The Brownwood City Council approved the formation of a Retail Advisory Committee Tuesday to help the city explore options for recruiting retail businesses.
“No one is suggesting that we should abandon our traditional efforts to recruit industries or commerce in our city which are still primary targets,” said Mayor Stephen Haynes. “However, currently the city has no real particular individual or committee that is designed at recruiting retail.”
The mission of the Retail Advisory Committee is to study what other communities are doing successfully and make a recommendation to the City Council on what cost-effective measures may be employed by the City to encourage and promote retail growth.
The committee will be made up of seven appointed members including the mayor, a member of the city council, a representative of the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce, a representative of the Brownwood Marketing Alliance, and three community members.
The committee will meet at least monthly through July 2011 and make a recommendation to the city council based on their findings. Their first meeting is set for November 30th.
Other matters discussed on the agenda were:
*Council approved on second and third readings and ordinance authorizing a underground easement to Brownwood Regional Medical Center for a fiber optic cable to be installed under Steckert Drive. Mayor Stephen Haynes clarified that the easement would be underground to ensure the paved road would not be torn up.
*Council approved on first reading an ordinance for the FY 2009-2010 budget amendments which were formalized at the end of the year. Walter Middleton, City Financial Director, stated that transactions are approved by the council throughout the fiscal year which caused these budget amendments to be necessary, amendments cannot be approved until the end of a fiscal year. Amendments increase revenue by $55,589, increase expenditures by $66,560, which equal a net budget deficit of $10,971.
*Council approved a bid from Home Depot (in Brownwood) for chain link fencing for the Sports Complex in the amount of $83,920.45 which was the low bid out of four that were received. City employees and the Havins Unit will install the fencing.
“Home Depot made a concerted effort to save the city a considerable amount of money and we appreciate that,” stated Mayor Haynes.
*Council approved consideration of banning K2 and K2 smoking paraphernalia. Click here for details on this matter.
*Council approved ratifying the actions of the Board of Trustees of the Brownwood Firemen’s Relief and Retirement Fund which amends the fund’s Investment Policy to update information and allow certain practices regarding fixed income securities.
*Mayor Haynes’ appointment of LaDon Spence to the Martin and Frances Lehnis Transportation Museum Advisory Board was approved by the council. This appointment was necessary after the resignation of Joe Ratulowski as a museum board member due to his transfer by BNSF to Chicago. Spence is a resident of Brownwood and has been working with the museum on different projects since its opening in 2007 and has also worked on the preservation of the Depot and Harvey House a few years ago.
*Presentation of National Night Out video.
*A rental contract with Howard Payne University for the use of the Coliseum for the 2010/2011 Volleyball and Basketball seasons was approved.
*Kevin Pate, Administrator of the Developmental Services Department presented the Sub-Standard Housing Demolition Report. Pate reported that since 2007, 64 sub-standard structures had been demolished. In the coming year there are 90 other structures slated for demolition. Pate stated the importance of this process through code enforcement ultimately helps reduce crime by removing uninhabitable structures that provide a prime location for crimes, use as dumping grounds, and fire hazards to adjacent properties.
*City manager Bobby Rountree gave the Parks Project update noting that progress is very visible at the Sports Complex with lights installed, grass is being installed, backstops are nearing completion, wiring to the light poles, concession stands and restrooms has been completed and fencing of the entire complex is expected to be completed by the first week of December.
