HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/08/2011 - Workshop Minutes City CouncilMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
STATE OF TEXAS §
COUNTY OF BRAZOS §
Present:
Nancy Berry, Mayor
Council:
Blanche Brick
Jess Fields
Karl Mooney
Katy-Marie Lyles
Julie Schultz, absent
Dave Ruesink, absent
Citv Staff:
David Neeley, City Manager
Kathy Merrill, Assistant City Manager
Frank Simpson, Assistant City Manager
Carla Robinson, City Attorney
Sherry Mashburn, City Secretary
Tanya McNutt, Deputy City Secretary
Call to Order and Announce a Ouorum is Present
With a quorum present, the Workshop of the College Station City Council was called to order by
Mayor Nancy Berry at 3:06 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2011 in the Council Chambers of
the City of College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 77842.
1. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on items listed on the consent agenda.
Mayor Berry reported that item 2f will be pulled later so that a presentation may be given.
Council asked for item 2b was pulled to receive information.
2b: City Secretary Sherry Mashburn explained that the polling location on campus has been
moved from the Memorial Student Center to Rudder Tower due to construction. It was further
noted that a campus location was very important, and there was no movement to change that.
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2. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on the Research Vallev Partnership (RVP).
Todd McDaniel, CEO of the RVP, updated the Council on how the RVP will invest for the
future. They are concerned with long-term investment and want to be a catalyst for economic
development and growth. College Station was ranked recently by Forbes as ninth in the nation
and first in Texas as the Best Place for Small Business. They are seeking to transition from a
traditional economic development model to an innovation to industry model. Budget history
reflects level funding since FY04. They have drawn down reserves and been creative with
outsourcing, but they no longer have the reserves to move pieces around. The FY09-10 budget
cut expenses by 10%. They have increased private sector and A&M investment. The current
structure demonstrates a hybrid of the transition, using constant investment with a shift of
resources from marketing to innovation infrastructure. FYI l-12 is the end of the strategic plan
and is considered to be a transition year. They will shift to forward facing, proactive engagement
and enhanced global exposures. Transition priorities include continued integration with the
community and university, proactive outreach, and project/product management expertise with
the biocorridor and international gateway. They need to manage/market/sell new products by
expanding the role of project management, increase exposure of the highest priority efforts, and
move the International Gateway from proof of concept. He summarized by stating this is an
investment for expanded corporate relations engagement and the International Gateway. They
utilize a best practices model of leveraging resources by building during recessionary times and a
regional public-private partnership. This is a long-term investment tied to a focused vision.
3. Presentation, possible action and discussion reeardine the Fire Station 6 communitv
engagement plan.
R.B. Alley, Fire Chief, updated the Council on Fire Station 6. To address public engagement, a
planning team was created. This team is comprised of members from the Fire Department,
Public Works, Public Communications, Neighborhood Services, Chamber of Commerce, and the
CVB. Opportunities for the public to receive information and review design plans will be
provided September 13 and 20. The groundbreaking will be on September 27. As for the hiring
and staffing process, applications will be accepted September 1 through October 14. They will
hire the first nine personnel in April 2012 and the second nine personnel in July 2012.
4. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on the FY 2011-2012 BVSWMA. Inc
Proposed Budeet and 2011 Annual Business Plan.
Bryan Griesbach, Executive Director of BVSWMA, presented the FY12 budget. Bryan-College
Station make up two-thirds of their revenue. FY12 revenues are projected at $6.5 million, which
is $900,000 less than FYI 1. Landfill revenues are driven by landfill volumes. They have lost a
customer to lower rates offered in the Austin market. They will continue to maintain the same
rate to Bryan and College Station. Expenses for FY12 are projected at $5.4 million, which is
$512,000 less than FYI 1. They are striving to cut costs and achieve additional operational
efficiencies to adjust for loss of revenue. Significant expenses are related to personnel and fuel.
Capital expenses are estimated at $5.5 million. Of this, $3 million is for the closure of the Rock
Prairie site. $1.3 million is for the replacement and maintenance of heavy equipment. $600,000
is need for a new wood grinder. They are seeing an increase in wood waste, and they don't want
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to use up landfill space with wood waste when it can be composted. $650,000 is budgeted for
various site improvements to complete the Twin Oaks landfill. Regarding the initial reserve
draw-down, an initial cell construction creates limited useful landfill capacity. Future cell
developments will yield larger amounts of landfill capacity and create initial planned draw-down
of capital reserves.
Mr. Griesbach presented the 2011 Annual Business Plan per bylaw requirement. They are 100%
compliant with state and federal regulations. Revenue is projected at $7 million projected vs.
$7.4 budgeted. Expenses are $6.8 projected vs. $9.4 budgeted. Cash flow is 370,000 is
projected vs. -$1.9 million budgeted. Their goals include retention of the existing customer base
and replacement of volume lost to competing facilities. Compaction goals include a conservative
density of 1,500 pounds per cubic yard assumed for the initial budget model. Maximizing
density will be a long term goal. The design capacity is 37 million cubic yards or 27 million
cubic tons. The current volume is 300,000 tons per year. The estimated site life is 92 years. As
for composting, they will maintain existing operations for the short term, and in the long term,
they plan to relocate the compost facility to Twin Oaks. Waste diversion strategies include
continuing with current practices such as diverting brush and yard waste, metals and white goods
will be collected for recycling, and tires will be collected for beneficial uses. They will continue
to look at other waste diversions that are successful in other markets. Future activities include a
permanent hazardous household waste collection facility, a community environmental education
center, property acquisition, and vertical expansion.
5. Presentation. possible action. and discussion regarding the Council's development of
their Strategic Plan.
This item was postponed to a later date.
6. Council Calendar
• September 13 Medical Corridor Advisorv Committee in CSU Meeting and Training
Facilitv. 3:30 p.m.
• September 15 Special Joint P&Z and Council Workshop in Council Chambers at
4:00 p.m.
• September 15 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting in Council Chambers at
6:00 p.m.
• September 19 IGC Meeting at BVCOG. 12:00 p.m.
• September 21 BVSWMA Board Meeting at Twin Oaks Facilitv - 2690 SH30. 11:00
p.m.
• September 21 Exploring Historv Lunch Lecture at CS Conference Center. 11:30
a.m.
• September 22 Citv Council Workshon/Reeular Meeting 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Council reviewed the Council calendar.
7. Presentation, possible action. and discussion on future agenda items: a Council Member
may inquire about a subiect for which notice has not been given. A statement of specific
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factual information or the recitation of existing nolicv may be given. Anv deliberation shall
be limited to a proposal to place the subiect on an agenda for a subsequent meeting.
Councilmember Mooney requested an item regarding council liaisons from the council.
8 Discussion, review and possible action regarding the following meetings: Animal Shelter
Board, Arts Council of the Brazos Vallev, Audit Committee, Bicvcle, Pedestrian, and
Greenwavs Advisorv Board, Brazos Countv Health Dept., Brazos Vallev Council of
Governments. Brazos Vallev Wide Area Communications Task Force. BVSWMA.
BVWACS. Cemeterv Committee, Code Review Committee. Review Board, Historic
Preservation Committee, Interfaith Dialogue Association. Intergovernmental Committee.
Joint Relief Funding Review Committee. Landmark Commission, Librarv Board. Mavor's
Council on Phvsical Fitness, Mavor's Development Forum, Metropolitan Planning
Organization, National League of Cities, Outside Aaencv Funding Review. Parks and
Recreation Board. Planning and Zoning Commission, Research Vallev Partnership,
Regional Transportation Committee for Council of Governments. Signature Event Task
Force. Sister Citv Association, TAMU Student Senate. Texas Municipal League.
Transportation Committee, Zoning Board of Adiustments.
Councilmember Ruesink reported on Sister Cities and said there is the possibility of a visit from
Salamanca in November.
Councilmember Lyles reported that the Health Board meeting will be rescheduled. The Arts
Council will be celebrating the arts on September 20. The theme is Adventure in Venice.
Mayor Berry reported on the Mayors Council on Physical Fitness. The funding was from a grant
from the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness. There is no more money, and the activity will
morph into the Parks Board. She then reported the Mayors Development Forum will disband
and working with the City Manager and staff for better communication and a better end product.
She reported the MPO met and reviewed their plan of work, and they are on target. They
approved the operating budget for the coming year.
9. Executive Session
In accordance with the Texas Government Code §551.071-Consultation with Attorney, and
§551.074-Personnel, the College Station City Council convened into Executive Session at 4:56
p.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2011 in order to continue discussing matters pertaining to:
A. Consultation with Attorney to seek advice regarding pending or contemplated litigation; to
wit:
• City of Bryan's application with TCEQ for water & sewer permits in Westside/Highway
60 area, near Brushy Water Supply Corporation to decertify City of College Station and
certify City of Bryan
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• Clancey v. College Station, Glenn Brown and Kathy Merrill, Civil Action No. 09-CV-
01480
• Rachel Rahn v. Alma Martinez, The Arkitex Studio, Inc. et al, cause No. 09-000656-
CV361
• Chavers et al v. Tyrone Morrow et al, No. 10-20792; Chavers v. Randall Hall et al, Case
No. 10 CV-3922
• College Station v. Star Insurance Co., Civil Action No. 4:11-CV-02023
• Woodruff v. College Station, Cause No. 10-000515-CV-272
• Ongoing criminal investigation of municipal court missing funds
B. Consultation with Attorney to seek legal advice; to wit:
• Legal issues regarding possible revenue sharing and legislation in bio-corridor
C. Deliberation Regarding Personnel; to wit:
• City Manager
• City Secretary
• Council Self Evaluation
• Internal Auditor
The Executive Session adjourned at 6:57 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2011.
No action was required from Executive Session.
8. Adiournment
MOTION: There being no further business, Mayor Berry adjourned the workshop of the
College Station City Council at 9:25 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2011.
Nancy Berry, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sherry Mash , City Secretary
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