HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/06/2008 - Workshop Agenda Packet - City CouncilTraditional Values, Progressive Thinking
In the Research Valley
Mayor Councilmembers
Ben White John Crompton
Mayor ProTem James Massey
Lynn McIlhaney Dennis Maloney
City Manager Lawrence Stewart
Glenn Brown David Ruesink
Agenda
College Station City Council
Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, August 6, 2008 3:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers, 1101 Texas Avenue
College Station, Texas
Workshop
1. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on items listed on the consent agenda.
2. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the Brazos County Prescription Discount Card
program.
3. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding proposed water conservation rates.
4. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on escalating contract prices and contract cancellations
affecting the City of College Station.
5. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding future plans and strategies to address the long-term
quality and vibrancy of the City’s housing stock.
6. Council Calendar
August 8-9 Newly elected City Official’s Orientation, Austin, Texas - 8:00 a.m.
August 12-15 11th Annual Transportation Summit - 8:00 a.m.
August 13 CSISD New Employee Luncheon, Pebble Creek Country Club - 11:45 a.m.
August 16 Fire Station #3 Open House & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - 11:00 a.m.
August 18 IGC Meeting at BVCOG - 12:00 p.m.
August 18 Council Workshop/Regular Meeting - 3:00 & 7:00 p.m.
August 19 Allen Academy Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the New K-12 Academic Bldg 10:00 a.m.
August 19 Council Transportation Committee Meeting, Admin Confer Rm – 4:30 p.m.
August 19 CPAC Meeting, CS Conference Center – 6:00 p.m.
August 20 Council Budget Workshop, Council Chambers – 5:00 p.m.
August 21 Council Budget Workshop, Carters Creek WWTP Training Room – 5:00 p.m.
August 23 Opening Ceremonies for the Men’s “Class C” Southern National Slow Pitch Tournment,
Veterans Park – 8:00 a.m.
August 25 Joint City Council Meeting with Bryan, BVCOG Board Room – 3:00 p.m.
August 28 Council Workshop/Regular Meeting - 3:00 & 7:00 p.m.
September 3 Council Budget Workshops, Council Chambers – 5:00 p.m.
September 4 Council Budget Workshops, Carters Creek WWTP Training Room – 5:00 p.m.
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7. 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 factual information or the
recitation of existing policy may be given. Any deliberation shall be limited to a proposal to place the
subject on an agenda for a subsequent meeting.
8. Discussion, review and possible action regarding the following meetings: Arts Council of the Brazos
Valley, Audit Committee, Brazos County Health Dept., Brazos Valley Council of Governments, Brazos
Valley Wide Area Communications Task Force, Cemetery Committee, Design Review Board, Historic
Preservation Committee, Interfaith Dialogue Association, Intergovernmental Committee, Joint Relief
Funding Review Committee, Library Committee, Metropolitan Planning Organization, National League
of Cities, Outside Agency Funding Review, Parks and Recreation Board, Planning and Zoning
Commission, Sister City Association, TAMU Student Senate, Research Valley Partnership, Regional
Transportation Committee for Council of Governments, Texas Municipal League, Transportation
Committee, Wolf Pen Creek Oversight Committee, Wolf Pen Creek TIF Board, Zoning Board of
Adjustments (Notice of Agendas posted on City Hall bulletin board).
9. Executive Session will immediately follow the workshop meeting in the Administrative Conference
Room.
Consultation with Attorney {Gov’t Code Section 551.071}; possible action. The City Council may seek
advice from its attorney regarding a pending or contemplated litigation subject or settlement offer or
attorney-client privileged information. Litigation is an ongoing process and questions may arise as to a
litigation tactic or settlement offer, which needs to be discussed with the City Council. Upon occasion the
City Council may need information from its attorney as to the status of a pending or contemplated litigation
subject or settlement offer or attorney-client privileged information. After executive session discussion, any
final action or vote taken will be in public. The following subject(s) may be discussed:
a. Application with TCEQ for permits in Westside/Highway 60 area, near Brushy Water Supply
Corporation.
b. Sewer CCN permit requests.
c. Water CCN permit requests.
d. Water service application with regard to Wellborn Special Utility District.
e. Bed & Banks Water Rights Discharge Permits for College Station and Bryan
f. Legal aspects of Water Well and possible purchase of or lease of water well sites.
g. JK Development v. College Station.
h. Taylor Kingsley v. College Station.
i. State Farm Lloyds as Subrogee of Mikal Klumpp v. College Station.
j. TMPA v. PUC (College Station filed Intervention).
k. City of Bryan suit filed against College Station, Legal issues and advise on Brazos Valley Solid Waste
Management Agency contract, on proposed methane gas contract. Update on legal proceedings for Grimes
County Landfill site and contracts for development of Grimes County site.
Real Estate {Gov’t Code Section 551.072}; possible action The City Council may deliberate the purchase,
exchange, lease or value of real property if deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect
on the position of the City in negotiations with a third person. After executive session discussion, any final
action or vote taken will be in public. The following subject(s) may be discussed:
a. Land exchange involving property adjacent to Carter Creek near State Highway 6 in the vicinity of the
Varsity Ford Dealership.
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Traditional Values, Progressive Thinking
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Economic Incentive Negotiations {Gov’t Code Section 551.087}; possible action The City Council may
deliberate on commercial or financial information that the City Council has received from a business
prospect that the City Council seeks to have locate, stay or expand in or near the city with which the City
Council in conducting economic development negotiations may deliberate on an offer of financial or other
incentives for a business prospect. After executive session discussion, any final action or vote taken will be
in public. The following subject(s) may be discussed:
a. Hotel and Conference Center
b. Proposed Development located North and East of the Intersection of William D Fitch and State Hwy 6
10. Action on executive session, or any workshop agenda item not completed or discussed in today’s
workshop meeting will be discussed in tonight’s Regular Meeting if necessary.
11. Adjourn.
APPROVED:
______________________________
City Manager
Notice is hereby given that a Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of College Station, Texas
will be held on the 6th day of August, 2008 at 3:00 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1101 Texas
Avenue, College Station, Texas. The following subjects will be discussed, to wit: See Agenda
Posted this 1st day of August, 2008 at 5:00 pm.
__________________________
City Secretary
I, the undersigned, do hereby certify that the above Notice of Meeting of the Governing Body of the City of
College Station, Texas, is a true and correct copy of said Notice and that I posted a true and correct copy of
said notice on the bulletin board at City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, in College Station, Texas, and the City’s
website, www.cstx.gov . The Agenda and Notice are readily accessible to the general public at all times.
Said Notice and Agenda were posted on August 1, 2008 at 5:00 pm and remained so posted continuously for
at least 72 hours proceeding the scheduled time of said meeting.
This public notice was removed from the official board at the College Station City Hall on the following
date and time: _______________________ by ___________________________.
Dated this _____day of _______________, 2008.
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
By____________________________________
Subscribed and sworn to before me on this the ______day of _________________,
___________________Notary Public – Brazos County, Texas
My commission expires:________
This building is wheelchair accessible. Handicap parking spaces are available. Any request for sign
interpretive service must be made 48 hours before the meeting. To make arrangements call (979) 764-3517
or (TDD) 1-800-735-2989. Agendas may be viewed on www.cstx.gov. Council meetings are broadcast live
on Cable Access Channel 19.
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August 6, 2008
Workshop Agenda Item No. 2
Brazos County Prescription Discount Card
To: Glenn Brown, City Manager
From: Hayden Migl, Assistant to the City Manager
Agenda Caption: Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the Brazos
County Prescription Discount Card program.
Recommendation(s): N/A
Summary: Brazos County District Clerk Marc Hamlin has requested to give a short
presentation of the free Brazos County Prescription Discount Card program. This program is
offered in a joint effort of Brazos County and the National Association of Counties (NACo).
Budget & Financial Summary: N/A
Attachments: N/A
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August 6, 2008
Workshop Agenda Item No. 3
Water Conservation Rates
To: Glenn Brown, City Manager
From: Dave Coleman, Water Services Director
Agenda Caption: Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding proposed water
conservation rates.
Recommendation: Receive the staff report and provide feedback and direction to City
Manager.
