HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 03/04/1997I 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 March 4, 1997, which were approved by
the City Council on March 18, 1997.
WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this 18th day of March, 1997
Armando Chapa
City Secretary
SEAL
tiU Ut 11.10Lt,
MINUTES
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
Regular Council Meeting
March 4, 1997
2 p.m.
PRESENT
Mayor Mary Rhodes
Mayor Pro Tem Edward Martin
Council Members:
Dr. Jack Best*
Betty Black
Tony Heldenfels
Betty Jean Longoria
John Longoria
Dr. David McNichols
ABSENT
Melody Cooper
City Staff:
City Manager Bill Hennings
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 Council Member John Longoria, following which the
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States was led by Alfonso Castillo, a senior at Miller
High School Center for Communications and Technology.
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
25, 1997, and there being no corrections, she proclaimed them approved as presented.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mayor Rhodes referred to the Board and Committee appointments on the day's agenda, and
the following appointment was made:
Building Standards Board
Sandra Field
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
March 4, 1997
Page 2
Mayor Rhodes read a proclamation designating March 1997 as "Youth Art Month" in Corpus
Christi. Ms. Linda Eshom, a fine arts consultant with Corpus Christi Independent School District
and a member of the Municipal Arts Commission, noted that there are three sites displaying youth
art: City Hall (elementary exhibit), Nueces County Courthouse (middle school exhibit), and Del Mar
College (high school exhibit).
The Mayor then referred to seven murals painted by students at Roy Miller High School
Center for Communications and Technology that were accepted as part of the city's public art
collection. Ms. Rosa Flores, art teacher at Miller, said the students worked very hard on the murals
and she thanked the Council for their support. Mayor Rhodes then distributed certificates of
commendation to the following Miller students who participated in painting the murals: Isabel
Dominguez, Robert Bocanegra, Raymond Saldana, Chastity Harmon, Mark Olson, Eric Villarreal,
Felix Garcia, Beatriz Moreno, Jacob Arriaga, Hector Marroquin, Jeremy Dominguez, Alfonso
Castillo, Albert Vasquez, Rey Rivera, Timothy Rivera, Florencio Montelongo, Ernesto Chavarria,
Adrianna Ruiz, Maria Rodriguez, Beatrice Abrego, Valerie Diaz, Laura Guerrero, Juan Martinez,
Lisa De La Torre, Nancy Cerda, Marcos Leal, and David Reyes.
*************
Mayor Rhodes announced that Item 6 (agreement with the Texas Department of Health) was
being postponed. She then opened discussion on Items 3 and 4, raw water and treated water supply
contracts with the San Patricio Municipal Water District.
City Manager Hennings stated that those two items were on last week's agenda, but an error
was detected right before the Council meeting was convened; consequently, the items were
postponed and have subsequently been corrected. He said the items are modifications to the
contracts the city has with the Water District to sell raw and treated water. He said they are updated
to take into account the new approach of passing through the actual cost of raw water on a monthly
basis to all the city's customers. Mr. Hennings added that the San Patricio Municipal Water District
is the largest raw water customer.
Council Member Martin asked if this contract used the same methodology for calculating the
costs as past contracts. Mr. Hennings replied that the methodology was the same and there was no
return on investment for the city in the contract.
Responding to another question from Mr. Martin, Mr. Hennings said that due to the regional
nature of the water system, the utility -basis approach was not being recommended for outside city
limits (OCL) customers so that they will be dealt with in the same way as inside city limits
customers (ICL). Mr. Hennings added that a key part of this was the decision to pass through the
actual cost of raw water, and one advantage to that approach is that every customer pays the same
amount for raw water. A brief discussion ensued.
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
March 4, 1997
Page 3
Council Member McNichols asked if the previous contracts with the San Patricio Municipal
Water District contained enforcement provisions with regard to the city's drought contingency plan.
Mr. Hennings said they did, and these proposed contracts contained additional enforcement
provisions, which he said was a substantial improvement. Dr. McNichols pointed out that under the
pass-through approach, the raw water customers will be paying quite a bit more for the raw water.
Council Member Black said that due to the geographic location here, she thought that
conservation measures should be applied all the time, not just during periods of drought. Mr.
Hennings stated that water conservation is ongoing, and all of the city's water customers are required
to participate in water conservation efforts. He said a change was made in the contracts with regard
to enforcement of the drought management provisions.
Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience on Items 3 or 4.
Mr. J.E. O'Brien, 4130 Pompano, asked about the projected cost for raw water for the San
Patricio Municipal Water District. Mr. Hennings replied that the cost is calculated on a monthly
basis. Mr. O'Brien then referred to comments made by Mayor Rhodes, and amounts of water used
by the Water District, which he said indicated a lack of conservation on their part.
