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.
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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
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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