ccswks 06-25-1997
SPECIAL WORKSHOP SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JUNE 25, 1997
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop
Session on Wednesday, June 25, 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; Norman Agee, Sr.; Timothy
Swinney and Ken Greenwald. Staff present were City Manager
Kerry Sweatt and City Secretary Norma Althouse.
#1 HEARING OF RESI~~..~S: No one had signed up to
speak.
Due to the recent flood, Mayor Baldwin moved to Item #6 on
the agenda which is the City Manager's Report.
Mr.
21st
here
Sweatt advised the initial conditions began on June
at about 8:00 p.m. Fire Chief, Johnny Woodward, is
tonight to review what happened after that.
Chief Woodward related he got the initial call at 8:00 p.m.
that they were expecting the water to rise. He got hold of
the dispatcher and called the Bulverde Fire Department and
talked to the Chief who they said they had about 5' of
water on 1863. He asked the Chief to get back with him if
anything developed because at this point he wasn't worried.
He received a call at
water was up at Selma.
to Bracken where water
There was still nothing
home at 1:00 a.m. telling him the
He went up to Selma and then on up
was running underneath the bridge.
to get excited about at this time.
Chief Woodward went on to say he received a call about 4:00
a.m. telling him it was coming. About 4:30 a.m. he
activated all off-duty personnel and set instant command up
to get the ball rolling. About 6:00 a.m. they started
calling in other department heads and about 8:00 a.m. they
dispatched all emergency services to the other side of the
creek.
Chief Wallace of Universal City offered help and went with
the Schertz people down to Omar where they set up another
instant command with Chief Wallace in charge on that side
of the creek. Two instant commands were running the entire
time of the incident.
At around 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. you couldn't get across
the bridge. From that point it went on up and crested
about 4:30 p.m. and was at the bottom of the railroad
bridge. It stayed there for about 45 minutes and then it
started inching down. They got the bridge open the next
morning about 8:00 a.m.
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There were numerous agencies who helped (Universal City,
Converse, Selma, Bracken, Bulverde, Cibolo, Marion,
Guadalupe County Sheriff's Department, DPS, Bexar County
Sheriff's Department, Live Oak, Northcliffe) and there was
not one injury and no loss of life. Chief Woodward
commended the staff, City Council and the Mayor for their
help and support during the incident.
Chief Woodward commented they already have their basic
preliminary figures for damage. They met with some of the
people from FEMA today and are having a meeting later this
week where FEMA will come in and take tours and assist the
City. He will have a detailed report for Council once it
is finished.
Mr. Sweatt reported they have served as many as 150
families through the Community Center and the Red Cross who
has moved in and will probably remain there for at least
two weeks. Some people have been real upset about
cancellation of reservations at the Community Center, so
Council may get some calls. The City, however, felt having
the Red Cross there to assist is very important. The
majority of the people have been very understanding.
Mr. Sweatt then mentioned that Alcoa brought down a
storage building for the Red Cross and the Seventh Day
Adventist Church set up a clothing and essential kit
distribution to families. They're hoping to distribute
clothing through GRASP and RACAP.
After tabulation of preliminary estimates of damage to real
property in Schertz, they are turning in to FEMA and State
agencies a total of $11,480,000. There's a total of
$148,250 damage to public properties, the County has
estimated another $186,000 damage, and Cibolo is certifying
about $116,000 damage bringing the total preliminary number
to $ll,93l,OOO. The City will be adding direct costs to
that figure of over $11,000 worth of personnel costs.
There's close to $4,000 worth of debris removal and they're
still working on numbers. They're probably going to
certify to FEMA $12,300,000 for Guadalupe County. If the
City combines with Guadalupe County, the Hill Country and
Bexar County they may be able to get a statewide disaster
declaration and get some disaster relief.
Mayor Baldwin asked if the $11,000,000 includes Lakewood
Acres and Mr. Sweatt replied no - the City has some damage
in Bexar County, but the bulk is in Guadalupe County.
Mr. Swinney asked if there's any insurance monies
available or is it all public self-insurance. Mr. Sweatt
answered some of the owners may have insurance coverage,
but they are not privy to that information. The City's
deductible is a minimum of $25,000 per occurrence and this
is a collective damage, so there's no coverage.
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Mr. Sweatt informed Council a Schertz Flood Fund has been
established at the Schertz Bank. It currently has a little
over $3,000 in it of pure donations by individuals and
corporations. It is set up to be administered to people
who have sustained non-insured losses. A committee has
been set up to review applications and the maximum amount
to anyone recipient would be $100.00.
Cliff Johnson, in the audience, asked if a food bank
be set up and Mr. Sweatt replied no because lots of
has been donated from local groceries.
will
food
Mayor Baldwin remarked he has an article going into
Newsletter and really needs a list of all the people
agencies who helped.
the
and
There was a brief discussion about such things as needing
foot markers at the FM 78 and IH-35 bridges and about
rumors of water contamination. Each Councilmember
commended the City staff for their cooperation and hard
work and several related their own personal stories of
things that happened to them because of the flood. One
example was that Councilmember Agee received a call from a
friend in Germany saying Schertz was on the news over
there.
Mr. Sweatt advised he will keep Council informed about the
progress of their dealings with FEMA and the State.
#2 Discuss final reading of Ordinance revising the
Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12 1/4, Nuisances, Article II,
Noise.
This having been discussed at a previous workshop and the
first reading having been approved, Council agreed they
were ready for it to be included on next Tuesday night's
agenda.
#3 Discuss final reading of Ordinance annexing 35.31
acres of land out of Comal County (Forbes property).
Council
Tuesday
several
had been
was prepared for this item to be
night's agenda since it had also
workshops and the first reading
approved.
included on next
been discussed at
of the ordinance
#4 Discuss public hearing on request from Paul
John for a Specific Use Permit allowing him to place a
mobile home residence on his General Business property for
a period of time not to exceed three (3) years.
Mr. Sweatt noted the agenda description pretty much
describes the application from Mr. John. They propose to
place a double wide mobile home on the location. There is
a residence now on this General Business zoned property.
The property is located at Schertz Parkway and IH-35 access
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road. The mobile home
residence and the shop.
approval of the request.
would be placed between the
Planning and zoning recommends
Mr. Sweatt went on to say notices
property owners within the required
been returned at this time. Mr.
any questions Council may have.
have been mailed to two
distance, but none have
John is here to answer
Mr. McDonald asked if this will be on septic tank or
sewer. Mr. Sweatt replied it will be on septic tank. Mr.
Potempa asked if it's large enough to accommodate the
addition and Mr. Greenwald stated Mr. John was told to
contact Guadalupe County to verify whether it is or not.
That's handled by the County and not the City. There was a
brief discussion about how to get sewer into the area.
Mr. Potempa asked Mr. John where the mobile home will go
and Mr. John replied next to Leonard's house. Mr.
Potempa then asked when the public hearing is scheduled and
Mr. Sweatt responded it is scheduled for next Tuesday
night.
Council was asked by Mayor Baldwin if they have any problem
with Mr. John's request and they indicated they do not.
It will be included on next Tuesday night's agenda. Mr.
John thanked Council for their time.
#5 Discuss final reading of ordinance rezoning
approximately 30 acres out of Bexar County from Mobile Home
Subdivision (MUS) to Residential Agriculture (RIA) (Cliff
Johnson property).
Mr. Sweatt reminded Council this deals with Mr. Johnson's
property on FM 1518. He pointed out the location on the
map. It is a rectangular tract of land of approximately 30
acres. Mr. Johnson came before Planning and Zoning and
before City Council about a year ago with a plan to develop
a mobile home subdivision. After public hearings by both
Planning and Zoning and City Council, the area was rezoned
from Residential/Agriculture to Mobile Home Subdivision.
It was stipulated at the time that if development did not
occur within six months, the zoning would revert back to
Residential/Agriculture. Mr. Johnson indicated he had no
problem with that reversionary clause.
Mr. Sweatt went on to say that period of time has been
reached and the ordinance was approved on first reading.
At the meeting when the final reading was to be considered,
Mr. Johnson asked Council for a delay because he had a
company which was investigating development possibilities.
Council granted a 90 day delay which will expire on July
1st.
At this time Mr. Johnson introduced Alan Halstead of AMS
Mortgage who is working with him to bring the project to
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fruition. Mr. Halstead stated they have been working with
Mr. Johnson on the financing. He has bids and estimates
in on all the development work that is to be done and some
of the engineering is completed. They're very comfortable
with what has been done so far in evaluation of the
numbers. Everything they need is there and they're moving
forward to get it financed.
Mr. Halstead asked Council
standpoint of development
another extension of time.
what they need to see from the
to meet the requirement for
Mr. Sweatt explained they need some tangible proof the
project is moving forward - perhaps a preliminary plat.
Mr. Greenwald added that with the new UDC in place,
there's a six-month time frame for a preliminary plat. If
no development occurs within six months, the plat is
vacated. Mr. Sweatt suggested Council table the final
reading and give Mr. Johnson and Mr. Halstead an
opportunity to come up with a preliminary plat. It is on
the agenda tonight only for discussion, so this action
would have to be taken at the next meeting.
Mayor Baldwin asked Mr. Johnson and Mr. Halstead if 60
days is long enough for them to come up with what they need
for the preliminary plat. They felt 60 days would be an
adequate length of time.
Council agreed they were ready to take action on this item
and indicated it should be included on next Tuesday night's
agenda. Mr. Johnson thanked Council for their time.
#7 ITEMS BY COUNCIL:
chance to go around with
was extremely impressed by
Mr. Swinnev: Commented he had a
Steve Simonson on Sunday and he
all the efforts.
Mr. Aaee: Related he received a call telling
Citizens Police Academy did some yeoman work in
food out not only to the Schertz officers, but
those on the other side of the creek.
him the
getting
also to
Mr. McDonald: A. Inquired if they need to put the fence
around the detention pond on Dimrock on the agenda to get
some action on it. Mr. Sweatt replied he has some figures
available.
B. Referred to Mike Lancaster and the fact the Council has
told him twice to put a sidewalk on Dimrock and instead he
turns around and plants grass. He needs to be given a
definite time for construction of the sidewalk. If he
doesn't comply, close him down. The consensus of Council
was to send Mr. Lancaster a letter giving him a definite
time in which to comply.
C. Noticed that Berry Creek is putting up the fence as
they build now.
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D. Suggested that when an item is asked to be reviewed or
have some action taken on it, it be included on Mr.
Sweatt's Information and Activity Report for tracking.
Mr. Potempa thought maybe they should go back to the old
bell ringer list. Mayor Baldwin pointed out the bell
ringer list was always something they never took action on.
Mr. Swinney mentioned the possibility of a computer
template listing all the actions (tabled and pending) and
their results.
Mr. Greenwald: A. Reported
of BVYA, they lost everything
$2000 payment due the City for
have the payment deferred.
that according
and are broke.
fencing. They
to Mr. McDow
They have a
would like to
There was discussion about a fund raiser for them or a
benefit dance. Mr. Swinney thought it might be prudent
not to do anything with the parks, except stabilize them,
until after the election.
B. Observed during his tours on Sunday that we have a lot
of people with chickens and pigs and goats.
Mr. PotemQa: Stated Schertz
an inch of rain this evening.
they've had 36.26 inches.
#8 ITEMS BY MAYOR: Expressed extreme pride regarding
the efforts of the staff during the flood and said it was a
good team effort.
officially had a quarter of
Since the first of the year,
#9 EXECUTIVE SESSION: Called under Chapter 551 Texas
Government Code, sub-section 551.074, Personnel Matters, to
deliberate evaluation of City Manager.
After a
8:38 p.m.
short break, an Executive Session was
to 11:02 p.m.
held
from
#10 Consider and
Executive Session.
take
action, if any, on above
Mayor Baldwin reported
and established some
required.
they have evaluated the City Manager
goals for him. No action was
#11 ADJOURNMENT: On a motion by Mr. Greenwald seconded
by Mr. Swinney and unanimously carried, the meeting was
adjourned at 11:02 p.m.
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~,/~d?~
Mayor, City of Schertz, Texas
ATTEST:
~.hUU {J p1-/-:.t-u_a.-e./
city Secretary, city of Schertz
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