1961 07 13 CC Minutes1628
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING.
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
July 13, 1961
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in regular session on
Thursday, July 13, 1961 at 7 :00 o'clock p.m. in the Council Room of the Baytown
City Hall with the following members in attendance:
Seaborn Cravey
W. L. Ward
Velma J. Ansley
R. H. Hughes
James M. Bryan
°A1. Clayton
J. B. LeFevre
George Chandler
Edna Oliver
Councilman
Councilman - Mayor Pro Tem
Councilman
Councilman
Councilman
Mayor
City Manager
City Attorney
City Clerk
The Mayor called the meeting to order,.the Invocation was offered by Council-
man Bryan, afterwhich, the City Clerk was instructed to read the minutes of the
previous regular meeting. Councilman Ansley moved to dispense with the reading of
the minutes and 1they be approved. Councilman Cravey seconded the motion. The vote
was as fo l lows :
Ayes: Councilmen Cravey, Ward, Hansen, Ansley, Bryan, Hughes
Mayor Clayton
Nays: None
Elevation Plans - Sterlina Municipal Library.
The usual report on items of unfinished business was.delayed until later in
the meeting and the Council took as its first item.of business, the presentation
of elevation plans of the Sterling Municipal Library by Lowell Lammers, Architect.
Prior to his presentation, the City Manager read the following letter from Mrs.
Mattie Howard, Chairman of the Baytown Library Board:
"The Library Board, after much-, study and evaluation of the four (4) drawings
of the proposed Library building presented by Mr. Lammers, makes the follow-
ing recommendation.
"Choice No. 1 is marked on the picture. This selection was made with
these ideas that hate been discussed with Mr. Lammers:
a. Glass along the front'of the building just under the overhand, and
with glass above the entrance.
b. Vertical lines developed on both the north and south ends of the
building.
c. Some glass area in the vertical lines of the south end wall to in-
clude a door to give access to the patio area of the grounds from
the meeting room.
d. Some break in the exterior development of the long front to lessen
the commercial appearance of the building. Mr. Lammers has indica=
ted that this could be done in any one of several ways without
added cost to the construction.
"This selection of our No. 1 choice from the four offered was the unanimous
decision of the Library Board because we feel that it is an attractive, dig-
nified building and that it would be less expensive to build than the alter-
native which was previously proposed by Mr. Lammers.
"We feel that because of the fact that there is no great view to the public
of the front of the building that the more expensive faFade is unjustified
and the savings to be realized in the selection of our No. 1 choice could
be more advantageously used to develop the interior of the building with
Possible likelihood of less substitution in quality as might be required
in the previous proposal.
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"If the Council can not agree with the thinking of the Library Board
in this recommendation, we ask that the arch roof span of the original
proposal be extended to possibly eight (8) feet as shown in the maga-
zine picture that Mr. Lammers showed to us for these reasons:
1. To lessen maintenance cost, and
2. To soften the sharpness of the proposed four (4) foot span.
"Respectfully,
/$/ Mattie Howard, Chairman
Baytown Library Board"
Mr. Lammers stated, however, that he was not in agreement with the Board
as he preferred the rhythmic arched roof with an overhang previously submitted
to the Council, rather than a plain flat- roofed building which in his opinion
will not be pleasing in appearance. The Council discussed the drawings, recom-
mendations of the Library Board and the Architect at length. The discussion
covered the difference in cost of constructing the two (2) preferred drawings;
exterior beauty of the building; possible loss of space within fie building_,
shelving. etc. and the insertion of a• door in the rear of the building, afterwhich,
Councilman Ansley moved to accept the recommendation of Lowell Lammers, Architect,
in the design of the Sterling Municipal Library Building, however, he is to amend
the original drawing of the arched roof span to meet the recommendation of the
Library Board to extend span to possibly eight (8) feet to lessen maintenance
cost and soften the sharpness of the four foot span. Councilman Hughes seconded
the motion. The vote was as follows°
Ayes: Councilmen Ward, Hansen, Ansley, Hughes
Nays: Councilmen Cravey,• Bryan - Mayor Clayton
Report from Baytown Advisory Board
Karl Opryshek, Chairman of the Baytown Advisory Board. presented copies of
a detailed map with suggested thoroughfare designations for the City of Baytown.
This presentation was the result of a study made by the Advisory Board after its
meeting with the Council on May 31st, when it was assigned the problem of providing
immediate recommendation for through streets and Major thoroughfares for the City,
with some recommendations for ways and means to pay for the improvements. In sub-
mitting the report: Chairman Opryshek stated that the Board did not expect the
Council to accept all of the recommendations without study, however, it would
lay a pattern for long range street improvements for the City of Baytown. He also
stated that the Board had not gone intofthe detailed study of figuring cost of
improvements; this could be done as the projects were approved. The Board submitted
a suggestion for twenty (20) thoroughfare designations and the Council included
another which brought the total to twenty -one (21). The tabulation follows:
1. Extension of Garth Road to Decker Drive; beyond Decker Drive across Goose
Creek to Carnegie Street; open Carnegie Street to Highway 146.
2. Re- surface North Pruett; widen South -Pruett. from Sterling Street through to
West Main.
3. Connect North Commerce Street to North Main on north where North Main makes•a
bend; connect South Commerce to South Main where it dead -ends at West Gulf St.
4. Widen Fourth Street, starting north from Seventh; extend parallel with railroad
to pick up Seventh and intersect Barkaloo Road.
5. Bowie Drive to extend westward crossing Highway 146, North Main on Williams
Street, cross north end of Pruett and end-on the proposed extension of Garth
Road.
6. Danubina Street re- worked and made into through artery.
7, East Fayle widened and re -paved from Danubina on the east to North Commerce
on the west.
8. Davis -Ward Road should be carried west to join Martin Street, cross North Main
and North Commerce and continue along Live Oak Street to dead -end into Pruett.
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9. James Street widened from Alexander Drive west, crossing North Main, North
Commerce, North Pruett and running into Lobit and continue on to Decker Drive.
10..Cedar Bayou Road should connect directly with Morrell Street, extend west
crossing Garth Road, jogging slightly south to join Park Street and so cross-
ing Goose Creek Stream. Park Street to be carried east from North Main, down
Stewart Street, given an "S" curve to north to join Cedar Bayou Road about
the Southern Pacific tracks.
11. Widen,curb and gutter East Texas Avenue from Danubina to Bayou Drive to James
Street.
12. Massey- Tompkins Road, outside city limits, should be extended west from
North Main, across Garth and brought down Decker, crossing Goose Creek Stream. '
13. Market Street to extend past Humble Office-Building straight down paralleling
railroad tracks and going in northwesterly direction to Bayway Drive.
14. Extend Grantham and Pamela Drive eastward to North Main.
15. Extend Narcille Drive north to join Davis Road.
16. Kilgore and Cedar Bayou Roads should be improved from Bayou Drive to Highway
146.
17. Pruett Street should have an underpass with Spur 201 and continue north to
Massey - Tompkins Road.
18. Check with Texas Highway Department to ascertain how access will be obtained
from Spur 201 to Market Street and /or Texas Avenue.
19. Extend Briarwood West to North Main Street.
20. Bridge or bridges should be considered as crossing Cedar Bayou between junction
of 146 and Alexander on south and Spur 201 and Highway 146 on north.
21. Widen, improve and straighten West Texas, from Thomas Circle west to Airhart
Drive. !
*Mayor Clayton is excused from meeting - Mayor Pro Tem Ward presides.
Chairman Opryshek also submitted proposed four lane thoroughfares with a mini-
mum width of forty -four feet for Baytown. The 41x included for North -South traffic
were Bayway Drive, Spur 201, Garth Road, North Main, Highway 146 and Kilgore Road.
The four listed for East -West traffic were Massey- Tompkins Road, Texas Avenue, Mar-
ket Street and Decker Drive, with a priority list of three groupings. At the con-
clusion of the report, Chairman Opryshek completed the second part of his'assign=
ment by submitting a recommendation, unanimously adopted by the Advisory Board,
for the City Council to secure adequate and immediate financing for a Capital
Improvement Program for the City of Baytown and take necessary steps by the formu-
lation and adoption of an Orderly Growth.Plan „ for the City of Baytown; the adop-
tion of the required ordinances and calling of the Bond and Referendum elections
necessary to secure assistance from the Urban Renewal Program for the Planning,
Development, Drainage, Streets and Paving, Recreation Areas, Property Acquisition
for Civic Improvements and - Growth, Public Buildings of all nature and improvement
of degenerating areas and Slum Clearance. Since the recommended improvements will
cost millions of dollars, it was the opinion of the Advisory Board that the City
should take advantage of the Urban Renewal Plan. If the total cost of the projects
should amount to Four Million Dollars, the City will only need an approved bond
issue of One Million Dollars as the federal government contributes Three Dollars
for each One Dollar from any municipality. The Council was greatly impressed by
the informative report and the Urban Renewal Program and after some further dis-
cussion, Councilman Hansen moved to authorize the City Manager and City Attorney
to develop information on the steps to be taken by the City Council on urban renewal
and to determine the mechanics and assistance available to the City of Baytown under
the Urban Renewal Act for the improvement of public streets and other public projects.
Councilman Ansley seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Cravey, Hansen, Ansley, Hughes-, Bryan
Mayor Pro Tem Ward
Nays: None
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Mayor Pro Tem Ward thanked the Advisory Board for its work and the very inter-
esting progressive report. It was his opinion that the program had now taken on a
new sense of urgency as the report included items which Mr. Carmichael, State High-
way Engineer, had requested during his last conference with the Council. He asked
the Council to make a study of the proposals included in the Advisory Board's re-
port and a meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 19th for the purpose of adopting
a long -range master plan. A copy of this plan will then be forwarded to the State
Highway Department for use in thoroughfare planning in conjunction with highway
development.
In conjunction with the Advisory Board's report, the City Manager submitted
the results of a study made by him, the City Engineer and Director of Public Works on
the master map plan presented by the Advisory Board. They agreed in general with
the land use plan, however, it was their opinion that an area along Cedar Bayou
Stream, South of Highway 73, has a very good industrial potential. Also, allowances
should be made for residential construction in the very large area set aside in the
southeast quadrant of the map for industrial development. Concerning thoroughfares,
it is noted that a road is proposed to cross Cedar Bayou Stream just south .of Rose-
land Park; the committee agreed that a crossing should be planned but hesitated to
propose its location until a further study of the land use in the area has been
made. He concluded his report with, the suggestion that Advisory Board street
proposal should be adopted only as a tentative plan, or as a goal to work toward and
that studies of the many details involved should be continued.
Appoint Committee - Study Insurance - City of Baytown
Mayor Pro Tem Ward appointed a committee composed of Councilmen Ward,. Ansley
Bryan and David Funderburk to make a study of the present insurance coverage of
the City. A meeting of the committee was set for 6:00 o'clock p.m., Tuesday,
July 26th. C
Resolution - Transfer Funds
The City Manager introduced and read the following resolution:
r A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS AUTHOR-
IZING THE CITY MANAGER TO TRANSFER TWO THOUSAND ($2,000.00) DOLLARS
FROM THE COUNCIL EMERGENCY FUND TO BUDGET CLASSIFICATION 701 5 -2, -
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS:
THAT the City Manager of the City of Baytown, Texas, hereby resolves that
the City Manger be authorized to transfer Two Thousand ($2,000.00) Dollars
from the Council Emergency Fund to Budget Classification 701 5 -2 for mainte-
nance of machinery, tools and implements,.
INTRODUCED, READ and PASSED by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
City Council on this the 13th day of July, A.D., 1961.
ATTEST:
Ls/ Edna Oliver
Edna Oliver, City Clerk
/s/ Al Clayton
Al Clayton, Mayor
Councilman Ansley moved to adopt the resolution as read, Councilman Cravey
seconded the motion. The vote was as follows: .
Ayes: Councilmen Cravey, Hansen, Ansley, Hughes, Bryan
Mayor Pro Tem Ward
Nays: None
Ordinance - Appropriation - Maintenance of Streets
The City Manager introduced and read an ordinance appropriating $25,000.00
from the Unappropriated Surplus of the General Fund to Budget Classification
301 4 -E to purchase materials to be used in maintenance of streets within the
budget year. Councilman Ansley moved to adopt the ordinance as read, Councilman
Bryan seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
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Ayes: Councilmen Cravey, Hansen, Ansley, Hughes, Bryan
Mayor Pro Tem Ward
Nays: None
The caption of the ordinance follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 629
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN TO"
APPROPRIATE TWENTY -FIVE THOUSAND ($25,000.00) DOLLARS FROM UNAPPRO-
PRIATED SURPLUS GENERAL FUND TO BUDGET ACCOUNT 301 4-8.
Report - Items of Unfinished Business
Item 1. No further work has been done in negotiating for rights -of -way
to open Green Street as the person with whom the negotiation must be made is in
hospital and cannot have visitors.
Item 2. Councilman Ansley, Chairmain of the Beautification Committee, submitted
drawings of two type signs to beautify the city limit approaches: the first sign
was to be erected at the city limit approach to the south and north of Highway 196
and the second sign to be used as a Church Directory. It was the recommendation
of the committee that the Council approve the type signs submitted. City Manager
LeFevre was instructed to have a cost estimate prepared for Council consideration
as the drawings were pleasing and impressive and the committee was congratulated
on the progress and the results of its study. -
Item 9. The City Manager reported that he had been unsuccessful in his attempt
to reach the two (2) remaining property owners from whom the City must obtain sani-
tary sewer easements .to service three homes abutting Barrymore Drive. He was in-
structed to make one more attempt to contact the owners, by telephone. If he .is
unsucessful, the matter will then be dropped or the City will enter condemnation
proceedings to obtain the required easements, if necessary.
Item 5. The Re- Districting Committee had no report to make as it is awaiting
a reply from the Census Bureau before continuing its study.
Item 6. The City Manager reported that be had met with V. V. Ramsey and Mr.
Jenson of the Flood Control District but was given no definite reply to his request
for cleaning out ditches and drainage of the Eva Maud Subdivision and adjacent
areas. Mr. Ramsey stated that he did not have the money for cutting new ditches.
however, he did promise to give some help in relieving the area along the non -
dedicated road off Kilgore Road. He did not favor giving assistance on the Adams
Ditch as he claimed the City and County bad a maintenance agreement; Mr. LeFevre
informed him that the City had never received the $7,500 as promised, and it was
the wish of the Council to cancel the agreement. If the County approves a bond
issue this year, the expense of cutting a new ditch in the Eva Maud area can be
included in the improvement proposal. The City Manager was instructed .to continue
his contacts and these projects wi.11 remain as items of unfinished business, pend-
ing further developments, such as bond issue election.
Item 13, Cost estimates for additions to the City of Baytown water distribu-
tion system were submitted for Council perusal. The report included four (d) pro-
posals at a total cost of $93,932.15. It was the City Manager's recommendation
that the Council make its study and, if possible, the first two items be approved
for immediate construction in order to allow the City to have its improvements com-
pleted before the construction of Spur 201. These two items were listed as: No. 1:
A 12" water main to be constructed from the water production plant on Park Street,
westerly along Park to Decker, across Decker to Woodruff, and along Woodruff to
Airhart Drive with a total estimated cost for materials, labor and equipment of
$21,319.59; No. 2: A 12" water main on Decker Drive from Park to Texas at a total
estimated cost on materials, labor and equipment of $36,222.73. The total of
these two (2) projects was an estimated $57,592.27, The Council accepted the esti-
mates and a decision will be made at a later meeting. -
y�rr Item 19. The Council agreed that it will abandon its attempt to relocate the
``Oak Addition Little League Ball Park site.
Install Fan - Roseland Park Pavilion.
The Council approved an expenditure of $20.00 for the purchase of a 98" window
fan which will be installed at the Roseland Park Pavilion.
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Miscellaneous
The City Manager reported that he had received a request from V. V. Ramsey
to grant outsiders permission to dump trash, garbage and other refuse at the City's
disposal grounds in order to eliminate some of the unsightly dumping along the main
thoroughfares and highways into the City. He and the Director of Public Works have
discussed the problem and it is their,recommendation that the City's disposal grounds
not be opened to outsiders as the land -fill site is filling fast enough with garbage
from those residing inside the city:limits. Every effort is being made to properly
maintain the land -fill grounds for the benefit of those living within the city but any
known outsider is being turned away.
Councilman Cravey asked that a study be made of possibly installing a street
light at the point where Spur 201 (Douglas Drive) and Highway 146 divide when
coming from the Tunnel. Some have reported that the area,is.so dark until they
drive pass the Spur and have to continue on Highway 146 to Lee Drive intersection
before making a turn.
Councilman Bryan thanked Mr. Lowell Lammers for the name plates he gave each
new councilmember.
Adiournment
Councilman Ansley moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilman Hughes
seconded the motion. The ayes were unanimous and the Mayor Pro Tem declared the
meeting adjourned.
ATTEST:
Edna Oliver, City Clerk
��
Al Clayton,) ayor