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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/21/2002 - Special Minutes City Council Mayor City Council Ron Silvia John oun Winnie Garner Mayor Pro Tempore oun James Massey Scott Mears City Manager Dennis Maloney COLLEGE STATION Thomas E. Brymer Anne Hazen College Station, Embracing the Past, Exploring the Future MINUTES COLLEGE STATION CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting Thursday, March 21, 2002 at 2:00 p.m. College Station Conference Center 1300 George Bush Drive College Station, Texas COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Mcllhaney, Mayor Pro Tem Mariott, Councilmembers Silvia, Hazen, Massey, Maloney STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Brymer, City Attorney Cargill, Jr., Assistant City Manager Brown, City Secretary Hooks, Economic Development Director Foutz, First Assistant City Attorney Nemcik, Fiscal Services Director Cryan Agenda Item No. 1 -- Call to Order Mayor Mcllhaney called the special meeting to order at 2:03 p.m. This meeting was held jointly with the Brazos County Commisioners Court. Agenda Item No. 2 -- Discussion and possible action on the proposed city center conference center and associated privately developed hotel. Agenda Item No. 3 -- Discussion and possible action on Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #15. Both items were discussed simultaneously. Economic Development Director Kim Foutz introduced the item and explained that this meeting was held for the purpose of presenting information to the County Commissioners Court about the Tax Increment Financing District and the impact of this private /public partnership on the Brazos Valley. Bill Atkinson from TAC Realty and Kirby Chadwell from HKS Architects expressed support for the hotel /conference center project and the public /private partnership. Council Special Meeting 3/21/02 Page 2 Ms. Foutz pointed out that the updated feasibility reports showed that the community needs a `e large and desirable facility to accommodate large conferences. John Hamilton and Emanuel Glockzin, property owners of the planned development indicated their desire to develop the remaining 137 acres. They explained that they have retained land planners to look at the development of their property to correlate with the hotel conference center project and Veterans Park. Don Trice, President and CEO of Crestline Hotels and Resorts came forward to answer questions. Tom Lattin, Principal of Lattin & Associates noted that he assisted the city in the negotiations of the management agreement. He discussed the viability of the project. Director of Fiscal Services Charles Cryan discussed the Tax Increment Financing Plan. Questions were asked by the County Commissioners about the county's obligation to participate in improvements in the TIF corridor. The staff responded that the city was not proposing any improvements. This issue was defined in the participation agreement. Kim pointed out that all hotel /motel revenues would be allocated toward early retirement. The TIF is in place only while debt is outstanding. Comments were made by staff that the use of funds allocated previously for Wolf Pen Stern, Conference Center project were not restricted to a certain project and may be used toward this new project. Ms. Foutz noted that the conference center is designed to accommodate the needs of other local hotels. Roger Ables came forward to present each entity with a letter regarding the concerns of negative economic impacts that could occur. Roland Moyer, President and CEO of Bryan /College Station Economic Development Corporation came forward to announce that the EDC recently adopted a resolution in support of the project. Dick Birdwell, 3 Forest Drive expressed concerns about the need to have an updated feasibility study for the Highway 30/60 location. He urged council to submit a referendum to the voters about the conference center at this location. Dick Haddox spoke about the incredible opportunity this project is for the community. He commended the council for their proactive approach. Barron Hobbs, representing the Brazos Valley Lodging Association thanked the City for the recent action on the change in the organization structure of the CVB. With regard to the conference center, he urged council to perform another feasibility study specific to this location. Council Special Meeting 3/21/02 Page 3 Ms. Foutz highlighted the need to change the building layout from the WPC building schematic. One of the core purposes of the conference center was to attract corporate business meetings and state association conferences. In doing so, the design and amenities needed to change in order to target these groups. The prior design at Wolf Pen Creek was not suitable. She noted that the conference center would accommodate shared facilities with the hotel such as laundry, employee break rooms, mechanical room, etc. Benito Flores Meath, 901 Val Verde encouraged council to perform an updated study and give the residents an opportunity to vote on this location. Bill Batchelor stated his opposition to the public - private partnership. Carl Vargo, 2902 Cortez Court. asked council to defer further action on the conference center project and propose the issue to the voters. Mike Luther, 614 Welsh made remarks about the transportation issues that will become a problem in this corridor area. He urged council to submit their transportation plans and solutions to the voters before any further commitment is made by the City to proceed with the proj ect. Ms. Foutz reported factual information about the feasibility studies that have been performed on this project. She stated that in 2001, a study was performed by Randall Travel Marketing. to, Another study was performed by Price Waterhouse Coopers following the cancellation of the Wolf Pen Creek conference center project. She concluded by stating that in order for the conference center to be successful a host hotel must be adjacent to it. Following additional comments, the special meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m. PASSED AND APPROVED this 13 day of June, 2002. APPROVED: Mayor on Silvia TEST: City Secretary Connie Hooks Mayor City Council Lynn Mcllhaney James Massey Mayor Pro Tempore Ron Silvia Larry Mariott Winnie Garner COLLEGE STATION City Manager Dennis Maloney Thomas E. Brymer Anne Hazen College Station, Embracing the Past, Exploring the Future College Station City Council Special Meeting Sign In Sheet March 21, 2002 at 2:00 p.m. 1. 11. 2. 12. 3. °fl a� 13. O tollC/c, 4. j I fY / V ©`° / 14. ). 4,i) -1 E=Q- -, • �_�i �� ►. 15. 0/,,,,e , 6. i /; P. :// /// 16:i 7. ars' 17. • 8. ✓C / 18. 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