ccswks 04-13-1988
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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 13, 1988
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop Session,
Wednesday( April 13, 1988 at 7:0~ p.m. in the Conference Room of
the Munic1pal Complex, 14~0 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas. The
following members were present: Mayor Earl W. Sawyer, presiding;
Charles B. Sharpe; Hal Baldwin; Ray Stanhope, and Ken Greenwald.
Absent: Adolph Aguilar. Staff present were City Manager Jimmy
G. Gilmore and City Secretary June G. Krause.
#l BEARING OF RESIDENTS: Mr. Ty Brisgill of Woodland Oaks
Subdivision advised Council'that in June last year Starlite Drive
and Hidden Grove were seal coated and they still have a lot of
gravel in the gutters. He said he was told that our street
sweeper will not pick up gravel. Mr. Brisgill asked if they
could get the fire department to wash the gravel out of the
streets. Mayor Sawyer said staff would check to see what could
be done.
Mr. Brisgill had a 2" fitting that holds the street signs up in
his subdivision. He said there are only about 4 or 5 threads
that hold these signs up.
Mayor Sawyer asked the City Manager to check into this as you
should not be able to unscrew these by hand.
Mr. Willman asked if the street vendors have to have a permit.
Mayor Sawyer said yes they do just like any other food
establishment.
Mr. Willman also brought out that there is a school zone on FM 78
that has been there for years. He asked if there was any current
need for it to be there.
Mr. Baldwin said that the school district does bus the kids on
the other side of FM 78; however there are still some who do not
want to ride the bus and walk across there. The Transportation
Director of the School District prefers that this school crossing
not be removed.
Mr. Harry Richburg asked if Council had found out anything about
the trees on Fawn and Antler Drive. Mr. Sharpe said he and Steve
Simonson earmarked several but are waiting on the attorney's
opinion before proceeding. Mr. Gilmore said he had not heard
back from the attorney, even though have called him several
times.
#2 AGENDA ITEMS: A. Consideration of final reading of an
ordinance updating Health Ordinance to allow for reinspection
fees to the consumer.
There being no further discussion, this item will be on the next
agenda for action.
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B. Consideration of final reading of an ordinance establishing
regulations for drilling wells and plugging abandoned and
deteriorating wells.
There was no further discussion on this item; therefore it will
be on the next agenda.
#3 Discussion of awarding bid on 3/4 ton pickup for
Street/Parks Department.
Mr. Gilmore advised we went out for bids and received four bids.
We are recommending the low bidder San Antonio Truck Sales in the
amount of $13,36S.S8.
Mr. Sharpe asked about the deliver time and Mr. Gilmore said we
were told no more than two or three weeks.
#4 Discussion of a Jail Contract with Guadalupe County.
Mr. Gilmore said that Judge Sagebiel had written a cover letter
stating that due to the increase cost of jail maintenance and
supervision, the Commissioner's Court was forced to increase its
daily housing rates from $10 to $2B.
Mr. Sharpe said he assumed this is the same contract sent to
other cities in Guadalupe County.
Mr. Baldwin asked if it was similar to the one with Bexar and
Comal Counties. Mr. Gilmore asked that the City does not have
contracts with those counties; but the costs are much higher in
both counties.
Mayor Sawyer questioned the length of the contract. Mr. Sharpe
answered that this contract is for one year and after the first
year, if everything is satisfactory, tliey will extend for five
years.
Mr. Gilmore also reminded Council that Judge Sagebiel had
extended them an invitation to the first meal served in the new
facilities.
#S Consideration of a resolution authorizing the City
Manager to negotiate for purchase of land for water tank site.
Mr. Gilmore explained this is the land we are purchasing from Mr.
Cantu and need this resolution in order to get a warranty deed.
#6 Consideration of a resolution authorizing the City
....ger to accept donation of Lot 2, Block 29 Live Oak Bills
SD~vision from Jeanette Craig.
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Mr. Gilmore said this is a piece of property for which we had
sent a tax bill, in the amount of about $6 and she said the taxes
had been going up every year and she wanted to just donate the
land to the City. We took her up on the offer; now all is needed
is the resolution to get a warranty deed.
#7 Consideration of a resolution authorizing the City
Manager to negotiate purchase of land for FM 78 widening.
The City Manager said this is the land next to the Bligh property
needed for the State to widen FM 78 to Jack Hays. All that is
needed to complete the transaction is this resolution.
#8 Consideration of an ordinance amending the zoning
ordinance by rezoning 3.817 acres tract of land from R-2 to
General Business and Neighborhood Services.
Mayor Sawyer said that he had talked with the lady that stated at
the public hear ing she did not want this approved. After
reminding her that in the past, someone wanted to put apartments
in there, she calmed down.
#9
ordinance
Parkway.
Consideration of an ordinance amending the zoning
by rezoning the 888+ acres surrounding Schertz
Mr. Gilmore explained that this is merely to establish the
acreage of the original zoning done in 1984.
#10 Consideration of an ordinance regulating speed limits
on FM 78.
Mr. Gilmore this is passing on the recommendation sent by the
Highway Department after their survey.
ill Consideration of the Hazard Communication Program.
The City Manager advised that we are required to comply with the
requirements of the Texas Hazard Communication Program of 1986,
to protect employees and be sure that we meet the program against
hazard mater ials in the work place. This explains the type of
equipment, training and everything to insure that our employees
and contractors are protecting us, the City, and br ing us into
line with the Emergency Management Program.
Mr. Greenwald questioned the part on employee questionaire. It
says nothing about dual mask respirators. Also who will do the
training. Mr. Gilmore said the insurance people are here every
two or three months for that.
Mr. Baldwin said the hazard reports need to be in each department
and not just Emergency Management. He was assured that they are.
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#12 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: A. Several people have
inquired about the additional dirt under the railroad br idge.
Talked with a representative of the Southern Pacific Railroad and
they are placing dirt there for a temporary rail bed. Their time
table for completion is the end of May. Have contacted the State
Water Commission and made them aware of this.
B. We are getting more calls for use of the chipper. Mr.
Gilmore said it was his understanding that the only time free
service was to be provided was during Spring Clean Up. We need
to determine cost very shortly. Mr. Gilmore said we did 20 calls
during Spring Clean Up and now have 9 calls requesting the
chipper. We need to come up with a reasonable fee and are
100K1ng at $S6 per hour and a normal job takes IS minutes. The
total cost to us is $56 per hour, using two people,
transportation costs, etc.
Mr. Sharpe said he thought that rate might be good if another
city want to use it but should be less for our citizens or we
will be faced with just what we did not want. Mr. Sharpe
suggested $l~ a visit unless it take more than one hour, then add
another $19.
Mr. Baldwin suggested $l~ for each one-half hour or $2~ per hour.
Mayor Sawyer agreed that it should be $19 each half hour for our
residents and make it a test. He said this is a fair amount and
if a larger job or other cities want the use of it, go with the
higher rate.
Mr. Stanhope asked if we have the manpower. Mr. Gilmore said it
would have to be on scheduled basis.
Mr. Potempa asked what it would be if a citizen wanted to bring
the job to the yard. Mr. Gilmore said it would still have to be
on a scheduled basis.
Mr. Greenwald agreed with the $10 per half hour and give it a 60
day test.
Mr. Gilmore asked what Council thought about charging it it was a
large commercial lot or big land area involved. Both the Mayor
and Mr. Greenwald suggested $60 per hour.
C. We have corne up with an invitation on the Schertz Parkway
Grand Opening and are shooting for April 3~th. Mr. Sharpe has
been gel:ting names for the invitation list, we have about 399.
We have permission from Mr. Helms to go in and clean up a parking
area. Mr. Sharpe is working to get a number of antique cars to
lead off; have the cannon. We are going to need some money,
which is budgeted under Industrial Development - some people to
work on Saturday and the refreshments, etc.
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Mr. Sharpe added that the list for the invitations includes
extensive list of developers, architects, engineers that might be
expanding. He said that even if they do not come, they will get
the publicity through the invitation. He is working on a
handout. He mentioned the copy of the Metrocom Profile, which is
designed to pullout pages on each city. We need to have some of
these reproduced to hand out.
Mayor Sawyer asked if anyone had a problem with spending this
money and Council had none.
D. Mr. Gilmore said after the citizen comments at a previous
meeting, he attempted to ver ify some of the comments. Mr.
Gilmore said he believed she was wrong. We had 16 officers leave
the City since 1982. We start them out at $13,086 and Selma at
$15, 204; Universal City at $16, 800, and Cibolo at $13, 500. Of
the 16 who left, four of them served with the city for 6 months
and one of the four did not make probation; 8 over I year and 4
over 2 years. Mr. Gilmore said he called AACOG and their study
shows that the annual turnover rate is 22%, so we are not out of
line since ours is 18% to 20%. She was correct in that our
salaries are low. The Council has been working to correct that.
Mr. Gilmore has copies of letter of resignation of officers that
did resign. Regarding the incident that happened in the police
department one year ago, the Federal people investigated that and
found no wrong doing. Evidently her comments were based on some
misinformation from somewhere. Mr. Gilmore said he is proposing
to issue a policy in regards to service of warrants providing an
equitable means of having warrants issued within our city.
Unless there are any adverse comments, Mr. Gilmore will implement
this policy.
Mr. Sharpe said the City Manager might want to include some way
of random ass ignment of war rants so that we don't have someone
picking and choosing.
Mr. Gilmore said he first wanted to establish who can serve
warrants, then go with the procedures.
Mr. Baldwin said he approved of the off-duty warrant work but
commented on the statement that before we dispense money, it must
be approved. Mr. Gilmore said he approves that just like all
other expenditures.
Answer ing Mr. Stanhope and Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Gilmore said the
period of probation is six months.
Mr. Baldwin then asked if an officer is on duty and he brings in
the people with warrants, who get the money. Mr. Gilmore said
the general fund of the city; because if done on duty, it is part
of their job and if done off duty, they should be compensated for
it.
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E. Council has been invited to the first meal in the new
Guadalupe County jail on April 28th at noon.
F. According to geologist, Jesse Helm's well is too close to
contamination. He suggest we go at least 19~~ feet the other
side of 135. He listed four places we thought would be good
sites. Have contacted Sam Parns who has a well which is even or
across from John's well. We will look at it Tuesday to be sure
it is in Guadalupe County and could be a good producer. Parns
has said he would work with us if the site is acceptable. We are
still actively pursuing a well site.
F. Have received the bids on the storage tanks and have a letter
from Ed Ford recommending Holiday Company, who is the low bidder,
be accepted for $418,836.90. Ford has checked out the company
and they check out well. They have all the fabricating equipment
and personnel to complete the job. Received only positive
statements. His Bond would have to reviewed if he is awarded the
project.
Mr. Sharpe brought up that we did not look at making the
Schermerville tank one million gallon.
Mr. Gilmore said this was presented before and the cost would
have been quite a bit more. If we put in the half million, by
the time we would need anotheL half million, we would probably
need it in another spot.
Mr. Stanhope asked the time frame we would need to add on. Mr.
Gilmore said we are looking at 2~ years.
Mr. Sharpe said he did not know Council had made a final decision
but realized that we do need to get on with the project.
Mr. Stanhope said that he is amazed that all around us they are
building elevated tanks and we are still on the ground,
especially with the same engineer for both.
Mr. Gilmore said it is because of the cost mostly and he thought
the Council wanted low profile. Mr. Ford presented all three
ways of doing it and considering the cost and that the citizens
wanted a low profile, Council wanted to go with ground storage.
Mr. Sharpe said Council needs to go ahead and get this project
started.
Mr. Baldwin said it would be nice if Mr. Ford could corne to one
of Council's meetings. Mr. Baldwin said there is time between
this and the next meeting to find out if an elevated tank would
pay for itself. We have not let contract so let's get answers
for Tuesday's meeting.
Mayor Sawyer asked the City Manager to have Mr. Ford presept for
the next regular meeting.
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#13 ITEMS BY COUNCIL: Mr. Sharpe asked where we stand with
trying to get Southern Pacific to give right of way for FM 78.
Mr. Gilmore said we are still pursuing this and the State has
taken over the negotiations.
Mr. Sharpe asked if anyone had gotten copy of S.B. 408 that talks
about zoning plats within five miles of the city limits. He
suggested getting a copy of this bill.
Mr. Gilmore asked if the Council had made a decision as to what
they want to do about annex ing along F.M. 1103. Mr. Greenwald
mentioned that we only need the second reading of the ordinance.
Mr. Sharpe mentioned that a little more fill is needed on Antler
and probably the same on Fawn Drive.
Mr. Sharpe announced that the auction by the Chamber of Commerce
and Rotary Club is to be the next Sunday at the Bluebonnet
Palace.
Mr. Stanhope said he and Mr. Willman were touring the city and
notice the building on FM 1518 where they built coaches. Since
the City is looking for a place for the Clty yard, we should look
into this building. Mayor Sawyer said it may be worth looking in
to as they filed bankruptcy.
Mr. Stanhope said a neighbor told him he almost got hit on
Lindberg by the Post Office by a car on the wrong side of the
medium. There are no yellow lines showing the way cars should
go.
Mr. Baldwin said a long time ago Council had discussed sidewalks
in front of Greenfield 3 and FM 3~~9, did we decide we did not
need them. Mr. Greenwald said they were suppose to provide 80%
of the total cost and when FM 3009 is widened, the sidewalks
would be put in.
Mr. Baldwin said he was talking with Mr. Stine about the school
busses not be able to go into the cul-de-sac and have to stop on
FM 3009 two times. Mr. Stine said he would put in an off ramp.
Mr. Sharpe said he was talking about people not stopping for a
stopped school bus, which is against the law.
Mayor Sawyer asked to put the FM 3~09 sidewalks as number 35 on
the Bell Ringer List.
Mr. Baldwin suggested not allowing slippage on Jack Hays, if
people are going two miles over the speed limit, ticket them.
Mr. Greenwald asked if Council was going to discuss weight limit
for Schertz Parkway. Mr. Gilmore said he talked with Herb, who
said he would give the weight of busses to Mr. Baldwin.
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Mr. Greenwald reported that at the Thursday night meeting with
the Lone Oak Cr ime Watch people, they had some very interesting
points and questions. One was the odor from the CCMA plant.
Mayor Sawyer added that the citizens say they have complained and
nothing was ever done about it. Mr. Gilmore said that Mr. Weaver
had corne to the Council meeting and said the odor was taken care
of. Mr. Greenwald said the City should write to CCMA about this.
One of the other things brought up at this meeting was speeding
in Lone Oak. Cpl. MacSor ley said he would set up radar three
times the next day. They are saying people outside the
subdivision are speeding; but Mr. Greenwald said he felt it was
the people within.
Mr. Greenwald said that one of the things Cpl. MacSorley brought
up was that the DPS has pulled all their officers from San
Antonio City limits to New Braunfels city limits so that if 135
is going to be controlled, it will be up to the local cities.
Another subject was the fact that we allow our police officer to
take their cars home and citizens can tell when they are home
because they always park the cars the same way.
Mayor Sawyer said it was a very good meeting. Mr. Sharpe felt it
would be appropr iate to send them a letter and thank them for
inviting officials and staff and tell them what is being done.
Mr. Greenwald said he has not been able to attend any BVYA
meetings because they changed the meetings night to Council
meeting nights. Maybe the Mayor could asked them to send copy of
their minutes for Council packets.
Mr. Greenwald asked if Council was going to try to get a joint
tour set up between Council and Planning & Zoning. Mayor Sawyer
said they had talked about this and asked Mr. Baldwin if could
get a school bus.
Mr. Greenwald said that at the last regular meeting, the recorder
went off during the meeting and we lost about 15 minutes. He
said we need to see about getting one for Council Chambers like
the one in the Conference Room. He felt it would only cost about
$2~~.
On May the 3rd, the VFW has invited Council over at 7:80 p.m. for
a Flag Dedication Ceremonies. They will have flags from other
states as well as United States and it should be a very
impressive program. Mr. Greenwald then asked if the Regular
Meeting start time could be changed to 5:38 p.m.
Mr. Greenwald said it was brought up at the previous night's P&Z
meeting that there was a sign advertising a Marion Flea Market in
the city right of way. Mr. Gilmore reported that the sign had
already been picked up.
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#14 ITEMS BY MAYOR: Mayor Sawyer said he had been asked to
judge a beauty queen contest at Randolph.
Mr. Sharpe asked why Mr. Aguilar was not present.
said he had to attend a family funeral.
Mr. Stanhope asked the status of purchasing new generators. Mr.
Gilmore said he had received costs from 3 or 4 companies and the
Fire Department has corne up with another company that we are
checking on.
Mr. Gilmore
Mr. Hartzog reported the Library Book Sale was a great success,
they made over $1300. People from allover were there - the
media coverage was excellent this year. He said this was the
best sale they had had. Last year it only took 2-1/2 hours to
set up using the National Honor Society members.
#IS ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the
meeting was adjourned at 9:08 p.m. by Mayor Sawyer.
ATTEST:
Secretary, City of Schertz