BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS REDISTRICTING, GIFT DEED FOR BRENHAM FAMILY PARK

  

Redistricting and a gift of 1.5 acres of land for the Brenham Family Park will be discussed by the Brenham City Council during two meetings on Thursday.

At a special morning meeting, councilmembers will go over two draft redistricting plans that address underpopulation in Council Ward 2, represented by Albert Wright, and overpopulation in Ward 3, represented by Atwood Kenjura.

After a presentation and discussion on the plans, the council will choose which one they will present to the citizens for their consideration and schedule a public hearing.

Per data from the 2020 Census, the city’s population as of April 1, 2020 was 17,369.  The ideal size for each of the four wards is 4,342, but Ward 2 is currently below that mark by 392 residents, while Ward 3 is over by 366 people.

The total maximum deviation between the city’s wards is 17.46 percent, which is calculated by adding the deviation percentage between the least and most populated districts.  The standard deviation allowed by law is 10 percent.

At the council’s regular afternoon meeting, it will act upon a gift deed of 1.5 acres to the city from the Kruse family.  The city says the extra land will allow the proposed lake structure and retention pond at the Brenham Family Park to meet its needs.  Once the lake is developed, it will serve as a means of detention for the east side of South Chappell Hill Street.

The council will also continue work session discussion on a manual for parklets in downtown Brenham.  Councilmembers will discuss potential revisions to the manual from when it was tabled by the council on April 20^th.

Several items will be discussed by the council in executive session.  They include City of Brenham v. WTG Gas Marketing, Inc., Cause No. 37573, 335^th Judicial District Court, Washington County; the city’s gas utility system, gas supply and transportation arrangements and agreements; a U.S. Department Housing and Urban Affairs discrimination complaint; and legal issues concerning the city’s raw water intake structure at Lake Somerville, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and associated matters.

In other regular session items, the council will:

• Consider accepting a bid for the construction of an additional parking lot at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center.
• Act upon the purchase and installation of two HVAC units for the Brenham Police Department.  The council will also consider a financing proposal from Brenham National Bank for the HVAC units.  The city is seeking to replace the 2009 Carrier HVAC unit that controls the first floor temperature at the police department, along with the 2009 Split System Carrier HVAC unit that controls the second floor temperature.  According to Public Works Manager Shawn Bolenbarr, one of the units has had both of its compressors fail completely, and is currently running with the fans only and no cooling capability.  The other unit is running on only one compressor and has leaks on both condenser coils.  The cost to replace the two units is $252,502.
• Take up a contract between the city and EVOQUA Water Technologies, Inc. to purchase chlorine dioxide for the city’s water treatment plant.
• Consider an amendment to the city’s code of ordinances by repealing Article VII, Library Advisory Board, and providing for a new Article VII, Reserved, for future amendments to Chapter 2, Administration. City staff say this is a housekeeping item, as in December 2021 the city council adopted the current version of policies and procedures for boards and commissions.  The policy is designed to govern all city boards, including the Library Advisory Board.

The special council meeting will be held at 10 a.m. in the Emergency Operations Center at the Brenham Fire Department.  The regular meeting will take place at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's special council meeting.

Click here to read the agenda packet for Thursday's regular council meeting.