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Home My WebLink About04/16/2020 - Special Minutes - City CouncilSM041620 Minutes Page 1 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING VIA TELECONFERENCE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION APRIL 16, 2020 STATE OF TEXAS § § COUNTY OF BRAZOS § Present: Karl Mooney, Mayor Council: Bob Brick John Crompton – arrived late Linda Harvell 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 Special Meeting of the College Station City Council was called to order by Mayor Mooney at 5:01 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2020 in the Council Chambers of the City of College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 77840. 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 5:02 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2020, in order to continue discussing matters pertaining to: A. Deliberation on the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer; to wit:  Council Self-Evaluation  City Manager – Discussion of Duties related to COVID-19 Response Executive Session recessed at 5:35 p.m. 3. Reconvene from Executive Session and take action, if any. No vote or action was taken in Executive Session. SM041620 Minutes Page 2 4. Special Agenda 4.1. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on future agenda items requested by Council. Bryan Woods, City Manager, stated that at each Regular Meeting of the College Station City Council, council members have the opportunity to propose an item to be considered on a future agenda. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption caused to regular City operations, some agenda items which had been scheduled for meetings in March a nd/or April have been postponed. The current list includes: • Engaging a specialist to develop a marketing plan specific to the needs and strengths of College Station • Discussion on number of unrelated in residential areas depending on owner occupancy • Report from TxDOT on future projects in College Station • Consideration of expanding parkland through the incorporation of greenways adjacent to existing parks • Ordinance to Regulate Short-Term Rental Housing • Possibility of merging the Transportation Committee with the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Board • Benefits and drawbacks to moving elections from even numbered years to odd • Discussion on Council ethics policy • Revising the collection rate of impact fees for new development Council reviewed the list of existing items and gave direction to re-prioritize. 4.2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on economic and community recovery efforts in response to COVID-19. Bryan Woods, City Manager, stated that various recovery efforts are underway to help local businesses, community organizations and non-profits assisting the community in recovering from the impact of COVID-19. Small Business Bridge Loan Program, HOME Funds, CDBG Funds, and Brazos Feed It Forward are efforts to help determine help and level of participation. Operation Restart • Partnership between City of College Station, Brazos County, Brazos County Health District and the BCS Chamber of Commerce to create a template and guidelines for businesses to safely re-open after the shelter-in-place orders have ended. • Plans to provide guidelines and best practices to protect customers and employees to establish measures to ensure safety from COVID-19 transmission. • Create guidelines for phased re-opening both essential and non-essential businesses based on guidelines from the federal/state/local guidelines. • Create checklist for re-starting that could be posted at a business, on-line to show business is working to ensure customer and employee safety. • Does not control when or how a business will re-open after the shelter-in-place. Will provide guidance on best practices are shelter-in-place orders end. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Crompton and a second by Mayor Mooney, the City Council voted seven (6) for and none (0) opposed, to match other entities up to or limited SM041620 Minutes Page 3 of $40,000 to assist in developing program for economic recovery efforts. The motion carried unanimously. 4.3. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding a 2020 update to the City Council Strategic Plan. Bryan Woods, City Manager, presented the 2020 update to the Council Strategic Plan that was prepared in accordance with Council discussion and direction at the Council Retreat held on February 7, 2020. The 2020 Council Strategic Plan includes FY21 strategies under each of the overarching goals and requested action items from the aforementioned Council Retreat. Staff recommends Council receive the presentation, discuss strategic priorities, and adopt a 2020 update to the Council Strategic Plan. Implementation Plan-FY 21 Strategies Good Governance • Develop and implement a legislative policy agenda • Assess opportunities to review local options for property tax levy • Initiate a comprehensive approach to effectively communicate the city’s accomplishments, activities, and events Core Services & Infrastructure • Prepare for a November 2021 bond election • Evaluate the city’s capital needs and encourage citizen engagement • Analyze the potential for additional beautification efforts during construction projects Neighborhood Integrity • In concert with Comprehensive Plan update, analyze the impact of redevelopment in single-family neighborhoods • Examine ways to enhance neighborhood parks for residents and visitors Diverse & Growing Economy • Enhance the city’s marketing and branding strategy • Develop a campaign to promote the investments and opportunities at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex • Implement strategies to support Northgate operations Improving Mobility • Update the Capital Improvements Program Sustainable City • Pursue city initiatives and designations related to smarter technologies, sustainability, and collaborative solutions • Review opportunities to create further environmental sustainability Requested Items from 2020 Council Retreat • Veterans Park comprehensive landscaping plan • Branding strategy for Veterans Park signage • Discussion on acquisition of landfill property from BVSWMA • Dedication of about five acres to wilderness in Sandstone and Brison Parks • Maximize potential of Northgate assets such as the parking garage • Pursue a mitigation strategy through Electric Fund for tree plantings • Expand park space adjacent to existing Raintree Park • Examine a wetlands project to encourage native species SM041620 Minutes Page 4 • Demonstrate the possible economic benefits of single-family housing redevelopment • Review option to increase the existing local homestead exemption by 5% • Beautification efforts for medians such as tree plantings • Examine ways to better inform the public about City accomplishments, activities, and events • Consideration of a utility advisory board • Consideration of a small business advisory board • Conduct joint Council-CSISD School Board meeting • Adopt and carry out a City branding strategy Council re-prioritize the requested items from 2020 Council Retreat and requested staff to bring back an item to finalize and approve the Strategic Plan. 5. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Mooney adjourned the Special Meeting of the College Station City Council at 7:18 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2020. ________________________ Karl Mooney, Mayor ATTEST: _______________________ Tanya Smith, City Secretary