06-16-2021 MinutesMINUTES
THE MAIN STREET COMMITTEE
REGULAR SESSION
June 16, 2021
A Regular Meeting was held by the Schertz Main Street Committee of the City of Schertz, Texas, on June 16,
2021, at 6:00 p.m. in the Hal Baldwin Municipal Complex Council Chambers Conference Room, 1400 Schertz
Parkway, Building #4, Schertz, Texas. The following members present to -wit:
Present: City Council Place #1 Mark Davis
Mayor Ralph Gutierrez
City Council Place #6 Allison Heyward
City Council Place #7 Tim Brown
City Staff: Brian James, Assistant City Manager; Brenda Dennis, City Secretary
Attendees:Maggie Titterington, Pam Wissmann, David Wissmann, Dean Weirtz,
Judie Wenske, Joyce Thomas, Nick Marquez
Call to order (Councilmember Davis)
Hearing of Residents
This time is set aside for any person who wishes to address the Committee. Each person should fill out the
speaker's register prior to the meeting. Presentations should be limited to no more than 3 minutes.
Any person making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks while addressing the Committee may be
requested to leave the meeting.
Discussion by the Committee of any item not on the agenda shall be limited to statements of specific factual
information given in response to any inquiry, a recitation of existing policy in response to an inquiry, and/or a
proposal to place the item on a future agenda. The presiding officer, during the Hearing of Residents portion
of the agenda, will call on those persons who have signed up to speak in the order they have registered.
Discussion and /or Action Items
1. Minutes — Consideration and/or action regarding the approval of the minutes of the
meeting of March 3, 2021. (B. Dennis)
Moved by Mayor Ralph Gutierrez, seconded by City Council Place #7 Tim
Brown to approve the minutes of March 3, 2021.
AYE: City Council Place #1 Mark Davis
Mayor Ralph Gutierrez
City Council Place #6 Allison Heyward
City Council Place #7 Tim Brown
Passed
2. Grant Program Discussion
Assistant City Manager Brian James provided the following highlights and
updated information:
• Historic Preservation Grant since 2016 (5 awarded)
• Local Flavor Street Grant since 2019 (20 awarded)
• Annual amounts
•2016 1 $20,000
•2017 2 $17,250
•2018 1 $20,000
•2019 4 $72,000
•2020 15 $130,000
•2021 2 $31,000
• Only a few properties have seen a significant increase in valuation
• 1:1 match
• Historic Grants for residential structures limited to roofs,
foundations and walls. Commercial for most major repairs.
• Local Flavor
•Signage
-Facade
-Site
-Capital Equipment
-Systems
• Current Local Flavor caps payments at $20,000 per year (calendar)
• Proposed Changes — Local Flavor
• Existing Structure — Capped at $40,000 max over 5 years —
this allows complete renovations at one time
• New Structures — up to $50,000 max at one time over 5
years. Is a 1:4 match — (we award up to $50,000 if $200,000 is
spent by owner — so total of improvements is $250,000).
• Owners of existing structures often spend money on
improvements — remodels not eligible.
• Current Local Flavor caps payments at $20,000 per year (calendar)
• Local Flavor Street Grant since 2019 (20 awarded)
• Annual amounts
•2016 1 $20,000
•2017 2 $17,250
•2018 1 $20,000
•2019 4 $72,000
•2020 15$130,000
•2021 2 $31,000
• Only a few properties have seen a significant increase in
valuation
Members and guests addressed questions regarding the following:
• $20,000 grant cap amount
• Is grant money available to other businesses not on Main Street
• 4 -year retention usage
• Clawback?
• Grant opportunity — window
Brian James noted that the application process was intentionally kept simple
in order to make it easier for property owners to apply. Recently, at the
request of Council, staff is requesting more information — elevations and
plans for the aspect of the grant work that is visible from outside of the
property. For some items, electrical, plumbing and HVAC its hard to get
documents that help a person to envision what the work will look like.
Based on feedback from folks who have applied for grants, a few changes are
proposed. One would be to cap the grants at $40,000 over a 5 -year period.
This will allow folks who are making major renovations and are not limited
by the desire to not improve the building by more than 50% over the current
value, to do all the improvements at once — and not stagger it over 2 calendar
years.
The other to encourage new structures is up to $50,000 for new structures
(and not other improvements — signage, site work, equipment) but it requires
a 4 to one match (not a 1:1). This is a one -time grant for that property.
There was discussion about the cost of renovating buildings and work that is
necessary but not eligible for the grant — such as interior finish out work.
Discussion occurred from the residents attending and Council. It was noted
the focus of this program is Main Street until we get it done. There have been
discussions about expanding the program or creating another one. It was
noted that funding for the program comes from the general fund, some of
which is budgeted but additional funds are pulled from contingency as
needed. Some comments were made about limiting the grant to just Main
Street and maybe FM 78 due to some of the unique challenges. There was
discussion regarding concerns of folks coming in, applying the grant and the
flipping the property. After discussion the majority was OK with this as it
achieved the goal of improving properties. It as noted that if this becomes a
problem, consider requiring a hold period and restructure the grant.
Comments were made about discussing other grant opportunities, beyond
Main Street, at a future retreat. The direction was to bring the two grant
changes to City Council listed below:
Cap the grants at $40,000 over a 5 -year period but increase the annual
maximum to $40,000. Allow up to $50,000 for new structures (and not other
improvements — signage, site work, equipment) but it requires a 4 to one
match (not a 1:1). This is a one -time grant for that property.
3. Undergrounding of overhead Utilities
Assistant City Manager Brian James provided the following highlights and
updates:
• Schertz Parkway to Pfeil - $250,000
• Pfeil to Lindbergh - $633,000 additional
• Requires additional lines on Exchange (some trees may be removed)
• Do we want to find the money (EDC or City) to do this with the
Main Street improvements?
Members and guests addressed the following:
• It was noted that undergrounding has always been desirable, but
bond funds would not be enough. So, the idea is to do the work with
the Main Street project and try to get reasonable rate for relocations.
The suggestion was to come back to City Council once we have the
design and cost estimates and seek more funding. Its important to
explain why we would do it that way.
Roadway Improvement Scope of Services
Assistant City Manager Brian James provided the following highlights and
updates:
• Design cost $450,000 to $500,000
Project limits — Curtiss to Schertz Pkwy
• Gateway with electrical hookups on each end
Roadway & Drainage
• Mill and overlay with necessary structure repairs
• New striped section to allow for parking
• Bulb outs at key intersections to reduce walk distance across
street
• Drainage work not planned. We will account for slots in the
bulb outs to drain the street
Illumination
• Pedestrian style lighting on each side
• Most likely main electrical line will run in street with
services to light standards
• Will incorporate the electrical connections at the gateways +
one other location
Landscape Architecture (LA)
• Propose 3 different corridor options for review. Present to
staff and council
• Look for ways to add LA features (plantings, irrigation,
xeriscape, etc.) to bulb out locations
• Signage and wayfmding options
• Once City selects preferred approach will move forward with
design component
Survey
• Needed for Gateway foundations and truss /frame design (if
selected)
Geotech
SUE
• Needed to support structural design
• Will include as a supplemental to confirm utilities adjacent
to illumination foundations /lines and potential conflicts with
gateway foundations
Milestones
Members and guests addressed questions:
• VFW and the flags on main street
• Very little handicapped parking
• Priority was to get the contract approved by City Council.
5. Art Installation Update
Assistant City Manager Brian James provided the following highlights and
updates:
• Survey Work and Undergrounding Decision
• Shirts — mounted at height for adults to take pictures (some lower for
kids)
• 20 to start (no sculpt/mold fee)
• They build a `base' into the sculpture. The bottom will go over a
`tray'. In the tray you can fit 6 — 501b.bags, then put the sculpture
over the tray and safety screw it into the base. You can also screw
the bottom piece into cement. So maybe we do shirtz and pantz?
Miscellaneous:
• Once scope approved focus on sculptures — but won't place until survey
work done
• Will get inspections to assist on parking sign repair /move and fences on
parking
• Ongoing property owner discussions parking and public area
Members and guests addressed questions regarding:
Shirt's project was the priority to go fast. The shirts would be
Citywide but have some of the more creative ones on Main Street.
These are not intended to be permanent or to set a tone for Main
Street — really just a shorter -term effort to attract attention to Main
Street. Concerns noted not turn Main Street into a circus and keep
the emphasis on history. It was noted that we needed the appropriate
vetting of the designs, perhaps a judging like the fire poster contest
with Parks Board, SHPC, and Main Street. Once the surveying it
done then do the bronze sculptures so we know those won't be
disrupted by the work.
6. Next meeting Date - Next meeting moved to September 1, 2021, at 6:00
p.m.
Adjournment
Motion was made by Councilmember Heyward seconded by Mayor Ralph Gutierrez to adjourn. Motion
unanimous.
Chair Davis adjourned meeting at 7:15 p.m.
Mark Davis, Chair
ATTEST:
ti
`Brenda Dennis, City Secretary