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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/09/2011 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP CITY OF COLLEGE STATION JUNE 9, 2011 STATE OF TEXAS § COUNTY OF BRAZOS § Present: Nancy Berry, Mayor Council: Blanche Brick Jess Fields Karl Mooney Katy-Marie Lyles Julie Schultz Dave Ruesink City Staff: David Neeley, City Manager Kathy Merrill, Assistant City Manager Mary Ann Powell, Assistant City Attorney Sherry Mashburn, 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 3:06 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, 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. No items were discussed. 2. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the City's community development activities. David Gwin, Director of Economic Development, provided an overview of the CDBG and HOME. These are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development; the CDBG since 1975 and HOME since 1992. One of three national objectives must be met: 1) benefits low/moderate income; 2) elimination of slum and blight; and 3) meet an urgent need. WKSHP060911 Minutes Page 1 The CDBG is used for a variety of community development activities, but HOME can only be used for affordable housing. Current programming parameters include: leverage resources; strive for cost neutral programming; create sustainable revenue sources; value-added programming; and equity component for customers. The bulk of CDBG funding is for non- housing programs such as public facility/infrastructure improvements, public service agencies, and administration. Per federal guidelines, we are allowed to spend up to 20% of the grant to operate the grant, and 15% can be used for public service agencies. Housing activities include: owner-occupied rehab; down-payment assistance; tenant-based rental assistance; community housing development organizations; leveraged housing development; and support of non-profit affordable housing partners. For FY12, CDBG has a proposed budget for $1,029,323 and $631,763 is budgeted for HOME. In October 2010, staff received Council direction to work with non-profit partners to support affordable housing using HOME funds. Under the Habitat for Humanity program, the sales price is below the appraised value and serves clients earning below 50% AMI. He requested direction for: 1) Begin to reimburse Habitat for land/lot acquisition? 2) Begin to reimburse Habitat for construction costs? 3) Continue to use DAP to lower client's monthly payment? Under the CHDO program homes are sold at the appraisal value and serve clients earning 50- 80% AML Proceeds must be used in College Station for HOME eligible activities, and they must receive at least 15% of the HOME grant. He requested direction for: 1) Continue to reimburse CHDOs for land acquisition and construction costs? 2) Continue to use DAP to lower client's monthly payment? Staff would like to go forward with another senior housing project utilizing a for-profit affordable housing partner. The Leveraged Housing Development Program may include new development or substantial rehabilitation of single or multi-family units. HOME funds would be provided through long-term, low-interest loans. He requested direction for: 1) Issue a new Request for Proposal for a senior housing development? Council direction was to continue working with Habitat for Humanity and to go forward with an RFP for another senior housing project. Direction was also given to provide 15% of the HOME grant to the CHDO program. 3. Presentation, possible action, and discussion rep-arding the Eastgate Neighborhood Plan. Bob Cowell, Director of Planning and Development, provided he Council with the draft Eastgate Neighborhood Plan for their review. Jason Schubert, Senior Planner, explained that a Neighborhood Plan aids in the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan. It provides an in-depth analysis of a smaller area. It is action oriented and typically has a shorter implementation period of five to seven years. The Eastgate Neighborhood is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city with seventeen miles of streets and WKSHP060911 Minutes Page 2 2,700 residents. Public input was obtained through various kinds of neighborhood meetings. A committee of area residents (Neighborhood Resource Team) provided feedback and direction to the plan. Input was also received via web and meeting-based surveys. Components of the plan include community character, neighborhood integrity, mobility, sustainability, and implementation. Public hearings will be held June 16 and 23. 4. Presentation, possible action, and discussion of a proposed first amendment to the Solid Waste Facilities Operations Agreement among the City of Bryan, Texas the City of College Station, Texas, and Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency, Inc Samantha Best, BVSWMA Operations Manager, presented the amendment to the Solid Wastes Facilities Operation Agreement. Rate Schedule (section 5.12) currently establishes a formula for determining the Cities landfill disposal rate charges and does not consider revenue generated by non-City sources. Proposed changes to section 5.12 allow the Agency the ability to consider the revenues received from non-City sources when determining the rates charged to the Cities. Section 5.10 (b) currently requires the unanimous consent of the City of College Station and the City of Bryan for approval of any discounted or free use of facilities by any person for any reason. The proposed changes to this section allows the Agency Board to approve discounted charges for the use of the facilities. Cities would maintain control of the approval process through representation on BVSWMA, Inc. Board, and any discounted charge would not be lower than the current rate paid by the Cities. Another revision allows the agency the ability to offer an occasional no-charge service in support of community cleanup events and other similar functions that serve for the betterment of the community. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Lyles and a second by Councilmember Ruesink, the City Council voted seven (7) for and none (0) opposed, to approve the first amendment to the Solid Waste Facilities Operations Agreement among the City of Bryan, Texas, the City of College Station, Texas, and Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency, Inc. The motion carried unanimously. 5. Presentation, possible action, and discussion of a proposed Rate Schedule for the Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency, Inc. Samantha Best, BVSWMA Operations Manager, reported that the Rock Prairie Landfill rates will remain unchanged through closure of this facility. The proposed City rate at Twin Oaks Landfill is unchanged from the Rock Prairie Landfill rate, and the current Rock Prairie Landfill solid waste rates were established in 2005/2006. The proposed Twin Oaks Landfill gate rate is below average for the region, and they are proposing a 6.7% increase in the gate rate. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Ruesink and a second by Councilmember Brick, the City Council voted seven (7) for and none (0) opposed, to approve the Rate Schedule for the Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency, Inc. The motion carried unanimously. 6. Council Calendar • June 16 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting in Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m. • June 20 IGC Meeting at BVCOG at 12:00 p.m. WKSHP060911 Minutes Page 3 • June 23 City Council Workshop/Regular Meeting at 3:00 p.m. & 7.00 p.m. • June 24 Twin Oaks Landfill Grand Opening at Twin Oaks Landfill at 11.30 a.m. There was no discussion on the calendar. 7. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on future agenda items: a Council Member may inquire about a subiect 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 subiect on an agenda for a subsequent meeting Councilmember Fields wants to see an item on how the HOME grants affect neighborhoods and neighborhood integrity. Staff will provide a report. 8. 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, 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, Planning 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 on the COG meeting and the regional organizational meeting with Representative Flores reporting on the debt ceiling. Councilmember Lyles reported on the Arts Council meeting and said there are excitingng things going on. They are preparing their budget request for the City. 9. Executive Session In accordance with the Texas Government Code §551.071-Consultation with Attorney, §551.072-Deliberation Regarding Real Property, and §551.087-Economic Incentive Negotiations, the College Station City Council convened into Executive Session at 5:08 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, 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 pen-nits in Westside/Highway 60 area, near Brushy Water Supply Corporation to decertify City of College Station and certify City of Bryan WKSHP060911 Minutes Page 4 • 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 • Chavers et al v. Tyrone Morrow, Michael Ikner, City of Bryan, City of College Station, et al • Ongoing criminal investigation of municipal court missing funds B. Consultation with Attorney to seek legal advice; to wit: • Legal issues regarding the interlocal agreement related to the bio-corridor. C. Deliberation Regarding Real Property; to wit: • 701 University Drive • Holleman Tract - which includes 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 and 220 Holleman D. Deliberation Regarding Economic Incentive Negotiations; to wit: • Blinn College The Executive Session adjourned at 7:01 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, 2011. No action was required from Executive Session. 10. Adiournment MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Lyles and a second by Councilmember Brick, the City Council voted seven (7) for and none (0) opposed, to adjourn the workshop of the College Station City Council at 9:55 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, 2011. Nancy B ,Mayor ATTEST: Sherry Ma burn, City Secretary WKSHP060911 Minutes Page 5