HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 04/22/1997 - SpecialI HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the
Special Council Meeting of the City of Corpus Christi of April 22, 1997, which were approved by
the City Council on April 29, 1997.
WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this 29th day of April, 1997
Armando Chapa
City Secretary
SEAL
000
MINUTES
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
Special Council Meeting
April 22, 1997
10 a.m.
PRESENT
Mayor Mary Rhodes
Mayor Pro Tem Edward Martin
Council Members:
Betty Black
Betty Jean Longoria
John Longoria
Dr. David McNichols
ABSENT
Dr. Jack Best
Melody Cooper
Tony Heldenfels
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 Pastor David Evans, Parkway Presbyterian Church,
following which the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States was led by Council
Member Betty Jean Longoria. Ms. Flicka Rahn then sang the "National Anthem."
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 the canvassing of the results of the runoff election held April 19,
1997. There were no requests for precincts to be canvassed.
Council Member Martin made a motion to adopt the ordinance as presented, seconded by
Council Member McNichols. The Mayor called for a voice vote on the following item:
ORDINANCE NO. 022901
Ordinance canvassing returns and declaring the results of the Runoff Election held April 19,
1997, in the City of Corpus Christi, for the purpose of electing the Mayor and Council
Member District Two.
Minutes
Special Council Meeting
April 22, 1997
Page 2
An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote:
Rhodes, Black, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Best,
Cooper, and Heldenfels absent.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mayor Rhodes made presentations to the outgoing Council members. She presented Council
Member Black with a plaque containing her official Council Chamber nameplate, a key to the city,
and an inscription noting her term as a Council member. The Mayor said Mrs. Black was one of the
nicest Council members she had known. She said Mrs. Black approached all of the issues with the
idea of doing what she thought was correct, and she said she was proud to have Mrs. Black as a
member of her Council and she thanked her on behalf of the city.
Council Member Betty Jean Longoria also thanked Mrs. Black. She noted that serving as
a Council member involved Mrs. Black spending much time away from her family and her business.
Mayor Rhodes said that Council Member Heldenfels had also devoted two years of his life
to the City Council, and she thanked him for that.
Council Member John Longoria thanked Mrs. Black for her service to the city, saying she
has been a good friend and has represented District 2 very well.
Council Member Martin said there were some representatives who wished to acknowledge
Mayor Rhodes' contribution to the city.
Mr. Alex Harris, Chairman of the Greater Corpus Christi Business Alliance, read a resolution
that was passed by the Alliance that morning recognizing Mayor Rhodes for her continued and
exemplary service to the city and to the business community.
Mr. Bill Dodge, a Commissioner of the Port of Corpus Christi Authority, read a resolution
passed by the Port which described actions she has taken as Mayor in support of the Port of Corpus
Christi and which expressed the Port Authority's gratitude to her.
Capt. R.W. Strickler, Commanding Officer of NAS Corpus Christi, said Mayor Rhodes has
been a great supporter of the area's military facilities, and he presented her with a plaque from the
Naval Air Station.
Mr. Martin read a resolution commemorating the public service of Mary Rhodes as a Council
member from 1987 through 1991 and as Mayor from 1991 through 1997. Mr. Martin said he has
had the privilege of serving with Mayor Rhodes for eight years, and he said every vote she has made
has been sincere and what she thought was in the best interest of the community. He said he
Minutes
Special Council Meeting
April 22, 1997
Page 3
respected Mayor Rhodes for what she has done for this community.
Mr. Martin presented Mayor Rhodes with a framed copy of the resolution, and called for a
vote on the resolution.
RESOLUTION NO. 022902
Resolution commemorating the public service of Mary Rhodes as Council Member (1987-
1991) and Mayor (1991-1997).
The foregoing resolution passed by the following vote: Black, B. Longoria, J. Longoria,
Martin, and McNichols voting "Aye"; Rhodes abstaining; Best, Cooper, and Heldenfels
absent.
Council Member Betty Jean Longoria said the Council members would miss Mayor Rhodes,
saying she has been a good friend. Mrs. Longoria acknowledged Dr. Donald Rhodes, who was
present, and then she presented Mayor Rhodes with the gift of a vase inscribed in her name and in
appreciation for her years of dedicated service as Mayor and Council member.
Council Member John Longoria presented Mayor Rhodes with a framed gift containing her
official Council Chamber nameplate, a key to the city, and an inscription.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mayor Rhodes said she would like to present some gifts of appreciation and make some
remarks. She noted that as a Council member and as Mayor, she has not done her job by herself, and
she was indebted to many people over the course of her tenure in office. She began by thanking
everyone who ran for office, noting that it is a very difficult process. She also thanked Mr. Loyd
Neal and Mr. Henry Garrett for being willing to run for the office of Mayor.
The Mayor then thanked the people who assisted in her campaign, particularly Linda Bridges,
Gwen Henzi, Mary Beth Nelson, Craig Pierce, Gary Maricle, Yolanda Martinez, Judy Hale, Leo
Barrera, and Wally Sisk. She expressed appreciation to her family, saying that despite negative
feedback they received as a result of her position, they never asked her to give it up.
She thanked the members of all of the City Councils on which she has served. She explained
that it is an incredible sacrifice to do so, and she asked the citizens to come to the Council meetings
and support the Council. She said while many supporters are present at City Hall on election night
and for the swearing in of the new Council, most of the rest of the time the Council is faced with the
same people every week who only have negative things to say, which is all the public sees as the
Council meetings are televised.
Minutes
Special Council Meeting
April 22, 1997
Page 4
Mayor Rhodes then presented gifts she had purchased to the following people, expressing
her gratitude to each person as she did so: Council Members David McNichols, Betty Jean Longoria,
and Edward Martin. She thanked city staff, particularly her former Administrative Assistant Debbie
Lindsey -Opel and current Administrative Assistant Yvonne Haag, as well as her secretaries.
The Mayor also presented gifts to, and thanked, the following people: former City Manager
Juan Garza; current City Manager Bill Hennings; City Secretary Armando Chapa; and City Attorney
James Bray.
Mayor Rhodes expressed her gratitude to the media; the Greater Corpus Christi Business
Alliance; the whole city staff; Ms. Debbie Seeger of the Workforce Development Corporation; Mr.
Jerry Kane; Mr. Bernie Paulson; and Mayor Emeritus Luther Jones.
She said she wanted the citizens of Corpus Christi to know how much her experience on the
Council has meant to her. She said she used to tell school children that it is fun to be the Mayor, and
she said it has been a rare opportunity to serve and she thanked the citizens for electing her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Rhodes declared the
special Council meeting adjourned at 11 a.m. on April 22, 1997.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *