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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/08/2024 - Regular Minutes - City CouncilMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING IN -PERSON WITH TELECONFERENCE PARTICIPATION CITY OF COLLEGE STATION AUGUST 8, 2024 STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF BRAZOS Present: John Nichols, Mayor Council: Mark Smith William Wright Linda Harvell Elizabeth Cunha - absent Bob Yancy Dennis Maloney § § § City Staff: Bryan Woods, City Manager Jeff Capps, Deputy City Manager Adam Falco, City Attorney Leslie Whitten, Deputy City Attorney Tanya Smith, City Secretary Ian Whittenton, Deputy City Secretary 1. Call to Order and Announce a Ouorum is Present. With a quorum present, the meeting of the College Station City Council was called to order by Mayor Nichols via In -Person and Teleconference at 4:00 p.m. on August 8, 2024, in the Council Chambers of the City of College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 77840. 2. Executive Session Agenda. In accordance with the Texas Government Code §551.071-Consultation with Attorney, and §551.074- Personnel, and the College Station City Council convened into Executive Session at 4:00 p.m. on August 8, 2024, to continue discussing matters pertaining to: 2.1. Consultation with Attorney to seek advice regarding pending or contemplated litigation, to wit: • Shana Elliott and Lawrence Kalke v. City of College Station, et al., Cause No. 22-001122-CV- 85, in the 85th District Court, Brazos County, Texas; and • City of College Station v. 47 Oaks, LLC, Cause No. 626-CC, in the County Court at Law No. 2 of Brazos County, Texas; and • SOAH Docket No. 473-22-2464 and PUC Docket No. 52728 — Application of the City of College Station to Change Rates for Wholesale Transmission Services; and • Cynthia Hopkins & Geoffry Hopkins v City of College Station, Cause No. 23-002880-CV-85 in the 85th District Court, Brazos County Texas. CCM 080824 Minutes Page 1 • Legal advice related to an interlocal agreement with the City of Bryan for sewer service. 2.2. Deliberation on the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer; to wit: • City Manager • Council Self -Evaluation 3. The Open Meeting Will Reconvene No Earlier than 6:00 PM from Executive Session and City Council will take action, if any. Executive Session recessed at 6:00 p.m. No action was taken. 4. Pledge of Allegiance, Invocation, consider absence request. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Yancy and a second by Councilmember Maloney, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to approve an absence request from Councilmember Cunha for the August 8, 2024 Council Meeting. The motion carried unanimously. 5. PRESENTATION - PROCLAMATIONS, AWARDS, AND RECOGNITIONS. 5.1. Presentation proclaiming the week of August 4-10, 2024, as Exercise with Your Child Week. Mayor Nichols presented a proclamation declaring August 4-10, 2024, as Exercise with Your Child Week. 6. Hear Visitors Comments. No one signed up to speak. 7. CONSENT ITEMS Presentation, discussion, and possible action on consent items which consist of ministerial, or "housekeeping" items as allowed by law: A Councilmember may request additional information at this time. Any Councilmember may remove an item from the Consent Agenda for a separate vote. No items were pulled for discussion. 7.1. Presentation, discussion, and possible action of minutes for: • July 15, 2024 Special Meeting • July 16, 2024 Special Meeting • July 25, 2024 Council Meeting 7.2. Presentation., discussion, and possible action regarding Resolution No. 08-08-24-7.2 adopting the Program Year 2024 Annual Action Plan and the FY2025 Community Development budget. 7.3. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding Ordinance No. 2024- 4535 amending Chapter 38 "Traffic and Vehicles," Article VI "Traffic Schedules," Section 38-1003 "Traffic Schedule III, stop signs," of the Code of Ordinances of the City of College Station, Texas, by CCM 080824 Minutes Page 2 adding stop signs in the north and south travel direction along Mortier Drive at the intersection with Edelweiss Avenue. 7.4. Presentation. discussion. and possible action on a contract with Iteris, Inc. in a not to exceed amount of $176,000 for replacement of the video wall in the Traffic Control Center. 7.5. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a general services contract with Buyers Barricades Houston. LLC in a not to exceed amount of $128,800 for the 2024 TAMU Football Post Game Day Traffic Control. (Pulled to the August 22nd Meeting) MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Harvell and a second by Councilmember Smith, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to approve the Consent agenda, with the exception of Item 7.5, which was pulled to the August 22, 2024 council meeting. The motion carried unanimously. 8. WORKSHOP ITEMS 8.1. Presentation. discussion. and possible action on the 2024-2025 ad valorem tax rate: and calling a public hearing on a proposed ad valorem tax rate for FY 2024-2025. Mary Ellen Leonard, Finance Director, stated that the Texas Property Tax Code requires that if an entity wishes to increase tax revenues over the no new revenue rate, then that entity must call and hold one public hearing on the proposed tax rate. FY 25 Tax Rates Proposed Debt Service Fund Proposed General Fund Total Proposed Tax Rate Proposed Rates ® Workshop $21.1442 $30.1644 $51.3086 No -New Revenue Rate $50.0202 Voter -Approval Rate $52.4914 Tax Office Certified Rates $21.1441 $30.1645 $51.3086 $49.9960 $52.1442 MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Wright and a second by Councilmember Smith, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to move forward with the tax rate of 51.3086 and setting the public hearing on the proposed ad valorem tax rate will occur, Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 6:00 pm at the City Hall Council Chambers. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Nichols announced the public hearing on the proposed ad valorem tax rate will occur, Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 6:00 pm at the City Hall Council Chambers. 8.2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the draft Goals, Strategies, and Actions Report for the Housing Action Plan. CCM 080824 Minutes Page 3 David Brower, Community Development Analyst, presented the draft Goals, Strategies, the Actions Report for the Housing Action Plan and a brief overview of the Existing Conditions Report and Public Participation Summary. The Housing Action Plan Committee worked with City Staff to advise and make recommendations for a plan that reflects the community's vision for housing action and initiatives. The two main overarching goals of the Housing Action Plan were to create more housing units of various types to meet growing demand and to produce and preserve housing that is affordable to current and future community members. Goal 1, Strategy 1 — Selectively allow increased density • Action 1 — Amend the Unified Development Ordinance to allow for greater density and housing variety • Action 2 — Rezone certain areas to allow more density and housing variety • Action 3 — Create a process for expedited permitting and reduced or waived fees for affordable housing development Goal 1, Strategy 2 — Encourage and allow infill development • Action 1— Explore opportunities for infill development when amending the UDO or rezoning for greater density • Action 2 — Investigate allowing or promoting housing on unused institutional or public land Goal 1, Strategy 3 — Encourage innovation and sustainability in housing construction • Action 1 — Create a program to encourage and incentivize alternative and energy -efficient building methods Goal 2, Strategy 1 — Create programs to facilitate homeownership • Action 1 — Create a deed -restricted homeownership program. • Action 2 — Pursue partnerships to construct affordable homeownership opportunities. • Action 3 — Pursue tools to help households qualify for financing by helping them to become landlords (live in one half of duplex, etc.) Goal 2, Strategy 2 — Create rental housing for income -qualified residents • Action 1 — Investigate the creation of a Municipal Housing Authority • Action 2 - Create an inter -generational home share program Goal 2, Strategy 3 — Establish funding mechanisms to create affordable housing for rent or purchase • Action 1 — Create a density bonus system for new development meeting increased density goals • Action 2 — Create a Local Housing Finance Corporation • Action 3 — Partner with developers through Housing Public Facility Corporations • Action 4 — Partner with Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) developers Goal 2, Strategy 4 — Partner with community stakeholders to develop housing for their constituency • Action 1 — Work with organizations to create employee / client housing programs • Action 2 — Create formal mechanisms to collaborate with Texas A&M, Brazos County, and City of Bryan to share data and achieve housing goals Goal 2, Strategy 5 — Preserve and enhance existing housing stock • Action 1 — Acquire and rehabilitate existing housing stock that is at risk of losing affordability Goal 2, Strategy 6 — Prevent displacement of low and moderate -income homeowners • Action 1 - Create initiative to help homeowners without homestead exemptions to file • Action 2 — Refer homeowners to existing weatherization programs and possibly create new program Goal 2, Strategy 7 — Provide education for tenants, homebuyers, and homeowners • Action 1 — Create a home maintenance education and training program • Action 2 — Create comprehensive homebuyer education training program • Action 3 — Create a tenant education and training program CCM 080824 Minutes Page 4 Goal 2, Strategy 8 — Continue to seek stakeholder and citizen feedback and direction on Housing Action Plan implementation • Action 1 — Create a Housing Action Plan Oversight Committee • Action 2 — The Housing Action Plan Oversight Committee and City staff will prepare an annual progress report Mayor Nichols opened for Citizen Comments. Fred Dupriest, College Station, came before Council to explain the effect of the boundaries set for the committee in the four Comprehensive Plan "actions" will likely be that a limited number of lower income households will be assisted. He stated that nothing will help the thousands of households in need except a large increase in housing units, but competing priorities must be considered beyond affordability. Addressing these items that this is beyond the scope of this committee: • Achieve a reduction in the broader market -rate cost of housing. • Reverse displacement of workforce families by students. • Build more student housing, but it must be more dense than Middle Housing or HOOs. • Reverse College Station's decline in home ownership. • Establish the plan to continue to take more single-family zoning by A&M is an unacceptable student housing strategy. There being no further comments, the Citizen Comments was closed. 8.3. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the development of a traffic congestion and mobility analysis. Jason Schubert, Transportation Planning Coordinator, stated that the primary goal of this study is to improve traffic and mobility within the City now and into the future by conducting a detailed analysis of the City's transportation system and provide a quantitative view of current transportation issues, impacts, concerns, trends, system capacity surplus, and shortfalls. Planning & Development staff and the Traffic Engineering division of Public Works have been working with a consultant, TJKM, to develop the analysis which includes an assessment of 50 intersections around the city. Staff engaged with other public agency stakeholders and have posted a citizen survey to receive feedback regarding their experiences and preferences as users of different aspects of the transportation system. Nayan Amin, President of TJKM, provided an overview of the preliminary analysis, the analysis that is expected to be completed in fall 2024. This analysis is a tool to assess our transportation system, identify existing and projected challenges, and develop data -driven strategies to enhance mobility, reduce traffic congestion, and improve residents' and visitors' overall quality of life. Potential Mitigation Strategies • Strategies to enhance capacity and safety for all modes, at the deficient intersections may include: ✓ Additional turn lanes ✓ Synchronization of traffic signals along the corridors in real time ✓ Reducing the curb return radii to slow turning vehicles ✓ Alternative Traffic Control such as All -Way Stop; Traffic Signal or Roundabout ✓ Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) to enhance pedestrian safety • Intersections with significant LOS issues may necessitate a larger change to the intersection design and configuration CCM 080824 Minutes Page 5 Next Steps & Schedule • Develop toolbox for implementing mitigations • Prepare Conceptual Layouts • Prepare Cost Estimates for proposed mitigations • Develop list of potential projects for inclusion in future CIP program or for other funding sources 8.4. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a presentation and update on the Texas Independence Park Proiect. Kelsey Heiden, Parks and Recreation Director, presented an updated on the Texas Independence Park Project from public engagement on the park, worked with TAMU Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning Students, the park restrooms, the master plan and the budget for this project. Public Engagement — Online Survey • 553 Survey Respondents o 20% affiliated with an HOA o 73% said they would use a park at this location Public Open House • 40+ Meeting Attendees Next Steps • Identify Phases • Texas Parks and Wildlife Grant • Final Design MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Harvell and a second by Councilmember Smith, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to approve a Master Plan for the Texas Independence Park Project. The motion carried unanimously. 9. REGULAR ITEMS 9.1. Public Hearing, presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding Ordinance No. 2024- 4536 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 GS General Suburban to GS General Suburban and ROO Restricted Occupancy Overlay on approximately 117 acres of land, being 147 lots within Sweet Briar Addition, Woodland Acres, and College Hills Woodlands Subdivisions, generally located between Lincoln Drive and Dominik Drive along Ashburn Avenue. Gabriel Schrum, Planning and Development, stated that this request is to rezone approximately 117 acres from GS General Suburban to GS General Suburban and ROO Restricted Occupancy Overlay, being approximately: • 20.04 acres being 39 lots within Sweet Briar Addition • 49.90 acres being 83 lots within College Hills Woodlands • 47 acres being 25 lots within Woodland Acres CCM 080824 Minutes Page 6 Mr. Schrum explained that this request is to add the ROO, which is a single-family overlay zoning district, to the existing base zoning within these contiguous subdivision boundaries. The ROO is intended to provide subdivision -specific occupancy regulations — not to exceed two unrelated persons per single-family dwelling or accessory living quarter. The Sweet Briar Addition, College Hills Woodlands, and Woodland Acres Petition Committee, comprised of property owners from each original subdivision, have met all requirements of the ROO application process. The Petition Committee submitted the application materials including the ROO petition for each subdivision. When submitting an application with contiguous subdivisions applying jointly within one application, the fifty (50) percent plus one (1) petition signature threshold of property owners in support of the overlay must be met for each of the original subdivisions that apply jointly. City staff were able to verify that each original subdivision has met the petition signature threshold in support of the requested ROO. The Planning and Zoning Commission heard this item at their July 18, 2024 meeting and recommended unanimous approval of the request. At approximately 8:25 p.m., Mayor Nichols opened the Public Hearing. There being no further comments, the Public Hearing was closed at 8:25 p.m. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Maloney and a second by Councilmember Wright, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to adopt Ordinance No. 2024-4536, 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 GS General Suburban to GS General Suburban and ROO Restricted Occupancy Overlay on approximately 117 acres of land, being 147 lots within Sweet Briar Addition, Woodland Acres, and College Hills Woodlands Subdivisions, generally located between Lincoln Drive and Dominik Drive along Ashburn Avenue. The motion carried unanimously. 9.2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding an appointment to the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenwav Advisory Board. Majority of Council appointed Carla Robinson to Position A on the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenway Advisory Board for a 1-year and 5-month unexpired term. 10. Council Calendar Council reviewed the calendar. 11. Items of Community Interest: The Council may receive reports from a Council Member or City Staff about items of community interest for which notice has not been given, including: expressions of thanks, congratulations or condolence; information regarding holiday schedules; honorary or salutary recognitions of a public official, public employee, or other citizen; reminders of upcoming events organized or sponsored bv the City of College Station; information about a social, ceremonial or community event organized or sponsored bv an entity other than the City of College Station that is scheduled to be attended bv a Council Member, another city official or staff of the City of College Station; and announcements involving an imminent threat to the public health and safety of people in the City of College Station that has arisen after the posting of the agenda. No items to report at this time. CCM 080824 Minutes Page 7 11. Council Reports on Committees. Boards, and Commission: A Council Member may make a report regarding meetings of City Council boards and commissions or meetings of boards and committees on which a Council Member serves as a representative that have met since the last council meeting. (Committees listed in Coversheet) No items to report at this time. 12. Future Agenda Items and Review of Standing List of Council Generated Future Agenda Items: A Council Member may make a request to City Council to place an item for which no notice has been given on a future agenda or may inquire about the status of an item on the standing list of council generated future agenda items. A Council Member's or City Staff s response to the request or inquiry will be limited to a statement of specific factual information related to the request or inquiry or the recitation of existing policy in response to the request or inquiry. Any deliberation of or decision about the subiect of a request will be limited to a proposal to place the subiect on the agenda for a subsequent meeting. No future items at this time. 13. Adjournment. There being no further business, Mayor Nichols adjourned the meeting of the City Council at 8:34 p.m. on Thursday, August 8, 2024. John P. Nichols, Mayor ATTEST: Tanya Smith, City Secretary CCM 080824 Minutes Page 8