HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/12/1998 - Workshop Minutes City CouncilMayor
LYNN MCILHANEY
Mayor Pro Tempore
HUB KENNADY
City Manager
GEORGE K. NOE
COLLEGE STATION
Council Members
STEVE ESMOND
LARRY MARIOTT
DAVID HICKSON
DICK BIRDWELL
SWlKI ANDERSON
MINUTES
COLLEGE STATION CITY COUNCIL
Workshop Meeting
Thursday, March 12, 1998 at 3:00 p.m.
College Station City Hall
COUNCILMEMBERSPRESENT:
Mayor Mcllhaney, Councilmembers
Birdwell, Anderson, Mariott, Esmond
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Councilmembers Kennady and Hickson
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Noe, City Secretary Hooks, Assistant City Manager
Brymer, City Attorney Cargill, Staff Planner McCully, City Planner Kee, Director of
Development Services Callaway, Director of OTIS Piwonka, Interim Director of Budget
Cryan, Fire Chief Giordano, MIS Director Burnside, PARD Director Beachy
Mayor Mcllhaney opened the meeting at 3:04 p.m.
Agenda Item No. I -- Discuss consent and statutory agenda items listed for regular
meeting of Thursday, March 127 1998.
Councilman Esmond stated that he will remove Consent Item No. 5f from the agenda at
the regular meeting.
Agenda Item No. 2 -- Present7 discuss7 and possible action to purchase
replacement CIS Customer Information System/Utility Billing) and inte_clrated
Plannin.(I/Zoninc~/Building Inspection/Code Enforcement software/hardware. Total
expenditure ~8147028.68.
OTIS Director Linda Piwonka provided background and current status of the utility
billing system. In October 1997, council approved a consulting contract with Resource
Management, Inc. to review the current CIS and Year 2000 compliance issues.
Warren Elizer with RMI presented a project overview and recommendations to replace
the current CIS system.
Ms. Piwonka mentioned the funding for ClS replacement, Year 2000 upgrade, and
Planning and Zoning software to be allocated from the FY 98 CIP Budget and FY 98
Operating Budgets for a total amount of $814,028.68.
Providing Customer Service Excellence
Council Workshop 3/12/98 Page 2
Councilmembers asked computer related and capital outlay questions about the current
system and the proposed system.
This item was placed on the regular agenda for action.
Agenda Item No. 3 -- Present~ discuss~ and possible action on the Wolf Pen Creek
Siltation Study.
Acting City Engineer Mark Smith presented the recommendations from the Wolf Pen
Creek TIF Board. These recommendations included the following:
1) Modify the Wolf Pen Creek Park lake to a linear water feature with paved
maintenance access.
2) Stabilize bank with the most appropriate treatment incrementally upstream of the
park as funding allows.
Councilmembers expressed comments about the recommendations. An update of the
Wolf Pen Creek Master Plan will be brought forth to Council in April.
Paul Clarke expressed an interest in receiving a budget of projected TIF revenues.
Councilman Birdwell made a motion to accept the staff and TIF Board recommenda-
tions on the Wolf Pen Creek Silt Study relative to the change in the character of the
ponds. Motion seconded by Councilman Madott which carded 5-0, Councilmembers
Hickson and Kennady absent.
Councilman Anderson made a motion to table this item for a future meeting. No
second was made.
The decision on this silt study will be a part of the final decision on the complete Wolf
Pen Creek Master Plan.
Agenda Item No. 4 -- Present, discuss and possible action on a report for
proposed minimum residential foundation standards.
This item was removed by staff. Councilman Birdwell asked for the opportunity to
provide input dudng staff review.
The council took a short break.
Agenda Item No. 5 -- Present, discuss and possible action on the Lick Creek
Master Plan.
PARD Director Steve Beachy explained this item. He presented visual aids to describe
the project. This project was a goal of the Parks and Recreation Board established in
1995. The Parks Board has worked with the Lick Creek Advisory Committee and
students from the A&M School of Park and Toudsm Sciences. The park is 515 acres
which has been viewed as a "wilderness" park with evidence of Native American
Council Workshop 3/12/98 Page 3
habitation through remnants of living areas and tools, old homestead sites, roads and
bddges. It also serves as a habitat area for endangered plants.
Mr. Beachy emphasized the importance of a master plan and the valuable resource this
park will provide to citizens and toudsts in terms of recreation and education. He
presented a design concept for trails and visitor access area. He outlined the funding
estimates for park operations.
Council will consider final action on this item at its next regular meeting on March 26th.
Agenda Item No. 6 -- Present~ discuss and possible action on the design scope for
Teen Center.
Steve Beachy presented this item. Members of the Teen Advisory Board were present.
Two potential sites were considered by the TAB; Southwood Athletic Park or Bee Creek
Park.
Council discussed the design of the teen center such as location, size, expected use,
and programs.
Ben Fox of 1700 Frost, Chairman of the Teen Advisory Board highlighted ideas for
uses in this Center.
Fred Patterson, 3788 Pate Road, the architect on the project spoke about the projected
uses.
The discussion concluded with Mr. Beachy expressing to the Council that the monies
will be allocated toward the largest structure possible.
Agenda Item No. 7 -- Present~ discuss~ and possible action on landscape~
streetscape requirements.
Staff Planner Sabine McCully explained this item. She stated that the ordinance
changes are a result of efforts from the development community and Community
Appearance Committee to make the ordinance more concise. The amendments
essentially affects the following substantive changes:
1. The ordinance will no longer require specific plant species to meet landscaping
requirements.
2. Staff recommends that specific street theme tree planting requirements be deleted.
The Community Appearance recommended approval of the amendment with two
revisions: That certain tree species will not be awarded points, and; the streetscape
requirements for residential subdivisions are not changed until further study.
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval by a 4-1 vote.
Councilmembers asked questions about various tree species listed in the ordinance.
Council Workshop 3/12/98 Page 4
This item was placed on the council's regular agenda for consideration.
Agenda Item No. 8 -- Appoint citizens to Capital Improvement Planning Committee.
Interim Finance Director Charles Cryan noted that the staff received several applica-
tions. However, the staff recommended this committee consists of 21 people. Council
directed staff to continue advertising for this committee. The Mayor asked each
councilmember to bring back at its next meeting the names of individuals who wish to
serve.
Agenda Item No. 9 -- Committee Reports.
Mayor Mclihaney stated that the MPO met to hear from representatives regarding the
railroad relocation plan. A presentation will be placed on the council's March 26th
agenda.
Agenda Item No. 10 -- Agenda Requests by Councilmembers.
Councilmembers Birdwell and Esmond requested staff to place the topic of electdc rate
reductions on a future agenda.
Mayor Mcllhaney noted that she received the request from Councilmembers Anderson
and Esmond regarding personnel issues. She stated that there will be a special
workshop session dedicated to this subject matter.
Councilman Birdwell requested to place on a future agenda the topic of city
participation in grade separations.
Agenda Item No. 11 -- Council Calendars
Community Development Training Sessions at George Bush School April 1-3.
Agenda Item No. 12 -- Executive Session
The council moved to executive session at 5:45 p.m.
The workshop and executive sessions will adjourn following the regular meeting.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 26th day of March, 199_~8.
City Secretary Connie Hooks
APPROVED:
Mayo~ Lynn Mcllhaney