City Council Workshop Meeting MEETING MINUTES " February 26, 2025, at 5:00 PM - 2801 Ranch RD 1869 Liberty Hill, Texas 78642 & PowN BIO City Council Present: Crystal Mancilla Diane Williams Wade Ashley Michael Helbing Jacquetta Thayer City Council Absent: Amanda Young City Staff Present: Mike Etienne, Deputy City Manager Elaine Simpson, City Secretary Jeff Ringstaff, Police Chief Josh Armstrong, Director of Finance Katie Amsler, Director of Communications and Community Engagement James Herrera, Interim Director of Public Works McKenzi Hicks, Interim Director ofPlanning and Development Trey Evans, Water Superintendent Christian Kurtz, Economic Development Department Exec. Director 1) CALL TO ORDER The City Council Special Called meeting was called to order by Mayor Mancilla at 5:02 PM. at the City Municipal Court / Council Chamber at 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, TX. A quorum was established, and all members were present, except Mayor Pro Tem Young. 2) REGULAR AGENDA a) Hear Presentations from applicants for City Council Community Grants: 1. The Rufus ReliefFund 2. Casa Esperanza dba Hope House 3. Williamson-Burnet County Opportunities 4. Williamson County Crisis Center/Hope Alliance City Council Workshop Meeting February 26, 2025 1 Page 1 of 4 5. Capital Area Council Cub Scout Pack 222 6. Sims Strong Foundation 7. LH Panthers Select 8. L4 Cares 9. Liberty Hill Texas Community Theatre 10. The Salvation Army Austin Area Wilco Service Center 11. Liberty Hill ISD Education Foundation 12. One Chapel-Liberty Hill 13. Legacy Ranch High School Band Boosters 14. Foundation XXL Hope 15. Operation Liberty Hill The City of Liberty Hill values partnerships with organizations that are committed to addressing our community's greatest public challenges. The City has allocated $45,000 in the 2024/2025 budget to be distributed to nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations that strengthen the City's key priorities in the following areas: Children Elderly Housing Parks & Recreation Public Safety Safety Net Tourism Transportation. Council will hear presentations from applicants for the Community Support Grant. At their next meeting, Council will consider awarding grants. At the next meeting after, there will be a Resolution passed to formalize each grant given. These Resolutions will establish that the grants are being given for a public purpose. The following applications were received in the following order: Coversheet for Community Support Grants Workshop.pdf Cover Sheet page 2 2025 Grant Applications.pdf 01-21-25 The Rufus Relief Fund.pdf 01-23-25 Hope House.pdf 01-24-25 Williamson-Burnet County Opportunities.pdf 01-28-25 WCCC Hope Alliance.pdf 01-29-25 Capital Area Council Cub Scout Pack 222.pdf 01-30-25 Sims Strong Foundation.pdf 02-05-25 LH Panther Select.pdf 02-06-25 L4 Cares.pdf 02-10-25 Liberty Hill Texas Community Theatre.pdf 02-13-25 Salvation Army.pdf 02-14-25 Liberty Hill Education Foundation.pdf 02-15-25 One Chapel.pdf 02-16-25 Legacy Ranch High School Band Boosters.pdf 02-16-25 Foundation XXL Hope.pdf 02-18-25 Operation Liberty Hill.pdf City Council Workshop Meeting February 26, 2025 2 Page 2 of 4 The speakers were limited to 3 minute presentations. The speakers were taken in order that they were listed. The representative of the Salvation Army was not present when his turn was called and sO he spoke at the end ofthe meeting. Presentations for Hope House and for Liberty Hill Community Theatre were heard during item #2 on the Regular Called Meeting during presentations. The Speakers spoke in the following order: 1. Kerrie Redding - Rufus Relief Fund - organization started last July. Would like to help citizens pay for pet care, and also to rehab and rehome pets. Request of $5,000. 2. Dori Yeater - Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet County/Meals on Wheels = requesting $10,000 to provide hot meals to Senior Citizens in Liberty Hill to allow disabled or senior citizens to age 'in place'. 3. Zoe Armstrong - WCCC - Hope Alliance = Emergency Services for Domestic Violence center. Asking for $10,000. At an average cost of $835 per client, a $10,000 contribution would fund services for 12 Liberty Hill residents, empowering them to rebuild their lives and become thriving members of our community. 4. Christen Venegas Cub Scout Troop 222 = Asking $5,000 - As a new pack, we have very limited funds the $5,000 will help us secure items such as awards for scouts, provide a scholarship fund for underserved youth whose parents cannot afford to pay for the program, purchase a pine wood derby track and support other activities to enhance the scouting experience for our 23 enrolled boys and girls. 5. Brent Lane and Mike Etheridge - LH Panther Select Softball Team asking $5,000 to be used primarily to retain an experienced collegiate guest coach, Alyssa Washington. This will enhance the skill level of the players, most of which will be starting high school in Liberty Hill ISD next year. In addition to the guest coach, the funds would be used to purchase gear needed by players such as: bags, protective gear,bats, as well as supplies for the entire team such as: softballs, lineup cards, scorebooks, training aids and medical recovery equipment. 6. Kendra Cofer - L4 Cares Project: Hero Camp for Disabled Children- Asking $20,000 will fund Hero Camp for 30 Liberty Hill families. The funds requested will be used to facilitate two Hero Camp events this year, hosted at local venues in Liberty Hill. These will provide a much-needed resource for families facing the challenges oflife-threatening illnesses, offering them a space to experience respite,, joy, and healing within their own community. 7. Carrie Betzen/Mike Boles: Liberty Hill ISD Education Foundation - Panther Academy Courses - Asking $5,000. Taught by LHISD staff, the Panther Academy courses are tailored to the unique interests of both students and staff, with new offerings introduced each semester. Average cost for Academy is $100. The grant would provide scholarships for students at Liberty Hill Elementary and Noble School. City Council Workshop Meeting February 26, 2025 3 Page 3 of 4 8. Aaron Fore One Chapel Liberty Hill: Asking $20,000 grant would provide assistance to the church to provide free Christian mental health counseling. The church needs additional space to conduct the counseling. The grant money would be used to provide this space. 9. Kira Honnoll - Legacy Ranch High School Band Boosters / Color Guard - Asking $20,000 to provide ability for economically disadvantaged students to participate in Band/Color guard and music programs which will provide Financial Assistance, Transportation, Legacy Ranch High School Band Boosters Meals for students at competitiomperlommance days, Uniforms, and clinicians and technicians to directly mentor the students. 10. Dylan Wilk and Kyle Wilk / Nancy Wilk = Foundation XXL Hope - Asking $7,500 to support the Farmers Market. The program we seek funds for is tiered with the Market LHTX, entering into our 4th Season in Liberty Hill supporting over 100 vendors and overseeing our Young Entrepreneur program named the Mustard Seed Project. We are specifically requesting funds for the Mustard Seed Project to expand our hands on educational initiative, where we teach sustainable food growing practices to our young entrepreneurs and the youth of our community at our markets, from our gardens. 11. Susan Baker/Regina O'Brien Operation Liberty Hill - Program "Operation Back to School." Asking $20,000 to provide Back to School clothes, shoes, and school supplies for students from low-income families. 12. Scott Beideo - Salvation Army - Rental and Financial Assistance for families experiencing homelessness. Asking $15,000 to provide services to help keep families from being evicted, and from getting utilities cut off, including last year helping 24 families from Liberty Hill area. 3) ADJOURNMENT Given there were no further agenda items and hearing no objections from the Council, Mayor Mancilla adjourned the meeting at 5:56 PM. Approved by City Council at their meeting on the 12th ofMarch 2025, by a vote oFSAyes, Nays and OAbstentions, with being absent. hirhaslb Maybr Crystal Mancilla Attest: m02777 Elaine Simpson City Secretary * * * % 00 City Council Workshop Meeting February 26, 2025 4 Page 4 of 4