The Brownwood City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance on first reading amending Chapter 10, Amusements and Entertainments, of the City of Brownwood Code of Ordinances by adding an Article IV, which will be entitled “Game Rooms and Amusement Redemption Machines” providing a penalty not to exceed $500 for conviction of any violation.

The item will again appear on the agenda of the next city council meeting in two weeks for second reading and final approval.

Currently, the City does not have an ordinance that speaks directly to the permitting or operation of game rooms, and there has been an increase in inquiries into the rules and regulations pertaining to the operation of game rooms

The Texas Penal Code, Chapter 47 makes most forms of gambling illegal including betting money or anything else of value on the outcome of a card game or any game of chance. Local law enforcement has investigated and shut down approximately 10 gambling game rooms within the city limits of Brownwood that were in direct violation of Chapter 47 of the Texas Penal Code.

“I wish we had the ability to zone it rather than regulate it, then we could allow them to operate freely but only within certain areas of the community,” Brownwood Mayor Stephen Haynes. “We don’t have that option so it puts us in a bind. I know over the years, it is a topic I have received many complaints about, and the complaints typically come from the neighboring businesses and neighboring community who just don’t want that in their particular backyard. It cries about for zoning, everything about the issue says the right thing to do is be able to zone it to prohibit the operation to a business that’s not conducive. But without that option, I don’t know what other solution there is.”

The investigations are lengthy, involve several officers and require overtime to conduct and complete costing the City several thousand dollars. In addition to lengthy investigations, game rooms have been known to attract persons that struggle with a variety of addictions including gambling and drug addiction. Several drug investigations have been conducted where illegal drugs have been purchased, delivered, and or used at various game rooms in Brownwood.

There have also been two game rooms in Brown County (one in Early and one at Lake Brownwood) where firearms were involved in incidents.

The amendment of Chapter 10 would not prohibit game rooms in Brownwood, but simply would address the rules and regulations to be followed in order to obtain a permit to open a game room establishment inside the city limits of Brownwood.

“We’re not restricting these businesses to come in and operate, we’re causing them not to be able to,” said Ward 2 Council Member Ed McMillian. “The restrictions that are here, they can’t come in under these restrictions. I under it’s a problem, our law enforcement says it’s a problem, but I just can’t think all of them are a problem and all the people that patronize them are a problem. I understand what we’re doing, and I’m going to vote in favor, but it’s hard for me to.”

Other cities and counties that have adopted similar game room ordinances include City of Ballinger, City of Victoria, City of Coleman, City of Odessa, City of Corpus Christi, Harris County, Bell County, and Tarrant County.

The ordinance can be found at the following link: Ordinance

Also Tuesday, the City Council unanimously approved the Resolution Oncor Electric Delivery Company’s Application for approval of a distribution cost recovery factor to increase distribution rates with the City.

Oncor Electric Delivery Company filed an application on or about May 13, 2022 with cities retaining original jurisdiction seeking to increase system-wide transmission and distribution rates by about $251 million or approximately 4.5% over present revenues. The company asked the City to approve an 11.2% increase in residential rates and a 1.6% increase in street lighting rates.

A residential customer using 1,300 kWh per month would see a bill increase of about $6.02 per month. The resolution suspends the June 17, 2022 effective date of the company’s rate increase for the maximum period permitted by law to allow the City, working in conjunction with the Steering Committee of Cities Served by Oncor, to evaluate the filing, determine whether the filing complies with law, and if lawful, to determine what further strategy, including settlement, to pursue.

The law provides that a rate request made by an electric utility cannot become effective until at least 35 days following the filing of the application to change rates. The law permits the City to suspend the rate change for 90 days after the date the rate change would otherwise be effective. If the City fails to take some action regarding the filing before the effective date, Oncor’s rate request is deemed administratively approved.

City Council also approved two consent agenda items:

• Adopting a resolution authorizing the submission of a DRP grant application and designating authorized representatives.
• Adopting a resolution designating an area as having slum and blighted conditions.