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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 03/30/1977PRESENT: *Mayor Jason Luby Mayor Pro Tem Bill Tipton Councilmembera: ** Eduardo E. de Ases Ruth Gill Bob Gulley Gabe Lozano, Sr. Edward Sample MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 30, 1977 2:00 P.M. City Manager R. Marvin Townsend City Attorney J. Bruce Aycock City Secretary Bill G. Read Mayor Pro Tem Tipton called the meeting to order in the Council Chamber while Mayor Luby was in his office conducting official City business. Councilmember Lozano gave the Invocation. City Secretary Read called the roll of required Charter officers and stated that a quorum was present. Motion by Sample that the Minutes of the Regular Council Meetings of March 2, 9 and 16, 1977 be approved; seconded by Lozano and passed unanimously. Mayor Pro Tem Tipton announced that the following Proclamations had been issued by Mayor Luby: NATIONAL DEFENSIVE DRIVING WEEK, April 3 through 9, 1977; and DOCTORS' DAY, March 30, 1977. Mayor Pro Tem Tipton called for the presentation by a representative of Central Power and Light Company. Mr. Wallace E. Whitworth, Manager of Central Power and Light Company, reported to the Council that the fuel cost adjustment to be applied to April, 1977 bills will be 2.218485p/KWH as compared to 2.035104e/KWH applied to March,1977 bills. City Manager Townsend stated that this monthly rate procedure report is no longer necessary, according to the Public Utilities Commission, but indicated that Central Power and Light Company would continue to present the report. Mayor Pro Tem Tipton announced the Public Hearing on the revision of a grant application to the Urban Mass Transportation Administration for capital assistance for 1976-77. City Manager Townsend stated that the grant was previ- ously approved some time ago but it needs to be modified before final approval. Mr. Tom Stewart, Director of Traffic and Transit, presented a report on the modifications necessary for the grant application in order to maintain eli- gibility for funding. He stated that he had been informed by the UMTA Division SFp�3�M�l 980 Minutes Regular Council Meeting March 30, 1977 Page 2 of Project Development that the City's grant application can be revised to include two additional projects, one of which is the implementation of a uniform system of accounts, records and reporting system. Mr. Stewart stated that the City must convert to this system by August 1, 1977. He stated that the second project is the purchase of a coin sorter to handle transit receipts. Mr. Stewart explained that in order to amend the grant application to include these additions, it will be necessary to maintain the same funding level; therefore, it is recommended that the bus wrecker replacement be deferred until the 1977-78 UMTA funding period. Further discussion followed. *Mayor Jason Luby arrived at the meeting at 2:20 p.m. Mayor Luby recognized at this time Colonel Floyd Buch, Chairman of the Transit Study Board. Colonel Buch stated that the Board is in favor of these revisions and pointed out that the coin sorter will save a lot of time and the bus wrecker replacement is not all that critical. Motion by Sample that the hearing be closed; seconded by Gulley. There was no discussion from the audience, and the motion passed unanimously. Motion by Gulley that the revised grant application to UMTA be approved; seconded by Sample and passed unanimously. (Transcript of Public Hearing is available in the City Secretary's Office.) Mayor Luby announced at this time that at a State meeting of the Women's Committee of the Texas Safety Association in Houston, Mrs.Oscar L. Bocock had received an award for the work accomplished by the "Hands Up Program" of the Crime Prevention Program. Councilmember Gill suggested that a letter of congra- tulations be sent to Mrs. Bocock; other Council members agreed; and Mayor Luby requested that City Secretary Read prepare the letter for their signatures. Mayor Luby then called for the City Manager's Report. City Manager Townsend presented the following items with_related comments and' discussion: a. Recommendation that a public hearing be held at 2 p.m. during the Regular Council Meeting on April 13, 1977 on changing the name of Telco Street from Upper Broadway to Tancahua Street to Coopers Street. This street and Coopers Street from Water to Upper Broadway are being improved by a City -State Urban Systems Program contract. Because this project will connect the two streets so that traffic can flow from Water Street to Tancahua Street, this street name change is recommended. There are no addresses on Telco Street. U. 1 Minutes Regular Council Meeting March 30, 1977 Page 3 City Manager Townsend stated that in 1958 Cooper's Alley was changed to Coopers Street and that a new street improvement project proposes to tie Coopers Street onto Telco Street and that there is a need for both streets to have the same name. Councilmember de Ases stated that he preferred the name Cooper's Alley rather than Coopers Street, and other Council members expressed agreement. City Manager Townsend stated that the recommendation for the public hearing will be changed to reflect the inclusion of Coopers Street in the recommendation of a name change for Telco Street; therefore Item "a" of the City Manager's Report was revised as follows: a. Recommendation that a public hearing be held at 2:00 p.m. during the Regular Council Meeting on April 13, 1977 on changing the name of Coopers Street, from Shoreline Boulevard to Mesquite Street, and Telco Street, from Mesquite Street to North Tancahua Street, to Cooper's Alley. These streets are being improved and connected by a City -State Urban Systems Program contract so that traffic can flow from Water Street to Tancahua Street, thus, making one street name desirable. b. Recommendation that bids be received at *for 6 - 10" butterfly valves to replace ham Water Plant. The valves drain sand c. Recommendation that bids be received at for the following special truck bodies, lift gate: • 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 19, 1977 unserviceable valves at the Cunning - filters before backwashing. 