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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 01/24/1995I 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 January 24, 1995, which were approved by the City Council on January 31, 1995. WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this 1st day of February, 1995. SEAL T r Armando Chapa City Secretary ICRQf t L , MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 2 p.m. PRESENT Mayor Mary Rhodes Mayor Pro Tem Edward Martin Council Members: Dr. Jack Best Melody Cooper Cezar Galindo Betty Jean Longoria CI if Moss Dr. David McNichols David Noyola City Manager Juan Garza City Attorney James R. Bray, Jr. City Secretary Armando Chapa Mayor Rhodes called the meeting to order in the Council Chambers of City Hall. The invocation was delivered by Pastor Isaac Rodriguez, Segunda Iglesia Bautista, following which the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States was led by Council Member Cooper. City Secretary Chapa called the roll and verified that the necessary quorum of the Council and the required charter officers were present to conduct the meeting. Mayor Rhodes called for approval of the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of January 17, 1995, and there being no corrections, she proclaimed them approved as presented. Mayor Rhodes introduced Mr. Loyd Neal, Chairman of the South Texas Military Facilities Task Force. Mr. Neal invited the Council Members, City Manager, and other elected officials in the area to a reception and meetings in Washington, D.C., on February 16, 1995, concerning upcoming base closings. Mr. Neal said the task force is planning to charter a plane to take about 185 people to Washington on that day. He noted that the announcement of the first round of base closures is expected on March 1. Council Member Cooper thanked the task force members for their efforts thus far, and encouraged them to continue this important endeavor. Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 Page 2 Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Item 1, an introduction of the Americorps Volunteers. Mr. George Hodge, Director of the Weed and Seed Program, introduced Ms. Mary Strickland, County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Services. Ms. Strickland explained that the South Texas AmeriCorp project has been implemented in conjunction with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service and the Weed and Seed Program. The AmeriCorp staff will consist of Audrey Abel, Cecil Brown, Princess McChester and Vanessa Ramirez, and they will work with local leadership to address environmental issues and concems of the Weed and Seed project area neighborhood. Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Items 2.a. and 2.b., a presentation regarding proposed changes to the interim order on fresh water releases, and an update on the Nueces Estuary Wastewater Effluent Diversion Demonstration Project. City Manager Garza said that the one of the main benefits of the proposal to be considered was that it replaced the requirement to release stored water from the reservoir system with a "pass-through" approach. Mr. Garza said staff strongly recommended the plan, and he introduced Mr. James Dodson, Regional Water Director. Mr. Dodson reviewed the recent events leading up to the proposal, noting that city staff have met with representatives of the Nueces Estuary Advisory Council (NEAC) workgroup and the science advisory group from Texas A&M -Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) to work out the details of the proposal. Mr. Dodson explained that the pass-through plan establishes monthly targets of inflow for Nueces Bay similar to the interim order approved by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) in 1992. While the interim order's monthly amounts are requirements that have to be met under all circumstances (unless the drought contingency provisions are exercised), under the pass-through plan, these targets are simply the upper limits of inflows that would need to be provided in any one month. The actual inflows are determined by the natural streamflows of the Nueces, Frio and Atascosa rivers, which contribute to the reservoir system. Under the proposed plan, Mr. Dodson continued, if the streamflow in any month is less than the target, the estuary receives only that amount it would have received naturally. The inflows to the estuary would, in essence, mimic nature's own patterns of rainflow and run-off. In addition, the city has the right to capture, store and divert any water above the monthly target. Under this plan, the excess flows would be used to meet the region's municipal and industrial water demands. Currently under the interim order, stored water is being used to meet the monthly requirements of inflow; using the pass-through Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 Page 3 approach, stored water would not have to be released. Mr. Dodson then presented tables illustrating monthly estuarine inflow targets for the pass-through operating plan, and a comparison of the existing and proposed plans. He said that if the pass-through plan is implemented, the firm annual yield of the reservoir system, relative to the interim order's yield, would increase by about 12,345 acre-feet a year, which would be a substantial increase. In addition, the pass-through method would delay the time before the area's water demand begins to exceed the available water supply. Under the current interim order, the original estimate was that the water supply would be exceeded by the year 2003; with the pass-through plan, it would be delayed until the year 2009. Mr. Dodson also discussed the Allison Wastewater Treatment Plant Diversion