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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 01/11/1977 - Special, MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING January 11, 1977 7:00 P. M. PRESENT: Mayor Jason Luby Mayor Pro Tem Bill Tipton Commissioners: Eduardo E. de Ases Ruth Gill Bob Gulley Gabe Lozano, Sr. Edward Sample Assistant Cityi1anager Archie Walker Assistant City Attorney Michael May City Secretary Bill G. Read Mayor Pro Tem Bill Tipton called the meeting to order in the Council Chambers of the City Hall. City Secretary Bill Read called the roll of required Charter Officers and noted that there was a quorum present to conduct a valid meeting. Mayor Luby explained the purpose of the meeting was to hold the second of two public hearings required by law on the Third Year Community Development Grant application totaling $4,695,000. He explained that the first hearing was held by the Planning Commission on December 14, 1976; that informal discussions were continued by the Council on January 10; and_that the purpose of these hearings is designed to receive citizen input on the expenditure of the funds. • Director. of Planning and Urban Development Ernest Briones made staff presentations and discussed the preliminary proposals for the Community Development Block Grant Program FY 1977-78 from a packet of written information furnished the Council and which detailed the items for expenditure of the $4,695,000 monies. He explained that the projects presented for review in the packet were drawn from project lists provided by the Department of Engineering and Physical Development, Department of Public Utilities; Department of Traffic and Transit; and Parks and Recreation Department; that each project was selected based on its location in Census Tracts determined by the Department of Planning and Urban Development to be eligible activity areas using the criteria set forth in the Housing and Com- munity Development Act of 1974; and explained that the Census Tract had to contain low and moderate income families whose total median income did not exceed 80 percent of the median family income of the City. Mr. Briones listed the projects proposed in the program with Staff and Planning Commission's recommendations as follows: Street Improvements Utility Relocation & Improvements Planning Staff Commission Recommendations Recommendations $2,130,800 $2,080,800 742,100 747,100 MICROFILMED SEP 0 31980 Minutes Special Council Meeting January 11, 1977 Page 2 Planning Staff Commission Recommendations Recommendations Sanitary Sewers - Nueces Acres $ 150,000 $ 150,000 Removal of Architectural Barriers in CBD -0- 35,000 Sidewalks - H.E.B. Area 11,000 11,000 Housing and Neighborhood Planning 900,000 970,100 Washington -Coles Neighborhood Redevelop ment 637,000 637,000 Park Improvements 124,100 44,000 Minority Business Liaison (Minority & Small Business Development Project) -0- 20,000 $4,695,000 $4,695,000 Mr. Briones named proposed streets. to be improved - Casa Blanca Arboleda - High Terrace Area, Ella Barnes Unit 1A, Ella Barnes Unit II, and.Lozano School Area; also, reviewed first and second year CD programs and named projects already completed. Director of Neighborhood Improvement:Division Thomas Utter summarized the Housing Assistance Plan, listing total housing units, substandard and those suitable for rehabilitation; listed housing assistance needs,including total low income house- holds in need of housing assistance, minority households in need, and additional families expected to reside in the community. He reviewed goals for lower income housing asistance, listing current year goals and three-year goal•including total new rental units, rehabilitation of rental units, existing rental units, rehabilitation assistance to homeowners or prospective homeowners and new construction assistance to homeowners or prospective homeowners, stating that the total housing assistance goals are - current year, 645 and three-year goal is 1,690. Mr. John Kirkley, official of the Corpus Christi Economic Development Corporation, a federally funded office aimed at promoting minority businesses, spoke in favor of the general concept of the program, conceded: it is a step in the.right direction but expressed doubts that the program would be as effective on the com- munity as it should be and probably would be getting away from the main objective. He questioned the utilization of the monies; that there had not been sufficient discus- sions, and expressed dissatisfaction as to the amount of citizen input. He stated too much of the fund had been allocated for street improvements and not enough for housing. He favored the proposed liaison positions to help contractors and suppliers, but main- tained they should be independent and not stationed in City offices where they would be placed in the position of dictating procedures to a superior member of the mutes Special Council Meeting January 11, 1977 Page 3 staff in order to carry out the operations. He maintained they should be skilled in this field and paid accordingly, and further maintained that the scope of the overall program is inadequate compared to the needs. Mr. Tim Gonzalez inquired if more personnel would be needed to implement the program, and if so, when should applications be made for employment. Mr. Utter explained that more personnel would be needed, but the program would not begin until June 1, 1977. Mr. Nick S. Lagarte, plumbing and air conditioning contractor, told the Council that he, to some extent, had been involved in rehabilitation programs, and maintained that small businessmen and minority contractors have not had fair treat- ment reatment on City contracts. He questioned the amount of money already spent on rehabili- tation and pointed out the comparative number of contracts given to minority contractors. He also stated that many people could not afford to pay the interest on the loans and some had already lost their homes because they could not pay the interest assessed. He stated that in some cases there should be outright grants instead of loans, and that he strongly favored housing rather than street improve- ments. Mr. Utter explained that the loan program . is not Operating correctly if recipients are losing their homes; that when it cannot be honestly determined that recipients have a very good chance of paying the loans out, they are not made. Mr. Lagarte maintained that minority contractors are unable to be bonded; that the City should waive bond requirements; and contracts for these rehabilitation programs should be packaged into small sections to be small enough for the small contractor to handle. He also pointed out that if the contracts could be given to minority contractors, the people in minority areas would be put to work. Assistant City Manager Walker explained that it was determined that the Purchasing and Engineering Departments would be the logical departments to aid contractors, and is an effort to have knowledgeable people who understand the needs to work with them. Councilmember Gill proposed that knowledgeable people communicate with people in the neighborhoods and explain just what effect street improvements would Utes ficial Council Meeting January 11, 1977 Page 4 have on their areas and homes, and get a feedback to the Council and staff. She asked for .the number of streets included in this program with regard to the peti- tions received. Mr. Walker reported that all streets petitioned have been:included in this program. Mr. Bennie Benavides complained of a drainage problem in Tract 13, and requested that some of the Community Development Grant money be used to correct this problem and that it be given a high priority. He reported that a petition had been submitted in connection with this request.' Mr. Tim Gonzales expressed gratification that after 24 years and nine petitions his street is finally going to be improved. In response to an inquiry of Councilman de Ases, Mr. Briones explained that $35,000 is proposed to be used for removal of architectural barriers in the down- town area; and that the staff is willing to accept that recommendation. Mr. Simon Ortiz, employee of minority contractors, complained that they had never seen the City's list of contractors; that they do not get employment, and they had only one $35,000 contract on the Nueces County Courthouse. He complained that minority contractors are not on the bidding list of the City. Mr. Billy Coleman stated it is impossible for small contractors to make $100,000 bond required on large contracts. As to the use of the Community Development Grant monies, he stressed the need for housing. rather than street improvements. Mr. Israel Trevino complained that during his association with his father's carpet business, out of 30 bids they had only been awarded one. Mayor Luby received a telegram during the meeting from State Representative Arnold Gonzales which stated that too much money is being proposed for street im- provements and not enough for housing. Mr. Dale Madelow, designer and contractor, told the Council that he had a new concept and design for building and rehabilitation at considerable savings: Mr. A. G. Mejia inquired as to why $3500 grants were not still being given. Mr. Utter responded that these grants no longer exist. Approximately 50 people attended the hearing and it was the general concensus of spokesmen that housing was favored over the proposed street'improvements.. . Minutes Special Council Meeting ' January 11, 1977 Page 5 Mayor Luby agreed with those requesting housing rehabilitation, stating that he felt street improvements should be done with bond elections. Motion by Gulley, seconded by de Ases and passed, that the hearing be recessed to 4:00 p.m. January 26, 1977. The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 p.m., January 11, 1977.