ccswks 11-30-1994
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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 30, 1994
The Scbertz City Council convened in Special Meeting
Wednesd~y, November ~O, 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: Mr. Chuck Sharpe introduced
some team members and their coach Doug Autry, saying some of
these soccer pl~yers are also on a basketball team.
Mr. Autry said they have about 15 boys, all under 12 years
of age, who have earned the right to go to El Paso by
winning 12 games, with one loss and two ties. These are
neighbor,)ood boys who have worked hard and have been
together about four years. He added that any help the
Council members could give will be greatly appreciated. He
added tlley get the word too late to try for any fund
raisers.
Mayor Baldwin advised Council would discuss this and get
back to tdm.
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#2 Discuss water plan matters.
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Mr. sw~att reminded Council they had discussed water
matters ~ack during budget and what our options will be. At
the time, we discussed this it was clear there would be a
lot of Iamifications. Probably the best representative to
discuss this is Dan Dotson, of the Texas Water Development
Board.
Mr. Dotson said he had been talking with the City Manager
about tr issues and surface water suppliers. He first
commende Council for looking at and adopting inverted water
rates. H said that this region is in "harms Way", as we do
not have a long term water resource. If we get into a
draught situation, we would have to look at cutting back on
pumpage. When you start looking at the cost of water,
ground water has been relatively inexpensive. He said one
of the things to strive for is a dependable water supply and
right no~ Schertz' is not classified as dependable. When
Applewhit~ was voted down in San Antonio, it sent shock
waves all the way to Washington. At some time the State is
going to have to take a roll in this. What the Water
PartnershLp is trying to do is be a true partner, the State
needs to be a player. He suggested Schertz has a lot of
options, ~uch as continuing to pursue with GBRA, even though
they are facing a sunset review. He added that the City is
also fac:,ng water quality issues and we do not have any
control over that. We need to have a plan in place and
continue :ooking at more dependable water suppliers.
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Mr. Sweatt asked him what he saw state wide about acquiring
water suppliers.
Mr. Dotson said the southeast region is water rich and one
of the questions is how to transport from the water rich to
the water poor areas. In order for Schertz to grow, we are
going to have to pursue every option available. He said the
inverted rates were a big hurdle and down the road we might
need to look at recycled water.
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Mayor Baldwin thanked Mr. Dotson for coming to discuss
this. He then called a recess at 8:24 p.m.
The Special Meeting was reconvened at 8:29 p.m.
Mayor Baldwin asked to move to item #5 at this time.
#5 Discuss final consideration of an ordinance calling
an election for January 21. 1995 on the issue of imposing a
sales and use tax for economic development and reduction of
property tax purposes.
Before discussion. Mayor Baldwin
statement:
read the
follOWing
"Because of the position that the United States Department I
of Justice has taken in connection with last Saturday'S
election in the Judson Independent School District, we have
been advised by the City Attorney that. if we provide
information about the sales tax election in English, we must
make it available at the same time in Spanish to those who
require Spanish language assistance."
He asked if there was anyone present that required Spanish
language assistance.
He then asked Ralph Rodriquez to translate the above
statement and question into Spanish. which he did..
There was no one present requiring assistance
translations into Spanish.
Mr. Sweatt advised the wording of the ballot asked the
voters whether or not they wish to increase the sales and
use tax by 1/2 of It. 1/4 of that would be for economic
development and the other for property tax reduction. Mr.
Sweatt said he had spoken to seven groups so far and
received no negative remarks and not really an opposition.
He related that there were more meetings planned with more
groups or organizations. such as Woodland Oak and Savanna
Square Hpmeowners Associations and there will be another I
article in the newsletter, with a Spanish translation. We
have also scheduled another forum on this for January 5th.
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There being no questions. Mayor Baldwin asked this to be on
the next action agenda.
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He then asked to move to item #7.
#7 Discuss public 'hearing for 12-6-94 regarding the
adoption of an ordinance to designate an area of the City as
a State iesignated Enterprise Zone.
Mr. Sw~att advised a public hearing has been called to
designat~ an Enterprise Zone. This will be one more tool in
our ecolomic development arsenal. At one time we did not
think w,~ were eligible. He then introduced Judy Knox,
consultalt with Langford and Associates.
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Ms. Kno:: explained that an Enterprise Zone is designated by
the Department of Commerce, after being nominated by a city
or count.y. This zone must include 12% unemployment and the
poverty level has to be greater than 20%. An Enterprise
Zone is not zoning but a designated part of the city that
needs some help in economic development. It will help
business s that have already been here for more than three
years d expansion or with the purchase of maChinery, they
could ge $5,000. An Enterprise Zone will attract permanent
jobs an promote growth in economically disadvantaged areas
through state sales tax rebates and local tax abatements.
The Dep rtment of Commerce will market enterprise zone to
all new businesses wishing to locate or relocate in Texas.
One of the requirements is that the city has to offer some
incentive that it does not offer any where else in the City.
The Enterprise Zone consists of the census tract from FM
2252 to the city limits. The important thing for an
Enterprise Zone is that it is city driven.
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Mr. Swe~tt said that the Economic Development Foundation
and Commission both feel so strongly about this that if the
land own~r did not agree, then the Foundation would fund
this. If the Council has no objection, the public hearing
will be held on December 6th. Judy Knox, Eric Landis and
Mark Marqlez will all be present then for the discussion.
