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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 02/25/1997I 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 February 25, 1997, which were approved by the City Council on March 4, 1997. WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this 4th day of March, 1997 Armando Chapa City Secretary SEAL MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS Regular Council Meeting February 25, 1997 2 p.m. PRESENT Mayor Mary Rhodes Mayor Pro Tem Edward Martin Council Members: Dr. Jack Best Betty Black Melody Cooper Betty Jean Longoria John Longoria Dr. David McNichols ABSENT Tony Heldenfels City Staff: Assistant City Manager Tom Utter 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 Patrick W. Bullock Sr., Annaville Baptist Church, following which the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States was led by Council Member John Longoria. 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 February 18, 1997. She noted that there was a correction on page 12 to state the following: "Council Member Black commented on the poor condition of the facility which houses La Playa Club on Chaparral Street downtown, which she said has been an ongoing problem." The Mayor then made a motion to correct the minutes as proposed, seconded by Council Member Betty Jean Longoria, and passed unanimously (Heldenfels absent). She then proclaimed the minutes approved as amended. ******t****** Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Item 2, H.E.B. Tennis Center construction. Assistant City Manager Utter explained that the H.E.B. Tennis Center was established in 1960 by Lloyd Sessions, Howard Butt Sr., the Corpus Christi Tennis Association (CCTA) and the Minutes Regular Council Meeting February 25, 1997 Page 2 City of Corpus Christi. Mr. Malcolm Matthews, Director of Park and Recreation, said that for years the CCTA has been working to make the H.E.B. Tennis Center not just a good facility for Corpus Christi, but a nationally recognized one as well. To that end, the CCTA has been working to raise funds to reconstruct and rehabilitate the center. He said the project entails the demolition of the existing center court (which has some structural problems), removing two additional courts, and rebuilding six courts with covers. He added that in 1982, the United States Tennis Association named the H.E.B. Tennis Center one of the top municipal tennis facilities in the country, and these improvements are needed for it to retain its national stature. Mr. Matthews said the city has received $250,000 from the Lloyd and Mildred Sessions Estate and the H.E.B. Grocery Foundation for the project, along with additional funding commitments. He noted that all of the funds donated to the city or the CCTA have been solely the result of the work of the association members. He said it is hoped that the project will be completed in about 11/2 years. Council Member Martin reiterated that no tax monies will be used for this project, but the H E B Tennis Center, which will again become a first-class facility, will be used by the public. Mr. Matthews added that the city has worked successfully with the tennis association on past projects. Mayor Rhodes recognized and thanked the members of the Corpus Christi Tennis Association who were present at the meeting. Council Members Betty Jean Longoria and Betty Black also extended their thanks to the CCTA members, the Sessions family, and Mr. Matthews. Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience, and there were none. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: 2. M97-047 Motion authorizing the City Manager to execute a Project Management Agreement in the amount of $450,000 with the Corpus Christi Tennis Association for the H E B Tennis Center Pavilion and Tennis Courts Construction Project and authorizing a $250,000 transfer from the H.E.B. Tennis Center Trust Fund to the Corpus Christi Tennis Association for the project. The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Minutes Regular Council Meeting February 25, 1997 Page 3 Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Item 3, Corpus Christi Clean Cities Program. Mrs. Debbie Ashour, Gas Superintendent, said that for the last several months, at the instruction of the City Manager, the Gas Department has been pursuing a "Clean Cities" designation. She explained that Clean Cities is a voluntary federal program designed to initiate, accelerate, and expand the use of alternative fuel vehicles in urban communities, and to provide maintenance and refueling facilities for their operation. In phase one of the department's strategic plan, five areas have been analyzed which include the refueling facilities. Mrs. Ashour added that the Clean Cities program reduces reliance on foreign oil supplies and encourages the use of domestically produced alternative fuels and encourages a voluntary public/private partnership to accomplish its goals. In order for the City of Corpus Christi to be designated as a Clean City, there are four steps which must occur: hire a Clean Cities coordinator (using a $50,000 grant from the State Energy Conservation Office); develop a stakeholders group; develop a program or strategic plan; and apply for designation (possibly in May) as a "Clean City." Mrs. Ashour said that phase one of the program will be presented by Ruby Mountain Inc. (RMI), who was represented by Jon Lear and Juliette Burdelski. RMI was founded in 1992 to initiate consensus -building efforts among representatives of industry, government, and the environment, and alternative fuels has been among the topics