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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN NOV 07 2000 M I N U T E S - CITY OF BEAUMONT Lulu L. Smith DAVID W. MOORE, MAYOR Guy N. Goodson, Mayor Pro Tern Andrew P. Cokinos CITY COUNCIL MEETING Becky Ames Bobbie J. Patterson November 7, 2000 Audwin Samuel Lane Nichols, City Attorney Stephen J. Bonczek, City Manager Barbara Liming, City Clerk The City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in a regular session on November 7, 2000, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 801 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas, at 1:30 p.m.to consider the following: OPENING * Invocation Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call * Presentations and Recognition * Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items * Consent Agenda Mayor Moore called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. The Reverend Gerald Bryant, Sr., pastor of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, gave the invocation. Mayor Moore led the pledge of allegiance. Present at the meeting were: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Goodson, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos, Ames, Samuel, and Patterson (arrived at 1:33 p.m). Also, present were: Stephen J. Bonczek, City Manager; Lane Nichols, City Attorney; and Barbara Liming, City Clerk. *Presentations and Recognitions Mayor Moore recognized Mr. Roger L. Dimick with Lamar Institute of Technology who announced that eight students from Hanover, Germany are at Lamar Institute of Technology as part of an exchange program. He introduced Mr. Gunter Thiemann,the leader and teacher of the group. This is Mr.Thiemann's second visit to Beaumont. Mr. Thiemann introduced the students to Council,and Mayor Moore presented them with Honorary Citizenship cards and welcomed them to Beaumont. (Councilmember Patterson left the Council Chambers at 1:37 p.m. during the presentation.) *Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items. Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Regular Agendas. No one wished to address these subjects. * Consent Agenda * Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting held October 31, 2000 * Confirmation of committee appointments:William Lee to the Martin Luther King,Jr. Parkway Commission for a term expiring November 6, 2002 - Resolution No. 00-277 A) Approve a contract agreement with Carroll and Blackman, Inc. for engineering services associated with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit - Resolution No. 00-278 B) Approve an annual contract for the purchase of asphaltic concrete (from Bo-Mac Contractors, Inc. in estimated annual amount of$106,100) - Resolution No. 00-279 C) Approve a contract for the stabilization of levees at the Fire Training Grounds (with Civil Constructors in the amount of$41,630) - Resolution No. 00-280 D) Approve the purchase of three defibrillator monitors for use by the Fire Department and Public Health Department/EMS Division (from Medtronic Physio-Control in the amount of $37,679.77) - Resolution No. 00-281 E) Authorize the granting of an Equipment Station Easement to Southwestern Bell Telephone Company on the City's 23'Street Lift Station Site near Hillebrandt Bayou (for compensation in the amount of$5,000) - Resolution No. 00-282 F) Authorize the release of a lien again property located at 2125 St. Anthony Street - Resolution No. 00-283 Councilmember Cokinos moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Samuel seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Goodson, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos, Ames, and Samuel Noes: None GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider authorizing the City Manager to execute an interlocal agreement with Jefferson County to establish a Joint Airborne Law Enforcement Unit Councilmember Smith moved to approve Resolution No. 00-284. Councilmember Ames seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Goodson, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos, Ames, and Samuel Noes: None (Councilmember Patterson returned at 1:42 p.m. during presentation of Item No. 2.) 2. Consider becoming a member of Texas Conference of Urban Aggregation Project, Inc. (TCAP) Councilmember Smith moved to approve Resolution No. 00-285 authorizing membership in the Texas Conference of Urban Aggregation Project, Inc. to facilitate securing reduced Minutes November 7,2000 Page 2 electrical rates when electric deregulation occurs in 2002. Councilmember Goodson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Goodson, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos, Ames, Samuel and Patterson Noes: None 3. Consider amending the Grounds Maintenance Services Contract for the Central Business District to include the creation of a Downtown Beautification Team Councilmember Cokinos moved to approve Resolution No. 00-286 amending the Grounds Maintenance Services Contract with Beaumont Products and Services, Inc. to provide for two (2) additional employees to form a Downtown Beautification Team for the Central Business District with funding from Community Development Block Grant funds. Councilmember Ames seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Goodson, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos, Ames, Samuel, and Patterson Noes: None Mayor Moore recommended that future funding for such items be budgeted from the General Fund, since Council is limited to using CDBG funds to partnership with other entities for business development, housing, rehab, or other special community needs. He stated this is a worthy and important project, but feels it should be funded from general operating funds. WORK SESSION * Report from the Partnership of Southeast Texas Mr. Steve Buser, Executive Director from the Partnership of Southeast Texas Regional Economic Agency (POST), distributed copies of The Bid 9 Directory, the fall edition of Post Magazine, and the Partnership of Southeast Texas Annual Report for 2000. He introduced Ms. Ann Galassi, vice president, Mr. Karl Segura with Entergy, Mr. Jim Rich with the Chamber of Commerce, and Ms. Kathleen Hardy with Leadership of Southeast Texas and requested continued annual support in the amount of$25,000 for their economic efforts. Mr. Buser stated that electronic versions of the directory will be on the internet next year, and that the regional tourism website may be viewed at www.fun365days.com with more than 400 links of things to do and see in Beaumont and Southeast Texas. Mr. Buser reported meeting with Convention and Tourism Director Debbie Borel to propose creating a regional tourism events calendar to be published on the internet. He said they are up to about 110 prospects of their 150 goal for economic development in attracting business and industry to the region. Mr. Buser also introduced a newly created program, the Southeast Texas Workforce Innovation Network (SETWIN), which can be found on the internet at www.set.org/setwin and headed by Motiva Plant Manager Mike Killien. Ms. Ann Galassi is currently writing a grant application to bring the Southeast Texas Workforce, the Deep East Texas Workforce, Region IV, and other allies together in a program to address and solve any employability skill problems there may be. Lastly, Mr. Buser reported that with the help Minutes November 7,2000 Page 3 of the Jefferson County Legislative Response Team, they held a successful meeting to discuss Junior Water Rights and Ground Water Rights issues and information can be found on the internet website www.set.tx.org/waterrights. COMMENTS * Councilmembers comment on various matters Councilmember Patterson announced that the Pear Orchard Neighborhood Association will meet Tuesday, November 14, at our Mother of Mercy Hall at 7:00 p.m. Councilmember Samuel asked that staff check the grade and elevation of the ditch at McHale Street near St. Pius Church. A citizen reported a foot of standing water in the ditch. Councilmember Samuel reported that the structure at (1578) Texas Avenue has not been secured and is in violation of Council instructions at the dilapidated structure public hearing held last week. Also, he stated that this has been a great day for voter turnout in Beaumont and Jefferson County and applauded the citizenry for realizing the importance of voting. Mayor Pro Tern Goodson thanked Councilmember Cokinos and Public Works Director Tom Warner, City Attorney Lane Nichols, and Building Official Don Burrell for attending the Amelia Neighborhood Association meeting and presenting regulations regarding manufactured homes and helping to work with the neighborhood through a difficult situation. Mayor Pro Tern Goodson expressed appreciation to Leadership Southeast Texas and to POST, the Chamber of Commerce, and other partners for doing good jobs in achieving many of the goals set for Beaumont. Councilmember Smith also thanked POST for doing a good job and said she thinks we're headed in the right direction and we must continue monitoring the water rights issue. Mayor Moore commented about a letter received from Mr. Frank A. Eastman at 4460 Thomas Lane complimenting EMS about their responsiveness and the manner in which they handled his emergency situation. He congratulated the gallant warriors who turned out Sunday afternoon in the rain for the five-mile Crop Walk, especially Mrs. Betty Thompkins, a retired educator. A portion of the funds collected will be donated to Some Other Place to help feed the hungry. He reported that Tri-Supply Company on MLK Parkway raised the largest flag in Southeast Texas at their dedication this morning, appropriately on election day. Also, he asked that staff address a fire ant problem near benches outside City Hall. • Public Comment (Persons are limited to three (3) minutes) - No one wished to comment. • City Manager's Report - Fleet Auction, Cit y Manager Water/Sewer Workday and Rental Housing Acquisition Mr. Bonczek reported the American Opportunity Foundation has approached the City with a bond financing request in the amount of $10 million to the Beaumont Housing Finance Corporation for acquisition of Autumn Cove on Eastex Freeway and Cardinal Square Apartments on Saxe Street. They will be responsible for payment of the bonds with no Minutes November 7,2000 Page 4 responsibility to the City orthe Beaumont Housing Finance Corporation. A private company with manage the project for them, and the City of Beaumont benefits with additional affordable rental housing and job retention. He said an inducement resolution will be presented on November 14 or 21, and a public hearing held regarding the bond issue on December 5 or 12, with the closing shortly thereafter. Mr. Bonczek reported about the City ManagerWork Daywith Water Utilities Division/Sewer Crews underthe guidance of General Foreman Frank Jackson, Crew Leader III Arthur Leger, Maintenance Worker III Paul Zachary, and Maintenance Worker II Gary Lewis in a water tap for re-creation of the Lucas Gusher. His next work project was with General Foremen Kenneth Richards and Alex Cruz, Crew Leader III Curtis Thomas, and Maintenance Worker II's Troy Redeaux and Charlie Phelps working on sewer connections for new homes being built at the Brownstone Subdivision. Observers of the work were Water Utilities Manager Joe Majdalani and Water Utilities Superintendent Jerry Shadden. Mr. Bonczek stated that he enjoyed the day working with these employees. Mayor Moore expressed a concern about the overall condition of Pear Orchard Plaza and the commitment made by the Agape Group when bonds were financed for the project. He reported the apartment complex appears to be in a state of deterioration and asked that staff approach the Agape Group regarding renovations and fulfillment of commitments. He stated that the outside appearance indicates disrepair of several units, and asked that the City Attorney investigate legal requirements and the stance of the Beaumont Housing Finance Corporation. EXECUTIVE SESSION * Consider matters related to contemplated or pending litigation in accordance with Section 551.071 of the Government Code: Claim of Kelly Dugas/Christy Fredrickson Claim of Deborah Savant/Lone Star Overnight Janice Haynes v. City of Beaumont, et al * Consider matters related to the deliberation of the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect in accordance with Section 551.086 of the Government Code There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 3:07 p.m. :L — -N- 0 David W. Moore, Mayor Barbara Liming, City Clerk Minutes November 7,2000 Page 5