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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 04/21/1987PRESENT Mayor Betty Turner Council Members David Berlanga, Sr. Leo Guerrero Frank Mendez Cliff Moss Bill Pruet Mary Rhodes Mary Pat Slavik Linda Strong MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 21, 1987 2:00 p.m. City Manager Craig McDowell City Attorney Hal George City Secretary Armando Chapa Mayor Betty Turner called the meeting to order in the Council Chamber of City Hall. The invocation was given by Reverend Elliot Grant, Trustee of the Corpus Christi Independent School District, who also led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States. City Secretary Armando Chapa called the roll and verified that the necessary quorum of the Council and the required Charter Officers were present to conduct the meeting. A motion was made by Council Member Mendez that the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of April 14, 1987 be approved as presented; seconded by Council Member Slavik; and passed unanimously. Mayor Turner addressed the Council on the issue of the selection of the Mayor Pro Tem. She stated that in the City's new Charter two things are apparent, one it removes any right to the permanent ascendancy to the Mayor's chair for the Mayor Pro Tem if the mayor is permanently disabled. She stated that if the Mayor's term is longer than one year, that decision will come through a referendum. She stated that if the term is less than one year, the Mayor is the person at large who received the most votes. She stated the second thing the Charter change does is that it enables the City to change the way it selects its Mayor Pro Tem by removing any mention of the term, so the Council still makes the decision, but they can elect to have a Mayor Pro Tem serve at various periods during the term. She stated that the Council is going to be facing a lot of challenges in the future, and a clear message should be sent to the Community of the Council's intentions to unify. Mayor Turner then strongly proposed to the Council that the Mayor Pro Tem position be rotated on a quarterly basis among all members of the City Council, and she further recommended that the order be determined by lot. MICROFILMED nut es regular Council Meeting April 21, 1987 Page 2 Council Member Slavik made the motion to proceed with the Mayor's proposal, and the motion was seconded by Council Member Moss. Council Member Pruet stated he would like to point out for the Council's consideration and for the Staff's action, that the Council has had several appointments to significant committees tied to the Mayor Pro Tem Position, and that the Council will need to address those issues. He stated that in changing the designation, the Council would have to change the appointments because all the committee actions need the continuity of both the Mayor and the Mayor Pro Tem. Council Member Berlanga concurred with the Mayor's proposal. He stated he didn't think it was fair that the position went to the highest vote getter because it excluded the members of the single member districts. Council Member Mendez concurred with the proposal and stated that everyone on the Council should be given a fair opportunity to serve as Mayor Pro Tem, and that the option should be up to the Council and not designated to a certain individual. Council Member Guerrero pointed out to the Council and audience that Council Member Slavik should be commended for her action in making the motion approving the proposal because she was the highest vote getter in the election. He also stated that she is a great Council Member. Council Member Moss stated that rotating the position will give the Council flexibility and later if a change is needed, it will be easier to accomplish on a rotating basis. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Shelia Senterfitt, 6722 Sahara, Chairman of the Art in the Heart of Downtown Festival, expressed appreciation for the Council's support in moving the festival downtown. She invited the Council to the opening ceremonies of the festival. Council Member Berlanga stated that he hoped the Council Members will attend the Art Jamboree because this will be the first one held in the downtown area, and that the Council should make an extra effort to attend. Council Member Pruet stated that in addition to what the art community is doing downtown, their activities and the Art in The Heart Program have brought about renovation, remodeling and face lifting on a number of independent businesses in the area. He expressed his appreciation to the people in the art community who have worked to get this program downtown, and he pointed out it will be the start of a real tradition in Corpus Christi. * * * * * * * * * * * * * nutes negular Council Meeting April 21, 1987 Page 3 Mayor Turner called for consideration of Consent Motions, Items 1 and 2. 1. M87-0155 Scheduling a public hearing on May 12, 1987, on the closure and abandonment of a 10 -foot long street right-of-way stub -out along Nile Drive approximately 100 feet north of Williams Drive. 