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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 01/22/1964CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING January 22, 1964 2:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor James L. Barnard Commi8sioners: -Jim`:YSung_ . City Manager Herbert W. Whitney Jack R. Blackmon City Attorney I. M. Singer J. R. de Leon City Secretary T. Ray Kring M. P. Maldonado W. J. Roberts W. H. Wallace, Jr. Mayor James L. Barnard called the meeting to order. The Invocation was given by the Reverend Dan Rodriguez, El Buen Pastor Methodist Church. City Secretary T. Ray Kring called the roll of those in attendance. Commissioner Blackmon introduced two guests of his, Miss Marta Angula of Olives, a suburb of Buenas Aires, who is a licensed and practicing attorney with her father in Argentina, and presently studying for her master's degree at S.M.U.; and his son, Robert M. Blackmon, a law student at S.M.U. Motion by Roberts, seconded by de Leon and passed that the minutes of the regular meeting of January 15, 1964, at 2 p.m., and of the special meeting of the same day at 4 p.m., as furnished to the Council, be approved. Mayor Barnard read a proclamation endorsing the Young Women's Christian Association as an instrument of improved living in our community, and proclaiming the month of January 25, 1964, through February 25, 1964, as YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN MONTH in Corpus Christi, and urging our citizens to support this campaign. The proclamation was accepted by Mrs. R. W. Bailey as President of the Y.W.C.A., and Sharon Smith as youngest Y.W.C.A. member, who were introduced by Mrs. Ruth Hillis, Executive Director. Mayor Barnard particularly noted that the Y.M.C.A. also is conducting a membership drive at the same time. Mayor Barnard recognized Miss Ruth Mary Price, Executive Director for the Corpus Christi Housing Authority, representing Dr. W. A. Miller, Chairman,who was unable to be present. Miss Price stated that the Cooperation Agreement between the Housing Authority and the City permits the Housing Authority to pay up to 10% of the shelter rents collected for the year in lieu of ad valorem taxes, and pre- sented the Housing Authority's check in the sum of $17,094.00 covering the fiscal year ending September 30, 1963. • City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting January 22, 1964 Page 2 Mayor Barnard announced the opening of bids. Bids were opened and read on new concrete coping for the H. E. Butt Swimming Pool from the following: Benedict & Clark; King Construction Co.; and Slovak Brothers, Inc. The foregoing bids were tabled for 48 hours as required by City Charter, and referred to the City Manager for tabulation and recommendation. Mayor Barnard announced a vacancy on the Tennis Advisory Board due to the resignation of Hubert Manire. The nomination by Mayor Pro Tem Young of Dr. Bernard Grossman for appoint- ment to the Tennis Advisory Board was seconded by Commissioner Blackmon. Motion by de Leon, seconded by Maldonado and passed that nominations cease, and that the appointment .of Dr. Bernard‘GroSsman to the Tennis Advisory Board be approved.by acclamation. Mayor Barnard announced the public hearing on an application for the closing of that portion of First Street between Aberdeen Avenue and the south line of the Seaside Camp Meeting Grounds. City Manager Whitney located the property by a sketch; explained that the original petition of Robert P. Wallace, owner of Lots 43, 44, 45 and 47, Block 1, Sea Side Camp Meeting Grounds, was to declare closed that portion of First Street lying on the southwesterly side of these lots, and to abandon the property to the abutting property owners; that in connection witty some transaction regarding Mr. Wallace's property, the title company had been unable to find any official closing of this 60 -foot First Street as shown on a filed plat, although the street has never been built or used as a street; that the hearing for closing has been expanded to cover the ati'ee6 from Aberdeen Avenue and the South line of the _Seaside -CaMp.Meet- ing Ground on the assumption that the same situation would subsequently appear on the other properties abutting First Street; and suggested that the applicant or others present might be able to provide further information. Dave Coover, attorney, reviewed the history of the properties in the area; the ownership and changes of ownerships; the details of the vacating of First Street and all of the intervening streets contained in the Sea Side Camp Meeting • City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting January 22, 1964 Page 3 Grounds by the Commissioners' Court in 1937, since the property was in the County at that time, not the City; the claiming and fencing by Morris Lichtenstein of half of the abandoned First Street as being contiguous land to his Lots 48 through 60; the platting and replatting as Aberdeen Shores of the land that