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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 04/19/1978 - SpecialPRESENT: Mayor Gabe Lozano, Sr. Council Members: David Diaz *Joe Holt Tony Juarez Edward L. Sample MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING LOZAN0 ELEIiENTARY SCHOOL APRIL 19, 1978 7:00 P.M. City Manager R. Marvin Townsend City Attorney J. Bruce Aycock City Secretary Bill G. Read Mayor Gabe Lozano, Sr. called the meeting to order at Lozano Elementary School and stated that the purpose of the meeting was to conduct a public hearing on the preliminary assessment roll for street improvements in the Lozano School area. City Secretary Bill G. Read called the roll of required Charter Officers and stated that the necessary quorum was present to conduct a legally constituted meeting. City Manager R. Marvin Townsend explained that the public hearing on paving assessments is required by law to obtain the property owners' comments pertaining to the assessments on the street improvement project. Mr. Townsend stated that the planned street improvement project is the result of voluntary paving petitions that have been filed on each of the various streets included in the project and the funds for the project were approved in the 1977 Bond Election. City Manager Townsend then asked City Attorney J. Bruce Aycock to preside in estab- lishing testimony in connection with the project. City,Attorney Aycock stated that the State law requires that the amount of assessment for each property owner shall not exceed the value of the enhancement received from the improvements. He called as his first witness Mr. Gerald Smith, P.H., Chief Engineer in the Department of Engineering and Physical Development, City of Corpus Christi, Texas. City Attorney Aycock ascertained that Mr. Smith•is a qualified Registered Engineer in the State of Texas and that he is familiar with the proposed project. Mr. Smith proceeded to explain the Lozano School area street improvement project, stating that this is a neighborhood street improvement project, which ivui,ROFILMED SEP 0 31980 Minutes Special Council Meeting April 19, ?V§ ;Page 2 • includes the following streets: 1. Dunbar, Easley and Sonora Streets from Greenwood Drive to Blake Street; 2. Elgin, Sabinas and Blake Streets from Sonora Street to Baldwin Boulevard; 3. Mohawk Street from Blake Street to Morgan Avenue; 4. Osage Street from Morgan Avenue to 300 feet south of Aztec Street; 5. Aztec Street from Cheyenne Street to Blake Street; 6. Seminole Street from Blake Street to Morgan Avenue; 7. Rosewood Street from Blake Street to Morgan Avenue; 8. Reynosa Street from Burnet Street to Belton Street; and 9. Tasco Street from Sarita Street to State Highway 286. Mr. Smith further explained that voluntary paving petitions have been received on all of the streets; funds were included in the 1977 Bond Program; bids on the project were received on March 1, 1978; and the plans and specifications were prepared by the Department of Engineering and Physical Development. Mr. Smith informed the Council and the audience that the streets will be constructed tc a width and depth to permit the laying of a standard curb and gutter section, 6" compacted subgrade, 8" compacted caliche base and 1" Type "D" hot -mix asphaltic pavement, and that the streets will vary in width from 28' to 38' depend- ing on right-of-way and street usage. He also stated that 4' wide reinforced side- walks and 6" reinforced driveways will be constructed as shown on the construction plans or where requested by the property owner. Mr. Smith also stated that the amount of the assessments has been computed according to the City ordinance pertaining to the levying of assessments and that the maximum charge for residential property was computed at a rate of $4.75 per linear foot for curb, gutter and pavement, and $.75 per square foot for sidewalks. Chief Engineer Smith informed the audience that the low bidder on the project was M 6 M Construction Company in the amount of $626,504.49. *Council Member Holt arrived at the meeting at 7:15 p.m. Mayor Lozano inquired if anyone in the audience had any questions in regard to the construction as explained by Mr. Smith. An,unidentified gentleman in the audience mentioned the drainage problem on Mohawk Street, and Mr. Smith replied that the plans call for the installation of 43 catch basins and various sizes of storm sewers.,, City Manager Townsend suggested that the gentleman examine the plans, which were available, and discuss the drainage with members of the Engineering staff. Minutes Special Council Meeting April 19, 1978 Page 3 Another unidentified gentleman in the audience questioned the qualifications of the low bidder and inquired if it was the same contractor who had performed the work on the Austin School area street improvements, indicating that there were com- plaints following that particular street construction. Mr. Smith stated that two different companies, Asphalt Paving Company and Burtex Constructors, Inc., had performed the work in that area. He informed the gentleman that M & M Construction had not bid on any City projects in some time but that they are experienced in street construction in that they have constructed a number of streets for subdivision developments. Another unidentified gentleman urged careful inspection of the construction by City inspectors to assure that the streets will be up to standard, and Mr. Smith assured him that City inspectors will be performing inspections at all times. Mr. Benito Clark, 674 Rosewood, asked if additional street lights will be installed in conjunction with these improvements. Mayor Lozano explained that the construction project will not include street lighting, but if there is a problem with the lighting, this will be reported to the staff. Mr. Clark reported that the street is particularly dark between Baldwin Boulevard and Sonora Street because the blocks are quite long. City Manager Townsend assured him that this problem will be investigated by the staff. A gentleman in the audience inquired about payment of the assessments, and Mayor Lozano explained that the property owners will have 60 months in which to pay their assessments, and payments will not be required until the project is completed. Mr.''Smith further explained the payment policy and informed the property owners that the assessments may be paid in several different ways following comple- tion of the project, which will require 175 working days, or approximately 8 to 9 months. He stated that the property owner may pay the entire assessment in cash following completion of the project; or may take 60 months to pay the assessments, either on a monthly or yearly basis; and the interact charged is 514.• A gentleman in the audience mentioned that he understood that neighborhood improvement loans at 3% interest are available for this area and inquired if it 4 • Minutes Special Council Meeting April 19, 1978 Page 4 would be possible to borrow money at this lesser interest to pay for assessments. City Manager Townsend agreed that there is a Federal program whereby resi- dents of this area could borrow funds at this interest rate, but such loans are handled by another department and'it is specified that these funds may be acquired for home improvements only. Mr. Smith summarized his testimony by stating that this project will begin about the middle of May; it should be completed in 8 or 9 months; and the contrac- tor is required to complete the streets in the immediate vicinity of Lozano School during the summer months to avoid conflicts with school traffic after the beginning of school. City Attorney Aycock called as his next witness, Mr. W. J. (Bill) Holly, Jr., a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Texas, and ascertained that Mr. Holly is familiar with the area and had examined each and every piece of property to be assessed in connection with this street project. Mr. Holly testified that, in his opinion, each and every piece of property will be enhanced at least in the amount of the proposed assessment. He did state, however, that there are several pie -shaped lots abutting the streets to be improved on which he recommends the following reductions .in assessments: 1. Items No. 103 & 178: Property bounded by Aztec (front), Seminole (side) and Blake (no improvements)- Recommended reduction in the total amount of $177.80. 2. Items No. 163, 188 & 227: Property bounded by Blake (side), Aztec (side) and Rosewood (front) Streets - Recommended reduction in the total amount of $38.65. 3. Items No. 164 & 238: Property bounded by Blake (side) and Rosewood (front) Streets - Recommended reduction in the total amount of $217.47. 4. Items No. 165 & 239: Property bounded by Blake (side) and Rosewood (front) Streets - Recommended reduction in the total amount of $86.12. 5. Item No. 167: Property bounded by Blake Street (to be improved) and Baldwin Boulevard - Total recommended reduction in the amount of $436.21. Mr. Holly also testified that a number of these properties are zoned higher than the use of the property and that he is recommending that each piece of property that is used as a residence be assessed as residential property at the lesser rate if the property owners of these particular lots epee to have their property rezoned "R -lb" One -family dwelling district. He also stated that a few businesses exist on Minutes, Special Council Meeting April 19,,, 1978 Page- 5, property which is zoned for residential use rather than zoned for business and on these properties, he has recommended an increase in the assessments. City Manager Townsend explained the aforementioned zoning exceptions and stated that in the past, the Council has agreed to reduction of assessments in such instances providing the property owner agrees to accept a lower zoning of "R-113". He noted that in some cases, it would not be to the property owner's advantage to have their property zoned differently, and this will be explained to each owner affected. Council Member Holt stated that if the property owner desires to have their property rezoned in order to reduce the rate of assessment, the staff should ini- tiate the zoning change procedure without charge to the property owner. 'City Manager Townsend agreed that it should be accomplished in this manner and assured the Council that it had been done in this way in the past. Council Member Diaz cautioned the staff to very carefully explain the impli- cations involved in down -zoning property to each property owner, pointing out that it might not be to the property owner's advantage to have the zoning changed on some of the property. City Manager Townsend assured him that this would be clearly explained by members of the staff. Following this discussion, the Council indicated agreement to the suggested changes in assessments as recommended by Mr. Holly. • Mr. Guadalupe Garcia, 3323 Aztec Street, mentioned the existence of water meters•in the easement and the water lines that are located there. Mr. Victor Medina, who will serve as engineer on this project in the field, explained that thisrproblem will be worked out. ir,,,.d Mrs, Charles. R. Schwabe, 637 Osage, also referred to the water lines in the aldeyrand•etated.that it was her understanding that the lines will be relocated in the,streetiand the meters placed in front of the property on this street. City Manager Townsend explained that if the existing water line is satis- factory, it will not be moved, but if the condition of the water line warrants the relocation of the line to the street, the City will accomplish this with no charge to the property owner, indicating that this also applies to relocation of gas lines. Minutes Special Council Meeting April 19, 1978 Page 6 Mr. Refugio Calderon, 3418 Aztec, stated that improvements are planned for this street but he did not receive a letter in regard to his assessments. Mr. Medina explained that the names of the property owners are obtained from the City's tax rolls, and it is possible that if the property has recently been sold, his name might not appear on the tax rolls as owner of this property. Mr. Smith also stated that this project contains 298 separate items, and it is conceivable that a few errors might have existed on the list of property owners obtained from the Tax Office. He suggested that Mr. Calderon contact one of the members of the staff present at the meeting to request a letter in regard to his assessments. Several other members of the audience indicated that they had not received letters and were assured that this oversight would be corrected. Mr. Smith explained that two types of driveways are planned as a part of the project and informed the property owners if they desire a different width driveway from the one specified for each piece of property, changes can be made. Mayor Lozano reiterated that members of the City staff will remain after the meeting to discuss individual problems. Mr. Smith then introduced the following City staff members who will be involved in the project: Mr. Victor Medina, Engineer in charge of the construc- tion; Mr. Bob Hobbs, one of the two inspectors assigned to the project; Mr. Marion Brown of the Voluntary Paving Division and his staff members, Mr. Dan Ambriz, Mr. Erasmo Garza, and Mr. Barry Maxim, all of whom will be working with the property owners. Mr. Smith then introduced Mr. Ron Young of M & M Construction Company. Mr. Jerry Darden, 2945 Carver, inquired if additional stop signs will be installed, pointing out the need for some type of traffic control at the inter- section of Dunbar and Carver Streets. City Manager Townsend replied that this construction project will not have anything to do with the traffic problems, but this location will be investigated by other staff members. Mr. Darden also mentioned a drainage problem that exists in the 2900 block of Carver, and Mr. Smith pointed out that the street will be lower than the exist- ing property, and hopefully, this problem will be alleviated. • L • MinY.ds Special Council Meeting April 19, 1978 Page 7 Mayor Lozano thanked the citizens for attending the meeting and suggested that if they had other questions, they discuss them with Engineering staff members following the•adjournment of the meeting. There being no further business to come before the Council, on motion by Sample, seconded by Holt, and passed unanimously, the public hearing was closed and the Special Council Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. April 19, 1978.