01-31-2014 Minutes-Special MeetingMINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY OF SCHERTZ SENIOR CENTER
January 31, 2014
A Special Meeting was held by the Schertz City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas, on January
31, 2014, at 1:00 p.m., in the City of Schertz Senior Center, 608 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas.
The following members present to -wit:
Mayor Michael Carpenter
Councilmember David Scagliola
Councilmember Cedric Edwards
Staff Present:
Executive Director Brian James
Mayor Pro -Tem Jim Fowler
Councilmember Daryl John
City Manager John Kessel
Executive Director John Bierschwale
City Secretary Brenda Dennis Deputy City Secretary Donna Schmoekel
Bob Cantu, Chief of Staff Senior Administrative Assistant Sandy Bryant
Director of Parks Recreation & Community Services George Logan
Special Guests:
Guadalupe County Judge Larry Jones Schertz Chamber President Maggie Titterington
Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation Debbie Madden
Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation Ken Lowery
Councilmember Matthew Duke was absent.
Call to Order
Mayor Carpenter called the Special Meeting to order at 1:05 p.m.
Invocation and Pledges of Allegiance to The Flags of The United States and The State of
Texas
Councilmember Jim Fowler provided the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of
the United States.
Welcome /Overview
• Discuss Activities and Programming of the Senior Center
Mayor Carpenter stated that the Schertz City Council came to an agreement to terminate the
existing contract between the City and the Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation. This
action was voted on and passed this past Tuesday, January 28, 2014, at the regular City
Council Meeting. Today, a special meeting has been called to discuss where we go from
here and how we are going to operate the center in the coming months ahead. Mayor
Carpenter thanked Debbie Madden from the Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation for
her work during the past several months.
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According to the terms of agreement the Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation will
officially cease to operate the Schertz Area Senior Center at midnight this coming Sunday,
February 2, 2014. The City leadership team will then officially take over. Those individuals
are Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services George Logan, Senior
Administrative Assistant Sandy Bryant and one other person. This will be a work in progress
and they will work closely with the Schertz Area Senior Center Advisory Council.
Mayor Carpenter took a moment to _recognize Guadalupe County Judge Lacy Jones who
grew up here in Schertz.
Mayor Carpenter recognized Director of Parks Recreation & Community Services George
Logan who stated that since September 2013, he has been working closely with the Senior
Center Advisory Committee members: President Debbie Pape, Nancy Scott, Roy Escobar,
Larry Gladu, and Shirley King.
Mr. Logan introduced President Debbie Pape who read the following:
Mission Statement: "We envision a community where everyone leads full, healthy, and
inspired lives."
Vision Statement: " Schertz Senior Center promotes healthy aging and well -being in our
community through programs, services, resources, and civic engagement."
Ms. Debbie Pape introduced Advisory Committee Member Nancy Scott who read the
following:
Goal 1: Keep the core of programs, services, and resources, while expanding or shifting
programming to remain relevant to members now and into the future.
Objective 1: Continue very strong emphasis on seniors.
Objective 2: Continue to serve as a place that the senior community gathers, centers its
resources, engages socially, and be a catalyst for action.
Objective 3: Build the Schertz Area Senior Center's ability to attract, serve, be responsive to,
and be enriched by the full diversity of the community.
Objective 4: Continue to be humble and responsive to the community.
Objective 5: Continue to combine forces and build strategic partnerships.
Goal 2: Secure financial resources to ensure the stability and sustainability of the Schertz
Area Senior Center.
Objective 1: Develop sustainable revenue streams.
Objective 2: Leverage very strong support from members and participants for an operations
budget.
Ms. Nancy Scott introduced Advisory Committee Member Roy Escobar who read the
following:
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Goal 3: Strengthen communication to educate the community and our own membership,
volunteers, and staff about all that the Schertz Area Senior Center offers and how we lead.
Objective 1: Strengthen internal communication and education about what we do (for
members, volunteers and staff).
Objective 2: Strengthen external communications.
Objective 3: Conduct a survey to foster communication with the current membership and the
community. .
Goal 4: Ensure that we are maximizing our assets, including staff, membership, volunteers,
and board members.
Objective 1: Enhance education with training and support for board, volunteers and staff.
Objective 2: Support staff and make jobs more sustainable.
Mr. Roy Escobar introduced Advisory Committee member Larry Gladu who read the
following:
Goal 5: Contribute to and engage with the community for future growth, using the skills and
strengths of our seniors.
Objective 1: Maximize volunteer capacity to serve the Schertz Area Senior Center.
Objective 2: Build the civic engagement of our constituency so that they may enrich the
community.
Objective 3: Advocate for seniors and building the strength of the community.
• Citizen input and questions
Advisory Committee Member Nancy Scott asked if anyone had any questions or comments.
Ms. Scott asked the members for a show of hands for those that were in agreement with the
proposed goals and objectives as previously read. She then stated to let the record show the
vote as being unanimous. Ms. Scott recognized several other individuals who spoke up
regarding concerns about how to get participation from the surrounding areas of Cibolo,
Selma, and Marion and how to get information out to them.
Mayor Carpenter responded that part of this effort could be accomplished through two
organizations: 1) the Northeast Partnership, and 2) The Guadalupe County Mayors
Association. These two organizations connect to at least 14 other cities. Director of Parks
Recreation and Community Services George Logan will arrange to funnel this information
back down to the members of the Senior Center. Mayor Carpenter also stated he would ask
the City Secretary's office to put a discussion item on the city agenda in the next couple of
weeks regarding the possibility of forming a Citizen Advisory Committee much like what
has already been established. This committee would be similar to other City Boards already
in existence and it would report to and advise Council of items of concern to the Senior
Center. This would then be promulgated on the City website, Schertz Magazine, and
anywhere else that will garner us publicity..
Mayor Carpenter stated that for now the Senior Center has been temporarily funded to
maintain basic operations and everyone will need to assist in the future to find resources and
begin building it back from the ground up. Restaurants are currently being contacted to try to
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arrange a $4 charge for supplying daily meals as regularly as possible. The City will make
every effort to continue to honor any prepaid lunch cards and membership dues.
Other questions were answered regarding activities,such as membership fees, sponsoring
events such as dances and short trips, building maintenance, hiring a new onsite Coordinator,
the operation of a Thrift store, craft/bake sales and other events for fundraising purposes.
Executive Director of Development Brian James stated that the goal is for staff to make a
sustainable plan for the future, one to several years out, take this to Council and provide
Council options on how to get there. A public hearing will be held_ and hopefully a large
number of senior members will attend to voice their feelings and provide some direction to
Council of where we all want to go with this.
Another question was asked regarding the possibility of getting any future grant money.
Mayor Carpenter stated that George Logan is going to look into that possibility. A second
question was in regard to how we can get the business community to support the Senior
Center. He stated Maggie Titterington from the Schertz Chamber of Commerce will be able
to assist in this area. A representative from Health Link, Rachel Amezquita, was also in the
audience and she stated her employer will definitely be a future contributor to addressing the
Schertz Area Senior Center needs.
More questions and suggestions were offered regarding fund raising possibilities such as
having raffles or hosting a gambling night. However, since gambling is not legal in Texas, it
could not have any funds associated with it.
City Manager John Kessel spoke stating the Senior Center needs to be a first class operation.
We need an annual budget and funding to know what we have on hand. Fundraising by
membership can augment this budgeted amount. The City will provide the basic foundation
(the needs) and the fundraising can take care of the rest (the wants).
In answer to another question, Mayor Carpenter stated that all of the City contracts with
WellMed and the other current renters of the building are still in tact.
A senior center member wanted to know how the separation from the Comal County Senior
Citizens Foundation happened. Mayor Carpenter responded that a large group of folks
petitioned the City to do something on September 17, 2013. Subsequently, at a public
hearing the Council instructed staff to begin negotiating a separation agreement.
In conclusion, Mayor Carpenter asked esch Councihnember present to say a few words
regarding their support for this project. Guadalupe County Judge Larry Jones also promised
his support towards bringing the Senior Center forward by following through on anything
Mayor Carpenter and the Council requested of him.
Thanks again were given to the Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation participants, Mr.
Ken Lowery and Ms. Debbie Maddon, the current Schertz Area Senior Center Advisory
Committee, City Councihnembers, and Schertz Chamber of Commerce President Maggie
Titterington.
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Mayor Carpenter stated that while we were having the meeting, Ms. Titterington secured
lunches for Monday from Quiznos and Tuesday from HEB.
Adjournment
As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2.11
Mayor, Michael R. Carpenter
T:
City Secretary, Brenda Dennis `
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