ccreg 02-21-1995
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REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 21, 1995
The Schertz City Council convened in Regular Session on
Tuesday, February 21, 1995 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers of the Municipal Complex, 1400 Schertz Parkway,
Schertz, Texas. The following members were present: Mayor
Pro Tem Barbara Stanhope, presiding; Charles McDonald; Joe
Potempa and Ken Greenwald. Absent: Mayor Hal Baldwin and
Councilmember Mary Marsh. Staff present were City Manager
Kerry Sweatt and City Secretary Norma Althouse.
Mayor Pro Tem Stanhope asked everyone to rise and join her
in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
#1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Special Meeting 12-28-94
B. Regular Meeting 1-3-95
Mr. McDonald moved to
Meeting of 12-28-94 and
Potempa seconded the
following votes:
approve the minutes of the Special
the Regular Meeting of 1-3-95. Mr.
motion, which carried with the
AYES: Councilmembers McDonald, Potempa and Greenwald.
NAYS: None.
#2 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: Those citizens wishing to
speak on agenda items and those having matters they wish to
discuss with Council, which have not previouslY been
submitted to the City Manager, will be heard at this time.
No residents had signed up to speak.
#3 ORDINANCE: Consider and take action on
reading of an ordinance amending the Code of
pertaining to pilfering or scavenging of
materials.
the final
Ordinances
recyclable
Mayor Pro Tem Stanhope introduced an ordinance and read the
caption as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 95-F-4
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES,
CITY OF SCHERTZ, CHAPTER 7 1/2, SECTION 46,
SECTION 47, SECTION 63, AND AMENDING THE TITLE OF
ARTICLE V, AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES.
Mr. Sweatt reminded the Council this had been discussed at
two workshops and the first reading was approved at the
last regular meeting. We have defined curbside recycling,
defined pilfering and scavenging, and made removal of
recyclable materials andlor the recycling bin by anyone
other than the owner, or authorized agent of the City, a
violation of City Ordinance. We don't anticipate a problem
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with pilfering, but this ordinance was written in response
to a question about scavenqinq and pilferinq.
Mr. Potempa moved to approve the ordinance amending the
Code of Ordinances pertaininq to pilferinq or scavenqinq of
recyclable materials. Mr. Greenwald seconded the motion,
which carried with the followinq votes:
AYES: Councilmembers McDonald, Potempa and Greenwald.
NAYS: None.
#4 ORDINANCE: Consider and take action on the
final readinq of an ordinance authorizinq retired employees
and their dependents to purchase continued health coverage.
Mayor Pro Tem Stanhope introduced an ordinance and read the
caption as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 95-M-5
BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SCHERTZ,
TEXAS, AUTHORIZING CERTAIN CITY OF SCHERTZ
EMPLOYEES, ALONG WITH CERTAIN OF THEIR
DEPENDENTS, WHO ELECT TO RETIRE TO PURCHASE
CONTINUED HEALTH COVERAGE AT RETIREMENT AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mr. Sweatt remarked this ordinance was discussed at two
workshops and the first readinq was approved at the last
reqular meeting. It proposes to offer additional benefits
to career employees who retire from municipal service and
to dependents of retired employees under certain
conditions. This will allow them to purchase continued
health insurance coverage by paying the premium plus a 2%
administrative fee. If at some time in the future the
effect of this is higher premiums for the City, we would be
allowed to put those retirees and their dependents in a
separate category and their premium would stand on its own.
Mr. McDonald moved to approve an ordinance authorizinq
retired employees and their dependents to purchase
continued health coveraqe. Mr. Greenwald seconded the
motion, which carried with the followinq votes:
AYES: Councilmembers McDonald, Potempa and Greenwald.
Nays: None.
# 5 EASEMENT:
authorization to
Telephone Company.
Consider and take action on
convey an easement to Southwestern
the
Bell
Mr. Sweatt explained this a request from Southwestern Bell
Telephone Company to use a portion of our xeriscape park
located off Borqfeld Road to place an equipment cabinet on
a 20' x 20' block. They have agreed to landscape around
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the cabinet itself and pay a one-time easement fee of $4.00
per square foot. Approval is recommended.
Mr.
from
Greenwald commented he would like to see
the easement fee used for the xeriscape
the money
park.
Mr. Greenwald moved to approve
easement to Southwestern Bell
Potempa seconded the motion,
following votes:
authorization to convey
Telephone Company.
which carried with
an
Mr.
the
Councilmembers McDonald, Potempa and Greenwald.
#6 ORDINANCE: Consider and take
reading of an ordinance offering an
filing fee requirements.
action on the first
alternative to the
Mayor Pro Tem Stanhope introduced an ordinance and read the
caption as follows:
AN ORDINANCE
BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SCHERTZ,
TEXAS, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO PROVIDE
AN ALTERNATIVE TO A FILING FEE FOR CITY ELECTIVE
OFFICE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mr. Sweatt noted this item was discussed at the last
workshop and the City Attorney was there and made
recommendations. According to current provisions of the
City Charter, Section 9.02, a filing fee of $5.00 dollars
is required to be paid to the City Secretary when a
candidate files an application. The City Attorney reviewed
this matter in light of provisions of the current Election
Code and has suggested a provision for an alternative
should be adopted either by ordinance or by charter. Based
on Council's directions, an ordinance has been prepared
which would offer an alternative to the filing fee by
having the candidate sign an affidavit in lieu of the
filing fee stating helshe cannot afford to pay the filing
fee.
Mr. McDonald moved to approve the first reading
ordinance offering an alternative to the filing
requirements. Mr. Greenwald seconded the motion,
carried with the following votes:
of an
fee
which
AYES: Councilmembers McDonald, Potempa and Greenwald.
#7 ORDINANCE: Consider and take action on the
first reading of an ordinance revising water rates.
Mayor Pro Tem Stanhope introduced an ordinance and read the
caption as follows:
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AN ORDINANCE
BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SCHERTZ,
TEXAS, PROVIDING THAT THE CODE OF ORDINANCES,
CITY OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS, BE AMENDED BY REVISING
SECTION 19, EXHIBIT 4, WATER RATES ESTABLISHED;
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND REPEALING ALL
ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT.
Mr. Sweatt reported the Public Works utility office spent
a considerable amount of time and effort in generating the
paperwork to address questions that had been raised
regarding equity in the size of meters and perhaps an
overlap in water rates. An ordinance has been prepared
revising the water rates. We think this is a good
incentive and recognizes the need for people who have very
little consumption to benefit from the rate. We propose a
readiness to serve charge of $3.70 for zero consumption.
The current rate is a minimum of $7.00. We have
established a lifeline rate for the residential and small
commercial size meters which encourages the user to
conserve water. We are continuing to use the inverted
block rate structure, but it has been revised.
John Bierschwale showed some charts to the Council showing
different size meters and the current rates versus the
proposed new rates. Also shown was the winter average
usage, the summer average usage and the yearly average
usage. Mr. Sweatt stressed the single largest beneficiary
of the new rates will be the low flow customer.
Mr. Potempa asked who makes the determination to put the
sewer charge on the water bill. Mr. Sweatt replied the
sewer rate is established by ordinance. The billing is
done through the billing department. The average for a new
customer is based on the City average. After the customer
establishes his winter average, that figure is used.
Mr. Potempa wondered if you have no sewer, do you pay a
sewer charge and was told by Mr. Sweatt you do not. Mr.
Sweatt continued on, saying the residential sewer charge is
based on the three months winter average of water
consumption. The commercial sewer Charge is based on their
actual water consumption every month.
Mr. McDonald remarked we plugged one hole we had in
system and Mr. Greenwald admitted we are seeing more
more instances where the State mandates water rates
penalize the large user. Mr. Sweatt said he feels it
step in the right direction.
the
and
that
is a
Mr. Greenwald moved to approve the first reading of an
ordinance revising the water rates. Mr. Potempa seconded
the motion, which carried with the following votes:
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AYES: Councilmembers McDonald, Potempa and Greenwald.
NAYS: None.
#8 Consider and take action authorizing revision of
operating hours of Municipal Building.
Mr. Sweatt told Council he is pleased to make a
recommendation to them that is customer action driven.
Ever since he has been here the doors to the Municipal
Complex have been opened for business at 8:30 a.m. and
closed at 4:45 p.m. The need is there for a change.
Therefore, beginning Thursday, March 2nd and every Thursday
thereafter, we will open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 6:00
p.m. We feel this offers an opportunity to the customer
who cannot reach the Municipal Complex during regular
working hours. Beginning February 27th, we will remain
open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday until 5:00
p.m. We feel this extra fifteen minutes is also of benefit
to the customer. The staff and department heads will
adjust their schedules to accommodate these hours. There
will be no change in the payroll as there will be no
overtime. We would like to do this with the idea of
expecting to continue. However, if it does not meet the
needs, we will revise it again.
Mr. Potempa moved to authorize approval of the rev~s~on of
operating hours at the Municipal Building. (Mr. Potempa
did note this could have been done administratively without
City Council's permission.) Mr. Greenwald seconded the
motion, which carried with the following votes:
AYES: Councilmembers McDonald, Potempa and Greenwald.
NAYS: None.
Mr. McDonald commented the customer is the boss and Mayor
Pro Tem Stanhope stated she thinks it is an excellent idea.
Mr. Sweatt mentioned the staff is working on other ideas
that are customer action driven and will present them in
the future.
#9 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: Advised that at the next
workshop a preliminary discussion has been scheduled with
Paragon Cable representatives on the request for transfer
of the franchise. A public hearing has been tentatively
scheduled for March 21st. Even though a public hearing is
not required, we feel it will provide a good opportunity
for input.
#10 ITEMS BY COUNCIL: Mr. Greenwald thanked everyone
for the cards, flowers and expressions of sympathy on the
death of his wife's Mother.
#11 ITEMS BY MAYOR: Mayor Pro Tem Stanhope passed
around a thank you card from Ken and Thelma Greenwald.
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#12 ADJOURNMENT: On a
seconded by Mr. Greenwald and
meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
motion by
unanimously
Mayor, City
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ATTEST:
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City Secretary, City of Schertz
Mr. Potempa,
carried, the
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of Schertz, Texas