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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/10/1996 - Workshop Minutes City CouncilMayor LYNN MCILHANEY Mayor Pro Tempore HUB KENNADY City Manager GEORGE K. NOE COLLEGE STATION Council Members BILL FOX LARRY MARIOTT DAVID HICKSON DICK BIRDWELL BRAD MARTIN MINUTES COLLEGE STATION CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1996 3:00 P.M. COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Mcllhaney, Mayor Pro tem Kennady, Councilmembers Birdwell, Mariott, Fox, Martin and Hickson STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Noe, Assistant City Secretary Casares, Acting City Attorney Nemcik, Assistant City Manager Brymer, Public Information Officer Calliham, Finance Director Schroeder, Human Resources Director Pavlinski, City Engineer Laza, Director of Office and Tech Services Piwonka and City Planner Kee Mayor Mcllhaney called the workshop session to order at 3:03 p.m. A.qenda Item No. 1 -- Discuss consent and statutory a.qenda items listed for the reqular council meetinq of Thursday, October 10, 1996. City Manager Noe removed consent item no. 5 and placed it on the regular agenda. Councilmembers removed the following items for clarification and corrections on the following items: Item 5(a) Minutes of September 12, 1996 Item 5(f) Modifications to Freewing development agreement and lease of property located at Raymond Stotzer Parkway between the City of College Station and EDC. Providing Customer Service Excellence Workshop Meeting Thursday, October 10, 1996 Page 2 ARenda Item No. 2 -- Ends Statement #5 Quality Service. Mayor Mcllhaney stated the council received copies of numerous letters she has recently received from students in the area working on class projects. She will respond to the letters. Mayor Mcllhaney asked the councilmembers if there was any discussion regarding parking lot issues. Councilmember Mariott tabled this item. Mayor Mcllhaney stated the school children expressed concern on how the city repairs the roadway. The children stated when there is loose gravel on the road it makes it difficult to ride their bicycles and roller blades. Mayor Mcllhaney questioned how the city compacts the gravel on the roads. The children expressed a need for areas for skateboarding or roller blading. Councilman Birdwell expressed concern about the city's liability. Mayor Mcllhaney stated the children suggested building the sidewalks wider or have a section of the payment like a bike lane that is a safe area for this type of activity. Mayor Mcllhaney informed the council about a citizen comment. A citizen inquired about College Station's plans for cultural arts center. Mayor Mcllhaney responded that the council has talked about public art in city parks. Councilman Birdwell remarked there is a number of art displays in College Station. These events are sponsored by the Arts Council, Texas A&M University and local groups in our community. Councilman Fox suggested involving the Arts Council for such a project. The Council discussed different options for displaying art in College Station. Mayor Pro Tem Kennady suggested using the monies from the Hotel/Motel fund for art that the public could see visually in College Station. Also, have the Mayor appoint a Councilman to serve on the Grant Review Board. City Manager Noe stated the Arts Council was included as an itemized account in the city's budget as well as its performance measures and goals. He suggested a workshop meeting with the Arts Council, if council desired. Workshop Meeting Thursday, October 10, 1996 Page 3 Councilman Hickson suggested creating a vision and presenttothe Arts Council. Mayor Mcllhaney briefed the council on charrettes. Councilman Martin stated he has received a number of calls on code enforcement. The council held a brief discussion of code enforcement. Councilman Fox requested up to date information on the teen survey. A.qenda Item No. 3 -- Present the Bryan Inteqrated Floodplain Manaqement Workshop by a subcommittee of the City of Bryan Drainaqe System Advisory Board and Parks and Recreation Board. Assistant City Engineer Morgan introduced Mr. Don Spencer and Mr. Tom Woodfin. Mr. Woodfin and Mr. Spencer represented the City of Bryan Drainage System Advisory Board and Parks and Recreation Board. Both presented a study of recommended improvements to the floodplain policies and regulations in Bryan and its ETJ. Approximately one year ago this subcommittee concluded their study of floodplain policies and regulations for the City of Bryan. The conclusion from this report indicated a need for intergovernmental cooperation with regard to floodplain management. The floodplains and the problems related do not conform to political boundaries. They referred to several successful interjurisdictional floodplain management projects in the North Texas area. Comments were made by Mayor Pro Tem Kennady and Councilman Birdwell. Agenda Item No. 4 -- Discuss the Overlay and C-B Business Commercial Zones on University Drive. City Planner Kee presented a brief overview of the Overlay and C-B Business commercial zones on University Drive. Comments were made by councilmembers. Mr. David Scarmardo, 1419 Holick and Robert Todd 1702 Texas Avenue, addressed the council. Workshop Meeting Thursday, October 10, 1996 Page 4 Mr. Scarmardo agreed with the Overlay District. He indicated the properly pricing is comparable with other properties within the city. Mr. Scarmardo suggested allowing outside business activities. Mr. Robed Todd agreed with outside business activities, but with restrictions. The developers use the Overlay District as a selling point. Mr. Scarmardo and Mr. Todd answered questions from the Council. Mayor Mcllhaney suggested no change to the Overlay District except for possible alternatives to address the outside sales and storage. She suggested the assistance of Economic Development in creating a model of University Drive development. Agenda Item No. 5 -- Status report and preliminary recommendations, Council strateqic Issue #1 - Streamlininq the Development Review Process. Director of Development Services Callaway presented this item. He provided current information on Streamlining the Development Process. Mr. Callaway briefed the council on the following topics: Three components of the Development Review Process Eliminate field changes ordered by inspections after plans are approved Shod range changes - Case Manager/Review Team approach Flattening of Development Services Fill vacancies in Building Development Block Staff time for review Assume City Engineer's authority for considering "variances" to the driveway ordinance Repeal cumbersome temporary C.O. policy Mid Range Changes - Redefine role of the Project Review Committee Consolidate review staff, functions into one location - One Stop Shop Develop "express review" for small and simple projects Use of hearing examiner, authorized staff position, or other alternative for cedain variances resolving code conflicts and issues related to code interpretation of application Provide for "typical plan" approval Workshop Meeting Thursday, October 10, 1996 Long Range Changes - Development a unified development code Consolidate inspections Electronic plans submission Improve park dedication selection Page 5 A.qenda Item No. 6 -- Present Proposed Revision of Ordinance Concerninq Wrecker Services. This item was removed and will be placed on a future agenda. A,qenda Item No. 7 -- Committee Reports No discussion was held. Agenda Item No. 8 -- Council Calendars No discussion was held. Agenda Item No. 9 -- Executive Session The Council convened in executive session at 6:00 p.m. PASSED AND APPROVED this the 20th day of November, 1996. APPROVED: ~ Secretary Connie Hooks Mayor Pro Tem Kennady agreed with the plan and requested a copy of the flow chart that Development Services currently uses.