HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 Capital Improvement PropositionsCAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS
PROGRAM
CITY OF
COLLEGE
STATION
VOTE !! JUNE 29
� J
LETTER TO THE CITIZENS OF COLLEGE STATION
DEAR CITIZEN;
On June 29, 1976 you are asked to vote on a bond issue which will allow the City to make
necessary capital improvements to City facilities. The nine propositions in this bond issue
were arrived at with a great deal of thought and on the part of a Capital Improvements
Committee composed of 18 citizens and the City Council. The Capital Improvements Committee
began a review of City Staff recommendations in October of 1975 and made a final report to
the Council in March of 1976. The Council has reviewed the work of this committee on several
occasions since April. The Capital Improvements Committee and the Council both feel the items
included on the bond issue represent essential capital expenditures which are necessary to
provide City services.
We are asking the citizens to review the enclosed literature. If you have questions,
Please call members of tb? Council or City Staff,
We ask for your support on all nine propositions on June 29, 1976,
Lorence L. Bravenec, Mayor
c.,
Gary Halter, Councilman
and Chairman
Capital ;Vrovements Commit
Anne Hazen, Councilman
JaVes bazierl N'vncilman
,awe Gardner, Co ncilman
Larry Ringer, Councilman
Lane Stephenson, Councilman
PROPOSITION
N0.1
STREET
IMPROVEMENTS
The following expenditures are proposed in the approximate amounts as follows:
TRAFFIC SIGNAL LIGHTS
a. Jersey and Dexter
b. Highway 6 and Southwest Parkway
SCHOOL CORRIDOR SIDEWALKS AND BIKEWAYS
a. This includes sidewalks on main streets near both elementary schools and
a bikeway plan to serve all the schools in the City. Bikeways consist of
signed routes, striped lanes where necessary, and an offstreet path
system. These plans basically conform to the study by the League of
Women Voters. The City is paying all the costs of sidewalks because these
sidewalks help ensure the safety of young children, and no assessment will
be made on property owners.
STREETS
a. Improve Holleman Drive from Wellborn Road to Winding Road (the remaining
cost of approximately $240,000 to be paid by the State of Texas). The
City has designated Holleman Drive as a major street meaning it carries
more city -wide than local traffic, and therefore, the State of Texas will
pay for street construction if the City pays for right -of -way and curb
and gutter.
b. City's share for construction of streets in new subdivisions. It is
a policy of the City to require developers to pay for all streets used
to serve their subdivisions. When the City requires installation of
streets of additional width to serve areas outside the development the
City pays for the additional width.
$ 10,000
$ -10
$ 130,000
$ 100,000
$ 110,000
$ 360, 000
LEGEND
..... PAVE STREET
• SIGNALIZATION
........... BIKEWAY
- -- SIDEWALK
PROPOSITION
N0.2
The Police and Fire Departments are presently using the same building at 1207
S. Texas Avenue. Due to the growth of the City and additional Fire Department
needs, (that is, additional fire equipment, storage and repair facilities,
lockers, etc.) the City proposes to convert the building exclusively to a Central
Fire Station and move the Police Department. The Fire Department cannot be moved
because the loss in response time would cause fire insurance rates to increase.
CENTRAL FIRE STATION
FIRE SUBSTATION
NEW POLICE STATION
GENERAL WAREHOUSE,
MAINTENANCE BUILDING,
& STORAGE YARD
The following expenditures are proposed in the approximate amounts for each item as follows:
CENTRAL FIRE STATION
At the present time, the City is below state insurance standards on the number of
pieces of fire equipment, which could increase insurance rates. The City plans
to acquire this equipment, and space in a central fire station is required to
house it. Additionally, since the present fire station was constructed, full time
fire personnel have increased from 4 to 22, or 550 %, to insure adequate fire
service and meet insurance standards.
FIRE SUBSTATION
The City's growth to the south makes it now necessary to propose a Fire Substation
in that area to insure a good response time to all the citizens. Response time
affects insurance rates. A truck should take no longer than 5 minutes to arrive
at a fire for a good response time.
NEW POLICE STATION
$ 175,000
$ 150,000
$ 350,000
The City proposes to build a new police station to centralize all the police
functions, including Municipal Court and training, in one facility. Personnel
growth since 1969 has been an increase from 6 to 27 policemen, or 350 %.
$ 970, 000
GENERAL WAREHOUSE, MAINTENANCE BUILDING, AND STORAGE YARD
The present City warehouse facility consists of a 2300 square foot building
with a garage that can allow maintenance of only one vehicle at a time. Most
materials are stored in the open or in rented space. Careful study has been
made of the City's present maintenance and storage facilities and future needs,
and this indicates a need for approximately 20,000 square feet on a 10 acre
site, which clearly demonstrates the inadequacy of the present facility. A
new warehouse facility will be necessary to insure efficient service to the
citizens.
$ 295,000
PROPOSITION
N0. 3
When the present City Hall was completed in 1969 the thought was that it would be an adequate
structure for many years; however, in this period of seven years our City has more than doubled
its population, and the demand for City services and offices has increased accordingly. The
City administrative staff has been doubled up in many offices, and in certain situations such
as the tax office there are three persons using space designed for one.
Certain critical areas such as the utility billing and receiving office have doubled their
work load and do not have adequate space for machines and people as we apparently head into
more years of substantial growth.
CITY HALL
ADDITION
The Parks and Recreation Department is operating out of one small office, and there is presently
no space for the electrical, water and sewer superintendents' offices. There are no adequate
offices available for building inspection officials. The size of the City now indicates the need
for a separate purchasing and personnel office but there is no space available. Meeting space
for City staff and citizen committees and boards is inadequate and becoming more of a problem.
This proposed expansion would attach to the present City Hall and preliminary plans for this
building can be seen at City Hall.
$3607000
PROPOSITION
N0.4
PARKS
IMPROVEMENTS
$423, 000
The following expenditures are proposed in the approximate amounts for each item as follows:
BEE CREEK PARK
Trails system (access, bicycle, nature)
Pond improvement (fishing, etc.)
Four additional tennis courts
Foot bridges for access from the south
Restroom facilities
OAKS PARK
Two tennis courts
Foot bridges
Picnic sites
Water lines for drinking fountains
ANDERSON RIDGE PARK
Lighted ballfield (Little League or Girls Softball)
Playground
Picnic sites and walkways
THOMAS PARK
Improvements of existing tennis courts
(surfacing, wind breaks, etc.)
Landscaping (additional shade trees)
WAYNE SMITH PARK
Pave parking areas
Pave area around bleachers and restrooms
and concession stand
LINCOLN CENTER PARK
Building improvements -- roofing, paint, etc.
Develop playground area
Group picnic shelter
Additional ballfield
Maintenance storage building
Parking areas and road construction
Restrooms
Trails or walkways
Group picnic shelter
Additional tennis courts
Neighborhood swimming pool
(about the size of Bryan
Municipal Pool near Bryan
Golf Course)
Improve existing bleachers and
playfield
Renovate lighting system
Paved parking areas
$ 144,000
$ 54,000
$ 35,000
$ 130,000
$ 20,000
$ 40,000
HOW THIS
BOND ISSUE
WILL AFFECT
THE TAX RATE
THE FIRST FOUR PROPOSITIONS ON THE BALLOT ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT
WILL INCREASE YOUR TAXES
Based upon the current tax base and projected increases (as of January 1, 1978) in the tax
base due to new growth the City projects the following property tax increases:
1. For each $1,000,000 worth of bonds, taxes would increase about 6 cents per
$100.00 of property on the tax rolls.
2. Propositions 1,2,3, and 4 total $2,223,000. This means these four propositions
would increase property taxes about 13 cents per $100.00 of evaluation.
3. To the property owner with a home with a tax - assessed evaluation of $10,000,
this would mean a tax increase of about $13.00 per year. (Tax- assessed evalua-
tion is not to be confused with actual value. In College Station tax - assessed
evaluation is about one half of actual value.)
It should be noted, however, that there will be no tax increase to repay these bonds for the first
year. The tax increase proposed above would not be due until January 1st, 1978.
COLLEGE STATION TAX RATE COMPARED
TO OTHER CITIES OF SIMILAR POPULATIONS
Effective
Present Tax Rate
Per $100.00 of Value
College Station's
Rate If Bond Issue
Passes
1 • COLLEGE STATION
34.400 47.400
2 • DEER PARK
52.21G
3 • BELLAIRE
53.830
4 • HUNTSVILLE
60.000
5 • LUFKI N
72. 50G
6 • CONROE
75.00
7 • FREEPORT
91.80G
PROPOSITION
N0.5
WATER SYSTEM
IMPROVEMENTS
WELL AND LINES
$2,400,000
As part of the move toward independence of municipal services, the City proposes
to drill 2 additional wells, build a pump station, and install the transmission lines
necessary to supply the City with its own water source. This should provide an adequate
supply of water for about ten years. At the present time the City uses an average
of about 4 million gallons per day. The new well on University Drive has a maximum
production of 700,000 gallons per day. This proposal would provide 2 wells with a
total capacity of 7 million gallons per day and the necessary transmission line with
a capacity of about 9 million gallons per day. Additional wells could be drilled
at a later date to use the excess capacity of the line. The City is pursuing the
possible 50% funding of this expenditure by the Economic Development Administration,
but the approval of bonds should be for the $2.4 million due to the uncertainty of the
grant.
Making these improvements is far cheaper than continuing to buy from Bryan. Bryan
now charges 38.50 per 1,000 gallons and is proposing to charge 41c. If the City does
not get the 50% EDA grant our cost (capital and operating) would be 35G per 1,000
gallons. If the City gets the 50% EDA funding, the cost will be less than 30( per
1,000 gallons.
CITY'S SHARE OF REQUIRED OVERSIZED LINES IN NEW SUBDIVISIONS
It has been the long standing policy of the City to require all developers to
pay for the water supply lines installed to serve their subdivisions. Where the
City requires the installation of lines larger than 8 inches in diameter for
present and future use in areas outside the development, the City pays for the
difference in price between the larger size pipe and the 8 inch pipe. This policy
has allowed the City to build its distribution system at minimal cost as the City
expands.
$ 2,475,000
$ 75,000
THIS PROPOSITION WILL NOT INCREASE TAXES
PROPOSITION
N0.6
The following expenditures are proposed in the approximate amounts for each item as follows:
2.0 MILLION GALLON PER DAY WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT ADDITION $1,600,000
The present plant is critically near capacity operation due to the growth of the
City. The proposed addition would double the capacity of the plant to assure adequate
service for the population. If this addition to the plant is not constructed the City
will be in danger of not meeting waste water quality standards.
CITY'S SHARE OF REQUIRED OVERSIZED LINES IN NEW SUBDIVISIONS $ 90,000
SEWER SYSTEM
IMPROVEMENTS
It has been the long standing policy of the City to require all developers to
pay for the sanitary sewer lines installed to serve their subdivisions. Where
the City requires the installation of lines larger than 8 inches in diameter for
present and future use in areas outside the development, the City pays the
difference in price between the larger size pipe and the 8 inch pipe. This policy
has allowed the City to build its collection system at minimal cost as the City
expands.
CARTER CREEK LINE $ 360,000
This line will provide adequate sewer service for many areas in the north of
town as well as enable the City to serve all those areas within the City Limits
which are presently served by the Bryan Waste Water Plant.
$2,050,000
THIS PROPOSITION WILL NOT INCREASE TAXES
PROPOSITIONS
NOS. 7 & 8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IMPROVEMENTS
These two propositions, 7 and 8, should be considered as one since together they will provide the
necessary switching station, transmission lines, transformer banks and distribution system and
other improvements which will give the City of College Station the option to change its supply and
take advantage of lower overall electrical costs. It is projected that these savings in electrical
costs will allow the retirement of the bonds proposed in these Propositions and still allow the
delivery of power to College Station residents at lower overall costs than under the present
system.
