ccswks 11-09-1994
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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 9. 1994
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop
Session Wednesday, November 9, 1994 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; Charles McDonald;
Joe Potempa; Barbara Stanhope; Mary Marsh and Ken
Greenwald. Staff present were City Manager Kerry Sweatt and
City Secretary June Krause.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: There were none wishing to
speak.
#2 Discuss possible sales tax election.
Mr. Sweatt reminded that he had furnished quite a bit of
information over the past weeks and at this meeting he would
like to introduce Mr. Bob Dearden, a member of the State
Comptroller's office, to provide information about the
optional sales tax.
Mr. Bearden thanked Council for inviting him, saying he
enjoyed meeting with Texas cities, especially small cities.
He panded out some material on sales tax history for the
Ci~y of Schertz and gave a little backqround information on
the sales tax for economic development, which was started in
1989. There are three options - 4A can be used to promote
Economic Development from the standpoint of luring
businesses; whereas 4B could be used for municipal
buildings, parks, streets, recreation, etc.; or a
combination of the two, which requires you to form a
corporation to administer the money. You would begin
collecting the taxes as soon as one full quarter elapsed;
however there is a lag time. If the State starts collecting
in July, the City would not see any money come in until
September.
Mrs. Stanhope asked about how many cities passed this sales
tax the first time they tried. Mr. Bearden said some
cities try three times before it passes; but most cities
pass it the.first time around. In the last year, a larqer
percentage are passing the first time.
Mr.
get
wait
Bearden said citizen education is the best way to go to
this passed. If you try and it fails, you then must
a full year before trying aqain.
Mr. Greenwald asked what the excess sales taxes could be
used for. Mr. Bearden it can be used for budget shortages,
but it has to go into a separate account. In the first
three years, it can only be used for shortages or debt
obligations.
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Mr. Bearden then discussed the sales tax to reduce ad
valorem taxes, saying in the first year you collect these I
taxes, you call the Comptroller's office and they will
provide the numbers you are to use. The good thing about
sales taxes is that in most cities, it goes UP every year.
After further discussion, Mayor Baldwin thanked Mr. Bearden
for sharing information with Council.
Council discussed the fact that they had not had any calls
after the newsletter went out discussing this proposed
election. They also discussed ways of getting the
information to the citizens, such as having either City
Manager Kerry Sweatt or Mark Marquez meet with various .
groups and organizations to discuss this. Council then came-
to a concensus to hold the election in January.
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fl3 Discuss solicitation of bids for publ..t.c building
signs.
Mr. Sweatt recalled that Council ha~discussed signs for
various public bUildings - one for the Animal Shelter and
the deteriorated signs at ~e Public Works and Library. We
solicited informal proposals and have determined that at a
cost of approximately $1500, we could purchase three signs
like the one in front of the Municipal BUilding. We feel it I
important to standardize signs so people can identify that
it is a City building. We are asking Council permission to
solicit formal bids. This is not a budgeted item but funds
are available from the funds remaining in the 1992
certificates of obligations that were sold for projects
including publiC works and animal control facilities.
Mr. Potempa asked if the sign on FM 78 welcoming people to
Schertz could be included in this package.
Mr. Sweatt said he would talk to the sign people about it.
#4 Discuss rezoning application by D. Figol.
Mr. Sweatt advised that we have scheduled a publiC hearing
for November 15th on a request by Dennis Figol of the Palms
Apartments to rezone apprOXimatelY 2.41 acres of land from
Single Family Dwelling District to Apartment/Multi-FamilY
Dwelling District. P&Z held their publiC hearing October
25th and have recommended approval.
Mr. Greenwald said they want to make improvements.
they came in with their request, we found that we had
overlooked zoning this area properly. Zoning is the
question right now - we will be discussing building
later date.
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Council had no problem with holding the public hearing.
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Mayor Baldwin called a short recess at 8:13 p.m.
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The Special Meeting was reconvened at 8:21 p.m.
#5 Discuss Economic Development Commission
recommendations regarding revisions to Tax Abatement
Program.
Mr. Sweatt mentioned that our current gUidelines will
expire in December and it is appropriate for the Council to
adopt revisions. The Economic Development Commission met to
review the current guidelines and have made the following
recommended changes:
A. Under Section 6, Standard Six Year Abatement, the dollar
amount needed to achieve a lOt abatement was reduced from
$90,000 to $75,000.
Also the amount needed to receive a 1t abatement, after the
initial $75,000, was increased from $40,000 to $50,000.
B. Section 7a(3l Business Retention. The automatic
percentage allowed for an existing business in the City that
meets the initial $75,000 requirement was increased to 1St
from lOt.
C. Section 8, SpeCial Abatements. Our optional and special
abatements dollar values to allow a It abatement were raised
from $20,000 to $25,000.
