City of College Station

Ordering a certificate for births and deaths occurring in College Station just got faster.

During the remainder of February, 600 randomly selected households will be asked to participate in a phone survey to gauge interest in a family recreation center, such as a YMCA.

For football fans, Super Bowl Sunday is the most anticipated day of the year. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most dangerous days for motorists. The College Station Police Department will deploy extra officers in the peak hours before, during, and after Sunday’s game to proactively identify and apprehend drivers who are a danger.

The Southwood Community Center returns to regular hours – 9.a.m-5 p.m. on weekdays – and operations on Feb. 24, but the rehabilitation is complete enough to host the initial session of the new Nia Fitness class on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The class is from 9-10 a.m. and runs through Feb. 27.

Spikeball Roundnet is a new recreational sport that requires agility, lateral movement, and hand-eye coordination. You can participate in this fun sport that’s sweeping the nation at the Spikeball Quick-Fire Tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, at Stephen C. Beachy Central Park. Registration ends Feb. 5, the cost is $30 per team, and equipment is provided.

Next week, construction crews will begin demolishing the Central Park pavilion, restrooms, and athletic shed, as well as the Bee Creek restrooms. Reconstruction of the facilities should be finished by late fall, and the brief inconvenience will be worth it.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Jan. 23. The meeting can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start at about 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The College Station City Council gathers Thursday at city hall for its workshop (about 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. Here are five items to watch.

College Station will be among the water users discussed at the regional planning group’s public meeting on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Carters Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. They want to gather input from stakeholders in Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Lee, Milam, Robertson, and Washington counties on matters related to available water supplies, projected needs, and management strategies.

Traffic signal work on Thursday is expected to cause slowdowns at two College Station intersections from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

City of College Station offices and facilities will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Sanitation and recycling collections will operate on their normal schedules. Closed facilities include the Ringer Library, Lincoln Recreation Center, Meyer Center, and Lick Creek Nature Center.

People around the country recognize College Station as a special place filled with friendly, hospitable people and top-notch sports facilities. Those factors are the cornerstones as we attract well-attended, high-caliber events that substantially impact on our local economy.

College Station ended 2019 with a population estimate of 122,738, thanks in part to our 1,556 newest residents. When it’s time to look back at our 2020 babies, I expect to see more Alpha Dewdrops and fewer Emma Graces — okay?

Early voting begins Monday for the special election to fill the vacant Place-4 seat on the College Station City Council. If no candidate earns 50% +1, the top two candidates will meet again in a runoff election.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Jan. 9. The meeting can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start at about 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The College Station City Council gathers Thursday at city hall for its first workshop (about 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meeting of 2020. Here are five items to watch.

Most of the time, College Station residents do an exceptional job of helping our collections run smoothly, but now it’s even easier with our improved free mobile app, which is called College Station Curbside. You can quickly find the garbage, recycling, and bulk/brush pickup collection schedule specific to your address and set the app to remind you of your collection days.

The City of College Station has many opportunities for you to share your gifts and talents by serving on a community board, coaching youth basketball, or volunteering at the Lincoln Recreation. It takes just a little effort and compassion with a big scoop of kindness to make a positive impact.

In terms of economic development, 2019 was a heckuva year for College Station. Economic Development Director Natalie Ruiz -- who recently was recognized in public for the first time due to this podcast (such a diva) -- and Communications Director Jay Socol reflect on some of the successes (and near-misses) from the past year + look ahead at what 2020 might bring in terms of new jobs and a diversified economy for College Station.

As we bring in the new year, we offer a sampling of the Public Communication Office’s best photography work of 2019.

On Nov. 15, the City of College Station disabled its Click2Gov third-party system used to process utility payments due to a potential data security issue, and immediately launched an investigation that remains ongoing.

The City of College Station announced free parking immediately being available 8 a.m.-9 p.m. daily through Sunday, Jan. 12.

Residents and businesses within a large portion of College Station may soon see utility-related preventative maintenance performed on or near their property. Seguin-based Utility Restoration Services is serving as a contractor for College Station Utilities and, over the next nine months, will be inspecting and restoring pad-mounted transformers that can fall into disrepair over time.

City of College Station offices and facilities will be closed Dec. 23-25 and Jan. 1. Solid waste and recycling routes will be collected as usual Dec. 23-24 but will not be picked up on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. The normal daily collection schedule will be pushed back one day through Jan. 3.

As Santa heads back to the North Pole to prepare for his Christmas Eve deliveries, the Parks and Recreation staff is cleaning up, repairing lights and picking up remnants of the good times left behind from this year’s Christmas in the Park events. Over the last two weekends, we enjoyed watching more than 18,125 guests revel under the giant Christmas tree and delight in the festive light displays and activities.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The meeting can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start at about 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The College Station City Council gathers Tuesday at city hall for its final workshop (about 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings of 2019. Here are five items to watch.

The City of College Station's youth basketball program helps develop young athletes mentally, athletically, and socially. The focus is on providing a fun, relaxed atmosphere while teaching the game’s fundamentals. Registration ends Dec. 13, and the league runs from Jan. 13-March 5. We also need volunteer coaches!

The City of College Station offers two online options for citizens to report non-emergency issues. The Police Department monitors one, and Code Enforcement handles the other. Code Enforcement Supervisor Julie Caler takes a look at how each platform works and what issues you can report to each.

College Station Mayor Karl Mooney and Bryan Mayor Andrew Nelson will participate in the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas campaign by ringing bells and collecting donations at local Walmart stores on Saturday from noon-1 p.m. Mooney will be at the College Station Walmart, while Nelson will be at the Bryan Walmart on Briarcrest.

The candidate filing period for the special election to fill the now-vacant Place-4 seat on the College Station City Council will begin after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Earlier that day, the city council will have met to order the Tuesday, Jan. 28 special election.

City of College Station offices and facilities will be closed Thursday and Friday in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Monday, Nov. 25. The meeting can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start at about 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The College Station City Council gathers Monday at city hall for its workshop (about 4 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. Here are three items to watch.

Parks and Recreation crews diligently work around fall leagues and events to transition Beachy Central Park into a lighted winter wonderland for the annual Christmas in the Park festivities. They toil in the heat, cold, rain — and sometimes ice — to ensure a radiant and festive glow when we flip the switch on Thanksgiving Day.

College Station Water Services’ has started its latest round of smoke testing to evaluate the condition of some of our older wastewater lines. We’ll conduct the tests along University Drive and part of the Eastgate area today through Friday between 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Smoke testing is an indispensable tool that helps us maintain our essential infrastructure by identifying the locations of defects and improper connections.

The City of College Station was recently informed of a potential data security issue with Click2Gov a third-party system used to process utility payments. The city immediately launched an investigation, with the assistance of third-party experts, to determine the nature and scope of the security issue. The city is working with independent investigators and federal law enforcement to determine the scope of the event. While we respond, online payments have been disabled.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Nov. 14. The meeting can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start at about 4 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The College Station City Council gathers Thursday at city hall for its workshop (4 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. Here are five items to watch.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s special meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12. The session can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online at cstx.gov/cstv19. The public portion of the meeting will start at about 5 p.m.

We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of former City Councilman Tony Jones (1979-83), who died Sunday at the age of 72.

Sunday, Dec. 8 marks the 30th anniversary of the Jingle Bell Fun Run and is an ideal opportunity to mark “competing in a fun run” off your bucket list. The event starts at 2:15 p.m., followed by the annual B-CS Christmas Parade at 3 p.m.

The City of College Station invites residents to join city staff on Monday, Nov. 18, for a discussion about short-term housing rentals. The informal gathering will be at 6:30 p.m. at the CSU Meeting and Training Facility at 1603 Graham Road.

Welcome to our live election blog from the Brazos Center. The results are also available on the City of College Station’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

The fall warrant amnesty period for the City of College Station and Brazos County is underway and runs through Nov. 1. The twice-yearly amnesty period allows citizens with outstanding warrants to avoid paying the $50 per case warrant fee if fines are paid in full.

Contrary to popular belief, the City of College Station does not limit local cable television or internet service options. So why doesn’t our community have more choices?

The widening of Greens Prairie Trail from Royder Road to Long Creek Lane begins next week and will take about 10 months, weather permitting.

Holleman Drive east of the Wellborn Road intersection will be closed Thursday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. as preparations are made to re-rout the overhead powerlines.

