BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL HEARS UPDATE ON DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDS

  

The Brenham City Council received an extensive status update on storm disaster recovery efforts at its meeting today (Thursday).

The city has been working with Rostan Solutions, a disaster recovery consulting firm, to obtain funding through FEMA and the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM). Program Manager Adam Ferguson spoke for Rostan, saying that the city still has many projects left unresolved from the flooding of 2016, worth over $1 million in reimbursable funds.

Ferguson explained that the city should be receiving federal funding soon for some projects, like elevating the Ralston Creek Lift Station and getting generators for the lift stations in the wastewater treatment plant.

However, Ferguson said FEMA has frequently allocated inadequate funding and made questionable insurance deductions, while ignoring the city’s requests for more information.

Ferguson labeled the “radio silence” from FEMA and TDEM as the primary challenge in getting the city’s project worksheets resolved. The city is required to get approval from FEMA if it wishes to change the scope of or alter a project, but is having difficulty receiving a response from FEMA.

Because of this, either the city moves forward without approval and risks complications during the reimbursement process, or it waits, and critical city infrastructure remains vulnerable. Ferguson recommended the city move forward, as he does not believe the changes that could be made to projects are sufficient enough.

As part of the funding process, FEMA requests that the city provide detailed maintenance inspection and repair records, such as with the Burleson Street crossing at Higgins Branch. According to Ferguson, FEMA is holding these requests as requirements for funding, despite there not being a regulation statute saying so.  He said applicants only have to say damage was caused by the declared event, and not a result of preexisting condition or deferred maintenance.  He called this standard “unfair and arbitrary”.

Councilwoman Susan Cantey asked Ferguson if the firm has had success in cases similar to Brenham’s in the past. Ferguson replied that, during his time as a consultant in New Jersey during the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, FEMA tried many of the same methods it is currently using in Brenham.  Despite this, he said the firm was able to make “significant gains” in New Jersey.

Ferguson stated one of the things the city can do to make progress is to stay in constant contact with lawmakers. Assistant City Manager Lowell Ogle said the city has recently talked with Senator Lois Kolkhorst’s office, who said she has been in contact with the executive director of TDEM.  Ogle said she wanted to make sure they knew that she was committed to making sure TDEM “lives up to their responsibilities to the citizens of this county”.

In other items, the council approved setting a public hearing date on the potential creation of a tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ).

Chief Financial Officer Carolyn Miller stated that Texas tax code allows cities and counties to create tax increment zones, which put aside incremental increases in taxes towards a designated fund for public improvements.  These could be for sidewalks, transportation projects, utilities, or other improvements.

This proposed reinvestment zone would contain approximately 2,200 acres of land, mainly located along the Highway 290, South Market Street, and West Main Street corridors.  Miller said the boundary map (shown here) is drawn a certain way, to focus on undeveloped and mainly non-residential areas.

The city will hold a public hearing on the matter on December 13th.  City Manager James Fisher said he intends to work with Washington County officials on this reinvestment zone.

The council also approved appointing representatives to the city’s Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee. Assistant Development Services Director Stephanie Doland said she has spoken to each of the members, who are “very excited”.  The committee’s first meeting is scheduled for next Thursday at 4 p.m., at City Hall.

Councilmembers also voted to reject the lone bid received for the first phase of improvements to Henderson Park. The city’s current estimates for the first phase of work could be completed for $200,000, but the only bid received was for $576,000.

Public Works Director Dane Rau said the city and Strand Associates opened bids on October 24th, citing three companies that were interested at the time of pre-bid. They will look to re-bid the project in January, potentially looking to take alternate bids or construct items one at a time.  Rau said they could look to add more construction time for prospective bidders, from six months to nine.

Councilmembers also voted on Stylecraft’s request to remove a section of city ordinance detailing air conditioning compressor units. The item concerned encroachment distance from a unit to a home.  Stylecraft’s requested distance was no more than four-and-a-half feet.  The motion was approved, with councilmembers Danny Goss and Susan Cantey opposing.

In other items, the council approved:

• A resolution adopting a social media policy for the City of Brenham. The resolution, which was tabled at the council’s November 1st meeting, looks to ensure social media communication reflects well on the city and employees.
• Repairs to the outdoor leisure pool at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center. Repairs through Progressive Commercial Aquatics, Inc. cost $122,900, with $102,700 for main drain work, $17,075 for three alternate options for added accessibility, and $3,125 for performance and payment bonds.
• A three-year contract with MLN Service Company for quarterly maintenance and annual inspections of the library’s HVAC system. MLN will provide three operating and one annual inspection, as well as maintenance on equipment, for $9,508 per year.
• A three-year lease agreement with Ricoh USA, Inc., to lease a printer for the library. The yearly base cost of the lease will be $3,712, which includes print allowance, maintenance, parts, toner, and supplies other than paper.
• Rules for electronic receipt of bids or proposals. The City expects the Ion Wave electronic bidding system, approved at the council’s meeting on November 1st, to go live as early as December for vendor registration.
• Final payment to Collier Construction for parking lot improvements at All Sports Building in Hohlt Park, for the amount of $91,006.50.