05-06-2025 Council Workshop MinutesMINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING
May 6, 2025
A Council Workshop Meeting was held by the Schertz City Council of the City of Schertz,
Texas, on May 6, 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-Tem Allison Heyward; Councilmember
Michelle Watson; Councilmember Paul Macaluso; Councilmember Ben Guerrero;
Councilmember Robert Westbrook; Councilmember Tim Brown
Absent: Councilmember Mark Davis
Staff Deputy City Manager Brian James; Assistant City Manager Sarah Gonzalez; City
present: Secretary Sheila Edmondson; Deputy City Secretary Sheree Courney
Call to Order
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.
Carolyn Wolford,1637 Canyon Oak, Schertz, TX 18154-Ms. Wolford would like better
communication from the City on how the City wants the residents to communicate with city
staff. Ms. Wolford recommended a full -page ad in the Schertz Magazine that explains how
the City would like the residents to communicate with city staff. For example, the last flash
survey about the waste collection service. There were approx. 360 residents that replied to
the waste collection survey. Later, when residents learned that a flash survey was available,
they were frustrated that so many residents were unaware,
Discussion
Ad -hoc Education Committee (Councilmember Westbrook)
Councilmember Westbrook would like to see an Ad -hoc Committee created on
Education:
Vision:
-To make Schertz the best town in Texas for student development and
educational outcomes by:
• Promoting educational excellence across all school types
• Ensuring inclusive support for families and educators
• Partnering across sectors to eliminate barriers to success
Why It Matters
-Like any strategic operation, educational success depends on situational
awareness.
-Education shapes our future workforce, military readiness, civic engagement,
and economic vitality.
-We must understand and support all learning environments —public, private,
charter, and homeschool.
Purpose and Benefits
• Gather a holistic understanding of education in Schertz
• Provide actionable, evidence -based recommendations
• Strengthen collaboration across_ schools and families
• Enhance local voices in city discussions
• Identify city policies that support student success
The Ad -hoc Committee won't govern, it will gather perspectives, build partnerships
and inform decisions.
Councilmember Brown supports a community that supports education and growth and
believes our city has done a great job supporting education.
The City of Schertz supports education and several of our departments support
education and growth. The Library Program supports preschool -college -age students.
The Economic Development Corporation sponsors youth access to businesses around
the city. The Chamber supports DECA fundraising and their numerous programs.
Councilmember Brown isn't sure if we need to start a new committee or focus on what
we have and evaluate the needs.
Councilmember Macaluso asked if the ad -hoc committee is only an advisory role,
what would we do with this information? Councilmember Westbrook stated we will
not know what the next move is until we have the gathered information.
Mayor Gutterrez recommended that a list is gathered, and the Council look at the
programs that are available to see if there is something missing.
Interim City Manager Brian James said staff will be tasked with creating a list of all
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the educational programs the city offers with educational components.
Celebrating/recognizing the Army's 250th Birthday (Councilmember Westbrook)
Mayor Gutierrez stated the workshop has a hard -stop time to end the workshop, and
they will not have time to discuss celebrating/recognizing the Army's 250th Birthday.
Adjournment
Mayor Gutierrez adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m.
•. iGuti ez, Mayor
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Sheila Edmondson, Yty Secretary