HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/08/2011 - Joint Minutes City CouncilMINUTES OF THE JOINT MEETING WITH
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, COLLEGE STATION INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
AND CITY OF COLLEGE STATION CITY COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 8, 2011
STATE OF TEXAS §
COUNTY OF BRAZOS §
Present:
Nancy Berry
Council:
John Crompton
Jess Fields
Dennis Maloney
Katy-Marie Lyles
Jana McMillan
Dave Ruesink
Citv Staff:
David Neeley, Interim City Manager
Kathy Merrill, Assistant City Manager
Sherry Mashburn, City Secretary
1. Call to Order and Announce a Ouorum is Present
With a quorum present, the Joint Meeting with the Board of Trustees of the College Station
Independent School District and the College Station City Council was called to order by Mayor
Nancy Berry at 6:04 p.m. on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 in the CSISD Transportation Services
Center, 9304 Rock Prairie Road, College Station, Texas 77840.
2. Consideration. discussion and nossible action related to current CSISD Construction
Proiects and current/future College Station roadwav Droiects related to school oneninus.
Clark Ealy, Deputy Superintendent, reported on the 2009 bond referendum. $144.2 million was
approved, with 70% voting in favor. The bond referendum was for construction of the Support
Services Facility, Phase 1 (Transportation Center); the eighth elementary school; the second high
school; purchase of twenty-eight buses; and other projects. The Transportation Center was
opened August 2010, and any issues were resolved through City and School District coordination
meetings held every four to six weeks. The Greens Prairie Elementary is the exemplar of
City/School District cooperation. It was annexed into the City in the summer of 2010.
Improvements were made to Royder Road and Greens Prairie Trail. An interlocal agreement
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ensures sewer capacity for up to four facilities on the Nelson and Eidson tracts. The school will
deed two square acres from the Eidson tract on Royder Road for a future fire station. When that
tract is deeded, the City will reimburse the district for half of the expenses incurred for
expanding fiber to the area; the district will pay all expenses on the front end. The school is
scheduled to open August 2011. Construction on the College Station High School is underway.
Barron Road is being widened, and the City has purchased the right-of-way for Barron and the
corner clip at Victoria. Victoria will also be extended. The project is on budget with a
completion date of June 2012. Dr. Ealy also reviewed the planning process for renovations to
A&M Consolidated High School. They are looking to provide the necessary space for the
expanded Career and Technology programs. They plan to bring the open space use concept from
the College Station High School to this campus as well as addressing the electrical and HVAC
infrastructure and re-designing the entrance to the gyms to improve the movement of students in
the building. The A&M College Station Middle School and Oakwood Intermediate School are
the final major projects from a 2007 bond issue. They will be improving the traffic flow in the
area.
Chuck Gilman, Director of Capital Projects, discussed transportation projects as they related to
the new school facilities. William D. Fitch has been completed. The expansion of Barron
Road is being widened from Decatur to Barron Cut-Off with four travel lanes, and a raised
center median. It will include bike lanes and sidewalks, with a final completion date of July
2012. Victoria Avenue will be extended from its terminus to William D. Fitch with two travel
lanes and a continuous center turn lane. It will include bike lanes and sidewalks, with a final
completion date of February 2012. Improvements to Royder Road and Greens Prairie Trail
include new pavement, sidewalks, drainage improvements along Royder Road south of Greens
Prairie, a deceleration lane, and dedicated left turn lanes. Construction is expected to be
completed July 2011.
3. Consideration. discussion and Dossible action related to current and Dotential
DartnershiD aereements and interlocal aereements between CSISD and the Citv of College
Station and other Dotential entities.
Greg McIntyre, Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, highlighted the
collaborative efforts between the School District and the City. There are 10,400 students on
thirteen campuses. Some of the collaborative programs include Kids Klub, City basketball and
volleyball, Xtra Ed classes, Police and Fire personnel exams, school resource officers, parks and
natatorium, etc. Collaboration is expected to continue with fiber, construction projects and
emergency radio.
4. Consideration, discussion and Dossible action related to how the Citv of College Station
determines Dlacement/location of hike and bike trails.
Bob Cowell, Director of Planning and Development, walked everyone through the planning
process and provided maps of proposed sidewalks, bicycle facilities and multi-use paths.
Location is determined by focusing on three criteria: (1) connectivity to the TAMU system; (2)
connectivity with CSISD campuses; and (3) connectivity with parks.
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5. Presentation. discussion and possible action related to the CSISD and Citv of College
Station budgets and contingency Dlans for state budget reductions.
Eddie Coulson, Superintendent of Schools, reported that the state budget deficit is $15 billion -
$27 billion, and public education comprises 44% of the state budget. Initial House and Senate
budget reductions have cut public education by $9 billion state-wide. $100,000 for teaching and
administrative support positions will be lost. Public education will be impacted if the system
remains the same, student growth is not funded, or if the district budget is reduced. CSISD has
$29,198,000 in their fund balance. The M&O budget for 2010-2011 is $74.5 million. 82% of
the M&O budget is related to personnel costs. CSISD has prepared three plans. Plan A reduces
the budget $2 million; Plan B reduces the budget $4.5 million over two years; and Plan C
reduces the budget $6.4 million over two years. These plans will create a budget deficit of $2.5
million for 2011-2012 and $4.5 million for 2012-2013, reducing the fund balance to about $20
million. These projections include an assumption that the M&O tax rate will be raised by $0.04
per $100 of valuation over the next two years. These plans eliminated the Capital Projects
budget by $1 million, cut the utility budget by $100,000, cut substitute teachers by $80,000, and
combined bus routes to save $75,000. They are also exploring other areas of reduction, such as
operational efficiencies and general education staffing. Their goal is to affect the individual
classroom as little as possible; take care of the employees by handling reductions through
attritions and reassignment (ensuring that everyone has a job, but not necessarily the same job);
and communicating throughout the process.
Jeff Kersten, Chief Financial Officer, reported that the City budget has seen reductions the past
three years. The current fiscal year eliminated vacant positions, reduced overtime, and travel and
training. The City has also delayed or reduced equipment replacement. Building and technology
maintenance has been reduced, as well as reductions in service. The City has looked at different
ways to do things, such as through outsourcing.
6. Consideration. discussion and possible action related to the CSISD School Bus
Advertisement Program.
Chuck Glenwinkle, Director of Communications, reported on CSISD advertising. They did not
want to add any overhead when creating a revenue source or any additional duties to staff. They
are proposing to provide advertising on buses, the web, and at athletic facilities. The district will
have the final right of refusal. Estimated revenue reflects seventy buses with a 50/50 split with
an ad company. They are projecting revenue of $700 per month per bus, for about $4,900 per
month, or $44,000 per year. There is an additional $6,300 - $15,000 per year for web
advertising. The RFP went out on February 4, and the bid opening will be March 1.
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7. Adiournment
MOTION: There being no further business, Mayor Berry adjourned the Joint Meeting with the
Board of Trustees of the College Station Independent School District and the College Station
City Council at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 8, 2011.
v-wf.
Nancy Berry, Mayor 7
ATTEST:
Sherry Mashkurn, City Secretary
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