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Min 07/19/1974 984 Wichita Falls , Texas Memorial Auditorium Building July 19, 1974 Item 1 The Board of Aldermen of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, met in called session on the above date in the Council Room of the Memorial Auditorium Building at 10:00 o'clock A.M. , with the following members present: Harrison E. Taylor Mayor Pro tem Harry Campsey Lonny D. Morrison Joe N. Prothro J. C. Boyd, Jr. X Peggy McCullough X Gerald Fox City Manager H. P. Hodge, Jr. City Attorney Wilma J. Thomas City Clerk Max Kruger Absent The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro tem Taylor. Item 2 Mayor Pro tem Taylor announced that this meeting has been called for the purpose of considering modification of the ballot as first devised for the August 13 referendum on the Bicentennial Memorial Center. It was felt that the wording was negatively stated. Alderman Boyd stated that Baxter Featherston had furnished him with some ideas of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. They feel that the principal question of do you or do you not want the center should be addressed, then select the site. They also request that the election be delayed, and that the Council consider combining this election with. the proposed referendum by the firemen. He also read Warren Silver's editorial given on television recently in which the television station requested that the Council cancel the August 13 election for further clarification, and also combine the firemen's election with it. City Manager Gerald Fox commented on each proposal submitted for their considera- tion. Moved by Alderman Boyd that the phrase "Ohio Street site" be changed to read "Indiana site". (It was his opinion that the phrase "Ohio Street" carried some kind of stigma with it) . Alderman Campsey asked if the Ohio site was a condemnation of getting it passed, then why would it not be a condemnation to put it there? Alderman Boyd withdrew his motion. Alderman Morrison inquired if the Council would select the site, or ask the public to determine it. Alderwoman McCullough stated that she felt this decision had been made prior - that the public would choose the site. Alderman Campsey was in agreement with Alderwoman McCullough. Moved by Alderman Boyd that the downtown site be selected for the Bicentennial Center. Motion seconded by Alderman Taylor, and lost by the following vote: Ayes : Mayor Pro tem Taylor, Aldermen Prothro and Boyd Nays : Aldermen Campsey, Morrison, and McCullough Moved by Alderwoman McCullough that the proposal be passed calling for a vote for or against the proposition itself, and then choice of site. 985 Item 2, cont'd. Mrs. C. C. Jones questioned building the activities center in view of the energy crisis. Has any consideration been given to the source of energy? She al- so inquired who composed the ballot. City Attorney H. P. Hodge stated that he did; however, Alderman Morrison pointed out that Mr. Hodge did not vote on it. Mrs. Jones stated that just because other cities are doing it, is no reason for us to do so. Eddie Watson, Manager of Texas Electric Service Company, stated that Mrs. Jones is correct in that we are facing many years of energy crisis, but believes that progress is being made, and that we will continue to have enough energy. The motion made by Alderwoman McCullough was seconded by Alderman Prothro. Mike Flavin questioned whether a person would have to vote on both issues. The City Manager explained that a voter could vote on either or both. Mr. Flavin stated that it seemed there was confusion on the cost of both sites, and that an- other alternative might be to vote for or against a center, and select a site from the funds available. Mr. Killibrew passed out a brochure which the Jaycees hope to distribute. He stated that they are taking into consideration in the design of this building, low heating and cooling transfers. Hank Anderson appeared as an individual and also as a representative of the Jaycees. He strongly urges the use of two ballots - one for or against the issue, and one for the location. He believes the description should be so to identify the location. He also asked that a delay of the election be considered because the Jaycees do have a large educational program on the drawing board right now. He stated that they plan to go door to door to hand out the brochures. They also plan to hold a political rally, and really need an additional 30 days. Mayor Pro tem Taylor thanked him for his comments, and commended them for their interest in the center. Mr. Calvin Jones inquired if the hotel-motel tax had been tested in Court for legality. City Attorney H. P. Hodge stated that, to his knowledge, it had not been. James Williams stated that he concurs with the Jaycees in regard to the time. He stated that he believes we need a center, but feels we need to take a second look at the way we are going in regard to energy and finance. He feels the public should be educated more fully. He stated that the downtown is drying up, and if we could clean up some of the blighted area, then the downtown area might revital- ize. He feels the center could be built downtown as well as anywhere else. He believes the public should be educated to the fact that one site may cost more than the other. He stated that he feels the architect should not tell the Council which site is best. Bob Fitzner stated that he feels the architect presented the material to the best of his knowledge. He requested a delay in calling the election. Alderman Boyd recommended that the term "Ohio Street site" be changed to read "Indiana-Ohio Street site" in the body of the resolution. Mr. Killibrew stated that they had done considerable research, and they feel strongly in trying to advise the Council as to what they have seen. They do not want to make the same mistakes that others have. Many of the centers they have seen are three to four blocks from the central business district. Mr. Killibrew and Alderman Boyd both agreed that we need a civic center, and both will be happy no matter where it is built, even though they do not agree on the site. Mr. Killibrew stated that it would clean up some of the blocks downtown, but other properties nearby are still in a bad state of repair and will remain so until someone is willing to spend 20 million dollars to clean it up. One of the reasons they have noted is that when Sikes Senter opens, several businesses will move out, and this will increase the blight. They are concerned about future ex- pansion. He does not believe that the owners will clean up the businesses in the area. John Carroll, of the Jaycees, stated -that they would like the citizens of Wichita Falls to give the Council a mandate of what they desire. He stated that they have seen the changes that activities centers have brought to other cities, 986 Item 2, cont'd. and Wichita Falls does not have it. Discussion was held on combining this election with the proposed firemen's referendum. Moved by Alderman Morrison that Resolution No. 1551 be further amended to change the date of the election from August 13 to September 10, 1974, and to change the wording in the resolution to Indiana-Ohio Street site, and also that the word "shall" be changed to "may" in regard to the voter indicating his prefer- ence for location. (Alderwoman McCullough and Alderman Prothro agreed to this as part of their first motion and second.) Motion seconded by Alderman Boyd, and carried by the following vote : Ayes : Aldermen Morrison, Prothro, Boyd, and McCullough Nays : Alderman Campsey. RESOLUTION NO. 1557 RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 1551, CHANGING THE WORDING OF THE PROPOSITIONS TO BE VOTED ON AT THE REFERENDUM ELECTION ON THE BICENTENNIAL MEMORIAL CENTER, AND CHANGING THE DATE OF THE ELECTION. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, j THAT: Section 1 of Resolution No. 1551 is hereby amended by changing the date of such election from Tuesday, August 13, 1974 to Tuesday, September 10, 1974. i Section 4 of Resolution No. 1551 is hereby amended to read as follows: "SECTION 4. There shall be submitted to a vote of the electors at such refer- endum election an ordinance appropriating $3,000,000 out of the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for the construction of a Bicentennial Memorial Center in the City of Wichita Falls. A copy of such proposed appropriation ordinance is attached here- to as "Exhibit B" and made a part of this resolution for all purposes. In addition, each elector may express his preference for the location of such Memorial Center at either the Auditorium site or the Indiana-Ohio Street site. The Auditorium site is a four square block site containing approximately 580,000 square feet or thirteen (13) acres, bounded by Sixth and Eighth Streets and Bluff and Austin Streets. The Indiana-Ohio Street site is a four square block site containing approximately 600,000 square feet or thirteen and one half (13.5) acres, and is bounded by Seventh and Ninth Streets and the Fort Worth and Denver and Katy railroad tracks and Indiana Street. If the appropriation ordinance is adopted by the voters, the Memorial Center shall be built at the site selected by the majority of the voters." Section 5 of Resolution No. 1551 is hereby amended to read as follows : "SECTION 5. The official ballots for said election shall be prepared in accord- ance with the Texas Election Code so as to permit the electors to vote for or against such proposed ordinance, and to express their preference for the location for such proposed Memorial Center, which shall be set forth in substantially the following form: ( ) FOR AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,000,000 FROM THE REVENUE SHARING TRUST FUND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BICENTENNIAL MEMORIAL ( ) AGAINST CENTER. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Each voter may indicate his preference by placing an X in the square beside the loca- tion he prefers. ( ) FOR THE AUDITORIUM SITE. ( ) FOR THE INDIANA-OHIO STREET SITE." 986 Item 2, cont'd. Section 6 of Resolution No. 1551 is hereby repealed. Moved by Alderwoman McCullough that Resolution No. 1557 be passed. Motion seconded by Alderman Prothro, and carried by the following vote : Ayes : Aldermen Campsey, Morrison, Prothro, Boyd, and McCullough Nays : None. John Carroll inquired if there is a possibility of the Council permitting expenditure of city funds to print some brochures regarding the Bicentennial Center. Alderman Boyd stated that the Council would like to consider it first. Moved by Alderman Boyd that thanks be extended to Mr. Flavin for his sugges- tions in wording of the ballot. Motion seconded by Alderman Morrison, and carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:20 A.M. PASSED AND APPROVED this &a,, day of --G« 1974. 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