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Home My WebLink About02/11/2021 - Workshop Minutes - City CouncilMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP VIA TELECONFERENCE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION FEBRUARY 11, 2021 STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF BRAZOS Present: Karl Mooney, Mayor Council: Bob Brick John Crompton Linda Harvell — arrive late Elizabeth Cunha John Nichols Dennis Maloney City Staff: Jeff Capps, Interim City Manager Jeff Kersten, Assistant City Manager Carla Robinson, City Attorney Tanya Smith, City Secretary Lisa McCracken, Records Management Administrator 1. Call to Order and Announce a Quorum is Present With a quorum present, the Workshop of the College Station City Council was called to order by Mayor Mooney via Teleconference at 4:03 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2021, in the Council Chambers of the City of College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 77840. 2. Executive Session In accordance with the Texas Government Code §551.07 1 -Consultation with Attorney, and §551.074-Personnel, the College Station City Council convened into Executive Session at 4:04 p.m. on February 11, 2021, in order to continue discussing matters pertaining to: A. Consultation with Attorney to seek advice regarding pending or contemplated litigation; to wit: • Kathryn A. Stever -Harper as Executrix for the Estate of John Wesley Harper v. City of College Station and Judy Meeks; No. 15,977-PC in the County Court No. 1, Brazos County, Texas; and • McCrory Investments II, LLC d/b/a Southwest Stor Mor v. City of College Station; Cause No. 17-000914-CV-361; In the 361st District Court, Brazos County, Texas • City of College Station v. Gerry Saum, Individually, and as Independent Executrix of the Estate of Susan M. Wood, Deceased; Cause No. 17-002742-CV-361; In the 361st District Court, Brazos County, Texas B. Consultation with attorney to receive legal advice; to wit: WKSHP021121 Minutes Page 1 Legal advice regarding the process to acquire needed property for the State Highway 6 Phase 3 waterline project. C. Deliberation on the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer; to wit: • City Manager • Council Self -Evaluation Executive Session recessed at 5:23 p.m. 3. Reconvene from Executive Session and take action, if any. No vote or action was taken in Executive Session. 4. Presentation, possible action and discussion on items listed on the consent agenda. No discussion needed. 5. Workshop Agenda 5.1 Presentation, discussion, and possible action related to the benefits and disadvantages of holding local general elections in odd -numbered years. Carla Robinson, City Attorney, stated that on February 10, 2020, during the City Council's regular meeting the Council directed the City Secretary and City Attorney to provide information at a future meeting regarding the benefits and disadvantages of holding local general elections in November of odd -numbered years. Benefits of local elections in odd -numbered years included and increased focus on local issues, potential lower campaign costs, possible reduction in partisan politics. The disadvantages observed for odd years were a substantially lower voter turnout, possible inconvenience to voters, increased election costs, and reconfiguring of the election schedule to make the move. As the result of a 2018 charter amendment, the City of College Station is currently transitioning from three-year council terms of office to four with elections held in November of even -numbered years rather than annually. Providing for general elections in odd - numbered years will require a special charter amendment election. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Crompton and a second by Councilmember Maloney the City Council voted three (3) for and four (4) opposed, with Mayor Mooney and Councilmembers Harvell, Cunha, and Nichols voting against, directing staff to prepare language for Charter Amendment Election to move local general elections from even to odd -numbered years. The motion failed. 5.2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a proposed ordinance amendment to Chapter 40, "Utilities" Articles I and II of the Code of Ordinances of the City of College Station, Section 40-65, "Rates for Sewerage Service", and amending Chapter 2 "Administration", Art. V. "Finance", Div. 2 "Fees, Rates and Charges" of the Code of Ordinances; to establish a wastewater rate surcharge for customers outside city limits. Stephen Maldonado, Assistant Director of Water Services Tech and Support Services, explained that the resolution in summary states that water and wastewater services will not be available to properties outside the City's corporate limits without a petition for annexation for the subject properties. Additionally, the costs of utility extensions will be borne by the developer or owner. WKSHP021121 Minutes Page 2 However, the policy also allows for exceptions, so that utility services may be provided outside the City limits or the City's CCN in certain situations. Exceptions are allowed for three cases which are: other governmental agencies through interlocal agreements, the purpose of economic development, and health and safety reasons. Mr. Maldonado also stated that in the instances where Council approves an exception to annexation, the subject ordinance amendments would require a 50% surcharge to new sewer customers outside city limits. This is a common surcharge and the same surcharge applied to customers in BCMUD-1 known as Speedway MUD or Southern Point development. This surcharge will help offset the City's cost of adding utility capacity to meet the demands of the development. These changes are necessary to meet operational costs and the demands of rapid growth. Council directed staff to move forward as presented and keep the Council updated in future meetings. 6. Council Calendar Council reviewed the calendar. 7. Discussion, review, and possible action regarding the following meetings: Animal Shelter Board, Arts Council of Brazos Valley, Architectural Advisory Committee, Audit Committee, Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board, Bio-Corridor Board of Adjustments, Brazos County Health Dept., Brazos Valley Council of Governments, Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation, Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce, Budget and Finance Committee, BVSWMA, BVWACS, Census Committee Group, Compensation and Benefits Committee, Comprehensive Plan Evaluation Committee, Experience Bryan - College Station, Design Review Board, Economic Development Committee, Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition, Historic Preservation Committee, Interfaith Dialogue Association, Intergovernmental Committee, Joint Relief Funding Review Committee, Landmark Commission, Library Board, Metropolitan Planning Organization, Operation Restart, Parks and Recreation Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, Research Valley Technology Council, Regional Transportation Committee for Council of Governments, Sister Cities Association, Spring Creek Local Government Corporation, Transportation and Mobility Committee, TAMU Student Senate, Texas Municipal League, Walk with the Mayor, YMCA, Zoning Board of Adjustments, (Notice of Agendas posted on City Hall bulletin board.) Councilmember Harvell reported on meeting with city staff and citizens of McCollum Subdivision. 8. Adiournment There being no further business, Mayor Mooney adjourned the Workshop of the College Station City Council at 6:34 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2021. L-d T Karl Mooney, Mayor ATTEST: Tanya Smith, City Secretary WKSHP021121 Minutes Page 3