09-18-2018 Minutes special HOAMINUTES
SPECIAL SESSION CITY COUNCIL
SCIIERTZ HOA PRESIDENTS MEETING_
September 18, 2018
A Special Session Meeting with Council and the Schertz HOA Presidents Meeting was held by the
Schertz City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas, on September 18, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. at the
Schertz Civic Center — Bluebonnet Room, Building #5, Schertz, Texas. The following members
present to -wit:
Mayor Michael Carpenter
Councilmember Mark Davis
Councilmember Bert Crawford
Mayor Pro -Tem David Scagliola
Councilmember Ralph Gutierrez
Councilmembers Edwards, Larson and Kiser were absent
Staff Present: Acting City Manager Brian James
Executive Director Dudley Wait Assistant to the City Manager Sarah Gonzalez
City Secretary Brenda Dennis Assistant Police Chief Marc Bane
Special Projects Officer Helen Lafitte EMS Director Jason Mabbitt
City Engineer Kathy Woodlee Fire Chief Kade Long
Planning & Community Development Director Lesa Wood
Water/Wastewater Manager Doug Letbetter
Meet and Greet — Call to Order (6:30 p.m.)
Mayor Carpenter called the Special meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.
Welcome and Introduction
Mayor Michael Carpenter/Mayor Pro -Tem David Scagliola
Introduction of Council. (Mayor Carpenter)
Mayor Carpenter welcomed everyone in attendance and introduced those members of Council
who were present. Mayor Carpenter read the following message from Councilmember
Edwards:
Greetings,
"I really wanted to be in attendance for this meeting since it was my idea. However, my
employer had other plans for my advanced training initiatives.
I pray this meeting will give you as HOA presidents an open forum to tell us, as civic leaders,
where you have seen particularly troubling areas in our. community. -
It also gives you a chance to disseminate information back to your residents. WE ARE
ENGAGED, AND WE ARE LISTENING! If we have things we have done well, please feel free
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to let us know.
I've always said that YOU, our citizens are the eyes, ears, and truly the heartbeat of this
community. You need to know your council members are open and receptive to your feedback
and any dialogue provided.
Again, Tonight's meeting is a great start to many more conversations to keep our community
safe, attractive, engaged, and sustainable. "
In his service,
Councilman Cedric Edwards Sr.
P. S Go Army Beat Navy!
Mayor Carpenter recognized each councilmember present and asked them to speak and
welcome everyone. The councilmembers spoke about leadership, good communication and
citizen feedback, community /neighborhood challenges and other interactions.
Presentations:
• Community Crime Mapping (Police Department)
Mayor Carpenter recognized Schertz Police Department Officer Helen Lafitte - Special
Projects Unit - who reminded everyone that National Night out is coming up the first week
in October and to communicate with her if they wished to participate this year.
She stated that the City Police Department and LexisNexis have partnered together to give
area residents the opportunity to be more informed about reported criminal activity in their
neighborhoods and their city as a whole.
The crime map is updated each night with new data from the Police Department's- records
system.
The Community Crime Map shows crimes in and around the Schertz area and allows
visitors to sign up to receive crime alerts and neighborhood watch email reports of reported
incidents in their neighborhood from the Schertz Police Department.
Visitors can choose to receive the em ails daily, weekly or monthly with the options for a
specific distance and time to receive the emails.
Deep in mind, this map only shows those incidents where a report is generated and
forwarded to an Investigator. This will NOT show incidents when only a Call For Service
(CFS) is issued or an arrest warrant is conducted.
A CFS is when an Officer makes a location and the reporting party does not need/want a
report or the reporting party has chosen to remain anonymous (Crime Stop). Some
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examples of CFS can include a minor accident where no report is generated due to location
or damage amount; city code violation where possibly a solicitor does not have a permit; or
a traffic stop.
Officer Lafitte demonstrated how this communication tool works. Officer Lafitte and
Executive Director Dudley Wait addressed various questions including unwanted home
solicitation.
• Code Enforcement Flyer (Police Department)
Mayor Carpenter recognized Executive Director Dudley Wait who spoke briefly about the
recent changes made in the Code Enforcement Division stating they are also known as
Environmental Health. A Code Enforcement pamphlet was handed out to the audience
providing various examples of violations (illegal dumping, bandit signs, high weed and
grass, overgrown tree limbs, outdoor storage, front/side yard parking, inoperable vehicles,
and obstructions on public sidewalks or a right -of -way. This information is also available
on the website as demonstrated by Officer Lafitte. Complaints can be reported to 311 or the
Code Enforcement unit directly.
Officer Helen Lafitte and Executive Director Dudley Wait addressed questions and
comments regarding standing ' water, bandit signs, illegal dumping, drainage issues,
stagnant high weeds /grass, mosquito control, permits /inspections. In general, the Code
Enforcement Officers strive to get volunteer compliance rather than execute enforcement.
• Month Major Projects Update (Public Works/Engineering)
Mayor Carpenter recognized City Engineer Kathy Woodlee and Water/Wastewater
Manager Doug Letbetter Who provided information on where they can fmd updates on
projects (engineering, parks, public works, and facilities projects) on the Schertz website.
