HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 05/15/1968PRESENT:
Mayor Jack R. Blackmon
Commissioners:
Dick Bradley, Jr.
Dr. P. Jimenez, Jr.
Gabe Lozano, Sr.
Ken McDaniel
W. J. Roberts
MINUTES
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
May 15, 1968
2:00 P. M.
City Manager R. Marvin Townsend
City Attorney 1. M. Singer
Asst. City Attorney Bob Young
City Secretary T. Ray Kring
Mayor Jack R. Blackmon called the meeting to order.
The Invocation was given by Mr. Vinson Morris, Director of Education of the First
Methodist Church.
City Secretary T. Ray Kring called the roll of those in attendance.
Motion by Bradley, seconded by Lozano and passed, that the absence of Mayor
Pro Tem Sizemore be excused for cause.
The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 8, 1968, were approved as submitted
to the Council .
Mayor Blackmon recognized and presented a Certificate of Commendation to a
group of students from Mary Carroll High School, a unit of the Naval Junior Reserve Officers
Training Corps, who won first place trophy in the first annual Intracity NJROTC competition
which was presented at a special activation ceremony May II, in Memorial Coliseum. Cadet
Commander Paul Duncan and Cadet Ensign Russell Hughes, received the Citation on behalf of
the Unit. Lt. Commander Walter Badger presented the group.
Mayor Blackmon gave special recognition toveteran Principal Charles A. Gregg,
who was present in the audience, in connection with the Mary Carroll ROTC unit, and is
retiring this year after 45 years of service in school work including 37 years in Corpus Christi.
Mayor Blackmon read and presented proclamations relative to the following:
MARITIME DAY, May 22, 1968, urging that all citizens honor our Merchant Marine by
appropriate recognition of the many contributions made by the men and women for the success
of our merchant fleet, received by Mr. Tom Sexton and Mr. Harry Plomarity; INSURANCE
WOMEN'S WEEK, May 19-25, in recognition of the increasing role of women in the insurance
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Regular Council Meeting
May 15, 1968
Page 2
industry, received by Mrs. Willie Mae Elliott, Publicity Chairman, and Mrs. Jane Matthews,
President; REALTOR WEEK, May 19-25, 1968, in recognition of the high standards of ser-
vice rendered by Realtors, received by Mr. Gibson, Secretary, and Mr. Sam Allem, President
of the local Baird; SAFETY PATROL WEEK, May 19-25, 1968, and request the citizens of
the community to pay tribute to those who have contributed so much to the preservation of
life and property, received by Lt. Jimmy Thompson of the local Police Force.
Mayor Blackmon read the following nominations for appointment to the Sister
City Committee: Bob Conwell, Ralph Bennett, and Mrs. Mayfair Coover.
Motion by Roberts, seconded by Jimenez and passed, that the foregoing nomina-
tions for appointment to the Sister City Committee be approved and confirmed.
Mayor Blackmon announced the opening of bids.
One bid was opened and read on the hauling of 20,000 Cubic Yards of topsoil
from Kelly Ditch to Cole Park from Womack and Manning.
The foregoing bid was tabled for 48 hours as required by the City Charter and
referred to the City Manager for tabulation and recommendation.
Mayor Blackmon announced the pending item of Zoning Application #168-6,
Central Power and Light Company, on which a public hearing was held March 5, 1968, and
called for a motion for the disposition of the matter.
Motion by Roberts, seconded by Jimenez and passed that the recommendation
of the Zoning and Planning Commission be concurred in and that Application 0168-6, Central
Power and Light Company, for change of zoning from "R -IB" One -family Dwelling District
to "1-3" Heavy Industrial District, for an addition to its Lon C. Hill Power Station, on
approximately 32 acres, plus or minus, of land out of Gregoria Ferias Grant, Abstract 0592,
fronting on Hearn Road Northwest of Lon C. Hill Power Plant and East of the Missouri Pacific
Railroad Tracts, be approved as requested subject to a proper plat, and that an ordinace be
brought forward effectuating the change.
Mayor Blackmon announced the pending item of Zoning Application #467-2, Mr.
Jim Wilbum, Jr., on which a,public hearing was held April 29, 1968, and called fora motion
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Regular Council Meeting
May 15, 1968
Page 3
for action on the matter.
Motion by Lozano, seconded by Jimenez and passed, that the foregoing zoning
matter be tabled for further information.
Mayor Blackmon announced the public hearing on a request to close a 20 -foot
dedicated roadway Tying along the East side of Lot 8, Section 12, and a 20 -foot roadway
lying along the West side of Lot 1, Section 19, both areasaosit,of Flour Bluff & Encinal Farm
and Garden Tracts.
