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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/25/1982 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINUTES WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1982 4:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Halter, Councilmen Nemec, Boughton, Ringer, Prause, Runnels COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilman Jones STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Bardell, City Attorney Denton, Director of Capital Improvements Ash, Deputy City Secretary/Council Coordinator Martin, City Secretary Jones, Asst. City Manager/Finance Director VanDever, Administrative Asst. Nowlin, Tax Assessor-Collector Dickson, Traffic Engineer Black, Energy Coordinator Albrecht VISITORS PRESENT: See guest register. Agenda Item No. 1 - Council Concerns. Councilman Ringer stated that the University has removed all bicycle paths on campus and built parking spaces after the city had established a bicycle plan and applied for grants to complete the project. He requested that the staff write a letter to the University stating the problem with the narrow streets and the concern on passing fire trucks in that area. The City Manager confirmed that he would do so. Councilman Runnels expressed his concern regarding a wrecked and burned car on Haines St. across from Gabbard Park in front of a residence. City Manager Bardell stated that he would check into the situation. Mayor Halter pointed out that a report from the Highway Department Planning Commission meeting on the status of Bryan/College Station air transportation needs was included in the councilmembers' boxes. In 4 to 6 weeks, they will finish the final draft and report to each council and commissioners court. City Manager Bardell included that Lockwood, Andrews, and Newnam is doing a study on the airport for the University. He will be meeting with them to discuss the conclusion on the report. Agenda Item No. 2 - Discussion of left turn storage on Texas at Dominik Street. City Manager Bardell presented and explained the item. He stated that when the plat was first filed on the tract which includes Dominik, it was disapproved on the basis that the area between Jersey and Texas Avenue intersection and the Dominik and Texas Avenue intersection was too small. The second time submitted, the plat was approved on the condition that left 003610 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 25, 1982 PAGE turns would not be allowed onto Dominik. This condition was not upheld. Presently, the Traffic Engineer did studies on the area while the section was closed to traffic flow. He re-measured the flow again when the area was re-opened, and felt the need to express the advantage we would have if it remained closed. Other than Engineering views, he asked that input fro' citizens be addressed to the council. Director of Capital Improvements Ash discussed the memo that was presented to the Council. The memo explained that the left-turn movement at Dominik results in an 18%reduction in lane capacity for the through movement and a corresponding "delay cost" of $40,000.00/year. Adding this figure to the $44,000.00/year cost in accidents, the total cost in allowing the left-tur~ to remain open is an estimated $84,000.00/year. He included that he had asked various qualified people not connected to the city to answer questions from the council on the problems that storage creates. He state¢ that installing a traffic light in that area would cost approximately $25,000. He showed the council a proposed map of how the closure of the storage area would look after completion. Mayor Halter asked to hear comments from the public. Jim Scarmardo, President of United Bank, stated that he has requested from the Highway Department that a traffic light be installed at that intersection. He was told that cost and approval would have to come from the city. He stated that his bank relied on this intersection heavily. Director of Capital Improvements Ash explained that a light would cause a reductiun in the traffic flow. Harvey Miller, owner of Danvers, stated that he would like to see a light put at the intersection and pointed out that closing the turns would create heavier traffic on Kyle. He showed the council his proposal to close the Redmond Terrace entrance next to the Shell station and to provide an entrance across from Dominik with signalization. Ken Martin, owner of Pepes', and Jim Duckett, owner of Whataburger, also spoke against closing the left turn storage onto Dominik. Harvey Miller presented a letter from John Culpepper stating he was opposed to prohibiting left-turns on Dominik. Mayor Halter suggested that the Highway Department review the area. He requested that the staff determine an approximate amount of decrease in traffic flow if a signal is installed at that intersection and present the information to the council at a later date. 003611 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 25, 1982 PAGE 3 Councilman Runnels included that he would like an estimate of the total cost of installing a signal versus the present cost at that intersection. Sammy Citrano, Vice-President of TECS, a new business at the end of Culpepper Plaza, stated his objections to prohibiting left-turns onto Dominik. After further discussion, the Mayor asked that staff to complete a further study per the suggestions made and to return this item at a later date. Area businesses will be notified. Agenda__, Item No. 3 - Consideration of request from Lone Star Gas company_ for rate ~ncrease. Mr. D.J. Weber, representative of Lone Star Gas, stated that Lone Star Gas has filed a statement of intent to change rate charges for natural gas in the College Station area. The new rates will increase residential and commercial bills by 8.77 and will result in estimated annual revenue for College Station's system of $247,979.00. He explained the distribution system for the Bryan-College Station area for industrial businesses. Councilman Ringer asked when the last rate increase for industrial businesses occured. Mr. Weber replied that contracts for industries are negotiable on an annual basis. Several adjustments are made to their bills such as a B.T.U. factor which is affected by the cost of gas. City Manager Bardell noted that the gate rate case pending before the Railroad Commission indicates that Lone Star Gas is requesting an increase in gate rates to residential and commercial customers but not to industry. He asked why the industrial customers would not be affected. Mr. Weber stated that the industrial customers are already paying $1.09 more per 1,000 cubic feet than local residential and commercial customers pay. He also indicated that Lone Star Gas has filed for a rate relief and would like the city to change to the proposed rates now; should new rates be passed at a lower rate, then the customers would receive a refund. The council will consider that action tomorrow night. After further discussion by the council, Mayor Halter stated that considerations would be made at the Regular City Council Meeting, August 26. Agenda Item No. 4 - Closed session to discuss personnel [6252-17(g)]. 003612 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 25, 1982 PAGE 4 The council moved to closed session and later reopened to the public. Agenda Item No. 5 - Action on closed session. There was no action taken at this time. ~enda Item No. 6 - Adjourn. Mayor Halter adjourned the meeting. ATTEST: APPROVED: Di~n' Jones,~i~ S~c~e{~ry 003.613 rUoLpPEP.PER ertles August 25, 1982 Jim Scarmardo United Bank 1501 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas Re: Closure of Left Hand Turn onto Dominik College Station, Texas Dear Jim, This letter is to act as authorization by me, John C. Culpepper Jr., for you to have Right of Proxy concerning said reference. As you and I discussed I am very strongly opposed to the proposal by the City of College Station. If I can be of any other assistance please advise. This letter of authorization is being signed in my absence by my Adminis- trative Assistant, Adrian Martinez, whom I have instructed to do so. .~cerely, CULPEPPER PROPERTIES JCC/am GUEST REGIS2'~ ~ CITY ~IL ~r~ Wi~l~um~Y~ AII]USr 25~ 1982 4:00 P.M. ~.~'~,~. SlOl~l BELOW: 19. 21. 22. 4e 25. 6e 27. 8o 9e 30. 13. 31. 14. 32. 15. 3o 16. 17. 35. ~.s. :~. 0036