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Home My WebLink About04/10/1991 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINIn'ES CITY COUNCIl, WOFa~4OP WEDN]~ 4~ ~ 10, 1991 M_.ay. or Ringer, Councilmembers Brown, Bn'dwell, Schneider, Mcnhaney, Crouch, Gardner City Manager Ragiand, Public Information Officer Caniham, City Secretary Hooks, City Attorney Locke, Community Development Director ~,-ron, Development Services Director ~; City En~.. eer P.ullen, ~ity Planner Calk~say, Public .ServAces D~rector LaBeau, Pub]k:..Utilities Dn'ector Woody, Asst. City Manager Brymer S?UDEN~ GOV'? T.TA~ON: Trey Jacobson V]SITOI~.q PI~SENT: See guest register. Ag~_ ,4,, !~___,~_ No. 1 - ~,~ ~ c~_~t ~~ ~ ~ o~_ ~~. ~ 11~ a~. The council did not remove any consent items. _Agenda Item No. 2 - Council Concerns. Councilman M. cnhaney inquired about the possibility of placing a survey in local hotels to recmve feedback from the visitors about their perception of the community. Mayor Rin.~er re?lied that it is a good suggestion. Councilman Brown agreed. Councilman B~rdwell stated that the hotels would be willing to help. Councilman Gardner asked about the statu, s .of L. oTrak relating to city partici- pation..City M.anager Ragiand stated that it ~s his understanding that Carol Ziegier is working on other plans. Coun.c. ilman Cro.uch .stated that our staff _ should be involved with the planning staff at the Umvermty.. '. Mayor Ringer stated that the council can ask the University to consult v~th our city staff. Mayor Ringer pointed out that we cannot justify asking our staff to drop the proiects they ..are working and work on I~oTrak espe~any when the citizens voted not to fund lt. City Ma~..ager Ragiand. mentioned tilat he and the Mayor win be meeting with the Univermty staff on April 24th. The staff win conve~ to the ~ity the council's interest to provide city input during the planning phases. Councilman Schneider commented that the University's decision will impact the citizens of College Station in a vital way and the Council ~ I reSPonsibility to see that any action taken is in the best interest in Colleg~Sfa~ion. Councilman Mcl]haney emphasized that we should make the Plighv~ay Depart- ment fully aware of the city's thoroughfare plan. City Council Workshop Meeting Wednesday, April 10, 1991 Page Councilman Crouch mentioned that she would like to pursue the library issue for a future election. She asked if the staff, has extra time t~o. prepare an inventory of available possible locations and lo. ok atto other sites.. City Manager Ragland stated ..that th.e. staff completed an atventor~r of approxunately 25 sites. Councilman B]rdwell remarked that the prices should be updated and there may be sites to add to this list. City Manager Ragland reiterated that if the council is ready to move forward with the project, then the numbers, need to be der. ermined and staff canprepare to add ~ proposition to a future election. Councilman Crouch statedthat she would like to have an item on a future agenda in which the council can consider an election date and future discussion of a library site. Counc'.flma~.....Crouch also reported that. the newspaper, "The P.r. ess" is being tossed in citizen's yards who have notified the newspaper to discontinue delive.ry. City Attorney Locke remarked that the city has a litter ordinance but there ~s not much the city can do. Councilman Brown asked if the staff has looked into the late penalty assessed on the city's utility bill. City Manager responded that staff is currently studying this. Coun.c.' .fi.man Schneider inquired about.the Urdvers!ty owned duplexes being demolished and how this affects the.city taxes. City Manager Ragland replied that ther,.e are non-students that live ut the property but do not pay. local taxes. Mayor Ringer expressed his co. ncern that the d_uplexes were elim~_' ated from the pro~.erty tax rolls when the U. mversity, bought theproperty. City ..Attorney Locke replied that Buddy Winn, Chief Appramer, stated that the University filed ,for a tax exemption certificate, and thereafter, removed from the tax roll. May_.o.r Ringer further stated that the city provides services, to ~ose properties just like_ any taxing pro. lq. err~ in the city; therefore, the _university property should not be tax exempt. City Attorney Locke stated that she can write a letter to the appraisal district asking for a review of the tax exemption filing. Councilman Birdwell mentioned that the houses on the 1600 block of Park Place will be considered for condemnation by the Structural Standards Board. Mr. Birdwen referred to the February financial report on the decrease of hotel/motel taxes and the collection rate of the property tax fund. Acting Finance Director Glenn Schroeder replied that the debt service fund and the gener.al fund are not the same because of the method of posting taxes at the Appr .a]sal office. The system is set up where people may choose to pay one-half of their taxes in November and the balance in June. Trey Jacobsen noted that the recruitment and selection process is begiru'dng for next year's council, l]~-~on. He stated that he has made recommendations t" 'o the student body president on how to restructure the position in relation to the student government. Mayor Ringer stated that Allen Swoboda has contacted him regarding Emerald Forest Phase 8 d..e~e. !opme. nt. Mr. Swoboda would like to make a proposal where he can build the bndge on Appomattox and asked if the council would be City Council Workshop Meeting Page 3 Wednesday, April 10, 1991 receotive to re-exarrdning participation and drainage requirement.. May.or,,, ~i~. a;kad the Development Policies Committee to serve as a liaison to.xwr. Sw'-'o~b-~c~ t--~:~rovide input'. Mayor Ringer also advised Mr. Swoboda that there is an appeals procedure he may pursue. $_,,~_.,4~ !__t~m No. 3 - ~ M~ger Concm'ns. City Manager Ragland did not report any concerns. ~_?~__ ,4~ !_~te~_ No. 4 - ~l~_ourn. Mayor Ringer adjourned the meeting at 4:45 p.m. Community Developm.?nt Director Jo C .arroll bri.efl, y s~tated tha.t, thee Big. Event .will be held Saturday, April 13th. She expl.a~, ed that .me_~o.mm._unt_~ ~ev.e.~o.p.m. ent... staff and the Code Enforcement office identified the ].:,astgate area wmcn mey mn deserved much needed attention. Ms. Kate Wood coordinator for Texas A&M University spoke to the Council. She estimated 3500 to 4000 students to help. The council took a bus tour of the Eastgate area and Montclair street. C;ity ~ecretary Gonnie Hooks APPROVED: