minutes.

The meeting is being broadcast live on Suddenlink Channels 19 and 119 (HD) and online. An archive of previous council meetings is available on the website.

6:08 p.m.

The workshop has started.

6:12 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:

• Northgate Loading Zone and Bollards: The scope of the $297,250 contract is for construction along University Drive to close off the current loading area that is equipped with flexible bollards and to construct additional paved sidewalks and drainage structure. Removable bollards would be installed in four locations where the existing pneumatic bollards don’t function properly. The project would improve safety and aesthetics in the Northgate area and would occur is the area bordered by College Main, University Drive, Lodge Street and Church Street.

6:43 p.m.

Municipal Property Master Plan

The council heard a presentation about the city’s efforts since the late 1990s to plan for city-owned properties and facilities.

Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:

6:56 p.m.

Gateway Marker on Highway 6 South

The consensus of the council was to wait until after the current state legislative session ends to decide on a location for the city’s second gateway marker on South Highway 6. The first sign has been completed near the northern city limit at Highway 6 and University Drive. The project budget is $175,000.

Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:

7:07 p.m.

Statewide Telecommunications Franchises, Bandwidth

The council heard a presentation about legislative changes regarding statewide telecommunication and cable TV/Video franchises.

Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:

7:07 p.m.

The workshop has been suspended. The regular meeting will begin after a short break.

7:16 p.m.

The regular meeting has started.

7:21 p.m.

National Garden Week

Mayor Karl Mooney proclaimed June 4-10 as National Garden Week with a presentation to the A&M Garden Club.

7:25 p.m.

Arts Council College Scholarships

The Arts Council of Brazos Valley awarded its annual College Arts Scholarships to four College Station Independent School District seniors:

• Yanichka Ariunbold will attend Stanford and pursue a degree in international studies/culture.
• Isabela Cruz-Vespa will attend Bard College and will pursue a degree in musical performance.
• Josey Meyer will attend Texas A&M and will pursue a degree in visualization.
• Madeline Miller will attend Chapman University and will pursue a degree in dance.
  

The Arts Council, through the generous support of local donors, awards multiple scholarships each year to deserving young artists in the Brazos Valley. The College Arts Scholarship is open to graduating seniors in Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, and Washington counties who will attend an accredited college or university with a course of study in the arts, culture, or heritage fields.

7:29 p.m.

Hear Visitors

One person spoke during Hear Visitors when citizens might address the council on any item that doesn’t appear on the posted agenda.

• Ben Roper recognized Marine Lance Cpl. Ruben Valdez, Jr. as part of the Fallen Heroes Memorial program. The 21-year-old San Diego, Texas native died April 17, 2004, from injuries suffered during enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

7:30 p.m.

Consent Agenda

The council voted unanimously to approve the entire consent agenda:

• A contract not to exceed $1,400 with Sungard Public Sector for services to move the Click2Gov online payment engine to a new server.
• A contract not to exceed $418.256.26 with Computer Solutions for additional electronic storage and services to repurpose existing storage as a backup.
• A resolution amending the bylaws of the Spring Creek Local Government Corporation.
• A $1.8 million contract with Condie Construction for Phase 1 of the Northeast Sanitary Sewer Trunk Line.
• A $196,515.88 change order to the contract with Larry Young Paving for the Rock Prairie Road Widening Project.
• An interlocal agreement with the City of Bryan for maintenance of the Unity Plaza area.
• A $297,250 contract with Dudley Construction for the University Drive Loading Zone & Northgate Bollards Project.
• An annual contract not to exceed $100,000 with Larry Young Paving for the repaving of utility cuts.
• A development agreement with CTX Land Investments to facilitate the extension of Dartmouth Drive at the Harvey Mitchell Parkway intersection.
• A negotiated settlement between the Atmos Cities Steering Committee and Atmos Energy Corp., Mid-Tex Division, regarding the company’s 2017 rate review mechanism filings and a settlement agreement regarding rate tariffs and proof of revenues.

7:34 p.m.

Parks & Recreation Standard of Care

After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved standards of care for the Parks and Recreation Department’s elementary age (5-13) youth recreation programs.

The Department of Family and Protective Services requires child care facilities to be licensed. Some programs offered by the Parks and Recreation Department fall within the definition of childcare facility requiring licensing but are exempt if municipalities annually hold a public hearing and adopt a standard of care ordinance.

Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:

7:55 p.m.

Highway 30 Rezoning

After a public hearing, the council voted 6-1 to approve a request to change the zoning designation from Rural to General Commercial and Natural Areas Reserved for about three acres east of Copperfield Parkway and south of Harvey Road. Councilwoman Linda Harvell voted against the motion.

The change will allow for commercial development. Two people spoke during the public hearing.

Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:

8:59 p.m.

Margraves Tract Rezoning

After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved a request to change the zoning designation from Rural to Restricted Suburban for about 369 acres located east of Greens Prairie Road West, west of Arrington Road, and to the south of Whites Creek Lane. 

Seven people spoke against the zoning change, which allows for a residential development.

Here are the PowerPoint presentations:

9:01 p.m.

Prairie View Heights Encroachment

After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved a resolution granting a license to encroach on a public utility easement located at 617 Banks St.

A southwest wall of the house at 617 Banks extends into a 10-foot wide public utility easement along the property line. The encroachment doesn’t conflict with the utilities in the easement and consent has been granted by all franchised utilities.

Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:

9:03 p.m.

Historic Preservation Committee Appointment

The council voted unanimously to appoint Sherry Smith to the Historic Preservation Committee.

9:04 p.m.

Rock Prairie Management District Board

The council voted unanimously to appoint Jonathan Stark (Position No. 4) and Kamal Ariss (Position No. 5) to the Rock Prairie Management District Board. Their terms end June 1, 2021.

9:05 p.m.

The council discussed and reviewed future agenda items.

9:05 p.m.

Mayor Mooney adjourned the regular meeting. The workshop meeting will resume after a short break.

9:11 p.m.

The workshop has resumed.

9:33 p.m.

Standing Citizen Advisory Committee

The council discussed the creation of a standing citizen advisory committee to help keep residents updated about capital improvement projects planned or underway. Instead of appointing a new committee, the consensus was to actively promote attendance at council meetings where capital project updates are presented.

Here’s the PowerPoint presentation:

9:37 p.m.

Mayor Mooney adjourned the workshop after the council discussed its calendar and received committee reports.

The council meets again on Thursday, June 8.

About the Author

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 been 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.

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May 25, 2017 | Categories: City Council, Public Communications | Tags: city-owned property, Council Meetings, Dartmouth Drive Extension, encroachment, franchises, gateway signage, Historic Preservation Committee, Margraves, municipal property, Northeast Sewer Line, Northgate, rezoning, Rock Prairie Management District, Standard of Care, standing citizen advisory committee | Leave a comment