01-21-2025 MinutesMINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
January 21, 2025
A Regular Meeting was held by the Schertz City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas, on
January 21, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Hal Baldwin Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 1400
Schertz Parkway, Building #4, Schertz, Texas. The following members present to -wit:
Present: Mayor Ralph Gutierrez; Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Westbrook; Councilmember Mark
Davis; Councilmember Michelle Watson; Councilmember Paul Macaluso;
Councilmember Allison Heyward; Councilmember Tim Brown
Absent: Councilmember Place 4 (Vacant)
Staff City Manager Steve Williams; City Attorney Daniel Santee; Deputy City Manager
present: Brian James; City Secretary Sheila Edmondson; Deputy City Secretary Sheree
Courney
Call to Order
Mayor Gutierrez called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Opening Prayer and Pledges of Allegiance to the Flags of the United States and State of
Texas. (Councilmember Tim Brown)
Councilmember Tim Brown provided the opening prayer and led the Pledges of Allegiance to
the Flags of the United States and State of Texas.
Proclamations
School Board Recognition Month (Councilmember Westbrook)
Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Westbrook presented the School Board Recognition Month
Proclamation to Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District
(SCUCISD) Superintendent Paige Meloni, and Board of Trustee members: President
Mr. Ed Finley, Secretary Belinda Evans, Assistant Secretary Amy Thomas, and
Trustees Mr. Jerry Perkins, Ms. Margaret Carlin, and Mr. Dan Swart and Judson
Independent School District Board President Ms. Suzanne Kenoyer.
Presentations
Presentation of the FY 23-24 Parks & Recreation Annual Report
(S.Gonzalez/L. Shrum)
Presentation of the FY 23-24 Parks & Recreation Annual Report was postponed.
Discussion and consideration of forthcoming financing of Schertz/Seguin Local
Corporation Bond Issuance (S.Gonzalez/J.Walters)
Deputy City Manager Brian James introduced Mr. Andrew Friedman, Senior
Managing Director with Public Finance with SAMCO Capital Markets. Mr.
Friedman explained that since Schertz and Seguin are each 50% owners of the
corporation, SSLGC must seek approval from both to borrow money to make capital
improvements through bond sales. Tonight's presentation was to provide information
on the proposed action to borrow an amount not to exceed $15 million dollars for
improvements to the system. They will return to Council with a request for formal
approval on February 18, 2025.
City Events and Announcements
• Announcements of upcoming City Events (B. James/S. Gonzalez)
Deputy City Manager Brian James announced upcoming city events.
• Announcements and recognitions by the City Manager (S. Williams)
City Manager Steve Williams thanked the City Staff for their hard work in planning for
the bad weather day. He extended kudos to the Fire personnel, John Perry, Carl
Schultze, Patricio Wilson, Tyler Wencka, and Amanda Mathews who were deployed for
two weeks to Los Angeles to assist with the wildfires.
Mr. Williams thanked the Chamber for allowing Schertz to host the 2025 Chamber
Leadership Core Class, where staff and participants were able to talk about municipal
government and engage in a mock city council meeting.
. Announcements and recognitions by the Mayor (R. Gutierrez)
Mayor Gutierrez conveyed special gratitude to the crew who are assisting with the
California fires.
Mayor Gutierrez thanked everyone who participated in recent elections and
congratulated successful candidates, including President Trump, Senator Cruz,
Congressman Cuellar, Congressman Casar, Texas State Senator Donna Campbell, and
Texas State Representative Alan Schoolcraft.
Hearing of Residents
This time is set aside for any person who wishes to address the City Council. Each person
should fill out the speaker's register prior to the meeting. Presentations should be limited to
no more than 3 minutes.
All remarks shall be addressed to the Council as a body, and not to any individual member
thereof. Any person making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks while addressing
the Council may be requested to leave the meeting.
All handouts and/or USB devices must be submitted to the City Secretary no later than
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noon on the Monday preceding the meeting. Handouts will be provided to each
Councilmember prior to the start of the meeting by the City Secretary. All USB devices
will be vetted by City IT staff to ensure City property is protected from malware.
Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Westbrook recognized the following residents:
Ben Guerrero, 506 Capot Court Ln, thanked residents who came out to vote in the Special
Election and the Runoff Election. He also thanked Guadalupe County Conservative
Republicans, the Schertz Police Association, and Mr. Roy Richard for their endorsements.
Josh Pollock, 128 Summit, addressed council regarding item 7 of the agenda. He stated they
were present to answer any questions regarding the upcoming executive session.
Maggie Titterington, 1730 Schertz Parkway, provided an update on upcoming Chamber
events.