most consistently addressed by RMI. Mr. Lear said that as they began developing a strategic plan for the Clean Cities program, RMI staff identified five or six basic concepts: environment and health; economy; use of Texas- based fuels and resources; development of a cost-effective, sustainable market; public/private partnership; and recognition of alternative fuels. Mr. Lear noted that Corpus Christi is nearing non -attainment with regard to its air quality, and the highest percentage of pollutants in the area are emitted from stationary sources. He said in order to address that problem, the options consist of slowing growth or substantially increasing expenditures at those stationary sources. He said the Clean Cities program can be a public and private effort to reduce mobile source pollution in a cost-effective way, which would allow both areas to grow without necessarily having to impose the most stringent restrictions on either. Ms. Burdelski said RMI has determined that there are five key opportunities in which the Corpus Christi area can take advantage of the benefits of alternative fuels: increase infrastructure; increase vehicle conversions and purchasing; initiate a special project with the ship channel and the port; introduce projects focusing on truck traffic in and out of the Corpus Christi region; and create a grassroots community organization consisting of businesses, government, and community groups interested in clean air, environmental and economic -growth issues. Ms. Burdelski referred to a map of the first phase of the Clean Cities project. She explained • Minutes Regular Council Meeting February 25, 1997 Page 4 that the first planned site for infrastructure development is City Hall, which would allow Corpus Christi to promote itself as an environmental leader; the second site for possible conversion to alternative fuel usage would be the City Service Center on Ayers Street; the third site could be located off the IH -37 corridor, which would target heavy-duty long-haul trucks; the fourth possible site is the Naval Air Station; and the fifth site could be the City's Gas Department, which could serve as a back-up site for additional city vehicles. Mr. Martin asked if the Council was approving placing a fueling station at the City Hall site, and Mr. Utter said they were not at this time. Mr. Martin cited traffic congestion concerns at City Hall, and Mr. Utter said the map indicated generalized sites for infrastructure development. Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience, and there were none. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: 3.a. M97-048 Motion authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute a contract in the amount of $50,000 with the State Energy Conservation Office of the General Services Commission that will fund hiring a Clean Cities Coordinator and pay the Coordinator's expenses relating to the City's Clean Cities Alternative Fuels Initiatives. The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. 3.b. ORDINANCE NO 022852 Ordinance appropriating $50,000 in the No. 162 Federal/State Grants Fund (derived from a contract with the General Services Commission) for the Clean Cities Alternative Fuels Initiatives. An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Item 4, agreement for police services for the Housing Authority. Assistant City Manager Utter said this interlocal agreement allows approximately $92,000 from the Housing Authority to fund the use of off-duty police officers to patrol the Housing • Minutes Regular Council Meeting February 25, 1997 Page 5 Authority projects. He said they have needed increased police presence in those areas. Council Member John Longoria said he read that $100,000 in funding was being used for administration, and he asked city staff to follow up on that issue with Mr. Victor De La Cruz, Executive Director of the Housing Authority. Mr. Utter replied that they have expressed to the Housing Authority staff that it may be necessary to have additional police officers, and the Housing Authority Commission has expressed interest in working more closely with the city in that regard. Council Member Best asked whether some of these funds could be used to implement a similar crime -prevention program that is underway in San Antonio. Mr. Utter said they would ask Corpus Christi Police Chief Alvarez to provide a report on San Antonio's program, and he added that the Housing Authority's policing program is different from the one in San Antonio. Council Member Cooper asked if this proposal was a continuation of the Housing Authority's existing program, and Mr. Utter said that it was; he noted that these patrols are in addition to the regularly scheduled police officers on the "beat." Responding to another question from Mrs. Cooper, Mr. Utter said staff believes that the funds were available, but there was a failure by the Housing Authority staff to apply for them. In reply to Council Member Martin, Mr. Utter said these funds just reimburse the officers for their time; it does not reimburse costs for vehicles and other costs. Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience, and there were none. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: 4.a. ORDINANCE NO. 022853 Ordinance authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute an Interlocal Agreement with the Housing Authority of the City of Corpus Christi (Authority) for the Corpus Christi Police Department to provide supplemental police services to the authority on a voluntary overtime basis, for up to two years and not to exceed $92,000 to improve the efficiency and productivity of governmental resources. An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. 