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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/09/1994 - Workshop Minutes City CouncilMAYOR Larry J. Ringer MAYOR PRO-TEM Fred Brown CITY MANAGER Ron Ragland COLLEGE STATION COUNCILMEMBERS Hub Kennady Lynn Mcllhaney Vernon Schneider David Hickson Nancy Crouch MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1994 4:00 P.M. COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ringer, Councilmembers Schneider, Mcllhaney, Crouch, Hickson, Kennady, Student Government Liaison Silloway COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Mayor Protem Brown STAFF PRESENT: Assistant City Manager Brymer, City Secretary Hooks, City Att(~rney Locke, Public Information Officer Calliham, Executive Director Management Services Piwonka, Executive Director Fiscal/Human Resources Schroeder, Assistant City Manager Woody, PARD Director Beachy, Director of Development Services Ash, City Planner Kee, Staff Planner Kuenzel, Director of Public Services Smith, Transportation Planner Hard, Asst. Director of Development Services Callaway, Purchasing Agent Kettler Representatives from the Police Department presented councilmembers with invitations to the DARE graduation ceremonies, March 10th. Mayor Ringer called the meeting to order. Agenda Item No. 1 - Discussion of Statutory and Consent Agenda Items outlined on Thursday, March 10th agenda. Councilman Hickson removed Agenda Item No. 2.2. Agenda Item No. 2.2 - Purchase of plastic refuse containers for sanitation inventory. Purchasing Agent Kettler explained this item. City of College Station, Texas Providing Customer Service Excellence City Council Workshop Meeting Wednesday, March 9, 1994 Page 2 Councilman Kennady removed Agenda Item No. 2.3, 2.4, 3.4, and 3.6. Agenda Item No. 2.3 - Contract to paint the Police/Municipal Court Building Assistant Director of Management Services Charles Shear explained that the staff did not have the appropriate tools nor the staff to assume this project. Agenda Item No. 2.4 - Request for purchase approval of one heavv type 1 Ambulance. Councilman Kennady inquired about the contingency balance. Budget Director Charles Cryan replied that $16,000 remaining in the budget. Agenda Item No. 3.4 - A resolution authorizing the City Manager and Director of Finance to sign a letter of guaranty for the benefit of First American Bank as part of Economic Development Incentive for North American Transit, Inc. Councilman Kennady expressed concern about the city's participation in this venture. Agenda Item No. 3.6 - Request to convert a part time position to a full time position in the Parks Dept. with additional funding from CSISD. PARD Director Steve Beachy explained that the person in this part time position is working 40 hours a week. The duties of this position have increased with the increased enrollment in the elementary schools (Kids Club) as well as the functions at Wolf Pen Creek. The school will also fund a portion of this salary. Councilman Kennady pointed out his desire to consider this type of position during the budget process. Agenda Item 2 - Strategic Issue No. 3, Community Appearance, No. 18, Recycling/Solid Waste Reduction; Ends Statements Civic Pride and Health and Public Safety -- Presentation of Clean Cities 2000 - Plan of Action Director of Public Services Smith came forward to present a brief overview of the application requirements and highlighted valuable rewards from this program. Mr. Smith also outlined several council strategic issues connected to this project. He mentioned that the State would like to display our city as a model community. Public Services Director Smith further explained some of the projects associated with this program. City Council Workshop Meeting Wednesday, March 9, 1994 Page 3 Councilwoman Crouch commended Public Services Director Smith for a fantastic report. She said she is particularly impressed with the goals and measures involved. Mr. Smith introduced Katy Gibson, the Recycling Coordinator. A.qenda Item No. 3 - Re-examination of lone ranee use plan; Ends Statement, Transportation/Mobility -- Discussion of amendments to Thoroughfare Plan - Street Extensions and Changes in Street Classifications. Planning and Zoning Commission recommended aDDroval of all street extensions by a vote of 6-0 and tabled the Walton/Lincoln realignment asking staff to return with further information. Also recommended approval by a vote of 5-1 for all changes in street classification with the exception that Rio Grande remain as a minor arterial. City Planner Kee and Transportation Planner Hard came forward to present this item. Mr. Hard reviewed the street extensions outlined in the plan. 1. Cornell extension to Manual 2. Manual extension to Dartmouth, 3. Eisenhower extension to Lincoln 4. Switch Station Road 5. Colgate extension to E. Frontage Rd. 6. Barton Road overpass at SH 6. Mr. Hard identified the street classifications. 1. Emerald Parkway - major to minor arterial 2. Longmire Dr. - collector to minor arterial 3. Rio Grande - minor arterial to collector Councilman Mcllhaney asked about some of the streets in Foxfire. Mr. Hard mentioned that the Planning and Zoning Commission approved the staff recommendations for street classifications with the exception of Rio Grande as a minor arterial rather than collector. Councilman Schneider expressed concerns about the traffic problems south of George Bush Drive from Texas Avenue to Wellborn Road as well as the surrounding collector streets. City Council Workshop Meeting Wednesday, March 9, 1994 Page 4 Mr. Hard reminded the Council of the studies conducted in 1990-91 on this particular area. Mayor Ringer mentioned that there has been discussions of the extension of Welsh through to George Bush. He also suggested that some improvements be made to Wellborn Rd. Councilwoman Crouch explained the need to receive input from citizens utilizing the potential Welsh extension. Councilmembers stated additional comments regarding the impact on Kyle Street when Texas Avenue is widened. Mayor Ringer expressed the council consensus of staff recommendations. Staff heard the concerns about the George Bush Drive traffic situation and Kyle Street as well. He added that these projects are considered CIP Bond Projects. A,qenda Item No. 4 - Strategic Issue No. 1, Re-Examination of Lon.q Ran_~e Land Use Plan; Ends Statement, Transportation/Mobility -- Discussion of alternative concepts for amending the Thoroughfare Plan to cover south Colle.qe Station and beyond. Planning and ZoninR Commission recommended approval by a vote of 6-0 of the Bird Pond-Barron rather than the Pebble-Barron alternative. Transportation Planner Hard came forward and presented this item. He provided overhead visuals. Continued growth to the south and recent annexations have heightened the need for a major revision to the Thoroughfare Plan for the area south of town bounded by Rock Prairie, Greens Prairie, and Wellborn Roads. After much study and considering numerous alternatives, staff arrived at two concepts. The Pebble-Barron alternate and the Bird Pond-Barton alternative. Staff recommended the Pebble-Barron alternative. Transportation Planner Hard identified the pros and cons of the Pebble-Barron alternative and the Bird Pond-Barron alternative. Councilman Kennady explained that he prefers the Pebble-Barron alternative because the staff feels the community travel benefits outweigh the regional benefits at this time. Mayor Ringer emphasized the importance of a thoroughfare plan for the south area. Councilman Schneider made further comments. City Council Workshop Meeting Wednesday, March 9, 1994 Page 5 Director of Development Services Ash said the Pebble-Barron alternative will likely be developed through a cooperative effort of the developers. Furthermore, Greens Prairie Road to Wellborn Road will probably be a major state project with assistance from the county. The council expressed agreement for the Pebble-Barron alternative. City Planner Kee added concluding comments. A.qenda Item No. ,5 - (Policy Title: Item No. ,5 - Goveminl:l Style, Council Governance Policy) -- Discussion and consideration of Council self evaluation process. Councilwoman Crouch reviewed the minutes of the meeting of the council retreat. The council evaluation subcommittee of Fred Brown, Vernon Schneider and Nancy Crouch initiated the groundwork for the proposed process. She suggested the Council, Executive Team and council committees complete a report card on the council in October or November of each year. In addition, quarterly feedback should be presented to each other utilizing a council member feedback survey. Councilwoman Mcllhaney explained the importance of this process. Councilwoman Crouch made further comments. Councilman Kennady stated that the council should emphasize positive behaviors and de-emphasize the negative behaviors. Mayor Ringer stated that these are valuable questions. Mayor Ringer asked the councilmembers to give suggestions to Councilwoman Crouch. Mayor Ringer recommended that councilmembers make a commitment to share information with others. Councilwoman Crouch made a motion to accept the recommendations of the subcommittee to conduct a self evaluation quarterly utilizing this instrument as amended by Hub. Secondly, once a year in Oct. or Nov, the City Commissioners and council committees, Executive team, and the Council complete a report card, and whenever it seems appropriate meet informally. City Council Workshop Meeting Wednesday, March 9, 1994 Page 6 Councilman Schneider seconded the motion. He added that this item is also a part of Item No. 6 below. The motion carried unanimously, 6-0. Agenda Item No. 6 - Strate.qic Issues No. 20, Communication Needs, No. 29, Citizen Education/Feedback Plan, No. 42, Public Art/quality of Life; Ends Statements, Education/Information, and Civic Pride -- Discussion and consideration to prepare RFP's for solicitin.q proposals and selectin¢~ a marketing firm to develop a city marketina Dian. Nancy Crouch stated that the communication link to the citizens is flawed. The citizens do not have enough information about the city to give accurate feedback. She reported that the subcommittee discussed the need for a larger picture, an image of our city to market. The subcommittee recommended staff prepare an RFP for proposals of a marketing firm and ask staff to review possible funding sources. Councilman Kennady stated that the individual councilmembers should go out to the public and present our city's achievements and receive input from citizens. Councilman Kennady disagreed with an outside firm developing an image for the city. Councilman Schneider disagreed. He stressed the importance of a marketing plan. Councilwoman Crouch stated that Mr. Kennady's idea may be a component of the marketing plan. Councilwoman Mcllhaney remarked that the council will control the marketing process. Executive Director of Management Services Piwonka stated that Peggy Calliham prepared a short term marketing plan for the city which does not involve additional resources. The council agreed to review sample RFP's, but did not commit to the recommendations at this time. Public Information Officer Peggy Calliham remarked that she had samples from other cities and would be glad to look into this. Page 7 City Council Workshop Meeting Wednesday, March 9, 1994 Arlenda Item No. 7 - Committee Reports Councilwoman Mcllhaney mentioned that the Texas Municipal League is seeking bids for the 1996 AMCC conference. She thought it might be a good idea to look into this. Mayor Ringer stated that due to Fred Brown's absence, he will no longer serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Brazos County Health Department. This item will be placed on the March 24th council agenda for formal consideration of a new appointee. Agenda Item No. 8 - Council Calendars. No discussion was held. A.qenda Item No. 9 - Adiourn. Mayor Ringer adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m. ATTEST: City Secretary Connie Hooks APPROVED: