August 21, 1995SCHERTZ DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MINUTES
AUGUST 21, 1995
SCHERTZ MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
The Schertz Development Commission convened in Regular Session
on Monday, August 21, 1995, at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal
Complex Conference Room, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Bob Vallance
W.J. Sweatt
Byron Williams
Ben Davis
Harry Richburg
Tony Moreno
Jeff Zunker
Jackie Jones
Henry Gutierrez
MEMBERS ABSENT
Eric White
Juan Thorn
Bruce Hammersla
Lew Borgfeld
STAFF PRESENT:
.Kerry. R. Sweatt, City Manager
Mark Marquez, Coordinator
Margie Montanez, Recording Secretary
CALL TO ORDER:
Bob Vallance called the meeting to order in the absence of the
Chairman at 7:00 p.m. Roll was called by Mark Marquez.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:
Vice Chairman, Bob Vallance and Mark Marquez welcomed new
members, Jeff Zunker, Byron Williams, Ben Davis, and Henry
Gutierrez.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
10-13-94
11-10-94
11-23-94
4-06-95
6-01-95
Copies of the minutes were sent to members for review before
this meeting. Replacement copies for the November 23, 1994
meeting were passed out to members. W.J. Sweatt made a motion
to approve the minutes as presented, Harry Richburg seconded
the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
TAX ABATEMENT: VESTAL STEEL
Mark Marquez presented the request from Vestal Steel for a tax
abatement. He directed the members to the prepared package
submitted for their review and proceeded to explain what the
company manufactures and their plans for construction. Mark
Marquez proceeded to briefly discuss the evaluation of tax
abatement .and dollar values for the Vestal Steel project (copy
included in members package).
Bob Vallance and Ben Davis both agreed that it looks like a
very good business deal.
Harry Richburg made a motion to recommend that City Council
approve a 50.82 tax abatement on Captial Improvements for
Vestal Steel Specialties, Inc.
Kerry Sweatt asked Mr. Vestal if he could tell us what other
companies were interested in this property being developed.
Mr. Vestal stated he has received firm commitments from a
concrete contractor, a small trucking terminal, and a company
that repairs, installs, takes down, and paints and changes
lights and towers. He also has an electrical contractor. Mark
Marquez indicated to the members that there is a copy of the
plat in their package that outlines the individual lots in the
development.
TAX ABATEMENT - ALAMO HOLLY
Mark Marquez presented the request from Alamo Holly fora tax
abatement. He directed the members to the prepared package
submitted for their review as he proceeded to explain what the
company manufactures and their plans for construction in the
Tri-County Business Park. Mark proceeded to briefly discuss
the evaluation of tax abatement and dollar values for the Alamo
Holly project (copy included in members package). Mark Marquez
added that Mr. Palmer requested a variance and directed the
members to the copy of a table that shows the different
percentages available to get to the same dollar amount of the
.cost of the abatement for a six-year term.
W.J. Sweatt asked Mark Marquez if Mr. Palmer had seen the
variance table. He indicated he hadn't talked it over with
him. Mark Marquez did indicate that he told Mr. Palmer that
50~ for 8 years or 100 for 4 years was not going to happen but
that he would come up with an alternative.
Harry Richburg stated his concern was if the company was still
going to be in place in four years. Mark Marquez indicated
that even if he left the day after the building is built, the
City gets all the taxes on that building regardless. What the
City doesn't get is the personal property taxes that we would
have collected from Mr. Palmer, but personal property taxes
are not abated.
Kerry Sweatt stated that an agreement such as this was less
valuable to him than one that is stretched out over the six
year period because the tax values would have probably
increased so that the value of 50~ abatement might be worth
more the fifth year than it was the second year.
Mark asked the members for a recommendation to approve the
abatement for the Alamo Holly project. Ben Davis made a motion
to approve the tax abatement and W.J. Sweatt seconded the
motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mark asked the members for a recommendation to approve the
variance changing the abatement period from six years to four
years. Ben Davis made a motion to approve the variance and
Byron Williams seconded the motion. Motion carried
unanimously.
UPDATE ON BUSINESS APPRECIATION DINNER
W.J. Sweatt asked the members to mark their calendars for 21
September. The Commission members will serve as greeters. A
meeting with the decorating committee was held and a "Hawaiian"
theme was decided. Letters to the food vendors were sent out
and negotiations on cost will be conducted after 1 September.
W.J. asked Mark if he received a response from the speaker.
Ms. Arnette, Executive Director, Dept. of Commerce, would not
be able to attend. The speaker will be W. Wayne Lanford who
will speak on changes that will take place in the Dept. of
Commerce, what things will look like in the future, NAFTA, etc.
STAFF DIRECTOR COMMENTS
Mark Marquez thanked Mr.
the 4th of July Jubilee.
increase in revenues over
-.thatw.. next year we place
the viewers to see.
Zunker for the display he donated for
The display was instrumental to our
last year. Harry Richburg suggested
price tags in front of the items for
COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS
Kerry Sweatt mentioned the subject of the floor display that is
under consideration for purchase and asked Byron Williams to
expand on the subject. Mr. Williams has experience in
graphics and displays. He provided some information on what he
could provide to the Commission to review. Mark Marquez and
Bryon Williams have agreed to meet to discuss in more detail.
CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS
No other comments.
SET NEXT MEETING DATE
The next meeting date was set for 19 October 1995.
ADJOURN
With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
W.J. made the m ion and Kerry Sweatt seconded. Motion
carried unaimously
ob Vallance
Acting Chairman
Margie Montanez
Recording Secretary