ccswks 11-12-1986
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After welcoming everyone to the meeting, Mayor Sawyer said he
realized most citizens were there in reference to item 13
concerning the request for a specific use permit for Oak Forest
subdivision. He advised the public that as this was not a public
hearing, he would not receive any comments from the citizens on
item 13 but extended an invitation for all to stay.
Mayor Sawyer asked to skip item II at' this time and go directly
to the next item.
Il-A Mr. Tom Anderlitch to discuss proposed bond election.
Mr. Anderlitch said that in working with the Council and Bond
Committee, the staff had prepared a list of items that were
needed by the city. This list of items amounted to approximately
eight or nine million dollars. The Committee decided that
$2,100,000 was the amount that could be afforded and covered the
most urgently needed items on the list. Mr. Anderlitch said he
was asked to prepare a report to the people on the costs involved
if the city does go with the election. He then offered a packet
containing the general notification letter and a question and
answer section covering the $1,020,000 for Waterworks system
storage tank, two 20" water mains and a water well; $980,000 for
the Street Department covering street maintenance equipment,
storage facilities and street reconstruction. Also $100,000 for
the Park Department for lighting replacement' and rennovation.
The Water Department portion would be derived from water revenues
and the Streets and Parks portion would be from ad valorem taxes.
Mr. Anderlitch said the propositions would be worded so that you
would have three separate propositions on the ballot. A simple
majority of votes would carry the proposition.
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Concerning the costs of these issues, Mr. Anderlitch estimated
that the Waterworks System improvements would incur an average
monthly water bill increase of $2.55. This assumes an 8. 5% 0
interest rate and 19-year maturity on the revenue bond issue. As '
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for the Street and Parks Department issues - it is estimated that
the property tax rate will be increased by 7.5 cents per $100
assessed valuation.
Mr. Anderlitch said that if an election was called in November,
it could be held the second Saturday in January.
Answering Mr. Sharpe's question about the estimated interest
rate, Mr. Anderlitch said since we do not know what the rate will
be he used the higher figure. Interest rates are cheaper today
than has been in seven or eight years. Also construction cost on
city bids have been coming in a little less than engineer's
estimates.
Mr. Baldwin asked if the bonds are passed in January, what would
be the time schedule for releasing. Mr. Anderlitch said the city
is required by law to have money in the bank when they let a
contract. Right now we do not know how long it will take the
engineer to come up with plans.
Mr. Aguilar said that when you sell, you only need to sell
amount to fulfill contract you are working with at the time.
Anderlitch said that is right but you need to look at the
that it adds to the cost if you have too many series of
issuances.
that
Mr.
fact
bond
r- After thanking Mr. Anderlitch for explaining this issue, he asked
if Council desired to have this on the next agenda. Council
concensus was yes, put it on the'next agenda.
#1 BEARING OF RESIDENTS: Mayor Sawyer said that Mrs. Hyatt
brought a prob1em'to him ~ver the weekend and he asked her to
come to this meeting to explain it to the Council.
Mrs. Hyatt said she had met with Mrs. Evelyn Barnes, Neighborhood
Services representative for the City, and she is doing a terrific
job providing used clothing for those in need. However, she
needs more room! She get donated clothes and takes them back and
forth from her home to the Pheil Street office weekly because she
does not have storage space there or room to display the items
she does have.
Mrs. Hyatt said what with the drop in the economy, we do have
poor people in Schertz. If we don't provide this service, we
will have more burglaries, etc. Mrs. Hyatt said she would like
to see the City come up with some way for Mrs. Barnes to get more
room.
Mayor Sawyer suggested that Council get together with the Board
of the Housing Authority to see if additional room could not be
found for Mrs. Barnes.
Mrs. Hyatt suggested that some of the non-profit organizations
that already help Mrs. Barnes be told of the problem and perhaps
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they could come up with some money for a protable building to be
placed on city property.
Mayor Sawyer said Council would talk with the Housing Authority
Board and if have anything to report, invite Mrs. Barnes, Martha
wright and Mrs. Hyatt to the next workshop.
#3 Discussion of Public Hearing for Specific Use Permit
requested by the New Creation Christian Fellowship.
One of the citizens present said Mr. Sharpe had suggested they
come to this meeting to give Council their input on this request.
Mayor Sawyer said he did not want the Council to be faced with
the prospect of being forced into court; so since this is not a
public hearing, the comments will have to wait until that time.
He said he realized that all people in Oak Forest were concerned
about their subdivision. By law the City is required to notify
people withing 200 feet of the property being considered for the
specific use permit. Mayor Sawyer said he asked one of the
residents to take a copy of the letter to everybody he could find
at home. Mayor Sawyer invited everyone to be present on the 18th
of November for the public hearing on this subject. At that time
they will be allowed to voice their opinions. He also asked
anyone having questions to call him at home, that he and the
Council welcomed calls.
Mr. Gilmore said that the information we have now is that the New 0
Creation Fellowship is a non-denominational church and want to
build in Schertz and want to present their plans to the City.
They are in the process of purchasing land from Mr. Simmons for
this purpose. They are planning to purchase 43 acres. At this
time that is all the information we have. They will bring the
plans and what they want to the public hearing.
Mr. Greenwald said the Planning & Zoning explained to them what
they had to bring and the options that are open to them.
Mr. Gilmore said to put a church in any zoning would require a
specific use permit. If a request goes to public hearing and is
not approved, the people can come back in one year with their
request.
At 7:5l p.m., Mayor Sawyer called a recess in order to move the
meeting back to the Conference Room.
The meeting was reconvened in the Conference Room at 8:00 p.m.
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#2 Discussion of Savannah Square drainage with the City
Engineer.
Mr. Paul Denhem of Ford Engineers first explained the difference D.
between a Retention and Detention pond. The retention pond is
like the name says, the water that comes off the property should
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leave the way it came in. When development occurs, the flow
lncreases then you have to have the retention pond to regulate
the outflow. The detention pond is designed like a giant
~athtub - large enough to hold enough water for a lOO year flood
~nd cannot let any more out than was there previously.
~r. Gilmore said with the detention pond you don't keep the
water, it all goes out exactly as it would undeveloped. Mr.
Penhem said that is right, the retention ponds hold water and the
bnly way water can get out is evaporation, soak into the ground
~r overflow. Detention pond takes off top peak due to increase
Jin development.
Mr. Denhem said that maintaining detention ponds is something the
~i ty will have to look at very carefully as there will be
~ediment.
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gr. Sharpe asked how much flow did Ford Engineers estimate was
here before development. Mr. Denhem said that according to the
evelopers engineer report, approximately 230 cubic feet per
econd totally undeveloped; with the peak flow developed at 290
ubic feet per second.
en Mr. Sharpe asked how many gallons the retention pond would
old, Mr. Denhem said it was not measured in gallons but it would
ake from four to six hours to run off completely.
.f\t this point, Council was shown a video tape of the pond in
guestion.
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ire Sharpe asked that in the event the City of Schertz gets sued,
re you (Mr. Denhem) going to stake your reputation as certified
ngineer. Mr. Denhem said that concerning liability, with any
esign, the engineer or architect that signs that design is the
ne responsible for that design. Mr. Denhem said that when a
~esign comes in, they look at it and make recommendations to the
~ity and make sure the engineer does it according to the laws of
~he city. This engineer put in a detention pond, he presented
'j::alculations that proved this. Ford Engineers checked it and
approved it to the best of their ability without redesigning it.
~r. Hartzog said that Ford Engineers recommended to the city and
peveloper and engineer that this system be put underground. He
~ent on to say that the developer said he had already spent money
rn engineering and could not back out at this time.
~here was much discussion about this design and Ford's
~ecommendations. Mr. Gilmore said that if it meets our
~equirements and State requirements, he doesn't see where we can
go in and say redesign it.
~r. Hartzog said they had put together some figures as to what it
~ould cost to really dig in and design what would be necessary.
ae said they calculated about $1200 to dig into this engineer's
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design. They recommended~o City that e~ch engineer submit their
design on disks using s...ancrara form that is accepted by the
Federal Government.
.4 Discussion of Police Communications.
Mr. Steve Simonson said basically what has happened is the Texas
Department of Public Safety is changing their whole system. Our
equipment will not be-able to communicate with them within one to
one and one half years. As of December 31, 1986, the Company who
has been taking care of our maintenance will no longer honor a
contract.
Mrs. Galloway said we had a ten year contract which will expire
on December 31, 1986.
Mr. Simonson showed specifications of the type equipment DPS is
changing to and which we will have to have to be compatible with
them. In order to change over, we would need a l20 day lead
time. If the City does not get this new type equipment, we will,
not have access to DPS. Answer ing questions of Council, Mr.
Simonson said we would not have to go out for bids if we go with
the IBM because we could ride the State's contract. When we
first got the used equipment we are now using, it had 24 channels
but through the years we have had to cannabalize so are now down
to about 8 channels. We need a minimum of 10 channels and this
does not account for city growth.
Mr. Stanhope said that to add more later would probably cost more
money, so he suggested buying the 20 channel right now.
Mr. Gilmore discussed the possibility of lease-purchase and
advised that he had checked and there is no grant money for this
type equipment at the present time. Mr. Gilmore said the City
would save money if we could pay cash so he would check and see
if we could borrow from Water and Sewer Capitol Improvements.
Mayor Sawyer polled Council and said that if Mr. Gilmore could
come up with the money, this should be on the next agenda to
purchase a 20 channel police communications equipment.
is Discussion of an ordinance regulating coin operated
machines.
Mr. Gilmore said this would be a means of bringing in some extra
revenues for the city. This proposed ordinance is based on the
state law.
Mr. Stanhope asked about the exemption for pay telephones as
anyone can purchase these now and place them on private property.
Mr. Gilmore said he would check on this.
#6 Discussion of Water Base Rates.
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~r. Sharpe handed out a sheet with comparison rates on base
:rates. He showed the same figures Mr. Gilmore had presented but
took it further by showing the percentage of increases and
~nother column showing rates that would spread out the percentage
~ore over the size of meters.
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Mr. Baldwin said you would not get much more money because there
~re very few large meters. He suggested that the water system is
~rtificially inflated by the low tax rate.
~r. Sharpe said with his method, we would not put all the burden
on the residential users and we would still be under the other
bities rates in the area.
~r. Baldwin said the only thing that bothers him is that the
~i ttle guy gets the biggest increase and the large meter gets
ess an increase. The business who has a lxl" meter can pass the
increase on to his customers but the little lady on a fixed
,income can't.
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~r. Gilmore said that where we get to the big meter user is
hrough capitol recovery fees. Mr. Gilmore said he recommended
,he increase take effect in January 1987. Mr. Gilmore said we
iare attempting to obtain a grant for the Schirmerville area now
~ecause those are the only people that may be eligible - the rest
pf the city is too much above the minimum wage for grants.
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~ouncil discussed the adverse affects of raising base rates right
ow when they are trying to get people to vote for bonds, which
ould also raise the water rates.
~ayor Sawyer suggested waiting to see if the bonds pass, as this
~ill be a big political problem for Council.
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I #7 Discussion of the sign ordinance.
~r. Gilmore said we are having problems because the ordinance has
~o exclusion for monopoles on 1-35. Another problem is the
~istance set back, based on the height of the sign and also a
~roblem of signs on FM 78. The Inspectors are having problems
~nd they are putting it in writing.
~ayor Sawyer suggested tabling this item until we get the written
Ireport from the Inspection Department. Discuss at next workshop.
I #8 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: A. Received a letter from the
ISchool District thanking Mr. Melton and staff for their help
~uring their Homecoming bonfire.
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lB. Letter from a Realtor praising Alice Austin and all the help
~he furnished so graciously.
~. The Herald Newspaper has come to us saying they are going to
'get out a supplement to the paper on the School District's 25th
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Anniversary ~na wfBt us tOlDarticip.ate$ by taking out an ad. They
range from ~4~ r a fu 1 page ~o 75 for a one eighth page.
Council concensus was to go with the 1/2 page for $225.
D. Mr. Gilmore said in talking with Mr. Anderlitch, he
recommends that we don't go smooth with a brochure to the
citizens on the bond issue. The first thing they are going to
ask is who paid for it. Just use a good memeographed copy.
E. with regards to the traffic problem on 135 at FM 3009, Mr.
Gilmore said he checked with the Highway Department and they said
it is a public thoroughfare and we cannot 'do anything about it.
Mayor Sawyer suggested that the next time Garden Ridge Pottery
has a sale, we should have someone at both' ends of the bridge
crossing 135. Mr. Aguilar said that as we have no parking on the
access road for the Flea Market, it should also apply to the
Garden Ridge Pottery.' Mayor Sawyer said we may be able to
approach Mr. White and explain the problem to him and see if he
wants to cooporate with us.
F. Mrs. Fenner is still working on the data for Schirmerville
that we requested. Also Mrs. Fenner has been hired and will be
coming to work for us December 1st.
.9 ITEMS BY COUNCIL:
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Mr. A9u~lar: A. He asked if the recent fire at Woodman of the D.,
World was in our city and Mr. Gilmore said no it was not. I
B. Was anyone hurt seriously in the accident on FM 3009 at
Savannah Square entrance. Mr. Gilmore said some injuries but not
extensive~
C. Has anything been received recently on Barshop. Mr. Gilmore
said he hears all kinds of things but has not been able to 'get in
touch with them personally.
D. Is there anYthing new on the restaurant that was to be built near the
high school. Mr. Gilmore said nothing has come in on this.
Mr. Stanhope: A. There is a building on Randolph Avenue that is for sale.
Perhaps we could look into that for Mrs. Barnes.
B. What is the status of getting the grass cut on FM 78 right of way. Mr.
Gilmore said we could cut it a time or two with the equipment we have now
but would have to have new equipment if we did it on a contract basis. Mr.
Gilmore said he had talked with the Railroad and they only have one mower and
it started cutting ten days ago on the other end and has not reached our area
yet.
#10 ITEMS BY MAYOR: None
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III ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Sawyer declared the meeting
adjourned at 10:52 p.m.
ATTEST: