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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/28/2021 - Regular Minutes - City Council MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING VIA TELECONFERENCE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION JANUARY 28, 2021 STATE OF TEXAS § § COUNTY OF BRAZOS § Present: Karl Mooney, Mayor Council: Bob Brick John Crompton Linda Harvell Elizabeth Cunha John Nichols Dennis Maloney City Staff: Jeff Capps, Interim City Manager Jeff Kersten, Assistant City Manager Carla Robinson, City Attorney Ian Whittenton, Deputy City Secretary Lisa McCracken, Records Management Administrator 1. Call to Order and Announce a Quorum is Present and Pledge of Allegiance, Invocation, consider absence request. With a quorum present, the Regular Meeting of the College Station City Council was called to order by Mayor Mooney via Teleconference at 6:06 p.m. on Thursday, January 28, 2021, in the Council Chambers of the City of College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 77840. 2. Presentations Proclamation honoring Bobby Maggard for his dedicated volunteer service as part of the Citizens Fire Academy Alumni Association REHAB Team. Mayor Mooney recognized and presented Bobby Maggard a proclamation for his dedicated volunteer service as part of the Citizens Fire Academy Alumni Association REHAB Team. The Regular meeting was suspended at 6:14 p.m. The Regular meeting was resumed at 7:45 p.m. 3. Hear Visitors Comments SN123932!Njovuft!Qbhf!2! No comments at this time. 4. CONSENT AGENDA 4.1. Presentation, possible action, and discussion of minutes for: January 14, 2021 Workshop Meeting January 14, 2021 Regular Meeting 4.2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a change order to the Network Hardware and Installation project service agreement with Avinext in the amount of $56,892.96. 4.3 Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a professional services contract with Jones and Carter in the amount of $458,400 for the design of the Victoria Ave Rehabilitation project. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Harvell and a second by Councilmember Nichols the City Council voted seven (7) for and none (0) opposed, to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion carried unanimously. 5. REGULAR AGENDA 5.1 Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the City of College Station's retail recruitment strategy. Aubrey Nettles, Assistant Economic Development Director, stated that this item was requested by Council Member Harvell on December 10, 2020. The City of College Station began working with The Retail Coach and adopted a retail recruitment strategy under the direction of Economic Development Director Natalie Ruiz in 2015. Since that time, retail has flourished in College Station, including the recognition of a secondary retail market in south College Station. Other efforts in recent years include International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) membership and trade show attendance, launching an economic development website (grow.cstx.gov), commercial preservation projects, All Up in Your Business Podcast, and a record of general growth in the market. With the onset and longevity of COVID- existing businesses and backfill vacated spaces while continuing to actively recruit new retail opportunities. Staff will give insight into our recruitment strategy, while also highlighting national retail forecasts for 2021. Mrs. Nettles also highlighted the services provided by the Economic Development Department: Retail Prospect Outreach and Recruitment Maintain knowledge of current site inventory Connect retail prospects with potential site matches Highlight Retail Market Profile & feature available retail sites on grow.cstx.gov Facilitate introductions and meetings with city staff Foster relationships with developers, brokers, and site owners Highlight retailers on podcast and in news interviews Aaron Farmer with the Retail Coach was introduced as a consultant to the city and explained that his SN123932!Njovuft!Qbhf!3! analysis and understanding of the College Station market has been applied to help build relationships with property owners and brokers in College Station. He also highlighted aggressive outreach to prospects by email, phone, and trade show representation at events such as ICSC Recon, ICSC Deal Making, and Retail live. Recent successes such as Another Broken Egg, Conns, Dunkin, Five Below, HomeGoods, Krispy Kreme, Lululemon, Snooze, and Dutch Brothers were spotlighted. Council directed staff to continue economic development efforts as presented and engage council as need. 5.2 Presentation, discussion, and possible action on Resolution No. 01-28-21-5.2 to name the basketball court in Castlegate Park to the Alex Caruso Basketball Court. Colin Killian, Communications and Marketing, stated that Local basketball phenom, Alex Caruso, grew up playing and honing his skills on the court in Castlegate Park near his home. Mr. Caruso went on to play for Texas A&M University and won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020. Local community leaders would honor his name by renaming the basketball court in Castlegate Park to the Alex Caruso Basketball Court. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Harvell and a second by Councilmember Brick, the City Council voted five (5) for and one (1) opposed, with Councilmember Cunha voting against and Councilmember Crompton abstaining, to approve Resolution No. 01-28-21-5.2 to name the basketball court in Castlegate Park to the Alex Caruso Basketball Court. The motion carried. 5.3 Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding an update on the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine distribution. Brian Piscacek, Assistant to the City Manager, presented a summary of the latest developments related to vaccine distribution and the impacts of COVID-19 in our community. He explained that there is a phased approach to vaccine distribution in Brazos County with Texas DSHS determining the number of dose distributed to each Texas county. St. Joseph Health is our local vaccination hub with vaccinations occurring Monday through Thursday and individuals being scheduled for a second dose at the time they receive the first. The number of vaccinations administered is expected to reach 1000 per day, starting next week. 6. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on future agenda items and review of standing list of Council generated agenda items: A Council Member may inquire about a subject for SN123932!Njovuft!Qbhf!4! which notice has not been given. A statement of specific factual information or the recitation of existing policy may be given. Any deliberation shall be limited to a proposal to place the subject on an agenda for a subsequent meeting. Councilmember Nichols requested a future agenda item on traffic options for the Lick Creek Trail underpass at Midtown Drive. Councilmember Brick requested a future agenda item on COVID-19 financial support administered to individuals and businesses. 7. Adjournment. There being no further business, Mayor Mooney adjourned the Regular Meeting of the City Council at 9:19 p.m. on Thursday, January 28, 2021. ________________________ Karl Mooney, Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________ Tanya Smith, City Secretary SN123932!Njovuft!Qbhf!5!