City Council Place 5 - Strategic Planning - Feb 16, 2026

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Bob Yancy
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We had a council strategic planning session on Monday.

Thought I'd summarize where I'm at from Place 5. I didn't get to all of this yesterday but colleagues and staff read this so…and you bosses tell me if I'm on the right or wrong track:

Property taxes. Keep rate low, address spiraling valuations. (See Housing below.)

Public Safety & City Staff: be a destination employer. Hire the best and keep em.

Housing crisis: Fix it. Or at least help. Since it's a challenge to gain agreement on eliminating or lowering development/building fees, move those fees up to jumbo customs and student towers for now. Remove or eliminate fees for attainable housing. Revenue neutral approach. Colleagues didn't balk. Didn't agree, either. Must lower fees on attainable.

Establish student housing district. West side. Go vertical. Gig 'Em District. Need retail, dining, entertainment there.

Econ Dev: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Get busy recruiting and incentivizing. (CoB has 67 Chapter 380 Econ Dev deals on comptroller's website. Waco has 68. CSTX = 6) We have work to do.

Drop goal of a "consumer based economy." Diversify it. Professional. Tech. Light mfg. Emerging, but established firms yet to reach apogee.

Business Park. Must have one. Don't anymore. Fundamental need.

Entertainment & Tourism. Been doing well. Make it the norm. More high profile concerts. More family entertainment. Better use of HOT tax to make it happen.

Baseball. Yes.
Midtown. Yes.
Midtown branding and district. Yes.
Wolf Pen enhancements and popular artists via P3. Yes.

Multi-Use / Convention Center. No. CoB is ready. County is ready. We're ready. Until TAMU is, I'm a no. It'll take all of us.

Hensel Park re-imagined? Probably not. Need an answer first- respectfully. What is Hensel beyond a park? I need to understand a multi-use event center first. Land is too strategically located to be a park only.

Northgate: protect and enhance. Maintain!

Public Works HQ. Qualified "yes." What's the plan for current location if we build new. I loathe empty buildings.

Intergovernmental Relationships: Good, but need work. With CoB. With County. With TAMU/S.

Strategic plan to grow the city's footprint via voluntary annexation through acquisition. Even though we have enough land for my lifetime, what about 2050? Smart growth demands smart moves.

That doesn't scratch it but it's the broad-strokes. Questions? Comments? Fire away, and/or enjoy the week!

Be safe out there! Respectfully,

Yancy '95

happyinBCS
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love the transparency if we could just make this a mainstay for all elected officials

Thank you, sir,
Bob Yancy
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happyinBCS said:

love the transparency if we could just make this a mainstay for al elected officials

Thank you, sir,


Of course! You're the boss! And I'm glad you're happy in B/CS.

Respectfully

Yancy '95
AggieCVQ
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Pretty aligned Bob. Lets get it done.
Bob Yancy
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AggieCVQ said:

Pretty aligned Bob. Lets get it done.


Copy that. Good to hear. Thanks!

Respectfully

Yancy '95
lwd78
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AG
I'd like to hear a LOT more before the city pulls the trigger on a new Public Works building. The fact that staff's plan was to pay cash, avoiding taxpayer scrutiny has me on the "no" side. When trust is lost, it's hard to get it back. On the other side, if they can convince you of the need, and they have a plan for the old PW building, AND the old CSPD building, then I can probably be convinced.
I'm good with the rest, and look forward to hearing about Attainable Housing. If we're going to lower fees, I'd like to see something that restricts flipping. Maybe fees are forgiven if the house isn't flipped within a certain period of time? Lots to think about here. Thank you for talking to the voters. Very rare in CS.
Hornbeck
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AG
Agreed, Bob. Good take.

We have a lot of empty buildings. Macys, old Police Station, and now fixing to be Public Works.

We need to get out of the real estate market without clear, transparent plans. Have not had that to date, except for one member of council.
Stucco
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Thank you Bob. For the work you do and your communication.
Bob Yancy
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lwd78 said:

I'd like to hear a LOT more before the city pulls the trigger on a new Public Works building. The fact that staff's plan was to pay cash, avoiding taxpayer scrutiny has me on the "no" side. When trust is lost, it's hard to get it back. On the other side, if they can convince you of the need, and they have a plan for the old PW building, AND the old CSPD building, then I can probably be convinced.
I'm good with the rest, and look forward to hearing about Attainable Housing. If we're going to lower fees, I'd like to see something that restricts flipping. Maybe fees are forgiven if the house isn't flipped within a certain period of time? Lots to think about here. Thank you for talking to the voters. Very rare in CS.


If it were my own older asset and I was making the call on build vs refurb, absolutely no way I could choose to figure it out later. That has to be the standard, I think. Have to treat it with same care and due diligence.

My $.02 and thank you.

Respectfully

Yancy '95
Bob Yancy
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Stucco said:

Thank you Bob. For the work you do and your communication.


Of course- thank you!

Respectfully

Yancy '95
Average Joe
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AG
Quote:

Drop goal of a "consumer based economy." Diversify it. Professional. Tech. Light mfg. Emerging, but established firms yet to reach apogee.

I agree with pretty much everything there and love the transparency, but this is #1 to me. I feel like we still struggle to keep young professionals and attract young families. Maybe I'm wrong in that, but those two demographics will drive most everything else on the list.
Bob Yancy
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Hornbeck said:

Agreed, Bob. Good take.

We have a lot of empty buildings. Macys, old Police Station, and now fixing to be Public Works.

We need to get out of the real estate market without clear, transparent plans. Have not had that to date, except for one member of council.


Thanks for the kind words. Albeit in fairness I'm partial to having assets to monetize and energize on behalf of the taxpayer if the bosses agree.

Objectively and transparently,

Yancy '95
Bob Yancy
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Average Joe said:

Quote:

Drop goal of a "consumer based economy." Diversify it. Professional. Tech. Light mfg. Emerging, but established firms yet to reach apogee.

I agree with pretty much everything there and love the transparency, but this is #1 to me. I feel like we still struggle to keep young professionals and attract young families. Maybe I'm wrong in that, but those two demographics will drive most everything else on the list.


You are spot on.

Endemic challenges are inherent to every organization. And it's exactly those challenges that must be constantly addressed til solved, and not held up as a white flag of surrender because of the tired axiom "it'll always be."

Respectfully

Yancy '95

PS: there was a time in this town when employment and housing and opportunity were plentiful. My group of friends and I achieved our version of the American dream because of it. We will have that again. We'll not be complacent as a place where we who "got ours" get to kick back and enjoy while opportunity shrinks for everyone else still fighting the good fight. May sound corny but I don't care. A hill I'll die on.

Respectfully

Yancy '95
LOYAL AG
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AG
Quote:

Drop goal of a "consumer based economy."


Is that what they call it? I've always told people College Station wants to be a suburb of Bryan. "Consumer bases economy" sounds much more eloquent.

And yes I agree. I have a client we need to talk about from that perspective. I'll text you.
Bob Yancy
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LOYAL AG said:

Quote:

Drop goal of a "consumer based economy."


Is that what they call it? I've always told people College Station wants to be a suburb of Bryan. "Consumer bases economy" sounds much more eloquent.

And yes I agree. I have a client we need to talk about from that perspective. I'll text you.


So I know you? When you text me, tell me you are "Loyal Ag." I'm keeping a list of known versus likely identities. ;-)

This issue of a consumer based city economy is of strategic importance. I don't want one. I was aghast when we left that in the strategic plan last year. Very curious how it got in there.

Now we have a report from a nationally renowned Econ dev consultant that says we need to get busy diversifying, so it's not just me saying it.

Hopefully we'll adopt that plan at the next meeting.

Respectfully

Yancy '95
Costa and Andreas
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Good morning Bob. Hope you're well.

As a local merchant/entrepreneur of approximately 30 years with 6 business entities, diversification of the local economy is music to my ears and something I've been screaming about for decades. I'm thankful for your position and that it has been galvanized by an econ-dev consultant.

The seasonality here continues to be a very big challenge and is presumably one of the big reasons the restaurant opening and closing carousel marches on. Many people say, "but the school has doubled in size". To this I respond that all of the students still leave in the holidays and summer, regardless of population. To boot, since covid, it has become understandably attractive for students to do online learning in the summer from the comfort of their parents' home in Houston etc.

As an industry insider, I believe the restaurant carousel will sustain for some time until core retail spending per capita increases from higher paying jobs, demographic diversification, and a flattening of seasonality.

Hope to see you soon Bob!
Bob Yancy
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Costa and Andreas said:

Good morning Bob. Hope you're well.

As a local merchant/entrepreneur of approximately 30 years with 6 business entities, diversification of the local economy is music to my ears and something I've been screaming about for decades. I'm thankful for your position and that it has been galvanized by an econ-dev consultant.

The seasonality here continues to be a very big challenge and is presumably one of the big reasons the restaurant opening and closing carousel marches on. Many people say, "but the school has doubled in size". To this I respond that all of the students still leave in the holidays and summer, regardless of population. To boot, since covid, it has become understandably attractive for students to do online learning in the summer from the comfort of their parents' home in Houston etc.

As an industry insider, I believe the restaurant carousel will sustain for some time until core retail spending per capita increases from higher paying jobs, demographic diversification, and a flattening of seasonality.

Hope to see you soon Bob!


Howdy my friend!

Well, you're definitely an SME on the topic and I agree 100%. The good news is, it won't be hard to achieve when we change our mindset about our potential as a community. The sky's the limit. All it takes is the "want to." Perplexingly, that's the actual hard part. Ultimately, that's the voters' shot to call. We shall see. Time will tell.

Respectfully

Yancy '95
doubledog
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Entertainment & Tourism. Been doing well. Make it the norm. More high profile concerts. More family entertainment. Better use of HOT tax to make it happen.


Having reviewed the HOT expenses, I for one, will agree.
Omperlodge
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I have long thought that the City should actively target those larger employers that tend to hire tons of Aggies out of college and have leadership that is also Aggies. I can think of tons of oil and gas and technology companies. Encourage them to open a satellite office here. Leadership that is 5-8 years from retirement would love to move back to Aggieland and recruiting out of college people to stay in the area as their transition into the real world would be easier. It is cut throat for the best of the best and not having to leave College Station would make the best easier to get. Just an idea.
Bob Yancy
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Omperlodge said:

I have long thought that the City should actively target those larger employers that tend to hire tons of Aggies out of college and have leadership that is also Aggies. I can think of tons of oil and gas and technology companies. Encourage them to open a satellite office here. Leadership that is 5-8 years from retirement would love to move back to Aggieland and recruiting out of college people to stay in the area as their transition into the real world would be easier. It is cut throat for the best of the best and not having to leave College Station would make the best easier to get. Just an idea.


This! Except for the last part. Aggies graduate ready to fight and win. That's why we dominate the ranks of CEO producers. But everything else, yes!

Respectfully

Yancy '95
Captn_Ag05
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AG
Mr. Yancy -

Any concerted effort to recruit businesses trying to escape California, NY, and other blue areas for a more business friendly environment?
Bob Yancy
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Captn_Ag05 said:

Mr. Yancy -

Any concerted effort to recruit businesses trying to escape California, NY, and other blue areas for a more business friendly environment?


We've been focused on retail, but we're always looking. I want us to get into this in a big way. I think it needs to be a concerted effort.

Respectfully

Yancy '95
Captn_Ag05
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AG
I hope so. I believe it is a market that some other similarly situated regions in Texas have had some success with. There are a lot of businesses that employ 50-100 people that are looking for a way to escape the crippling regulations and costs of blue areas.
Omperlodge
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Captn_Ag05 said:

I hope so. I believe it is a market that some other similarly situated regions in Texas have had some success with. There are a lot of businesses that employ 50-100 people that are looking for a way to escape the crippling regulations and costs of blue areas.


I would target blue states that are blue because of one major city. Illinois is a good example. Go after non-Chicago companies.

Texas, Tennessee, and Florida have also been successful in going after companies that have a targeted ipo that is 3-5 years out.
Captn_Ag05
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AG
Fair point.
lwd78
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AG
Captn_Ag05 said:

Mr. Yancy -

Any concerted effort to recruit businesses trying to escape California, NY, and other blue areas for a more business friendly environment?

We have to solve, or at least being to solve, housing before we can become a serious player in attracting new commercial investment (relocations). With A&M here, we're a natural location for smaller corporations, which will ultimately bring bigger ones, but right now? Not going to happen. Build it (housing that's affordable) and they will come.
tu ag
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AG
2 questions:

1 - where is the West side you are proposing student high-rises be built?
2 - where are y'all thinking about a business park or does that come after having a decision on whether to have one?
metroid_84
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Quote:

Econ Dev: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Get busy recruiting and incentivizing. (CoB has 67 Chapter 380 Econ Dev deals on comptroller's website. Waco has 68. CSTX = 6) We have work to do.

I'm not a big fan of cities giving corporations tax incentives or loans of public funds. You say Bryan has 67 of them -- is there an example of an economic development deal in Bryan that actually worked to bring a sizeable employer to Bryan instead of somewhere else? All I ever hear about is promises, especially at RELLIS, and I don't think any of those have actually materialized yet.

What is the issue of working with TAMU? Has priorities shifted with Welsh ouster? I saw in the Battalion that the university isn't building a new building for the Performance and Fine Art school anymore, so maybe A&M have money troubles?
AggiePhil
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AG
There is currently a business park/center at SH6 and Gateway Blvd.
Hornbeck
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AG
I think that folks *say* a whole lot about bringing in new tech firms.

I have yet to see a concerted effort to actually bring them in.

When CoB landed Decision One they touted it as great jobs. However, the proof is in the pudding and it was a call center. See also ViaSat, who is getting killed by Starlink, and did not live up to their employment commitments.

The only real recent "winner" is Fujifilm. In my mind, that's more "biotech" and less "tech". This further illustrates Bob Yancy's contention that we are a "consumer" based economy.

I'm of the opinion that we won't get tech companies to come to CS with the same guys that worked on the Macy's deal in the Economic Development office. My opinion.
Bob Yancy
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metroid_84 said:

Quote:

Econ Dev: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Get busy recruiting and incentivizing. (CoB has 67 Chapter 380 Econ Dev deals on comptroller's website. Waco has 68. CSTX = 6) We have work to do.

I'm not a big fan of cities giving corporations tax incentives or loans of public funds. You say Bryan has 67 of them -- is there an example of an economic development deal in Bryan that actually worked to bring a sizeable employer to Bryan instead of somewhere else? All I ever hear about is promises, especially at RELLIS, and I don't think any of those have actually materialized yet.

What is the issue of working with TAMU? Has priorities shifted with Welsh ouster? I saw in the Battalion that the university isn't building a new building for the Performance and Fine Art school anymore, so maybe A&M have money troubles?


The CoB uses economic development tools and strategies to achieve goals in jobs and housing. They are aggressive in their strategy, which has remained consistent across multiple councils. Even absent the semiconductor plant, the CoB has had a modern era of council-led success in transforming their downtown and their job market, while elevating their housing market to offer higher end options even as they preserve attainable housing. For anyone watching closely, the last 20 years have been impressive.

As one member of council.

Respectfully

Yancy '95
Bob Yancy
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metroid_84 said:

Quote:

Econ Dev: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Get busy recruiting and incentivizing. (CoB has 67 Chapter 380 Econ Dev deals on comptroller's website. Waco has 68. CSTX = 6) We have work to do.

I'm not a big fan of cities giving corporations tax incentives or loans of public funds. You say Bryan has 67 of them -- is there an example of an economic development deal in Bryan that actually worked to bring a sizeable employer to Bryan instead of somewhere else? All I ever hear about is promises, especially at RELLIS, and I don't think any of those have actually materialized yet.

What is the issue of working with TAMU? Has priorities shifted with Welsh ouster? I saw in the Battalion that the university isn't building a new building for the Performance and Fine Art school anymore, so maybe A&M have money troubles?


At the tactical operational level, such as game day traffic control, public safety coordination, water supply, etc, coordination between town and gown is great.

At the strategic relationship level, there's room for a stronger relationship, by a lot.

As one member of council, I believe we should be coordinating our student housing efforts and commercial development intentions. Connectivity between developments like Century Square and adjacent city permitted properties should be seamless. Communication shouldn't just be prompted by contemporaneous projects of-the-day like Hensel Park in a "hey, why don't we do this" approach every handful of years.

What's the plan for the largest university in the United States? What's the best way to ensure there's less detrimental impacts from growth on housing and traffic? If you intend to reorient main campus to the west, how can we plan districts to complement that effort and ensure it's something special and the envy of the nation's higher learning communities? Where are we headed? How can we vision that together as two cities and a university?

We're not just a university town anymore. We are transitioning to a metro area with a university in it.

Respectfully

Yancy '95
Bob Yancy
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tu ag said:

2 questions:

1 - where is the West side you are proposing student high-rises be built?
2 - where are y'all thinking about a business park or does that come after having a decision on whether to have one?


1) Texas A&M is reorienting campus toward the west. A crux of student housing has begun developing on the west side. There's a significant amount of university land and open, developable land within the city limits on the west side. The west side offers ready access to the university.

2) Formally, we have one- the Midtown Business Park. Just because we are moving towards a sports park development there doesn't mean it cannot be a well-planned, high density business park going forward. We just need to have a place for businesses to land, because we're about to get serious about economic diversification and jobs. ;-)

Respectfully

Yancy '95
Bob Yancy
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lwd78 said:

Captn_Ag05 said:

Mr. Yancy -

Any concerted effort to recruit businesses trying to escape California, NY, and other blue areas for a more business friendly environment?

We have to solve, or at least being to solve, housing before we can become a serious player in attracting new commercial investment (relocations). With A&M here, we're a natural location for smaller corporations, which will ultimately bring bigger ones, but right now? Not going to happen. Build it (housing that's affordable) and they will come.


I agree with that to a large extent. Employers look for abundant housing and workforce, for sure.

Respectfully

Yancy '95
rockelle
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Quote:


Midtown. Yes.
Midtown branding and district. Yes.

Change the name/ branding. If you are going to pour resources and money into an area to attract people and businesses, perhaps don't add to the confusion of the same name used for an established area 7 miles away.
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