ccswks 12-15-1993
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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
DECEMBER 15, 1993
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop
Session Wednesday, December 15, 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, presidino; Joe Potempa;
Hal Baldwin; Barbara Stanhope; Mary Marsh and Ken
Greenwald. Staff present were City Manager Kerry Sweatt and
City Secretary June Krause.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: None
#2 Discuss final consideration of an ordinance
amending the Subdivision Ordinance, Article II Procedures.
Mr. Sweatt stated that this ordinance baSically establishes
a two-year life for final plats that have been filed, unless
there is a request for an extension.
Mayor Sawyer asked if there were any questions concerning
this ordinance.
Mr. Greenwald added that Plannino & Zonino would be giving
about six-month notice before the time would run out.
Mr. Baldwin asked how much the developer could lose by
this.
Mr. Sweatt and Mr. Greenwald advised a developer could
lose up to $200 but no more.
#3 Discuss
establishino a
Road.
final consideration of an
load limit of 15,000 pounds on
ordinance
Ware-Seouin
Mayor Sawyer
havino there
There being
that this be
said he thought Council knew the problem
with trucks from Randolph tearino up the
no comments from Council, Mayor Sawyer
on the next action aoenda.
we are
roads.
asked
#4 Discuss final consideration of an ordinance
approving a Tax Abatement and Tax Abatement Agreement with
Rex Bornmann.
Mayor Sawyer reminded Council they are familiar
Bornmann's property; addino that this is a local
man that is benefittino from the tax abatement.
also to be on the next agenda.
with Mr.
business
This is
#5 Discuss Board of Adjustment hearing for
Bulgrin's request for Special Exception to allow
enclose her carport.
Marianne
her to
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Mayor Sawyer referred
this would obstruct
however, consideration
portion of her carport
to P&Z's recommendation that, because
the line of site, this be denied;
be given to allow her to enclose that
up to the front of her mobile home.
Mrs. Marsh asked if there was anything in writing saying a
mobile home cannot have a garage and was told there was not.
Mrs. Stanhope said she did not understand the line of site
objection. She had visited the site and could not see where
there would be any problem.
Mr. Potempa said he would go along with her security theory
and he would go along with her request as he saw no problem
with it at all.
Mayor Sawyer said he would favor this also. He then asked
for this to be set up for publiC hearing an December 21st.
#6 Discuss Planning & Zoning Commission comments
regarding timing of zoninq change recommendations.
Mr. Sweatt referred to a memo Council received from
Planning and Zoning suggesting that when both Council and
P&Z were holding public hearings on a subject, sufficient
time be given for P&Z to completely develop their
recommendation. They recommend scheduling the hearings so
that there would be at least one meeting between. Looking
at the time frame involved, that would get to be onerous.
Until a couple of years ago, we held simultaneous hearings,
then we changed so that we run one publication but hold
separate hearings. Doing this, we usually have thirty days
between the publication date and our hearing. If we were to
add the extra meeting into the schedule, you are looking at
from 45 to 60 days from date of publication. P&Z's concern
is having sufficient time to deliberate and make their
recommendation. We suggest in those cases in which the P&Z
did not feel a recommendation could be developed at their
meeting, the City Council would hold their publiC hearing as
scheduled but would take no action until a recommendation
was forthcoming from the P&Z Commission.
Mr. Greenwald said some times there are unanswered
questions that come up from citizens that require research.
He said they were looking at some way to work this out
without changing the publication notice and this would work.
Mr. Sweatt asked if a memo from Council would suffice to
let the P&Z Commission know their recommendation and was
told it would.
#7 Discuss Mobile Villa improvement projects and
status of CDBG Grant.
il4
Mr. Sweatt reminded Council that we were offered a CDBG
Grant from Bexar County for $100,000. We were required by
Bexar County to take a survey and made contact with each
property owner in Mobile Villa that we planned to do this
survey. We scheduled three employees to solicit these
forms. The forms are very personal in nature and although
we were very cordially received, we did not receive
sufficient numbers to meet Bexar County's requirement. We
followed up with a second letter advisinq them of this and
we still have not received sufficient numbers to qualify.
