Assistant Professor Christine Blackburn of the Texas A&M University School of Public Health speaks about the Brownsville Community Health Needs Assessment to identify the most pressing health concerns in the city. Blackburn mentions the assessment report can be used to address the health concerns for Brownsville residents during Tuesday’s City Commission meeting. Estefania Ramirez/THE RIDER PHOTOS
The final version of the proposed Brownsville Roadway Capital Recovery Fee was approved for a second hearing last Tuesday at the Brownsville City Commission meeting.
During a public hearing, Edmund Haas, a consultant for Freese and Nichols Inc., said his team has had “significant dialogue” with the development committee, real estate workers and home builders.
Nick Mitchell-Bennett, chief executive director of come dream. come build., said that after an engaged committee conversation, the goal of using the fee as a tool that protects affordable housing was achieved for affordable housing nonprofits and for-profit developers who will be encouraged and incentivized to produce units for the affordable market.
“I think we did very well in using this in that fashion,” Mitchell-Bennett said.
He said, with the fee, the highest point of rent will be 80% of the area median income for renters and 120% of area median income for homeowners.
Mitchell-Bennett said it will also protect the city so the fee will not be taken advantage of. He said whoever is developing will need to put a land-use restriction agreement on the property to ensure it stays affordable.
Craig Grove, broker/owner of GRT Realty, was asked to be a representative of the real estate community and said the fee is “really thought out.”
“Especially with going back and rehashing it, bringing the affordable housing element into it,” Grove said. “Bring this in and … incentivizing that is critical. And also not taxing the citizens for new development.”
District 3 Commissioner Roy De los Santos asked when the additional recommendations made to the Capital Improvements Advisory Committee were published so the public could look at it.
Haas replied, since the formal committee is the CIAC, that is why they had the briefing in April.
De los Santos asked if no changes came about as a result of the recommendations made on April 3.
Haas replied, “Generally, no.”
District 1 Commissioner Bryan Martinez asked what the verification process consists of for those who are applying for exemptions.
Haas said if a developer wants to provide affordable housing, there needs to be verification that the renter or buyer has received approvals through the loan process, which has to be presented back to the city.
He said they are still in the process of figuring out the best way to exempt or refund the fee.
De los Santos motioned to close the public hearing and Martinez seconded.
De los Santos asked Joel Garza, director of Multimodal Transportation, when the final version of the recommendations for the fee was available to the public.
Garza replied it was available April 12 in the agenda packet. He elaborated that a recommendation from the Capital Recovery committee was modified.
Recommendations from December and on have stayed the same.
Roy De los Santos motioned to approve if the second reading will be a public hearing as well. The motion passed unanimously.
In other business, the Commission tabled action on the City Manager’s request to create a Downtown Valet Pilot Program for the purpose of providing valet parking service without impeding the needs of the local businesses or traffic. The program would collect a fee to provide valet services.
De los Santos said it is a missed opportunity to not have implemented community input before considering approval of the program.
He said a town hall with downtown businesses and residents should be considered.
Christy Blackburn, an assistant professor in the School of Public Health at Texas A&M University, presented an update on the Brownsville Community Health Needs Assessment. Blackburn said the study is conducted to understand what the residents’ most pressing health needs are and to find ways to prioritize resources available.
Residents can participate in the 30-minute online survey and enter to win a $25 gift card. Ten gift cards will be given out.
In an email to The Rider on Thursday, Blackburn wrote, “Residents can access the survey through a posting on the Brownsville Department of Health, Wellness, and Animal Services” Facebook page.
