Loading...
11-20-2017 MinutesMINUTES SPECIAL MEETING November 20, 2017 A Special Meeting was held by the Schertz City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas, on November 20, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. in the Hal Baldwin Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Building #4, Schertz, Texas. The following members present to -wit: Mayor Michael Carpenter Councilmember Mark Davis Councilmember Scott Larson Councilmember Angelina Kiser Councilmember Elect David Scagliola Staff Present: Executive Director Brian James Assistant to City Manager Sarah Gonzalez Call to Order — City Council Special Session Mayor Pro -Tem Cedric Edwards Councilmember Ralph Gutierrez Councilmember Robin Thompson Councilmember Bert Crawford City Manager John Kessel City Attorney Charles Zech City Secretary Brenda Dennis Mayor Carpenter called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Opening Prayer and Pledges of Allegiance to the Flags of the United States and State of Texas. ( Councilmember Crawford) Councilmember Crawford provided the opening prayer followed by the pledges of allegiance to the flags of the United States and the State of Texas. Mayor Carpenter welcomed Schertz - Cibolo- Universal City Independent School District Board Trustees Mr. Gary Inmon and Mr. Robert Westbrook who were in the audience. Mayor Carpenter welcomed Cibolo Councilmember Elect Member Mr. Joel Hicks and Cibolo Mayor Elect Stosh Boyle. Mayor Carpenter welcomed former Councilmembers Mr. Jim Fowler, Mr. Carl Douglas and Mr. Grumpy Azzoz. Mayor Carpenter welcomed Dr. Scagliola who is newly elected and elected back to the City Council this evening. 1. Resolution No. 17 -R -106 — Consideration and/or action approving a Resolution canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the November 7, 2017 General Election; and other matters in connection therewith. (M. Carpenter/B. Dennis) The following was read into record: 11 -20 -2017 Minutes Page - 1 - RESOLUTION NO. 17 -R -106 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS, APPROVING THE CANVASS OF THE NOVEMBER 7, 2017 GENERAL ELECTION (. AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF SUCH ELECTION Mayor Carpenter recognized City Secretary Brenda Dennis who provided the following information regarding the official results of the November 7, 2017 General and Special Election: Early Voting Election Day I Comal / Comal / Total Votes Bexar Guadalupe Bexar Guadalupe Cast Citv Council Place 3 Scott Larson 24 788 36 477135 Dani Salas 13 384 29 253 679 Council Place 4 Cedric Edwards 1 35 1 1045 1 52 1 653 City Council Place 5 David L. Sca liola 22 631 27 403 0$_ Robin Thomason 17 572 39 353 981 Ms. Dennis stated that with these results, Scott Larson is re- elected to City Council Place 3, Cedric Edwards is re- elected to City Council Place 4 and David Scagliola is elected to City Council Place 5. Roll Call Vote Confirmation Mayor Carpenter recognized City Secretary Brenda Dennis who provided the roll call votes for item 1. Mayor Carpenter stated that before he entertains a motion he stated that he would also like to thank all those here that ran and did not prevail; thank you for stepping forward in choosing to be a part of the process. Mayor Carpenter recognized Councilmember Thompson who moved, seconded by Mayor Pro -Tem Edwards to approve Resolution No. 17 -R -106 canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the General and Special Election. The vote was unanimous with Mayor Pro - 11-20 -2017 Minutes Page - 2 - Tem Edwards, Councilmembers Davis, Gutierrez, Larson, Thompson, Kiser and Crawford voting for and no one voting no. Motion passed. Mayor Carpenter stated that before we administer the oaths of office our Charter compels us always at Council meetings give an opportunity to speak and opened it up to the public to address Council. Mayor Carpenter recognized the following who spoke: Former Councilmember Jim Fowler, 1057 Boxer Pass, who stated when he looks at the seven member of Council he knows it's been a learning experience for everyone to work together. Mr. Fowler stated that he had to admit with Dr. Scagliola started to run for Council he thought that there is not a very good track record running against an incumbent, but he pulled it off. Mr. Fowler thanked Scott for running and remembers sitting down with him when he was thinking about running and thinks he is fmding that it is a little different than what he thought. He reminded Scott that there are six other members and you learn together. You learn to compromise and learn to know when to make your stand, and that is for the citizens. Mr. Fowler addressed Cedric commenting 'on not having an opponent and that he lucked out. He mentioned that while he was on Council he was one of the ones he looked to. They became friends and had prayer time together and continues to do so. Mr. Fowler stated that he is glad Council still opens with prayer. Mr. Fowler wished everyone great success. Mr. Carl Douglas, 2550 Woodland Village Place, who address council stating that he was one of the first Councilmembers to meet in this building and at the time there were only five members. He stated it has now expanded to seven, if it is not what you want it to be, stay the course and you can get it to be what you want it to be. It is not necessarily what you want it to be, you are representing the citizens of the City of Schertz. Listen to them, do what they say, it may not be exactly what you want but the art of compromise comes in, they can put you in and they can take you out. Pay attention to the citizens, and if it is not what you want in conjunction with the citizens, you can get there. All you have to do is work among yourself and it will happen. • Cibolo Mayor Elect Stosh Boyle, who congratulated all those elected and stated he is looking forward to working with the Council and extends open arms. • Cibolo Council Elect Joel Hicks, who also congratulated everyone and is looking forward to working together with open arms and this community. He also looks forward to working with the School District. Mayor Carpenter stated that at this time he would like to open it up for Council to have an opportunity prior to the Oaths of office and then after he will open it up to those that were sworn in. Mayor Carpenter recognized the following members of Council: Councilmember Ralph Gutierrez who stated that as we bid farewell it is difficult to say good bye to a colleague. He stated that you have been a pillar to our community with unwavering support and encouragement. Your time and efforts have made the City of Schertz a better 11 -20 -2017 Minutes Page - 3 - place to live. The city appreciates your exceptional dedication to our community and he sincerely wishes him continued success in his endeavors. This was read towards Councilmember Thompson. • Councilmember Larson thanked the citizens of Schertz for the opportunity to continue to serve. To Councilmember Thompson he wants to say thank you for your time and faithful service and the wonderful things he has done for the community. He stated we will miss you and to Dr. Scagliola we are excited to have you join the team. The best days of Schertz are still ahead of us. • Mayor Pro -Tem Edwards who stated it is always good to see change come about. Seeing the changes happening in Cibolo and changes happening around the community, not just in our city but for the growth of the whole region. He appreciates the change. To Councilmember Thompson, thank you for your service as well. • Councilmember Thompson who stated it has been a great honor to sit up on the Council for three years. You learn that we have a tremendous community. Our citizens are the best around and it is truly an honor to have served them. He offered his congratulations to Dr. Scagliola who ran a very good campaign. He would in particular offer his accommodations to his wife. He believes she set a role model and example on how a spouse can support a candidate, a very positive example of that. He mentioned as a final thought, one of the things that he has learned is that we have an excellent staff and leadership team in the City of Schertz. Our employees deserve the best, they are a tremendous group of employees and staff to work with and would continue to encourage this Council to work with them in a way that brings out the best in them and in you. • Councilmember Kiser who stated whenever there is an election she considers it an opportunity. Its an opportunity for more residents to get involved and what we saw with the two out of the three positions having an opponent, we are seeing more involvement from the citizens and residents of the City of Schertz. As we move forward she thinks they are going to do well, the Council, they do represent the people of Schertz as Mr. Fowler stated earlier. She looks forward to working with everyone again, including the surrounding cities. She wished Councilmember Thompson good luck and congratulations to Dr. Scagliola. • Councilmember Crawford who addressed newly elected Mayor of Cibolo Stosh Boyle and newly elected Councilmember Joel Hicks thanking them for showing up this evening. This is a good sign that we want to work together. He is thankful for those who came out to vote this year, and wished we would have more, but that is the function of off year elections and not national elections. For all those who didn't you have a chance again next year. Mayor Carpenter congratulated each of those who were reelected and elected. Mayor Carpenter thanked Councilmember Thompson for his service. Mayor Carpenter stated that every person who stands forth and chooses to serve their community in elected office, and he will speak from personal experience, you find out quickly after you are first elected. that there are many things that you thought and they not quite what you thought they were. Many things that you find that you didn't know, and you thought you perhaps you did. There are many things that you continue to learn throughout the entire time that you serve. It is an extraordinary gift of time. It is incredibly time consuming and it is an act of giving to the community to stand forth. It's not always fund. 11 -20 -2017 Minutes Page - 4 - He stated to tell you the truth, when you sit in an elected office you will have people who will not like what you do, or you personally. You will not be able to please everyone all the time, its an impossibility, and that makes it a challenge, but it's a great challenge. Pushing through that is a difficult thing to do sometimes. To Councilmember Thompson for stepping fourth to choosing to serve your community, for the time you have given to the City on behalf of all the residents, the staff and this Council and his family, thank you and he appreciates your service very much. Mayor Carpenter turned the meeting back over to the City Secretary to provide the Oaths of Office. 2. Oath of Office — (B. Dennis) A. Newly Elected Officers — Oath of Office. (B. Dennis) Mayor Carpenter recognized City Secretary Brenda Dennis who provided the oaths of office to newly City Officials Council Place 3 Scott Larson, Council Place 4 Cedric Edwards, Council Place 5 David L. Scagliola. B. Certificate of Election — Presentation of Certificate of Election. (Mayor Carpenter) Mayor Carpenter City Secretary Brenda Dennis presented the newly elected officials City Council Places 3, 4 and 5, with their individual certificates of election. Councilmember David Scagliola took his place on the dais. Mayor Carpenter stated he will come back to each Councilmember that has been sworn in the opportunity to address the Council and citizens. Mayor Carpenter recognized Mayor Pro -Tem Edwards who stated that it has been a privilege to serve. It is all made possible by many of the citizens but also wants to say that his wife and his children have been his backbone through this whole process. He is extremely excited to have his wife and daughter in the audience and thanked them. He thanked everyone for their support. Mayor Carpenter recognized Councilmember Scagliola who stated he lost his election three years ago and that was bitter sweet. But when one door closes another door opens and he was able to devote a lot of time to another pursuit of his and he accomplished that goal. Last year he ran to get back on this elected body and things have changed, it changed a lot. He learned that campaigning in the City of 10,000 registered voters is a whole lot different in trying to campaign in a City of over 20,000 voters. At that time the campaign turned political as well, and for the record he does not like politics. He knows it is strange coning from someone sitting up here, but he doesn't like politics. He does not have a lot of respect for people who want to play politics. He started thinking to himself well, if you can't handle the heat, stay out of the kitchen. Don't get involved in the political process if you don't want to get involved in politics. But you can't teach an old dog new tricks, an old crew dog. He has learned some new tricks. He learned how to get reengaged in the political process without comprising his integrity. The most important thing he learned is that together everyone accomplishes more. Team work. He stated it turns out he has a lot 11 -20 -2017 Minutes Page - 5 - of friends, he thanked those that showed up this evening. He also thanked his family. He thinks it is interesting that some of his friends do not get along with his other friends, that's ok because they found something that could bring them.together. They shared a common belief, they believed in him. They believed that he could make a positive difference in the city once again. They came out and supported him, gave him encouragement. They encouraged him to go above and beyond what he even thought he was able to accomplish. In away this is their victory every bit as it is his. He is sitting in this seat now and he remembers a long time ago that he made a pledge to the residents of the city. He will make another one now, and he wrote this one down. He pledges to use his skills and experiences to represent you the residents of this City. As we embrace the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow and remembering the traditions of the past. He stated the last time he made a pledge he believes he lived up to it. He asked do you think he will live up to this one? His answer was yes. He will do his best. Mayor Carpenter thanked Councihnember Scagliola once again. As there was no further business, Mayor Carpenter mentioned that there are refreshments back in the conference room for those who would like to stay and take photos. He again thanked those for joining us particularly the newly elected officials, the former elected officials and currently elected officials that are serving us and all the guests. Adi ournment Mayor Carpenter adjourned the meeting at 6:28 p.m. chael R. Carpenter, Mayor ATTEST � � J Brenda Dennis, City Secretary 11 -20 -2017 Minutes Page - 6 -