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Home My WebLink About08/29/2005 - Special Minutes City CouncilCrr CITY OF COLLEG.E S Mayor Council Members Ron Silvia Ben White Mayor Pro Tempore Ron Gay John Happ Susan Lancaster Interim City Manager Chris Scotti. Glenn Brown Nancy Berry Minutes College Station City Council Special Meeting Monday, August 29, 2005 at 4:00 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers, 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Silvia, Mayor Pro Tem Happ, Council members White, Gay, Lancaster, Scotti, Berry STAFF PRESENT: Interim City Manager Glenn Brown, City Attorney Cargill Jr., City Secretary Hooks, Assistant City Secretary Casares Mayor Silvia called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. Special Agenda Item No. 1-- Presentation, discussion and possible action on whether to initiate a referendum on the College Station convention center project. Interim City Manager Glenn Brown stated that the purpose of this item was to receive input from the City Council about an initiative referendum on the Convention Center project. Comments were made from the audience. Ron Fulton, President of the Restaurant Association opposed the referendum. Hub Kennady, 5001 Crystal Downs, opposed the referendum Leonard Ross, owner of the Plaza Hotel spoke in favor of a referendum Council member Gay made a motion to place on the September 6, 2005 council agenda, discussion and consideration of a ballot proposition on the November constitutional ballot on the conference center issue. Scotti seconded the motion. Motion failed, 2-5. FOR: Scotti and Gay AGAINST: White, Happ, Lancaster, Berry, Silvia Special A. enda Item No. 2 — Presentation, discussion and possible action on the proposed timeline and review process for the selection of an executive search firm to assist in the process of hiring a City Manager. Purchasing Manager Cheryl Turney described a proposed timeline for the selection of an executive search firm in the process of hiring a City Manager. Council committed to rank the search firms at City Council Budget Meeting Page 4 August 29, 2005 the September 8th Council meeting and preferred a regular timeline rather than a fast paced approach for the selection of City Manager. Special Azenda Item No. 3 — Presentation, discussion and possible action on the FY 2005-2006 Proposed Budget. Jeff Kersten, Director of Fiscal and Strategic Planning Services presented information about the General Fund Proposed budget for Parks Department. Steve Beachy, Parks and Recreation Director responded to Council questions. Jeff briefly discussed the funds proposed for operations of Larry J. Ringer Library. Council directed staff to add a children's librarian position at an annual cost of an additional $43,000. Planning and Development Services Director Joey Dunn explained staffs plans and funding scenarios for the Comprehensive Plan Amendment Project, Congress of Neighborhoods, and Gateways to Neighborhoods. Council came to a consensus to continue with the proposed budget and staffs work plan toward the Comprehensive Plan Update Project and Congress of Neighborhoods Program. Council asked staff to modify the proposed budget to include $15,000 for Neighborhood Gateway Projects in the General Fund proposed budget. No additional action was taken. Special Agenda Item No. 4 — Executive Session. Mayor Silvia announced that the City Council convened into executive session pursuant to Sections 551.071, 551.086, and 551.087 of the Open Meetings Act to seek the advice of the city attorney with respect to pending and contemplated litigation, to consider economic development negotiations, and competitive matters. Council began executive session at 6:15 pm on Monday, August 29, 2005. Consultation with Attorney {Gov't Code Section 551.0711; possible action The City Council may seek advice from its attorney regarding a pending and contemplated litigation subject or settlement offer or attorney-client privileged information. Litigation is an ongoing process and questions may arise as to a litigation tactic or settlement offer, which needs to be discussed with the City Council. Upon occasion the City Council may need information from its attorney as to the status of a pending or contemplated litigation subject or settlement offer or attorney-client privileged information. After executive session discussion, any final action or vote taken will be in public. The following subject(s) may be discussed: a. TCEQ Docket No. 2002-1147-UCR, Applications of Brushy Water Supply and College Station (Westside/Highway 60) b. TCEQ Docket No. 2003-0544MWD, Application of Nantucket, Ltd. c. TXU Lone Star Gas Rate Request. d. Cause No.03-002098-CV-85, Brazos Co, College Stat. v.Wellbom Special Util District City Council Budget Meeting Page 4 August 29, 2005 e. Civil Action No. H-04-4558, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Div. College Stat v. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, etc., @ Wellborn Special Utility District f. Civil Action No. H-04-3876, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division JK Development v. College Station g. GUD No. 9530 — Gas Cost Prudence Review, Atmos Energy Corporation h. GUD No. 9560 — Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (GRIP) rate increases, Atmos Energy Corporation i. Cause No. GN -502012, Travis County, TMPA v. PUC (College Station filed Intervention 7/6/05) j. Claim letter from Cafe Eccell Competitive Matters {Gov't Code Section 551.086}; possible action The City Council may deliberate vote, or take final action on a competitive matter in closed session. The City Council must make a good faith determination, by majority vote of the City Council, that the matter is a Competitive Matter. A "Competitive Matter" is a utility -related matter that the City Council determines is related to the City of College Station's Electric Utility Competitive Activity, including commercial information, which if disclosed would give an advantage to competitors or prospective competitors. The following is a general representation of the subject(s) to be considered as a competitive matter. Electric Fund Proposed Budget Economic Incentive Negotiations {Gov't Code Section 551.0871; possible action The City Council may deliberate on commercial or financial information that the City Council has received from a business prospect that the City Council seeks to have locate, stay or expand in or near the city with which the City Council in conducting economic development negotiations may deliberate on an offer of financial or other incentives for a business prospect. The proposed city conference center and associated privately developed hotel. Special A2enda Item No. 5 — Action on executive session, if necessary. Council recessed the executive session at 7:35 pm. Council returned to open session. No action was taken. Special A2enda Item No. 6 — Presentation, discussion and possible action on the FY 2005-2006 Proposed budget. Jeff continued with key points within the General Fund Proposed Budget by department. Items related to Office of Technology and Information Services, Fiscal Services Department, and General Government Departments. Council directed staff to include monies in the proposed budget to change part time position to full time position in the City Secretary and City Manager's office, approximately net cost, $20,000 in the City Secretary Fund. City Council Budget Meeting Page 4 August 29, 2005 Jeff reviewed the changes Council proposed for FY 06 budget, approximately $184,000 in the General Fund. Jeff presented a summary of other governmental funds within the proposed budget: / Debt tax rate was 26.98¢ per $100 valuation ► Revised debt tax rate is 24.980 per $100 valuation. ► Parks Xtra Education $99,105 / Economic Development Fund $425,000 ► Court Security Fund $89,028 / Court Technology Fund $99,000 / Police Seizure Fund $10,000 Jeff discussed the key capital projects for which funds are proposed to be appropriated from the General Government Fund. Projects estimated at $16,971,541. Also discussed were FY 05-06 Enterprise Funds Budgets which included Water Fund, Sanitation Fund, BVSWMA, Drainage Utility Fund, and Parking Enterprise Fund. Jeff reminded Council about next budget session , September 6 to discuss funding requests from outside agencies, internal revenue funds, and special funds. Discussion concluded. At 10:15 pm, Mayor Silvia announced that the City Council convened into executive session pursuant Section 551.087 of the Open Meetings Act to consider economic development negotiations. Council completed executive session at 11:00 pm on Monday, August 29, 2005. The Council returned to open session. No action was taken from executive session. Special Agenda Item No. 7 — Adjourn. Hearing no objections the special meeting adjourned at 11:06 pm on Monday, August 29, 2005. APP:;! 7.,frg City Secretary Connie Hooks apt 4044:140,4".0" Mayor Ron Silvia (kir CITY OF COLLEGE STATION Mayor Council Members Ron Silvia Ben White Mayor Pro Tempore Ron Gay John Happ Susan Lancaster Interim City Manager Chris Scotti Glenn Brown Nancy Berry College Station City Council Special Meeting Sign In Sheet Monday, August 29, 2005 at 4:00 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers, 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas 1. j L Cf 2.)-r7.1 1 T I 3. 7)0ct Aat-t 11. 12. 13. 4. 14. 5. 15. 6. 16. 7. 17. 8. 18. 9. 19. 10. 20.