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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 11/20/1963PRESENT: Mayor James L. Barnard Commissioners: Jim Young Jack R. Blackmon J. R. de Leon M. P. Maldonado W. J. Roberts W. H. Wallace, Jr. IY CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING November 20, 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 Dr. Wallace Rogers, Pastor of Parkdale Baptist Church. City Secretary T. Ray Kring called the roll of those in attendance. Mayor Barnard announced the Council had a special item of recognition which would come as a surprise to some in the room, and read and presented a letter addressed to City Manager Whitney, signed by the four men who were Mayors while he has been City Manager, recognizing the beginning of his sixth year as City Manager, commending him for his magnificent efforts and accomplishments for the City, for the City's progress during his administration, and in appreciation of the fidelity he has displayed in steering our "ship of state" to the heights Corpus Christi has attained, expressing the feeling that the entire citizenry has gained by his having been the Chief Administrator of our City for the past five years, and wishing him continued success. Mayor Barnard explained that Ben F. McDonald, Mayor from 1961- 1963, was not present due to a dentist appointment, but recognized the presence of Farrell D. Smith, Mayor from 1955-1959, and Ellroy King, Mayor from 1959-1961, each of whom greeted and expressed personal congratulations to Mr. Whitney. Motion by Maldonado, unanimously seconded and passed that the members of this City Council give Mr. Whitney a vote of trust and confidence at the beginning of his sixth year as City Manager. Motion by de Leon, seconded by Young and passed that the absence of Com- missioner Jack R. Blackmon be excused for cause. Motion by de Leon, seconded by Roberts and passed that the minutes of the regular meeting of November 13, 1963, be approved as furnished to the Council, Mayor Barnard announced the pending item of the application of Ted M. Anderson for a change of zoning from "R -LB" One -family Dwelling District to "AB" • • City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting November 20, 1963 Page 2 Professional office Districton all of Lots 3, 4 and 5, Block 1, Arcadia Subdivi- sion, on which public hearing was held October 16, 1963 Motion by de Leon, seconded by Maldonado and passed that the request for a change of zoning from "R -1B" to "AB" Professional office District on all of Lot 3, 4 and 5, Block 1, Arcadia Subdivision, be denied. Commissioner Blackmon arrived at the meeting. Mayor Barnard welcomed to the meeting the representatives of the Student Council of Robert Driscoll Junior High School and their sponsor, Mrs. Jackie Burman; and Commissioner Blackmon presented Certificates of Attendance designating as Honorary Junior City Commissioners, the following. Steve Massey, president; Suzanne Jackson, vice-president; Gloria Salazar, secretary; and Anna Garcia, treasurer° Motion by Roberts, seconded by de Leon and passed that the minutes re- cognize the presence of Commissioner Blackmon at the meeting. Mayor Barnard called for the City Manager's Reports. Motion by Young, seconded by de Leon and passed that the City Manager's Reports, with the exception of Item "e" relative to plan for extension of Agnes and Laredo Streets to be considered separately, be accepted, and the recommenda- tions and requests be approved and granted, as follows. a. That authority to advertise for bids to be received on December 4, 1963, on an estimated 12 -months° supply of Copper Tubing, be granted; b. That authority to advertise tor bids to be received on December 4, 1963, on Drapery Material for La Retama Library, be granted; co That the recapitulation of total assessed valuation of real estate and personal property in the amount of $437,828.942, exclusive of estimated valua- tions in the Flour Bluff area, as shown on the 1963 Tax Rolls as shown by the Tax Assessor -Collector and approved by the Board of Equalization, be accepted and approved; d> That the award of bid on a 5 -year Oil and Gas Lease on 100,32 acres located on the Westside Sewer Plant property, be made to the only bidder, Mr, George He Falk, for the usual terms, plus a bonus of $4,113,12; (35d Tabulation #79); • y • City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting November 20, 1963 Page 3 e. Relative to the revised plan for the extension of Agnes and Laredo Streets considered separately as stated in the motion; f. That the application of Southwest Production