HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 09/15/1981 - Public Hearing (2)MINUTES
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
ANNEXATION PUBLIC HEARING
NUECES COUNTY PRECINCT #1 WAREHOUSE
UP RIVER ROAD AND TECOLOTE ROAD
SEPTEMBER 15, 1981
7:30 p.m.
PRESENT:
Mayor Luther Jones
Mayor Pro Tem Betty N. Turner
Council Members:
Jack K. Dumphy City Manager Marvin Townsend
Bob Gulley City Attorney Bruce Aycock
Herbert Hawkins, Jr. City Secretary Bill G Read
ABSENT:
Dr. Charles Kennedy
Cliff Zarsky
Mayor Luther Jones called the meeting to order at the Nueces County
Precinct #1 Warehouse, Up River Road and Tecolote Road, at 7:30 p.m. City
Secretary Bill G. Read called the roll of required Charter Officers and verified
that the necessary quorum of the Council was present to conduct a legally
constituted meeting.
Mayor Jones explained the purpose of the meeting and asked that the legal
requirements be explained by City Attorney J. Bruce Aycock. He reminded the
audience that there was another meeting following this one at 8:30 p.m.,
another public meeting tomorrow in the City Council Chamber at 4:00 p.m. and
two more meetings on Thursday, affording everyone an opportunity to speak.
He further explained that the Council would vote on the areas separately and
that the Council had not made up their minds on anything definite but were
strictly asking for input from the public. He invited the audience to make any
remarks that they felt appropriate at this lime. There were no remarks from
the audience.
Mayor Jones then introduced City Manager Townsend, who in turn
introduced City Attorney Aycock.
City Attorney Aycock explained that the statutes required that at least one
public hearing be held in the area to be annexed in order to give the people in
the area an opportunity to be heard before annexation procedures begin. Mr.
Aycock explained that in addition to the state statutes, the City Charter
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Special Council Meeting
September 15, 1981
Page 2
provides that the Council call an election and that such an election would be
called for the first Tuesday in November of this year.
City Manager Townsend then introduced Mr. Tom Utter, Assistant City
Manager.
Mr. Utter explained that the areas under consideration were in the natural
growth areas of the City and were areas that depended upon the City for their
existence.
Mr. Utter then introduced Chief Planner Larry Wenger, who pointed out on
the map the various areas proposed to be annexed. Mr. Wenger explained,
parcel by parcel, the areas to be annexed and their proximity to the city
limits. He distinguished between the areas that were in the industrial district,
the areas that are presently used for industrial purposes, and the areas that
were not in the proposal for annexation.
Mr. Putt Hill, 7201 Up River Road, asked that Mr. Wenger point out where
area "E" was. He replied out that there were Areas "A", "B", "C" and "D",
but the Caller -Times had made an error and there was no Area "E".
Mr. Townsend also pointed out that there was a service plan required by
the state statutes and that the service plan was covered in the memorandum
that had been passed out.
The Mayor then asked for a show of hands of all of those who would like
to speak during this public hearing. Seven members of the audience indicated
that they desired to speak. The Mayor pointed out that that would equal about
four minutes per person.
Mr. Ronnie Sizemore, 8401 Up River Road, indicated that he felt that the
four minute limit was unfair; that he himself would only speak 30 seconds; and
he would like to give his time to someone else.
Mayor Jones pointed out that Mr. Sizemore had served as Mayor and
realized how hard it was to be fair, and he indicated that he was trying his
best to be fair, and if there was time left over, it would be used by the
speakers who felt they had more to add to their statements.
The first speaker was Rudy Aleman, 8005 Caroline Road, in San Juan
Subdivision. He indicated that the City should annex this area because it was
in need of a great deal of improvement, pointing out that as a result of a
hepatitus epidemic a few years ago, they had gotten some improvements but he
ed to wait until another disaster had happened to get any additional assis-
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September 15, 1981
Page 3
tance in this area and requested that the Council annex it in order that it
might be improved and brought up to city standards.
Mr. J. C. Ellison, 4301 Callicoate Road, stated that he was surrounded on
three sides by city sewer lines, but could not get it to his home and that he
was inside the city limits.
Mr. Townsend indicated that it was his plan to ask that this area be
included in the next capital improvement bond issue and assured Mr. Ellison
that if there were several families in that area that would like to be provided
city sewer service, he would be glad to recommend that it be connected.
Mr. Ellision stated that he had been paying taxes for eighteen years, but
could not get sewer service. He further stated that he could not lease his
property until he had such service, pointing out that he felt it was a gross
injustice to the public that other areas be annexed when those that lived inside
the city limits could not get services. He pointed out that Wood River has city
sewer right now and yet they have not been annexed, even though he
understood that they had an agreement to annex at a future date. He also
pointed out that the City was presently hauling sewage from Wood River and
passing right in front of his house in order to pick up this sewage.
City Manager Townsend explained that the line was in; the force main had
been installed, and the trucks are no longer hauling the sewage.
