BOARD OF TRUSTEES SPECIAL MEETING
Joint Meeting of College Station ISD Board of Trustees and
the City of College Station City Council
Wolf Pen Creek Hospitality Room
August 13, 2007
6:30 p.m.
A.
CALL TO ORDER
President Tim Jones called the meeting to order at 6:42 p.m. with
seven members present.
B. DECLARATION OF QUORUM
President Tim Jones
declared that a quorum was present. President
Tim Jones, Vice President Mary Broussard, Secretary Randall Pitcock, Trustees Charlotte
Slack, Steve Aldrich, Marc Chaloupka and Garland Watson were present.
After welcoming everyone,
Mayor Ben White led the group in self-introduction. He then recognized City Manager Glenn Brown
who welcomed everyone to the new Hospitality facility. The facility was funded with funds from the
TIF grant to which CSISD has contributed.
C. CSISD SCHOOL BOARD
C-1. Consideration, discussion and possible
action regarding Population Growth and Student Enrollment Projections impacting
the City of College Station and the College Station Independent School District
Mayor Ben White introduced Bob Cowell, Director of Planning
& Development Services for the City of College Station. Mr. Cowell has been with the City of College
Station since June 1, 2007 and comes to Texas from Bloomington, Indiana.
Mr. Cowell presented information as it
pertains to population, housing, income, and transportation for the years, 2000
(where we were), 2007 (where we are) and 2015 (where we seem to be going).
In managing and planning development, the
city considers Development Related Initiatives – such as improved data
collection, increased use of technology, and increased focus on long-range
planning – and the CIP (Capital Improvement Program) – such as 5-year project
list which is updated annually and funded partially through debt, street
projects (rehab, extensions, signals), sidewalks, trails and parks. A Comprehensive Plan will be developed in two
phases: Goals/Policies and Plan.
Intensive Community Involvement will be a focus such as Citizens Congress,
Focus Groups, Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee, Public Meetings.
The council has accomplished several
tasks already. The Community Vision
Statement has been developed:
|
The Community
Vision Statement College
Station, the proud home of Texas A&M University and the heart of the
Research Valley, will remain a vibrant, forward-thinking, knowledge-based
community which promotes the highest quality of life for its citizens by… ·
ensuring safe, tranquil, clean, and healthy
neighborhoods with enduring character; ·
increasing and maintaining the mobility of
College Station citizens through a well planned and constructed inter-model
transportation system; ·
expecting sensitive development and management
of the built and natural environment; ·
supporting well planned, quality and
sustainable growth; ·
valuing and protecting our cultural and
historical community resources; ·
developing and maintaining quality
cost-effective community facilities, infrastructure and services which ensure
our city is cohesive and well connected; and ·
pro-actively creating and maintaining economic
and educational opportunities for all citizens College
Station will continue to be among the friendliest and most responsive of
communities and a demonstrated partner in maintaining and enhancing all that
is good and celebrated in the Brazos Valley.
It will continue to be a place where Texas and the world come to
learn, live, and conduct business! |
Additionally, A Goals & Policies Report (Working goals and
policies that will guide the development of the remainder of the plan) has been
filed and an Existing Conditions Report is underway (snapshot of current
situation).
Annexation information was presented. Mr. Cowell also related possible implications
for CSISD and the City of College Station such as: growth related issues will continue to
dominate; there will be MORE (people, homes, jobs, students, traffic);
Continued need to secure public funding to keep up with growth issues;
New/Expanded School sites; Need for on-going planning and coordination (where
growth occurs and what type of growth it is matters)
Superintendent Eddie Coulson introduced Clark Ealy, Executive
Director for Accountability and Planning, who presented demographic information
as it pertains to CSISD as well as enrollment data.
Dr. Ealy discussed where CSISD is experiencing the greatest
growth: Southwood Valley Elementary –
Graham Road and Victoria Road and Forest Ridge Elementary – Greens Prairie Road
West, Koppe Bridge, Wellborn Road.
Mayor Ben White questioned how much of the Brazos Valley is in
Navasota ISD. Dr. Ealy discussed that
1/3 of the property in the Brazos Valley goes to Navasota schools.
CSISD plans a 2007-2008 Full Scale Demographic Study with
enrollment projections by geographic area for the next ten years and Enrollment
projections upon “Build Out”.
Councilmen questioned the process for obtaining more school
district property. Superintendent Eddie
Coulson explained that school districts do not have annexation procedures like
municipalities do. All property in Texas
is already assigned to a school district.
It would be highly unlikely that a district would give up any property,
thus tax monies. Both districts would
have to agree for property transfer to occur.
Councilman James Massey commented that good school districts are
economic developers in themselves. He
would like to see a “spirit of working and planning together” between the City
and the School District.
C-2. Consideration, discussion and possible action
regarding the framework for the working relationship between The City of
College Station and College Station Independent School District, including, but
not limited to the Unified Development Ordinance and Its applicability to the
College Station Independent School District
City Manager Glenn Brown led the discussion regarding the
framework for the working relationship between The City of College Station and
CSISD. The Unified Development Ordinance
was discussed and how it has affected CSISD.
Mr. Brown stated that the City recognizes that the School District is
also a political subdivision and serves the same constituents as the City.
Superintendent Eddie Coulson stated that CSISD is grateful for the
opportunity to discuss a framework related to CSISD’s current and future
construction and development projects.
CSISD is seeking the flexibility to provide construction projects that
will be representative of this community and other facilities within the
District. By partnering with the City in
a common sense approach, these projects can best be accomplished.
Five principals exist related to the City’s and the District’s
working relationship. First, although,
the boundaries of the City and CSISD are not exactly the same, we recognize
that the vast majority of both our constituents are the same. Second, both the City and the District have a
desire to provide the best facilities and projects for our community within the
limits of the available resources.
Third, the City and the District’s working relationship should be based
on mutual trust. Fourth, both entities
recognize that we can accomplish much more for our community by working
together than could be accomplished if our relationship were adversarial. Fifth, CSISD wants to be a good neighbor and
a responsible participant in community development.
Councilman John Crompton expressed his frustration as a 30-year
resident of College Station as it pertains to the inability for entities to
share facilities. He pointed to Plano as
an area that has had great success in sharing.
Councilmen questioned the status of roads for Creek View
Elementary. Discussion occurred.
Board President Tim Jones expressed his desire for a more
formalized working framework for the Council and Board.
Mayor Ben White stated that “communication” needs continue to come
to the forefront throughout discussions.
C-3. Receive report regarding a science park
concept for Wolf Pen Creek District
Professor Eric Simenak gave a brief presentation to the trustees
and council regarding the development of a hydroactive park. The site would be created to educate,
entertain and exercise.
Councilman John Crompton commented that the idea was not only a
“wonderful” idea, but it was “iconic”.
The trustees and councilmen asked E. Simenak for additional
information and to continue to research the idea.
C-4. Consideration, discussion and possible
action regarding establishing a Mayoral Youth Advisory Commission
Mayor Ben White recognized Kathy Merrill, Assistant City Manager
for College Station, who reported to the council and trustees regarding the
implementation of a Mayoral Youth Advisory Commission. She reported that in April 2006, TAMU student
Corey Nichols, made presentations to both College Station and Bryan City
Councils regarding a Youth Advisory Commission.
The stated purpose of the Youth Advisory Commission is to provide youth
a voice and some responsibility in the community issues that affect them and
give them an opportunity to experience civic involvement and leadership at an
early stage of life.
After considering the proposal, the Council requested that the
City Manager explore possible partnering with CSISD for such a program. The development of a pilot program related to
a Mayoral Youth Advisory Council will be implemented in College Station.
C-5. Consideration, discussion and possible
action regarding Pandemic Flu Preparedness
Mayor Ben White recognized Councilman Ron Gay who serves on the
Intergovernmental Committee. That
committee has selected Mr. Gay as the Subcommittee Chair of the Pandemic Flu
Committee. Members were also appointed and, along with their Chair, will
research and coordinate the planning efforts for pandemic flu influenza. Several meetings have been held, with the
last meeting in June 2007. Dr. Clark
Ealy is CSISD’s representative on the Pandemic Flu Preparedness Committee. Mr. Gay announced that the committee will
implement a six-month extensive, intensive PR campaign beginning September
2007.
D. ADJOURNMENT
Without objection, President Jones adjourned the special meeting
at 8:40 p.m.
TIM
JONES RANDALL PITCOCK
PRESIDENT SECRETARY