HomeMy WebLinkAbout220825 -- City Council -- Agenda Questions
Council questions and staff responses for items on August 25, 2022 City Council Meeting
7.4. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding approval of the Atmos Cities Steering
Committee (ACSC) Rate Review Mechanism (RRM) Ordinance.
Sponsors: Ross Brady
Question: How does the $21.60 charge on page 46 of our packet impact my Atmos bill? Is this an
additional charge to the $20.90 Residential R020 already listed on my monthly bill? Or is my 20.90 going
up 70 cents?
Response: This is not an additional charge, it is an adjustment to the current rate. The fixed-rate
customer charge on residential bills will increase by $0.70.
7.5. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a general services contract with Buyers
Barricades Houston, LLC in the amount of $115,000 for the 2022 TAMU Football Post Game Day Traffic
Control.
Sponsors: Emily Fisher
Question: I noticed on page 59 of our packet, that the header title is a partnership between A&M and
the city. We pay $115,000 to handle the traffic from A&M events – what contributions does A&M make
to help offset the traffic impact of their events in this partnership?
Response: TAMU helps with the development of this traffic control plan, in coordination with the
development of their internal traffic control plan. TAMU provides all traffic control devices and
deployment on campus, including officers to help direct traffic on campus streets. TAMU provides
shuttles for the games and has developed an app (Destination Aggieland) to help promote shuttle
service and other forms of transportation to and from the games.
Question: Does TAMU contribute $ to the cost of managing post-football game traffic management?
Response: TAMU does not contribute money directly for traffic control on city streets, however, they do
help manage and offset the traffic impact of football games including helping develop both the city’s
traffic control plan and their internal traffic control plan. They provide all traffic control devices and
deployment internal to campus. They also provide shuttles and help promote other forms of
transportation to and from the football games.
7.6. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the award of a construction contract to
Larry Young Paving Inc. in the amount of $199,410 for Traffic Calming Implementation and
Construction.
Sponsor: Emily Fisher
Question: Could you please have the chart on page 61 of our packet available to show during the council
meeting? Also, could you explain what is happening with the sidewalk on St Andrews, line number 18 on
the chart.
Response: We will have the bid tab available for the meeting. On St. Andrews, we are adding a
crosswalk near Birkdale Drive, this requires two sidewalk ramps to be installed. Line 18 is replacing
sidewalk that will need to be removed to install the ramps.
7.7. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the second renewal of a sponsorship
agreement with Land of Lights, Inc., DBA Santa's Wonderland, in the amount of $150,000.
Sponsors: Brian Piscacek
Question: I noticed on page 69 of our packet that this is a renewal of the contract wherein we gave
150K with 50K to be spent on a sign and 100K on a marketing campaign. We are giving 150K again this
year with the renewal of the same contract. Are we expecting ANOTHER 50K sign? Why are we not just
giving 100K for the marketing campaign portion?
Response: This is the second and final renewal of a contract executed initially for the 2020 Christmas
season and included the sponsorship of a “College Station” sign to be placed at the ice skating rink, one
of the premier attractions in the park. The successive renewals maintain that sponsorship and preserve
a unique photo opportunity for guests, building brand awareness for the City.
The agreement specifies Santa's Wonderland shall provide detailed reports containing the following
information: online traffic generated to "Christmas in College Station" hotel participants and online
traffic generated to "Christmas in College Station" landing page, as well as the results of the survey
question related to number of Santa's Wonderland guests who stay at a College Station Hotel.
Question: What did their metrics show their impact on College Station hotels to be?
Response: Their creative campaigns targeted Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and DFW during the months
of October, November, and December, driving out-of-town traffic to College Station and generating
hotel stays. Of the 388,000 estimated visitors during the 2021 season, over 25% stayed overnight in a
College Station hotel based on post-attendance surveys. Additionally, 64% of people visited Santa’s
Wonderland for the first time. Site traffic on Santa’s Wonderland Lodging page – where prospective
visitors would find specials for College Station hotels – was up over 40% compared to 2020.
Question: What are their plans to avoid congestion queuing on the frontage roads this year?
Response: Santa’s Wonderland is constantly reviewing parking demands and has continued to invest in
infrastructure to support its operations, such as acquiring additional land and offering more parking on-
site. In addition, Santa’s Wonderland is also exploring running buses from Post Oak Mall during the 2022
season to address congestion concerns.
7.8. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to authorize expenditure of funds for Fiscal Year
2023 for items exempt from competitive bidding as described more fully in Texas Local Government
Code, Chapter 252.022 and other expenditures for interlocal contracts or fees mandated by state law
that are greater than $100,000; and to authorize the City Manager to approve contracts and
expenditures that are on the exemption list.
Sponsors: Mary Ellen Leonard
Question: I would prefer the library contract be considered separately.
Response: This item is a procedural item for interlocal agreements and other expenditures that exceed
$100,000. It allows the City Manager to approve these expenditures under existing agreements that
Council has already approved. The library is on an interlocal agreement and over $100,000 and
therefore included on this list. The latest ILA approved by Council is attached.
7.11. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding renewing the contract for Temporary
Employment Services with Spherion Staffing LLC (“Spherion”) for a total estimated annual expenditure
of $190,000.
Sponsors: Alison Pond
Question: Is this different from item 8.9 posted on the July 28th Council meeting or is this a second
reading of the same contract?
Response: The last item was to add additional funding to the FY22 contract based on the additional
temp support required through the year.
This item is for FY23 “not to exceed” amount on future engagement with Spherion for any temporary
placements for the year.
7.14. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on a resolution granting consent to Rock Prairie
Management District No. 2 for the sale and issuance of unlimited tax road bonds, series 2022, in an
amount not to exceed $2,500,000.
Sponsors: Mary Ellen Leonard
Question: Page 202, 203, and 204 of my packet were blank except for the title at the top . Were there
no actual photos on those pages?
Response: The document is a preliminary offering circular prepared by the MUD financial advisor and is
not in the final stage. That will not happen until the bonds are priced. One of the steps needed to move
forward in the process of completing is the College Station City Council’s approval for issuing the bonds.
8.4. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on a resolution adopting fees, rates and charges as
provided by Chapter 2 “Administration”, Article V “Finance” Division 2 “Fees, Rates and Charges” of
the Code of Ordinances, City of College Station, Texas.
Sponsors: Mary Ellen Leonard
Question: On chapter 24 Libraries it indicates we charge 25 cents per day for all collections which are
returned late with a 5 day grace period for adult collections. Is there no grace period for children’s
books?
Response: The library has confirmed that a grace period for all books (adult and children) is provided.
8.5. Public Hearing, presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding an ordinance 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 to PDD Planned Development District on
approximately 12 acres of land located 103 N. Dowling Rd.
Sponsors: Anthony Armstrong
Question: In the presentation, could you please explain the sidewalk waivers requested by showing
them on a map?
Sidewalk waivers:
We request a waiver to the provision of sidewalks along both sides of the streets. We will provide
sidewalks on one side of all private access easements. We will provide sidewalks along Holleman
Drive S, N. Dowling Road and both sides of the extension of the Larimer Way public way.
Response: A map will be provided in the presentation.