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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 07/09/1975MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING July 9, 1975 2:00 P.M. PRESENT: Mayor Pro Tem Bill Tipton Commissioners: *Eduardo de Ases Ruth Gill Bob Gulley Gabe Lozano, Sr. Edward Sample City Manager R. Marvin Townsend Acting City Attorney Michael May City Secretary Bill G. Read Mayor Pro Tem Bill Tipton called the meeting to order in the Council Chamber of the City Hall. The Invocation was given by The Reverend J.C. Henning of Trinity Lutheran Church. City Secretary Bill G. Read called the roll of those in attendance. Motion by Lozano, seconded by Gill and passed, that the absence of Mayor Luby be excused for just cause. Motion by Lozano, seconded by Gulley and passed, that the Minutes of the Regular Council Meetings of June 18 and June 25, 1975, be approved as submitted to the Council. Mayor Pro Tem Tipton announced the issuance of a proclamation proclaiming July 10, 1975 as THE 11TH AIRBORNE DIVISION DAY. Mayor Pro Tem Tipton recognized representatives of the Corpus Christi Area Tourist Bureau and Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce listed on the agenda for presenta- tion regarding the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's plan of development of a portion of the Mustang Island State Park. Mr. Larry J. Tucker, president of the Chamber of Commerce, read a resolution which he stated was approved by the Tourist Bureau and Chamber of Commerce at a joint meeting held on July 1st. He stated their purpose of appearing before the Council was to show why this resolution should be supported. The resolution, in essence, requested that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department proceed with the development of the proposed park on a portion of Mustang Island. He stated they feel very strongly that what the Parks and Wildlife Department has presented is a good plan both economically and from a recreational standpoint. He stated some action by the Council is needed to repeal the Minutes Regular Council Meeting July 9, 1975 Page 2 resolution of the previous Council passed in January of this year opposing an entrance fee. A copy of which resolution is before the State Park agency. He explained that the park cannot be developed without the $1.00 entrance fee because of the State's policy of charging fees to help pay off capital improvement costs at parks. He pointed out on a map the areas involved and the need for sanitary facilities on the beach which the park will provide and stated that the health hazards are increasing every year. Mr. Michael Wilson, member of a special committee of the Chamber of Commerce Area Tourist Bureau studying the park proposal, supported the State's plan, commenting that the City should repeal its previous resolution since the park will not be developed without the $1.00 entrance fee. County Commissioner J.P. Luby spoke in opposition to the Council taking any action at this time on the State's plan, stating that closing of any part of the beach for any reason would set a bad precedent. He stated the commissioners are for development of the park and welcome the facilities and the expenditure of the state funds; that they do not object to the State's charge of $1.00 toll fee to help pay for the development, but oppose the State's plan to block free vehicular access in the 2-1/2 mile Gulf Beach area between the water exchange pass and the Corpus Christi Pass. He requested that the Council table the matter until he could present his own plan to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at a meeting in Austin on July 25. He explained that his plan basically calls for keeping the beach open to vehicular traffic but discourages traffic by limiting the speed to 5 m.p.h. and prohibits parking on the beach, within this area of the park boundaries, but they in no way favor barricading the beaches which he staled would open avenues for private owners to barricade their properties. He further commented that the Commissioners Court has the only authority in these matters. Others speaking in support of the proposed resolution to ask the Parks and Wild- life Department to proceed with development of the proposed park, were Mr. Frank Smit , the representing :/Tourist Bureau; Mr. Dick Swantner, President of the Corpus Christi Area Tourist Bureau and Mr. Howard Stark, former City Council member and member of the Board of Directors of the Tourist Bureau. Following a lengthy discussion among the Council, Commissioner Gill made a motion that the resolution passed by the previous Council, in January of this year, be repealed. The motion did not receive a second. Minutes Regular Council Meeting July 9, 1975 Page 3 Motion by Gulley that the resolution presented by the Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Bureau representatives be approved as written. The motion did not receive a second. Following further discussion, Commissioner Gill made a motion, seconded by Sample and passed, that Resolution No. 12424, approved by the Council January 8, 1975, be repealed and the resolution proposed by the Corpus Christi Area Tourist Bureau and Chamber of Commerce, be approved as amended, as follows: RESOLUTION NO. 12684 WHEREAS, TEXAS BEACHES ARE A GREAT RECREATIONAL AND ECONOMIC ASSET FOR THE PLEASURE OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR IMMEDIATE AREA AS WELL AS VISITORS; AND WHEREAS, THE MUSTANG ISLAND STATE PARK WOULD PROVIDE ACCESSI- BILITY TO A PRIME PORTION OF MUSTANG ISLAND; AND WHEREAS, THE NEED FOR THE PARK DEVELOPMENT IS NOT PRESSING NOW, BUT WILL BECOME SO AS MUSTANG ISLAND IS DEVELOPED BY PRIVATE INTERESTS: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI HEREBY REPEALS ITS RESOLUTION NO. 12424, PASSED ON JANUARY 8, 1975, AND REQUESTS THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT TO PROCEED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PARK ON MUSTANG ISLAND. ITBE FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE CITY SECRETARY FORWARD A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT. PASSED AND APPROVED, THIS THE 9TH DAY OF JULY, 1975. Mayor Pro Tem Tipton called for the City Manager's Reports and City Manager Townsend made requests and recommendations with related explanations and comments as follows: a. That bids be received on July 28, 1975 to sell City -owned surplus land located at 814 18th Street between Hancock and Coleman Avenue. The lot is substandard (3690 square feet) and includes a substandard building. The adjoining property owners are probably the only potential bidders. b. That adjustments to the City's tax rolls for November I, 1974, thru January 31, 1975, be approved as follows: Net Decrease 1974 Tax Levy $9,964.78 Prior Years' Tax Levies $3,724.19 Principal adjustments in 1974 were decreases of $5,709 for 108 homestead exemptions off- set by increases of $2,232 for 43 exemptions which were not valid for 1974; decreases of Minutes Regular Council Meeting July 9, 1975 Page 4 $3,186 for 46 properties which were purchased by the City and exempt; increase of $13,585 on a Cities Service Company lease supplemented to the roll; decrease of $1,137 on a lease of King Resources Company, and $1,348 on property of W.L. Tong Land Service Company when records were presented; and decrease of $1,158 on property of Firestone Company which was double assessed. c. That parking be prohibited from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the southwest side of Horne Road between Vitemb and the Crosstown Expressway to provide four traffic lanes through the signalized interchange of Horne Road and the Crosstown Expressway. The Traffic Safety Advisory Board so recommends. A flower shop and five homes abut this portion of Home Road. A five day parking survey showed no one parking from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. d. That the plans and specifications for repairs to the Museum roof be approved and bids be received July 29th at 2:00 p.m. Plans call for the removal of the parapet wall around the concrete slab which serves as an observation deck and the placing of a complete built up roof over the slab. e. That the contract for the construction of La Costa Drive improvements be awarded to Asphalt Maintenance Company, Inc., for $13,342.40 and $15,000 be appropriated to cover the contract award plus related expenses. This new street is designed to provide access to the proposed fire station on South Staples between Holly and Woold- ridge Roads and to a future park. f. That the City's assessment policy be amended so that properties intended for residential use which side on the street being improved shall be assessed upon the basis of a percentage of width divided by the depth, but in no case more than 50% of the fronting rate of $4.75 per front foot for curb, gutter and pavement, and $ .75 per square foot for sidewalk. g. That the City enter into an agreement with the Texas Highway Department for the construction and installation of signalization equipment for the railroad crossing at McBride Lane and Highway 44 as a joint project with the Federal Government (90%), Texas Mexican Railway Company (5%) and the City (5%). Federal funds have been provided by the Highway Safety Act of 1973. Total cost is estimated at $26,000 with the City's share being $I,300. h. That authority be granted to renew the lease with Fidelity and Casualty Minutes Regular Council Meeting July 9, 1975 Page 5 Company for the air travel insurance concession at International Airport for five years, based on 25% of gross receipts. The Airport Advisory Board so recommends. Only 2 companies are known to provide this service. The other company has indicated that they are not interested. The insurance concession is responsible for the information and paging counter which they provide through a subcontract with the limousine service. i. That the recommendation of the Bay Drilling Committee to expand the membership of the Committee by adding two alternate members, one representing the public at large and one representing the oil and gas industry, be approved. Motion by Lozano, seconded by Gill and passed, that the City Manager's Reports be accepted and Items "a" through "i" be granted, approved and adopted as presented by City Manager Townsend. City Manager Townsend presented the following ordinances for the Council's consideration: FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CIN MANAGER TO EXECUTE A LEASE BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE FIDELITY AND CASUALTY COMPANY OF NEW YORK, COVERING THE INSURANCE CONCESSION RIGHTS AT CORPUS CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ALL AS SET FORTH IN THE LEASE, A SUBSTANTIAL COPY OF WHICH I5 ATTACHED HERETO, MARKED EXHIBIT "A," IS MADE A PART HEREOF. The foregoing ordinance was read for the first time and passed to its second reading by the following vote: Tipton, Gill, Gulley, Lozano, de Ases and Sample present and voting "Aye." Luby absent. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CORPUS CHRISTI CITY CODE, 1958, AS AMENDED, AND PARTICULARLY AMENDING SECTION 21-156, "STOPPING, STANDING OR PARKING PROHIBITED DURING CERTAIN HOURS ON CERTAIN STREETS," BY ADDING THERETO AN ITEM WHICH WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF PROHIBITING STOPPING, STANDING OR PARKING DURING CERTAIN HOURS ON THE SOlUfHWEST SIDE OF HORNE ROAD, BETWEEN THE NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD OF THE CROSSTOWN EXPRESSWAY (S.H. 286) AND VITEMB STREET; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY. The foregoing ordinance was read for the first time and passed to its second reading by the following vote: Tipton, Gill, Gulley, Lozano, de Ases and Sample present and voting "Aye." Luby was absent. SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CORPUS CHRISTI CIN CODE, AS AMENDED, BY AMENDING SECTION 21-68, INCREASE OF STATE SPEED LIMIT IN CERTAIN ZONES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MILES PER HOUR, AT ALL TIMES, ON THE MIDTOWN TRAFFIC EXCHANGE FROM ITS CONNECTION AT CHAPARRAL Minutes Regular Council Meeting July 9, 1975 Page 6 AND MESQUITE STREET, TO ITS CONNECTION AT LAREDO AND AGNES STREETS, AND ON LAREDO AND AGNES STREETS FROM THE MIDTOWN TRAFFIC EXCHANGE TO STAPLES STREET; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION. The foregoing ordinance was read for the second time and passed to its third reading by the following vote: Tipton, Gill, de Ases, Gulley, Lozano and Sample present and voting "Aye," Luby absent. ORDINANCE NO. 12685 THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE CESSION BY THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI TO THE CITY OF PORT ARANSAS OF ALL ANNEXATION RIGHTS AND POLICE POWERS OVER AND IN CERTAIN TRACTS OF LAND, A MAP OF THE SAME, MARKED EXHIBIT "A", BEING ATTACHED HERETO, WITHIN THE OVERLAPPING EXTRA- TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI AND THE CITY OF PORT ARANSAS, AS DEFINED BY ART. 970A, V.A.C.S., TEXAS, BY MUTUAL WRITTEN AGREE- MENT, MARKED EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF, PURSUANT TO ART. 970A, V.A.C.S., TEXAS, SECTIONS B AND C; PROVIDING PUBLICATION BY CAPTION; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING SEVERABILITY. The foregoing ordinance was read for the third time and passed finally by the following vote: Tipton, de Ases, Gill, Gulley, Lozano and Sample present and voting "Aye." Luby absent. ORDINANCE NO. 12686 AMENDING SECTION 34-21 OF THE CORPUS CHRISTI CITY CODE, AS AMENDED, AND PARTICULARLY AS AMENDED BY ORDINANCE NO. 12493, BY AMENDING SUBSECTION B, PARAGRAPH 7 OF SAID SECTION 34-21 SO AS TO HEREAFTER PROVIDE THAT SIDE LOT ASSESSMENTS FOR PROPERTY INTENDED FOR RESIDENT- IAL USE SHALL NOT EXCEED 50% OF THE FRONTAGE RATE, ALL AS MORE FULLY SET FORTH HEREINAFTER; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL; PROVIDING FOR SEVERA- BILITY; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Tipton, de Ases, Gill, Gulley, Lozano and Sample present and voting "Aye." Luby absent. ORDINANCE NO. 12687 AMENDING THE CITY BUDGET; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT AND ALL RELATED DOCUMENTS WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND TEXAS MEXICAN RAILWAY COMPANY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF RAILROAD SAFETY SIGNALIZATION AT THE INTERSECTION OF McBRIDE LANE AND HIGHWAY 44; APPROPRIATING $1,300 OUT OF THE NO. 220 STREET BOND FUND FOR THE CITY'S ESTIMATED SHARE OF COST, THE REMAINDER TO BE PAID BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND THE TEXAS MEXICAN RAILWAY COMPANY, AS PROVIDED BY THE HIGHWAY SAFETY ACT OF 1973, ALL APPLICABLE TO PROJECT NO. 220-72- 13.2; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Tipton, de Ases, Gill, Gulley, Lozano and Sample present and voting tes pular Council Meeting July 9, 1975 - Page 7 ORDINANCE NO. 12688 AMENDING THE CITY BUDGET; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH ASPHALT MAINTENANCE CO., INC. FOR CONSTRUCTION OF LA COSTA DRIVE STREET IMPROVEMENTS; APPROPRIATING $15,000 OUT OF THE NO. 220 STREET BOND FUND OF WHICH $13,342.40 IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AND $1,657.60 IS FOR INCIDENTAL AND RELATED EXPENSES, ALL APPLICABLE TO PROJECT NO. 220-72-21; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Tipton, de Ases, Gill, Gulley, Lozano and Sample present and voting "Aye." Luby was absent. ORDINANCE NO. 12689 AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 8294, AS AMENDED, KNOWN AS THE "BAY DRILLING ORDINANCE OF TNF CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI", BY DELETING THE PRESENT SUBSECTION 4.1 AND SUBSTITUTING THEREFOR A NEW SUBSECTION 4.1, PROVIDING FOR THE ADDITION OF ALTERNATES TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BAY DRILLING COMMITTEE; AND BY DELETING SUBSECTION 4.2 AND SUBSTITUTING THEREFOR A NEW SUBSECTION 4.2, SETTING FORTH THE TENURE OF OFFICE FOR THE ALTERNATE MEMBERS; PROVIDING EOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Tipton, de Ases, Gill, Gulley, Lozano and Sample present and voting "Aye." Luby was absent. ORDINANCE N0. 12690 ACCEPTING 1Hh BID OF CORPUS CHRISTI BANK & TRUST AS CITY DEPOSITORY BANK FOR THE ENSUING TERM; ACCEPTING AND APPROVING THE PLEDGE OF SECURITIES OF SAID DEPOSITORY BANK IN LIEU OF BOND AS SUCH CITY DEPOSITORY BANK; PROVIDING FOR THE DEPOSIT OF SUCH SECURITIES WITH DEPOSITORIES THAT ARE APPROVED BY THE CITY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND SUCH OTHER SECURITY HOLDER AS TRUSTEE FOR SAFEKEEPING; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Tipton, de Ases, Gill, Gulley, Lozano and Sample, present and voting "Aye." Luby was absent. (See Minutes of the Special Meeting of July 9, 1975, for Ordinances Nos. 12691, 12692, 12693, 12694, 12695; For Ordinance No. 12696, see Minutes of Special Meeting at 11:00 a.m., July 9) ORDINANCE NO. 12697 APPROPRIATING $14,770 OUT OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE OF $2,000,000 TAX CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION BEING SOLD JULY 9, 1975, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING BOND ATTORNEY'S FEES ESTIMATED AT $6,800 AND FINANCIAL ADVISOR'S FEES ESTIMATED AT $7,970; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Tipton, de Ases, Gill, Gulley, Lozano and Sample, present and voting "Aye". Luby was absent. *Commissioner de Ases departed the meeting at this time. Director of Public Utilities Robert Schneider, who has resigned this position to be effective July 11 to accept a position as Executive Director of the Texas Water Quality Board, took this opportunity to express his appreciation to the Council and staff for the fine relationship he has enjoyed during his employment as Director of Public Utilities. He also stated he wished to offer words of praise for the "people who work in the ditches," pointing out these employees do a tremendous job under the most difficult circumstances, Minutes Regular Council Meeting July 9, W75 Page 8 weatherwise and time of day. That they work many hard hours for which they receive overtime pay, but many times would rather have the time off with their families and citizens, as a whole, are not aware of the fine services these workers perform. He also spoke words of praise for the employees in the Utilities Office for the courteous manner in which they handle the many complaints received in that office daily. City Manager Townsend commended Mr. Schneider and his services to the City, stating his position would not be an easy one to fill . Mayor Pro Tem Tipton announced that the Regular Meeting would be recessed to be reconvened following the Special Meeting scheduled for 3:30 p.m. for public hearings on five zoning applications. ******************* The Regular Meeting was reconvened at 4:30 p.m. and Mayor Pro Tem Tipton announced the Council would now hear presentations of budget requests from agencies which are not a part of the City Govemment. Mr. Chester Malins, representing the Corpus Christi Musicians Association, Inc. appeared and requested an increase from $4,500 to $6,000 to assist in the cost of summer concerts on the Bayfront. Mr. Ron Maples, vice president of the Corpus Christi Symphony, appeared on behalf of this organization and requested $12,000 to match federal funds for special community musical programs. Dr. Richard Marcum spoke on behalf of the Japanese Art Museum, and asked the Council for approximately $20,000 to contribute to the operation of the Museum, pointing out the contribution this museum makes to the enrichment and education of the community. Dr. Marcum was accompanied by members of the Board of Trustees of the Museum, Dr. Samuel C. Woolvin, and Mr. J.B. Trimble, who also spoke in support of this appeal. Tom Boyd invited each of the Council Members to visit the museum. Mr. Larry Roquemore, representing the Corpus Christi Ballet Theater, requested financial assistance from the City in an approximate amount of $500 to help finance an "American Hoedown" dance program to be staged in Cole Park Amphitheater next July 4. Mr. Van Cycle, representing the Community Development Corporation, requested $29,046 for continuation of their present contract, stating a budget had been submitted for 1975-76 in which they have outlined categories and types of services they , . 0 Minutes Regular Council Meeting July 9, 1975 Page 9 have outlined categories and types of services they are presently providing and offering to provide in the future. Mr. F.L. Jackson, representing the Corpus Christi Semi -Pro Baseball League, asked for assistance of $3,550 to help operate the program designed for youths 18 years of age or older. He stated $30,000 had been spent for lighting and they need help to sell bonds to take care of this expenditure. On another matter, Mr. Warren M. Smith, 410 N.A.S. Drive, appealed to the Council to install a traffic signal light at the intersection at the South Gate entrance of the Naval Air Station on N.A.S. Drive. He stated this is a very dangerous intersection and has a history of several deaths and many accidents. He stated the poles and wires were already in place and he could not understand why the signal light could not be installed but had been refused by Traffic Engineer Tom Stewart. City Manager Townsend explained that the traffic system was designed to move traffic, possibly to the detriment of the business community, but the complaint would be investigated again, traffic counts obtained, and a report made. Mayor Pro Tem Tipton announced the public hearing on the proposed 1990 Transportation Plan Summary as revised and updated from the 1963-1964 Corpus Christi Transportation Study. Planning and Urban Director Ernest Briones explained that the summary in- cludes a 1990 street plan, and adoption of this plan is necessary to continue the City's eligibility to receive federal assistance for highway and mass transit improvements. He pointed out on an overlay map the changes that have been made, and stated the Planning Commission recommends its adoption. No one appeared to speak relative to the foregoing Transportation Study. Motion by Gulley, seconded by Sample and passed, that the proposed 1990 Transportation Plan Summary as revised and updated from the 1963-1964 Corpus Christi Transportation Study, as presented, be approved. There being no further business to come before the Council, motion by Sample, seconded by Gulley and passed, that the meeting be adjourned at 5:35 p.m., July 9, 1975.