03121963 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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'-... ~ ,?/ REGULAR MEEfING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MAlnlS, TEXAS HELD C>>I THE lZfH DAY OF MABCH, A.D., 1963 Present 1 Mayor Pro-Tem J.E. Younger, jr. I Aldermen: Wm. L. Moore, M.D. Ruben Ruiz H. Garland Stokes Lee SWift City Manager City Secretary B.R. Fuller Dorothy o. Worrell Guests: Mrs.J.E. Younger, jr., the Rev. W.E. Thomas, Mrs. Jerri Veidt, Wray Waddell, Tom Buckner, and about twenty property owners of the nCruz Partition", W.H. Hamilton, jr., C.E. Q'Bryant, jr., and Al Stehling. The Mayor Pro-Tem called the meeting to order at 7 o'clock p.m. The Rev. W.E. Thomas, staff member of the Campus Christian Community, gave the Invocation. The Minutes of the previous meetings were approved as presented. I The Mayor Pro-Tem welcomed a delegation of some twenty persons who are interested in the nCruz Partition". AldermanRuiz explained that various persons had come to him on many occasions complaining that they could not get water and sewer service on their property. He stated he had invited them to appear before a regular session of the Council to have their situation clarified. Miguel Castro and Juan de la Cruz, husbands of two property owners, acted as spokesmen and put the questionl "Why can't we get City water and sewer service?" The City Manager explained that there were no dedicated streets on the property, which was partitioned into 22 small pa!l:oels by District Court, Cause #7841, on July 7, 1961. Since the City cannot lay lines on private property, the only solution is for the property owners to dedicate sufficient property for streets, and then make application for service. Alderman Ruiz translated the City Manager's answer, as well as statements by the Mayor Pro-Tem and Councilmen. Alderman stokes made a suggestion that a letter setting forth the City's position, in English and Spanish, be sent to each property owner in the Cruz Partition, with a recommendation for a possible solution to the problem. The suggestion was adopted by mutual consent, and the City Manager requested to prepare such a letter. The Mayor Pro-Tem thanked the delegation for appearing before the Council with their problem. I AldermanRuiz moved that the City Manager be instructed not to include the ad valorem tax on autos in the 1963-64 Budget. Alderman Stokes seconded the motion. The Mayor Pro-Tern asked whether the Council could legally restrict certain items from the personal property tax. Mr. Stokes replied that under the law, no city has the authority to arbitrarily exclude any certain item, but many cities simply do not collect them if they are not rendered. He brought out that the amount collected (approx- imately 6Q% the past year, or about $9,000) was so small that it would be absurd to try to collect it through the courts. Any citizen who sees fit to render his car for personal tax would be billed. Alderman Moore quest- ioned whether there would be another manner of taxation to make up the diff- erence in City income. He stated he would like to study the matter a great deal more before taking action. Alderman Swift said he felt the auto tax was inequitable, and the combination of the expense of compiling the auto tax rolls and the ill-will of the public did not make it financially worth- while. The Mayor Pro-Tern questioned where such a policy wpuld stop: "We get rid of one unpopula l' tax... does it stop there?n The City Manager !}S~