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Home My WebLink About06/08/1983 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINUTES WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1983 4:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Halter, Councilmen Reinke McIlhaney, Boughton COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilmen Runnels, Prause, Anderson STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Bardell, City Secretary Jones, Asst. City Attorney Locke, Council Coordinator/Deputy City Secretary Martin, Asst. City Manager VanDever, Deputy Finance Director Schroeder, Electrical Superintendent Guidry, Public Services Director Miller, Water and Sewer Superintendent Luedke, Utilities Director Ford, Administrative Asst. Nowlin, Tax Assessor-Collector Dickson VISITORS PRESENT: See guest register. Agenda Item No. 1 - Council Concerns. Councilman Reinke commended the Parks Department for their quick response to a complaint concerning tall grass growing in one of the parks. Mayor Halter presented Councilman Reinke with a badge which identifies her as a member of the City Council of College Station. The mayor stated that there are 20 propositions for Charter revisions for the upcoming election. Agenda Item No. 2 - Council Committee Re~orts: Finance/Budgeting: Hotel/Motel Tax Fund Bud~e~ Councilman Boughton presented the report. She stated that due to the anticipated shortage of revenues in the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund budget and the increase in amounts requested, the committee recommends the following: Community Center, Parks Department, Industrial Foundation, Fire Works Display, Debt service for Community Center requests to be funded as requested. Adjustments to be made to requests from other agencies as follows: Arts Council to receive $30,000 Chamber of Commerce to receive $25,000 per quarter for 3 quarters; $25,000 to be funded for the fourth quarter if revenues are available. 003921 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1983 PAGE 2 Stage Center - $20,000 Athletic Federation - $5,000 Councilman Reinke asked if the Chamber of Commerce was expected to raise the $25,000 before the funds are given in the fourth quarter. Councilman Boughton replied that they are not expected to raise the additional money but if the revenues are available, they will receive their entire amount requested. City Affairs: Midwest Video Rate Increase Councilman McIlhaney reported that the committee recommends allowing the rate increase as submitted to the council for review. William Moore, Legal Advisor for Midwest Video, stated that Midwest Video proposed to change their rates from $4 to $6 for regular cable channels and from $2.50 to $4 for the additional superstation channels. He stated that Midwest Video has not requested a rate increase in 27 years and if the proposed rates are approved, their rates will be parallel to Community Cablevision's current rates. Inflation and cost of service is the reason for the request. City Manager Bardell indicated that the minutes of the council meeting of September 29, 1982 were included in the packets to allow the council to review the item relating to the rate increase requested by Community CableviSon. Mayor Halter suggested that the Council approve Midwest Video's proposed rate increase on an interim basis and that the council committee meeting with the City of Bryan, continue to study cable service in the area and make a recommendation. City Manager Bardell showed the council a map of the area where Midwest Video provides service in the City. Leroy Jakubik, Manager of Midwest Video, stated that the majority of areas not serviced are new construction areas and will have service available this summer. Mayor Halter suggested that a signal strength study be completed. City Manager B~rdell suggested that the council direct the city staff to study the possibility of providing a public access channel. Councilman Reinke agreed with the proposed rate increase and that a study should be completed on all the above suggestions. David Hill, member of the Cable Improvement Association, stated that he 003922 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1983 PAGE 3 hopes the council will regulate cable rates in the future. After further discussion, Councilman Boughton moved approval of the proposed rate increase for Midwest Video on an interim basis and that the City Affairs committee coordinate with the City of Bryan to study the cable service in the B/CS area, the signal strength, and the possibility of providing a public access channel. Councilman Reinke seconded the motion. Councilman McIlhaney asked what the cost of the public access channel will be for the City and if the funds are available. City Manager Bardell replied that the cost to the city will be approximately $3,700 and the funds are available in the budget. The motion was voted on and passed unanimously. Agenda Item No. 3 - Discussion of S~ecial Election. City Secretary Jones presented the item. She stated that the staff recommends the following changes in election procedures for the election to be held in August. 1) Absentee Voting to be conducted at the College Station City Hall 2) South Knoll School to be the polling place for Precincts No. 31 and No. 8 3) The Central Counting Station to be at the College Station City Hall. She stated that if the Council approves any or all of the recommendations, the changes will be incorporated in the documents prepared in relation to the election. Councilman Reinke asked what the majority of the election cost is. City Secretary Jones replied that the majority of the cost is the contract with Texas Voters System for their services which include the delivery and set-up of voting machines, printing the ballots, other materials, and a computer program for counting the ballots. Also, the city pays the election judges and clerks for their services. At a later meeting, Texas Voters System will submit a proposed contract for the special election. After further discussion, Councilman Boughton moved approval of all three changes recommended. Councilman McIlhaney seconded the motion which passed unanimously. 0O3'723 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1983 PAGE 4 Mayor Halter commented on the proposals to be voted upon and stated that financial advisors were in College Station to discuss the possibility of re-financng bonds. The financial advisor suggested that the water and sewer proposition be separated into two, for a total of 12 propositions for the bond election. Agenda Item No. 4 - Consideration of approval of Decision Packages for Utility Fund and Sanitation Fund. Deputy Finance Director Schroeder presented the Utility Fund budget. He stated that $766,172 is the total available for the utility supplemental requests. He asked for questions from the council regarding the decision packages. Councilman Boughton asked questions regarding the ranking of the line extensions, and personnel in the Utility Department. Deputy Finance Director Schroeder presented the Santitation Fund budget. He stated that the total amount available for supplemental request is $318,933. He indicated that only one request was not funded in the Sanitation decision packages and stated that the equipment that was not funded could possibly be purchased by a Certificate of Obligation in the future. Director of Public Services Miller explained the need for the equipment which is projected to cost $175,000. The Sanitation Department is considering purchasing a bulldozer for approximately $145,000 instead of the above equipment. After further discussion, Councilman Boughton moved approval of the Utility and Sanitation Fund decision packages. Councilman Reinke seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Mayor Halter announced that Mr. Jim Scamardo, President of the Chamber of Commerce, was present and would like to address the council regarding the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund budget. Jim Scamardo stated that the Chamber of Commerce is requesting less funding than asked last year for the Tourist and Convention Bureau and that the city should not cut back on the group that promotes the majority of visitors in College Station. He stated that Stage Center currently is not operational and suggested that the council not obligate funding for the group before they are operational. He requested that the Council fund the Chamber of Commerce entire request. Councilman McIlhaney stated that she would like to meet with the Finance Committee again before the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund budget is approved. Councilman Boughton asked if all of the College Station funding is used in 00392/ WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1983 PAGE 5 the Tourist and Infor~mation Bureau. Anne Bell, Director, replied that all their budgets are separated with separate bank accounts. After further discussion, the council agreed to postpone considering the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund budget until June 23rd so that the Finance committee could meet again. Agenda Item No. 5 - Adjourn. Mayor Halter adjourned the meeting. ATTEST: Dian Jones,~ty Secretary APPROVED: G~-r~ ~, Ma~6~ -- 003925 GUEST REGISTER SPEC~IAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1983 4:00 P.M. I "/ · 17. 2 18. 19. 4. 20. 5. 21. 6. 22. 7. 23. 8. 24. 9. 25. 10. 26. 11. 27. 12. 28. 13. 29. 14. 30. 15. 31. 16. 32. ' 00-3 2S