ccwks 03-01-06
MINUTES
WORKSHOP
MARCH 1, 2006
The Schertz City Council convened in a Workshop on Wednesday, March 1,2006 in the
Council Chamber at 7:00 pm, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Building #4 Schertz, Texas. The
following members were present: Mayor Hal Baldwin presiding, Council Members Carl
Douglas, John Trayhan, Reginna Agee, Michael Carpenter, and Tony Wilenchik, City
Manager Don Taylor, Asst. City Manager John Bierschwale, Judy Tokar City Secretary,
and City Attorney Michael Spain.
#1 CALL TO ORDER.
Mayor Baldwin called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
#2 HEARING OF RESIDENTS
Robert Brockman, 1000 Elbel Road was not able to see the maps that the P&Z
commissioners were seeing and suggested they be projected on the overhead for public
view. He noticed the curfew ordinance was on the agenda and assumed the City had one
in force.
OLD BUSINESS:
#3 ORDINANCE: Discussion on tmal reading on an ordinance adopting
guidelines and criteria for Tax Abatement and Reinvestment Zones and
providing for a repealing clause.
Mrs. Amy Madison said there were corrections made by the City Attorney and reviewed
the changes with the council on the tax abatement and reinvestment zone guidelines and
criteria. Councilmember Douglas explained the ordinance expired on December 2005
and there was no guidelines in place at this time. Councilmember Wilenchik requested
for the next meeting a public hearing be held for public input, there was no support from
other members. The final reading with the changes will acted upon at the next regulate
meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
#4 ORDINANCE: Discussion on first reading on an ordinance establishing a
curfew for juveniles under the seventeen years of age to prohibit being in any
public place during the curfew period set forth herein, providing an
enforcement procedure; establishing criminal penalties for juveniles, parent
of juveniles and owners/operators or persons in control of establishments;
and adopting certain exceptions.
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Mayor Baldwin asked why this ordinance was before the Council and if there had been
any complaints from the citizens or businesses. Mr. Spain replied that the ordinance
sunset and the ordinance was being renewed with conceptual addition, holding
establishments liable under the ordinance if they knowing serve juveniles after hours.
Mr. Taylor said it gives the police officer the opportunity to investigate a juvenile if out
on the streets late at night beyond curfew. The ordinance will be on the next regular
meeting for action.
#5 ORDINANCE: Discussion on first reading on an ordinance providing that
Chapter 18 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Schertz be amended to
authorize the installation of speed humps on streets in the City of Schertz.
Mr. Taylor said the discussion at the workshop resulted in deleting verbiage prohibiting
speed humps in gated communities and making provisions to remove the speed humps.
Those were the only changes suggested and it is ready for action at the next regulate
meeting.
#6 Discussion on the proposal to reduce water rates.
Mr. John Bierschwale reported that water revenue was projected for $17,500.00 from
EEA underground leases. A major corporation in San Antonio used more than EEA's
pumping limits and they came to the City to lease additional 1,000 acre-feet of water.
The additional revenue created a surplus that justifies a return to the customers. The
reduction in the rate will still allow for our bond obligation to be met. He is
recommending reduce the base water rate from $17.70 to $15.94, this is a $1.76 decrease.
Councilmember Trayhan inquired if next year was a wet year would the rate go up, Mr.
Bierschwale assured Council it should not be because the calculations were based on
projections of another wet year but there will be adjustments of course.
#7 RESOLUTION: Discussion on evidencing preliminary interest in the
establishment of a Public Improvement District to aid development of an
expanded Business Park.
Ms. Madison said the resolution is to establish a PID for a major project to relieve the
flooding and the drainage and complete the extension of the Schertz Parkway through the
Tri-County Business Park. Verde Realty has nearly completed leasing the existing
200,000 square foot industrial space and this project is essential to complete the future
build out three million square feet. Mr. McLiney with Southwest Securities said a bond
can be issued if the PID and the EDC underwrites the project but said it will not effect the
City's debt rating. The funding options can be scheduled for three year payout. The
project location is west of Tri-County Parkway and Doerr Lane extending back to city
limits of Selma and the railroad along Doerr Lane. There is a meeting with the City of
Selma to discuss obtaining right-of-way and also meeting with the adjoining property
owners.
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Mr. Spain explained the three documents in the packet are the resolution establishing the
PID, legal considerations for the PID and a schedule calendar.
#8 Discussion on Council appointments for committees for the upcoming Bond
Election.
