The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About03/25/2021 - Workshop Minutes - City CouncilWKSHP032521 Minutes Page 1 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP VIA TELECONFERENCE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION MARCH 25, 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 Tanya Smith, City Secretary Ian Whittenton, Deputy City Secretary 1. Call to Order and Announce a Quorum is Present With a quorum present, the Workshop of the College Station City Council was called to order by Mayor Mooney via Teleconference at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 25, 2021, 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, §551.074- Personnel, §551.086-Competitive Matters, and §551.087-Economic Incentives Negotiations, the College Station City Council convened into Executive Session at 4:01 p.m. on March 11, 2021, in order to continue discussing matters pertaining to: A. Consultation with Attorney to seek advice regarding pending or contemplated litigation, to wit:  Kathryn A. Stever-Harper as Executrix for the Estate of John Wesley Harper v. City of College Station and Judy Meeks; No. 15,977-PC in the County Court No. 1, Brazos County, Texas; and  McCrory Investments II, LLC d/b/a Southwest Stor Mor v. City of College Station; Cause No. 17-000914-CV-361; In the 361st District Court, Brazos County, Texas  City of College Station v. Gerry Saum, Individually, and as Independent Executrix of the Estate of Susan M. Wood, Deceased; Cause No. 17-002742-CV-361; In the 361st District Court, Brazos County, Texas WKSHP032521 Minutes Page 2 B. Consultation with attorney to receive legal advice; to wit:  Legal advice regarding electric utility and Winter Storm Uri.  Legal advice concerning resuming in-person council meetings. D. Deliberation on the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer; to wit:  City Manager  Council Self-Evaluation E. Deliberation on a competitive matter as that term is defined in Gov’t Code Section 552.133; to wit:  Power Supply C. Deliberation on an offer of financial or other incentives for a business prospect that the Council seeks to have locate, stay or expand in or near the City; to wit:  Update on project Apollo Delphi in the Biocorridor Executive Session recessed at 6:14 p.m. 3. Reconvene from Executive Session and take action, if any. No vote or action was taken in Executive Session. 4. Presentation, possible action and discussion on items listed on the consent agenda. Items 3.3, 3.7, 3.9, and 3.11 were pulled from Consent for clarification. (3.3): Mary Ellen Leonard, Finance Director, provided a brief overview of the contract structure and associated costs of reading both AMI Electric and manual water meters. This is a not-to- exceed contract with the contract being set at an estimated cost before AMI installation. Once the AMI Installation project has been completed for the Electric utility, the number monthly meter reads will be reduced by approximately 39%. (3.7): Steve Wright, Parks and Recreation Director, stated that after requests by customers to allow multiple cremates per niche space in the columbarium, staff compiled research of practices in multiple municipal cemeteries. Findings stated that the “one cremates per niche” was not within the norm. At the February Parks & Recreation Board, staff recommended the following changes: Article II. Section 10-25 (g) - a maximum of two cremates shall be allowed per columbarium niche and also Section 2-117 - Municipal $825 Single/$1445 Double; and Field of Honor $1650 Single/$3000 Double. (3.9): Jason Schubert, Planning and Development, stated that the proposed ordinance provides for no parking anytime on the north side of Louise Avenue between College Main Street and Second Street. The parking removal is needed to ensure the Fire Department has adequate fire access to the proposed high-rise project at the corner of College Main Street and Louise Avenue. On-street parking has already been removed on the south side of Louise Avenue in this area and this high-rise project will include parking for their project within their building, and the City’s parking garage is located just south of the proposed high-rise. (3.11): Mary Ellen Leonard, Finance Director, stated that the Fiscal and Budgetary Policies are reviewed and adopted by City Council annually with each Approved Annual Budget. As a result WKSHP032521 Minutes Page 3 of Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, staff recommended two interim revisions to the Fiscal and Budgetary Policies of the City.  Section 15.5 Short Term Obligations has been added regarding Debt Management. The existing policy did not address this type of financing. Minor wording changes to the proceeding paragraphs were also made to address this type of financing.  A paragraph was added to Section 17.2 Enterprise Funds for the establishment of Risk Mitigation Funds in order to reduce rate, delivery, and other service risks in the event of an emergency. 5. Workshop Agenda 5.1 Presentation, discussion, and possible action relating to receiving the annual audit reports and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. Michael Dehaven, Assistant Finance Director, stated that the City's budgetary policies require that the auditor jointly review the management letter and audit results with the Council within 30 days of receipt by staff. Shekita Rawls, BKD LLP, presented reports related to the annual audit reports and the 2020 CAFR, which the status of FY20 findings there was no matters reportable. Results of the Audit  Unmodified "clean" opinion  No scope limitations  No unresolved audit issues  Open and effective communication with management Results of Federal Single Audit Federal Program  Report on internal control over financial reporting  Unmodified opinion on compliance  No findings Audit Adjustment Recorded and Unrecorded Recorded Audit Adjustment  Recognize revenue in fiscal year 2020 in government-wide financial statements. Unrecorded Proposed Audit Adjustments  Adjust deferred inflow of resources and beginning fund balance in the General Fund.  Eliminate interfund receivable/payable reported in the General Fund. Ms. Rawls went on to explain that the audit resulted in the Financial Statement Opinion and the Internal Control over Financial Reporting and on Compliance and Other Matters being “unmodified,” providing the highest level of assurance that the City’s financial statements are properly stated, and all material grant requirements have been complied with. Staff did a great job in the work performed and working with the outside Auditor preparing the financial statements. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Nichols and a second by Councilmember Harvell, the City Council voted seven (7) for and none (0) opposed, to accept the annual audit WKSHP032521 Minutes Page 4 reports and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. The motion carried unanimously. 5.3 Presentation, discussion, and possible action relating to potential changes to the Park Land Dedication section of the Unified Development Ordinance, including 1) the number of zones, 2) the distinction between parks, and 3) a timeline for the review of fees. Michael Ostrowski, Director of Planning and Development, stated that the Council requested staff to bring forward three potential amendments to the existing Park Land Dedication section of the Unified Development Ordinance for the Council's consideration. Ordinance Overview Unified Development Ordinance, Sec. 8.8  Requires dedication of land or a fee-in-lieu, along with a development fee o BOTH neighborhood parks (16 zones) and community parks (2 zones)  Funds can only be spent within zone  Funds must be spent within 10 years Steve Wright, Parks and Recreation Director, provided an overview of the park land dedication requirements for the city, as well as provide options relating to the three potential amendments. These amendments included:  Reduce the number of park zones.  Combine the Neighborhood Park and Community Park distinctions to create just one category, Parks.  Require the review of the fee-in-lieu and improvement fee elements of the ordinance annually. Through reducing the number of park zones, it will allow park land dedication fees to be used on projects that may be of higher priority for the greater area but are currently restricted. By providing a standard review of the fees it will help ensure that the appropriate costs relating to the acquisition and construction of parks facilities are being collected. A majority of Council directed staff to move forward as presented with reduced park zones based on criteria, eliminate distinctions of parks, and standard review of fees every 3-5 years. 6. Council Calendar Council reviewed the calendar. 7. Discussion, review, and possible action regarding the following meetings: Animal Shelter Board, Arts Council of Brazos Valley, Architectural Advisory Committee, Audit Committee, Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board, Bio-Corridor Board of Adjustments, Brazos County Health Dept., Brazos Valley Council of Governments, Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation, Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce, Budget and Finance Committee, BVSWMA, BVWACS, Census Committee Group, Compensation and Benefits Committee, Comprehensive Plan Evaluation Committee, Experience Bryan - College Station, Design Review Board, Economic Development Committee, Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition, Historic Preservation Committee, Interfaith Dialogue Association, Intergovernmental Committee, Joint Relief Funding Review Committee, Landmark Commission, Library Board, Metropolitan Planning Organization, Operation Restart, Parks and Recreation Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, Research Valley WKSHP032521 Minutes Page 5 Technology Council, Regional Transportation Committee for Council of Governments, Sister Cities Association, Spring Creek Local Government Corporation, Transportation and Mobility Committee, TAMU Student Senate, Texas Municipal League, Walk with the Mayor, YMCA, Zoning Board of Adjustments, (Notice of Agendas posted on City Hall bulletin board.) Councilmember Nichols reported on Health Board. Councilmember Cunha reported on the BPG, Transportation Committee, Community Block Grant, Audit Committee, Chamber Transportation, Library Board and Chamber Day. Mayor Mooney reported on the Audit Committee, YMCA, Intergovernmental Committee, and the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition. 8. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Mooney adjourned the Workshop of the College Station City Council at 8:19 p.m. on Thursday, March 25, 2021. ________________________ Karl Mooney, Mayor ATTEST: _______________________ Tanya Smith, City Secretary