1970 03 30 CC Minutes, Special4783
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL
MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF BAYTOWN
March 30, 19 70
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in special session
on Monday, March 30, 1970 at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Room of the Baytown City
Hall with the following members in attendance:
Ted L. Kloesel
Councilman
David Evans
Councilman
Don M. Hullum
Councilman
Leonard W. Stasney
Councilman
Allen Cannon
Councilman
Lamar Kelley
Councilman
C. Glen Walker
D. R. Voelkel
W. R. Laughlin
Edna Oliver
Mayor
City Manager
City Attorney
City Clerk
Mayor Walker called the meeting to order for the purpose of setting assess-
ments and fixing charges and liens against property abutting upon Ward Road from
Highway 146 East to Kilgore Road, for part of the costs of the improvements.
Miscellaneous Motions
Mayor Walker reviewed the opinion of the Realtor, Shorty Tharp, which was
given at the regular meeting, March 26, for the front facing properties to be assessed
$8.71 per front foot or 100% for the improvement; $5.23 per front foot or 60% for all
side properties and $3.48 or 40% for all rear facing properties.
Councilman Stasney stated that the testimony heard at the March 26 meeting
raised a valid point that commercial property developing near residential property
does, in fact, reduce the value of the residential property. He moved that the
assessment rate for all single dwelling residential units currently occupied be re-
duced by 10% of the recommended assessment. Councilman Kelley seconded the motion.
After a lengthy debate, Councilman Stasney called for the debate to cease. Council-
man Kelley seconded the motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Kloesel, Evans, Hullum, Stasney, Cannon, and Kelley
Mayor Walker
Nays: None
Mayor Walker then called for the motion made by Councilman Stasney. The vote follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Stasney and Kelley
Nays: Councilmen Kloesel, Evans, Hullum, and Cannon
Mayor Walker
Councilman Evans then moved that the Council find, determine, and hold that
all parcels listed on the Assessment Roll which are front facing parcels be enhanced
in value in amounts greater than the proposed assessment, and that we assess all of
such parcels $8.71 per front foot. He further moved that all side facing parcels be
assessed on a basis of 60% of the full assessment, and that all rear facing parcels
be assessed on the basis of 40% of the full assessment, and that likewise, we find,
determine and hold that all of such parcels be enhanced in amounts greater than the
applicable assessments and further moved that the Council overrule any objections to
these proposed assessments. Councilman Cannon seconded the motion.
Councilman Kloesel moved to amend the motion to reduce the single residence
assessment as follows: front facing parcels 60% of the $8.71; side facing parcels,
40% of the $8.71; and rear facing parcels 30% of the $8.71. Councilman Stasney
seconded the motion.
Councilman Cannon moved to offer a second amendment to the motion to ex-
clude the property of Lester Taylor from the assessment levy altogether and the City
bear the cost of the improvement abutting his property. Councilman Kelley seconded
the motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Kloesel, Evans, Hullum, Stasney, Cannon, and Kelley
Mayor Walker
Nays: None
Mayor Walker then called for the vote on the amendment offered by Councilman Kloesel.
The vote follows:
Minutes, March 30, 1970 4784
Ayes: Councilmen Kloesel and Stasney
Nays: Councilmen Evans, Hullum, Cannon, and Kelley
Mayor Walker
Mayor Walker then called for the vote on the original motion offered by Councilman
Evans which was amended to exclude the property of Elmer Taylor - the City assuming
the cost of this improvement. The vote follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Evans and Cannon
Mayor Walker
Nays: Councilmen Kloesel, Hullum, Kelley, and Stasney
Following a lenghty discussion upon the degree of enhancement of the abutting pro-
perties, the City's present formula of assessing abutting properties whether thorough-
fares or residential streets, etc. Councilman Stasney moved to reduce the assessment
rate for all single dwelling residential units currently occupied by 104 of the re-
commended assessment proposed by Realtor, Shorty Tharp. Councilman Kelley seconded the
motion.
Councilman Hullum moved to amend the motion to only allow this reduction on
single dwellings with deed restrictions. The Mayor declared the motion dead for want of
a second.
Councilman Kelley then moved to amend the original motion to make an exception
on the Elmer Taylor property and the city bear the entire cost of the improvement.
Councilman Cannon seconded the motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Kloesel, Evans, Hullum, Stasney, Cannon, and Kelley
Mayor Walker
Nays: None
Following this vote Councilman Cannon suggested pursuing the commercial aspect
and the City assess the business property on a 504 of the total cost of the project. He
then moved to amend the motion of Councilman Stasney and to assess the commercial pro-
perties out on the Ward Road extension on the basis of 504 of the total cost of improve-
ment. Councilman Kelley seconded the motion. The Mayor asked the City Attorney for an
opinion on the motion and he stated that the City cannot assess any property for any
amount in excess of the enhancement. If this motion is approved, in his opinion, the
City would have to start over with new publications, new notices, calling a hearing
with an opinion from the appraisor as to the enhancement of each piece of property.
On the basis of the legal opinion, the Mayor declared the motion and second out of order.
Following further discussion, Councilman Stasney called for the question to
and debate. Councilmen Kelley seconded the motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Hullum, Stasney, and Kelley
Nays: Kloesel, Cannon, and Evans
Mayor Walker
Councilman Kloesel: Not fair to the property owner who is not in a subdivision.
Councilman Stasney: The proposed reduction will be 904, 544, and 364 as opposed
to the recommended 1004, 604, and 404.
Councilmen Evans: We are discrediting the appraisor's professional opinion.
Councilman Kloesel: Not discrediting appraisor's opinion. He gave appraisal by sections
need to have it appraised by each tract or lot.
Councilman Evans: The Council knew when the bids were received had to find $70,000
because of delay. If each parcel of land is appraised the realtor
will have to be paid which will result in additional cost . . . .
Convinced have spent a sizable amount of money on engineers and
realtors, not including loss of time, in not accepting the ap-
praisal as proposed.
City Attorney Laughlin: Could approve blanket reduction because of thoroughfare.
Councilman Stasney: Not in favor of blanket reduction . . do not think City should
reduce the property that is unimproved and will later be improved
as commercial property . . . take into account what is really
going to happen - a reduction in values due to commercialization
of property of the presently developed residential area.
Councilman Kelley called for the question to end debate. Councilman Evans seconded the
motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Kloesel, Evans, Hull=, Stasney, Cannon, & Kelley
Mayor Walker
Nays: None
4785
Minutes, March 30, 1970
Mayor Walker then called for the vote on the original motion to reduce the
assessment rate for all single dwelling residential units currently occupied by 10%
of the recommended assessment with the exception of the property of Lester Taylor,
the City to bear the entire cost of this improvement. The vote follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Stasney and Kelley
Nays: Councilmen Evans, Kloesel, Hullum, and Cannon
Mayor Walker
Councilmen Evans then moved that we find, determine, and hold that all
parcels listed on the Assessment Roll which are front facing parcels be enhanced
in value in amounts greater than the proposed assessment, and that we assess all of
such parcels $8.71 per front foot. He further moved that all side facing parcels
be assessed on a basis of 60% of the full assessment, and that all rear facing par-
cels be assessed on the basis of 40% of the full assessment, and that likewise, we
find, determine and hold that all of such parcels be enhanced in amounts greater than
the applicable assessments and further moved that we overrule any objections of these
proposed assessments, excepting the property of Lester Taylor. Councilman Cannon
seconded the motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Evans, Cannon, and Kelley
Mayor Walker
Nays: Councilmen Hullum, Stasney, and Kloesel
ORDINANCE NO. 1024 - Closing Hearing and Setting Assessment Liens - Ward Road
Councilmen Evans moved to adopt an ordinance closing the hearing given
to the real and true owners of property abutting upon Ward Road within the extent
set forth in the hearing; finding the regularity of the proceedings and fixing liens
against properties abutting upon said street for part of the costs of the improve-
ments. Councilman Cannon seconded the motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Evans, Hullum, Cannon, and Kelley
Mayor Walker
Nays: Councilmen Kloesel and Stasney
The caption of the ordinance follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 1024
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS, CLOSING
THE HEARING GIVEN TO THE REAL AND TRUE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY ABUTTING
UPON WARD ROAD WITHIN THE LIMITS HEREINBELOW DEFINED, IN THE CITY OF
BAYTOWN, TEXAS, AS TO SPECIAL BENEFITS TO ACCRUE BY VIRTUE OF THE IM-
PROVEMENT THEREOF, AND AS TO THE ACCURACY, SUFFICIENCY, REGULARITY AND
VALIDITY OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND CONTRACT IN CONNECTION WITH SAID IM-
PROVEMENTS, AND THE ASSESSMENTS TO BE LEVIED COVERING THE COST THEREOF;
OVERRULING AND DENYING ALL PROTESTS AND OBJECTIONS OFFERED EXCEPT AS
TO THE ADJUSTMENTS HEREINBELOW MADE; FINDING AND DETERMINING SPECIAL
BENEFITS TO EACH PARCEL OF PROPERTY AND THE OWNERS THEREOF EQUAL TO OR
IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT OF THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AS HEREIN ADJUSTED
AND ASSESSED AGAINST SAME: FINDING THE REGULARITY OF ALL PROCEEDINGS
AND THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL PREREQUISITES TO FIXING THE ASSESSMENT LIENS
AND THE PERSONAL LIABILITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS; LEVYING ASSESSMENTS,
FIXING CHARGES AND LIENS AGAINST SAID PROPERTY ABUTTING SAID STREET AND
THE TRUE OWNERS THEREOF FOR PAYMENT OF PART OF THE COSTS OF THE IMPROVE-
MENTS; PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF ASSIGNABLE ASSESSMENT CERTIFICATES
AND THE MANNER OF THEIR COLLECTION; PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS RELATING
TO THE FOREGOING; AND PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF.
Consideration of Time Table for Capital IMRrovements for Five Year Period
Mayor Walker reported that the Fiscal Agent was not recommending that the
City enter immediately into the sale of bonds, rather sell the bonds when the money
is needed unless the bond market improves greatly, or unless it appears that the
bond market becomes worse. He suggested that the Council proceed with determining
the priorities and, as needed, proceed with the sale of bonds. Councilman Stasney
suggested two areas: (1) Water & Sewer improvements and (2) acquisition of right
of way. The Council was in agreement with the suggestions, and will look to the Ad-
ministration with these priorities in mind for the necessary guidelines. Also, they
look to the Administration for a presentation prior to the selection of an engineering
firm to carry out the detailed engineering required to completed the projects.
Councilman Kloesel asked the Administration to prepare a recommended pri-
ority list for presentation at the next regular meeting of the Council.
Minutes, March 30, 1970 4786
Adjourn
Councilman Kelley moved for the nesting to adjourn. Councilman Hullum
seconded the motion. The ayes were unanimous and the Mayor declared the meeting
adjourned. e i/K 2a-4
C. Glen Walker, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Edna Oliver, City Clerk
APPROVED:
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Wi R. Laughlin, City Attorney