BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL SIGNALS FAVOR OF DOWNTOWN SAFETY GRANT PROGRAM
Department was recognized by the city council on
Thursday as a recipient of the 2025 Richard R. Lillie
Planning Excellence Program Award. The award
from the Texas chapter of the American Planning
Association, presented to 49 Texas municipalities,
recognizes a commitment to professional planning
by city administration, elected and appointed
officials and exemplary professional standards
demonstrated by planning staff. Pictured are (from
left) City Planner Shauna Laauwe, Development
Services Director Stephanie Doland, Planning
Technician Kim Hodde, and Assistant City Manager
Megan Mainer.
Brenham City Councilmembers showed support today (Thursday) of a proposed life safety grant program for downtown property owners.
The life safety grants are intended to provide financial assistance to downtown property and business owners for the purpose of constructing improvements needed to comply with Texas Accessibility Standards, International Fire Code and International Building Code. Eligible projects include installing fire sprinkler systems, ensuring ADA-compliant access and restrooms, and providing additional means of egress.
Development Services Director Stephanie Doland said the goal of the grant program is to encourage redevelopment of vacant or underutilized buildings, incentivize repairs of nonconforming structures, and ultimately lead to further investment into Brenham’s downtown district.
Brenham that would qualify to submit improvement
projects through the City of Brenham's proposed
life safety grant program. Properties located within
the B-3, Historical and Central Business District, and
B-4, Neighborhood Business District, would be
eligible, excluding property owned by a public or
governmental entity.
(City of Brenham)
The grants would be funded through money set aside by the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board, which has budgeted $120,000 for the 2025-26 Fiscal Year. Grants would be awarded on a reimbursement basis for up to half of the estimated cost of improvements, up to $60,000 per property.
Aside from general questions about the administration of the program, the council indicated its favor of proceeding with the grants. Brenham Mayor Atwood Kenjura called it an “excellent program” and said he hopes that it can grow, in order to continue enhancing downtown and keep it a focal point.
Doland said she will bring the item back before council on December 4th in the form of a resolution adopting the grant program. If approved, the city would begin promoting the program’s availability before accepting the first round of applications, which would be due by January 30, 2026.
Also at today’s meeting, the council approved a professional services agreement with Infrastructure Management Services (IMS) for 2026 pavement data collection and analysis services, in the amount of $49,980.
The street inventory study is a follow-up to the one performed by IMS five years ago and will act as an updated assessment of the condition of city roads. Public Works Director Dane Rau said the results of the study will help guide the city on which roads to prioritize improvements for.
The study is expected to start in January and wrap up within 90 days. The findings will be presented to the council at a future meeting.
In other business, the council:
- Approved a resolution providing for the approval of the bylaws of the Tourism Advisory Board and an updated interlocal agreement between the city and Washington County for advocating and promoting tourism programs and services.
- Passed a resolution assuring the city’s compliance with Title II of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
- Held executive session discussion to consult with an attorney about a petition received from property owner Carterbug Holdings, LLC requesting that 22.08 acres of land be released from the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. Another executive session item covered the Brenham Municipal Airport, its operations and services, and associated matters. No action was scheduled to be taken.
Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday’s meeting.