ccswks 01-29-1997
SPECIAL WORKSHOP SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 29, 1997
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop Session
on Wednesday, January 29, 1997 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 Tern Joe Potempa, presiding; Councilmembers Charles
McDonald, Earl Sawyer, Tim Swinney and Ken Greenwald.
Absent: Mayor Hal Baldwin. Staff present were City Manager
Kerry Sweatt; Assistant City Manager Steve Simonson; Fire
Chief Johnny Woodward; Police Chief Jerry Smith; Director
of Public Works Johnny Bierschwale; Librarian Gail Douglas;
EMS Administrator Juan Guerrero and Dolores Butler Deputy
City Secretary.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS
Ernie Evans, Chairman of the Planning and zoning Commission
requested the City Council place on their agenda and consider
a joint effort between City Council and Planning and zoning
(P&Z) for "town meetings", one in April and one in May, to
discuss the Comprehensive Plan with those citizens who desire
to attend. The surveys are out now, information is being
collected and compiled and will be presented along with any
verbal input from citizens attending the meetings. Once
scheduled, the meeting dates will be published.
Mr. Sawyer was concerned about crowding the agenda with two
town meetings if we are going to follow the political plan
for passing bonds.
Mr. Sweatt stated that when we get to that
agenda we are going to recommend the bond
scheduled in August.
item on
election
the
be
Mr.
to
work
Greenwald said Council needs to direct the city manager
put in some available dates in April and May that will
with City Council and P&Z.
Mr. Sweatt asked how the Council feels about Thursday nights
and it was the consensus Thursday nights would be suitable.
Mr. Sweatt said he would get with staff and P&Z to determine
some alternative dates and bring them back at the next
meeting or certainly at the following meeting.
Jim Harris wanted to know the status of the annual audit as
some cities have already approved theirs.
Mr. Sweatt advised our auditor is expecting to be completed
in February or early March.
#2 Discuss recommendations regarding capital improvement
projects.
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Mr. Sweatt said quite some time ago Council asked that we
begin the process of identifying capital needs in the
community projects and in particular, improvements that
were needed either because of growth or simply
over-crowdedness or conditions in the community. We have
been meeting with the staff, we met with different
individuals who have had opinions regarding what the
community needs and we have attempted to gel down a lot of
comments from earlier surveys, a lot of suggestions from
individuals and from staff recommendations to at least a
manageable size wish list and suggestion list. We have in
the packet a proposed capital improvement program that covers
seven (7) areas - public safety, town center/library, golf
course, sports complex, park improvements, street and
drainage improvements and FM 78 right-of-way improvements.
We have in the audience representatives from our financial
advisor, a bond attorney from Fulbright and Jaworski, and the
staff to help discuss these items in more detail.
Mr. Sweatt referenced the page of original recommendations
provided in the packet, noting item #VII, FM 78 ROWand
Improvements, and said we've reviewed this again and because
of the nature of this and the absolute necessity that the
city participate with the highway department in acquiring the
ROW for those improvements, we recommend striking this item
from the list and that we fund that from other sources. we
are going to have to buy the ROWand get the project moving
as it is not optional, we are required to do it.
The first item under the general heading of Public Safety
includes three (3) projects; police, fire and EMS
facilities. Detail suggests we believe a new police building
is needed approximating 10,000 sq ft and an estimated total
cost to be $1,530,000.
Review of needs for the
approximately 12,000 sq
activity and that cost,
$1,934,000.
fire station finds that we need
ft of new facility and related
including land, is estimated at
Review of EMS needs indicate current facilities (barn) can be
enlarged and complete that as office and dormitory facilities
so it is building enlargement and related activities only for
a total estimated cost of $994,000.
when we originally put this project together we felt these
were clearly related to each other and could be lumped under
the general category of publiC safety; however, legal
opinion indicates these would be three (3) separate items in
the bond election.
