ADJUSTMENTS TO CITY OF BRENHAM WARDS EXPECTED DUE TO CENSUS

Josh Blaschke May 21, 2021

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Brenham City Secretary Jeana Bellinger discussed how 2020 Census data might affect the city's wards at the city council's meeting Thursday.

City of Brenham officials are preparing for the city’s wards to change as a result of population data from the 2020 Census.

City Secretary Jeana Bellinger told the Brenham City Council on Thursday that she expects preliminary census numbers to come in by the end of the month, while final numbers should arrive in July or August.

Bellinger said Brenham has changed quite a bit in the last 10 years, and expects there will be some adjustments needed to the city’s wards.

Members of the Fortnightly Club of Brenham presented the City of Brenham with a $20,000 donation on Thursday. The money, which was raised through fundraising efforts that included book sales and donations for the community, will go toward the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library.

The city is required to have no more than a 10 percent difference in population between the least and most populated wards.

The redistricting process, which was delayed from last year because of COVID-19, will involve public hearings and work sessions. The final redistricting plan will be approved by city council by ordinance; Bellinger said the council will be presented options for the placement of ward lines.

Following discussion, the council approved an engagement agreement between the city and Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta, LLP for redistricting services for the city. The cost for the initial assessment is $4,500.

Councilmember Atwood Kenjura asked how confident the city is in what the final census numbers will be, given that the census count was interrupted by COVID-19. City Attorney Cary Bovey said there is a way for the city to appeal the numbers if necessary, although he called it an “arduous process.” He said the city could bring up that subject with Bickerstaff.

Also at Thursday's meeting, the council:

Accepted a $20,000 donation from the Fortnightly Club for the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library.
Approved resolutions authorizing the acceptance of infrastructure improvements in Phase 1 of the Liberty Village subdivision and Phase 4 of the Overlook Estates subdivision.
Took no action on a resolution formally amending the commencement time for regular city council meetings.
Tabled a noise variance request from RSR Entertainment for a Juneteenth Block Parky to be held June 19^th at Mundy’s Hideout at 1609 East Alamo Street.

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