Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 10/28/2008I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Corpus Christi City Council of October 28, 2008, which were approved by the City Council on November 11, 2008. WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, on this the 1 lth day of November, 2008. Armando Chapa City Secretary SEAL PRESENT Mayor Henry Garrett Mayor Pro Tem Priscilla Leal Council Members: Melody Cooper Larry Elizondo, Sr. Mike Hummell* Bill Kelly Michael McCutchon** John Marez Nelda Martinez *Arrived at 9:20 a.m. **Arrived at 9:30 a.m. MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS Regular Council Meeting October 28, 2008 — 8:30 a.m. City Staff: Interim City Manager Angel R. Escobar City Attorney Mary Kay Fischer City Secretary Armando Chapa Mayor Garrett called the meeting to order in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Council Member Leal requested a special prayer be given for Judge Carl Lewis. The invocation was delivered by Reverend Henry Williams and the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag was led by Mayor Henry Garrett. Mayor Garrett called for a moment of silence for Judge Carl Lewis. 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 Garrett called for approval of the minutes of the regular Council meeting of October 14, 2008. A motion was made and passed to approve the minutes as presented. ************ Mayor Garrett called for consideration of the consent agenda (Items 2 - 5). There were no comments from the public. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: 2. MOTION NO. 2008-276 Motion approving the purchase of ten (10) 2009 Ford Fusion 4 -Door Sedans from Philpott Motors Ltd., of Nederland, Texas in the amount of $153,230. The award is based on the cooperative purchasing agreement with the Texas Local Government Purchasing Cooperative (TLGPC). These units are replacements to the fleet and will be used by the Police Department, Uniform Division. Funding is available from the FY 2008-2009 Capital Outlay Budget in the Fleet Maintenance Fund. The foregoing motion was passed and approved with the following vote: Garrett, Cooper, Elizondo, Kelly, Leal, Marez, and Martinez, voting "Aye"; McCutchon and Hummel) were absent. Minutes — Regular Council Meeting October 28, 2008 — Page 2 3.a. ORDINANCE NO. 027914 Ordinance authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute a five-year marina space rental contract with Yachting Center of Corpus Christi, LLC for the use of fifteen (15) boat slips on Peoples Street T -Head, Number 70 eastward terminating at the west bulkhead, for operation of sailing school and related activities, and including construction of utility and boat slip improvements; for monthly slip fee rental payments of $6.85 per linear foot of dock space, subject to annual rate changes. An emergency was declared, and the foregoing ordinance was passed and approved with the following vote: Garrett, Cooper, Elizondo, Kelly, Leal, Marez, and Martinez, voting "Aye"; McCutchon and Hummel) were absent. 3.b. FIRST READING ORDINANCE Authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute a fourteen -year -six-month marina space rental contract with Yachting Center of Corpus Christi, LLC for the use of fifteen (15) boat slips on Peoples Street T -Head, Number 70 eastward terminating at the west bulkhead, for operation of yachting center, sailing school, charter boats and related activities, including construction of utility and boat slip improvements; for monthly slip fee rental payments of $6.85 per linear foot of dock space, subject to annual slip rate changes; providing for publication. The foregoing ordinance was passed and approved on its first reading with the following vote: Garrett, Cooper, Elizondo, Kelly, Leal, Marez, and Martinez, voting "Aye"; McCutchon and Hummel) were absent. 4. ORDINANCE NO. 027915 Amending the Code of Ordinances, City of Corpus Christi, Chapter2, to establish the Senior Companion Program Advisory Committee; and providing for publication. (First Reading 10/21/08) The foregoing ordinance was passed and approved on its second reading with the following vote: Garrett, Cooper, Elizondo, Kelly, Leal, Marez, and Martinez, voting "Aye"; McCutchon and Hummel) were absent. 5. ORDINANCE NO. 027916 Amending the Code of Ordinances, City of Corpus Christi, Chapter 2, to establish the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Advisory Committee; and providing for publication. (First Reading 10/21/08) The foregoing ordinance was passed and approved on its second reading with the following vote: Garrett, Cooper, Efizondo, Kelly, Leal, Marez, and Martinez, voting "Aye"; McCutchon and Hummell were absent. ******** ** * * * Mayor Garrett called for petitions from the audience. Abel Alonzo, 1701 Thames, said he was delighted that Interim City Manager Escobar had submitted his name for the City Manager position because Mr. Escobar knows the community and is very experienced. Mr. Alonzo asked the Council to do what was in the best interest of the community. Joe McComb, 5323 St. Andrews, Minutes — Regular Council Meeting October 28, 2008 — Page 3 stated that he submitted a petition to the City Secretary to have the City Council consider an item to raze the Memorial Coliseum. Mr. McComb added that the Council tabled the item that triggered an initiative process and hoped to receive the required number of signatures to place this item on the April 2009 ballot. Mr. McComb explained that he was notified that the Secretary of State has issued an opinion that this item can not be placed during the City Council election in April 2009. Mr. McComb urged the City Council to honor the City Charter and include this item during the April election. Council Member Marez requested a hard copy of the decision by the Secretary of State be provided to the Council, Mr. McComb and the media. Council Member Kelly requested that the report include information regarding the reason the Secretary of State is considering this opinion after the City has been placing propositions on the April election over the last 20 years and asked that the Council discuss this issue at the next meeting. Roy Pell, 464 Indiana, said the Marina Advisory Committee provided a copy of a letter to the Council expressing their concerns regarding the marina. Mr. Pell asked the Council to consider asking the City Manager candidates where they stand on marina issues. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mayor Garrett announced the executive session, which was listed on the agenda as follows: 6. Executive session pursuant to Texas Government Code, Section 551.074 to deliberate the appointment, employment and duties of the City Manager with possible discussion and action related thereto in open session. The Council went into executive session. The Council returned from executive session. ************* Mayor Garrett opened discussion on Item 7 regarding an Electric Supply Agreement with the South Texas Aggregation Project, Inc. (STAP). Council Member McCutchon made a motion to remove from the table Item #29 of the October 21, 2008 City Council Meeting regarding the negotiation of an Electric Supply Agreement with South Texas Aggregation Project, Inc. (STAP). The motion was seconded by Mr. Elizondo. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: 7.a. MOTION NO. 2008-277 Motion to remove from the table Item #29 of the October 21, 2008 City Council Meeting regarding the negotiation of an Electric Supply Agreement with South Texas Aggregation Project, Inc. (STAP). The foregoing motion was passed and approved with the following vote: Garrett, Cooper, Elizondo, Hummell, Kelly, Leal, McCutchon, Marez, and Martinez, voting "Aye". Director of Intergovernmental Relations Rudy Garza provided an overview of the information provided in the City Manager's Report regarding responses to questions by the City Council from the October 22nd meeting on renewable energy, renewable alternatives, options for contracting power and the historical perspective on participation. Mr. Garza stated that the market is right to consider a contract of this nature. Mr. Garza added that the City cannot enter into negotiations and ask to lock into a rate if the City hasn't made a commitment to purchase power. Mr. Garza explained that once the City states that they will participate, the contract will be finalized. Mr. Garza said that STAP has asked the City to act on the resolution by October 31st and that section 4 of the resolution has been amended to allow the flexibility to consider renewable energy. Minutes — Regular Council Meeting October 28, 2008 — Page 4 The following topics pertaining to this item were discussed: natural gas future price assumptions; pricing and supplementing for wind energy; liability; the number of cities that have signed the resolution; price reference in the resolution; including a price cap of 8.5% in the resolution; wholesale prices; wireless charges; the current rate the City pays for electricity; if electricity will be less expensive if gas prices don't change substantially; the option of renewable energy credits; whether voltage flows into the City if the City purchases renewable credits; flexibility to offset the load of renewable alternatives; and whether the City is prohibited from purchasing electricity over 8.5% if wind energy decreases during peak demands. Mr. Hummell made a motion to amend Sections 2 and 3 to including the language "at a price not to exceed 8.5% per kilowatt hour at wholesale levels" after the date of December 31, 2013. The motion was seconded by Mr. Kelly. The foregoing motion was passed and approved with the following vote: Garrett, Cooper, Elizondo, Hummell, Kelly, Leal, McCutchon, Marez, and Martinez, voting "Aye". City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes as follows: 7.b. RESOLUTION NO. 027917 Resolution of the City of Corpus Christi, Texas, authorizing the South Texas Aggregation Project, Inc. (STAP) to negotiate and execute an Electric Supply Agreement for deliveries of electricity and necessary, related services effective January 1, 2009; approving STAP contracting with FPL Energy Power Marketing, Inc. and Direct Energy, L.P. and authorizing the City Manager to sign a contract with STAP for the City's electricity needs for the period beginning January 1, 2009 and extending up to December 31, 2013. The foregoing resolution was passed and approved as amended with the following vote: Garrett, Cooper, Elizondo, Hummell, Kelly, Leal, McCutchon, Marez, and Martinez, voting "Aye". * ******* * * * * * Mayor Garrett announced that the Council has selected the following two finalists for the City Manager position: Scott Moore and Angel Escobar. Mayor Garrett stated that the finalists will be contacted and the item will be posted when the Council makes the selection. ,.,,,,,,,,******* There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Garrett adjourned the Council meeting at 5:31 p.m. on October 28, 2008.