ccwks 01-11-06
e MINUTES
Workshop Session
January 11, 2006
The Schertz City Council convened in Workshop Session on Wednesday, January
11, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 1400 Schertz
Parkway Building #4, Schertz, Texas. The following members were present: Mayor
Hal Baldwin presiding, Council Members Carl Douglas, John Trayhan, Reginna
Agee, Tony Wilenchik and Michael Carpenter. City Manager Don Taylor, Asst.
City Manager John Bierschwale and Judy Tokar City Secretary
#1 CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Baldwin called to meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
#2 HEARING OF RESIDENTS:
Johnie McDow, 2832 Redbud Circle, reported registration starts end of January and
opening day for the baseball season is March 25, 2006.
Robert Brockman, 1000 Elbel Road, asked about how much property is on Live Oak
e Road that the City purchased.
Report from Ford Engineering and discussion regarding the revised FEMA
#3
map.
Mr. Taylor said the City received the revised FEMA map and Ford Engineering has
conducted their review. He explained that after major flooding and claims are filed
FEMA sends engineering firms to conduct on-site inspections. The results of the revision
by FEMA have included many properties that had never had flooding. The City has 28
days to respond to FEMA with the proper documentation to either reject or approve their
study. The City has made corrections in many of these areas that staff feels does not
justified being included in the flood plains.
Mr. Dublin said there were 3 milestones in the process, I) 30 day administrative review
period to allow for corrections, 2) public meeting of staff and citizens for FEMA to
justify map, and 3) technical data to rebuke study to establish the City's position. They
are requesting raw data from FEMA to see how they did the study. Mr. Dublin
understands the City can ask for a stay in FEMA's flood plain study.
Mr. Taylor asked if the railroad bridge and the extra fill in the creek is causing additional
major flooding problems. Mr. Dublin responded that about 25% of flooding has been
caused by the bridge reconstruction and fill.
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Wkshop Session Jan. 11, 2006 64
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#4 Report and discussion on FEMA Project 3.2E-02C-l.
Ms. Madison said the final report to FEMA regarding the FEMA-1257-DR
Channelization project for the City of Schertz was completed. The project took nearly 2
~ years to complete. The original grant for the project was $4.5 million divided into
Phase I & II. The City finally received an additional $921,974 award based on unmet
needs due to the cost overruns and the additional expenses accepted from Phase I. The
City's cost was $1 million.
#5 Discussion of Certified Tax Roll for the Year 2005.
Ms. Boggess explained the effect the tax freeze had on the certified tax roll. The
estimated loss to revenue was $47,732.00. She explained the report line by line provided
by the County that required approval from the Council. It will be on the next regular
agenda for action.
#6 Discussion on the designation of the Emergency Health Authority renewal.
Mr. Dudley Wait said the agreement is to utilize Dr. Mario Guerra with the Metropolitan
Health District as our Public Health Authority during times of emergency as declared by
the Mayor in our emergency preparedness plan. Mr. Wait said it is valuable service e
available to the City. There is no expense to the City. The agreement will be considered
for action at the next regular meeting.
#7 Discussion on planning's department procedures regarding public notifications.
Mr. Taylor said that he is satisfied with the process that the staff has been following for
notifying the property owners in zoning cases. Staff has been using this method for the
past 3 years. The applicant provides the list of addresses and the staff verifies the
addresses against the current Guadalupe County appraisal rolls. The property does not
get on the appraisal rolls until January I of the each year that may cause a delay
verification of some properties. Ms. McBeth, Planning Director said a new system has
now been implemented in the planning department, they access the information on the
appraisal district website and are look at purchasing a GIS mapping system.
#8 RESOLUTION: Discussion on resolution creating a Parks and Recreation
Advisory Board and providing for the Purpose, Organization, Appointment and
Duties of the Board.
Ms. Douglas said the advisory board has been discussed for over a year. She feels
because of the park and recreation expansions, the park department needs a citizen
advisory board to assist in planning, improving and developing these facilities. Mr. Spain e
Wkshop Session Jan. 11,2006 65
e has drafted a resolution to create the board and define its' duties. Councilmember
Douglas suggested a minor change to the resolution.
#9 Discussion on proposal to create City Community Service Award.
Ms. Gildea, Public Information Officer, said that this award was created to honor those
individuals in the community that volunteer many hours and work to make our City a
better place to live. Ms. Gildea feels that they need to be recognized and hopefully
encourage others to become more involved in the community. It is not an expensive
program to operate and maybe will build a larger volunteer base. There will be I winner
and 3 runner-ups for the award.
Council agreed this was a great idea and thanked Ms. Gildea for her contribution.
#10 Discussion on the submitted LCRA Grant for park in Northcliffe.
Mr. Taylor said the LCRA grant was submitted by Ms. Swan. The City's contribution is
$33,571.00 along with a $2,000 in-kind donation by the City. The city staff was not
aware of the changes to the grant until after Ms. Swan had submitted it.
Councilmember Wilenchik pointed out that originally the LCRA grant was for $100,000
and the actual submittal amount changed to $49,938.00 and a match of committed funds
from other sources. The previous grant figures were different than were approved by
e Council but it was the consensus of the Council they did not have a problem with those
changes.
#11 Discussion on the Fire Department's donation of surplus equipment.
Mr. Taylor said the fire department had a surplus of air packs and the Fire Chief would
like to donate the equipment to Clermont Harbor Volunteer Fire Department in
Mississippi who had lost all their equipment in the recent hurricane. Chief Friesenhahn
reported they had sold all but 14 units and attempted to advertise with no response in 2
months. The fire department was in desperate need for any equipment that they could
get.
#12 Discussion on the 2006 General Election Service contract with Guadalupe
County.
Ms. Tokar said this is a basic contract with the County with several minor changes.
There will be additional units at the polling place, and extended voting hours on the last
two days of early voting. Ms. Tokar said the contract cost is very reasonable stating that
Mr. Perez, County Election Administrator, tries to make the election cost expenses fair.
The contract will be an action item on the next agenda.
#13 Discussion on publishing Council action in Schertz Tales or other
e communication medias.
Wkshop Session Jan. 11,2006 66
Debbie Gildea, Public Information Officer provided the Council with a mock up e
newsletter to show the entire minutes from one meeting taking up 5 pages and action
items minutes taking up 3 pages. She asked for better guidance on what the Council
wanted. Mr. Taylor recommended that action minutes be accomplished by a summary
so the public will get the complete facts on how the Council voted. There would be a
delay in publishing the minutes in the newsletter because of the time when the minutes
are approved and until actual publication.
Mayor Baldwin asked has there been a lot of demand for the minutes to be made
available or it is only serving a few citizens. At the next regular meeting, the item will be
on the agenda for action.
#14 Items by City Manager Taylor and Staff
Mr. Bierschwale said the Northeast Partnership meeting is Thursday. The parking lot at
the Council Chambers' will be repaved.
#15 Items by Council
General Announcements
Councilmember Douglas:
. Requested amending resolution and ordinance regarding the City Council e
Code of Conduct so not to conflict with the City Charter
. Recommended Council move forward on funding the library and make the
library top priority.
Mayor Pro-Tony Wilenchik:
. Reported action taken at the Planning and Zoning meeting
. Asked about the Northcliffe meeting in Austin.
. Contacted Commissioner Wolverton about Dietz Road regarding the
complaints about the paving surface. It is a County Road to be turned
over to City of Cibolo.
Councilmember Carpenter:
. Attended meeting with the homeowners near Metro Ambulance about the
fencing and other problems, Mr. Truitt assisting him.
. School District addressing gym usage fees
Councilmember Trayhan: No Comment
Councilmember Agee: No Comment.
#16 Items by Mayor - No Comment.
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e #17 ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Baldwin adjourned the meeting at 9:21 p.m. /.. ..... / .
(;1 il~
Hal Baldwin, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Wkshop Session Jan. 11,2006 68