HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 02/21/2001 - 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 February 21, 2001, which were approved
by the City Council on February 27, 2001.
WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this 27th day of February, 2001.
Armando Chapa
City Secretary
SEAL
MINUTES
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
Special Council Meeting
February 21, 2001
7:00 p.m.
PRESENT
Mayor Samuel L. Neal Jr.
Mayor Pro Tem Betty Jean Longoria
Council Members:
Javier D. Colmenero
Henry Garrett*
Dr. Arnold Gonzales
Rex A. Kinnison
John Longoria
Mark Scott
ABSENT
Melody Cooper
City Staff:
City Manager David R. Garcia
Deputy City Manager George Noe
City Attorney James R. Bray Jr.
City Secretary Armando Chapa
Recording Secretary Rachelle P. Ram6n
Mayor Neal called the meeting to order in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
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. He noted that Council
Members Garrett and Gonzales had filed disclosure affidavits and would be abstaining from
discussing or voting on Item C. on the agenda.
Mayor Neal called for comments from the audience.
Mr. Chuck Spencer, 13845 Hawksnest Bay Dr., commented on the petitions that were signed
in order to place the Packery Channel issue on the April 7th ballot. He said the group that organized
the petition drive, Let Us Vote Corpus Christi, spent very little money in their efforts. He added that
some citizens felt trepidation about placing their names and addresses on the petition in fear of
retaliation, and some local businesses feared a negative economic from supporting the effort.
Mr. Bill Kopecky, 3609 Topeka, said this is the first successful referendum in over 10 years,
to which elected officials should pay heed. He said this shows that the City Charter works.
Mrs. Betty Spencer, 13845 Hawksnest Bay Dr., said the petition organizers said from the
beginning that this is not a matter of being for or against the Packery Channel project, but rather a
matter of democracy. She urged people to work together for the betterment of the city.
Mr. Jose Marroquin, 2433 Allencrest, said he is very pleased that the petition drive was
successful because of accusations that were made against the petitioners. He said it is the people's
right under the Constitution to petition their government, and elected officials need to respect the
voice of the people.
Minutes - Special Council Meeting
February 21, 2001
Page 2
Mr. J.E. O'Brien, 4130 Pompano, said the initiative and referendum procedure outlined in
the City Charter is a method for the citizens to participate in their government. He said he believes
that, contrary to the City Attorney's opinion, five votes of the City Council would be sufficient to
place this issue on the ballot.
Ms. Elizabeth Walker, 13969 Das Marinas, said she was very upset to learn about some of
the things that people were told when they were asked to sign the petition. She said she disseminated
information about the proposed tax increment financing district to the public, and she hopes the
Council will continue to educate the public with the facts about the project.
Ms. Gail Hoffman, 3442 Paradise Dr., said she was speaking on behalf of a newly formed
organization called Corpus Christi Yes which sees the development of Packery Channel as a vision
for the entire city, not just Padre Island. She said that placing this issue on the April 7th ballot will
give their organization the opportunity to inform the citizens about the benefits of the project,
including an increase in the number of jobs, in tourism and of the tax base. She added that it is in the
developer's best interest to develop the land to its maximum potential.
Mr. John Trice, 13706 Tajamar St., said he thought the petitions were built on
misconceptions and fraud. He said there were several people who were not aware of what they were
signing and the repercussions. He said the petitioners hired Flour Bluff High School students to
gather signatures for $2 each.
Mr. Abel Alonzo, 1701 Thames, said the majority of people who signed the petition are
opposed to the Packery Channel project. He asked the Council to unite and to present the facts about
the project. He said there are many people who are concerned about the future of Corpus Christi. He
pointed out that Council Member Scott, who represents District 4 (which includes Padre Island), is
unopposed in the upcoming City Council election.
Mr. Jeff Frohm, 13501 Royal Fifth Court, said he and his wife, who works in Houston, want
to be able to raise their family in Corpus Christi. He said the Packery Channel project will offer more
jobs and create more tourism, which is a clean, safe, productive industry. He said it will also increase
the city's tax base.
*Council Member Garrett arrived at 7:27 p.m.
Mr. Lewis Lovelace, 1549 Casa Grande, described an incident in which he was asked to leave
the Nueces County Courthouse by Commissioner Joe McComb as he was collecting signatures for
the petition. Mr. Lovelace said Mr. McComb later called him back and told him he could return to
the courthouse. He said if Packery Channel is developed, the necessary city services will be paid for
by the taxpayers out of the General Fund.
Mr. R.F. Hasker, 1813 Wallace, showed a copy of the petition, saying the language on the
petition is very clear.
Minutes - Special Council Meeting
February 21, 2001
Page 3
County Commissioner Joe McComb said he became involved with the Packery Channel
project because he believes in the future of Corpus Christi and the need to expand the tax base. He
described some of the findings of the economic impact analysis that was prepared for the project,
including the revenues the consultant believes will be generated. Mr. McComb said he does not own
any property on Padre Island, but he is concerned about people leaving the community because of
a lack of jobs and potential here.
Mr. Paul Schexnailder, a developer, said that Gulf Shores Joint Venture is a joint venture of
he and his deceased partner's company and the Day Group, whose developments he described. He
said important aspects of the Packery Channel project include the following: protecting the seawall
on Padre Island by renourishing the beach in front of it; maintaining rational development; and
increasing jobs and tourism.
Referring to a map and a diagram, Mr. Schexnailder said the planned development of Packery
Channel is not high density. He said according to the consultant's study, the anticipated annual direct
revenue from the project is $224 million, which is 1% of the state's tourism and which does not
exceed the available market. He described other financial benefits of the project, and he said the
developers do not see the downtown area as a competitor to their project but rather as a complement
to it. He also discussed marketing plans, potential local investors, and environmental issues.
Responding to Council members' questions, Mr. Schexnailder said they believe the project
will create approximately 4,500 permanent jobs, from managers to support staff, as well as summer
jobs for students. He added that he is pleased that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be going
through all of the designs and will proof and modify them as needed.
Mayor Neal made a motion to amend Section 3 of Ordinance No. 024347 to insert the
following ballot language: "Shall the City Council continue Ordinance No. 024270 which creates
a taxing zone on part of Padre Island to pay, solely from the increased property values within the
zone, for construction and maintenance of Packery Channel and related beach restoration, a park,
beach access, restrooms, showers, walkways, parking, fishing, and related improvements? Yes or
No?"
Council Member Scott seconded the Mayor's motion to amend. City Secretary Chapa polled
the Council for their votes and the motion passed as follows: Neal, Colmenero, Kinnison, B.
Longoria, J. Longoria, and Scott voting "Aye"; Garrett and Gonzales abstaining; Cooper absent.
Mr. Chapa then polled the Council on Item C. on the day's agenda as follows:
C. ORDINANCE NO. 024380
Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 024347 of the City of Corpus Christi, ordering a General
Election to be held on April 7, 2001 in the City of Corpus Christi for the election of Mayor
and eight Council Members; ordering a Special Election on April 7, 2001 for the purpose of
submitting to the voters a ballot measure pursuant to a referendum petition to repeal
Minutes - Special Council Meeting
February 21, 2001
Page 4
Ordinance No. 024270; providing for procedures for holding such election; providing for
notice of election and publication thereof; providing for establishment of branch early polling
places; designating polling place locations; enacting provisions incident and relating to the
subject and purpose of this ordinance.
An emergency was declared and the foregoing ordinance passed, as amended, by the
following vote: Neal, Colmenero, Kinnison, B. Longoria, J. Longoria, and Scott voting
"Aye"; Garrett and Gonzales abstaining; Cooper absent.
There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Neal adjourned the
special Council meeting at 8:10 p.m. on February 21, 2001.
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