City Manager Townsend presented the request and explained that it had been
made by Mr. John Huston, Consulting Engineer for Mrs. E. M. Gowan, adjoining land
owner, asking that the abandoned right of way be allowed to revert to his client. Mr. Town-
send stated that the applicant alleges that subject right of way has been on the records for 73
years without being used, opened or improved, and that inasmuch as Airline Road has been
developed, and various subalivisions in the area now preclude this undeveloped road being
opened, it serves no purpose. He further stated that the $25.00 filing fee had been received
with the request; that the various affected City Departments had been contacted and that
no objections had been filed, but that the Zoning and Planning Department recommended
that additional closure of the remaining 40' road dedication between Holly Road and
Williams Drive which consists of one-half of the street right of way out of Lot 17, Section 18,
and the full 40' width between Lot 25, Section 13, and Lot 32, Section 18, Flour Bluff &
Encinal Farm & Garden Tracts. Mr. Townsend stated it is his recommendation that the subject
roadway be abandoned as advertised.
No one appeared at the hearing in favor of or in opposition to the foregoing request.
Motion by Roberts, seconded by Lozano and passed, that the hearing be closed.
Motion by Bradley, seconded by Jimenez and passed, that the 20 -foot dedicated
road lying along the East side of Lot 8, Section 12, and the 20 -foot road Tying along the West
side of Lot 1, Section 19, in Flour Bluff & Encinal Farm and Garden Tracts, be abandoned as
requested, and that an ordinance be brought forward effectuating the abandonment.
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Regular Council Meeting
May 15, 1968
Page 4
Mayor Blackmon called for the City Manager's reports.
Motion by Lozano, seconded by Roberts and passed, that the City Manager's Re-
ports, Items "a" through "m", with Jimenez voting "Nay" on Item "k" be accepted, and
that the recommendations and requests be approved and granted as follows:
a. That a revocable easement to Danoil, Inc. for installation of 1,200' of
3" plastic pipeline to carry salt water from an oil well on Clarkwood School site along
Eklund Avenue to the Garrison Drainage Ditch, be granted;
b. That the recommendation of the Marina Board to replace 180 pier pilings
at an estimated cost of between $30,000 and $35,000, requested now so that bids can be
received while the Yacht Club pier addition is under construction, be approved;
c. That the request of Patrolman Cornelius Wimbish fora change in partici-
pation in Social Security benefits based on his written application for coverage, made retro-
active to January I, 1966, with the provision that Mr. Wimbish make a lump sum contribu-
tion equal to the contributions he would have been required to make had he been continuously
covered, be granted;
d. That the award of bid on 790' of 18" Corrugated Galvanized Casing for
the Utilities Department, be made to ARMCO Steel Corporation on the basis of low bid
meeting specifications in the amount of $2,279.55; (Bid Tabulation #17-68).
e. That the acceptance and final payment of Estimate No. 5, in the amount
of $11,653.67, representing the balance due the contractor, T. H. Lee, for completion
of construction of Tuloso Road, Stillwell Lane, Tropic Isles and South Staples Sanitary
Sewers, be approved;
f. That eminent domain proceedings to condemn certain parcels or tracts of
land, being Parcels No. 12 and 13 out of Block 41, Bluff Portion, in connection with North
Staples Street Improvement Project, be authorized;
g. That the date of Wednesday, May 29, 1968, Regular Council Meeting, be
set for a public hearing on the closing .of a portion of Chico Street;
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Regular Council Meeting
May 15, 1968
Page 5
h. That the date of Wednesday, May 29, Regular Council Meeting, be set for
public hearing on one zoning application involving a relocation of the proposed Cliff Maus
Village Project;
i. That an appropriation in the amount of $90, 000.00 for the purpose of pur-
chasing additional natural gas, necessary to supplement the amount exceeding the budget
estimate for the current year, be authorized;
I. That the recommendation of the Zoning and Planning Commission to approve
Padre Island - Corpus Christi Section No. 6 (Replat - Approx. 29.802) O.C.L.), be
approved;
k. That the employment of Tobin Research of San Antonio, Joe Brown of
Victoria, and Harold Carr, to appraise 85 parcels of land in the area proposed for Open
Space Projects, be authorized;
1. That the appointment of George H. Gable as Marina Superintendent,
as authorized by Ordinance No. 8809, be confirmed;
m. That the Ordinance adopting rules and regulations for exploration, drilling
and production of hydrocarbons on the land area of the City of Corpus Christi, now awaiting
third reading, which has been amended in accordance with statements of the City Attomey
in the form now in the hands of the City Secretary, be placed on the Agenda for thrid
reading at the Regular Council Meeting on May 22, 1968.
Commissioner Jimenez stated that his negative vote on Item "k" for the em-
ployment of expert appraisers in connection with Open Space Projects, was on the basis
that he did not approve of spending the taxpayers money for purchase of land for this
purpose.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER,
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TO EXECUTE A LEASE BETWEEN THE
CITY AND THE CORPUS CHRISTI YACHT CLUB FOR A TERM OF FIVE (5) YEARS CONCERNING
A CERTAIN PORTION OF THE BAYFRONT, FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE EXISTING YACHT
CLUB PIER, T -HEAD AND RELATED PILINGS AND FOR CONSTRUCTION OF AN EXTENSION
OF THE EXISTING YACHT CLUB PIER, T -HEAD AND RELATED PILINGS, ALL AS MORE FULLY
DESCRIBED IN THE LEASE AGREEMENT, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE
A PART HEREOF.
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
May 15, 1968
Page 6
The foregoing ordinance was read for the first time and passed to its second reading
by the following vote: Blackmon, Sizemore, Bradley, Lozano, McDaniel and Roberts present
and voting "Aye". Jimenez being absent.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CORPUS CHRISTI CITY CODE,
1958, AS AMENDED, BY ADDING A NEW SECTION, TO BE DESIGNATED AS SECTION
16-98A, REQUIRING REFRIGERATION OF MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS; PROVIDING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE; PROVIDING FOR PENALTY; PROVIDING A SEVERANCE CLAUSE;
PROVIDING A PENALTY; AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION.
The foregoing ordinance was read for the second time and passed to its third reading
by the following vote: Blackmon, Bradley, Jimenez, Lozano, McDaniel, Roberts present and
voting "Aye". Sizemore being absent.
ORDINANCE NO. 8863
RECEIVING AND ACCEPTING CONSTRUCTION OF TULOSO ROAD, STILLWELL LANE,
TROPIC ISLES AND SOUTH STAPLES SANITARY SEWERS, PROJECT NO. 250-64-63, AS
PERFORMED BY THE CONTRACTOR, T. H. LEE, UNDER HIS CONTRACT DATED NOVEMBER
15, 1967, AUTHORIZED BY ORDINANCE NO. 8659; AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF FINAL
ESTIMATE NO. 5, DATED APRIL 11, 1968, IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,653.67, A COPY OF
WHICH IS ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF, SAID PAYMENT TO BE MADE
FROM NO. 250 SEWER BOND FUNDS, PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED FOR CONSTRUCTION
AND CONTINGENCIES; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
The Charter rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the
following vote: Blackmon, Bradley, Jimenez, Lozano, McDaniel, Roberts being present and
voting "Aye". Sizemore being absent.
RESOLUTION NO. 8864
RESOLUTION INDICATING THE ASSENT OF THE CITY TO A CHANGE IN PARTICIPATION
IN SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS OF OFFICER CORNELIUS WIMBISH BASED ON HIS
WRITTEN APPLICATION FOR COVERAGE, EFFECTIVE AS OF JANUARY I, 1966, PRO-
VIDED SAID OFFICER WIMBISH MAKES A LUMP SUM CONTRIBUTION EQUAL TO THE
CONTRIBUTIONS HE WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED HAD HE BEEN CONTINOUSLY
COVERED; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
The Charter rule was suspended and the foregoing resolution was passed by the
following vote: Blackmon, Bradley, Jimenez, Lozano, McDaniel, Roberts present and voting
"Aye". Sizemore being absent.
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
May 15, 1968
Page 7
ORDINANCE NO. 8865
AUTHORIZING EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS BY THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI
TO CONDEMN CERTAIN PARCELS OR TRACTS OF LAND; DESCRIBING THE SAME;.
DESIGNATING TITLE HOLDERS; DESIGNATING SAID CONDEMNATION AS BEING
NECESSARY TO ACQUIRE RIGHT OF WAY FOR NORTH STAPLES STREET PROJECT,
WITHIN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS; DIRECTING THE
CITY ATTORNEY TO INSTITUTE PROCEEDINGS TO CARRY OUT THE INTENTION OF
THIS ORDINANCE; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
The Charter rule was suspended and the foreoing ordinance was passed by the
following vote: Blackmon, Bradley, Jimenez, Lozano, McDaniel and Roberts present and
voting "Aye". Sizemore being absent.
ORDINANCE NO. 8866
APPROPRIATING OUT OF NO. 106 GAS FUND, UNAPPROPRIATED SURPLUS, THE SUM
OF $90,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING NATURAL GAS; AND DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY.
The Charter rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the
following vote: Blackmon, Bradley, Jimenez, Lozano, McDaniel and Roberts present and
vbting "Aye". Sizemore being absent.
Mayor Blackmon reported that the complaint filed with the Council for two
consecutive weeks relative to the sale of "obscene literature" in the City, was considered
in workshop meeting this past week, and that the Legal Department has been directed to
submit an opinion and a recommendation relative to this matter for further consideration at
next week's workshop meeting. He further reported that the proposed "package store ordinance"
presented to the Council May 1, 1968, by Mr. John Haas, had been discussed by the Council
and had been tabled for further study.
Mayor Blackmon called for petitions or information from the audience on matters
not scheduled on the agenda.
Mrs. Rebecca Torres, appeared and inquired as to the status of a request for an
open housing ordinance. She made particular reference to a local property owner who ad-
vertises regularly in the local newspaper for rental to Anglos only. She also referred to
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Regular Council Meeting
May 15, 1968
Page 8
newspaper articles which she stated placed Negro people twenty-five years in advance of the
Latin people.
Mayor Blackmon explained to Mrs. Torres' that her allegations are dealing in
generalities of matters that do not fit into our local situation, and of which this Council has
no control. He asked that Mrs. Torres read the new Federal Law that has been recently passed
by Congress, and advised that the Council is making an effort to acquaint themselves with its
terms and be guided in a prudent manner as to any actions or opinions until they have had an
opportunity to rationalize on this law. He further stated that the Legal Department has been
directed to make a study and recommendation to implement this law, and that an opinion is
expected in approximately ten days.
Commissioner Lozano pointed out the merits of the functions of the Human Re-
lations Commission in following through on complaints, and stated a number of complaints
made to the Council recently could have received earlier attention through this Committee.
Mr. A. E. Till, a farmer on the West side of the City, appeared and asked for
drainage relief of flooded farm land, stating that farmers are loosing their crops. He stated
he had spoken to the Director of Public Works about providing some temporary relief while the
Clarkwood Ditch is being enlarged.
City Manager Townsend explained that the Council is aware of the problem and
of how it could be solved, but that it does not have the necessary budgeted funds.
Mr. Joel Garcia, 901 Wilshire, inquired as to the status of his request of May 1,
1968, relative to the sale of "lewd literature" in the City, and was advised that the City
Attorney is making a study of the ordinance and a report is expected to be available for
workshop next week. Mr. Garcia stated that he would be back to the Council meeting next
week to see what has been done.
Mr. Carlos Truan, a candidate for State Representative, asked if the City had
any control over the dates set for Buccaneer Days in the City, and stated that he was con-
cerned because the last one was held on election day, and requested that the Council use
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Regular Council Meeting
May 15, 1968
Page 9
its influence to have future Buccaneer Day activities scheduled at another time so as not to
interrupt such important things as voting. Mr. Truan futher sought information as to what
reports have come out of the Crime Commission which was appointed some time ago,
Mayor Blackmon stated that the present lease with Buccaneer Days provides
that they designate the dates, and that the Council has no control over the schedule of
activities. He directed that Mr. Truan contact the Chairman of the Crime Commission,
Mr. Edmund Ford for information regarding the activities of this Commission, but stated
that this group has worked di[rgenntiy and that deliberations have been conducted without
fanfair, and that they were given one year before a report would be expected.
Mr. Warren M. Smith, owner of Smitty's Garage in Flour Bluff, appeared
and asked that the Council consider establishing zones for wreckers dispatched to accident
scenes. He pointed out that it takes too long to get to the scene, and that in some in-
stances, causes dangerous traffic hazards. He stated that officers of the police department
agree that the zones are needed, and that it would be not only of more benefit to the City
and public, but more profitable to the wrecker business. He further asked that a traffic
light be installed at an intersection on Snake Road, stating that it is impossible for him to
get in and out of his place during peak hours.
Mr. Smith was advised that his comments were worthy and informative and would
be given consideration.
Mayor Blackmon announced that the Council would recess for a brief period
for a workshop meeting.
The meeting was reconvened and City Manager Townsend presented the following
ordinance:
ORDINANCE NO. 8867
REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 8830, WHICH AMENDED SUBSECTION 301.2 OF THE
SOUTHERN STANDARD HOUSING CODE, 1965 EDITION, ADOPTED IN ORDINANCE
NO. 8463, AND READOPTING SECTION 301.2 AS IT READ PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION
OF ORDINANCE NO. 8830; READOPTING SUBSECTION 306.1, 306.2, 306.3, 306.4
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Regular Council Meeting
May 15, 1968
Page 10
AND 306.5 TO THE SAME EFFECT AS: IF ORDINANCE NO. 8830 HAD NOT BEEN PASSED;
READOPTING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION 401.4 AS THE SAME EXISTED PRIOR TO
THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8830; PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE; PROVIDING
FOR' PUBLICATION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
The Charter rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the
following vote: Blackmon, Bradley, Jimenez, Lozano, McDaniel, and Roberts present and
voting "Aye". Sizemore being absent.
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was
adjourned.