ccreg 08-06-1991
279
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 6, 1991
The Schertz City Council convened in Regular Session, Tuesday
August 6, 1991 at 7:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the
Municipal Complex, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas. The
fOllowing members were present: Mayor Earl W. Sawyer,
presidingj Joe Potempaj Hal Baldwin; Barbara Stanhopej Mary
Marshi and Ken Greenwald. Staff present were City Manager
Kerry Sweatt and City Secretary June Krause.
Mayor Sawyer opened the regular meeting and asked everyone to
join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
#1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Special Meeting of 6-26-91
B. Regular Meeting of 7-7-91
C. Special Meeting of 7-10-91
Mrs. Marsh moved to approve the minutes of the Special Meeting
of June 26th, the Regular Meeting of July 7th and the Special
Meeting of July 10th, 1991. Mr. Greenwald seconded the motion,
which carried with the fOllowing vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Baldwin, Stanhope, Marsh and Greenwald
with Mr. Potempa voting ayes for both the meetings of July 7th
and July 10.
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: Mr. Potempa for the meeting of June 26th.
#2 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: A. Jerry Bethke of 2901 Bent Tree
Drive had two suggestions and one area of concern for Council.
First he felt the City lacks a pleasant entry. He suggested
that in the process of upgrading FM 3009, it be made into a
boulevard with turning lanes at each intersection. This would
also help with safety as well as beautifYing with bluebonnets
and crape myrtle along the boulevard. He also suggested that
walking, jogging or bike paths be constructed on one side of FM
3009. His second suggestion concerned the "ugly" sign at the
entry on FM 78 - if the City cannot repair or upgrade it, then
take it down. Mr. Bethke's third concern was city vehicles
left at curbside with the engine running. He cited one instance
at the Housing Authority. (This later turned out to not be a
city vehicle).
Mayor Sawyer thanked Mr. Bethke and advised that staff would
look into his suggestions and concerns.
B. Mr. Chuck Sharpe referred to item #8, saying he was
interested in goals but was not sure what the goals were.
Mr. Sweatt advised that when that item comes before Council, the
goals would be itemized.
#3 AGREEMENT: Consider and take action on a Boundary Agreement
with the City of Garden Ridge.
\
,
280
Mr. Sweatt referred to a map of the boundary area that had
been distributed to Council in their packets. The debate with
Garden Ridge has centered on an area that extends into what the
City of Schertz considers their extraterritorial jurisdiction.
After much discussion, we have agreed that the City of Schertz
will cede to Garden Ridge that annexation that occurred over a
year ago of the Gifford Hill property. It was further agreed by
both parties that our current boundaries are at our current city
limits and the remainder is now and will forever be in the
Schertz Extraterritorial Jurisdiction.
Mr. Baldwin moved to execute an agreement with the City of
Garden Ridge establishing a boundary agreement. Mrs. Stanhope
seconded the motion, which carried with the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Potempa, Baldwin, Stanhope, Marsh and
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
#4 OFFICIAL NOTICE PUBLICATION: Consider and take action on
designating an official Notice Publication and an alternate.
Mr. Sweatt reminded that this item has been pending for some
time. After receiving several proposals, we have investigated
several questions that were raised regarding the legal
definition of newspapers. After reviewing information in this
regard from both the Herald and the Recorder Times and
discussing with our attorney, we recommend to you that the City
of Schertz designate the North San Antonio Times as the
newspaper to publish the official notices for the city with the
understanding that the notices would be reprinted at no charge
in the Greater Randolph Recorder Times at the same time and this
be done for a period of six months.
Mrs. Marsh move to designate the North San Antonio Times as the
official newspaper for the City of Schertz with notices also
being published at no charge in the Recorder Times. Mr.
Greenwald seconded the motion.
Mr. Baldwin said that he did not really agree with staff but
did request that Council look very closely at the proposals as
he did not see a lot of difference in the dollar amounts. He
did think there are several things about the Herald that should
be considered. They have been the City's official newspaper for
many years. He added that even though there are times we may
not feel we get the press we deserve, he did not feel it was
entirely their fault, because if you really want something in
the paper you should write the article and submit it to them.
He added that since they have a Wednesday delivery, they always
have the results of the Tuesday Council meetings - they beat the
other newspaper out by one day. He also felt their format was
more in line with most newspapers with the legal notices are in
the back of the paper along with commercial advertisements;
their paper is one hundred percent recycled. He said that
overall he wanted to suggest that the Council continue their
I
I
!
/
r~, I") -.~:
L:{<; j
relationship with the Herald, Another thing is that the
Commercial Recorded has a large circulation and San Antonio and
other cities use it for their legal notices so our bid proposals
and things like that would get tremendous coverage.
Mr. Potempa said the cost difference comes out to $41.58
cheaper with the Herald over the Recorder. He said if Council
could save one dollar of tax payer money, he was for it.
Referring to the comments from citizens, more of them say they
read the Herald than the Recorder.
Mrs. Marsh said she would agree with Mr. Baldwin in that the
money is not the big thing, it is minimal. Any newspaper can
print ordinances, bids and things like that but what she
considers a newspaper that really supports the community should
be the official newspaper. She added that two years ago the
Herald was present at all meetings and covered important events
but during the last year that has not been the case. Everybody
knows and cannot dispute what the Recorder Times has done this
last year. One thing was the special 4th of July insert spread.
They have been on the tours, to the Economic Development Task
Force meetings. She said they cover the special events such as
the BVYA leagues. She added that she feels the Record Times has
fully supported the City of Schertz and her constituents have
said to her that they would like to see a change in the official
newspaper. She ended by saying that every once in a while it is
healthy to change.
Mrs. Stanhope said she supports both Mr. Baldwin and Mr.
Potempa' comments because in talking with the people she relies
on what they tell her. What she found out is that most people
read the Herald. Based on that plus the results from the recent
survey, she could not support the Record Times but would have to
support the Herald.
Mayor Sawyer said he did not really have many comments but we
would really expect more coverage this year than we have had for
two years. He then called for a vote on the motion to designate
the Recorder Times as the official newspaper.
AYES: Councilmembers Marsh and Greenwald
NAYS: Councilmembers Potempa, Baldwin and Stanhope.
Mayor Sawyer declared the motion did not carry and asked if
there was another motion.
Mr. Baldwin moved to accept the bid from the Herald. Mr.
Potempa seconded the motion, which carried with the following
vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Potempa, Baldwin and Stanhope.
NAYS: Councilmembers Marsh and Greenwald.
#5 QUIT CLAIM DEED: Consider and take action on a Quit Claim
Deed for a portion of Williams Street to the SCUC Independent
School District.
282
Mr. Sweatt showed the location of the street on the map, saying
this property has been in question for a number of years. It is
not clear if the right-of-way was conveyed to the City as a part
of the platting process. For some time, the school has been
using a portion of the street for off-street parking. He said
that in order to clear this up, we are recommending a quit claim
deed saying we are conveying whatever interest we have in this
property to the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School
District. It has no other use except for an existing water line
and the quit claim deed would preserve the easement for that
water line.
Mr. Greenwald moved to approve a quit claim
of Willimas Street to the SCUC Independent
Mrs. Marsh seconded the motion, which
following vote:
deed for a portion
School District.
carried with the
AYES: Councilmembers Potempa, Baldwin, Stanhope, Marsh
and Greenwald.
NAYS: None
#6 DESIGNATION: Consideration and take action on designating
Thomas C. Dovey, Tax A/C, to calculate the effective tax rate
and prepare notices regarding taxes.
Mayor Sawyer referred Council to the memo from Mr. Dovey with
this request.
Mrs. Stanhope moved to designate Thomas C. Dovey to calculate
the effective tax rate and prepare notices regarding taxes. Mr.
Greenwald seconded the motion, which carried with the following
vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Potempa, Baldwin, Stanhope, Marsh and
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
#7 RESOLUTION: Mayor Sawyer introduced a resolution requesting
the United States Congress resolve the questions regarding
U.S. military prisoners of war and personnel missing in action
in Southeast Asia. He then introduced Colonel Guy, who was a
prisoner of war for six years.
Colonel Guy advised that he had brought this up at the last
workshop and thanked the Mayor and Councilmembers for their
consideration. He said this would not cost anyone anything but
was good litigation. Although he did not feel that way two
years ago, he does now feel that we have personnel still in
Southeast Asia. He went on to say that if they are alive we
need to get them out and if not we need to know that. There is
only one other city in the United States that has passed a
similar resolution and only two states have,so we should be one
of the leaders in this.
Mrs. Marsh moved to approve the resolution as read. Mr. Potempa
seconded the motion, which carried with the following vote:
J
pc,
1\.';' ;
AYES: Councilmembers Potempa, Baldwin, Stanhope, Marsh and
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
#8 Discussion and possible action reqarding the Goals
Program.
Mayor Sawyer said this was brought about as a result of the tour
recently taken on July 6th and the meeting that followed.
He said some 20 goals were listed and they had asked various
groups in the City to prioritize these items so the City Council
would have some direction from citizens as to directions our
citizens would like to take.
Mr. Sweatt said that at the July 6th meeting there were some
twenty one topics listed as those having impact of major
importance that would effect our future in the next five to
twenty years. As a result of that, the City Council, Planning &
Zoning and Economic Development Task Force asked staff to go
back and develop a position information regarding each of these
items and furnish to each of those bodies. In turn those bodies
would review those and come back to the August 10th meeting with
a recommendation to prioritizing at least the top ten items.
Mrs. Marsh said she thought the intention was for the Council
to meet after this meeting to make their decisions. As everyone
had their list individually prioritized, Mrs. Marsh suggested
Council retire to the Conference Room for a short meeting to
come up with their list.
Mayor Sawyer recessed the meeting at 7:50 p.m. for this purpose.
Council immediately convened in the Conference Room and after
much discussion and tabulation of their priorities, developed
the following list as their ranking:
1. Public Safety
2. Comprehensive Plan
3. Water Issues
4. 1/ 2 Cent Sales Tax
5. Schertz Development Foundation
6. Infrastructure
7. Community Facilities
8. Retail Development
9. Annexation
10. Staff Development
Mr. Sweatt advised that staff would attend the August 10th
meeting at the Library at 9:00 a.m., adding that all citizens
are encouraged to attend. At that meeting, they will try to
consolidate all the rankings from the various groups and arrive
at a group attitude as to how these items should be addressed
for the future of Schertz and continue to use the term
"Transforming Schertz Visions into Reality".
\
\
284
The Regular Meeting was reconvened at 8:14 p.m. and at that time
Mayor Sawyer called for a vote regarding the Goals Program.
Mr. Potempa moved to approve the list as discussed to be
presented at the August 10th meeting. Mrs. Stanhope seconded
the motion, which carried with the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Potempa, Baldwin, Stanhope, Marsh and
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
#9 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: A. Gave a status report of the 1-35
work, saying that about November 1, 1991 the north and
southbound lanes will begin using the new northbound lanes.
That will include the bridge at Cibolo Creek and the cut at
Schertz Parkway, which will begin to qive us a flavor of what
1-35 will be like. Schertz Parkway overpass is expected to be
completed in June of 1992 and the FM 3009 overpass is expected
to be completed in January of 1992 and the overall project is
expected to be completed in January of 1993.
B. August 21st is the
Braunfels/Schertz sewer
include the City of New
private developer.
date bids will be received for the
line project for phase 3. That
Braunfels, the City of Schertz and
New
will
the
C. We have completed the first step of our new Drug Awareness
Policy.
#10 ITEMS BY COUNCIL: A. Mr. Potempa asked when Council could
expect to receive a copy of the budget and was told it would be
in their next packet.
Mrs. Marsh announced that the Schertz Humane Society was having
a Jamboree at the VFW on August 25th from 3 to 7 PM. This will
be taped for television.
#11 ITEMS BY MAYOR: None
#12 ADJOURNMENT: On a motion by Mr. Potempa, seconded by Mr.
Baldwin and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at
8:21 pm.
ATTEST:
/