Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN JULY 30 1996 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD JULY 30, 1996 - 6:00 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 30th day of July, 1996, with the following present: HONORABLE: David W. Moore Mayor Andrew P. Cokinos Mayor Pro Tern Councilman-At Large Becky Ames Councilman-At-Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward Guy N. Goodson Councilman, Ward II John K. Davis Councilman, Ward III Bobbie Patterson Councilman, Ward IV Ray A. Riley City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Barbara Liming Deputy City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by Pastor Larry Selvey, Northside Church of Christ. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Rosemarie "Tu" Smith, Consulting City Clerk. -000- Mr. Vic Carlstrom, Chairman of the Keep Beaumont Beautiful Commission addressed Council to present"Pride in Beaumont' awards. Before presenting the awards, Mr. Carlstrom explained that the Commission completed their eighth annual "Paint-a-Thon" in April that was designed to assist low-income senior citizens and disabled homeowners by painting their homes at no cost. He said the paint has been donated each year by the Valspar Corporation and labor provided by many different volunteer organizations. He said the four companies are to be honored tonight for their major roles in the project and for their realization of social responsibility to the community. These companies donated in kind services by pressure washing the houses to be painted, a crucial behind the scenes process of the "Paint-a-Thon" success. Mr. Carlstrom reported that 89 houses have been painted in the past three years for low-income elderly or disabled homeowners in Beaumont. The four companies receiving "Pride in Beaumont" awards were: All Phase Coatings, Performance Blasting and Coating, Service Painting Company, and Steel Painters. Secondly, 228 July 30, 1996 Mr. Carlstrom announced that a contract with Singles Concept will be signed for participation in the "Operation Clean Street Program." Mr. Carlstrom introduced Keep Beaumont Beautiful Commission members Gina Core and Ruth Naumczik, Staff Liaison David Oliver and Ad Hoc members Maree Calcote and Dr. Bruce Drury, who are still very actively committed to the principles in keeping Beaumont clean and beautiful. Mayor Moore thanked the the Commission and volunteers for their faithful efforts. -000- Citizens were invited to comment on the Consent Agenda and Regular Agenda Items. No one wished to address these items. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the City Council meeting held July 23, 1996; Resolution No. 96-174 authorizing acquisition of Parcel 53: 0.239 acres out of Lot 11, Block 1, Wescalder Fig Acres Addition (1520 South Major Drive for the appraised value of $11,606.00 from Michael A. Phelan, Trustee for improvements to FM 364/Major Drive from Highway 105 to State Highway 124; Resolution No. 96-175 authorizing an annual contract with Premium Plumbing to furnish plumbing services for all City Facilities at $38.00 per hour for a plumber; $15.00 per hour for a helper; $22.50 for a minimum service call; with 25% added to material cost; and Resolution No. 96-176 accepting Water and Sanitary Sewer Improvements: Lots 1-4, Block 1 and Lots 1-9, Block 2 in Windsor Gardens, Section One, contingent on filing of the final plat, complete with filings of dedication of all rights-of-way and easements required on the preliminary and final plats. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Patterson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 96-177 authorizing a contract with Allco, Inc. for Sanitary Sewer Improvements, Contract Number Eight, North Trunk Rehabilitation in the amount of$369,570.00 that includes rehabilitation of approximately 5,990 linear feet of 33" sanitary sewer, new manholes, rehabilitation 229 July 30, 1996 of existing manholes and removal or abandonment of existing manholes was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 96-178 authorizing purchase of a R. S. Technical T. V. Sewer Line Inspection System in the amount of$92,286.00 for use in the Water Utilities Department, Sewer Maintenance Division from Kinloch Equipment and Supply was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Goodson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 96-179 authorizing one-year contracts for funding from HUD Consolidated Grant Program and Emergency Shelter Grant funds with Anayat House--$10,000; Charlton- Pollard Nursery School--$14,250; Coach Alex Durley Foundation-48,000; Evelyn Lord Teen Court--$6,000; Police Activities League--$9,000; Programs for Human Services--$8,000; Salvation Army Boys' and Girls' Club--$9,000; Schlesinger Geriatric Center-47,000; SETLIFE, Inc.--$4,000; Sunlight Properties--$10,000; The Watts Home, Inc.--$5,000; Women and Children's Shelter of Southeast Texas--$3,750; Youth Rescue Mission--$11,000; Henry's Place--$15,000; Habitat for Humanity--$40,000; BUILD, Inc.--$20,000; and the Salvation Army Emergency Shelter--$60,000 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Patterson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000 Resolution No. 96-180 authorizing a contract with A & B Builders, Inc., a Minority Business Enterprise, in the amount of $152,201.00 for renovation of Liberia and Pine Street Parks that includes construction and installation of a concrete foundation for new playground equipment, swing sets, drinking fountains, picnic tables and spray pools was presented. Councilman Davis complimented fulfilling a complete MBE contract, informed citizens that completion time for the park renovations would be sixty (60) days and requested their patience during that period. Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos said he has received calls regarding the swimming pool at Liberia Park and questioned its closure. In response, the City Manager reported the wading pool was removed in April and a spray device like those at Halbouty and Lefler Parks will be installed . He said the spray device is much safer for the children and does not require emptying each evening and 230 July 30, 1996 refilling again the next morning. Councilman Patterson inquired about the location of restrooms at Liberia Park, and the City Manager explained that restrooms are provided at the larger community parks, not in smaller neighborhood parks. Neighborhood parks serve immediate neighborhoods where participants don't travel a long distance or stay for extended periods. Councilman Davis interjected that this contract is for refurbishing equipment of two existing parks, not adding new construction, and at the request of Mayor Moore, City Manager Riley further explained the park concept and differences between a neighborhood and community park. Mr. Riley said that the cost of constructing restrooms is about $110,000 each, the total cost of renovating both parks with this project is approximately $152,000, and providing restroom facilities is not anticipated in small neighborhood parks with limited use and in close proximity to the homes of those who use the park. Resolution No. 96-180 was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Davis. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None Mayor Moore commented about intense use of parks during the summer months when young people are out of school and requested that costs for establishing the use of portable restroom facilities from late spring through August be researched. -000- Mayor Moore said, "...As many of you all know...this City Council has been actively involved in a search for a new City Clerk, only because our present City Clerk is going to be relocating at some point along the way--permanently. But, we really do want to thank Tu for a tremendous effort and perseverance and just dedication to this community and to this City Council in staying with us as long as she has--someone on a contract basis, and the smile on your face seems like you'd stay here forever! But, I don't think your husband would understand that, but few people know that she's a newlywed, and she's doing that! But, at any rate, after much searching and interviewing and all, this City Council this evening is ready to make a recommendation to our public, to our citizens, and the young lady that we have interviewed and met with, her name is Patrice Fogarty from Dickinson, and she's present here with us this evening. So, what I'd like to do...is take the formal action, since it is considered an appointment on our agenda, and have a motion from Council. Resolution No. 96-181 appointing Patrice Fogarty as City Clerk of the City of Beaumont (at a base salary of$48,000 per year) was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Davis. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None Mayor Moore presented Mrs. Patrice Fogarty to the audience as the new City Clerk. Mrs. Fogarty 231 July 30, 1996 thanked Council for the appointment, said she looks forward to serving Council and the citizens of Beaumont and introduced her husband, Mike, who she said accompanied her for "this great honor." Councilman Davis told Tu that he didn't know the official date for leaving Beaumont, but said he "would be remiss if I, if I didn't say a few words. I have not met many folk with your professionalism, with your class and with your dignity. I think that is something very, very good. You are the only person who works for the Council that I have not engaged in serious thought processing. And, for you to escape three years from dealing with me, for us to have such a pleasant relationship, that really says a lot about about you, and take it from a young man, I think that what you have done for this city, not just in the three years in which I've been here, but the years that you were here prior to that. Probably been with the City longer than I've been alive. Let me say, thank you very much. Thank you very much." Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos said, "I can't let John get by with all of this...Tu, you've been super, and it's really been a pleasure. I was on the City Council when you were first appointed to the City Clerk's office, and you've done a great job. We're going to miss you, and don't cry! Don't cry!" Mayor Moore said that Patrice has some obligations to fulfill and will assume her responsibilities as City Clerk the first week of September and that Tu will remain as a City Clerk Consultant for the next 30 days and during a transition period. Councilman Smith told Tu that"it has really been wonderful working with you, Tu. I don't know how we would ever get through elections and all of the different filings that we have to do if we didn't have your expertise and your concern for us. You've made our jobs look easy, and you've served all of our citizens and served them well. And, when you took that job, you had some big shoes to fill because Myrtle Corgey had been the City Clerk for a long time, but you have done an excellent job and filled those shoes extremely well, and she certainly prepared you well for the job. So, I'm very indebted to both of you, because both of you signify the highest form of professionalism that I've encountered in our City. We're going to miss you, but we're going to look forward to working with Patrice..." Councilman Goodson said, "for reasons that only those hard, livid sports fans among us will understand, I really thought about this last night when we had done some discussion with Patrice, and I saw that Tommy Lasorda quit, I thought about the Los Angeles baseball team that only had like two managers. I thought you know this City's been blessed with having very few City Clerks, and we've kept them a long time, and they put up with us for a long time. And, I look forward as others have said, Patrice, you being here a long time. Don't plan on going any place, because we don't to have many City Clerks, and we keep them a long time. I knew Tu probably even a little bit before I got on Council. I have called upon her services both as a Councilmember and as a lawyer. She is knowledgeable beyond anyone on this Council's appreciation. As a lawyer who works in an area with Tu, I can say something that others can't, is that, you know she is beyond 232 July 30, 1996 professional. This is a love of hers, it's not just a job. And, one of the things I guess I could always. say as a Councilmember, there's been a lot of reasons why I would of had real good reasons to call in sick and now want to be up here on some Council meetings for some hard issues, but Tu and the members of her staff in the City Clerk's office always brought a smile, even in some hard times we had this spring. They were always professional. They were always anxious to see you, and they've always been anxious to see the members of this community, even those that weren't always very cordial to them. So, Tu, I'm going to miss you a bunch!" Councilman Ames told Tu that she had "a few days left, quite a few, so don't do all your crying now because you're going to have a whole lot more days to do that! But, I just want to say, Tu, that we really love you and we're miss you, and you truly deserve what you're going to. I know that you're looking forward to you new life, and we wish you the very, very best, and welcome, Patrice." Councilman Patterson said, ..."I am the newest member on Council, and I was just thinking back when I was running for this office and how many calls I made to Tu and how many times I went to her and she always was very friendly and very helpful, and she and her staff always were very professional. And, even when I would say well, I just want to make sure I got this right, she'd say that's okay, you got it right. I said, well, just keep me legal now. She was always there with a smile on her face, and Tu, I want to say that I'm going to miss you, and I'd like to extend my best wishes to you, and I'm like Becky, don't cry too much now, you might start me crying!" Mayor Moore said to Tu, "this isn't This is Your Life, so we're not going to drag it out any further. Within the next 30 days, I, too, will share my feelings and admiration for you. You've truly been an outstanding professional, and I had the opportunity to work with the Clerk before you, and all I can say is that those are two very pleasant experiences, and Patrice, I look forward to you continuation and the professionalism in the Clerk's office, and you're afford a luxury, I guess a lot of people would not have, and that would be the transition time turning over the reins there, because that will be most significant in making sure that all our issues are handled professionally and taken care of to the point that our citizens deem satisfactory. So, we'll be looking forward to that, so congratulations to you. Tu, congratulations to you in being almost able to go home to your husband, and we'll look forward to the next several weeks." -000- Councilman Smith told Council she was very sorry to have missed the dedication ceremonies for the Interstate 10 overpass for Liberty and Laurel Streets named for former Mayor Maury Meyers. She said in working with Mayor Meyers for four years, she observed that "he did try to bridge the gap for all areas of our community and bring us together as a whole," and said this is a very fitting honor. Councilman Goodson acknowledged that Pete Trest, a former Precinct 4 County Commissioner in Hardin County and lately an important part of the court sytem in Hardin County died and is a 233 July 30, 1996 tremendous loss to the community. Secondly, Councilman Goodson told the City Manager that constituents have again asked about water fountains in the Garden Center at Tyrrell Park. Councilman Ames congratulated City Manager Riley and Staff on a wonderfully planned the dedication ceremony for the Maury Meyers Bridge. She said it well attended in spite of the warm weather. Councilman Davis joined in congratulating the City Manager and Staff and commented about rewards that come in one's lifetime and the worthiness of actions as mayor that deserve naming such a nice overpass after Mayor Meyers. Councilman Davis spoke about citizen issues concerning the Police Department and their treatment, said every issue presented is investigated, and said that these matters always have two sides to the story, and it the Council's, City Manager and City Attorney's job to try to determine the true facts. He said that as a Councilman, he has asked much of the Police Department regarding drug busts and patrolling because of a need and during his tenure, the Police Department has done well by him and the citizens in Ward III. He said there will always be problems, but none will go unheard. Councilman Davis thanked Kyle Hayes for his hours of service and assistance in checking out citizen complaints. Councilman Patterson added commendations to the City Manager for the ribbon cutting services this morning, commended Mayor Moore for suggesting naming the overpass in honor of Mayor Meyers. Councilman Patterson shared that she had opportunity to