DAVID CELLA INTRODUCED AS BRENHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT’S NEW ASST. CHIEF

  

The Brenham Fire Department has a new Assistant Fire Chief.

David Cella was formally introduced to the role during today’s (Thursday) Brenham City Council meeting.

Following 18 years of fire service in New Jersey, Cella moved to Texas in 2018 to work for the Texas Division of Emergency Management as a Technological Hazards Chief.  He joined the Williamson County Fire Marshal’s Office in 2021 and has most recently been serving as Deputy Chief of Hazmat Operations.

Cella said he is grateful for the chance to serve in the Brenham Fire Department and looks forward to learning more about the community.

Brenham Fire Chief Mark Donovan said Cella has been very involved in fire investigation throughout his career, something Donovan said proved very beneficial Wednesday night as the department worked the scene of a major fire at Allsorts Storage on Highway 36 South. 

Donovan provided the council a recap of the incident, which turned into an 8-hour-long, countywide operation.  He also talked about the cooperation between agencies, working together to protect the public and save any property not destroyed by the fire.

The council and audience applauded members of the fire department who were in attendance.  Mayor Atwood Kenjura said the collaborative effort displayed Wednesday night is what Brenham and Washington County are all about. 

Once in regular session, the council approved a set of amendments to city code regarding the placement of detached accessory structures on corner lots, the requirement that the property owner’s primary residence be either the single-family dwelling or the accessory dwelling unit (ADU), and alleys in townhome developments.

Approval came after public hearings where no citizens offered comment.  The changes were previously discussed by the council during a workshop on July 11^th and were recommended for approval by the Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission at its meeting on August 26^th.

The first city-initiated amendment request revises the regulation for detached accessory structures in residential districts to state that they must be located behind the closest point to the front property line of the primary structure on both the subject property and adjacent properties, while also having a side- and rear-yard setback of no less than five feet.  This is so accessory structures are not closer to the roadway than the main structure.

The amendment to ADU standards says that if the subject property’s primary use is a single-family dwelling in an R-1 single-family residential zoning district, the property owner’s primary residence must be either the single-family dwelling or the ADU.  This ensures that the property owner is living on the property in the case that either the main home or the ADU is rented out.

The city’s revision for alleys is to, rather than prohibiting them in new subdivisions, encourage them in townhome developments.  The city intends for the change to accommodate rear garage and parking access, allowing for guest parking along the curb.  It also allows utilities to be placed without being under driveways, or transformers being placed in narrow side yards.

The council then performed the second reading to adopt the new fiscal year’s budget of $107,593,765 and levy the property tax rate at $0.4584 per $100 valuation.  The first reading took place on September 5^th.

After that, councilmembers performed the first reading of an annexation ordinance for a combined 6.5 acres of land, including two tracts around Dixie Road totaling 4 acres near the Vintage Farms subdivision, as well as three tracts around Old Masonic Road adding up to 2.5 acres next to the Scenic Estates subdivision.  City Secretary Jeana Bellinger said no public feedback was received regarding the annexation, which previously had two public hearings.

The council also:

• Approved an amendment to the professional services agreement with Burditt Consultants for the Jackson Street Park improvement project.  The amendment adds $40,000 to the agreement, using funds allocated by the Brenham Community Development Corporation (BCDC), but Public Works Project Manager Kyle Branham said the additional funds will allow the city to streamline the improvements by having only one design, one bid and one contractor rather than needing to seek multiple bids and work with several contractors.  The city hopes to open bids in October or November and begin construction in January.
• Approved the purchase of new playground equipment for Jackson Street Park, using $140,780 in BCDC funds.
• Passed a resolution relating to a request for financial assistance from TxDOT to replace the Brenham Municipal Airport’s Automated Weather Observing System, which the city says has had to undergo several repairs because of providing inaccurate information.  The total project cost is estimated at $200,000, but it is funded at a 90-10 grant with a $20,000 match from the city. 
• Accepted a bid from Dudley Construction, LLC for the Industrial Boulevard pumping station replacement project.  The bid is for $1,075,900 and will be paid for with Fiscal Year 2024 bond proceeds.
• Held executive session to consult with the city attorney regarding the Brenham Police Department.  No action was scheduled to be taken.

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