HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/11/2020 - Regular Minutes - City CouncilRM061120 Minutes Page 1
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
VIA TELECONFERENCE
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
JUNE 11, 2020
STATE OF TEXAS §
§
COUNTY OF BRAZOS §
Present:
Karl Mooney, Mayor
Council:
Bob Brick
John Crompton
Linda Harvell
John Nichols
Dennis Maloney
City Staff:
Jeff Capps, Interim City Manager
Jeff Kersten, Assistant 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 and Pledge of Allegiance, Invocation,
consider absence request.
With a quorum present, the Regular Meeting of the College Station City Council was called to order
by Mayor Mooney at 8:35 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2020 in the Council Chambers of the City of
College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 77840.
2. Hear Visitors Comments
Shiva Saravanan, College Station, came before Council to present a petition to publicize the College
Station Police Department's use-of-force policy. He stated that the “8 Can’t Wait” campaign is an
effort that has been started across the country in response to the death of George Floyd, which seeks
to promote nationwide use-of-force reform through local actions. Mr. Saravanan stated that with this
petition, he hopes was to start a conversation about the possible implementation of any of these
policies that the CSPD does not already have.
Nicolas Marcri, College Station, stated that the past few months have been uniquely challenging to
our national psyche, with the harsh effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the tragic, frustrating,
and unjust deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others. He stated that it is the place
of our government to respond to respond to these far-reaching events. Mr. Marcri explained that he
and many others were very pleased to see Chief Couch’s online statement against excessive force and
in favor of transparency last week. Also he stated that we, the citizens, are so fortunate to have his
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leadership. He urged Chief Couch and the council consider proven policy improvements like the “8
Can’t Wait” police reforms in their commitment to transparency.
3. CONSENT AGENDA
3.1. Presentation, possible action, and discussion of minutes for:
May 28, 2020 Workshop Meeting
May 28, 2020 Regular Meeting
June 1, 2020 Special Meeting
3.2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on Ordinance No. 2020-4185 canceling the
postponed special election runoff for the purpose of electing city council member place 4, for
an unexpired term. (Presentación, discusión, y posible acción sobre Ordenanza No. 2020-4185
que ordena la cancelación de la segunda vuelta de las elecciones especiales pospuestas con
propósito de elegir a un miembro del Concejo Municipal, Lugar 4, por un término no vencido.)
3.3. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding Resolution No. 06-11-20-3.3
approving an advance funding agreement (AFA) in the amount of $1,992,413 between the City
of College Station and the State of Texas, acting through the Texas Department of
Transportation (TXDOT) for the city's contribution for utility relocations for the FM 2818
widening project and Resolution No. 06-11-20-3.3a Declaring Intention to Reimburse Certain
Expenditures with Proceeds from Debt.
3.4. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to ratify a General Service Contract with
Precept Insurance Solutions, LLC for an Online Benefits Administration Platform and to
proceed with the second year of the initial two (2) year contract term. The initial contract term
began July 12, 2019 and expires July 11, 2021 with an annual expenditure of $70,000 for a total
expenditure of $140,000.
3.5. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the first renewal of a general service
contract for city-wide mowing and landscape maintenance with Green Teams, Inc. in an
amount not to exceed $1,108,394.
3.6. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on renewing the annual price agreement with
Techline, Inc. for the purchase of wire and cable which will be maintained in electrical
inventory and expended as needed. The total recommended renewal is for an amount not to
exceed $712,700.
3.7. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve a short-term budget of probable
expenditures for the remaining sixty day period between termination notification on May 29,
2020 and contract termination on August 1, 2020 as provided for in Article VI of the Tri-Party
Agreement between the City of College Station, City of Bryan and Experience Bryan College
Station.
MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Nichols and a second by Councilmember Brick,
the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion
carried unanimously.
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4. REGULAR AGENDA
4.1. Public Hearing, presentation, discussion and possible action regarding Ordinance No.
2020-4186 amending Appendix A, “Unified Development Ordinance,” Article 4, “Zoning
Districts,” Section 4.2 “Official Zoning Map,” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of College
Station, Texas by changing the zoning district boundaries from GC General Commercial and
O Office to MF Multi-Family, NAP Natural Areas Protected and GC General Commercial on
approximately 14 acres of land located at 2325 Harvey Mitchell Parkway South.
Treston Rodriguez, Planning and Development, stated that the applicant is requesting to rezone
approximately 14 acres of undeveloped land located near the intersection of Texas Avenue and
Harvey Mitchell Parkway. Of the 14 acres, approximately 3.7 acres will be zoned MF Multi -Family,
4.8 will be GC General Commercial, and 5.6 will be NAP Natural Areas Protected. If approved, the
change in the zoning district boundaries from GC General Commercial and O Office to MF Multi-
Family, NAP Natural Areas Protected, and GC General Commercial would bring commercial and
residential opportunities to a vacant piece of land which sits at a major intersection in town. The
applicant states that they believe adding a mix of uses will make these properties and those
surrounding it more marketable.
The Planning & Zoning Commission heard this item at their June 4, 2020 Regular meeting where
they voted 6-0 to recommend approval. Staff recommends approval of the rezoning.
At approximately 8:56 p.m., Mayor Mooney opened the Public Hearing.
There being no comments, the Public Hearing was closed at 8:56 p.m.
MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Maloney and a second by Councilmember
Harvell, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to adopt Ordinance No. 2020-4186,
amending Appendix A, “Unified Development Ordinance,” Article 4, “Zoning Districts,” Section 4.2
“Official Zoning Map,” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of College Station, Texas by changing
the zoning district boundaries from GC General Commercial and O Office to MF Multi-Family, NAP
Natural Areas Protected and GC General Commercial on approximately 14 acres of land located at
2325 Harvey Mitchell Parkway South. The motion carried unanimously.
4.2 Public Hearing, presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding Ordinance No.
2020-4187 amending Appendix A, “Unified Development Ordinance,” Section 1.10
“Transitional Provisions,” Section 4.1 “Establishment of Districts,” Section 5.5 “Retired
Districts,” Section 7.2.D “Required Yards (Setbacks),” and Section 8.3.H.2 “Platting and
Replatting within Older Residential Subdivisions” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of
College Station, Texas, regarding the Neighborhood Prevailing Overlay (NPO).
Jade Broadnax, Planning and Development, stated that the proposed ordinance amendment
establishes the one existing NPO as a retired district. The existing NPO remains intact as created with
no changes, and no other NPO rezoning may be requested in the future.
City Council approved the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay (NCO) ordinance amendments in
March 2020, which removed all references to the Neighborhood Prevailing Overlay (NPO) in an
effort to eliminate redundancy. One NPO remains in College Station in the Glenhaven Estates
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Subdivision Phase I Block 12 Lots 1-21 and Phase III Block 13 Lots 1-12, so the purpose of this
amendment is to include the NPO language within the UDO as a retired zoning district.
The Planning & Zoning Commission heard this item on May 21, 2020 and voted (4-0) to recommend
approval of the Neighborhood Prevailing Overlay ordinance amendment. Staff recommends
approval.
At approximately 9:00 p.m., Mayor Mooney opened the Public Hearing.
There being no comments, the Public Hearing was closed at 9:00 p.m.
MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Brick and a second by Councilmember Harvell,
the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to adopt Ordinance No. 2020-4187,
amending Appendix A, “Unified Development Ordinance,” Section 1.10 “Transitional Provisions,”
Section 4.1 “Establishment of Districts,” Section 5.5 “Retired Districts,” Section 7.2.D “Required
Yards (Setbacks),” and Section 8.3.H.2 “Platting and Replatting within Older Residential
Subdivisions” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of College Station, Texas, regarding the
Neighborhood Prevailing Overlay (NPO). The motion carried unanimously.
4.3 Presentation, discussion, and possible action on Ordinance No. 2020-4188 authorizing the
issuance of up to $23,685,000 in principal amount of “City of College Station, Texas Certificates
of Obligation, Series 2020”; delegating the authority to certain City Officials to execute certain
documents relating to the sale of the certificates; approving and authorizing instruments and
procedures relating to the certificates; and enacting other provisions relating to the subject.
Regular Item 4.3 and 4.4 were presented together.
Mary Ellen Leonard, Director of Finance, stated that Staff reviewed and presented to Council on May
28, 2020, the impact of the Certificates on the City’s ability to meet debt service requirements and
the effect they may have on the ad valorem tax rate and on the utility rates.
Ms. Marti Shew with Hilltop Securities, Inc., recommended that the City issue Certificates of
Obligation for utility projects rather than Utility Revenue Bonds. Ms. Shew explained that this
particular issue will provide resources for street, police station construction, information technology,
electric, and water improvements; and debt issuance costs. If this ordinance is approved, the City
Council will be delegating to the Mayor, the Interim City Manager, and the Assistant City
Manager/CFO the authority to effect the sale of the certificates through June 21, 2021.
Marci Shew, Hilltop Securities, stated that the aggregate original principal amount of the Bonds shall
not exceed $19,300,000. The City also has the opportunity to refund no more than $19,300,000 of
its Certificates of Obligation, Series 2010; General Obligation Improvement Bonds, Series 2010 and
Certificates of Obligation, Series 2011 in order to achieve savings due to lower interest rates that are
currently available. Refunding’s are typically done as negotiated sales rather than our normal bidding
process. However, our financial advisor has recommended a competitive sale process this year.
Ms. Skew explained that based on current estimates, the refunding will reduce the overall cost of the
refunded bonds by at least 7.4814% over the remaining life of the existing bonds. Total net present
value savings will be at least $1,394,901. The average annual savings will range between $40,222.50
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and $152,269.02 per year. The savings will help the City by providing an additional margin that
Council may choose to use for projects not currently funded by an identified source.
At approximately 9:13 p.m., Mayor Mooney opened for Citizens Comments.
Craig Regan, College Station, came before Council regarding concerns of the amount of debt the City
of College Station has accrued and that hardship it places on the economy in College Station, which
increase taxes.
There being no comments, the Citizens Comments was closed at 9:17 p.m.
MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Nichols and a second by Councilmember
Harvell, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to adopt Ordinance No. 2020-4188,
authorizing the issuance of up to $23,685,000 in principal amount of “City of College Station, Texas
Certificates of Obligation, Series 2020”; delegating the authority to certain City Officials to execute
certain documents relating to the sale of the certificates; approving and authorizing instruments and
procedures relating to the certificates; and enacting other provisions relating to the subject. The
motion carried unanimously.
4.4 Presentation, discussion, and possible action on Ordinance No. 2020-4189 authorizing the
issuance of up to $19,300,000 in principal amount of “City of College Station, Texas General
Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2020”; delegating the authority to certain City Officials to
execute certain documents relating to the sale of the Bonds; approving and authorizing
instruments and other procedures relating to said bonds; and enacting other provisions relating
to the subject.
MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Maloney and a second by Councilmember
Brick, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to adopt Ordinance No. 2020-4189,
authorizing the issuance of up to $19,300,000 in principal amount of “City of College Station, Texas
General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2020”; delegating the authority to certain City Officials
to execute certain documents relating to the sale of the Bonds; approving and authorizing instruments
and other procedures relating to said bonds; and enacting other provisions relating to the subject. The
motion carried unanimously.
5. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on future agenda items and review of standing
list of Council generated agenda items: A Council Member may inquire about a subject for
which notice has not been given. A statement of specific factual information or the recitation of
existing policy may be given. Any deliberation shall be limited to a proposal to place the subject
on an agenda for a subsequent meeting.
No future agenda items at this time.
6. Adjournment.
There being no further business, Mayor Mooney adjourned the Regular Meeting of the City Council
at 9:21 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2020.
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________________________
Karl Mooney, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________
Tanya Smith, City Secretary