HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 07/08/1971 - SpecialMINUTES
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
FLOUR BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL
LIBRARY BUILDING
July 8,1971
8:OOp. m .
PRESENT:
Mayor Ronnie Sizemore
Mayor Pro Tem Charles A. Bonniwell
Commissioners:
Rev. Harold T. Branch
Thomas V. Gonzales
Gabe Lozano, Sr.
J. Howard Stark
City Manager R. Marvin Townsend
City Attorney Jim Riggs
City Secretary T. Ray Kring
Mayor Ronnie Sizemore called the meeting to order.
The Invocation was given by Father Robert Freeman of 5t. Paul The Apostle
Catholic Church, 2233 Waldron Road.
City Secretary Kring called the roll of those in attendance.
Mayor Sizemore announced the public hearing on the application of the Bluebonnet
Transportation Company for a taxicab franchise to provide taxi service primarily in the
F!oir Bt1 ff Arpn.
City Manager Townsend presented the matter and outlined the provisions of the City
Code governing the granting of an application.
John Haas, attorney representing the applicant, presented the application and
pointed out the need for the service in the area.
Wilford Winship, J. R. Busby, Superintendent of the Schools W. J. Wranosky, Sherm
Hawley, Justice of the Peace, Jon Held, Jack King, Jean Sutherland and Paul Zimmerman,
all residents of the area, were unanimous in their opinion that the service was needed in the
community and urged favorable consideration.
Howard Sudduth, attorney representing the other franchised operators in the City,
opposed the granting of an additional franchise, questioning the need for this service and
stated that to his knowledge, there had not been any complaints or demands for the improve-
ment in the service now being provided. He further stated that there had not been any need
established as of this time.
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Special Council Meeting
July 8, 1971
Page 2
It was further suggested that the matter be referred to the taxicab inspector for
a formal hearing to determine the convenience and necessity of the granting of an
additional franchise.
A former employee (unidentified) of the Vel low Cab Company stated that drivers
were reluctant to make a long drive from town and perhaps fail to locate the party
requesting service upon arrival.
Mr. Haas in a brief rebuttal, reiterated the need for service in the community.
Motion by Lozano, seconded by Bonniwell and passed, that the hearing be closed.
Motion by Lozano that the matter be tabled, died for lack of a second.
Motion by Branch, seconded by Stark and passed, that the franchise be granted
and that it be placed on first reading July 14.
Following the showing of the film on the City of Corpus Christi Annual Report, the
meeting was opened to questions and answers from members attending the meeting.
Mrs. Calvin Self, Chairman of the Park and Recreation Committee of the Flour Bluff
Civic League, appealed for additional park area. She stated that based on the population
in the City, the Flour Bluff area should have 22-1/2 acres of public park facilities. She
also stated that the County owns a 20 -acre tract of land suitable for park development and
that County Judge Bob Barnes had indicated his willingness to cooperate with the City in
utilizing this area as a park.
City Manager Townsend responded to the appeal stating that he had discussed the
particular park land with the County Judge with the view of development. It was his opinion
that a bond issue would be required to provide the desired facilities.
Wendell Keetch, President of the Flour Bluff Civic League, requested the assistance
of the Zoning Department in studying the zoning of the Flour Bluff area with the view of
upgrading the land uses of the area.
H. E. Savoy, 845 McDonald, requested that consideration be given to the establish-
ment of substations for absentee voting in both the Flour Bluff and Westside areas. He was
advised that the Election Code would be studied to determine if the request is permissible.
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Special Council Meeting
July 8, 1971
Page 3
A member of the audience (unidentified) inquired as to the status of the Convention
Center. Mayor Sizemore responded by stating that the matter was under study and would
require more study before determining the next step.
Paul Chapman and Mrs. Chapman complained that in their opinion the Flour Bluff
area had been neglected from the standpoint of street lights, sewer lines, spraying mosquitoes,
and filling of potholes.
City Manager Townsend reviewed what has been done regarding street lights,
installation of sewer and water mains, and that the City expects to ask for bids for the fire
station in the area very soon. Some unrest exists as to the efficiency of fire hydrants in the
area to which the reply was made that certain size water lines were required for fire hydrants.
Mr. Paul Zimmerman stated that in his opinion questions such as had been raised at
this meeting could be helpful to the Council.
J. Paul Hudson, 3044 Jamaica, was complimentary of the City for the services
received in his area, Tropic Isles.
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned.