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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 10/28/1997 - 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 October 28, 1997, which were approved by the City Council on November 11, 1997. WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this 1lth day of November, 1997 Armando Chapa City Secretary SEAL MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS Special Council Meeting October 28, 1997 12:00 p.m. PRESENT Mayor Loyd Neal Mayor Pro Tem Alex L. Garcia Jr.* Council Members: Jaime L. Capelo Jr. Arnold Gonzales Betty Jean Longoria Edward Martin Dr. David McNichols* ABSENT John Longoria City Staff: City Manager Bill Hennings City Attorney James R. Bray Jr. City Secretary Armando Chapa Mayor Neal called the meeting to order in the Fifth Floor Conference Room of City Hall. City Secretary Chapa checked the roll and verified that the necessary quorum of the Council and the required charter officers were present to conduct the meeting. Mayor Neal explained that the Council was meeting to discuss plans, goals, and objectives. He then asked City Manager Hennings to elaborate on his work plan for the next six months that he had previously provided to the Council. Mr. Hennings said that water supply issues remain at the top of the city's agenda, including the wastewater effluent diversion project; Wesley Seale Dam improvements, permit to transfer water from the Colorado River; possible purchase of additional water from the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority; forthcoming desalination study; and regional water planning. He said staff is planning a major discussion of water issues during one of the Council's January meetings. If the Community Progress Partnership proposals are approved by the voters on November 4th, the Council and city staff will be focusing on the implementation of those projects. However, if they are not approved, one of the tasks facing the Council and city staff will be the development of the capital improvement plan, with particular attention to funding street projects that require local matches. In addition, the process of repairing the seawall will need to be discussed. *Council Member Garcia arrived at the meeting at 12:10 p.m. Mr. Hennings said he believes that youth violence and gang activity are the most serious Minutes Special Council Meeting October 28, 1997 Page 2 problems facing this community. He said it is critical that people continue to focus their energy and attention on those issues and to implement the recommendations of the Commission on Children and Youth. He noted that other issues facing the Council in the near future include: the General Fund budget for next fiscal year; land use planning in the north side area, including the CITGO buy-out proposal; several issues pertaining to drainage; Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program; collective bargaining with the firefighters union; several litigation issues; outside study of the Police Department; commercial paper program and a revenue bond sale; replacement of and financing major computer systems; replacement of the airport terminal roof; employee group health insurance contract; and the Community Development Block Grant program. Mr. Hennings said that during the budget discussions this summer, he pointed out several long-term issues that needed to be addressed, some of which have already been started: planning for the Police Department study; development of a proposal to privatize the water treatment plant; and Municipal Court administration initiatives. He said some other issues which need to be considered are the Latchkey program and its related liabilities; once -a -week garbage collection; county road and bridge fund; Regional Transportation Authority funds; and annexation projects, possibly including Mustang Island. Responding to Council Member Betty Jean Longoria, Mr. Hennings said that if the CITGO buy-out proposal is not approved, the city needs to further study land use planning of the northside, which he discussed. Mrs. Longoria said if the buy-out is not successful, the city needs to address the infrastructure problems in the northside neighborhoods. Mayor Neal pointed out that there are several litigation issues that need to be addressed in that area. Council Member Gonzales addressed the issue of the county road and bridge fees, and he noted that most of the residents of Nueces County who pay that fee live within the city limits of Corpus Christi, but the city is not able to access those monies. Responding to Mayor Neal, City Attorney Bray said Nueces County can share some of those funds with the city under certain circumstances. Council Member Martin said that in addition to the priorities outlined by Mr. Hennings, the Council should consider others as well, including the performance review process, which includes the outside study of the Police Department as well as a study of another city department, possibly Solid Waste Services. He said the Council should also identify and work toward some positive changes, such as enhancing services. Other issues that he said could be addressed included employee's wages, health insurance, and law enforcement. Dr. Gonzales discussed his conviction that people should not have to pay a sales tax on utilities, and he said he would be working toward eliminating that. Mr. Hennings and Mr. Bray Minutes Special Council Meeting October 28, 1997 Page 3 replied to questions Dr. Gonzales raised about that issue. Council Member Capelo said he felt they needed to focus on law enforcement, particularly since the city did not obtain a grant to fund the outside study of the Police Department. He said the City Council should be the driving force behind that study as well as reviews of other areas of city government, including upper management. Mr. Capelo also said he thought additional attention should be given to providing basic city services. *Council Member McNichols arrived at 12:45 p.m. Mr. Garcia said he would like to see the issue of duplication of services addressed, as well as improving communication between the city, county, and school district; the bid award process; and evaluation of the City Manager and City Secretary. Mr. Capelo said he agreed that there is very little communication among all the layers of government that affect people's lives, and he suggested that a small task force be created to address that. A discussion ensued, and Dr. McNichols pointed out that there is different legislation which governs those entities, which makes cooperation that much more difficult to achieve. He used the example of the legislation which established the formation of the Regional Transportation Authority, and attempts that have been made to access some RTA funds. Mrs. Longoria echoed previous comments about reviewing the procedures of various city departments, such as Solid Waste Services and Animal Control, and Mr. Martin discussed the issue of privatization. Mayor Neal referred to the recent heavy flooding that had occurred, and Mr. Hennings described the role of the Texas Department of Transportation in maintenance of state roads. A discussion ensued about street design and the city's drainage system, which Mr. Carl Crull, Assistant City Manager for Public Works and Utilities, addressed. Dr. McNichols pointed out that an attempt was made to create a drainage utility but it was unsuccessful. Mayor Neal asked about the establishment of regional transportation authorities, and Mr. Bray stated that there is very specific legislation governing those entities. Mr. Martin described how the local RTA was created, and Mr. Bray explained how the legislation could be changed. A brief discussion ensued. The Mayor also asked how the city can be more responsive to residents regarding traffic in their neighborhoods. Mr. Hennings explained that the Transportation Advisory Committee is reviewing a proposed Residential Traffic Management Program, which he addressed. Some Council members cited specific residential areas where increased traffic is a concern. Minutes Special Council Meeting October 28, 1997 Page 4 Mayor Neal asked the Council how they wished to proceed with the ideas they discussed. Mr. Martin emphasized the need to fund the outside study of the Police Department. Dr. Gonzales said he wanted to begin looking into eliminating the sales tax on utilities. Mrs. Longoria and Mr. Capelo said they wished to know what constitutes basic services. Responding to another question from the Mayor, Mr. Tom Utter, Assistant City Manager for Development Services, and Mr. Bray described the process involved in the regional water plan, which was recently enacted by the state legislature. Mr. Crull and Dr. McNichols also discussed that issue. Mr. Martin also raised concems he had about the city's group health insurance program. In reply to Mr. Martin, Mr. Bray discussed how that issue could be brought back before the Council for reconsideration. Mr. Capelo asked why the Council could not take action on that issue at that time, and City Secretary Chapa pointed out that the agenda that was posted for the special Council meeting was for discussion of plans, goals, and objectives. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Neal declared the special Council meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m. on October 28, 1997. * * * * * * * * * * * * *