HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 12/20/1983 - SpecialMINUTES
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
DECEMBER 20, 1983
6:30 P.M.
PRESENT
Mayor Luther Jones
Mayor Pro Tem Betty Turner
Council Members
David Berlanga, Sr.
Leo Guerrero
**Herbert Hawkins, Jr.
*Dr. Charles W. Kennedy, Jr.
Joe McComb
Mary Pat Slavik
City Manager Edward Martin
City Attorney J. Bruce Aycock
City Secretary Bill G. Read
Mayor Luther Jones called the meeting to order in the Council Chamber of
City Hall. He stated that reason for the special meeting was to consider the
Corpus Christi '90 Program.
City Secretary Bill G. Read called the roll of required Charter Officers
and verified that the necessary quorum was present to discuss a legally
constituted meeting.
Mayor Luther Jones informed the Council that Mr. Bob Marbut had informed
him that they will have committee reports in San Antonio on their program on
January 18 and January 25, 1984. He stated that he planned to go and he invited
the Council Members to attend also.
Council Member Slavik suggested that the Council not rush into approving
this program and stated that she felt the project should be broad based. She
stated that she had received many calls questioning the reason for having a
meeting at this time when it is so difficult for people to attend meetings at
this time of the year.
*Council Member Charles Kennedy arrived at the meeting at 6:40 p.m.
Mayor Jones stated that the Council's function is to set up the framework
and referred to the agenda prepared by Mayor Pro Tem Turner.
Council Member Berlanga referred to the procedure and stated that he would
like for all of the Council Members to provide input on everything associated
with the Program. He then inquired if a time element was noted in the book, and
Mayor Pro Tem Turner referred to page 12 of the workbook in regard to the
schedules.
Council Member Berlanga stated that he had a change he would like to add to
page 3 under Objectives. He suggested that a seventh objective be added as
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follows: "To develop a plan of immediate implementation of stated objectives
with a specific timetable for each of the selected areas."
**Council Member Herbert Hawkins arrived at the meeting at 6:45 p.m.
After further discussion Council Member Berlanga agreed to the deletion of
the word "immediate".
A motion was made by Council Member Berlanga that item 7 as set forth below
be added to item III Objectives; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner:
"To develop a plan of implementation of stated objectives with a specific
timetable for each of the selected areas."
Council Member McComb pointed out that in regard to implementation, some
projects will depend upon the passage of a bond issue.
The motion to add item 7 passed unanimously.
Council Member Mendez suggested that the Council follow Mayor Pro Tem
Turner's agenda and after decisions have been made on that list of items,
additional items or changes may be made.
The first item discussed was page 12, VII. SCHEDULES. A motion was made by
Council Member Mendez that the project time frame be 12 months, seconded by
Council Member Slavik and passed unanimously.
Council Member Mendez recommended the beginning date of April 2, 1984 and
the completion date of April 2, 1985; seconded by Council Member Slavik; and
passed unanimously.
The following schedule was approved:
I. Corpus Christi '90 Project Term (page 12 - Workbook)
Approval of a term of 12 months
1. Approval of April 2, 1984 as the beginning date.
2. Approval of April 2, 1985 as completion date/date final report is due
Council Member Berlanga expressed concern that the public should be aware
of the meetings of the Task Forces and suggested that the second sentence under
teh heading "Task Force Meetings" should be revised to read as follows: "Task
Forces also shall hold public hearings on various topics related to their area
of concern at a time deemed most convenient to the public."
The other Council Members indicated their concurrence.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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II. Areas of Concern for Task Force Study (page 11 - Workbook)
A. Selection of Nine (9) areas to be studied.
Discussion followed in regard to the areas of concern for task force study,
and Mayor Jones stated that the reason for nine categories is so that each
Council Member may serve as an ex -officio member for one area of concern.
Council Member Berlanga made the following suggestions:
He noted that military service had been omitted and he felt that
Mexico/Latin American relations are also important. He suggested that NAS/CCAD
be combined and listed as military facilities and services.
After further discussion, Mayor Pro Tem Turner made a motion that the
following areas of concern be established; seconded by Council Member Berlanga;
and passed unanimously:
VI. Areas of Concern for Task Force Study
1. Culture/Arts/Landscaping/Parks/Recreation/Marina
2. Economic/Business Development/Central City Development
3. Education
4. Government/Charter Revision
5. Growth/Infrastructure Needs/Utilities/Basic Services
6. Health/Human Services/Housing
7. Tourism/Conventions/Trade
8. Transportation/Air, Rail,Water
9. Military Facilities and Services
The Council then discussed the following item:
II. Areas of Concern for Task Force Study
B. Authorization of City Manager to assign staff persons to assist Task
Forces
City Manager Martin stated that his understanding was that staff people
were to be available as a source of information and he would hesitate to have
the Board Members call on someone on the staff to prepare the work for the
Committees.
