HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublicity Vol. 60 (Jan. 8, 1998 - Dec. 19, 1998)CS council
to consider
rezoning
Foxfire subdivision
seeks zoning change
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Council is
set to meet Wednesday to consider sev-
eral zoning requests, including the re-
zoning of the entire Foxfire subdivision.
The first council meeting of the new
year will begin at 7 p.m. in city council
chambers at 1101 Texas Ave.
A public hearing and vote oii the
Foxfire subdivision rezoning is one of
six scheduled public hearings and con-
siderations regarding rezonings ' the
city.
The Foxfu a subdivision, whicli was
developed outside of the city limits was
annexed by the city in 1992. The lots in
the subdivision were then zoned as resi-
dential. Now many residents in the area
are asking the city to rezone the area to
a rural residential subdivision, a zone
the city adopted in 1995.
"The benefit to the neighborhood is
Please see COUNCIL, Page A2
L-1
Station Junior High is a hot conl
mahty, but with the new school
c ouncil
another junior high would be
placed in the current Willow
IN
Branch Intermediate School.
Th current Oakwood Inter
51
you can't have 'a lot less than one
mediate School' where the dis
fi now attend,
acre," City Manager Skip Noe
said of the proposed change
eh expanded and made
tr uld
into an additional intermediate
Besides a minimum lot size,
the rezoning would exempt these
school.
The district's enrollment is
lots from city ordinances pertain-
per
currently 7,121, but Neal said by
ing to weeds, grass, animal
in the yard.
1999 the number is expected to
mitting and parking
Another public hearing and
jump to 7,400 to 7,500. -
school,
intermedi t
rezoning vote pertains to the
pen Creek site, where the
The new
approved bF the
Wolf
voter - approved hotel and confer-
$$49 million o o d . ""e , Neal
ence center is set to be built.
The rezoning will result in a
estimated
said.
The City Colin also sched-
total of 15 acres being devoted to
to consider the preliminary
the site for the hotel - conference
uled
master plats for the expansion
center purpose•
request, the
Oakwood and Willowbranch
in a similar
College Station school district is.
Wednesday.
In other business;;tpe council
asking the council to approve the
of 46
is 'set to consider two equipment
master preliminary plat
for a new fifth and sixth
requests fo .th College Station
acres
grade intermediate school on
the police depart
Polic k approved, G raham
Road.
"We're out of space,"
ment will be able to trade in five
running
David Neal, assistant super -
police motorcycles for new ones,
said
intendent for business for the
at cost o� , 56uld also get an
school district.
the new school, set to added enhancement. Six mobile
Neal said
in the fall of 1999, will hope- video systems for patrol cars are
open
fully alleviate the overcrowding also set for approval. ,
If approved, the price tag would
at more than one school.
He said space at the College be $18,570.
m Eagle Sund Nnuary 4, 1998 /
1
Community
Reflecoons of th e p ast, future o unitle
By LYNN M pp ort
College Station Mayor sion of Highway 21 for future develop- ences that were rev' 1 .r
s we begin a new year, I would
like to reflect back on the past
and emphasize
some of the highlights
of the year 1997 in
College Station. It will
as the Brazos Valley
was introduced to the
world with the open- a
ing of the George
Bush Presidential
Library & Museum. McILHANEY
If I were to choose one word to
describe College Station and the Brazos
Valley over the last 12 months, I would
choose the word "connecting." Below is
just a sample of the many activities that
address this.
Transportation /Mobility: Street
improvements totaling $2,936,954,
including such capital projects as
Southwest Parkway and Anderson
Street, are set for design and construc-
tion in 1998. We are also working with
the Texas Department of
Transportation on the widening of
Texas Avenue, the funding and inclu-
ment, new sidewalks and a bike loop,
including $150,000 for 1998 construction
and $180,000 for bike trails.
These are just a few examples of how
we are working to connect Bryan-
'College Station to the interstate as well
as improving traffic movement within
our community - _ --
Employment /Prosperity: We are
also making the following improve-
ments: electric improvements totaling
approximately $8,100,000.; water $2 mil-
lion, waste water .$4.3 million; and
drainage $1,300,000. Along with the
improvements in 1997 and 1998, we have
seen ,the employment opportunities for
those under- employed increase with the
cons"btion of Universal Computer
Systems; the announcement of
Cabletime relocating to the Business
Center and other pending announce-
ments:'s
In November, the citizens of College
Station showed foresight and faith in
the city's future by passing a referen-
dum to build a new publicly owned con-
ference Center in the Wolf Pen Creek
Distrf"cf. This' project is expected to
increase the tourist business for the
entire community through new confer-
be accommodated here. y too large to
Above are examples of how we are
connecting new growth and revitalizing
aging areas of our community to meet
future needs.
Heath /Public Safety: New police
officers and one public safety o fficer
have n added o the-budge-t. -The year
1991 saw another Community Policing
office open off Southwest Parkway near
Dartmouth, the opening of the new
Central Fire Station on Holleman and
the Community Enha}icement Action
Center to support a more proactive code
enforcement policy.
Education /Information: In order to
connect City Hall with its citizens by
enhancing communications: a new
College Station Library will open in
Spring 1998; the city continues to
improve its Web site and government
access channel; the mayor hosts a
monthly breakfast for citizens; and vari-
ous citizen and teen advisory commit-
tees have been formed in addition to the
existing neighborhood forum.
Last year the city received several
awards for its performance in the areas
of: EPA Region 6 Environmental
Excellence (Water Dept.) TNRCC
- Stu d ents T he
Ea"gle of the w ....�►
RANDI ABBOTT JUSTIN ANDERSON MICHAEL LOCKHART
Certificate for Outstanding
Performance (water utility); Excellence '
in Financial Reporting /Government
Finance Officers Assoc.; Hammer
Award (Police Dept.); Finalist in 1997
Governor's Award for Environmental
Excellence; 1997 Clean Cities Member
-- Awards and the Distinguished Budget
Presentation Award.
However, the ones we are the most
proud of are the ratings that our citi-
zens gave us in a survey done for the
city, where 92 percent of those sur-
veyed indicated they are satisfied or
very satisfied with city services, 99 per-
cent feel safe during the day and 80 per-
cent feel safe in their neighborhoods at
night.
Let me close by repeating what I said
at the beginning: College Station is
working hard to prepare for the 21st
century by serving the citizens through
quality service. We are doing this while
at the same time reducing the cost to
our citizens. This year we reduced the
ad valorem tax rate by 3.1 percent.
Thank you, citizens of College
Station, for your continued support and
volunteerism. As we work together, we
will meet the challenges that lay ahead
as we enter the next century.
Local student
chosen to attend
leadership forum
By MICHELLE C. LYONS
Eagle Staff Writer
Morgan Causey of College Station
WAS .CF'1( ff to nttrnri t)in T\Ta4inng1
he
Cit of C011C4 4
Eagle
el stta
Date: 1 1 - 1! 16
CS counc
to consider Council
rezonin
i
FoAre subdivision
seeks zoning change
By JENNY NELSON -A�'
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Council is
set to meet Wednesday to consider sev-
eral zoning requests, including the re-
zoning of the entire Foxfire subdivision.
The first council meeting of the new
year will begin at 7 p.m. in city council
chambers at 1101 Texas Ave.
A public hearing and vote on the
Foxfire subdivision rezoning is one of
six scheduled public hearings and con-
siderations regarding rezonings in the
city.
The Foxfire subdivision, which was
developed outside of the city limits, was
annexed by the city in 1992. The lots in
the subdivision were then zoned as resi-
dential. Now many residents in the area
are asking the city to rezone the area to
a rural residential subdivision, a zone
the city adopted in 1995.
"The benefit to the neighborhood is
From A t
You can't have a lot less than one
acre," City Manager Skip Noe
said of the proposed change.
Besides a minimum lot size,
the rezoning would exempt these
lots from city ordinances pertain-
ing to weeds, grass, animal per-
mitting and parking in the yard.
Another public hearing and
rezoning vote pertains to the
t Wolf Pen Creek site, where the
Please see COUNCIL, Page A2
Nees
Station Junior High is a hot com-
modity, but with the new school
another junior high would be
placed in the current Willow
Branch Intermediate School.
The current Oakwood Inter-
mediate School, where the dis-
trict's fifth graders now attend,
would be expanded and made
into an additional intermediate
school.
The district's enrollment is
currently 7,121, but Neal said by
1999 the number is expected to
jump to 7,400 to 7,500.
The new intermediate school,
approved bey voters in the 1995
19.5 million bond election, is
;timated to cost $7 million, Neal
tid.
The City Council is also sched-
led to consider the preliminary
caster plats for the expansion of
►akwood and Willowbranch
Vednesday.
In other business, the council
set to consider two equipment
equests for the College Station
'olice Department.
If approved, the police depart -
ient will be able to trade in five
olice motorcycles for new ones,
t a cost of $43,565.
Police cars could also get an
dded enhancement. Six mobile
ideo systems for patrol cars are
lso set for approval.
If approved, the price tag would
e $18,570.
Northgate
00 plan irks
sid
,
walk � �
ap
roved
$100,
00 plan irks
some
on CS council
By JEN
NELSON
Eagle Staf Writer
New si ewalks will soon pave
parts of the Northgate area,
despite opposition Wednesday by
some InEmbers of the College
Station City Council.
A 4 -3 council vote approved the
spending of $100,000 in federal
grant mo ey on brick pavers to
complete he second half of a side-
walk project that began last year.
The neN i brick pavers, designed
to make he area more aestheti-
cally pleasing and to provide
access for the disabled, will
require tb e city to tear up the cur-
rent con rete sidewalks, said
Mark Sm th, public works direc-
tor for thE city.
J Please ree COUNCIL, Page A8
a
Council
From Al
But some council members and
,citizens objected to tearing up
-:existing sidewalks. After the pro -
.ject was approved, Councilman
'Dick Birdwell made a motion to
have businesses adjacent to the
new sidewalks cover 50 percent of
the cost.
"Every other business in this
city builds their own sidewalks,"
he said.
His motion failed 4 -3, with
Councilmen Swiki Anderson and
$teve Esmond voting with him.
Council members Hub Kennady,
Larry Mariott, David Hickson
and Mayor Lynn McIlhaney
voted in favor of moving ahead
with the project.
The funds designated for side-
walk construction are
Community Development Block
Grant funds, awarded by the fed-
eral government through a pro-
gram designed to enhance eco-
nomic development in neighbor-
hoods.
One citizen, unhappy with the
plan, reminded council members
< < Every other business in this city builds their
own sidewalks. >
that this is not Monopoly
money, this is our tax dollars.
The project is part of the
Northgate Revitaliztion Plan,
which the council has been
implementing in stages. Smith
said the city had been waiting for
a new funding source to complete
the sidewalk project, and that the
1998 funds are providing the
$100,000.
The project is scheduled to be
completed this summer, Smith
said.
In other business, the council
approved several rezonings,
including that of the entire
Foxfire subdivision.
The Foxfire subdivision, origi-
nally developed outside of the
city limits, was annexed into the
city more than five years ago.
Many of the residents in the sub-
division had asked the city to
rezone them from an urban resi-
dential area to a rural residential
subdivision.
The new changes will mean
lots can not be less than one acre
and that city ordinances pertain-
ing to weeds, grass, animal per-
mitting and parking in the yard
would not have to be followed.
The council delayed action on a
request from the College Station
school district to approve the
master preliminary plat for a
new fifth- and sixth -grade inter-
mediate school on Graham Road.
Council members said they
wanted to delay the action until
traffic studies for the area are
considered. City staff members
said they hope to have the studies
ready by the next council meet-
ing, Jan. 22.
The College Station Police
Department will soon have new
equipment. In a consent vote, the
council approved five police
motorcycles at a total cost of
$43,565. Six mobile patrol cars
video systems were also
approved.
.-.,-
— DICK BIRDwELL
College Station councilman
Bryan- College Station, Texas
High 65, Low 53
The Mostly cloudy
Forecast /A7
Sunday, January 11, 1998 $1.25
7-J
CS at crossroads
Issues, personalities could make long -term changes in city
By JENNY NELSON And the May election could have an Larry Ringer, a former College Station Birdwell, have said they'll run again.
Eagle Staff Writer impact for years to come on College mayor. Mayor Pro Tern Hub Kennady announced
Station's development. Ringer characterized the council as two in November that he will not seek re-elec-
least one new member on the horizon for
the College Station City Council.
In the wake of a year where votes were
often revisited, personal attacks were
made and unanim agreement on major
issues was rare, some city leaders say they
hope that trust, respect and communica-
tion will develop. Many say the council is
split into two camps which have opposing
views on the direction the city should
take.
are happy with the way things are going
on down at the City Council," said
Councilman Larry Mariott. "I don't think
it's a cohesive group right now."
Others echo Mariott's sentiments, say-
ing the council needs to learn to work as a
team this year.
"It's like we've chosen sides and it's us
vs. them on the votes, as opposed to what
can we do as a team of seven and how can
we make College Station better," said
He said one side is oriented toward not
spending money and getting the govern-
ment out of the people's business, while
the other is attempting to advance College
Station.
Fling for the city election to be held in
May begins next month, but just who will
file for the four open seats remains to be
seen.
Incumbents for three of the four seats,
Mayor Lynn McIlhaney, Mariott and Dick
his children and his law practice.
Swiki Anderson and Steve Esmond are
in the middle of their fast two-year term
on the council, while David Hickson was
reelected this past May.
The common split vote of 43 isn't what
bothers many involved in city politics; it's
the reluctance to let go after the votes are
tallied.
•
Please see COUNCIL, Page A2
•
r:
News
Council
From Ai
"When a decision is made, you
accept that decision and get on
with business. If you keep - visit-
ing it you don't make any
progress," Ringer said.
Former College Station mayor
and Texas A &M University polit-
ical science professor Gary
Halter said that a petition per-
taining to a referendum vote on
the council- approved $6.8 million
Northgate Parking Garage is an
example of revisiting an issue.
He said the attitude seems to
be, "We didn't win last time, so
let's see if we can win this time."
Halter blamed the newcomers
for disrupting the council.
"Esmond and Anderson's goal
is not working together, but to be
disapprovers and opposers, and
as long as that's their approach, I
don't think anything construc-
tive can happen," Halter said. "If
they got everything they wanted,
they would find something to be
opposed to."
Esmond and Anderson, both
engineers, have consistently
voted against high dollar projects
such as a Northgate parking
garage and the $6 million Wolf
Pen Creek Conference Center.
Birdwell, also an engineer, often
joins them.
"We've got some real basic
philosophical differences on how
we ought to spend the taxpayers'
money," Birdwell said. "I think
we're all looking for the best
interest of the city. I don't think
there's any hidden agendas."
Halter said some community
members are alarmed by the
views of Esmond and Anderson.
"I have had quite a number of
people coming to me and asking
me to organize a recall to get rid
of Esmond and Anderson," he
said.
But Halter said recalls of candi-
dates should be reserved for Me-
gal activity, not "to take people
out who are pains in the neck."
Anderson said that he sees a
move toward conservative gov-
ernment in 1998.
"This is the way it's been going
on in federal government, state
government ... people want
accountability," he said.
Anderson said the May election
will lead to a new council dynam-
ic.
"We're going to have 4-3 votes
until May, and then after that
we're not going to have any more
4-3 votes," he said.
Birdwell said much the same
about his place in the frequent
three. "I hope somebody will get
elected that will make me part of
the four," he said.
And Birdwell doesn't hide his
feelings about one project in par-
ticular.
I hope that we'll elect some-
body in the open spot that will
turn down the Northgate
garage," he said.
Although the city parkin
garage was approved 4-3 after.
bitter wrangle, there are still sev
eral council votes ahead fmaliz
ing the project.
The council still must vote t
complete purchase of the proper
ty and to choose a contractor, fo
instance.
"We'll have four or five more
%. ,
votes before they turn a spade of
dirt," Birdwell said.
The parking garage fuss came
on the heels of a long and bitter
battle over the city's involvement
in a hotel-conference center com-
plex. A major bone of contention
was whether to locate the project
at Wolf Pen Creek or at
Northgate. The Wolf Pen Creek
site was chosen in a 4-3 council
vote and confirmed by the voters
in a November referendum.
There have been many issues
that have yielded split votes,
including deciding whether con-
crete or brick pavers should line
Northgate sidewalks, how much
to reimburse a displaced
Northgate business owner and
how to handle traffic flows on res-
idential streets.
"Northgate was not a 4-3 vote a
year ago," said Mayor
Mcllhaney. "Five years ago it
was not a 4-3 vote. Did the issue
change or is it not as important
as it was two years or five years
ago? I don't think so.... I think
Northgate is the key to maintain-
ing economic stability in the
older section of our community."
Northgate issues aren't the
only hot button items expected
this year.
Finalizing the conference cen-
ter use agreement between the
private investors at Wolf Pen
Creek and the city is expected to
come up this spring, McIlhaney
said.
Another issue which. could
come up this month is a council
ethics policy. Mcllhaney asked a
committee of former mayors,
including Halter and Ringer, to
come up with a policy draft. It is
complete and in the hands of the
council.
Halter said the policy is
designed to better define what is
legal activity by council mem-
bers. He said there have been
instances this year "bordering on
unethical behavior," such as a
council member telling a zoning
applicant that he knew some
good local contractors he coin
use.
'What we need are some people
a on the City Council who don'
have an agender, alter cal
This type of activity has polar
ty
ized and stopped all communi
tion on the council, he said.
o But council members seem t
w ant to move back toward better
r communication. h1
" 1998, I hope our count'
would continue to vote individu
ally, but after the vote is taken,
work together to accomplish the
projects approved by the coun-
cil, ' Kennady said.
Mariott has much the same
goal.
"I would hope we would at least
learn to respect one another
again because I don't think
there's a lot of respect right now,
he said. "There seems to be some
bitterness, and I would like that
not to be there."
McIlhaney wants respect and s
concentration on consensus
building.
"The goal of each individua
has to be what's best for the com
munity as a whole," she said. "
think we're still working througt
the groups dynamic."
Birdwell said he would like t(
see more efficiency in pursuini
capitol projects.
"For our 1995 bond progran
we're a year- and -a -half behind,'
he said.
Anderson and Esmond botl
said the city ought to move bacl
to what they call "basic" govern
ment: fixing streets, working of
the utilities, water and sewage.
"It would be nice to see the city
o ur community o and a more wit]
less," Esmond said.
Besides an added respect fo
one another, Esmond said he als.
would like to see council meet
ings aired on t citys cabl
channel and the institution of
lower sales tax.
Hickson's goal: to get awa
from what he calls "micromar
agement" by members of th
council.
"I hope there would be more c
an attitude of working together t
build a better College Station,
Hickson said.
He said that the council gr
sidetracked to other issues abor
eight months ago.
The council members all hav
resolutions for the council, bi .
the question many are asking i
how to meet those goals.
d Some council members say th
past patterns won't change unt
the City Council member
t change. Ringer said the contr
velsy in 199 1;k y be just the ca
alyst to -bring voters to the pol
in 1998.
"What I'm hoping it has done
o get more people aware of how tt
council and the actions of the pe
ple they elect effect the people i
council
the community," he said. "It
important to get out and vote."
J
CS engineeraing committee approves
hiring policy for outside contractors
By JENNY NELSON I
Eagle Staff Writer ' I
College Station's City Council Engineering
Committee approved on Monday a pr liminary hir-
ing policy for outside engineers and architects.
The committee's aim — to involve local consul-
tants when possible and to fairly spread the city's
projects among qualified proposers — is outlined in
the new policy.
"We're trying to have a fair way of deciding who
does the work," said Councilman Dick Birdwell.
Spelled out in the policy are considerations for
selecting architects and engineers, such as the expe-
rience record of the consultant's firm and the edu-
cational background of personnel to be used on the
project.
"We're looking for equity in his thing,"
Councilman Swiki Anderson said.
When the qualifications are equa the policy
states that local consultants be given reference. It
also states that preference shall be given to consul-
tants who have not done recent work for the city.
"The idea is, we'll attempt to spread the work
around," said Mark Smith, public works director. "If
we have several equal firms, we'll spread it around."
The committee of several council members and
staff members was formed earlier this year follow-
ing a request by Anderson and Councilman Steve
Esmond that the city take a look at its hiring prac-
tices of engineers and architects.
Anderson, Esmond and Birdwell are all engi-
neers.
Birdwell said using consultants from Houston to
Perform jobs that local engineers and architects can
do is unnecessary.
"We can use local people for routine work,"
Birdwell said. "That's not rocket science."
He said there are almost a dozen local firms that
can do city street, water and drainage projects, and
"they can do as good or better than a Houston firm."
The committee is set to meet in about two weeks
to review a revised copy of the policy. Smith said
the policy does not require complete council
hanger but the council will be informed of the
T 10 Id —
a� o tel issue
iparendy
Aere to stay
llft� By JENY NELSON
Eagle taff Writer
BuiIding hotel - conference centers in Bryan and
,^olle a Station captivated the attention of many
resid nts in 1997, and the subject seems to be in no
Bang r of losing its high profile this year.
Wi h three variations of a hotel - conference center
plan in the works, the question is how many and
when will they actually get off the ground?
Co ege Station's plan for a private - public Part
nership on a Wolf Pen Creek hotel - conference cen-
ter seems to be furthest along.
With voter and City Council approval behind
Please see HOTELS, Page Pis
Hotel
W probably would shoot for a
s
I
Oct. 1 groundbreaking," Leddy
said. "There's a lot to be done
between now and then."
EFr m Al
them, city officials are hammer
He said the 160 to 200 -room
hotl an
-
ing out the details of several
agreements
foot meeting area ta g k u e 10
months to construct and be ready
with the Wolf Pen
Creek,Development Team.
for a fall 1999 opening.
"We're in the agreement -writ-
Leddy said the development
ing stage right now," Assistant
City Manager
group — which includes the
owner of the site, John Culpepper
Tom Brymer said
Wednesday,
III — is exploring as many
Brymer said city staff are hop-
ing
options as Possible before con
struction takes place.
to have the paperwork ready
for City Council
One such option is utilizing
approval in
February. If all agreements get
the nod from the council,
part of the former Albertson's
food store, which is located adja-
a late
spring or summer groundbreak-
cent to the mudlot.
The third plan is
ing is the goal, he said.
A hotel plan for the Northgate
a city of
Bryan project that is still in the
area also is in the works. The
preliminary stages. City officials
are working on
Leddy Group, the development
team ranked number two for the
a plan for a
regional hotel -golf course com-
College Station project, is moving
plex, but say they are waiting to
ahead with plans for a hotel with
see who would be interested in
developing such a complex.
meeting space near the campus of
Texas A &M University.
This week was the original
Witlfor without the city°s help,
deadline for qualifications from
Drake Leddy, president of The
Leddy Group,
developers interested in the pro -
ject, Tom Coyle, development ser-
said Wednesday a
projec,' doa,, which includes a
Double"Tree
vices director, said Wednesday.
But it was recently
Hotel, looks promis-
extended to
Feb. 16.
ing.
The developers are 90
Coyle said a request- for- qualifi-
percent
sure the deal, which could be
cations form was sent to 31 devel-
opers, but
finalized within 45 days, will go
how many of those
will submit
through, Leddy said.
proposals isn't yet
known.
The E agle
City of College Stati News
Date: i i if I 1 7 �
Pay y ou for what @t m Northgate will improve and
g and property owners will
should a taxpayer in
enjoy virtually all the benefits.
W by
Seattle be forced to partial-
They should, therefore, bear the
ly pay for sidewalks in the
costs.
Northgate area? Answer: He
\ W.F. EDWARDS
A ?I
shouldn't. But that is precisely \
b, ` College Station
what happens with most of these"
_
community block grants.
Local politicians (yes, ours
included), try to sell these projects
on the grounds that they are paid
for by the federal government and
do not cost local taxpayers any-
thing. But whom are we kidding?
Taxpayers somewhere have to pay
for them. This kind of logic sets up
an incentive for every geographic
region to try to get back more from
the system than it pays into the
system and the ultimate outcome is
a bloated, wasteful government. If
the taxpayers of Bryan - College
Station want special sidewalk
Pavers, cosmetic improvements, a
parking garage and so on in
Northgate and are willing to pay
for them, then they should do so
without impinging on the taxpay-
ers in other parts of the country. In
general, those who enjoy the bene-
fits of a given expenditure should
bear the cost of it.
Now zoom in on Northgate. Why
would the property owners and
businesses in Northgate be subsi-
dized above what is normally done
for all taxpayers? They shouldn't. if
the proposed expenditures have
their intended effects (mainly
improving the aesthetics and busi-
ness climate of the Northgate area),
then business and property values
Taps safe
in future,
study says
Ideas for boosting
water supply listed
BY JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
Water experts told city and county
officials Thursday that research indi-
cates there's no danger of area taps
going dry in the next 50 years.
The experts did, however, have some
ideas — including looking for more
water sources — that will ensure future
0 t tions enjoy the same luxury.
each person currently using
150 gallons of water a day, area
officials are working to meet the water
needs for an anticipated doubling of the
area's Population by the year 2050. A
water study for Brazos and western
Grimes counties was one step in that
process.
"We can all go home and turn the
water on and it will still be on in the
morning but, the question is, for those of
you out there who have grandkids, will
they be able to do the same ?" Brazos
County Commissioner Tony Jones told
fellow commissioners and the group of
Bryan and College Station city council
members.
Thursday marked the end of a 15.
month, $245,000 study conducted by
Turner, Collie &. Braden Inc. of Houston.
With the results in hand, the entities
involved in the study — including
Brazos County, Bryan, College Station,
Texas A &M University and several
rural areas — must decide what steps to
take to ensure plenty of quality water at
the most cost-effective rate.
Consultants suggested several
options, including sharing water
sources with regional neighbors or each
city remaining a separate water entity.
Alan Potok, vice president of Turner
Collie & Braden, said one advantage of
regional water sharing is that the finan-
cial investment will be spread out.
Instead of one city putting up the money
for one well, he said, the sharers would
split the cost each time a well i dr
Please see WATER, Page A2
•
Water
From A 1
Officials in both cities, in other
studies, have been investigating
a similar regional approach.
"We've already looked at the
regional approach ... we are at
least ahead of the curve and have
control of what happens in our
region," College Station Mayor
Lynn McIlhaney said.
Potok, in comparing the studied
area's annual water needs, said it
was equal to the amount of water
it would take to cover the surface
of Texas A&M University's Kyle
Field 12.5 miles deep.
Currently, all of that amount is
supplied by ground water, but the
aquifer may not e. the only
source in the future. The
Water Consumption in Bryan ''
study
stated that the Brazos River,
and College Station j +'
Lake Somerville, Lake Limestone
and other area lakes and reser-
voirs are being explored as possi-
Water production capabilities per day
ble water sources.
But the groups involved in the
College Station: 20 million gallons
study aren't jumping the gun on
Bryan: 30 million gallons
Plans. They are awaiting the ram-
ifications of state water legisla-
Dally used per day
tion under Senate Bill I, which
College Station: 8 million gallons
was approved last year.
Bryan: 10 million gallons
The law designated regional
Texas A &M University: 7.8 million gallons
water districts across the state
and asked them to devise plans
Source: Cities of Bryan and College station
by Sept. 1, 1999, that would supply
water to their areas for the next
fore such legislation, so just made up of county ai
30 to 50 years.
iow the new law will affect its cials, for being ahea
The Brazos Regional Water
Tans aren't yet known. cities in the state wh(
Supply Committee-50 was formed
Potok commended the group, to future water source
Always getting it right
tuart Construction company is
finishing a project at Welsh
Avenue and Holleman Drive.
I'm the heating -air conditioning
contractor who worked alongside
the plumbers, electricians, etc. The
owner could not have put together
a better team. The biggest chal-
lenge these guys faced did not come
from the work or the scheduling,
but from the College Station
inspection department.
Everything is a definite maybe —
you never know what to expect
next. The electricians ran some
really heavy conduit 6 feet under-
ground and were told by an inspec-
tor to cover it. The next day, anoth-
er inspector had them dig it up.
What is okay at rough -in is wrong
at final inspection. Sometimes tech-
nology causes a regulation to
become obsolete — everyone agrees
— but they still enforce it to the
hilt because "that's what the book
says." The construction company
owner could write a non - fiction
book on the nightmare he faced.
Common sense if, not that common,
but in the case of the inspection
department it is non - existent.
These are intelligent, well-edu-
cated men. They're nice guys, but
they're "flexible as concrete.
Two years ago I built a house in
Bryan and found the inspectors to
be both helpful and professional.
Other tradesmen agree: Bryan
inspectors get it fright the first
time. I want the ,public to know:
Building costs ale higher because
of College Station's schizophrenic
inspection department. One sub-
contractor told ine he bids College
Station jobs 20 percent higher than
ones in Bryan. The buyer ultimate-
ly picks up the tab.
C. RUSSELL YATES
College Station
L J
Date: JM 21
CS charter
changes
considered
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
College Station residents could
see two city charter amendments
on the May ballot, but first, the
City Council must ' decide
Thursday if it wants the issues to
go to the voters.
The two amendments would
mean three -year terms for coun-
cilmembers and would limit them
to no more than six consecutive
years in office.
"If approved by a majority of
voters on May 2, this will be in
effect for the terms beginning in
the year 1999," City Secretary
Connie Hooks said Tuesday.
Hooks said the new plan would
Please see CHARTER, Page A2
Page A2 The Bryan - College Station Eagle
199 y
Wednesday, January 21, 1998
NE
r
Charter
From Al
mean council members would be
elected by a majority vote,
instead of the current plurality
vote. This means that, if three or
more candidates ran for an office,
there would be an increased
chance of a runoff election since
one candidate would have to
receive at least 50 percent of the
vote to win.
The council is scheduled to
meet for a 3 p.m. workshops s-
sion Thursday, where the char er
topic and other issues will be ' -
cussed. At the 7 p.m. regii ar
meeting, a vote is scheduled t1 Lat
could place the charter issue Dn
the May ballot. The council
meets at City Hall, 1101 Teyas
Ave.
Another issue set to go bef re
the council during the worksh p
is Municipal Court fines.
A resident concerned about the
amount of a parking fine prompt-
ed the council to look at the issue
of fines, Mayor Lynn Mcllhanjey
said.
Municipal Judge Tripp Walter
is scheduled to speak to the coun-
cil about how the fines are struc-
tured.
In a memo to the council,
Walter said fine setting "is, obvi-
ously, a difficult and problematic
area," but he said, in his opinion,
the fines need to be set so people
realize the seriousness of the
ordinances.
Other issues scheduled to be
discussed are the Southside
neighborhood preservation, the
Brazos Greenways Council and
trying to keep neighborhoods
clean through city ordinances.
YJ .
CC
A
CS council delays new school plans
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff' Writer
The College Station City
Council on Thursday night
delaye for the second tim th e
approval of a plat or a new inter-
mediate school.
Bids for the $6.7 million school
on Graham Road were scheduled
to go out Monday but, without
the council's approval, a school
district official said that is not
possible.
"We weren't expecting this,"
Bill Savage, project manager for
the College Station school dis-
trict, said after the council vote.
Concern from the council's
three engineers — Swiki
Anderson, Steve Esmond and
Dick Birdwell — over what the
said is a side road that is needed
adjacent to the new school led to
two tie votes, one disapproving
the school's preliminary layout
and the other approving it. Thus,
the item was delayed until the
council's next workshop session.
The new school, designed to
help relieve overcrowding in the
district, will accommodate fifth-
and sixth -grade students.
Birdwell said the school dis-
trict's proposed plat was the
cheap way out, and without an
extra street for the expected traf-
fic,
He said schools are major traffic
generators and this one needs a
north -south street.
Savage, however, said the
school's plan has not been "creat-
ed frivolously."
He said the district is limited
on bond funds to spend on the
campus, but that the plan has
been well thought out.
"We've given our public its
money's worth on this," he said
of the school, which is scheduled
to open in the fall of 1999.
Esmond compared traffic diffi-
eulties at College Station
High, which has no traffic signal,
to what possibly could happen at
the new school.
He said the junior high could
have used another side street,
too.
"We'll be sorry 20 years from
now if we let this go through the
way the school district has
asked," Birdwell said.
Term limit amendment to appear on May ballot pp
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
College Station council members voted
Thursday night to let the voters decide how
long is too long for their elected officials to be
in office.
In a 5 -1 vote, the council approved putting a
term limit charter amendment on the May bal-
lot. If approved, council members would be
able to serve three consecutive terms of two
years each.
Mayor Pro Tem Hub Kennady was the lone
opposition.
"I don't think we need term limits," he said.
"I don't support this and I hope the voters
won't ... I think there's pretty much a self-lim-
iting rule."
Kennady said the unpaid position of being a
council member takes so much time that not
many people can dedicate too many years to
public service.
Originally, the council considered two
terms of three years each but, due to state -
mandated requirements regulating such a
term schedule, the council decided to stick
with the current two -year terms.
If the council had chosen three -year terms,
state mandates would have changed the way
in which people are elected. Instead of a plu-
rality vote, council members would have been
elected by a majority vote — meaning that, if
three or more candidates ran for an office,
there would be a good chance of a run -off elec-
tion since one candidate would have to receive
at least 50 percent of the vote to win.
Councilman David Hickson was out of town
on business.
In other business, the council voted to
install air conditioning at the Lincoln Center
gym. The $75,000 for the project will come from
Community Development Block Grant funds.
City officials said the lack of air condition-
ing limits its suitability for public gatherings
and programs during hot summer months.
r_1
LJ
•
II cly
eiigineer
resigns says
he w
asked
Mana er says city, Laza
reached mutual agreement
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer ■Council meeting/A10
College Statio Cit En weer not capable of doing the job."
Noe, however, said
Kent Laza said ask for Laza
's he has a did not
resigned his post, effective Feb. s resignation. He
15. said it was a mutual agreement
Laza, 39, who has worked for between them that Laza wasn't
capable of leading the engineer -
the city for more than three i
years, said City Manager Ski department to the goals
g
Noe asked him to resign lap reecc ently set for it.
week. Laza said criticism of the engi-
"I did not se it comity neering department by a blue rib -
g as bon committee made up of local
quickly as it id," he said.
"Bottom line, Ski thought I was Please see ENGINEER. Page A8
Besides the criticism by the blue ribbon some complaints about the engineering
Engineer committee, several council members also department.
have criticized the city's engineering depart- "I have been critical about the lack of
nrnorpcs nn nnr ennital improvement Droiects
From Al
professionals led to his resignation, while
Noe said the committee's findings "indirect-
ly" influenced the resignation.
"I did exactly everything I felt like I was
supposed to do," Laza said.
Noe said that, during a long talk about the
future direction of the department, he and
Laza determined that the city engineer was
not capable of doing the job. Two issues that
Noe said needed improvement are the sys-
tems and processes followed in the engineer-
ing department.
"I do know it's been a difficult time for the
engineering department," Mayor Lynn
McIlhaney said. "It's a difficult job working
in the public sector. It is very demanding.
When there's a lot of debating, it does make it
difficult on the employees."
Councilmen Swiki Anderson, Dick
Birdwell and Steve Esmond, all engineers
who serve on the council's engineering com-
mittee, said they did not know why Laza
resigned and did not have much comment on
the subject.
Birdwell said the resignation was not insti-
gated by the council, but that there had been
and others nitpicked at other problems. I
assume it's from that," he said of the resigna-
tion.
Birdwell said hirings and firings are the
city manager's job.
While he may have had complaints about
the department, Birdwell said he had no way
of knowing who in the department did what
work.
Noe said. advertisements for the position
already have been posted. Public Works
director Mark Smith will assume the duties
of the city engineer until a replacement is
found, Noe said.
•
•
,p Term lim is not needed
unde stand why the
I don't
College Station City Council is
bringing tE rm limits to a refer-
endum. Term limits serve only
those whose candidates weren't
chosen in a popular election. If you
can't muster enough votes to defeat
your opponents, then term limits
will eventuall run them out of
office for you.
Why not let
the voters limit a
council perso 's term by choosing
whether or n t to vote for him or
her again?
I can almost
understand the call
for term limit3
in Congress. The
incumbent re
dly does seem to
have an unfa'
advantage in fund
raising and el
actioneering at that
level. But do i
iembers of our coun-
cil really am
s great power and
influence during their time in
office? I look at our current council
and have to say, "I don't think so."
What is the harm in allowing a
council member to grow knowledge
and experience in city government
over several terms? Many of the
projects a city council undertakes
require more than six years to
complete. Why not let people serve
until they can see and protect the
fruits of their labor? Isn't that what
we elect them to do? Change is
often good and necessary, but why
not let people decide when it is nec-
essary rather than making it a
mandate?
Term limits are a prime example
of government meddling where it
has no right. It just isn't in the pub-
lic's best interest.
ROBERT A. APPLETON
College Station
•
C.
%110
Nort-1, at e g g q �
prom ts p etitiori �
p
Group tries to get project on May ballot
BY GLAIR FANIVIN
Eagle Staff Writer
A petition has been filed by,
Station residents, including
members, attempting to put
Northgate parking garage pr(
ballot.
"They [the College Station C
never been with the people anj
ple," resident Norma Miller, or
tee petitioners, said Friday.
frankly, is a memorial to this
cil."
The petition, which includes 577 signatures
and was filed at City Hall on Thursday, includes
group of College Steve l Esm Esmond and w Both men
wo city council voted against using the condemnation process to
the $6.8- million build the garage and requested that the city not
ect on the May use funds for the project until formal action is
taken by the council. or a city election is held.
ty Council] have City officials will verify the signatures on the
we are the peo- petition within 10 days and then present it to the
of five commit- City Council.
"This [project], In a December 4 -3 vote, the council approved
Particular coun-
Please see PETITION, Page A2
Petition
1
, That's the sole purpose [of the
FrO
petition], to let the people vote on
he "It's a statement of
going ahead with the parking
beginning
this," said.
a $6.8- million project, bigger than
garage project and
procedures on 1.5
the convention center, and we
condemnation
of land adjacent to Second
haven't let the public have a say
acres
Street and Church Avenue.
Councilmen Dick Birdwell,
on it."
Some people questioned
Anderson and Esmond voted
Anderson's and Esmond's signa-
using the condemnation
tures on the petition while they
against
are sitting council members.
process.
Condemnation procedures
"To my knowledge, signing it
have since begun, but it has been
One of the
as a citizen is one thing,"
Mclhaney said, "and I think cir-
a controversial issue.
feeling that the city's
culating it is a little different. But
owners,
.P.r was too low for his part of
that's my personal opinion."
the 1.5 -acre site, rejected it, even
The mayor said she isn't aware
in the city char -
of an stipulation
though it covered the appraised
ter that prevents a council mem-
value of the land.
ber from soliciting a petition.
Mayor Lynn McIhaney, one of
"The charter doesn't address
the project's supporters, said
that but, to my knowledge, this
Friday she is in favor of an elec-
isn't a situation that hasn't
tion if the petition meets the nec-
occurred in the past," she said.
essary requirements.
In September, Esmond mailed a
"If the citizens want a referen-
campaign issues update and sur-
dum and their petition is valid, I
vey to residents who voted in the
don't object with them having
city's last election. At the time, he
that choice," she said.
said the mailer was meant to
Mclhaney said she feels some
update voters on council issues
residents have been misinformed
and to gauge public sentiment on
the need for the project and
issues before the council.
about
if it will pay for itself.
Anderson said he doesn't think
One part of the study indicated
soliciting signatures for the peti-
income from the parking
tion was a conflict of interest.
gross
garage would be $1,176,164.
income swould be
"I think I was elected to repre-
sent the voters," he said. "I really
Annual net
$950,564, with annual operating
kind of enjoyed walking around
costs of $225,600. Annual debt ser-
and renewing some acquain-
vice would be $629,132.
tances. The reaction was mixed.
A debt ratio of 1.3 or greater is
Some are for the project, some
usually necessary to finance con-
didn't understand the issue, some
struction of a parking facility
said we ought to have the right to
with revenue bonds. The study
vote on this."
a debt ratio of 1.51 judg-
"It's perfectly legal and not
"If
revealed
ing by the indicated annual rev-
even unethical," Esmond said.
enue, net income and expendi
they want to outlaw that, that
would require a charter amend -
tures.
"I'm not really convinced in my
ment. Frankly, we've learned a
mind we need the parking,"
lot from talking to the voters,
Anderson said Friday. "One of
I made is, `Gee, if
hearing the pros and the cons."
Another question to be consid-
the suggestions
it's a good idea, let's see if we
ered, officials said, is getting the
really need it or not.' It's not
Texas A &M University involved
going to hurt anything if we
in helping to fund the parking
delay it for six months or a year.
Frankly, I am opposed to condem-
garage.
"We have talked to them in ref -
nation of private property."
said the voters haven't
erence to that," Mclhaney said.
"That's not a closed issue, but I
Esmond
had a chance to express their
think the council working with
Revitalization
opinions about the project.
the Northgate
Board decided that we really need-
ed to decide something. There are
other opportunities, but someone
needs to be the catalyst."
The � � ale
t
City of College Station News
Date: J t'i
Why all the activity?
s anyone else curious about
why our city leaders autho-
rized the expenditure of tens
of thousands of to dollars to
turn Munson Avenue into an
obstacle course?
Over the past gouple of years,
Munson Avenue users have been
faced with traffiq surveys,
detours, barriers traffic bumps
and the addition of stop signs at
every intersection not previously
having one.
All of this has been done for no
apparent reason other than to
make it inconvenient for com-
muters and thereby discourage
them from using the street.
Is not Munson Avenue the only
College Station street to have
been subjected to such intense
focus?
It is impossible to believe the
spending of all this energy and
money can be justified for safety
reasons.
Were there an unusual number
of traffic accidents on Munson
Avenue prior to all of this activi-
ty? Statistics cannot support that
theory.
Is it then reasonable to suspect
that there was political dimen-
sion to all of the Munson Avenue
activity and expense?
Do the mayor or any members
of the council live on Munson
Avenue or on a feeder street
directly affected by Munson
Avenue traffic?
LYLE D. STOCKMOE
College Station
fib, ) 1 ! C1 0
,f
•
with the problems and you be
in
to rebuild," she said.
She said her door is open to res-
idents who want to discuss the
city's issues.
"Given the situation I've got n
this council, I would encour
any citizen in our community if
they have any questions, If y
could please call me before y
form an opinion. I will show th m
the documentation I h e
because I think the only way to
address these issues is to address
It Stlalghtforward so we can I et
on to setting policy for t le
future," McIlhaney said.
■ Eagle staff writer Kelli Levey cart-
tributed to this story.
The following are the recomment
lions of the city of College Station's sl
cial committee on engineering and a
struction management:
1. Establish a new directorate head,
by a professional engineer that encoi
passes all engineering functions ar
activities rela[eq to planning, design, co
struction and engineering services nc
under Development Services, Publ
Works and Public Utilities. A strong mi
sion should be promulgated defining tf
Purpose and intention of the directoratE
2. The director should report directly I
the city manager.
3. The director of the new directoral
should have the following minimum qua
fications:
■ B.S. in civil engineering.
■ Licensed professional engineer
the state of Texas.
■ Minimum of 10 years experience i
Project development including desigr
construction management and adminh
tration of civil works.
■ Working knowledge in contract co,
struction law.
4. Engineering ethics training shoul
be required of all personnel involved i
the engineering operations. The city'
ethics policy should be reviewed t
ensure that it is adequate and current.
5. Staff should be as sensitive t,
users /clients as is practicable.
6. The city's Customer Service
Program should be emphasized tc
improve the processes of project devel
opment.
7. Partnering concepts should be fos
tered in this area of the city's work. Gooc
relationships between city staff anc
design and construction professional:
will ensure the best results for the tax
payers, and partnering concepts may
help that.
8. Internal controls, if they indeed do
not exist, should be established to
ensure that the taxpayers' funds are
being used appropriately.
9. The city's design professional's
selection process is a good one. It should
be ensured that candidates for work
understand the process is in place, and
that performance and quality are the pri-
mary considerations in A/E selection.
User involvement in this process is impor-
tant.
10. A program of requirements should
be developed for each project.
11. The development of a booklet that
describes the city's processes to design
Professionals would be very useful and
assist in tightening and shortening the
contracts. A strong demarcation of the
City's responsibility and the design pro-
fessional's responsibility should be artic.
ulated in language that is clear and con-
cise, not legal jargon.
12. Considerations should be given to
using the project's consulting engineer to
augment the city's field inspection ser-
vices.
13. Contracts for professional ser-
vices should be administered uniformly
and all professionals should be treated
similarly.
14. Regularly scheduled progress
review meetings with A /E's and contrac-
tors during project development and con
struction, including formal reviews of pro-
ject design by qualified staff persons,
either a professional engineer or under
the supervision of a professional engi-
neer, should be conducted.
15. The flow charts of the CIP process
and the contract routing procedures
should be simplified.
16. The professional services contract
and construction agreement should be
simplified utilizing standardized "general
conditions" and "instructions to bidders"
documents as part of the contract pack-
age.
17. The same standards and quality of
design, construction and materials
should apply for CIP projects and devel-
opment projects. The resultant infrastruc-
ture must be maintained, operated and
ultimately rehabilitated by the city.
.01
gy JENNY NEiLSON
EaB� SI Writer
A political battle is being waged at
College Station Citing practices. report on
the city's engin
Since Jan. 6, when the results of the
engineering evaluation were presented to
the city, City Hall has been stirred by dis-
c ord — including the resignation, effective
Feb. 15, of City Engineer Kent Lana.
In a Jan. 14 letter to Mayor Lynn
McMianey, Councilman Steve Esmond, an
engineer, said the findings in the report
would be a "disgrace" to any city. He said
that "it's (long past time or
our may
�rknnwl e" problems In the engineer
ing de
MY dis
said in an
ce," McIllianey
do not have a profes-
interview,
`is that I
that can help move the city
sional ce
forward.
cU
ey're busy building walls
instead of
wilding bridges."
of which was
The re
obtained
rt, a copy
Y The Bryan- College Station
five - member
Eagle
as written by a
of Texas A &M
"Blue Rib
on Committee"
community professionals
Universit
formed
and
Y City Manager Skip Noe.
were Teddy
n m.h,ws
of the committee
.7
Hirsch, Wesley Peel, Walter Wendler,
Louis Stuart and Byron Blaschke.
Noe said he decided to form t engl-
neering committee after hearing concerns
from two he council
Polled member d omm
He said c omm unity
he Po rofes-
members, as well as engineering P
sionals, to Put togethe ll they are
.Tin in personally p Noe said. "I don't
a great group of folks,
think anyone questions the fact that these
are high - integrity folks" other
The committee's report, among other
engi-
things, recommends that the city'
neering department institute engineering
ethics training, establish internal controls
and uniform Professional services con-
tracts and be se his s letter �to the maYo ,
Esmond, in had asked members
c harged that city stab'
of the committee to soften the ghat infor
In a n interview, he said go of the study,
mation from a source
whom he declined to identity. the bar and
, If they won't belly P
admit it, then so be it, Esmond said.
Mcilhaney said that, after receiving
Esmond's letter, she met with the commit
Please see COUNCIL, Page A2
resignation
fallout from evaluation
Pace p2 The Bryan - College Station Eagle $Onday, vebruar) 1,1998
is the chief executive Officer of
w en letters such as this are
board, then they
to be [ addressed
Coun
News
mention of positive
need
errors for the
on the mayor's and ci
er's part to do an ty manag-
Yining
Findings in
the report . The committee
lion presented to uS and our dis-
until this
[report] came out," he saed.
does not make her the CEO.
"[The
From A
a
ed, and elected to include a pose- have ons wi h t engineers ngineers who
tive and appropriate n Projects.
city
executivetyoffcererjMthhaneY
the government, but the charter
statement
regarding the many
The h a nngi included some
sengineer-
says I have no administrative
duties.
tee to address his allegation.
"The committee told
capable
members of the staff who were
co mmittee
invol dnt i
some who have re Odged complaints, as
well as ported
me rouowmg are the findings of the
y of College station's
My authority comes
city " e
me that
staff did not
change the rep to get them
moths dur-
g and investi a-
lions. After discussing
very positive experiences with
the city. Our fin s were based
special commit -
on engineering and construction man
ement:
Charter,
very Clear about the duties e
and were som
what offended that Steve would
the basis
of several find'
finding and the corn-
dthe - e -
miller's intent,
on the indications and ercep evidence
p-
dons resulting from
1. Our meetings and contact with city
ff provided evide
of many capable
mayor
Y and the council, and the
mayor has no administrative
suggest they did that," she said.
Hirsch said he was
as
the
elected to m
modify the wording
this effort,
We believe that our report prop_
scientious and dedicated city employ-
.
duties.
s
Esmond' and Noe
denied that he
of
in eve l fi idinintent. to o
more �Y
erly and a
appropriately reflects
these findings."
2. There are indications some man-
ations of
ment problems within the engineering
ra
of the Texas Board of director
f
or anyone on the
city's staff requested that the
e
o the pos
exception f itive finding
mentioned
Coun J.R. "Dick" Bird.
well, a semi-
. These include e weak
sional Engineers to whom
Esmond sent a
E COPY of his letter,
report be softened.
In a letter to the mayor
above, the wording
modifications were initiated b
retired en
said council members nginved
r communications, Inade ante
q policy
ctlon and lack of internal controls,
said the agency enforces Texas
engineers
the committee members w ro ,
rote:
"Since
the committee and were not
requested
bu r that the cow h
ee indicate that °e1
and regulates engi-
neeri practices.
it is common practice to
Provide those being
b y the city manager
nor the city staff. It should also be
c has ld
an fo
y rural discussions about the
t o severral stormasewehe
Poor quality con-
accepted
ig
Right now, nothin as f
examined an
opportunity to discuss the draft
to clar'
IfY the intent, and to insure
noted that the final report includ-
ed every fmdin g and recommen-
re
I urea this as a management
by the city, The committee
iders this a major concern if this is
ative of a more w itlespread
turn allegations has been
turned over a us and n has has
been envestigated
that the findings are not based on
an y misunderstanding,
d d ra f t. which was in the initial
raft. Only flue of the
problem, not a policy problem,"
he said "so it falls
practice
cept infrastructure which does not
eet specifications.
In relation to
this matter," he said. "We would
the coin-
mittee offered to review the draft
findings
were clamed and no
re responsibilities of the city ma
a er,
gat o 4. sn of improprieties a recent ega ding
investigate Otll y someone
if specific char
report with the city manag
It was mana e
Pointed out during
were made en the recommends
not the council. At this
POlilt, I don't see what our role is
tract mana con-
Bement and construction
inspections. Although it was
ges against
Particular individuals. This was
more of
the
review that there was minima]
Our findings
dations based
in this Process ."
Birdwell said he
reported
i
that these investigatons did not find evi-
Bence to substantiate the
a generic report of
These things are being done.' It
are ondthectn r meenn_
gave Noe Some
names for
allegations.
there was no evidence r
did not even name ind'
potential P esented of inter. people.' tvrdWU
"I knew he was O PanelSts. mize n and I dis oPray e d by the city to mini. Walter Ma
I made some s g 1O do it, so g Potential impropn- y. the agency's
uggestions as to etles. licensing director, said penalties
who to ask to assist with it he Bence Planning, design and construction for violations such as
said. activaties and responsibilities are divided $TOSS form -
organizationally between the directorates , inc ompetency or perform -
"This study revealed that we've of Development Services, Public works ing engineer'
got some pretty serious problems license ing w without
and Public Utilities. Can h]Cllle fines Up t
with our engineering department 6. Organizational units and /or fund- $3,000 and em riso
Particularly with the Ca I tions with engineering responsibilities, $ P n ency'
projects, c Birdwell said. "I P tal including those in Development Services inCllldC fieldithrte agency's duties
it's the city manager's I think and Pubic Utilities, are not under the g questions re-
t 'Ob to rec- supervision of a licensed professional garding engineering practices.
ify it and I think one of his ways engineer. "We help determine of there is a
V of ere that is to better define The flow charts of the CIP process Perception of a problem, if there
where the problems are. re s o l v ing f t I think and the Contract Routing Procedures is really a problem or if there is a
well on his way to appear to be unnecessarily cumbersome
them." and bureaucratic. Problem in the making " he said.
E. The Professional Services contract It looks to me like there's a very
Noe said that although the reo is too lengthy, too legalistic and incorpo real issue there. Mr. Esmond
ommenetioits may not be fol- rates too many policies and procedures thinks it needs to be resol
lowed to the letter, the ci that could best be placed in a manual it looks like he is a d
ty 1S Instructing architects and engineers in is
general implementing the the preparation of contract documents for Capacity a COU11Cel me O
Committed to
recommendations. the city. make sure it is resolved.
" intend to use this as our 9 - The standard construction not in VOlV ed at th1S point " We are
agree-
map to improve our engineering ment constrains many items that would Speed said he also has function," he said, " Can are best be included in the Contract General calls from the rdC f
better? Can we im
get Conditions or in the Instruction to two mayor and from
prove by adopt- Bidders, engineers who work for the
ing these recommendations? 10. It is Perceived that the contract for city, including one who was
Absolutely," Noe said. "Can we Professional services is not always assigned to implement the
get better? Yes. Will we get bet. administered uniformly. Panel's recommendations.
ter? Yes. Do we have a reason to 11. There are indications or made- I think that [the re
feel disgrace? q uate engineering inspection and super. very responsible step, asrtfar is a s s -
Esmond, in his h1S d on ' t l etter t0 the je
vi sion o the inspec tr i on Pr P ha se s does
ma or, nd, the committee's find- the city is concerned ,^ he said.
Y not appear to be consistent or uniform. McIlhaney said she is respond -
engs and recommendations The inspection of CIP projects and devel- ing Publicly to Esmond's letter
"would be a disgrace to any city opment projects appears to differ with because it has been sent to the
respect to the quality of materials and state board and is be'
ut particularly worse in our construction required.
Case because across the street sits 12. It does not a ed in the co circulat-
the largest and most prestigious managers make full use of a regularly rnmUrllty.
College of Engineering in the scheduled progress review meetings with have received letters l ike this
country." A /E's and contractors during project from Steve,"
Noe said design and construction. The two She said. "I71 the
that 1s an "exaggera progress review meetings, as reported to Past, I have t t0 deal with It
lion Of circumstances." be currently conducted, are inadequate. b y peeking up the to and Call -
de
Esmond said the city needs to 13. Reviews of design by professional ing. I've also tried
take acti O these to deal with it
reCOmmen- m. ...
dati engineers on the staff appear to be limit- the context of the council
t- i ons and said the report show ed or nonexistent. But h
s
e
the getting d
the getting done.
job
is the chief executive Officer of
w en letters such as this are
board, then they
to be [ addressed
. eparttnent's
There 's been a teal reluctance
the city."
need
errors for the
on the mayor's and ci
er's part to do an ty manag-
Yining
The mayor said College Sta-
tion's form Of city government
within the letters."
Another letter, from Peter
until this
[report] came out," he saed.
does not make her the CEO.
"[The
Keating, a professor of engineer.
ing
Asked, if he considered it the
city
executivetyoffcererjMthhaneY
at A&M,, was band - delivered
wring
mayor's job to address a
ing problems, Esmond
said. I am head of the City
ing last week's
City Council meeti Keating
sengineer-
Council and Ceremonial head of
was one of the e e
Esmond, who met
with the corn
M
Garage petition
needs b r 1 Y9 CS nppgal on hold unJed
1 %r
By JENNY
Eagle Staff'
A petition io
allow College
Station voters
to decide on the
$6.8- million N
rthgate parking
garage appears
to have plenty of
qualified nam
s, but won't be
valid until the
petitioners' birth-
days are added.
City Secretairy
Connie Hooks
said Friday that,
if the petition is
complete and validated
by Feb.22,
the City Counc'
could consider it
during its Feb.
6 meeting.
"If the counc'
fails to pass the
ordinance, we i
iin proceed with
placing it on th
May ballot," she
Petition
From Al
ers. The number of qualified vot-
ers signing a petition must equal
25 percent of the number f peo-
ple who voted in the last elE ction,
Hooks said, and the garag peti-
said.
State Election Code Sec.
277.002, which went into effect
Sept. 1, 1997, requires birth dates
for petitions to be valid.
One petitioner, Mike
McMichen, said adding the birth
dates by the Feb.22 deadline
shouldn't be a problem.
The petitioning committee will
be able to obtain a voter registra-
tion list and add the birth dates
listed, Hooks said.
She said 613 names were sub-
mitted on the petition, with 592 of
them being valid registered vot-
Please see PETITION. Page A8
tion needs the signatures of 443
qualified voters to be valid.
Councilmen Dick Birdwell,
Steve Esmond and Swiki
Anderson signed the petition.
"I want the citizens of College
Station to have a chance to vote
on the largest project the city's
undertaken," Birdwell said.
He said the City Council proba-
bly will not adopt the ordinance
on the petition and that he thinks step. Birdwell, Anderson and
the voters also will turn down the Esmond voted against the con -
garage. demnation procedure.
The City Council decided in a 4- Those pushing for the garage
3 December vote to move ahead promote a study done last year by
with obtaining property through an outside firm. The study said
condemnation proceedings at the the annual net income from the
1.5 acre Northgate site. C i t y garage would be $950,564, with an
officials said negotiations for a annual operating cost of $225,600.
piece of the property had failed Annual debt service would be
and condemnation was the next $629,132, the study found.
•
•
Reducing the traffic
I live in the College Woodlands
neighborhood and would like to
respond to the recent inquiries
about the "activity" on Munson
Avenue.
One year ago, traffic volumes on
Munson Avenue — a narrow resi-
dential street — were more than
8,000 cars per day.
Half of those cars were exceeding
the posted speed limit of 30 mph.
Much of the traffic was reckless,
resulting in repeated trenching of
yards.
Is there a safety issue involved?
Our neighborhood thinks there is.
The city's comprehensive plan
states that a 26- foot -wide residen-
tial street should have no more
than 1,000 vehicles per day, yet
growth of the city has resulted in a
situation that is incompatible with
family life.
The city staff and City Council
recognize these dangers and, at the
request of our neighborhood, have
begun a series of trial measures to
reduce the cut - through traffic
which accounts for 85 -90 percent of
the traffic on Munson Avenue.
We believe that neighborhood
integrity and safety for our fami-
lies should have priority over traf-
fic mobility.
We support the city's efforts in
reducing the excessive traffic vol-
ume and look forward to a quick
resolution.
SHAWN B. CARLSON
College Woodlands
Neighborhood Association
College Station
CS council to look---qop,3
at zoning, drainage
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Council on
Thursday is scheduled to look at several
zoning, drainage and city improvements.
The council meets at 3 p.m. in work-
shop session and at 7 4m for the regular
meeting at City Hall, 11 1 Texas Ave.
One proposed plan to go before the
council in the workshop is for a $2.3 mil-
lion utility customer service center on
Krenek Tap Road.
The council already has given approval
to the 16,000 - square -foot facility and the
presentation is just a step in the process,
assistant city manager Tom Brymer said.
"The purpose of Thursday's presenta-
tion is to give the council an update on
the project in terms of the design and bid-
ding process," he said.
Brymer said that, if the council
approves the plans, the building could be
completed in 12 to 18 months.
The center, which would house the util-
ity customer service department, also
Please see COUNCIL, Page A2
News
Council
From Al
would be home to the print mail
and most computer operations,
he said.
In other business, the council
is scheduled tD hold a public
hearing in the 7 p.m. meeting
concerning the rezoning of 37
acres along the south side of
Graham Road Oear the extension
of Victoria Ave ue.
The properly currently is
zoned agricultl al, but city plan-
ners said a request has been put
in to change it to residential for a
proposed 171 home sites.
Another proposal to be consid-
ered by the council is the master
plan for 118 acres on the east side
of Texas 6. Part of the property,
called Horse Haven Estates,
includes a golf driving range that
is in the process of being sold to a
new owner who plans to expand
it, owner Burt Hermann said.
Hermann said the new owner
plans to take the 13 -acre driving
range and turn it into a 25 -acre
driving range.
He said that, if the council
approves the plan, the project
could be completed in six to eight
weeks.
Taxi -in
College Stati
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
If you ever wondered what
like to be a taxi driver in
Bryan- College Station area, CI
Ede can tell you — he's done it
10 years.
He said requests for his
range from zero to 20 a d
depending on the number of lc
events, and his income has f
tuated between $10,000 to $30,
a year.
Despite the uncertainty, I
said he likes driving a cab,
doesn't want the city to requ
him to use a taximeter. 7
College Station City Cour
could do just that Thursd
when council members
scheduled to consider a new ti
Ta
designed tc
of getting a
all of the in
one -stop sh
Feldman
four cab co
College Sta
The cum
from Easte:
College S
Conference
for one per
cab compar
Bryan C
Lynn Ga
question 4,-
council mulls new cab ordinance
cab ordinance.
"You can't tell us how much to
charge since you don't know how
much we make," Ede said.
He said a taximeter doesn't
take into account gas, mechani-
cal work or permit prices that
must come out of his pocket.
But officials at other cab com-
panies say the meter is the stan-
dard in other cities and should be
used here.
"We've been pushing for this
and trying to get a little more reg-
ulation in the industry," said
Stephen Hanel, owner of
Advantage Taxi Service.
Hanel said he already uses
taximeters and he feels it gives a
sense of security to the users.
"I think the public will feel
more confident that they're not
getting ripped off," he said.
Currently, Bryan and College
Station have ordinances that
require cab companies and their
drivers to be licensed by the city
and charge fair rates.
College Station Police Chief Ed
Feldman said the current ordi-
nance requires meters or zoning
fees. But this ordinance, if
approved as is, would make the
meter mandatory.
"We're bringing it before the
council because they wanted us
to look at it," he said. "I think the
meters in taxicabs are a national
standard and we're just standard-
izing it."
He said the main objective of
the changes in the ordinance are
Please see TAXI, Page Al2
Bryan doesn't require a meter
'
and probably won't in the near
future, despite a possible change
in College Station. She said city
g
officials evaluated Bryan's taxi-
cab ordinance about six months
lessen the difficulty
ago and found it to be fair.
axi permit by putting
She said her office, which regu-
cessary permits in a
lates the permits, hasn't received
P.
any legitimate complaints about
;aid there are about
fees, which are required to be
ipanies registered in
posted with the city.
on.
Galloway - Stratta, who said
it cost of a taxi ride
there are three taxi companies
wood Airport to the
registered in Bryan, said the city
rtion Hilton and
requires each driver to go
:,enter is $10 to $15
through a criminal background
cm, according to the
check before a permit is issued.
es.
The College Station Council
:y Secretary Mary
meeting is at 7 p.m. Thursday at
oway - Stratta said
City Hall, 1101 Texas Ave.
Proposed ordinance
on taxis fares poorly
By JENNY NELSON .2 q�f
Eagle Staff' Writer 1
Noe said it probably would go on
the agenda for a March work
Co uncil
shop.
Changes to a proposed taxicab
"I don't think it's the role of the
From A 1
ordinance in College Station
city to regulate the private sec -
were sent back to the drawing
tor," Co cilman Swiki Ander-
Service, said the
board Thursday after concerns
surfaced at the City Council
son said.
The majority of the cab owners
proposed
requirements would be good for
the industry.
meeting.
present were glad for the delay.
"They
`People are simply scared to
The proposed changes included
made a wise decision,"
get
into taxis without meters," he
making taximeters mandatory in
Ted Le ski, owner of Golden
said. "I truly believe the industry
cabs, instead of it being an
Eagle Cot rier Taxicab, said after
will benefit from regulation."
option, and setting a cap on fares.
the meet' ig.
After the vote, Hanel said he
Some council members and cab
Lezyns i said regulation would
was glad the council didn't turn
owners said they didn't like city
cut any competitive rates.
down the proposed changes
regulation of the local taxi busi-
Earlier, during the public hear-
and
it's fine with him if they want to
ness.
ing, he sa d, "Taxicab drivers are
look at it further.
"I think if we were a large city
'
ambassad rs of goodwill and we
In other business the council
e go
had 50, 60 or 70 cab drivers, it
want only to serve the citizens of
gave city staff' the ahead to
VA be an issue ... but I think
this is a non - issue," Councilman
College Station."
He and three other cab drivers
rebid the proposed $2.3- million
utility customer service center
David Hickson said.
expressed concerns about the
on
Krenek Tap Road.
The council, by a unanimous
proposed changes, but Stephen
Assistant City Manager Tom
vote, decided to look at the ordi-
Hanel, owner of Advantage Taxi
Brymer said the original bids
nance again in a future council
came in about $400,000 higher
workshop. City Manager Skip
Please see COUNCIL, Page A2
than the allotted amount.
z -;
Through reworking the plans,
Brymer said the new plans
are
within budget.
,-
The council also approved a
master plan for 118 acres on the
east side of Texas 6.
Part of the property, called
Horse Haven Estates, includes a
driving range that is in the
I process of being sold to a new
owner who plans to expand it to a
25 -acre range, owner Burt
Hermann said.
The council also approved a
rezoning of the Westfield Addi-
tion, along the south side of
Graham Road, to residential for
171 single - family home sites
Planned for the area.
The council deferred approval
of the master plan and prelimi-
nary plat of the Westfield proper-
ty to Feb. 26, when a vote on the
`w
adjoining property is expected.
Rea fil i c ,
set, !
Green flag goes up
Monday for Bryan,
CS political rapes
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
For those residents wanting to
throw their hats into the ring for
the May 2 city council elections in
Bryan or College Station, Monday
Will be their first chance.
Filing for College Station's four
open seats and Bryan's three
seats will continue through
March 18. City officials in both
municipalities say several candi-
date packets already have been
requested.
"With the number of packets I
have given out, I expect that three
of the four races will be contest-
ed," College Station City
Secretary Connie Hooks said.
Hooks said she alre y has
given out 11 candidate packets,
which exceeds the amount given
out for last year's election
Bryan City Secretary Mary
Lynn Galloway - Stratta s id six
packets have been picke up so
far. If the number of ackets
Picked up is any indicati n, she
said, the races may not b hot in
Bryan.
"That's not a lot [of pac ets] for
three seats," she said.
The mayoral seat in bot cities
is open, as well as College Station
at -large Places 2, 4 and 6. Bryan
has openings in single ember
Please see FILING, P ge A8
Filing
From Al
Districts 1 and 2.
College Station at -large and
mayoral positions are open to
any College Station resident who
has lived in the city for at least
one year preceding the election.
In Bryan, single- member dis-
trict candidates must live in the
district, while the mayoral seat is
open to any resident who has
lived in Bryan for the preceding
six consecutive months and in
Texas for the preceding 12
months.
All candidates must be at least
18 years old.
Council members in Bryan
have six -year term limits, but
that does not apply to any of the
current council members, whose
terms still have time remaining.
Currently, the College Station
City Council seats do not have
term limits, but a proposal for
six -year limit is scheduled for the
May ballot.
Galloway - Stratta said that,
sometimes, potential candidates
come into the city secretary's
office thinking that the council
seats are paid positions, but then
leave when they found out the
salary won't buy much. Bryan
council members get $10 a month,
while College Station council
members get zero.
Bryan residents interested in
filing for office can pick up a can-
didate packet at the Bryan City
Hall, 300 Texas Ave. South.
College Station residents can
do the same at College Station
City Hall, 1101 Texas Ave. South.
• Ak
M4
file
re- election
2 sign up to run
for council seats
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff' Writer
• College Station Mayor Lynn
McIlhaney filed for re- election
Monday, the first day to file for
Bryan and College Station City
Council races.
In Bryan, District 2 council
incumbent Annette Stephney
filed for reelection, and Barbara
Palmer filed for Place 2 in College
Station. That council seat is held
by Mayor Pro Tem Hub Kennady,
who is not seeking re- election.
College Station has four seats
to be decided in the May 2 elec-
tion, including the mayor and at-
large seats 2, 4 and 6. Bryan has
three seats due to expire in May,
including the mayor and single
member districts 1 and 2.
Please see RUNG, Page AS
•
could not be reached for com-
Filing m In Monday.
n Bryan, Stephney, 55, is wrap-
ping up her first term, to which
From Al she was elected in 1995.
"I feel like the first three years
McIlhaney, 49, is looking to was a learning experience," she
rve a second term as the city's said. "I feel like I've been a voice
ust woman mayor. She served McILHANEY STEPHNEY for Single Member District 2 and
n the council from 1982 to 1986 the minority area. I feel like I've
d again from 1987 until she was sent her issues to the voters when been there and listened, although
laded mayor in 1996. she begins her campaign later I don't feel like I've done
"I heel like I've done a good job this spring. enough."
or the past two years in a diffi- Palmer, College Station's can- Stephney said she hopes the
ult situation.... I feel like with didate for Place 2, worked in the people in her district reelect so
he experience I have gathered, it city's legal department in 1993 -94 she can help get affordable hous-
mn help me be a stronger and ran unsuccessfully for city ing, more minority-owned busi-
eader and a better leader for the council in 1996 against nesses and better streets.
mmunity," she said. Councilman Dick Birdwell. Filing for council races ends
Mcllhaney said it's important Palmer, a 43- year -old attorney, March 18.
or the mayor to be able to build
ublic policy while working with
iffering viewpoints.
"I think that we are prime for
evelopment and need someone
ith experience to help guide the
ity in controlling that develop -
ent to enhance the quality of
e," she said. c.
McMianey said she Will pre-
u
College Station
to move books .
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
Clara Mounce isn't being very quiet about
the new College Station Library — in fact, the
community librarian is getting the word out
that there's only a couple of weeks until the
doors to the $ facility open.
When the glass doors are unlocked for the
dedication March 8 and for the first patron
March 12, Meunce, who has worked for th
Bryan Library for 20 years, wants everything
to be perfect
She's vacuumed the t
foot building, tested three different cleaners
in the bathroom and she's even learned how
the wires are crossed from the electricians on
site.
"We're excited," she said. "The staff is just
ecstatic."
The College Station Library has been
housed in a store front on Texas Avenue since
1987, but the last books will be checked out at
that location Thursday.
College Station Library manager Kathleen
Dill said the library will use Friday and
Library closes
Q new facility
'day to prepare for movers, who are
tact to arrive Monday.
e movers, Coulee Moving of Bryan, wil]
the books in shelf order, Dill said. One
will move the books while another ais-
les the shelves that also will be used in
ew library, Mounce said.
said the movers have experience mov-
braries — the company transported the
•ials for the George Bush Presidential
ry and Museum Center.
e Drew and her 2- Yearold son Micah,
aid they are enjoying the last days a the
11ion, said they are pleased about the
the
ing
who
old I
-W, are really excited. We can't wait," she
said her son stacked his pile of books.
The 's going to be more space and, hopeful-
ly, more things going on for the kids."
M01 ' g the 40,000 bo is estimated to take
about two and a half days Another 4,000
books have been purchased for the library,
which has a capacity for Ioo,000 volumes,
Moun a said.
Please see LIBRARY, Page A2
Library
From Al
But new books aren't the only
additions to the library. There's
also new furniture that will be
used with the current furniture,
new computers and a ceramic tile
handprint tree painted by artist
Pat Johnson of Fayetteville,
Texas. The tree is adorned with
the hand prints of local residents
who contributed $250 for their
tiles.
The hand print tiles, brick
pavers and other fund - raises
items raised $300,000 for th(
library and helped make the
extra room possible. Mouna
said.
The remainder of the fundini
was app ved by voters in a 199 .
bond pa kage, she said.
College Station Librar
Patrons will be able to retur,
books at the Bryan Publi
Library or the College Static,
Library book drop while th
College I itation Library is close(
lice.
Birdwell
files for
election
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
College Station City Council-
man Dick Birdwell filed for re-
election Wednesday.
Birdwell, 66, said he wants to
continue his service as the Place
6 representative so he can help
ensure "continuous improve-
ment" in city services.
"I think I've brought a ques-
ti
oning to the council that has
been beneficial — not just rubber
stamping what the staff brings
us, but brought up some alterna-
tives," he said.
Birdwell, a retired engineer,
served on the City Council from
1988 to 1992. He said that, after his
four ye ars of serv ice, he decided
Please see RUNG, Page A2
The Bryan City Council has
Filing
three positions up for election:
mayor, single- member District 1
and single- member District 2. So
From Al
far, no one has filed for the
his engineering consulting kept
mayor's race, Councilman Greg
Rodriguez has
him busy enough.
In 1996, after retiring from the
filed for re -elec-
consulting business, he ran again
tion in District
+ 1 and
for the council.
Filing for City Council seats
Councilwoman
continues through March 18. So
Annette Steph-
nay has flied
far, Birdwell is the only candi-
date in the Place 6 race.
for re- election
College Station has four coun-
cil seats up in the May 2 election.
in District 2.
BIROWELL Bryan resi-
Since filing began Monday, one
dents interest -
ed in filing for office can pick up
Person has filed for each race —
a candidate packet at the Bryan
Mayor Lynn McBhaney for the
City Hall, 300 Texas Ave. South.
mayoral position, lawyer
Barbara Palmer for Place 2 and
College Station residents can
do the same thing at College
Councilman Larry Mariott for
Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Ave.
Place 4.
South.
C:
•
Stabler files for re- election
Ex -CS council member
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
Bryan Mayor Lon
iie Stabler filed
for reelection Tharsday,
and in
College Station, former
City Council
member Anne Ha7ejj
threw her hat
into the ring for Place
6.
Stabler, 52, has bee
1 on the council
for seven years, the f
t four years as
to challenge for Place 6
a councilman and the remainder as
mayor.
"I think there are some issues that I
want to continue working on," he
said.
The transition from regulated to
deregulated electricity, Stabler said,
is one issue he particularly wants to
Please see FPJNBS, Page AS
Fill
STABLER
HAZEN
work throu
"I've got anough experience in
that arena to be able to follow close -
lY and to wot k out the best solutions
for the int rests of the city of
Bryan," he si 'd.
So far, Sta ler is the only candi-
date in the in yor's race.
Bryan has hree council positions
with terms ei piring in May.
Hazen, 66, filed to run against
incumbent D ck Birdwell, a retired
engineer, for the Place 6 seat. She
served on the College Station City
Council frolto 1974 -77. She then
served on th Planning & Zoning
Commission om 1977 -80.
"I see a need and I'm going to hell
support the mayor and the coup
cil/city manager form of govern
ment," she said.
Hazen said the council should prc
vide leadership, but let the city stal
handle the day - today workings o
the city.
In a statement Thursday, she said
"At the present tine, there are thre,
engineers on the council and onl
one woman. My candidacy gives th;
electorate a choice. I would like t.
see a broader representation to th•
council and to the city."
Hazen is retired from Hospice
Brazos valley, where she work
Part-time.
College Station has four races h
the May 2 election: mayor, Place 2
Place 4 and Place 6.
18. Filing continues through Marc,
•
•
Petiti
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
Residents have submitted
the city of College Station se
open Fire Station No. 2, but
citing a formatting technic,
petition may be invalid.
The petition, with more th
also seeks to open a propose
at Easterwood Airport wit
taxes.
The petition drive began i
cials met with residents in
filed to keep fire station
and the voters are unhappy."
But June Cooper, who was one of five
People on the committee of petitioners,
said the petitioners, after hearing about
the possible relocation at the December
public hearing, decided to go ahead and do
something.
"As I went though the neighborhoods,
people were exceedingly happy that some-
one was doing something," she said.
"From what I heard, they're tired of the
city going ahead and doing what they
Please see PETITION, Page A2
Petition
Al
;ooper said the petition is
ant to be an initiative petition
3 was designed to give voters a
mce to decide on an ordinance.
3ut city officials said that,
muse of the petition's format,
ether or not it qualities as an
tiative is uncertain.
'I don't think the format it's in
Il result in an initiative ordi-
nce being triggered," City
'orney Harvey Cargill said.
Co qualify as an initiative, he
d the petition should be draft -
in the format of an ordinance,
ich this one is not.
'ity Secretary Connie Hooks
d she is in the process of veri-
ng the signatures on the peti-
a and is scheduled to present
• findings to the City Council
March 12.
the said the necessary cate-
ies of information are on the
ttion, unlike another petition
tied in earlier this month.
'hat initiative petition, oppos-
I the Northgate Parking
rage, was sent back to the peti-
ners because the birth dates of
ise signing it were not listed.
e garage petition could lead to
:ers deciding on a $6- million
'king garage May 2.
'ouncilmen Steve Esmond and
iki Anderson have signed both
itions.
inderson said Thursday he
't sure if the fire station peti-
n was meant to be an initiative
:ition but, either way, the
. Page A9 on Thursday, an
sect date was listed for
n Up to a Bird's Life." The
ly -hour program will be held
11 a.m. to noon Saturday at
Brazos Valley Museum of
ral History.
council should take the reside
views into account.
"I don't want to fault the
because the city hasn't done a
thing," he said.
Anderson said he hopes of
council members will take
petition into account when t
vote on the fire station's fate.
Fire Chief Dave Giordano a
he understands the concern
the residents.
"Anytime you're talking ab
moving a fire station that's b.
there for 15 years, I can certai
understand the citizens' c
cerns and opposition," he said
Giordano said keeping the 1
station open could be an opti
but that several alternatives
being explored.
He said he has a meeting sch
uled Friday with the city's bud
personnel to "tie the dollars
those options."
Currently, Fire Station No
serves the majority of t
Southwood Valley area of Collt
Station. He said the respor
times would change if the relo,
tion takes place.
For example, the fire respor
time to A&M Consolidated Hi
School on F.M. 2818, which wot:
he served by the Easterwo.
Airport fire station instead of t
Rio Grande Street station and
the proposed plan, would see tl
response time change from 50
60 seconds to 3 minutes, 40 sE
onds. But the accepted respon
time guideline adopted by ti
city in 1989 is 4.5 minute
Giordano said.
Not only did city officials que
tion the format of the petitio.
but also said some of the inform
tion wasn't factual.
For example, the petition sta
ed, "All of the schools in Collet
Station are protected from eme
genies by the services located
Fire Station No. 2"
But only three schools -
College Station Junior Higl
A &M Consolidated High Schoo
and Rock Prairie Elementary
are protected by the services
that station, Giordano said.
Technicality may void
P etition to
plea, CS officials say
ing to keep
ty officials,
explain the relocation of Fire Station No. 2
ty, say the
from its Rio Grande Street location to
Easterwood Airport. The City Council will
530 names,
consider the move and some alternatives
fine station
Feb 26.
out raising
"My concern is the council hasn't even
had a chance to discuss this issue," Mayor
x city Off
Lynn Mcllhaney said Thursday. "I can
ecember to
understand if the council has taken action
and the voters are unhappy."
But June Cooper, who was one of five
People on the committee of petitioners,
said the petitioners, after hearing about
the possible relocation at the December
public hearing, decided to go ahead and do
something.
"As I went though the neighborhoods,
people were exceedingly happy that some-
one was doing something," she said.
"From what I heard, they're tired of the
city going ahead and doing what they
Please see PETITION, Page A2
Petition
Al
;ooper said the petition is
ant to be an initiative petition
3 was designed to give voters a
mce to decide on an ordinance.
3ut city officials said that,
muse of the petition's format,
ether or not it qualities as an
tiative is uncertain.
'I don't think the format it's in
Il result in an initiative ordi-
nce being triggered," City
'orney Harvey Cargill said.
Co qualify as an initiative, he
d the petition should be draft -
in the format of an ordinance,
ich this one is not.
'ity Secretary Connie Hooks
d she is in the process of veri-
ng the signatures on the peti-
a and is scheduled to present
• findings to the City Council
March 12.
the said the necessary cate-
ies of information are on the
ttion, unlike another petition
tied in earlier this month.
'hat initiative petition, oppos-
I the Northgate Parking
rage, was sent back to the peti-
ners because the birth dates of
ise signing it were not listed.
e garage petition could lead to
:ers deciding on a $6- million
'king garage May 2.
'ouncilmen Steve Esmond and
iki Anderson have signed both
itions.
inderson said Thursday he
't sure if the fire station peti-
n was meant to be an initiative
:ition but, either way, the
. Page A9 on Thursday, an
sect date was listed for
n Up to a Bird's Life." The
ly -hour program will be held
11 a.m. to noon Saturday at
Brazos Valley Museum of
ral History.
council should take the reside
views into account.
"I don't want to fault the
because the city hasn't done a
thing," he said.
Anderson said he hopes of
council members will take
petition into account when t
vote on the fire station's fate.
Fire Chief Dave Giordano a
he understands the concern
the residents.
"Anytime you're talking ab
moving a fire station that's b.
there for 15 years, I can certai
understand the citizens' c
cerns and opposition," he said
Giordano said keeping the 1
station open could be an opti
but that several alternatives
being explored.
He said he has a meeting sch
uled Friday with the city's bud
personnel to "tie the dollars
those options."
Currently, Fire Station No
serves the majority of t
Southwood Valley area of Collt
Station. He said the respor
times would change if the relo,
tion takes place.
For example, the fire respor
time to A&M Consolidated Hi
School on F.M. 2818, which wot:
he served by the Easterwo.
Airport fire station instead of t
Rio Grande Street station and
the proposed plan, would see tl
response time change from 50
60 seconds to 3 minutes, 40 sE
onds. But the accepted respon
time guideline adopted by ti
city in 1989 is 4.5 minute
Giordano said.
Not only did city officials que
tion the format of the petitio.
but also said some of the inform
tion wasn't factual.
For example, the petition sta
ed, "All of the schools in Collet
Station are protected from eme
genies by the services located
Fire Station No. 2"
But only three schools -
College Station Junior Higl
A &M Consolidated High Schoo
and Rock Prairie Elementary
are protected by the services
that station, Giordano said.
NOW
•
Two candidates join
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff writer
is Irving's only opponen
certain that the community has a
two faced each other in ti
The campaign for College
election, which MCIlhane
with 67 percent of the vote.
Station City Council seats saw
"I want to make this 'Am
two new candidates file Friday,
Ron Silvia for Place 2 Jim
City; to make it a true dem
and
Irving for mayor.
so that the council represe]
city," Irving said.
Silvia, 60, said he would like to
Irving said he wants
bring a common -sense approach
Station to be a place that
to the City Council and Irving, 48,
said he wants to make College
A&M University's interne
Station "America's City."
students can take back to
countries as a model city.
So far, Mayor Lynn McManey
He said he also wants to
council race
The
certain that the community has a
i 1996
voice in the way their money is
won
spent.
Irving, who is an electronics
rica's
technician and MSHA journey-
cracy
man, said he thinks the council
is the
needs to listen to the citizens.
manager of investments.
Silvia's only opponent so far is
fIlege
lawyer Barbara Palmer. The two
texas
are running for the seat occupied
ional
by Mayor Pro Tern Hub Kennady,
their
who has said he will not run for
nake
Please see RUNGS, Page AS
the..mhabilitation center in late
. 1896
WS
Filings
From Ai
re- election.
Silvia said he does not support
micro - management by the City
Council, ut supports the coun-
cil cjty pager form of
SILVIA IRVIIW ' " �� 1
govern -
mew
"l feel, -being on.tbe council, I
, <
University;System, where he }v
an assistant state auditor and''
W 11
btipg in in
manager of investments.
finance ;" he said. -
Silvia currently serves on the
' "This community has been
really good to me. I love it and I
city's Planning and- ,.Zoning
want to do what I can for it
Commission and is 'director
of
...
This is my opportunity," said
opeitatiods and finanee'
at the
Silvia, who plans to retire from
Bravos ; ltehabitation
the..mhabilitation center in late
Ce*r, sp y ,
l rs r}7ttr a jrothe IL S. Art for ty Council seats ' f
Fore' a$d }rte exas AiVI `.es throgtr
Mal8.
•
February 24, 1998
land]," Brymer said.
So far, Brymer said, about $80,000 has
been spent on preliminary design work.
If the council rejects the ordinance, the
voters would get their say on May 2, the
date of the regular council election. Voters
in that election already are scheduled to
Gara a p etition validated
By JENNY NEiSON _ vote on a six -year limit for council m,
Eagle Staff Writer Cjs ouniA to vote on -,t" In g bers. The mayor's position is also up
election, as well as places 2, 4 and 6 on
council.
The petition, which was turned in .1
30 with 577 signatures, was returned to
petitioners because it lacked birth da
which are required by state law. The bi
dates have since been added.
The council fast gave the green light
the Northgate Parking Garage in N
The Northgate Garage petition has been
validated and will go before the College
Station City Council on Thursday.
• The council can adopt the petitioned
ordinance , which is aimed at stopping all
construction on the garage, or reject the
ordinance, which would leave the $6.8 mil-
lion garage decision up to the voters, City
Secretary Connie Hooks said Monday.
Assistant City Manager Tom Brymer
Page AS
Pp
cons ruction of Northgate project
said Thurs y's decision will affect the
status of the garage project-
"This has substantial impact because
we have to a some fundamental deci-
sions on wh er or not we want to go into
the detailed design phase, as well as con-
tinue negotiation on acquisitions [of
Station Eagle Tuesday, Fe bruary 24, 1998
?ll cc
Please see GARAGE. Page
News
,
Gara - ge --
Fro A 1
1997.
At that time, three councilmen Dick Birdwell ,
Swiki Anderson and Steve Esmond— voted against
the project. The same three hate signed the peti-
tion. They have said they want voters to decide the
fate of such a large project.
In December, the count' told city staff to go
ahead with obtaining property for the garage
through the condemnation Pi ocess.
A total of 1.5 acres, owned I iy fqur people, is need-
ed to construct the approximately 750 -space parking
garage.
One landowner, Abbas Ali Hassan of Houston,
refused the city's offer of $85,000. But Brymer said
no paperwork has been filed to institute legal con-
demnation proceedings.
City officials say condemnation is possible if a
good -faith effort has been made to deal with the
property owner and if the land is determined a pub-
lic necessity.
The city continues to negotiate with two of the
other landowners and a deal has been, reached with
the fourth owner, though no money' has changed
hands, Brymer said.
The council is scheduled to consider the ordi-
nance on the petition at its meeting at 7 p.m.
Thursday.
14
Wednesday, February 25, 1998
'"Oft-lAw•
]KeiiiO
Fire station's fate on agenda
CS officials advise keeping No. 2 open, pursuing Easterwood post
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Sftff Writer
The fate of College Station's Fire Station
No. 2 could be decided by the City Council
on Thursday.
City officials are recommending that the
fire station at stay open and that the city
pursue a joint fire station with Texas A&M
University at Easterwood Airport. This is
one of four options the council has been
given to consider.
A discussion of the options is scheduled
for a 3 p.m. workshop, while the deciding
vote is scheduled for the 7 p.m. regular
meeting. Council meets at City Hall, 1101
Texas Ave.
Although the council has not voted on
Fire
From A9
•
said the petition did not prompt
the city staffs recommendation.
He said the recommendation
also includes a suggestion to
update the 1993 plan that called
for the fire station move. Brymer
said the city's growth patterns
have changed since 1993 and that
has to be considered.
"We must constantly evaluate
coverage and make the best use of
what we have," he said.
The other options include: relo-
cating Fire Station No. 2 to
Easterwood Airport; keeping No.
2 open and not building at the
Easterwood Airport location; or
to sending the item back to city
staff for fiirther evaluation.
In other workshop business,
the council is scheduled to hear
the results of a study by Turner,
Collie & Braden that looked at the
condition of Wolf Pen Creek.
The silt -filled pond is a problem
that city officials are looking to
solve, but City Manager Skip Noe
said it is a long -term process.
"We expect that we'll have
some direction as to what the
council wants us to do," he said of
Thursday's presentation.
The Drainage Master Plan for
Wolf Pen Creek also is slated for
the workshop.
the fire station issue, talk of closing Fire
Station No. 2 and opening a fire station at
Easterwood Airport prompted some resi-
dents to start a petition drive.
June Cooper was one of 530 people who
signed the petition that was turned in to
city officials last week. The petition asked
for both stations to be open without rais-
ing taxes.
Other agenda items for the reg-
ular meeting include:
■ Consider the master plat and
Preliminary plat for the construc-
tion of the College Station school
district's planned intermediate
school.
■ Consider the master plat and
preliminary plat for the Westfield
Addition, which is located along
the south side of Graham Road at
Victoria Avenue.
■ Consider approving Pat-
terson Architects of Bryan to
design the $300,000 College
Station Teen Center.
■ Consider and hold a public
hearing on an initiative petition
calling for a referendum vote on
the Northgate Parking Garage.
"I think it's wonderful that they're rec-
ommending to keep No. 2 and
Easterwood;" Cooper said. "I just hope
that, in the future, they will not take No. 2
away. If they do take No. 2 away, it will
leave us with a tremendous gap."
Assistant City Manager Tom Brymer
Please see FIRE, Page AIS
•
65 65
55 " �, 36
TOMORROW
104T" YEAR s ISSUE 99.12 PAGES
COLLEGE STATION • TX
ultycouncil set to vote on
BY AMANDA SMITII sign work for the garage. mid block of College Main.
Stag` ruriter The council voted to approv the park - Anderson said the garage is not a good
The College Station City Council will
vote tonight on a citizen's petition aimed to
stop planning and development of a $6.8
million Northgate parking garage.
The council can vote to support the peti-
tion, which would scrap the garage projector
reject the petition, which would allow voters
to decide on the garage in the May2 election.
Todd McDaniel, College Station senior
economic development analyst, said
$80,000 has been spent on preliminary de-
ing garage in May 1997 by a 4 -3
cil members Dick Birdwell, Swill
and Steve Esmond voted agains
gate parking garage.
Citizens responded to the cc
with a Jan. 30 petition with 577
but the petition was returned
lacked birth dates. Birth infor:
been added and the petition ha
dated, City Secretary Connie Hi
The proposed 750 -space par
would be located on a 1.5 -acre;
ne. Coun-
economic project for College Station.
Anderson
"1 am not in favor of the parking garage
he North-
because 1 don't think it's a good economic
situation," Anderson said. "1 am not sure
nil's vote
there is a need for the parking garage.
ignatures,
The need for parking (in Northgate) is
leause it
primarily on Sundays during church ser-
ation has
vices and at nights around the Dixie Chick -
been vali-
en area."
Iks said.
The churches, local businesses and stu-
nggarage
dents could potentially benefit from the ad-
ace at the
ditional Northgate parking, McDaniel said.
THURSDAY • FEBRUARY 26 # 1998
Wrthgate garage
Anderson said the city cannot assure
tax payers that revenues for the garage will
be subsidized completely by municipal
revenue bonds.
Dr. Dan Barbee, a retired investor and a
Texas A&M professor, said College Station
taxpayers should be attentive to proposed
funding for the parking garage.
"When people try to say there's going to
be no expenses to the taxpayers, you have
to pay attention to the details," Barbee said.
"There is the argument that a city should
provide these services. If you think about
city- sponsored projects, think about why
(the city) should pick a parking garage and
is it needed."
McDaniel said planning for the parking
garage began after the city hired a parking
consultant to evaluate parking conditions
in the Northgate area.
"We identified a need for parking in the
Northgate area," he said.
We contracted with a parking consultant
who determined that there was a need for
off -street parking. The recommendation
was moved (to the council) for the devel-
opment of a parking garage at the North -
gate location."
•
•
College
Station decides
to keep
fire station open
By JENNY NELSON
gency team by presenting them with a quilt to hang
Eagle Staff Writer
in the station.
The council chose one of four options presented
What had become a
hot issue for many College by Fire Chief Dave Giordano, who said it will cost
Station residents was
settled by the City Council on the city $147,250 the fast year.
Thursday — Fire Station
No. 2 will not close. Giordano said the additional funds will cover
Council members voted
unanimously to keep the needed repairs to Fire Station No. 2, a decontamina-
station open as well
as proceeding with plans to tion room, communications equipment and appli-
open a joint fire statio
with Texas A&M University ances.
at Easterwood Airpor
This was the City Council's first chance to con -
Southwood Valley r
sident Linda Middleton said sider the fire station options, but public informa-
she has experienced
a benefits of the fire station tional meetings held in December led mbre than 530
on Rio Grande Street.
residents to sign a petition asking the council to
"We're thrilled," sh
said. "We couldn't imagine keep Fire Station No. 2 open as well as proceed with
that they would ever
ose it." the Easterwood Airport fire station.
Middleton said her
un, Charles, is alive because Residents told the council they were concerned
of the firefighters at
t station. About four years about increased response times to neighborhoods,
ago, she said, her son
hit by a truck and emer- schools and medical facilities in south College
gency personnel ft
the station realized it was Station.
imperative to get him
o the hospital immediately. Giordano said he can't promise the city won't
Middleton said the
uick reaction kept her son ever consider closing the fire station again because
from dying. In apprec
lion, she took advantage of personnel constantly are assessing emergency
the public hearing
ursday to thank the enter- needs.
Council OKs school plan
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station school dis-
trict got the green light Thursday
from the City Council to move
forward with plans for a new
intermediate school.
The City Council voted 4 -3 to
approve the preliminary master
plat for the Graham Road school,
which is due to open in August
1999. Construction of the school
was delayed twice in January
because some council members
wanted the district to provide a
side street to handle school -relat-
ed traffic.
The earlier delays caught
school officials off guard, but on
Thursday four school board
members, the superintendent
and several staff members attend-
ed the council meeting to answer
questions about the plan.
"This school is tied in with sev-
eral other schools and we need to
open in August 1999, so it will
match with the other conver-
sions," Superintendent Jim
Scales told the council.
School district officials said
adding a side street next to the
$6.7 million school would be a hit
to the budget.
"We're already quite strapped
with the budgets for this school,"
said Bill Savage, project manager
for the school district.
But Councilman Dick Birdwell
predicted the city will regret the
decision not to require the street.
"The way it's going to turn out
now, its going to be a big traffic
jam in 15 years and there will
probably be no reasonable way to
solve it," he said.
But school district officials said
Thursday's approval means no
delay in the district's plans to
reorganize some campuses in
1999.
"I'm extremely happy that we
can finally move forward," school
board President Jim Hughes said.
"Had we not been able to begin
construction in March, we feel we
would have been unable to have
it open in August 1999."
In other business, the council
heard an update from Turner,
Collie & Braden consultants
about the Wolf Pen Creek silta-
tion study. Several options were
put before the council for future
discussions.
Council members also
approved Patterson Architects of
Bryan to design the city's $0,00
teen center.
•
Council sends
E I d I d I – a
2 qw
to CS
issue
voters
Northgate petition ac
to be decided in May
By JENNY NEISON ■ Fire station t0 stay open
Eagle staff Writer Y i
■ Intermedi school plans
The College Station City
Council on Thursday night hand-
ed the future of the Northgate
Parking Garage to the voters.
When residents go to the polls
May 2, they will cast their ballots
about whether or not to proceed
with the proposed $6.8- million
parking garage.
An initiative petition signed by
577 voters led to the council's
action Thursday, but not every
councihnember agreed
ith the
decision.
"I want to ask the v
ers to
please vote against thi
ordi-
nance we are forced to 1
iut for-
ward on May 2;" Mayor
o Tem
Hub Kennady said.
The council had two options:
adopting an ordinance tha
would
stop all construction
n the
Please see COUNCIL, Page A2
Council
From A1_
garage or, if that failed, adopting
an ordinance that would call for
an election.
Kennady said that, due to the
Petition. the council was "forced"
to take the issue to the voters.
In a 43 vote, the council turned
down the option that would stop
the garage construction and
unanimously adopted the second
option, calling for an election.
The three councilmen who
signed the petition — Dick
Birdwell, Steve Esmond and
Swiki Anderson -- voted to stop
construction.
Birdwell defended his opinion
about the garage, saying it needs
more study.
"The fad that there are people
on this council who are not enam-
ored with this project does not
mean we're against projects at
Northgate," he said.
Birdwell said the garage would
be a financial disaster to the city
due to the fad that there is no
precedence of paid parking in the
city -
Assistant City Manager Tom
Brymer said that, so far, s8o,000
has been spent on preliminary
design work for the garage. He
said there are two expenses that
could be incurred between now
and May — design and land pur-
chase.
We won't be incurring any
other design costs because we're
at a natural stopping point in the
design phase," he said. "If there
is any land to be purchased, it
would take a council vote.
The garage referendum will
share the May 2 ballot with a
term -limit amendment, the may-
oral race and three city council
races.
•
104 YEAR s ISSUE 100.8 PAGES
COLLEGE STATION • TX
65 55
45 45
TODAY TOMORROW
FRIDAY • FEBRUARY 27.1998
Council re'ects Northgate ' ara a et�t�on g gp
BY S USAN E. ATCHtsow "Otherwise, the blighted condruot
StaffugUer area will continue to worsen."
The proposed 750 -space garal
College Station voters will decide in a spe- be located on a 1.5 -acre space at
cial election May 2 on the design and con- dle block of College Main Drive.
struction ofa $6.8 million Northgate parking Citizens presented the council v
garage. The College Station City Council last tition Feb. 17 containing 549 sil
night rejected a citizen's petition aimed to against the garage project.
stop development of the garage project. Mike McMichen, who helped
This fact is certain — more public park- the petition, addressed the council 1.
ing is needed in Northgate for businesses, Probably the most disturbing
churches and citizens if that area is to con- the $6.8 million that comes out n
tine to prosper with the rest of the city," per parking space," McMichen sail
said Mayor Pro Tempore Hub Kennady. "Every parking garage that h
•
ofthat
built on the A&M camp us came in at under
$7,000 a space."
would
McMichen said that a Texas A&Mp
e mid-
official had reported to him that the Univer-
sity has over 5,000 parking spaces either on
h a pe-
the drawing board or under construction.
atures
McMichen said the city must consider
A&M's plans before constructing the North -
culate
gate parking garage.
t night.
A parking consultant hired by the city to
iingis
evaluatetheneedforthenewparldngga cage
$9,000
determined a need for off- street parking.
Council member Steve Esmond said the
been
city's consultant recommended Northgate
parking expansion, but not a parkinggarage.
This was not the project that the con-
sultant recommended," Esmond said. "He
recommended we proceed first with devel-
oping surface parking and go from there."
Council member Dick Birdwell said the
city's consultant also pointed out problems
with paid parking in areas that were previ-
ously free parking.
"It is very unlikely, until we educate peo-
ple, that any kind of facility like this is going
to pay for itself," Birdwell said. "This project,
in its early years, will be a financial disaster
to this city."
•
The Ea
City of College Station I
Date: I'I ai c t)
Sundae, March 1, 1998 -- - -- $1.25
T umover hig o ces
Human Resources figures s
By JENNY NELSON Mayor Lynn McIlhai
Eagle Staff Writer "constant turmoil" on tt
has made it difficult foi
Employee turnover at the city staff.
of College Station is up over last Figures from the city'
year, which some former city Resources department s
workers attribute to a drastic 71 employees resigned
drop in morale over the past May 1997 and February
year. from 45 resignations the
City officials acknowledge the year. The city has abou
turnover rate has risen and time employees.
ow 71 employees have
ey said
"The morale is the worst I've
council
seen in 15 years." said Virginia
the city
Kettler, who recently resigned
after 15 years as the manager of
Human
the College Station Purchasing
iow that
Department.
between
"I think some of the council
1998, up
members have stereotyped the
)revious
employees, not in a good sense ...
620 full-
to where they see us as on the
public dole," she said.
resigned from
"As g veninient employees, I
think 're accountable to our
city." K ttler said. "Certain meni-
bers of our council have gone
beyond that and made the staff
feel like they're not trustworthy
at all and incompetent."
She declined to say which
council members she was refer-
ring to.
Kettler said she always has
jobs since May
been proud to be employed by the
city, especially when she has
compared it to other communi-
ties, but said, "what I've seen
happening over the last year or
so is it going backwards."
"Some of the council members
do not recognize the talents in the
employees they have," she said.
Please see RATE, Page A2
New
Rate
L
"I think city management and the mayor;
doing the best they can to try to keep
employees together and to maintain moral
Former City Engineer Kent Laza, who
his position last month, said he felt the effe
of low morale.
"People [at the city] are not very hal
with how the city is being run, especia
with the politics that are being played,"
said. "A lot of them are depressed about h
things are and they want to leave."
Laza said the problems seem to cofnc;
with last May's election of Councilmen Sw
Anderson and Steve Esmond, both enginee
"The engineers on the council were ve
critical of how the engineering division K
being run," Laza said.
. One of the main problems, he said, was t
council voting on an issue and giving the c:
staff directions, but then later changing
mind through another vote.
Laza, who now is employed by a local en
neering firm, said that, due to the lack of so!
direction from the council, "there was a lot
wasted effort."
Esmond, who has criticized city sta
declined to comment on the issue.
Anderson called the resignations "a sign
the times" and said turnover is hannenii
everywhere in the public and private sector.
Mayor Lynn Mcllhaney said several
employees have raised concerns about the
current council situation.
"I hope that we can come together as a
council and start working through these
issues as a council," she said. "It's difficult for
the staff when there's this constant turmoil."
City Manager Skip Noe said there's no
question that he's seen the council dynamics
impact the morale of the staff.
Kettler said it's frustrating for city staff
when the council turns down budgeted pro-
jects that can benefit residents, such as the
$50,000, 24 -hour automated City Hall voice
system turned down last year.
The majority of the council didn't agree
with staff recommendations that the system
would improve access to City Hall and repre-
sented a good investment, she said.
"It would have given information after 5
p.m. to a number of people," Kettler said.
"What was so ironic is one council member
felt like the staff just kept wanting more frills,
but it wouldn't have even benefited us — it
was for the citizens."
She said the city staff was "dumbfounded"
by this and other decisions.
"For instance, one council member has
questioned upgrades of the computer system
and even has gone so far to suggest we go back
to manual operations," she said.
Kettler said the main reason she is leaving
city government is because she was offered a
good opportunity at a local business. The sec-
ondary reason for her resignation, however,
is what she called the turmoil and instability.
"We have really good employees who love
the city," Kettler said. "I think the saddest
thing to me is to see some council- members
not treating the employees with respect'
Kettler, whose last day with the city was
Friday, said the mayor and city staff are
doing their best to keep morale up.
I think Lynn McMianey has a very tough
job and she has a real heart for the city.... The
employees really appreciate her as our mayor
and they have a lot of confidence and trust in
her."
Karen Pavlinski, human resources direc-
tor, said some of the city's resignations are
due to a good economy and people getting bet-
ter jobs, but she is aware that employees have
some concerns about their duties.
"Generally, there's been some frustra-
tions," she said. "I think there's been confu-
sion more than anything."
By comparison, city of Bryan human
resource figures show there were 65 resigna-
tions from May 1996 to February 1997, while
that number dropped to 54 from May 1997 to
February 1998.
The city of Bryan employs about 800 full-
time workers.
Currently, College Station is advertising 14
Part-time and full-time employment posi-
tions. There also are three interim employees
filling in vacancies — city engineer, fiscal ser-
vices director and now the purchasing man-
ager.
Gangling adolescent
fear abs ract conservative ide-
ology th eaten College
Station' acceptance of prag-
matic and t aditional responsibili-
ties. Perhar s the skepticism of the
nay - saying egment of the citizen-
ry has root in College Station's
past relianc on Texas A &M
University and Bryan for facili-
ties.
Until rece itly, A &M and Bryan
developed a I of the public arenas,
stadiums, al iditoriums, golf cours-
es, museum;, airports and
libraries, th n graciously shared
them with the surrounding com-
munity.
Providing a meeting and exhibi-
tion place for community resi-
dents and vi itors is a traditional
function of c 'ty government.
Providing arking in an aged
and densely opulated area of
town origina ly developed during
the era of on car families and no-
car students is a traditional func-
tion of city vernment. Providing
amenities in Northgate, the only
section of Co ege Station without
even a city p irk, is a traditional
function of city government.
Maintain' g and improving
existent publicly dedicated pedes-
trian and vehicular rights -of -way
are traditional and basic functions
of city government.
Encouraging economic develop-
ment and diversity has become a
traditional activity at all levels of
government.
Wishing that competing munici-
palities would quit offering eco-
nomic development incentives
will not make it so.
By encouraging the development
and expansion of unique shops,
cafes, taverns, churches, lodging
and entertainment within North -
gate, the city will increase its tax
base, assist in giving visitors a
reason to spend the night and
their money in College Station,
and increase the number of ameni-
ties available'to community resi-
dents.
College Station reminds me of a
gangling adolescent, a bit over -
sheltered and struggling to estab-
lish an identity of its own.
It has the option of simply being
satisfied with the blessings con-
ferred upon A &M, or the option,
exercisable by formulating a
vision for her future and acting as
an adult, to create even greater
blessings for its children.
LAWRENCE J. HASKINS
College Station
•
College Station
City Counclln'en
Swlkl Ander$$'on
(top) and Steve
Esmond say It's
unfal' to blame
them for a 58
percent Increase
In the turnover
rate of city em-
ployees.
Please see COUNCILMEN. Page A2
Councilmen
From Al
Some former employees ' terviewed for a story
in Sunday's Bryan-College Station Eagle said
morale at city hall is at an IdAime low and charged
that Esmond's and Anderso 's votes and criticism
of city staff were to blame.
Figures from the city's Hunan Resources depart-
ment show that 71 employ s resigned between
May 1997 and February 1998 a 58 percent increase
from the 45 resignations the revious year.
The city has allout 620 full time employees.
Esmond, who declined to comment for Sunday's
story, said Monday, "I do get calls from city staff
members complaining about low morale, and they
obviously don't blame me or any other council
members for it."
But both Mayor Lynn ellhaney and" City
Manager Skip Noe said the council performance
has had a ripple effect among city staff.
"I think what happens at t1 a council does impact
the organization all of the way through," McIlhaney
said. `I have stressed. to tI te council repeatedly
[that] we've got to work togett er. It's OK to have dif-
fering opinions. That's heal y. But you haye to
agree to disagree. It's not hei Ithy to take it outside
the council. It's that kind df urmoil that begins to
permeate through the whole -ntire organization."
Noe said, "There's no ques 'on the conflict at the
council has an impact at the staff level: Part of my
role is to interpret what the uncil is trying to say
and interpret that to the staff,"
Anderson said he isn't sure how to react to Noe's
comments on the dynamics ol the council
Councilmen
deny blame
for turnover
Esmond, Anderson say
staff cites other factors
By BLAIR FANNIN
Eagle Staff Writer
College Station City Councilmen Steve Esmond
and Swiki Anderson said Monday they are not to
blame for a drop in morale or increased turnover
among city employees.
Esmond and Anderson said their conservative
votes are not the reason for the deeply divided coun-
cil that staff members sav has sent mixed messages
to employees.
"How am I supposed to take that ?" Anderson said.
"I've seen him impact the staff. Rather than get into
it with you right here, let's focus on the issues."
Noe said his role is to carry out the will of the
council majority.
"I don't know why ... [Esmond and Anderson]
have the issues they have," Noe said. "It wouldn't
be appropriate for me to comment on that. There
have been times when the two of them have been on
the minority of votes. That could be part of the rea-
son why they have that level of frustration."
Discussions held out of council on different issues
haven't set a good example among city staff,
Esmond said.
"I've had people come up to me and said the
mayor had told them how the vote would be, like on
the parking garage," Esmond said. "We need to
abide by the terms of our charter and ... [not] dis-
cuss these issues until the meeting has opened."
Mcllhaney said, "The votes are never decided
until the meeting has been called and the hearing is
held and each council member votes their con-
science at that meeting."
McIlhaney said numerous attempts to get the
council refocused haven't succeeded.
"I have attempted to do that several times in exec-
utive session," she said. "We have had a council
evaluation of how we are doing. We have signed
agreements not to attack staff, not to attack one
another. But it has to be a total commitment from
each council member to live up to that agreement."
McIlhaney said she wants the council to work as
a team. "Anything we can do as a body to resolve
and find a way to work as a group is only going to
benefit the city, the council and the staff," she said.
"We as a council in the past have done some team -
building exercises," the mayor added. "If that's
what the council is agreeable to, we'll do that."
The Eagle
City of College Station News
D ate: Ma(ch q 1 Y
Painting contractor
files for CS council
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
College Station resident Dennis
Maloney became tie third candi-
date for the City Council Place 2
seat Tuesday.
Maloney, 47, fa s lawyer and
certified public accountant Barb-
ara Palmer and financial admin-
istrator Ron Silvia for the seat
currently held by 1Iayor Pro -Tem
Hub Kennady. Kennady has said
he will not run for! re- election.
This will be Malonev's third
Malbney
attempt at a College Station City
Council seat. He ran unsuccess-
fully against Councilman David
Hickson in 1995 and Councilman
Dick Birdwell in 1996.
Maloney said in a statement
Tuesday that "city tax dollars
should be spent on improving the
quality of life for the taxpayers."
He said examples of this type of
investment are in drainage solu-
tions, street lighting, street
repairs, green spaces, bike lanes,
Please see MALONEY, Page A6
From Al I
more than adequate police and
fire protection and solutions to
low -cost housirig for the working
families who cannot afford the
upper -end housing market.
Maloney, who is a painting
contractor, is a graduate of Texas
A &M University. He serves on
the city's Historical Preservation
Committee.
In addition to the Place 2 post,
the mayor's pot and council
Places 4 and 6 also are being con-
tested in the May 2 election.
Voters also will get a chance to
vote on council term limits,
which are pro-
posed to last
not more than
six years, and
whether or not
to build a $6.8
million park-
ing garage in
Northgate.
MALONEY So far, the
Bryan City
Council election has no contested
races.
The Bryan races include
mayor, single- member District 1
and single- member District 2.
Texas A&M University
1 104 YEAR • ISSUE 99.12 PAGES
AUON 65 65
_ 5S 36
TODAY TOMORROW
COLLEGE STATION • TX THURSDAY • FEBRUARY 26 # 1998
ultycouncil set to vote on
BY AMANDA SMITH sign work for the garage. mid block of College Main.
Staff turiter The council voted to approve khe park- Anderson said the garage is not a good
The College Station City Council will
vote tonight on a citizen's petition aimed to
stop planning and development of a $6.8
million Northgate parking garage.
The council can vote to support the peti-
tion, which would scrap the garage projector
reject the petition, which would allow voters
to decide on the garage in the May election.
Todd McDaniel, College Station senior
economic development analyst, said
$80.000 has been spent on preliminary de-
I 1
L I
ing garage in May 1997 by a 4 -3 vc
cil members Dick Birdwell, Swill
and Steve Esmond voted against t
gate parking garage.
Citizens responded to the cou
with a Jan. 30 petition with 577 si
but the petition was returned t
lacked birth dates. Birth inform
been added and the petition has
dated. City Secretary Connie Hoc
The proposed 750 -space parki
would be located on a 1.5 -acre so
Coun-
economic project for College Station.
derson
"I am not in favor of the parking garage
North-
because I don't think it's a good economic
Dr. Dan Barbee, a retired investor and a
situation," Anderson said. "1 am not sure
A's vote
there is a need for the parking garage.
atures,
The need for parking (in Northgate) is
ause it
primarily on Sundays during church ser-
on has
vices and at nights around the Dixie Chick-
!n vali-
en area."
said.
The churches, local businesses and stu-
garage
dents could potentially benefit from the ad-
�atthe
ditional Northgate parking, McDaniel said.
Wrthgate gy pwag e
Anderson said the city cannot assure (the city) should pick a parking garage and
tax payers that revenues for the garage will
is it needed."
be subsidized completely by municipal
McDaniel said planning for the parking
revenue bonds.
garage began after the city hired a parking
Dr. Dan Barbee, a retired investor and a
consultant to evaluate parking conditions
Texas A &M professor, said College Station
in the Northgate area.
taxpayers should be attentive to proposed
"We identified a need for parking in the
funding for the parking garage.
Northgate area," he said.
"When people try to say there's going to
We contracted with a parking consultant
be no expenses to the taxpayers, you have
who determined that there was a need for
to pay attention to the details," Barbee said.
off -street parking. The recommendation
"There is the argument that a city should
was moved (to the council) for the devel-
provide these
services. If you think about
opment of a parking garage at the North -
city- sponsored
projects, think about why
gate location."
•
A&M profess
fil es candidac
y
fclr C counc
uncil
By J HN KIRSCH 3 1
Eagle Staff Writer
Peter Keating, all associate professor of civil
engineering at Texas A &M University, on
Thur, day became the second candidate to file for
the College Station City Council Place 4 seat held
by in umbent Larry Mariott
Kea ing, 40, a College Station resident, said he's
running to bring "cohesion" to the council,
restore integrity to City Hall, promote economic
develo ment, promote long -range planning and
preser a neighborhoods.
He aid the opening of the George Bush
Presidential Library and Museum Center
brought world recognition to College Station and
a "win ow of opportunity" for dealing with the
city's problems.
"We can achieve more, and I'm dedicated to
workin together to see the above accomplished,"
Keating said in a statement.
He said this is his first bid for elective office.
0
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: VlCy 5t I c19Y
CS pediatrician f
board race
-;:� I � I C--,,?
By MICHELLE C. YONS
Eagle Staff Writer < I've been a pediatri-
A College Stati n woman filed cian for 12 years and it
Wednesday for Place 5 on the just seems a natural
in school
College Station s9hool board.
Dr. Dayne Michele Foster, a 44-
year -old pediatri fan with Scott
& White Clinic in College Station,
filed for the posit' n now held by
board president Jim Hughes.
Neither Hughes nor anyone else
has filed for that position. Ele-
ctions are scheduled for May 2,
with the filing deadline March 18.
Foster said she is seeking the
Position as a wa of getting in-
volved with children beyond
medicine.
"I've been a ped atrician for 12
years and it just seems a natural
extension to get involved with
kids on an educational level," she
said.
Foster said that while she is
pleased with the work the board
has been doing, she would like to
look into how College Station's
math and science scores compare
extension to get
involved with kids on
an educational level.> >
— DAYNE MICHELE FOSTER
School board candidate
with students across the nation.
Foster said there often is talk
or speculation that students in
the United States do not fare as
well in math and science as do
students in other countries. She
said she is interested in seeing
how College Station students per-
form and how their scores may
be improved.
"I'm committed to public edu-
cation and making it the best we
can for our children," she said.
Foster and her husband, Guy,
have two children, Mikaela, 18,
and Mallory, 13.
The Eagle
to City of College Station News
D ate: M
Make all of us Proud
T he College Station City Council has -
n't been as successful as it might
have been lately. We all know, from
life, that you win and you lose and often
one is not any easier than the other. It is
not important that our council members
agree on everything. Thank goodness they
don't. It is not unusual or significant that
votes are repeatedly split along the same
lines. The voters also have differing opin-
ions.
My problem is with the way our council
members respond after the vote is cast.
They just can't seem to get past the issue
and move on. I'm not singling out the side
i on the short end of the votes either. They
do eeo to unders)and that losing is losing
an d you have to be able to deal with that:
But the other side has just as big a role in
making sure that happens. Win or lose,
once an issue is settled, both parties need
to come to terms with their differences and
make the most of the situation.
How do you make that happen? It takes a
lot of work. The work has to start long
before the votes are cast you have to let
each side have its say. The main thing to
do is listen. The main things to listen for
are opportunities for both sides to have a
Part in the final outcome. I nl the things
you do after-the vote. Those ��'v�+�o were for
need to account for the conebrns of those
who were against. The f4iSro4uct should
be something that everyone'can get behind,
even grudgingly. #
But for Pete's sake don't keep sending
these decisions back to the voters. We
elected you to do the work and make things
happen. Make us proud.
ROBERT A. APPLETON
College St _u n
Price tag is excessive.
e
wring U'recent College Station Ci
Council meeting, the attend
received a paternalistic lec
"vision" by Councilman Hub Kenna
Following that, we were taken ab
when Councilman David Hickson re"
ed the voters }fiat we lacked the vision
proceed with the railroad track project a
few years back. Perhaps the Council mem- -
bers ought to be p little less ogant
toward their constituents I t'emember
that people did want the moved, but
+ao prioo gGoted was prohMitiVo. Thy c�-
pie spoke and voted it down.
The same argument was made for the
Parking garage. It would be nice to have
more parking at Northgate, but the $6 mil-
lion plus price tag — which works out to
$2,000 per parking space more than Texas
A &M budgets for its own lots — is exces-
sive and can be better spent on services the
city needs to provide.
The majority of the attendees were dis-
pleased with the majority of the council
members, including the mayor. Perhaps
The Eagle
City of College Station News
7Date: (\ fc -/, I Q 9_�4
CS council to dis cuss • siltation
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Council is
scheduled Thursday to discuss options
for clearing up siltation problems at the
pond area of Wolf Pen Creek.
A siltation study, presented last month
by Turner Collie & Braden, highlighted
Possible sources of the silt deposits an d
ways to control the problem.
During a workshop session, the council
is also scheduled to consider options for
stabilizing erosion in the area.
In regular session, the council is sched-
uled to consider naming the new youth
baseball fields on the city's south side.
Two petitions for naming the facility
and surrounding property have been pre-
sented by residents and approved by the
city's Parks and Recreation Board.
One petition, from the Lincoln High
Council
From A9
educational nE 3ds of the black
children in C llege Station for
approximately years.,,
The second tition asks the
council to narr. e the ball
parks
after Wayne Smith, who was
instrumental in the organization
and creation of Little League
Baseball.
In other action, the council is
scheduled to consider:
■ Replacing and upgrading
Utility billing inspection and zon-
ing, building nspection and code
enforcement software at a cost of
$814,028.
■ A des' i
Center. gn scope for the Teen
■ A $303,602 engineering
design contract with Walton and
Associates for the $2.4 million
Graham Road rehabilitation pro-
ject.
The council meets at 3 p.m. for
the workshop and at 7 p.m. for its
regular session. The council
meets in City Hall, 1101 Texas
Ave.
problems
School Former Students Association,
asks that the city -owned property —
including the Lincoln Center and new
ball fields — be called W.A. Tarrow Park.
Tarrow, who was a principal of the for-
mer Lincoln High School, is described by
the petitioners as a man who "dedicated
his life, honor, knowledge and experience
to Lincoln High School, which served the
Please see COUNCIL, Page A16
The Eagle
� City of College Station News
Date: f" Cir
Mistreating folks
was much cheered to read that
City Council at College Station
is cutting waste and frills at
City Hall. Upgrading the computer
system is just waste and going to
manual operations is a good idea.
And why stop there? Get some
Remington and Underwood type-
writers to replace computers. And
take out the air conditioning and
install ceiling fans; it's cheaper.
And get kerosene lamps to save on
electricity. All those frills, at tax-
payers' expense.
All this would be a big laugh if it
weren't for the decent folk working
under pressure from the City
Council, being unjustly treated.
HEINZ W. PUPPE
College Station
rI
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: 31 q 1
Ribbon cuttings make great bookmarks
Hundreds dedicate
new CS Library
By
JENNY NELSON jlQlgp
F.a,Ie SIOJP Ni 1 / JJ
>f
1 1 / 1
Six - year - old Amanda Hanunerness
'g
stood patiently with her grandmother
,»
through the speeches and remarks, wait -�
1 ° r
ing to use her hot pink scissors. When the
time cline, she was ready to cut.
"It's fun," the first grader said a., she
held tightly to her piece of history.
'
y, •�
s �, _ __
More than 200 people helped city offs-
n.
clads cut a ribbon Sunday to dedicate the
new College Station Library.W
d
Crisp books lined the shelves as young
and old alike admired the $2.6 million
facility across from A &M Consolidated
-
High School at SW F.M. 2818.
"To all of the citizens of College Station,
this is your library.... It is for you we are
here to open the doors today," Mayor Lynn
Mcllhaney said.
The 16.500 - square -foot library replaces a
•
Texas Avenue store - front facility that was
just one -third as big. Community librarian
Clara MUUI1Ce said opening SLICK 8 library
Y
Is the opportunity Of a lifetime.
"Libraries
U.S. Rep. Nevin
of the new Coll
agle photo Dave Mc ermand
B rady addresses the crowd Sunday at the dedication Station Mayor Lynn Mcllhaney with a flag once flown over the U.S.
ra Station Library. Brady,
Brad who
in America are a cornerstone
. presented College Capitol, stressed the importance of reading to education.
to the communities they serve," she said
before introducing Robert Martin, direc
mayor with a M
Capitol in hono
g once flown over the U.S. information services manager, for his
of the dedication.
mementos and bookmarks.
ing is
"Readers are
told
extra efforts on the library project.
eaders," he said after he After the speeches, 100 yards of pink rib-
But cutting the ceremonial ribbon was-
n't the only highlight. A ceramic hand-
said
of childhooc
town library.
bicycle trips to his home - bon were rolled through the crowd and on
the count of three, hundreds scissors
print tree highlights the children's sec -
future
ills.
Mcllhaney an
and staff suppor
of
Mounce said community sheared the ribbon.
tion. Citizens purchased hand -print tiles
last year, which artist Pat Johnson used to
.ed the
ty. In particular,
made the library a reali- By the end of the afternoon, many of the
they thanked Charlie ribbon pieces were covered in autographs
create the tree.
ed the
Shear, the city's
.communications and of local leaders, destined to
become
Please see LIBRARY. Page A2
Library V Oa"pereative in the wa
shaped it. it's not bo•
they've
College Station resider
Y." said
t David
Fro Al Hud nit
Funds
for the Libra
y were
Citizens gathered at the wall election, ll but the Library
uarc ling f'or their
J rvices
hand prints Task Force, headed by
the sneak pre -
former
vi e w , mayor Larry Ringer a l s) s
they al so
view, and they also waudeled Vyj0,(XX) to
through
raised
supplennent the
the computer rooms,
hood
money.
ueeting rains, sitting are and Tin ceramic file tree aisles of books that will and "it'
I terra
tine
'gltxled to the Ixlblic'i'hursdav� entrance were �lpa, O lin•
11 � :, VVI v file(` handing; eriising
,
fltlld-
it's efforts. Ringer m
•
The Eagle
� City of College Station News
•
Date: NW 10, I ' - r J Y
. IOI e JAne neStY an
ie Becomin . b� } truly beautiful
n recent weeks two things happened
that promise to make life better for all
Bryan- College Station residents. On
Jan. 22, the College Station City Council
voted unanimously to form a Greenways
and Open Space Advisory Board. This posi-
tive step will help make the vision for com-
munity- centered growth a reality. The
board will help the council plan for green -
ways that provide recreational areas and
car -free transportation routes accessible to
People of all ages, and for open spaces
which provide a respite from our glass and
concrete, stress -filled lives.
And, on Jan. 24, The Bryan - College
Station Eagle reported that the A &M Board
of Regents has approved a West Campus
greenway adjacent to the Bush Library.
The university's goal is "to protect impor-
tant green space for future enjoyment and
Preservation of natural assets."
Isn't it wonderful that two important
steps that are in keeping with Brazos 20/20
and the College Station Comprehensive
Plan have been taken to protect the real, if
under appreciated, natural beauty of our
area?
The bad news is that we draw closer to
osing one of our best assets: Carter Creek.
Chere is a development plan under way
hat would channelize two miles of the
:reek and replace it with huge mall -style
:oncrete projects. The next time you drive
town the East Bypass, take a good look at
he lovely trees and creek that line the east
ide of the road, for soon they may be gone.
magine what might happen with sensitive
evelopment that protects the creek such
s a greenway.
Perhaps if we come forward now and
raise the two positive steps taken in
anuary and tell our elected officials not to
ike negative steps by eliminating Carter
reek we can continue to grow into 21st
antury cities that are truly beautiful.
JANET S. FOX
College Station
�7
•
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date:
CS
note
ote
financing
approved
Wolf Pen Cr
plan moving
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
Developers of College Station's
Wolf Pen Creek hotel ar i confer-
ence center said Monday they
have received loan app oval for
$26 million to build the f icility.
The plan, approved b College
Station voters last N vember,
calls for a 200 -room heraton
hotel, an 80,000- square -f ot office
building and the city's rtion of
the project — a 45,000 -sq are-foot,
$6 million conference ce ter.
Jim Allen, a membe of the
development team, s tid the
approved loan, throng Allied
Mortgage Capital C rp. in
Austin, is subject tote final
drawings now being com leted.
The Wolf Pen Creek roposal
was ranked first of fo plans
received by the City Co cil in
July. Since then, city offic ials and
developers have been ironing out
agreements.
Assistant City ManagRr Tom
Brymer said Monday th agree-
ments should be ready to go
before the council in about two
weeks.
"The city has been wonderful,"
said Sheila R. Fay, a member of
the Wolf Pen Creek Team.
"Everything has gone sm Y. 11
Both parties say the other has
followed through with original
plans and promises.
" I think the team has egotiat-
ed in good faith and have,
too," Brymer said. "Both sides of
the table have worked iard to
bring this to a successflxl conclu-
sion:" -
Brymer said there are four
agreements involved: the project
agreement, the constructs n man-
agement agreement, the confer-
en ce center managemen agree-
Please see HOTEL, Pake A10
c
inmate
Hotel
From A 1
ment and the professional ser-
vices agreement for designing
services.
He said there are also deed
restrictions and the lease to work
out, but that he expects to present
the signed contracts to the coun-
cil March 26.
Fay said the team is in the
Process of preleasing space in the
adjacent office building. Allen
said construction on the office
building could begin in about 45
days.
The conference center and
hotel are scheduled to open in
January 2000, Allen said.
t
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: Ma r
L
Welcome to the
best it co ild be.
On Sur. day, the hard work of a lot of people culminated in
the forrr. al dedication for the 16,500- square -foot library.
Resident got a first look at the ceramic hand -print tree that
highlight the children's section. They toured computer and
meeting i{ooms. And they got a glimpse of the 41,000 familiar
books that have found a new home and the 4,000 new ones that
will be a ailable to check out starting Thursday.
The nev library will be the heart and soul of College
Station. As the community grows and changes, so will the
library. It always will have a eye on the future, while keeping
a strong grasp on the past.
We welcome the new library. Long may its books enlighten,
enrich and encourage us.
new CS L
I t will be a great day for College Station and all of Brazos
Coun y on Thursday when the new College Station
Libr y opens its doors to the public for the first time.
A library says much about the community it serves and the
new library at 800 F.M. 2818 says a lot about College Station
and the alue its residents place on books and learning in gen-
eral.
For years, when College Station was still a quaint college
community, the people were content to use libraries at Texas
A &M Un versity or in Downtown Bryan. Parking spaces were
easy to come by at A &M in the early years of the city and,
although the A &M library doesn't cater to a general popula-
tion, it does have a lot of books. The trip to Downtown Bryan
often co d be combined with shopping along the way.
In time6 though, College Station grew in size and confidence
and it became apparent that the residents needed and wanted
a library of their own. Soon, a branch of the Bryan Library
opened in a strip mall on Texas Avenue. It expanded as much
as it cou. d to meet the needs of the people, but it eventually
became c bvious that a more permanent home would be need-
ed.
In 199tl, voters approved $2.3 million to build the new
College Station Library. A Library Services Task Force ably
headed b former College Station Mayor Larry Ringer raised
another 1300,000 to help ensure the new library would be the
The :Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: Ma(crl I
College Station
f preps ,1999
bond election
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
College Station city officials ire gearing up for
the next bond election — ex ected in 1999 —
which is forecast to cover about 20 million in city
projects.
The City Council is expected t appoint 21 mem-
bers to a Citizen's Capital Improvement Planning
Committee on Thursday.
"The committee will meet an review projects
on the books and prioritize those projects for pre-
sentation to the council," City A anager Skip Noe
said. "Final authority still rests I vith the council."
Streets, parks and traffic light , as well as a $9
Million city center to house all i unicipal depart-
ments, could be included in the bond project, said
Charles Cryan, interim director of finance.
Please see ONDS, Page A6
Bonds
[ Fr
The committee will be charged
with developing the scope of the
projects and estimating costs.
Eight residents have applied to
serve on the committee. Cryan
said the remaining members will
be nominated by the council
Thursday during the 3 p.m. work-
shop at City Hall, 1101 Texas Ave.
The council has advertised for
volunteers who wish to partici-
pate on the committee.
The committee is scheduled to
begin meeting in April to prepare
a proposal for council review in
the fall, Cryan said.
Currently, city officials are
working on city projects covered
in the $22.5- million bond package
that was approved in 1995. The
funds were designated for streets,
traffic lights, drainage, bike
paths, the new library and other
projects. Cryan said the city is
aboq halfway through the 1995
bond projects.
•
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: MCY. 1 3 1 )9�(51
Change garage site
I t seems to me that the fighting
on the College Station City
Council is nothing more than
People trying to push their own
agendas rather than sitting down
and talking. a are seeing at the
local level th same problems we
saw at the n Tonal level when the
Republicans but down the govern-
ment a coupl of times. It all works
out in the end. The parking garage
will come before us voters and we
will decide th issue, removing it
as a source ol conflict.
It seems to e that much of the
problem could have been avoided if
the city looked at putting the
garage a block north at College
Main and Louise Street.
The area around Louise across
from the Lutheran Student Center
is rental housing, some of it with
insufficient parking, in the process
of decay. Since the city removed
parking from College Main and put
in the bike lane, cars cut across
people's yards.
The property between Bryan and
College Station might become more
valuable with the parking garage
and bring in business. The parking
garage might bring in enough new
people to create a stronger base of
customers and make it profitable
enough for new businesses to come
and present businesses to expand.
ROGER MALONE
College Station
•
v
2!
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: f`` (VC-h 15i H98
Batchelor
files in. bid
for council
CS resident is third
to seek Plac 4 spot
By JENNY NELSON ,- I
Eagle Staff Writer
College Station esident Bill
Batchelor on Thursday filed for City
Council Place 4 in the May city elec-
tions.
Batchelor, 36, has tw opponents so
far, incumbent LarrN Mariott and
Texas A &M Univer ity professor
Peter Keating.
Running for office isn't new for
Batchelor, who sought a seat on the
College Station school oard in 1996.
Batchelor, the own )r of a snack
food distributionship, stated in his
platform paper that iis goal is to
serve all residents of t le city.
Please see FILINGS, Page A2
Filings
From Al
"I believe those elected to pub-
lic office should serve and not be
served.... I have no `hidden agen-
da' and am not a prisoner of any
special interest," he said.
Batchelor calls tax abatements
"legalized bribery" and called for
the city to correct the Wolf Pen
Creek siltation
problem and to
have controlled
growth.
He also stated
that he will
work to protect
neighborhood
integrity and to
keep the city BATCHELOR
government
focused on the basics — infra-
structures, police and fire protec-
tion, parks and bike paths.
There are three other city races
— mayor, Place 2 and Place 6 —
scheduled for the May 2 election.
Each of the College Station City
Council races is contested.
Wednesday is the final day for
candidates to file for a seat.
Bryan has three council seats
up for re- election. So far, only the
incumbents have filed for the
seats.
C7
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: ". 77-7���
CS eyes
work on
Wolf Pen
Proposal seeks
to stop erosion
By JENNY NELSON ) 3 )91
Eagle Staff Writer
e
College Station's Wolf Pen
Creek Park could get a new look
if City Council wishes are final-
ized next month.
Currently, passersby at the
Dartmouth Street and Holleman
!Drive intersection see a park
whose pond is backed up with
silt. Council members said they'd
like to see the pond filled in and
replaced with a stream and land-
scaping.
"Instead of seeing silt, there
will be a green area.... We want to
make the park pretty instead of
muddy," interim city engineer
Mark Smith said.
City officials and consultants
have been exploring ways to rem-
edy the silt back -up in the pond.
Thursday's - council direction
would allow for landscaping on
the areas covered with silt.
The original plans developed
for Wolf Pen Creek Park in the
late 1980s called for a chain of
Ponds, but Smith said that would
be abandoned under the new
Plan. He said such a plan would
cost about $250,000. An additional
$2.5 million to $5.1 million would
be needed to stabilize Wolf Pen
Creek, which would stop bank
erosion around the creek.
No plans have been finalized
and the proposal will be present-
Council
From Al -- I
ed to the council again in April in the revised
Wolf Pen Creek Master Plan, Smith said.
The council also looked at plans for the
$300,000 Teen Center, scheduled to open in
about a year.
The center still is in the design stages, but
Steve Beachy, the city's parks and recreation
director, said two city parks are being con-
sidered as possible locations: Southwood
Park and Bee Creek Park.
City staffers have been working with a
Teen Advisory Board to plan the proposed
4,000 - square -foot building that is scheduled to
include study areas and activity rooms for
the city's teens.
"We're real excited about the project and I
think the teens need a place to go," architect
Fred Patterson said.
In other council business, the council voted
unanimously:
■ To name the city's new Southside base-
ball field the Wayne Smith Baseball fields and
the area encompassing the ball fields and
Lincoln Center now will be called W.A.
Tarrow Park.
■ To replace and upgrade utility billing,
Planning and zoning, building inspection and
code enforcement software for a price tag of
$814,028.
■ To approve a $303,602 engineering design r
contract with Walton and Associates for the
$2.4- million Graham Road rehabilitation pro-
ject.
■ To approve a $26,000 contract to
Patterson Architects of Bryan for design ser-
vice for the Teen Center.
Mayor Lynn McIlhaney attributed the
smooth meeting — one of the shortest in
recent council history with adjournment at
7:50 P.M. and every vote was unanimous — to
most of the agenda items having been before
the council before.
Please see COUNCIL, Page A2
51 J 3)'_JX
4& � Council does not serve residents
peed humps, stops
signs, and a lower
speed limit. That is
College Station's answer to
'tt* traffic. problemfziced by
drivers in the College`Hills
area. For a problem that is
larger than the concerns of
a single neighborhood, it is MANISHA
an inadequate answer. PAREIQi
The problems began in
1983 when Munson Avenue, columnist
once a cul -de -sac, was �-' - - - --
opened to Lincoln Avenue. At the time, city council
staff recommendations said that connecting Mun-
son to Lincoln would cause the traffic volume along
Munson to more than double — increasing from
approximately 1,000 cars a day to 2,500. The city
council said the numbers had to be wrong.
Unfortunately, the city council was right.
According to Edwin Hard, transportation plan-
ner for College Station, a volume study conducted
in 1996 showed that between 7,000 to 8,000 cars
were traveling along Munson. However, Munson
was not designed to handle that much traffic be-
cause it is only 26 -feet wide.
And the problem was evident in the complaints
of Munson homeowners.
Residents complained to the city council about
being unable to back out of their driveways and
fears for their children's safety. They also felt that
the integrity of the neighborhood was in danger
due to the amount of traffic on Munson. The coun-
cil knew something had to be done.
But once again, the city council took a bad situ-
ation and made it worse.
In April 1997, the city council voted to partially
close both Munson and a neighboring street, Ash -
bum, at Lincoln Avenue. The temporary barricades
put up to block traffic cost a total of $7,500 for the
six months they were used.
But the barricades were not the answer the Col-
lege Hills residents were hoping for. At the Oct. 23,
1997 city council meeting, many residents spoke
out against making the closures permanent. Ac-
cording to minutes, many residents felt inconve-
nienced by the closures.
Despite the numbers that showed the barri-
cades were effective at decreasing traffic along
Munson and Ashburn, and the staff recommenda-
tions that the closures be made permanent, the
city council decided to try something different.
And yet again, the city council took a bad situa-
tion and made it worse.
In an effort to guard the "integrity" of the neigh- y
borhood, the city council voted to put up speed
humps and stop signs on Munson and lower the
speed limit to 20 mph on both Ashburn and Munson.
However, instead of addressing the traffic flow-
ing through the neighborhood, the council decider
not only to go against what the populus that they
represent needed, but also against the guidelines
of the state in which they work.
The Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices sets the guidelines regarding where cities'
can put up traffic lights, stops signs, etc ... In order
to meet Texas regulations for putting up a stop
sign, certain criteria must be met first.
Volume and speed studies along Munson
showed that it did not meet these criteria.
But the city council overrode the state regula-
tions and did as they wished. It seems that the
•
College Station City Council knows more about
regulating traffic problems than the Texas Depart-
ment of Transportation. That must mean that the
"integrity" of the, neighborhood has finally been
preserved, right?
Wrong.
Recent studies have found that while traffic has
decreased on Munson, it has increased on Ash-
burn, Walton, Foster, Nunn, and Glenhaven.
Somehow, those hideous yellow speed humps
have not managed to preserve the integrity of the
neighborhood. What they have managed to do is
place the problem squarely in a number of other
residents' backyards.
Obviously, the majority of the College Station
City Council does not have a grip on the real prob-
lem. It is time for the city council to venture outside
the hallowed walls of City Hall and into the real
world.
They might discover a few things that could lead
to a real solution.
The fast thing they might discover is that speed
humps do not control traffic volume; they only give
your car's shocks and brakes a nightmare.
The second thing the council might discover is
that driving 20 mph along a lengthy city street is next
to impossible. The legions of drivers who have been
stopped for speeding at 30 mph can attest to this.
The third thing the council might discover is
that most of the cars that have stopped using Mun-
son are now crowding residential streets in the very
heart of the College Hills neighborhood. This might
be a terrible shock to the council if they believed
the words of transportation planner Hard, who in
April 1997 said that drivers would use Highway 6
and Texas Avenue as alternate routes.
Apparently no one informed the drivers that
those two traffic clogged, construction filled routes
would be easier to use than the College Hills streets.
So much for preserving the integrity of the
neighborhood.
Perhaps if the city council discovered those
three important points, they would finally under-
stand the real problem and takes steps to correct it:
There needs to a through street east of Texas Av-
enue which connects Harvey Road to Lincoln or
University Drive.
One member of the city council, engineer Steve
Esmond, does understand the problem
"We do need another collector street," Esmond
said. "I don t know why we adopted a plan that
wouldn't work."
Esmond has suggested buying surrounding
property and widening Munson.
While this plan may seem a little radical at first,
it does appear to be the only plan that has any
hope of actually working.
In order to preserve the integrity of the Col-
lege Hills neighborhood as a whole, a piece
must be sacrificed. And that piece should be
Munson Avenue.
The problem is not going to go away on its own.
In fact, as College Station continues to grow and
the number of cars increases, it will only get worse.
It is time for the College Station City Council to at-
tack this problem head on, instead of trying to
brush it away.
It is time for the College Station City Council to
do its job: serve the best interests of the community.
Manisha Parekh is a sophomore psychology
and journalism major.
The
ion
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•
The Eagle
to City of College Station News
Date: MO 19, a
�w
c
Turmoil is natural
was very disappointed with t) e
article on employee turnover m
the College Station staff. The
article seemed slanted to place
blame for the turnover on Council-
men Swiki Anderson and Steve
Esmond, elected in May 1997.
Though I agree there is currently
turmoil within the council itself, I
don't believe that the new council-
men should shoulder the blame for
the current condition of the coun-
cil, the city or its staff.
Anderson and Esmond represent
only two votes on a council of
seven. Their decisions can't cause
turmoil for the staff unless the
issues on which they vote go in
their favor. Most of the council's
controversial issues result in a 4 -3
decision with Anderson, Esmond
and Dick Birdwell on the losing
end of the vote.
Actions of the citizenry have
caused turmoil for both the staff
and council. The petitions on the
conference center, Fire Station No.
2 and the Northgate parking garage
have all occurred since May 1997.
They are evidence that many citi-
zens of College Station do not feel
that the council and staff have been
paying attention to their voices. It
is ultimately the citizens, not the
council, to whom the staff must
answer.
Citizens expressed their voices in
the election last May and will soon
be letting the council again know
the agenda they want represented.
Those who choose to ignore the
voice of the citizens because they
believe they know what is best for
the city, take heed. Anderson and
Esmond may soon find themselves
in the majority. Turmoil is a natur-
al part of politics. It brought the
birth of our nation, the end of slav-
ery and right to vote for millions of
our citizens.
ROXANNE BROWN
College Station
•
CS hotel
occupancy
leads state
66.5% rate surp asses
Houston and Dallas
By BLAIR FANNIN
E'ag It, Staff Writer'
College Station had the highest hotel occupancy
rate in the state for 1997 at 66.5 per ent, according to
figures released by Source Strateg es.
Houston was next at 65.9 perce followed by
Au at 65.5 percent.
The lion's share of the reason is the George
Bush Library," Dick Forester, director of the
Bryan- College Station Convention & Visitor
Bureau, said Friday. "And the s orts marketing
division played a big role, in addition to Texas
A &M University."
The 66.5 percent average in Co ege Station was
all increase of 3.2 percent — up fro n 63.3 percent in
1996.
"The sports marketing foundati n is doing just
o
��N M21 �
1997 Hotel Occupancy Rates
Metro areas
College Station ..................66.5
Houston .......................65.9
Austin .........................65.5
Dallas .........................64.9
Lubbock .......................63.9
Victoria ........................63.8
San Antonio ....................60.1
Fort Worth /Arlington ...............59.9
El Paso ........................59.9
State average ...................59.8
Source: Source Strategies Inc
Eagle graphic /Bryan Butler
wonders," said Barron Hobbs, general manager of
the College Station Hilton and Conference Center.
"I think they will do better than several of the
new corporations coining to town because a lot of
people don't see the sports events that take place on
the weekends. This is by far the best thing this com-
munity has done [creating The Brazos Valley
Sports Foundation]," he said.
Forester noted that A &M home football weekends
draw a number of overnight visitors to the area, but
Please see HOTEL, Page A2
Hotel
big sporting events sb h as the
Aggieland Soccer Tournament,
numerous swim meets and soft-
ball tournaments heldin College
Station have contribut to the
high occupancy rate.
Bryan had a 47.1 perDent rate,
which was down from 51.8 per-
cent in 1996. Room revenues in
Bryan, however, increased 2.3
percent from $1,867,627 to
$1,910,799.
Forester said several of the
smaller properties in Elryan did-
n't make the Source Strategies
report, released this month
because they didn't generate
enough revenue to qualify.
Source Strategies officials said
they generally include proper.
ties on the report that show at
least $14,500 in revenue per quar.
ter.
Room revenues in College
Station lumped 7,8 percent in
1997, from $20,280,695 in 1996
compared to 521,860,116 in 1997.
Forester said his staff is feel-
ing the impact of the George
Bush Presidential Library and
Museum Center.
"We're doing about 50 tours a
month," he said. "We had seven
in town Thursday. It's mind -
boggling. We've had to increase
the hours of our part-time per
son, our phone budget is up.
These are all good things,
believe me."
Last year, the convention and
visitor bureau scheduled 30
tours all year.
The rest of the state's top per-
forming cities in hotel occupan.
cy rates included Dallas at 64.9
Percent. Lubbock at 63.9 percent,
Victoria at 63.8 percent, San
Antonio at 60.1 percent, and Fort
Worth/Arlington and El Paso,
all at 59.9 percent.
The state average occupancy
rate was 59.8 percent.
"Both cities have done just a
great job," Hobbs said.
"Everyone that I've talked to
said they had a great year in
1997."
S4
s:
W
By TOM I
Assortnn+
WASH
calling S.
national
"crimes
voted 93 - I
of a Um
indict, a:
Clinton
expresse-
cept-
The Irc
President
tried as u
The n,
tion Wa>
tune, P%
although
could la
•
Saturday, March 14, 1998
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: rla(. I d, ) 1 77 ,, r
3 days left to file for
By JENNY NELSON 3� I -j �1
Eagle Staff Writer
Only three days remain for people
seeking to file for a seat on the Bryan
or College Station city councils.
The deadline for candidates to file for
the May 2 election is 5 p.m. Wednesday.
So far, four seats on the College
•
city elections
Station council are the only contested
races. In Bryan's City Council races,
only the incumbents have filed.
If the three Bryan seats — mayor and
single- member Districts 1 and 2 — have
no competition, no city election will be
held thanks to recent changes in the
state election code, Bryan City Secre-
tary Mary Lynn Galloway - Stratta said.
"If we don't have an election, it will
save the taxpayers about $30,000," she
said.
Please see ELECTIONS, Page A2
El
ceding six consecutive months
and in Texas for the preceding 12
t months.
All candidates 'must be at least
1 18 years of age.
From Q
Bryan residents interested in
council races — filing for office can pick up a can -
College Station
mayor and
laces 2, 4 and 6 — all didate packet at City Hall, 300
have at least
two candidates, with Texas Ave. South.
more possible
since 16 candidate College Station residents can
packets have
been requested do the same at City Hall, 1101
from the city
secretary's office. Texas Ave.
Of those 16,
nine have been Candidates for the College
turned in.
Station mayor's position are
"It's unu
ually high," College incumbent Lynn McIlhaney, Jim
Station City
Secretary Connie Irving and Bill Batchelor.
Hooks said
f the number of pack- Place 2 candidates are Ron
ets requeste
I. Silvia and Barbara Palmer.
The pay
or the council seats Place 4 candidates are incum-
isn't much
Bryan pays $10 a bent Larry Mariott and Peter
month, wile
College Station Keating.
pays zero.
Place 6 candidates are incum-
College Station's
council seats bent Dick Birdwell and Anne
are open to
any resident who has Hazen.
lived in the
city for at least one Candidates for the Bryan City
year prior to
the election. Council positions are: Mayor,
Bryan's s
ngle- member district incumbent
candidates
must live in the dis- Lonnie Stabler; single- member
trict, while
the mayor's seat is District 1, Greg Rodriguez; and
open to any
Bryan resident who single- member District 2,
has lived in
the city for the pre- Annette Stephney.
•
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: 11
Three questions
would like to put three ques-
tions to the city of College
Station.
■ Why are there no sidewalks? I
get my exercise by walking a mile
or so to campus every day. But I
must leave very early in the morn-
ing because I have to walk in the
street the entire way.
What we seem to have here is a
miniature Los Angeles -- a place
that has the service of internal -
combustion vehicles as its reason
for being.
■ Why is there so much trash on
the streets? Calcutta's direst ghet-
tos are cleaner than College
Station's middle -class neighbor-
hoods. Many people have the
slovenly habit of setting beverage
cans and jumbo drink cups outside
their car doors. They stand out
there by the thousands, vainly
waiting for the hired help to come
along and pick them up. And it's
not simply cans and cups. Many of
the side streets I pass through look
like city -dump access roads. "Don't
mess with Texas" — ha.
■ Why is it taking so long to fin-
ish Texas Avenue? The job never
should have been started in the
first place. There is obviously not
enough accountability around here
to accomplish so major a task. And
Why is it that the pedestrian cross-
ing lights at Texas and Old Main
are still wrapped in Plastic? They
have been in that condition or sev-
eral months now. The traffic lights
work, but not the crossing lights. Is
the safety of people in cars more
important than that of people on
foot or on bike?
My conclusion is that College
Station is not actually a "city. It
is, rather, a road — a dangerous,
litter - strewn, eternally unrepaired
—.4
DAN OVERTON
College Station
0
The Eagle
City of College Station News
_ -- l - Date: I16 tCh I E)T
2 file for CS council seats
1�
By BLAIR FANNIN
Eagle Staff Writer
Shannon Schunicht filed Tuesday to run
for Place 4 on the 6ollege Station City
Council and David Alexander submitted
his application to run for the Place 2 seat.
"I'm a problem solver," Schunicht said,
"and I'm not going t sit back and com-
plain. I'm a man of ac ion."
Schunicht, a 37 -ye -old entrepreneur,
joins Peter Keating, a 40- year -old associate
professor of civil engineering at Texas
A &M University, in challenging Place 4
incumbent Larry Mariott.
Schunicht said he knows how to address
problems.
"First, by recognizing the problem and
then making an estimate of the situation.
Then you take action. I see what needs to
be done, and instead of sitting back and
complaining, I take action," he said.
Schunicht said his problem - solving expe-
rience is a carryover from his four years
Please see FILINGS, Page A2
Filings
From Al
spent in the Army. He said he 'ill
listen and serve the people.
"I'm open to ideas," he said.
"People can call me at home and
tell me what they want."
Schunicht holds three degrees,
two from A &M and another from
Florida State University, where
he was active in student govern-
ment. Alexander, who works in
real estate management, will be
vying for the Place 2 seat.
Incumbent Hub Kennady is not
seeking re- election.
Some of Alexander's issues
include looking for a more
•
The Eagle
City of College Station News
C
Date: March 19 1 1 cl 1
CS residenjt Moore
files for Place 6 seat
Filing deadline pastes for elee ions
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
College Station resident Dorcas
Moore barely beat the 5 p.m. fil-
ing deadline Wednesday to file
f , ir Place 6 on the City Council.
The 31- year -old will face incum-
bent Dick Birdwell and Anne
Hazen for the seat, said in the
May city elections.
Moore said she decided to enter
the race because there are some
issues that she would like to see
the city address.
"The economic development,
e direction of growth and bring -
g in different kinds of compa-
es, not just high- tech," she said.
Moore is employed by the city
Bryan in the Community
,velopment office as a construc-
)n design specialist.
She said this is the first time
,e has run for such an office, but
at she is a life -long resident of
)liege Station. She said it's time
r the city to cater to the home-
Please see FILINGS, Page A6
Filings
From Al
owners, not just the college stu-
dents.
"I want to make sure the people
that live here — and I've lived
around here — have a voice,"
Moore said.
Moore said she graduated from
Texas A &M University in 1988
with a degree in environmental
design.
•
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: hut ch 1 X11 C 18
CS voters given choices; some Bryan elections over
New law allows cities to skip a ections for uncontested races; Bryan to save about $25,000
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer
The list of College Station City
Council and school board candi-
dates for the May 2 ballot is final,
while elections in Bryan will be
scarce.
For the first time in at least 20
years, there will be no contested
Bryan City Council races which,
under new state election law,
Coll ge Station's City Council
candi a line -up has 11 candi-
dates ing for four seats.
Colle a Station City Secretary
Connie A 0 oks said the numller of
candid tes is "unusually "
The College Station school
board mly has one contested
race, P aoe 5, where Ray Amos
and Di. Dayne Michele Foster
will fac off.
Othei College Station school
board members who face no
opposi on are incumbent Larry
inhnm . who holds Place 3, and
translates into no eleLfti n This
up for election.
is estimated to save the ty',s tax-
`I usually give out at least 12
payers about $25,000, fficials
she said.
The only election in Bryan will
said Wednesday.
"I was expecting th' ," City
City elections
be for the school board's single -
Secretary Mary Lynn Galloway-
Stratta said. "We've had a really
member District 1 seat.
Incumbent Henry Colwell faces
seats for another term.
good year in Bryan."
Mayor.`seeme0fo
Stratta said interest never
peak in the Bryan
Bill Marden for the position.
Stratta said the race will
No election means
Lonnie Stabler and coun it mem -:
- ,races,;3 only five candidate
require early voting and staff for
begs Annette Stephney d Greg
'•'appli$A4ion packets picked up
the seven precincts involved in
Rodriguez will hold on to their
flYim City Hall for the three seats,
the district. The expense to the
incumbent Mark Weichold, who
holds Place 4.
Candidates for the College
Station mayoral position are
incumbent Lynn McIlhaney, Jim
Irving and Bill Batchelor.
City Council Place 2 candidates
are Ron Silvia, Dennis Maloney,
David Alexander and Barbara
Palmer.
Place 4 candidates are incum-
bent Larry Mariott, Shannon
Schunicht and Peter Keating.
Place 6 candidates are incum-
bent pick Birdwell, DorcasMoore
and Anne Hazen.
Candidates for the Bryan City
Council positions are: Mayor,
incumbent Lonnie Stabler sin-
gle- member District 1, Greg
Rodriguez; and single- member
District 2, Annette Stephney.
Races
city will only be Stratta and her
staffs time, she said. The school
district will pay the other expens-
es.
Those Bryan school board
members not facing opponents
are incumbent Wayne Hayenga,
who represents single -member
District 3, and Carl Hasan, who
will represent single -member
Please see RACES, Page A2
•
City of
The Eagle
College Station News
at a(Ch W I
Voters
From Al
3 )ZO
to serving three consecutive two-
Spreadi
Year terms.
Hooks said 17,000 brochures
were printed at a cost of about
$11,000 and should be in mailbox
thew Or
es late next week.
The parking garage brochure,
still in a draft form, should be
to voters
ready for printing next week,
Assistant City Manager Tom
Brymer said.
CS brochures
We want to get them out at
sends
least a few days before early vot-
about ballot issues
ing begins in April," he said.
Such a brochure is not required
By JENNY NELSON
by the City Charter and is being
Eagle Staff Writer
funded through the city's operat-
ing budget, Brymer said.
With just a little more tI
month before the May 2 m
an a The garage issue is being
ici- placed on the ballot after a peti-
pal election, College Statioi
city tion was turned in asking the city
in the
• officials said Thursday the
are not to invest any money
working to inform the public
project until the voters have their
about the issues on the ballot.
say on it.
Voters will decide on a $6
mil- Brymer said the brochure is
lion Northgate Parking Garage
being sent to voters to provide
and a charter amendment calling
background and information
for council term limits.
about the project.
City brochures, to be s
nt to A draft of the parking garage
registered voters, are in
the brochure has been in the hands of
works for both projects, of
icials council members for the past
said. The City Charter re
uires week. Brymer said they were
the city to send out infory
lation asked to respond to the brochure
to voters 30 days before a c
iarter by Wednesday and only one mem-
amendment is to go on the
allot. ber had suggested changes.
"The provision states tho
t each Brymer said the final cost has
q'ualif'ied voter shall receive
a not been tallied, but he estimates
copy of the proposed amendment
that printing costs will be around
30 days prior to the election,"
Secretary Connie Hooks
City $4,000.
said. Hooks said other steps regard -
"So, we have no choice."
ing the election also are being
The amendment would
limit taken. The order in which the
council members and the
mayor candidates will be listed on the
ballot was decided on Thursday
Please see VOTERS, Page
AS — the day after filing ended for
city elections.
She said the reason for the
speediness of such items is due to
the lengthy ballot.
Mayor Lynn McIlhaney said
city employees have contacted
•
several clubs and organizations
to offer a slide presentation about
the issues to tie in with the
brochures.
Besides the charter amendment
and parking garage ordinance,
there are four council races on
the ballot: mayor, Place 2, Place 4
and Place 6.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
(Date: I` O(Ch A'): MI -III
Ricky Guzman, a College Station Panics and Recreation
Department employee, puts up the kinetic sculpture
Suspended Anknabon on Thursday at Cy "MW Park. The piece,
by Brooklyn artist Tin Watkins, is one of three rririrrg scalp-
tunes in a competition created by the Arts Council of the
Brazos Valley. Scott Wallace's Lot Unes is at Tarrow and 29th
streets, wldle Michael D. Bigger's Cabda #1 stands it Central
Park. The sculptures will remain on display until Dec. 14.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: (1' a(G'1 W, 1
May rs say
metr areas
I
spur growth
Staff and Wire Repor,
Move over, Mexico.
If the New York City metropol-
itan area wer a country, its pro-
duction of goods and services
would outstrip all but 15 nations,
according to a study released
Thursday b city and county
leaders.
In Washin on, D.C., seeking
increased tr sportation money
from Congress, members of the
U.S. Conference of Mayors and
the National Association of
Counties released a report con-
tending that metropolitan areas
are the engine that drives the
nation's economy.
"The econ mic dynamism of
metro areas enables and
enhances our nation's global
competitiveness," said Randy
Johnson, president of the
National Association of Counties
and a commissioner in Hennepin
County, Minn
"But without adequately fund-
ing our nation's infrastructure,
our competitiveness declines,"
he said.
College Station Mayor Lynn
McIlhaney said city officials
wrote letters encouraging the
reauthorization of the federal
highway law, which expires
April 30 and provides billions of
federal tax dollars to local gov-
ernments for infrastructure
needs.
"It's encouraging and we're
hopeful it will go through,"
McIlhaney said, adding that the
study appears to mirror the signs
of growth seen in Brazos County.
When the average payroll
employment in the Bryan- College
Station area increased 4.5 per-
cent in 1997, it tied Austin for
fifth place in percentage growth
among the state's 27 metropolitan
areas.
"Brazos County matches the
quality of life with resources, like
Texas A &M University," she
said.
Mayor Paul Helmke of Fort
Wayne. Ind., who is president of
the Conference of Mayors, urged
U.S. House members to reautho-
rize the federal highway law.
"We are pretty happy with the
version that passed in the
Senate," he said. "Now, we need
it passed in the House."
Among the findings listed in
the report:
■ Metropolitan areas produce
more than 80 percent of
America's employment, income
and goods production.
■ Nearly 85 percent of new jobs
produced between 1992 and 1997
were in metropolitan areas.
■ In terms of dollar output, the
New York City metro area pro-
duces more than Mexico; the
Chicago metro area produces
more than Switzerland; and
Atlanta's metro area produces
more than Singapore.
The study was completed by
Standard & Poor's DRI.
The Eagle
•
Date: Vht(,h 25
Di bled
ex- worker
•
W,
City of College Station News
sues CS "'
Woman claims harassment,
discrimination before firing
By KELLY BRUN
Eagle Staff Writer
A former emp
city of College S
was discrimin,
harassed becau
Wendy Boris]
in July 1996 fr
database admi
public utilities
she tried all c
city "but didn't
yee is suing the
Lion, saying she
�d against and
of a disability. .
who was fired
n her job as a
strator in the
apartment, said
nnels with the
A anywhere."
Boriski filed a complaint with
the federal Equal Employment
opportunities Commission more
than a year ago and was recently
notified by that agency that she
could file a lawsuit against the
city.
College Station Mayor Lynn
Mcilhaney will be served with
the lawsuit, which was filed
Friday in the United States
Please see LAWSUIT, Page A2
•
Lawsuit
Fro A t
District Court for the Southern
District of Texas, Houston divi-
sion.
McIlhaney said Tuesday she
had not yet seen the lawsuit and
couldn't comment on pending lit-
igation.
Boriski's Houston attorney,
Robert S. Duboise, said Tuesday
that the case is more about prin-
ciple than it is about money
because "it's about how a munic-
ipality treats its employees."
The lawsuit, which does not list
a specified damage amount, asks
that Boriski be reinstated and
receive damages and legal fees.
Boriski worked for the city for
eight years before problems
arose, she said, adding that her
supervisors began treating her
differently after she missed work
due to her disability.
She said she suffers from
what's called chronic impinge-
ment syndrome, which disables
her left shoulder. The ailment
required her to undergo periodic
medical treatment, including
both surgery and rehabilitative
Procedures.
She said she always notified
her supervisors of both. the thera-
py and the surgery, and received
Permission from the city for both
under the American with
Disabilities Act and the Family
Medical Leave Act.
Her physician put certain work
restrictions on her, and she noti-
fied her supervisor of the doctor's
orders, according to her lawsuit,
but her supervisor denied her
requests for reasonable accom-
modation in her work schedule
and limits on some physical
activities at her job.
Boriski said that once her dis-
ability request was made, numer-
ous problems surfaced. She said
she was penalized after taking
approved absences; management
called her ex- husband, co -work-
ers and friends to "investigate"
absences; and she was accused of
failing to perform her duties
though she says she was perform-
ing well.
The lawsuit alleges that
Boriski was verbally abused by
her supervisor and that she was
Publicly derided and humiliated
in front of other employees about
her absences, which she said
were about 14 days during a six -
month period.
And though she was a salaried
employee before filing for med-
ical leave, she said, she was
forced to punch a time clock
afterward.
Boriski complained to a higher -
level supervisor about her boss,
but no corrective action was
taken, she said, adding that she
was told to not pursue her griev-
ance and was threatened with
disciplinary action if she contin-
ued to do so.
Boriski said she filed a formal
grievance with the city's human
resources department and was
told to deal with the problem.
Sixteen days after filing the
grievance, Boriski was fired, she
said.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
, [Date: l
Couple file
in college
as documents
Station suit
By KELLY BROWN
Eagle Staff Writer ��
A Bryan couple w o is suing
the city of Jollege Station over a
land transa tion filed more docu
mentation I Tuesday, detailing
alleged deceit and warning they
might ask for the land to be
returned. 1
Elmo and Marvelyn Neal filed
the lawsuit almost a year ago,
saying city officials bought their
property cri. the pretense of
"municipal se" but then tried to
sell it for profit.
City officials have asked
District Judge Carolyn Ruffmo to
dismiss the case.
Mayor Lynn McIlhaney said
she couldn' comment on the case
because it ks pending litigation.
City Attor�ey Harvey Cargill
couldn't be reached for comment
Tuesday. I
Daniel F. Shank, a Houston
attorney representing the city,
msuit should be
thrown out on the basis of sover-
eign immunity and because no
material evidence was there to
prove fraud, misrepresentation
or abuse of process, as the Neals
suggested.
The next step is for Ruffmo to
decide within the next few
months whether to grant the
city's request for summary judg-
ment on the immunity issue.
The lawsuit states that the
Neals, who are asking for no
more than $275,000 in damages,
believe College Station has
waived its governmental immu-
nity by undertaking a condemna-
tion proceeding for a nonpublic
purpose — selling it to a commer-
cial establishment for a profit.
W. Steven Steele, one of the
Neals' attorneys, said after filing
the documents Tuesday that
they're now prepared for the case
to go to trial.
"We're eager to resolve this —
Please see SUIT, Page A14
aver
Is
Suit 31
FFk'E1m A9
the Legislature has passed a lot of laws about open
ness in government," Steele said. "Whether it's
state, federal or city government, they must be open
and honest with to reveal that a lot Neals are trying f things were
g
done in secret and not disclosed."
City officials have said the Neals were never mis
led and there was nothing improper about the city's
efforts to sell the property to Texadelphia Sand
wich an d Sports restaurant as part of the Northgate
revitalization project.
But the Neals say they were induced to help the
city officials obtain the property at 317 -319 Patricia
St. through fraudulent methods, according to the
lawsuit. The suit also states the Neals were
deceived and given misinformation.
The Neals said they were notified in March 1995
that College Station wanted the property for
"municipal use." would
The Neals said they believed the property
substantially increase in value because of its prox-
imity to Texas A &M University, so they declined a
$58,800 offer made by the city to buy the land and
told officials they would resist any attempt t
acquire the property by condemnation.
City officials told the Neals that the propert y
would be used to expand the parking area in the
Northgate area, and the only public purpose dis-
closed to the public through the media and meet-
ings was for expansion of the parking, according to
the lawsuit.
The city filed a notice to condemn the property,
but when hearings were held on the issue, the Neals
said, they didn't spe would be developed for park -
was that the property
ing — no other purpose was ever mentioned, the
lawsuit states.
The Neals said the tenant at their Patricia Street
property vacated the premises due to the condem-
nation threat, so the couple then was unable to relet
the property.
They finally made an agreement with the city in
1995 after a hearing before a special board, where
the city again cited parking as the future of the
property. The Neals agreed to give up the land for
$102,000.
It wasn't until the next year that the Neals
learned that their property had been acquired for
profit, the lawsuit states.
Steele said city officials never told the Neals that
Texadelphia owners had notified the city in July
1995 that they'd be interested in the Neals' property,
which is on the southwest corner of college Main
and Patricia streets.
The request from Texadelphia came after the con -
demnation petition was filed but six months before
o the special board's hearing, according to the law-
suit, which details how the proposed sale of the
property to the business included approval of grant
funds to the company in excess of $50,000.
I
The Eagle
City of College Station News
�a:N"arch '25
' Count to use taxes
for reinvestment zone
in Wolf Pen Creek
•
By KELLY BROWN 3
Eagle Staff Writer 2 J
Brazos County c mmissioners
agreed Tuesday to contribute a
portion of county es to a "rein-
vestment zone" intended to spur
economic growth ir the Wolf Pen
Creek area in Colle e Station.
Whatever taxes would have
been paid for a planned confer-
ence center in that area will
instead help pay off the debt for
constructing and equipping the
city -owned center.
The conference center could
open in late 2000 next to a full-ser-
vice hotel and office building.
Brazos County Commissioner
Tony Jones said Tuesday that the
city, school district and county
all are making a to g -term invest-
ment in the community by agree-
ing to help out.
"The county doesn't lose any-
thing in this deal," Jones said.
"We still get the I roperty taxes
for the land, while the taxes for
the new buildings will go into
this reinvestment zone. And the
business this will bring to the
community is a plus for every-
one."
The city council is expected to
discuss the agreement during its
workshop session Thursday; the
school district alreE dy has agreed
to contribute. Offic als expect the
reinvestment zonE to generate
$350,000 in revenue 3 for the fund
next year.
Plans are in the works for the
$21 million project not far from
Post Oak Mall. A $14.5 million
hotel managed by DePalma Hotel
Corp., and an $8 million office
building, will be built.
Todd McDaniel, a senior eco-
nomic development analyst for
College Station, said the tax rate
pledged by the county, city and
school district will help pay off
the 19 -year debt on the estimated
it Whatever taxes
are generated from
that property go to
this special fund and
the funds then go to
pay for the improve-
ment projects within
that zone.9 9
— TODD McDANIIEL
Senior analyst for College Station
$6 million conference center run
by the city.
"What the county has agreed to
take part in is called a tax incre-
ment finance reinvestment zone,
where it takes the value of the
property in that zone, in this case
the guaranteed value has to be
$21 million," McDaniel said. "So
whatever taxes are generated
from that property go to this spe-
cial fund and the funds then go to
pay for the improvement projects
within that zone."
The county is pledging to the
fund 37.2 cents of its 41.7 cent tax
rate per $100 valuation, on that
piece of property.
College Station Mayor Lynn
McIlhaney said the conference
center project is important to the
community.
"It will give us the ability to
build a conference center where
we can tap into a market 'and
have the sizes of conference that
right now aren't coming here,"
McIlhaney said. "This is going to
be a great opportunity for the
area."
McDaniel said he expects rein-
vestment zone plan to be on. the
council's April 9 agenda. Once
it's approved, the developer can
begin the project.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Council
to look
at deals
Leaders study
hotel complex
By JENNY NELSON f ��
Eagle Staff' Writer 1
The College Station City
Council will get a look at the fine
print of the Wolf Pen Creek hotel -
conference center agreements on
Thursday.
The package of five agree -
nents, when signed, will finalize
-� the deal between the city and
developers building the complex.
The city is paying for the $6
million conference center with
revenue bonds, and the develop-
er, Wolf Pen Creek Development
Team, will pay the $21 million
cost of the hotel and office build-
ing.
The agreements are scheduled
Please see COUNCIL, Page A14
Council
Date: ria(ch Z
From A9
to be presented in a 3 p.m. work-
shop in the City Council cham-
bers, 1101 Texas Ave. City
Manager Skip Noe said the coun-
cil is not set to vote on the a ee-
ments, only to discuss them. he
vote is scheduled for April 9. II
In other workshop business,
the council is also schedule to
discuss joining a study that
would look at moving railrtoad
tracks out of the city.
Consultants from DMJM in
Houston, hired by Texas A &M
University, are scheduled to pre-
sent the conceptual plan for the
railroad. The Bryan City Council
heard their presentation Tuesday
and decided to participate in the
study.
The study, requested by A &M,
is designed to analyze the pro-
posed $75 million relocation.
A &M officials have requested
that the Metropolitan Planning
Organization's Policy Committee,
of which Mayor Len McIlhaney is
a member, support the study.
Next week, MPO members will
decide if there is enough support
for the study.
In its regular meeting at 7 p.m.,
the council is scheduled to con-
sider a resolution that would
authorize city staff to publish a
notice to issue bonds for three
items: the $6 million conference
center, a $2.7 million capital pro-
ject for city utility services, and
$6.2 million as authorized in a
1995 bond election.
•
Tex'tile mill
IM
e built
in Bryan
450 Oew jobs expected
By BLAIR FAN N
Eagle Staff Write
Bryan-Colleg3 Station Econ-
omic Developm nt Corp. officials
said Wednesda they successful-
ly had closed a eal to bring a tex-
tile mill to the Bryan Business
Park that will add $30 million to
the local econoiny.
The deal wa ; finalized after a
trip to Istanbul, Turkey, last
week where Ithey met with
investor Izzet at and his son,
Arif Fat.
The textile mill complex,
which will be in excess of 100,000
square feet, will include yarn
spinning, knitting and fabric fin-
ishing.
The company will employ
approximately 450 people and
have an annual payroll exceeding
$8 million, officials said, with
total capital investment at $71
million. Con st r uction is antici-
Please see MILL, Page A8
I
Worley's time. other places," Stabler said.
Mill Economic Development Corp. chairman While a bale of cotton can be sold for $350,
Richard S. Smith paid for his own expenses it's the value -added dollars that will be kept
_ L--- r..., 1-a,.. P T—w I,- „ iA fnr hie hnrn Wnrlav said
From Al
pated to begin in four to six months, with
completion expected within a year to a year -
and -a -half.
"We are excited," Bryan Mayor Lonnie
Stabler said Wednesday. "This will provide
great results for the city."
The friendship developed between the Fat
family and local economic officials was the
key to the deal, said Brazos County Judge Al
Jones, who also is a member of the board of
the Economic Development Corp.
He said if it weren't for last week's trip to
Turkey, the deal possibly wouldn't have come
through.
"I am convinced that, without this trip, the
project wouldn't have reached to where it is
today," he said.
The city of Bryan was the main sponsor of
the trip, paying the travel expenses for Jones;
Robert Worley, president and CEO of the
Economic Development Corp.; Bryan City
Councilman Kenny Mallard; and consultant
Fercan Kalkan. The only Economic
Development Corp. funds used were to pay for
wife's travel costs. John E. Anderson, who
serves as past chairman of the Economic
Development Corp., also paid for his travel
expenses.
Officials said the large delegation was nec-
essary to continue the friendship - business
relationship that was established with the Fat
family and, in particular, Izzet Fat. In
Turkey, it is customary to form friendships
first before conducting business. The two
wives who accompanied the local delegation
also played a role in making the Fat family
more comfortable with locating to the area,
officials said.
Arif Fat and his family will purchase a
home and reside in the Bryan- College Station
area during the development phase, officials
said, where they frequently will stay during
the operation of the complex.
Officials said the expenses of the trip will
be outweighed by the economic impact felt in
Bryan and by local agribusiness, with the tex-
tile mill purchasing cotton produced by farm-
ers in the Brazos Valley.
"Don't be surprised if you see some agricul-
tural cooperative to market that cotton to
"If you keep it here and make that product
at the textile mill, that can grow to $1,500
instead of shipping that bale off to South
Carolina," he said.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Rick
Perry has been a strong advocate of adding
value to agricultural products in Texas.
Worley said the textile mill also will create
a number of spinoff businesses.
"This not only has a great Brazos Valley
impact, but also a state impact," he said.
Wednesday's news had historical implica-
tions. Since 1901, business leaders in Bryan
had actively attempted to recruit a textile
mill.
A letter drafted May, 13, 1913, by officials
with the Bryan Commercial Club — an orga-
nization that acted much like today's Bryan-
College Station Chamber of Commerce and
Bryan - College Station Economic
Development Corp. — read: "Wanted.
Creamery, Cannery, Cotton
In April 1925, what was known as the Bryan
and Brazos County Chamber of ' Commerce
made a proposal to a' Houston cotton. milling
businessman to build'a facility for $75,000.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: na(Cn 2- 71)
CS will participate in
rail relocation study
By JENNY NELSON
Eagle Staff Writer I
For the second time this week,
local leaders have backed a study
looking into a proposed $75 mil-
lion relocation of the railroad
tracks running through the area.
The College Station City
Council voted Thursday to partic-
ipate in the study, which is aimed
at identifying the effects of mov-
ing the Union Pacific railroad
tracks. The railroad currently
divides the Texas A &M
University campus and continues
through downtown Bryan.
The Bryan City Council voted
favor of the study Tuesday.
r.,- "What this does is allow the
project to go forward," Michael
■ Highoy renaming propo /A9
Parks, director of the Bryan -
College Station Metropolitan
Planning Organization, said
Thursday after the College
Station vote.
"If ether Bryan or College
Station decided that they would
not su port the concept, this
effort v ould have been stalled, if
not killed. There must be una-
nimity if this is to succeed," he
said.
The conceptual plan would
build ew tracks closer to the
Brazos River and away from the
cities and the university.
Both councils placed stipula-
Please see RAIL, Page A2
Rail
From Al
tions on the plan — that it main-
tain rail service to businesses in
North Biyan and that it not delay
city plan for grade separations at
railroad crossings that already
are in the works.
"I think we ought to pursue the
project, but we've got to be realis-
tic," College Station Councilman
Dick Birdwell said.
Officials at A &M, which is
funding the study, asked the two
cities for support.
Funding for the actual moving
of the tracks is still is an
unknow , consultants said. In
order t get available federal
funding, consultants said applica-
tions need to be made.
"The question isn't really one
of funding more than anything
else," C liege Station Mayor Pro -
Tem Hu Kennady said. "This is
a great project and it's in need of
great finding. Hopefully, we can
find A.
In addition to possible federal
funding consultants said Union
Pacific hailroad, A &M, state and
local funds are the most likely
sources.
College Station mayor Lynn
McIlhaney will take the council's
decision to the planning organi-
zation next week, where all par-
ties involved in the study will
decide their next move.
In other business, the council
looked at five proposed agree-
ments that would finalize the deal
between the city and developers
building a hotel - conference cen-
ter and office building at the Wolf
Pen Creek location.
The city is paying for the $6 mil-
lion conference center out of rev-
enue bonds and the $21 million
price tag for the hotel and office
building will come from the Wolf
Pen Creek Development Team.
The council took no action on
the agreements. The final docu-
ments are scheduled to go before
the council April 9, said City
Manager Skip Noe.
The council also approved the
master plan for Lick Creek Park,
a wilderness park in south
College Station. The plan is
designed to showcase the unique
natural, physical and cultural
resources of the park.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date t. l ) 2
Texas 6, F.M.
get 818 could new names
By JENNY NELSON Z �
' sions on the
ue during their monthly
president of Texas A &M University for six
the decision was made to locate A &M in
Eagle Staff Writer I
meeting Thursday.
years and five years as president of the
the local community. Mitchell died in
College Station
City Councilman Dick
university and the A&M System. He is best
1901.
What's in a name? For two local high-
Birdwell said a
Iding names to the current
remembered as the commander of the 2nd
College Station City Manager Skip Noe
ways, the answer soon could be "history."
roads would
not affect the numbered
Ranger Battalion, which scaled 100 -foot
said he plans to have a draft of the resolu-
Local leaders said Thursday that it's
addresses c
ntly in place.
cliffs at Pointe du Hoc during the D -Day
tion to the City Council on April 26.
time to take action and give Texas 6 and
He said namE
s make the highways more
invasion of World War II.
Bryan City Manager Mike Conduff said
F.M. 2818 more identifiable names.
identifiable —
iting as an example F.M.
Rudder, who died in 1970, has been hon-
the date for consideration by the Bryan
As soon as next month, officials said a
60, which also
is called University Drive
ored in the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame
City Council has not been set.
resolution could be proposed that would
and Raymond
totzer Parkway.
and as a distinguished alumnus of A &M.
Noe said that, if the cities approve such
name Texas 6 after Lt Col. J. Earl Rudder
The two names
up for consideration for
Mitchell is best remembered as the "the
changes, the names would have to be
and F.M. 2818 after Harvey Mitchell.
Texas 6 and F.M.
2818 were proposed by
father of Brazos County."
cleared through the Texas Highway
The City Affairs Committee, made up of
the committee
members because of the
He started the fast public school in the
Commission.
members of the Bryan and College Station
contributions ihat
Rudder and Mitchell
county.
If the names are approved, the cities
city councils and Brazos County
made to the arE
a.
It's also thought that, because of
would be responsible for providing new
40 missioners Court, continued discus-
Rudder, a decorated
war hero, served as
Mitchell's foresight and determination,
signs.
•
The Eagle
City of College
Date: Aprl
Station News
Can't afford turmoil
R ox Brown, in a recent
letter, indicated her disap-
pointment with an article in
The Eagle o� - i city employee
turnover beicause it blamed
Councilmen Swiki Anderson and
Steve Esmond for the turnover.
She stated that you cannot blame
these council members because
they represent only two votes of
seven and they almost always
vote in the mority.
If council�votes alone caused
turnover, there would be no city
employees. There are other things
that can cause turmoil. Let's start
with attempting to get selected
employees fired. Move to making
criminal allogations against
employees. Follow this with pub-
lic ridicule of employees during
council meetings and you have
cause for turmoil and turnover.
Brown also stated that the two
recent petitions circulated by citi-
zens represent the voice of the
people. In fact, more than half the
signatures on the Northgate
parking garage were collected by
Anderson and Esmond, even
I 1 �_7
though they are not listed as peti-
tioners on the form as required
by law. These petitions may rep-
resent the "Will of the people," as
suggested, however, there is a
strong possibility that they repre-
sent the views of the losing
minority on the council who are
unwilling to accept majority rule
and who cloak their personal
agenda in conservative rhetoric.
A number of friends said they
signed the petition because of the
way it was represented — "Don't
you think the people ought to be
allowed to decide on this issue ?"
Presented with such a statement,
the average citizen is going to
sign.
The prospects of Anderson and
Esmond taking over the council,
which was mentioned in Brown's
letter, may also be a factor con-
tributing to employee morale and
turnover. The last thing we need
in College Station are servants,
appoilited -by these people, who
will replace the professional staff
now at City'Hall. We can't afford
it
GARY HALTER
College Station
n
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: Lr 1 , 1 L,
Car garage
supporters
set meeting
By BOB SCHOBER I
Eagle Staff Writer
A group forming to support the
$6.8 million Northgate parking
garage referendum proposal will
hold its organizing meeting at
5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Family
Center of A &M United Methodist
Church, 417 University Drive.
City officials will present "the
neutral facts" of the proposal,
Citizens for Northgate Parking
treasurer Cheryl Anz said.
"This is so people can ask ques-
tions about it," she said.
The new group is an ad hoc off-
shoot of the 85- member Northgate
District Association. Anz said
about 300 invitations to the meet-
ing have been mailed.
College Station Assistant City
Manager Tom Brymer and Todd
McDaniel, senior economic devel-
opment analyst for the city, will
profile the garage proposal and
field questions.
"We'll show some slides and
graphics and we'll present the
facts as we know them to let the
citizens make their decision at
the polls," McDaniel said.
The proposal will be on the
May 2 ballot and voters will
decide whether to proceed with
the project.
If approved, the 750 -car garage
will sit on 1.5 acres currently
owned by four people.
I*
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: rAi)
Four lib raries
ui area receive
$2,500m'o'� funds
Governor's office nnounces
Texas Book Festi al Grants
By PAT ABERNATHEY I --)
Eagle Staff Writer I .)
Four area libraries were
.among 83 across the state to re-
ceive a Texas Book Festival
Grant, Gov. George W. Bush's
office announced Thursday.
The Bryan, College Station and
Buffalo public libraries and the
Lucy Hill Patterson Memorial
Library in Rockdale were listed
among those receiving grants,
said Charlene Fern of the gover-
nor's office. Fern said all four
libraries received $2,500 each.
Texas first lady Laura Bush,
honorary chairwoman of the
Texas Book Festival, will present
the grants Friday at the Texas
Library Association's Annual
Conference in San Antonio.
"We are so excited to get some
of that money," Community
Librarian Clara Mounce said
Thursday in a telephone inter-
view from San Antonio. "We
received $2,500 apiece for Bryan
and C liege Station. That was the
maxir lum amount we could get."
In is second year of availabili-
ty, th Texas Book Festival pre -
sente grants totaling $204,607 to
Texasl libraries. The festival cele-
brate Texas books and authors
and aises money for public
Jib
r ies.
"We are using the money to
enhance and increase the size of
the rriaterials in Spanish for chil-
dren,7 Mounce said. "We already
have la collection in Bryan and
some jin College Station."
Mounce praised the work of
Bryan's Youth Services
Librarian Robin Jones, who
wroth the grant proposal.
"Rabin spent about 24 hours of
her time on this project," she
said. "This is her first grant
attempt and it was successful. We
are excited for her."
Jones, in a telephone interview
from San Antonio, said Thursday
PI ase see GRANT, Page A14
Grant
From A9
she was delighted tp receive the grant.
"I grew up in the I Bryan- College Station area and
I am just delighted; to bring this money [into the
area and am delighted] for the community," she
said.
I looked around and saw that, for the amount of
Hispanic children in the area, we needed more
Spanish language material."
Jones said that, as a way to promote the new
books, the library is joining with other libraries in
Texas on April 30 for "Dia de Los Ninos: Dia de Los
Libros," or "Day of the Children: Day of the Books."
The program will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the
Bryan Library and will include Spanish story-
telling.
Mounce said the library is looking at purchasing
authentic Spanish language materials, not transla-
tions from English into Spanish.
"We want original Spanish children's stories,
now we have the money to do it," she said. "That
amount of money will buy a lot of books."
Mounce said books cost about $20 apiece. She said
some of the money will be used to buy videos as
well.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: LA I `y
Residents meet to discuss support for Northgate plan
By BOB SCHOBER
area, helps
ple use the area without
Citizens for Northgate Parking called
the meeting "to present the neutral facts"
University's parking garage construction.
The report based its e
Engle Staff Writer 1 }
I
tearing it do
Woodcock
he sa id.
d about 50 other people
about the proposal, Anz said-
College Station Mayor Lynn McIlhaney
a-
2 pe r r day maxi
lions on a $1 per hourr, , $ $2
mum fee schedule, with vacancy rates
Calling the NordWte area "the center of
community life since the conception of the
gathered at the
Northgate Parking,
invitation of Citizens for
an offshoot of the 85-
and Assistant City Manager Tom B l t aed
Pos
discussed the garage proposal
f or
cents Per hour and M per g
a
c
unive a Texas A&M university Pro
fessor Thursday night urged a small but
member No
The group had
ate District Association.
mailed out about 300 invi-
questions.
summarized the Proposal as fol-
argnum. taxpa
a n
enthusiastic crowd to support a $6.8 -mil-
falcons, accor
ing to treasurer Cheryl
win mer
lowing:
thing: sad he city o fund
lion parking garage for the area.
"This is a remarkable piece of College
Anz.
The garage
oject is on hold until May
■The Proposed itself out of ace, two -story
will for itsel
cost with revenue bonds,
the general obligation ob ligation bonds. The latter
not generb
Station property" that attracted churches,
student groups and university life to the
2, when voters
that prohibits
will consider an ordinance
a city from participating
garage
ing to n
five revenue projections, according to an
p
conducted by DeShazo, Tang &
require a specific levied tax as a guaranty,
i
but revenue bonds can be paid for with
area, A &M professor of architecture David
financially in
the ordinance,
a project. if voters reject
the city will be free to pur-
analysis
Associates, a professional parking consul -
Please see GARAGE, Page A14
Woodcock said.
"The garage extends and develops the
sue the project,
tacit firm that oversees Texas A &M
Garage
17_�
I From A9 I I
any city income sourCE if the
analysis proves wrong.
■ About 50 percent of current
on -street parking in the area
would be eliminated, rymer
said, "but we retain flexibility
about how to do that."
■ The construction cost is esti-
mated at $6,895 per s ce —
A &M's costs range from ,000 to
$6,500 — and $9,042 per space
including the cost of the land,
contingency and other fees. Land
costs are approximately $500,000,
according to Todd McDaniel, the
city's senior economic develop-
ment analyst.
N voters approve the proposal,
the garage will sit on 1.61 acres
located between Second Street
and College Main south of Louise
Avenue.
Before the May 2 ballot initia-
tive froze further city action, the
City Council approved a condem-
nation proceeding to gain owner-
ship of one of the four pieces of
the parcel.
The council also approved a
contract for sale with a second
owner. Negotiations with the
owners of the other two parcels
are pending. The city already has
spent about $80,000 on prelimi-
nary design.
"If the citizens support this, it's
another opportunity for develop-
ment to occur [in Northgate],"
McIlhaney said.
Of the So people who attended,
no one spoke in opposition to the
plan.
•
The Eagle
City of College Station News
•
Date:
Saturday, April 4, 1998
Teen center
dedicated
YAHOOz to
opportunitie
By PAT ABERNATHEY
Eagle Staff Writer
provide
in CS
Awesome.
It was the chief descripti:
College Station teenagers Fri
the city's new teen center, YA
Members of the Teen Advi;
parents and other teens gathe
ter, located near the Colleg
Center at 1300 George Bush D
the center.
"We are trying to provic
events for teens here because
and there is not a lot of thing.
Ben Fox, president of the Teel
a senior at A &M Consolidate
center is just awesome."
Created two years ago, the
was set up by the College St
advise the city's Parks and R
on teen issues and events. 7
from four members when it b
high school and junior high si
He said the board provides
Tee
members
Recreation
physical la'
the buildin
"This h
three year
storage," P
'This cl
started i
Advisory 1
needed a
seven throe
The cent
eration wil
Clubs of U
Boys and (
computers
center, Wa
"They w
,.. ytvgran
recreation
Julia &
A &M Cor
and a r.
Advisory
YAHOOz
part.
"It's ar
had no ie
We just 1
adjective used by
l while discussing
)ry Board, city staff,
ed Friday at the cen-
Station Conference
ive, to officially open
I opportunities and
his is a college town
for teens to do," said
Advisory Board and
High School. "This
.en Advisory Board
ion City Council to
reation Department
board has grown
,an to more than 60
ients, Fox said.
variety of activities
S
the Parks and
)artment put in the
needed to renovate
.ding, for the last
has been used for
idell said.
ter being here all
:h T.A.B. (Teen
ard)," he said. "We
vities for grades
h 12."
will be run in coop -
the Boys and Girls
Brazos Valley. The
, Is Club will provide
id study help at the
ell said.
be doing education -
ana we wilf be doing
programs," he said.
auskaya, a senior at
didated High School
mber of the Teen
card, said watching
ke shave is the best
ing," she said. "We
what would happen.
ideas in the begin-
Eagle photo /Rony Angkriwan
A group of College Station teens perform Friday at the
opening ceremony of the YAHOOz Teen Center on
George Bush Drive.
for teens in College Station, including rock climb-
ing at the Texas A &M University Recreation
Center, paint ball, dances and swimming.
The center is the board's greatest achievement so
far, Fox said.
"We already have activities planned for this
weekend," he said. "Friday and Saturday night will
be a murder mystery play, with a junior high dance
afterward on Saturday night."
Junior high students Friday presented a portion
of the murder mystery play Death by Disco for the
crowd. The play was written and directed by Dan
Grimm with A &M's Freudian Slip and Guiermo de
Leon, president of the Aggie Players.
The center was built into an existing building, the
old agricultural education shop at the original A &M
Consolidated High School. College Station Youth
Services coordinator Shannon Waddell and other
Please see TEENS, Page A2
ning.
"We had no idea the council
Would support us so much. We
are all really excited about this,"
,-he said.
Waddell said the point of the
,enter is for the council, and
other adults, to give support.
"Rather than adults giving
teens what they think teens want,
it's teens running this for teens,"
he said. "There will be an adult
presence, but it will be low- key."
Eighth- grader Brandon Strange
said the center is overdue.
"I think a center like this is
needed," he said. "We really don't
have stuff to do."
Mayor Lynn McIlhaney told
I the c rowd that the feedback
receied from teens made the
council place teen issues farther
up on its agenda.
`The youth have truly part-
nered with the city and, as you
can see, they have put their
hearts and souls into this," she
said. "I believe the council saw
an opportunity to bring in the
young adults of our community
in a partnership."
The center's hours will be from
3 to 10 P.M. Monday through
Thursday, Waddell said, and the
weekend hours will be from 3
p.m. to midnight.
The Eagle
x
w
City of College Station
College, Sto
By PAT ABERNATHEY\ k
Eagle Staff Writer
The city of College Station has been
awarded the 1998 Texas Environmental
.tion
"We were fir
encouraged to
commissioner
should be pro
the most con
0 ce lle a Award in the government cate- programs in T
city officials announced Friday. McBee coul
ayor Lynn McIlhaney said she ment late Fri
ived a phone call from Texas Natural officially will
Resources Conservation Commission commission's
chairman Barry McBee on Thursday, noti- Austin.
fying her of the city's award. College Sta
"We are very excited," she said Friday. Katie Fritz sai
(Date:
receives environmental award
ists last year and were
in again. I spoke with the
'hursday] and he said we
I because we have one of
rehensive environmental
:as.
not be reached for com-
y afternoon. The awards
presented May 6 at the
awards luncheon in
on recycling coordinator
the city has been used as a
model by the commission for the rest of
the state.
"We have probably the most comprehen-
sive environmental programs for a city
our size in the state," she said.
The city's program, Fritz said, includes
much more than recycling —solid-waste
reduction, composting, water conserva-
tion, water distribution, well head protec-
tion, energy conservation, the Bikeway
Master plan, tree planting and public edu.
cation programs.
"Most of these programs are included in
the state's Clean Cities 2000 program," she
said. "We were accepted as a clean cities
member in 1994 and we ware starting to
see the results.
The citizens of the city really support
this. It is something the community is
behind," Fritz said.
McIlhaney said the city staff should be
commended for their work and that com-
munity members also deserve recognition.
"We have a great staff," she said. "It is
an honor to have them honored by some-
one outside the city."
•
T The Eagle
e
City of College Station News
Date: h r i' I 1 �
Gara a information listed
g
O n Saturday, May 2, Co lege Station vot-
ers will consider the i sue of whether
or not the city should e involved in
building a parking garage in
the Northgate area. We wan
to provide voters with the
information needed to decide
this issue.
Northgate is one of the old
est and most historically sig
nificant areas in the city.
In 1994, College Station's
City Council identified
Northgate revitalization as TOM
one of its primary strategic BRYMER
objectives. It appointed an ail
hoc steering committee, Commentary
which formulated the
Northgate Redevelopment Plan, approved by
council in January 1996. In 1996, council cre-
ated a permanent committee, the Northgate
Revitalization Board, to assist in making rec-
ommendations on projects involved in the
plan.
The plan identified, as onE important
requirement for revitalization, an increase in
parking spaces. It initially recommended sev-
eral surface lots.
The city recognized that this would be diffi-
cult due to land acquisition, costs, and num-
ber of spaces needed.
On advice of the Northgate Revitalization
Board, the city council contracted with
DeShazo, Tang & Associates (a professional
parking consultant) for a garage feasibility
study.
DeShazo conducted two feasibility analy-
ses, presenting the first tot the city council in
May 1997.
In this first report, De Sh zo recommended
a surface lot with the possibility of a garage
to be constructed on it later. The council then
directed DeShazo to re -eval ate garage feasi-
bility, using different devel pment cost
assumptions, and consider n- street parking
management.
DeShazo's final recommeildation was for a
752 -space garage on 1.65 acrOs between
College Main and Second Street to the east
and west, and Church and Louise Avenue to
the south and north.
He recommended removing much of the
current on- street parking, which is supported
by the College Station Fire and Police
Departments, since this would improve emer-
gency vehicle access.
DeShazo's analysis showed the garage to be
financially feasible while using a conserva-
tive fee schedule ($1 /hr; $2 daily maximum).
The analysis assumed that students, resi-
dents, employees, visitors and churchgoers
would use the garage the most, since they are
Northgate's primary patrons.
The garage is not to be paid for by property
taxes, but is to be self- funded through the
garage's parking fees. DeShazo estimates that
every year the garage will earn about 1 1/2
times as much as its annual expenses and
debt payment.
Texas A &M's parking facilities have been
mentioned in comparison with this project.
Those facilities' costs are approximately
$6,000 - $6,500 per parking space, which does
not include land.
The somewhat smaller Northgate garage,
including land, would cost approximately
$9,042 per space. Total Northgate garage costs
excluding land is estimated at $6,895 per
space.
Preliminary design of the facility is essen-
tially complete. The city has begun acquisi-
tion of the land for the garage site. If the pro-
ject is approved, it may be necessary, as a
last resort, to acquire some property by con-
demnation.
If the city is to be involved in either a sur-
face lot or a garage in Northgate, it will have
to acquire additional land.
Again, the purpose of this parking garage is
to help address a core Northgate problem —
parking — in order to help revitalize the
area.
■ Tom Brymer is the assistant city manager of
the city of College Station.
The Eagle.
City of College Station News
Date: L-W) I `-)(
Nancy Earwood of Bryan sits down with her son Jacob Earwood, College Station Police Department at Central Park on Saturday
3, after winning an Easter bunny toy at an egg hunt held by the morning.
CS Police Department holds Ea
By REBECCA TORRELLAS
Eagle Staff Writer
More than 300 children and parents
attended the College Station Police
Department's 16th Annual Easter Egg
Hunt on Saturday morning at Central
Park.
Sponsors included Columbia
Medical Center, Target, Compass
Bank, Coca -Cola and Hope Lumber.
Deanna Jayatilaka said she was
looking forward to the drawing.
"The drawing is from the registra-
tion forms," she said. "You get to win
prizes."
Sue Ziarkowski brought her six -
year -old daughter Kaitlin to the event.
"We really enjoy it," she said. "I
think it is a great idea. She [ Kaitlin]
was very excited about coming."
Ziarkowski said the weather was
excellent.
"I talked to another mom who came
last year and she said it was really hot,"
she said. "This year is really nice."
Officer Rick Vessell, who coordinat-
ed the event, said the department
received a lot of help.
"It is mostly people giving back to
the community," he said. "It began as
an event to be involved with the com-
Ea Egg Hunt
munity and it became a tradition."
Vessell said the event is free. "We
don't make any money," he said. "All
the donations go into getting the candy
and prizes for the drawing."
Prizes in the drawing included bicy-
cles, stuffed rabbits, Jell-O, dolls, kites,
balls and games.
Vessell said the event gets bigger
every year.
"This year, we hid nine cases of 450
[plastic] eggs," he said.
Vessell said he hopes to coordinate
the event again next year.
"It was a lot of work, but it was ver,
fun," he said.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: P(i I --.)
Residents
put Aggies
to work t
By REBECCA TORRELLAS
Eagle Staff Writer
More than 4,500 Aggies spent
Saturday working as volunteers
in Bryan and College Station
neighborhoods as part of the Big
Event — the largest service pro-
ject in the nation run by students,
according to organizers.
Shelley Anderson, a member of
the 17th annual Big Event com-
mittee, Said the event is a day of
gratitude from Texas A &M
University students to the area.
"It is our thank you to the com-
munity," she said.
Graduate students from the
College of Medicine and the
Synchronized Swimming Team
paired up to do yard work, trim
trees and put mulch on the gar-
den of Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Godfrey
on Redmond Drive in College
Station.
The retired couple said they
enjoyed the company of the stu-
dents.
"I think it is wonderful,"
Eugenia Godfrey said. "They are
super workers. They are doing
really well."
Liz McCormack, president of
Angel Flight - Silver Wings said
the organization cleaned the yard
and painted the ceiling and trim
of a house on Conroe Drive in
Bryan.
After you've completed [the
work] and seen how much better
[the place] looks or the smile on a
child's face, it makes it all worth
it," she said.
McCormack said the Big Event
is a good idea because it is easy to
participate.
,Please see BIG EVENT, Page A2
Big Event
From A 1
"All you have to do is to say you want to do it and
they do everything else," she said.
Anderson said people in the community filled out
applications to have services rendered at their
homes.
Anyone can apply," she s4id. "It is not a project
limited to only the needy."
On Friday, coordinator Debbie Eniminger said:
"The requests include everything from raking
leaves to painting houses to clearing brush. We're
also planning on putting together playground equip-
ment and planting grass at d#y -care centers."
Anderson said Saturday it is important to make to
contact with the community and the Big Event is a
great way for residents to interact with the stu-
dents.
"Some recipients provide drinks and lunch to the
students," she said. "They are excited to have the
students there."
Anderson said the students take the project seri-
ously.
It is not your usual weekend event," she said.
"You have to get up at 8:30 in the morning to go
work for someone."
The event is for clubs and organizations as well as
individuals and groups of friends who want to help
out, Anderson said.
"Small groups are paired up to do one project,"
she said.
Drew Bird, a member of the Big Event committee,
said several students from other universities have
shown interest in beginning their own Big Event.
"There are guys from Louisiana Tech wanting to
start one," he said. "Oklahoma University began
one this year, I think."
Separately, a group of A &M Consolidated High
School students washed windows at campuses and
tutored fifth- and sixth - graders for a required
statewide test.
It teaches them the value of giving back to the
community that has given so much to them," Consol
Student Council sponsor Melina Shellenberger said.
The Eagle
>'
C�1 � . A ��Colle e Station News _. g
Date: A Dri -, I - 1 ► n`��3
B -CS cou
Bell Helicopter Textrc
Easterwood for manu
By BLAIR FANNIN
Eagle Staff Writer
Bell Helicopter Textron is con-
sidering Bryan- College Station as
a site for a new plant to manufac-
ture the V -22 Osprey tilt -rotor air-
craft, officials said Monday.
Texas A &M University
President Ray Bowen said the
university "will help out all it
can" in luring Bell to the area.
•
0
, 7, 1998
50 cents
d get aircraft plant
n will consider
acturing facility
Easterwood Airport w uld play
a key role if the compan chooses
Bryan- College Station aE a site to
manufacture the tilt-rotor air-
craft, which has both military
and civilian applicatioi s. Pilots
would also be trained h .
The fuselage for the licepter
would be flown in to E terwood
by C -5A aircraft, offici said.
Robert Worley, presi ent and
CEO of the Bryan-Coll Station
Plant
Pictured is a U.S. Marine version of the V22 Osprey tilt -rotor plane, which
Please see PLANT, Page A2 would be built in Bryan if Bell Helicopter Textron opens a new plant here.
From Al
we'd love to help out."
Adam Faulk, an assoct to bro-
ker with Jackson and y, a
Dallas commereaL npal. i estate
company representing Bell
Helicopter Textron of Fort
Worth, declined to indicate
where the Bryan- College Station
area ranked on the selection
process.
"[B -CS] has met some of the cri-
teria [to be considered] but I
can't get into the actual eria,"
Faulk said. "They are loo ing to
build in Texas."
Worley said the Bryan liege
Station area is in coml tition
with seven other cit es —
Houston, San Antonio, ustin,
Amarillo, Dallas, Fort Wo and
Arlington.
If a deal is struck with I ell, the
company would make a 446 mil-
lion capital investment a id cre-
ate at least 1,000 new jobs.
The two cities' main selling
points include light air ic,
A &M's continual supply cf engi-
neering graduates and th pres-
ence of the Texas Engir En ' eering
Extension Service, which could
Provide training for ai ionics
mechanics, pilots and oth r per-
sonnel.
"The training component
would mean literally anybody
that touches [the V -221 has to be
trained," Worley said. "That
could mean between 400 aid 600
people a year."
The training personne also
would be spending mon y on
hotel rooms, food, gasoline and
Economic Development
Corporation, said a land -lease
proposition worked out with
A &Mowned land near the air-
port would be a huge selling
point.
Bowen said, "Not all of the
property surrounding Easter -
wood belongs to the university. I
can't point to a specific piece, but
Other products, pumping more
money into the local economy,
Worley said.
The company currently has 523
military orders for the tilt -rotor
aircraft, each of which costs an
estimated $30 million.
A Bell Textron -609 civilian
model would also be produced,
with 60 orders glacari..'rhe , Jiant,
list for the civilian model
includes Wayne Huizenga, owner
of the Miami Dolphins, profes-
sional golfer Greg Norman and
Alliance Development of Fort
Worth.
Bryan City Manager Mike
Conduff, who was a part of a
group of local officials briefed on
the prospect last week, said land.
ing such a deal would lead to
huge implications for the local
area.
"The potential is amazing,"
Conduff said. "It's too early to
know [where B-CS stands], but
we have a lot of natural advan-
tages. The foremost, Texas
A&M."
Worley said there has been an
initial discussion with A &M offi-
cials, but nothing formal has
been discussed.
Bowen said it would be a great
advantage for the university and
its engineering students.
"It's fantastic," Bowen said.
"It's a great opportunity for our
students to be involved in the
!1]eh -tech manufacturing envi-
ronment. This would also have a
tremendous.. impact on the local
community."
Economic officials learned the
company was looking for a site
thanks to Honey Dowdy, who is
with the Burleson County
Industrial Foundation. Faulk is
the son of Dowdy.
"I was talking to him [Adam]
and he was telling me about the
locations they were considering
and I said I can blow holes in all
those locations," Dowdy said. "I
said, 'You haven't even men-
tioned the one location it should
be.' I talked him into allowing
Bryan- College Station into issu-
4 ng a regional proposal."
The Bryan- College Station
Economic Development
Corporation's board of directors
vill meet at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday
- o discuss a proposal.
Although the entire complex
avould require 100 acres, con-
struction would initially entail a
40,000- square -foot facility on a 20-
acre site. The company has indi-
cated construction would start
during the fourth quarter of this
year. The goal to be in operation
is the fast quarter of 1999.
Additional space would include
a 50,000- square -foot hangar facili-
ty that would be on line by
August 1998 and a 108,000- square-
foot mapufacturing facility by
July 2000. Another 108,000 square
feet would be needed by
November 2001, and another
50,000 square feet the following
three years.
Payroll would be $4.1 million
the first year, escalating to $19.7
million in 2003. The average
salary would be $20,000 a year.
The capital investment for inven-
tory is an estimated $2.5 billion.
"This thing would put us in the
big time," Worley said. 'When
you start butting heads with
places like Houston and Dallas, it
puts us in the big leagues of eco-
nomic development. But we
think we can play with them. The
trick is convincing Bell to come
here."
i
�► :+Mir
"I was talking to him [Adam]
and he was telling me about the
locations they were considering
and I said I can blow holes in all
those locations," Dowdy said. "I
said, 'You haven't even men-
tioned the one location it should
be.' I talked him into allowing
Bryan- College Station into issu-
4 ng a regional proposal."
The Bryan- College Station
Economic Development
Corporation's board of directors
vill meet at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday
- o discuss a proposal.
Although the entire complex
avould require 100 acres, con-
struction would initially entail a
40,000- square -foot facility on a 20-
acre site. The company has indi-
cated construction would start
during the fourth quarter of this
year. The goal to be in operation
is the fast quarter of 1999.
Additional space would include
a 50,000- square -foot hangar facili-
ty that would be on line by
August 1998 and a 108,000- square-
foot mapufacturing facility by
July 2000. Another 108,000 square
feet would be needed by
November 2001, and another
50,000 square feet the following
three years.
Payroll would be $4.1 million
the first year, escalating to $19.7
million in 2003. The average
salary would be $20,000 a year.
The capital investment for inven-
tory is an estimated $2.5 billion.
"This thing would put us in the
big time," Worley said. 'When
you start butting heads with
places like Houston and Dallas, it
puts us in the big leagues of eco-
nomic development. But we
think we can play with them. The
trick is convincing Bell to come
here."
m The Eagle
f
. City of College Station `New's
L
Date: r1ov I I ��
(w
'hat are they for ?I
have noticed this week that the city o
College Station is busy building some
structures in the new Northgate pro -
le that look like barns. What are they
' Near as my neighbors and I can tell,
y are for hay to feed the wild jackasses
t roam around here on Friday and
urday nights. Could you please look
this for us?
WILLIAM GODWIN
College Station
•
3v Ci
is
•
k
The Eagle
of`
College Station News
Date: `t I �') I ' h
Year:
Assembly
Mechanical
99 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Manufacturing
21 143 239 409 581 682 682 682
18 34 26 68 92 1126 126 126
nufacturin Su
r g ppor4
Management 22 �7 39 64 84 9 99 99
Engineer Liais 8
12 16 23 29 32 32 32
Support 6 57 85 1,43 7 X43 243 243
Total
5 273 ,405 707 94? 1,182 1,182 1,182
J Source: Bell Helicopter Textron
B ell: P nee
to I V-
Company says B -C'S is in contention
a gle Staff Writer
E ■ Editorial /Alp
E
A Bell Helicopter Textron official said
Tuesday finding a neiv manufacturing
facility for its V -22 Osprey tilt -rotor is
essential to handling the amount of
orders placed for the aircraft, with
Bryan- College Station in the running
for the company's new 46 million plant
site.
Bob Leder, spokesman for Bell
Helicopter Textron ot Forth Worth,
said, "I have no personal knowledge of
where the project is going. It would be
inappropriate at this time to speculate
what anybody's doing."
But Leder confirmed the company is
looking for a Texas site for its new facil-
ity, and officials want to act quickly.
"We are just looking in Texas," Leder
said. "We have realized for quite a while
Please see BELL, Page A2
9
Bell 4+1 '3)99
From Al
the enormous potential both the V -22 and the [Bell
Textron] 609 [civilian model] have. We realized that
our existing facility couldn't handle the production
rate."
Currently, the company is producing a handful of
V -22s a year. Bell has a flight research center at the
Arlington Municipal Airport in Arlington, Texas.
Leder said the fuselage, which is manufactured
by Boeing, is flown in from Philadelphia to
Carswell, Texas. There, the fuselage is transferred
to a truck and hauled to the Arlington Municipal
Airport.
Leder said the company has 523 orders for the V-
22 military version and 65 for the commercial air-
craft.
Bryan- College Station is in competition with
seven other cities for Bell's new plant location. The
other cities being considered are Houston, San
Antonio, Austin, Amarillo, Dallas, Fort Worth and
Arlington.
If a deal is struck with Bell, at least 1,000 new jobs
would be created. Payroll would be $4.1 million the
first year, escalating to $19.7 million in 2003. The
average salary would be $20,000 a year. The capital
investment for inventory is an estimated $2.5 bil-
lion.
Easterwood Airport would play a key role if the
company chooses Bryan- College Station as a plant
site. The fuselage for the helicopter would be flown
into Easterwood by C -5A aircraft, officials said.
If Bell decides to locate in the area, a significant
amount of work would have to be done at
Easterwood, said Harry Raisor, director of aviation
at Easterwood.
The Lockheed C -5A Galaxy was the world's
largest airplane when it was introduced in 1968,
according to Lockheed Martin Corporation's Web
site.
Improvements would have to be made on runway
and taxiway sections of the airport to accommodate
the C -5A, said Raisor.
At this early stage in the process, Raisor said he
doesn't know how much that, or other airport work.
I might cost.
He said the C -5A has an array of landing gear
designed to minimize the aircraft's impact on run-
ways.
Robert Worley, president and CEO of the Bryan-
College Station Economic Development Cori
Monday the company needs 100 acres to bu
facility. A land -lease proposition with Texa:
University would be a huge selling point,
said.
A &M President Ray Bowen said Monday, "
of the property surrounding Easterwood
belongs to the university.
"I can't point to a specific piece, but we'd
help out."
Although the complex would require 100
construction would initially entail a 40,000 -:
foot facility on a 20 -acre site. The company h;
cated construction would start during the
quarter of this year. The company's goal is'
the plant in operation for the first quarter of
Additional space would include a 50,000
foot hangar facility that would be on line by
1999 and a 108,000- square -foot manufacturing
ty by July 2000. Another 108,000 square feet
be needed by November 2001, and anothei
square feet each of the following three years
Another selling point for the Bryan
Station area would be the presence of the
Engineering Extension Service, which wog
vide training for avionics mechanics, pil(
other personnel.
Those people coming into the area w(
spending money on hotel rooms, food, gasol
other products, which has raised the spirits
businessmen.
Mark Koenig, president of the Brazos
Restaurant Association, said "It would b(
exciting [for Bell] to come here.
"Especially the long -term residents and tl
ing training that would come about, simila
fire school. People would be spending m(
local restaurants, gas stations. We've all bee
ed about what the fire school has to off(
would be along the same lines. It would d(
bring more attention to the area."
Worley said local officials have two w
respond to Bell's request for proposals on tY,
He said that response will likely include e(
incentives to make the Bryan- College Stati
more attractive.
But Worley said it is too early in the pr
provide specific information on the incenti
LorA ctn and A &M officials will attend
ing on the prospe at 7:30 a.m. Wednesda
Bryan- College Staon Chamber of Commer
■ Eagle staff writ John Kirsch contributec
report.
The Eagle
-40 ,
pity of College Station News
"S Council to
✓ BOB SCHOBER I I 1 9
ogle Staff Writer 1
Athletics and money will dominate the
allege Station City Council meeting
hursday night.
For sports - minded residents, the council
)uld move on a proposal to spend $1.5 mil-
on to purchase 150 acres of land for a
immunity athletic park.
And a proposal will be considered that
ould allow limited parking in bike lanes
ear Anderson Park and limiting on- street
arking in other areas to create bike lanes.
u
Date: h pv i f �, 1 9 ` d
nsider park, plant projects
Several big -ti et items are also on the
agenda.
The council will consider authorizing
city staff to mov forward on the proposed
$450,000 project for odor control at the
Carter Creek waste treatment plant. It will
also consider slending $653,023 to equip
police cars and fire department vehicles
with mobile co uter systems.
The agenda o calls for consideration
of the preliminar 1 steps in offering for sale
$14.4 million in general obligation, rev-
enue and utility nds.
In the 3 p.m. v orkshop, the council will
consider, but not take action on, a propos-
al to reduce electric utility rates.
The workshop will be held at 3 p.m.
Thursday in the City Hall Chambers, 1101
Texas Ave. The regular council meeting
Will follow at 7 p.m. in the same room.
The agenda items include:
■ Athletic field — Since 1995, the City
Council and the Parks and Recreation
Board have continued to narrow a 13 -site
list for a community athletic park. The
bond referendum passed in 1995 included
$1.5 million for this project.
The preferred site is a vacant 15o -acre
Council
year budget contains $500,000 in the
wastewater fund capital improvements
program for odor mitigation at the
Carter Creek waste treatment plant. The
contract for engineering, design and con-
struction management, if approved, is
intended to reduce the waste treatment
odor permeating the Raintree and
Emerald Forest subdivisions.
■ Bonds — In 1995, according to city
staff, voters approved a $15.2 million
bond issue for capital improvements.
Thursday, the council will consider
church service
The council i
till also consider remov-
ing some on-street
parking from sections
of Anderson Di
've, George Bush Drive,
Central Park Lz
ne and Colgate Drive for
the installation
of bike lanes.
■ Carter Cr
k — The current fiscal
whether to issue a preliminary off
statement — a legal document inforr
the public of the impending issuanc
bonds — for general obligation bone
the amount of $6.2 million for var
road reconstruction projects; certific
of obligation in the amount of $5.5
lion for financing the Wolf Pen C,
hotel /convention center; and utility
enue bonds in the amount of $2.7 mill
■ Mobile communications — the cc
cil will consider purchasing state -of-
art mobile communications systems
ial all its police cars and fire department
ng vehicles. If purchased, each vehicle will
of be equipped with a computer which the
in officer can use to access directly autgno-
us bile, license and other records.
es Currently, each officer uses a radic to
il- request information from the dispat h-
ik ers, who in turn search for the inforna-
v- tion and then radio back to the officer.
n. The council will also discuss the f(l-
n- lowing:
e- ■ Signing the agreements that togeth
)r er cement the Wolf Pen Creek project;
parcel located at University Drive and
Harvey Road east of Texas 6. If developed,
the park will contain soccer fields and
baseball diamonds.
■ Bike lanes — The council will consid-
er amendments to the Bikeway ordinance
and Traffic Code to allow limited street
parking in bike lanes on Anderson Drive
between Park Place and Holleman Drive.
City staff are urging the amendment to
alleviate parking problems during days of
heavy use of Anderson Park and during
Please see COUNCIL, Page AS
■ Adopting a resolution to grant nin
acres of land and tax abatements to C. I
Jordan, which is proposing to build
60,000 square -foot building in the Colleg
Station Business Park. The compan_
intends to lease about one -third of th.
space to Prodigene Inc., of Des Moines,
division of Pioneer Seed Comp., which is
projected to bring 85 jobs and a $2.8 mil
lion annual payroll to the area.
For more information about the work
shop and regular meeting agendas, cal
764 -3500.
0
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: k)i i I 'S ,
Landing Bell plant
requires teamwork
•
r
he announcement that Bryan- College Station is a con-
tender for Bell Helicopter Textron's new plant is wel-
come news. It is gratifying to hear our community is
It clsive to one of the world's leading aerospace companies.
It understandable that Bell would take a good look at
Bry n- College Station. Our community has a long ist of
attr' utes that appeal to an aerospace firm. We have a central
local ion and moderate weather. We have an airport with a
con of tower, an instrument landing system and a wide
expanse of undeveloped property adjoining it — and yet one
that enjoys very light air traffic.
Perhaps most significantly, we have Texas A &M
Uni ersity. It would be difficult to overstate the importance
of M to the equation.
F Iing
t, A &M offers a steady stream of'sharp young engineer-
aduates. Aggies are known around the world not only
for quality of their education and their esprit de corps, but
for ir deeply ingrained work ethic.
T n there is the Texas Engineering Extension Sery ce, an
A& division renowned for its training and development
pro ms. TEEX could be a key player in developing the crew
and technical training that will accompany production of the
V -22 tilt -rotor aircraft.
Ar d there is A &M's potential as an aerospace indus part-
ner. A&M owns not only Easterwood Airport, but hun eds of
acres of undeveloped property adjoining the field.
Our community would reap huge benefits from landirig the
Bell plant. Bell would provide at least 1,000 new jobs at an
aver ige of $20,000 a year each in what would be a brand new
indu try for the Brazos Valley. Aggies and graduates of area
trad schools would see new and attractive opportunities
righ here at home. And service - sector jobs would Sprout
arot nd the business of training of pilots and crews.
A M as an institution would see impressive financial
resu is as well. There would be millions of dollars' worth of
tra' ing opportunities for the university. Research opportu-
niti would abound as Bell and the military sought answers
to t e myriad questions that surround such a complex
The tax revenue implications appear to be enormously pos-
itive Bell would invest an estimated $46 million in the plant,
not to mention $2.5 billion in inventory. Those are staggering
figures that would mean many millions of dollars in local tax
reve ue over the years.
This is far from a done deal, however. With so much at
stake, our competitors in other cities are pulling out the stops
to o er attractive packages to Bell. Bryan- College Station
must put its best deal on the table. And we must act very
quit y, for the company has asked for proposals within two
weeks.
As attractive as our community is, we should not assume
that Bryan- College Station and Texas A &M will sell them-
selves. We must reach consensus quickly and move fokward
aggressively and confidently. All local entities A &M.
Bryan, College Station. Brazos County and the business com-
ma 'ty — must pull in exactly the same direction at exactly
the same time. There is simply no time to quarrel and quib-
ble.
This opportunity will not be realized without enthusiastic
com unity and university investment. As attractive as
Bry n- College Station and Texas A &M are, we must ofter sig-
nifi t inducements to support such a major investment on
Bell ' part.
TI re have been few occasions in our history that required
the ind of focused action that will be needed in the net two
wee . It's time for us all to roll up our sleeves and get to work
— f r the good of community, university and posterity.,
E
33it..60ii�
In
x 1
f
f '
in
I _
Deal to lure
Bell Textron
in the - works
By BOB SCHOBER 41 /
Eagle Staff Writer
Local officials are running a feverish round of
meetings aimed at fact - finding, resource gather-
ing and political negotiating to craft a proposal
they hope will keep the Bryan - College Station
area in the running for a new Bell Helicopter
Textron manufacturing plant.
They must do so quickly, because Bell officials
have imposed an April 20 deadline for a develop-
ment proposal.
Bryan- College Station Economic Development
Corp. officials hosted a special information meet-
ing about the plant Wednesday morning. About
50 local officials, business leaders and representa-
tives of the Texas A &M University School of
Above are dimensions of uen s vit - rotor piaim. I Please see BELL, Page A2
Bell
Engineering packed the EDC
meeting room to watch a Bell
video and hear the details. The
group then met in closed session
to discuss what a financial incen-
tive package to lure the Bell plant
might look like.
Later, EDC President and CEO
Robert Worley said he thought it
would take probably a week "to
tie down the details.
"We discussed the politics of
the location and, in general
terms, the incentives direction
we want to take," he said.
At stake are a projected 1,100
jobs, ranging from almost $13 an
hour to more than $22 an hour,
and a $19.1 million annual pay-
roll, according to the develop-
ment corporation. The plant
would manufacture the V22
Osprey tilt -rotor plane for the
Marine Corps. as part of a 25-
year, $1.3 billion contract with
the Pentagon. The company also
is proposing to build at the new
site a 9 -seat commercial model,
the Bell Textron -609, for which it
already has 60 orders.
Bell officials have been
straightforward about the compo-
nents of a successful bid, said
EDC chairman Richard Smith.
"This is what we need to do to
be competitive," Smith said. "We
[will] have to [provide] aggres-
sive tax abatement, land, low -cost
or no -cost buildings and infra-
structure assistance."
Bell, located in Fort Worth,
included Bryan- College Station
on a eight -city list of potential
sites announced Monday. The
other Texas cities being consid-
ered are Houston, San Antonio,
Austin, Amarillo, Dallas, For
Worth and Arlington.
The EDC will create and pre
sent the proposal to Bell, subje
to approval by Bryan and College
Station city councils, Brazos
County and A &M officials.
Another purpose o
Wednesday's meeting was t o
spread information and tall
strengths in this process. Based
on several individuals' com-
ments, Bryan and College Station
hold the following strengths:
■ A &M — One of Bell's major
considerations will be training
for avionics mechanics, pilots
and other personnel. A &M will
guarantee a steady stream of
engineering graduates, and the
Texas Engineering Extension
Service, which would provide the
training, "is second to none,"
said state Sen. Steve Ogden.
■ Airport and land — A conve-
nient, low- traffic airport like
Easterwood was thought to be a
major advantage. The manufac-
turing plan calls for the fuselages
to be flown in by C -5A cargo air-
craft and for the planes to be
assembled nearby. Bell will even-
tually require 100 acres for the
complex, and A &M owns land
near the airport. The airport's
runways are long enough to
accommodate the C -5A, but some
modifications would have to be
made so the giant planes could
maneuver more easily.
■ Connections — A &M alumni
count in their number several
military chiefs. When he heard
that the Bryan: College Station
area was being considered,
retired Marine Corps. Gen.
Ormand Simpson, an A &M grad-
uate, reportedly placed a call to
the Commandant of the Marine
Corps. According to one of the
participants at the EDC meeting,
Simpson said he was told the
Bryan- College Station area "will
be given every consideration" in
the final site selection process.
Also, the A &M Industrial
Engineering Department holds a
five -year, $,17 million manufac-
turing research program with the
Corpus Christi Army Depot.
"We feel we can help [Bell] with
the technical issues because all
1,500 [parts] suppliers will be
Fort
sending in here," engineering
professor Don Phillips said.
Smith said Bell officials will
ct narrow the field to the final two
or three sites by May 5. If the
Bryan- College Station area is
selected, Bell officials said, con -
f struction on a 40,000 - square -foot
building, part of a total complex
y of 308,000 - square -feet, would start
in late fall.
0
� The Eagle
City ofColege f StationNews
Date: h P1 i 1 10, 199 3
CS council eyes
electri c rate cut
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City
Council will consider an ordi-
nance to lower residential elec-
tric rates for homes and business-
es at its April 23 meeting.
The council Thursday ap-
)roved a motion by Councilman
)ick Birdwell to lower electric
ates by $2 million, which city
+ ff said means the average local
eowner would see his month -
lp bill of $68.23 reduced
by about $4.
College Station last reduced
electric rates by 10 percent in
1996. The city has since changed
its supplier of electricity and
reaped surplus revenues, but
City Manager Skip Noe explained
that the city needed to keep the
surplus as a cushion against any
rise in transmission rates that
could result from ongoing litiga-
tion about those rates with the
city of Bryan.
"We're not opposed to rate
decreases," Noe told the council
7 hotel/center pacts
get approval by city
By BOB $CHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The Wolf Pen Creek hotel and
convention center moved from
concept *nd closer to construc-
tion Thutsday night.
The college Station City
Council approved seven inter-
locking agreements that create
the partnership between the
city and the developer, Wolf
Pen Creek Ltd.
The city is guaranteeing $6
million for the construction of a
city -owned conference center
and the developer will invest
$21 million in a 80,000- square-
foot office building and 200 -
room, full- service hotel.
The project will sit on about
nine acres at Dartmouth and
Please see HOTEL, Page AS
during its afternoon workshop
session. " e're trying to avoid a
roller cow ter in rates."
Birdwel , however, argued that
a $2 million reduction would not
unduly ex ose the city "when we
have an adequate cushion regard-
less of the' outcome" of the litiga-
tion. He also said the reduction
would help College Station better
compete in the coming era of elec-
tric transmission deregulation.
"People are dang well used to
the price of gasoline going up and
down," he said.
"They handle that all right, and
I think people can handle this all
right, too."
Hotel ■
From Al
Holleman streets.
The city's $6 million invest-
ment will be funded through a tax
increment financing zone and
hotel/motel taxes generated by
the hotel.
Approval of the agreements,
will move the project into th
design and site - planning phase
Assistant City Manager To
Brymer said the project is sched'
uled to be completed in fall 2000.
The complex deal resulted in a
$100,000 in attorneys' fees, which
raised the eyebrows of some
councilmen. After some discus-
sion, the City Council approved
payment.
In other business:
■ The council agreed to buy a
computer data communications
system for most of its police cars
and some fire department vehi-
cles.
Once installed, the computers
effectively will make each patrol
car a terminal in a national law
enforcement information net-
work that officials said promises
to greatly speed up access to crit-
ical information.
The council agreed to spend
$653,023, most of which goes
toward mounting another anten-
na on the city's radio tower and
basic system "infrastructure."
The system can expand as both
departments grow, but each addi-
tion will cost about $9,000.
■ College Station will have a
site for its long- sought communi-
ty athletic park, too. The council
agreed to spend $1.5 million,
authorized by voters in the
March 1995 general obligation
bond election, to buy a vacant,
150 -acre parcel located at
University Drive and Harvey
Road east of Texas 6.
The park is intended as a
regional facility for both adult
and child baseball and soccer,
according to city staff.
■ The council tweaked the
College Station Bike Loop Project
in the face of parking demands
along Anderson Drive.
The council approved, at the
request of soccer teams and
churchgoers, amendments to its
Bikeway Ordinance to allow lim-
ited parking in existing bike
lanes on Anderson between Park
Place and Holleman Drive.
But the council also eliminated
on- street parking on other streets
to create bike lanes and expand
the bikeway system.
Specifically, parking will be
eliminated on George Bush Drive
along the Texas A &M University
golf course; on Colgate Drive
between Wolf Pen Creek Park
and Central Park Lane; on both
sides of Central Park Lane
between Colgate Drive and
Southwest Parkway; and the west
side of Anderson Drive, between
George Bush Drive and Park
Place, and both sides between
Park Place and Lemontree Park.
■ The council approved a grant
of land and 8 years of graduated
tax abatements to a developer
who will build in the College
Station Business Park.
The city will give the develop-
er, College Station Development
Group L.P., about 9.3 acres of
land worth $280,740, $50,000 cash
and partial tax abatements worth
$67,784 in return for its $2.25 mil-
lion capital investment in a
60,000- square -foot building.
The developer, in turn, will
lease one -third of the building to
Prodigene Inc., a plant bioengi-
neering firm.
For its tax abatements, worth
$39,379, Prodigene guarantees it
will provide 85 jobs and a $2.8 mil-
lion payroll.
The city may have to build a
road for the development, city
staff said, which also would open
up another 30 acres of the 200 -
acre Business Park.
■ The council requested
detailed information about the
proposed odor abatement project
for the Carter's Creek waste
treatment plant.
City staff will present the infor-
mation at the council's April 23
workshop session and prepare a
contract for the estimated
$450,000 project for the council to
consider during its regular meet-
ing that night.
1
T he Eagle
�Y
.. C ity , of College Station News
Date:
F ire damages
By REBECCA TORRELLAS
it1 z
Eagle Staff Writer
A possible case of arson in
Sandstone Park on Saturday after-
noon caused between $30,000 and
$50,000 in damage to equipment and
structures, College Station fire offi-
cials said.
Fire Department Battalion Chief
Thomas Goehl said someone i the
neighborhood called the fire de art -
ment after seeinv smoke at M
the
1 `ZI 1 Y
park playground
park, which is located on Sebesta
Road off the Texas 6 East Bypass.
"We got the call at 2:09 p.m.," he
said. "When we got there, the play-
ground was engulfed in flames."
Goehl said a wooden playground
set with a combination of slides,
stairs and a bridge was on fire. The
flames had spread to nearby picnic
tables, caused a grass fire and heat
damage in a nearby pavilion.
"We also found a second fire in a
portable restroom," he said.
Goehl said department investiga-
tors suspect arson.
"We speculate a trash can was
used to light the playground equip-
ment," he said. "We think the trash
can was slid underneath [the equip-
ment]."
Goehl said there are no witnesses
to the incident.
"We're hoping anyone with infor-
mation will come forward," he said.
Please see FIRE, Page A2
Fi re $30,000 and " he s 0 city money
in damages," he said.
Goehl said all collected evi-
dence was turned over to the
From A College Station Police
Department to be analyzed.
"This is a major city loss." Steve Beachy, director of the
Goehl said the Playground city's Parks and Recreation
equipment is completely demol- Department, said he was disap-
ished. , pointed with the incident.
"We are estimating between "This will be a major inconve-
nience to the people in the area,"
he said.
"It is unnecessary destruction
of city property."
Beachy said it will take a long
time to repair the damages "at a
major cost to the city."
Goehl said anyone with infor-
mation on the incident should
call the fire department at 764-
3705.
Special to The Eagle
Photo by Thomas Goehl
The charred
remains of play-
ground equipment
stand Saturday in
Sandstone Park in
College Station.
The playground set
and other struc-
tures were burned
in the park, result-
ing in $30,000 to
$50,000 in dam-
ages, officials said.
•
The Ea le
g
City of College Station News
TONIGHT
6pm
against
the
Northgate
Parking
Garage
College
Station
Conference
Center
Room 105
(1300 George Bush Dr,)
Be
There
Brought to you by
George Sopasakis
and
Burger Boy
(the little store that could!)
•
711 ,-d
The case
C
Businessman faults
analysis of parking
Northgate garage u
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
About 30 residents opposed to
the $6.8 million Northgate
Parking Garage gathered Mon-
day night "to hear the other side
of the story," as .meeting organiz-
er George Sopasakis put it.
Sopasakis, owner of the Burger
Boy restaurant that sits next to
the site of the proposed garage,
xessary, he says
ed the meeting to dissect a
king consultant's analysis of
Northgate area and to present
own interpretation of the
king facts.
ollege Station Assistant City
lager Tom Brymer led off the
!ting by summarizing a park-
analysis of Northgate by
hazo, Tang & Associates, a
see PARKING, Page A2
•
Parking
From
Al
professional parking consulting
firm. DeShazo recommended
building a four- level, 752 -space
garage on 1.61 acres located
between Second Street and
College Main south of Louise
Avenue. Using a "conservative
fee schedule," DeShazo projected
the garage would pay for itself
with user fees, Brymer said.
Insisting the report was riddled
with mistakes, Sopasakis
claimed the consultant miscalcu-
lated actual parking supply and
demand, thereby inflating the
project's feasibility while hiding
its financial flaws.
"If you look into it, it stinks,"
he said. "It won't hold up."
On May 2, voters will decide
the issue. On the ballot will be an
ordinance that prohibits the city
from participating financially in
the project, which would be fund-
ed by city - issued revenue bonds.
A "no" vote supports the garage;
a vote of "yes" opposes the
garage.
Using graphs and his own cal-
culations,. Sopasakis claimed
De!§haz6 undercounted the cur -
rently available parking spaces
and overestimated parking
demand in the area.
Sopasakis used photographs to
attempt to prove that demand
was overstated. Starting Tuesday
and ending Saturday, Sopasakis
said, he took pictures every day
of the 153 -space Patricia Street
parking lot at one -hour intervals
between 11 a.m. and 1 a.m.
According to his pictures, cars
appeared to spill out of the park-
ing lot and onto the street only
during a few late -night hours on
Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The photos taken during daytime
and early evening hours showed
stretches of vacant parking
spaces.
Based on his calculations,
Sopasakis insisted the garage a:
configured by DeShazo will not
be self funding, but rather wil
cost taxpayers about $500,000
year.
"I don't want to carry this loac
and be obligated based of
DeShazo's sloppy work," he said.
Despite his ferocious criticisn
of the DeShazo report, Sopasaki
said he was not opposed to a park
ing garage in Northgate.
"Just this proposal," he said.
A DeShazo representative wa
not available to rebut Sopasaki,
charges, and Brymer refused t
offer his opinion of the figure
But Brymer offered to meet wit
Sopasakis to analyze the calcul,
tions and discuss the report.
Several council and mayor;
candidates attended the meetin
as did Mayor Lynn McIlhane
Councilmen Swiki Anderson ar
Steve Esmond spoke in oppo!
tion to the garage proposal.
After the meeting, 1997 Tex
A &M University graduate Chi
Foster lent his support
Sopasakis' analysis.
"I've never had a problem pal
ing there, whether it's going
Cafe Eccell, cramming into Dv
Chicken or visiting AS
[Methodist] Church," he said.
•
•
CS to sign contract
with developers
College Station City Council coun-
cilmembers, the mayor and other city
officials will meet with representa-
tives of the developer of Wolf Pen
Creek to sign the various documents
creating the private /public partner-
ship that will bring a full- service 200 -
room hotel and a conference center
to the city.
The public is invited to attend the
signing at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday at
Holleman Drive and Dartmouth
Street.
In case of rain, the signing will
take place in the Council Chambers
at College Station City Hall, 1101
Texas Ave.
•
Bell plant p
is likely to i
`creative fin
By BLAIR FANNIN 1 . I t5
Eagle Staff Writer
A local economic official said
Tuesday that some "creative
financing" will be offered by the
community in an attempt to
attract Bell Helicopter Textron to
the Bryan- College Station area.
"There is going to be a proposal
from the community to do some
creative financing," said Robert
Worley, president and CEO of the
Bryan- College Station Economic
Development Corp. "That's really
as specific as can I get on that."
Fort Worth -based Bell
Helicopter Textron is looking for
a site to manufacture its V -22
Osprey tilt -rotor aircraft, with
the Bryan- College Station area in
consideration along with seven
other cities — Houston, San
`Nftw
oposal
kclude
.ncing'
Anto io, Austin, Amarillo,
Dalla , Fort Worth and
Arlin on.
The deadline to submit the pro-
posal to the company is Monday.
"Also included will be a propos-
al from the Texas Engineering
Extension Service do some train-
ing," Worley said. "That will be
the guts of it."
If a deal is struck with Bell, offi-
cials said the company would
make a $46- million capital invest-
ment and create 1,100 new jobs.
The company currently has 523
military orders for the tilt -rotor
aircraft, each of which costs an
estim ted $30 million.
A ell Textron -609 civilian
mode which has 60 orders, also
would be produced at the facility.
Please see PLANT, Page AS
Plant
The client list includes Wayne
Huizenga, owner of the Miami
Dolphins, professional golfer
Greg Norman and Alliance
Development of Fort Worth.
Easterwood Airport would play
a key role if the company chooses
the Bryan- College Station area as
a site for the plant. The fuselage
for the helicopter would be flown
into Easterwood Airport by C -5A
aircraft, officials said. Company
officials have said the firm needs
100 acres for its new plant site.
Texas A &M University owns
land near Easterwood Airport.
Economic officials recently said
they hope some sort of land -lease
proposition could be worked out
with the company. Construction
on a 40,000 - square -foot building,
part of a total complex of 308,000 -
square -feet, would start in late
fall, officials said.
A new manufacturing facility
for the V -22 Osprey is essential to
handle the number of orders the
company is receiving, a Bell offi-
cial said recently.
"Our usual activities have gone
out the window," Worley said, as
he and fellow economic officials
rush to meet the Bell deadline.
The Bryan - College Station
Economic Development Corp.
board of directors will meet
Thursday, Worley said, and there
will be some discussion about the
Bell prospect.
"We will talk only in general
terms [about Bell] in executive
session Thursday," he said.
Texas A&M University
L�1 \I
WEDNESDAY a APRIL 15 @ 199
`Mud lot'to close this December
BY COLLEEN KAVANAGH
Staff writer
The "Mud lot" parking lot at
gate, which is used by an esti-
700 motorists each day, will
c seat the end of this year.
Jack Culpepper, owner of the
Mud lot, has decided to use the lot
for hotel and retail development,
Larry Haskins, his attorney said
Tuesday.
"The agreement with the opera-
tor of Mud lot expires Dec. 31," he
said. "Jack doesn't anticipate re-
newing the contract, and it is ex-
tremely unlikely that it will contin-
ue to exist as a parking lot."
Haskins said he and Culpepper
are in favor of a Northgate parking
garage because they are convinced
the parking garage will be able to
support itself.
"The proposal is to charg $2 per
day, the same amount as m id lot,"
Haskins said. "Mud lot makes
$1,400 per day and offers le park-
ing spaces than the garage ould "
College Station citize s will
vote on a proposed ordinax ce that
would stop the city from sp ruling,
using, lending or grantinj funds
for a Northgate parking ga age on
May 2. A "no" vote supp is the
garage, and a "yes" vote o poses
the garage.
Haskins said he cannot hink of
a good reason why student would
not be in favor of the parkinj garage
and vote against the ordin ce.
"All of the students who ised to
park in Mud lot will have to find
other places to park," he sai 1. "This
will affect everyone. A garage also
would benefit the community and
the city because it'll bring better de-
velopment to the Northgate area."
Councilman Dick Birdwell was
one of three who voted to approve
the ordinance without a public
vote. He placed an ad in Tuesday's
The Bryan - College Station Eagle
encouraging citizens to vote to
stop this "unsound project." He
said he does not support the pro-
ject because there is no need for a
parking garage.
"I was out in Northgate this af-
temoon," he said. "And there were
over 120 empty spaces. They've
(College Station) overestimated the
parking needs. It's going to be big
money for the taxpayers."
George Sopasakis, owner of the
Burger Boy restaurant in Northgate,
said the city's parking consultant's
analysis is filled with mistakes.
"It (the analysis) was done in a
very sloppy manner," he said. "The
analysis has about 80 percent of the
parking which is in Northgate. Ob-
viously, there are mistakes. They
(the city) cannot, in good faith, so-
licit investors when there are errors
like this."
Sopasakis organized a meeting
Monday night to study the parking
consultant's review of the Northgate
area and to present his own inter-
pretation of the facts.
Sopasakis also said the city offi-
cials have overestimated the need
for Northgate parking.
"I believe the parking is ade-
quate," he said. "They went to the
bar owners to find out the demand
for the area. The city would be
spending our money to accommo-
date the late -night businesses."
DeShazo, Tang & Associates,
parking consulting firm, was hin
by the city to do the analysis. De
hazo recommended building
four- level, 752 space garage b
tween Second Street and Collet
Main south of Louise Avenue.
Mayor Lynn McIlhaney sa
they wanted to maximize span
and minimize the amount of lar
to purchase.
"Some people think that we doi
need a garage and we just need
add more parking lots," she sai
"The problem with that is it is dift
cult to get the land. I support a d
cision to go ahead with the garag
This issue has been going on for:
years, but this is the fast time v
have gotten the property, busine
and city together on this."
g� The Eagle
City 'of College Station; News
Date: Ao(
Owner '
clos � e Mud Lot
Culpepper working on hotel- retail development deal for site
By JOHN KIRSCH f
Eagle Staff' Writer 1 Nd
The Mud Lot parking lot in ear the Texas A &M
University campus will likely close at the end of the
Year, according to a spokesn an for owner Jack
Culpepper.
Larry Haskins, Culpeppe 's attorney, said
Culpepper doesn't plan to r the lease on the 6.2-
acre Mud Lot site when the40 act expires Dec. 31.
Haskins said Culpepper is wor ing on a hotel - retail
development deal for the site. He declined to dis-
close details of the deal.
From 500 to 700 vehicles a day park at the lot at .
the corner of Church Avenue and Nagle Street near
the A &M campus, said Haskins. The charge is $2
per day per vehicle.
Doug Williams, associate director of parking,
traffic and transportation services at A &M, said he
doesn't expect the closing of the Mud Lot to signifi-
cantly increase the demand for on- campus parking.
That's because an additional 1,500 parking spaces
will be available to students when Reed Arena
opens on the West Campus April 21, Williams said.
Haskins said the decision to develop the Mud Lot
site is related to efforts to build a Northgate parking
garage. However, Haskins said Culpepper plans to
proceed with the Mud Lot development regardless
of the results of the May 2 vote on the Northgate
garage proposal.
"Jack is committed to developing the property,"
Haskins said. i
Haskins. said he and Culpepper support the pro-
posed parking garage.
is
THE BATTALION
Thursday • April 16, 1998 OPINION
CITY BEAT -7
Park place
Northgate parking gar age offers needed resource to campus,
College Station resident
El
ver the past
several
months, Aggies i
have heard minor of a
new parking garage to
be located in the
Northgate District
Could it be? Could
students actually see a
new parking lot built I Lue
and available for stu- 1
dent use as opposed CALLA
to seeing our already colum]
restricted pars . 9
slowly demurred by consttucti(
The answer is simple — student
witness this at event and they a
a hand in making the garage a wall
Students have probably seen IN
that plainly but confusingly read "S
the Parking Garage —vote Against!
What! Support — Against.
Ok, Heres the deal.
An initiative will be before the
Of College Station (that's us) on M;
that states:
" The City of College Station shal
expend, use, or lend funds, nor shat
City of College Station make grants,
nancial aid or grants of any kind, for
development or construction of the
Northgate Public Parking Garage Pn
Council Resolution No. 9- 11- 97 -7b).
The simple fact behind all of the 1
cal skullduggery and verbage is the (
College Station needs to get off its ru
and build the garage.
The City of College Station hired ,
fessional parking garage consultatio
firm called DeShazo, Tang & Associa
evaluate the feasibility of a "multi-le
Parking garage" in the Northgate are
The report went through a couple of
drafts using different criteria each tit
but the result remained the same —
the garage.
The firm specifically recommende
752 -space garage to be located on ] . fi
acres of ideal land right in the middle of all
the action.
The garage would be in close proximity
to the areas three most prominent church
es and all of the local culture to be found
'. in the Northgate district.
In addition, the report indicated that by
using a conservative scale of ($ 1per
hour /$2 per day maximum) the garage
will be able to annually eam 1.5 times its
/AY expenses, thereby, actually yielding a prof -
ist I It its fast year of operation.
The garage has widespread support in-
------ cluding the police and fire departments,
I? as well as many Northgate business own -
can ers. The plan does not even call for an in-
i have crease in property taxes — quite to the
y. contrary — the garage will probably boost
signs property values.
Pport Larry Haskins, attomey for the
Culpepper family, recently stated "It is
extremely unlikely that the mud lot will
be available for parking after December
hers 31of this year." When asked why the lot
y 2 would be unavailable Haskins simply
replied "It will be developed.-
not Mud lot provides 700 parking spaces
the for Aggies every day of the year ,and
f fi- when it's gone those people still have to
he attend class.
So, if the city and the voters do the right
ect ( thing. they can have the 700 can go to
their new, clean, well lit and affordable
:)liti- parking garage with the students' fresh
ty of green backs in tow. They could literally
ap choose to laugh all the way to the bank
So, what's the problem, you ask
pro - Three of the seven- person city council
doubt the reality of the numbers estab-
!s, to lished by DeShazo, Tang & Associates.
Bled Since when did three guys on a city coun-
cil become confidant enough to dispute
the validity of an expert firm's estimate?
e Even if this argument is valid, the city
uild need only increase the daily maximum
charge for parking and the dispute over
I a numbers would be a moot debate. The re-
port does state that the m imherc f— n
gested rates are conservative.
1 know there are accountants working for
the city because somebody adds up my utili-
ty bill, in addition to sending my parents nice
little notes saying something about unpaid
parking tickets. So why can't these number
—deers check the firms estimate? I'm no
math major but it can't be that hard.
Now for the interactive part.
Aggies must leam to vote.
The only way the city is ever going to
begin listening to students is if they are
put into a position to have to listen or lose
their prestigious "city council" seat.
The process is rather simple and can be
mastered by every Aggie with just a few sec-
onds of contemplative practice. Pick up the
Phone and dial the county tax assessor /col-
lectors' office. Tell the person who answers
you would like to register to vote in Brazos
County. He or she will ask a couple of easy
questions (short respo so rry, no multi-
ple choice) and then mail the card to your
local address. They don't even send you a
bill for the postage used to mail the card.
It's that simple.
This columnist has come to understand
that the margin needed to gain approval
for the parking garage is only a few hun-
dred, there are 40- something thousand Ag-
gies currently enrolled so the math is real
easy, even for a journalism major.
The time to register for the May 2 elec-
tion has passed, but assuming the initiative
fails (remember, it has to fail for the garage
Plan to move forward) but the vote for the
garage plan itself will be coming soon and
then we can flex it little red ass student
muscle.
The Northgate parking garage is truly a
worthwhile undertaking on the part of
those that support it, and its fruition will
directly benefit the students ofTexas A &M.
Do what you can to ease the parking woes
in College Station. Register locally and vote.
Len Callaway is a junior
S
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The Eagle
City of College Station
Date: �Or 1 7, 191
Let the voters decide
rom the content of his article,
it is obvious staff writer Bob
Schober left last week's "We
People" meeting early. He
m' sed the best part of the meeting.
lengthy discussion of the park -
lin garage ensued. I heard for the
fir$t time that one of Northgate's
churches is among property to be
mayor and a current council
?r on the panel did not deny
evenues to the garage were
qu stioned since many churchgo-
ers use Texas A &M's parking
garage at no charge on Sundays.
The plan for the parking garage
is for a self-service facility. No
seclir ity attendants are to be pro-
vided. Safety of the people using
the garage and damage to the
garage by intoxicated patrons were
The subject of a garage providing
increased areas to park in the prox-
imily of bars and the possibility of
an ' crease in driving while intoxi-
cate I arrests in the area was side-
step ed by the panel.
I would like some feedback from
people who are affected around
No hgate: business people, cus-
tomers, residents, church members
and tudents. Would they use such
a g age? Do they have any safety
or o her concerns about the
garage?
I tired of the newspaper's and
the ity council's long list of pros
and hort list of cons. Let the vot-
ers ecide.
KATHERINE M. WHEELER
College Station
News
e
:w r The Eagle
City f College Station News
3'
C -1
Garage
backers
meet 411,
Business owners
rebut criticisms
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle S14 ff Writer
Calling Northgate the "true
downtown" of College Station,
John Raney, owner of the Texas
Aggie Bookstores and president
of the Northgate District Associ-
ation, urged Thursday that a
parking garage be built in the
area.
"This area had enough parking
spaces for 1939, and it stayed that
way through [its] entire growth.
To survive and remain economi-
cally viable, this area needs park-
ing," he said at a meeting of 15
Northgate area merchants and
other supporters.
The group gathered to rebut
another Northgate businessman,
George Sopasakis, owner of
Burger Boy restaurant, who has
claimed that a city-commissioned
parking study of Northgate is
flawed. Sopasakis spearheaded a
meeting Monday night during
which he insisted that DeShazo,
Please see GARAGE, Page AS
Date: AO� 0 1 19
Nei
Garage
. From Al
Tang & Associates, a parking con-
sultant, underestimated parking
supply and overestimated park-
ing demand in the Northgate
area.
In an interview Wednesday,
John DeShazo, who authored the
study, admitted overlooking the
60 spaces in the Cafe Eccell park-
ing lot, which Sopasakis pointed
out. But he claimed that "there
was enough safety built in that it
doesn't change the final result."
Based on DeShazo's recommen-
dation, the city proposes to build
a $6.8 million, 752- space, four -
level parking garage between
Second Street and College Main
south of Louise Avenue.
The merchants listed some of
the reasons why they support the
garage: employees of Northgate
businesses have no place to park;
several storefronts remain
unrented because of a perceived
lack of parking; at least one
Northgate church is considering
relocating because it can't accom-
modate its parishioners; the mer-
chants themselves will help sub-
sidize the garage by reimbursing
their customers for cost of park-
ing; and the garage w4 improve
Property values in the area.
"People in the south end of
College Station will benefit from
this garage," said attorney Larry
Haskins, "because it will raise
property values and property
taxes, so the city will have to
raise less property tax [from
homeowners]."
Haskins is the attorney for
Jack Culpepper, the owner of the
Mud Lot parking lot located at
Church Avenue and Nagle Street,
where 500 to 700 can park every
day at $2 each. Haskins announ-
ced Tuesday that Culpepper will
not renew a lease for the 6.2 -acre
lot, which expires Dec. 31.
Culpepper instead will attempt to
improve the site by seeking a
hotel/retail development deal.
Haskins said the loss of the
Mud Lot parking without build-
ing the garage would have a huge
impact.
Gregg Baird, manager of the
Aggieland Credit Union, 501
University Drive, said that with-
out a replacement for the Mud
Lot parking, "it will be hard to
stay.'
To Haskins, the garage "is a ,no-
brainer."
"If the students are willing to
pay $2 to park in dust and mud,"
he said, "why wouldn't they be
willing to pay $2 to park in a
i
L�
ure, covered garage?
Bill Boyett, whose family own-
ed much of the Northgate land for
generations,' added his voice in
support of the garage. He is vice
president of On -Line Real Estate
Services, which manages apart-
ments and properties throughout
the area.
He pointed out that city codes
required one - and -a -half. parking
spaces per .apartment unit when
most of the older apartment
buildings were erected. But new
codes, recognizing the fact that
most students have their own
cars, now require three parking
spaces for every two bedrooms.
He also sought to defuse the
argument that the merchants
should build a garage them-
selves.
"I can testify that Don [ Ganter,
owner of Dixie Chicken], Richard
[Benning, owner of White Buffalo
Artisans Gallery] and others
have tried to buy land here for
Parking for 20 years, but my fam-
ily wouldn't sell it. Part of that is
my great- grandfather's fault," he
said.
And Raney added that the city
needs to be involved in the pro-
ject "because there's not one sin-
gle piece of property around here'
a single developer could pur-
chase to build the garage."
The City Council in December
approved a condemnation `pro-
in
ceeding to ga ownership of one
of the four pieces of the parcel on
which the garage would sit. The
council also approved a contract
for sale with a second owner, and
negotiations with the remaining
two parcels were halted after a
Petition drive by residents op-
Posed to the garage was present-
ed to the College Station City
Council. The council voted to
Place the issue on the May 2 bal-
lot. The referendum prohibits the
city from participating financial-
lY in the garage project There-
fore, a "yes" vote On the referen-
dum question oppdses the garage,
a "no" vote favors it
The city proposes to finance
construction of the garage with
revenue bonds, and the DeShazo
study calculates that revenue
will be sufficient to pay the debt.
"If DeShazo is off 30 percent [in
Parking revenue projection], this
garage will still pay for itself,"
Boyett said- "And I can guarantee
that this would be the first and
only project the city got involved
in that ... [will pay] for itself."
INS
sec
ty of::Col ege Station{ News
Date: flPr i' I 1
Fr day, April 17, 1998 50 cents
V -22 deadline approaches
Officials offer
Riverside site
over airport
By BLAIR FANNIN
Eagle Staff Writer L
Economic officials said Thursday Cfey have
opted for Texas A &M University's Riverside
Campus over Easterwood Airport as part of a
proposal to land a new Bell Helicopter Textron
manufacturing facility.
Robert Worley, president and CEO of the
Bryan - College Station Economic Development
Corp., said during Thursday's board of direc-
tors meeting that the Riverside Campus,
approximately 2,000 acres located west of F.M.
2818, is now the key site in the proposal
because of land availability.
"To get Easterwood Airport in shape, you
would have to close one of the runways,"
Worley told the board. "Also, some of the other
land [around Easterwood] A &M has dedicated
for other purposes. If we only presented
Easterwood, there is no way ... [Bell] would
take it."
The company is looking for a 100 -acre site to
of cture 'ts V O
AP file photo
man a 1 22 sprey hit -rotor aircraft. Joe Ysasl watches a prototype V -22 land at the Dallas convention cen-
ter. The V -22 prototype soon will take wing with a production plant and
Please see SITE, Page A8 testing center based in one of eight Texas cities.
Competing cities
try to sweeten
deals for plant
By KATIE FAIRBANK
Associated Press
FORT WORTH — The V -22 Osprey, which spent
years trying to get its funding efforts off the ground,
soon will take wing with a production plant and test-
ing center based in one of eight Texas cities.
Amarillo, Arlington, Austin, the Bryan- College
Station area, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San
Antonio are all hoping to be chosen by aircraft maker
Bell Helicopter Textron, which projects the plant to
create more than 1,000 new jobs and an annual eco-
nomic impact of $100 million.
With that much at stake, it's no wonder city offi-
cials are scurrying to turn their bids by a Monday
deadline. The company is expected to narrow the
field to three by the first week of May, then have a
final decision soon after.
"It will be work nonstop from now until the 20th
[Monday] to finalize the proposal," said Mario
Hernandez, president of the San Antonio Economic
Development Foundation.
Hernandez echoes the sentiments of all the cities
chasing the contract from Bell, a subsidiary of
Please see CITIES, Page A2
0)
Cit ies
� From. A 1
Providence, R.I. -based Textron.
"It's certainly a very desirable
manufacturing sector, one with a
unique product involved that
could have tremendous potential
for the future, "`lie said.
Bell is producing the V -22
Osprey tilt -rotor for fleet service
to the military. The Marines are
expected to order more than 470
Ospreys, while the Air Force is
expected to order an additional
50.
The services plan to use the V-
22, which sells for about $30 mil-
lion apiece, to shuttle troops from
ship to shore in amphibious oper-
ations, for search and rescue, and
for medical evacuations. The
cabin can carry 24 combat -
equipped troops plus a three -per-
son crew.
Bell also will make a civilian
version that carries six to nine
Passengers. So far, it has about 65
orders.
The tilt -rotor concept essential-
ly combines the wing of an air-
plane with the rotors of a heli-
copter. The Osprey's two engines
rotate into an upward position
for takeoff, driving propellers
that lift the aircraft in the same
manner as a copter's rotor. Once
airborne, however, the engines
drop down into the normal hori-
zontal position found on any air-
plane and the Osprey then flies in
a conventional manner.
The idea of developing such a
Plane took shape in 1972 through
a Joint Army -NASA research pro-
gram. The first, relatively small
prototype flew in 1977, sparking
the interest of the Navy 'and
Marine Corps to develop a larger
version that could carry combat.
equipped droops and fly at speeds
UP to 400 miles per hour.
While many applauded the con-
cept, funding for the tilt -rotor
encountered a great deal of turbU• _
lence. In 1988, the first production
of the Osprey was unveiled in
Arlington, but within a year,
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney
canceled production contracts.
Although funding was reinstat-
ed in 1992, the aircraft's price tag
and questions about its perfor-
mance were still raising con-
cerns.
ty - ;of G lie ge Station News
� 'Date: Ann n► ) g g
J
Put him on the ii list
heard you folks we e buding
garages. Please put me on the
list. When I built my house I
Edn't need a garage. Now I have a
ruck and some tools. I'd like a
dace to park my truck. Plus, when
.t rains my tools get wet. I should
lave built my own garage, but just
lever got around to it.
To be honest, I don't even have
he room on my property. Fortun-
Ltely, my neighbor has some land.
Fall can just condemn his proper -
y. Don't worry. It won't cost the
axpayer a dime. When I sell my
Louse, I will pay back the cost of
he garage.
By the way, do you people do
, 00ls?
PAT DALLAS
College Station
J
e_E� le tip
S ,Ze� 'hr atl i. � xt E» �ti J.d •+-+ ?� i� t9•a, � S R� -. .
. -T
:t3' f f Col eg�e ;Station` News'
Date: k Y ti 1 19 1
Sunday, April 19, 1998 Section
13 r a zas E
A &M aflutter over Bell possibifities
training, expertise ma jor pluses in local quest for Osprey facility, officials say
ly BLABt FANNIN
ogle Staff writer
1th the Bryan - College Station
one a in the running for Bell
Helicopter Textiron's new V -22
spray tilt -rotor manufacturing faclBty,
mas A &M University officials are hop- -
g to have a chance to master the possi- -
lities.
We are deeply excited about the posse•
lities this would create," said Don
fillips, a professor of industrial engi-
)erhtg.
"It would create an avenue for us to
rve a good work experience program •. , . t-
uoughout the summer; he said, "and
so huge co-op potential"
Local economic officials will meet
onday's deadline to turn in a proposal,
hick will be an attempt to attract the
ill facility to the area- The company
mid create 1,100 new jobs and invest
6 million offi cials wou said. -
� The impact ct on on A would ld be enor-
ous, officials said, giving its engineer-
g students a shot at both training while
school and a chance at a job after
- aduation.
Another selling point A &M would have
offer is the Texas Engineering
ctension Service, which could provide
:tensive training for mechanics, pilots
id other personnel.
Both that agency and the Texas
igineering Experiment Station are part
the proposal that is being sent m Bell
Dcials.
"We feel this is a good opportunity for
e community and we are looking for -
trd to supporting this economic devel-
•ment initiative in any way possible,"
id G. Kemble Bennett, director of the
•xas Engineering Extension Service
special to Th. Eagle
A associate vice chancellor of engi-
The Bell
Boeing 609 (above) Is a six- to nine- passenger tilt -rotor copter. The Bell Boeing
609 will offer operators polnt -to -point trans -
ering.
transpo
aircraft that combines the speed and
range of a turboprop portation at cruise speed$
up to 275 knots and at ranges up to 760
This is not the first time an aircraft
airplane
with the vertical takeoff and landing capability of a hell- nautical miles.
Austin, Amarillo, Dallas. Fort
d Arlington.
anufacturer has looked at locating a
at A &M currently has du-
ates and graduates between 50 and du
; mil
million
,17 ion manufacturing research
)gram contract with the Corpus
"With
a implications of that [the con-
ant in the Bryan- College Station area.
Key
dates in development of the V -22
tract tvi
Depot],
■ June 1996: Navy awaros contract grant -
1966, McDonnell Douglas Corp. consid-
ed an assembly plant for the U.S. Navy
Osprey
• Jun
1981: V -22 predecessor demon-
O 1 1 1
ing advanced production money.
■ November
45A training jet.
strated
at Paris Air Show.
Delaware minutes after taking off on maiden
1996: Bell and Boeing
announce civilian model.
The company, however, later decided
build the training jet at its Long
■ April
1988: Bell antl Boeing awarded
flight. Both pilots suffered minor injuries.
■ March 1997: First working test model
w1i, Calif., plant, which spared the
prelim)
■ June
ary design contract.
1986:
■ November 1991 Congress continues to
delivered to Navy.
pense of constructing a new facility.
Contract awarded for full-
approve money for V -22. Cheney continues
■ April 1997: Osprey clears final hurdle for
Now, the local area is under the micro-
scale clavelopment,
duction
with 12- aircraft pilot pro-
option.
refusing to spend it.
production. Navy approves $402 million for
ope once again with a chance to cash
• March
■ July 1992: Seven killed as another pro-
1989: First flight of V -22 proto- `totype crashes while landing in Virginia.
first five aircraft.
■ May 1997: Pentagon recommends
on a huge opportunity.
'I happened to sit in on some of those
type.
■ A
rll 1989: Program terminated in
■ October 1992: Navy agrees to continue
accelerating production schedule because of
,stings with McDonnell Douglas," said
Pentagon
budget request.
program. Terminates old contract and
awards new one for cheaper, lighter V -22
urgent need" to replace aging CH-46 heli.
copiers. Congressional supporters promise
in Ward, an A&M professor of aero-
6 December
1989: Defense Secretary
variant.
to push for even faster purchase.
ace engineering. "In both cases, we are
Dick Cheney
directs Navy to terminate all
■ September 1994: Pentagon review
9 April 20, 1998: Deadline to propose a
king about major manufacturers. It
mld provide a significant number of
product
On contracts with Bell- Boeing team.
board issues nonbinding recommendation
site for production.
is and the impetuous would allow the
■ Jure
1991: V -22 prototype crashes in
for Osprey production.
Associated Press
iversity to have a closer tie with the
iversity on the campus. You would
ve the aerospace folks, but also the
the Bry ,
might w
- College Station area's cap that
it over Bell. Seven other cities
ty is in a good position to support Bell in
the technical arena. We can help them
but it would provide a more diverse
basis
•chanical, electrical, computer scien-
is that would be hired outside of that."
are in a
fa
isideration for the new manu-
plant, including Houston, San
with process design, facilities layout,
for the economy."
The aerospace engineering
eering department
eer ng dergra
been active in rotary wing
k&M h17
The university currently holds
Antonio,
Worth
Austin, Amarillo, Dallas. Fort
d Arlington.
etc."
Ward said that if Beil located its facile-
,
at A &M currently has du-
ates and graduates between 50 and du
; mil
million
,17 ion manufacturing research
)gram contract with the Corpus
"With
a implications of that [the con-
ty locally, it would create a strong rela-
tionship like that of the University of
students a year who go into some aspect
of the aerospace business, Ward said;
risti Army Depot.
tract tvi
Depot],
the Corpus Christi Army
a are beginning to have strong
Washington and Boeing in Seattle.
"If
including some going to work for Bell.
There, that depot offers a tri- service
. % overhauling maintenance for rotary
expertis
said.
in rotary helicopters," Phillips
College Station was able to begin
that process, it could be the sort of thing
"We do already have a fair amount of
collaboration with them," he said. "I
. 11 aircraft." Phillips said. "What the
lege of engineering is doing is work.
"We
ve a strong legacy here with
to make another one of those centers of
technology that would allow it to spread
haven't personally, but a couple of facul-
ty members have done wind tunnel activ.
with them to improve quality, cycle
conventi
industrii
nal aircraft. Particularly in the
1 engineering department, we
beyond the size it currently is," Ward
said. "Austin did that with the electron
ity testing with Bell. They know our
capabilities alreadv. They've been here,
ie and reliability of their product."
have a Ic
t of experience with the F -15,'
ics industry to some degree. I'm not
at affiliation is just one feather in
he said. '
The implication is the universi-
implying it would grow as large as that.
Please see OSPREY, Page E2
a
From E1
seen what we are all about."
Ward said the aerospace industry is "a
very mobile industry." He said one reason
is because major airline companies are
located in big cities and employees often
grow tired of working in a big city or don't
enjoy the atmosphere.
"Like in Los Angeles, a lot folks go to
work there, spend a few years, get a little
experience and then decide they would
rather live in Fort Worth.
"Others will go to Fort Worth, decide
they don't like it there and move back to
California," he said. "Wherever they go,
sometimes they are looking for ways to get
out of the big city."
Officials have said that may be a reason
why Bell is looking at the Bryan- College
Station area — because it is a smaller com-
munity and doesn't present the big -city
setting.
Ward said another cause for mobility in
the industry is that businesses often split
between the aero -side and the space -side of
the business.
"A lot of times, an employee will start off
on one side and work on another side," he
said. "Some like to get a taste of what a
spacecraft is like and switch from
Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth and go to
... ..11-.- ._._,.._ ...
my, there are some drawbacks, including
environmental concerns.
Noise would be one of the aspects of
Bell's business that would have to be taken
into consideration, Phillips said.
"Flight testing would create a big noise
problem," he said. "When these things
take off, they rattle your windows. But
testing could be done at the Riverside
Campus. That would get them away from
relatively everybody."
Just last week, economic officials said
they will use the Riverside Campus
instead of Easterwood Airport as the main
thrust of their proposal. Land availability
and more maneuvering space for the C -5A
aircraft that would bring in the fuselages
for the Osprey swayed economic officials
toward thinking the Riverside Campus
would be the better choice.
Generally speaking, Ward said Bell
would be a relatively clean industry.
"That kind of industry, by and large, is
relatively clean — meaning they are
rather conscious of the things we do to the
environment," he said, adding:
"More so than in the past, we have to be
careful with the fuels and the noise prob-
lems. As a community, we want to develop
that clean technology. It's a cost to us as
well as a benefit to have to help provide
facilities to attract that environment to
create those jobs."
s
r �F ?3�' ifs fe �wt«:Te
The Eagle
s._
. City of "College Station News
Date: Anr;1 2Zc 19CI
tagie pnoto /uave ivicuermana
Tom Jackson, chief executive officer of College Station Medical Center,
addresses the crowd gathered outside the hospital Sunday for a rede-
!cation of the facility. The hospital celebrated its 11th anniversary and
its new name.
1 1 3
Medical center celebrates
name change, anniversary
By REBECCA TORRELLAS
Eagle Staff Writer
More than 50 people went to
College Station Medical Center
on Sunday afternoon to cele-
brate the hospital's 11th
anniversary and to dedicate its
new name.
Participants were able to tour
the campus of the former
Columbia Medical Center and
see the historical display center,
which includes a bronze plate
placed in the original hospital
foyer by founder L.O.
Wilkerson.
The plate reads, "This clinic is
dedicated to the glory of God and
the service of our fellow man. In
memory of my mother, Ora
Belle Wilkerson."
Tom Jackson, chief executive
officer, said it was Ora Belle
Wilkerson's granddaughter,
Sarah Wilkerson Holmgreen,
who salvaged the marker when
the hospital building was sold
and loaned it to College Station
Medical Center.
"We're honored that you'll let
us treasure your family's calling
with you," he said.
College Station Mayor Lynn
McIlhaney thanked the hospital
staff for their service.
"It is an honor to thank the
people who made medical care
to the city of College Station the
prime of their life," she said.
"We are here to be a part of the
growth you give to this commu-
nity."
Bryan Mayor Lonnie Stabler
was born in Bryan Hospital, the
first name of the hospital, and
was delivered by Dr. Wilkerson.
"You have grown well and
prospered," Stabler said.
Dr. Philip Alexander, chief of
the medical staff, said the hospi-
tal has improved greatly since
he saw it for the first time.
"Hospitals don't arrive at the
scene already made, they
evolve," he said. "I want to be
part of this growth."
Alexander said that even
though the hospital has been
through six names, it has not
affected the staffs excellence,
commitment and compassion
for their patients, but rather has
created a history for the hospital
to look back on.
"You need to know where you
came from," he said. "If we don't
know where we've been, we
don't know where we're going."
Alfred Lehtonen, chair of the
Board of Trustees, said it is
important to learn the history of
what is now College Station
Medical Center.
"We need to look back where
we've been, look around at
where we are and consider
where we are going in the next
century," he said. "The center
will put forth no less effort, no
less dedication and not less qual-
ity."
Columbia Medical Center
changed its name to College
Station Medical Center after it
spun off the Columbia organiza-
tion and refocused on the health
needs and management of the
Bryan - College Station
Community.
!MAIN
��
�:.. n
Cx of. `Cole e lStation` News
tY g
Date: pr) h
•
Disagree with councilmen
B y now, I am sure tha)tl�eot' ens of
College Station are familiar ith the
opinions and attitudes of two engi-
neers on the City Council: Steve Es and
and Swiki Anderson. Unfortunately, I
believe that the citizens might hav
assumed that these engineers represent the
whole engineering community.
As a College Station resident and a local
engineer, I wish to dispel this notion. The
two engineers on the council do no t speak
for me or for many of my colleagues. I do
not share their beliefs concerning at is
best for the city of College Station i lor do I
believe that the city staff is doing poor
job.
I believe former Mayor Gary H ter is
correct in his assessment of the Rave atment
of city staff at council meetings. per-
sonally witnessed the public berat ng of
city staff members and have hearc unsub-
stantiated allegations of wrongdo' ig.
Let's be cautious of candidates dorsed
by these two councilmen. We need con-
structive leadership by citizenF <,, n ann-
uinely love this community and are willing
to approach each task with an ope a mind
and civil behavior. We do not need a larger
contingent of the same min MIKE cCLURE
Colle a Station
Elect those with vision
A s we approach elections in College
Station, we would like to commend
the forward - thinking members of the
City Council whose leadership and vision
have led to the construction of a new
library, the improvements on Texas
Avenue, and the increasing recognition of
the value of neighborhoods in creating a
livable city.
These citizens, the commissions that
were appointed by them, and the excellent
staff on whose expertise the city relies, fol-
low in the footsteps of leaders like Ernest
Langford and "Andy" Anderson who recog-
nized the need for vision and action to
achieve a great city.
Elections are the appropriate way to
secure such leadership, and we do not need
to limit terms when we find individuals
who can provide continuing vision, nor
resort to this limitation when individuals
do not prove themselves worthy of our con-
tinuing support.
Vote against term limits.
Elections are not the way to seek commu-
nity input on the ways that the council
should operate, but when they are forced
upon us, the citizenry must stay with the
vision.
Thanks to the energy, foresight and
expertise of the Northgate Commission, we
have made considerable strides to bring
new life to this historic area of our city.
The parking garage will ensure a city
investment, by self - supporting bonds, in
this revitalization.
Examples from all over the country
demonstrate that city investment spurs
private investment. Vote to maintain the
City Council's power to play a meaningful
part in the renewal of Northgate and vote
against the ordinance that would prevent
the City Council from investing in the
future of our city.
If certain members of our council have
no vision, then we must provide it for
them, and we should make sure that we
only elect those with vision in future elec-
tions.
DAVID and VALERIE WOODCOCK
College Station
Support parking garage
% C learly, as owner of Texas Aggie
Bookstore, I have vested interested in
the proposed parking garage at
No hgate. The citizens also have a vested
interest in what is the historic downtown
of College Station. The proposed parking
garage will be a catalyst for renewal in an
area that was built during the era when
Texas A &M had less than 5,000 students
and most families only had one car.
T day, we have more than 42,000 stu-
deni s at A &M, most of whom own an auto-
mot ile. Our community has grown from a
sma I town into a metropolitan area.
Nor hgate has remained the same. Now is
the ime for change.
T ere are those who say that private
ent rprise should build the garage. The
tru is private enterprise would build the
g Lge, but the property is not available for
priN ate enterprise to purchase. Only the
city has the ability to put the property
tOgE ther for a parking garage at Northgate.
Some say that the parking garage is only
for orthgate bars. More than 84 business-
es e Kist at Northgate. Only six are bars.
The e are four churches and six church -
sup orted student centers. Additionally,
thei e are three financial institutions, three
boo stores, three barber shops, numerous
resi aurants, a cleaners and various other
businesses. The majority of these entities
are in favor of the parking garage.
Northgate and the parking situation
have been studied enough. Parking is need-
ed md consultants, who know more than I,
tell us that the garage will pay for itself.
In typical government fashion, we have a
confusing ballot. Just remember, by voting
against the proposed city ordinance you
will be voting in favor of the parking
garage and progress in our city. Most
importantly of all, this parking garage will
not cost the taxpayers of College Station. It
will pay for itself.
JOHN N. RANEY, president
Northgate District Association
Aw
he Eagle
arts" i.�'� ^ _ ar �r ,✓,u-
} C+t Y of ^ Co11 g
e e .Station News
Date: Aril')
Bell plant
proposal
presente
By BLAIR FANNIN
Eagle Staff Writer
A proposal from local economic
leaders to lure Bell Helicopter
Textron to the area was presented to
the company's consulting fi m
Monday, meeting the deadline to sub-
mit proposals for the company's new
aircraft manufacturing plant.
The Bryan- College Station area is
in the running for the plant alo ig
with seven other cities, includi ig
Houston, San Antonio, Aust n,
Amarillo Dallas, Fort Worth a id
Arlington.
Please see BELL, Page
Bell
From Al
Bell said it will make a capital
investment of $46.8 million and
create 1,100 jobs in five years
with an annual payroll of $23.7
million.
"We tl tink it was a real partner-
ship a fort by Texas A &M
Univers ty, the cities of Bryan,
College Station, and Brazos
County,' said Frank Murphy, an
econom c developer with the
Bryan-C illege Station Economic
Developi ient Corp. "It all really
came to ether and was a really
nice pre ntation."
On M y 5, Bell is expected to
come u with its short list of
three cit es in the running for the
plant, m hich will produce Bell
Textron' V -22 Osprey tilt -rotor
aircraft. The final city should be
chosen ' i June, officials said.
The cc mpany is looking for 100
acre s of don which to build its
plant. xas A &M University's
Riversid Campus is one of the
main elements of the local pro-
posal. The Riverside Campus
once served as the Bryan Air
Force Base and its runway is still
used for light aircraft operations.
Also included in the proposal
would be training services pro-
vided by the Texas Engineering
Extension Service and the Texas
Engineering Experiment Station.
Bell officials have said con-
struction on a 40,000- square -foot
building, part of a total complex
of 308,000- square -feet, should
begin in their chosen location in
late fall.
"We've gotten a lot of support
letters from the surrounding
communities," Murphy said.
"This [plant] would really, truly
affect six or seven counties."
Bell is the first aircraft compa-
ny in 12 years to express interest '
in the Bryan- College Station
area. In 1986, McDonnell Douglas
Corp. was looking for a site to
place a new manufacturing plant
for its T-45A training jet.
Easterwood Airport, Coulter
Field and the old Bryan Air Force
Base were shown to McDonnell
Douglas officials. Easterwood
was narrowed down as the top
choice of the three, with the
assembly plant proposed near the
airport's runway and connected
by a separate taxiway.
However, McDonnell Douglas
backed out of building the new
plant, choosing to build the train-
ing jet at its Long Beach, Calif.,
facility.
F The Eagle
of ColYege Station New,
J ate: AP � 1 Z� , Hgg
xplainin g how
tDC operates
By ROBERT M. WORLEY
Speck l to The Eagle
ecently, I received an unsigned, unaddressed note that was
originally sent to College Station Mayor Lynn Mcllhaney,
who sent me a copy.
Pa t of the text of the note says, "Why is it that the Economic
Deve opment Corporation has the power to lure polluting industry
too area and then lie about it? There was an announcement in
The gle that this 'environmentally friendly' industry was coming
to to ni (Koch Industries) as a result of Mr. Worley's efforts...." The
note oes on to ask, "Don't we as citizens have a right to vote on the
actin Ls of the EDCT'
Ev n though I normally make it a practice to not respond to
anon mous mail, I am choosing to respond to this one, primarily
becai se of the unusual economic development activity. I believe
there is a certain amount of misconception about economic devel-
opm it in the community.
Th Economic Development Corporation was incorporated as a
priv e, not - for -profit corporation in the late 1980s as a result of
actio taken by the cities of Bryan and College Station. It became
oper 'onal on Oct. 1, 1990. Brazos County joined as a funding part-
ner a ut one year later.
Th Economic Development Corporation operates under contract
I to bo cities and Brazos County and is charged by them, along
i with a Brazos County Industrial Foundation, with the responsi-
bill "... to promote and facilitate activities that enhance the eco-
nomi base of Brazos County." This statement is taken from the
offic' il mission statement of the development corporation.
Th Economic Development Corporation is primarily a market-
ing o ganization made up of a volunteer board of directors and six
staff embers. The board of directors is responsible to and appoint-
ed by both cities and Brazos County, along with representatives
from the Brazos County Industrial Foundation, Bryan- College
Station Chamber of Commerce and Texas A &M University.
Whe a company like Koch Industries becomes an industrial
prospect, the Economic Development Corporation, in close coopera-
tion with city staffs, A &M and other appropriate economic develop-
ment participants, acts at catalyst and facilitator in determining
then s of the prospect and whether or not there is a fit with the
n there is either a real or perceived possible environmental
or lit mati safety issue, third -party expert analysts are retained by
the d velopment corporation to conduct one or more environmen-
tal aid health risk assessments. Also, in addition to local environ-
ment controls, there are usually state and federal regulatory
agencies involved to monitor environmental performance stan-
dard If the risk assessments come back positively, and the state
and f deral agencies approve a project, an Economic Development
Corp ration proposal will be put together that can consist of cer-
tain 4 ' icentives such as limited tax abatement, land and cash, along
with k&M athletic and/or MSC OPAS tickets. y
No all prospects are offered incentives and not all prospects
acce when offered. Once a prospect accepts a community incen-
tive I ackage — consisting of land and tax abatement, for instance
— the proposal is reviewed for preliminary approval by the devel-
opme it corporation board and then for official approval by the
apprc priate city council and Brazos County Commissioners.
The development corporation board and staff have no approval
authority for projects like Koch Industries, Sanderson Farms,
Conc and Universal Computer Services. The only prospect activi-
ty in which the board can exercise final decision - making authority
is wi h smaller projects such as technology transfer, for instance,
wher there are no community incentives involving land, tax abate-
ment or cash not funded by the Economic Development Corpora-
tion velopment Fund, which is a private -public partnership Hind
for % iich the development corporation board has limited discre-
tiona 3r authority for use with prospects.
In i ummary, the Economic Development Corporation is held
accov. ritable by both city councils and the county commissioners
and t xkes every measure possible to ensure that industries invited
to joi i us as new business partners will be good not only for the
local economy, but will also cause no environmental degradation.
■ Ro6W M. Worley is president and chief executive officer of the Brazos County
Economic Development Corporation.
; �_T - he Eagle
4, t
k
City of Colleg Station News
M
Page A6 The Bryan - College Station Eagle
-L-ipr )') 21 I �
Tuesday, April 21, 1998
NE
C
•
CS resid
By BOB SCHOBER
h:akle Staff Writer
A group of College Stati
idents sat down Monday n
begin a two -month proc
helping the City Council p
new streets, park im
nts to study area growth
res-
it to
of
for
ments, and maybe a new I city
hall.
The Citizens
Improvement Review
mittee, 27 members stro
study how fast and where
is expected to grow by 2
through a wish list of int
will
city
sift
ture and city facilities projects
totaling an estimated $50 million,
and try to help the council decide
just how much, and for what, vot-
ers will be willing to pay in a
bond election scheduled for Nov.
3.
They will attempt to do all that
by June 15, when the committee
will make its final recommenda-
tions.
Monday's organizational meet-
ing gave members a glance at
growth trends in the city and
laid out the procedures by which
they will analyze and then
choose the projects that will help
define the city's future land-
scape. The group will also seek to
"get the best bang for the buck,"
said Bill Fox, the former city
council member who chairs the
committee.
"We want you to think about
your vision of what you want the
city to look like in five or 10
years," Fox said. "And we want
citizens down the road to feel
their tax dollars were spent wise-
ly-
How those dollars should be
spent depends in part on where
developers are looking to build
new homes and businesses.
According to Jim Gallaway,
development services director,
and Jane Kee, city planner, pro-
jections show the population of
College Station, now about 63,000,
growing 2 percent a year and
reaching 72,000 by 2005.
That grown - -i — on average, 350
single family homes and 140
apartmen't units will be built
each year over the next five
years — will be centered in the
sou i end of the city. Increased
traffic from those projects — one
is already approved for 1,000
homes and retail stores,
Gallaway said — will drive the
need for new collector roads and
reconstruction of existing thor-
oughfares.
That strong growth will gener-
ate about $18 million in new prop-
erty taxes over the same period
without raising rates, said
Charles Cryan, acting fiscal ser-
vices director. A tax rate increase
of one cent would net about
$190,000, which could leverage
about $2 million in bonds, if the
committee decides to recommend
a tax increase to fund more pro-
jects.
Drainage projects and park
planning will also figure promi-
nently in the committee's discus-
sions.
For example, at its April 9
meeting, the City Council agreed
to purchase a $1.5 million, 150 -
acre parcel of land for a new ath-
letic park between University
Drive and Harvey Road east of
Texas 6. Voters approved the pur-
chase in a 1995 bond election, but
the Parks and Recreation
Department will need about $2
million more to fully develop the
playing fields and other facilities
in the park.
Committee members will also
scrutinize a proposal to build a
new, $9 million city hall "cam-
pus" that would include other
city buildings.
The committee will meet at 7
p.m. Monday nights starting May
4 and running through June 15.
The group will meet Tuesday,
May 26, because of Memorial
Day. The meetings will be held at
the Utility Services Building,
1601 S. Graham Road.
331Sl1y13O 33110N
vote "For" to P
Gar a t Park
the
Northgate
May On
Ma 2 1998 the voters of College Station will be asked
t o approve or disapprove an ordinance which will stop the
p roposed parking ga age at the Northgate in College
Station. A "for" vote is 4 vote against the garage.
ed on the recommendation of a consultant, the City traded half of our landfill
In 1990, bas ers over $5 million.
for half a landfill on Sandy Point Road. This trade will cost the taxp a y
In 1992, based on the recommendation of a consultant, the City started buying electric
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
power from TMPA. This cost the rate payers $25 million BID R 9 8-5 5
million '
THE CITY OF COLLE
Now, based on the recommendation of a consultant, the City plan s to spend 6.
STATION IS REQUESTIi
BIDS for the ANNU
on a parking garage. This project will also cost the taxpayers. BLANKET BID FOR VA
OUS DISTRIBUTION
PADMOUNT ELECTRIC
TRANSFORMERS, I
^ re you willing to pay over $100 a year to park at your church? The City's consultant #98 -55. Bids will be
ceived in the office of
,nks you are. The cost to pro
y ou that $100 parking space will be 142 Purchasing Manager, Cih.
College Station, City F
king lot behind the old '
A Northgate merchant,
currently operating a small for pay par Sian Te xas Texas Coll,
77840, i
700 s ace. Debt service and 2:00 p.m. on Ma 5, ��
Campus Theater, reports annual, revenue of less than $ per p All BIDS received after
ened. The City of Coll
g cost for the propposed� City garage will be over $1000 per space. Station wi
reserves
operatin the rigs
waive or reject any and
bids or any and all irregu'
is unsound project ties in said bids and id to
on Ma 1998 to stop tl�' cost the offer us to
Vote "for" e
y �'� most advantageous to
� Specifications are inclu
Earl voting April 1 to 28 at College Station City Hall in the total bid pack
Early which is available at the t
chasing Dept., second fl
City Hall.
This ad paid for by Dick Birdwell, 3 Forest Drive, College Station TX 4-21-98 ,4-28-98
Ike
r._ The Eagle
Cityof College Station News
_7 Date: ftn" I ZZ )9 55
Q
I
SI-
al-
a
an
ere
49
CS council to look at electricity rates, waste plant
By B SCHOBER 14I �7 It �l
Fag StaJjWriter (I V
City staff w
if approved,
and lower
e possiblct`reduction of electric utility
monthly bill
rates, odor control at Carter Creek's waste
During its
treatment plant, a petition to de -annex the
also will hea
South Hampton subdivision and awarding
$450,000 odor
a $1.9 million construction contract for a
Carter Creek'
new Utility Customer Service building top
council could
the list of issues the College Station City
during its rc
Council will consider Thursday.
Phyllis Hol
present an ordinance that,
would reduce electric rates
he average homeowner's
f $68.23 by about $4.
p.m. workshop, the council
a detailed report about the
control project proposed for
waste treatment plant. The
take action on the proposal
7 p.m. meeting.
n, developer of the South
Hampton subdivision, is petitioning the
council to de -annex the subdivision from
the city because of higher than expected
costs to run city sewer and water lines to
it, according to City Manager Skip Noe.
The council will review bids for a new
Public utilities building proposed for a site
across from the public works building.
Staff will recommend awarding a $1.921
million construction contract to JaCody
Inc. of College Station. Funds for the pro-
ject already have been approved by the
council.
In other business, the council will con-
sider extending Rock Prairi oad east of
Texas 6 and amending the ci codes to
tighten taxicab inspections and to
fares.
Council members also will discuss an
agreement between the city and area vol-
Council
From Al
unteer fire departments —
including rural departments —
into a "fast response" system.
Currently, the College Station
Fire Department provides fire
and emergency medical first
response to rural areas.
During the afternoon work-
shop session, developer Mike
Davis will present his proposed
Carter Creek Reclamation
Project, which would involve
rechanneling sections of the
creek to reclaim land for develop-
ment.
The Brazos Greenway Council
also is scheduled to present its
plan to create a task force to
investigate ways of creating
greenways in the city.
The task force, if approved,
would perform an advisory role
for the council in recommending
capital projects to create green -
ways.
The workshop and regular City
Council be held at 3 p.m. and 7
p.m., respectively, at College
Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Ave.
For more information, call 764-
3500.
Please see COUNCIL, Page A2
•
he Eagle
�.Ir, 1KX � ) ✓ raf•��i Q. - 1 ..V,ig2 C"'Yx S�� �.. rw¢f a.,>. .. .. '
q_9 ;f. ColYege .Station News
•
J
A real team player
his is a letter of endorsement for Ron
Silvia, a candidate for College Station
City Council, Place 2. I worked with
Ron on the Capital Improvement Planning
Committee of 1995 and currently serve with
him on the Planning and zoning
Commission for the city of College Station.
His integrity and credibility are exem.
plary and voting for Ron Silvia would be a
step in the right direction for our city. Ron
has no conflicts of interest, uses common
sense and is knowledgeable about the
issues and needs of College Station. He lis-
tens to everyone who wants to express
opinions and he offers solutions based on
the best interest of our community. Ron is
a team player.
I urge you to cast your vote for Ron
Silvia, Place 2.
WINNIE GARNER
College Station
Served the people well
ick Birdwell is a candidate for Place
6 on the College Station City Council.
We have known him for more than
40 Years, as a student at Texas A&M, as an
engineer, as a manger and business direc-
tor and as a valued fiend.
Dick Birdwell, in our opinion, has served
all the people of College Station in a com-
mendable manner as a member of the City
Council. His position on issues has been
clear and well- founded. His experience, as
an engineer and business person and in
city government, coupled with high
integrity and community interest, will be
the basis of his judgment and expressions
on issues concerning the City Council.
We recommend and request you vote for
Dick Birdwell for Place 6 in the College
Station City Council election on May 2.
BILL and FLORACE KLING
College Station
Put the blame elsewhere
W e wish to respond to Mike Mc-
Clure's letter (Eagle, April 20) in
which he accused us of publicly
berating city staff members. We deny this
allegation. All of the council meetings are
taped and we ask him to prove this allega-
tion by citing the date and exact statements
made. This type of attack is why we think
council meetings need to be televised on
the city cable channel. The citizens could
see for themselves how each council mem-
ber conducts himself or herself in council
meetings.
McClure states he has heard unsubstan-
tiated allegations of wrongdoing. What are
these rumors and what is their source?
Last week, he brought these same com-
Plaints to the engineering society and its
members did not agree with him. Even
though he claims that many colleagues
agree with his accusations, McClure's two
employees, Kent Laza and Joel Mitchell,
were the only ones who agreed with him.
Date: ial I �ZZ
OMMMM
We agree with McClure that open minds
and civil behavior are needed on our City
Council, but we disagree at whose feet the
Problem lies.
Colleg
e STEVEN E. ESMOND
SWIKI ANDERSON
Station City Council
An invaluable asset
would like to offer my support to Ron
Silvia for College Station City Council. I
have known Ron for many years and
can think of no other candidate more
deserving for the position. He has been an
invaluable asset to this community, wear-
ing many hats and serving in many roles,
doing an outstanding job in all.
I have gotten to know Ron through my
involvement with the College Station Noon
Lions Club. We are fortunate to have such
an outstanding individual in our club. He
is truly the type of person who goes above
and beyond the call of duty. He is a leader
who is hard working and determined t(xdo
the very best possible for others. I am
Pleased to offer my support for Ron and I
hope you will do the same.
JENNIFER BOHAC
College Station
A conservative voice
W e wish to commend Dick Birdwell
for his exemplary service to our
community as a member of the
College Station City Council. College
Station residents have been fortunate to
have had Dick's conservative, reasoned
voice on the council in the past, and we
will vote to extend this service for another
term. We appreciate his generous spirit,
his unselfish donation of untold hours of
Nork and his genuine concerns for the
uture of this community.
Dick's educational and professional
)ackground and his experience on the
:ouncil give him the knowledge and wis-
lom to make wise choices for our city.
)fck is an Aggie, class of'53. He and his
vife, Joyce, chose to live in College Station
fter his 26 years of service to Dow
%emical. He serves only because he wants
3 ensure that the council makes timely,
tell- reasoned decisions which affect our
MIRY of life and the taxes we must pay to
ity operations.
We urge you to vote to continue Dick's
arvice on the College Station City Council.
DON and PAULA HOUSE
College Station
Perplexing turnout
) n March 27, former South African
President F.W. de Klerk and a host of
Other dignitaries who have helped to
cape current national and international
>ues addressed economic issues that cur.
ntly affect the United States and will con -
iue to influence the U.S. economy in
Years to come.
Then, the very next afternoon, in th
same community not more than a mile
from that symposium, Laura Bush, the
first lady of Texas and possibly the next
fast lady of the United States; Rep. Kevin
Brady; Republican Attorney General candi-
date Barry Williamson; and former presi-
dential candidate Steve Forbes addressed
the Brazos County Republican Convention.
Bryan- College Station is truly blessed to
be embraced with such enthusiastic and
committed public persona. Other commu-
nities our size would have trouble even
conceiving of such events and metropolitan
cities, such as Houston, would be hard
Pressed to put together such a dignified list
less than 24 hours apart.
What is perplexing is the dismal turnout
for these events featuring such important
Political figures. Whether you agree or dis-
agree with their points of view, every citi-
zen of Bryan and College Station should
strive to bring such prestige to our commu.
nity. Please show our national and interna-
tional leaders that Bryan- College Station
appreciates their service and attend these
functions.
It is truly amazing. People spend thou-
sands of dollars to be in the same room
with some of these individuals. With Laura
Bush, Steve Forbes and Kevin Brady, it
was free to those few who took advantage
of this rare opportunity.
C. PATRICK MEECE
Bryan
Thanks for printing guide
rn he League of Women Voters of Brazos
County thanks The Bryan - College
Station Eagle for once again publish-
ing our Voters'Guide at no cost to the
League. The April 19 guide consists of
questions addressed to each candidate in
contested races in the May 2 election. Their
answers are published exactly as received,
with no editing.
The League, a non - partisan organization,
offers this guide as information that helps
the voter make informed decisions at the
Polls. We deeply appreciate The Eagles
help in reaching this goal. The Eagle's will-
ingness to Participate in community ser.
vice is of great benefit to this community.
NAOMI FACKLER
Voter service chair
League of Women Voters
of Brazos County
There is a parking problem
0 pponentS of the Northgate parking
garage have provided analysis indi.
cating that there is not a parking
problem at Northgate. However, the clos-
ing of the Mud Lot within a few weeks and
the loss of its 700 Parking places will surely
create a parking problem. The proposed
garage will roughly replace the lost park-
ing at similar prices, and so is likely to be
both necessary and fmancially successful.
HANK WALKER
College Station
J ,� the Eagle
Z+ ;✓ n"-; ,�,�"a; r .3L t ,,_« v....'� 5 SY�':�3 , �., r s?'' ° ,,. ♦ ..
_:. C g
ity ? f. ^;Cole `e Station`News
Date:
` A . no- brainer decision
`T�3 he Northgate parking garage
issue which has been argued
Tbetween Northgate mer-
chants and concerned citizens for
months is really what the kids
today call a "no- brainer."
If the four - story, 700 -plus space
facility is such a good deal and will
really pay for itself and even make
money, then the merchants should
find someone who wants to get rich
and ask him or her to build it. If
it's that good a deal, they shouldn't
have any trouble meeting the prop-
erty owners' price for their land.
On the other hand, if it won't pay
for itself (which appears to be real-
ly open to question, in spite of a .
consultant's optimistic forecast),
the city of College Station has
absolutely no business being a part
of this project.
Despite the fact that those in
opposition to the Northgate garage
will be said to be totally without
vision by some who would have
you think theirs is the only vision
for our city, I plan to vote yes to the
Northgate garage proposition,
which is a vote against it. Yes, I
would rather not see the city spend
my money on this project. Yes, I
think it's a bad idea. Yes, I want to
keep the current on- street parking
in the entire Northgate area and
not see it restricted so a pay park-
ing facility can be filled up.
The other provision on the ballot
— term limits for council members
— needs to be soundly defeated.
Vote no on term limits and let
everyone know that we are perfect-
ly capable of exercising our own
limits on council members by vot-
ing them out of office when they
ignore us.
JERRY C. COOPER
College Station
3 v he Eag e
CYty of College St ion�News
Date: Any ) Z3, ) 9
YEAR -LONG DEBATE
Northgate garage issue heads to voters May 2
By BOB SC
Eagle Staff Writer
0 n May 2, voters will decide
whether the city of CollOge
Station should issue $6.8 t iil-
lion in bonds to construct a parking
garage in Northgate.
The proposed garage would co
tain 752 parking spaces on four lev-
els. It would sit on 1.65 acres located
mid -block between College Main
and Second Street and bounded by
Louise and Church avenues.
Chronology
DeShazo, Tang & Associates, a
nationally recognized, Dallas -based
parking consulting firm, was hired
by the City Council to conduct a
parking feasibility study of
Northgate. John DeShazo studied
the area bordered by University
Drive on the south, Louise Avenue
and Cross Street on the north,
Wellborn Road on the west and
Nagle Street on the east.
DeShazo based his study on an
4rea master plan presented by
Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum Inc.
The HOK plan listed 1,232 parking
spaces in the subject area.
r May 7, 1997 — DeShazo's fast
feasibility analysis studied three
potential sites for parking garages
and surface lots and found the
garages economically unfeasible.
■ May 8, 1997 — The City Council
asked DeShazo to reanalyze a
garage at Patricia Street and
College Main with two important
changes: a $1 million or $2 million
cash infusion by the city and the
elimination of 50 percent, or about
150 spaces, of on- street parking in
the area.
■ May 21, 1997 — Based on the
new parameters, DeShazo found a
702 -space garage economically feasi-
ble at "conservative" fees of $1 per
hour and a $2 daily maximum,
including a cash infusion from the
city. The Northgate Revitalization
Board unanimously voted to accept
this new analysis.
■ May 22 — The City Council
received the report and voted to pro-
ceed with construction of the
Patricia Street promenade, acquire
land and construct a 702 -space park-
ing garage on the College Main site.
The council also authorized a cash
infusion of $1 million if necessary.
Please see GARAGE, Page A2
This Is an architect's computer rendering of what the pro- on College Main from Church Avenue. The garage, proposed
posed Northgate Parking Garage would look like facing north In May 1997, will go before College Station voters May 2.
News
Garage
From Al
■ June 16, 1997 — The city
received a final technical memo-
randum from DeShazo that
altered the garage profile to 752
spaces and, without a cash infu-
sion, brought the garage's debt
coverage ratio [the ratio of rev-
enue to debt] to 1.5 — considered
the minimal optimum equation
of income to cost for keeping
bond rates to a minimum.
■ Aug. 8, 1997 — The City
Council authorized city staff to
negotiate a design contract with
Arkitex Studios, Inc. of College
Station.
■ Sept. 11, 1997 — The City
Council passed a resolution to
acquire property for the College
Main parking garage and award-
ed a $370,980 design contract to
Arkitex Studios. The prelimi-
nary design of the garage sub-
stantially is completed.
■ Sept. 13, 1997 — The City
Council adopted its fiscal 1997 -98
budget, which listed $6,807,639
for the garage. That amount was
listed not as a present tax obliga-
tion, but as a possible future
debt that would be incurred only
if the city issues bonds for the
garage. That could happen only
if voters approve the referen-
dum, thus allowing the city to
take any financial role in the
project.
■ Dec. 11, 1997 — The City
Council authorized staff to
acquire by condemnation pro-
ceedings two of the four lots
comprising the designated site.
■ Jan. 31, 1998 — A petition of
577 signatures to put the garage
issue on the May ballot was filed
at City Hall.
■ Feb. 26, 1997 — City Secretary
Connie Hooks certified the peti-
tion, formally called an Initiative
Petition for an Ordinance. The
council rejected the ordinance
called for in the petition by a vote
of 4-3 and called for a special elec-
tion for the ordinance, which will
occur May 2.
Cost issues
The $6,807,639 estimated cost of
the garage calculated by city
staff includes $427,620 for land
acquisition, $5,184,900 for actual
construction, $832,176 for con-
struction contingencies, and
$362,943 for architect fees.
Assistant City Manager Tom
Brymer has pointed out that:
■ The land acquisition cost is
not yet fixed because purchase
negotiations with two owners
were halted once the initiative
Petition was placed on the ballot
■ The construction contin-
gency is a standard contractual
item to cover possible extra
costs. It is possible the actual
contingency amount could be
less than the estimated amount.
Councilman Steve Esmond, an
opponent of the garage, has
countered that:
■ Land costs could exceed
$600,000.
■ Construction costs could
exceed the estimated amount.
Both the construction and land
costs are only estimates. The
actual land acquisition cost will
be determined after city and
property owners negotiate and
agree on a sale price for the land.
The actual contingency and
construction costs will be deter-
mined only after the garage is
built. The city has preliminary
construction plans for the garage
and its construction estimate
was based on DeShazo's study.
The final architectural plan and
contractors' bids will yield the
total project cost. Brymer said
the staff "is committed to operat-
ing within the $6.8 million total
cost," approved by the City
Council.
Should the ballot initiative
fail, thus allowing city funding
of the garage project, the City
Council will decide which type of
bonds will be used to finance
construction of the garage.
General obligation bonds and
revenue bonds use revenues gen-
erated by the project to repay the
debt. If the project does not gen-
erate enough revenue, the city
can use other revenues — sales
tax revenue, for example — to
Pay the debt. Revenue and gener-
al obligation bonds are not taxes
assessed on property value.
The city also could raise the
Parking fees, which DeShazo has
called "conservative."
The bonds differ in one way,
however: Residents can petition
for election to authorize general
obligation bonds, but they can't
for revenue bon*ls, according to
Fiscal Services Director Charles
Cryan. City staff is recommend-
ing revenue bonds to finance the
garage.
The bonds would be paid back
with parking fees generated by
the garage. DeShazo estimates
that the 752 - parking space garage
would have a revenue -to -debt.
ratio of 1.51, considered the mini-
mum ratio to attract a good bond
rate. DeShazo pointed out that
his calculation is based on a
"conservative" fee schedule of $1
per hour with a $2 per day maxi-
mum. Esmond estimated a ratio
of 1.45. The city estimated the
debt pay back at 9.64 years,
Esmond estimated the payback
at 10.60 years.
Another issue is turnover rate.
DeShazo estimated that each
parking space would turn over
3.2 times a day, which some
Opponents insist is too high. If
the turnover rate is, say, 2, then
BALLOT ITEM
it The City of
College Station shall
not extend, use or
lend funds, nor shall
the City of College
Station make grants
of financial aid or
grants of any kind,
for the development
or construction of
the Northgate Public
Parking Garage
Project. S 7
revenues likely would drop 3o
percent, thereby reducing the
debt coverage ratio.
Pro - garage
At candidate forums and in let-
ters to The Bryan - College Station
Eagle, supporters of the garage
make several basic points:
■ The garage will alleviate, if
not solve, a parking problem that
some say has bedeviled
Northgate for decades.
■ The parking garage recom-
mended by DeShazo will pay for
itself with parking fees; there-
fore, there is no taxpayer liabili-
ty
■ Many Northgate merchants
— about 85 percent, according to
Tom Raney, president of the
Northgate District Association
— will reimburse their cus-
tomers for fees paid in the
garage.
■ The garage will spark more
revitalization in the area by
attracting families and other
nonstudent customers to
Northgate businesses. That
added business will generate
more sales tax revenue for the
city, thereby helping to pay back
the revenue bonds issued to pay
for the garage's construction.
■ The additional parking will
hold cars for local churches in
the area. On April 14, the Church
Council of Our Saviour's
Lutheran Church passed a reso-
lution supporting the garage,
realizing "a need for additional
Parking for members and visi.
tors."
Anti - garage
The major argument against
the garage focuses on the accura-
cy of the two reports the city is
using to justify building the
garage: the Master Plan of the
area completed by Hellmuth,
Obata & Kassabaum Inc., and the
DeShazo report, which is based
on the HOK parking study.
■ George Sopasakis, owner of
Burger Boy restaurant in
Northgate, claims the DeShazo
report underestimated the num.
ber of on- and off -street parking
spaces and overestimated park-
ing denVM. n .pril 13,
Sopasakis, who is not a parking
expert, presented his analysis of
the DeShazo report.
Subsequently, DeShazo com-
mended his effort and acknowl.
edged that he had indeed over-
looked about 60 additional park-
ing spaces in a lot owned by Cafe
Eccell.
■ At the time DeShazo did his
study, the Patricia Street lot had
not been built. It contains about
129 spaces, which were not
counted in the report.
In response, DeShazo reviewed
his analysis and, on April 20,
reported that the adjustments in
supply "do not change the over.
all results of our study."
■ Councilmen Dick Birdwell,
Swiki Anderson and Esmond
have said they oppose the garage
because they believe the project-
ed fees will not be sufficient to
pay the debt.
■ Opposition also revolves
aroun4 a philosophy of appropri-
ate city action. Several candi-
dates for City Council, including
David Alexander, Barbara
Palmer and Dorcas Moore, and
mayoral candidates Bill
Batchelor and Jim Irving fre-
quently have insisted that the
garage more appropriately is a
project for private enterprise to
undertake and not the city,
whose taxpayers' dollars might
be put at risk.
The Mud Lot
On April 14, owner Jack
Culpepper announced he would
close the Mud Lot Dec. 31 and
use the parcel of land for a hotel
and other retail development. No
other details of the prospective
development were given, in par.
ticular how many public parking
spaces will be included. About
700 cars a day now park there,
each paying $1 an hour and a $2
daily maximum.
The Mud Lot is on the outside
edge of the area DeShazo stud-
ied, but he said the closing of the
Mud Lot would "have an effect"
on parking in Northgate.
Tom Williams, director of
parking, traffic and transporta.
tion for Texas A &M University
and a former traffic consultant,
said that, in his personal opin-
ion, students use the Mud Lot for
convenient access to the campus'
north side. Closing it, he said,
•'will obviously have an effect"
on parking in the area. He also
said A &M has no available site
in that area for a parking garage.
Sopasakis countered by argu-
ing that a surplus of parking
spaces exist in the area.
"So, closing the Mud Lot won't
make a difference," he said.
The ordinance
The ordinance reads: "The
City of College Station shall not
extend, use or lend funds, nor
shall the City of College Station
make grants of financial aid or
grants of any kind, for the devel-
opment or construction of the
Northgate Public Parking
Garage Project."
A "yes" vote is a vote against
the garage; a "no" vote is a vote
in favor of the garage.
C o un ��
The council agreed Thursday
night that the reserve was more
than adequate and that some of
OKs r4ite the excess should be returned to
electric customers.
In other business:
■ Phyllis Hobson, developer of
the South Hampton subdivision,
c hcrmg4 withdrew her petition to de-
S annex from the city. She gave no
explanation.
■ The council awarded a con-
struction contract for a new
Utility Customer Service Center
CS residents to see Building to be built across from
the Public Works Building on
Cole W. King St.
Older prices in Ma JaCody Inc. of College Station
won the contract with a low bid of
By BOB SCHOBER �� ZL+ 19K $1,921,260. The building will be
Eagle Staff Writer I paid for out of capital improve-
ment bond funds previously ap-
Beginning May 1, College Station r sidents will pr y ed voters. agreement was
pay less for electricity.
The City Council voted unanimously Thursday approved with Brazos County
night to lower the electric utility rate Ily $2 million volunteer fire departments that a year, which means the average ho will allow for an enhanced "first owner will responder save about $4.06 a month on a $68.2 res 3 ' . The rate p program." Currently,
will drop evenly in all rate classes, o cials said. the volunteers provide emer-
The ordinance was proposed by ouncilman gency medical care while waiting
Dick Birdwell on April 9. The city ha been keep- for an ambulance from the
ing a utility revenue reserve pending 1 he outcome College Station or Bryan fire
of electric utility litigation with the ci y of Bryan. departments. The new agreement
allows the volunteers, under the
Please see RATES, Page. AS supervision of the College Station
medical director, to provide
"advanced skills" such as auto-
matic defibrillation, IV access
and administration of patient -
provided medication.
0
Luring the workshop session,
the council heard a detailed
analysis of odor problems at the
Carter Creek waste water treat-
ment plant. At its April 9 meet-
ing, the council requested staff to
make a report on the proposed
$450,000 odor control project bud-
geted for fiscal 1998 before award-
ing a contract to identify and cor-
rect the problem.
Bill Riley, College Station divi-
sion manager of water and waste
water, said the treatment facility
was not designed to achieve "zero
odor," but that corrective mea-
sures in two areas would greatly
reduce, if not bring to zero levels,
the odors that have been plaguing
the Emerald Forest and Raintree
subdivisions.
City staff will prepare a con-
tract for the work and will inform
the council about the cost of other
options at its May 14 meeting.
■ The council directed staff to
write an ordinance that would
remove taxi meter requirements
for College Station taxis, stream-
line the permitting process and
remove all fare regulations.
■ The council moved up the
Priority list a proposed realign-
ment of Rock Prairie Road east of
Texas 6. The estimated $1.449 mil-
lion project would replace the
hard right turn by arcing toward
Wood Creek subdivision.
•
Support the garage
W e support the Northgate
parking garage, which will
e considered in the
College Station referendum elec-
tion on May 2. A vote against the
ordinance is a vote for the garage.
There are many reasons we sup-
port this project:
■ Churches have always been a
significant part of the Northgate
district. Our proximity to the cam-
pus places us in a unique position
to serve the students.
■ We are committed to the very
important mission of ministering
to the students of Texas A &M
University.
■ Our ability to carry out our
mission is impacted greatly by the
availability of parking.
■ As the Northgate district con-
tinues to grow more congested, we
find that the need for increased
parking in the neighborhood has
reached a critical point for our con-
gregations and for our neighbors.
■ A parking garage bears great
potential for the overall revitaliza-
tion of the historic Northgate dis-
trict.
We hope that the citizens of
College Station will take the time
to vote.
Active participation in the life of
the community through exercising
the right to vote is an essential part
of life in a democracy.
REV. MICHAEL J. SIS
St. Mary's Catholic Center
REV. CHARLES ANDERSON
A &M United Methodist Church
REV. MAX MERTZ
Wesley Foundation
taw
x,
' �.. City f 0
Date:
ke: Eagle
ege. Siatio�n News
ri 1 Z5
Voice of moderation
T he upcomii g election gives
the voters ' I College Station
an opport ity to elect
Dennis Maloney the City
Council — and ir so doing, restore
an active voice w o will represent
the thousands of j esidents in all
the city's oldest, I istoric neighbor-
hoods. In The Eag e (April 20,
Maloney articulat )d a refreshing,
reasonable and po itive outlook for
the city, its residents and council.
Dennis Maloney s commitment
to protecting and r reserving the
city's neighborhool Is are a vital
Part of his sincere, thoughtful
understanding of ti ie needs of all
the people of our ci y.
His presence on the council will
restore a voice of moderation and
sound perspective to the council
and the citizenry, including those
Of us living in the neighborhoods
nearest the campus. This city
needs Dennis Maloney on the City
Council. I urge you on election day
to get to your polling place and
vote for Dennis Maloney.
q
oy DOCK BURKE
College Station
Letter deadline set
All letters to the editor con-
cerning candidates and issues
in the May 2 city and school
elections must be received at
The Eagle by Monday. All elec-
tion letters will be printed by
Thursday.
Generally, The Eagle does
not run election letters from
candidates, their families or
campaign managers.
�w
3 �.1TY f Col
I
We have it
in CS
bout six months ago I thought I'd go
to a College Station City Council mayor and her council and staff are doing,
meeting to see what the uproar was then go to the polls. If even one more dissi-
all about. dent gets elected to the council, the balance
I was surprised to see a very vocal small of power will fall to the folks who want to
group of folks challenging he City Council rid the city government of its mayor and
on every issue. half of the staff.
Not only were they jeering from the audi- LAURA RYCHETSKY
ence, but holding up cards to show how the
19� College Station
council was voting, sneering at the mayor, 1
and running to persuade a yone with a f
gripe to oust the council. D on ' t need the garage
Come to find out, we're ' great shape. n The Eagle's recommendation concern -
For five years in a row we lave been under ing the parking garage in College
budget in our spending, and received more Station, it stated: "While it would be
in revenues than we thought we would. nice to think that private enterprise could
Our taxes went down last y ar and so did and would build the parking garage, that
our electric bills. simply is not realistic. The land at North -
Other cities are copying the way we train gate is split among too many individual
our police, and awarding uA for well-run private owners."
finance, budgeting and recycling depart- The bulk of the land to be condemned
ments. was purchased by me more than 30 years
They admire our ALERT program that ago. Two of the lots have duplexes on them.
keeps our policemen safe or. their jobs, and The other three lots fronting on College
have modeled their service training pro- Main have a five bedroom house located on
grams after the way we do ft. them. Judged by the few contacts with my
Granted, we always could use more son, the city expects to get our property at
money to expand our city services, and garage -sale prices.
that's why we need more businesses to set- I was not surprised that businesses
tle here. Families alone can give us the would support the mammoth garage. If
solid tax base that we need to improve our someone offered me a $6 million gift, I
city and schools. would support a vote to make such a gift
If there is poor morale on our city staff, it legal. Time will tell who will pay for the
can't be from the job they'v done, but garage.
from the criticism they hav gotten in spite A monster garage, in my opinion, will
of their accomplishments. Tae majority of not develop Northgate as downtown
the citizens applaud what tl ey're doing. College Station. I much prefer to show visi-
If you are satisfied with tl e job our tors Texas Avenue developments as down
eLye,,, a { tion W e`ws
i1 Z51199IF
town College Station.
A parking garage on the Mud Lot appar-
ently received no consideration.
The largest single landowner at North
gate is Texas A &M University. Knowing
the keen mind of Jerry Gaston, I can imag-
ine he would welcome anyone else provid-
ing the funding foil'wp�ing garage.
BARDIN H. NELSON
Bryan
I �1
Hazen: Economic developme
planning is an integral part OF
good city government. Our city
participates with other local enti-
ties in the Economic Develop-
ment Corp., which seeks out busi-
nesses for Brazos County.
understand there is a recruit-
ment package approved by th
involved entities. As an electe
official, I would support a pack-
age already agreed upon by pr
vious councils. I would work to
have the EDC consider shorte
term [ i.e., two -year property
abatements] for new businesse
that are desired by the commun'
ty. I support giving title to land ii
the Business Park to businesse
that actually build the buildin
and provide jobs as presented
their proposal to the city. Thi
land would then bring tax re
enue to the school district and the
city.
Moore: We live in very compet-
itive times. A city must be proac-
tive in the search to lure new
businesses. However, tax incen
tives, abatements, revenue bonch
and cash are only part of the puz
zle. It is sometimes necessary t
have those factors to achieve
goal for the betterment of th
community. In that endeavor, al
levels of the community must b
included in the process. Thi
inclusion will help obtain eco
nomic viability and growth fo
all citizens.
Q: Which are the key issue
before the city in the next five t
10 years? How would you plan fo
them now?
Birdwell: Some key issues fo
the future are keeping up wit
growth, staff request for a ne
city hall, providing green space
electric deregulation and manag
ing the conflict between thos
who want more city services an
those satisfied with the statu
quo. Most of the growth issue
are answered in the new cit
plan. We have to understand tha
when we prohibit the develop
ment of property, we have to pa
for it. The city is in a good posi.
tion to deal with electric deregu-
lation. My training as an arbitra-
tor and a mediator will help me
deal with the divergent views of
the citizens.
Hazen: Growth is our most
pressing problem. Planning is
required in order for the city to
be prepared for the growth that
will come. Primary issues are:
good communication with citi-
zens; rezoning to match the new
comprehensive plan; revitaliza-
tion of older neighborhoods; pur-
chase of land for future city
needs; securing safe and reliable
long -term power and water sup-
pliers; cooperation with other
government entities; transporta-
tion planning, including railroad
relocation; increasing the tax
base to provide revenue for city
and schools; joint landfill and
recycling. I believe the key to
being prepared is for the city to
hire the best - qualified people to
plan for growth and give them
the tools and support they need to
get the job done.
Moore: The city of College
Station needs to extend infra-
structure services to areas that
have recently been annexed. We
need to look at how the move-
ment of traffic is going to impact
already existing avenues and
streets by studying how the bus
system and bike lanes will be
incorporated into the planning
process in order to bring relief to
busy areas. Ensuring that there
Please see ELECTION, Page A3
0
News
Election
:From AZ
are jobs made available in the
city to help support families.
Q: How would you improve the
quality of life for College Station
residents?
Birdwell: Most of us have
heard the quotation from Tom
Jefferson that "the best govern-
ment is the least amount of gov-
ernment." I recently read a Sam
Houston quote, "I know of no
nation that was improved by hav-
ing more government." I admire
both men. I would improve the
quality of life in College Station
by staying out of the way of the
Private sector. I realize that nei-
th er Jefferson or Houston lived
in a modern city and that a lot of
regulation is necessary because
Of our high population density.
However, I would rather be on
the side of too little regulation.
Hazen: I believe we have a
good quality of life and we need to
make sure that we preserve it for
future generations. This will
mean continuing to provide
green space and trees, plan for
future parks and bikeways. We
need to place more emphasis on
.A he needs of senior citizens. I
believe code enforcement needs
to be enhanced. Boom box noise
after 9 p.m. should be outlawed
and high fines for those who dis-
rf
Forum to be replayed
&,qle Staff Qmnro
The League of Women Voters,
KAMU -TV and KEOS
Community Radio have sched.
uled broadcasts of candidate
forums to provide the voters of
Brazos County with more infor-
mation for the May 2 election.
The forums are not debates,
but offer a chance for voters to
learn more about each candi-
date.
The city government forum
will be rebroadcast at 4:30 p.m.
Monday and again at 4:30 p.m.
Saturday on KAMU -TV X -tra
TCA cable channel 18. The
forum for school board candi-
dates will be rebroadcast at 5:30
P.M. Monday and at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday on KAMU -TV X -tra.
The Bryan- College Station
Eagle and the Brazos Valley
League of Women Voters are
vorking with KAMU -TV. Each
:andidate in a contested race
will receive three and one -half
minutes to answer questions.
KEOS Community Radio has
scheduled a live forum for
College Station City Council
candidates in Places 2, 4 and 6 at
5 P.M. Sunday at 89.1 FM and on
TCA cable at 91.3 FM. Listeners
will be invited to call in with
questions
on during the 1S
e f urm.The
forum will be rebroadcast at 10
a.m. Monday.
A rebroadcast of the forums
are scheduled Saturday on 89.1
FM and TCA cable at 91.3.
Candidates for Bryan school
board and College Station
mayor are scheduled at 7 a.m.
and candidates for College
Station City Council Places 2,4
and 6 are scheduled at 8 a.m.
For more information, call
KEOS radio's Lance Parr at 779-
5367 or The League of Women
Voters of Brazos County's
Karen Fisher at 776 -2015.
regard the laws of our city. I sup-
port revitalization efforts and the
Northgate parking garage, along
with restricted on- street parking,
which I believe will help to make
Northgate user friendly and safer
for all citizens. I support histdric
Preservation efforts and neigh-
borhood associations. I will vote
against term limits for mayors
and council members.
Moore: Quality of life begins
with delivering essential services
to residents. A natural environ-
ment that is not destroyed and
conducive to a safe place where
people can congregate in a family
atmosphere.
1.01
x he .Eagle k
�..
l�of � - of e ... a Station I evws
r Ci ty g
F w _ te- Apo 1 Z6, Ii 7�
CS council Place 6
ho p ends to
City elections to
BOB SCHOBER
Ea
Eagle Staff Writer
On May 2, registered voters in
College Station will cast ballots
for three City
Council repre-
sentatives and
mayor. Each
position is
being contest-
ed by at least
three candi-
dates.
To help vot- BIRDWELL
ers choose the
candidate they think best suited
for each position, The Bryan -
College Station Eagle asked each
candidate to respond to questions
that span a wide range of issues
that affect the lives of College
Station residents. All candidates
�I posifions
e held on May 2
were asked to respond to the
ame four questions. The candi-
lates submitted written answers
►f 125 words or less that were
edited for punctuation where
seeded and
vith the full
:nowledge of
he candidate.
Candidate
esponses will
e published
Y individual
aces and in 13
1phabetical HAZEN
rder, and
rief biographies of each candi-
ate were written by information
rovided by the candidates.
This installment covers the
ice for City Council, Place 6.
Dick Birdwell: Married, the
.ther of five grown children.
Incumbent, served on the City
Council from 1988 -92 and from
1996 to the present. Graduated
from Texas A &M University in
1953 with bachelor of science
degree in civil engineering.
Retired from Dow Chemical Co.
in 1986, where he served as gener-
al manager /Texas Division from
1983 until his retirement.
Consulting engineer, 1986 -1996.
Currently self
employed, pro-
viding profes-
sional assis-
tance to indus-
trial clients in
project man-
agement and
development.
Member of MOORE
Texas Society
of Professional Engineers, 1955 to
present, American Society of
Civil Engineers 1952 to present,
and Rotary Club of College
Station, 1987 to present. Former
Please see ELECTION, Page A2
Election
From Al
mayor of Lake Jackson, Texas
1979 -80. Director, Economic
Development Corp., 1991 -96.
Director, Brazos Valley United
Way, and member of TAMU Civil
Engineering Advisory Commit-
tee.
Anne Hazen: Married, mother
of three children, grandmother of
one. Resident of College Station
since 1972. Former member,
College Station City Council,
1974 -77. Recently retired nurse
manager of Hospice Brazos
Valley, position held for nine
Years. Currently works as needed
as hospice nurse for the same
agency. Graduate of Texas A &M
University with a master's
degree in education. Registered
nurse at Massachusetts General
Hospital. Member, League of
Women Voters of Brazos County,
1972 to present. Member, Capital
Improvement Committee, 1994-
95. Member various health, social
service, civic committees.
Nominated Outstanding Woman
in Brazos County, 1986. Elected
1984 Citizen of the Year by the
Brazos Valley Association of
Social Workers. Association of
Social Workers. Named 1995
Texas Hospice Nurse of the Year.
Hospice Brazos Valley board of
directors established Anne
Hazen Community Scholarship,
1997, and also named the Hospice
bereavement house the Anne
Hazen House. Prenatal Clinic's
"You're the Tops" honoree, 1998.
Dorcas Moore: Married, moth-
er of two children. Resident of
College Station since 1966.
Currently serves as construction
and design specialist for city of
Bryan. Texas A &M University
graduate, 1988, bachelor of sci-
ence degree in environmental
design. Associate's degree in
business, Blinn College. Certified
nursing aide and holder of phle-
botomy certificate, Blinn College.
Docent, George Bush Library,
1997 -98. Member, College Station
Library Task Force, 1996 -98.
Leadership Brazos alumna, 1997.
Habitat for Humanity house
designer, 1992. Stage Center vol-
unteer, 1991. Festifall volunteer,
1990. Member, Jaycees, 1995 -97.
KANM -AM radio disc jockey,
1989 -90.
Q: What personal attributes
can you bring to the council to
make College Station city govern-
ment work more efficiently for
residents?
Birdwell: I bring to the council
45 years of engineering, business
and public agency experience. It
has always been my practice to
question expenditures and to
look for alternates. It is my belief
that the process commonly called
"Total Quality Management" will
work for the city the same way it
does in the private sector. At my
urging, this is one of the top 10
issues for the council. Savings of
over 10 percent are common with
this system. Training of key staff
people in the use of this system
has been scheduled.
Hazen: I believe in the concept
of being a public servant. I
believe that I have exhibited in
my personal and professional life
a mature respect for all people
and for the offices and positions
they hold in life, whether public
or private. The vision I hold
relates to the people of College
Station achieving what they col-
lectively can and want to achieve.
If elected, I pledge to attend meet-
ings relevant to city business, lis-
ten to citizens' concerns, re-
search issues before the council
and vote for what I believe is in
the best interests of all the citi-
zens. I will always conduct my-
self in a way that brings respect
to the office of council member.
Moore: My training and back-
ground gives me the ability to
understand people from all walks
of life. I look at the overall picture
of projects and how it impacts the
lives of city residents. I believe
that city government should have
an open -door policy for its citi-
zens.
Q: What is your position on
using tax abatements or cash,
land and other incentives to
attract businesses to the area?
Birdwell: Unfortunately,
incentives to attract businesses
are necessary. They should only
be provided for businesses where
the capital investment per
employee is high, or where the
payroll per employee is high.
Conoco is an example of both.
Sanderson Farms has a high
investment per employee.
Universal Computing did not
meet the test and should not have
been approved. Tax abatements
actually cost no out -of- pocket
money. Free land often involves
the city -owned property we have
not been able to market.
Generally, I am opposed to cash
payments. It is possible to esti-
mate the payback to the city for
providing incentives. Projects
with paybacks more than 5 years
should not be considered.
umbers for Saturday:
17 33 46
--TEX R S--
LOTTERY
THE LAW
AND YOU
'red Davis
of Legal Specialization
- Personal Injury Trial Law
rifled - Civil Trial Law
TGAMN
'LOSION?
hear politicians and
L special point of view
t is excessive
the courts are
i fiWolous personal
s filed byy greedy
behalf of fraudulent
n fact. we hear the
i often we have come
s truth without the
-oof. What are the
rding to the Texas
tem Annual Report,
uy suits of all kinds
mly 5.4°x6 of the total
Criminal cases
50.3%, family law
collections 8.3 %,
d litigation 17°x6 and
mpensation .001°x6.
he truth is that the
.ty of our Judicial
re being utilized to
)ld problems of crime
trouble and most of
der is utilized by
i suing customers or
)is is certified as a
the fields of Personal
Law and Civil Trial
Texas Board of Legal
n. The firm of Davis &
'les cases involving
death, defective
ne ) ersonal injury,
alpractice, and
e se.
here to help."
think you have a
ury claim, consult a
rsonal injury attorney
Ise you properly as to
f your claim and how
crash.
Davidson was a youth Minister at Early voting April 15 to 28 at College Station City Hall.
Kerrville's Trinity Baptist Church, Cox
said. Staff and wire resorts Political ad paid for by Dick Birdwell, 3 Forest Drive, ( allege Suction, Texas 77840
Vote "Foy" to Stop
the Parking Gauge at
Northgate
On May 2, 1998, the voters of College Station will be
asked to approve or disapprove an ordinance which will
stop the proposed parking garage at the Northgate in
" - .e is a vote against the garage.
New ity parking lot at noon April 14, 1998, 71 spaces vacant.
Lot at Patricia and 1 st St., 41 spaces vacant.
The above pictures show ample parking at a time when the
City's parking consultant estimated there would be 539
cars parked in the proposed parking garage.
Vote "for" on May 2, 1998 to stop this unsound project.
Tomorrow is the last day to early vote at City Hall.
This d paid for by Dick Birdwell, 3 Forest Drive, College Station, I X
ssard pa ;vrJossV
u5411d - a HISVr 4
restoration work took
bout four or five years ago,
lus said, when the city
X5,000 to level some of the
that had been broken
l
t stones damaged in
ld m incident won't be a
cheap task.
of the 40 or so stones dam-
s the incident will need to
Tully restored by a person
I in stone and bonding
soon as the police depart-
3 finished with its investi-
there, we'll get in there
and see what ca be done to
return it as best we can to its
original form," Broaddus said,
adding that the city is fortunate
enough to have a volunteer who
helps groom the cemetery and
knows exactly w at's been dis-
turbed.
Broaddus said h ( has a punish-
ment recommen ation if the
youths are convicted.
"I'd hope they'd a assigned to
maintenance at he cemetery
where they'd have to stare each
day at the stones Ind remember
what they've do e," Broaddus
said.
before the particles burn
Earth's atmosphere, they
)oke holes in solar panels,
tses, blast reflective coat -
f mirrors, short out elec-
with a burst of electro-
tic energy, even repro -
computers, said Edward
erri, a consultant to the
fit Aerospace Corp.
03, for example, a meteor
the European Space
is Olympus satellite and
, ed its directional control,
ing it useless.
at if you get unlucky ?"
t tt e a Washington
represents interna-
Vorks and satellite
nrs, asked at the confer -
Who's going to explain to
ajor corporations your
es aren't there anymore ?"
e only a couple of satellites
be disabled — and some
cost as much as million — all
of them will suffer surface dam-
age, said David Lynch, a scientist
with the AerospacE Corp.
Military satellit s are better
shielded because ost are built
to withstand nuclew assault. But
unlike commercial spacecraft
that can be turned off temporari-
ly, military satellites "can't
afford to be off the air."
The Hubble Sp ce Telescope,
which suffered minor surface
damage in the 1993 shower, will
move to protect [tself against
Leonid damage by turning away
from the stream of particles,
which is an option being consid-
ered by many sate ite owners.
First reported by Chinese
astronomers in 902, the Leonid
meteoroid storms named for
their proximity to the constella-
tion Leo — become intense every
33 years.
