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Home My WebLink About02/21/2023 - Special Minutes - City CouncilCCM 022123 Minutes Page 1 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING (RETREAT) CITY OF COLLEGE STATION FEBRUARY 21, 2023 STATE OF TEXAS § § COUNTY OF BRAZOS § Present: John Nichols, Mayor Council: Mark Smith William Wright Linda Harvell Elizabeth Cunha Bob Yancy Dennis Maloney City Staff: Bryan Woods, City Manager Jeff Capps, Deputy City Manager Adam Falco, City Attorney Leslie Whitten, Assistant City Attorney Tanya Smith, City Secretary 1. Call to Order and Announce a Quorum is Present. With a quorum present, the meeting of the College Station City Council was called to order by Mayor Nichols at 8:30 a.m. on February 21, 2023, in the CSU Meeting Training Facility City Hall, 1603 Graham Road, College Station, TX 77845. 2. Executive Session Agenda. (presented at the end of the agenda) In accordance with the Texas Government Code §551.074-Personnel, the College Station City Council convened into Executive Session at 11:19 a.m. on February 21, 2023, to continue discussing matters pertaining to: 2.1. Deliberation on the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer; to wit:  City Manager  Council Self-Evaluation Executive Session recessed at 12:18 p.m. No action was taken. 3. REGULAR ITEMS 3.1. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on financial sustainability. Jennifer Cain, provided a summary of the Capital Projects. Current Capital Projects CCM 022123 Minutes Page 2 2022 Bond Projects Current and Upcoming Projects Rock Prairie Road West Widening (Wellborn Rd to City Limits) Scope  Replace existing asphalt roadway with concrete curb and gutter, underground storm sewer, and sidewalks. The project also included reconstruction of the railroad crossing Budget  $7.39M Challenge/Unique Aspect  Union Pacific Railway ROW crossing Rock Prairie Road Widening (State Hwy 6 to Town Lake) Scope  Replace existing asphalt roadway with concrete curb and gutter, underground storm sewer, and sidewalks. The project also included reconstruction of the railroad crossing Budget  $8M Challenge/Unique Aspect  Off-street separated bike and pedestrian path Aggie Field of Honor Maintenance Shop Scope  Construct a new, fully secure, and functional maintenance crew, as well as an office/meeting area for sale of plots within the cemetery CCM 022123 Minutes Page 3 Budget  $2M Challenge/Unique Aspect  Architecture due to its location Material delays Lick Creek Bird Blinds Scope  Two 150 sf (approx.) wood bird blind structures at Lick Creek Park Budget  $150,000 Challenge/Unique Aspect  Structures need to be designed and constructed in a way to avoid maintenance issues over time Central Park Operations Shop Scope  Proposed shop to house the forestry crew and ball field maintenance crews. Shop will have 6 -8 drive through bays, office, breakroom, supply rooms and restrooms as well as secured fenced in area for equipment and materials. Budget  $7.4M Challenge/Unique Aspect  Many required uses for the building City Gateway Sign #3 (West) Scope  Construct the 3rd City Gateway Sign on the southside of Riverside Parkway at Raymond Stotzer Parkway Budget  $210k Challenge/Unique Aspect  Topography of site Pickleball/ Futsal Courts at Anderson Park Scope  Construct Pickleball/ Futsal Courts at Anderson Park Budget  $1.7M Challenge/Unique Aspect  Determining exact scope for best use of funds between pickleball and futsal courts Bee Creek and Central Park Tennis courts improvements Scope  Removal of existing court surfaces, repair of existing slabs and new surfacing Budget  $1.35M Challenge/Unique Aspect  The state of the existing slabs Mayor Nichols recessed the meeting at 9:15 a.m. The meeting resumed at 9:41 a.m. CCM 022123 Minutes Page 4 3.2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on good governance relating to the City Council's strategic direction and budget priorities. Councilmember Maloney:  Convention Center with a Recreation Center (dual purpose building most important)  Working with Military Museum at Veterans Parks  Look at HOT funds if it’s possible to fund part of the some of these projects  Relook at the creek at Post Oak Mall and Wolf Pen Creek  Turn Northgate into a true downtown area. Councilmember Cunha:  Meetings with CSISD and COB to build stronger relationships (list of agenda items to discuss)  3-member committee of Maloney, Wright and Cunha to meeting with CSISD and COB  In the next Budget Cycle, a Break down on the O&M.  Core Infrastructure – when will pipes be replaces after so long.  Housing Affordability Strategy  Mobility Options instead of looking at Transportation. Councilmember Yancy:  Convention Center or Convention Center/Recreation Center combined facility (Heart of Aggieland Center)  Traffic and Roadways: Where possible maximize roadway projects to accommodate rapid growth. Initial concrete construction versus asphalt. If it needs to be done now do it now without interim steps.  Gig’em City District proposed through land use and private sector incentives, with a focus on vertical, high density Student Housing and urban professionals, high speed internet services, concert venues, walkable urban feel, close to campus possibly on the west side. Would reduce pressures on single family residential neighborhoods and assist with housing affordability.  Investable Housing Product - many parents don’t want to pay rent but would rather invest, thus many single-family neighborhood homes are being purchased by Aggie parents. We should prioritize student housing that is investable. Councilmember Wright:  Military Museum  Home grown businesses.  Wolf Pen Creek is a gem that needs to be polished, need to put more money into it.  Infrastructure needed to the Wolf Pen Creek for a growing community that is already there.  Future of the Lincoln Center to look like. Councilmember Smith:  Agrees with the Infrastructure needed to the Wolf Pen Creek for a growing community that is already there. (if HOT funds could go into that and give this district more identity)  Residential rehabilitation Program needs to be pushed.  Rebuild and reused what we already have.  Neighborhood Parks Infrastructure in already there, rehabilitate these areas.  We need to make the downtown stop for citizens. Councilmember Harvell:  Convention Center CCM 022123 Minutes Page 5  What can we do to engage all ages (we engage youth, college and seniors)?  Expend mindset on bringing business in and events.  Neighborhood Integrity - Rules and Regulation, then not able to enforce them (find better ways) Mayor Nichols:  Convention Center or a Multi-purpose event space  Housing Affordability Strategy  Wolf Pen Creek – Upgrade amenities along with the Post Oak Mall Project  Military Heritage Museum  Infrastructure Rehab 4. Adjournment. There being no further business, Mayor Nichols adjourned the Meeting of the City Council at 12:18 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. ________________________ John P. Nichols, Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________ Tanya Smith, City Secretary