Demonstration Project, which would involve rerouting about 2.5 million gallons a day of treated effluent from its present discharge site into Nueces River to a location in the Nueces Delta. During this pilot project, the best method of applying the effluent would be tested and monitored for about three or four years. Currently, he said, the city is engaged in acquiring the property for the testing facility and it is hoped that construction can begin by next summer. If the pilot program demonstrates an increase in the productivity of the estuary, then additional effluents may be diverted to the estuary as well. The Regional Water Director said that the NEAC workgroup felt it was important first to take the steps to amend the interim order now to implement the pass-through plan. At this point, the group is simply asking the City Council to consider the concept of the wastewater diversions and to conditionally commit to implementing additional diversions if certain requirements are met, which he outlined. Mr. Dodson pointed out that the money it would cost to physically divert the wastewater to the delta would be offset by the money the city would not have to spend to upgrade the treatment plants to meet more stringent discharge limits. Potentially, both the Allison and Westside treatment plants would have to be upgraded at the cost of about $7.7 million and $9.4 million, respectively. If the proposed resolution is adopted, Mr. Dodson said the plan would be brought before the Nueces Estuary Advisory Council on February 27, 1995, and with their support, it would be presented to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission hopefully in April. Council Member Martin asked how much less water, on the average, will be released per year using the pass-through approach (excluding wastewater diversions) versus the current interim order. Mr. Dodson replied that, on the average, it would result in about 4,000 to 5,000 acre-feet a year Tess in freshwater releases. Following other questions from Mr. Martin, a discussion ensued regarding the city's level of commitment to the wastewater diversion project (specifically, the amount of water Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 Page 4 release credits that are given for the wastewater effluent), and the cost and amount of the actual diversion process. Responding to Council Member Moss, Mr. Dodson said the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority recently received approval for an amendment to their certificate of adjudication implementing a pass-through freshwater operating plan for Lake Texana. In response to Council Member Galindo, Mr. Dodson discussed plans for expanding the capacity of the Westside Treatment Plant and enabling it to meet new discharge limits that were imposed. If approved, the wastewater diversion plan would involve diverting increased treatment capacity, not the present treatment capacity. Mr. Dodson added that he expects NEAC to approve the pass-through method, and he thinks the TNRCC would be hard-pressed not to approve the plan as well. Council Member McNichols discussed the importance of approving the proposal, describing it as the best plan that could be negotiated over the period of several years that accomplishes the following goals: to preserve all the water possible and not waste any, and to protect the environment. He also discussed the more stringent requirements on the wastewater treatment plants. Responding to Council Member Best, Mr. Dodson briefly described other approaches that were considered by the TAMU-CC scientific group, and discussed the issue of salinity levels. Council Member Cooper said she supported the resolution, adding that this was a very vital issue to the community. Mr. Martin questioned the language in the proposed resolution regarding "the maximum amount" of municipal wastewater effluent for diversion, and the conditions that were outlined. A discussion followed regarding that language, as well as aspects of the wastewater diversion plan. Dr. McNichols made a motion to amend the resolution as follows: In Section (4.) delete the words, "the maximum amount of," so that section of the resolution would read, "That, following the completion of the Allison diversion demonstration project, the City Council is committed to making available municipal wastewater effluent for diversion to the Nueces Bay/Nueces Delta system, if the following conditions are met." The motion to amend was seconded by Mr. Martin, and passed unanimously. Dr. McNichols also made a motion to amend Section (4.)(e.) of the resolution to read as follows: "The diversions are credited towards the monthly pass-through targets for Nueces Bay initially on a one-to-one ratio of wastewater diverted to water to be passed through, with possible future negotiation of an increase in the ratio based on available Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 Page 5 scientific evidence." The motion was seconded by Mr. Martin, and passed unanimously. Mr. Galindo discussed the importance of supporting the resolution. Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience. Nueces County Commissioner Joe McComb criticized the proposed resolution and the pass-through and wastewater diversion plans it discusses, saying that the return from both plans did not justify the money they would cost. Referring to Commissioner McComb's comments, Dr. McNichols reemphasized that the pass-through approach would result in a minimum of about 12,000 acre-feet per year of "recovered" water, or a minimum of 3.8 billion gallons of water a year saved, which he said was a huge amount of money that would be saved. He also reiterated that the wastewater diversion plan saves the city money by allowing the city to increase its wastewater capacity at the current permit parameters, rather than at more stringent parameters; in other words, if the city did not spend money on the diversion plan, it would have to spend it on wastewater treatment. Dr. McNichols also noted that unless the city amends the current interim order within five years after it was adopted, then the interim order itself will become the final plan. Mayor Rhodes said that the Council has been heavily involved in this issue for years. She also said that the city will never reach a point where water releases would become unnecessary because of the conditions that were imposed when the Choke Canyon Dam was built. In addition, the estuaries are important to the community --both ecologically and financially. Mr. Garza mentioned the far-reaching implications of the proposed plan, and how it would connect the city's water and wastewater policies. Responding to Mr. Galindo, Mr. Dodson said that the city is attempting to purchase about 28 acres for the diversion pilot project facility. In response to a question from Mr. Martin, Mr. Dodson said that if the interim order were amended to reflect the pass-through plan, that action would document the total extent to which the city should be committed to providing freshwater in terms of the amount of the system's yield. Then, the city would have the basis to make the plan permanent by amending the certificate of adjudication for the city's water rights. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 Page 6 2.b. RESOLUTION NO. 022142 Resolution urging the Nueces Estuary Advisory Council to recommend to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission certain changes in the present Agreed Order on freshwater releases from the Choke Canyon/Lake Corpus Christi Reservoir System and expressing the conditional commitment of the City of Corpus Christi to utilizing wastewater return flows for the enhancement of the Nueces Estuary. The foregoing resolution passed, as amended, by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Cooper, Galindo, Longoria, Martin, McNichols, Moss, and Noyola voting "Aye." Mr. Martin asked for corrected versions of the memos related to the resolution, and asked that the Council be further involved in the issue before the plan is taken to TNRCC. Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Item 3, naming Cole Park Amphitheater after Mr. William W. Anderson, who served as the city's Director of Planning for 27 years. He received a number of awards during his tenure, and served 12 mayors, seven city managers and more than 100 members of the Planning Commission. The Mayor recognized Mr. and Mrs. William Pollock, the son-in-law and daughter of Mr. Anderson. On behalf of her family, Mrs. Pollock thanked the Council, the Park and Recreation Department and the staff for honoring her father in that way. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: 3. M95-019 Motion naming the Cole Park Amphitheater in honor of William W. Anderson, former Director of Planning for the City of Corpus Christi. The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Cooper, Galindo, Longoria, Martin, McNichols, Moss, and Noyola voting "Aye." Mayor Rhodes called for a 10 -minute recess. Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Item 4, children and youth legislation. Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 Page 7 The Mayor recognized Mrs. Grace Rank, Chairperson of the Commission on Children and Youth. Mrs. Rank said the commission was recommending amending the resolution to add the following sentence to Section (1.)(G.): "Provide funding to support the efforts of the 20 Children's Advocacy Centers (one of which is in Corpus Christi) projected to be in operation around the state by 1996-97." Mrs. Rank noted that other than the part of the resolution that specifically addresses Children's Protective Services, the Commission on Children and Youth is not recommending any appropriations of funding. The intent of the resolution is to show that the City of Corpus Christi believes that the concepts outlined in it are important. She added that January 25, 1995, is Children's Advocacy Day. Mayor Rhodes made a motion to add the suggested language to the resolution, seconded by Council Member Martin, and passed unanimously. Responding to Council Member Galindo, Mrs. Rank said that the current funding level is such that only 40% to 50% of confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect in Nueces County and throughout the state actually receive services. Mrs. Rank introduced Mrs. Paige Dinn, Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Legislation for the commission, who said that the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services is requesting over $486 million for 1996. Responding to Mr. Galindo, she said that the last time appropriations were increased for Child Protective Services was in the early 1980s. Referring to other comments by Mr. Galindo, Mrs. Rank pointed out that child abuse and neglect impacts not only the child and the immediate family, but has far-reaching—and expensive—effects on crime, health services and social services. Council Members Cooper, McNichols and Noyola expressed their support of the resolution. Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience, and there were none. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: 4. RESOLUTION NO. 022143 Resolution supporting passage of legislation by the 74th Texas Legislature to promote and protect children and youth as recommended by the Corpus Christi Commission on Children & Youth. The foregoing resolution passed, as amended, by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 Page 8 Cooper, Galindo, Longoria, Martin, McNichols, Moss, and Noyola voting "Aye." Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Item 5, tennis contract. Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience, and there were none. Responding to two questions from Council Member Martin, Mr. Malcolm Matthews, Director of the Park and Recreation Department, said that personal property taxes are the responsibility of the person with whom the city has a contract. In addition, referring to Items 13.a. and 13.b. on the day's agenda, he said that the language of the tennis services contract with Ms. Susan Shelby Torrance that was to be amended was the same wording as contained in the contract with Mr. Steven B. Denton. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: 5. FIRST READING ORDINANCE Authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute a three-year professional services contract with Total Tennis, Inc., Steven B. Denton, Director, for tennis operations at the H.E.B. Municipal Tennis Center. The foregoing ordinance passed on first reading by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Cooper, Galindo, Longoria, Martin, McNichols, Moss, and Noyola voting "Aye." Mr. Martin recognized the contributions of Mr. Bob Mapes, the former Director of Tennis Operations, who was present at the meeting. Mayor Rhodes opened the public hearing on the following zoning case: 6. Case No. 1194-4, Pete Cicacci: A change of zoning from "AB" Professional Office District to 'B-1" Neighborhood Business District on Port Aransas Cliffs, Block 812, south five (5) feet of Lot 63, all of Lot 64 and a 70 foot by 100 foot portion out of the formerly Minnesota Avenue right-of-way, located on the northeast corner of S. Alameda Street and Texan Trail. Mayor Rhodes said the Planning Commission and staff recommended denial. The Mayor noted that two weeks ago this case was sent back to staff to develop a special permit, and last week it was postponed due to a Council Member being absent. Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 Page 9 Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience. A citizen read a letter from Mr. James Baxter supporting the zoning request. The letter noted that as the General Manager of Padre Staples Mall, Mr. Baxter has worked closely with the applicant, Mr. Cicacci, who owns three stores in that mall. Mr. Javier Chapa spoke on behalf of Dr. Nabil Elmilady, who opposed the zoning change because of concems of increased traffic and litter, and the fact that that portion of South Alameda is zoned professional office district. Council Member Best made a motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Council Member Noyola and passed unanimously. Deputy City Manager Bill Hennings distributed copies of an amended version of the special permit, which would deny the use of alcoholic beverages, and would allow for an entrance only driveway from Texan Trail and an entrance/exit driveway from South Alameda. Mayor Rhodes noted that although this was a borderline zoning case, she maintained her opposition to the zoning request because of the "AB" zoning. She added that she would support the applicant's proposal of a muffin and bagel cafe in another location. Council Member Cooper said she supported the amendments to the special permit, adding that she felt the restaurant would benefit the area. Responding to Council Member Martin, City Attorney Bray said this particular special permit for this use was legally distinguishable from other possible zoning cases because it is located at the intersection of an arterial and a collector street. Mr. Martin also discussed the growing problem of left turns being made out of properties onto major arterials, noting that left turns were being allowed in this zoning case. Mr. Brandol Harvey, Director of Planning and Development, said one of the reasons left turns were being allowed was to reduce the traffic on Texan Trail. He added that the Traffic Engineering staff felt the property was far enough away from the signalized intersection to not mandate a right turn only onto Alameda. Mr. Martin added that he would support the zoning request. Council Member McNichols opposed the zoning change, citing problems of traffic congestion and the possibility of a future restaurant being able to serve alcoholic beverages in that area. Council Member Galindo made a motion to amend the ordinance as previously Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 Page 10 stated, seconded by Council Member Noyola, and passed unanimously. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: ORDINANCE NO. 022144 Amending the Zoning Ordinance upon application by Pete Cicacci, by granting a Special Council Permit for a retail bakery without alcoholic beverages use subject to five (5) conditions on Port Aransas Cliffs, Block 812, south five (5) feet of Lot 63, all of Lot 64 and a 70 -foot by 100 -foot portion out of the formerly Minnesota Avenue right-of-way; providing for publication. An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed, as amended, by the following vote: Best, Cooper, Galindo, Longoria, Martin, Moss, and Noyola voting "Aye"; Rhodes and McNichols voting "No." Mayor Rhodes called for consideration of consent motions, resolutions, ordinances and ordinances from previous meetings on Items 7 through 14, and Council Members requested that Items 8, 9, and 10 be withheld for discussion. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes and the following were passed: 7. M95-020 Motion approving the purchase of a computer system for the Legal Department, in accordance with Bid Invitation No. BI -0073-95, from Vanstar Inc., Corpus Christi, Texas for the total amount of $34,481 based on low bid meeting specifications. The computer system is budgeted in the 1994-95 Capital Outlay. The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Cooper, Galindo, Longoria, Martin, McNichols, Moss, and Noyola voting "Aye." 11. ORDINANCE NO. 022141 Ordinance ordering a general election to be held on April 1, 1995 in the City of Corpus Christi for the election of mayor and eight council members; providing for procedures for holding such election; providing for notice of election and publication thereof; providing for establishment of branch early polling places; designating polling place locations; enacting provisions incident and relating to the subject and purpose of this ordinance. Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 Page 11 An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Cooper, Galindo, Longoria, Martin, McNichols, Moss, and Noyola voting "Aye." 12. FIRST READING ORDINANCE Authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute a five-year concession contract and lease with Christine Heinesh for concession operations at the Greenwood Softball Complex, at a variable rent from $100 to $350 per month depending on number of teams playing for the months when teams do play. The foregoing ordinance passed on first reading by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Cooper, Galindo, Longoria, Martin, McNichols, Moss, and Noyola voting "Aye." 13.a. M95-021 Motion amending Tennis Pro Contract with Susan Shelby Torrance by adding the following to Section IV B: "To exclude bulk merchandise sales, Pro must provide City a copy of the sales receipt to a school. Any other wholesale or bulk merchandise sales by Pro must be approved by the Director prior to sale."; and by adding the following to Section IV C: "If any person receiving tennis lessons does not have a tennis permit, Pro must charge a court fee for each lesson given, which court fee will be deposited as City Revenue." The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Cooper, Galindo, Longoria, Martin, McNichols, Moss, and Noyola voting "Aye." 13.b. ORDINANCE NO. 022148 Authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute a three-year professional services contract as amended with Susan Shelby Torrance for tennis operations at the Al Kruse Municipal Tennis Center. The foregoing ordinance passed on second reading by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Cooper, Galindo, Longoria, Martin, McNichols, Moss, and Noyola voting "Aye." 14. ORDINANCE NO. 022149 Repealing Section 23-18 of Article 1, Chapter 23 of the Code of Ordinances concerning the Health Clinic visit fee and replacing that section with a schedule of fees for clinical health services and specifying rules concerning the imposition and Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 Page 12 collection of such fees. The foregoing ordinance passed on second reading by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Cooper, Galindo, Longoria, Martin, McNichols, Moss, and Noyola voting "Aye." Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Item 8, sale of foreclosed property in the South Bluff Addition. Responding to Council Member Martin, City Manager Garza said the public is informed of foreclosed properties through newspaper advertisements, public auctions and special mailings to investors in such properties. He said the law firm of Calame, Linebarger and Graham has a list of foreclosed properties. Mr. Martin asked for information from that law firm on its marketing of such properties. In response to Council Member Moss, Mr. Garza said the tax roll value of the property in question was $22,500. Council Member Noyola said the city is losing money by having to maintain foreclosed properties. Mr. Garza said he would provide a report on the difficulty of finding buyers for some foreclosed properties. Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience, and there were none. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: 8. RESOLUTION NO. 022145 Resolution authorizing the sale of foreclosed property as follows: Lots 7 and 8, Block 33, South Bluff Addition, City of Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas (corner of Brownlee and Laredo); prospective buyer is Adan Rangel; amount offered is $5,500. The foregoing resolution passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Galindo, Longoria, Martin, McNichols, Moss, and Noyola voting "Aye"; Cooper absent. Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Items 9 and 10, closing and abandoning two utility easements. Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 Page 13 Council Member Martin referred to a previous memo from City Attorney Bray to the Council which stated that Texas law does not require charging for easements. However, said Mr. Bray, as a general rule the city is going to receive some kind of consideration, which could be less than an exact, fair market comparable value. Mr. Martin pointed out that a citizen grants a portion of his property to be used as a utility easement, while continuing to pay property taxes and maintaining that portion of the property. At such time that the easement is no longer necessary, Mr. Martin said the city returns the use of that property to the property owner and then charges them for it. He added that the state recognized this problem, and in 1993 the state legislature adopted a new law releasing property owners from having to pay for reclaiming easements on their property. Mr. Bray said that in the case of Item 10 on the agenda (Yorkshire Estates), some sort of compensation does need to be obtained because it involves an encroachment on an easement that the city owns. A brief discussion ensued. Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience, and there were none. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: 9. ORDINANCE NO. 022146 Ordinance closing and abandoning a 20 -foot wide by 259 -foot long portion of a 35 - foot wide utility easement in Lot 17, Block 8, Hopper Addition Unit 2, subject to compliance with the specified conditions; and the applicant replatting the property within 180 days at his expense. An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Cooper, Galindo, Martin, McNichols, Moss, and Noyola voting "Aye"; Longoria absent. 10. ORDINANCE NO. 022147 Ordinance closing and abandoning a 153.22 -square foot portion of a 32 -foot wide utility easement in Lot 7, Block 4, Yorkshire Estates, subject to compliance with the specified conditions; and the owner replatting the property within 180 days at his expense. An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Cooper, Galindo, Martin, McNichols, Moss, and Noyola voting "Aye"; Longoria absent. Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 Page 14 Mayor Rhodes called for the City Manager's report. Mr. Garza distributed a report highlighting the success of the Safety Focus program. He said before that program was instituted five years ago, on-the-job injuries had reached about $5 million a year. The Safety Focus program involved training different employees in safety techniques and sending them back out to the field to implement those techniques. He said during 1994 the cost of claims filed was $1.3 million. Mr. Garza recognized the members of the Safety Focus team who were present at the meeting. Mr. Garza also outlined changes in his office, explaining that Ms. Annie Leal has been named the Executive Assistant to the City Manager, replacing Mrs. Lou Vargo, who recently retired. In addition, Mr. Carl Crull, Group Manager of Public Works and Utilities, and his secretary, Mrs. Connie Parks, have relocated to the City Manager's Office on the 5th floor of City Hall. Referring to the Safety Focus program, Council Member Best said that he and other members of the Consolidation Committee discussed the issue of consolidating the city's successful Risk Management activities with Nueces County. However, the county's representatives voted against the idea, and Dr. Best urged them to reevaluate the proposal. Council Member Longoria commended Mr. Pat Alba, the Director of Risk Management. In her report, Mayor Rhodes asked Mr. Garza to tell the public what was announced during the press conference for the Holly Road improvement project. Mr. Garza said the total cost of the first phase of the project is $6.8 million, of which the city is contributing $2 million. The Mayor stated that there was some confusion surrounding the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The city allows free parking downtown on recognized holidays, but since city offices were open that day (while state and federal offices were not), some parking tickets were given out to unsuspecting citizens. The Mayor said she felt those tickets should be excused. Mayor Rhodes called for Council concerns and reports. Council Member Moss said he felt that a question he raised last week about striping and signal adjustment was apparently misunderstood. He said many arterial streets are in real need of striping, despite the fact that the striping is ahead of "schedule." The Minutes Regular Council Meeting January 24, 1995 Page 15 question is whether staff is doing all that can be done to remedy that problem, said Mr. Moss, adding that striping is the most cost-effective traffic control. He also discussed traffic signals, saying that although the city has invested several million dollars in its signal systems, they aren't being kept tuned to varying traffic conditions. He urged staff to investigate those concerns. Council Member Martin discussed an air quality permit request, asking if staff monitors those requests. Mr. Martin also asked the City Manager to emphasize to staff the importance of supporting the upcoming blood drive at city facilities. He noted that the Community Blood Bank is experiencing a critical blood shortage, and giving blood is something that every healthy person can do. Council Member Best asked about the blinking signal lights that operate from midnight to 6 a.m., and Mr. Garza cited the decreased traffic flow during those hours. Council Member McNichols raised the issue of the different channel tiers on TCI Cablevision, noting that some of the new or expanded channels are located on the upper tier, which requires people to rent a converter box to view them. Dr. McNichols also said there is dangerously uneven paving on the northbound lane of Ocean Drive. Council Member Longoria said she had received a letter from a citizen regarding lighting on IH -37 from CalaIlen to Lantana. She asked staff to respond to that letter. She also discussed roof repairs to a training facility at Hilltop Senior Citizens Center, and asked Mr. Garza to inform County Commissioner Frank Schwing that the senior citizens will soon be vacating that building and moving to a new facility. Council Member Cooper said a citizen was distressed about the intersection of Yorktown and Rodd Field Road, which has a stop sign but not a flashing red light to warn drivers. She asked staff to investigate that concern. Mrs. Cooper also noted that a new restaurant opened in the downtown area called Buckets, which indicates that that area continues to improve. Mayor Rhodes called for petitions from the audience. Mr. R.F. Hasker, 1813 Wallace, discussed the rate cuts made by Houston Light & Power Company of $1.25 billion. He also addressed the Central Power & Light rate case that is being considered by the Public Utility Commission. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Rhodes declared the Council Meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m. on January 24, 1995.