Loading...
1959 06 25 CC Minutes1347 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN June 25, 1959 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in regular session on Thursday, June 25, 1959, at 7:00 o'clock P.M., in the Council Room of the Baytown City Hall with the following members in attendance: P..H. Mears Councilman K. E. Badgett Councilman Al Clayton Councilman Lacy Lusk Councilman R. H. Pruett Mayor James W. Harrison City Manager George Chandler City Attorney Edna Oliver City Clerk Absent: W. L. Ward Councilman W. D. Hollaway Councilman The Mayor called the meeting to order, the Invocation was offered by Councilman Badgett, afterwhich, the Mayor asked the City Clerk to read the minutes of the previous meeting. Councilman Clayton moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes and they be approved as presented. Councilman Mears seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call; Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None if Badgett " Clayton " Lusk Mayor Pruett Ordinance - Forrest Street Improvement The City Manager introduced and read an ordinance determining the necess- ity for and ordering that Forrest Street, from North Main Street to Pruett street shall be improved; adopting plans, directing that an estimate of cost be prepared, etc. Councilman Lusk moved to adopt the ordinance, as amended, (to extend to North Main rather than North Commerce). Councilman Badgett seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None Badgett Clayton " Lusk Mayor Pruett The caption of the ordinance follows: ORDINANCE NO. 548 AN ORDINANCE DETERMINING THE NECESSITY FOR AND ORDERING THAT FORREST STREET, FROM THE WEST PROPERTY LINE OF NORTH MAIN STREET TO THE EAST PROPERTY LINE OF PRUETT STREET, IN THE CITY OF BAY - TOWN, TEXAS, SHALL BE IMPROVED; ADOPTING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR SUCH IMPROVEMENT; DIRECTING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND CITY ENGINEER TO PREPARE AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF SUCH IMPROVE- MENT AND A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE NAMES OF THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY ABUTTING ON SAID STREET; PROVIDING THAT A PART OF THE COST THEREOF SHALL BE PAID BY THE CITY AND A PART OF THE COST THEREOF SHALL BE PAID BY AND ASSESSED AGAINST THE ABUTTING PROP- ERTY AND THE OWNERS THEREOF, AND FOR INCIDENTAL MATTERS; DECLAR- ING THAT THIS ORDINANCE AND ALL FURTHER PROCEEDINGS RELATED TO SUCH IMPROVEMENT ARE BY VIRTUE OF ARTICLE 1105 -b DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO FILE A CERTAIN NOTICE WITH THE COUNTY CLERK AND TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS; AND PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. 1348 Councilman Clayton voiced his objections to the present system of drainage construction being done by City crews while the street maintenance work is being neglected. Since major construction is being done on some of the more heavily traveled thoroughfares, traffic is being detoured on the lesser traveled streets which has resulted in a great need for street mainte- namce. Presently most of the crews are tied up on street construction drain- age under the bond program. He proposed that in the future, plans and speci- fications for street improvement include a provision for drainage construc- tion also. The Council can then decide which route to take, let the drainage be included in the contract or let the City continue the work of drainage construction. ,Carnegie Street - Accept Petition for Improvement - Prepare Plans The City Manager reported that he had received petitions from property owners on Carnegie Street, requesting permanent improvement of said street. It was his recommendation that the petitions be accepted and the necessary steps be ordered for the processing of an initiation ordinance ordering such improvements. Councilman Clayton moved to accept the recommendation of the City Manager; the petitions be accepted and the City Engineer and the City Attorney be instructed to proceed with all matters pertinent to the improvement of the street. Councilman Mears seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None " Badgett " Clayton " Lusk Mayor Pruett Open Bids - Ready Mix Concrete The bids for ready mix concrete were opened and tabulated as follows: Baytown Ready -Mix Kilgore's 5 Sack Cement $14.75 per CY 5 Sack Cement $14.75 per CY 4f Sack Gravel Cement 14.25 per CY 4J Sack Gravel Cement 14.25 per CY 4t7 Sack Oyster Shell I+t Sack Oyster Shell Cement 14.25 per CY Cement 14.25 per CY Bid Net Bid Net Councilman Clayton moved to reject all bids owing to the evidence of "price fixing ". Councilman Badgett seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None " Badgett " Clayton " Lusk Mayor Pruett No new bids will be sought for concrete mix. Purchase will be made as needed, however, no purchase is to exceed the limitations set forth in the Charter without first advertising for bids. Present Ordinance - Rate Increase - Houston Lighting and Power Company Mr. "Jack" Kimmons, District Manager of the Houston Lighting and Flower Company, presented copies of a new electric rate ordinance which will correspond with the ordinance adopted on June 24th by the City of Houston. He stated that the Company is agreeable to the passage of the new ordinance and waives any right that it may have to further notice-`and hearing before the passage of this ordinance, if the Council so approves. The rate adjustment is identical with that asked in Houston, except for the present differential in the minimum bill applying to the smaller suburban cities and the rural areas. He explained i 7 1349 that this difference in the minimum bill has compensated the Company for the additional costs of supplying and servicing customers in the less densely settled areas. The Council stated that it was its understanding that Baytown would get exactly the same thing as Houston, all cities would be treated exact- ly alike, when the Company settled its difference with the City of Houston relative to rates and the removal of demand meters. They vigorously protested Baytown being classified as a suburban or rural area which explained the mini- mum differential. Mr. Kimmons stated that should the same rate apply in Bay- town as in.Houston, Bay-town's rate would be lowered rather than increased. After some further discussion, it was agreed that no action will be taken on the pro- posed ordinance at this meeting; a meeting will be held with members of the City Council and any Company official who may choose to attend on Tuesday evening, June 30th, at 7:00 o'clock in the City Hall. Negotiations will resume at this -time and Councilman Clayton suggested that the Council may be ready to offer a counter proposal for the Company's consideration. Simon - Pest Control Ordinance The Council heard Mr. M. G. Simon, Tri -City Exterminating Company, re- garding the possible passage of a proposed ordinance regulating operator's of any exterminating business within the City of Baytown, He stated that the pur- pose of the ordinance was not to monopolize but to insure protection for the public and to eliminate any possible harmful accidents as a result of the extermination by requiring each operator to be insured and bonded. No person will be able to get this insurance unless he can produce evidence of his abil- ity to properly operate such a business. The Council took no action after hearing Mr. Simon. It will give some thought to the proposal and make a study of other City's requirements before further action is taken. Construction Approval - Graywood Section 2 Messrs. Cox and Gray, developers, appeared before the Council for con- struction approval of Section 2 - Graywood Subdivision. After viewing the plat, and checking with the several department heads for their approval, Councilman Clayton moved to grant construction approval to Section 2 of the Graywood Subdivision. Councilman Mears seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None Badgett " Clayton Lusk Mayor Pruett Amend - Subdivision Ordinance - Include Street Maintenance Clues The City Attorney was instructed to prepare an amendment to the City's present Subdivision Ordinance which will make it mandatory for each developer to be responsible for the maintenance of all streets in his subdivision for a period of 12 months after the date of acceptance by the City. This amendment will be presented at the next regular meeting. Appropriation Ordinance Councilman Clayton moved to adopt an ordinance appropriating $3,800.00 from the Water Fund to pay for meters, settings, meter boxes, lids and copper tubing. Councilman Mears seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None It Badgett Clayton " Lusk Mayor Pruett The caption of the ordinance follows: 1350 ORDINANCE NO. 549 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN TO APPROPRIATE THREE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED ($3,800.00) DOLLARS- FROM THE UNAPPROPRIATED SURPLUS WATER FUND TO BUDGET CLASSIFICA- TION 1002 7-10 Authorization Mayor Sinn Instrument - Skins North Main -The City Manager gave a report received from Brown & Root, Inc., relative to the improvement of North Main Street from Fayle to Cedar Bayou Road. Two parcels of land fronting on North Main with total assessment of $1,895.92 have not been secured for payment, one party claiming hardship and the second parcel is now in the process of being sold. Councilman Clayton moved to.approve the City of Baytown underwriting the two (2) assessments totaling 81,895.92s on which the Contractor has been unable to obtain satisfactory security; the Mayor be authorized to sign instrument notifying the Contractor of the Council's decision and to instruct him to proceed with the construction of the improve- ments on North Main Street. Councilman Lusk seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None Badgett " Clayton " Lusk Mayor Pruett Busch Terrace Seweraue Proiect The City Manager gave a report on the progress being made in the Busch Terrace Sewer system connection. A total of 85 notices have been given but only 46 have complied to date. Some have not paid their sewer tap because they are not financially able to do so. The City Sanitarian has made contacts in order to encourage connection since the City has made the sewer extension but in many cases it will be impossible to get full cooperation as the people cannot pay for such improvements. The Council gave the City Manager authority to proceed with each case individually. If the result of any one investigation proves to be a hardship case, the City Manager is instructed to make an official exception and order the tie -in without the required fee.. No prosecution will be made when it is found that money is not available for such-fees. Waive Metal Poles - Lee Drive Upon request of the West Main Civic Group, Councilman Mears moved to give authorization to the City Manager to issue a change order from steel poles to wooden poles for the mercury vapor street lights scheduled to be installed on West Main. The request was made after it was found that it was not practi- cal to install metal poles under or adjacent to existing overhead primary elec- tric distribution facilities as now exists on West Main. In lieu of the metal poles, the Council approved the installation of two (2) additional mercury vapor lights on West Main near Luquire's Cabinet Shop. Councilman Badgett seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Badgett Clayton Lusk Mayor Pruett A change order from metal poles to wooden the Circle on West Main at Spur 201. When major North Loop, the proposed route will require the fore such expenditure will not be practical. Nays: None poles was also approved for construction begins on.the removal of the lights there- 1351 Sale Obsolete Machinery — City Owned The City Council approved the request to sell some obsolete City owned machinery to interested junk dealers. The City Manager will secure bids as the Charter requires and disposition. will be made in accordance to the bid quotations. Miscellaneous The Mayor presented a letter which he had received from the Texas Municipal League, congratulating the City Officials on a year of outstanding achievements as presented in the first Annual Report on May 26th. The City Manager was instructed to have the drainage ditch on Bob Smith Road, adjacent to Fair Park Addition, cleaned of weeds and other debris. The Police Chief was instructed to raise the speed limit on Park Street, from Yale to Decker Drive, from 30 MPH to 40 MPH. The City Manager was instructed to notify the Southern Pacific and Missouri Pacific Railroads to repair all railroad crossings within the City limits. The City Manager reported that he plans to enforce the City's ordinance relating to the cleaning of vacant lots within the City limits. If the property owners fail to comply with the notices being sent them, he will proceed to take them to court. Adjournment Councilman Clayton moved for the meeting to adjourn. Councilman Lusk seconded the motion. The eyes were unanimous and the Mayor declared the meeting adjourned. ATTEST: ES ( d"u.ai 6;�J Edna Oliver, City Clerk r