Mayor Bal(~in thanked Ms. Knox and Mr. Landis for coming.
#3 Discuss final consideration of an ordinance
amending the zoning ordinance by rezoning approximately 2.41
acres of land from R-2 to R-4.
Mr. Swe<,tt 'reminded that this is the Palms Apartment
property.
There was no discussion needed at this time.
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#4 Discuss final
adopting guidelines and
reinvestment zones.
consideration
criteria for
of
tax
an ordinance
abatement and
The City ~anager explained that this is the second and final
consideration of these changes.
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There were no questions on this subject.
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#6 Discuss awarding bid on the following:
A. City building signa.
Mr. Sweatt reminded that Council had discussed the need for
replacing two signs and a new one for the Animal Shelter and
the importance of all City signs being uniform to readily
identify it as City property. We drew specifications,
advertised and received two bids. The lowest from Aircraft
Design of Cibolo. in the amount of $13,681 and one from
Icarus Sign of San Antonio, in the amount of $24,436. We,
of course. recommend the low bid be accepted.
When asked about the "Welcome" sign at the creek, Mr.
Sweatt advised that this is a dissimilar sign and we would
like to force account some of the work and get help from
GVEC.
B. EMS Unit
Mr. Sweatt received bids ranging from the low, including
trade. for a gas model for $57,~61 to a high diesel unit for
$72,975. We are not ready to make a recommendation. We are
discussing specification problems but feel sure our I
recommendation will be between the low and second low
bidder, and we hope to have the information by Tuesday
night.
#8 Announce Mayor Pro Tem Change.
Mayor Baldwin announced that. following Council decision,
the next Mayor Pro Tem will be for Place 3 - which is Mrs.
Stanhope.
#9 Discuss traffic and load limit cdnoerns on River
Road.
Mr. Potempa said the person who was complaining called him
the night before and asked that this be tabled for a couple
of weeks.
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#10 Discuss comments and action regarding November
22nd Mayor's Forum.
Mayor Baldwin
agenda because
meeting.
said he had asked that this be put on the
there were a lot of things brought up at the
Mr. Greenwald said that one of the biggest discussions was I
on recycling and the use of the money. Council had
discussed putting it in the park fund; however the general
feeling was to put it on hold for two years to see if it
could be rebated to the people.
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Mrs. Itanhope
represe tation
same gr up that
l /~I~nded that there was not a cross
of the people of Schertz; it was just the
is always against everything in the City.
Mr. Potempa recalled talk of water standing at 605 Maple.
Both Mt. Sweatt and Mrs. Stanhope said it would stand
there f~r long periods because of the original design of the
street.
Mayor laldwin reminded Council that they did indicate they
would 1 ok at the inverted water rates again.
Mr. Sw att said staff has done a study and will get this on
a workshop agenda in early January.
Mayor ~aldwin advised that he would like to set the next
forum for February 28th. He said he really was not unhappy
with the last meeting. He also reminded that attendance by
Council is not mandatory; however he really did appreciate
their fupport and would like to see some people who have
somethirg positive to say at the next meeting.
#11 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: Mr.
followirg announcements:
Sweatt made the
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A. ThE Awards Dinner will be Friday night starting at 6:30
pm.
B. Jamary 5th there will be a forum on sales tax election.
C. The collection tubs will be delivered to residents in
January with the information about recycling.
#12 ITEMS BY COUNCIL: Mrs. Marsh reminded those
involvec of the Voice of Democracy awards Sunday at the VFW.
Mr. Potemoa said the owner of La pasadita is highly upset
over tHe charge of $3,000 to hook up his business to the
sewer.
Mr. Sweatt said the fees are primarily CCMA's and not ours.
Mrs. Stanhooe advised that the Senior Citizen Craft
Show was highly successful and thanked those who
judge.
and Art
helped
Mr. McDonald had a conversation with Tom Weaver who related
that Cottage Life Styles did not get their tax credits
because the Housing Authority did not give them a letter of
support.
Mr. Greenwald announced the Opening Day Ceremonies for
basketball was on the 19th.
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#13 ITEMS BY MAYOR: A. Had received a letter from I
the First Baptist Church asking for a resolution against
gambling in Texas. He was invited to a meeting in San
Antonio to discuss this with Mayor Wolff on Tuesday December
6th our meeting night. He mentioned that we do need to
respond to the church.
All Council members agreed that they need to stay out of
this.
B. Donna Lackey had asked him to go to Seguin to talk with
Mr. Ramirez. It was a very good meeting and at this point
we got back all the services we had. He is going to
grandfather things. The main thing they will have to do is
that all requests for van have to go through the dispatcher.
Al Notzon at AACOG intervened in our behalf on this too.
C. Mayor Baldwin reminded Council that a decision needed to
be made concerning the sponsoring of the youth soccer team
going to EI Paso.
Council was in agreement they should not use tax payer money
for this type thing - they should go to civil organizations.
However. if some of them wanted to donate individually. that
would be fine.
# 14 ADJOURNMENT:
meeting was declared
Baldwin.
There being no further business, the
adjourned at 10:5 p.m. by Mayor
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Mayor, City Of SChertz.-Texas
ATTEST:
City Secretary, City of Schertz
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