HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 04/24/1972 - Special•
MINUTES
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
WEST OSO HIGH SCHOOL CAFETORIUM
April 24, 1972
7:30 p.m.
PRESENT:
Mayor Ronnie Sizemore
Mayor Pro Tem Charles A. Bonniwell
Commissioners:
Roberto Bosquez, M.D.
Thomas V. Gonzales
Gabe Lozano, Sr.
J. Howard Stark
City Manager R. Marvin Townsend
Assistant City Attorney Bob Coffin
City Secretary T. Ray Kring
Others Present: Director of Engineering Services James K. Lontos;
Director of Public Utilities Bob Schneider; Director of Traffic
Engineering Tom Stewart; Director of Planning William Anderson;
Administrative Assistant Andy McCown; and Administrative Assistant
to the Mayor Bill G. Read.
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Mayor Sizemore called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. at West Oso High School
Cafetorium, and announced the purpose of the meeting was to hold a public hearing for con-
sideration of a drainage plan for the area south and west of the City, and to amend the Master
Drainage Plan adopted November 6, 1963. He asked that it be noted that a quorum of the
Council and the required Charter officers were present to conduct a valid meeting, and
explained the procedure to be followed.
City Manager Townsend presented subject matter of the hearing and explained the
Charter provisions that the City shall have a master plan which shall designate location and
sizing of utilities, buildings, water lines, sanitary sewers, streets, and a related zoning plan.
He explained that a portion of this plan was adopted in 1963 and the balance of that plan is
the subject of this hearing. He explained that once the plan is adopted it will prohibit actions
contrary to that plan and will be recognized by future subdivision development. He explained
Staffing procedures prior to this hearing, stating that the plan was initiated by the Staff and
submitted to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation; stated that the Planning
Commission met January 25, 1972, and took the following action: "That the 1970 Master Plan
for Storm Drainage for the western part of the City and Flour Bluff area and an amendment to the
existing 1961 Master Plan for Storm Drainage, comprising a relocation of the drainage ditch along
Bear Lane from the Kelly Ditch to the Navigation Boulevard Ditch to a new location approximately
1500 feet north, be forwarded to the City Manager with the recommendation that they be adopted."
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Minutes
Special Council Meeting
April 24, 1972
Page 2
Director of Engineering Services James K. Lontos presented the Master Storm Drainage
Plan for the area west of Clarkwood Road and the Flour Bluff area which was prepared by
Naismith Engineers in 1970. He gave a detailed description of the general topography of the
City and pointed out the areas on the map; gave background information on what has happened
in the City relative to drainage and drainage problems and growth since the original Master Plan
was adopted in 1961, discussed the need for the original plan and the first authorization. He
named accomplishments of this plan which included the Schanen Drainage, County Club Drainage,
Williams Drive (Gardendale Drainage, Richter, 41o, Johanna Area), Carroll Lane (Lynwood
Area), Kelly Drainage Ditch , Clarkwood Ditch, and other Capital Improvement projects. He
described the general plan for drainage facilities in the present 1970 Master Plan for Flour Bluff
and the Western Area; explained the methods used in developing the Plan, and its importance both
with respect to the capital improvements and its relationship to subdivisions which may be developed
in the future. He also discussed the need for this plan, and the effect of the annexation of the
Western and the Flour Bluff areas in the 1960s.
Mr. Lontos pointed out that there is a need to amend the existing Master Storm Drainage
Plan around the new West Oso High School where development is taking place and wherefuture
development is anticipated. He explained that the drainage outfall shown in Bear Lane (formerly
Kosar Road) on Plats 12 and 13 of said Master Plan is to be voided and a proposed location for
another outfall channel, parallel to and approximately 2,000 feet north of Bear Lane is to be
considered, such channel beginning approximately 3,700 feet east of Padre Island Drive, crossing
Padre Island Drive and terminating at a State Highway Department easement approximately 4,800
feet west of Padre Island Drive, cross Padre Island Drive and continue 4,800 feet to the Kelly
Ditch. He stated the ditch would require 100 feet of right of way, and is planned to run in back
of the school because it was felt an open ditch in front of the school would be unsightly. He explained
the ditch is needed to drain an area bounded by Highway 44, Navigation Boulevard, South Padre
Island Drive and Bear Lane.
Mr. Lontos discussed the study for Flour Bluff area, and summarized the entire plan from
maps and diagrams, stating the conditions differed somewhat because of the sandy soil; pointed out
areas planned for open ditches, dense areas recommended for closed conduits, and erosion control.
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Minutes
Special Council Meeting
April 24, 1972
Page 3
He stated that the Flour Bluff area was an area of approximately 13.8 square miles, and the Western
area comprised some 32.2 square miles.
Persons in the audience were given an opportunity to question Mr. Lontos relative to the
Master Drainage Plan.
Mr. R. S. Garza, member of the Planning Commission and Principal of Kennedy Elementary
School, questioned the logic of the location of the ditch in back of the school.
Mr. Lontos explained the plan stating that the area is very flat and is drained by -a series
of ditches which terminate along Bear Lane, and that the existing ditch is not large enough to take
care of that much development, and the staff feels this ditch along Bear Lane is not to the best
interest of the area, and recommend that instead it be moved to the north of the School, beginning
from the back of Village on the Green and the baseball field, across Flato Road and Padre Island
Drive and terminate at Kelly Ditch which would be less expensive and also provide better drainage,
at the same time resolve some of the school problems which exist in back of the School, and would
allow for proper land use of the area along Bear Lane.
Mr. Raymond Perez, President of West Oso Independent School District, questioned the
location, appearance, and size of the ditch at the back of the school, stating that the School District
has plans to construct another school on the property which the ditch would cross.
Mr. Lontos explained that the ditch at the back of the school would be no larger than it
would have been had it been located on Bear Lane; that it will require approximately three acres of
the school property; that it will be an open ditch, and that it is hoped that it will have sloping sides
rather than the steep sides which exist on the Airport Ditch.
Mr. Robert Gutierrez, President of the West Oso School Board, inquired as to whether or not
the ditch could be moved either farther north or south of Bear Lane. Mr. Townsend explained that it
would not be practical to move the ditch too far north or south because it would fail to adequately
drain the area, and would adversely affect the land use in the area. Also stated there are several
erbsion problems on Bear Lane. He gave estimated cost figures at both locations, and explained that
the City is working closely with the State and it is hoped that these two ditches will be constructed
jointly by the City and the State, which would reduce the cost to the City appreciably particularly
if the State does the excavations.
•inutes v •
Special Council Meeting
April 24, 1972
Page 4
Others appearing and making inquiries relative to the drainage system in the West Oso
Area were Mr. Ezekel Lopez, Chairman of the Clean -Up Campaign; Mr. Curtis Williams and
Juan Gonzales, members of the West Oso School Board; and Mr. B. L. Cobb, Principal of West
Oso High School. Questions were raised relative to acquisition of right of way; whether or not
the ditch could be constructed on the border line of school property; whether or not concrete boxes
will be constructed and difference in cost; and plans for draining adjacent areas, and if another
hearing could be held for discussion of the proposal to change the plan relative to the location of
the ditch beyond the school.
City Manager Townsend pointed out the urgency of moving forward with the plans, and
suggested that those persons directly involved remain for an informal discussion immediately following
this meeting.
Motion by Bonniwell, seconded by Gonzales and passed, that the heating be closed.
Motion by Stark, seconded by Lozano and passed, that the Master Plan for Storm Drainage
for the area west of Clarkwood Roadiand the Flour Bluff Area of the City of Corpus Christi as pre-
pared by Naismith Engineers, Inc., be adopted, and that the proposed amendment to the Master
Drainage Plan adopted November 6, 1963, regarding the drainage outfall shown in Bear Lane on
plats 12 and 13 of said Master Plan be tabled for further consideration.
Mayor Sizemore called for petitions or information from the audience on matters not
scheduled on the agenda.
Mr..R. S. Garza presented a petition containing 214 signatures of residents in the Molina
and Westhaven communities, requesting that the City Council take action to open the street which
connects Bloomington and Rockford. He stated that elementary students are forced to either cross
a plowed field or travel considerable distance out of their way to make their way to and from school.
City Manager Townsend explained that a temporary easement had been given by Mr. Lichten-
stein to cross his property with the provision that it could be used by the City until such time as it
was needed for development purposes. He stated that Mr. Lichtenstein had indicated a possibility
of selling the property and does not want to give another easement at this time.
Mayor Sizemore stated the petition would be accepted and filed with the City Secretary,
and that an appeal would be made to the owner of the property to see what could be done to get
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Minutes
Special Council Meeting
April 24, 1972
Page 5
another temporary easement for roadway across this area, pointing out that 0 a later dote when
the owner is ready to plat the land for development, he would be required to give o" certain amount
of right-of-way for a permanent street.
Mr. Garza also requested that some improvements be mode on Cliff Maus Road and other
streets in the Molina area. He stated that Cliff Maus jsvery narrow,full of chug holes, the traffic
is heavy, and that this is presenting a hazard to school children. He also requested that the School
Crossing Guards be reinstated at Old Brownsville Road and Cliff Maus Rood.
Mr. Lontos explained plans for improvements of the streets in Molina Area, stating that
resurfacing of Cliff Maus and Home Road, from 4Columbla;to Old Brownsville: Road, would be
considered, but pointed out that any permanent street improvements before the drainage problems
were resolved, would not be practicable.
City Manager Townsend introduced individual members of"the-Council and membess of the
City Staff who were present to answer questions raised by, members of the Audience.
Mayor Sizemore expressed appreciation to those attending the meeting and their interest
and concern for the improvement of their community.
There being no further business to come before the Council,the meeting was adjourned at
9:15 p.m., April 24, 1972.