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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 09/04/1963PRESENT: Mayor James L. Barnard Commissioners: Jim Young Jack R. Blackmon J. R. de Leon M. P. Maldonado W. J. Roberts W. H. Wallace, Jr. CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING September 4, 1963 2:00 p.m. City Manager Herbert W. Whitney City Attorney I. M. Singer City Secretary T. Ray Kring Mayor James L. Barnard called the meeting to order. The Invocation was given by the Reverend Robert R. Marshall, Pastor of Ayers Street Church of Christ. City Secretary T. Ray Kring called the roll of those in attendance. Motion by de Leon, seconded by Roberts and passed that the minutes of the regular meeting of August 28, 1963, be approved as furnished to the Council. Mayor Barnard announced the opening of bids. Bids were opened and read on 4 items of Automotive Equipment from the following: International Harvester Co.; Lew Williams Chevrolet Co.; Lewis Boggus Motors; Jim Brace Co.; and Creveiing Motor Co. The foregoing bids were tabled for 48 hours as required by the City Charter, and referred to the City Manager for tabulation and recommendation. Bids were opened and read on 3 items of Special Bodies from the follow- ing: Clement -Braswell, Inc.; Commercial Body Corp.; McCabe -Powers Body Co.; Fruehauf Trailer Co.; Truckers Equipment, Inc.; and Jess McNeel Machinery. The foregoing bids were tabled for 48 hours as required by the City Charter, and referred to the City Manager for tabulation and recommendation. Bids were opened and read on 5 items of Heavy Equipment from the follow- ing: Contractors Machinery Co.; Holder Equipment Co.; Girard Machinery & Supply Co.; Anderson Machinery Co.; B. U. Holt Co.; Mooney Equipment Co.; Pearce Equipment Co.; The Roy Klossner Co.; and Jess McNeel Machinery Corp. The foregoing bids were tabled for 48 hours as required by the City Charter, and referred to the City Manager for tabulation and recommendation. Mayor Barnard announced the pending item of the application for the closing of a portion of Railroad Avenue described as that 80./4 feet of Railroad • City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting September 4, 1963 Page 2 Avenue abutting Lots 1 and 2, Block 6, and the West 30 feet of Twentieth Street between Blocks 5 and 6, Patrick Webb Addition, on which public hearing was held August 21, 1963, and on which Council action was deferred for two weeks. City Manager Whitney reported that he had conferred with representatives of the Fire Department, the Water Department, and of Gulf Compress with a view of re- locating the sprinkler connections serving the area, but that he had not yet received the authorization from Gulf Compress. During a short discussion of the desirability of closing all of Railroad Avenue at one time, rather than a segment at a time upon individual application, Joseph Hans, representing the applicant, Saint Vincent DePaul Society, stated that the delay in order to hold a public hearing on the proposed closing of the whole street would not inconvenience his client's plans; and Mayor Barnard suggested that the area be signed warning against the parking of cars between the buildings and allowing the towing away of cars so parked which may interfere with fire protection operations. Motion by de Leon, seconded by Blackmon that the subject application be denied in view of the possible closing of the whole of Railroad Avenue, and that a public hearing be set at the soonest possible date on the closing of all that portion of Railroad Avenue not previously closed, being generally that portion between 19th Street and 21st Street. Joseph Hans asked if the closing of the portion of the street requested by his client could still be granted in the event that there was objection of other property owners to the closing of the whole street, and was informed that following the proposed new public hearing, the Council could close all or any portion of the area covered in the description. Commissioner Roberts commented that he felt the motion should be stated so as not to prejudice the closing of the area of request by use of the word "deny". Motion by Roberts, seconded by Wallace that the foregoing motion be amended so as to defer action on the subject application, pending the outcome of the public hearing on the closing of all of Railroad Avenue. Commissioners de Leon and Blackmon accepted the amendment to the motion, aid the amended motion was passed unanimously. • • City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting September 4, 1963 Page 3 Mayor Barnard announced the pending item of the application of Frank Longoria and Ida E. Longoria for a change of zoning from "R -1B" One -family Dwell- ing District to "A-1" Apartment House District on a rectangular portion of Lots 1 and 2, Bancroft -Dodge Farm Lots, on which public hearing was held August 14, 1963, and on which motion made and seconded on August 21, 1963, was tabled for one week. The Council called for the question, and the motion, made and seconded, that the recommendation of the Zoning & Planning Commission be concurred in, and the re- quest for change of zoning be denied, but in lieu a Special Permit for apartment uses, subject to compliance with the site plan as submitted by the applicant, and subject to all requirements of the "A-1" Apartment House District being complied with, be granted on the rectangular portion of Lots 1 and 2, Bancroft -Dodge Farm Lots described, was passed, with Commissioner Wallace voting "Nay". Mayor Barnard announced the public hearing on the petition of The PWM Cor- poration, owner of the professional office building at 3150 S. Alameda, at the inter- section of Alameda and Glazebrook Streets, for a special permit to pave a portion of the dedicated street right-of-way on the North boundary of Glazebrook Street where it adjoins the property line. City Manager Whitney explained that the petition was actually an appeal from the decision of the Director of Public Works, and reviewed the details of the construction and use of the property by the owners, and the reason for the ruling by the Director of Public Works, to the effect that the construction plan was ap- proved showing a driveway access off Glazebrook to the proposed parking area on the West side of the building; that this portion of Glazebrook had a County road section of paving with ditches and without curb or gutter; that after discussion with the owner, Mr. Graham has requested him to provide curb and gutters; that the contractor had put in the caliche base, and that the owner was using the area for head -in park- ing; that after further correspondence and discussion with the owner, Mr. Graham had ordered the Street Department to re -open the drainage ditch which has effectively blocked the use of the area for head -in parking. Faires Wade, Virgil Howard, owners, and Jack Rice Turner, architect, all spoke in support of the request on the basis that the original construction plan • City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting September 4, 1963 Page 4 showed the depth of the property as 135 feet, based on Brace's Map of the City; that discussions with Mr. Graham after completion of the building showed the depth of the property to be actually 125 feet, thereby eliminating half of the parking spaces behind the building; the plans offered by the City Staff are of no use as it leaves too much dead parking area due to no access; their request is the only practi- cal and feasible solution to their parking problem; and they have the right to use the area in question if such use does not deprive the public in general of their reasonable use of the property. Jack Graham, Director of Public Works, and Paul Rice, Director of Traffic Engineering, presented the set of plans on which the permit was issued for construc- tion of the building and showing the driveway for access to the indicated parking area; pointed out that the head -in parking had been bootlegged in, later noted by the Inspector and a stop order issued; that several hours had been spent with the owner trying to figure out a way to solve his parking problem by using part of the front yard; that there was no logical or feasible way to achieve more than one or two parking spaces, as the area adjacent to the building from sidewalk to curb line is insufficient for head -in parking without extending into the street itself; that head -in parking has definitely been proven a very dangerous traffic hazard; that based on the agreement of the owner to construct the curb and gutter, the City had removed and rebuilt the curb and inlet and made engineering survey and design for the entire street; and that the ruling had been to enforce the law that no curb opening of more than 35 feet be permitted except under special hardship cases, and that no head -in parking be permitted in new construction. Motion by Blackmon, seconded by Maldonado and passed that the matter be taken under advisement to give the Council an opportunity to view the property for consideration of the request. Mayor Barnard called for the City Manager's Reports. Motion by Wallace, seconded by Young and passed that the City Manager's Reports be accepted, and the recommendations and requests be approved and granted as follows: • City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting September 4, 1963 Page 5 a. That authority to advertise for bids to be received on September 18, 1963, be granted for 3 items of Bare Steel Pipe; and for coating and wrapping of 3 items of Bare Steel Pipe; b. That the sum of $69,679.00 be appropriated for the acquisition of Parcel #337 for right-of-way required by the State of Texas in connection with the Crosstown Expressway, Highway #286, Relocated; c. That the request of Dr. and Mrs. Mark Pomerantz, that the the City waive interest and Court costs on the paving lien against 502 Santa Monica for street im- provements on which the City has filed suit for collection, be disallowed; d. That the application of Mobil Oil Company be granted for permission to deepen an existing well within the newly annexed area, described as Donigan "A" Well No. 6, Saxet Field, Nueces County, Texas, from the present depth of 6,976 feet to not exceeding 10,000 feet, and in addition, that two variances from the provisions of the Code be granted allowing the use of earthen, slush or mud pits, and allowing the use of lease salt water as drilling fluid within the present casing. During discussion of the foregoing Item "d", Mr. S. B. Graham, represent- ing the applicant, stated that the actual drilling would be covered by public lia- bility exceeding the requirements of the City, and that the Company is also self- insured as far as operators are concetped. ORDINANCE NO. 7018 APPROPRIATING OUT OF NO. 220 STREET BOND IMPROVEMENT FUND THE SUM OF $69,679.00 FOR THE ACQUISITION OF ONE PARCEL OF PROPERTY FOR RIGHT OF WAY REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS AND APPLICABLE TO PROJECT NO. 220-56-24.3 CROSSTOWN EXPRESSWAY, HIGHWAY #286 RELOCATED, A COPY OF WHICH PARCEL LIST IS ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF; AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE REAL ESTATE SALES CONTRACT FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, FOR THE ACQUISITION OF SAID PARCEL, WHEN AND ONLY WHEN THE PURCHASE PRICE IS WITHIN THE "APPROVED VALUE" AS DETERMINED BY THE STATE; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended by the following vote° Mayor Barnard; Commissioners Young, Blackmon, de Leon, Maldonado, Roberts, and Wallace, present and voting "Aye". The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Mayor Barnard; Commissioners Young, Blackmon, de Leon, Maldonado, Roberts and Wallace, present and voting "Aye", City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting September 4, 1963 Page 6 Mayor Barnard called for petitions or information from the audience on matters not scheduled on the agenda. Mrs. Sanchez and Mrs. Hernandez, interpreted by Commissioner de Leon to the Council, complained that the Victoria Club had been refused permission by the Park and Recreation Department to use the T -Mead for presentation of its September 16th program unless it obtained the services of four City policemen and union musicians, both of which conditions the Club is economically unable to fulfill. Motion by de Leon, seconded by Wallace and passed that the City Manager be authorized to investigate the matter, and take proper action as an Administrative matter. An employee of the City Sanitation Division, M. Soasa, showed the Council his paycheck stub, and questioned the figures shown. The matter was referred to the City Manager as an Administrative matter. There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned. s