A committee of local residents tasked with exploring incorporation and getting the election for...
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The Proposed City of Alamo Ranch, Texas Prepared by: The Martinez de Vara Law Firm, PLLC PO Box 377 Von Ormy, TX 78073 For the Committee to Incorporate Alamo Ranch, Texas
A committee of local residents tasked with exploring incorporation and getting the election for incorporation on the ballot. All members are volunteers
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.
Slide 3
Proposed City of Alamo Ranch= 8,000 Helotes, Tx = 8,104 Leon
Valley, Tx = 10,808 Von Ormy, Tx = 1,300 Grey Forest, Tx = 480 Fair
Oaks Ranch, Tx = 6,569 Castroville, Tx = 2,838 Castle Hills, Tx =
4,289 Alamo Heights, Tx = 7, 547 Boerne, Tx = 12,384 Shavano Park,
Tx = 3, 313 Selma, Tx = 7,602 Hondo, Tx = 9,002 San Antonio =
1,409,019
Slide 4
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.
Slide 5
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
Slide 6
Slide 7
San Antonios Proposal
Slide 8
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.
Slide 9
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.
Slide 10
City brings liabilities that require risk management. Along
with government comes taxes, fees and regulations Road Maintenance
Grants come with staffing and regulatory requirements
Slide 11
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
Slide 12
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.
Slide 13
How Do We Decide on our Proposed City Limits ? 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 miles
Multiple cities can be formed and later merged Should look for
balance of residential and commercial to prevent overdependence on
property taxes. 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
Slide 14
Where is Alamo Ranch?
Slide 15
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
Slide 16
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
Slide 17
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
Slide 18
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
Slide 19
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
Slide 20
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
Slide 21
Grants Small Cities Community Development Block Grants Economic
Development Administration Rural Development Administration Water
Development Board Texas Parks and Wildlife Grants
Slide 22
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
Antonios ETJ without consent of San Antonio
Slide 23
After the election for mayor, aldermen and marshal, which will
be held shortly after the incorporation election.
Slide 24
Slide 25
Alamo Ranch: Next Steps 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. 4. Election for Alamo Ranch
Incorporation 5. Election for Mayor and Council
Slide 26
Possible Outcomes 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 non- annexation agreement
5. San Antonio could annex Alamo Ranch 6. San Antonio could deny
annexation and decide not to annex
Slide 27
What Can You Do to Help? 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