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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
 August 4, 2020

A Regular Meeting was held by the Schertz City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas, on August 4, 2020, at 6:00 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 Mark Davis; Councilmember Rosemary Scott; Councilmember Scott Larson; Councilmember Michael Dahle; Councilmember David Scagliola; Councilmember Allison Heyward; Councilmember Tim Brown
Staff present:
City Manager Dr. Mark Browne; Assistant City Manager Brian James; Assistant City Manager Charles Kelm; City Attorney Daniel Santee; City Secretary Brenda Dennis; Assistant to the City Manager Sarah Gonzalez
Call to Order – City Council Regular Session

Mayor Gutierrez called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
             
Call to Order
             
Opening Prayer and Pledges of Allegiance to the Flags of the United States and State of Texas. (Councilmember Dahle)

Mayor Gutierrez recognized Councilmember Dahle who provided the opening prayer followed by the Pledges of Allegiance to the Flags of the United States and the State of Texas.

Mayor Gutierrez gave specific requests to guests and staff in reference to wearing their masks during the City Council meeting and departing the Council meeting.
             
Employee Recognition

Mayor Gutierrez recognized the appropriate Department Heads, who introduced their new employees. Each new employee had an opportunity to speak.
  • Police Department: Lasonya Madison, Records Specialist, Lisa Locken, Code Enforcement Officer. (C. Kelm/K. Kallies)
  • Public Works: Ygnacio Castillo, Brett Hartzell & Raymond Jones, Street Worker 1. (C. Kelm/S. Williams/D. Letbetter)
             
City Events and Announcements
  • Announcements of upcoming City Events (B. James/C. Kelm/S. Gonzalez)
Mayor Gutierrez recognized Assistant City Manager Brian James who announced the City of Schertz will be holding its General Election on November 3, 2020, for the purpose of electing Council Members in Place 3, Place 4, and for Place 5 for a three-year term. Deadline to file is Monday, August 17, 2020, by 5:00 p.m. Candidate packet and qualification information regarding the election can be found on our City website as well as contacting the City Secretary's office.

Mr. James also announced that since many events sponsored by the Parks Department have been canceled, they have been working on other events and have scheduled a Curbside Craft Night for Saturday, August 8th at Pickrell Park at the large pavilion. You will be able to meet Jesse (who will be at the pavilion from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.), from Toy Story 4, and pick up a 'Forky' (a character from Toy Story 4) craft kit to assemble at home. Families are encouraged to stream or rent the movie Toy Story 4. We will have a food vendor available for families to pre-order and pick up food to take home with them and enjoy the movie.
  • Announcements and recognitions by the City Manager (M. Browne)
Dr. Browne recognized Officer Ryan McCosh who recently came across a homeless individual who had no shoes, and purchased him some. (Dr. Browne played a video of the event). Dr. Browne stated that Officer McCosh demonstrated the three core values that are represented on the City Managers coin, Community, Service, and Opportunity. Dr. Browne presented Officer McCosh with a City Manager's Coin of excellence.
  • Announcements and recognitions by the Mayor (R. Gutierrez)
None at this time.
             
Hearing of Residents

Residents who choose to watch the meeting via live stream, but who would like to participate in Residents to be Heard, should email their comments to City Secretary, Brenda Dennis, at bdennis@schertz.com by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 3, 2020, SO THAT THE CITY SECRETARY MAY READ THE PUBLIC COMMENTS INTO THE RECORD UNDER THE HEARING OF RESIDENTS. In the body of the email please include your name, your address, phone number, agenda item # if applicable or subject of discussion, and your comments.

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.

Discussion by the Council of any item not on the agenda shall be limited to statements of specific factual information given in response to any inquiry, a recitation of existing policy in response to an inquiry, and/or a proposal to place the item on a future agenda. The presiding officer, during the Hearing of Residents portion of the agenda, will call on those persons who have signed up to speak in the order they have registered.


Mayor Gutierrez recognized the following who spoke:
  • Mr. Richard Kunz, 2960 Red Tip Drive, speaking as a resident of Schertz and president of the Schertz Police Association, spoke regarding possible proposals for pay adjustments in the budget for compression issues within the Police Department as well as certification pay. Mr. Kunz previously sent the proposal/information to each member of Council.
  • Mrs. Maggie Titterington, The Chamber President spoke regarding the Chambers Marketing initiatives to assist businesses during the COVID-19. Mrs. Titterington also mentioned the upcoming Chamber Non- Profit Luncheon scheduled for August18, 2020, which will be held at the Schertz Civic Center. The number of attendees will be limited to 120 individuals.
Mrs. Titterington mentioned the upcoming Civic Leaders' Focus event scheduled for September15, 2020. She indicated that this event will focus on civic leaders. Those running for office in November will be contacted and have an opportunity to have a table at this event,

Mrs. Titterington also stated the October Skylight Balloon Fest has been canceled for this year. She indicated that next year the event will be held October 22, 2021.

Mayor Gutierrez asked City Secretary Brenda Dennis if any residents had signed up on-line to be heard. She indicated she did and came forward and read comments from Mr. John Sullivan, 513 Triple Crown, regarding his concerns of virtual meeting options, specifically the upcoming City Council budget retreat meeting and the ability of the City to post backup materials on our website and providing a comment form to make it easier for citizens to engage with City Leaders. He also indicated the City could do more to encourage public input through virtual meetings for the City's Boards and Commissions. He believes this would go a long way in providing an avenue to improve citizen engagement, and should be an area for emphasis given the current environment.
Mr. Sullivan also expressed his concern with the recent purchase of property on Main Street for the 22 parking spaces. He did not see how this would be funded and asked if this was part of the Main Street Program. He indicated there are a lot of opportunities for parking space that do not require purchasing new land, including improving land we already have in the area and adjusting the UDC for Main Street. He would prefer to see a parking plan before the city starts taking commercial land off the tax rolls for city parking lots. Lining Main Street with parking lots is not the vision I had seen in the past.
             
Consent Agenda Items

The Consent Agenda is considered self-explanatory and will be enacted by the Council with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless they are removed from the Consent Agenda upon the request of the Mayor or a Councilmember.

The following were read into record:
             
1. Minutes – Consideration and/or action regarding the approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of July 28, 2020. (B. Dennis)
             
2. Resolution 20-R-86 - Consideration and/or action approving a Resolution by the City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas Authorizing Expenditures in an amount not to exceed $219,650.00 with C-3 Environmental Inc. for the Main Street Sidewalk Beautification Program and other matters in connection therewith. (C. Kelm/S. Williams/D. Letbetter)
             
3. Ordinance No. 20-L-23 - Consideration and/or action approving an Ordinance by the City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas amending the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 62, Peddlers and Solicitors repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance; and providing an effective date. Final Reading (C. Kelm/M. Bane)
             
4. Resolution No. 20-R-87 - Consideration and/or action approving a Resolution by the City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas authorizing a First Amendment to the Management Services Agreement between the City of Schertz and the Cibolo Valley Local Government Corporation (CVLGC) for Management Services and other matters in connection therewith. (C. Kelm)

Mayor Gutierrez asked Council if there were items to be removed from consent for separate action.  Mayor Gutierrez recognized Councilmember Scagliola who requested agenda item 2 be removed for separate action and Councilmember Scott who requested agenda item 3 be removed for separate action.
  Moved by Councilmember Michael Dahle, seconded by Councilmember Allison Heyward to approve consent agenda items 1 and 4.
 
AYE: Councilmember Tim Brown, Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Davis, Councilmember Rosemary Scott, Councilmember Scott Larson, Councilmember Michael Dahle, Councilmember David Scagliola, Councilmember Allison Heyward
Passed
             
Discussion and Action Items

The following item was read into record:
             
2. Resolution 20-R-86 - Consideration and/or action approving a Resolution by the City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas Authorizing Expenditures in an amount not to exceed $219,650.00 with C-3 Environmental Inc. for the Main Street Sidewalk Beautification Program and other matters in connection therewith. (C. Kelm/S. Williams/D. Letbetter)

Mayor Gutierrez recognized Assistant City Manager Brian James who provided details on expenditures authorized with C-3 Environmental Inc. for the Main Street Beautification Program and answered questions from Councilmember Scagliola referencing funding for the Main Street project and the remaining funds available. Mr. James also addressed additional questions from Council.
  Moved by Councilmember David Scagliola, seconded by Councilmember Rosemary Scott to approve Resolution No. 20-R-86.
 
AYE: Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Davis, Councilmember Rosemary Scott, Councilmember Scott Larson, Councilmember Michael Dahle, Councilmember David Scagliola, Councilmember Allison Heyward, Councilmember Tim Brown
Passed
             
The following item was read into record:
             
3. Ordinance No. 20-L-23 - Consideration and/or action approving an Ordinance by the City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas amending the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 62, Peddlers and Solicitors repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance; and providing an effective date. Final Reading (C. Kelm/M. Bane)

Mayor Gutierrez recognized Assistant Police Chief Marc Bane who addressed questions from Council on changes to Ordinance No. 20-L-23. Chief Bane also addressed questions from Counclmember Scott on panhandlers and the actual changes made to the Ordinance.
  Moved by Councilmember Michael Dahle, seconded by Councilmember David Scagliola to approve Ordinance 20-L-23 final reading. 
 
AYE: Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Davis, Councilmember Rosemary Scott, Councilmember Scott Larson, Councilmember Michael Dahle, Councilmember David Scagliola, Councilmember Allison Heyward, Councilmember Tim Brown
Passed
             
The following item was read into record:
             
5. Ordinance No. 20-M-24 - Consideration and/or action to approve an Ordinance by the City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas amending the City of Schertz Code of Ordinances and certain other Ordinances by amending and establishing fees for certain licenses, permits, and other services provided by the City of Schertz. Final Reading (M. Browne/B. James/J. Walters)

Mayor Gutierrez recognized Finance Director James Walters who introduced this item reviewing the current fees as well as updating Council on new and proposed fee changes. Mr. Walters and Assistant Police Chief Marc Bane answered questions from Council. 

Mayor Gutierrez recognized Assistant City Manager Brian James who clarified changes made to the fee schedule.
  Moved by Councilmember Allison Heyward, seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Davis to approve Ordinance 20-M-24 final reading. 
 
AYE: Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Davis, Councilmember Rosemary Scott, Councilmember Scott Larson, Councilmember Michael Dahle, Councilmember David Scagliola, Councilmember Allison Heyward, Councilmember Tim Brown
Passed
             
Workshop
             
6. Workshop Discussion and Update (Ordinance 20-H-18) - Discussion and update regarding the COVID-19 virus and our current Ordinance No. 20-H-18 Declaration of Local Disaster. (M. Browne/K. Long)

Mayor Gutierrez recognized Assistant City Manager Charles Kelm who provided a PowerPoint presentation updating Council on COVID-19 statistics and answered questions from Council.
             
7. Appointment of the Mayor Pro-Tem - Discussion and consideration and/or action regarding the confirmation, appointment, or election of the Mayor Pro-Tem. (Mayor/Council)

Mayor Gutierrez read the qualifications of the Mayor Pro-Tem and stated that next in line is Councilmember Scott.  Mayor Gutierrez opened this item up for Council discussion.  No discussion was provided.
  Moved by Mayor Ralph Gutierrez, seconded by Councilmember David Scagliola to approve the appointment of Councilmember Scott as Mayor Pro-Tem to serve from August 2020 to February 2021.
 
AYE: Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Davis, Councilmember Rosemary Scott, Councilmember Scott Larson, Councilmember Michael Dahle, Councilmember David Scagliola, Councilmember Allison Heyward, Councilmember Tim Brown
Passed
             
8. Water Conservation - Workshop discussion regarding water conservation and the current demands on the Schertz water supply.  (C. Kelm/S. Williams)

Mayor Gutierrez recognized Public Works Director Suzanne Williams who provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding current water demands as well as water conservation education campaigns. Ms. Williams addressed questions from Council.

City Manager Dr. Mark Browne recognized General Manager Amber Briggs Beard with the Schertz/Seguin Local Government Corporation who gave the process of declaring water shortage stages.  Amber Beard introduced Mr. John Winkler, Engineering Consultant with Walker Partners, who also addressed questions from Council.  Assistant City Manager Charles Kelm provided a synopsis of the presentation and information given for transparency and answered questions from Council.
             
Roll Call Vote Confirmation

Mayor Gutierrez recognized City Secretary Brenda Dennis who provided the roll call vote confirmation for agenda items 1 through 7.
             
Information available in City Council Packets - NO DISCUSSION TO OCCUR

Mayor Gutierrez mentioned agenda item 9 which was in the City Council packets, can also be found on our website.
             
9. Monthly update on major projects in progress/CIP. (B. James/K. Woodlee)
             
Requests and Announcements
  • Announcements by the City Manager.
No further announcements were provided.
  • Requests by Mayor and Councilmembers for updates or information from staff.
None were given.
  • Requests by Mayor and Councilmembers that items or presentations be placed on a future City Council agenda.
None were given.
  • Announcements by Mayor and Councilmembers
    • City and community events attended and to be attended
    • City Council Committee and Liaison Assignments (see assignments below)
    • Continuing education events attended and to be attended
    • Recognition of actions by City employees
    • Recognition of actions by community volunteers
Mayor Gutierrez recognized Councilmember Heyward who stated she attended the recent Guadalupe County Commissioners Court meeting.
             
Adjournment

As there was no further business, Mayor Gutierrez adjourned the meeting at 7:29 p.m.
_______________________________
Ralph Gutierrez, Mayor
ATTEST:


____________________________________
Brenda Dennis, City Secretary

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