ccreg 11-01-1994
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REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 1. 1994
The Schertz City Council convened in Reaular Session
Tuesday. November 1. 1994. at 7:00 o.m. in the Council
Chambers of the Municipal Complex. 1400 Schertz Parkway.
Schertz. Texas. The followinq members were present: Mayor
Hal Baldwin. oresidinq: Charles McDonald: Barbara
Stanhope: Mary Marsh and Ken Greenwald. Absent: Joe
Potempa. Staff present were City Manaqer Kerry Sweatt and
Deputy City Secretary Norma Althouse.
Mayor Baldwin welcomed everyone and asked them to stand and
join him in the Pledqe of Alleaiance.
#1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Reaular Meetlnq of 9-20--94.
Mrs. Stanhope mov~q to aporove the minutes of the Reaular
Meeting of September 20. 1994. Mrs. Marsh seconded the
motion. which carried with the followina vote:
AYES: Councilmembers
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
McDonald.
Stanhope.
Marsh
and
#2 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: There was none.
#3 POLICE RESERVE: Consider and take ac~ion on
appointinq two members to the Police Reserve Force.
Police Lieutenant Steve Starr introduced Darin Scott LaCour
and Ray Arthur Wildes sayinq they are replacinq two reserves
who have qone full time. Both Mr. LaCour and Mr. Wilde8
received outstanding recommendations from the review board.
Mr. Greenwald mQv~q to approve the appointment of Darin
Scott LaCour and Ray Arthur Wildes to the Police Reserve
Force. Mrs. Stanhope seconded the motion. which carried
with the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
McDonald.
Stanhope.
Marsh
and
#4 ORDINANCE: Mayor Baldwin introduced an ordinance
and read the caotion as follows:
AN ORDINANCE
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES. CITY OF SCHERTZ. CHAPTER 7 1/2.
EXHIBIT 3. BY ADDING SECTION. 8.01.
RECYCLING. AND SECTION 17c. BILLING AND
COLLECTIONS. AND ADDING ATTACHMENT 1
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Mr. Swea~t advised ~his is a follow-UD to action of
orevious wee~s. This is tne enablino ordinan8e to make ~n
amendment to the franchise aareement and to tne Code.
There is also a clarification to Chacter 7 1/2. Bectlo, 17
of the Code addina Section 17c reaardina billina
collection and payment. It states. basicallY. that each
residential and commercial entercrise with:n the City
limits of the City of Scnertz will be billed for SOlid
waste collection services as provided in Exhibit 2 of
Chapter 7. Also. eacn residential customer within the Cltv
limits of the City of Schertz will be billed at a rate of
$1.25 oer month for recyclina service.
Mrs. Marsh mQved to aporove the first readinQ of an
ordinance amending the franchise aareement with Alamo Waste
by extendina the contract period. Mr. Greenwald seconded
the motion. which carried with the followinG vote:
AYES: Councilmembers McDonald.
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
Stanhooe. Marsh
ano
#5 Discuss Public Facilities needs and Sales Tax
Election.
Mr. Sweatt acknowledoed this is a continuation of the
discussion which beaan several weeks aao abcu~ ~he DubllC
safety and public facilities needs and the consideration 0:
adoptina an additlonal 1/2 cent sales tax. Informaticn will
be provided in the Newsletter. January 21. 199~, is c!ie
earliest possible date for a~ election on this and November
15. 1094 is the latest time the Council can make a decision
to pass an ordinance to hold an election in January. Other
dates when an election on rhe sales tax issue could be held
are May, AUGust and November. but Mr. Sweatt indicated he
feels it is uraent that the sales tax election be held in
January. The bond election. on the other hand. could be
held anytime.
Other confusing information has to do with how the sales
tax. if adopted, would be collected and rebated to the City.
For example. if the sales tax were to be approved in Janllarv
of 1995. the 1/4 cent for economic development would go intc
effect in July of 1995 and we would receive the first
proceeds in September of 1995. However. the 1/4 cent for ad
valorem would not 00 into effect until October of 1~95 and
we would not receive funds until December of 1995. If the
dates of the election were in AUGust of 1995. the 1/4 cent
ad valorem reduction receipts would be delayed until
December of 1996 and the 1/4 cent economic development
receipts would be delayed until March of 1996.
Mr.
terms
Sweatt commented they have discussed only in aeneral
the oub11c safety and Dublic faCility needs and
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suggested the issue would be somewhere in the neiqhborhood
of two million dollars. This may be subiect to a review by
an action committee. A quick look at the debt service that
would be required to fund the two million dollars indicates
the ad valorem reduction that would be realized would even
out so there would be no chanae in the tax rate.
Mr. Sweatt went on to say the Economic Development
Foundation is holding a meetina November 10th at which time
they will discuss and make recommendations on the 1/4 cent
sales tax to be used for economic development. They will
not recommend specific line items. just qeneralities. unless
the Council reauests otherwise.
Mrs. Stanhope mentioned that she and Mrs. Marsh attended a
luncheon with three people from Denton where a sales tax
iust passed. Denton had a Blue Ribbon Panel consistinq of
people both pro and con and used six months to educate and
inform the citizens. They all felt the six months was
really needed and that's what helped their sales tax pass.
