REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING - September 9,2024  The City Council ofthe City ofLa Grange met in Regular Session on Monday, September 9, 2024, in the City Hall Council Chambers at 155E E. Colorado Street with the following members present: Mayor Jan Dockery, Mayor Pro tem Kathy Weishuhn, Councilmember Bonnie Busch, Councilmember Bryan Kerr, Councilmember Kim Newton, Councilmember Ken Taylor, and Councilmember Violet Zbranek. Councilmembers Arthur Bosque and Katie Gross were absent. Staff present: City Manager Jack Thompson, Assistant City Manager Frank Menefee, City Attorney Marie Angela Flores Beck, City Secretary Janet Bayer, Finance Director Brett Wolff, and ChiefofPolice David Gilbreath. Visitors: Teresa Von Rosenberg, Pastor Ed Murphy, Connie Sellers, and Matt Myers with Waste Management. Flags. Pastor Ed Murphy with New Life Methodist Church gave the invocation.  Mayor Jan Dockery called the meeting to order. Next were pledges to the US and Texas  PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS  Mayor Dockery issued a Proclamation recognizing September 11, 2024, as Stop and  Remember - 9/11 National Moment of Remembrance, in the City ofLa Grange.  PUBLIC HEARINGS  The next item on the agenda is the Public Hearing on FY 2024-2025 Proposed Tax Rate. The Public Hearing was opened by Mayor Dockery at 6:05 P.M. As part of the annual budget process, the City ofLa Grange is required tol hold aj public hearing on setting the proposed tax rate. Staffi is proposing to set the tax rate at $0.18022, which is higher than the no-new revenue tax rate of $0.17381. Thej proposed rate is less than the current FY 2023-2024 adopted tax rate of $0.18668. There being no comments from the public, the Public Hearing was closed at 6:061 P.M.  CONSENT AGENDA presented. Motion carried 6-0.  Discuss and/or consider approval of August 26, 2024 minutes. Motion Mayor Proi tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Taylor to approve the August 26, 2024, minutes as  Discuss and/or consider appointment(s) to the Main Street Advisory Board. The Main Street Advisory Board requested a youth member be appointed to the Main Street Advisory Board to fill the vacancy ofl Kylie Zbranek upon her graduation. Ella Nygren is recommended to serve as a Youth Board Member. Upon the vacancy from the resignation of] Board Member Paula Lewallen, the Main Street Advisory Board recommends Coy Heinrich to fill the remainder oft the term. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Busch to approve the Main Street Advisory Board Member appointments as presented. Motion carried 6-0.  REGULAR AGENDA  The first item was to discuss and/or consider on First Reading of an Ordinance levying Ad Valorem taxes for use and support of the Municipal Government of the City ofLa Grange, Texas for the 2024-2025 Fiscal year; providing for apportioning each levy for specific purposes; providing when taxes shall become due and when same shall become delinquent if not paid; providing for the levy and collection of occupation taxes. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn,    Second Councilmember Taylor to approve this Ordinance on First Reading. Aroll call vote was taken: Councilmember Bosque absent, Councilmember Busch for, Councilmember Gross absent, Councilmember Kerri for, Councilmember Newtoni for, Councilmember Taylor for, Mayor Pro tem  Weishuhn for, and Councilmember Zbranek for. Motion carried 6-0.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider a November 2024 Rate Adjustment Calculation and Request from Waste Management. Based on the City's Municipal Solid Waste Agreement with Waste Management ofTexas, Inc, they conduct an annual review ofcosts and can make ai rate adjustment of up to 5%. For Fiscal Year 2024-2025, WM 's adjustment is a 2.45% increase, which will take affect November 1, 2024. WMI has made a written request for an additional increase of2.55% to offset their operational costs. This request is due to an increase in cost offuel, driver's wages and vehicle maintenance. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Kerr to approve the 2.45% rate adjustment from Waste Management but deny  the additional increase of2.55% rate request. Motion carried 6-0.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider proposed street closures for Oktoberfest on the Square on October 5, 2024. The Rotary Club ofLa Grange is requesting permission for the closing oft the inner parking area by the north entrance oft the courthouse on Colorado Street in downtown La Grange for the safety of the public to accommodate Oktoberfest to be held Saturday, October 5th. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Busch to approve closing a section of Colorado Street for Oktoberfest starting at 5:00pm on the Friday  before the event. Motion carried 6-0.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider a Resolution cancelling the October 14, 2024 City Council meeting. October 14thi is a council approved city holiday, Columbus Day. Ini the past, council has cancelled meetings that fall on city adopted. holidays. Motion Councilmember Taylor, Second Councilmember Newton to approve the Resolution cancelling the October 14th council  meeting. Motion carried 6-0.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider adoption on First Reading of an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances, City of La Grange, Texas, by adding an appendix, Appendix C, - "Schedule of Rates, Fees, Deposits, Civil Penalties and Charges," thereby establishing a centralized location within the Code of Ordinances for all Rates, Fees, Deposits, Civil Penalties and Charges for city services and utilities. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Zbranek to approve this Ordinance on First Reading adding Appendix C. A roll call vote was taken: Councilmember Bosque absent, Councilmember Busch for, Councilmember Gross absent, Councilmember Kerr for, Councilmember Newton for, Councilmember Taylor for, Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn for, and Councilmember Zbranek for. Motion carried 6-0.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider on Second Reading of an Ordinance making appropriations for the support of the City ofLa Grange for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024, and ending September 30, 2025; appropriating money to a sinking fund to pay interest and principal due on the City'sindebtedness; and adopting the annual budget of the City ofLa Grange for the 2024-2025 fiscal year which includes the General Fund, the Utility Enterprise Fund, and the La Grange Economic Development Corporation Budget. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Zbranek to approve this Ordinance on Second Reading. A    roll call vote was taken: Councilmember Bosque absent, Councilmember Busch for, Councilmember Gross absent, Councilmember Kerr: for, Councilmember Newton for, Councilmember Taylor for, Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn for, and Councilmember Zbranek for.  Motion carried 6-0.  The next item was to discuss and/or consider a Cyber Liability and Data Breach Response Interlocal Agreement with the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool. The TML Board of Trustees recently created a new Cyber Fund and approved changes to the Risk Pool's coverage structure, effective October 1, 2024. Members must elect to continue coverage or "opt- in" by entering into an Interlocal Agreement with TML. Motion Councilmember Kerr, Second Councilmember Taylor to approve the Interlocal Agreement with TML ntergovernmental Risk  Pool. Motion carried 6-0.  Next was a report on the Tourism Grant Committee discussion and consideration of Allocation of Tourism Funds. The Tourism Grant Committee reviewed and considered five (5) requests for funding under the Tourism Grant Program. The following applicants were recommended for funding - Fayette County Fair Association $10,000 for marketing expenses, Rotary Club ofLa Grange $5,000 for advertisingpromoting Oktoberfest on October 5th, Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center $8,000 for marketing Heritage Festival and Muziky on October 18-19, Friends of Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill $5,000 for advertising Trail of Lights in December 2024, and Texas Quilt Museum $5,000 for marketing, promotion oft the arts from October 1-I December 31, 2024. A Motion was made by Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Taylort to approve funding five (5)applicants at total of$33,0001 under the Tourism  Grant Program for the August 29"application deadline. Motion carried 6-0.  City Council Committee/Boards/Advisory Reports  Councilmember Taylor gave the 2023 tax collection statistics for the City ofLa Grange as per the Fayette County Tax Appraisal District. The City ofI La Grange had a collection rate of 98.09% collecting $873,535.00 inj property taxes out of$892,875.00 in assessed property tax  values. StaffUpdates  Chief David Gilbreath stated there were 343 calls for service in August. There were 121 citations issued and 66 warnings. 9 traffic accidents occurred in August. City Manager Thompson stated the roofers for the City Hall Plaza canopy should be starting work next week and they estimate the entire project to be complete by the end of this month. City Manager Thompson and other city staff attended Retail Live recently in Austin looking to attract potential new businesses  to our downtown district. Citizen Participation  Under Citizen Participation, Connie Sellers and Teresa von Rosenberg spoke.  Items of Community Interest    City Secretary Bayer invited everyone to the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church Drive Thru fried chicken and sausage meal in Holman on Sunday, September 15th beginning at 10:30 am. Councilmember Newton invited everyone to Camp Tejas this Sunday, September 15th for Family Fun Day from 3-7 pm - "Free" activities include swimming pool, adventure tower with zip lines, rock wall climbing, and burgers served from 5-6 pm. Donations received will benefit Feed the Need. Councilmember Zbranek invited everyone out to Country Music Opry on Monday,  September 16th for the Hank Williams Sr. tribute at the KCI Hall.  At 6:46 PM as pursuant to Section (551.074) Personnel Matters, City Manager Section (551.072) Real Property, review and discuss Contract of Sale to acquire commercial real property located in. John H. Moore, City ofLa Grange, Texas, the La Grange City  Performance evaluation AND  Council went into Closed Executive Session.  At 8:26 PM, City Council went into Open Session.  As pursuant to Section (551.072) Real Property. Discuss and/or Consider approval of Contract of Sale to acquire commercial real property in John H. Moore, City ofLa Grange, Texas. Motion Mayor Pro Tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember. Kerr to approve the Contract of Sale to acquire commercial real property in John H. Moore, City ofLa Grange, Texas, as discussed in Executive Session. Motion carried 5-0-1 with Councilmember Zbranek abstaining. Councilmember Taylor that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried 6-0.  At 8:27 PM a Motion was made by Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, with a Second by  Janet Bayer, City Secretary  These Minutes Approved by City Council on:  Jan Dockery, Mayor