Company for a permit to drill a well in search of oil and gas on a 160 -acre tract in Block 1, J, C. Russell Farm Tracts, be approved, City Manager Whitney presented for separate consideration, Item "e" of his Reports; explained a revised plan for the Agnes -Laredo Street Extensions to tie into the downtown area as prepared by the City's Engineering Department and tentatively approved by the District Engineer of the Highway Department; and recommended that this plan be approved as an acceptable, workable plan for for- warding to the District Engineer of the Highway Department for submission to the State Highway Commission in Austin. Mayor Barnard assured the public that certain Church properties would not be affected by the proposed extension; reminded the Council that the money needed for acquiring the necessary right-of-way involved would have to be obtained from bond funds; and asked if Council approval at this time would constitute a commitment for submitting this matter as a bond question at this time, City Manager Whitney felt that by such endorsement of the plan at this ligated time, the Council would be morally ob-/to at least submit the question to the voters; and City Attorney Singer advised that there was no not change its decision or withdraw its approval, Commissioner Wallace stated that he had been in favor of the High Bridge over the Channel, the Freeway, Expressway, Interstate 37, and was for progress, but differed with the other members of the Council in this matter, and felt it was his duty to explain his reasons, He stated that he regarded the Staff's plan as an excellent and beautiful addition to the City and had no quarrel with it, but that the spending of the additional three-quarters of a million dollars that would have to come from tax money of one kind or another in order to save 3 minutes' travel time and provide an easy access from Agnes and Laredo Streets into the Downtown business district should be weighed very carefully in view of the many other very important developments strongly favored by the Council, such as the creation of a Science & Art Center of nationwide importance which will require way in which the Council could City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting November 20, 1963 Page 4 considerable expenditures from the City's tax monies, the complex and expensive plan for the overpass system at Baldwin and 19th or 20th Streets vitally needed to allow freer flow of traffic from Staples and the Six Points area into tne Downtown area and to the Crosstown Expressway, and many other items that will unquestionably arise calling for large expenditures by the City. He stated that although Staff studies found approximately $10,000 in damages caused by accidents during the past 12 months at various grade intersections that would be abolished by this plan, he wanted to point out that the completion of the Crosstown Expressway, expected within a reasonable time, will relieve the situation down Agnes and Laredo, and the Interstate 37 Freeway will move traffic to Ocean Drive in 5 minutes or less. Using the estimate of $760,000, it would take 76 years to recover the cost of the right of way in savings to taxpayers. Commissioner Wallace suggested that if the Council considers this extension plan an essential project, that the City Staff prepare a possible route that will project the two streets straight across Tancahua, Carancahua and Broadway at the Telephone building, thereby eliminating some of the City's eyesores of sheet metal buildings along such route. Commissioner de Leon stated that he was in favor of the plan for the reasons that he had been a member of the delegation that appeared before the High- way Commission in Austin to ask that the Highway Department complete the extension of Agnes and Laredo Streets, at the same time requesting that Corpus Christi be designated as a Pilot City in the Federal Transportation Study Program; that on recommendation of the Highway Commission the order was issued for that local study and the extension recommended; that progress would be retarded and the Council will be taking a step backward if approval is not voted at this time; that if taxes are going to be higher whether or not this project is completed, we might as well have this improvement too; and it will provide a way for getting people to the contem- plated Science & Art Center referred to by Commissioner Wallace. Mayor Barnard felt that one of the man reasons for approval of the plan is that besides getting traffic from the West side of our City to the Downtown area, it will also help get traffic to the South side from the Downtown area by moving part of that traffic into the one-way street pattern of Tancahua and Caran- cahua into Santa Fe, thereby relieving Shoreline and Ocean Drive which presently carries entirely too much traffic for safety due to the fact that tne public will not spend the extra few minutes it now takes to use Santa Fe to get to and from the South side of the City. City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting November 20, 1963 Page 5 Commissioner Roberts felt that approval of this plan at this time need not be postponed since such approval does not bar the Staff and Council from further study or proposals in the matter, particularly in view of the possibility that the Highway Department may recommend refinements and economies in the plan when they study it, and the fact that since additional bonds will most probably have to be voted to complete this project, the citizens will ultimately make the decision. Motion by de Leon, seconded by Young and passed, with Commissioner Wallace voting "Nay", that the revised plan for the Agnes -Laredo Extension be accepted and approved for forwarding to the District Engineer for submission to the State High- way Commission. ORDINANCE NO. 7081 AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER, FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER AN EXCHANGE DEED WITH BALDWIN FARMS, INC., ET AL, EXCHANGING CERTAIN LANDS''LOCATED IN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS, AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE EXCHANGE DEED, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF; 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 above ordinance was passed by the following vote° Mayor Barnard, Commissioners Young, Blackmon, de Leon, Maldonado, Roberts and Wallace, present and voting "Aye". ORDINANCE NO. 7082 AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI ADOPTED ON THE 27TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1937, APPEARING OF RECORD IN VOLUME 9, PAGES 565 ET SEQ OF THE ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTION RECORDS, AS AMENDED FROh, TIME TO TIME, AND PARTICULARLY AS AMENDED BY ORDINANCE NO. 6106, PASSED AND APPROVED ON THE 29TH DAY OF MARCH, 1961, BY AMENDING THE ZONING MAP BY CHANGING THE ZONING OF A 30 -ACRE, MORE OR LESS, PORTION OF SHARE G, McBRIDE PARTITION IN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS, FROM "R -IB" ONE FAMILY DWELLING DISTRICT TO "B-4" GENERAL BUSINESS DISTRICT;KEEPING: IN EFFECT ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE EXISTING 0::;rINANCE AS AMENDED; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended by the following votes Mayor Barnard, Commissioners Young, Blackmon, de Leon, Maldonado, Roberts and Wallace, present and voting "Aye". The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following votes Mayor Barnard, Commissioners Young, Blackmon, de Leon, Maldonado, Roberts and Wallace, present and voting "Aye". City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting November 20, 1963 Page 6 ORDINANCE NO. 7083 AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI ADOPTED ON THE 27TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1937, APPEARING OF RECORD IN VOLUME 9, PAGES 565 ET SEQ OF THE ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTION RECORDS, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND PARTICULARLY AS AMENDED BY ORDINANCE NO. 6106, PASSED AND APPROVED ON THE 29TH DAY OF MARCH, 1961, BY AMENDING THE ZONING MAP BY CHANGING THE ZONING OF LOTS 10 & 12, BLOCK 79, BROOKLYN ADDITION TO THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS, FROM "B -IA" TO 13-1" NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT; KEEPING IN EFFECT ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE EXISTING ORDINANCE AS AMENDED; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; 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". ORDINANCE N0. 7084 AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI ADOPTED ON THE 27TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1937, APPEARING OF RECORD IN VOLUME 9, PAGES 565 ET SEQ OF THE ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTION RECORDS, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND PARTICULARLY AS AMENDED BY ORDINANCE NO. 6106, PASSED AND APPROVED ON THE 29TH DAY OF MARCH, 1961, BY AMENDING THE ZONING MAP BY CHANGING THE ZONING OF ALL OF LOT F, SAXET COMMUNITY CENTER, AS FILED OF RECORD IN VOLUME 24, PAGE 84, OF THE NUECES COUNTY MAP RECORDS ON APRIL 13, 1962, ALL OF LOT D, SAXET COMMUNITY CENTER, AS FILED OF RECORD IN VOLUME 24, PAGE 84, OF THE NUECES COUNTY MAP RECORDS ON MARCH 29, 1962, AND A PORTION OF LOT A, SAXET COMMUNITY CENTER, AS RECORDED IN VOLUME 22, PAGE 81, NUECES COUNTY MAP RECORDS ON NOVEMBER 18, 1959, SAID PORTION OF LOT A, SAXET COM- MUNITY CENTER, BEING MORE FULLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER, AND WHICH TRACT OR PARCEL IS ALSO KNOWN AS A PORTION OF LOT 12 BANCROFT FARM LOTS, IN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS, FROM "R -1B" ONE FAMILY DWELLING DISTRICT TO "B-4" GENERAL BUSINESS DISTRICT; KEEPING IN EFFECT ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE EXISTING ORDINANCE AS AMENDED; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; 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, de Leon, Maldonado, Roberts and Wallace, present and voting "Aye"; Commissioner Blackmon abstained. ORDINANCE N0. 7085 THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER, FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AND LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE CORPUS CHRISTI COUNCIL OF GARDEN CLUBS, INC., FOR A BUILDING SITE AND RELATED AREAS AS A PART OF THE CORPUS CHRISTI NATURE CENTER PARK, IN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS, A COPY OF WHICH LEASE AGREEMENT IS ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF, WHICH NEW LEASE IS IN LIEU OF A LEASE HERETOFORE AUTHORIZED BY ORDINANCE NO. 5687, DATED MARCH 9, 1960. • City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting November 20, 1963 Page 7 The foregoing ordinance was read for the third time and passes finally by the following vote: Mayor Barnard, Commissioners Young, Blackmon, de Leon, Maldonado, Roberts and Wallace, present and voting "Aye". ORDINANCE NO. 7086 AMENDING THE CORPUS CHRISTI CITY CODE, 1958, AS AMENDED, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 7, BY THE ADDITION OF NEW SECTIONS OUTLINING THE FURTHER DUTIES OF THE AIRPORT MANAGER AND DELEGATING CERTAIN AUTHORITY TO THE AIRPORT MANAGER; SPECIFYING THE NUMBERS OF SAID NEW SECTIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICA- TION; 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 Manager Whitney asked if the Council was ready to take official action in connection with the proposed paving of North Staples Street from Kinney to Interstate Highway #37, on the recommendation of the Public Works Department that the project as presently designed be held in abeyance for at least 90 days and authority be given to proceed with cost estimates for acquisition of right- of-way and construction of a 60' street; and reminded the Council that although no Work Order has been issued, there is a valid contract for the construction of this project, and that any decision will require subsequent arrangements with the contractor as to termination. Motion by Wallace, seconded by Young and passed that the matter of the paving of North Staples Street from Kinney to Antelope as a 40' street be dropped with a view to studying the widening to a 60' street at a later unspecified date, and that no specific action be taken by the Staff at this time. Leo Duran, J. R. Villarreal, Tony Bonilla, and Gabe Lozano, Jr. all spoke of the need for providing the proposed parking areas under the overpass at Agnes and Laredo Streets and urged the immediate approval of the proposed plans and of the construction as they felt the estimated cost was nominal. • City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting November 20, 1963 Page 8 Mayor Barnard thanked them for their interest and comments and said the matter will be further considered at the next Work Shop meeting. Ed. P. Williams, attorney representing the Gulf Winds Motel and the Shoreline Terrace Motel on the West drive of Shoreline Boulevard, appeared in opposition to a proposed plan to close East Shoreline to through traffic, make West Shoreline one-way going North, and Water Street one-way going South, on the basis that it would very adversely effect his clients' operations since virtually all of their business comes from the North, and that it would not solve the traffic problem on Shoreline since such a plan would reduce the number of moving traffic lanes from 10 to 7; and outlined an alternative proposal to widen East Shoreline to 24' and make it a divided drive for both Northbound and Southbound traffic. Mayor Barnard explained that one of the problems is providing for entrance to the Coliseum, but that Mr. William's proposal will be considered when the matter is presented to the Council at a Work Shop meeting. There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned.