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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 06/06/1973 - Special• MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ELLA BARNES JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL June 6, 1973 7:30 P.M. PRESENT: Mayor Jason Luby Mayor Pro Tem James Acuff Commissioners: City Manager R. Marvin Townsend Rev. Harold T. Branch Assistant City Attorney Michael May Thomas V. Gonzales City Secretary T. Ray Kring Ricardo Gonzalez Gabe Lozano, Sr. Others Present: Director of Engineering Services James K. Lontos; Director of Traffic Engineering Tom Stewart; Administrative Assistant Lowell Gaut; Director of Urban Development Ernest Briones; Chief Engineer Gerald Smith; Paying Coordinator Joe Pierce; Administrative Assistant to the Mayor Bill G. Read. Mayor Luby called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. at Ella Barnes Junior High School for the purpose of holding an assessment hearing for Austin Street Improvement Project Unit #1, involving portions of seventeen streets. City Secretary T. Ray Kring called the roll of those in attendance. Motion by Lozano, seconded by Acuff and passed, that the abseice of Commis- sioner Stark be excused for just cause. City Manager Townsend explained the purpose of the hearing and the legal proce- dure to be followed, stating that abutting property owners or those claiming any interest in said proceedings may appear to be heard in person or by counsel and offer evidence concern- ing any matter connected with the improvements or assessments. He stated the Director of Engineering Services would present plans and specifications of the project and Assistant City Attorney Michael May would conduct the hearing. He explained that the Council and Staff would be available for further discussion as to any other matters, and that a translator would be provided for Spanish Speaking property owners relative to this assessment hearing. He explained that petitions had been submitted in 1970 and 1972 requesting these improvements, and he recognized those persons in the audience who hod been active in bringing these peti- tions. Director of Engineering Services James K. Lontos was interrogated as to his identity, occupation, time of residence in the City, formal qualifications and familiarity with the subject project. He presented plans for the improvements, explained the nature, extent and specifications, and pointed out the location on the map of the streets involved • Minutes Special Council Meeting June 6, 1973 Page 2 in this hearing, being portions of Vera Cr -z, Guatemozin, Balboa, Pueblo, Shawnee, Hiawatha, Virginia, Torreon, Cortez, Zapata Clara, Zaragoso, Iturbide, Hidalgo, Santa Elena, Navajo, and Carmen, all being bounded by Morgan, Airport Road and Baldwin Boulevard. Mr. Lontos, assisted by i_ Paving Coordinator Joe Pierce, made a slide presentation of the streets as they now exist and pointed out how the proposed improvements will enhance the neighborhood. Mr. Lontos stated that the assessment rates have been calculated in accordance with the City's assessment policy using the unit prices taken from the low bid submitted by Asphalt Paving and Construction Company, Inc; stated that the total contract cost is $534,288.35; total estimated assessments are $246,069.29, and total City's portion is $288,219.06. He explained that construction on this project is scheduled to begin within the next six . in two stages, the area west of the school to be Phase 1 and the area east of the school to be Phase 2; that in the meantime, the Engineering Staff will approach individual property owners and explain assessment calculations and methods of payment. Persons in the audience were given an opportunity to question Mr. Lontos and his staff relative to the plans and specifications at which time Director of Urban Development, translated and made another presentation of the plans and specifications in Spanish for the benefit of the Spanish-speaking audience, and answered questions relative thereto. Questions were answered generally relative to the market value of properties and possible increase in taxes as a result of the improvements; in what way bond money would be applied; location and spacing of driveways; method of payment and amount of interest; drainage and regulation of parking. Mr. Harold Carr testified as to his identity as a real estate appraiser, time of residence in the City, occupation, experience as an appraiser of all types of real estate, residential, commercial, vacant and rural, his present occupation as a real estate broker, and familiarity with the subject project. He described the general area and stated he had personally examined each parcel of land and found that there were a number of triangular shaped lots which, in his opinion, will require special treatment so far as the assessments are concerned. He stated it is his opinion that the neighborhood will be greatly benefited as a whole and particularly, the properties which abut the subject streets. He stated, in his • Minutes Special Council Meeting June 6, 1973 Page 3 opinion, each and every parcel would be enhanced in value as a result of the proposed improve- ments at least to the amount of the assessment with exceptions which he will indicate, which in most cases the lots are irregular in shape or do not front on the street proposed to be improved; that the assumption k that triangular shaped lots lose some of their value and are not worth as much as rectangular lots with the same width and the same depth, which is the basis for the recommended adjustments. The exceptions are as follows: Item #1 - Juan Perez, Jr. - reduce total assessment from $840.47 to $496.77; Item #57 - Marcelina Gil - reduce total assessment from $1,005.10 to $684.38; Item #38 - Paul Snyder - reduce total assessment from $817.70 to $496.46; Item #108 - C.C.Pump Service, Inc. - reduce total assessment from $1,243.26 to $1,062.24; Item #162 - Juan Armijio - reduce total assessment from $834.69 to $620.59; Item #202 - Max F. Flores - reduce total assessment from $825.75 to $654.41; Item #227 - Inglesia De Dios - reduce total assessment from $1,980.85 to $1,766.62; Item #241 - Josephine Green - reduce total assessment from $1,345.27 to $1,240,57; Item #254 - Robert S. Ybanez - reduce total assessment from $817.70 to $503.22; Item #266 - Alston Terry - reduce total assessment from $1,089.04 to $836.04; Item #279 - E. W. Falcon, Trustee - reduce total assessment from $674.39 to $479.66; Item #280 - Bruce T. McDaniel - reduce total assessment from $747.62 to $462.95; Item #285 - Encarnacion Hernandez - reduce total assessment from $429.62 to $293.62; Item #283 - Luis B. Garcia - reduce total assessment from $298.80 to $149.20; Item #316 - Juan Perez, Jr. - increase total assessment from $289.68 to $433.56; Item #489 - Juan Trevino - reduce total assessment from $1,002.95 to $623.64; Item #491 - E. W. Falcon, Trustee - reduce total assessment from $1,370.18 to $1,011.21. Persons in the audience were given an opportunity to question Mr. Carr as to the assessments on their individual properties. The following persons appeared: Leonor M. Garza, Item #422, inquired as to the increase of the market value of her property and that effect on the taxes; E. W. Falcon, Trustee, Items #279 and #491, stated that the purchase price of Lot 8, Block 5, Coronado Addition, was less than the cost of the proposed improvements, and that it was not economically feasible to pay the assessments. He stated he never signed the petitions nor was he aware they were being circulated. He stated that the sidewalks are not needed because there are only three buildings on the entire block and completely separated from residential property. City Manager Townsend verified petitions from property owners on this block and Mr. Falcon was invited to review these petitions with Mr. Lontos. Minutes Special Council Meeting Jure 6, 1973 Page 4 A property owner abutting Carmen and Cortez requested that the sidewalks be deleted on these blocks. City Manager Townsend stated the petitions would be checked and if there were not sufficient signatures to warrant sidewalks, the money could be spent in other areas where the sidewalks are desired. However, he stated it was his recommendation that the sidewalks not be deleted on Cortez Street because of its relation to the remainder of the project. Others in the audience inquired generally as to the effect of the improvements on the value and taxation of the property; location and cost of driveways; provisions for saving trees and shrubbery; drainage facilities; and provisions for paying the assessments. No one else appeared to be heard in connection with the foregoing assessments. Motion by Branch, seconded by Lozano and passed, that the hearing be closed, and that the foregoing recommended adjustments taken under advisement. Motion by Branch, seconded by Acuff and passed, that the meeting be adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, 1973.