HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/11/2019 - Workshop Minutes - City CouncilWKSHP071119 Minutes Page 1
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
JULY 11, 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, Deputy City Manager
Carla Robinson, City Attorney
Tanya Smith, City Secretary
Ian Whittenton, Deputy City Secretary
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 4:01 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 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, §551.072-
Real Estate, and §551.074-Personnel, the College Station City Council convened into Executive
Session at 4:02 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 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
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Carrie McIver v. City of College Station; Cause No. 18-003271-CV-85; In the 85th District
Court, Brazos County, Texas
B. Consultation with attorney to receive legal advice; to wit:
Legal advice concerning changes to the Texas Open Meetings Act related to Senate Bill
1640.
C. Deliberation on the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real propert y; to wit:
Property located generally south of the intersection of SH 6 and William D. Fitch Parkway
in the College Station Business Park in College Station, Texas.
D. Deliberation on the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipli ne, or
dismissal of a public officer; to wit:
Council Self-Evaluation
City Manager
The Executive Session recessed at 5:17 p.m.
3. Reconvene from Executive Session and take action, if any.
No action was taken.
4. Presentation, possible action and discussion on items listed on the consent agenda.
No items were pulled for discussion.
5. Presentation, discussion, and possible action relating to a legislative update and review of
the 86th Texas State Legislature.
Brian Piscacek, City Manager’s Office, introduced Jennifer Rodriguez, the city’s Legislative
Consultant.
Jennifer Rodriguez, Legislative Consultant, provided a brief overview of the 2019 Texas
legislative session, including legislation affecting the City's budgeting process. Governor Abbott’s
legislative emergency issues for 2019 included:
School Finance Reform and Increasing Teacher Pay
School Safety
Texas Mental Health Care Consortium
Property Tax Reform
Disaster Response
Legislation affecting the City's budgeting process for 2019 included:
$6.5 billion in new state funding for public schools
$5.1 billion to buy down local property taxes
$94.5 billion in funding for public schools and universities
$84 billion for health and human services programs
$31.1 billion for transportation
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Texas Property Tax Reform and Transparency Act of 2019 – SB 2 Highlights:
Reduces the rollback rate from 8% to 3.5%
Requires an automatic election to exceed the rollback rate
Junior colleges and hospital districts are excluded
Includes a carryforward provision
Taxing unit can “bank” unused increments for up to three years
Includes procedural changes to the adoption of a tax rate by a city
Includes property tax appraisal procedural changes
New Terminology
Effective Tax Rate is now the
No-New-Revenue Tax Rate
Rollback Tax Rate is now the
Voter-Approval Tax Rate
Public School Finance Reform - HB 3 Highlights:
$11.6 Billion in new funding for public education
$6.5 Billion to public school districts
$5 Billion to property tax relief
Public school district property tax revenues capped at 2.5%
State public school funding increased from 38% to 45%
6. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the proposed FY 2020 Community
Development Budget and PY 2019 Annual Action Plan.
Debbie Eller, Community Services Director, presented the proposed FY 2020 Community
Development Budget and PY 2019 Annual Action Plan. HUD requires that the Plan and Budget
be delivered by August 16, 2019; therefore, these are presented prior to the Council's consideration
of the overall City budget. The new grant amounts available for PY 2019 include $1,087,765 in
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and $473,289 in HOME Investment
Partnership Grant (HOME) funds. The Budget includes previously programmed but unspent grant
funds from current year in the amount of $1,020,759 in CDBG and $175,040 in HOME, in addition
to $152,677 in program income that was received from reconstruction and down payment
assistance loan payments in FY 2019. Total funding available in the FY 2020 Budget is
$2,909,530.
The CDBG and HOME funds may only be used to: (1) benefit low- and moderate-income persons;
(2) aid in the elimination of slum and blighting influences, and/or; (3) meet a particular urgent
need. Further, CDBG funds may be used to meet local needs through a wide range of community
development activities, while HOME funds may only be used for affordable housing activities.
Mrs. Eller, stated that the proposed plans and budget were developed using input received from a
series of public hearings, program committee meetings, and citizen input. The goals and objectives
in the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan were followed in preparing this year's Annual Action Plan.
These goals and objectives were prepared to meet the specific needs of lower-income citizens, and
to provide support for families working towards self-sufficiency and are now being presented to
Council for discussion and input.
Council directed staff to move forward as presented.
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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 C ommittee,
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 Nichols reported on the Comprehensive Plan Evaluation Committee.
9. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Mooney adjourned the workshop of the College Station
City Council at 6:16 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2019.
________________________
Karl Mooney, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________
Tanya Smith, City Secretary