Kevin O’Connor Kommentary October 2

Another New College Station City Council Discusses Rental Housing Overoccupancy

Another generation of College Station city council members are educated about the decades old problem of more than four unrelated residents living under the same roof. Takeaways from a two and a half hour discussion at Thursday’s council meeting (February 27) included staff being directed to increase enforcement efforts and investigate options for parking restrictions in affected neighborhoods. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the city of College Station. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the group “Occupancy Enforcement Alliance”. A council majority believes some Texas A&M students are violating the Aggie Code of Honor by knowingly violating the ordinance. That was based in part on an affected homeowner telling the council she overheard a group of students and their presumed parents laugh about the overoccupancy ordinance. There was also discussion about proposed state legislation that would do away with most of a city’s power to regulate overoccupancy. Councilwoman Melissa McIlhaney said the staff of the author of Senate Bill 1567 thought cities were entering homes “counting toothbrushes”, while local residents “think we’re not doing enough”. Mayor John Nichols was also interested in prosecuting owners of rental properties who violate the portion of the city’s rental registration agreement that says they will abide by occupancy limits. Click below to hear comments from the February 27, 2025 College Station city council meeting. Listen to “Another new College Station city council discusses rental housing overoccupancy” on Spreaker.

Texas A&M System Board Of Regents Bans Drag Shows At All 11 Universities

A special meeting of the Texas A&M system board of regents on Friday (February 28) led to adopting a resolution banning drag shows at all 11 universities. Click HERE to read and download the resolution that was adopted by the Texas A&M system board of regents on February 28, 2025. The resolution acknowledges an executive order from the president and a directive from the governor supporting the president’s order. The resolution also acknowledges the system and its universities “receive significant federal funding” and on campus drag shows “may be considered promotion of gender ideology in violation of the Executive Order and the Governor’s directive”. There were no comments from any regents members before their unanimous vote. Click below to hear the Texas A&M system regents executive director Vickie Spillers read the resolution that was adopted February 28, 2025. Listen to “Texas A&M system board of regents bans drag shows at all 11 universities” on Spreaker.

College Station City Council Gets A Review Of 2024’s Police Activity

Presentations at the February 13, 2025 College Station city council meeting included 2024 calendar year activity at the police department. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the February 13, 2025 College Station city council meeting. Police chief Billy Couch reported making his goal for the second straight year of officers responding to the most urgent calls…involving lights and sirens…within six minutes. There were 4,000 fewer calls for service compared with 2023, despite an increasing population. Couch said it was hard to give a reason for the decline. The number of aggravated assaults went up from 97 to 118. Couch said that number went up in part due to gang activity that also contributed to thefts of guns from unlocked vehicles, homes and apartments. Among other statistics, Couch said the one of eight categories that increased in 2024 over 2023 was the number of patrol officer initiated “focus calls”. In the Northgate bar district last year, Couch said there were 631 arrests and diverting at least an equal number from being taken to jail. And out of CSPD’s 24,000 traffic stops last year, Couch said more than 60 percent of drivers received a warning. The chief also talked about the second year of CSPD using drones. Currently, the department has 11 drones that are used in a variety of functions. As for staffing, Couch said 24 officers are currently in training and a consultant says CSPD could use another 14. The chief added he is happy with the staffing of 9-1-1 dispatchers following pay increases approved by the council. Click below to hear comments from Billy Couch during the February 13, 2025 College Station city council meeting. Listen to “College Station city council gets a review of 2024's police department activity” on Spreaker.