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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 MICROFILMED ,SEP 191984 Minutes 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- k Tates pecial Council Meeting 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 Minutes 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 \-`-Mtnutes 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. Minutes 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.