ccswks 02-14-01
SPECIAL WORKSHOP SESSION OF THE SCHERTZ CITY COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 14, 2001
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop Session on
Wednesday, February 14, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Complex
Conference Room, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz Texas. Those present were
as follows: Mayor Hal Baldwin, presiding; Councilmembers Norma Head; Joe
Potempa and Ken Greenwald. Absent: Councilmembers Reginna Agee and
Glyn D. Williams. Staff present were Interim City Manager Steve Simonson and
City Secretary Norma Althouse.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS
George Mower of 501 Brooks Ave. spoke about Council seating. Mr. Mower felt
people should see who's running the City. The governing Council should sit
higher than the rest of the people. Employees of the City are not at the same
level as Council.
Pia Jarman of 217 Valley Oak mentioned that before the City adopted recycling,
Librarian Gail Douglas spearheaded recycling efforts with volunteer labor once a
month on Saturday. The subject was then put on the ballot and the voters
approved it. There was some discussion about what to do with the money it
earned, and she understood it would be set aside and earn interest in the bank.
Mrs. Jarman went on to say she heard the old firehouse needs to be removed, so
it is time for a landscaping plan around the library. People still seem to be willing
to pay for recycling.
Mayor Baldwin informed Mrs. Jarman the money from recycling is not escrowed.
There is only one year in the fund. It has been used to buy down the water rate.
Mrs. Jarman then asked if that one year that was set aside is still available. Mark
Marquez, Personnel/Economic Development Coordinator, replied they held back
one year and that has been going on since 1995/96. It cost $18,000 to buy down
the rate. Part of the money was also used for the low-flush toilet rebate program.
Today's balance is roughly $30,000.
Mayor Baldwin reminded Mrs. Jarman that discussion of the status of the old Fire
Department building is on the agenda this evening if she would like to wait. She
agreed.
#2 Consider and take action on request from SCUC ISO for Specific Use
Permit, allowing them to build an elementary school at the southwest
comer of Schertz Parkway and Savannah Drive.
Mr. Greenwald indicated there's still a problem with exits onto Schertz Parkway.
Mr. Simonson emphasized they were told that Planning and Zoning is adamant
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about there being no exits onto Schertz Parkway. Mr. Greenwald added the
school district is well aware of the tree mitigation ordinance.
Mrs. Head asked if they could vote on this without being sure of the exits. Mr.
Greenwald answered yes - it has to come back to Planning and Zoning
Mr. Potempa moved to approve the request from the school district for a Specific
Use Permit, allowing them to build an elementary school on the southwest corner
of Schertz Parkway and Savannah Drive with the provision there be no exits onto
Schertz Parkway. Mrs. Head seconded the motion, which carried with the
following votes:
AYES: Councilmembers Head, Potempa and Greenwald.
NAYS: None.
#3 RESOLUTION: Consider and take action on Resolution authorizing certain
actions, including proceedings in Eminent Domain.
Mayor Baldwin introduced a Resolution and read the caption as follows:
RESOLUTION 01.R-4
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CERTAIN ACTIONS, INCLUDING
PROCEEDINGS IN EMINENT DOMAIN, IN CONNECTION WITH THE
ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN WATERLINE AND TEMPORARY
CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS IN GONZALES AND GUADALUPE
COUNTIES AND RELATED MATTERS.
Mayor Baldwin commented we have been getting these types of Resolutions
quite frequently. Mr. Simonson indicated they would be continuing to come
before Council on a regular basis.
Mr Greenwald moved to approve the Resolution authorizing certain actions,
including proceedings in eminent domain, in connection with the acquisition of
certain waterline and temporary construction easements in Gonzales and
Guadalupe Counties and related matters. Mrs. Head seconded the motion,
which carried with the following votes:
AYES: Council members Head, Potempa and Greenwald.
NAYS: None.
#4 Consider and take action setting public hearinll date on request from
Alpha and Omega Christian Church for a Specific Use Permit, allowing
them to locate their church at 613 Main Street.
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Mr. Simonson explained this location is where the Main Street Deli used to be.
The church is talking about having the same parking arral'lgement as Main Street
Deli had with the railroad. Also, the church has gotten permission to utilize
Schertz Bank & Trust's parking lot on Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Council
action this evening is just to set a public hearing date on this request. The City
Secretary, upon being questioned, indicated that March 6, 2001 would be a good
date for the public hearing.
Mr. Greenwald moved to set March 6, 2001 as the public hearing date on the
request from Alpha and Omega Christian Church for a Specific Use Permit,
allowing to locate their church at 513 Main Street. Mrs. Head seconded the
motion.
Before the vote, Mayor Baldwin verified that when the user moves out, the
Specific Use Permit goes away.
At this time the vote on the motion was taken and passed with the following
results:
AYES: Councilmembers Head, Potempa and Greenwald.
NAYS: None.
#5 Discuss final reading of Ordinance regarding Stop Intersections and
All-Way Stops.
Council agreed they were ready for this item to be included on next Tuesday
night's agenda.
#6 Discuss first reading of Ordinance regarding water rates.
Mr. Simonson reported nothing has changed. Council agreed to go with Option
#3.
Council indicated they were prepared for this item to be included on next
Tuesday night's agenda.
#7 Discuss first reading of Ordinance regarding junked vehicles.
Mr. Simonson related the current ordinance went out of date because of changes
in the State Code. Mr. Mower requested a copy of this new Ordinance. Council
acknowledged their readiness for this item to be included on next Tuesday
night's agenda.
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#8 Discuss sewer averaging (winter averages versus three lowest
months).
John Bierschwale, Public Works Director, commented he was confronted in
November by David Dennis of CCMA who said the City is in non-compliance.
We use the three lowest months in accordance with an Ordinance passed in
February of 1997. If we did it as CCMA is requesting, there would be an
automatic increase.
Mr. Bierschwale stated he needs direction from Council. They will have to host a
meeting with the CCMA Board of Directors.
Mayor Baldwin inquired if the City's bill to CCMA is based on our average. Mr
Bierschwale replied yes. The Mayor then commented we need to get the other
cities together. He's willing to host a meeting. Mr. Potempa directed Mr.
Bierschwale to go ahead and schedule a meeting with the CCMA Board of
Directors.
#9 Discuss awarding of bid for ambulance.
Mr. Simonson advised the funds for this new ambulanoe are part of the bond
money. EMS is requesting the bid not be awarded to the lowest bidder. Council
was provided a memo in their packets explaining the situation.
The consensus of Council was to go ahead and include this item on next
Tuesday night's agenda.
#10 Discuss Tax Abatement with Technos.
Mr. Marquez pointed out the Tax Abatement with Technos would require a public
hearing for the creation of a Tax Abatement Reinvestment Zone for Technos
because they are not in a State Enterprise Zone. They received a tax abatement
for their original construction which has expired and are now expanding.
Mr. Marquez went on to say the tax abatement computation would allow a tax
abatement of 66.04%, but Mr. Neal has requested it be accelerated. It is
recommended a tax abatement be approved for 90% the first three years and
60.2% for the fourth year on capital improvements only.
The consensus of Council was that the public hearing on the Tax Abatement
Reinvestment Zone for Technos be set for March 6, 2001.
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#11 Discuss Tax Abatement Agreement with Embrey.
Mr. Marquez noted Embrey is proposing two 232,000-sq. ft. buildings in Tri-
County Business and Industrial Park. The Economic Development Commission
recommends approval of a ten-year tax abatement at 57.2% each year.
Council agreed they were ready for this item to be included on next Tuesday
night's agenda.
#12 Discuss Electric Utility Franchise Fees.
Mr. Potempa remarked this item was tabled previously. Not knowing for sure
what this item involved, Mr. Potempa moved to table it again until Mr. Williams
returns. Mr. Greenwald seconded the motion, which carried with the following
votes:
AYES: Councilmembers Head, Potempa and Greenwald.
NAYS: None.
#14 Discuss status of old Fire Department building.
Mrs. Head related she was told by Mr. Bierschwale they couldn't do anything with
the old building until Council approved it. Her suggestion was to allow Mr.
Bierschwale's people to go in and use whatever they can and then tear down the
building.
Mayor Baldwin reminded Mrs. Head this is not an action item. He then asked Mr
Bierschwale if he has the personnel to do what Mrs. Head suggested. Mr.
Bierschwale replied he's a little strapped right now, but could hunt the name of
the gentleman who wanted to do it for nothing.
Mayor Baldwin thought it would be dangerous for our guys to do it and
recommended bidding it out. Council agreed this item should be on next
Tuesday night's agenda.
#15 Discuss stopping rebate on recycling.
Mr. Simonson mentioned this is the item Mrs. Jarman and Mrs. Head wanted to
talk about. The City should get approximately $30,000 this year in recycling
funds. He is concerned about the cost of the hazardous waste cleanup.
Whatever is left, they can certainly do with it what they want.
Mrs. Head commented she took the idea to the Library Board of the property
around the library being turned into a park. The City cI Pembrook (later found
out it is Benbrook) Texas wanted to celebrate their 50th anniversary by building a
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park from recycled products. She passed out a brochure of the company that
comes in and assesses.
Mrs. Head further stated they need some seed money and you would also have
to raise money from the community. She will leave Steve Simonson a small
check for the video. Her desire is to have Council look at it and consider the
possibility of doing it. They can look at the information at the next workshop.
Mayor Baldwin expressed concern about the automatic 42 cent increase on
water bills since that's what being rebated to customers as part of the recycling
program. Mrs. Head admitted she didn't consider stopping the rebate as part of
this project.
Mr. Greenwald stressed they need to keep part of the money for hazardous
waste pickup. Mr. Simonson thought they could possibly use $5,000 for seed
money and then combine some funds from tree mitigation and parks for the
project.
Mayor Baldwin liked the idea of using recycled products. He suggesting putting
this item on the agenda after the video arrives.
#16 Discuss master planning (6-year plan for Mr. Cashwell).
Mayor Baldwin admitted he's the one who brought this up. Council needs a plan
for Mr Cashwell so they can properly evaluate him. Goals for Mr. Cashwell
should be set by all of Council so they can establish a working program for him.
The Mayor requested Council get back with him about a date to meet and do
this.
Mr. Potempa questioned if this would be an Executive Session and Mayor
Baldwin answered no. He added there are some organizations that will provide
you with input for a seminar if you need it.
#17 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
. Distributed information on the seminar he and Mrs. Head attended.
. Related the soccer activity on Maske Road is a big d~al and will be partly in
the City. Mayor Baldwin asked how they feel about annexation and was told
they want it. The City would have to gather some extra! right-of-way
. Announced a special meeting is scheduled for FebruClry 22, 2001 regarding
the bond sale for the Schertz/Seguin Local Government Corporation.
. Reported the trail riders gave the City a nice plaque.
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#18 ITEMS BY COUNCIL
Mr. Potemoa:
. Noted Waste Management finally picked up the dumpsters. Do they still have
our dumpster from Houston? Mr. Simonson promised tlll check into it.
. Announced he wouldn't be at the meeting next Tuesday.
Mrs. Head:
. Thanked Mrs. Jarman for her support.
Mr. Greenwald:
. Pointed out there is a map right behind Council regarding the Schertz/Seguin
Local Government Corporation project.
. Reported BVYA has as many children already this year as they had last year
and they have one more registration to go. An amendment to the contract is
needed for the practice fields out back of City Hall. They received a donation
from Home Depot for rebuilding the bathrooms and expanding the
refreshment stand. Mr. Bierschwale advised that money was encumbered in
last year's budget.
#19 ITEMS BY MAYOR
There were none.
Council took a short break before the Executive Session.
#20 EXECUTIVE SESSION: Called under Chapter 551 of the Texas
Government Code, Sub-Section 551.072, deliberation regarding real property.
An Executive Session was held from 8:40 p.m. until 9:18 p.m.
#21 Action, if any, on above Executive Session.
No action was required.
#22 ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Baldwin adjourned the
meeting at 9:19 p.m.
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I
I _
Mayor, City 0 Schertz, Texas
Attest:
~~~et~~ ~f Schertz
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