REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING = April 28, 2025 The City Council of the City ofLa Grange met in Regular Session on Monday, April 28, 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 Katie Gross, Councilmember Bryan Kerr, and Councilmember Violet Zbranek. Councilmember Chris Jernigan, Councilmember Kim Newton, and Councilmember Ken Taylor were absent. Staff present: City Manager Jack Thompson, City Attorney Marie Angela Flores Beck, Finance Director Brett Wolff, City Secretary Janet Bayer, and Chief of Police David Gilbreath. Visitors: Billy Beth Baker, Lisa Musick, Caleb Parks, Heather Barthelme, Susannah Mikulin, Chris Cooper, Karissa, Grady, and Zach Kocian, Slade Jecmenek, Tina Jecmenek, Jazlyn Torres, Sherri, Hector, and Mitchell Cervantez, John Pineda, Callie, Sara, Clint and Kacie Nichols, Melanie and Monica Janacek, Trey Dalton, Teresa von Rosenberg, Audrey Haynie, and many others. Mayor Jan Dockery called the meeting to order. Next were pledges to the US and Texas Flags. Councilmember Bryan Kerr gave the invocation. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS Mayor Dockery issued a Proclamation to the La Grange Leopards High School Band in recognition of their invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York on March 10th, 2025. The LGHS Band was one of six band ensembles invited to perform at Carnegie Hall, and they received a Gold Award, the highest honor. The students, faculty, parents, and community should be filled with pride for such an honored invitation and such a prestigious award. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. CONSENT AGENDA The first item under consent agenda was to discuss and/or consider approval of April 14, 2025, minutes. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Gross to approve April 14, 2025, minutes as presented. Motion carried 5-0. The second item was to discuss and/or consider appointing Deborah Bradley to the Main Street Advisory Board. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Zbranek to approve the appointment of Deborah Bradley to the Main Street Advisory Council. Motion carried 5-0. The third item was to discuss and/or consider appointing Fernando Gutierrez to the Main Street Advisory Board. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Gross to approve the appointment of Fernando Gutierrez to the Main Street Advisory Council. Motion carried 5-0. REGULAR AGENDA The first item under the regular agenda was to discuss and/or consider proposed street closures for Movie Nights on the Square in May and June. Motion Councilmember Gross, Second Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn to approve the proposed street closures for Movie Nights on the Square in May and June 2025. Motion carried 5-0. TOURISM COMMITTEE REPORT The second item was to discuss and/or consider allocation ofTourism Funds as recommended by the Tourism Grant Committee. The Tourism Grant Committee reviewed and considered ten (10) requests for funding under the Tourism Grant Program. The following applicants were recommended for funding Fayette County Fair Association $10,000 for marketing expenses, Juneteenth on the Square $2,650 for marketing/promotion of the arts, Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center $5,000 for marketing "May Fest", > Friends ofl Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill $6,400 for advertising Bluff Schuetzenfest, Texas Quilt Museum $8,200 for marketing/promotion of the arts, Bugle Boy Foundation $10,000 for promotion of the arts, Fayette County Sheriff's Posse Rodeo $10,000 for advertising the 2025 rodeo, Faison Preservation Society $2,940 for marketing 2 interpretive programs, Texas Heroes Museum $1,600 for advertising, and Colorado Valley Quilt Guild $4,000 for advertising the 2026 quilt show. A Motion was made by Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Busch to approve funding ten (10) applicants a total of $60,790 under the Tourism Grant Program for the March 31st application deadline. Motion carried 5-0. The third item was to discuss and/or consider the establishment of the La Grange Arts & Culture Fund with an initial contribution of $50,000.00 to the Fund from the City's Hotel Motel Tax Fund to be governed by the La Grange Arts Council in conjunction with the Greater Fayette Community Foundation Board of Directors. At the March 24, 2025, City Council meeting, the City Council received aj proposal to establish the La Grange Arts Council and create the La Grange Arts & Culture Fund in partnership with the Greater Fayette Community Foundation (GFCF). At that time, the City Council deferred action and directed the Tourism Grant Committee to review the agreement and make a recommendation. The Tourism Grant Committee met on April21, 2025, to consider the request. After discussion, the Committee voted to recommend that the City Council approve the formation of the La Grange Arts Council and allocate $50,000 from the city's Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) revenues to initiate the program. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Gross to approve the establishment oft the La Grange Arts & Culture Fund with an initial contribution of $50,000.00 to the Fund from the City's Hotel Motel Tax Fund to be governed by the La Grange Arts Council in conjunction with the Greater Fayette Community Foundation' S Board of Directors. Motion carried 4-1 with Councilmember Zbranek opposing. Councilmember Zbranek was not in opposition to the establishment ofthe La Grange Arts & Culture Fund in conjunction with the Greater Fayette Community Foundation, but to the use of Hotel Motel Tax funds to do SO. The fourth item was to discuss and/or consider authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Greater Fayette Community Foundation establishing the La Grange Arts & Culture Fund. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Kerr to authorize the mayor to execute an agreement with Greater Fayette Community Foundation establishing the La Grange Arts & Culture Fund. Motion carried 4-1 with Councilmember Zbranek opposing. The fifth item was to discuss and/or consider an annual contribution to the La Grange Economic Development Corporation Community Theatre project from Hotel/Motel tax revenue over a five-year period, beginning October 1, 2025. LGEDC has approved an agreement with the Fayette County Community Theatre (FCCT) to support the establishment of a permanent home for the organization in downtown La Grange. As part of the Economic Development Performance Agreement, the LGEDC will purchase the former Prause'sl Meat Market building located at 253 W. Travis Street and contribute funding toward building improvements to accommodate a performance venue. FCCT will be responsible for converting the space into a functioning theatre and for hosting regular events and performances. To support the project, LGEDC has requested assistance from the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) fund. The Tourism Grant Committee reviewed the request on April 21, 2025, and voted to reimburse the EDC eligible improvement expenses: $50,000 per year for years 1 through 4 and $37,500 in year 5. Motion Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, Second Councilmember Kerr to approve an annual contribution to the La Grange Economic Development Corporation Community Theatre project from Hotel/Motel tax revenue over a five-year period, beginning October 1, 2025. Motion carried 4-1 with Councilmember Zbranek opposing. Councilmember Zbranek was not in opposition to the La Grange Economic Development Corporation's Community Theatre project, but to the use of Hotel Motel Tax funds to do SO. City Council CommitearlyAdrson, Reports None. Staff Updates Chief of Police David G1lbreath stated Document Shred Day held on April 19th was a success with 4,000 pounds of documents being securely shredded. The annual MS150 bike ride held over the weekend, April 26th, ? went well with nearly 6,500 cyclists going through La Grange. Citizen Participation Under Citizen Participation, Teresa von Rosenberg spoke. Items of Community Interest The Fayette County Community Theatre has their play, a comedy, this weekend (May 2nd-May 4th) at the Sanford Schmid Amphitheater at the fairgrounds. At 6:32 PM as pursuant to Section (551.074) Personnel Matters, City Manager Performance evaluation, the La Grange City Council went into Closed Executive Session. At 7:41 PM, the City Council went into open Session. At 7:42 PM a Motion was made by Mayor Pro tem Weishuhn, with a Second by Councilmember Gross that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried 5-0. Janet Bayer, City Secretary These Minutes Approved by City Council on: Jan Dockery, Mayor