ccswks 01-15-1992
I
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 15, 1992
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop
Session, Wednesday, January 15, 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, presiding: Joe Potempa:
Hal Baldwini Barbara Stanhopei Mary Marsh and Ken
Greenwald. Staff present were City Manager Kerry Sweatt and
City Secretary June Krause.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: Bill Neller A. Advised that
three years ago he had made some small Christmas decorations
for the telephone poles on Main Street and they were too
small. Last year he made bigger ones and they still did not
stand out enough. He showed one he has surrounded with
either gold or silver garland, saying he felt these would be
more eye-catching.
B. Referred to the lack of publicity Schertz receives in
the newspapers. He said he already has several flags that
need to be destroyed in the proper manner and a month or so
prior to Flag Day he would see about putting something on
the Randolph bulletin board since they do not have a place
to properly destroy flags. He added that he hoped Schertz
would get more publicity this year.
C. Mr. Neller said he had heard economic development at
several Council meetings but asked where it is in Schertz.
He looks around and does not see any. There followed a
lengthy discussion pointing out to Mr. Neller the areas of
economic development and some of the reasons why it is not
visible to him. He was invited to attend some of the
Economic Development Task Force meetings.
#2 Discussion of final consideration of an ordinance
adopting quidelines and criteria for Tax Abatement for 1992.
Mr. Sweatt said the original ordinance had a sunset
provision that caused its demise in January 1992. The
Economic Development Task Force has reviewed the ordinance
and recommends Council re-adopt the ordinance as is for
another year. They will continue their review and will be
making recommended changes later on. The ordinance was
passed on first reading at the last regular meeting.
Mr. Potempa said since this is an incentive to get more
business in the City, Council should go with their
recommendation.
#3 Discussion of final consideration of an ordinance
amending the zoning ordinance by rezoning 11.281 acres,
located on Elbel Road, from Neighborhood Services to Public
Use District.
8~
Mr. Sweatt said the only thing staff received after the
public hearing on this request was a communication from the
general partner of the apartment complex, saying he had no
objection provided that no storage, garage or fueling
stations be permitted to be built that would not be allowed,
under current zoning laws, to be built by a non-governmental
agency.
Mayor Sawyer said that the school officials had said
would be putting the storage tanks in the middle of
property, so that should be no problem.
they
the
#4 Discussion of Charter Review provision of the
Charter.
Mr. Sweatt said he had enclosed in Council packets excerpts
from the Charter showing the requirement that the charter be
reviewed every even numbered year. The last committee
convened in 1988 and the charter was amended at the May
election in 1989. Under our charter, amendments may only be
considered every two years. He added that possibly the
Council may want to review the charter and list any
amendments they want considered.
Mayor Sawyer said that since the charter prOV1S10n states
the committee of five citizens should be appointed in June,
the Council should take a hard look at the charter in the
meantime and come up with some suggestions. If anything is
needed to be amended, the committee can be appointed at that
time.
Mrs. Marsh suggested Council take a look at
starting in April and then appoint a committee
Mayor Sawyer and Council members agreed
suggestion.
the Charter
after that.
with that
#5 Discussion of recycling proposal for Alamo Area.
Mr. Marquez stated this proposal was developed to try to
offer one potential solution for Municipal entities. He
said there are two main thrusts in the proposal. One deals
with the economic viability of a large scale plan. The size
of the plan is very important in order to take advantage of
the economy of the scale. A single entity such as Schertz
would never be able to do this because we would not have the
solid waste to supply it. The second part of the proposal
deals with the political aspects of it. Each city or entity
has its own rules on how it deals with solid waste.
Critical to the construction of a plant of this size is the
source of material. There is nothing that says a hauler has
to deliver to anywhere other than an approved landfill. For
this reason we would have to have the political entities
band together and say this is what they would want to do.
~
Mr. Marquez went on to say that when you start looking at
the economic viability of the plant, one of the things is
that our perspective has to be broadened to start looking at
the solid waste as a commodity.
He added that several myths have to be dealt with, such as
in order for a plant to be viable, the tipping fees at
landfills have to be extremely high. Another myth is that
there is no market for recyclable material. Mr. Marquez
said his experience is that such companies not only exist
but are very anxious to do business.
Mrs. Marsh mentioned that this would cost a lot of money
and Mr. Marquez said that there would have to be an
agreement with all the cities and go for revenue bonds. He
said, if he had the City's support, he would go to the
counties first and then to the cities in the area, after
getting the counties' support. He said that as soon as we
had enough political support where we would be dealing with
about 325,000 people, he said they you should start going
after the markets and end users - long term contracts. This
would take from six months to a year. Then go to the bond
house immediately after that. He said he would be looking
at four facilities because of transportation costs.
Mrs. Marsh asked what Mr. Marquez wanted from Council.
He said he wanted Council's general agreement and
be looking at some money for a feasibility study.
go to the counties and perhaps to AACOG Region 2
State money for the study.
he would
He would
for the
Mayor Sawyer received concurrence from Council for Mr.
Marquez to go ahead with his study.
Guadalupe County Judge Sagebiel said he was present to
listen to this presentation. He said he felt as long as we
realize this will have to be a regional project, it is
something we all need to look at.
#6 Discussion of resolution setting public hearings on
proposed annexation of three tracts of land containing
250.96 acres out of Guadalupe County.
Mr. Sweatt pointed out on the map the three tracts of land
proposed for annexation, mainly to close in our boundaries.
These are recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission
for annexation. He added that, in the past, these areas
were passed over because of the then proposed highway loop
in this area. We now believe FM 78 will be widened instead
of looping as originally planned. The bulk of the property
is owned and operated by the Beck Concrete Company and a
type 4 landfill. Mr. Sweatt then discussed the annexation
schedule, which sets the public hearings for February 4th
and 18th, the passage of the ordinance on March 17th.
90
#7 Consider action regarding appointment to Schertz
Police Reserve Battalion.
Mr. Sweatt referred to a memo from the Chief of Police
requesting the appointment of Cindy Pruitt to the Police
Reserve Battalion. Miss Pruitt recently resigned from our
Police force to return to college. She has a good deal of
free time and would be available to train in dispatch,
clerical or any other area in which she could contribute.
Mr. Sweatt requested Council take formal action at this
meeting.
Mr. Baldwin moved to appoint Cindy Pruitt to the Police
Reserve Battalion. Mr. Potempa seconded the motion, which
carried with the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Potempa,
Marsh and Greenwald.
NAYS: None
Baldwin, Stanhope,
#8 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Mr. Sweatt said the second public hearing for the
annexation is scheduled for February 18th and that is going
to be a very busy meeting because we also have the Cable
television public hearinq and would like to give out the
Certificates for the Police Academy.
After discussion, Council agreed to start the meeting at
6:45 p.m. on the 18th of February.
#9 ITEMS BY COUNCIL:
Mrs.
the
job.
Marsh: A. Advised that in dealing with Mr. Jones,
new publisher of the Herald, he is doing a very qood
B. She has tickets for the dinner dance at the VFW on
February 4th starting at 6:00 p.m. for the 30th anniversary
of the Central Texas Trail Riders. She said the Business
Club is really hoping to make this a big thing this year.
She suggested changing the meeting time for the Council on
the 4th of February to 6:00 p.m. - Council agreed.
C. VFW coming events - Saturday night there will be a
social and dinner for the Fifth District Meeting being
hosted by our post. She said they expect at least 200
people. Then on Sunday morning January 19th at 9:30, there
will be a program and the guest speaker is Retired General
Robert T. Harris, who is a marvelous speaker. He is out of
USAA, has been in the astronaut program and his last duty in
the Air Force was the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff for three years.
~
Q-'.
v1
D. Mrs. Marsh also reminded the VFW members that there
would be a meeting Monday, January 20th at 7:30 p.m at the
VFW.
Mrs. Stanhope: A. Asked about the animal shelter. Mr.
Sweatt said we are stuck on the land acquisition. He said
that after one more conversation with the supervisor of the
gentleman who has been giving us the run around, he will
probably be coming back to Council for a request for eminent
domain proceedings.
B. Mrs. Stanhope asked the status of the scout projects.
Mr. Sweatt said one scout has agreed on a project and he
has given a list of a number of projects to them so they can
pick out the projects they want.
C. She said
Authority and
separate from
had it checked
she
she
the
out.
had talked with Donna at the Housing
said regarding the berm, the wall did
metal beam but it is not falling. They
Mr. Greenwald said that when you look at it from his back
door, the wall is leaning toward the Beck Street side.
Mr. Greenwald: Said he noticed in the TML report that they
have scrapped the rules we asked that they not enforce.
#10 ITEMS BY MAYOR: A. Reported that they had a good
meeting at the Housing Authority Monday night and swore in
three members.
B. He had a report from Randolph Air Force base showing the
impact of having the base in our area.
#11 ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business,
Mayor Sawyer declared the meeting be adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
ATTEST:
Texas