Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 03/25/1970MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING March 25, 1970 2:00 P. M. PRESENT: Mayor Jack R. Blackmon Maygr Pro Tem Gabe Lozano, Sr. Commissioners: Dick Bradley, Jr. Eduardo E. de Ases Ken McDaniel W. J. Roberts Ronnie, Sizemore City Manager R. Marvin Townsend Assistant City Attorney Jim Riggs City Secretary T. Ray Kring Mayor Jack R. Blackmon called the meeting to order. The Invocation was given by The Reverend Jack Orbison, Pastor of Windsor Park Church of Christ. City Secretary T. Ray Kring called the roll of those in attendance. The Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of March 11, 1970, were approved as submitted to the Council. Mayor Blackmon read a proclamation designating the period beginning April 1, 1970 as "CENSUS TIME," in connection with the Nineteenth Decennial Census of the United States which will mark the One Hundred and Eightieth Anniversary of the first United States Census required by the Constitution to determine seats in the House of Representatives, and to be used by all levels of government, and advised that, under the law, it is the duty of every person over eighteen years of age to answer all questions applying to him and the family of which he belongs, and should be regarded as one of the requirements of good citizenship. The pro- clamation was received by Mrs. Mary Bodger. Mayor Blackmon recognized visiting members of the Student Council of South Park Junior High School, and read and presented Certificates of Attendance to the following: Penny Guill, Nora Cantu, Karen Hodge, Linda Cruz, Rey Adame and Lee Alvarez. Mr. Ronald Reumuth, sponsor, accompanied the students. Mayor Blackmon presented 20 -year Service Certificates to the following Firemen who have completed 20 years or more of service, having been participating members of the Firemen's Relief and Retirement Fund but not having reached retire- ment age; Captain. Audrey E. Huggins, Captain Charles C. Holloway, Jr., and Captain Jesse F. Rollins, Jr. They were commended, on behalf of the Council, Staff, and City Manager, for a job well done. Mayor Blackmon read and presented a Certificate of Commendation in recognition of the Calallen High School Girls Basketball Team winning the AA Division • Minutes Regular Council Meeting March 259 1970 Page 2 Regional Championship. Miss Debbie Lawrence, Captain of the Team, was present to receive the commendation. Bids were opened and read for the construction of the Leopard Street Water Transmission Line, Stevens Plant to the Distribution System, from the follow- ing firms: Burtex Constructors, Corpus Christi; Heldenfels Brothers, Corpus Christi; Paul N. Howard Company, Greensboro, North Carolina; Mid -County Asphalt Company, Euless, Texas; R. B. Potashnick, General Contractor, Cape Girardeau, Missouri; H. B. Zachry Company, San Antonio; A & A Construction Company, Muskogee, Oklahoma; Booth Construction Company, Houston; Preston Carrol Construction, Clifton, Tennessee; Diamonds Constructors, Inc., Houston; H & H Concrete Construction Company, Corpus Christi; Panhandle Construction Company, Lubbock, Texas; and Shawnee Construction, Inc., Kansas City. The foregoing bids were tabled for 48 hours as required by the City Charter and referred to the City Manager for tabulation and recommendation. Bids were opened and read for the construction of Transit Yard Improve- ments, from the following firms: Maverick Construction Company, Corpus Christi; Asphalt Maintenance, Corpus Christi; Smith Construction Company; and Surf -Tex Con- struction Company, Corpus Christi. All bids submitted on the foregoing project were found to be in order with the exception of Surf -Tex Construction Company which was accompanied by the required bid bond but was unsigned by the bidder as is required in the bid speci- fications. The legal aspects of accepting the bid were discussed. Commissioner Sizemore stated he was opposed to accepting any bid which did not conform to the specifications; that the unsigned bid bond is not a proper bid and leaves some doubt as to whether or not the proposal is binding; and that he has noted that the Council has consistently encountered problems in waiving the requirements relative to bids. Mayor Blackmon stated that the Council is not called upon at this time to waive a requirement of the bid specifications, and it was agreed that the bid of Surf -Tex Construction Company be received and tabled for 48 hours during which time a determination will be made by the Legal Department as to its legality, and that the Council would await a recommendation from the City Manager. • Minutes Regular Council Meeting March 25, 1970 Page 3 City Manager Townsend stated he would immediately proceed to attempt to have the bid bond signed by the proper party. The foregoing bids were tabled for 48 hours as required by the City