HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN NOV 23 1999 M I N U T E S - CITY OF BEAUMONT
Lulu L. Smith DAVID W. MOORE, MAYOR Andrew P. Cokinos
Guy N. Goodson CITY COUNCIL MEETING Becky Ames
Bobbie J. Patterson NOVEMBER 23, 1999
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 23, 1999,
at the City Hall Council Chambers, 801 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas, at 1:35 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 1:35 p.m. Before the Reverend Vincent Tyler, Goodwill
Missionary Church, gave the invocation, Mayor Moore requested a moment of silence for the
victims of the recent tragic situation at Texas A& M University. City Manager Stephen J. Bonczek
led the pledge of allegiance.
Present at the meeting were: Mayor Moore, Councilmembers Smith, Goodson, Cokinos, Ames,
and Patterson. Also present were: Stephen J. Bonczek, City Manager; Lane Nichols, City Attorney;
and Barbara Liming, City Clerk.
*Presentations and Recognitions - No proclamations were issued.
*Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items.
Citizen comment was invited on the Consent Agenda and Regular Agenda Items 1- 3.
Mr. Allen Lee, 5095 Maddox, addressed Council to complain about not receiving an answer to
previously posed questions to Council, spoke in opposition to the process used in selection of the
Ward III representative, and stated that he will file an injunction against the procedure on Monday.
* Consent Agenda
* Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting held November 16, 1999.
* Confirmation of committee appointments - No appointments made
A) Approve a contract for$25,000 with BUILD, Inc., Beaumont Main Street, to further economic
growth in downtown Beaumont - Resolution 99-353
B) Authorize the granting of an Easement to Encroach into the City's sixty-foot Milam Street
right of way (with Lucent Technologies for a one time fee of$500) - Resolution 99-354
C) Authorize the acquisition of properties for the Concord Road Improvement Project (Parcel
50: .166 acre out of A. Williams Survey, 3195 and 3235 Concord Road, from Irene Miller for
total compensation of$31,005) - Resolution 99-355
Councilmember Cokinos moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Ames seconded
the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Moore, Councilmembers Smith, Goodson, Cokinos, Ames, and
Patterson
Noes: None
GENERAL BUSINESS
1. Consider approval of three Grade III Captain positions and elimination of three Grade I
Firefighter positions
Ordinance No. 99-90 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21, SECTION 21-74 TO
AMEND THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS IN GRADES I AND III IN THE BEAUMONT FIRE DEPARTMENT
was introduced.
At Councilmember Patterson's request, the City Manager restated that certain apparatus
may be taken out of service periodically due to training and maintenance and asked Fire
Chief Bertrand to explain further. Chief Bertrand explained that there are times that a unit
is taken out of service to allow personnel to be trained, stated this is a normal occurrence,
that no apparatus will be in service at all times, and described instances where equipment
could be taken out of service. Chief Bertrand also stated that the plan is not always to take
Truck 3 and Snorkel 7 out of service and explained circumstances when this would occur.
In response to Councilmember Cokinos' statement that the passage of this ordinance would
not be in compliance with Civil Service laws and elimination of any position would cause a
manpower shortage, Chief Bertrand explained that the number of firefighters will not change
and explained that options to present to Council to increase the number of firefighters is
under review.
In response to Councilmember Goodson's query about the Fire contract specifying a number
of personnel for each grade level, the City Attorney responded that changes may be made
for acceptable reasons for changing the number of personnel in various positions.
Councilmember Goodson moved to approve Ordinance No. 99-90. Councilmember Smith
seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Moore, Councilmembers Smith, Goodson, Ames, and Patterson
Noes: Councilmember Cokinos
2. Interview candidates and consider the appointment of a Councilmember for the Ward III
Councilmember position
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 2
In explanation of the interview process, Mayor Moore stated that each candidate interviewed
will be asked to respond to the same questions, candidates will alphabetically draw numbers
to determine their placement in the interview process, the first candidate will remain in the
meeting and the remainder of candidates will wait in a secure room until they are to be
interviewed. Mayor Moore stated that the questions were given to Councilmembers before
meeting, were reviewed by our Legal Department and Human Resources, and after the
interview process, Council will meet in Executive Session, and if a consensus is reached,
Council will reconvene and announce their decision.
Candidates to be interviewed for the Ward III Councilmember position are: Mr. Raymond
C. Chaison, Mr. Robert Cortez, Mr. Roberto C. Flores, Sr., Ms. Alice Wycoff-Jenkins, Mr.
Audwin Samuel, Ms. Karen Thomas, Mr. Jerry Whittington, Sr., and Mr. David S. Worsham.
The candidates drew numbers in alphabetical order, and the interviews proceeded.
Candidate: Ms. Alice Wycoff-Jenkins
1. Describe your education, training, life experiences and skills which qualify you for this
position. Also, describe your availability to spend the time necessary to fulfill the
requirements of the Ward III position. (Dr. Lulu Smith)
First of all, I am originally from .... Louisiana, I am a nurse of 32 years here in Beaumont, I
attended Grambling College in ..... Louisiana, from 1965-1967, got married, moved here to
Beaumont, attended Lamar Vocational School, I have been a Licensed Vocational Nurse
since 1968. 1 also have worked in various hospitals around the Golden Triangle. I have
also owned and operated my own business, which was the"Loving Care Home Health
Agency," where I did a lot of community things, which encountered feeding the homeless,
giving Thanksgiving dinners every year for the three years that I was in business at the
home health agency, feeding over 1000 people between Beaumont and Port Arthur. And,
I thank the Heavenly Father for that opportunity. I have done various things that have been
community oriented, that have been spoken of by the media... But, it was through His grace
that allowed me to do that. I am also in the process of operating and owning an adult day
care activity program which will service the elderly in our community. I realize the
importance of commitment; I realize the importance of being open and available at all times
as necessary, and I would be available at whatever time is required.
A. A follow up question could be: what are your strengths and weaknesses?
My major strength is I am truly an ambassador for the elderly. In my life, I have basically
been a servant for the people. I have a weakness as for the elderly as well, because they
in essence need a lot of things, and when their needs aren't met , then I am submissive to
them. But I am truly dedicated, truly committed toward being an advantage and being a
servant to the people, to the children, the youth in our community, and to the elderly
especially; it is just my weakness.
2. Describe the Council/Manager form of government. In that context, what do you see as the
pressing issues for Ward III and the City? What do you think should be done to address
these issues? (Guy Goodson)
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 3
First of all, to me, the most pressing issue that I see in my Ward, Ward III, and in the
community as a whole, is an apathy whereas moral character and self esteem of the people
needs to be increased. The ability to care, the ability to share, the ability to spread what I
call love throughout the community, whereas we are bringing together one whole community
that is based on one community working together in order to spread joy, and peace, and
forgiveness and happiness in our community as a whole. I do see that there is a lot of
people that just don't seem to really care, and when you are educating people, and bringing
them in, and making them aware of the things open to them from the city, we will have a
complete working together atmosphere. It calls for the City Council as a whole working with
the people of the city as a whole, in order to address and resolve problems that may come
or using preventive methods as a way in order to avert or avoid problems that could arise.
It is an openness that we need to assert, along with family, to me Christian moral values,
which is inclusive and exclusive. When a person feels that they are a part of, then you do
not have as much confliction or confusion, bringing it together as a whole, and we can work
together in order to do this. There are times that we do as an adult have to go back to basic
moral values, and these values are what we are supposed to be exemplifying and portraying
to our youth as role models in this city, where they can take the stand when we leave. We
have to implement these things. I would basically, education, awareness, a coming together
like the Family Day Activity that we are about to have, and including all areas, and making
every ward a part of the city as a whole.
3. Describe the experience with Neighborhood Associations in Ward III. How would you
address conflict (or disagreements) between Neighborhood Associations? (Becky Ames)
I basically have worked with the ... department complex up there. Whereas I don't, I am not
a person to pat myself on the back, I have contributed things to them and went to their
meetings and talked with them about ways of getting things for their community room. I have
talked with people that were in Magnolia Garden Apartments, the young women, as far as
getting them to have a better self esteem about themselves. I have received several
commendations from this city for speaking engagements that I have done. To me, the best
way to address a conflict or disagreement, number one is to be honest, you need to be
honest, you need to face the problem. If someone were to come up to me and have a
problem or a complaint, then it is better for me to resolve it right then. It is better for me to
listen to that person, or whoever the complaint or problem is coming from right then, and
immediately go through three steps in order to resolve that problem, making sure that the
person knows and understands that I have listened to the problem, initiated a resolution of
the problem, come to an agreement as to how what approach we are going to take to solve
it, and then let them feel comfortable in knowing that we did something about it. That adverts
conflict.
4. Although you represent Ward III, what is your philosophy about issues that do not directly
affect Ward III? (Andrew Cokinos)
I feel that the City Council, even though representing just Ward III, 1 am a member of a team,
and the team is the whole City Council, so if there is a problem that is not within Ward III,
then I would work cooperatively with other members of the City Council, to make this
community the best community in the United States of America. We have to work together,
because we are here for the whole city. We are representing wards, but we are here for the
whole city.
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 4
5. Assuming you agree that the City needs to increase its revenues (i.e. user fees, taxes) what
ideas do you have for increasing revenues over the next five years? (Bobbie Patterson)
Number one, I am a visionary person. I believe in visions, and I believe in growth. I do
understand that I myself would make a difference in this community by improving, number
one, the quality of life of the citizens. You have to live in order to move on, life in itself does
not necessarily mean I am breathing. Life in itself, means taking on the action word and
working. I do believe in economic development. I understand that it is very important in
this city, in order to keep the local economy strong. I do believe that there are avenues as
set for every individual that has the assertiveness and aggressiveness about himself in
order to make himself a better person. I do believe that opportunity comes, and when it
comes we must walk out on faith. I do believe that growth and potential is here. It is already
spread, and we just need to go into the infrastructure of this city and make it better, bonding
and partnering with businesses in order to open up entrepreneurship for people that are
interested in opening businesses, which increases our economy. I do believe that we are
a beautiful and great city, and all we have to do is do right, and walk by faith, believing in
oneself, believing in your city, making the city the best, and we can do that with economic
development and other avenues. First of all, as far as the, you're saying like grants, I, really
to be totally honest, don't know where your funding, the city funding, comes from other than
the government. But, we, I personally would learn to the best of my ability, because I am
not going to stand here and ask no question about funding, when I really do not know all of
the details about where your funding comes from. So I am going to be honest and tell you
that I don't know that yet.
6. Since Ward III is very diverse, what action would you take to ensure that the needs of the
citizens are met by the City? (Mayor Moore)
The main step that I would try to do, number one, as I said earlier, being honest with the
constituents in Ward III. The steps that I would take to make sure their needs are being
met, is bring whatever, have an open door policy first of all, with my number listed to where
can be contacted, if there is a problem that they are having. Thirdly, I would bring it to you,
their problem, if it is something that I cannot handle on my own. But I would not on my own
just do anything, without talking to the City Council as a whole. So that you may be able to
direct me so that we may be able to divert problems. I just do believe that if a person feels
that you are listening to them, knows that you are listening to them, and that you are giving
them answers that are straight and that is honest, then you are not going to have a whole
lot of problems, because they are going to feel like, you know normally, if you don't answer
a persons, you know, questions, or try to show them a resolution to their problem, they are
going to feel left out, and they are going to create problems for you. So in order to
eliminate this, then I would have an open door policy, and bring whatever they bring to me
to you, and we will sort it out, basically.
7. Is there anything else that you would like to share with Council or ask of Council?
I have one comment. I don't have any questions. I do have one comment, and this, in
closing, I would like to say that I come not to destroy the positive movement and growth of
the community, but to enhance it. I seek not power or prestige, I come to you to serve this
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 5
city and Ward III. For I comes not to be served, and I will give my time, and all my efforts,
and life to you this city and the city council.
Candidate: Mr. David S. Worsham
1. Describe your education, training, life experiences and skills which qualify you for this
position. Also, describe your availability to spend the time necessary to fulfill the
requirements of the Ward III position. (Dr. Lulu Smith)
O.K., That is quite a bit there. With the education, I am graduated from Lamar University.
I hold two degrees. One of which is in liberal arts, the other one in studio arts. So, basically
I am a humanities type person. Beings with the humanities background, I have become
quite familiar with civil processes, and you know, the general promotion for civilities. So,
think that is one of the qualifications that I would have for filling a post as a Councilperson.
Lifes experiences, well, beginning in college I participated in, I lived in the dormitories, I was
a part of the judicial board there in the dormitories, so that was my first little bit at listening
to other people, listening to problems, listening to complaints, convening with other members
of the board, reasoning judiciously, and then resolve the problems. Since I have left college,
as I stated in my letter, I have been busy building a business, beings that I am self employed,
and I will be flat honest, it is not easy. It is a lot of hard work, and it is a lot of, just a hard
way to go at it. But, it brings a lot of experiences, because I have been told no, no, no, and
then I am told yes, by what, people who say that say you can't do this, people who say you
can't go there. You have to just keep plugging it away, you got an idea, you want to make
it work, everybody is against you, and you got to have the positive mental attitude to say that
I am going to make it work, and here I am, you know, eight years later, and I am finally
saying okay, you know, I got to a point, I am achieving a goal. There is a vacancy, and I said
here is another way that I can help make things happen. Let me try for a city council, let me
try to move forwards and present some of the background, the areas that I know how hard
it is to struggle, how hard it is to make things, you know, what is in my opinion, what is good
for the city, yet what doesn't infringe upon the citizens rights, and that is an experience that
I bring with me from just my years at building a business. Well, one of the wonderful things
about being self employed is I can make myself available. I don't have a regular, you know,
a time clock to punch. You know, if I am taking time off now to be here at this meeting, that
means I can make up for my work later in the day, at lot of time I work at night, being that
I am involved with e- commerce, it really doesn't matter when I do my work, as long as I put
in the number of hours, so if I need to be available for City Council meetings, that is fine, I
am available.
A. A follow up question could be: what are your strengths and weaknesses?
Strengths....I am unbiased, I listen carefully, I reason judiciously. I have just a good ability
to be able to perceive both sides of an issue and then weigh them judiciously. Weaknesses,
don't know what do I have to say, I mean do I have a weakness. Weakness, okay, I am
going to come up with one, I am young, and I do lack in some experience. But I can
overcome that for my eagerness and willingness to serve.
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 6
2. Describe the Council/Manager form of government. In that context, what do you see as the
pressing issues for Ward III and the City? What do you think should be done to address
these issues? (Guy Goodson)
Okay, that would be a fairly broad based question. Issues within the Ward 111, to go very
general would be in my opinion, how can we as a city provide the best amenities to the
citizens of Ward III without overburdening the citizens...So lets take a look at the issue of the
fire...Are we going to be able to provide descent fire protection for those citizens, without
overburdening through taxation or what have you those same citizens...How can we provide
the very best without the undue burdens. It is not an easy resolution...One of the ways to
resolve the problem is broaden the tax base. How do we broaden the tax base? We got to
entice more people to move into the area. How do we get more people to move into the
area? Well, then we are going to have to go back to reviewing the amenities that we are
offering as a city...Why does anybody want to move in this area, why do they want to live
there? It is a vicious circle, it is not one that can be easily resolved. It requires plenty of
consideration and input from not only hired professionals such as the City Manager, such
as the Fire Chief, but also citizen input, because they, after all, are going to have to speak
up and say what they would like to see or what they don't like, and that has to be weighed
and then again logically, we have to follow the best course, which sometimes is not the
easiest, and sometimes it may not be exactly what people want to swallow. It could be the
bitter pill, this is what is needed to resolve the problem, but people aren't going to like it.
Well, my little soap box is streets and sidewalks. Specifically....I like walking on sidewalks
that you do not fall and break your neck on, and I like streets that you don't have to worry
about your car failing through it.
3. Describe the experience with Neighborhood Associations in Ward 111. How would you
address conflict (or disagreements) between Neighborhood Associations? (Becky Ames)
My experience with Neighborhood Associations in Ward III has been nil, because I am in a
precarious situation where I am closer, or closely related to Ward 11, than I am to Ward III.
It just so happens the way the boundaries of the Wards run that my neighborhood has been
split into an area that is quite a bit different, to be honest. I don't profess any affiliation to
any neighborhood associations. I think neighborhood associations are a good idea. I think
it is the old fashioned, you know, neighbors...bonding together...to make the city a better
place to live. But as far as having any contact with them, specifically those, no. (in response
to addressing conflicts). Number one, go to the them, listen, listen to what they have to say,
listen to the complaints. Take in all of the facts pertinent, and weigh them, and then give,...
the best, well reasoned opinion I can give.
4. Although you represent Ward 111, what is your philosophy about issues that do not directly
affect Ward III? (Andrew Cokinos)
Well, gee, I am going to try to narrow this down to the city in general. General philosophy,
I would like to see the City of Beaumont move forward in a very progressive manner. We
are now in what is known as the information age, the information revolution. There is a
whole electronic revolution that is going on, electronic medium, specifically the Internet. The
State of Texas is slowly coming around to embracing this new medium and saying you know
what, people that are involved in the computing world, whether they be programmers, web
developers, people who have host ISPs or what have you, the State of Texas is saying how
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 7
can we make the state attractive to these type of people to move here and become citizens.
I would want to narrow that down and say how can the City of Beaumont follow suit with the
State of Texas and make Beaumont a city that is attractive to these type of people who are
willing to move here, to settle here and further develop the industrial base or the economic
base of the city, and bring with them...this whole new era that is dawning on us.
5. Assuming you agree that the City needs to increase its revenues (i.e. user fees, taxes) what
ideas do you have for increasing revenues over the next five years? (Bobbie Patterson)
As I had stated earlier, my idea of increasing the revenues would be to try to entice more
people to move into the city, rather than just...come out and say we need to raise taxes,
because again that is going to put an undue burden on the citizens that are already living
here. What I would like to see is people who work in the city of Beaumont also live in the
city of Beaumont. There is a lot of people who drive in or commute to Beaumont for their
work, but would rather live in outside communities...If we can pull these people back into our
city, we are going to be broadening the tax base, and that there alone is going to bring the
revenues up.
6. Since Ward III is very diverse, what action would you take to ensure that the needs of the
citizens are met by the City? (Mayor Moore)
Quite carefully, because it is diverse. I am well aware of the diversity of the Ward. Again,
I am very open minded, I am unbiased. I have no affiliations to any particular groups that
would cause me to want to favor one particular area or one particular ethnic group more so
than another. I just don't have those problems, I don't have those kind of hangups. I think
I would be quite, very well to deal with the people in their diversity and listen to them fairly,
judiciously and listen to the reasons behind it, not necessarily based upon preconceived
notations , or perceptions....or misconceptions, myths....the whole genre, the whole ball of
wax that goes with it...I don't have these types of problems, and I think that is one of key
elements to working within Ward III, is being, having an unbiased clean mind set, and being
positive in addressing and working with the diversity within the Ward.
7. Is there anything else that you would like to share with Council or ask of Council?
No not at this moment. All I would say is thank you very much for your consideration in this
matter.
Candidate: Ms. Karen Thomas
1. Describe your education, training, life experiences and skills which qualify you for this
position. Also, describe your availability to spend the time necessary to fulfill the
requirements of the Ward III position. (Dr. Lulu Smith)
I have been at Lamar University for 25 years, held several positions at Lamar University, one
of the positions that I have held is Buyer I, and with Buyer I, 1 know about acquisitions, and
state contracts and bidding processes...When I left there I decided to take a challenge as the
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 8
manager of the Setzer Student Center, now that was completely out of my field, but it was
a challenge. I had opportunity at that time to manage staff, which brought me the skills of
managing personnel, learning about labor laws. Then I decided to leave and go somewhere
else, and then my boss gave me a promotion to Assistant Director for operations, and with
that I had opportunity of working with the public with the reservations of the Setzer Student
Center, and also dealing with the day-to-day operations of the Setzer Center and that
consists of working with the physical plant, minor and major renovations of the Setzer
Student Center that brought in budgeting skills that I had to bring from Buyer 1. When I was
a Buyer 1, 1 dealt with a $3 million budget that I had to balance, along with vendors that I did
business with--over 500 vendors nationwide--bringing those skills to Assistant Director for
Operations, we were able to do some major renovations and also save money to put into the
reserve account. Had an opportunity at that point and time--people left and I became the
Interim Director of the Setzer Student Center, which was a new challenge for me, and that
challenge meant that I had to tend to not just the day to day operations with the building, but
also day-to-day operations of the assistant directors and work with a staff and a team of
people, and bringing some things to the table still of the bidding process, working, working
with RFPs, dealing with contractors, working with the physical plant on major and minor
renovations of the building. Opportunity came where I became the Director of the Setzer
Student Center, and I have been doing that for approximately three years, with those
dynamics behind me and in front of me, I have had an opportunity to come up with a
financial portfolio for the Setzer Student Center, that we are to save monies, because we get
no money from the state, the Setzer Student Center is a local account, so I have to deal with
make sure that we make budget, and also putting money in a reserve account, so in case
the roof blows off, I have money, because those monies come from a designated fee from
the Setzer Student Center fee from students. So I think I bring to the table cognitive skills,
processing skills, implementation of policies and procedures, which I have implemented
several new and benchmark things at Lamar University, we have come up with initiative
packages, about$20,000 that we give out to student groups, and those student groups, write
us what we call mini grants, and along with my staff we review that and, that dynamics was
revamped by myself and also by the Assistant Director for Student Organizations. Another
dynamic that we have done is that we teach students how to volunteer, that is one of my
biggest things. You have to put things back into your community, and as you know, Lamar
University is my community, so we teach students to do that, so I bring some of those things,
not to elaborate so far, but if you have more questions about it, I can elaborate more. The
Team building and team spirit, I believe in the decision making process from the ground up.
don't think that I solely, as the Director of the Setzer Center, know everything. Some of my
best ideas have come from my program attendants and also from students. I am at a
disadvantage of knowing how much time it is to spend, but I have been doing a little research
about it, one thing that I can tell you is that I do have the backing of Dr. Jimmy Simmons,
president of Lamar University, to continue this pursuit, and that in itself tells me that the
University, my job, is backing me to do this effort. So, I am really excited about that.
a. a follow up question could be: what are your strengths and weaknesses?
My strength is my experience and life time here in Beaumont, Texas. I basically have lived
no where else. I have traveled all over the country, and I have had the opportunity to work
with people all over the country, and also see some major cities, experiences and bringing
the experience of knowing other cities. I have also had the opportunity to work with a
national convention, with the Association of Colleges International, where I had to plan 150
educational sessions, someone had to back out because of medical reasons and I had to
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 9
plan that so those are my strengths of planning and implementation. Another strength that
I may have is also cognitive thinking. I try to think outside the box, and try to look at the
picture on both sides of the table. Now, one of my weaknesses I may say, is sometimes I
think so far outside of the box, people have to bring me back into the box, and say okay,
Karen, that is a good idea, but what about the dynamics of this, this, and this happening.
think that I have some innovative ideas that I have played around with at Lamar University.
I have had some innovative ideas about this City, working with Lamar, some students and
student government and things like that we see that we could enhance with Lamar
University, so... those dynamics are some of my weaknesses and strengths kind of all in one.
2. Describe the Council/Manager form of government. In that context, what do you see as the
pressing issues for Ward III and the City? What do you think should be done to address
these issues? (Guy Goodson)
One of the pressing issues that I see in Ward III is the image of Ward III. 1 think one of the
dynamics that everyone needs to look at, and that is one of my ways of thinking out of the
box, that Ward III is a diversity of this community, and the community being Beaumont.
When people talk about Ward III, they talk about the African-American ward. That is not
necessarily so. I want people to start thinking out of the box about diversity and ethnicity in
that ward, and I may say that ward depicts more of the demographic make up of the city than
some of the other wards. I think that we need to make sure that...some dialogue happens.
Sometimes, we in Ward III, and this is my personal opinion, (have) a reactiveness to the
proactive people. We may not get information down to the people that it affects fast enough
where we can maybe come to a consensus throughout the ward, not in just one section of
town or one section of association. One of the dynamics I would like to see is dialogue
among the associations in Ward III. I don't think that personally, in my opinion this is
happening. When you see people come and meet, they meet with Charlton Pollard
Neighborhood Association or the Avenues, but they never bring us altogether and meet for
what is good for the City. And, the quality of life for the Ward, and that has to have some
dynamics with the people that live in the ward. Apathy in that ward and in some of the
associations, it is kind of hard for some of those presidents to work and function when no
one attends their meetings. Well, we need to kind of go back into and start looking at having
some dialogue from the ground up. People need to stop being apathetic and start being a
part of the solution and not a part of the problem. Some of the things that I see is economic
empowerment. You cannot economically empower people when you don't have people that
have enough skills and enough time to work at some things. We have to look at the drop out
and the educational process. I think there is a need right now for a school that teaches skills,
and those skills may be computers, how to work with your hands, how to do some simple
task--like filling out an application. I don' t see that we have that. One of the big things that
is happening is the entertainment center. I think that is great, but if you look at Beaumont,
do we have the labor force, do we have the labor force that is going to be able to man that
with some of the jobs that are going to become available, and also what are the jobs? I think
we kind of put the carriage before the horse. If we are going to, in two to three years, have
that complex, I would like to see Beaumont residents be a part of that labor force. If we are
not prepared and we do not prepare the student that doesn't want to go to college, then we
have major problems, because what is going to happen, you think about it, Houston is only
an hour and 15 minutes away. People drive less time than that to get to their jobs in
Houston, so we need to start doing something now to start training people for these jobs.
I have an opportunity to train people for these jobs. I think things are moving and the
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 10
momentum is moving the city. That is one of the dynamics that kind of got me to apply. I
think that I can add some of the skills that I have, the team is in place, there is just one
player missing, and I think Ward III, we just need to have another team player in that
position.
3. Describe the experience with Neighborhood Associations in Ward III. How would you
address conflict (or disagreements) between Neighborhood Associations? (Becky Ames)
Right now, my only experience I have is with the Charlton Pollard Neighborhood Association,
attending meetings, and actually seeing how that works. I have worked in some volunteer
roles with Charlton Pollard Neighborhood Association, but my volunteerism goes further back
than just working with that. Recently, in the last three and a half years, it has also been my
expectations to move back to that neighborhood, opportunities with the revitalization of that
neighborhood gave me that opportunity to move back. Now my, one of my goals, is to help
one save one. I want to as much as possible try to get people to that the American dream
is owning a home, and as much dialogue as I possibly can I do that on my own, talking to
people, at one point and time as you see on my resum6, that I taught a first time home
buyers class with the Beaumont Independent School District. I no longer teach that class,
but I continuously have people call me about that process. I volunteer my time, and
sometimes my talents, and sometimes my treasures of helping people kind of get involved
with owning the American dream. I have it, and I think it is a wonderful thing to have. I do
like working with the elderly in my neighborhood. These are things that I am doing on my
own, the Charlton Pollard Neighborhood Association, they have some great things
happening there that I have not been totally a part of, but have been concerned about. That
revitalization project of economic development is something that I would like to get more into.
Well, my biggest thing, as I said before is dialogue. I think, and it is my personal opinion,
that there needs a coalition of the presidents in that ward, associations , where they are the
voice of the people, but they also have to get the apathy from their ward, but people need
to give their input to the presidents of those associations, and those people, the presidents,
need to meet, whomever is selected or appointed as this position, once a month or maybe
twice a month, and talk about actually needs. And, then you have to do a needs
assessment. You can haphazardly say, we need this, we want this, we need this, but you
have to look at the quality of life in that ward. And, we all need to sit down and have some
good dialogue about what we need and how we need it, and do some assessing and we
need to move out of our box, and if Ward, if one association across town can help another
association across town, we need to bring those dialogues together, and say, hey we have
maybe say a library, instead of just having that library, and our kids in this neighborhood
have no library, lets get a van, lets start bussing these kids to where the library is, instead
of just haphazardly hoping that they would get there. So you have to do some of that
dialogue. I believe in communication, and I think the key to Ward III is communication and
dialogue.
4. Although you represent Ward III, what is your philosophy about issues that do not directly
affect Ward III? (Andrew Cokinos)
My biggest expectations of things that don't affect Ward 111, anything that happens in this city
affects Ward III. We have to look at this city as a community, and this is where I think out
of the box. There is not a segment, Ward III is not a community within itself; it is part of a
Minutes;November 23,1999;Pagel 1
larger community. So, if something happens in one part of town, it affects all of us. We have
crime rates going up, say maybe the West end of town, then that affects all of us. So, we
all need to come to a conclusion of how to basically work together and see the effects it does
on the whole city. When you look at quality of life... you have to look at the quality of life of
the City...if the quality of life in the City is bad, then it is not just one Wards problem, it is all
our problems, and we need to come to a conclusion of how to work that out as a city and
being a team.
5. Assuming you agree that the City needs to increase its revenues (i.e. user fees, taxes) what
ideas do you have for increasing revenues over the next five years? (Bobbie Patterson)
Now that is a good one. There are some things about increasing revenues that I see a
waste of money. I hate to say that, and one of them is we need to look at the bus lines.
Yes, there is an opportunity for it to run later, but how many people are on those bus lines.
We really and truly need to look at that, and maybe go to not using the larger bus, but maybe
a smaller bus, in assessing the needs of who need the buses. So if people need to come
from Parkdale Mall that closes at 9:00 p.m., we need to find out how many people in
Parkdale Mall that have jobs want to use the bus line to get home. And, maybe that route
might be from point a to point B, but it may be from Point a, Point C, Point D, because you
have x number of people riding that bus. Another situation I would like to see is maybe how
we can do a little more economic development within some of the Wards that do not have
economic development. And by that, is training, we need, there are a lot of people out there
that want to start their own business, and they don't have a clue of how to begin. And there
are things in place and I think if we have that base. It is just like the new homes that is
economic empowerment for the city when you have x number of taxpayers. So, I think that
if we can come up with a new, and I think the Charlton Pollard neighborhood association,
Inc., has gotten money from the Council to refurbish homes that will put tax dollars back into
the City. We need to do that more, not just in Ward III, but throughout the city if we possibly
can. So, that will bring back economic base and this is a revolving door, but those dollars
will come back to the City, and more people working. If we get more people working, those
dollars will stay here, and maybe this is just Karen's philosophy. I believe if dollars are
turned over at least three times in the City of Beaumont, at least three times, and then it can
go away and come back, but at least three times in the city of Beaumont, it can't do anything
but empower the city, and not just wards.
6. Since Ward III is very diverse, what action would you take to ensure that the needs of the
citizens are met by the City? (Mayor Moore)
I think differences is the key in Ward III, whether people believe that or not. I think dialogue
amongst those differences we will find a huge amount of similarities, and I think what we can
do about apathy, is people need to know, they don't need to know it the 11 th hour, they need
to know now. If something happens there needs to be an area where we can start doing
those dialogues, and if that is what the City Council appointee in Ward III, that dynamic has
to happen because people, if you notice people are more subjective to resist something if
they did not know from the ground floor. Sometimes that is not always possible, but
whenever it is possible, from the ground floor, the people need to know. You will find too that
people think and they have great ideas, but when you are into the process, those great ideas
don't count, then ... oh we are past that phase one, we are now in phase three. But think
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 12
about it, if we went back to phase one, that idea, may have changed phase two and phase
three. So, communication is the key, people need to bury the hatchet, and start working
together. I think education is the key. I have nothing against libraries being built, don't get
me wrong, but I do believe that if we look at our educational system, and how many people
cannot read, how many of our kids cannot read, why would they go and check out a book,
if they cannot read now. My thing is you need to put literacy programs into libraries, where
students can get that extra learning, instead of just a book on the shelf, and hopefully, they
will draw it off. So dialogue, communication, that is the key to any successful operation.
7. Is there anything else that you would like to share with Council or ask of Council?
Well, one of the things that I would like to add, is that I think that Ward III needs to be
represented by whomever, I think we have good candidates, and I think that we leave it up
to our political figures to make that decision, and I think that you guys will be able to do that
with the candidates that we have, and whomever is selected, be it me or one of the other
candidates, I am willing to support, and I say that sincerely, because all we need right now
in Ward III is representation. Thank You.
Candidate: Mr. Robert Cortez
1. Describe your education, training, life experiences and skills which qualify you for this
position. Also, describe your availability to spend the time necessary to fulfill the
requirements of the Ward III position. (Dr. Lulu Smith)
bring to the Council a challenge to myself to make available to the ward and to this Council
to serve the community, the city, and the citizens of Beaumont. My credentials: I have gone
to school here in Beaumont, since I arrived here, I went to Fletcher Elementary School, I
went to Davy Crockett Junior High School, from there I went to Beaumont High School.
am presently have the honor of working of a large company here in Beaumont, Mobile Oil
Refinery. I have a lot of training in different fields at work, one is in inclusion and diversity,
which allows us to really bring issues and concerns of the people at work, and to understand
that we as citizens and people respect each other's ideas, and beliefs, and it is good to
disagree and to be patient with everyone. There is no problem with the availability of time,
with the company, I have discussed this with them, and they have assured me that if
selected I would be able to attend the meetings of the constituents and of the Council at any
time, and I will be available.
A. A follow up question could be: what are your strengths and weaknesses?
My strength is that I have a willingness to win-win situation. I do not believe in not stepping
back. I want a challenge. My strengths are my challenges to lead the community, and to
make the city a better city for our citizens and for our community, and for the ward. I want
to stress that I do not take a backrow position on issues. I will step to the front and address
these issues as I have heard happen today.
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 13
2. Describe the Council/Manager form of government. In that context, what do you see as the
pressing issues for Ward III and the City? What do you think should be done to address
these issues? (Guy Goodson)
The issues that concern my ward right now would be drugs, crime, robbery, and murder.
Those are the issues that are right now at the forefront. I have lived in Ward III for over forty
years. I have lived in the Avenues for that length of time, and presently reside there at the
residence that I am at right now. I know the issues, I have lived in the Avenues. I see the
concerns, and I have talked to my constituents in the area, and it is all over. It is just not
isolated in the Avenues. This is a global issue, but it is a local issue that is held here, and
that we have to address as a Council. It is my concern and my belief that our constituents
do hold us to the highest esteem and they expect us to carry out whatever they decide us
to do. After all, we work for the citizens of Beaumont, and they are our strength. They are
the ones that pay us, but the issues that concern me right now are the ones that I have
stated. There is a lot of drug activity in the Avenues, quite a bit. I see it on a daily basis.
There are two murders presently right now that are still unsolved in the Avenues, and in the
area that I live in, in the neighborhood. Robberies, crime that is something that we have to
address. There is an issue on the streets and lightings. We have two brand new schools,
Fletcher Elementary and M.L.K., which have no lighting, or very little lighting, at all at
nighttime, and that is just an issue that concerns the citizens in the area, and I am sure there
are other parts of the City and the ward that have the same concerns, and the problem with
at nighttime is there is just so much activity there is no lighting to deter the type of activities
that go on. The streets and our brand new schools need to be addressed. They need to
have concrete type pavement. I think we need to address the senior citizen type issues. I
think we also need to address the handicap, the veterans, for what they have done so much
for us.
3. Describe the experience with Neighborhood Associations in Ward III. How would you
address conflict (or disagreements) between Neighborhood Associations? (Becky Ames)
I presently am a member of the Avenue Association in Ward I II, have been having meetings
and trying to get more involvement with the local people, the citizens of the area to come in
and to really upgrade our community and our neighborhood. We have a lot of issues that
concern the Avenues that needs to be addressed. The way to address it is to go throughout
he Avenue Association, and then report back to Council. We have some tremendous
problems in the Avenues that need to be addressed, and a lot of them I have already
addressed, and one of them and the majority of it is drugs and prostitution. I would address
the conflicts within the ward based on the information that I have received and act upon how
my Council and the constituents in the ward would want me to. It is a problem that
sometimes people do not understand, or maybe they just don't like the issues and they are
not really straight with us.
4. Although you represent Ward III, what is your philosophy about issues that do not directly
affect Ward III? (Andrew Cokinos)
The issues that don't affect Ward III affect the city, they are the citizen's issues, they are all
of our issues. If I am chosen, I do represent Ward III, but I also represent the City, and the
City comes first. The issues in the Avenues affect the whole city, it is not just isolated. It is
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 14
all of our concerns, as Mayor, as Councilmen, Councilwomen, the City Manager, the City
Attorney. We do have an obligation to make sure that our citizens hear us, and hear us well,
the citizens come first.
5. Assuming you agree that the City needs to increase its revenues (i.e. user fees, taxes)what
ideas do you have for increasing revenues over the next five years? (Bobbie Patterson)
That is an issue that I really would like to see discussed in an open forum, to where we have
citizen input, their issues, their way of raising money for the city. I would like to take this
issue before the Ward III members and all of the Council, and all of the Wards to see how
they would want to pursue this, because it affects all of us.
6. Since Ward III is very diverse, what action would you take to ensure that the needs of the
citizens are met by the City? (Mayor Moore)
Mayor, I live in a community that is so diverse in culture. We have African-Americans,
Mexican-Americans, Italians, Asians, every type. Everyone is there, everyone has a say so
in this. It is not just the Avenue Association, it is the ward, it is all of the people in the ward
who need to have a clear and present guidance as to what the issues are. I would form a
coalition to go out into the Ward III, and invite and listen, and understand what their concerns
are, and what they want us to do and what direction they want us to take. I would like to see
a heritage and cultural center built in our city, to where the kids at school can have a place
to go and learn all of the different cultures in Beaumont that are here. We have a
tremendous wealth of athletes who over the years, have lived here, and gave to our City, but
yet, we have nothing to show and to give them something to bring their accomplishments to
our city, where people can come in and look at them, there is nothing in our City. There is
a good location in the Avenues that will be looked into, that should be looked into as a way
of giving back to our citizens who gave to us, and not only the citizens of the ones who
performed in athletics. Also, the Vietnam Veterans, veterans as a whole who gave their lives
for us. (In response to Mayor Moore's question, as to how Mr. Cortez proposes that this
heritage and cultural center be paid for) To take this issue before the constituents would be
a way of addressing the issue, because it would affect them if we were to raise their tax
dollar base, and it would only have to come from them before any of the members of Council
and Mayor would even consider proposes a tax increase, but there are other avenues.
There is money available out there, we have it in the City somewhere. I am sure we could
look into it to find a way to build a place, to have it.
7. Is there anything else that you would like to share with Council or ask of Council?
I am happy to be here, thank you, I really enjoyed it. I hope I answered the questions to the
best of my ability for you, and I just want to say,just keep on doing what you are doing, and
hopefully, you will make the right pick, and maybe I will be that, thank you very much
everyone.
The City Council meeting recessed at 3:17 p.m. and reconvened at 3:26 p.m. with all members
returning to the interview process.
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 15
Candidate: Raymond C. Chaison
1. Describe your education, training, life experiences and skills which qualify you for this
position. Also, describe your availability to spend the time necessary to fulfill the
requirements of the Ward III position. (Dr. Lulu Smith)
I finished high school, and I worked all my life, and I have a year at Lamar. As for my
experience, I have been working here with the City for some since 1975. 1 think I have been
on several committees here that would help me to do the job, I don't know just how many
committees, I can't just name them all, but as you all know. I have worked on several
committees here, and I have worked in the community since 1975. In every phase of it, so.
My availability, I am retired and whatever my wife tells me to do, I do it, other than that, that
is all I have to do.
A. A followup question could be: what are your strengths and weaknesses?
I am a man. What do you mean strong points? I am rehearsed in quite a few fields, I just
tried to be fair and honest with everybody. I tried to live as clean a life as possible. As I said
earlier, I worked with the city and different governmental agencies for a number of years.
Then as you know, I worked at the refinery for 31 years.
2. Describe the Council/Manager form of government. In that context, what do you see as the
pressing issues for Ward III and the City? What do you think should be done to address
these issues? (Guy Goodson)
In Ward III we have gained quite a bit, but there are still some more things that need to be
done, and lets not just say Ward III, lets say the whole city. Because there are things that
need to be done all over the city, and I couldn't stand here and tell you that I would just Ward
III, Ward III, 1 have to be concerned with everybody in Beaumont, and there are things that
need to be done all over the city. Of course in Ward III, yes, there is quite a bit, we need
some cleaning up,just so many things that needs to be done, that I think we could better do,
or get a better job done with closer hands on. If you are closer to it, you know what has to
be done, then you can probably be able to help to get it done quicker or better... passing
everyday and seeing it, living there. There is quite a bit that needs to be finalized. One
thing and I hate to even say it, this Fire Station No. 11. It is, we just need a clean up, more
police protection, it is quite a bit that needs to be done. I am not saying that it needs to be
done now, but I think this new approach or something that needs to be done to try to
alleviate some of the problems, and again I am going to say that is not just in Ward III, there
are things that needs to be done in other places, and I shouldn't have my eyes just on Ward
III, 1 should be thinking of everywhere.
3. Describe the experience with Neighborhood Associations in Ward III. How would you
address conflict (or disagreements) between Neighborhood Associations? (Becky Ames)
I have worked with them when I could. If they have ever asked me to do anything, I have
done it, and well whatever comes up, I will just try to do the best I can to alleviate it or help
it. You have to take each one on its own merit, and then you would have to, whatever
problem that particular association has, go to work and try to alleviate it or whatever you
have to do, to bring it to a smooth closure.
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 16
4. Although you represent Ward III, what is your philosophy about issues that do not directly
affect Ward III? (Andrew Cokinos)
This is what I was saying, you can't just say I would be a representative of Ward III. If you
were to be chosen, you would have to represent the City of Beaumont. You could not come
in here and say that I am just going to represent Ward III, and there is an issue over in some
other Ward, and then you would be negative about it. You have to be truthful with all, the
whole city of Beaumont.
5. Assuming you agree that the City needs to increase its revenues (i.e. user fees, taxes)what
ideas do you have for increasing revenues over the next five years? (Bobbie Patterson)
I would think the city needs to increase its revenues. First, we would need to look and see
where we can cut out some things that might be excessive, or reevaluate the budget and see
what has to be done, then, I am not against raising taxes, but that would probably be the last
thing that I would want to do is burden the people with any more taxes. But I am sure there
is a way that revenue could be raised without raising taxes and find some fat to cut in some
places.
6. Since Ward III is very diverse, what action would you take to ensure that the needs of the
citizens are met by the City? (Mayor Moore)
Well, on the cultural side of it. Now that is easy. You would just have to work with the
person or the people in their own way. You couldn't go in there trying to tell them they need
to change or whatever. You would have to try to, well you would be the minority, so you
would have to go in and try to help them if it is a different culture from yours. So you would
have to go in and try to work with them the best that you can, and get an understanding.
First you would have to understand that particular group of people. Find out something
about them and their ways. I don't see any major challenge, because we are all here for
basically the same thing. The only challenge is to learn the people, learn what they want,
and try to help them to get it, or accomplish what they are setting out, as long as it is legal
and appropriate.
7. Is there anything else that you would like to share with Council or ask of Council?
Other than I have worked here with all of you since, well mostly, ever since 1975, and I think
I have done what I should do or could do. If I am selected, I will do the same and try to work
for the betterment of all people. Of course, Ward III is my little baby and I would be trying
to take care of Ward III, but you would have to be flexible, and try to do the best I can.
Candidate: Mr. Jerry Whittington, Sr.
1. Describe your education, training, life experiences and skills which qualify you for this
position. Also, describe your availability to spend the time necessary to fulfill the
requirements of the Ward III position. (Dr. Lulu Smith)
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 17
I would say, my education, I am a high school graduate, I had two years at Lamar, and I
would say what qualifies me is that I found myself through family practices, sort of like
handed down, my mother was involved in community activities, and she always made sure
that I participated. It wasn't as if I had a choice, it was that this is what she did, and being
named after my mother, fortunately, she did not call me Mae, I learned about politics, and
I was the one that would knock on your door and pass out the leaflets and tell you to come
out to vote or drive the vehicle and take you to the polls. I learned early that the right to vote
was a thing to have, from that when I had no children, my mother would take me to PTA
meetings and things like that getting involved in community. When she worked for the
EEOC, she had me involved in driving her around when she needed to go to a meeting,
either with something for the federal government or whatever. The best way to understand
yourself, is to understand someone of age. If you can speak to someone with a respect, and
there is a difference, that some people don't have, that when you talk to someone of age,
that you hardly, you have no problem talking to them, that they understand you really want
to hear them speak, and I learned that. Also,just willing to serve, I grew up in that old thing
that it takes a village to raise a family. When I decided to move into a home, I moved on the
same street because of those values. My sons were raised up with those values, and that
helped, and then the only thing that I am trying to do now is give back to their community that
served me, that sometimes they can't say something, because either the job you have
prevents or whatever. I am fortunate that I have a job that allows me to speak my mind. As
the last statement I said, I work for Dupont, Sabine River Works, one thing the company has
prided itself in, is allowing their workers to participate in city government and whatever. They
allow us time, and although it shouldn't make a difference if you serve the community, you
realize sometimes you will lose money. I learned that. I am sure that you all understand
that, that is the way I was raised, PTA, and things like that, you will lose money. They will
prevent me from losing money to serve, as an elected official, you are allowed that time off
with pay.
A. A followup question could be: what are your strengths and weaknesses?
Well, some of the technical parts of the government, some of the rules and as a city official,
the bylaws says I can and cannot do, I would probably need some help on that, and I realize
that. But the willingness to work with my community and my area to find out what is needed,
and also looking at the overall needs for the city, the willingness to want to help, is one of my
strongest points, and I think that is one thing that will carry me on through this process.
2. Describe the Council/Manager form of government. In that context, what do you see as the
pressing issues for Ward III and the City? What do you think should be done to address
these issues? (Guy Goodson)
In Ward III, and some things have been brought to me, there is a need for health care. We
have a large population that bus wise, and whatever. We do commend the city for extending
those hours, and that has helped, but a lot of healthcare that is supplied by county and
whatever, for a large area that falls under that area, we need more of that, that is the
transportation. We need, always jobs, and some of the workforce is, as one told me, why
can't we have some of the companies that are needing to find these jobs come into Ward
III, set up at one of the local, either businesses or schools, or whatever, and have job fairs,
so that a lot of time it is transportation. We also need businesses. Ward III is lacking in
businesses. Both personally owned by community people or by industry. We would like to
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 18
see what can we do to bring those in because that is lacking in Ward III. The other areas,
I think everybody is basically wanting the same thing. There are some concerns about their
streets and their drainage, some parts have problems with drainage. Some of them are
worried about the police and coverage. We know that part of Ward III is dealing with the fire
station, and we are addressed in that issue. I still think that is something important. One
area shouldn't be more important or less important than another area, since we are all the
same. Each one of them have their own thing, some are worried about too much business,
or is it being too commercialized, too condensed. Those areas may want to do something
to loosen it or not loosen, but to put, enact things that will prevent too much industry moving
into one area, because then that area feels that their way of life is being threatened by too
much business going on.
3. Describe the experience with Neighborhood Associations in Ward III. How would you
address conflict (or disagreements) between Neighborhood Associations? (Becky Ames)
I belong to the Cable Street Association. I have served there in various offices. At one time
I was president, and I found that as a learning process too, especially when I got kind of
involved with South Park, and some of the other associations. You learn that one thing, a
lot of your concerns were theirs. One was security, as an aging population comes about,
there were concerns, just the main thing of dealing with a simple thing of when we did, had
our meetings, times, or some were scared about putting out flyers because then a person
would know that I wasn't home. It was ways that we had to do to find out that you have a
part in city government. If you, as a group come together, and then you have one of the
group, or one as a spokesman and the group here, we found that city government works
better when you have a large group that has concerns in that area that, as a Councilperson,
or a City official, you may not know this problem exists or they have special needs, and
through the associations, I have found that they can address, they can be the ears and the
eyes for the City Council, to let you know about things to cut some of the footwork that staff
and/or Councilmen would need to do. One thing I have learned, is that you are going to
need to be there, and you are going to be in contact with either some of the presidents or
members in each one of the different associations, and if there aren't associations in the
neighborhood, you need to find those people that can get you information. You might have
to bring the two parties together, and lets sit down and talk. You might have to mediate
sometimes, you know, and that is one thing that as a Councilperson, you may have to do.
Sometimes, you will make decisions that may not be as they call the right decisions, in one
part of your Ward, but it is the right in the other. I would have to make those decisions, but
I would have to look at it as Ward 111, and as a representative what would be the best for the
whole.
4. Although you represent Ward III, what is your philosophy about issues that do not directly
affect Ward III? (Andrew Cokinos)
If it affects the City, then eventually it will get around to affecting Ward III, and what I have
to do is look, and say is the thing, what would be best. There are things about image, there
is a thing about will it help, are there conflicts or things that you would have to take care of?
Now Ward III is my Ward, but as you find out, it still takes a majority rule, and sometimes,
it will take understanding their problem, and that means I might have to go to an association
or whatever in another area, talk to that Councilperson in that area, and get an idea of the
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 19
feel of the community, as well as knowledge that the community may not have. Then I will
have to weigh that knowledge, and come up with what would be the best answer for that
particular situation.
5. Assuming you agree that the City needs to increase its revenues (i.e. user fees, taxes)what
ideas do you have for increasing revenues over the next five years? (Bobbie Patterson)
Well, you do your best to stay away from that ugly word called raising taxes. But at some
time that may be the situation. You would have to work with businesses and industry. What
can you do to draw new ones in, or make old ones more profitable to where they can help
out. It is a ... things that you will have to look at is what, or looking at other cities or
whatever. What did they do when they were presented with that same problem, and see if
we can apply that same imaginative business sense in order to promote revenue.
Sometimes, it can be something as small as, you have a special bird or whatever, that is
unusual to your area, what can you do to promote that and then bring in businesses from
there.
6. Since Ward III is very diverse, what action would you take to ensure that the needs of the
citizens are met by the City? (Mayor Moore)
Listen. That is a word, listen. I love to talk, I have no problem with talking. I can talk to
myself, or I can talk to anyone. Give me a time, I can talk. But listen is the thing. Where
people fail a lot of times is sitting down. You tell me. Because of who I am, where I am
from, the color of my skin or where my origin is shouldn't be the main thing. It is to sit down
and listen, I learned that from a lot of students. Students have taught me that, if you will
listen to what I say, then you can understand my problem. It may not be your problem, but
if you can understand why I am this way. Why my culture says I must look and speak, or
have this idea, then understand my point, then you can better understand what would may
be best to bring both groups together or all groups together. As Ward I II is a diverse group.
I would have to sit with each one of them, and find out what their needs are, and see if there
is a program that I can enact that would affect one area, and then you cannot do it all in one
year, or one month, two month period, and try to work things to where it will benefit them all,
and that means sometimes it will be this year, it is your turn, and this time your turn, but
there are going to be some hard decision, and it is not always going to be for the group that
I hold dear. But, it may be what is really good for Ward III as a whole. That will in part raise
everybody's level, to a better level, or a higher level or bring awareness. One area getting
a basketball gym may be important for that area, but it also may bring out the point that this
is only the start. We need other areas that may need that same thing. One part getting a
health care, well what can we do to put a substation in the next area, to work toward that,
and we would have to go from that point.
7. Is there anything else that you would like to share with Council or ask of Council?
Well, actually the first time that I thought about holding a public office, I had to think real hard
on why. And I bring back to one thing, my mother always taught me that if you can help
someone, help them, and I guess I go back to one situation that always taught me,just when
you think that everything is in order, someone can throw a wrench in it. I was stranded on
Interstate 10 near the park, the rest area, that is between Vidor and Orange. I was walking
on the side of the road, and a lady stopped. It was about 4:00 in the morning. She was an
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 20
elderly white lady, and I was scared. She said what can I do for you. I said ma'am I am just
going to the telephone. Well she told me well sir, I can take you to a telephone, and there
was one near the park. When we got to the phone, someone had ripped it out. I got real
scared because I thought that she may have thought that I was trying to take her there. She
said no problem, I can take you to the next Stuckeys. She turned around and this 4:00 in
the morning, a 300 pound black man walking down the road, and she felt that she needed
to help, and she did. She took me and she brought me to the phone. Now if someone can
stop and help me, and because she felt I needed help, then I as a person needs to in turn
bring that help to someone less fortunate and sometimes people fortunate, because
everyone needs help sometimes in your life and I think from that experience, that has been
something that has stuck with me, and my mother taught me one thing, everyone is your
friend until they earn the right o be your enemy.
Candidate: Mr. Audwin Samuel
1. Describe your education, training, life experiences and skills which qualify you for this
position. Also, describe your availability to spend the time necessary to fulfill the
requirements of the Ward III position. (Dr. Lulu Smith)
Well my education began, I have been educated in the public schools here in Beaumont from
the time that my family moved to Beaumont in 1965. 1 went on through the Beaumont public
schools, left there and went to Lamar University. Whereas I went to Lamar University on a
four year football scholarship. My training at Lamar was in the area of Social Services,
Sociology, Psychology. I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology with a minor
in Psychology. From there I went to on to Texas Southern University Law School and that
is where I began the study of what is now my career and my practice. I have also had an
opportunity to serve on the Beaumont School Board as a Trustee. That allowed me the
opportunity to look at ways of enhancing our educational system. So with all of those
experiences, my experience with the public schools, also with Lamar University here in
Beaumont, along with my experience at Texas Southern Thurgood Marshall School of Law,
I have had the training in the areas of dealing with people, dealing with problems, finding
solutions, and most importantly, when I went to law school, that allowed me the opportunity
to look at the history of laws, understand how laws are written, how they are established,
how to interpret laws. I think that gives me an advantage in understanding how to write laws
and policies. That is a part of the job as a legislator. Back in 1992-1993, 1 made the
decision to go into private practice. That would allow me the opportunity to be flexible, to do
those things I feel are necessary, such as public service. Since that time, my practice, I
have been in practice for five years, I now have a capable staff that lends the support. I
have established relationships with another firm that allows me to pick and choose the type
of business that I would like to do. Because of my flexibility, I have that opportunity.
A. A followup question could be: what are your strengths and weaknesses?
I think my strength is I am a people person. I am able to talk and understand and listen to
the concerns of the people, and in a manner that I can project their concerns and their
interests to others. My weakness I would say is that I am very empathetic. I am sometimes,
get too connected, if there is such a thing. I think my weakness is sometimes being too
empathetic.
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 21
2. Describe the Council/Manager form of government. In that context, what do you see as the
pressing issues for Ward III and the City? What do you think should be done to address
these issues? (Guy Goodson)
I think some of the key issues, one being public trust, and I think that can best be done by
inclusive government, allowing the input of the community in which you represent. I think
that is key because many of the ideas will not come from this room, but many ideas come
from the community, from the people that are out there everyday. I see that as many of the
solutions to the problems that we face here. But public trust, I feel that another area that we
should always be concerned about is fiscal management. There is always concern about
maintaining a level of tax, but at the same time maintaining the same level of service. So
those are things that we have to look to as legislators, as Councilmembers into the future,
and ways of maintaining that balance. I think one of the things that you always have to be
concerned about when you talk about Ward III is the older areas of the City. When you look
at growth, there is always, you never have the problem in spending or allocating the funds
for new growth, for progress. But many times with that growth and progress, comes a void
in the areas that have been existing. The historical areas, the older areas, when you talk
about that, you are looking at the older infrastructure, your streets, your drainage, and so
those are all concerns that you have to be more concerned about in the older areas, such
as Ward III. When you look at that comparatively speaking to the area in which there is new
growth.
3. Describe the experience with Neighborhood Associations in Ward III. How would you
address conflict (or disagreements) between Neighborhood Associations? (Becky Ames)
My experience with the neighborhood associations came before there were neighborhood
associations. From actually going into campaigning, doing, walking door to door. But then
my real experience in neighborhood associations, they were not coined neighborhood
associations. But it came to what we had at the time, town meetings, where as we would
have a council meeting in different wards of the City, at different churches, or at the schools.
So that is my first experience with the neighborhood associations. I think that idea became
the growth of neighborhood associations. Well, one of the ideas that initially came to mind
when I considered coming back on Council was to have a community advisory committee,
made up of individuals from the neighborhood associations, as well as other entities, and just
those that were interested in actually having input into the system. And from that, I think
coming together, discussing the concerns or the issues, and then being able to come out
with some resolution, and it would not necessarily be the direction or the feeling that I would
express, if the majority of that advisory commission or committee, or whatever you coined
it, would feel that one way then I would have to listen to that, being a representative of the
people.
4. Although you represent Ward III, what is your philosophy about issues that do not directly
affect Ward III? (Andrew Cokinos)
I have always believed, from my previous term on Council, I would be a Ward III
representative particularly, but I will always be a Beaumont City Councilman generally. I
would have to always be concerned about the overall growth of the city. Because there is
a direct relationship between Ward III and the City as a whole, and that is just something you
have to keep in perspective, keep balanced.
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 22
5. Assuming you agree that the City needs to increase its revenues (i.e. user fees, taxes)what
ideas do you have for increasing revenues over the next five years? (Bobbie Patterson)
Well, Councilman that is something I would really have to look at. When you talk about
economic development, you have to talk about creative ideas. One of the things that has
been discussed has been attracting individuals to Beaumont by way of the entertainment
park, but I think it is quality of life, but more so we have to begin to attract individuals through
our city. Keep those existing people here in our city, and that is done by good fiscal
management. It is done by enhancement of our educational systems, corporation between
the different governments, the state and federal government, these are all ways of
maintaining a level of services, and maintaining a level of taxes, but to increase actual
revenues, I will say yes, we do have to work on ways of working on our tourism. I think we
can take advantage of the natural resources that we have here, as the river, and I
understand there were plans before I left Council on doing some development on the river
that might bring attractions to the City, and I think those are the types of ideas that we have
to be about in making those decisions.
6. Since Ward III is very diverse, what action would you take to ensure that the needs of the
citizens are met by the City? (Mayor Moore)
Inclusive government, having each individual in that ward feel like they are a part of the
direction in which that ward goes.
7. Is there anything else that you would like to share with Council or ask of Council?
Well, the only thing I will share is that I had parents that brought me up, and they taught me
as I went along, and most times I tried to listen to what they said. I never shall forget my
mother said to whom much is given, much is required, and I remember my father saying we
all have a duty and a responsibility to serve the community in which we live. That is the
same thing I am trying to project to my children. I have chosen Beaumont as my home, and
I have chosen to serve the citizens of Beaumont. I made that commitment, and I have been
elected in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989 to represent the citizens of this city. I will continue
to do that, and that is where my heart is.
Candidate: Mr. Roberto C. Flores, Sr.
1. Describe your education, training, life experiences and skills which qualify you for this
position. Also, describe your availability to spend the time necessary to fulfill the
requirements of the Ward III position. (Dr. Lulu Smith)
My life experiences, to start off, I was raised in the neighborhood, perhaps some old timers
here would know the area of Bottom Street, Jefferson Alley, Crockett Street. I was raised
there. It was a combination of African-Americans and Hispanics. I grew up there, and
stayed there until I was about in the 9th grade or so. After that we moved to the corner of
Jefferson and College, which is the location of the Central Fire Station. They had a little
pharmacy there, and we lived right in back of it, a few feet there was the KC Depot. I went
to St. Anthony's Grammar School, I went to St. Anthony's High school through the 11th
grade. I dropped out in the 11th grade, I joined the United States Air Force, I got my GED
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 23
there, and went on to serve for four years. I came out and attended a year of radio and
television school. I got my first job in radio in Corpus Christi, stayed there for about four
years, came back home and worked here in the area in Silsbee for about ten years on the
radio. Then I went to television for about 16 years and finished out on a local television
station here in Beaumont. I went back to Lamar University when I was around 45 years old,
and, no really about 42. 1 was about 42 years old when I started nights at the television
station, and I worked there nights and went to Lamar University during the day. I got a two
year degree Associates Degree in Special Education and I decided to see if I could get a four
year degree. Five more years and I completed by Bachelor of Science in Sociology. I
stayed in the television station for three more years and then I changed careers. My children
were pretty well grown up, so I decided to change careers, and went into the human interest
field. I went to work for about a year or so in different functions trying to get my feet wet for
the career that I had chosen. I finally went to work at the Beaumont State Center, where
am employed now as a case manager. I work there with people with mental retardation.
My wife works there also, we are state employees. I became interested in the public life, or
things of that nature, in going to Lamar, studying sociology. A lot of the courses were also
in social work and government. I remember attending one of my first meetings here in this
chamber, on a particular issue that I had been interested in. In those times, it was during the
gas shortages and people were, the government was asking people to save on gas. I used
to drive to my classes at Lamar, but I decided to go to, there was a Market Basket located
about a few blocks from there, the bus passed by there. I decided to park my car there and
catch the city bus to Lamar, and I did that for about a year or two. In the process, I found
out who were the patrons of the Beaumont Transit System, and a lot of them were young
students, basically African-American students who would ride the bus to their classes, and
that was the only mode of transportation that they had. It became an issue that right around
sometime there, the fares were going to be raised for everyone. I became interested
because I became acquainted with these students and I knew that was the only way they
could get to school. Some of them were pretty strapped to taking care of school and things
like that. So I attended the meeting here in City Council, and that was the first time that I
addressed the City Council. I asked them to think about not raising it, or at least not raising
them as much, and there was a gentleman here that I remember and I like to think I perhaps
had an influence on him on speaking on behalf of not raising the fares so high was Mr. Alter,
from Alter Jewelry, I believe he was a senior then, the gentleman. I don't think he was here
for that, but he came up here and also spoke. The fares were raised, but they were not
raised as much. The students continued to catch the bus, as myself. After that I became
quite a frequent visitor here, and became interested after graduation in other issues. I have
taken the position where, you know, if you are going to seek something, you should educate
yourself about everything. Even if you are concerned with one certain section or segment
of the .... here in Beaumont, you should be involved with everything. Because if you want
to help that particular segment, you have to know everything that is going on, or at least as
much as you can, so that you can help them. I would like to be appointed to this position
because I have prepared myself for many, many years, and this is pure volunteerism, and
the reason I say that I have prepared myself is because I have been involved. You have my
resume there, and you can tell that I am involved in many, many things. I think that with my
experience, I would ask you for one thing that many of you even here on this present
Council has asked at one time or another, and that is the opportunity to serve, and I have
done that by showing my commitment to this community by my years of service. I have also
shown that I am willing to put myself in front of the people for their vote. I have run many
times, and I would like to be appointed to this position to give me experience and the next
time to ask the people for their confidence. I am a state employee, I work for the State of
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 24
Texas, as a case manager, Beaumont State Center. I have prepared that also. We have
what we call flex time. I am an early riser, I have always been an early riser. When I mean
early, I mean early, I get up exactly at 4:30 every morning. I sleep in sometimes on the
weekend until about 6 or 6:30, and I am up at 4:30, 1 am up before the alarm. I go into work
at 7:00, although I am not required to go in until 8:00, because I like to go in early. If
appointed to this position, I see no reason why I cannot go in at 6:00 and flex my time that
way. If I flex my time, and also I am willing, even committed, through the lunch hour. So you
are talking about three hours a day, five days a week, that is 15 hours. I will not ask state
to pay me for anything like that. I am willing to flex my time, and that is how committed I am
to attend the functions in this chamber and other places that might be needed.
A. A followup question could be: what are your strengths and weaknesses?
Well lets get my weaknesses over with, okay? In my letter I stated that I am very strong in
my beliefs. I believe in fighting for what I think is right, sometimes perhaps too much. I
might give the impression that I am rigid, not flexible, but I am. I am willing to give and listen
to ideas, if those ideas are constructive. I am willing to listen to anyone. I am willing to go
to neighborhoods, I have done that before. In campaigning I have knocked on doors, door
to door. My strength, the strength is that I understand what it is to be denied, to be
discriminated against. I am of a generation that knows like other brothers and sisters, how
it is to be excluded. But at the same time, I respect others, I respect their culture. I respect
their roots. In growing up in Bottom Street, Jefferson Alley and Crockett, we did not know
there was anyone else in this world, but Hispanics and African-Americans. We were that
protected, and we grew up with each other. The one time that I discovered that perhaps
there was a difference, and perhaps this was placed on us by society, is when we went to
a movie at the old People's Theater in downtown Beaumont. I had a very good friend,
marble playing friend, Freddie. Freddie was a young African-American boy. We played
marbles after school, and on the weekend, and we saw nothing in that. We were just two
young boys, but when we went to our first movie, we Walked together us and other friends,
to the People's theater, and we went to buy a ticket. Freddie said okay, I will see you after
the movie. I said, what do you mean after the movie, come on lets buy a ticket. He said no
I have to go somewhere else and buy my ticket, I said why? He said, well, I just have to.
I did not understand that Freddie could not go in the front door or sit where we sit. He had
to go upstairs and I could go downstairs. After the movie, we came out, and we walked
home together, discussing the cowboy movie and the serials and everything else. But I
wondered then, and later on, we went to school, I crossed the tracks and went to St.
Anthony's Grammar School and Freddie went to another school, and we never did meet until
after school, and I discovered then that society had made us different. I learned from that,
I learned to respect other cultures, and at the same time, I want others to respect my culture.
I am a strong advocate of those that are perhaps not listened to. Perhaps those that for
years have perceived that they are not being listened to. I would call upon those that have
been listened to, to listen and I think I can bring to this council true diversity and the efforts
to find true diversity in this town that I love, and the only town I have ever lived in and the
only town that I know of. I think that through our diversity, especially in Ward III, Ward III can
be a leader in getting to know each other in the true way, by getting together, celebrating our
festivals and all our celebrations, to bring us together and say we are one and Ward III will
lead the way in true diversity.
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 25
2. Describe the Council/Manager form of government. In that context, what do you see as the
pressing issues for Ward III and the City? What do you think should be done to address
these issues? (Guy Goodson)
One of the issues which I would like to bring before you now is the issue of safety. My wife
and I recently graduated from two courses, or two things. One was the Citizens on Patrol,
we graduated from that, the acronym is C.O.P. The other one this last Thursday we just
graduated from the police academy, a 14 week course with two weekends. We both went
through and we graduated. We have special interest because our son is involved in law
enforcement. He is a patrol sergeant with the Beaumont Police Department, and, of course,
we are concerned about their safety. But we are also concerned about the safety of Ward
III and all of the rest of Beaumont. In Ward III, we patrol in the area of the Avenues, what
we call Avenues, the A, B, C, and those areas. We do not patrol in broad daylight. We
patrol mainly on Friday and Saturday nights because the next day we do not have to go to
work. We go out there and sometimes we start out by 6:30 p.m. and we have stayed as late
as 4:30 a.m. in the morning. We know what is going on. We live on the North End of
Beaumont, around what was formerly Bowie High School or Middle School. We have had
our home at 2425 Buchanan, the door knocked down twice, one in broad daylight. When
I came home for lunch, and the door had been broken into, we have been rifled, and our
house gone through. My sister lives on Wall and Avenue A. Her house, her door was
knocked down. In our patrol, we see individuals blatantly selling their wares--dope pushers,
prostitutes, walking the streets. On the North End, we see that also. We are concerned
about this, we would like to see, the only solution that there is, and that is for the neighbors
to take their neighborhoods back. We would propose, if elected to this, and even if not
elected, we would propose, not so much a neighborhood by neighborhood C.O.P. patrol, but
a Ward III C.O.P. patrol, where you would cross neighborhoods and go into other
neighborhoods and help there, because there is strength in numbers. We would like to
reactivate the federation of neighborhoods, where a lot of neighborhoods would meet
together. We would like to visit all these neighborhood associations that are not active, then
we would like to activate them. The other things that we are concerned about also is that
some of our businesses in our ward maybe not willingly, but unknowingly, are turning the
other way, or aiding and abetting these persons where they gather in their back places, and
use those as a staging area, and they spread out into the neighborhoods. We would like to
do something to that person... go visit with them, and ask them please, for the sake of the
neighborhood, do not let these people operate. The other thing that we are concerned
about is something that we dearly love , because we were a member, we were a member
along with a lot of other old timers in downtown Beaumont. We were a member when
downtown Beaumont was a thriving place. One of our main entertainments on Saturday was
to go downtown. We didn't have much money to spend or anything, but just to go downtown
and be with people, to visit the stores, and the little trolley cars that ran around delivering
cash to the cashiers, the beautiful wooden floors. We know that downtown can never be a
retail place again. but it can be something, and something is being done now. There are
things like the Jefferson Theater, Hotel Beaumont, proposed entertainment center. We
would like something a little further. We do not know if it has been planned or proposed, but
we would like to somehow have a overall plan for downtown Beaumont. Can anyone just
sit down and say what do we want for all of downtown Beaumont. For all of these empty
buildings that are here. Do we have a master plan for downtown Beaumont? It will never
be a retail outlet again, but is there anyone that you can point to and say, is there a master
plan for this, to build upon what has already been started, to call upon the people that have
started this, to just get together people that perhaps remember how it used to be, and those
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 26
that have just recently arrived, and just brain storm and say, what do we want downtown
Beaumont to be like? The other thing that I would like in Ward III, as I eluded to before,
Ward III has a lot of diversity, has a diversity not only in the avenues, in my part of town,
where people are moving in, people that have never been there before. It is our hope that
through Ward III, and especially through the Avenues area to bring diversity to all of Ward
III and on to the city. We have a very valuable piece of land there, a corridor, College Street
corridor. Each of you recognizes that each one of you has a driveway to your home. We
consider the College Street corridor, College Street driveway to downtown Beaumont. A
straight shot from Interstate 10 to downtown Beaumont, no curves, a straight shot. A lot of
diversity is in there that is already there. It has been, I have been informed in research that
at one time this was also known as the Santa Fe Trail. If I was a public relations firm, I
couldn't want anything better than something like that, that you could market. The Santa Fe
Trail to downtown Beaumont, and take advantage of all of the restaurants that are there.
The variety of people, the festivals that you could have, and all things that could perhaps
bring the diversity of our City into one focus and to help that. The other thing is to be a street
Councilman. What do I mean by street Councilman? Get out on the street, knock on doors,
ask the people what is it you want? What are the problems you see? Tell me directly. I will
not be afraid to go to any part of town. I have been there before, and I will go again. I am
not afraid to knock on doors, and to ask, and to be known, that you are my councilman, I
recognize you. You recognize me because I am knocking on your door, and I will knock over
and over again. I suggest that I will give a new meaning to the acronym, C.O.P., Citizens
on Patrol. I will pledge to the residents of Ward III that in my new definition, C.O.P. will stand
for Councilman on Patrol. Every single one of these individuals standing on these corners,
everyone of these ladies of the night walking the street will know who I am. They know who
I am on the Avenues, they will more than recognize me in other areas of town.
3. Describe the experience with Neighborhood Associations in Ward III. How would you
address conflict (or disagreements) between Neighborhood Associations? (Becky Ames)
I have, back in 3 or 4 years ago, I think Mayor Moore, and some others remember, we had
a forum at Cristo Rey, where candidates were running. We invited them there, and the
school superintendent and others that were running, we invited them to a forum there on
Sunday morning. We presented to them that their many associations that were active in
those days, our neighborhood did not have a neighborhood association. So from that later,
they came back and addressed the need for neighborhood associations. One of the things
that we have brought back , we showed them and they had an article in the open newspaper
where was a lot of graffiti being done in the back of our Parish Hall, and from there the
Avenues Neighborhood Association came about. After about a year or so, we formally got
a constitution and by laws and we had our first election of officers. I was elected President
under that particular constitution. I served for about eight months, because we had the
election in April, and our constitution has it going only through December. We had a new
election. Within those eight months, we did sponsor a lot of festivals. We sponsored a
Junteenth celebration, which there weren't very many celebrations going on there. We
sponsored that. The second year, we sponsored it again. We had a Cinco de Mayo
celebration. We had a fourth of July celebration picnic for the children. We would like to, as
we said, to revitalize the Federation of Neighborhood Associations. To my knowledge, we
have not gotten together as a neighborhood associations to exchange ideas, to perhaps
address any problems that we might be having. I would like to reinstate that Federation of
Neighborhoods, and I think things can be resolved in neighborhoods, even in Ward III, is by
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 27
becoming familiar with each other, and the only way that you can become familiar with each
other, is to come together, whether it be in a festival or in a meeting, periodic meetings to get
together and to know each other. We had a little example of that while we were waiting for
this particular forum to come before you. We didn't have much else to do but talk to each
other, and I found many different things. A gentleman that I found out that I never thought,
is interested in trains, Lionel trains, and he has a set up in his house and his wife says take
it somewhere else, so he got another place to keep it in. I didn't know that, I had others
found that like certain food that they are supposed to like, but they don't like, stereotypes that
we come up growing with that say well you are supposed to like this and you find out not
really. I would like to have some place to go, whether it be a festival or anything, where
Mayor Moore goes, the Police Chief, and..... and everything and I don't know who you are.
A lot of people do not know who the mayor is, the chief of police. If I had the opportunity to
just be there and talk with them, and mention some of the problems and you not know that
you are talking to the mayor, or to the police chief or nothing, and get acquainted that way.
I think a lot of disagreements could come about if we could just get together.
4. Although you represent Ward III, what is your philosophy about issues that do not directly
affect Ward III? (Andrew Cokinos)
I don't think that there is any issue that does not directly affect Ward III. Ward III is not an
island to itself. It is part of Beaumont. There are a lot of problems that only pertain to Ward
III, but in decision making, you have to think for the whole thing. Some things perhaps some
might be in your ward, and asking you to do something. You have to also think how, about
the big picture. Does it affect lives in other parts of Beaumont, and at the same way, I would
also ask other wards how will their decisions affect positions and people in Ward III? I think
that would be probably one of the important things that I would make decisions, yes, on the
needs and wants of Ward III, but you almost, you have to also keep in mind that we are a
part of Beaumont, and we need to put this across to our constituents that yes there are very
pressing things, but, if it is good for Beaumont, is it also good for Ward III or the other way
around.
5. Assuming you agree that the City needs to increase its revenues (i.e. user fees, taxes)what
ideas do you have for increasing revenues over the next five years? (Bobbie Patterson)
Of course, if I were to say raise taxes, that would be the end of me. But, here is the problem
about needs and wants and our individuals that we serve, people with mental retardation,
one of the hardest problems we have is getting across the fact that their wants and their
needs. You take care of your needs first, like every family knows that. Take care of your
needs, and if you have anything left over, you can take care of your wants. But, if you want
those wants addressed right now, then be willing to pay for them. Okay, so if someone
comes up with some particular item that they would want, convince me, you convince me
that it is worth it. If you want something in your neighborhood or in your ward, are you willing
to ask the rest of the wards to pay for it along with you, and if you get it right now, are you
willing to pay for it in the future?
6. Since Ward III is very diverse, what action would you take to ensure that the needs of the
citizens are met by the City? (Mayor Moore)
It was about 14 years ago, you presented our Cinco De Mayo proclamation for Riverfront
Park, a very beautiful day it was and we were happy to have you there. Ward III is very,
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 28
very diverse, I won't back away from it. I will gladly face it, and I will--perhaps is one of the
barriers to being appointed to this position is that Ward III is vastly majority African-American.
And one of the biggest question that is, can a non African-American represent this ward and
still bring satisfaction to the majority of the Ward. I think I can. There are perhaps those that
say that I can't, okay. But I can point to various things that I have done, various awards that
I have received from African-American organizations, invitations to be on the platform with
the Reverend Jessie Jackson when he came to address the crowd on Martin Luther King
celebration, to get an award from Port Arthur on the same stage with other African-
Americans. I would say this to the constituency, and to paraphrase a great American that
now belongs to the world, Dr. Martin Luther King, I would say this, remember what Dr. King
said "Judge me not on the color of my skin, " or in this particular matter, my race, "but judge
me on the content of my character. " I have given vast amounts of time and resources to this
City and to this ward and to this town that I love. And I would ask that you judge me on what
have done and I will say this, whatever the outcome is, I will continue. I will continue to do
the things that I think can bring this community together. There might be opposition, but I
still will do it. And the opportunity comes, I will , I will continue to put my hat in the ring when
I know the odds are dauntless, and success rate perhaps will not be there. This past May,
it was no easy duty to do that. When I put my hat against an incumbent councilman, and I
had no records had no experience on City Council, but I still put my hat in there, okay. I did
it and I will do it again. For when the time comes that there is no more time, I would like for
people to remember that perhaps I did not win anything, but I, perhaps they will remember
that I tried, and I will be remembered. If anyone remembers me, other than my family, I
would like for you to remember Roberto Flores from the words that were spoken at a eulogy
for Senator Robert Kennedy, and I would like to be remembered by that, because by these
very words is what I live by "some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things
that never were and say why not?"
7. Is there anything else that you would like to share with Council or ask of Council?
I know you have been here a long time, and you want to deliberate, the only thing 1 would
ask is for that many of you have asked for an opportunity. I was not born a Councilman, as
you all weren't. You come inexperienced to the job that you have held for these years, and
I am asking for an opportunity to be perhaps the first in another class, the first. I do not
come to you and ask you to appoint me just because I am what I am. I come because you
have the record in front of you of our years of service to this community and never asking
for anything. And, if I did ask for the people for something, I did it officially. I filed and I ran,
knowing full well that the odds were there. I just thank you for this opportunity and we will
continue to work for the City of Beaumont and Ward III regardless of the outcome.
Mayor Moore thanked the audience for patience and listening abilities through the interview
process. He commented that the process has been lengthy, but very informative, and stated that
some of the items brought forward are on the drawing table and planned for the near future. He
stated that Council will recess to deliberate selection and the candidates were outstanding.
OTHER BUSINESS - No other business.
COMMENTS
* Councilmembers comment on various subjects
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 29
Councilmember Goodson expressed appreciation for the diversity of candidates.
Councilmember Ames thanked everyone the audience for remaining for the entire process.
Councilmember Patterson thanked the candidates for their interest in the position.
City Attorney Lane Nichols explained that the charter states that is a majority vote of Council
determines how a ward vacancy is filled, and proper notice has been posted for Council action.
Mayor Moore acknowledged attendance of school board members, Mr. Woodrow Reese, and Mr.
Terry Williams, and Mr. Clifford Hartman, a school principal in Ward III.
* City Manager's Report - Oral report not given
* Public Comment (Persons are limited to 3 minutes)
Mr. Allen Lee, 5095 Maddox, addressed Council in opposition to the process used in selecting a
new Ward III Councilmember, spoke of non-accountability, commented that Mrs. Aubry's water has
not been connected, complained about speeding on Florida Street near Bingham Elementary, and
spoke of helping Rhonda McMullin to keep a fence erected around her property in the Historic
District. Mr. Lee commended all of the candidates, and stated he is filing a temporary injunction,
further addressed violations of the charter and the open meetings act.
Ms. Peggy Pierre, 1220 Avenue F, addressed Council to apologize for her statement last week
about Ward III not having Council representation.
Ms. Marie Hubbard, 1990 Nora Street, addressed Council in opposition to treatment of elderly
citizens during the process of rehabilitating dilapidated structures and perceived problems with a
female inspector.
Ms. Glenda McCrae, 6429 Bigner Road, addressed Council to express concerns and her
perspective of requirements to be used when selecting a new Ward III Councilmember.
The meeting recessed at 4:59 p.m. to convene in Executive Session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Consider matters related to the appointment of a public officer or employee in accordance
with Section 551.074 of the Government Code:
Deliberate the appointment of the Ward III Councilmember
The meeting reconvened at 6:55 p.m. Mayor Moore commented about the length of Executive
Session and the good deliberation. He expressed appreciation for the quality of interest in the
position, said the process went very well, and commented about the wonderful ideas expressed by
the candidates. Mayor Moore voiced a desire that the remaining seven candidates that were not
selected will continue to take an active role in building the community.
Councilmember Goodson commented that Ward I II has a lot of challenges, and stated that he does
not know of another area of the city that has more challenges on a day-to-day basis.
Councilmember Goodson stated that he expects all candidates will continue to their community
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 30
work he community and requested that more importantly, they continue to work with the appointee.
Councilmember Goodson made a motion to appoint Audwin Samuel to fill the unexpired
term as Ward III Councilmember. Councilmember Ames seconded the motion. MOTION
PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Moore, Councilmembers Smith, Goodson, Cokinos, Ames, and
Patterson
Noes: None
Mayor Moore invited Mr. Audwin Samuel to come forward to sign the Statement of Appointed
Officer.
The City Attorney asked that arrangements be made to administer the Oath of Office after the
Statement of Appointment is faxed to the Secretary of State. The ceremony was set for 10:00
a.m. Wednesday, November 24, in the Council Chambers.
Newly appointed Councilmember Audwin Samuel thanked God for allowing him the opportunity to
serve the citizens of Beaumont again, and thanked each Councilmember and the Mayor for
expressing their confidence in his ability to serve the community. He stated he will serve to the best
of his ability and will do everything that he can to uphold the integrity of this office and the Council.
Councilmember Samuel thanked his family for giving him their support and approval to pursue the
position.
* Public Comment (Persons are limited to 3 minutes)
Mr. Raymond C. Chaison stated that he is pleased with the appointment of Mr. Audwin Samuel as
Ward III Councilmember and commended him for his prior service.
Ms. Karen Thomas thanked Council for the opportunity to interview and commented that citizens
do not have the opportunity to step forward often, stated her appreciation for the process, said she
has learned a lot, and pledged support to Councilmember Samuel for Ward III endeavors.
Mr. Jerry Whittington addressed Council to thank them for considering him, congratulated
Councilmember Samuel, stated that he is sure that he will be included in what is done in the
community, said he is proud of Ward III for producing qualified people and people that are willing
to work with each other.
Mr. Robert Cortez, addressed Council to say that the process has been a pleasurable experience,
he has learned things, and made himself available for Councilmember Samuel and Ward III.
Mr. Roberto C. Flores, Sr. thanked Council for considering him, and stated that he will continue to
work within Ward III, pledged his support to Councilmember Samuel, and said he will continue to
work to achieve his goals and dreams within Ward III.
Mayor Moore stated that his desire is to rebuild and restructure the Federation of Communities.
That desire has been expressed by others today more so than it has been stated in a long time.
He verified the need and stated that he has already talked to the City Manager about the
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 31
reinstatement, said he would probably like to see a name change, a re-networking of where we are
as a network of communities or cities of the new millennium.
There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m.
David oore, Mayor
Barbara Liming, City Clerk
Minutes;November 23,1999;Page 32