stand in for Mayor Moore at Charlton-Pollard's Seventh Annual Mass Reunion this past weekend, reported that she had a real. good time and was made and Honorary Member of the Class of `69. Lastly, Councilman Patterson suggested to the City Manager that Council and Staff look again at the possibilities of constructing restrooms in all parks, even though some of them are neighborhood parks. Mayor Moore thanked Council for filling in for him at various functions while he was Chairing the Association of Mayors, Councilmembers and Commissioners Annual Conference in Odessa. He said City of Beaumont Staff presented a bid for a future conference, were close, but not chosen. College Station won the bid, probably because of the opening President Bush's Library in the near future. Mayor Moore said today was very special in our community, beginning with today's ceremony dedicating the Maury Meyers Bridge and honoring his efforts in bridging our community together that has been part of Beaumont's success. Mayor Moore thanked Texas Commerce Bank for hosting a reception after the ceremony. He reported that today a closing program for young people in the Youth Academy in Law Enforcement was held at Tyrrell Park, said some of the most exciting news today was the announcement by Southwestern Bell that 70 new jobs will be created by their company. He spoke of the infusion of capital that would accompany this expansion and at Mobile and the Federal Prison System. Mayor Moore stated that citizens are ambassadors to companies and the attitude displayed encourages their decision for construction of new or expansion of existing facilities. He reported hearing comments in West Texas about the new spirit of Beaumont, Texas and continued to encourage positive attitudes. Mayor Moore again told the new City Clerk, Patrice Fogarty, that he looks forward to working with her and said there will be 234 July 30, 1996 challenging issues, but it is all about positive growth. -000- Mr. Riley presented to Council Council the Preliminary Operating Budget and Capital Improvements Program for FY 1997, said that Beaumont has had no tax increase in four years, and that the current rate of $.615 will be maintained. Mr. Riley reported that in the General Fund, anticipated expenditures will be $59,456,800, representing about a 2% increase. He listed major sources of income in the General Fund that include sales and use tax that generates about 38% of the revenue and will increase this year about 2.2%; property taxes are anticipated to be $12,030,000, about a 3.3% increase; industrial payments are the single largest increase, anticipated this year to be $9,829,000, an increase of over$725,000; gross receipts from franchise taxes, about$5,305,000, an increase of about $225,000 or a little over 4 '/%. Mr. Riley said that of the anticipated $59,456,800 expenditures, about 50% of that amount will be used for the Fire and Police Departments; about 30% will be used for Public Health, Public Works, Community Services, Parks and Recreation; and a little over 15% for General Government, Central Services and Finance, and said he feels this budget will be sufficient with no cut in services and meet contractual requirements to Fire and Police Unions and provide for 3% merit increase for civilian employees. He said in the Debt Service Fund to pay for general obligation debt for all capital improvements constructed in past years, the total expenditure is $9.6 million, about $1.2 million less than last year, due to refunding action taken earlier this year. He said this fund is only supported by property taxes, and for this year anticipated receiving about $9,025,000. Mr. Riley explained that the Water Utilities Fund is an Enterprise Fund and all revenues are from water and sewer users and should be sufficient to meet all non-operating expenses without any increase in water rates for residential consumers. In the Solid Waste Fund, Mr. Riley said anticipated costs are about$8,058,100. Primarily, this year the major expense is related to disposal with about $3.3 million used for operation, maintenance and improvements at the Landfill; about $700,000 is anticipated for closure of existing cells; and about $1.5 million for preparation of cells required for construction completion of the new landfill under EPA regulations. He said there will no proposed increase in rates in Solid Waste, but there is a challenge will particularly be with increased costs related to disposal caused by cost of required improvements under EPA regulations to continue to promote recycling and eliminate all possible disposable in the landfill. He spoke of the success in composting and the need for residential use of the blue bins. In other Special Revenue Funds, Mr. Riley said spending is anticipated to be about $9.3 million. These funds are received for a designated purpose. The primary fund is the Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund with about $1.5 million in revenue and the Street Maintenance Fund with an anticipated program of about $1.8 million. Mr. Riley said the other Internal Service Funds--Capital Reserve, Fleet Management, Employee Benefits, and General Liability all total $17,443,000 and said these are revolving funds. He said the combined fund balances of those Internal Service Funds are a little less then $ 5 million. Mr. Riley told Council that the total budget is $122 million and either the reserves or anticipated revenues will be sufficient to maintain all programs with a high level of service in all departments, 235 July 30, 1996 Councilman Davis confirmed the tax rate would remain at $.615 for the coming year and expressed pleasure that an increase will not be necessary. Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos questioned Contract Services for City Council in the General Fund, and Mr. Riley explained that there is a contract with the Washington consultant in that fund. Further comments by Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos included his objection to spending $55,000 for a Washington lobbyist and was advised this item would be a Council decision. -000- Mr. Charles Johnson, 5080 Helbig, again addressed Council to complain about management at the Plymouth Village Apartments and Beaumont Police Officers. Mr. Johnson spoke about tickets issued for loitering, false accusations and an attempt to burn his apartment. Mr. Johnson told Mayor Moore and Councilman Davis that he has videos he would like them to review with him. Mayor Moore told Mr. Johnson that Council has no jurisdiction over Housing officials, said he would review his tapes and asked if he has filed proper charges. Mr. Ivory Pugh (no address given) questioned the Mayor's accomplishments and again asked for signed affidavits regarding his son's alleged beating. Councilman Davis reminded Mr. Pugh that last week he was requested to work with Council and a commitment was made to investigate the situation, told him that he is not privy to the police report, however, his son has some rights and what he has received is the result of a lot of people working on his behalf and asked that he wait for the information to be received. Mr. Pugh continued to discuss his complaint and disagree with Councilman Davis' assessment. Mrs. Jeri Rose, 5840 Falcon Lane; Mrs. Joyce Sample, 8585 Homer Drive; Mrs. Lisa Lambert, 7735 Homer Drive; Mrs. Aletha Duncan, 1065 Alfred Oaks; Ms. Carolyn Bernsen, 5825 Sunbird; and Mrs. Mamie LeBlanc, 5650 Springdale Lane; addressed Council to solicit their help with a HUD issue and in opposition to a proposed housing project in Park North Addition at the end of Homer Drive and address concerns relative to traffic, speeding, safety, bus service, increased crime and decreased property values. Ms. Nan Vincent Nelson, Lay Chaplain for St. Matthew's Episcopal Center at Lamar, 796 East Virginia, addressed Council to discuss the effects of alcohol and substance abuse, the appointment of Mr. Josh Allen to design and implement an alcohol and substance treatment program within the Department of Criminal Justice. She said the program is in effect at the LeBlanc Unit and men within months of being paroled have been successfully treated for the problem that led to their crimes. She invited Council to attend a program they have prepared tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. at the LeBlanc Unit and on August 6th at "Americas Night Out Against Crime" at 6:30 p.m. at the Police Sub-Station at Highland Avenue and Woodrow Street. Ms. Nelson emphasized that social and spiritual help of citizens need attention and support of the program can be shown by our presence. 236 July 30, 1996 Mrs. Dorothy Shotwell, 2250 W. Virginia, addressed Council in favor of the Beaumont Housing Authority considering the Pearl Orchard area and the Charlton Pollard neighborhood for additional housing. Councilman Davis explained desegregation regulations and Census Tracts. Mr. Cornelius Simpson, 5080 Helbig Road, complained about duty performance of Police Officers, said they need sensitivity training, said crime and drugs pay and spoke in support of spending more money in government projects. Mrs. Kelly Galivez, 1822 Broadway, voiced her opinion as a renter who works 40 per week and pays bills on time. Mrs. Galivez said her belief is that the HUD homes should be going to people who can pay for the home. Mr. Lynn DeMary, 430 East Elgie, invited Council and citizens to attend a Federation Meeting, Thursday, 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of South Park Baptist Church. Officer Crystal Holmes will be the guest speaker and will furnish information about the Cops and Kids Picnic to be held October 26th. He said that Katherine Wigginton of the South Park Neighborhood Association will share secrets for their success as a neighborhood association, provide tours of the Police Sub Station and extended an invitation to Americas Night Out Against Crime on August 6th and said South Park Neighborhood Association, Heart of the City, WOW & Pine Cone area are planning events for the evening to voice support of the Police in reducing crime in their neighborhoods. Mr. Doyle Tucker, 8590 Homer Drive, addressed Council to complain about HUD not keeping the yards mowed of homes they purchase for extended periods as long as two months. Council informed citizens that HUD will hold public hearings regarding the project and that announcements will be made in the newspaper and an effort will be made to make them aware of the hearings. Mayor Moore thanked citizens for their comments and said he sincerely hoped they "came with a spirit of really understanding." Mayor Moore said he wants to see all served in our community, said that public hearings are for understanding and awareness and that we do not have all the facts about the HUD project. He said that he is saddened because"every time there is some discussion about improving housing, giving an uplift to people who are trying, talking about individuals who are working. It's not just your community, it's even in the Black community. People say no, I don't want it, send them somewhere else. Those individuals, whomever they may be are citizens of Beaumont, and those individuals, however small the purchases they make, are taxpayers, too. And, I do respect your property values, and I do respect your neighborhoods. What we have the opportunity to do is create something new and something different. You're raising a lot of issues. Some issues the City needs to pay a little attention to. You're talking about speeding, you're talking about traffic control, and those are some issues we can take a good look at, hopefully, from the perspective of improving your access, may that be this month or next month or next year, but those are the issues we need to hear as a community. A couple of things: we don't make the rules 237 July 30, 1996 in regards to where new construction goes. I want you all to just think about this with me for a moment. There are a number of people who do live in substandard housing who have worked and who do not receive aid, subsidy or any level of support. There are individuals who do that, and there are individuals who burn to death in some of those traps. We want to improve the quality of housing throughout this community, and I'll be very honest with you, I would much rather see every possible housing structure that we could put go into a couple of different areas to restore those communities, but we don't have the power to do that. We have worked, we have negotiated, I have made trips. I have worked with our Washington lobbyist, we set up meeting after meeting, and we have made some progress in an effort to get some of those units put where people really want to live. What we're talking about tonight is change, and that's tough for everybody. That's tough for everybody--change. But, if we don't change, we're going to perish as a community. If we don't put new housing stock throughout our community, not in one location. Let's look at where we've come from. We're not talking about building 250 or 300 units of housing in one place. We're not talking about everything being subsidized. We're talking about trying to create the same type of environments that you raise your families by, and if we can spread it out and open up and try to work with each other, we stand a chance of having a very strong community. But the easiest thing for us to sit there and say this evening is I don't want it, but you know what, some of the best friends you could possibly ever make will be somebody that respects what you're doing and want to emulate what you're doing because you have a good community. Communities die when there's no infusion of growth, your community! Let's take a look at South Park community, it's an older community, and if there was no infusion of new people, it would die. So, what I'm saying is let's think about this before that public hearing and before we arm ourselves in a no-mode, let's understand all the facts. Now, I do know this, effective next month, someone shared with me this weekend, there's a special seminar on how HUD will be able to promote home ownership. See, I believe people should work too. I really believe that, and I believe that people should be rewarded or people who go to work everyday have a work ethic, teach their children that work is the way and they provide for their family. And I do not agree that crime pays! I would not stand up here, I would not sit here and let anybody say that for a young person to hear this, sitting in this audience or on television, to believe I can go out clocking and make it. You don't get any dividends there. Kids die early, communities become trashed and the juvenile system is at all-time ruins. And then we look at the fact--what are we going to do now? You all have a chance of participating, changing a lot of that. You have a unique opportunity, if we could look at a way to make it work. Now, I do understand one thing the Housing Authority is doing. They are looking at putting people in places that understand you have to cut your grass. You can't work on the cars in the front yard. We're not going to allow couches and ice boxes on the front porch. You know--some are laughing,' but this is the truth. They are going to great lengths to make sure that people that go into these units, or whatever units that they are managing will not do this. I guess I said all this, to say this, if we don't open up--all of us--everybody in Beaumont, and understand what all our problems are and be willing to share in it, it's certainly going to consume us all. We can't run from the problems. Any issue of crime is mobile in our community, it's not isolated to any one area. So, I'm asking when you go to the public hearing, let's look at some of the things that we think could make it better, regardless of who lives there. But, remember, if you don't build your older communities, 238 July 30, 1996 they're certainly going to die...what I'm saying is you have to have new growth to continue to build up your communities. So, let's not close ourselves off to that...if we don't learn how to live next to each other and work with each other, we can only run for so long—the issues we can address as a community, we're certainly going to try to do that. Let's get the correct information. We're not the authority that can address what HUD is going to do, but I do know this from HUD, and I heard this directly from the Secretary himself, they want to move from subsidizing rental units where people live to giving people a place where they can live and own it. If you own it, you take care of it, you got pride in it, and they're trying to promote that. What I'm asking all of you to do is just help us be successful, to some extent, where we start building a community of one..." -000- There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. -000- 1, Barbara Liming, Deputy City Clerk for the City of Beaumont, Texas, certify that the above is a true copy of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held July 30, 1996. Barbara Liming, Deputy City Clerk 239 July 30, 1996