HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/16/1998 - Joint Minutes City CouncilCITY OF COLLEGE STATION
Mayor
Lynn McIIhaney
Mayor Pro Tempore
David Hickson
City Manager
George K. Noe
City Council
Steve Esmond
Ron Silvia
SwJki Anderson
Larry Madott
Anne Hazen
MINUTES
COLLEGE STATION CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
Monday, November 16, 1998 at 6:$0 p.m.
Brazos Center, 3232 Briarcrest Drive, Bryan, Texas
A special meeting of the College Station City Council was held jointly with a meeting of the
Bryan City Council and Brazos County Commissioners Court. Members present included:
Mayor Lynn Mcllhaney, Councilmembers Hickson, Silvia, Mariott, and Hazen. Staff present
were City Manager Noe, City Secretary Hooks, City Attorney Cargill, Jr., Management Assistant
Broussard, Water/Wastewater Superintendent Riley, Public Utilities Director Woody, Assistant
City Manager Brymer, Development Services Director Callaway.
o
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor McIlhaney called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
College Station Mayor Lynn Mcllhaney introduced and welcomed Senator Steve Ogden,
Representative Fred Brown and Representative C.B. Jones to the joint session.
OPENING COMMENTS FROM LEGISLATORS
The legislators thanked the members of the Councils and the Commissioners Court for the
opportunity to meet with them about items of concern to the local community.
PRESENTATION ON SPECIFIC LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES
Mr. Bill Riley, Water/Wastewater Superintendent for the City of College Station, spoke
about a proposed regional groundwater conservation district. He provided the history of
the study to determine water supply needs for Brazos County and the surrounding region
for the next 50 years. He spoke about the "rule of capture" and explained that a
conservation district would help insure that the existing water supply is used wisely. Mr.
Riley answered questions and stated Senator Ogden had agreed to carry forward the
proposed legislation.
Special Meeting 11/16/98
Page 2
Mr. Rick Conner, Director of Public Works for the City of B~yan, explained a problem
with single certificates of convenience and necessity (CNN) for newly annexed areas that
have been serviced by rural water systems. He stated that cities want to provide water,
along with other city services, to newly annexed territories. He provided an example with
Wickson Creek Special Utility District CNN and recently annexed section of Bryan. Mr.
Conduff reported that the Texas Municipal League had adopted a resolution asking that
this issue be resolved.
5. DISCUSSION ON LEGISLATIVE MATTERS OF LOCAL INTEREST
The floor was opened for discussion regarding legislative matters of local interest:
annexation, utility franchise issues, electric deregulation and municipal court jurisdiction.
A discussion regarding electric deregulation focused on concerns about retail wheeling,
reliability and stranded costs. Bryan officials, as owners of BTU, expressed great concern
about the negative impacts of stranded costs and reliability issues on the electric systems
owners. Senator Ogden spoke about the need for a long transition period in order to
mitigate as many negative impacts as possible. Representative Brown also stated that the
stranded cost issue had to be addressed.
Mr. Conduff reported that the Texas Municipal League position was to maintain local
control over utility franchise issues. Discussion followed about the importance of right-of-
way fees to cities and taxpayers, He also stated that the legislators were being encouraged
to strive for fairness to both municipalities and land owners on the issue of annexation.
The topic of platting requirements for some subdivision control outside the city limits was
mentioned. Health and safety issues related to annexation and subdivision control were
also mentioned. The legislators agreed that the fairness issue was critical to successful
legislation affecting annexation. It was mentioned that Representative Brown was
sponsoring a bill to clear up ambiguities in existing law regarding municipal court
jurisdiction over Class C misdemeanor and city ordinance cases arising on city-owned
property located outside the corporate city limits.
6. ADJOURN
Council thanked Senator Ogden, Representative Brown and Representative Jones for
attending the meeting and hearing the concerns of local elected officials. Without
objection, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm.
TEST' .- ~ Ij
City Secretary Connie Hooks
APPROVED:
MayS{- Lynn Mcllhaney