Consent Agenda Items
The Consent Agenda is considered self-explanatory and will be enacted by the Council with
one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless they are removed from
the Consent Agenda upon the request of the Mayor or a Councilmember.
1. Minutes - Approval of the minutes from the Council Workshop Meeting and regular
Council Meeting on January 7, 2025 (S.Edmondson/S.Coumey)
2. Appointments, Re -appointments, and Resignations - City of Schertz Boards,
Commissions and Committees
Resignations
• EDC-Henry Hayes
3. Resolution 25-R-007- Authorizing the Schertz Police Department to apply for a
Bullet -Resistant Shield Grant (J.Lowery)
4. Resolution 25-R-001- Authorizing the Schertz Police Department to apply for a
Rifle -Resistant Body Armor Grant through the Office of the Governor for the Fiscal
Year 2026 (J.Lowery)
5. Resolution 25-R-012 - Authorizing the Schertz Police Department to apply for the
FY 2026 Project Safe Neighborhood Grant Program (J.Lowery)
No items were removed for separate action.
Mayor Gutierrez asked for a motion to approve Consent Agenda Items #1 - 5.
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Moved by Councilmember Michelle Watson, seconded by Councilmember
Allison Heyward
AYE: Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Westbrook, Councilmember Mark Davis,
Councilmember Michelle Watson, Councilmember Paul Macaluso,
Councilmember Allison Heyward, Councilmember Tim Brown
Passed
Discussion and Action Items
6. Ordinance 25-S-004 - Consider amendments to Part III of the Schertz Code of
Ordinances, Unified Development Code (UDC), to Article 11, Section 21.11.6
Prohibited Signs and Section 21.11.17 Temporary Signs.
(B.James/L. Wood/E.Delgado)
Staff requested this item be tabled.
7. Resolution 25-R-005 - Approving a Utility Service Extension Request for the
Woman Hollering Townhomes (B.James/K.Woodlee)
Mayor Gutierrez postponed discussion on Item #7 for discussion with City Attorney
to be conducted in Executive Session.
Following the Executive Session, Mayor Gutierrez announced this item was tabled.
Mayor Gutierrez recessed to Closed Session at 6:21 p.m.
Closed Session
8. The City Council will meet in closed session in accordance with Texas Government
Code Section 551.071 to consult with legal counsel regarding the City's legal rights
and obligations within its certificated utility service areas lying in its extraterritorial
jurisdiction.
Reconvene into Regular Session
Mayor Gutierrez reconvened Regular Session at 7:14 p.m.
9. Take any action based on discussion held in Closed Session under Agenda Item #8.
Mayor Gutierrez stated the discussion for Closed Session Agenda Item #8 started at
6:27 p.m. and ended at 7:11 p.m.
No action was taken.
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Workshop
10. Workshop Discussion on the Integration of Space Force into Veterans Memorial
Plaza (S.Gonzalez/L.Shrum)
This time was postponed until next scheduled meeting.
11. January 2025 Quarterly Streets Update
Mayor Gutierrez recognized Streets Superintendent Robert Martinez who briefed
Council on the status of streets in light of the winter storm. He then provided a
presentation utilizing the Streets Maintenance Dashboard showing completed and
pending projects, including potholes, street issues, sidewalk issues, and other issues
such as defaced or faded signs. Public Works Director Larry Busch added
clarification on the work being done and included an update on the asset
management software implementation.
Assistant City Engineer John Nowak provided an update on the 2024 SPAM projects
(Resurfacing Project, Rehabilitation Project, and Project Modifications) and
concluded with a brief presentation of the 2025 SPAM Projects and other Street
Projects.
No Council discussion occurred.
Information available in City Council Packets - NO DISCUSSION TO OCCUR
Requests and Announcements
• Requests by Mayor and Councilmembers for updates or information from Staff
No requests from Mayor or Councilmembers for updates or information from Staff.
. Requests by Mayor and Councilmembers that items or presentations be placed on a
future City Council agenda
No requests from Mayor or Councilmembers for items or presentations to be placed on a
future City Council agenda.
• City and Community Events attended and to be attended (Council)
Councilmember Allison Heyward attended the following events: 89th Legislative
Swearing In Ceremony for Texas Representative Alan Schoolcraft; the TML Legislative
Update; the American Public Works Association Webinar on Life -cycle Modeling for
Local Government; the TML Region 8 Meeting as TML President; and she served as
emcee for the TML Traps for the Unwary Seminar.
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Adjournment
Mayor Gutierrez adjourned the meeting at 7:41 p.m.
'R 1ph ut rrez, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sheila Edmondson/City Secretary