Written by Amanda Coers – The Brownwood City Council met at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, February 13th, at the Brownwood City Hall to discuss items on the posted agenda. The council chambers saw a full house with students from Howard Payne University’s social welfare policy class in attendance.

 

 

During the Citizen’s Presentation portion of the meeting, Garret Mullins, currently of Brownwood, addressed council members to propose a city ordinance regarding misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Mullins explained his hope to see the city adopt a Cite-and-Release policy for individuals found to be in possession of less than four ounces of marijuana.

Normal fines and fees associated with the conviction of the misdemeanor charge would still apply, but with the cite-and-release policy, individuals would not be immediately arrested should they be found to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana, as long as additional crimes were not suspected.

The penalties for marijuana possession would remain the same: up to 180 days in jail, and a fine up to $2,000 for holding less than 2 ounces, and up to a year in jail and a fine up to $4,000 for possession between 2 and 4 ounces of marijuana.

In those cases, an officer would confiscate the marijuana, issue a citation, and release the individual to address the offense at a later date with the city’s municipal court.

“I want to bring to attention that marijuana laws are changing,” Mullins said. “Why keep punishing people if there’s going to be a change?”

The council thanked Mullins for his comments.

Agenda items of note discussed during the council meeting:

POLICE GEAR

Brownwood Police Chief Terry Nichols asked the council for permission for his department to apply for a grant project totaling $39,411 through the Body Worn Camera Program offered by the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division. The grant will be used to purchase 29 body-worn cameras, servers, and peripheral equipment.

The cameras will be issued to all patrol officers. The body camera equipment is expected to last for five years.

“We want our citizens to be able to see what’s going on,” Chief Nichols said of the body-worn cameras for his officers.

Council approved the request to apply for the grant.

POLITICAL SIGNS

Tim Murray with Development Services addressed the council regarding a city ordinance that currently restricts the size of political signs posted in residential areas in Brownwood.

“With the campaign season in full swing, city staff has received numerous calls about political signs within the city and whether or not the placement of these signs were a violation of the ordinance,” Murray said. “This year has seen more calls than we normally have seen.”

The original ordinance passed in the 90’s restricts the size of a political sign placed in a residentially zoned district. Texas State Law (Section 216.903) states a city ordinance may not restrict the size of a sign containing a political message.

Murray recommended the council adopt a similar policy in line with cities like Abilene, Snyder, and Stephenville, which does not regulate the size of the political signs.

Council approved the motion to amend the city ordinance to exclude the size restriction of political signs.

CLOSED SESSION

Council members convened into a closed session to discuss the sale of city property located between the 600 block of E. Baker Street and the 700 block of E. Lee Street, bounded by S. Greenleaf Street on the north, and S. Washington Street on the south, for the Revitalization Project.

The council reconvened after almost an hour discussion. No action was taken after executive session.

Items also discussed included:

  • A public hearing to consider an ordinance on first reading to close an 18-foot wide alley located between lots 4 and 5, block 2 of the Beaver Addition, also known as 607 and 701 Carothers Street. Jodie Kelley with the city’s engineering department explained the proposal for the council. Kelley told the council members the alley in-between the two lots is undeveloped with no utilities or trash pick-up. The ordinance was passed on first reading. It will be considered again on second and third readings at later council meetings.
  • Consideration to authorize the purchase of a salt/sand spreader for approximately $6,000 for the Street Department. The funds for the spreader will come from the sale of equipment in the city’s street department. Surplus equipment has been sold through GovDeals netting $11,456. Council members approved the purchase of the salt/sand spreader.
  • Consideration to extend the current Brownwood Coliseum concession contract until it is rebid and awarded. David Withers asked the council to approve a temporary contract with Patricia Nickerson, owner of Poppy’s Sweets, until a new contract is executed. The council agreed to extend the contract.
  • Consideration of a resolution to declare museum artifacts as surplus property and donating the artifacts to the Temple Railroad Museum. Crystal Stanley with the Lehnis Railroad Museum addressed the council regarding the surplus artifacts, explaining the museum is looking to down-size their collection, offering items to a ‘sister’ museum in Temple. Council members approved the resolution.