During Tuesday morning’s meeting, the Brownwood City Council unanimously approved a tree dedication and memorial marker at Wiggins Park by the City and SALSA in honor of Jon Ochoa, a former City of Brownwood Parks Superintendent who worked 16 years with the City in the Landfill and Parks Departments.

During his time with the City, Ochoa was involved in several parks improvement projects that are a lasting legacy of his work. One notable project took place at Wiggins Park where he worked directly with the Council and Strategic Alliance for Leadership & Social Action (SALSA) for tree plantings and multiple park enhancements. Ochoa passed away in June of 2021.

Also Tuesday, the Council approved awarding an administration contract to Public Management, Inc. related to a Texas Parks Wildlife Department, Non-Urban Indoor Recreation Grant.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will accept grant applications on August 1, 2024, for the Non-Urban Indoor Recreation Grant (up to $1,500,000). The program requires a minimum of a dollar for dollar match (cash, donations, in-kind) and the City typically has a three-year contract term, creating a total project scope of $3,000,000.

The TPWD Non-Urban Indoor Recreation Grant has not been open for application for around six years. Scoring for this grant has become increasingly competitive in recent years, with TPWD generally funding projects that are direct responses to extensive public engagement.

As part of the application process, the City may have to complete additional community engagement activities. The City will also have to coordinate with the Texas Historical Commission and other agencies about specific environmental expectations prior to submitting the application. The City will also need to prepare a construction budget and/or receive a quote to be submitted with the application. The grant project scope will be for a new construction recreation facility on the existing footprint, while addressing flood plain requirements.

City Staff and Public Management, Inc. will work to further identify the grant scope and exhibit to present for Council approval in July. They will also consider for adoption a Resolution to submit the application and to prohibit drilling and mining in the City park, as required by the grant. Once funded, the project will have to follow applicable State and Federal guidelines including environmental review, ADA compliance, and Federal procurement.

The City has a strong ongoing relationship with Public Management, Inc. Public Management is currently overseeing our ARPA Allocation, CDBG Neighborhood Grant around the Coliseum, and TPWD grant for Riverside Park. The proposed fee for this application preparation is a fixed fee of $6,500.

The City Council on Tuesday also approved awarding GWG Wood Group out of Ferris, Texas the Landfill’s brush grinding at a cost not to exceed $62,900, which will require a year-end budget amendment.

City Staff solicited proposals to grind the remaining brush at the Landfill for the fiscal year. Two bids were received on May 14, 2024. Both bids were qualified, and the lowest bid was from GWG Wood Group.

The Landfill budgeted $80,000 for two brush grindings for the year. The first grinding cost $49,740.40, leaving $30,259.60 for the second grinding. While the cost for grinding has increased this year by approximately 30%, the Landfill is currently operating with a revenue surplus and should have funds to cover the additional expense.

This requires a year-end budget amendment of $32,640.40.

Following an executive session in which a professional consulting services agreement for concert production services at the Event Center was discussed, City Council approved City Manager Emily Crawford to executive an agreement with Soundskilz, Inc.

No further information was provided after the executive session.