BRENHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMENDED FOR BEST PRACTICES

  

The Brenham Police Department has again been recognized for maintaining best practices.

At today’s (Thursday) Brenham City Council meeting, the department received a certificate of re-recognition from the Texas Police Chiefs Association (TPCA) for continuing to uphold compliance with Texas law enforcement best practices.

Max Westbrook, Director of the Texas Recognition Program and retired member of the Austin Police Department, said out of over 2,700 law enforcement agencies in Texas, 181 of them achieve recognized status, and even fewer achieve re-recognition.

 

The TPCA’s best practices program tasks agencies with meeting or exceeding 170 standards for law enforcement services based on Texas law, Texas court decisions and contemporary practices identified by the TPCA.  According to Westbrook, the Brenham Police Department first attained TPCA-recognized status approximately 12 years ago.

Westbrook said two trained assessors in July spent two days assessing the police department and ensuring compliance with all standards.  Their report was sent to a recognition committee comprised of nine active Texas police chiefs, who reviewed the report and unanimously awarded the recognition.

Brenham Police Chief Ron Parker said the reputation of the Brenham Police Department is part of why he chose to become its new chief last March.

 

City Manager James Fisher called the department “exceptional” and said it has the full support of the community.

 

During the recognition, Chief Parker presented Sergeant Steven Eilert with a Police Chief’s Commendation Award for acting as the program manager, compiling proofs for standards to provide to the TPCA.

Also at today’s meeting, the council voted to adopt the budget and levy the tax rate for the 2021-22 Fiscal Year.  Following public hearings with no comments, the council adopted a $74.9 million budget and a tax rate of $0.4940 per $100 valuation.

The new budget raises more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget by $329,468, an increase of 4.37 percent.  The property tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $969,947.

The proposed tax rate is one cent cheaper than last year’s rate, and consists of $0.3500 for maintenance and operations (M&O) and $0.1440 for debt service (I&S).  Chief Financial Officer Carolyn Miller said because of increased property values, the average residential home will pay $53.83 more in taxes, a 6 percent increase.

The council also heard a brief update from Fisher on the city’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.  Fisher said the city is continuing to monitor the rising number of COVID-19 cases.  He also mentioned that the city is following the law approved by the 87^th Legislature to provide quarantine leave to public safety employees, but does not expect an official quarantine leave policy will come before the council until November.

Also in session today, the council:

• Accepted a bid for the Atlow elevated storage tank rehabilitation project from Maguire Iron, Inc. of Sioux Falls, South Dakota for $229,750.
• Approved renewal of the Routine Airport Maintenance Program (RAMP) grant agreement with TxDOT for Fiscal Year 2022. The agreement allows the city to be reimbursed for up to $50,000 of general maintenance expenses annually.
• Renewed insurance coverage through the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool for the city for the 2021-22 Fiscal Year. The insurance covers general liability, law enforcement liability, public officials liability, mobile equipment, airport liability, property, auto liability, physical damage, crime and workers’ compensation. Human Resources Director Susan Nienstedt said the city’s liability coverage is increasing by $18,100, or 11 percent, due to more claims and higher claim values.  She said the city’s property coverage is increasing by $8,467, or 7 percent, because of an inflation factor for building materials and several historic weather events.  Workers’ compensation coverage is decreasing by $9,031, or 8 percent, due to a drop in the city’s experience modifier.
• Approved amendments to the 2020-21 Fiscal Year budget to reflect unforeseen items, reclassified expenditures and delays in capital projects.
• Received a presentation in work session on the 2020-21 Fiscal Year third quarter financial report.
• Granted a specific use permit to allow an accessory dwelling unit on property at 503 West Alamo Street.
• Met in executive session to consult with the city attorney regarding City of Brenham v. WTG Gas Marketing, Inc.; Cause No. 37573; 335^th Judicial District Court.