ccswks 09-10-1997
SPECIAL WORKSHOP SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 10, 1997
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop Session
on Wednesday, September 10, 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 Joe Potempa;
Ken Greenwald; Norman Agee, Sr., and Timothy Swinney. Staff
present were: City Manager Kerry Sweatt; Chief Woodward;
L.J. Cott; Mark Marquez; and Deputy City Secretary Dolores
Butler.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: There were none to be heard.
#2 Discuss final reading of Ordinance regarding parking
regulations at Main Street and Sorbet Junior High School.
Mayor Baldwin commented that if we can't turn left out of the
school driveway to go to Universal City, we have to go up Oak
Street, back down all the way to Lindbergh.
Mr. Sweatt stated that likely no one will be ticketed but
technically, it is a violation of the Uniform Traffic Control
Manual to cross a double yellow stripe anytime. We could ask
the Highway Department to consider stripping it in a way that
would be like a driveway exit with a gap there.
Mayor Baldwin said that would save the school district a lot
of miles on busses. If they don't do that, there is really no
sense in having a no parking area across the street from
Corbett on the park side because traffic can't turn back that
way anyway.
With no further discussion, Council agreed they were ready to
place this item on the September 16, 1997 action agenda.
#3 Consider and take action to remove
to award bid for street sweeper and to
arrangements.
from the table and
a~~~~.a financing
Mr. Swinney moved to remove from the table, the consideration
for the street sweeper and bring it back for discussion. Mr.
Greenwald seconded the motion, which carried with the
following votes:
AYES: Councilmembers Potempa, Agee, Swinney and Greenwald
NAYS: None
Mr. Sweatt noted that in the prior week's packet there was a
memorandum of a recommendation for purChase. Bids have been
received and the lowest and best for the street sweeper,
including a couple of options, is $83,775. In the current
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year's budget we have $15,000 anticipated toward the lease
purchase. We have discussed least purchase arrangements with
Norwest Bank, the two investment pools and the supplier and it
still appears the best arrangement we will be able to make is
with Schertz Bank; however, it is at 5.25' rather than the 5%
we originally discussed. The investment pools would have been
able to beat the interest rate but they have a $100,000
minimum. Norwest Bank and the supplier were both at an
interest rate of 5.85%. All can meet the requirements and the
proposed lease purchase agreement has been approved by the
city attorney with the appropriate language subject to annual
appropriation. It appears the best arrangement would be with
Schertz Bank and we would ask you to consider award of the
TYMCO sweeper at the total amount of $83,775. We would make
the first lease payment on execution of the lease, which would
then have us in fact, financing $63,873. and the payments
would be $15,999 per year for a five (5) year finance
contract.
Mr. Swinney asked if the optional recommendations are
included in the $83,775 amount, to which Mr. Sweatt
responded, they are included.
Mr. McDonald arrived at 7:05 p.m.
Mr. Potempa moved to approve the award to Industrial Supply
Company for a TYMCO Sweeper in the amount of $83,775. Mr.
Swinney seconded the motion, which carried with the following
vote:
AYES: Councilmembers McDonald, Potempa, Agee, Swinney and
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
Mr. Sweatt stated the second part of this item would be to
authorize the city manager to execute a financing arrangement
with Schertz Bank & Trust.
Mr. Greenwald moved to approve the financing arrangement with
Schertz Bank & Trust. Mr. Swinney seconded the motion, which
carried with the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers McDonald, Potempa, Agee, Swinney and
Greenwald.
'4 Discuss public hearing on budget for FY 1997-98.
Mr.
final
public
is now
We did
which is
In the
Sweatt presented copies of the revised budget in its
form with all the graphs and charts to be used at the
hearing. Everything has been adjusted accordingly and
down to 164 pages plus the graphs and illustrations.
some graphs in a slightly ditferent form (page VII)
city of Schertz expenditures by activity - all funds.
past this was done on a pie chart that was very busy
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and the sideways bar chart which reads from left to right
seems to be quite illustrative and easier to understand. On
page XII, we again used the same bar chart to indicate
activities in the General Fund departments. Contrary to
popular belief, Johnny Bierschwale does not get all the money
in the budget I With corrections, the budget is ready to be
presented at the public hearing.
Mr. Greenwald inquired if Johnny Bierschwale had talked to
Mr. Sweatt regarding the Canyon Regional annual maintenance
expenditure. Mr. Sweatt responded that expense has been
included and is budgeted in the water operations under
contractual expenses in the raw water purchase amount and is
between $10,000 and $12,000.
Mr. Greenwald stated they are expecting about $15,423 but we
have time and can adjust at mid-year.
Mr. Swinney wondered if anything had been found out about the
lounge chairs for the pool and Mr. Sweatt replied he had not
but he would get some prices and if it is necessary to do some
budget amendment at mid-year we will. It will be before the
swim season.
-- --- ....
It was the consensus of councilmembers that the budget is
ready for the public hearing.
'5 Discuss emergency reading of ordinance regarding the
~~~~osed tax rate for FY 1997-98.
Mr. Sweatt stated that in as much as the proposed tax rate
falls under the 3% amount, no additional public hearings are
necessary but it would be appropriate after considering
adopting the budget to consider adopting the tax rate. The
recommended tax rate is $0.3554 per $100 value. That is based
on the assessed value identified by the appraisal district of
$442,089,027. The tax rate is $0.505 per $100 value for debt
service and $0.3049 per $100 value for 0 & M expenses. Our
calculations indicate that $.01 in the tax rate is equal to
approximately $43,322 in ad valorem tax value and the
recommended tax rate is $0.353 below the $0.4072 tax rate of
1995 and is $0.165 below the $0.3719 tax rate of last year.
Debt service in this year's budget in this tax rate do not
include nor do they anticipate any payments this year for
future bonds that were approved in the last election.
Mayor Baldwin asked if there were any questions on the tax
rate and stated the most impressive chart (page vii), the
historical tax rate - going down, down, down. That is a
result of growth.
Mr. Swinney stated he just sold his house and the Realtor was
telling him they (the buyer) had a real nice home in Universal
City 'but they specifically bought in SchertzlGuadalupe County
for the tax rate.
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16 Discuss eaergency reading of ordinance regarding the
budget for FY 1997-98.
After the presentation at the public hearing as prescribed by
the Charter, we would have held a public hearing and made
presentations using primarily those graphs and charts and
reciting the numbers, you would have considered the tax rate,
then as a separate action, you would be considering an
ordinance that would adopt the budget.
The council agreed they were ready to put this on the action
agenda for next Tuesday.
17 EXECUTIVE SESSION: Called under Chapter
Government Code, sub-section 551.072, for the
deliberation regarding Real Property.
An Executive Session was held from 7:20 p.m. to 8:24 p.m.
551 Texas
purpose of
18 Consider and take action, if any, on above Executive
Session.
Mr. Greenwald moved to direct the city manager to
with negotiations dealing with Real Property. Mr.
seconded the motion, which carried with the following
proceed
Potempa
votes:
AYES: Councilmembers McDonald, Potempa, Agee, Swinney and
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
19 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: A. Stated, with the council's
permission, we would like to place on the next Tuesday (16th)
action agenda an award of bids for an Animal Control vehicle.
Guadalupe County has paid approximately $30,000 in capital
funds for the purchase of additional vehicle and body. One
bid in the second round of 11 solicitations for proposals has
been received that does appear to meet our specs - ironically,
the only satisfactory bid we got was from Seguin Motors.
Mr. . Potempa inquired if the purchase was for a vehicle to
which Mr. Sweatt responded it is actually for two pickups for
us and Seguin. We will award for $39,000 some odd and we will
pay $18,700 or $18,900 and they (Seguin) will pay the same.
B. Stated the drainage problem in Ashley Place and Berry
Creek has not been resolved. Don McCrary told Ed Ford that
Kaufmann-Browd had not authorized him to do that work study.
After conversation with Mr. Cariega, Mr. Sweatt suggested
that if that was the case, he felt sure after reporting to
council tonight, we'd be looking at a moratorium on building
permits again and he assured that was a big misunderstanding I
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Mr. Potempa proposed telling these guys if they
with a solution and fix the problem by next
council will be looking at a moratorium.
don't come up
Tuesday, the
#10 ITEMS BY COUNCIL: Mr. Swinnev: A. Commented he had
attended the Lone Oak Homeowner's Association this week and
they wanted to pass on their thanks to Mr. Sweatt and city
employees for putting a gate in, it seems to have helped a
lot.
B. Inquired as to the status of the Lil Super - he had heard
it was closed for remodeling.
Mr. Potempa reported he had gone to the store next to the VFW
to buy some gas and was told the store had been sold to a
relative and was closed for renovation.
Mr. Swinney said that just doesn't seem like good business -
they're losing a lot of money everyday.
Mr. Greenwald remarked, they have inventory in there but the
gas sign is gone and all the lights are out.
C. Stated the homeowners weren't real happy with Mr. Wuest.
Inquired if there is anything in an ordinance dealing with
clean up of leaves and grass, etc. after the mowing has been
done. Mr. Sweatt said he would look into this.
D. Reported the storm three or four days ago uprooted a huge
Ash tree in Lone Oak. Does the Public Works department do
anything at no charge when we have a huge storm in this city?
Mr. Sweatt informed Mr. Swinney that in the past, when we've
had a wide amount of damage, we've offered the chipper up for
service at no charge but where it is on an isolated basis, the
property owner is responsible. They can make arrangements to
hire the city to come do the clean-up.
Mr. Swinney then asked if there were any other parts of the
city that got damage? Mr. Greenwald stated areas in the
Village, Main Street area, and Clyde Ford Village had trees
damaged.
Mr.
last
Road.
Potempa
night.
said someone by the name of Delk was on T.V.
Mayor Baldwin said he lives out on Town Creek
Mr. Swinney wondered if damage was widespread enough to see
about the city getting involved to help get neighborhoods
cleaned up. It was determined that there was not.
E. Inquired as to the
for the city manager;
workshop agenda when
discuss. Stated he
selection of a better evaluation form
is there consensus to place that on a
we don't have a lot on the agenda to
was very impressed with the College
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Station form.
by objective
work.
It appears in evaluating, based on management
where you jointly decide where the city wants to
Mr. Sweatt recommended looking at the International City
Manager's evaluation form also. That was the one you didn't
like a few years ago but thinks it is better than the College
Station form.
Mayor Baldwin said we need to proceed with selecting a new
evaluation form.
Mr. Potemoa: A. Stated that in yesterdays storm at his
station no rain was reported; however, he has a substation in
Schertz and on Brooks Avenue they had 1/10th inch of rain.
B. Reported a lady called him last weekend and her son is
interested in getting the old post office on FM 78 (the former
laser engraving shop). Her son was told the building was
condemned so I referred her to you. Mr. Sweatt said nothing
has been condemned, there is a piece of property we have
looked at to buy for FM 78 improvement and the owner is a long
way from the appraised value and we may be asking council to
.look -at domain authority one day but not on that property.
They might have to refurbish to bring it up to standard,
depending on what they want to put in there.
Mr. McDonald: A. Reported the sidewalk is in on Dimrock.
B. The fence is in around the detention pond and it looks
real good. They've enclosed it around the walkway area.
C. Reported he was out during the rains last week and the
detention pond was full and water was going over the spillway.
Most of the water was coming from Ashley Place. From Sycamore
to Grove Park the water was over the curb.
Mr. Swinney
Catfish Farm
water and are
mentioned that he had a call from the
property that they are getting a lot of
having mosquito problems.
Boggess
standing
Mayor Baldwin said we are going to have to do something
someday, somehow about that drainage channel. The Bindseils'
are pretty upset about the damage it is doing to their
property when water comes through there and the change it has
made in the utilization of the property. We are going to have
a lawsuit on our hands if we don't do something. Mr. Swinney
iterated Malford Ackermann is saying the same thing.
Mayor Baldwin said the fear of developing that property has
always been that it is going to cause flooding problems in the
channel that comes down from IH-35 and it is happening.
Mr. -McDonald remarked that Pulte is not having the problem
because they are putting in underground drainage where it is
needed. Ashley engineers have done nothing.
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Mr. Sweatt suggested council might want to schedule a
workshop and devote most of the workshop to the engineering
aspects of drainage issues and perhaps an executive session to
discuss some of the legal aspects.
Mr. Greenwald: A.
will be advertising
Commission to fill the
Advised the next water billing
for applicants for Planning &
vacancy of Mr. Willman.
message
Zoning
B. We tried to contact G.V.E.C. and apparently their
emergency number got overloaded or tied up. The Rio Vista
area lost power last night.
C. Inquired about the street lights at Mobile Villa. Elaine
Showalter said the middle one was out.
Mr. Sweatt remarked that is C.P.S. service and she needs to
report that to them.
D. Inquired about the E 9-1-1 charge going up to .22 cents.
Mr. Sweatt advised that we are already paying that amount.
E. Noted Schertz is on the map - Schertz Funeral Home has
brought in a plat.
F. Reported Canyon Regional Water Authority has brought in
Maxwell Water Supply Corp., County Line, the city of Lavernia
and are in the process of trying to get bonds to build a water
treatment plant in San Marcos to serve those other water
customers. Out water is about three to four years down the
road. They are looking at a bunch of small systems, allowing
them to come in. They are still looking at running a water
line down FM 78. They approved their budget Monday night and
our portion is $15,423.11 based on 1,000 acre feet and 10% of
the levy. We will either make a mid-year adjustment in our
budget or bailout.
.11 ITEMS BY MAYOR: A. Stated he had called Mr. Sweatt
last week and advised him to go ahead and proceed on the
sidewalk project without the school. Herb (Rehmann) says
there is such a major drainage problem with water running down
in front of the school at the entrance to stadium, runs along
the grass inside the curb of the parking lot down to the field
house. An engineering study is being done and the entire
parking lot will be re-done at Clemens with a road in behind
the stadium to bring bus traffic around and a lot of other
things such as put the sidewalk in. It is going to take a
major engineering project so Mr. Rehmann thought it would
probably be best to hold and do the sidewalk as part of the
whole project.
Mr. Potempa asked what kind of time frame we're looking at.
Mayor Baldwin said it will be after school is out this year
before they start on the parking lot because they can't spare
the space during school. They may start the road behind and
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do some other things but basically, it will be a next summer
project for the sidewalk.
Mr. Sweatt said he had talked to the County and they are
willing to do whatever we want to do. Their price in their
contract was approximately $6.40 a running foot, a couple of
dollars cheaper than our estimate and made sure their
contractor got an invitation to bid.
B. Mentioned that the audit committee had met with Fred
Timmons and talked about the situation in city hall and how
things are going in the accounting department. He gave a very
positive report - L.J. is doing a great job, has got things
looking good and Fred thinks they will be ready for the audit
by November 1. Mr. Sweatt said he thought Mr. Timmons had
said the audit would be ready by the end of November.
C. Reminded council
morning, September 27
Parkway to look at the
to mark their calendars for Saturday
for the bus tour of FM 3009 and Schertz
sidewalk issues.
t12 ADJOURlQ(EIl1'r:
by Mr. Swinney and
adjou~ned at 9:08 p.m.
On a motion
unanimously
Greenwald, seconded
the meeting was
Mayor, City of Schertz, Texas
ATTEST:
~~~A',
Deputy City Secretary, City of Schertz
L
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