01-07-2025 Council Workshop MinutesMINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
January 7, 2025
A City Council Workshop was held by the Schertz City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas, on
January 7, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. in the Hal Baldwin Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 1400
Schertz Parkway, Building #4, Schertz, Texas. The following members present to -wit:
Present: Mayor Ralph Gutierrez; Mayor Pro -Tern Robert Westbrook; Councilmember Mark
Davis; Councilmember Michelle Watson; Councilmember Paul Macaluso;
Councilmember Allison Heyward; Councilmember Tim Brown
Absent: Councilmember Place 4 (Vacant)
Staff City Manager Steve Williams; Deputy City Manager Brian James; Assistant City
present: Manager Sarah Gonzalez; City Secretary Sheila Edmondson; Deputy City Secretary
Sheree Courney
Call to Order
Mayor Gutierrez called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
Hearing of Residents
This time is set aside for any person who wishes to address the City Council. Each
person should fill out the speaker's register prior to the meeting. Presentations should
be limited to no more than 3 minutes.
All remarks shall be addressed to the Council as a body, and not to any individual
member thereof. Any person making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks
while addressing the Council may be requested to leave the meeting.
All handouts and/or USB devices must be submitted to the City Secretary no later
than noon on the Monday preceding the meeting. Handouts will be provided to each
Councilmember prior to the start of the meeting by the City Secretary. All USB
devices will be vetted by City IT staff to ensure City property is protected from malware.
No one signed up to speak.
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Discussion and Action Items
1. Workshop on the National League of Cities Membership (A.Heyward)
Councilmember Allison Heyward stated that there were three emails that the
Council should have received from Ms. Andrea J. Barefield -Waco City Council,
District 1, Mr.Travis Bruton -City Council, Place 3 - City of Glenn Heights and
Ms. Katherine Reading -City Manager, City of Grandview who are members of
the National League of Cities. The membership fees are approx. $4,500-$5,000
per year. There are two sessions that the NLC have, one session in Washington
DC and another in a different city each year. The cost for attending one of these
sessions is approx. $1,500. The consensus of the Council is to proceed with
becoming a member of the National League of Cities.
2. Workshop to discuss Christmas Decorations for Entry Sign and City Hall Lights
(R. Gutierrez/P. Macaluso)
City Manager Steve Williams wanted to discuss the suggestions he had received
to improve the Welcome sign at Schertz Parkway/ IH-35 access road and the
issues with the Christmas lights around the city buildings.
Mayor Ralph Gutierrez stated that the Welcome sign at the Schertz
Parkway/IH-35 is the first sign into the city and needs regular attention whether it
is the holidays or not. Comments by the Council included that the entry
sign needed a complete makeover and the sign needed to make a statement.
The recommendation from City Manager Steve Williams is that staff put together
a plan for not just this sign but other signs at multiple locations.
Councilmember Davis reminded the Council that TxDOT will be putting street
names over the facade and the seal on columns with the IH-35 improvements. The
city currently has over 32 square miles and has several roads that lead into
Schertz.
The Mayor recommended that the Council's main concern should be the IH-35
and IH-10 road entrances. Staff will research entry signs and monuments for
IH-35 and identify other sites around the city.
City Manager Williams explained that some of the problems with the Christmas
lights were because of the power issues around the main complex. The power
source issues have been addressed, but the current light fixtures will need to be
upgraded.
Parks Director Lauren Shrum explained that an expanded program request would
be submitted during the budget process to improve the lighting. The cost to
upgrade the lights around the main complex is $150,000. Additional costs for
lights around the library and senior center would be included in the
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proposal. The council would like to see lights around the complex during other
city functions and possibly have the lights all year long. Proposals and costs
would be available for the budget sessions later this year.
Adjournment
Mayor Gutierrez adjourned the meeting at 5:32 p.m.
ATTEST:
She` a Edmondson, City Secretary
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r alph 6atierrez, Mayor
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