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Home My WebLink About06/26/2008 - Workshop Minutes City CouncilMayor CITY OF COLLEGE STATION Ben White City Manager Glenn Brown Minutes City Council Workshop Meeting Thursday, June 26, 2008 2:00 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers, 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas Councilmembers John Crompton James Massey Dennis Maloney Lynn McIlhaney Lawrence Stewart David Ruesink COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor White, Council members McIlhaney, Maloney, Crompton, Ruesink and Stewart COUNCIL ABSENT: Council member Massey STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Brown, Assistant City Manager Merrill, City Attorney Cargill Jr., City Secretary Hooks, Deputy City Secretary McNutt, Management Team Workshop Agenda Item No. 1 -- Presentation, possible action, and discussion on items listed on the consent agenda No discussion was held. Workshop Agenda Item No. 2 -- Presentation, possible action and discussion on an update from the Arts Council of Brazos Valley. Introduced by Jeff Kersten, Chief Financial Officer. Padraic Fischer, Executive Director of the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley introduced Arts Council board members. He presented a status report of Arts Council activities, budget, and goals. No formal action was taken. Workshop Agenda Item No. 3 -- Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding an update from a representative of the Texas Municipal Retirement System, including its current status Introduced by Mark Marquez, Interim Human Resources Director. Anthony Mills, representing TMRS made a presentation regarding changes to local government retirement plans that will affect the City's funding into the system for fiscal year 2009. No formal action was taken. Workshop Agenda Item No. 4 -- Presentation, possible action, and discussion on the Strong & Sustainable Neighborhood Report and its implementation Traditional Values, Progressive Thinking In the Research Valley Council Workshop Meeting Thursday, June 26, 2008 Page 2 Bob Cowell, Director of Planning and Development Services sought Council's direction on the implementation steps of a program to address multiple Neighborhood integrity issues in a more holistic manner. Objective of the Action Plan Strong and Sustainable Neighborhood — An Action Plan for Neighborhood Integrity has a threshold objective: 1. Gain an understanding of the issues and present a policy rationale for strong and sustainable neighborhood. 2. Identify existing neighborhood integrity efforts employed in the City of College Station. 3. Recommend specific policy initiative(s) to enhance existing efforts. Council agreed to direct staff to move forward with the neighborhood integrity program and implementing a rental fee for rental registration program. Council member Crompton requested staff develop an ordinance to ensure that neighborhoods are maintained. He referred to the Northgate area which was unsightly and unhealthy. Direction to staff •Rental Registration to move forward. *Beyond Rental Inspection needs more discussion. *Making property owner responsible for renters. *Prepare proposals and bring to Council for review and discussion. No formal action was taken. Council recessed for a short break at 3:45 pm. The meeting resumed at 3:55 pm Workshop Agenda Item No. 5 -- Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the proposed Community Development 2008 -09 Action Plan. David Gwin, Director of Economic and Community Development presented a proposed Action Plan and Budget for the 2008 -09 fiscal year. He highlighted several areas of the Action Plan: He discussed the goals, objectives, funding recommendations for the proposed projects, programs and related activities. Planned Initiatives ► Targeted mixed -use development ► Implementation of new housing strategies ► Construction of two new affordable houses in the State Streets area ► Continue to proactively manage and reduce costs ► Technical Assistance for non - funded agencies No formal action was taken. Workshop Agenda Item No. 6 -- Presentation possible action and discussion approving Zero -Rise for Developments with Floodplain Encroachments. Introduced by Mark Smith, Director of Public Works. Traditional Values, Progressive Thinking In the Research Valley Council Workshop Meeting Thursday, June 26, 2008 Page 3 Alan Gibbs, City Engineer presented an overview of Zero -Rise for Developments with Floodplain Encroachments. The minimum requirement set out by FEMA requires that the Zoning Board of Adjustments consider specific criteria and prerequisites before granting an associated variance. Council accepted staff recommendations. Workshop Agenda Item No. 7 -- Presentation, possible action and discussion on an update of the FY09 Outside Agency review process and funding policy. Introduced by Jeff Kersten, Chief Financial Officer, Janet Dudding, Assistant Director of Fiscal Services presented the Outside Agency Funding Policy and an update on FY 08 -09 funding for contract partners. 