Kevin O’Connor Kommentary July 20

College Station City Council Majority Does Not Want Paid Parking On City Streets South Of Kyle Field

Parking on College Station streets south of Kyle Field will continue to free. That’s the direction five city council members gave to staff during a review of a pilot program in June when there was a charge to park on city streets for the George Strait concert and an international soccer match. The council majority wanted to keep free street parking for residents of the Southside neighborhood. The council was told that the city generated a profit of more than $13,000 dollars during June’s two special events. The council was also told during the George Strait concert, 361 parked vehicles did not pay. No tickets were issued and no vehicles were towed. Staff estimated paid parking during Texas A&M home football games could generate $100,000 to $300,000 dollars. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the September 12, 2024 College Station city council meeting. Click below to hear comments from the September 12, 2024 College Station city council meeting.  

Brazos Valley Groundwater District Board Dealing With Opposition To Multiple Requests

The board of the Brazos Valley groundwater conservation district (BVGCD) is dealing with opposition to multiple requests to pump more water. Thursday’s (September 12th) meeting included action on four contested applications. The Texas A&M system is involved in all four applications, one as an applicant and three as an opponent. BVGCD board president Jayson Barfknecht told WTAW News that the board decided one of two disputed water transport applications will go to the state office of administrative hearings (SOAH). Testimony will be taken from the applicants and six opponents. A group of seven applicants want to transport water out of Robertson County to customers in Milam, Williamson, Travis, and/or Bell counties. Opponents include the A&M system, the cities of Bryan and College Station, Brazos County, and two private landowners. As for the second application by the same group to transport water out of Robertson County, Barfknecht said the board acknowledged the A&M system’s request for a contested hearing. Barfknecht said the earliest the board will discuss the process of the hearing is at its October meeting. After the board meeting, the A&M system filed a writ of mandamus in Brazos County district court. The system wants the groundwater district board to immediately hold a contested case hearing on the transport permits. Click HERE to read and download a copy of the writ of mandamus which was provided to WTAW News by the Texas A&M system. Barfknecht says a third contested hearing involving the system deals with the water exporters permit to operate wells in Robertson County. And there will be a contested case hearing to the A&M system’s application to drill a well on the RELLIS campus. Barfknecht says the proposed RELLIS well has 12 opponents.

Bryan City Council Deals With TxDOT Items

September’s regular meeting of the Bryan city council meeting included approving a rezoning request from the owner of an office building that fell victim to the Texas Avenue median. Mayor Bobby Gutierrez said the rezoning was for land to provide a new parking area behind the building at Texas and Edgemoor. Gutierrez said the new parking was needed because the property owner lost his former parking area by the median project. Gutierrez said it was a “truly tragic story” for the businessowner who could not stop the Texas department of transportation (TxDOT). Click HERE to read and download background information about the parking lot rezoning that was approved at the September 10, 2024 Bryan city council meeting. Click HERE to read and download staff information about the parking lot rezoning that was approved at the September 10, 2024 Bryan city council meeting. Click below to hear comments from Bobby Gutierrez at the September 10, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.   The Bryan council also approved at its September regular meeting, updating a maintenance agreement with TxDOT that had been in effect since 2002. City engineer Paul Kaspar said the only difference was the city becoming responsible for some additional cleanup, sweeping, and mowing along Highway 6. Kaspar says this is in addition to landscaping and maintenance agreements between the city and TxDOT for specific projects. Click HERE to read and download background information about the updated TxDOT agreement that was approved at the September 10, 2024 Bryan city council meeting. Click HERE to read and download the agreement that was approved at the September 10, 2024 Bryan city council meeting. Click below to hear comments from Paul Kaspar, responding to a question during the September 10, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.