During Tuesday morning’s meeting, the Brownwood City Council unanimously approved awarding an engineering contract to Taylor Engineering for the Riverside Park Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant project.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department accepted grant applications on August 1, 2023, for the Non-Urban Outdoor Recreation grant and awarded the City of Brownwood the maximum amount of $750,000 in January of 2024.

The program requires a minimum of $1-$1 match and typically has a 3-year contract term, with an option for 1 year extension. TPWD entered in official agreement with the City of Brownwood in October of 2024, and the City received its signed agreement in December 2024.

The City during this time went out for RFQ to solicit engineering qualifications. Staff is proposing Taylor Engineering be awarded Riverside Park Phase II. The proposed cost for professional engineering fees and services is set at a lump sum of $88,890.

Phase II improvements prioritize recreation and amenities. The grant includes proposed improvements of native landscaping, additional site amenities, a playground with inclusive elements, paved trail improvements, river view picnic facilities, signage, a rain collection system for the pavilion, restroom improvements, sand volleyball court improvements, public art, and additional lighting

All that remains for the Phase I portion of the Riverside Park renovations is concluding the paving of the roadway. Deputy City Manager Marshal McIntosh told Council, “We have been delayed due to quantities. Vulcan priorities TxDOT projects so at times we’re unable to get paving for the City of Brownwood just due to the availability. I’m waiting on a text but we’re supposed to be paving today.”

Once the paving issues are resolved, Riverside Park is expected to open again to the public, with no additional closures expected during the next round of renovations.

Also Tuesday, Council took the first steps toward amending the City’s zoning restrictions to allow a social club to operate at 104 South Broadway.

An ordinance was passed on first reading amending the City’s current zoning ordinance to add definitions to properly address social clubs, fraternal organizations, lodges or civic clubs and sororities and their permitted uses.

A local business owner desires to open a “Social Club” at the aforementioned address to operate a social club that will be established for the purposes of allowing its members to play poker and other related activities. This “Social Club” will be a “for profit” business. Because the definition of “Club” in the City’s Zoning ordinance prohibits a “for profit” business or from rendering a service which is currently carried on as a business from being a “Social Club”, the amended Zoning ordinance adds a definition of “Social Club” which removes the for profit and business purpose restriction.

The ordinance also changes the permitted use from “Civic or social club, fraternity, sorority or lodge” to two different uses, the first being a “Fraternal organization, lodge, civic club and social club” and the second being “Fraternity or sorority”. For clarification, the ordinance then adds definitions for all of these permitted uses.

The ordinance amends the chart of permitted uses in Section 98-561 to allow for these permitted uses in commercial, industrial and agricultural zones and fraternities and sororities in R-3 zones but only if their chief activity is not to carry on a business.

In addition, this ordinance amends the conditional use language in Section 98-584(b) to match the amendments in previous sections and to clarify that only fraternities and sororities may be permitted in R-3 zones if their chief activity is not to carry on a business.

The “Social Club” will be limited to “members” only who will pay a fee to be a member. Members will also pay an hourly “seat” fee for each member to play poker. The business will not take a cut or “rake” of the winnings of the poker game. No food or beverages will be offered for sale at the business. T

This business model has been used by approximately 70 poker rooms to operate across the State of Texas under a “Social Club” permitted use. Currently, the City of Houston has approximately 18 poker rooms, followed by Austin and Dallas with 9 each, San Antonio with 8, and Amarillo, Burleson, Edinburg, El Paso, Laredo, Lubbock, Midland, Texarkana, Round Rock and Wichita Falls with at least one each.

Council will reconvene at 9 a.m. Wednesday for second and third/final reading of the ordinance before it is officially passed.

Also Tuesday, Council also authorized a budget amendment for $14,575 for leak repairs at the Camp Bowie Aquatic Center

In January, City officials noticed standing water in the creek area outside of the pool. After further inspection the Aquatics Supervisor reported the autofill function of the pool had recently become more active than normal for this part of the season, indicating a possible leak.

A pool leak test was ordered from the City vendor, Commercial Swim. The test revealed 5 of the 7 expansion joints were failing due to age. Additionally, the strainer basket for the Lazy River had substantial leaks.

Staff explored a repair rather than replacing the strainer, but parts are unavailable because the original manufacturer is no longer in business. Commercial Swim confirmed that the failures mentioned are due to the age of areas and equipment.

The City received quotes from Commercial Swim for the work as Strainer Basket Replacement will cost $9,748 and Expansion Joint Repair will cost $4,826. The time for the completion of the work is 4-6 weeks. The Aquatic Center should be ready by opening day.

Also Tuesday, Council authorized the City Manger to sign an easement agreement between Oncor and the City of Brownwood for a 20 foot by 450 foot utility easement for the purpose of installing an underground electric supply that will provide power to the newly renovated Gordon Wood Stadium.

Council also on Tuesday approved a resolution declaring old vehicles, parts, furniture, and equipment as surplus property and authorizing staff to sell, scrap, or donate.

Proceeds from the dozer will be used to pay down the note while all other proceeds are to be placed in the Service Center special purpose fund.