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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 05/17/1961PRESENT: Mayor Ben F. McDonald Commissioners: Tom R. Swantner Dr. James L. Barnard J. R. de Leon M. P. Maldonado W. J. Roberts Jim Young REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING May 17, 1961 2:00 P.M. City Manager Herbert W. Whitney City Attorney I. M. Singer City Secretary T. Ray Kring Mayor Ben F. McDonald called the meeting to order. The Invocation was given by Commissioner James L. Barnard in the absence of the invited guest chaplain. City Secretary T. Ray Kring called the roll of those in attendance. Mayor McDonald welcomed to the meeting three members of the Student Coun- cil of Roy Miller High School who had been invited to observe their City Government in action. Motion by Barnard, seconded by de Leon and passed that the minutes of the regular meeting of May 10, 1961, be approved. Mayor McDonald announced the opening of bids. Bids were opened and read on an Electrical Service System on the "tt" Head from the following: Clyde Fairbairn, and Scott Electric Co. Motion by Barnard, seconded by Roberts and passed that the foregoing bids be tabled for 48 hours as required by the City Charter, and referred to the City Manager for tabulation and recommendation. Mayor McDonald announced the next matter for consideration was the pending item of the application of Ophie Lea McCray for a change of zoning from "R-1" Single Family Dwelling District to "B-1" Neighborhood Business District on Lot 14, Sunny Side Strip Addition, on which public hearing was held on May 10, 1961. City Manager Whitney reported that the applicant had stated to him that "AB" designation on her property, rather than "B-1" would be entirely satisfactory to her. Motion by de Leon, seconded by Barnard and passed that the foregoing appli- cation be returned to the Zoning & Planning Commission for further study, in view of the applicant's request to cancel the "B-1"zoning and change the request to "AB" designation. Regular Council Meeting May 17, 1961 Page #2 RESOLUTION NO. 6137 CREATING A TASK FORCE COMMISSION FOR REVISION OF CITY BUILDING CODES;SETTING FORTH THE PURPOSES OF SUCH TASK FORCE; AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO COOPER- ATE WITH SAID TASK FORCE COMMISSION AND TO ASSIGN SUITABLE PERSONNEL FROM CITY STAFF TO WORK WITH SAID COMMISSION AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended by the following vote: All Council members preaeat and voting "Aye". The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: All Council mem- bers present and voting "Aye". Mayor McDonald nominated the following to comprise the Task Force CoumAis- sion in accordance with the foregoing Resolution: James C. Flanagan, Chairman Douglas Beck, Vice Chairman H. A. Bradley Nat B. Parrish William H. Bloch Joseph Hans Hugh Cunningham Harry Nelson Eugene Urban Clarence Yarbrough Bill Cullen George Westervelt Gordon P. Reid Alden W. Morgan R. L. Belhausen Nomination of the foregoing was seconded by Roberts and passed unanimously. Myer ,**Donald instructed the Task Force Commission, present in the audience, as to duties, function, and responsibility by reading his letter to the Chairman, and requested that the Commission meet temporarily with Lloyd Clarkson, Inspection Chief of the City .Staff. Mayor McDonald called for the City Manager's Reports. Motion by de Leon, seconded by Young and passed, with Commissioner Roberts voting "Nay" on Item "g" and the second and third part of Item "j", that the recom- mendations and requests of the City Manager be approved and granted, as follows: a. That acceptance and final payment of Estimate #5 in the amount of $2,789.49 to Raymond Dugat for Rehabilitation of Gas Mains in the Arcadia Area, be approved; b. That authority to advertise for bids to be received May 31, 1961, on a supply of Brass Service Fittings, be granted; Regular Council Meeting May 17, 1961 Page #3 c. That authority to advertise for bids to be received May 31, 1961, on 82 tone of Commercial Fertilizer, be granted; d. That authority to advertise for bids to be received May 31, 1961, on a supply of Anodes, be granted; e. That the bid of Corpus Christi State National Bank, the only bid sub- mitted, for City Depository for the ensuing two years, be accepted; f. That the bid on the Wrapping and Coating of a supply of Steel Pipe be awarded to the low bidder, Pipe Line Service Corp., for a total of $20,279.89; (See Bid Tabulation #14 in File.) g. That the bid on an estimated year's supply of Copper Tubing be awarded to the local lowest bidder, San Antonio Machine & Supply Co., in the amount of $13,289.77; (See Bid Tabulation #15 in File.) h. That the bid on 2 items of Radio Equipment be awarded to the low bidder meeting specifications, Motorola Communication & Electronics, Inc. in the amount of $2,882.00; (See Bid Tabulation #16 in File.) i. That authority to advertise for bids to be received July 11, 1961, at 10:00 o'clock, a.m., during a special Council meeting, on the sale of $2,400,000 authorized General Obligation Bonds, be granted, with the possibility that the date might have to be changed if another substantial bond sale should be scheduled for the same day; j. That the bid on Steel Pipe be made as follows: To C. C. Hardware Co., for 55,000' of 2.375" OD Dbl. Rndm. Steel Pipe for a total of $17,809.00, on the basis of the low bid; To Atlas Pipe Co. for 3800° of 6.625" 0.D, Rndm. Steel Pipe for $5,095.04, and for 11,220' of 6.625" 0.D. Rndm. Steel Pipe for $13,870.16, making a total of $18,965.20, on the basis of the low alternate bid; To Allied Plumbing Co. for 3200' of 16.00" 0.D. Dbl. Rndm. .250" Wall Steel Pipe for $13,704.32, on the basis of lowest local bids (See Bid Tabulation #17 in File.) ORDINANCE NO. 6138 RECEIVING AND ACCEPTING THE CONSTRUCTION UY „'.HABILITATION OF GAS MAINS IN TEE ARCADIA AREA, PROJECT 200-53-42, AS PERFORMED BL RAYMOND DUCAT, CONTRACTOR, UNDER EIS CONTRACT WITH THE CITY, DATED NOVEMBER 28, 1960, AUTHORIZED BY ORDINANCE NO. 5979; AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF FINAL ESTIMATE NO. 5, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF, DATED MAY 8, 1961, IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,789.49 FROM NO. 200 GAS SYSTEM BOND FUNDS, PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. • . Regular Council Meeting May 17, 1961 Page #4 The Charter Rule was suspended by the following vote: All Council Members present and voting "Aye", The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: All Council Members present and voting "Aye". ORDINANCE NO. 6139 ACCEPTING THE BID OF THE CORPUS C.."ISTI STATE NATIONAL BANK AS CITY DEPOSITORY FOR THE ENSUING TERM; ACCEPTING AND APPROVING THE PLEDGE OF SECURITIES BY SAID DEPOSITORY IN LIEU OF BOND AS SUCH DEPOSITORY; PROVIDING FOR THE DEPOSIT OF SUCH SUCURITIES WITH THE FROST NATIONAL BANK AT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AS TRUSTEE FOR SAFEKEEPING; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended by the following vote: All Council Members present and voting "Aye". The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: All Council Members present and voting 'Aye". ORDINANCE NO. 6140 APPROPRIATING FROM NO. 245 AIRPORT BOND IMPROVEMENT FUND THE SUM OF $1,888.65 FOR THE PURCHASE OF GRASS SEED FOR SEEDING AREAS AROUND RUNWAYS AND TAXIWAYS FOR THE CORPUS CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, PROJECT N0. 245-56-8F.5; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended by the following vote: All Council Members present and voting "Aye". The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: All Council Members present and voting "Aye". ORDINANCE NO. 6141 AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY 04 CORPUS CHRISTI ADOPTED ON THE 27TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1937, APPEARING OF RECORD IN VOLUME 9, pages 565, ET SEQ OF THE ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTION RECORDS, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND PARTICULARLY AS AMENDED BY ORDINANCE NO. 6106, PASSED AND APPROVED ON THE 29TH DAY OF MARCH, 1961, BY AMENDING THE ZONING MAP BY CHANGING THE ZONING OF LOTS 47 AND 48, BLOCK 2, WASHINGTON ADDITION, BEING LOCATED AT 918 AND 922 NATIONAL DRIVE, IN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, FROM "R -1B" ONE FAMILY DWELLING DISTRICT TO "3-4" GEN- ERAL BUSINESS DISTRICT; KEEPING IN EFFECT ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE EXISTING ORDINANCE AS AMENDED; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND DECLAR- ING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended by the following vote: All Council Members present and voting "Aye". The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: All Council Members and present and voting "Aye". • • Regular Council Meeting May 17, 1961 Page #5 FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE GRANTING TO ELI ABRAMS, DBA COURTESY ADVERTISING COMPANY, A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, ERECT AND MAINTAIN FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS AT LOCATIONS ON THE ROUTES OF BUSES AND OTHER PUBLIC CONVEYANCES IN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, BENCHES FOR USE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC; TO USE AND EMPLOY THE STREETSIDE THEREOF FOR ADVERTISING; PROVIDING FOR A FIXED CHARGE FOR SAID FRANCHISE AND FOR PAY- MENT OF A PERCENT OF THE GROSS RECEIPTS TO THE CITY; PROVIDING FOR THE DESIGNATION OF LOCATIONS AND THE PROPER CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF SAID BENCHES; LIMITING THE CHARACTER AND KIND OF ADVERTISING PERMITTED; PROVIDING FOR PUBLIC LIABILITY IN- SURANCE TO PROTECT THE CITY AND GRANTEE AND THE PUBLIC; CONTAINING PROVISIONS FOR FORFEITURE OF THE FRANCHISES; CONTAINING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR THE ASSIGN- MENT OF SAME, SAID FRANCHISE NOT TO BE EXCLUSIVE. The foregoing ordinance was read for the first time and passed to its second reading by the following vote: All Council Members present and voting "Aye". In connection with a proposed ordinance expressing the intention of the City Council to pass an ordinance submitting proposed amendments to the City Charter to the qualified voters at an election/be called, Mayor McDonald read each of the eight proposed propositions to be included. Motion by Barnard, seconded by Roberts that the proposition with reference to the Place System of electing members of the City Council as recommended by the Charter Amendment Advisory Committee, be included in the proposed ordinance mention- ed above, as Proposition No. 9, Commissioners Barnard and Roberts expressed their reasons for the foregoing motion and second, as being due to the widespread and heated discussions both pro and con on this particular proposed amendment and on the fact that it has been dis- cussed more than any one other proposed amendment, not excepting the amendment with regard to the firemen and policemen's salaries which necessitated the election, and that submitting the proposition to the voters was the democratic and progressive way of solving the issue before the next election of a City Council. Motion by Young, seconded by Maldonado and passed, with Commissioners Barnard and Roberts voting "Nay", that the foregoing motion be tabled for further considera- tion and study. OfiwiINANCE NO, 6142 EXPRESSING THE INTENTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS AN ORDINANCE SUBMITTING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI AT AN ELECTION, SAID ORDINANCE CALLING SAID ELECTION TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER 23 DAYS NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN OF SUCH INTENTION BY PUBLICATION FOR 10 DAYS IN SOME NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI; ORDERING SUCH NOTICE TO BE PUBLISHED; SETTING FORTH THE PROVISIONS OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Regular Council Meeting May 17, 1961 Page #6 The Charter Rule was suspended by the following vote: All Council Members present and voting "Aye". The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: All Council Members present and voting "Aye". Mayor McDonald called for petitions or information from the audience on matters not scheduled on the agenda. Fred Reeder, attorney, appeared in behalf of Clement and George Koblizek with reference to their claim against the City in connection with the Westside Sewer Plant operation. City Manager Whitney explained that his report on this matter had not been presented to the Council due to the urgency of other matters and the fullness of workshop agendas, but that he expected to be able to present the matter at the coming session, if this was satisfactory to Mr. Reeder. Mayor McDonald explained that if the matter involves a question of policy, the City Man- ager will bring it up in a workshop session for the Council's consideration, other- wise it will be handled by the City Manager and his Staff. John Haynie, President of the Central Business District Association, and a member of the Committee for Sunday Observance, presented and read a resolution by the Central Business District Association of the City of Corpus Christi approving enforcement of the Sunday Closing Law, and urged that the Council use it's leader- ship in encouraging a voluntary enforcement of the Sunday Closing Law in this City. (See Council Exhibit #8 in File.) Reverend L. E. Rogers, Pastor of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, presented a letter to the Members of the City Council as Religious Liberty Secretary of the Texas Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, stating their opposition to the Sunday Closing Law, and expressed his views and belief that religious liberty is a right, not a grant, and that any governmental legislation of any particular observance day is a violation of that right. (See Council Exhibit #9 in File.) Reverend Rogers accepted Mayor McDonald's invitation to give the Invoca- tion at a subsequent Council meeting. Harry Heineman spoke in opposition to the Sunday Closing Law. C. T. Bozart and Ray Grandy each spoke in favor of the present system of electing our City Council. • Regular Council Meeting May 17, 1961 Page #7 W. W. Griffin complained that the assessment against his property on Ramsey Street in connection with the Ramsey, Horne Road Street Improvements, was unfair even though it had been reduced from the original assessment, on the basis that there had been no enhancement to his property at all by virtue of the improve- ments, and requested that the matter be reconsidered and the assessment eliminated entirely, and suggested that street repairs and improvements be paid for by those persons who reside within the City owning automobiles which could be accomplished by an automobile tax the same as levied by some other Texas cities. Commissioner Barnard turned over to the City Manager some information he had received with regard to this matter from the City of Dallas and from Fort Worth, and suggested that it be considered by the Council for study. C. E. Munson appeared in connection with an assessment against his property on Agnes Street. City Manager Whitney explained that he was preparing a report on his petition to the Council and the matter would be considered as soon as possible at a workshop session. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor McDonald adjourned the meeting.