ccswks 04-15-1992
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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 15, 1992
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop
Session Wednesday. April 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;
Barbara Stanhope; Mary Marsh and Ken Greenwald. Absent:
Hal Baldwin. Staff present were City Manager Kerry Sweatt
and City Secreary June Krause.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: J3j.~11 NeJl~x - A. Advised
that next month the flags would up on Main Street on May 8th
for VE Day. May 16th for Armed Forces Day and the
traditional. as well as observed, Memorial Days of May 27th
and May 30th.
B. In June Flag Day is the 14th and the flags will be put
up again and the annual flag burning ceremonies will take
place. He had already collected some flags and had
contacted Randolph Air Force Base. since they do not have an
official burning. He said there would be representatives
from all the local veterans groups at the ceremonies and he
hoped they would have a large croud of others as well.
C. He mentioned that he had placed the American flag at the
polling place for the Primary Election and when he went back
to pick it up, it had been moved - he resented that. Mr.
Neller asked if the City would contact the Election people
in Seguin about this.
D. He also seemed concerned about citizens not knowing
where they were to vote and asked that more information be
made available for future elections.
Jim ft~J:.r,ts: A. He said he lives on FM 1518 at Schaefer
Road in Bexar County. He noted that when he purchased his
auto license plat renewal. Bexar County collected $1.00 for
child safety. He called them to find out why he had to pay
since he was in the Schertz-cibolo-Universal City School
District and was told that each entity received a percentage
of this money. Mr. Sweatt advised that the City of Schertz
does receive a percentage of this money; and he believed it
was based on population figures.
Mr. Harris then asked if that money, which came into
city, was budgeted toward the Crossing Guard salaries.
Sweatt advised that it does come into the General Fund
that designation.
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B. Mr. Harris also notice a "City tax" on his telephone
bills and called and asked where that money was going and
was told to Cibolo since that was his address. After
argueing with them, they removed the tax entirely from his
bill. Mayor Sawyer advised that staff would call and try to
get this straightened out.
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It was also discussed to try to get the Postal Service to
change the rural route so that it would have a Schertz
address, it the people lived in Schertz.
Mr. Willman: A. Asked the status of the billboard at the
corner of FM 1518 and Oak Street. Mr. Sweatt said no one
he had called would claim ownership of the sign; and since
it is on City property, it could be taken down. Council
asked that it be taken down.
#2 Discussion of 1990-91 Audit Report.
Mr. Sweatt introduced Mr. Barney Ortiz of the firm of
Leal, Carter & Rocha. P.C.; adding that he had also asked
Debi Kline, our Finance Officer, to be present.
Mr. Sweatt advised that staff had met with the Audit
Committee and the Committee had furnished a memorandum of
their comments, since Mr. Baldwin was unable to be present.
He said several comments Council made last year had been
taken to heart, one of them being numbering the pages.
Mr. Ortiz said he did go into detail with the Audit
Committee and would be glad to answer any questions of
Council. At this time, he suggested he would like to just
bring out some highlights of the report. He called
attention to page 1 where they give the City their opinion.
The opinion is unqualified; basically what it says is that
this is a "clean" opinion; and within certain reasonable
bounds, the City produced a very good financail report. The
operations of the City look very good. He added that this
is essentially the staff report and they assisted staff in
putting it together.
Pages 3 and 4 provides what the City ownes. with respect to
Governmental funds, proprietary funds and account groups.
Then on pages 5 and 6. you will see what the City owes and
pages 7 and 8 shows what is left over. The indication of
what kind of operation the City had during the year, will
normally come from the General Fund, which is the operating
fund that takes in everything other than items that are
designated for special purposes. The General Fund this year
took in approximately $2,400.000 in revenues and spent
approximately $2,000,000 and had approximately $320,000 left
over. On the following page, it shows that approximately
$160,000 was transferred out to debt service. This leaves
about $160.000 left over, which is about a 300% increase
from the prior year. Normally, we would look for a fund
balance of about a three-month operation and this shows we
have a fund balance of about 1.5 months operations. Some of
this is reserved for specific purposes, such as inventory,
Economic Development, equipment and self insurance. The
total of all those item make up the $244,000. That leaves
about $116,000 left that is not designated for only about
3/4 of a month operation. Looking at this fund balance as
compared to other years, we have really come a long way on
the fund balance. Right now we have a healthy situation.
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Mrs. Marsh asked if this would bring our coverage rating
up. Mr. Ortiz said they are looking at this right now but
with the economy as it is. he did not feel anyone would be
getting an improved rating.
Mr. Ortiz then explained a little about the Water/Sewer and
SAFES funds. which are Enterprise funds. He said these
funds are treated like a business within the City. These
funds are self-supporting. The total revenues in the
Water/Sewer were approximately $1,500,000 with expenses of
about $1.l00.000, leaving an operating income before
depreciation of $375,000. After that we applied
depreciation of $346,000, leaving approximately $30.000.
Then we have the nonoperating revenues of $105,528 interest
income. with interest expenses of $200,000, with a net
effect of $56,000, showing a net loss of $26,000 in the
Water/Sewer Fund. Mr. Ortiz called attention to the next
pages covering a Statement of Cash Flow - All Proprietary
Fund Types. This shows a net figures of $1,641.636 in the
bank account right now for this fund. Some of this is
dedicated funds.
Mr. Ortiz said the balance of the report deals with Fixed
Assets and Statistical section. He said if Council had any
questions, to please give him a call and he would get back
to them as soon as possible.
Mayor Sawyer then read Mr. Baldwin's statement from the
Audit Committee. He said the committee felt that the City
Council, along with staff. did an amazing job over the past
three years of building our reserve fund from nothing to
$244,000. He thanked each Council member and staff.
Mr. Sweatt added that Mr. Ortiz would be asked to be at
the next meeting for the formal presentation of the audit.
#3 Discussion of changes in Use Regulations and rates
pertaining to the swimming pool facilities.
Mr. Sweatt advised the pool rates and regulations were
reviewed as to operational costs and keeping them in line
with the area. Recommendations for the 1992 season,
consisting of one hundred swim days. are as follows:
Season pass rates: Schertz residents - individual - $20.00,
2 member - $25.00; 3 member - $32.00 and 4 or more - $37.50.
Out of City rates:
3 member - $45.00;
individual - $25.00; 2 member - $35.00;
and 4 or more - $50.00.
Mr. Sweatt said a new program proposed for this year is the
Senior Citizens Swimming/Exercise Program. proposed for
Mondays and Thursday nights from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. This
will be at not cost to the City.
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Answering Mrs. Marsh. Mr. Sweatt said these rates are
being adjusted becuase of the increased costs of chemicals
and the fact that there continues to be a substantial
difference between revenues and expenditures for the pool.
Mrs. Marsh questioned Regulation under 2. A. Children
under 8 years of age must be accompanied by an adult or by a
parent, unless they can successfully pass the swimming test
as listed in Pool Operations Manual. She said children
behave better when with a parent and a parent or adult can
be sure the child does not over do.
After Council discussion, it was decided to
following wording to that paragraph: "and must
accompanied by a responsible person 14 years of
older."
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Mr. Potempa asked if the YMCA had contacted us for use of
the pool. Mr. Sweatt said they had not. Then Mrs. Marsh
explained about not having parents interested enough in the
Swim Team program to organize it this year.
#4 Discussion of a public hearing on P&Z
recommendation of assigning animal control facility an
allowed use in General Business category of Zoning
Ordinance.
Mr. Sweatt mentioned that Council had asked Planning and
Zoning to make a determination for this new use that is not
presently described in the ordinance: and they reccommend
assigning an animal control facility as an allowed use in
the General Business category of the Zoning ordinance. He
added that this mayor may not be subject to some future
rezoning.
Mr. Greenwald advised that P&Z had their public hearing on
this and no one showed up to comment either way on it. They
did have one question concerning the shelter and that is
because of the drainage ditch will we be using mesquito
spray. Mr. Sweatt advised that if necessary, we will.
Mr. Sweatt also advised that Council would have Planning
and Zoning's recommendation by the 21st meeting.
As no one objected to this recommendation, Mayor Sawyer
asked this public hearing be held on the 21st of April.
#5 Discussion of Board of Adjustment hearing on a
request by Jesse Hellums for a "Non-Conforming Use" permit
for Oak View Mobile Home Park.
Mr. Sweatt said this
will hold a Board of
April 21st. The Oak
non-conforming use;
appears on this agenda because Council
Adjustment Hearing on this subject on
View Mobile Home Park has existed as a
but that has now expired and they are
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requesting a continuation. Planning and Zoning has referred
this to the BOA with the notation they felt the economics of
today are not opportune for development at this time.
#6 Discussion of recommendation by P&Z on Semi-Annual
Capital Recovery Review.
Mayor Sawyer stated P&Z has recommended the Capital Recovery
Fees remain the same.
Mr. Greenwald advised that Council had appointed Planning
and Zoning as the review committee. Mr. Bierschwale.
Superintendent of the Water/Wastewater Department, gave P&Z
a briefing on the status of the Fees and the Commission
voted unanimously that the Capital Recovery Fees stay as
they are.
Mr. Sweatt advised that since P&Z has acted on this. the
City has received a letter from cibolo Creek Municipal
Authority saying their charges will increase. If this
happens, we will be coming back to Council for this addition
since our fees or on top of the ccMA charges.
#7 Discussion of possible amendments to garage sale
ordinance.
Mrs. Stanhope said there had been some miscommunication
because as of the date the application was applied for. this
organization had had no sales. They were told there could
only be two a year and the church would be looked at as one
entity. She said she could find no restrictions in the
information provided to her. She suggested looking at this
restriction as there are several organizations within the
church that do have craft sales or something similar.
Mr. Sweatt read from the ordinance, Section 10-106. states
"It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to
hold more than two garage sales per calendar year". Then
under definitions described charitable or non-profit
organization to include church groups, school groups. or any
organization which has applied for and received charitable
or non-profit status from the State of Texas.
Mrs. Marsh said that things like this have to come up to
bring about amendments. She said she did not believe that a
garage sale held by an entity, that is raising funds for
thier own purpose - the entity should not be classified as
the whole. Any organization that has sub-groups that take
care of their own money that does not go to the general
fund, then each sub-group should be allowed to have two
sales a year. Mrs. Marsh said you could either increase
the number of garage sales they can have each year or amend
the original ordinance.
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Mayor Sawyer said he felt the original purpose of this
ordinance was to control garage sales and the signs no to
keep non-profit groups from having these sales.
Mrs. Stanhope asked why restrict non-profit organizations
only.
After further discussion, it was agreed our ordinance should
allow four garage sales a year.
Mr. Sweatt said he would get the correct wording and bring
it back to a workshop.
#8 Discussion of awarding bid on Library Security
System.
Mr. Sweatt recalled that this item is in this year's budget
for a security system for books - not the building. This
involves a magnetic strip put in the book binders and
sensored at the door. We have had too many books walk out.
There were two bids received. The specifications called for
dual aisle system. 3M bid $5625.00 for a system with
sensors placed 32 inches apart. Knogo bid $7250 on a system
that will effectively operate with sensors placed 52 inches
apart. After reviewing the bids, Mrs. Douglas informed
that about $1750 of Knogo's bid is for supplies, leaving the
equipment bid at $5500. He said we believe Knogo's bid more
nearly meets our needs and specifications. This would also
meet the ADA regulations and would be within our $6,000
budgeted item.
Council concurred and asked this item be on the next action
agenda.
#9 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: A. Mr. Baldwin asked him
to remind everyone of Senion Citizen's Appreciation Dayan
June 20th at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church. He wanted
everyone to start thinking about who they are going to
contact for prizes and gifts. We will be setting up a box
in City Hall for can goods. etc.
B. At the next Council meeting we will have eight Eagle
Scouts present to receive Certificates of Appreciation for
the work they did for the city.
C. Called attention to a copy of letter,in Council packets,
that will be going to the Mobile Villa area residents
regarding the sewer project and Community Development Block
Grant application.
#10 ITEMS BY COUNCIL: Mrs. Marsh - A. Reminder of
the VFW breakfast Saturday morning.
B. Also reminder of the VFW fishfry on the 25th of April
with the proceeds going to the Voice of Democracy program.
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C. There will be an election of officers at the VFW next
Monday and she would appreciate vote for Senior
Vice-Commander.
D. Saturday there will be a bake sale at Kountry Kitchen _
the proceeds will go toward the fireworks display on the 4th
of July.
E. Announced that the 4th of July Opening Ceremonies
going very well. Everyone has been most cooperative.
ceremony will be held under the pavilion with 500
children participating.
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F. As for the 4th of July parade, each councilmembers is to
provide their own transportation.
NL._ rotempa - A. He was told, when he went to the run-off
election. that when SAFES personnel went to lunch they
locked up the kitchen where the election workers had their
lunches.
B. Asked if we are allowing our police officers to use city
vehicles to do off-duty employment? Mr. Sweatt said he
would look into this.
C. He said he took exception to remarks made by Universal
City's Manager Thorpe regarding the low-water crossing he
said "Who wants to go to Schertz?" or words to that effect.
D. He had made several phone calls to residents of Mobile
Villa and feels everything is very positive.
M.L::;~ ~1:anhQP,g - A. Referred to the newspaper article and
asked if Schertz was going to get the Missions stadium.
Mr. Sweatt said he felt it made a lot of sense for the
Missions to locate here. He added that staff has spent a
lot of time talking to them through EDTF.
totl:"' Gree_n~9.~g - A. Asked if our contract with Alamo Waste
says all a person has to do is call and they will piCk up
bUlky items at a cost of $157
Mr. Sweatt said he would check to be sure.
Mr. Potempa said if you truck the bulky items to them,
there is no charge.
#11 ITEMS BY MAYOR: Mayor Sawyer read a letter he had
received from the cibolo Creek Municipal Authority Board of
Directors urging endorsement of a proposed extension of
Lookout Road to FM 3009. Mr. Sawyer said that if this road
does not cost the City of Schertz anything for right of way,
Council could support it: but not if it cost the City. He
said our original agreement with Selma and Bexar County was
to extend Schertz Parkway through our city limit to Lookout
150
Road, where Selma would take over to FM 1604. That would
fall under the Urban Project because it connects I-35 and FM
1604.
Mayor
pm.
#12 ADJOURNMENT: There being no further discussion,
Sawyer declared the meeting to be adjourned at 9:12
ATTEST:
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