NORTHGATE PROJECTS &PROPOSED PARKING GARAGE
North College Main Reconstruction
($627,000 CDBG & $284,000 local)
Sidewalks
($105,000 CDBG & $40,000 local)
Relocation (CDBG)
Facade Improvements
Rental
CD
Land Acquisition (Party
(Hotel/Motel &
Patricia Street ImDrovi
& $92,000 businesses)
& $110,000n owners)
(Electric)
& Pat.. St)
(Promenade, Parking, etc.)
Total for all projects underway
Two additional projects are included in the CIP but are not yet underway
Waste Water line rehabilitation
Water line rehabilitation
Grand Total for all projects benefitting Northgate
Proposed Parking Garage
Grand Total
INITIATIVE ORDINANCE
MAY 2, 1998
$956,000
$145,000
$29,000
$264,000
$221,000
$578,000
$829,000
$1,050,000
$4,072,000
100,000
$4,372,000
$6.800.000
$11,172,000
"The City of College Station shall not expend, use, or lend funds, nor shall the City of College
Station make grants of financial aid or grants of any kind, for the developement or construction
of the Northgate Public Parking Garage Project (Council Re lution No. 9- 11- 97 -7b)."
FOR the Ordinance
AGAINST the Ordinance E:1
The Best
The E
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Doing it right the first time with
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-• � � i w� � .tl.'.- � h
C e e.
t3' g
ion: News
Date: Af r i 12ul, )99, '
EAGLE FORUM OF BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION VOTER'S GUIDE
r College Station Mayoral and City Council Elections
Eagle Forum of Bryan /College Station is a non - partisan, non - profit organization and is not affiliated
with any political party or organization. We are not affiliated in any way with The Eagle newspaper.
A complete list of questions /resp ses /comments for these candidates and for B /CS school board
candidates may be found on our ebsite: http: / /www.texaseagle.org/b -cs/ .
I . Do you support the belief thal the family unit is defined as those persons related by blood,
heterosexual marriage, or adopted by heterosexuals?
2. Would you support a city policy granting health insurance and survivor benefits to unmarried
partners?
3. Do you support the current c policy of governing which gives the primary responsibility to the
city manager (Carver Governance), believing that the policy agrees with the city charter and is the
best policy for the citizens of ollege Station?
4. Would you support spending uts, even if it meant cutting personnel and services (with the
exception of the essential sen ices of streets, utilities, fire, and police), to avoid a tax increase?
5. Would you support enlarging Jty government to conduct non - essential activities which you believe
city government should perfofm7
6. Would you support tax incentives to encourage new businesses in our community?
7. Would you support governor nit use of revenue bonds to finance projects usually provided by the
private sector?
8. Would you support city government donating cash for business startups and commercial ventures?
9. Would you support city concl mnation of private property to promote other private ventures?
10. Would you support stricter ci ordinances regulating sexually- oriented businesses?
1 1. Would you support the idea t at a municipality, at its own expense, must hold an election in an area
which the municipality is con idering for annexation, to determine the will of the residents regarding
annexation?
Key: S = Supports; = Opposes; U = Undecided; t = Comments Given
t Candidates' comments area ailable on our website: http://www.texaseagle.org/b-cs/.
Candidate /Question 1
2 3 4 5 6 1 7 8 9 10 II
College Station Mayor
W.J. "Bill" Batchelor
S
O
O
S
O
O
O
O
O
S
S
J.P. "Jim" Irving
t
t
t
t
O
O
O
Ot
Ot
t
St
Lynn Mcllhaney
S
O
t
t
Ut
S
t
Ot
Ot
S
Ut
College Station —City Council,
lace 2
David Alexander
S
O
O
S
O
O
O
O
O
S
S
Dennis Maloney
S
O
U
U
O
O
U
O
O
S
S
Barbara Palmer
S
O
Ot
S
O
St
St
O
O
S
Ot
Ron Silvia
S
O
S
Ut
t
Ut
t
O
Ut
S
S
College Station —City Council,
Place 4
Peter Keating
S
O
O
S
O
S
O
S
O
S
S
Larry Mariott
S
O
S
S
S
S
t
t
t
S
O
Shannon Schunicht
S
O
S
S
U
S
S
O
O
O
O
College Station — City Council,
rlace 6
Dick Birdwell
S
O 1 t I S 1 O 1 S 1 O 1 t O S O
Anne Hazen
t Did Respond to Questionnaire —Sent Letter
Dorcus Moore
t
t t t I t I t I t I t 1 O S S
Paid fora by Eagle Forum of Bryan/College Station
P.O. Box 5501 ♦ B�yan, Texas 77805 ♦ e -mail: eagle- bcs @texaseagle.org
Date:
C�he..Eaglew �'
►1�ege StationtNews
6
A vote for the people
cp ennis Maloney is my choice
for College Station City
Council, Place 2. Dennis
es c es about College Station and it's
e cares about neighborhood
int egrity, sensible growth and
believes tax dollars should be used
to improve the quality of life for
th 3 taxpayers.
Dennis knows the pulse of the
H e will not be a "rubber stamp"
co cilman. He will listen, discuss
issues and strive to work with
other council members to reach a
common goal. Dennis will then
vo e his heart, a heart that believes
in ess government and more peo-
ollege Station deserves an intel-
nt, caring, dedicated person to
move us into the future. Den -
Maloney is that person. Please
cider Dennis on Saturday. Your
will be a vote for the people.
q� Z�
PATTI UUNGDAHL
College Station
Bryan council names
contractor fqr park
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
Hall Street will be temporarily
closed, Neal Park will now get
built, manufactured homes will
be allowed in commercial zones
and a new development will rise
on F.M. 2818 as a result of a unan-
imous Bryan City Council
Tuesday.
The council approved a con-
tract to low bidder C.F. Jordan
Commercial for the Neal Park
construction project. The park
will include picnic and sports
pavilions, trails, playgrounds,
tennis courts, horseshoe pits,
restrooms, athletic fields and a
community garden.
The city's portion of the $1 mil-
lion project is $250,000, matched
with an equal amount by the
Brya school district and $500,000
from the state. The project will
take about 165 days to complete.
Th council also approved
blockading Hall Street where it
intersects with Restmyer Street
as part of the reconstruction of
TexaA 21. The council approved
the r quest at the urging of the
Texa Department of
Transportation. TxDOT officials
discu sed the closing with resi-
dents of the area and reported no
sign' icant opposition to the plan.
The council also stamped its
fmal pproval on several zoning
than es. In a code amendment,
man factured homes will be
allow d in commercial zones but
Pleose see COUNCIL, Page A2
Council
From Al
only as conditional uses. And a
single- family home, duplex and
commercial development on 20
acres will now go forward at 703
S. F.M. 2818 after the council
approved rezoning the parcel
from agricultural /open to
planned development -mixed use.
In other business, the council
agreed 6-1 to a compromise that
will allow a developer to shorten
a driveway corner clearance
along Texas 6 East Frontage Road
at Texas 21. The developer, Tim
Hansen, had requested a variance
from the 80 feet required by city
ordinance, but the Planning an4
Zoning Commission denied it A
April 2. Hansen had asked for 52
feet because the tight configura-
tion of the site plan made it diffl-
cult for fuel trucks to maneuver
safely onto the property.
Hansen proposes to develop the
vacant property into a conve-
nience store, drive- through bank
and automobile gas pumps.
The council agreed to allow the
driveway to corner clearance to
be 68 feet, and Hansen agreed that
if the property to the north, which
is currently in receivership,
becomes available, he will buy it,
or at least 50 feet of it, and move
the corner clearance to the
required 80 feet.
"But it all has to happen in a
time frame, which I think is about
a month," he said.
xhe _Eagle
�..
xt N" -?`any �
Clty of Col�ege Station News
Date: 4 ZqI C 1 s
Eagle photo /Butch Ireland
The 1998 Str i ght Talk Hotline Awards were given at the hotline's 10-
year annivers ry banquet Tuesday night at St. Andrew's Episcopal
Church in Bry . Recipients were (left to right) College Station Mayor
Lynn Mcllhaney, who accepted the 1998 Distinguished Service Award
for the city of College Station; Arlene Billings of Bryan, the 1998
Volunteer of the Year; and Somerville's Jessie Schultz, who received
the 1998 Out tanding Service Award. NationsBank also received spe-
cial recogniti n for its support.
.F
Hotline awards 412_
.he ag1
�. �ty of ;Col _ege.;Stat�ori "ews
4 cities
to make
Bell cut
Official says bid
well received
By BLAIR FANNIN L''
Eagle Staff Writer
A proposal to lure Bell
Helicopter Textron to the Bryan-
College Station area has been
well received, and the company is
expected to cut the eight cities in
consideration for an aircraft
manufacturing plant down to
four by approximately May 15, a
local economic official said
Tuesday.
"They like what they see," said
Richard S. Smith, chairman of
the Bryan- College Station Econ-
omic Development Corp. "The
considerations are being made
and the Bryan- College Station
area hopes to make the top cut."
Smith said if the Bryan- College
Station area makes Bell's short
list of four cities, there will be a
site visit by the Bell Helicopter
Textron team.
"It is understood that Bryan -
College Station put an excellent
proposal in front of the commit-
tee," Smith said. "Texas A &M
University and B -CS worked hard
Date: Anr i' I ?q Iggi
Plant
Fpm As
to put forth their best effort in th*
project. A &M definitely will be a
key player."
The Bryan- College Station area
is in the running for a V -22
Osprey tilt -rotor manufacturing
plant. The other seven cities in
consideration include Houston,
San Antonio, Austin, Amarillo,
Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington.
Bell said it will make a capital
investment of $46.8 million and
create 1,100 jobs in five years with
an annual payroll of $23.7 million.
The proposal submitted by local
economic officials met the April
20 deadline. The company is look-
ing for 100 acres of land on which
to build its plant. Texas A &M
University's Riverside Campus is
one of the main elements of the
local proposal.
The Riverside Campus once
served as the Bryan Air Force
Base and its runway is still used
for light aircraft applications.
Also included in the proposal
would be training services pro-
vided by the Texas Engineering
Extension Service and the Texas
Engineering Experiment Station.
Bell officials have said con-
struction on a 40,000 - square -foot
building, part of a total complex
of 308,000- square -feet, should
begin in their chosen location in
late fall.
Please see PLANT, Page A2
Date:
y1,3v .
Campaign
war chests
d isclosed
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
Larry Mariott, incumbent for
College Station City Council
Place 4, has raised the largest war
chest for the May 2 election and
mayoral candidate J.P. "Jim"
Irving the least, according to the
most recent campaign disclo-
sures required by state law.
Mariott said he had hoped to
raise even more, based on the
approximately $10,000 he raised
four years ago to win the seat.
"I've stayed as focused as I
le Ean 4e � 11
a�
ege =Statlori"�l�ews
Lve because I didn't want to look
Eck and wish there was some -
ing I hadn't done that I should
ive," he said.
He reported political contribu-
)ns totaling $6,000 in amounts
.ceeding $50 and $1,105 in less
an $50 contributions, which
lowed him to spend $897 for
dio advertisements and
,681.84 for television spots on
That kind of fund - raising abili-
is due, he said, to his "being in
isiness in this community for a
ng time and [having] a lot of
ELECTIONS
Campaign financing
for city elections
friends who believe in what we're
trying to do."
Mariott, who is running for a
third term on the council, far out-
paced his rivals, according to
records. Irving, on the other
hand, reported no political con-
tributions at all.
"What I believe is that democ-
racy starts here in College
Station," Irving said. "It doesn't
start in Austin or Washington.
Campaign finance reform starts
here as well. I have not asked for
Please see FUNDS, Page A8
Funds contributions totaling $7,105 and
expenses of $6,805.62. Peter
Keating raised $840 in contribu-
tio d 1' t d
I From A 1
any contributions nor have I
accepted any. My intent is to
bring democracy back to City
Hall. I don't believe it can be
bought and I want to prove that it
can't."
The state Election Code
requires all candidates to report
all political contributions and
expenditures three times: 30 days
and eight days before Election
Day and a final accounting with-
in 30 days after Election Day.
Following is a summary of
each candidate's campaign
finances as of April 23, according
to two reports:
■ Mayor — Incumbent Lynn
McIlhaney raised $3,837.92 and
listed $608 in expenses. Irving
reported no contributions and
$156.53 in expenses. W.J. "Bill"
Batchelor reported $645 in contri-
butions, $435.51 in expenses and a
$365.89 principal on an outstand-
ing loan.
■ Place 2 — Ron Silvia led this
four -way race with political con-
tributions totaling $1,775. He
reported expenses of $2,043.50.
Dennis Maloney followed with
reported political contributions
of $1,640 and expenses of
$1,323.48. David Alexander
reported political contributions
totaling $1,588 and expenses of
$1,140.03. Barbara Palmer report-
ed $90 in political contributions
and expenses of $80.87.
■ Place 4 — Mariott reported
ns an is a expenses of
$797.56. Shannon Schunicht
reported contributions of $200
and expenses totaling $2,197.24.
■ Place 6 — Anne Hazen is the
leading fund - raiser in this three -
way race. She reported contribu-
tions totaling $1,075 and expenses
of $2,068.21. Dorcas Moore report-
ed contributions totaling $779.98
and expenses of $421.02.
Incumbent Dick Birdwell report-
ed contributions of $200, expens-
es of $967 and a $767 principal on
an outstanding loan.
Radio and television advertis-
ing, political signs and mailing
costs absorbed most of the candi-
dates' funds. Hazen was the only
candidate besides Mariott to buy
television ads, for which she
reported spending $1,010. Other
candidates bought radio adver-
tisements: McIlhaney spent $608,
Alexander $568, Silvia $406,
Schunicht $465, and Irving, $40.
Three candidates bought news-
paper advertisements: Maloney,
$1,397.50, Hazen $778.50, and
Birdwell, $840.
Mariott also led all other candi-
dates in spending $1,416.78 on
yard signs, followed by
Schunicht at $1,298.85, Silvia at
$937.50, Keating at $690.09, Moore
at $365.34, and Alexander at
$154.93.
Mariott reported the highest
mailing and postage expenses,
too, with $1,316.84. Following him
were Batchelor at $341.29, Silvia
at $160, Hazen and Birdwell at
$60, and Maloney at $32.
,W
A
z .
City �o
� r. khe_.Eag1e y
yColYege Station {News
Date: Ar I 130
Important differences
t is my pleasure to write in support of
Dr. Dayne Foster's candidacy for
College Station school board, Place 5. It
has been suggested that Dr. Foster and her
Opponent, Cannon Ray Amos, hold similar
Positions on critical education issues.
This is true in the case of school vouch-
ers, which both said they oppose.
However, other important differences
separate them, such as the question of orga-
nized prayer in public schools.
Amos supports organized prayer, but
was not prepared during a recent PTO
forum to say which kind of prayer should
be recited in schools.
Dr. Foster, on the other hand, opposes
organized prayer in the schools.
She recognizes that some students
already pray privately and that our public
school students — representing more than
40 nations — are too religiously diverse to
be expected to recite a single prayer.
She believes the courts have struck a
good balance on this issue, stating that
individual prayer is permissible, but offi-
cial prayer in public school is not.
Dr. Foster's position, supported by her
experience as a pediatrician serving local
children, shows a respect for the variety of
Peoples in our community and for the pub-
lic nature of our public schools.
We would be fortunate to have her serve
on our board. Please give her your vote.
KATE E. KELLY
College Station
Proven and well - informed
T he citizens of College Station have
laced many important elections over
as the one this week.
We must choose between a proven, well-
informed and competent candidate and
those who are not.
For this reason, I will vote for Lynn ,v
By GARRY TRUDEAU
VP 70 &=
NbeAHO
R7 UM... "M71457 /C`
VFAC7, r L^ /SSLt^t/
7/C!RWrP I A 57&W
AVRO, B.O.
E
to
the
tax
and
It
men
Tl
staff
then
that
ousl
then
T)
send
beha
meni
Is
the li
cated
quali
for L
Rhaney and encourage my fellow com-
nity members to do as well.
,t a recent election forum, all of the can -
ates for mayor were asked to detail their
erience in city government. Lynn's is
1 known and well documented. Her
onents were hard pressed to cite any
h experience and in many instances
ionstrated a lack of understanding and
wledge of the issues facing the city.
se ranged from ill- conceived promises
lash taxes to an admitted unfamiliarity
1 the city's comprehensive plan.
mn has worked with and understands
master plan, knows and works with our
)ase, and will continue to bring the wel-
e experience to our municipal govern -
t.
,th as mayor and as a City Council
iber, Lynn has worked diligently to
urage teamwork within the council
responsiveness to all citizens of College
on.
e listens, looks for the hard answers
s not self-serving.
s unfortunate that not all council
bers follow her lead.
ere are those who regularly belittle
and anyone who does not agree with
who challenge decision after decision
he council reaches, and who insidi-
twist facts and figures as it serves
Purpose.
rough this week's election we must
I message that we will not allow such
Dior to overtake our city's govern-
icerely believe that it is because of
adership of Lynn Mcllhaney and dedi-
council members that we enjoy the
Y of life that we do. Join me in voting
nn Mcllhaney.
CAROL A. WAGNER
College Station
Discouraged b discontent
l s port Ron Silvialynn Mellhaney,
ry Mariott and Anne Hazen in the
u oming College Station City Council
dates
those
the ci
staff,
which
being
City
plex ai
ment
there are other qualified candi-
the races, I am discouraged by
ho are voicing their discontent with
Of College Station leadership and
if Armageddon is looming.
h our city is not Camelot, when I
n the overall environment in
e live, I am pleased with the job
management and operation are com-
a require trained and skilled profes-
Micromanagement by council
°s is devastating to the accomplish -
the city's mission.
Council oversight and direction are good
Council meddling and pet issues are not. It
has been my experience that the people on
our city staff are helpful, responsive and
try to do a good job.
The most amazing part to me is that,
unlike most government organizations, the
city's employees seem truly interested in
helping their customers, the citizens of
College Station.
Bravo to the staff. They are doing a great
job.
Economic growth will benefit our com-
munity if we plan and prepare. I believe
that city government can influence the type
and quality of growth.
Using city government to stop or limit
growth is contrary to the precepts of our
free enterprise system. I suggest that such
efforts will not only fail, but will cause us
to miss the chance to influence the kind of
growth we get.
Directing a city of our size is complex
and requires a broad vision.
As you go to the polls, do not let single,
hot -button issues blur your view of the
overall job that is accomplished every day.
As much as they would like to, the council
and staff cannot please everyone.
CHUCK ELLISON
College Station
A i ; {he eagle
s. y
t c E.
4 t City of. °ColYegeStationF lYews
Date: I I H 8
Re elect Dick Birdwell
Dear Coll ge Station Voter:
I have don my best to inform you about the issues facing
the City C uncil. If you have any question about where I
stand, please call me at 260 -2076. For the last two years I
have represented you by doing exactly the things I said I
would wh n I ran for the Council two years ago.
One issue
s the Northgate parking garage. Its fate will be
decided b3
you. Last week, I discussed this project with
the City's
onsultant. He agreed with me that the garage
could not be
paid for with contract parking. He was unable
to explain
he currently empty parking spaces at noon. He
admitted t
at surface lots are preferred by the public over
a parking
:arage.
College S
as we gr
keeping c
pay for it:
on taxnav
on is a university oriented community. I hope,
we can gain employment diversity while
ambiance. I am dedicated to having growth
and not putting a burden
Please Vote or me Saturday, May 2,1998
This ad p�id for by Dick Birdwell, 3 Forest Dr. Col. Sta. TX 77840
1he
Time to do or die
511 10;
rlcl� I I J9015
Voters to d'cide North
BY ROBERT SMITH AND fees. The prop sed fee for garage cus- "If a parking garage was built, 1 think a
COLLEEN KAVANAGH tomers is $1 pet hourwith a maximum of number of students would want to use it
Staff writers $2 per day. — especially with the elimination of
Voters will take to the polls on Satur-
day to decide whether there is a need for
a Northgate parking garage.
College Station citizens will vote on a
proposed city ordinance that would lim-
it the city from spending, using lending or
granting funds for the garage. A "no" vote
supports the garage, and a "yes" vote op-
poses the garage.
The proposed four - story, 752 -space
garage would be located on 1.65 acres be-
tween College Main and Second Street
that the City of College Station would ac-
quire. The estimated cost of the garage is
$6,807,639, including $427,620 for land
acquisition, $5,184,900 for actual con-
struction, $832,176 for construction con-
tingencies and $362,943 for architect's
•
Ntta_ I i on
Mayor Lynn Mcllhaney and Council-
men Hub Kent ady, David Hickson and
Larry Marriot si ipport the project. Coun-
cilman Dick Bit well, Steve Esmond and
Swiki Anderson oppose the project.
In an inter 'ew earlier this month,
Councilman Di k Birdwell said there is no
N See Editorial, Page 7
need for a Nord igate parking garage.
"I was out n Northgate this after-
noon," he said, 'and there were over 120
empty spaces. hey've (parking survey-
ors) overestima ed parking needs. It's go-
ing to be big m ( ney for the taxpayers."
Kennady salt that many of the avail-
able parking sy aces are one -hour only
spaces.
Mud lot."
Larry Haskins, attorney for Jack Culpep-
per, owner of the Mud lot, announced in
April that Mud lot would be closing in De-
cember 1998. Mud lot, used by an estimat-
ed 700 motorists per day, will be used for ho-
tel and retail development.
"This is an opportunity to provide a
substantial amount of parking for stu-
dents and citizens in the Northgate area,"
Kennady said. "I hope that it is not a
missed opportunity"
Councilman Swiki Anderson said he
opposes the project because it is neither
necessary nor cost justified.
"It is going to cost the city a great deal
of money," he said. "Also, students will
have to park in the garage because part of
the plan is no on- street parking."
intinued from Page 1
"My family has owned the land
it will be condemned for the
age for 30 years," he said. "Obvi-
dy I have a personal interest in the
ject. I also question the location of
garage. The University has acres
dnd Albertson's with signs not to
k there. That area was not consid-
' the garage benefits what 1 call
hole -in- the -wall businesses in
area. There are some textbook
es there, but the bars there don't
vide parking, so they expect the
to provide parking."
)on An, owner of Cafe Excel and
)kedPath Ale House, said a park -
garage will enhance the North -
area.
We are hoping it will revitalize the
thgate area and attract more
nesses," he said. "We think busi-
es will take a second look at
hgate if there is a parking
said the garage will attract peo-
ple Arho do not normally frequent
Not hgate.
light now, people don't reall
tak visitors to Northgate unless they
• w to go to the (Dixie) Chicken or
arel oingto a football game," he said.
"Th s ( Northgate revitalization) is a
visi nary thing — It's not going to
hap en overnight. But if you put a
garage in there, it will bring in more
bus' iesses. It can be something that
peol le are proud of"
„
PL EASE SEE GARAGE ON PAGE 8
Courtesy of Arkitex Studl
Computer model of proposed Northgate garage.
Bardin Nelson owns five lots with two duplexe
and a five- bedroom house on the designated park
ing garage area.
Revitalization
Bryan - College Station Creative
Please join my family and me in voting NO for the ordinance and YES to the
Northgate Parking Garage as it helps preserve our past and secure an even brighter
future for College Station!
The Northgate area of our community is a treasure we must continue to protect. As the
home to much of the religious history of our community, as well as its initial economic
growth, it is important that we preserve it's uniqueness and character. The addition of
a parking garage in the area will allow continued growth and revitalization.
Our city is bustling with good health. This is the right time to make an effort to renew
an interesting area of College Station. We owe it to future citizens to use the foresight
and show leadership by preserving a small area of local history.
With increased parking, local churches can remain a part of this historically significant
district and continue to grow and prosper in their present locations, rather than
relocate for no other reason than accessibility and parking space.
The Northgate commercial area in College Station has long been curtailed by the lack
of parking. Northgate was developed in the 1920's and 30's when there were fewer cars
and limited need for parking. The addition of this parking garage will allow this com-
mercial area to develop to it's full potential. Adequate parking will attract new types
of business to the area. It will do more than just provide parking spaces for the few
nightclubs in the area. Churches will also stand to benefit from the additional parking.
Gary Halter- Former C.S. Mayor
Bryan - College Station
District Association
Our Saviour's Lutheran Church realizes a need for additional parking for members
and visitors, and anticipates a future increased need for parking.
The merchants want it. The shoppers need it. And the consultant using conservative
revenue projections says it makes sense. The Northgate Parking Garage will form the
foundation to revitalize a part of College Station that will connect the past with the
future. Vote against the ordinance and support the parking garage and rebirth
of Northgate.
As a business owner in the Northgate area, I strongly support the construction of the
Northgate parking garage.
We fully support the eity's e&rU in constructing a parking gar-age in the Ncmthgat�.e
area. A well designed building will enhance the appearance of the area and provide a
much needed parking facility.
Mr. & Mrs. W.B. Lancaster- Historical & Preservation Committee
For over 20 years we have heard complaints about the lack of parking in Northgate.
The proposed parking garage will benefit everyone including shoppers and churchgoers.
and encourages investment in Northgate improvements that will add to the tax base.
Vote against the ordinance that will prevent the City of College Station from moving
forward. Give the City Council the authority, and indeed the responsibility, to invest
in the future. The College Main Parking Garage is the next vital step in Northgate's
renewal as a center for the community.
David Woodcock- Educator & Community Leader
J tj
..,,�,TTohe, Eitgle
W_ r City of College Station n News
Date: YU J
Friday, May 1, 1998 The Bryan - College Station Eagle Page A3
Voto "For" to Stop
the P rking Garage at
Northgate
On May 2, 1998, the voters of College Station will be asked
to approve or disa prove an ordinance which will stop the
proposed parking garage at the Northgate in College Station.
A "for" vote is a vote against the garage.
-
Northgate parking lots at noon April 14, 1998
Vote "for" tomorrow to stop this unsound project.
This ad paid for by Dick Birdwell, 3 Forest Drive, College Station, TX
Factors you should
consider:
A: Many cities
assess property owners for this type
improvement.
State College, Pa. assesses
$5,900 p
r parking space to business owners.
B: The parldng
problem exists only after 8:00 p.m.
C: College Station
businesses, except for those at
Northgat
, provide and pay for customer parking.
D: The existing
pay parking lots at Northgate
produce
my about 60% of the income
necessary
to pay for a parking garage.
-
Northgate parking lots at noon April 14, 1998
Vote "for" tomorrow to stop this unsound project.
This ad paid for by Dick Birdwell, 3 Forest Drive, College Station, TX
foiiee.:ita
$1 million
awarded to
ALERT
By PAT ABERNATHF,) —
Eagle Staff Writer J
A research team at College
Station's Texas Transportation
Institute has received a $1 mil-
lion grant from the federal gov-
ernment that will enable larger -
scale field testing for a law
enforcement safety and commu-
nications system.
For about three years,
researchers have been working
with law enforcement officials to
develop the Advanced Law
Enforcement and Response
echnology (ALERT) project.
The ALERT system is a com-
lq %nation of device control and
task automation," Joan Tatge,
project manager of the ALERT
project, said Friday. "The system
manages peripheral devices and
communications."
Please see GRANT, Page A16
•
Date: rn&,Li, Z
Grant
U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R -The
Woodlands, announced the grant
his week.
"The ALERT project helps us
gyring law enforcement and public
afety officials into the 21st
,entury," Brady said. "This new
loney will allow the researchers
t TTI to continue to develop cut-
hg-edge technologies to help law
nforcement personnel break free
f time - consuming administra-
.ve requirements."
The grant went all but forgotten
t the institute, Tatge said, until
ie team was in Washington,
.C., and received the good news.
"We applied for the federal dol-
rs and honestly forgot about it
,cause we got so busy," she said.
Phe money will be given to the
.deral Highway Administration,
ho is our sponsor, and given to
rI through contracts."
Tatge said the project, which
irrently is being tested in a
Allege Station police car and a
)xas Department of Public
ifety car, is a huge safety
1provement for officers.
An otticer using the ALERT
system touches a computer
screen to control everything
added to the car — overhead
lights, sirens and video cameras,
for example.
"No longer is the officer at risk
if the air bag deploys," Tatge said.
"There are not a lot of control
boxes in the car to be knocked
loose. Those things do not become
projectiles."
In addition to the car's systems,
she said, communications is con-
trolled by the system.
"We provide officers with the
ability to use a variety of wireless
communications," Tatge said.
Radio, cellular, databases and
images can be accessed through
the system. Officers can input
information using a wireless com-
puter and download that informa-
tion later using a disk. Driver's
licenses with magnetic strips on
the back could be swiped through
a reader, rather than inputted
manually.
"The ALERT system made up of
off-the-shelf technology," she
said. "It is what we enable that
technology to do that is impor-
tant."
Law enforcement officials are
the designers of the system, Tatge
said.
"Typically," she said, "industry
goes to law enforcement and says,
`We have this great product.' We
went to them and asked them to
help us develop this."
Tatge said the grant money will
allow the research team to go
from working models to a stable,
field -ready system for larger -scale
testing.
She estimates that the technolo-
gy might be available to a broader
Public safety market in two years.
khe Eagle
p� �aty of`'CoI ege :Station` ews
Date: rYlir i,, i-I-, 1 *i
Page AS The Bryan- Coll�ge station Eagle Monday, May 4, 1998
Region
Cinco De
to observe
By REBECCA TORRELLAS
Eagle Staff Writer
More than 1,500 people at
r. al Cinco De Mayo Celebrati
the Wolf Pen Creek Amphit
Sonny Casares, organizes
event is a celebration of uni
munity and symbolizes a ba
using sticks and rocks, unit
French troops.
"It is a free, family - orient
' kids," he said, adding that t]
unspoken messages.
"One of the messages is t
without drugs and alcohol,"
to show kids that we can ha
"Another message is to be
he said, "to be proud of our
Casares said the third mes
Mayo Celebration draws 1,500
u ity of the Hispanic culture
ousy sometimes associated with the Hispanic com-
munity.
"We want to show that we, as Hispanics, can work
together for a common cause," he said.
The event, sponsored by the city of Colleges
Station Parks and Recreation Department, included
entertainment from the Texas A &M Ballet
Folklorico, mariachis, a joy jump for children, food
from Taco Cabana, a car display by Royal Touch
and other events.
Casares said the main focus of the event is the
children. "We're stressing education," he said, "to
push our kids for proper representation in' o ` �r
future. We can show this to the kids so they cah
carry it out in their future," he said. "Kids are
smart and they listen and see."
,Agapito Ramirez said it was his second time to
att(nd the event.
":t is Important to join in and help the Hispanic
conmunity," he said.
ded the fourth annu-
over the weekend at
of the event, said the
for the Hispanic com-
:le in which Hispanics,
I to successfully defeat
event. It's about the
celebration has three
at we can get together
,asares said. "We want
e fun without them.
Proud of who we are,"
ulture."
age deals with the jeal-
BiL il�li on.
5 1 Lf 1 -98
Garag
In large election -day ti
city council to build N
By COLLEEN KAVANAGH
Staff writer
College Station voters gave
the city council the authority
to proceed with plans for a
Northgate parking garage Sat-
urday in the second - largest
voter turnout since 1971.
Voters defeated an ordi-
nance limiting the city coun-
cil from extending, using,
lending or granting funds for
the development or construc-
tion of a public parking
garage at Northgate. The or-
dinance was rejected 1,947
votes to 1,894.
The proposed four -story,
752 -space garage would be
located on 1.65 acres between
College Main and Second
Street that the city of College
Station wo
estimated c
$6,807,639.
will decide
project befr
be built.
Mayor 1
said the n
council m
brought up 1
the council
"We wa
members
members o:
she said. 1A
gotiations 1
when the pi
everything
er until the
ciates both
make sure
understood
iealo by
gout, voters authorize
rthgate parking facility
3 acquire. The
t of the garage is
he city council
:)w to fund the
the garage can
nn McIllhaney
Ay- elected city
nbers will be
speed as to what
is done so far.
t new council
tnd returning
the same page,"
had started ne-
r the land, but
ition hit, we put
i the back burn-
rte."
i said she appre-
sides' work to
he community
he ordinance.
"We know parking has
been a problem for 20 years,"
she said. "Now, we have the
authority to work with a vari-
ety of plans for a solution."
In other election results:
• McIllhaney won re -elec-
tion to a second term, receiv-
ing 67 percent of the total
votes cast.
• Ron Silvia won Place 2 on
the College Station City Coun-
cil with 42 percent of the votes,
defeating three candidates.
• Anne Hazen defeated in-
cumbent Dick Birdwell for
the Place 6 seat on the College
Station City Council.
• Councilman Larry Mari -
ott won the Place 4 seat on
the College Station City
Council, receiving 60 percent
of the vote.
W lection '9g
Results
•Lynn McIllhaney
ins re- election as
ollege Station mayor.
Ron Silvia wins Place
on city council.
`Anne Hazen wins
lace 6 on City Council.
Larry Mariott wins
e- election to Place 4
bn City Council
Ordinance restricting
orthgate garage
s by small margin.
Garage foe
wants votes
re, ou ted
515
Petition circulated after
53 votl6s sink referendum
By BOB SCHOBE
Eagle Staff Writer
One of the lea rs of the anti -
Northgate garage action is spear-
heading a petil ion drive to
require a reco of the razor -
thin, election -day defeat of a ref-
erendum opposin the project.
George Sopasakis, owner of the
Burger Boy Resta irant in North -
gate, is circulating the petition.
Sopasakis has cri icized in detail
the parking garage feasibility
study commissioned by the city.
"I think [the recount] is really
warranted because so many peo-
ple voted against Ithe garage] and
because of the w y the proposi-
tion was worde ," he said. "I
think we need to look into it a bit
further."
By only 53 votes out of 3,481
cast, residents on Saturday
defeated a ballot initiative that
would have prohibited the city
from financially participating in
a Northgate garage. The ballot
initiative was worded in a way
that voters had to vote "no" if
they supported the garage and
"yes" if they opposed the garage.
According to state law, any 25
city residents — the minimum
number required — can sign the
recount petition. Signers must be
city residents and need only note
their voter registration number
to qualify.
City Secretary Connie Hooks
Please see RECOUNT, Page A10
40
0
RecOunt
Fran -A1
must verify and approve the sig-
nat es to trigger the recount.
TheTaw requires that the petition
be filed with Hooks by Saturday.
• The latest the recount can be held
by law is May 20.
The law also puts the financial
bur,len of the recount on the peti-
tion signers, who will have to pay
$60 for each precinct plus early
votes — a total of $840.
"We should have no problem
getting the signatures, and we're
trying to see if we can pull [the
money] together; it's a relatively
short time," Sopasakis said.
Hooks said that state law pro-
hibits election judges who served
May 2 from serving on a four -
member recount committee, so
she thought the City Council
might designate the new judges.
Any resident of the city can serve
as a recount judge, she said.
The City Council is scheduled
to canvass, or certify, the May 2
election results on Friday, but if
the vote recount changes the
Northgate garage proposition
outcome later, the City Council
will simply canvass the new
result then, Hooks said.
L_J
•
C7
Cit' ens' panel
be ns review
of
f:,
By BOBS HOBER I
Eagle Staff Writer
A group of 27 College Station residents began a
review M nday night of a long list of capital
improvement projects they will rank in importance
for the City Coun-il, which must decide how much
city taxpayers can afford to spend on infrastructure
over the next four or five years.
The Capital Improvement Project Citizens'
Committee started its two -month task of advising
the council by listening to city staff describe new
road projects that, if completed, would improve
traffic circulation in developed areas and anticipate
road and oroughfare needs in prime developable
sites.
Budget constraints will eliminate some of the pro-
jects. In Coming weeks, committee members will
also hear ebout projects to improve drainage in var-
ious troubled areas, build and improve parks and to
construct a new City Hall campus. Fiscal Services
Director Charles Cryan told the group that road
construction and street rehabilitation projects
alone total about $55 million. The council is expect-
ed to approve a $20 million capital improvement
budget, wl ich the public will vote on in a bond elec-
tion, fort the period 1999 -2002.
The 11 projects reviewed Monday are projected to
cost about $15 million, and include the following:
Please see ROADS, Page A2
r�
�-# I
Roads
From A 1
■ Constructing a new through street as an alter-
native to Munson Street in the College Hills area.
Staff presented a plan to construct a 3,600 -foot road
in a new right of way purchased from homeowner's
back yards and passing in front of College Hills
Elementary north from Dominik Street to Lincoln
Street.
The new road would swing away from the school,
leaving the old road as part of school property.
Perhaps the most controversial of all the proposals,
staff presented this plan to help move emergency
vehicle traffic through the area since traffic flow on
Munson has been slowed with speed bumps. Cost:
$2.488 million.
■ Extending Victoria Street from Graham Road
south to Barron Road. This 4,200 -foot road could
spur extensive residential development and a possi-
ble new high school site. Cost: $2.557 million.
■ Realigning Rock Prairie Road east of Texas 6.
This proposal would arc Rock Prairie Road to inter-
sect with Stonebrook Drive in the Woodcreek sub-
division, thereby eliminating a sharp right turn
onto the frontage road.
The realignment would mitigate what Mark
Smith, traffic engineer, called "a dangerous situa-
tion:" a bad curve in the road and heavy truck traf-
fic heading to the landfill. The City Council dis-
cussed this proposal at its last meeting and asked
city staff to look at phasing in this project by pur-
chasing a four -lane road right of way but construct-
ing a two -lane road until the area is more built up.
Cost: $1.423 million.
■ Constructing a road to connect Sebesta Road to
Emerald Parkway. This road would help traffic cir-
culate between the Foxfire and Emerald Forest sub-
divisions. Because the frontage road is one -way
northbound, drivers are forced to drive through
Emerald Forest to get to Foxfire from Texas 6 and
F.M. 2818. Cost: $916,009.
The other projects include extending Central
Park Lane to Krenek Tap Road; extending George
Bush Drive East from Wolf Pen Creek to Holleman
Drive; extending Graham Road to Rock Prairie
Road; two phases of extending Longmire Drive from
Rock Prairie Road to Graham Road and eventually
into the Oak Brook subdivision; extending Marion
Pugh Drive from Luther Street to Holleman Drive;
and connecting Dominik Street to George Bush
Drive East. Total cost: $6.161 million.
The committee will meet Monday to consider
road rehabilitation projects.
C7
13
r �"°' .5..'" �ra'b". } t`1'S'�
Z TTle, EA91e:
City oU;01 `4_Yege :Station` News
i Date: Haan 5, HQ S
county mulls tax abatement for lessor
ss
exemption from ad valorem taxes; the
By Y Propos d .tenant company meets guidelines school district still would receive property
taxes from the company, but the county
Ebgle Staff and city would not.
Brazos County commissioners are Council — is by the commissioners of w on omit p d e evelopa eceritn of worms if we The eight -year tax abatement proposal is we oning
expected to decide Tuesday whether to . court, it will k the fast time taxing
grant a tax abatement to a company plan- entities m B County have granted an giv a ta x abatement like this to a comps- aimed at 0se Officials f a biotechnology com-
ning to construct a $2.2 million building in abatement in landlord- tenant type situa- the guideliine in payroll for example, space rather an construct their office
College Station's business Park, then rent- tion.
ing the office space. That relatio Lship has prompted reserva- established by the Economic Development building.
if the proposal — which already has tions from Irecinct 3 Commissioner Corporation ?" asked Sims. Please see ABATE, Page A10
been approved by the College Station City Randy Sims, ically a strong proponent Tax abatement in this case means an
Abate
From Al .
ProdiGene, which does meet
the guidelines set by the
Economic Development
Corporation, would occupy more
than one -third of the building,
while the company financing the
building — ' C.F. Jordan
Commercial, L.P: — would take
up to 10 percent of the office space
and rent the other offices.
If the company wants to keep
the tax abatement for the entire
building, the tenants moving into
the proposed 60,000- square -foot
building must meet those strict
guidelines set out by the Bryan-
College Station Economic
Development Corp., including
having a $2.8 million payroll.
C.F. Jordan does not meet those
guideimes,.but still will receive
the abatement under the guide-
lines - and that is what has'Sims
con
rrued-
d be in favor of it completely
if a wergg�iving the tax abate
me4 ProdiGenesnd who M
ev 'e meets those established
guidelines, "r Sons "said . "VVe;,
should be giving these abate-
ments to those who qualify."
Robert Worley, president and
chief executive officer of the
said a landlord - renter If C.F. Jordan leases less than
tement has been proposed in 100 Percent, then taxes on the
r os County before, but property improvements will be
y could be the fast time abated in proportion to the per-
t a package is passed, centage of building leased to qual-
Many communities have land- ified tenants.
- tenant relationships and to "My concern is that though it
Pete with those areas, we may fall within the guidelines
t st b
o e competitive," Worley allowed for economic develop -
d "Office space is tight in ment, I think the intent Was to
t an and College Station, so if bring new businesses into the
V don't have available buildings . community, not ones already
i we're severely limited in here;' Jones said.
i growth potential." C.F. Jordan, which -has offices
orley said he expects land- throughout the state, has been in
o d -tenant abatements to College Station for several years.
me more common in Brazos "rm not dead set against the
plan, and I'd like to give it a
chance to find out if it works,"
Jones said. "if in two years, C.F.
Jordan -has filled the building
with new businesses, creating
new jobs and making invest-
y`. We requests all the time
in businesses wanting to move
lire and rent space,' Worley
• 'd. "We need to develop some
rt of system where it's advanta-
g us for a company like C.F.
J 1 rdan to risk the money and
build a spec building. This is an
investment in the future."
Precinct 2 Commissioner Tony
Jones said he, too, has reserva-
tions over the landlord -tenant
abatement, but is willing to vote
favor of the proposal and see if
a deal as successful over the
ext two years. . ` 6 time the
,frhat's the amount,
V roposal gives C.F. "Jordan to
the building with tenants
ho can meet the' abatement
ments in the ComMu,u,y,
that's a wise investment. if not,
we shouldn't do it again."
ProdiGene, which moved its
headquarters in February to the
Texas A&M University Research
Park with the understanding it
likely would move elsewhere, has
a multi- million dollar payroll for
its scientists who develop indus-
trial enzymes and edible vaccines
for humans and animals.
Worley said the community
should meet the needs of compa-
nies like ProdiGene in order to
continue' growing.
"Many people don't understand
that ProdiGene doesn't have to
stay here permanently," Worley
said. ".They can leave here in a
heartbeat. We need,to convince
them" i rM.better'off here "
•
i
e _Eag1,e x
�� Zc
(i b of4;ColYe e Stationfl ews
tY�: g
T aY abatement
approved for developer
By KELLY BROWN
Eagle Staff Writer
Groundbreaking plans are unc
for a proposed office building in
Station's business park after
County commissioners Tuesday
in favor of granting a tax abateme
developer.
Now, both the city of College Sta
the commissioners have given
ahead for C.F. Jordan Commercial
receive relief from paying a poi
taxes on the $2.2 million building.
C.F. Jordan, which has offices t
Dare:
out Texas and has been in College Station
for several years, plans to rent out office
space in the building. So far, its only ten-
ant is the primary reason the abatement
was granted.
The tenant is a biotechnology company
called ProdiGene, currently located in the
Texas A &M University Research Park.
Plans show the company will take up
about one -third of the building with its
small number of high -paid scientists on a
$2.8 million payroll.
That payroll amount is one of the
requirements a company must meet in
order to be granted a tax abatement under
guidelines outlin d by the Bryan- College
Station Economic Development Corp.
If the buildings financer, C.F. Jordan,
wants to keep the eight -year tax abatement
for the entire building, the other tenants
moving into the proposed 60,000- square-
foot building als must meet those strict
guidelines. The companies that don't will
not be granted th abatement.
C.F. Jordan, v rhich currently doesn't
qualify for an z batement, will not be
required to meet e guidelines if it moves
into the building. According to the agree-
ment with the city and county, C.F. Jordan
may use up to 10 percent of the building
and will be granted partial tax relief.
It was C.F. Jordan's role in the abate.
ment that troubled some officials on the
commissioners court.
Commissioners Randy Sims, with
Precinct 3, and Carey Cauley, with
Precinct 4, voted against the proposal.
Both were concerned it would set a prece-
dent because the deal marks the first time
taxing entities in Brazos County have
granted an abatement in a landlord- tenant
type situation.
Tax abatement in this case means a par-
Please see TAX, Page A8
Tax
From Al
tial exemption from ad valorem
taxes. The school district still
would receive property taxes
from the company, but the coun-
ty and city would receive only
partial payment.
Neither Sims nor Cauley had a
problem with an abatement being
awarded to ProdiGene, but said
they didn't approve of C.F.
Jordan being awarded tax relief
because such a deal doesn't fol-
low the intentions of EDC rules.
"I'm all for ProdiGene getting
the abatement because it will pro-
vide good jobs and be very pro-
ductive," Sims said. "The prob-
lem I have is that this abatement
will also go to a developer, a
lessor, who doesn't meet the EDC
guidelines."
Saying he expects to see an
increasing number of landlord -
renter situations in the Bryan-
College Station area, Robert
Worley, EDC president and chief
�aihe.agle`� *k {
"of ��Col leg " �Statiori� , ews
Y g
Date: Ma .1 1 1
Hotel, conference cent
finand a r p owed
p
CS pledging 5.5 million for public /private venue
By BOB SCHOBER I
Eagle Staff Writer
The financial oversees of the Wolf Pen
Creek hotel and confe ence center Wed -
nesday approved the ci 's financing plan
for the project.
The Tax Increment Financing
Reinvestment Zone #7 oard of directors
met for the first time to eview the 20 -year
plan and send it on to tf e City Council for
final approval. Assista t City Manager
Tom Brymer, Economi and Community
Development assistan director Todd
McDaniel and Fiscal Services interim
director Charles Cryan detailed for mem-
bers how property tax aild hotel /motel tax
revenues generated by the project will
repay the debt.
The city will finance its portion with
certificates of obligati — bonds that
pledge general city revenues — worth $5.5
million and a $500,000 loan from Brazos
County. The loan will bridge Internal
Revenue Service rules regarding a
kitchen that will be jointly used by the
city -owned conference center and the pri-
vately owned hotel. Without the loan, IRS
rules would require the issuance of higl~
er- interest bonds.
"This way," Cryan said, "we are saving
a significant amount of money in the life
of the bonds."
Both the certificates of obligation and
the loan are scheduled to be repaid by 2020
with tax and revenue funds generated by
the project, which comprises the Tax
Increment Financing district.
The project — valued at a minimum of
$21 million for the 20 -year life of the
financing district — will generate roughly
$349,000 annually in ad valorem property
taxes and about $150,000 in taxes assessed
on the .lotel's room rentals under the
city's seven percent hotel /motel tax.
The repayment schedule could be short-
ened i +the Wolf Pen Creek project increas-
es in value. The property's tax bill is
determined by the value of the property
tim#s the tax rate so, even if the tax rate
sta(s the same, an increase in assessed
vaue generates a higher tax revenue.
C:Yan said the assessed value could
Increase to $25 million in five to 10 years,
which would generate another $129,000 a
year in property tax from the project.
Please see HOTEL, Page A4
Page A4 The Bryan - College Station Eagle Thursday, May 7, 1998
Ne
Hotel
From Al
"In that case," he said, "we'll
see more revenue, which we rec-
ommend be used to pay the bonds
off early."
The nine - member financing
district board agreed, stipulating
that additional revenues from the
project be applied to early bond
retirement. If the hotel proves
more popular than most other
hotels in the area, that higher
occupancy rate also would gener-
ate additional revenue.
City staff is using an occupancy
rate of 75 percent to calculate the
$150,000 revenue stream for bond
repayment. The citywide occu-
pancy rate is about 70 percent,
Cryan said, but he predicted this
hotel, given its location near
Texas A &M University, could be
one of the area's most popular.
The board's approval sends the
financing plan to the City
Council, which is scheduled to
review it during its regular meet-
ing May 28. If the council
:na
approves, the financing district
will be formally set up under
state law and the first funds will
flow into it when construction
begins in 1999.
All three members of the
financing district — the city,
Brazos County and the College
Station school district — will
receive ad valorem tax revenue
from the project. The city is the
only entity issuing bonds.
In November, voters gave their
approval for the city to issue
bonds for the conference center.
The public /private venture is
unique in the state, according to
city officials.
The city -owned conference cen-
ter will sit next to a privately
built and owned 200 -room full.
service hotel and an 80,000 -
square -foot office building. The
project will be located on 15.1
acres on the northwest corner of
Dartmouth Street and Holleman
Drive.
On April 9, the City Council
approved seven interlocking
agreements that created the part-
nership between the city and the
developer, Wolf Pen Creek Ltd.
On April 15, in a ceremony on the
site, Mayor Lynn McIlhaney and
a representative of the general
contractor signed the agree-
ments.
The Tax Increment Financing
board is composed of representa-
tives of the developer, the three
governmental entities and state
representatives. It was set up as
an "owner petition," which is one
of three categories of financing
district boards under Texas law.
It will meet once a year to review
the financing plan.
The Wolf Pen Creek hotel and
conference center is scheduled to
be completed in the fall of 2000.
y �lhe.Eaglte
re
C i t of >Co le� e Statiori�N�VWS
t3' g
Date: I'YUi.0
Environmental award 514-1
0
Special to The Eagle
The city of C lege Station and its Comprehensive Environmental Program
was honored ednesday by Gov. George W. Bush as a winner of the Texas
Environmental Excellence Award. College Station Mayor Lynn Mcllhaney
(from left), Bush and City Manager Skip Noe are pictured during the award
ceremonies in Austin. The Department of Agricultural Sciences at Texas
A &M University also was honored, receiving the Environmental Excellence
Award for ItsJon -site in- vessel, mechanical composting of animal waste
and food rest uals in the agriculture category.
P
0
`%W
__7 Datc:
Propos
to Bell
outli'on d,
Firm may nagne
short list Frid y
By BLAIR FANNIN � a
Eagle Staff Writer �' )
A Houston real estate and de elopment
firm is an alternative source of fi ancing in
a local proposal aimed at attracting a Bell
helicopter plant to the Bryan-Colle ge Station
area.
Bell Helicopter Textron, which is consid-
ering the area as a site for a V-22 Osprey
manufacturing facility, could announce its
short list of Texas cities in the running for
the plant Friday, said Robert Worley, presi-
dent and CEO of the Bryan -Colle e Station
Economic Development Corp.
Bell's short list will include fur of the
eight cities in contention for its n w plant.
"We think we've got half of the eight com-
munities beat," Worley said, adding that the
local area has a "25 percent Chan e" of get-
ting Bell to locate its plant in tie Bryan-
College Station area if it makes thE short list.
The other seven cities in consideration
include Houston, San Antoni , Austin,
Amarillo, Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington.
Bell officials have said it will make a capi-
tal investment of $46.8 million fbi the plant
and create 1,100 jobs in five years, with an
annual payroll of $23.7 million.
The company also plans to makE a civilian
version of the V -22 that carries six to nine
passengers. Officials have said that, so far,
the company has about 65 orders.
Texas A &M University's Riverside
Campus has been submitted as tho local site
to be considered by Bell for the nufactur-
ing facility.
According to the proposal submitted to
Bell by the Bryan- College Station! Economic
Please see BELLS Page A2
eg �e, - ews
0 o
Development Corp., the J.A.
Billipp Company has agreed to
undertake all design, engineer-
ing, construction and project
financing for the plant in the
event Bell officials want to look at
another alternative in lieu of
what has been proposed by
Brazos County and the cities of
Bryan and College Station.
The J.A. Billipp Company,
according to the proposal, has
agreed to take on development
responsibilities on a turn -key
"built -to- suit" basis, where the
company would lease completed
facilities to Bell based on a long-
twin Iease agreement.
"Alternatively," the proposal
states, "Bryan- College Station or
Bell itself may elect to own all or
some of the proposed new assem-
bly and services on the basis of a
`design and construct' contract
with Bell (or Bryan - College
Station) as the owner, and in all
cases will work closely with Bell
and the Bryan - College Station
Economic Development
Corporation and Texas A &M to
best satisfy all aspects of the ini-
tial facility requirements and
any future expansion building
requirements."
The Houston -based J.A. Billipp
Company also has put on the
table a long -term, turn -key
financing alternative for the con-
struction of all or any of the
planned new Bell facilities, based
well-known companies, includ-
ing Chrysler Corporation,
Lockheed Martin, McDonnell
Douglas, Sears Roebuck &
Company and Kraft Inc.
The following is a summary of
the local incentive proposal pre-
sented to Bell:
■ A manufacturing facility to
be financed, built and owned by
the Brazos Valley Council of
Governments (any or all depend-
ing on the wishes of Bell).
■ Manufacturing facility to be
leased to Bell for 25 years and
then deeded at no cost to Bell.
■ Land will be leased by Texas
A &M University to the Brazos
Valley Council of Governments
at low or no cost for the initial 25
years, then renegotiated with
Texas A &M University by Bell.
■ Training facility to be
financed, built, owned and oper-
ated by the operating units of the
Texas A &M University System,
with possible financing assis-
tance by the Brazos Valley
Council of Governments (any or
all depending on the wishes of
Bell).
■ Training contracts will be
negotiated on a fee for services
and/or flat fee basis to cover the
cost of training infrastructure
development and ongoing opera-
tions.
onT6h9t@ftfl lease agreements.
Under this scenario, J.A.
Billipp would involve a signifi-
cant real estate financing and
investment company, as yet
unidentified, as a joint venture
partner. That company already is
assisting J.A. Billipp with the
financing of commercial and
industrial projects in Houston
and Austin.
That New York -based company
is a member of the New York
Stock Exchange and has special-
ized for more than 25 years in
high - quality corporate real estate
financing via sale /lease back
transactions involving more than
200 properties leased to various
corporate tenant companies
around the country.
J.A. Billipp Company's client
list includes some of the nation's
■ Land and facilities at the
Riverside Campus will be tax
exempt. A payment in lieu of
taxes from Bell will be negotiated
with all local taxing entities, to
result in a payment that would be
less than taxes under normal con-
ditions but sufficient to cover
costs.
■ Net cost of inventory tax due
to Brazos County from Bell for
the first 10 years of the project
will be limited to taxes due on
inventory valued at $100 million,
through an agreement between
the Economic Development
Corporation and Brazos County.
The agreement will be for an
annual cash payment from the
Economic Development Corp. to
Bell.
The second 10 years will be for
taxes due on inventory valued at
$150 million and the next five
years on inventory valued at $200
million. The payment agreement
will be negotiated after 25 years.
■ Private hangar /office to be
built at Easterwood Airport and
deeded to Bell at no cost to Bell.
Partial city and county tax abate-
ment and a very low -cost land
lease from A &M will be provided.
■ The city of Bryan will agree
to a 10 -year moratorium on
annexation into the city.
■ Bell will be proviaea i
season tickets to A &M footb
men's and women's basketball
and MSC OPAS for one season.
■ Bell will be provided with a
one -year platinum Chamber of
Commerce membership.
Also included in the proposal is
a listing of utilities and ease-
ments. Electric service would be
provided by Bryan Utilities, nat-
ural gas services would be pro-
vided by Lone Star Gas, water
and sewer service would be pro-
vided by A &M and local tele-
phone service would be provided
by GTE.
The proposal includes support
letters from numerous elected
officials and from companies
such as Northrop Grumman,
Conoco, Koch Microelectronic
Service Company Inc., Union
Pacific Resources, and C.F.
Jordan Inc.
.../
Q uiet pro sters
object to an
By BOB SCHOBER 1
Eagle Staff Writer 1
A beautiful Saturday afternoon in Bee Creek
Park was sullied by words of hate during a rally by
Ku Klux Klan members preaching their gospel of
white supremacy, anti - Semitism and racism.
About 60 College Station police officers were on
hand for the first area Klan rall since 1993. Police
used yellow caution tape to corc on off the parking
lot to ensure the safety of about 20 members of the
Knights of the White Kamellia oJ Vidor, Texas. The
rally drew more than 60 curiosi y seekers, several
protesters and at least one Klan adherent.
Texas A &M University student Mary Elizabeth
Feuille held a "No KKK" sign to protest what she
called an "unacceptable" group.
"It's scary that this still exists today," she said.
"I'm here to protest their beliefs and actions. I don't
want College Station or A &M to support their
actions."
A brief, heated argument broke out between one
of the protesters and a man who i efused to give his
name. The man — whose head wa s shaved and who
was wearing a black T -shirt aid boots — soon
joined the White Knights behin the yellow tape
and stood holding a Confederate f ag.
Many of the onlookers showed up to slake their
curiosity. One of them dressed i i a way to mock
what he called a "horrible situation."
"I'm a Marine and I fight for the right to say this
stuff," said A &M student Chris HE lens, 23, who was
Texas A &M University students Katheryn Junkins (left)
and Mary Elizabeth Feuille hold up protest signs as KKK
Imperial Wizard Darrell Flinn speaks during a Klan rally
Saturday afternoon at Bee Creek Park.
draped in a home -made, multi- colored toga. His cos-
tume was whimsical, but he took the message he
was hearing seriously.
Please see KLAN, Page A3
Eagle photo /Butch Ireland
Klan
From Al
"They're talking horrible about
the country, and they don't
remember that people died for
them to say all this [expletive],"
he said.
Each time Klan members yelled
"White Power," Helens and a
toga -clad Chad Muse, 22, echoed
back with "Toga! Toga!" to cheers
and laughter from the crowd.
After listening to Imperial
Wizard Darrell Flinn talk for about
a half hour, Muse shook his head.
"They say they stand for so
much, but they really don't say
anything," he said.
Demetrius Browder, a black
College Station resident, slowly
ambled in front of the Man group,
just a few feet from Flinn as Flinn
was speaking. The crowd
cheered, Browder raised his
hands high, and then settled into
• more serious mood.
"I came because I wanted to see
• real racial group, , Browder
said. "But I think he's not talking
to me. He's got fear in his heart ,
so he's not really talking to me."
The rally also drew Howard
Bushart, who has researched this
Particular group of the Klan and
has written Soldiers of God.. White
Supremacists and the Holy War
for America.
Bushart, who lives in Baytown,
Texas, follows such groups
around the Southwest. Flinn
greeted him cordially.
Bushart summarized why he
thought a hate group like the Ku
Klux Klan could evoke such
curiosity.
"They're a hiccup of history,"
he shrugged.
.,,600
c
C
A
ha
ele
the
age w,
ing. T
and it
report
Watioi
our ar
tent rE
so tho
whose
Thai
Board
endor:
Thai
Woma
candid
expres
ence C
ship w
and K]
HerE
part:
Of a
mental
busine
city on
forum:
the Pei
I urg
in next
them, our electrons become a finan-
cial contest of dueling signs, cliche
advertisement and sound bites,
rather than philosophical posi-
tions.
I urge all petition writers to not
obfuscate issues with unclear writ-
ing. Unclear writing reflects
unclear thinking. Keep it simple.
Let the ordinance read "Are you
for XYZ or are you against XYZ."
Congratulations to Ron Silvia.
During the campaign, Ron and I
had many discussions and found
that we are cut from the same
cloth.
He will make a fine councilman
and I support him.
Finally, congratulations to the
voters who said yes to continued
progress and renovation in the
Northgate area.
As for me, I come from a long
line of Irishmen famous for their
tenacity when not inebriated. Since
I don't imbibe, I will continue to do
committee work for the city and I
will run again for City Council
next year.
DENNIS MALONEY
College Station
*�`elhe Eagle `
Cod ege.:Stati Views
Dat�:M Ctic � I �, ��j
•
� CS g arag e
t o be
a
make sure the outcome is cor -'
rect."
A May 2 ballot initiative to pro-
hibit the city from participating
financially in the parking project
was defeated by only 53 ballots
out of 3,481 cast. Sopasakis said
he would be "extremely sur-
prised" if the decision was over-
turned.
"I don't expect any real differ-
ent result," he said. "In fact,
we're trying to make sure nobody
gets really excited about it."
The law grants city secretary
Hooks 48 hours to certify the sig-
n�t urPC nd�ntar ra istrati n
numbers of the petitioners.
College Station Mayor Lynn
Mcnhaney said a recount com-
mittee will be appointed to over-
see the recount, which must be
taken before May 20. The law also
prohibits any of the May 2 elec-
tion judges from serving on the
recount committee. Any resident
of the city can be a recount judge.
vo�es �
re our
By BOB SCHOBR
Eagle Staff Write f v
A voter pet tion requiring a
recount of the qorthgate parking
garage refere dum was submit-
ted to Coll e Station City
Secretary Connie Hooks late
Monday after on.
George Sopc sakis, one of the
garage opponents, spearheaded
the petition drive. The petition
contained 71 signatures, but only
29 of them included voter regis-
tration numbers, four more than
the number re luired by state law
for recount pe itions.
Sopasakis c Iso dropped off a
cashier's chec for $840 — $60 for
each precinct lus early ballots —
that petitions are required by
state law to p y for the recount.
"The signatixes were no prob-
lem, because people were quite
eager to sign," Sopasakis said.
"They wanted to have the recount
because they think it's good to
•
ty� f,(1
Date:
k
ege:Statiori ews
Officers
Area officers fire a 21 -gun salute during the
Enforcement Memorial Service on Wednesday.
Slain police 4
remembered
By PAT ABERNATHEY
Eagle Staff Writer
During 1997, 160 police officers
in the United States lost their
lives in the line of duty.
Police and residents from
around the Brazos Valley gath-
ered at the College Station Police
Department on Wednesday to
honor those 160 officers who
made the ultimate sacrifice while
protecting and serving their
respective communities.
"Crime in America is on a
steady decline because of more
peace officers," said College
Station Police Chief Ed Feldman.
"However, being a police officer
has become more dangerous."
Feldman read through a litany
of how the slain officers were
killed. Eleven died in Texas and,
1
Eagle photo /Dave McDermand
observance of, the Law
I
cers
t service
of those, five were women.
The gathering marked the 12th
annual local observance of the
Law Enforcement Memorial
Service. College Station spon-
sored the service.
Bryan Police Chief Lee
Freeman echoed Feldman's
words, and told the gathered offi-
cers to remain vigilant.
"Crime may be down in the
United States, but the price we
pay for lower crime is getting
higher," he said.
Freeman encouraged the offi-
cers to remind themselves every
day that tragedy could strike
them a anytime. In doing so, he
said, of >cers may be able to keep
from b coming a statistic.
Texas A &M University Police
see OFFICERS, Page A2
From Al - 1
Director Bob Wiatt said he knows
first -hand the risks police officers
put themselves through. Wiatt,
who has been shot while work-
ing, said he has seen many fellow
officers killed while on duty.
"Today, we honor those who
have played to the hilt the role of
protector," he said. "In this age of
indifference, they took a stand."
Brazos County Court at Law
No. 1 Judge Steve Smith told the
crowd that society has changed,
as has police work.
"We have seen a decline in
moral conduct in our country
over the years," he said. "I'm
afraid we have lost a key compo-
nent of citizenship — responsi-
bility. Our liberty is not without
bounds."
The service concluded with a
21 -gun salute and the playing of
Taps in honor of the officers and
their families.
"A service like this gives you a
good feeling," Bryan Lt. Brian
Kyle said. "It is an attempt to
make the public aware of the risk
associated with this profession.
It especially pays tribute to the
families and recognizes them."
Kyle said he hopes to one day
mark a year in which no officers
were killed.
to
MR,, f
4W t
4 hs,
Date:
Post - election anal
sis
x,
like to offer a post election
analysis
1 'd
along with some specific tha
concerning the College Station
Council races.
ik yous
City
The parking garage ordinance
tied in every precinct except two:
passed or
Alders -
gate United Methodist Church and
Prairie Elementary School. The
Rock
did very well in these same prec
nayor also
cts
(above 70 percent) along with H
Lutheran (74 percent). I believe
y Cross
t
results are due to the disproport
hese
onate
amount of public employees livir
g in these
fS
areas.
MY message of reduced taxes is not
music to the ears of those who earn their
living from the tax base. With College
Station employing more 21,000 government
personnel (Texas A &M, 19,100; College
Station school district, 807; city of College
Station, 630; Brazos County, 580), it's not a
surprise that higher taxes and more gov-
ernment spending is welcome.
who decided that our city is n worth the
Thank you to the 33,043 registered voters
time and energy to vote. No doubt you have
a splendid excuse.
Thank you to Ronnie Jackson, who
explained Carver Governance in 1,200
words while my limit of 100 words was
obviously ineffective.
Finally, thank you to Robert Worley for
reminding us that the Economic Develop-
ment Corporation is simply a group of peo-
ple who have no self interest, but rather
are here to help the down - trodden in our
community with clean (Sanderson Farms,
Koch chemicals, Brazos Textiles), high pay-
ing, non - polluting industry (chickens and
textile dyes). In College Station, you've
spent a paltry $8,751 per job created. Not
bad. With a budget of only $500,000, it's
time to approach council for an increase.
W.J. "BILL" BATCHELOR
College Station
0
r a� he_:Eag1ef
Williams
corridor
rD � lq
oppose
Group sends fliers
to area residents
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
A proposal to make the residential
street that runs in front of College
Hills Elementary School into a north -
south corridor has been sharply criti-
cized in a mailer sent out Monday.
Officials with the College Hills
Estates Association, which paid for
the mailer, insist that the, city of
College Station's plan to widen and
lengthen Williams Street would great-
ly increase traffic in front of the
school and increase the risk to chil-
dren.
The mailer was sent to 1,004 homes
in the College Hills, Raintree and
Emerald Forest subdivisions, associa-
tion officials said. Children from
those neighborhoods attend College
Hills Elementary.
The project calls for construction of
a new 48 -foot wide, 3,600- foot -long
boulevard to draw traffic off nearby
Munson Avenue. The new road would
be carved out of the backyards of sev-
eral properties adjacent to Williams
Street and would require the removal
of two houses south of the school. The
project is under consideration by the
Capital Improvement Program
Citizens Committee.
College Hills Estate Association
president Joe Bergstad and treasurer
George Huebner claim in the mailer
that the project will create "more
problems than it solves with greater
risk to our children."
"It is anticipated that traffic on the
aw road will ultimately surpass 8,000
Please see ROAD, Page A2
f ege:
Date:
WS
Road
From Al ^
cars per day, up from the several
hundred per day now on
Williams Street," they wrote. "As
grandparents, we feel that asking
children to assume any increase
in risk is unconscionable."
In a telephone interview
Wednesday, Huebner said the
mailer was intended to inform
residents of the proposal. He said
the association is not going to
propose an alternate solution to
traffic problems in that area.
"We're not trying to dictate
anything. This is just informa-
tion," he said.
But the mailer does "urge all
homeowners with property
and /or children in the College
Hills Elementary School District
to contact our mayor and City
Council and express their feel-
ings on this proposal."
The reconstruction of Texas
Avenue and the opening of
Munson Avenue from Lincoln
Drive caused a sharp rise in traf-
fic volume on Munson Avenue.
One traffic study showed almost
7,000 cars a day using Munson
Avenue.
The Capital Improvement
Project Citizens' Committee,
which will recommend road,
park and drainage projects that
the City Council might approve
for a bond election in November,
is considering the Williams
Street project and several others.
Budget constraints will narrow
the final list, and the committee
is not expected to make its recom-
mendations until late June.
� F ✓:
he Eagle
A �� Cit4 of Cole e ;Station' N, �
t
ews
g
Date: fflkA V5
CS council t reopen
closed lane n curve
Two -way traffic to res me on Foxfire
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer S I
The College Station City
Council on Thursday night, to
loud applause from about 25
Foxfire subdivision residents,
agreed to restore two -way traffic
on the landmark curve at Stone -
brook Drive and Foxfire Drive.
"That's how we tell people how
to get to our community. Just
take the curve to the left," Doug
Slack said. "That curve is impor-
tant to us."
The city, for safety concerns,
had erected barriers to reroute
traffic at the Y intersection at
•,.,roxfire Drive and the extension
of Stonebrook Drive. The barri-
ers turned the curve into a one -
way road westbound, and a yield
sign was installed where the
rt curve intersected Foxfire Drive.
I The yield sign required drivers to
slow down on the curve and look
over their shoulders at an awk-
ward angle before proceeding,
■ Co cil members installed /A9
■ Gar ge ballot recount /A9
offici Is said.
Tr is studies on the intersec-
tion revealed that the curve car-
ries t e bulk of the traffic in the
area, about 1,000 cars a day.
Stonebrook Drive carries only
about 300 cars a day.
Transportation engineer Joe
Blaschke, who studied the inter-
section, presented four options
forte council to consider. He
favored redirecting Stonebrook
Drive so that it would T into the
curve That option would cost
Th council, with Council-
woman Anne Hazen dissenting,
voted to adopt the Foxfire Home-
owners Association suggestion of
inst ing stop signs where the
cury intersects the straight-
away, plus a third stop sign at
Foxfl e and Stonebrook. The
PlOse see COUNCIL, ` Page AS
Council
•
From A 1
curve will remain a two -way
road.
Installing the stop signs, a stop
sign warning light on the curve
and road reflectors will cost
$4,000.
City Manager Skip Noe, at
Hazen's suggestion, will meet
with the homeowners association
in three months to see how the
new set -up is working.
In other business:
■ The council renamed
Courtlandt Street to Concord
Circle to eliminate confusion
with Courtlandt Place in Bryan.
■ Six acres of land located
along the north side of Rock
Prairie Road West was rezoned
from R -1 single family to PUD 2 to
allow the developer more flexibil-
ity in front and rear setbacks and
higher housing density. PUD 2
allows for up to 15 units per acre.
■ The council approved the
creation of Reinvestment Zone 9
for Coca Cola of Bryan. The zone
was required by state law for the
city to grant a tax abatement to
the company.
Due to on -going discussion
between lawyers for the city and
the company, an agreement for
the development and tax abate-
ment was delayed until the May
28 meeting.
■ The council also deferred
appointing a Greenways
Implementation Task Force until
May 28.
V- he..EagIl
r !' L "wi,''S" r i
City of `CoYYege :Station °Dews
Date: ma '5
C S i
ne v counci
By BOB SCHO ER
Eagle staff Writ
The new Cc Rege Station City
Council memb rs were sworn in
Thursday afte noon, then feted
with cake and offee.
Ann Hazen and Ron Silvia
joined incumbents Larry Mariott
and Mayor Lynn McIlhaney in
the brief swearing-in ceremony,
which was conducted. in the coun-
cil chambers by Municipal Judge
Tripp Walter.
Council
would be a good one.
"We have a good council a
I'm excited about where the c
is today and, working as a tea
where we can take it in 1
future."
Ron Silvia, who defeat
Dennis Maloney, Dai
Alexander and Barbara Paln
in the race for Place 2, said 1
significance of the oath of off
didn't set in until after he v
sworn in.
"The last time I took an o�
like that, I spent 20 years in i
military," he said.
Silvia said he was particular
interested in finishing the W
Pen Creek development, whi
he said he thought would be "o
of the jewels" of the city.
Hazen rejoined the coun
after a 21 -year absence. S
O defeated Birdwell and Dorc
Moore in the race for Place 6.
"It feels great to be back," s
said. "I don't have a particu]
goal, I just want to learn me
about the city."
She served on the council frc
1974 -77, a time when Texas A&
University had about 18,000 si
dents, she remembered.
McIlhaney presented outgoing
Councilman Dick Birdwell with
an etched glass plaque honoring
"his outstanding service to the
council and the community," she
said.
"In every election, there's a bit
of happiness and a bit of sadness,
and I'm especially sad to see Dick
leave the council," she said.
Mcllhaney, cake in hand, said
she thought the upcoming year
Please see COUNCIL, Page A16
Eagle photo /Butch Ireland
College Station Municipal Judge Tripp Walter (far right) administers the
oath of office to City Councilman Ron Silvia on Thursday afternoon . Silvia
took the oath of office along with Anne Hazen (back left), Larry Marlott
(center) and Mayor Lynn McIlhaney (back
right).
"There's been a big change. The
third time. Echoing his election
city has grown, the city staff is
platform, Mariott said he didn't
larger and more professional than
have a policy agenda other than
when I served before," she said.
"to provide the citizens with the
Larry Mariott, who defeated
best quality service for the least
Peter Keating and Shannon
price."
Schunicht for a third term in
With Hazen, Silvia and
Place 4, showed up for the cere-
Mariott, incumbents Steve
mony in his trademark shorts
Esmond in Place 1, Swiki
and open- collared shirt.
Anderson in Place 3 and David
"It feels very gratifying, very
Hickson in Place 5 make up the
humbling — and good," he said
1998 -99 College Station City
about being sworn in for the
Council.
Recount
slated
Monda7
By BOB SCHOBER �1
Eagle Staff Writer
A recount of the May 2
Northgate parking garage ballot
initiative will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Monday, College Station Secretary
Connie Hooks announced
Thursday.
The recount is not open to the
public and will be conducted
according to Texas law, Hooks
said.
Votes will not be recounted for
the three City Council races, the
mayoral race or the term limits
ordinance, all of which also were
on the May 2 ballot.
Hooks said the recount may take
as long as 10 or 12 hours because
George Sopasakis, who initiated
the recount petition, has requested
that the ballots be counted by
hand. On election day, computers
counted the ballots.
The recount is strictly regiment-
ed by state law. Hooks will be the
coordinator of ballots and Mayor
Lynn McIlhaney will be the
recount coordinator.
None of the May 2 election
judges can serve on the recount
committee. Hooks said she has
appointed College Station resi-
dents Jean Hall, Marsha Ross, Kay
Schulze and Sara Goode to the
committee.
As petitioner, Sopasakis and two
other registered voters who signed
the petition will be allowed to
observe the recount.
Under state law, a recount peti-
tion must contain at least 25 signa-
tures of registered voters. Late
Monday afternoon, Sopasakis filed
a petition listing 71 names, 29 of
which included the required voter
.
Col Yege "fiStation" News
Date:` MO k,� /:51 q� �1
ay, May 15, 1998 The Bryan - College Station Eagle Page A15
Recount
From A9
registration numbers. Hooks
said Thursday that she verified
the signatures.
The petition was filed with a
cashier's check for $840 . State
law requires that $60 fee be
charged for each offthe 13 city
Precincts plus early ballots.
Sopasakis, an opponent of the
Northgate parking garage pro-
ject, launched the recount peti-
tion after voters by 53 votes
defeated a ballot initiative that
prohibited the city from partici-
pating financially in the project.
Voters defeated the ballot ini-
tiative, 1,947 votes to 1,894 votes.
The city has proposed build-
ing a $6.8 million, 752 -space
parking garage on 1.61 acres
between Second Street and
College Main south of Louise
Avenue.
The garage was extensively
debated by the City Council and
mayoral candidates prior to the
election.
Please see RECOUNT, Page A15
a le
w .
a g t u 3
-.. �i�7# -. � "'�a�`,u,� _.:'
. C-1ty a of Co�Yege .Station ITews
Date: Kim 1 1 �
Bell list
expected
� this week
By BLAIR FANNIN q-1
Eagle Staff Writer
A local economic official says Bell Helicopter
Textron sometime this week is expected to
announce its short list of cities being considered
for a new V -22 Osprey manufacturing plant.
Robert Worley, president and CEO of the
Bryan- College Station Economic Development
Corporation, said he had been informed by the
Texas Department of Commerce that Bell offi-
cials will announce its short list of cities, nar-
rowing down the eight cities under considera-
tion to four.
The Bryan - College Station area among the
cities being considered for the plant, as are
Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Amarillo, Dallas,
Fort Worth and Arlington.
Bell officials said the company will make a
capital investment of $46.8 million and create
1,100 jobs in five years with an annual payroll of
$23.7 million.
The company is looking for 100 acres of land on
which to build its plant. Texas A &M University's
Riverside Campus is one of the main elements of
the local proposal, presented by local economic
leaders to Bell on April 20.
Also included in the proposal would be train-
ing services provided by the Texas Engineering
Extension Service and the Texas Engineering
Experiment Station.
Bell officials have said construction on a
40,000- square -foot building, part of a total com-
plex of 308,000 - square -feet, should begin in their
chosen location in late fall.
Bell is the first aircraft company in 12 years to
express interest in the Bryan- College Station
irea. In 1986, McDonnell Douglas Corp. was look -
ng for a site to place a new manufacturing plant
or its T -45A training jet.
Easterwood Airport, Coulter Field and the old
3ryan Air Force Base were shown to McDonnell
)ouglas officials. Easterwood was narrowed
[own as the top choice of the three, with the
issembly plant proposed near the airport's run -
vay and connected by a separate taxiway.
McDonnell Douglas, however, backed out of
iuilding the new plant, choosing to build the
raining jet at its facility in Long Beach, Calif.
v
Date:
'ion
CS
tar
By BOB SCB
Eagle Staff W
Lick Creek
local official
important sitE
Valley over th
even 150 years,
development nE
becomes availa
College Stai
Recreation I
Beachy thinks
important to t
wants to spend
struct a visitor
roads and park.
pretive signs a;
expand the trail
The city acqui:
a land trade in
of protected ha
gered plant speci
far south side o:
Road. The park
biological reserv(
University reseal
Beachy prese
Monday to the (
ments Program C
tee. Included in
wish list for are,
wants to:
n Make irrig,
ments in Anders(
light poles to the
ball field at Bey
replacing the irr
1 117 - 0
Ewa "• r 1"" � ..
wedge
arks director
ts Lick Creek
softball and soccer fields in Cen-
tral Park, and adding two tennis
courts, new 'ark, which one st uctures to six fields in S uth-
illed "the most wood Park. Total cost: $301,000.
in the [Brazos] ■ Set aside $500,000 for the pur-
next 50, 100 or chase of about 50 acres for a com-
will see its first munity park in the southwest
t year if funding side of the city
on Parks and
irector Steve
the park is so
ie city that he
$440,000 to con-
' center, create
rg, install inter -
d displays, and
A Lick Creek in
187. Its 515 -acres
itat for endan-
s sprawl on the
Greens Prairie
s an important
for Texas A &M
ited his plan
rpital Improve -
tizens Commit -
[is $4.6 million
Parks, Beachy
on improve -
Park, adding
'w girl's soft -
Creek Park,
ation in the
v <
■ Develop Spring Loop Park by
constructing a basketball court,
walks and a playground; com-
plete improvements of Edelweiss
Park by adding a gazebo, walks,
basketball court and picnic area;
and add benches, walks and a
playground to Billie Madeley
Park. Total cost: $316,000.
■ Construct a new, $481,000
maintenance facility at the
Wayne Smith Baseball fields. The
existing shop, formerly the sci-
ence wing of the school, would be
converted to other park uses.
■ Add shade structures and
Pool slides totaling $100,000 to
Adamson Lagoon, Hallaran and
Thomas swimming pools.
■ Add street lights, replacing
walkways, replacing playgrounds
and other projects in nine other
Parks. Total cost: $401,000.
By late June, the Capital
Improvements Program Citizens
Committee will recommend park,
street, drainage and facilities pro-
jects to the City Council for a
bond election in November.
KII
"O.
UI
1
LA
Ix
"S1
q0 I V
The; ag g
of Coa ege :Sta1
TDate: 5 Z7
This is a
It's only
r
Drills
From Al:'
call was made, members of the
College Station Police Depart-
ment's Tactical Unit stormed the
bus and secured the scene. The
tactical unit snuck through the
woods along Turkey Creek Road
to get into position.
Medics and hazardous material
teams then moved in to treat the
wounded and evaluate the risks
of the substance leaking from the
tanker.
Thursday night, however, was
only the culmination of a three -
month training process that was
a closely guarded secret, which in
itself was an effort to keep emer-
gency personnel from being
tipped off to the drill, Brazos
County Emergency Management
coordinator Fred Forsthoff said.
"It's been going on for about
three months," he said. "College
Station was in charge of coming
up with the scenario. They want-
ed it in an area that would take
inter jurisdictional response
because that is the kind of region
we have."
Responders from the Bryan and
College Station fire and police
departments, Brazos County
Sheriffs Department, University
Police Department, Texas Engi-
neering Extension Agency Fire
Protection Training Division and
the Texas Department of Public
Safety were just a few of the
responders who participated in
the exercise. St. Joseph Regional
Health Center and College Sta-
tion Medical Center were
involved as well.
John O'Gorman, emergency
response coordinator for Shell
Cemical Company
and Fred Windisch, fire chief of
the Ponderosa Fire Department
in Harris County, served as two
of a number of exercise evalua-
tors.
C 11 A
No need to worry: Dis
in area were make -bell
By PAT ABERNATHEY
Eagle Staff Writer
A botched robbery, an out -of- control bus and a
tanker truck collision all were elements of an
emergency response drill Thursday night in the
Bryan- College Station area.
Brazos County emergency management person-
nel planned one serious incident after ano er —
all related and all involving injured people or
, otential danger — in an effort to observe every
;pect of the area's response capabilities.
The drill began about 5:30 p.m. with a botched
robbery attempt at the Fort Shiloh rest urant,
which was "reopened" for the simulation. Gun-
men shot two people at the restaurant then in an
effort to escape, commandeered a College tation
school bus at Bee Creek Park. .
The county dispatch office received t1wee 911
calls about the shootings at the restaurant a bus
out of control on F.M. 2818 and the collision of a
5,000 -gallon tanker truck with a hijacked school
bus on Turkey Creek Road.
"This is an exercise. There is a busload of kids,
and they are screaming and yelling for he ," the
caller told dispatchers. "The tanker truck i3 lying
on its side leaking and there are people Ia3 ing on
the ground with blood."
Police and emergency crews set up coi imiand
posts far from the bus because the hijack rs still
controlled the scene. Students from Bryan High
School's Hammond - Oliver Annex acted as 1he vic-
tims, with gory wounds that looked as if they came
right out of a horror film.
A little more than two hours after the last 911
Please see DRILLS, Page A2
"This is one of the best orga-
nized scenarios I've been associ-
ated with," O'Gorman said before
the Turkey Creek Road incident
began. "A lot of simulations
involve school buses because it
gives us multiple victims and the
kids like to act."
Windisch said the goal of any
simulation is to make it as real as
possible.
"This could really happen and
the emergency responders need
to be able to handle the entire sit-
uation from start to finish," he
said.
O'Gorman and Windisch said
that, as evaluators, they look for
several items in their assessment,
including perimeter setup, com-
mand structure, hazardous mate-
rial awareness and whether a
mass casualty plan was put into
place.
Officials now will gather the
evaluations and a critique will be
made May 28.
' Date:
Pr oject
calls for
land
CIP urges purchase
of floodplain areas
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
Preserving green space could help
solve some of College Station's many
drainage problems, and several
members of the Capital Improve-
ments Project Citizen's Committee
'r.eaid Tuesday they want the city to
buy floodplain areas to keep them
out of development.
Mark Smith, director of Public
Works and interim city engineer,
laid out a proposal that calls for the
city starting in 2001 to spend $200,000
each year for four years to buy land
for green belts. Many committee
members thought that amount was
too little and, possibly, too late.
"We need to think about acquiring
floodplain and getting out ahead of
the development," Bob DeOtte said.
Development has been strong in
College Station, officials said, and
developers sometimes seem to
leapfrog the city's Comprehensive
Plan. The plan defines in general
terms the City Council's vision for
parks, green space, retail and indus-
Please see LAND, Page A14
Page A14 The Bryan - Coll Station Eagle
Y
Wednesday, May 27, 1
Reg
Land
trial development. The plan is
implemented through zoning
ordinances and the development
code.
Developers, eager to invest in a
booming College Station, buy up
land and propose more residen-
tial and commercial ventures. As
long as a project stays within the
spirit of the Comprehensive Plan,
city staff are virtually required to
approve it. The city's authority to
enforce the plan is limited by the
right of property owners to devel-
op their land, according to acting
Fiscal Services director Charles
Cryan.
"The courts will tell you that, if
you tell someone they cannot
develop their property, then we
have taken that property and
they're entitled to compensa-
tion," he said. "You can only say
`no' so many times."
New ordinances require devel-
opers to create green space in
their projects, Cryan said. But
some, if not most, of the land bor-
dering the roughly 15 miles of
creek bed in the city limits —
along Bee Creek, Wolf Pen Creek
and Lick Creek — can be taken
out of the floodplain with dirt fill
or as a parking lot.
Trial
crom A9
Several committee members
urged Smith to study the situa-
tion in more detail, propose some
alternative plans and perhaps
recommend more money for a
long -range land purchase pro-
gram devoted to retaining flood -
plain as green space.
"The idea is to look ahead
where development will be so we
can buy it and set it aside," Smith
said.
The city currently funds sever-
al drainage projects with a
drainage utility fee, about $3.50
per month for the average Col-
lege Station home. The fee will
expire in 2001 unless the City
Council decides to renew it. The
city also has funds left over from
a 1995 bond election.
Those combined funds — $3.559
million in 1998 and $815,000 from
1999 through 2001— will be spent
on channel improvements to Bee
Creek and Wolf Pen Creek. Smith
proposed that the committee rec-
ommend a $1.1 million plan to
extend creekbed improvements
to Bee Creek from Southwest
Parkway to Holleman and George
Bush Drive.
The committee will recom-
mend drainage, parks, street and
other capital improvement pro-
jects to the City Council. The
council will decide which pro-
jects to propose for a bond elec-
tion in November.
The council is expected to pre-
sent voters with a roughly $20
million package gleaned from a
project wish list of more than $50
million. The committee will
make its recommendations by
late June.
The :Eagle
J
i yy
��x°L'�"i ..
J- City yofkCol ege �Statiori iNms
CS to
discuss
traffic
Council to consider
Munson proposals
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Council
on Thursday will consider whether
retain the speed bumps and stop
�s on Munson Avenue that have
*I ed slow and reduce travel on
that street.
The Munson Avenue discussion
likely will be held in the context of
long -range plans that call for creat-
ing a north -south corridor between
Texas Avenue and Texas 6. The Col-
lege Hills area, city staff said, has
become a "residential island sur-
rounded by higher intensity land
uses." Continued development in
the University Drive corridor will
increase the need for a north -south
corridor in the area, they said.
City staff will propose that the city
continue the traffic- slowing experi-
ment begun in December. At that
time, the city removed partial street
closings on Munson and Ashburn
avenues at Lincoln Drive and
installed street bumps from Lincoln
Please see TRAFFIC, Page A14
1 Ar 7
Traffic
From A9
to Gilchrist Avenue and stop
signs at Rose Circle and Holt
Street. Traffic engineers then
gathered volume and speed data
on Munson between January and
April.
Traffic volume, formerly as
high as 8,000 vehicles a day, now
averages 3,250, city staff said. The
average speed has dropped to 21
to 25 mph from about 30 mph. The
speed bumps and stop signs have
diverted some of the traffic to
neighboring streets. Traffic vol-
ume on neighboring Ashburn, for
example, has risen from 230 vehi-
cles per day to about 630, city staff
said. City staff will recommend to
the council that the speed bump
and stop sign trial continue.
"It has worked well on a short-
term basis," City Manager Skip
Noe said Tuesday.
The council also will consider:
■ Raising the speed limit from
55 mph to 60 mph on Texas 30
from F.M. 158 to the Texas 6
frontage road.
■ A petition to disannex a 7.5-
acre tract located east of Texas 6
and south of the College Station
Business Center. Noe said the
owner wants to place a portable
concrete batch plant on the site.
■ Naming a new mayor pro-
tein and reappointing the city
secretary, city attorney and city
judge to two -year terms.
During its workshop session,
the council will hear from Penny
Thomas, who previously asked
the council to delay or realign the
George Bush East widening pro-
ject to save her elderly father's
home. The project also will
require removing several other
non -owner occupied homes along
the north side of Kyle Avenue.
The council also will hear:
■ Long -term plans for Easter -
wood Airport.
■ First -phase report on the
realignment of Rock Prairie Road
east of Texas 6.
The workshop meeting will be
held at 3 p.m. in City Hall, 1101
Texas Ave. The regular meeting
at 7 p.m.
Date:
Judge sets trial date
for Northgate suit
Request to drop case against city denied
By KELLY BROWN
Eagle Staff Writer
A tentative trial date h
scheduled for July 14 for j
hear testimony in a laws
against College Sg (
retired couple accusing
cials of lying when tb
Northgate property to the
District Judge Carolyn
has denied the city's re
dismiss the case on the
sovereign immunity, wh
vents a government fro.
sued.
Ruffmo, however, ha;
rule on several other
including that the city
named in the lawsuit
be held liable due to the
ty claim.
Steven Steele, one of tl
I .."M
_t Y4�x a T *he.,Eaglte
b
et
City of 4 `Col�ege Station` News
tM
$102,000, the Neals ildarned that
the city was Hying; to= sell the
property to. Texadelphia Sand-
wich and Sports restaurant as
part of the Northgate revitaliza-
tion project. < -:
Steele has said the land deal has
become a matter of principle. The
city shouldn't be able to take any
property it doesn't deem up to
standards, he said, especially if
they never asked property - own-
ers to revitalize the property
themselyes.
r
officials told them in 1995 they
wanted to purchase the Neals'
land on Patricia Street, which the
Neals were renting to a business-
man operating a restaurant
called the Chicken Basket.
The Neals said they initially
refused to sell the property
because of its potential to sub-
stantially increase in value, but
finally sold it after they were told
it would be used to expand the
parking area.
City officials said they never
misled the Neals; rather, they
informed them that there were
several options the property
might be used for, including eco-
nomic development and revital-
ization.
After selling the property for
Please see LAWSUIT, Page A2
lawyers representing Elmo and
Marvelyn Neal who filed the law-
suit a year ago, said Wednesday
is been
he looks forward to a jury trial.
xrors to
"By Judge Ruffmo making this
,it filed
ruling, we can hopefully now go
by a
forward with a trial where the
ity offs-
factual issues can be decided in
�y sold
this case," Steele said. "The Neals
city.
will continue to fight the good
Ruffmo
fight."
[nest to
Daniel F. Shank, a Houston
basis of
attorney representing the city,
Bch pre-
said he's prepared to go to trial,
a being
but such a proceeding still could
be stopped if Ruffmo decides to
yet to
rule in the city's favor on the
issues,
officials
other issues.
Elmo and Marvelyn Neal
couldn't
believe city officials lied to them
mmuni-
to obtain choice land for resale to
another business.
e Bryan
Their lawsuit states that city
tM
$102,000, the Neals ildarned that
the city was Hying; to= sell the
property to. Texadelphia Sand-
wich and Sports restaurant as
part of the Northgate revitaliza-
tion project. < -:
Steele has said the land deal has
become a matter of principle. The
city shouldn't be able to take any
property it doesn't deem up to
standards, he said, especially if
they never asked property - own-
ers to revitalize the property
themselyes.
r
officials told them in 1995 they
wanted to purchase the Neals'
land on Patricia Street, which the
Neals were renting to a business-
man operating a restaurant
called the Chicken Basket.
The Neals said they initially
refused to sell the property
because of its potential to sub-
stantially increase in value, but
finally sold it after they were told
it would be used to expand the
parking area.
City officials said they never
misled the Neals; rather, they
informed them that there were
several options the property
might be used for, including eco-
nomic development and revital-
ization.
After selling the property for
Please see LAWSUIT, Page A2
•
A real community
hoE
e of us who are experi-
en
ing concern over plans
to 1
viden'Williams Street
and/or A
lunson Avenue in the
near futt
re would be happier if
we all tl
ought in terms of call-
ing the a
itire area "East
Universi
y Hills" — like West
Universi
y in Houston — from
Texas Ai
enue to Scott & White,
from Lin
mln Avenue to
Universi
y Oaks Boulevard
(includink
the Pasler Street
Eve
ing is here: wonder-
ful small
houses being re-gen-
trified; o
historic homes, both
large anc
small; big beautiful
new houses
close to Scott &
White; to
vely gardens and land-
scaping
ughout; the embod-
iment of
nuch economic diver-
sity from
graduate students,
our new
rofessors, old profes-
sors, ret'
including the mil-
itary, anc
many homes with a
multitude of children of all
ages.
We even have our own park
and pool, thanks to the city and
Mrs. Thomas.
We've loved it for 37 years.
Commercialization seems to
be in the wind with the new
shopping center close by with
its restaurant, a bookstore,
offices and shops — another
"University Village ?"
Two suggested traffic allevia-
tion projects have been tried on
Munson Avenue.
This street program needs to
be looked at inclusively.
The entire area needs to be
considered for safety, property
values, and total neighborhood
integrity.
If it were thus protected, it
could end up being the hottest
real estate location in town.
Location, location, location:
prime.
MARGE ZWOUNSKI
College Station
v
* F
}beagle tr
City ofColege .`S`tatio7r yep
Date: [\_10 , I6�-) �(
Munson
will be
closed
Council approves
trial barricades
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
Munson Avenue will be closed
at Dominik Drive on a trial basis,
the College Station City Council
decided Thursday.
The council listened for 1 1/2
hours to almost 100 College Hills
residents dis-
■ Road widening cuss the trail
plan opposed /A9 fic situation
on Munson,
with the majority urging the
council to permanently close the
street and some recommending
that it remain open.
A lack of unanimity created a
measure of uncertainty within
Please see MUNSON, Page A2
Munson
Fror Al
"After this trial is over, we make a permanent
decision " Mayor Lynn McUhaney said. "I want my
next vot to be the last vote on this issue."
Compl Icating the issue is the street's importance
for emer ncy vehicles to quickly service the entire
neighbo hood. College Station Fire Marshal Jon
Mies saf closing Munson would increase his fire
and eme ncy vehicle response times, which espe-
cially w 'ed Hazen and Mariott. A police depart.
ment s kesman said closing the street would not
have a s effect "because we're on patrol all
the time Vway."
the cot ncil, which discussed, made motions, with-
drew rr tions and eventually decided to close Mun.
son at mink with barricades. The vote was 3 -2,
with C uncilwoman Anne Hazen and Councilman
Larry Mariott dissenting. Councilman Swiki
Ande n left the meeting early and Councilman
David I ickson was out of town.
The arrfcades could be erected within a few
days, C' Y Manager Skip Noe said.
The c uncil also unanimously voted to create a
commit to solicit the opinions of residents with-
in the hole area — from Texas Avenue to Glen -
haven S reet and Dominik to Lincoln Avenue — for
faa " final d permanent" decision in late summer or
wunc
Steve Esmond suggested that the
trial clo
be done and the emergency vehicle
response
time issue be studied immediately. The
council
pproved his motion.
The ci
has wrestled with this issue for years.
Several s
'
dies have shown that Munson has expe-
rienced
creased traffic volume because of Bryan
residents
and Texas A &M University students
using the
street as an alternative to Texas Avenue
and Texas
6.
The latest
experiment began in January when
speed burips
and stop signs were installed between
Lincoln and
Dominik Drive. The trial has been
effective in
lowering traffic volumes, which once
q
rS
There is a need to ...
< <preserve [the neighborhood's]
character as a small town ... its h
toric single - family neighborhood,
close to campus from inappropria
redevelopment and destructive lei
els of non - neighborhood
through traffic. > >
— COLLEGE HILLS WOODLANDS RESIDENT
Resolution presented to College Station council
reached almost 8,000 vehicles a day, to about 3,:
officials said. The speed bumps also have Lowe:
average car speeds. Traffic counts on neighbor
Ashburn Avenue, however, have risen threefold
630 a day.
Most residents who favored permanently closi
Munson spoke about the importance of retain
the College Hills neighborhood's "character." 7
College Hills - Woodlands Neighborhood AssmiatS
Presented a resolution, signed by 41 famil
Wednesday, that cited the need to "preserve
character as a small town ... its historic single fa
fly neighborhoods close to campus from inapp;
priate redevelopment and destructive levels of no
neighborhood through traffic."
Group president Gary Halter, who had worked
open Munson when he was mayor of College Stati
from 1981 -85, said he had a change of heart aj
urged the council, to loud applause, to "correct
mistake I made."
After the council vote, Munson Avenue reside
John Crompton said:
"I'm just delighted that, after 15 years of angui,
with this decision, the council are unanimous
committed to permanently resolving the issue."
Rnaria
err
Road wideni4g plan finds opposition
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Water
The College Station City Coun-
cil on Thursday directed city staff
to see if the home of 85-year-old
Kendrick Menefee can be saved
from demolition by realigning the
George Bush Drive East widening
project.
Menefee's daughter, Penny
Thomas, asked the council to
either postpone the project or
College Stat
from destrui
move the Kyle Avenue
northward to save the hoi
father has lived in for 5o yE
Thomas insisted that
Avenue still was "a funs
road" and that her father,
wife died in December, ne%
been notified that the road
City Council tries to save home
Lion in George Bush East project
urve
ing was being planned.
her
"I'm not asking you to totally
S.
ditch this idea and not do it," she
Kyle
said. "I'm asking you to give him
ming
the consideration you should
hose
have given him three years ago."
• had
A traffic consultant's study
iden-
determined that the ideal situa-
tion for George Bush Drive East
would be a 90 -foot right of way
with a median. The current curve
to Dominik Drive was judged to be
too sharp, so the project would
require the city to purchase prop-
erties along the north side of
George Bush Drive to increase the
Council
for fear of
ard. Hard
would tall
aligning tl
to save thE
Hard s
matching
project is
contracts
before Sep
Also du
sion, East
er Harry
about cor,
airport ar
projects ji
Citing
input to tl
said risn
93,000 in
number c
ago — ha
cash flow:
ther devel
One of I
was the I
creating a safety haz-
said, however, that he
with Blaschke about
e curve further north
id a $350,000 federal
grant for the widening
at risk if construction
are not negotiated
tember 1999.
ring the workshop ses-
�rwood Airport manag-
�aisor told the council
struction plans at the
d detailed some of the
st completed.
$26 million economic
e local economy, Raisor
ig "enplanements" —
1997, about twice the
Pfliers just nine years
re generated increasing
and make possible fur -
opment of the airport.
he major improvements
aving of taxiway H, he
said, which will allow jets faster
access to the terminal after land-
ing. The airport also has pur-
chased two field trucks and a
tanker truck, but future plans call
for even more trucks as air traffic
increases.
The airport also will make a
major effort to attract corporate
jets by creating a jet park in 18
wooded acres on the edge of the
field. Raisor also said plans
include building hangars to
accommodate twin-engine planes.
In other business, the council:
■ Raised the speed limit on
Texas 30 from 55 mph to 60 mph
from F.M. 158 to Texas Avenue.
■ Unanimously approved the
rezoning of 88.8 acres bounded by
Barron Road to the north and the
Shenandoah subdivision to the
east from agriculture open to sin-
gle- family residence. The master
preliminary plat, which includes
277 single - family homes and a 12-
acre city park, also was approved.
■ Unanimously approved the
rezoning of 1.72 acres on the
southeast corner of Deacon Drive
and Wellborn Road from commer-
cial to multifamily.
"centerline radius" of the curve.
The city also would purchase
Menefee's property, which lies on
the south edge of the curve. The
proposed wider and broader curve
would run through the front por-
tion of Menefee's house.
Transportation planner Ed
Hard said the consultant, Joseph
Blaschke, did not recommend
tightening the centerline radius
Please see COUNCIL, Page Al2
G
Disaster drill
called a success
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Stgff Writer
Local police, fire and emer-
gency officials Thursday rated
last week's emergency response
drill a success, but said some
communications glitches need to
be ironed out.
The Bryan and College Station
police and fire departments, for
example, use different radio fre-
quencies, officials said, which
means different units approach-
ing the site of an accident can't
talk to each other.
Brazos County emergency
management personnel planned
the drill for three months and
created one of the most complex
and challenging exercises, Col-
lege Station emergency manage-
ment coordinator Steve Beachy
said.
The exercise involved a series
of serious incidents all involving
injuries — from a botched rob-
bery attempt to a hijacked bus
and a hazardous material spill —
to test and observe the area's
response
The dri
21 with tl
calls to
911. The
and the i
•'real tim
The dr
call, prM
cise," by
at a resi
Creek Pa
a school
it from
ers to a n
and anotl
the bus h
gallon to
Creek Roa
over and
alcohol,
students
injuries.
The v
chiefs kr
iegan at 5:30 p.m. May
first of five telephone
lice dispatchers and
tuations were staged
Donses were to be in
began with a panic
d by "This is an exer-
witness to a shooting
want. At nearby Bee
, the gunmen hijacked
is with 40 students on
ryan High School's
)liver Annex.
call alerted dispatch -
away bus on F.M. 2818
T call to report that
I collided with a 5,000 -
ter truck on Turkey
. The truck had tipped
vas leaking isopropyl
hich is a hazardous,
liquid. Some of the
pretended to have
ious police and fire
v in advance the date
Please s
DISASTER, Page Al2
c rarely has been used
Disaster
locally cally because ecause major incidents
requiring large -scale cooperation
with other agencies seldom occur
From A9
in Bryan and College Station.
"We need more practice in deter -
and time of the drill, but patrol
mining who's in charge and what
officers and firefighters knew only
steps to take first," he said.
that a drill would take place before
■ Once the calls started coming
the end of May, Beachy said.
in, dispatchers had difficulty con -
On Thursday, the evaluators
tacting various people because
assessed how police officers
telephone numbers weren't avail -
responded to the scene and set up
able or pagers weren't being
perimeters to contain the gun-
answered. Once extra officers
men, how the command struc-
were called in, however, officials
ture functioned, and how well the
said there weren't enough tele-
various units — police, fire and
phones available for all of them.
tactical — meshed their
Greg Petry,of Brazos County
resources to handle the rush of
911 said, however, that "dispatch -
events. Assessors thought sever-
ers handled the calls quite well,
al areas should be looked at:
especially when it became clear
■ John Blackburn of Bryan
this was accelerating."
Emergency Management, who
■ Dispatchers had difficulty
was stationed at Bee Creek Park
getting another bus from the
and St. Joseph Regional Health
school district in order to have
Center, discovered that his cellu-
radio access to the hostage bus.
lar telephone would not work in
In fact, a school district employee
the emergency room. "In a real-
tried radioing the bus directly,
life situation, we'd be outside
which DPS regional liaison ofi-
making or receiving calls instead
cer Steve Vaughn said "could
of being inside watching how
have created a serious problem
things are going," he said.
in real life."
■ Beachy said "we need to
"By and large, the problems
work on a unified command
were addressed," Beachy said.
structure." A system of coordi-
"Each agency has taken notes
nating the activities of several
and now we just need to go back
departments so they collaborate
and see what needs to be
in addressing a situation, unified
improved."
11 `►
ate:
Blackout
affects .,
C S area
30
Power disrupted
to 21,500 customers
"
i
By KELLY BROWN
Eagle Staff Writer
A major power outage left thousands o College
Station residents, several 24 -hour convenience
stores, a few bakeries and other early-bird busi-
nesses without electricity for more than an hour
Friday.
City officials said 21,500 customers were left in
the dark starting at 5:30 a.m., but normal electri-
cal service was restored citywide by :50 a.m.
after College Station utility technicians worked
to reroute the power
Residents in Bryan were not affected by the
power outage.
Bob Pohl, electrical division manager with the
city of College Station, said the outage was
caused when a Texas Municipal Power Agency
high - voltage static wire broke not far from Gib-
bons Creek.
Within 27 minutes of the outage, tec icians
had restored power to 7,500 customers; after
another 30 minutes, 5,000 customers wer able to
turn on their lights; and the remaining 9,000
homes and businesses were back on-line within
80 minutes of the outage, officials said.
"In the utility business, there's never a good
time for the power to go out," said Pohl, who said
his office received well over 60 calls about the
loss of power.
While some people slept through thE outage
and awoke to find their clocks blinking, many
who head to work or exercise during he pre-
dawn hours found a greater inconvenie e.
Scores of people inside Gold's Gym off Texas
Avenue were well into their daily work ut rou-
tine when they were asked to step outside,
employees said, after the business wet com-
pletely dark.
It was a request repeated across town at conve-
nience stores and aas stations.
9:
Officers from the College Station Police
Department, also without lights for a while,
tended to alarms triggered by the outage, while
also trying to get the word out about the nature
of the power loss and the estimated turn -on
time.
Jay Socol, news director at WTAW-
AM/KTSR-FM located off Texas 6 near the
Emerald Parkway exit, said he had been at
work for about 40 minutes when the power went
out, knocking his stations, including Aggie 96,
off the air.
"I've seen lots of power outages at radio sta-
tions, but they've been during daylight hours,"
he said.
"I've never had one happen before the sun was
up and I've never had the lights out for so long. It
was pitch black inside and outside."
Like others in his building, Socol made his way
to a fifth floor balcony, where he saw much of
College Station was without power.
"We could only see the glowing lights of the
Texas A &M University campus and a bit of a
glow from Bryan," he said. "We couldn't do any-
thing, so we just sat on the balcony and watched
the sun come up and, along with it, various parts
of the city's power."
The Eagle
City of College Station News
CS council fill
0 0 `1C, 3v,
mot p ositions HT
on ask f
By BOB SCHOBER and Zoning Commission and
Eagle Staff Writer John Crompton and Mike Man-
son of the Parks Board. The Bra -
All but one of the positions on zos Greenways Council will be
the Greenways Implementation represented by David Scott.
Task Force haVE been filled by In other business during
the College Station City Council. Thursday's late -night council
The task force will be charged _ meeting:
with recommending how to n The council approved two -
implement the greenways por- year terms for City Secretary
tion of the city's new Comprehen- Connie Hooks, City Attorney
sive Plan. Harvey Cargill and City Judge
Goals and ob ectives of the Alexis "Tripp" Walter. Their
greenways portion include: pro- terms coincide with the mayoral
hibit reclamation of floodplain; election.
continue to desigiate open space n Council member Larry Mari-
`. for recreation and preservation oft was appointed to his second
use; develop gre nbelts to con - three -year term on the Bryan-Col-
nect park and residential areas lege Station Economic Develop -
and continued e ihancement of ment Corp. His term will expire
the system of pE rks, recreation in May 2001.
facilities and open space. n The council did not approve a
The council agreed to the com- petition to rescind annexation of
position of the Greenways Imple- a 7.5 -acre tract of land located
mentation Task Force with east of Texas 6 and south of the
changes requested earlier by the College Station Business Center.
Brazos Greenways Council. At its The owner, Pebble Creek Devel-
regular meeting May 14, the opment Co., requested the move
council agreed to postpone the in order to place a portable con -
appointment of the task force crete batch plant on the property
until Thursday. to supply its own concrete needs
The task force i vill consist of 11 and sell at wholesale or retail to
residents, including individuals other contractors.
with specific expertise and those General sales are not permitted
nominated by various boards and under city ordinance, but the
groups. The task force still lacks council agreed to a conditional
a landscape archi ect. use permit allowing the sales.
On Thursday, the council n Council members unani-
appointed Mike McClure for his mously approved a partial tax
expertise in storm drainage and abatement for Bryan Coca Cola
drainage issues; David Scarmar- [CSL of Texas, Inc.]. The $51,516
do, who will represent the devel- abatement will be spread over
opment and real a 3tate communi- four years to facilitate CSL's relo-
ty; David Woodco k, a Wolf Pen cation and expansion. The new
Creek resident ho will repre- site is a 60.51 -acre parcel about
sent a neighborhood or home - three- fourths of a mile east of the
owners association near a flood - intersection of University Drive
plain; Lynn Allen of Brazos Val- and Texas 6. The city will also
ley Cyclists, repre enting a recre- waive permit fees.
ation organization; and Don In return, CSL has agreed to
Mueller, an state irban forester, invest $4 million in capital
who will represe t the environ- improvements and employ 30
mental science coi mminity. additional people with a gross
They will join James Massey payroll of $720,000 over the next
and Wayne Rife the Planning five years.
College Station plans to e
rect barricade
at Munson AvPnjjP;ind nnminik nrjsxTp
BY AMBER BENSON
City Editor
The College Station City
Council voted 3 -2 Thursday to
close Munson Avenue at Do-
m inik Drive on a trial basis.
RIUM Eorro it on Pty Si.
City Manager Skip Noe said
barricades could be in place
within a few days.
The decision to close the road
is the second attempt by the
council to lessen the amount of
traffic on Munson Avenue, a res-
idential road used as an alterna-
tive to Texas Avenue.
The first attempt to decrease
traffic, which began in January,
involved installing stop signs
and speed bumps from Lincoln
to Dominik Drives.
While reducing traffic vol-
umes on Munson Avenue from
traffic counts on neighboring
Ashburn Avenue tripled.
Members of the College Hills -
Woodlands Neighborhood Asso-
ciation presented a petition of 41
signatures urging the council to
close the street citing a need to
"preserve their neighborhood's
character as a small town" and to
save the street from "destructive
levels of non - neighborhood
through traffic."
Neighborhood association
president Gary Halter, who
worked to open Munson Avenue
y
PHOTO BY RYAN ROGERS/ THE BATTALION
Dustin Aldridge, a senior industrial design major and a resident of Munson Ave., watches traffic as he anticipates the tentative
street closing. Last week Aldridge's dog was injured when it was struck by a car on Munson.
when he was mayor of College
Station from 1981 -1985, said he
had changed his mind and en-
couraged the council to "correct
a mistake I made."
Opposition from, accessed
through the Department of Stu-
dent Financial Aid's Web site
(http:/ /faid.tamu.edu), the clos-
ing came from area residents and
College Station Fire Marshal Jon
Mies who said closing the street
could increase fire and emer-
gency vehicles response times.
SEE MUNS011 On 1 2.
0
Munson
Continued fr
ori1 Page 1
The council passed a motio
to study the effect of the closure
on response times.
In a related decision, the
council formed a committee to
solicit the opinion of area resi-
Gle dents, from Texas Avenue to
nhaven Street and Dominik
Drive to Lincoln Drive, to
a Permanent soluti reach
on by fall.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date
`%
CS eyes
new site
f or teens
By BOB SCHOBER ��q
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station Planning and
Zoning Commission on Thursday will
consider a request by the city for a con-
ditional use permit to construct a new
Teen Center in Southwood Park.
The Teen Center will not be located
in the park's T -ball fields, Ric Ploeger,
assistant Parks and Recreation direc-
tor, said Wednesday. Instead, he said, it
will be located in an open area near the
basketball courts and likely will
replace the existing teen center located
near Texas A &M University.
"The city opened the teen center
about two months ago next to the Col-
lege Station Conference Center on
George Bush Drive," Ploeger said. "It is
essentially an interim site until the
new one opens."
If the commission approves the per-
mit, the city will proceed with the pro-
ject, Ploeger said. The College Station
City Council already has approved the
hiring of a local architectural firm to
design the 4,000- square -foot to 5,000 -
square -foot building, he said.
The center was proposed for South-
wood Park, Ploeger said, "because it
seems like [College Station Junior
High students] will be the biggest
users."
The Planning and Zoning Commis-
sion's decision can be appealed to the
City Council by any any resident or
group of residents, city planner Sabine
McCu lly said. A le tter requesting the
Teens
From Al
appeal and specifying "how the
commission erred" must be sub-
mitted to City Secretary Connie
Hooks within 10 days of the com-
mission's decision, she said.
McCully said several residents
of the area already have
expressed concerns about extra
traffic, trash and noise that the
center might bring to the park.
The city's zoning ordinances
require that hospitals, libraries,
city facilities, nursing homes and
churches be granted conditional
use permits in any district in the
city as long as Planning and Zon-
ing approves, McCully said.
"But there are instances where
a use like a hospital is not com-
patible in an area because, if it
sits in the middle of a block, traf-
fic might be a problem," she said.
"And if Planning and Zoning
approves the use, it can impose
other physical site provisions,
like buffering and landscaping."
The Teen Center is scheduled
to be open from 3 to 10 p.m. Mon-
day through Thursday and from 1
p.m. to midnight Fridays and Sat-
urdays.
It also wi�)l be available for
other, non - exclusive activities on
a limited basis.
The anticipated uses of the
facility include dances and par-
ties, but it also may be used for
meetings or Xtra Education pro-
grams during the day while teens
are in school.
The number of staff members
on the site will vary from one to
five, depending on scheduled
activities.
About 200 teens are expected to
use the center during special
activities, according to a city fact fl
sheet.
Please see TEENS, Page A2
Southgate residents
discuss area arkin
p g
Permits, other optio s proposed
GENEVA WHITMARS
Eagle Staff Writer
More than 50 residen s of Col-
lege Station's Southside/South-
gate neighborhood met Thursday
night to discuss parking prob-
lems they believe are due to the
high number of rental homes in
the area.
Assistant City Manager Tho-
mas Brymer, who said the large
number of vehicles parked on
streets make it difficult for emer-
gency vehicles to access the area
and prevents many residents
from parking outside their
homes, presented six proposed
solutions developed by the South -
side/ Southgate Neighborhood
Preservation Committee. They
include:
■ Removing all on- street park-
ing in the entire study area.
■ Removing on- street parking
on one side of every street, leav-
ing on- street parking available on
the other side.
■ Taking the special event no-
parking zones and converting
them to year -round no- parking
zon s.
■ Creating no- parking zones
during certain hours of the day.
■ Creating no- parking zones
only on those streets that have
the Majority of rental units.
■ Using a permit system to
allo on- street parking by resi-
Brymer said a neighborhood in
Lubbock currently is testing a
syst m that requires residents to
use parking permits. The system
is n ccesary, he said, due to the
largE number of Texas Tech Uni-
versity students who park in the
neig borhoods around the
school. Many Texas A &M Univer-
sity tudents, Brymer said, park
in tl e neighborhoods surround-
ing he university and walk or
Plepse see PARKING, Page A8
Parking
Fr ®m A 1
ride their bikes to school.
Several residents, however,
argued that the problem stems
from the large number of stu-
dents living in rental homes in
the area. They said many of the
homes, made to accommodate an
average of four people, house a
large number of people — each
with a vehicle.
Brymer did not have official
figures on the number of people
renting homes in the area. He
estimated, however, that about 50
percent of the homes are rented,
mainly to students.
Several residents asked that
the committee's initial proposal
be sent back to the City Council
for approval. The proposal, origi-
nally submitted to the council in
January, asked that the number
of unrelated adults per single -
family residence be no more than
the number of bedrooms, with a
maximum of four.
The proposal also stated that
the parking spaces per home
equal the number of residents.
Former committee chairman
Mike Luther said the method of
identifying each resident to
determine where they should be
able to park is "distasteful."
"It's distasteful that I should
have to regulate who I am, so that
an invisible tattoo can be placed
on my arm stating where I can
Park," he said.
Luther said he spoke to more
than 40 students in the area, the
majority of whom were willing to
work with homeowners to pro-
vide a solution to the problem.
Brymer said the committee is
scheduled to meet with the City
Council at the beginning of July
to discuss possible solutions.
Thursday night's public forum,
he said, was intended to gauge
the opinion of residents and prop-
erty owners toward the proposed
solutions prior to meeting with
the council.
4�
City staff p : new CS CH
_ (Z 11, (Z -
+-4 By BOB SCHOBER c
along the Texas 6 corridor. Public Service building east of Texas Avenue
Eagle Staff Writer Gathering city services together in one gen- off Cole W. King Drive. The entire project,
r eral location is a trend that many municipali- building and land, would cost an estimated
F�1 College Station city staff recommended ties are following, he said. $8.25 million.
Monday that the crowded City Hall on Texas Monday, Brymer told the Capital Improve- Brymer recommended that the project be
Avenue be sold and scattered services be cen- ments Project Citizens' Committee that city funded and built in stages over several years
tralized in a new "municipal office complex" staff, at the direction of the City Council, have "to take it in chewable bits." He suggested
O on the city's south side. conducted a preliminary study that proposes that the city first build a 15,000 - square -foot
y Assistant City Manager Tom Brymer said a new, 45,000- square -foot City Hall be built building in the near future next to the UCS
4••0 the project would relocate City Hall in the next to the Utility Customer Service building building at an estimated cost of $2.25 million,
center of the population, which is increasing- currently under construction. The UCS build -
4* A development mg site is near tfie Police Department and Please see CITY HALL, Page A2
0
1 �
city Hall
. . . .....
['M
and that an adjacent 100 -acre parcel of land
located between Cole W. King Drive and Cen-
tral Park be purchased at a cost of $1.5 mil-
lion. The land would provide green space and
a possible site for a future civic center.
At a later date, a $4.5 million, 30,000- square-
foot city hall would be built in the immediate
area.
Brymer said the project's cost could be par-
tially offset by selling the current City Hall.
He said that the building's appraised value in
1997 was about $2.6 million.
A space -needs study conducted in 1995 by
the consulting firm Hellmuth, Obata & Kass -
abaum Inc., concluded that city staff was out-
growing City Hall. The first part of the exist-
ing building was constructed in 1969, and two
additions were added later, the last in 1984.
Two of the three sections were remodeled in
1989 and 1990. The city also leases 3,000 square
feet at Walton Drive and Texas Avenue to
house the Community Development office.
About 9,000 square feet will be freed up
once the new Utility Customer Service build-
ing is completed and those services are
moved from City Hall.
"Since 1989 -1990, we've constantly chopped
up the space into smaller and smaller places.
There's no more space to subdivide," Brymer
said. "The new UCS building will allow us to
decompress some."
Brymer presented another option. Adding
two floors to the existing City Hall and Fire
Station 1 would cost about $4.2 million, not
including the cost of buying land adjacent to
City Hall, he said.
The CIP committee also heard a cost esti-
mate to purchase land and develop a new 450 -
acre cemetery. Charles Cryan, interim
finance director, pegged the cost at $1.95 mil-
lion, and estimated the cemetery would pro-
vide 40 years of service before being sold out.
The city's current cemetery, located on
Texas Avenue south of Southwest Parkway,
is predicted to be frill within five or six years.
Cryan said that no parcel of land has been
identified for purchase, but he told the com-
mittee that state law requires that the site be
located at least three miles outside city limits.
Scott Shafer, a CIP committee member and
a member of the Brazos Greenway Council,
provided a detailed funding proposal for
floodplain acquisition as part of a range of
drainage projects.
Shafer proposed that a total of 1,665 acres be
purchased in four different floodplains at a
cost of about $4.7 million. In order of priority,
his proposal called for buying the 100 -year
floodplain along Carter Creek from Texas 30
to the confluence with Bee Creek; along Lick
Creek from Texas 6 to the College Station
landfill; along Spring Creek from its conflu-
ence with Lick Creek to Texas 6; and along
Bee Creek from east of the College Station
Public Works area to its confluence with
Carter Creek.
The Citizens Committee is an advisory
committee to the College Station City Coun-
cil. It will recommend drainage, road, parks
and facilities projects to the City Council. The
council will choose projects for a bond elec-
tion to be held in November. The committee
is expected to finish its deliberations and
make its recommendations to the council by
late June.
The Eagle
,-s
,.
City of � ColYege �S�tat on � Ne ' '
CS may
secure
3 lots bl'i p
Funds would cone
from garage budget
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Council on
Thursday will consider purchasing
three lots for $160,000 in the parcel
earmarked for the Northgate parking
garage.
The lots, which are being sold by
Mont Lawyer, border Second Street.
The 752 -space Northgate parking
;arage will be on a 1.61 -acre site
oetween College Main and Second
Street, south of Louise Avenue.
The purchase would be funded from
the $6.8 million Northgate parking
garage project contained in the fiscal
Year 1997 -98 capital projects budget.
The council will also consider
repealing the city's taxicab ordinance
and adopting new rules that will con-
solidate regulation of taxicabs and
eliminate regulation of fares and
meters.
The proposed ordinance would
require a permit to operate a taxicab
and written proof from a mechanic
that the vehicle is in good running
condition. The ordinance also would
require each taxicab be inspected by
the Police Department and carry suf-
ficient insurance. Owners and opera-
tors would be able to apply for a
license in the Accounts Receivable
Department.
In other action, the council will con-
sider:
■ Approving a contract for the
Carter's Creek Wastewater Treat-
ment Plant odor control project. The
council on April 9 asked city staff to
gin contract negotiations with the
— igineering firm Metcalf & Eddy for
the engineering design and construc-
tion management of the project.
The staff is recommending the pro-
/ . • �i
Lots
From A9
ject be completed in two phases.
Engineers will first analyze the
odor problem and recommend the "
most effective means of control-
ling it. The council will consider a
$61,207 contract Thursday for this
part of the project.
The second phase will complete
the design and installation of cor-
rective measures and will be
funded after the council reviews
the engineering recommenda-
tions. The council budgeted
$450,000 for odor control at the
plant in its fiscal 1997 -98 budget.
■ Purchasing $88,944 of Mobile
Data Communications equipment
for eight additional Police and
Fire Department vehicles.
On April 9, the council
approved buying the equipment
for nine Fire Department vehicles
and 21 Police Department vehi-
cles. City staff was asked to come
up with a way to fund the equip-
ment for additional vehicles.
A $34,070 grant is available for
procuring technology and equip-
ment for law enforcement func-
tions. The remainder would come
from the general fund.
■ Renaming North Graham
Road to Castlebrook Drive. The
council will also consider a
request by Begonia Corp. to aban-
don the right of way for North
Graham Road in the Edelweiss
Estates subdivision from Victoria
Avenue to Wellborn Road. The
abandonment was outlined in a
1993 development agreement
between the city and Begonia, the
developer.
If the abandonment takes place,
the property in the right of way
will revert to the property owners
abutting the road. The developer
has instructed an engineering
firm to prepare a plat that will
provide the legal description of
the plots.
The council will also consider
whether to accept the donation of
almost 48 acres of land that was
Previously used as a landfill by
the city and the possible appoint-
ment of a mayor pro tem.
The 3 p.m. workshop session
and the 7 p.m. regular meeting
will be in the City Hall Council
Chambers, 1101 S. Texas Ave.
Call 764 -3500 for more informa-
tion.
Please see LOTS, Page A13
Council
Council
to buy
3 lots o 1\ v
Land to be used
for garage plan
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Coun.
cil on Thursday night agreed to
buy a portion of the site for the
Northgate parking garage.
The council, on a 5 -1 vote,
agreed to pay owner Mont
Lawyer $160,000 for three lots
fronting Second Street and locat-
ed mid -block between Louise and
Church avenues. Councilman
Swiki Anderson voted against the
proposal. The lots will be pur
chased with existing city funds
that will be replaced when rev-
enue bonds are sold to finance the
$6.8 million, 752 -space parking
garage project, according to inter-
im director of Fiscal Services
Charles Cryan.
The council also approved, on a,l
4 -2 vote with Anderson and Coun
cilman Steve Esmond dissenting,.
a $61,207 contract with the engi-
neering firm of Metcalf & Eddy.;
Please see COUNCIL, Page AS S
From Ai
The firm will evaluate the plant
processes at the Carter's Creek
Wastewater Treatment Plant and
determine the most cost - effective
means of odor control.
After it has completed its analy-
sis, the firm will present its find-
ings and recommend solutions to
the council.
In other business, the council:
■ Agreed unanimously to
rename North Graham Road to
Castlebrook Drive and agreed to
abandon the North Graham Road
right-of-way between Victoria
Avenue and Wellborn Road in the
Edelweiss Estates subdivision.
The land in the right-of-way will
revert to the property owners
who abut the road.
City Manager Skip Noe said the
city will fix a separated concrete
sewer pipe in the right-of-way
behind one of the lots.
■ Unanimously repealed the
city's existing taxicab ordinance
and adopted a new one. The new
ordinance consolidates the regu-
lation of taxicabs under one
department and eliminates fare
and taximeter regulations.
Each taxicab operator will have
to display a city driver's permit
and a card showing rates and fees
in a conspicuous place inside the
vehicle.
■ Unanimously agreed to buy
Mobile Date Communications
equipment for additional fire and
police vehicles. On April 9, the
council agreed to buy the high -
tech, on -board computer equip-
ment for nine fire department
vehicles and 21 police vehicles.
On Thursday night, the council
agreed to spend an additional
$88,944 for two reserve fire
engines, one reserve ambulance,
five police traffic motorcycles and
to upgrade the computer moni-
tors in 21 police units. The pur-
chase will be partially paid for
with a $34.070 grant.
■ Approved a $73,250 contract
with Don L. Owen Inc., for the
repainting of the Texas Avenue
water tower.
■ The council voted to appoint
Councilman David Hickson as
mayor pro -tem and made several
appointments:
Planning and Zoning Com-
mission — the council reappoint-
ed James Massey as chairman
and member Steve Parker, both of
whom will serve two -year terms.
The council tapped Dennis Mal-
oney to serve the remainder of
Councilman Ron Silvia's term,
which expires in 1999. The coun-
cil also appointed to two -year
terms Karl Mooney, who replaces
Larry Lightfoot, and Ron Kaiser,
who replaces Julius Gribou.
Council committees — Ron
Silvia will serve with Steve
Esmond on the Brazos County
Health Department Board. Anne
Hazen will serve on the City
Affairs Committee with David
Hickson and Larry Mariott.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
500,000
BY GENEVA WHITMARSH �,, 1
Eagle Staff Writer `i'
A water tower spAmg a lE
early Friday morning, causi
the loss of an estimated half-ii
lion gallons of water, College S
tion city officials said.
Superintendent of EnvirE
mental Services Karl Golda
said the leak was caused by a rt
spot in the tower, which is loc,
ed at Texas Avenue and Hary
Road. Water from the leak "ma
it seem as though it were rainii
on Texas Avenue," he said.
"When you have water in
metal container, it natural
rusts," Goldapp said. "This tow
has been here for years an
although the city routinely pE
a
Da
ons of water lost in leak
forms maintenance on the tow-
ers, leaks such as these are a
somewhat common occurrence."
City officials chose to drain the
storage tank in order to fix the
leak, Goldapp said. The water
was drained into a drainage sys-
tem that empties into Wolf Penn
Creek, he said. Officials expect
the tower to be repaired, refilled
and in operation by Sunday.
Goldapp said he is uncertain
how much money the leak will
cost the city, but estimates it to be
fairly minimal.
City workers spent Friday
evening responding to calls from
area businesses and residents
whose water had become discol-
ored because of the rerouting of
water from other water towers in
the area, he said.
Goldapp said the reddish -
brown discoloration was due to
natural sediments in the pipes
that were disturbed when the
water was rerouted. He said the
discolored water did not present
a health hazard to anyone who
bathed in or drank the water.
City crews worked at cleaning
out the pipes Friday by flushing
them with water from area fire
hydrants. The majority of the
pies were producing clear water
as of Friday night, officials said.
Goldapp said there are no plans
to I replace the tower. At a City
Council meeting Thursday night,
councilmembers voted to paint
and repair the tower during the
up�om ing fiscal year.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
IDate:�I A & I (�� , H" I X
C$ leaders
pped
f ro
m suit
0
Coup e's case still stands
again It city, two others
By KELLY BRO\
Eagle Staff Writer
Three leaders in College Sta-
tion city government have been
dropped from a pending lawsuit
that accused the government offi-
cials of fraud in connection with
a land transaction.
A lawyer representing the
Bryan couple who filed the law-
suit said Monday that he dis-
missed Mayor Rynn McIlhaney,
former Counci man Hubbard
Kennady and Ci y Manager Skip
Noe from the su t because recent
interviews witl each showed
none were direci ly involved with
the land deal.
Elmo and M elyn Neal filed
the lawsuit more than a year ago,
and it still stands against Cathy
Locke, who was the city attorney
when the land deal was made;
Jim Callaway, an economic
development official with the
city; and the city itself.
An Aug. 10 trial date has tenta-
tively been slated for a jury to
hear the case in District Judge
Carolyn Ruffino's courtroom.
According to the lawsuit, the
Neals believe the city used deceit
and misled them in order to
obtain prime property in the
Northgate area at 317 -319 Patricia
St.
The elderly couple rented the
Please see LAWSUIT, Page A2
•
La
[rom A 1 �I
property to businesses for years
until the city obtained the prop-
erty in 1995 through eminent
domain proceedings, paying the
Neals $102,000 for the property
after a hearing on the matter.
During those meetings, city
officials said, they told the Neals
the property could be used for
parking or for other economic
development purposes.
The following year, the Neals
learned of a letter that might
have showed other intentions.
According to the lawsuit, the let-
ter was written six months prior
to the Neals finalizing the land
deal with the city.
The letter was written to the
city from Texadelphia restaurant
chain president Joel P. Stanley,
who was interested in buying the
Neals' land at the southwest cor-
ner of College Main and Patricia
streets and wanted the city's help
in doing so.
W. Steven Steele, one of the
Neals' attorneys, said it wasn't
until last week that they learned
that McIlhaney, Kennady and
Noe knew nothing of that letter,
and therefore should be dropped
from the lawsuit.
Kennady, a leader in the devel-
opment of Northgate who said the
suit marked the first time in his
six years as a councilman that he
had been sued, said he hopes the
lawsuit doesn't set a precedent
for similar litigation in the
future.
"It's a sad day when volunteer
elected officials are sued because
they take a stand on a particular
issue," Kennady said. "I'm con-
cerned such litigation will dis-
courage others from taking a
stand on issues if they're going to
now fear litigation."
Daniel F. Shank, a Houston
attorney representing the city,
called the lawsuit frivolous and
in bad faith.
"The Neals learned through
discovery last week that Mayor
Mcllhaney, Mr. Kennady and Mr.
Noe didn't know the Neals and
did not have any knowledge
about this letter from Texadel-
phia," Shank said, adding that he
believes the city acted within its
legal rights in the land matter.
Steele said information he
received up until last week, when
depositions were taken from the
three city officials, was that each
did have more knowledge about
the land deal.
"Everyone we spoke to said Mr.
Kennady was the point man for
Northgate acquisitions and
improvements, and that the
mayor and city manager by the
nature of their positions would
know of such transactions,"
Steele said.
Though the three have been
dropped from the lawsuit, Steele
said the Neals still feel strongly
that Locke and city staff failed to
disclose information to the Neals.
"That's what fraud is all
about," Steele said. "Our allega-
tions haven't changed as far as
the city and its involvement."
The Eagle
and in College Station,
ition growth has pushed
subdivisions and areas of
, elopment to the outer
t department officials con -
ely coverage, prompting
arttrents to add more fire
Bryan's eastern edge and
Pebble Creek to the south
the ride and, subsequent -
kes firefighters and para-
fire response
medics medics to reach those areas in emergen-
cies.
The Bryan Fire Department's average
drive time last year for fire and emergency
calls, which included some I calls in the
county, was four minutes anti 47 seconds,
Bland said.
In College Station last year, according to
Fire Chief Dave Giordano, 90 percent of
emergency calls in the city were reached
by the first vehicle within four minutes
and 3o seconds, the citywide goal adopted
bounclaneno
by the City Council. Ninety -five percent Ot
the time, emergency medical vehicles
arrived within the City Council's adopted
time frame, he said.
Drive times vary by time of day, traffic
and road and weather conditions. Officials
at both fire departments regularly conduct
studies that clock travel times — at posted
speed limits — along different routes. That
way, fire truck and ambulance drivers can
Please see FW, Page A2
Fire
From Al
plan the best routes to anywhere
in the city for any time of day.
•
•
Crlticai response
Response times are critically
important for saving lives. The
American Heart Association
states that, following a cardiac
arrest, each minute that passes
without aid to the patient reduces
the chance of survival by about 10
percent.
If the units get there in flve
minutes, there's a 50.50 chance
that the patient won't make it,"
American Heart Association
spokesman Brian Henry said.
Thena Parrott, a local car-
diopulmonary resuscitation
trainer and director of the Asso-
ciate Degree Nursing program at
Blinn Community College, also
stressed the importance of quick
response times.
"From the minute a person
goes into cardiac arrest — no
breathing, no heartbeat — you
have four to six minutes to get
treatment or that person will be
brain dead," she said. "The four
to four and a half minutes is an
excellent response time."
Response time is one of the key
measures used to determine a fire
department's quality, according
to spokesmen for the Insurance
Services Organization.
The New York -based ISO pro-
vides national statistical infor-
mation to property and casualty
insurance companies and classi-
fies a community's ability to fight
foes.
The group also rates thousands
of fire departments throughout
the 50 states.
The ISO translates a communi-
ty's "fire suppression rating"
into a "public protection classifi-
cation" ranking from 1 to 10.
Class 1 represents the best protec-
tion classification and Class 10
indicates no recognized protec-
tion.
The overall rating is based on
departmental performance in
three broad areas: alarm commu-
nications (10 percent), equipment
and staff training (50 percent),
and water supply (40 percent).
Chris Guidette, ISO director of
corporate communications, said
field inspectors closely check
staff training, the kind of equip-
ment the department uses and
the location of fire stations,
which can affect response times
throughout the community.
There are "literally hundreds
of variables," he said.
The ISO has rated Bryan a four
and College Station a three on a
scale of 10.
"These are really excellent
scores," Smedile said. "There are
only a handful of twos in the
entire country, so scores of three
and four are really good."
fishing boundaries
A department's response time
a key component of the rating,
It the ISO doesn't set a response
ne for firefighting purposes
at departments should meet.
;ther, it uses distance as its rule
thumb, labeling "protected"
ose buildings within 5 street
lies of a fire station. The rating
rectly impacts residents
wause insurance companies
;e it to set their casualty insur-
nce premiums, ISO spokesman
incent Smedile said.
Previously, the Texas Depart-
ent of Insurance used its Key
ate System to rate fire depart-
ents in the state. The key rate
;ed area coverage — the station
the center of a 11/2 mile radius
as its indicator of protection.
Most areas in Bryan and Col -
!ge Station lie within 5 miles of a
re station, but new subdivisions
n several high -growth residen-
al areas are pushing response
mes close to and even past the
ve- minute mark, both fire chiefs
aid.
In Bryan, all of the Copperfield
ubdivision is serviceable within
mr minutes and 30 seconds,
iland said, but a new subdivision
]armed for the east side of Cop -
erfield will be farther away from
he fire station.
Other Bryan areas that are
rowing outside the four minute
esponse range include the Texas
7 corridor, especially the inter -
ectfon with Villa Maria Road
nd the intersection of Sandy
'oint Road and F.M. 2818. Bland
s concerned that commercial
xowth west of Mumford Road
and the Bryan Business Park and
new development near Coulter
5eld will stretch response times
o five minutes.
in College Station, Giordano
mid University Drive, from
texas Avenue to F.M. 158, and the
?ast side of Texas 6, from Emer-
ild Forest south to the east end of
he Emerald Forest subdivision,
ire pushing toward five minutes.
Development in the southeast
portion of the Pebble Creek sub -
iivision out to the city limits is
stretching the response time
there to almost six minutes, he
said.
Giordano said he is planning
for a new station to be located
somewhere east of Texas 6 near
Greens Prairie Road. Bland said a
fifth Bryan fire station could be
located west on Villa Maria Road.
The response time standard in
a community is set by local pref-
erence according to the National
Fire Protection Association. The
ISO and the National Fire Pro-
tection Association do not set a
standard for fire and emergency
vehicle response times, even
though Boston based NFPA sets
about 300 other codes and stan-
dards that are used by fire depart-
ments nationwide.
"There is no code or standard
for response times we know of,"
Richard Mendez, a communications speclalist /dispatcher, Is responsible
for dispatching the Bryan Fire Department and Brazos County volunteers
as well as providing backup dispatch for the College Station Fire Depart-
ment.
NFPA spokeswoman Lauren there," he said.
Siniawer said.
Mubmi response
Occasionally, more than one
emergency can flare up at a time,
which means that firefighters or
medics from a distant station are
called to respond.
The two local fire departments
have linked themselves in a sys.
tem of "automatic aid" that
allows dispatchers to autesnati-
cally alert the closest available
unit in either city to respond to
an emergency anywhere in the
area. The system links Bryan's
four fie stations with College
Station's three (soon to be four,
when the new Easterwood Air-
port station opens).
"There have been titres when
we've run to Southwest Parkway
or Wellborn [Road] and [F.M.]
2818, and they've run to
Woodville Road and Old Hearne
[Road] a few times," the Bryan
fire chief said.
College Station has its own dis-
patch center, which is linked to
the 911 system. An emergency
call from College Station is di-
verted to that city's dispatchers
within seconds. Dispatchers
screen all 911 emergency calls
and, through automatic aid, mon-
itor the status of all emergency
vehicles in both cities.
The automatic aid system helps
each department keep drive
times down to some areas. COI -
lege Station's Northgate area, for
example, lies closer to Bryan's
Fire Station 2 but, when the new
Easterwood Airport station
opens, the College Station Fire
Department will cover it.
Since the drive time to a partic-
ular location will vary because of
weather and traffic conditions,
knowing the fastest routes is one
of the main jobs of vehicle opera-
tors, Giordano said.
"If a call comes in to a particu-
lar address, they have to know
the best and fastest way to get
High technology
Fire department officials also
are utilizing high-technology in
their search for speedier
response times. The College Sta-
tion City Council recently
approved the testing of "traffic
preemption devices" in two
Texas Avenue intersections, at
Holleman Avenue and George
Bush Drive.
The system uses satellites to
change the traffic light to green
in the path of a fire truck or
ambulance. The vehicles are
equipped with a unit that
bounces a signal off a global posi-
tioning satellite to a receiver
hooked up to the light. The
devices are designed to increase
safety for emergency vehicles
and other drivers and increase
drive -time efficiency, Giordano
said.
The devices will be installed at
intersections of William J. Bryan
Parkway, at Texas Avenue and at
Main Street. The city of Bryan
plans to have the devices
installed at all its major intersec-
tions within three years, Bland
said.
Satellite technology already is
the mainstay of some metropoli-
tan fire departments. The Dallas
Fire Department, for example,
uses global positioning satellites
and automatic vehicle locators to
locate and dispatch the closest
unit to an emergency from any of
its 54 stations, Dallas Fire Depart-
ment spokeswoman Barbara
Block said.
In 1996 -97, Block said, the aver-
age fire response time in Dallas
was four minutes 18 seconds and
the average emergency medical
response time was five minutes
and four seconds.
"This [satellite technology] is
one way we're trying to reduce
response time without having to
invest in more equipment," she
said.
Eagle photo/Ryan Roge•s
lrea's growth p,
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
But in Brya
continued pop
some sections ,
When a fire alarm sounded at about 3:30
commercial d
a.m. on May 19, Bryan firefighters rushed
edges of what f
to The Oaks of Villa Maria to battle a blaze
Sider to be t4
that ultimately damaged nine apartment
plans in both d
units. Bryan Fire Chief Jim Bland said his
stations.
crew made the roughly one -mile trip in
Copperfield ,
about two minutes and 30 seconds, well
College Statior
within his department's citywide goal of
have lengthen
four minutes.
ly, the time it
The Eagle
and in College Station,
ition growth has pushed
subdivisions and areas of
, elopment to the outer
t department officials con -
ely coverage, prompting
arttrents to add more fire
Bryan's eastern edge and
Pebble Creek to the south
the ride and, subsequent -
kes firefighters and para-
fire response
medics medics to reach those areas in emergen-
cies.
The Bryan Fire Department's average
drive time last year for fire and emergency
calls, which included some I calls in the
county, was four minutes anti 47 seconds,
Bland said.
In College Station last year, according to
Fire Chief Dave Giordano, 90 percent of
emergency calls in the city were reached
by the first vehicle within four minutes
and 3o seconds, the citywide goal adopted
bounclaneno
by the City Council. Ninety -five percent Ot
the time, emergency medical vehicles
arrived within the City Council's adopted
time frame, he said.
Drive times vary by time of day, traffic
and road and weather conditions. Officials
at both fire departments regularly conduct
studies that clock travel times — at posted
speed limits — along different routes. That
way, fire truck and ambulance drivers can
Please see FW, Page A2
Fire
From Al
plan the best routes to anywhere
in the city for any time of day.
•
•
Crlticai response
Response times are critically
important for saving lives. The
American Heart Association
states that, following a cardiac
arrest, each minute that passes
without aid to the patient reduces
the chance of survival by about 10
percent.
If the units get there in flve
minutes, there's a 50.50 chance
that the patient won't make it,"
American Heart Association
spokesman Brian Henry said.
Thena Parrott, a local car-
diopulmonary resuscitation
trainer and director of the Asso-
ciate Degree Nursing program at
Blinn Community College, also
stressed the importance of quick
response times.
"From the minute a person
goes into cardiac arrest — no
breathing, no heartbeat — you
have four to six minutes to get
treatment or that person will be
brain dead," she said. "The four
to four and a half minutes is an
excellent response time."
Response time is one of the key
measures used to determine a fire
department's quality, according
to spokesmen for the Insurance
Services Organization.
The New York -based ISO pro-
vides national statistical infor-
mation to property and casualty
insurance companies and classi-
fies a community's ability to fight
foes.
The group also rates thousands
of fire departments throughout
the 50 states.
The ISO translates a communi-
ty's "fire suppression rating"
into a "public protection classifi-
cation" ranking from 1 to 10.
Class 1 represents the best protec-
tion classification and Class 10
indicates no recognized protec-
tion.
The overall rating is based on
departmental performance in
three broad areas: alarm commu-
nications (10 percent), equipment
and staff training (50 percent),
and water supply (40 percent).
Chris Guidette, ISO director of
corporate communications, said
field inspectors closely check
staff training, the kind of equip-
ment the department uses and
the location of fire stations,
which can affect response times
throughout the community.
There are "literally hundreds
of variables," he said.
The ISO has rated Bryan a four
and College Station a three on a
scale of 10.
"These are really excellent
scores," Smedile said. "There are
only a handful of twos in the
entire country, so scores of three
and four are really good."
fishing boundaries
A department's response time
a key component of the rating,
It the ISO doesn't set a response
ne for firefighting purposes
at departments should meet.
;ther, it uses distance as its rule
thumb, labeling "protected"
ose buildings within 5 street
lies of a fire station. The rating
rectly impacts residents
wause insurance companies
;e it to set their casualty insur-
nce premiums, ISO spokesman
incent Smedile said.
Previously, the Texas Depart-
ent of Insurance used its Key
ate System to rate fire depart-
ents in the state. The key rate
;ed area coverage — the station
the center of a 11/2 mile radius
as its indicator of protection.
Most areas in Bryan and Col -
!ge Station lie within 5 miles of a
re station, but new subdivisions
n several high -growth residen-
al areas are pushing response
mes close to and even past the
ve- minute mark, both fire chiefs
aid.
In Bryan, all of the Copperfield
ubdivision is serviceable within
mr minutes and 30 seconds,
iland said, but a new subdivision
]armed for the east side of Cop -
erfield will be farther away from
he fire station.
Other Bryan areas that are
rowing outside the four minute
esponse range include the Texas
7 corridor, especially the inter -
ectfon with Villa Maria Road
nd the intersection of Sandy
'oint Road and F.M. 2818. Bland
s concerned that commercial
xowth west of Mumford Road
and the Bryan Business Park and
new development near Coulter
5eld will stretch response times
o five minutes.
in College Station, Giordano
mid University Drive, from
texas Avenue to F.M. 158, and the
?ast side of Texas 6, from Emer-
ild Forest south to the east end of
he Emerald Forest subdivision,
ire pushing toward five minutes.
Development in the southeast
portion of the Pebble Creek sub -
iivision out to the city limits is
stretching the response time
there to almost six minutes, he
said.
Giordano said he is planning
for a new station to be located
somewhere east of Texas 6 near
Greens Prairie Road. Bland said a
fifth Bryan fire station could be
located west on Villa Maria Road.
The response time standard in
a community is set by local pref-
erence according to the National
Fire Protection Association. The
ISO and the National Fire Pro-
tection Association do not set a
standard for fire and emergency
vehicle response times, even
though Boston based NFPA sets
about 300 other codes and stan-
dards that are used by fire depart-
ments nationwide.
"There is no code or standard
for response times we know of,"
Richard Mendez, a communications speclalist /dispatcher, Is responsible
for dispatching the Bryan Fire Department and Brazos County volunteers
as well as providing backup dispatch for the College Station Fire Depart-
ment.
NFPA spokeswoman Lauren there," he said.
Siniawer said.
Mubmi response
Occasionally, more than one
emergency can flare up at a time,
which means that firefighters or
medics from a distant station are
called to respond.
The two local fire departments
have linked themselves in a sys.
tem of "automatic aid" that
allows dispatchers to autesnati-
cally alert the closest available
unit in either city to respond to
an emergency anywhere in the
area. The system links Bryan's
four fie stations with College
Station's three (soon to be four,
when the new Easterwood Air-
port station opens).
"There have been titres when
we've run to Southwest Parkway
or Wellborn [Road] and [F.M.]
2818, and they've run to
Woodville Road and Old Hearne
[Road] a few times," the Bryan
fire chief said.
College Station has its own dis-
patch center, which is linked to
the 911 system. An emergency
call from College Station is di-
verted to that city's dispatchers
within seconds. Dispatchers
screen all 911 emergency calls
and, through automatic aid, mon-
itor the status of all emergency
vehicles in both cities.
The automatic aid system helps
each department keep drive
times down to some areas. COI -
lege Station's Northgate area, for
example, lies closer to Bryan's
Fire Station 2 but, when the new
Easterwood Airport station
opens, the College Station Fire
Department will cover it.
Since the drive time to a partic-
ular location will vary because of
weather and traffic conditions,
knowing the fastest routes is one
of the main jobs of vehicle opera-
tors, Giordano said.
"If a call comes in to a particu-
lar address, they have to know
the best and fastest way to get
High technology
Fire department officials also
are utilizing high-technology in
their search for speedier
response times. The College Sta-
tion City Council recently
approved the testing of "traffic
preemption devices" in two
Texas Avenue intersections, at
Holleman Avenue and George
Bush Drive.
The system uses satellites to
change the traffic light to green
in the path of a fire truck or
ambulance. The vehicles are
equipped with a unit that
bounces a signal off a global posi-
tioning satellite to a receiver
hooked up to the light. The
devices are designed to increase
safety for emergency vehicles
and other drivers and increase
drive -time efficiency, Giordano
said.
The devices will be installed at
intersections of William J. Bryan
Parkway, at Texas Avenue and at
Main Street. The city of Bryan
plans to have the devices
installed at all its major intersec-
tions within three years, Bland
said.
Satellite technology already is
the mainstay of some metropoli-
tan fire departments. The Dallas
Fire Department, for example,
uses global positioning satellites
and automatic vehicle locators to
locate and dispatch the closest
unit to an emergency from any of
its 54 stations, Dallas Fire Depart-
ment spokeswoman Barbara
Block said.
In 1996 -97, Block said, the aver-
age fire response time in Dallas
was four minutes 18 seconds and
the average emergency medical
response time was five minutes
and four seconds.
"This [satellite technology] is
one way we're trying to reduce
response time without having to
invest in more equipment," she
said.
Eagle photo/Ryan Roge•s
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Datez Ii rte h ,,
•
Tue!
News
Harnessip' gur peer pressure
New court allows C
to take part in the k
By KELLI LEVEY
Eagle Staff Writer
Dozens of teens and local attor-
neys were sworn in Monday
night to the new College Station
Teen Court.
"It's a neat day in College Sta-
tion history," Councilman Larry
Mariott said after Precinct 6 Jus-
tice of the Peace George Boyett
administered oaths of teen court
service and confidentiality.
Program coordinator Peggy
Calliham said 450 peer courts
already are operating nation-
wide.
"And the verdict is that it
works," she said. "We all know
that peer pressure is a strong
force in negative behavior."
Mariott said he is glad to see
the program beginning.
"The high turnout tonight
shows that there's a lot of interest
in the program, and the best part
is it was suggested by the kids
themselves," he said. "That enthu-
siasm and involvement is proba-
bly going to make it the success
we're all hoping it will be."
College Station Mayor Lynn
Mcllhaney said the idea stemmed
from a mayor's breakfast she
holds each January with about 70
junior high and high school stu-
dents. She said the program will
give the city's teenagers an
opportunity to participate in the
judicial system and to sample it
for a future career.
"Mostly, it gives you an oppor-
tunity to look at your value sys-
tem," she said. "And it will also
be an opportunity just to. network
with one another and widen your
views."
In ti
will pi
who h
ing pr
attorn
bailiff,
Eigt
said t
attorn
ney.
she we
the jot
"I re
for so
she sa:
I want
school
think
ence."
The
Judge'
with s(
es in o
mete
that d,
ing th
the tee
peer
expect
these
cool
are
years
and a
school
first -ti
teenagers
icial system
program, adult lawyers
ide as judges and teens
e been through a train -
am will act as defense
prosecuting attorney,
erk and jurors.
- grader Brent Killion
hopes to be a defense
or a prosecuting attor-
Paiz, a junior at A&M
ded High School, said
I be happy to do any of
lly want to be a prosecu-
can learn more about it,"
.. "I haven't decided what
o do yet, either go to law
)r medical school, and I
Lis will be a good experi-
will be held on Mon-
;e Station Municipal
ripp Walter called the pro-
1 new tool to try to deal
ne of these juvenile offens-
r county and our city."
adges and juries, we can
at punishment and help
iendant stop from repeat-
[ behavior," he said. "But
L court adds the element of
Zvolvement. ... What I
to see will be a message
d over and over that doing
nds of crimes is not fun or
impressive, but rather
opposite — that it can be
mtal."
Ldants are eligible if they
ig charged with their first
and if they are 12 to 17
Id. Those who are 18 or 19
-e enrolled full -time in
may request the court for
ne Class C misdemeanor
offenses committed in College
Station.
The defendants must plead
guilty to the charge and receive
approval from their parents, the
judge and the teen court.
A task force of lawyers, judges,
employees from the public and
private sector, schools and non-
profit agencies set the procedure
and punishment guidelines for
the court system.
Sentencing options range from
six to 60 hours of community ser-
vice and one to four terms on the
teen court jury. Other punish-
ment options include self-
improvement classes, letters or
in- person apologies to victims.
Spencer Giles of the Brazos
County attorney's office said he
hopes eligible defendants will
choose the teen court option.
"I think the parents will love
it," he said. "We'll have to con-
vince the kids to do it and that
will be the hard part. They'll first
have to stand up and say they did
it, then they'll be at the mercy of
their peers."
Boyett said the court rejected
its first candidate last week
because the defendant was a
repeat offender.
I think this will be a very
effective way to handle young
offenders," he said. "And I think
what we'll fmd is the kids are
probably going to be tougher on
them than we would be."
�p6A Al
�. fit,,
�ESS C
Free Introductory Classes
822 -2246
Eagle photo /Dave McDermand
New members of the College Station Teen Court take the oath to uphold
the law M the Judgment of their peers as they are sworn In at the College
Station Conference Center on Monday night.
The
Eagle
City of College Station News
CS envisions $20 million
for pr jects over 5 years
By BOB SCHOBEF
of existing houses will swell the
Eagle Staff Writer
tax base. A growing tax base and
declining debt makes possible
Rising property values coupled
funding of new projects without a
with strong de relopment and
tax rate increase, he said.
population growt i will allow the
That was important informa-
city of College tation to fund
tion for the committee, which
about $20 mill' on in capital
will recommend capital improve -
improvement pr jects over the
ment projects for the City Coun-
next five years without raising
cil to propose for a bond election.
the property tax rate, Interim
City staff have presented the com-
Director of Fiscal Services
mittee with a wish list of street,
Charles Cryan said Monday.
park, drainage and city facilities
Cryan told the apital Improve-
projects, plus various options,
ment Project Cith ens' Committee
totaling about $60 million.
that the city's current debt ser-
The committee has met weekly
vice will start decline next
since April 20, and Monday it
year, and city tac revenues will
began the final, crucial stage of
• grow because clonstruction of
new buildings Od rising values
Please see C I P, Page A2
CIF!
From A
trying to agree on a range of pro-
jects that wil total about $20 mil-
lion. The committee could decide
to recommend more than that,
which would likely require a tax
rate increas . Cryan said that
each penny ' crease in the prop-
erty tax ra a would generate
about $185, in revenue.
The current rate is 42.9 cents
per $100 of tixable value, which
means that t ie owner of a house
valued at 1 81,000 pays about
it $29.88 a mont in property tax.
Cryan sai the total assessed
value of prol erty in the city has
increased ab ut 65 percent over
` the past six years, to $1.8 billion
today. Cry in expects that
amount to in rease by $60 million
next year aad by $40 million
more in 2000.
The comm ttee has studied a
range of proj cts that includes a
$1 million proposal to widen
Munson Avenue from Harvey
Road to Lincoln Avenue; a $8.25
million proposal to purchase land
and build a new city hall as part
of a municipal office complex;
and a $4.7 million proposal to pur-
chase floodplain areas for green-
belts. In all, 35 different projects
have come under scrutiny.
On Monday, the committee
decided that each member will
rank each project on a scale from
1 (least necessary) to 6 (most
important). Cryan will collect all
the rankings and compute the
averages. Those projects that
draw averages below 4 will likely
not be considered, he said.
The committee is scheduled to
complete its work on Monday,
but it may elect to continue meet-
ing weekly until its work is com-
pleted. The committee will then
present its list of recommenda-
tions to the City Council.
The council will decide which
projects it will recommend for
voters to approve in a November
general bond election.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
ate
1
Preserve i
elg'hborhoWs
measures.
Dexter Drive has become the
speal
ing to a city official
linking corridor between
Southwood Valley and Texas A &M
U pon
almost a
Southsido
rear ago at the
area residents
University and although the resi-
meeting held al
Lincoln Center, I
dents of Welsh Avenue fought the
was told toe
ct nothing to be
hard fight to keep this from hap -
done about the
traffic problems on
pening to their street, it is simply a
Dexter Drive until
a neighborhood
matter of few years before it will be
association was
formed and spent
replayed again. We sent an article
its own time and
money for studies
to Mayor Lynn McIlhaney concern-
of the situation.
Only then would
ing other cities' helpful responses
city officials pay
attention to our
to similar problems. The response,
now more than a year ago: The
worries.
Why must c
ncerned citizens be
matter would be studied.
forced to take
ese kind of
I'm glad for the people who live
actions? What
xactly is the city's
on Munson Avenue and I applaud
responsibility
o such ongoing con—their
efforts, but I would remind
the people, the City Council and
cerns: speed b
Drive that hav
ps on Dexter
been worn flat by
staff of College Station that the
high -speed traffic,
police patrols
College Hills - Woodlands neighbor-
which are sporadic
at nonpeak
hood does not stand alone in this
times, school patrols
at Park Place
town. Other neighborhoods are no
and Dexter Drive
that don't war-
different and certainly deserve as
rant expenditu
a or funds, and no
much respect, study and response
stop signs at P
irk Place or Thomas
's
when it comes to preserving the
integrity of their neighborhood's
Street. The ci
unofficial
response is ft
t Dexter Drive, as of
"sufficient
lifestyle.
PATRICIA A. McDERMOTT
yet, does not h
ve car-
College Station
nage" to warr,
t further safety
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: Jvvc
Region
C S road project rerouted to save ave home
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Council on Thw
day unanimously approved a new alignme
Of the George Bush Drive East reconstructii
Project — sparing the Kyle Avenue home
85- year-old Kendrick Menefee.
The original proposal called for purchasit
Menefee's house, located at 306 Kyle Avi
which his daughter vigorously opposed
Previous council meetings.
City staff, at the council's request, reviewe
the project and proposed tightening tt
radius of the curve where Kyle Avenue turr,
south toward Harvey Road. The new aligi
ment will require .buying a less expensiv
house across the street from Menefee's homi
which will save the city some money, cit
engineer Mark Smith said.
The . council also unanimously approve,
selling about 7.3 acres of land in the Colleg
Station Business Center for $4o,000 to the Pet
ble Creek Development Co.
The odd - shaped parcel, bounded by a floor
Plain and an undeveloped portion of the Peb
ble Creek subdivision, essentially was of nc
value to the city, City Manager Skip Noe said
An ket value appraisal fdeve developable land in the business
Park, he said.
In other action, the council approved fund.
ing Kids Club and the Teen Apprenticeship
Program for fiscal 1999. Both programs w ill
be funded with money set aside from the Com-
munity Development Block Grant program:
Kids Club, which provides after - school
Council also approves
changes to garage plan
activities for children, will receive $24,750.
The Teen Apprenticeship Program, which
Provides full-time summer internships for
low- income College Station school district
high school students, will receive $17,938.
The council reviewed several other issues:
■ Parking consultant John DeShazo of DeS-
hazo, Tang & Associates presented a revised
feasibility ga study of the proposed Northgate
Parking rage during the afternoon work-
shop session. His fast study used what he
acknowledged were incomplete off - street
Parking statistics compiled by a different con-
sulting firm.
The garage, originally proposed for 751
Parking spaces, has been reconfigured to 729
spaces due to construction requirements by
Chad Grauke of the Arkitex Studio, who drew
the preliminary design.
DeShazo declared the revised garage pro-
posal economically feasible, even with fewer
spaces in the garage and more available
spaces in the area, by raising the maximum
daily rent per space from $2 to $3.
That's still a very conservative number,"
Assistant City Manager Tom Brymer said.
The council unanimously approved moving
the project into the design and development
Phase. Councilmen Swiki Anderson and
Steve Esmond were absent from the after-
noon workshop session.
■ A proposed policy for acquiring architec.
tural and engineering services for the city
was vigorously debated during the regular
council session Thursday night and referred
back to the Engineering Committee for recon.
sideration.
The policy is based on state law, which
requires that the city select the firm that is
the "most highly qualified provider ... on the
basis of demonstrated competence and quali.
fications."
In April, the committee unanimously
agreed to add "tie- breaker" language that
calls for giving preference to local firms when
"all other things [are] approximately equal."
Councilman Larry Mariott, a member of
the committee, took issue with someVording
in the policy, and Paul Leventis, a civil engi-
neer who worked for the city from 1993 until
early June, argued against the idea of local
Preference.
Esmond, the committee chairman, recom-
mended that the policy be discussed again in
committee, and the council unanimously
agreed.
■ A proposed Standards of Conduct Ordi-
nance for public officials was discussed at
length by the council, but referred to City
Attorney Harvey Cargill for further com-
ment.
Prior to the meeting, Mayor Lynn Mcll-
haney was presented with several petitions
totaling about 175 signatures that protested
the closure of Munson Avenue at Dominik
Drive. McIlhaney said the petitions would be
turned over to City Secretary Connie Hooks.
0
g
The Ea le
q C;it of College 'Statiori`News�
I
Date: jot -is Ills
Council working well
•
I had the pleasure of attending
the June 11 College Station City
Council meeting. Previous news
reports on the council left me with
the impression that there was
something wrong with ho - At the
members were working together.
I am happy to say that the council
appeared to work very effectively,
and I was reassured that our sys-
tem does work well.
As representatives of the Devon-
shire Homeowners Association, the
president of the group and I spoke
up about concerns regarding the
abandonment of a section of North
Graham Road.
Our neighbor's yard has an
exposed cracked drainage pipe
(city owned) that opens in the right
of way of the road.
This presents an unsightly and
unhealthy situation.
The council was supportive, and
special thanks go to Steve Esmond
who truly heard us and represent-
ed our concerns that the city not
literally abandon the road but
work with the homeowners to
ensure that proper repairs are
made. It felt very good to have such
assurances.
WILLIAM SALIN
College Station
•
The Eagle
to City of College Station News
Date: jvn e 1 1 `)9f
Area called
Bryan - College Station
By JOHN KHtSCH
consumer purchase iter
Eagle Staff Writer
sonal pricing checks wei
ing 5W
at as many as eight local
Bryan- College Station ranks as
each item surveyed, tote
Texas' second -least expensive
retail inquiries.
community among 29 cities sur
Consumer areas survi
veyed in the state, according to a
cluded ocery items, 1
survey released this week by the
utilitie� transportation,
Bryan- College Station Economic
care and other goods t
Development Corporation.
vices.
The city of Paris, Texas, ranked
The survey ranks Br
as least expensive among the 29
lege Station as the fif
cities.
expensive U.S. commur
The cost of living index for the
ong 329 cities surveyed i
first quarter of 1998 was conduct-
ly. Using 100 percent as 1
ed by the American Chamber of
age cost of living index fo
Commerce Researchers Associa-
cities surveyed, Bryan
tion.
Station ranked 87 percent
The survey covered 60 separate
trast, Boston ranked U
nd -least exuensive
anks behind Paris in Texas, fifth in nation
s. Per-
made
< < If you're a busi-
ons for
ness, you want to get
ing 5W
the student business
in
and you have to be
h
>
price competitive.>
d ser-
— MARY BASINGER
an-Col-
Busi de v e l op me n t manager
least
ty am-
tional-
cent.
e aver-
Gary Basinger, business devel-
the 329
opment manager for the Bryan-
College
College Station Chamber of Com-
In con-
merce, said the survey confirms
.5 per-
earlier studies showing the area
as relatively inexpensive.
Basinger said that may be
largely due to the number of
Texas A&M University and Blinn
College students living in the
Bryan- College Station area.
"if you're a business, you want
to get the student business and
you have to be price competi-
tive," Basinger said.
This is the second time in a
week that the Bryan- College Sta-
tion area placed on a national
ranking list.
Money magazine recently
ranked Bryan- College Station
37th on a list of the best small
Southern metropolitan areas.
The magazine used "livability
factors" such as clean water, low
crime, good public schools and
low property taxes to rank cities.
It ranked Washington, D.C. as the
best large city in the eastern
United States.
On the cost -of- living survey,
the other Texas cities surveyed,
beginning with the third -least
expensive city, were: Odessa, San
Antonio, Waco, Texarkana, Wea-
therford, Midland, San Angelo,
Amarillo, Wichita Falls, Green-
ville, Lubbock, Brownsville, Abi-
lene, San Marcos, McAllen, Vic-
toria, Tyler, Seguin, Houston,
Conroe, El Paso, Beaumont,
Killeen, Austin, Longview, Dallas
and Lufkin.
u
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: due e iw, i4 is
A taxing concept
•
hough a resident of Bryan, I
have been following the con-
troversy over Munson Drive
for some time. I have mixed feel-
ings about this. As a bicyclist, I am
gratified that another street is
safer for a cyclist. But another
aspect of this proposed complete
closure of Munson is troubling.
The residents of Rose Circle, Holt
Street, as well as Munson Drive
will have, in effect, a nice quiet pri-
vate driveway. Yet all of College
Station residents will have their
taxes going into upkeep on Munson
Drive.
I propose that all road upkeep
expenses on Munson Drive be
divided among the residents on
Rose Circle, Holt Street and
Munson Drive.
JAY W. MARTIN
Bryan
•
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: J u u l7, r 6i �
Executives
Bell
ur B -CS
o decision made
i aircraft plant
BILL WALL
le Staff Writer
Two Bell Helicopter Textron
e
ecutives and a location consul-
ta
rit visited the Bryan- College
i
St
tion area Tuesday as part of
ar
cr
eight -city search for a new air-
3ft manufacturing plant site.
`They seemed to like what
th
y saw," said Robert Worley,
p
sident and CEO of the Bryan-
C
liege Station Economic Devel-
opment
Corp. "We definitely are
st'
H in the running."
ell plans to manufacture the
V
2 Osprey tilt -rotor aircraft at
th
new plant. Bryan- College Sta-
ti
is in competition with Hous-
ton,
San Antonio, Austin, Amar-
illo,
Dallas, Fort Worth and
Arington
for the new plant.
final decision will be
ani
lounced in late July, Worley
sa'
I "No community has been
el'
ninated, " he said. "We've got
as
ood a shot as anybody."
he Bell representatives
tot
red Easterwood Airport and
Teas
A &M University's River-
side
Campus, Worley said.
"
We spent more time at the
Riverside
Campus," Worley said,
noting
that the Bryan - College
Station
locating
area proposal includes
the manufacturing plant
there.
A hangar for one Bell cor-
por4te
jet and an office would be
built
•
at Easterwood as "icing on
the
cake," Worley said.
CS funding debate
remains unresolved
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station Capital
Improvement Project Citizens'
Committee tackled its most dif-
ficult task Monday night. And
after two hours of sometimes
heated debate, committee mem-
bers could not agree on a $20
million list of projects to recom-
mend for funding over the next
five years.
The debate was so active, with
members leaping to the defense
or criticism of one or another
project, that near the end of the
session chairman Bill Fox said,
"Next week, I'm going , to ask
Park and Rec for a striped shirt
and a whistle."
CIP
From Am 1
Next week, I'm
ping to ask Park and
.ec for a striped shirt
and a whistle. >
— BILL Fox
Committee chairman
But at the end, member
Norma Miller said, "Well, at
leas we're still talking to each
oth ."
e project selection process
was i a daunting task because
members were faced with a city
staff: wish list totaling
$73,637,100 for 40 different pro -
jects, including options for
of Fire Station 2 and drainage
projects on Bee Creek from
Southwest Parkway to Holleman
Drive and Holleman to George
Bush Drive.
Last week, Charles Cryan,
interim director of fiscal services,
said the city could fund about $20
million over five years without a
raise in the property tax rate.
Cryan said Monday that each
Denny increase in the property tax
rate, currently 42.9 cents, would,
n ne
raise about $185,000 iw rev-
enue and "support" about $2 mil-
lion in new debt. Monday, no com-
Please see CIP, Page A2
mittee member suggested raising
taxes to fund more projects.
The committee split on projects
for parks and green belt acquisi-
tion, with some members calling
for less money for each to help
fund additional street projects.
Other members, citing public
safety issues, pushed for funding
a fifth fire station to address
lengthening fire and emergency
vehicle response times to the far
southeast side of the city.
The committee voted to cut the
initial $4.79 million proposal to
fund purchasing green belt and
floodplain areas to $3.5 million,
but a motion to cut $2 million from
proposed improvements to the
new athletic park was defeated.
Next week, debate will contin-
ue on the amount proposed for
streets, parks, drainage and city
facilities. The committee's job is
to narrow that list of projects for
the City Council, which will
decide which projects to recom.
mend for a bond election in fall.
During the past week, mem-
bers ranked all 40 projects to
assess their relative value and
give the committee a place to
start its final selection. The
committee on Monday approved
—in principal — 17 projects
totaling about $19.7 million,
including the Jones Butler Road
extension, purchasing land for a
new cemetery, the Rock Prairie
Road alignment, the George
Bush East extension, expansion
Parks — almost • $4.6 million —
and street rehabilitation projects
— $5.7 million — that some mem-
bers said were too high.
The ranking system eliminated
several controversial and high.
profile projects. The Munson
Avenue upgrade, which called for
a widening of Munson Avenue,
was ranked fourth lowest.
At the bottom was the Williams
Boulevard project, which called
for constructing a new through
street in front of College Hills Ele-
mentary as an alternative north.
south corridor to Munson
Avenue.
Other projects tlut ranked very
low included a Proposal to con-
struct a new my center and two
options for :Kpanding the current
city hall.
' .".The Eagle
..p _ City of College Station D ews
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Std Wife
Panel OKs 17 capital nroiects
The College Station Capital
Improvement Project Citizens'
Committee approved on Monday
a list of projects worth $23276
million that it will recommend to
the City Council for a bond elec-
tion.
The committee first met on
April 20. and over 11 weeks it
reviewed 40 different drainage,
Date: Jv.u-
Projects
From Al
sion, its report won't reach the
City Council antil July 23 at the
earliest, according to Cryan. The
council will make the final deci-
sion over which projects to rec-
ommend for a bond election,
which likely will be held in
November.
The committee's report will
carry weight with the council,
chairman Bill Fox said.
The reporl will also contain
three resolut ons from the com-
mittee: that a upcoming bond
election no require a tax
increase; thal the drainage utility
tax, which is due to expire in
2o03, be extended at its current
rate to fund additional drainage
projects; and that street and
parks rehabilitation and repair
projects be funded directly by
the city and through bond elec-
tions.
At the end, Fox expressed his
relief.
"I'm pleased with how it came
out," he said. "I was hoping to
walk out of here with a consen-
sus, and I think we reached that.
And I'm pleased with the projects
we're presenting to the council."
Gale Touchstone was the only
member to vote against the final
list. He said he wanted a stronger
statement against any tax
increase associated with the
bond election.
•
$23 million list needs CS council's approval;
nakee Proposed
w so t n
tax increase not likely, official says
dt f'lisp
A
to ak Williams Bot
property
�ad w ugh
College Hills area, expansion of
trees, city facilities and park ad 320 million as its goal because of Fiscal Services, said.
the Police Department building
irojects totaling almost $73 mil - rising property values, a growing On Monday, Cryan said he
and building a new City Hall in a
km. Monday night, the 23 mem- population and new construction doubted that the extra $3.276 mil-
new Municipal City Center.
iers ended their deliberations would likely fund that am qu
ount lion would re a tax increase.
m
Because the committee took an
with a 22.1 vote approving the over the next five years without a but he will recalculate the pro
extra two weeks to retch its deci
M list of 17 projects. property tax rate increase, jects and give the City Council
The committee early on adopt- Charles Cryan, interim director the most Wtodate figures.
Please see PROJECTS. Page A2
Projects
From Al
sion, its report won't reach the
City Council antil July 23 at the
earliest, according to Cryan. The
council will make the final deci-
sion over which projects to rec-
ommend for a bond election,
which likely will be held in
November.
The committee's report will
carry weight with the council,
chairman Bill Fox said.
The reporl will also contain
three resolut ons from the com-
mittee: that a upcoming bond
election no require a tax
increase; thal the drainage utility
tax, which is due to expire in
2o03, be extended at its current
rate to fund additional drainage
projects; and that street and
parks rehabilitation and repair
projects be funded directly by
the city and through bond elec-
tions.
At the end, Fox expressed his
relief.
"I'm pleased with how it came
out," he said. "I was hoping to
walk out of here with a consen-
sus, and I think we reached that.
And I'm pleased with the projects
we're presenting to the council."
Gale Touchstone was the only
member to vote against the final
list. He said he wanted a stronger
statement against any tax
increase associated with the
bond election.
•
E40
�,kt -iofll
News
The following 'I projects were
approved Mondayinight by the Col-
lege Station Cap al Improvement
Project Citizens' Committee:
■ Jones Butler Road extension
— a new roadway extending from
West Luther Street to George Bush
Drive; $1.365 million.
■ Expansion of Fire Station 2;
$876,000.
■ Park acquisition and develop-
ment — a bundle of projects
including improvements at neigh-
borhood parks, development of
Lick Creek Park and swimming pool
improvements; $2.247 million.
■ Longmire Road — purchase
the right of way from Rock Prairie
Road to Graham Road and Graham
Road to Eagle Street; $372,000.
■ Rock Prairie Road realignment
— rerouting Rock Prairie Road from
East Texas 6 to ijoin Stonebrook
Drive to eliminate the offset inter-
section; $800,000.
■ Greenbelt !,and floodplain
acquisition — this will provide
funds to purchase floodplains in
several areas, including Carter
Creek, Lick Creek, Spring Creek
and Bee Creek; $3.5 million.
■ Barron Road — purchase of
the right of way; $303,000.
■ Victoria Road— funds for the
city's participation in an extension
of this street; $860,000.
■ Athletic improvements —
funds to develop the community
athletic park and improve ball
fields in other parks; $2.339 mil-
lion.
■ Land — purchase the land for
a possible future site of a new
municipal building complex; $1.5
million.
■ George Bush East extension
— a new roadway connecting Holle-
man Drive to Harvey Road:
$562,000.
■ AMS Street — new roadway
connecting Sebesta Road and
Emerald Parkway; $917,000.
■ New cemetery — purchase 45
acres of land for a new city ceme-
tery; $264,000.
■ Fire Station 5 — construct a
new fire station in the southeast
section of the city; $1.506 million.
■ Traffic management improve-
ments — provide funding for turn
lanes, medians and intersection
approaches as needed; $700,000.
■ Traffic signal enhancement —
provide about three or four new
traffic signals every year for five
years; $2.165 million.
■ Street rehabilitation projects
— $3 million.
— Bob Schober
w -
The Eagle
City ofollege Station News
ate:
9
a
0
STOP! STOP!
S I GN PETITION T
REOPEN Mu NS
Q
TO
IF HF P Wouto N
l O
693 FIC �
q T
6 k1
� Gl
OA
R
College Station resident Kayla Glo%
Closed s
Eagle photo /Butch Ireland
front yard Is decorated to draw attention to her petition to reopen Munson Avenue.
By BOB SCHO
Fable Sla, f Wrider (. V
The closure of Munson Avenue at
Dominik Drive was the last straw or
Kayla Glover.
When she heard that the barrica es
could force fie trucks and ambulani es
onto lengthy, time-consuming detot rs
to reach her neighborhood, Glover, w In
has lived at 1210 W. Marsteller Ave. or
h.et subject
21 years, started circulating a petition
that urges the College Station City
Council to reopen Munson.
She spent the weekend walking door
to door on neighboring streets. Of those
people who answered her knock, she
said 95 percent gave her "a positive
response."
By Tuesday, she had gathered about
350 signatures. "I hope to get 1,000," she
said.
of petition
She also set up a table under a shade
tree in her front yard, strung banners
and posted an American flag. A white
sign urges drivers to stop and sign the
petition, which she leaves in a brown
binder from about 6:30 a.m. to after
dark every day.
Glover said she'll leave it there until
July 21, two days before she will argue
Please see MUNSON, Page A2
News
Munson
From Al
her case before the council.
Several other petitions have been circulat-
ing throughout the College Hills subdivision
seeking to keep the quite, shade -tree charac-
ter of an old, sprawling neighborhood that
drivers increasingly use as a convenient cut -
through. It's an issue that has bedeviled past
efforts by the city to balance neighborhood
integrity while fostering efficient traffic flow
in a growing city.
"We're in the process of determining what
areas will be affected and how long it will take
us to get there," Assistant Fire Chief Eric
Hurt said. "There's no doubt that some areas
will be affected."
On June 26, department officials timed a
test run from Station 1, located at 304 E. Holle-
man Drive, to the intersection of Munson
Avenue and Rose Circle. When Munson was
open, fire trucks could travel straight up
Munson, normally a 4- minute, 23- second run
to Rose Circle. With the barricades up, the
response time jumps about 45 seconds to 5-
minutes 8- seconds because fie trucks have to
turn right from Munson onto Dominik Drive,
turn left on Westover Street to Prancis Drive
and turn right again on Munson.
The council decided May 28 to temporarily
close Munson and asked city staff to create a
committee of College Hills residents to study
the issue. The barricades were put up June
15.
The city has wrestled with the issue of
Munson Avenue traffic for years. Several
traffic studies showed that Bryan residents
heading to Post Oak Mall and Texas A&M
University students use Munson as an alter-
native to Texas Avenue and Texas 6. Traffic
volume reached almost 8,000 vehicles a day.
In January, the city tried a different tack. A
lower speed limit, speed bumps and stop signs
were installed on Munson between Lincoln
Drive and Dominik, which lowered traffic
volume to about 3,250 vehicles a day. Traffic
counts on adjacent Ashburn Avenue, howev-
er, jumped threefold to 630 a day.
On May 28, the College Hills - Woodlands
Neighborhood Association presented the
council with a resolution signed by 41 fami-
lies that urged a permanent closing of Mun-
son Avenue "to preserve its character ... from
inappropriate development and destructive
Eagle photo /Butch Ire
Kayla Glover stands in front of a sign announcing "There's really no solution to stopping traff
that Munson Avenue is closed. Glover says she she said. "Why people on Munson Avenue tt
hopes her petition will reopen Munson Avenue. they have a right to stop It is beyond me."
levels of non - neighborhood through traffic."
The council, instead, voted to temporarily
close the street at Dominik and wait for the
recommendations of a citizens' committee
that will study the issue.
"After this trial is over, we make a perma-
nent decision. I want my next vote to be my
last vote on this issue," Mcllhaney said.
Coming up with a solution that will please
everybody promises to be a daunting task.
Glover, who has applied for a seat on the com-
mittee, has found her sympathy eroding for
Munson Avenue residents.
"The closure creates a number of problems
for a majority of residents while catering to
the requests of a small minority," her petition
states.
"College Station promotes growth, and with
growth you have traffic," Glover said.
"There's really no solution to stopping traffic.
Why people on Munson Avenue think they
have a right to stop it is beyond me."
Elizabeth Crompton, who has lived on Rose
Circle with her husband, John, for 20 years,
answered with a call to "regain our night
hood."
"We've had to put up with the traffic as
city has grown, but we'd like to have a nei
borhood again," she said. "I'd like to hr
that those in favor of opening the road co'
be supportive of our neighborhood becat
they don't have as much traffic as we do."
City Manager Skip Noe said Tuesday tl
he had received 160 requests for seats on
committee. He and his staff will sort
requests by area and pick 20 to 30 represer
tives. No meeting date had been set, he sal
Joe Bergstad, president of the College H
Homeowners Association, which was fora
in 1936, opposes both the closure of Mum
Avenue and the formation of the committ
He called the committee "pretty much a wa
of time" and called for a study of the area
traffic specialists.
"We've been wrassling with this issue fo
long time," he said. "Until we take a ration
logical, step -by -step approach, we're going
go from one stab to the next."
Unansweivd questions
would like to express my agree-
ment with the opinion of Mitch
MacGrady regarding the closing
of Munson Dri a (Eagle, June 24).
. I, too, have many unanswered
questions and as a taxpayer of
Brazos County, I believe we
deserve some s rt of explanation.
Who decides w at constitutes "too
many" vehicles on a street?
I haven't he d of any traffic
jams, delays of emergency vehicles,
or an unusually high number of
motor vehicle accidents on Munson
Drive, so I'm a suming this is not a
safety issue.
I haven't heard of complaints of
property damage from motorists
driving on lawts or excess com-
mercial vehich traffic.
I don't remeniber being offered
any form when I bought my house
that said traffic was or would be
restricted when someone deter-
mined there was "too much" traf-
fic.
The fact that it only takes four
minutes to travel to the East
Bypass is immaterial. Munson
Drive is a publ c street paid for by
public taxes and should be assess-
able to all as a y other street in
Bryan- College tation. I'm sure the
residents of 29th Street, Dominik
`Doonesb ry' will return
Doonesbi try will return
after Garry Trudeau's vaca-
tion
Drive, Harvey Road, University
Drive, etc., weren't given the
option of closing "their" streets
when they decided there was "too
much" traffic.
DEBI BOUTELL
Bryan
Msaer neighborhood
I have been disappointed to read
two letters suggesting that since
Munson Drive has been closed
at Dominik Drive it should no
longer be maintained by the city,
but only by those who live along
the street. I suppose this would be a
sensible suggestion if every dead
end or cul -de -sac were treated in
the same way.
In fact, why not expand this line
of reasoning to all services? If you
are too old to play competitive
sports, why pay for all those ball
and soccer fields in the city parks?
If you don't have kids in school,
stop paying school taxes.
The closing of Munson Drive has
made the neighborhood safer, qui-
eter and cleaner. It doesn't make
sense to sacrifice any neighbor-
hood's environment so that drivers
cutting through can save two or
three minutes.
People who live in the neighbor-
hood are asking their neighbors to
treat them like neighbors and to
use the thoroughfares that were
designed to carry through traffic.
Let's avoid making the communi-
ty better for cars if it means mak-
ing it worse for people.
BOB BEDNARZ
College Station
•
•
Plan betteO cities
t would be nice if all of us with
children could iave our streets
declared to be ity parks, except
for discrete reside tial traffic in
order for us to get to driveways.
Will these residen s have to prove
their eligibility to ive in their
neighborhoods? It would seem that
I these residents should have to
leave the neighbothood, in this spe-
cific case Munson Avenue, through
the same gate as t ey entered so
that they could not use their street
as a throughway to anywhere else.
Munson Avenue is not a city
i park. If the residents want it to be,
then a parking lot should be devel-
oped on the perim ter for park visi-
tors and residents from which we
would all walk to he homes located
within or alongside the park.
Munson Avenue is a city street
built and maintained with all citi-
zen taxes. It shoull be available for
all to use.
The dilemma does point out the
absolute necessity that we develop
and implement, as soon as possible,
a comprehensive plan to provide
more direct Bryan-College Station
community north south and east -
wet through trafoc ways. The clos-
ing O Munson A nue without a
suitable alternate access routes is
not the answer. rth -south access
restricted to the ast Bypass, F.M.
2818, Wellborn Rod and Texas
Avenue is insufficient for this
growing community'. East -west
access restricted to Texas 21,
William Joel Bryan Parkway, Villa
Maria Road - Briarcrest Drive,
University Drive, George Bush
Drive, Southwest Parkway and
F.M. 2818, for example, is better but
still not sufficient. Let us put our
closed mindedness aside in favor of
a better planned twin cities for our
growth and for a preferred future.
JOHN GREER
Bryan
Good sense needed
l am a resident of College Station.
I pay taxes in the Bryan College
Station area. I believe this gives
me the right to drive down any
street in the Bryan- College Station
area. If this does not, then am I
going to be paying less taxes for the
streets that I cannot drive down?
I have traffic on my street at 3
a.m. and 4 a.m. Does this mean the
City Council is going to close my
street?
Bryan- College Station is growing.
Along with that comes traffic. You
cannot have one without the other.
If the residents on Munson Drive
cannot handle this, then maybe
they should relocate elsewhere.
The City Council really needs to
acquire some common sense, or
maybe we need to acquire a new
City Council — one that will not
continue to waste our tax dollars
on unwanted projects.
KELLIE BROWN
College Station
•
•
(Date:
,Find afternate route
e have all he d of the con-
troversy rega ding
Munson Avenue. There
have been newspaper articles,
meetings, television news spots
and lots of heated conversations. I
have friends who live in the area,
as well as friends whe use this
street as a cut through.
All of us reside in this communi-
ty together. In some form or fash-
ion, we effect one ano er. It seems
to me that we all wan everyone to
help us out, to respec our rights, to
understand and adhere to our
needs. But at some point, if we ever
want to really be able to expect
anyone to do this for i is, we our-
selves are going to have to do this
for someone else.
You will have to go out of your
way to help another. You will get
the peace of knowing you did the
right thing to help o a neighbor,
even if it caused a m' or inconve-
nience to you. If taking an alter-
nate route is too muc to ask to
continue a feeling of ommunity
and kindness, then w have come
to a sad point in time And if you
are unwilling to do this for anoth-
er, how can you ever expect anoth-
er to do this for you? Think about
it.
What kind of community do you
want to live in? What are you will-
ing to do to help create this kind of
community? My hope is all of us
will find a way to help others, and
one way many of us can start is by
finding an alternate route to
Munson Avenue if you are simply
cutting through.
STEPHANIE THORNE
College Station
-' -- ° - -- - -'
•
•
College Station "
ices city engineer
By BOB S 'HOBEtt
Eagle St Writer
The ci y of College Station
announced on Monday that
Robert M sley will become city
engineer starting July 20, fill-
ing the position left vacant
since February by the resigna-
tion of Kent Laza.
Mosley, a 1965 Texas A &M
University graduate and a reg-
istered `Texas Professional
Enginee�, is currently
employe by the Texas Depart-
ment of Criminal Justice, for
which hL is project engineer
for two high- security prison
units.
Mosle was picked from 20
applicants, and will be paid
$55,000 a year. His primary job
will be !to implement capital
improve , ents projects, said
Public orks Director Mark
Smith.
In a prepared statement, City
Manage Skip Noe praised
C
Mosley for his "extensive expe-
rience" in managing profes-
sional service contracts and
public works
construction
projects.
"I'm
pleased we
are able to
find a profes-
sional with
his experi-
MOSLEY ence for this
important
position," Noe said.
Before his current position,
Mosley worked for 22 years for
the city of Dallas in a number
of engineering - related posi-
tions, including as manager of
the departments of Profession-
al Services Division and Solid
Waste.
Councilman Swiki Ander-
son, who is an engineer,
praised the appointment.
Please see CITY, Page A2
"He h s an excellent reputa-
tion fro n the work he's done
over at tae Department of Crimi-
nal Ju ice," Anderson said.
"I've ne er met the man, but I
have some friends over there
who have spoken very highly of
him."
Earlier this year, the city's
engineering department was
embroiled in controversy after a
blue- ribbon committee appointed
by Noe evaluated the depart-
ment. At the time, Councilman
Steve Esmond, an engineer, said
the findings in the report would
be a "disgrace" to any city.
Laza resigned as city engineer
Feb. 15, saying he was asked to
quit by City Manager Noe. Noe,
however, denied that he asked for
Laza's resignation.
•
Date:
council
to discuss
P arking
Rental property im act,
other issues on age da
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Council will r
ommendations Thursday to limit the
nonowner- occupied rental property ai
parking issues in the Southside /South€
borhood.
Chief among these is a proposal to lim
cy in nonowner- occupied, single - family
four unrelated adults and require oni
parking space for each occupant, accorc
staff reports. Current ordinances requir
off - street parking spaces per single -ft
dence.
City staff will also recommend that the
lish a residential parking permit plan
that adopted by other cities along with
parking areas to reduce parking probli
by the area's proximity to Texas A &M
Please see
•
eview rec
impact of
A relate
ate neigh
.occupan
homes t(
off- street
ng to city
only tw(
nilv resi
city estab
similar t(
time zon(
ms cause(
Page AV
0
Council
Community Appearance, the
Northgate Revitalization Board,
Preservation, Zoning
Historic
Board of Adjustments and the
Parks and Recreation Board.
From A9
During its regular meeting, the
The permit plan would restrict
council will consider the follow -
on- street parking to residents
and their guests in the area bor-
ing items:
■ A preliminary design for the
dered by George Bush Drive, Dex-
Bee Creek channelization pro -
ter Drive, Park Place and Well-
ject. This project, estimated to
born Road.
cost $2.2 million, would be funded
The council workshop session
by the drainage utility fund. It
will begin at 2 p.m., one hour ear-
will address flood protection
lier than usual, due to a heavy
along Bee Creek from Texas
agenda. During the workshop,
Avenue to Southwest Parkway
the council will consider the fol-
and along Tributary B from Bee
lowing items:
■ A revised master plan for the
Creek to F.M. 2818.
■ The preliminary design for
Wolf Pen Creek corridor. The
council has identified drainage
the new College Station Teen
Center, which will be located in
for Wolf Pen Creek as its top
Southwood Athletic Park. The
strategic issue. The council earli-
final plan is expected to be com-
er directed that lakes be removed
pleted for construction bidding in
from the revised master plan,
late August or early September.
which the Planning and Zoning
■ A federal grant to fund most
Commission reviewed on July 2.
of the salaries for six community
The commission recommended
policing officers for three years.
that George Bush Drive East be
The $436,252 grant from U.S.
extended to Holleman Road, that
Department of Justice's Office of
creek erosion be stabilized with
Community Oriented Policing
minimal use of concrete and that
Services (COPS Universal Hiring
the area contain natural water
Program) would fund 75 percent
4 eatures "that resemble lakes."
■ The preliminary site plan for
of the salaries and benefits. The
city would have to fund the bal-
the Wolf Pen Creek hotel/confer-
ance plus all extra costs, includ-
ence center development and the
ing overtime, training, vehicles
schematic design for the confer-
and uniforms.
ence center. The council will be
The 2 p.m. workshop will be
asked to approve the preliminary
held in City Hall Council Cham-
design so the city architect can
bers, 1101 Texas Ave. The 7 P.M.
move to the next step in the
regular meeting will be held in
design process.
■ Appointments to various
the same location.
For more information call 764 -
committees, including Cemetery,
3500.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
ate: , x' � 6, 1 I C - 1 �
CS council increases
city manager's salary
$113,500 i
By BOB SCHOBE:
Eagle Staff Writer
line with other cities, mayor says
The College St tion City Council
boosted City Maiager Skip Noe's
salary to $113,500 n June 25, placing
him in the average salary range for
managers of c mparable cities,
Mayor Lynn Mc aney said Tues-
day.
Noe will also receive a $7,500 annu-
al car allowance.
The council compared the salaries
for the city managers of Waco, Beau-
mont, Bryan and Austin, among oth-
ers, to arrive at the figure. Mike Con -
duff, who has been Bryan's city man-
ager for six years, makes a salary of
Please see SALARY, Page A14
Salary
From A9
$109,584 with a $700 a month car
allowance according to Joe
Brown, B yan public informa-
tion office i
"This ps [Noe] pretty much
average," IvIcIlhaney said. "Other
cities pro ide a retirement fund
for their managers, but he pays
his own out of his salary."
Noe was out of town and could —
not be reached for comment.
This was Noe's first salary
increase since his hiring in 1995,
Mcllhaney said.
"About a year and a half ago, he
received a $10,000, one -time
bonus, but that wasn't a salary
increase," she said.
Noe moved to College Station
in July 1995 from San Antonio,
where he had served in several
administrative positions. Before
that, he was deputy city manager
in Fort Collins, Colo., for two
years and was city manager in
Kingsville, Texas, for three
years.
C$ ColiriCll
1' es Wolf Pen
pr gect design
1..
City staff directed to discuss
parking issues with A &M
By BOB , SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Council got its first look
Thursda 7 at a preliminary design of the Wolf Pen
Creek H tel /Conference Center project, and coun-
cil mein ] iers liked it so much they voiced a collec-
tive "loo is great. ".
City r , chitect Richard Ferrara presented an
artist's rendering that defined what he called the
buildings "initial character." Several council
memberE congratulated him and the city staff on
the, desi , and the council unanimously approved
moving the project into the advanced design stage.
Please see COUNCIL, Page A2
News
Council
From A 1
Ferrara described the confer-
ence center as "fairly contempo-
rary, not too futuristic." The $6
million building will be con-
structed primarily of masonry
and will be joined to the 200 -room
hotel.
The city will own the confer-
ence center and a private devel-
oper will build and own the hotel
and an adjacent office building.
Construction is scheduled to
begin in late spring of 1999 with
the opening planned for fall 2000.
In other business, the council
directed city staff to discuss park-
ing issues in the
Southside /Southgate neighbor-
hood with officials at Texas A &M
University before it passes a new
parking ordinance for the area.
Councilman Steve Esmond sug-
gested the "good neighbor policy"
which "should be done before we
implement any of this."
Staff presented several recom-
mendations to alleviate parking
problems in the area, including
eliminating on- street parking
along the north side of George
Bush Drive from Timber Street to
Texas Avenue; establishing one -
hour parking zones on Fairview
Avenue and Montclair Street;
and creating an on- street - parking
Artist rendering special to The Eagle
This is an artist's rendering of the Wolf Pen Creek Hotel /Conference Center project viewed by the College Station
City Council on Thursday. The council approved this preliminary design and authorized the architect to begin more
detailed design work.
permit system that would limit
nonresidents from parking in
front of residents' homes.
The council heard an update of
the Bee Creek channelization
project from the design engineer-
ing firm, Klotz Associates of
Houston.
The $2.2 million project will
include the 100 -year flood plain
within the Bee Creek channel
from Texas Avenue to Southwest
Parkway and in Tributary B from
Bee Creek to F.M. 2818.
Klotz's preliminary design,
which the council unanimously
approved, calls for a concrete bot-
tom roughly 30 feet wide with
natural banks.
Klotz's feral design must be
approved by the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency
before construction can begin.
The council rejected by a 4 -3
vote a master development plan
for the Steeplechase subdivision.
The subdivision is proposed for
64 acres located along the east
side of Wellborn Road south of
F.M. 2818 and next to the South-
wood Valley subdivision.
The development would con-
tain 80 single - family homes and
125 duplexes.
The Planning and Zoning Com-
mission unanimously rejected
the plan for several reasons.
Among them were a lack of near-
by parks, doubts that a proposed
homeowners association could
adequately maintain a detention
and creek area and housing den-
sity compared to adjacent subdi-
visions.
The Parks and Recreation
Board, which also reviewed the
plan, recommended taking a
monetary donation in lieu of land
for a park. The commission dis-
agreed.
Esmond recommended sending
the plan back to the Planning and
Zoning Commission to resolve
park, streets and drainage issues.
I �16
- pologies to those who are
inconvenienced by the trial
closure of Munson Avenue.
If you live on a cul- de-sac or dead-
end street (as we did )_the taxes pay
for yo too.
� PlE se try to imagine how you
wo* feel if your street'was
opplied up to almost'8,000 cars
duly. ¢�,
Imagine the Witinuous noise,
the inability to get in and out of
your driveway, rap music .constant-
ly rattling your windows, the dust
our; home, the plantsthat.die,
,Op being able to sit in your yard or
-Open your dows on a rare nice
-day or
Imagine being awakened at mid -
night and '2 a.m. by loud music,:
people shputm' ' horns blowing
. ; a ggie War Hymn and assorted
ditties several times weekly.
Imagine your child or grandchild
:unable to play in the frbnt yard or
ride bikes because of ever present
lines on your street wwayz) uluan
mg because the street wdsn't made
for such heavy traffic. Imagine hav-
ing beer cans, fast food refuse and
other trash littering your yard day
after - day.
Imagine property values sinking
fast.
I have timed the different alter -
nate routes. It usually takes an
extra minute ar two.
We all ask you for some compas
Sion.
An extra two minutes from you
can give us back our lives.
We bought our homes on wha
used to be one of the most beau
streets in College'Station.
It was dead -end on both ends,
and never should have been
opened.
This is progress?
Thank you for hearing our si
of the story.
DAWN ABERTH
College Station
•
LM
The College Station Police Department
will hire six new police officers under a
$436,252, three -year U. S. Department of
Justice grant for Community-oriented
policing.
The College Station City C cil accept-
ed the grant on Thursday. The department
will start hiring the officers on Aug. 1,
Police Chief Ed Feldman said Friday.
The grant will fund 75 percent of the offi-
cers' salaries and benefits for three years.
The city will pay for unifonns, training,
vehicles and other costs of employment.
The officers will remain wit the depart-
Adams, Katherine Edwards, Helen Perry, Ed Burns and
Thomas Franklin.
■ Community Appearance Committee — John Richards
was named the new chairman and Fred Dollar, Barbara
Petty and Thaddeus Hunter Adams will De new members.
They join Kay Floyd, Molly K. Gritter, Marianne Oprisko,
Letty Benning, Marsha Sanford, Nell Frazer Lindquist and
Gary Sorensen.
■ Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals —
Helen Weber will join the committee w th chairman Dan
Sears and vice chairman Jim Holster, wt o were reappoint-
ed. Other members include George McLean, Bill Lewis,
Glenn Thomas, Robert Mooney and Iternate member
Steve Abalos. Kevin Kuddes was appointed an alternate.
■ Electrical Examining Board — Matt Murphy was
appointed as a new member. He joins John Grillo, and
Steve Dorsett, Dan Hubbard and Frank flyrtle.
■ Historic Preservation Committee New members
include Dock Burke, Joan Perry, Russell Duke, Margaret
Griffith and Elton Abbott. They join Chair man William Lan-
caster, Rebecca Berry, Deborah Jasek and Dennis Mal-
ment after the grant ends as part of the
department's transition into full commu-
nity- oriented policing.
Community- oriented policing incorpo-
rates regular police tactics of crime pre-
vention within a proactive stance toward
the community, Feldman said.
"Instead of just answering the same call
over and over, we want our officers to get
below the surface a bit, hopefully find a
solution so we don't have to go back," he
said.
The council also made appointments to 9 committees.
■ Cemetery Committee — Helen Pugh and Joe Wallace
will be new members and David. Chester and Amelinda
Richards will serve as alternates. Robert Toler was named
an honorary member. They will join Chairman Sarah
oney.n Joint Relief Funding Review Committee — Sarah
Goode was reappointed and joins David Decker and Jim
Scarmardo.
■ Northgate Revitalization Board —.Leslie Randolph
will be joined by new members Elton Abbott, Roxanne
Elaine Brown, Julius Gribou, Andrew Howard and L. Susie
Striegler. Cheryl Anz, Richard Benning and William Boyett
were reappointed. The council will advertise for three rep-
resentatives from a Northgate church, Northgate business
and Texas A &M University.
■ Parks and Recreation Board — Susan Alle, Sarah
Birkhold, Glen Davis, John Nichols and George Dresser
were named to the board and will join member John
Crompton. Current member Chris Barzilla was named
chairman.
■ Zoning Board of Adjustment — Leslie Hill and John
Haap, formerly alternates, were appointed to full member -
ship. Matt Murphy and David Alexander were appointed to
the board, Alexander as chairman. Steve Searcy, Mark
Lanier, Rodger Lewis, Brandon Hausenfluck and Jean Bai-
ley were named as alternates.
BY BOY Officers u
Eagle S ,ceder U.S. grant
Unintended results, Munson Avenue isn't the only
A s residents q puryear
Drive (adjac nt to Thomas
park), we would like to
Point out some oft a negative
results of the Colle e Station City
Council's recent closin of
Munson Avenue to through traf-
fic.
Our formerly quit street now
has more traffic at all hours than
we can handle safely.
When the A &M si idents return
in the fall, we prob ly won't b
able to back out of our driveways
safely with the influ.K of even
more traffic.
The traffic, which often exceeds
the speed limit, also is a threat to
the safety of th mar y joggers,
bike riders, soccer players, etc.,
who frequent Thomas Pa
throughout the day and evening.
If the City Council i gnores this
dangerous situation, we fear that
someone (maybe a child) in our
neighborhood will be killed or
maimed in the near futur
Now that Munson Avenue has
stop signs, sidewalks Ind "speed
humps," I suggest tha the City
Council give some attention to
the needs of the surro inding
neighborhoods which have been
forced to absorb Munson's traffic
Like Munson Avenue, we defi-
nitely could use some creative
methods of decreasing the volume
and speed of the traffi .
A lower speed limit hich is
systematically enforce 1, speed
humps, additional stop signs, and
more of a police presenn�ce are
some possible remedie$ to our
severe problem.
residential street in College
Station.
ELLEN and DAVID ALSOBROOK
College Station
Doing what it should
T he decision to close Munson
Avenue is exactly what gov-
ernment representatives are
supposed to do. They respond to
the will of the people. In this case,
the will of the people said to close
Munson Avenue to protect our
neighborhood.
Those of you out there who
don't like the closure must tell
the City Council. Letters to the
editor won't work.
Any government in this coun-
try is designed to respond to what
the people want. That's why it is a
representative government, not a
dictatorship. The government
does listen to what the people say
Unfortunately, those people who
are doing all the talking are usu-
ally talking more often and louder
than the actual majority of peo-
ple. Hence, the power of interest
groups and factions often out-
weighs the majority opinion.
So, if you want your side of the
story told, get to a City Council
meeting. Fill out the form and
then wait your turn to speak. If
YOU want Munson Avenue
reopened, you'll have to present a
bigger and better case than those
who want it closed. Organize,
sign petitions, get on TV. In short,
get involved. If you don't, some
one else (maybe me) will'
your decisions for you.
ERIC MILLER
College Station
By BOB SCHO$ER - -5
D
from what his famil believes
ly villain could be the Southern
houses in early evening. That's
Eagle StaJjWriter l
I
I9 0
was encephalitis, an ften -fatal
house mosquito — a species that,
why mosquito-proofing houses is
brain inflammation ca by a
unlike most others, thrives in hot
so important," Texas A &M Uni-
The Texas drought has killed
virus they believe was transmit-
and dry conditions.
versity medical entomologist Jim
many area crops and indirectly
ted through a mosquito bite.
The Southern house mosquito
Olson said Tuesday.
may have caused the death of a 4-
The youngster's ca of death
was given that name because it
"The fast line of defense is peo-
year -old Bryan boy, local experts
has not yet been coril Lrmed by
likes to hide inside houses and
ple have to take care of them -
speculated Tuesday.
Texas Children's Ho pital in
seek out the cooler rooms,
selves," he said. "People have to
Last Friday, Anthony John Vil-
Houston but, if doctor confirm
according to a mosquito expert.
mosquito-proof their houses,
larreal died in a Houston hospital
the family's hunch, the nost like-
"It has the propensity to enter
wear protective clothing and use
Virus - 71i , :) re
From Al
carried by birds, inch ding several species of song-
birds and pigeons, Ols n said.
When the Southerr house mosquito bites the
bird, its preferred soi rce of blood for its eggs, it
then can become a car ner of the virus.
"This species doesn t like to feed on humans to
begin with, but the main thing is to keep them out
of the house," he s id. "That's where they're
trapped and you're th only blood meal around."
Drought and high emperatures have knocked
down most of the sc called floodwater mosquito
species in the area E ad sparked a surge in the
Southern house mosqi ito, known as a septic -water
breeder. Floodwater i iosquitoes tend to feed on
large mammals and ai old birds and so, Olson said,
are generally out of tl its virus cycle."
"[Southern house m squitoes] thrive in drought.
In hot, dry times or in a drought year, this is one of
our most common sl ecies," he said. "The only
water we have laymi around is septic water or
ponds that have beer. polluted by organic trash
blowing in."
In normal years, th species doesn't show up in
great numbers until la er in the summer.
"We're seeing A t numbers now and it will
Probably get worse and worse unless the ponds and
wet areas dry out," he 3aid. "The one thing we pray
for with the St. Louis E ncephalitis virus is rain and
cold weather. If we g (t rain, it will flush out the
areas where they're b
The Southern house mosquito is one of 52 differ-
ent species that have teen identified in the Bryan.
College Station area, Olson said. There are 84
species in Texas and hundreds more that have
adapted to every landsmpe on Earth from the Arc-
tic Circle to the tropics.
The female Southe house mosquito, he said,
lays between 100 and 12 D eggs in rafts on the surface
of fetid water, "the sl' nier the water, the better."
Despite the drought, Puddles of water can be found
in creekways throughort the area, Olson said.
Two Bryan city wor Kers work full-time in mos-
quito abatement, accor hng to Bryan Public Works
director Rick Conner. The city uses chemicals to
attack mosquitoes b fogging and spraying —
"adulticiding" — whe residents complain of high
concentrations of feed' ig adults, and uses pellets of
Pesticide to "larvicide' stagnant pools where mos-
quito eggs hatch into I Lrvae.
College Station discontinued fogging and spray-
ing in 1995, College St ation Parks and Recreation
director Steve Beachy 'd, because spraying oper-
ations were deemed " iot entirely effective." The
city only larvicides nom on an "as needed basis," he
said.
In general, both mel iods are used in Bryan in
response to complains from residents, Conner
< < [The Southern house mosquito]
doesn't like to feed on humans to
begin with, but the main thing is
to keep them out of the house.) 9
—JIM OISON
Medical entomologist, Texas A&M University
said.
"There are just a couple of areas the guys keep an
eye on and, typically, we don't have a program of
specific sites and dates," he said.
Conner is meeting Wednesday with Beachy,
Olson and other mosquito abatement experts. Con-
ner asked for the meeting "to find out what they
think we should be doing."
is there something more we should be doing and
could be doing? It is our intent to try it," he said.
One thing homeowners can do, Conner said, is to
make sure that their lawns are mowed and a ditch,
if one crosses their yard, is maintained.
"Many of the ditches lie in the city's right of way,
but ordinances in this city say homeowners will
maintain them up to the pavement," he said. '"typi-
cally, they take care of it"
Olson said he doubted that more spraying would
have much effect, especially in heavily vegetated
areas, because mosquitoes can hide. in the spray's
shadow.
Before its use was banned, the pesticide DDT was
highly effective in killing mosquitoes. The chemical
was a surface spray with toxic effects that lingered
on the underside of leaves and in tall grasses where
mosquitoes like to hide, Olson said.
Some mosquito sprays now use chemicals called
organophosphates that only work when in direct
contact with the bug.
"The only time [newer sprays are] effective is
when a mosquito flies through it. It's like, if you put
enough buckshot into the air, you'll hit something,"
he said.
Typically, spraying is done near dusk, when
warm air covers cooler ground air. The layering
creates a temperature inversion, which keeps the
spray airborne for a longer time. Olson said ideal
spraying conditions also call for a slight wind — 2
or 3 miles an hour — to slowly drift the fog over a
wider area.
Spraying techniques aside, Olson repeatedly stat-
ed that homeowners can protect themselves from
the Southern house mosquito by making sure that
window screens are repail^ed, gaps between screens
and jambs are taped closed and exterior doors shut
quickly.
Mosquitoes have been around for about 200 mil-
lion years, Olson said.
"Here we are trying to be smarter than they are,
and we've been here about 100,000 years," he said.
"They've had a head start."
repellents."
The common Southern house
mosquito is not host to the
encephalitis virus, birds are. The
St. Louis encephalitis virus,
which Olson and some doctors
think is the strain that might
have killed Anthony Villarreal, is
Please see VIRUS, Page AS
Expert: Encephaliti - carrying mosquitoes thrive in drought
C
B-CS hosts c4
Economic impact of $250,
By PAT ABERNATHEY�
Eagle Staff Writer
o
The annual Association of
Mayors, Councilmembers and
Commissioners conference, cur-
rently under way, will have an
estimated economic impact on
the Bryan- College Station area of
$250,000, local officials said Fri.
day.
Between 600 and 700 of Texas'
elected officials are in town for
the conference, which runs
through Sunday at various loca-
tions throughout the Bryan-Col.
lege Station area.
"I am always excited to come to
this conference, but I was espe-
cially excited about coming here
because my granddaughter
attends Texas A&M," said
Clarence Tucker, a councilmem-
ber from Gainesville, Texas.
"This has been an excellent con-
ference, with excellent 1
The conference ki
Thursday night with a
and tour at the George I
idential Library and
Center.
Merrill Kirkpatrick
Bryan- College Station
tions and Visitor Bur
area officials have been
entice the association to
gathering to the area 1
three years.
"With this group, wi
present a bid before th(
of directors," she said. "
up against E1 Paso,
Christi, Galveston and of
made presentations ft
Years and finally got tl
year."
College Station Mays
McIlhaney, a past preside
association, said she beg,
ing about having the co
I I
u
aerence Texas officials
expected for area
ked off
eception
A Pres-
duseum
of the
'onven-
au said
rying to
firing its
r about
had to
r board
ore went
Corpus
ers. We
three
?m last
Lynn
it of the
I think-
in the Bryan- College Station area
after attending several other con-
ferences.
"I noticed that a lot of the
speakers were professors at
Texas A &M," she said. "Here we
were taking our resources out of
the community to help train
elected officials, and I asked,
'Why can't we bring the elected
officials here?"
In landing the conference,
Kirkpatrick said, the area will
receive an estimated $250,00o eco-
nomic impact. The city leaders
are using approximately 600 hotel
rooms and 1,500 hotel room
nights during their stay.
McBhaney and Kirkpatrick say
the conference will help in other
ways besides the immediate eco-
nomic impact.
"This h 1
Eagle photo /Butch Ireland
e ps us m two ways, Speaker Rick Rigsby kicks up his leg during his speech Friday morning at
Please see LEADERS, Pa a A14 the College Station Hilton for the annual Association of Mayors, Coun-
g cilmembers and Commissioners conference.
Lea
From `A9
c
Kirkpatrick said "One, we have
the political leaders of cities all
over Texas here and, hopefuly,
they will go home and spread the
word about Bryan and College
Station.
"Two, this association falls
under the Te as Municipal
League, which ov ersees 26 associ-
ations. Having his conference
opens the door fo us to bid on all
26 of those asswii tions," she said
McIIhaney sal(, "This confer-
ence shows the o 'zation that
we are a viable site."
Mayor Lois R ce of Canyon,
Texas, the presid nt of the associ-
ation, said the Br ran-College Sta-
tion presentation Irew the associ-
ation here.
"We had a powerful presenta-
tion from Bryan nd College Sta-
tion, and we deci led to see what
they could do," he said. "They
were so eager tx do everything
possible to make a good confer-
ence."
Along with tol ring the Bush
Library, attend will take part
in several differei t meetings and
learning experien s. Included in
the programs an mobile work-
shops taking ther i to Downtown
Bryan and Northgate to show
revitalization efforts.
Bryan Mayor wrinie 6tanier
said the convention serves an
important purpose for elected
officials by helping them to net-
work and gather ideas.
"I met a lot of fine folks last
night [Thursday]. I told them all
to go away from this conference
with a better feeling about our
community and their own com-
munity, " he said Friday.
Stabler said the Bryan- College
Station area lends itself to
rewarding conventions because
there are not many distractions
for attendees, which may be pre-
sent in bigger cities.
"We're looking for a very fine
convention where people can get
down to working and learning,"
he said. "In this case, I am glad we
don't have a beach, rm glad we
don't have a Moody Gardens."
Somerville Mayor Don Strick-
land said he attends the annual
conference to pick up fresh
thoughts for possible implemen-
tation in his community.
"We get new ideas and new
approaches to solving problems,
as well as new things to do," he
said. "These conferences have
outstanding speakers, and I enjoy
the opportunity to fellowship
with other mayors."
Some ideas Strickland said he
has taken back to Somerville
from past conferences include
beautification projects and eoo-
nomic development ideas.
Fort Worth,"AnuaiMo to p Bell list
B -CS bid is low on list for proposed V-22 Osprey plant, report says
Bell Helicopter has narrowed Its search for a place to build V -22 Ospreys,
like the one shown above, to either Fort Worth or Amarillo, a report says.
By COLLEEN KAVANAGH
Eagle Stglj Writer
Local officials are taking a
wait- and-see attitude in the wake
of a report Saturday that said
Fort Worth and Amarillo are the
leading contenders in the compe-
tition for Bell Helicopter's new
$46.8- million tilt -rotor aircraft
production and testing center.
Bids by eight cities in Texas
were being considered for the
facility — the Bryan- College Sta-
tion area, Fort Worth, Amarillo,
San Antonio, Arlington, Dallas,
Austin and Houston.
Union leaders and Fort Worth
officials, in a story in Saturday's
editions of the Fort Worth Star
Telegram, said Bell executives
have said Fort Worth's Alliance
Airport and Amarillo Interna-
tional Airport submitted the
most appealing. bids for the new
aircraft assembly center.
The newspaper quoted sources
as saying that San Antonio also
still is in the running to win the
assembly plant.
"I have heard that Amarillo
has a strong bid," United Aero-
space Workers Local 218 presi-
dent J.J. Birchard told the news-
paper. "But I was also told that
Alliance put in a strong bid."
Birchard said Bell executives
told the union that San Antonio's
bid for the project has not been
ruled out, but that Amarillo and
Fort Worth appear to be the most
likely candidates, the paper
reported.
Fort Worth Assistant City Man-
ager Mike Groomer said it is his
informal understanding that Fort
Worth, Amarillo and San Anto-
nio are the top contenders.
A Bell spokesman said the com-
pany is not ready to announce the
site's winner.
"I'm sure there's been some
narrowing down, but I'm not sure
what that is," spokesman Mike
Cox told the newspaper.
Robert Worley, president and
CEO of the Bryan- College Station
Economic Development Corpora-
tion, said Saturday that Bell offi-
cials had said the decision would
not be announced until the end of
Please see BELL, Page A6
News
Bell
From A 1
July.
"I am going to call our consul-
tant, who's working on the pro-
ject, on Monday," he said.
"I'm hoping it's just a rumor,"
Worley said.
"Someone could have leaked
the information, though. They
told us we'd hear something at
the end of July, and we haven't
heard anything."
College Station Mayor Lynn
Mcllhaney said she hopes Bell
officials will prove the story is a
rumor when they announce the
results at the end of the month.
"It is my understanding that
the communities that submitted
bids were not supposed to hear
until the end of July, but I still
stand by the fact that we have a
very viable bid," she said. "We
have excellent community sup-
port fo
the project, and I would
package, but the other two loca-
ate a payment with all local tax -
hope
at, at the end of July,
lions may put together more
ing entities that would be less
there
be a different • story. ":
. have
attractive packages: "We'll just
than taxes under normal condi-
Bry
Mayor Lonnie Stabler
have to go for the next one."
tions, but sufficient to cover
sa ..
ff" l W are. true,
Bell officials have said the com-
costs.
he
Bell is missing a great
pany will .make a capital invest-
The facility would be financed,
oppo
nity.
ment of $46.8 million for the plant
built and owned by the Brazos
"Som
one in the aerospace
and create 1,100 jobs in five years,
Valley Council of Governments
industry
is going to use this
with an annual payroll of $23.7
and leased to Bell for 25 years.
area," te
said. "There is tremen-
million.
Also included in the proposal
dous a
gineering support in the
The center would be the assem-
are training services provided by
area, me
and I
are centrally, located,
would think that low
bly site for the V -22 Osprey tilt-
the Texas Engineering Extension
a
rotor aircraft, which has rotors
Service and the Texas Engineer-
amount
of air traffic would be a
on its wings that allows it to take
ing Experiment Station and a pri-
plus•
"I'd
P
a to hear that from ' Bell
- off a helicopter. The aircraft
does not need a long runway and,
vate.hangar /office at Easterwood
Airport.
officials
" Stabler said.
once airborne, the wings rotate
The Marine Corps plans to
"If th
story is true, then I'm
from upward to forward, allow-
order 473 Ospreys at a cost of $30
sure th
re'll be an explanation
ing the aircraft to fly like an air-
million each, and the company
that
help us with the next
plane and much faster than the
has orders for a civilian version
round."
typical helicopter.
of the plane that carries six to
Brazo
County Judge Al Jones
Bell is looking for 100 acres of
nine passengers.
said th.
t even if the report is
land on which to build its plant,
Company officials have said'
true, he
is happy with the com-
and Texas A &M University's
they expect the V -22 project to
munity's
effort in the proposal.
Riverside Campus was the local
eventually account for more than
"If indeed
this is the case, I'm
site considered for the facility in
half of the firm's sales.
disappointed,
but we gave it our
a proposal submitted April 20 by
best sh
" he said. "We thought
local economic leaders. Instead of
■ The Associated Press contributed
we put
together an attractive
taxes, Bell officials would negoti-
to this story.
•
Photo special to The Eagle
C7
Puryear?
y do Ashburn Avenue and
(� Munson Avenue have pre
cautions to slow down traf-
fic and Puryear'i Drive, which faces
a very busy park, has none?
Puryear Drive is taking an over-
flow fi -m the s d bumps and clo-
sure on two ott er streets, yet we
have playing cl ildren, soccer prac-
tices and joggei s constantly up and
down our stree .
I am not sug4esting closing our
street, but wound love to see speed
bumps to slow down the speeding
traffic since Puryear Drive is mis-
taken for a race -track daily.
Everyone who reads these letters
concerning traffic probably thinks
of them as trite and stale, but after
living in Austin and Houston, I am
refreshed in knowing that we don't
share the same problems as larger
cities do. But we need to focus on
the safety of our children, who on
Puryear Drive cannot cross the
street without fear.
LORI ADAMS
College Station
•
Munson
proposals
studied ��
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
Traffic problems on Mu]
Avenue and throughout the
lege Hills area have irritated
idents and bedeviled policyl
ers for years.
The July 13 closing of Mw
Avenue at Dominik Drive is
most recent chapter in an o
ing saga. On May 28, at the ur;
of the College Hills - Woody
Homeowners Association,
Colleg S ta t i o n C Co
Please see MUNSON, Page
Munson
From Al
closed that intersection on a trial
basis. Instead of uniting area res-
idents, the closing sparked a peti-
tion drive urging that the street
be reopened.
The council also asked that a
committee of residents represent-
ing the College Hills area —
roughly Texas Avenue to Texas 6
and Lincoln Avenue to Dominik
Drive — meet to come up with a
traffic solution that most, if not
all, the members can agree on.
The committee has drawn con-
siderable interest. Fliers
announcing the formation of the
committee were mailed to all
households in the target area,
City Manager Skip Noe said. He
said he had received 160 requests
for the 29 seats on the
committee.Noe said the city plans
to use an outside facilitator to
run the meetings, which city staff
thought would start the first
week of August.Following is a
brief history of the Munson
Avenue traffic issue:- Under for-
mer Mayor Gary Halter (1980-86),
Lincoln Avenue was extended
eastward in late 1985 to open addi-
tional access to the newly devel-
oping Glenhaven subdivision.
Before then, Lincoln Avenue
extended as far as Ashburn
Avenue, which was opened up to
Lincoln Avenue in the 1960s, he
said.
In an interview, Halter said
several developments contrib-
uted to rising traffic volume in
the College Hills area.
Munson and Ashburn
One -Way pair proposal
0 One way northbound
(towards Lincoln Ave.)
O One way southbound
(towards Dominik Drive)
0 Proposed addition to Ashburn Ave.
(also would be one way southbound)
Source: City of College Station
eagie Graphic /Bryan Butler
Post Oak Mall opened in 1984.
The extensions of Spring Loop,
Autumn Circle and 29th Street
around that time made Universi-
ty Drive more accessible, he said.
"It then became relatively easy
to get to the mall," Halter said.
The installation of traffic lights
at Spring Loop and 29th Street at
University Drive improved safety
at those intersections and made it
easier for drivers who wanted to
avoid Texas Avenue and Texas 6
to weave a shortcut on Munson
Avenue to Harvey Road, the mall
and other commercial develop-
ments in that corridor, Halter
said.
The city grew stsaank through,.
out the 198os, transportation
Planner Ed Hard said, and new
commercial and residential
developments surrounded the
neighborhood. t?., , a ,
By 1996, traffic volume on Mun
son Avenue had reached about
6,000 vehicles a daY,'he said
■ April 23, 1996 —'The rising
traffic volume on Munson
Avenue became a focus of a thor.
ou& -fare plan that would become
Part of the city's new Comprehen-
sive Plan. Traffic consultant Bar.
ton Ashman of Dallas recom•
mended that Munson and Ash-
burn avenues be made into a ono= .
way pair. Several residents
resisted the idea, fearing that
, traffic on Ashburn Avenue would
increase, Hard said, adding that
the issue of neighborhood integri-
ty arose about this time.
■ June 4, 1996 — The fast
neighborhood meeting was held
at College Hills Elementary
School. More than 100 peopl
attended, 'according to Har
Hard and city staff proposed 1¢ a
traffic options, including speed.
jumps and new streets. The Co
lege Hills-Woodlands Neighbo
'hood Traffic Committee was
formed.
■ July 31, 1 d city
staff met with1e ttee tq
discuss the 14�,tr� „. ption4.:,
Hard and the coma . r.
,Xhat traffic studies to lie.
done before depisi uld bb
,made.
I' ■ September Nov —
City staff c nducts igiti and
destinatiol rraffic su titey and col -
lects traM6 data thrtllighout Cola..
lege H W. "`At that ti;ae` average
daily courit9'on Munson
Ave, k ruched °7;300' vehicles,
with ,vehicles on Lincoln
Averri#V4 400 vehicles on Ash-
burn Texan Avenue car-
ried 45' "''to 55,?10, vehicles,
every
■ Feb da'
April 1997 — City'
staff met• the committee Feb.
4 to discu99 'the survey results
and trial options. The committee
supported a proposal to partially
close Munson and Ashburn
avenues at Lincoln Avenue. I
°s' aa,ap,,,u /o, yon t5Uner
�N
O
s
E
0
0
Munson Ave.
<
s
Ashburn Ave.
C
m
College Hills
E0ementary
Williams
Street
0 One way northbound
(towards Lincoln Ave.)
O One way southbound
(towards Dominik Drive)
0 Proposed addition to Ashburn Ave.
(also would be one way southbound)
Source: City of College Station
eagie Graphic /Bryan Butler
Post Oak Mall opened in 1984.
The extensions of Spring Loop,
Autumn Circle and 29th Street
around that time made Universi-
ty Drive more accessible, he said.
"It then became relatively easy
to get to the mall," Halter said.
The installation of traffic lights
at Spring Loop and 29th Street at
University Drive improved safety
at those intersections and made it
easier for drivers who wanted to
avoid Texas Avenue and Texas 6
to weave a shortcut on Munson
Avenue to Harvey Road, the mall
and other commercial develop-
ments in that corridor, Halter
said.
The city grew stsaank through,.
out the 198os, transportation
Planner Ed Hard said, and new
commercial and residential
developments surrounded the
neighborhood. t?., , a ,
By 1996, traffic volume on Mun
son Avenue had reached about
6,000 vehicles a daY,'he said
■ April 23, 1996 —'The rising
traffic volume on Munson
Avenue became a focus of a thor.
ou& -fare plan that would become
Part of the city's new Comprehen-
sive Plan. Traffic consultant Bar.
ton Ashman of Dallas recom•
mended that Munson and Ash-
burn avenues be made into a ono= .
way pair. Several residents
resisted the idea, fearing that
, traffic on Ashburn Avenue would
increase, Hard said, adding that
the issue of neighborhood integri-
ty arose about this time.
■ June 4, 1996 — The fast
neighborhood meeting was held
at College Hills Elementary
School. More than 100 peopl
attended, 'according to Har
Hard and city staff proposed 1¢ a
traffic options, including speed.
jumps and new streets. The Co
lege Hills-Woodlands Neighbo
'hood Traffic Committee was
formed.
■ July 31, 1 d city
staff met with1e ttee tq
discuss the 14�,tr� „. ption4.:,
Hard and the coma . r.
,Xhat traffic studies to lie.
done before depisi uld bb
,made.
I' ■ September Nov —
City staff c nducts igiti and
destinatiol rraffic su titey and col -
lects traM6 data thrtllighout Cola..
lege H W. "`At that ti;ae` average
daily courit9'on Munson
Ave, k ruched °7;300' vehicles,
with ,vehicles on Lincoln
Averri#V4 400 vehicles on Ash-
burn Texan Avenue car-
ried 45' "''to 55,?10, vehicles,
every
■ Feb da'
April 1997 — City'
staff met• the committee Feb.
4 to discu99 'the survey results
and trial options. The committee
supported a proposal to partially
close Munson and Ashburn
avenues at Lincoln Avenue. I
°s' aa,ap,,,u /o, yon t5Uner
A second meeting was held?'
March 3. About 80 people sup-'
ported the partial-closure optionixi
but others urged that Munson(
Avenue be completely close(L
On April 10, city staff presented
the traffic survey results and the,
outcome of the second neighbor;'
)iood meeting to the City CounciLi
?;City staff supported partial clog
sure, Hard said. The councw
voted in favor of partially cl"t
Munson and Ashburn avenues. ,1 ,
. ■ April- November 1997 — The
partial closing trial Is put in
place. Munson and Ashburn
avenues remain two-way streets
up to about 50 feet from Lincoln
Avenue. The left lanes of both
streets were closed, preventing
drivers on Lincoln &Ve=W from,
turning onto ei
< 6 We are currently
using several alternate
routes to get to various
locations affected by
the Munson closing. In
general, there are
some areas we are
reaching within our 4
1 /2- minute drive time
and some areas that
may take as much as 5
1/2 -6 minutes to
reach.? 9
— CHIEF PAVE GIOBDANQ
Coll Furpepa+tment
partial closure reduced by about
half the tragic volume on Mun-
son Avenue, to about 3,200 vehi-
cles a day.
"Criticism of the closure was to
get volumes down to 1,000 cars a
day, but that was never the objec-
tive," Hard said.
On Oct. 20; the College Station -
Woodlands Neighborhood Traffic
Committee stated its support for
making the partial closure per-
manent.
On Oct. 23, the City Council
rejected an ordinance that called
for making the partial closure
permanent and, instead, voted to
install stop signs and speed
bumps on Munson Avenue.
"They wanted something that
would be less disruptive to area
residents," Hard said.
Hard reported that traffic on
Munson Avenue then was about
3,000 to 3,800 vehicles per day,
and traffic counts on Foster
Avenue, Glenhaven Street, Nunn
Street and Walton Drive had
increased. He said he had
received few, if any, calls about
the increased traffic on those
streets.
■ Nov. 17, 1997 — Munson and
Ashburn avenues were fully
reopened to Lincoln Avenue and
stop signs were installed on Mun-
son Avenue at Rose Circle, Holt
Street and University Oaks
Boulevard.
■ December 1997 — Five speed
humps and a 20 mph speed limit
were installed on Munson
Avenue between Dommik Drive
and Lincoln Avenue. Hard told
the City Council that traffic on
Munson Avenue had risen to an
average of 4,500 vehicles a day.
■ January 1998 — The City
Council adopted a 20 mph speed
limit on Ashburn Avenue.
■ May 28 — The College Hills -
Woodlands Neighborhood Asso-
ciation presented a resolution to
the City Council urging that
Munson Avenue be permanently
closed. The council approved a
trial closure of Munson Avenue
at Dominik Drive and asked city
staff to form a new residents'
committee to again study the traf-
fic issue and recommend a solu-
tion. The council suggested the
trial would last into the fall,
through the opening of College
Hills Elementary School and the
return of Texas A&M University
students.
Closing Munson Avenue at
Dominik Drive has doubled traf-
fic volume on Westover Street.
The College Station Fire De-
partment still is evaluating the
impact of the closure, Chief Dave
Giordano said.
"We are currently using sever-
al alternate routes to get to vari-
ous locations affected by the
Munson closing," he said. "In
general, there are some areas we
are reaching within our 4 1/2-
minute drive time and some
areas that may take as much as 5
1/2.6 minutes to reach.
"We are constantly evaluating
our response to the affected
areas. We will continue to moni-
tor the situation," Giordano said.
•
C
29 appointea
to study traffi
on Munson A e
By BOB SCHOBER
^`
Eagle Staff Writer \
The names of 29 residents appointed to Audy the
controversial Munson Avenue traffic f roblems
were to be announced Monday by College Station
city manager Skip Noe.
The members of the committee were picked from
160 applications and represent the entirE College
Hills area, roughly Texas Avenue to Texas 6 and
Lincoln Avenue to Dominik Drive.
ffi ng
The Munson Avenue Traffic Committee is bei
created after the City Council on May 28 voted to
temporarily close Munson Avenue at Dominik
Drive. Councilwoman Anne Hazen asked that the
committee be formed to discuss and, hopefully,
propose a permanent solution to the traf Fic prob-
lems in the area.
Please see MUNSON, Page AS
r
Walton Drive Rodger L. Lewis and Ed McDow.
M un so n
Puryear Drive /James Parkway — Lori Adams
y
and Sonny Jamison.
Gilchrist Avenue — Kayla Glover.
Ft`Oltl A�
Francis Drive (Munson Avenue to
Glennhaven Drive) — Debbi Beck.
The committee's first meeting will be at 7 p.m.
Holt Street — Vergil G. Stover.
Thursday. In a letter to the new gommittee mem-
Neal Pickett Drive — Sharon Colson.
bers, Noe said they will be briefed on the different
Merry Oaks Drive — Melody Mills.
trials and studies on Munson Avenue and sur-
Magnolia Drive /Tara Court — Franklin D.
rounding area.
Waddell.
He also said in the letter that the committee "is
Bayou Woods Drive /Hardwood Lane — Bill
charged with the difficult challe e of finding a
Conaway and Mike McMichen.
solution that is acceptable to everyone."
Berkley Street — G.A. Niles.
An outside facilitator, not a ci employee, will
Westover Street — Brenda Pollock.
conduct the meetings, Noe said.
Marsteller Avenue — Rosemary "Rosie"
The trial closure of Munson Avenue is scheduled
Schoenfeld.
to last past the start of school d the return of
Dominik Drive (from Munson Avenue to the east
Texas A &M University students in th e fall.
end) — Elaine Crouse.
The committee members and their streets of resi-
MilnerDrive /Harrington Avenue — Sandra
dence are:
Siddall.
Munson Avenue — Dawn Abertli, Peter J. Hugill
Foster Avenue — Harriette Andreadis.
and Stephen Miller.
Grand Oaks — Ernie Davis.
Ashburn Avenue — Gary Halte and Katherine
Kyle Avenue— Joan Perry
Ann Uresti.
Prairie View Heights — Tommie Preston.
Rose Circle — Sharon Knutson.
Glennhaven Drive — Harlow Landphair.
k
Council may raise
ambulance feed - ii Zz
Chief recommends increasing prices
0
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Coun-
cil on Thursday will consider
raising fees for ambulance and
emergency medical transport ser-
vices and an ordinance prohibit-
ing open glass containers in
Northgate.
The College Station Fire
Department's current $250 fee for
basic emergency medical ser-
vices and transport includes no
mileage charge. Chief Dave Gior-
dano is recommending that the
fee be raised to $295 within Bra-
zos County, with an added fee of
$5 per mile per patient transport-
ed. Provision of advanced life
support services
charged at $250 1
would be raised to
added fee of $5
patient transported
Giordano also is
ing other fee chant
sprinkler, fuel tan)
gas systems.
The College Si
Department has we
Northgate Revitab
in researching sol
glass litter problem
according to city s
posed ordinance
unlawful the poss
open glass contain
Please see COUIt
currently
r transport,
150, with an
it mile per
recommend-
Council
s for testing
and natural
tion Police
From Al -�
ted with the
ing glass beer or juice bottles —
ttion Board
in the area bounded by Universi-
:ions to the
ty Drive, Wellborn Road, College
n Northgate,
Avenue and the city limits.
E The pro-
The proposed ordinance
, ould make
exempts baby bottles "containing
;sion of all
products for consumption by
s — includ-
babies."
In other business, the council
:IL, Page A2
will hear a presentation by Kayla
Glover, who will submit a peti-
tion signed by individuals
opposed to the closing of Munson
Avenue at Dominik Drive. The
council is expected to discuss the
duration and possible modifica-
tions of the trial closure.
The council again will consider
Parking solutions for the South -
side neighborhood. City staff will
present letters from Texas A&M
University supporting the
removal of parking along the
north side of George Bush Drive
between Texas Avenue and Tim-
ber Street. The council will con-
sider establishing one -hour park-
ing in areas on Fairview Avenue
and Montclair Street, from
George Bush Drive to Kerry
Street. The council also will dis-
cuss establishing a residential
on- street parking permit system
on a trial basis in the area.
The council will hold a public
hearing on a request to rezone
18.78 acres for the proposed Peb-
ble Creek Phase 8. A final plat
was submitted with the rezoning
and was approved by the Plan-
ning and Zoning Commission.
During the afternoon work-
shop session, city staff will pre-
sent action plans for the fast 20 of
the 33 strategic issues for 1998
identified by the council during
its May 31 and June 1 retreat.
The council also will review a
revised preliminary design for
the new Teen Center.
The 3 p.m. workshop meeting
will be held in the City Hall coun-
cil chambers, 1101 Texas Ave.
The regular meeting will be held
at 7 p.m. in the same location.
For more information, call 764-
3500.
Watching out for
older residents
0 ur oldjer citizens are an important part of this commu-
nity, end yet too often they have difficulty dealing with
some pf the ins and outs of everyday life. In an effort to
inform the I of such matters as crimes against the elderly and
scams that some older people fall victim to, the College
Station Police Department will hold its first Senior Fair from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the College Station Conference
Center, 1300 George Bush Drive.
A number of important topics will be covered, prizes will be
awarded and a free lunch will be served. Different topics are
scheduled every hour throughout the day.
Officer Rick Vessell of the College Station Police
Department will kick off the fair at 10 a.m. with a discussion
of crimes against the elderly. He will be followed at 11 a.m. by
Nancy Gresham of the Texas attorney general's office dis-
cussing sch 'mes and scams on the elderly.
After lunch provided by Subway Sandwiches and Salads,
Mike Ruesir k of the College Station Fire Department will dis-
cuss fire safety. A lighter touch will be the focus of the 2 p.m.
session wh n Donna Winslow discusses dog grooming.
Attorney M�ke Calliham will talk about wills and probate
during the al session at 3 p.m.
Each session will begin with a prize give -away. The Senior
Fair is open to anyone in the Brazos Valley 50 or older, Vessell
said.
There is no charge for the Senior Fair, but Vessell said it
would help o give him a call today to let him know you are
coming so nough space can be allocated for each session.
Vessell can be reached at 764 -3573 or, via e -mail, at rves-
sell@ci.college - station.tx.us.
Vessell said he hopes to make the Senior Fair a regular
event.
This is a wonderful opportunity for people to learn more
about ways to protect yourself in your golden years. Thanks
to the College Station Police Department and Officer Rick
Vessell for hosting Thursday's Senior Fair.
Counci*i
Council
addresses From A9
The council decided to defer
the creation of a residential on-
street parking program in a trial
pkin ar area bordered by George Bush
Drive, Dexter Drive, Park Place
and Wellborn Road.
Included in the group of recom-
Bike lane to be ld de d mendations approved by the
council was a proposal to restrict
to George Bush rive occupancy in non- owner -occu-
pied rental units to four unrelat-
By BOB SCHOBER ed adults. The proposal also calls
Eagle Staff Writer lz for off - street parking lots equal to
I the occupancy.
On- street parking will be elim' iated along City staff will write the recom-
the north side of George Bush Dr' e between mendations into an ordinance
Texas Avenue and Timber Street as part of a which the council will likely con -
wide- ranging parking program for the sider during its meeting on Aug.
Southside neighborhood. 13.
The parking may be eliminated before In other action, the council
Texas A &M University studentE return in Thursday also stamped its
fall if the city can gather the work crews and approval on funding recommen-
materials necessary to install th appropri- dations for several area not -for-
ate signs in time, said Ed Broussard, man- profit social service agencies.
agement assistant to the city manager. The city administers community
The College Station City Coun JI adopted development block grant funds
the parking program during i s meeting from the U.S. Department of
Thursday night. Housing and Urban Develop -
The move makes way for crea ing a bike ment. By HUD rules, a portion of
lane along the north side of George Bush those funds must be set aside for
Drive, which received the blessings of the funding social service agencies.
Texas Department of Transportation and College Station and Bryan pool
A &M officials. Broussard said thE city hopes their funds and rely on the Joint
to stripe the bike lane before the fall semes- Relief Funding Review Commit-
ter, but workers may have tow 't until the tee, made up of representatives
December break. from both cities, to recommend
The city will also create two -ho ir no park- funding levels.
ing zones on Fairview Avenue and Mont- The council unanimously
clair Street between George Bust.. Drive and approved the committee's recom-
Kerry Street. Fairview Aveml will also mendation to give Brazos Inter -
have "no parking here to corner" signs faith Outreach $30,000; Brazos
installed to alleviate some sight problems, Food Bank $30,000; Elder -Aid
Broussard said. City staff had originally pro- $21,840; Health For All Inc.,
posed one -hour parking zones, but the coun- $30,000; Hospice Brazos Valley,
cil overruled. $20,122; and Twin City Mission -
The Bridge homeless shelter,
Please see COUNCIL Page A14 $2,200.
The council also appointed Gary
Sorenson chairman of the Com-
munity Appearance Committee.
•
Police
From D1
the afternoon heat.
Problem solving
College Station Police Maj.
Mike Patterson believes that com-
munity policing pays dividends
by focusing on problem - solving.
not just on making arrests.
"We want to start looking for
causes and underlying issues of
crime, and not dealing only with
the symptoms," he said. "We're
looking to a long -term solution so
we don't have to keep going back
again and again dealing with the
same person or same problem.
"It's similar to doing a crime
analysis. You're analyzing all fac-
tors, not just one. If we take a hus-
band to jail for beating his wife.
maybe drugs are involved and we
can help them get some help,"
Patterson said.
On that theme, Price talked
about an individual whose hoard-
ing has caused some problems on
a particular Northgate street. The
man had cluttered his property
with so much stuff that the city
had to clean it up, and the man is
starting all over again.
"Is arresting this guy going to
solve the problem? Is writing him
tickets going to solve the problem?
I don't think so," he said.
Price chose not to arrest the
man. Instead, he talked to a coun-
selor at the Mental Health Mental
Retardation Authority of the
Brazos Valley about getting the
man some help.
Change management
The implementation of conmiu-
nity policing has forced the
department to snake some
changes. Patterson said.
Patterson. who is in charge of the
department's field operations.
said officers on the beat must be
more proactive and their supervi-
sors more open - minded.
"We expect our supervisors to
be more open to new ideas," he
said. "We give our officers more
authority and we expect them to
exercise that authority responsi-
bly. We're trying to get more
supervision for street officers to
give them more autonomy so we
can get their questions answered
faster.
"The first line is the patrol divi-
sion, and their stake in [communi-
ty policing] is much greater
because they're out there every
day," Patterson said.
Feldman believes it will take
five years to bring the department
into full swing. Patrol sergeants
and lieutenants have gone
through community policing
training, and patrol officers will
be trained over time.
On July 1, the city was split into
four beats and Sheets, Price and
the two other community police
officers will be assigned to their
areas for at least one year instead
of the usual four months. The
department also will continue its
policy of adding extra officers dur-
ing certain shifts to match the call
load.
"Our goal," Patterson said, "is
that a lot of people will know at
least one cop.'
Community policing has been
credited with dramatically lower-
ing crime rates in Bryan and
major cities across the country.
Willis said the overall crime
rate in Downtown Bryan dropped
4 percent in 1994, the first year
community policing was imple-
mented in that area. A year later,
the number of reported crimes,
including aggravated assaults,
rapes, drug arrests and public
drunkenness had dropped anoth.
er 34 percent. By December 1997,
the number of reported crimes
dropped by another 9 percent.
Cities across the country have
experienced similar results,
according to the consortium. Fort
Worth saw a 44 percent decrease
in crime in just four years after
implementing community polic-
ing. Homicides in Phoenix
dropped. 16 percent in 1996 alone,
and Pittsburgh saw a 17.5 percent
decrease in crime in 1995.
Community policing helped
turn around two housing com-
plexes in Rock Island, 111. In just
one year, reports of major crime
dropped 52 percent after police
became actively involved in those
apartment complexes, the consor-
tium reported.
Sheets and Price have brought
their style of community policing
to the Windsor Pointe
Townhomes, where they share a
small office in a corner of the com-
munity building. Property manag-
er Brenda Jeter said their pres-
ence hasn't stopped the problems,
but it certainly has energized the
192 -unit community.
"It has made people more aware
and more willing to speak UP," she
said.
Sheets has won the hearts of
some residents, Jeter said,
because she has gone outside her
role of police officer and given of
herself to children and families in
the complex.
"She has the biggest heart and
the kids that live here, their con-
cept of what a policeman does, is
different from what they see
Tracy and Paul [Price] do," Jeter
said. "They won't be growing up
believing the police will just do to
[harml them."
Sheets often greets kindergart-
ners when they come off the bus,
gave a little girl her old bedroom
set and bought Christmas trees for
some needy families. These acts
have brought her respect in the
complex and a personal satisfac-
tion.
"There's a couple of families out
there who have really grabbed my
heart, and it's the smiles and hugs
that's the best payback," she said.
Sheets, Dallas -born and a
College Station resident since
1993, never expected to stay long
in College Station after joining the
police department.
"Community policing allows
me to do a lot more things that I
got into this business to do," she
said. "I like to deal with people, I
like to help people solve problems
and I like to put my skills to work.
"It makes you feel more tied to
the community. I thought I'd be
going on to the big cities, but I like
this and I like doing this here."
C7
A
UNITY
beat -cop
departments
61
Y " Story by E "6b Schober
Photos by Ryan Rogers
imberly Wallin looked a bit uncomfortable on a recent morning when College Station police officer
Tracy Sheets walked through the door of Page Two Gallery and handed her a business card.
"I thought, what have I done?" said Wallin, an employee at the gallery.
Sheets was looking for something, but it wasn't criminals. Rather, she was introducing herself to
businesses in Park Place Plaza on South Texas Avenue to let them know that she was more than just
their beat cop — she also was a problem - solver for neighborhood issues.
"It's a way of letting them know that I'm around and accessible," Sheets said. "With the banks and day care
around here, it's important to know what's going on around here. But I also want them to call me for information
because I like to help get things done."
Solving problems and not just chasing criminals is a hallmark of a new wave of policing philosophy sweeping
the county. Community- oriented policing encourages officers to get out of their squad cars and mingle with peo-
ple on their beats. It is a resurrection of sorts of the nightstick - twirling beat cop of urban legend.
Sheets and three other College Station police officers are the vanguard of community policing in College
Station. Both the College Station and Bryan police departments are adopting the community policing philosophy
because, as Bryan Police Chief Lee Freeman put it, "It works."
Police Executive Research Forum, the
Police Foundation and the National
Organization of Black Law Enforcement
Executives.
The consortium has boiled the com-
munity policing philosophy down to
three core ideas — community partner-
ship, problem - solving and change man-
agement within police departments.
Community partnership
"Law enforcement is looking to
enhance its tough stance on crime with
a renewed focus on strategies that help
prevent crime, reduce fear of crime and
improve the quality of life in neighbor-
hoods," the consortium reported. "This
requires an intimate knowledge of the
community."
College Station community police
Officer Paul Price agrees.
"Citizens have the responsibility for
reporting crimes — it's still their city,
and they have the responsibility for tak-
ing care of it," he said. "But if we don't
know about the problems, then we can't
serve the public."
To Find out about those problems,
Price spends much of his day listening
to people on his beat.
"Communication is everything," he
said.
On a recent afternoon, for example, he
stopped by the home of Fred Martinez,
who several times has told Price about
loud parties and street - parking prob-
lems in his Live Oak Street neighbor-
hood.
As Martinez talked, Price listened
closely and courteously, explained legal
procedures for filing a petition with the
city, and offered encouragement. He also
said he would keep a closer eye on the
neighborhood, too.
"Good, good," Martinez said. "A lot of
residents around here would like to see
more patrolling."
A half hour later, Price left with
Martinez's thank yous drifting through
In many cities, the beat cop was
replaced decades ago by roaming pairs
of officers in squad cars who mainly
responded to crime scenes. Bryan Police
Lt. Pete Willis, who has been intimately
involved with community policing for
about a year, said police no longer can
stand aloof from the neighborhoods they
serve and be effective in fighting the
causes of crime.
"The days of police officers pulling up
to a scene and saying, 'I'm the expert
and I'll tell you what the problem is; are
over," he said. "Today, you need a com-
munity partnership to find out which
dope dealer is selling out of which
house. Without the community's sup-
port, it won't work."
Community policing, many experts
say, is a full- circle return to the beat cop
of old, the neighborhood law enforce-
ment landmark who knew everybody
and how to get things done. Beat cops
were effective because people knew and
trusted them.
Community policing is about estab-
lishing trust in police again, says the
Community Policing Consortium, an
umbrella group that pools the expertise
of five leading law enforcement organi-
zations. When people trust the police,
they are more likely to provide informa-
tion that is helpful in preventing and
solving crimes. Trust also can create a
working relationship within the com-
munity that will help find solutions to
local problems.
The concept is sweeping the country
because several studies have shown that
community policing dramatically low-
ers crime rates. In Downtown Bryan, for
example, Freeman said the number of
reported crimes dropped "unbelievably"
within a year after community police
officers hit the streets.
College Station Police Chief Ed
Feldman saw similar results in the
Lincoln Center area.
"We saw community policing as the
way to go," he said.
Wallin, who occasionally works alone
in the gallery, said just knowing that an
officer would be in the area was a relief.
"It makes me feel a lot safer," she said.
How it started
The Violent Crime Control and Law
Enforcement Act passed by Congress in
1994 authorized $8.8 billion to promote
community policing and provide grants
to local police departments to add
100,000 community policing officers
nationwide. The U.S. Department of
Justice created the Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to
carry out this mission.
Recently, the College Station City
Council voted to accept a $436,252 COPS
grant that will fund 75 percent of the
base salaries and benefits of six new offi-
cers for three years. The new officers
will raise the department's staff to 92, of
which 49 will be patrol officers.
The local departments will draw on
the expertise of the Community Policing
Consortium, which was created in 1993
by the Department of Justice. The con-
sortium, which researches community
policing across the country, is made up
of five organizations: the International
Association of Chiefs of Police, the
National Sheriffs' Association, the
Please see POLICE, Page D8
•
•
Community policing coordinator Paul Price (top photo) takes time from patrolling to listen
to Fred Martinez, a resident of the 400 block of Live Oak Street who Is concerned about
his neighborhood. Community policing coordinator Tracy Sheets (above) stops to Introduce
herself and talk to a resident In the 200 block of Richards Street. By meeting with the res-
idents, Sheets feels better able to identify neighborhood problems and deal with them
promptly.
•
4F
for se
By PAT ABERNATHEY
Eagle Staff Writer
With some advanced
ation, the Bryan- Colle€
be in line to attract a
cation plant within fiv
a feasibility study pres
Compared to other
ductor manufacturers
had the largest single
my, Angelos Angelo
Angelou Economic Adv
College Station Econom
poration.
Angelou's company m
to conduct the feasibili
iconductor plant
Manning and cooper -
e Station area could
,emiconductor fabri-
years, according to
!nted Wednesday.
ndustries, semicon-
and suppliers have
mpact on an econo-
z of Austin -based
isors told the Bryan -
ic Development Cor-
hired by the EDC
study in an effort
to determine if the area has the necessary
resources to attract one of these facilities
and to develop a strategy to attract it.
"There is no reason why this area couldn't
be a hub, particularly to suppliers,"
Angelou said. "And, perhaps, the area could
even get a fabrication facility."
He said a manufacturing facility would
bring at least 1,000 technology jobs to the
area and indirectly create 3,000 more.
The study looked at many aspects of life in
the area, Angelou said, including existing
infrastructure, education, quality of life and
possible sites.
The overwhelming strength of the area is
Please see PLANT, Page Al2
C
� Report: B -CS area viable
Date: CWj i 2
•
arring the citizens
I 've just incurred a $45 cleaning
bill to have fresh road tar
picked up on Harvey Road
emoved from my car. This letter
s to inform others who will have a
imilar problem or already have
xperienced the aggravation what
o expect when they decide to com-
I called the city of College
tation, which referred me to the
late highway department, which
Aerred me to the contractor. The
ompany said it could not do any -
iing until the job foreman made a
?commendation. He stated that his
)mpany was protected because it
ad posted fresh oil signs all along
ie roadway. I then asked him to
iow me one such sign, which he
)uld not do. He said, "We hired a
.ibcontractor who was supposed to
Lit up the signs. Besides you could
.e for yourself that there was
esh oil."
He is absolutely correct in that I
as able to see fresh oil, but I did
A expect to pick up fresh oil from
section that was supposedly com-
eted. Needless to say he did not
ve me satisfaction and laughed
hen I asked with whom to file a
I understand $45 is not much to
ave my car cleaned by a quality
)mpany in the Brazos Valley, but
You multiply that by the amount
:'damage that can be expected on
ae of the most heavily traveled
)ads in Bryan- College Station,
ten JW Paving is ripping off the
tizens of Bryan- College Station.
BILL JONES
College Station
�41
(a.-
A WALK IN THE PARK
Park tour promotes greenways
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff' Writer
C aRing the benefits of green -
ways "sometimes too good to
be true," Brazos Greenways
Council president Scot Shafer on
Wednesday evening took College
Station city officials, employees and
Greenways Implementation Task
Force members on a two -hour tour
of potential community greenways
along Bee Creek.
The group of about 30 people,
which included Mayor Lynn McIl-
haney and Councilwoman Ann
Hazen, visited several sites along
Bee Creek and listened to Shafer
and others tout the advantages of
preserving open green spaces.
"Greenways provide connections
and a sense of place," task force
chairman David Scott said. "We
tend to live our lives in a very dis-
jointed manner, and greenways
could provide a way for connec-
Please see TOUR, Page A1.2
M
Eagle photo /tsutcn ireianu
Participants in the College Station Greenways Tour head down the trail at Lemon
Tree Park Wednesday evening. The park was the first stop of their tour.
Tour
tions, to meet neighbors, pro-
vide a means to get from one
place to another."
There also are some very
practical, economic reasons for
preserving greenways, Shafer
said. They help control flooding,
could make the Bryan- College
Station area more attractive to
employers, and offer transporta-
tion alternatives. Greenways
also could help preserve disap-
pearing habitat and help
cleanse rain and flood water as
it courses through the city.
Perhaps their greatest benefit,
he said, would be the enhance-
ment of recreational opportuni-
ties. The 1998 Texas A &M Uni-
versity Survey, for example,
revealed that, when planning
outdoor activities, 35 percent of
Texans think closer to home. As
a result, the top three recre-
ational facilities for many Tex-
ans surveyed are bicycle trails,
walking /jogging trails and
nature trails.
Wednesday's tour was
arranged as an informational
and educational event for mem-
bers of the task force, which
first met in June and is charged
with developing a plan for
potential greenways to recom-
mend to the City Council for a
bond issue. The task force is
separate from the Brazos Green -
ways Council.
"We're trying to get everyone
on the same page so we can get
a handle on a starting point,"
Shafer said.
The task force will consider
issues that go to the heart of
planning the future of a growing
community —how much green
space and floodplain to buy and
at what cost?
Development that encroaches
on floodplains can cause expen-
sive flooding problems, as sever-
al proposed drainage projects
have revealed. The Bee Creek
channelization project, for
example, is estimated to cost
$2.2 million to correct flooding
problems along Bee Creek from
Texas Avenue to Southwest
Parkway and Bee Creek Tribu-
tary B from Bee Creek to F.M.
2818. Eighteen homes along
Tributary B have suffered flood
damage in the past, and about
300 College Station homes have
been built in floodplains,
according to College Station
assistant city engineer Veronica
Morgan.
"It's better to purchase green-
belts and never have to do chan-
nel improvements, rather than
have to come back and spend $2
million on improvements to
move flood water," Public
Works director Mark Smith
said.
During one moment when
members of the group were
standing in the sun, Greenways
Council member Christian
Turner reminded them that
greenways would be a cool oasis
in the midst of high tempera-
tures and drought.
"They're about 10 to 15
degrees cooler than concrete,"
he said.
0
Date: <I t h A 30, 1
N w parking rules
in effect Aug. 13' "
N w parking regulations cover-
ing College Station's Southside
area will go into effect Aug. 13 fol-
lowi g anticipated approval of an
ordi iance by the city council, a city
memorandum states.
T e changes are as follows:
On- street parking will be pro -
hibi ed on the north side of George
Bush Drive between Timber Street
and Texas Avenue. A one -way bike
lan will be installed.
A two -hour weekday parking
limi will take effect on Fairview
Ave iue and Montclair Street
between George Bush Drive and
Ker y Street. The limit will be in
eff ct from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon-
day through Friday.
"No parking from here to cor-
ner signs will be installed on
Fairview Avenue to help reduce
sight-distance problems caused by
parked cars.
V hicles in violation of the regu-
lations may be tibketed and
removed at owners' expense,
acc rding to a city memorandum.
F r more information. call the
Col ege Station Community
En ancement Action Center at
. 4
Report.* Bell selects Amarillo
Local leaders say they're waiting for official notification
By COLLEEN KAVANAGH
and GENEVA WHITMARSH
Eagle Staff Writers
Local officials, responding to a report
saying that Amarillo has been selected for
a new Bell Helicopter Textron facility, said
Saturday they will wait for Bell officials to
officially announce the site for its new
$46.8 million tilt -rotor aircraft production
center.
The Fort Worth Star - Telegram, citing
unnamed sources, reported Saturday that
Bell officials will announce as early as
Monday that they have chosen to develop
about 120 acres a Amarillo International
Airport for the fa ' Llity.
Bell officials ha a said the company will
make a capital in estment of $46.8 million
for the plant and meate 1,100 jobs in five
Years, with an an ual payroll of $23.7 mil-
lion.
Bids by eight c' ies in Texas were sub-
mitted for the fact ity — the Bryan- College
Station area, For Worth, Amarillo, San
Antonio, Arlingto Dallas and Houston.
Texas A&M Univ rsity's Riverside Carn-
pus was the local site considered for the
facility in a propo. al submitted April 20 by
local economic 1 rs.
Bell
Robert Worley, president and CEO of the
Bryan- College Station Economic Develop-
ment Corporation, said Saturday he would
not comment on the report until he hears
directly from Bell.
"Basically, it's just an AP story quoting
a newspaper, and that's not good enough
for me," he said
Louis Newman, chairman-elect of the
EDC board of directors, said local officials
are supposed to find out more about the
report and Bell's decision Monday morn-
ing.
"We'd heard before that Amarillo was a
front- runner," he said, "but we don't offi-
cially know anything. We do expect to
know more about it Monday."
Mervin Peters, a member of the EDC
Ward, said he also is waiting to hear from
Bell. He said he has heard rumors in the
past two weeks about other contenders
receiving the bid, but each rumor was
unfounded.
"There was a story in the news a couple
weeks ago that said Bell was going to Fort
Worth," Peters said. "We contacted Bell
and they said they hadn't made a decision,
but might know something the last week of
Please see BELL, Page A3
News
July. We haven't beard anything
yet but they've given us dates
before that had tinned out to be
overly optimistic."
Bell builds the tilt -rotor air-
craft with a V -22 tary version
and a smaller Be Boeing bog
commercial model The facility
would be the assem ly site for the
V -22 Osprey tilt -r for aircraft,
which has rotors on its wings
that allows it to b ke off like a
helicopter. The does not
need a long runway d, once air-
borne, the wings rotate from
upward to forward, allowing the
aircraft to fly like ar airplane and
much faster than th typical heli-
copter.
Bell officials have said the pro-
gram eventually ould account
for half of its sales.
So far, the ' e Corps has
ordered 473 V -22s and the Air
Force has ordered 50 at $30 mil-
lion each. Bell also has orders for
at least 65 of the commercial 609
version.
"I have been told that they had
made a decision and that they
would announce it Monday,"
Amarillo City Manager John Q.
Ward told the newspaper. Ward
said he had not been notified of a
specific site selection.
Pat Svacina, a spokesman for
the city of Fort Worth, on Satur-
day told the Associated Press he
was not aware that Bell had given
the city a final decision.
Bell spokesman Bob Leder
would not comment about the
company's decision, but indicat-
ed that an announcement is
imminent.
"We're at a particular point
and can't discuss any aspect," he
told the newspaper.
The technology center will b
the assembly site for the Osprey,
but workers at Bell's Fort Worth
Plant will make many of the com-
ponents, the newspaper reported.
Transmissions will continue to
be made at the company's Grand
Prairie facility.
Bell plans to develop about 120
acres at the Amarillo Interna-
tional Airport, the Star - Telegram
quoted one source as saying. The
seven - building complex will take
Up 40 acres on the site, leaving
room for Bell to grow, the news-
paper reported.
Bell runs most of its operation
from the Dallas -Fort Worth area,
employing about 6,100 people in
Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand
Prairie and Hurst That's the pri.
mary reason why Bell planned to
locate the new plant in Texas, the
Associated Press reported earlier
this year.
Amarillo had a Bell helicopter
repair and assembly center for 21
Years until the site closed in 1989.
The plant employed 1,80o people
at its peak and was used during
the Vietnam War to repair heli-
copters damaged in battle.
Amarillo City Councilman
Robert E. Keys said Bell's return
would be welcomed.
"Bell has experience here from
years ago and the citizens of
Amarillo hated to see them
leave," he told the Star - Telegram.
■ The Associated Press contributed
to this story.
Munson debate
T here are very few issues in recent months that have
stirT d as much controversy in College Station — and in
Brys i, for that matter — as the potential closing of
Munson Avenue. There has been a spirited public debate by
residents of the affected neighborhoods, people who live in
other areas who see the College Hills area getting undue
attention, ind folks from Bryan who in the past have made
Munson A renue a shortcut to Post Oak Mall and other busi-
nesses along Harvey Road.
Since th re is so much public interest, why is the special
committee appointed to come up with a solution agreeable to
as many ple as possible meeting behind closed doors? And
why is the city manager making that decision? Wouldn't the
very natuiv of the committee's inquiries preclude secret
meetings?
Munson kvenue is a conundrum for the city. Designed to
handle no more than 1,000 vehicles a day, the narrow, wind-
ing road soon saw more than 7,000 vehicles a day when it was
opened at Lincoln Avenue. Residents complained to the
College Sta 'on City Council about a decline in the quality of
® their lives 4 nd a potential reduction in property values.
In an effo t to alleviate much of the traffic, the city has tried
making Mi nson Avenue one way; installed speed bumps,
lower speed limits and numerous stop signs; and, most recent-
ly, blocked off Munson Avenue and the nearby Ashburn
Avenue. Al. of those temporary efforts have failed to meet
with approval from many people. Now the city is seeking a
permanent and hopefully popular — solution that address-
es the needs of everyone.
To that er d, City Manager Skip Noe appointed a 28 -member
Munson is Committee to devise a solution to the Munson
Avenue pro lem. The committee will make recommendations
to the City uncil, which can adopt or reject the committee's
suggestions
When the Dommittee met for the first time on Thursday, an
overview of the problem was given. Then, Noe announced
that the cory nittee would hold its deliberations behind closed
doors. Unde state open meetings laws, neither Noe nor any
other city o cial has the authority to close the meetings to
the public. my the committee itself can decide to close the
doors.
According Lo members of the committee, no discussion was
held on keep ng the meetings open, although one member did
ask about th law. Noe correctly said that, since the commit-
tee does not have any rule- making authority, the meeting
could be clo . But, beyond making the inquiry, committee
members apI arently never addressed the issue of keeping the
meeting ope .
Why not? I 1hy didn't Noe suggest to the committee that it
open its door to the public — a public that will be affected by
whatever mmendation is made and adopted by the City
Council? On the issue gets to the council again, the discus-
sions will hal a to be held in the open.
We believe that, with very few exceptions enumerated in
state law, the public's business should be conducted in public.
Public discussion ceases to be discussion when the public is
excluded.
We have been assured the committee plans to revisit the
issue of keeping meetings open when it meets again Aug. 11.
We hope the rest of the committee agrees that this is too
important an issue to be decided without public input and
without publi scrutiny.
Include public in
WATER CONSERVATION
College Station Thanks You!
The College Suition Public Utilities Department would like to thank the
residents and businesses of College Station for their water conservation
efforts on Monday, July 27th and Tuesday, July 28th. Through their
efforts, the City of College Station was able assist the City of Bryan in
providing wate to its customers.
We would especially like to thank the following businesses, who in
response to req jests from utility personnel, responded quickly to by lim-
iting or eliminating their irrigation usage allowing the City of College
Station to assis
our friends and peighbors.
Barnes & Noble
h
3ookstore Oakwood Apts.
Willowick Apts.
University Commons
Viking Apts.
The Arbors of Wolf Pen Creek
Sausalito Apts.
The Villas at Rock Prairie
Arbor Square Ap
Is. Jefferson Ridge Apts.
University Towei
Woodstock Condominiums
Treehouse Apts.
Woodbrook Condominiums
Treehouse II Apt;.
Plantation Oaks Apts.
College Park Tre
house Briarwood Apts.
Oak Forest Mobile
Home Park Koppe Corporation
Court Yard Apts.
The Hilton
Sevilla Apts.
College Station Independent School District
Huntington Apts
College Station Medical Center
Parkway Circle Apts.
Doux Cherie Apts.
Scott & White H
alth Clinic Texas A &M State Headquarters
Eastmark Apts.
The Enclave Apts.
Cinemark Theatt
rs Melrose Apts.
College Station Parks
Department Sterling University, Village
Once again we I want to thank everyone for their cooperation, we
couldn't have done it without you.
N
S1
• On- street parking on the north side of
George Bush Drive between Timber and
Texas Avenues will be removed for in-
stallation of a one -way bike lane. No
parking will be permitted in this area.
• A two -hour parking limit will be in
effect Monday through Friday on
Fairview Avenue and Montclair
Street between George Bush Drive
and Kerry Street.
• "No parking from here to corner"
signs will be installed on Fairview Av-
enue to help reduce sight- distance
problems created by parked vehicles.
New regulations governing
parking in the Southside area will
go into effect Aug. 13, following
anticipated approval of an ordi-
nance by College Station City
Council:
A,
No criminal charges will be filed
against College Station City Councilman
Swiki Anderson after a Brazos County
grand jury Wednesday decided he did not
use his public position for his own finan-
cial gain.
Brazos County District Attorney Bill
Turner said his office was notified that
clears councilman
there was a
ential
Grand
terest
By BOB SCHOBER Q1
con-
Eagle Stgff Writer
busi-
No criminal charges will be filed
against College Station City Councilman
Swiki Anderson after a Brazos County
grand jury Wednesday decided he did not
use his public position for his own finan-
cial gain.
Brazos County District Attorney Bill
Turner said his office was notified that
clears councilman
there was a
ential
conflict of
terest
involving Andn
con-
cerning his pr
busi-
ness and city acts.
Id
"With the hof
the
l
grand jury
our
investigators,
allega-
tions were rrched
and presentedurner
ANDERSON
said. "CouncilAnderson
was no-bffied
today and we agree with that decision."
At issue was whether a government
decision -maker voted on a project and
then benefitted financially. The grand jury
investigation found no such evidence.
Both Turner and Assistant District
Attorney Ed Spillane declined further
comment, citing the secrecy of the grand
jury process that is mandated by law.
In a statement, Anderson said the no-bill
was not surprising "considering there was
CO nCi'
"I reset having to deal with
problems of of my making that
are direct d at the promotion of
someone lse's political agenda,"
he said.
Anderson's attorney, Kyle
Davis, insisted that the probe was
a "cloak" to hide a political agen-
da.
"In this case, I believe the
grand jury was misused with the
intent of getting Swiki off the
council," he said. "But we don't
know who [was behind it]."
When asked whether the City
never any basis for the charges brought
against me."
"The grand jury and the district attor-
ney's office have acted and I accept their
actions and I hope everybody else will,
too," he said.
Anderson expressed anger at what he
called "needless anguish, pain and harm to
me and my friends."
Please see COMM, Page A3
Council will launch its own
investigation of possible viola.
tions of the City Charter, Mayor
Lynn McIlhaney refused to spec-
ulate.
"Until we have the opportunity
to meet as a council, its prema-
ture to say we're going to do any-
thing," she said.
Anderson, in an interview
Wednesday night, insisted that
the grand jury's decision should
lay the issue to rest.
"I have been investigated very
thoroughly. I've been no- billed,"
he said. "Does that not that speak
to something? Is the City Council
going to convene now and inves-
tigate me again for the same
thing? I've already been no-
billed."
C
[ - oi l
Keep the doors open
M y grateful thanks for the
editorial acknowledgement
of how College Station citi-
zens are being treated behind
closed doors.
The Munson Avenue issue is
only one of many issues that the
taxpayers of College Station are not
allowed to know about or express
our concerns about.
Also the Munson Avenue com-
mittee — all 28 members — were
v told not to even express to anyone
what was said at closed meeting.
This is violation of fair freedom
of speech and our right to know.
HELEN PUGH
College Station
C•:
,7
10
Our basic
rights
street making a straight shot
between Lincoln Avenue /Uni-
ast mo
ith, The Bryan- College
versity Drive and Dominik Drive/
Statior,
culatio
Eagle quoted the cir-
i of a to halt
Harvey Road. Former Mayor Gary
Nalter
petition
'
admitted this and asked the
the trial clo
g of Munson Avenu�
current council to try to correct the
at Dominik
rive as saying, "Why
rror.
people on M
son think they have
The unintended consequence of
a right to stc
p it is beyond me."
those city mistakes was to put loo
Perhaps &
is will help: "No per-
percent of the normal maximum
son shall ...
a deprived of life, lib-
traffic for a small residential street
erty, or prop
rty, without due
on Munson Avenue, thereby strip -
process of la
; nor shall private
ping the homeowners of their right
property be taken
for public use
to use and enjoy their property. No
without just
ompensation." A-
compensation ever was made to
mendment V
Constitution of the
them for the public use and taking
United States.
of their property rights.
Munson Avenue
was built as a
The city owes it to them to get
small resider
tial street, and most
the Munson Avenue traffic down at
of the proper
owners there
least below 1,000 cars per day. It
bought their
iomes in that situa-
would not matter if all 7,000 drivers
tion. During
he past two decades, a
who used to flood through Munson
series of blur
ers by the City
Avenue each day signed a petition.
Council, city
lanners and engi-
The homeowners' legal and moral
neers, ands
rt- sighted developers
rights override any desire for con -
connected n
row little Munson
venience that the drivers or peti-
Avenue tomach
larger arteries.
tioners may have.
The city allowed
the rest of the
RODGER LEWIS
area to be deN
eloped with no other,
College Station
10
1440.
CS council
to discuss
allegations
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
College Station City Councilm Swiki. Ander-
son requested Thursday that allegations he vio-
lated provisions of the City Charter be aired dur-
ing the next City Council meeting Aug. 13 or dur-
ing a "specially called open meeting" before Aug.
15.
Anderson was informed Wednesday that a Bra -
zos County grand jury had no-billed him after
investigating allegations that Anderson voted on
a city project that he already had a private inter-
est in.
"I request that this matter — c vening, inves-
tigation and prosecution of me — be placed ... as
the first item to be considered d ing the regular
session," he said in a prepared statement.
He also called for the Mayor's Committee on
Standards of Conduct to "hold their inquest and
prosecute me for all provable wr gdoings that I
am alleged to have committed
against the city and the City
Charter. "
" I hope that by that time I
will have had an opportunity to
visit with the district attorney
and that I can perhaps share
some of the evidence that the
grand jury had developed,"
Anderson said. NDERSON
Mayor Lynn McIlhaney said
a special meeting would be call d because the
council's, regular meeting agenda was full. She
said she had directed City Secretary Connie
Hooks to poll the council membe for a date and
time— possibly at noon on Wednesday — that
most, if not all, members could attend. The spe-
cial meeting must be announced publicly 72
hours beforehand, she said.
Anderson asks council
to
By BOB SI
Eagle Staff
City Cour
son urged
Friday to
grand jury
Anderson.
his innocence
[OBER !`�
Titer (.L J
for College Station
ilman Swiki Ander-
the City Council on
;cept a Brazos County
no -bill judgment of
Anderso was informed
Wednesday of the decision of the
grand jury, which was investigat-
ing allegations that Anderson
voted on a city project in which
he had a private interest.
During a press conference held
Anders6n
From _ Al
the City Council.
"We want the council to respect
the decision of the grand ury and
go on governing this gre it city,"
Davis said.
The council will hold special
meeting at noon Wednesday in
the council chambers for `discus-
sion and possible action" regard-
ing possible violations of Section
131 of the City Charter. Section
131 prohibits any member, of the
City Council or officer or employ-
ee of the city from having a direct
or indirect financial interest in
any corporation that ha a con-
tract with the city. City officers
are exempted, however, if they
own one percent or less o the cor-
poration's stock.
College Station
Councilman
Swikl Anderson,
speaking Friday
at City Hall,
urged the coun-
cil to accept
that he did
nothing wrong.
in the City Council chambers,
Anderson's attorney Kyle Davis
said Anderson no longer was
requesting an investigation by
See ANDERSON, Page A6
It also prohibits those individu-
als from having any financial
interest in the sale to the city of
land, materials, supplies or ser-
vices except on behalf of the city
as an officer or employee.
Individuals violating the sec-
tion can be fined and charged
with a misdemeanor "and shall
forthwith be removed from
office," the charter reads.
Anderson told about 3o of his
supporters and friends Friday
that he accepted the action of the
district attorney and the grand
jury and hoped "everyone else
will, too."
"Obviously, the grand jury saw
the truth that there was no
wrongdoing on my part and acted
accordingly," he said.
Councilman Steve Esmond,
who also appeared at the press
conference, said he will ask the
council to pay Anderson's legal
bills, which Anderson estimated
at about $5,000.
Davis said the council could do
that "if it wanted to, but there's
no obligation."
N
Remem
school's location on a one -way
r the schoo
`
treet and its status as the site of
I applauded
lower speed
a speed bumps,
limit, and resultant
College Station's summer camp
only compound the problem.
drop in traf
ic on Munson
I suppose one solution would be
Avenue. After
, every neighbor-
to move the school, then block
hood deserves E
afe traffic flow (I
Munson Avenue permanently with
wouldn't mind
speed bump or
gates, barbed wire and watchtow-
two on MY stre
t). But actually
ers to keep out undesirables (i.e.
closing Munsor
Avenue is both
non - residents).
inconsiderate and
irresponsible
But until this happens, City
because smack
dab in the middle of
Council members should stop lis-
College Hills is
an entity which, by
tening to a small secessionary spe-
its very nature,
generates a need
cial interest group and keep
for access.
College Hills part of the greater
College Hills
lementary School
College Station community. If not,
serves an area i
nuch larger than
they may be listening to a much
the immediate
ocal neighborhood,
greater population of quietly irate
and the Munsoi
i Avenue route is
voters with school -age children
by far the easiest
way to the school
come next election time.
from areas such
as Carter's Grove,
JANET KRUEGER
Windwood and
aintree. The
College Station
C
N every three seconds.
Normal neighborhood
DANIELLE FIFER
I live or Munson Avenue. During College Station
this tr al closure I have been
able tc experience life in a nor-
mal neighborhood and it has been
I can d things now which were
virtually impossible the past two
years: cross the street, get in or out
of my driveway, take a nap, sleep
through the weekend night, etc. No
one wants 3,500 cars a day driving
down his I street. Not me, you, or the
people co plaining of the closure.
Why shoiad one street take the
entire b den?
It's not fair to expect other people
to live a Way of life that you your-
self wouldn't. I see and read about
the people who are upset because
they are going five minutes out of
their way. Are they serious? Why
have we spent so much money on
Texas Avenue?
I am co cerned not for the street
I live on but for the neighborhood
as a whole. The College Hills area
is in serious trouble. What do you
think will happen when the hotels
are completed on University Drive?
This area', is going downhill and
will continue a rapid decline over
the next 0 years unless something
is done f r every street, starting
with Munson and Ashburn
avenues.
At Yal University, nothing was
done to s ve the neighborhoods
located near campus and they are
now con dered ghettos. You will
force the homeowners out. If the
traffic is not sufficiently addressed
I will jusl sell my house. I don't
want to, but I cannot start a family
where it is not even safe to cross
the street.
I don't think this would be an
issue if everyone would just step
back and honestly ask if he or she
would w t to live on a street
where th re is a car driving by
h ate property trial o Nort p g ens
from the Neals in 1995 for ;102,000
but not before the Neals put up a
fight, including protesting the
"taking" at a hearing before a spe-
cial commission. They finally
struck a deal with the city.
Shank argued that the Neals
had the opportunity to appeal
their case but chose not to.
"What Mr. Neal told them was
that if he didn't get what he want-
ed, he'd appeal," Shank said. "But
he took the money."
What the Neals did not know
when they sold their property,
By KELLY BROWN
Eagle Stgff Writer
Testimony began Monday in a
civil trial in which a couple accus-
es the city of College Station of
committing fraud when it bought
their Northgate property and
tried to sell it to a private busi-
ness.
Elmo Neal testified that city
officials repeatedly told both him
and his wife, Marvelyn, that the
land would be used for public
parking.
The Neals later learned that the
city hoped to sell the prime prop-
Business wners say city deceived them
erty at 317 -319 Patricia St. to a
restaurant chain.
Three years after the land deal
closed, the case has made its way
to the courtroom. Jui ors are
receiving a civics lesson not only
on how a city acquires roperty
but also on what rights citizen
has in that process.
Daniel F. Shank, a Houston
attorney representing College
Station, told jurors on the fast
day of the trial Monday that the
Neals were never mislef by city
officials.
Shank said the Neals failed to
read documents mentioning the
property might be used for some-
thing other than parking. He said
city officials told the Neals the
property also could be used for
economic development purposes.
"Urban renewal is always a
public purpose," Shank said.
But the Neals maintain no city
official ever mentioned any possi-
bility other than parking for the
land, according to A.W. Davis,
one of the two attorneys repre-
senting the Neals.
"That's their vice — they didn't
speak the truth," Davis said, cit-
ing that the city intended on
using the property for private
use, not public use.
The Neals, who purchased the
property for about $53,000, rented
the property for several years to
businesses at almost half of the
average cost for the Northgate
The city bought the property
Trial
according to Davis, was that the
city had been notified sic months
earlier that a company called
Texadelphia had inquired about
the property and sought the city's
help to acquire it.
The restaurant cha' wanted
the property at the southwest cor-
ner of College Main and Patricia
streets and the city knew it, Davis
said.
The lawsuit names not just the
city, but also Jim Callaway, an
economic development official
with the city, and Cathy Locke,
who was the city attorney when
the land deal was made.
Locke's attorney, Jim Locke,
told jurors that the role of a city
attorney is not to be a policy
maker, but to be a hired hand.
"The attorneys are told what to
do by the client," Locke said.
"Me city says try to buy this land
and if you can't buy it condemn
it.
"It's never part of a lawyer's
job to he to someone else."
Locke said Cathy Locke did her
job and the evidence will show
that.
"We're not going to talk to you
about whether the city was right
or fair, or about the Neals," he
said. "Our part just concerns her
role in this matter."
Neal is expected to continue
to stifying at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in
the 361st District Courtroom on
the third floor of the Brazos
County Courthouse, 300 E. 26th
St.
Please see TRIAL, Page A2
•
� Bell
Owl
From Al r —�
taxable bonds to construct their
facilities. Bell is obligated to pay
debt service on those bonds 100
percent except we will give them
a credit of $2,500 per job that they
create.
It's a formula based on the fact
if [1,475] jobs are created . in
essence, they have those facilities
free of cost. If they fail to perform
for some reason, the program
doesn't allow for them to hire on
the way up, then they will have to
pay debt service on the short
fall."
Incentives offered to Bell by the
Amarillo Economic Development
Corp. include:
■ Bond financing for up to $40
million in facilities construction
which is expected to be complete-
ly without cost to Bell in
exchange for 1,475 jobs created by
Bell in Amarillo. Those jobs must
be maintained for the duration of
the financing.
■ Up to $1 million in employee
relocation and training costs for
new Bell employees in Amarillo.
■ The city of Amarillo, Potter
County and Amarillo College
offers of tax abatements for build-
ings and equipment at 100 percent
for 10 years.
■ An initial site of 86 acres and
120 acres of future expansion
area.
The proposal made by the
Bryan- College Station Economic
Development Corp. included:
■ A manufacturing facility that
would have been financed, built
and owned by the Brazos Valley
Council of Governments (any or
all depending on the wishes of
Bell.)
Not
By BLAIR
Eagle Staff
The city o
$40 million
exchange foi
deal struck
to become tl
a V -22 Ospre
ing facility.
According
proposal to
craft comlx
receive tax
buildings a
at 100 percei
and up to
employee
expenses. A
lion was thr
a comprehe
alliance, the
cates.
Amarillo,
out six othe
College Stat .
last week a
aircraft ma
enter into a
University 1
technology
research in
ting tax breaks, that's how much
put up to lure aircraft facility
Amarillo will finance up to
in facility construction in
1,400 new jobs, as part of a
, ith Bell Helicopter Textron
new site for
manufactur-
Amarillo's
ell, the air-
y will also
►tements for
equipment
for 10 years
million in
relocation
ther $1 mil-
, n in to fund
ive training
,-000sal indi-
< t If yo
think .. [
incentiv
importan
poration
ask Be ll
cop
— GARY
Ch.&—v% Mark
which beat
cities including the BryanBryan-
)n area, was chosen by Bell
the site of its new tilt -rotor
ufacturing plant. Bell did
artnership with Texas A &M
train workers in tilt -rotor
and conduct academic
-ie field.
Bell is producing its V -22 Osprey for
fleet service to the military. The company
said it plans to deliver 458 Ospreys to the
federal government. The military plans
to use the V -22, which sells for about $30
million each, to shuttle troops from ship
to ship in amphibious operations for
search and rescue and for
medical evacuations. Bell
u don't will also make a civilian
version.
economic Amarillo economic offi-
es] are cials say they do not view
the deal with Bell a give
t to cor- away because of the eco-
S, just go nomic benefits it will
bring to the community.
H eli- However, it is clear the
ter city benefited from its half -
LAWRENCE cent sales tax dedicated to
economic development.
Lubbock Inc That sales tax will be used
to flmd the initial $40 mil-
lion in up -front construction costs for
Bell.
'We're not giving away the city, if you
will," said Bob Bass, who is with the
Amarillo Economic Development Corp.
and served as the Bell project officer.
"We've committed up to $32 million in
Please see BELL, Page A2
■ The manufacturing facility to
be leased to Bell for 25 years and
then deeded at no cost to Bell.
■ The land would be leased by
A &M to the Brazos Valley Coun-
cil of Governments at low or no
cost for the initial 25 years, then
renegotiated with Texas A &M
University by Bell.
Although the Bryan- College
Station area wasn't chosen by
Bell, econonoc leaders think it
will only lead to future success.
"Was it good for Bryan and �ol-
lege Station to be invo;vbd?
Absolutely," said Louis Newinan,
chairman -elect of the Bryan-Col-
lege Station Economic Develop-
ment Corp.
"As we increase the caliber of
People considering the area, we
have opportunities to network
with the ever - increasing spiral of
companies in the position to
make a big impact to Bryan-Col-
lege Station. Certainly Bell would
be in that category.
"I continue to congratulate
A&M, Bell, and Amarillo.
Bass said Amarillo "presented
them the best economic pack-
age.
"It was a package that provided
them with some opportunities not
afforded in some of the other
cities that don't have the sales tax
revenue to provide the up -front
costs."
Amarillo's incentive package
caught the eyes of several com-
peting cities who weren't in the
position to make such a lucrative
offer. Gary Lawrence, chairman
of Market Lubbock Inc. told the
Amarillo Globe -News, "If you
don't think ... [economic incen-
tives] are important to corpora-
tions, just go ask Bell Helicopter."
Bell's toll: $42 million
.7
r�
Enough is enough 4V
� t seems that the College Station
mayor and City Council majori-
ty is willing to spend tax money
anI waste time in a purely political
move to investigate Swiki
Anderson, despite a grand jury
decision to "no bill" Anderson on
violations that do (and did) not
exist. Apparently, city hall would
like to get rid of Anderson, who is
in a vocal minority, and hopes to
use these non - existent charges dur-
ing the pre - election period.
The council vote to investigate is
unnecessary and groundless. If
Anderson was thought to be uneth-
ical, the City Council should have
complained first to the Board of
Professional Engineers. The action
of the grand jury is sufficient evi-
dence that no further investigation
is necessary.
City Council action smacks of
unclear politics and taxpayers havE
had enough of that of late.
STAN H. LOWY
College Station
1 day Northgate aria nters it e
Former city attorney dismissed from civil lawsuit after testimony
KELLY BROWN
Ea gle Staff Writer \x V
A College Station o icial testified Tues-
day that he knew a company was interest-
ed in buying a prime piece of Northgate
property that the city later bought
through the condemnation process and
then tried to sell to a business.
The Bryan couple who owned that prop-
erty charge that such knowledge trans-
lates into fraud, and that's one of the rea-
sons they have taken the city and that eco-
nomic develop me t official to court.
Former City At orney Cathy Locke, who
was called by the couple's lawyer to testi-
fy Tuesday, also I ad been named in a civil
lawsuit, but was removed fl-om the suit
after her testimoi Ly.
W. Steven Stee e, an attorney for Elmo
and Marvelyn , told District Judge
Carolyn Ruffin that, after hearing
Locke's testimon , they didn't believe she
knew of the city's plans to try and sell the
Neal's property to another business,
rather than turn t into parking.
C*
From A 1
c
discussion with the Neals during
that heari
g.
But C
w ay never listed each
of the poss
ble economic develop-
ment p
ses.
Did yo
ever mention Tex -
adelphia
uring any proceed.
mg ' ask
Steele, referring to
an Austin
estaurant chain that
notified th
city prior to a deal
being mad
with the Neals that
it wanted
purchase the prop.
Callaway said he knew Tex -
adelphia w interested in North -
gate props but never men-
tioned to the Neals the potential
of any Private business buying
the land on the city owned it.
"Mrs. N even expressed con-
fusion over what municipal use
the props would be taken for,
but you nev r mentioned the pos-
sibility of selling it ?" asked
Steele, to which Callaway
replied, "No."
One mont i after the city made
the deal witi the Neals, Texadel-
phia offered College Station
$230,000 for both what was the
Neals' Property and the adjoin-
ing piece land, formerly the
Kinko's building.
Combine the Neals' $102,000
land deal w4h what Kinko's was
sold for, $127,000, and it adds uD
The Neals both testified that city offi-
cials. informed them in 1995 that their
property at the southwest corner of Col-
lege Main and Patricia streets was needed
for parking in the popular Northgate area.
The Neals didn't like the idea and want-
ed to continue renting the property out to
a restaurant owner as an investment but,
after a hearing on the matter and further
discussion with the city, the Neals opted
to take an offer of $102,000, which is
almost twice what they paid for the prop-
erty several years earlier. ,
adelphia.
Upon learning of the Texadel-
phia deal, the Neals sought legal
action against the city.
Daniel F. Shank, a Houston
attorney representing College
Station, told jurors Monday that
the Neals never were misled by
city officials and that the Neals
failed to read documents men-
tioning that the property might
be used for something other than
parking.
Under questioning by Shank,
who reminded Neal that he could
have retained a lawyer during
the condemnation proceeding
with the city, Elmo Neal, 69, tes-
tified that he had been told the
plans for his property could
change.
"But they never said it could
sell," Neal said, adding that he
believed it would always be used
for a public purpose rather than
a private venture.
"They told me it was for park-
ing and that could change. They
didn't say it could be sold to a pri-
vate enterprise."
Shank pointed out that Neal
could have appealed the land
condemnation, but never did.
Neal said he didn't know about
Texadelphia until after the deal
was made.
Testimony resumes of 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday with Callaway on the
witness stand in District Judge
Carolyn Ruffino's 361st District
Courtroom on the third floor of
the Brazos Cniinto
What was said — and what wasn't said
— at that hearing was at issue during
Tuesday's testimony when Jim Callaway,
the economic development official named
in the lawsuit, said he told the Neals that
their property might be developed for
other public uses than parking.
Callaway said the fact the property
could be used for economic development
reasons was stipulated not just in docu-
ments signed by the Neals, but also in his
Please see C5, Page A2
Munson
meetings
Yvon't open
s vote to keep
closed to public
Ee
B3 BOB SCHOBER
!eStgffWriter /i\\
anon Traffic Committee members voted Tues-
da 7 night to keep their workshop sessions closed to
tho public.
his of allowing media (( We felt
re resentatives and resi-
de is to observe the delib- discussion
er tions, the committee would be more
d ided that a s pokes r-
so will provide informs- open without
do i "bullets" at the close of the media
ea h future meeting.
r the meeting, sever- present.
al committee members _GARY HALTER
ar ed that public scrutiny
of the discussions would Former CS mayor
ch U open debate.
' We felt discussion would be more open without
th media present," former College Station Mayor
G Halter said.
yla Glover, who launched a petition drive in
JU te opposing the trial closing of Munson Avenue
at ominik Drive, said the size of the committee
its If would intimidate some members from speak-
inj
know I would, that's why I supported the meet-
ini being closed," she said.
e 28 -member Munson Traffic Committee met
for the second time Tuesday. Created at the request
of he College Station City Council, the committee
the goal of achieving consensus on a permanent
sot ti on to the traffic problems plaguing Munson
Av nue and other streets in the College Hills area.
The members were picked to represent all the
ar within the College Hills neighborhood,
a rVabout to city staff.
y's meeting opened with updates from city
s future developmepts on the drawing
board that will affect traffic flows throughout Col-
lege Hills.
Development coordinator Shirley Volk pointed
out that the University Drive corridor and the
Please see MUNSON, Page AS
*ft.
a
which runs along Holleman achieving the goal of consensus.
Mun Drive from Texas Avenue to Among the principles are safety
Texas 6. for children, neighborhood
��.... at, .. ,...........;++..., :..,,�+ ire +n in +norii (-hn lcina }IPtWPP11 com-
From Al
closed session, the discussion
peting values and reduction of
turned to discussing and setting
traffic.
Holleman Drive /Wolf Pen Creek
ground rules for individual and
The committee ended with a
corridors will see the most com-
committee behavior, members
debate about the trial closure of
mercial development in the
said after the meeting. Members
Munson Avenue at Dominik
future.
agreed that each individual is
Drive. Glover said the committee
Two hotels and possibly a strip
responsible to create "a positive
couldn't decide whether to rec-
mall are planned for near the
committee environment" and not
ommend that the barricades be
University Drive and Lincoln
to "personalize comments made
taken down.
Avenue intersection.
during discussions with the
"They're still there," she said.
The City Council, she said, will
media or the public."
The committee will hold its
consider a request to prohibit
The committee also set some
next meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at
more residential development in
guiding principles that will help
the College Station Conference
the Wolf pen Creek corridor,
navigate the discussions toward
Center.
•
CS council to get budget p rop osa l
By BOB SCHOBER \\ / The council approved eliminating on-
Eagle Staff Writer � 1/, Parking regulations also on agenda street parking along the north side of
George Bush Drive between Texas Avenue
The College Station City Council on before Sept. 27. Research Institute. and Timber Street; implementing two -
Thursday will receive the proposed 1998-99 The council may have to call and The survey rated satisfaction with city hour, on- street parking along Fairview
budget from city staff and set a date for a hold a public iearing on the ad valorem services through interviews with more and Montclair avenues from George Bush
public hearing and adoption. tax rate, accorling to city staff. City staff than 500 residents. The results will be used Drive to Kerry Street; and installing "No
No details of the budget were released as will present th( council with a calendar for to measure the success of city programs, Parking From Here To Corner" signs on
Of Tuesday. adopting the t udget, and ad valorem tax according to city staff. Fairview Avenue.
State law requires that the budget be rate, with Aug. 27 tentatively set for the The council also will consider adopting The other ordinance the council will
presented no later than 30 days prior to the budget public I iearing. ordinances for parking restrictions. consider would allow the city to charge
end of the fiscal year, which is Sept. 30. The council will receive the results The parking regulation ordinance incor- fees for parking in the Northgate Prome-
According to the City Charter, the council of a citizens' s ey conducted for the city porates three items the council approved
must take action on the budget on or by the Texas A &M University Policy July 23 for the Southside neighborhood. Please see COUNCIL, Page A16
Counci
From A9
nade parking lot.
The ordinance will set fees at $1
per hour, $4 per day, from 7 a.m.
to 2 p.m. and up to $10 per day for
special events. The fee schedule
will apply from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday through Saturday and
from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
The ordinance also will allow
for parking enforcement.
In other business, the council
will consider:
■ A contract between the cities
of College Station, Bryan and
Huntsville to allow the latter city
dump its solid waste in the
ea landfill.
The Bryan City Council
)proved this contract at its last
meeting.
■ A contract between the city
d the Bryan- College Station
conomic Development Corp, for
e city to contribute $50,000 a
ear for three years to a match -
i g-incentives program that
licits financial support from
e private sector to attract devel-
pment to the area.
■ A resolution to the state
questing that portions of
outhwest Parkway and Raintree
Drive be removed from the state
ighway system and placed
der the jurisdiction and main -
t trance of the city.
If the state grants the request,
city workers will construct a
gateway to the Raintree subdivi-
sion made up of a raised median,
brick pavers and a low - profile
sign. The city's share of the gate-
way project's cost would be
$7,500. The state's grant would
add about 600 feet of roadway to
the city's street inventory.
■ A rezoning request for about
11.46 acres located 1/2 mile south
of Greens Prairie Road and west
of the Texas 6 service road. The
request is to rezone the parcel
from agricultural/open to C -1
general commercial.
City staff is recommending the
council deny the request. On July
16, the Planning and Zoning Com-
mission unanimously recom-
mended denial.
The 3 p.m. workshop session
will be held in the City Hall counl'y
cil chambers at 1101 Texas Ave.
The 7 p.m. regular meeting will
3 held in the same 1
a nore.irif mat @tllt;rl
is
Andetson
inauirV
�n L,ity U
to check all(
e l l
ations
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Counc a decided Wednes-
day to launch its own investigation into allegations
that Councilman Swiki Anderson violated provi-
sions of the City Charter.
Anderson had requested the meeting and a public
investigation Aug. 5, the day a Brazos County grand
jury returned a no -bill after investigating whether
he had voted on a city project that he already had an
interest in. On Friday, Anderson pulled back from
his request for an investigation and asked the coun-
cil to accept the no -bill.
On Wednesday, however, the council voted 5 -1 to
ask City Attorney Harvey Cargill to ask the district
attorney to release the grand jury files and to
invoke its power to subpoena records from C.F. Jor-
College Station city councilman Swiki Anderson listens
to discussions during the special city council meeting
Monday afternoon.
dan Construction Co. Councilman Steve Esmond
voted no and Anderson abstained.
Anderson's attorney, Kyle Davis, said he strongly
doubted that District Attorney Bill Turner would
release any information from the grand jury inves-
tigation. In that case, he said, the council will have
to act as investigator, a role he said "wasn't right."
"[The City Council would] probably have to bring
in an independent investigator out of fairness,
which was the purpose of the grand jury, which
would put them right back to where they started,"
Davis said.
Please see ANDERSON, Page A6
Eagle photo /Butch Ireland
Page A6 The Bryan - College Station Eagle Thu rsday, August 13, 1998
News
Anderson
From Al
Anderson requested that any investigation be
conducted in open session and according to the
rules of due process.
"Please proceed [with the investigation], but offer
me the opportunity to have those who accuse me
stand before me," he said. "Let the chips fall where
they may."
Davis said the rules of evidence would require
the council "to produce someone who is a sponsor-
ing witness [one who has personal knowledge of the
allegation]."
Cargill said Wednesday afternoon that he expect-
ed to "do something next week."
The council acted, he said, because the grand jury
did not look to see if Chapter 131 of the charter "is
satisfied."
"The prohibition [against conflict of interest] in
the City Charter is much broader than the penal
code," he said.
Section 131 prohibits council members, city offi-
cials and employees from having any direct or indi-
rect financial interest in any corporation that has a
contract with the city. City officers are exempted,
however, if they own 1 percent or less of the corpo-
ration's stock.
At issue, Cargill said, is whether Anderson had
contracted with C.F. Jordan Construction Co. as
mechanical engineer at the time the council voted
to provide land to that company in the College Sta-
tion Business Park.
Anderson said Wednesday he had not made an
oral or written contract with or proposal with C.F.
Jordan Construction Co.
During the 45- minute noon meeting in the council
chambers, which was attended by about 30 people,
several council members claimed the council had
no evidence of wrongdoing. Councilman Ron Silvia
said the allegations were hearsay, but insisted that
the council had an obligation to investigate because
a "cloud of suspicion" hung over Anderson.
"If we walked away from this today, there would
be that cloud, and I would like to say beyond a shad-
ow of a doubt that he is innocent," Silvia said.
Davis warned the council, however, that launch-
ing an investigation may undermine the "health
and morale" of the council.
"If they are going to start. investigations on
hearsay, then investigations are what's going to
happen," he said. "It's just going to wave the war
flag — it'll open up the floodgates. If they want to
open this can of worms, they'll just work against
each other instead of working together."
Esmond called the council's move a "witch hunt"
and the investigation a bad precedent.
"I'm convinced this is politically motivated," he
said, "and it will be bad for morale and a needless
drain on our time and resources."
Mayor Lynn McIlhaney defended the council's
action.
"This is very difficult for everybody, but to turn it
into something other than what it is is just wrong,"
she said. "I do believe we have an obligation to the
community to be sure that the evidence speaks for
or against before making a decision."
r 1111 - - -, - - IN • .
debates consensus
•
By BOB SCHOBER �
Eagle Sta Writer
When does majority become
consensu
The ML nson Traffic Committee
has startE d voting on issues with-
out havii ig decided the percent-
age definition of consensus, some
members said Wednesday, so
majority otes don't necessarily
carry any weight.
On Tu sday, for example, the
committee voted 13 -8, or 61 per-
cent, to rE commend removing the
barricad s at Munson Avenue
and Dominik Drive. But several
members said Wednesday that
group facilitator Bruce Norton
discarded the vote because it rep-
resented less than two - thirds
(66.67 percent) of the votes cast, a
level they claim Norton has
accepted as consensus.
Norton declined to comment
when reached by telephone
Wednesday, but committee mem-
ber Mike McMichen said the
panel hadn't decided what con-
sensus means.
Rather, member Gary Halter
said, the committee spent the
whole evening talking about
achieving consensus.
"We were talking two - thirds or
three - fourths and, when the vote
came in, [Norton] ... said it was
neither and we went home," Hal-
ter said.
Halter said the issue likely will
Please see MUNSON, Page A4
Munson
•
come up at the next meeting,
which will be held Tuesday.
The committee was formed at
the request of the College Station
City Council, which is asking ft
committee to recommend a per
manent solution to the traffic
problems affecting Munson
Avenue and the College Hill's
neighborhood. The member,
were selected from throughout
the College Hills area.
On Tuesday, the committee
voted 16-5 to close their delibert
tions to the public and the media
and agreed to provide a
spokesperson who will furnish
"information bullets" about com;
mittee progress.
The committee is expected tb
report its recommendations to
the City Council within two
months, members said.
� Munson committee
*4
Tax -rat cut
propos don
CS pro erty
By BOB SCHOBER \
Eagle Staff Writer /�
Saying the city's economy s in great shape, Col-
lege Station City Manager Sk p Noe is proposing to
slightly lower the ad valorem property tax rate for
the city's fiscal 1999 budget.
The reduction is made poE sible, Noe said when
presenting the proposed bud et to the College Sta-
tion City Council on Thursday, because continued
growth is bringing new properties onto the tax rolls
and swelling sales tax and hotel/motel tax rev-
enues.
A public hearing on the p posed budget will be
Budget comparisons
Tax rates FY '98 — FY 1 99
valorem rates
per $.4297 $.4191
per $100 annual
valuation
SI 1 0.000,000 -- PY 98
FY'99
S I00.a 0,000
sso.aw,aw
S60.000.0cw
S40,000.000
1.120,000.000
0
General fund Total budget
Source: City of College Station
Fagle Liranhic /Brvan Butler
held Aug. 27.
The ad valorem rate would drop 1.02 cents to 41.91
cents per $100 of assessed valuation, a 2.4 percent
Please see BUDGET, Page A6
U
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� 4,
cou.r�cil O
By BOB SCHOBER i t \ \�
Eagle Staff Writer /_ J
The College Station City Coun-
cil on Thursday approved ordi-
nances that change onstreet park -
ing regulations in the ide
neighborhood and Bet i3
Northgate parking lotd
The first ordinanctlf' Aiibits
onsueet parking .plong the north
side . of George, Bush Drive
- Vtween Avenue and Tim-
s, pair IngA . atatte
ber Street, creates twQ�hour park-
$1 per hour, $4 per day and up to
mile south of Green's Prairie Road
report of the College Station Capi-
ing zones along Fahview and
Montclair avenues, and clears the
$10 per day during special eve�nnts.
City staff estimated that the 1
on the west side of Texas 6 asked to.
rezone the,:;parcel from agricul-
tal .Improvements -Project Citi-
Committee:
way for the installation of "No
Parking From Here To Corner"
ing lot will generate about $140,000
in
ture%pen to:C_ general, oommer•
_zgns' ,Committee
chairman Bill Fox summarized
signs along FairviewAvenue.
a year revenue.
- -:The fees will apply from 7 am to
ciaL City staff and the commLSsion the repor( which detailed the 17
-- iwommended denial. s - tr.3 ilprojects -- estimated -io " cost
The open northside, lane along
George Bush Drive will become a
2 p.m:, Monday through Saturday, 49)04uncil , members `81IRRbstM..
and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. that the owner discuss a different
4M,276,000 ,.that the _ 28
committee is recommending that
bike lane.
The second ordinance allows
In other action, the council
referred a rezoning request back
x ,09 mlemial- zoning designation
and city staff
the City Council approve for a
bond election.
the city to charge parking fees in
10 the Planning and Zoning Com
tbWe greater devel-
The council voted to discuss the
the Northgate Promenade parking miss another, hearing. The
lot The ordinance sets, the at 1.46 Ct opted 1/2
. .� ♦ Yif -.l : ;
rotecti_on for the city. CIP report during its Aug. 27
�'he, cil�]�spp reog the tvorkshpbpp li
..l rrE As i- 1Gaaru �� rvuR s_i st liil e3 on.
CS cleared in Northgate land case
By KELLY BROWN �\\�
Eagle St4jJ,Writer
A Brazos County jury deliber-
ated for almost five hours Thurs-
day before deciding College Sta-
tion did not commit fraud in a
land deal that left many question-
ing the condemnation practices
of the city.
While Ehno and Marvelyn Neal
lost their civil lawsuit against the
n
city, one of their attorr
the couple was content
their day in court and
plight of fighting City H.
After the jury returns
dict, Dan Shank, a House
ney representing the c
his clients were vindics
the four-day trial.
"A very important fail
is that the jury unders.
the Neals had been trea.
Trial
From Al
was finalized in 1996, the city —
which repeatedly stated the land'
was being acquired for public use
— was preparing requests for i
proposals to do business with'
those interested in buying the' ,
prime land.
On that list of businesses
included Texadelphia, an Austin
business that had been in contact;
with city officials since 1995„
more than half a year before the;
Neals handed over their land,+
according to documents discov-
ered by lawyers for the Neals. ;
A.W. Davis, who represented,'
the Neals along with Steven W.
Steele, reminded jurors during
his closing argument that two
city economic development offi -',
cials knew Texadelphia was ask
ing the city for help in acquiring
the property, but never men-
tioned it during the condemna-
tion hearing.
"When Mrs. Neal said then'
that the reasons for condemning
the property were ambiguous,
that's when those two officials;
should have rose and shown the.
Texadelphia letter," Davis saidf
"The city had an ace in the hole]
and Texadelphia was never men-)
tioned."
Those two officials, Todd
McDaniel and Callaway, never.
mentioned the proposed business
deal to Locke, who testified that
she, too, was told throughout
that the property would be usedi
for parking. ,d
That the economic develop,
ment officials failed to speak up:
amounts to fraud, Davis said,
adding that, as representatives ofi
the city, they had the duty toil
speak the truth.
"But the city's response wasw
'You should have gotten a lawyer±
and an appraiser to represent+
you during these proceedings, "'!
Davis said, adding that the only. -
way the Neals would have had a
fighting chance was if they knew
about Texadelphia.
all
for
n't
the
the
or
Sys said
by the city of College Station and
to have
its employees," Shank said.
:ll their
The lawsuit was lodged against
u.
the city, former City Attorney
I a ver-
Kathy Locke and Jim Callaway,
m attor-
an economic development offi-
ty, said
cial. Locke on Wednesday and
ed after
then Callaway early Thursday
were removed from the suit prior
or here
to the case against the city going
ad that
to the jury.
d fairly
The Neals, who shook each of
ank, who argued that the
never did anything wrong,
anded throughout the trial
reselling the property tom,
her business can be consid-
economic development and
"urban renewal programs
redevelopment are public
loses."
he Northgate project had
es and changes, and that's
he evidence here shows,"
Lk said.
-al had been told about other
omic development purposes
the property, Shank said,
ng that such possibilities
were written on the contract
ad by the Neals.
Bing the jury not to have
pathy for the Neals because
're "senior citizens," Shank
the couple had the opportu-
to file an appeal if they did -
W with the $102,000 deal
the city, but they never gave
money back and never
Neals said they didn't
d because they didn't know
time about Texadelphia.
ele said the lack of an
d and the fact that the Neais
a 44 percent return on their
tment was a large factor in
i y's verdict.
ether the jury awarded $1
L0,000 in damages to the
o wouldn't have mattered,
the jurors hands as they left the
courtroom, used to own and rent
property in the Northgate area. It
was an income they hoped to
draw from in their retirement,
but the city sought to condemn
their property on Patricia Street,
which was then home to a restau-
rant.
The reason cited by city offi-
cials, including their lawyer, was
that the property would be used
for parking or other economic
development uses.
After much protest from the
Neals, including during a con-
demnation hearing, the Neals
opted to take an offer of $102,000
— almost twice what they paid
for the property.
But the Neals later learned
that, a month after their land deal
Please see TRIAL, Page A6
"This case is not about
money," Steele earlier told
i jurors. "The Neals brought this
case to court because the city did
them wrong and did not treat
them properly."
+ Jury foreman Bryan Deuer-
meyer said jurors — who were
supposed to answer several ques-
tions, including whether officials
misrepresented how the proper-
ty would be used — spent most of
their time discussing the issue of
whether the city had committed
fraud.
Deuermeyer declined to dis-
cuss his opinion on the case, say-
ing that he only could talk about
what the jury decided in the
charge ordered by the court.
S ey says
C7,Sifizens
sati fled
By BOB SCH OBER \ `
Eagle Staff W �\
The 1998 3ollege Station Citi-
zen Survey released Thursday
shows city iesidents overwhelm-
ingly are satisfied with city ser-
vices in general and supportive
of bond elections to improve
streets and rarks.
More thai 1 93 percent of the
respondents said they were satis-
fied with city services "as a
whole," a co tinuation of the 90-
plus trend established in last
year's survey.
The sury y revealed some
weaknesses, too. A majority of
survey respondents said they
were not very informed or not
informed at about City Coun-
cil meeting times or agendas.
The overall results, however,
drew exub rant praise from
Charles Cry , director of Fiscal
College Station streets
overall condition
Eagle graphic /Bryan Butler
Services.
"I don't know if you can go to
any other city in the country and
get those results," he said. "The
survey points out that the city is
doing what it's supposed to be
doing."
The 1998 survey was the sec-
ond- consecutive citizen survey
conducted by the Texas A &M Uni-
versity Public Policy Research
Institute. In 1996, city staff sur-
Please see SURVEY, Page A16
E-9
Page A16 The Bry an - College Station Eagle Friday, August 14, 1998
Region
Survey,
veyed residents with a form
included in monthly utility bills.
Institute staffers randomly
selected and interviewed resi-
dents over a period of about three
weeks in June and July. The
staffers tabulated the responses
of 536 College Station residents
and acting Budget Director Jeff
Kersten presented the results to
the City Council on Thursday
afternoon.
The 1998 survey used the same
questions that were used in the
1997 survey, with some additions.
City staff oversaw an in -house
survey to gauge residents' assess-
ment of the Fire Department.
Some of the conclusions
include:
■ Police arrival time — 63.3
percent were very satisfied or
satisfied and 10 percent were
somewhat or very dissatisfied
(1997: 65 percent and 19.7 percent,
respectively).
Satisfaction with the Police
Department ran more than 92
percent, with dissatisfaction at
3.7 percent (1997: 89.7 percent and
6.4 percent, respectively).
■ More than 98 percent of
respondents said they felt very
safe or somewhat safe walking
through their neighborhood dur-
ing the day and 83 percent at
night, compared to more than 99
percent and 80 percent, respec-
tively, in the 1997 survey.
"National surveys show that
most cities are rated in the 60-65
"percent range, so College Station
is very safe," Cryan said.
■ Concerning the overall con-
dition of College Station streets,
71.2 percent of respondents said
they were satisfied and 22.4 dis-
satisfied. In the 1997 survey, 58.3
percent of respondents admitted
they were satisfied and 38.6 per-
cent said they were dissatisfied.
"This is one of the more signif-
icant jumps," Kersten said. "We
think it could be due to Texas
Avenue being completed. We take
the hit when streets are under
construction and benefit when
they're completed."
The 1998 survey added two new
questions about streets. By 62.5
percent to 37.5 percent, respon-
dents rated the condition of
streets in their neighborhoods as
excellent or good vs. fair or poor.
In another question, 63.8 percent
of respondents rated the condi-
tion of city streets as a whole as
excellent or good vs. 36.1 percent
who rated them fair or poor.
■ Satisfaction with the curb-
side recycling program jumped
from 66.8 percent in 1997 to 92.2
percent in 1998. Dissatisfied
respondents dropped from 9.8
percent to just under 4 percent.
Kersten attributed the jump to
the program's acceptance of plas-
tic bottles.
■ By margins exceeding 50 per-
centage points, respondents
expressed satisfaction with the
city's water service, youth and
adult programs and code enforce-
ment. The survey revealed that
75.7 percent would support a
bond issue to pay for street
repairs and extension; 72.8 per-
cent would be willing to pay for
tap water quality improvements
to exceed federal standards —
62.3 percent of households use
bottled water or home water
treatments, up from 53.9 percent
in the 1997 survey; and 73.5 per-
cent would favor a bond issue to
pay for parks and recreation
improvements.
The fire department survey
was conducted by city staff in
April and represents the respons-
es of 527 residents.
By wide margins, respondents
expressed satisfaction with the
level of fire service (83 percent),
fire drive time (85 percent), emer-
gency medical service (76 per-
cent) and emergency service
drive time (81 percent).
The survey contains a devia-
tion of about plus or minus 5 per-
cent, Cryan said. For the 1997 sur-
vey, institute personnel "styled"
the questions with input from
city staff, he said.
The published survey report
shows combined ratings that do
not always add up to 100 percent,
Cryan said, because some respon-
dents did not or could not
respond to a particular question.
Demographic analysis showed
that 44 percent of the respondents
owned their own home; 64 per-
cent were nonstudents and 65
percent had been residents for
more than three years. Forty -
eight percent were aged 18 -29, 33
percent were in the 30 -39 age
group and 17 percent were 50 or
older.
The survey will provide a valu-
able guideline for future city
planning, City Manager Skip Noe
said.
"We try to do what comes out of
the survey and what we're learn-
ing is that, if you target areas for
improvement, you can make a
difference," Noe said Thursday.
"We judge ourselves by the per-
ceptions of our customers."
He
cagre pnoto 'butch Ireland
Texas Department of Transportation crews work to fix a broken Avenue on Friday. The crew capped the broken line. The rupture
water main at the intersection of Southwest Parkway and Texas released an estimated 1.5 million gallons of water.
Rup hue road
Burst pipe lea s 1.5 million gallons of water
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle StaJjWriter 411
An estimated 1.5 million gallons of
water flooded from a burst under.
ground pipe and carved a huge hole in
Southwest Parkway at Texas Avenue
early Friday, before flowing away
through a nearby drainage ditch.
Drought - parched earth likely sagged
and burst the pipe, according to Karl
Goldapp, superintendent of Environ-
mental Services.
'The break occurred about 11:30 p.m.
Thursday and service was fully
restored by 5:30 a.m. Friday, he said.
Road crews remained on the scene
until Friday evening, however, repair-
ing the street.
The pipe supplied water to business-
es in the area, most of which were
closed at that time of night, Goldapp
said. Residential service was not dis-
rupted.
The repair - job VAs made easier
because College Station residents used
much less water Thursday than they
had been using before, he said.
"We've averaged 15 million gallons a
day through August and, on Thursday,
residents used only 10.9 million gal-
Please see WATER, Page A2
�w
Water
prom Al
Ions, so we never had to worry
about reserve water supplies,"
Goldapp said. "If you're going to
have a break, you want to have it
during a low -use time."
Road crews from the Texas
Department of Transportation
were on the scene all day Friday
< < If you're going to
have a break, you
want to have it during
a low -use time.> >
— KARL GOLDAPP
Environmental Services
working to repair the hole in
Southwest Parkway east of Texas
Avenue. Paul Sturrock, public
information officer for the
department, said escaping water
carved a hole in the roadway
about 35 feet long, 12 feet wide
and 10 feet deep.
Friday morning rains slowed
road repairs, officials said. By
1:30 p.m., however, officials said
College Station repair crews
were pumping water out of the
hole and transportation depart-
ment crews were filling it in with
crushed limestone and topping it
with hot -mix asphalt. The road
was reopened to traffic at about 7
p.m.
The road surface will be
allowed to settle for about a week
before crews apply the perma-
nent surface, Goldapp said.
What's to protect
the rest of us?
he city of College Station may have been legally correct
when it condemned the land where the Chicken Basket
stood at Northgate, but what it did to owners Elmo and
Mar relyn Neal was wrong. If city officials can do it to them,
wha 's to stop them from doing it to others?
Th a Neals bought the property at 317 -319 Patricia St. sever-
al yi an ago for $53,000 with the intention of leasing it and
usin g y the income for their retirement. Even though they
leas the property for less than the typical rental rate in
Nort igate, the Neals made enough to be happy.
In 1995, though, the city of College Station, in the throes of
No ate rejuvenation, decided it needed the Neals' proper-
ty fo a parking lot. Many people have said for a long time that
Nort igate desperately was in need of more parking.
Th.- Neals, however, didn't want to sell. That's not unusual
in such circumstances. But the city was adamant, condemn-
ing 1 he property under its power of eminent domain. The
Neal; protested the "taking" before a special commission, but
in tf a end struck a deal to sell the property to the city for
$102,)00. It's hard for the little folks to fight city hall.
Wl at the Neals didn't know, however, is a parking lot was
only one of the potential uses the city had in mind for the
Patricia Street property. Representatives of a company called
Texadelphia had told the city they were interested in the Neal
pro rty and an adjacent tract of land as the location for a
sandwich shop. They asked city officials to help them obtain
the property.
W'h Texadelphia officials didn't deal directly with the
NeaI3 is unclear, but they didn't. Who knows how much the
Neals might have received if they had sold directly to
Texadelphia, had they had the opportunity and chosen to do
so?
City officials knew they could sell the Neals' property if
they chose not to use it for a parking lot. In fact, within a few
weelts of purchasing the property from the Neals, city offl-
cialsl worked out a deal to sell it to Texadelphia.
Tho Neals were rightly upset and sued the city. College
Statioon officials hired a Houston attorney to represent the
city. That lawyer correctly pointed out that the contract with
the I qeals said the land would be used for a parking lot or
othe economic development purposes.
Th at would lead most people to believe that, in the rare
inst. nce where the city changed its plans, the property could
be ed for other things benefiting the public. But the catalyst
of ft revitalization of Northgate was to obtain more parking,
so tI e Neals were safe to assume that is the public purpose the
cityd in mind when condemning their land. We don't think
mos people would agree that taking the property in order to
sell t to another restaurant business benefits the public.
It s disingenuous to say the Neals should have known their
property might be used for other things when it is clear that
city officials withheld from them the information that
Tex2�delphia wanted their property.
y should the average citizen have to go over the very fine
print point by point when dealing with the city officials they
pay with their taxes? Shouldn't they have the expectation that
thebt city leaders are dealing with them honestly and fairly?
Now that a Brazos County jury has said that the city acted
legally in taking the Neals' property, what's to stop city offi-
cial from deciding to condemn for "public purposes" other
bus esses they don't like or which may not fit into their
ima a of College Station?
If t can happen to the Neals, what's to stop it from happen-
ing 0 the rest of us?
0
A tad more kindness
M ercury does strange things.
On two successive days it
made my temperature fluc-
tuate. A letter from Rodger Lewis
on Aug. 7 was so understanding of
the Munson Avenue dilemma that I
said, "Hey he must remember
when our street was a gravel road."
We moved here 36 years ago and
we were considered "new kids on
the block" by all of the "settlers"
who preceded us. Then, our only
exits were Francis Drive and
Gilcrest Avenue. Few folks felt any
despair. Not all residents wanted
the street paved, but it was.
Alas. On Aug. 8 I read Janet
Krueger's letter. She didn't tippy-
toe around the issue. We are
absolutely a thorn in her side.
Temperatures rising? I assume that
she was dead serious about her sar-
donic "solution," although the
"barbed wire and watch towers"
gave me a fleeting shiver. Too Big
Brotherish for me. Admittedly, I
admired and was impressed by her
alliteration, calling us "a small
secessionary special interest
group." Well, we may be a long suf-
fering bunch of whiners, but we
,\
have never wished to withdraw ��
from the community.
I believe Krueger should rethink
her unveiled threat to unseat the
City Council. Our problems became
intolerable in the early '80s, and in
its defense, this is the first council
which has made any effort to solve
this mess.
Progress is seldom fair, and
some day you may want more from
the city than a few speed bumps on
your street. Perhaps, then, you
may regard us trouble makers with
just a tad more kindness.
WANDA McGUIRE
College Station
OF&..�-- - - --
C* ity attorney says
i
he see records
CS council to review Anderson case
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer L.�\
College Station City Attorne
Harvey Cargill said Friday
has not yet asked District AM -
ney Bill Turner for records of tl e
Brazos County grand jury's
vestigation of Councilman Sw' i
Anderson.
"I'm not doing an investiga-
tion," Cargill said. "My job is try-
ing to figure out avenues to get
information already produced for
the council to review."
He said he likely would try to
contact Turner's office next
week.
On Aug. 12, the College Station
City Council met in special ses-
sion to discuss Anderson's status
after the grand jury returned a
no -bill after investigating allega-
tions that he had voted on a city
College Station
City Councilman
Swiki Anderson
says, "The only
thing I'm going
to do is sit back
and see how it
plays out."
project he already had an interest
in. The council directed Cargill to
ask Turner to release the grand
jury files and voted to invoke its
subpoena power in case the coun-
cil decides to launch its own
investigation.
On Friday, Anderson said he
didn't know what schedule
Cargill or the council were work-
ing under.
The only thing I'm going to do
is sit back and see how it plays
out," he said.
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to discuss
0
J
lower 1
1998 -99 budg t is topic
of public hear ng today
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City C uncil on Thursday
will hold a public hearing abo t the proposed fiscal
1998 -99 budget, which could in lude a property tax
reduction.
The proposed budget calls for a 0.8 percent
increase in operation, maint nance and capital
expenses. The continuing local economic boom,
however, has swelled the tax r lls with new propej-
ties, thereby making a reductic n in the ad valorem
tax rate possible, according to City Manager Skip
Noe.
The current rate of 42.93 cent per $100 of assessed
valuation would drop 1.02 cen s to 41.91 cents per
$100 valuation. The owner of a:')100,000 home would
see the city's portion of his property tax bill drop
$10.20 to $419.10 per year, assuming there is no
increase in the value of the property.
The proposed budget does not include the capital
projects being recommended to the City Council by
the Capital Improvement Project Citizens' Commit-
tee. The council will review th committee's $23.27
million list of projects during the Thursday after-
noon workshop session:
Please see
Councik&
From A9
The proposed budget also calls
for no increases in utility rates
and for a reduction in residential
and commercial sanitation rates.
In other business, the council
will consider renewing a contract
to purchase gasoline and /or fuel
oil for city vehicles and approv-
ing the purchase of a new landfill
compactor with Brazos Valley
Solid Waste Management Agency
funds.
The council also will consider
approving an agreement with the
Texas Department of Transporta-
tion to pay 10 percent of the cost
of purchasing the right of way for
the Texas Avenue Phase II pro-
ject and widening F.M. 158. The
Texas Avenue right of way is esti-
mated to cost $4 million, making
the city's share $400,000. The
city's portion of the F.M. 158 right
of way is estimated to cost
$29,000.
During the workshop session,
the council will review the sec-
ond preliminary design of the
Teen Center. The fiscal 1997 -98
budget called for $300,000 for this
project, but the enhanced design,
which calls for a slightly larger
building with upgraded finishes,
is estimated to cost an additional
$100,000. The fiscal 1998 -99 budget
includes the extra money.
The public meeting will be held
during the 7 p.m. City Council
meeting in the council chambers
at City Hall, 1101 Texas Ave.
The workshop session will be
held at 3 p.m. in the council
chambers. For more information,
call 764 -3500.
M ns pane '
on l s
pr ogress steady
By BOB SCHOBER the principles that will guide
Eagle Staff Writer the committee's deliberations.
Perry, who lives on Kyle
The Munson Traffic Commit- Avenue, said a final recommen-
tee ism ing steady progress dation to the council must con -
toward it goal of recommend- sider safety issues, emergency
ing a fix r the traffic problems vehicle response times, neigh -
on Muns n Avenue, though the borhood integrity — as yet
committe Iossible has only begun to undefined, she said — and "the
identify solutions, a big picture impact."
spokeswo an said Tuesday. The big picture impact, she
The committee, under the said, means traffic through the
guidance of facilitator Bruce neighborhood, traffic beyond
Norton, i using the nominal the neighborhood and diver -
group tec inique, which splits sion management of traffic in
the 28 -me nber committee into the neighborhood.
small groi ps to foster more dis- Finally, Perry said, any rec-
cussion al out issues. ommendation must be realistic,
"The r rocess works well practical and economic and
because it gives everyone a must follow federal and state
chance to speak and voice their guidelines.
opinions,' said Joan Perry, The Munson Traffic Commit -
who acted as group spokes- tee was created at the request of
woman. "It's saving us a lot of the City Council, which is look -
time." ing to the committee for a per -
Time ra i out Tuesday night manent solution it can consider
before th committee could implementing. The committee
begin ran ing opinions about already has decided that its rec-
"What sho d the city do in the ommendation must carry two -
future?" I he ranking process thirds support.
will pare d wn the possible traf The committee, which previ-
fic solutio s the committee will ously voted to hold all of its
recommend to the City Council, deliberations in closed session,
Perry said,! is expected to meet weekly
The committee did firm up through the end of September.
c
CS votes
for bond
election
Voters will cast ballots
for $24 million project
By BOB SCHOBER �I
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Council
voted unanimously Thursday to hold a
$24.24 million capital improvements
bond election Nov. 3.
If passed, College Station property
owners could expect a $.05 increase per
$100 of assessed valuation in the city
portion of their property tax bill,
according to Budget Services director
Charles Cryan. The owner of a $100,000
house would pay about $50 more per
year in property taxes if the package is
approved.
Voters will cast ballots in six cate-
gories:
■ $8.539 million for streets and side-
walks.
■ $2.98 i,iillion for traffic signal and
street management.
■ $2.477 million for improvements to
Fire Station 2 and construction of a
fifth fire station in the southeast part of
the city.
■ $1.835 million to purchase land for
a possible municipal center and a new
cemetery.
■ $4.769 million for park improve-
ments.
■ $3.64 million for drainage projects
and the purchase of greenbelt areas in
flood plains.
The price tag includes $932,000 for
inflation adjustment to cover increases
in the estimated costs for those projects
undertaken later rather than sooner,
Cryan said.
The council also adopted a prelimi-
nary tax rate for the proposed fiscal
1998 -99 budget.
Under the state's truth -in- taxation
law, a public hearing must be held if
the new tax levy increases even if the
tax rate decreases, as city staff has pro-
posed for the new budget. Under the
law, the tax rate adopted becomes the
ceiling for this budget cycle, but the
council can lower the tax rate before
final adoption.
City staff had proposed a decrease of
$.0102 in the ad valorem tax rate to
$.4191 per $100 of assessed valuation,
but the public hearing requirement
was triggered because the city will reap
more revenue due to a greater -than-
expected rise in total property valua-
tion, Cryan said. Total property value
Please see COUNCIL, Page A
approved the revised plans for
C o un cil the new Teen Center. The build-
ing will be larger, include some
era Xxr;n
From A I
rose $110 million instead of $60
million due to new property
added to the tax rolls and rising
values of existing properties.
Councilman David Hickson
urged the council to adopt the
current tax rate of $.4293 until the
council completes the budget
review process. The council
unanimously agreed. The public
hearing on the tax rate will be
held Sept. 10. The actual tax rate
will be adopted Sept. 24.
The council held a public hear-
ing on the proposed fiscal 1998 -99
budget, but nobody stepped for-
ward to comment.
The council is expected to
adopt the budget Sept. 10, Cryan
said.
The council also reviewed and
cost $100,000 more than the origi-
nal design. The total cost will be
$400,000.
In other business, Councilman
Steve Esmond asked City Attor-
ney Harvey Cargill for an update
on the "investigation" of Council-
man Swiki Anderson.
Cargill was instructed by the
council Aug. 12 to ask the Brazos
County District Attorney's office
to release grand jury documents
regarding an investigation and
subsequent no -bill of Anderson.
The grand jury investigated alle-
gations that Anderson voted on a
city project in which he had a pri-
vate interest.
Cargill said Thursday he could
neither "confirm nor deny that
an inquiry had been made ...
nothing has been obtained at this
point."
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
A seven - story, 176 -room hotel
will be built on the "mud lot" in
Northgate, with construction
scheduled to begin in February,
site owner Jack Culpepper said
Friday.
The announcement followed
almost two years of planning
between Culpepper and the devel-
oper, The Leddy Company of San
Antonio. The hotel will be a Club
Hotel by Doubletree, which
caters to business travelers,
Culpepper said.
"We have a lot of confidence in
the Northgate area," he told a
crowd of about 50 people, includ-
ng Mayor Lynn McIlhaney and
"`'City Manager Skip Noe. "We
believe this project will be a huge
)enefit to College Station — we're
-eady to roll."
The top floor will hold suites
`mud
Eagle photo /Ryan Rogers
Jack C 1pepper discusses details of
a hot I that will be built in the
North ate area at a press confer-
ence iday.
that w rent for about $125 a day,
and thle 160 guest rooms will rent
for about $75 a day. The hotel will
include a spa, pool, gazebo and
3,750 square feet of meeting
space.
Please see HOTEL, Page A8
n
Hotel
From Al
The hotel's design centers on
the "Business Club," which will
house a self-service business cen-
ter complete with computers and
laser printers, a fax machine, a
photo copier, scanner and office
shipping supplies.
The hotel will offer limited
food and beverage services pro-
vided exclusively by Au Bon
Pain Bakery Cafes. Catering ser-
vices also will be provided, offi-
cials said.
The hotel will create about 50
full -time jobs and 20 part -time
jobs, developer Drake Leddy said.
The building, estimated to cost
$13 million to $15 million, will
occupy the Nagle Street side of
the site and face south toward the
Texas A &M University campus.
The development will cover
about three acres of the "mud lot"
and leave about 3.3 acres for
future development.
Brenda Harris, who owns the
parking service that currently
leases the "mud lot," said stu-
dents who already have pur-
chased parking permits for the
fall semester will be able to park
in the lot through the end of the
year. The site -also will -be avail-
able for daily parking, she said.
Mcllhaney, asked if the North.
gate hotel will conflict with the
hotel /conference center planned
for Wolf Pen Creek, said the city
was "prime for the conference
business" and the Doubletree
hotel rooms will help attract
groups to the conference center.
Leddy said the hotel was
designed to "complement" the
proposed Wolf Pen Creek Hotel.
"Bryan- College Station is one
of the fastest growing areas in the
nation, and we believe there's
room for another hotel near Wolf
Pen Creek," he said.
to close for new hotel
Paper chase slows council's inquiry
CS city attorney awaiting, grand jury documents on Anderson
By BOB SCHOBER r'] I council's actions folli
Eagle Staff Writer � bill finding Aug. 5 b
County grand jury it
An inquiry into allegations of allegations that Ani
misconduct by College Station voted on a city projec
City Councilman Swiki Ander- he had a private inters
son is still waiting on documents, The council lain
City Attorney Harvey Cargill inquiry despite the n<
said Tuesday. concerns that Andel
The inquiry was launched Aug. nonetheless have vi
12 during a special meeting of the City Charter, officials
College Station City Council. The time. The council orde
ed a no- to try to get hold of the grand jury
a Brazos documents.
�stigating Grand jury documents are
son had sealed, however, and Cargill said
in which he had to "figure out what to ask
for" in a way that wouldn't
hed the prompt an immediate refusal
ill out of from the district attorney.
m could On Aug. 24, Cargill said he sent
ated the a 26 -page interagency request to
ud at the District Attorney Bill Turner
d Cargill requesting that the investigative
Anderson
From A9
C
said he expected to receive the
information Wednesday.
Once he has the documents,
"assuming I get them," Cargill
said he will review them "to see if
the council should proceed any
further."
"If there's nothing there, I'll tell
them that and they'd be welcome
to look at it themselves," he said.
"If it comes back and looks like
there's something for an outside
attorney to review and present to
the council, then [Anderson and
his attorneys] ought to be able to
see it if this is going to go for-
ward."
If the inquiry becomes an
investigation, Mayor Lynn McIl-
haney said, Anderson's request
that hearings be conducted in
open session with his accusers
Present "will be honored."
On Monday, Councilman Steve
Esmond issued a statement
requesting that the "investiga-
tion" be concluded during the
Sept. 10 meeting of the council.
After learning of Cargill's
efforts, Esmond said, "There's
nothing to comment on."
files compiled by Turner's office,
and not privileged by the grand
jury, be turned over to the city.
Turner has not yet responded,
though Cargill said he expected a
reply by Sept. 7.
Turner could not be reached
for comment late Tuesday after-
noon.
Cargill also said C.F. Jordan
Construction Co. has agreed to
turn over documents that compa-
Despite a grand
jury no -bill, the
_ College Station
City Council is
looking Into mis-
conduct accu-
;. sations against
Councilman
Swiki Anderson.
ny attorneys provided to the dis-
trict attorney's office for the
grand jury investigation. Cargill
See ANDERSON, Page All
Plant
Date
Al
ago, he said.
Lero recently resigned as chair-
man of the board of directors of
Computer
the Bryan - College Station Eco-
nomic Development Corp., saying
firm
he wanted to avoid a potential
conflict of interest between
plans
his
personal interest and his board
local
Position regarding the develop -
m en t of the land.
plant
"That's why I did what I did,"
Lero said.
By BLAIR FANNIN A\�
Eagle Staff Writer
Officials say the business
would give Bryan a "big
name"
computer company like Univer-
Local economic officials say
sal Computer Systems, which is
they will announce Thursday a
building a new facility in The
tentative agreement that will
Business Center at College Sta-
bring a new computer - related
tion.
business to Bryan with an annual
"What this thing will do is give
payroll worth $12 million.
Bryan a location that is high -tech
The announcement will be
industry," said Richard S. Smith,
made at 10 a.m. at Bryan City
past chairman of the Bryan-Col-
Hall, officials said.
lege Station Economic Develop -
Bryan Development Limited
ment Corp.
has purchased a 350 -acre tract
"As seen in The Business Cen-
from the Bert Wheeler estate on
ter at College Station, we've seen
F.M. 158 and F.M. 60, Bill Lero,
other companies making things
one of the partners involved in
happen and it becoming a cluster -
the deal, said Wednesday night.
ing effect. This [new company]
The company would locate on 10
will continue Bryan's develop -
of the 350 acres, he said.
ment in the high -tech arena," he
"To my knowledge, it is going
said.
in the Wheeler property," Lero
Economic officials Wednesday
said, adding that the particulars
would not release further details
involving the land and the com-
about the new company, and said
pany haven't been finalized at
the deal still is awaiting approval
this point. The deal was closed
by the Bryan City Council and
with the Wheeler estate a week
Brazos County Commissioners
Court.
Please see PLANT, Page A8
Bryan Coca -Cola Bottling Co.
officials also have announced that
they plan to relocate their busi-
ness to the same side of the city as
the prospective computer compa-
ny is looking.
Meanwhile, College Station's
newest computer company, Uni-
versal Computer Systems, is
expected to generate 1,560 jobs
and have a $14.7 million annual.
payroll within 10 years.
The Houston -based company
supplies automobile dealerships
with hardware, software and sup-
port systems dealing with all
facets of the auto industry,
including accounting, inventory
and more.
Earlier this year, local econom-
ic officials worked out a $20 -mil-
lion deal with Koch Specialty
Chemical Company, which is
locating in the Bryan Business
Park.
on.
� Stet 3, 199 F
M TOR NESS
University Drive construction shows
poor pla ning and disregard for students
•
Students r turning to Texas
A&M each year
can always count
on a few certainties. Classes will
be bigger, fees
will increase, fresh-
men will be
walking aimlessly
around camp
s with maps and
some seeming
unnecessary con-
struction w
11 cause more
headaches tha
a it is worth.
This year's
bvious example is
the constructio
a on University Dri-
ve, one of the ir
ost highly trafficked
streets in the Bi
yan-CoRege Station
area. It is one
f only four true ac-
cess streets to
pus, and thanks
to poor plannir
g by the City of Col-
lege Station, it s virtually closed.
Tearing up
Jniversity Drive in
August seeme
i a bad plan from
the get -go. S
Jents were already
beginning to n
ill back from sum-
mer breaks, ai
id summer school
students were
till trying to get to
class. If the cit
r was going to tear
up a major r
d, it should have
started as earl
r in the summer as
possible, befo
the massive return
of students. I
the city planners
were doing their
jobs, the con-
struction wou
have been slated
for the week after
the spring se-
mester classes
were completed.
The real question, though, is
why all the construction was nec-
essary in the '
t place. University
Drive was not a
street in serious dis-
repair; it was in
fairly good shape.
It certainly did
not require the mas-
sive overhaul c
arrently underway.
The current chaos that is Uni-
versity Drive is a problem on more
levels than just poor planning,
though. First and foremost it is a
traffic nightmare. As if traffic near
the University was not bad enough,
the major access road is limited to
one -way traffic to and from cam-
pus. Second, the construction is a
dangerous situation. With cars
backing up and getting stuck in in-
tersections during light changes, the
situation is begging for an automo-
bile pile -up or worse — not to men-
tion that pedestrians attempting to
cross these jumbled crosswalks are
literally racing for their lives.
The city never should have be-
gun such a massive undertaking
anywhere near the time of fall
classes. No date should have been
scheduled which might have pos-
sibly, with any complications, con-
tinued to the start of this semester.
The University is welcoming one
of its largest freshman classes, not
to mention the tens of thousands
of students who already called
A&M home, and the city is making
a mess even messier.
The city often chooses to forget
that students are in fact residents of
this community, and makes this at-
titude clear with decisions such as
closing Munson Street earlier this
summer. The catastrophe on Uni-
versity has only further indicated
the city's complete disregard of the
student residents of College Station.
11
•
�I
By BOB SCHOBF�R �1
Eagle Staff Writer
committee
The Munson affic Committee
hasn't found sol tions, but mem-
bers Thursday night said they
were able to pi ioritize a set of
visions that will guide the search.
The commit tae picked and
ranked six traffic ideals for the
College Hills -Woodlands area.
Topping the lisl is maintaining
neighborhood integrity through
encouraging the city to view the
neighborhood as a permanent fix-
ture and asset. rhe city can do
that, the committee decided, by
developing bikeways and walk
corridors, imp oving drainage
and streets, and including gate-
ways and green ways.
Other goals, by order of rank,
include improving access to Col-
lege Hills Elementary School
without relying on a thorough-
fare; making long-term capital
improvements to routing traffic
around the College Hills area;
removing traffic from the neigh-
borhood with barricades placed
to minimize in onvenience for
neighborhood residents; inclu-
sion of traffic di erters on all res-
idential neighborhood streets
that carry traffic volumes greater
than 1,000 cars a day; not creating
thoroughfares; and taking no
property or homes.
The committee also decided on
a definition of neighborhood
integrity as the taking of actions
that maintain the safety, conve-
nience and sense of place. Such
actions might include discourag-
ing through traffic, ensuring pub-
lic safety, encouraging neighbor-
hoods and maintaining common-
ly held values.
Committee spokeswoman Joan
Perry, who lives on Kyle Street,
said most committee members
"seemed to feel that we made a lot
of progress tonight."
Other members left shaking
their heads, however. One wo-
man whispered, "We haven't
made any progress at all."
The committee will meet week-
ly through September as it
approaches its goal of crafting a
permanent solution to the traffic
problems affecting Munson Ave-
nue and other streets in the area:
The committee voted to exclude
the public and media from its de-
liberations. The 28 members were
selected from more than 170
applications.
0
•
Computer firni to employ 500
awleStrfWr� a \'�
Deal in final stages to construct
Local economic officials announced
Thursday that DecisionOne Corp., a com-
$6.3 m illion
facility on F.M. 60
puter service company, intends to build a
$6.3 million facility on a 10-acre tract
fronting F.M. 60 in Bryan.
than 1,000 origimd
ers. The company
equipment manufactur- said Robert Worley, president and CEO of
also services a broad the Bryan- College Station Economic
The facility will employ 500 people with
an annual payroll of $12 million.
range of busin
and operating sy
software applications Development Corp. "There are still some
tems. hoops to jump through."
DecisionOne Corp., headquartered in
Frazer, Penn., provides services for a full
Officials said the
but the compan3
deal is not finalized, Bryan Development Limited recently
is proposing to build a purchased a 350 -acre tract from the Bert
range of computer environments, from the
data center to the desktop, including 15,000
70,000-square-fool
tal investment of
facility and make a capi- Wheeler estate on F.M. 156 and F.M. 60 —
$6.3 million. 10 acres of which will be home to Deci-
hardware computer products from more
"They have gi
ten us a letter of intent," sionOne Corp. The particulars involving
..vN00Ns4 %Iws
has not been asked to par
• in the incentive packai
could enter into the de
Bryan did with Universe
puter Systems, officials sa
versal Computer Syste
building a facility in Th
ness Center at College Star
"This is much more tha
a Bryan deal," Bryan May
nie Stabler said. "This is a
Valley deal that will
everyone."
DecisionOne Corp., whi
cials said could break I
before the end of .the yea
the deal is finalized, would
employees wages of $10 to
hour and would hire peop:
with and without a college
tion.
"It will be open to high
graduates and Blinn Colleg
uates that are trainable;'
Richard S. Smith, past cha
of the Economic Develo
Corp. "Once they determin
they are put through an e
five training program."
Worley said there is a
sion of developing trainin
grams at Blinn and in the
and College 'Station scho(
tricts that would create a
force for the company.
A number of the emp
likely will be hired both i
out of the Bryan- College S
area, which also will boo
local housing market, P
said.
J
"I think a lot of people will be
moving to town and I think a lot
of people here will go to work for
that company," he said.
Worley said a number of people
in present jobs locally who are
looking for better pay and who
have the skills that DecisionOne
Corp. seeks may try to make the
switch.
There will be a trickle -down
effect," he said. "There will be a
lot of people looking to take over
those jobs that will be vacated.
My hunch is that, over a period of
time, we may have as many as 500
families come to town."
DecisionOne Corp. provides
service to more than 51,000 cus-
tomers at more than 182,000 sites.
Its customers include large busi-
nesses with complex computing
support needs in data- center, dis-
tributed- system and workgroup
environments; medium sized
businesses that rely primarily on
distributed systems; and work -
group environments.
The company's customers also
include computer manufacturers,
resellers, and systems integrators
that require support for large
numbers of end users.
DecisionOne Corp. would give
Bryan a large computer company
after Universal Computer Sys-
tems chose College Station for its
new facility.
Universal Computer Systems is
expected to generate 1,560 jobs
and have a $14.7 million annual
payroll within 10 years. The
Houston -based company supplies
automobile dealerships with
hardware, software, and support
systems dealing with all facets of
the auto industry, including
accounting, inventory and more.
Bryan added another high -tech
company earlier this year when
local economic officials worked
out a $20- million deal with Koch
Specialty Chemical Company
that is locating in the Bryan Busi.
ness Park.
The facility will produce high -
grade chemicals used to manufac-
ture chips used in personal com-
puters, cellular phones, pagers
and microelectronic products.
d like
Com-
i. Uni-
ns is
Bust
on.
being
r Lon -
3razos
eneflt
h off-
round
once
gay its
00 an
both
-duca-
,chool
grad -
said
man
ment
that,
haus-
Iscus-
pro-
tryan
dis-
work
)gees
and
ation
t the
the land and the company haven't been
finalized, according to Bill Lero, a partner
with Bryan Development Limited.
The remainder of the property could
develop into a new business center with
DecisionOne Corp. as the cornerpiece, offi-
cials said.
Details of the incentive package offered
to the company, reportedly valued at $4
million, were not disclosed by economic
officials, pending approval by both the city
of Bryan and the Brazos County Commis-
sioners Court. The city of College Station
Please see COMPUTER, Page AS
•
Munson
member
resigns q �
Letter criticizes
traffic c mmittee
By BOB SCH R
Eagle Staff Wri r
A member of the Munson Traffic Com
mittee has quit, criticizing the metho
the facilitator has employed to guide th
group toward a solution to traffic prob
lems on Munson Avenue and in the Co
L lege Hills area.
Franklin Waddell's letter, made publi
Tuesday, was dated Sept. 4 and addresse
to College Station City Manager Ski
Noe. Waddell wrote that the Nomina
}. Group Technique, which uses smal
groups to identify and rank the impo
tance of issues, would not "yield an
worthwhile results acceptable to th
x majority of committee members, th
Council or the general public."
His resignation leaves 27 members o
the committee, which spent Tuesda
night defining the boundaries that defm
the College Hills area neighborhood an
the scope of traffic solutions. The co -
mittee decided that all single - family pro -
erties in the area bounded by Texas E,
Texas Avenue, Harvey Road and Unive -
sity Drive will define the committee'
study area.
The committee also was given traffi
volume figures compiled since Colleg
Hills Elementary School opened an
Texas A &M University students return
for the fall semester. Committee spokes-
woman Joan Perry said the trial closur
of Munson Avenue and Dominik Dri
produced some surprises — certai
streets, like Westover Street, that we
expected to carry the brunt of diverte
traffic showed less gain than the area f
Dominik Drive and Puryear Drive. Traf-
fic counts on the latter stretch jum
from about 1,400 vehicles per day to 2,
due largely to traffic finding its way to
Please see MUNSON, Page A10
Munson
From A9 919
the elementary school and stu-
dents finding alternative routes
through the area from the multi-
family residences on Harvey
Road.
Other streets also recorded
increases: Walton Drive (1,775
total vehicles per day); Gilchrist
Street (828), and Munson
Avenue south of Dominik Drive
(4,829).
The committee also formal-
ized its definition of neighbor-
hood integrity to read: "A neigh-
borhood is the service district
for neighborhood facilities such
as an elementary school, parks,
playgrounds and the neighbor-
hood shopping centers all within
convenient and safe walking dis-
tance to residential areas; the
integrity of a neighborhood is
�e safety, convenience and
nse of place' which must be
intained by discouraging
•ough traffic, ensuring public
.ety and maintaining com-
mly held values."
The committee will hold two
five more meetings, according
Ed Broussard, assistant to the
.ty manager. The committee
as formed at the request of the
ity Council, which is looking to
ae group to recommend a per -
'ianent solution to the traffic
roblems in the College Hills
.rea. A facilitator, Bruce Nor -
on, was hired by the city to
aide the committee in its work.
•
E
Councilq
to discuss
inquiry
C agenda to include
A derson investigation
By B B SCHOBER
Eagl Staff Writer
into
Cow
ager
meet
Cc
Esm
the
tion'
ager.
City
Carg
A
gran
Ands
alleg
in A
spec
dire(
men
tion
Ca
letter
addr
Texe
for a
jury
tion'
Of
College Station City Council inquiry
)ossible City Charter violations by
:ilman Swiki Anderson will be on the
a when the council
Thursday.
mcilman Steve
nd requested that
ngoing "investiga-
be placed on the
la for discussion,
Attorney Harvey
11 said.
Brazos County ANDERSON
I jury no -billed
°son on Aug. 5 after investigating
tions that he voted on a city project
Lich he had a private interest. At a
d meeting Aug. 12, the City Council
ed Cargill to ask for grand jury docu-
relating to the Anderson investiga-
°om the district attorney's office.
gill on Tuesday received a copy of a
that District Attorney Bill Turner
ssed to the Opinion Committee of the
Attorney General's office that asked
opinion on the need to release grand
nformation per the city of College Sta-
request. Turner argued that the doc-
ts should not be delivered, but
n sealed.
ien the allegations are thoroughly
.igated and do not result in official
i, the target of the investigation
i be protected from the release of the
,utor's files and the primary investi-
s files ...." Turner wrote.
gill said he would report the receipt
letter to the council. He also said
was no time period within which the
on Committee must issue its ruling.
metimes, these things come back
ly, sometime they take months,"
Please see COUNCIL, Page A14
•
•
1 r-)
Is this der
ouncilmemt er Swiki
Anderson's article in The
Eagle on A . 23 inspired me
to reconsider wha it means to live
in a democracy.
In a democracy, dissent must be
present, for that is the mechanism
that causes us to Evaluate our opin-
ions. We must let the other fellow
have his say, whether that fellow is
in the majority or not. In a repre-
sentative democracy, we know that
fellow is likely representing a posi-
tion of many peop e.
These thoughts, and recent deal-
ings involving legalistic maneu-
vers, the "taking" of property and
stituents and for what he believes,
but has seldom swayed the majori-
ty.
Why does the city not take into
account local, technical expertise
when it could be to the taxpayers'
benefit? Perhaps some of the expen-
sive lawsuits could be circumvent-
ed.
There are several items that
cause us to wonder if we have a
democracy in this city and whose
real interests are being served. We
know it is not Councilman
Anderson's interest. Now who will
be next to provide information
allowing the grand jury and the dis-
trict attorney to investigate the
next council member?
D.G. BARBEE
College Station
Una
in College Station V
T he unanswered question in
the College Station City
Council investigation of
Swiki Anderson is who is behind
the politically motivated charges?
Anderson, in his attempt to bring
accountability to past city actions,
has stepped on toes. Many city
staffers and some council persons
would like him off the council.
Their problem is the attempt to
have him indicted backfired. He
was no- billed.
The charge against Anderson
relates to the tax- abatement agree-
ment between the city, C.F. Jordan
and Prodigene. He gave his busi-
ness card to Prodigene and attend-
ed a meeting about the proposed
project. It was rumored his firm
was working for Prodigene. C.F.
Jordan and Prodigene have both
said that there is no business rela-
tionship between them and
Anderson. Anderson has denied
any improper relationship.
The mayor says that the council
is required to investigate. The
agenda for the special council
meeting Aug. 12 carried a preamble
saying that Section 36 of the char-
ter made an investigation neces-
sary. This is not true. Section 36
gives the council the power to
investigate. It does not require an
investigation.
The charge is based on Section
131 of the City Charter, which pro-
hibits a council person from hav-
ing a financial or ownership inter-
est in a city contract. It also pro-
hibits a council person from hav-
ing an interest in the sale of land,
material or service to the city.
Section 131 does not prohibit
Anderson's firm from providing
services to a company in a situa-
tion where the city is buying noth-
ing from that company.
Since Anderson has been no-
billed, the council's pursuit of an
investigation is political. The pub-
lic needs to know who brought the
charges. Was it someone on the
council or the city staff?
I recently learned the mayor is
trying to sweep the investigation
under the rug. She should sponsor
a resolution exonerating Anderson
and apologizing to him.
DICK BIRDWELL
College Station
�1_
CS to enforced
parking ordinance
The city of College Station will
implement its special -event park-
ing ordinance for the Texas A &M
University football game Saturday
from 5 p.m. until the game is over.
The ordinance allows parking in
the Southside area, from Timber
Street to Wellborn and from
George Bush to Luther, only on
the side of the street that does
not have posted special event
parking signs.
This is the fourth year these
rules have been implemented to
allow access by emergency vehi-
cles to the Southside area.
Contact Jon Mies, College Sta-
tion fire marshal, at 764 -6363 for
more information.
E
•
Council O
College Station plan calls
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Coun-
cil unanimously approved on
Thursday a $119.5 million fiscal
1999 budget that calls for six more
police officers, a new ambulance
and crew and street projects.
The budget calls for sanitation
rate decreases and no utility rate
increases. The budget also post-
pones for a second year a project-
ed increase in wastewater rates.
Former Councilman Dick Bird-
well urged the council to rescind
x:19.5 million budget
six more . police officers, ambulance, road work
a proposed funding in
for
curbside recycling ca4ling
the
program a "very ineffi
'ent way
to be environmen
y con-
scious." But Mayor L
McII-
haney said residents
le
pported
the program, which
brought
state recognition of
city's
recycling efforts.
City staff had origina
ly called
for an ad valorem tax
reduc-
tion of $•0102 per $100 ol
assessed
valuation — equal 13
about
$194,000 in tax levy, acc
rding to
City Manager Skip Noe.
But the council's vote
included
■ Anderson cleared /Al
an amendment by Councilman
David Hickson to keep the cur-
rent tax rate of $.4293 and devote
the $194,000 to "debt avoidance."
The council will adopt the pro-
posed tax rate Sept. 24.
In other business, the council
voted 5.1 to study further the
issue of televising City Council
meetings.
The council also approved the
Wolf Pen Creek Corridor hnple-
mentation Plan and asked city
staff to consult with other city
committees to recommend a list
of potential members for a pro-
posed Wolf Pen Creek Oversight
Committee.
The council also authorized
staff to enter into an agreement
with the 12th Man Foundation.
The group would like to install
banners on public streets adja-
cent to the Texas A&M Universi-
ty campus.
The council also approved the
rezoning of sections of a 63.698 -
acre parcel located west of West
Ridge subdivision. During a pub-
lic hearing, several residents of
an adjacent neighborhood urged
the council to review drainage
problems in the area and asked
that some more expensive houses
— about $175,000 minimum — he
built along the dividing line
between the two subdivisions.
The council decided to approve
the rezoning of areas planned for
duplexes, neighborhood commer-
cial and general commercial, but
voted to send the rezoning
request for an area proposed for
single -family homes back to the
Planning and Zoning Committee
"for a different configuration."
•
11
Anderson
cleared of
allegatio s
BYOB SCHOBER `
�agl Staff Writer
The city of College Station's investigation of Coun-
cilmIn Swiki Anderson ended Thursday when the
City Council unanimously conclud-
ed that Anderson had not violated
the City Charter.
The exoneration followed a heat-
ed debate lasting more than one
hour punctuated by angry con-
frontations and repeated raps of
May (r Lynn McIlhaney's gavel to
resto e order.
Citv Attorney Harvey Cargill ANDERSON
began by stating that the documents
in th city's possession relating to allegations that
Ande son engaged in a conflict of interest showed that
"And rson did not violate the Charter."
Several council members, however, questioned
whetl er Anderson had showed "intent" to engage in a
contract with a company that had received financial
incen 'ves from the city even though Anderson never
contracted with any of the companies involved.
Cargill said that if Anderson had signed a contract,
he would have been in criminal violation of the Char-
ter.
Please see ANDERSON, Page A2
I'�
the grand jury investigation from
Anderson
the district attorney's office.
Tuesday received a
Cargill on
copy of a letter District Attorney
Bill Turner had addressed to the
[ F: : r:o:m Al
Opinion Committee of the Texas
Councilwoman Anne Hazen
Attorney General's Office in
argued the
said she hadsviolated the Chart um
Anderson
which
iTurner ou d g main ealed
the
ter an d made ion to censure
Her motion was defeat
Cargill
Opinions Committeeacouldttake
Anderson.
ed 4 -3 with Hazen and Councilmen
months to make a decision.
on
Larr y Mariott and Ron Silvia vot
thTh council's ge as rhur a a
ing in favor, and Anderson, Coun
Steve Esmond and David
during pr request. Esmond had meetings
cilmen
Hickson voting against. «it's
demanded that the , investiga-
McIlhaney, who stated,
hard to believe that the intent was
tion" end. Anderson claimed
Thursday,
not [there]," nevertheless voted
the motion and broke the
council
ry t vemembers
and be t
against
tie.
Esmond's motion "Councilman
,
I to ons
at
on this council hemently denied.
McIlhansae
Anderson has not violated the
with your statement
Charter," was then unanimously
We have not in any form or
approved.
At one point argument among
fashion created this," McIlhaney
said. She asked the council "to put
council members became so con
that McIlhaney called a
this behind us and move for -
tentious
10- minute recess to let tempers
"" McIlhaney also told council
cool.
Anderson was no-billed Aug.
Y
consult
withbthe t cit they attorney if they
by a Brazos County grand could lead to
he
that investigated allegations
had voted on a city project ae conflict of interest,
Afterwards, Anderson said he
which he had a prior interest. At
a
"pleased w nthed put
special meeting Aug. 12, the coup- was
hattthey
for but I'm disappointed
c il
directed Cargill to ask trial."
documents relating to me through
grand jury
ra
Citizen's duty
Eagle photo /Butch Ireland
Judy Warren from the College Station zoning board of adjusters,
speaks withlSteve Beachy, director of College Station Parks and
Recreation, t the city's Citizen's Appreciation Banquet at the Peb-
ble Creek Country Club on Tuesday. The city of College Station threw
a party Tuesday night to thank all the residents who volunteered their
time to serve on the many city committees, boards and other groups.
r
U
"Skeeters
ve B -CS
s Vatting
Expert says culprit
carries no diseases
By BOB SCHOBER Nq
Eagle taff Writer
The rain that has delivered the Brazos Val-
ley from drought has afflicted a winged plague
— mo quitoes by the billions.
I%, ExpE rts say there is one consolation: These
mosqu toes are not the disease - bearing kind
prevalent last spring that carried St. Louis
"Thc se have all been washed out [by the
rains],:' Texas A &M University entomology
profesE or Jimmy Olson said Friday. "These are
just flat annoying."
Them are two types of mosquitoes now on
the wing — Asian Tigers, which love old tires,
flower pots and bird baths for breeding, and
those called floodwater mosquitoes that breed
and lurk in grasslands, pastures and the edges
of forests. They all hatched about a week ago
when rains from Tropical Storm Frances start-
ed pud Hing throughout the area, he said.
The arger black mosquitoes, which actually
have p irple legs, hatched from eggs laid in cat-
tle foo prints. They are moving through the
area fr m pastures about 10 to 15 miles to the
southe ist, Olson said. They are ferocious
biters and terribly hungry.
"Even some of our best repellents don't work
against them because their blood lust exceeds
their sensitivity to the repellents," he said.
With luck, meaning a period of sunshine and
cooler temperatures, this current crop that
"came ard, bit hard" will leave and die in a
few da3 s, Olson said.
Please see OUTBREAK, Page A2
Outbreak
F -�
It's gust really bad right now,"
he said.
But tropical storms brewing in
the Gulf of Mexico may bring
more rain and new generations
Of mosquitoes if temperatures
stay in the 80s and 90s, Olson
said.
"The only thing that will shut
them down is cold weather, and
60 degrees seems to be the magic
temperature," he said.
So what can people do?
To get rid of the bird -bath and
small- container - loving Asian
Tigers, dump all outdoor pots,
buckets or any containers hold-
ing standing water. Flush out
bird baths every three days.
And the floodwater mosqui-
toes?
"Grab your latest copy of Read-
ers Digest or the Starr Report, go
inside and settle into your
favorite chair," Olson said,
laughing.
Bryan City Manager Mike Con -
duff said city crews are respond-
ing to complaints by fogging and
"larviciding" standing water
with chemicals. Public Works
director Rick Conner said crews
are stepping up larviciding
efforts by seeding every wet area
in the city within 14 days, rather
than the usual 30 days.
"We're also fogging on
request," he said.
But falling rain washes the lar-
vicide away, which leaves Col-
ard, Beachy said.
lege Station residents in a fix:
The city does not use adulticide
sprays. City crews, however,
have been putting out larvicide
Pellets in drainage ways and in
standing pools, and Parks and
Recreation Department employ-
ees have been seeding park
Ponds with the chemicals.
Homeowners can buy mosqui-
to larvicide in stores, Parks and
Recreation Department director
Steve Beachy said.
Residents can make a stand
against the stinging hordes by
clearing weeds and tall grasses
from their yards and staying
indoors at dusk and dawn when
mosquitoes most love to feed, he
said.
But no matter what people do,
mosquitoes are going to be here.
"So swat h 11
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: Df 231 I
CS council to ado tax ra
to
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Council will dis-
cuss and approve a tax rate Thursday to
fund the fiscal 1999 budget.
On Sept. 10, the council adopted the bud
get and decided to keep the current tax rate
of $.4293 per $100 of assessed valuation. The
council could reduce the tax rate for final
adoption, because the budget assumed a
new tax rate of $.4191, a reduction of $.0102.
In other business, the council will con-
sider approving a $112,795 forgivable, five -
Year loan to improve the exterior of a
vacant building being remodeled into a
C Alk
of IN thg ate
Northgate area staurant.
Don Ganter, a wrier of the Dixie Chicken
bar, would rea 4ve the Facade Improve-
ment Program loan after putting up $46,912
in matching I ands under a formula
approved by the Facade Improvement Pro-
gram Advisory . The loan would be
used to Inak exterior and handicapped
accessible interior improvements to a
vacant house at 303 Boyett St. that exceed
minimum city code requirements. Archi-
tectural plans show exterior embellish-
ments that will enhance the area, Jo Car-
roll, Community Development administra-
tor, said.
The loan is forgivable over five years,
and the city would hold a lien on the prop-
erty to ensure compliance with the pro-
gram's requirements.
The Facade Improvement Program was
set up by the City Council an d uses federal
community velopment block funds
grant
from the U.S. de Department of Housing and
Urban Development.
The total cost of the project, including
exterior and interior improvements, is
$256,700, Carroll said.
The council will also hold a public hear-
ing on and discuss a request to rezone
about 2.29 acres located on the south side of
F.M. 2818 at the future Dartmouth exten-
sion from single family to R&D research
Please see COUNCIL, Page A14
C to build a carport
r
L_ -J
Members to consider approval
improvement loan
Department. at the Police
homes and receive a
From q9
III Consideration of a contract
to construct six
report
the detailing � bids for
Y contract.
single-family
houses with federal funds
The cu
current contract calls for ,
and development. Theo
Poses to establish owner
o
pro-
ce ser
which
will be sold to eligible first -time
home buyers. The bids
price increase
the ci ease Jan• n f ac but
the option of accept -
vice center on the site
Other items b e f ore the
from $58,0,50 to 0
the will be b�' Three of
homes
mg the increase from Dallas.
based TU Electric or
include:
council
Street, two on Southland on Banks
seeking
other suppliers.
■The purchase and
tion of street
talla-
and one on Carolina
a Si t �t
era] HO
heki The one rksho session th be
banners
Texas Avenue between U
tY Avenue
along
•versi_
construct do be used for
d Payment
assistance.
4 p.m. Thursda , at
Council Ch Y m the City Hall
ambers, 1101
and George Bush
Drive. The cost of the r
$ p Q1ect
During the worksho
the council will discuss aroios-
Texas
Ave. The regular session will be
held at 7 p.tn, in the same loca.
■ Action on a $24,999 contract
m a] to revise the mini P pos-
tion requirements for o �a�
tion.
For more information,
—
res
3 call 764-
r
L_ -J
Members to consider approval
improvement loan
The Eagle
City of College Station News
i Date:
n �
R \V
College Station
Mosquito
number
is out of control
would like to
address the mos-
quito problein
which is plagu-
ing the College
Station area.
I have a city cziendar
which has
a page inside it 1
sting different
departments for
special assistance.
hose in need of More important, the people at the
Low and behold mosquito control office
— there is actual
"Mosquito Control."
actually
y a listing for would have something to do, since
they do not use their
Feeling some relief,
to call the numbe
time to spray
I proceeded on a regular basi
message stating t
where I left a I feel waiting for the diseased
at I wanted the mosquitoes to show is
area sprayed. My
returned, only to
up waiting
call was until it is too late. Why doesn't the
and out that
College Station h
city do the responsible thing and
s not sprayed for invest
three years. So I z
do we have a mos
in sprayers, chemicals and
in thinking, why manpower? Be proactive rather
juito control
number?
than reactive.
Come to find ou
Instead, the city way of control-
, they do drop ling the mosquito population is to
some kind of tablet
water which is '
into stagnant depend on residents to eliminate
sted with dis-
ease - carrying mos
standing water and to keep their
uitoes. Now I grass cut. If this is "the plan," then
am wondering, ho
if
do they know why aren't the neighborhoods
a mosquito is di
I figure any mos
ease - infested? patrolled and citations given to
uito that blows those who are not
into town or is bor,
limits must go by t
participating in
i within the city "the plan"?
ie mosquito I
control office for t
guess the city is too busy as
is before they have their hands full testing
receiving a license
the area and
o fly through all those mosquitoes for disease.
suck t
College Station resi
ie blood of CATHERINE RICE
ients.
College Station
C
L•`
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: St
Page A10
The Bryan - College St ation Eagle
Tuesday, September 29, 1998
2 -9 1)99(5
2nd meeting
A &M Student Senate commit
By COLLEEN KAVANAGH
le Staff Writer
exas A &M University students
and community members will
meet Tuesday to discuss ways to
eliminate incidents of harassment
Of international students in the
Northgate area.
The meeting, scheduled for 8:30
p.m. in Rudder 401, is the second
meeting organized by the Student
Senate's external affairs commit-
tee to gather input on possible
solutions, officials said.
"This is going to be difficult to
change, but I think if we get
enough people involved and
spread the word, it'll
Chandria Mercer, pres
Campus Aggies and a i
ronmental studies maj
She said her organim
ing to make people av
problem and help stul
more about internat
dents. "We can't nu
change their views ove
I think learning more
other will be the best tl
"This is not just ha
Northgate," she said. "I
ing to promote awaren
and help theses stude
the incidents."
Ideas brought up a
set on Northgate
seeks ways to end harassment of international students
racism
dp," said
meeting to combat racism include
ant of Off
picnics, a Northgate International
iior envi-
Festival and other social gather-
ings for all A&M students. Many
on is try-
organizations including Student
re of the
Government, the International
Its learn
Student Association, the Resi-
nal stu-
dence Hall Association, Off Cam-
e people
pus Aggies, the Graduate Student
fight, but
Council and the Memorial Stu.
out each
dent Center were represented.
L9."
David Byrd, chair of the com-
ing at
mittee and a graduate student in
are try-
agricultural education, said he
s of this
wants representatives from the
s report
organizations to update students
Tuesday on where they have come
the last
since the last meeting.
"This forum has a loose agen-
da," he said. "We want to find out
where everyone's at, then go
through other ideas.
The best thing about these
meetings is they give organiza-
tions that haven't worked togeth-
er in the past the chance to meet
each other and find solutions
together."
College Station Mayor Lynn
MaclIhaney said city officials are
aware of the situation and are
working with the police depart-
ment to alleviate problems in the
Northgate area, including the res-
idential areas behind the strip of
bars on University Drive.
"We have community - oriente
Policing in the Northgate area, s
Police officers are over there on
regular basis getting to know pe
ple in the area," she said. "D
glad to hear more people are con
ing forward because we can
address the problem unless N
know about it."
4, - WWI
The Battalion
City of College Station News
Date Sept. 30, 1998
Northga:
BY JOE SCHUMACHER
The Battalion
The External Affairs comr
of the Student Senate held
low -up meeting addressing t
sue of alleged racially -moti
assaults in the Northgate ar(
The committee agreed to
planning various events, su
forums and celebrations of di
ty to raise awareness of this i
Tatsuki Ohashi, preside:
the International Student A:
ation and a senior internat
studies and history major, i
groups not to focus on the i
tive events that have happ
but to recognize various int
tional culture events that hai
cently occurred.
Amy Magee, Speaker o1
Student Senate and a senior
QJaol9s
racism story goes here
chology major; Suzanne Drolesky,
director of international student
activities and Ohashi all met Fri-
day to discuss issues that they felt
needed to be targeted.
The three said one of the major
problems was the students' rela-
tionship with businesses in the
Northgate area.
Many international students
have complained of being treated
rudely or unfairly by some busi-
nesses in the area.
Magee suggested having inter-
national students go to local
schools and work with children to
improve community relations.
"Elementary age children will
see students and incorporate them
into their knowledge base, which
will foster a growing knowledge
and respect for people of other
cultures," Magee said.
Drolesky said the responsibil-
ity of dealing with the racism in
Northgate lies with students.
Michael "Hoy" Haughey, presi-
dent of Residence Hall Association
and a senior mathematics major,
recommended a forum be held,
discussing racial issues. Haughey
cited the success of the NAACP's
"Say What You Want to Say" fo-
rum Monday as an example.
Lt. Chris Farris of the Bryan Po-
lice Department attended the
meeting.
He said that a lack of reporting
is the primary reason the BPD has
not played an active role in the pa-
trolling the Northgate area.
He also said he thought BPD
had not been notified of the al-
leged racial incidents.
On
The Battalion
City of College Station News
ate: October 2, 1998
`%W
Munson ca
seeks traffi
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer �L I
The Munson Traffic Commit- Bi
tee on Thursday night voted to m
ask the College Station City
Council to conduct three more fo
traffic trials in the Munson w:
Avenue area to collect more data A
while the committee continues to
to search for a permanent solu- A
tion to traffic problems in the —
College Hills neighborhood.
mmittee
c trials
ie committee's recommenda-
will be on the council's
ida Oct. 8, according to Ed
xssard, assistant to the city
lager.
fie trials each would be run
about two months, starting
i a full closure of Munson
nue at Holt Street and fol-
?d by the closure of Munson
nue at Gilchrist Avenue. The
see MUNSON, Page A6
i
Munson
third trial would remove the
barricades at Munson Ave ue
and Dominik Drive, commi ee
spokeswoman Joan Perry sa
The decision upset sev al
members;; who questioned v�hy
the committee would continue
to meet if the council agreeq to
the new trials. 11
"I think it will be impossible
for us to work on a solution nlow
that we have stepped back i to
the data - collection phase," M e
McMichen said.
Rosie Schoenfeld said she as
upset because "what was �p-
posed to be a two -month b ial
measure has now turned int) a
six -month trial measure."
And Elaine Crouse said,
this needs to go to the City
Council on their plate and fi let
them decide."
Committee facilitator Brace
Norton said the trials wre
intended to remove the
headaches caused by the exfst-
ing barricades at Munson
Avenue and Dominik Drive.
"The group decided to dal
with the temporary issue ,on
Munson because a lot of people
in the community are interested
in reducing the current incon-
venience. Plus, this gives u$ a
chance to continue to look for a
permanent solution," he said:
The city is paying Norton
$100, an hour to act as facilitator
and mediator. Not includ}ng
Thursday's meeting, Brouss rd
said Norton has been p�id
$3,325, and the city also as
spent $175 on meals for he
group.
A second committee member
resigned Tuesday, reducing the
committee to 26. In a letter to
City Manager Skip Noe, Shar-
ron Knutson, 1011 Rose Circle,
said strong differences with
some members, city staff ' nd
the decision process compered
her to quit the committee. }
As a result, the committee
decided Thursday that 18 mlm-
bers must be present to conduct
business, rather than 21. r'he
issue was brought up, members
said, because seven mem rs
left the last meeting, whicli eft
only 17. — less than the agreed -
upon quorum — to conduct
business. j
The committee also revieted
15 sets of alternative solutitns
submitted by members, which
city staff distilled to five sugdes-
tions to be discussed at later
meetings:
■ Keep speed humps on Mun-
son and install a median. on
Francis Drive at Ashburn
Avenue.
■ Keep the speed humps on
Munson, but install a median on
Francis at Ashburn and on Lin-
coln at Munson.
■ Keep the speed humps on
Munson, but eliminate nobth-
bound entry at Munson north of
Gilchrist and install a median at
Francis and Ashburn.
■ Close Munson at Holt,
install a median on Francis at
Ashburn, and keep the speed
humps on Munson between Lin-
coln and Francis.
■ Install gateways, chokers
and raised crosswalks to calm
traffic.
The committee also will Con-
sider two other ideas that repre-
sent extreme solutions. The
first idea calls for widening
Munson to four lanes, while the
second would close Munson
between Gilchrist and Dommik
Drive.
43
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: October 7, 1998
CS counci
to conside
street plan
Panel will present
Munson proposals
By KELLI LEVEY ' �y�
Eagle Staff Writer (�
College Station City Coun it
members plan to hear recoinm -
dations Thursday from the M -
son Avenue Traffic Committ e
regarding barricades in the C)1-
lege Hills neighborhood.
The citizens committee is seek-
ing council approval of a series of
temporary trials for managing
traffic through the Munson
Avenue area. The common goal of
the three trials, according to c ty
officials, is to improve accessi il-
ity to College Hills Elementary
School.
The council first voted about 18
months ago to close Munson
Avenue at Dominik Drive to try
to reduce traffic in the resident al
area. A 28- member committee
was formed in August to help the
council find a solution to the
problems created when as in y
as 7,000 cars a day drove thro h
Council
From Al
the neighborhood.
The three phases include clos-
ing Munson Avenue at Holt
Street, closing Munson at
Gilchrist Avenue and removing
the barricades from Munson —
all done independently of each
other. During the third phase, the
stop signs and speed humps that
have been added along Munson
would remain.
The estimated cost of the rec-
ommendations is $10,700 — main-
ly from the cost to move the bar-
ricades.
City Manager Skip Noe said
Tuesday that the trials were
timed to coincide with the semes.
ters at Texas A &M University.
Each would run for about two
months.
"The idea is, at the end of the
spring semester the committee
would have data on the three tri-
als," Noe said. "This is not a per-
manent solution. The committee
will keep meeting and their
intent remains to go back to the
table in the spring and decide
which option is best."
The council also plans to con-
sider an ethics ordinance, a pro-
posed groundwater conservation
district for Brazos and Robertson
counties, zoning change requests
and about $86,000 in improve-
ments at the Lincoln Center.
Thursday's council meeting
will begin at 7 p.m. in the council
chambers at City Hall, 1101 Texas
Ave. A council workshop is
scheduled at 3 p.m.
Please see COUNCIL, Page
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: October 9, 1998
Munsociosed
permanently
Council rejects panel's advice
By KELLI LEVEY
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Coun-
cil voted unanimously Thursday
night to erect a permanent barri-
cade at Munson Avenue and
Dominick Drive, effectively dis-
solving a citizens' committee that
has been studying the issue.
The Munson Avenue Traffic
Committee had recommended to
the council three trial closures of
treets in the College Hills neigh -
rhood through which as many
s 7,000 cars had been traveling
daily.
About 15 residents spoke on the
topic and described discord
among the committee members.
Then, just before midnight, the
council surprised the crowd with
its vote on the permanent barri-
cade — which was not one of the
committee's recommendations.
Several council members
thanked the 28 members of the
committee, which was formed in
August after the council had tried
various solutions to ease traffic
congestion in the area for more
than a year.
City anager Skip Noe said
city staf members will research
design options for what was
called a "911 gate," which emer-
gency vehicles will have the abili-
ty to o n.
"We'll also work with people
who eit ier live in or own houses
in that ," he said.
Coun ilman David Hickson's
motion for the permanent barri-
cade o instructed city staff to
research a barrier on Ashburn
Street. The overflowing crowd
then a plauded when Council-
man St ve Esmond asked for fur-
ther sti dy on the traffic patterns
of surrounding streets.
"I do 't want to turn loose of
this si anon yet until we've qui-
See MUNSON, Page A2
Munson
From Al
eted the whole neighborhood,'
Esmond said. d
Council members also asked
Noe to communicate with school;
officials about lessening the
inconvenience for residents out-
side the neighborhood whose
children attgnd College Hills Ele-
mentary School.
"I feel for the families in Wind-
wood, Raintree and Emerald
merald For='
est [subdivisions] for the harct'
ship it has -placed on them getting.
their children to school," commit-
tee member Sharon Coulson sai4 -
after the meeting.
During an afternoon workshop;;
council members approved final'
changes in an ethics ordinance
and asked that it be put on the° -
agenda of a future meeting. - "I
The council has been wor"'
on the policy since Septemb6y,r
1997, when Mayor Lynn McRvI
haney proposed a stronger polic{►'
for council members that coup;
include sanctions against ethic
code violators. At that time, shg"
called the current ethics code V
"gentlemen's agreement" that.
has no sanctions.
An earlier version of the ordi=
nance required the city attorney
to make the initial determination
of whether a complaint should be-
investigated by the full commit-
tee before being presented to the
City Council. In the revised ver-
sion discussed Thursday, the
chairman of the ethics committee
would decide.
City Attorney Harvey Cargill
said the committee chairman'
could seek guidance from the city„
attorney, the county attorney or
the district attorney. ` "}
"I would probably go with Hat'd
vey's recommendation," Coumftl
man Larry Mariott said, "particu
larly if we're trying to keep this
as confidential as possible, which'
you want to do with an ethics'
complaint."
The council also approved
changes to the agenda packeg
that are assembled for each meet'
ing as a first step toward a "paper+
less council," which receives its
information electronically._
Some changes will be impIg
mented. immediately, based d#I
input from individual interviews
with council members. Otte-
immediate change is to revise the'
regular_ meeting times to 6 p.m. �''
The council plans to evaluate
the changes in January and, ff
they approve an electronic agent-'
da packet, order the technolod
The council, also approved a reW
lution supporting a joint grounds
water conservation 'district Iff
Brazos and RobertsM counties. -
The Eagle
City of College Station News
ate: October 10, 1998
B -CS
second
for low I'ving costs
By BLAIR FANNIN
Eagle Staff' Writer
The Bryan- College Station a
ranks as the state's second lE
expensive community to 1
among 30 cities, according b
recent survey by the Amerb
Chamber of Comme
Researchers Association.
In its second - quarter cost -of-
ing index, the survey also rai
the Bryan- College Station area
the ninth least expensive i
community of 323 cities nati
wide.
Using 100 percent as the ai
age cost-of-living index for the
surveyed cities, the Bryan-(
lege Station area rated 88.7 I
cent — 11.3 percent below
national average. Philadelp
rated 122.1 percent, followed
New York City at 230.2 perc(
San Diego at 123 percent, and
Boston at 133.8 percent.
The Bryan- College Station Eco-
ea nomic Development Corp. uses
tst the cost-of-living index as part of
ve its nationwide industry recruit -
a ing and marketing efforts.
an "Basically, what happens is
ice when an industrial prospect
looks at a community, they will
iv- look first at the labor force, then
ks kind of go down the line and look
as at our tax rate, business parks,
.S. utility costs ... then one of the
)n- final things they look at is quality
of life and how their employees
ar- will fit in," said Frank Murphy,
123 an economic developer with the
ol- Bryan- College Station Economic
3r- Development Corp.
he "For instance, if someone in
da Bryan or College Station is mak-
by Wg $35,000 and got an offer to go
nt, to the northern part of Dallas and
Surve
health care and many other sp,P
cific goods and services like piz-
zas, haircuts, dry cleaning;
movies and beauty salon visits.
The survey covered about 60 sepa
rate consumer purchase items
with personal pricing checks
made at as many as eight separate
locations for each item surveyed,
totaling 500 retail inquiries. , ,
Paris led all Texas cities at 87.7
percent, followed by the Bryan
College Station area at 88.7 per-
cent. Midland came in at 89.3 pen
cent.
Murphy also noted this is the
first time the area has been con
sistent in all of the areas included
in the survey.
"Historically, we have mea;
cured well because we have good,,
healthy retail competition and
A &M is here," Murphy said.
Average cost of living = 100%
Paris ......................87.7
B- CS ......................88.7
Midland .................89.3
Odessa ..................89.6
Weatherford ...........89.9
San Antonio ...........90.0
Texarkana ..............90.0
Waco .....................90.1
Lubbock .................91.0
Brownsville ............91.5
Wichita Falls ..........91.7
Source: American Chamber of Commerce
Researchers Association
make $40,000, it's going to be a
wash," he said Friday.
Most of the consumer areas
surveyed included grocery items,
housing, utilities, transportation,
See SURVEY, Page A6
is
r`.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: October 10, 1998
tkin
ouncil cites safety
in Munson closure
By�PAT ABERNATHEY
Ea le Staff Writer
embers of the College Station City Council
sai J Friday that it was time for them to make
a ecision regarding Munson Avenue — so
they did.
The council voted . unanimously just before
mi Inight Thursday to erect a permanent bar-
ricade at Munson Avenue and Dominick
Dr ve — effectively dissolving a citizens' com-
mi ee that had been studying the issue.
Before the vote,
thE Munson
Avenue Traffic < <I felt like we
Co nmittee had
recommended to really just put it
thE council three [Munson] back
trial closures of th way it was>
streets in the Col- S'
lege Hills neigh _ DAVID HICKSON
bo hood.
ouncilman CS councilman
Da vid Hickson,
w said he grew up at Foster Avenue and
Miner Drive and attended CoRcge Hills Ele-
mentary School, said Friday that the council
ret rned the integrity of the neighborhood
wi h its vote.
'Obviously, with all the traffic that has
come into the neighborhood, it makes it very
d' icult for people to exist in an environment
that is conducive to raising a family and walk-
inj down the street without worrying about 50
ca s whizzing by you," he said.
ickson said the action taking by the coun-
cil while not popular with some people, would
he p the neighborhood get back to a safer way
of ife. He said the decision to bypass the com-
mi ee and make a choice came down to a feel-
See MUNSON, Page AS
News
Munson
ing of needing to do something.
"This was a very difficult deci-
sion for a council to make on its
own, so we wanted the committee
to help us out," he said. "Unfortu-
nately, the committee meetings
were not going well. We decided
last night in the best interest of
the neighborhood and made a
decision."
Hickson said so many ideas
were given by members of the
committee about the issue that
the council took a stand.
"Rather than continuing the
hard feelings, we decided to go
ahead and bite the bullet and take
the blame or the kudos, depend-
ing on what side you were on," he
said.
The former council, Hickson
said, created the problem in the
mid -1980s by opening the street to
Lincoln Avenue:
"I felt like we really just put it
back the way it was," he said.
Councilman Larry Mariott
said he felt the council should
make the decision after the com-
mittee could not agree.
"I thought it was important
that the council take back control
over this issue," he said. "We had
neighbor fighting neighbor,
when we really should make the
decision."
Mariott said the council tried
to think of what would be a "win -
win" situation, which was one of
the considerations in the installa-
tion of the 911 gate.
The gate, which will be
researched by city staff members,
would allow emergency vehicles
to pass through. Mariott said it
might be opened to allow access
to the elementary school.
"When you look at that area,
the neighborhoods don't have the
wide streets — it was built 40 or
50 years ago," he said. "With the
student population nearby, it just
made it unbearable.
"There are an awful lot of
streets in this town that are cul-
de -sacs, and really we just made
it back into a cul -de -sac, which it
was before," he said.
Mariott said residents can
drive down the street, but they
can't drive through. He said a few
issues regarding the 911 gate
remain to be resolved but, as far
as the council is concerned, the
issue is finished.
"We will close Munson, remove
the stop signs and speed humps
and keep it closed," he said.
Some of the items the council
directed staff to undertake are:
■ Remove the speed bumps on
Munson Avenue immediately fol-
lowing the installation of the 911
emergency gate
■ Work with the College Sta-
tion Independent School District
to determine what hours of the
day would be appropriate to leave
the 911 emergency gate open for
access for students and parents
going to College Hills Elementary
School.
■ Recommend that the appro-
priate placement of the 911 emer-
gency gate not be an imposition
on any family.
■ Report on the need of a medi-
an on Ashburn Avenue.
■ Monitor the streets near
Munson Avenue to determine the
effects of traffic throughout the
entire neighborhood.
Committee member Sharon
Colson, meanwhile, said she was
disappointed that the council
acted with what she said seemed
like little deliberation.
"It seems to me the hour was
very late. A number of people on
both sides of the issue addressed
it, but it was not listed as an open
discussion," she said. "A number
of interested parties probably did
not know they should have been
there in the meeting. My disap-
pointment is that they did not
allow more input on such a big
issue."
Colson said she felt the com-
mittee did not really put forth the
barricade idea as a permanent
solution, and the council's deci-
sion negated a lot of hard work
put in by people under tedious
circumstances.
"Everybody [on the committee]
did try to work together, and
everybody worked very hard,"
she said. "The best part of being
on the committee was I got to
know some wonderful people in
the greater neighborhood."
Colson said she didn't know if
the issue was dead.
"The residents have been con-
cerned, and I do not know if there
is a good solution," she said. "In
Planning for whatever the final
solution would be, I hope consid-
eration would be given to resi-
dents of Windwood and Raintree
who feel like they have been cut
off from their school."
The city, meanwhile, is paying
committee facilitator Bruce Nor-
ton $100 an hour. As of Oct. 1, city
officials said they had paid Nor-
ton $3,325, and the city paid $175
on meals for the group.
Edward Broussard, assistant to
the city manager, said Friday
that the final bill from Norton
has not come in yet. The city is
expecting the bill from the final
meeting to come in next week.
OCtoW 11,195'
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Bypassing the
citi en committee
•
or almost two months, members of College Station's
Munson Avenue Traffic Committee have been meeting
regularly in an effort to reach a consensus on how to
handle the arge amount of traffic on Munson Avenue, a nar-
row, winding residential street that had become a cut -
through for traffic between Bryan and Harvey Road.
The 28 rr embers of the committee were appointed by the
College Station City Council after years of complaints by res-
idents of the neighborhood, months of bickering by council
members and several trial measures to deal with the 7,000
vehicles a ay that were using Munson Avenue. The commit-
tee was charged with examining all aspects of the problem,
listening to anyone who had something to say, and then mak-
ing a recommendation for a solution to the council.
By all accounts, the committee's meetings were sometimes
acrimonio s, sometimes unproductive. The public won't
know for sure because the public was excluded from the ses-
sions. Some committee members quit in frustration, but those
who remai ed finally came up with a recommendation to the
City Coun it for three trial closures of streets in the College
Hills neigh orhood.
The comiiittee made that recommendation Thursday night
at a meet' g that drew a lot of citizen interest and lasted well
into the ni t. Finally, shortly before midnight, council mem-
bers decide to ignore their own committee and close Munson
Avenue at ominick Drive permanently. A "911 gate" will be
installed t allow emergency vehicles rapid access to the
neighborh od, but other vehicles will be blocked at that inter-
section.
The couilcil never should have appointed the committee.
Rather, council members should have considered city staff
recommendations, held public hearings and then reached a
decision o their own. That is what they are elected to do.
But once the committee was appointed and forced to meet
under a plethora of staff - decided restrictions, the council had
an obligation to give its recommendations greater due.
What's the point of having a committee if its suggestions are
to be igno ed? What kind of message does that send to others
asked to SE rve on a city committee?
Of course, the council was never under any obligation to do
anything tie committee recommended, but the trial closures
suggested 3y the committee certainly deserved greater con-
sideration
if city C uncil members hoped the committee would deflect
from themselves any criticism of whatever decision ultimate-
ly was made, they are wrong. People unhappy with the clos-
ing — and there will be many — will know whom to criticize.
Perhaps the Munson Avenue closure ordered by the council
is the bes solution to the Munson Avenue problem. But the
council di 't need a committee to help reach that decision.
reach ..
The Battalion
IL
City of College Station News
Date: October 13, 19
IC JAM
•
0
Munson venue barricade offends local
residents insults traffic committee
The years ha
lege Station. T]
A&M Universii
body has allow
into the respect
The College
however, by vot
Avenue, has de
of vocal citizen
than the resider
For years,
population hi
businesses, f:
property'and F
in city sales taa
Now those A
"second -class
members of th
mittee and are
lege Station Ci
Acting agai:
students and tl
of the city's, try
city council vol
manently close
After examir
cent of the traffi
remove the spe
cades that had
street and open
Council, howe
mmittee's rep
The comm
vested countle
looking into tl
situation. Th
pales in comp
of the small 1
Munson Avei
re been kind to Col -
ie growth of Texas
y and its student
, d the town to grow
ible city it is today.
tation City Council,
ng to close Munson
sided a small group
is more important
t students.
he A &M student
s attracted large
[led local rental
aid about as much
as in student fees.
;gies are dubbed
citizens" by some
city's traffic com-
ignored by the Col-
. Council.
►st the requests of
.e recommendation
ffic committee, the
ed Thursday to per -
Munson Avenue.
ing the issue, 60 per-
: committee voted to
.d humps and barri-
been placed on the
it to traffic. The City
per disreearded the
ee members in-
hours of research
Munson Avenue
effort evidently
son to the shouts
nd of outspoken
e residents who
petitioned the council to limit the
amount of traffic on their street. If
the council had no intention of
following the traffic committee's
analysis, they should never have
wasted the committee's time. In-
stead, the council ignored the
committee's suggestion and guar-
anteed no resolution to the city's
traffic problems.
No one denies the need for an-
other north -south passage in Col-
lege Station. Texas Avenue is con-
gested and Wellborn Road is too far
to the west for most drivers. Mun-
son, however, is considered unac-
ceptable by the council because it
lies in a residential' area. Unfortu-
nately, there is no other alternative.
The city's layout and zoning pre-
vents any other non - residential
north -south road from solving the
traffic problems.
The City Council acts as
though it only represents a small
subgroup of the city. The city is
comprised of more than just the
residents of Munson Avenue. The
council members seek to reap the
benefits of the University and its
student body with none of the
costs. A &M students not only con-
tribute to the city of College Sta-
tion, the city, in fact, grew up
around the University. Students
pay taxes, support businesses and
vote in College Station. The coun-
cil members could at least pretend
to respect them.
cite zens i
p
\\�( BY BETH MILLER
The Battalion
The College Station City Council
passed a motion last week taking
action to restrict traffic flow through
the College Hills neighborhood, but
citizens opposed to the barricades
and restrictions have not given up.
Mike McMichen, a former mem-
ber of the disbanded Munson Av-
enue Traffic Committee, said a
group of citizens against the city
council decision will gather Thurs-
day from 7 to 9 a.m. to encourage
voters to sign a petition to put the
Munson Avenue issue on an elec-
tion ballot. He said the majority of
the event's organizers were previ-
ously on the traffic committee. .
test Munson decision
McMichen said the gathering will
be an opportunity for College Station
voters to sign the petition, rather
than holding a rally. He said there
will not be any presentations made
or speakers present at the gathering.
If the group obtains the required
number of signatures, city officials
will certify the petition and call for
a special election; however, the bar-
ricade issue will not be put on the
election ballot this November be-
cause the petition will not be sub-
mitted to the city by the deadline.
McMichen said while the group
is required to obtain 1,010 valid sig-
natures, its goal is to obtain 1,200.
Kayla Glover, a committee mem-
ber and organizer of the petition,
said the group already has obtained
approximately 300 signatures from
College Hills residents and other
College Station citizens, many of
whom have children attending Col-
lege Hills Elementary School.
Glover said if the group does not
reach its goal Thursday morning, it
will offer voters another.opportunity
Saturday to sign the petition at the
south end of Dominik Drive.
Glover said she does not neces-
sarily favor any particular outcome
of the vote; rather, she is simply try=
ing to get the issue on a ballot.
"The main thing I am doing
with this is to get it on the ballot for
public vote," Glover said. "It's not
so much to open or close the street.
I feel the citizens should have the
right to vote."
•
The Eagle
City of College Station News
t Date: OC +r 14
Petition drive IO Iq -
slated on Munson
The barricades at Munson
Avenue and Dominik Drive will be
the site Thursday morning of a
petition drive to get an ordinance
on a future ballot that would pro-
hibit the city from closing any por-
tion of Munson Avenue.
College Station City Council last
week voted to permanently close
Munson Avenue at Dominik Drive.
Kayla Glover, who circulated an
earlier petition urging removal of
the temporary barricades, is
spearheading the drive. Petition-
ers must gather at least 1,010
signatures from registered voters
to get the issue on a ballot,
according to City Secretary Connie
Hooks.
Glover said volunteers will have
clipboards at the barricades from
6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Thursday to
gather signatures.
Glover was a member of the
Munson Avenue Traffic Committee
which studied various options for
relieving traffic problems in the
College Hills neighborhood. Last
Thursday, the College Station
Council disbanded the committee
and voted to permanently close
Munson Avenue at Dominik Drive
by replacing the barricades with a
911 gate.
•
The Eagle
City of College Station News
0
•
Date: 0
Closing Ps just a start
I would lil
who took
Avenue d
what some c
ed, the inabi
\ to come up v
way means t
were not suc
Munson com
not agree on
agree that sa
hood integrit
importance,
to the City C,
members bec
their neighbc
and, hopefull
as well as a s
will be the la
to thank everyone
)art in the Munson
liberations. Despite
:izens have suggest -
ty of the committee
th a solution in no
at its deliberations
essful. Whereas the
tittee members did
. solution, they did
Ay and neighbor -
were of primary
hich gave guidance
ancil. Committee
me acquainted with
s and their values
, some friendships
rise of community
g -term benefit.
Havmg rece tly moved out of
the neighborhood after having
lived on Muns n Avenue for 25
years, I can as ure you that it is a
great place live and rear a family.
I believe that ilies with young
children will a gain move back
into the area, i esidents will invest
money into re toring their homes
instead of mov g to new neigh-
borhoods, and he sidewalks and
streets will fill with cyclists and
pedestrians.
I understand there are individu-
als who are cir ulating a petition
to open Munsoi i. I hope if you are
asked to sign this, you will think
twice about doftig so. We as a city
q 0 191
need to move forward, to plan for
the growth that keeps coming.
Closing Munson Avenue with a
911 gate is only the beginning of
the solution. We must plan for
convenient access to College Hills
Elementary School, at the same
time protecting those children in
the neighborhood who walk or
ride a bike to school. We must
look at a sidewalk /bikeway on
Dominik Drive to provide safety
for our citizens. We must provide
for convenient access to Eastgate
from Lincoln Street, and look for
ways to divert traffic from Pur-
year Drive, Foster Avenue,
Walton Drive, Westover Street,
Ashburn Avenue and other neigh-
borhood streets.
ANNE HAZEN
Councilwoman
College Station
Election letter deadline
Oct. 26 is the last day that let-
ters to the editor concerning the
Nov. 3 general election will be
accepted by The Bryan - College
Station Eagle. All political letters
will run by Oct. 29. If space does
not permit printing all political let-
ters about particular candidates,
they will be printed in proportion
to the numbers received.
r�
U
The 500f& 1
City of College Station News
�W
(40,
Norl
plan
BY JOE
After seve:
assaults in N
Affairs Comm
Senate discus
combat the v
The meeti,
attended by
ernment Ass
Date: UC+. 151 l q92
i ate issue inspires
g
for forum vig
CHUMACHE Jt�\\
Battalion ll
meetings about the
hgate, the External
tee of the Student
I plans for action to
, held Tuesday, was.
rious Student Gov -
iation officials, the
international clubs
and the comm inity.
A forum to j 've students the op-
portunity to shi Lre their experiences
in Northgate is tentatively planned
for the end of t e month.
. Analiese Reii emeyer, president of
the Graduate St ident Council and a
political science I Xaduate student, said
the forum will r uire understanding
from the speakers and the audience.
"The students that speak will
have to have c urage to tell their
stories, and the listeners will have
to have the cour ge to listen and not
get defensive," leinemeyer said:
Officer Paul rice of the College
Station Police E epartment told the
committee impr ved sidewalks and
lighting, new bike lanes and
repaved streets are all on the Col-
lege Station Cit3 Council's agenda.
David Kessler, a member of the -
Student Action Committee and a
senior history inajor, said there is a
candlelight vigil scheduled for next
Thursday in the Northgate area. He
has been workir g with various stu-
dent organizati ns to coordinate
the event.
"We feel stron gly that this (the re-
cent assaults) stould not happen,
Kessler said. " are trying to make
the community aware of this issue,
and that it will not be tolerated."
Another plan of action is an out-
reach program being organized by
the International Student Associa-
tion. The plan would introduce the
students' cultures to the community
by going into schools and .busiaess-
es and presenting- information about
their cultures in a show- and -tell style.
"The goal of the outreach pro-
gram is to educate the community
and students about international cul-
tures by bringing the cultures to
them," Tatsuki Ohashi, president of
the ISA and a senior international
studies and history major, said. "This
will create a mutual understanding
between different cultures."
Ben Armenta, vice president of
Minority Affairs and a sophomore
elementary education major, said
he plans to work with ISA to coor-
dinate events throughout the cam-
pus and the community.
"To be culturally competent,
one must be culturally aware, and
that starts with education," he said.
Another issue mentioned was
friction between merchants and stu-
dents. Ohashi, Reinemeyer and
Amy Magee, speaker of the Student
Senate and a senior psychology ma-
jor, met with members of the com-
munity as well as business owners
Tuesday to gain a better under-
standing of each other's viewpoints.
"Most of the problems stem from
miscommunication," Reinemeyer
said. "This created a misunderstand-
ing where both parties went away
mad when neither meant offense."
SEE NO RTHGATE ON PAGE 2.
NORTHGATE
Continued from Page I
Despite the progress of the meetings, some of
the members in attendance said they still had some
concerns.
Kevin Ward, director of minority affairs and a so-
nior political science and business analysis manage-
ment information systems major, said many minori-
ties do not feel the violence is an issue and that
intolerance has always existed. Ward said the violence
is receiving press coverage now, and that is wh4t
makes these attacks an issue. He said the solution i6
to involve all students and recognize that being Ag-
gies unifies the people at Texas A&M.
"The key to this is to get the student body to uri-
derstand that this is not an international student is-
sue," Ward said. "This is a University-wide issue." :
Price said he thinks the true test of resolve will
come around December and the beginning of the
spring semester.
"When an issue is hot, people are motivated to to
address it," Price said. "However, sometimes priori-
ties can be reorganized. The task is to keep people
motivated toward a goal."
u
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: Oc Mhe r II„ iqc,�
Munson debate
Residents hold up signs supporting a College Station City
Council decision to permanently close Munson Avenue dur-
ing a protest Thursday at the barricages closing Munson at
raffe.q
Signature petit on drive draws those for, against
By BOB SCHOBER
Fade Stqfl' Writer
The Munson Avenue traffic cor,
trovetsy continued Thursday morn
ing with a flurry of debate betweel
some College Station residents whr
favor keeping Munson Avenur
closed and others who want thf
street opened.
A signature petition drive to per
manently open Munson attracted
motorists, many stopping to sign, to
the barricades closing Munson at
Dominik Drive. It also attracted
onlookers, many protesting the peti-
tion with placards. Comments from
several individuals revealed the
fault line separating the two sides.
Many who signed the petition
cited a need for freedom of choice for
drivers. Those protesting the peti-
tion argued that closing Munson
and nearby streets would restore
College Station
Mayor Lynn Mcll-
haney and a major-
ity of City Council
members say
widening Williams
Boulevard is a
dead issue.
See Page A8.
neighborhood integrity frayed by
high traffic volume and make the
streets safer for their children. They
also cited the experience of neigh-
borhoods in other cities that have
been assaulted by heavy traffic.
Peter Hugill, who lives at the cor-
ner of Francis Drive and Munson,
provided a journal article about
Dayton, Ohio. That city converted
many subdivision streets into cul-
de -sacs to avoid the "spiral of
decline" that afflicted other city
neighborhoods. In those other
neighborhoods, homeowners had
moved away from the traffic and
rented out their properties, which
caused a "rapid deterioration" of
those areas, the article said.
For Paul Lindahl, who lives on
Bayou Woods, the Munson issue was
one of inconvenience.
"They think cars are going to dis-
appear," he said. "No, they get
rerouted into someone else's street. I
think it's disgusting that these peo-
ple have selfishly voted to close
their street."
The extra traffic in College Hills,
he said, was "what happens when a
city grows."
Nan Crouse, who with her young
red - headed daughter held a sign
touting neighborhood integrity,
retorted: "No, this is what happens
when cities don't honor neighbor-
See MUNSON, Page AS
Dominik Drive. Other residents, meanwhile, opened a sig-
nature petition drive seeking to permanently open Munson
Avenue.
Munson
From Al
hoods."
Munson Avenue resident Dawn
Aberth dismissed the inconve-
nience argument.
"It's two or three minutes for
them, but it's 24 hours a day for
us," she said.
Standing nearby, Rodger
Lewis, who lives at Walton Drive
and Gilchrist Avenue, held a
placard that read: "7,000 cars
every day + night = torture."
"I hope we gave them a twinge
of conscience, like the kids' signs
that say, `Remember the Golden
Rule, "' he said.
The petition drive was the
brainchild of Kayla Glover, who
lives at the corner of Marsteller
Avenue and Gilchrist. She and
several volunteers solicited sig-
natures from passing motorists
from 6:30 to 9 a.m. A College Sta-
tion police officer kept an eye on
traffic and asked individuals not
to stray too far into the street.
Glover said she collected 350
signatures Thursday morning,
bringing the total to about 600.
City Secretary Connie Hooks has
determined that at least 1,010 sig-
natures of verified, registered
city voters are needed before the
City Council will consider the
petition.
The issues debated at the barri-
cades Thursday likely will be
considered again by the council,
which under state law must vote
on the petition. If the council
rejects it, and elects to keep Mun-
son closed, the petition to reopen
the street will go before the vot-
ers in a special election.
Glover said she hopes to have
the petition completed and sub-
mitted to the city by Oct. 28. The
election then could be held with-
in 60 days, she said.
Although her ballot initiative
would prohibit the city from clos-
ing, obstructing or blocking traf-
fic on Munson, Glover said she is
not unalterably opposed to some
closure of the street.
"If they put up the 911 gate and
leave it open all day, say 7 [a.m.]
to 7 [p.m.], I'd be happy with
that," she said.
She started the petition, Glover
said, "because I still think this
needs to go before the voters and
because ... [closing the street] sets
a bad precedent for the city."
The 911 gate was approved by
the City Council on Oct. 8. The
council's action disbanded the 28-
member Munson Avenue Traffic
Committee, of which Lewis,
Aberth and Glover were mem-
bers.
Glover began circulating her
original petition urging that the
barricades be removed in late
July after she collected 961 signa-
tures, not all of which were from
registered voters.
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The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: 0
Police
By PAT ABERNATHEy �\\^
Eagle Staff Writer \
employee of year investigated
The Brazos County District Attorney's
Office is investigating the College Station
Police Department's civilian employee of
the year, who resigned in August amid
allegations she took between $4,000 and
$5,000 from the evidence room.
The woman, who worked for the depart-
ment for five years, was in charge of the
evidence room where she was the only
Former CS civilian worker resigned
during ;inquiry into missing evidence
employee.
guns. The officer accused the
concerning the evidence room surfaced.
Mal. Mike Paterson
said the problem
It is the Bryan - College Station Eagle's
arose with a checks
and balances system
policy not to name a person accused of a
once the eviden
already was in the room.
crime until they have been formally
The woman msigned
as a property /evi-
charged.
dence technician
in August after an inter-
District Attorney Bill Turner said Fri -
nal investigatiorl
into a separate matter
day that his office is reviewing the case
Inq day, said an officer accused the
woman of improprieties in the
evidence room with regard to
and will take appropriate action.
Police Chief Ed Feldman said Friday he
could not comment because it's a pending
investigation. He confirmed the amount of
money in question was between $4,000 and
$5,000.
Feldman told The Eagle late last month
that there was an internal affairs investi-
gation being conducted by the department
into the allegations. He said the investiga-
See INQUIRY, Page A8
guns. The officer accused the
From
1 woman of improperly giving him
the guns, according to police.
tion into tl
e missing money ran As a result of an audit into the
parallel to
the investigation into gun matter, the woman came for-
a separate
after. ward and admitted she had taken
In a lette
, which was obtained money from the evidence room
by The En
•
rle through a Texas on several occasions, Patterson
Open Recoi
is request filed Sept. said, declining to say if she had
1, the worn
asks Feldman and returned the money.
Lt. Scott M
Collurn to accept the The officer admitted to officials
letter ash
"resignation /termi- that he kept the guns for three
nation," eff
ctive Aug. 14, 1998. years, Patterson said. He was sus -
"Nothing
in this world feels pended for 15 days for keeping
worse than
vowing the pain and property outside the evidence
disappoint
ent I have caused room, and suspended an addi-
you both," s
he wrote. "I know my tional five days for insubordina-
word mea
s little if anything tion during the investigation,
right now, I
ut I want you both to Patterson said.
know I never
wanted to let either McCollum said Friday that sev-
of you do
eral steps have been taken to
"I am son
y, I AM SO SORRY. I keep incidents such as these from
have two s
all children that I happening again, and to help
must think
about, and I'm going maintain the integrity of evi-
to spend the
rest of my life doing dence in regard to pending court
just that. 7hank
you — I just cases.
don't know
hat else to say," the "I've gone in and become evi-
letter said.
dence clerk for the last month
Reached
by phone several and a half," he said. "I have met
times in th
last few weeks, the with several other people who
woman ref i
to comment. work in the business and talked
The worn
in's personnel file, with them about shoring up these
obtained it
the Texas Open problems."
Records re
luest, lists several McCollum said an ongoing
good evalua
ions from her supe- audit system will be put into place
riors, includ
ng the latest one in to more closely monitor the prop -
July 1998.
erty function. He said a tighter
While th
evaluations were rein will be placed on money,
good, in 199
a supervisor stated meaning it may be deposited
that the woman
"needs to make quickly to reduce temptation.
sure that m
nthly totals and fig- "At some point in time, you
ures for re
rts are checked for have to trust employees," he said -
accuracy pri
r to being forward - All indications suggest that no
ed to supervisors
for monthly pending court cases have been
reports."
jeopardized because of the inci-
An evalu
or wrote in June dent, McCollum said.
1997 about
the department's "We are hoping it won't jeopar-
accreditation
process and the dize any cases because every -
importance c
f the evidence room thing deals with money," he said.
in that proce
s- "We are doing what we can to
Feldman
said in September ensure that the integrity of the
that this inci
tent would not have evidence is maintained."
any effect o
i the department's Patterson said a new evidence
accreditation
status. clerk was hired about a week ago
Patterson,
n a statement Fri- from within the department.
and will take appropriate action.
Police Chief Ed Feldman said Friday he
could not comment because it's a pending
investigation. He confirmed the amount of
money in question was between $4,000 and
$5,000.
Feldman told The Eagle late last month
that there was an internal affairs investi-
gation being conducted by the department
into the allegations. He said the investiga-
See INQUIRY, Page A8
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: Or,+n 1 P99
Shame on the petitioners
N hame on the fo s signing the petition
S against the City Council's action
regarding Muns n Avenue. Few, if
any, of them would tolerate 7,000 cars per
day oft their own residential street for as
long as the people on Munson Avenue
endured it. Obviously, few of them abide by
the Golden Rule. Sha e on the folks circu-
lating the petition. They didn't get exactly
what they wanted and they refuse to wait to
see how the City Council would implement
the gate or what measures would be taken
to help other neighb rhood streets and pro-
vide reasonable routs around the edges of
the neighborhood.
The council showed the wisdom of
Solomon in its unanimous vote for a cre-
ative solution. The g to idea would satisfy
legitimate concerns for instant emergency
vehicle access and fc r parents to get their
kids to the elementa y school.
The gate would he p the whole neighbor-
hood by curtailing e ccessive and rowdy
traffic in the evenin and midnight hours.
It would allow neighborhood children,
cyclists, joggers and walkers from thou-
sands of nearby apartments to continue to
enjoy the beautiful old neighborhood after
school hours, as the have begun to do this
fall with the barrica e in place.
But, look out. The "me" generation,
spoiled by our parer is in the '50s and '60s,
is getting into local 3olitics. The fast -food
generation wants what we want, and we
want it right now. o cares if somebody
else has to pay the orice for our pleasure?
Not us.
We have a right to go where we wanna go
and do what we wanna do anytime we
please. And, we have a right to express our-
selves by voting on anything and every-
thing we don't like.
RODGER LEWIS
College Station
Bond
tem to provide recreation ar
drainage, and the rest "could ]
declared surplus land and sold.
■ Future cemetery land acgi
sition — $275,000 is requested
purchase about 40 acres for a nE
city cemetery. The existing cen
tery will fill within 10 years.
Cryan said the city might
able to develop a new cemete
within the city limits — a priv,
developer could not — and m'
city -owned land already is bei
used as arks or _ public faciliti
proposition 5: arks and al
letic facilities
This $4.769 million proposit'
includes:
■ Park acquisition
improvements — Land for a r.
community park would be 1
chased in the southwest part
the city in the vicinity wb
Texas 47 curves east tow
Texas 6, Cryan said.
Lick Creek park would
developed, and improvemE
made to several parks. All tl
city -owned swimming p
would receive improveme
The total cost for this sectio
estimated at $2.337 million.
■ Athletic park and i
improvements — $2.432 mil
would be spent on the in
development of the nE
acquired 150 -acre Regional
letic Park and field impr
ments in other city parks.
Initial development of the
letic Park will include 10 sE
fields, two lighted adult soi
fields, roadways and par]
restrooms and maintenance
ity.
Irrigation replacement v
be undertaken at Anderson'.
light poles installed for so
fields in Bee Creek and CE
parks, and tennis courts
backstops installed for six
at Southwood Athletic Park
Proposition 6: Greenbelt
drainage control
This $3.64 million propo
calls for buying land in
plains and floodways to crl
system of greenbelts throu
the city.
Of
be
is
and
and
a
The 1�a le,
OC-+. I Pi � iI66
16bncJ5 —
P45e-
'I'lie greenbelts would serve a
dual purpose, according to Scott
Shafer of the Brazos Greenways
Council. They would provide an
economic benefit by preserving
natural drainage areas that alle
viate flooding, as well as corri-
dors for a citywide biking and
hiking system.
The money suggested would
only purchase land, not develop
the trails. For that, Shafer said,
federal and state grants are avail-
able.
Potential areas for acquisition,
among others, are Carter Creek
from the city limits to the conflu-
ence with Bee Creek; Lick Creek
from Texas 6 to the landfill; and
Bee Creek east of the Public
works building to the confluence
with Carter Creek.
For more information about
the bond election and the various
propositions, call 7643500.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
(Date: OCt, !8. IggS
Capital im I p
put before CS voters
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
College Station voters will
ballots Nov. 3 in a $25.249 mil
capital improvements bond f
tion that provides money to
chase land for parks and gr
belts, to rebuild and resur
streets and to build a new fire
tion.
The last such bond election
held in 1995, when vo
approved a $22.5 million pack
The list of projects that
appear on the ballot were sele
0
ELECTIONS 2
■ Editorials IA10 -All
■ Voters guide /Inside
■ Candidate forums /A5
will appear on the ballot.
Cryan said $24.24 million of the
total will not increase property
taxes because continued growth
will add more homes and busi-
nesses to the tax rolls, thus
spreading the financial obliga-
tion of the bonds over a wider
base.
The $1 million operation cost
included for some of the projects
— the new fire station, for exam-
ple, which will require additional
See BOND, Page A2
Bon tax rate would raise about $10
th
the city's portion of the property
taxes of a $100,000 home, Cryan
From A 1
salaries for staffing — could
require a tay. increase in the
future, Cryan said. He estimated
the increase could be $.053 per
$100 assessed valuation based on
current tax volues.
In 1995, the city forecast a $.035
increase per 1100 assessed valua-
tion for operation expenses tied
to projects in that year's bond
election, but Cryan said the
increase has of occurred due to
continued growth.
A $.01 increase in the current
by the Capital Improvement Pro-
ject Citizens' Committee, which
met for 11 weeks over the sum-
mer and reviewed more than 40
projects totaling almost $73 mil-
lion.
The 23- member committee
voted 22 -1 to accept 17 projects
estimated at the time to cost
$23.276 million. Fiscal Services
director Charles Cryan later fac-
tored in inflation — some of the
projects will be done later rather
than sooner — and added opera-
tion and maintenance costs to
arrive at the lump sum cost that
estimated.
The City Council reviewed and
unanimously approved the bond
election Aug. 27.
A bond election voters guide
was mailed to all registered voter
households Thursday. Copies
will be on display at City Secre-
tary Connie Hooks' office in City
Hall and at the College Station
Library.
Voters will be asked to vote
separately on six propositions for
which bonds will be issued. The
votes cast in each category will
be tallied separately. The propo-
sitions are:
Proposition 1: Street projects
This $8.539 million proposition
includes street extension
upgrades, street rehabilitation
projects and funds for future
oversize participation.
Five street upgrade and exten-
sion projects have been proposed.
The CIP committee reviewed
about 17 projects and made its
selections using a ranking sys-
tem. The five projects, totaling
$4.525 million, are:
■ Jones Butler Extension —
This project will extend Jones
Butler Road from West Luther
Street to George Bush Drive. This
proposed street would be located
west of Wellborn Road and east of
F.M. 2818 and would be built on
Texas A &M University property.
■ Longmire Drive Extension —
This project would purchase
rights-of-way for a future exten-
sion of Longmire Drive from
Rock Prairie Road to Graham
Road.
■ Barron Road — This project
would purchase rights -of -way for
Barron Road, which is shown as a
minor arterial on the city's thor-
oughfare plan. The purchase
would allow Barron Road to be
upgraded to a 70- foot -wide street
in a 90- foot -wide right-of-way.
■ AMS — This project would
construct a new 39- foot -wide
roadway connecting Sebesta
Road to Emerald Parkway about
200 feet west of Foxfire Drive.
This road would provide access
to Texas 6 at Emerald Parkway
from the Foxfire subdivision and
provide parallel access to the one-
way frontage road.
■ Rock Prairie Road — This
project would realign Rock
Prairie Road from the east side of
Texas 6 to join the existing road-
way near its intersection with
Stonebrook Drive in the Wood -
creek subdivision. This project
was proposed to eliminate a dan-
gerous curve.
Included in the streets projects
is $3.12 million for street rehabil-
itation. City staff recommended
that the CIP committee consider
overlay or reconstruction of sec-
tions of seven major streets.
Among them were Dominik
Drive, Church Street, Longmire
Drive, Marion Pugh Drive, Mun-
son Avenue, Dartmouth Street
and Nagle Street.
Cryan said city staff had not
yet determined exactly which
projects would be targeted and in
which order. "It depends on
which streets need it the worst,"
he said.
The streets category also calls
for $894,000 for oversize partici-
pation. The city commonly par-
ticipates with a developer in
building sewer and water lines
and roads to a new subdivision,
Cryan said. Oversize participa-
tion means the city pays for a
wider street or larger water and
sewer lines than are needed by a
specific subdivision to service
future development in the area.
"All we can require a developer
to do is what is sufficient to devel-
op his own development," Cryan
said. "Oversize participation
allows us to get the infrastruc-
ture we need for the future
instead of building the road and
lines ourselves."
rroposmon 2: Traffic signala
and management
This $2.98 million proposition
includes:
■ Traffic signals — $2.252 mil-
lion would be allocated for new
signalized intersections as the
city grows — at about $120,000 per
intersection — and updates to the
computer system linking the sig-
nal grid.
The city has installed signal -
preemption devices in two inter-
sections that emergency vehicles,
using satellite global positioning
equipment, can use to control
traffic in intersections. Officials
hope to add these devices to all
signalized intersections in the
city, Cryan said.
■ Traffic management —
$728,000 would be used to con-
struct turning lanes and make
other traffic improvements.
Proposition 3: Fire station
projects
This $2.477 million proposition
includes:
■ Fire Station No. 5 — Fire
Chief Dave Giordano requested a
fifth fire station to service the
developing areas on the east and
south sides of the city. Giordano
cited lengthening response times
in the southern reaches of the
Pebble Creek subdivision.
Cryan said the station likely
would be built east of Texas 6.
"There's no specific location
yet," he said.
■ Renovations to Fire Station
No. 2 — Some of the money would
be spent to renovate Fire Station
No. 2 and expand its facilities. A
new engine bay, additional crew
quarters and a decontamination
station for cleaning gear would
be added._
rroposition 4: Land
acquisition
This $1.835 million proposition
includes:
■ Future municipal office cen-
ter land acquisition — The CIP
committee recommended pur-
chasing 100 acres of land that
could be used as a future site for a
municipal office center. The par-
cel, estimated to cost $1.56 mil-
lion, is located east of the Public
Works building and extends to
Texas 6. Sections of the parcel
contain greenbelt and drainage
areas.
The committee, however,
ranked the municipal center pro-
ject — estimated to cost $8.25 mil-
lion — the third lowest in priori-
ty among the 40 projects it con-
sidered for the bond election.
Cryan said that, if the munici-
pal office center was not built,
part of the land could be added to
Central Park, portions could be
incorporated into a greenbelt sys-
See BOND, Page A5
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: oc_f1bwr Z2
The right to vote
�� 22
letter (Eagle, Oct. 17) stated
we have the right "to express
ourselves by voting on any-
thing and everything we don't
like." I'd like to thank the writer
for agreeing with the Constitution.
I also agree with treating people as
the Golden Rule would imply and
don't want a City Council to be able
to arbitrarily redirect traffic to
other streets because a very few
residents have enough political
clout to intimidate them.
People keep throwing out this
7,000 a day car count for traffic on
Munson Avenue. When was the
last time that number of vehicles
was accurate? Before the stop signs
and speed bumps were installed? I
am a home owner on a street with
heavy traffic. Now, thanks to a
spineless City Council that caters
to the whims of the ever changing
"Munson" demands, the traffic is
even heavier. I knew this was a
busy area, and would grow busier
with normal growth.
This city has spent several thou-
sand dollars to please people who
bought in an already high - traffic
area. We will spend several more
thousand dollars to remove their
first demand.
Anyone who would be so intimi-
dated as to ignore the efforts of a
committee, waste citizens' time by
acting like their input mattered
and then render a decision that
was not recommended by the com-
mittee but was obviously made
before the committee ever met,
deserves to be actively campaigned
against. It's not just the "me" gen-
eration that desires a fair and
equal voice. We will vote on any-
thing and everything we don't like,
and will begin by voting against
each and every one of the City
Council.
DAVID MILLS
College Station
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: X.+. , 2,z, 199F)
A lack of judgment
/ ()/ZZ
IStat appalled at the lack of judg- /
ion ment on the part of the College
City Council on the
Munson Avenue issue. -1
From all evidence, closing
Munson Avenue permanently is
not the choice of either the general
public or the majority of the
Munson Avenue committee. This
action plainly does not benefit our
community as a whole.
ELAINE CHALK
College Station
The Eagle
City of College Station News
(Date: 1 it i-. 02,3. )� q Y
Council moves Munson barrier
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Coun-
cil decided Thursday night to per-
manently close Munson Avenue
at Lincoln Avenue.
The council unanimously voted
to move barricades to just south
of Lincoln Avenue and remove
two stop signs and some of speed
bumps. A temporary median also
will be installed at Francis Drive
and Ashburn Avenue, and city
staff will monitor traffic volumes
Barricade at Dominik to be removed,
Lincoln intersection to get $111,000 gate
on other streets in the College
Hills area. The council acted
despite a "keep Munson open"
petition drive that is bidding for a
citywide vote on the issue.
The barricades will be used to
block Munson Avenue until a 911
gate can be bid on and built, a
process City Manager Skip Noe
estimated would take four or five
months. The gate, which will be
equipped with automatic opening
controls activated through a glob-
al positioning system, will cost
about $111,000. A manual keypad
would provide a backup opening
system in case the other system
fails.
The decision was a shift from
Oct. 8, when the council voted to
close Munson and asked city staff
to study the impact of a 911 gate at
Dominik Drive.
Transportation planner Ed
Hard presented four options
Thursday night. Two of them
called for a 911 gate in place of the
Mu
vote 5-1, the Council Ethics
a
Ordinance and delayed its imple-
mentation until Jan. 1, 1999.
Ff"ORI
Councilman Steve Esmond
argued strongly that the ordi-
Just north of Gilchrist Avenue,
nance should be implemented
immediately and some
3 also
The council was discarded,
made
provi-
sions that he called strengthened.
• even though Kayla er report-
nance ever since needed came on this
ed that she had collected 651 veri.
fled signatures for a ballot initia-
council, and I see no reason to
tive that would prohibit the city
from closing or obstructing traf-
delay," he said.
The ordinance defines the dos
fic on Munson. Glover and her
and don'ts for members of the
City Council and other boards
five - member petition committee
like the Planning and Zoning
need 1,010 signatures to appear
on a ballot. She said earlier in the
Commission and Zoning Board of
week that she expects to collect
Adjustment, among others. Also
included are the city manager,
the necessary number by the end
of October.
city secretary, Municipal Court
Councilman David Hickson
said the council's decision "real-
judge and city attorney.
By a vote of 4-1, the council
istically [tries to] rectify a situa-
tion done 12 years ago" when
adopted a•pohcy that will permit
council meml*rs to review for up
to 10 days certified executive ses-
Munson was opened when Lin-
coln Avenue was extended to Uni-
sion agendas before they are
versity Drive. Drivers found
sealed. Once sealed, the agendas
only can be reopened with a court
Munson to be a convenient short-
order.
cut, and eventually about 7,000
vehicles a day traveled the
With that vote, the council also
sweet.
But Hickson acknowledged the
prohibited any member from
recording or taping a closed meet
decision was a "Catch -22" and
"won't make everyone happy."
-
ing' The decision also applies to
"If we're truly for neighbor-
other municipal boards.
During an executive session,
hood integrity, we're going to
have to make a decision," he said.
the council conducted a perfor-
And if Glover's petition
mance evaluation of City Attor-
makes
a future ballot, Hickson said,
"Then
ney Harvey Cargill. During open
session, the council voted 5-1 to
it's up to the voters."
The council also approved, by a
raise his salary to $84,000 from
$73,500.
barricades that would be open
several hours each day to permit
easier access to College Hills Ele-
mentary School. But Hard said tc
do so would require extensive sig
nage, flashing lights and other
warning devices for driver safety
and fencing on an unwilling
homeowner's property to prevent
cars from driving around the
gate.
A third option, which called for
installing the 911 gate on Munson
See MUNSON, Page A8
The Eagle
City of College Station N ews
Vote for city hall
land acquisition
-
By NANCY CROUCH D" `
Special to The Eagle i
W hen the College Station Community Appearance
Committee decided a few years ago to take pictures of
attractive places in College Station, we were surprised
to find that most of the places were on the campus of Texas
A &M University.
Now that College Station has grown into a city of more than
65,000 people, it's time for us to have our own municipal office
center, our own focal point, our own image as a city. The pro-
posed municipal office center land acquisition — Proposition
No. 4 on the Nov. 3 College Station bond election — constitutes
the first step in establishing that image in a phased approach,
providing a city hall complex situated in a park -like setting
suitable for College Station's future needs.
Purchasing the land now for the municipal office center
makes prudent use of our city's assets in several ways. First, we
can benefit the city by paying less for land now than we would
have to pay in the future. Second, by identifying the location of
the future municipal office center now, we foster commercial
development in that area and increased revenues from sources
other than home owners. Finally, when we sell the current City
Hall, which was appraised in 1997 at $2.6 million, we will be
putting some of our most valuable land back on the tax rolls.
Our city's growth and demand for services has put serious
pressure on the current City Hall. In 1984, when the City Hall
almost doubled to its current size of 35,835 square feet, College
Station's population was 51,295, and the number of staff work-
ing in the building totaled 102. Now, College Station's popula-
tion is 26 percent greater, and we have more than 135 employees
crowded into the same space and one department of eight work-
ers relocated into rented space down the street.
Planners project that College Station's population will
increase to more than 72,000 by 2004. To handle the demands of
a city that size, our employees will need more space, and we
must take action now to begin that process.
Our City Hall needs to be more centrally located to enhance
customer service. Consultants hired to complete our compre-
hensive plan located the geographic center of College Station
somewhere along the East Bypass between Krenek Tap and
Rock Prairie roads. A municipal office center near that geo-
graphic location provides convenient, easy access for our citi-
zens without the complications of Texas A &M University traf-
fic.
Other conveniences for citizens include more parking, more
room in the City Council chambers for concerned citizens to
attend council meetings, room for other governmental satellite
offices and a possible civic center. A central location also offers
more effective time- management for city staff who now must
travel from one city building to another.
Please vote yes on Proposition 4 and all of the other capitol
improvement bond propositions during early voting or on Nov.
3.
■ Nancy Crouch is a former College Station City Council member and a member of
the Capital Improvements Committee that developed the Nov. 3 bond package.
OcAdber
2L { - 1
)q1q0
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: 161 Z41 q 8
Thanks to the CS Council
I would like to express my at)pr6ciation
to the members of the City Council in
College Station for their wise decision
in closing Munson Avenue for through
traffic. It is well known that Munson
Avenue is one of the nicest streets in
College Station. The old oak trees and rain
lilies that grace the curbs of Munson
Avenue and the newly constructed pedes-
trian sidewalk provide a special sense of
well being.
Nobody would gain if Munson Avenue is
destroyed by cutting the trees and ruining
the landscape and integrity of a number of
lovely homes.
The progress of a city is measured with
preservation and not with destruction of
established neighborhoods, historic homes
and Woodland Park with recently planted
crepe myrtles.
The newly expanded and improved Texas
Avenue, in addition to the East Bypass and
service roads, provide easy transit.
I join my fellow citizens and neighbors
who are united in the wish to preserve the
unique integrity and beauty of Munson
Avenue and its neighborhood.
JELENA DJURIC
College Station
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date:
Greenbelts are ll c � 7 ri#ical
6
A s ansplant to B� a College
Station tr , I bring memories of the
other places I've lived. I grew up
in an area that was very similar to this:
farmlands surrounding the town, a feel-
ing of safety in the neighborhoods, a
close -knit community.
I went back not long ago and was
deeply saddened to see the changes. The
farmlands were gone, replaced by vast
superstores and malls. Neighborhoods
were isolated and threatened. The com-
munity had no sense of togetherness.
We have a chance here to write our
future. We have the opportunity to
watch our community grow wisely, or
the misfortune to see it dissolve into a
suburban nightmare. One of the key
ingredients in wise growth is to retain
open spaces and community green
spaces.
I don't mean more ball fields or swim-
ming pools. I mean places where we can
go and watch our children fly a kite,
where we can hear the wind in the trees
and feel a cooling breeze, where we can
walk or ride bikes from school to home
to work.
Communities with green spaces —
communities in which everything else
is identical — have been shown to have
lower crime rates and a higher sense of
community spirit than those with acres
of concrete.
I know where I would rather live. And
talk about an economic incentive. If you
were the chief executive officer of a
relocating company, where would you
rather be? We need to encourage our
leaders to help us create greenways and
conserve open space.
Fortunately, a proposition that speaks
directly to this is on the College Station
bond election ballot. With no increase
in taxes, we can approve the issuance of
bonds that would provide funds to set
land aside as open space and greenbelts.
I hope yo% wW support Proposition 6.
JANET S. FOX
College Station
-�iwn
The Battalion
City of College Station News
IDate: IU I Z_Co 1 *')
NEWS IN BRIEF
City vo s to move
Munson barricades
Effective today, the College Hills
subdivision traffic routes will under-
go changes as a result of the Col-
lege Station City Council meeting
Thursday.
A press release said the streets
will go through three construction
changes.
This morning, the barricade at the
Munson Avenue - Dominik Drive inter-
section will be removed, and by 5
p.m. it will be relocated to the inter-
section of Munson Avenue and Lin-
coln Drive. After the design and bid-
ding process concludes, a
911 - emergency gate will be installed.
A partial barrier will be erected at
the intersection of Ashburn Avenue
and Francis Drive.
It will force drivers traveling on
Ashburn Avenue to turn right onto
Francis Drive.
Finally, the speed humps on Mun-
son Avenue from Lincoln Drive to
Francis Drive will be removed, and
the stop signs at Munson Avenue's
intersections at Holt Street and
Rose Circle will be removed.
The press release said city staff
will continue to monitor the traffic
flow through the neighborhood and
report any significant changes to the
city council.
F__3
RS
W
. O
PRO
rERNr
r �
V
4-I
0
�'
G
N
r..0
Q
Munson barricades moved to Lincoln end
By BOB SCHOBER �\
Eagle Staff Writer
The barricades on Munson Avenue were
moved Monday from Dominik Drive to Lin-
coln Drive East, even as Kayla Glover
announced she had collected about 1,000 sig-
natures on her petition to keep Munson open.
Glover needs 1,010 signatures from voter -
registered College Station residents to qualify
the petition for a future ballot, according to
City Secretary Connie Hooks. If the proposed
ordinance is approved, the city would be pro-
hibited from obstructing traffic on Munson or
closing Munson between Harvey Road and
Lincoln Drive East.
"It's quite obvious [the petition] is going to
the polls for the public to vote," Glover said
Monday. She is a former member of the Mun-
son Avenue Traffic Committee.
The barricades were moved from Dominik
and in place at Lincoln by 5 p.m. Monday,
according to Assistant City Manager Tom
Brymer. Moving them reopened the Munson -
Gilchrist Avenue intersection, the clear path
for parents traveling to College Hills Elemen-
tary School.
The City Council approved the closing of
Munson at Lincoln on Oct. 22.
The barricades will be replaced by a 911
emergency gate, which will be installed once
design and bidding for the gate are completed,
Brymer said.
A temporary median will be installed on
Francis Drive at Ashburn Avenue to prevent
through traffic on Ashburn. Plans also call for
city crews to remove speed humps on Munson
between Lincoln and Francis and stop signs
on Munson at Holt Street and Rose Circle.
"City staff will continue to monitor the vol-
umes and speeds of traffic in the College Hills
neighborhood," Brymer said.
The Battalion
City of College Station News
Date: 00f.
1 o Z'1
I ni iative
offers Aggies
political voice
he City of
College Sta-
tion claims
1 to care about its
citizens and
strives to address
their concerns.
Unless, of
course, those resi- LEN
dents are students CALLAWAY
of Texas A&M.
The City of College Station,
particularly the City Council,
Nbuld recognize the importance
the Texas A&M student body to
the city. It would behoove the city
to treat students like human be-
ings with actual concerns instead
of as sniveling little pains in the
city's collective posterior.
The council's apathy is evi-
denced by the recently published
list of "strategic issues" for the
council to focus on over the next
term. Cooperation with Texas A&M
and its students ranks a whopping
19th out of 38. Is it possible half of
the council's issues are more im-
portant than Texas A&M?
Maybe some reciprocity is in
order. What would the council do
if 40,000 plus Aggies paid half of
their electric bills next month?
Over the course of the past 12
years the City Council has been
bombarded by citizen groups de-
manding some increased traffic
regulation on Munson Avenue.
For those who have missed the
news, Munson Avenue is a popu-
lar throughway connecting the
Chimney Hill /Hilton Hotel area of
iiversity Drive with the busy ar-
, -ft.as along Harvey Road.
Students use the street daily as a
convenient way to travel from one
Part of town to another. The prob-
lem is a handful of homeowners
have complained so much about
traffic that the council has once
again voted to close Munson Av-
enue to all traffic from Lincoln Av-
enue until a permanent construc-
tion plan can be implemented.
The complaining residents must
have been unaware their homes
were in the middle of a city when
they were purchased or built.
These residents bought houses
in the middle of a growing city and
now must live with the conse-
quences. They should have bought
a ranch if that is what they wanted.
The students of A&M have
made efforts to establish a posi-
tive relationship with the City
Council, however, the council
does not seem interested.
Prominent SGA and Student Sen-
ate leaders have sporadically attend-
ed City Council meetings for some
time but have been unable to reach
"mutually beneficial" relationship.
In fact, some council members
have questioned the legitimacy of
student participation in city affairs.
From a more positive point of
view, it should be pointed out that
an initiative has begun which
needs student support.
A concerned citizen group has
begun a petition for an ordinance
that would effectively bar the City
Council from restricting traffic on
Munson Avenue from Lincoln Av-
enue to Harvey Road.
Despite her eventual vote to
the contrary, Mayor Lynn Mc11-
haney said the Munson Avenue is-
sue is a "city issue" that should be
decided by the whole city — not
merely the residents of the street.
Additionally, council member
Anne Hazen asked the council for
a two -week extension so more cit-
izens could be made aware of the
issue and offer comments.
Both suggestions were rebuffed.
Apparently, 12 years and two
weeks is too long for the citizens of
Munson Avenue to wait. Times like
these call for decisive action, not
two-week consensus - taking periods.
The petition will allow all citi-
zens to offer their input. Once the
initiative receives the necessary
signatures, the council will likely
defer the issue to a January ballot.
The Student Senate will make
voter registration cards and copies
of the petition available on Wednes-
day during its constituency days.
Students are encouraged to
stop by the senate tables to regis-
ter to vote, learn more about the
Munson Avenue issue or chat
with their senator.
Aggies must begin to partici-
pate in city affairs — that is really
the only way to win any consider-
ation at all for students needs.
Len Callaway is a senior
journalism major.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date:
VOTE AGAINST
Oln
Proposition #6 in the College Station Bond election
provides for $3,640,000 for Greenbelt and
Drainage improvements. The City explanation of
this project has been written by Clinton's spin doc-
tors. The project has nothing to do with drainage
or flood damage. The project will not save the city
money on future drainage as alleged. All the
money will be used to buy land in floodways or
flood plains. Floodway land cannot be developed
under current City Ordinances or Federal Flood
Insurance rules. If the proposition is approved,
land owners will be able to force the City to buy
worthless land at inflated prices. This project
should have been limited to buying reclaimable
land in the flood plain.
This project will increase your taxes about 4%.
The other propositions are worthy of your support.
Early voting October 19 -30, 1998 �'A
Bond election November 3, 1998 101
Ad paid for by Dick Birdwell, 3 Forest Drive College Station, TX, 77840
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date:
Police arrest ex- evidence clerk
Former employee of College Station department charged with thel
By PAT ABERNATHEY
Eagle Staff Writer
released from the Brazos County
Jail later Tuesday, officials said.
German was the department's
civilian employee of the year.
The case could go before a Bra-
zos County grand jury in the next
few weeks, officials said.
On Aug. 13, a woman went to
her supervisor and asked him to
meet her at his house because she
had something to tell him, court
documents state.
At the meeting, she handed
him about $1,000 in various con-
tainers, some of which were
marked with evidence tags from
the police department, court doc-
uments state.
The woman told the supervisor
that she had taken the money
while employed in the evidence
room.
The woman resigned from the
department Oct. 14,.according to
her resignation letter. The letter
was obtained by The Bryan-Col-
lege Station Eagle through a
Texas Open Records request.
As police investigated the inci-
dent, officers said they discov-
ered more money missing. The
money, $4,676.90, was signed out
to an employee in the Brazos
County District Attorney's
Office, court documents state.
The employee was shown a copy
of the document listing her as t
person who signed for the mom
and the employee told police
was not her signature, court d.
uments state.
On Oct. 7, the former evider
clerk met with police, gave tht
the $4,676.90 and said she h
taken it while performing 1
duties as evidence clerk, cot
College Station police Tuesday
arrested a former evidence clerk
at the department and charged
her with felony theft in connec-
tion with money missing from
the property room.
Jennifer German, 30, of 3503
Texas Avenue North in Bryan
posted a $5,000 bail and was
is
Arrest
From Al
documents state.
In her resignation/termination
letter, the woman apologized and
said she would spend time think-
ing of her two small children. In
her letter, she did not detail what
she is apologizing for.
Brazos County Assistant Dis-
trict Attorney Douglas Howell III
said Tuesday that he could not
comment on the case because it is
pending.
German's attorney, Travis
Bryan of Bryan, was unavailable
for comment Tuesday afternoon.
See ARREST, Page
C7
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date:
Vote for Proposition 6
T he goal of the College S {ation Fire
Department is to have the first
unit arrive on the scene of a fire
within a four and one -half minute drive
time. Currently some portions of our
city can't be reached within that time
frame, with some taking as long as
seven minutes.
As subdivisions on the southeast side
of Texas 6 continue to grow, the
response times will continue to
increase. With the major growth in our
community to the south, we will need a
fire station on the east side of Texas 6 to
provide good coverage for Pebble Creek,
Foxfire, Woodcreek and Emerald Forest
subdivisions as well as future subdivi-
sions.
Fire Station No. 2 on Rio Grande is 19
years old and needs repairs and renova-
tion. It does not meet current safety
standards for decontamination, needs
work to repair termite damage, and
foundation repairs. Plans call for con-
struction of a new bay to house another
engine and to build decontamination
facilities to meet the current safety stan-
dards.
I urge you to think of the fire and
emergency medical services that our
city provides its citizens and work with -
the College Station Fire Department to
assure that all our citizens have the
quickest response time possible. It could
be a matter of life or death.
Please vote yes for the fire facilities
proposition and for all the other capital
improvement bond propositions on the
Nov. 3 ballot.
MARGARET GRIFFITH
College Station
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date:
' V no on Pro
Vote . 4 p
4 on the Nov. 3
Waste of time, money
P roposition
College Station bond ballot
asks that we approve spend
ing $1.56 million to buy 100 acres of
he College Station City
land for a new city center complex
Council not only wasted tax
dollars, but also wasted a lot
and $275,000 for 40 acres of land for
of time for 28 taxpayers. Although
a new cemetery.
Before purchasing this land,
we all knew that the council did
shouldn't we know what is going to
not have to use the recomme
tion of the committee, I believve e that
be built as part of this project? The
the council members had already
$43,000 election mailer doesn't men-
made their minds up on what they
tion how big this complex is going
were going to do about Munson
to be. Why haven't we been told?
Avenue.
Do we even need this project?
Councilman David Hickson said
at
The mailer mentions that City Hall
he believed that Munson Avenue
is too small. Why don't build
should have the neighborhood
the second floor on the existing
character it had when he was a boy
building, like it was designed for?
riding his bicycle in the neighbor -
Most important, how much is the
hood. It would really nice if we
final cost for the entire complex?
all could have that peaceful
We are haphazardly buying land
lifestyle we had when we were chil-
for a project whose cost is
unknown. Is it $10 million? $20 mil-dren.
However, this is an impossi
lion? Don't make us commit to pay
bility since the city has grown as
for something before we know
the council has pushed for more
what the final price is. '
jobs and a larger economic base.
Don't be concerned that you have
It is time for registered voters of
to approve the entire land purchase
College Station to do something
now. If we want to buy the land for
about their decision. I strongly
future expansion space for the
believe as an American citizen that
cemetery, why don't we simply pay
we have the right to vote on this
for it out of 1999's budget surplus.
issue and that we all should vote on
We have enough and won't have to
this issue. Unless we cast our vote
go further into debt to pay for it.
on election day we will be allowing
With what we now know, the city
a few citizens to run the city as
center could be a well thought out
they see fit.
project. Or it could be an unneces-
KAYLA GLOVER
sary white elephant. We just don't
College Station
know.
Before we commit to purchasing
A swinging
the land, let's have our City
gate?
Council publicly discuss and dis-
see in The Bryan- College
close what is planned. We have a
T Station Eagle that the College
lot of questions. Let's get some real
Station City Council voted to
answers. Then the citizens can
close Munson Avenue and will
make an informed, knowledgeable
research a "911 gate" for emer-
decision. Until then, we would be
gency personnel. Am I correct in
irresponsible to approve the bonds.
recalling that this same city coun-
Vote no for Proposition 4.
cil spoke out strongly against the
BENITO FLORES -MEATH
creation of gated communities in
College Station
College Station earlier this year?
GREGORY ZOLNEROWICH
'ftw
Bryan
The Battalion
City of College Station News
Date: i b I ZA X16
Clty Council I W'q
supports students
In response to Len Callaway's
Oct. 27 column:
Len Callaway's effort to paint
,the City of College Station as anti -
student lacks credibility.
Every action taken by any city
council is a choice between com-
peting values. In this case, the in-
tegrity and safety of one of the
oldest neighborhoods against the
convenience of all citizens (includ-
ing students) to travel from one
part of town to the other. Both are
valid concerns.
Although our government is
based on majority rule, it also pro-
tects individual rights. The bal-
ance of majority rule with minority
rights is what has made this
country great.
Additionally, Callaway states
the council routinely ignores stu-
dents and has failed to establish
a working relationship with stu-
dent leaders.
For years the council has asked
the Student Government Associa-
tion to appoint a student to sit
with the council. This person re-
ceives a complete agenda and
may address the council just as
elected members can.
In recent months I have at-
tended about 12 city council
meetings, and the student repre-
sentative was present only once.
Perhaps the problem is not with
the council but with student gov-
ernment leaders.
Finally, Callaway suggests stu-
dents sign the petition to open
Munson Avenue and that students
vote in the January election. Let
me point out the election date is
Jan. 16, the Saturday before
classes start. Not exactly a good
date to encourage student voting.
The people behind this petition
want the election in January so
their vocal minority can win. The
people behind the petition are not
the friends of students. They have
objected to the student govern-
ment representative on the coun-
cil. They are using students to ad-
vance their own political case. Do
not be taken in by such tactics.
Gary Halter
Associate Professor of
Political sciencf
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: 0 &, N
Vote no on bond issues
he city of College Station is asking
the voters to approve bond issues
totaling $25.2 million. The mayor,
�� City Council and Capital Improvement
Committee would have the voters
believe that all of these "improvements"
would be accomplished at no cost to the
taxpayers.
I would ask that the voters remember
that we have been encumbered with
paying for the Wolf Pen Creek conven-
tion center and the parking garage fias-
co as well as other cooperative moves
by the current mayor and City Council.
These people are asking us to pay
some $8.5 million for street construction
and improvement. This from the same
group who closed Munson Avenue from
the public. What assurance do we have
that the new streets will be open to the
public? The $728,00 for traffic signals
will probably include the "911" gate for
Munson Avenue — an "improvement'
that should be paid for by an assess-
ment on the property owners who bene-
fit from this street closure.
All of the other "improvements" —
another new fire station, municipal
office land acquisition, park acquisition
and improvement — appear to be added
to "beautify" the city. We voted for a
drainage program which was to cost
only those affected. However, I find that
I pay a monthly assessment for
drainage.
I would like to encourage the voters to
vote no on all bond issues until we have
a mayor and City Council who have the
backbone to stand up against private
interest groups and act for the better of
the citizens.
CLARENCE E. McCURRY
College Station
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Ivm.
JDate: 00f, 2q, I q9S
A greener College Station
P arks and open space are important
to the quality -of -life of the citizens
of College Station. Propositions 5
and 6 would build more parks, acquire
more open space and help with drainage
issues in College Station.
We all know the value of parks and
ball fields to our community life. But
lets take a look at some of the benefits of
greenbelts.
Greenbelts can be highly developed
like the greenway in Denver, Colo.,�Q
Austin's Town Lake greenway,
Bastrop's greenway, or the Burke
Gillman Trail in Seattle, or greenbelts
can be undeveloped open space.
They can also be developed some-
where between highly developed and
not developed.
Whatever development occurs, there
are lots of opportunities for greenbelts
to serve a community and improve the
residents quality of life.
Greenbelts maintain habitat for birds
and small animals which make our
lives more enjoyable.
Wouldn't nice bike trails along local
streams away from streets be a safe and
pleasant way to get to work and for our
children to travel to school?
When was the last time you and your
child rode a bicycle to baseball or soccer
practice so you did not have to drive the
car?
The drainage issue, however is very
complex.
There are ordinances that don't let
developers build in the flood planes. To
circumvent the ordinances, the develop-
ers channelize or reroute the creeks to
their benefit. This causes flooding
downstream. Someone down stream
always loses. Are you the next flood vic-
tim?
We need Propositions 5 and 6 to pass
in order to open up more opportunities
for improving our quality of life.
I feel that for every dollar we appro-
priate as taxpayers for road improve-
ments we should also appropriate the
same amount for parks, recreation facil-
ities and open space to mitigate the neg-
ative impacts of pavement and automo-
biles.
Join me in voting for Propositions 5
and 6.
MICHELE D. BROWN
College Station
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Look for some solutions
T o my neighbors signing the peti-
tion to reopen Munson Avenue:
This is not the time for fragmenta-
tion, but unification; time to support the
City Council's position that College
Hills is a single entity the way we think
of the A &M campus as a single entity.
�r No one complains of having to drive
around campus. So, too, must we accept
that one drives around College Hills.
To those College Hills neighbors
whose streets have seen an increase in
traffic: Now that Munson Avenue traffic
has been lowered, the City Council has
committed itself to find solutions to
your increased cut - through traffic. Be
helpful. Find solutions that do not undu-
(W and unfairly burden any one street
over another.
Everyone who signs the petition is
committing to the philosophy that con -
venience determines street thorough-
fares. Once we establish this precedent,
�. expect the following changes:
■ The 911 gate at Bent Tree Drive will
be removed, returning Bent Tree Drive
to its former role of cut - through street.
■ Welsh Avenue will be widened and
extended to George Bush Drive to
accommodate traffic to the south.
a
I Date: Nu \/. 1, I q q Pj
■ Williams Street will be punched
through the back yards of homes to
make drop off and pick up of Oakwood
students more convenient.
Convenience or neighborhood integri
ty? It's your choice, neighbors.
DENNIS MALONEY
College Station
A conflict of interest?
T he picture is always bigger when
we take the time to really look.
Why did the City Council ignore
its staff, the professionals in traffic, who
said Munson Avenue should be widened
and left open?
Could it be a conflict of interest? Our
mayor and three council members once
lived in the Munson "neighborhood"
and still have several friends and busi-
ness associates there.
The Munson Avenue residents say
7,000 cars a day is too much. That was
two years ago. After the city installed
speed bumps and stop signs, it dropped
to 3,200 cars.
No study on Munson Avenue without
the barricade has been done since Texas
Avenue was finished and the Blinn cam-
pus was moved. It might show us an
even lower count. An upgrade might be
all that street needs. To modernize the
paths we travel is only natural in a
growing community,
Munson Avenue is that ideal corridor
because it's smack dab in the middle
and it's the only north -south street that
most directly connects Harvey Road to
University Drive. Why, when the an-
swer is right in front of their noses, did
the council members make such a swift
and one - sided decision?
People will continue to use this neigh-
borhood as a cut - through, whether it's
Munson Avenue or some other street.
For the safety and integrity of the
entire neighborhood, the best solution is
to confine the heaviest traffic to one
street and allow other streets to carry
the lowest levels possible.
Councilwoman Anne Hazen assures
us that families will once again move
back into the area with the closure and
residents will. invest in restoring their
homes. Speaking for the hundreds of
families not represented by the Munson
Avenue group, we already have.
SARA J. LAMMERTS
College Station
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: NOV, I , Ig98
Don't destroy lifestyle
R ecently, the City Council made a
bold decision to protect a College
Station neighborhood. This, how-
ever, is not the first time the city decid-
ed in favor of neighborhood integrity.
Voters will recall that the city perma-
nently closed Bent Tree Drive in
Emerald Forest with a 911 gate to elimi-
nate cut - through traffic so the safety,
quality of life and integrity of the neigh-
borhood would be protected. In fact, the
upcoming bond issue contains funding
for a street, AMS, one benefit of which
will be a reduction in traffic going
through Emerald Forest by residents
wanting to gain access to the Foxfire
and Sandstone subdivisions.
College Hills residents should have
the same quality of life as people in
other parts of our city. Notice that mod-
ern subdivisions are built with limited
access, main roads, and cul -de -sacs to
preserve neighborhood integrity.
Indeed, some residents of this city
believe so highly in neighborhood
integrity that they have gated off their
entire subdivisions and apartment com-
plexes. They, too, want a reduction in
non - neighborhood traffic, assurance of a
safe, high quality environment for their
families, and prevention of property and
neighborhood deterioration.
Some people argue that the rights of
College Hills citizens should be disre-
garded because our city is growing. But
we must remember that the most often
cited reason for choosing to live in
College Station is because it is a "decent
place to live, with quality neighbor-
hoods and schools." This is what is
bringing the growth.
We cannot make choices that destroy
the very essence of what people value
about our city. We, like the City
Council, must stand up for quality of life
and neighborhood integrity as we
expand. We cannot commit errors that
other cities made as they grew, and
destroy the very qualities that we all
want to enjoy.
BOB DROLESKEY
College Station
Giving twice the thought
would like to offer an alternative
interpretation to Councilwoman
Anne Hazen on the recent events sur-
rounding the city's move to close
Munson Avenue. It is hardly surprising
that a committee composed solely of res-
idents from a single neighborhood can
agree they want what is best for the
neighborhood, whether that is integrity,
safety, or whatever.
Far more instructive is the fact that
even the Munson Avenue Committee,
chosen with a complete disregard for
anyone living outside the neighborhood,
did not suggest permanent closing as C
solution. In fact, as I understand it, the
three alternatives presented by the com-
mittee actually paid some attention to-
the interests of those outside the neigh -
borhood.
As for the city's attempt to craft a
solution based only on the input of a
selected few, not to mention then ignor-
ing that input, it would be comical were
it not real. Remember, this is not the
first time that the city has closed a ,
street with no regard for those using the
street but not living in the immediate
vicinity — Bent Tree Drive is the other.
I am baffled by this notion that the solu-
tion to the problem of too many cars
using too few streets is to close streets.
It is also instructive, if not alarming,
to see the city's admission that the clos-
ing is `only the beginning of the solu-
tion." Would not a better approach have
been to devise a comprehensive solu
tion, with the input of all parties, rather
than to close the street and then see
what happens?
I do, however, agree with one point
from the councilwoman's letter. Every-
one considering a petition to open Mun-
son Avenue should think twice — that
appears to about two times more than
the thought that has occurred by the
city on this matter up to now.
DONALD DEERE
College Station
Voting is a basic right
R odger Lewis (Eagle, Oct. 17) wrote
against the petitioners regardirig
Munson Avenue. That was his
right to do so. However, his last para-
graph gave me real problems.
It is a statement that the petitioners
think, "We have a right to go where we
wanna go and do what we wanna do
anytime we please. And, we have a right
to express ourselves by voting on any -,:
thing and everything we don't like."
I thought that our country was built
on the right to vote on anything and ,
everything we don't like. In a country..
where voting is not allowed, the only
way the people have to show their dis-
pleasure is to shoot someone or throw a
bomb through their window.
I would rather see a vote than a war,
CHARLES LOC)(IE
College Station
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Learnin g about ci g overnment
1
Havey noticed how often the city of
ou College Station receives awards?
Blue ribbons hang in the Police
Department, Utilities Department, Parks
Department and Public Works. Even the
Citizen's University course that teaches
selected residents how the city runs took a
first -place citizen participation award in
the national City- County Communications
& Marketing Association competition.
Why?
The city rates high because it is well
managed at every level and the Citizen
U t d
TT ; 't
versi y course s an s
out because it is put
together by profession -
als. Every session pre-
sents a "no nonsense"
exposition of issues,
problems, and solutions
straight from the top of
each department and
division. Classes are held
JACK on the site of many
MULLEN departments so the phys-
ical plant of the city
becomes a visual part of
the total concept of College Station's city
management.
The view of College Station, behind the
hype, from the men and women who carry
the ball for the community every day, can't
help but leave the listener proud of College
Station and the talent that runs it.
Don't take my word for it. Attend the
next session of the College Station Citizen
University. Watch your November utility
bill for an application and information.
You do want to be knowledgeable and
involved, don't you?
As a recent graduate of College Station
Citizen's University, I can testify that I
learned more in the eight Tuesday
evenings about the city of College Station
than I could have ferreted out in two years
of my own effort to meet f ne folks who
make the motor of the community run. I
was able to go directly to the top and get
answers to my questions about "how" and
"why.
,,
The good news is that members of the
next class will get 10, not eight, weeks of
intensive insight.
The 1999 Citizen UniveAity will be
offered on Tuesday evenings for 10 weeks
beginning Feb. 9, with a week off for spring
break, March 15 -19.
Each session will run from 5:30 -9 p.m.
and will include a light meal. Application
deadline is Dec. 4.
The course is offered free of charge. Only
a commitment to attend all sessions is
required from selected participants. An
attendee will be dropped after two absen-
ces. Applicants must be College Station res-
idents for at least one year and be at least
21. There must be an interest in some kind
of future volunteer service to city govern
ment.
Announced candidates for elected office
in the May elections are ineligible for par-
ticipation in February 1999.
Enthusiasm is extremely high among '98
graduates of "Cit U." Russell Duke, another
graduate, wrote to Mayor Lynn Mellhaney,
"What a wonderful experience for those
lucky 24 persons selected for the College
Station Citizen's University Class of 1998.
Every one of us was in absolute agreement
and accord about this program. It's hard to
believe such unison could come from such
a diverse group of personalities."
Frankly, it is difficult to visualize a bet-
ter, more efficient way to learn a great =1
about city government and how it workCin
College Station than with this high- intensi-
ty, award - winning, professionally present-
ed course.
The 1999 College Station Citizen Univer-
sity is there for you. Don't miss the infor-
mation you will receive by mail in the
November utility statement. Want to know
more? Call 764 -3499
■ Jack Mullen, a graduate of the 1998 Citizen
University, is a retired Army officer and public
schoolteacher. He currently works as a technical
writer and staff coordinator for marketing and human
resource management with Arbin Instruments in
College station.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: h.I(,
A different Munson idea
0 n the evening of Oct. 22, transporta-
tion planner Ed Hard presented to
the College Station City Council four
options in dealing with the Munson
Avenue problem. Each of these four
options has obvious merit and a couple of
them would add only an additional $110,000
or so to the tens of thousands of tax dollars
already blown on this fiasco.
However, there is an equally attractive
option: First, identify the person(s) whose
• influence with the mayor and/or council
members is sufficient to cause them to
d an outrageous amount of our tax
Mul-,, .. Ally —,(: , ; th- traffic
on Munson Avenue to a virtual halt. Then
offer him/her /them a huge amount of
money to convince him/her /them to relo-
cate to another neighborhood, to another
community or to another state. Then,
reopen Munson Avenue.
Or, alternatively, the mayor and council
could appoint another committee to further
study the problem.
LYLE D. STOCKMOE
College Station
C7
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date:
Barrier not working
T he barrier at Munson Avenue
and Lincoln Drive is not
working. All it is doing is
diverting traffic from the north end
of Munson Avenue to the north end
of Ashburn Avenue.
When there is a median in place,
it also will not work. It will not
offer the slightest protection from
traffic going north. There is a pre-
tense that it will provide some help
from traffic in the other direction,
but it will not. People will just
drive right around it with no diffi-
culty.
Furthermore, this median will be
dangerous. According to the design
presented to us, it will interfere
with visibility and make traffic col-
lisions inevitable. College Hills
school children in particular will
be endangered.
Finally, the planned $111,000 gate
is an incredible waste of our tax-
payer's money.
It appears that there is only one
reasonable course for the City
Council. Traffic must be allowed to
flow into and out of the neighbor-
hood.
On the other hand, the College
Hills neighborhood should be pro-
tected from traffic to the maximum
possible extent. This means two
things:
■ All obstructions on Munson
Avenue, including any barriers,
speed humps, stop signs, etc.,
should immediately be removed.
But Munson should not be widened
or further destabilized, nor should
any other street in the neighbor-
hood.
■ There should be no Williams
Boulevard project, no one -way
streets, and no further attempts to
channel traffic onto the other
streets of our College Hills neigh-
borhood.
For many years it has been
planned for Munson Avenue to be
the principal street for north -south
traffic flow.
It will be a disaster if traffic con-
tinues to be forced onto all the
other neighborhood streets.
The wisest course is the one
which will truly be the most effec-
tive in protecting the integrity of
our neighborhood and the safety of
our children.
SUSAN ALLEN
College Station
A good decision
I want to commend the College
Station City Council on its
recent vote to permanently close
Munson Avenue with provision for
a "911 Gate" for emergency vehi-
cles.
This action by the council was
courageous because it was not pop-
ular and I'm sure all members of
the council knew this when they
voted.
It does indeed show concern for
maintaining the integrity of our
neighborhoods, one of the goals
stated in the council's mission
statement.
In the 20 -plus years since we
built our house on Munson
Avenue, we have watched as it
became a noisy, congested and
unsafe cut - through street with
more than 7,000 cars per day by
actual traffic count.
The closure during the trial peri-
od has restored Munson Avenue to
the quiet neighborhood street that
it once was, before it was opened to
Lincoln Avenue some years ago.
The minor inconvenience for us
and others is far preferable to the
hazardous condition that had exist-
ed.
Many thanks to our City Council
for its understanding and willing-
ness to go on the line.
PHIL SPRINGER
College Station
The Eagle
� City of College Station News
Date:
VOTE AGAINST
IN 0 Lei
Proposition #6 in the College Station Bond election
provides for $3,640,000 for Greenbelt and
Drainage improvements. The City explanation of
this project has been written by Clinton's spin doc-
tors. The project has nothing to do with drainage
or flood damage. The project will not save the city
money on future drainage as alleged. All the
money will be used to buy land in floodways or
flood plains. Floodway land cannot be developed
under current City Ordinances or Federal Flood
Insurance rules. If the proposition is approved,
land owners will be able to force the City to buy
worthless land at inflated prices. This project
should have been limited to buying reclaimable
land in the flood plain.
This project will increase your taxes about 4%. 0
The other propositions are worthy, of your support.
Early voting October 19 -30, 1998
Fond election November 3, 1998
Ad paid for by Dick Birdwell, 3 Forest Iiive College Station. TX. 77840
W
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date:
CS voters OK $24 million in bond proposals
BY BOB SCHOBER
>e Staff writer All six issues on ballot approved
College Station voters Tuesday approved
the capital improvement bond election by
landslide margins.
Five of the six propositions — calling for
money for streets, park improvements, a
new fig station and to purchase flood -
plains — passed by margins of about two-
to-one.
Proposition 4, which called for money to
purchase land for a future municipal office
center and a new city cemetery, was the
squeaker — passing by 274 votes out of the
approximately 8,000 cast.
College Station Mayor Lynn McBhaney
Praised the results.
"We've been able to retain our quality of
life because we've been willing to address
our growth with bond elections every four
or five years or so," she said.
City staff members now will review the
projects and report recommendations to
the City Council for scheduling the projects
so they can be completed within the exist-
ing tax rate, McIlhaney said.
"The bonds will be looked at by the coun-
cil over the next three to six months," she
said.
The propositions and the votes are;
■ Proposition 1 passed with 6,334 votes,
or 74.74 percent, to 2,141 votes, or 25.26 per-
cent. It included $8.539 million for streets,
including street rehabilitation and over-
size participation. City staff recommended
five major street projects — Jones Butler
Extension, Longmire Drive Extension, Bar-
ron Road, AMS and Rock Prairie Road, all
to cost $4.525 million. Included in the
proposition was $3.12 million for street
1 1
c.
From Al
■ Proposition 3 passed with
6,234 votes, or 74.37 percent, to
2,148 votes, or 25.63 percent. It
included $2.477 million to build or
improve fire stations. These funds
will be used to construct a fifth
fine station to service the develop-
ing areas on the east and south
sides of the city. Some of the
money is targeted for renovating
Station 2 and expanding its facili-
ties.
■ Proposition 4 passed with
4,173 votes, or 51.7 percent, to 3,899
votes, or 48.3 percent. It included
$1.835 million for land acquisi-
tion. These fluids are targeted to
purchase land for a future munic-
ipal office center and a new city
cemetery.
■ Proposition 5 passed with
5,519 votes, or 66.65 percent, to
2,761 votes, or 33.35 percent. It
included $4.769 million for parks
and athletic facilities. About
$2.432 million would be spent on
the initial development of the
newly acquired 150 -acre Regional
Athletic Park, including roads,
parking, restrooms, two lighted
softball fields and eight to 10 soc-
cer fields. Money also would be
spent to acquire land in the south-
west part of the city for a new
community park and develop-
ment of Lick Creek Park.
■ Proposition 6 passed with
5,355 votes, or 64.97 percent, to
2,887 votes, or 35.03 percent. It
included $3.64 million for green-
belt and drainage control. The
money would be spent to buy land
in floodplains and floodways to
create a system of greenbelts
throughout the city. Greenbelts
are pieces of land that are to be
left undeveloped. Potential areas
for acquisition include, among
others, Carter Creek from the city
limits to the confluence with Bee
Creek; Lick Creek from Texas 6 to
the landfill; and Bee Creek east of
the Public Works building to the
confluence with Carter Creek.
Former Councilman Dick Bird-
well, who ran a series of adver-
tisements urging residents to vote
against Proposition 6, said it was
"unfortunate the city spun Propo-
sition 6 as a drainage issue when
it has nothing to do with
drainage."
Scott Shafer, president of the
Brazos Greenways Council, said
passage "is a real positive step
and really good news for the com-
munity."
McMianey said the successful
bond election was a tribute to "the
hard work and dedication of so
many of our citizens" who served
on the Capital Improvement Pro-
ject Citizens Committee.
"They had to whittle down $73
million of projects to the bond
package," she said.
rehabilitation projects, including overlay
or reconstruction of seven major streets.
■ Proposition 2 passed with 5,774 votes,
or 69.15 percent, to 2,576 votes, or 30.85 per-
cent. It included $2.98 million for traffic sig-
nals and traffic management. The funds
Will be used to add new signals to intersec-
tions as the city grows and update the com-
puter system linking the signal grid. The
funds also would allow the city to install
traffic pre - emption devices to help emer-
gency vehicles travel safely and quickly
through all intersections in the city that
have traffic signals.
See BOND, Page A6
O
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: k1 b
Region
Driver smashes
through barricade
on Munson Avenue
Cost of barricades, repairs has cost
College Station $4,800 since June
l �1
u
By BOB SCHOBER
FaEte Staff Wnter
A driver demolished one half of
the Munson Avenue barricade
sometime Monday night, litter-
ing the street with shattered
boards and reflecting tape.
The damage and repairs cost
the city $560, said Kathryn
Anthony, assistant director of
Public Works.
Since Munson was closed by
the first barricade in June, the
city has spent about $4,800,
including Tuesday's expense,
maintaining the barricades —
first at Munson and Gilchrist
Avenue and now at Munson at
Lincoln Drive East.
In both locations, the city had
to add to the barricade to block
drivers from rumbling through
Yards, Anthony said.
Marshall Wallace headed a
four -man crew that spent Tues-
day morning repairing the barri-
cade.
They arrived at about 8:30 a.m.
and finished around noon. The
destruction seems to have been
intentional, he said.
"Somebody pulled up against it
and pushed it open," Wallace
said.
Tuesday's call wasn't his first
to the scene.
"On Sunday, somebody tried to
push the other side of the barri-
cade, and we were out here [Mon-
day.] It was tore up a bit," he said.
Wallace and his crew have
lengthened the barricade to pre-
vent flanking maneuvers by dri-
vers.
The six- foot -tall frame of five
boards blocks. the street, and now
arms of boards stretch out on
each side.
One side was extended even
farther after a driver jumped the
curb and virtually bushwhacked
his way through some shrubs to
get around the barricade.
"We had to come back and put
another one up to prevent that,"
he said.
On the other side, Wallace said,
motorcyclists are still jumping
the curb to get on the sidewalk
and around.
Wallace said he's kind of used
to it.
"We were out several times at
the other barricade [at Munson
and Gilchrist Avenue] because
People were driving around on
people's lawns," he said.
The Battalion
City of College Station N
Date: W04
Citizens prep
to present
Munson Ave.
petition to city
BY MANDY CATER GRAEBER
The Battalion
A group of College Hills residents
is presenting a petition to the College
Station City Council today urging the
council to let the voters decide what
action to take on Munson Avenue.
The petition, which calls for the
council to give citizens the ability to
vote on whether there should be a
9 -1 -1 barrier blocking Munson Av-
enue, comes after months of debate
and experimental solutions to citi-
zen concerns regarding high -vol-
ume traffic on Munson Avenue.
Kayla Glover, College Hills resi-
dent and a supporter of the petition,
said the city requires 1,010 signa-
tures for a petition to be presented
to the council. She and other citi-
zens have been collecting signatures
since July, but she said interest has
grown since the Munson Traffic
Committee was disbanded and the
barricades were erected.
"We have 1,270 signatures veri-
fied with voter registration," Glover
said. "They'll only take 1,010, but
we got extras in case any of the sig-
natures are questioned."
MUNSON
Continued from Page i'
Glover said the council is expected to
decide at Thursday's meeting whether
the petition will be put to a ballot.
After viewing the petition, the
council can either decide to accept
the petition as is, or it will automati-
cally be sent to be voted on during
municipal elections.
Gary Halter, a College Hills resident,
said he does not expect the council to ac-
cept the petition, due to what he calls
"peculiar wording."
He said the safety of children and
reduced property values are more im-
portant considerations for the council
than the inconveniences caused by
the barricade.
"In order to spare my neighbors that
kind of traffic," Halter said, 'I'm more
than willing to go a few extra blocks."
SEE MUNSON ON PAGE 2.
0
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: KIUv
Citizens University
of CS wins award ;
Citizens University, a city of Cod
lege Station education program for
adults, has been awarded a first -
place Savvy Award from the City
County Communications and Mar-
keting Association in the category
of Citizen Participation.
Citizens University is a 10 -week
program that introduces residents
to topics ranging from governance
and law enforcement to community
enhancement and economic devel-
opment. Participants take field
trips to city facilities and evaluate
city services.
Citizens University will begin
again in February, and application
forms will be included in Novem-
ber's utility bills.
For more information, call Peggy,
Calliham at 764 -3499.
`Trick or treatingN
benefits food bank
The College Station Teen Adviso-
ry Board "trick or treated" in the
Pebble Creek neighborhood Oct.
31 and gathered more than 1,400
pounds of canned food for dona-
tion to the Brazos Food Bank.
'We would like to extend a huge
thanks to the residents of the Peb-
ble Creek area for their generosity
and support," Shannon Waddell,
youth services coordinator for the
city of College Station, said.
The Brazos Food Bank distrib-
utes food to pantries throughout a
five -county region.
c
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date:
City will et Munson peth"
ion
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
Kayla Glover said Thursdays she has
gathered more than enough signatures on
a petition to permanently open Munson
Avenue to qualify for a future ballot.
The petition to keep Munson open per-
manently, which Glover said includes at
least 1,253 signatures from registered vot-
will be presented Friday to City Secre-
Connie Hooks.
ve done this to let the residents of the
ci decide," she said.
The wording of the petition prohibits the
city from closing Munson Avenue or in
Resident:
collected t
any way obstructing traffic on the street.
Hooks, who previously had said the peti-
tion needed at least 1,010 signatures to
qualify for a ballot initiative, will verify
the signatures and present the petition to
the City Council. The council can vote to
accept the petition, thus making it law, or
vote against it, forcing a ballot initiative,
likely within 60 days.
If voters were to approve the ordinance,
the newly erected barricade at Lincoln
Avenue and Munson would be taken down
and the street reopened to through traffic.
Joan Perry, the former spokeswoman of
the discontinued Munson Avenue Traffic
Committee, said reopening the street
"would eventually prove to be disastrous.
"It will, in my opinion, drive everyone's
property values steadily down in the future
and the neighborhood will decline," she
said. "I would hope that citizens would put
more value in protecting a valued historic
area than on their own minor inconve-
nience."
Perry, who owns a home on Kyle Street,
and more than 20 other College Hills resi-
dents met for several weeks during the
summer in an attempt to form a consensus
solution to the traffic problems on Munson
and in the neighborhood.
But on Oct. 8, the council decided' to
move the barricade that had closed Mun-
son at Gilchrist Avenue to Lincoln Avenue
and permanently close Munson.
Enough signatures
o qualify for ballot
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: Mai. I999'
Feeling powerless
om Kindt's letter about the
people on Munson Avenue
being powerful and in control
of the city made me laugh. As a res-
ident of Munson Avenue, I feel
very powerless and out of control
with decisions being made about
my street and, consequently, the
quality of my life.
Those who feel inconvenienced
by Munson Avenue's closing seem
to me to be the powerful ones who
want to be in control, evidenced by
the petition to send this decision to
a vote. All I want is to reclaim the
street and neighborhood as it was
18 years ago when we bought our
home.
Kindt's insensitive suggestion
that if we don't like living on a
street with 7,000 cars a day we
should sell and move elsewhere
astounds me. It provokes the ques-
tion, to whom should we sell?
Some streets are residential and
some are commercial thorough-
fares. Munson Avenue has people
living on it and was meant to be
residential in nature. Maybe the
solution is for the city to buy our
homes, at fair market price of
course, and make Munson Avenue
the commercial area the grumblers
seem to want it to be.
We have walked in the shoes of
those inconvenienced by the barri-
cade. Those of us who live on
Munson Avenue are the most
inconvenienced. How many oppo-
nents to the closing have walked in
our shoes? I doubt Tom Kindt
would feel so positive about this
city if he had garbage thrown on
his lawn daily, or couldn't sleep
due to loud, blaring music from a
constant stream of cars whizzing
by, or feared for his life just by try-
ing to walk his dog.
College Station is growing, but a
progressive city does not trash its
oldest neighborhoods in favor of
convenience or put its residents in
danger for progress.
PEGGY ABBOTT
College Station
The Eagle
City of College Station News
--- ]Date: KICv. . 1), 09
A sign of the times
.dust had an idea that I think
will solve the Munson street
impasse: Take down the barri-
cades, and put up signs that say,
"No Through Traffic." The
motorists will read the sign, and
take an alternate route.
If people don't co- operate, you
can give them a ticket.
We don't control speed on Texas
Avenue with gates, stop signs, an(
speed bumps. There's a reason:
People have a little intelligence,
and there are police.
With barricades and special
gates, College Station might be
mistaken for a prison camp. My
way, there will be unlimited
access, and visitors will think
we're regular people.
I know this sounds too simple,
so don't remove the speed
bumps or extra stop signs right
away.
And if a few cars slip through
the net, it won't be the end of the
world. Some folk speed on Texas
Avenue. Those who continue to
break the law, eventually get
caught.
C. RUSSELL YATES
College Station
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: WV. I I I
Munson petition before council
Northgate Parking Garage land purchase on agenda
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The initiative petition calling for open and unob-
structed traffic on Munson Avenue will be consid-
ered by the College Station City Council on Thurs-
day.
Kayla Glover, who spearheaded the petition
drive, delivered the petition to City Secretary Con-
nie Hooks with about 1,253 signatures from College
Station registered voters.
She needed 1,010 signatures to qualify, Hooks
said.
The council is scheduled to discuss the petition
and could hold a public hearing. If the council
approves the petition, the barricades on Munson
Avenue could come down.
If the council rejects it, the initiative ordinance
would go before the voters in a special election, pos-
sibly on Jan. 16. That election would cost about
$20,000, according to city staff.
The council also will consider a proposal to pur-
chase two lots for $155,000 for the Northgate Park-
ing Garage. The purchase would be funded from the
$6.8 million approved for the project by the council
in fiscal 1997 -98.
The council also will consider this year's Gain -
sharing distribution to city employees. In its second
year, Gainsharing is one component of the city's
compensation program. The distribution amount is
See COUNCIL, Page A16
Council
From A9
determined by the amount of
unexpended funds in the fiscal
1998 operating budget. The pro-
posed distribution would cost the
City $935 for each of 523 eligible
employees, for a total of $489,006.
In other business, the council
will discuss:
■ An ordinance changing the
hourly fee for parking in the
Northgate Promenade parking
lot. The proposal would reduce
the fees from $1 per hour to $.50
per hour from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. fee of $1 per
hour and the $4 daily fee would
not be changed.
The change has been requested
by the Northgate District Associ-
ation and was unanimously rec-
ommended by the Northgate
Revitalization Board.
■ A possible amendment to an
economic development agree-
ment and a new lease between the
city, Freewing Aerial Robotics
Corp. and the Bryan- College Sta-
tion Economic Development
Corp.
■ Facade Improvement Pro-
gram funding of $57,000 for facade
renovations to Texadelphia Sand-
wich and Sports, 317 -319 Patricia
St.
■ A 5 -year lease agreement
between the city and Deluxe
Burger Bar of College Station Inc.
The owners would have one
option to renew for 10 years.
The owners would agree as
part of the lease to develop three
lots within 36 months of the start
of the lease.
■ Naming the new 150 -acre
regional athletic park Veterans
Park and Athletic Complex.
■ Approving an arborist train-
ing program that would commit
the city to a local match contribu-
tion of about $6,400. The agree-
ment would be signed with the
Texas Forest Service.
City of College Station News
Date: NOV. 15, 199
City stalls on M unson decision
BY BETH MILLER
The Battalion
The College Station City Council decided last
night to delay the decision to either open Munson
Avenue or call for a special election on the issue.
The petition, received by city officials Nov. 6, re-
portedly meets all requirements for validity and con-
tains more than 1,200 signatures from registered Col-
lege Station voters. The options offered to the
council were to either approve the ordinance and
completely open Munson Avenue to traffic, remov-
ing all barricades and traffic- calming devices, or re-
ject the ordinance and call for a special election.
The first available special election date is Jan. 16,
and the petition allows the council 60 days to make
the decision.
Gary Halter, a College Hills resident opposed to
opening Munson Avenue, said he is not in favor of
holding the election in January because many stu-
dents and faculty will still be out of town.
He said the election should be in May, which is
the next special election date available to the council.
Halter said he is opposed to opening the street un-
der the terms of the petition because it restricts the
council from being able to protect College Hills res-
idents, and he said he is concerned about safety
throughout the neighborhood.
Kayla Glover, a College Hills resident and an ini-
tiator of the petition, said she is in favor of a Janu-
ary election. She said people who will be out of town
for the election have the option of absentee voting.
Roland Allen, a College Hills resident, compared
the neighborhood's current situation to a parachutist.
Allen said the traffic - calming devices sent the
neighborhood into free fall, and the council's deci-
sion would determine what type of landing would
result. He urged the council to "pass the ordinance
and form a small, workable committee to investigate
ways to shield the people from [unfavorable traffic
conditions]."
"Pull the rip cord, and bring the issue to a safe,
comfortable landing," Allen said.
After hearing the arguments, the council decided
to take the allowed 60 days to consider the argu-
ments. The issue will be readdressed in January, and
the possibility of calling a special election in May
will be considered.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date:
earliest date for a special election
on the issue if the council votes to
deny the petition.
The council agreed that it will
set a date for the January special
meeting at its regular December
session. The City Charter re-
quires the council to take final
action on a certified initiative not
later than 60 days after it is sub-
mitted to the council. City Secre-
CS council pushes back Munson Street decision
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Coun-
cil voted 6.1 Thursday night to
wait until January before acting
on an ordinance petition pro-
hibiting the city from closing or
obstructing traffic on Munson
Avenue.
That decision makes May 1 the
tary Connie Hooks said she will
recommend that the special meet-
ing be held Jan. 6.
In a related Munson issue,
Mayor Lynn Mcllhaney said the
council, at either the special
meeting or its Jan. 14 meeting,
will consider a proposal present-
ed by Mick McMichen, a member
of the discontinued Munson
Avenue Traffic Committee, to
Z
take down the barricades at Lin-
coln Avenue and Munson and
conduct new traffic volume stud-
ies of Munson.
McEhaney also said work "is
on hold" and "no money will be
spent" on the 911 gate, which the
council previously approved for
the permanent closure of Mun-
son.
Hooks reported Thursday night
that the petition, which was cir.
culated by Kayla Glover, had
1,233 certified signatures from
registered voters. At the January
meeting, the council will have
two options: Adopt the ordi-
nance, which immediately would
go into effect, or reject it and send
it to the voters.
See MUNSON, Page AS
n'
Page AS The Brya - College Station Eagle Friday, November 13, 1998
' No
Munson
From Al
If the council had acted Thursday, the issue
would have been placed on a special election ballot
Jan. 16. By delaying their vote, several council
members said, the issue would be moved to the May
general election ballot, thus saving College Station
residents the estimated $18,000 to $20,000 cost of
holding a special election.
Councilman David Hickson argued that delaying
the issue until May would allow both sides of the
issue "more time to educate the public."
"We should give both sides ample time to get
information out," he said.
Before voting, the council heard from several res-
idents, with former Mayor Gary Halter claiming the
initiative petition was illegal "on its face."
"You can't bind the action of future councils," he
said.
City Attorney Harvey Cargill however, said the
petition is for an ordinance, and the City Charter
gives the council the right to amend ordinances.
"You're not locked in forever," he said, explaining
that Texas law allows a court to rule on the legality
of such initiative petitions only after voters have
approved it. "That may not make sense, but that's
< < We should give both sides ample
time to get information out. > >
— DAVID MCKSON
College Station councilman
the law."
The council's vote for temporary inaction caught
Glover by surprise, but she said she will "rally the
troops."
"I wish it were in January but, since it's not, it
will give us more time to run a campaign for friends
of our community who are concerned for our neigh-
borhoods as a whole and not one or two streets," she
said.
But Nan Crouse, who does not live on Munson but
has strongly supported closing that street, coun-
tered that protecting the neighborhood requires
controlling cut - through traffic.
"You have to protect the neighborhood," she said.
"If they can do this to us, they can do this to any-
one."
In other business, the council voted 4 -3 not to
lower daytime parking rates for the Northgate
Promenade parking lot. The rate decrease was
requested by the Northgate District Association
and unanimously approved by the Northgate Revi-
talization Board.
Forum to address student harassment
By COLLEEN KAVANAGH
Eagle Staff Wri'ej 1 1 40
Internationa students at Texas
A &M University will have anoth-
er chance to share their personal
experiences of racial harassment
— specifically in the Northgate
area — during a forum Tuesday.
David Byrd said the forum,
which stemmed from committee
meetings, is a time for communi-
ty members, A &M administra-
tors and students to voice their
opinions and concerns about the
reported incidents of harass-
ment.
The Northgate Security Aware-
ness Forum is scheduled from 7
to 9 p.m. in the Memorial Student
Center Flagroom.
We'll give a brief history of
what's been going on and then
turn it over to anyone who wants
to speak," said Byrd, chair of the
external affairs committee of the
Student Senate and a graduate
student in agricultural educa-
tion.
"We have some questions, but
will keep the discussion going,"
he said. "We hope to show people
that we've already worked on the
problem and, if they want to get
involved, they can."
Byrd said organizers invited to
the forum members of the Bryan
and College Station police depart-
ments and city councils, mem-
bers of the Northgate Merchants
Association, campus administra-
tors, students and others with an
interest in the harassment inci-
dents.
The Northgate Security Aware-
ness Committee has met several
times during the fall semester, he
said, and the number of people
attending is growing.
More than 100 people attended
the last committee meeting in
October, and Byrd said he is
expecting about 300 at Tuesday's
forum.
"We just want people to be able
to share their experiences, which
will probably open up a Pando-
ra's box," he said. "International
students have said this has been
going on for a long time, and no
one's listening. Hopefully, people
will hear the problems and we'll
move to solution suggestions."
1
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V
Forum to address student harassment
By COLLEEN KAVANAGH
Eagle Staff Wri'ej 1 1 40
Internationa students at Texas
A &M University will have anoth-
er chance to share their personal
experiences of racial harassment
— specifically in the Northgate
area — during a forum Tuesday.
David Byrd said the forum,
which stemmed from committee
meetings, is a time for communi-
ty members, A &M administra-
tors and students to voice their
opinions and concerns about the
reported incidents of harass-
ment.
The Northgate Security Aware-
ness Forum is scheduled from 7
to 9 p.m. in the Memorial Student
Center Flagroom.
We'll give a brief history of
what's been going on and then
turn it over to anyone who wants
to speak," said Byrd, chair of the
external affairs committee of the
Student Senate and a graduate
student in agricultural educa-
tion.
"We have some questions, but
will keep the discussion going,"
he said. "We hope to show people
that we've already worked on the
problem and, if they want to get
involved, they can."
Byrd said organizers invited to
the forum members of the Bryan
and College Station police depart-
ments and city councils, mem-
bers of the Northgate Merchants
Association, campus administra-
tors, students and others with an
interest in the harassment inci-
dents.
The Northgate Security Aware-
ness Committee has met several
times during the fall semester, he
said, and the number of people
attending is growing.
More than 100 people attended
the last committee meeting in
October, and Byrd said he is
expecting about 300 at Tuesday's
forum.
"We just want people to be able
to share their experiences, which
will probably open up a Pando-
ra's box," he said. "International
students have said this has been
going on for a long time, and no
one's listening. Hopefully, people
will hear the problems and we'll
move to solution suggestions."
1
Don't move railroad
write in response to an initia-
tive against the relocation of the
Union Pacific Railroad to the so-
called west corridor. We don't need
that to happen. I don't know who
makes all the money in such a relo-
cation, but they need to make their
killing somewhere else.
The simple reality of all the facts
so far gathered indicates that the
solution has already been proposed
years ago: Vertical relocation of
the tracks and grade separations
along major thoroughfares.
This has already been demon-
strated, so it's with chagrin that I
note that great effort is being
expended to relocate the railroad to
the west, instead.
Let us forbid any further consid-
eration of the west corridor reloca-
tion.
The tax funds to be paid out in
this effort need to work for every-
body, and that work is demonstra-
bly the vertical relocation of the
tracks directly beneath where they
now lie. I urge you to think and act
in this vein.
R.S. ETHEREDGE
College Station
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date:
CS bond issues
I n addition to a plethora of contested races from governor
down to justice of the peace, voters in College Station face
a $24.2 million bond issue to fund, among other things,
street construction and repair, improvement of traffic signals,
and purchase of land for a new cemetery, a new fire station, a
community park and a future municipal office center.
Although the bond issue will appear on the same ballot as
the general election candidates in College Station, residents
must vote separately on each of the bond issues. Straight -tick-
et voting in the general election races will not count toward
the bond issue.
The bond issue was developed after a citizen committee
chaired by Bill Fox met weekly for two months to decide
among $72 million in proposed capital expenditures. The goal
of the committee was to fund the most pressing needs in such
a way that city taxes would not be raised to fund the bond
issue, although a modest tax increase is possible — although
not likely - in the future to pay for operations of some of the
projects include in the bond issue. More probable is that future
growth of the city will increase tax revenue sufficiently to pay
for any additional operating costs. The committee members
did a fine job and deserve the thanks of their fellow citizens.
The bond issue has been divided into six parts, with voters
giving the option of voting for or against each one. The Bryan -
College Station Eagle recommends a vote in favor of all six sec-
tions.
The six propositions are:
■ A total of $8.5 million for new streets, repairs to existing
streets and purchase of rights of way for the extension of
Longmire Drive and the upgrade of Barron Road. Plans call
for realigning Rock Prairie Road east of Texas 6 so that the
two sections of Rock Prairie Road link up, extending Jones
Butler Road south to F.M. 2818, and constructing AMS, a new
street linking Emerald Parkway and Sebesta Road. Among the
streets under review for reconstruction are Dartmouth Street,
Dominick Drive, Longmire Drive and Marion Pugh Drive.
The bond issue also would pay for the city's cost of extending
Victoria Drive south to Barron Road. The developer of the
land will pay the basic cost of the road, but the city will fund
the cost of making the street wider than required of the devel-
oper to handle additional traffic.
■ In a related issue, $2.9 million for traffic signal upgrades
— including extending the city's fire and police signal pre-
emption system — and improving traffic lanes with such
things as continuous right -turn lanes.
■ Improvements to the existing Fire Station No. 2 — which
will remain open at the request of citizens in the nearby neigh-
borhoods — and purchase of land for a new fire station on the
east side of the East Bypass will cost some $2.5 million.
■ Slightly more than $1.8 million is earmarked to purchase
land for a new city cemetery and for a planned municipal
office complex. The current College Station Cemetery is near-
ing capacity and a new cemetery will be needed in five to to
years. The bond issue includes money to buy some 40 acres of
land outside the city limits — as required by state law — for
future development of a new cemetery. Also include is money
to buy about 100 acres of land for a future municipal office cen-
ter to replace the current City Hall — which is rapidly becom-
ing too small — in a more centrally located part of the city.
■ A new community park and improvements to existing
parks are included in the almost $4.8 million fifth item of the
bond issue. The money also will be used for initial develop-
ment of land for a new regional athletic park in northeast
College Station and for improvements to existing athletic
fields.
■ The final item in the bond issue is $3.6 million to purchase
greenbelts in flood -prone areas of the city.
One of the great things about College Station is its quality of
life. The bond issue will provide money to continue to make
the city a great place to live. The items are well thought out
and deserve the support of the voters.
Early voting in the Nov. 3 general election and the special
College Station bond election begins Monday and runs
through Oct. 30. Registered Brazos County voters may cast
their ballots at any of the following locations:
■ Brazos County Courthouse, 300 E. 26th St., Suite 120, in
Bryan.
• Arena Hall, Tabqr Road and the East Bypass in Bryan.
• Galilee Baptist Church, 804 N. Logan St. in Bryan.
• College Station school Administration Building A, 1812
Welsh Ave. in College Station.
■ The Memorial Student Center on the Texas A &M
University campus.
Hours for early voting are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 25 and
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 26.30.
Only voters inside the city limits of College Station may vote
in the special bond election. Please take a few minutes to
study the issues and then go to the polls, either during early
voting hours or on Election Day, Nov. 3.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
CS council to discuss
Munson Drive issues
Munson Avenue will top the agenda
Thursday when the College Station City
Council discusses keeping in place the
speed bumps on Munson and consider an
ordinance permitting a 911 gate at the
intersection with Dominik Drive.
The council will meet at its new time
and will use its new agenda format. Start-
ing Thursday, regular meetings will start
at 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. Items for con-
sideration will be included only in a con-
sent agenda and regular agenda.
The statutory agenda, which required
two council members to pull an item for
individual consideration, has been elimi-
See MUNSON, Page A14
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
nated. The statutory agenda was used to
streamline how items, usually those cost-
ing less than $100,000, were presented.
Those items now will be included in the
consent agenda, City Secretary Connie
Hooks said.
Workshop and regular meeting agen-
das will be numbered sequentially to pre-
pare for the digital "paperless" agenda
requested by the council.
The council approved a motion Oct. 8 to
install the gate on Munson Drive and
directed city staff to evaluate the possibil-
ity of keeping the gate open during cer-
tain hours of the day. The staff also was
asked to consider how a median on Fran-
The council also will discuss:
■ A resolution determining the public necessity
of acquiring part of a lot for the Northgate parking
garage. The structural engineer for the project has
determined that exterior piers along the north wall
of the garage will encroach over the property line of
a 10 -foot section of the lot, and city staff has deter-
mined the most effective way to deal with the issue
is to buy the section, about 1,620 square feet. The
section is valued at $1,710 and carries about $1,400
in delinquent property taxes.
The property currently is not for sale, and the res-
olution could pave the way for condemnation pro-
ceedings, City Manager Skip Noe said Tuesday.
■ A Council Ethics Ordinance, discussed during
the council's Oct. 8 workshop, would amend Chap-
ter 8 of the Code of Ordinances and cover all mem-
bers of quasi - judicial and legislative boards in the
city and the city manager, city secretary, Municipal
Court judge and city attorney.
■ Creating a new single - family zoning district to
be called R -113. The new district would require larg-
er lots of about 7,000 square feet with a 60 -foot
width, compared to 5,000 - square -foot lots as permit-
ted by zoning classification R -1.
■ Appointing an oversight committee for imple-
menting the Wolf Pen Creek Corridor master plan.
City staff will recommend, based on meetings with
representatives from several boards and commis-
sions, that the chairs of the Parks and Recreation
Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, Design
and Review Board, the Wolf Pen Creek Tax Incre-
ment Finance Board and one member of the Citi
Council make up the five- member committee.
Munson
From A9
cis Drive at Ashburn Avenue could affect traffic
flowing through the College Hills area.
City staff from several city departments, includ-
ing Development Services, Public Works and the
Police and Fire departments, will present proposals
regarding the placement and design of the 911 gate.
A ballot initiative petition that would prohibit the
city from closing or obstructing traffic on Munson
Avenue has gathered about 900 signatures, petition
drive coordinator Kayla Glover said Tuesday. The
petition needs 1,010 signatures from registered vot-
ers to be approved to appear on a ballot, Hooks said.
The council also will consider adopting a policy
for council members' review of certified agendas for
executive sessions of the City Council and other
quasi - judicial boards and commissions, such as the
Planning and Zoning Commission. The Texas Open
Meetings Act requires governmental bodies to keep
certified agendas or tape recordings of executive
sessions under seal for two years. The seals can be
opened only by court order.
The Open Meetings Act requires the City Council
and other bodies to set a time if they want to allow
members to review the certified agendas, Hooks
said. The council could allow members up to two
years to review, but Hooks recommended 10 days.
The act also prohibits council members from
recording executive sessions, she said.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: L 21
End the %olish push
moved around the coun-
I have
try and lived in 13 other cities
before retiring here in College
Station a few years ago. I chose
College Station because of its
clean, organized presentation and
progressive lifestyle. I was not dis-
appointed by what I found, until
this Munson Avenue mess reared
Its ugly head.
. I read where we, the taxpayers,
have paid some connected fellow
inore than $3,000 to lead a commit-
tee that should never have been
formed to settle a problem that
elected officials ghould have fixed
long ago. 1 .�.
U course, tFie traffic onunson
,
lriloruu:_ u1
Avenue has gotten heavier. Wake
I pray for a solution that pleases
up. The city has grown,
everyone, if there is such a thing.
What about us living on other
Some people simply need to take
streets that have seen an increase
another look at their life's priori -
in traffic? Should we ask for our
ties.
streets to be closed?
I have friends on both sides of
What about the adage "buyer
the issue and my love for them is
beware ?"
more important than anything
If you're tired of the traffic, sell
else. If the street were open I
and move somewhere else.
could drive a little less distance,
It's obvious to me and must be
but if it is closed I take a different
to others that some mighty power-
route. Either way, it isn't worth
ful folks live on Munson Avenue
all the fighting.
and have control of our City
REBECCA HYSMITH
Council. What we have here is a
College Station
classic case of the tail wagging the
dog. My tax dollars could be spent
a lot better than paying for a com-
mittee monitor to solve an unsolv-
able problem or building barriers
to a street we are all supposed to
be able to drive on.
Let's end this foolish push for a
solution to an imagined problem
before College Station ends up on
America's Funniest People or
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: QC 2Z, IqG8
1oP-2196
Its own little island
I can't believe that College
Station will allow Munson
Avenue to be closed. There are
many other streets that have been
drastically altered by a changed
traffic flow. No one has blocked
them off.
Munson will sit like some little
independent island with no
entrance or exit except for the resi-
dents.
I suggest they create their own
independent government, pay for
their own sewers, road repairs and
all the perks the surrounding
streets have.
Since they are their own little
island, they will have to pay a toll
fee to the city to enter public
streets. They should have to open
and close gates to enter and exit if
they want to be exclusive.
Their street is neither sacred nor
their children less dear than those
on other busy streets.
The city leaders should have the
spinal fortitude to close one exit.
Why should they be given the exalt-
ed right to have a private entrance
and exit to north and south College
Station?
Beware, next time you come
speeding down OSR, I shall quickly
find what snake on the College
Station council approved such a
travesty and see if I can block my
part of OSR.
SANDRA TRAWEEK
Bryan
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: NU. r1, , O 7
< <It's important to pay
attention to the
concerns raised by city
and county
government.
— STATE SEN. STEVE OGDEN
R- Bryan
Water, power
top concerns
for B-CS area
17 local elected officials meet
to consider legislative priorities
By KELLY BROWN
Eagle Staff Writer
Officials from Bryan, College Station and Brazos
County met Monday with three local Texas legisla-
tors to talk about issues destined for discussion on
the floor of the Capitol — water needs, annexation
and electric deregulation.
Fourteen elected officials made up of the two city
councils and county commissioners brought these
matters to state Sen. Steve Ogden,
as well as recently elected state
representatives Fred Brown and
Charles Jones, in hopes that their
concerns will be carried to
Austin.
The statewide agenda for the
Texas Legislature — which con-
venes in January not long after
the three Republicans are sworn
into office — has drawn local State Rep. Fred
interest in securing underground Brown said he
water for decades to come, cities understands the
spreading out into rural areas concerns of local
and cheaper electric bills. government
Ogden, a veteran of the Texas because he was
House of Representatives who once a College
two weeks ago was re- elected to Station city
the District 5 senate seat, said
Monday's group governmental councilman.
meeting at the Brazos Center will
be helpful heading into the upcoming session.
"It's important to pay attention to the concerns
raised by city and county government," the Bryan
resident said after the 90- minute meeting. "They
articulated their concerns well."
What the legislators heard loud and clear included
Brazos County's need to join an underground -water
conserdation district in order to protect its future
water resources; concerns about fair legislation con-
cerning appraisal compensation; and the cities'
needs to maintain the ability to collect franchise fees
if deregulation goes through.
Bryan City Councilwoman Kandy Rose and Bryan
Mayor Lonnie Stabler expressed concern over the
See AREA, Page A4
Area
AL
issue of utility deregulation.
"If the rates go down, the small-
er user could eventually have to
pay and that's the fear — some-
one ends up paying for that sav-
ings in what's being called reregu-
lation," Stabler said.
Saying he shares their con-
cerns, Ogden said a long transi-
tion period — between five to 10
years — could help toward avert-
ing that possibility.
Bryan City Manager Mike Con -
duff told the legislators that as
deregulation moves forward the
cities will continue to be nervous
about losing the ability to collect
utility franchise fees.
Watching over underground
water in Brazos County was a
main concern for all those present.
Bill Riley, the waste water
superintendent for College Sta-
tion, said while the water supply
for the next 50 years and beyond is
fine, the government needs to take
initiatives to meet further growth.
The result is a plan supported
by all three entities at the meeting
that calls for an agreement with
Robertson County that gives both
control over water exported out-
side of the area and assures wise
use inside its borders.
The cities and county now need
the Legislature to create a bill
establishing a groundwater con-
servation district. The other alter-
native of going through the Texas
Natural Resource Conservation
Commission would require a tax
increase — an unappealing
option, officials said.
College Station Mayor Lynn
F,
McIlhaney said the forum gives
the elected officials the opportuni-
ty to go over specific initiatives as
a whole, but many of the concerns
have already been discussed
among smaller groups.
Like Ogden, District 14 State
Rep. Fred Brown, *of Wellborn,
said he already has been dis-
cussing these issues with the local
governments.
"It's important to hear their
concerns — I know, I've been
there," said the former College
Station city councilman. "We've
been elected to make the best deci-
sions on their behalf."
Jones, who not only in January
will be sworn in but also will take
the oath on Wednesday to serve
out the late Dan Kubiak's term in
the District 13 seat, told the group
that he knew he'd be calling on
them for suggestions in the
upcoming months.
An issue that was not on the
agenda but of concern to the
group was vocalized by College
Station City Councilman David
Hickson: ask Gov. George W.
Bush to appoint a local resident to
the Texas A &M Universitv Sys-
tem Board of Regents.
The Battalion
City of College Station News
Date: No, , ) - 7
Forum to address
Northgate violence
• Merchants,
administrators
and University
leaders to gather
for discussion.
BY JOE SCHUMACH
The Battalion
MSC Great Issues and the
Northgate Safety Awareness
Committee are sponsoring an
open forum tonight at 7 in the
MSC Flagroom to discuss
safety awareness in the
Northgate area.
Students, University officials,
representatives from local po-
lice and other members of the
Bryan- College Station area are
expected to be in attendance.
"The forum will give [stu-
dents] a chance to voice
opinions in front of an atten-
tive audience," Amy Magee,
speaker of the Student Sen-
ate and a senior psychology
major, said. "This will allow
us to move past being a
sounding board and to focus
on solutions."
Tatsuki Ohashi, president
of International Student As-
sociatiou and a senior history
and international studies ma-
jor, said the purpose of the fo-
rum is to let students speak
out on this issue. He said then
the organizations can look at
all their options and decide
what needs to be done.
The forum will start with a
brief history of the situation in
the Northgate area. Students
will then be given the oppor-
tunity to voice their concerns.
Possible solutions to the
violence in the Northgate
area will also be discussed.
The Northgate Safety
Awareness Committee has
compiled a list of 42 possible
solutions that it will present to
those in attendance. Ohashi
said the solutions are arranged
into three categories: public
relations, diversity awareness
and physical means.
SEE NORTHGATE ON PAGE 2.
%W
NORTHGATE m
Continued from Page 1
Ohashi said the public relations solutions deal with
keeping the community informed about problems
that have occurred and solutions being implemented,
diversity awareness consists of educating the com-
munity about the diversity in the co mmunity,
to the area
physical means deal with Physical changes
such as better lighting on the streets.
The forum is being moderated by Kevin Ward, di-
rector of minority affairs and a senior political sci-
ence and business analysis major, and Srini Narol-
la, former president of the India Student association
and a graduate soil microbiology student.
Ward said he event should be focused on prob-
lem- solving.
"I would like to see the forum be solution-orient
ed," Ward said.
Narolla brought the issue of Northgate violence to
the attention of community members two years ago
when he met with College Station officials. He said one
of the major differences he sees in dealing with this sit-
uation is the number of student and community orga-
nizations that are involved. He said leaders of ISA, Stu-
dent Government Association and Graduate Student
Council have worked hard to deal with the problem.
Ohashi said the forum will close by encouraging
those in attendance to join one of the three sub-
committees the solutions have been divided into.
"This is a chance for them to join and see what is
going on," Ohashi said. He said the meeting is an op-
portunity for people to take an active part in the solu-
tion process.
"Everybody should come," Ward said. "Every-
body who feels that they have something to add
should be there. People who are unaware should
attend. They might find [the forum] most helpful."
l
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date:
/8
Enjoy the community
D ue to recent discussions
concerning Munson /Ash-
burn avenues, I wonder
what percentage of the Bryan -
College Station neighborhoods, are
� sHortcut streets? My definition of
a Shortcut street is any street
1 t trough a neighborhood that con-
nects major thoroughfares and
provides an alternative route to
places of work, school or enter -
ta'mment.
The Munson /Ashburn neighbor-
hood has had a hard time finding
a solution for the area. This com-
munity is dealing with problems
of a small town exploding into a
larger one. The very people they
wish to be kept out of their neigh-
borhoods are probably the ones in
the future who will be raising fam-
ilies there.
.I live in the North Oakwood
community, which is sandwiched
bdtween South College and Texas
avenues in Bryan.
.Unlike Munson Avenue, my
neighborhood does not have side-
walks nor definite stop signs, but
like Munson, the street I live on is
a "shortcut street. People traveling
oil North Avenue tend to cut
though rather than wait at the
"no turn on red" lights..
Yet, shortcut streets are an
essential part of our communities.
Many schools and places of busi-
ndss would become inaccessible
without them. Some parks and
p1pygrounds would become aban-
doned. Most neighborhoods would
become isolated and lose their
vital sense of community.
.What seems so easily forgotten
is'that we all live here, be it since
we were born or just for a semes-
ter. We, the people of Bryan-
College Station, form this commu-
nity that we all enrich through
our work, school and play. We
must remember that with this
comes the responsibility to care
for one another.
Please, slow down when driving
through our neighborhoods. Show
consideration to pedestrians at
crosswalks and those who must
walk in the street.
As this town grows around us,
let us all take the time to enjoy it
and be safe.
CONRAD FACKLER
Bryan
The Eagle
City of College Station News
................... . .
TDate. mo j. Is. H96 1
I
REGION BRIEFS
College Station city
employee arrested
A public works employee for the
city of College Station turned him-
self in to police for improperly
using his authority to make pur-
chases using city accounts, police
said Tuesday.
Facility Maintenance Superinten-
dent Michael Martine was charged
with theft of $1,500 to $20,000
and was being held in the Brazos
County Jail, police said
Police began investigating the
theft after city employees discov-
ered in October, through an inter-
nal audit, improperly documented
purchases by a city employee.
A man was questioned about the
purchases and voluntarily took
investigators to where the property
was stored. Investigators recov-
ered about $5,000 worth of tools,
appliances and maintenance
equipment. Upon his admission of
the theft, the man was fired.
Police said the offense normally
would be a state jail felony with a
minimum sentence of 180 days
and a maximum of two years in a
state jail facility and /or a fine not
to exceed $10,000. Because the
man is employed by a city and is a
public servant, police said, the
offense was upgraded to a third -
degree felony, punishable by at
least two years and no more than
four years in a state prison facility
and /or a fine not to exceed
$10,000.
The Battalion
City of College Station News
Date: 101 .
International student
files assault complains
BY JENNIFER JONES
The Battalion
An international graduate student
filed a complaint with College Sta-
tion Police Department that he was
physically assaulted in the Albert-
son's parking lot on the corner of
South College and University Drive.
Avuthu Rami Reddy, an agricul-
tural economics graduate student,
said he was walking to the Univer-
sity Apartment Complex Monday
night when a white sports - utility
vehicle approached him and a male
passenger asked for directions.
Reddy said he looked at the ad-
dress and told the passenger he did
.not recognize the address. He said
the ,people in the vehicle ,began to
.laugh, and he realized the address
had been fake.
Reddy said the passenger who
had asked him about the address
then got agitated and began to ver
bally harass him.
"He got really wild and startec
cursing me," he said. "Then he
grabbed my sweater on the righ
shoulder and pushed me back
wards. I was pushed back a cou
ple of steps, and when I recov
ered, all I could think of was to ge
out of danger."
Reddy said the other passenger,
in the car prevented the man whc
had pushed him from exiting the
vehicle, and they drove away.
Reddy said he called from
University Apartment Complex
blue -light phone to report the at-
tack, but the University Police De-
partment officer who responded
to the call said the parking lot
where the assault occurred was
out of UPD's jurisdiction.'
sEE'ASSAULT'ON PAGE 2.
Snackbar's
ASSAULT
Continued from Page I
Reddy said he then called CSPD, but
an officer did not arrive for over an hour
to take his report.
Reddy said his alleged attacker may
have been caught that night if response
time had been quicker.
"I feel that they (attackers) can be caught
at anytime if the response is really fast," he
said. "My suggestion is that the departments
(UPD and CSPD) should both react, and the
responding rate should be faster."
Reddy said it is important to report assault
incidents so people will realize they should
not have to live in fear of possible attacks.
"I want to give a strong message that
I am taking action," he said.
The Eagle
Students at Northgate forum tell of racism, harassment
By COLLEEN KAVANAGH `\ \\ cultural economics doctoral student. was emotionally affected." owner told him that he did not like to deal
Eagle Staff Writer "They cu$sed at me and pushed me," he Reddy was among a group of interna- with international students.
said. "This is the second time this kind of tional students who shared personal sto- "I had just transferred to A &M and did -
Graduate student Avuthu "Rami" Reddy thing has happened to me. The fast time ries of harassment Tuesday night with n't speak English very well, so I chose to be
said Tuesday night he has experienced was in '96, when someone shot a water gun community members, A&M officials and quiet," he said. "This is my last year here,
harassment in the Northgate area twice in my face and I shivered the whole way other students during the Northgate Secu- so it's [solutions to the problem] not really
since he came to Texas A &M University — home. rity Awareness Forum in the Memorial going to affect me, but I care for other
once in 1996 and again Monday night. "The other night, when this happened Student Center Flagroom. international students."
"I was walking home from Blocker and again, the police officer asked if I had any Pu Wang, another international student, Representatives from Brazos County,
at least four people in a car stopped me and injuries," Reddy said. "I told him that I said about a year ago he went into a busi-
asked for directions," said Reddy, an agri- didn't have any physical injuries, but I ness in the Northgate area, and the store See FORUM, Page A3
Date:
Forum
From A 1
City of College Station News
the Bryan- College Station Cham-
ber of Commerce, the Northgate
Merchants Association, the
Bryan, College Station and Uni-
versity police departments,
Bryan and College Station city
councils, A &M administration
and various student organiza-
tions pledged their support in
finding solutions to stop harass-
ment in the area.
Proposed solutions ranged
from more lighting in the area,
bicycle patrols and campus
CrimeStoppers to raising aware-
ness about the
need to report
< <
harassment
Before
cases and
we're
increasing
multicultural
interna-
education.
tional,
"I don't want
African
to see more
police out on
American,
the streets
Hispanic
when this is a
social issue,"
or any-
said Will Hurd,
thing else,
president of the
Memorial Stu -
we're
dent Center.
Aggies,
"If we see
and we
something like
this going on,
need to
we've got to say
stand
it's not right,"
"We
he said.
together to
can solve this
solve this
problem by
spreading edu-
prob-
cation and
lem. > >
learning about
other cul-
- KEVIN WARD
tures."
Forum moderator
Kevin Ward,
one of two
forum modera-
tors and a senior political science
major, said it bothers him that
students are not helping out as
much as community members.
"This school is part of the com-
munity," he said. "The students
have a responsibility to students
and the students have a responsi-
bility to the community. Before
we're international, African
American, Hispanic or anything
else, we're Aggies, and we need to
stand together to solve this prob-
lem."
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: NOV. W, I qq
Two neighborhoods
am sick of the Munson Ave-
nue fiasco. I am a taxpayer
who lives in south College
Station and have an office on
University.
I can tell you that every solu-
tion that has been tried so far
has been inconvenient, frustrat-
ing and irritating.
I have tried to understand the
concerns of the property owners
in the neighborhood and the
9 concerns of citizens of College
\ Station as a whole. I feel that a
solution that provides a win -win
situation for both sides is a must
and one that considers the
future of College Station after all
of us are dead and gone and our
selfish ideas have vanished.
I feel that the only way this
can happen is for both sides of
the question to be compensated.
To do this, retain a qualified
appraisal team that would
appraise the damages that
would occur to all property own-
ers on Munson Avenue if it were
widened to meet the classifica-
tion of an arterial (with a bike
lane) for north -south traffic flow
that would extend all the way to
University Drive.
Provide for bonus compensa-
tion if necessary for those prop-
erty owners who have drive-
ways that exit onto Munson
Avenue or who have special cir-
cumstances that warrant addi-
tional compensation. Those
property owners who want to
relocate would have the where-
withal if they have no desire to
live on an arterial.
The neighborhood would be
divided into two nice neighbor-
hoods rather than one and each
would have convenient access to
a time - saving, free traffic flow-
ing arterial. This idea would
also make all drivers who want
convenience and the ability to
save time happy campers.
We would have a better city
for it now and in the future and
we all win.
EDSEL JONES
College Station
"%NW
Vs
,\21
Local bereavement center dedicated
N
More than 100 area residents turned out Friday for
the dedication of the Hazen House, a bereavement
center run by Hospice of Brazos Valley that serves
the terminally ill and their families. The center was
named after College Station City Councilwoman
Anne Hazen, a former nurse who was the first
employee of Hospice for the area. Hazen is pictured
Eagle photo /Butch Ireland
standing to the right of the sign. Next to her are
Kathy and Scott Warren, parents of 4- year -old
Kelsey, who died in July of cancer after being under
Hospice care. A colorful room in the Hazen House
is devoted to children and is named after Kelsey.
Officials said the home needs volunteers. For more
information, call 776 -0793.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: O� , J- 19 9 �
W a dde l l
City Manager
Skip p Noe com-
mended Waddell for his time
spent on the renovation of an old
earns
storage building for an interim
teen center at the College Station
,�11
Conference Center on George
Bush Drive, saving the city about
$30,000, and for his efforts as the
h onors
coordinator of the Youth Services
Division, which offers wide -rang-
ing activities for teens.
CS coordinator
City employees nominate an
employee
for the award each
employee of year
year, and a five - member employ -
ee recognition committee
makes
the final decision. Waddell said
By COLLEEN KAVANAGH
he is even more appreciative of
Eagle Staff Writer
the award since it came from his
peers.
Shannon Waddell attributes his
"Obviously, recognition is a
success as coordinator of the
nice thing," he said, "but when it
Youth Services Division for the
comes from the people you work
city of College Station Parks and
with every day, it makes it more
Recreation Department to his
meaningful."
background — living in College
Waddell said the hardest part of
Station for 22 years.
"I
providing activities for teenagers
know what it's like to be a
is to be "cool" in their eyes, and
teen here in College Station," the
he attributes the program's suc-
former A &M Consolidated High
cess to the Teen Advisory Board,
School student said. "You can't
a . group of teenagers who give
make kids pick right from wrong,
him program ideas and sugges-
but I feel it's important to give
tions.
them as many positive choices as
"The whole premise is instead
we can."
Waddell recently was named
the 1998 Outstanding Employee of
t
the Year at the city's employee
banquet.
Waddell
1
From A9
of adults giving teenagers choices f
they think they should be doing, y
the programs are offered by kids
for kids," he said.
"The ball's in their court, and
we'll do whatever we can for
them."
Waddell graduated from Texas
A &M University with a bachelor
of science degree in Recreation,
Parks and Tourism Sciences.
He has worked for the city
department for more than four
years.
Bry C Statio T e x as
Mondav, November
PoI
lee gear u p for Bonfire
By GENEVA WHIT MARSH
Eagle Staff Writer
Local law enforcement officials are
tearing up for what they expect will be
one of their busiest nights as Texas
A &M students put the last touches on
the 55- foot -high stack of wood that will
become Bonfire.
More than 150 officers from the cam-
pus, College Station and the Texas Alco-
hol Beverage Commission will blanket
the area near Texas Avenue where
about 70,000 people are expected to con-
verge on Nov. 24 for one of the school's
most revered traditions.
Bob Wiatt, director of the A &M police
department, said officials will continue
the crackdown on alcohol violations
that began in 1989 with the "Keep Alco-
hol from Shattering the Tradition"
campaign.
"Before we cracked down, there was
gross, inappropriate behavior," Wiatt
said. "But since the zero tolerance cam-
paign, people have started bringing tod-
dlers to the Bonfire and older people
aren't afraid of being knocked aside."
Last year, university police issued 59
minor in possession of alcohol citations
and arrested five people for public
intoxication or disorderly conduct.
University police will have about 60
officers around the site of the Bonfire,
including five officers on horseback
and another five on bicycles, and a
group of officers stationed on top of
buildings in the area to watch for crim-
inal mischief. A command post will be
set up near the Bonfire site where sher-
iff's department officials will transport
people to the Brazos County Jail.
College Station and TABC officers,
some in plain clothes, will patrol the
area as well.
A lot of people, not necessarily stu-
dents, will try and sneak in booze,"
Wiatt said. "There may be some people
who are able to get away with it
because of the thousands and thou-
sands of people at Bonfire, but if we
catch them, they'll be appropriately
dealt with."
Major Mike Patterson of the College
Station Police Department said officers
Bonfire
From A 1
also will patrol the city's streets
before and after Bonfire in an
effort to prevent loud parties and
traffic accidents.
Last year, police responded to 21
traffic accidents and 65 loud party
complaints, Patterson said.
"People have started to expect a
warning the first time we come
out but in most cases we're going
to issue citations," he said, adding
that teams of officers have been
assigned to areas where loud par.
ties have become common place,
including the Northgate area and
Aurora Court.
TABC officers will patrol the
campus, local stores and parties to
check for minors buying or drink-
ing alcohol, officials said.
'Linking t Lincoln Cent
g
goes
Facility provides after - school, weekend access to computers
By KELLI LEVEY
Eagle Staff Writer
Two College Station dignitaries
cut paper chains at a ceremony
Monday, opening the doors to a
community computer lab that has
been years in the making.
"Linking at Lincoln Center"
will provide after - school and
weekend computer access to dis-
advantaged children who don't
have access to the technology.
"We're at a point where almost
any communications or transac-
tions are conducted via the com-
puter," said Lance Jackson, Lin-
I%.
online for area residents
ews'
Date:
.;
coln Center supervisor. "It's just
so imperative that we want all stu-
dents to have a fair chance at suc-
ceeding."
College Station school superin-
tendent Jim Scales said the idea
for the lab surfaced during talks
about a school bond issue in 1995.
He said many students as young
as the fourth grade print their
assignments for school using com-
puters. He said about 75 percent of
the district's approximately 7,000
students have access to computers
at home or at church or the
library. But he said technology is
not available to most of the chil-
dren who live near the center at
1000 Eleanor St.
"I just felt like in a city as pro-
gressive as we are, where we have
in our hearts the hearts of the stu-
dents, we needed to have this," he
said. "Also, sometimes we just
take it for granted [among school
officials] we can answer so many
questions from our community
using the Internet and e-mail, but
a lot of people don't have those.
This opens that up. Now there are
no more excuses."
Jackson said during the last 15
months, the need for such a facili-
ty became more evident.
for those who otherwise would not have it
"Kids would come by and ask if
they can use the office computers
for word processing," he said.
Organizers said they also expect
plenty of use by adults.
Jackson said he expects that the
senior citizens who visit the cen-
ter during the day will use the
equipment.
Texas A &M University work -
study students will monitor the
lab after school each day and on
weekends and offer assistance
with homework, class projects
and computer literacy develop-
ment.
The lab contains six networked
Macintosh computers equipped
with tutorial, reference and word
processing software.
The software is the same the
students use at school. Linda Ray,
the school district's instructional
technology coordinator and direc-
tor of the project, said the lab's
creators wanted to provide an
extension of what the children are
learning at school.
The lab was funded through a
collaboration between the College
Station school district and city,
Texas A &M University, the Boys
and Girls Club and a grant from
Safe and Drug Free Schools
through the Office of the Gover-
nor, Criminal Justice Division.
College Station Mayor Lynn
McIlhaney said the project accom-
plishes the city's goals of educa-
tion and community involvement.
"I hope this is just the begin-
ning of programs to make sure we
meet the needs of all of our citi-
zens," she said to the crowded
study hall. "I hope this will be
something you will use and will
enjoy and will tell your friends
and your parents about."
The lab complements a tutoring
program at the Lincoln Center for
grades one through 12. Volunteers
read to the children and help with
homework — and now more are
needed to help the children with
computer lessons.
Derrick Ramos, an A &M fresh-
man who tutors at the center, said
the youngsters in the after- school
program have been eagerly await-
ing permission to use the equip-
ment.
"They do like to learn, particu-
larly on the computers," he said.
"They're like little sponges, soak-
ing up everything they see."
' --�-* in annual
Tuesday, December 1, 1998 The Bryan - College Station Eagle Page AS
Region
' CS officer
d for helpin Man honore
Tow truck driver saw chase, took time to help apprehend fleeing suspect
By GENEVA WHITMARSH \\
Eagle Staff Writer
When Myron Williams saw a
police officer chasing a man
through a College Station neigh-
borhood, he barely stopped to con-
y the danger involved before
ng the chase.
i wasn't sure if I was supposed
to interfere," he said, "but I fig-
ured that if I was in the wrong, I'd
find out about it."
What Williams found out was
he would receive a Citizen's Com-
mendation for helping capture a
man who ran from a College Sta-
tion police officer attempting to
arrest him on an outstanding war-
rant. Chief Edgar Feldman pre-
sented the award to Williams
Monday morning during a cere-
mony at the police department.
On Nov. 11, Sgt. Charles Fleeger
was attempting to arrest a man in
the 1100 block of Georgia Street
when the suspect fled the scene.
Fleeger radioed for assistance and
began to chase the suspect.
Williams, a driver for All Amer-
ican Towing, was traveling on
Detroit Street when he saw
Fleeger chasing the suspect
toward him. Without hesitation,
Williams slowed down to prevent
the suspect from crossing th�
street.
Williams' plan worked and the
)ect turned and ran into a
,xrby house.
Without hesitation, Williams
got out of his truck to assist
Fleeger.
"There were several people
standing on the porch of the house
so I was outnumbered," Fleeger
said. "[Williams] could see I was
by myself and he felt compelled to
go ahead and stop."
Fleeger ran around to the back
of the house to see if the suspect
had exited the house while
Williams kept an eye on the front.
Within a matter of a few seconds,
the suspect attempted to escape by
running out the front door.
Williams alertea Fleeger who was
then able to take the suspect into
custody.
Williams said he didn't think
about the possible danger of the
situation until later.
"After it was all over, I thought
about it but not while it was hap-
pening," he said. "I just knew
[Fleeger] was having trouble
arresting the guy and decided to
help. I work in the towing busi-
ness and we work with the [police
department] on a daily basis so, to
tell the truth, I really didn't give it
much thought."
Without Williams' help, the out-
come of the situation could have
been very different, Flee said.
"Any number of things could
have happened without his help,"
he said. "The person I was chasing
could have turned on me if there
hadn't been another person there,
or he could have gotten away had
we not had the house so thorough-
ly covered."
As for the Citizen's Commenda-
tion, Williams said the award is
unnecessary.
"It's not as if we were chasing
down a bank robber," he said.
But Fleeger is quick to dismiss
that notion.
"[Williams] didn't know what
he was getting into," he said.
"What he did was go beyond the
call of duty of a normal citizen and
that's what we try to recognize."
Eagle photo /Dave McDermand
Maj. Mike Patterson of the College Station Police Department (left) hands
Myron Williams a Citizens Commendation Monday morning. Williams was
given the award for helping Sgt. Charles Fleeger during a foot chase with-
out regard for his own safety.
The Eagle
L
L
City of College Station News
BY MELISSA JORDAN
The Battalion
Police Chief Edgar Feldman of
the College Station Police Depart-
ment presented Myron Williams, a
local driver for All American Tow-
ing, with a Citizen's Commenda
tion yesterday morning for assist-,
ing Sgt. Charles Fleeger in
apprehending a person fleeing
from Fleeger.
Feldman said Williams saw
Fleeger chasing the suspect toward
him and slowed his wrecker to cut
the person off. After the suspect
ran into a house, Williams got out
of his truck and stood in front of
the house while Fleeger went to the
Date:
I e? q
gnize
back of the house.
Fleeger said he appreciated
Williams' assistance, which
showed a great amount of courage.
"Without even thinking about
himself he stopped the truck and
got out to help me," Fleeger said.
Fleeger said Williams alerted
him when the person came out of
the house, and Fleeger was able to
arrest the person.
Feldman said Williams has been
in contact with the police depart-
ment for a number of years, and
the assistance Williams gave
Fleeger exemplifies the kind of per-
son he is. "I've [got] nothing but re-
spect for him," Feldman said.
Feldman said Williams' assistance
shows courage and dedication as a
citizen. Feldman said people rarely
jump into situations as Williams did
to provide help to police officers.
"When it does happen we think
it's kind of special," he said.
Fleeger said this is only the sec-
ond Citizen's Commendation to be
presented by the police department.
I felt that it [William's assistance]
was above and beyond the call of
duty for a citizen," Fleeger said.
Williams said he simply did
what he thought was tight and ex-
pected no reward for his efforts.
"When it happened," Williams
said, "he [Fleeger] stopped and
shook my hand. That was more
than enough'for me."
)D�c.
CS police reco
efforts of citizen
Thursday,
Region
College Stati on will showca se city's
12 at library ' l D ec. 1 unti?' 1
Eagle Staff Reports `2\_J
The city of College Station won 12 regional
and national awards in 1998 and will showcase
them at the College Station Public Library
'trough Dec. 17.
The awards were received for city programs
promoting environmental volunteerism, citi-
zen participation in local government, and
excellence in financial reporting.
"It's a great opportunity for the public to see
the awards and at the same time visit the
library, our newest city public facility," Pub-
lic Relations and Marketing manager Kelley
Chapman said.
The library also will host the city's Christ-
mas Open House on Dec. 17.
The following awards will be on display:
■ The Texas Environmental Excellence
Award was given to the city for its recycling,
water distribution, wastewater, energy audit,
tree planting and green space preservation
programs. The Texas Natural Resource Con-
servation Commission presented it to the city
as part. of the Governor's Environmental
Excellence Awards.
■ The Bryan - College Station Economic
Development Corp. was named one of 1997's
"Top Ten Economic Development Groups
Internationally" by Site Selection magazine.
■ The Bryan - College Station area was
awarded the "Texas Economic Development
Council's Community Economic Development
Award" as the "Best Metro Area Community
Economic Development Program with a Popu-
lation Over 100,000."
■ The Sparks Building was honored as one
of three finalists for "Best Rehabilitation Pro-
ject" by the Texas Downtown Association
Award Program.
■ Brazos Beautiful won a first -place "1998
Keep Texas Beautiful Governor's Community
Achievement Award," which was presented to
nine Texas communities with the best grass-
roots volunteer environmental programs.
■ The Citizen University won the "City -
County Communication and Marketing Asso-
ciation's Savvy Award," the top honor, in the
category of citizen participation.
■ The city's budget document received the
"Distinguished Budget Presentation Award"
from the Government Finance Officers Asso-
ciation of the United States and Canada, which
recognized the fiscal 1997 -98 report as "An
Outstanding Policy Document."
■ The city received the "Certificate of
Achievement for Excellence in Financial
Reporting" from the Government Finance
Officers Association of the United States and
Canada.
■ The city received the "1998 Excellence in
Procurement Award" from the National Asso-
ciation of Purchasing Management. The
award recognizes organizational excellence in
public procurement.
■ The city was recognized and honored by
the Municipal Treasurers' Association (MTA)
of the United States and Canada for having its
"Written Investment Policy Certified by the
MTA."
The certification program was created to
assist state and local governments in improv-
ing investment policy.
■ The Amateur Softball Association District
30 was named "ASA District of the Year." The
cities of College Station and Bryan and the dis-
trict were awarded four 1999 ASA tourna-
ments, the ASA Winter Meeting, the High
School Softball Umpires Clinic and the Texas
ASA State Umpires Clinic.
■ The College Station Independent School
District was honored by Expansion Manage-
ment magazine as the "Blue Ribbon School
District: CSISD."
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Hotel
Date:
Delays to keep
mud lot open
through s rin p g
Project in planning phase,
awaiting building permit
By BOB SCHOBER ` n
Eagle Staff Writer
t
Groundbreaking for a hotel proposed at North -
gate's mud lot will be delayed from February to early
summer, about the same time construction is sched-
uled to begin on the Wolf Pen Creek hotel and con-
ference center, officials said Wednesday.
The Northgate project still is in the engineering
and planning phase. A site plat and building permit
still await city review and approval, said Larry
Haskins, attorney for mud lot owner Jack Culpep-
per.
Because of the delay, Culpepper extended the cur-
rent lease for BG Enterprises, the company that
operates a pay parking lot at the site. That will be
good news for some Texas A &M University students,
Haskins said, because they'll be able to park at mud
lot through the end of the spring semester.
Meanwhile, construction is scheduled to begin in
early July on the Wolf Pen Creek project, said Todd
McDaniel, the senior economic development analyst
for College Station. The opening is planned for the
fall of 2000.
The Wolf Pen Creek Design Review Board met
Wednesday to refine the design of the Wolf Pen
Creek project. The city will own the conference cen-
ter and has committed $6 million for its construc-
From Al
tion.
A private developer will build
and own the 200 -room Sheraton
hotel and an adjacent office
building.
coo unrF1
The developer, Wolf Pen Creek
Ltd., must invest at least $20 mil-
lion in the project and has until
Feb. 25 to secure financing com-
mitments, McDaniel said,
expressing confidence that the
developer would make the dead-
line.
"It seems like they're getting
closer and that this project is
being well received in the fman-
Paaa AR
cial community," he said.
The conference center will con-
tain about 45,000 - square -feet of
rentable space, including an
exhibit hall, grand ballroom and
meeting rooms. A tax increment
finance district in the area will
help pay off the debt issued by the
city.
The mud lot project, unveiled
Aug. 28, will be developed by The
Leddy Company of San Antonio.
The project's anchor will be a 176 -
room Club Hotel by Doubletree,
which caters to business travel -
ar.
The Eagle
Q City of College Station News
Date:'�"iPn . L1 IqqRr
X
�
College Station
An expensive idea
T he cars that cannot, now, fol-
low their preferred routes
must take longer, slower,
bumpier ones. An estimate of the
average time lost is five minutes
per day; of the added distance, one -
half mile. At $12.50 per hour, the
cost of the time lost is about $1,
even if there is only one person in
each car. The added mileage costs
about 25 cents. Thus, the total cost
is about $1.25 per car per day.
If 5,000 cars (out of 7,000) per day
are thus inconvenienced, the total
cost is about $6,000 per day, $2 mil-'
lion per year. In addition, there is
added wear and tear on the streets,
added costs for policing, signals,
staff time, etc. The school bus costs
also are higher and nothing is
added for the mental anguish and
aggravation suffered by the dri-
vers.
There are 33 houses on Munson
Avenue between Lincoln Avenue
and Dominick Drive, counting the
ones that face other streets at cor-
ners. Thus, we are being taxed $200
or more per day per house to
humor the people living there,
maybe 100 to 150 individuals.
If Munson were opened and
improved, the savings of $2 million
per year would finance a bond
issue with which to provide the
thoroughfare needed and to com-
pensate the Munsonites fairly. The
people using the improved streets
would gain pleasanter, less -
stressed journeys.
The same cost estimate can be
applied to the various "trials"
imposed on us during the past year
and abandoned by the city without
explanations. We have already paid
out $2 million or so as the result of
the city's procrastination.
Could it be that other, less- publi-
cized city activities are being man
aged with the same disregard for
costs?
ROBERT M. HOLCOMB
College Station
The Eagle
L City of College Station News
k
Date: Ctc. 1, j 9 9 $
A true holiday gift
\� s we focus upon what we are
grateful for and spend the
next few weeks celebrating
the birth of our Savior, I wanted to
say thank you to two wonderful
men who work for the city of
College Station.
Recently, on trash pick -up day, I
discovered too late that my hus-
band had accidentally thrown
away a bag full of Christmas pre-
sents. His solution to the problem
was to replace them — a typical
answer because he had no clue how
much time had been put into the
selection and purchase of each item
for the specific recipient. Several
gifts couldn't be ordered, made or
received before Christmas.
As a mother of two teenagers and
two toddlers, it wasn't the money
spent that had me upset as much as
the time and thought invested. I
jumped into my car and began dri-
ving up and down each street hunt-
ing for the truck. When I found it, I
flagged the driver down and very
emotionally explained my problem
to him. He knew the only way to
even have a chance of fmding that
bag was to unload everything. He
Put himself at least 45 minutes
behind schedule going to the land-
fill hoping that the bag hadn't been
crushed yet. Upon arrival at the
landfill, another man made aware
Of my situation put on a pair of
gloves and began searching. He dug
for 30 -45 minutes before finally
finding my bag.
What giving hearts. I wanted to
say thank you for iheir tremendous
examples of what this time of year
is truly about: giving. May each of
us remember their examples as we
hurry through the days to come
and may we give of ourselves with
such hearts as each of them did.
And may we be examples to others
as we celebrate the greatest exam-
ple of giving: Jesus.
CARIE SVAJDA
College Station
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: [qq I
CS to consider giving
planners final word
By BOB SCHOBER v \ The ordinance requires that
Eagle Staff Writer �1/� one acre of land be donated for
every 101 single - family
The College Station City dwelling units and one acre per
Council on Thursday will con- 134 duplex and multifamily
sider an ordinance making the units. Developers currently
Planning and Zoning Commis- must dedicate one acre per 133
sion the final authority for plat dwelling units.
review and approval. If developers decide to donate
The council currently has the
cash in lieu of land for
final say in those matters, and
the ordinance propos(
the ordinance would reserve to
increases. The total fee, .
the City Council authority to
ing land and develo,
approve development agree-
would rise from $225 to $,
ments and oversized participa-
single- family unit and N
tion requests. If the ordinance
$345 per duplex or multi
is adopted, commission deci-
unit.
ons on plats will be final.
In other business, the c
During the afternoon work-
will:
shop session, the council will
■ Discuss and revie
discuss proposed changes in
Facade Improvement Prc
parkland dedication require-
ments for developers.
See PLANNERS, Pao.
Planner
From All
Started in 1995, the program has
lail4ched renovations and
improvements to three projects,
with four more being planned, in
areas the City Council deemed
"blighted." The program uses fed-
eral); Community Development
Blopk Grant funds.
6Hear an update from Commu.
nitiy° Development staff members
on ;:the proposed Bryan - College
Sta'tlon Community Health Cen-
ter. In 1996, the council approved
$100,000 for the project, which is
proposed for a site in Bryan and
woiXld provide health services to
needy families.
( changes to the city's
down payment assistance pro-
gram. The program uses federal
money to grant down payment
loans to qualified families to help
them buy a home. Community
Development staff members will
recommend the current loan ceil-
ing•bf $4,000 be raised to $7,500.
It Consider subordinating the
city's Facade Improvement Pro-
gram lien on the Satchel's proper-
ty 'to a bank lien. The owner's
leAder, Compass Bank, has
recipested that the city approve
the subordination before closing
on tmancing for other parts of the
proj'ect.
It Discuss three new develop
Calvert chief
ments, including a conceptua:
Plan for The Estates of Spring
Creek, located on about 220 acres
between Barron Road and the
future Texas 40; a preliminary
plat of The Gateway, located on 75
acres on the northwest corner of
University Drive and Texas 6;
and a revised Master Develop-
ment Plan for the Crowley tract,
located on about 500 acres on the.!
northwest corner of Greens
Prairie Road and Texas 6.
■ Consider a request that the
city pay $208,322 to extend an 18-
inch water line and eight -inch
sanitary sewer line for the Harley
Davidson site. City staff members
are recommending that the city
limit its oversize participation to
$140,841.
The workshop session will be
held at 3 p.m. Thursday in the
council chambers at City Hall,
1101 Texas Ave.
The regular meeting will be
held at 6 p.m. in the same loca-
tion.
For more information, call 764.
3500.
The Eagle
City of College Station Dews
Date: 17er, , 9. 1 c ) �k
Protest amendment
A c S cording to the College
tation Comprehensive
Plan, citizens of the city
need to be involved in the impor-
tant affairs of and planning by the
city.
The city put a legal notice of a
public hearing in The Eagle on
Nov. 25.
The public hearing is to consider
an ordinance amendment to allow
the Planning and Zoning Commis-
sion to have final approval author-
ity for all site /subdivision plans
and plats — the official drawings
of a subdivision.
The City Council has the final
authority on all zoning changes,
conditional use permits such as
churches, etc.
Council members are the elected
officials of the city and they should
also continue to have the final
authority for all plans and plats.
It is important for every individ-
ual and neighborhood homeowners
association to protest by petition
or in person to the City Council at
its meetings.
Please attend the City Council
meeting at City Hall on Thursday
at 6 p.m. to protest this amend-
ment.
CARLVARGO
/V College Station
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date: Dtc . t i ► C)cik
CS mayor honors
pinball champions
Lynn Mcllhaney, mayor of College
Station, honored six area video -
game and pinball world- record hold-
ers during last night's College Sta-
tion City Council meeting.
The honorees were Bo Rice. Kevin
Jackman, Kevin Livesay, Mark Jasper,
David Presley and Robert Utley.
The honorees' records have been
included in the Twin Galaxies' Official
Video Game & Pinball Book of World
Records, contains 116 pictures and
12,416 scores from 1981 to 1997.
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date:
I%W
C aD
The Battalion
Northgate to celebrate
enade
BY MELISSA JORDA 1
The Battalion
The Northgate Promenade
Grand Opening and Lighting -
mony will be Saturday n
p.m. at the Patricia Street Prome-
nade to celebrate the holiday sea-
• son and improvements made to the
Northgate area.
The promenade was created
through the efforts of the City of
College Station, Texas A &M Uni-
versity and Northgate businesses,
churches and residents to enhance
Northgate and to promote business
investments in the area.
Don Ariz, co -owner of Cafe Ex-
cel, said the goal of the Northgate
improvements is to revive Nor .
gate and attract new businesses.
"We [Don and Cheryl Anz]
think it's going to e be thin North-
that's ever happ ened
gate," Ariz said. " I think within five
years it will be the greatest place in
College Station.'
John Raney, owner of the Texas
Aggie Bookstore, said the prome-
nade has helped to increase the
attractiveness of the entire North
gate area.
"The promenade is a really p ret
y — it makes Northgate
ook better," he said.
Suanne Pledger, marketing and
special projects director at
Loupot's Bookstore, said the prom-
enade has improved accessibility
to the back entrances of Northgate
businesses and will be open for
community activities.
Pledger said the promenade will
be used this spring for a fair by the
International Students Association
Northgate
and the second North by g
Music Festival.
"We welcome students' organi-
zations and community organiza
tions — their use of it," she said.
Ariz said the improvements to
Northgate have made the area safer
and more pleasant for residents
and visitors.
"I think what the city has done
is a good thing — [it is] revitaliz-
ing the area," Ariz said. "It's a
real positive thing for the city and
for Northgate."
The Northgate Promenade Grand
Opening and Lighting Ceremony
will include the official ribbon -cut
ting ceremony for the promenade,
and a Christmas tree - lighting cere
mony and music. Refreshments also
will be available.
p g
o enin of prom
,\ t addition
The Eagle
City of College Station News
Date:
' i plat thority
Commssion
College Station council to keep say in oversize participation requests
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Council on
Thursday decided to give final plat
authority to the Planning and Zoning
Commission on a trial basis.
The City Council will retain its author-
' ity to approve zoning and oversize partic-
ipation requests.
After hearing several residents speak
against the ordinance, the council voted
5 -1, with Councilman Steve Esmond
Council
From Al
Several residents, however,
urged the council to ignore the
ordinance on the basis of
accountability. Mike McMichen,
for example, said the elected
council was more accountable to
residents than commission mem-
bers, who are appointed.
Esmond said the ordinance
erodes council power as
enshrined in Section 23 of the
against, to adopt it for the period of Jan. 1
through April 30. The council will review
the ordinance in April before it expires to
check its impact on the council's agendas.
The ordinance was proposed to bring
the city in line with the state Municipal
Code, which grants to planning bodies in
Texas cities the authority to approve
plats, streamline the city's development
approval process and unclutter the coun-
cil's agenda. The council approved the
idea Oct. 8 and directed city staff to write
the ordinance.
The ordinance restores to the commis-
sion the plat review authority it had until
the mid- 1970s, when the City Council
decided the commission was too strict on
developers and decided to give itself the
right of final review, which is allowed by
state statute. The statute does not give the
council the right to overturn a decision of
the commission, only to resubmit the plat
to the commission, said Jim Callaway,
director of Development Services.
See COUNCIL, Page AS
City Charter, which gives that
body the authority "to adopt
plats."
"I'd like [the council] to remain
the point of last resort" in these
issues, he said.
Mayor Lynn McIlhaney said
the ordinance would have little
real effect because most plat
reviews come to the council on
the consent agenda and almost
always are automatically
approved.
Controversial developments
involving rezoning issues still
would come before the council,
she said.
l
College Station
open house today
The city of College Station will
hold its annual Christmas Open
House from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday
at the College Station Library, 800
F.M. 2818.
Mayor Lynn Mcllhaney will pre-
sent at 3:45 p.m. a new group of
Mentors for the FRIENDS program,
city employees who volunteer to
help disadvantaged youths.
All 1998 awards received by the
city will be on display, and a four -
piece orchestra from A &M Consoli-
dated High School will serenade
the crowd with Christmas carols.
Refreshments will be served.
l2/ l 19�
Kwanzaa events
planned Saturday
A Kwanzaa celebration will be
held from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at
the Lincoln Recreation Center in
College Station.
This African - American cultural
tradition honors Nguzu Saba, the
seven principles of life, and lasts
for seven days.
The event will feature music,
dance and theater entertainment,
as well as vendors and refresh-
ments.
For more information, call 764-
3768.
Planners
set joint
session
Council will join
Steeplechase review
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station Planning and Zoning Com-
mission will meet in a joint session with the City
Council on Thursday night to discuss
a rezoning
request for a section of the Steeplechase subdivi-
sion.
The developer of Steeplechase wants to divide
about 28 acres into two zoning districts, about 8.4
acres as R -1B and about 19.5 acres as R -1.
The City Council will act on the commission's
decision in January.
Following the joint session, the commission will
take up its regular meeting agenda, which is topped
with ,a request by Rother's Book Store for a condi-
tional use permit for a
parking lot on two lots on
Montclair Street. A public hearing will be held.
Five other issues will come before the commis-
sion. They include:
■ A request for a conditional use permit for a
convenience store and service station on the north-
west corner of University Drive and Texas 6.
■ A site plan for the College Station Hotel /Con-
ference Center to be located in Wolf Pen Creek.
■ Reconsideration of rezoning 2.77 acres located
on the west side of F.M. 158 between University
Drive and Harvey Road from R
-1 single family to C-
2 commercial- industrial.
-- - --
■ Consideration of an ordi-
This item was tabled by the commission follow-
ing a Dec. 3 public hearing.
nance amending the code of ordi-
■ Consideration of an amendment to the master
nances relating to extraterritori-
al jurisdiction regulations, cul-
development plan of the 173 -acre Pebble Hills sub-
division, located on the
de -sac regulations and considera-
north side of Greens Prairie
tion of master development plans
and preliminary plats.
Road about 1,500 feet from Texas
The meeting will be held at 7
6.
p.m. Thursday in City Hall Coun-
A preliminary plat of about 25
cil Chambers, 1101 Texas Ave.
acres located in the northwest
For more information, call
corner of the subdivision will be
Development Services at 764 -
considered.
3570.
L.
agle: TheE
Cityof , College�StationNews
Date:
CS council delays ethics ordinance
By BOB SCHOBER
Eagle Staff' Writer
The College Station ethics ordinance
will not go into effect Jan. 1 as approved
by the City Council in October, but will be
delayed perhaps two months until prepa
rations for implementing the ordinance
< < It's important that each
person has an opportunity ...
to check with their employer
to see if there's a problem and
provide feedback.>
are completed.
By a vote of 5 -2, with Councilmen Steve G�
Esmond and Swiki Anderson voting V\
against, the City Council on Thursday \ \
night approved an ordinance delaying but
not specifying a new implementation
date.
Anderson said the council was "sending
the signal that we're going to do whatever
we want to do when we want to do it."
City Secretary Connie Hooks, whose
office will be the repository for financial
disclosure records and ethicsr complaints,
said Friday that the necessary forms,
- )mmission appointments and training of
r,,..ty officials had been started but not
— LYNN MCILHANEY
College Station mayor
completed.
A committee made up of former mayors
and City Council members has been
formed, she said, but it has not yet made
nominations to the Ethics Commission,
which will receive ethics complaints.
Also, she said, financial disclosure
forms have not been written, even though
the ordinance does not require the sub-
mission of financial records until April
30.
Council
From A9
the council is going to change the
ordinance."
The ethics ordinance defines
the code of conduct for the city
elected officials and members of
quasi-judicial boards. The ordi-
nance applies to the mayor and
members of the City Council,
Planning and Zoning Commis.
sion, Zoning Board of Adjust-
ment, Construction Board of
Adjustments and Appeals /Build-
ing Standards Commission, Elec-
trical Examining Board, Parks
and Recreation Board and Ethics
Review Commission. The ordi-
nance also covers the city manag-
er, city attorney, city secretary
and Municipal Court judge.
The council passed the ethics
ordinance Oct. 22 and voted to
implement it Jan. 1. The ordi-
nance is patterned after the
ethics ordinance used by the city
of Plano, Texas, Hooks said.
Mayor Lynn McIlhaney said Friday
that she could not commit to a firm start-
ing date, but said she hoped the ordinance
would be put into effect by the end of Feb-
ruary.
"To see it done in 30 to 60 days would be
my hope, but I want it done right," she
said.
McIlhaney said training sessions would
be held to educate city officers and board
members about the ordinance and the
necessary financial disclosure require-
ments guarding against conflicts of inter-
est.
"It's important that each person has an
opportunity ... to check with their employ-
er to see if there's a problem and provide
feedback," she said.
Several members of the Planning and
Zoning Commission, for example, ques-
tioned some provisions of the ordinance,
McIlhaney said, but "that doesn't mean
See COUNCIL, Page A10
<< The'�Eaglei
City of jColle �e ' Station
g
News
Date: �XC, I q, ITiY
Montclair
parking
rejected
Surface lot request
unanimously denied:
By BOB SCHOBER
le Staff Writer
,A 1
�/ There will be no parking lot facing Mont-
c Street, at least for now, following a
unanimous vote by the College Station Plan.
ning and Zoning Commission.
Following often impassioned pleas by sev
al Southside neighborhood residents tb
prevent commercial encroachment on whai
many called a rejuvenating historic neighf
borhood, the commission Thursday night
unanimously denied a request for a condii
tional -use permit to use two lots on Monti
clair Street for a surface parking lot. The
request was made by Rother's Book Store oil
George Bush Drive and its neighboring
businesses.
"This is a historic neighborhood and
should be preserved," Commissioner Karl
Mooney said, suggesting that business ownr
ers meet and discuss the parking situation
with members of the Historic Preservation
Society. ti
Zoning for a section of the Steeplechases
subdivision also was on the agenda an
drew a packed house to the council cham;
bers, where the commission met in joint ses+
sion with the City Council to discuss the
issue.
After taking 2 1/2 hours of public input;
the commission voted 6 -0 with one absten
tion to approve R -1 zoning for about 19.5
acres and R -1B zoning for about 8.4 acres
backing up to the Oakbrook Valley subdivi-
sion.
The developer previously had requested
R -1 zoning for the entire parcel. On Nov. 12
however, the council voted 5 -2, with Mayo
Lynn McIlhaney and Councilman Larry;
Marriot voting against, to reject that,
request and send it back "with prejudice" t4
the commission for consideration as R -ID
zoning.
Citing that action, Carl Vargo called on
the commission Thursday to zone the entire
28 -acre section R -1B, which requires a larg:
er minimum lot size of 8,000 square feet than
R -1, which requires a minimum lot size of
5,000 square feet. Vargo is president of the
Courts Neighborhood Association, which is
made up of homeowners bordering the
Steeplechase site.
After the vote, he said he understood the
council's Nov. 12 decision to mean "it would
not see R -1 again."
See ZONING, Page A10
Zonin
From A9
"And yet tonight, they mixed
the R -1B and the R -1. I don't
understand the situation," he
said. "But I'll be at the council
meeting in January."
The commission adopted the
two zoning districts based on
staff recommendations. Develop-
ment Services director Jim Call-
away said Friday that staff mem-
bers evaluated the developer's
suggestion to offer R -1B only in a
buffer zone, according to require-
ments of the Comprehensive Plan
and technical issues.
"Staff only makes a recommen-
dation, but the commission decid-
ed to adopt it," he said.
The council will review the
decision in January.
In other business, the commis-
sion approved a conditional -use
permit for a convenience store
and service station on the north-
west corner of University Drive
and Texas 6; approved a site plan
for the College Station
Hotel /Conference Center in the
Wolf Pen Creek district; and
approved the preliminary plat for
about 25 acres and an amendment
to the master development plan
of the Pebble Hills subdivision,
located on about 173 acres north
of Greens Prairie Road near
Texas 6.
at10 News
Date: C�C�. 19, lg4sr
Sr
dl yu, .
Ditl with Munson
I g keea with the spirit of tranquili-
yee, with
and true
unselfishness, manifested by the resi-
dents of Munson Avenue, I present the
following solution: Since these residents
have been so terribly inconvenienced by
the thronging masses of vehicles travel-
ing down "their" street in what can best
be described as "rush hour proportions,"
Why not do away with the entire street?
The asphalt could be broken up and
carefully removed piece by piece and top
soil spread where the diabolical street
used to be. Trees and grass could be care -
f planted to maintain the tranquil
look so desired. A nature trail could be
made which would placidly wind from
Lincoln Avenue to Dominik Drive, and
perhaps even a small rippling brook with
goldfish and a quaint bridge could be
added. Of course, the brook could not be
noisy because it would interfere with the
solitude and serenity so desired. Use of
the nature trail and bridge would certain-
ly be restricted to Munson Avenue resi-
dents. MMM
Other taxpaying citizens of B
College Station would be i
trespass ssued cry and
citations for enter' criminal
Munson Avenue Refuge mg the
ti
the city of College rea. Perhaps
ate a special ge Stab °n could even cre-
unauthorizedpOlice force to monitor
Refuge Area use of the Munson
No vehicles �,o�uid trail.
m Ref to the Munson Avenue Owed Area
to the fact that tr owed
Area, due
ahead aflic on this street has
already created such an obvious prob-
could stead, a special trolley system
designed and ut mented at
taxpayer expense to shuttle e
Avenue residents fro M anson
at Lincoln Avenue m designated stops
other parts of and Dominik Drive to
nate all tr the city. This would el'
tainl a
Y ma affic on Munson Wo uld make about as ldtce
much sense
Present barricades, which were erected
citizens.
Wi thout the consent of other taxpaying
JOEL HEIN
College Station