ccreg 03-16-1993
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REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 16. 1993
The Schertz City Council convened in Regular Session
Tuesday, March 16, 1993 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers of the Municipal Complex, 1400 Schertz Parkway,
Schertz, Texas. The following members were present: Mayor
Earl W. Sawyer, presiding: Hal Baldwin, Barbara Stanhope,
Mary Marsh and Ken Greenwald. Absent: Joe Potempa. Staff
present were City Manager Kerry Sweatt and City Secretary
June Krause.
Mayor Sawyer welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked if
they would join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
He then called on Anita Clark, President of the
Business Association, who presented the Employee
Quarter award to Joyce Andrews.
Schertz
of the
Mayor Sawyer then called Mrs. Evelyn Barnes forward and
read a proclamation making her "Star of the Month" for March
1993.
Mrs. Barnes said that being a volunteer in Schertz had been
very rewarding to her.
#1 PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Sawyer declared the purpose
of the hearing was to receive citizen comments on a proposal
to create a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone along Schertz
Parkway for the purpose of widening Schertz Parkway and
infrastructure improvements.
Mayor Sawyer welcomed Judge
Brannon to the meeting.
Sagebiel and Commissioner
Mr. Sweatt
representing
surgery.
introduced
our City
Acting City Attorney Diana
Attorney who is recuperating
Dean,
from
Mr. Sweatt then advised that 207 notices were sent to
property owners falling within 1000 feet along Schertz
Parkway, inviting them to attend this public hearing. This
is a provision of state law to allow the city, and other
taxing jurisdictions, to create a financial arrangement in
which certain improvements are made to the property without
the obligation of increased taxation. This anticipates that
as improvements are made to the property, that tax value on
the property increase. He said that Mr. Marquez has some
slides to help explain this. We have been to both the
Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District
and Guadalupe County Commissioner's Court and both have
endorsed and agreed to participate in this project.
ilS
Mr. Marquez advised that Tax Increment Financing is
relatively new to the State of Texas. One of the things
that is important about this concept is that the program is
not driven by property tax rates but by property values.
Mr. Marquez' first chart showed property values as they
would rise over a 36 year period. He indicated that this
chart makes the assumption that land values will rise at the
rate of 1% per year for the next 36 years. The chart shows
the base value as established and the captured value which
accrues as the land value rises. He then showed a chart
dealing with revenues. It indicated the flat line which
shows the entities will never receive lower taxes than that.
The chart showed the area above the flat line, which is the
revenue from which the tax increment financing receives its
funds. Of course the chart indicated the ideal world:
however, Mr. Marquez reminded that there will be times when
the values might even fall below the base line and no
revenues would go into the fund. On being questioned, Mr.
Marquez said the money would be used for widening and
improvements to Schertz Parkway from I-35 to 200 feet east
of Live Oak Road. This could include curbing, sewer,
underground utilities and things like that.
Mr. Sweatt said the actual plan will be determined after
the district is created and a Board of Directors is
appointed. The Board will include appointed members by the
City Council, School Board and Commissioner's Court.
One citizen asked if this would be assessed on just the
Schertz Parkway property owners or on all citizens of the
city. Mr. Marquez said only for the Schertz Parkway
property owners and he pointed out that it is not an
increase in taxes in any way.
Mr. Ackermann asked
done about drainage.
original plan;
add drainage.
if on the lower part would anything be
Mr. Marquez advised that not in the
however, the Board of Directors could
When asked about the make up of the Board, Mr. Marquez
advised it would be made up of two appointees from the City
Council, two from the School District and two from the
County Commissioners Court. Mr. Sweatt advised that the
law states that the City will appoint the Chairman.
Mr. Marquez said that staff has put together a preliminary
plan and Council has approved that plan. Now the Board of
Directors must approve the plan; but, if they make
adjustments, then it will have to be brought back to the
Council for approval as well as the other entities'
approval.
Mr. Marquez answered several questions from the audience,
including: Will the project be started with money on hand
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or will they be borrowing? Mr. Marquez stated normally
with money on hand: however, if property values rise and
everything looks good, then the Board could decide to go
with bonds.
In the event this should be decided down the road this is a
bad move, the money in the fund would go back to the
entities in proportion that it was given.
Is that not a tax abatement? Mr.
there cannot be a tax abatement
Financing Zone.
