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.