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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 10/09/1984 - SpecialMINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 9, 1984 7:00 P.M. Present: Mayor Luther Jones Mayor Pro Tem Betty N. Turner Council Members: David Berlanga, Sr. Welder Brown Leo Guerrero Dr. Charles W. Kennedy, Jr. Joe McComb Frank Mendez Mary Pat Slavik City Manager Edward A. Martin Assistant City Attorney Helene Dodson City Secretary Bill G. Read Mayor Luther Jones called the meeting to order in the Council Chamber of City Hall. City Secretary Bill G. Read called the roll of required Charter Officers and verified that the necessary quorum was present to conduct a legally constituted meeting. Mayor Jones stated that the purpose of the meeting was to conduct a public hearing on assessments for the following project: Furman School Area Street Improvements, Phase II project providing for assessments of $228,556.76 for the 177 items on the roll on the following streets: llth Street, from Morgan Avenue to Morris Avenue 12th Street, from Craig Street to Morris Avenue Craig, Buford, Hancock and Coleman Streets, from lOth Street To Brownlee Boulevard Mayor Jones stated that this procedure is required by State law. Assistant City Manager James K. Lontos explained the project and agreed that this is a required hearing according to State law. He informed the Council that this is a Community Development Block Grant project and that Phase I in the same area is presently under construction. He stated that this is Phase II and includes the streets listed above. He informed the Council that the assessment rates have been prepared as required by law and explained the procedures of the public hearing. Assistant City Attorney Melene Dodson presided over the formal portion of the hearing and called as her first witness the City Engineer, Mr. Gerald Smith. MICROFILMED M s Sl al Council Meeting October 9, 1984 Page 2 Through questioning of the witness, Ms. Dodson determined that Mr. Smith is the City Engineer with the City of Corpus Christi; he has been employed by the City for 21 years; and stated that he is a Professional Engineer registered in the State of Texas, having received his degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Dodson then asked Mr. Smith to explain the project. Mr. Smith stated that he is familiar with the Furman School Area Project, Phase iI and located the streets involved on a transparency. He also showed the relationship between this project and the Phase I project which is in an adjacent area. Mr. Smith continued by stating that the project includes construction of improvements to the streets, noting that they will be constructed by excavation to a width and depth to permit the laying of a standard 6" curb and gutter section, 6" compacted subgrade, 8" compacted caliche base, and 11/2" Type D Hot Mix Asphaltic Pavement, noting that there will be 4' or 5' wide reinforced concrete sidewalks and 6" thick reinforced driveways constructed as shown on the plans. He stated that the width of the streets will be 28', which is the usual residential area type of street. Mr. Smith informed the City Council that as a part of this project new storm sewers and waterlines will be constructed. He verified that the plans were prepared in the City's Engineering Department; the bids on the project were received on August 28, 1984; and the low bidder was Backhoe Leasing Service in the contract amount ci $845,645.75. He explained that most of this area is zoned "R-2" or "R, -1B", containing duplexes and single family dwellings. Mr. Smith stated that the assessment roll consists of 177 separate properties, but only 152 letters were mailed informing the property owners of the public hearing and explaining their assessments. Mr. Smith explained that the assessment rate was determined based on the City's assessment policy and the following rates were established: 6" curb, gutter and pavement, $13.86 per linear foot; sidewalks, $1.00 per square foot; and driveways, $3.51 per square foot. He explained that according to the City's assessment policy, the maximum assessment rate that can be levied for residential properties, churches, and schools is $9.75 per linear foot for curb, gutter and pavement. Mr. Smith continued his presentation by stating that since this is a Community Development Project, property which is used for one or two family dwellings in the project area is eligible for special consideration if the house is occupied by low to moderate income owners who are eligible for a grant from Community Development if their income does not exceed 120% of the low income according to Section 8 guidelines established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mr. Smith stated that absentee owners of residential property are also offered low interest loans through CD if they rent their properties to low income tenants. He explained that a letter was sent in English and Spanish to the residents in this area and the staff will work with them if they qualify for the grant under the CD guidelines. Mr. Smith informed the Council that the total of the preliminary assessments is $227,991.90 and they will not be due until the project has been M s Sl al Council Meeting October 9, 1984 Page 3 completed, at which time the property owners may pay in cash or over a five year period