During Tuesday morning’s meeting, Draco Miller, Jr. was sworn in as the City Council member for Ward 4 after winning Saturday’s special election over Jim Byars to fill the seat vacated when his father, the late Draco Miller, passed away Feb. 16, 2023.

Due to the election of a new City Council member, the appointment of a Mayor Pro-Tem was held as well and Walker Willey, Ward 5 representative, was nominated and approved unanimously.

Also during the meeting, conducting a public hearing and passed on first reading an ordinance to change the zoning classification of Abstract 576, Survey 278, Blocks 18 and 19, Kerr County School Land, 15.08 acres, located between the boundary roads of Mustang Drive and Sam Houston Drive; Horseshoe Trail and Longhorn Lane; from R-1 Single Family Residential District to R-2 Two Family Residential District.

The Preserve at Mustang Ridge is looking to develop and construct 108 high-end rentable duplexes in 54 units on the property. The project has received opposition from residents in the vicinity, including they did not want two-story houses built that could look into their backyards on Duckhorn; they did not want the increased traffic; they liked the undeveloped area as it is scenic and quiet; and they felt they would no longer be able to let their children play safely in their yards.

The item will again appear on a future agenda where it must be passed on second and third and final readings.

The City Council awarded an administration contract to Public Management, Inc. related to a TPWD Non-Urban Outdoor Recreation grant of up to $750,000. The program requires a minimum of $1:$1 match and typically has a 3-year contract term.

Selection of Riverside Park for the grant follows the City’s Parks Master Plan that was recently completed. The grant project scope will be for park amenities, pavilion reconstruction, bathroom remodeling, signage, potential dock improvements, picnic shelters, and other permissible amenities and improvements. This TPWD grant will essentially be Phase II of the Riverside Park project, to fund park amenities outside of the road reconstruction project through PARA. 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. Finally, the City will need to prepare a construction budget and/or receive a quote to be submitted with the application.

The City Council also unanimously approved a resolution declaring excess medical supplies as surplus property – 80 boxes of 3mm syringes with needles – to be donated to local educational institutions for training purposes.

Passed on the consent agenda were the following items:

• An ordinance establishing from Austin Avenue to West Depot Street the following: a two-way street, a 25 mile per hour speed limit, no parking on both sides of Clark Street, and a right tum only at the intersection of Clark Street and Austin A venue.
• Authorization for the City Manager to sign an agreement and any subsequent addendums, amendments, and acceptance of additional funds during the term of the existing grant contract on behalf of Brownwood-Brown County Health Department with Texas Department of State Health Services to continue providing Local Public Health Services to our community.
• Authorization for the City Manager to sign an agreement and any subsequent addendums, amendments, and acceptance of additional funds during the term of the existing grant contract on behalf of Brownwood-Brown County Health Department with Texas Department of State Health Services to continue providing Immunization services to our community.

Following an executive session, the City Council approved a sale and Chapter 380 agreement with Common Grounds Coffeehouse, LLC for the sale of City property located at 807 Main Street, 809 Main Street, 809 Booker, and 810 Booker.