May 2021

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE CITY OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS

SCHERTZ

City Council

Ralph Gutierrez Mayor

Mark Davis Councilmember

Rosemary Scott Councilmember

Jill Whittaker Councilmember

Michael Dahle Councilmember

David Scagliola Councilmember

Allison Heyward Councilmember

Tim Brown Councilmember

Executive Team

Dr. Mark Browne City Manager

Brian James Assistant City Manager

Charles Kelm Assistant City Manager

Adrian Perez Executive Director

Sarah Gonzalez Assistant to the City Manager

Mission

Leading, improving, and serving a livable, sustainable, and financially sound community.

Vision

Community. Service. Opportunity.

Core Values

Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Do the right thing. Be the best you can. Work cooperatively as a team.

About Our Magazine

Schertz Magazine is a monthly popular lifestyle/entertainment/ community events publication wholly owned and operated by the City of Schertz and produced internally by the Schertz Public Affairs Department. It serves as the primary dissemination source for government information for a growing city of over 42,000 residents.

Today, Schertz Magazine is the leading publication in the Tri-County area with a circulation of 16,000 copies; including 14,000+ direct mailed and 500+ subscriptions from Austin through San Antonio and around the country (including dozens of out-of-state readers). The magazine is mailed to 15,000+ local households and over 1,000 businesses with hundreds of copies made available at local and regional banks, hospitals and clinics, schools, pharmacies, and restaurants.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

06 City Headlines

08 Parks & Recreation

12 Library

32 Features

42 Around the Community

47 Calendar

FEATURES

32

Student Athlete Chases Sports Broadcasting Career

36

Schertz Animal Services Loves All Creatures, Great and Small

CITY MANAGER FROM THE DESK OF THE

Happy May to everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Easter season and Spring is certainly in full bloom. We were very excited to host our first “Movin on Main” event in two years which was fantastic! Our magazine is exciting and packed with a great deal of information this month. First, I wanted to comment on our COVID-19 vaccine clinics and our revised mask policy for City facilities. The vaccines are being given at a very fast pace. We are probably averaging 2,000 to 4,000 doses a week; as of this writing, we are approaching 25,000 total doses administered. Our latest data from early April shows 37,080 first doses and 25,583 fully vaccinated in Guadalupe County out of a population of approximately 165,000. I would like to remind everyone if you need a vaccine that the best way to get one from the City of Schertz is to sign up through our website at Schertz. com/covidvaccine. I would also encourage you to sign up for our new CivicReady program which will give you important notifications from the City. More details and sign-up information can be found at Schertz. com/Alerts. We recently revised our face mask policy regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and dropped the requirement for visitors to wear masks in City facilities with the following exceptions: the Library, the Senior Center, and during vaccine clinics in the Civic Center. We believed the low case counts, rising numbers of vaccines, as well as low hospitalization rates for COVID, warrant the change at this time. The safety of our residents is always at the forefront of our decisions so if we need to alter this to protect public safety we will do so but we are very encouraged by the numbers we are seeing.

This month, our magazine also contains great information about several national weeks/months including Economic Development Week, Police Week, EMS Week, Public Works Week, and Building Safety Month. The City also has a full summer of Parks activities and the Parks guide was included in the April edition of the magazine. We hope you will take advantage of our many activities over the coming months as life begins to return to normal!

MAY 2021

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY Public Affairs Department

Linda Klepper

Public Affairs Director

Devan Christensen

Communications Manager

Madison Porras

Marketing & Communications Specialist

Contributing Writers

Linda Klepper, Devan Christensen, Madison Porras, Jaime Cline, Leslie Asher Blair, Stacey Lovett, Mary Spence, Michelle Yang, Lizzi Bertoia, Anna Kraft

Contributing Photographers

Devan Christensen, Madison Porras, Stacey Lovett, Joe Herczeg, Mary Spence, Suzanne Williams, Anna Kraft, Doug Letbetter

Schertz Magazine is published monthly by the Public Affairs Department of the City of Schertz promoting city, community, and business activities. Our mailing address is 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154. © City of Schertz, Texas

The editorial office of Schertz Magazine is at 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154. Call (210) 619-1600 / Fax (210) 619-1619 Website is Schertz.com

OFFICIAL FINE PRINT

Send queries about articles or photographs to Schertz Magazine at magazine@schertz.com. For advertising information call (210) 619-1633 or email magazine@schertz.com.

NEWS POLICY

Schertz Magazine encourages submission of news and event announcement items. News and event announcements must include contact name and contact phone number. Publication cannot be guaranteed. If you would like to submit an item to Schertz Magazine, email us at magazine@schertz.com or call us at (210) 619-1600.

The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the City of Schertz. All products and services advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, political affiliation or other non-merit factor of purchaser, user or patron.

Articles that appear in Schertz Magazine do not necessarily reflect the official position of the City of Schertz and does not constitute an endorsement therein. The appearance of any advertisement in Schertz Magazine does not constitute an endorsement of the goods or services advertised. Any publication of Schertz Magazine, whether draft or final is sole property of the City of Schertz and cannot be reproduced or distributed in any way, whether in print or electronically, without the express permission and written consent of the City of Schertz.

Dr. Mark Browne City Manager

mbrowne@schertz.com

ON THE COVER

The Schertz Animal Services staff are on call 24-7 to ensure the best possible care to the many animals of our community. Puppies pictured have now all found their furrever homes.

Schertz Gets Movin

The annual Movin on Main event returned to historic downtown Schertz encouraging the community to enjoy an afternoon outside while learning about wellness resources in the area.

Live demonstrations of Zumba, cardio classes, and yoga were presented from the Fitness Zone stage. At the other end of Main St., vendors ranging from local yoga and dance studios to herbal supplements and kids summer programs lined the thoroughfare, allowing eventgoers to cruise and sample the sites along the trafficfree zone. Live music, food, refreshments and activities—basketball connect four, soccer darts, sidewalk chalk art, pickleball and cornhole— provided fun for all ages. Local first responders displayed their vehicles so kids could interact with those who serve their community. Seniors enjoyed their own fitness zone where they could take part in chair volleyball, senior yoga, Silver Sneakers classes, Zumba gold and

bingo. Schertz’ 4-legged residents weren’t left out either! The Doggie Zone had vendors Bluebonnet Bunk N’ Biscuit and the Guadalupe County 4H club providing treats, information, and an agility course.

The weekend of warm spring weather brought nothing but sunshine to enjoy moving in the outdoor space. An estimated 2,500 area residents biked, skated, scooted, walked, and ran down Main Street over the course of the day. Hand wash and sanitizing stations were provided along the thoroughfare and face masks were encouraged, promoting the message of further health and safety in the community.

The free event is hosted by City of Schertz and Schertz Parks and Recreation in partnership with Schertz Family YMCA and sponsored by A & A Plumbing. Movin on Main was brought together with the work of staff and more than 45 community and student volunteers.

STAY INFORMED!

WE WANT YOUR BEST SHOT!

GET OUT AND DISCOVER NATURE

Join us for the 2021 Nature Discovery Series! The program is designed for families with elementary-aged children, but older and younger siblings are welcome too! Texas Master Naturalist volunteers lead the themed programs held at 10:00 a.m. at Crescent Bend Nature Park, and the program is free. Pre-registration is required for all participants to ensure materials and activities are available. *Parents and adults must register themselves if they would like to stay.

May 8 Discover The Forest – Every living thing plays a role in the forest

June 12 Discover Clues and Traces – Find what animals leave behind

July 10 Discover Horns and Thorns – Staying alive is tough

AN EGGCELLENT TIME AT THE EASTER EGG-STRAVAGANZA

GETTING ED-ZOO-CATED

The Schertz Parks and Recreation teamed up with the San Antonio Zoo Center for Conservation and Research to present the first of the Ed-ZOO-Cation series at Crescent Bend Nature Park. The zoo team comprised of Bekky Muscher-Hodges, the Manager of the Center for Conservation and Research, and Conservation Technicians Ariana Duffey and Brittany Nunn, brought two Texas horned lizards out as part of their presentation on the reintroduction project of these native reptiles and spoke on how the park itself has started playing a large role in the food source for these animals. Crescent Bend Nature Park is home to a large population of harvester ants – the main food source for horned lizards – and this partnership between the city and the zoo has allowed wildlife professionals to sustainably collect meals for them locally as they had previously depended on private ranches or out of state mail orders for their stock.

The convenience of the public access to these ants also allowed for an educational opportunity for community families to come out and participate in the collection and learn more about how urban sprawl has driven many of these lizards out of Texas and how the San Antonio Zoo is working alongside the Dallas and Houston Zoos and Texas Christian University to reintroduce them. Participants also got to meet K9 handler Chris Bagley and see a live demonstration by Grenadier the first ‘lizard-sniffing’ conservation detection dog trained to detect populations of these horned lizards in the wild to aid in the rehabilitation process. The hands-on educational Ed-ZOOCation and Nature Discovery Series are free for area families and continue throughout the summer. Check out Schertz.com for the full calendar of events!

NICHE ACADEMY

Find tutorials and step-by-step instructions for accessing a variety of online resources, including eBook services and databases available to you with your library card. This service is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services and Texas State Library and Archives Commission (Grant #LS-246561-OLS-20)).

HOTSPOTS AVAILABLE FOR CIRCULATION

In partnership with Bexar County’s BiblioTech, the Schertz Public Library is now circulating hotspots! Anyone who finds themselves without access to the Internet can check out a hotspot to be used at home. Uses include, but aren’t limited to:

■ Conducting personal business

■ Continuing with educational endeavors

■ Participating in recreational opportunities

■ Applying for jobs or benefits,

■ Continue operating businesses

This program has been funded for a twelve-month period with the hope that the Digital Divide further expanded by this pandemic, can be bridged. Many thanks to Bexar County’s BiblioTech. For more information, contact the library (210) 619-1700.

SchertzLibrary.org

CHECK OUT THE LIBRARY WEBSITE REDESIGN!

During Mid-April you might have noticed that schertzlibrary.org looks a little different. With this redesign, we hope that the navigation is more accessible and allows for a better user experience.

We did add some graphic quick links that will take you to the City’s additional websites. However, any bookmarks you may have will still work! Everything “lives” in the same place, just with a new, refreshed look.

ROCKET LANGUAGES

An award-winning interactive online language learning system. Library cardholders can use this interactive website to learn conversational language at their own pace. Rocket Languages can be accessed from home and provides lifelong language learning. You can access it as streaming learning or by downloading it for easy access on all MP3 compatible devices. You can go at your own pace and study whenever you have time!

Languages available: Spanish (Latin American), Arabic, French, German, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, English (Spanish Speakers), English (Japanese Speakers), and American Sign Language.

TEXAS TALKING BOOKS PROGRAM

The Talking Book Program provides free library services to Texans who are unable to read standard print material due to visual, physical or reading disabilitieswhether permanent or temporary. Books and magazines are available in different formats, mainly on digital cartridges, but also digital audio, and in braille and large print. Best of all, books are delivered right to your door. All of the items are sent and returned through the mail free of charge. The program offers more than 80,000 titles in fiction and nonfiction, plus 80 national magazines for adults and children. Library staff is available to demo the Digital Talking Book Machine (DTBM) that will be loaned to you by the Talking Book Program if you are eligible for the services.

VIRTUAL PROGRAMS & KITS

TAKE & MAKE CRAFT KITS FOR ADULTS

This month the library is offering creative doodling take and make kits for adults. This kit also comes with instructions on how to access the library’s newest crafting database CreativeBug. Once you have established a free account with CreativeBug you can explore a variety of crafting tutorials and videos. We have a limited supply of craft kits that can be picked up in the library or via curbside service. For the most current information on kits for adults, visit the adult virtual programming page at Schertz.com/ adultvirtual.

POETRY IN YOUR PAJAMAS

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 6:30 P.M. Our monthly adult library poetry open mic has moved to a virtual format. The virtual program, Poetry in Your Pajamas is held on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. via GotoMeeting. Join us to listen to poetry from local poets or to share poetry of your own. Meeting Access information can be found on the library website calendar at Schertz.com/adultcalendar.

BYOB(OOK) EXTREME BOOK NERD

VIRTUAL BOOK DISCUSSION

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 6:30 P.M. Select any book you’d like that fits the category for the month and come share what you read with others. This month the category for discussion is biographies. Meeting access information can be found on the library’s calendar at Schertz.com/ adultcalendar. For a comprehensive listing of all library events please visit

Connect

Facebook.com/ SchertzLibrary

Instagram.com/ SchertzPublicLibrary

Twitter.com/ SchertzLibrary

Celebrating National Week Designations

NATIONAL EMS WEEK EMS is Caring for Our Community

May 16-22, 2021, is the 46th annual National Emergency Medical Services Week. In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in our nation's communities. This year's theme is This Is EMS: Caring for Our Communities. National EMS Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine's "front line." EMS Week is the perfect time to recognize our EMS staff and paramedics for all that they do for our City and surrounding areas.

In past year’s Schertz EMS was able to make in-person visits to many schools and organizations during EMS Week to educate and interact with the public. However, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Schertz EMS shifted their focus to assisting the community with COVID testing and vaccinations. Currently, Schertz EMS continues to educate the community with several different health courses including CPR & First Aid and Babysitting classes. Go to Schertz.com for more information on Community Health Courses.

Join us in thanking our Schertz EMS personnel for caring for our community, and make sure to follow Schertz Emergency Medical Services on Facebook to keep up with all they have going on!

NATIONAL POLICE WEEK Honoring the Blue

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation that designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day. The week in which that date falls is known as Police Week. This year, National Police Week will be held May 9-15. This nationally recognized week pays special gratitude to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others, while honoring America’s law enforcement community still serving today.

The Cibolo Police Department will be hosting a Police Memorial on Thursday, May 13, at 6:00 p.m. The ceremony will be held at the Cibolo MultiEvent Center (200 S Main Street).

The community is welcome to attend the ceremony as we honor the lives of fallen brothers and sisters. Texas leads the nation in officer casualties in the line of duty. In 2020, we suffered a total of 84 fallen officers. Please join us in honoring our police officers this May for their service and sacrifice to our community.

NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK Public Works is Stronger Together

National Public Works Week is May 16-22 and this year’s American Public Works Association (APWA) 2021 National Public Works Week theme is "Stronger Together". This year's theme challenges our members and their citizens to think about the role public works plays in creating a great place to live. By working together, the impact citizens and public works professionals can have on their communities is magnified and results in the ability to accomplish goals once thought unattainable.

Schertz Public Works helps maintain our community’s strength by working together to provide an infrastructure of services in transportation, water, wastewater, and stormwater treatment, public buildings and spaces, parks, and grounds, emergency management and first response, solid waste, and right-of-way management. Public Works provides togetherness needed for collaboration with all the stakeholders in capital projects, infrastructure solutions, and quality of life services.

Every year National Public Works Week gets bigger and better. The number of participating municipalities continues to grow, which means the number of citizens who are exposed to the value of public works grows. One of the main goals of the APWA is to educate the general public about the value and necessities of public works projects and our public works professionals.

This week allows us to energize and remind everyone on the importance of public works in our daily lives from the sidewalks we walk on, the safe roads we drive on, and the fresh water we drink. On Friday, May 21 we encourage you to wear orange in support of our Public Works team and invite you to take a moment to say thank you to the men and women who often work behind the scenes and at the heart of Schertz to improve everyday quality of life.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEEK Enhancing the Local Economy

The City of Schertz Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) - in partnership with the City and area counties - celebrates Economic Development Week from May 9-15. Economic Development Week was established by the International Economic Development Council to increase awareness for local programs that create jobs, advance career development opportunities, and increase the quality of life of communities. Within the City of Schertz, economic development efforts are led by the SEDC, a non-profit industrial development corporation that was established by Schertz residents in 1998. Visit SchertzEDC.com to learn more about the SEDC’s role in economic development for the city through the SEDC’s blog post series and reports found at SchertzEDC.com/blog.

Manny Casas Becomes Schertz Police Captain

During his 20 years with the Schertz Police Department, Manny Casas has held numerous leadership positions in different departmental units and divisions and he has successfully advanced through the ranks from an officer to now Captain.

“In this new Captain role, I am most excited about being a leader within the City, and to advocate for others to create and build an organizational culture that works,” says Casas. “I’m excited to be able to develop values, priorities, and goals and, more importantly, see them implemented.”

“The returning of the captain’s positions is an incredible assist to the infrastructure of the department,” says Police Chief Michael Hansen. “This is an extremely important position that will assure that all of the operational units are working together. The need for this position was highlighted in the city’s recent staffing study which stated that the importance of returning the captain was such a priority that it should be considered immediately.”

Serving as a senior leader of the police department, the Captain position is the third-highest ranked in the department, is administrative in nature and requires considerable responsibility for making decisions regarding actions to be taken, independent judgment in the interpretation of policies and procedures, and application of laws and ordinances. A Captain provides highly complex staff assistance to the Police Chief as the Operations Bureau Commander that oversees the Uniform Services Division and the Investigations Division.

A Captain must be flexible enough to assume the duties of other ranks within all divisions of the department. As a Captain and the Operation Bureau Commander, and with Lieutenants' assistance, Captain Casas oversees many police department units, from daily patrol operations to current investigations. The Captain position is also the chief financial officer for the police department in charge of one of the City's largest budgets. In addition, the Captain plans, organizes, directs, coordinates, and implements the department’s comprehensive police services and law enforcement programs. Chief Hansen says, “Manny Casas has prepared himself for this position for years. His education and experience make him a viable candidate for many chiefs positions and we are fortunate that he has chosen to remain with this department and remain a driving force for the future. His experience specifically with Schertz and Schertz Police made his transition to the new position seamless. He had already been performing at that level in numerous tasks and obviously was able to simply continue after his promotion.”

Casas says “An immediate goal that we have started is developing a peer mentor support program within our police department. Law enforcement, in general, can be challenging on many levels. Police officers witness and experience traumatic events, and we need a program that can assist our officers with emotional wellness. This new program also includes revitalizing our physical fitness program.”

As a City, we have tremendous employees that genuinely have the best interest of our community in mind. The Schertz Police Department is a special group that is always looking for ways to grow. The department provides many training and education opportunities that allow staff to expand to reach their potential.

“It is vital for our staff to promote as it truly shows hard work pays off and can directly impact the department's morale,” Casas says. “Additionally, our leadership teams grow, keeping the same vision with a possible new helpful insight on matters.”

Captain Casas is a true example of the growth potential one can have with the Schertz Police Department and the educational training opportunities that can be taken advantage of.

“When it comes to our staff's professional development, it needs to be a central part of our organization, which will benefit our police department in more ways than one,” says Casas. “Investing in our staff helps foster an engaged workforce, which is proven to be more productive and profitable. In turn, our community that we serve benefits from this type of approach.”

SCHERTZ PROJECTS

PUBLIC WORKS COMPLETES THREE DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS

Schertz Public Works recently completed drainage maintenance projects at the Colony, Castle Hills, and Osage Ave. Drainage Channels. The cost for these projects was $378,425.15.

The Colony Drainage Channel project started in November 2020 and was completed in January of this year. This channel was extremely difficult to maintain due to the steep embankment on the Northside of the channel. Contractor C-3 Environmental reshaped the channel and install impervious Hydro-Turf on the Northside. This is the first project in Schertz that utilized Hydro-Turf and as a result, there is less maintenance and there is aesthetic appeal because the material resembles grass instead of concrete.

The Castle Hills Drainage Channel project started in January 2021 and was completed in March. C-3 Environmental desilted and regraded this channel for proper drainage, which included installing concrete rip rap throughout the length of the project to create a channel with proper drainage and low maintenance.

The Osage Avenue Drainage Channel project started in February and should be completed by the end of April. This channel was dug out and reshaped to grade by C-3 Environmental and then the contractor lined the complete channel with impervious Hydro-Turf. The sides were also regraded to get proper slopes, which also reduces maintenance and allows for proper drainage.

The completion of these three projects will allow for less regular maintenance to be done by our drainage crews and provide the opportunity for the crews to focus on other projects and preventative maintenance. For more information go to Schertz.com or contact Public Works at (210) 619-1800.

For more information go to Schertz.com or contact Public Works at (210) 619-1800.

2020 Drainage Projects

Get Involved and Make a Difference

Whether you are a non-profit recruiting large numbers of volunteers or an individual looking for a few extra hands to help out with your community project, it’s free to place your information on our Volunteer Schertz list! Learn

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Involved and Give Back to Your City!

One way for City of Schertz residents to actively participate in local government is to become involved as a member of a city board or commission. All members of these active groups are volunteers who are responsible for making decisions and advising the city council on several issues from expenditure of public funds to planning & zoning.

For more information or to apply go to Schertz.com/boardsandcommissions or contact the City Secretary's Office at (210) 619-1030.

Animal Services Advisory Committee

Purpose: To encourage responsible pet ownership by providing an animal registration program, field enforcement services, educational services, and life safety services. The humane care and successful adoption and placement of stray and unwanted animals and the eradication of rabies from the community’s animal population.

Members: Members shall include at least one licensed veterinarian, one City official, one person involved in daily operation of the Animal Services facility, and one representative from an animal welfare organization. Membership consists of 6 members. Members serve two years.

Meetings: Meets on the first Wednesday of the following months: February, May, August, and November. Meetings are at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers Conference Room Bldg. 4.

Economic Development Corporation Board

Purpose: The City of Schertz Economic Development Corporation’s (SEDC) mission is to grow the Schertz economy through projects. Specifically, the SEDC pursues projects that focus on the creation and retention of primary jobs and infrastructure improvements. The SEDC Board of Directors serves as an advisory board to City Council for all activities, programs, and projects that further this mission.

Members: Membership consists of 7 members. Members serve two years.

Meetings: Meets on the fourth Thursday of each month. Meetings are at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Building 4. In addition to monthly meetings, volunteers are encouraged to contribute additional time for business openings, meetings with staff, and visits with prospective clients that may occur outside of regular operating hours.

Library Advisory Board

Purpose: To advise City Council on continued development and improvements of the Schertz Public Library and services.

Members: Membership consists of 12 members and 2 alternates. Members serve two years.

Meetings: Meets on the first Monday of each month with the exception of September when the Board meets on the second Monday. No meeting is held in July. Meetings are at 6:30 p.m. in Schertz Public Library Meeting Room 1.

Planning & Zoning Commission

Purpose: To ensure planned and purposeful development in the City of Schertz and its extraterritorial jurisdiction, to protect the integrity of our natural resources and neighborhoods, and to enforce State and Local statutes and ordinances.

Members: Membership consists of 7 members and 2 alternates. Members serve two years

Meetings: Meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Meetings are at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers Bldg. 4. NOTE: During November and December, P&Z only meets once a month: November 17 (the third Wednesday) and December 8 (the second Wednesday).

Parks & Recreation Advisory Board

Purpose: Provide a forum to communicate between the citizens and City Officials in the stewardship and conservation of Schertz’s natural and recreational resources, while promoting the well being of the community and improvement of the quality of life for all residents.

Members: Membership consists of 9 members and 2 alternates. Members serve two years.

Meetings: Meets bi-monthly on the fourth Monday of the month. Meetings are at 5:30 p.m. in the Bob Andrews Conference Room Bldg.1. NOTE: During November, the Board will meet on November 13 (the third Monday).

Historical Preservation Committee

Purpose: Assist in the preservation of historic Schertz through programs and projects that increase public awareness of the value of historic, cultural, and architectural preservation. Collect, authenticate, assemble, display and archive artifacts, documents, photographs, structures, and places of historic interests.

Members: Membership consists of 14 members. Members serve two years.

Meetings: Meets on the fourth Thursday of the following months: January, April, July, and October. Meetings are at 6:30 p.m. in the Bob Andrews Conference Room Bldg.1.

Transportation Safety Advisory Commission

Purpose: Makes recommendations to help identify and resolve transportation-related safety concerns; including local roadway problems, parking, roadway bicycle use, creating pedestrianfriendly areas, and neighborhood traffic calming.

Members: Membership consists of 9 members and 2 alternates. Members serve one or two years.

Meetings: Meets on the first Thursday of each month. Meetings are at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers Conference Room Bldg. 4. NOTE: There will be no meeting in January, July or December.

Building & Standards Commission

Purpose: Serves as an appeal board for individuals seeking an appeal to a decision of the Fire Marshal or Building Official, and reviews and takes action on buildings found to be in violation of certain city ordinance or a public nuisance.

Members: Membership consists of 5 members and 2 alternates. Members serve two years.

Additional Qualifications:

To the extent possible, members of the Commission should be qualified in one of the following fields:

1. Registered design professional with architectural experience or a builder or superintendent of building construction;

2. Registered design professional with mechanical and plumbing engineering experience or a mechanical contractor or plumbing contractor;

3. Registered design professional with structural engineering experiences;

4. Registered design professional with electrical engineering experience or an electrical contractor;

5. Registered design professional with fire protection engineering experience or a fire protection contractor.

Registered Design Professional is defined as an individual who is registered or licensed to practice their respective design profession as defined by the statutory requirements of the professional registration laws of the state of Texas.

Meetings: Meetings are held on an as needed basis – Planning and Community Development will work with City Staff, Board Members, and the Applicant to coordinate the meeting.

Board of Adjustment

Purpose: Serves as an appeal board for individuals seeking variances to the Zoning Ordinance regulations or appeals to a decision made by an administrative official enforcing the City ordinances in relation to zoning and zoning related decisions.

Members: Membership consists of 5 members and 2 alternates. Members serve two years.

Meetings: Meetings are held on an as needed basis – Planning and Community Development will work with City Staff, Board Members, and the Applicant to coordinate the meeting.

Schertz.com Has a New Look!

On Tuesday, April 13, the City of Schertz launched our newly redesigned website. The website features an exciting new refreshed look and experience for site visitors.

The City first migrated web platforms in October 2017 with web host company, CivicPlus, and included with that contract was the opportunity to redesign the site every three years. Public Affairs staff, along with representatives from other City Departments, started the redesign process in October 2020. The redesign team was able to take feedback from a focus group along with inspiration from other municipal websites to create the new look.

The most change that can be seen is on the site is the look and layout of the home page which was designed for ease of access to important content, better functionality, and the incorporation of new special design elements. Go to Schertz.com now to check out the new look!

Schertz Conserves Water

Summer months in Texas usually mean less rain and extremely high temperatures. This unfavorable combination often leads to an increase in water consumption across the City as residents try to maintain their luscious green lawns. While the City’s water supplies are sufficient, high water demand can create system-wide fluctuations in water pressure and challenges in maintaining ideal water storage levels. You can help protect our water supply, and save money, with a few simple and easy actions. Check out a few watersaving tips on page 30 that you can adopt to help keep life fun in Schertz and not waste water!

Student Athlete Chases Sports Broadcasting Career

By: Jaime Cline

Joey Gonzales is making some big moves, on and off the tennis court. The senior at Samuel Clemens High School is an accomplished athlete who hopes to make it into sports broadcasting.

Currently qualified for the Regional Tournament for boy’s tennis, he’s contributed to two district championships for the school. He loves all aspects of the game. Especially the outlet for his competitive nature.

“I’m super competitive. I can take the simplest task and make it into a competition,” he laughs.

His passion for tennis is apparent to everyone who has worked with him, including Coach Jason Schraub.

“I’ve known Joey since 7th grade and knew he was going to be an amazing tennis player. His glide is unlike anyone else. He had that passion and drive for the sport in 7th grade and it's been such a pleasure watching him grow as a player,” he shares. But his true dream is to make it in sports broadcasting.

“I’ve always loved sports. I love it all—watching sports, playing sports, the teamwork, the athletes. In my junior year, I was accepted in the broadcasting course at school and that got me involved in the storytelling side of sports. I started with just an audio-only broadcast. Now I’m able to serve as the play-by-play announcer for the live stream broadcast of athletic events and I can help to introduce more of the athletes and share their stories to the fans, families, and the community.”

Gonzales started on his journey when he captured game film for the volleyball team on their run to the 2019 state semifinals. He was later asked by SCUC and Clemens Athletic directors to broadcast the 2020 volleyball season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was hooked.

Gonzales has since stepped up to be on the court, the field, and the dugout— calling plays for basketball (boys and girls), soccer (boys and girls), volleyball, baseball, and softball during a time where capacity at games has been drastically reduced. His live stream through the Clemens Broadcasting Network has been a bright spot for fans in a time of social distancing and crowd restrictions at games.

“With COVID, we can’t have as many fans in the stands. But at least with the live stream, they still can be a part of the games,” he shares.

Clemens Athletic Director Jared Johnson considers watching Joey’s growth over the last four years an honor.

“It has been an honor to watch Joey grow into a young man. We truly appreciate all the hard work he puts into his craft in covering Clemens Athletics. Due to his hard work and dedication, he always made it possible for parents, grandparents, and fans of Clemens to still watch and cheer on their team from wherever they are. Joey will truly be missed next year.”

Gonzales spends his week before the games taking notes, learning the opposing teams’ players, and preparing for the live broadcast. As he’s stepping up and broadening his horizons to additional sports, he’s had to learn all the terms and nuances of each. He spent a month teaching himself the plays, positions, and terms for volleyball before stepping up as the live announcer. He also has taught himself the ins and outs of creating graphics, content creation, and managing/growing a social media account.

continued on page 34

With COVID, we can’t have as many fans in the stands. But at least with the live stream, they still can be a part of the games.

Student Athlete Chases Sports Broadcasting Career

continued from page 33

“I like the challenges that each sport brings. I like learning the vocabulary and finding new ways to create a better experience for the fans. I figured out how to create graphics for the videos and even a player’s bracket for the finals. I don’t want our fans just to watch the broadcast, but I want them to enjoy the experience, be entertained, and feel like they are watching a professional show,” he says.

He recently was able to broadcast the high school’s entire national signing day event. His preparation, attention to detail, and professionalism gave families the opportunity to be a part of their athlete’s special day despite the distance or attendance restrictions. His background information on each athlete as they announced their college intentions brought a thoughtfulness to the day.

“I kept thinking about the people that had family outside the area. I wanted to make sure each student, parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, and loved one — that everyone felt like they were part of it,” he says of the experience.

Coach Schraub isn’t surprised he’s successful at this point.

“As good of a tennis player he is, he is an even better broadcaster. The way he does his research, the hours he puts into it, and the dedication and drive that he has. He’s so talented and that talent is matched with an incredible work ethic. He’s just a great kid and from an even better family. I can’t say enough about his parents. They have been an absolute joy to work with over the last six years,” he shares. Next up for him?

He has his sights set on Texas State University in the fall, rooming with his older brother, and chasing a dream of a degree in mass communications. During his tour of the communication department, he felt like it was the best fit for him and the right path to make his dream come true of broadcasting for the Spurs (or even the Olympics) one day.

“I think my favorite sport to broadcast is basketball. I love the fast-paced nature of the game. I grew up listening to the broadcasts and watching the Spurs. Two broadcasters that I admire a ton are Bill Land and Bill Schoening. They bring such an energy and a dynamic to their broadcasts. I’ve learned so much from them and have taken some of the terms they’ve used and incorporated them into my own broadcasts. I also really like Mike Tirico from NBC. He has an amazing ability to dialogue the plays, hype up the games, and just make it exciting,” he explains.

No doubt, Joey Gonzales has a bright future ahead of him and we can’t wait to tune in to hear it!

You can tune in and see more of his work at:

Schertz Animal Services

Loves All Creatures, Great and Small

By: Leslie Asher Blair

You know your job is out of the ordinary when your first call of the day is about a llama running loose on Highway 1518. But out of the ordinary is quite ordinary for Schertz Animal Services. Manager Megan Lagunas and her team of two kennel technicians and four animal control officers are essentially on call every day, 24-7.

“If things are calm and normal, that isn’t right,” says Lagunas. “One thing that people don’t realize is the wide range of animals—large birds of prey, pigs, snakes, rams…. We handle all kinds of dangerous animals. There isn’t a dull moment!”

With the area surrounding Schertz being somewhat rural, there are horses and cows often running loose and nuisance calls for raccoons and opossums. And, of course, there are cases of animal-to-human bites, animal neglect, cruelty, disease, and death to be addressed. Animal Services’ main goal is public health and safety; to control the spread of zoonotic disease. The unit is a state-certified rabies quarantine facility and serves as an animal shelter and adoption center, too.

Lagunas’ job as manager allows her to combine her passions of law enforcement, medicine, and animals into one role, all thanks to Pilaf, the cat she adopted six years ago. Her life-long dream was to be a nurse. In college, Lagunas had studied pre-nursing and obtained an associate degree in applied science. Then Pilaf

entered her life. “We had never had a cat; I had never really been around cats,” said Lagunas. “He inspired me to want to dedicate my career to caring for animals.”

