Transcript Von Ormy, Texas - City of Alamo Ranch

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A committee of local residents tasked with exploring incorporation and
getting the election for incorporation on the ballot. All members are
volunteers and reside in the area.
All residents are welcome to join
Will be working to provide information and communications with
all parties
Will be working to submit application for incorporation to San
Antonio
2015: Contacted City of Von Ormy Mayor & Attorney: Art Martinez de
Vara for assistance.
Proposed City of Alamo Ranch= 8,000
Helotes, Tx = 8,104
Von Ormy, Tx = 1,300
Fair Oaks Ranch, Tx = 6,569
Castle Hills, Tx = 4,289
Boerne, Tx = 12,384
Selma, Tx = 7,602
Leon Valley, Tx = 10,808
Grey Forest, Tx = 480
Castroville, Tx = 2,838
Alamo Heights, Tx = 7, 547
Shavano Park, Tx = 3, 313
Hondo, Tx = 9,002
San Antonio = 1,409,019
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100,000 city ordinances limit economic and personal
freedoms
San Antonio passes on average 1200 new ordinances per year, not
counting when the City Council convenes as another body
Examples:
Sec. 31-18 A tax on all businesspeople or professionals equal to
one-half of the taxes imposed by the states.
Sec. 31-40 All coin-operated machines are taxed
Sec. 33-929 Number of taxi cabs are artificially limited by the city
Sec. 16-296 Garage sales must be permitted, and no more than
four per year per resident are allowed
Sec. 19-291 No person shall open the door of any vehicle unless
and until such opening can be made without endangering either
pedestrians on a sidewalk or vehicles in a moving lane of traffic.
In May of 2012 San Antonio voters passed a $596 million bond for streets, bridges,
sidewalks, drainage, flood control . Alamo Ranch residents would be required to
help pay this back
 San
Antonio’s Proposal
1. To keep government close to the people.
2. To establish specific services like fire, police, animal control,
trash pickup, traffic controls, etc.
3. To control land use.
4. To control subdivision of land.
5. To establish a tax program or to prevent a tax program from
being established.
6. To qualify for various grants from state or federal agencies:
USDA, CDBG, etc.
7. To permanently prevent San Antonio from annexation.
8. To preserve land value, way of life and Local control.
9. To gain representation on local, state and federal boards.
10. To recover lost franchise fees being paid to other
entities.
11. Opt out of taxes that are being assessed with no
service being provided (example: VIA Bus Services).
12. Option to opt out of water CCN to start own water
or sewer utility.
13. Option to opt out of ESD (emergency services
district) to start our own fire department.
14. Tax money stays local.
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City brings liabilities that require risk management.
Along with government comes taxes, fees and
regulations
Road Maintenance
Grants come with staffing and regulatory requirements
 Home
Rule Cities – over 5000 residents
 Statutory
Cities – under 5000 residents
• Type A: Large cities – over 700 residents
 Aldermen form of government
• Type B: Small cities – under 700
 Aldermen form of government
• Type C: Large or small
 Commissioner Form of Government
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Sec. 5.901. TERRITORIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR
INCORPORATION AS GENERAL-LAW MUNICIPALITY.
A community may not incorporate as a general-law
municipality unless it meets the following territorial
requirements:
(1) a community with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants must
have not more than two square miles of surface area;
(2) a community with 2,001 to 4,999 inhabitants must
have not more than four square miles of surface area;
and
(3) a community with 5,001 to 9,999 inhabitants
must have not more than nine square miles of
surface area.
 Area
of the initial city is tied to population.
 How do we prove population?
• 2010 Census Data – only acceptable data source in past
negotiations with San Antonio
 Alamo Ranch can incorporate up to 9 square
• Multiple cities can be formed and later merged
miles
 Should
look for balance of residential and
commercial to prevent overdependence on
property taxes.
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San Antonio has been reluctant to give away existing and
prime intersections of commercial development. Look for
future or potential commercial sales tax base as well
Alderman Form of Government
 Mayor
• Only votes when there is a tie
 Board
of Aldermen
• Five positions elected at-large
• City can form wards, 2 aldermen per ward
 Marshal
• Office can be abolished
A
Budget Officer
 Select a depository (bank)
 Provide insurance for liability and property
 Provide an Engineer for Public Works and
Construction
 Provide Defense for Police Officers
 Meet Americans with Disabilities Act
Requirements
police and fire protection services
 animal control
 health and sanitation services
 street construction and maintenance
 garbage and solid waste removal, collection, and
disposal
 establishment and maintenance of jails
 parks
 libraries and library maintenance
 community, neighborhood, or senior citizen centers
 operation of emergency ambulance service
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regulation of traffic
 transportation systems
 recreational facilities
 tax collection
 building codes and inspection
 zoning, planning, and plat approval
 maintenance of traffic signals, signs, and hazards
 community development or urban renewal activities
 Codify Ordinances
 Establish and Regulate Health Standards
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 Adopting
Subdivision Regulations
 Adopting Zoning Regulations
 Adopting a Comprehensive Plan
 Annexing Property
 Adopting the Annual Budget
 Raising Taxes
 Levying Assessments for Street or Other Public Imp.
 Sale of Park Land
 Condemnation of property
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Sales tax
• must hold election to adopt 2¢ sales tax.
Franchise Taxes
• Electric, Telephone, Natural Gas,
Telecommunications
Property Taxes
• $1.25 per $100 max
• Poteet $0.735 (highest in Atascosa County)
• Kirby $0.729 (highest in Bexar County)
• Somerset $0.707
• San Antonio $0.565
• Von Ormy $0.00
• Alamo Ranch ??
Traffic Fines: Must adopt traffic code first
 Grants
• Small Cities Community
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Development Block Grants
Economic Development
Administration
Rural Development
Administration
Water Development Board
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Grants
 The
city may begin to voluntarily annex
additional area at any time
 May
only annex territory by request of
the property owners or voters until city
becomes a Home Rule City
 Cannot annex into San Antonio’s ETJ
without consent of San Antonio
• After the election for mayor,
aldermen and marshal, which will
be held shortly after the
incorporation election.
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1. Prepare a petition of 50 registered voters
2. Survey 9 square miles city limit
3. File with City of San Antonio for conditional release
• Staff Review and Recommendation
• Planning Commission Recommendation
• City Council Vote
This process took 2 years for Von Ormy, 18 months for
Sandy Oaks and 1 year, thus far, for Savannah Heights.
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4. Election for Alamo Ranch Incorporation
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5. Election for Mayor and Council
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1. San Antonio could grant the application for Alamo Ranch
incorporation and we hold an election
2. San Antonio could grant the application with negotiated
revisions
3. San Antonio could deny the application and Alamo Ranch
residents could counter with an application for immediate
annexation.
4. San Antonio and Alamo Ranch could negotiate a nonannexation agreement
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5. San Antonio could annex Alamo Ranch
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6. San Antonio could deny annexation and decide not to annex
 Are
you registered to vote?
 Talk to your neighbors about incorporation.
 Join the Committee to Incorporate Alamo Ranch
 Volunteer to help
 Contribute your time, talent or treasure to the
Committee to Incorporate to help with
communication and future actives
 Join the Facebook Page
 Help with the petition for incorporation