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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN JUN 01 1999 M I N U T E S - CITY OF BEAUMONT Lulu L.Smith DAVID W. MOORE, MAYOR John K.Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Guy N.Goodson CITY COUNCIL MEETING Andrew P.Cokinos Bobbie J.Patterson JUNE 1, 1999 Becky Ames Lane Nichols,City Attorney Kyle Hayes,Interim City Manager Barbara Liming, City Clerk The City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in a regular session on June 1, 1999, 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 1:38 p.m. Captain Tommy May, Beaumont Fire Department, gave the invocation. Fire Chief Michel Bertrand, led the pledge of allegiance. Present at the meeting were: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tem Davis, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos, Ames, and Patterson. Councilmember Goodson, absent. Also, present were: Kyle Hayes, Interim City Manager; Lane Nichols, City Attorney; Barbara Liming, City Clerk; and Rebecca A. Hoge, Deputy City Clerk. *Presentations and Recognitions Two proclamations were issued: a proclamation in recognition of four-year-old "Jerry Savoy" for heroic efforts in calling 911 and then his father when his mother suffered a seizure (Mayor Moore commented that Jerry Savoy is the youngest person to receive this type of award.); and "Management Week," June 7-12, 1999. Mr. Al Dicicco and Mr. Roy Etie, partners in Dicitie, Inc., presented Council with a check in the amount of$10,000 to help fund the Summer Youth Employment Program in partnership with other companies and the City of Beaumont. Mr. Etie spoke of his personal desire to help teens, statistics indicating a lack of wholesome activity for teens, the importance of parental involvement in activities of their children, and recreational opportunity his establishment offers to teens 13 to 17 years of age on teen nights. He said their facility is well protected by Police personnel and his own management team throughout the summer. Mr. Etie said children are allowed to socialize, exert energy in dancing and have good wholesome fun. Mayor Moore thanked Mr. Dicicco and Mr. Etie for their contribution and expressed his appreciation for helping to provide youth with work opportunities and social activity. *Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Regular agenda Items. Mr. Allen Lee, 5095 Maddox, addressed Council in opposition to Agenda Item No. 1 allocating funds to the L. L. Melton YMCA. Mr. Lee quoted previous allocations from the City totaling $368,000 and additional amount from other sources. He spoke of supporting a federal audit and recommended the City of Beaumont purchase the L. L. Melton YMCA and develop a municipal park for the community. *Consent Agenda * Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting held May 25, 1999 * Confirmation of committee appointments - No committee appointments were made A) Approve the acquisition of property located at 2928 Goliad Street which will be deeded to Statewide Consolidated Community Development Corporation as a part of the Neighborhood Revitalization (acquired from Gold Coast Investment Group, Inc. for $2,500) - Resolution No. 99-171 B) Authorize the payment of materials on hand to Hart Construction, Inc. for the Concord Road Project - Phase I - Resolution No. 99-172 C) Approve additional compensation for the Interim City Manager (a one-time payment of $5,000) - Resolution No. 99-173 Councilmember Smith moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Mayor Pro Tem Davis seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tem Davis, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos, Ames, and Patterson Noes: None GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider the allocation of Section 108 funds for the Melton YMCA Project and the proposed Southend Branch Library related to the public notice for public hearings Councilmember Patterson commented that both of these projects are worthy. She recommended the $2.825 million left in the Section 108 funds be appropriated as follows: $1.825 million the L. L. Melton YMCA, and $1 million for the Southend Branch Library. She indicated this would give the citizens of Beaumont as well as L. L. Melton YMCA, an opportunity to partner in sharing and leveraging dollars from Section 108 funds. Approximately $500,000 would remain to be funded for combined expenditures for the L. L. Melton YMCA and the Southend Branch Library construction. Councilmember Smith asked if the Council was just setting the approximate amounts to be allocated for each facility for figures to publish in the notice of public hearing, and not Minutes;June 1,1999;Page 2 actually approving allocations today? She stated she would like to fund all of the cost of the Southend Branch Library and consider the L. L. Melton YMCA from the remainder. Mayor Moore answered that Council is setting, not approving allocations today. Councilmember Ames inquired about the public hearing and when allocations would be voted upon. She also asked if a vote taken today would be to designate the $2.825 million Section 108 funds, and if the allocation would be a grant or a loan to be repaid. Councilmember Ames stated that she supports fully funding the Southend Branch Library because it will be a city-owned facility. Interim City Manager Hayes replied that allocations would be grant funded repaid through CDBG funds and explained that Council will take a final vote on exact allocations after the public hearing. Mayor Pro Tem Davis commented he would like to see some progress in development of the Southend Branch Library and the L. L. Melton YMCA. He stated that he would like this item in a workshop session to provide Council with all the information necessary to make a good decision. Mayor Moore responded to earlier public comments, said these funds are always audited, reviewed, and monitored by the City and HUD. Further lengthy discussion included allocation amounts, publication requirements, ability to amend allocations and moving forward with the public hearing. Councilmember Smith requested information about the number of children served, type of daycare activity, and type of services provided by the L. L. Melton YMCA. Mayor Moore asked staff for the requested information to be given to Council for review by the end of the week and restated the two proposals presented of allocating $1.5 million for the library and $1.325 for the YMCA or $1.825 for the YMCA and $1 million to the library. Mr. Hayes explained the time frame for a worksession, publication and public hearing, and Mayor Moore requested this item be deferred to a workshop in two weeks to determine exact allocations and then move forward to publication of the public hearing. 2. Consider a change order to the construction contract for a new standby generator at the Water Treatment Plant Councilmember Cokinos moved to approve Resolution No. 99-174 authorizing Change Order No. 2 in the amount of$61,691.70 to the contract with Placo, Inc. for construction of a standby generator at the Water Treatment Plant. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Minutes;June 1,1999;Page 3 Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tem Davis, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos, Ames, and Patterson Noes: None 3. Consider the purchase of an articulated wheel loader for use in the Water Reclamation Division/Water Councilmember Smith moved to approve Resolution No. 99-175 authorizing purchase of an articulated wheel loader in the amount of $90,463.66 from Rush Equipment Center through the Houston-Galveston Area Council. Councilmember Ames seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tem Davis, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos, Ames, and Patterson Noes: None COMMENTS * Councilmembers comment on various matters Councilmember Cokinos congratulated Broussard's Mortuary for their flag raising ceremony on Memorial Day and the Viet Nam Veterans' program last night. Mayor Pro Tem Davis questioned Agenda Item I not being a workshop item today as he requested at last week's meeting. * Public Comment (Persons are limited to 3 minutes) Mrs. Cindy Johnson, 5080 Helbig Road, commented about problems with the Beaumont Police Department, 911 Emergency, and the Beaumont Housing office personnel. Mayor Moore informed Mrs. Johnson that if her complaints were received by Council prior to the Council meeting, they would be knowledgeable and in a position to address her concerns. Mr. Allen Lee, 5095 Maddox, informed the Council he was circulating a petition in Beaumont requesting the U.S. Justice Department to investigate claims of abuse by the Police Department. He also stated he would be circulating a petition for term limits in the fall. Mr. Charles Johnson, 5080 Helbig Road, claimed he was still having problems with the Police Department. Minutes;June 1,1999;Page 4 Mr. Jerry Whittington, 2164 Cable, thanked the Council for the improvements in Ward III, especially the demolition of drug homes. Mr. Whittington announced that a committee is in the process of planning a "Juneteenth" celebration at Magnolia Park and solicited City help with the celebration. Mayor Moore thanked Mr. Whittington for participation in a scholarship program with various schools. Mayor Moore explained that the public comment policy is designed for openness and working with people with issues that are germane to our agendas and to get a feel of the pulse of the community. He said matters should be handled in a manner that will enable a final resolution, said some concerns need advanced communication with Council, and that public outcry cannot solve every problem. He said that a council meeting is not the forum for a proper resolution to problems that need to be resolved in a court of law. Mayor Moore announced that the next council meeting will be in two weeks. EXECUTIVE SESSION Executive Session in accordance with Section 551.071 of the Government Code to discuss contemplated or pending litigation: Litigation concerning Workers Compensation Subrogation Claim City of Beaumont v. Heath Vaughn Enterprises, Inc. Freddie Gatlin, et al v. David Roubein, et al Hospital Fee Guideline, State Office of Administrative Hearings SOAH Docket 453-99-0533 Subrogation Claim of City of Beaumont - RE: Mary Leger Consider matters related to employment, evaluation and duties of a public officer or employee in accordance with Section 551.074 of the Government Code: City Manager There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m. David W. Moore, Mayor Barbara Liming, ity Clerk ff Minutes;June 1,1999;Page 5