BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL VOTES 5-2 AGAINST PARKLET FOR MESCALITO COFFEE CO.

  

The Brenham City Council today (Thursday) voted 5-2 against a license agreement to add a new parklet in downtown Brenham.

The parklet would have been located on Park Street, on the side of Mescalito Coffee Company at 100 East Alamo Street, but the loss of parking spaces was a sticking point for the councilmembers who voted against.  Mayor Milton Tate and Councilmember Leah Cook voted in support of the parklet. 

The council’s vote came despite a majority of the public who attended and spoke at the meeting being in favor of the parklet.  Several were downtown business owners who said the parklet would help drive foot traffic to their businesses and that seating in downtown can be just as important as parking spaces.  Others asked why the council would be against allowing a parklet for public use if it supported the idea of adding a food truck park for the benefit of those participating businesses.

The lone person who spoke against the parklet was Sherry Harber, who owns the opera house building that currently is the home of Brenham Foundry & Floral Company.  Harber feels there is a lack of parking in downtown and that it is not fair to take parking from retail businesses to expand seating for restaurants or coffee shops.

Mescalito Coffee owners Jared Anderson and Kathleen Matthews chose not to restrict the parklet for private use during business hours.  Instead, they planned to allow it to be used by the public in all hours. 

Pete Simpson, co-owner of Floyd’s Wine Lounge, believes downtown has enough parking and that the city does not need to “reinvent the wheel” to fix the current issues.  He said downtown has come a long way and that this parklet could only be a positive.

Councilmember Atwood Kenjura said the outcry about public parking spaces has been “overwhelming”, and said the city needs to take time to create an awareness plan about the parking available in downtown.  Councilmember Leah Cook responded that parking has been in discussion “since before I was born” and said a campaign would not help make people more aware of where parking is located. 

Councilmember Clint Kolby cited his vote against the city’s parklet manual as one of the reasons why he voted no now.  He said he did not support a parklet at this location, given that Mescalito Coffee already has outdoor and backside seating.

Councilmember Shannan Canales said she voted no because of concerns presented by her constituents, but she supports the idea of this parklet and wants to help people understand the advantages of having it. 

Also at today’s meeting, the council:

• Heard a presentation from Trinity Housing Development about Brenham Junction, a proposed mixed-income community housing development to be located on the north side of Highway 290, west of Westwood Lane.  The developer is submitting an application for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program and potentially the Multifamily Direct Loan program through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.  No action was taken by the council.
• Held executive session discussion regarding City of Brenham v. WTG Gas Marketing, Cause No. 37573, 335^th Judicial District Court; Aviators Plus v. City of Brenham, Cause No. 37896, 21^st Judicial District Court; and legal issues concerning the Lake Somerville raw water intake structure and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  The council also discussed the annual evaluation of the city manager in executive session.
• Consider a noise variance request from Brazos Valley Brewing Company, who is asking about live outdoor music at 206 South Jackson Street on various dates between January 20^th and June 30^th. Brazos Valley Brewing Company Owner Joshua Bass is requesting to hold live outdoor music at the business beginning this weekend and lasting through June 30^th.  The music will be provided by various bands and will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Approved a noise variance request from Tara Royer Steele for outdoor music at the Fireman’s Park pavilion on various dates between January 21^st and June 30^th.  Gather n Grace will be hosting Monday Family Dinners, which is a free meal for the community every Monday through June 30, 2023, beginning this past Monday, January 16th from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Approved the termination of the license agreement between the city and Country Sunshine related to the mobile kitchen located adjacent to 110 West Main Street.  The company relocated its mobile kitchen to Brazos Valley Brewing Company property last year.  Danielle Holle originally requested that La Jefe mobile kitchen, owned by Zaira Pelayos, be able to utilize this location to provide food service supplemental to a new business venture the Holle’s launched on the property, Mas Vino.  After discussion with the city, the La Jefe mobile kitchen will be located wholly on the site, subject to applicable mobile kitchen permitting.
• Accepted a proposal from Titan Aviation Fuels for aviation fuel supply and associated services at the Brenham Municipal Airport. 
• Passed a resolution for the installation of a changeable electronic variable message sign at 1007 Walter Schwartz Way.
• Submitted a grant application through the Community Development Partnership Program offered by the Lower Colorado River Authority to purchase two electronic message boards for the city.
• Held a public hearing on and approved an ordinance to amend the city’s thoroughfare plan pertaining to the removal of a proposed collector street between Old Masonic Road and FM 2935. The Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the item at its meeting December 19^th.
• Approved several election items, including an interlocal agreement between the city, Brenham ISD and Blinn College for the May 6th election, as well as an election services contract between the city and county related to election responsibilities.
• Approved an addendum to the contract for participation in the city’s rotation log for non-consent tows.
• Appointed nine members to serve on the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 1 Board of Directors for a period of two years beginning January 1, 2023.  The council also chose Clint Kolby to serve as chairman for one year.

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