With deep sadness and sorrow, the City of College Station shares the unexpected passing of Laura Dean Mooney, 59, wife of Mayor Karl Mooney, at their home Thursday night. The heartfelt prayers and condolences of the entire city organization are with Mayor Mooney and his family.

Thanks to three federal grants approved Monday night by the city council, the College Station Fire Department will soon have more trained, front-line firefighters available in our community. The $1.2 million in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency significantly enhance the department’s capabilities by not only adding firefighters but also equipping stations with diesel exhaust removal systems and providing training for standardized emergency operations management.

In late September, the City of College Station conducted a series of four public workshops as part of the 10-year update to the city’s Comprehensive Plan. Since the topic was about College Station’s development road map for the next decade, we expected a strong turnout. We asked for enthusiastic public input, and that’s what we got. f you weren’t able to attend, don’t worry. An online survey is open through Oct. 16.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Monday, Oct. 7. The sessions can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start at about 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The College Station City Council gathers Monday at city hall for its workshop (about 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. Here are five items to watch.

THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 10.63 PERCENT AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $27.67.

Thanks to Lick Creek Park in the Dark, you don’t have to travel far to create fun memories with your friends and family. The Lick Creek Nature Center family invites you to join us the night of Friday, Oct. 18. The family-friendly event begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 7 a.m. Saturday morning. Limited spots are available, and registration ends Wednesday, Oct. 16.

As College Station’s streets have become increasingly congested, accidents involving pedestrians and motor vehicles have resulted in scores of injuries and several tragic fatalities. It’s an all-too-familiar scene, not just here, but across the country.

We hear it all the time: "Hey, College Station, how come you don't bring a [fill in the blank] to town?" The other side of that is, "Hey, bozos, why do you keep bringing more [fill in the blank] to our city?" In this podcast, Economic Development Director Natalie Ruiz and Communications Director Jay Socol explore those questions.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Sept. 26. The meetings can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start at about 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The College Station City Council gathers Thursday at city hall for its workshop (about 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. Here are five items to watch.

Community input is an essential part of The Next 10, the process of updating the city’s plan that guides growth and development. Next week, we will conduct a series of four identical public workshops at locations across College Station to gather your input on the city’s present and future growth patterns. We encourage you to attend the most convenient session.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Sept. 12. The meetings can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start at about 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The College Station City Council gathers Thursday at city hall for its workshop (about 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. Here are five items to watch.

On Monday, Sept. 16, the City of College Station will host the first of what we hope will be many community conversations when we gather at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at the Lincoln Recreation Center at 1000 Eleanor St. The inaugural topic will be Thomas Park. The primary goal of these conversations is to listen and share information about important community issues.

College Station Water Services will smoke test sewer lines this week east of Texas Avenue and north of University Drive to Spring Loop, including the Chimney Hill subdivision. The tests will be Tuesday through Thursday (and possibly Friday) between 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. each day.

The great thing about trying field hockey for the first time is that it’s new to almost everyone else around College Station, too. Our free clinic on Friday, Sept. 13 from 6-8 p.m. at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex is open to anyone from three-years-old to adult with any ability or mobility level. No need to preregister, either.

Eight years ago today, the City of College Station opened the G. Hysmith Skate Park in memory of the energetic, ambitious middle-schooler with a passion for skateboarding who passed away in 2005 after a courageous battle with cancer. His family, friends, and community members convinced the city council to make Garrett’s dream of a local skate park a reality.

Most City of College Station offices and facilities will be closed Monday for Labor Day. Solid waste and recycling collections will operate on the regular schedule.

If you’ve driven down University Drive in Northgate in the last couple of weeks, you’ve probably faced extraordinarily long wait times. We share your frustration and apologize deeply for the inconvenience.

Most of us like birds — most of them, anyway. The great-tailed grackles and starlings that gather and cause problems in Northgate are a glaring exception. Various methods have been used to encourage the birds to leave, but they've always returned. Earlier this week, we began a different tactic that just might work.

For football fans, following their favorite team to Kyle Field can be tricky. With tens of thousands of fans descending on a relatively small area, finding a place to park their vehicles can be daunting. Making sure everyone abides by our city parking ordinances is a significant test for city staff, too.

With Texas A&M opening its football season Thursday, the City of College Station’s solid waste crews will collect garbage early from neighborhoods south of campus. All trash containers should be curbside by 8 a.m. in the area from George Bush to Harvey Mitchell and Wellborn Road to Texas Avenue.

As a former Texas A&M student and now a permanent resident, Lacey Lively loves the hustle and bustle that fall brings. Watching the students move in and gear up for classes brings back fond memories, and it’s also a perfect opportunity for her to offer some friendly advice for our new residents.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Aug. 22. The meetings can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start at about 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The College Station City Council gathers Thursday at city hall for its workshop (about 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. Here are five items to watch.

With classes starting at Texas A&M and Blinn College next week, it’s an ideal time to review some common sense ways for students to stay safe and avert crime.

A tax rate of $0.534618 per $100 valuation has been proposed for adoption by the governing body of City of College Station. This rate exceeds the lower of the effective or rollback tax rate, and state law requires that two public hearings be held by the governing body before adopting the proposed tax rate.

The City of College Station’s proposed FY 2020 budget continues the city’s focus on public safety while providing resources for essential current and future infrastructure projects. The $341 million budget was presented to the city council on Monday at the first of three dedicated workshops at the CSU Meeting and Training Facility.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Aug. 8. The meetings can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start at about 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The College Station City Council gathers Thursday at city hall for its workshop (about 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. Here are five items to watch.

The Texas Amateur Athletic Federation’s Summer Games of Texas attracted 8,461 athletes from across the state to compete in a dozen events here in late July. Only 130 participants were from College Station, which means the rest – along with about 20,000 of their coaches, family members, and friends – were visitors who dropped an estimated $8.1 million into the local economy by filling local restaurants and hotels.

In this "All Up in Your Business" podcast episode, College Station Economic Development Director Natalie Ruiz returns to talk about new restaurants, office space, commercial expansion and more.

The Southwood Community Center will be closed from repairs until late fall starting Thursday, Aug. 1. The facility was damaged extensively by water leaks after heavy rains earlier this year.

We invite you to join us as we celebrate, cherish and explore the renewed Lincoln Recreation Center at a grand opening ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m.-noon at 1000 Eleanor St. The event also features the College Station Police Department’s Back to School Rally.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, July 25. The meetings can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start at about 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The College Station City Council gathers Thursday at city hall for its workshop (about 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. Here are five items to watch.

The City of College Station's current website has been operating since 2007 and has served our community well, but a change is long overdue. We launch a fresh new website – featuring brighter graphics and user-friendly navigation with drop-down menus – on Thursday at the familiar cstx.gov.

The College Station Tsunami Swim Team had 36 athletes punch their tickets to the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation’s Summer Games of Texas at last week’s regional meet in Bryan. More than 2,400 swimmers will compete in the Games from July 25-28 at the Texas A&M Natatorium.

Work on a new sewer trunk line that runs across Lick Creek Park started July 10 and will take a couple of months.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, July 11. The meetings can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online. The workshop will start at about 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

Those of us who work in the Park and Recreation industry know it isn't always fun and games, but since July is National Park and Recreation Month, we want to celebrate everything that makes our field fun and full of joy and excitement.

While the 2019 Citizen Survey makes it apparent that College Station stacks up well with other Texas cities, we also recognize we have many areas that need improvement — and that’s even more valuable to us than the positive ratings.

Most people know traffic and street signs are vital to not only find your way around but to keep you and your family safe. Unfortunately, some folks seem to think those bright, reflective signs are better suited for trophies, souvenirs, or apartment decorations. Last year’s price tag for replacing missing or stolen signs totaled more than $28,000.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, June 13. The meetings can be watched live on Suddenlink channel 19 or online at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start at about 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

Since the invention of the Edison lightbulb in 1879, electric linemen have been keeping the nation energized. More than 227,000 men and women install and maintain the nation’s nine million miles of electric grid that meet our power needs, including the 28 who serve at College Station Utilities.

Saturday’s tornado in nearby Franklin destroyed much of the town with winds of 136-165 mph. Fortunately, only about a dozen minor injuries were reported, but the dangerous EF-3 twister served as a wake-up call for the Bryan-College Station community.

Like BBQ, burgers, tacos — or any other food type you can think of — donuts are a pretty personal thing for people. College Station has a variety of options, all with loyal followings. But long-suffering fans of Krispy Kreme can finally rejoice: The red light of happiness is in Aggieland.