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ccswks 09-09-1992 284 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 9, 1992 The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop Session, Wednesday September 9, 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, presidingi Joe Potempa, Hal Baldwin; Barbara Stanhopei Mary Marsh and Ken Greenwald. Staff present were City Manager Kerry Sweatt and Deputy City Secretary Alice Austin. #1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: None. #2 Discussion of awarding bid on the removal of underground storage tanks. Mr. Sweatt advised that one of our requirements is that we dispose of two underground sealed storage tanks. The tanks are located one behind the Municipal Complex and the other at the Streets and Parks assembly area on FM 1518. Both of the tanks are a number of years old and have gone out of service due to our new arrangements with the fueling operation. As they are no longer in use and are at a stage that we could not certify their compliance with certain kinds of tests, they must be either removed or proved that they are not leaking. He said that we believe that we should dispose of these tanks and in the future if we decide to go back into fueling operation it would be necessary to reinstall new types of tanks. He advised that we solicited bids to remove the tanks in accordance with State law and EPA requirements. He advised that bids had been received ranging from an apparent low bid of M & M Construction, Inc. with a base bid of $4,775.00 to an apparent high bid of DUP's of San Antonio with a base bid totalling $8,957.00. He advised that we had reviewed the proposals and made an estimate on a number of other items that would possibly be involved. The base bid provides merely for the removal of the overburden and removal of the tanks. If there is any contamination found, that triggers the next round of items that are over the base. He advised that based on the bids and the background of those particular bidders, that it appears to us the bid offered by Certified Properties in the amount of $4,984.00 with and anticipation of at least some drum disposal charges and very likely some contamination soil removal and placement of the additional polyurethane material to store the contaminated soil represents the lowest and best bid and that we would be recommending to Council next meeting that they award the contract to Certified Properties. Mr. Greenwald advised that EPA laws had changed where we would be required to have double lined tanks. Mrs. Stanhope said that the way we were handling it now seemed to be working very well. I I _J ~85 Mr. Sweatt advised that it was and we were getting good service from Diamond Shamrock. Mr. Potempa ask how long did we anticipate it would take to complete the job. Mr. Sweatt advised that it would be 30 days and then depending on what was found it could require some additional action. Mayor Sawyer advised that this item be placed on the September 15 agenda. #3 Discussion of renewals. health/major medical/life insurance Mr. Sweatt advised that we had gone through some troubling times in providing hospitalization insurance for employees. He advised that Mr. Fike had gone out and solicited proposals from several companies to test the market. We received a number of replies mostly negative. Pacificare has proposed an increase averaging 10.7% which Mr. Fike says industry wide represents a very low rate. The proposed new rate of Pacificare is $118.23 per employee. We have also negotiated a lowering of the life insurance rate at 33 cents per thousand with a 3 year rate guarantee. He advised that Mr. Fike was here to answer questions about the insurance industry generally, but that we are recommending staying with Pacificare at least one additional year. He advised that overall city employees reaction to Pacificare has been positive. Mr. Fike advised that what he had found in talking to a lot of the companies is that they could not be competitive with the rate increase from Pacificare. A number of companies sent written responses that we did not have a stability history with carriers. The existing plan that Pacificare can give us with the rate increase at 10.7% is not a bad increase and that this was the best rate that could be negotiated based on our loss ratio. Mrs. Stanhope asked if the employees were satisfied. Mr. Sweatt advised her yes. Mr. Sweatt advised that the rate increase was provided for in the proposed budget. Mayor Sawyer advised to place this item on the September 15 agenda for consideration. #4 Discussion of holding a public hearing on the proposed budget for FY 1992-93. Mr. Sweatt advised that the Public Hearing on September 10 was on the Tax rate increase. On September 15 the Public Hearing would be on the budget. #5 Discussion of ordinance adopting the budget for FY 1992-93. 286 Mr. Sweatt advised that included in packet was a proposed ordinance that would be on the Agenda for the regular September 15 meeting, unless there are other changes that come about because of the public hearings, to consider adopting a General Fund operating budget in the amount of $2,612,074.16. Mayor Sawyer asked this item be placed on the September 15 agenda. #6 Discussion of an ordinance setting the tax rate for FY 1992. Mr. Sweatt advised that again depending on action that might come as a result of the public hearings there is a draft ordinance that would set the tax rate at 42.55 cents per $100.00 value. Mayor Sawyer asked what the percent of increase would be. Mr. Sweatt advised that it was 7.13, he thought. Mayor Sawyer asked this item be placed on the September 15 agenda. #7 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT 1. Changes to table of organization and manning document as discussed were proposed as follows: to revise Deputy City Secretary to designate Norma Althouse as Deputy City Secretary and designate Alice Austin as Office Manager/Data Processing System Administrator; to clarify 2 utility clerks and to add a Lieutenant in the Fire service. Other changes proposed are to assign the Animal Control to the Water/Wastewater Superintendant which will provide more direct supervision and move the Building Services to the Asst. City Manager. 2. Samuel Clemens bonfire and pep rally to be held on October 7. 3. Woodmen of the World are collecting material for the victims of the hurricane. 4. Bids on sub-contracting for the Animal Shelter are due to be in later in the month. We have several sub-contracts out for bids. Will have raw data on the September 30 workshop. 5. The old cVADAc building is just about gone. Would like to remove that part of the building and make a parking lot for the small pavilion. Consensus of Council was to tear down the building. #8 ITEMS BY COUNCIL: Mary Marsh: Need to take interest in garage sale signs. There were some illegal signs on city property. Need to make an extra effort to enforce ordinance. Hal Baldwin: 1. Asked what the latest word from Excel what feedback we had received from other cities. Mr. advised that Excel says they are still players but are fully funded and that the other cities are interested. was and Sweatt not yet , <37 2. The street light in the 700 block of Brooks has not worked in about a week. Ken Greenwald: 1.Advised that there was a sign nailed to the poll at FM-78 and 1st advertising child care. 2. Jim Shriver's services were excellent. that he had full military honors. Mrs. Marsh advised #9 ITEMS BY MAYOR: 1. Advised that we had three of our real good friends citizens pass away within the passed few weeks. Lois Moore was one of our prime volunteers at the Library; Mr. McHardy was very active in the city for many years and Mr. Shriver served the city well. and who who who 2. Advised that 5 people on the Fire Department were just enough. Need to stress that we need volunteers. not 3. The fence at the animal shelter is falling down and we to do something about it. Deed 4. Advised that Pacificare is a good company and advised that they had had some very bad experiences with Humana Care for some of his working folks on the base. 5. Bexar County Council of Mayors which we are a member of has decided to file a resolution from the Council of Mayors to be against the proposed ad valorem tax rate of 26.9 cents for the Bexar County Hospital District. 6. Letter from Judith Zafferini, who was our State Senator and did an outstanding job while she was in office, wishing us well an advising that she was still willing to pursue some of what we had asked her to pursue. One of the things she was asked to pursue was assistance for disadvantaged children. Mr. Sweatt advised that Mrs. Richard was in Humana Village Oaks hospital. Mr. Potempa advised that the exit off of IH-35 at Mobile was very dangerous. Mr. Sweatt advised that once construction was completed the Highway Department would changing these to one-way access roads. Villa the be #10. 8:09 p.m. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Sawyer adjourned the meeting at ~~i~Chert2 ATTEST: ___~0!_~~ .. Alice Austin, Deputy City Secretary \ " '- 288 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 10, 1992 The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop Session, Thursday, September 10, 1992 at 6:00 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; Joe Potempa; Hal Baldwin; Barbara Stanhope; Mary Marsh and Ken Greenwald. Staff present were City Manager Kerry Sweatt and Deputy City Secretary Alice Austin. Mayor Sawyer opened the meeting and asked that everyone stand and join in the Pledge of Allegiance. #1 PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Sawyer advised that the single purpose of the Public Hearing was to receive citizen comments on the proposed tax rate increase. He advised that that would be the only thing addressed at this meeting. He asked if anyone wished to speak. Mr. Sweatt advised that the official publication for the City of Schertz is the Commercial Recorder and we run the notice in that paper. We also run the notices in the Herald to make sure the citizens are notified. Mayor Sawyer advised that City Council, City Manager and Staff spent long hours working out this budget and it is the we could come up with. We think that we have been fair to citizens on the rate increase and kept as low as possible. City best our Mayor asked Mr. Sweatt to make brief presentation. Mr. Sweatt advised that the tax rate is made up of a number of factors. It is based on the total assessed values in the community. For the 1991/92 tax year our total assessed value was $269,354,784. The new preliminary certified assessed value from the Guadalupe County Appraisal District for our tax year 92/93 is $261,123,895. That is a reduction in total assessed value of $8,230,889. In determining what rate it would require to produce the same amount of income in ad valorem taxes next year and then to determine what additional requirements are needed to be met, the tax rate is looked at to determine first what is the effective tax rate. That is, what tax rate would produce the same income in ad valorem taxes for fiscal 92/93 as the previous fiscal year. That calculation would result in a tax rate of 40.12 cents per $100.00 value. That is compared to the 91/92 tax rate of 38.89 cents per $100.00 value. All calculations are made based on the effective tax rate. He advised that as we went through the budget and looked at both operating and maintenance costs as well as debt service requirements, our ultimate recommended tax rate to the City Council was a rate of 42.55 cents per $100.00 value. That compared to the effective rate "'U<9 /dO represented a 6.2% increase above that effective rate, or 2.43 cent per $100.00 value. The proposed tax rate stands today at the recommended rate of 42.55 cents per $100.00 value. Of the tax rate, 35 cents relates to maintenance and operation, 7.4 cents representing debt service portion of tax rate. He advised that we are pleased to recommend that rate because it still represents one of the lowest in this area. Mayor Sawyer closed the public hearing at 6:09 p.m. p.m. #2 ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Sawyer adjourned the meeting at 6: 10 ~~ii~~SChertz ATTEST: ____ ~_n~__p_____ Ali~~stin, Deputy City Secretary