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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 09/29/1977 - Special• MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING CROCKETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SEPTEMBER 29, 1977 7:00 P. M. PRESENT: Mayor Pro Tem Eduardo E. de Ases Council Members: • Ruth Gill • • Gabe Lozano, Sr, Edward L. Sample Mayor Pro Tem Eduardo E: • de Ases ca11ed.the meeting to order for the public hearing on the assessments connection with the Casa Blanca, La Arboleda, High Terrace Area Street Improvement Project. Mayor Pro Tem.de Ases welcomed the people and explained the purpose of the meeting and the procedures in Spanish. Dorothy Zahn, Secretary in the Office of'the City Secretary, called the roll of required Charter Officers while City Secretary Bill G. Read was temporarily City Manager R. Marvin Townsend City Attorney J. Bruce Aycock City Secretary Bill G. Read 1 • absent from the meeting attempting to contact one of the. Council Members and stated that a quorum was,present. • Mayor Pro Tem de Ases asked City Manager R. Marvin Townsend to set the stage for the public hearing on the preliminary assessments for this project. City Manager Townsend stated that the purpose of the hearing is to explain the scope of the project and hear the comments of the members of the audience. He then asked City Attorney J. Bruce Aycock to conduct the hearing. City Attorney Aycock stated that this hearing is required by State law which requires that the amount of assessment for each property owner shall not exceed the value of the enhancement received from the improvements. • r ,.k Mr. Aycock.called as his first witness Mr. James K. Lantos, P.E., Director ' of Engineering and Physical Development. Mr. Aycock'questioned Mr. Lontos as to his qualifications and ascertained that a formal resume of his qualifications is on file in the Office of the City Secretary and considered as a part of the Minutes .as if written herein. •Mr. Lontos explained the scope of the street improvement project, stating theProjectwillbe divided into two phases; the street:: w[LL be 28 Feet wide + MICROFILMED SEP n""'0 Minutes Special Council Meeting September 29 Page 2 measured from back of curb to back of curb; the construction will consist of 8 inches of compacted caliche base and 11 inches of Type "D" hot -mix asphalt surface; the improvements will include concrete curbs and gutters, 4 -inch thick sidewalks 4 feet wide, and reinforced concrete driveways. Mr. Lontos stated that the low bid on Phase "A" was submitted by Asphalt Maintenance Company, Inc., in the amount of $315,058.35; the preliminary assess- ment for curbs, gutters, pavement, sidewalks and driveways totals $108,251.36; and the City's cost would be $206,806.99. Mr. Lontos informed the Council and the property owners that the low bid on Phase "B"'was submitted by APCCO in the total amount of $641,321.94; the prelim- inary assessment for curbs, gutters, pavement, sidewalks and driveways totals $232,668.75; and the City's cost would be $408,653.19. He pointed out that the assessments for Phase "B" are somewhat higher than for Phase "A"; therefore, the staff is recommending that the lower rate of $7.42 per linear foot for curbs, gutters and sidewalks and $2.02 per square foot for driveways be applied through- out the entire project. Mr. Lontos stated that the lower rates are not reflected on the preliminary assessment roll but the corrections will be made. City Manager Townsend interjected at this point that these lower rates only apply to non-residential property. Mr. Lontos stated that the driveways for • • residential properties in Phase "B" will also be lowered to $2.02_per square foot. Mr. Lontos stated that the project will start in about 45 days; the pro- ject will be completed in 6 to 8 months, after which the assessments will be due; the City provides that property owners may pay for their assessments in one pay- ment; but the City will arrange for property owners to make payments in 60 install- ments at an interest rate of 514%. He further stated that in hardship cases, it a would be possible to extend the payments for 12 years at the same interest rate. Mayor Pro Tem de Ases called for comments or questions from the audience. Mr. Margarito Galvan, 2517 Soledad Street, mentioned the fact that a por- tion of that street was constructed over an old landfill, and the street is sinking. Mr. Lontos assured him that the foundation of the street will be repaired prior to paving. t a f Special Council Meeting September 29, 1977 Page 3 Mr. John Medina, speaking on behalf of Mrs. Maria Salazar, 3005 Eisenhower Street (Item No. 240 of Phase "B"),stated that Mrs. Salazar's property is zoned for business; a residence is located there; and she would like to have the property rezoned as residential property. City Manager Townsend informed Mr. Medina and Mrs. Salazar that the matter will be investigated, and if it is appropriate that it be zoned as residential property; the City of Corpus Christi will instigate the procedure to change the zoning to residential, and Mrs. Salazar will be contacted in regard to this next week. Mayor Pro Tem de Ases recognized Mrs. Rosa Gonzales who was present in the audience and complimented her on the outstanding work she has done as a member of the Planning Commission. City Attorney Aycock next called Mr. W. J. (Bill) Holly :Jr.',.Real Estate. Broker and Appraiser,_to testify. Mr. Aycock questioned Mr. Holly as to his quali— fications and ascertained that a formal resume of his qualifications is on•file in the Office of the City Secretary and considered as a part of the Minutes as if 'ti written herein. • Mr. Holly testified that he is familiar with the market value in the City of Corpus Christi and is familiar with each and every parcel of land involved in •.the street improvements in this area. Mr. Holly testified that, in his opinion, each parcel of land included in the assessment roll would be enhanced at least in the amount listed on the preliminary assessment roll, with the exception of a few irregularly shaped lots listed in the Phase "B" portion of the street improvement project. Mr. Holly presented the Council with copies of his letter of recommenda— tion and addendum listing the parcels of land on which he recommended reductions. Mayor Pro Tem de Ases stated that the actual testimony had been completed and invited questions from the audience in regard to the assessments. An unidentified gentleman in the audience inquired about the length of time estimated for the construction project. Mr. Lontos replied that the smaller project, Phase "A" would require approximately six months for completion, and Phase "B" would 1:, Utes ecial Council Meeting eptember 29, 1977 age 4 require approximately eight months. The same gentleman also asked about the drain- age in the area. Mr. Lontos informed him that additional storm sewers will be installed, and the streets will be lowered to improve the drainage. The same gentleman then inquired if the taxes will be increased as a result of the street improvements. City Manager Townsend stated that property taxes are related to "sale prices of houses, and there is no direct relationship between the street improvements and taxes. In response to a question from an unidentified lady in the audience, Mr. Lontos stated that property that is vacant will be assessed the same as property that is not vacant. Mrs. Margie Callis, 2614 Wainwright Street, asked about the assessment for each individual for sidewalks, driveways, etc. Mr. Lontos replied that the charge for residential property is $4.75 for curbs, gutters and pavement per linear foot, $.75 per square foot for sidewalks, and her total assessment at this time is $484.73. Mrs. Aurora Quesada, 3708 Pensacola, who owns property at 2623 Alamo, asked about the procedure for arranging for payment of the assessments. Mr. Lontos explained that a staff,member of the Department of Engineering and Physical Development will contact each property owner to assist in processing the necessary forms. In reply to a question from the audience regarding fences, Mr. Lontos stated that if the contractor has to remove a fence during construction, the fence will be replaced at the expense of the contractor. Mr. Lontos informed the property owners that it would be possible to change Width-of_driveways, but requested that these changes be called to the attention of the staff after the meeting is adjourned so the changes may be made on the plans prior to construction. He also stated that community driveways can be built and the property owners on each side of the driveway will be assessed for their portion of the cost. Mr. Margarito Galvan mentioned a problem in regard to parking on his street when services and events are conducted at the Holy Family Church. He stated that there are parking lots, but frequently drivers park on the street and block drive- ways. Minutes Special Council Meeting September 29, 1977 Page 5 Mayor Pro Tem de Ases assured Mr. Galvan that he will discuss this problem with the priest of this church so that the parishioners may be made aware of the problem. City Manager Townsend stated that it is against the law to park vehicles in a manner that blocks driveways and suggested that this could be brought to the attention of the police. Mayor Pro Tem de Ases urged the property owners to call City Manager Townsend, members of the Council or staff members of the Department of Engineering and Physical Development if they encounter any problems during construction of the street improvements. Mayor Pro Tem de Ases then introduced the following staff members to the property owners: Mr. James K. Lontos, Director of Engineering and Physical Development; Mr. Gerald Smith, Chief Engineer; Mr. Victor Medina, Con- struction Engineer; and Paving Field Representatives - Mr. Erasmo Garza, Mr. Dan Ambriz, and Mr. Harry Maxim. Motion by Lozano that the hearing be closed, seconded by Sample and passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. September 29, 1977.