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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 05/24/1961REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING May 24, 1961 2:00 P.M. PRESENT: Mayor Ben F. McDonald Commissioners: Tom R. Swantner City Manager Herbert W. Whitney Dr. James L. Barnard City Attorney I. M. Singer J. R. de Leon City Secretary T. Ray Kring M. P. Maldonado W. J. Roberts Jim Young Mayor Ben F. McDonald called the meeting to order. The Invocation was given by the Reverend L. E. Rogers, Pastor of Seventh Day Adventist Church. City Secretary T. Ray Kring called the roll of those in attendance. Motion by Swantner, seconded by de Leon and passed that the minutes of the regular meeting of May 17, 1961, be approved. Mayor McDonald nominated Faires P. Wade for Substitute Judge of Corpora- tion Court to serve during absences of the Judge of Corporation Court. Motion by Swantner, seconded by de Leon and passed that the foregoing appointment of Faires P. Wade as Substitute Judge of Corporation Court be approved and affirmed. Motion by Swantner, seconded by de Leon and passed that Dennis Walker be appointed to the Airport Advisory Board to replace W. S. Fitzpatrick, resigned. Mayor McDonald nominated the following to serve as the Port Protection Committee: Duane Orr, District Engineer for the Navigation District; John Carlisle, Chief, City Fire Department; R. T. Runyan, Chief, City Police Depart- ment; Jack Graham, Director, City's Public Works Department; Commander Frank Comatock,Security Officer, Naval Air Station; Commander F. Lederle, Coast Guard, Captain of`the Port; Reuben Traynham, U. S. Customs, Local Officer in Charge; Colonel Earl Dunn, Director of Local Civil Defense; E. L. Orchard, Central Power & Light Co., Power Plant Chief, Nueces Bay Plant; John Mitchell, Sheriff's Office; J. T. Dickens, President, C. C. Refinery -Terminal Fire Co.; Captain Herbert Weeks, State Highway Patrol; and Ray Grandy, Fire Patrolman, Maritime Union. The foregoing nominations were seconded by Swantner, and unanimously passed and approved by the Council. Regular Council Meeting May 24, 1961 Page #2 Mayor McDonald announced the opening of bids. Bids were opened and read on Vitrified Clay Sewer Pipe and Fittings from the following: W. S. Dickey Clay Manufacturing Co.; SAMSCO; The Southern Co.; and Texas Vitrified Pipe Co. Motion by Swantner, seconded by Maldonado and passed that the foregoing bids be tabled for 48 hours as required by City Charter, and referred to the City Manager for tabulation and recommendation. • Mayor McDonald announced the public hearing on the application of John H. Thomason for the closing of a portion of Hillcrest Street, being the southerly one-half of Hillcrest Street a distance of 73.51 feet on the easterly side which abuts a 20 -foot alley on the easterly side of Hillcrest Street, and 160.03 feet on the westerly side which abuts a 10 -foot alley on the westerly side of Hillcrest Street, to the intersection of Leopard and Peabody Streets. City Manager Whitney located the property and the area involved, contain- ing approximately 6540 sq. ft., and pointed out that there are no utilities within the portion of the street involved in the request for closing and that this portion of the street has apparently not been used as a street for some time, and recom- mended that the request be granted. John Thomason, the applicant, stated he would be happy to buy the portion being closed; that the street had been dedicated in 1926 but never developed or im- proved, and had been used only for some alleyway type of traffic; that he proposed to build an office building for which the size and shape would be determined by whether or not the request was granted, and if granted, he proposed to provide off-street parking. A letter received from Charles Galland, Public Motors, Inc., approving the closing of the street was noted. No one appeared in opposition to the application. Motion by Swantner, seconded by de Leon and passed that the hearing be closed, and the application be taken under advisement for one week for determina- tion of the consideration as to the portion of land which would revert to the abut- ting property owner who is the applicant, in the event the request is granted. Regular Council Meeting May 24, 1961 Page #3 Mayor McDonald introduced Mr. Le Vax Hoi, Vietnamese Administrative Officer in the Ministry of Interior, who is studying local government administra- tion and management sponsored by International Cooperation Administration, Washing- ton, D. C., and presented him with an Honorary Citizenship Certificate of the City. In accepting the Certificate, Mr. Hoi expressed his appreciation for being made to feel so welcome, and said ,1 be had some new ideas to take back with him. ORDINANCE NO. 6143 CREATING A MUNICIPAL INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION TO ACT AS A ROUND TABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDING FOR APPOINTMENTS OF ITS MEMBERS AND ORGAN- IZATION, SETTING FORTH THE PURPOSES QF SAID COMMISSION, ITS PERIOD OF EXISTENCE AND SETTING FORTH THE DUTIES AND AUTHORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SAID INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended by the following vote: All Council Mem- bers present and voting "Aye". The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: All Council Members present and voting "Aye". Mayor McDonald nominated the following as the Municipal Industrial Com- mission: Homer Innis, Vice -President of Chamber of Commerce; Tom Mathis, Presi- dent of Parkdale State Bank; Blake Gillen, President of Inland Motor Freight Line; Charles R. Porter, attorney; Mrs. Virginia Ridgway, Public Relations; Ted Herring, labor representative at Corn Products Co.; and Glenn Alexander, President of Coastal Bend Tourist Association. The foregoing nominations were seconded by Swantner, and unanimously elected by the Council. Mayor McDonald nominated Homer Innis as Chairman of the foregoing Muni- cipal Industrial Commission, and Charles R. Porter as Vice -Chairman The foregoing nominations were seconded by Swantner, and unanimously elected by the Council. Commissioner de Leon presented and read a Resolution unanimously adopted by the Branch Library Site Committee as a Supplemental and Final Report of the Site Committee to the Council, in which the Committee recommended that the offer made by the landowners, Harry Weisman, Abe Katz, Ben Marks, and C. H. Marks, which has been designated as "Site Y" in Parkdale Plaza, be accepted by the City, and that • Regular Council Meeting May 24, 1961 Page #4 the Council proceed with all reasonable speed with the selection of architects, preparation of detail plans and the award of construction contracts. Motion by Barnard, seconded by Swantner and passed that the Resolution contained in the Supplemental Report of the Branch Library Site Committee be adopted by the Council; that separate resolutions of appreciation be prepared for adoption by the Council for each offer of a site that has been made. Mayor. McDonald expressed the City's thanks and appreciation to the Site Committee for a most efficient functioning. Mayor McDonald called for the City Manager's Reports. Motion by Roberts, seconded by de Leon and passed that the recommenda- tions and requests of the City Manager be accepted and approved, as follows: a. That the plans and specifications for construction of Unit I, Salt Flats Storm Sewer Project, be approved, and that authority to advertise for bids to be received on June 7, 1961, be granted; b. That $2,048.50 be appropriated for installation of a semi -actuated traffic signal at the intersection of Agnea Street and Tancahua Street; c. That due to the irregularities of the two bids received on con- struction of the Electrical Service Systems on the "L" -Head, and to the small dollar value of the project, that the bids be rejected, the provisions requiring prequalification be waived, and authority be granted to readvertise for bids; (See Bid Tabulation #18 in File.) d. That authority to advertise for bids to be received on June 7, 1961, on 750' of 24" - 14 gauge Galvanized Metal, double tar tipped, Corrugated Pipe be granted; e. That Hyman E. Finger be granted an extension of construction starting time in connection with his rezoned property on the southeast corner of Everhart and South Staples, from July 1, 1961, to October 1, 1961, under the same condi- tions as the original zoning change; f. That the date of June 7, 1961, during the regular meeting, be set for a joint public hearing of the City Council and the Zoning & Planning Commis- sion on three amendments to the text of Zoning Ordinance No. 6106, passed and approved on March 29, 1961; Regular Council Meeting May 24, 1961 Page #5 g. That $6500 be appropriated to reimburse Nueces County for the City's share of the cost of the Ennis Joslin Road Improvements; h. That, in order to encourage a wider use of the City's swimming pools on week -days, that the rates of 20p for children under 12 years of age, and of 40p for persons over 12 years of age, be established at H. E. Butt Swimming Pool and Collier