HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 08/01/2002 - 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 August 1, 2002, which were approved by
the City Council on August 20, 2002.
WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this 20th day of August 2002.
Armando Chapa
City Secretary
SEAL
PRESENT
Mayor Samuel L. Neal Jr.
Mayor Pro Tem Mark Scott
Council Members:
Javier D. Colmenero
Henry Garrett
Bill Kelly
Rex A. Kinnison
Jesse Noyola
ABSENT
Brent Chesney
John Longoria
MINUTES
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
Special Council Meeting
August 1, 2002 - 4:00 p.m.
Citv Staff:
City Manager David R. Garcia
City Attorney James R. Bray Jr.
City Secretary Armando Chapa
Recording Secretary Rachelle Parry
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.
Mayor Neal announced the executive session, which was listed on the agenda as follows:
C. Executive session pursuant to Texas Government Code Sections 551.071, 551.072 and
551.087 regarding acquisition and development of a site for a minor league baseball
stadium in the Arena/Convention Center/Port of Corpus Christi area, location of a
professional baseball franchise in the facility, and possible lease agreements with the Port
of Corpus Christi Authority and RSR Sports implementing the stadium, with possible
discussion and action related thereto in open session.
The Council went into executive session. The Council returned from executive session.
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Mayor Neal called for petitions from the audience.
Mr. J.E. O'Brien, 4130 Pompano, read from an article that appeared in the Wall Street
Journal which stated that sports stadiums actually reduce per capita income in their hometowns.
He said city staff provide misinformation and he questioned a statement by staff about previous
utility rate increases of 40% to 50%. He said staff failed to mention the 6% rate cap that voters
approved in 1990. Mr. O'Brien said that through July 31, 2001, in the last five years utilities
netted over $74 million He said the rate increases affect every business in the city yet the
Council continues to talk about economic development. He questioned whether the U.S.S.
Minutes — Special Council Meeting
August 1, 2002 — Page 2
Lexington Museum on the Bay and the Texas State Aquarium can continue to increase their fees.
He also criticized the decision to abolish the internal auditor position.
Mr. Bill Kopecky, 3609 Topeka, said there used to be a ballpark in Corpus Christi called
Shep's Palms, which he believes was built totally with private funds by George Shep, a minor
league baseball legend throughout the south and southwest. He said if there is a market for minor
league baseball, the team itself should be able to build its own park. He also urged the Council to
read an article in last week's San Antonio Express -News regarding a minor league ballpark. The
article notes that there are no Texas league teams currently available and most leagues, including
the Texas league, have a rule prohibiting the same family from owning two clubs in the same
league.
C ouncil Member Scott said he did not think the rule prohibited the same family but rather
the same individual from owning two teams. Mr. Kopecky said the league members have to vote
on it. Council Member Kinnison said no money would be spent on a ballpark unless a team is
coming in. He said that is an issue that will be cleared up after the November 2002 election. Mr.
Scott s aid t here is an a rticle i n t he S unday edition of the New York Times that discusses the
significant impact of minor league baseball stadiums across the country in revitalizing key
areas of cities. Council Member Kelly said this week Time magazine also addressed minor
league baseball and they mentioned San Antonio's team. He said in the same issue there was an
article about San Antonio being one of the best places to retire. He said a minor league team has
tremendous economic opportunities for Corpus Christi.
Mr. Kinnison said the supporters of the ballpark are trying to create a family
entertainment venue through a baseball situation. He said the public subsidizes it so they can go
there for a reasonable price. He said if they were willing to take the risk, owners of minor league
teams could build their own stadiums. However, many families would not be able to attend the
games because instead of costing $5 per person, the games would have to cost $30 a piece in
order to pay for the ballpark.
Mr. R.F. Hasker, 1813 Wallace, read a letter to the editor of the Corpus Christi Caller -
Times from Kenneth Brown in which he discussed how citizens have trusted the Council to
provide services for them. He said the Council is more worried about a ballpark than housing and
unpaid city employees.
Mr. Scott responded to Mr. Brown's letter to the editor, saying that the city did not turn
down park improvements and he discussed police and fire services on the newly annexed areas
of Mustang and Padre Islands. Mr. Scott also noted that the city's Engineering Department
provides quarterly updates on city bond projects, including street projects, and he said Mr.
Brown w as n ot a ccurate w hen he discussed raising taxes for Packery Channel. Mr. Kinnison
encouraged Mr. Brown to call him to discuss his concerns and he said many letters to the editor
are totally untrue and need to be corrected.
Mr. Jack Gordy, 4118 Bray, said that previously City Attorney Bray has cited documents
stating t hat e lection 1 aw p rohibits t he c ity from giving v oters a choice on the location of the
baseball stadium. Mr. Gordy said he received a copy of the letter from the Secretary of State and
it does not mention the location issue but it says there have to be separate propositions on the
ballot. He said he believes the citizens deserve a choice on the location of the baseball park.
Minutes — Special Council Meeting
August 1, 2002 — Page 3
Mr. Bray said the reason the Secretary of State's office said that the Austin charter
provision was contrary to state law was because it provided for alternative ballot propositions.
The Attorney G eneral s aid the e lection c ode s ays cities w ill s ubmit a p roposition o n a b allot
either for or against the proposition. Consequently, it precludes putting on the ballot language
that asks voters if they would like a baseball stadium at "Location A or B." Responding to Mr.
Kinnison, Mr. Bray said city staff have talked with state offices over the years because this issue
has come up before. He said his opinion is based on those conversations as well as directly on
what the election code states.
Mr. Jose Marroquin, 2433 Allencrest, said if the Council wants voters to trust them, they
need to respect voters and seek their input. He said the Council does not view revenue bonds as
debt but it is a debt that the citizens have to pay. He said even if the city has good credit that does
not mean it needs to incur more debt Mr. Scott said the Council members are all citizens too and
they have to make payments as well.
There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Neal adjourned the
Council meeting at 5:32 p.m. on August 1, 2002.
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