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ccspecwksp 04-29-1998 . . . SPECIAL WORKSHOP SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL APRIL 29, 1998 The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop Session on Wednesday, April 29, 1998 at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Municipal Complex, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas. The following members were present: Mayor Pro-Tem Timothy Swinney, presiding; Councilmembers Charles McDonald; Norman Agee, Sr. and Ken Greenwald. Absent: Mayor Hal Baldwin and Councilmember Joe Potempa. Staff present were City Manager Kerry Sweatt and City Secretary Norma Althouse. #1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS Ted Duigon of 1112 Antler Drive spoke regarding the Besch property. Mr. Duigon, noting action on an ordinance to rezone had been tabled on April ih, informed Council the pending contract on the property fell through, He doesn't know what procedures Council will take now. Mr. Sweatt explained the rezoning will probably be on the next agenda for action. It will have to come off the table fi rst. . #2 Discuss final reading of Ordinance regarding parking regulations in the 500 block of Main Street. Mr. Sweatt advised the ordinance has been discussed several times and now supposedly meets the needs of the property owners involved. He has told them there will be limited enforcement. After being asked by Mayor Pro- T em Swinney, Council agreed they were ready for this item to be placed on next Tuesday night's agenda. #3 Discuss final reading of Ordinance regarding Tax Abatement for Coronado Paint. Mr. Sweatt noted Bill Peterson of Coronado Paint is here this evening to answer any questions Council may have. The Economic Development Commission has approved a tax abatement for Coronado Paint for 37.7% over a five-year period of time. The ad valorem taxes cover the abatement by a ratio of 2.7 to 1 which is well above the average. Mayor Pro-Tem Swinney commented this shows the City sticks with its businesses for the long haul. Mr. Greenwald remarked on all the dirt being moved at the Coronado Paint location and Mr. Peterson acknowledged it's about 3,000 yards. Council indicated they were prepared to have this item included on next Tuesday night's agenda. . -177- . . . #4 Discuss final reading of Ordinance regarding Tax Abatement for Alamo Packaging. Mr. Sweatt mentioned that John Taylor, President of Alamo Packaging, is here this evening to answer questions. Alamo Packaging will construct a 63,000 square foot building in the Tri-County Business Park. The Economic Development Commission has approved an 82.22% tax abatement over an eight-year period of time for Alamo Packaging. The ad valorem taxes will cover the tax abatement by a ratio of 8.21 to 1. This location will be their corporate headquarters. Mr. Taylor reported they had a State tax audit last week and no mistakes were found. They manufacture boxes and distribute packaging supplies. They see this as a hot business trend for them. Mr. Sweatt asked if customers give them specifications and they design the packaging. Mr. Taylor replied that's correct. They feel they have a good future with high-tech manufacturing. Mayor Pro-Tem Swinney asked if they do a lot of business with Mexico. Mr. Taylor replied they do. Mr. Taylor also mentioned that if you go to the Sony outlet at San Marcos, you will see their name. . Mr. Greenwald said he understood they are looking at cardboard recycling. Mr. Taylor stated that's true - they do it in-house, but do have the availability for someone to drop off cardboard for recycling. Mr. Sweatt briefly mentioned Henry Gutierrez and Mr. Greenwald thought that might be something Mr. Taylor should pursue. Mr. Taylor agreed they may be able to set up something. Council indicated their readiness for this item to be included on next Tuesday night's agenda. #5 Discuss first reading of Ordinance rezoning 77 acres of the Besch property from R-4, R-5 and OP to R-1. (tabled April 7, 1998) Mr. Sweatt advised that the Planning and Zoning Commission instigated the rezoning request. He then pointed out the location of the property on the map. It was zoned in 1986 at the request of the developer, but nothing has been developed on the property. Public hearings were held and several property owners came forward with objections. Mr. Duigon indicated there was a contract on the property scheduled to close April 14h, but reported last week that it had fallen through. . Mr. Duigon noted the Oak Manor Estates property owners want the property zoned R-1 and sent a letter to Planning and Zoning expressing their wishes. Also, the notification on the Planning and Zoning agenda only said they were -178- . . . going to rezone, it didn't indicate the specific zoning classifications to which it would be rezoned. Mr. Duigon went on to say the property is the estate of Jan Besch Day. Her parents left it to her. She has an offer from someone who wants to put a nursing home on that portion of the property zoned R-4. Mr. Duigon stressed, again, that he doesn't feel the property owners involved have had much of a basis on which to form an opinion. Mr. Greenwald felt sure Green Valley Road is the big hold up because of the expense it will