During Tuesday morning’s meeting of the Brownwood City Council, Brownwood Police Ed Kading provided statistics from the one year since the City’s juvenile curfew was put in place.

The report showed for the entire year 28 calls for service regarding juvenile curfew issues were received. Of those 28 calls, there were eight incidents that resulted in citations and there were 25 curfew citations issued in those eight calls. Five of the 28 calls had other violations of law, such as narcotics, tobacco, or evading arrest. The race breakdown featured 41 white, 23 Hispanic, and eight black juveniles detained by Brownwood officers.

Kading suggested to the City Council no changes or amendments be made to the ordinance, which will continue to be enforced.

The City Council also met in executive session and later approved donating 10.45 acres around Gordon Wood Stadium to the Brownwood Independent School District.

“Gordon Wood Stadium was constructed by a group decades ago as we all know, but the actual land that the stadium sits on has maintained ownership by the City of Brownwood,” said City Manager Emily Crawford. “It’s been several years and the City really no longer desires to have ownership of the land. So, today they voted to deed the land on which Gordon Wood Stadium sits to the Brownwood Independent School District.”

Also Tuesday, the City Council approved awarding a professional contract to Freese and Nichols for the Downtown Plan, funded through the 2021 American Rescue Plan grant.

The City’s last Downtown Plan was completed in 2002-03 by Freese & Nichols, which contained a 20-year action plan that expires in 2022. The City sent RFPs to eight firms to meet federal procurement standards and received one proposal from Freese & Nichols.

The purpose of the Downtown Master Plan is to develop strategies, guiding principles, and action plan that will assist the City of Brownwood to further enhance our downtown district.

The goal of the Downtown Plan is to establish a guiding vision for the downtown district; provide ample opportunities for stakeholder engagement; analyze the commercial, retail, and residential markets and identify needs and opportunities; analyze zoning, and land use needs, based off the analysis, complete a site- specific development opportunity analysis for the most impactful opportunities; recommend and prioritize strategies and projects for place-making and public spaces; and provide a plan for implementing recommendations.

Also Tuesday, the City Council approved a change in the zoning classification of 3104 Highway 377 South, being Block 36, Lot 1-4, Marcus Huling, Survey 51, Abstract 405, Acres .887 of the Hillcrest Addition, also known as Property ID 54099, from C-N Neighborhood Commercial District to C-1 Local Business District.

Gabs Holdings LLC, represented by Michael Healer, requested the change in zoning which would allow him to be compliant in establishing a used car dealership as well as future development of a small strip center for future retail businesses. There was no opposition from the surrounding neighborhood of the zoning request.

An ordinance was also approved by the Council on first reading closing the remaining 25’x150’ undeveloped portion of Peach Street beginning at the west line of Hillsboro then west approximately 150’ to a 15’ alley, said portion adjacent to property located at 2615 Hillsboro Avenue legally described as Brownwood Heights, Block 44, Lot 1, 2.

The City received a petition from the property owners of 2615 Hillsboro, Robert and Teresa Vasquez, to vacate and close the remaining portion of Peach Street that begins at the west line of Hillsboro then continues west approximately 150’ to a 15’ alley. The City does not have any utilities, easements, or improvements existing in the undeveloped portion of Peach Street.

The City Council also approved on first reading an ordinance amending the 2021-22 City of Brownwood fiscal year budget for 15 year-end amendments totaling $187,975.46.

The items that passed on first reading will be brought back before the Council, which will next meet on Nov. 29.

The Budgetary Control Report for the period ending September 30, 2022 – which represents the end of the 2021-22 fiscal year – was presented as well.

Tuesday’s meeting began with a presentation from the Brownwood FFA Ag Issues team, which has advanced to the area round of competition, regarding cannabis, hemp, and the legalization of marijuana.