Mr. Taylor provided the Council with a list of interested citizens who wish to participate
on the bond committee. Mr. Taylor ideal would to make available the staff to act as
support for the committee and provide them accurate information on the bond. Mayor
suggested the committee should organize themselves and appoint a chairman and
treasurer. Mr. Spain offered to assist the group to establish a political action committee.
#9 Discussion on dates and time for City Council and Planning and Zoning
Commission for future joint meetings.
Councilmember Wilenchik said the planning and zoning committee would like to meet
periodically with the Council to discuss different issues such as zoning districts and
receive guidance from the Council. It was decided the first joint meeting with P&Z
would be on March 8th. Depending on the decision made for the meetings for the
Council, the P&Z meetings would be moved to Wednesday.
#10 Discussion on amending ordinance establishing rules, times and procedures
for conducting City Council meetings.
Mr. Spain said ordinance #94-M-15 adopts Robert Rules' of Order for the conduct of
meeting and they can be very complex and the Council only uses a small portion of the
rules. Mr. Spain suggested the adoption of "The Modem Rules of Order" written by a
lawyer for conducting a business meeting. Its intention is for easier understanding and
easier application. Organizations are not automatically required to adopt Robert Rules.
Mr. Spain will purchase the booklet for Council's review.
Mr. Bierschwale said staff recommended that the workshop and regular Council
meetings be scheduled for every Tuesday except on holidays. This will set up a
standard day for Council meetings allowing staff to gain an extra preparation day and
also Council to enjoy the regularity of all meetings being on Tuesday's and hopefully
eliminate confusion. The fifth Tuesday of the month would be joint meeting with the
Planning & Zoning. There are four extra Tuesday's in the fiscal year.
Councilmember Trayhan felt that on several occasions Council was not aware of the
City Manager's recommendation or opinion regarding how he felt about the item. Mr.
Taylor will include in the packet his recommendation or opinion letter for agenda items
so that Council know he feels about the subject.
#11 Discussion on planning the City of Schertz's 50th year (2008) anniversary.
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Councilmember Douglas suggested that a committee be appointed to start organizing for
the City's 50th year anniversary in 2008. He would like to see periodical discussion as
we closer to the event.
#12 Discussion and action on setting the date for a public hearing on a Specific
Use Permit for Laura Heights Subdivision.
Mr. Spain explained that there were some roads issues relating to the Laura Heights
Subdivision expressed by the Council. There was discussion about the roads that wasn't
part of the specific use permit request. The request was defeated at the last meeting
sequentially requiring another public hearing date. The meeting betwcen the developers
and the city staff this week revealed the road concerns by the Council.
Mayor said that the Council shouldn't stop the request for the specific use permit. His
concern was building a high end housing subdivision without proper connectivity to
major roadways. Mayor Baldwin did not want to have a subdivision that you had to drive
on substandard roads to get to the area and furthermore having the City to build roads
later.
A new state law says that the City will pay for the roads outside existing development.
The developer is responsible for 20% of the cost of that construction. Mr. Spain said
there could be a road improvement district to help defray costs. He will come back with
more information at a later meeting.
Council Member Douglas made a motion, seconded by Council Member Trayhan, to set
the public hearing date for March 21, 2006. The vote was:
AYES: Council Member Douglas, Trayhan, Agee, Wilenchik and Carpenter.
#13 Items by City Manager Taylor and Staff
No report.
#14 Items by Council
Councilmember Douglas
. Asked about the pool management service.
Councilmember Trayhan
. Asked about the priority matrix and needed more explanation.
Councilrnember Agee
No report.
Mayor Pro-Tern Wilenchik
. Reported on P&Z meeting.
. Doggie Dash letters were sent for April 29th in Schertz Park.
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. Article on Supreme Court decision on corporation tax give aways.
. Asked if the City did a comparison with other communities on impact and park
land fees
Councilmember Carpenter
. Reported he would be out of town on business for the meetings on March 7th and
workshop on 15th
. Reported a Clemens High School student, Robert Thomas, applied to West Point
and Annapolis, he was offered by both institutions.
. Thought a quarterly meeting with P&Z would be more beneficial.
. Met informally with one member ofP&Z regarding the impact fees thought they
were to low.
# 15 Items by Mayor
Mayor Baldwin met with the family of Viola Kramer and her grandchildren about purchasing her
home on the property in the new subdivision Kramer Farms. Mr. Aiken may want to purchase
thc house.
# 16 ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Baldwin adjourned the meeting at 9: 15 p.m.
Passed and approved on May 16, 2006.
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ATTEST:
Workshop March 1, 2006 125