ccswks 11-10-1993
9
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 10, 1993
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Session
Wednesday November 10, 1993 at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference
Room of the Municipal Complex, 1400 Schertz Parkway,
Schertz, Texas. The following members were present: Mayor
Earl W. Sawyer, presidingi Barbara Stanhope, Mary Marsh
and Ken Greenwald. Absent: Joe Potempa and Hal Baldwin.
Staff present were City Manager Kerry Sweatt and City
Secretary June Krause.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: Mr. Willman asked when the
special platting fee ordinance for Schertz Parkway would be
revoked now that the Tax Increment Financing was complete.
Mr. Sweatt advised that we have tried to contact the
property owners left to set up a meeting but have not
much luck. There are at least three property owners
have rights in that ordinance that have to be resolved.
few
had
that
Mr. Mower reserved time for item fl.2.
Mr. Harold Heath of McQueeney introduced himself as being a
candidate for Precinct 4 of Guadalupe County Commissioner's
Court. He added he would like to speak with Councilmembers
individually but would be glad to answer any questions.
fl.2 Discuss final consideration of an ordinance
amending the Code by revising Chapter 19 - Water, Sewer and
Sewage Disposal.
Mr. Mower said he understood the proposal for this
ordinance was to fine the citizens on the amount of water
they used. The rate increases as the water usage goes up.
He then asked what is the average?
Mr. Sweatt said we used the winter time average for sewer,
which is 6,140 gallons. This is as close to an average as
we can get.
Mr. Mower asked if that would hold true for the rest of the
year.
Mr. Sweatt said the rate that has been recommended and
adopted on the first reading is an inverted rate structure.
The rate has been proposed at $7.00 for 3,000 gallons - a
fifty cent increase. The next 3,000 gallons would be at
$1.11 per 1,000 and the more a person uses, the higher the
per 1,000 gallons charge would be.
Mr. Mower then asked if there was a provision in
ordinance for those that used below the minimum - do
get a discount.
the
they
10
Mr. Sweatt advised the 6,140 gallon average does not have
anything to do with the proposed rate. The proposed rate is
$7.00 for the first 3,000 gallons and $1.11 per 1,000 for
the next 3,000. There is no change in that. That gets you
through 6,000 gallons, so for the first 6,000 gallons, the
proposed rate would be an increase of fifty cents. For
usage beyond that 6,000, the usage is $1.31 per thousand
that is where the inverted rate goes into effect. There is
no discount for persons using under the minimum.
Mr. Mower then said he felt the increase was wrong because
it would be fining people. He added that this seems to him
like a variation of the various tax schemes.
Mr. Jerry Graham said he was concerned about the 3,000
gallon figure. He said he asked the Public Works Director
to justify the 3,000 gallons minimum and was told "It has
always been that way." Mr. Graham then quoted some figures
he had, advising that the minimum should be raised up to
4,000 gallons.
Mr. Sweatt again advised that the minimum of $6.50 for
3,000 gallons has been established as the minimum bill and
is for a readiness to serve charge. We have increased the
base rate by fifty cents on a minimum monthly bill. The
second 3,000 gallons has not been proposed for a change.
Mr. Jim Harris said he has objected to this rate since we
had budget discussions and he still objects to the inverted
rate of penalizing people for more usage. On the subject of
3,000 gallons, it might be better to look at this and see if
it should be 4,000.
Mrs. Marsh said that since the citizens have voiced a
concern, she felt it is our obligation to refer these
questions back to the Public Works Director for resolution
so that an answer is available.
Mr. Sweatt then referred to the commercial rate proposal.
He said they had met with GUADCO on several occasions and
they have concerns because the original proposed rate did
not take into account a base charge increase. They have now
come to appreciate the City's concern for the base rate
structure and the fact that under wholesale customers, there
is not a base rate or a minimum. So we have suggested to
them an alternate so that the fifty cent increase is
scattered through the first 3,000 gallons so that the
revised recommendation is $1.28 per 1,000 for the first
3,000 elements of about 801 living units, that makes it
2,403,000 gallons. The next 3,000 gallon unit put them in
line with that recommended for the other customers
throughout the system.
~/
11
Mr. Sweatt said staff also recommends a change in the
effective date for the water and sewer ordinance so that the
water rate changes go into effect on January 11 as
originally proposed; but the sewer rate changes be phased
into effect when the sewer averaging takes place in April.
