August 2012 - Balcones Heights

Published monthly by Neighborhood News Inc.
August 2012
CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S UPDATE
AMY BUCKERT
CITY COUNCIL: JULY 9, 2012
• Former Planning & Zoning Commission Alternate Maria Hilda Herrera was appointed to
Appointment #2 during the July 9, 2012 City Council meeting. Former Appointment #2 David
Sellars is now an alternate. Other P&Z members include George Monsive, Chair; Jack Burton,
Vice Chair, Gloria Cantu, Simon Gomez, and Bill Johnson.
• City Council reluctantly accepted the resignation of Charles Matthies, long-time Councilmember
Place 3 and former Mayor Pro Tem. Council also discussed the process by which to fill the
vacancy created by Councilman Matthies’ resignation.
It was agreed that former Councilman, and current Planning and Zoning Commission member William Johnson, who
had agreed to serve, would be appointed at the next City Council meeting. Council agreed that Mr. Johnson’s previous
experience on City Council, particularly with the budget process would provide the City the best option at this time.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
• The City received three (3) submissions for its Request For Qualifications for Development of an Economic Development
Plan for the City. The RFQs will be reviewed by a committee including Council members Lamar Gillian and Madeline Slay.
Recommendations will be brought forth to City Council.
• The VIA BRT PRIMO (Bus Rapid Transit) line is still slated to begin service along the Fredericksburg Road corridor
on December 17, 2012. The City continues to explore the best ways to leverage this new service into transit-oriented
development (TOD) along Fredericksburg Road and throughout the City.
FLOODING & DRAINAGE/SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY (SARA):
Following up on discussion and a presentation at the June City Council meeting, representatives from SARA will make a
presentation to City Council in August.
SALES TAX ON THE RISE
Sales tax is collected at a rate of 8.25% on taxable items purchased; of this a portion is received by the city. The state
receives 6.25%, San Antonio Metropolitan Transit System (VIA) 0.50%, City Crime Control District 0.50% and the City’s
general fund 1%. There is a two month lag on collections, so tax revenues received by the City in July were paid by
consumers in May.
(Continued on page 2)
Page 2
(Continued from Front Page)
Sales tax is 25% of the City of Balcones Heights’ total revenue
collected, other sources being property tax, building permits,
municipal court fines and other miscellaneous revenues.
Sales tax for the last four months has been up an average of
6.72%. Revenues for May that were received in July were up
by 25% from May 2011.
Please see a related article by Councilman and Mayor Pro
Tem Lamar Gillian.
FY 2012-2013 BUDGET: PROCESS UPDATE:
As this newsletter went to press, the budget committee
was slated to hold a workshop on July 26, 2012. This
followed several sessions wherein members of the Budget
Committee, the Mayor, City Administrator Amy Buckert,
and City Finance Director Yvonne Griffin met with the City’s
department heads to review and discuss preliminary budget
proposals. The proposed FY 2012-2013 will be presented at
a future City Council meeting.
Check the City’s Web site, www.balconesheights.org, for
future meeting agendas listing the proposed budget as an
agenda item. If you have questions about the City’s budget
process and the proposed budget please contact members of
the City’s Budget Committee: Councilman and Mayor Pro
Tem Lamar Gillian, Councilman Miguel Valverde.
WASTE/BRUSH PICK-UP:
SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
• 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.
Items should NOT be put to the curb earlier than 10 (ten)
days prior to the pick-up.
You can place waste/brush out beginning Friday, September
14, 2012, but not later than 7:00 a.m. Monday, September
24, 2012.
Collection vehicles will pass down
each street one time only. DO
NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAYS WITH
WASTE/BRUSH
August 2012
19th ANNUAL BALCONES
HEIGHTS JAZZ FESTIVAL
The 19th Annual Balcones Heights Jazz Festival enjoyed a
sparkling opening night Friday, July 6 at Wonderland of the
Americas’ Amphitheater. This year, in addition to the cooling
effects of the fountain in the middle of the reflecting pool, the
side waterfalls along the staircase leading to the amphitheater
were operational and added greatly to the event’s unique
atmosphere.
The evening began with a VIP reception attended by over 100
guests of the City of Balcones Heights, Wonderland of the
Americas, and Q101.9. This year’s reception, for the first time
in the event’s 19-year history, featured samples from local
Balcones Heights’ restaurants, including Crossroads BBQ,
Queen’s Cottage, Tona’s, Side Wok Café, and the newly opened
Naked Banana Company. Many thanks to Tea Santos, Helen
Nicholson, Connie Martinez, Martin Paloma, and Gordon
Hass for their contributions to helping make this year’s event
to a new level. Also, many thanks to long-time Jazz Festival
caterer La Fonda-Oak Hills, for again providing a memorable
menu.
At 7:00 p.m. the incomparable David Munoz, Q101.9 and
San Antonio’s inimitable “JazzMan” took the stage to welcome
the capacity crowd. After acknowledging Wonderland of the
(Continued on page 3)
go green
LET’S DO OUR PART IN
HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT!
We are proud to announce we are now offering
YOU to “opt-in” to having your Neighborhood
Newsletter delivered electronically!
How?
1
Visit www.NeighborhoodNews.com
2
Click on: “Let’s do our part”
and follow the instructions.
What wil l change?
Well... nothing! You will begin receiving your
neighborhood newsletter by email on the very next
publication! We’ll be sure to remove your address from
the mailing list, while you enjoy your digital copy.
We are so pleased to be offering this new service!
Questions? Feel free to contact Albert Prieto at
(210) 558-3160 with any website related questions.
City of Balcones Heights
(Continued from page 2)
Americas and the City of Balcones Heights, and presenting
sponsor Ruud – Mitsubishi Electric, Munoz introduced Mayor
Suzanne de Leon. Mayor De Leon introduced, and was joined
on stage by Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Gillian, Councilman
Charles White, City Administrator Amy Buckert, Fire
Chief Philip Prince, Police Chief Henry Dominguez, and
Jazz Festival producer Lorenzo Nastasi, the City’s Director
of Community Initiatives.
Following these introductions, Munoz introduced the evening’s
opening act, Groove Therapy, the U.S. Army Jazz Ensemble
based at Fort Sam Houston. Groove Therapy, returning for their
third appearance at this event, was greeted with the tumultuous
applause reserved for a true crowd pleaser. Headliner Steve
Cole took the stage as the sun was setting and performed his
magic for more than an hour much to the crowd’s enjoyment.
Media coverage of this year’s event included some new and
different stories. Munoz and Nastasi were featured on KABB
Fox 29’s Focus on South Texas June 30. The morning of July
6 Munoz and Steve Cole appeared live on KABB Fox 29’s
Daytime at Nine. That evening J.T. Street’s popular “Street
Corner” segment on KABB’s News at Nine, featured several jazz
fans who had set up their chairs days before the event. Street
had spent the afternoon filming on site and reduced it to a great
piece.
These segments are available online at http://www.
reachfortheheights.org/about-us/media-archive. The Mayor
also appeared live on KENS TV’s Great Day SA, July 13, and
WOAI News 4’s San Antonio Living August 3.
Other media coverage included various calendar listings across
the state, including Festivals of Texas, Texas Highways, and
AAA’s Texas Journey magazine. The Balcones Heights Jazz
Festival is also featured prominently each year on Clear Channel
Communications’ MyTexasVacation web site.
On Facebook, the Balcones Heights Jazz Festival has 268 “Likes”
and the number is growing daily.
To see photos of this year’s event, visit www.reachfortheheights.
org.
Page 3
CITY SALES TAX – WHAT
DOES IT FINANCE?
Lamar Gillian, Mayor Pro Tem,
Council Member Place 4
In the last City Council meeting on July 9, 2012, Council
approved the Crime Control Budget for the upcoming fiscal year
beginning October 1, 2012. Currently the Council is working on
the other budgets, like the General Fund, that will be approved
before the beginning of the next fiscal year. Our City’s portion
of the sales tax revenue is a major source of income for the
funding of the operations of both budgets.
The sales tax that is paid by shoppers in our City is comprised
of the following:
Recipient
Percentage
State
City
Crime Control
VIA
Total
6.250
1.000
0.500
0.500
8.250
The General Fund managed by the City Council receives as a
major source of funds our City’s sales tax to pay for salaries
and related costs, such as medical insurance and workmen’s
compensation, repairs and maintenance, supplies, information
technology, oil and fuel, etc. for all departments. The Crime
Control Fund, on the other hand, is a dedicated fund managed
by the Crime Control and Prevention District Board. It is used
only to fund activities related to the control of crime in our
neighborhood. Presently, that fund pays for the mortgage,
administrative expenses, and upkeep of the Justice Center and
for the salaries and related costs of our Criminal Investigation
Division.
Last year’s sales tax revenues were $1,005,149 for the General
Fund and $630,150 for the Crime Control Fund. Similar
amounts are expected for the upcoming fiscal year.
If you have any questions about our City’s sales tax revenue, please
contact me: e-mail: [email protected]; cell: 210-875-1281.
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Page 4
August 2012
BALCONES HEIGHTS CITY DIRECTORY
3300 Hillcrest, Balcones Heights, Texas 78201
www.balconesheights.org
CITY COUNCIL:
Suzanne de Leon, Mayor
[email protected]
Miguel C. Valverde, Councilman, Place 1
[email protected]
Madeline Slay, Councilwoman, Place 2
[email protected]
VACANT, Place 3
Lamar Gillian, Mayor Pro Tem, Place 4
[email protected]
Charles White, Councilman, Place 5
[email protected]
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
MICHAEL BROWN
PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN
Lieutenant Michael Brown was promoted to Captain
effective July 1, 2012. A firefighter for 34 years, retired
as an Engineer/Driver after 25 years of service with the
Leon Valley Fire Department. Captain Brown joined the
Balcones Heights Fired Department in 2003, and was
promoted to Lieutenant in February 2008.
Captain Brown was officially recognized at the July 9, 2012
Balcones Heights City Council meeting. His son, Justin
Brown, a firefighter with San Antonio Fire Department, did
the honors of pinning Captain Brown with his new badge.
Congratulations Captain Brown!
CITY ADMINISTRATOR:
Amy Buckert
[email protected]
PHONE NUMBERS:
EMERGENCY: 911
Balcones Heights Police Department Dispatch:
210-735-9212
Balcones Heights Fire Department:
210-735-9206
Balcones Heights Visitor Center:
210-732-0055
Captain Michael Brown is “pinned” by his son Justin Brown, as Fire
Chief Philip Prince looks on during the July 9, 2012 Balcones Heights
City Council Meeting.
Balcones Heights Justice Center:
210-735-9148
Mayor
City Admin.
City Secretary
Finance Director
Deputy Court Clerk
Deputy Court Clerk
Deputy Court Clerk
Suzanne de Leon
Amy Buckert
Delia Flores
Yvonne Smith-Griffin
Yvonne Baez
Maria Hernandez
Lisa Merlo
235
227
236
244
223
221
224
Development Svcs.
Mark Boyd
246
Fire Chief
Philip C. Prince 210-735-9206
Police Chief
Henry Dominguez
242
ATS Clerk
Gloria Puente
222
Dispatcher (Non-Emergency)
210-735-9212
Investigator/Lieutenant Joyce Pena
239
Photo Enforcement Hearing
& Review Officer
Reine Scheer
245
Visitor Initiatives (Visitor Center, CVB)
Director
Lorenzo Nastasi 210-732-0055
Assistant to Director
Jennifer Porter 210-732-0055
TRASH CONTAINERS
The curb appeal of the community is very important.
No one wants to come home to a street littered with
trash containers and debris scattered
around.
One way to keep the community looking
beautiful is to put away your trash and
recycle containers promptly after pick
up and store out of view from the front of
your home.
Be a Good Neighbor!
Jason Speights ■ Laura Speights ■ Joan Marron ■ Shelly Enyart ■ Todd Worrich ■ Nicole Littles ■ Brennan Kucera ■ Clare Pace
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February 3, 2012.
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Page 6
CITY CODE ORDINANCE
ENFORCEMENT
Miguel C. Valverde, City Councilman, Place 1
In the early 70’s the City of Balcones Heights seemed to have
everything in order and had a beautiful, clean, safe, and friendly
appearance. I remember seeing our police officers frequently
patrolling our residential streets and stopping for a quick chat
with the residents to see what was going on.
For some reason the cohesion of city leadership, staff, and
residents weakened. In my opinion, that lack of cohesion has
created a weak link in our community. That weak link apparently
has led some residents to think that there are no restrictions and
no need to comply with City ordinances. Those residents have
become entirely too complacent, comfortable, and confident
that the City is no longer enforcing code ordinances and that
residential police patrols are lacking.
Why do I say this? For several reasons: I see vehicles speeding
on our residential streets, recurring vandalism in the parks,
unauthorized solicitations, shopping carts on our streets,
properties deteriorating, and many other examples of code
violations.
It is imperative that Balcones Heights’ property owners and
residents cooperate with our City staff and take code compliance
violations seriously. This is absolutely necessary if we are going
to have a strong and safe City. In my opinion we can return
Balcones Heights to the way it was in years past, with a strong
and positive reputation. We can only do that if everyone
understands City code of ordinances, and understands the
consequences of non-compliance.
I understand that part of the challenge these past months was
the absence of a full-time Development Services Coordinator.
(Note: Among other responsibilities, the Development Services
Department is responsible for permitting and following up on
non-compliance issues).
The former coordinator resigned at the end of the year, and a
permanent replacement was not in place until the end of the
May. While City intern Nii-Amma, who was primarily assigned
to Development Services, participated in compliance reviews
with City Administrator Amy Buckert and Fire Chief Philip
Prince, the lack of a full-time coordinator certainly had an
impact.
Now we have a fulltime Development Services Coordinator, Mr.
Mark Boyd, who began as a member of the Balcones Heights’
team May 29, 2012.
Mr. Boyd will undoubtedly face many challenges in the months
ahead, as he works to become more familiar with our City, our
business community, residents and property owners. In my
August 2012
opinion, the most common challenges will be violations of the
basic ordinances such as high grass, junked vehicles, brush/
debris visible from public right-of-way.
Code compliance is very important to the City. This is why City
Council has directed staff to comprehensively and consistently
enforce the City’s present code of ordinances. Effective code
enforcement is critical to maintaining property values, keeping
our City clean and safe, and protecting you and your property.
You might ask, “how does code enforcement protect my
property?” Well, let us say you maintain your property in
compliance with the City’s Code of Ordinances. Your lawn is
clear of debris and is well-manicured. The property next door
to yours is sold and/or rented. The new owners or renters do not
apply the same diligence you do in maintaining the property. The
lawn is not mowed. Junked cars are parked in the yard. Trash,
brush and other debris accumulate in the yard. Before long that
property poses a risk to the entire neighborhood. Junk cars,
brush and other debris become a serious fire hazard. This is
particularly true during very dry periods when fires can start in
an instant. High grass and weeds harbor vermin, including rats
and snakes. The Code of Ordinances were created to keep these
risks to a minimum, and protect everyone. If non-compliance
continues unabated, if codes are not uniformly enforced, not
only will our properties lose value, our risks for fire and other
public safety danger rises.
I am asking every property owner to please cooperate with the
City’s Development Services Department, and to comply with
the established the City Code of Ordinances.
Below is a list of options once a code violation occurs:
• First Option: take the necessary steps to bring the violation
into compliance with the code.
• Second Option: contact Development Services and get
guidance on time limits and how to avoid a citation and court
date.
• Third Option: show up at your scheduled court date and
explain to the judge why you think your actions or inaction is
not a violation of City ordinance.
It will take all of us to regain the cohesion I mentioned at the
beginning of this article. All of us working together, complying
with code requirements, and basically being good neighbors if
Balcones Heights is going to be a place people want to live in
and raise their families as so many of us have done over the
years.
Mr. Boyd will be happy to answer any questions and provide
clarification regarding any ordinance. You may contact him at
735-9148, ext. 246. Additionally, if you have any questions
about my position on this topic, please feel free to contact me
by e-mail: [email protected].
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PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BOERNE, TX
PERMIT NO. 204
City of Balcones Heights
3300 Hillcrest Drive
Balcones Heights, TX 78201
Time Dated
August 2012
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Friendly Doggie
Reminder
•
Be careful not to let your dog run
loose through the neighborhood. It
may be dangerous for the dog as well
as for people in the neighborhood.
•
Remember to always clean up after
your dog on your walks.
•
If your dog goes outside during
the night, please be considerate of
your neighbors who may
be sleeping, and get the
dog back in the house
promptly if it starts to
bark.
Thank you for making our
neighborhood dog-friendly
and people-friendly!
1
Friday
2
Saturday
3
4
Jazz Fest
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Wonderland of the
Americas
5
6
8
9
10
11
14
15
16
17
18
25
7
Planning and Zoning
6:00 p.m.
Justice Center
12
13
Board of Adjustments
Meeting, 5:00 p.m.
City Council Meeting
6:00 p.m.
Justice Center
3300 Hillcrest Drive
2nd Floor
19
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29
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