HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 08/31/1983 (2)MINUTES
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 31, 1983
2:00 P.M.
PRESENT
Mayor Luther Jones
Mayor Pro Tem Betty Turner
Council Members
Jack K. Dumphy
Bob Gulley
Herbert Hawkins, Jr.
Dr. Charles Kennedy
Cliff Zarsky
City Manager Edward Martin
City Attorney J. Bruce Aycock
City Secretary Bill G. Read
Mayor Luther Jones called the meeting to order in Room 225 of the
Dayfront Plaza Convention Center.
The invocation was given by Dr. Dan E. Solomon. of First United Methodist
Church, following which the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United
States was led by Council Member Eob CuIley.
City Secretary Bill G. Read called the roll of required Charter Officers
and verified that the necessary quorum was present to conduct a legally
constituted meeting and that notice of the meeting had been properly posted.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Turner that the minutes of the
Regular Council Meeting of July 27, 1983 and August 10, 1983 be approved as
presented; seconded by Council Member Hawkins; and passed unanimously.
Mayor Jones called for canvassing the returns of the Runoff Election held
August 27, 1983. He explained that the usual procedure is to spot check
various returns from different precincts.
A suggestion was made that precinct 58, polling place Menger School, be
checked. The Ceneral Return Sheet was examined and proved to be the same
as the computer printout on the results of the election.
There were no further requests by any Member of the Council or from the
public for additional verifications.
A motion was made by Council Member Dumphy that the canvassing of the
returns be approved, seconded by Council Member Hawkins.
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
August 31, 1983
Page 2
City Secretary Read polled the Council for their vote on the ordinance
declaring the results of the Runoff Election and the following was passed:
ORDINANCE 17809:
CANVASSING THE RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE RUNOFF
ELECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR
DISTRICTS 1, 2, 4 AND 5 OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI HELD ON THE
27TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1983; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance passed by the
following vote: Jones, Turner, Dumphy, Gulley, Hawkins, Kennedy and Zarsky
voting "aye".
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mayor Jones stated that the next order of business would be comments
from the Council, but indicated that he would like to make a statement first.
Mayor Jones noted that he had served as Mayor for 14 years; he felt that a lot
of things had been accomplished by this Council; and stated that it had been a
privilege to serve with them.
Council Member Hawkins expressed the opinion that this Council had
accomplished a great deal and did many good things for the City. He stated
that during the past two years he had learned to respect his fellow Council
Members a great deal and mentioned in particular the outgoing Council Members
Jack Dumphy, Cliff Zarsky and Bob Gulley who had always treated him with
respect. He noted that even when they disagreed with each other they were
still friends.
Council Member Kennedy expressed the opinion that this Council would be
one that would be known as one that had accomplished a great deal. He stated
that it had been a personal pleasure for him to serve with the other Council
Members and he looked forward to working with the new Council and he was of
the opinion that they would continue the progress that has been made in the
last two years.
Mayor Pro Tem Turner addressed the Council from the podium and thanked
each one of the members collectively and individually for allowing her the
privilege of serving with them. She stated that unequivocally this Council had
been a progressive, productive and effective team and she felt that they had
been instrumental in making things happen progressively. She enumerated the
many accomplishments of this Council and mentioned in particular the many
hours they had all given for their City to make this a better place in which to
live. Mrs. Turner continued by referring to 1981, at which time this City was
not sparkling as it is today and in her opinion, during the last two years a
number of things had happened to increase that sparkle. She mentioned in
particular that they had been able to move projects ahead that had been in
limbo for years. She pointed out to the Council Members that they had created
an economic climate locally that is as bright as it has ever been and referred to
the publication "Texas Business" which features Corpus Christi with the
statement that, "Its time has come." She thanked all of the Council Members
for all that they had done these past two years.
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
August 31, 1983
Page 3
Council Member Zarsl:y stated that the past four years he had served on
the Council had been very interesting and very challenging and he felt that the
things that have happened to the City during that time have been for the good.
He referred to their original 103 separate items of concern that they had
discussed at the beginning of their term and stated that he had examined that
list to see what had been accomplished and had been surprised to learn that
about 70 of them had been completed or started. He stated that he too felt
that this is a City whose time had come and noted that there has been a
"can do, will do" attitude in this City and he was very proud to have been a
part of it and to work with the Council that he considered to be extremely
competent. He stated that he felt that there was a cross-section of all
residents in the City represented though there were no Mexican Americans, and
it his opinion, because there were no Mexican Americans, this Council had been
very conscience of being fair to all. He wished all of the new Council Members
well and stated that he was grateful for the opportunity to have served his
City
Council Member Gulley thanked all the people who had supported him over
the past few years and enumerated all of the Council Members with whom he
had served. He stated that he did not want to take anything away from the
previous Councils, but he felt that this present Council was the most
productive Council that the City has had in many years. He then complimented
City Manager Ed Martin as one of the best administrators in any City. He
thanked ether staff members and expressed the opinion that the staff was one
of the best he had ever seen in any City. He compared the City to a
corporation arc' stated that the Council Members serve the citizens but the staff
provides the continuity for this corporation because they are the professionals
who are pern anent. He pointed out that in this context, the new Council is
like management who serves as the Board of Directors on behalf of the citizens
of Corpus Christi. Mr. Gulley also referred to unions and reminded the
Council that the public sector unions affect all of the people in the City and
suggested that when the issue of dues checkoff comes up (withholding dues
from payroll checks) and if the request for this is denied, the Council would
not be depriving the employees of belonging to the Union because they are
allowed to do so now, but again reminded them that 250,000 citizens would be
affected if this is allowed. He also referred to the Budget and reminded the
new Council Members that the money the Council approves spending actually
belongs to the citizens of this City. He then urged approval of a sign
ordinance to control the use of offsite signs. Mr. Gulley referred to what he
called the recent power play by Mexican American leaders to control the election
of the Mayor Pro Tem. He suggested that a strong Council Member would listen
to leaders of the community but make his or her own decision.
Council Member Dumphy expressed his disappointment in being defeated in
his race for Council Member for District 4, but noted that he would have more
time for his job and for his family. He expressed the pleasure he had received
in serving on two Councils and also complimented the staff of the City, noting
that in his opinion it was the finest in this country. tle pointed out that
although there are fewer employees now than there were when he first came
into office, they provide everything the Council requests. He suggested that
the new Council Members take the time to become acquainted with the staff
because they are good at their jobs and have expertise to perform their duties.
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
August 31 , 1983
Page 4
He stated that it was his pleasure to know all of the Council Members of the
previous Council and this Council. He also referred to an article in the
newspaper of that day and stated that it is his understanding that the City now
has some new Council Members who have demonstrated that they will not be
swayed by others but will do the best they can for the citizens of Corpus
Christi. He thanked all of the Council Members who had served with him on
this Council.
There being no further business to cone before the Council, on motion by
Council Member Kennedy, seconded by Council Member Hawkins and passed
unanimously, the meeting was adjourned at 2:43 p.m., August 31, 1983.