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08-27-1991 PLANNING AND ZONING MINIITES The Schertz Planning and Zoning Commission convened in a regular session on Tuesday, August 27, 1991 at 7:00 P.M. in the Municipal Complex Conference Room, 1400 Schertz Parkway. Those present were as follows: PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT BOB ANDREWS, CHAIRMAN GARY BRICKEN JIM SHRIVER, VICE-CHAIRMAN KEITH VAN DINE, SECRETARY CITY STAFF MERWIN WILLMAN ...GEORGE VICK STEVE SIMONSON BOBBIE VONADA ASST. CITY MANAGER KEN:GREENWALD,. COUNCILPERSON MARK MARQUEZ ECONOMIC DEVELOP. COORD. NORMA ALTHOUSE, RECORDING SECRETARY # 1 ``CALL TO. ORDER Chairman Andrews called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. ~ _ #2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular Session August 13, 1991 George Vick made a motion to approve the minutes for the regular. session tiugust 13, 19.91. Merwin Willman seconded the motion and the vote waw unanimous ir. favor. Motion carried. #3 CITIZENS' INPUT OTHER THAN AGENDA ITEMS 'There was none. #4 CONSIDER-AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION: Discussion of Survey Results Chairman Andrews informed tree Commission he thought Jim Shriver had done an outstanding job of compiling the survey results. George Vick commented that some of the citizens asked what happened to the survey taken several years ago. Mr. Vick suggested an article be written listing the survey results and also listing those things over which the City has no control, for example, the widening of FM 78. - Chairman Andrews commented he would like to see an article like this in the Newsletter and George Vick added it would be good to publish it in the Herald newspaper also. - Merwin Willman remarked he thought it was a good idea, at least that way the Commission would feel like they tried to let everyone know the facts. Bobbie Vonada ,suggested luting the citizens know. that- a representative of the City will be glad to answer any questions they may have. - Councilperson Ken Greenwald noted the survey results indicate most citizens don't' know what services the City does provide, what the City can provide and what the City can't provide. Chairman Andrews mentioned that maybe a little blurb could be added to the article explaining how long some projects take to complete, such as the widening of highways. George Vick related this sure had opened his eyes on several r ~ things;- he had:.assumed people already knew these facts. -Steve Simonson asked Jim Shriver to write up an article for the. '.::Herald newspaper `and said. he- would write the one for the `;Newsletter. Councilperson Ken Greenwald recommended telling people that if they -have questions about the survey, they should ask them of someone on the Planning and Zoning Commission, someone on City Council, or someone on the Economic Development Task Force. Jim Shriver reviewed soma_of the major concerns expressed by. citizens on the sur~Tey. Among those concerns were the following: - Improvement's in City government services (1) City Hall, Palice `Dept.,'` Fire Dept., Library, Street Dept., Animal Control, Park Dept. (improvements in current parks .and the need for additional parks`), future water sources, a Community Center for general use by the citizens, property taxes staying at the current level or reduced; (2) major improvements along FM 78, overall cleanup and ....beautification, major improvement of Beck. Concrete; (3) additional retail- businesses (grocery supermarket, clothing stores,` restaurants);- (4) overall. City cleanup and beautif ication; (5) public transportation system; and (6) additional youth programs and activities. Merwin Willman brought up the subject of the Community Center and - said he is surprised nothing has ever been done about it - it has been useless since it was built. George Vick commented it is a good office for SAFES, but Councilperson Ken Greenwald and Steve Simonson both disagreed saying it is not. Mr. Greenwald noted it could be improved and. enhanced, but money is needed to do it. Jim Shriver advised the Commission that Bobbie Vonada had helped him put all the results of the survey together. -2- Steve Simonson advised that something which struck him about the results were the overriding comments about the lack of retail business in the City. Chairman Andrews also mentioned all the comments about the need for more parks and recreation facilities. Mr. Andrews indicated that Mark Marquez should be able to use some of the statistical data from the survey results. Steve Simonson informed the Commission copies of the results had been given to the City Manager, City Council, EDTF and all senior supervisors of the City Staff. Jim Shriver asked if anyone else got the impression the citizens want to keep Schertz a small town. Steve Simonson responded to this by saying he interpreted all the ,comments about needing more retail businesses as a sign of wanting growth in the City. Councilpersor~ Ken Greenwald mentioned the idea of writing several - small articles rather than one large one. For example,.write one article on the widening of FM 78 and write another article on the widening of FM 3009. The Commission thought this was a good plan. Chairman Andrews recommended the demographics information on the survey supplied by Jim Shriver be added to the demographics information for the Comprehensive Plan. Keith Van Dine asked if everyone signed their surveys and Jim Shriver replied only one or two signed them - it was not required. In review, Chairman Andrews said Steve Simonson will write an article for the Newsletter, Jim Shriver will write .an article for the Herald newspaper and the demographics on the survey will be added to the Comprehensive Plan. Steve Simonson stressed the need to think about the future of the City and asked the Commission to take a look at the percentage of households in which both spouses work. P~Zr. Simonson went on to say there are many things the City has no control over, but parks is one .thing over which they do have control, and more parks are needed. Councilperson Ken Greenwald noted he found the figures very interesting regarding how long some people have lived in the City. Steve Simonson reminded the Commission about the demographics presented to them by Victoria Ellis and how they showed a bubble of population of middle-aged and senior citizens in the City: -3- t; Mr. Simonson stressed the need to take that into consideration and provide them the amenities they expect when they reside in Schertz. ~ Chairman Andrews observed that the next growth will be the younger generation replacing the. older citizens and to keep them here, it's imperative the City have something to offer them. Merwin Willman commented he is concerned about growth and. wondered if it will be by subdivision or by individual lots and the effect this will have on the need for more parks. George Vick related that according to all he's read, there will no longer be large subdivision built, but smaller ones such as "The Gardens." Bobbie Vonada asked Councilperson Ken Greenwald what happened to plans for a YWCA in the area and Mr. Greenwald responded it`s still in the works and will be a regional facility, and it will probably be.located in Converse. . #5 CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION: Discussion of APA Conference There was discussion about people riding together, what times they are leaving for Corpus Christi and when they are returning. There was also discussion on the different. courses each member wants to attend. Steve Simonson requested that anyone wro needs an advance let him know before the last week of September because he wants to encumber some funds in the budget.. #6 CONSIDER AND MAKE RECOMMENDATION: Updating of Comprehensive Plan Steve Simonson asked the Commissioners to give some thought to whether or not they want to hire Victoria Ellis past the month of September to do research on other projects such as water issues - and housing and projected growth. Chairman Andrews inquired what kind of money would be involved - and Steve Simonson explained they are currently paying Ms. Ellis $150 every two weeks. George Vick remarked he personally feels another $500 to Victoria Ellis would be better spent than several thousand dollars to a consultant. The"consensus of the Commission was to go ahead and hire Victoria Ellis for further research and to do it at intervals of six weeks at a time. -4- Mark Marquez arrived at the meeting at 7:55 P.M. Steve Simonson indicated he will ask Ms. Ellis to attend the next meeting ail also the second meeting in September to give the Commission the final package~of her. current research project. There. was a brief discussion on all the. material the Commission - has received o far and how it should be put in some kind of order. Mr. Simonson advised the Commission he should have binders for them at the next meeting - he's trying to watch spending too much moneg:since it's close to the end of their fiscal year. Councilperson Ken Greenwald offered to pay. for the binders, but Steve Simonsor. said he.should.be able. to find the money for them. ?'GENERAL DISCDSSION George Vick: ' (a)~:,Stated that at.B &;J Lawn ,Service there's an 'old junk~,~ truck- that's been here ~'~for awhile. ~ 'Has anything' been done . about? Steve.''Simonson-said he will"check-into it. (b> Remarked. on the nice curbs at "The Gardens" subdivision, but said there.aze no curb cuts. ~Is that how it's done?. Steve Simonson replied .yes, they do the .curb cuts later. (c), , Mentioned that _,_at 50.2 .Curtiss they. are erecting a large carport 'which extends almost out to the curb. Did they get the proper- permits for _this? Steve Simonson advised -he's, almost • positive they did get `all their permits, but he.~will check into it' again. `(d) Asked about the catfish. farm in Schertz and wanted to know _ if it's in violation. of any .water. conservation laws. Steve -,Simonson explained: the water at-that particular catfish farm is not wasted. (e).::Questioned;if anyone .had ever looked into the possibility of a ``bridge-`over the Ciboio Creek joining .Kitty Hawk Road and FM.. 1518.. Bobbie Vonada said sh.e thought Councilperson Hal Baldwin had ..:brought that up to City Council several times. Steve Simonson emphasized the extreme expense it would take for such a project. -5- Keith Van Dine (a) Commented that Pfeil Road is falling apart again. Steve Simonson infor~ed Mr. Van Dine the City is aware of that fact,. but he`.will mention it. (b) Noted -that someone has something against mailboxes in the Schirmerville area and told Steve Simonson he might want to alert. -the Police'Department to this problem. It seems a ball bat has been used to knock a lot of them down. (c) Mentioned the two story brown cedar house he had called to Steve Simonson's attention at the last meeting and said it looks like they're remodeling it. Mr. Simonson reported he has the .inspectors-.checking on it periodically. ...,.:Bobbie Vonada: (a) - :Referred `to 'the" "Ordinance "Creating the `Planning:':and Zoning Commission-and";questioned the statement about no member currently serving as ':Chairman`'or .Vice-Chairman-being nominated to succeed ; hiir~se~.f~<<5 as::.Charman:".' or Vice-Chairman if he ..has served a full one-year.t$rm in either of "such .capacities... Y~ - Chairman 1~ndrews' explained 'that. Ordinance 91-5-7 amends -that ~ statement"to`add"".except by unanimous vote of the"Commission" and said""".Ordinance"-91-5-7 is the most. recent amendment to the` Ordinance Creating the Planning and Zoning Commission.. Jim'Shriver': (a)'s Said several surveys referred to the tall grass on the lct at-:Pecan and:Oak. What is: being done:'about it? Steve `Simonson replied the City has he lot mowed periodically. (b),_. Asked..:;_if :anyone:.heard anythingabout a steak house being built.next.to;Jack.-in-the-B©x. No .one had heard .anything. (c)"_ Inquired what' Steve Simonson wanted him to do with the - surveys. Mr. Simonson indicated the Planning Department ~~ill keep them. (d), Questioned what the City's policy is on burned down houses. Steve .Simonson said the City tries to work with the property owner and -give; him time to rebuild. Some have been given extensions in ari`effort to=cooperate. Steve Simonson:- (a)' Announced it is time for the annual review of the. Capital Recovery Fee Ordinance and John Bierschwale wants to be on the next agenda to fill the Commission in on this Ordinance. -6- Chairman Andrews: (a) Chairman Andrews reminded the Commission the annual report to City Council ~s due in October and he would like to have discussion of it and future projects for next year on the agenda of the September 1Qth meeting. #8 ADJOURNMENT Chairman Andrews adjourned the meeting at 8:15 P.M. The next regularly scheduled meeting is September 10, 1991. -7-