ccwks 01-14-04
.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL WORKSHOP SESSION
1-14-04
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop Session on Wednesday, January
14, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Complex Conference Room, 1400 Schertz
Parkway, Schertz, Texas. Those present were Mayor Pro-Tem Ken Greenwald,
presiding; Councilmembers Carl Douglas, Steve Simonson, Reginna Agee and Tony
Wilenchik. Absent: Mayor Hal Baldwin. Staff present were City Manager Mark
Marquez and City Secretary Norma Althouse.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS
Robert Brockman of 4505 Grand Forrest brought up the following:
· Said street sign with the correct spelling of Wieder stein Road is finally up.
· Noted the speed limits on FM 3009 have changed, as they should have.
.
· Mentioned the lights on Schertz Parkway are not working. Mayor Pro- Tem
Greenwald explained the contractor checked on them and a circuit breaker is out.
They should be back on in about a week.
· Reported that on Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m. there was an accident at Maske
Road and Schertz Parkway and the policemen were wearing their orange vests.
He was glad to see they were doing that.
· Thought that at the Planning and Zoning meeting last night, the new P&Z
Commission members should have been introduced. He also found out why Mr.
Greenwald doesn't vote at P &Z meetings - he's an ex-officio of the Commission.
· Inquired ifthere's a schedule for the street sweeper and was told there is.
· Questioned who the new Webmaster is now that Tony Wilson is gone. Mr.
Marquez answered it's Evelyn, Rita and sometimes Amy.
· Observed Animal Control has no sign on FM 3009. Mr. Wilenchik mentioned he
has been down this road. He wants a sign as bad as Mr. Brockman does, but
TXDOT won't allow it.
· Stated the Do Not Enter signs in front of City Hall are worn out.
.
· Commented the library is looking good and the comer lot at Elbel and Schertz
Parkway is for sale if they want to consider building a new library.
150
. Told the Council the City is doing well.
.
Johnny Sutton, CounCilman from Cibolo, asked for consideration of some financial
assistance from the City of Schertz for the construction of a sidewalk on Dietz Road.
The cost of the sidewalk is approximately $47,000 and they would like Schertz to pay
$20,000. Mr. Sutton explained it is a matter of cooperation since Cibolo had helped
Schertz with the traffic light at FM 3009 and Dietz Road and also with some drainage.
It was the consensus of Council to put the matter on a future workshop agenda for
discussion and possible action. Mr. Simonson mentioned it has been a point of
contention for a long time and Council needs some clarification from the City Attorney as
to whether they can spend City money on that sidewalk. Mayor Pro- Tem Greenwald
recommended to Mr. Sutton that he plan to attend the next Schertz City Council
workshop on January 28th.
#2 Discuss public hearing on request to rezone a 35-acre tract of/and located 241 feet
south of Corridor Loop Road extending 1,613.45 feet on the east side ofFM 3009. The
property is currently zoned Single-Family Residential (R-l) and the request is to rezone
the property to General Business (GB). Applicant: City of Schertz. (public hearing
scheduled for January 20, 2004.)
Mr. Marquez advised this is the Ripps property. There were a lot of people at the
Planning and Zoning public hearing last night. Planning and Zoning recommended .
approval.
Council indicated they were ready for this item to be included on next Tuesday night's
agenda.
#3 Discuss public hearing on request to rezone a 0.410+ tract of land located at the
intersection of IH-35 and Plaza Drive from General Business (GB) to Manufactured
Home Parks/Subdivision District (MHP/SD). Applicant: James Harden. (Public hearing
scheduled for January 20, 2004.)
Mr. Simonson commented it shouldn't be a problem for Mr. Harden to use it as a rental
property for workers. Mrs. Agee asked if the City needs to extend the double white line
and Mayor Pro- Tem Greenwald answered that was all TXDOT rules. Mrs. Agee said she
thought the City had something to do with the double white line and Mr. Marquez told
her that's not the case.
Council was prepared for this item to be included on next Tuesday night's agenda.
#4 Discuss public hearing on request to rezone a tract of land containing 63.92+ acres
located on Schertz Parkway approximately 200 feet south of Live Oak Road. The
property is currently zoned Residential (R-2). The request is for 62.09+ acres for
Residential (R-5) and 1.83+ acres for General Business (GB). Applicant: JWD .
Management Corporation. (public hearing scheduled for January 20, 2004.)
151
.
Mayor Pro-Tem Greenwald advised Council the request for the General Business zoning
has been deleted. This is the Silber property the City is trying to trade with Larry Aiken
for the Monterrey-Medina property. Most of the questions at the Planning and Zoning
meeting last night were about drainage. A special meeting about the drainage has been
scheduled for Monday.
Mr. Douglas asked if the property has access to Schertz Parkway and was told it does.
Asst. City Manager Jolm Bierschwale reported that in 2001 the houses on Marilyn Drive
had at least two inches of water in them. A drainage channel is being proposed that will
prevent that from happening again.
Mr. Marquez stated this property would not develop easily. It would be of considerable
expense to a developer. All proposed housing that abuts existing houses will not.be two-
story structures. Mayor Pro-Tem Greenwald added the houses would be of the same
quality as those in Wynbrook.
Council stated they were in favor of including this item on next Tuesday night's agenda.
.
#5 Discuss public hearing on request for a Specific Use Permit for a 130-foot
telecommunications tower located at the southwest comer of FM 3009 and Live Oak
Road (a.k.a.Schertz Funeral Home). Applicant: Verizon Wireless. (public hearing
scheduled for January 20, 2004.)
Mayor Pro- Tem Greenwald commented that representatives from Verizon were at the
Planning and Zoning public hearing last night. They told the Commission that the
engineers say the tower is designed to collapse upon itself.
Mrs. Agee stressed she is not in favor of the tower.
Mayor Pro- Tem Greenwald pointed out that at the end of five years, if the water tower is
up, the communications tower would come down.
Mr. Marquez related the water tower would be funded within three years. Mrs. Agee
noted a water tower is a necessity, but that is not the case with a telecommunications
tower. Coming down FM 3009 will be ugly
Economic Development Director, Amy Madison, mentioned they made application with
the Schertz Funeral Home and it's better to have one tower instead of two.
Council agreed they were ready to move forward with this request and to have it placed
on next Tuesday night's agenda.
#6 Update by Gail Douglas - Community Services Director
.
152
Council had in their packets a report prepared by Ms. Douglas regarding community .
services. Ms. Douglas stated Sandy Bryant is her Administrative Assistant. Among her
duties are the coordination of the uses of the Community Center and purchasing for all
departments under the umbrella of Community Services.
Due to the formation of the Community Services Department, the library now has a
library manager. Circulation of library materials, story time attendance, and summer
reading club attendance have all increased. New shelving was installed. A Texas Book
Festival grant was applied for and $2500 was received and used to purchase new juvenile
biographies. Also, as an Eagle Scout project, Cory Sclmeider raised nearly $700, which
was used to purchase new books.
The Parks Department, also part of the Community Services Department, is responsible
for maintenance and development of 23 parks and over 150 acres of land. One of the
major accomplishments was working with the Schertz Parkway Commission and coming
up with and implementing the design for the center islands of the Parkway.
Among the accomplishments of the pool services were the renovation of the pool at
Pickrell Park and the pool at Northcliffe. Unfortunately vandalism is a problem at the
Northcliffe Pool and some improvements have been put on hold.
Ms. Douglas said in all department of Community Services it is necessary to continue
improving the physical facilities, participate in as much continued education as possible, .
and improve their efforts and skills in the area of communications.
Mrs. Agee suggested they need more programs for seniors. Ms. Douglas pointed out they
do have meals on wheels, line dancing and clogging, but there is a need for more
programs.
#7 Items by City Manager
General Announcements
Eagle Scout Project
. Reported the TML Region 7 meeting is now scheduled for either the 19th or 26th
of February. They encountered a conflict with the AMCC conference.
. Advised the City received a nice thank you from Ann Almond, who is recovering
from a stroke.
. Said the Mayor had asked him why the Schertz Parkway sign isn't finished and he
told him they are working on it. It should be in place before too long.
. Mentioned the Council has in their packets a proposal for an Eagle Scout project
from Cole B. Jolmson who lives in Schertz. He plans to improve an unsafe
playground area. .
153
.
#8 Items by Council
General Announcements
Councilmember Douglas
Liaison - EDC
Liaison - Schertz Library Board
· Reported he missed the last meeting of the Library Board and had called Gail
Douglas to let her know he wouldn't be there.
· Thanked everyone for the cards, telephone calls and attendance at the memorial
service for his mother.
Councilmember Simonson
4-B Board
Liaison - BVY A
· Brought up the following items in regard to BVY A:
.
· Inquired how we're doing on the BVY A contract. Mr. Marquez answered it
should be on the next workshop for discussion.
· Stated they're coming up on the 30th anniversary of BVY A. He will have more
details later. Also, this Saturday is registration for baseball Said the subject
came up that in Pony, Bronco, etc. they have a World Series. Why don't we?
The answer is because you have to put up $50,000 with no guarantee.
· Mentioned that one of the discussions by BVY A was that a participant not living
in the City of Schertz has to pay a certain amount of money. Mayor Pro-Tem
Greenwald said originally, BVY A had to consist of 90% Schertz residents. Gail
Douglas said they had suggested that people outside Schertz pay an additional
$5.00. There are lots of volunteers from outside the City and they don't want to
pay the extra money. Mrs. Agee indicated there had been an issue in the past
about those not being in the SCUC ISD. Mayor Pro-tem Greenwald mentioned
that the Board of Directors could make these decisions.
Councilmember Agee
4-B Board
Liaison - Schertz Housing Authority
.
· Informed everyone the Guadalupe County Advocacy Center is looking for
volunteers. Mr. Marquez noted they are scheduled for a presentation at the
January 28th meeting.
154
.
Councilmember Wilenchik
4-B Board
Liaison - Schertz Humane Society
Liaison - HOA Coalition
Liaison - TSAC
. Announced the Doggie Dash is April 24th, Fund raiser letters have been sent
out. They have the same sponsorship level as last year.
Councilmember Greenwald
4-B Board
Ex-officio P&Z Commission
Ex-officio - S/SLGC
. Noted the Schertz/Seguin Local Government Corporation would meet tomorrow
in the Police Department training room at 1 :30 p.m.
. Mentioned that Ron Diver has a doggie problem. He and Mr. Simonson both
heard from him. He got ill and supposedly gave his sister power-of-attorney. She
gave the house, the furniture and his dogs away. Mr. Simonson said the City has .
done everything it can. It is a private family issue. Mr. Marquez commented the
families who adopted the dogs have some rights.
. Remarked the Planning and Zoning meeting lasted until midnight. Some of the
issues discussed are as follows:
. Schertz is getting a Wal-Mart Super Center. It will be a 203,000 square foot
super store opening in the spring of 2005. Mrs. Agee reminded Council they.
cannot rely on sales tax to run the City.
. A final plat was submitted for Legacy Oaks.
. There is a large tract of homes at the south end of Randolph AFB. Someone is
looking in that area for a two-acre tract for a fire department. Mr. Marquez
commented they are working on a bid package for the IH-35 sub-station.
. There will be a new subdivision called Savannah Bluffs behind Paschal
Elementary. There will be 64 homes built at an average selling price of $250,000.
. GD Bar plans to build a strip center.
. Commented there are several things they need to review. There is no designated
zoning between the R-5 and R-2 square footage. Several things in the NS/GB
.
155
.
zoning area are not really appropriate. Mr. Marquez also mentioned they will
be reviewing the Comprehensive Land Plan.
#9
Items by Mayor
General Announcements
Mayor Baldwin was absent.
#10 ADJOURNMENT
They're being no further business to discuss; Mayor Pro-Tem Greenwald adjourned the
meeting at 8:54 p.m.
.
ATTEST:
~~
City Secretary, City of Schertz, Texas
.
156