take to improve it. As far as leaving a portion of the property zoned R-4, he has no objection,to that. Mr. Duigon commented he had checked the traffic and lots of people use Green Valley Road coming from the Royal Oak Subdivision. Mr. McDonald remarked that when Dr. Harborth's property was rezoned, people were against smaller zoning. It might be an injustice to go to smaller lots because of the traffic. Mr. Greenwald acknowledged it's an old philosophy from the 1970's. Everything came in zoned as R-1 and then you had to request what zoning you wanted. . A gentleman in the audience (name unknown) mentioned that someone is pursuing the old Simmons property and wants to use Crest Oak for the traffic. It's too bad there's no exit to Wiederstein Road so traffic could use that route to get to IH-35. Mr. Greenwald said that's in the City's long-range plans. Planning and Zoning has told the developer of Oak Trails he will have to build a road. Mr. McDonald observed larger lots mean less density which means less cars. They can address the nursing home request when it happens. Mayor Pro-Tem Swinney wondered if there's any strong impetus to change the zoning right now. Mr. Agee asked how much of the 77 acres is projected to be used for the nursing home. Mr. Sweatt replied approximately 11 .7 acres. Mr. McDonald suggested removing it from the table, leaving one piece of it R-4, removing the R-5 and OP and going with R-1 and R-2. Can they do that? Mr. Sweatt answered they can act on all of it or only part of it. After Mr. Greenwald emphasized they need to know the acreage of each type of zoning, Council agreed they were ready to have this item placed on next Tuesday night's agenda. . -179- . . . #6 Discuss Tax Abatement request from Genuine Parts. Mr. Sweatt explained Genuine Parts is a subsidiary of the S.P. Richards Company. The Economic Development Commission approved a 90% tax abatement for an eight-year period of time. The ad valorem taxes will cover the tax abatement by a ratio of 3.99 to 1. Ron Bogart, General Manager, is here tonight to answer questions. We are real pleased to have them in Schertz. Mr. Bogart commented he was pleased and privileged to be here. S.P. Richards has been in the wholesale office products distribution business since 1848. Genuine Parts was acquired in 1985. Their plan is to relocate the San Antonio office in Schertz and blend in the Austin operation. They will construct a 134,000 square foot building. They have 200 customers and sell to resellers. They publish a general line catalog and warehouse over 20,000 items. They will employee approximately 60 people - some in sales, some in management and some in the warehouse. Council was prepared for this item to be included on next Tuesday night's agenda. #7 MID-YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS: Consider and take action regarding mid-year budget adjustments. . Mr. Sweatt reminded Council this is on the agenda tonight for action. The most significant item is the 3% across the board salary adjustment for all employees. Also, the City will now provide health insurance coverage to all new employees upon hire. They previously had to wait until after their probation period to have health insurance coverage. Mr. McDonald asked why the audit fees went up. Mr. Sweatt replied it recognizes additional work in the past and also the fees themselves increased. Mayor Pro- T em Swinney asked where the 3% COLA came from. Mr. Sweatt answered COLA is a misnomer - he prefers it be called a salary adjustment. This was discussed at budget time and is to maintain the current structure until the salary plan study is completed. Mr. McDonald commented the immediate health insurance coverage is a good idea. . Mayor Pro-Tem Swinney asked what the turnover rate is for the City. Mr. Sweatt replied less than 5%. Mayor Pro-Tem Swinney then mentioned the possibility of disability benefits. He estimated it would cost the City about $5.00 per employee per month. Mr. Sweatt said they talk about it each year with the employees. They will try to do a survey before next year's budget. ----" -180- . . . L.J. Cott, Comptroller, reported that 41 employees participate in the deferred compensation program. Mayor Pro-Tem Swinney noticed that the postage in the Finance Department has gone up and wondered why. Mr. Sweatt answered that Finance was part of the City Manager's budget before and they just guessed wrong. Mayor Pro-Tem Swinney then asked when the last time was the City Council had a pay adjustment. Mr. Greenwald answered never - you have to change the Charter to give Council a pay adjustment. There being no further discussion, Mr. Greenwald moved to approve the mid- year budget adjustments as presented. Mr. McDonald seconded the motion, which carried with the following votes: AYES: Councilmembers McDonald, Agee and Greenwald. NAYS: None. #8 COMMITTEE: Consider and take action to appoint a committee to meet with GVEC to discuss franchise issues. . Mr. Sweatt reported that he, Mayor Baldwin and John Moore have been meeting with GVEC and most of the points are resolved. There are two sticking points: (1) R.O.W. easements at rear lot lines (they want the City to clean them up) and (2) GVEC will not be authorized to do anything but electrical business - if they do, they must get Council approval. Also, they don't like the five-year franchise deal. They are holding their new building out as a carrot to promote a longer time period for the franchise deal. It has been suggested that their Executive Committee which consists of Lewis Borgfeld, Melvin Strey and Robert Young meet with a City Committee and try to resolve these issues. Mayor Pro-Tem Swinney inquired if this process gets deadlocked, can we get independent arbitration. Mr. Greenwald said they won't need it. Mayor Pro-Tem Swinney then asked if they're looking for a citizen to serve on the City Committee and Mr. Sweatt replied no, they're looking for at least one more Council member. Mr. Greenwald volunteered. The consensus of Council was that Mr. Sweatt, Mayor Baldwin, John Moore and Ken Greenwald serve as the City Committee to meet with GVEC to discuss franchise issues. #9 BID AWARD: Consider and take action to award bid for sidewalk . construction. -181- . . . Mr. Sweatt advised the City solicited bids and two were received. This bid is for the construction of a sidewalk at Ashley Park and an alternate bid for construction of another sidewalk at the location of Borgfeld Road between the Dove Meadows Subdivision and FM 3009. After review, it is recommended the bid be awarded to I & J Concrete in the amount of $6,379 for Ashley Park and $3,663 for Borgfeld Road for a total of $10,042. Mr. McDonald moved to award the bid for construction of a sidewalk at Ashley Park to I & J concrete in the amount of $6,379 and also to award the alternate bid for construction of a sidewalk at the location of Borgfeld Road between the Dove Meadow Subdivision and FM 3009 to I & J Concrete in the amount of $3,663 making the total for both sidewalks an award of $10,042 to I & J Concrete. Mr. Agee seconded the motion, which carried with the following votes: AYES: Councilmembers McDonald, Agee and Greenwald. NAYS: None. #10 RESOLUTIONS: Consider and take action on the following: A. Appointing one member to Board of Managers of CRWA B. Appointing two members to Board of Trustees of CRWA . Mr. Sweatt reminded Council they have a memo in their packet from John Bierschwale, Public Works Director, recommending appointment of Sam Willoughby, a Council member, or Mr. Bierschwale himself, to the Board of Trustees and recommending appointment of Eber Busch to the Board of Managers. These positions will be seated on the Board May 1st. Mr. Greenwald, who has served on the Board in the past, noted that when CRWA was created, Mr. Armbruster made them put in a five-year term limit. CRWA meets the second Monday of each month. After a brief discussion, Mr. McDonald moved to appoint Sam Willoughby and Kerry Sweatt to the Board of Trustees for a one-year term and to appoint Eber Busch to the Board of Managers for a one-year term. Mr. Agee seconded the motion, which carried with the following votes: AYES: Councilmembers McDonald, Agee and Greenwald. NAYS: None. #11 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT . . Announced that this Friday Samuel Clemens High School will stage a mock DWI accident at 9:30 a.m. There will be some participation by the Police -182- . . . Department and the Fire Department. They have a lady speaker whose child was involved in a drunk driver accident. Mayor Pro-Tem Swinney stated, that along that line, the City of Austin shows a powerful multi-media slide show about a prom date. Reported they have a potential epidemic. They have captured the second bat with rabies. Mayor Pro-Tem Swinney asked in what part of the City and Mr. Sweatt answered one in Savannah Square and one outside the City limits. Noted he has the BVY A schedule and Council will be getting a copy. Mentioned the First Baptist Church of Schertz has asked the City to endorse the Power Team program which will be held at the church June 3rd through tho It is a non-denominational evangelistic program. Council had no problem with endorsing it. Melvin Golla. President of the Schertz Bank, is celebrating his 25th year with the bank this Friday. There will be cake and other refreshments, at the Main Street branch, starting at 8:30 in the morning and going all day long for those who wish to stop by. #12 ITEMS BY COUNCIL . Mr. AQee: · Told Mr. McDonald it has been fun working with him on Council. (Mr. McDonald's term is up and he is not running for reelection.) Mr. Greenwald: · Related that Planning and Zoning had some questions about the roof proposed for the new public safety buildings. One member says the color they have chosen supposedly fades and the roof costs $25,000. . Presented Mr. Sweatt with a list of the people who donated their time and supplies for the new roof on the BVYA building. . Mentioned the possibility of Council foregoing a whole or partial payment from BVY A. Mayor Pro- T em Swinney said he was open to foregoing one payment and the rest of Council agreed. (It will need formal action on a future agenda. ) . . Noted that GVEC presented its plan to Planning and Zoning last night for their new building and there are several problems with it. The height of the antenna could interfere with two houses, they plan to block off Richmond, and their choice of landscaping is not good. In regard to blocking off Richmond, -183-