4.b. ORDINANCE NO. 022854 Ordinance appropriating up to $92,000 from the Housing Authority of the City of Corpus Christi (Authority) for the supplemental police patrol at the Authority in the No. 102 General Minutes Regular Council Meeting February 25, 1997 Page 6 Fund -Police Department; amending Ordinance Number 022643 which adopted the FY 96- 97 Budget by adding $92,000 to the No. 102 General Fund -Police Department. An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mayor Rhodes announced that Items 5.a. and 5.b. would be postponed for one week. 5.a. POSTPONED 5.b. POSTPONED Patiieio Mwnieipal Wate. Dist1kt. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Item 6, street lighting improvements for Spur 3, Phase 1 project. Mr. R.H. Shackelford, Director of Engineering Services, said this project will replace 13 wooden street light poles with 33 concrete, tapered light poles along the route of Spur 3, Phase 1. He added that the additional lights will greatly increase the illumination in that area. Mr. Shackelford also updated the Council on the Spur 3, Phase 1 contract, which is being performed by Bay Inc., a local company, for approximately $4 million. He said 260 working days were allowed in the contract; however, the company has only been able to work 85 days because of rain delays. Mr. Shackelford explained that Phase 1 will reconstruct half of the roadway on the Oso Bay side from the intersection of Ocean Drive and Alameda Street to the eastern -most entry to Texas A&M University -Corpus Christi; Phase 2 will reconstruct the other half of that roadway on the Corpus Christi Bay side, which is scheduled to begin in mid-July with completion in November, weather permitting. Responding to Council Member McNichols, Mr. Shackelford said these lights are not the same kind of lights that will be used in the Gateway Park area. Dr. McNichols expressed concern Minutes Regular Council Meeting February 25, 1997 Page 7 that these poles were not "break -away" poles and he asked if they would be located safely away from traffic. Mr. Shackelford said the Spur 3 lights will be located six to seven feet behind the curb, and none will be located in the median. He said they have not experienced any safety problems with these types of lights in other areas of the city. Council Member Martin also asked about the safe location of the light poles. Mr. Utter said that the Texas Department of Transportation has reviewed the placement of these poles, and determined that they are safe under both state and federal guidelines. Dr. McNichols also asked if that portion of the roadway will be elevated at all, and Mr. Shackelford said it will be. Dr. McNichols also referred to the poor appearance of the right-of-way area on the Corpus Christi Bay side of the road, and Mr. Shackelford said staff would investigate it. Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience. Mr. J.E. O'Brien, 4130 Pompano, said the current operating costs of the existing lights in that area are about $1,435 per month. He said that by adopting this proposal, the city will increase its operating costs to about $4,191 per month, which he said totals over $50,000 per year. Responding to Mr. O'Brien's comments, Mr. Shackelford said the current cost of the 13 lights in that section is $1,435 per year, not per month. By increasing the number of lights from 13 to 33, the cost will increase to $4,191 per year. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: 6. M97-049 Motion authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute an agreement with Central Power & Light Company for the installation of new continuous street lighting on Ocean Drive between a point just east of Alameda Street to Sand Dollar Boulevard, at Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi at a cost to the City not to exceed $52,500. The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Item 7 regarding execution of monitor well permits. Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience, and there were none. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: Minutes Regular Council Meeting February 25, 1997 Page 8 7. FIRST READING ORDINANCE Amending the Code of Ordinances, City of Corpus Christi, Chapter 49, Streets & Sidewalks, to authorize the City Manager to execute monitoring and recovery well permit agreements; setting fees for the installation of monitoring and recovery wells within City right-of-ways; providing for severance; and providing for publication. The foregoing ordinance passed on first reading by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mayor Rhodes called for consideration of consent motions, resolutions, ordinances and ordinances from previous meetings on Items 8 through 15, and Council members did not request that any items be withheld for discussion. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes and the following were passed: 8. M97-050 Motion approving a supply agreement with the following companies for the following amounts, in accordance with Bid Invitation No. BI -0090-97 for approximately 826,000 garbage can liners, based on low bid and low bid meeting specifications for an estimated annual total of $30,342.79. The term of the agreements shall be for twelve months, with an option to extend for up to two additional twelve month periods, subject to the approval of the supplier and the City Manager or his designee. Funds are available in FY 96-97 by the using departments. Gulf Coast Paper Unisource Corpus Christi, TX Corpus Christi TX Items 1,2 - Low Bid Items 3,4 - Low Bid Meeting Specifications $4,831.68 $25,511.11 Grand Total $ 30,342.79 The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. 9. M97-051 Motion approving a supply agreement for approximately 185 tons of liquid cationic polymer solution in accordance with Bid Invitation No. BI -0071-97 with Polydyne, Inc., Parsippany, NJ, based on lowest total cost of $154,660. The term of the contract will be twelve months Minutes Regular Council Meeting February 25, 1997 Page 9 with an option to extend for up to two additional twelve month periods subject to the approval of the supplier and the City Manager or his designee. This chemical is used by the Water Department for the treatment of our water supply and funds have been budgeted for FY 96-97. The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. 10. M97-052 Motion authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute Amendment No. 8 to the Contract for Engineering Services with Freese & Nichols, Inc. in the amount of $34,500 for electrical modifications to the Wesley Seale Dam. The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. 11. ORDINANCE NO. 022855 Ordinance authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute a Monitoring Well Permit Agreement with Dr. Maria Luisa Garza, to install (4) monitoring wells, for a five year period, within City right-of-ways along Bloomington Street and Columbia Street in the vicinity of the Times Market Convenience Store, located at 4245 Columbia Street, in Corpus Christi; establishing a use fee of $2,280 for the (4) monitoring wells. An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. 12. ORDINANCE NO. 022856 Ordinance authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute a Use Privilege Agreement with The Lake Masters Association for three brick -finished entrance signs to be constructed and maintained by the Association in City right-of-way medians along with supporting irrigation systems and landscaping treatments at the entrances to The Lakes Subdivision located at Everhart & Megal, Everhart & Yorktown, and Everhart & Oso Parkway; establishing a fee of $300. An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. Minutes Regular Council Meeting February 25, 1997 Page 10 13. FIRST READING ORDINANCE Authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute a 10 -year lease with National Little League for 4.349 acres at South Guth Park for a youth program in consideration of the League maintaining the facility and premises. The foregoing ordinance passed on first reading by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. 14. ORDINANCE NO. 022857 Adopting the Land Use Assumptions for Master Plan Drainage Channel Number 31 and providing for severance. The foregoing ordinance passed on second reading by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. 15. ORDINANCE NO. 022858 Authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to execute a five year lease beginning July 1, 1997 and ending midnight on June 30, 2002, with Lady Lex Museum on the Bay Association for berthing the U.S.S. Lexington, operating a Museum, and related uses, in a portion of the submerged waters of Corpus Christi Bay, and on an adjacent portion of Corpus Christi Beach in consideration of $1 per year; and providing for severance. The foregoing ordinance passed on second reading by the following vote: Rhodes, Best, Black, Cooper, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels absent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mayor Rhodes announced the closed session, pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071, regarding an application for a permit for the new landfill site. The Council went into closed session. The Council returned from closed session. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Minutes Regular Council Meeting February 25, 1997 Page 11 Mayor Rhodes called for the City Manager's report. Mr. Utter pointed out that staff had distributed to the Council copies of the Preliminary Official Statement on the Nueces River Authority water supply facilities revenue bonds. He also said that yesterday afternoon the city began passing through about 300 acre-feet of fresh water. He said that despite the recent rains, the reservoir system had not received any significant inflows. Mr. Utter also announced that while the Texas Legislature is in session, city staff will include a legislative update on the Council agendas in case staff has anything to report on that issue. Mr. Utter announced that during the March 4th Council meeting next week, there will be a discussion on funding options for street improvements; a lease agreement with Dr. Underhill, as well as some zoning cases. He added that there will not be a Council meeting on March 11, 1997. Mayor Rhodes called for Council concerns and reports. Council Member McNichols discussed "Corpus Christi Day in Austin" held last week. He said he and others visited several legislative offices to determine what legislation may directly or indirectly affect the city's agreement with the Garwood Irrigation Company. He said that while the plans for the Lake Texana pipeline are progressing, it is essential that the water from Garwood be available as soon as possible after that. He said it is extremely important that the regulations not be changed so as to adversely affect the city's existing water resources plans. Mayor Rhodes called for petitions from the audience, and there were none. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Rhodes declared the Council meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m. on February 25, 1997. * * * * * * * * * * * * *