SHPC Minutes 9-4-25SCHERTZ HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
1400 SCHERTZ PARKWAY, BUILDING 1
BOB ANDREWS CONFERENCE ROOM
SCHERTZ, TEXAS 78154
MINUTES
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 AT 6:00 PM
Call to Order 6:01pm
Board/Committee
Maggie Titterington - Chair
Kathleen Samsey
Sophie Rodriguez
Rose Arispe
Jim Burdett
City Representatives
Brian James
Zii Reed
Introduction of Guests
Discussion and/or Action Items
Minutes
The approval of the meeting minutes from July 23rd was addressed, with Chairperson Maggie
Titterington inquiring whether members had reviewed the minutes and if there were any
questions or corrections. As there were none, Sophie Rodriguez motioned to accept the minutes
as presented, which was seconded by Rose Arispe.
Motion passed unanimously (5-0)
Attachments:
SHPC JUL25 Minutes
September 4, 2025 Schertz Historical Agenda Page 1
SHPC Membership Updates (9 of 14 seats currently occupied, 3 of current
hold non-resident status)
Chairperson Maggie Titterington began by providing an update on SHPC membership.
Kathleen Samsey requested clarification on the total number of board members. She
highlighted the necessity of having precise information to communicate for upcoming city
events that the committee supports, especially regarding the number of available positions.
Maggie Titterington acknowledged that while the capacity is currently set at 14 seats,
achieving a quorum may prove difficult. Although the website indicates 14 seats, there have
been previous discussions about potentially reducing this number.
The discussion then transitioned to finalizing the checklist for event support, with an emphasis
on collecting accurate information for those interested in joining. It was pointed out that there
are currently 5 available seats, all of which must be filled by Schertz residents, as the 3 spots
designated for non-residents are already taken.
Review of Financial Statement
The review of the financial statements and the acceptance of the financial report for July 2025
have been completed. There was some uncertainty about whether the cash in the bank includes
the total allocated annual budget. Although it is thought to be separate, confirmation will be
sought from the city’s finance department to clarify how this distinction aligns with the annual
budget and the separate bank cash.
The financial report indicates that up to $12,552 can be spent this year. Any additional funds
drawn from the cash in the bank will require approval from the City Council.
Current inventory remains unchanged, as no activity occurred in August. Kathleen Samsey
motioned to approve the financial report, and Sophie Rodriguez seconded the motion.
Motion passed unanimously (5-0)
Attachments:
SHPC JUL25 Financial Report
Updates
Outlook 365 : Champion, Brian James
Zii Reed distributed printouts of the instructions for setting up email accounts
and accessing documents via SharePoint on Office 365. The process involves
creating new email profiles and accessing documents stored on SharePoint.
Sophie Rodriguez noted that she already uses SharePoint at her workplace and
asked about managing multiple accounts.
Brian James clarified that the new 365 email should be used exclusively for all
SHPC business communication to ensure clarity for open records requests. WIth
that said Zii Reed inquired about updating the business cards with the new email
contacts, the committee agreed to update business cards with the new email
addresses.
September 4, 2025 Schertz Historical Agenda Page 2
addresses.
The committee emphasized maintaining original files in SharePoint while saving
edited versions separately with clear labels to avoid confusion. Zii Reed
highlighted adjusting permissions to allow access without editing to maintain
version control. They stressed the importance of downloading copies for editing
to keep originals intact.
Chairperson Maggie Titterington noted that once the members' 365 profiles were
established, all documentation—such as event forms, policies, and
procedures—would be organized and stored together within the SHPC
SharePoint. She also referenced the G drive, which is being utilized in a similar
manner, and highlighted the efforts of the Mark Thornton & Samuel Clemens
History Club in cleaning up and sorting the files. They successfully organized
the documents, enhancing their navigability and readability. Although it was a
significant undertaking, the History Club made noteworthy strides.
Chairperson Titterington kindly requested to prioritize the Main Street
Preservation Grant on the agenda to prevent delays for Court Hewell, who
was attending as a guest to discuss the status of his grant.
Main Street Preservation Grant: Brian James
420 Curtis, at the intersection of Curtis and Lindbergh
Court Hewell was in attendance to sought approval from SHPC for the opportunity to present
his Main street Preservation grant to the council at the upcoming meeting on the Sept.16th.
Previously, the property had been designated as the Landmark property in May. Following this,
an application for the Main Street Preservation grant was submitted, which was discussed in
late May and subsequently presented to the council in June. The council decided against using
the grant for the main structure, choosing instead to allocate funds for the detached garage and
carport.
The property consists of two detached structures, one of which is believed to be over 50 years
old, qualifying it for the grant. The estimated cost of the work is $18,250, with the grant
covering up to half of that amount. The new roof is planned to match the style and color of the
one approved for the main house.
Brian James continued by presenting the property's visuals, included images of the detached
garage, carport, main house, and older structures. During the discussion, questions were raised
about the property's visibility from the street and the purpose of the grant. It was clarified that
the grant program aims to preserve historic structures, irrespective of their visibility from
public roads. The discussion emphasized that while aesthetic considerations are part of the
grant’s intention, the primary goal is preservation.
In conclusion, the grant program's intent is to support the preservation of historic structures,
which are costly to maintain. If the property owner agrees to invest 50% of the costs, the city
will cover the remaining amount to help maintain the building's integrity.
September 4, 2025 Schertz Historical Agenda Page 3
After ensuring there were no further questions or objections, Sophie Rodriguez motioned for
approval Jim Burdett seconded. The proposal was approved with no opposition. Motion
passed unanimously (5-0)
SHPC Policies and Procedures & By-Laws:Champion, Maggie Titterington /
Support, Brian James
Chairperson Titterington noted the various policies & procedures, and bylaws seemed to have
reached a satisfactory conclusion of it’s current version. The committee agreed that the latest
versions of the documents be uploaded to the SharePoint site, to prevent the circulation of
outdated copies and ensure that access to the most accurate information.
SHPC Then & Now Calendar:Champion, Roz Wise
As the meeting progressed, the discussion shifted to the calendar project.
Although Roz Wise was absent, the group had previously heard a discussion
about it. A final version had been sent out after Roz Wise requested a few more
edits for clarification. There was no feedback received from the group, raising
the question of whether an acceptance was needed. The consensus was that no
formal acceptance was required.
It was also mentioned that the Printer/Publisher would take care of formatting. If
any wording issues or other errors occur, they should be corrected prior to
submission, as the printing and publishing process does not involve proofreading.
They will specifically utilize the provided content and format it according to our
chosen templates. A final proof will then be presented for the committee's
approval before moving into production.
Regarding the calendar's historical content, there was a suggestion to review it
with a critical eye to ensure accuracy. The calendar requires correction to ensure
the sequence of events are accurate, particularly in the hospital section where the
timeline currently appears reversed. A subcommittee was proposed to conduct
this review and ensure the calendar was accurate and up to date and prepped for
production. Kathleen Samsey, Jim Burdett, Roz Wise, and Chairperson
Titterington volunteered as the subcommittee for this portion of the process.
A timeline was established for the subcommittee to review and finalize the
content, with the goal of completing the final draft by the next SHPC meeting on
September 24th. This draft is intended to be ready for sale and distribution by the
holiday season. The meeting concluded with an agreement to schedule a
subcommittee meeting the following week to advance the calendar review and
finalization process.
City Event Support:Champion, Kathleen Samsey / Support, Roz Wise, Zinnia Reed
Kathleen Samsey reviewed the events planned for the year. The committee
September 4, 2025 Schertz Historical Agenda Page 4
demonstrated commitment to the Holidazzle event and is also considering
additional activities, including: Schertz Harvest Fall Farmers Markets, scheduled
for either October 8 or November 1 and the Schertz-Cibolo cemetery event on
October 18th .
The committee agreed to support the cemetery event on October 18, with Rose
Arispe and Sophie Rodriguez confirming their participation. Maggie proposed a
motion to support this event, which was seconded by Sophie Rodriguez. Rose
Arispe and Sophie Rodriguez also confirmed their attendance, along with the
possibility of Kathleen Samsey attending, depending on her work schedule, for
the November 8 farmers market.
Furthermore, the committee will discuss additional support for each of the
events. Kathleen Samsey motioned to support the November 8 event, Rose
Arispe seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Kathleen Samsey emphasized the importance of logistical preparations, including
securing supplies from storage and managing finances. An updated checklist for
event support was presented by her, designed to streamline preparations and
clarify the roles of volunteers.
Chairperson Titterington has requested that the committee review the checklist
during the upcoming meeting; however, no vote will be necessary. Brian James
expressed confidence in the committee members to fulfill their responsibilities
for a successful event based on the existing checklist, eliminating the need for a
formal vote.
Kathleen Samsey will be finalizing the shopping list for city event support
supplies, emphasizing lightweight and portable items. She also suggested to
Brian James, potentially coordinating with Public Works for SHPC event signage
to display at our supported events.
Landmark Properties: Champion Becki Babcock, Support Brian James
In Becki Babcock’s absence, the Landmark Property topic commenced with
members from Landmark Properties discussing and reviewing the signage design
mock-ups and funding options. The group revisited some ideas they had
previously considered, ensuring everyone was on the same page. They
highlighted a preferred template, noting its popularity among the team. Brian
James, suggested an 18" X 18" design for commercial properties and a smaller,
8" X 8" version for residential properties. The rationale was that residents
preferred more manageable sizes for placement.
Brian James then spoke on the materials and costs associated with the signage.
Stainless steel was proposed, as it was more affordable than bronze. There was a
September 4, 2025 Schertz Historical Agenda Page 5
discussion about pricing, with an estimate of around $400 for the signs, though
no exact price had been secured. It was suggested that if a preferred design could
be sourced at a comparable cost, they would proceed with it. Otherwise, a more
standard design would be considered.
Funding was another critical topic. The committee deliberated on whether
applicants should bear the cost or if an application fee should be introduced.
However, Brian James recommended and it was generally agreed by the
committee that, at present, it is within budget and should not burden applicants
unnecessarily. If the demand increased significantly, the city and committee
would reassess the approach.
The meeting then touched upon a logistical matters, including the placement of
signs and their alignment with historic designations. Brian James acknowledged a
potential discrepancy between survey maps and official designations, which
might require some amendments.
Attention turned to an upcoming cemetery event, with plans to discuss landmark
signage and designation. Dr. Miguel VAzquez of the Schertz-Cibolo Cemetery
Association was expected to present, but was not present and his absence left
some uncertainty. An annual meeting notice for the Schertz-Cibolo Cemetery
Association scheduled for September 27th, noting a change in venue, was shared
for the committee’s review.
The committee aims to have a special presentation ready for October 18th,
coinciding with a celebration event. If the signage could be prepared in time, it
will be planned to present at the Schertz-Cibolo Cemetery Association Event.
Requests and Announcements
Adjournment/Next Meeting Date
Wednesday, September 24, 2025, 6:00 PM, Bob Andrews Conference Room
Meeting Adjourned at 7:02 PM.
September 4, 2025 Schertz Historical Agenda Page 6