Mr. Sweatt then recommended to Council that we abandon the
CDBG project and proceed with the water project and do a
portion of the sewer to eliminate some future paving cuts.
It appears that with a $35,000 loan, we can bore I-35, run a
collection main up 1-35 service road to Mobile Villa, and do
the water project within the bond money available. This, of
course, would mean that sewer service would not be available
in Mobile Villa.
Mrs. Marsh stated that she felt it is just terrible that we
have to give away that $100,000 because a few people will
not help to this extent. She added that if we do not qet
this, we will never again get money from Bexar County.
Mark Marquez said he has 16 forms completed that qualify and
only needs about 5 more.
Mrs. Marsh was of the opinion that we should not drop this
but should let the people of Mobile Villa know that we stand
to lose $100,000 expansion for this city. She suggested we
might qet better response in a group meetinq.
Mrs. Stanhope agreed and asked if there was a deadline for
submitting these forms.
Mr. Sweatt said there was a tentative date set but he did
not think they would hold us to it.
Mr. Baldwin said he was not in favor of laying a lot of
line if they don't want it. He understood the reasons but
if they are not going to cooperate, then he was not in favor
of it. He added that we will fulfilled our obliqation to
Mobile Villa with the water line and street improvements.
Mayor Sawyer said we could have a meetlnq with those people
and tell them exactly what has been said at this meeting and
what we are up against.
Mr. Sweatt said he would try to set it up for the first
meetinq in January.
#8 Discuss ordinance and related matters pertaining to
the changes of the Economic Development Task Force.
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Mr. Sweatt advised this suggests revising the Task Force.
He said that for some time they felt a need to change the
focus and design of the Task Force. After much
deliberation, they have recommended an Economic Development
Commission organization with basically the same functions.
We have included a proposed ordinance that would create the
Commission and adopt By-laws. The Commission would consist
of seven members with four serving two-year terms and three
for one-year term. The also recommended a list of names of
suggested members and thought maybe Council might have other
names to add.
Mrs. Marsh said she felt this was a good idea as it is time
to change the focus.
After Council discussion of the following list of names,
Mrs. Marsh recommended keeping all the names with herself
as Council ex-officio and Tony Moreno as P&Z ex-officio.
The list includes W.J. Sweatt, Harold Smith, Charles
McDonald, Harry Richburg, Michael Domgard, Bob Vallance,
Sr., Jackie Jones, Eric White, Lew Borgfeld, Bruce
Hammersla, Merwin Willman and Juan Thorn.
The other Council members agreed and Mr. Sweatt said he
would have the ordinance changed accordingly.
#9 Discuss Alamo Waste
increase.
Inc.
request for rate
Mr. Sweatt mentioned that Mr. Gutierrez of Alamo waste was
present and that he had included for Council perusal letters
from Alamo Waste and from BFI concerning the rate request.
He said staff has talked with Mr. Gutierrez on several
occasions and think Council is well aware of what the EPA is
doing. A part of our agreement for services states Alamo
Waste can annually ask for an increase, providing back up to
substantiate their request.
Mr. Gutierrez said he knew this was a difficult time,
coming on top of other utility increases. He said the
toughest thing he deals with is rate increases. He related
that when they started three years ago, the disposal fee at
the landfill was $3.25 a yard and now it $5.75 a yard. This
year's increase is 32% and last year it was 40%. The 32%
relates to a cost increase of 67 cents additional per
household for disposal. Of that, they hope for a rate
increase of 52 cents and they would absorb the other fifteen
cents. Since a year ago, San Antonio has closed their
Nelson Gardens Landfill, Seguin has closed their Stagecoach
Road landfill and the newly opened Waste Management Landfill
opened at a rate 26% higher than the one that closed. The
rate request would be from the current rate of $7.25 to the
requested rate of $7.86 per month.
36
Mr.
and
rate
area.
Gutierrez said they have taken some waste up to Austin
hopefully within a year they will be takinq more. This
still makes Schertz one of the lowest rates in the
Mr. Baldwin asked about public opinion of recyclinq in
Schertz.
Mr. Sweatt said we just don't feel the citizens are
to pay the fee for curb-side recyclinq, even though
are a lot of people who participate in the twice a
Alamo Waste/City recyclinq.
ready
there
month
Mr. Sweatt said he and Mr. Gutierrez are still debating on
the exact figure, whether it be $7.86 or $7.80 per month.
Council suqqested lettinq Mr. Sweatt continue to negotiate
with Mr. Gutierrez; and although no one likes a rate
increase, the trash has to qo somewhere. The said they
would be ready to vote at the next meeting.
#10 Discuss Inter-Governmental Agreement with Bexar
County reqardinq Community Development Block Grant for
Economic Development Plan.
Mr. Sweatt reminded Council that Schertz, alonq with the
Cities of Live Oak, Kirby, Selma and Universal City, made an
application to Bexar County for a CDBG qrant in the amount
of $50,000, to be matched with $1,000 from each city, for
the purpose of conductinq an economic development study and
plan development. He went on to say each city is unique and
their opportunities vary greatly 1 but each city sees the
need to have a plan. We have been offered a grant and each
city is reviewinq the plan now and we expect to have the
final document by the next meeting date. We are asking
Council to authorize us to enter into this aqreement with
Bexar County.
When Mr.
Antonio,
will be
needs of
Baldwin asked if this included
Mr. Sweatt advised it did not.
no small task for the consultant
each city.
the City of
He added that
to deal with
San
it
the
The Council had no objection to the Mayor requesting this
item be on the next action aqenda.
#11 Discuss appointments to the Schertz Industrial
Foundation.
Mr. Sweatt referred to his memo to Council stating that
four members of the Foundation aqreed to serve another term,
with Jackie Jones beinq nominated for the fifth position.
These appointments require City Council action.
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Mayor Sawyer asked that this also be on the next action
agenda.
#12 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: A. With Council's
permission, he would like to place on the next agenda for
action the awarding of bids for four police vehicles. It
appears there is a clear low bid from the six bids received.
Council agreed.
B. Reminded Council of the City's Awards Dinner Friday
night at the Community Center.
#13 ITEMS BY COUNCIL:
Mrs. Marsh: A. Reminded that the Trail Rider banquet is
the first week in February and the Schertz Business
Association will hold their silent auction at that time.
She again asked for items for this auction. The funds from
the auction go toward the fireworks display at the Jubilee.
She also advised that the event has been relocated and the
Trail Rider's Dinner, Dance and Auction will be at the VFW
in Schertz.
Mr. PotemDa advised the Schertz Tax Increment Financing
Board met and are working on by-laws now.
Mr. Greenwald: A. Had
Regional Water Authority
Bexar-Medina-Atascosa Water
have copies made for Council.
received letters from Canyon
concerning the proposed
Improvement District and will
B. BVYA minutes will also be available at the next meeting.
BVYA is coming along real well now.
#14 ITEMS BY MAYOR: George Mower asked if Alamo Waste
was just asking for an increase or a new contract.
Mayor Sawyer assured him it is not a new contract the
current contract allows for an annual negotiation for rate
increase with proper back up.
A. Mayor Sawyer had received a letter from the Bexar County
Hospital District asking if we would like to hear what he
has to say.
B. The United Suburban Cities is still doing a pretty good
job.
C. Received an invitation from the Kirby Council to attend
their City Hall dedication on Sunday.
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#15 ADJOURNMA~~:
meeting was declared
Sawyer.
There beinq no further business, the
adjourned at 8:30 p.m. by Mayor
;{rd1{t~~~~xas
ATTEST:
$a,,~
Secretary, City of Schertz
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