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Home My WebLink About09/12/2003 - Joint Minutes City CouncilJoint Retreat 9-12-2003 Page 1 Mayor City Council Ron Silvia James Massey Mayor Pro Tempore 7ohn Happ Anne Hazen Robert Wareing City Manager Scott Mears Thomas E. Brymer Dennis Maloney College SYatinn, Embracing the Past, Exploring the Future MINUTES COLLEGE STATION CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING JOINT RETREAT FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2003 8:30 A.M. G. ROLLIE WHITE VISITORS CENTER A special meeting of the College Station City Council was held on Friday, September 12, 2003 at the G Rollie White Visitors Center, 7707 Raymond Stotzer Parkway, College Station, Texas. The meeting was held jointly with elected officials from the College Station City Council, the Brazos County Commissioners Court, and representatives from Texas A&M University. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Silvia, Councilmembers Maloney, Happ, Hazen, City Attorney Cargill, Jr., COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Robert Wareing and Scott Mears STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Brymer, Assistant City Manager Brown, City Attorney Cargill, Jr., City Secretary Hooks, Municipal Court Judge Spillane I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Silvia called the joint meeting to order at 8:50 a.m. Mayor Silvia and Bryan Mayor Watson welcomed the participants. H. GENERAL The group discussed the barriers and opportunities to work together as a joint community: Some of the barriers mentioned by the participants included: 1. Communication processes 2. Differences in Economic Development advantages 3. Turf control issues 4. Condition of economy 5. Differences in vision (Varying Priorities) 6. Community history Joint Retreat 9-12-2003 Page 2 7. Differences in needs 8. Citizens perception that one city is better than the other. The group outlined the opporiunities facing both communities as follows: 1. Community Processes that are conveyed to others, flow of communication among each other, formalize the process. 2. Community Turf 3. Opportunity exists where Interests Align 4. Social and Ecunomic 5. Retail Economic Cooperation (possibly develop intergovernmental economic policy) The group received a list of joint projects that existed between the City of Bryan and the City of College Station, and the City of College Station and TAMU. The council discussed the opportunity for the cities to work together on economic issues. Discussion was held about a joint retail recruitment policy to "level the playing field." III. UTILITIES 1) Water Supply Assistant City Manager of Bryan Hugh Walker and City Manager of College Station Tom Brymer outlined the areas that might serve as useful joint projects in well field interconnection and water supply contract coordination. B: Substations Discussion was held on a joint project with TAMU to "tap into" the University's new wastewater treatment plant to help the development on the west side and the cities of Bryan and CS to work together on joint use of a substation for the area in Northgate. IV. PUBLIC SAFETY a. Update on Joint Fire Station Location Planning Project. The group heard from Bryan Fire Chief Mike Donoho and College Station Fire Chief David Giordano on the potential for the cities to share a future fire station that was located in a general location that served both communities in the 3-4 minute response time. He mentioned that a report was being prepared on the concept of a shared station for a location not yet determined. Giordano reported that both entities provided automatic aid to insure that the closest fire or EMS vehicle will respond to a call for help regardless of city boundaries. Both Fire Chiefs pointed out that the Fire Departments of both cities have a great relationship with each other as well as with TEEX, TAMU services, and rural volunteer fire services. b. Public Safety Communication Initiatives - computer dispatch systems and related matters. City Manager Tom Brymer discussed a new concept in dispatching systems referred to as an "interoperability system". This would be a joint comprehensive system among both cities and the County. Tony Gonzales, Information Technology Director from the City of Bryan Gonzales expressed the need to have a task force to Joint Retreat 9-12-2003 Page 3 look at the comprehensive plan for radio system replacement in the long term. Both councils were in agreement with his suggestion in order that successful implementation of the future communication systems. Texas Avenue Readdressing. Deputy City Manager of Bryan Hugh Walker presented information about creating a divide at the city limits of both cities, with all addresses on the Bryan side becoming North Texas Avenue and those in College Station becoming Texas Avenue South. . He reflected on the problems with the current addressing scheme in Bryan. He stated that these numbering changes would benefit the Texas Avenue businesses in the long run The group recessed for lunch at noon. The meeting reconvened at 12:35 p.m. V. AREA/REGIONAL PLANNING Transportation 1) MPO update/TxDot projects update Linda LeSout, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Planning Organization briefly presented a status report on MPO activities. John Happ stressed the importance of having the MPO to be a voice of the community's transportation priorities at the state and federal level. He also emphasized the importance of each entity being on the same page and working toward the same goal in transportation needs. 2) Update on street capital projects for each of the entities.. Tom Brymer and Mary Kaye Moore discussed the existing street projects in each community and future capital projects. Mary Miller reported that TAMU has plans to build additional pedestrian ways under Wellborn Road to enable better traffic flow from west to east campuses. 3)TEA-21 status John Happ stated that Commercial air service/Easterwood Airport master planning 4) Economic Development Chairman John Duncum, and Executive Directar Roland Mower of the Research Valley Partnership gave a brief overview of the projects that the Research Valley Partnership Board have been working on and an update on the RVP marketing plan. Dennis Maloney, discussed the role of the RVP to attract retail businesses for the entire community. Mr. Maloney serves as a member of the RVP Board. Joint Retreat 9-12-2003 Page 4 5) High Speed Rail Corridor John Happ mentioned that if the high speed rail corridor is designated, billions of dollars may be made available for development and design. 7) Naming Opportunity for SH 47. Hugh Walker talked about a naming opportunity for State Highway 47. He stated that Brazos Beautiful has approached TxDot to change the name to better recognize former President and Mrs. Bush. a. Potential Park Site in Grimes County Michael Parks from the Brazos Valley Council of Governments discussed the proposal of a regional park site near Carlos in Grimes County. b. Tourism Community Information Center Dr. Robert Gates, President of Texas A&M University presented a proposal to the group that the cities and university join together to build a Community Information Center/Visitor Center. Dr. Gates suggested several uses for the Center that could incorporate community wide activities and potentially have offices for the Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. He suggested the tract of land that fronts Texas Avenue across from Luby's restaurant, which is the boundary of the two city limits. The group showed enthusiasm for the idea. He asked the two cities to study the feasibility of the proposal and begin negotiations with interested agencies to be involved. d. Park Planning and Programming City Manager Tom Brymer e. Expo Center Update Brazos County Judge Randy Sims and Commissioner Kenny Mallard presented the conceptual plan of the Expo Center. They mentioned that the County was considering a venue tax for operating revenues. £ TAMU's Faculty Reinvestment Plan Dr. Gates presented information about the TAMU Faculty reinvestment plan. He indicated that the tuition fees will increase to accommodate future growth of TAMU staff to align the student to teacher ratio. VI. COOPERATION AND THE COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. James Massey and Russell Bradley summarized the day's discussions. They thanked everyone for their participation and time. Joint Retreat 9-12-2003 Mayor Silvia adjourned the meeting at 3:00 p.m. PASSED AND APPROVED this 25th day of November, 2003. APPROVED: Mayor on Silvia A TEST: ,4v City Secretary Connie Hooks Page 5