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10-04-2014 Approved Workshop MinutesNortheast Partnership for Economic Development Olympia Hills Golf and Conference Center 12900 Mount Olympus Universal City, Texas 78148 MINUTES OF WORKSHOP DECEMBER 4, 2014 6:00 P.M. I. Call to Order and Establish a Quorum. Mayor Carpenter called the workshop to order at 6:00 PM. Members present were: Mayor Michael Carpenter, Schertz Mayor Mary Dennis, Live Oak Mayor Lisa Jackson, Cibolo Mayor Al Suarez, Converse Mayor John Williams, Universal City Others Present: City Secretary Brenda Dennis, Schertz II. Introduction Mayor Carpenter welcomed those present. III. Old Business: 1. Discussion regarding 2015 Legislative Bill proposals. Mayors present discussed the upcoming legislative bills and to get Senator Campbell involved to help sponsor our group with bills that will hurt our cities. Mayors discuss that the Texas Municipal League Board is watching the bills being proposed and providing updates on their website. Mayor Dennis stated that she would provide the TML update at the next meeting. Mayor's discussed the timeline going to Austin and who they would like to invite. Mayor's discussed reaching out to Senator Campbell, and Representative John Kuempel regarding the 2015 Legislative bill proposal. Mayor continued their discussion regarding the upcoming bills expressing their views and concerns. 2. Alamo Area MPO Update/Issues. IV. New Business Discussion on Randolph Air Force Base. Mayor Carpenter stated that there have been a multitude of meetings regarding multiple factions with the base right now. Mayor Carpenters stated that they think they have a temporary solution, but it will require discussions and agreement with General LaBrutta and the Schertz landowner. Also mentioned was getting the air show back. Mayor Williams stated that they will work together with the other cities to close FM 78 for the airshow. Mayor Carpenter mentioned that the base is having problems with birds being around the runway and that they are trying to come up with a solution to get rid of them, that they will be removing most of the trees where the birds like to roust hoping to resolve the bird issue. Members also held discussions regarding vested for development and encroachment issues. Mayor Williams stated that the base knows how his city has shown their continued support. Mayor Carpenter also concurred that the City of Schertz has also supported the base. 2. Discussion regarding moving around the Northeast Partnership meetings. Mayor Carpenter opened it up for discussion. He stated that in the past there have not been enough facilities that could accommodate this group. Mayor Carpenter asked the members if they thought about having half the meetings at Olympia Hills and the other half of the meetings could be spread out to the Member cities. Mayor Jackson stated that she like having it at Olympia Hills as it is a treat for her and she looks forward to coming to the meetings at Olympia Hills. It is a great opportunity to show off the facility. She stated that Hannon's BBQ would be the only place should the City of Cibolo wish to host a meeting. Mayor Williams stated that Olympia Hills does not charge NEP for the use of the meeting room, that the only expense is for the food and it is centrally located for the member cities. Mayor Dennis stated that she feels it is the ideal location and is for leaving the meetings at Olympia Hills. Mayor Carpenter stated that he is neutral on the issue, that the City of Schertz has Garcia's Restaurant and our Civic Center where these meetings could be moved. Mayor Suarez stated he is ok with Olympia Hills as he does not have a facility in Converse to host the meeting. No action taken. V. Items of Interest by the Member Cities. Mayor Carpenter recognized Mayor Jackson who reminded them of the City of Cibolo Holiday parade on December 13, 2014 , which begins at 10:00 a.m. Mayor Carpenter recognized Mayor Dennis who stated that she had received a call from Judge Wolff and he wants to reach out to all the Mayors in Bexar County to as he but it feel the love from the County Seat. Mayor Dennis suggested to him to come to the AACOG Suburban City meetings which are made of 29 Mayors and she also mentioned the Northeast Partnership meetings which he could attend. Mayor Dennis stated that she would keep them posted. Mayors discussed reaching out to Tommy Ballard and invite him to attend the Northeast Partnership meetings, Mayor Dennis indicated that she would try and get in touch with him. Mayor Dennis stated that recently in her City has had three (3) fires which have occurred two (2) have been elderly couples. Their properties are paid off, she stated that she found that they do not carry homeowners insurance. She stated that they need to talk about this issue at some level. This is a serious challenge as she has a community of elderly people. Now she has a house where they have no way of remedying the property and no way paying to have the house torn down. Mayor Williams stated that yesterday at AACOG they introduced the new Executive Director Diane Rath, she will officially take the reins on December 15, 2014. The new Chair is Guadalupe County Commissioner Jim Wolverton and he has been appointed as Vice Chair. It is the first time that a Mayor held one of these positions. Mayors present congratulated Mayor Williams. Mayor Carpenter mentioned to make sure that they pay their Membership dues. Mayor Williams stated that this will give them some more capital to do things that they haven't been able to do, and if we need to go get a lobbying consultant for a period of time, we could do it. He stated that we have Mayor Carpenter stated that we can also use the money to make more money such as sponsoring a golf tournament, to drive more money into the coffers, which would allow them to do more things in the future. Our job now as a group is to find ways to fill the coffers so that those who follow us have money to work with. Mayor Williams stated that they need to get the new Commissioner Precinct 4 Calvert out to speak to the group. He also stated that we need to also get Representative Cuellar out to speak to the group as he has been very supportive in our area. Mayor Carpenter asked that we reach out to him. Mayor Carpenter will provide the contact information to reach out to him to come speak. Mayor Carpenter also stated that we need to reach out to Henry Hinojosa as well as Lloyd Doggett. VI. Establish a Date, Time, & Location of the Next Meeting. (Next up is the City of Cibolo to host). Mayor Carpenter indicated that next up would be the City of Cibolo but that since the meeting date fell on New year's that he would suggest there be no January 2015, NEP Mayor's Workshop meeting. Mayor's present concurred. Next meeting will be hosted by the City of Cibolo in February. VII. Adjournment Mayor Carpenter adjourned the workshop at 7:22 PM. PASSED AND APPROVED THI DAY JANUARY 2015. Mayor Michael R. Carpenter, NEP Chairman