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ccss 05-19-1997 SPECIAL SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MAY 19, 1997 The Schertz City Council convened in Special Session on Monday, May 19, 1997 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas. The following members were present: Mayor Pro-Tem Joe Potempa, presiding; Councilmembers Charles McDonald; Norman Agee, Sr.; Timothy Swinney and Ken Greenwald. Absent: Mayor Hal Baldwin. Staff present were City Manager Kerry Sweatt and City Secretary Norma Althouse. t1 PUBLIC HEARING: Capital Improvement report and other bond issue items. Committee Mayor Pro-Tem Potempa announced they are here tonight to talk about the capital improvement bond issues that will be coming up for a vote in August. That discussion will include the results of the Monday night meetings by the Capital Improvement Study Committee. The Committee has come up with a proposal to present to the citizens. Mr. Sweatt commented the Council has copy of a draft from the Committee. Some of the members of the sub-committees are here tonight. The report is proposed for signature by each sub-committee chairman and the coordinator. The report describes the seven meetings that were held beginning March 31st and concluding on May 12th. Paragraph 4 of the report describes a number of projects and suggests those be considered for individual ballot proposals. After the Council received this report in their packets, he spoke with the City Attorney who has given additional advice. The City Attorney's comments up to this point suggest that the Police Building & Land be a separate issue; the Fire Station & Land be a separate issue; the EMS Facility be a separate issue; the Town Center and Library be divided so the Library is a stand-alone project and the Town Center is a stand-along project; and Improvements to the Community Center be a separate issue. From that point on there is a listing of five additional projects (All-Weather Enclosure for Swimming Pool, Recreation Center, Satellite/Neighborhood Parks & Equipment, Improvements to Existing Parks and Improvements to Existing Ballfields) that could be combined into one or more issues depending upon the Council's and the Committee's recommendations. Mr. Sweatt went on to say the grand total of the recommended bond issue is $8,950,000.00. The sub-committee chairmen have not had an opportunity to comment on this report other than in generality. Several are here tonight, he heard from one by phone today, and perhaps Mr. Swinney has spoken with the others. Mr. Swinney admitted he had not received calls from any of the sub-committee chairmen. -263- Mayor Pro-Tern Potempa thanked Mr. Swinney for all his hard work in heading up the Capital Improvement Study Committee and told him how much it is appreciated. Mr. swinney acknowledged all the hard work by the committees, the staff and Mr. Sweatt. At this time, chairmen from the various sub-committees, who were present, spoke. Dickie Day, Parks & Recreation Sub-Committee, commended Mr. swinney for an excellent job. She suggested the all-weather enclosure to the swimming pool and the improvements to the existing parks be combined into one issue. Mr. Swinney thought that was a good suggestion he doesn't see the swimming pool being as controversial an issue as originally thought. Mr. Agee wondered what input the school district has in the swimming pool program. Mr. Swinney answered that in an ideal situation, they would be very active in participating with the City. A lease-type situation would probably be looked into for the school year. They would be getting a good deal for their money, but that's still being worked out. It's not known if they have the funds or the desire to fund. Having the school district participate would certainly make the program attractive, but if they don't participate, it's not a total no-go situation. Juan Thorn, Community Services Sub-Committee, also thanked Mr. Swinney and said he appreciated being able to participate. Their idea was to expand the community Center to get better use out of it. The idea of the Town Center was to move several of the historic buildings (the old shoe store, a house and a storage facility) to the general area of the library and utilize it as a means to provide a positive image for Schertz. Several other cities have done this and were very successful. When the buildings are moved, they will be put to use for specific purposes. The third issue was the bricking of the library and that was approved by the committee as well. Mr. McDonald asked what happens if they don't relocate the historic buildings. Mr. Thorn replied they will be catalogued, numbered and then eventually destroyed. There was a brief discussion about whether they can be destroyed or whether they have to be stored. Mr. Sweatt explained they understand that under certain conditions they can be destroyed. Mr. Sweatt commented he had heard from the Public Safety Sub-Committee Chairman and his only comment was he would prefer some wording in the report to indicate that the Sub-Committee Chairmen were signing as to the recommendation of the subject matter of their individual sub-committees. .264- James Harris of FM 1518 and Schaefer Road made the following comments and suggestions: A. Asked to revisit the 15,000 square foot police facility. It needs to be looked at very carefully. Perhaps a compromise should be considered. In all the presentations, Chief Smith used 10,000 square feet and if that wasn't enough, he should have said so in the beginning. We're talking about a lot of money to go from 10,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet. Mr. Harris indicated he would not be opposed to 12,000 square feet. B. Would like for the swimming pool to be a separate issue. C. Likes the idea of combining the last five items into one issue. D. Would like more consideration given to City trails. Would what was discussed be for just the big park or for the others also? He was informed it is only feasible for the big park. E. the able Stated he thought this was process of the bond issues to serve. the right way to go and he appreciated about being Tony Paulson, comments about facility. That 120 Thomas Edison, seconded revisiting the 15,000 square may be a little excessive. Mr. Harris's foot police Mr. Paulson then remarked he would like future recycling money to be used for sidewalks and trails. Anyone who has a child walking from Elbel Road to Dobie school knows that's a dangerous situation. We need sidewalks. Mr. Sweatt, referring to the comments about the increase in the square footage of the police facility, mentioned they plan to look at the national standards before going ahead and building it. His suggestion is to leave it at the amount recommended by the committee. If it's overfunded, that amount can go back to the debt service fund. Following Mr. Sweatt's remarks, there was a rather lengthy discussion on the proposed size of the police facility. Chief Smith explained the 15,000 square feet would give them about 5 times their current working space and he was told by a consultant out of Fort Worth that they need the 15,000 .square feet for future growth. He doesn't envision Schertz having a sub-station. They are basically mobile and everything done at the headquarters building has to do mostly with investigative procedures, storage, communications and jail facilities. Chief Smith mentioned he will be attending a class in June in Houston where they will help you properly plan your facility. -265- There was discussion about the number of holding cells needed, about building up instead of out, about the area needed for restroom and locker facilities, about traffic patterns, about jail standards, about monitoring prisoners, about the separation required between adult and juvenile prisoners, about ADA standards, and about square footage. After consideration of several different consensus of Council was to go with 13,000 Mayor Pro-Tem Potempa thanked Chief Smith for figures, the square feet. his time. Mayor Pro-Tem potempa asked if they plan to discuss each and every item tonight that's on the bond issue. Mr. Swinney replied that's what on the table, but he doesn't see a lot of the items being controversial. Mr. Sweatt emphasized they need to leave the meeting tonight with determination of individual ballot items. After should hearing clarification of what the City be on the ballot as separate was closed. Attorney items, recommends the public '2 Consider and take action on rec .,',~ ,dations from Capital Impr,., ,.",ent committee. Mr. Sweatt advised the draft report contains the most recent numbers for each item. The original grand total was $8,950,000, but with the change to the police department building, it should now be $8,750,000. Mayor Pro-Tem potempa, saying the Police had already been discussed, reviewed the bond issue items as follows: Buildina and Land list of remaining fire station & Land 2,068,754 No one had concerns. f:MS Facilitv 1,969,842 No one had concerns. Town Center 320,922 Mr. Sweatt reminded Council the City Attorney advises dividing the Town Center and the Library so each is a stand-alone issue. Therefore the Library would be $80,000 and the Town Center would be $240,922. Council had no problem with that. Imnrovements to Communitv Center 454,812 Mr. Swinney asked if it will still have a basketball court and Mr. Simonson replied they will leave the existing one in there, they will not take it out. Mr. Sweatt mentioned the Community Center will be extended at the back wall. -266- Mr. Swinney, noting plans for the Recreation Center also include a basketball court, asked the advantage of having two of them. Could we save money by not having one in the Recreation Center? Mr. Bierschwale commented the one in the Community Center is a 3/4 court and the one in the Recreation Center will be a full court. Mr. Swinney then observed the larger one would be for sanctioned use and was told that's correct. Mr. McDonald questioned, if they eliminate the Recreation Center, what would it take to upgrade the one in the Community Center to a full court. If they enlarge the Community Center, all they plan to do in the Recreation could be done there and they could save money by not having to build a new facility. Mr. Swinney answered he understood they envisioned using the Community Center for important business meetings and civic activities and he just doesn't see that coinciding with the noise of a huge recreation area. Mr. McDonald didn't see it that way and wondered if they need two recreation facilities. Mr. Swinney pointed out they- don't have two recreation facilities. The Community Center would be used for business meetings and civic activities. Mr. McDonald stressed they're leaving the 3/4 basketball court in there which can get noisy. Why not do it right and have one big Community Center? It would be less money and maintenance and better supervision could be provided. It would also be in close proximity to City Hall. The operating costs for a Recreation Center will be tremendous. Mr. Swinney asked Mr. Simonson the wisdom of getting by with a full-size court at the Recreation Center and not having a court at the Community Center and using that space for a one or two-story meeting facility. Mr. Simonson commented the cost Council has before them is the cost of not spending any more money on the existing building than they have to. It is possible to take out the existing basketball court and put in a second floor later on if they so desire. They felt, however, the best option was to go straight back because there is no lateral width available. They feel Mr. Bierschwale's design is cost effective. You can take the basketball court out or leave it in, it doesn't matter. Mr. Swinney then asked if noise from the basketball court would interfere with meetings. Mr. Simonson replied no because the entrance is at the back. There were no other concerns. All-Weather Enclosure - Swimmina Pool 198,583 Mayor Pro-Tem Potempa reminded Council there was a suggestion to combine that with Improvements to Existing Parks. Mr. Swinney felt the pool had enough support that it would not detract from the parks and vice-versa. -267- Mr. McDonald thought the pool ought to be a separate issue because he would hate to see the parks fail because of it. Let the voters decide. The consensus of Council was to make the All-Weather Enclosure - Swimmina Pool and the Imorovements to Existino Parks each a separate issue. Recreation Cente~ 1,129,089 Mr. McDonald stated emphatically he is opposed to spending $l,OOO,OOO for a recreation center. It will make the City's taxes higher than those in San Antonio and will shut down' growth. It should be built with private funds, not tax money. The consensus of Council was to let the voters decide. Satellite/Neiahborhood Parks & EauiDment 356,413 Mr. Swinney mentioned it has been discussed that the City needs to disperse parks to growth areas. The consensus of Council was for this to be a separate issue. Imorovements to Existina Parks 510,385 Already discussed and approved as a separate issue. Tmorovements to Existina Ballfields 928,872 Mr. Sweatt related this consists of turning the fields around, a major drainage project, and adding a new concession stand and restrooms. By moving the existing City yard and storage area, room is gained for parking and creating two additional fields in the area. The backstops for the dugouts will be replaced on all the fields. Mr. Swinney asked if this will be along the same lines as the Universal City park where they have the big concession facility in the middle of all the ballfields. Mr. McDonald asked if there isn't office space in the concession stand for BVYA. Mr. Bierschwale explained they put . enough money in the proposal for an 1800 square foot building. It's up to City Council, but they're looking at the building being available for BVYA and other City functions such as Homeowners Association meetings. They would tear down the old building and the new building would go in the corner where the scout hut is. The A-3 ballfield will be turned around to face toward center. The current pony field will be four T-ba1l fields back to back. Each field will have its own storage area. Mr. Swinney moved to accept the recommendations from the Capital Improvement Committee and the City Attorney regarding arrangement of the bond ballot proposals. The eleven (II) separate items (discussed in the paragraphs above) are as follows: -268- Police Building & Land Fire Station & Land EMS Facility Town Center Library Improvements to Community Center All-Weather Enclosure - Swimming Pool Recreation Center Satellite/Neighborhood Parks & Equipment Improvements to Existing Parks Improvements to Existing Ballfields 1,868,754 l,969,842 l,012,328 240,922 80,000 454,812 198,583 1,129,089 356,413 510,385 928,872 $8,750,000 Mr. Greenwald seconded the motion, which carried with the following votes: AYES: Counci1members Agee, Swinney and Greenwald. NAYS: None. ABSTENTIONS: Councilmember McDonald. Mayer Pro-Tem Potempa thanked everyone involved and said now they have the challenge of convincing the voters. Along with the bond election, and Mr. initiative failed citizen support. Mr. Greenwald advised that if any of the Homeowners Associations want someone to come and speak to them, he and other Councilmembers are available to do so. election there will also be a sales McDonald reminded Council the sales the last time because there was tax tax no Ms. Day asked if they, as citizens, are going to have a handout of each item. Mr. Swinney replied he didn't think providing them with a fact sheet is a problem. Mr. Harris emphasized it needs to be explained how the sales tax ties in. Education of the citizens is important. Also, don't forget about the survey results. That would be helpful. Ms. Day suggested getting some of the committee members back together once they get a fact sheet and doing some canvassing and advertising in the newspapers. On a motion by Mr. Agee, seconded by Mr. Swinney and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. -269- () 8/, ~!~ Mayor p~Tem, CityVof Schertz, Texas ATTEST: ~ tlj?~ City Secretary, City of Schertz -270-