HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 07/15/1981 - SpecialP it
MINUTES
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 15, 1981
7:06 P.M.
BLANCHE MOORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
5726 WILLIAMS
PRESENT:
Mayor Luther Jones
Mayor Pro Tem Betty N. Turner
Council Members:
Jack Dumphy
*Herbert L. Hawkins
**Cliff Zarsky
ABSENT:
Council Member Bob Gulley
Council Member Charles Kennedy
City Manager Marvin Townsend
City Attorney Bruce Aycock
City Secretary Bill G. Read
Mayor Luther Jones called the meeting to order at Blanche Moore
Elementary School and stated that the purpose of the meeting was to conduct a
public hearing on the assessment for street improvements on Cain Drive, from
South Staples Street to Everhart Road.
Mayor Jones stated he was grateful to the people who could attend the
public hearing. He then introduced Mrs. Rutledge of 5437 Cain Drive who was
instrumental in obtaining signatures on the voluntary paving petitions.
Mrs. Rutledge stated that she moved to Gardendale Subdivision nine years
ago. She stated that the lots there are an acre to an acre and a half. She
stated that the drainage in this area is bad and there are no paved streets or
sidewalks. The Neighborhood now has the chance to make Gardendale look
attractive and the value of the property will increase after the work is com-
pleted.
** Council Member Cliff Zarsky arrived at 7:08 p.m.
Mayor Jones thanked Mrs. Rutledge and stated that 55.4% of the people
had signed the petition and that it required half of the people to sign before
the project could get started.
City Manager Marvin Townsend informed the audience that formal testimony
will be provided by Mr. Gerald Smith and Mr. Bill Holly. MICROFILMED
* Council Member Herbert Hawkins arrived at 7:15 p.m.
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July 15, 1981
Page 2
City Attorney Bruce Aycock called as his first witness Mr. Gerald Smith,
Chief Engineer of the City of Corpus Christi. Through questioning, City
Attorney Aycock verified that Mr. Smith was a registered Professional Engineer
in the State of Texas. Mr. Aycock then asked Mr. Smith to explain the
project.
Mr. Smith showed a transparency of the area involved and stated that the
street improvements would be on Cain Drive from South Staples to Everhart
Road. The scope of the project is to provide Cain Drive with curbs, gutters,
sidewalks and additional storm sewers. The intersection at Everhart and South
Staples will also be widened. Mr. Smith also stated that the plans and speci-
fications were prepared by the City's Engineering Department; five contractors
submitted bids and the low bidder was Heldenfels Brothers, Inc. for a total
amount of $567,993.80.
Mr. Smith continued by informing the Council and audience that the
project will require 150 working days to complete construction, or approximately
seven months or less, and actual work will start in about a month. He also
stated that the assessment roll was prepared based on the City's assessment
policy. He then explained that the street shall 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 1-1/2" Hot Mix Asphaltic
Concrete pavement. The street will be 28' in width within the 60' right-of-way.
There will be 4' wide reinforced concrete sidewalks 4" thick and 6" thick
reinforced concrete driveways as shown on the plans or requested by the
property owners.
Mr. Smith noted that the assessment rates for this project for a 28' wide
street are as follows: Curb, Gutter, & Pavement - $12.45 per linear foot;
Sidewalks - $1.00 per square foot; Header Curb - $4.59 per linear foot. He
stated that the assessment rate for residential, schools and churches are as
follows: Curb, Gutter & Pavement - $4.75 per linear foot; Sidewalks - $.75 per
square foot; Driveways - $3.24 per square foot; Header Curb - $4.59 per linear
foot. He stated that there would be very little header curb involved.
He then stated that there were 91 items on the assessment roll for a total
value of $124,191.41 and the City's portion would be $443,802.39. The
assessment notices were mailed and very few were returned.
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July 15, 1981
Page 3
Mr. Smith then explained how the assessments could be paid and that they
were not due until after the project is completed. The City will send a billing
notice approximately 30 days after the project is completed. The assessment
could be paid on a one time payment if desired; payments could be extended
over a five-year period at an interest rate of 6-1/2%, or if necessary, in hard-
ship cases, he could talk to individuals about increasing the term of the
assessment note.
