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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/24/1983 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING COLLEGE STATION CITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1983 4:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: VISITORS PRESENT: Mayor Halter, Councilmen McIlhaney, Boughton Reinke, Anderson, Runnels Councilman Prause City Manager Bardell, Assistant City Manager VanDever, Assistant City Attorney Locke, Directoo of Capital Improvements Ash, Director of Plan- ning Mayo, Community Center Director Calliham, Zoning Official Kee, Assistant Director of Planning Callaway, Energy Specialist Layne, Planning Technician Volk, City Engineer Pullen, Deputy Finance Director Schroeder, Council Co- ordinator Jones, Administrative Assistant Nowlin, Customer Service Representative Dillard, Assistant Zoning Official Dupies See Guest Register. Agenda Item No. 1 - Signing of proclamation for the National Organization for Women and the Brazos County Chapter of the National Organization for Women de.si~nating August 26~ 1983 as "Women's Equality Day" in College Statio Mayor Halter signed a proclamation designating August 26, 1983 as "Women's Equality Day" in College Station. Katie N. Womack accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Brazos County Chapter of the National Organization for Women Agenda Item No. 2 - Council Concerns Councilman McIlhaney stated the need for the Council to set a date for the Workshop Retreat. After discussing possible dates, the Council decided that the retreat would have to be sometime after the weekend of October 10th. Councilman McIlhaney stated that the street light on the corner of Sebesta and Bent Tree Drive is still out. Councilman Runnels asked about the status of the street sweeper. City Manager Bardell replied that it is still in operation. Councilman Runnels asked about the status of the sign ordinance and stated that he would like to see it passed before too many more signs are erected. Councilman McIlhaney stated that City Attorney Denton was in the process of writing a draft of the ordinance. Councilman Runnels asked why the traffic pattern at the Dexter and Jersey intersection had been changed from a three-lane system to a two-lane. 00&015 MINUTES, WORKSHOP MEETING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1983 Page 2 City Manager Bardell stated that he would check into the situation. Councilman Runnels requested that a discussion of the traffic light system be scheduled. He stated that he had not seen any improvement in the present system. Mayor Halter requested that a discussion of the traffic light system be scheduled within the next month. He asked City Manager Bardell to have Traffic Engineer Black prepare a report on the status of traffic signals throughout the City and present it to the Council. Councilman Reinke stated that numerous illegally-parked vehicles on Munson Drive and University Oaks are causing visibility problems at the intersection of the two streets. She also stated that some bookstores in town are displak ing pornographic materials openly. She requested that the staff take action to remind businesses of the ordinance prohibiting said displays. Mayor Halter asked about having additional water lines laid in the cemetery to make watering easier. Agenda Item No. 3 - Report on Progress of the Clean Community System and Objectives of BRAZOS BEAUTIFUL. Dr. Fred Benson, President of BRAZOS BEAUTIFUL, complimented the City of College Station on the changes that have come about since the start of PRAZOS BEAUTIFUL. He stated that the two major objectives of the organization are to have a clean community and to improve the aesthetic qualities of the community. He requested that the city continue its funding assistance for the organization, and asked that the amount of $10,000 be approved for the period of January 1, 1984 through December 31, 1984. Suzy Terral, Executive Coordinator for the organization, presented a report on ten of their objectives, and invited questions from the council. City Manager Bardell stated that this community has a highly transient popu- lation and inquired about any special efforts the organization will make to reach this sector of the community. Dr. Benson stated that they are working with the University to reach the students. Mrs. Terral presented a short visual presentation on BRAZOS BEAUTIFUL and explained that the organization is meant to be a resource that can be used by everyone. Mayor Halter asked how close the organization is to its goal of reducing lit- ter by 20 percent by the end of 1983. Mrs. Terral replied that the results of the photometric index study would be completed in two weeks and the percentage of reduction in litter could then be determined. Mayor Halter asked if the current budget for the city includes the funding for the organization. 00 016 MINUTES, WORKSHOP MEETING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1983 Page 3 Assistant City Manager VanDever stated that said funding was budgeted for only half a year. Mayor Halter requested that a discussion for funding the full year be scheduled reasonably soon. Agenda Item No. 4 - Report by Lone Star Gas on the Residential Conservation Services Surcharge. Mr. Daniel J. Weber, District Manager for Lone Star Gas, explained the Residential Conservation Services (RCS) Program established by the United States Congress in the National Energy Conservation Policy Act of 1978 (NECPA). He stated that an energy audit has been offered to all eligible residential customers as required by NECPA. He stated that Lone Star Gas had received about 591 audit requests out of the approximately 20,000 audit offers mailed in the Bryan/College Station area. Councilman Runnels inquired about the cost of doing the audits. Mr. Weber stated that the cost is approximately $145.00 per audit, which in- cludes all of the start-up costs from the beginning of program through August 1983. The variable costs are between $75.00 to $80.00 per audit. Councilman Runnels asked Energy Specialist Layne how many city audits have been requested and the cost per audit. Energy Specialist Layne replied that the city program has received 275 requests and that the cost per audit is between $110.00 and $175.00. Mr. Weber said that 230 audit requests from College Station residents were received from 5711 offers mailed - a response rate of 4.03%. After further discussion, Mr. Weber explained that the future surcharges, to be made each April and October, will depend on the number of audits, and the anticipated response rate is much lower. Agenda Item No. 5 - Discussion of date for City Open House at the Community Center. Peggy Calliham, Director of the Community Center, asked the Council to set a date for the Open House. Councilman Boughton suggested that the Council might want to have the Open House in the new addition to the City Hall. Assistant City Manager VanDever stated that he%~s not sure of the completion date for the building. Ms. Calliham suggested three possible dates for the Open House and asked the Council for direction. After discussing the suggested dates, Mayor Halter scheduled the event for December 7th and proposed that it begin at the same time as the open house last year. 00 017 MINUTES, WORKSHOP MEETING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1983 Page 4 Agenda Item No. 6 - Review "Thoroughfare PIa~" Section of Comprehensive Plan - Plan 2000. Director of Planning Mayo presented the item. made comments on the outlying areas. He explained the map and Councilman Runnels expressed his concern that no future streets be built like Southwest Parkway. He suggested that the standards for streets be changed and that more four-lane streets be built. Director of Capital Improvements Ash stated that he had plans to review the standards for cross-sections of streets in College Station, but the staff has not had time to do so. Inquiring about street specifications, Councilman Boughton asked if a lime- stabilization procedure is required behind the curbs and gutters. Capital Improvements Director Ash replied affirmatively to the question. City Manager Bardell stated that he would recommend a slide presentation prepared by the National Asphalt Association and suggested that the Council consider viewing it at a workshop meeting. Mayor Halter said that the Council might find it beneficial to have another street building short course, similar to one they had previously attended. Mr. Jerry Cooper, 602 Bell Street, requested that the Council remove the extension of Welsh from the "Thoroughfare Plan." Agenda Item No. 7 - Consideration of continuin9 Hydropower Development Agreement with TRA. Discussion on this item was delayed because of lack of additional information. Agenda Item No. 8 - Adjourn. Mayor Halter adjourned the meeting. Attest: Approved- G~ry R~l~r; VMayor lan Jones, ~ty Secretary 00&018 GUEST REGISTER WO1L~SHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1983 7:00 P.M. 2 ,~.~ 20. 3. 21. 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