CITY OF BRENHAM BEGINS REDISTRICTING PROCESS
The Brenham City Council began the city’s redistricting process in earnest at its meeting today (Thursday).
The council moved to adopt criteria to use while redistricting the city's four council wards and set guidelines to follow when submitting redistricting proposals.
Syd Falk of Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta, LLP visited with the council in work session to give a preview of what it can expect as it progresses through redistricting. He said that based on the latest data from the 2020 Census, the city will need to realign its council wards.
(courtesy Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP)
The city’s population on April 1, 2020 totaled 17,369, an increase of 10.5 percent from 15,716 on April 1, 2010.
Ward 2, represented by Councilmember Albert Wright, has the smallest population of 3,950, which is 9.03 percent below the size of the ideal ward population of 4,342. Meanwhile, Ward 3, under Councilmember Atwood Kenjura, has the largest population at 4,708, which is 8.42 percent above the ideal ward size.
The total maximum deviation between the city’s four wards is 17.46 percent, calculated by adding the deviation percentage between the least and most populated districts. The standard deviation allowed by law is 10 percent.
Following today’s initial redistricting assessment, the council is tentatively scheduled to hold its first session of drawing new ward maps on Thursday, May 5th. After that comes to-be-determined dates for a second drawing session, a public hearing, a third session if needed, and final adoption.
Also at today’s meeting, the council:
- Approved amendments to city code to disallow commercial cryptocurrency mining and server farms as a residential occupation or hobby, as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- Heard a presentation from Brenham ISD Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin on the upcoming Brenham ISD bond election.
- Heard a request from BVR Waste and Recycling to reduce Saturday’s operating hours at the Brenham Collection Station from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. BVR says traffic at the Collection Station is greatly diminished after 1 p.m., and that the change would be beneficial for operational efficiency. Public Works Director Dane Rau said the city also saw a decrease in customers after 1 p.m. when it was in charge of the Collection Station. The council was in favor of allowing the change in hours, which Rau said would likely go into effect on May 7th.
- Approved the purchase of a Kubota M6-111 tractor and a 15-foot Bush Hog Shredder from WC Tractor for the city’s street department for $99,824.
- Approved a change order and final payment to Brazos Paving, Inc. for improvements to Old Chappell Hill Road. Final payment amounted to $62,010.
- Renewed a three-year Microsoft Enterprise agreement with Microsoft Corporation affiliate SHI Government Solutions for $94,948 per year.
- Rejected all bids received for chlorine dioxide to EVOQUA Water Technologies, Inc. related to the water treatment plant in the amount of $0.975 per pound. The bids were rejected due to the city not meeting the full notification requirements.
- Proclaimed the month of April as Safe Digging Month in Brenham.
- Met in executive session to discuss utility competitive matters regarding the city’s electric utility system, power supply and associated competitive matters. The council also held executive session discussion with legal counsel regarding the city’s redistricting obligations.
Click here to view the agenda packet for today's meeting.