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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN JUN 07 1988 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD JUNE 7, 1988 - 1: 15 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 7th day of June, 1988, 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 Mayor Pro-Tem Councilman, Ward III David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Albert E. Haines City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend Mike Bradshaw, pastor of the Washington Boulevard Christian Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Smith. -000- Mayor Meyers announced than an Executive Session would be called following the Work Session in accordance with Section 2(e) of the Open Meetings Act of the State of Texas to discuss pending or contemplated litigation. -000- Mayor Meyers called forward Anna Yderstrom, an exchange student attending Westbrook High School this past year, from Sodertalje, Sweden who is a guest in the home of Arlan and Joan Straub. Anna has completed the required schooling in Sweden and two years of prep school; she has a high B academic average, was recipient of an outstanding student award and has one more year of prep school remaining before entering college in Sweden. Mayor Meyers presented Anna an honorary citizen certificate to Beaumont, introduced her to Council, and voiced pleasure in her visit and wishes for happy visit memories of the time spent in Beaumont. She expressed appreciation for the visit to Beaumont and a desire to return. She said the major differences in Texas are the climate (the mean temperature in Sodertalje is 40 degrees) and outgoing personalities of the people. She stated the boys in Texas were more "old-fashioned and traditional" than in Sweden because they opened doors for her and paid all the expenses on a date! She still would like to visit many more places in the United States, especially New York. -155- June 7, 1988 Councilman Samuel introduced Mr. David Ledyard who announced "Tyrrell Park Alive Day" scheduled for June 18, 1988. MR. LEDYARD• Thank you very much. I am pleased to appear before you today on behalf of the Tyrrell Park Restoration Coalition. We are a non-profit, broad based coalition of people committed to the improvement, expansion and quality of Tyrrell Park. We believe that Tyrrell Park has the capacity to be one of the finest parks in the State of Texas, and we have drawn in a very large group of volunteers to work toward that goal. The Mayor, I think, initially along with help from the Junior League initiated this project, and now we have a coalition that includes dozens of volunteers and more people are joining our ranks as more people find out about it. We are pleased to announce this extraordinary event which has been mentioned at Tyrrell Park. It' s designed to reacquaint oldtimers to the park, introduce the park to newcomers to our city, and to let people know in the Golden Triangle what a wonderful asset they have here in the city. We are calling the event "Tyrrell Park Alive. " It' s going to be Saturday, June the 18th, from 11: 00 in the morning until 8: 00 in the evening. We have developed some posters which we are going to be placing around the city. I 'd like to pass out a few of these, if I could, and hopefully, they can end up in City Hall and be included where a lot more people can see them. There are going to be bands and entertainment all day. There will be children' s activities and games and clowns for the kids. There' s a golf tournament at the Homberg Course which the public is invited to. There' s going to be hot-air balloons, parachute exhibitions, of course the stables are going to open for riding and there will be exhibitions at the stables. There' s going to be antique vehicle exhibitions. There will be special exhibitions at the Garden Center, and of course, there will be a lot of food and refreshments for everybody. We expect thousands of people to be there, Saturday, June the 18th, weather permitting. And, we would encourage all the citizens of Beaumont to come and have a family day with us at that time. We want to particularly thank the City and Council for the support of this project and a number of City people we need to mention. They've been so helpful to us in organizing thus far are Kirby Richards, John Gorman, Gerald Ulmer and Luke Jackson. In closing, I 'd like to say that at times like these we are constantly looking for assets that can improve our quality of life and draw people from all over Southeast Texas. I think that Tyrrell Park is is such an asset and all we have to do is recognize it, develop it, or as the case may be, redevelop it. Long-range plans have been made for Tyrrell Park that would amaze, frankly, most citizens. We are limited only by money, always money, volunteer effort, and imagination. We believe we are putting together the volunteer effort, we believe we have the imagination, and we believe that the money will come as the awareness is brought home to more and more people. We want to again thank the City for its support thus far. And, of course, we need the City support in the future, not only from your moral support, but financial support. We would certainly encourage each of you to support Tyrrell Park and the park system in the upcoming budget. Again, we look forward to seeing each of you in the park on June the 18th. More details of all the events scheduled that day are going to be in the Weekend Edition of the Enterprise this Sunday. Thank you. -156- June 7, 1988 MAYOR MEYERS• David, thank you so much on behalf of Council for your work and all of the other volunteers and contributors. I think you hit it on the head relative to the asset. We do have an asset that cities across America would give their right arm to have property and a park area like that. Cities are constantly trying to figure out how they can develop a park like that, and we've got that jewel, and I 'm convinced that the energy being displayed by all the volunteers is gonna really bring that back and make it prominent in our community. And, we thank you. MR. LEDYARD• A lot of work has already been done, and if people haven' t been out there lately, they would probably already be amazed by a lot of the activities that have gone on. So we encourage each of you to come to the park and take advantage of it. -000- Two Proclamation were issued: "Management Week, " June 6-11, 1988 and "Safe Boating Week, " June 5-12, 1988. -000- Public comment was invited on Agenda Items A through D. No one wished to address Council concerning these items. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the Regular City Council Session/Town Meeting held May 31, 1988; Resolution No. 88-117 scheduling a public hearing for June 21, 1988 at the 1: 15 p.m. Council Meeting for consideration of an application for a taxicab permit submitted by Ronald B. Conner, operator of City cab Co. in Silsbee, to transport passengers back to Silsbee; Resolution No. 88-118 waiving penalty and interest charges on accounts becoming delinquent because of errors (Mr. E. A. Burrus, III, Account No. 009350-000100 and Mr. James D. White, Account No. 018150-006200) as provided by Section 33 . 011 of the State Property Tax Code; and Resolution No. 88-119 authorizing purchase of Mobil radios from General Electric Corporation: 1 for the Fire Department at $1,136,34, 2 for the E. M. S. Department at $2,400. 00 each, 1 for the Parks Division of Public Works at $1, 171. 15, and 15 for the Police Department at $1,059. 64 each for a total contract price of $23 ,002. 09. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Samuel. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -157- June 7, 1988 Resolution No. 88-120 authorizing industrial district contracts with Mobil Oil Corporation, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, PD Glycol, Amoco, Chevron, E. I . Dupont, Gulf States Utilities, Olin Corporation, PPG Industries, Texas Eastern, TexasGulf, Inc. , Penwalt, and Goodyear for a seven (7) year period with expected revenues of about $47. 5 million, an increase of 27 per cent over revenues for the prior seven-year period was approved on a motion made by Councilman Lee and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 88-121 authorizing purchase of a diesel powered truck with hauling body for the Parks Division of Public Work from Knapp Chevrolet in the amount of $29,427.00 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 88-122 accepting the work performed under a contract with Merrill Construction Co. for playground improvements (playground equipment, a shelter, a drinking fountain, sidewalks and plant materials) on Central Park and authorizing final payment in the amount of $49,985.00 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Brumley. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None Councilman Moore requested that Public Works Director Tom Warner verify that automatic shut-off drinking fountains were installed. -000- Resolution No. 88-123 accepting the $16, 971. 00 bid of Perkins Roofing Co. , Inc. for repairs to the roof of City Hall was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Samuel. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 88-124 authorizing execution of two blanket agreements with the State Department of Highways and Public transportation covering signalization of intersections involved in construction of Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway from Irving Avenue to College Street and the Interstate 10--Highway 69 Interchange Project was approved on a motion made by Councilman Lee and seconded by Councilman Brumley. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- -158- June 7, 1988 Resolution No. 88-125 awarding contracts for the demolition and removal of eight condemned dilapidated and dangerous structures to Speady' s Sales totaling $7,446. 20 (Group A: 808 Buford, $1,107. 36; 1005 Doucette, $686. 00; 709 Forsythe, $1,141. 00; Group B: 2405 Buchanan, $713 . 44; 3845 Maida, $768. 32; Group C: 3001 Blanchette, $329. 28; 1728 Liberty, $2,052.00, 3912 Park $548. 80) was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Lee. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None Mayor Meyers questioned recoverability of demolition costs incurred from property owners. He espressed a desire that collection should begin immediately. -000- Councilman Smith complimented "Sunday in the Park" activities last Sunday and congratulated Lamar University, the Bid Resource Center, and Southeast Texas, Inc. for the Economic Development Conference and commented on the excellent speakers and good attendance. Councilman Samuel requested an update on the administration method used in correcting the traffic congestion at Tyrrell Park and expressed a concern regarding perceptual problems of harassment. Mr. Haines reported that Chief Schuldt, John Gorman, and Tom Warner have met with him and developed a traffic control policy and enforcement program. Councilman Moore submitted an idea to possibly eliminate the traffic congestion at Tyrrell Park by installing a small strip for use by the teenagers and young adults with continued enforcement of no consumption of alcoholic beverages by those under age. Mr. Haines interjected the thought that principally the problem is with the lower loop area, and if it is used as a congregation point for young adults as described, it will discourage family participation in the pavilions and picnic area, but perhaps there is a workable plan. Councilman Moore complimented the good job in repairing the street on Washington Boulevard, requested a map showing the location of Gulf States Utilities Co. high voltage lines, suggested that in conjunction with cleanup efforts of the City, citizens be encouraged to take their debris and litter directly to the Landfill and waive the fee for more than three visits per month, the availability of the Council Packet for citizen perusal, and the commencement of twice- a-week garbage pickup throughout the city. Mr. Haines informed Council that the Landfill will be a topic of review in a Work Session in July and that twice-a-week garbage pickup will begin as soon as the ordinance is passed in July. Councilman Lee encouraged attendance at next week' s "Sunday in the Park" to be hosted by the Beaumont Advisory Commission for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. Councilman Brumley complimented Councilman Lee and members of Operation Clean Street. In a conversation with people from the South Montgomery Chamber of Commerce, they stated to him they were noticeably impressed with the cleanliness of Downtown Beaumont and throughout the city. -159- June 7, 1988 Mayor Meyers reinforced Councilman Smith' s comments regarding the Economic Development Conference and complimented Carol Flatten for her participation and planning in behalf of the City and Sandra Stenzel of the Bid Resource Center. Mr. Sam Mosely, Director of HUD, communicated to Mayor Meyers that the visitors from New Orleans and Baton Rouge that attended the conference left Beaumont with a strong feeling of a "can do" spirit received from Beaumonters. -000- Mr. Earl Massey, 6225 Beau View, addressed Council as a retired City employee, regarding a letter received from Knickerbocker Life Insurance Co. stating they would not honor annuity payments for an unknown period of time. Mr. Massey, as a City employee, contributed to a deferred compensation program to Knickerbocker and was assured this was not a risk situation. Mr. Massey was instructed to make an appointment with Max Patterson, the Resource Management Department Director, to discuss the problem. -000- There being no further business, the meeting was recessed for ten minutes before commencing Work Session. -000- I, Rosemarie Chiappetta, City Clerk of the City of Beaumont, Texas, certify that the above is a true copy of the minutes of the regular City Council session held June 7, 1988. Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -160- June 7, 1988