Mayor Jones stated that he agreed with that, and City Manager Martin
suggested that Item II(B) be eliminated.
A motion was made by Council Member Guerrero that item II(B) be eliminated,
seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner and passed unanimously.
The Council next considered the following item under II(C):
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C. Approval of procedure for assigning Council person liaisons to each of
the nine Task Forces.
Mayor Pro Tem Turner suggested that this item be delayed at this time.
A motion was made by Council Member Berlanga that the Council Members be
designated for each task force on January 11, 1984.
Council Member Mendez seconded the motion but suggested that a procedure be
established. The motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Jones suggested that on January 4, 1984, Council Members submit their
preferences in regard to the committee with which they would like to work, with
a decision to be made on January 11, 1984. He also suggested that in the event
of duplications, each Council Member should list their first three choices.
Council Member Slavik stated that she would be interested in working with
the Task Force to discuss item 4 - Government/Charter Revision.
Council Member Mendez indicated that he would prefer item 6 - Health/Human
Services/Housing.
Council Member Guerrero stated that he would prefer to work with item 7
Tourism/Convention/Trade.
Council Member Kennedy expressed a preference to work with item 2
Economic/Business Development/Central City Development.
Council Member Berlanga stated that he would like to work with the Task
Force on item 9 - Military Facilities and Services or item 8 - Transportation/
Air, Rail, Water.
Council Member McComb indicated a preference to work with item 5 - Growth/
Infrastructure Needs/Utilities/Basic Services.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mayor Jones called for consideration of the following:
III. The Director Consultant (page 7 - Workbook)
A. Approval of Hiring Procedure
B. Authorization of City Manager to advertise and to hire Director
Mayor Jones suggested that the City Manager be requested to interview
applicants for the position of Director.
Council Member Berlanga expressed the opinion that the City Council should
have some input about the type of person to be employed.
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Mayor Jones agreed and suggested that the City Manager interview the
applicants, screen them and make recommendations to the Council.
City Manager Martin commented that the plan was drafted with the intention
that the Director not be classified as a City employee, but should be employed
on a contractual arrangement. He further stated that the employee hired as
Director should be fully aware that the commitment would be for one year only
and he agreed that the Council should make the final decision.
Mayor Pro Tem Turner stated that she definitely felt that this should not
be a City Employee and compared the position to that of a consultant. She
stated that it is critical that the City have someone in the job who is a
professional; it should not be a political appointment at all, but should be
employed by the City Manager on a contractual basis.
City Manager Martin pointed out that there may be one or two groups who
might be interested in this on a contractual basis. He stated that he would
like to start advertising for the position the first week in January, allow two
weeks for submission of resumes, and possibly this could be completed by the
middle of February or the first of March, dependent upon the person's avail-
ability.
A motion was made by Council Member Mendez that the following items be
approved under III; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner; and passed unanimously:
III. The Director Consultant
A. Approval of Hiring Procedure would require that the City Manager
advertise and make recommendations to the City Council.
B. That the City Council make the final selection on the employment of a
Director
C. That the Director be employed by March 1, 1984 or no later than March
15, 1984.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mayor Jones called for consideration of the following:
IV. Appointments to the CC '90 Commission
A. The Project Chairperson (page 5 - Workbook)
1. Approval of the selection procedure
2. Authorization of the Mayor to make the appointment
3. Approval of appointment date
Mayor Jones referred to item 2 and suggested that he make the appointment
subject to the approval of the Council.
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Council Member Guerrero suggested that three chairmen rather than one
chairman be appointed, and Council Member Mendez expressed the opinion that
there would be a duplication of efforts if there is a steering committee.
Council Member McComb pointed out that a lot of people will be involved
already and the more people who are at the top as vice-chairmen will just
confuse the issue.
Council Member Slavik suggested that only one vice-chairman be appointed.
Council Member Berlanga referred to the functions of the coordinating
chairperson and suggested that he or she should also be responsible for the
dissemination of information for Corpus Christi '90 to the general public.
Discussion followed.
