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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 08/28/1967 - SpecialMINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING August 28, 1967 2:00 P.M. PRESENT: Mayor Jack R. Blackmon Mayor Pro Tem Ronnie Sizemore Commissioners: Dr. P. Jimenez, Jr. Gabe Lozano, Sr. Ken McDaniel City Manager Herbert W. Whitney City Attorney 2. M. Singer City Secretary T. Ray Kring Mayor Jack R. Blackmon called the meeting to order. The Invocation was given by Father Jude Anton of St. Theresa Parish Catholic Church. City Secretary T. Ray Kring called the roll of those in attendance. Motion by Jimenez, seconded by Sizemore and passed that the absence of Commissioner Bradley be excused for cause. Mayor Blackmon, prior to introducing a resolution of condolence of the Council upon the death of Commissioner Jack Grant, made the following comments: "Our City has suffered a grievous loss in the death last night of Com- missioner Jack Grant. Although a public official for just under five months, Mr. Grant had lived in Corpus Christi for 50 years, and was well known in the community, civic, religious, athletic and political life of our city. "He was a dedicated public servant, facing the challenges of the city government with vigorous enthusiasm, backed by a wealth of knowledge and a depth of understanding. He worked, as he lived, courteously and coopera- tively, with confidence and capability. "His life has ended in the service of his fellow man, and it will be difficult for us to carry on without him. Men like Jack Grant cannot be spared or replaced. There are no words in the English language which can bring comfort to his family at a time like this. We on the City Council do share the tragedy, for it was good to work with a 'teammate' like him. "Jack Grant knew the importance of the Council Meeting today, and its critical timing as the new laws of the last session of the Texas Legislature became effective today. Much as we would like to postpone the meeting, Jack Grant would not have had it any other way. Minutes Special Council Meeting August 28, 1967 Page 2 "We will continue the best that we can, and conceal our sorrow as we lose ourselves in the work for the good of our City as a whole. Only in this manner can Jack Grant be assured that his labors and his life have not been in vain." RESOLUTION NO. 8573 EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCE OF TETE CITY COUNCIL UPON THE OCCASION OF THE DEATH OF CITY COMMISSIONER J. A. "JACK" GRANT ON AUGUST 27, 1967; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended and the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote: Blackmon, Sizemore, Jimenez, Lozano and McDaniel, present and voting "Aye;" Bradley absent. Mayor Blackmon stated the purpose of the special meeting was to consider the advisability of calling an election submitting to referendum the question of a levy of a sales tax; explained that the .last Session of the Texas Legislature authorized cities to levy a one percent sales tax subject to voter approval on the same items now taxed two percent by the State, and explained the procedure to be followed. Mr. Oscar Reyna, President of the Coastal Bend Labor Council appeared and stated that this organization has officially gone on record opposing the tax at the state level, and is opposing the City's proposed one percenttax for the reason that it is the consensus that the proposed sales tax is not a fair method of taxation on the basis that it will affect people who can least afford to pay. Mr. Earl Lewis, representative of the International Harvester Company, and two other implement dealers in the City, Mr. Beach and Mr. Jones, appeared and stated that they were interested in whether or not the tax would apply to them, stating that they are now exempt from the State two percent sales tax, and that if the proposed tax applied, competition from neighboring towns would virtually put them out of business. City Manager Whitney advised Mr. Lewis that implement dealers would be exempt from the sales tax, and further stated that automobiles would also be exempt; the same regulations would apply as now apply under the State Law. Mr. George Gaines, Vice President of Western Steel Corporation, appeared and stated that the proposed sales tax would penalize building materials suppliers Minutes Special Council Meeting August 28, 1967 Page 3 heavily, putting them at a disadvantage with out of town competitors. Mr. Gaines pointed out that steel firms have diminished from six to two in the past few years which he attributed to too high taxes in this area. Mr. John Jordon, Vice President of Letter Carriers' Association, appeared and voiced opposition on behalf of the 200 letter carriers in the City, and generally concurred in the statements of Mr. Lewis. Mayor Blackmon stated that the question of which cities the tax would apply is still open to interpretation, but that most Texas cities plan to submit the tax to voters; stated that tourist would pay a large portion of the tax because practi- cally everything they purchase would be subject to the tax; stated that such items as food and prescription drugs would not be taxed. Mayor Blackmon further stated that property taxes in the City have reached the saturation point, and that if the sales tax is approved by the voters, a 10 to 15 cent reduction in property taxes will be possible; and stated that the only other alternative, but not desirable, would be to reduce City services. City Manager Whitney stated that on the advise of City Attorney Singer following a recalculation of the time table, the date of September 28 is recommended for submitting to referendum the question of a levy of a sales tax, and presented the following ordinances. ORDINANCE N0, 857+ SETTING UP, CREATING AND DIVIDING THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, INTO THIRTY (30) WARDS; DESCRIBING SAID WARDS; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES AND PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Blackmon, Sizemore, Jimenez, Lozano and McDaniel, present and voting "Aye;" Bradley absent, Grant deceased., ORDINANCE NO, 8575 DIVIDING THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, INTO THIRTY (30) ELECTION PRECINCTS FOR AND IN WHICH ALL MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS SHALL HEREAFTER BE HELD IN AND FOR SAID CITY AND SAME SHALL BE KNOWN AS ELECTION PRECINCTS NUMBERS ONE (1) THROUGH THIRTY (30), INCLUSIVE; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Blackmon, Sizemore, Jimenez, Lozano and McDaniel, present and voting "Aye;" Bradley absent, Grant deceased, Minutes Special Council Meeting August 28, 1967 Page 4 ORDINANCE NO. 8576 ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, ON THE QUESTION OF THE ADOPTION OF A ONE PERCENT (i%) LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX WITHIN THE CITY; DESIGNATING THE DAY OF THE ELECTION AND THE POLLING PLACES; APPOINTING ELECTION OFFICIALS THEREFOR; PROVIDING THAT ALL DULY QUALIFIED RESIDENT ELECTORS SHALL BE QUALIFIED TO VOTE; PRESCRIBING THE FORM OF BALLOT; PROVIDING FOR NOTICE OF ELECTION; CONTAINING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO SAID ELECTION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Blackmon, Sizemore, Jimenez, Lozano and McDaniel, present and. voting "Aye;" Bradley absent, Grant deceaseds City Manager Whitney presented for the Council's consideration a resolution recommending that the Texas Highway Department provide in their Roadway contract the relocation of water lines that will interfere with certain highway construction. RESOLUTION N0. 8577 RECOMMENDING AND REQUESTING THAT THE TEXAS HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT PROVIDE IN THEIR ROAD- WAY CONTRACT THE RELOCATION OF WATER LINES THAT WILL I8i'ERPERE WITH HIGHWAY CON- STRUCTION ON STATE HIGHWAY 358, FROM STATE HIGEWAY 286 TO AIRLINE ROAD; AND DECLAR- ING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended and the foregoing resoluttei was passed by the following vote: Blackmon, Sizemore, Jimenez, Lozano and McDaniel, present and voting "Aye;" Bradley absent, Grant deceased. Mayor Blackmon recognized in the audience Mr. Elliott Stendig, Health Pro- gram Specialist and new resident in the City employed by the Texas State Depart- ment of Health as Regional Coordinator for a State-sponsored immunization program. Mr. Stendig stated that the program will involve approximately 29 counties, and that he will work in cooperation with the local Health Department in a program of combatting the communicable diseases known as the "Big Six," and stated he was soliciting the cooperation of the Council. There being no further business to come before the Council, the special meeting was adjourned. TEE STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF NUECES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI : NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING TO TEE.NEMBERS.OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CIl'Y MANAGER, TLE CITY SECRETARY AND THE CITY ATTORNEY TO THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS: NOTICE is hereby given that a special meeting of the City Council of the City of Corpus Christi, Texas, will be held in the City of Corpus Christ;., Texas, in the Council_ Chamber of the City Hall, at A -o'clock, i R• , on the 28th day of August , 1967 , for the purpose of calling an election submitting to referendum the question of a levy of a sales tax, and any other business properly coming before the Council. DATED this the 23 day of August 19 67. ACK R. BLACION, MAYOR City of Corpus Christi, Texas CONSENT TO MEETING We, the undersigned members of the City Council, the City Manager, the City Secretary and the City Attorney to the City of Corpus Christi, Texas, hereby accept service of the foregoing notice, waiving any and all irregularities in such service and consent and agree that said meeting shall be at the time and place therein named and. for the purpose %herein. std. 1 DICK BREL Y, JR jObEITSSIONE ACK GP NT Ol'iUSSIO= 4110 GABS L A WO SR.-, I. M. SINGER', CITY TORNEY . RA 440 IGS,, p, . 0"; PRO T:E.i _ . , COKvIISSIONER L • MCDANIEL, L, , COr.iEEssIO], H KEERT W. S IIMEY, Ci by Secret'. rt'