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09-06-2018 MinutesNortheast Partnership for Economic Development City of rby Fire Station II 1 • 1 Kirby, Mayor Carpenter called the workshop to order at 6:35 P.M. Members present were: Mayor Michael Carpenter, Schertz Mayor Bill Seiler, Marion Mayor Larry Thompson, Garden Ridge Mayor Jeff Hunt, Santa Clara Mayor Nick Milanovich, New Berlin Mayor Mary Dennis, Live Oak Mayor Lisa Pierce, Kirby Others Present: Monique Vernon, City Manager, Kirby Brenda Dennis, City Secretary, Schertz Daniel Kearns, Tri County Chamber Representative II. Introduction Mayor Carpenter welcomed those present. Mayor Carpenter stated he invited Mr. Daniel Kearns to join them this evening to share an idea that he has that this body might best be suited to take on. Mr. Kearns stated he has noticed a lot of common issues a lot of the entities were having, mainly the Cibolo Creek. Everyone has a different opinion on what to do with it. He asked Mayor Carpenter what he thought about this organization consider forming a subcommittee to focus on how to improve Cibolo Creek. It wouldn't have any direction or obligation, but just take a look at different opportunities that would be available. This would be the concept of his suggestion. The 100 -year flood plane is driving a lot of the cost of doing business making it higher than what it typically would be. There may be some grant money available for future improvement projects. He would also be available /interested in helping to facilitate things with the group. Another suggestion is to try to get a few citizens involved. 9 -6 -2018 Minutes Mayor Carpenter stated he feels the availability of the various mayors to participate will most likely be limited and none of them really have extra staff time to donate. Do they want to ask non - members or associate members to participate? There is only so much they can do. Mr. Kearns said whatever is done it will be important to have some type of public outreach. He was thinking to have about seven members on the committee. III. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Update regarding Member Cities listing of all Emergency Operations Assets to include a list of assets and primary points of contact. (Currently have Schertz, Cibolo, Universal City and Kirby information) Schertz City Secretary Brenda Dennis stated she did receive Live Oak's information this week as well as those listed on the agenda in parenthesis. 2. Status Discussion regarding the purpose and goals of the NEP organization. Mayor Seiler stated as things come before us, we have to make sure it is within our organization's purpose and goals. IV. NEW BUSINESS: 3. Discussion regarding the 2019 Legislative session and plans from the organization. Mayor Carpenter stated he suggested we do pretty much what we did last time, schedule a trip or two and testify in front of the house and senate committees and contact all of our local legislators. We will have to utilize all our connections to drive home our message to keep big government out of our local business. City Secretary Brenda Dennis asked them to let her know what date they wish to go to the Capital so she can arrange to book a bus to travel in. Mayor Carpenter stated he expects they will need to make multiple trips. Mayor Seiler mentioned that TML recently had their Municipal Policy Summit in Austin -- -there were a variety of cities, small and large who attended. He said by now TML should have mailed all of them a summary (via e- mail). Mayor Dennis stated this year they decided to have everyone in the same room at once, which was good. At the end of the day the message was the same from everyone in that they were elected to do a job and they wish to do that job with no interference. She said there should be a short video on the TML website called `Our Town, Our Decision'. She encouraged everyone to look at it. 9 -6 -2018 Minutes 4 Discussion regarding the ongoing direction and 1 1 i of h organization, to include !1 but 1i limited "1 membership size, chamber memberships, activism, leadership and other matters. Mayor Carpenter stated he had a few things to share that affect this organization. The bottom line is, how much can we take on and do? The JCPP, the JBSA Community Partnership Program, (P4) had a meeting today. At the meeting before that they decided to form an Executive Committee made up of six (6) civilian appointees and four (4) military appointees. The Northeast Partnership for Economic Development (NEP) has been selected as one of the six (6) public sector Executive Board Members. So, we need to decide on who can serve on this board. Members of NEP already are participants in many other committees /organizations such as ACCOG, GVCCC, MPO and more. Mayor Carpenter spoke about a meeting he attended (45 people) who were invited to be a part of this large planning organization. San Antonio is one of the few cities of the size and geographical location that could potentially execute on what they were going to suggest. Their suggestion was that members of the private sector, military, government entities, education intuitions, and other political subdivisions come together and form a working group to explore the hardening of San Antonio Metropolitan system area as to water, power, information technology, infrastructure, transportation, etc. There were a lot of people there from different entities /offices. So the proposal is very bold. Everyone who accepts will be assigned a military officer liaison for this exercise. Another social event will take place in November and after the first of next year a business meeting where volunteers will be broken into work groups and will start dialog. Mayor Carpenter volunteered to be part of it. Members discussed information/debate regarding the consideration of a possible development of another trauma center and the growing population of this area. The military considers it a direct threat to their mission. There was mention that Comal County is growing fast. Mayor Carpenter requested to talk about this again at their next workshop meeting, who will volunteer and be appointed to this JCC (P4) Committee. It was then decided to put this on the next week (regular) meeting agenda. Mayor Carpenter voiced his opinion that he just didn't think this organization has the time to participate in Mr. Kearn's idea. He does believe the emergency operations work they started, they should hang tight and see what this other group comes up with because it will most likely to be part of those future discussions. If they want anything from us we will already have something ready to feed into it. Membership size —we can deal with that later. Chamber memberships? Does anyone have any thoughts on that? Political activism —they just talked about that. Leadership 9 -6 -2018 Minutes and other matters —while he (Carpenter) has not made any formal announcements, if Commission Wolverton does retire as he has said before, then he (Carpenter) plans to run for Guadalupe County Commissioner, which means he would not seek another term as Mayor of Schertz. However, this is not set in stone! As of now, that is the plan. So please think about future leadership for this group. The members discussed the upcoming legislature and that their NEP money would be better spent just motoring themselves up there rather than hiring an individual lobbyist as they did last time. 5. Discussion and action regarding an alternate appointment to the Bicycle Mobility Advisory Commission. (Cecilia Palomo, City of Schertz is recommended by Scott Wayman) After a very brief discussion, members agreed to take action on the appointment. Mayor Dennis made a motion seconded by Mayor Thompson to appoint Cecilia Palomo, from the City of Schertz to the Bicycle Mobility Advisory Commission as an alternate. The vote was unanimous with all voting yes and no one voting no. V. Items of Interest by the Member Cities. Mayor Dennis stated that she is now a board member of the TML Intergovernmental Risk Pool (IRP)- just to let you know you all will have a voice now. She said they will have their first meeting in Kemah, TX. Mayor Hunt stated they are working on getting a grant for one of their low water crossings. They are putting up some signs up to keep the semi - trucks from crossing over it or slowing down. Also, someone is renting their parking lot to other trucks to park on, so they have to work with the county to make sure they are taxing them. Mayor Pierce stated Kirby has a lot of projects going on at the same time. A Benz - Ingleman reconstruction project going on, their $6.8 million street bond passed for Ackerman Road and feeder roads, Quick Trip (QT) is building and should be complete around December, a fitness center to be built and they received a $442,000 grant from the county to fix another street. Lastly, they are getting a new medical office. Mayor Seiler provided a balance sheet on the current financial situation of NEP. Last month was the largest attendance at the regular luncheon meeting. In regard to the City of Marion, Schultz Nursery closed up, was then bought by a new business person and is reopening and they will also now operate the Bier Garten. Also, now at their city council meetings, the Press is there. Slowly, Marion Park is growing, Woods of St. Clare is growing, and houses are being built. They are also going to need to fix the roads and aging infrastructure under it. It is a bond issue now. 9 -6 -2018 Minutes Mayor Milanovich stated they are still small and are busy fixing pot holes now; they are working with Guadalupe County on it. They have had some annexation and people dividing land —they have a 5 -acre rule— trying to keep it rural. They are growing. Mayor Thompson stated their council adopted the same tax rate as last year (32 cents). There was also a lot of discussion by the citizens regarding the management of their deer population. He spoke about the citizen communication on social media and the misconceptions people develop and city development /growth, certain local businesses, the new High School being built, etc. Mayor Carpenter stated he did not have anything; but there are tons of things going on. Members talked briefly about their various tax rates. City Secretary Brenda Dennis stated Schertz had their Schertz Q 60th Anniversary Celebration coming up soon on the 13 -15 of September. Mayor Carpenter added that the man who owns the bar in Cibolo on Main Street has also now opened a similar style bar on Main Street in Schertz. Mayor Milanovich added that the annual New Berlin Volunteer Fire Department Sausage Supper that was on September 2nd was another great success. VI. Establish a Date, Time, & Location of the Next Meeting. (Next up is the City of Marion to host for October 4, 2018) The next meeting will be in Marion. VII. Review and discussion regarding the Agenda for September 13, 2018, regular meeting. Members did not discuss this item. VIII. Adjournment Mayor ter adjourned the workshop at 8:10 p.m. or Michael 7RCarpenter, NEP Chairman 9 -6 -2018 Minutes