had been put back into acreage by the Commissioners' Court; the later rescinding of the previous action by the Commissioners' Court and the revacating on the same day; the present ownership of Lots 57 through 60 by Mr. Burnett and the quitclaiming of that portion of the abutting street to Mr. Burnett. Mr. Coover stated that he represented the interests of both Mr. Lichtenstein and Mr. Burnett in this instance, that they have no objection to the City's officially closing First Street as described, which they hold has been previously closed, vacated, and half of which 60' street they claim, so long asaction of the City Council does not prejudice their titles. Mr. Coover added that he understood Mr. Wallace wanted to go into the matter at this hearing but was apparently unable to be present due to the illness of his father in Dallas. John Mendleski did not oppose the closing, but stated he had been pay- ing taxes for several years on a portion of the street under discussion. Motion by de Leon, seconded by Young and passed that the hearing be recessed until next week's regular meeting. Mayor Barnard called for the City Manager's Reports. Motion by Roberts, seconded by Maldonado and passed that the City Manager's Reports be accepted, and the recommendations and requests be approved and granted, as follows: a. That the award of bid on Special Truck Bodies be made on the basis of low bid meeting specifications, to the following: To Truckers Equipment Co., Items 1 and 7, for a total of $8,298.00, for 6 - 4/5 cu.yd. Dump Bodies for $4,428.00, and 3 Brush Bodies for $3,870.00; to Commercial Body Corp., Items 2 and 3, for a total of $2,240.00, for 1 Special Crew Body for $1,600.00, and 1 Utility Service Body 104" for $640.00; to Pak -Mor Manufacturing Co., Item 4, 6 - 16 cu.yd. Packer Bodies for $18,540.00 less trade-in on 9 - 15 cu.yd. Pak -Mor Packer Bodies for $2,250.00; To Seal Press Inc., Item 5, for a total of $5,790.00, for 2 - 20 cu.yd. Packer Bodies for $3,645.00 less trade-in on City Equipment Nos. 594 & 595 for $750.00; and to Lowe Equipment Co., Item 6, for total of $5,790.00, for 1 Oil Field Type Body for $1,592.60; making a grand total award of $34,210.60; (Bid Tabulation #4). • • City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting January 22, 1964 Page 4 b. That the award of bid be made on the basis of low bid meeting specifications to San Antonio Machine & Supply Corp. for approximately 1,625 Weld Fittings consisting of caps, ells and flanges in various sizes, for a total of $1,757.77; (Bid Tabulation #5); c. That the award of bid be made on the basis of low bid meeting specifications to Wyatt Industries, Inc. for 476' - 42" Corrugated Galvanized Casing, double tar dipped, 12 gauge, complete with all bolts, nuts and connecting pieces, in 4 - 30' length, 17 - 20' lengths, and 2 - 4' lengths, for a total of $5,207.44; (Bid Tabulation #6); d. That the plans and specifications for the Garden Club Site Im- provements to be done by the City in connection with the agreement with the Council of Garden Clubs, Inc., and for the removal of sunken sidewalks and driveways and be approved; construction of new sidewalks and driveways on Janssen Drivel and that authority to advertise for bids to be received on February 12, 1964, be granted; e. That the date of February 5, 1964, during the regular meeting, be set for public hearing on an Appeal from the Decision of the Building Standards Commission regarding Lot 1, Block 20, Beach Portion; f. That the date of February 12, 1964, during the regular meeting be set for public hearing on 2 zoning cases (John D. Mew, and Will E. Fry); and the date of February 19th, during the regular meeting, be set for public hearing on 4 zoning cases (Grady St. Clair & W. S. Perkins; Eddie Buhidar; Guaranty National Bank & Trust Co., Farrell Smith & Mary Louise McMurry; and Jack Ryan; g. That the following Interim Zoning Permits be approved as recom- mended by the Zoning & Planning Commission, as follows: #61-13, W. R. Anderson, to erect an additional motel building housing 12 units on Lots 15 & 16, Lexington Industrial Center, at 2401 S. Lexington Blvd., be approved; #62-79, Rollins Outdoor Advertising, Inc., to erect one double -face standardized highway paint bulletin, 24' x 10°, on Lot 1, Block 3, Section 1, Highway Village, at Highway 9 & McKenzie Road, be approved subject to the follow- ing condition: (1) That the lowest point of the sign be no higher than 10' above the ground. City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting January 22, 1964 Page 5 ORDINANCE NO. 7133 DECLARING TERMINATION OF THE INTENT TO ASSESS PROPERTY ABUTTING ON NORTH STAPLES STREET FROM KINNEY STREET TO INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 37 AS SET FORTH IN ORDINANCE NO. 7041 AND THE NOTICE OF THE CITY SECRETARY FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK OF NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS, ON OCTOBER 9, 1963; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A GENERAL RELEASE OF ALL PROPERTY ABUTTING ON NORTH STAPLES STREET AFFECTED BY REASON OF SAID NOTICE; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended by the following vote: Mayor Barnard, Commissioners Young, Blackmon, de Leon, Maldonado, and Roberts present and voting "Aye"; Commissioner Wallace, absent. The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Mayor Barnard, Commissioners Young, Blackmon, de Leon, Maldonado and Roberts, present and voting "Aye"; Commissioner Wallace, absent. Mayor Barnard requested that the minutes reflect that Commissioner Wallace had arrived at the meeting. Mayor Barnard recognized Mr. Kenneth F. Cason, President of Laguna Madre Fisherman's Association, who explained the controversy between the sport and com- mercial fishermen and the Parks & Wild Life Commission regarding last year's ruling to allow the dredging within 300' of live oyster beds in Trinity and Galveston Bay, the threat to the sport, commercial, and tourist fishing in the entire Gulf Coast Area which resulted in the forming of the SOS (Save our Shell) Club; the filing of an injunction against the Parks & Wild Life Commission; and the hearing to be held in Austin on February 28th to rule whether or not the Parks & Wild Life Commission had acted on discretionary authority or mandatory authority of the law passed in the last Legislature in allowing the dredging within 300' rather than the recommended 1500' of conservation measures. He pointed out that within 6 months, some of the small dredging compaines operating in Nueces Bay will have no place to go other than Indian Point, Nigger's Reef, and Portland Reef, and that the resources in Trin- ity and Galveston Bays will play out in approximately 7 years. Mr. Cason read a resolution of the Laguna Madre Fisherman's Associa- tion setting forth their reasons for demanding the three members of the Parks and Wildlife Commission rescind their recent ruling to allow dredging within 300 feet of live oyster reefs, and requesting that Governor John Connally review the appoint- ment of the Parks and Wildlife Commission and if necessary, appoint three members ri City of Corpus Christi, Texas Regular Council Meeting January 22, 1964 Page 6 • who will give fair and due consideration to the needs and desires of all Texans and who will dedicate their services to preserving the natural resources for all the people of the State. (Council Exhibit #1) Mr. Cason reminded the Council that the previous Council had supported the Association by resolution sent to the State Legislature when the first Bill came up, and urged that similar support be given at the hearing to be held in Austin on February 28th. Mayor Barnard expressed the Council's appreciation for the efforts of the Association for the benefit of the Coastal Area, and Mr. Cason's bringing this matter to its attention; and stated that the Council would have an opportunity to discuss the matter this afternoon and take some kind of supporting action before the time of the hearing in Austin. Mayor Barnard recognized Mr. Jack Constantine, General Manager of Gulf Coast Aviation, who explained in detail the construction, need, and purpose served in support of his company's request for the erection of an ENCO sign at Inter- national Airport. Mr. Garrett Guly, Manager of Humble Oil & Refining Company, spoke in support of the request, and pointed out the use of similar signs in other large Texas airports. Commissioner Roberts suggested that this matter might properly come under Airport Zoning, and might need to be studied in connection with the proposed new Sign Ordinance which is soon to be submitted to the Council. City Manager Whitney felt that the regulations of the proposed new Sign Ordinance would probably not be applicable to the airport signs, since they are all on City property, but that it might be desirable to use the same standards. Motion by Roberts, seconded by Young and passed that the matter be re- ferred to the Airport Zoning Board for a report and recommendation, and that the City Manager obtain information from other airports as to policy and experience in respect to signs on airport property. Dave Lane, referring to a recent newspaper article regarding an increase in personnel of the Police Department and stricter enforcement of the laws of the City, warned the Council of the dangers of oppression in a City by excessive and expanded Police powers. • • City of Corpus ChrLetl, Texas Regular Council Meeting January 22, 1964 Page 7 Mayor Barnard explained that the reference was to a recommendation from an advisory board to the Council to increase the number of policemen as a result of traffic studies in an effort to cut down the appalling number of traffic accidents, death and property damage ix the City, and to promote driver- education of safe driving, and is not an expansion of Police powers. There being no further business to :.owe before the Caunil,, the meeting was adjourned,