BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS REINVESTMENT ZONE, PURCHASE OF AQUATIC CENTER PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

  

Brenham city officials will look to move forward with their proposed tax reinvestment zone at tomorrow’s (Thursday) city council meeting.

In consent agenda, councilmembers will issue second reading of an ordinance creating a tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ), which was discussed at length at last week’s council meeting.

The ordinance will allow the city to set up a zone based around city limits, to collect new development taxes and place them into a special fund. This fund will be used to pay for projects in the city’s project plan.

Upon approval, the zone will immediately go into effect, and will terminate on December 31, 2047.

Also at the meeting, the council will discuss purchasing new playground equipment for the Blue Bell Aquatic Center (BBAC), through Kraftsman Commercial Playgrounds and Water Parks.

This new equipment would replace an existing playground over 15 years old, close to the entrance of the aquatic center leisure pool.  The new design is mostly made up of recycled materials, to help withstand the harsh chemical environment.

Brenham’s Community Development Corporation (BCDC) allotted $60,000 to replace the older playscape, but several BBAC projects have come in under budget.

BCDC board members have voted in favor of using the savings to cover the added expense of this project, which costs over $98,000.  With the added cost, projects still come in favorable to budget by over $22,000.

The council will also act on a multi-year maintenance contract with Presidio Networked Solutions Group, LLC. The contract and payment agreement, which were tabled at last week’s meeting, deal with Brenham’s Cisco SmartNet phone system and critical network hardware.

In addition, the council will look to meet again in executive session, to discuss possibly acquiring property in the downtown area, as well as entering into contract negotiations with the owner of said property.

Also at tomorrow’s meeting, councilmembers will:

• Hold work session on possible changes to bagged garbage disposal and associated charges at the city recycling center.
• Discuss the placement of stop signs on Center Street at Crockett Street, Duprie Drive at Stephanie Street, and Hosea Street at Riggs Street.
• Look at a request to remove a property frontage requirement on public right-of-way for property at Selma Lane.  City staff are recommending denial of the request, due to the possibility of having to approve additional variances for other properties that access Selma Lane.
• Discuss abandoning a portion of Salley Street.  Corey Harmon has requested that a portion of the unimproved street right-of-way be abandoned.  His neighbors have agreed to the abandonment, and that it should remain with Mr. Harmon’s property.  Staff are recommending approval.

The council will meet tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m., at City Hall.