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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 07/26/1961PRESEIIT: Mayor Ben F. McDonald Commissioners: Tan: R. Swantner Dr. James L. Berard J. R. de Leon W. J. Roberts Jim Young REGULAR COUNCIL MEWING July 26, 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 vas given by Reverend L. Lee Gaines, Pastor of Arlington Heights Nazarene Church. City Secretary T. Ray Kring called the roll of those in attendance. Motion by de Leon, seconded by Roberts and passed that the absence of Commissioner Maldonado be excused for cause. Motion by Barnard, seconded by de Leon and passed that the minutes of the regular meeting of July 19, 1961, be approved as furnished to the Council. Mayor McDonald recognized and welcomed to the meeting 7 members of one of the summer school Civics classes and their teacher, Jack Stahl. Mayor McDonald announced the opening of bids. Bids were opened and read on an estimated year's supply of 4,665,000 Tabulating Machine Cards of various kinds, from the following: International BueinessMachines Corp.; The Tabulating Card Co.; and Mid -Continent Tab Card Co. Motion by Swantner, seconded by de Leon 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. Bids were opened and read on an estimated 3 months' supply of Fuel Require- ments consisting of Blended, Regular, Premium, Diesel and Kerosene, from the follow- ing: Crystal Petroleum Co.; Gulf 011 Corp.; Humble 011 & Refining Co.; Key Petrole- um Co.; Mobil Oil Co.; Continental Oil Co.; and Texaco, Inc. Motion by Swantner, seconded by de Leon and passed that the foregoing bids be tabled for l8 hours as required by the City Charter, and referred to the City Manager for tabulation and recommendation. Mayor McDonald announced that J. B. Trimble and William Bonilla had con- sented to head a Citizens Committee as Co -Chairmen to inform the public as to facts and statistics in connection with the forthcoming election on the matter of annexa- tion of the Flour Bluff area, commended them for their civic service in this matter, 40 • Regular Council Meeting July 26, 1961 Page 2 and offered any assistance the City Council and City Staff they may desire in getting all available information before the public. Mayor McDonald called for the City Manager's reports. Motion by Barnard, seconded by de Leon and passed that the recommendations of the City Manager be accepted and approved as follows: a. That funds be appropriated out of bond funds from the recent sale of bonds to reimburse the #102 General Fund for amounts recently appropriated from that fund, as follows: $9,000.00 out of #211 Library Bond Fund for Architects Fees in con- nection with the Branch Library; and $145,000.00 out of #295 Storm Sewer Bond Fund in connection with the Salt Flats Drainage project; b. That a total of $57,018.00 be appropriated out of various bond funds from the recent sale of bonds to reimburse the #102 General Fund for amounts recently appropriated from that fund for engineering services, as follows; a total of $19,602.00 out of #220 Street Bond Fund in connection with Agnes -Laredo Extension; Morgan Street Improvements; Weber Road Improvements; 19th Street, Morgan to 18th Street ROW; Ramsey Street Improvements; Greenwood, Port to Horne, Street Improvements; Bremner, Dakin to Carroll, Street Improvements; Santa Fe, Rossiter to Robert, Improve- ments; Residential Street Construction; a total of $2,400.00 out of #202 Water System Bond Fund in connection with Holly Road Water Line; a total of $6,284.00 out of #250 Sanitary Sewer Bond Fund in connection with Westside Sewer, Unit V, Sections 1 & 2; McArdle -Carroll Lane; and Molina Severs; and a total of $28,732.00 out of #295 Storm Sever Bond Fund in connection with Airport Ditch, Units 1 & 2; Salt Flats Drainage, Unit 1; McBride Drainage; Westport Drainage; Savage Lane, Whelan Drainage; and Green- wood, Horne to Lexington, Drainage; c. That the award of bid on Full Circle Clamps be made to Viking Supply Corporation, the low bidder meeting specifications, for 17 items of 753 Full Circle Clamps for Cast Iron & Steel Pipe in sizes ranging from 2" x 7i" to 12" x 20", for a grand total less discount of *9,113.72; (See Bid Tabulation #34 in File.) d. That authority be granted to enter into a compromise settlement agree- ment with a waiver of the claim of the City for the $3,000.00 deduction for damage which was not covered by the insurance policy in connection with the damage caused by the S.S. MV GREENWICH to the North Approach to the Bascule Bridge several years ago and for which the Navigation District has taken the same action. Regular Council Meeting July 26, 1961 Page 3 ORDINANCE NO. 6219 APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF $145,000.00 OUT OF NO. 295 STORM SEWER BOND FUND FOR THE SALT FLATS STORM SEWER, PROJECT NO. 295-56-13; APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF $9,000.00 OUT OF NO. 211 LIBRARY BOND FUND FOR THE BRANCH LIBRARY, PROJECT NO. 211-61-1; AUTHORIZING THE REIMBURSEMENT OF NO. 102 GENERAL FUND OUT OF SAID APPROPRIATIONS FOR ALL AMOUNTS PREVIOUSLY ADVANCED BY THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE ABOVE PROJECTS, RESPECTIVE- LY, AND CANCELLING THE UNEXPENDED BALANCES OF APPROPRIATIONS HERETOFORE AUTHORIZED BY ORDINANCE NOS. 6175 AND 6178, PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 14, 1961; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule vas suspended by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Com- missioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leon, Roberts and Young voting "Aye", and Camnissioner Maldonado, absent. The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Commissioners Swaatner, Barnard, de Leon, Roberts and Young voting "Aye", and Com- missionez Maldonado, absent. ORDINANCE NO. 6220 APPROPRIATING $57,018.00 OUT OF N0. 220 STREET BOND FUND, NO. 202 WATER SYSTEM BOND FUND, NO. 250 SANITARY SEWER BOND FUND AND N0. 295 STORM SEWER BOND FUND, TO REIMBURSE THE GENERAL FUND NO. 102, CURRENT FUND, FOR ENGINEERING'CHARGES RENDERED DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, BEING AUGUST 1, 1960, THROUGH JULY 31, 1961, NOT HERETOFORE APPROPRIATED AND HEREBY APPROPRIATED, AS SHOWN ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF; PROVIDING THAT THE UNEXPENDED BALANCES ON JULY 31, 1961, SHALL REVERT TO THE PARENT FUNDS; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Com- missioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leon, Roberts and Young voting "Aye", and Commissioner Maldonado, absent. The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Commissioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leon, Roberts and Young voting "Aye", and Com- missioner Maldonado, absent. ORDINANCE NO. 6221 AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER, FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TO EXECUTE A PIPE LINE LICENSE WITH THE MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY FOR THE INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A 10" GAS LINE UNDER SAID RAILROAD COMPANY'S RAILROAD TRACKS AND RIGHT OF WAY AT MAIN LINE AND PORT AVENUE AND THE MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY'S WYE TRACK, ALL AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE PIPE LINE LICENSE, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF; AND DECLARING AN EMERGESO1. The Charter rule was suspended by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Com- missioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leon, Roberts and Young voting "Aye", and Commissioner Maldonado, absent. Regular Council Meeting July 26, 1961 Page 4 The foregoing ordlnance vas passed by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Commissioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leon, Roberts and Young voting "Aye", and Com- missioner Maldonado, absent. ORDINANCE NO. 6222 APPROPRIATING $120,000.00 OUT OF NO. 250 SANITARY SEWER BOND FUND TO COVER THE COSTS OF CONSTRUCTION OF MOLINA AREA &UNARY SEWER LATERALS, PROJECT NO. 250-61-13, CON- STRUCTED AND UNDER CONSTRUCTION BY CITY FORCES; AUTHORIZING REIMBURSEMENT OUT OF THIS Ael'HOPRIATION FOR FUEDS OENDED OUT OF 109 SEWER FUND AB PROVIDED IN THE 1960-61 BUDGET; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Com- missioners Svantner, Barnard, de ieon, Roberts and Young voting "Aye", and Commissioner Maldonado, absent. The foregoiag ordinance was passed by the foiowing vote: Mayor McDonald, Commissioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leom, Roberts and Young voting "Aye", and com- missioner Malorxeo, absent. RESOLUTION N0. 6223 EXPRESSING TEE WILLINGNESS OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI TO COOPERATE WIUU THE UNITED STNTES AIR FORCE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RECOVERY SQUAMONAT CORPUS CHRISTI AND THE FURNISHING OF A SITE ON THE CORPUS CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR UNIT TRAINING AND STORAGE OF EQUIPMENT; AND DECLARING AN EM&GEICY. The Charter rule was suspended. by the following vote: Mayor McDonald., Com- missioners Svantner, Barnard, de Leon, Roberts and Young voting "Aye", and Commissioner Maldonado, absent. Tie foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Commissioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leon, Roberts and Young voting "Aye", and com- missioner Maldonado, absent. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE GRANTING TO SOUTHWESTERN OIL & REFINING COM- PANY A FRANCHISE TO LAY, CONSTRUCT, OPERATE, M/NTAIN, REPAIR, AND REMOVE A FIFE LINE 2 7/8" IN DLMARTER FOR THE TRANEPORTATION OF NATURAL GAS WITHIN AND UPON NUECES BAY BOULEVARD, WEST BROADWAY STREET, FLORAL STREET, PALM DRIVE, VAN'LOAN AVENUE, STILLMAN AVENUE, PEABODY AVENUE, KENNEDY AVENUE, ETCH STREET, SUMMERS. STREIT AND LEXINGTON AVENUE TO THE EXTENT THAT SAID STREETS ARE TRAVERSET BY TRF DESCRIPTION OF THE CENTER LINE OF SAID PIPE LINE RIGHT OF WAY DESCRIBED IN THIS ORDINANCE, ANL TO USE AS MUCH OF THE RIGHT OF WAY OF SAID STREETS AS IS NECESSARY THERETO; PROVIDED THAT THE SAME SHALL BE IN SUCH MANNER AND IN SUCH PLACES AS NOT TO INTERFERE WITH THE USE OF SAID STREETS BY WH CITY OR INHABTTANTS THEREOF; WHIM TRADCHISE SHALL BE ASSIGNABLE BY THE GRANTEE; PROVIDING FOR FOUETTURE OF THE FT.ARCHISE IN CASE OF FAILURE ON THE PART OF GRAMM TO OBSERVE TIE TERNS AND RESTRICTIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE. The foregoing ordinance was read for the first time and passed to its second reading by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Commissioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leon, Roberts and Young voting ''Aye, and Commissioner Maldonado, absent. Regular Council Meeting July 26, 1961 Page 5 Mayor McDonald referred to President John F. Kennedy's speech yesterday over radio and TV, in which he uttered some very somber words and issued a call for unity to all citizens of the free world, and asked for an expression of feeling in the matter from the Council. Motion by Barnard, seconded by de Leon and passed that an appropriate reso- lution be prepared for adoption at this meeting of the Council, supporting the Presi- dent of tb.e United States and the national leaders in this time of crisis and offering full support and cooperation as a community, and that a telegram to this effect be dispatched forthwith to President Join F. Kennedy, Honorable Ralph W. Yarbarough, Honorable John Tower, and Honorable John Young; and that copies of the resolution be sent as soon as prepared. The Council was polled on the foregoing Resolution No. 6224, form of said Resolution to he approved by Mayor McDonald. The Charter rule was suspended by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Com- missioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leon, Roberts and Young voting "Aye", and Commission- er Maldonado, absent. The foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Commissioners Svantner, Barnard, de Leon, Roberts and Young voting "Aye", and Com- missioner Maldonado, absent. Mayor McDonald called for petitions or information from the audience on matters not scheduled on the agenda. Mayor McDonald presented a letter which had been received from Paul W. Nye, President of Bucaraders, enclosing a resolution which had been passed at a called meeting of the Bucaradere, the parade organization of the Buccaneer Commission, Inc., of Corpus Christi, to the effect that they wished to go on record as requesting the City Council to retain sufficient motorcycle patrolmen in the Folice Department to properly, adequately and safely protect both the public and the participants on the occasion of parades and other festival activities, which resolution was read, accepted, and caused to be filed. (See Council Exhibit #14 in File.) William Bonilla expressed his concern at the predomiience of movies being shown throughout the City which are detrimental to the morals of our youth, and to which minors are admitted, as evidenced by three affidavits to that effect which he has in his possession, although advertised as being for adults only. • Regular Council Meeting July 26, 1961 Page 6 The matter was generally discussed, and Mayor McDonald read the ordinance regulating this subject from the City Code, 1958, and directed that the City Manager investigate the situation and make certain that the law 1s being enforced to the full extent of its powers. Mayor McDonald declared a brief recess until 3:00 P.M. when the Council would reconvene for the purpose of the public hearing on the proposed budget for the fiscal year 1961-62. Mayor McDonald reconvened the meeting at 3;00 P.M., opened the public hear- ing on the proposed budget for the fiscal year 1961-62, and anaouneed the Council would herr from anyone in the audience as to questions, suggestions, requests or ob- jections in regard to the subject. City Manager Whitney explained that the problem of preparing the budget for adoption was More acute than usual this year due to the folloving factors which in- fluence both our revenues and expenses: (1) construction vas materially down during the past calendar year so that, assessed valuations did not increase through normal growth as normally expected; (2) the Board of Equalization is considering some ad- junL Bate lit valuations of eume of the Dewntawn properties which Sly affect the tax rate as much as 1 cent; (3) on March 1st the City started buying natural gas under a new contract which raised the cost of that gas from Si cents to 20 cents, a tremen- dous increase not yet compensated for by new rates for which the City sells the gas; (4) the Charter amendment approved by the voters made it necessary to findfunds for a 15% increase in vages for the Firemen and Policemen, (5) increased living costs and maintenance are such that this Council is desirous 'Of providing at least a 5% in- crease for the other City employees. Mr. Whitney s+rized by stating that in view of the almost mandatory increases in expenditures beyond actual and anticipated rev- enues, he vas finding it very difficult to bring the budget into balance with a tax rate that would be reasonable, since this Council is very desirous of holding the tax rate at the lowest possible level without lessening the efficiency or standards of performance and growth, and that for these reasons, no one is in a position at present to tell exactly in dollars and cents what the budget is or the tax rate to support it. Mrs. James Naismith, Chairman of the Park Board, mentioned some of the accompliahmentn of the Park Board during the past year, and particularly expressed • Regular Council Meeting July 26, 1961 Page 7 the Board's appreciation for the cooperation they have received from all departments of the City in their work. Mrs. Vera Cunningham, representing the Corpus Christi Beadh Wanen's Associ- ation, spoke of the work done by her association in connection with the tourist enter- tainment in cooperation with the Park Board, and requested. that the much needed items of shuffle boards and banquet tables not be deleted from the Park Board budget. Reverend A. C. Bell,, of the La Retama Library Boar:, spoke of the recent progress in growth of the Library, and expressed the hope that the Council and City Staff could continue to support this growth to the limit of its ability to do so. Mayor McDonald stated that the Council had head; from several persons and groups in the work session on the budget, and that for the pun -poses of the record, all information ald presentations would be considered as having been made at this public hearing, and that the present meeting and public hearing would now be recessed to be reconvened at some time before midnight of July 31st for the final adoption of the budget and the passage of the ordinances appropriating the funds and setting the tax rate for the coming fiscal year. Mayor McDonald announced that a young man had arrived at the Council meet- ing that the City Council desired to officially recognize for bravery, and called on Commissioner Barnard to make the presentation. Commissioner Barnard greeted and presented to Arnold Tellez, Jr., age 11, a Certificate of Commendation for Bravery in saving the life of Ernest Pena, age 4, who was drowning in the Intracoastal Canal on July 23, 1961, and cited Arnold for his heroic act in diving from the bridge into the water without regard for his own safety, incidentally sustaining a personal injury. Dr. Barnard then introduced Mayor McDonald and each of the Commissioners and City Manager Whitney as each expressed their con- gratulations to young Arnold. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor McDonald declared the Council in recess until called to reconvene.