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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/27/1984 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINUTES WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1984 5:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: VISITORS PRESENT: Mayor Halter, Councilmen Boughton, McIlhaney, Prause, Reinke, Councilmen Anderson, Runnels City Manager Bardell, Assistant City Manager VanDever, City Secretary Jones, Acting City Attorney Locke, Deputy Finance Director Schroeder, Director of Capital Improvements Ash, Director of Planning Mayo, Planning Assistant Longley, Utilities Office Manager Piwonka, Printing Coordinator Fry, Personnel Manager Dickson, Administrative Assistant Magoon, Council Coordinator Jones See guest register. Agenda Item No. 1 - Council Concerns. Councilman Reinke reported that the Cable TV Advisory Committee had met twice. She stated that representatives of church groups, senior citizen groups, the Bryan City Council, the College Station City Council, Cable Improvements Association, and McCaw BCS Communications Companies, Inc. were very enthusiastic about the proposed thirty channel "Basic" package. She noted that the group was less enthusiastic about the proposed "Lifeline" package. Councilman Boughton asked if the price of the "Lifeline" package had been discussed. Councilman Reinke stated that the group supported offering one package for a lower price rather than offering two at a higher price. She noted that if the "Lifeline" package is included the price of the thirty channel "Basic" package will increase. Councilman Boughton asked if the installation of a 911 number for the City of Bryan will affect the City of College Station's emergency 911 number. City Manager Bardell stated that there are some numbers which overlap, but this will be handled thru relocation. Councilman Boughton stated that at the last Parks Board meeting a question was raised concerning who will have direct supervision over the newly appointed Teen Center Board. WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1984 PAGE 2 Mayor Halter requested that City Manager Bardell develop some suggestions concerning this matter. Assistant City Manager VanDever stated that he had met with Marci Rodgers and Peggy Calliham concerning this matter. He further stated that there has been some discussion about moving the Lincoln Center Staff to the Teen Center when it is closed for renovation. He noted that the staff is working toward getting the supervision and budgetary elements of the Teen Center under one umbrella. Councilman Boughton asked about the status of the Utility Service Center. Director of Capital Improvements Ash stated that he had received five proposals concerning the Utility Service Center. He further stated that he would like to meet with some members of the Council and Mr. George Ford to review the proposals and return a recommendation to the Council. The Council concurred to have the Capital Improvements Council Committee serve in this capacity. Mayor Halter asked Councilman McIlhaney if she would serve as alternate on the Capital Improvements Council Committee. Councilman McIlhaney replied affirmatively. Councilman Boughton stated that the Council needed to elect a Mayor Pro-Tem. Mayor Halter stated that the Council would consider that matter at the Regular City Council Meeting, June 28, 1984. Councilman McIlhaney stated that she had been contacted concerning the condition of the creek behind the apartments adjacent to Redmond. She stated that the residents are not happy with the situation and would like for the city to go in and clear it out. Councilman McIlhaney stated that she would like to have more discussion items on the Workshop Meeting Agendas rather than items which require action by the Council. She requested that those items be scheduled on the Regular Meeting Agendas. Councilman Reinke asked if the staff had developed any publicity campaigns to help cut the electricity load. City Manager Bardell referred to his memorandum dated June 27, 1984 referencing energy costs and some steps to mitigate "rate shock". He noted that the staff has put into motion the Energy Awareness Program which will be composed of five major areas of effort as follows: Area One: Control of the City of College Station's electrical consumption as it relates to overall energy use and peak demands; Area Two: Work with the top ten users 00t -/ 25 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1984 PAGE 3 of electrical power in the city to help dampen their peak demand, to reduce overall energy consumption and cut both their gross and unit costs; Area Three: Offer a program of energy audits and load management training to all smaller commercial users who have demand meters; Area Four: Presentation of a media campaign which will focus on "Demand Alarm" or methods by which the individual consumer can help; and, Area Five: Continue to emphasize to all segments of the public the willingness and ability of the City of College Station to help them implement energy saving ideas and methods. He further stated that the staff is attempting to develop some educational materials to help educate individuals on the meaning of load and demand. Agenda Item No. 2 - Consideration of an Ordinance levying the taxes for the use and support of the Municipal Government of the City of College Station and providing for the Interest and Sinking Fund for the Year 1984-1985 and apportioning each levy for the specific purpose. City Manager Bardell presented the item. He stated that the proposed tax rate for this year had been set at $.36 per 100 dollars of assessed valuation. He noted that the entire tax levy for the Year 1984-1985 will be going to debt service. He further stated that there has not been a system-wide appraisal in the last two years. Councilman Boughton moved approval of Ordinance No. 1529 levying the taxes for the use and support of the Municipal Government of the City of College Station and providing for the Interest and Sinking Fund for the Year 1984-1985 and apportioning each levy for the specific purpose. Councilman McIlhaney seconded the motion which was approved 5-0. Agenda Item No. 3 - Consideration of an Ordinance adopting a Budget for the 1984-1985 Fiscal Year and authorizing expenditures therein. Councilman Boughton moved approval of Ordinance No. 1530 adopting a Budget for the 1984-1985 Fiscal Year and authorizing expenditures therein. Councilman Prause seconded the motion which was approved unanimously, 5-0. Agenda Item No. 4 - Consideration of Request by Lone Star Gas Company relating to their intent to change the extension rate charged for installing new gas service main lines. Dan Weber, Distribution Manager for Lone Star Gas Company, presented the item. He explained that Lone Star Gas Company's procedures for installing new gas service main lines provides a 100 foot extension without a direct charge for each new customer served by an extended main line. He stated that the charge to extend service beyond this limit is currently $4.50 per foot based upon an installation cost established in 1976. He further stated that Lone Star Gas Company is proposing to change the existing gas main extension rate to a more equitable fee based upon the lesser of: (a) the system-wide average cost of construction, including all overheads, for WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1984 PAGE 4 the prior fiscal year; or (b) the adjusted actual cost as determined by applying the latest Handy-Whitman Index to the 1975 actual base cost of $2.94. He stated that the current system weighted average cost is $5.80 per foot and the Handy-Whitman Index calculation is $5.40 per foot. Councilman Boughton moved approval of Ordinance No. 1531 establishing a new main line extension rate applicable to main line extensions by Lone Star Gas Company within the City of College Station, Brazos County, Texas, and providing an effective date. Councilman Reinke seconded the motion which was approved unanimously, 5-0. Agenda Item No. 5 - Presentation by Riewe and Wischmeyer on their study of composting as a method for solid-waste disposal. Bill Wischmeyer, representative of Riewe and Wischmeyer, presented a summary of their proposed feasibility study of composting as a method for solid waste disposal. He stated that they want to bring together the producers and users of waste. He noted that all participants in the study, both the producers and users, had been contacted and each expressed a certain degree of interest in the proposal. He stated that solid waste disposal creates serious problems and the most feasible solution to these problems seems to be composting. He listed some benefits gained from composting as follows: political; recovery of a biproduct; improved economics through greater savings; soil improvement; fertilizer savings; and erosion control. Leon Potter, biologist for Riewe and Wischmeyer, stated that the users of the biproduct of composting had been contacted first to determine if a market exists for it. He further stated that the study will incorporate various aspects of composting to determine if returns can be made on it. Councilman McIlhaney asked if the presentation had been made to any of the other entities. Mr. Potter replied affirmatively. City Manager Bardell listed two factors which must be consider when analyzing methods of solid waste disposal as follows: (1) Is it environmentally acceptable; (2) Is it cost effective. He stated that in two or three years it will be essential for the city to look at alternate ways of solid waste disposal. Mr. Wischmeyer stated that the City of College Station is a leader in the community and may provide stimuli that will make the other entities move on the proposal. He stated that they allowed ninety days for review of the contract. 00/ 27 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1984 PAGE 5 Mayor Halter listed several items which must be considered when determining the feasibility of composting: (1) can enough solid waste be obtained; (2) are there adequate markets for the biproduct; (3) is the technology sufficient for getting the solid waste to the point where it can be composted; and (4) is there some place to put the composting. He further stated that this proposal is worthwhile considering the uncertainty of the future of landfill. City Manager Bardell stated that he agrees that this proposal is feasible if there is a market for the biproduct of composting. Councilman Boughton moved to authorize the staff to enter into a contract with Riewe and Wischmeyer to do a feasibility study on composting as a method of solid waste disposal with the stipulation that the other entities agree to the study. Councilman Reinke suggested that the item be delayed until the next Regular City Council Meeting, July 12, 1984. Councilman Boughton withdrew her motion. Agenda Item No. 6 - Demonstration of Planning Department's computer program for population survey. Planning Assistant Longley presented a brief summary of the report. He stated that the Landuse Inventory System was initiated in January of 1983 with the purchase of three micro-computer systems by the City of College Station with funds made available through the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation. He noted that the City of College Station, the City of Bryan and the local office of the S.D.H.P.T. each maintain one of the three computers. He further stated that as a part of the contract to purchase the computers, the two cities agreed to take over establishment and maintenance of a data base containing existing landuse data which was, at that time, kept on Highway Department mainframe computers in Austin. He pointed out that the city is required to accumulate landuse change data on a monthly basis, record it, and report the changes along with an updated overall inventory to the local office of the Highway Department. He stated that the Landuse Inventory System is composed of two main data files: (1) Landuse Base Data File; (2) Building Permit File. He explained that data from the Building Permit File is used to update information in the Landuse Base Data File. He noted that the computer can generate two types of graphs; 1) line graph and 2) stack bar graph. Mayor Halter thanked Mr. Longley for his presentation. computer program is very impressive. He stated that this 00/ 28 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1984 PAGE 6 Agenda Item No. 7 - Adjourn. Mayor Halter adjourned the meeting at 7:10 P.M. Appr°v~/. /~// G-af-y Ha~r, Mayor Attest: Dian Jones~ity Secretary 004429 GUEST REGISTER WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1984 5:00 P.M. w 19. 20. 21. 22. Se 23. 24. e 25. Se 26. 27. 10. 28. 11. 29. 30. 13. 31. 14. 32. 15. 33. 16. 34. 17. 35. ~8. ~. OOAA30