They also provide regular updates to Council in a written document on the first council
meeting of each month, which is also on the website in the `Agenda with backup' packet.
She stated as more projects begin, they will put updates on the website. Ms. Woodlee and
Executive Director Dudley Wait addressed questions /comments from the audience.
• Ways the City Communicates: E- Newsletter, Social Media, Schertz Magazine, City
Website (Public Affairs)
Mayor Carpenter recognized Assistant to the City Manager Sarah Gonzalez who provided
information on the ways the City communicates with their main external customers. A
popular one is the Schertz Magazine which is produced by the city staff and mailed to over
12,000 local households, and over 1,000 local businesses each month. They also are trying
to increase their digital options. Other ways are through the electronic newsletter, the city
website and social media. She stated the newsletter is sent twice monthly and includes
information regarding local city /parks events, the recent adopted city budget, misc. items.
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She stated the city website was redesigned in the fall of 2017 and is now more user
friendly. You can create an account on it and it also has updated information regarding
meetings and events. Lastly, is their social media. It is a very timely communication for
city meetings, events and cancellations.
• What's Developing in Schertz Interactive Map (Planning and Community Development)
Mayor Carpenter recognized Director of Planning and Community Development Lesa.
Wood who provided information and a demonstration on ways citizens can see what is
developing through the city's interactive mapping software which shows the larger
residential and commercial projects in progress. It is updated weekly and is inter - active, so
you can view it in several ways. It provides information on location, the plan layout,
project descriptions and more. She provided information regarding the inspection process
for commercial and residential customers. Ms. Wood addressed questions and comments
from citizens.
Questions /Comments:
• Illegal dumping on private or public property; if a picture is taken, how would a citizen go
about getting that reported?
• Standing Water in a back yard. How can they get someone to look at that when they have
been told before that the officers are not allowed to go on private property?
• How long does it take to get someone to respond to a complaint to Code Enforcement and
then gain compliance?
• How about reporting areas where the city is responsible for with regard to overgrown
weeds and grass in drainage ditches and other city owned property?
• Property owned by private owners /developers that is neglected; how can they deal with it?
• Bandit signs placed illegally on city property —how do they deal with that?
• How can they handle unwanted door solicitor door hangers?
• How do you get people to comply with getting permits for property work/inspections?
• Are there any plans to put a traffic light in the Willow Grove subdivision entrances?
• Are there any plans to address the water issues on the greenbelt in the Greenshire area so
the water doesn't come on the resident's properties?
• Northcliffe -any plans to address /improve (make them ADA compliant) sidewalks in this
neighborhood?
• Once a developer is finished and the streets are destroyed, will the City of Schertz come in
and redo the streets?
• Who owns the roads by Corbett Jr. High School (Ray Corbett Drive and Lower Seguin)?
Are there any plans to install any floodlights in those areas?
• In regard to the turnaround project at FM 1103, it is causing a lot of traffic congestion on
FM 1103. They would like the city to put signs up on Belmont Parkway and the
Wiederstein area to keep the 18- wheelers from cutting through their neighborhoods and
tearing up their roads. Could they put up `No Through Signs' and ticket them if the go
through there?
• Could the city put up a sign up or green arrow that if you are turning right onto FM 1103,
you can yield?
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• Coming out of Greenshire Estates on Green Valley Road going down the hill toward Roy
Richard Drive, there is a big dip and blind spot there and 80 percent of the traffic drives too
fast. They need a sign (trailer) that shows the speed limit there. They are probably doing
about 49 mph. instead of 30 mph.
• _ Inspections, what are the procedures /requirements /timelines? Is there any information out
there regarding a `bad vendor list'?
• Is it possible for the city to remind people to check with their HOA before pulling a city
permit to fmd out if what they wish to do is in compliance with their HOA policies and
architectural requirements?
Mayor Carpenter asked the audience to join him in thanking staff for all their work on the
information presented tonight. The mayor provided them his cell number if they had any need
to get in touch with him. He also thanked the City Secretary Brenda Dennis for all the work she
put into arranging the meeting.
Mayor Carpenter invited further discussion for anything else that was not covered that the
attendees wished to talk about. Further questions and/or subjects were:
• Who enforces a PUD ordinance? Mayor Carpenter stated we don't have that anymore,
just a Planned Development District (PDD)?
• What is happening with the problems regarding Pit Pads, short term rentals, etc.?
• Is there anything in the ordinances about regulations on trimming Oak Trees? His
concern was with oak wilt.
• The Northcliffe Golf Course is still for sale. Is there a way to do a zoning change?
• Is there a way to do something if the owners of the golf course are not maintaining the
property? Can the city mow it and then bill the owner?
• Fire station No. 3 — Can they have an update on that project?
• Old Wiederstein Road reconstruction —What are the plans on fixing it?
• Will there be another meeting of this nature in the future?
• Can the attendees get a list of everyone present at this meeting?
Adi ournment
As there was no further business, Mayor Carpenter adjourned the m;�gting at 8:36 p.m.
AZa e nnis, City Secretary
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R. Carpenter, Mayor