HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/25/2010 - Workshop Minutes City CouncilMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
OCTOBER 25, 2010
STATE OF TEXAS §
COUNTY OF BRAZOS §
Present:
Nancy Berry
Council:
John Crompton
Jess Fields
Dennis Maloney
Katy -Marie Lyles
Dave Ruesink
City Staff-
David Neeley, Assistant City Manager
Carla. Robinson, Interim City Attorney
Sherry Mashburn, City Secretary
Tanya McNutt, Deputy City Secretary
Call to Order and Announce a Ouorum is Present
With a quorum present, the Workshop of the College Station City Council was called to order by
Mayor Nancy Bent' at 3:05 p on Monday, October 25, 2010 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.
Items 2b, 2i, 2j, 2p, and 2t were pulled from the Consent Agenda.
Item 2b: Chuck Gilman, Director of Capital Projects, reported the land appraised at $224,000
and the improvements at $25,000 for a total of $249,000 in appraised value.
Item 2i: Jeff Kersten, Chief Financial Officer, reported that the City has partnered with Keep
Brazos Beautiful for the past 19-20 years_ This year's budgeted amount of $50,240 includes
$30,000 for maintenance and operations. Bryan and the county also fund Deep Brazos Beautiful.
Item 2j: Jeff Kersten, Chief Financial Officer, explained how we make certain that HOT funds
go to the affiliates. The City has a funding agreement with the Arts Council. They administer
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the funds, and they contract with each of the different affiliates. Our agreement with the Arts
Council lays out the requirements for the use of the HOT for eligible items. These stipulations
are in the affiliates' contracts as well. We are doing more now than we used to in order to assure
the proper use of HOT funds.
MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Maloney and a second by Councilmember
Ruesink, the City Council voted five (5) for and one (1) opposed, with Councilmember Fields
voting against, to budget the Arts Council next year from the General Fund, with the HOT fiord
only going to those eligible entities that put heads in beds. The motion carried.
Item 2p: Debbie Eller, Assistant Director of Economic Development, briefly explained the
direction they are taking. These funds would be returned to HUD if they are not used for the
federal HOME Community Housing Development Organization.
MOTION: Upon a motion made by Mayor Berry and a second by Councilmember Fields, the
City Council voted three (3) for and three (3) opposed, with Counciimembers Ruesink, Maloney,
and Crompton voting against, to deny approval of the contract and allow the funds to return to
HUD. The motion failed.
Item 2t: Troy Rother, Assistant City Engineer, reported this change was prompted during the
Southside meetings, and this was an issue that came up.
2. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regardin the economic impact of home
building resented by Dr. Elliot Eisenberg.
Dr. Elliot Eisenberg discussed the impact that homebuilding has on local economic development.
The construction phase creates jobs and generates revenue with the purchase of materials, local
fees and taxes. The ripple phase (feedback from construction.) includes the wages spent in the
local economy. In the occupancy phase, earnings are spent in the local economy. Benefits of
borne construction are widespread, about half in the construction industry and the rest spread
throughout the community.
Home construction can saddle local government with big costs (approximately $5,600 per unit
per year) in areas of education, public safety, utilities, etc. This does not include one -time costs
associated with necessary infrastructure. However, by the end of the second year the debt has
been extinguished; the economic impacts offset the fiscal costs. As the cost of new construction
goes down, the longer it takes to pay off the debt.
Councilmember Crompton voiced his skepticism and said there were some conceptual
differences. He contends that homes are not part of the basic economy; they are the result.
People come to College Station because there is a job here, and because of that job, they build a
home. He stated that economic models conveniently demonstrate whatever the sponsors of that
model wish to portray. Councilmember Crompton reported that he had reviewed ninety -eight
independent studies that looked at the impacts of homes and if they pay for themselves. He
stated that Dr_ Eisenberg's view is not the common view- Councilmember Crompton noted that
College Station has been growing at a furious rate for the past twenty years, but the quality of
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life has lessened. If homes are of such a benefit, why is the City short of tax money? The City is
delaying road construction and other necessary infrastructure if all this money was rolling in,
we would not have this problem.
3. Presentation possible action and discussion r the ppeLovat of a construction
contract 11 -013 with Brazos kn' ng in the amount of $4174 8.86 for the Barron Road
Widening Phase 2 Proiect.
Chuck Gilman, Director of Capital Projects, explained that the Barron Road Widening Phase 2
project consists of the widening of Barron Road between Decatur Drive and William D_ Fitch
from a 2 -lane asphalt roadway to a 4 -lane concrete roadway. Completion is anticipated in June
2012. The construction budget is $9.7 million; the low bid is $4.1 million. Savings may be used
on other street or transportation projects. Recommendations for such will be brought back to
Council for their consideration.