Park Swimming Pool, on Mondays through Fridays, on a trial basis for this season, and that the rates of 25p and 504 respectively, be continued on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. Mr. Kirby, of Kirby Cleaners & Laundry, 226 S. Tancahua, explained the manner in which a proposed one-way street pattern for Tancahua and Carancahua Streets would damage his business, that he has already lost one tenant, and that the other tenant of 10 -years' duration plans to move if the one-way pattern is put into effect; and urged that the streets be left two-way at least for a trial period; and further stated that Mr. A. E. Dabney, Corpus Christi Bank & Trust Co., who had to leave the meeting, had been present to oppose the one-way pattern on the basis that it would interfere with the parking lot at the rear of the bank. There followed a discussion in which City Manager Whitney pointed out the proposed traffic pattern on a strip map of the Agnes -Laredo, Tancahua and Carancahua area, including a future extension of Tancahua and Carancahua Streets. Commissioner Barnard requested that prior to the anticipated 60 -day trial period for putting the proposed one-way street pattern for Tancahua and Carancahua Streets into effect, that a report be provided the Council from the Traffic Engineer and the Traffic Safety Advisory Board as to what is hoped to be accomplished and the reasons for this recommendation. ORDINANCE NO. 6144 APPROPRIATING OUT OF N0. 209 STREET TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM BOND IMPROVEMENT FUND THE SUM OF $2,048.50 FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL INSTALLATION AT THE INTERSECTION OF AGNES STREET AND TANCAHUA STREET; 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". Regular Council Meeting May 24, 1961 Page #6 ORDINANCE N0. 6145 APPROPRIATING OUT OF NO. 220 STREET BOND FUND THE SUM OF $6500 IN PAYMENT OF THE CITY'S SHARE OF THE ENNIS JOSLIN ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, PROJECT NO. 220-53-20; 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. 6146 APPROPRIATING OUT OF N0. 220 STREET BOND IMPROVEMENT FUND THE SUM OF $352.47 FOR ACCEPTANCE OF SPECIAL CERTIFICATES OF HOMESTEAD ASSESSMENTS, APPLICABLE TO PROJECT N0. 220-59-35, RAMSEY, HORNE ROAD AND HOUSTON STREET IMPROVEMENTS; 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. 6147 AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF 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 1 AND 2, BLOCK 6, BAYVIEW SUBDIVISION, BEING THAT PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF CRAIG AVENUE AND OCEAN DRIVE, IN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, FROM "A-1" APARTMENT HOUSE DISTRICT TO "A-2" APARTMENT HOUSE DISTRICT WITH A RESTRICTION; KEEPING IN EFFECT ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE EXISTING ORDINANCE AS AMENDED; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; 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". SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE GRANTING TO ELI ABRAMS, DBA COURTESY AD- VERTISING 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 PAYMENT OF A PERCENT OF THE GROSS RECEIPTS TO THE CITY;PRO- VIDING FOR THE DESIGNATION OF LOCATIONS AND THE PROPER CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTEN- ANCE OF SAID BENCHES; LIMITING THE CHARACTER AND KIND OF ADVERTISING PERMITTED; PROVIDING FOR PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE TO PROTECT THE CITY AND GRANTEE AND THE PUBLIC; CONTAINING PROVISIONS FOR FORFEITURE OF THE FRANCHISES; CONTAINING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF SAME, SAID FRANCHISE NOT TO BE EXCLUSIVE. • Regular Council Meeting May 24, 1961 Page #7 The foregoing ordinance was read for the second time and passed to its third reading by the following vote: All Council Members present and voting "Aye". Mayor McDonald reported that at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of Alice, attended by City Manager Whitney, Mr. Hoi, Mr. Joe Watson and himself, he had proposed a Greater Coastal Bend Committee of citizens to work out the important and essential area problems for the growth of all the Coastal Bend together, instead of at the expense of one another, particularly on such area problems as connecting roads, water requirements and firm rates, Padre Island National Park, Civil Defense, and Port Development, and that his suggestions had been enthusiastically received both at Alice and at Engleside where he had also spoken on the matter this week. There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned.