BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR JACKSON STREET PARK UPGRADES

  

The Brenham City Council proceeded today (Thursday) with an agreement to make a range of improvements at Jackson Street Park.

The agreement with Burditt Consultants comes after the city worked with the firm on a master plan to outline park upgrades to pursue, which would include bringing the park up to ADA specifications, restroom enhancements, new playscape areas, electrical improvements, pavilion upgrades, and an additional four to six pickleball courts.

Public Works Director Dane Rau said that, based on feedback from residents, pickleball advocates and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the new plan is to add to Jackson Street Park’s pickleball amenities in a smaller fashion than what was previously being considered.  That prior option would have taken away the park’s basketball court, but Rau said the court will stay put.   

During the 2022-23 Brenham Community Development Corporation (BCDC) funding meeting, $715,000 was allocated for the improvements.  The professional services agreement is for $132,607, meaning there will be $582,393 remaining for the first phase of the project.  Rau said there will be another round of BCDC funding coming available to support the second phase. 

The city hopes for construction to begin this fall.

Also at today’s meeting, the council approved a resolution giving notice of intent to issue no more than $11 million in certificates of obligation (COs) for water and wastewater system improvements.  Of that amount, $1.9 million is for groundwater projects, $1.6 million is for the water plant expansion, $1.6 million is for water distribution projects and $5.9 million is for wastewater collection projects.  The water projects include the first phase of the city’s water system expansion, which is currently in the engineering design phase.

The COs will not be issued until the council’s meeting on March 7^th.

In other action, the council:

• Accepted a bid from Clark Construction of Texas, Inc. for Onyx street resurfacing in the amount of $222,815.  The streets that will undergo resurfacing are West Wilkins, West Jefferson, Alma, Crockett, Westwind Drive, Windy, Windswept, Stringer, Lee, Giddings Lane, East Lubbock and Atlow Drive.
• Approved an interlocal agreement between the city and Washington County to designate the county’s Emergency Management Coordinator, Bryan Ruemke, as the city’s interim EMC.  The county passed its portion of the agreement during commissioners court on Tuesday.
• Agreed to purchase a Yale lift truck for the City of Brenham central warehouse from Briggs Equipment for $53,797.
• Approved recommendations for appointments and reappointments to various city boards and commissions.
• Proclaimed Sunday, January 21^st as Sanctity of Human Life Day.
• Held executive session discussion for an update on Aviators Plus’ lawsuit against the city (Aviators Plus, LLC v. City of Brenham; Cause No. 37896, 21st Judicial District Court, Washington County) and for continued discussion regarding the transition to a new city manager, following Carolyn Miller’s announcement of her plans to retire in March.  No action was taken. 

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