The Mayor then recognized Ronnie Sizemore.
Mr. Sizemore explained that he was not opposing annexation, noting that
he had voluntarily annexed twenty acres, but he did ask that the staff be
instructed to update the master plan or establish a master plan to handle the
major growth in the area and that the sewer system is taxed to its limits right
now. He further pointed out that Up River Road had become a speedway and
suggested that if this area is annexed, something should be done about the
traffic situation.
Mr. Gary Giles also pointed out that there were areas in the City that had
been annexed many years ago and still were not receiving all of the services of
the City. He stated that some of the areas considered for annexation were
receiving city services, but some of them did not need city services. He
pointed out that some of the areas considered for annexation would not be
receiving full city services, but would be paying full city taxes. He
particularly pointed out the area owned by Jess Edwards, Inc. off of Southern
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Special Council Meeting
September 15, 1981
Page 4
Minerals Road. He stated out that this area was surrounded by industrial
districts and suggested that the area owned by Jess Edwards, Inc. would be
best served if it were part of the future growth of the industrial district rather
than being annexed. He stated that if it were annexed, it would not be
available for industrial use and the Council should consider that his client
would suffer by coming into an industrial district at this time. He pointed out
that his client wanted to enter into an industrial district with several modifi-
cations, but the Council opted not to accept their proposal.
Mr. W. T. Young indicated that the industrial agreement was very unfair
to smaller businesses and that the big businesses were taking advantage of the
industrial district at the expense of the small businesses.
The Mayor pointed out that any citizen could recommend or suggest a
change in the ordinance and suggested that perhaps Mr. Young might make
such a recommendation in an application to the Council for a reconsideration of
the ordinance.
Mr. Robert R. Reed, 8401 Up River Road, claimed to be a long time
proponent of industrial districts, but indicated that he thinks the city failed in
that the City claimed that this area being considered for annexation was a
natural growth for the City when he was of the opinion that it was in the
natural growth area of industry rather than the City. He pointed out that as
it now exists, someone out here could be in the industrial district if he so
chose to pay the minimum fee. He further pointed out that it was criminal for
a company to have to pay the minimum fee and claimed that this portion of the
industrial district contract was discriminatory.
The Mayor suggested that Mr. Reed come forward with some specific
recommendations for a change in the industrial district contract and assured him
the Council would give it careful consideration.
Mr. Reed also stated that the amount of time allotted to each speaker was
inadequate and he felt that it was unfair.
Mr. Putt Hill, Tule Lake Industrial Park, stated out that he had 400 acres
in the City and he was still trying to get city utilities and has been unable to,
and yet the City plans to annex this area before trying to serve his property
inside the City. He claimed that he had come in with a formula that would pay
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Special Council Meeting
September 15, 1981
Page 5
100% of the valuation of his property and his land, he was willing to pay the
same tax that he would if he were in the City even though the area would only
be used for heavy industry. He indicated that he would like to see the contract
modified so that a $2 million minimum would not be required to qualify.
Council Member Bob Gulley explained again the service contract and the
necessity for having a 21 year plan to furnish all city services that would be
available to equivalent property that was presently in the city limits. He
further stated that he realized that the time was short tonight and suggested
that anyone who was interested should attend the public hearing tommorrow,
further explaining the tight schedule necessary to meet the requirements of the
state statute and again reiterated that those who had more to offer to the
public hearing could attend the Council Meeting tommorrow.
Mr. Berry asked when the deadline was for setting the exact tracts to be
considered for annexation. Mr. Berry also asked when metes and bounds
description will be available.
City Manager Townsend replied that by October 7, 1981 metes and bounds
description will be available, but in the meantime, any property owner could
discuss the area with the staff, who would be glad to point out the area being
considered.
Mr. Reed asked if the decision on the areas under discussion tonight
would be acted upon tomorrow, or whether the action would be taken on all of
them on October 7, 1981.
The Mayor assured Mr. Reed that there would be no action taken on the
areas tomorrow, but that the final decision would be October 7, 1981.
Mr. Reed indicated that this was a "kangaroo court" action and he did not
feel that enough time or explanation was given on the areas to be annexed.
City Manager Townsend pointed out that the advertisement in the paper
set forth a description of the property under consideration with sufficient
boundaries and that interested parties could inquire into it further if they had
any questions.
Mr. Ronnie Sizemore asked if the ordinance would be on a three reading
basis or would be passed on an emergency and the Mayor explained there would
be two hearings tonight, one hearing tomorrow night, and two hearings
Thursday night in order that everyone interested would have an opportunity
input.
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Special Council Meeting
September 15, 1981
Page 6
Mr. Hill asked if the action could be taken before October 7, 1981 and
City Manager Townsend replied that it could be legally, but the Council
indicated that it was not their intent to call the election until October 7, 1981.
On motion by Mayor Pro Tem Turner, seconded by Council Member
Hawkins, and passed unanimously, the meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m.,
September 15, 1981.