BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES NEW STANDARDS FOR FOOD TRUCKS

  

The City of Brenham is proceeding with new rules and regulations for food trucks.

The Brenham City Council voted unanimously today (Thursday) to approve standards related to developing food truck parks, food truck sites and mobile kitchens.  It also moved to permit them as specific uses in zoning areas designated for local business mixed use; commercial, research and technology use; historical central business use; and neighborhood business use.

The new guidelines define mobile food establishments and food truck parks and govern how the parks would operate.

While reviewing the changes, Development Services Director Stephanie Doland said to keep in mind that while they would lay the framework for any prospective food truck parks, such as the proposed “South St. Charles Station” in downtown, those projects are still a ways off.

 

Brenham | Washington County Economic Development Director Susan Cates echoed Doland’s statements that when looking at the concepts for the proposed food truck park in downtown, the standards being adopted are standalone.

 

Cates said the “South St. Charles Station” project is “nowhere near ready” to be presented to the council.  Doland said the city plans to apply for the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Grant through the American Rescue Plan to fund the project, but it cannot apply for the grant until March 15, 2022.

The council also held a work session to discuss possible public infrastructure improvements along South Park Street by HSF Biergarten and Pioneer Smokehouse, including new storm sewers, new sidewalks and a street light.  After reviewing the opinion of probable cost for the improvements, estimated at $241,900, the council agreed to first look at all other projects in downtown and see how this project would fit in before moving forward.

Councilmembers also approved an ordinance amendment to revise standards associated with applying for and issuing licenses for mobile food establishments and other solicitors, peddlers or travelling vendors.  Doland said the changes clarify the types of food establishments and the requirements of where a mobile kitchen can operate.  They also allow mobile food establishments to take out permits for 6-month and 1-year periods, in addition to the 45 days previously allowed.

A proposed fee schedule for food establishments and travelling vendors and solicitors will come before the council on November 4^th.

Also at today’s meeting, the council:

• Purchased a 2021 Taser 7 certification bundle from Axon Enterprise, Inc. through the BuyBoard local government purchasing cooperative contract. The contract will provide the police department with 41 tasers, accessories, associated hardware and firmware licenses on a five-year contract for $133,687.
• Approved a professional services agreement with Strand Associates, Inc. for on-call engineering services not to exceed $120,000 for the 2021-22 Fiscal Year.
• Proclaimed Thursday, October 28^th as “Paint the Town Pink.” The public is invited on the 28^th to a drive-thru event at Baylor Scott & White – The Brenham Clinic from 5 to 7 p.m., featuring activities and educational opportunities.
• Met in executive session to go over utility competitive matters regarding the city’s gas supply and transportation arrangements, consult with the city attorney concerning claims alleged against the city by former Brenham fire chief Ricky Boeker, and discuss economic development negotiations pertaining to Project Black Spots.