CITY COUNCIL GETS REVIEW OF SECOND QUARTER FINANCIAL REPORTS
The Brenham City Council met Thursday afternoon to review and discuss the second quarter financial reports from Chief Financial Officer Carolyn Miller.
For the second quarter, the city experienced favorable net revenues over expenditures in the General Funds as well as all five utility funds.
Also, fund performance was favorable to budget except for the Electric Fund.
In the General Fund, the Second Quarter performance for the general fund posted actual net revenues of $739,111 as compared to budget performance of $192,188.
The following revenues were ahead of budget: Property taxes were higher than budget by $41, 841, Sales taxes were ahead by $145,566, Licenses, permits and fees were ahead by $80, 154 related to increased Municipal Court fees and fines, and higher building permits and inspection fees.
The City experience favorable performance in the general fund, but with the economic downturn in the economy, the fund performances and reduced expenditures will be monitored to mitigate any negative inpact.
The only item lower were transfers-in from utility funds for shared services, which were lower than budgeted by $159,321.
Also on Thursday's agenda, the council approved a 10-year extension with Southern Flyer Inc., for the current Fixed Based Operators.
The current contract will expire on September 1st, 2015.
Jack Hess, President of Southern Flyer, Inc., has indicated he would be willing to extend the contract for another 10 years. Over the last 15 years, the airport has become an important asset and economic development tool for the City, and staff believes that Jack and Janet Hess are a major reason for that growth.
The only modification to the contract would be the fuel flowage for Jet-A Fuel, which would increase four cents per gallon to eight cents per gallon, and increase that was recommended by Mr. Hess.
The council also discussed minor modifications for the parklet project for the new restaurant on Baylor Street in downtown Brenham.
City Staff has presented a temporary license to encroach for Ninety-Six West at the May 21, 2015 meeting, during that Council approved the temporary license, but the restaurant is requesting a modification to that agreement.
Some of the changes include an agreement for automatic renewal of license for up to four renew terms, and licensee must comply with any new parklet regulations.
A parklet takes the place of three parking spaces in front of a business, which are converted into a seating area for customers or the public.
Licensee shall have no responsibility for City’s subsurface property or improvements unless the Licensee causes damage to the City’s subsurface property or improvements.
The use of temporary heaters with liquefied petroleum gas cylinders, with a max. 20 lbs. capacity, would be allowed on the parklet.
If the City needed to inspect or enter the parklet for any reason, the City would proceed in a manner that causes the least interference or interruption to the Licensee’s operations, except in cases of emergency.
The requirement for automobile liability insurance was removed. The termination of the agreement by either party would require 120 days instead of 30 days written notice.
The City Council went into executive session to discuss the possible sale of 15 city-owned lots totaling nearly five acres.
The City Council also proclaimed June 25, 2015 as Kyle Dean Dannhaus Day, recognizing Dannhaus as an “integral part of the growth of the City of Brenham since 1985.”