Marquez said
in the Tax
no, and
Increment
Mayor Sawyer said that what we want to accomplish
improve the property in the zone without putting
burden on the citizens.
is to
a tax
Judge Sagebiel thanked both Mr. Sweatt and Mr. Marquez for
going to Commissioners Court and providing them with the
information to make their decision. He added that the
County government wished to work and cooperate with the
cities. The Commissioners, after extensive study and
questions, feel this could be very beneficial to the whole
county. He ended by saying they look forward to working
with the other entities on this project.
Mayor Sawyer closed the public hearing at 7:42 p.m.
#2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Regular Meeting 2-16-93.
Mrs. Stanhope IDQy~g to approve the minutes of the Regular
Meeting of February 16, 1993. Mr. Baldwin seconded the
motion, which carried as follows:
AYES: Councilmembers Baldwin, Stanhope, and Greenwald
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: Mrs. Marsh
#3 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: None
#4 AGREEMENT: Consider and take action regarding a
proposed financing agreement with Schertz Bank and Trust for
a portion of police fleet purchase.
Mr. Sweatt advised that in the 1992-93 budget, we have
funded a portion of the purchase of five new vehicles for
the Police service and propose to use this agreement to fund
the remaining $35,163 over a twelve month period.
Mrs. Marsh ID9V~d to approve the agreement with the Schertz
Bank and Trust for a portion of the purchase price for five
police vehicles. Mr. Greenwald seconded the motion, which
carried with the following vote:
120
AYES: Councilmembers
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
Baldwin,
Stanhope,
Marsh
and
#5 RESOLUTION: Mayor Sawyer introduced a resolution
and read the caption as follows:
RESOLUTION NO. 93-R-4
A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE
APPLICATION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
DIVISION, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE
STATE OF TEXAS, FOR GRANT FUNDING TO THE
ALAMO AREA NARCOTICS TASK FORCE PROJECT TO
BE USED TO PAY THE OPERATING EXPENSES OF
THIS PROJECT AND TO SUPPORT THE COST OF
PROVIDING ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT,
FACILITIES, PERSONNEL TRAINING AND SUPPLIES
FOR MORE WIDESPREAD APPREHENSION OF PERSONS
WHO VIOLATE FEDERAL, STATE AND/OR LOCAL LAWS
RELATING TO THE PRODUCTION, TRANSPORTATION
AND DISTRIBUTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES IN
THE JURISDICTION OF THE ALAMO AREA NARCOTICS
TASK FORCE PROJECT.
Mr. GreenwaldJffiov~d to approve the resolution authorizing
participation in the Alamo Area Narcotics Task Force. Mrs.
Stanhope seconded the motion, which carried as follows:
AYES: Councilmembers
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
Baldwin,
Stanhope,
Marsh
and
Mr. Brown
road blocks
was legal.
legal.
asked if this was the same group that put up the
on 1-35 and was it ever checked out to see if it
Mr. Sweatt said it was the same group and was
Mr. Baldwin said that was like the curfew. some people
think it violates their personal rights but Council felt it
was important to the community.
#6 CONTRACT:
participation in an
Edwards Underground
Program.
Consider and take action regarding
Interlocal Contract Agreement with the
Water District Conservation Rebate
Mr. Sweatt said the Edwards Underground Water District has
a program which they have made available to the City of
Schertz. The funds, in the initial amount of $5,000, are to
begin an ultra low-flow toilet replacement program. Our
Plumbing Code dictates that fixtures be replaced from a 3.5
gallon per flush fixture with a 1.6 gallon fixture. The
District has made arrangements with an initial $5,000 to the
City of Schertz to be used as a rebate or refund to
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individuals who change out their old toilet fixtures for the
new 1.6 gallon per flush fixture. This provides individuals
the incentive to make the change and over the long run the
people will pay for the fixture with the savings in water
usage. We recommend Council authorize staff to inter into
an Interlocal Governmental contract agreement with the
Edwards Underground Water District.
Mrs. Marsh moved to authorize participation in an
Interlocal Contract Agreement with the Edwards Underground
Water District Conservation Rebate Program. Mrs. Stanhope
seconded the motion, which carried with the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
Baldwin.
Stanhope, Marsh and
#7 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: A. With the hiring of the
newest Police personnel, who came to us from the Comal
County reserve, brings our police force back up to strength.
#8 ITEMS BY COUNCIL: None
#9 ITEMS BY MAYOR: None
# 10
seconded
7:52 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT: On a ffiQtJ"Q]1 by
by Mrs. Stanhope, the meeting was
Mr. Baldwin,
adjourned at
~4o/~~~. ~..
~~or. City of S~rtz. Texas
ATTEST:
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