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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/14/2019 - Workshop Minutes - City CouncilWKSHP031419 Minutes Page 1 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP CITY OF COLLEGE STATION MARCH 14, 2019 STATE OF TEXAS § § COUNTY OF BRAZOS § Present: Karl Mooney, Mayor Council: Bob Brick Jerome Rektorik Linda Harvell Elianor Vessali John Nichols Dennis Maloney City Staff: Bryan Woods, City Manager Jeff Capps, Assistant City Manager Mary Ann Powell, City Attorney Tanya Smith, City Secretary Yvette Dela Torre, Deputy Local Registrar 1. 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 Mooney at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in the Council Chambers of the City of College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 7784 0. 2. 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 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in order to continue discussing matters pertaining to: A. Consultation with Attorney to seek advice regarding pending or contemplated litigation; to wit:  Kathryn A. Stever-Harper as Executrix for the Estate of John Wesley Harper v. City of College Station and Judy Meeks; No. 15,977-PC in the County Court No. 1, Brazos County, Texas; and  McCrory Investments II, LLC d/b/a Southwest Stor Mor v. City of College Station; Cause No. 17-000914-CV-361; In the 361st District Court, Brazos County, Texas  City of College Station v. Gerry Saum, Individually, and as Independent Executrix of the Estate of Susan M. Wood, Deceased; Cause No. 17-002742-CV-361; In the 361st District Court, Brazos County, Texas  Carrie McIver v. City of College Station; Cause No. 18-003271-CV-85; In the 85th District Court, Brazos County, Texas WKSHP031419 Minutes Page 2 B. Consultation with attorney to receive legal advice; to wit:  Legal Advice concerning recent developments related to the Texas Open Meetings Act.  Legal advice regarding College Station’s position under the ILA and Joint Development Agreement between the Cities of College Station and Bryan related to Nutrabolt. C. Deliberation on the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer; to wit:  Council Self-Evaluation  City Secretary The Executive Session recessed at 5:27 p.m. 3. Take action, if any, on Executive Session. No action was taken. 4. Presentation, possible action and discussion on items listed on the consent agenda. Items 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f and 2h were pulled from Consent for clarification. (2b): David Schmitz, Director of Parks & Recreation, provided a brief explanation on the proposed construction project at Richard Carter Park that involves the removal of existing brick pavers and concrete walkways. The new walkways will be dyed and stamped concrete to look like brick pavers, and both Richard Carter and Thomas Parks will have their shelter roofs redone. Along with both shelters will receive a metal, standing seam roof. (2c): Pete Caler, Assistant Director of Public Works/Operation, provided information on how Public Works currently utilizes SunGaurd HTE for fleet management which is close to its end-of- life. Mr. Caler stated after consulting and demonstrations of several fleet management solutions, Faster Asset Solutions has been determined by staff to be the most user friendly and provides the most functionality. Fleet management software is very specialized and there are a limited number of qualified companies providing this product. (2d): Sindhu Menon, Director of Information Technology, provided information on how some fiber strand has reached the limit. This is the second amendment to the original lease and will add an additional 2.44 fiber strands miles to the CEO, Etc., Inc. Lease Agreement. (2e): Jeff Capps, Deputy City Secretary, provided information on the proposed legislation, which is only to designate the section of Texas Avenue with the Crow family distinction but does not rename the street, therefore there will not be an impact on addresses or businesses along the designated area. In addition, the Texas Department of Transportation (TX-DOT) will ultimately be responsible for placing the signs should the bill pass at various points along the roadway. (2f): Mary Ellen Leonard, Finance Director, provided information on updates of the Fees, Rates and Charges for Planning and Development Services which are indexed to the CPI-U as well as certain Parks and Recreation fees for services that will occur later on this fiscal year. WKSHP031419 Minutes Page 3 (2h): Jeff Capps, Deputy City Secretary, provided information on the agreement between CSISD and COCS. Mr. Capps stated that the City no longer plans to construct a future fire station at the location anticipated in the ILA and as CSISD has a desire to utilize said land for other uses, CSISD and the City mutually agree to terminate the ILA. CSISD and the City further agree to waive the requirement at Paragraph A. of the ILA that either party give the other 120 days advance written notice of termination, with this mutual termination being effective upon the full execution of this Agreement. 5. Presentation, discussion, and possible action relating to receiving the annual audit reports and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018. Mary Ellen Leonard, Director of Fiscal Services, noted that the City's budgetary policies require that the auditor jointly review the management letter and audit results with the Council within 30 days of receipt by the staff. The City’s overall net position is $628,666,223. The net investment in Capital Assets is $435,603,738. Amanda Eaves, Director with BKD, presented the results of the fiscal year 2018 audit and the 2018 CAFR and noted that the Council can take great pride in the City’s financial statements. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Rektorik and a second by Councilmember Nichols, the City Council voted seven (7) for and none (0) opposed, to accept the CAFR and the Compliance and Single Audit reports. The motion carried unanimously. 6. Presentation, discussion, and possible action concerning the City Internal Auditor’s Audit of the City’s Parkland Dedication Program. Ty Elliott, Internal Auditor, presented the findings to the Parkland Dedication audit. Mr. Elliott found that overall there have been significant internal controls put in place to protect the collections and expenditures of the Parkland Dedication funds. Mr. Elliott also stated, that the internal controls come at a significant cost due to the complexity of the ordinance, and found that the city was not utilizing Parkland funds timely. Recommendation(s): 1. Modify the parkland dedication ordinance so that dedication requirements for multifamily developments are proportional to the fee-in-lieu of dedication. 2. Reduce the number of park zones to the fewest number of zones feasible according to legal requirements. 3. Modify or eliminate the discounts built into the park development fee. 4. Develop a more elegant parkland dedication methodology. Any changes made to the ordinance should seek to simplify it instead of adding any additional layers of complexity. 5. Require Parks and Recreation staff to verify parkland dedication acres and fees that have been collected by Planning and Development staff. 6. Consider engaging the Texas Municipal League or other contract partners to advocate on the City’s behalf to modify Texas Local Government Code 245. Staff recommended is to simplify the ordinance, and the committee accepted the Parkland Dedication audit report. Council directed staff to take this to the Parks Board and bring back with their recommendations. WKSHP031419 Minutes Page 4 7. Council Calendar Council reviewed the calendar. 8. Discussion, review, and possible action regarding the following meetings: Animal Shelter Board, Annexation Task Force, Arts Council of Brazos Valley, Architectural Advisory Committee, Arts Council Sub-committee, Audit Committee, Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board, Bio-Corridor Board of Adjustments, Blinn College Brazos Valley Advisory Committee, Brazos County Health Dept., Brazos Valley Council of Governments, Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation, Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce, Budget and Finance Committee, BVSWMA, BVWACS, Compensation and Benefits Committee, Experience Bryan -College Station, Design Review Board, Economic Development Committee, FBT/Texas Aggies Go to War, Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition, Historic Preservation Committee, Interfaith Dialogue Association, Intergovernmental Committee, Joint Relief Funding Review Committee, Landmark Commission, Library Board, Metropolitan Planning Organization, Parks and Recreation Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, Research Valley Technology Council, Regional Transportation Committee for Council of Governments, Sister Cities Association, Spring Creek Local Government Corporation, Transportation and Mobility Committee, TAMU Economic Development, TAMU Student Senate, Texas Municipal League, Twin City Endowment, Walk with the Mayor, YMCA, Youth Advisory Council, Zoning Board of Adjustments, (Notice of Agendas posted on City Hall bulletin board). Councilmember Vessali reported on Audit Committee. 9. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Mooney adjourned the workshop of the College Station City Council at 6:23 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2019. ________________________ Karl Mooney, Mayor ATTEST: _______________________ Tanya Smith, City Secretary