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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN NOV 25 1986 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD NOVEMBER 25, 1986 -- 1:15 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 25th day of November, 1986, with the following present: HONORABLE Maurice Meyers Mayor Bob Lee, Jr. Councilman At Large Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Mike Brumley Councilman, Ward II Audwin Samuel Councilman, Ward III David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Absent: Nell Pruitt Weisbach Councilman, Ward I Albert E. Haines City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend George K appaz, pastor of the Parkdale Assembly of God Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Samuel. --000- Mayor Meyers wished everyone Happy Thanksgiving. It was announced there would be no City Council session held December 2, 1986, because a quorum of City Council would be attending the National League of Cities Conference. Oak Forrest Elementary School students were welcomed to today's session. -000- - proclamation for: "National Home Care Week in Beaumont" - November 30 - December 6, 1986 was issued. For the purpose of a Channel 6 Television holiday promo, the City Council, as the Beaumont City Council Choir, sang "Deck the Halls". -000- -257- November 25, 1986 MAYOR MEYERS: I would like to take a moment to read another proclamation that is in fact a resolution that Council will vote on and sign and it is one I think of extreme significance. It reads: "WHEREAS, Doris F. Johnson, as executive secretary to mayors, city managers and city councils, personified at all times the highest ideals of personal integrity, professionalism and excellence to which all city employees should aspire, and 'WHEREAS, the standards she set for her own work far surpassed the requirements for adequacy and acceptability and showed a continual striving for excellence and perfection, and WEREAS, by her presence she created around her an atmosphere of elegance and dignity and presented herself always in such a way as to reflect credit and distinction on her employers and the City of Beaumont, and WHEREAS, she was self-motivating and self-directing with a thorough knowledge of her job and the ability to initiate creative, goal-oriented projects and carry them through to successful completion, and WHEREAS, her pride in her work and her devotion to duty were such that she worked harder than would have been necessary to do merely an acceptably good job but insisted always on doing nothing less than the best possible job in every detail, and WHEREAS, by the warmth of her personality, the distinctive quality of her personal style, and her kindness and helpfulness, she was an inspiration to all who knew her while setting an example of professional excellence for others to follow. NOW, TIR EREFORE, I, Maurice Meyers, Mayor of the City of Beaumont and we, the members of the City Council of the City of Beaumont, do hereby proclaim and ordain the establishment of an award to be presented annually by the City Manager to an employee chosen for the attainment of excellence, and that this award be known as the Doris F. Johnson Award for Excellence in commemoration of a city employee whose excellence was preeminent and who for all time should be an example and inspiration to all. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and have caused the Seal of the City of Beaumont to be affixed. November 25, 1986 /s/ Mayor and City Council" MAYOR MEYERS continued: I won't ask Council to sign this at this time, but I would ask for a motion to pass this resolution. -258- November 25, 1986 COUNCILMAN COKINOS: I so move. MAYOR MEYERS: ➢o we have a second? COUNCILMAN BRUMLEY: Second. MAYOR MEYERS: I would then call for the vote. Those in favor, signify by saying Aye. (Ayes: All) Opposed. (None) And, I will pass this to the Manager and let him elaborate for a moment on the plans for this award and it's creation. Al, . . . CITY MANAGER ALBERT HAINES: Thank you, Mayor and thank you to members of Council for recognizing a truly fine and exemplary employee and one whom we think can carry the name with pride and with a manner that is beyond reproach in all of her conduct. Based on the action of the Council and the direction that an award be developed to recognize an employee, we have identified four (4) criteria that would be used to apply to an annual award that would be presented to an employee of the City. The first award would be given in January of 1987 and I would like to read at least a rough draft of what we have. The first criteria would be an employee who embodies a personal committment to excellence. Excellence that is achieved by a willingness to step out in spite of doubt, fear or a job description. To step out because the thought of anything else than the best would really bother them. Secondly, an employee who would consistently perform tasks, deals with others, and represents their employer in a manner that is beyond reproach, would conduct himself or herself in a discerning and a non-offensive way and would never exceed the boundaries of good sense in words or actions. Third, an employee who has an invigorating purpose to perform beyond regular duties or expectations, a purpose that you care enough about to invest your steadfast interest; an employee who displays a willingness to hang on long after others have gotten bored or given up, refuses to leave well enough alone; is a self-starter requiring little supervision. And, fourth, an employee who is a highly motivated individual and has the ability to motivate his or her co-workers by complimenting efforts, avoiding negative remarks and providing positive direction. Consistently encourages, is up-beat and positive regarding job and the organization and treats others with respect and inspires a respect and confidence. What we would like to do is with these criteria to expand on them and recognize one employee each year that would receive this award and we would take the Council's resolution and post it in the lobby along with a plaque that would recognize, on an annual basis, each employee who had received this award. And, it would be our intent to essentially identify this as probably . . . no, as the one award that is associated with the total and absolute committment to excellence in all performance and so we, on behalf of, I think, the employees of the City appreciate this recognition on the part of Council and the desire on the Council's part to offer this award to them. So, we will proceed in that direction. -259- November 25, 1986 MAYOR MEYERS: Good. I thank you, very much. If anybody had any comment, feel f ree to make it but I commend you for the approach and the manner in which you will recognize excellence which for those in attendance, Doris Johnson, our executive secretary in the City Offices who died last week, reflected the things that we addressed in that resolution and it's most appropriate and if anybody had any comment, why feel free to make it. I know everybody reflected their thoughts. Good, I thank you, Al. I don't think we need any action further today. You may come back . . . CITY MANAGER: No, we will proceed with it. END OF EXCERPT. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held November 18, 1986; Resolution 86-343 appointing William Kimbrough to the Sesquicentennial Commission, to replace John Wallace who has resigned, for a term ending December 31, 1387; and Resolution 86-344 authorizing conveyance of an easement out of Parcel 223 to the Kansas City Southern Railroad Company across property acquired for Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway right-of-way and conveyance of the property to the State subject to the easement (authorization of purchase of Parcel 223, 6,512 square feet, being Lot 79 Block 15, David Brown League, Abstract 5, Ogden Addition, from G. L. and Eva Carolyn Harris at the State's approved value of $5,484.00 was given by the City Manager on November 17, 1986). The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Samuel. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- No one wished to address Council during the Public Comment portion on Agenda Items C and D. -000- Resolution 86-345 adopting policy and procedures for notifying the public of non-city governmental land uses not subject to zoning controls was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- -260- November 25, 1986 Resolution 86-346 setting a public hearing to be held December 9th at 1 :15 p.m. on an application by Mobil Corporation for creation of two Reinvestment Zones under the Texas Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act was approved on a motion made by Councilman Lee and seconded by Councilman Brumley. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 86-115 granting a Specific Use Permit for the Central High School parking lot on petition of the Beaumont Independent School District was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 86-115 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE ISSUING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR A PARKING LOT AT THE NORTHWEST CORDER OF SOUTH AND TENTH STREETS, BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS. The ordinance was approved, subject to approval of the drainage plan prior to issuance of the construction permit, on a motion made by Councilman Samuel and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 86-116 authorizing the City Attorney to negotiate settlements of liability insurance claims and lawsuits for amounts not to exceed $2,500 was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 86-116 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING AUTHORITY TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO NEGOTIATE AND SETTLE GENERAL LIABILITY CLAIMS AND LAWSUITS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL. The ordinance was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None Councilman Cokinos "strongly recommended that the City Manager appoint three members to serve on a committee to monitor this program: one member from City Council, one from the City Manager's office and someone from the Finance Department" - City Council generally agreed with this suggestion. Councilman Cokinos further suggested that Councilman Brumley represent City Council on this committee. -000- -261- November 25, 1986 Resolution 86-347 