Loading...
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 WKSHP071119 Minutes Page 2  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 WKSHP071119 Minutes Page 3 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. WKSHP071119 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 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