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9-28-23 MinutesPage 1 of 4 SCHERTZ HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMITTEE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 6:00 PM MEETING MINUTES Committee Members in Attendance: Christopher Hormel Dr. Miguel Vazquez Roz Wise Committee Members Absent: Maggie Titterington (Excused) Becki Babcock (Unexcused) Tricia Whitman (Unexcused) City Representatives in Attendance: Cyndi Simmons Steve Williams (Partial) CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM by Chairperson Miguel Vazquez. DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION ITEMS 1. Minutes – Consideration and/or action regarding the approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of August 24, 2023. • Roz Wise commented that she would like to have those absent identified as excused or unexcused. • Chris Hormel motioned and Roz Wise seconded to approve the minutes as written. Motion passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS 2. Landmark Narrative for Samuel Clemens High School (Miguel Vazquez/All) The narrative is complete and the next step will be to take it to the plaque maker. Cyndi Simmons asked if it was typical to list the committee members on the plaque. Chris Hormel commented that he doesn’t know why we would have the committee members’ names on the plaque and Miguel Vazquez replied for posterity so you can tell your grandkids. Chris Hormel commented that for longevity, who is going to care about the specific members. Roz Wise suggested Schertz Historical Preservation Committee 2023. Miguel Vazquez that he would sleep on it and see and will make the final decision. 3. Landmark Property Update – 800 Roy Richard Drive (Miguel Vazquez) Michael Armstrong has decided not to designate the property as a historical landmark and not to apply for the grant. Miguel Vazquez informed him that there were no requirements to attachments but he doesn’t know what will happen in the future. Chris Hormel commented that his understanding of this is that the plaque is not mandated by our bylaws or rules, so we can recognize the property without a plaque and still keep it on our registry. Roz Wise commented that we would need his approval. Cyndi Simmons commented that he’s worried about historical restrictions on what he can do to the property with the grant. Miguel Vazquez commented that he would need to reapply if Mr. Armstrong changes his mind, but at this point he has rescinded his application. Page 2 of 4 Roz Wise motioned and Chris Hormel seconded to accept Michael Armstrong’s decision to rescind the landmark property designation at 800 Roy Richard Drive. Motion passed unanimously. At this time, Miguel Vazquez announced that the historical landmark at the Comal Community historical site has been stolen. Chris Hormel asked who owns the property and Miguel Vazquez replied that it appears to be on an easement. Lotus Creations made the first marker and they’ve indicated it would cost approximately $400.00 to replace. Chris Hormel asked if there’s anyone we have to ask to put the plaque back on and that we should let them know that we will be replacing. Miguel Vazquez also asked how can we protect it better? Chris Hormel also suggested that we somehow place at a 45-degree angle to see it better. Additional discussion on Samuel Clemens plaque. The plaque will be indoors, but Miguel Vazquez was initially told it would be outdoors. We want it to be seen. Chris Hormel suggested it be placed in the vestibule. Chris Hormel motioned and Roz Wise seconded to replace the stolen marker at a cost of no more than $600.00. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Schertz-Cibolo Cemetery Historical Marker Unveiling, Saturday, November 18 – Booth/collaboration of symposium (All) Miguel Vazquez reported that the event will be held at Mikulski Hall on Schertz Parkway with the doors opening at 9:30 AM with the presentation at 11:00 AM and will last to approximately 3:00 PM. There’s going to be an art show/sale and booths. He would like for the SHPC to have a booth from 10:00 AM to Noon. Lunch will be served at noon and will likely be boxed lunches from HEB. There will be an historical symposium from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM with four speakers. Topics will be: 1. The indigenous people; 2. The German migration; 3. The Mexican migration; 4. Cemetery stories. Miguel Vazquez would like someone to introduce the speakers. Chris Hormel advised he will not be able to attend as he has another commitment. Miguel Vazquez will ask Maggie Titterington if she is available. Roz Wise will pick up some of the pictures that Dean Weirtz has provided. Roz Wise asked if the brochure had been redone. Cyndi Simmons advised she hasn’t received any additional feedback other than what Roz Wise has provided. Chris Hormel commented that Maggie Titterington offered at the last meeting to review the brochure. For the ceremony, Michael Carpenter, County Commissioner and former Schertz Mayor, will give the opening and Mayor Ralph Gutierrez will follow and then the president of the Guadalupe County Historical Commission will speak. (At this point in the meeting, Steve Williams arrived.) NEW BUSINESS Page 3 of 4 5. Citizen Interest from September 2023 Schertz Magazine Article – Jan Neville, Robert Buchanan (Miguel Vazquez) Jan Neville and Robert Buchanan called Miguel Vazquez and provided information of what their families were doing when Schertz was incorporated. Jan Neville has information from her grandmother and was going to come to tonight’s meeting but was unable to attend. They both want to give us information that we don’t already have as well as pictures. Roz Wise reported that she has two articles from Maggie Titterington and she had asked Barbara Hall months ago for an article and she will contact her to see if she will submit the article. She would like to have the 2024 articles be from people who live in Schertz. Miguel Vazquez would also like to see a larger article for the magazine. Roz Wise also reported she will contact Pete Perez about information, photos, and the historic neighborhood where he lives. Additional discussion on historic neighborhoods. Since Steve Williams was present, Miguel Vazquez asked about the feasibility of having street signs for the historic neighborhoods to replace the banners. Chris Hormel commented that downtown San Antonio and Windcrest are examples of where they have street signs with a historic neighborhood designation on the sign. Roz Wise suggested that we find out how much it costs and then maybe do one neighborhood at a time as a multi-year project. Steve Williams commented that we have a capital improvement plan that we’re developing and that’s the kind of thing that would rank against all the other needs in the city and can be given as a recommendation by the SHPC, but it would be a city capital improvement project that he assumes would run into the 100’s of thousands of dollars. Chris Hormel commented that we also need to take in consideration the cost of the manpower of city employees to replace the signs. Steve Williams commented that we would likely hire contractors for that large of a project. He also commented that we could develop and get an understanding of the scope and then develop a cost estimate and then we’d have to compete for money like everything else. Miguel Vazquez commented this idea came up because the banners need to be replaced every two to three years and several need to be replaced now. Chris Hormel commented that this needs to be placed on a future agenda. 6. Bylaws Subcommittee – Vote (Chris Hormel) Roz Wise commented that Maggie Titterington suggested that the third paragraph be numbered as 1.3. Chris Hormel commented that this particular paragraph is a continuation of the Mission and does not need to be renumbered. Roz Wise also commented that in 1.2, Ordinance 06-R-35 needs to have a title and Brian James was going to find this ordinance. Chris Hormel commented that bottom-line is that the bylaws are not ready for a vote, so let’s move on. Cyndi Simmons searched the website later in the meeting and advised that it is Resolution 06-R-35, not Ordinance, which was incorrect in the last update of the bylaws as well. 7. Financial Report Roz Wise commented that she would like one thing added to the report – number of books sold. Cyndi Simmons commented that the line item in James Walters’ report indicates “Sale of Merchandise” and $0.00 and that the books are the only merchandise we have to sell. Roz Wise pointed out that we used to sell t-shirts for the car show and that she would like details in the report. Page 4 of 4 REQUESTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS • Roz Wise asked Chris Hormel if his wife was willing to proofread the brown book and Chris Hormel replied that she is out of the country until mid-October. Roz Wise would like to get someone to review for English and Paul Ringenbach had offered to help in the past so she would like to ask him if he could review for English and grammar. Chris Hormel asked if we are going to review the brown book if we are working towards combining the two books into one. We need to start working on combining the two books. It’s going to have to change structurally as well because they don’t align. Miguel Vazquez commented that at next month’s meeting we will plan for 2024 and decide what our goals are – Participate in the parade? Which landmark properties are out there as possibilities? Are we going to revamp the book? Everyone has to participate and assignments need to be made. Chris Hormel commented that if we are going to go through the effort of revamping the books, there are definitely items that need to be added. Steve Williams commented that if the document is in Word, you can have the computer read the document to you, which helps with proofreading. Because your mind will skip over it when you leave a word out, etc. Chris Hormel also suggested Grammarly. Miguel Vazquez commented that we need to decide if we’re committed to the project. • Roz Wise also asked for an Office365 account. Chris Hormel advised that we will be using Dropbox instead of SharePoint and that doesn’t require Office365. He and his son have been working to reformat the disks and thumb drives to be able to download onto an external hard drive that will then be given to the IT department to upload to Dropbox. • Roz Wise announced there is a car show at Randolph Air Force Base this weekend and she’d like to get names of people that might be interested in joining the SHPC for the Jubilee parade. Her friend suggested that all of the older cars in the parade be part of our group. Steve Willliams commented that we’re not able to tell entrants where they will be within the parade. Miguel Vazquez also suggested we might want to have a float rather than older cars next year. Chris Hormel suggested that if we have a float that we ask the Samuel Clemens High School History Club to assist. ADJOURNMENT • Discussion on next meeting date. The next meeting will be the 2024 planning meeting as well as nominations for leadership. Presently, the next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Roz Wise cannot be here and asked if it could be held another week. Discussion ensued and Chris Hormel suggested we meet Thursday, November 2, however, Cyndi Simmons commented that conflicts with the Transportation Safety Advisory Commission and suggested Thursday, November 9. Discussion ensued. Miguel Vazquez advised that it will be determined with November 9 being a possibility. Cyndi Simmons advised that if we’re going to cancel the October 26 meeting, we will need to post the cancellation of the regularly scheduled meeting and then post the called meeting. Chris Hormel motioned and Roz Wise seconded to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM by Miguel Vazquez, Chairperson.