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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 10/19/1983 - SpecialMINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 19, 1983 7:30 P.M. PRESENT: Mayor Pro Tern Betty N. Turner Council Members: David Berlanga, Sr. Leo Guerrero Herbert Hawkins, Jr. Dr. Charles Kennedy, Jr. Joe McComb Frank Mendez Mary Pat Slavik ABSENT: Mayor Luther Jones City Manager Edward A. Martin City Attorney J. Bruce Aycock City Secretary Bill G. Read Mayor Pro Tem Betty N. Turner called the meeting to order in the Council Chamber of City Hall. 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. item: Mayor Pro Tem Turner announced the assessment hearing on the following Furman School Area Street Improvements, Phase I. This provides for assessments of $270,728.16 for the 184 items on the roll and includes the following streets: South Alameda Street, from Morgan Avenue to Agnes Street; Tenth Street, from Craig Street to Mary Street; Buford, Hancock, Coleman, Mary and Marguerite Streets, from Tenth Street to South Staples Street; Park Street from South Alameda Street to South Staples Street; and Morris Street from Tenth Street to Alameda Street. tip :9 19 FIA MICROFILMED ites .;cial Council Meeting October 19, 1983 Page 2 City Manager Martin explained to the Council that it is necessary to conduct a certain procedure involving testimony by the City Engineer and an independent appraiser and the formal portion of the presentation will be conducted by the City Attorney. Assistant City Manager James K. Lontos explained that this is the first phase of the Furman School Area Street Improvement projects which will be funded by Community Development Block Grant Program. He stated that there are no voluntary paving petitions but it is an area in which the street improvements and drainage improvements are essential. City Attorney J. Bruce Aycock called as his first witness Mr. Gerald Smith, P.E., City Engineer and established his qualifications to testify, noting that he had been employed by the City of Corpus Christi for twenty-four years and that a copy of his qualifications in resume form is on file in the City Offices. Mr. Smith explained the project which is described as Phase I and which is funded through the 8th Year Community Development Block Grant Program. Mr. Smith located the streets included in the project and stated that the plan is to reconstruct most of the streets in varying widths and some of the streets will be resurfaced. He stated that new water lines will be installed on most of the streets included in the project. Mr. Smith testified that the plans were prepared in the City's Engineering Department; bids were received from five contractors on August 17, 1983; and the low bid was that submitted by King Construction Company in the amount of $968,676.55. He stated that the contractor will be allowed 220 working days or approximately 11 months of construction time. Mr. Smith informed the Council that the assessment roll consists of 184 items for a total of $274,202.82. He explained that the assessment rates have been calculated according to the current assessment ordinance. He pointed out that some of the property is zoned other than residential but the assessment rate will be established at residential rates if that is the use of the property. He stated that the Staff proposes not to charge assessments on the new water line for this project. Mr. Smith then pointed out that under a revision to the assessment ordinance, there are several exceptions for residential use property in the project in that (1) any property used for one or two-family residences, which is in a different zoning district than "R -1B", will be assessed at the residential rate; (2) low-income residents who own and occupy the property may be eligible for a no interest no payment loan through this CDBG Program and the owner/occupants will not be assessed until the property is sold, at which time the assessment will be paid at no interest; and (3) absentee owners in this area who own property which is being used for residential purposes and where such property is rented to low-income tenants will be eligible for a 3% loan not to exceed a ten-year program. He explained the guidelines for low-income which indicates if one person living in a residence has an income of $11,000 or less, he will be eligible for the no interest loan. ites _dal Council Meeting October 19, 1983 Page 3 Mr. Smith also informed the Council that a letter in both Spanish and English will be sent to all property owners explaining the possible eligibility for the no interest loans. Mr. Lontos pointed out that this is the first public hearing conducted since the change in the CDBG Program. He stated that the Staff recommends that that policy be retroactive to cover the Spohn Hospital Area Street Improvements and the Washington -Cole Phase 3A Street Improvements. He explained that the reason this particular neighborhood was selected for street improvements was to renovate this older section and informed the Council that the Phase 2 portion will follow this one with funding from the 9th Year Community Development Block Grant. City Attorney Aycock called as his next witness Mr. William J. Holly, Real Estate Broker and Appraiser. Through questioning of Mr. Holly, Mr. Aycock determined that he is qualified to provide testimony on this case and that a copy of his qualifications in resume form is on file in the City Engineering Office. Mr. Holly testified that he has had extensive experience in real estate appraisal and that he is well acquainted with this area and the value of the property. He stated that he has examined each and every piece of property included on the assessment roll and that in his opinion, each and every piece of property will be enhanced at least in the amount of the assessments. Mr. Holly also testified that the drainage will be improved a great deal and flooding will be diminished. Mayor Pro Tem Turner then invited property owners to address the Council. Mrs. Juanita Vandermeer, 1015 South Alameda, questioned why she should have to pay for sidewalk improvements when new sidewalks were installed in the front of her property two years ago by the telephone company. Mr. Smith agreed that the telephone company did tear out the sidewalks on that street in order to install an underground duct and they did install a new sidewalk. He stated that the telephone company had allowed the sidewalk to settle but agreed with Mrs. Vandermeer that she should not have to pay for new sidewalk improvements since it should be paid for by the telephone company. Mr. Carl Crull, Design Engineer, stated that Mrs. Vandermeer will not have her sidewalk removed except on the Buford Street side. Mr. Smith also informed the Council that there will be no water line assessments on this project. utes ecial Council Meeting October 19, 1983 Page 4 City Manager Martin explained that the existing City policy contemplates charging for water line improvements but the Staff is going to recommend that no assessments be charged for the installation of water lines for this project or in the future. Mr. Smith then referred to Mrs. Vandermeer's property on Alameda and pointed out that it is a four-plex and does not qualify for the no interest loan. Mr. Robert Silvas, 1034 Meadowbrook, stated that he owns the north 40' of Lot 19, Block 13, Bayview Addition and informed the Council that he felt that the property is over valued and the tenants are low-income residents. Mr. Smith stated that Mr. Silvas would qualify for a 3% loan if he is renting to low-income families. He noted that he will still be assessed but the rate will be much lower than the usual interest on assessment loans. Mr. Silvas also indicated that he did not feel he should have to pay for the water line and questioned the installation of the driveway. Mr. Lontos noted that the driveway is the property owner's choice but in his opinion, Mr. Silvas would be wise to construct a driveway if he has a garage. He reiterated that the Staff is recommending that there be no assessments for the water line on this project. Mr. Silvas then referred to his property listed as Item 130. Mr. Smith pointed out that there is no charge for assessments on this piece of property and even though there is an assessment listed for the water line, the Staff recommends that there be no assessment for the water line. No one else spoke in regard to the assessments. Mr. Lontos introduced the following Staff Members who will be working with the property owners on the street improvements: Mr. Marion Brown, Voluntary Paving Coordinator; Mr. Dan Ambriz, Harry Maxim, and Erasmo Garza, who will also be working on the assessments; Mr. Bob Hobbs, Construction Inspector; and Mr. Phil Beck and Mr. Carl Crull of the Engineering Department. A motion was made by Council Member Mendez that the hearing be closed, seconded by Council Member Guerrero and passed unanimously. There being no further business to come before the Council, on motion by Council Member McComb, seconded by Council Member Hawkins and passed unanimously, the Special Council Meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m., October 19, 1983. * * * * * * * * * * * * * DZ/rr