REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING - May 13, 2024  The City Council of the City ofLa Grange met in Regular Session on Monday, May 13, 2024, in the City Hall Council Chambers at 155E. Colorado St. with the following members present: Mayor Jan Dockery, Mayor Pro tem Kathy Weishuhn, Councilmember Arthur Bosque, Councilmember Bonnie Busch, Councilmember Katie Gross, Councilmember Bryan Kerr, Councilmember Kim Newton, Councilmember Ken Taylor, and Councilmember Violet Zbranek. Staff present: City Manager Jack Thompson, Assistant City Manager. Frank Menefee, City Attorney Marie Angela Flores Beck, Chief of Police David Gilbreath, and City Secretary Janet Bayer. Visitors: Teresa Von Rosenberg, Larry Jackson, Recreation Director Janet Rangel, and  Municipal Court Clerk Olivia Hanna.  Mayor Jan Dockery called the meeting to order. Next were pledges to the US and Texas  Flags. Councilmember Ken Taylor gave the invocation.  Under Citizen Participation, Teresa von Rosenberg spoke. Discuss and/or consider approval of April 2024: minutes.  CONSENT AGENDA  Al Motion was made by Councilmember Taylor, Second Councilmember Gross to  approve the Consent Agenda item as presented. Motion carried 8-0.  REGULAR AGENDA  The first item was to administer the Oath of Office for newly elected Council Members. City Secretary Janet Bayer swore in Councilmember(s) Bryan Kerr, Kimberly Newton, Kathy  Weishuhn, and Violet "Patsy" Zbranek.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider the selection ofMayor Pro tem. The current Mayor Pro tem is Kathy Weishuhn. Motion Councilmember Zbranek, Second Councilmember  Newton to re-appoint Kathy Weishuhn as Mayor Pro tem. Motion carried 8-0.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider approval of Interlocal Cooperation Contract (ICC) between the Dept of Public Safety of the State ofTexas and the La Grange Municipal Court for Failure to Appear (FTA) Program and authorizing the City Manager to execute same. The program allows DPS to deny the renewal of a driver's license based on an individual's Failure to Appear (or respond) to ai traffic citation issued by a peace officer or a failure to pay a fine and court costs. A response by a defendant can be in person or in writing. This ICC now requires that DPS no longer deny the renewal for a driver's license ifa ani individual is found indigent and therefore: not required to pay a reimbursement fee. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Gross to approve the Interlocal Cooperation Contract (ICC) between the Dept of Public Safety of the State of Texas and the La Grange Municipal Court for Failure to Appear (FTA) Program and  authorizing the City Manager to execute same. Motion carried 8-0.    The next item was ai report on Parks Department responsibilities, projects, and accomplishments by Don Jakobeit, Parks Foreman. The Parks Department consists of3 full time and 4 part time employees who are responsible for maintenance and upkeep ofa all city parks and city facilities. They maintain -1 mow, weed-eat, and clear trash at four (4) City parks currently as well as three (3) cemeteries - old (historic), City cemetery, and pauper cemetery. Parks staff maintain all water wells, city right of ways, baseball and softball mowing maintenance as well as at the fairgrounds. Parks staff also handle light maintenance/cleaning at all city facilities and tackle the brush pick up for the citizens ofLa Grange each spring and fall. The City Council thanked the Parks Department for their many. jobs and they don'tgo unnoticed.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider proposed street closures for Movie Nights on the Square in June. The Advisory Board ofLa Grange Main Street is requesting permission from council to consider closing some street sections on the square for movie nights on. Friday, June 7th and Friday, June 21st for the safety ofthe public. Closures will begin at 5:00 pm each of these Fridays in June. Motion Councilmember Gross, Second Councilmember Taylor to accept proposed street closures for Movie Nights on the Square in. June. Motion carried 8-0.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider approval of early closure of city facilities on June 6, 2024, for StaffDevelopment Day. In order for all staff to attend this proposed 1s'annual Staff Development event on Thursday, June 6th, council approval was required to close city facilities to the public from 4:00-5:00 pm. Utility payments can still be made in a multitude of ways without interruption, the answering service and on-call employees will still be available as well as emergency personnel for emergencies. Motion Councilmember Gross, Second Councilmember Taylor to approve early closure of city facilities on June 6, 2024. Motion  carried 8-0.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider adopting al Resolution approving ai finding by the La Grange Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors that the acquisition of real property is a project that promotes new or expanded business development. The City ofLa Grange has a Type B Economic Development Corporation. Since the city population is less than 20,000, the City Council must approve projects that will expend more than $10,000 at two (2) different Council meetings. City Manager Jack Thompson proposed to the EDC Board that they purchase real property at 256 W. Colorado Street, location of former business D&G Business Machines, for $389,9001 to attract business toi the Square (possibly ai restaurant). Local Government Code Sec 505.158 requires that Council approve the project at two (2) separate readings because of city size and amount of expenditure. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Busch to approve the Resolution on First Reading as presented. Motion carried  8-0.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider Council declaring and finding aj public necessity to amend the La Grange Economic Development Corporation's FY 2023-2024 budget forinclusion of funding the acquisition ofreal property situated at 256 W.Colorado St, La Grange, Texas. The La Grange EDCI Board approved the acquisition of256 W. Colorado St. for the amount of $389,900. This purchase was not in the adopted budget; therefore, a budget amendment is needed to be made by the City Council. City Manager requested a budget amendment in the amount of $400,000 to include purchase price and potentially some closing costs, from the    LGEDC's reserve funds to the account 10-52465172 Unidentified Projects. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Bosque to approve Council declaring and finding ap public necessity to amend the La Grange Economic Development Corporation's FY 2023-2024 budget forinclusion of funding the acquisition ofreal property situated at 256 W. Colorado St, La Grange,  Texas. Motion carried 8-0.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider appointment(s) to the Board of Adjustment. There are five (5) members that serve on the Board of Adjustment for a term of two (2) years. Chair Brad Cutright is resigning from the board with his term expiring May 31, 2024. Both John Eilert and Dustin Hill have current terms to expire on May 31,2024. Mayor Dockery recommends John Eilert and Dustin Hill be re-appointed to the Board of Adjustment with terms to expire May 31, 2026. Mayor Dockery is recommending Julie Ardery be newly appointed to the Board of Adjustment with a term to expire May 31, 2026. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Taylor to approve the re-appointments/appointment to the Board of Adjustment  as presented. Motion carried 8-0.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider appointment to fill a vacancy to the Zoning Commission. There are five (5): members that serve on the Zoning Commission for a term oft two (2) years. Board member Diana Mena resigned from the board effective March 28, 2024. Both John Eilert and Dustin Hill have current terms to expire on May 31,2024. Mayor Dockery recommends Travis Ulrich be appointed to the Zoning Commission for a (1) one year term to fill the vacancy. He will be eligible for re-appointment in August of 2025. Motion Councilmember Taylor, Second Councilmember Gross to approve the appointment to fill a vacancy to the Zoning  Commission as presented. Motion carried 8-0.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider closing of city pool this 2024 summer season. The current pumps are: no longer operational. The installation ofs six new pumps and sand filters is required alongside necessary upgrades to the electrical system to ensure code compliance. The operational requirement for the pool is for four (4) lifeguards on duty, and only two (2)individuals have committed to serving on a part time basis for the upcoming season. The shortfall in staffing and the infrastructure issues pose aj problem to the safe and efficient operation oft the pool. Motion Councilmember Gross, Second Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn to approve the closing oft the city pool for 2024 summer season. Motion carried 8-0.  City Council Committee Reports  Councilmember Newton spoke on behalfo ofthe Library Board who met May 7th. The new shelving for the library should be installed in. July. The Summer Reading Program begins May 29th and wraps up in July. The events/programs hosted by the library have been very well attended. Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn spoke on behalf oft the Main Street Board who also met on May 13th. They are inj preparations for Movie Nights on the Square in June. They approved a  façade grant for the Quilted Skein. Chief of] Police Update were served in April.  Chief Gilbreath stated there were 467 calls for service in April. There were 11 accidents during the month with 80 citations issued and 97 warnings issued. 1 DWI arrests and 3 warrants    City Manager Update  City Manager Jack Thompson will be bringing bids for consideration and approval in. June for the roof canopy at City Hall. Hei thanked council for submitting their budget surveys.  City Secretary Update  City Secretary Janet Bayeri informed council that it's Cybersecurity training time. She'llbe At 6:57 PM as pursuant to Section (551.072) Real Property, discuss and/or consider the acquisition of real property, the La Grange City Council went into Closed Executive Session.  getting them the link to the new video and required annual test soon.  At 7:30 PM, city council went into Open Session.  As] pursuant to Section (551.072) Real Property. Discuss and/or consider the acquisition of real property and direct the City Manager to take necessary action to accomplish this acquisition as discussed in Executive Session. Motion Mayor Pro Tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Newton to approve the acquisition ofreal property and direct the City Manager to take necessary action to accomplish this acquisition as discussed in Executive Session. Motion carried 8-0.  At 7:31 PM a Motion was made by Councilmember Taylor, with a Second by  Councilmember Zbranek that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried 8-0.  Janet Bayer, City Secretary  These Minutes Approved by City Council on:  Jan Dockery, Mayor