ccwks 06-26-02
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION
JlJ~E 26. 2002
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop Session on Wednesday, June
26, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Complex Conference Room, 1400 Schertz
Parkway, Schertz, Texas. Those present were Mayor Hal Baldwin, presiding;
Councilmembers Norma Head; Billy Pitts; Reginna Agee; Tony Wilenchik and Ken
Greenwald. Staff present were City Manager Dewey P. Cashwell, Jr and City Secretary
Norma Althouse.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS
Robert Salas of 1041 Gettysburg brought up the following;
· Mentioned his water bill went up. Mayor Baldwin acknowledged this was the
first month of the second water rate increase.
· Asked if it's true that when the City holds an event, they cannot arrest you for
public intoxication. Mayor Baldwin didn't believe that to be true.
· Suggested closing the floodgates on the 4th of July.
Robert Brockman of 4505 Grand Forest made the following comments:
· There's a poster on the bulletin board outside City Hall with a picture of Sarah
Moore and it says she's missing. Heidi Search Center says she is not missing.
· The SOB meeting agenda is not posted. Mr Cashwell admitted they haven't been
posting them, but they can start.
· Advised the Supreme Court shot down the requirement for voters to be registered
in order to solicit or petition.
· Expresses disappointment in the lack ofIocation details on the Planning & Zoning
agenda.
· Stated he still finds Schertz the most desirable place to live even though he comes
every week with a list of complaints. Mayor Baldwin assured him he provides
good information and in the proper manner
#2 Discuss final reading of amendment to Code of Ordinances regarding rules for
manufacture of frozen desserts (soft-serve products).
Mr Cashwell noted this is the second workshop for discussion of this item. The first
reading was approved on June 18, 2002. There have been no changes since the first
reading of the Ordinance. Council indicated they were ready for this item to be included
on next Tuesday night's agenda.
#3 Chief Friesenhahn - report on operational readiness and service capabilities of
Schertz EMS services and discussion offuture needs.
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Mr. Cashwell advised everyone to fasten their seat belts. There will be a little bunp in the
road. Chief Friesenhahn will try to be as brief as possible.
Chief Friesenhahn gave a very informative slide presentation saying he did not want to
bottleneck the budget process. His presentation covered response time, fire stations
needed and firefighters needed.
The current staffing is 7 firefighters per shift. With one frrefighter on scheduled leave
and one on unscheduled leave, staffing is reduced to 5 men per shift. The problems with
the current situation are inadequate staffing and resources to respond to a one-alarm fire.
Those inadequacies become highly critical in extreme situations. They are not in
compliance with state law - SB 382 (2 in - 2 out rule). They need 14 or 15 people for a
full-alarm fire.
In the case of a multiple-alarm fire, resource exhaustion occurs when a system is out of
resources for both an initial and area-wide effective response force. Relying on mutual
aid in these situations causes neighboring communities to be at extreme risk. Firefighting
safety gear deteriorates at temperatures of 800 to 1000 degrees Farenheit.
The proposed reforms they need are recommendations to address response time concerns
and recommendations to address staffing concerns.
The City of Schertz ultimate goal requires two sub-stations now and one additional sub-
station every year for the next four years. As each sub-station is built, an additional 12
frreflghters would be hired. There would be three shifts with a minimum of 4 firefighters
at each additional station.
Chief Friesenhahn included a fact sheet in his presentation giving the number of stations,
the number of personnel, the operating hours, the services provided, the area served, the
population served and the number of responses. He also showed some pictures of
various types of temporary stations. Also included was a diagram he had put together
showing proposed future locations ofsub-stations.
Council thanked Chief Friesenhahn for his time.
There was discussion about the choices homeowners make as far as their closeness to a
frre station. Mr. Cashwell acknowledged the fact the City will have to rely on mutual aid
for a long time. He also stated Chief Friesenhahn feels sub-stations should be part of the
upcoming Strategic Planning Session discussion.
#4 Discussion on second public hearing to address the secondary effects resulting
from the operation of sexually oriented businesses.
Mr. Cashwell explained the first public hearing on this subject was held June 18th. The
second public hearing is scheduled for July 2nd. Michael Spain, City Attorney, is still
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working on fine-tuning the ordinance. Council was prepared for the public hearing to be
on next Tuesday night's agenda.
#5 Update on report of implementation of computer software, hardware and fiber
optic installation.
Mr Cashwell referred Council to the memo from Mark Marquez, Director of
Management Services, in their packets. It basically states that the City had contemplated
financing the conversion from New World to Incode over a two to three year period of
time. Upon review of the contracts by the City Attorney, it was determined that the third
party proposal is not a viable option. Mark McLiney has suggested we use a private
placement, similar to that used for our ladder truck.
Mr. Marquez stressed they have to move quickly in this process in order to meet the
deadline of going live with the new systems by October 1, 2002. He is expecting
approval for participation from the Texas Building and Procurement Commission Co-Op.
With Council's concurrence on financing by private placement, the entire process can
begin.
Mr Wilenchik commented they asked for a tentative go ahead when the CEO from
Incode was here. Were we aware we needed to float a bond issue? Mr. Cashwell replied
that according to Michael Spain, that is illegal. Mr Wilenchik asked if we are at the
point of no return? Mr. Cashwell replied we are not. Mr Wilenchek then inquired if it is
still possible to meet the time lines. Mr Cashwell replied yes.
Mrs. Agee wondered if they had used this mechanism with other cities and was told by
Mr. Cashwell they had. Mrs. Agee then asked how much extra this would cost us. Mr.
Cashwell replied it is less.
Mr. Pitts asked how this would affect the bond rating. Mr. Cashwell maintained the bond
rating would remain unaffected.
Mayor Baldwin then questioned the effect on a bond election. Mr Cashwell again
maintained the bond election would also be unaffected.
Vijay Jain, Finance Director, noted that the net effect would be that the I&S rate would
be lower.
Mr Cashwell advised Council he thinks Dudley Wait, EMS Director, has found a way to
lower the recurring debt on bills. Mr. Wait reported they would be doing it in-house.
He feels this would be more beneficial rather than having a collection agency do it. Mr.
Cashwell commented they need to hire a collections person before the end of this fiscal
year
Mayor Baldwin admitted there's no question they need to pay the $400,000 for the
hardware/software somehow.
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Mrs. Agee mentioned she does not like the phone system. She would rather talk to a
person. Mr. Marquez stated the problems they've been having have been due to a.
Southwestern Bell problem. Mr. Cashwell suggested they put discussion of the telephone
system on a future workshop agenda. Perhaps there will be a solution by that time.
#6 Discussion on the reappointment of board members to the Board of
Adjustment.
Mr Cashwell reminded Council they have in their packets a letter from Earl Hartzog,
Chairman of the Board of Adjustment. The Board is recommending reappointment of
regular members Kathy Hill and James Harden. They are also recommending the
reappointment of alternates Norman Slocum and Peggy Brown. All terms are for two
years.
Council was prepared for this item to be included on next Tuesday night's agenda.
#7 INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT: Consider and take action on Interlocal Agreement
regarding designation of health authority to provide emergency assistance.
Mr Cashwell reminded Council this item was on their agenda of March 27,2002. They
have a copy of the minutes of that meeting in their packets. Mr. Wait suggested approval
once the agreement was authorized by Michael Spain. Council agreed, but took no
formal action at the March meeting. Mr. Spain has authorized the agreement.
Mr Pitts moved to approve the Interlocal Agreement regarding designation of a health
authority to provide emergency assistance. Mrs. Agee seconded the motion, which
carried with the following votes:
AYES. Councilmembers Head, Pitts, Agee, Wilenchik and Greenwald.
NAYS: None.
#8 Discussion of Provisions of Section 11.184, Property Tax Exemptions.
Mr. Cashwell noted House Bill 1689 added Section 11.184 to the Texas Property Tax
Code, which provides for a local option exemption for organizations engaged primarily in
performing charitable functions. The local option is implemented by adoption of the
governing body of the taxing unit or by the majority of qualified voters in an election
called by petition of twenty percent (20%) of the qualified voters.
Mayor Baldwin summarized it by saying the Constitution basically determines tax
exemption when it goes before voters, then we have to abide by it. He doesn't see an
exemption on anything unless it's exempted by the Constitution.
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Mr. Cashwell commented it is a locality issue. Mr. Jain remarked the Comptroller
decides. Mr Wilenchik said the Mayor is right on track. Mrs. Agee stated she doesn't
think we can get 20% of the registered voters to the polls.
Mr Cashwell acknowledged he thinks he has the sense of Council's feelings on the
subject.
#9 EXECUTIVE SESSION: Called under Chapter 551 Texas Government Code,
Sub-Section 55.074 Personnel Matters -to deliberate evaluation of City Manager.
An Executive Session was held from 8.45 pm until 11 :35 pm.
#10 Action, if any, on above Executive Session.
Mr. Wilenchik moved to terminate the City Manager, Dewey P. Cashwell, Jr., in
accordance with paragraph 3a.5 of his contract with the City. Mrs. Head seconded the
motion, which carried with the following votes:
AYES Councilmembers Head, Pitts, Agee, Wilenchik and Greenwald.
NAYS: None.
#11 ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Baldwin adjourned the meeting at
11:38 p.m.
(f~
Mayor, City of Schertz, Texas
ATTEST'
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City Secretary, City of Schertz, Texas
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