ccswkd 04-15-1990
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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 25, 1990
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Session, Wednesday,
April 25, 1990, 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. Sa\vyer, presiding;
Earl Hartzog, Hal Baldwin, Barbara Stanhope i Mary Marsh and Ken
Greenwald. Staff present were City Manager Kerry Sweatt and City
Secretary June Krause.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: Mr. Merwin Willman referred to
the School Crossing lights. saying they need to be checked out.
The one at the low water crossing is not coordinated with the one
on Main Street.
#3 Discussion of centralized tax collection proposals.
Mayor Sawyer called attention to the memo from Mr. Sweatt. He
added that there are several choices - one would be a centralized
collection from Guadalupe County Appraisal Distrist; collections
c:entralized from the Guadalupe County Tax office or a private
collector or just stay the way it is.
Mr. Baldwin said the bottom line is that sooner or later this
vJill happen, but he said he was not totall Y convin..::ed at this
time that the Appraisal District was the location for
centralization. Especially now with Guadalupe County opening a
satellite office here in Schertz, it would be a duplication to
open another satellite office. He said the numbers basically
show what it would cost to do the billing and collecting and the
staff needed, but nothing shows what it would cost to man a
satellite office and that is important. If we would be closing
down offices and then have to turn around and open a satellite
office; and the dollars would be about the same, then there would
not be much value in changing.
Mr. Sweatt said we all recognize that there would be some dollar
saving in centralization. He said the attitude he felt was
generally exhibited at the meetings was that it was a good idea
but just not the right time. In our case and several of the
other taxing jurisdictions, there are personnel that are devoted
to tax collection i but they have a number of other duties as
we 11, and those same cost s might cont inue . We be 1 ieve that the
function today in our tax office is billing and collection. We
believe it is still important for us to have a Tax Collector here
dealing with the citizens in the community to answer their
questions and concerns. In the long run, our recommendation is
it is a good ideai but today is not the appropriate time.
Mrs. Marsh said she agreed with everything she has heard.
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Mr. Chuck Sharpe said there were two meetings held and he felt it
was clear to everyone who attended the meetings that there is tax
payer money to be saved by centralization. The Appraisal
District is not advocating collecting taxes, they never have and
he added that he never will. As a citizen of Schertz, he does
advocate a central ized tax system to save tax dollars. The big
problem is change, people are afraid of change. And of course,
there are personnel involved that you can not just do away with.
Mrs. Marsh said that before she would say ~Let's go with it~, it
would need a lot more study and more definitive figures.
Mr. Hartzog said we do have one full-time Tax Assessor and a
part-time secretarYi but these individuals both do so many other
things. Mr. Dovey does the Newsletter, works on parcel
transaction, does research and we reall y have to take a close
look to see how much time these people spend on taxes and how
much it would cost to central ize. Mr. Hartzog said he fel t we
would be spending more money and did not think the City could
afford to do it.
Mrs. Stanhope said that actually, from the figures given, it
would cost us an additional $3,000; because we would still have
to maintain what we have now.
Mr. Baldwin said if we are ever
to start the preliminary work.
of Tom Dovey and his secretary
such as openings available.
going to do this, now is the time
We should blend the work duties
into other parts of the city -
Mr. Greenwald said he could see, in the future, where we will
probably have centralized tax billing and collection; but he just
did not see it right now.
Mr. Baldwin said, from the time he worked in that job, the city
will miss the tax records if they are ever moved to Seguin. We
looked at these records daily - water records just will not give
you that information.
Mayor Sawyer said what Guadalupe County is offering for $27,000
seems reasonable to him. He suggested we see if we can come up
with the amount of time actually spent on our tax billing and
collections.
13 Discussion of recommendation on SB336 - Impact Fees.
Mr. Sweatt noted this comprises a lot of paper work, quite a bit
was developed through the consultant and by the Planning & Zoning
Commission serving as the Advisory Committee. This is in keeping
wi th our understanding of SB336. All cities and other entities
that are in the Capital Recovery business were required by law to
justify the fees on a very formal basis. The changes are
outlined in an April 10th memorandum to Council from the Advisory
Commi ttee. The study recommends a fair and equitable charge
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would be $633 per living unit equivalent for water; and a waste
water charge per living unit equivalent of $1364. that includes
the CCMA capital recover fee of $500. After reviewing those and
considering credits for portion of costs that are in the rates.
the Advisory Committee has recommended that th'Jse charges be
revised downward to a Water per living unit equivalent of $550
and Waste Water of $650, and this includes the $500 of CCMA fees.
A Living Unit Equivalent is substituted for what is. under our
present code, the charges on a square footage basic on
residential. The Living Unit Equivalent is based on the demand
of a 5/8 inch meter. Today our standard meter is a 5/8 x 3/4"
meter. If your flow required basically a 50% increase in flow,
it would be served by a 3/4" meter, your capital recovery fee
would be 1-1/2 times Living Unit Equivalent. It is believed that
these "'Jill represent a defensible capital recovery system and
provide us the means to fund those particular projects that are
foreseen down the road as maj or capi ta lout 1 a y improvements in
the growth area.
Mrs. Marsh said the lower rates represent a safety valve and must
be reviewed every three years or it can be reviewed and changed
every year.
Mr. Greenwald said one of the thinq's the Advisory Committee
wanted was to be able to give some latitude so that we coulc:
justify it if questioned. The law says you can review annually
but must be reviewed every three years.
Mr. Hartzog said the study refers to $633 for water but we are
recommending $550 and asked why. Mr. Sweatt said that the $550
is defensible and the $633 is the maximum you could charge under
the law.
Mayor Sawyer asked that this ordinance be on the next agenda for
conslderation.
#4 Discussion of P&Z recommendation for public hearing on
zoning change.
Mr. Sweatt advised that Planning and Zoni~g Commission recommends
the Council schedule a public hearing tc.r a requested zoning
change from Edgar Von Scheele to change 12.286 acres of land,
located at Schertz Parkway and Pecan Drive, from General
Business to Garden Home Dwelling. They feel this is a logical
request and recommend the public hearings be held on May 22nd for
P&Z and June 5, 1990 for the Council.
Mr. Greenwald said that Vaughan will be the builder for these
garden homes.
There bei ng no protest, Mayor Sawyer suggested going with the
recommended dates for the public hearings.
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#5 Discussion of revising speed limits on Schertz Parkway
from East Live Oak Road to 1-35 Access Road.
Mr. Sweatt said that based on Council discussion, we reviewed the
information regarding speed limits on this thoroughfare and are
preparing an ordinance revising the maximum speed limit as
follows: A. From 500 feet north of centerline of East Live Oak
Road to east right of way of east I-35 access road, 45 miles per
hour. B. Establ ish 30 mph speed I imi t from FM 78 to 500 feet
north of centerline of East Live Oak Road. Basically this is an
increase of 5 miles per hour between Maske Road and 1-35 Access
Road for an increase up to 45 miles per hour. We looked at
transi tioning up and down; but feel that can better be met by
simply placing a couple of "reduced speed" signs.
Council was in favor of placing this ordinance on the next
agenda.
#6 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: A. We have included in Council
packets a draft of letter to the Texas Monthl y regarding their
article naming Schertz as one of the "speed traps". Please give
your comments.
B. The Good Shepherd Annual Parish Festival is scheduled for May
6th, and will be using a portion of our property behind the
Community Center for parking.
C. May 15th is Student Government Day.
#7
going to
revenue
staff to
complete
he would
ITEMS BY COUNCIL: M!:_~~__Marsh asked when Council was
take a look at the budget for amendment and review the
trend. Mr. Sweatt said May 3rd was the deadl ine for
have recommendations into his office and he hoped to
his recommendations in a couple of weeks. After that,
schedule a time for the Council.
Mr~_Jlartzog: A. He thought the
Monthly article was very good; and
the gentleman from New Braunfe:s.
brought to his attention - that is,
our city limits.
1 et ter concerr.ing the Texas
he also like the comments of
He said one thing had been
Selma is running radar inside
B. He referred to a letter from the Herald talking about
recycling newsprint and suggested we encourage the Recorder-Times
to recycle.
C. Reported on the TML Region meeting he attended, saying they
are discussing having workshops in conjunction with the Region
meetings since some people feel it is not productive the way it
is now. He reported the attendance was surprisingly low.
D. Also the Mayor of Hollywood Park made a presentation on Cable
TV and sending copies of resolutions to representatives.
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D.
They also had a res:,lution at the ffieetina
c>:,n,:erning the
pcd 1 ution of the river between U. S. and Mez:ico and they were
focusing on the Laredo area. Perhaps we could support Laredo in
this concern.
Mr~nBaldwin: A. Asked Mr.
had about overtime in the
Contro 1 .
Sweatt to review a discussion they
Street/Parks Department and Animal
Mr. Sweatt said Mr. Baldwin had asked about our policy concerning
Spring Cleanup. We have, during the Spring Cleanup, placed
people on overtime to pick up debris and do brush chipping. Also
we had overtime to monitor the dumpsters. As far as Animal
Control, as you know we are down to one person in the Department.
We only respond to emergencies after hours.
Mr. Baldwin said a question came up about overtime durinq tili::,
time when we are trying to hold down the budget. Mr. Sweatt said
we don't like to use overtimei but at this time when parks are
growing, ballfields need mowing and getting the pOOl ready. it
takes some overtime.
B. Reminder of Senior Citizen Day May 15th - the activities are
coming along real well.
Mr. Hartzog said that Mr. Graham made a nice presentation on the
float at the Business Club meeting.
Mr. Potempa said the Business Club had offered a $500 scholarship
to Samuel-Clemens High School students and only had one
applicant, who later said she was not going to college,
#8 ITEMS BY MAYOR: none
#9 AD~TOURNMENT: Mayc,r Sawyer dec.:.ared the p~eeting to be
adjourned at 8:24 p.m..
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ATTEST:
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