2. M87-0156 Authorizing the City Manager or his designee to submit a grant application for the Corpus Christi Public Library in the amount of $20,196 through the Major Urban Resource Libraries (MURLs) program and to execute all related documents. The funds will be used to purchase books for the genealogical collection. There were no comments from the Council or the audience on the Consent Motions. A motion was made by Council Member Mendez that Consent Motions 1 and 2 be approved; seconded by Council Member Pruet; and passed unanimously. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mayor Turner then called for consideration of the Consent Ordinances on Items 3 through 8.a.1. Council Member Moss referred to Item No. 3 pertaining to the easement closures in Crestmont Subdivision and inquired if this closure was just for the convenience of the owners. City Manager McDowell responded that it was, but it is also one of the planned unit subdivisions with smaller lots and is being reconfigured for affordable housing as a demonstration project. Council Member Moss referred to Item No. 4 pertaining to the Convention Center parking lot expansion and asked if there was a sketch of the layout. City Manager McDowell stated that the parking lot is the one behind the Convention Center and that this item had previously been presented to the Council. Regarding Item No. 3, Council Member Slavik inquired how many parking spaces will be available and when the expansion will be finished. In answer to her question, City Manager McDowell stated there will be over 332 additional parking spaces and the project should be finished in about three to four months. In answer to the Mayor's question concerning more plans for parking in the immediate future, City Manager McDowell stated that the Staff is working with the Port and an additional 150 to 250 spaces will be available in the area. Council Member Berlanga referred to Item No. 5 pertaining to the Kingsbury Street Bridge replacement and inquired why the contract is being terminated and if the project is finished. nutes regular Council Meeting April 21, 1987 Page 4 Assistant City Manager Lontos responded by stating that the City and the State had an agreement to replace a small bridge in Kingsbury and during the initial investigation, it was discovered that a private line existed in the ditch area. He stated that the line did not interfere with the bridge project, but the company who owns the private line insisted that the City relocate the line. He stated it would cost over $100,000 to relocate the line, and that the State has requested if we do not relocate it, the project should be cancelled. Regarding Item No. 5, Council Member Moss stated that as he understands the memo, this is a mistake made by our Engineering Department which is costing the City $21,736.10 to have to cancel the contract and $8,396.10 additional money over and above what the City intended to pay. He inquired if this statement is correct. Assistant City Manager Lontos stated basically it is correct, and that the City was not aware that the Utility Company wanted the line to be relocated. He stated that the City knew the line was there, and that it did not interfere with the construction. Council Member Moss stated that it is the City's fault in not having found that there were prior rights before entering into a contract. Council Member Rhodes referred to Item No. 6 pertaining to amending the Zoning Ordinance in reference to the Crossroads Shopping Village. She stated that the City Staff is sent out to enforce the sign regulations. She stated that a citation is issued for violations, and that the Council needs to change the sign ordinance or be willing to back up the Staff when they enforce the law. Council Member Strong referred to Item No. 7 pertaining to the facsimile signatures to be used on all City checks. She inquired who has control over the facsimile stamp and where is it kept. City Manager McDowell responded by stating it is kept in the Finance Department and it is tightly controlled. In answer to a question from the Mayor on the same Item, Assistant City Manager Garza stated that sometime ago the Council had authorized the Staff to use facsmille signatures on all checks. He stated that the Ordinance which was signed by the Mayor and officials did not give the Staff that authorization. He stated that if the Ordinance had been correct, it would have given the Staff the authority to sign all checks using a facsimile signature. In answer to a question from Council Member Strong on the same Item, Assistant City Manager Garza stated that there is a check signer machine, a plate that goes into the check signer and the checks are automatically fed through the check signer. Mayor Turner referred to Item No. 8 pertaining to the Buccaneer Days Parachute Jump. She inquired if corporate liability has been provided and City Manager McDowell responded by stating that there is coverage. nut es negular Council Meeting April 21, 1987 Page 5 Council Member Strong stated that the parachute jumpers are a beautiful sight and are amazingly accurate. She stated that they are professionals and have control of their parachutes. There were no comments from the audience on the Consent Ordinances. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes and the following Ordinances were passed: 3. ORDINANCE NO. 19712 CLOSING AND ABANDONING FOUR 10 -FOOT WIDE UTILITY EASEMENTS IN PORTIONS OF BLOCKS 1 and 2, CRESTMONT SUBDIVISION, UNIT 10, SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS LISTED BELOW; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing Ordinance passed by the following vote: Turner, Berlanga, Guerrero, Mendez, Moss, Pruet, Rhodes, Slavik and Strong voting, "Aye." 4. ORDINANCE NO. 19713 AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH A. ORTIZ CONSTRUCTION AND PAVING, INC. FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL PARKING LOTS AROUND THE BAYFRONT CONVENTION CENTER; APPROPRIATING $461,000; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing Ordinance passed by the following vote: Turner, Berlanga, Guerrero, Mendez, Moss, Pruet, Rhodes, Slavik and Strong voting, "Aye." 5. ORDINANCE NO. 19714 REQUESTING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO TERMINATE THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH HELDENFELS BROTHERS, INC. PROVIDING FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT ON KINGSBURY STREET AT TURKEY CREEK; APPROPRIATING $8,400; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing Ordinance passed by the following vote: Turner, Berlanga, Guerrero, Mendez, Moss, Pruet, Rhodes, Slavik and Strong voting, "Aye." 6. ORDINANCE. NO. 19715 AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE UPON APPLICATION OF CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI BY GRANTING A SPECIAL COUNCIL PERMIT FOR SIGNAGE ON A PORTION OF LOT 1, THE CROSSROADS SHOPPING VILLAGE; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing Ordinance passed by the following vote: Turner, Berlanga, Guerrero, Mendez, Moss, Pruet, Rhodes, Slavik and Strong voting, "Aye." nut es .regular Council Meeting April 21, 1987 Page 6 7. ORDINANCE NO. 19716 AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 19510, CONCERNING FACSIMILE SIGNATURES IN THE ISSUANCE OF CHECKS, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1986, AND WHICH AMENDED ORDINANCE NOS. 6239 AND 15927, APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST 2, 1961, AND DECEMBER 10, 1980, RESPECTIVELY; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing Ordinance passed by the following vote: Turner, Berlanga, Guerrero, Mendez, Moss, Pruet, Rhodes, Slavik and Strong voting, "Aye." 8. ORDINANCE NO. 19717 AUTHORIZING SKY'S THE LIMIT, P.C. TO CONDUCT A PARACHUTE JUMP ON APRIL 23, 1987, IN CONNECTION WITH BUCCANEER DAYS FESTIVITIES; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing Ordinance passed by the following vote: Turner, Berlanga, Guerrero, Mendez, Moss, Pruet, Rhodes, Slavik and Strong Voting, "Aye." 8a1. RESOLUTION NO. 19718 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYOR LUTHER G. JONES, JR. AS MAYOR EMERITUS OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing Ordinance passed by the following vote: Turner, Berlanga, Guerrero, Mendez, Moss, Pruet, Rhodes, Slavik and Strong Voting, "Aye." Mayor Turner referred to Item 8a. pertaining to the appointment of eight members and nine alternates to serve on the Coastal Bend Council of Governments (COG). City Manager McDowell stated that this item will be an action by motion. He explained that there will be a meeting of the COG on Friday, April 24th in which key policy decisions affecting next year's budget will be discussed. Council Member Mendez stated that he would like to become the alternate member to serve on the Coastal Bend Council of Governments. A motion was made by Council Member Guerrero that the eight Council Members be appointed to serve on the COG with Council Member Mendez serving as an alternate, along with the following Staff members as alternates: Craig McDowell, Armando Chapa, Ernest Briones, Juan Garza, Bill Hennings, Jimmy Lontos, Kelly Elizondo and Tom Utter. The motion was seconded by Council Member Strong and passed unanimously. nutes regular Council Meeting April 21, 1987 Page 7 Mayor Turner then called for consideration of Item No. 9 pertaining to Expenses for the Sale of General Improvement Bonds and asked Assistant City Manager Garza for information pertaining to this Item. Assistant City Manager Garza stated that the expenses for selling bonds are generally included and are paid from the proceeds of the actual bond sale. He explained that the expenses from the General Improvement and Refunding Bonds were paid from the Debt Service Fund. He stated that those expenses were charged to the Debt Service Fund and should have been charged to the Bond Fund, and this Ordinance is an action to charge them to the correct area. He stated that the expenses for the 1986 Bond Sale is simply just a tallying up of the most recent Bond Sale and appropriating the funds so that the proper accounts can be charged. In answer to a question from Council Member Slavik regarding how it affects the Debt Service Fund, Mr. Garza stated that it helps the fund balance. He stated that the total of these monies, instead of coming out of the Debt Service Fund will go back into the Debt Service Fund balance. In answer to a question from Council Member Berlanga pertaining to the percentage which is figured on expenses, Mr. Garza stated that it runs up to 2% depending on the size of the issue. He stated the smaller the Bond Sale the larger the percentage. He stated he would report back to the Council on the exact figures. Mayor Turner stated that in reference to the $25M in bonds which were sold, the Council would like to have, as quickly as possible, a status report of how the funds will be used, for what projects, and when the money can be expected on the streets. She referred to the holdup of any of the funds which are not yet committed, and inquired if there was anything the Council could authorize to move the thing forward, and if any more work could be contracted out. City Manager McDowell stated that the Staff is trying to move it as fast as they can through the Engineering Department. He stated that the contracts are now beginning to come forward. In answer to a question from the Mayor, City Manager McDowell stated that the first $25M was designed to be: 1. labor intensive projects, 2. address our most immediate infrastructure needs and 3. try to stimulate economic development. He stated that the balance of the $105M program is scheduled to be sold at about $20M a year over four more years. He stated that with a downturn in the assessment valuation and the Homestead Exemption, the Staff will have to review the ability to sell bonds without having to raise taxes. He stated that there is a question as to how aggressively we can pursue the Bond Program. Council Member Mendez stated that for the benefit of the new Council Members, this issue should be made an agenda item to be discussed so that everyone will understand where we stand on the projects which have been appropriated in the initial $25M and to deal with the issue of the shortfall of the budget. nutes xegular Council Meeting April 21, 1987 Page 8 Council Member Guerrero stated that there is an issue if anyone would want to buy our bonds, and he stated that should be part of the agenda. City Manager McDowell stated that the City has an AA rating and that our bonds sell very well in the market. He stated that our ability to sell additional bonds will have to be looked at in terms of our ability to cover them with debt service. He stated that a report to the Council regarding the bond funding will be forthcoming in about two weeks. Mayor Turner stated that she has been informed that the City can get the bond money on the street faster by completing the engineering work now, and not wait until after the bonds are sold. She stated she would like that item included in the report. City Manager McDowell pointed out to the Council that in anticipation of this bond issue, approximately $200,000 worth of engineering work was done prior to the sale and then reimbursed out of this bond issue when the '86 bonds were sold, so that those projects could get on the streets faster. He stated it has been ongoing. Council Member Moss stated that the Council must keep in mind that $25M has been sold, and then program how the City can finance these bonds. He asked if a bar graph was available. He stated that the Council needs to look at the engineering and how that fits in with what we can spend and how fast we can spend the money. Council Member Pruet referred to the report due in two weeks and inquired if it will contain the amount of the anticipated shortfalls so the Council can have a reasonable estimate as to when these bonds can be sold. He stated it would be informative to see what the Staff and Management have been doing to address this shortfall internally and to make this a part of the presentation from Staff. City Manager McDowell stated that all the departments were asked to take a look at their budgets and see what could be cut back this year. He stated they were able to identify approximately $850,000 in reductions which could be made on a temporary basis. He pointed out that the Council is aware that the sales tax projections this year are down about $1M and some other revenue sources, i.e. the franchise tax and the electrical utility tax bring us down about $2M. He stated that the Staff has been able to compensate for that and still maintain the service levels. He stated that next year there will be about a $3}M downturn in revenue. Council Member Berlanga made reference to projects and inquired about the status on the La Retama Library and if it would be possible to give the Council a full status report on the old courthouse. nutes Regular Council Meeting April 21, 1987 Page 9 In reference to the La Retama Library, City Manager McDowell stated that the contract was let for the demolition of the library. He stated the Staff is in the final stages of working with the Quality Control people on the asbestos removal problem. He stated in the next couple of weeks a decision will be made and then the demolition of the library will begin. In reference to the courthouse, he stated that has been referred back to the Building Standards Board, and they will discuss it in June. In reference to a question from Council Member Moss pertaining to the demolition of La Retama Library, Assistant City Manager Lontos stated that it will be in about two months. There were no comments from the audience on Item No. 9. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes and the following Ordinance was passed: 9. ORDINANCE NO. 19719 APPROPRIATING $186,921.56 OUT OF VARIOUS FUNDS FOR EXPENSES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE OF $13,064,000 GENERAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS ON OCTOBER 17, 1985, AND THE SALE OF $25,625,000 GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS BONDS ON NOVEMBER 18, 1986; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing Ordinance passed by the following vote: Turner, Berlanga, Guerrero, Mendez, Moss, Pruet, Rhodes, Slavik and Strong voting, "Aye." * * * * * * * * * * * * * City Manager McDowell stated he would like to bring to the Council's attention an item relative to a piece of Legislation, No. FCR57, which designates the Texas Maritime Museum in Aransas County. He stated that our museum board of directors has gone on record to oppose that designation, not the museum per se, but the designation as Texas Maritime Museum because of the fact that our museum has the shipwreck collection. He stated they are concerned that if we begin to divide that up, it may endanger and jeopardize our status and standing with the Spanish artifacts. He stated they have taken a position in opposition to this legislation and are asking for a Council position. He stated that there is no opposition to the fact they are having a museum. He stated the opposition is in designating it as the Texas Maritime Museum. In answer to a question from Council Member Berlanga, Mr. McDowell stated that it has been passed out of Committee on a favorable note, and it is now on the floor. Council Member Guerrero stated that he didn't think the Council had a choice but to support the museum if the artifacts were jeopardized. He stated that point needs to be made in the State legislature. nutes regular Council Meeting April 21, 1987 Page 10 City Manager McDowell stated that since the Council sets our legislative agenda, they are asking the Council to take a position in opposition to the piece of legislature. Council Member Moss stated that he was sorry to hear we are at odds with Aransas County, but the Council needs to defend their position. He stated he hoped that something could be worked out. Council Member Mendez stated that if the Council is going to support any kind of a Resolution, there ought to be communication between the City Staff and the people in Aransas County, and perhaps an agreement could be worked out. Council Member Mendez made a motion that the Staff communicate with the people in Aransas County to work out an agreement for this situation. The motion was seconded by Council Member Slavik and passed unanimously. Council Member Berlanga stated that there will be a Citizens of Volunteers in Service Celebration and he had been asked by the Director of the organization to invite the Council to attend the celebration at the Bayfront on April 28 after 5:00 p.m. City Secretary Chapa conducted a drawing to determine the selection of the Mayor Pro Tem position terms. A motion was made by Council Member Berlanga to appoint Council Member Slavik to be the first Mayor Pro Tem, since she was the highest vote getter and made the initial motion to rotate the term. The motion was seconded by Council Member Moss and passed unanimously. As a result of the drawing, the terms for the Mayor Pro Tem positions are as follows: 1. Council Member Slavik; 2. Council Member Moss; 3. Council Member Rhodes; 4. Council Member Berlanga; 5. Council Member Pruet; 6. Council Member Strong; 7. Council Member Guerrero; 8. Council Member Mendez. Mayor Turner stated that the Council will in the next couple of weeks decide on the appointment to the Reinvestment Zone. She asked City Secretary Chapa for a list of the other appointments which will be needed. Council Member Pruet inquired if the Council would like to take time to discuss the format for the workshop meeting. He stated that he would like included on the workshop agenda, the matter of scheduling the Council retreat. Mayor Turner stated that she has scheduled a meeting with the City Manager. She stated she felt strongly about developing an action agenda, a very specific game plan which lets everyone know where the Council is going, and how they are going to get there. She stated that this would be discussed in the workshop session, as well as discussion of the retreat. She stated that the Council couldn't deal with the budget until they know where they are going and what the nutes xegular Council Meeting April 21, 1987 Page 11 priorities are. Mayor Turner stated that in the past the Council discussed current concerns for an hour during the morning meeting and she hoped to use the workshops more productively. She strongly encouraged the Council to submit their concerns in writing, and send them to the City Manager or the City Secretary who will then submit them to the proper departments for resolution. She stated if the concerns are not resolved in a reasonable period of time, they should be brought to the Council during the workshop meeting. Council Member Strong reminded the new Council that the old Council had committed to participate in the first cleanup to adopt a mile of beach for the Adopt -a -Beach Cleanup Task Force. She explained that the Council committed to three cleanups a year of gulf beaches. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mayor Turner called for petitions or information from the audience on matters not scheduled on the agenda. Mr. James A. Sierman, 417 Scotland, referred to the veteran's eternal light. He requested if a plaque could be made, and if the light could be lit permanently. A motion was made by Council Member Guerrero that there be a ceremony on July 4th to start burning the light. The motion was seconded by Council Member Slavik and passed unanimously. Ms. Gwen Bryant, 5029 Merganser, congratulated the Council on their elections. She stated she represented Citizens for Progress and presented to each Council Member a plaque of a newspaper article with a sad tale of Crystal Beach, Texas. Mr. Earl Wilder, representing the Retired Firefighters and Widows of Texas, requested that the Council consider a Resolution similar to the one passed on April 7th, No. 19659, which requested that the State legislature use the federal poverty guidelines in regard to Corpus Christi's indigent people. His request was that the Resolution request the Corpus Christi active firefighters to consider federal poverty guidelines in regard to the retirement pay for the "Old Smokies." Council Member Guerrero stated it would be appropriate to ask the Staff to come back with a report in reference to the preparation of a Resolution urging the firefighters to approve an increase for the retired firefighters. City Manager explained to the new Council that this is a problem which the Staff has been dealing with. He stated that the firefighters have their own retirement system and any increase in benefits must be voted by the active membership. He stated it has been an ongoing struggle for a number of years in which the active membership has chosen not to raise the benefits. He stated that a Resolution would certainly express the Council's intent, but it is up to the active membership to vote as to what they want to do with the pension benefits. nutes Kegular Council Meeting April 21, 1987 Page 12 Council Member Berlanga stated that this problem has been brought up in the past and that the concern is justified. He stated he supported the idea for the resolution. In answer to a question from Council Member Moss, the Mayor stated that the City Council can pass a Resolution encouraging the active membership to take care of their own. Council Member Mendez requested the Staff to provide the Council with a full report from the City Manager pertaining to the above item. Mr. Wilson Pickering, Chairman of the Municipal Arts Commission of Corpus Christi, expressed his appreciation to the previous Council for their support in passing the Percent for Art Ordinance for the City of Corpus Christi. He asked that the new Council join in that support for the arts in Corpus Christi and hoped that they can maintain the level of funding which they now have. He expressed his appreciation to Council Member Strong for her constant support of the arts. He inquired about the $25,000 which had been authorized by the Reinvestment Zone concerning the feasibility study for the City Hall annex as a possibility for a new home for the Art Community Center. Mr. Charles Blum, Chairman of the Park & Recreation Board, stated he requested the delay in the study because he was in the middle of coming up with an alternative to the proposal. He stated that the Council agreed to the delay until he completed the proposal, and that he is in the process of completing a report from the Bayfront Activities Committee and the Park Board to present to the Council. City Manager McDowell explained that the Parks Board and the Bayfront Activities Committee have met and have taken a position on the matter. He stated the Staff was going to schedule this item for Council action at the April 28th meeting to make a decision whether to proceed with the engineering study, or to take one of the recommendations from the Park Board or the other groups which are interested. Council Member Berlanga stated this matter has been around for sometime. He stated he did not agree with the Parks Board to tear the building down, and that it should be salvaged. He stated he didn't think the Council needed the $25,000 study because the City has engineers who can determine whether the building is sound or not. Mr. Bill Read, 515 Ohio, stated he is President of the Corpus Christi Civitan Club who are the prime sponsors for the Special Olympic games for the handicapped to be held at Buccaneer Stadium on Saturday, April 25th, and invited the Council to attend. Dr. Maria Luisa Garza, Chief Executive Officer of the Gulf -Coast Council of La Raza Runaway Shelter, congratulated the Council and welcomed the new Council Members to their first meeting. She stated that the annex which the City is subsidizing will be completed within two to three weeks. She stated there will be a reception and invited the Council to attend. nutes .egular Council Meeting April 21, 1987 Page 13 Mr. Bennie Benavides, 2421 Cleo Street, congratulated all the members of the Council on their elections. He stated that he visited a park in Laredo, Texas called Jarvis Plaza which is a success and very beautiful. He stated the park was very impressive and recommended that the Council pattern La Retama Park after the one in Laredo. He suggested that the Council make a trip to Laredo to observe the park. There being no further business to come before the Council, on motion by Council Member Mendez, seconded by Council Member Strong and passed unanimously, the meeting was adjourned at 3:27 p.m. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of the City of Corpus Christi of April 21, 1987, which were approved by the City Council on May 5, 1987. WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this the S1/3" day of jetty Tu er, MAYOR i-9,C�1zr Armando Chapa, City Secretary City of Corpus Christi, Texas