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06-04-2015 Approved MinutesNortheast Partnership for Economic Development City of Kirby - Fire Station 5560 Duffek Drive, Kirby, TX 78219 MINUTES OF WORKSHOP June 4,2015,6:30 P.M. 1. Call to Order and Establish a Quorum. Mayor Carpenter called the workshop to order at 6:35 PM. Mayor Carpenter welcomed those present. A quorum was present. Members present were: Mayor Michael Carpenter, Schertz Mayor Lisa Jackson, Cibolo Mayor Mary Dennis, Live Oak Mayor Tom Daly, Selma Mayor Nadine Knaus, Garden Ridge Mayor Al Suarez, Converse Mayor Pro -Tem Stephanie Faulkner Others Present: Nick Milanovich, Mayor Pro -Tem, New Berlin Monique Vernon, City Manager Kirby Patti Cox, City Secretary Kirby Donna Schmoekel, Schertz 2. Introduction of members and guests present. 3. Old Business: 1. Discussion and update regarding 2015 Legislative Bill proposals. Members present talked briefly about some of the bills in the latest Texas legislature that had passed or failed (taxation caps, annexation, etc.) Mayor Carpenter stated HB 1640 passed and HB 1639 failed. Mayor Dennis stated that TML is going to do a wrap up sometime in July regarding the 84th session. 2. Alamo Area MPO Update /Issues. Mayor Carpenter recognized Mayor Daly who stated three weeks ago he turned in his resignation as a representative to the MPO. He provided a recommendation for Kevin Hadas who is his Mayor Pro -Tem. Mr. Hadas networks well with people and is enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The MPO meets on the 3rd Monday of the month. He spoke about a few roads such as Lookout Road, FM 1103 and Evans Road. We all have to go forward with our road issues but he feels we haven't gotten a lot of backing from the MPO yet. The safety problems include the need for arms at railroad crossings to prevent high school kids from racing across the tracks trying to beat the trains. Mayor Carpenter said he had lunch today with Bexar County Commissioner Wolff who is the Vice -chair of the MPO. He made him aware of some of the projects we are all working on in Bexar County. Mayor Carpenter requested that an item be placed on next week's regular NEP meeting agenda to discuss and take possible action in regard to appointing a new MPO representative. Mayor Dennis asked if anyone here at the meeting was interested in serving. No one was. Mayor Daly reiterated that Kevin Hadas was willing to serve and had the time. Mayor Carpenter stated that while we have traditionally sent an elective, it is not a requirement. We can appoint a non- elective or even one that is not a part of this body, but who is representing us. Mayor Carpenter suggested Judge Richard, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3, Guadalupe County. They will first need to ask the other NEP mayor members who were not present tonight: Allan Baxter - Windcrest, Bill Seiler- Marion, and John Williams - Universal City. Next week at the luncheon they will potentially make nominations. 4. New Business 1. Discussion regarding transferring a specific amount out of the NEP checking account to a CD for a better return. Mayor Knaus stated the organization currently has about $35K in the checking account and after the scholarships are paid out, we should have around $32K. We currently have a number of CD's, most of which are at RBFCU. Her recommendation is to move about $10K out of the checking account into a CD at RBFCU. They currently give the best interest bearing rate (1.17 %). American Bank comes in next at .7% and everyone else is at .2 %. She recommended we put this on the agenda for the next official meeting and vote on it. Mayor Knaus stated we have no upcoming major expenditures, such as hiring a lobbyist. Mayor Carpenter stated in regard to that subject (hiring a lobbyist), rather than making that expenditure, we did it ourselves this year by traveling as a group to Austin, writing letters and making phone calls. While we did not single handily change the minds of the legislature, we did have an effect. He is glad we did not spend that money; it shows we did have an effect as a body. Maybe it could be the same with the MPO, networking ourselves by making individual personal appearances. 2. Discussion of NEP Officers, Chairman, Vice - Chairman, Treasurer and discussion regarding maintaining the records for the organization. Mayor Knaus said the NEP bylaws state we elect officers every year, but traditionally we have done so every two years, so it is time to put this on the table again to look at. Another thing she noticed is that the position of treasurer is actually the secretary- treasurer, which has basically been a city staff person of the serving chairman. She recommends (for future clarification) that they state for the record that the records of the NEP organization will be maintained by the staff of the current chair. She asked if the group wanted to stay with the slate of officers that we currently have in place. Also, to be in line with the bylaws the Treasurer position will have to be listed as Secretary /Treasurer in order to be in compliance. The reason this is important is that in order to get everybody to sign on the bank accounts you have to file with the State of Texas who your officers are. Someone must be designated as secretary- treasurer and the title must match. Everyone agreed to put this item on the agenda for next week's regular meeting. 5. Items of Interest by the Member cities. Mayor Carpenter asked whether anyone had anything of interest. He asked if New Berlin was joining? If New Berlin brings a check next week do we want to put it on the agenda for next week to accept the membership by vote? It was agreed to do so. Mayor Carpenter said the bylaws don't give us guidance on a city wanting to join; only a procedure for a city that leaves. We should talk about this. Mayor Daly likes the idea that we are getting bigger and having a stronger presence. Mayor Suarez asked what would our limits would be. Who else would we reach out to? We have never drawn borders for ourselves. Who is part of the `Northeast ?' Mayor Suarez said when Converse started all this it was all the joint cities that touched borders. Mayor Knaus said that the value of this organization is it brings together cities that would normally be totally ignored in the political discussion. This is how we add value; whereas ACCOG, Greater Bexar County, the Comal County Group -- -they are much broader and have a different focus. We are trying to concentrate on economic development in the northeast corridor along IH 35 and around it. Mayor Daly said that by the way we are growing, this will eventually hit the smaller city areas like Marion, Santa Clara, and New Berlin. For them to be with us will be beneficial when the growth does hit them. Mayor Carpenter suggested we begin thinking about what our criteria/perimeters should be for membership. Mayor Knaus said right now all we have is a simple application process, which is essentially a contact sheet. It was decided that this item should be discussed again at future meetings. It is timely since economic conditions are different and cities are changing. We need to address questions such as how far is `northeast' and how far along the IH 35 corridor do we want to continue to go? A question was asked on who the speaker was for next week. It is Eric Cooper, CEO San Antonio Food Bank. Regarding the Heidi Search Center, it was decided to delete it from next week's agenda as the consensus was that the NEP would not provide monetary support to them since it would be a considered a charitable donation. Although it is a very good cause, our organization's purpose is `economic development'. Mayor Daly said they passed their bond for Lookout Road. The area back there with Schertz and Selma is growing rapidly. A recent election has resulted with some good people who will serve his city well, one of which is a former mayor. His city manager is going to retire in December and he will be looking for a replacement. He inquired of the other mayors as to how their skate parks were working out. Selma also has a new park with a playground area and historic houses on it along with six acres in the back. Mayor Jackson stated that at their next Tuesday night council meeting they will be discussing supporting the opposition of an asphalt plant that is trying to locate in the Schertz ETJ area (Comal County). Mayor Knaus provided an update on the progress by Hansen Aggregates and stated that although it was all done legally it has caused a big stir in her city. She added it just points out that county governments need to have more control over land and owner, but this is not the Texas way at the moment. Mayor Carpenter stated that the CVLGC and the City of Schertz and City of Cibolo had a joint meeting last week and they are moving forward with their project, purchasing water rights in the next twelve months and pumping water in 2020, which will supply Cibolo, Schertz and other customers. SSLGC is also starting their Guadalupe County projects. Mayor Knaus said if their third well comes in as they hope it will, then they will have some Edwards water to sell or go into the ACRS. 6. Establish a date, time, and location of the next meeting (Next up is the City of Live Oak to host) Mayor Carpenter confirmed with Mayor Dennis that the next workshop will be at Live Oak on July 2, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. 7. Adjournment. Mayor Carpenter adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m. PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 1 It' DAY JUNE 2015. �- v ayor`Michael Carpenter, NEP Chairman