4. Presentation, possilde a €don, and discussion regarding the approach for the design of the
Lick Creek Nature Center.
Chuck Oilman, Director of Capital Projects, reported they are ready to begin development of a
master plan for the Lick Creek Nature Center in fiscal year 2011. This will include inde ntifyin g
major amenities, strategic placement of facilities, basic infrastructure needs, incorporating
standards from the UDO, etc. Staff is recommending that Council appoint an advisory group to
provide staff and the arclutectlengineer direction on the facility, including amenities, features,
facility programming, and aesthetics. The overall budget is gust under $2.5 million. $100,040
has been budgeted for FY201Ifor the design approach. Operations and maintenance costs will
depend on the design.
Council directed staff to move forward.
5. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the proposed park in Northgate
ark Zone 1).
David Schmitz, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation, provided a brief history on the
Northgate Redevelopment Plan_ Staff feels that purchase of the Boyett property is necessary to
implement the conceptual design of the park developed for the Northgate District. Funds for the
purchase of the land are coming from the Neighborhood Parks Revolving Fund. These funds
will be replenished This is currently the only park in this zone to spend the Parkland Dedication
funds. Staff recommends approval of the contract and moving forward to expand the park.
6. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the scope of work for a
construction contract with Elliott Construction to replace water and wastewater lines in the
Southwood area.
David Coleman, Director of Water Services, briefed the City Council on the scope of work for
this rehabilitation contract.. This project will replace water and wastewater lines that have
exceeded their useful service life, in the area north of Consolidated High School.
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7. Council Calendar
* October 26 -29 TML Annual Conference in Corpus Christi at 8:00 a.m.
• October 26 Lecture/Presentation by Curt Smith and Roman Povadiuk at George
Bush Presidential Library at 6:00 p.m.
0 October 28 Forum on Public Affairs featuLin Laura Bush at Geo a Bush
Presidential Library 5:30 IR.m.
November 4 Planning & Zoning Meeting in Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m
* November 8 B /CS Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet at the Hilton - College
Station at 6:00 p.m.
November 10 Workshop/Regular Council Meeting in Council Chambers at 3:00 &
7:00 p.m.
• November 11 Dedication of the Korean War Memorial on the Lynn Stuart Pathway,
Veterans Park, 4:00 p.m.
• November 11 Reading of the Names at the Veterans Memorial. Adams Plaza,
Veterans Park, 6:00 p.m.
* November .11 Veterans Memorial Day Ceremony at the American Pavilion,
Veterans Park, 7:00 p.m.
There was no discussion on the Council calendar.
8. 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 pE2posal to place the subject on an agenda for a subs2guent meeting.
No fixture items were brought forward.
9. Discussion review and possible action re ardin the following meetin : Arts Council of
the Brazos ValleyAudit Committee, Bicycle, Pedestrian, an 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 Plannina Oreanization, 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 due, Transportation Commmitbm, Wolf Pero Creek
Oversight Committee, Zoning Board of Adiustments.
There were no meeting reports.
10. Executive Session
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In accordance with the Texas Government Code §551.071- Consultation with Attorney, and
§551.074-Personnel, the College Station Cloy Council convened into Executive Session at 5:40
p.m. on Monday, October 25, 2010 in order to continue discussing matters pertaining to:
A. Consultation with Attorney to seek advice regarding pending or contemplated litigation
regarding:
• 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
• City of Bryan suit fled against College Station, Legal issues and advise on Brazos Valley
Solid Waste Management Agency contract, on proposed methane gas contract
+ Water CCN 12002 Annexation / Wellborn Water Supply Corporation
• Weingarten Realty Investors v. College Station, Ron Silvia, David Ruesink, Lynn
McIlhaney, andBen White
• Chavers et at v. Tyrone Morrow, Michael Ikner, City of Bryan, City of College Station, et
al
• Clancey v. College Station, Glenn Brown, and Kathy Merrill
B. Consultation with Attorney to seek legal advice regarding:
+ Discussion of Legal Issues Regarding: Wellborn Incorporation Request
• Contemplated Litigation, Legal remedies available to abate weeds, rubbish, brush and
other unsanitary matter from a lot in the College Hills residential area.
• Legal issues of purchase and lease back to Arts Council
C. Deliberation on the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or
dismissal of a public officer; to wit:
• City Manager
The Executive Session recessed at 6:58 p.m. on Monday, October 25, 2010 and reconvened at
10:20 to finish discussing the matters listed above_ The Executive Session adjourned at10: 37
p.m. on Monday, October 25, 2010.
No action was required from Executive Session.
11. Adiournment
There being no further business, Mayor Berry adjourned the workshop of the College Station
City Council.
Nancy Berry, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Sherry Mash , City Secretary
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