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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWe the People Flyers Rest Lck or ae wo years ago, The Eagle di d a fr g tage in order to be most success- infrastructure growth and, most 'low balanced three -part series on ful. importantly, serve as a catalyst for the needs and blighted condi- The first recommendation, a the entire northern area of College tions of Northgate prior to the 1995 promenade -park, required the city Station that is becoming severely .bond election in which citizens, to consolidate, through condemna- blighted. with more than 60 percent of the tion, a city block owned by multiple While it is foreseeable that the vote, supported our efforts to begin '' out -of -town families, which also hotel association would o se our the revitalization of the Northgate would create more public parking efforts to create a conventi center area, which has for the "core" Northgate area. next to A &M, it is regrettabl that I been a No. 1 or No. Hellmuth, Okath and Kassabaum the organization is being so short- 2 strategic issue also recommended — and re are sighted because of the admitted for the city for considering — additional surface need by many of its members for 3 more than three parking or a parking garage for the more convention space. Contrary to years. core Northgate area in addition to the association's position, public - First � � Texas the park. We simply cannot create private partnerships have a proper A &M University enough parking for the merchants role in city government, especially and the city of soon enough. We currently have a where revitalization of an older sec - NUB College Station negative situation in Northgate, and tion of town is involved. KENNrADY spent more than the city is taking positive, progres- Insofar as parking for the conven- $70,000 and more sive steps to correct the problem. tion center and Northgate core area, than two years The second recommendation it is unlikely that the city could ever designing a master plan for the requires the city to consolidate the create enough parking to satisfy entire area of town north of land for a multimillion dollar first- fully the demands of 40,000 -plus stu- University Avenue and west of class hotel- convention center. This dents, nor is that the intent. It is College Avenue with one of the most project of transforming the "Mud much better, however, to look to respected and experienced planners Lot" into a first -class facility will ways to solve parking problems in the country, Hellmuth, Okath and add significant ad valorem tax rev- rather than have a lot of parking, Kassabaum. enues and hotel -motel occupancy but no demand for it. Hellmuth, Okath and revenue, as well as school district The notion of a first -class full-ser- Kassabaum's main recommenda- revenue. Importantly, this is a pro- vice hotel connected to such a mod - tions, as approved by the Northgate ject that does not need revenue erately sized convention center has Steering Committee and the city bonds or contractual obligation debt worked in many other cities, and w( council, were as follows: to become a reality. believe it will work in ours. • Create a promenade -park area Connected to this first -class hotel I strongly believe our efforts in with parking and facade revitaliza- would be a 45,000 - square -foot con- this area will ensure that, as our tion. vention facility — with the potential great city continues to grow, it can- • Turn the "Mud Lot" into higher for a second story — which is rough- not leave its older, historical neigh - tax revenue area — a hotel - conven- ly the size of the Bryan Municipal borhoods behind. tion center since it is next to A &M. Building. This facility would serve • Hub Kennady is mayor -pro tem of College There is a need, however, for that the needs of more convention space Station and chairman of the Northgate Steering structure to have University Drive next to A &M, encourage additional Committee \ • 1€,___ \r)- kA_ G r\ 0 Gs t c( 4? V.\ c 4 0- C) c 11 c\ 4 So j LC,N2 �__,_._ zM 0 g/V \ C leA N O CA \ r\ �- -t- 1, -Lk_ '.1 ' bcv____)i) { '� G[ _ `e- - �� 1 .---- l�u (-- , � � \ � tea. �� . 1 �s J ...--i (6., c_A -\--tA --\— s -V \,-(' , • 125 Legal Notices R es i dents THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION IS REQUESTING BIDS FOR TRAFFIC POLE EQUIPMENT & HARD- WARE, REBID #97 -27 (SECTION A). Bids will be to discuss received in the office of the Purchasing Manager at City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 77840, until 2:00 p.m. on 1 30, 1997. All bids soii a NOTI #97 3 it b ec r after that time he ll � 'be returned unopened. The BID #97 30 W 1�� City of College Station re- / serves the right to waive or THE CITY OF COLLEGE reject any and all bids or any + STATION IS REQUESTING and all irregularities in said Neighborhood's future BIDS FOR WATER TANK bid and to accept the offer TO BE MOUNTED ON considered most advan- EXISTING CAB /CHASSIS, tageous to the City. Specifi- topic of Saturday forum rece BID ived in #97.30. th Bids will be cations may be obtained at e office of the' the office of the Purchasing Purchasing Manager at City Manager., By JENNY NELSON 1 I 's ) ? 7 Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, Eagle Staff Writer J College Station, Texas 5- 16 5 -23 -97 77840, until 2:00 p.m. on ORDINANCE NO. 1045 May 30, 1997. All bids James Steen has been a resident of College received after that time will The entire text of this Ordin- Station's south side for 32 years, and he's not be returned unopened. The ante is not included in this looking to leave anytime soon. But what he City of College Station re- publication but is on file with hopes to do is keep his neighborhood a nice serves the right to waive or the City Secretary and is reject any and all bids or any available for inspection at her place to call home. and all irregularities in said office in the Bryan Municipal The recent retiree from Texas A &M bid and to accept the offer Building, 300 South Texas University is helping city officials identify considered most advan- Avenue, Bryan, Texas. tageous to the City. Specifi- ways to improve the neighborhoods just cations may be obtained at AN ORDINANCE AMEND - South of the Campus. the office of the Purchasing ING CHAPTER 19 "PARKS "We don't want anything done more than Manager. AND RECREATION ", ARTI- CLE II "PARK REGULA- any other community," he said. "We just 1 5- 16 -97, 5 -23 -97 TIONS" DIVISION 4 "RE- want the city to keep the streets done and to NOTICE TO BIDDERS STRICTIONS IN PARKS" `.• patrol the community." BY REPEALING SECTION City officials have invited Steen and resi BID #97-27 (SECTION A) 19-72 AND ADOPTING A dents from 1,000 other homes in the neigh- borhood to share ideas Saturday afternoon. The south side /Southgate neighborhood _ ' meeting will begin at noon at the Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor St. a' q l Tom Brymer, assistant city manager for College Station, said after introductions to city officials, the . residents will be able to _ -- -_ - choose two of four breakout sessions to attend. A • -� �, The sessions will cover: A . e c Y -J— • Organizing your neighborhood, commu- nication of issues and presenting inform- r\ ■F \ `,.., tion. • Appearance, preservation and revitaliza- �(\ C Q_ tion. • Infrastructure, land use, code enforce- ment, and health and safety. I Brymer said a meeting of residents in V, S c O March identified some of the issues that will be discussed Saturday. He said one of the major issues is rental properties where city codes, especially those dealing with parking and trash collection, are not followed. \ ; ) "Typically, those in rental housing feel G \ \ ---C -G C ) unconnected to the neighborhood," he said. ���... JJJ ` I "It's almost like two populations in the area, the long - timers and the part- timers." 1 110 Brymer said city officials want to help all of I the residents communicate about the upkeep I of the neighborhood. Irproaile arrector of communications with the Ashburn said a Texas Ranger m`` ;Dods and Bryan Independent School District. and explained that someone v Cecil Floyd, executive director of kill one of his officers. The Elements of Change: Community Race Relations Summit Sunday, May 18, 1997, 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. College Station Hilton & Conference Center, Brazos Amphitheater 1 �1 7 r Panelists and invited r F „ T i C A a community leaders " (' ° will decide: a %" May 7. 1997 9 9719, 9tl " Where do we go Greetings 1997, 1n from here ?" id great fo We9cofrre to the Raea Bela tfons Forum rav on lNds ay a 1 , t,ranymeliege S exch a . This f p People #o mee t, exchnge ideas and enhance knowledge• opporunffy f#s many cultues a ritages #r dem un cle het 'pg Texan diverse for ero Y ons ceng detrrafing he bye must strive for S #are unique. 'True mutual respect for our fel {ow fexs�rzs, and Y w111 be achieved not just through laws and cultural dlffereazees that make the Lone s r racia faarmony b in the hears of indMduats. gove pr, grams, academwia= layv enforcemen civic and stu groups ho are perticip # in g in 1 commend the e ldlaers from businessdent , government this event. Best wishes for a successful um. • Sifornce ly, l ,w ..., ivr;.:a: 13.x: ,. a. •. 1,; .... ..