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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 05/02/1979PRESENT: Mayor Gabe Lozano, Sr. Mayor Pro Tem Bob Gulley Council Members: David Diaz Ruth Gill Joe Holt Tony Juarez, Jr. Edward L. Sample MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MAY 2, 1979 2:00 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 in the Council Chambers of City Hall. The Reverend B. L. Roberson of Pentecostal Church of God in Christ gave the invocation. City Secretary Bill G. Read called the roll of required Charter Officers and verified that the necessary quorum was present to conduct a legally constituted meeting. Mayor Lozano announced the issuance of the following proclamations: "RESPECT FOR LAW WEEK" - May 1-7, 1979; "ERA WEEKEND IN MAY FOR MDA" - May 5-6, 1979; "DEAF AWARENESS WEEK" - May 7-12, 1979; "NATIONAL HOSPITAL WEEK" - May 6-12, 1979; "LAW DAY U.S.A." - May 3, 1979; "PROJECT RE-ENTRY" - May 8, 1979; "SENIOR CITIZENS' MONTH" - May, 1979; and "BETTER HEARING AND SPEECH MONTH" - May, 1979. Mayor Lozano announced the canvassing of the returns of the Runoff Election held on April 28, 1979. City Secretary Read referred to his memorandum in regard to the canvass and stated that the sealed envelopes and general return sheets are available if the Council desires to examine them. He stated that the returns received by telephone Saturday night were the same as the official returns as listed on the general return sheets which were turned in by the judges. None of the Council Members had any questions concerning the canvassing, and Mayor Lozano accepted the report of the City Secretary as presented. City Secretary Read suggested that the Council consider the ordinance offi- cially canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the Runoff Election(rat this time. SEP a4 1980 Minutes Regular Council Meeting May 2, 1979 Page 2 City Secretary Read polled the Council for their votes, and the following ordinance was passed: ORDINANCE N0.14874: CANVASSING RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE RUNOFF ELECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI HELD ON THE 28TH DAY OF APRIL, 1979; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended, and the foregoing ordinance was passed by the fol- lowing vote: Lozano, Gulley, Diaz, Gill, Holt, Juarez and Sample voting "Aye." Mayor Lozano briefly deviated from the agenda to read a letter of commen- dation which he had received from a very dear friend of his, Judge Jack Blackmon. Mayor Lozano then expressed his appreciation to the citizens of Corpus Christi for the privilege of serving as Mayor of the City of Corpus Christi and ��fh�nked the citizens for electing him to represent them on the Council seven times. -1yor Lozano expressed the opinion that the officials elected to serve on the Council on April 28 will perform an outstanding job for the City of Corpus Christi and mentioned that he is very pleased that Luther Jones has been elected as Mayor of this City. Mayor Lozano then invited each of the outgoing Council Members to speak briefly. Council Member Gill thanked all of the citizens who had worked for her election four years ago and continued to support her. She then expressed appre- ciation to all of the people who had served with her on the Council, indicating that she would miss all of them. Mrs. Gill also thanked the City staff for their assistance and support during her terms on the Council. Council Member Gill also expressed appreciation to the many citizens who had approached her many times to express their opinions and make her aware of their feelings and problems. She then thanked the incoming Council Members for their willingness to serve in this capacity. Council Member Juarez expressed appreciation to the citizens who supported him while he was on the Council and thanked the Council Members who served with him for their advice and encouragement. Mr. Juarez also complimented the staff, stating that this City has the best staff in the State of Texas. Minutes Regular Council Meeting May 2, 1979 Page 3 Council Member Holt expressed appreciation to Mayor Lozano who has given so much of himself to this City and thanked all of the Council Members who have helped and taught him so much. Mayor Pro Tem Gulley stated that he felt that the incoming Council is an outstanding one, and that he has high hopes for this City under their leadership. He also complimented the City staff and the many dedicated people who serve on the staff. Mr. Gulley stated that he had enjoyed his tenure on the Council very much and promised to continue to work for the betterment of the City. Mayor Lozano then presented each of the Council Members a token of appre- ciation for their service on the Council, which was a plaque on which the official Key to the City had been mounted. Mayor Pro Tem Gulley expressed the Council's gratitude to Mayor Lozano for serving as the leader of this City and presented to him a plaque on which was mounted his gavel and striker, as well as a Key to the City, on behalf of the Council and the citizens of this City. Mayor Lozano then called for the swearing in of the newly elected Council. , The Honorable Paul W. Nye, Chief Justice of the 13th Court of Civil Appeals, p4rformed the swearing-in ceremonies which consisted of the City's official Oath of Office for the following officials: Luther Jones, Mayor Council Members: Dr. Jack Best, David Diaz, Jack Dumphy, Edward L. Sample Betty N. Turner, and Cliff Zarsky. The Mayor and Council Members then assumed their seats at the Council Table following which they were presented their name plates which will be used at the Table. Mayor Jones assumed the Chair and expressed appreciation to Judge Nye for performing the ceremonies. Mayor Jones then thanked all of the people who were present for attending the meeting and the swearing in ceremonies. Mayor Jones referred to all of the retiring Council Members and expressed appreciation for their service, at great sacrifice, on the Council for two to four years. Mayor Jones then thanked all of the voters of Corpus Christi for the confi- dence they had in him by electing him to the office of Mayor. Mayor Jones promised Minutes Regular Council Meeting May 2, 1979 Page 4 to be a full-time Mayor, to always seek a consensus of the Council on matters to be considered by the Council, to seek the best ideas possible for the improvement of the City, and to encourage citizen participation in every Council Meeting. Mayor Jones continued by expressing his admiration for the citizens who ran for office and lost, pointing out that It takes a great deal of courage to run for office. Mayor Jones stated that he hoped to provide the citizens of Corpus Christi with the best possible services at the most economical cost and predicted that the citizens will be proud of this City Council. He then invited the Council Members to speak in the order of their places on the Council. Place 1 - Council Member David Diaz thanked the Council Members with whom he had worked the past two years; Mayor Lozano, who was a calming influence on troubled waters; thanked the Council Members for giving of their time and talent to the City of Corpus Christi; and expressed appreciation to the citizens for voting A \ for Mayor Jones and also for allowing him the opportunity to serve for two more years. Place 2 - Council Member Edward L. Sample expressed the opinion that this is a great day for Corpus Christ' and that he is glad to be a part of it as he begins serving his third term on the Council. He expressed gratitude for the citizens'support and promised to serve in the best way possible. He urged that the citizens call and share their ideas with him. Mr. Sample then expressed the same sentiments in Spanish. Place 3 - Betty N. Turner expressed her excitement at being a part of this Council and stated that she is looking forward to serving the people of Corpus Christi. She thanked all who helped in her election and those who endorsed her as a candidate. Place 4 - Council Member Cliff Zarsky stated that he feels that he is privi- leged to be present at the Council Table and thanked Mayor Jones for asking him to be a member of his party ticket. Mr. Zarsky also expressed appreciation to his wife for her support and mentioned others who had helped In his election. He stated that he felt that this Council could work harmoniously together, and because of their varied backgrounds, they will be able to represent all of the Minutes Regular Council Meeting May 2, 1979 Page 5 people of this City. Place 5 - Dr. Jack Best stated that he felt that the new Council Members would be able to work well together and that he would like to refer to them as the United Corpus Christi Council. Dr. Best then thanked all of the people who had taken time from their busy schedules to attend this Council Meeting. Place 6 - Council Member Jack Dumphy pointed out that everyone on the Council had received a vote of confidence from the citizens of this City. Mr. Dumphy also mentioned that he had received a large number of votes from the pre- dominately Mexican -American precincts, that he is proud of this achievement, and he will certainly represent them on this Council. He expressed the opinion that this is the best qualified Council ever elected in this City and that he is ready to go to work for the City. Mayor Jones and all of the Council Members introduced the members of their families who were present in the audience. Mayor Jones stated that the next order of business is the election of a Mayor Pro Tem and called for a motion to convene in closed session to discuss this matter. Motion by Diaz that the Council convene in closed session under the author- ity of Section 6252-17 of V.A.C.S; seconded by Turner; and passed unanimously. The Council then went into closed session at 2:55 p.m. Mayor Jones reconvened the Regular Council Meeting at 3:01 p.m. Council Member Turner, recognizing the outstanding leadership and service provided by Council Member Edward L. Sample, moved that he be elected to the position of Mayor Pro Tem. The motion was seconded by Council Member Best and passed unanimously. Mayor Pro Tem Sample then assumed his seat at the Council Table. * * * * * * * * * * * * Mayor Jones referred to a Resolution that was to be considered naming Gabe Lozano, Sr. as Mayor Emeritus. Motion by Dumphy that such a resolution be adopted, seconded by Zarsky, and passed unanimously. Minutes Regular Council Meeting May 2, 1979 Page 6 RESOLUTION NO. 14875: RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE APPRECIATION OF THIS CITY AND ALL GABE LOZANO, SR. ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE OFFICIAL DUTIES AND APPOINTING HIM TO THE POSITION OF MAYOR EMERITUS OF THE The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing resolution lowing vote: Jones, Sample, Best, Diaz, Dumphy, Turner and Mayor Jones read the Resolution in its entirety and Gabe Lozano, Sr. Mayor Lozano expressed his surprise and appreciation and offered to assist the Council in any way possible. * * * * * * * * * * * * Mayor Jones called for petitions or Information from the audience on matters not scheduled on the agenda. Mr. Vicente Carranza addressed the Council and stated that he is glad that he lives in a country in which he is allowed to run for office many times. Mr. Carranza pointed out, however, that the Mexican -American segment of this City is represented by only one Mexican -American and suggested that Council Member Diaz should have been elected to the position of Mayor Pro Tem in order to show the residents of the West Side the good faith of this Council. The next citizen speaking was the Reverend Elliott Grant, who stated that he is extremely proud that Mr. Sample was elected to serve as Mayor Pro Tem. He expressed the opinion that Mayor Pro Tem Sample will be very fair with everyone in this City, regardless of race, creed or color. There being no further business to come before the Council, on motion by Sample, seconded by Diaz, and passed unanimously, the Regular Council Meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m., May 2, 1979. The Benediction was given by The Reverend Monsignor William C. Kinlough of Most Precious Blood Catholic Church. OF ITS CITIZENS TO AS MAYOR OF THE CITY CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI. was passed by the fol- Zarsky voting "Aye." presented it to Mayor