March 22, 2024

City of College Station offices and facilities will be closed next Friday in observance of the Good Friday holiday, so we won’t have a Weekly Council Update. Sanitation and recycling collections will operate on the usual schedule.

SUPREME COURT RULINGS

ON PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court made two unanimous rulings clarifying when a public official can block someone or delete comments on their personal social media accounts. The cases involved whether a Michigan city manager and California school district trustees violated the plaintiffs' First Amendment rights by deleting comments and blocking users.

The rulings make clear that blocking users or deleting comments is not permissible when engaging in state action on social media, even from a personal account. A public official's ability to delete posts or block commenters hinges on whether the public official's social media activity constitutes state action. The court explained that a public official's social media activity is state action if they (1) have actual authority to speak on the state's behalf and (2) purport to exercise that authority through their activity on social media.

However, the court emphasized that public officials still maintain their constitutional rights, and not all social media activity constitutes state action. An act is not attributable to a state unless it is traceable to its power or authority. No matter how official it looks, private action lacks the necessary lineage.

Here's a summary from Route Fifty:

>> Court clarifies when public officials can block citizens on social media

– Colin Killian, Public Communications Director ([email protected])

– Gavin Midgley, Assistant City Attorney ([email protected])

FEBRUARY POPULATION: 128,553

The city's population estimate for February is 128,553 based on recently issued residential certificates of occupancy. Completed single-family construction is up about 7% compared to February 2023 and 103% compared to the same time frame in 2022.

Residential platting activity is up about 1,133% compared to February 2023 and about 61% compared to the same period in 2022. Through February, 37 single-family residential lots have been platted. We had 3 lots platted in 2023 and 23 in 2022 during the same time frame.

>> Annual Population Since 2000

– Ashley Klein, Staff Planner ([email protected])

CELEBRATE MONARCH MARCH

ON SATURDAY AT LICK CREEK

In celebration of the return of the monarch butterflies, the Parks and Recreation Department hosts its annual Monarch March event on Saturday from 9 a.m.-noon at the Gary Halter Nature Center. The free, family-friendly, come-and-go event features educational booths, games, and handy tips for creating a home waystation or butterfly garden.

In 2016, then-College Station Mayor Nancy Berry proclaimed January 28 as Mayors' Monarch Pledge Day to raise awareness of the decline of the monarch butterfly and its habitat. Monarch butterflies are the state insect of Texas and travel across the southern United States, including College Station, on their yearly journey from Mexico to Canada.

The monarch population has dropped by about 90% in recent years due to development, mowing, insecticide practices, and habitat loss. The Parks and Recreation Department is committed to protecting the vital pollinator by raising awareness in our community.

– Trey Reeves, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator ([email protected])

RECAPPING ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL

MEETING PLANNERS SHOWCASE

On Tuesday, Visit College Station hosted the 30th annual Meeting Planners Showcase at the College Station Hilton Hotel and Conference Center. The event allowed 40 local vendors to showcase their services to over 150 meeting and event planners.

Delores Crum, owner of Premiere Events, provided insight on ways to connect with clients and vendors and the importance of growing connections and relationships with co-workers.

The Meeting Planners Showcase was followed by our monthly Hang Out & Tune In event at the Reveille Rooftop Bar at the Hilton Hotel. The gathering allowed vendors and planners to continue collaborating while hearing local musicians.

Doug Sweet, Associate Director at Texas A&M's Memorial Student Center, helped connect the two events when he presented on finding suitable entertainment for events. We were thrilled to combine the events for an extended networking opportunity.

– Cameron Hill, Economic Development & Tourism Marketing Manager ([email protected])

CITY DEPARTMENTS HOST

LEADERSHIP BRAZOS CLASS

Public Works, Economic Development, Fire, and Water Services representatives hosted the BCS Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Brazos class on Wednesday at 1207 Texas. The city also had a panel discussion at City Hall with Destinee Vargas of U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul's office and state representatives Kyle Kacal and John Raney.

Attendees toured the fleet shop, traffic control center, Fire Station No. 6, and the Carter Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. In addition, the class participated in panel discussions about Solid Waste, Streets and Drainage, and Economic Development. Participant feedback was phenomenal, with many expressing amazement at the work, expertise, and exceptional service these departments provide the community daily.

The 2024 Leadership Brazos class comprises 46 individuals representing private businesses, non-profits, and public services in College Station, Bryan, and Brazos County.

– Caroline Ask, Solid Waste Division Manager ([email protected])

CITIZEN THANKS FIRST RESPONDERS

FOR SAVING HIS LIFE IN FEBRUARY

On Wednesday, Brazos County resident Bill Wooten met and thanked the first responders who saved his life in February. The group included Brazos County 911 dispatchers, South Brazos County volunteers, and CSFD paramedics.

Mr. Wooten, a resident of south Brazos County, suffered a cardiac arrest on Super Bowl Sunday. Within minutes, South Brazos County Fire Department first responders were on the scene, followed by the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) paramedics from the College Station Fire Department. Mr. Wooten was successfully resuscitated.

The event represents the importance of all links in the chain of survival, including early access to care through a 911 system and ACLS. The City of College Station's investment in October to improve EMS capacity by adding an ambulance was instrumental in this success story. The additional CSFD ambulance was available when Mr. Wooten needed it the most.

>> VIDEO: Bill Wooten's Reunion with First Responders

– Richard Mann, Fire Chief ([email protected])