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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN JUNE 02 1987 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD JUNE 2, 1987 - 1: 15 P. M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 2nd day of June, 1987, with the following present: HONORABLE: Maurice Meyers Mayor Bob Lee, Jr. Councilman At Large Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Mike Brumley Councilman, Ward II Audwin Samuel Councilman, Ward III David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Albert E. Haines City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney -000- The Invocation was given by Dr. Skip Shipper, pastor of First Baptist Church. (Dr. Shipper was asked to remember Mrs. Myrtle Corgey, City Clerk, who is critically ill in the hospital. ) The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Lee. -000- COUNCILMAN BRUMLEY: We thought we'd start Council off a little bit different today. That is the introduction to the City of Beaumont for "Concerts on the Dove" (brass portion of an orchestra performing after the Roll Call for Council. ) And, before they leave, I'd like to introduce these fellow citizens of yours that will be entertaining you, not only this coming Thursday, at Alice Keith Park, but also all through the Summer in various parks in the City. We've got Cheryl Rigby playing Trumpet; we've got Roy Bean on the French Horn; we' ve got Dan Wiseman on the Barotone; we' ve got Tom Winger on the Trombone and, last but not least, we' ve got Gene Rigby on the Tuba. We appreciate you folks for coming today. For those of you who do not know, a program called "Concerts on the Move" and following with the program of "Sunday in the Park", this is an opportunity for families to be with families and neighbors to be with neighbors. Some neighbors will be up on the stage performing, some neighbors will be sitting next to you during the concert. There will be a series throughout the City beginning this Thursday at Alice Keith Park and it will have the Beaumont Community Band and it will have a group called "Fresh" and it promises to be a great evening for you and there is no charge. Admission is free. It will be a lovely evening. I am sure you are going to enjoy it. -208- June 2. 1987 COUNCILMAN BRUMLEY continued: We are not going to stop there. Our next one is going to be July 9th at Rogers Park and it will be Jimmy Simmons band for as long as you want to risten to him, I suppose. The third one will be hosted by Councilman Smith and it will be Country- Western music, Buddy (Buddy Johnson, KYKR Radio) ; then, we will go from there to Magnolia Park and Councilman Samuel will host that one and it will be Gospel and Rhythym and Blues and we will put our children back to school with a Rock and Roll concert at Riverfront Park the Thursday before school starts. And, I would encourage the City and everyone to take opportunity to participate the in these events because the promise to really be a lot of fun to you. We are not going to take back seats from any of the Sunday in the Park programs so this is your official uniform, Group, for Concerts on the Move . . . Councilman, Mr. Nichols, Mr. Moore, (passing out T-shirts) The first one is hosted by Councilman Moore and he may want to give you a special invitation to be out at Alice Keith Park. For those of you who did not see, or look in the paper, see the photograph there, they' ve sort of put a new face on Alice Keith Park and I think from the communication I've had from a lot of people, this is going to be an excellent opportunity for people from other parts of the City to go out and see other parks they haven' t been to in a long time and if you haven' t been out to Alice Keith since we've done some work out there, you are going to be impressed with what we' ve done. It's Concerts on the Move and sponsored by the City but the one place you want to always buy hamburgers and ice cream is Dairy Queen becsause they came forward and said we want to be the sponsor. We want to be the ones that participate in this event and they are. They are our neighbors and they participate in community activities just like each of us do and I would encourage you all to attend and I' m looking forward to seeing you all out at Alice Keith Park. MAYOR MEYERS: Thank you and thanks to the group and, Councilman Moore, why don' t you tell them a little about Thursday night. COUNCILMAN MOORE: Well, Mike has pretty well covered it but if you want to see one of the nicer parks in Beaumont, you come to Alice Keith Park Thursday at 7: 00 p. m. As the flyer stated, bring your blankets, bring your chairs, your lawn chairs, bring your family, bring your picnic lunch, whatever you so desire. Come on out there and I think you are going to be very well entertained by the group that was here today with a few more of their numbers along with another young, up-and-coming group that has been doing very well in this community. So, we look forward to seeing you Thursday and we are going to kick this off and issue a challenge to the balance of the Wards. Mike, that Ward IV is going to be first and we are going to be best; so, Audwin, Dr. Smith, Mike, get ready. COUNCILMAN BRUMLEY: It's going to be fun. It's going to be a fun summer. COUNCILMAN MOORE: See you Thursday. -209- June 2, 1987 MAYOR MEYERS: Thank you, very much. I know the program will be a lot of fun and I think the best part is that it is all volunteer and, through the courtesy of sponsors, we are able to continue programs like that where people can enjoy themselves. -000- MAYOR MEYERS: I am particularly pleased today to recognize Bob Burns who is the president of the Beaumont Board of Realtors and, again, 1 think it is an indication of a group, an organization, individuals within our community doing things that encourage and recog- nize the efforts of others and the Board of Realtors has established a quarterly revitalization award program and when Bob called, I was really pleased that we would have opportunity to ask him to the microphone today. If he'd get moving. How's your arm? Bob is ,just recently out of a cast. Bob, we are delighted that you are here with us and anxious to let you share the information about this recipient. MR. BOB BURNS, president of the Board of Realtors: Thank you, Mayor. The Board of Directors of the Beaumont Board of Realtors is pleased that the Beaumont City Council has allowed us to make our first quarterly Revitalization Award at this meeting. At Summit I, you challenged us to come forth with programs that would help with the economic development of our City. The Beaumont Board of Realtors is actively participating in this challenge and we have four programs at work that we have begun implementation of, two of which we are proud to say we have underway and you will hear about those in a minute. The first award that we've established is a "Yard of the Month" award and it is given to homes throughout the City upon recommendation of our members and we began it in May and the winners of the "Yard of the Month" awards for the different areas of the City are Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Berry, 3015 Dogwood, Mr. and Mrs. Don Sherman at 480 Giles, Mr. and Mrs. Pierre Comeaux at 1840 Rena and Mr. and Mrs. Larry Germer at 2425 Long. We congratulate them for their hard work. Our quarterly Revitalization Award is one that probably I could sum up by reading an excerpt from a letter that I sent to the winners for the second quarter of 1987. This will be an on going presentation, not all of them at City Council, obviously, but the winner of our first quarterly Revitalization Award are Mr. and Mrs. George Sells of Kay's Bridal Boutique and an excerpt from my letter is, "Dear Mr. and Mrs. Sells: As part of our contribution to the economic development of Summit I and II, the Board of Directors of the Beaumont Board of Realtors have established a quarterly Revitalization Award Program. It is designed to recognize individuals or companies who significantly rehabilitate a business or a residence in a manner which is beneficial to themselves, their neighborhood and our City. Our total membership recommends property from all parts of our City once each quarter as candidates to receive this award. Our community services committee reviews all nominations, inspects all of the nominations, and selects one property each quarter to receive the award. Your building at 2350 Calder has been selected to receive the Community Revitalization Award for the second quarter of 1987. The Board of Directors of the Beaumont Board of Realtors congratulate for your significant investment in your property and for caring about your neighborhood and City." -210- June 2, 1987 MR. BURNS continued: At this time, I would like to ask Penny Knutson to make the presentation to Mr. and Mrs. Self. MAYOR MEYERS Thank you, Bob. MRS. PENNY KNUTSON: Thank you, Bob. Mr. and Mrs. Sells, I am pleased to be the person to present this award to you. It's the Realtors Community Service Quarterly Revitalization Award and on behalf of the Beaumont Board of Realtors, I'd like to thank you for making our City more lovely to look at. Thank you, very much. MAYOR MEYERS: George . . . George, if you'd care to make any comment, feel free to do SO. MR. GEORGE SELLS: Mayor, I'd ,just like to say what a thrill to be the first recipient of this award and I hope next time, some of my close neighbors win it. MAYOR MEYERS: Bob, on behalf of Council and the citizens, the effort toward Summit II, as you know, is to come from that Summit with a massive understanding on the parts of all elements of the community in development of action plans just like you have developed already and the Board of Realtors has really stepped out and taken a lead but as we are asked questions about what we can do, the vision we have is see a hundred and some odd different elements of our community all at the same time following Summit II, initiating efforts that all can enhance our community's economic development effort just perhaps like what you've done and we compliment you for it and thank you very much. -000- One proclamation was issued: "Management Week in Beaumont" - June 1-6, 1987. -000- MAYOR MEYERS: Just as an aside, I think it is appropriate to recognize and congratulate those within the City . . . I know Murray Duren, I believe, has his son graduating from medi- cal school, but I think quite an achievement goes to Irving Chavis, who is a rehabil- itation inspector and the aunt of two youngsters, Gloria Chavis, who works in the Purchasing Department, to recognize that Irving's two children, Cyril and Tamira, both have just graduated and received their Doctors of Medicine from the University of Texas. I understand that neither of those were scholarship students, that they got in there and dug and did what they had to do. I think we are to commend Irving Chavis for an outstanding job in seeing that his children got a great education and they in turn came through and provided some tremendous results. I don't think he is present but in learning upon that I thought it was appropriate to mention it. -211- June 2, 1987 Public comment was called on Agenda Items A through E. No one wished to address the Council concerning the agenda. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held May 19, 1987; Resolution 87-110 authorizing a track relocation easement for the Kansas City Southern Railway Company across property out of Parcel 258, 17,498 sgpare feet tract on the northwest corner of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway, Spur 380 and Blanchette, Lots 41 and 42 and part of Lots 48 and 49, Block 4, Crary Addition (acquired from the estate of Raymond A. Ames at the State' s appraised value of $95, 000) and authorizing execution of a deed conveying the property to the State of Texas; and Resolution 87-111 authorizing execution of a license to encroach agreement with Gregory and Ann Hill for a swimming pool and apron extending 11 feet into a 16-foot utility easement at the rear of Lot 5, Block 3, of Delaware Place, Section I Addition and located at 4795 Monticello for a one-time license fee of $500. 00. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Bayes: Bone -000- Resolution 87-112 approving the Statement of Objectives and Projected Use of Funds in the amount of $1,710,833. 15 for the 1987 Program Year under the Community Development Block Grant Program (Rehabilitation Loans and Grants at $638, 000; Code Enforcement at $5, 000; Neighborhood Housing Services/Revolving Loan Fund and Administration at $30, 000; Historic Preservation/Revolving Loan Fund at $50, 000; Special Activities by Subrecipients/Innovative Housing Development Corporation at $200, 000; Park Improvements at $30, 000; Street Rehabilitation at $115, 000; Public Services at $50, 000; Rehabilitation of City-owned Facility at $50, 000; Economic Development Activities at $250, 000; Planning and Management at $35, 000; Community Development Block Grant Administration at $240,800 and Contingencies at $17, 033. 15) for the 1987 Program Year under-the Communit y Development Block Grant Program was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Samuel, Question: Ayes: All Hayes: None -000- Resolution 87-113 accepting the work performed under a contract with Swain Company, Inc. , for Henry Homberg Golf Facility improvements, approving Change Order No. 6 to reflect actual quantities of materials and work performed and decreasing the contract by $2, 873.72 and authorizing final payment to the contractor at $23, 460. 00 (total contract from $388,853. 60 to $472, 080. 00, including all Change Orders) was approved on a motion made by Councilman Lee and seconded by Councilman Brumley. Question: Ayes: All Hayes: None -212- June 2, 1987 Resolution 87-114 authorizing emergency repairs by American LaFrance in the amount of $26,450. 00 to Fire Department ladder truck #4 (an inspection determined that the ladder mechanisms and railings on the truck need adjustment at the factory in order to meet the State Board of Insurance requirements) was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Lee. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None 14r. W. K. Kyle, 1250 Cornado Circle, addressed Council to question if responsibility of damage could be place at a particular fire. Fire Chief Shelton said that an attempt had been made to determine responsibility or time of damage but it was not possible. -000- Ordinance No. 87-42 calling an election for August 8 on a question of incrasing the local option sales tax by one-half of one percent was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 87-42 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT ON THE 8TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1987, AS PROVIDED BY LAW, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRESENTING THE FOLLOWING PROPOSITION: "THE ADOPTION OF AN ADDITIONAL ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX WITHIN THE CITY TO BE USED TO REDUCE THE PRO- PERTY TAX RATE"; PROVIDING FOR PLACES WHERE SUCH ELECTION SHALL BE HELD; APPOINTING OFFICERS TO PROVIDE OVER SAID ELECTION; APPOINTING A CANVASSING BOARD FOR ABSENTEE VOTING; APPOINTING A MANAGER AND JUDGE OF THE CENTRAL COUNTING STATION; AND PROVIDING FOR NOTICE THEREOF. The ordinance was approved on a motion made by Councilman Lee and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Brumley invited all to attend "Concerts on the Move" to be held in Alice Keith Park on Thursday, June 4th at 7: 00 p. m. and to be hosted by Councilman David Moore. All were invited to Sunday in the Park activities, to be hosted by the Junior Forum with a "teddy bears" theme, would be held June 7th in Riverfront Park. -000- Councilman Smith said, "Bob (Lee) might have missed Sunday in the Park but he was working for a worthy cause. The Best Year's Center had their 7th birthday at the Harvest Club and he was MCing that program. I missed the first part of Sunday in the Park because I was out there . . . It was very lovely. He did a very good job." -213- June 2, 1987 COUNCILMAN SAMUEL: A few minutes ago, we mentioned the volunteers that spend a lot of time and a lot of effort in serving the City and at this time, it's not too often that they get recog- nition. There's a group of people in the audience that works tirelessly. They exert a lot of effort and they will be coming forth with some ideas and I am sure they won't be lost for words; but I'd like to ask the Library Commission to please stand. -000- Councilman Smith also mentioned that the American Red Cross fund raiser "was a fun party out at Plum Nearly and I believe that Chief Shelton now has another member of his family. Was that a filly or a colt? (Chief Shelton responded that it was a colt. ) It was a very lovely animal, very beautiful. Audwin (Samuel) wants to know if that was the one that was eating flowers with you that day . . . " -000- Councilman Moore said: "Mayor, one other thing. I would like to thank all the citizens and especially the department heads of the City of Beaumont, along with all the members of Council, who took part in the Community Breakfast this past weekend with Congressman Brooks. It turned out to be a very, very good affair and I just thought the representation of the City was very good and I appreciate it. -000- MAYOR MEYERS: I would just want to take opportunity, I think appropriately, to discuss something now that has been called to our attention and that is the . . I guess that with the recognition that, with the weather turning, the awareness of the differential in the sewer rates as it relates to our water bill has become prominent and obvious. I think any time, and I know Council feels this way, that we have a situation that promotes the kind of attention that this has, it's obviously something that we need to talk about and take a look at rather quickly; so, I thought on a short notice we would do that now. And, it appears, and then I' ll kind of let you steer the discussion. I know S. A. (Webb) is here, that the principle difference, of course, results from that change that topk effect regarding sewer charge and the one thing about S. A. is anytime that you contact him and his department and share a concern, he gets right to work and I think he has probably brought forward some things that would provoke some thought for us and, S. A. , I would like to hear them. MR. S. A. WEBB, DIRECTOR OF WATER UTILITIES: The material that . . . MAYOR MEYERS: We are referencing, of course, the fact that with the larger water consumption due to the watering the yards, etc. , the visibility and a feeling of a higher expense due to that going into that sewer portion of the bill. S. A. . . . . . . -214- June 2, 1987 MR. WEBB: First of all, I would like to address why the change for the benefit for those in the audience that were not aware of it . . . What I would like to do first is address the reason for making the change from the three-month averaging method for calculating sewer to an 87% return method. During the last several years, we had observed that there were many deficiencies in the three-month averaging method and what that consisted of was averaging the months of December, January and February to determine or make an effort at determining what the sewer returns . . . maximum sewer return charge should be per residence. This only effects residences, not businesses. Unfortunately, most of our winters have freezing weather during the January and February months and many people . . . most of the homes in Beaumont are not equipped for freezing weather so the easiest way to handle this is to drip water. Our largest water consumption occurred in February of 1972, during an extreme freeze period so it was noted that we were in many cases over-charging and in many cases we were under-charging becsause of the fact that during the winter months many homes that have children that are in college or away at school in some nature that, again, during the summer months when the children are home and just due to the hot, humid weather that we have here, that there is actually more water used in washing cars, clothes, bathing and so forth than you have in the winter. In an attempt to correct these inequities, we researched the information that was available to us, researched the files that we had available to us at the time and came up with a standard 87% return. This is based on charging the resident 87% of the water consumed. Knowing that there would be a lot of water used during the summer months, we put a 20, 000 cap as being the maximum sewer charge or maximum amount of gallonage that we would charge on. If you will look at the information that I have put together, these are three random samples that are from various people in the community that have complained about the problem - the first being the Threadneedle address and you will see that the total sewer charge for last year, which is the first set of numbers was $91. 04. To equate this to a per gallon cost, I have jotted out to the side what the cost per thousand actually was and that was $1. 08 per thousand. Now, during this period of time, you will note from March through September, there was a charge of $7.70 for sewage continuously throughout. That is because they were using water in excess of the average three month amount that had been established of 5,300 gallons. If you go on down to the bottom of the next set of numbers indicates the actual usage for this year and the first column, the three-month averaging column, you can see in the case of this particular person, that there water consumption was essentially the same up until April when we had the extreme dry weather or in . . . yes, in April and it jumped from 5,600 gallons to 11,900 gallons, causing the sewer rate to go from an average of about $8. 00 per month to $13. 00 per month. If you will look at the total, though, of those two, you will see that there is about $0. 70 difference is the actual difference because if you will note where we have the three month averaging, the first month which was November, the charges would have been the same but then if you will go on through you will see that under the 87% method, they were charged less until the last month or until the April charges came in. -2151- June 2, 1987 MR. WEBB continued: It's difficult to project a person' s water consumption because of weather and other conditions so I. . . to be able to project the remaining months of the year, I've sim- ply used the numbers that—of the amount of consumption for each month in the prior year. And, projecting that on that same basis, you can see that the total charge for this particular residence would be $94.28 as opposed to a charge of $98.33 had we stayed on the three-month averaging method. In effect, there was from last year to this year, there was a 4% decrease. Now, that is not the case in all cases. The next one is the Long Street address and here you will see that in the first column where I have the 5,300 a day average for last year, if you come on down, you will see that for some reason the. . . for this year, that average dropped to 3, 000 gallons which, if you compare it to the other usages for the other months of the year and the prior years, it appears to be artificial. Why it is so low, we have no idea but it's obvious there is a discrepancy there. If you will look at the actual cost per 1, 000 gallons for last year, it was $0. 99 per 1, 000 gallons. If we had of charged on the basis of the three-month averaging method, it would have been $0.68 per 1, 000 gallons which would have been a 31% decrease. Going to the 87% method, the actual cost was $1. 06 per 1, 000 gallons which amounts to a 7% increase in sewage usage for this year over last year. This is primarily occuring the, again, the April billing. I think we have a solution for it but let's go on to the next one. The next one is one of the larger users. For the '85-86 year, they had an avaerage consumption set in the winter months of December, January and February of 7,600 gallons. In that same period of time in '86-87, it dropped to 6,400 gallons so those numbers are relatively close. Those . . . this could very well be. This is probably the best example of what having a high cap has done. The sewer charge for this individual for the month of April was $24.29. If we project his usage through the remainder of the year, you will see that he will again have a $23. 20 charge in August. All of the other charges are generally in line with what had been charged in the previous year. As a matter of fact, if you will look at the charges up ' til April, they are consistently lower by the 87% method than by the three-month averaging method. So, it appears that the solution, at least for now, and, as I told you all last year during the budgest preparation time, charging for sewer is difficult because there is no way to measure the sewer return. It is difficult at best to even get an average of by looking at a customer' s account as you can see from these examples from year to year as to what the return actually is. There are so many factors that interfere with it. Right now, what I would like to do is recommend that we lower the cap or the amount that we actually charge on to something in the neighborhood of 10, 000 gallons per month. Now, what I would like to do during the rest of this week see if we can retrieve enough information out of the computer system to give us a better number than the 10, 000. If you 'Look at these numbers on the high user that would seem a little bit high still and with the others it would be too high so we need to go in and try to establish what a maximum number should be but it shouldn' t be over 10, 000, it doesn't look like. This would be my recommendation to address the problem immediately and then we will attempt to revise the rate structure or the charging methodology in the future year. MAYOR MEYERS: Thank you, S. A. Does anyone on Council have any questions of S. A. ? -216- June 2, 1987 In response to a question by Councilman Cokinos concerning charges in filling a swimming pool, Mr. Webb told Council that adjustments are made when this reason is reported for the high bill, taking into account the weather conditions and two or three previous months of metered water. In response to an additional question by Councilman Cokinos, Mr. Webb told Council that, "For the people that are serious gardeners and have the need for a lot of watering of their lawns, flowers, and so forth, we can at a very small charge install an additional meter which they will only be charged for water service on and this is what we call a yard meter. Many businesses have it and currently we have about 400 accounts; about 75% of those being residential accounts that have yard watering meters and they are strictly charged on the basis of the amount of water you use through that meter for watering your yard" and that the average user of a yard meter would save approximately $90. 00 to $95. 00 per year. MAYOR MEYERS: If there aren't any other questions, S. A. , I really appreciate your coming forward with this information. We' ll look to you to get a chance to kind of run it out on the computer and arrive at what figure you think would be the best to reduce that to and I know this was a little unusual because this was sudden but I thank you for pulling it together for us . . . -000- Mr. Naaman Woodland, 5640 N. Circuit, and Chairman of the Library Commission, addressed Council to urge preservation of Tyrrell Historical Library "not only as an important historical, architectural landmark but as an important cultural and educational resource in our community to preserve the history of this community and it's been a long time since we have been down here to really suggest to you that we think the time has come that something really needs to be done." Mr. Woodland told Council that approximately $1. 5 million is still needed to compete the restoration of Tyrrell Historical Library and that, "we feel that the City's first committment was to complete the restoration of Tyrrell and we are here today to ask you to give serious consideration as to how this can be accomplished. " He told about a special project that the Library Commission is undertaking called the "Save the Tyrrell" Campaign to "primarily involve the young people of our community" and that "we think this is going to do a great deal to increase public conciousness about Tyrrell Library but we don' t have any visions that this drive is going to raise $1. 5 million. It's more in terms of- increasing the public awareness and involving the young people of this community." Mr. John H. Walker, 6050 Marcus, representing the Southeast Texas Geneological Society and Jefferson County Historical Commission and _Mrs. Betty Reinstra, 213 W. Caidwood, addressed Council in support of the restoration of the Tyrrell Historical Library. Mrs. Jessie Cooper, 446 Georgetown, again addressed Council to speak of the Americade 200 planned in July for the celebration of the U. S. Constitution's 200th birthday and to speak in support of the restoration of the Tyrrell Historical Library. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall Street, addressed Council on many subjects, one of which was the support for the restoration of the Tyrrell Historical Library. -217- June 2, 1987 Mr. J. W. Kyle, 1250 Coronado Circle, addressed Council to complain about high sewage rates charged for usage at his residence. Miss Louise Loomis, 2255 Primrose, addressed Council to express concerns for methodology in setting sewage rates. -000- There being no further business, the meeting was recessed before continuing with the City Council Workshop Session. -000- I, Rosemarie Chiappetta, Deputy City Clerk of the City of Beaumont, Texas, certify that the above is a correct copy of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held June 2, 1987. Rosemarie Chiappetta Secretary -218- June 2, 1987