ccreg 05-02-06
MINUTES
REGULAR SESSION
MAY 2, 2006
The Schertz City Council convened in Regular Session on Tuesday, May 2,2006 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 and City Attorney, Michael Spain.
#1 CALL TO ORDER.
Mayor Baldwin called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
#2 HEARING OF RESIDENTS.
Sharon Pennington announced the Miss Schertz Sweetheart contest on May 5, 2006 at
6:30 p.m. If anyone was attending must reply by May 3rd. The Schertz Youth
Commission did not receive enough applications to fill all positions and the closing date
is being extended one more week.
Mayor Baldwin congratulated Ms. Pennington for her role in the "Meet the Candidate"
night.
Robert Brockman. 1000 Elbel Road, reported County Judge lifted the bum ban; the City
of Seguin joined a coalition with other entities to protect water rights. He visited the
Library to view the Charter Amendment and Bond Issue, thought the City did not provide
access to the documents.
Don McBride, 1024 Crimson Cove, owner of Zone Jet Network of Schertz, said his
company is installing high-speed wireless Internet service in the City of Schertz. His
company can offer variety of wireless systems and is anxious to service the City and
residences.
#3 RECOGNITION OF AMY MADISON FOR DESIGNATION AS
CERTIFIED ECONOMIC DEVELOPER FROM THE INTERNATIONAL
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.
Mayor Baldwin recoguized Mrs. Madison and read a letter from IEDC for her
accomplishment of the desiguation as certified Economic Developer from the
International Economic Development Council. Mrs. Madison's family was present.
Mrs. Madison thanked the Council, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Bierschwale and her assistants, Erin
Matlock and Jonette Ellis, for giving her the opportunity to continue her education.
#4 INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEE: Police Department.
Regular Session May 2, 2006 177
Chief Starr introduced Officer Ernest Spradling to the City Council and citizens.
#5 PROCLAMATION: WEEK OF APRIL30-MAY 6, 2006 AS MUNICIPAL
CLERKS WEEK.
Mayor Baldwin read the proclamation and presented it to Judy Tokar, City Secretary and
Mary Ybarra, Deputy City Secretary. The proclamation declares the week of April 30-
May 6 as Municipal Clerks Week.
#6 CONSENT AGENDA:
The following items may be acted upon in one motion. No separate discussion or
action is necessary unless requested by the Mayor or a Councilmember, in which
event those items will be pulled for separate consideration:
A. Approve minutes of workshop of February 8, and February 15, 2006 and
regular meeting of March 21,2006.
B. Approve reciting the Texas Pledge following the United States Pledge of
Allegiance in regular Council meetings.
Council Member Douglas made a motion, seconded by Council Member Trayhan to
approve the consent agenda. The vote was as follows:
AYES: Council Members Douglas, Trayhan, Agee, Wilenchik and Carpenter.
NAY: None.
#7 Discussion and action to adopt "The Modem Ru1es of Order", Second Edition,
for conducting Council meetings.
Mr. Spain said an ordinance would be necessary to change the conduct and procedures of
Council meetings. He explained that the "Modem Rules of Order" is simpler than the
Robert Rules of Order.
Councilmember Wilenchik is not in favor of changing and thinks we are focusing more
on the process instead of the subsistent. He understood why we are doing it but unless
the Council follows it at every meeting and not just when it needs to.
Councilmember Carpenter believes it is a good tool for the Council to use and suggested
that the Code of Conduct be reviewed at the same time.
Councilmember Douglas said there is conflict in the ordinance that governs the Council
policies and procedures and Code of Conduct. The Council asked that Mr. Spain review
the applicable documents when amending the ordinance and provide copies of the
"Modem Rules of Order" before the next meeting.
#8 Discussion on winter sewer averaging.
Regular Session May 2, 2006 178
Mr. Taylor said the winter sewer averaging is set by CCMA and there is a meeting
scheduled with the local entities to discuss the method used and ask them to change their
policies.
Councilmember Wilenchik asked that this discussion be put on the agenda because of
concerns from his colleagues and complaints from citizens about bills ranging from 50%
to 100% increase in the sewer rates. He questioned if did the City adequately notify the
citizens in advance about the rate change.
Mr. Taylor said notification was in the newspaper but did not get in the Schertz Tales in
time.
Mr. Bierschwale explained that CCMA sets the policy based on their customers'
consumption. The City of Schertz tried to get cooperation from the other cities that were
customers of CCMA but there were only a few responses from other cities. The winter
average water usage is 7,060 gallon that is a citywide average. The customer's bill can
be adjusted if there is a problem such as foundation issue or other circumstances. A fair
method would be for CCMA to charge per toilets not by the water usage.
Mayor Baldwin thought the City should had taken more responsibility to let the citizens
know what they needed to do, to be aware of the three-month winter averaging.
Council agreed to discuss at the next workshop and obtain more information from staff.
#9 Discussion on the publication of election notices.
Mr. Bierschwale explained the Charter Amendments and bond propositions were
published in the Schertz Tales, posted on the website, and ordinances available at the
Library and in the City Secretary's office and posted on the City's bulletin boards.
#10 Items by City Manager Taylor and Staff
General Announcements
Mr. Taylor said starting May 5th FM 3009 will be overlaid, completion date in mid
August, engineer parking study scheduled FM 78 and Lone Oak, Congressman Lamar
Smith said his office was not aware the Schertz Post Office was being done away with,
and that all available funds were to be used to rebuild post offices that were destroyed by
Hurricane Katrina.
#11 Items by Council
General Announcements
Councilmember Douglas
. Thanked the Chamber for the "Meet the Candidate" night.
. Asked if the City had finalized obtaining cots and blankets for emergency use
Councilmember Trayhan
Regular Session May 2, 2006 179
. Also heard good comments on the Chamber sponsored "Meet the Candidate"
night.
Councilmember Agee
No comment.
Mayor Pro Tem Wilenchik
. Reported on the Planning and Zoning meeting:
. Kevin Grant was deployed to military service, his position on P&Z will be held
for him
. Public Hearing was held on the sign ordinance
. Briefing was given on the FMll 03 right of way expansion
. Doggie Dash was a big success, thanked Mr. Taylor and Councilmernber for
Carpenter attending, 212 runners participated,
. Presentation by the Humane Society at the May 16th Council meeting to recognize
those involved.
. Attending LCRA Public Funds workshop on May 18th
Councilmember Carpenter
. Thanked Ms. Pennington for her contribution to the "Meet the Candidate"
. Reported on the elcction voter turnout fignres
#12 Items by Mayor
General Armouncements
. Asked Mr. Biershwale how a resident was going to exist
Mayor Baldwin closed the open meeting at 8:34 p.m.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Called under Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code,
Sub-Section 551.071 on Consultant with Attorney.
Action, if any on above subject of the Executive Session.
No action was taken.
Mayor Pro Tern Wilenchik reconvened the meeting at 9:20 p.m.
#13 ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:23 p.m.
Regular Session May 2, 2006 180
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Attest:
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Regular Session May 2, 2006 181