>... .., _. The town -hall style meeting will: Explore problems Present solutions Stylize implementation Invited leaders are encouraged to R.S.V.P. by Friday, May 16, 1997. An invitation is your ticket to participate in the Race Relations Summit. Show up. Participate. It's our community. Together we can help make a difference. Broadcast later on TV and radio, with coverage by The Eagle. sPo° K H N KBTX —TV 94.3 F M Bryan- College Station Supporters: KBMA Radio ) [ CellegeStr2icxi nd The E1e EINIT 99.5 FM >' Cunfrrcm:r CaNCr Flying higher every day 1 O si South side She said committee to invite newcomers e might help people, including stu f From Al I dents, to feel like they are a part of the community. Tarlow said many people don't Maloney said property owners know what the city ordinances and their renters need to know addresses are or how to find out about the rules so that they can com- them. His group suggested using ply, as well. He said they need to neighborhood associations as be as involved in neighborhood liaisons to the city. associations as other homeown- area needs Dennis torsaid Maloney city , a gr needs oup to fac d . he way to have strength is to ita out a statement explaining viola- ers"T have a small group committed to tions and this fines to citizens. the neighborhood," he said. CS residents, city staff "Put it in cents," he the integrity side area is zoned as single -fami- of my neighlorhood — boom - -- ly, medium density housing. mee y ou get a fine." That means that no more than t on infrastructure Maloney said his group also four unrelated people are talked about property taxes. He allowed to live in a single By LILY AGUILAR 5/ ( gi G �? said the city's current tax policy dwelling, he said. Eagle Staff Writer 1 V punishes people who improve "Everyone we talked to wants their homes. this area to remain that way," Residents of College Station's south side came W h e n e v e r Maloney said. "Don't let the together for a community forum Saturday to dis- _ improvements " Put it in apartment complexes overrun cuss problems and explore solutions for their that add to a our neighborhoods." neighborhood. property's dollars About 50 people gathered at the Lincoln value are Center on Eleanor Street for the forum. The made, taxes and cents. meeting was arranged by city officials, including are increased, Tom Brymer, assistant city manager , and south he said. Yo u side residents. • "My wife The meeting was divided into breakout ses- and I bought a destroy lions where people could analyze specific issues, house and such as neighborhood organization, appearance improved it, ". the and preservations, infrastructure and land use he said. "And and health and safety. the city integrity Peter Tarlow, a facilitator for the appearance thanked us by and preservation group, said neighborhood asso- raising our of m ciations are a key in getting information from p r o p e r t y, the city to the public. taxes." n e i g h b o r- Maloney Please see SOUTH SIDE, Page A2 said one incen h ood — tive the city could provide boom — homeowners would be tax - you get a ing property at its originals fine „ appraised value. That way, people , could improve DENNIS their home MALONEY without being hit for more tax dollars, he , home owner said. Katherine Edwards and her group discussed neighbor- hood organization and communi- ty issues. Edwards , said college students were a serious concern because they are constantly relo- cating, and, therefore, difficult to incorporate into a neighborhood. R Take a few more minutes I offer this brief explanation for those citi- journa lists zens.inconvenienced by the partial close of Munson at Lincoln avenues. When Munson was first opened up at Lincoln, the city staff assured everyone that the f 0 rm then 800 cars per day would increase by IM no more than 1,000 cars per day. No one foresaw this residential street becoming a short cut to Harvey Road and Post Oak Mall chapter Today, Munson carries 7,000 cars daily. The once serene tree -lined neighborhood road metamorphosed into a nonstop caval- Freedom of i • nformation cade of speedsters belching boom -box bass at all hours and littering lawns with glass i s topic of first meeting and aluminum beer containers. Ed Hard and others of the city staff CH ( spend many nights meeting with citizen Eagle Staff g dOHN KIRSIRS S `� / 1 �� groups concerned about the traffic and safety issues. A myriad of solutions was The first meeting of the Society of suggested at these meetings. The partial Professional Journalists- Brazos Valley is closure of Munson is only one solution. It scheduled for June 5 in College Station. is a first step toward finding a way to pre - The local group has been formed for several serve the integrity of the entire neighbor- reasons, said Donnis Baggett, publisher and hood that is bordered by Texas Avenue, editor of The Bryan - College Station Eagle and Lincoln Avenue, the East Bypass and a member of the chapter's board of directors. Harvey Road. One is to increase the professionalism of We can all help by changing our driving area journalists through speakers and regular habits. Instead of driving on Munson, take meetings, Baggett said. the Bypass or Texas Avenue. Yes, we will Another is to help com municators do a better job have traffic to contend with. It will add 180 of serving the public, said , ' seconds to our commute time If it were Baggett. ,, '' ,, your neighborhood, would this sound like The community is x. ;,� an unreasonable request? served best by the free flow .,, q G DENNIS MALONEY of information and by an r S(( l —7 College Station informed press corps. The stronger the press corps is, WATLER Worried `about the traffic the better informed the community at large will be and the better his thing with Munson Avenue is we'll serve democracy in the Brazos Valley," said Baggett. something I didn't expect to get into. We not only reflect our communitites but I've been reading the opinions of oth we give them the information they need to ers and keeping up with this issue. make decisions. The better we are at doing I am a soon-to-be driver and I live on the our jobs, the more informed they'll be." corner of Francis Drive and Munson Attorney Paul Watler is scheduled to speak Avenue. The traffic is terrible and that is at the June 5 meeting, which will be in Room something I'm worried about. If I pull out 122 of the John B. Connolly Building behind of the driveway and then get hit, insur- the College Station Hilton. ance for me goes way up and I might have Watler has successfully counseled The to pay for the other person's car damage Dallas Morning News, The New York Times — something I don't need as a teen. and the Sunday Times of London on freedom of information and libel issues. I'm glad to see that they closed off A former journalist, Watler is listed in the Munson from Bryan. It's not going to hurt Best Lawyers of America , 1995 -96 edition, on the Bryan folks to take an extra few min- First Amendment issues. utes and take another route. KBTX -TV news anchor and chapter presi- Yes, the garbage being thrown in our dent Tony Cornett said the chapter has yard is awful. I'm pretty sure the litterers approximately 50 members. can find a trash can somewhere. While communicators in different media For those of you who don't live on face unique problems, nearly all journalists Munson, stop complaining. Who knows, have to deal with freedom of information you just might move onto Munson and issues, Cornett said. know what I mean. Organizers hope a broad cross section of journalists and public relations professionals 51 ( k (f 7 CHRIS SYMONS joins the group. ll College Station SOUTHSIDE / SOUTHGATE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING LINCOLN CENTER AUGUST 18, 1997 7:00 PM WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO SHARE OUR VIEWS: • ORDINANCE ENFORCEMENT • BETTERMENT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS • PRESERVATION OF OUR HISTORICAL AREAS WE'LL DISCUSS OPPORTUNITIES, PROBLEMS, AND SEEK SOLUTIONS 1 ,� 4 NORMA L. MILLER � . '' (?‘( 504 Guernsey Ave. / College Station, TX 77840 Tel: (409) 696 -4454 f Fax: (409) 694 -8338 � n a g �z 1 4 Fax _:-...,.,. te„,,. Y .., v .c.„. ,,,,„„:„ , _ _, ,.. 4,,,.... s,„ ....:, ,, :., . ,.., To: M Ol. V y� k* Date: 2 \3 (9. e ri Fax: to y 3 LI g Pages: ( , including this cover sheet From: Norma L. 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') 7 I i ' t1 '1 .1 :iiOS1 �;• ! 101 1 1 I It i • "We the People Southside Neighborhood Organization Town Hall Meeting Monday, September 15, 1997 7:00 P.M. Lincoln Center Working together, we can: • Share our views, problems, and concerns • Seek solutions for the betterment and preservation of our neighborhoods Please attend and bring a friend! For information, please call 696 -4454. ■ "We the People" Sonthside Neighborhoods organization Town Hall Mceting Monday, October 13, 1997 7:00 pan. Lincoln Center Guest Speakers • Attorney A.W. Davis • State Representative Dan Kubiak • Mr. James Thompson • State Representative William B. Roman Our Goals Let's Get Them Done! Ordinance Enforcement Neighborhood Civic Pride Historical Area Preservation Please attend and bring a friend! For information, please call 696 -4454. • Community Awareness Meeting Lincoln Recreation Center 1000 Eleanor College Station, TX 77840 Tuesday, October 21, 1997 7:00 p.m. to. 9:00 p.m. CBM COPP Evening Introduction and Occasion - Bro. Mike Cornelius Acknowledgment of Guest - Bro. Mike Cornelius Invocation - Reverend A.C. Clarke III Historical Reflection on the - Tommy Preston Sr. Lincoln Recreation Center and Community Your Police Dept. - Chief Ed Feldman Your Chief Community Oriented Policing - Officer Lakedriea Johnson Overview and Involvement Lt. Irvin Todd Master Officer Tom Jagielski College Station Fire Dept. - Lt. Mike Ruesnik/Representative Fire Prevention and Safety Question /Answer Session At the Conclusion of the Meeting - Display, Booths and Refreshments will be for the enjoyment of the community. Located in the Community Room. � • COLLEGESTATION P. 0. Box 9960 1101 Texas Avenue • College Station, TX 77842 • Te/ 409 764 3500 October 20, 1997 Mr. Robert O. Slater 505 Francis Drive College Station, TX 77845 Dear Mr. Slater: 1 am writing on behalf of the City of College Station in response to your letter published in the Saturday, October 18, Bryan - College Station Eagle. I would like to respond to several points you made in your letter. First, the decision to discontinue providing free services to the "We The People" group was not made by City Council but by the City Manager, based on the original intent and purpose of providing free services to neighborhood groups. The city, over the past couple of years has encouraged and supported neighborhood associations by providing city staff liaisons to help facilitate getting a group started and the use of a public facility meeting room free of charge, as available. This was to be a temporary type of support in helping a group to get up and running on their own. The group involved has been operating for many months with the help of the city. However, over the past couple of months they have changed their focus into something much larger than their neighborhood and more politically oriented. The city does not become involved in supporting any group that begins to take on politically sensitive issues beyond their own neighborhood. Second, neither the staff nor the City Council has any desire to impede any phase of the democratic process. We try to remain neutral on political issues involving neighborhoods. Such activities may be conducted by the group on their own, but without city support. This decision is intended to preserve the free exchange of ideas and opinions without showing support for one side or another. The city organization does encourage community involvement, through sponsorship of a monthly Neighborhood Forum and other non - political neighborhood meetings. Our proper role here is to facilitate the expression of all positions and to resolve issues that are of particular concern to neighborhoods. We appreciate your interest and concern in this matter, and hope that this letter has addressed your concerns If you have any other questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at 764 -3768. ( ely, Pegg��am zt-- Public Relations & Marketing Manager cc: George K. Noe, City Manager Tom Brymer, Assistant City Manager l� v_ayor Lynn Mcllhaney and Council Members • Home of Texas A &M University From: Skip Noe To: COUNCIL Date: 10/10/97 4:33pm Subject: Neighborhood Activity and We the People group For over 18 months, we have been actively involved reaching out to neighborhoods and neighborhood groups in an effort to facilitate two -way communication and develop a partnership in addressing concerns at the neighborhood level. After our first year of work, it became obvious that the southside area had some particular issues and that the area had no active neighborhood group. In visiting with folks from the area, we found that there was some support for forming a group but that there had been difficulty getting it off the ground. In the spring, we organized a forum in this area with the objective of identifying issues that needed attention and (hopefully) the organization of one or more neighborhood organizations. With our support, we have seen the formation of two groups. The first is the South Oakwood neighborhood group which covers a small area of the southside. The second is the We the People group formed by Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Pugh. This second group is really a city -wide organization which has its roots in the southside. Our support has been some staff assistance, advertisement of meetings on the cable access channel and use of city facilities for meetings without charge. At the last Neighborhood Forum meeting, the issue of political involvement came up. I indicated that the City could not be actively involved with groups that decided to become involved in political activity or that chose to go beyond the kinds of neighborhood concerns into other areas. We are aware that the We the People Group has begun having meetings that focus on broader issues, include some that are bordering on the political. We have informed Mrs. Miller that we cannot support those activities of the group. That means that we cannot provide free meeting space, advertisement of the meetings or staff assistance in those areas. Her group can continue to utilize city facilities under the same rules as other groups. She and her group will continue to be invited to the Neighborhood Forum and other meetings on neighborhood issues. I assumed that Mrs. Miller may contact one or more of you to inform you about this so I wanted to just fill you in. If you have any questions or want further information, please feel free to contact me. "WE, THE PEOPLE" SOUTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS ASSOCIATION October 13, 1997 TO: Mr. George Noe, City Manager and City Council In a staff meeting on October 10, 1997, you made the allegation that "WE, THE PEOPLE" is a Political Action Committee (PAC). I am quoting your Public Relations and Marketing Director whom you told to call and tell me. According to you, through her, we are too political to have further access to OUR television channel to announce our meetings, nor can we continue to hold our meetings at OUR Lincoln Center, free of charge. Our group reaction has been "surely THEY jest!" We have had exactly two (2) meetings, with the third scheduled for tonight. They have been attended by some 40 concerned citizens. Neighborhood goals for betterment and preservation are our only objectives. We have no elected members, because WE ARE "WE, THE PEOPLE." We have no dues. Our only fund - raising project is to collect enough $1's from the attendees to apply for a Historic Plaque for the Girls' Club Building on Holleman - -the oldest structure that hasn't been demolished, so far as we know. To -date, we have $24 towards that goal. Big deal!!! The city should donate that plaque. At your September 30, 1997 Neighborhood Forum, Mr. Noe, I told you (on tape), "We are so unpolitical, we hurt!" You stated, in explaining city employees' attendance at any meetings, that they could attend neighborhood meetings so long as there was no conflict of interest. You further state (indirect warning ?) that we can talk about issues, but we can't endorse any candidate, can't get involved as a group in any campaign, and can't recommend any one for office. (First Amendment rights ?) I told you, "It's hard to separate problems from politics." Your reply was that if it were easy, everyone would do it, bringing laughter from us. You refer to "WE, the PEOPLE" as a group formed by myself and Mrs. Pugh. Not true. A good many of us were and are involved. I told you last November we are a small army that is growing. It is because we didn't like the city- sponsored incessant meetings night after night that produced NO results...just talk...that caused us to spin off. The city has been talking for years. about code enforcement, etc., it's still just talk and passing the buck. We are NOT citywide, though I did say to you on the 30th that should the idea catch on, it COULD become citywide. You stretch the truth in your allegations. Why should we not focus on broader issues? We will focus on anything and everything that involves us, our homes, our neighborhoods, our futures and those of our children. That is our right, and curtailment by the city is NOT on our agenda. Pg. 2 10/13/97 Noe, Council from "WE, THE PEOPLE" I submit that the many meetings I attended at the Conference Center during the summer, with one or more city staff in �► attendance each time, and with very few consistent attendees, were far more political and damaging than anything our people have even talked about, thought about, or wanted. OUR MEETINGS, WHEREVER AND WHENEVER, ARE OPEN TO ANY AND ALL. EVEN YOU. WE HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE AND WE HAVE NO HIDDEN AGENDAS. By the way, it is NOT my group. It belongs to ALL of us. Does that frighten city hall? SINCE YOUR ALLEGATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR SOME UNFATHOMABLE REASON, I REQUEST THAT THEY BE PUT INTO WRITING, WITH YOUR SIGNATURE. WE ARE ENTITLED TO THAT CONSIDERATION. NORMA L. MILLER for "WE, THE PEOPLE" SOUTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS ASSOCIATION 504 Guernsey St. College Station, Tx., 77840 Ph. 696 -4454 COPIES: To all citizens interested in our group The Eagle KBTX TV And anyone else I can think of "WE, THE PEOPLE" SOUTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS ORGANIZATION October 20, 1997 To the City Manager, City Council, and Whomever: We shall continue to be known by the name shown at the top of this page. We are proud of this designation. Thus far, we have held three meetings, with attendance greater than most council meetings. Those attending are treated with courtesy and respect, unless they are trying to disrupt us, as at the second