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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 05/01/1968MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING May 1, 1968 2:00 P. M. PRESENT: Mayor Jack R. Blackmon Mayor Pro Tem Ronnie Sizemore Commissioners: Dick Bradley, Jr. Dr. P. Jimenez, Jr. Gabe Lozano, Sr. Ken McDaniel W. J. Roberts City Manager R. Marvin Townsend City Attorney 1. M. Singer City Secretary T. Ray Kring Mayor Jack R. Blackmon called the meeting to order. The Invocation was given by the Reverend Hal W. Bray, Jr., Pastor of the Woodlawn Presbyterian Church. City Secretary T. Ray Kring called the roll of those in attendance. The Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of April 24, 1968, were approved as submitted to the Council. Mayor Blackmon recognized a group of officers of the Corpus Christi Council of Garden Clubs headed by Mrs. Lewis Jones, President, who read a letter of commendation signed by Mrs. Jones and Mrs. J. T. Tollett, Jr., General Chairman of the Lola Forrester Flower Show staged in Exposition Hall the past week, expressing appre- ciation for the City's participation and cooperation in donating their time and talents in arrangements of the show. Together with Mrs. Lewis were Mrs. D. W. L. Carter, Vice President; Mrs. William Lorenzen, Governor of District Seven; and Mrs. Jesse Jamison, Classifications Chairman. Members of the Council and City Officials were presented with boutonniers as a gesture manifesting their appreciation. Special recognition and credit was given to Mrs. Margery Brown, Coliseum Manager; Mr. Bill Witt, Park Department Manager; Mr. Larry Bland of the City Gas Department; Charles Randall and David Jacobs; and particularly, to Park Superintendent Ken Krenek, who was highly commended for his efficiency and unstinting efforts in helping to make the 1968 Flower Show the largest and most successful ever staged in the City. (Council Exhibit 42-68). Minutes Regular Council Meeting May I, 1968 Page 2 Mayor Blackmon directed that the City Secretary prepare a Commendation Certificate to be presented to Mr. Krenek. Mayor Blackmon made special recognition of a group of visitors from the City of Uvalde, Texas, the Honorable Melvin Rowland, Mayor; City Manager, Mr. Harry Nagle; Chief, Vance Chisum; and Councilman, Alonzo Villareal. Mayor Blackmon read and presented proclamations as follows: CINCO DE MAYO DAY, May 5, 1968, in celebration of one of the great days in Mexican History, and urged appropriate participation in the celebration thereby strengthening the coveted inter - American relationship necessary for the happiness of our people; NATIONAL MARITIME UNION DAY, May 3, 1968, urging all citizens of our City to join in recognition of the many contributions to the Port of Corpus Christi made by this great organization. Mr. L. DeWitt Hale introduced the New Field Patrolman, Mr. James McKinley, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. McKinley, who were present to receive the proclamation; ISRAEL YOUTH DAY, May 2, 1968, in recognition of the 20th Anniversary of the freedom and independence of the State of Israel, paying special recognition to visiting representatives from the Govem- ment of Israel, two twenty year old youths, Aliza Halperin and Daniel Csaznik, sent here to visit the City of Corpus Christi as a gesture of friendship. The proclamation was re- ceived by Mr. Maury Wolfson and Mr. Julius Brownstein; BUCCANEER DAYS, May 2 - 12, 1968, in recognition of the organization's purpose to promote an activity of community interest in which the citizenry may participate with fun and frolic. Mayor Blackmon called for the City Manager's reports. Motion by Roberts, seconded by Jimenez and passed, that the City Manager's Reports be accepted, and that the recommendations and requests be approved and granted as follows: a. That the award of contract for the Third Floor Remodeling of La Retama Library be made to Tanner Freeman on the basis of low base bid in the amount of $76,931.00; and that an appropriation in the amount of $81,000.00 to over the con- Minutes Regular Council Meeting May I, 1968 Page 3 tract price and contingencies, be authorized; b. That the date of May 15, 1968, be set for a public hearing on a request to close right of way located between Holly Road and Airline; c. That the date of May 27, 1968, Special Meeting, be set for pub- lic hearing on eight zoning cases; d. That the preliminary schematics of Padre Island Drive from Airline to NAS Drive, including grade separations at Airline, Nile Drive, Rodd Field Road, Ennis Joslin relocated, Paul Jones, Flour Bluff Shore, Flour Bluff Drive, Stone, and NAS Inter- change; requir:., the acquisition of approximately 2,000 feet of right of way, be approved, e. That the authority to receive bids from trucking firms to haul approxi- mately 20,000 cubic yards of topsoil from Kelly Ditch to Cole Park, a distance of approxi- mately six miles, to be loaded by City Forces; bids to be taken on the basis of the cost per cubic yard to be hauled ORDINANCE NO. 8852 AMENDING SECTION 7-41A OF THE CORPUS CHRISTI CITY CODE, 1958, AS AMENDED , SO AS TO PROVIDE A NEW LANDING FEE FOR NON-SCHEDULED COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Blackmon, Sizemore, Bradley, Jimenez, Lozano, McDaniel, and Roberts present and voting "Aye". ORDINANCE NO. 8853 AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER, FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH TANNER FREEMAN FOR ADDI- TIONS AND ALTERATIONS TO LA RETAMA LIBRARY, PROJECT NO. 207-64-9; APPRO- PRIATING OUT OF NO. 207 PUBLIC BUILDING BOND FUNDS THE SUM OF $81,000, OF WHICH AMOUNT $76,93I.00 IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AND $4,069.00 IS FOR 'CONTINGENCIES, FURNISHINGS AND INCIDENTAL EXPENSES; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by Minutes Regular Council Meeting May I, 1968 Page 4 the following vote: Blackmon, Sizemore, Bradley, Jimenez, Lozano, McDaniel, and Roberts present and voting "Aye". ORDINANCE NO. 8854 CLOSING THAT PORTION OF TIMON BOULEVARD ABUTTING BLOCKS 59, 60, 61 and 62, BROOKLYN ADDITION, IN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS; AND DECLARING AN EMER+GENCY. The Charter rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Blackmon, Sizemore, Bradley, Jimenez, Lozano, McDaniel, and Roberts present and voting "Aye". ORDINANCE NO. 8855 APPROVING ASSIGNMENT FROM GULF COAST AVIATION, INC. TO BLEDSOE AVIATION, INC. OF A LEASE AGREEMENT CONCERNING AN AREA AT THE CORPUS CHRISTI INTER- NATIONAL AIRPORT, 750', X 350', AS SHOWN ON EXHIBIT "A" ATTACHED TO SAID ASSIGNMENT DATED JULY 14, 1960, AND APPROVED BY ORDINANCE NO. 5789, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE NEW ASSIGNMENT OF LEASE FROM GULF COAST AVJATION, INC. TO BLEDSOE AVIATION, INC., A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF; SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS SET FORTH AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Blackmon, Sizemore, Bradley, Jimenez, Lozano, McDaniel, and Roberts present and voting "Aye". Mayor Blackmon called for petitions or information not scheduled on the agenda. Mr. Joel Garcia, 901 Wilshire, appeared heading a delegation of approxi- mately 30 persons, including Mrs. Russo Martinez, 4502 Marie, and Pete Burgess, who spoke, petitioning the Council to take actions within their power to enforce the ordinance which pro- hibits the sale of obscene literature and pictures in the City. He stated that a complaint had been filed with the County Attorney's Office, and pointed out that a check had been made of magazine stands in the City, and found that in some places 90 percent of the magazines were not fit for teenage boys and girls and that they are placed at the easy access of youth of any age. Mr. Garcia furnished the Council with copies of magazines and materials which Minutes Regular Council Meeting May I, 1968 Page 5 he had purchased off the newsstands and which he considered to be obscene and in violation of the City's ordinance, (Council Exhibit #3-68) Mayor Blackmon stated that it is very difficult to legislate what people can or cannot read or view; that the crux of the problem is how the word obscene is defined; and stated that the Country is bound by the U. S. Supreme Court rulings dealing with obscene literature cases. He advised Mr. Garcia that it is every individuals right, as well as their obligation, to file complaints, but that the accused have the same right to be heard in a court of law to determine the violations. He further stated that the Council is concerned if the ordinance is insufficient or inadequate, and directed that the Legal Department report on its adequacy and if there is anything the Council can do. Mr. John Haas, attorney representing the Corpus Christi Package Liquor Association, presented copies of and asked for passage of an ordinance prohibiting persons under the age of 21 from being on the premises of a liquor store or any other place licensed to sell liquor, stating that the industry is concerned that it is too easy for minors to purchase liquor. He described the ordinance as an attempt on the part of the liquor industry to better policy and control themselves and to control the possession and consumption of liquor by minors which he termed the fastest growing offense in the State.(0o414 Present in the audience and speaking in support of the proposed ordinance were Representative Ronald Bridges and DeWitt Hale; Joe Salem Margarito Garza, A Coke Williamson, Abel Chapa, Harry Porter, Butch Eden, and Henry Elkouri, Manager of Ware- house Liquor Stores. Dr. W. H. Colson spoke in support of the proposed ordinance, and commented that he finds himself placed in an odd position of siding with the liquor industry, but gave the ordinance his wholehearted endorsement. Mr. J. R. Brownstein, stated that he feels many laws are broken because they are bad laws and cannot be enforced, and stated that he believes the proposed ordinance is in that category. He stated that the age limit for consumption of alcohol should be lowered Minutes Regular Council Meeting May I, 1968 Page 6 to 18, and that if an 18 year old is old enough to be drafted and fight for his country, he is old enough to consume 1igeorif he chooses. Mr. Oscar Spitz, attorney representing Shopper's World, stated that it appear to him that the proposed ordinance is an attempt on the part of the liquor industry to stifle competition, is arbitrary and discriminatory, and that he did not feel the request comes in the public interest. Mr. Elkouri defended the position of the liquor industry and stated that the ordinance was not intended to be a "price fixing deal", that Warehouse Liquor often sells at below cost during its weekend specials. Mayor Blackmon stated that the City will give long and careful considera- tion to the issue before any action is taken on the matter of the proposed liquor control ordin- ance. City Manager Townsend stated that he already has a partial report in connection with the sale of lewd literature and that he will make a full report at Workshop Monday. Mr. Abel Chapa suggested that the "no fishing" sign be taken off the concrete storm sewer that extends out from the Seawall near the Chamber of Commerce Building. He suggested that it be changed from "keep off" to a warning sign, since it is an ideal fishing place. Mayor Blackmon stated the matter would be referred to the City Manager for investigation and recommendation. Mr. Margarita Garza asked the Mayor to proclaim Saturday as "Get Off Your Voter Registration Slip and Vote Day." There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned,