BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER DEBT ISSUANCE, SPLASHPAD CONTRACT
The Brenham City Council will meet tomorrow (Thursday) to move forward with the issuance of nearly $5.7 million in debt.
The council will consider an ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of $5.69 million in certificates of obligation. The council in November passed a resolution giving notice of intent to issue the certificates. The city has complied with all public notices, and the council can now consider action on this item.
The $5.69 million is made up of $3.5 million for general government projects, $1.42 million for wastewater utility improvements, and $765,000 for water system utility projects.
Chief Financial Officer Carolyn Miller said previously the general government projects include street reconstruction and rebuilding, along with street and drainage improvements. The wastewater utility improvements include a new regional lift station to support the Baker Katz retail development project. Much of the water utility improvements are for the Atlow Storage Tower rehab project and the city’s portion of the May 2016 flooding event.
The city’s financial advisors, Garry Kimball and Jennifer Ritter of Specialized Public Finance, will bring a presentation summarizing the official bids for the sale of the bonds. The city’s bond counsel, Bracewell, LLP, will also have the ordinance complete with pricing.
(courtesy City of Brenham)
Also in session tomorrow, the council will consider the purchase and installation of a splashpad at Henderson Park. City staff have chosen Vortex as the partner for the design, installation and equipment for the splashpad, and are recommending awarding a contract to Vortex for $250,407.
Public Works Director Dane Rau said he expects the equipment to be ordered in February and arrive in April. He said construction should complete in mid-May, with additional amenities phased in over the next few years.
After meeting in executive session, the council will consider terminating an agreement with Roy Burger (dba RB Film Productions) for the lease of nearly 109 acres of the old landfill property. It will also potentially appoint a presiding municipal court judge for the remainder of the term ending December 31st.
The council will also consider:
- A resolution approving an advance funding agreement between the City of Brenham and TxDOT for road improvements at the intersection of Chappell Hill Street and the Highway 290 feeder road. The improvements will include the addition of four signal lights at the intersection, along with additional lanes under the Highway 290 overpass that will be dedicated turn lanes. Rau said there will also be pavement improvements that will better align this intersection up with the new shopping center development, and provide a safer means of entering and exiting the site. The total cost of the project is expected to be $633,000, with the city being responsible for $82,000 in engineering costs.
- Provide a 90-day notice of termination of the commercial sanitation contract between the city and Frontier Access, LLC. The city council in December authorized staff to begin contract negotiations with Brannon Industrial Group for the provision of municipal solid waste collection, transfer, removal, disposal, and recycling services to the city. Frontier Access is the city’s current provider of commercial sanitation services.
- Changing the zoning for roughly 77 acres of land being considered for the “Liberty Village” subdivision from a combination of Residential and Commercial, Research and Technology District to a Planned Development District. The land is located east of the intersection of Highway 36 North and West Blue Bell Road.
- Change orders and final payment to M&C Fonseca Construction for the 2018 downtown drainage and sidewalk project.
- A resolution adopting a new fee schedule for the city’s Parks and Recreation department.
- A resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the Recreational Trail Grant Program for improvements to the nature trail at Hohlt Park.
The council will meet tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m., at Brenham City Hall.