REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING January 27, 2025 The City Council of the City ofLa Grange met in Regular Session on Monday, January 27, 2025, in the City Hall Council Chambers at 155 E. Colorado Street with the following members present: Mayor Jan Dockery, Mayor Pro tem Kathy Weishuhn, Councilmember Bonnie Busch, Councilmember Chris Jernigan, Councilmember Bryan Kerr, Councilmember Kim Newton, and Councilmember Ken Taylor. Councilmember(s) Katie Gross and Violet Zbranek 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 Chief of Police David Gilbreath. Visitors: Caitlin Admire of Freese & Nichols, Charlee & Josias Hernandez, John Pineda, Chris Little, Lori Kallus, Molly Adams, and Teresa von Rosenberg. Mayor Jan Dockery called the meeting to order. Next were pledges to the US and Texas Flags. Pastor Chris Little with Crosspointe Community Church gave the invocation. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS Mayor Dockery issued a Proclamation declaring February 3-7, 2025, as School Counselor Week and recognized the contributions that LGISD school counselors make to the school district and the community ofLa Grange. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. CONSENT AGENDA The first item under consent agenda was to discuss and/or consider approval of December 17, 2024 minutes. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Taylor to approve the December 17, 2024, minutes as presented. Motion carried 6-0. REGULAR AGENDA The first item under regular agenda was a report on Code Enforcement, building permits and inspections by Gabe Huelsebusch, Code Official. In 2024, there were 34 code violation letters sent to property owners. In 2024, there were 456 permits issued that include building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and gas. In a typical day, the Building Inspector can do 5-8 residential inspections or spend an entire day on a commercial building inspection. The Bread Basket certificate of occupancy was issued at the end of] December and is expected to open in the near future. The Gardenia Animal Shelter addition is nearing completion and the contractors are getting ready to start on the remodel of the original building. The second item was to discuss and/or consider proposed street closures for La Grange Uncorked on February 22, 2025. The Advisory Board ofLa Grange Main Street requested permission for closing the inner parking area by the north entrance of the courthouse on Colorado Street which will be utilized for a registration area and live music. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Jernigan to approve the street closures for La Grange Uncorked on February 22, 2025. Motion carried 6-0. The third item was to discuss and/or consider new employee hours for city staff. City staff seeks City Council approval to adjust the operating hours of City Hall, Police Administration, and the Recreation Center Director. The proposed change aims to provide enhanced citizen access and improve employee work-life balance. The proposed hours are Monday-Thursday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with a halfhour lunch and Friday from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM. If approved, this schedule will go into effect on Monday, February 3rd. Motion Councilmember Newton, Second Councilmember Busch to approve the new employee hours for City staff. Motion carried 6-0. The fourth item was to discuss and/or consider approving Staff to negotiate an agreement with Freese and Nichols to conduct a Parks, Open Spaces and Trails Master Plan. The City ofLa Grange issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Parks, Open Spaces, and Trails Master Plan, with a submission deadline of November 22nd, 2024, and five (5) firms responded. A selection committee comprised of: five (5) city staff members reviewed and graded the proposals, shortlisting three (3) firms: GSBS, Westwood, and Freese and Nichols for in-person interviews. Following the interviews, Freese and Nichols was chosen to proceed with agreement negotiations to develop the master plan. City staff requests City Council's approval to begin these negotiations. Motion Councilmember Taylor, Second Councilmember Busch to approve staff to negotiate an agreement with Freese and Nichols to conduct a Parks, Open Spaces and Trails Master Plan. Motion carried 6-0. City Council CommitePauariyAdhion, Reports Councilmember Taylor stated the Tax Appraisal Board is meeting on Tuesday, January 28th, > 2025. The Main Street Board is meeting on Monday, February 3rd. Staff Updates City Manager Jack Thompson informed council that the surveys out to the citizens are online now regarding branding. Paper copies can be picked up at City Hall for those that wish to complete the survey that way. The La Grange Chamber of Commerce has many new board members and is having a chamber mixer on February 11th at JayDeez from 5-7pm. Record number sales tax figures are in for four months in a row, SO that's a great way to start the 1st quarter of the fiscal year. City Secretary Janet Bayer reminded council ofthe Notice of Deadline to File an Application for the General Election. The last day to file is Friday, February 14th, > at 5:00 pm. Chief ofPolice David Gilbreath went over his monthly report for December. He will give his report on racial profiling in February. Citizen Participation Under Citizen Participation, Teresa von Rosenberg spoke. Items of Community Interest Mayor Dockery presented a proclamation for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 18th during the MLK walk from the library to the square which was well attended by members ofthe community. At 6:45 PM a Motion was made by Councilmember Newton, with a Second by Councilmember Taylor that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried 6-0. Janet Bayer, City Secretary These Minutes Approved by City Council on: Jan Dockery, Mayor