The net effect is a delay of approximately 45 days in the
effective date of the sewer rate, based on the billing
cycles.
fl.3 Discuss aqreement between the City of Schertz and
Schertz Humane Society.
Mr. Sweatt said we have furnished a draft of an agreement
between the Humane Society and the City of Schertz. We have
met with the Humane Society on a number of occasions and we
believe this aqreement represents the best workable document
for the two entities.
Mrs. Ruth Keller, representinq the Humane Society, advised
she had presented this agreement to their board the previous
night and they seemed to like it. She said they had worked
toward a shelter for years and now it is in place and they
have money in the bank. She discussed this with Mr. Sweatt
and suggested the City keep the money they had been
transferring to the Humane Society to pay the veterinarian
billj and they would do projects. She ended by saying Mr.
Sweatt, John Bierschwale and everyone has been wonderful to
work with. Mrs. Keller said the City should keep all the
money that comes to the City and they will keep the money
they get from dog dipping and do their projects. She
reminded that everything they buy for the City belongs to
the City.
Mr. Sweatt added that if donations are made to the City,
they remain with the CitYj however, when they are made to
the Humane Society, they are the property of them.
Mrs. Marsh said that if Mrs. Keller is satisfied with this
document, then she is too.
Mayor Sawyer reminded Council that the City has never had an
agreement with the Humane Society until now. This is a good
step in the right direction, that can be amended as needed.
Mr. Sweatt explained that the City and the Humane Society
would work toqether to develop a spay and neuter program.
Mrs. Keller said that a lot of people are on a fixed income
but would like to adopt an animal but can not pay the spay
or neuter bill so the Society would take care of it for
them. She said she knew that when this program goes in the
euthanasia will go up. She said they do not like it but
that is a fact of life. They will spend their time on
getting animals adopted.
12
Mr. MPwer asked if the City had given any thouqht to some
form of positive identification on animals going throuqh the
shelter.
Mrs. Keller said the City has an ordinance in place that
requires everyone to tag their animals and with those taqs,
they can identify the owners.
fl.4 Discuss ordinance regulating alcohol beverage sales
in a City Park or recreational area during particular
events.
Mr. Sweatt reminded that after the last 4th of July
Jubilee, the Council asked that we look into an ordinance to
prohibit people from brinqinq alcoholic beveraqes into the
park durinq events. This ordinance qives us that control.
It has been reviewed with the Alcoholic Beveraqe Board and
the City Attorney and we recommend adoption.
Mrs. Stanhope asked if this just covered sales at certain
events and was different from the qlass container ordinance.
Mr. Sweatt answered that it does - this is in addition to
the requlations of our parks and alcoholic beverages we have
now.
Mr. Mower was aqainst this, sayinq if the alcoholic
beverage laws are already in place, why put additional fines
on the people.
Mrs. Marsh answered that this is not a fund raiser for the
city. We have all these non-profit orqanizations with
booths and it is not fair to them to let people brinq their
own drinks to the 'events.
Mr. Harris said he aqreed with Mrs. Marsh, sayinq the
booth sellers can control the situationj whereas, those
that brinq their own in can qet drunk and cause problems.
Mr. Graham said that in his 18 years of experience, the
majority of the problems come from those that bring their
own alcoholic beveraqes. He thought this an excellent idea.
Mr. Sweatt said we would anticipate that the Council would
adopt an initial resolution that miqht say this is
appropriate in 1994 for the larqe pavilion between the dates
of such and such. He said that the next year those dates
could chanqe. Mr. Sweatt said that we could develop by the
next workshop qeneral statement of the procedures that is
expected to the followed.
Mrs. Marsh said along with this would qo the siqns around
the area stating no alcoholic beveraqes could be brought in.
Mr. Sweatt said that could be part of the procedures.
.1.3
#5 Discuss Regional application
Development Planning Grant.
for Texas Water
Mr. Sweatt said this is an effort to address some of the
questions that are continuing to be raised about water and
the future of water supply for our city and all the other
cities that are dependent on the Edwards. He said he had
been meeting with a number of cities and on October 27th an
engineering study was proposed to the group covering a wide
variety of topics. Canyon Regional Water Authority agreed
that they would serve as the central collecting point for
any studies that would be done. The Texas Water Development
Board has a matching grant program in which fifty percent of
the study is paid by the Texas Water Development Board and
fifty percent is shared by the local sponsors. There are
some other agencies that are likely to be involved the
Edward's Underground, perhaps CCMA, San Antonio River
Authority and perhaps others that would further reduce the
per entity cost. The real problem is that they have a
deadline of November 26th to submit an application for a
grant. He said we have visited with a number of the other
cities and while they all agree that the future of our water
supply is so unknown, we desperately need the plan and
blueprint; but it does not look like they can put together
a proqram on the part of all the different entities involved
by the end of November. We placed this on the aqenda
because we felt it should be discussedj but at this time we
do not have feedback from some of the other cities. We feel
all the items that are proposed for the study are items that
are desperately needed and we think are important to our
long-ranqe planning. We do not believe that we can put it
together this year; but we feel it is a very important item
that needs to be studied and sugqest that we continue to
look at it with the other cities and soon after the first of
the year we need to have additional meetinqs to put
something together by next November.
Mr. Greenwald said we need to press on and start workinq
with the rest of the cities. Canyon Regional Water
Authority is a good source but we should not depend on it
alone. We should look at every possible option.
Mr. Sweatt said he felt a plan of this type is vital.
Gettinq commitments from every entity, which should perhaps
include Randolph Air Force Base, SARA, CCMA and all the
cities, and typing up all the details would take a long
time. We really wish we could do it this year.
fl.6 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: A. We have furnished you a
copy of a certified letter we sent to all residents of
Mobile Villa dealinq with the CDBG requirements. We will be
contactinq them beqinning next week. We did find that Bexar
County CDBG will accept income affidavit. We will assure
the residents that the information is held in strictest
confidence. We hope to receive at least 95% compliance.
<!4
B. CRWA is having a meetinq this night to discuss water.
Mr. Greenwald could not go because of this meetinq but John
Bierschwale did go.
C. Several members that went to the Annual
asked why our video was not shown alonq with
cities at the meeting. There was an invitation
last spring but we do not recall gettinq one. We
who it was addressed to but we are sorry we did
representation.
TML meeting
the other
sent out
asked them
not have
D. Remind Council that next Tuesday will
meetinq for the month of November and our next
not be until December 1, 1993. The Municipal
be closed Thursday and Friday accordinq to our
be the
workshop
offices
policy.
last
will
will
fl.7
calendar
Lightinq
year.
ITEMS BY COUNCIL: Mrs. Marsh: A. Put on your
that December 2nd will be the Christmas Tree
Ceremonies. We hope to have it outside again this
B. Reminder of the Business Association silent auction to
be held durinq the Trail Riders Dinner. We still need items
for this auction.
C. She asked the newspaper reporter to please brinq their
camera to the next meeting as we will be presentinq a
proclamation to the VFW for their "Voice of Democracy"
proqram.
Mr. Greenwald: It was discussed at the last P&Z meetinq
that Cibolo has some personnel problems and they also have a
pretty larqe development cominq in off Dietz Road. This
will be in their ETJ and across from our Dove Meadows, which
will have two entrances on Dietz Road. Our staff is working
with the enqineers to try to qet donations of riqht of way
to upqrade Dietz Road.
Mr. Sweatt added we are qoinq to require some land on our
side of Dietz Road so that if the road is brought up to
standard, there will be some land for that.
Mr. Mower said he was wonderinq
employees get each year. Mrs.
holidays and qet two days if the
or Thursday.
how many holidays the city
Stanhope said all Federal
holiday falls on a Tuesday
Mr. Greenwald suqqested working with Cibolo and tryinq to
get Mayor Bauder to do somethinq about Dietz Road.
B. Announced that BVYA has five openings on their Board and
that Bill Moore has quit.
:1 6
#8 ITEMS BY MAYOR: A. He noticed an error in the
Herald newspaper. They had an article sayinq the citizens
of Cibolo could pay their taxes at the Schertz City Hall,
which of course is false. Since Cibolo has contracted with
the County, they could pay the taxes at the County office in
Schertz.
B. The First Street railroad crossinq is really nice even
if it took a lonq time to qet that done.
Mr. Mower mentioned that there is a really dirty spot on FM
78, in front of Beck Concrete, that is danqerous.
Mr. Greenwald said they were out there with their equipment
cleaninq this afternoon.
Mayor
p.m.
#9 ADJOURNMENT: There beinq no further business,
Sawyer declared the meetinq to be adjourned at 8:31
ATTEST:
/J'Yl//f~y--
~~or, City of s~rtz, Texas
~
Secretary,rCity of Schertz