b'Corpus Christi City Council Meeting10.15.19My name is Jeff Blackard, Blackard Global. Im an outsider and Im here, and myEngineering, they have [hidden] things from us. They havent given drainage experience has been just terrible. Ive seen fraud. Ive seen people trying to getstudies even to Chip Urbantheyve hid things from us over and over again. me to pay them off. Ive seen everything. So, the reason probably Johnny MorrisThe people on North Beach are getting completely screwed over, and the truth left here, Bass Pro, or Tilman Fertitta, were friends, and all these other guys is now coming out. Theyve been deprived, since 1971, drainage. And Ive had the experience here is terrible. So, you put a task force together and I hear thatto keep on coming to you (the Mayor) trying to get you to lead us.the Mayor told the television station today that he wants to get rid of the TaskThe Utilities [Department] is not telling you the truth. Look up the famous Force, because their job is done. Were not even remotely done. You dont evenmemo Mark Van Vleck sent to the City Manager years ago. He said theres no have a traffic study on North Beach. You have a bridge coming and you dontproblem with utilities and no problem with drainage on North Beach. Do you have a traffic study. There is so much on North Beach that is not done, andrealize they did a drainage study, two of them in the last ten years, and they Praise the Lord, Carolyn Vaughn and everybody else, have spent hundreds anddidnt have a [topography] map? Goldstein, or whatever the guys name is, your hundreds of hours working on things that [the Mayor] should have led us [on]. Ifriend, hes running around trying to get all the engineers huddled up to try to met with you (Mayor McComb) the other day and asked you a question, Do yougo against North Beach. I know all the secrets thats going on around here.have any questions about the TIRZ? And you said, No. And I come today, and you want more time to learn about the TIRZ. Ill tell you what, you have one opportunity. You have a guy in this crowd (Lynn Rudy came in to learn about it. Roland came in to learn about it. Ben came inFrazier) who is interested in investing on North Beach. When he goes away, he to learn about it. Gil came in to learn about it. Obviously, Everett is on the [Taskgoes away. Good luck. Two weeks ago, we had a meeting with Peter [Zanoni] Force]. Hunter knows about itand now you want more time. Well, Ill makeand [Frazier] was ready to pack his bags and leavenot leave Corpus Christi, this real simple. This is a graphyou know what this graph is? Its really simple.but invest in North Beach, and I had to get Peter to tell him he would do his In 1950, there were 650 houses on North Beachstructurestoday, theresbest effort to help him stay on North Beach. He built a restaurant; he revived a 126. If you dont think a TIRZ is needed on North BeachHoly Cow! hotelthe guys one of the great heroes of Corpus Christis history.How do you think, Greg [Smith], you say its to line the pocket of the devel- In cities like Frisco (Texas) where I do business, the city manager is great, and oper, how do you think were going to encourage developers to go there? Thisthe council is great. I was in the negotiation on the [Texas Rangers] baseball, on isnt like Padre [Island]. This is one of your poorest areas of town. Do you havethe underpass, on the Cowboys [Training Facility], all these different things, but suggestions? And for anybody to say they didnt have time to understand theI have to come and begI begged you (the Mayor) five nights in a row to come TIRZshame on you! Weve been open for a year. Our doors are open from ninesee our presentation at the Aquarium, and you couldnt make one. to five everyday, to educate anyone on the TIRZ, on the development. A minuteThis TIRZ needs to happen650 houses in 1950? This is for the kids. This isnt ago, you had a briefing from your staff on the islandshe didnt even know! for meIll pack my bags and go on home. But if you want great things to hap-The deception is, the City staffnot Peter [Zanoni], hes the most awesomepen in this citythis is a nonsense vote. A TIRZ on North Beach?city manager Ive run across in all the cities Ive been inbut the people inIts just ridiculous.TheCoastalBend.com THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINEQ2.2020 51'