The next recommended facility is a town center and library
improvements. we see building modifications; brick, carpet
and other items as well as establishrnent of a cultural town
center in which some older buildings would be moved off the
FM 78 ROWand others, creating an historical recognition of
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portions of the city's history in that area and the use of
that building for enlargement of the library book sales area.
Total estimated cost, including relocation of a portion of
the old fire station and site preparation, is $315,000.
We feel that a golf course is an item that has been asked for
and recommended by a number of our citizens in various
surveys and comments about the balanced need of recreational
activity. We've seen feasibility studies that identify the
need for additional courses in this area and the estimated
cost is $3,600,000.
We have identified the need for creation of a sports complex
area, consisting of baseball, softball, soccer, football type
field (like Pop Warner league), and concession stands and
buildings at a new 10cation for a total estimated cost,
including land, of $4,200,000.
Additionally improvements to the existing park area on Oak
Street consisting of hike/bike trails, pavilion improvements,
additional parking, volleyball courts, removal of three (3)
fields, the completion of a "gateway" project at FM 78/Cibolo
Creek and along the creek boundary lines of the park and
additional playground equipment and rest rooms for a total of
$1,366,000.
For quite some time we have been asked to consider making
paving improvements in Deerhaven Subdivision which was
annexed after it was developed. Residents in that area have
asked the city to consider making street improvements and
attendant drainage improvements so we suggest placing that on
a bond issue and it would, by necessity, be a city cost or a
property owner participation. Total cost, including drainage
is estimated at $711,000.
Mr.
what
bonds
are.
Sweatt asked Mr. Anderlitch to describe the aspects of
next would be involved and what our chances of selling
of this nature might be and what our credit ratings
Mr. Anderlitch reported Southwest Securities doesn't see any
problems in selling this amount of bonds - it's a full
platter of bonds and the payment schedule or the issuance of
this debt would be three (3) different installments of
$5,000,000; $6,000,000; and $4,000,000. We would not
anticipate any problems in selling the bonds, the City
presently enjoys an "A" rating with Moody's. We don't think
this will jeopardize the city's rating. Assuming the audit
is as good or better than what we saw last year, we would see
no reason there would be a problem marketing the bonds at a
favorable interest rate. Of course, looking at spreading
that out over a three-year period, we assumed a 6% rate which
is certainly, we hope, high but not knowing when we are going
to sell and in what year, we'd rather be on the high side in
forecasting what your requirements would be. The debt
service figures are provided in the packet.
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Mr. Sweatt pointed out the debt service schedule is as Mr.
Anderlitch said. It has made the assumption of the 1996-97
assessed value remaining the same throughout the life of the
bonds which is clearly not realistic. It has anticipated
that any sales tax revenue that would be received if sales
tax were used as a part of the debt service remained the
same. In order to make some projections we just had to make
some assumptions that are not true. Mr. Anderlitch
interjected the assumptions are conservative, if growth
continues as it has, at least for the next severa 1 years and
we think these are maximum figures.
Mayor Pro Tem Potempa asked if each of these projects would
be on the ballot individually, voted on individually. Mr.
Sweatt said we will defer to the attorneys but we believe
that each of these items would very likely be a separate
proposition.
Mr. Anderlitch suggested Jeff Kuhn, Attorney, can give the
rationale of what the Attorney General is requiring and why
the public safety project might have to be divided in the
event you are questioned about it.
Mr. Sweatt said he was going to ask both Mr. Anderlitch and
Mr. Kuhn to speak to the debt service schedule in addition
to the reflection of the current debt service and the current
tax amount and the amount that $15,000,000 of bonds would
require. There are also columns that deal with combining
both ad valorem tax receipts and a local sales tax revenue.
It is permissive in the state of Texas to conduct an election
on the issue of adopting an additional sales tax under 4B
provision that provides for capital projects and other
economic development activities. We would recommend that
Council consider placing that on the ballot as a part of this
bond issue item, that would be to consider adopting a sales
tax of up to l/2% for the purpose of funding these projects,
but will defer to Mr. Kuhn in wording of how we could
describe that in the election to relate to these particular
projects.
