HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/27/2020 - Regular Minutes - City CouncilRM082720 Minutes Page 1
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
VIA TELECONFERENCE
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
AUGUST 27, 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
Lisa McCracken, Records Management Administrator
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 via Teleconference at 6:54 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2020, in the Council
Chambers of the City of College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas
77840.
2. Hear Visitors Comments
Elianor Vessali, College Station, came before Council to discuss the ongoing issue of rental
registration and the change overs with the hopes to break the cycle. Ms. Vessali explained that the
issue is the delivery of information. If the City would develop an app that links the tenants, owners
and code enforcement to send information or to notify the owners of any code violations, this would
solve many problems.
3. CONSENT AGENDA
3.1. Presentation, possible action, and discussion of minutes for:
August 13, 2020 Workshop Meeting
August 13, 2020 Regular Meeting
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3.2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on approval of a contract in the amount of
$498,941 with Vaughn Construction for the installation of wrought iron fencing for Memorial
Cemetery of College Station.
3.3. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding an agreement with Vertical VAR,
LLC dba SPS VAR, LLC in an amount not to exceed $112,432.35 for utility billing system
hardware.
3.4. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on the annual blanket purchase agreement for
various EMS medical supply with Bound Tree Medical, LLC for an estimated annual
expenditure of $120,000.
3.5. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding Ordinance No. 2020-4205 amending
Chapter 38, “Traffic and Vehicles,” Article VI “Traffic Schedules,” Section 38-1014 “Traffic
Schedule XIV, No Parking Here to Corner and No Parking Any Time,” of the Code of
Ordinances of the City of College Station, Texas, by removing parking on the south side of
Cottonwood Terrace Court from around the cul-de-sac to Parmer Creek Court, the south side
of Mamma Bear Drive between Holleman Drive South and Towers Parkway, the west side of
Papa Bear Drive between Hayes Lane and Mamma Bear Drive, both sides of the Public Alley
between the 1000 block of Toledo Bend Drive and the 1100 block of Toledo Bend Drive, both
sides of the Public Alley between the 1100 block of Amistad Loop and the 1100 block of Amistad
Loop, and both sides of the Public Alley between the 1000 block of Amistad Loop and the 1200
block of Amistad Loop.
3.6. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to authorize expenditure of funds for Fiscal
Year 2021 for items exempt from competitive bidding greater than $100,000.
3.7. Presentation, discussion, and possible action as it relates to the appointment of a new
member and the re-appointment of a current member, representing the City of College Station,
to the Aggieland Humane Society Board.
MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Nichols and a second by Councilmember
Crompton, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to approve the Consent Agenda
with the exception of Consent Item 3.2. The motion carried unanimously.
Items (3.2) were pulled from Consent for clarification.
(3.2): Kelly Kelbly, Interim Director of Parks & Recreation, explained that funds for this project were
budgeted through the Memorial Cemetery Funds. Memorial Cemetery funds can only be spent in this
cemetery.
(3.2) 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 Item 3.2. The
motion carried unanimously.
4. REGULAR AGENDA
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4.1. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on Ordinance No. 2020-4206 adopting the City
of College Station 2020-2021 Budget; and presentation, discussion, and possible action ratifying
the property tax revenue increase reflected in the budget.
Mary Ellen Leonard, Finance Director, noted the Council will need to take two actions: 1) consider
the FY 2019-2020 proposed budget in the amount of $311,496,184; including proposed revisions of
a decrease of $1,125,703; and 2) ratify the property tax revenue increase reflected in the budget.
MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Harvell and a second by Councilmember Brick,
the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to adopt Ordinance No. 2020-4206, the
proposed FY21 budget for the City of College Station including proposed revisions of a decrease of
$1,125,703 for a total proposed budget with revisions of $311,496,184. The motion unanimously
carried.
MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Harvell and a second by Mayor Mooney, the
City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to approve ratifying the property tax increase
reflected in the FY21 Budget. The motion unanimously carried.
4.2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on approval of Ordinance No. 2020-4207
adopting the City of College Station 2020-2021 ad valorem tax rate of $0.534618 per $100
assessed valuation, the debt service portion being $0.216443 per $100 assessed valuation and
the operations and maintenance portion being $0.318175 per $100 assessed valuation.
Mary Ellen Leonard, Director of Finance, presented the FY 2020-2021 ad valorem tax rate. The
proposed tax rate of 53.4618 cents per $100 assessed valuation is the same as the current tax rate. A
public hearing on the tax rate was not required because the Council chose to adopt the proposed tax
rate of 53.4618 cents per $100 assessed valuation, which is no increase over the FY20 tax rate.
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 adopt Ordinance 2020-4207, the FY 2020-
2021 property tax rate to be 53.4618 cents per $100 assessed valuation by the adoption of the
proposed tax rate; and the Maintenance and Operations rate be 31.8175 cents per $100 assessed
valuation; and the Debt Service rate be 21.6443 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The motion carried
unanimously.
4.3. Public Hearing, presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding Ordinance No.
2020-4208 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 boundary from T Townhouse to PDD Planne d
Development District on approximately 4 acres located at 3914 Alamosa Street, generally
located west of Harvey Road and South of Summit Crossing Lane.
Jesse Dimeolo, Planning & Development, stated that the applicant has proposed a PDD Planned
Development District with a base zoning of GS General Suburban for approximately 4 acres located
in the Summit Crossing Subdivision. The rezoning from T Townhouse to PDD is intended to address
changes in the market and provide small-lot single-family homes intended as starter homes for
families. Mr. Dimeolo also explained that the property can be marketed under the current zoning of
T Townhouse which allows for denser single-family attached residences. The applicant is requesting
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the PDD to allow for small-lot detached single-family homes with the intent of marketing these as
affordable starter homes for families.
Meritorious Modifications Requested
The applicant is proposing the following modifications to the GS General Suburban standards:
• A reduction in the minimum lot width from 50-feet to 40-feet,
• A reduction in the minimum side setback from 7.5-feet to 5-feet
• A reduction in the minimum front setback from 25-feet to 20-feet, and
• A maximum of 9-dwelling units per acre.
The Planning & Zoning Commission heard this item at their August 6, 2020, regular meeting where
they voted 6-0 to recommend approval. Staff recommends approval of the rezoning.
At approximately 7:40 p.m., Mayor Mooney opened the Public Hearing.
Hugo Ibarra, College Station, came before Council to respectfully ask that Council continue to lead
the City of College Station in the right direction while supporting local property development's
continuity, clarity and predictability. Although affordable starter homes are critical to the
community's well-being, he does not believe that changing Summit Crossing's zoning requirements,
appearance, and neighborhood integrity in a 4-acre area surrounded by University Drive, Momentum
Plaza, Central BCS, Copperfield Drive, and less than 5 miles away from Texas A&M University, is
in the best interest of the community, homeowners and investors looking to make business in College
Station or future residents wanting to make Aggieland home. In his opinion, allowing changes such
as this one based solely on the fact that the proposed starter homes meet General Suburban standards
and adjacent neighborhood density, are neither justifiable nor reasonable.
There being no comments, the Public Hearing was closed at 7:45 p.m.
MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Nichols and a second by Mayor Mooney, the
City Council voted one (1) for and five (5) opposed, with Mayor Mooney and Councilmembers Brick,
Crompton, Harvell and Maloney voting against, to adopt Ordinance 2020-4208, 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
boundary from T Townhouse to PDD Planned Development District on approximately 4 acres located
at 3914 Alamosa Street, generally located west of Harvey Road and South of Summit Crossing Lane.
The motion failed.
4.4. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding Resolution No. 08-27-20-4.4 to
support a bid for the 2022 Texas Recreation and Park Society Annual Institute and Expo.
Natalie Ruiz, Director of Economic Development, stated that the Texas Recreation and Park Society
(TRAPS) is a nonprofit educational and professional organization founded in 1937 to advance the
profession of parks, recreation, and leisure services in Texas. The Annual Institute hosts hundreds of
attendees, presenters, vendors, and volunteers each year with 80+ educational events, an exhibit hall
with vendors from across the nation, and opportunities for Parks and Recreation professionals to
network. One part of the bid proposal is a Resolution of Commitment from the College Station City
Council.
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MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Harvell and a second by Councilmember
Nichols, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to adopt Resolution No. 08-27-20-
4.4, to support a bid for the 2022 Texas Recreation and Park Society Annual Institute and Expo. The
motion carried unanimously.
4.5. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding approval of a contract with JaCody
Construction, LP, in the amount of $1,934,233.26 for park improvements at Veterans Park &
Athletic Complex.
Kelly Kelbly, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation presented Regular Agenda Items 4.5 and 4.6
together.
Jacody Construction ($1,934,233.26)
Funding Sources
Parkland Dedication Community Zone CD & Neighborhood Zone 4
Field Redevelopment
Certificates of Obligation
Approval Needed
4.6. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding approval of Change Order No. 1 to
Contract No. 20300576 with JaCody Construction, LP. reducing the contract amount by
$271,352.51.
Kelly Kelbly, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation, stated that the Veterans Park & Athletic
Complex Phase 1B project consists of significant improvements and additions to the amenities and
playability of the park. Improved drainage will be one improvement accomplished through this
project. Proper and effective drainage has been an ongoing issue in the park, with continual standing
water between fields 1-6. In addition, the parking lot in front of the first six fields and the Harvey Rd.
entrance will be resolved.
A consideration for this approval is increased playability of these fields for our citizens and guests.
The failing asphalt roundabouts throughout the park will be improved. The existing roundabouts will
be removed, sub graded and curb improved, then poured back with concrete due to the high volume
of traffic and sustainability. One of the additions to the park is a second restroom on the Harvey Road
side of the park. The location of the new restroom will be located just east of field 5, al so known as
Merchant Marine field. In addition to the restroom, connector sidewalks will be installed between
Fields 1&2, 3&4, and 5&6, which will allow ADA access from the parking lot to the new restroom
and between fields. Two new playgrounds, with shade covers and lighting, will be added to the park:
the first playground will be located in front of fields 1-6, just west of the existing restrooms; and the
second playground will be located in front of field 10, also known as Airman. To round out the list
of improvements and additions, a connector sidewalk leading from the parking lot in front of the
overflow parking lot to the American Pavilion will be installed, this sidewalk will also connect the
current softball parking lot.
Kelly Kelbly, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation, stated that this project went to design and bid
prior to the economic downturn caused by COVID-19. Amenities that were proposed in design and
bid in the original contract included two playgrounds and their associated surfacing, seat walls,
walkways and shade canopies. In an effort to remain fiscally diligent, staff has worked with the
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contractor to remove these portions of the project to lower the overall amount of the contract, but
continuing with the necessary elements of the project. The change order decreases the contract
amount by $271,352.51. The new total amount of the contract is $1,662,880.49.
Seeking Approval on Two Items:
Award of contract to JaCody Construction $1,934,233.26
Change order to JaCody Construction ($271,352.51); $1,662,880.49
Schedule – mobilize first week of September, completion early spring 2021
(4.5) MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Crompton and a second by
Councilmember Maloney, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to approve a
contract with JaCody Construction, LP., in the amount of $1,934,233.26 for park improvements at
Veterans Park & Athletic Complex. The motion carried unanimously.
(4.6) MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Maloney and a second by Councilmember
Crompton, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to disapprove Change Order No.
1 to Contract No. 20300576 with JaCody Construction, LP., reducing the contract amount by
$271,352.51. The motion carried unanimously.
4.7. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding Ordinance No. 2020-4209
consenting to and extending the Mayor's renewal of a disaster declaration due to public health
emergency.
Jeff Capps, Interim City Manager, stated that on August 21, 2020, the Mayor of College Station
issued a proclamation pursuant to §418.014 of the Texas Government Code renewing the state of
disaster proclaimed by the Mayor on March 17, 2020, April 21, 2020, May 22, 2020, June 22, 2020,
and July 22. The conditions necessitating the declaration of a state of disaster and mayoral orders
continue to exist. The Council needs to consent to and approve the Mayor's Disaster Declaration
renewal.
MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Harvell and a second by Councilmember
Nichols, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to adopt Ordinance No. 2020-4209,
consenting to and extending the Mayor's renewal of a disaster declaration due to public health
emergency. 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 items at this time.
6. Adjournment.
There being no further business, Mayor Mooney adjourned the Regular Meeting of the City Council
at 8:36 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2020.
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________________________
Karl Mooney, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________
Tanya Smith, City Secretary