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MINUTES
LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETING p XI .rll '
a7YcouNCIL CHAMBERS RECEIVEr R
MAY 27.2004 on CITY SECRETAnrs Ar
OFFICE s
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Myron Grossman,Chairman OAC %ft'
Dr. David Blanker
Ms.Grandis Lepcen
Mr. Herb Mormon
M.Elmon Ph9ips
M.Craig Thompson
Ms. Bunny Tinker
Mr. David Wallace
MEMBERS ABSENT: Ms.Susan Abaco (Excused)
Mr.James Bright (Excused)
Mr. David Brown (Excused)
Dr.Thomas 19eneck (Excused)
Mr. Kevin Maralst (Excused)
Dr.Richard Moore (Excused)
IN.Julia Nguyen (Excused)
STAFF PRESENT: Ms. Faryce Goode-Macon,City Planner
Ms. Linda Williams,Reccrdng Secretary
Mr. Myron Grossman. Chairman, ailed the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m. The roll was cared and a
quorum was not present.
ACTION ITEM'
Site Plan fa Property located at 822 Furman Avenue: The site plan for construction of the house located at
822 Furman Avenue will be acted upon al the June 27,2004 meeting.
March 25 and Awti 22. 2004 Minutes' Minutes for the March 25 and April 22, 2004 meetings will be
acted upon at the June 24.2004 meeting.
DISCUSSION REM'
Power Point Presentation on the Enolneerina of the IOnnev Sheet Brldae' Ms. Faryce Goode-Macon, Staff
Liaison, provided brief Information regarding the project. Ms. Macon staled the widen report was
submitted to the Texas Historical Commission to be considered for an award In the category 'Award of
Excellence In Preserving History." The pc ect was a joint effort by Mr. Vernon Wuensche, Mr. Tom Stewart
Mr. Fred Wagner, and Mr.Jerry Rogers. Ms. Macon continued that Mr.Wuensche Is a design engineer fa
the CRY Engineering SeMces Department and Mr. Stewart Is a former member of the Landmark
Commission and a retired cM engineer with the city. Ms. Macon continued that Mr.Wuensche and Mt
Stewart were Invited to today's meeting to share their presentation with the commission and to answer
questions regarding the project. After Ms. Macon s Introductory comments and before they began the
presentation, M. Wuensche epressed thanks to the chairman and Ms. Macon for ImMing them to the
meeting.
M.Wuensche began by staling the Peter Bridge was a reinforced horseshoe culvert bridge that spanned
across The Blucher Moyo and the Arroyo served as the original water source for Corpus Christ. The
shuctue appears to be one of the oldest drainage structures still standkg in the city. t predates the 1913
concept of the Texas Section of the American Society of CMI Engineers in Caps Christi. The essence of
this presentation was an engineering report of the bridge's abiply to function structurally and hydraulically
with the historic elements beteg Incident to the effort. During progress of the project, It become dtpcdt to
Ignore the hstaicd nature of the structure and its sonamdngs and ckcur return-es. This project included
interesting facts abort the"founding waters'of Corpus Christi and the Blucher Arroyo.
SCANNED
Landmark Commission Meeting V
May 27,2004
Page 2
The bridge Is basically two large reinforced concrete headwalls and a 10 foot x 10 foot horseshoe advert
n the Blucher Arroyo at Kinney Street, between Tancahua and Canto Sheets. The two headwalls hove
<9splaced outward to the extent that the integrity of the structure hos been compromised.
A retaining wall, abutting the north side of the downstream headwall Oath side) appears to be partially
supporting the downstream headwall. Several other subordinate structures. Including small storm sewer
headwalls and Inlets,have either failed Of ore In poor condition.
The bridge structure I approximately 130 feet to 140 feet long and 55 feet wide. The top of the 5-foot high
sidewalls ore about 23 feet above the flow line of the horseshoe culvert. The upstream and downstream
walls appeared to be held by tieback rods. The top Ovals have moved outward by several feet. Several
methods of searing the wall wth tiebacks have been considered. A procedure kwoMng augur restraints
appears to be the favored method,primarly because It would be the most economical. TNs procedure
Involves the Insertion of augur anchors through seal openhgs that are cut In the retaining wait. After the
augurs are secured Into position,a whaler weld back tern.
A 10 foot x 10 foot horseshoe culvert extends between the headwalls and serves to dal, the Blucher
Mayo. In looking through the horseshoe, eposed portions of two barrel 6 foot x 4 foot reinforced
concrete culverts can be seen at the up stream end. Overal, the horseshoe appeas to be in relatively
sound condition.At this pant In the presentation, M.Wuensche turned the presentation over to M.Stewart.
Mr. Stewart began his porion of the presentation by provdig a brief highlight of Kinney Street. M.Stewart
continued that Kinney Sheet was not the original sheet name and eater records showed It as Railroad
Avenue on the original Map of Central Wharf as Warehouse Subdivision recorded on January 3, 1877. It
was ref-filed as a corrected plat in Volume A. Page 15,Nueces County Map Records.March 19, 1909.
From early historic accounts of Corpus ChM,the'Arroyo'a'Blucher Moyo,"as It Is curenty referred,was
once an Important source of fresh water. The first settlement of the cry began h the vicinity of the Blucher
Argo. The city began as a trading post ant ed by Henry Lawrence Kinney and WWlan Aubrey in 1838.
The post was located on be north bluff of Blucher Mayo, appadmately between Upper Broadway and
Carancahua Sheet. In 1852, the City was Incorporated and the American Society of CM Engineers was
founded. At that fine,the city depended on cisterns.nalual earth tanks and the damned arroyos for Its
domestic water supply. In June 1853. the city authorized construction of an earth tank on the Blucher
Mayo fa storing water. As a note of interest M. Stewart shared that be Citys first step In protecting Its
water supply took place In January 1879 in the form of its host ordinance. The ordinance banned hogs,
sheep,and goats from running loose to protect the tar*from contamination.
The Petel Bridge was constructed In 1912;timber bridges crossing the Moyo edsted on Water,Chaparral,
Mesquite, Carancahua, and Tancahua Sheets. There was also a railroad bridge crossing tie arroyo lust
north of the Petzel Bridge. In the Bird's Eye Wow of Corpus Christi, Tea evidence of a previous bridge
appeared on the left street between the forth and fifth sheets from the bay. The Mt reference to the
bridge was in a letter dated June 1. 1875 from Mario Von Blucher who wrote, The railway wards ore
proceeding vigorously; the station Is a we be close to the edge of or land. A bridge has akeady been
built outside our house,which suits us well."
The first possible connection with the Pete!Bridge was noted in CIN Council minutes dated December 26,
1911 whereby approval and authorization were gMan to change the plans for the sewer bridge on Railroad
Avenue so that the work done would conform to the plans for a permanent culvert. At that same coral
meeting, the Caps Christi Street & Inter-urban Sheet and Rahway Company applied fa a permit to
extend their hack along Ralkoad Avenue from Staples Sheet to South Carancahua Street. At the council
meeting on January 3, 1912, their cpplcatian was denied. Mr. Stewart that a portion of Tancahua Sheet
located south of Railroad Avenue.was changed to Pleasant Sheet and Carancahua Sheet was changed
to Lbery Sheet.
Mr. Stewart concluded the presentation was sating that the Pete] (gnney) Bridge sill stands today
revealing the name of "Sherman Concrete Company, July 1917 stamped on the top of each
concrete bridge headwall on the east end of the bridge. After the conclusion of the power point
presentation,thanks were expressed to M.Wuensche and M.Stewart fa their presentation.
Landmark Commission Meeting 4150 '110
May 27.200E
Page 3
At the conclusion of the power point presentation, a discussion ensued regarding the physlcd and
structural conditions of the Wldge. It was disclosed that the city has undertaken a project to restore the
bridge. After further discussion by commissioner members, It was agreed that the commission extend an
Invftahon to 'Angel Escobar, City Engineer and Director of the City Engineering Services, to do a
presentation on the proposed plans for the bridge and the ciys pump stations located In the downtown
area. The pump stations are Included on the Landmark Commission's site survey as well as the Kinney
Sleet Bridge. Ms.Macon stated she would contact Mr. Escobar to see If he could attend The June
meeting.
OTHFR MATTERS'
Mr.Grossman stated That the commission seems to have a problem In getting a quorum, since this wit be
the second meeting without one. M.Grossman asked commissioners for Ideas on how to get members to attend.
After a brief discussion, staff was requested to research how difficult It would be to decrease the number of
members nwt rod to serve on the Landmark Commission,thereby reduckg the number needed fora quorum. Ms.
Macon stated that the boards and commbsks o were established though a City ordinance and a revision would
have to be Initiated. Ms. Macon continued she would contact staff in the City Secretor's office to see If any
changes could be made and what the procedure would be.
There being no further business,the meeting was adKouned at 5:45 p.m.
�\ r... 4 _�.. •a1 Cris.; _1,�nl .
LI •• Williams Faryce •••:Q • on,City Planner
Rec• •ng Secretory Staff Liaison •mak Commission
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SUMMARY SHEET
LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETING
MAY 27, 2004
1. Mr. Vernon Wuensche, City Design Engineer with the City Engineering Services Department and Mr. Tom
Stewart, Retired CMI Engineer with the City, gave a power point presentation on the Petzel Bridge, also
known as the Kinney Street Bridge.