The City of College Station operates under a council-manager form of government. The city council is composed of the mayor and six councilmembers elected at large. The mayor is the council's presiding officer and is recognized as the head of the city government for ceremonial purposes. The mayor is entitled to vote on all matters under consideration by the council. The council shall elect a mayor pro tem from its membership who acts as mayor during the mayor's absence or disability.
The mayor and each council member will hold office for four years (the transition from three-year to four-year terms will be completed for all council positions by 2024) until his or her successor is elected and qualified. No person shall be deemed elected to an office unless that person receives a majority of all the votes cast.
The mayor and each council member must be a citizen of the United States, a qualified voter of the state of Texas, and have resided for at least one year within the corporate limits of College Station.
The city council has the power to appoint the city manager, adopt the budget, authorize the issuance of bonds, and name members of commissions and boards. The city council also establishes policies regarding zoning, parks, master greenway plan and development of yearly strategic issues.
City Council
MISSION STATEMENT
"On behalf of the citizens of College Station, home of Texas A&M University,
the city council will promote and advance the community's quality of life."
Meetings are generally held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month in the Council Chambers at College Station City Hall, located at 1101 Texas Ave. For a complete list of City of College Station events and meetings, visit cstx.gov/calendar.
Council Meeting Procedure.pdf - 282 KB
Can't attend a city council meeting? You can watch it live on Suddenlink Ch. 19, online at cstx.gov/cstv19 or follow the live blog at blog.cstx.gov.
The city council welcomes written and oral comments from the public at regular meetings.
Mayor John Nichols
979.764.3541
jnichols@cstx.gov
View Financial Reports
Elected
November 2022 (Mayor)
December 2012–2022 (City Council)
Committees/Community Service
Active
Architectural Advisory Committee
Audit Committee (Chair)
Brazos Valley Community Emergency Operations Center Policy Advisory Board
Brazos Valley Council of Governments Board of Directors
Brazos Valley Council of Gov't Intergovernmental Committee
Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation
Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency Board of Directors (Chair)
Bryan/College Station Metropolitan Planning Organization
Budget and Finance
Compensation and Benefits (Mayor)
Economic Development (Chair)
Spring Creek Local Government Corporation Services
Former
Angelina-Augustine HOA (President)
Arts Council of Brazos Valley (Board Member and President)
BCS Chamber of Commerce – Chair, Chamber Transportation Committee
BCS Chamber of Commerce – Legislative Affairs Committee
BCS Joint Relief Funding Review Committee
Blinn College Bryan Campus Advisory Council (Chair)
Brazos County Health Department
Brazos Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Board
Brazos Valley Symphony Society (Board Member, President)
College Station Community Appearance Committee (Chair)
College Station Parks and Recreation Board (Chair)
College Station Planning and Zoning Commission (Chair)
College Station Noon Lions Club since 1970 (President and Deputy District)
Comprehensive Plan Evaluation Committee
Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, Business and Community Advisory Council
Governor College Station Soccer Club (Organizing Member, Officer, President)
Graduate – College Station Citizens Police Academy
Graduate – College Station Citizens Fire Academy
Sister Cities Committee
Education
B.S., Cornell University, 1963
M.S., Michigan State University, 1965
Ph.D., Cornell University, 1969
Occupation
Retired professor, Texas A&M University
Hobbies
Reading, traveling, walking, community service
City Council Place 1- Mark Smith
Mark Smith
Place 1 Councilman
979.764.3541
msmith@cstx.gov
View Financial Reports
Elected
November 2022
Committees/Community Service
Active
Audit Committee
Brazos Valley Council of Gov't Intergovernmental Committee
Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency Board of Directors
Compensation and Benefits
Spring Creek Local Government Corporation Services
Transportation and Mobility
Former
Arts Council of the Brazos Valley
Brazos Valley Troupe Board of Directors
Keep Brazos Beautiful Executive Board Member
Planning and Zoning Commission
Raintree Neighborhood Association (President)
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Education
Texas A&M, B.S. Civil Engineering, 1978
Texas A&M, Masters, Public Administration, 1992
Occupation
GRP Division Manager, San Jacinto River Authority, 2010–2020
Director of Public Works, City of College Station, 1994–2010
Assistant Director of Public Services, City of College Station, 1990–1994
Assistant City Engineer, City of College Station, 1980–1990
City Council Place 2- William Wright
William Wright
Place 2 Councilman
979.764.3541
wwright@cstx.gov
View Financial Reports
Elected
November 2022
Committees/Community Service
Active
Brazos Valley Wide Area Communications System
College Station History Sub-Committee
Economic Development
Former
Community Action Response Team (CART)
College Station Citizens Fire Academy Alumni Association
College Station Citizens University Graduate
Historic Preservation Committee
Planning and Zoning Commission
Impact Fee Advisory Committee
CSISD EOC Local Committee Member
College Station Citizens Fire Academy
Citizens Bond Advisory Committee
Education
Texas A&M, B.A. History (Film Minor), 2011
Occupation
Production Manager, Reynolds & Reynolds, 2007–Present
City Council Place 3- David White
David White
Place 3 Councilman
979.764.3541
dwhite@cstx.gov
View Financial Reports
Elected
November 2024
City Council Place 4- Melissa McIlhaney
Melissa McIlhaney
Place 4 Councilwoman
979.764.3541
mcilhaney@cstx.gov
View Financial Reports
Elected
November 2024
Committees/Community Service
Active
Legislative Engagement Committee
Comprehensive Plan Evaluation Committee
Transportation & Mobility Committee
Audit Committee
Architectural Advisory Committee
Former
Planning & Zoning Commission (Chair)
Impact Fee Advisory Committee
Texas Department of State Health Services Institutional Review Board
Hospice Brazos Valley Board
Junior League of B-CS Executive Board
Junior League of B-CS Board (chaired various committees)
Bethel Lutheran Church Board of Trustees (Chair)
Bethel Lutheran Church Board of Witness & Outreach
Voices for Children Court-Appointed Special Advocate
OPAS Encore!
Education
B.S., University of Texas at Arlington (Economics, Business Administration)
College Station Citizens University
Occupation
General contractor and director of operations, Todd McIlhaney Architecture + Interiors
Prior Professional Experience
Research compliance manager and consultant, Texas A&M University and St. Joseph Health System
Internal auditor, Texas A&M University System
Homeland Security grant auditor, TEEX
City Council Place 5- Bob Yancy
Bob Yancy
Place 5 Councilman
979.764.3541
byancy@cstx.gov
View Financial Reports
Elected
November 2022
November 2024
Committees/Community Service
Active
Brazos County Health Department
Compensation and Benefits
Economic Development
Regional Transportation Committee for Council of Governments
Spring Creek Local Government Corporation Services
Former
Baylor Scott & White Hospital College Station Board Chair
City of College Station Construction Board of Adjustments
Military Service Academy Selection Committee Chair
Scott & White Medical Center Board Chair
Texas Statewide Healthcare Council
United States Air Force
Education
Texas A&M, B.S. Political Science
Community College of the Air Force
Occupation
Founder and CEO of MEMdata (Retired)
Real Estate Investor
City Council Place 6- Scott Shafer
Scott Shafer
Place 6 Councilman
979.764.3541
sshafer@cstx.gov
View Financial Reports
Elected
November 2024
Committees/Community Service
Active
Brazos Valley Intergovernmental Committee
Brazos Valley Symphony Society
Bicycle Pedestrian and Greenways Advisory Board
Former
Planning and Zoning Commission
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board
Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Board
Wolf Pen Creek Oversight Committee
Design Review Board
Landmark Commission
Capital Improvements Planning Advisory Committee
Brazos Greenways Council
Education
Clemson University, Ph.D. Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, 1993
University of Utah, M.S. Recreation and Leisure Studies, 1986
Texas A&M, B.S. Recreation and Park Administration, 1981
Occupation
Professor and Executive Director, Campus and Community Enrichment, Office of the President, Texas A&M, 2023–Present
Faculty, Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences, Texas A&M, 1996–Present
Lecturer and Research Fellow, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia, 1994–1995