at ari interest rate of 8%, or in case of a hardship, the staff can work out a ten year payment plan. Mr. Smith stated that the contractor has 220 working days on the project, which will require approximately 10 months, and the contractor will probably start work in the latter part of December of 1984. He stated that this completed his presentation. Mayor Jones inquired about items 157 and 158, which indicate that the assessments are zero. Mr. Marion Brown, Paving Coordinator, stated that those are corner properties and their assessments are listed under item 21, rather than having their assessments listed as two separate items. Council Member Mendez inquired about the method of qualifying people for the CD plan, and Mr. Smith explained that the staff will determine which are qualified for the plan. Mayor Pro Tem Turner inquired about the responsibility to determine those who are qualified for the CD plan. Mr. Smith stated that Mr. Kelly Elizondo's office will work with the people to determine if they are qualified for the special consideration. Mr. Smith also noted that this CD program is designed to upgrade the entire area and it is included in the lOth Year CD program. Council Member Slavik inquired again about the zero assessments, and Mr. Smith explained that those indicated are corner lots and listed on the roll for the total charge on the street on which the property fronts. Assistant City Attorney Dodson asked Mr. Smith to explain the benefits that will be derived to the area from this project. Mr. Smith explained that at this time the area includes road side ditches, standing water, parked vehicles on the shoulders of the street, and no sidewalks. He explained that following completion of the project, the streets will be wider, there will be better parking, sidewalks will be installed throughout the area, and the general appearance of the area will be greatly improved. Ms. Dodson called as her next witness Mr. William J. Holly, appraiser. Through questioning of Mr. Holly, Ms. Dodson ascertained that he is a licensed real estate broker and appraiser and that he has worked in that capacity since January of 1954. He stated that he is throughly familiar with real estate values in the City and he has been appraising property for 31 years, including all types of property both residential and commercial. He stated that he is very familiar with this area, since he has examined each and every piece of property included in the project. M" Re, .r Council Meeting October 9, 1984 Page 4 Mr. Holly explained the improvements that will be made which will benefit the abutting property owners, in that the drainage ditches will be removed; better traffic conditions will exist, the neighborhood appearance will be improved; there will be less dust in the area; access to the individual homes will be enhanced; in case cf rains the drainage will be improved, and subsequently the value of each piece of property will be increased. Ms. Dodson inquired if each piece of property will be enhanced at least in the amount of the assessment, and Mr. Holly stated that in his opinion they will be. Assistant City Attorney Dodson inquired if there are any unusual or irregularly-shaped lots in this project, and Mr. Holly stated that there are no unusual or irregularly-shaped pieces of property. Mayor Jones then called on members of the audience to speak. He explained that a number of engineering staff members are available to answer individual questions about particular pieces of property. Council Member Mendez explained in Spanish that if the members of the audience are not familiar with English, this project can be explained to them in Spanish. Mr. Albert Canales, 716 Eleventh Street, inquired if new waterlines would be installed, and Mr. Smith replied that they would be. He further explained that the new waterlines will increase the water pressure in the area and provide better fire protection. He stated that the City will pay for the waterlines because they will be on City property. He also stated that if in the process of preparing for the project, the staff finds that some sewer lines are faulty, they will be replaced also. Mayor Pro Tem Turner inquired about existing trees, and Mr. Smith explained that the City has a policy to save as many trees as possible by diverting the location of the sidewalk whenever it is feasible. He stated that this will be the responsibility of the construction inspector. He stated that the Engineering Department personnel will be glad to answer any questions the property owners may have and suggested they call 880-3040 in the event they do have questions. An unidentified lady in the audience inquired about the paving of alleys, and Mr. Smith replied that there are no plans to pave the alleys, that most of the alleys are not open on the ground anyway. He stated that the City has not improved alleys in any of these street improvement projects. There were no further comments from the audience. A motion was made by Council Member Kennedy that the hearing be closed, seconded by Council Member Berlanga and passed unanimously. There being no further business to come before the Council, on motion by Council Member Slavik, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner and passed unanimously, the Special Council Meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m., October 9, 1984. DZ/tb