Mark McLiney said we are talking about using up to
approximately $350,000 of sales tax revenue (on the low side)
the 1/2 cent sales tax, if passed would bring in. That is
also equivalent to .10 to .l2 cents of ad valorem tax rates;
in other words, if we tie the sales tax to hang the debt
service on the bonds it would reduce the ad valorem taxes by
about .12 cents.
Mr. Anderlitch said he and Mr. MCLiney had met with the
staff earlier this week and were looking at this originally
to try to bring it all to the voters in May along with the
council election. It was our recommendation that it is
usually not a good policy to have so many items on the
ballot, understanding the Charter election with many
different propositions and the sales tax would have been an
issue. If we end up with five to nine propositions we would
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~,..
have such a lengthy ballot that would be confusing to voters
and it would be better to have the sales tax in the bond
election. The next time after May would be August and that
would give Council and committees time to get this set up and
before the public so that they fully understand it and have
public meetings so questions could all be answered before the
election.
Mayor Pro Tern Potempa questioned the proposed location of the
golf course and sports complex - will we have to purchase
land and if so, where?
Mr. Sweatt said we are recommending in the Schirmerville
area as there is a wide area and, as you know, due to the
ACUZ requirements, the density of development of this area
will always be subject to the noise and concerns of flight
pattern in this area. We think it is logical and appropriate
land use to consider more public outdoor recreation and open
space throughout this area. In addition, we anticipate, if
these are a reality, we'd be able to develop a reuse of water
so that CCMA effluent (which you know is now piped to
Randolph Air Force Base with a contract) could be used to
water both the golf course and a lot of the parks that would
further enhance the use and get a bigger bang for the buck.
Both facilities are proposed for this area.
Mayor Pro
the land
package?
Tem Potempa asked if we are ever going to
we have on IH-35 and would that be part
utilize
of this
Mr. Sweatt said we will eventually use that land but we do
not believe it is the appropriate location at this time. We
think the police and fire buildings need to be constructed in
this general area - somewhere bounded by Live Oak Road,
Schertz Parkway or perhaps FM 1518 as far south as FM 78, or
FM 3009. The concentration and response time would dictate
that the majority of our calls and the need to provide
service are in the center of the city and we need to continue
to have a brief response time. As the city grows, both
commercially and industrially, there will be a time when the
IH-35 property is the logical location for a second fire and
EMS substation. The police service can essentially operate
from any location as the bulk of their activity is outreach
as opposed to a quick response for a central location.
Mayor Pro
to create
and EMS be
Tern Potempa asked if it is in the city's planning
a public safety complex or will the fire, police
scattered?
Mr. Sweatt said we believe there is some value in being near
each other but that there are not many common facilities that
we could economize by putting all under one roof. It would
be nice to have them in proximity but there is not
necessarily an advantage. To put all three on one piece of
ground severely restricts our ability to buy the land and
locate the property for it.
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Mayor
need
need
and
barn
Pro Tem Potempa asked how many acres of land would we
for a combined complex. Mr Sweatt said we estimate we
three (3) acres for each of the fire and police building
believe the EMS facilities, extended from the current
can be done on l/2 acre.
Mr. Anderlitch stated we had originally considered having
public safety services all together on one proposition but
ran into legal problems.
Mr. Kuhn explained the rule of law we're talking about is
there is a prohibition against what the case law holds as a
dual proposition. The classic dual proposition under the law
was streets and jails in the same so the voters were asked to
vote thumbs up or thumbs down on that intertwined
proposition. In today's economy we see a lot more jails
passed but the rule of law was no one would vote for a jail,
everyone wanted potholes fixed so you combine them. Case law
says that is impermissible absent a statute allowing. For
example, school districts can combine everything they need
and counties can combine a lot of things but cities cannot,
absent this statute which we don't have. The Texas Attorney
General who has to review all bond proceedings and are
somewhat the ultimate arbiter of what is the law has opined
that if you combined a jail, EMS, police and fire facilities
in one site, then it is a combined public safety facility
which will allow you to vote pursuant to one (1) proposition.
To the extent any of those are on different sites, they have
to be separated into separate propositions.
City Attorney Spain asked if we have an August bond election,
when would the Council need to get started on a schedule for
the election.
Mr. Kuhn advised, with having to pre-clear (before early
voting starts) through the Justice Department, early voting
would start basically 20 days prior to the election. It is a
60 day process from their receipt of materials to grant that,
so in common terms, the Friday before early voting starts on
Monday, come back 62 days. Absent an emergency, the council
would have had to have adopted the ordinance about 90 days
prior to the election.
Councilmember McDonald commented that he believes we need the
police, fire and EMS particularly and still wonders if maybe
it wouldn't be wise to put the second fire station on IH-35
as we are going to have to buy another fire truck anyway, and
move some equipment up there making more room at the existing
fire station - put it in the bond issue. We are going to
have some manpower costs but we will just have to absorb
that.
Councilmember McDonald said he felt the figures are out of
whack for the police bUilding, noting that the Knights of
Columbus building is a beautiful building and we could put up
the same building for $240,000 instead of $1,000,000 for a
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police station. It cost them $24.00 per sq ft to build that
building.
Mr. Sweatt said that we don't believe these figures are
extraordinarily high. Architects and engineers have
recommended estimating in those ranges. Clearly, until we
have an architect or engineer bring their estimates and have
bids, we wouldn't have that number.
Chief Smith said he called a consulting firm (freebee) and
asked for a ball park figure based on our current growth and
he projected a 15,000 sq ft building for a city our size at
at $125. per sq ft. Chief Smith said he had also contacted
the city of Weatherford who is currently building a 15,000 sq
ft facility on a little over three (3) acres. They are using
concrete block, cutting a lot of corners and they are
building theirs for $72. per sq ft., so yes, these figures
are a WAG, somewhere in the middle is correct.
Mayor Pro
facility
we need
figures.
putting a
Tem Potempa agreed that we
but we need to be realistic or
to research some more and come
Mr. Potempa said he still
sub-station on IH-35 with this
need a new police
we'll lose support.
back with realistic
likes the idea of
program.
Mr. Sweatt said that we anticipate, with the growth and
need, having a neo sub-station in three to five years.
Mr. Potempa asked if we would have to go out for another
bond for that.
Mr. Sweatt said either that or we believe we have enough
acreage there that we can use it for our purposes and have
land to sell and hopefully finance at least the majority of
the sub-station.
Mr. Potempa asked why we can't incorporate the sub-station
into this project.
Mr. Sweatt we'd like to have it up there but we need at
least $200,000 more operating money to hire people to put up
there. Unfortunately we can't pay for personnel out of
bonds. It is our opinion that our best response time is
still here in the centroid of the city.
Mr.
the
golf
city
need
Potempa said personally, the only reservation he
golf course. Universal City is trying again to
course approved. We have a miniature golf course
now and another golf course at Northcliffe. Why
a golf course in Schertz?
has is
get a
in the
do we
Mr Sweatt said there are those that believe there are more
people than that course can serve and there is a continuing
need for more public courses, Northcliffe is a private course
for members and guests.
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')
Mr. Sawyer asked if a golf course would pay for itself or be
like the swimming pool, a continuing debt.
Mr. Sweatt said we have not done a feasibility study but it
is his bet that it wouldn't totally pay for the land, debt
service, construction and operation initially.
Mr. Sawyer asked how many holes are figured and Mr. Sweatt
said 18 holes.
Mr. McDonald said he was told it cost about $1,000,000 per
hole to build a course.
Mr. Sawyer asked if an estimate had been obtained or did you
research the same data that Universal City had the last time
they tried to pass one.
Mr. Sweatt said we have reviewed information from
professionals but have not secured an engineering or
course architect estimate.
golf
golf
Mr. Sawyer said it doesn't seem too realistic to put
something like a golf course on a bond issue for three and a
half million dollars and your talking about a police station
at a million and a half and a fire station at a million nine
which comes to approximately the same cost as the golf
course. It is just a funny proposition to put in with what
is necessary and what is really necessary is the fire, EMS
and police.
Mr. McDonald said he has concerns about the location of the
sports complex - kids can't ride their bicycles out there to
the back side of Randolph Air Force Base to play baseball.
Mr. Sweatt said he believes they will as they are not going
to parks, they're going for organized recreation. Parking
problems, etc. limit what can be done in the existing park.
Mr. McDonald wondered how much more of the land around the
existing park we could acquire to expand.
Mr. Sweatt said we have given you our best recommendations
that this area on Oak Street and the present park site has
some better and higher uses. We felt that the Schirmerville
area is a logical area because it will never be the high
density development that we have in the community. There is
no place left in the centroid of the city to build those kind
of facilities without wiping out any future development of
this part of the city. The small area (batting cage) is not
big enough to put in those four-plex fields and additional
soccer fields identified as a need.
Mr. McDonald asked how many acres are back in there by Windy
Meadow in the no fly zone?
Mr. Sweatt said there was probably 10 or 12 acres back in
there but it is awfully small.
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Mr. Potempa asked how much acreage were we looking at for
the sports complex.
Mr. Sweatt said they have anticipated the need for 250
acres.
Mr. Swinney said he is not a big fan of the golf course.
His first thought when he looked at golf course was the water
issue - one of the biggest problems we have to deal with. Is
effluent waste water going to take care of all the sports
complex?
Mr. Sweatt said yes, there will be a cost to pump the water.
The water today, not being used at Randolph is going down
Cibolo Creek and is gone, so from a water standpoint, it's a
higher and better use for open space and recreational
purposes here than to discharge in public ways of the state
of Texas water courses.
Mr. Swinney said his next concern
important to have a golf course in this
Northeast Partnership look into it.
concern is the flight path.
is,
area,
Mr.
if it is that
why doesn't the
Swinney's last
Mr. Swinney said he would like to discuss the feasibility of
enclosing our swimming pool to use year round. A lot of our
senior citizens use that for water aerobics and enclosed, it
could be used in the winter months as well.
Mr. Swinney said he wondered about the feasibility of having
a youth center. The need to take care of the youth with
wholesome activities, to keep down crime rates, in his
opinion, as a much more pressing need than a golf course.
Mr.
city.
them.
Swinney's last concern was the streets coming into the
As he understands it, our contract is just to maintain
Mr. Sweatt said generally, our policy has been that we
maintain the streets in the condition in which they come into
the city, or participate with the homeowners under some
conditions in an improvement project; however, we have
deviated from that at least once in the past.
Mr. Potempa said when we get the EMS facility, what is going
to happen to the community center, why can't we make that the
youth center.
Mr. Swinney said that was his thought we have the
basketball situation we have some limited space and it
wouldn't take that much to turn that around into a youth
activity center with supervised programs that make sense. He
said he is suspecting that our community center would not
take a lot more money to build out, upgrading to a facility
that it should be as far as regulation courts, a game room,
etc.
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Mr. Sweatt said the concept, as he understands it,
very easily lend itself to a recreational facility. It
a limited need today with various groups practicing
Mr. Sweatt said part of the problem in this area we
partially solve is parking.
could
meets
there.
hope to
Mr. Potempa
available for
way we can get
asked if there
police, fire,
any money.
is any grant money that can
EMS, library is there
be
any
Mr. Sweatt said, as a general statement, there are less and
less grants available for anything. There are possibilities
of some in the sports complex/park areas. Most all matching
grants have stringent requirements to meet certain conditions
of acquiring the grant. We are willing to explore all the
possibilities. There is a likelihood of getting some help
for radio in the police building, maybe even fire and EMS
beyond there - parks and recreation yes, if you can relate
those to water type improvements which have a lot of merit.
Mr. sawyer asked if the library is still going out for
grants like they used to.
Gail Douglas said we haven't, we've been asking foundations;
the last time they did that they did a massive attempt to get
grants and got about $1,200 so it's not easy.
Mr. Sweatt said he did not intend to sound antagonistic
about defending these proposals; you asked us to come with
our best guesses and what are projects and what are things we
need in the community, what we need from the staff
standpoint, what the public is saying to us. They see that
we need to maintain not just the emergency conditions but the
quality of life and to speak to the growth issues and to
provide an opportunity for this community to become a more
balanced community in terms of open space and recreational
activities. Our population is getting younger and we are
having more and more young families looking for leisure time
services. We've tried to give you a shopping list of those
things that a number of people in this community are saying
they want.
Mr. Swinney said he has never had a citizen mention a golf
course, and again, it seems kind of foolish when we have two
neighboring cities clamoring for a golf course.
Mr. Potempa said he didn't think he would have any problem
selling anything on the list except the golf course.
Mr. McDonald said as an aside, why do we need to brick the
library, it is a nice looking building. Why don't we put a
nice foyer on the front of it and landscape it and spend the
rest of the money for books and computers inside. The
building will last as long without brick as it will with
brick.
~
Mr. Swinney said he is a big fan of the library but he
questions the expense of bricking. Is that cosmetic or will
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it add any structural integrity.
Gail Douglas said besides the aesthetics, it will help with
energy conservation which is a real thing we've had
problems, had to replace a compressor. It isn't necessary
but it would help with energy. It would help in the way we
are viewed because there are some people who say, "it looks
like a barn", "it looks like a warehouse". Of course, inside
is most important and we're very proud of what's inside.
Mr. Swinney said he could support bricking the library if he
could justify it as noise insulation and energy conservation
and the foyer is definitely necessary.
Mr. Sawyer asked if we were going to spend $185,000 for one
old building as the town center museum.
Mr. Sweatt said there are three buildings that will make up
the town center museum. One of the things that we do need to
preserve is a sense of history, an identity with the past so
that newcomers will know where we've been. There is extreme
value in creating a cultural opportunity in the community.
Mr. Sawyer
improvements
standards.
asked if the $711,000 for paving and drainage
in Deerhaven will bring the streets up to city
Mr. Sweatt said it will be 30' back-to-back curb and
guttered street with significant cost related to drainage.
Mr. Sweatt apologized for appearing to be promotional but it
was incumbent on us to make all these (projects) available to
City Council with best estimate of costs, that is why each of
members of the staff are here tonight. We have furnished a
long list of persons we think you may want to consider
appointing at some point in time to an election committee.
If is the wish of the Council to begin to hold discussions
and move toward an election in August, it is certainly not
too soon to begin taking some steps.
Mr. Sawyer asked how many names were on
bond study committee members and
approximately 30.
the list of possible
Mr. Sweatt said
Mr. Swinney suggested adding Malford Ackermann
of possible committee members, stating he knows
drainage, a lot about Schertz and he does have
experience.
to the list
a lot about
governmental
Mr. Sawyer said he had 10 or 15 names not on the list,
people he knows very well who are backers of what we've tried
to do for the city.
Mr. Sweatt stated none of these people on the list
contacted yet. Council needs to give these issues
and give staff direction. It is his opinion the
have been
thoughts
election
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\., ;;
committee is vital, Council needs to settle on a group of
people and ask them to serve and give them the time to meet
with members of the staff, and Council and members of the
Planning Commission and other people to get a good feel for
what is needed and let them make a report back to you and
then once they report it as promotional or informational,
activities are held, you're prepared, they're prepared,
members of the staff are prepared. It takes a concerted
effort by everybody.
