HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 01/07/1981 - SpecialMINUTES
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 7, 1981
ANNAVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
7:00 P. M.
• PRESENT: '
** Mayor Luther Jones
Council Members:
Dr. Jack Best
David Diaz
Jack Dumphy
Betty N. Turner
ABSENT:
Mayor Pro Tem Edward L. Sample
Council Member Cliff Zarsky
City Manager R. Marvin Townsend
Asst. City Attorney Jim Holtz
* City Secretary Bill G. Read
Council Member David Diaz called the meeting to order in the temporary
absence of Mayor Luther Jones and explained to the audience that the purpose of
the public hearing was to consider the preliminary assessments in connection with
the Street Improvements for Timbergrove Lane.
Council Member Jack Dumphy explained that the Council was obligated to
attend another meeting at 7:30 p.m. and planned to recess this hearing until
the Regular Council Meeting to be conducted on January 14,41981, at 3:00 p.m.
City Manager R. Marvin Townsend stated that the Council planned to hear
testimony from all property owners who would be unable to attend the recessed
hearing on January 14.
Mr. James K. Lontos, Director of Engineering and Physical Development,
asked Mr. Gerald Smith, Chief Engineer, to briefly describe the street improvement
project.
Chief Engineer Smith briefly explained the planned project, stating that
Timbergrove Lane, from Violet Road to Jackson Woods, Unit I, Subdivision will be
constructed by excavation to a width and depth to permit the laying of a standard
curb and gutter section, 6" compacted subgrade, 8" compacted caliche base and 12"
Type "D" hot asphaltic pavement; the street will be 28' wide within the existing
right-of-way; the project will include 4' wide reinforced concrete sidewalks 4"
thick and 6" thick reinforced driveways as shown on the plans or where requested
by owners.
*City Secretary Bill G. Read arrived at the meeting at 7:10 p.m.
jugmLNIED
SEP 1 9 1984
Minutes
Special Council Meeting
January 7, 1981
Page 2
Mr. Smith continued his presentation by explaining that the assessment
rates have been calculated in accordance with the lastest paving assessment policy
adopted by the City, and based on this policy and the low bid of $206,998 submitted
by 8 E Construction Company, the following assessment rates have been set: ,
6" Curb, Gutter and Pavement - $11.38 per linear foot; Sidewalks - $1.00 per square
foot; and driveways - $2.86 per square foot. He stated that the rates for residen-
tial property, churches and schools has been set as follows: curb, gutter and
pavement - $4.75 per linear foot; sidewalks - $.75 per square foot; and driveways -
$2.86 per square foot. Mr. Smith informed the Council that the preliminary assess-
ments will total $52,955.15, with the City's portion to be $154,042.85.
(A copy of Mr. Gerald Smith's qualifications to testify during this hearing is on
file in the Office of the City Secretary.)
City Manager Townsend suggested that the City's independent appraiser, Mr.
William J. Holly, whose qualifications to testify are also on file in the Office of
the City Secretary, provide a brief report of his appraisal.
Mr. Holly testified that he had examined each and every piece of property
included on the assessment roll and had ascertained that the project included 16
odd -shaped properties whose front dimensions exceed the rear dimensions, and, in
his opinion, the assessments on these properties should be reduced somewhat for a
total reduction for the 16 properties of $937.39. Mr. Holly stated that those
properties were listed as Items No. 1, 7, 10, 11, 19, 20, 21, 22, 31, 32, 33, 34,
41, 45, 46, and 47.
Council Member Diaz invited members of the audience who wished to comment
at this time.
An unidentified lady in the audience inquired as to the length of time
that would be allowed for payment of the assessments.
Chief Engineer Smith replied that payment is not due until after the project
is completed; the property owners will be billed after that; the contractor has 65
working days, or three months, for completion of the project; the assessment may be
paid in cash or it may be paid in equal installments over a period of 5 years or 10
years in hardship cases at an interest rate of 61/2%.
Minutes
Special Council Meeting
January 7, 1981
Page 3
Mr. Marion Brown, Paving Coordinator, stated that the average monthly cost
on five-year payments would be about $23.
City Manager Townsend assured the members of the audience that Engineering
staff members will be able to stay late to discuss mechanical questions with the
property owners about their individual properties.
**Mayor Luther Jones arrived at the meeting at 7:17 p.m. and introduced him-
self and the Council Members present to members of the audience. He reiterated
that although the Council had another meeting to attend, they would like to hear
comments from members of the audience who would be unable to attend the meeting
next week. He then called for comments from the audience.
Mrs. Judy Dreyer, 11118 Forest Hill Lane, expressed the opinion that at
the time of her previous appearance before the Council, it was her understanding
that there was the possibility that Forest Hill Lane would be included in this
project if funds could be found, and they have just become aware that it is not
to be included.
1 Mr. Smith stated that the Engineering Department does have a qualified peti-
tion from residents of that street; there is a petition being circulated for street
improvements on Birdwell Lane; but the staff, for funding reasons, is recommending
that all petition streets included in the 1977 bond program be completed before
later petitioned streets, such as Forest Hills Lane, are constructed.
City Manager Townsend explained that the petition for Forest Hill Lane was
received by the City after the 1977 Bond Election. He reminded the Council that he
had pointed out to the Council that if the staff had attempted to include this street
in this project, it would have been necessary to reject the bids on Timbergrove Lane,
which would have meant a delay of several months. He assured Mrs. Dreyer that as
soon as funds are available for improvements to Forest Hill Lane, the City will
reconstruct this street.
Council Member Diaz recalled that the staff had indicated that they would
check to ascertain the amount of interest from assessment payments that might be
available for further street reconstruction.
City Manager Townsend explained that even this process would delay the
Timbergrove Lane project. -
rinutes
Special Council Meeting
January 7, 1981
Page 4
Also urging that Forest Hill Lane be included in the project was Mr. Kenneth
Smith.
Chief Engineer Smith stated that the petition on Timbergrove Lane and many
other streets were completed and received by his office before the 1977 bond election
and they were therefore included in the bond election; some of those streets have
not yet been completed; and the petition on Forest Hill Lane was not received until
May, 1978. He reiterated that there is a petition out on Birdwell Lane and the staff
attempted to combine all three streets in the project, but only 43% of the residents
of the subdivision in which the three streets are located had signed petitions, and
this did not qualify the subdivision.
City Manager Townsend stated that there is a problem in including Forest
Hill Lane because of the timing, noting that the street could not be added as a
, change order because the cost would be more than 25% of the total project cost and
could not be added without going out for bids again.
Mrs. Mary McKenzie, who stated that she also resides on Forest Hill Lane,
expressed the opinion that the street should have been included in this project
and inquired as to why the property owners were not notified about the upcoming
improvements to Timbergrove Lane.
' Mayor Jones explained again that their petition was received a full year
after the one for Timbergrove Lane, and although the Council would like to include
their street, they are obligated to improve the streets on which petitions were
received earlier and for which funds are available.
Also speaking in favor of the Forest Hill Lane improvements was Mrs.
Kathryn McLain, who expressed the need especially for sidewalks.
Council Member Dumphy explained that he is a businessman and that the
Council had attempted to find a method to include Forest Hill Lane but they just
could not do it.
An unidentified gentleman in the audience asked about heavy trucks trav-
eling through the neighborhood, and City Manager Townsend explained that if the
trucks are serving the neighborhood, they are allowed to use the streets, but if
they are trucks using the street as a through -way, it is possible that this street
could be added to the list of streets on which heavy trucks are prohibited. He
stated that the staff will investigate this.
Minutes
Special Council Meeting
January 7, 1981
Page 5
An unidentified lady asked about the branch library that was supposed to
have been constructed in the Calallen area.
Mayor Jones explained that the City had been severely hampered in many
projects due to the passage of Proposition 14 which limited the City taxes and
pointed out that this proposition had passed in the Calallen-Annaville area by a
wide margin. He stated that the City has purchased the lot on which the library
is to be located, butbecause of the effects of the passage of Proposition 14,
the bonds for this library have not been sold.
City Manager Townsend also pointed out that even if the library was con-
structed, because of the budget reduction necessitated by the tax limitation,
there are no funds for operating costs or staff.
Mayor Jones pointed out that the Council has heard from many citizens
in the area who want to decrease taxes, and if some of the citizens of this area
prefer some of the amenities instead of tax decreases, suggested that they appear
before the Council to inform them of this. He concluded his remarks by speculat-
ing that if Proposition 14 had not passed, the library would probably be under
construction by now.
No one else spoke during the public hearing.
Motion by Diaz that the hearing be recessed until Wednesday, January 14,
1981, at 3:00 p.m.; seconded by Dumphy and passed unanimously at 7:36 p.m.,
January 7, 1981.
**********************************
Mayor Jones announced the recessed public hearing on this matter on
. January 14, 1981.
City Manager Townsend explained that most of the hearing on the preliminary
assessments was heard on January 7 and suggested that the Mayor determine if anyone
was present to speak on this subject.
Mayor Jones ascertained that no one in the audience desired to address the
Council in regard to this matter.
Mr. James K. Lontos, Director of Engineering and Physical Development,
informed the Council that the appraiser, Mr. William J. Holly, is out of the City
today.
City Manager Townsend reminded the Council that the appraiser testified
and the Chief Engineer briefly described the project.
m .. ates
Special Council Meeting
January 7,,1981
Page 6
Mr. Lontos also informed the Council that most of the questions of the
property owners were answered before and after the public hearing conducted on
January 7.
The Council indicated their concurrence that no further testimony was
necessary, and City Manager Townsend stated that formal closing of the hearing
and award of the construction contract will be on the agenda next week.
The public hearing was declared closed at 4:16 p.m. January 14, 1981.