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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 07/16/2000 - EmergencyI HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Emergency Council Meeting of the City of Corpus Christi of July 16, 2000, which were approved by the City Council on July 25, 2000. WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this 25th day of July, 2000. Armando Chapa City Secretary SEAL Council Members Present: Mayor Samuel L. Neal, Jr. Mayor Pro Tem Arnold Gonzales Council Members: Henry Garrett Betty Jean Longoria Javier Colmenero John Longoria Mark Scott Rex Kinnison Council Members Absent Melody Cooper MINUTES Emergency Council Meeting City of Corpus Christi, Texas July 16, 2000 6:00 p.m. Staff Members Present: City Manager David Garcia City Attorney Jimmy Bray City Secretary Armando Chapa Mayor Neal called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. at the Greenwood Senior Citizen Center, 4040 Greenwood, Corpus Christi, Texas, City Secretary Armando Chapa verified that a quorum was present and that the necessary charter officers were present. The Mayor welcomed the audience and explained the purpose of the special council meeting. He stated that the recent gang activity in the Westside neighborhood was alarming the citizens and he wanted to give the residents an opportunity to be heard. He stated that the City Council along with the Police Chief and the District Attorney were there to listen to their concerns and answer any questions they might have. Mayor Neal introduced Council Member Colmenero who is the District Representative for the neighborhood where the recent gang activity took place. Mr. Colmenero thanked the audience for being present and encouraged them to participate. Council Member Gonzales also addressed the audience and asked everyone to work together on combating this problem. Council Member Betty Jean Longoria also thanked the audience for attending and stated that gang problems are a city-wide problem and she also encouraged the attendees to participate in the evenings discussions. Council Member John Longoria said that the Police Department is working very hard. He said that the public needs to cooperate in order to restore order to the neighborhood. Police Chief Pete Alvarez then briefed the audience on what his department has been doing regarding the recent gang activity. He stated that it is a complex investigation and they are working very hard to complete the investigation. He stated that some progress has been made but the public needs to cooperate to bring the suspects to justice. Chief Alvarez said that all pieces of information are critical and that they would honor those person's wishes if they did not want their identity known. He spoke of the benefits of community policing. District Attorney Carlos Valdez also thanked the audience for being present. He stated that Minutes Emergency Council Meeting July 16, 2000 Page 2 the elected officials cared about what is going on or they would not be present. He stated that the city has been dealing with the gang problem for the past ten years and that the District Attorney's Office has been successful in prosecuting many gang related cases. He said that more proactive programs are needed to address the problem. He stressed that everyone needs to work together and that the public needs to come forward to help the police with their investigation and in the prosecution of criminal activities. County Commissioner David Noyola also addressed the audience. He pledged the County's support to work together to help solve the problem. Mayor Neal then asked for citizen comments. David Diaz said that the city needs to have a community policing concept. He recommended dividing the city into different precincts with either a commander or captain in charge of each precinct. Debbie Saldana said she was a cousin of Alma Bazan who was the young lady killed by the recent gang activity. Ms. Saldana asked for Neighbors on Watch to be instituted in her neighborhood. Joe A. Gonzales said he was concerned about proposed cuts that would affect the Westside area. He read from a prepared text regarding the meaning of prevention. Luis Canales stated that he was a former gang member and that the only way he was able to change his life was through the New Life Fellowship. He offered the help of the ministry to help solve the problem. Anthony Torres also stated that he was a former gang member. He spoke of his experiences and how God and involvement in the New Life Fellowship Ministry helped him. Lillian Carillo Garza said she no longer lived in the affected area but wanted to express her concern for the elderly widows along Yale and Stafford streets. She said that 1925 Stafford was a prime problem location. Chief Alvarez responded to the problems encountered with 1925 Stafford. He said that the Police Department had done everything legally possible to address the problems with that residence. Jose Marroquin spoke of specific problems he had encountered at his residence. He also stated that it appeared that the criminals had more rights than the rest of the citizens. He urged that the Police Department budget not be cut. An unidentified man addressed the audience regarding his specific experiences with gang activities and his attempts to keep his sons safe. He stated that there was a lot of pressure on his sons to join gangs and that their lives were threatened because they would not join. He stated that he had Minutes Emergency Council Meeting July 16, 2000 Page 3 reported many problems to the Police Department, but they did not respond or care. Bernardo Guzman stated that he was a former gang member who came to Corpus Christi from Houston to get out of the gang environment. He stated that it was very difficult to do so. He mentioned that being locked in jail only taught him more ways to do crime. Mr. Guzman said that his only salvation was through Jose Luis Flores, Pastor of the New Life Fellowship. Joe Guzman, Pastor of El Divino Salvador Church on Belton Street, also addressed the Council and the audience. He recognized some of his church members present and stated that he was pleased to have the opportunity to express his concerns. He stated that the recent gang activity occurred directly in front of his church. He offered the help of his church to continue communications between the City Council, police and the neighborhood. A lady named Lillie who did not give her last name said that she was not a resident of the neighborhood but that her parents still lived there. She stated that the neighborhood has been taken over. Her parents' house has been shot at and that nothing has been done about it. She stated that they had reported a drug house at Harvard and Prescott but that nothing has been done about that either. District Attorney Valdez responded that in order for prosecution to occur, people need to do more than just report criminal activity - they need to be willing to get involved and testify. Candace Janette encouraged all attendees to get involved in the Neighbors on Watch Program. She also urged the Council not to cut programs for kids. Isaac Valencia stated that a police department is only as effective as the support it gets from the public. He also mentioned the need for the Council to consider the upcoming police budget related items. Belia Castillo stated that she lives in the neighborhood and that there are many elderly people there. She said that many gang members did not know how to get out of the gangs. There is a fear of being killed and retaliation. She encouraged the establishment of police substations and the use of cameras in parks as well as signs. Jesse Alonzo, a minister, spoke of the benefits of the ministry and church to help combat the problem. Cruz Colomo thanked the Council members, Police Chief and District Attorney for being present. She urged the continuation of these types of meetings and said she has founded a new group called "Mothers and Concerned Citizens Against Gang Violence." She encouraged everyone to attend a meeting the following Tuesday at Enrique's Restaurant. She urged dress codes, curfews, and continuation of the JET Teams. An unidentified woman spoke of the gang activity at Temple Park. She stated that many times the police arrive late after gang activity has been reported. Police Chief Alvarez responded Minutes Emergency Council Meeting July 16, 2000 Page 4 to questions regarding response times and curfews. Wayne McDaniel stated that the problem is expanding. He said may be causing some police to over re -act. He complained about an incident where police officers responded to a call at his house on Cunningham and that his son was erroneously arrested. The charges were later dropped and he asked that the matter be further investigated. Police Chief Alvarez responded that an investigation was conducted and determined there was no wrongdoing but that he would revisit the complaint. Ruben Guerra, owner of Belton Grocery, said he has been in business for four months and in that time there have been five shootings in the area. He said a man was beaten right outside of his store. He stated that he is contemplating closing the business for his own safety but was concerned about the older people in the neighborhood who would not have a corner store to go to. Dr. Leo Carrillo said that he lives across from Temple Park. He mentioned the need for new and redirected lighting in that park. Belia Castillo asked if loud boom boxes in cars at night time were legal. Chief Alvarez said that they were in violation of the noise ordinance; however, the culprits had to be caught in the act. Anthony Lopez asked if there were any federal grants to fight crime and to put in lighting for their area which is the 78416 zip code area. Mayor Neal said that the 78415 project was a state funded project but that the 78416 zip code could qualify for funds through CDBG. Benny Benavides spoke about his specific problems encountered with gang activity around his house. Anita Rodela stated that there were other criminal problems in the area and that the neighbors need to be careful about answering their doors in the middle of the night. She mentioned being scammed for money by a lady who she felt had a legitimate problem. David Pueblo also spoke about related problems in the Temple Park area. He stated that there are too many gatherings of gangs at Temple Park and in front of houses late at night. He urged the Council to look into ways to curb the gatherings in front of people's houses and in the parks. Raymond Rios, Administrator for the New Life Fellowship Ministry, spoke of the work being done by his programs. He asked for assistance to keep this program ongoing. He also stated that perhaps a plea to the gangs for a peace treaty needs to take place to immediately stop the current killings, which has been done in other cities. Mayor Neal thanked the citizens who attended the meeting and said the city will work to bring the people who committed these crimes to justice. No other public comments were made. The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 9:05 p.m.