Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/12/2011 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP CITY OF COLLEGE STATION MAY 12, 2011 STATE OF TEXAS § COUNTY OF BRAZOS § Present: Nancy Berry, Mayor Council: John Crompton Jess Fields Dennis Maloney Katy-Marie Lyles Jana McMillan Dave Ruesink, arrived after roll call City Staff: David Neeley, City Manager Kathy Merrill, Assistant City Manager Carla Robinson, City Attorney Sherry Mashburn, City Secretary Tanya McNutt, Deputy City Secretary Shelley Major, Records Management Coordinator 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 Nancy Berry at 3:10 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2011 in the Council Chambers of the City of College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 77842. 1. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on items listed on the consent agenda. 2i: David Coleman, Director of Water Services, explained the TCEQ has been thinking of more restrictive regulations that will need to be implemented in eight - ten years. Staff thinks it is better to not design the complete Headworks, but rather design a temporary fix to get us through the next eight - ten years to see what the real requirements will be from TCEQ. 2j: This item was pulled, but not discussed. WKSHP051211 Minutes Page 1 2. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the UP-BEAT Youth Health Leadership program community assessment. Derrick Elder, Rachel Lamb, Benjamin Lamb, and Shlock Mohanty, representing the UP-BEAT team, came before Council to discuss their study and findings. UP-BEAT is an organization that empowers youth to be more active in the community. Training topics included public speaking, mapping, technology, and government-community. They conducted community interviews and conducted environmental assessments in the community. Walkability was defined as how people use the land in their community. They were trained to observe and assess items such as land use, street characteristics, walking and bike conditions, and perceptions. They found there are no available bike racks and little or no shade. Empty park space was being used for construction staging, and there is outdated playground equipment. They found few streets or park lights, fast traffic, incomplete or no sidewalks, and incomplete walking/biking paths. Short term solutions, which are less expensive and easier to do, include a games court, a community clean up day, bike racks, traffic calming devices, cross walks, and to plant shade trees. Long term solutions, which are more expensive and may take longer to complete, include sidewalks, neighborhood walking trails, street lights, bike lanes, and playground equipment. Specific projects they are requesting support for include: 1) complete the sidewalks on Wellborn between the gas station and the baseball complex; and 2) a pedestrian bridge over the ditch between the basketball court and subsidized housing. The area studied was around the Lincoln Center. 3. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Feasibility Study. Gary Bushell, who represents the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition, provided the City Council with an update on the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway concept and its current status. Wilbur Smith Associates, working with TXDOT, conducted public meetings in eight cities along the route from El Paso to the Texas-Louisiana border. This route is approximately 900 miles in length and crosses twenty-five counties. The I-14 Phase 1, connecting Fort Hood, 1-35, 1-45 and I-69, will be environmentally beneficial by circumventing certain air sheds. The coalition also wants to provide interstate access to the Texas A&M system campuses. 1-14 would eventually cross five states. 4. Presentation, possible action, and discussion relating to receiving the annual audit reports and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010. Jeff Kersten, Chief Financial Officer, presented the annual audit report and CAFR. Net assets totaled $402,731,641 for an increase of $15 million. Unrestricted net assets were $76 million, and restricted net assets were $11 million. Most net assets are capital assets and amount to $314,762,842. Jimmy Ingram, with Ingram, Wallis & Company reported on the 2009-2010 Audit. The audit was completed successfully, and they issued an unqualified opinion which is the highest rating. He commended staff for their assistance, and reported that the CAFR has been presented to GFOA. There were three major programs in 2010, and all three had unqualified opinions. WKSHP051211 Minutes Page 2 MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Lyles and a second by Councilmember Fields, the City Council voted seven (7) for and none (0) opposed, to approve the annual audit reports and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010. The motion carried unanimously. 5. Presentation, possible action, and discussion of the draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan. David Schmitz, Parks and Recreation Director, and Bob Cowell, Planning and Development Director, presented a high level overview of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The plan's purpose is to implement the City's vision and goals for parks and recreation, align with the Council's strategic priorities, and implement the City's comprehensive plan. Parks, open space, and recreation matter because they contribute to the neighborhood and to community character. Parks and open space enhance property value and tax revenues. The proximity increases values/revenues and can also increase marketability. Parks and open space also contribute to the health and wellness of the community. Studies show 40% of College Station residents visit a park once a week or more, and 34% of College Station residents use a walking or biking trail once a week or more. Current conditions/trends show an increase of 9,000 visits to swimming pools since 2003 and an increase of 136,000 visits to the Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater since 2003. College Station has 7.5 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, and there are cities in Texas with much higher ratios of parkland to residents. A 150-acre deficiency is projected by 2020. Goals for the plan include: resource conservation and City character; health and wellness; economic sustainability; connectivity and mobility; parkland and neighborhood character; diversity in recreation and cultural programs; and responsible governance. Staff will look at a physical framework, fiscal framework, recreation and programming framework, and administration and operations framework. 6. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the assessment of deer population for the Foxfire Subdivision. Scott McCollum, Field Operations Bureau Chief, reported that the subdivision consists of 150 one-acre plus lots on a total of 236 acres. The subdivision and surrounding area has a quality habitat for white-tailed deer, and the subdivision is adjacent to a large unimproved woodland area. Concerns pertaining to increased deer populations include deer/vehicle collisions, landscape/garden damage, habitat degradation, declining deer herd health, public safety, and Lyme disease. Obstacles to effective control include deer adaptability, aesthetics, safety and liability, conflicting social attitudes and perceptions, hunting/firearm restrictions, and public relations concerns. 172 residents were solicited with a response from 123 households. 50% felt the number of deer were just right; 50% felt there were too many deer. Twenty-five respondents advised they fed deer. The recommended deer population is one deer per fifteen acres. Foxfire is 236 acres, and at one deer per fifteen acres the population is approximately 16 deer. Today's conservative estimate based on the study's projection and homeowner observations has an approximate total of thirty-five deer. Based on the recommendations, these are too many deer. Timothy Siegmund, State Wildlife Biologist, recommends we identify where deer are coming from; the HOA can pass deed restrictions prohibiting the feeding of deer; or the City can pass an WKSHP051211 Minutes Page 3 ordinance prohibiting the feeding of deer. Deer management options include hunting on adjacent properties; employing sharpshooters; trap/transport/release; trap/transport/process; and prohibit feeding. There is no simple solution, and it is likely that a combination of techniques will be necessary to achieve desired results. It will require significant stakeholder input and cooperation, with long term planning and commitment. It can be expensive, and we will have to weigh the overall benefits against the costs. This is specific situation is more of a nuisance than a public safety issue at this time. The College Station Police Department Animal Control Unit is not currently staffed, nor equipped to conduct large scale efforts such as a deer management study or to manage such a program. Staff requested direction from Council as to what degree do we as a City wish to become involved in a large scale neighborhood animal control effort? MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Maloney and a second by Councilmember Crompton, the City Council voted seven (7) for and none (0) opposed, to authorize the Police Department to collaborate with the homeowners and wildlife management on the options available. The motion carried unanimously. Staff will report back to the Council in six months. 7. Council Calendar • May 16 IGC Meeting at Brazos County Expo Center, 5827 Leonard Road, 12:00 P.M. • May 19 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting in Council Chambers, 6:00 p.m. • May 26 Citv Council Workshop/Regular Meeting at 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. • May 30 City Offices Closed - HOLIDAY Mayor Berry noted that the City Council will canvass the votes at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 19. 8. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on future agenda items: a Council Member may inquire about a subject for 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 Crompton requested a report regarding restitution from David Romei to the Arts Council. Councilmember Maloney requested the status of the census and asked why our City signs do not reflect the correct population. Councilmember Lyles asked for an update on the Wellborn annexation. 9. Discussion, review and possible action regarding the following meetings: Animal Shelter Board, Arts Council of the Brazos Valley, Audit Committee, Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board, Brazos County Health Dept., Brazos Valley Council of Governments, Brazos Valley Wide Area Communications Task Force, BVSWMA, WKSHP051211 Minutes Page 4 BVWACS, Cemetery Committee, Code Review Committee Design Review Board Historic Preservation Committee, Interfaith Dialogue Association, Intergovernmental Committee Joint Relief Funding Review Committee, Landmark Commission Library Board, Mayor's Council on Physical Fitness, Mayor's Development Forum, Metropolitan Planning Organization, National League of Cities, Outside Agency Funding Review Parks and Recreation Board, Planninu and Zoning Commission, Research Valley Partnership, Regional Transportation Committee for Council of Governments, Signature Event Task Force, Sister City Association, TAMU Student Senate, Texas Municipal League, Transportation Committee, Wolf Pen Creek Oversight Committee, Zoning Board of Adiustments. Mayor Berry reported that the Audit Committee met last week. The Council of Governments also met and is looking at state budget cuts. Councilmember Ruesink reported that nine visitors from our Sister City, Salamanca, will be arriving May 21, leaving the following Friday. 10. Executive Session In accordance with the Texas Government Code §551.071-Consultation with Attorney, the College Station City Council convened into Executive Session at 5:27 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2011 in order to continue discussing matters pertaining to: A. Consultation with Attorney to seek advice regarding pending or contemplated litigation; to wit: • City of Bryan's application with TCEQ for water & sewer permits in Westside/Highway 60 area, near Brushy Water Supply Corporation to decertify City of College Station and certify City of Bryan • Clancey v. College Station, Glenn Brown, and Kathy Merrill • Rachel Rahn v. Alma Martinez, The Arkitex Studio, Inc. et al, cause No. 09-000656- CV361 • Weingarten Realty Investors v. College Station, Ron Silvia, David Ruesink, Lynn McIlhaney, and Ben White • Chavers et al v. Tyrone Morrow, Michael lkner, City of Bryan, City of College Station, et al • Water CCN / 2002 Annexation / Wellborn Water Supply Corporation B. Consultation with Attorney to seek legal advice; to wit: • Legal issues regarding possible revenue sharing and legislation in bio-corridor • Legal Issues Related to Wellborn Annexation • Legal issues related to a proposed methane gas to electricity contract with City of Bryan The Executive Session adjourned at 6:55 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2011. No action was required from Executive Session. WKSHP051211 Minutes Page 5 10. Adiournment MOTION: There being no further business, Mayor Berry adjourned the workshop of the College Station City Council at 6:55 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2011. ZOL.gb C 1 ~6 44ftney-Beiy, Mayor 110W 7-QM ATTEST: LQNeS, -ri City Secretary WKSHP051211 Minutes Page 6