Mr. sawyer said he liked the political plan. Our first
order of business is going to be to appoint a
coordinator/chairman and he suggested appointing Mr. Swinney
as he is a good speaker and people think very highly of him.
we need to come to a consensus on what projects we want to
promote.
Mr. Swinney suggested we include some of the folks
worked on the school bond election because they
experience in getting citizen input and working to pass
issues.
that
have
bond
Mr. Swinney said he seconded Mr. Sawyer's statement about
consensus, meaning everybody can live with it, but we have to
go past consensus on a bond issue - we have to get everything
on the table and fight like cats and dogs but once decided,
we have to have a united front, not an artificial thing,
shutting people up.
It was the consensus of the Council that the golf course
project be removed.
Mr. Swinney asked for a straw poll on the youth center that
got off track and if we're worried about funding, an annual
or monthly fee could be charged. I hope we don't have the
attitude that they are just teenagers and they'll just tear
it up. A lot of communities have shown that it can work. As
far as the pool, it has been ready for a cover since it was
built. The city of E1 Paso has built an excellent pool
facility in conjunction with school district and it has
worked as a great partnership. If we do that it will give us
a pool where our high school can finally have a competitive
swim team and give kids that never learned to swim to take
P.E. classes. Our current pool manager is also a qualified
teacher/swim instructor and we also have a situation where
our citizens can use it year round in the evenings. We have
a big cement monument nine months out of the year as it is
and we can do so much more if we cooperate with the school.
It was the consensus of the Council that the youth center and
swimming pool improvements be looked into.
Mr. Potempa asked if any of the statf had anything to say at
this time.
-153-
Chief Smith said he would like to go back to Mr. McDonald's
quote on the K of C building. That building isn't completely
bricked.
Mr. McDonald said that was his point, with
is still a nice looking building, is air
those metal buildings can be well insulated
ceiling. The fire code requires sheet rock.
a brick front it
conditioned and
in the walls and
Chief Woodward said he was going to address that issue.
Where he came up with $125 per sq ft was from an architect
firm that has built some stations around the state. That is
the figure they gave because of the equipment to be put in
the facility to meet NFPA codes, Texas Department of Health
codes and federal regulations. Some of this stuff has to be
isolated from the public--e.g., breathing apparatus, washing
machines for bunker gear, vented bunker rooms separated from
dormitory areas, each sleeping area has to be 100' per bed,
an aerial apparatus (which we've talked about getting) takes
up 1,000 sq ft to park on, pumpers take up to 750 sq ft each.
Chief Woodward said he is leaning to cinder block building -
there are no bells and whistles.
Mr. Swinney said that is the kind of information that needs
to get out to the public because in their mind they are
saying why can I build my beautiful home for $50.00 per sq ft
and these guys are spending $125 per sq ft.
Mr. Guerrero commented that S.A.F.E.S. is running into the
same problem with meeting codes and standards compliance.
Gail Douglas said notwithstanding Mr. McDonald's comments
about bricking the building, she believes it is a relatively
inexpensive way to really enhance the facility.
Mr. Swinney asked if there was any economy
combining the fire and EMS, administrative
being able to walk across the hall?
of skill of
offices, just
Chief Woodward said at this time it
suicide, maybe somewhere down the road
that issue to combine the services.
would be political
we'll have to cross
Mr. Sweatt said the problem is sure some kitchen
facilities perhaps, maybe a training room, but beyond there
everyone has to have their training room and dormitory
facilities and all of sudden having to do that means having
to limit ourselves to one (1) site or buying a site and
moving both facilities because there is not room to put both
fire and EMS in one facility.
.3 Discuss final reading of ordinance regarding revision
to assessment of sewer use charge.
By consensus it was agreed to put this ordinance on the
Tuesday regular agenda.
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#4 Discuss final reading of ordinance regarding tax
abatement changes.
By consensus it was agreed to put this ordinance on the
Tuesday regular agenda.
15 Discuss final reading of ordinance regarding garbage
rate increase.
By consensus it was agreed to put this ordinance on the
Tuesday regular agenda.
#6 Discuss final reading
recycling program.
of ordinance
continuing
By consensus it was agreed to put this ordinance on the
Tuesday regular agenda.
.7 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: A. Stated on
February 13 at 6:00 p.m. a public hearing on
project is scheduled in the council
Familiarization time begins at 6:00 p.m. and
hearing begins at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday,
the FM 78
chambers.
the public
Mr. Greenwald asked if possibly the Community Center could be
available in the event of overflow in the council chambers.
Mr. Sweatt said we will make the Community Center available
but the biggest problem is the acoustics as the TxDOT wants to
make recordings and they just can't pick up from the audience.
We can accommodate 60 plus standing room in the council
chambers.
B. Noted he has distributed to all Councilmembers a draft of
a letter proposed to be signed by the Mayor to the Mental
Health/Mental Retardation office. The State has been divided
into a number of regions and they are looking for a new
location for the administrative offices of this particular
area. They employ something like 100 plus employees, salaries
ranging from $100,000 to $l5,000 per year. This is a good
economic development prospect. We have been approached to try
to work out something for office space. We have two (2)
developers who are discussing office space and they are being
encouraged to submit proposals. There may be some ways
through the Economic Development Foundation and there may be
some advantages to using the Foundation or the City in leasing
and sub-leasing. We would like to ask Council to review the
letter expressing our support for location of such a project
here, if it can be done. One of the developers is still in
the game and would probably like to build more speculative
office space. This is an incentive to have a core of maybe
20,000 sq ft dedicated and in a lease that is good for some
six to eight to ten years predictable revenue stream and build
his spec around it. Having read the letter aloud, it was the ~
consensus of the Council to submit the letter of support.
C. Reminder of the trail riders feed tomorrow at noon at the
southbound rest area. The Business Association is providing
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the stew and you are invited.
f 8 ITEMS BY COUNCIL: Mr. Greenwald: A. Mentioned
that Guadalupe County substation was at P&Z last night with
their site plan. It was turned down because there was a lot
of information missing and some changes they wanted to do.
They wil1 be back in about two (2) weeks when they get all the
changes on the plan.
B. Noted that Carolina Crossing Unit II is zipping right
along with 130 units in the first part as well as Greenshire
Unit VII with 48 units.
C. Stated the P&Z scanned through some of the surveys
some of them are really funny. Someone from Dove Meadows
we need to consider getting a Planning and Zoning and a
Council for the City of Schertz for planning purposes.
the most part, a lot of good information is coming in.
and
said
City
For
Mr. McDonald: A. Stated he probably won't be here for
meeting next Tuesday night.
the
Mr.
the
will
Swinnev: A. Announced he has been selected to attend
Reserve Officers/Commanders Seminar at the Pentagon and
be absent from the February 18 council meeting.
#9 ITEMS BY MAYOR: A. Mayor Pro Tem Potempa asked if
anyone had gotten any phone calls or feedback on the new
four-way stop signs on Schertz Parkway.
Mr. Sawyer said people don't like it but they understand the
City is liable for any accident that happens up there.
Mr. Swinney said his car poolers both gave him an ear full.
Mr. Potempa said he got one (1) phone call wanting to know
why we are doing it, wondered why we don't put signal lights
up there.
'EXECUTIVE SESSION: Called under Chapter 551 Texas
Government Code, subsection 551.074, Personnel Matters.
An Executive Session was held from 9:00 to 9:40 p.m.
fll DISCUSS ACTION REQUIRED, IF ANY, ON ABOVE EXECUTIVE
SESSION.
There was no further discussion or action on the Executive
Session at this time.
f12 ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Mr. Swinney and seconded by Mr. Sawyer and
unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 9:41 p.m.
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M~-~Of Schertz, Texas
ATTEST:
{J';~ 4,'"I?"L
Deputy city Secretary, City of Schertz
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