Mayor Baldwin asked if that was the first time the sales tax
had qone to an election and was told yes it was. Mrs.
Stanhope pointed out it passed by 86%. Mr. Baldwin
commented he knew of cities that had tried it twice and one
that had tried four times.
Mrs. Marsh remarked this Blue Ribbon Panel had one person
who was liaison to the city council. They left the city
council and the mayor out of it on purpose to avoid making
it a political issue. Also. they mentioned there are people
available to corne and talk to the cities who are considering
a sales tax election.
Mayor Baldwin inquired who it is that sends the people and
was informed it is the State Comptroller's office. Mrs.
Marsh stated she would like for Mr. Sweatt to contact the
State Comptroller's office about havinQ someone corne and
speak to the Council. Mrs. Marsh also indicated she would
like to see a Blue Ribbon Panel appointed to study the
proposed sales tax increase. The panel should consist of
members both in favor of and opposed to the increase. Mrs.
Marsh stressed that in her opinion we should aim for an
election in Auqust because January is too early.
Mayor
have
the
it.
Baldwin asked Mr. Sweatt if it would be possible to
someone from the State Comptrollers's office speak at
next workshop and Mr. Sweatt said he would check into
Mr. McDonald aqreed we need some kind of commission to
study this so it's not political. We need someone who can
clearly explain it to the citizens. Mr. McDonald also felt
that January is too early even thouah he and Mark Marquez
had talked about it and read statistics that show the best
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month for an election like this to be held is January. Mr.
McDonald iust doesn't feel we can aet the word out in time
for January and it would take two meetinGs for the Blue
Ribbon Panel to aet up to speed. Also. this needs to be
talked about at all the local oraanizations. Mr. McDonald
suaaested discussinq it further and makinQ the final
decision by November 15th
Mr. Greenwald pointed out that time has been spent worKinG
up an article and suggested waitinq to see wha~ the next
week and a half brings. The article isn't even out vet.
Mr. Sweatt advised it's at the printer and snould be ready
by the end of the week.
Mr. Greenwald observed that both newspapers did iustlce to
the sales tax proposal and he doesn't know if January is too
early or not for the election. Mayor Baldwin admitted he
doesn't know either. We nave one more wori:shoo sessior, to
discuss it before makina a decision.
Mayor Baldwin mentioned that Mr. Sweatt nas a tape
approximately an hour lona. on which a representative from
the Department of Commerce and someone who has been in city
government a long time both speak on the Iss~e.
#6 EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mayor Baldwin called an
executive session at 7:26 p.m. under Chapter 551 of the
Texas Government Code. sub-section 551.071IAJ. consultatIon
with attorney on pending or contemplated litiaation.
The reqular meetinq resumed at 7:45 p.m.
#7 ConSider and take action. if any. on the above
executive session item.
Mayor Baldwin indicated no decisions were made and no action
is necessary.
#F:, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: A. Mentioned the awardino
of the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence In
Financial Reportina to the City for fiscal year 1992/~3 and
said we should receive ~he plaque later.
B. Reported he and Mr. Greenwald
attended a meeting with GBRA
alternate water sources.
and John Bierschwale had
and discussed fInding
#9 ITEMS BY COUNCIL: Mr. Greenwald: A. Related that
several cities in Texas are attemctina to secure their own
water rights and Schertz needs to set UP a discussion on
how to obtain water rights. We probably should wait for a
few weeks until after the sales tax proDosal is oresented.
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B. Referred to an article in the Express News reportinG
that for the first time. the demand in Texas for recyclable
material has surpassed the supply.
M~. StarrhoQ~ reminded everyone of the
Arts and Crafts show November 19th and
judges.
Senior Citizens
said they need
#10 ITEMS BY MAYOR: Mayor Baldwin stated he had
received a call from Donna Lackey. Executive Director or
the Housing Authority. asking for his help. She was a
little concerned because she had received word from the
Community Council of South Central Texas that since the
nutrition at Good Shepherd Church is not considered a local
nutrition center by the State. our senior citizens are not
allowed to ride the van unless they pay twenty cents per
mil e .
Mr. Greenwald asked who carne up with that idea and Mayor
Baldwin replied Mr. Garcia. Program Director of the
Transportation Department at the Community Council of South
Central Texas. He's the one who sent the letter.
Mrs.
Good
into
Stanhooe
Shepherd
the status
asked if they're aetting federal fundina at
and Mayor Baldwin indica~ed he would check
of the Hot Meals program.
Mayor Baldwin stressed our Hot Meals program is manned by
volunteers and does not cost the federal aovernment or the
State qovernment a dime. Just because it's not funded by
the State. it's not considered a nutrition center and
therefore our senior citizens are not permitted to ride the
van. Mayor Baldwin admitted the HousinQ Authority could
probably fund a vehicle. but it would only be allowed to be
used by their residents.
#11 ADJOURNMENT:
seconded by Mrs. Marsh
meeting adjourned at 7:58
On a
and
p.m.
motion by
unanimously
Mrs. Stanhope.
carried. the
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Mayor. City of Schertz, Texas
ATTEST
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Deputy City Secretary, City of Schertz