ccswks 04-30-1997
SPECIAL WORKSHOP SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 30, 1997
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop
Session on Wednesday, April 30, 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 Hal Baldwin, presiding; Councilmembers
Charles McDonald; Joe Potempa; Earl Sawyer and Ken
Greenwald. Absent: Councilmember Timothy Swinney. Staff
present were City Manager Kerry Sweatt and City Secretary
Norma Althouse.
#l HEARING OF RESIDENTS: No one had signed up to speak.
#2
Pham to
(GB) to
Discuss public hearing on request from Thuy T.
rezone l.5 acres on FM 1518 from General Business
Residential/Agriculture (R/A).
Mr. Sweatt pointed out the location on the map, saying it
is near the horse stables on Randolph Air Force Base
(RAFB). The request is to rezone three (3) lots at the
backside of the area.
Notices were sent to two (2) property owners within the
required distance and a notice was also sent to RAFB.
Brigadier General Garry R. Trexler responded on behalf of
RAFB, (Council has been provided a copy of the letter), but
there were no other responses. No one appeared at Planning
and Zoning's public hearing. Mr. Sweatt said it is his
understanding the Pham family will use one of the lots for
placement of mobile homes.
After being asked by Mayor Baldwin, Council indicated they
were ready for this item to be placed on next Tuesday
night's agenda.
At this time Council moved to #7 on the agenda to allow
Ernie Evans to report on the results of the citizen survey.
(#7 is the City Manager's Report and Mr. Sweatt will have
his portion of the report later in the meeting.)
Mr. Evans reported they had received a lot of comments,
quite a few of which are still being typed. The raw data
should be very illustrative and he hopes to have color
charts available for Council by the first part of May.
However, the written analysis will not be ready at that
time.
Mr. Evans, then using the survey which had been sent out
to the citizens, gave Council an idea of the results to
various questions on the survey by giving them the top four
responses to those questions in order of priority of
importance to the citizens. Mayor Baldwin observed the
final results should be interesting. Council agreed and
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thanked Mr. Evans for his time.
#3 Discuss Resolution setting public hearings for the
annexation of 35.3l acres (Forbes property).
Mr. Sweatt advised this had been discussed at a previous
meeting. Two public hearings are required and they are
scheduled to be held on May 20th and on June 3rd. Mr.
Forbes has purchased some additional property and wishes
for it to be annexed into the City. After speaking with
Mr. Forbes, he doesn't think he has any plans for
immediate development of the property.
Council expressed their readiness for this item to be
included on next Tuesday night's agenda.
#4 Discuss mid-year budget adjustments.
Mr. Sweatt advised details of the mid-year budget
adjustments are contained in the letter of transmittal.
The major portion of recommended changes for all three
operating funds is that of a 3.5% across the board increase
for all personnel. The City's portion of taxes owed the
TIF are higher than anticipated due to the development of
Ashley Place. Council reviewed the mid-year budget.
There was a brief discussion on the billboard that is
proposed to be constructed to identify the businesses that
are affected by the closing of exit 175 coming south and
list the temporary exits which will have to be used to
reach those businesses. Mr. Sweatt thought the billboard
should be up by mid May.
Mr. Potempa observed he is totally surprised they can get
a mid-year budget, but in seven months they can't get an
audit. Mr. Sweatt was hopeful the audit will be completed
by the middle of May.
Going back to the mid-year budget adjustments, Mayor
Baldwin asked if anyone has a problem with the salary
increases. No one had a problem. Mr. Sweatt explained
this gets Schertz off the bottom, but they are still behind
other smaller cities. Mayor Baldwin asked for a table of
comparison of other cities and indicated maybe it is time
to engage in a review of the pay plan.
Council indicated they were ready for this item to be
included on next Tuesday night's agenda.
#5 Discuss
program.
establishment
of deferred compensation
Mr. Sweatt reported they had been asked by a number of
employees to consider various programs or arrangements that
would allow an increase in the amount of funds contributed
by employees toward retirement. TMRS rules provide that
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any
the
have
this
increase in amount contributed by employees is tied to
amount contributed by the employer and therefore, they
not been able to offer that choice to the employees at
time.
Under the IRS Code Section 457, public employees are
eligible to participate in a deferred compensation program
which will allow specific amounts of money to be
contributed before federal taxes into a supplemental
retirement program. They have reviewed provisions of both
the ICMA deferred compensation program and the PEBSCO
program and believe the PEBSCO program is more advantageous
to the employees. There is no direct cost to the City as
an employer, payroll deduction and accounting represent an
indirect cost. He was hoping to have some kind of plan to
present to the employees in conjunction with their 3.5%
salary increases, but it isn't possible.
Mr. Sweatt commented he had spoken with Mr. Swinney who
suggested there may be a better plan out there. If Council
doesn't disagree in principle, he would like to bring this
back in several meetings for approval. Council agreed that
was a good idea.
#6 Acknowledgement of Peach Blossom Transportation,
Inc.'s application to AACOG.
Mayor Baldwin explained Peach Blossom Transportation, Inc.,
a non-profit corporation, is responding to a request for a
proposal from AACOG to operate the ACT program that
provides transportation for the area. They have asked that
this item be placed on the agenda simply as an
acknowledgement that the City has been informed of their
application.
Mr. Sawyer suggested they sign
acknowledgement and send it on to them.
the letter as
Council agreed.
an
#7 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: Stated the date for the
final meeting of the Capital Improvements Study Committee
has been moved from May 5th to May 12th and will be held at
the Community Center instead of Corbett Junior High. The
Parks and Recreation sub-committee will hold a meeting on
May 5th.
#8 ITEMS BY COUNCIL: Mr. Greenwald:
Council Theis Distributing is building
Subdivision. They provide pet supplies
novelty items for HEB.
A. Informed
in the Vestal
and numerous
B. Noted a real estate office is proposed to be built on
the commercial property at the front of Mobile Villa.
C. Commented he didn't make the Loyalty Day
because he didn't have the invitation in time.
suggested opening Council's mail if it looks
ceremonies
Mr. Sawyer
like an
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invitation because it may be dated.
D. Stated he had distributed to everyone a copy of an
article about GBRA.
E. Thanked Mr. Sweatt for the sign directing customers to
the night depository.
Mr. McDonald:
in the way of
Henry and at
Blvd.
Remarked he has had complaints about brush
traffic at the corner of FM 3009 and Patrick
the corner of Mitchell Ave. and Randolph
#9 ITEMS BY MAYOR: A. Mentioned that the Guadalupe
County Elections Administrator is faxing the involved
entities, every day, the numbers of people who voted at
each polling place. The joint election is working well.
B. Declared he attended the Loyalty Day ceremonies and
they were very nice.
C. Acknowledged the presence at the meeting of Jason
Curbs, a young man from Samuel Clemens in Joyce Briscoe's
government class, and thanked him for attending.
#9a EXECUTIVE SESSION: Called under Chapter 55l Texas
Government Code, Sub-Section 55l.074, Personnel Matters, to
deliberate appointment, employment, evaluation, etc. of
employee.
An Executive Session was held from 9:30 p.m. to lO:l5 p.m.
#9b Take action, if any, on above Executive Session.
Mr. McDonald ~oved to reclassify the position of Finance
Officer from Service Grade l5 to Service Grade lO. He also
moved to reassign the position of the current Finance
Officer to Senior Finance Clerk and recommended her salary
be frozen. Mr. Potempa seconded the motion, which carried
with the following votes:
AYES: Councilmembers McDonald,
Greenwald.
Potempa, Swinney and
NAYS: None.
ABSTENTIONS: Counci1member Sawyer.
#10 ADJOURNMENT: On a motion by Mr. McDonald, seconded
by Mr. Potempa and unanimously carried, the meeting was
adjourned at lO:l7 p.m.
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Mayor, City of Schertz, Texas
ATTEST:
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City Secretary, City of Schertz
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