BRENHAM CITY CITY COUNCIL APPROVES IMPACT FEE STUDY

  

The Brenham City Council on Thursday agreed to look further into the possibility of implementing impact fees for new development.

The council approved a professional services agreement with Strand Associates to perform an impact fee study for the city’s public utilities, including water, wastewater and roads.  Impact fees are paid by developers to help the city finance infrastructure needed for new development and offset the tax burden on current residents.

Ryan Tinsley, Director of Operations at Strand Associates in Brenham, said models that come from the study will aid the city in determining the effect that future projects will have on its infrastructure.

Tinsley said impact fees are not paid by existing residents but can be rolled into the cost of a newly built home for future residents.  He said infill lots  that were in place before the adoption of fees can be exempted from them if the city chooses to do so. 

The cost of the study will not exceed $250,000 and will be spread out over two fiscal years, with $135,000 coming from the wastewater fund, $65,000 from the water fund and $50,000 from the general fund.  Debbie Gaffey, General Manager of Public Utilities for the City of Brenham, said the cost for the study can be recovered through the impact fees themselves.

Gaffey said the study has a 10-month timeline to complete.  Once it is done, follow-up presentations and public hearings will be held before the council takes up consideration of the maximum assessable impact fees for water, wastewater and roadways. 

Also on Thursday, the council:

• Appointed 17 people to the city’s project working group for its small area plan.  The plan is a long-range planning document for the land surrounding the proposed Brenham Family Park.  The group includes the property owners within the approximately 600 acres in the subject area, along with city councilmembers and board representatives, TxDOT and local design professionals.
• Passed a resolution re-adopting the guidelines and criteria for granting tax phase-in in a city reinvestment zone.  City and Washington County officials plan to review the policy and present any recommended amendments to the council for consideration at a later date. 
• Held an executive session with the city attorney regarding Aviators Plus, LLC v. City of Brenham, Texas, Cause No. 37896, 21^st Judicial District Court, Washington County.  No action was slated to be taken.