HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/22/2011 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
`' CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
SEPTEMBER 22, 2011
STATE OF TEXAS §
COUNTY OF BRAZOS §
Present:
Nancy Berry, Mayor
Council:
Blanche Brick
Jess Fields
Karl Mooney, excused absence
Katy -Marie Lyles
Julie Schultz
Dave Ruesink
City 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 Quorum is Present
With a quorum present, the Workshop of the College Station City Council was called to order by
Mayor Nancy Berry at 3:10 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, 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.
2b: Lance Simms, Assistant Director of Planning and Development Services, reported the
definition was being tweaked to align with state law. The current ordinance allows for
exceptions such as the hobbyist that has antique or specialty vehicles.
2e: Chuck Gilman, Director of Capital Projects, reported on the traffic counts, patterns and
movements that were included in the report to TXDOT. The only public comment received to
date has been a concern related to acceleration lanes on the service road. Staff will be watching
this. There will be an opportunity for stakeholder input.
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2f: Jeff Capps, Police Chief, provided a very brief overview of the funding request for the
Brazos County Animal Shelter and how those funds will be expended based on actual costs.
2i: Chuck Gilman, Director of Capital Projects, explained that the original "guaranteed
maximum price" meant the design could not come in over $6 million. The deductive change
order for the new contract amount is $5,895,352. Any increase change order would have to
come back before Council.
2j: Jeff Kersten, Director of Finance, explained this is an annual item to identify some of the
exemptions from competitive bidding. This is an estimate for a blanket purchase order. He also
explained some of the one - source vendors.
2. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding approval of the Offer of
Settlement included in a filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
pertaining to an emergency transmission interconnection with ETI ( Entergy). This
approval must be given prior to the formal filing of the document at FERC.
David Massey, Electric Division Manager, reported on the Entergy transmission interconnection
and FERC filing. Hurricane Ike created widespread power outages in East Texas, and one of the
hardest hit was the Entergy System, which is not in the ERCOT Power Grid. Many local
Entergy customers had long outages. In 2009, the Texas Legislature directed the Public Utility
Commission (PUC) and ERCOT to study possible solutions and look for the most feasible least
cost solution. Entergy's western most service area had a lack of local generation, and there is no
interconnection between ERCOT and SERC in this area. The proposed solution, based upon
ERCOT studies of the transmission system, is for an interconnection at the College Station
switch. There are special conditions of use, such as a declared emergency by the Governor.
Federal approval is required. Filings at the PUC have been completed, and College Station has
been instructed to proceed with the interconnection. College Station will be paid for all costs
through a transmission cost of service filing. We must file an Offer of Settlement with the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in order to go forward. Outside legal counsel
has been retained to handle filings at FERC and the PUC. The Interconnection Agreement will
be coming before Council in the next few months. Construction is expected to be completed by
May 2012.
3. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on appointing Council Liaison to Council
and /or Citizen Committees.
Council consensus was to postpone appointment of Council liaisons until after the Sunset
Advisory Commission reports their findings. Council will continue to attend meetings on a
rotating basis at the Design Review Board, Parks and Recreation Board, Planning and Zoning
Commission, and the Zoning Board of Adjustments. Councilmember Schultz will act as an
interim liaison for the Historic Preservation Committee.
4. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the Council's development of
their Strategic Plan.
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Bob Cowell, Director of Public Works, provided an overview of the Council Strategic Plan. At
L the July 12 Council Retreat the Council affirmed the community vision, organizational mission
and core values. The Council identified goals and desired outcomes for each of the six strategic
initiatives:
• Financially Sustainable City
• Providing Core Services and Infrastructure
• Neighborhood Integrity
• Diverse Growing Economy
• Improving Mobility
• Sustainable City
Staff identified strategies for each initiative. The timeline for the completion of the plan has the
staff developing and refining actions for strategies in October and developing the draft plan
update. The draft Plan Update is expected to be presented to the Council for action. Policy
items for Council consideration in order to develop the Council Plan of Work are scheduled for
November. Implementation and maintenance of the Plan will utilize staff - developed business
plans and performance measures and benchmarks. There will be quarterly reporting of those
performance measures and benchmarks. Then, in January or February, the Council will conduct
a Plan Workshop to prepare for the FY13 budget.
5. Council Calendar
• September 23 Grand Opening of the Agriculture & Life Sciences Complex at 600
John Kimbrough Boulevard, 3:00 pm
• September 26 CSFD Annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service at Fire Station 2 -
Rio Grande and Harvey Mitchell Parkway, 12:00 pm
• September 27 CSFD's Fire Station 6 Groundbreaking Ceremony at 610 University
Drive, 9:00 am
• September 29 Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon, Briarcrest Country
Club, 12:00 p.m.
• September 29 Proclamation Reading /Signing - National Night Out at Brazos County
Building — Atrium, 3:00 pm
• October 3 2011 Fall Girls Softball Opening Ceremonies Invitation at Stephen C.
Beachy Central Park Field 3, 5:45 pm
• October 4 National Night Out at CSPD, front door entrance, 5:00 pm
• October 6 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting in Council Chambers at 6:00
• October 11 -14 TML Annual Conference in Houston at 8:00 pm
• October 13 City Council Workshop/Regular Meeting in Chambers at 3:00 & 7:00
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Council reviewed the Council calendar. The Health Department meeting has moved to
September 28.
I L 6. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on future agenda items: a Council Member
may inquire about a subject for which notice has not been given. A statement of specific
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factual information or the recitation of existing policy may be given. Any deliberation shall
oimir be limited to a proposal to place the subject on an agenda for a subsequent meeting.
Councilmember Lyles requested an item about dedicating a percentage of franchise fees for road
maintenance for the FY 13 budget. There was Council consensus to place this on the agenda.
7 Discussion, review and possible action regarding the following meetings: Animal Shelter
Board, Arts Council of the Brazos Valley, Audit Committee, Bicycle, Pedestrian, and
Greenways Advisory Board, Brazos County Health Dept., Brazos Valley Council of
Governments, Brazos Valley Wide Area Communications Task Force, BVSWMA,
BVWACS, Cemetery Committee, Code Review Committee, Review Board, Historic
Preservation Committee, Interfaith Dialogue Association, Intergovernmental Committee,
Joint Relief Funding Review Committee, Landmark Commission, Library Board, Mayor's
Council on Physical Fitness, Mayor's Development Forum, Metropolitan Planning
Organization, National League of Cities, Outside Agency Funding Review, Parks and
Recreation Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, Research Valley Partnership,
Regional Transportation Committee for Council of Governments, Signature Event Task
Force, Sister City Association, TAMU Student Senate, Texas Municipal League,
Transportation Committee, Zoning Board of Adjustments.
Councilmember Lyles stated that the Arts are back. She provided a brief report on the
Celebration of the Arts event.
(kr Councilmember Ruesink reported on the IGC. They want uniform food establishment
ordinances in the surrounding area. The high speed rail quarterly meeting will be in College
Station in December.
Councilmember Schultz reported on the RVP.
Councilmember Fields reported on the TAMU Student Senate and stated they are looking
forward to working with the City.
8. 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 4:54
p.m. on Thursday, September 22, 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
• Clancey v. College Station, Glenn Brown and Kathy Merrill, Civil Action No. 09-CV-
01480
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• 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: -CV -02023
• Woodruff v. College Station, Cause No. 10- 000515 -CV -272
• Ongoing criminal investigation of municipal court missing funds
• PUCT Docket No. 39066
B. Consultation with Attorney to seek legal advice; to wit:
• Legal issues regarding possible revenue sharing and legislation in bio- corridor
• Texas Reliability Entity Compliance Issues
• Legal Issues Concerning Use of Community Development Funds related to the Holleman
Street Property
C. Deliberation Regarding Personnel; to wit:
• Council Self Evaluation
• Internal Auditor
The Executive Session adjourned at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2011.
No action was required from Executive Session.
CP'
8. Adjournment
MOTION: There being no further business, Mayor Berry adjourned the workshop of the
College Station City Council at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2011.
Nancy Belly, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sherry Mas urn, City Secretary
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