ccspecwksp 03-10-1999
.
SPECIAL WORKSHOP SESSION OF THE SCHERTZ CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 10, 1999
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop Session on
Wednesday, March 10, 1999 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 Pia Jarman; Joe Potempa;
Norman W. Agee, Sr.; Timothy Swinney and Ken Greenwald. Staff present were
City Manger Kerry Sweatt and City Secretary Norma Althouse.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS
No one had signed up to speak.
#2 Discuss report regarding alternate water supply and the
Schertz/Seguin Local Government Corporation.
.
Mr. Sweatt advised things are going well with the Local Government Corporation.
Council has, in their packets, a project report and Phase 1 budget
recommendations. The City of Seguin has reviewed this information and the
budget report and has committed to their one-half of the $950,000 estimated
cost. The Corporation has adopted the appropriate resolutions, which would
result in the reimbursement of the entities from bond proceeds as those develop.
The City of Schertz's funding is available through capital reserves in the utility
department. The Local Government Corporation will be asking for funding until
the bonds come about.
Crockett Camp explained that more than half of the money will be used to
purchase assets. Until they have a budget, they cannot make a concrete offer.
Mayor Baldwin asked if they would buy and Mr. Camp replied they would either
buy or lease. They have no idea what the water will be worth and think the best
idea is to offer the property owners royalties. Mr. Greenwald observed they
could possibly buy and lease back to the property owners.
Mayor Baldwin asked if there is oil in the Carrizo also and Mr. Camp answered
there is some, but right now the testing is pretty preliminary. They will have to
adjust for PH in the water. They are also going to find iron in the water, but it is
apparently a straightforward process to take the iron out. Mayor Baldwin then
asked if there's any sulphur and Mr. Camp replied there is not. Mr. Camp then
added that environmental permitting would be a big job.
.
Mr. Camp commented he had a meeting with the Texas Water Development
Board and they like this project. If it gets funded, they would like to participate.
Being included in Senate Bill 1 will make a difference in getting access to State
loans and grants.
-119-
Mr. Potempa questioned if the money from Schertz is available and Mr. Sweatt
replied yes - the request for it to be designated to the Local Government
Corporation would be an agenda item next week.
.
Mr. Greenwald indicated this is the most viable alternative, the Corporation has
no money. Mr. Swinney commented SO/50 is better than per capita. Mr. Sweatt
advised that SO/50 is the initial start-up, but if later Seguin would use twice as
much water, then they would pay twice as much.
Mr. Swinney asked if there will be a bond election and Mr. Camp replied no, the
Corporation would sell the bonds. Mr. Sweatt added they would like to be able to
sell bonds within the next six months.
Mayor Baldwin inquired how many phases there are to the project and Mr. Camp
replied there are four. The first phase is the preliminary engineering and all it
involves. The second phase is the bond sale. Phase three is construction and
the fourth phase is start-up.
There was a brief discussion about progress on the project and about interest
expressed by other entities. Mayor Baldwin thanked Mr. Camp for all his efforts
and Council indicated they were ready for this item to be included on next
Tuesday night's agenda.
.
#3 Discuss report regarding information systems.
Mr. Sweatt reminded Council they have a document in their packets from Brady
Le Blanc, the consultant from Brice Systems, Inc. The document is a draft. Mr.
Le Blanc is here this evening to discuss the document and answer any questions
Council may have.
Mr. Le Blanc explained that the Y2K compliant issues for Schertz are far less
than for many other cities. The idea is to test the system to make sure nothing
comes out of the woodwork. Mr. Swinney asked him to explain compliant and
Mr. Le Blanc noted that a very brief definition is a system that doesn't introduce
errors into the programs because of dates.
Mr. Swinney then commented he understands the federal government is passing
legislation to prevent litigation if an entity has done everything possible for Y2K
compliance. Mr. Le Blanc advised there are three bills out there - one in the
State of Texas and two in the federal government. Their main purpose is to try
and limit liability for frivolous suits.
Mr. Le Blanc mentioned there are six sections to his report: (1) Policies and
Procedures, (2) Recommendations for Upgrading Personal Computer Hardware
and Software, (3) Installing a City-Wide Network, (4) Other Recommendations,
.
-120-
.
(5) the Schedule and Budget, and (6) Year 2000 Assessment. The City of
Schertz looked into the future and determined they needed a plan.
Mr. Le Blanc referred Council to page 20 where there is a Workstation Inventory
Analysis and to page 36 which has a Recommendation Implementation Cost
Summary. The Implementation Cost Summary contains figures for the Year
2000 Issue, the Productivity Phase, Phase 1 and Phase 2. These various
phases and their costs were reviewed briefly.
Mr. Sweatt pointed out none of these phases address the software issue. Lots of
computers are hardware compliant, but not always software compliant. As
Council is well aware, we have had a lot of trouble lately with our software.
Concurrence from Council is needed for the City to solicit proposals for software
so we can have them on hand until we see if CPS can meet our needs. Mr.
le Blanc has suggested giving CPS a deadline of July 1.
Mr. Sweatt went on to say the City also wants to solicit proposals for a number of
pieces of hardware and bring those results back to Council in about 20 days. It-is
anticipated there will be an amendment to the budget coming before Council
regarding the costs for Y2K issues and Phase 1.
Mr. Agee verified they are considering Y2K issues and Phase 1 at the same time
and Mr. Sweatt replied that's correct. Mr. Sweatt then reminded Mr. Agee they
. would also be requesting proposals for software at the same time.
Mayor Baldwin questioned if it isn't better to buy new software now. Mr. Sweatt
replied they would love to, but they can't say it's needed for Y2k compliance.
The Mayor then asked how expensive the software would be and Mr. Le Blanc
answered he estimates somewhere between $150,000 and $200,000. Mr.
Le Blanc emphasized he, personally, thinks the City should bite the bullet as far
as purchasing new software. His opinion is based not so much on the Y2K
compliance, but on the ~ak natl.!re of CPS.
Mr. Swinney asked why the City is buying instead of leasing. Mr. Le Blanc
indicated it is a money game. He has found to be buying the most cost effective
even though it may not be the lowest price.
Mr. Sweatt mentioned the sample letters, press releases and resolutions in the
back of Mr. Le Blanc's report and stated aresolution regarding Y2K issues will be
on a future agenda.
After being asked by Mayor Baldwin, the consensus of Council wasJor the City to
solicif proposals for both. the hardware anct software items. The Mayor then
thanked Mr. Le Blanc and expressed his appreciation for his time and effort on
this project.
.
-121-
#4 Discuss final reading of ordinance rezoning two tracts of land on FM .
3009 (Barshop/Corridor Properties).
Mayor Baldwin inquired if Mr. Sweatt had heard from Mr. Westerman of Corridor
Properties and was told he had not. Council indicated their readiness for this
item to be placed on next Tuesday night's agenda.
#5 Discuss final reading of ordinance amending the UDC.
Once again, Council agreed they were ready for this item to be placed on next
Tuesday night's agenda.
#6 Discuss revisions to application forms for a Special Exception to the
Zoning Ordinance and for a Specific Use Permit.
Mr. Sweatt related he had asked the City Attorney to reword the applications as
per Mr. Swinney's suggestion. Council briefly reviewed the wording changes and
admitted they were ready for this item to be included on next Tuesday night's
agenda.
#7 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
· Distributed a brochure from TMRS, which addressed a defined benefit versus .
a deferred contribution.
· Announced that the 2nd Annual Employee Picnic is scheduled for April 24th.
· Reminded everyone that the Employee Remembrance Day ceremony will be
March 19th at noon at the Public Works Department.
· Stated the City is moving forward on bids to remove the Shoe Shop. They
should be in by March 29th.
#8 ITEMS BY COUNCIL:
Mr. Swinney:
· Informed everyone he is on vacation next week and will not be at the meeting.
Mr. Potempa:
· Inquired if the Asian venture is a go and Mayor Baldwin replied they don't
know yet.
· Asked what's going in next to Slim's Automotive and Mr. Sweatt answered
Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
.
-122-
.
· Wondered if it's possible to make two pots of regular coffee and one of
decaffeinated for Council meetings.
Mr. Aaee:
· Asked if anyone had signed up to oppose him in the upcoming election and
was told not yet.
Mrs. Jarman:
· Reported the Public Officials Liability Workshop was very interesting.
Regarding people's rights, she doesn't know if smoking is a civil right.
· Mentioned it is a good idea to have a Parliamentarian on City Council - we
need to appoint one. Mr. Swinney commented he thought Mrs. Jarman was
very knowledgeable about parliamentary procedures.
Mr. Greenwald:
.
· Brought up several items that were covered at the Planning and Zoning
Commission meeting last night: (1) the Commission found Enterprise Rent-A-
Car to be a first class operation; (2) a gentleman was present from
Bordertown which plans to build a Pizza HutlTaco Bell/Kentucky Fried
Chicken/game room complex up by the Atrium Inn; and, (3) Alamo Holly
came in with expansion plans half again as big as what they already have.
· Remarked Bill Neller brought in some wood pieces he thinks someone from
the City could paint and use as Christmas decorations. Also, Mr. Neller wants
the City to consider having an Easter egg hunt next year for Schertz children
only.
#9 ITEMS BY MAYOR
· Commented he noticed a lot of dirt being moved around under the bridge at
the Cibolo Creek and Mr. Sweatt said the State is doing some work. The
Mayor then asked when the clearing project for the Creek begins and Mr.
Sweatt answered there are several committees getting cranked up and the
property owners will have to fill out right-of-way forms giving temporary
permission to be on their property. The Mayor informed Mr. Sweatt that Mr.
Gignac says he has a crew that will help.
At this time Council took a short break.
.
-123-
#10 EXECUTIVE SESSION: Called under Chapter 551 Texas Government
Code, Sub-Section 551.071, Consultation with Attorney Regarding Pending or .
Contemplated Litigation.
An Executive Session was held from 9:15 p.m. until 10:15 p.m.
#11 Consider and take action, if any, on above Executive Session.
No action was required.
#12 ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Baldwin adjourned the
meeting at 10:16 p.m.
\-
ATTEST:
.
~~
City Secretary, City of Schertz
.
-124-