ccreg 01-07-1992
82
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 7, 1992
The Schertz City Council convened Tuesday, January 7, 1992
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,
presidingj Joe Potempaj Hal Baldwinj Barbara Stanhopej
Mary Marsh and Ken Greenwald. Staff present were City
Manager Kerry Sweatt and City Secretary June Krause.
Mayor Sawyer called the meeting to order and asked everyone
to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Mayor
Planning &
awards.
then asked Mr. Bob Andrews, Chairman of
Zoning Commission to come forward to make
the
some
Mr. Andrews announced the winners of the Christmas
Decorating Contest as follows: First place residential went
to Mr. and Mrs. Brummett, 509 Mitchell Avenuej Second
place residential went to Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Kempen, 524
Curtiss Avenuej and Third place residential was awarded to
Phyllis McNeal of 400 Brooks Avenue. Autumn Winds
Retirement Lodge received the Best Decorated Business award.
None of the winners were present.
Mr. Andrews then asked Norma Althouse to come forward and
presented her with a plaque from the Planning & Zoning
Commission for outstanding recording secretary duties since
1985.
Mayor Sawyer told Mrs. Althouse that the Council was proud
to have her as a City employee.
#1
12-11-91.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Special
B. Regular Meeting of 12-17-91.
Meeting
of
Mrs. Marsh made a motion to approve the minutes of the
Special Meeting of December 11, 1991 and the Regular Meeting
of December 17, 1991. Mr. Greenwald seconded the motion,
which carried as follows:
AYES: Councilmembers Potempa, Baldwin, Stanhope, Marsh and
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
#2 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: None
#3 RESOLUTION: Mayor Sawyer introduced a
and read the caption as follows:
resolution
RESOLUTION NO. 92-R-l
I
I
J
<...Ji
A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS, APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF
A CERTAIN WATER EASEMENT, BY THE CITY OF
SCHERTZ, TEXAS TO MCKINNEY HOMES.
Mr. Greenwald moved to approve the resolution approving the
transfer of a water easement to McKinney Homes. Mr. Baldwin
seconded the motion, which carried with the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Potempa, Baldwin, Stanhope, Marsh and
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
#4 ORDINANCE: Mayor Sawyer introduced an ordinance
and read the caption as follows:
AN ORDINANCE BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS, GRANTING A FRANCHISE TO
EXCEL COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC. TO
CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE A CABLE TELEVISION
SYSTEM WITHIN THE CITY OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS.
Mr. Sweatt called attention to a couple of cosmetic type
changes from the draft furnished Council at the last
meeting. He added that he and the City Attorney have
continued to review the draft ordinance. One of the
significant changes was in Section 10, J was changed to
read: "Grantee shall provide and maintain a minimum of one
production studio within the area, and a minimum of one
fully equipped for color mobile unit for the purpose of
local program origination." Mr. Sweatt mentioned that the
representatives of Excel were present and they had continued
to be very cooperative. Excel had furnished the two
additional exhibits that were referred to in the ordinance.
Kevin Dawson, Vice-President/Marketing with Excel
Communications Group, Inc. introduced President Jeff
Gangwer and Director of Public Affairs Carlos Freymann. He
then read a statement as follows: "Excel Communications
has formally submitted to the City of Schertz, Texas, a
request for franchise to build and operate a competing Cable
Television System. Excel has committed to construct a
state-of-the-art seventy channel cable system. The system
will provide the citizens of Schertz an economic
entertainment alternative without sacrificing quality or
variety. The basic cable will consist of forty-siX channels
at a rate of $14.50 per month, with an additional ten
percent discount for senior citizens. This represents a
thirty percent savings over current Paragon rates. In
addition, there will be a ten to fifteen percent saVings on
premium services, such as HBO, Showtime and others. This
will equate to $100.00 or more savings per year on the
average subscriber's rates. Excel, with City approval,
stands ready to begin planning and construction of the
system with a projected two-year target completion. This
--./1
('S L:~
will be a Schertz Metrocom System promoting Schertz and the
surrounding communities exclusively in areas such as
business, economic development, employment opportunities and
community interest. Competition is the only answer to
controlling the monopolistic abuses that have occurred and
that will continue without a cable alternative. We commend
city officials for taking the first step to providing a
cable alternative and congratulate city staff, particularly
Mr. Sweatt and the City attorney, for negotiating a
franchise ordinance which promotes competition and at the
same time provides the guarantees and protections necessary
for all-around successes. Thank you." Mr. Dawson added
that they all appreciate the hospitality and warmth that has
been shown them in the City of Schertz.
One of the citizens asked if they would have Spanish
channels and were advised they would. When asked if they
would be going out to the Schirmerville area, Mr. Dawson
said the franchise ordinance states they have agreed to
forty homes per mile as the requirement to build. He said
if it was less than that, they would look at it and if they
could economically do it, they would.
There being no further questions, Hr. Potempa made a motion
to approve the first reading of the ordinance granting Excel
Communications Group, Inc. a franchise for cable television.
Mrs. Marsh seconded the motion, which carried with the
following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Potempa, Baldwin, Stanhope, Marsh and
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
Mr. Sweatt advised that there will be a public hearing on
this ordinance, along with the second and final reading on
the 28th of February.
#5 ORDINANCE: Mayor Sawyer introduced an ordinance
and read the caption as follows:
AN ORDINANCE BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS, ADOPTING GUIDELINES AND
CRITERIA FOR TAX ABATEMENT AND RE-INVESTMENT
ZONES.
Mrs. Marsh moved to approve the first reading
ordinance adopting the guidelines and criteria
Abatement for 1992. Mr. Greenwald seconded the
which carried with the following vote:
of an
for Tax
motion,
AYES: Councilmembers Potempa, Baldwin, Stanhope, Marsh and
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
---~
_J
Mr. Sweatt said the previous ordinance was considered and
recommended to Council and ultimately in 1990, providing for
a limitation for that ordinance to go out of existence in
January of 1992, with the view that it would have to be
reviewed again. The Economic Development Task Force and
staff reviewed our experiences and did find that probably
they will be recommending some changes, overall the
ordinance has been effective. He recommended this ordinance
be put in place for another year until the changes could be
examined.
#6 ORDINANCE: Mayor Sawyer introduced an ordinance
and read the caption as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 92-S-1
AN ORDINANCE BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS, AMENDING THE ZONING
ORDINANCE NO. 87-S-1 BY REZONING AN 11.281
ACRE TRACT OF LAND OUT OF GUADALUPE COUNTY
AND REFLECTING SUCH CHANGES ON CERTAIN
ZONING MAPS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCHERTZ
ZONING ORDINANCE.
Mr. Greenwald moved to pass the ordinance approving the
rezoning of 11.281 acres of land out of Guadalupe County.
Mrs. Marsh seconded the motion, which carried with the
following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Potempa, Stanhope, Marsh and Greenwald
ABSTAINING: Mr. Baldwin
NAYS: None
Mayor Sawyer advised that this is some land the school
district purchased for expanSion.
#7 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: A. Referred to an article
in the San Antonio Light newspaper, where the columnist
suggested that San Antonio area quit supporting all the
military bases and close Randolph Air Force Base and make it
the San Antonio airport.
B. Out of three candidates, Mike Harris received the
highest rating and will be promoted to Sergeant in the
Police Service commencing January 8, 1992.
#8 ITEMS BY COUNCIL: Mr. PotemDa asked an item be
placed on the next workshop to discuss the Charter Review.
Mr. Baldwin said he had talked with the City Manager to see
if he could do anything about the graffiti on the railroad
bridge - adding that when he went home the same day it was
gone. Mr. Sweatt said he had talked with the railroad
people and they agreed they will do some additional work on
it - perhaps have a community service program.
86
Mrs. Stanhooe asked about the Eagle Scout projects. Mr.
Sweatt advised that staff have come up with about 9 or 10
projects for them.
Mrs. Marsh - A. Advised that the following Saturday morning
the VFW will have their breakfast.
B. The trail riders soon this will be the 30th
anniversary and both the trail riders and the Business Club
hope to make this one the biggest and best. She had tickets
for sale for the dinner/dance.
Mr. Greenwald said he would like to discuss Hr. Harquez"
Recycling program on the next workshop.
#9 ITEMS BY MAYOR: He advised that on January 13th he
would be swearing in three people to the Housing Authority
Board and invited everyone to attend.
#10 ADJOURNMENT: Mrs. Marsh moved the meeting be
adjourned at 7:25 p.m., with Mr. Potempa seconding the
motion, which carried unanimously.
ATTEST:
Texas
'\
I
I
i
I
I
I
-~