BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES MESCALITO COFFEE CO. PARKLET ON SECOND VOTE

  

Months after rejecting a license agreement for a new parklet in downtown Brenham, the Brenham City Council has changed its tune.

Today (Thursday), councilmembers unanimously approved allowing Mescalito Coffee Company, located at 100 East Alamo Street, to put in a fully public parklet on Park Street.  The council’s vote on the topic in January was 5-2 against the parklet, with some on the council citing concerns about losing parking at the time, but an effort by the city to add or enhance at least 18 parking spots in downtown convinced members to adjust their vote.

During a work session, Public Works Director Dane Rau showed how the city is working to provide dedicated parking striping to areas that are not currently striped but are still open to parking.  In addition, some spaces will be reduced in size to allow more parking spots, and the number of reserved parking spaces belonging to Washington County employees by the public restroom on Douglas Street has been reduced, opening them up to visitors.

Following the work session, councilmembers agreed to revise the downtown parklet manual to permit any downtown business, not just food establishments, to apply for parklets, and to only allow one parklet per city street, rather than per block face.

Discussion then began on the Mescalito Coffee parklet, which drew comments from several in the audience.  One was from Sherry Harber, the owner of the opera house building that houses Brenham Foundry & Floral Company.  Harber stated she did not feel that putting this up for a vote again immediately after changing the rules on parklets was fair to others.

Mescalito Coffee was the only business to submit an application during the initial window last summer. 

Mescalito Coffee owners Jared Anderson and Kathleen Matthews said they went through all the correct channels to put in the parklet.  Anderson added that this seating is meant to be used by everyone, not just customers.

Katie Burch, principal architect at PlanNorth, said if Mescalito Coffee has kept in line with all guidelines, it deserves the go-ahead for the parklet.

Edward Smith III, proprietor of Ninety Six West, which also has a parklet, said he was fully supportive of granting one to Mescalito Coffee. 

Councilmember Atwood Kenjura said his initial hesitation on the issue in January came from concerns about the availability of parking, but now knows there are free spaces that have not been utilized.  Councilmember Albert Wright explained that he wanted more information and to be “proactive rather than reactive,” hence his no vote the first time, but ultimately wants peace, harmony and good relationships.

Also at today’s meeting, the council:

• Adopted a new rate tariff schedule for electricity with added fees to offset rising supply and material costs.  Deputy General Manager of Public Utilities Alton Sommerfield said the city is not raising electric rates, but is instead implementing fees for new customers requesting service, upsizing existing services, repairing damaged service lines, or services provided by the electric department.
• Awarded a request for qualifications (RFQ) for professional services related to the design and engineering of a second fire station to Brown Reynolds and Watford Architects.
• Authorized the publication of notice of intention to issue certificates of obligation, series 2023 not to exceed $10 million, including $8 million for the construction and equipping of the new fire station and $2 million for in-house street construction/rebuild projects.
• Approved an addendum to the agreement between the city and Vermont Systems for credit card processing software, hardware and related support services.
• Accepted a bid from McDonald Municipal and Industrial in the amount of $184,136 related to a generator at the Atlow booster pumping station.
• Approved a resolution authorizing the acceptance of public improvements in Phase 2B of the Liberty Village subdivision.
• Took no action on an agreement with Dudley Construction for the extension of the bid award deadline for a project related to the 2022 sanitary sewer improvements – Stone Hollow lift station replacement.
• Held executive session discussion with the city attorney regarding Aviators Plus, LLC v. City of Brenham, Texas, Cause No. 37896, 21^st Judicial District Court, Washington County; and legal issues concerning the city’s Lake Somerville raw water intake structure, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and associated matters.  No action was to be taken. 

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