RI  LIBERTY: HILL EDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINOTES Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 5:00 PM Municipal Courtroom/ City Council Chamber 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, TX 78642  Board Directors: Tiffany Stillwell, President Amy Gandy Robert Baughn Demetrice Gonzalez Ashley Vaughan Branden Maiorano Mark Hutton  City Staff:  Mary Poche, Executive DirectorLHEDC Elaine Simpson, City Secretary (Recording Secretary) Yvonne Castillo, Economic Development Coordinator  City Secretary Elaine Simpson administered the Oath of Office to newly appointed member Mark  Hutton at first part oft the meeting.  1. CALL TO ORDER  President Stillwell called the meeting to order at 5:03 PM. Demetrice Gonzalez gave the invocation and President Stillwell led the pledge ofallegiance to the US and Texas flags.  2) PUBLIC COMMENTS  Public comments are welcome by the LHEDC Board. Individuals who wish to. speak must complete aP Public Comment Form and present the form to the City. Secretary before the meeting is called to order. Individuals will be allowed to speak) for up to three (3) minutes. Public Comments related to posted agenda items may be submitted by email to ponelleAlIEges before 3:00. PMt the day of the meeting. for comments to be read at the 5:00. PM meeting by the City Secretary.  There were no citizen comments. Liberty Hilll EDC Meeting minutes,  April 17,2024  Page 1of6    It was announced that 4/23/2024 will be the Candidates Forum at the High School.  3) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S UPDATE  a) Report from Mary Poche', Executive Director ofLHEDC Executive Director Poche reviewed briefly here written report:  She noted that Economic Development Coordinator Yvonne Castillo has been working on She also reminded everyone that the' Texas Economic Development conference was coming The city is interviewing the first group of applicants for the LHEDC Exec. Director vacancy tomorrow. At this time, it is expected that there will be two days/rounds of  business retention. up in June in Fort Worth.  She gave a brief report on upcoming Developers Day'.  interviews.  4) TREASURER'S REPORT  No Treasurer reports. There will be a new Interim Finance Director (Rebecca Elliott) for the City ofLiberty Hill starting next week. Along with accountant Terry McCord, they will be working with the LHEDC until a new official Finance Director can be found. Next week, Mary and Yvonne will meet with Terry McCord to discuss the Economic Development Corporation's chart of accounts. The eventual goal is to be able to have more detailed reports from the city's financial  system each month for the EDC Directors to review. Although there wasn'tai formal Treasurers Report, it was noted:  There will be a meeting with Terry McCord (finance contractor) on Thursday to determine Currently there is no SLA (service level agreement) with the city for administrative There is no update on sales tax issue with Williamson County Emergency Services District  ifshe can build out a categorized view of expenses and the budget.  services. #4.  5) REPORTS  Att this time, the Board ofDirectors will consider regular reports which do not require action. Regular Reports could be reports. from the Cross-Committee Communications Group or the Liberty Hill Chamber ofCommerce. They may be written or presented at the meeting.  a) Reports.  Liberty Hill EDCI Meeting minutes,  April 17, 2024  Page2of6    On the EDC agenda next month, Yvonne Castillo's report will be with the Executive Director's  report.  6) REGULAR AGENDA  a) Discussion, consideration, and possible action on accepting Regina Watson's letter of President Tiffany Stillwell introduced the item and gave some basic background. About a year ago, the city and the EDC went into a simple 1-page agreement with Regina Watson for some real estate research. Ms. Watson became a real expert resource when the Corporation needed information about property outside the Downtown area. (The downtown area was handled by Lisa Copeland). Ms. Watson has done some work. Although she will remain a resource for the EDC to call upon, Watson has asked to terminate the formal agreement as of April 1,2024. Since she has  separation regarding existing real estate agreement. (M. Poche')  resigned, there is no action required.  b) Discussion, consideration, and possible action on severing relationship with Lisa Copeland regarding the existing real estate agreement. (T. Stillwell, M. Poche') Ms. Copeland was the realtor who assisted EDC when information was needed about property within the delineated Downtown Area.' She assisted the EDC with projects such as the purchase oft the old VFW building, and 'Project Vintage." Since the EDC does not expect toj purchase any additional land in the Downtown Area, this agenda item is put to the Directors to terminate this Director Robert Baughn moved, and Branden Maiorano seconded, to terminate this agreement, as  agreement as well.  described, with Lisa Copeland. Motion carried unanimously by a 7-0 vote.  c) Discussion, consideration, and possible action on Grant Writer's Proposal from Curah Exec. Director Poche' introduced this agenda item and presented the staff report. Ms. Beard has experience writing grant applications. Her fees are not too expensive. There would be an option to put her on a' 'retainer' and then pay her for each grant application she does. Ms. Poche' explained  Beard. (M. Poche')  that she is bringing this item to the Board in order to get some directions.  Liberty Hill EDCI Meeting minutes,  April 17,2024  Page3of6    There was a brief discussion of the importance of having a timeline for grants, sO that money can be spent before the deadline. Also, there was a brief discussion of applying for grants as a 'non- The general consensus of the Board was that they would like to see a presentation from Ms. Beard, so that she could speak to their questions/concems. After aj presentation, they would be agreeable  profit.'  to considering this item formally. No formal action was taken.  d) Discussion, consideration, and possible action on allowing the use of the VFW Building by the City ofLiberty Hill for Rain Barrel Storage for Conservation Program. (M. Poche) Exec. Director Poche' explained that the city'sUtility Billing Coordinator had found a great program to encourage water conservation. The program is based on the city utility customers opting to purchase a 'rain catch' barrel. The city has requested that these empty, new barrels be  stored at the old VFW building.  The following concerns were raised and briefly discussed: Lack ofa loading dock at the VFW building. barrels and for staging of the pickup by the customers. Liability insurance coverage for barrels?  Concern related to the need for city employees to access the building for storage of the Concern regarding the width of the two front doors, in relation to how large the pallets of  barrels might be.  Would this affect the plans being discussed with Headwater?  The general consensus of the Board was that more information was needed. There was agreement  that this idea would be considered possibly at a later time.  There was no formal action.  Discussion on status of Developer's Coalition in conjunction with the Chamber of  Commerce on May 3, 2024. (M. Poche')  Yvonne Castillo introduced the item and presented the staff report. This event is being held by the EDC in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce. It has been a great partnership sO far. There will be a round table discussion, and a bus trip for those interested in viewing the properties we are highlighting in our brochure. Rockpointe Church is donating the use oft the space and the AV system there for this event. Forrest Coffee will provide the coffee, the LHEDC is paying for the  food.  No formal action was taken on this report/update.  Liberty Hill EDCI Meeting minutes,  April17,2024  Page 40 of6    7) CONVENE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Negotiations. No action will be taken in Executive Session.  The LHEDC Board President will convene the EDC Board to Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code $551.071- Consultation with Legal Counsel and Texas Government Code $551.087- Economic Development  a) Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.087 (Economic Development) b) Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.087 (Economic Development) C) Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.087 (Economic Development)  Consideration of latest development(s) for Project Redo.  Discussion on Project Whale update.  consideration on next steps for Project Rock-n-Roll.  8) RECONVENE TO REGULAR SESSION  The LHEDC. Board. President will reconvene the EDC Board to Regular Session following Consultation with Legal Counsel pursuant to Texas Government Code $551.071 and Texas Government Code $551.087-E Economic Development. Negotiations. Council will entertain discussion related to the matters outlined below.  a) Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.087 (Economic Development) b) Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.087 (Economic Development) c) Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.087 (Economic Development) City Secretary Elaine Simpson read the exemptions into the record at 6:16 PM. President Tiffany Stillwell recessed the Open Session at 6:16PM. President Tiffany Stillwell convened the Closed Session at 6:17 PM President Tiffany Stillwell adjourned the Closed Session at 7:12 PM. President Tiffany Stillwell reconvened the Open Session at 7:13 PM.  Consideration ofl latest development(s) for Project Redo.  Discussion on Project Whale update.  consideration on next steps for Project Rock-n-Roll.  No action was taken during the Executive Session. There was no action resulting from the Executive Session(s).  Liberty Hill EDCI Meeting minutes,  April 17,2024  Page 5 of6    Future Agenda Item(s):  Next meeting we will elect a member oft the Board ofDirectors to serve as Board Treasurer  9) ADJOURNMENT  The next Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation meeting will be held on May 15, 2024. With no further business on the agenda, and no objections from the Board, President Stillwell  adjourned the meeting at 7:14) PM. PASSED AND APPROVED on Development Corporation  by the Liberty Hill Economic  Board  S  ofDirector on vote of _AYES, NAYS,  and  2 ABSTENTIONS.  bozelez  HppeBoatPresident/Prsidingoner   Pesning Hmy Gandy Direatort  pard pr City Secretah  - E7  aE    LIBERT  *  ORPORATEDN  Liberty Hill EDCI Meeting minutes,  April 17, 2024  Page 60 of6