balcones - Neighborhood News

1949 - 2013
BALCONES
HEIGHTS
SEPTEMBER 2013
Published by Neighborhood News Inc.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR AMY BUCKERT'S MONTHLY BRIEF:
 CITY COUNCIL
– August 12, 2013:
- C o u n c i l
unanimously
approved
the
Local Task Force
A g r e e m e n t
between the San
Antonio
District
Office of the Drug
Enforcement Administration and the
City for the next year. The agreement
allows Officer Joey Sepulveda to
continue to work with the DEA on
joint cases.
- Council unanimously approved the
holiday schedule for FY 2013/2014.
The holiday schedule will remain the
same as it was last year, and will be
posted on the City website as well
as in the City newsletter.
- Barbara Patterson from Crandall and
Associates gave an presentation
over their assessment of different
healthcare providers and the varying
plans they offer for City employees.
City Council voted to move forward
with Blue Cross Blue Shield as our
healthcare provider.
- Council voted 4 to 1 (Councilwoman
Slay dissented) to have a discussion
on whether or not to raise ad
valorem taxes above the lower of
the calculated effective tax rate or
roll-back rate. Two public hearings
will be held.
- Resident Otto Moellering led a
discussion regarding the Great
Northwest Recycling program as
a possible option for the City to
recycle its aluminum cans. The topic
will be discussed further at the
September 9 meeting.
- Council met in Executive Session
to discuss property on Gentleman
and Hillcrest. Council reconvened
in open session and no action was
taken.
 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
- On July 8th demolition began on the
Lack’s building, and was completed
August 1st. The sign is supposed
to be down by mid-September as
well. At this point in time, the City
is not aware of any plans for the
site. More photos are on the City’s
Facebook page: facebook.com/
balconesheights
- The City’s Economic Development
consultant TIP Strategies submitted
their final report and proposal.
- Tax credits were granted by the
state for the proposed development
at
Gentleman
and
Hillcrest.
Discussions with HUD are ongoing.
More information will be provided
as it becomes available.

PLANNING
AND
ZONING
COMMISSION - August 6, 2013
- City Administrator Buckert gave a
presentation on impervious cover
and proposed limitations. She
recommended limiting impervious
cover to 50% of the setback area
in residential front yards. P&Z
directed staff to look into some
additional options, and the item
will be brought back at the next
Planning and Zoning meeting.
 DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
(July 2013):
• COMMUNITY INITIATIVES: - 121% increase in newsletter word
count July 2012 to July 2013
- 234 new ‘likes’ to the Jazz
Facebook page
16 new ‘likes’ to the City
Facebook page
- 1,441 visits to CVB Home page
- 9,427 visits to Jazz Festival page
- 316 total leads from paid
advertising in SA CVB Travel &
Leisure Guide, the Texas State
Travel Guide, and TourTexas.com
• DEVELOPMENT SERVICES:
-
10 Permits Issued
-
10 Code Compliance Complaints
•
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
- 90 Responses
6 Business Inspections
5 Plan Reviews
4 Public Education Activities
- 72 Calls, Acadian Ambulance
- 7:36 Average Response Time
• POLICE DEPARTMENT:
- 566 Dispatched Calls for Service (Continued on Page 2)
BALCONESHEIGHTS.ORG - SANANTONIOCENTRAL.ORG - FACEBOOK.COM/BALCONESHEIGHTS
Page 2
City of Balcones Heights - September 2013
The Council reviewed the City’s unfunded requirements as
requested by staff in the initial council workshop held on July
18, 2013. The list consists of input from the City Administrator
and her department heads with one insert by the budget
committee. The top three unfunded requirements were
reviewed and the Council adjusted funding to cover them.
The following three requirements received funding:
(Continued from Front Page)
- 101 Vehicles Towed - 91 Vehicles Released - 64 Total Arrests
- 873 Traffic Citations
• MUNICIPAL COURT:
-541 Defendants on Docket
-289 Defendants in Court
-525 Court No Shows
-438 Warrants Issued
Priority Requirement
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP
REVIEWS FY 2013/2014
In a specially called City Council budget workshop
meeting held on August 15, 2013, City Council reviewed
the upcoming fiscal year budgets for all funds except for
the Crime Control and Prevention District. That fund’s
budget had been approved previously in the regularly
scheduled City Council meeting held on July 8, 2013.
Council reviewed budgets for sixteen separate funds in
the budget workshop.
The process of budgeting began in early April with input
from all department heads. The Budget Committee was
presented the draft budgets in its first meeting on June
26, 2013. The initial budget came in almost $ 375,000 in
the red. Working with staff, the committee, in subsequent
meetings held on July 11 and August 9, 2013, was able to
present suggested changes that brought the budget into
balance and proposed a 2.2% Cost of Living Adjustment
for all employees. These changes included the following
personnel actions:
- Offer no new positions
- Continue frozen but authorized positions from last fiscal
year:
- Assistant Police Chief
- Police Patrol Sergeant
- Municipal Court Administrator
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1 Salary Survey Adjustments – Police Department. Salary
surveys are conducted every three years in unison with
Police Union contract negotiation
contract negotiations.
$35,000
Salary Survey Adjustments – All Other Departments $25,000
2 Breathing Apparatus-Fire Department
$18,000
(This is the first installment of a $96,000 total
requirement.)
3 Texas Municipal Retirement System Supplemental
Payment
$50,000
-Budget Committee insert. (This is the first installment of
a $200,000 requirement.)
One more budget workshop (unscheduled at this time) will be
held to make to hear a proposal from Councilman White and
to make final changes before submitting the budget in the
regularly scheduled council meeting in September.
The current proposed General Fund budget provides the
same level of emergency services (fire and police), public
works, municipal court, administration, dispatch, traffic safety,
developmental services (permits and code enforcement),
community center, and community initiatives.
If you have any questions you may contact me by phone or
email.
Lamar Gillian
Mayor Pro Tem
Council Member Place 4
Email: lgillian@balconesheights.org
Cell: (210) 875-1281
Published and distributed by:
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Page 3
City of Balcones Heights
REPORTING PROBLEMS, PERMITTING, AND COMMUNICATING WITH ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND CITY STAFF IN A NEW WAY
iWORQ ONLINE AT BALCONESHEIGHTS.ORG
On February 11, 2013 City Council approved the new
iWorQ program, creating a new and more efficient vehicle
allowing the public to communicate with the City. The
program is up and running. To help familiarize residents with
the new and convenient service, City staff has conducted
several iWorQ orientation sessions following City Council
meetings.
Residents, contractors, business operators, and others
may obtain and pay for permits online, via iWorQ on the
home-page of the City’s Web site, www.balconesheights.
org. This will eliminate the necessity of making a special
trip to the Justice Center, and can be done any time, day
or night, 24/7.
iWorQ also will include a 311 system – Talk to Your City –
that will provide residents and business operators a forum
to let the City know about pot holes, graffiti, street light
outages or other problems they notice or encounter. Talk
to Your City will also provide users with basic information
about City services and other information. iWorQ also
includes a mobile phone app for iPhones and Androids.
Users can download the app and connect directly to the
311 system using their phone. The new service is now live
on the City’s website. It includes a survey regarding the
schedule of City Council meetings. You can read a related
article about this in this newsletter.
PRWEB, a recognized source on new Web technology
reported on iWorQ in January 2013. “This app works in two
different ways to help local governments with their service
requests. The first is that citizens can use this to inform
their local government of any concerns that they have
pertaining to the city. This is where the ability to attach a
picture and description comes in handy for the app user.
They can inform the local government of the exact place
and specify what needs attention. The second is that
employees can use it in order to track and manage the
requests they receive or things that they see that need
attention, they can directly put them into their service
request. The location feature becomes very useful in both
cases allowing the local government to know the exact
location where the attention is needed. IWorQ says that
“Local Governments can even reduce their liability by
providing these types of tools for services request to be
submitted and managed.” One of the iWorQ Request
app users commented that it is an "Awesome app for
communicating directly with your city."
For more information about iWorQ or assistance in using
this new service, please contact Development Services
Coordinator Mark Boyd, mboyd@balconesheights.org.
WEIGH IN ON CITY COUNCIL MEETING TIME USING IWORQ
City Council is considering the prospect of changing the date and time of regular City Council meetings in order to
provide more information in advance of the meetings. Presently, regular City Council meetings convene on the second
Monday of each month, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Balcones Heights Justice Center.
City staff created a survey listing the options discussed for consideration.
The survey is posted on iWorQ and is self-explanatory. The survey will remain up through September. Results will be
tabulated and presented at the October City Council meeting.
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Page 4
City of Balcones Heights - September 2013
BALCONES HEIGHTS CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 2013
• Labor Day - September 2, 2013 - City offices will be closed
• Planning and Zoning - September 3, 2013 @ 6:00 p.m.
• City Council Meeting – September 9, 2013 @ 6:00 p.m.
• Brush Pick Up– September 23, 2013
• National Night Out– October 1, 2013 @ 6:00 p.m.
CITY OF BALCONES HEIGHTS
3300 Hillcrest
Balcones Heights, Texas 78201
balconesheights.org 210-735-9148
Emergency: 911
WASTE/BRUSH PICK-UP:
SEPTEMBER 23, 2013
Municipal Court: every Wednesday at 1:00 PM
Dispatch: 735-9212
Visitor Center: 732-0055
Fire Department: 735-9206
Justice Center: 735-9148
●
●
No household hazardous waste
No appliances with freon
All discarded items such as old furniture, appliances, brush, etc.
must be placed at the curbside in front of the residence to be
serviced.
CITY COUNCIL:
Suzanne de Leon, Mayor
sdeleon@balconesheights.org
735-9148, Ext. 235
Lamar Gillian, Mayor Pro Tem
lgillian@balconesheights.org
Items should NOT be put to the curb earlier than ten (10) days
prior to the pick-up.
Miguel C. Valverde
mvalverde@balconesheights.org
Madeline Slay
mslay@balconesheights.org
You can place waste/brush out beginning Friday, September
13, 2013, but not later than 7:00 a.m. Monday, September 23,
2013.
Jack Burton
jburton@balconesheights.org
Charles White
210-324-2797
Collection vehicles will pass down each street one time only.
DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAYS WITH WASTE/BRUSH
CONTACT DIRECTORY:
210-735-9148
City Administrator:
abuckert@baclonesheights.org
City Secretary:
delia@balconesheights.org
Community Initiatives Assistant:
Community Initiatives Director:
lorenzo@reachfortheheights.org
Deputy Court Clerk:
Deputy Court Clerk:
Development Services:
mboyd@balconesheights.org
Finance Clerk:
Finance Director:
ygriffin@balconesheights.org
Fire Chief:
pprince@balconesheights.org
Investigator/Lieutenant:
Maintenance Worker
Police Chief:
hdominguez@balconesheights.org
Public Works Maintenance Supervisor
Red Light Camera Clerk:
Red Light Camera Review Officer:
EXT
Amy Buckert
227
Delia Flores
236
Sarah Gregg
Lorenzo Nastasi
732-0055
732-0055
Lisa Merlo
Yvonne Baez
Mark Boyd
224
223
246
Floyd Messick
Yvonne Griffin
243
244
Philip C. Prince
735-9206
Joyce Pena
Henry Aguilar
Henry Dominguez
239
527-7617
242
Ray Mackey
Gloria Puente
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Page 5
City of Balcones Heights
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: OCTOBER 1
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT FESTIVITIES
FLASH FLOODS SAFETY
FIRE CHIEF PHILIP PRINCE
Balcones Heights will commemorate National
Night Out with local activities beginning at 6:00
p.m., Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at Rogiers Park. The
evening’s activities, which will continue until dark, will
include demonstrations, food, vendors and activities
for all ages. The event is free and open to all residents
and business operators in Balcones Heights.
People living in south Texas are definitely familiar with the
possibility of flash flooding, in fact just recently on Memorial
Day, this area experienced flash flooding. Each and every time
that the skies darken, we hear thunder or see lightning and rain
begins to fall, there is a risk of flashfloods. These floods can
develop within minutes or hours depending on the intensity
and duration of the rain, the topography, soil conditions and
ground cover. Most flash floods are caused by slow moving
thunderstorms, thunderstorms that move repeatedly over the
same area or heavy rains from tropical storms and hurricanes.
While the number of fatalities can vary dramatically with weather
conditions from year to year, the national average for flood
deaths is 99. That compares with a 30-year average of 61 deaths
for lightning, 54 for tornadoes and 49 for hurricanes. Except for
heat related fatalities, more deaths occur from flooding than
any other hazard. Why? Most people fail to realize the power
of floodwater.
For example:
•Six inches of running water can knock you off your feet and
also cause tires to lose traction and begin to slide.
•Twelve inches of water can float many types of vehicles.
•Two feet of rushing water will carry off pick-up trucks and
SUVs and most other vehicles.
•Water across a road can hide missing segments of roadbed
or a missing bridge.
•Flash floods are especially treacherous at night when it is
difficult to see how deep waters may be or how fast the flood
waters are rising.
National Weather Service data also shows:
•Nearly half of all flash flood fatalities are vehicle-related
•The majority of victims are males
•Flood deaths affect all age groups
The introduction of National Night Out, “America’s
Night Out Against Crime”, in 1984 began an effort to
promote involvement in crime prevention activities,
police-community
partnerships,
neighborhood
camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting
them know that neighborhoods are organized and
fighting back. NATW’s National Night Out program
culminates annually, on the first Tuesday of August (In
Texas, the first Tuesday of October).
CITY RECEIVES GRANT
FOR STREET REPAIR
The City was recently awarded a Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) from Bexar
County. The grant is for a total of $335,000 from the
County with the City contributing $85,000 towards
street repairs on Hannasch Drive. Construction will
begin in November 2014 and will be completed in
October 2015. The repairs will include street repairs
as well as sewer and drainage repairs. Updates on
the project as well as pictures will be posted in the
City’s newsletter and Facebook page: facebook.com/
BalconesHeights. The Department of Community
Initiative’s Sarah Gregg was instrumental in helping
the City secure this grant. (See related article on Ms.
Gregg)
TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN:
A statement that we can all truly live by.
As always, please don’t hesitate to call for assistance or help.
In the case of emergencies dial 911 or for information or nonemergency assistance dial 735-9206 or 735-9207.
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Page 6
City of Balcones Heights - September 2013
20TH
ANNUAL
20TH ANNUAL BALCONES
HEIGHTS
BALCONES HEIGHTS TH
TH
20 ANNUAL 20 JAZZ FESTIVAL HILIGHTS ANNUAL JAZZ
FESTIVAL
HILIGHTS
BALCONES HEIGHTS BALCONES HEIGHTS JAZZ FESTIVAL HILIGHTS JAZZ FESTIVAL HILIGHTS 2013 marked the 20th Annual Balcones Heights Jazz Festival. From crowd favorites the
20th Annual Balcones Heights
2013 marked
Joseph Vincelli and Slim Man, to Jazz
Festival.
From
crowd favorites Joseph Vincelli
th
2013 marked the 20th Annual Balcones newcomers Everette Harp and Craig 2013 marked the 20
Annual Balcones and
Slim Man,
to newcomers
Everette Harp and
Heights Jazz Festival. From crowd favorites Chaquico, the Festival was not short on Heights Jazz Festival. From crowd favorites Joseph Vincelli and Slim Man, to talent. Precinct Two County Commissioner Joseph Vincelli and Slim Man, to Craig
Chaquico,
the
Festival was not short on
newcomers Everette Harp and Craig Paul Elizondo even came out of retirement newcomers Everette Harp and Craig talent.
Precinct
Two
County Commissioner Paul
Chaquico, the Festival was not short on with his renowned orchestra to kick off the Chaquico, the Festival was not short on Elizondo
even
came
out of retirement with his
talent. Precinct Two County Commissioner party. To help celebrate the event, our talent. Precinct Two County Commissioner Paul Elizondo even came out of retirement very own Crossroads BBQ, La Fonda Oak Paul Elizondo even came out of retirement renowned
orchestra
to kick off the party. To help
Hills and Catering by Celebrations catered with his renowned orchestra to kick off the celebrate
the
event,with his renowned orchestra to kick off the our very own Crossroads BBQ,
party. To help celebrate the event, our the VIP reception on opening night. As party. To help celebrate the event, our Lavery own Crossroads BBQ, La Fonda Oak Fonda Oak
Hills
and
Catering by Celebrations
very own Crossroads BBQ, La Fonda Oak always, the Festival drew crowds of Hills and Catering by Celebrations catered smooth jazz fans from all across Texas and Hills and Catering by Celebrations catered catered the VIP reception on opening night.
the VIP reception on opening night. As Asthe VIP reception on opening night. As always,even as far as Louisiana and the Festival
drew crowds of smooth
always, the Festival drew crowds of Massachusetts. 2013 proved to be the always, the Festival drew crowds of jazz
fans
from
all
across
Texas
and even as far as
smooth jazz fans from all across Texas and most successful year yet! smooth jazz fans from all across Texas and even as far as Louisiana and For more picutres: facebook.com/ even as far as Louisiana and Louisiana and Massachusetts. 2013 proved to be
Massachusetts. 2013 proved to be the balconesheightsjazzfestival
Massachusetts. 2013 proved to be the the
most successful
year yet! most successful year yet! most successful year yet! ForTop Row, L to R: Everette Harp signs posters for fans, DCI more picutres:
facebook.com/
For more picutres: facebook.com/ For more picutres: facebook.com/ Director Lorenzo Nastasi presents a plaque to balconesheightsjazzfestival
balconesheightsjazzfestival
balconesheightsjazzfestival Commissioner Elizondo during Commissioner’s Court Top Row, L to R: Everette Harp signs posters for fans, DCI Second Row, L to R: County Commissioner Paul Elizondo Top Row, L to R: Everette Harp signs posters for fans, DCI Top Row,
Land the hosts of Great Day SA, Catering by Celebrations at to R: Everette Harp
signs posters for fans, DCI Director Lorenzo
Director Lorenzo Nastasi presents a plaque to Director Lorenzo Nastasi presents a plaque to Nastasi
presents a plaque
to Commissioner Elizondo during Commissioner’s
Commissioner Elizondo during Commissioner’s Court the VIP reception, and Eric Darius Commissioner Elizondo during Commissioner’s Court Court
Second Row, L to R: County Commissioner Paul Elizondo Third Row, L to R: Craig Chaquico, Everette Harp and David Second Row, L to R: County Commissioner Paul Elizondo Second
Row, L to R: County
Commissioner Paul Elizondo and the hosts of Great
and the hosts of Great Day SA, Catering by Celebrations at Munoz with the hosts of Daytime at 9 and the hosts of Great Day SA, Catering by Celebrations at Day SA, the VIP reception, and Eric Darius Catering
by Celebrations
at the VIP reception, and Eric Darius
the VIP reception, and Eric Darius Fourth Row, L to R: Peter White, Slim Man Third Row, LFifth Row, L to R: Mayor de Leon presents Commissioner to R: Craig
Chaquico, Everette Harp and David Munoz with the
Third Row, L to R: Craig Chaquico, Everette Harp and David Third Row, L to R: Craig Chaquico, Everette Harp and David hosts
of Daytime at 9
Munoz with the hosts of Daytime at 9 Elizondo a plaque, Elizondo playing his sax Munoz with the hosts of Daytime at 9 Fourth Row,
L to R: Peter White, Slim Man
Fourth Row, L to R: Peter White, Slim Man Photo credit: Bob Merrill Fourth Row, L to R: Peter White, Slim Man Fifth
Row, L to R: MayorFifth Row, L to R: Mayor de Leon presents Commissioner de Leon presents Commissioner Elizondo a plaque,
Fifth Row, L to R: Mayor de Leon presents Commissioner Elizondo
playing his sax
Elizondo a plaque, Elizondo playing his sax Elizondo a plaque, Elizondo playing his sax Photo credit:
Bob Merrill
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13-CPS-0437 Print Ad_Neigborhood News_BW.indd 1
8/9/13 11:44 AM
City of Balcones Heights
3300 Hillcrest Drive
Balcones Heights, TX 78201
Time Dated
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BOERNE, TX
PERMIT NO. 204
INTERNS: WIN-WIN FOR CITY
Every semester City Administrator Amy Buckert welcomes
a student intern into the City of Balcones Heights. The
majority of the interns are full-time students pursuing their
Master’s degrees in Public Administration (MPA) at the
University of Texas at San Antonio. The unpaid internship
opportunity offers the student up-close insight into the real
world of public administration, something they can’t learn
from a textbook alone.
City Administrator Buckert explains, “The internship program
is invaluable – both to the interns and to the City. The interns
are allowed to attend meetings with me or the department
heads and are sometimes given special projects, research
assignments, etc. They are exposed to a wide variety of
services and management styles, and really get to “taste”
what it’s like to be in local government. In my experience,
the department heads grow as managers, the interns learn
as students and the residents typically love the program –
they are getting fresh, new ideas with a smiling face and a
servant’s soul!”
UTSA graduate student Lucy Barbosa began her Balcones
Heights internship in May 2013. Barbosa interned with the
City until July 19, 2013. Originally from Queretaro, Mexico,
she has spent two and a half years in the United States
and will graduate from UTSA in December 2013. She is no
stranger to public administration. Both of her parents work
in the public sector in Mexico. “Public Administration is
interesting because it allows us to directly contribute and
have a positive effect in the development of communities,”
she explains.
Prior to Barbosa, UTSA graduate Zach Meadows interned with
Balcones Heights. Meadows graduated in May of 2013 with
his Master’s degree in Public Administration. Ultimately, he
aspires to become a City Manager, “I would love to become
a City Manager using my experiences and knowledge to
help communities realize their potential and capture their
opportunities every chance they get.” While still on the job
hunt, he continues to give his time and energy to the City of
Balcones Heights without any monetary compensation.
Such internships prepare MPA students for the reality of
their future careers. Barbosa ultimately wants to apply her
knowledge and experience to serve and have a positive
effect in the development of communities in Mexico and
abroad. “It is necessary to “think globally” to be able to
“act locally,” she explains. Upon completion of her Master’s
degree she plans to continue studying and working in the
field of public administration. She believes in order to be
successful she must constantly use her experiences to gain
more knowledge.
Being a full-time student and having an active internship can
sometimes be a little overwhelming, but the pay-off is well
worth it. City Administrator Buckert hopes to welcome a new
MPA student intern in the fall of 2013.