A motion was made by Council Member Berlanga that the following item be
added as number 5, seconded by Council Member Slavik and passed unanimously:
5. Insure the dissemination of information to the general public.
In regard to the appointment of the Chairperson, the Council concurred that
the appointment should be made by the Mayor with the concurrence of the Council
with recommendation of the Chairperson to be considered in the appointment of a
Vice -Chairperson.
Mayor Jones called for consideration of the following item:
C. The Task Forces (page 6 - Workbook)
Council Member Mendez commented that he and each Council Member will have
the right to appoint nine people - one on each task force - and the rest of the
membership will be appointed by the entire Council who will vote on eleven
people, including the Chairperson, the Vice -Chairperson and nine additional
people who shall be nominated by the nine organizations listed on the Steering
Committee list on page 14 of the Workbook.
Council Member McComb suggested that notification to the different
organizations should be the duty of the City Secretary.
The Council indicated their agreement, and Mayor Jones suggested that City
Secretary Read draft a letter to be sent to those organizations for approval by
the Council at the next Regular Council Meeting.
Council Member Berlanga suggested that a number of other organizations be
listed on the organization list for nominations to the Steering Committee and
suggested that the following be included on the Steering Committee list:
HIALCO, LULAC, G.I. Forum and NAACP. Other suggestions for additions to the
Steering Committee list were made by various Council Members as follows: Port
of Corpus Christi, Classroom Teachers Association, Coastal Bend Labor Council,
League of Women Voters, and the Junior League.
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Council Member Slavik suggested that no letters be sent to organizations
until after January 1, 1984, and the Council indicated their agreement.
A motion was made by Council Member Mendez that item IV(C) The Task Forces
items 1 through 5 be approved as listed on the agenda; seconded by Council
Member Slavik; and passed unanimously.
Council Member Berlanga referred to the topics under Membership on page 6
and suggested that an additional statement be included as follows: "The Task
Force shall reflect the economic, ethnic and racial diversity of the community."
Discussion followed and Council Member Berlanga made a motion that this be
included, seconded by Council Member Slavik and passed by the following vote:
Jones, Turner, Berlanga, Guerrero, Mendez and Slavik voting "aye"; McComb voting
"no"; Hawkins "absent" at the time the vote was taken.
Council Member Berlanga made a motion regarding item 1 under Membership
that the second sentence be deleted (The appointees should have some
understanding of the issue being studied by the Task Force).
Council Member McComb noted that the citizens appointed should have enough
knowledge to provide input to advise the Council on the area of their task
force.
The motion was seconded by Council Member Guerrero and passed unanimously.
Council Member Mendez referred to page 5 and questioned the inclusion of
the statement under item 1 of the Steering Committee function to the effect that
"The Steering Committee shall review all recommendations and reports of the task
Forces and shall suggest appropriate revisions or additions to Task Force
reports." He questioned their authority to change the reports of the Task
Forces.
Mayor Jones pointed out that he was of the opinion that the Steering
Committee should have this authority, but they would just make recommendations
and it would be up to the Task Forces as to whether or not they wanted to revise
or add to their reports.
Council Member Berlanga mentioned that there are additional organizations
that should be allowed to submit recommendations for appointments to the
Steering Committee.
Council Member Mendez pointed out that if the Steering Committee does not
have any Hispanics appointed to it, the entire project will fail.
Mayor Jones suggested that the groups recommended submit three names to be
considered for nominations instead of one and Council Member Guerrero expressed
the opinion that the groups might not submit any names of minorities.
Mayor Pro Tem Turner agreed that the Steering Committees should be broad
based.
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Council Member Berlanga recommended again that the following organizations
be added to the list of organizations to submit nominations to the Steering
Committee: HIALCO, LULAC, G.I. Forum, NAACP and the Port of Corpus Christi.
Other Council Members had previously recommended that the following
organizations also be included: Classroom Teachers Association, Coastal Bend
Labor Council and League of Women Voters, and Junior League.
Note: Other names of groups were mentioned, but it was unclear as to
whether they should be included on this list.
*Council Member Kennedy departed the meeting at 8:41 p.m.
Mayor Jones summarized that if the organizations are requested to nominate
three people, he felt that there would be a broad based representation of the
entire community.
Council Member McComb expressed the opinion that the groups already listed
to make nominations to the Steering Committee are not groups that take political
stands.
Mayor Jones summarized by stating that the Council would be appointing a
Chairperson, a Vice -Chairperson, nine persons nominated by the organizations and
each Council Member will appoint nine members.
There being no further business to come before the Council, on motion by
Council Member Mendez, seconded by Council Member Guerrero and passed
unanimously, the Special Council Meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m., December
20, 1983.