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Home My WebLink About03/30/2020 - Special Minutes - City CouncilSM033020 Minutes Page 1 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING VIA TELECONFERENCE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION MARCH 30, 2020 STATE OF TEXAS § § COUNTY OF BRAZOS § Present: Karl Mooney, Mayor Council: Bob Brick John Crompton Linda Harvell John Nichols Dennis Maloney City Staff: Bryan Woods, City Manager Jeff Capps, Deputy City Manager Carla Robinson, City Attorney Tanya Smith, City Secretary Ian Whittenton, Deputy City Secretary 1. Call to Order and Announce a Quorum is Present With a quorum present, the Special Meeting of the College Station City Council was called to order by Mayor Mooney at 3:03 p.m. on Monday, March 30, 2020 in the Council Chambers of the City of College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 77840. 2. Executive Session In accordance with the Texas Government Code §551.071-Consultation with Attorney, and §551.074-Personnel, the College Station City Council convened into Executive Session at 3:03 p.m. on Monday, March 30, 2020, in order to continue discussing matters pertaining to: A. Consultation with attorney to receive legal advice; to wit:  Legal advice regarding third party funding agreements. B. Deliberation on the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer; to wit:  Council Self-Evaluation  City Manager Executive Session recessed at 4:43 p.m. 3. Reconvene from Executive Session and take action, if any. SM033020 Minutes Page 2 No vote or action was taken in Executive Session. 4. Special Agenda 4.1. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the approval of program guidelines the CDBG Economic Assistance Grant Program. Debbie Eller, City Manager, stated that staff has worked to create a Economic Assistance Grant Program to be funded with Community Development Block Grant funding. This program is meant to assist Micro-Enterprises and Small Businesses located within the city limits of College Station who have experienced financial hardships due to the COVID-19 Declarations and Orders. This program in intended to prevent the loss of jobs for low-to-moderate income employees. The application for funding will include basic information about the business before and after the implementation of the COVID-19 declarations, including financial documents, employee information, and their willingness to comply with local, state, and federal requirements. Funds will be disbursed in four installments, with the first distributed after the agreement is executed. Subsequent payments will be made following the submission of payroll documentation showing that the funding has helped retain jobs. Also, $50,000 was approved for Economic Development activities in the 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan. Staff recommends an amendment to the Community Development Budget to move $234,158 from Acquisition to Economic Development. This amendment can be completed with City Manager approval according to Fiscal Policies. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Nichols and a second by Councilmember Maloney, the City Council voted seven (6) for and none (0) opposed, to approve the program guidelines the CDBG Economic Assistance Grant Program. The motion carried unanimously. 4.2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on an ordinance of the City Council of the City of College Station postponing the municipal runoff election to be held April 18, 2020, for the purpose of electing City Councilmember Place 4 by the qualified voters of the City of College Station due to factors relating to COVID19; postponing early voting and other matters relating to such special election; authorizing the establishment of a subsequent special election date; and containing other provisions related to the subject matter. Tanya Smith, City Secretary, stated this ordinance is to postpone the April 18, 2020 Special Runoff Election to the November 2020 general election date or to such earlier date that may be approved by the Governor of the State of Texas or by some other legally acceptable mechanism. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Crompton and a second by Councilmember Brick, the City Council voted seven (6) for and none (0) opposed, adopt Ordinance No. 2020-4165 to postpone the municipal special election run off for the purpose of electing City Councilmember Place 4 by the qualified voters of the City of College Station due to factors relating to COVID19 from April 18, 2020, by postponing to the earliest date approved by the Governor of the State of Texas or to no later than the November 2020 general election date, if an earlier date is not possible. The motion carried unanimously. 4.3. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding an ordinance consenting and approving Order Number Two Under Mayoral Declaration of Local State of Disaster Due to Public Health Emergency proclaimed by the Mayor on March 23, 2020. SM033020 Minutes Page 3 Bryan Woods, City Manager, stated that on March 23, 2020, the Mayor of College Station issued a Second Mayoral Order mandating the citizens of College Station to shelter in place until Tuesday, April 7, 2020; and the conditions necessitating the declaration of a state of disaster and mayoral orders continue to exist; and the Council needs to consent and approve the Second Mayoral Order. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Nichols and a second by Councilmember Maloney, the City Council voted seven (6) for and none (0) opposed, adopt Ordina nce No. 2020- 4166 to consenting and approving Order Number Two Under Mayoral Declaration of Local State of Disaster Due to Public Health Emergency proclaimed by the Mayor on March 23, 2020. The motion carried unanimously. 4.4. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding authorizing the City Manager and his designees to investigate and possibly implement the deferment of the collection of hotel occupancy taxes for a specified period of time. Natalie Ruiz, stated that staff is exploring the possibility of deferring required Hotel Occupancy Tax payments to a future date. Due to the impacts and response to the COVID-19 virus, local hotel occupancy has been reduced substantially. A tax collection policy is being considered that will defer the required payment to a future date to be determined. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Crompton and a second by Councilmember Harvell, the City Council voted seven (6) for and none (0) opposed, to authorize the City Manager and his designees to investigate and possibly implement the deferment of the collection of hotel occupancy taxes for a specified period of time. The motion carried unanimously. 5. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Mooney adjourned the Special Meeting of the College Station City Council at 5:28 p.m. on Monday, March 30, 2020. ________________________ Karl Mooney, Mayor ATTEST: _______________________ Tanya Smith, City Secretary