By Staff
The Brownfield City Council convened for its regular session on Thursday, October 17th, with all council members in attendance. It was a long agenda, filled with reports from different departments, and an Executive Session was scheduled.
The financial report for the previous fiscal year was looked over. The City’s Fiscal Year begins in October. There were extensive discussions about various funds, income, and expenditures. Financially, the City appears to be in good shape. For the year, the revenue and expenditures for each department were as follows:
- General Fund – Income – $8,310,454 Expenses – $8,132,633
- Power and Light – Income – $8,759,587 Expenses – $9,092,991
- Water and Sewer – Income – $2,959,587 Expenses – $2,867,188
- Garbage – Income – $1,946,314 Expenses – $2,059,151
- Infrastructure – Income – $397,788 Expenses – $388,813
- For a total City of Brownfield income of $22,373,733 Expenditures – $22,540,778
Brownfield Industrial Development Revenue for the Fiscal Year was $769,840, and BIDCorp expenditures were $385,913. All BIDCorp money comes from local Sales Tax. HOT Funds (Hotel and Motel Tax) income was $175,713, and expenditures were $102,502. The Financial Report was approved as presented.
Police Chief Chris Kotzur gave the Quarterly Report for the Brownfield Police Department. For the quarter, a total of 3,479 calls for service were made. There were 512 Animal Control calls made. A total of 188 arrests were made by the City PD during this quarter.
The Chief also presented the Racial Profiling Report for the Quarter. Councilman Jimmy Garza asked if this was something new that was being done since Chief Kotzur’s arrival. Kotzur stated that he was not aware if it had ever been presented to the Council before. To which Councilman Leon Pope stated that it has always been done and presented to Council.
The Chief stated that the computer software used breaks it down for this report, all information is derived from officer reports turned in.
Councilman Marshall Martel asked where this information was printed where the public could see the information in order to contribute to full transparency. “The main point I am trying to make here is that I would like to see if we could have this racial profiling information laminated and posted somewhere inside the department readily available for anyone who wants to come look at it each month. I would defer to the City Attorney to see if this is something that can be approved.”
Chief Kotzur stated, “It is all public information. A lot of cities put it on their website each time it is presented.”
Martell stated, “I would like to see that happen, but I would still like to see it posted as a hard copy where people who may not have access to a computer could see it. In the day and age we live in, it is a communication piece that has become so hard for us to talk about.”
Martell also expressed concerns about the number of calls for Animal Control and wondered if that could be shifted to another department. Chief Kotzur stated that each town does it differently. Mayor Horton stated, “I agree that this might be something to look at. I don’t know if we need to have a work session down the road or what, but it is something that needs looked at.”
The Brownfield Chamber of Commerce Director Lorena Valencia presented the quarterly request for HOT Funds for the Visitor Information Center housed at the Chamber, which was approved.
Valencia also did a post-funding report for the Music and Motors Concert and Car Show, which was held on October 4, and Harvest Festival, which was held on October 5. The Placer Ai Insights showed that there were 5,700 visitors at Coleman Park during the Harvest Festival. The request for post funding was approved.
An application was also submitted by Jeremy Franco to request funding from HOT Funds for the 4th Annual Turkey Trot Softball Tournament, scheduled to take place at the Brownfield Sports Complex on November 15-17. The request was approved.
Item 12 on the agenda was to “discuss and consider an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Brownfield: Repealing Chapter 8, Article 8.500, entitled “Curfew for Minors”; providing and effective date; Providing a savings clause; Providing a repealer; and Providing for publication.
In 2023 the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1819, which then went into effect on September 1, 2023. Some of the language in support of that bill was given by the City Attorney, “Studies have been done that show that juvenile curfew ordinances are ineffective ways to reduce crime, and often lead to a negative outcome for our youth. This bill seeks to ensure that all young Texans have the opportunity to succeed without the burden of a criminal record early in life.” Chief Kotzur stated that they have not been enforcing the curfew, because they just simply can’t due to the state laws. This item did pass.
Also on the agenda was to “Discuss and consider establishing a policy to fulfill the requirements of Texas Government Code Chapter 620, and the Office of the Governor’s directive regarding the installation and use of prohibited technologies on City owned and personal devices used to conduct City business.” In the last session, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1893 which prohibits the use of TikTok and certain other Social Media applications on devices used by City employees to conduct business. A section has already been added to the personnel policy reflecting this legislation. This item did pass.
The last items of the day were to go into Executive Session for two separate items. The first was, “in accordance with Texas Government Code Section 551.074 Personnel Matters—To deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, resignation, duties, discipline, or dismissal of the City Manager.” This is basically a year-end review of the City Manager and the work he has done this fiscal year. The second item dealt with the Power Purchase Agreement. The council returned from Executive Session with no action being taken.
There will be a City Council work session on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at 6:00 pm at the Brownfield City Hall. Public comments are welcome. Join us to share your thoughts and learn more about how this affects you and our community. The next regular meeting is slated for Nov. 7, 2024, at 7:30 am in the Council Chambers at Brownfield City Hall.
