1955 07 05 CC Minutes, Specialst' i
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING CF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY. OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS
July 5, 1955
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in special session on
Tuesday, July 5, 1955 at 10:00 o3look a, m. in the Council Rohm of the Baytown
City Hell with the following members In attendance:
P. H. Mears Councilman
R. B. Bergeron Councilman
H. H. Campbell Councilman
M. L. Campbell Councilman
Al Clayton Councilman
lacy tusk Councilman
R. H.Pruett Mayor
A. V. Berber Acting City Manager
George Chandler City Attorney
Edna Oliver City Clerk
The Mayor called the meeting to order and opened the hearing by stating that
the special meeting was called as a public hearing on the recent annedation
petition of the Civic Committee from Fresh Water District No. 30 to annex said
Water District to the City of Baytown. He asked that each spokesman give name
in addressing the Coun611.
Boyd Hill - Civict . +De - n6etnmen
Bayd Hill, Chairman of the Civic Committee from the Fresh Water District No.
30, reviewed the formal presentation of the petition, signed by 111 property owners
within the Water Distret, requesting the annexation to the City of Baytown. He
expressed his appreciation of the hearing and presented indetail the justification
of the request for annexation wlthfacts as evaluated by the City Tax Assessor-
Collector according to the city tax formula. The evaluation was based upon twenty
i homes located in various sections of the Water District and it included improve-
ment: only as there is no complete description of the land on the tax rolls of the
Water District. Table I of the study gave the evaluation of the twenty homes in
the Water District as $4,643 compared with the City as $2,097. THe raxes for one
year in the Water District was listed as $34.52 against the City's $36.07, Fire
Insurance rate /$1,000 for Water District - $5.65, City $2.35.
The estimate, as presented, indicated that the city could operate the water
and sewer facilities more economically that the Water District and between $5,000-
$10,000 per year would be available to the City to supply garbage service and
fire and police protectionwhich are not furnished by the Water District. This
savings would be largely from elimination of the Tax - Assessor -Collector, mainte-
nance and office employees, office supplies, security bonds, etc., which are now
duplicated because of separate organizations. He also presented factors related
to the growth of the area in the territory of the Water District. Plumwood
Addition, the subdivision now being developed out of the McFarland tract by F. A.
Richardson and the new Elementary School which will be built in the Casey Estates,
all of which will be furnished water and sewer services by the City, however, the
Water District will receive the taxes.
Water Board - Atbornev Fortnev
Mr. James Jennische, President of the Fresh Water District Water Board and
Gerald Fortney, Attorney, protested the annexation proposal and presented a poll
of the area which resulted in 233 against annexation and 15 for annexation to the
City of Baytown. Mr. Fortney explained that the time element prevented his chech-
ing the list for duplicat6ons in name and he was not our a if all that signed
were property owners, however, there had been a concerted effort on the part of
the Water Board to obtain a fair and impartial poll of the area served by the
Water District. Since the list had been obtained by volunteers end no one had
been pressed to sign either petitdon, Mr. Fortney stated that it was the position
of the Water Board that neither the people in the Water District nor the City
of Baytown has sufficient information on hand to render a fair decision in the
case at the present time. He suggested that the Council give the question of
annexation more study before further action is taken on the petition of annexation.
Receased Noon - Reconvened
The hearing recessed at 12100 o'clock noon and reconvened at 5300 o'clock
p. m. for the benefit of those who had been working and desired to sit in on the
continuation of the hearing. Both aides again presented their arguments for and
gig
against the annexxation. It was pointed cut that the residents of Cedar Bayou were
allowed a lower key rate on fire insurance than the residents of the City of Baytown,
however, H. V. Herbert, an insuranoe man living within the Water District area
and favoring annexation, explained that the type fire insurance polity referredto
Is no longer being sold by the Baytown Insurance Exohange since it is felt that
such type policy is in violation of insurance principles and the Exchange voted
to discontinue it.
Councilman M. L. Campbell asked if, a portion of Cedar Bayou could be annexed
without considering the entire area but City Attorney Chandler advised against
such a move since it would involve legal matters which would become highly com-
plicated in ZM drafting of legal papers defining tho papers and functions of the
City and the Water District. Councilman H. M. Campbejl poked if any study had
been given relative.to hoar much it would cost the City of Baytown in fire pro- i
tection, the possibility of the requirement of i new Fire Station, police pro- )
tection, street maintenance, garbage collection, etc. we Hill explained that _
this phase of annextion had been left to the City of Baytown for consideration.
After some further discussion, Councilman M.L. Campbell moved that the Mayor be
authorised to appoint a Committee consisting.of three (3) members of twity
Council whose duty and responsibility shah be as followas
1. To check with the TaxAssessor- Collector and to ascertain as nearly as
possible the assessable valuation and expected tax revenue from the area
under consideration.
2. To check with the head of the Water Department and to ascertain as to the
number of customers receiving water service from the Water District and to pro-
ject as nearly as possible the exbeoted revenue from that source as of this
date.
3.T0 check with the Chief of Police and to ascertain as nearly as possible
the estimated additional men and equipment which would be necessary to
properly serve the water district.
$. To check with the Chief -6f the Fire Department. and to ascertain as nearly
a$ possible the fire protection now available to that area and the estimated
additional man, equipment and housing which would be necessary to properly
serve the water distalot.
5. To check with the Director of Public Works and to ascertain as.nearly as
possible the improvements now available to the nature of water, sewage and
streets in that area and to make an estimatsion of the additional men, equipment
- and other.Baeilities required to properly serve the water district.
6. To check wlth the- City- Manager and to secure from him a corrolation of
these additional dxpenditures as against expected revenue in an effort.to
determine whether or not it is economically sound for the City of Baytown
to annex this territory at the present tams.
The Committee is likewise requested to meet .with the Baytown Insurance Exchange
or its representatives, and to secure from them the effects that such
annexation should reasonably be expected to have on insurance rates, both
within the City of Baytown and within the baundaries of the Water Districtt.
This Committee shall make known to the City Council at its earliest possible
date, its full findings to be used by such Council for fhrther deliberation
with respect to the annexation of thieterritary.
Councilman tusk seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as followss
Roll Calls Ayess Councilman Mears Nayss None
" Bergeron
" M. 2. Campbell
"
He' M. Cam1bll
p Clayton
n �
Mayor Pruett
The Mayor appointed a Committee composed of Councilman Mears, lacy Insk
and M. L. Campbell,
V
ddig=m t
Councilman M.L. Campbell moved for the meeting to adjourn. Councilman task
seconded the motion. The ayes were unanimous and the Mayor declared the meeting
adjourned. --
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Q6ALV��
Edna Oliver, City Clerk
R. H. Pruett. Mayor