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 26, 1977 utility tool boxes and hydraulic (1) Replacement 12 - 15 cu.yd. tandem axle dump trailer for the Water Division. (2) 3 replacement 4 - 5 cu.yd. dump bodies for the Park, Water and Gas Divisions. (3) 1 replacement 106" and 1 replacement 132" utility service body for the Gas Division. (4) Replacement crew truck body for the Park Division. (5) 2 replacement 120".utility service bodies for the Water Division. (6) Replacement 108" utility service body for Traffic and Transit. (7) 7 pairs of replacement and 1 additional pair of utility tool boxes for the Water and Gas Divisions. (8) 1 replacement hydraulic lift gate for a 3/4 ton pickup for the Park Division. Minutes Regular Council Meeting March 30, 1977 Page 4, L 'd. Recommendation that a grant application be submitted to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for continuation of 701 Comprehensive Planning. The application requests $40,000 to be matched with $20,000 in Community Development funds presently avail- able for planning purposes, and will become effective July 1, 1977. Of the total $60,000, $45,145 is for salaries. No additional personnel will be required. The program will provide land use planning, long range capital improvement programing, updating the platting ordinance, and planning and preparation of the Community Development Block Grant application. e. Recommendation that a resolution be passed establishing the following priorities for the funding of Criminal Justice Division grants for the City: (1) Nueces County Organized Crime Control Unit (2) Narcotics Task Force (3) Counter Fencing Task Force (4) Rape Crisis Center (5) Night Magistrate (6) Technical Equipment (7) Polygraph $78,325 66,000 36,624 21,310 15,110 7,837 25,980 $251,186 In regard to Item "e", City Manager Townsend stated that following last week's discussion of priorities for the funding of Criminal Justice Division grants, the Council had been mailed status reports on the existing programs, and the programs listed above represent the Staff's recommendation of priorities. Mayor Luby stated that he has no objections to these priorities for funding, and other Council members agreed. In regard to Item "b", Councilmember Sample inquired as to whether or not the 6 butterfly valves are routine replacements. City Manager Townsend stated that the replacement of these valves is essential this year since the existing valves were installed some time between 1912 and 1920. Councilmember Gill inquired about the price, and City Manager Townsend stated that they were approx- imately $900 each. In regard to Item "d", Councilmember Gill asked what the Staff had planned .to do about the allocation of $45,145 for salaries for continuation of 701 Comprehensive Planning if the grant application of $40,000 had not been available. City Manager Townsend indicated that the Staff had planned to reduce the staff Minutes Regular Council Meeting March 30, 1977 Page 5 next year if funds had not been available through this grant, emphasizing that this is for next year's budget. There was no discussion from the members of the audience in regard to the City Manager's Report. Motion by Sample that the City Manager's Report, Items "a" (as revised) through "e" be approved; seconded by Gulley and passed unanimously. Mayor Luby at this time introduced Mr. Reuben Garcia of the Texas Department of Community Affairs. Mr. Garcia stated that he was in Corpus Christi to assist in coordinating the Summer Youth Recreation Program with the City and the Manpower Consortium so that everyone involved will be aware of what each entity is doing in the planning of the program. Mr. Garcia mentioned the problem all cities have with late funding from the Federal Government for the summer program and informed the Council that his office is preparing a proposal to assist in eliminating this problem. Councilmember Lozano inquired if,since the late funding is caused by the Federal office, something could be done by City Councils on a statewide basis to alleviate this problem. Mr. Garcia indicated that no one has done anything to coordinate an effort to eliminate the late funding problem and that he would like to cooperate with the cities on this matter. Mayor Luby suggested that the Council go on record as being opposed to the late funding and suggested a letter be written to this effect. Mr. Ernest Brionea, Director of Planning and Urban Development, stated that plans for the Summer Youth Recreation Program are being formulated at this time under the assumption that funds will be available. Councilmember Gulley at this time referred to copy of City Manager Townsend's presentation before the Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs, March 29, 1977, in opposition to H.B. 513, H.B. 475, and S.B. 189, complimenting him on his statement. Councilmember Sample indicated that he was not familiar with the matter and requested the City Manager to elaborate on it. Minutes Regular Council Meeting March 30, 1977 Page 6 City Manager Townsend stated that the bills were designed to prohibit cities from regulating the residence locations of City employees, and that he had appeared before the Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs to express opposition to the proposed bills, citing the reasons why it is beneficial to the City to have its employees residing within the city limits. Councilmember de Ases requested that he be provided with a copy of the bill at a later date and inquired as to the policy of staff members making appear- ances before legislative committees in Austin to express the opinions of the City. He suggested that the Council be apprised of matters about which the City Manager or a Staff member plans to make statements of policy positions of the City of Corpus Christi. City Manager Townsend stated that in this particular instance, he was made aware of the Committee meeting on Saturday, March 26, and there was not an opportunity for him to discuss it with all of the Council members. Mayor Luby stated that Mr. Townsend had discussed the matter with him before his appearance before the committee in Austin. City Manager Townsend informed the Council that City Attorney Aycock had been in Austin in regard to a bill on Airport zoning to limit height conditions and to regulate density in line with the ordinance passed some time ago by the City Council. He also stated that on Monday a Staff member had requested a dele- gation to sponsor an amendment to a bill involving annexation of water and sewer districts. Mr. Townsend explained that if the bill was not amended, the City of Corpus Christi would be in a position of annexing other cities since the City supplies water for them. City Manager Townsend next presented the ordinances for approval. Mayor. Luby referred to the ordinance listed as Item "e" which is a resolution urging defeat of House Bill 1200, which would impose a tax levy of 5% of the market value of crude oil and petroleum distillate consumed by each refinery, and inquired as to just what is the threat to the area refineries. Councilmember Sample stated that such a bill would possibly influence refineries to relocate outside the State of Texas. Minutes Regular Council Meeting March 30, 1977 Page 7 Mayor Luby referred to the ordinance listed as Item "g", which amends Ordinance No. 13682 to reflect changes in Election Judges, Alternates and - Polling Places for the April 2, 1977 Election, and asked City Secretary Read if he foresees any controversy on the proposed changes. City Secretary Read stated that the amendment to the ordinance involves only minor corrections necessitated by the inability of some of the judges and alternates to serve and one or two address changes of the polling places. Mayor Luby inquired if an election school had been conducted, and City Secretary Read assured him that new judges had been in attendance at the election school Tuesday, March 29, 1977, conducted by the League of Women Voters. There was no discussion of the ordinances from the audience. All ordinan- ces passed, as follows: SECOND READING: AMENDING CHAPTER 57, ARTICLE II, DIVISION 5 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, 1976 REVISION, BY REPLACING THE TERM "CHAUFFEUR'S LICENSE" WHEREVER IT APPEARS WITH THE TERM "TAXICAB DRIVER'S" LICENSE AND REPEALING SECTION 57-105 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, 1976 REVI- SION, AND SUBSTITUTING THEREFOR A NEW SECTION 57-105, TO PROVIDE FOR ISSUANCE OF TAXICAB DRIVER'S LICENSE. The foregoing ordinance was read for the second time and passed to his third reading by the following vote: Luby, Tipton de Ases, Gill, Gulley, Lozano and Sample voting "Aye". THIRD READING - ORDINANCE NO. 13703: AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, 1976 REVISION, BY AMENDING SECTION 53-250, SCHEDULE I, "ONE-WAY STREETS AND ALLEYS", BY ADDING ITEMS THERETO AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The foregoing ordinance was read for the third time and passed finally by the following vote: Luby, Tipton, de Ases, Gill, Gulley, Lozano and Sample voting "Aye" ORDINANCE NO. 13704: AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR A GRANT OF $40,000 TO CARRY OUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING ACTIVITIES, ALL AS MORE FULLY SET FORTH IN THE APPLICATION, A SUBSTANTIAL COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF, MARKED EXHIBIT "A"; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Luby, Tipton, de Ases, Gill, Gulley, Lozano and Sample voting "Aye". Minutes Regular Council Meeting March 30, 1977 Page 8 RESOLUTION NO. 13705: ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES FOR THE FUNDING OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION GRANTS FOR THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, AS MORE FULLY SET FORTH HEREINAFTER; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote: Luby, Tipton, de Ases, Gill, Gulley, Lozano and Sample voting "Aye". RESOLUTION NO. 13706: URGING DEFEAT OF HOUSE BILL 1200 INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE NUGENT AND OTHERS, WHICH, IF PASSED WOULD IMPOSE A TAX LEVY OF 5% OF THE MARKET VALUE OF CRUDE OIL AND PETROLEUM DISTILLATE CONSUMED BY EACH REFINERY FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING REFINED; INSTRUCTING THE CITY SECRETARY TO PROVIDE A TRUE COPY OF THIS RESOLU- TION TO THE NUECES COUNTY DELEGATION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote: Luby, Tipton, de Ases, Gill, Gulley, Lozano and Sample voting "Aye". RESOLUTION NO. 13707: CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF WAYNE TIBBETS TO THE POSITION OF GENERAL SUPER- INTENDENT WATER SYSTEM BY THE CITY MANAGER, PURSUANT TO CITY CHARTER ARTICLE III, SECTION 3; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote: Luby, Tipton, de Ases, Gill, Gulley, Lozano and Sample voting "Aye". ORDINANCE NO. 13708: AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 13682, PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH 2, 1977, CALLING AN ELECTION FOR MAYOR AND SIX COUNCILMEN IN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI TO BE HELD ON THE FIRST SATURDAY IN APRIL, 1977, SO AS TO MAKE CERTAIN CHANGES IN THE LIST OF ELECTION OFFICIALS AND POLLING PLACES AS HEREINAFTER SET FORTH; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Luby, Tipton, de Ases, Gill, Gulley, Lozano and Sample voting "Aye". Mayor Luby then opened the floor for petitions or discussion from the audience. Mrs. Betty Brandesky, 4017 Cork Street, expressed her concern in regard to the lack of attendants on duty to assist with luggage at Corpus Christi Inter- national Airport for late -arriving flights. Mrs. Brandesky related an incident that had recently occurred in such a situation involving her niece and two elderly people who had arrived on a late flight. Further discussion followed, and City Manager Townsend stated that he would instruct the Airport Manager to bring this matter up at the monthly meeting of the Airport Advisory Board. Mr. James K. Ritchey, 4537 Brookdale, asked to speak on this same matter. He stated that if "redcaps" are allowed to work at the Airport for tips, they should come under the State Employment Act and that if they work just for tips, Minutes Regular Council Meeting March 30, 1977 Page 9 they are illegal. Mr. Jim Ross, 315 Laurel Drive, addressed the Council at this time and spoke at length regarding a sewer problem that has existed at the rear of his home for more than two years, expressing concern that because of raw sewage from an overflowing manhole and line possibly has caused illness in his family. City Manager Townsend stated that he will have a full report on the matter for the Council. • **Councilmember de Ases departed the meeting at 3:44 p.m. because of a flight schedule. Mr. John Steneland, 337 Primrose Drive, appeared at this time in regard to an ordinance passed in November setting forth a new lease contract for the Corpus Christi Marina. He stated that the lease contract requires that when a new lease is signed, the City of Corpus Christi is given assignment to the water craft. City Manager Townsend stated that this matter had been under dis— cussion, and the Legal Department has revised the form so that the assignment of the water craft does not become effective until the slip rental is overdue. He also indicated that all future contracts will be corrected. Mr. James K. Ritchey, 4537 Brookdale, spoke again. He referred to a report from the Personnel Department on the Employee Ethnic Distribution Report as of February 1, 1977, which had been presented to Council candidates, stating his objection to the breakdown of employees under categories of "Spanish Surname", "Black", and "Other", and suggested that this classification of employees be changed. Mr. Ken Pesek, 3502 Santa Fe, expressed concern to the Council about the numerous accidents that had occurred at the intersection of Santa Fe and Sinclair. He stated that he had noticed traffic counters at the intersection one or two weeks ago and asked if there are plans to alleviate the problem. Councilmember Gill confirmed the fact that there seemed to be a blind spot at the corner where townhouses are located. City Manager Townsend stated that there is an ongoing program of having traffic counters all over the City and stated that nothing Minutes Regular Council Meeting March 30, 1977 Page 10 specific is planned at this location, but he will discuss this with the Staff of Traffic and Transit. City Manager Townsend informed the Council that the City has received a check from Texas Municipal League Workmen's Compensation insurance in the amount of $18,055 as the return on this year's Workmen's Compensation payments. He stated that this will go into the insurance fund. There being no further business to come before the Council, on motion by Sample, seconded by Lozano and passed unanimously, the meeting was adjourned at 3:53 p.m., March 30, 1977. I, JASON LUBY, Mayor of the City of Corpus Christi, Texas, certify that i the foregoing minutes, same being for the period of February 2, 1977 through February 23, 1977, inclusive, and having been previously approved by Council action, are by me hereby approved, as itemized: JASdN'LBY, Mayor City of Corpus Christi 2/2/77 Regular Council Meeting 2/2/77 Special Council Meeting 2/9/77 Regular Council Meeting 2/9/77 Special Council Meeting 2/16/77 Regular Council Meeting 2/16/77 Special Council Meeting 2/23/77 Regular Council Meeting 2/23/77 Special Council Meeting MIIICROFI 1$MQ \SE? 031980 c , too-