REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING = March 10, 2025 The City Council of the City ofLa Grange met in Regular Session on Monday, March 10, 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 Kim Newton, Councilmember Ken Taylor, and Councilmember Violet Zbranek. Councilmember Katie Gross, Councilmember Chris Jernigan, and Councilmember Bryan Kerr were absent. Staff present: City Manager Jack Thompson, Assistant City Manager Frank Menefee, City Attorney Marie Angela Flores Beck, Finance Director Brett Wolff, City Secretary Janet Bayer, and Chief of Police David Gilbreath. Visitors: David Pettit and Natalie Ayala Moore from Pettit & Ayala Consulting, Justin Lopez, Emily Hudson, Derek Smith, and Teresa von Rosenberg. Mayor Jan Dockery called the meeting to order. Next were pledges to the US and Texas Flags. Pastor Justin Lopez with First Baptist Church gave the invocation. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS None. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. CONSENT AGENDA The first item under consent agenda was to discuss and/or consider approval of February 24, 2025 minutes. Motion Councilmember Taylor, Second Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn to approve the February 24, 2025, minutes as presented. Motion carried 5-0. REGULAR AGENDA The first item was to discuss and/or consider proposed street closures for Texas Burger Bash on April 12th, > 2025. Motion Councilmember Zbranek, Second Councilmember Busch to approve the proposed street closures for the Texas Burger Bash on April 12, 2025. Motion carried 5-0. The second item was to discuss and/or consider adoption on Second and Final Reading of an Ordinance ofthe City of La Grange, Texas, amending Code of Ordinances of the City ofLa Grange. Texas, by amending Chapter 11. Taxation, Article 11.03. Hotel Occupancy Tax, section 11.03.001. definitions to include Short Term Rentals in the definition ofHotel and by adding a definition of Short- Term Rental; providing any person who violates or fails to comply with this ordinance shall be subject to all oft the penalties set forth in section 11.03.006 of this ordinance and shall include being guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00); and providing for an effective date. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Zbranek to approve this Ordinance on Second and Final Reading. A roll call vote was taken: Councilmember Busch for, Councilmember Gross absent, Councilmember Jernigan absent, Councilmember Kerr absent, Councilmember Newton for, Councilmember Taylor for, Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn for, and Councilmember Zbranek for. Motion carried 5-0. The third item was to discuss and/or consider action on initiating a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ). A TIF (Tax Increment Financing) is a tool that encourages and incentivizes economic development within a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone. A TIRZ is a mechanism that allows local governments to designate a specific area for redevelopment or encourage new development and utilize the incremental increase in property tax revenue generated within the zone to fund public improvements and infrastructure projects. David Pettit and Natalie Ayala Moore from Pettit & Ayala Consulting gave a presentation to guide the City Council through the fundamentals of Tax Increment Financing and the potential benefits of establishing a TIRZ in La Grange. The fee from Pettit & Ayala to establish the TIRZ is $40,000. The TIRZ can reimburse the city of this expenditure. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Newton to approve the initiation of a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ). Motion carried 5-0. City Council CommitelaurlyAdhiony Reports Councilmember Newton stated the next Library Board meeting is on Tuesday, May 6lh, at 5:15pm. Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn stated the Main Street Board met and is preparing for the upcoming Historic Walking Tour tentatively scheduled for May 17th as well as Movie Nights on the Square set for Fridays, May 30th and June 6th. The public is able to vote on their movie choices using the voting link found on the Main Street Facebook page. Councilmember Taylor stated the Tax Appraisal Board met on February 25th. Delinquent tax bills were mailed out on February 12th to those that were not paid by January 31St. Staff Updates City Manager Thompson stated storm water surveys will be going out in the April utility bills as well as online. He will be putting together a mid-year project report to update the City Council on what has been happening in FY 2024-2025. Chief ofPolice David Gilbreath stated there were 249 calls for service in February. 33 calls were for animal control; 51 were for business checks; there were 7 total accidents in February. 82 citations were issued in February and 41 warnings. Citizen Participation Under Citizen Participation, Teresa von Rosenberg spoke. Items of Community Interest Councilmember Zbranek invited everyone to the Country Music Opry on Monday, March 17th. Doors open at 5:30; show starts at 7pm. Admission is $8.00. At 7:38 PM a Motion was made by Councilmember Newton, with a Second by Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried 5-0. Janet Bayer, City Secretary These Minutes Approved by City Council on: Jan Dockery, Mayor