Charter and referred to the City Manager for tabulation and recommendation. Mayor Blackmon called for the City Manager's Reports. Motion by Lozano, seconded by Roberts and passed, that the City Manager's Reports, Items "a" through "k", Mayor Blackmon and Commissioner Sizemore voting "Nay" on Item "i", and Item "f' considered separately, be accepted, and that the requests and recommendations be granted and approved as follows: a. That the authority to advertise for bids to be received on Tuesday, April 7, 1970, for approximately 97,000 feet of various sizes of plastic pipe and related fittings for Park, Water and Gas Division, through March 31, 1970, be granted; b. That the Gas Rate Ordinance be revised and clarified to provide that the summer incentive rate will be in effect from Mid -April to Mid -November (seven months) rather than all of April and November (eight months) and to limit air- conditioning, and other special rates, to customers under 30 million cubic feet per month by providing that the general rate or special contracts shall cover such customers; c. That the date of April 15, 1970, at 2:00 p.m., be set for a hearing on an appeal from Mr. Joseph A. Hannabass and Mr. M. R. Imken from the action of the Planning Commission in awarding a special use permit to Mr. L. P. Meyer for a mobile home park on a ten -acre tract in the 10000 Block of UpRiver Road; d, That the Crosstown Access Roads be officially designated as Cross- town Access and that they be so signed; that in those areas where street names already exist, the signs indicate Crosstown Access and the existing names such as Culberson, 14th, 16th, 17th, David and Prescott. e. That eminent domain proceedings against T. D. Puckett to condemn a 5 -foot utility and a ten -foot construction easement from the south side of Lot 10, Block 1 of Guth Parkside Addition between Guth Park and Morrow Drive, necessary for a sewer line to serve Guth Parkside Addition coming from the main through Guth Park, be authorized; • Minutes Regular Council Meeting March 25, 1970 Page 4 f. (Considered separately) g. That the fire and extended, and explosion insurance be placed with American and Foreign Insurance Company, New York, for three years for one-third of total property insured of approximately $7.4 million for fire and extended coverage and $400,000 for explosion, the three-year premium being $13,608; h. That automobile liability, general liability and workmen's compen- sation insurance for April 1970 through March 1971, be placed with the present carrier, Highlands Underwriters Insurance Company of Houston, for an estimated cost of approximately $319,000; the two liability policies are proposed on a dividend participation - one year guaranteed cost basis and workmen's compensation on a one-year guaranteed cost with a 25-1/2% retention (Only Highlands submitted a proposal on this basis); that expanded coverage be on areas now open for tort claims ($6,309) and to increase the insured liability limits from $250,000 to $300,000 ($3,621); i. That Touche, Ross and Company be retained as the auditors for 1970, at maximum costs of $15,000 for the overall audit, and $400 for the Firemen's Relief and Retirement Fund; j. That the City Manager be authorized to execute easements with the State General Land Office for a 30 -inch water main crossing of the Oso ($24 per year) and a 24 -inch crossing of Laguna Madre ($127.80 per year); k. That the date of April 8, 1970, be set for a hearing on local matters coming before the Texas Water Quality Board at its hearing on April 17, 1970, in Corpus Christi, including: (1) a request by the Two -Way Land Company for approval to discharge not to exceed 24,000 gallons per day of treated domestic sewage from a proposed trailer subdivision between Old Brownsville Road and Saratoga, the effluent will be discharged into a tributary of Oso Creek approximately one-half mile north of Saratoga; and (2) request by the City for amendment to its permits to provide that the wash water discharge from the Cunningham Plant will not exceed 500,000 per day and the wash water discharge from the Stevens Plant will not exceed 800,000 gallons per day. Recommendation "f" of City Manager's Reports, that proposal be received on April 22 for rental of a Computer System with the following characteristics: (Proposals are recommended to include trade-in estimates for the existing IBM 1401 System) • Minutes Regular Council Meeting March 25, 1970 Page 5 (1) a minimum of 32,000 units of core storage; (2) oriented for tapes and disks; (3) with a card reading capacity of at least 800 cards per minute & a printing capacity of 600 lines per minute; (4) able to execute all existing programs; (5) able to be expanded in increments; and (6) be backed up by adequate maintenance, testing, and support personnel and facilities, was discussed. Commissioner McDaniel stated he felt the Council should not abandon the possibility of purchasing the equipment, stating somebody is making the profit and that he felt it is being added to the cost of renting; that many companies are buying the computers and re -renting them, and pointed out there must be a reason. Commissioner Bradley stated he felt purchase would be impractical because this type of equipment is constantly being upgraded and rental would tend to keep the equipment more modern and up to date. City Manager Townsend stated the City would request alternate bids in line with the foregoing concern, pointing out that the plans and specifications would have to be revised and that there would be capital investment problems that would have to be taken into account. Motion by McDaniel, seconded by de Ases and passed, that the foregoing recommendation "f" be approved and amended to include "with purchase option." Commissioner Sizemore stated that he voted "Nay" on Item "i" relative to the employment of auditors for 1970, because this was a deviation from the original recommendation, and a major change in the City's policy of changing auditors every two years. ORDINANCE NO. 9684 DESIGNATING THE NAMES OF ACCESS ROADS ON THE CROSSTOWN EXPRESSWAY (S.H. 286); DESIGNATING NAMES OF EXISTING STREETS AND OFFICIALLY DESIGNATING NEW CONNECTING STREETS AS ACCESS STREETS; DESIGNATING NAME SIGNS; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; PROVIDING A SEVERANCE CLAUSE; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Blackmon, Lozano, Bradley, de Ases, McDaniel, Roberts and Sizemore, present and voting "Aye". ORDINANCE N0. 9685 AMENDING THE CORPUS CHRISTI CITY CODE, 1958, AS AMENDED, SO AS TO CHANGE THE SCHEDULE OF GAS RATES FOR CUSTOMERS OF THE CITY OWNED GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM BY AMENDING SECTION 38-46 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN ALL INSTANCES WHERE THE CON- SECUTIVE MONTHS APRIL 1ST THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH, DECEMBER 1ST THROUGH MARCH 31ST • Minutes Regular Council Meeting March 25, 1970 Page 6 APPEARS, SAID CONSECUTIVE MONTHS SHALL HEREAFTER READ BEGINNING WITH THE READING AND BILLING OF CYCLE 11 IN APRIL AND ENDING WITH THE READING AND BILLING OF CYCLE 10 IN NOVEMBER, AND BEGINNING WITH THE READING AND BILLING OF CYCLE 11 IN NOVEMBER THROUGH THE READING AND BILLING OF CYCLE 10 IN APRIL RESPECTIVELY; LIMITING ALL PRESENT EXISTING GAS RATE SCHEDULES TO AN ANNUAL AVERAGE OF 1 MILLION CUBIC FEET PER DAY; PROVIDING FOR LARGE VOLUME CUSTOMER'S NATURAL GAS SERVICE BY SPECIAL CON- TACT; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE"DATE; PROVIDING A SEVERANCE CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Blackmon, Lozano, Bradley, de Ases, McDaniel, Roberts and Sizemore, present and voting "Aye." ORDINANCE NO. 9686 AUTHORIZING EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI TO CONDEMN EASEMENTSTO CERTAIN PARCEL OR TRACT OF LAND LOCATED IN NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS; DESCRIBING SAID PROPERTY, IDENTIFYING THE RECORD TITLE OWNERS, SAID CONDEMNATION BEING NECESSARY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SEWER LINE AND FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES; DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO INSTITUTE CONDEMNATION PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE OWNER, THOMAS D. PUCKETT; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Blackmon, Lozano, Bradley, de Ases, McDaniel, Roberts and Sizemore, present and voting "Aye." ORDINANCE NO. 9687 SECOND READING: AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 6460 PERTAINING TO RULES FOR COMMITTEES, BOARDS AND COM- MISSIONS OF THE CITY, BY ADDING A PARAGRAPH TO SECTION 2 OF SAID ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR AUTOMATIC VACANCY OF MEMBERS BY ANNOUNCEMENT OF CANDIDACY FOR ELEC- TIVE PUBLIC (FF -ICE; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The foregoing ordinance` waS read for the second time and passed finally, on emergency basis by the following vote: FOt suspension,of the Charter. rule and passage of the ordinance, Blackmon, Bradley, Lozano, McDaniel, Roberts and Sizemore, voted "Aye"; de Ases voted "Nay." ORDINANCE NO. 9688 AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS FOR EASEMENT ON STATE SUBMERGED LAND ACROSS THE OSO BAY FOR THE CROSSING OF THE PROPOSED NEW 30" WATER LINE AND A PROPOSED NEW 24" PADRE ISLAND WATER LINE ACROSS STATE TRACTS LOCATED IN LAGUNA MADRE,NUMBERED 16, 17, 28, 39, 44 AND 51, FOR THE PROPOSED WATER LINES AND TO PERFORM SUCH OTHER ACTS AS ARE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE ACQUISI- TION OF SAID EASEMENTS; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Blackmon, Lozano, Bradley, McDaniel, Roberts,.. de Ases and Sizemore, present and voting "Aye." There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned.