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February 25, 2014 TSAC Minutes - Joint Meeting (4)MINUTES SPECIAL JOINT & REGULAR MEETING February 25, 2014 A Special Joint Meeting with the Transportation Safety Advisory Commission and a Regular Meeting was held by the Schertz City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas, on February 25, 2014, 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: Mayor Michael Carpenter Councilmember Jim Fowler Councilmember Matthew Duke Transportation Safety Advisory Commission Members: Chair Stephen Bish Commissioner Member Larry Franklin Commissioner Member Eric Haugen Staff Present: Executive Director John Bierschwale City Attorney Charles Zech Deputy City Secretary Donna Schmoekel Councilmember Cedric Edwards was absent.. Mayor Pro -Tem David Scagliola Councilmember Daryl John Vice Chair Mark Davis Commissioner Member Phillip Rowland Commissioner Member Terry Welch City Manager John Kessel Executive Director Brian James City Secretary Brenda Dennis Call to Order - Special Joint Meeting (City Council and Transportation Safety Advisory Commission meeting) 1. Call to order by each Governing Body. Mayor Carpenter called the Special Joint Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Chair Stephen Bish called the Special Joint Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Invocation and Pledges of Allegiance to the Flags of the United States and the State of Texas Councilmember Jim Fowler provided the invocation followed by the Pledges of Allegiance to the Flags of the United States and the State of Texas. 2. Discussion and possible action regarding future transportation issues and needs. (B. James/B. James) Mayor Carpenter came down to the podium to speak with the Council and the Transportation Safety Advisory Commission (TSAC). Mayor Carpenter stated he asked for this joint meeting. Mayor Carpenter stated the reason he wanted this joint meeting is so that as the City looks forward to the next five, ten, fifteen, and twenty years, and as we consider the economic development, and the development generally that is going on throughout the City of Schertz, we are going to have a need for citizens to get around. We already see that on FM 3009, even though we do not have sidewalks in yet, we already have pedestrian traffic. We 02 -25 -2014 Minutes Page - 1 - have citizens trying to get from the residential parts of our community up to HEB, Lowes, etc. If it does come to pass that the Lone Star Rail is built in the near future to the north, the other side of IH 35 from where we are now, we are going to have a need for the citizens who might stop at our rail station, a way to visit our businesses further into the City, or for our residents to get from their homes to the rail stop if they do not want to drive and pay additional money to park. All these things said, he has asked TSAC here this evening to have a discussion in regard to beginning the process of planning what public transportation may look like in Schertz. Given the role TSAC has taken since its inception and given the things they have seen with a unique perspective, he would like, and is hopeful that the Council is also willing, to ask the TSAC members to begin brainstorming, exploring, and thinking about what public transportation might look like in the years to come; what it should be and what it should not be. In particular what it should be and should not be for Schertz. Public transportation, when we say those words, in many ways has a connotation of large expensive empty buses that seem to be transporting "Harvey ", the invisible rabbit, and no one else. That doesn't work and doesn't make sense for what we need here in Schertz. What may make sense is that we have a trolley style looking bus that goes up and down Schertz Parkway and FM 3009 that gets citizens from their houses to the business within Schertz, more so as we become densely populated. Mayor Carpenter stated he would like to hear their thoughts and see if this was something the TSAC members would be interested in taking on, as well as hearing from the Council if they concur. Mayor Carpenter opened this topic up for discussion and commentary. Mayor Carpenter recognized Councilmember Fowler who stated that when he thinks of future transportation he sees two things. The Mayor had mentioned a trolley car type transportation system for those wanting to get around in the local area, but along with that, he also sees a need to get our residents into the San Antonio area. He understands that AACOG has a system that deals with transportation and maybe TSAC can see how the City can be involved in the infrastructure that is already there to expand those services. Councilmember Fowler wants TSAC to think locally and think of going into the San Antonio area, specifically the hospital areas. Councilmember Fowler also stated as the City continues to grow there will be a need for new roads and major arteries getting in and out of our City. This is something TSAC should also look at. He believes that the Council would support whatever TSAC might need to be successful in developing the plan, i.e., contracting out for a study that would look at the roads in Schertz. We need to focus on citizens needing to travel within the City as well as out of the City. This will assist in unclogging the major arteries around Schertz. Mayor Carpenter recognized Chair Stephen Bish who stated this has been brought up before and that they would need to look at how large of a project would you want them to start out with. There would be questions regarding in the future would there be bus stops in certain areas where there are no sidewalks and other things. He stated that TSAC would be willing to work with the City on this project. He stated this is going to require a lot of planning with not only the businesses, but with all City Departments. We need to look at the types of events that come into the City as well as the current City events that are held such as the 4th of July Jubilee, which creates a large amount of traffic. Again, Chair Bish stated that TSAC would be willing to take on the task of planning future transportation needs within the City. 02 -25 -2014 Minutes Page - 2 - Mayor Carpenter stated that they often say that none of them on Council have all the answers and they rely on our citizen boards and commissions to help. He appreciates TSAC for taking this on. It is an important next step and it seemed like a natural fit that TSAC would take on the role of being the primary advisors about public transportation in the City of Schertz. Mayor Carpenter recognized Mayor Pro -Tem Scagliola who stated that the citizen boards are the Councils primary advisors. He suggested TSAC find something small that will work and build from there, solicit information and dedicate time in doing some research. Mayor Carpenter recognized Councilmember Duke who stated he echoed Mayor Pro -Tem Scagliola. We are talking about a vision for Schertz and where we are going to be from a transportation aspect. A good starting point would be to look at the City's Master Plan. A lot of time and effort was put into the plan. Look at the plan and figure out ways to incorporate even tweaking the master plan with the thought of how to improve transportation. This is a starting point for TSAC. Councilmember Duke agreed with Councilmember Fowler in taking the private sector word of "strategic planning ". One of the things we need to have as part of our five, ten, and fifteen year range is infrastructure in transportation. This is a critical piece of the comprehensive plan. Timing is everything, and to have that comprehensive plan available where we are constantly updating it with the growth of Crossvine and other developments, utilizing it so that we can see what the City needs to implement next and what is critical. We need to visit the plan every year during our planning process and he agrees it is critical now to plan for the future transportation needs of the City. Purposeful and meaningful planning is critical; comprehensively what we want transportation to look like in twenty years. Mayor Carpenter recognized TSAC Commissioner Phillip Rowland who came forward stating that they need to consider all the areas within Schertz in the transportation plan, the currently developed as well as those being considered, such as the South Schertz area. Mayor Carpenter stated that another thought is to not limit ourselves to thinking traditionally about what transportation is. Hike and bike trails become part of the over all public transportation, a pedestrian society if you will, this becomes part of the overall plan. Mayor Carpenter stated he believes you can start small. We have some immediate needs. We have citizens at Lakeside Village, at the Senior Center and the retirement facilities in town that just have a need to get from these places to HEB and back, a need to get to the pharmacy and back. Mayor Carpenter suggested we could start with a small bus that makes one run a day to these facilities. Mayor Carpenter suggested TSAC have conversations with TxDOT regarding plans for sidewalks along FM 3009, as pedestrian walks are part of the project as well. They should speak to individuals within our organization that have come from other cities who can share what they did that were successful. They should also speak to individuals from other cities to gather ideas. The other cities may be currently working on their transportation needs which could also benefit Schertz. Mayor Carpenter recognized City Manager John Kessel who stated this is a great idea. The first thing that he would offer up is that the Planning and Zoning Commission shares a bit of the burden and responsibility for our transportation planning, we have to join forces. Engage the Planning and Zoning Commission to make sure everyone is on the same page moving forward. Mr. Kessel encouraged TSAC to visit with Executive Director of Development Brian James, as he has knowledge of how to set up a program like this and utilize his 02 -25 -2014 Minutes Page - 3 - knowledge of what he saw that worked and what did not work. Mr. Kessel encouraged TSAC to think outside the box. We are talking about a term called "multimodal transportation system ", which includes hike and bike trails, transportation within the community and transportation out of the community. Thinking this way, we will be successful in finding what will work for our community. Mr. Kessel's last recommendation was that if you think about a hike and bike trail, it doesn't start and stop in one community, it starts and stops where you choose to. Most citizens will not know if they are in Schertz or Cibolo or Garden Ridge, or where ever they are; they will just know that there are good facilities to enjoy. Mr. Kessel encourages a regional approach, stating that the City has been very successful with other things that have been done regionally. It would be very inefficient to run a public transportation system just in Schertz, but if you took an EMS -like approach and draw a broader square area, it might be something we could all share the cost of together if it was a good plan. Mr. Kessel stated that this is a tremendous charge that the community in the future will benefit from and it will certainly change people's lives and will make a difference. Adiournment 3. Both Governing bodies adjourn Special Joint Meeting. Mayor Carpenter adjourned the Special Joint Meeting at 6:25 p.m. Chair Stephen Bish adjourned the Special Joint Meeting at 6:25 p.m. Attest: 11, �tepheAl3ish, Chairperson 02 -25 -2014 Minutes Page - 4 - Brenda Dennis, City Secretary