meeting. We emerged stronger, and our skepticism has becoh. hope for us. We are a racially mixed group of taxpayers, meeting in our tax - supported public facility. Your ill- founded determination that we are a Political Action Committee, and your decision that we will no longer be afforded free use of the Lincoln Center OR our city- sponsored access TV channel has only made us more eager to succeed. WE know we are apolitically concerned. Any monies we HAVE to pay for what the city calls "rent ", we will call a DONATION TO THE UNDERFUNDED AND NEGLECTED LINCOLN CENTER. WE WILL NOT PAY MONEY FOR THE USE OF THE CENTER FOR THE MONEY TO GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND FOR ANY REASON. WE ALSO OBJECT TO THE $25 DEPOSIT AND FEEL IT SHOULD BE WAIVED. WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE ADULTS AND EACH TIME HAVE LEFT THE COMMUNITY ROOM NEATER OR AS NEAT AS IT WAS WHEN WE ENTERED. Our group has made NO demands on the city staff or council. We have NOT decreed the city will adhere to our wishes or else...and we have not given you any deadlines. OUR DEDICATION IS EXACTLY AS WE HAVE STATED: TO BETTER OUR LIVES, PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS' INTEGRITY AND HISTORIES. WE DO ASK FOR AND EXPECT STRICT CODE ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS BUT LARGELY IGNORED, EXCEPT FOR TALK. Our Southside is NOT and WILL NOT be a throwaway area in the future of College Station. We will fight for our heritages and rights, and, hopefully, become a beacon for other threatened neighborhoods. ECONOMIC RACISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. WE ARE THE PEOPLE. Your livelihoods depend on us. We are entitled to our voices and WE WILL EXERCISE OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. You say we are political. Whether you like it or not, City Hall is political. City employees are political. Your jobs depend on politics. And you don't have to pay for it...we do! "WE, THE PEOPLE" SOUTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS ORGANIZATION...PG 2 10/20/97 For what it's worth, calling us a Political Action Committee (and I'm quoting your PR director and one other staff member), brought huge laughter and did nothing for the credibility of city hall. One of our speakers told us," Reasonable minds can differ." And as we work for the greater good of our community, we ARE differing, but for a common cause...THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CHOICE! I speak for "WE, THE PEOPLE" Southside Neighborhood Organization, a growing entity with NO elected body, no facilitators or parliamentarians, telling us how to think, when to think, what to say or not say, and guiding us down THEIR path. WE LIKE THE DRUMMER WE ARE MARCHING TO! Norma L. Miller 504 Guernsey College Station, Tx, 77840 696 -4454 Copies to: Concerned Black Men of Southside KBTX -TV The Eagle And again, anyone I can think of From: Skip Noe To: COUNCIL Date: 10/22/97 5:52pm Subject: We the People I met on Monday evening with a group of representatives of the We the People group to discuss ways we could work through the recent issues regarding our working with the group. I think that it was a very good meeting and covered a great many topics. We have agreed to allow the group 6 months of free use of the meeting space at Lincoln Center under a number of conditions that were amenable to the group. At the conclusion of that period, it was assumed that the group would be self - sufficient from this standpoint. We will continue to work with the group on the issues they have in their neighborhood. If you have any questions, please advise. CC: Beachy, Steve, Brymer, Tom, Calliham, Peggy \ \AO- � WE THE PEOPLE SOUTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS ORGANIZATION TOWN HALL MEETING Monday, November 10, 1997 7:00 p.m. Lincoln Center MR. GEORGE K. NOE, COLLEGE STATION CITY MANAGER, WILL SPEAK TO US AND ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS. Working together, we can accomplish our goals: ■ Preserve and protect our neighborhoods • Renew our sense of community • Restore and maintain our civic pride • Insist on strict code compliance Please attend and bring a friend! For more information, please call 696 -4454. . CI • We, I1 NEIGHBORHOODS ORGANIZATION SOUTH - EAST -WEST- NORTH- and all points in between TOWN HALL FORUM TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1998 7:00 p.m. Lincoln Center Let's Have a Cards -on- the - Table... Heart-to-Heart. .. Hear - from - Everyone.. . POST ELECTION WRAP -UP: "WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE ?" PARTICIPATE • MOTIVATE • ACTIVATE • DEDICATE • COMMUNICATE For more information, please call 696 -4454 or fax 694 -8338. REMEMBER TO VOTE MAY 2 1 WE , THE PE O PLE SOUTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS ORGANIZATION TOWN HALL MEETING Monday, January 12, 1998 7:00 p.m. Lincoln Center GOALS FOR 1998 • PARTICIPATE: This belongs to all of us! • MOTIVATE: Out with talk -- in with do! • ACTIVATE: Get moving. Tell your friend! • DEDICATE: Make our goals happen! a'"() cd..)m%".0k cAN a we' qo-t c14.> 1998: The Year We're Here Together! Community improvement -- increased fire and police protection, streets and drainage repaired, laws enforced. For more information, please call 696 -4454 or fax 694 -8338. 111 ■ ■ "WE, TUIE PEOPL E" NEIGJIIBORH•OJD)S S SOUTH -EAST- WEST - NORTH- and all points in between TOWN HALL MEETING Monday, March 2, 1998 7:00 p.m. Lincoln Center 1998: The Year We're Together! OUR GOALS FOR 1998 • PARTICIPATE: College Station belongs to all of us! • MOTIVATE: We've talked. It's time to do! • ACTIVATE: Get involved. Bring friends! • DEDICATE: To pull together! • COMMUNICATE: Stand up and be counted! Fire Chief Dave Giordano will answer questions. l S S it n e c c \--o b e ck Ack b-Q '} s�. c N o� 5 �o J e � Lk �` u-i-Q For more information, please call 696 -4454 or fax 694 -8338. ■ • me, zte fedepte NEIGHBORHOODS ORGANIZATION SOUTH - EAST -WEST- NORTH- and all points in between TOWN HALL FORUM Monday, April 6, 1998 7:00 p.m. Lincoln Center ON MAY 2, 1998, WE VOTE for Mayor and Places 2, 4, and 6 Council Seats ALSO ON THE BALLOT: North Gate Parking Garage and Term Limits MEET THE CANDIDATES They will tell us their platforms and answer our questions. PARTICIPATE • MOTIVATE • ACTIVATE • DEDICATE • COMMUNICATE For more information, please call 696 -4454 or fax 694 -8338. • 111 FELCOME TO "WE, THE PEOPLE" NEIGHBORHOODS ORGANIZATION "MFFT THE CANDIDATES" COUNCIL, PLACE 2 COUNCIL, PLACE 4 COUNCIL, PLACE 6 MAYOR David Alexander Shannon Schunicht Dorcas Moore W.J. "Bill" Batchelor Dennis Maloney ' Peter Keating Dick Birdwell J.P. "Jim" Irving Barbara Palmer Larry Mariott Anne Hazen Lynn Mcllhaney Ron Silvia In the order of their place on the May 2 ballot, each candidate will be given up to three (3) minutes to state his - her platform. An open question and answer period from the audience will follow. Raise your hand to be recognized, and please speak loudly enough for all of us to hear. Confine your questions to matters of city government and not personalities. Due to time limitations on our meeting space, imposed by the city, the following will be strictly adhered to: V Non - partisan questions directed to candidate of your choice, not to exceed one (1) minute. p Answers by candidates not to exceed two (2) minutes. No exceptions A bell will signify each time period. We hope each candidate will be addressed equally. After the question and answer session, two (2)- minute summations will end the meeting. Thank you for your cooperation and PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE ON MAY 2! NO VOTE, NO GRIPE! 4 1 (=I 6 r January 11, 1998 RE: ARTICLE IN EAGLE ABOUT COLLEGE STATION CITY COUNCIL IF THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER WOULD PUBLISH LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM THEIR SUBSCRIBERS WITHOUT BIAS OR PREJUDICE, THIS IS WHAT I'D SAY: 1. ONE PERSON FALSIFYING TRUTH IS MORE HARMFUL AND POWERFUL THAN TEN PERSONS SPEAKING THE TRUTH. 2. WE DO NOT NEED EX- MAYORS SOUNDING OFF ABOUT CURRENT AFFAIRS IN CITY HALL. MANY OF THE PROBLEMS WE FACE TODAY STEM FROM THEIR TENURES AS MAYORS, PERPETUATED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS WE INHERITED FROM THEM. 3. WE HAVE A PREDOMINANT FOUR -VOTE MAJORITY ON THE COUNCIL, WHICH INCLUDES THE MAYOR VOTING EACH TIME (not just to break a tie). THESE FOUR VOTES MAKE FOR A CONTROLLED EGO - MANAGEMENT FORM OF CITY GOVERNMENT...NOT "MICRO- MANAGEMENT" AS KENNADY AND HICKSON PROCLAIM. COUNCILMEN ANDERSON AND ESMOND (AND SOMETIMES BIRDWELL) CONSISTENTLY VOTE FOR US...THE CITIZENS...ANDERSON AND ESMOND RAN LAST YEAR ON THAT PLATFORM AND THEY HAVE NOT DEVIATED SINCE THEY TOOK OFFICE. THE OTHER FOUR HAVE VOTED PERSONALITIES...NOT ISSUES MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. 4. CITIZENS HAVE LITERALLY BEGGED THOSE FOUR TO LISTEN TO US...AT THE JAN. 7 MEETING OF THE COUNCIL, THE MAYOR BOASTED THAT AT ONE MEETING THEY DID VOTE THE WAY WE WANTED. WOW!!!! 5. WE ARE PAYING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR UNNECESSARY, UNWANTED, UNPOPULAR, EXPENSIVE, FOOLISH PET PROJECTS..ALL MONUMENTS TO THOSE FOUR PEOPLE AND THEIR PREDECESSORS, NAMELY A PARKING GARAGE, A CONFERENCE CENTER, AND BRICK PAVERS IN FRONT OF BEER JOINTS ($100,000 OF FEDERAL FUNDS). 6. WE FACE MORE DANGER IN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION. THESE PEOPLE WILL RUSH ' 1HEIR AGENDAS THROUGH, SPURRED ON BY THE DYNASTY OF CITY MANAGER AND CITY PLANNER AND THEIR STAFFS. THIS IS CARVER'S GOVERNANCE. WE MUST BREAK THIS DYNASTY BEFORE WE ARE FISCALLY AND MORALLY BANKRUPT. To quote the staff as they finish their council presentations, "This is all I have." NORMA L. MILLER 504 GUERNSEY ST. COLLEGE STATION, TX. 77840 (409) 696 -4454 FAX 694 -8338 F • ■ • zoe 1p? NEIGHBORHOODS ORGANIZATION SOUTH - EAST -WEST- NORTH- and all points in between TOWN HALL MEETING TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1998 7:00 p.m. Lincoln Center 1 MAYOR LYNN MCILHANEY WILL BE OUR FEATURED SPEAKER "Listening to Each Other" PARTICIPATE • MOTIVATE • ACTIVATE • DEDICATE • COMMUNICATE . For more information, please call 696 -4454 or fax 694 -8338. ■ ■ ■ tve, litte peopue NEIGHBORHOODS ORGANIZATION SOUTH -EAST- WEST - NORTH- and all points in between TOWN HALL MEETING Monday August 3, 1998 7:00 p.m. Lincoln Center • Charles Graham Ph. D., Bryan N. & Sandra K. Mitchell Endowed Professor, Department of Construction Science, College of Architecture at Texas A & M University Housing and Community Development Concerns in Bryan/ College Station • Chad Grauke, AIA Principal, Arkitex Studic Incorporated Current Municipal Projects WILL SPEAK TO US AND ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS PARTICIPATE • MOTIVATE • ACTIVATE • DEDICATE • COMMUNICATE ■ For more information, please call 696 -4454 or fax 694 -8338. ■ L CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS NOTED JULY 28, 1998 FAIRVIEW STREET: Bottles and trash alongside curbs length of street. 907 -905 FAIRVIEW: Junk all over porch and yard...has been there for months. Complaints have been made. 910 FAIRVIEW: New gas meter, set unusually high. Hole was not filled in. Meter set crooked. Beer cans around site. 403 -415 THOMPSON: Furniture in yard, sofa on porch. FAIRVIEW & HOLLEMAN: Metal rod protruding. Could be dangerous. Beer, whiskey bottles, trash along curb. Grass growing over curbs into street. 713 PARK PLACE: Cannot find status of new building at that location. Have been told it is a library for Patterson's books, it's a home for his wife (heard that in the planning office at city hall), and it is a chemistry lab for him! .PARK PLACE & DEXTER: Blind corner..overgrown with vines. Now has a new wooden fence that will further hinder vision. South on Dexter, towards Winding Road, vision completely blocked by shrubs along curbside. Noe 46+ u_30u1c i o I1 V\06-.A \t- I PARK PLACE & FAIRVIEW: Bottles in yard. m rlD 709 FAIRVIEW: Car in yard. 800 FAIRVIEW: Cars parked on wrong side of street. This is a common occurrence all over and is a state law violation. Have never seen it enforced! 806 FAIRVIEW: Washer, dryer, miscellaneous junk on front porch. r Mailbox also knocked down. 912 FAIRVIEW: Entire yard is gravel. Against ordinance. 1009 FAIRVIEW: Junk on front porch. 1013 FAIRVIEW: Car in yard 1015 FAIRVIEW: Junk in yard. Trash everywhere. Weeds 4' tall. ,900 block MONTCLAIR: Glass bottles in street. Trash. 603 MONTCLAIR: Junk on front porch. 413 MONTCLAIR: Broken pink pelicans in yard. Junk on porch. Sign against house says "Valet Parking, $3.00" Cars parked on grass. 411 MONTCLAIR: Junk on front porch. 412 MONTCLAIR: Cars on grass in yard. Bottles scattered. 304 MONTCLAIR: Boxes, ladders, wheelbarrows, junk on and around front porch and in yard. 302 MONTCLAIR: Big rusted dumpster always on curb. Been there for months if not yeaz. Cars parked all over yard. Gutters filled with trash and litter. This has been an eyesore for years, and repeated complaints are to no avail. Why not? 303 MONTCLAIR: Junk on porch. 202 MONTCLAIR: Car has been jacked up for months. Unkempt yard and garage badly in need of repair or demolition. This block has been reported repeatedly. 205 MONTCLAIR: Entire front and side yards are gravel. 200 MONTCLAIR: Junk on porch. Trash in yard. Mailbox behind parked call (owned by local person as are many of these properties). $411., ,201 MONTCLAIR: Junk on front porch. Car on grass. HIGHLANDS ST: General trash and litter in street along curbs. • • V itizens group loses • • ccess to city services • College Station says ` We the People' political By JENNY NELSON \� Eagle Staff Writer 1 \.a �` �0 t - < < You people have College Station citizens who formed a group to an awesome power discuss problems in their neighborhood had a- — you can vote. > new topic at their meeting Monday night: The :' 2 ' city's decision to no longer provide free services F to the group. „ ;- ' — SWII{I ANDERSON We the People," a citizen -run branch of a i College Station Councilmember Southside neighborhood organization, held its third meeting at the Lincoln Center to discuss an issue, people get upset," City Attorney issues, but the focus of the meeting turned to the Harvey Cargill said. "There are things we city's ruling that the group is bordering on should not be doing or supporting as a city ... being political in nature. Because they discuss we're nonpolitical." topics beyond the neighborhood's boundaries, Cargill said that if the city supports one the city said the group will no longer have group, even in giving the $25 meeting space, it access to free television advertising and meet - would have to do the same for all groups — no ing space. "When the city starts using public funds for Please see MEETING, Page A8 matter the cause. Fliers advertising the meetings tiotn Noe anct Brymer said they say the group's goals are: ordi are not trying to discourage or nance enforcement, neighbor- control what the group discusses, hood civic pride and historical but that the city must remain area preservation. neutral. Assistant City Manager Tom The group discussed several Brymer said the original citywide hot - button issues during Southside group formed by the Monday's meeting. city was designed to help get a Among the topics discussed neighborhood association for the were tax abatements, chicken area. lung from local chicken houses He said the city staff worked as and city staff decisions. facilitator for citizens interested The main topic was condemna iii neighborhood integrity. tion of property, something that Brymer said the city will con- has happened in the Southside true to work with the residents neighborhood. on Southside issues, but when the James Thompson told of having group gets into other citywide his home bought by the city to iwues,_ "the city has to take a step make room for the city's newest back." " Little League field. City Manager Skip Noe said in Attorney A.W. Davis, told cite a memo to the City Council that zens the ins and outs of condemn group members "have begun hav- ing property. ing meetings that focus on broad- Davis' firm is currently repre er issues, [including] some that senting Elmo Neal, a resident are bordering on the political." who is fighting the city about "We the People" member property they condemned at Norma Miller, in a memo to Noe, Northgate. said: "We are so unpolitical, we Complaints about decisions hurt." from city hall, including condem- In an effort to lose their politi nation, got a response from cal ties, the group decided to drop Councilmember Swiki Anderson, its "We the People" title and go who reminded those complaining back to the original Southside that they have the power to neighborhood organization, change the system. • which the group members had "If you don't like the way it is, split from because they deemed it you can change it," he said. "You ineffective. people have an awesome power — Members said they are plan to You can vote." phone the city manager and mayor Tuesday to make sure the city knows the group is not a political committee. LETTERS Su ort new group ei political is simply a dodge. Support g p City Attorney Harvey Cargill is he College Station City only partially right when he says T Council's decision to no that when the city starts using pub - longer provide free services lic funds for an issue, people get to "We the People" is fundamental- upset. ly anti - democratic and the council Some people get upset, and they should reverse its decision. are usually the ones who stand to Swiki Anderson is right in say- lose by having the issue discussed. ing that people have an awesome But this is one of the points of power — they can vote. But voting democracy, isn't it? is only part of the democratic In justifying the decision, Cargill process. says that if the city supports one People's willingness to vote in an group like this, it will have to do informed and responsible manner That's what ialandou groups. Good! is greatly influenced by their opportunities to come together, to ly- minded governments should do share information, and to find out meet encourage t and learn enable ble people and what they actually believe by talk- ing out their ideas and opinions their government are about. with others. By deciding to no The City Council should not only longer provide the space where reverse its decision with regard to this kind of democratic process can "We the People," but it also should take place, the council is, wittingly do all it can to encourage and sup - or not, undermining and impeding port similar community action by this phase of the democratic other groups. „ process. ROBERT O. SLATER The City Council's argument � b � I � � �'-� College Station that the group is bordering on .d 5 l rang' ng' < • 411 CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS NOTED JULY 28, 1998 pg 2 204 HIGHLANDS: Car in yara,Trash. ,203 HIGHLANDS: Junk on porch. Duplex? Triplex? Single family? 300 HIGHLANDS: Historical marker on junky house. Unkempt. Owned by same local developer mentioned previously. Should be held responsible for all of his rental properties..27 at least. 305 HIGHLANDS: Cars parked in yard. Junk. 304 HIGHLANDS: ? No house number visible. Junk on porch. (CITY HAS ORDINANCE REQUIRING HOUSE NUMBERS AT LEAST 4" HIGH TO BE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED. NO ENFORCEMENT) 307 HIGHLANDS: Junk on porch. 315 HIGHLANDS: Sofa, chair, junk on porch. Tras1 in yard. 207 FIDELITY: Car in yard. MARYEM /PARK PLACE: Entire yard gravel. GEORGE BUSH DRIVE FROM FAIRVIEW TO TIMBER...ONE OF FILTHIEST SECTIONS OF ANY STREET IN COLLEGE STATION. TRASH AND DEBRIS HAVE BEEN SCATTERED ALONG THIS AREA LONG BEFORE THE BUSH LIBRARY OPENED LAST NOV. IF THIS IS A GATEWAY STREET IT CERTAINLY DOES NOT SPEAK WELL FOR COLLEGE STATION. The median is usually overgrown and filled with trash and bottles. Broken pieces of curbing have stuck out into traffic lanes for years. We have made no mention of trash carts left on curbs from trash pickup to trash pickup. There are ordinances against loud vehicles and excessive noise. 10 p.m. means nothing to these students who have raped our neighborhood. Their boom boxes, their diesels, no mufflers, loud parties, general desecration of what once were lovely homes...their complete lack of respect for any and all. THE ORDINANCES ARE ON THE BOOKS AND ARE ENFORCEABLE. MAKING THE VIOLATORS PAY THROUGH THE NOSE WILL DO MORE GOOD THAN ALL THE POLITE NOTICES AND LETTERS EVER SENT. EITHER WE HAVE LAWS OR WE DON'T. c 4. Creation of a residential permit parking system in the proposed trial 1 ea. , pp V_S VJ` n '\ c S,,tnic ir. .)v `J e W L �{ d C-CZ' �` r. C t! of , , Recommenda WHEREAS: Ap oval of Recommendation 06 calls into question the legal authority / Council to regulate private housing, d Y ■• 1a �■ D ` .. i s: ,�•� M t`� ' 6 - k r e. r y `� e-INA O ‘, o'Yt. C A n 1t,� �e o aNt-41 . W$RREAS: Approval of Recommendation #6 would adversely affect Texas A&M and residents in the,Sdd orithgate area, 0i ' u 1 ye\ ���.� ~ 0 1 0.c \ waEt�AS Approval of Recorzunendation 06 may create ah " " e hardship for those I T©s A&M students and workers regularly using George Hush Drive, Fairview Avenue, f and lair Street fbr free parting, C� a — c. e. 041 O `) U. d`. s ).■i s dos � 1 � t h Ck L of % l c�.as Tat BEES ■ 1 S e 64 �al� t. w,,o,lt u. '�.Lt . LLT IT BE R ,SOLVED: The Student Senate of Texas A&M University does not support Council's decision to accept and implement Reevnunendation 06 of the Scx:tt i'de/Sout gat 0. Neighborhood P 'on Report. and ., `.,0 e v•- c, 7-14 4 ----. W2 `ikQ � W1 ,_._,9_,,cV _ ck,I.L.6 B TI' `moo Ph 1 r- c O ` n CC Le r(-:) YVk�^l ■ tab ruirrsLA RESOLVED: The Student Senate of Texu A&M University supports future endeavors to work in conjunction with the City Council of Colleges Station to discover a more suitable solution for all inv tved parties. f ' e. C- a ed L ,si ( c..N.le-kc.A. c_cp ..)1-- *e-- NeN ckQx. neee 1 C irvti) t..1.._ h '1_ 'e.. b LA �,6 S • -i.•." e... (.._ , i-- tN� y\vr..-- u2) --- `N t i b c:),:,\(„11.A_, , . ,_„ ytkic) ‘. ...it r■,_ L.A.._ • 0 DSZ..\\_ 1 / 4 -Ck WJ ■ - C )C-UAO IfY0 t5-12-- & 1\ ca �, %\ ` a,,` - •-� _ a) \\ k 01.L , \ 1 4z .. .0..tik, '‘ ,,)"%kiN" 4.1 (\ &At :1 . z_ S 1 law TOTAL P.02 • • H CONCERNED NEIGHBORHOODS ORGANIZATION 1 Lincoln Center 1 Holleman © Eleanor I o nday, November 2, 1998 7:00 p.m. Guest Speaker GERALD L. "BUDDY" WINN Tax Assessor /Collector /Voter Registrar "VOTING - TAXES - AND YOU!" Working together, we share our views, problems, anc concerns. We can demand solutions for the bett ment and preservation of our neighborhoods. VOTE NOVEMBER 3 $24,240,000 Capital Improvements Bond Election Pocketbooks -- NOT POLITICS • Foi more information, please call 696 -4454 or fax 694 -8338. • people we, Irmo CONCERNED NEIGHBORHOODS ORGANIZATION Lincoln Center Holleman @ Eleanor Monday, January 4, 1999 7:00 p.m. •••••• ORGANIZING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS HIGH PRIORITY IN 1999. THE CITY HAS PLANS FOR OUR FUTURES WE MAY NOT NEED, WANT, OR LIKE. • THESE CHOICES MUST BE OURS.....NOT THEIRS Working together, we can share our views, problems, and concerns. We can demand solutions for the betterment and preservation of our neighborhoods. GUEST SPEAKER: RITA CLAY MCMILLAN, Ph.D. "How Many Is Too Many? Or...Yes, Virginia, There Can Be Too Much Of A Good Thing." PLEASE ATTEND AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. ■ For more information, call 696 -4454 or fax 694 -8338. 111 ■ ■ • EiDe VIA? CONCERNED NEIGHBORHOODS ORGANIZATION t\e c \ Lincoln Center \. Holleman @ Eleanor Monday, February 1, 1999 vX °c) 7:00 p.m. "THE POWER OF CITY HALL AND ITS HIDDEN AGENDAS" or "IS THIS OUR CITY? IS IT THEIRS ?" Major areas of College Station are being considered for revitalization benefitting builders and /or developers. THOSE CHOICES MUST BE OURS. The betterment and preservation of our neighborhoods are our top priorities. Let's put the "Cityzens" back in the City with energy, ethics, and enthusiasm. Bring Your Friends -- Everyone Counts. For more information, call 696 -4454 or fax 694 -8338. 1 11 �- r`na� (NO rM rIN 1001. nefi 111 Feb. 1, 1999 -- We, The People to address issues http: / /battalion.tamu.edu /web /daily /state2.html THE WEB SITE Baita BATTALION.TAMU.EDIJ WRITER Staff writer We, The People, a neighborhood organization, will hold a meeting tonight at 7 in the Lincoln Center to discuss issues concerning the city's influence in the neighborhoods and businesses of Bryan /College Station. We, The People founder Norma Miller said the groups' members are concerned with the city's desire to build in the Historic District of College Station, developments being made on Wellborn Road that will increase traffic by 2,500 -3,500 cars per day, and taxpayers' money being spent on frivolous lawsuits. Miller said the group wants to inform others about conflicts that exist between some local residents and city council members. Miller said it is important for students to get involved in issues. "Students are a real asset to the community," she said. "These are students' tax dollars too." David Peter, an educational technology graduate student and a member of We, The People, said group meetings are open to anyone and try to give attendees an equal voice. Peter said the organization emphasises student involvement in the voting process. He said more than 4,000 students were registered to vote in the last city election, but only 12 percent actually voted. "A lot of people think their votes don't count. 4,000 voters are a very powerful group." yr : Sian: 1 /18 K 70 ��r pk. n Battalio H f .7 ' , f! I'f: �•':!l f. !!'f f11�r.J1f(If ff:lf U -Wire The Wire from AP 1 of 2 02/01/99 11:30 AM t Sit. 9$($m) 2 The Student Senate Tens A&M University S.R. 93(Sm) 2 Iztitrodaced by: Candace Collins � y � ( 6--t G 7 Certified by: gel — Action Tait i S —C � , C Spec of the Date: T k Amy Sosethtide/Suuthp►te Revitalization Reseletion WHEREAS: The Colic - Station C' Council exists t • ...la - t'i "s' '.y' • • • Station on rn levels, one of which is through the implementation of un trate c r Issues, and ire \ - "1 i. c� 4 � c C '� i n f g �^ WHEREAS: 1996 Council Strategic Issue #12, Northgate/Southgate Revitalization/Code Enforcement & Ptann +g -TAMU resulted In the creation of the SouthsidelSouthgateNeighborhoo4 Preservation Committee to address Council Vision Statement No. s - Civic Pride: l.1.51... cl^ a lie �. Sk LA IA. rAt 40 ADA M a ` 1 1ka Citizens beatefit from well - planned, attractive residential and conunercial area and from preserving historic areas, and WHEREAS: In attempts to address this issue, So�hsidd5o thgata area family housing occupied by non owners uti L�GtA the overflow of on-street parking to bs th� most f• o S � rt � Pr � � � ;�� M t t S'� o 0 ► ed rd t`' oval o r e V�RZ � A: T remedy this i prdblem Council staff recommen th � Southside/Southgate Neighborhood Preservation Report's Recorrunendation #6 which calls for: 1. Removal of on- street parking along the north side of George Bu sDrive from Texas Avern�e to Timb Street before the fall semester. 2. Establishment of "�our Parking from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, in the areas on Fairview Avenue and Montclair Street, from George Bush Drive to Beery Street. -- -k CI! 3. Installation of "No Perking From parked vehicles. � ¢ � . to help reduce the sight distance problems �� signs Y • • 1 WE, PEOPLE CONCERNED CITIZENS OF COLLEGE STATION Monday, April 5, 1999 7:00 p.m. Lincoln Center Holleman @ Eleanor "WAKE UP CALL Y'ALL" • Future agendas for older neighborhoods • Holleman © Welsh - Another Steeplechase? • Munson Avenue - Prelude to more streets? • Unwanted, unneeded new City Hall • City election - May 1, 1999 • City Manager government • Spending - Condemning - Enlarging We don't maintain what we have yet their list is end less... WHO PAYS? YOU DO! ti Your one Vote Can Count For more information: ■ Call 696 -4454 • Fax: 694 -8338 • E -mail: normil @tca.net ■ We The People Neighborhood Meeting Presents Danny Stone Brazos County Office Manager U.S. Census 2000 How America Knows What America Needs www.census.gov Monday February 7, 2000 7:00 p.m. Lincoln Center 1000 Eleanor College Station, Texas For more information call 696 -4454 CIP Project Priority Ranking Project Description Proj. # Proj. Mgr. Priority Current Projects Joint Standards Project DS -9601 Brett McCully 1 Bee Creek 11 SD -9702 Kent Laza 1 Patricia Street_ ST -9604 Kent Laza 1 Southwest Parkway ST -9508 Paul Leventis 1 P D Sewerline SS -9709 Paul Leventis 1 Business Center I/ GG -9705 Steve Homeyer 1 s- Bike Loop ST -9409 Steve Homeyer 1 WPC Silt Study GG -9704 Kent Laza 2 3 1997 Sidewalk Project ST -9711 Paul Leventis 2 Avenue A & Nimitz Paul Leventis 2 Projects on hold or near completion Eastgate Sewer 11 SS -9602 Paul Leventis 1 Fire Station 1 GG -9504 Brett McCully 3 Library Floodway GG -9502 Brett McCully 3 Bus. Center I Landscaping GG -9507 Paul Leventis 3 Univ. Oaks Warranty ST -9509 Paul Leventis 3 Nantucket Sewerline Steve Homeyer 3 Victoria Avenue Warranty Steve Homeyer 3 Upcoming Projects Anderson Street Bill Mattei 1 Kyle Street Kent Laza 1 #1 High Service Pump Kent Laza 1 Eastgate Phase 3 -5 SS -9408 Paul Leventis 1 Graham Road Paul Leventis 1 Bee Creek Drainage Steve Homeyer 1 Pebble Hills Sewerline SS -9809 Steve Homeyer 1 Christine Lane Sewer Steve Homeyer 1 Texas Ave. Utilities Rel. Kent Laza 2 Southgate Water Rehab Kent Laza 2 Northgate Water /Sewer Imp. Kent Laza 2 Miscellaneous Sidewalks Kimberly Winn 2 Graham Rd. Sewer Paul Leventis 2 Future WPC Projects Kent Laza 3 L et-Li) - e e b d s Nt-t ` t �z� Cr e ID 6\ , 1 s L Qt_ We the People Meeting Monday, May 1, 2000 Lincoln Center 7:00 p.m. "HOMEOWNERS vs. LANDLORDS" "WHAT WILL THE ELIMINATION OF DEED RESTRICTIONS MEAN TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ?" The College Park Homeowners Association is locked in a legal battle with an out -of -town entrepreneur who has filed a request for a summary judgment against us, and demanding that all deed restrictions in this area be abolished. The case will be heard in District Court, May 5, 2000, at 11 a.m. If our group loses, then every neighborhood in the city is in jeopardy as it will open the gates to the abolishment of deed restrictions everywhere, with no legal way to stop it. Our meeting on May 1 will explore those ramifications of what this can mean to you, to me, to all of us. Our past will be of no consequence, nor will our today, and it will certainly affect all of our futures forever. Please help us fight this encroaching catastrophe as we try to protect our homes and neighborhoods. We need your input, your moral support, and your interest. This issue in its urgency has no place for apathy. This is NOW. This Friday. May 5, in court. For information, call 696 -4454. E- mail: norma @tca.net. Please share this with your friends and neighbors so that as many as possible will be contacted. Thank you. t.. Page 1 of 1 Norma Miller From: Norma Miller <normil @tca.net> To: Sent: Friday, April 28, 2000 3:08 PM Subject: DEED RESTRICTIONS WE, THE PEOPLE Monday, May 1, 2000 7:00 p.m. Lincoln Center Community Room "HOMEOWNERS VS. LANDLORDS...OR....WHAT WILL THE EL IMINATION OF DEED RESTRICTIONS MEAN TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ?" The College Park Homeowners Association is locked in a legal battle with an out -of- �_ has gown er r°epr�eneur� who has i iced a request for a summary judgment against us and demanding that all deed restrictions in this area be abolished. The case will be heard in District Court, Judge Langley presiding, May 5, 2000, at 11 a.m. If our group loses, then every neighborhood in the city is in jeopardy as it will open the gates to the abolishment of deed restrictions everywhere, with no legal way to stop it. y� Our NTP meeting on May 1 will explore these ramifications of what this will mean to you, to me, to all of us. Our past will be of no consequence, nor will our today, but it will certainly affect all of our futures forever. Please help us fight this encroaching catastrophe as we try to protect our homes and neighborhoods. We need your input, your moral support, and your interest. This issue in its urgency has no place for apathy. This is NOW. Next week. May 5 in court. PLEASE SHARE THIS E -mail with your friends and neighbors so that as many as possible will be contacted. Thank you. Norma L. Miller, 504 Guernsey Phone: 696 -4454 e -mail: normil @tca_net Cor U4/28/2000 The College Park Homeowner's Association 600 Old Jersey, College Station, Texas 77840 27 April 2000 Dear College Park Homeowner: Currently homeowner Nelson Nagle is attempting to nullify many of the deed restrictions that protect our neighborhood. This letter is to describe the ramifications if he is successful. The Hearing for Summary Judgment will be Friday, 5 May, at 11:00 a.m. in Judge Langley's Court at The Brazos County Court House. Please attend. The following is a summary of the Restrictive Covenants in our current deed restrictions that Mr. Nagle wishes to eliminate: • Specifically, he looks to eliminate the current restriction of one dwelling on each building site. This would result in allowing duplexes, apartment buildings, or commercial applications to be constructed. • Building setback lines are in place with the intention of providing adequate spacing between homes. Elimination of these setbacks would allow the construction of "row" houses and do away with our green spaces. • The one restriction Mr. Nagle addresses concerning residents of another race has already been nullified by Federal Law and has no credibility with this Association. Some residents have cited instances where they believe the current deed restrictions have already been ignored. These "violations" are storage buildings, which are allowed. You can see by the foregoing information that, if Mr. Nagle is successful in his bid, the entire neighborhood will be adversely affected. The problems caused by increased traffic, on street parking, crowding of house upon house, and infrastructure overload will expand throughout the whole neighborhood. South Park Homeowner's Association Agenda 2 May 2000 Home of Russell and Dorothy Duke 600 Old Jersey College Station, Texas 77840 I. Acknowledge all present. Ask to sign register. 2. Develop a Statement of Purpose for the Association. 3. Elect officers. 4. Business at hand. a. Non - voting member status. b. Greenw ay organization participation. c. Vote regarding involvement of the Homeowner's Association in current lawsuit with Nagle. 1). If yes, decide what we need to forward to our attorney this week for 5 May Hearing. What is our cut -off date? 2). Logistics strategy. a). Means to disperse/ collect information; b). Individual(s) to direct collection, collate and distribute data. 3). Point of contact for follow on after 5 May Hearing. a). Preparation for 17 May trial; b) Preparation for appeal process. d. Other business. e. Schedule next meeting. f. Adjourn. We the People Meeting Monday, May 1, 2000 Lincoln Center 7:00 p.m. 1 "HOMEOWNERS vs. LANDLORDS" "WHAT WILL THE ELIMINATION OF DEED RESTRICTIONS MEAN TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ?" The College Park Homeowners Association is locked in a legal battle with an out -of -town entrepreneur who has filed a request for a summary judgment against us, and demanding that all deed restrictions in this area be abolished. The case will be heard in District Court, May 5, 2000, at 11 a.m. If our group loses, then every neighborhood in the city is in jeopardy as it will open the gates to the abolishment of deed restrictions everywhere, with no legal way to stop it. Our meeting on May 1 will explore those ramifications of what this can mean to you, to me, to all of us. Our past will be of no consequence, nor will our today, and it will certainly affect all of our futures forever. Please help us fight this encroaching catastrophe as we try to protect our homes and neighborhoods. We need your input, your moral support, and your interest. This issue in its urgency has no place for apathy. This is NOW. This Friday. May 5, in court. For information, call 696 -4454. E- mail: norma @tca.net. Please share this with your friends and neighbors so that as many as possible will be contacted. Thank you. The College Park Homeowner's Association c/o 600 Old Jersey, College Station, TX 77840 25 April 2000 Greetings... You appear to own property in the College Park Area in the recently formally designated and soon to be formally protected College Station Southside Historic Area. We think you will find that has real meaning, per Texas law now, and .. for the future. One owner; one voice, exactly as it should be, you are asked to join the College Park Homeowners Association to protect your investment. Why? Because, no matter why you bought it, the best way to keep things focused .. is through a strong homeowners association. That's true because even though formal city protection is now fully expected and is being written for the College Park Area, as such, the area has, at this point, significant deed restrictions against all of it. Neither the formal protection, nor deed restrictions can do the whole job by themselves. It takes BOTH to do it right. Everyone's thoughts and action are needed. The deed restrictions, which have *NOTHING TO DO WITH STUDENTS *, as such, have been llidly in place since 1923, amplified in later years, as needed. Even though so old, relevant parts ‘, protect this area from infill, occupancy and civil engineering systems overload, vehicle contamination and commercial property use which the area cannot stand. However, this land is valuable. The pressure is on, for pure profits, to forever change what was promised for the land all these years, away from what most of us have invested in the College Park Area. Now, more than ever, we *ALL* need to look at this. Yes, a suit was recently filed against a developer and contractor over a project that isn't, as many of us believe, appropriate for this neighborhood. However, even if you are opposed to this, you still should join! Why? In the future, the best way to keep your opinion heard on what you believe, will be to work to influence all the people to join your view of a proper balance of property use, as a majority. Eventually, a majority of people qualified to vote, who *DO* vote, will control the destiny of the area. Either way, your vote is needed. You need all the right information before you decide. This neighborhood association is the correct place to get it. Make no mistake about it. The results of the decisions in this case will likely control not only the deed restrictions next door to you, but also for *ALL OF THE COLLEGE PARK AREA *. Further, they will also likely influence, from a precedence standpoint, the future of all deed restrictions in the city. FI..r his case is thus terribly important. It is a landmark case. It is the first such actual case in the entire history of the area. It's actually the very first infill problem of its type to have been so aggravating to many of us that it came down to a court fight. Your vote will count in it. The College Park Homeowners Association (continued) :ease don't think that just because your house may be larger, on a larger lot, what could be many ots, or if you even own more than one location, you need not be alarmed over this. Even the poorest neighbor in the area has the same rights as the most influential one, in this case. An owner is an owner, one person, one voice, as we view it. That's as it should be. History does count. History is what we make .. and, what we make of it. Large contributions to preserve this Historic Area have already been made. You may not realize that hundreds of people have worked thousands of hours at this. Thousands of dollars of private and City money have been spent bringing this area toward a focus of more than just 'policy' protection. Core work for over thirty years, focused in 1997, at City prompting, in a full report for protecting this area from the Neighborhood Preservation Committee. That report was taken directly to the public; many more people then refined it. City Staff then recommended all but one resolution of it be accepted by Council. On July 23, 1998, the City Council accepted the City Staff position. Specific guidelines, as official policy, for the College Station Southside Historic Area were adopted. Finally, these and other protective measures to stop easily hidden projects, undesirable to the majority of folks who have invested previously near them, *IS* being implemented, officially. t p , he city position follows the recommendations in the HOK report for future development of College Station, on which hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent. Recently, this College Park Area, a larger area around it, and the entire East Gate area for all Single Family Residence zoned property, were placed under a complete moratorium for all new construction in them. This was to give the City of College Station time to complete the fully- planned formal ordinance position that strongly supports much of what the original deed restrictions intended for these areas. Current city leadership fully appears to understand that control is necessary, if these fragile areas are to survive as treasures to College Station's future, and for all its citizens. A sign -up sheet is attached for your use in joining. The costs of forming 'us' are already covered. Any organization moves into the future, depending on what its members want. That's why, no matter if you are for or against the current track the group has taken, you should join. Legal Counsel for the group opposed to inappropriate infill has written a very good letter outlining that case position. You are not at risk to simply voice your opinion and vote in what should be a court - monitored election over this. Space for your signature is also there if you wish to be added to the suit group, but again, you don't have to be a party to the suit to help make your views known. It's your choice. Either way, please join us. Russell Duke, Chairman • r:i ;ad for Record in: 91' BRAZOS CcwwTY, • On: Apr• 05,2000 ar 1i :06th 3` As a IL. AMENDMENT OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS F,'ecordinos Document Nurberr 0712462 STATE OF TEXAS § Amount 66.00 Receipt Number - 143Z8,9 COUNTY OF BRAZOS § A Marsna Massingrii • The undersigned, being the majority of the Owners of lots within the property subject to the Restrictive Covenants of record in Volume 111, Page 197, Deed Records of i3razos County, Texas, • •a copy of which is attached and incorporated herein as "Exhibit A" (hereinafter referred to as the "Restrictive Covenants "); • WHEREAS, Oakwood Realty Company of College Station imposed the Restrictive • Covenants upon Lot Nos. One and Two of Block No. Ten (10); Lot Nos. Seven (7) to Eleven (11). . inclusive, in Block No. Nine (9); Lot Nos. One (1) to Eighteen (18), inclusive, in Block A; Lots One •(1) to Eleven (1 1) inclusive, in Block B; Lot Nos. One (1) to Nineteen (19), inclusive, in Block C; and Lots One (1) to ten (10) inclusive; in Block D of the Subdivision known as RESUBDI VISION . • OF A PORTION OF COLLEGE PARK, COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, a plat of record in Volume . .107, Page 151, Deed Records of Brazos County, Texas, a copy of which is attached and incorporated • herein as "Exhibit B" (hereinafter referred to as the "Property "); • • . • WHEREAS, Restriction No. 2 restricting all stn tures erected on any residential building . plot within the Property to one single family dwelling and a one, two, or three car garage is in conflict with the current existence of multiple structures on lots or building plots within the Property, • .• as well as with the City of College Station's (hereinafter referred to as the "City ") ownership and use . of Lots 1 to 11 inclusive in Block B as a public park with structures that include a softball field. backstop and bleachers; WHEREAS, Restriction No. 3 requiring written approval of the external design and location of improvements by the Neighborhood Committee, appointed or elected by the Owner or Owners • of a majority of the Lots within the Property, has not, to the best knowledge of the undersigned, been . complied with by any Owner for many years and no Neighborhood Committee currently exists; WHEREAS, Restriction No. 4 regarding front building line setbacks of twenty five feet • (25') from all streets, as well as side and rear lot setbacks, are unnecessary as such restrictions are adequately provided for by the zoning and development ordinances of the City and such restrictions • prohibit the City from making equitable variances in cases where hardship or change in circumstance . . is adequately demonstrated; WHEREAS, Restriction No. 5 prohibiting the use of any garage or outbuilding erected within the Property as a residence, has been violated in many instances; • WHEREAS, Restriction No. 6 imposing a frontage of at least seventy live feet (75') for each individual building site conflicts with the subdivision plat oldie Property of record at Volume 107, Page 151. Deed Records of Brazos County. Texas which establishes fifty foot (50'). lots. The 75 foot c • • • . •building restriction effectively eliminates any use of a single lot within the Property, and has perpetuated the creation of illegally subdivided tracts within the Property; furthermore such decd restrictions are unnecessary as such restrictions are adequately provided for by the zoning and • development ordinances of the City and such restrictions prohibit the City from making equitable variances in cases where hardship or change in circumstance is adequately demonstrated; WI IEREAS, Restriction No. 7 prohibiting occupancy by any person other than of the white .. . race, although unenforceable by law, is reprehensible and should not continue as a recorded restriction on the Property; . WHEREAS, the existence of the Restrictive Covenants have resulted in disputes and litigation between Owners within the Property; WHEREAS, Restriction Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, in the opinion of the undersigned, no longer reflect a common scheme of development benefiting Owners of the Property; WHEREAS, Restriction No. 9 provides that the Restrictive Covenants may be changed in . . whole or in party by agreement of the majority of the then Owners of the Lots within the Property; • • and WI- IEREAS, the undersigned constitutes a majority of the current Owners of the Property. 410 NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned constituting a majority of the current Owners of the Lots within the Property hereby amend the Restrictive Covenants by deleting Restrictive Covenants • Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 in their entirety. • The undersigned further agree that this Amendment of Restrictive Covenants may be executed by Owners in multiple counterparts and authorize Allison L. Nagle to combine signature pages from the counterparts into one document for recording in the Deed Records or Official Public • Records of Brazos County, Texas. ..., • 0 . . •