Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 07/31/1962 - Special• CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING JU y 31, 1962 2:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Ben P. 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 Rabbi Sidney Wolf of Temple Beth El. City Secretary T. Ray Kring called the roll of those in attendance. Mayor McDonald announced the purpose of the special Council meeting was to consider the 1962-63 Budget for the City of Corpus Christi and to hear from any interested citizen with respect to the proposed budget. City Manager Whitney presented the estimated 1962-63 General Fund Expenditures by Activities, and a Budget Summary for 1962-63 of tentative es- timates. He explained that the goal this year was to maintain the present tax rate of $1.60 per $100 of valuation without reducing the existing levels of services; that this had been made possible due to the facts that opening bal- ances on the final audit were slightly higher than estimated, utility revenues such as water and gas exceeded estimates due to the prolonged dry spell and to the cold weather during the winter, a l% gain in actual tax collections over the estimated tax collection of 95%, and a tight administration of the budget during the year, with same departments being held considerably below the budget- ed expenditures; and that we are starting off the new year in a good, sound, cash position substantially above the minimum operating balances. He pointed out some of the factors that have to be taken into account in offsetting these larger beginning balances, such as additional automatic expenses incurred during the year, such as the sale of bonds requiring retirement of principle and inter- est, the 5% mandatory increase as of August 1st in salaries for the Fire and Police Department in compliance with the election, and other increases in ex- penses due to the normal cost of living, such as anticipated requirements for purchasing water and gas for resale. He explained further that we are actually appropriating somewhat more money than we are taking in and absorbing the differ- ence in a reduction in beginning balances; that the total budget appropriation, Special Council Meeting July 31, 1962 Page #2 if adopted, is $15,563,2229 which is in accordance with the Budget Summary 196263 sheet presented. Mayor McDonald invited inquiries from the Council or the audience and asked if anyone desired particular areas of the budget read or discussed. He stated that he wished to reiterate hie statement that the Council and Staff have labored long hours on the problem, and that it is one of balancing outstanding beneficial needs against other equally beneficial needs and striking a reasonable relation to the tax levy so that the City can continue to progress without becoming tax heavy. Mrs. R. H. Godeke, Chairman, introduced members of the Library Board, and urged that the Council reconsider adding the following items to the 1962-63 Library budget, which she felt was theabsolute minimum that. the Council, as leaders of the Community, cam conscientiously allow° Books, $20,000; Staff (1 typist), $2,492; Office Supplies, 52,195: and Postage, $25C making a total of $24,937. Homer Innis, as a private citizen and as a representative of the Texae Society of Proffeeaional Engineers, Rabbi Sidney Wolf, Mrs Franklin "eager, rep- resenting the Nueces County Medical Auxiliary, and Ted Hartley all spoke endorsing and supporting the request of the Library Board as presented by Mrs. Godeke. Mrs. Levi Materne, 325 Ohio, spoke in favor of the County contributing to the Library funds, in favor of charging a small fee for Library cards, and against any raise in the tax rate. Paul Vogler, 75411 Omaha, restated his remarks made at'a previous Council meeting denouncing some 52 books available to our children through our Library. Mayor McDonald stated that Mr. Vogler's previous remarks in this con- nection had been referred to the City Manages for referal to the Library Board to take such action as would concur with the Council's clean literature policy within the City, and requested that Mr. Vogler confine his remarks to the subject of this hearing which was a discussion of the proposed budget. Mr. Vogler then urged that no further funds be granted to the Library until the list of books which he had denounced were removed from the shelves. Mrs. Godeke stated that she had been authorized to request -that the tax rate be increased from $1.60 to $1.60} in order to take care of the Library's request. Special Council Meeting July 31, 1452 Page #3 Tony Bonilla spoke in support of the request for $31,000 for an Adult Patrol Guard program, and when informed that $15,000 for this has been approved in the proposed budget, he stated that he would again approach the School District to supply the remaining funds on the basic that it is a joint responsibility. Mrs. Foster Kemp, representing the Oak Park School area, spoke of the urgent need for the Adult School Guards, and in appreciation of the start being made in this program. City Manager Whitney explained that in connection with Park funds that are not strictly operating funds, provision was,.made for some improvements on the park area recently donated by the Southern Pacific Railroad referred to as the Epworth Wye Park, and for development of Brawner and Carmel Parkway areas; that a start was being made in the Crossing Guard Prdgram; and that we are going to retire $528,000 of bonds, which is more debt than we propose to incur in issuing bonds. Mayor Pro Tem Swantner stated that the Council feels this is a most critical year in the growth and progress of the City, that each recommended pro- gram was as important as another, but that a balanced budget without increas- ing the tax rate will pay big dividends in the years to come, and that this was the reasoning used in the proposed budget. John North, representing J. "Buddy" Harris, stated that he understood the Council is considering a recommendation for the City to operate the conces- sions at the Coliseum and Exposition Hall; spoke in opposition to this recommenda- tion on the basis that the City would then be in the beer business; and suggested that if the Funds for doing this were included in the budget, that the idea be abandoned and those funds be transferred to the Library instead. It was explained that funds for this purpose had been set up in the budget in the event that such a decision should be made by the Council, but that it in no way implied that the decision would be made. Mrs. Materne spoke in favor of the City's operating the concessions in question if it would bring in any revenue as she was in favor of anything that will not raise taxes. • Special Council Meeting July 31, 1962 Page #4 Mayor McDonald commented that there was still work to be done in the final form of the budget, that it would be adopted today but subject to amendment within the next few days if any adjustments or transfers were found to be warranted. Commissioner Barnard requested that further consideration be made to the request of Memorial Hospital for an additional $18,000 for Charity Service on the basis of another great need in the Community to operate the hospital adequately, Mayor Pro Tem Swantner, as the other Council member assigned to study this portion of the budget, favored the Hospital budget as proposed. Everyone having been heard who desired to speak, Mayor McDonald declared the public hearing on the proposed budget closed, ORDINANCE NO. 6580 ADOPTING A BUDGET FO: THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING AUGUST 1, 1962, AND ENDING JULY 31, 1963, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY CHARTER, AS AMENDED, FOR THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended by the following votes Mayor McDonald, Commissioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leon, Maldonado, Roberts and Young, present and voting "Aye". The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Commissioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leon, Maldonado, Roberts and Young, present and voting "Aye". ORDINANCE NO. 6581 APPROPRIATING CERTAIN SUMS OF MONEY FOR THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING AUGUST 1, 1962, AND ENDING JULY 31, 1963; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter rule was suspended by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Commissioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leon, Maldonado, Roberts and Young, present and voting "Aye". The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Commissioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leon, Maldonado, Roberts and Young, present and voting "Aye". ORDINANCE NO. 6582 PRESCRIBING THE TAXES TO BE LEVIED, ASSESSED AND COLLECTED BY THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, FOR THE YEAR 1962 AND FOR EACH SUCCEEDING YEAR THEREAFTER UNTIL OTHERWISE PROVIDED AND ORDAINED, AND SUCH OTHER YEARS AS THE SAME MAY BE APPLICABLE; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Special Council Meeting July 31, 1962 Page #5 The Charter rule was suspended by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Commissioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leon, Maldonado, Roberts and Young, present and voting "Aye". The foregoing ordinance was passed by the following vote: Mayor McDonald, Commissioners Swantner, Barnard, de Leon, Maldonado, Roberts and Young, present and voting "Aye". Mayor McDonald commented that the endorsements and requests heard by the Council were very well taken and should be considered by the Budget Officers and suitable recommendations made. Mayor Pro Tem Swantner commented that if the funds requested can be pro- vided without jeopardizing the effectiveness of other provisions, the Council will very likely make the funds available. There being no further business to come before the Council, the special meeting was adjourned. I, BEN F. MC DONALD, Mayor of the City of Corpus Christi, Texas, certify that the foregoing minutes, same being for the period July 3, 1962, through July 31, 1962, inclusive, and having been previously approved by Council action, are by me hereby approved. BEN F. MC DONALD, Mayor City of Corpus Christi, exas THE; STATE 0 COUNTY OF EU CES CITTT OF COIAeUS CHRISTI NOTICE OF SPECIAL _TING TO 4_21Z.E .10MBKRS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY MANAGES, THE CITY SECS ','Lr AND Tial CIT' ' ATTCR1EY TO THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS: NOTICE is hereby given that a special meeting of the City Council of the OJty of Corpus Christi, Texas, will be held in the City of Corpus Christi, Texas, in to Council Chamber of the City Hall., at 2:00 o'clock p. M. an the e _ _ 31 _ , day of July 192L, for the purpose of public hearing on the adoption of the proposed budget for the Fiscal Year, 1962-63, and such other business as may properly come before the Council. DATED this the 31 day of July , 1962. BEN F. MC DONALD, Mayor City of Corpus Christi, Texas CONSENT TO MEETING We, the undersigned members of the City Council, the City Manager, the City Secretary. �.� ��'and the City Attorney of Corpus Christi, mexas, hereby accept service of the foregoing notice, waiving any and all irregularities in such service and consent and agree that said meeting shall be at the time and place therein named and for the purpose therein stated. DR. JAMES L. BA NADO W. J. ROBERTS • HERBERT W. WHIT City Manager KR City 'ecreta y I. M. SING City Attorn ,y