Loading...
1962 06 26 CC Minutes, Speciall! MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN June 26, 1962 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in special session on Tuesday, June 26, 1962, at 5 :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 C. A. Hansen J. C. Huron James M. Bryan Al Clayton Barney L. Ward Absent: Velma J. Ansley J. B. LeFevre George Chandler *Edna Oliver Councilman Councilman Councilman Councilman Councilman Mayor Acting City Manager' Councilman City Manager City Attorney City Clerk *Minutes recorded by Mrs. Oliver's Secretary in her absence. The Mayor called the meeting to order and the Invocation was offered by David Funderburk, afterwhich, the following business was transacted: Minutes - Correction - June 7th Meeting Councilman Hansen had been excused from the June 19th meeting prior to the approval of the minutes of the previous meetingsand moved that the following correction be made on the June 7th minutes, although formal approval had already been made: ""Reinstate - Wrecker License - James H. McKinney i.- Since this was not the case, the City Manager agreed to reinstate the license and the Council instruct- ed the Police Department to begin rigid enforcement of the ordinance, etc." Councilman Ward seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Councilmen Cravey, Ward, Hansen, Huron, Bryan Mayor Clayton Nays: None Revaluation Discussion Harry Massey, Roy Elms and Carter Miller, members.of the Equalization Board, were introduced and presented a letter recommending procedure for tax revaluation of property within the corporate limits of the City of Baytown. Councilman Hansen opened discussion by recommending that the revaluation program be done on a section- al and continuous basis and begin with certain areas of the city which need particu- lar revaluation of property at this time. However, the Equalization Board felt that this policy would be of a discriminatory nature in that only a portion of the city's real property would be revised to a correct assessment value in any one given year. Hiring a qualified, experienced outside appraiser who will work with City personnel in the Tax Office was also discussed, afterwhich, David Funderburk, Acting Tax Assessor and Collector was called on for clarification of the present system used by the Tax Office to determine the basis for tax assessment. It was Mr. Funderburk's opinion that there was no question of the need of property revaluation and further stated taxes were now determined by a very out -moded tech- nique as interior value was one of the many factors not now considered and yet effect market value of property. The determined amount of $22,000.00, over- antici- pated tax collection and an expected $25,000.00 overall surplus at the end of the fiscal year could be used to contribute to the cost of a revaluation program. Mr. Carter Miller was called on for this opinion and advised the Council that one of the values of hiring an outside appraisal firm would also include estimating the depreciated value of property as well. Councilman Cravey stated that he had con- tacted several appraisal firms and had two possibilities for Council consideration. 1778 1779 Councilmen Cravey, Ward and Acting Tax Collector and Assessor, David Funderburk, were appointed as a Tax Revaluation Study Committee to further investigate the hiring of a professional appraiser to be placed on the City's payroll and when the committee has compiled all necessary data, a report will be made to the Council. The Equalization Board will proceed in the same manner as it has previously acted, Appoint Member - Zonina Commission The Council unanimously accepted Mayor Clayton's recommendation that Bill Ruez be appointed to fill a vacancy on the Zoning Commission, as Taylor Miller has presented his written resignation to the Council. Overtime Investigation Committee Report Councilman Huron, spokesman for the Overtime Investigation Committee, pre- sented copies of a list prepared by the City of Baytown Payroll Department showing the overall figures of overtime paid city employees for a period from January 1, 1962 thru May 31, 1962. This also included recommendations from the committee for Council consideration. It was the Council's opinion that several departments showed an overtime figure exceeding their budgeted amounts for overtime and felt that any action by the Council was Justified by the committee's findings. Councilman Hansen moved that the Council accept the recommendation of the committee that no overtime shall be worked by any City employee unless it is considered an extreme emergency. Authorization for overtime shall be obtained from the City Manager and he shall present a monthly report to the Council outlining the justification for authorization of overtime worked. Councilman Bryan seconded the motion. The vote follows: - - Ayes: Councilmen Cravey, Ward, Hansen, Huron, Bryan Mayor Clayton Nays: None Councilman Huron made a second motion to adopt the policy of not increasing the funds already available for salaries and that budget funds not be diverted to other uses such as overtime and the City Manager be instructed to not use bud- geted funds, made available by terminated employees, without Council approval. Councilman Ward seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Councilmen Cravey, Ward, Hansen, Huron, Bryan Mayor Clayton - Nays: None Foaaina Machine - Transfer to Health Department Councilman Ward recommended that the Fogging Machine be placed under the jurisdicition of the Health Department. That two employees be used to operate the machine by requisition fromthe City Sanitarian. No action was taken on this recommendation at this time. ) Traffic Committee Report `,�" . - E'ti" "6Y` -`f'� X 7Y 1/ Councilman Cravey presented the following recommendations made by the Traffic Committee for Council consideration: - Twenty Five Cent parking ticket be adopted. Free ticket be given to out -of -town guestes, cars with out -of -town licenses. A number of restricted parking zones be eliminated in the business area. Ashbel and Gaillard Streets. which are One -Way, north from Texas Avenue one block, be extended an additional block. The speed limit on West Main Street be increased from 30 mph to 40 mph (It is now 30 mph from Willow to Yupon). This recommendation is to extend it to the "Y" in old Baytown. Three parking meters be removed next to the First National Bank Drive -In Bank parking lot. Bigger signs at school zones. A push - botton type traffic light at Bowie Drive. The parking problem on Stimpson was discussed and it was recommended that the City Manager be instructed to contact General Telephone Company of the Southwest and again try to negotiate the plan that the telephone company pay for culvert pipe and 1780 the city install it to fill the ditch and eliminate the parking problem for Telephone Co. employees and ease the problem of elementary school children- running between cars to cross the street. A sketch of the Traffic "Y" in old Baytown (West Main G Market), drawn by Bo Turner was presented showing proposals of building curbing in the center and moving the traffic lights in order for traffic to move more smoothly. The committee had proposed to submit the drawing to another traffic engineer for recommendations. Turning right on a red light was also discussed by the Traffic Committee.' Councilman Hansen moved to accept the committee's recommendations that the Twenty Five Cent parking ticket be adopted, that Ashbel and Gaillard Streets which are One -way north from Texas Avenue one block, be extended an additional block and the speed limit on West Main Street be increased from 30 mph to 40 mph to the "Y" in old Baytown. Councilman Bryan seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Councilmen Cravey, Ward, Hansen, Huron, Bryan Mayor Clayton Nays: None As the other listed recommendations are of an administrative nature, it was the Council's decision that enforcement of these recommendations be left to the discretion of the Police Department. Beautification Committee Study - Signs - Alexander Drive Mayor Clayton recommended that the Beautification Committee study the possibil- ity of erecting signs to prevent Alexander Drive being strewn with litter. Huron - Street Imoroveme nt Program The schedule of progress of the Capital Street Improvement Program was brought forth for Council discussion by Councilman Huron who stated that North First Street was presently getting maintenance repair although this street had been sheduled for capital improvement under the long -range planning program. It was his opinion that streets in line for maintenenace repair under this program should be repaired as the street is presented for improvement and Street Department crews and equipment should be used only on this basis, otherwise, the program cannot be efficiently carried out as presented. Acting City Manager Barney Ward proposed to refer this situation to City Manager Le Fevre as soon as Mr. LeFevre has returned from his vacation. W ilino Ordinance Revision Committee - Report Councilman Hansen, member of the Drilling Ordinance Revision Committee, reported that the committee's meeting with the oil operators and oil officials had been very encouraging, They were interested in the Council's efforts of improving oil drilling practices and offered numerous suggestions and also some criticisms. They hope to meet again with the committee in about a week and a half and should be able to work out a compromise onthe spacing question and other factors presented by the newly adopted ordinance on oil well drilling and reworking, Time Changed - June 28th Meeting The regular meeting of the City Council, set for June 28th was changed from 7:00 o'clock p.m, to 5 :00 o'clock p.m. Adiournment Councilman Cravey moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilman Ward seconded the motion. The ayes were unanimous and the Mayor declared the meeting adjourned. ATTES(Tp:n Al Clayton, Mayo f l A \ 1! L .. Edna Oliver, City Clerk