Responding to Mr. O'Brien's comments, Mr. Martin said that the ICL ratepayers will pay
7% less than large raw water customers due to the Choke Canyon adjustment.
Mr. Ron Hudson, 3556 Austin St., said that out of all the customer classes, ICL single-family
residents are the only ones who pay an increasing rate for the amount of water that is consumed,
which he said was unfair.
Mr. Neal Trolinger, 337 Stages Dr., concurred with Mr. Hudson's comments. He said he was
concerned about the city's debt, and said this did not include an escalation of payments due to the
deferral of the Choke Canyon debt payments. He said he had spoken that morning with a
representative in the Bureau of Reclamation, saying that there is a law which prohibits the contract
for Choke Canyon from being extended. Consequently, he said, according to the Bureau of
Reclamation, the amount of annual payments will increase. Mr. Trolinger added that some
customers' water consumption is not being regulated and conservation measures are not being
uniformly applied.
Mayor Rhodes asked for the name of the person in the Bureau of Reclamation with whom
Mr. Trolinger spoke, and Mr. Trolinger said he would provide that information. He added that he
had verified the information with Ms. Liz Birnbaum, who drafted the language for the federal
legislation deferring the Choke Canyon payments. Mr. Hennings said staff had received a letter last
week from the Congressman who is the chairman of the Committee involved and Congressman
Solomon Ortiz refuting what Mr. Trolinger had just said.
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
March 4, 1997
Page 4
Mr. Hennings restated the actions that the Council was considering in Items 3 and 4. Mr.
Martin said these actions would provide more revenue because they correct disparities that were
identified through the cost of service study.
City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows:
3. ORDINANCE NO. 022859
Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute a Raw Water Supply Contract with San
Patricio Municipal Water District; providing for publication.
An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote:
Rhodes, Black, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels
voting "No"; Best and Cooper absent.
4. M97-053
Motion authorizing the City Manager to execute a Treated Water Supply Contract with San
Patricio Municipal Water District.
The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Black, B. Longoria, J.
Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Heldenfels voting "No"; Best and Cooper
absent.
********tt***
Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Item 5, lease contract with Dr. Luke Underhill, DDS.
Mr. Tom Utter, Assistant City Manager for Development Services, said this agreement would
allow for the construction of a balcony at Dr. Underhill's building located at 415 Peoples Street. He
said the Downtown Management District supports this proposal.
Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience, and there were none. 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 sixty -year Lease Contract with
Dr. Luke Underhill, DDS, to construct, install, occupy and maintain an all steel and concrete
open air balcony and a canopy structural system within a 10 -foot wide concrete sidewalk that
is part of the Peoples Street right-of-way (ROW) at 415 Peoples Street; Underhill must pay
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
March 4, 1997
Page 5
$395.93 for the first five (5) year lease payment; and providing for publication.
The foregoing ordinance passed on first reading by the following vote: Rhodes, Black,
Heldenfels, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Best and Cooper
absent.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
6.a. POSTPONED
Security Act. The Depart...ei.t of IIcalth Ai11 rcccivc 5% of th., additional r..in.burse cent
a<ae, nt.
6.b. POSTPONED
Motien autltetizl„ g the City -Mm agar ei his dcsig..e., to cxccutc an agreement -- rtcx
Targctcd Oppertwniti s, Ian—f.n assistant is sccuriiig I ed rat Fu,.d t.. ati
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mayor Rhodes opened the public hearing on the following zoning case:
7. Case No 297-1, Andrea Ysaguirre: A change of zoning from an "R-2" Multiple Dwelling
District to a "B-1" Neighborhood Business District on Lena Pearse Addition, Block 1, Lot
1, located on the east side of Ayers Street, approximately 75 feet south of Fannin Street.
Mayor Rhodes said the Planning Commission and staff recommended approval.
No one appeared in opposition to the zoning change. Council Member Betty Jean Longoria
made a motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Council Member Heldenfels, and passed
unanimously (Best and Cooper absent).
City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows:
ORDINANCE NO.022860
Amending the Zoning Ordinance upon application by Andrea Ysaguirre, by changing the
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
March 4, 1997
Page 6
Zoning Map in reference to Lena Pearse Addition, Block 1, Lot 1 from "R-2" Multiple
Dwelling District to "B-1" Neighborhood Business District; providing for publication.
An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote:
Rhodes, Black, Heldenfels, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye";
Best and Cooper absent.
*************
Mayor Rhodes opened the public hearing on the following zoning case:
8. Case No. 297-2_ Nasser Farahnakian: A change of zoning from a "B-1" Neighborhood
Business District to a "B-4" General Business District on Surrey Unit 1, Block 25, 0.43 acre
out of Lot 3, located on the east side of Kostoryz Road, approximately 350 feet north of
Tiger Lane.
Mayor Rhodes said the Planning Commission and staff recommended denial of the "B-4"
District, and in lieu thereof, approval of a Special Council Permit for auto related uses subject to a
site plan and four (4) conditions. She asked if the applicant had agreed to the special permit, and Mr.
Utter said he had.
No one appeared in opposition to the zoning change. Council Member Betty Jean Longoria
made a motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Council Member McNichols, and passed
unanimously (Best and Cooper absent).
City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 022861
Amending the Zoning Ordinance upon application by Nasser Farahnakian, by granting a
Special Council Permit for auto related uses subject to a site plan and four (4) conditions on
Surrey Unit 1, Block 25, 0.43 acres out of Lot 3; providing for publication.
An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote:
Rhodes, Black, Heldenfels, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye";
Best and Cooper absent.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mayor Rhodes called for consideration of consent motions, resolutions, ordinances and
ordinances from previous meetings on Items 9 through 18, and Council Members requested that
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
March 4, 1997
Page 7
Items 11 and 12 be withheld for discussion.
City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes and the following were passed:
9. M97-054
Motion approving supply agreements with the following companies for the following
amounts, for traffic control devices consisting of traffic signs, safety vests, traffic control
barricades, cones, lamps, flagging tape & etc. in accordance with Bid Invitation No. BI -
0094 -97, for an estimated annual expenditure of $89,549 based on low bid and best bid. 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. These items will be stocked in the Warehouse for Street Services,
Gas, Water and Wastewater Services. Funds are budgeted in FY 96-97 by the using
departments.
Vulcan Signs
Foley, Alabama
Group I: Traffic Signs
Low Bid
Total: $12,946.75
Smith Municipal Supply, Inc.
Pearland. Texas
Group II: 2.4
Safety Vest
Low Bid
$4,000.00
Vallen Safety Supply Co.
Corpus Christi. Texas
Group II: Cones, Lamps, flagging tape & etc.
Low bid and Best Bid
2.1-2.3,2.5- 2.9
Total: $54,040.25
PBS, Inc.
Hearne Texas
Group II: 2.10 & 2.11
Traffic Control Barricades
Low Bid
$18,562.00
Grand Total: $89,549.00
The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Black, Heldenfels, B. Longoria,
J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Best and Cooper absent.
10. M97-055
Motion approving supply agreements for automotive repair parts in accordance with Bid
Invitation No. BI -0065-97 with the following companies for the following amounts based
on best bid for group 2, only bid for group 15, low bid meeting specifications for group 14
and low bid for all remaining groups for a total estimated annual expenditure of $316,500;
and rejecting bids received for group 8 based on revision of specifications. The terms of
the contracts will be for twelve months with options to extend for up to two additional twelve
month periods subject to the approval of the supplier and the City Manager or his designee.
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
March 4, 1997
Page 8
Funds have been budgeted by Maintenance Services and the Fire Department in FY 96-97.
RECOMMENDATION A:
Carquest Auto Parts
Corpus Christi. Teas
x
Groups 2, 11 ,12, 17,
19, 21
Total: $88,000
Marshall's Texas
Battery Service
Corpus Christi. Texas
Group 5
Total: $43,000
Crosstown Ford Truck Center
Corpus Christi. Texas
Group 23
Total: $7,000
RECOMMENDATION B:
Rejecting bids received for Group 8, GM/Delco Brake pads, based on revision of specifications.
Arnold Oil Co., Inc.
Cerus Christi Texas
Groups 1, 2A, 15, 16,
18,20
Total: $67,500
Hi/Lo Auto Supply, L.P.
Houston, Texas
Groups 4, 22
Total: $20,000
Grand Total: $316,500
Group 10 - Pending further evaluation.
CC Brake/Clutch, Inc.
Corpus Christi Texas
Group 3, 6, 7, 9,14
Total: $70,500
Power Equipment Intl.
Cerus Christi. Texas
Groups 13, 24
Total: $20,500
The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Black, Heldenfels, B. Longoria,
J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Best and Cooper absent.
13. M97-058
Motion awarding a contract in the amount of $52,125 to Hart's Service Contractor for
interior and exterior improvements and miscellaneous repairs to the Control Building at
Wesley Seale Dam.
The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Black, Heldenfels, B. Longoria,
J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Best and Cooper absent.
14. M97-059
Motion awarding a contract in the amount of $53,000 to Montgomery Kone, Inc. for repairs
to the freight elevator at the Bayfront Plaza Convention Center.
The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Black, Heldenfels, B. Longoria,
J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Best and Cooper absent.
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
March 4, 1997
Page 9
15.a. ORDINANCE NO. 022863
Ordinance appropriating $28,780 from the Unappropriated Fund Balance in the No. 246
Airport Passenger Facility Charge Fund for asbestos abatement at the Corpus Christi
International Airport Hayden Head Terminal Building.
An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote:
Rhodes, Black, Heldenfels, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye";
Best and Cooper absent.
15.b. M97-060
Motion approving Amendment #4 in the amount of $28,780 to the contract for engineering
services with Mody K. Boatright for asbestos abatement at the Corpus Christi International
Airport Hayden Head Terminal Building.
The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Black, Heldenfels, B. Longoria,
J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Best and Cooper absent.
16. ORDINANCE NO. 022864
Ordinance closing and abandoning a 750 -square foot portion of a 5 -foot wide utility
easement in Lot 1, Block 1, Behman Subdivision; and a 2,803 -square foot portion of a 5 &
10 -foot wide utility easement in Lot 12D, Block 1, Behman Subdivision; subject to certain
conditions, including the requirement that the Omni Group, Inc. replat the affected lots
within 180 days after passage of this ordinance.
An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote:
Rhodes, Black, Heldenfels, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye";
Best and Cooper absent.
17. ORDINANCE NO. 022865
Ordinance appropriating $94,975 from the Unreserved Fund Balance in the No. 162
Federal/State Grants Fund as state fiscal year 1996 program income to fund environmental
health, laboratory, and nursing services for the period September 1, 1996 to August 31, 1997.
An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote:
Rhodes, Black, Heldenfels, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye";
Best and Cooper absent.
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
March 4, 1997
Page 10
18. ORDINANCE NO. 022866
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 second reading by the following vote: Rhodes, Black,
Heldenfels, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Best and Cooper
absent.
***********
*
Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Item 11, restroom improvements.
Responding to Council Member McNichols, Mr. Hennings said these projects were
combined because they both involved improvements to field restrooms and they could draw more
interest for bidding purposes than as small, individual projects. Dr. McNichols asked if there was
a problem since the Little League project would be funded through the Community Development
Block Grant program and the golf course project would not be; Mr. Hennings said that did not create
a problem.
Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience, and there were none. City Secretary
Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows:
11.a. ORDINANCE NO. 022862
Ordinance appropriating $160,000 from the unappropriated fund balance of Golf Fund No.
134; amending Ordinance No. 022643, which adopted the FY 96-97 Budget, by adding
$160,000 to Golf Fund No. 134.
An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote:
Rhodes, Black, Heldenfels, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye";
Best and Cooper absent.
11.b. M97-056
Motion authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute a contract in the amount of
$22,800 with Roots/Foster Associates, Architects for architectural services for improvements
to Oso/Lozano Golf Course and American/Universal Little League Restrooms.
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
March 4, 1997
Page 11
The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Black, Heldenfels, B. Longoria,
J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Best and Cooper absent.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mayor Rhodes opened discussion on Item 12, offsite drainage study for new landfill.
In reply to Council Member McNichols, Mr. Hennings said staff was hoping to have this
contract in place before the spring rains in order to realistically study the drainage patterns in the
subject area. He added that if there is no significant rainfall, the drainage study can still be
conducted using surveys and computer modeling.
Mayor Rhodes called for comments from the audience, and there were none. City Secretary
Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows:
12. M97-057
Motion authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute an engineering services
contract with Naismith Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $42,110 for professional services
required to perform an Offsite Drainage Study for the New Regional Solid Waste Facility.
The foregoing motion passed by the following vote: Rhodes, Black, Heldenfels, B. Longoria,
J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Best and Cooper absent.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mayor Rhodes called for the City Manager's report. Mr. Hennings introduced Mr. Andres
Leal, who was appointed as the new Director of Solid Waste Services. He said the next Council
meeting would be held on March 18, 1997, and items scheduled include the presentation of the audit
report by the city's outside auditor; a presentation regarding the Oso/Greenwood Wastewater
Treatment Plant area's master plan study; a proposal to eliminate the decreasing block rates for the
large water customers; and the monthly report on the status of the Lake Texana pipeline.
Mr. Hennings then asked Assistant City Manager Utter to provide an update on legislative
issues before the 75th Texas Legislature. He said that as of March 3, there had been about 2,000
bills filed in the Texas House of Representatives and about 1,200 in the Texas Senate. He said staff
just received the Committee substitute for SB -1, which at this time would "grandfather" the
Garwood Irrigation Company. He said a bill being filed on March 4th would name the Corpus
Christi Museum of Science and History as the marine archeological repository for the state. Mr.
Utter noted that city staff meets every Monday with representatives of other large Texas cities and
the Texas Municipal League to review legislation for that week.
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
March 4, 1997
Page 12
Mayor Rhodes called for Council concerns and reports.
Council Member Heldenfels stated that according to the City Council's information
transmittal, an executive summary of the wastewater facilities implementation plan for the Oso and
Greenwood service areas was to have been forwarded to the Council, and he said he did not receive
a copy of it. He added that he did not receive a copy of his agenda the previous Friday. Mr.
Hennings said he would see to it that that does not happen again.
Council Member McNichols requested a report on a police incident involving some youth
who were stopped. He said concem has also been raised about the large amount of pedestrian cross-
over traffic on Alameda Street from Columbia Doctors Regional Medical Center to Driscoll
Children's Hospital. He asked that Traffic Engineering review that situation. Dr. McNichols also
referred to a letter addressing two issues pertaining to the Padre Isles subdivision: enforcement of
speeds on waterways in that subdivision, and the issue of game hunting in that area.
Council Member Black commended Mr. Utter and Police Chief Alvarez for the work they
have been accomplishing.
Council Member Betty Jean Longoria requested a status report on improvements to the
Center for Hispanic Arts. She also asked staff to discuss alternatives to the heavy brush and large
trash pick-up schedule.
Dr. McNichols asked Mr. Leal about "Project Sparkle." He explained that it is a grassroots
clean-up and education project initiated by Flour Bluff residents who were concerned about trash
in a particular part of their area. Mr. Leal said the first "Project Sparkle" clean up event will be held
Saturday, March 15th, from 8 a.m. to noon. He said this program was different from the "Litter
Critter" program.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mayor Rhodes called for petitions from the audience.
Mr. Ronald Hudson, 3556 Austin St., questioned why residential utility bills no longer
included the number of gallons charged in the wastewater winter averaging. Mr. Hennings replied
that the inclusion of that number on the bills is not relevant to the actual charge in the usage of
wastewater services. He said there had been much confusion about that and it was decided to leave
it off of the bills. Mr. Hennings added that the winter averaging process measures the amount of
water used during the winter months (when there usually is no outside water usage for lawn
watering, etc.), and that figure is then used as the basis for the wastewater charge year-round. He
pointed out that every customer receives a letter once a year explaining in detail the wastewater
winter average calculation
Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
March 4, 1997
Page 13
*Council Member Best arrived at the meeting at 3:05 p.m.
Mr. Daryl Michaud, 437 Naples, asked the city to consider its interpretation of screened
enclosures over swimming pools. He also described advantages for having such enclosures. Mayor
Rhodes asked staff to provide a report on the reason for those regulations while addressing Mr.
Michaud's concerns as well. She added that Mr. Michaud should be provided a copy of that report.
Mr. Andy Barboza, 206 W. Vanderbilt, Chairman of the Firefighters Pension Retirement
Board, said he and others were concerned about the possibility of the city reducing its contribution
to the firefighters' pension fund. He said the firefighters had elected to give the "Old Smokies" a
pay raise; however, that is contingent upon an Attorney General's opinion. Mayor Rhodes stated
that a recommendation concerning the pension fund had not been made to the Council, and Mr.
Hennings agreed, saying that he had instructed the new Director of Finance to gather information
and examine different alternatives.
Msgr. Patrick Higgins, 1109 N. Staples, said he had written to the Council concerning odor
problems at the Broadway Wastewater Treatment Plant, adding that it is a health problem. Mr.
Hennings said staff would review some short-term solutions to the odor control situation, while long-
term plans for wastewater plants will be discussed at the March 18th Council meeting. He added
that there are no health hazards that result from the odors that occasionally emit from the Broadway
Plant. He said the city is also involved in a remediation project at the former bus yard south of the
Washington school building, where there was underground contamination from a gasoline storage
tank.
Mr. Neal Trolinger, 337 Stages Dr., said he has requested information regarding the storm
water infrastructure at the port -side facilities. He said he had previously spoken with Ms. Dorothy
Crawford at the Region XI headquarters in Dallas, and he was told that it would take several million
dollars to get the port up to par. He said he was wondering if there would be a follow up to his
request.
There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Rhodes declared the
Council meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m. on March 4, 1997.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *