HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/13/1998 - Workshop Minutes City CouncilCITY OF COLLEGE STATION
Mayor
Lynn Mcllhaney
Mayor Pro Tempore
David Hickson
City Manager
George K. Noe
City Council
Steve Esmond
Ron Silvia
Swiki Anderson
Larry Madott
Anne Hazen
MINUTES
COLLEGE STATION CITY COUNCIL
WORKSHOP MEETING
Thursday, August 13, 1998 at 3:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Mcllhaney, Mayor Pro Tern Hickson,
Councilmembers Mariott, Silvia, Anderson,
Esmond, Hazen
STAFF PRESENT:
City Manager Noe, City Attorney Cargill, Jr., City Secretary
Hooks, OTIS Director Piwonka, Budget Director Kersten, Finance
Director Cryan, Personnel Director Pavlinski
Mayor Mcllhaney opened the meeting at 3:10 p.m.
Agenda Item No. 1 -- Discussion of consent and statutory agenda items listed for
regular council meeting.
City Manager Noe mentioned that a revised resolution was provided to the council
which pertained to a 380 grant with the College Station Development Group.
Councilman Esmond requested Item No. 5f on council meeting procedures be removed
for a separate vote.
Agenda Item No. 2 -- Presentation of 1998 Citizen Survey.
Acting Budget Director Jeff Kersten presented the survey results conducted in June by
the Public Policy Research Institute at TAMU. Over 500 citizens were contacted in a
telephone survey to determine satisfaction and dissatisfaction levels with various city
services. The results indicated that 93% of the respondents were satisfied with overall
services.
Agenda Item No. 3 -- Presentation of proposed 1998-99 Technology Plan.
OTIS Director Linda Piwonka presented a summary of the Technology Plan for 1998-
2003 in the following segments:
Proiects previously approved by council which required multi year funding:
Customer Information System ($325,000)
Mobile Data System ($200,000)
Networks ($55,000)
Fiber Optic Infrastructure ($400,000)
New proposed projects:
24 City Hall/Centralized Customer Services ($43,600)
GIS Deployment/Enhancement ($30,200)
Council Workshop 8/13/98
Page 2
Replacement of hand held meter reading equipment ($50,000)
Standard office automation license upgrade ($65,000)
Training HTE Work Order Software ($25,000)
Code Enforcement Ticket Wdting Software ($40,300)
Replacement of paging transmitter ($19,970)
Papedess Council Packets ($36,361)
On.qoin.q Operational/Maintenance Costs:
Micro Computer Specialist for MDT and Computer Network at Library ($38,065 and
$4,500)
ClS Software Maintenance Agreement with HTE ($25,850)
ATM Switch/Fiber Optic ($41,000)
24 Hour City Hall/Centralized Customer Services ($4,000)
Total Technology Plan Cost for 1998-99 was proposed for $1,399,346.
Questions by councilmembers related to the 24 hour Automated Voice Response
system proposed in last year's budget.
Agenda Item No. 4 -- Presentation by Peter Tadow on Tourism and Economic,
Development.
Dr. Peter Tarlow was invited to discuss with councilmembers his experiences in the
tourism industry and ways that would benefit Bryan-College Station to promote toudsm
in our community. A video produced by the local CNN station addressed Mr. Tarlow's
effective training programs conducted throughout the city departments in the past.
Questions asked by councilmembers related to the type of tourism attractions that
would be beneficial to the area, and what can the city offer its tourists.
Council took a short recess at 5:20 p.m.
Agenda Item No. 5 -- Committee Reports.
The meeting resumed at 5:30 p.m.
Mayor Mcllhaney reported that the Council of Governments Regional Committee met
with Brazos Transit and TAMU Transportation officials to designate the COG as an
advisory committee to work on regional transportation issues.
Agenda Item No. 6 -- Agenda Requests by Councilmember~
a. Televising Council Meetings
Mayor Mcllhaney noted that this item would be discussed during the budget process
when the public relations department presented their upcoming budget.
Council Workshop 8/13/98
Page 3
b. Response to Eagle's article on employee morale.
Councilman Esmond requested that the issue of employee morale be addressed in a
future meeting. Debate was held about prior discussions of this item. Mayor Pro Tem
Hickson asked staff to review the record of the council meetings and determine when
this issue was addressed by council in the past to note on the record whether or not
this issue was decided by council.
Councilman Esmond requested 10-15 minutes to present his views about this item for
future discussion.
Mayor Mcllhaney reminded the Council that the City Manager is responsible for
personnel matters in the city organization. She added that this item has been
discussed by the council because several councilmembers indicated they would not
want to discuss this further, and others indicated they may want to discuss the
personnel matters with the city manager. This is the reason she decided to place this
item on the agenda to avoid any confusion.
Councilman Madott made a motion to not pursue the requested item on employee
morale. Motion seconded by Mayor Pre Tern Hickson which carried 5-2.
FOR: Mcllhaney, Hickson, Mariott, Silvia, Hazen
AGAINST: Esmond, Anderson
Mayor Pro Tem Hickson made a motion to discuss the issue on televising council
meetings at a future budget workshop. Councilman Mariott seconded the motion
which carried unanimously, 7-0.
Councilman Anderson asked the City Attorney if he had the right to participate in the
business of the city, since the council has decided to investigate him on charter
violations. Mr. Cargill responded that his position as a councilmember has not changed
and he may participate in all council functions. Mr. Anderson noted that he will abstain
from the vote on the consent agenda item no. 5f, an agreement with the College
Station Development Group, L.P.
Councilman Anderson asked the City Attorney about the fact that he was not aware
that the city retained certified agendas. City Attorney Cargill noted that certified
agendas only applies to land acquisition and personnel. It does not apply to staff and
legal reports or pending litigation. Mr. Cargill mentioned that the City Secretary records
on a certified agenda the subject matter that was discussed on matters related to
personnel and land acquisition which is not public record, only opened by a court order.
Mr. Anderson noted that he will not attend council executive sessions. He indicated his
intention is to bring an item requesting that the council tape record the executive
sessions.
Council Workshop 8/13/98 Page 4
Agenda Item No. 7 -- Council Calendars:
Workshop and Regular Meetings, Thursday August 27, 1998
Recognition Banquet, 6:30 p.m. Pebble Creek, Sept. 15
Workshop and Regular Meeting, Thursday Sept. 10, 1998
Agenda Item No. 8 -- Executive Session
Council moved into executive session at 6:00 p.m.
Staff and Legal Reports {LGC 551.075}
Pending and Contemplated Litigation {LGC 551.071}
Appointment and evaluation of public officials {LGC 551.074}
The workshop and executive sessions adjourned following the regular meeting.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 27th day of August, 1998.
APPROVED:
Mayor Lynn Mcllhaney