ccspecwksp 05-26-1999
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SPECIAL WORKSHOP SESSION OF THE SCHERTZ CITY COUNCIL
MAY 26,1999
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop Session on
Wednesday, May 26, 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; Council members Pia Jarman; Joe Potempa and
Ken Greenwald. Absent: Councilmember Glyn D. Williams. 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 bids for asbestos removal and site demolition (Palms
Apartments 100-1/2 FM 78 & Buildings 110 FM 78, 202 FM 78 and
104 FM 78).
Mr. Sweatt reminded Council they have a memo and bid tabulations in their
packets. Building 110 FM 78 is the H&P Building on which they have not closed
yet, but expect to very soon. The bids include asbestos removal.
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After review of the bids, they are recommending the project be awarded to
Robels and Sons, Inc. in the amount of $66,529. Approximately $55,000 of this
cost will be borne through the FEMA and State grants for Removal of the Palms
Apartments Flood Abatement Project. Mr. Greenwald asked if that money will
be up front and Mr. Sweatt responded they already have $40,000 of it.
Council indicated their readiness for this item to be placed on next Tuesday
night's agenda.
#3 Discuss audit services agreement for fiscal year ending September 30,
1999.
Mr. Sweatt advised Council they have, in their packets, a copy of a proposed
letter of understanding with the audit firm of Thompson, Williams, Biediger,
Kastor & Young to cover the period ending September 30, 1999. They have
already completed their 5th year with the City and, normally, it has been the
City's practice to change external audit firms every 3-5 years, and they have
talked about that. Due to lots of new issues this year, he is recommending they
keep the current audit firm for at least one more year. Their proposed fee of
$13, 500 is in line with past agreements.
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Mr. Potempa inquired what their fee was last year. Mr. Sweatt answered he is
not sure, but believes it was $.12,500.
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When asked by Mayor Baldwin, Council agreed they were ready for this item to
be placed on next Tuesday night's agenda.
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#4 Discuss construction alternate for emer.Qency services buildings.
Mr. Sweatt mentioned that, as Council will recall, the original design for the
emergency services buildings called for three towers carrying the logo of the
specific services. We asked the contractor to hold the price firm, pending our
assurance of adequate funding. The estimated cost for construction of the
towers is $126,000. The contractor is pressing for an answer or release from
the commitment.
Mr. Sweatt went on to say they are asking that Council authorize them to delete
the towers from this project and hold the funding for use in other areas of the
building development such as console and radio equipment. They have
investigated decorative clocks and other techniques to provide a theme or point
of concentration for the buildings.
Mayor Baldwin inquired what would identify the buildings and Mr. Sweatt
answered ground-level decorative signs. The Mayor then asked if those would
be outside the fence and Mr. Sweatt replied that's correct.
Mrs. Jarman observed that the green roof should tie the buildings together.
Mayor Baldwin agreed, but said they need some form of identification.
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Mr. Greenwald asked what GVEC paid for the monument sign out front of their
new building and Mr. Sweatt replied he does not know. Mr. Greenwald then
noted that something similar would be nice. Mr. Sweatt stated he would bring
back a plan.
Council indicated they were prepared for this item to be placed on next Tuesday
night's agenda.
#5 Discuss appointment to fill vacancy on Council.
Mayor Baldwin related that at the last meeting Mr. Potempa asked if Council
would consider Reginna Agee to fill the vacancy. The Mayor said he had spoken
with Mrs. Agee and she indicated she would like to be appointed. She told him
that Norman had asked her, if something happened to him, if she would fill his
place on Council. The consensus of Council was to go with Reginna Agee and
they agreed to have this item placed on next Tuesday night's agenda for action.
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#6 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
· Reported there is a bill going to the Governor that would cut by 50% the
amount we can charge for impact fees. HB 2045 is a bad, bad bill. Mayor
Baldwin asked what effect that would have on CCMA and was told they think
they are under different legislation. He understands that under this bill, the
City would get credit for up to 50% of what they are entitled to charge. There
is still hope the Governor will veto the bill. The first vote by the Legislature
was by voice, but the second vote will be a vote of record.
· Referred.to SB 89, the annexation bill. and said there are now 25
amendments tacked onto it. If it passes, it will economically choke Texas
cities to death. It will likely go to a conference committee. Mr. Greenwald
asked what the rationale is behind it and Mr. Sweatt replied people aggrieved
by annexation.
· Noted the Economic Development Commission is recommending
appointment of a new member to that Board, namely John Torres, Vice-
President of State Bank and Trust. If Council has no objection, he would like
to place this item on next week's agenda. Council did not object.
#7 ITEMS BY COUNCIL
. Mr. Greenwald:
· Commented that Planning and Zoning approved the Cal-Tex subdivision last
night. They are located across the railroad tracks from Nagley and handle car
care products. Mayor Baldwin asked if they are looking for tax abatement
and Mr. Sweatt answered they would be filin.g. Mr. Potempa questioned if
they are a manufacturer or a distributor and Mr. Sweatt replied he thinks they
are a manufacturer.
· Referred to questions about the status of Bordertown and advised that Steve
Simonson said their plans have been submitted to the Inspection Department
Mr. Potempa noted that Kirby has a Bordertown.
· Remarked the Quantum grand opening was very nice. It is laid out well and
has room for expansion.
Mr. Potempa:
· Questioned what's going on at Merlin Automotive on Main Street. They have
barricades up. Mr. Greenwald advised they are removing gas tanks.
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· Inquired what the skeleton framework is in front of the Smoke Pit where the .
Frontier used to be. Mr. Sweatt answered they got a permit to demolish it,
but then stopped all of a sudden. He doesn't know why.
· Stated he had given Council a memo several weeks ago on the TIF and
wondered if there were any comments. Gerry Bethke wants to know what's
going to happen. Mayor Baldwin asked if the SCUC ISO had appointed
anyone and was told they had not. Mayor Baldwin then commented the TIF
would probably have trouble keeping the school district as a member. Mr.
Potempa asked the Mayor if he thinks they are taking a wait and see attitude
and Mayor Baldwin replied he doesn't think they have any other choice. The
Mayor then went on to say the contributions to TIF are revenue neutral - they
are not hurting the taxpayers of this community. He then added that Jerry
Bethke needs to go before the school board. Mr. Sweatt commented there
are some bills out there that will have an impact on the TIF, but he doesn't
think they will lose their State funding.
#8 ITEMS BY MAYOR
· Asked in regard to annexation, if the City needs to do anything before the new
laws become effective. Mr. Sweatt replied nothing needs to be done.
· Read a letter from the Greenshire Homeowners Association expressing their .
gratitude to Steve Simonson, Jerry Smith, Johnny Woodward and Leonard
Truitt for their cooperation in accomplishing several projects in the Greenshire
Subdivision.
#9 EXECUTIVE SESSION: Called under Chapter 551 Texas Government
Code, Sub-Section 551.074 - evaluation of City Mana.ger.
An Executive Session was held from 7:56 p.m. until 8:18 p.m.
#10 Action, if any, on above Executive Session.
Mr. Greenwald moved to approve a pay raise for the City Manager up to $72,000
annually. Mr. Potempa seconded the motion, which carried with the following
votes:
AYES: Councilmembers Jarman, Potempa and Greenwald.
NAYS: None.
#11 ADJOURNMENT
There being no further bustfless to discuss, Mayor Baldwin adjourned the
meeting at 8:22 p.m.
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