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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 30, 1989
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Session, Wednesday,
August 30, 1989 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;
Earl Hartzog; Hal Baldwin; Barbara Stanhope; Mary Marsh; and Ken
Greenwald. Staff present were City Manager Kerry Sweatt and
City Secretary June Krause.
# 1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: Ruth Tienor addressed Council
regarding the Bonfire and Snake Dance to be held on October 25th.
Mayor Sawyer advised that Mrs. Tienor should get all the details
into the City Manager. Mrs. Tienor said that cooperation between
the City and School Board is one of her ul timate goal s. She
added that last year the Business Club members were most helpful
and gracious.
12 Discussion of an ordinance adopting the fiscal year
1989-90 budget.
Mr. Sweatt advised that the total amount of the budqet is
$4,491,783. This represents the most recent changes and with
these chanqes, the tax rate will be lowered to .3183 cents.
Other changes of note would reflect the Telecommunications
franchise, increase in Rogers Cablevision and the additional
$1,000 transferred from SAFES to General Fund. Deductions
include the reduction of longevity by $7,000, the capital item in
Animal Control feline cages for $1.095; and $250 from
Management, plus the $300 transferred to Economic Development.
All together, this reduced the tax rate proposal from .3283 cents
to .3183 cents per $100 valuation.
Mayor Sawyer asked that this item be placed on the next agenda as
there were no additional comments from Council.
'3 Discussion of a Contract for Engineering Services for 1-
35 at F.M. 3009 Waterline Relocation.
Mr. Sweat said this is a standard contract for professional
services for engineering services that would be involved in the
I-35 line relocation. He added that we do need to move several
feet of water line and fire hydrants. Based on our review, this
will cost approximately $3,954.39.
Mayor Sawyer also asked that this be placed on the next agenda.
14 Discussion of a request for Proposal to conduct water
and sewer Impact Fee Studies.
Mr. Sweatt said that Senate Bill 336, passed two Legislation
Session ago, requires the City of Schertz to make a study that
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our fees for water and sewer utilities are in conformance. This
will basically prove whether our charges are correct or not.
There are several firms doing this work. We propose to receive
proposals from anyone. We would like to make recommendation and
place on the September 19th agenda. This is a proposal and not a
formal bid. We would solicit proposals from the list on file and
recommend one and have a representative at the meeting to answer
questions.
Mr. Hartzog said he
least some of them.
bid and you would
bargaining.
would like to hear from all of them or at
Mr. Sweatt said this is a proposal and not a
not want to put them in a position of
Mr. Sweatt said we will send requests for proposals to two firms.
One proposes to do the work with Ford Engineering consulting as
there is an accounting side and an engineering side. The other
firm is both accounting and engineering. We could bring the two
firms in to a workshop before the Council meeting. He asked if
Council would like to do that at the 13th meeting. Council
agreed.
tl5 Discussion of an ordinance relating to taxation of
Telecommunication Services.
Mr. Sweatt advised that the Legislature in 1985 passed
legislation providing that certain telecommunication services
were, among other things, exempt from sales tax; but later carne
back and said cities could repeal that exemption. After reading
some of the definitions, Mr. Sweat advised that a full quarter
after adoption must pass before this can go into effect. In our
case, we are recommending that with this action, the sales tax
could go into effect January 1, 1990. Mr. Sweatt said he felt
very confident with the estimate given at budget discussions.
This ordinance has been reviewed by TML and a number of cities.
#6 Discussion of a resolution approving an agreement
between the State of Texas and the City of Schertz for
construction, operation and maintenance of a proposed Highway
Illumination System on IH-35.
Mr. Sweatt said this is an extremely nice kind of agreement. It
is to bring overhead lighting system for 1-35. The State will
furnish and maintain - we have no direct or indirect expense and
will have a high level type of lighting. This segment will go
slightly beyond FM 3009. As the project progresses, the lighting
will be taken on to New Braunfels. This was not originallY part
of the Highway Department plan; but we discussed it with them and
they agreed it should be included because of the residential and
urban areas.
Mr. Sweatt said Council was aware of the signal operation at 1-35
and FM 3009 now. At the completion of the project, they will
replace those and update the signal lights. We are getting from
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$25,000 to $30,000 in improvements from the State through our
city.
#7 Discussion of an ordinance amendinq the zoninq ordinance
Article XXIII, Sections 2 and 4; Article XXV, Sections 2 & 7; and
Article XXVI, Section 5.
Council had no additional comments on this recommended ordinance
so Mayor Sawyer asked that it be on the next agenda.
#8
Budget.
Discussion of the Guadalupe County Appraisal District
Mayor Sawyer welcomed Mr. Morris and Mr. Sharpe to the meeting.
Mr. Sharpe said the Appraisal District budget is a little
different from cities as they do not levy taxes. He said they
try to be at any place where people have questions. He said they
sent out a proposed budget in June, did have three workshops and
then approved the budget in August. Each entity can approve or
disapprove it.
Mr. Sharpe then went over a summary of the budget, ending by
saying there is about an 80% increase for the Appraisal Review
Board. When asked why, he repl ied that 1990 is the reappraisal
year and there will be much more work, plus additional mailings
and this is what they feel the Appraisal Review Board will need.
They have from nine to seven members, and they are still
discussing if the number should be dropped to five members of the
Review Board. They estimate six members per day for 66 work days
of 8 hours each. Answering Council questions, Mr. Sharpe said
the Appraisal District has 16 employees and this budget includes
a 3% pay raise for each.
When Mrs. Marsh asked what qual ifications the appraisers have,
Mr. Morris answered they are regifftered with the Board of Tax
Examiners and they have people with various levels of
certification, which take five years to complete. Their overall
average is 4.8 years.
Mr. Sweatt asked if they would clarify the roll of the Appraisal
Review Board. Mr. Sharpe said the Board of Directors set the
pol icies and appoint the Appraisal Review Board. The ARB can
subpoena peopl e, listen to protests and certify the tax ro II .
The Board has limited the terms to two full-terms, so they will
have four members corning off. They get paid $75.00 per day and
work from May through August. If they do not work, they do not
get paid.
Mr. Hartzog questioned the legal i ty of the Appraisal District
retirement system and if it was true the employees would be 100%
vested in five years. Mr. Sharpe said yes. Mr. Morris said he
knew their retirement system has evoked enough interest that the
Texas Senate has written the Attorney General to review it.
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Mr. Hartzog said he understands there is dissension among the
Board members, some saYing this retirement system has never been
voted on by the Board. Mr. Sharpe said he asked Mr. Morris to
look at it and get the best deal. The Board approved the money
and the plan but Mr. Sharpe said he did not take it back to the
board for vote.
Mrs. Marsh asked what causes a change in an appraisal - a person
lives in a house for years with no improvements but his appraisal
continues to increase. Mr. Morris said basically economic - how
that house was appraised or iginall y and what other people 's
houses are sell ing for. Mrs. Marsh said she fel t this totall y
unfair.
Mr. Hartzog said he would like this item to be on the next agenda
and he planned on recommending disapproval, the reason being that
the Board needs to get together. The retirement system does not
seem to be resolved and they should have a yearly merit pay plan.
Mr. Sharpe ended by saying the
letters to all taxing entities
centralized tax collections.
Appraisal District did send
on a proposed meeting on
Mr. Sharpe also said they would be reviewing applications for the
Appraisal Review Board at their next month's meeting, so now is
the time to apply. If Council knows of anyone qualified to serve
on this board, send them down as there are four vacancies and
most are from this end of the district.
He also reminded Council they will be getting a notice to get
their nomination in for the Appraisal District Board. The notice
will give the tabulation of the number of votes the city has.
Receiving concensus of the Council, Mayor Sawyer asked that the
Appraisal District budget be on the next agenda for vote.
#9 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: A. Reminder of the Chamber of
Commerce Mixer on August 31st from 5:00 to 7:00 at Gordo's in
Universal City.
B. Also reminded Council of the meeting the following night at
7:00 p.m. for the Public Hearing on the Tax Rate.
C. He plans to have on the September 13th agenda the ordinance,
for first review, on the licensing process for sexually oriented
businesses.
D. We have a request for an exception to the Zoning Ordinance
that will have to go before the Board of Adjustment. The Park
Manager at Windy Meadows is asking to place a recreational
vehicle at 409 Meadows View Drive for their maintenance person.
Mrs. Krause explained that because of the publication dates, it
will not be on the agenda until October 3rd.
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#10 ITEMS BY COUNCIL: Mrs. Marsh reported on the
activities of the Economic Development Task Force as discussed at
their meeting of August 24th. Public Relations - Jim Shriver
reported the Business Appreciation Dinner was a great success and
received good media coverage. Contact Team - Lee Boswell - they
are working on the special brochure for the LCRA tour, they are
getting more input from the letters sent out, they now have a
filing cabinet with two master files, they are also working up
special package on the possibility of the Alamo Iron Works.
Community Relations - Chuck Sharpe - lot of good feed back on the
Appreciation Dinner, tabulation of surveys is taking quite a long
time but is corning along. Mr. Shriver talked about the Chamber
tour package and what we could do about that. Marketing Team -
Bob Booth - had no takers on going out for bids on the brochure
but will try again. In September they do plan on starting the
scripting for the video. They then discussed the LCRA Tour that
has been moved up to the 19th of October and now have 45 minutes
for our city. They will have a welcome basket and will have two
different items for the package - one at-shirt, the other is
something a woman could use in her house with the logo on it.
Mrs. Marsh then reported on the Austin-San Antonio Corridor
meeting on the 14th of August. A year ago they were fall ing
apart and are now doing great. They have from $89,000 to $90,000
in the bank and have wiped out a debt and are going to be very,
very careful with accountability of their money. The 29-31st of
October in Austin is the El Camino Real Conference and someone
from the EDTF will be attending. Mayor Cockrell has put in for
San Antonio to host the 1990 Economic Summit. They need
additional participation by urban cities. They have four primary
committees. One is the International Trade and Economic
Development - Mrs. Marsh will belong to this committee. Second
is the Highways Task Force. Other committees are Water and
Energy j Tour ism and International Trade i Special Economic
Development; Budget and Revenues. Mrs. Marsh ended by saying the
January issue of Fortune magazine will feature the Austin-San
Antonio Corridor.
Mr. Hartzog: A. Asked the status of the city maps. Mr. Sweatt
said he was not real sure. The committee has made their report
and he thought the Chamber of Commerce is trYing to sell
advertising. They are hoping to get the total up to get a better
price.
B. City vehicles will start having logos on them soon.
C. The Business
spoke to most of
appreciated it.
excellent job.
Appreciation Dinner went quite well. He said he
the business people as they left and they really
He said he thought the Task Force did an
D. At the APA Conference, we will be giving a presentation.
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ML,,--_qre~ll""'Alcl: A. Regarding the APA Conference in Lubbock,
Steve Simonson and Ty Brisgill are putting together a slide
presentation. After the last conference, we sent a letter
complaining that every conference is geared to cities over 25,000
population. We then received an invitation to make this
presentation.
B. In going through the reports, he noticed that there were 13
false 9-1-1 calls and 18 hang ups. He asked if we are taking any
type of action on these calls. Chief Agee said they are but it
is hard to prosecute. They have a school program planned and can
work this into that program.
C. The report shows there were 6 runs by SAFES to Comal County
and have made 36 runs there this year and have not gotten a dime
from them. He suggested going back to Comal County and give them
a cut off date just like we did Bexar County. Mayor Sawyer
agreed.
Mr. Sweatt called attention to an item in Council packets - Chief
Agee has announced we have appointed a new Reserve Commander. He
has been a member of the reserves for a number of years. Now the
Reserve Unit will have rank structure similar to the regular
officers.
# 11 ITEMS BY MAYOR:
Kuempel over the weekend.
A.
Had opportunity to talk to Mr.
B. On Monday, the Mayor will be representing the City at the
Jerry Lewis Telethon, if anyone wants to make a donation , give
him a call.
# 12 ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor
Sawyer declared the meeting to be adjourned at 9:46 .m.
ATTEST:
Schertz
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