D. Section 8a(4l Enterprise Zones. A new category of
special abatements is added in anticipation of approval of
our Enterprise Zone initiative.
There were no questions and Council felt these were good
changes.
#6 Discuss agreement with BVYA for use of baseball
fields.
Mr.
with
their
will
this
Sweatt re~inded that
BVYA. We have asked
agreement with Samuel
be using A-1 field.
schedule.
this is the standard agreement
them and they agreed because of
Clemens High School. The school
They have agreed to work around
Mr. Greenwald said he would like to table this item as BVYA
meets the following night. He said they used the large
softball field and neither had any problems.
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Mr. Sweatt added that the school is taking good advantage
of the fencing to control field Charging. BVYA is not the
only beneficiary of the fence now.
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Mayor Baldwin suggested tabling until the next meeting.
#7 ORDINANCE: Final consideration of an
amending franchise agreement with Alamo Waste by
the contract period.
ordinance
extending
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Mr. Sweatt reminded that this was approved on first reading
at the last meeting. This extends the Alamo Waste contract
period to expire December 31, 2000.
#8 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: A. Would like to add to
the November 15th agenda an item to appoint Mr. Evans to
the Planning & Zoning Commission to fill a vacancy.
B. You will recall that last year we applied for $148,860
grant for ADA work on curbs and restrooms. The grant is
effective October 1st and we have received the interlocal
agreement. We would like to add that to the 15th agenda.
C. The Employee Awards Program will be December 2nd at 6:30
p.m.. He said he hoped Council and spouses would be able to
attend.
D. December 1st at 6:30 p.m. the Schertz Business I
Association will have their annual tree lighting. This year
we will be using a pole and wire strung with lights; but we
will be replacing the tree later.
#9 ITEMS BY COUNCIL: Mrs. Marsh - A. On
19th, the VFW ladies and men have planned a
breakfast and bake sale from 8:30 to 11:00 am.
November
special
B. On the 17th of December the VFW will have their
Christmas party for adults. First the social then the Voice
of Democracy awards.
On the 18th of December will have the kids party with Santa
for children under 12 years.
Mr. pot_mea: A. They began the curbi~g in Mobile
the previous day, and the curbs real! y look good.
Villa
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B. Monday had the Schertz Parkway Zoning Board
meeting. There are two positions coming open.
Street's. He said he would like Council
reapPointment. The other term expiring is Mr.
he would also like to be reappOinted.
of Directors
One is Mr.
to consider
Potempa' and
Mrs. Stanhone: A. The Senior Citizen Craft and Art Show I
will be on the 19th of November.
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B. She had a call asking the status of Cottage Lifestyles.
Mr. Sweatt said he conversed with them and they are still
working their way through the tax credit circumstances.
C. What is the status of Bill Millers and the hotel on
I-35? They are doing the platting now and the hotel is
complying with the codes.
D. There is a lot on Pecan near the nursery that looks real
ragged.
E. Received a call from the Humane Society and they will
back out on the property on FM 1518. They will send a
letter by the.end of the month.
Mr. McDonald: A. Only one unhappy call about recycling.
B. Asked why the franchise fee is taxable on Cable bills.
C. When discussing recycling, there was discussion about
the receipts that would be put in special fund for the first
two years.
Mr. Sweatt said it was his understanding that each month we
will report in the newsletter the total receipts and the
money will be spent on visible projects, such as parks, etc.
Mr. Greenwald:
packet.
A.
CVADAC minutes will be in the next
B. There were three interviewed the previous night by
Planning and Zoning Commissioners. He said we have ended up
with two from Savannah Square.
C. Steve Simonson reported that Bill Millers will be in the
following week with their plat.
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#10 ITEMS BY MAYOR:
will reappoint Bud Cyr
Authority Board.
B. The HOUSing Authority held a meeting of the ladies there
about transportation and they invited a representative from
Community Council of South Central Texas and a man from
AACOG. The AACOG man was the only one that could be
present. It was an interesting meeting with a lot of upset
ladies concerning the people who were the low bidder to
provide senior citizen services and are working on a very
limited budget. They not onlY charge 65 cents per meal in
Marion but it is prepared in Seguin and is cold. He said he
would be talking to Mr. Ramirez to try to get this
straightened out. Mayor Baldwin said there was a lot of
emotion among the ladies at the Housing Authority.
A. With Council concurrence, he
and Regis Lynch to the Housing
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Mr. Sweatt announced that the next night the Economic I
Development Commission was meeting. on the sales tax
r.commendations and everyone is invited.
III ADJOURNMBHT: There being
meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
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Mayor, City dt--Schertz,
further business, the
yor Baldwin.
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ATTEST:
City Secretary, City of Schertz
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