authorizing a participation agreement with Drainage District 6 for replacement of the Prutzman Road bridge spanning the Amelia Cut-off Drainage Ditch at a cost not to exceed fifty percent of the $135,000 engineering construction cost estimate prepared by Garrod and Associates was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Lee. Question: Ayes: Mayor Meyers Nayes: Councilman Cokinos Councilman Lee Councilman Brumley Councilman Samuel Councilman Moore -000- Mayor Meyers called an Executive Session, pursuant to Section 2(e) of the Texas Open Meetings Act, to consider pending litigation in the Gulf States Utilities' emergency rate increase request, to be held immediately following a brief recess after the regular City Council session. -000- Councilman Samuel requested that the Minority Business Enterprise Policy be reviewed in Workshop on December 16, 1986. Councilman Lee reminded of Sunday in the Park festivities to be held in Riverfront Park on Sunday, November 30, 1986. Mayor Meyers asked reasons for requiring a volunteer repairing a friend's home - replacing the roof - to be bonded. He asked for a review of the matter. Mayor Meyers read from a letter received from a recent visitor to Beaumont expressing his appreciation for the quick response by Fire Department personnel to his call for help in unlocking a rental car with keys locked in its trunk. -000- MAYOR MEYERS: Never do we really use the microphone for purposes of . . . commercially, but, at the same time, when somebody is going to do something that really is unusual and commendable, I think it's appropriate that we share it with the community and I'd like to ask Bill Denham, the owner of Gatti's Restaurants, to come forward and share with the media present and anybody else his plans for how he wants to share Thanksgiving with those less fortunate in the community. Bill, . . . MR. BILL DENHAM, 4455 Thomas Court, owner of Mr. Gatti's restaurants: Thank you, Mr. Mayor . . . MAYOR MEYERS: Just for the record, she will need your name and address. -262- November 25, 1986 MR. DENHAM: All right. I am Bill Denham and I own Mr. Gatti's Restaurants here in the Triplex and my address is 4455 Thomas Court. Just wanted to take a minute to reiterate for Council who might not be aware of it. I made a decision several weeks ago to open up three of my restaurants in this area to feed the needy on Thanksgiving Day. I am very excited about it. We are going to have one restaurant open here in Beaumont at Parkdale Mall, another restaurant open in Orange and another in South County. And, my employees have volunteered their time and there will be no restrictions, no qualifications asked for - if a family is hungry and wants to come, then they are welcome. I'm already appreciative of the input from some of the members of Council on this and I would invite you all if you would like to come out on Thanksgiving Day, if you are in town and are able to, we have other citizens who are going to come out and bus tables and put pepperonis on pizzas and if you could do that you certainly would be welcome and I appreciate your letting me offer that invitation to you. Just one additional word that I would like to say is that, as a citizen of Beaumont, I am very thankful to the members of this City Council. I think when we get to Thanksgiving time, there have been times we don't really recognize the people who have given so much of their time, effort and energy and there is no question I think with the citizens of our City that this is an outstanding Council and I for one want you to know that I am very grateful for the efforts on each part of the City Council. MAYOR_ MEYERS: Thank you very much and we all commend you for your generosity and the help you will be giving to a lot of people who otherwise might not know where to eat. Thank you, Bill. COUNCILMAN MOORE: What time does it start - what time will you start Thanksgiving Day? MR. DENHAM: We will start at noon and ago to six o'clock at night, six hours. -000- Mr. Henry Danneabaum, 695 Avenue C, addressed Council to commend Fire Department personnel for actions taken recently in helping someone who had collapsed in her home. Mr. Fedro Gatlin, Gatlin Asphalt Company, addressed Council to complain about being discharged from a City project and receiving no payment for work performed. -000- There being no further business, the session was recessed before continuing with the Executive Session. -000- The regular City Council was reconvened at approximately 3:58 p.m. on November 25, 1986. -263- November 25, 1986 Councilman Cokinos made a motion to set a public hearing for 12:00 noon on December 11, 1986, in the City Council Chambers, to consider an emergency rate increase request by Gulf States Utilities Company; motion was seconded by Councilman Brumley. Question: Ayes: Mayor Meyers Abstained: Councilman Lee Councilman Cokinos Councilman Brumley Councilman Samuel Councilman Moore -000- There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. -000- I, Rosemarie Chiappetta, Secretary in the City Clerk's Office, certify that the above is a true copy of the minutes of the regular City Council session held November 25, 1986. Rosemarie Chiappetta Secretary -264- November 25, 1986