Summary: Staff will provide a briefing regarding proposed water conservation rates, to
get Council input prior to preparing the Budget presentations. The two goals of this new
rate system are:
· Promote water conservation
· Achieve equity in revenue management
Regarding Water Conservation, City Council adopted a Water Conservation Plan on October
23, 2006 that established specific water consumption reduction goals. At the January 24,
2008 meeting, City Council supported the strategy of implementing a “Water Conservation”
rate, which would increase the rate on residential consumption above a certain sustenance
level, and on water used for irrigation. The existing residential rates, and the rates being
recommended for FY-09 are:
Usage Existing Proposed
0-5,000 $2.22 $2.22
6,000-10,000 $2.22 $2.88
11,000-20,000 $2.22 $3.54
21,000-25,000 $2.22 $4.20
26,000+ $2.22 $4.86
Also, please note that as part of the FY-09 Budget, staff will also recommend a 10%
increase in the Commercial water rate and the Service Fees, to compensate for a general
increase in operating costs.
Regarding Equity, the City’s Fiscal and Budgetary Policy for Revenue Management requires
us to minimize or eliminate subsidies between customer classes. Since customers with high
water usage are driving the high capital cost to increase water production capacity, we
recommend the rates reflect a higher cost for higher consumption. This system will place
the cost at the source, and achieve a measure of equity.
Budget & Financial Summary: Staff has projected the revenue requirement is $11.4
million, and has estimated this rate structure will generate $11.7 million. This revenue
estimate is conservative, since it is based on the premise that customers will conserve
water and revenue from residential irrigation will be reduced.
Attachments: None.
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August 6, 2008
Workshop Agenda Item No. 4
Escalating Contract Prices
To: Glenn Brown, City Manager
From: Jeff Kersten, Chief Financial Officer
Agenda Caption: Presentation, possible action, and discussion on escalating contract
prices and contract cancellations affecting the City of College Station.
Recommendation(s): None. This presentation is intended to update the Council on
budgetary implications of the rising costs of fuel and other petroleum based products.
Summary: In the last few months, staff has experienced a number of requests from
contractors asking to increase costs due to rising petroleum costs. Existing contract
language does not allow for increases except at renewal time (maximum 5% of original
contract amount). This is resulting in contract cancellations. Staff would like to update the
Council on the most volatile commodities and services where we are seeing escalating costs
and/or cancellations. Staff will also present some recommendations to hopefully reduce the
number of contract cancellations.
Budget & Financial Summary: Rising costs are affecting every department and the core
services being provided. Prices have increased while quantities and services remain
relatively stable, resulting in the City paying more for the same goods and services.
Attachments:
None
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August 6, 2008
Workshop Agenda Item No. 5
Future Housing Strategies
To: Glenn Brown, City Manager
From: David Gwin, Director of Economic and Community Development
Agenda Caption: Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding future plans and
strategies to address the long-term quality and vibrancy of the City’s housing stock.
Recommendation(s): Staff requests that the City Council receive a briefing on the City’s
future housing strategies and to provide input on the general direction of these efforts.
Summary: On March 13, 2008 the Department of Economic and Community Development
provided a briefing on the many programs currently administered to promote and develop
safe and affordable housing for lower-income residents of College Station. The briefing
included information on current housing efforts, the impact these programs have made on
the lives of citizens, the changes that have occurred in the neighborhoods impacted by
these activities, and proposed changes to and/or elimination of existing programs.
With direction provided by Council, changes were made to several existing community
development programs. Council approved the revised Homebuyer Down Payment
Assistance Program guidelines on May 22, 2008. Additional revised guidelines for existing
community development programs will be considered as future consent agenda items.
Council requested staff return and present future housing strategies that are targeted at the
long-term quality of the City’s housing stock. This presentation includes six new strategies
that will further all of the programming parameters established in the previous briefing:
leveraging resources; strive for cost neutral programming; create sustainable revenue
sources; provide value-added programming; and include an equity component for
customers. Additionally, these strategies include service enhancements to focus efforts in
the oldest areas which include all of the City’s low- to moderate-income target areas.
Through these efforts, the City will continue to support and promote safe, decent and
affordable housing and take a much more pro-active approach in development and
promoting quality housing reinvestment activity.
Budget & Financial Summary: Since 1989, the City has allocated almost $15 million in
federal community development resources for affordable housing development activities.
Invested primarily in the oldest areas of our community, these resources were realized
under HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership
and HOPE Programs and represent approximately 50% of all of the resources received by
the City during that same time period.
As the resources received from HUD have declined significantly over the past five years,
efforts are currently underway to create more sustainable revenue sources to support future
activities. This will be accomplished in part by providing assistance for future housing
activities through zero or low interest loans and the retirement of 100% grant programs.
Additionally, activities will be structured to generate program income when eligible.
Attachments: None
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