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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/19/1976 - Regular Minutes City Council MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting April 8, 1976 7:00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Bravenec; Councilmen Ringer, Gardner, Dozier, Halter, Stephenson, Hazen; City Manager Bardell; Director of Public Works Ford; City Planner Mayo; City Engineer Ash; Planning Assistant Longley; Administrative Secretary Moss. MEMBERS ABSENT: None VISITORS PRESENT: See guest register. Agenda Item No. 1 .,- Approval of minutes of meeting of March 25, 1976. Councilman Gardner moved that the minutes be approved as written. The motion was secmnded by Councilman Halter and unanimously approved. Agenda Item No. 2 -- Hear visitors. Mr. W. D. Fitch spoke concerning the scheduling of plat review by the Council. Mr. Fitch pointed out that in certain months, there could be as much as a twenty day delay between review of a plat by the Planning and Zoning Commission and review by the Council. Mayor Bravenec suggested that dates of P&Z Meetings might be made flexible in order to always fall on Monday of the week preceeding Council meetings. Agenda Item No. 3--A public hearing on the rate increase request by Lone Star Gas CoMpany. Mayor Bravenec opened the public hearing. Mr. Dorsey Baskin asked what the proposed rate structure would be if the requested rate increase was granted. Mr. A1 Bartley of Lone Star Gas Company explained the extent of the proposed rate increase and its effect on the monthly bill of the average residential consumer. Councilman Halter asked Mr. Bartley if he could provide the Council with a breakdown of Lone Star's total investment in Bryan and total investment in College Station. Mr. Bartley stated that he would provide this breakdown. Councilman Halter moved that the Utility Rate Structure Committee be reactivated and given the charge to deal with the Lone Star Gas rate increase request. The motion was seconded by Councilman Ringer and unanimously approved. Mayor Bravenec appointed Councilman Dozier to serve as chairman of the Rate Structure Committee and Councilmen Halter and Hazen to serve as members. The public hearing was closed. Agenda Item No. 4 -- Consideration of tabled Ordinance No. 1013 rmzonjng two tracts of land in the Crawford Burnett League from Single Family_ 01, 13 MINUTES, Regular City Council Meeting Apr il 8, 1976 Page 2 District R-1 to Apartment, Building District R-3 and Neighborhood Business District C-N. The request being in the name of Mohawk, Ltd. Councilman Dozier moved that consideration of Ordinance No. 1013 be removed from the table. The motion was seconded by Councilman Ringer and approved with Councilman Gardner voting against. Mr. Edsel Jones, representative and general partner of Mohawk, Ltd., spoke and requested that the Council table consideration of this item until the next meeting due to his failure to obtain all of the quit-claim deeds to the abandoned railroad right-of-way. Councilman Dozier moved that consideration of Ordinance No. 1013 be tabled. The motion was seconded by Councilman Hazen and approved with Councilman Gardner voting against. Agenda Item No. 5 --A public hearing on the question of rezoning a 2.24 acre tract app. roximately 500 feet southwest of the intersection of Longmire and Pinon Drive from Agricultural Op~e~n District A-O to Single Family Residential District R-1. The request being in_the name of Southwood Valley, Inc. Mayor Bravenec opened the public hearing. Mr. W. D. Fitch spoke for the request and stated the circumstances which necessitated the rezoning. Councilman Ringer questioned the advisability of locating single family develop- ment adjacent to Commercial-Industrial zoned property. Mr. Fitch outlined the proposed uses for the Commercial-Industrial property and stated that a solid screening fence would be constructed between the residential tract and the Commercial-Industrial tract. The public hearing was closed. Agenda Item No. 6 -- Consideration of an ordinance rezoning the 2.24 acre tract as described in Item No...5. fro~ .Agricultural Oepn District A~O to Single Family Residential District R-1. Councilman Dozier moved that Ordinance No. 1015 be adopted. The motion was seconded by Councilman Halter and unanimously approved. Agenda Item No. 7 -- A public hearing on the question of rezoning a 1.9 acre tract being a portion of Block 13, Southwood Valley, Section 6-B from General Commercial District C-1 to Apartment Building District R-3. The request being in the name of Southwood Valley.~ Inc. Mayor Bravenec opened the public hearing. Mr. W. D. Fitch spoke for the proposed rezoning and reviewed the circumstances necessitating the change. Councilman Halter asked Mr. Fitch if he could provide the Council with an overall plan for the development of Southwood Valley showing existing zoning. 01914 ? MINUTES, Regular City Council Meeting April 8, 1976 Page 3 Mr. Fitch stated that he would prepare such a plat for the Council's consideration. The public hearing was closed. Age_nda Item No. 8 -- Consideration of an Ordinance rezoning the 1.9 acre tract as describe.d in Item'No. 7. f'rom General Commercial District C-1 to Apartment Building District R-3. Councilman Dozier moved that Ordinance No. 1016 be adopted. The motion was seconded by Councilman Hazen and unanimously approved. Agenda Item No. 9--Consideration of bid tabulation for electrical system reclosers. Director of Public Works Ford explained the situation making the purchase of the equipment necessary. Mr. Ford further explained how the equipment functioned. Councilman Dozier moved to accept the bid of Besco, Inc. with the provision that if the price were increased, consideration of the purchase would be reconsidered by City Council. The motion was seconded by Councilman Ringer and unanimously approved. Agenda Item No. 10 -- Discussion of short term objectives of the Council. Councilman Hazen suggested that the building code be reviewed in regard to safety of residents in apartment complexes. Mrs. Hazen cited access and egress, number of exits and ease of access for fire fighting equipment. Councilman Hazen stated that she would like for development of bikeways and walkways to proceed without delay and that the ambulance service should continue to be reviewed. Mayor Bravenec appointed Councilman Hazen to the Ambulance Committee. Councilman Stephenson stated that the Council should give careful consideration to all rezoning requests and that the zoning regulations should be strictly enforced. Councilman Stephenson stated that he agreed with Councilman Hazen on development of bikeways and walkways. Councilman Stephenson suggested that a summer youth work program be established aimed at community teenagers. Councilman S tephenson cited reported extreme rent increases proposed by a certain local apartment complex for the coming year and suggested that the Council do whatever possible to study this situation. Councilman Stephenson suggested that Dr. Roy Hann, President of the Apartment Owners' Association be invited to discuss the mi tuation with the Council. Mr. Dorsey Baskin suggested that the free enterprise system would control such rent increases and that he did not want to see the City Government get involved in such situations. Councilmen Dozier and Halter pointed out that a free market situation did not exist in the ease of apartments due to the shortage of available units. MINUTES, Regular City Council Meeting April 8, 1976 Page 4 Councilman Halter listed the following objectives' --- Revision of the personnel manual --- Updating and formal adoption of the Comprehensive Development Plan --- A study of the revision, updating, and enforcement of the Housing Code from the standpoint of maintenance and safety Mayor Bravenec appointed Councilman S tephenson and Councilman Dozier to serve with Councilman Halter on a committee to work on the revision of the personnel manual. Councilman Halter continued his list of objectives. --- Preparation and presentation of the bond issue Councilman Dozier commented that provision for a community center had been left off the proposed bond issue at the final meeting of the Capital Improvements Committee. Councilman Halter stated that this was an inadvertant omission and that the Committee had suggested that Hotel-Motel tax funds be used to capitalize the issuance of bonds for the purpose of acquiring land for the Community Center. Councilman Dozier pointed out that the Community Center Committee would need a new chairman. Mayor Bravenec appointed Councilman Stephenson to serve as Council Liaison to the Community Center Committee. Councilman Halter also listed the following objectives: ---Development of vacant parkland --- Consideration of a sign ordinance Councilman Gardner listed the following objectives: --- Tax reform in the area of taking the tax aspect out of utility revenue and shifting it to the property tax --- Revitalization of the General Plan and establishment of a goals program --- Development of a sign ordinance --- Issuance of use permits for apartment complexes and certain commercial developments Councilman Ringer listed the following objectives' --- Consideration of safety in apartment complexes --- Improved communications between City Officials and Citizens --- Expansion and development of parks and recreation areas --- Development of a Community Center to include meeting space for civic groups --- Improved street lighting especially around schools Mayor Bravenec opened the meeting to public comment. Mr. Ed Miller suggested that a noise control ordinance needed to be created. City Manager Bardell pointed out that a noise ordinance was currently in effect. 01916 MINUTES, Regular City Council Meeting April 8, 1976 Page 5 Mr. Don Sweeney suggested that meetings of the Ambulance Committee be better publicized. Mr. E. Murl Bailey suggested that speed limits on residential streets be lowered. Mr. Ed Miller asked that the animal control ordinance be more strictly enforced. Mr. Lonnie Stabler suggested that alcoholic beverages be banned from City Parks. Agenda Item No. 11 -- Other business. Mayor Bravenec pointed out that the Steering Committee of the Bryan-College Station Urban Transportation Study Group would meet Friday, April 23 and asked Councilman Hazen to attend in his place. Councilman Halter reviewed the results of the study of the Charter Revision election conducted by himself, Councilman Gardner and Councilman Dozier. Councilman Gardner questioned the timing of the drawing and establishment of ward boundaries. Councilman Halter pointed out that the City had no viable population data available with which to draw the boundaries. Councilman Halter pointed out that the City voting wards would not align with the County voting districts and the City would have to establish and maintain its own voter registration lists. Councilman Halter suggested that this would represent an expense of $5,000 to $10,000 per year. Mr. Lonnie Stabler and Mr. Rick Cockrell pointed out that they were registered to vote more than once and were aware of other citizens who had received multiple registrations. The chairman of the campus voter registration drive stated that this was a common occurrence when a person changed their address. Councilman Dozier suggested that the Council hold an annual joint meeting with the School Board. Councilman Halter suggested that the County Commissioners be present at the next meeting between the Councils of Bryan and College Station. Mayor Bravenec suggested that this joint meeting be held at the earliest possible date. Agenda Item No. 12 -- Closed session for personnel appointment discussions. Mayor Bravenec called the meeting into closed session. Agenda Item No. 13 -- Adjourn. Mayor Bravenec called the public meeting back into session. 01917 MINUTES, Regular City Council Meeting April 8, 1976 Mayor Bravenec declared the meeting adjourned. ATTEST City Secretar Page 6 O1918 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING April 8, 1976 7'00 P.M. PLEASE SIGN BELOW: 20. 34. 35. 18. 36. 40. 43. ~ a 44. 57. 58, 59. 60. 61. 62. 64. 45. 65. 46. 66. 47. 67. 48. 68. 49. 69. 50. 51. 70. 71. 52. 72. 53. 73. 54. 74. 55. 75. 56. 76.