1) Contract Partner Agencies 2) Department Budget Agencies 3) OAFRC Reviewed Outside Agencies 4) CDBG Agencies Council directed staff to revise the policy that would require outside agencies to request funding through a city departmental process, and eliminating the review process of the Outside Agency Funding Review committee. Workshop Agenda Item No. 8 -- Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding various proposed public facility and district identity improvements in the Northgate District. David Gwin, Director of Economic and Community Development presented an overview of the direction Council gave staff on January 10, 2008 to initiate the planning, design and construction of the public restroom facility on the Patricia Street Promenade in Northgate. Council also instructed staff to explore alternative projects that might be better suited for Northgate and that they replace the planned entry -way and water feature projects. Staff identified several public facility improvements and identity- supporting features that are visible, affordable and could be implemented in a timely manner which are: Proposed Improvements: District unique signage Patricia Street parking lot refurbishing Street bike racks and new trash receptacles Traffic control bollards Promenade cleaning, repair and re- painting Staff recommended approval of the proposed public facility and identity of infrastructure improvements in Northgate. Staff also recommended that the residual funding be retired. No formal action was taken. Mayor White announced that the remaining workshop agenda items would be discussed following the regular meeting. At 5:10 pm, Mayor White announced that the City Council would convene into executive session pursuant to Sections 551.071, 551.072, 551.074 and 551.087 of the Open Meetings Act to seek the advice of our attorney, Traditional Values, Progressive Thinking In the Research Valley Council Workshop Meeting Thursday, June 26, 2008 Page 4 to consider competitive matters, to discuss personnel matters, and discuss economic development negotiations. Workshop Agenda Item No. 13 -- Executive Session will immediately follows the workshop meeting in the Administrative Conference Room. Consultation with Attorney {Gov't Code Section 551.0711 possible action The City Council may seek advice from its attorney regarding a pending or contemplated litigation subject or settlement offer or attorney - client privileged information. Litigation is an ongoing process and questions may arise as to a litigation tactic or settlement offer, which needs to be discussed with the City Council. Upon occasion the City Council may need information from its attorney as to the status of a pending or contemplated litigation subject or settlement offer or attorney - client privileged information. After executive session discussion, any final action or vote taken will be in public. The following subject(s) may be discussed: a. Application with TCEQ for permits in Westside/Highway 60 area, near Brushy Water Supply Corporation. b. Sewer CCN permit requests. c. Water CCN permit requests. d. Water service application with regard to Wellborn Special Utility District. e. Bed & Banks Water Rights Discharge Permits for College Station and Bryan f. Legal aspects of Water Well and possible purchase of or lease of water well sites. g. JK Development v. College Station. h. Taylor Kingsley v. College Station. i. State Farm Lloyds as Subrogee of Mikal Klumpp v. College Station. j. TMPA v. PUC (College Station filed Intervention). k. Legal issues and advice on Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency Contract, on proposed methane gas contract, on proposed Franchise with City of Bryan for B.T.U. Electric, on proposed pole use for College Station and Bryan electric lines, and update on legal proceedings for Grimes County Landfill site and on contract for site acquisitions. Real Estate {Gov't Code Section 551.0721; action The City Council may deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property if deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the City in negotiations with a third person. After executive session discussion, any final action or vote taken will be in public. The following subject(s) may be discussed: a. Land exchange involving property adjacent to Carter Creek near State Highway 6 in the vicinity of the Varsity Ford Dealership. b. Possible purchase of land for roadway near Eisenhower Street. c. Possible purchase of land for the extension of Corsair Drive from Corsair Circle to Emerald Parkway. d. Wolf Pen Creek - Targeted Mixed Used Project. e. Land Acquisition regarding Southwest Portion of Northgate. Personnel {Gov't Code Section 551.0741; possible action The City Council may deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer. After executive session discussion, any final action or vote taken will be in public. The following subject(s) may be discussed: a. Planning and Zoning Commission b. Zoning Board of Adjustments c. Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals d. Parks and Recreation Board Traditional Values, Progressive Thinking In the Research Valley Council Workshop Meeting Thursday, June 26, 2008 Page 5 Economic Incentive Negotiations {Gov't Code Section 551.0871; possible action The City Council may deliberate on commercial or financial information that the City Council has received from a business prospect that the City Council seeks to have locate, stay or expand in or near the city with which the City Council in conducting economic development negotiations may deliberate on an offer of financial or other incentives for a business prospect. After executive session discussion, any final action or vote taken will be in public. The following subject(s) may be discussed: a. Hotel and Conference Center Council returned to open session at 6:55 pm. No action was taken from executive session. The workshop meeting concluded following the regular meeting. See regular meeting minutes for discussion of remaining workshop items. PASSED AND APPROVED this 10` day of Jam, 2008. 66!J 1 . 11 City Secretary Connie Hooks APPROVED Mayor Ben White Traditional Values, Progressive Thinking In the Research Valley