The City presently acquires its electric power from the City of Bryan, and it is proposed to
change to Gulf States Utilities (G.S.U.) as the source of supply. Based upon current proposed
Bryan rate increases as compared to proposed rates of Gulf States (G.S.U.), and projected con-
sumption for the coming year, College Station residents would save $582,900 on base rates and
$1,160,000 on fuel adjustment charges by purchasing electricity from G.S.U., total savings of
$1,742,000. In order to purchase electrical energy from G.S.U. these bonds must be approved. The
voter should be aware that some increase in rates may occur while we are operating under our present
contract and before we are able to change suppliers.
These propositions are also proposed to cover the expenditures necessary to modernize and expand
our existing and future electrical system.
It should be noted that even if the proposition is approved, the City is under no obligation to
sell bonds. If this proposition were adopted, the City nevertheless could use the bonds to improve
its electrical system with Bryan as the electrical supply source, if some unforeseen development
would indicate that Bryan is the most economical source.
$5,725,000
$2,725,000
GENERAL OBLIGATION
$3,000,000
REVENUE BONDS
THIS PROPOSITION WILL NOT INCREASE TAXES
LEGEND
mTRANSMISSION
LINES
•••••••••••• DISTRIBUTION
LINES
PROPOSITION
N0.9
The City Council is proposing the issuance of $500,000 in Revenue Bonds to build a civic /convention
center. These bonds will be repaid completely out of hotel /motel tax revenues and not from property
or other taxes or revenues. The hotel /motel tax is paid by people who rent rooms in motels within
the City.
There is no requirement under state law that such bonds be put to a vote of the people; however,
the thinking of the Council is that the people should be allowed to vote on this issue.
As yet no decision has been made as to the exact type of facility to be constructed or its location
but a citizens' committee (Albert Pedulla, Chairman) is working on these questions at the present
time. This facility is not intended to be in competition with existing facilities at either the
University or at local motels.
CIVIC! CONVENTION
CENTER
$ 500,000
By state law the Council must spend 16 2/3% of all motel taxes collected for direct tourist
promotion. The issuance of these bonds would not preclude this expenditure.
THIS PROPOSITION WILL NOT INCREASE TAXES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A special note of thanks
goes to the members of the
Capital Improvements Com-
mittee who spent many hours
of their time reviewing
proposals made by the City
Staff and Council.
James Benjamin
C. R. Benedict
William D. Fitch
Bill Hensel
Foress Johnson
K. A. Manning
Rev. W. R. Oxley
C. H. Ransdell
Robert C. Reese
W. T. Riedel
Patti Nan Sears
John Simmons
Don Sweeney
A. C. Vinzant
Tina Watkins
Jerri Ward
Codie D. Wells
A note of appreciation
also goes to those members
of the City Staff who
determined the City's needs,
formulated these proposi-
tions, and prepared this
document, much on their own
time.
BALLOT ITEM
SUBJECT
1 Street Improvements
2 Central Fire Station; Fire Substation; New
Police Station; General Warehouse, Maintenance
Building, and Storage Yard
3 City Hall Addition
4 Parks Improvements
5 Water System Improvements
6 Sewer System Improvements
7 Electrical System Improvements
(General Obligation Bonds)
8 Electrical System Improvements
(Revenue Bonds)
Subtotal
9 Civic /Convention Center
Total
AMOUNT
360,000
970,000
360,000
423,000
2,475,000
2,050,000
2,725,000
3,000,000
$ 12,363,000
500,000
$ 12,863,000
NOTE: Deadline for Absentee Voting is 5:00 P.M., June 25, 1976. Polling place is the College
Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue. Time: 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Monday - Friday
For further information: call 846 -8868 or 846 -8886
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE JUNE 29
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
P. O. Box 9960
College Station, Tx. 77840
D. A. ANDERSON 5
2_236
1 202 FOSTER TEXAS
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