BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES DOWNTOWN LIFE SAFETY GRANT PROGRAM

  

Business and property owners in downtown Brenham will soon be able to seek grant funding to make safety improvements to their facilities.

The Brenham City Council voted unanimously today (Thursday) to approve a resolution adopting a life safety grant program, which will provide financial assistance to applicants looking to construct improvements that are needed to comply with Texas Accessibility Standards, International Fire Code and International Building Code.  The intent of the program is to incentivize investment in downtown buildings and potentially lead to the occupation of buildings that are vacant or underutilized.

City of Brenham Development Services Director Stephanie Doland said there has been healthy interest in the grant program thus far.

A work session last month covered most of the specifics of the program, including its maximum of $120,000 to allocate during the current budget cycle.  Grants will be awarded on a reimbursement basis for up to half of the estimated cost of the improvements, up to $60,000.

One change to the program parameters from the initial discussion deals with the timeline for construction of improvements.  Doland said that the originally allowed construction period of one year did not fit with the vision of aligning the grant program with the city’s fiscal year, so the provision was updated to reduce the allowed construction period to 120 days.  However, she said projects can be granted an extension if warranted.

The first round of grant applications will be due to the city on January 30, 2026, with Doland saying the application process for future years will follow a first-come, first-served structure.  An internal review panel of city staff, including the fire marshal, Brenham Main Street, economic development and building officials will review applications and present recommendations to the council.  Doland said with the late January deadline, she expects the earliest grant request that could come before the council would be at its mid-February meeting.  

Also at today’s meeting, the council approved the creation of a reinvestment zone for commercial tax phase-in, concerning property at 207/209 East Main Street that is owned by Brenham Main Street Holdings, LLC and occupied by the Moorman/Tate law firm. 

Chief Financial Officer Julie Flagg said the property owner intends to refurbish the second floor of the building, modernizing the space with updated electrical systems, HVAC improvements and energy-efficient lighting while keeping the building’s historical character.  She said the plan is to move the law firm upstairs and lease the first floor to a new tenant.  The total capital investment is estimated at $2 million. 

In other business, the council:

• Approved two change orders to the 2021 professional services agreement between the city and Quiddity Engineering, LLC for the Brenham Family Park.  Public Works Director Dane Rau said the change orders, which bring the contract total up by $42,067, are to cover costs that have either exceeded the contract amount or have been added to the scope of work that was not originally accounted for.
• Approved the purchase of station alerting software and equipment for Brenham Fire Station No. 1, Brenham Fire Station No. 2 and the Washington County 911 Communications Center through the Houston-Galveston Area Council cooperative purchasing program, in the amount of $193,355.
• Held an executive session to consult with an attorney concerning the Brenham Municipal Airport, its operations and services, and associated matters.  No action was slated to be taken.

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