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Home My WebLink About06/25/2026 - Regular Minutes - City CouncilCCM 062526 Minutes Page 1 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING IN-PERSON WITH TELECONFERENCE PARTICIPATION CITY OF COLLEGE STATION JUNE 25, 2026 STATE OF TEXAS § § COUNTY OF BRAZOS § Presiding: John Nichols, Mayor Council: Mark Smith William Wright, Mayor ProTem David White Melissa McIlhaney Bob Yancy Scott Shafer City Staff: Bryan Woods, City Manager Jeff Kersten, Assistant City Manager Leslie Whitten, Deputy City Attorney John Haislet, Sr. Assistant City Attorney Tanya Smith, City Secretary Ian Whittenton, Deputy 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 via In-Person and Teleconference at 4:00 p.m. on June 25, 2026, 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, §551.072-Real Estate, §551.074-Personnel, and §551.087-Economic Development, and the College Station City Council convened into Executive Session at 4:01 p.m. on June 25, 2026, to continue discussing matters pertaining to: 2.1. Consultation with Attorney to seek advice regarding pending or contemplated litigation, to wit: • The City of College Station v. The Public Utility Commission of Texas, Cause No. D -1-GN- 24-005680 in the 200th District Court, Travis County, Texas. • Hopkins v. City of College Station, et al., Civil Action No. 4:25-CV-00473, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. 2.2. Deliberation on the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property; to wit: • Approximately 8 acres of land located at 1508 Harvey Road. CCM 062526 Minutes Page 2 • Approximately 28 acres of land generally located at Midtown Drive and Corporate Parkway in the Midtown Business Park. • Property located within the Midtown Business Park. 2.3. Deliberation on the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer; to wit: • City Manager • Council Self-Evaluation 2.4. Deliberation on an offer of financial or other incentives for a business prospect that the Council seeks to have locate, stay or expand in or near the City; to wit: • Economic development agreement for a development on the 28 acres of land generally located at Midtown Drive and Corporate Parkway in the Midtown Business Park. • Economic development agreement for a development within the Midtown Business Park relating to baseball fields. • Economic development agreement with College Station Town Center, LP. 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 6:02 p.m. 4. Pledge of Allegiance, Invocation, consider absence request . Invocation given by Chaplain Mike Armstrong, College Station Fire Department. 5. PRESENTATION - PROCLAMATIONS, AWARDS, AND RECOGNITIONS. 5.1. Presentation recognizing June 27, 2026 as "American Business Women's Association Day." Mayor Nichols presented a proclamation to Rhianon Whitney, Tina Duncan, Holly Pritchard, Laura Cates, and Jessica Harman with the American Business Women's Association, proclaiming the week of June 27, 2026, as " American Business Women's Association Day." 6. Hear Visitors Comments. David Johns from College Station expressed concerns about accidents involving new Texas A&M students, distracted driving, and road construction. Ivan Svrcek from Bryan discussed the extensive use and access to ALPR camera data by law enforcement, citing large numbers of searches by various state and local organizations and questioning data security and privacy. Ellen Fuller from College Station updated the council on the 'I Heart America' campaign, new pole banners at Veterans Park, and presented flags and stickers to the council. She described collaboration with Parks and Recreation and the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board, expressing appreciation for their support on these projects. CCM 062526 Minutes Page 3 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 se parate vote. No items were pulled for clarification. 7.1. Presentation, discussion, and possible action of minutes for: • June 11, 2026 Council Meeting 7.2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on a construction contract with Larry Young Paving, Inc. for the construction of a new traffic signal at Barron Road at Decatur Drive in the amount of $337,872 plus the City’s contingency in the amount of $35,000 for a total appropriation of $372,872. Approval of this item grants authority for the C ity Manager to authorize project expenditures up to the City’s contingency amount. 7.3. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on a $401,060.27 change order to the ten-year agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. (“AXON”) for thirteen (13) Officer Safety Plan T7 packages to include body cameras, TASERS, digital storage, and associated rep orting systems. 7.4. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on annual polymer purchases from SNF Water Science Polydyne, Inc., with an estimated annual expenditure of $315,000 based on current unit pricing. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember White and a second by Councilmember Wright, the City Council voted seven (7) for and none (0) opposed, to approve the Consent agenda. The motion carried unanimously. 8. WORKSHOP ITEMS 8.1. Presentation, discussion, and possible action related to the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) update. Jennifer Cain, Capital Projects Director, provided the City Council with a semiannual update on select capital improvement projects, detailing progress, timelines, budget changes, and technical aspects. She explained that the update covers a select group of projects from the city's portfolio, with 69 active projects displayed on the public dashboard. The dashboard allows users to filter by project type and provides contact information for project managers, facilitating public inquiries. CCM 062526 Minutes Page 4 Current and Upcoming Capital Improvement Projects • Greens Prairie – County Section • State Hwy 6 Utilities • Jones Butler Roundabout & Utilities • Northeast Trunkline Phase 3 & 4 • Barron/Capstone • Rock Prairie East Widening (Town Lake to WD Fitch) • Rock Prairie East Widening (WD Fitch to City Limits) • Krenek Tap Rehabilitation • Lincoln Avenue Rehab • Corporate Pkwy & Utilities • Texas Independence Park • Lincoln Center Area Improvements & Splashpad • Thomas Park Improvements • James, Puryear and Francis CCM 062526 Minutes Page 5 • Fire Station No. 7 Completed Bond Projects • Bachmann Little League and Senior League/Soccer Buildings • Central Park Operations Shop • Pickleball & Multi-Use Courts at Anderson Park • Bee Creek and Central Park Tennis Courts Mayor Nichols recessed the meeting at 6:48 p.m. The meeting resumed at 7:02 p.m. 8.2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on Greater Northgate Small Area Plan recommendations, proposed public improvements within the Northgate district, and direction relating to the surface parking lot and surrounding area. Bryan Woods, City Manager, Michael Ostrowski, Chief Development Officer, and Anthony Armstrong, Planning and Development Director, led a workshop discussion on the Greater Northgate Small Area Plan, focusing on public improvements, preservation of district character, regulatory options, and stakeholder engagement, with council members asked to provide direction on future actions. Michael Ostrowski, Chief Development Officer, reviewed recent and upcoming improvements in Northgate, including temporary pedestrian barricades for safety, refreshed bathrooms, landscaping, new signage for parking, and plans for benches to replace damaged planters. Additional projects include resurfacing the surface lot, branding initiatives, and installation of a Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen statue. The city created a district manager position, filled by Jennifer Luna, to improve communication and coordination with Northgate business owners. Monthly meetings with the Northgate District Association and other stakeholders have facilitated real-time feedback and collaborative problem-solving. Anthony Armstrong, Planning and Development Director, outlined regulatory options for preserving Northgate's character, including height limitations, material requirements, and facade change restrictions. Due to state law, material regulation changes risk losing grandfathered protections, and the only feasible regulatory action is height caps. The Landmark Commission, though dormant, could be reactivated to enforce historic preservation overlays, but this would require significant council action and could impact property rights. Alternative strategies discussed include economic development agreements, tax abatements, and potential city acquisition of properties to ensure preservation. These approaches require demonstrating public needs and would involve direct partnerships with property owners. Completed Improvements in Northgate • Temporary Safety Barricades • Post implementation: TAMU vs Auburn (2025) • Restrooms (refreshed and repainted) • Picnic Tables (repaired and refinished) • Tree Trimming Proposed Improvements • Garage Hardscape CCM 062526 Minutes Page 6 • Current Garage Frontage • Benches • Current Tree Well Frontage • Garage Management System • New Directional Signage for Parking • Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen Statue • Proposed Placement • Aggie Spirit statue to be relocated to the Northgate clock location Applicable FY27 SLA Requests • New sanitation compactors • Improved signage in the parking garage • Resurface the existing parking lot • Northgate branding strategy Suggestions from Engagement • Limit height to maximum of 3–5 stories • Increase material requirements to include more wooden or brick elements • Any new construction or façade changes over 50% must be approved by Design Review Board • Demolition of any building must be approved by the Design Review Board Northgate Preservation Overlay • First St to Lodge St • University Dr to Church Ave • Include developed lots such as The Spot, Rough Draft and Rebel Draft House Northgate Surface Parking Lot • 1.5+ acres in size • 100 parking spaces, teaser parking • Generates approximately $500k per year in parking revenue • Ride share location • Business loading location Potential Direction • Maintain as parking, make improvements as needed • Explore the City redeveloping the space into a community gathering space • Explore the sale or lease of the property for private sector development that meets certain development standards • A combination of above options through public/private partnership • Other/additional unidentified options Mayor Nichols opened for Citizen Comments. Justin Manning from College Station thanked the Council for improved communication and responsiveness. He highlighted Jennifer Luna’s contributions, regular meetings with Michael, and appreciated having a direct line with the Council. Mr. Manning noted a shift from community frustration to collaboration, supported the pause on lot sales, and expressed gratitude for thoughtful planning affecting the town’s history and community. CCM 062526 Minutes Page 7 Costa Dallis thanked the Mayor, Council, and staff, noting appreciation for increased engagement. He stated that TABC issues should go directly to TABC, emphasized the importance of rideshare services for safety, and supported keeping the parking lot while recommending peak-time pricing. Mr. Dallis also noted that Dixie Chicken remains among the top dining spots for visitors to Veterans Park. Lance Richards, representing A&M United Methodist Church, raised concerns about safety for weekday school attendees and food insecurity, highlighting the impact of increased density and transient populations on security and community well-being. There being no further comments, Citizen Comments was closed. The Council requested staff to bring back a detailed proposal for a Northgate overlay, including options for height restrictions, use restrictions, and incentives, after engaging with property owners and stakeholders for input. 9. REGULAR ITEMS 9.1. Public Hearing, presentation, discussion, and possible action on Ordinance No. 2026-4691 vacating and abandoning a 0.016 acre portion of a generally 20-foot-wide Public Utility Easement, said easement lying over, across, and upon Lot 3, Block 9 of the Pebble Creek Subdivision Phase 11B, generally located at 1902 Pebble Bend Drive, according to the plat recorded in Volume 20029, Page 189 of the Official Public Records of Brazos County, Texas. Cole Gabelman, Planning and Development, explained that the abandonment of a 10 ft portion of the 20 ft public utility easement is being requested by the applicant due to a desire to construct a swimming pool in the rear of the property where the easement is located. The 20 ft easement was originally dedicated as a plating requirement and is currently vacant. The easement requested for abandonment abuts Lick Creek floodplain. A 10 ft public utility easement will remain on the rear property line. The public utility easement is located along the rear lot lines of all lots in Block 9 of the Pebble Creek Phase 11B Subdivision. At approximately 9:37 p.m., Mayor Nichols opened the Public Hearing. There being no further comments, the Public Hearing was closed at 9:38 p.m. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Wright and a second by Councilmember McIlhaney, the City Council voted seven (7) for and none (0) opposed, to adopt Ordinance No. 2026- 4691, vacating and abandoning a 0.016 acre portion of a generally 20-foot-wide Public Utility Easement, said easement lying over, across, and upon Lot 3, Block 9 of the Pebble Creek Subdivision Phase 11B, generally located at 1902 Pebble Bend Drive, according to the plat recorded in Volume 20029, Page 189 of the Official Public Records of Brazos County, Texas.. The motion carried unanimously. 10. Items of Community Interest and Council Calendar: The Council may discuss upcoming events and 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, congr atulations 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 by the City of College Station; informatio n about a social, ceremonial or community event organized or sponsored by an entity other than the City of College Station that is scheduled to be attended by a Council Member, another city official or staff of the City of College Station; CCM 062526 Minutes Page 8 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. Mayor Nichols reported on the city’s upcoming 4th of July event, I Heart America. 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 sinc e the last council meeting. (Committees listed in Coversheet) No 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 our decision about the subject of a request will be limited to a proposal to place the subject on the agenda for a subsequent meeting. No future agenda items at this time. 13. Adjournment. There being no further business, Mayor Nichols adjourned the meeting of the City Council at 9:43 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026. ________________________ John P. Nichols, Mayor ATTEST: Tanya Smith, City Secretary ________________________