SHPC 11-6-25 Minutes
SCHERTZ HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
1400 SCHERTZ PARKWAY, BUILDING 1
BOB ANDREWS CONFERENCE ROOM
SCHERTZ, TEXAS 78154
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2025 AT 6:00 PM
Call to Order 6:05 p.m.
Board/Committee
Maggie Titterington (Chair)
Jim Burdett
Kathleen Samsey
Lauren Dalton
Becki Babcock
City Representatives
Brian James
Zinnia Reed
Council Liaisons
Ben Guerrero
Robert Westbrook
Introduction of Guests
No guests in attendance.
Discussion and/or Action Items
Minutes
For the approval of the meeting minutes of the regular meeting for October 22, 2025, Chairperson Maggie
Titterington initiated the discussion by inquiring whether the committee had reviewed the minutes. The
members confirmed their review, with no questions or corrections noted. Kathleen Samsey motioned to
accept the minutes as presented, which was seconded by Lauren Dalton.
Motion passed unanimously (5-0)
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Attachments:
SHPC OCT25 Minutes
SHPC Membership Updates - (9 of 14 seats currently occupied, 3 of current hold
non-resident status)
Chairperson Titterington noted that Councilmember Mark Davis referred a new individual to the website,
and also provided contact information for his interest in joining the committee. A 10th potential candidate
could be joining.
Review of Financial Statement
Chairperson Titterington opened the discussion by noting revenue recorded from the books sold at the
Schertz-Cibolo Cemetery event. She continued with the review of expenditure breakdown, which included
Amazon purchases for city event support items, rent for storage, and recorded inventory quantities as of the
end of October.
Kathleen Samsey wanted to gain clarification concerning the total of $46.18 from the 2 book sold at $25 per
book. Zii Reed noted that though the books are priced at $25.00 each, taxes are included in the unit price.
So the totals reflected in the reported revenue are taxes deducted from the unit price during
processing/accounting. Lauren Dalton made a motion to approve, Jim Burdett seconded.
Motion passed unnanimously (5-0)
Attachments:
SHPC OCT25 Financial Report
Updates
Outlook 365: Champion, Brian James
It was noted that Zii Reed had dispatched emails to assist with ensuring all members had the
correct email addresses. In cases where assistance was needed, members were encouraged to
contact her to schedule a time for further support and agreed that follow-up checks would be
conducted to confirm access for all members.
SHPC: Then & Now Calendar: Champion, Roz Wise
Brian James confirmed the status of the calendar, with an update that a clean version of the
proof had been prepared by the printing vendor. Chairperson Maggie Titterington will verify
against the original draft to make sure all edits noted have been captured. The committee is
aiming to finalize the calendar and have it available for sale at the upcoming Holidazzle
event.
City Event Support: Champion, Kathleen Samsey / Support, Roz Wise
During the recent Schertz Heritage Farmer's Market, Sophie Rodriguez led the volunteer
efforts with support from Jim Burdett. Despite low attendance due to competing events, they
successfully engaged with the crowd present.
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The discussion then shifted to the upcoming Holidazzle event on Dec. 6. Zii Reed addressed
the registration process and placement logistics for the committee at the upcoming event.
Kathleen Samsey will serve as the lead volunteer, with Sophie Rodriguez providing support.
Kathleen Samsey emphasized the need to have additional volunteers and plans to reach out
for additional volunteers as they will be needed.
Brian James raised a consistent challenge regarding the requirement for volunteers to
commit to the entire duration of events, as partial attendance can cause logistical issues and
reflect negatively on the committee. Chairperson Titterington suggested that committee
members sign an agreement for event commitment to ensure that the goals and terms of
volunteering are fully understood. The committee aims to enhance planning and commitment
to future events to ensure adequate coverage throughout.
The conversation emphasized the importance of clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
The event lead is expected to manage logistics, which includes securing and returning keys,
items from storage, handling the cash box and credit card machine. Collaboration with
support volunteers is also crucial for timely management and facilitation. Key management
issues were noted, and it was highlighted that the finance department has specific post-event
requirements for handling the credit card machine, allowing no more than 3 business days
for its return.
Jim Burdett reported issues with the credit card machine losing connection. The finance
department will investigate resolving this issue, either through the manufacturer or by
having the IT department explore options for obtaining a hotspot connection for the
machine. Overall, the focus remains on improving coordination, clarifying roles, and
ensuring that technology functions smoothly for future events.
Landmark Properties: Champion, Becki Babcock / Support, Brian James
Becky Babcock confirmed that all plaque designs for landmark properties are finalized,
including the cemetery plaque presented at the Schertz-Cibolo Cemetery landmark
designation event. This confirmation also encompasses the two template types for homes
and businesses, where each design is consistent, featuring a smaller version for homes and a
larger one for businesses.
SHPC 2026 Meeting Scheduling: Champion, Zii Reed
Zii Reed is assembling the City of Schertz 2026 Master Calendar that includes establishing
boards and commissions meeting dates. Chairperson Titterington inquired whether the
current meeting schedule, held on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 6:00 to 7:00
PM, was suitable for all participants for 2026. There was no intention to alter the schedule,
but confirmation was sought to ensure it was still convenient for everyone. The committee
indicated the schedule was acceptable.
Annual Review: Champion, Maggie Titterington
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Chairperson Maggie Titterington noted that she wanted to provide an overview of the current
year strategic plan, what was accomplished and what is still being worked on, before
thinking about the coming year. If the Committee wants to add anything, go back to
something, or stay with what we had this year.
Policies and Procedures:
The Committee successfully updated and separated the policies and procedures from the
Bylaws.
Trivia Night:
The Committee organized a trivia night, which was well-received. The success of this event
has prompted discussions about continuing similar activities in the future.
Then & Now Calendar Project:
The calendar is nearing completion, and a discussion is needed to decide whether this should
become an annual project. It would also be decided if the calendar's purpose should serve as
a tool to raise funds and/or increase community awareness. With 300 copies ordered to be
sold, its sales performance will be closely monitored to gauge interest and inform a decision
based on the result.
City Events & Historic Landmark Signs/Plaques
As the Holidazzle event approaches, the committee is working on coordinating logistics.
The design and approval process for Historic Landmark signs has been completed with no
further action required from the committee. The next step is scheduling a formal ceremony,
pending coordination with Public Works' availability for installation.
Chairperson Titterington wrapped up the annual review for 2025 by highlighting that this is
an impressive list of successfully completed items. Kathleen Samsey also noted that the
designs for the plaques commemorating landmark properties have been finalized.
Chairperson Titterington highlighted the continuum of trivia events, upcoming city events,
and historic calendars, to be considered for discussion next year. She also shared that Sophie
Rodriguez asked about the scavenger hunt event to be considered for next year. Sophie
believed the trivia format was a success and asked about the possibility of acquiring prizes.
Chairperson Titterington confirmed that the Committee is able to fund the purchasing of
prize items. Additionally, Sophie highlighted the importance of incorporating the
Schertz-Cibolo Cemetery events into the committee's annual traditions.
Ongoing Dialogue / Status / Goal Objectives
Committee Discussions
Chairperson Titterington mentioned that Roz Wise brought up the idea of having an SHPC
billboard, then initiated the conversation by addressing trivia, support for city events, and
the calendars. She sought input on these three topics, inquiring whether we should retain the
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current champions or appoint new individuals. Additionally, she asked whether the calendar
should feature a new design or stick with the existing one. She clarified that the Committee
would be voting and further discussing these items during the January meeting.
Calendar Themes & Purpose
Regarding the calendar, Lauren Dalton mentioned that it is difficult to determine the next
steps since we have not begun selling them yet; however, a refresh might be considered for
next year. Kathleen Samsey suggested perhaps focusing themes on historical figures for the
potential upcoming production of the calendar and emphasizing the importance of starting
earlier to complete it in time. The committee explored the main goal of the calendar,
debating whether it should prioritize fundraising or awareness. Some members agreed it
could fulfill both roles, but stressed that poor sales would imply a lack of interest. It was
mentioned that we ordered 300 of the 2026 Then & Now calendars to sell, and it was agreed
to keep this matter open for further consideration.
City Event Support
It was discussed that the goal is to build on the success of Movies in the Park, which had a
great turnout in the previous year at its location. The plan is to approach the Parks
department sooner to potentially host it at Pickrell Park. However, one challenge with
Pickrell Park is that events are typically held at the pool. Another idea suggested was to host
the trivia event at Jubilee before the band starts. Overall, the sentiment at this stage is
positive, especially incorporating electronic voting.
It was emphasized that having sufficient attendance is crucial. Therefore, while it’s
beneficial to involve people, we need to be selective about who participates. Additionally,
we should ensure that individuals agree to commit and contribute their presence.
Chairperson Titterington suggested that we focus on fewer, more impactful key events,
perhaps only planning to participate/attend 3 throughout the year:
Trivia in June or July
Schertz Hometown Harvest Farmer's Market events in the fall
Holidazzle
Kathleen Samsey pointed out the significance of the cemetery events also, which are
scheduled for May and October.
Calendar Goals
The committee questioned whether to produce the calendar every year or perhaps every
other year. Lauren Dalton and Becki Babcock suggested that if we choose to continue with
the calendar, it should be an annual project. However, they emphasized the need to start
earlier, ideally in February. Kathleen Samsey proposed the idea of doing it every other year
unless the calendars sell exceptionally well at Holidazzle, given the considerable amount of
work involved. We began our process around April, but photo-taking extended into
September, and the draft wasn't ready until October. Brian James recommends that next
year, we aim to have the draft completed by June. With an established system in place, the
process might become more efficient. An annual schedule could help build momentum.
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process might become more efficient. An annual schedule could help build momentum.
City Event Support Goals
Brian James also emphasized the significance of having team members present for the entire
duration of the event, rather than leaving early. Chairperson Titterington concurred,
highlighting its importance for events such as the Balloonfest. Chairperson Titterington
expressed uncertainty about the scavenger hunt, suggesting it might work better with a QR
code. It was mentioned that the GIS Department in Schertz was organizing one. Brian James
will inquire about the outcome.
Billboard Usage
The discussion regarding the billboard unfolded. Brian expressed that he didn’t see a
connection to SHPC’s mission, suggesting it might not be best suited for the committee.
Since the City owns and manages the billboard, perhaps SHPC could propose a historic
postcard style to the Public Affairs Department. Chairperson Titterington pointed out that
creating a billboard involves considerable costs, including the development of the banner.
During the review of SHPC's mission, she noted that she still could not
find connection with the committee's objectives.
Mission: In accordance with City of Schertz Resolution 06-R-35, the mission of the Schertz
Historical Preservation Committee (SHPC) is to ensure and encourage the preservation of
the area’s rich history through the collection and maintenance of records, artifacts,
documents, and photographs in conjunction with recognizing historical landmark
neighborhoods and properties.
Vision: The SHPC is committed to sharing the history of Schertz with its residents by means
of various public displays, archives, and numerous publications in an effort to promote and
conserve the city’s cultural history to include its Native American, German, and Mexican
influences.
She emphasized the importance of aligning ideas with the SHPC's mission. However, she
viewed the billboard as more of a tourism initiative and mentioned that it didn't seem to align
with our objectives.
Oral History Project
Lauren Dalton introduced an oral history project aimed at gathering personal stories from the
community. This initiative would not only help in sharing history moving forward but also
aligns with our mission. We could utilize Facebook to showcase these stories, similar to the
Chambers member moment, and present them as a reel. Capturing these moments on our
phones during events could be effective. Once we gather six or seven stories, we can
compile them for display at future events. The focus would be creating short videos for this
purpose. Jim Burdett provided some examples of individuals with insights into local schools
which inspired Lauren Dalton's idea. Kathleen Samsey suggested incorporating a QR code
for sign-up or immediate participation.
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Calendar Suggestion
Becki Babcock proposed that the postcard could serve as the cover for the next calendar as a
creative compromise.
Photo Sorting
Kathleen Samsey discussed the topic of photo sorting and cataloging. Chairperson
Titterington said she needed to consult with Mark Thorton about the current status of these
tasks.
Historic Items
Zii Reed highlighted the need to review the library's collection for items that might require
sorting, especially those belonging to the late Dean Wiertz. Brian James confirmed that we
would examine the library's holdings. Jim Burdett mentioned an event at the Civic Center
where former SHPC President, Dean Wiertz, had an exhibit of Schertz’s historic items.
To-do List
Maggie mentioned that she would compile the list of all items discussed and send it out
before the next meeting, allowing everyone time to consider the options and facilitate
decision-making at the January meeting. It was also pointed out that if we lack a champion
and co-champion, we will need to eliminate those items from consideration.
Mural Repainting & Articles on Past Mayors
Brian brought up two important topics. First, he mentioned the mural located on the side of
the building at the corner of Main and Lindberg. Originally funded by SHPC, it has begun to
look faded, and he asked if the committee would consider funding its restoration.
The second topic was Mayor Gutierrez's suggestion to create articles about past mayors.
Brian pointed out that there seemed to be a lack of committee members interested in writing.
Maggie mentioned that she could use assistance with the brief articles we currently publish.
Becki inquired whether high school students were working on articles about past mayors.
Maggie clarified that they were only focusing on the photographs; while the idea of writing
articles had been discussed, they did not pursue it. Maggie expressed that she was unable to
take on additional writing tasks as it would be too overwhelming.
Brian offered to obtain a quote for the cost of repainting the mural, emphasizing that the
intent is to refresh it rather than create a new design, as a redesign would be too large of a
project. There were no strong opinions expressed regarding the mural, though it remains a
contentious issue for some since it covers the historic True Value sign, which had a sense of
nostalgia.
Close
Chairperson Maggie Titterington closed the review by expressing gratitude for everyone's
hard work and dedication throughout the year. Looking ahead, the committee will reconvene
in January to discuss and vote on the strategic plan and initiatives for 2026.
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Requests and Announcements
No requests or announcements were issued.
Adjournment/Next Meeting Date
Meeting adjourned at 6:44pm
Next Meeting: January 28, 2026
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