ccspecwksp 09-30-1998
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SPECIAL WORKSHOP SESSION OF THE SCHERTZ CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 30,1998
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop Session on
Wednesday, September 30, 1998 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the
Municipal Complex, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas. Those present were
as follows: Councilmembers Joe Potempa; Norman W. Agee, Sr.; Timothy
Swinney and Ken Greenwald. Absent: Councilmember Pia Jarman. Staff
present were City manager Kerry Sweatt and City Secretary Norma Althouse.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS
No one had signed up to speak.
#2 Discuss first reading of Ordinance regarding TMRS and the continuing
automatic updated service credit calculations and increases in the
contribution rate.
Mr. Sweatt advised the money is in the FY 1998/99 budget to increase the City's
contribution match from one-to-one to one-and-one-half to one effective January
1, 1999. The proposed ordinance has the effect of continuing the automatic
updated service credit calculations and increases the contribution rate.
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Mr. Swinney asked if this is a model ordinance from TMRS and was told it is. Mr.
Swinney then verified that the CPI is 70%. Mr. Sweatt indicated that's correct
and said for the past several years retirees have received a minimum of one, and
sometimes two, extra checks per year.
Mayor Baldwin mentioned that as a former employee, Norma Agee's vote on this
could be considered a conflict of interest and he probably should abstain. Mr.
Sweatt agreed that's probably a good idea.
Council agreed they were ready for this item to be included on next Tuesday
night's agenda.
#3 Discuss the following:
· public hearing on request by Affordable Residential Community (ARC)
to rezone 2.109 acres from Manufactured Home (MH) to General
Business (GB); and
· first reading of ordinance regarding said acreage.
Mr. Sweatt pointed out the location on the map of the property proposed for
rezoning. ARC hopes to expand the retail area, but has no specific plans at the
moment. They feel with the FM 78 widening, there will be a lack of depth.
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After being asked by Mayor Baldwin, Council affirmed their readiness for this
item to be included on next Tuesday night's agenda.
#4 Discuss the following:
· public hearing on request by M.W. Cude, on behalf of ABG Investments,
to rezone two parcels of land - 0.969 acres from Single-Family
Residential Dwelling District (R-2) to General Business (GB) and 0.127
acres from General Business (GB) to Single-Family Residential Dwelling
District (R-2); and
. first reading of ordinance regarding said acreage.
Mr. Sweatt related this rezoning comes about to clear up some misunderstanding
between property owners as a result of previous recent rezoning. Mr. Cude was
present and pointed out the rezoning from GB to R-2 will make the lots a little
deeper. Mr. Swinney asked if that will save some trees and Mr. Cude replied the
area is fairly bald to start with.
Mr. Sweatt questioned how many acres are in the commercial tract and Mr. Cude
replied he cannot remember, but will look it up. Mr. Sweatt advised him just to
have that information ready at the public hearing.
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There were no further questions, and Council indicated they were prepared for
this item to be included on next Tuesday night's agenda.
#5 Consider and take action setting public hearing date on request from
Continental Homes to rezone a total of 83.2 acres from Single-Family
Residential Dwelling District (R-2) and General Business (GB) to
Gated (R-6).
Mr. Sweatt explained this is an extension of Carolina Crossing Unit #5 and
borders on the Live Oak Hills Subdivision. Mayor Baldwin asked where they are
going to come out and Mr. Sweatt replied the City has asked them to extend
Savannah Drive to FM 1518, but they are not very anxious to do that.
Mr. Greenwald commented they have acreage platted out to Prairie Lane. The
two things Planning and Zoning is not happy with are their resistance to extend
Savannah Drive and the gated entrance right on Schertz Parkway.
Mr. Sweatt noted the earliest possible date for a public hearing is October 20th
and an alternate date would be November 3rd. Council may want to wait and
see whether or not Planning and Zoning has a problem with the Master Plan.
Mayor Baldwin expressed the need to have all the facts first. He then asked if
this will be an extension of Carolina Crossing and was told by Mr. Greenwald it
will be. Mr. Greenwald remarked that Steve Simonson had suggested the
. possibility of having Don McCrary, an engineer, look at the road as a
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disinterested party. The developer's desire is to build in a wooded area and this
is the last decent wooded area available.
There was a brief discussion about the road, the land and the fact it will be a
gated community. Mr. Swinney observed he knows gated communities are
selling like hotcakes, but others are building houses not in a gated community
and they are also selling.
Mr. Swinney moved to set a public hearing date of November 3, 1998 on the
request from Continental Homes to rezone 83.2 acres from R-2 and GB to R-6.
Mr. Agee seconded the motion, which carried with the following votes:
AYES: Councilmembers Potempa, Agee, Swinney and Greenwald.
NAYS: None.
#6 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
· Announced the City has received the GFOA award for 1997 and a report will
be presented to L.J. Cotto This is the 9th consecutive year the City has won
this award and it signifies good record keeping to the bondholders.
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· Related there will soon be a new night depository box on the same side of the
building as the drive-through window. It is of sturdy construction and will be
padlocked. It is not only for night deposits, but will be a convenience for
customers during the day.
· Noted next Tuesday night there will be an amendment to the budget on the
agenda. They failed to bring forward $38,000 paid to the City by FEMA. It is
also likely there will be one other change to the budget. Guadalupe County
has offered us $3,000 in unclaimed funds (last year it was $11,000) and it can
be used only for something associated with economic development. Mr.
Swinney asked if they need to carry forward this year, on the annual budget,
anything from the swimming pool and was told they do not.
#7 ITEMS BY COUNCIL
Mr. AQee:
· Commented a citizen had complained to him about a barking dog problem
that has been going on for some time. He told the person he would pass the
message on, but thought the only thing left for him to do is take the case to
court.
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· Stated that some one mentioned to him that SAFES blocks the flow of traffic,
because of parking by the bar ditch, at the Mexican restaurant in Cibolo. He
drove by and observed it also.
Mr. Greenwald:
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· Asked Mr. Sweatt if he wants to talk about the letter from Mr. Davenport or let
it ride. Mr. Sweatt answered he thinks he's going to rely on the Carrizo
Springs and not CRWA. Mayor Baldwin said if only we had some positive
feedback it would help. We are facing heavy penalties if we don't come up
with a solution to the water problem. Mr. Sweatt commented that he
understood from Melvin Strey that if you don't buy now, you can't buy later.
Mayor Baldwin asked how much we pay per year to belong to CRWA and Mr.
Sweatt replied we pay $10,000, but he can't in good conscience ask Council
to sign, take or pay a contract with them. Mr. Greenwald suggested looking
into it so we know what's happening. Mayor Baldwin commented he has no
problem with a third water source. Mr. Sweatt pointed out the 1,000 acre feet
is separate from this and Mayor Baldwin asked if they can lock us out. Mr.
Greenwald stressed we need to go to GBRA and say we want 1,000 acre feet
of water. Mr. Sweatt said he thinks by the time the study with Carrizo is
completed, the City can drop CRWA and perhaps turn the 1,000 acre feet
from GBRA back. Mr. Greenwald remarked the 1,000 acre feet from GBRA is
what we need to use for commercial property along IH-35.
· Reported he was glad to see one of the historical buildings (Hugo's garage)
torn down. Mr. Sweatt related the old white building by the Sonic will be down
next week.
Mr. Swinney:
· Commented the Schertz Economic Development Corporation had a good
meeting this past Monday evening.
· Inquired if Bexar County going to private ambulance service will impact
Schertz. Mr. Sweatt answered if they are unable to enter into a contract to be
the first responder, then they will no longer make calls- outside the City limits
in that area of Bexar County. Their response in the past has been to assist,
but they can't afford to send personnel and vehicles for a mere pittance.
They would have bid on this portion of the County, but San Antonio said all or
none. There was a brief discussion about the fate of the people in this area
without SAFES as the first responder.
· Related that Barbara Roland told him a couple of young girls were harassed
by some guys from Waste Management.
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