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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. .SEP 19k laP19,lg N a Si A Council Meeting 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. Si Council Meeting 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 it Council Meeting 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. M S! Council Meeting 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.