Lagunas admits that giving up her dream to become a nurse was hard to accept. But once she started as a kennel tech with Animal Services in 2016, that was it. She found out she also had a passion for law enforcement and truly enjoyed animal care. She quickly moved up to become an Animal Control Officer. In December, Lagunas was made interim manager for Animal Services. She applied for the permanent position and in March became the manager. Because she has held every position in the unit, Lagunas frequently steps in and handles routine animal care. She checks on all the animals first thing in the morning and then hourly throughout the day.

After Animal Services was reorganized and moved to the Schertz Police Department, the team began working with Lt. Hillory Halbardier whose strong leadership has moved Animal Services to the top of its game.

Lt. Halbardier came to Schertz in 2010. Prior to law enforcement, she had spent six years as a veterinary technician, so she brought knowledge of animal medicine and care to her position when she was promoted to Auxiliary Services Lieutenant in July 2020. Under Lt. Halbardier, Animal Services

has acquired valuable training and equipment, including microscopes so the team can do fecal exams for parasites. The team also now medicates some animals and provides wound care. Other recent improvements have been the addition of equipment to check microchips in the field and computers in the animal control officers’ trucks. Lt. Halbardier firmly believes in more training and knowledge for employees in both animal medicine and law. “Our city management wants Animal Services to be the benchmark for the area in all of our processes and practices,” she says. “Ongoing training for staff allows them to provide superior animal care and service to our community.”

It is obvious the Animal Services team works hard; sometimes there are difficult moments. Occasionally Animal Services staff will find themselves in the middle of a dispute between neighbors. “We get a call about a neighbor’s dog and it turns out, it isn’t about the dog at all. The neighbors have been fighting for weeks,” Lagunas says. Occasionally there are sad moments such as when a critically injured animal must be euthanized.

Even so, Lagunas reports, “Heartwarming moments happen often. It is always a great feeling when animals are reunited with their owners, and when animals get adopted and find homes. Our team puts a lot of hard

continued on page 38

Our city management wants Animal Services to be the benchmark for the area in all of our processes and practices.

Schertz Animal Services Loves All Creatures, Great and Small

continued from page 37

work and patience into caring for these creatures. When they get adopted, it makes it all so worth it.”

In the spring of 2019, Animal Services had 150-160 animals in the shelter; about 120 of these were cats. They partnered with Polly’s Pet Shop to hold adoption events. Now, in part due to the pandemic and many, many successful “foster fails,” the shelter is now at 33 animals. Upon intake, animals are assessed to see if they have any illnesses or injuries and are vaccinated. Animals without microchips are held for 72 hours before being sent to Cibolo Small Animal Hospital, which is the contractor that works with Animal Services. There they are treated and neutered or spayed. Lagunas praises Cibolo Small Animal Hospital. “They do so much for us — they are incredible,” she says.

After the pandemic began last spring, adoption events were put on hold and Animal Services had to suspend its volunteer program. They had to call on more foster families than usual. “About 8 out of 10 of these were foster fails,” Lagunas says cheerfully. Online viewing for adoptions became routine and they began scheduling appointments for potential adopters to come into the shelter. People more serious about adoption are coming in, instead of “just looking.”

Lt. Halbardier says by all accounts, some effects of the pandemic have been positive for the shelter. “People are home more wanting companionship; our animals have benefited from that.”

“Our shelter manager and staff continue to do great work, both within the shelter and within the community, says Assistant Police Chief Marc Bane. “Due to their hard work and dedication, we have seen an increase in the number of animals returned to their owners, while also maintaining a historical low animal population due to adoptions and work with many animal rescues.”

“One of our goals is to continue to expand the training that our staff receives so that we may better serve the community and continue to improve animal care,” Chief Bane adds. The entire

team at Animal Services looks forward to the day it can restart its volunteer and school visitation programs and provide lowcost vaccinations with Cibolo Small Animal Hospital. “All of these outreach programs are educational to the community,” explains Lagunas. Even when we are enforcing city and state laws, we’re educating people. It is important not just to cite people but discuss why a particular ordinance is in place to begin with.”

“More importantly, we really want our community to know that this is a safe place for animals,” she says. “All of the animals are in very good hands and animal care is our top priority.”

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

Graduates To Celebrate Safety

Byron P. Steele High School and Samuel Clemens High School will be hosting their 2021 Graduation Ceremonies on Thursday, May 27 and Friday, May 28. Following the ceremonies, students will have the opportunity to attend a Project Graduation celebration, a safe, alcohol and drug-free, all-night senior class party!

Steele Project Graduation will be at the Garden of Eden Outdoor Event Center in Cibolo from Midnight to 5:00 a.m. There will be food, volleyball, cornhole, DJ, karaoke, bonfire, outdoor movies, and much more!

Clemens Project Graduation will be held at Santikos Entertainment. Students will have access to bowling, laser tag, a movie, virtual reality, the arcade, food, snacks and drinks as well as a hypnotist that will be brought in for a couple of shows.

Project Graduation is a 501©3 nonprofit organization run 100% by fundraising, donations, and contributions. Funds are raised throughout the year so every graduating senior can attend the party for a nominal fee that reserves the graduates’ spot. Both Steele and Clemens Project Graduation groups have

been working all year to raise the necessary funds to make this dream a reality. If you or your business are interested in donating, monetary and prize donations are being accepted!

Follow Steele Project Graduation at Facebook.com/ steeleprojectgrad2020 or email steeleprojectgraduation@ gmail.com for more information. All donations can be made on PayPal: Steele Project Graduation or mail checks to Steele HS Project Graduation P.O. BOX 512 Cibolo, TX 78108.

Follow Clemens Project Graduation at Facebook.com/ schspg or go to schsprojectgraduation.weebly.com for more information. Donations can be made online or mailed to Clemens HS Project Graduation P.O. BOX 893 Cibolo, TX 78108.

Summer Happenings

Splash Into Summer 5K/Kids K

Kickoff the Summer on Saturday, May 22 at the Splash Into Summer event. Start off the day with a Kids Race and chip-timed 5K and then hop on over to the vendor event with inflatables, water slides, 60+ local familyfocused booths, shopping, food trucks, music and more! The event kicks off at 8:00 a.m. at the Comal County Fairgrounds in New Braunfels. Learn more and register at texaspartyhoppers.com/SIS.

Spring Sale and Craft Show

Join the Ladies’ Auxiliary Council on Saturday, May 29 for their Spring Sale and Craft Show. Breakfast pastries, lunch, and bakery items will be for sale throughout the day. Admission is $1, free for 12 and under. All proceeds benefit Ladies’ Auxiliary charities and Scholarships. The show will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Mikulski Hall at 509 Schertz Parkway.

Crosspoint Church Kids Crazy Community Summer Party

Join Crosspoint Church on Saturday, June 5 for the Kids Crazy Community Summer Party. Meet the current American Ninja Warrior champion, Daniel Gil, and participate in water obstacles, play nerf wars, create a craft, play games, and eat. There will be a morning flight from 9:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. and an afternoon flight from 2:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Cost is $5/kid and parents are free. Space is limited, visit crosspoint247.com/party to sign up.

Camp Invention: Supercharged

Unlock your child’s potentials at Camp Invention! Camp Invention is a STEM summer program that turns curious students into innovative thinkers. This nationwide program will be held in Schertz at Schertz United Methodist Church from Monday, June 7 to Friday, June 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Participants will learn about creative problem solving, STEM application, innovation, and confidence. For more information and to register visit invent.org/programs/camp-invention.

Summer Camp with River City Community Church

All current 3rd-12th grade students are invited to attend SUMMER CAMP with River City Community Church! Summer Camp will take place from Tuesday, June 15 through Saturday, June 19 at Camp Buckner outside of Marble Falls, TX. Camp fee includes all food, lodging, and activities. For more information and to register visit reallife.org/event/summercamp.

Honoring all who served

MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY

MONDAY, MAY 31 / 9:00 A.M.

VETERANS MEMORIAL PLAZA, 512 SCHERTZ PKWY

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8315 will honor the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces for their selfless service by hosting its 7th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony. COVID-19 safety precautions will be encouraged during the event.

If you have any questions, contact VFW Post Commander Henry R. Conway at (210) 831-6999.

Bring your SchertzMagazinealong during your travels and

The Gonzalez Family brought their Schertz Magazine to the center of the Universe in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Devan Christensen took a trip to Port Aransas, Texas with her Schertz Magazine.

Schertz Wildflowers in Full Bloom

The sun is shining, spring is in the air, and the Schertz wildflowers are in full bloom! The area wildflowers certainly did not disappoint this year, and the picture-perfect photos everyone has been taking prove this to be true. We asked you to share your best wildflower shots with us, and we were overwhelmed with so many beautiful pictures. Thank you to everyone who submitted photos. We loved getting to see everyone out enjoying the lovely spring season here in Schertz.

LOOKING BACK May

QUOTE OF NOTE

“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”

– Oscar Wilde

LOCAL HISTORY

On May 23, 1884, the first town U.S. Post Office was established under postmaster John H.C. Bremer. Home mail delivery did not begin in Schertz until March 25, 1967.

TEXAS HISTORY

May 13, 1865: The last battle of the Civil War, known as the Battle of Palmito Hill, near Brownsville, Texas, was fought between Confederate and Union Forces, 34 days after Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Though credited as a Confederate victory, it was of no consequence because the war was already over.

IMPORTANT SCHERTZ CONTACT INFO

Schertz City Council

Mayor:

Ralph Gutierrez (210) 619-1040

ralphgutierrez@schertz.com

Council Members:

Mark Davis (210) 376-9141

markdavis@schertz.com

Rosemary Scott (210) 419-8472

rscott@schertz.com

Jill Whittaker (210) 846-8768

jwhittaker@schertz.com

Michael Dahle (210) 419-9337

mdahle@schertz.com

David Scagliola (830) 606-1130

davidscagliola@schertz.com

Allison Heyward (210) 608-9543

allisonheyward@schertz.com

Tim Brown (210) 608-2381

timbrown@schertz.com

City Departments: City of Schertz/311 (210) 619-1000

Animal Services (210) 619-1550

City Manager (210) 619-1000

City Secretary (210) 619-1030

Civic Center (210) 619-1600

Economic Development (210) 619-1070

EMS (non-emergency) (210) 619-1400

Fire (non-emergency) (210) 619-1300

Inspections (210) 619-1750

Municipal Court (210) 619-1500

Parks & Recreation (210) 619-1850

Planning & Zoning (210) 619-1780

Police (non-emergency) (210) 619-1274

Police Records (210) 619-1200

Public Affairs (210) 619-1600

Public Library (210) 619-1700

Public Works (210) 619-1800

Records (210) 619-1030

Trash & Recycling (210) 619-1100

Utility Billing (210) 619-1100

Presented by the Schertz Historical Preservation Committee in the interest of historical perspective and community awareness of local historical legacies.