09-16-03
" CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
( )
REGULAR SESSION SEPTEMBER 16, 2003
The Schertz City Council convened in Regular Session on September 16, 2003 at
7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz,
Texas. Those present were as follows: Mayor Hal Baldwin, presiding; Councilmembers
Carl Douglas, Steve Simonson, Reginna Agee, Tony Wilenchik and Ken Greenwald.
Others present were City ManagerMark Marquez and City Secretary Norma Althouse.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS
Frank Johnson of 1533 Circle Oak. requested that the City Manager please put the Circle
Oak. traffic problem on a future agenda. Mr. Marquez promised to put it on the October
1, 2003 workshop agenda.
Robert Brockman of 4505 Grand Forrest had the following comments:
. Pointed out there is now a $200 [me for covering up your car license plate with a
. license plate bracket.
. Mentioned he was glad to see the lights working on Schertz Parkway. However,
\ they are turning them on incrementally. Why not all of them at one time? Mr.
) Marquez replied he did not know.
. Reported there is a safety factor item by Paschal Elementary. There is not a speed
limit sign on Savannah Drive and there should be. Mrs. Agee suggested maybe
they need a sign saying all speed limits are 20 mph unless otherwise posted.
#2 PUBLIC HEARING: To receive citizen comments regarding the proposed
FY 2003/2004 budget.
Mayor Baldwin explained the procedures to be followed for the public hearing.
Dudley Wait, EMS Director, showed slides of charts and graphs while Mr. Marquez
explained them.
The first set of charts and graphs covered tax year rates and property evaluation, assessed
property value by year, tax rate per $100 valuation and taxes on $100,000 valuation by
year. Mr. Marquez explained that property tax rate evaluations hit a milestone this past
year. They hit one billion dollars. The tax rate is per $100 evaluation and the average
home in Schertzis valued anywhere from $113,000 to $118,000.
The next set of charts and graphs showed revenues from all funds and expenditures from
all funds. Mr. Marquez noted they are in a different form this year because of GASB 34.
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) Next shown were charts and graphs of revenues and expenditures from General Fund.
Mr. Marques pointed out they are getting employee's salaries up to par.
Charts and graphs were then presented showing total debt service.
EMS revenues and expenditures and Water and Sewer revenues and expenditures were
the next charts and graphs shown.
The last charts and graphs shown were working capital projects. Mr. Marquez said he
would be glad to answer any questions.
Mr. Brockman inquired where the two new ambulances are coming from and Mr.
Marquez replied from capital projects. Some capital projects are in progress. Mr.
Brockman then asked how the City is doing on animal control. Mr. Marquez replied
regardless of the County's decision regarding the contract, they will fully man the Animal
Control department.
There being no further questions, Mayor Baldwin closed the public hearing at this time.
#3 ORDINANCE: Consider and tak.e action on emergency reading of Ordinance
regarding the proposed budget for FY 2003/2004.
) Mayor Baldwin introduced an Ordinance and read the caption as follows:
,_._~
ORDINANCE NO. 03-M-27
PROVIDING FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1,2003 AND
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2004, BY APPROVING THE :BUDGET FOR SAID
. PERIOD AND APPROPRIATING THE NECESSARY FUNDS OUT OF THE
GENERAL FUND AND OTHER REVENUES OF THE CITY OF SCHERTZ,
TEXAS, FOR SAID YEAR FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF
THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND FOR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND
IMPROVEMENTS OF THE CITY; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Mr. Simonson moved to approve the emergency reading of an Ordinance regarding the
. proposed budget for FY 2003/2004. Mrs. Agee seconded the motion.
Before the vote, Mayor Baldwin commended Mr. Marquez and all the staff for their hard
work on the budget. Mr. Marquez then thanked all the department heads for their hard
work and thanked especially the Finance Department.
The vote was then taken and the motion to approve the budget carried with the following
votes:
397
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) AYES: Councilmembers Douglas, Simonson, Agee, Wilenchik and Greenwald.
NAYS: None.
#4 ORDINANCE: Consider and tak.e action on emergency reading of Ordinance
regarding the proposed tax rate for FY 2003/2004.
Mayor Baldwin introduced an Ordinance and read the caption as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 03- T -28
LEVYING AND ASSESSING ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE
CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS, FOR THE YEAR
2003; PROVIDING THE BASIS OF ASSESSMENT OF ONE HUNDRED
PERCENT (100%) APPRAISED VALUE AND PROVIDING FOR THE
COLLECTION THEREOF AT THE RATE OF 0.3825 ON THE ONE HUNDRED
DOLLAR ($100.00) ASSESSED VALUATION; AND DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY.
Mr. Greenwald moved to approve the emergency reading of an Ordinance regarding the
proposed tax rate for FY 2003/2004. Mr. Wilenchik seconded the motion, which carried
with the following votes:
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-' AYES: Councilmembers Douglas, Simonson, Agee, Wilenchik and Greenwald.
#5 ORDINANCE: Consider and tak.e action on first reading of Ordinance regarding
stop intersections and all-way stops.
Mayor Baldwin introduced an Ordinance and read the caption as follows:
AN ORDINANCE
BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS PROVIDING
THAT THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS BE
AMENDED BY REVISING SECTION 18-32, STOP INTERSECTIONS, AND
SECTION 18-33, ALL-WAY STOPS; AND PROVIDING A REPEALING
CLAUSE.
Mayor Baldwin explained they are eliminating the Stop signs at Ashley Place and
Schertz Parkway. Mr. Marquez then said they would go away in about three weeks.
Signs will be put up to alert people about the change. Mr. Greenwald wondered if it
would be worthwhile to try Yield signs for about three months, Mr. Marquez felt it was
better to just bite the bullet.
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..~--'. Mr. Greenwald moved to approve the first reading of an Ordinance regarding stop
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intersections and all-way stops. Mr. Douglas seconded the motion, which carried with
the following votes:
AYES: Councilmembers Douglas, Simonson, Agee, Wilenchik and Greenwald.
NAYS: None.
#6 SET PUBLIC HEARING DATE: Consider and tak.e action setting public hearing
date on a request from Nextel of Texas for a Specific Use Permit allowing a
telecommunications tower.
Mayor Baldwin asked the City Secretary what date would be good and she replied
October 7, 2003. Mr. Marquez noted the location of the tower would be on FM 1518 and
Council would have maps in their packets.
Mrs. Agee moved to approve setting October 7, 2003 as the public hearing date on a
Specific Use Permit request from Nextel of Texas for a telecommunications tower. Mr.
Simonson seconded the motion, which carried with the following votes:
AYES: Councilmembers Douglas, Simonson, Agee, Wilenchik and Greenwald.
i NAYS: None.
/
#7 Items by City Manager
General Announcements
. Announced the signing ceremony is tomorrow in the Police Department training
room and they have asked other cities to participate in the water project.
. Mentioned they had severe vandalism at Northcliffe over the weekend. The pool
and the playscape were damaged. We will give them no more money until the
problem is fixed. Mr. Greenwald asked how the vandals got in and Mr. Marquez
replied they have no idea. They literally cut the chain link fence.
. Reminded Council the deadline to register for the upcoming TML Conference in
November is October 20th.
. Stated the traffic signal at Live Oak. Road and FM 3009 will flash for about two
weeks starting Monday. The idea is to get people prepared.
. Noted he is in the process of making a VIP list for Schertz Parkway Grand
Opening.
. Said he appreciated the Mayor's response to the Letter to the Editor in the Herald
Newspaper regarding e-mail addresses for Council.
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#8 Items by Council
General Announcements
Councilmember Douglas..
Liaison - EDC
. Asked what time the signing ceremony is tomorrow and was told by Mr. Marquez
it is at 1 :00 p.m.
. Related he had attended a TML Orientation conference and it was well worth it.
It was very enjoyable and very informative. They asked the average age of our
population and he didn't know. Mr. Marquez said it is 32.
Councilmember Simonson
4-B Board
Liaison - BVY A
. Stated, regarding census numbers, Schertz had a 76% growth in 1999/2000.
. Thanked the troops who trimmed the trees on Oak. Street.
} Councilmember Agee
4-B Board
Liaison - Schertz Housing Authority
Liaison - Schertz Library Board
Mrs. Agee had nothing to report.
Councilmember Wilenchik
4-B Board
Liaison - Schertz Humane Society
Liaison - HOA Coalition
Mr. Wilenchik had nothing to report.
Councilmember Greenwald
4-B Board
Ex-officio P&Z Commission
Ex-officio - S/SLGC
. Announced there is a Schertz/Seguin Local Government Corporation meeting this
Thursday in Seguin. Everyone is welcome to attend.
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#9 Items by Mayor
General Announcements
. Reported that at the Northeast Partnership meeting they had an interesting
presentation on the Ozone. Also Scott Erickson from MPO talked about planning.
Considering the traffic problems in San Antonio, Schertz will be lucky to get a
cent. Mr. Marquez added that Amy Madison would pursue the interests of
Schertz.
Council took a short break. before moving to the Conference Room for an Executive
Session.
#10 EXECUTIVE SESSION: Called under Chapter 551 of the Texas Government
Code, Sub-Section:
551.72, Deliberation regarding real property
551.73, Personnel matters
An Executive Session was held from 7:48 p.m. until 8:40 p.m.
The item number for action on the Executive Session was inadvertently left off the
agenda, so no action was tak.en.
#11 ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Baldwin adjourned the meeting at 8:45
p.m.
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Mayor, City of Schertz, Texas
ATTEST:
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City Secretary, City of Schertz, Texas
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