He then stated that the mail. boxes were of the rural type and the contracli
will provide for resetting for all of the mail boxes. He also stated they do not
expect any problems with the trees.
He then introduced the Voluntary Paving Staff which consisted of Mr. M.
F. Brown, Dan Abriz, Harry Maxim and Erasmo Garza who would be available to
talk to the property owners about their driveways.
Mayor Jones then asked if there were any questions from the audience.
An unidentified man inquired about the gas lines in the easement and if
they were to be relocated who would pay for the relocation.
Mr. Smith stated that the property owner would have to pay for relocation
of the lines.
Mrs. Rutledge asked if the City was going to replace the already existing
sidewalk.
Mr. Smith stated that there was a sidewalk on a portion of Cain Drive and
that they would leave that sidewalk in place.
City Manager Townsend stated that the gas lines were Houston Natural Gas
Company's and in their easement. He also stated that several people had
problems with the gas lines and that the cost of moving the line is usually the
responsibility the property owners.
An unidentified lady from the audience stated that there was a new line
down Nelson Lane, and a man from the audience stated that the line extends to
Everhart and that Cain Drive is the only one that does not have the line.
Mayor Jones stated that the gas line could possibly be a part of this
project.
City Attorney Bruce Aycock called as his next witness Mr. Bill Holly and
verified through questioning that Mr. Holly was a licensed Real Estate Broker.
He then asked Mr. Holly if he had examined the property involved and if the
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July 15, 1981
Page 4
value of the property would be enhanced in an amount equal to the amount of
the assessment.
Mr. Holly stated he had examined each piece of property and it would be
enhanced at least in that amount. Mr. Holly also stated that there were no
irregular or odd shaped lots and no inequities.
Mayor Jones asked if there were any questions from the audience.
An unidentified lady from the audience asked if this would raise her taxes,
which had already increased this year.
Mayor Jones stated that most property has gone up and that the value of
homes has gone up more than inflation and the Council is doing its best to
bring the taxes down.
City Manager Townsend stated that if it raises property value it will not
do it from a tax stand point. It will probably take a year (January, 1983) to
do that.
Council Member Zarsky stated that the property will increase in value; the
total cost of the contract is $567,993.80; the property owners' share is
$124,191.41; and the City's share is $443,802.39. He also stated that the City
does not participate in the cost of streets, curbs and gutters in new
subdivisions and that this is a very good investment for the property owners.
Mayor Pro Tem Turner stated that she has had to pay assessments before
and that she thought Council Member Zarsky's statement was well taken. She
also stated that for every dollar, the property owner will be paying .20$ and
the taxpayers will be paying the rest.
Council Member Hawkins stated that the other citizens would benefit
because they would also use the street.
Council Member Dumphy stated that he had made mortgage loans in the
Gardendale area. He also stated that Mr. Holly has been evaluating property
for the City for quite some time and if there were any irregular or odd shaped
lots or if the property was not going to be enhanced, he would have said so.
Mayor Jones asked if there were any other questions.
Mrs. Rutledge inquired if the owners decided to sell the house, would the
assessment be transferable with the property.
City Manager Townsend stated that it would normally be paid with the
closing of the sale.
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July 15, 1981
Page 5
Mr. M. F. Brown stated that in order to get title insurance, the lien
would have to be paid off.
An unidentified man from the audience inquired about the poor drainage in
the area.
Mr. Smith stated that the developers of the area did not grade the lots
when the property was developed. He stated that there were road side ditches
in the area and when the streets are installed, the drainage should improve
considerably.
An unidentified lady asked if it would be necessary to move the meter
and if so who would have to pay for it.
Mr. Smith stated that if it is necessary to move the meters, the City would
pay the cost.
City Manager Townsend stated that some people in the area may not be
connected to the sewer system and if they were not, this would be a good time
to connect.
Mayor Jones ascertained that everyone present was connected to the City
sewer.
City Secretary Bill G. Read verified that a quorum was present to conduct
a legally constituted meeting.
Mayor Jones stated that the Council enjoyed meeting with the property
owners and that the citizens could speak to the Council every Wednesday at the
Regular Council Meetings.
There being no further business to come before the Council, on motion by
Dumphy, seconded by Zarsky and passed unanimously, the Special Council
Meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m., July 15, 1981.