The Bryan City Council agreed in a 5-to-2 vote Tuesday to postpone a decision on revisions to a hangar lease at Coulter Airfield.
Three people asked the council to delay the vote on the leasing contract for the airport's T-Hangar so that the city can collect more input from the tenants. All 10 of the city-managed leases in the hangar are expired, and city officials have said the contracts need to be updated.
Mayor Pro Tem Jason Bienski made the motion to delay the vote on the lease so the Bryan Business Council, the airfield's tenant's and the Coulter Airfield Advisory Committee can review the proposed changes and offer feedback. He also requested a city attorney meet with the tenants to answer questions about any new requirements.
Feedback from the additional meetings will be submitted to the City Council for an April 13 vote on a new lease agreement.
Mayor Mark Conlee and Councilwoman Ann Horton voted against postponing a decision.
Horton said the lease had been under review for 90 days and city staff members seemed prepared with their recommendation to approve the revisions. She said it was better to have the hangar tenants under a lease agreement than on a month-to-month rental.
Also Tuesday, the City Council took a bus tour around the city of 50 construction projects worth about $40 million. Another $17 million worth of projects is set to begin soon.
City Council members, staff members and candidates running in the May municipal election did drive-by tours of the projects, which included work at Bryan Avenue and Beck Street to replace pavement and add sidewalks and lighting, among other things. The $3.5 million project is about 15 percent complete.
The bus also drove along Martin Luther King Jr. Street, where $1.5 million is being spent to improve the sidewalks. That project is expected to be finished at the end of the year. Also on the tour were the new Boonville Towne Center, Mid-Towne Center Apartments, Siena Subdivision and the Z-Islander Waves Apartments.
Also at the meeting Tuesday, the City Council:
* Approved the first reading of an ordinance to change a zoning classification from a combination of agricultural-open and retail districts to planned development-mixed use district. The more than
40 acres of vacant land is between Briarcrest Drive, Texas 6 and Boonville Road. The property is owned by Harrison Holdings, L.P., which plans to subdivide and develop the property into a mixed-use development with retail, commercial and residential components. The project is currently referred to as the "Highland Hills development."
Councilman Art Hughes was the sole member vote against the zoning change. He said he was concerned about not knowing where certain types of business would be located on the property.
* Approved the first reading of a resolution to authorize the intent to issue $13.8 million worth of certificates of obligation. Officials said declaring intent to issue is the necessary first step to issue certificates of obligation, but it does not obligate residents. The money will come from funding from projects within the city's five-year capital improvement plan, the Twin Oaks Landfill and the La Salle Hotel in downtown.
Councilman Mike Southerland opposed the vote, asking to see more financial details.
* Appointed individuals to the city's animal shelter advisory committee. Officials said the state Health and Safety Code requires the municipality in which an animal shelter is located to appoint an advisory committee to assist in complying with requirements. The advisory committee will be made up of Stacy Wigington, a veterinarian, Bryan Police Chief Eric Buske, Melissa Ball, who deals with the daily operations of the shelter, and Stacy Dent, who belongs to an animal welfare organization.
Southerland made the motion for approval with the caveat that the City Council will next establish the duties and functions of the committee. He also requested seven additional members be added to the committee in December, and all positions can be applied for by residents, as with other committees.
* Approved the bylaws for the Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency Inc. Bryan and College Station officials have agreed to end litigation surrounding their solid waste partnership and create a quasi-government agency to manage the landfills. The cities will next consider approval of the asset transfers, debt reimbursement and operation agreements. Once that is completed, each city will take the necessary actions to dismiss any and all claims that either city has made or could have made against the other city.
Council member Al Saenz opposed the vote, saying that he didn't think College Station should dictate how the city spends its profits from BVSWMA.
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