BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES PRICE HIKES FOR CITY PARKS, TRASH DROP-OFF

  

Prices of some utilities and facilities in Brenham will be going up soon.

City councilmembers approved at their meeting today (Thursday) to revise the fee schedule for Brenham parks. In addition, they approved an ordinance on its first reading to amend fees and procedures for trash drop-off in the city.

Public Works Director Dane Rau said the city looks at park rates every year, but many field rental and usage fees have not been updated since they were set in 2008.

Field rates were last brought before the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in 2012, while facility rental fees were discussed in 2014. He said these adjusted rates would better cover services and improvement costs, which are “rising across the board”.

Many of the proposed rate changes raise costs by nearly double, or more. Some of these include half- and full-day rates for facilities at the All Sports Building, Fireman’s Park, Jackson Street Park, and Henderson Park.  Minimum full-day rates go up to $100 for the Henderson Park Kitchen, from $60, while rates to use the All Sports Building Meeting Room will go up from $125 to $200.

Rates for field and tournament reservations are also increasing. To rent Rankin Field or Fireman’s Park Baseball Field for a day, one will need to pay $250 as opposed to $150.  To rent Schulte Field, that will be $175 per day, previously $50.

Youth play leagues will also be affected by the price increases. League fees will go up to $10 per player, up from $5.  Select teams will need to pay $250 per year, previously $150.

Rau said letters have been sent out, notifying consistent park users of the increase in prices. He also maintained that these rates are still lower than fees of many other cities.

In addition, the cost to drop trash off at the Citizens Collection Station could soon go up to $2 per bag, up from $1 per bag.

Bagged garbage would also no longer be accepted at the Recycling Center, moving solely to the Collection Station on Old Chappell Hill Road.  City Manager James Fisher stated signage would be going up within the next week, advertising the changes.

Councilman Danny Goss said he was concerned that lines to the Collection Station could get very long as a result of the change, and people would start throwing their trash in the ditches.

Fisher responded that the city “may have to get creative” in how lines are processed out there.  He also said the purpose of this change was to lessen strain on city employees, and make operations more efficient.

The new rates could become effective after the second passage of the ordinance, which would be scheduled for January 24^th.

Once the second passage is approved, Rau said the city plans to make rates effective February 4^th.

Also in city council, councilmembers:

• Met in executive session to discuss the purchase of property near downtown, and to negotiate with property owners.  They also discussed City Manager James Fisher’s employment agreement and related issues.
• Gave notice of intent to issue certificates of obligation for general government and water utility projects, each worth $1.5 million.
• Called a general election for the position of mayor, as well as council seats 2 and 3.  Next Wednesday is the first day to file for the election.
• Held a workshop on the city’s sign ordinance, as well as updates to the city’s human resources policy manual.
• Approved an agreement with United Healthcare Optum Health Care Solutions for a fitness program and facility partnership at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center.
• Approved purchase of a bucket truck and brush chipper for the city electric department.
• Approved a change order, adding $824.75 to the previously approved purchase of new playground equipment for the Blue Bell Aquatic Center