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
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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.
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(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.
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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