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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN FEB 07 1989 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD FEBRUARY 7, 1989 -- 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 February, 1989, with the following present: HONORABLE: Audwin Samuel Mayor Pro-Tem Councilman, Ward III Bob Lee, Jr. Councilman At Large Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Michael Brumley Councilman, Ward II David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Absent: Maurice Meyers Mayor Albert E. Haines City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by Mr. Mark Lewis, Minister at Westgate Church of Christ. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Cynthia Bean, Brooks Stephenson, Louisa Nichols, and Phillip Mahood, fourth grade students at Roy Guess Elementary School. -000- Mayor Pro-Tem Samuel announced that Mayor Meyers is absent because he is in Dallas relative to economic development business for the City of Beaumont. -000- Two Proclamations were issued: "Texas School Guidance and Counseling Week, " February 6-11, 1989; and "National Sales Month, " February, 1989. -000- Mayor Pro-Tem Samuel said there have been many calls to City Hall because of present weather conditions regarding leaves in the drainage inlets and along the curbs in front of houses. He asked that citizens assist the City in keeping the drains unclogged and prevent the possibility of flooding by removing the leaves in front of their homes. -000- -29- February 7, 1989 The City Manager announced that Agenda Items C-3 and D-4 have been pulled for consideration today. -000- Citizen comment was invited on Agenda Items A through D. No one wished to address Council regarding these items. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Session - Town Meeting conducted at the Beaumont Independent School District Administration Building on January 31, 1989; Resolution No. 89-17 authorizing an exchange of securities pledged as collateral for deposits, effective February 7, 1989, by withdrawing a $200,000 U. S. Treasury Note due February 28 and replace it with the pledge of a $200,000 Treasury Note due October 31, 1990; Resolution No. 89-18 appointing Mike Browning and reappointing Mike Conwell to the Sister City Commission for terms expiring December 31, 1990, appointing Dr. Bruce Drury as Chairman for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, appointing Gene Williams and reappointing Jeff Pryor to the Clean Community Commission for terms expiring September 30, 1990; Resolution No. 89-19 authorizing purchase of computer equipment from IBM necessary for relocation of the Water Department Commercial Division from City Hall to the Water Utilities Service Center on Langham Road at a cost of $22, 410 that would enable the department to service customer accounts through interactive communications with the central computer from a remote location; and Resolution No. 89-20 authorizing eminent domain proceedings to acquire Parcel 405, Lot 12, Block 11, of the Calder Addition ( 3 ,500 square feet of land on the northwest corner of Broadway and Mariposa owned by Walter Earl Evans, John C. Evans, Shirley A. Willard and Betty J. Tums who refused the State' s appraised offer of $74, 562 ) and Parcel 409, Lot 12, Block 40, of the Calder Addition ( land on the northwest corner of Mariposa and Calder, State' s value of $33 ,750, owned by Elisa Viterbo Lieberman and Jane Elise Lauterstein) for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway right-of-way. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Lee and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- After taking opportunity to express pleasure with progression over recent weeks, Councilman Brumley made a motion, seconded by Councilman Cokinos, to appoint Mr. Ray Riley as City Manager for the City of Beaumont. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -30- February 7, 1989 Mr. Haines notified Council that he and Mr. Riley have already started to visit regarding the transition of managership and stated that he is personally excited about the decision Council made in choosing Mr. Riley and views his leadership as serving the City well. -000- Ordinance No. 89-6 approving the Tyrrell Historical Library Project and authorizing execution of documents necessary for issuance of up to $1 million in Certificates of Participation for the purpose of financing the restoration of the Tyrrell Public Library building by the Tyrrell Historical Library Association, who will lease the property from the City and sublease it back to the City under a master sublease purchase agreement, was considered: A lengthy discussion ensued as a result of reworking the financial package due to changing market conditions evolving in short-term interest rates exceeding long-term rates. A commitment has been received from the bond underwriters, Ehrlich and Bober, to guarantee placement of the bonds. An analysis of annual debt service costs reveals a negative variance of $233 , 960 instead of the original estimated shortfall of $15,000. The Community Services Department anticipates having these funds available through combined expenditure savings from the Library and Parks and Recreation Departments or activities relating to the General Funds contribution to the Civic Center Enterprise Fund. Council raised questions regarding reality of hotel motel taxes generating appreciable funds for this endeavor, the advisability of redirecting hotel motel funds to this area, expressed a desire that the shortfall not cut services or personnel and emphasized support of the Tyrrell Library restoration. Mrs. Mildred Hall, President of the Tyrrell Historical Library Association, Inc. voiced appreciation for Council' s questions and concerns and stated that this is not just a program, but a historic City property that has been sorely neglected and will be completely lost if deterioration is allowed to continue to outpace repairs. ORDINANCE NO. 89-6 ENTITLED "AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE PURPOSES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE TYRRELL HISTORICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, INC. , THE TYRRELL HISTORICAL LIBRARY PROJECT, THE ISSUANCE OF $1,000,000. 00 OF TYRRELL HISTORICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, INC. , MASTER SUB-LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION AND THE AUTHORIZING OF THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF, OR APPROVAL BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, OF THE FACILITY LEASE, MASTER SUBLEASE, THE INDENTURE, FINAL OFFICIAL STATEMENT AND PURCHASE CONTRACT AND OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS. " Ordinance No. 89-6 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -31- February 7, 1989 Mr. Haines addressed Agenda Items C-3 and D-4 because of high interest in the Babe Didrickson Zaharias Park Improvements Projects which include expansion of the museum building to house the Visitors Information Center and construction of a war memorial. The bids received were virtually double the expected amount. Therefore, monies available will be reevaluated and either the specifications reconstructed to meet the intent of the project or consideration will be given another alternative, possibly using in-house staff for some of the construction. Councilman Cokinos requested that when these items are brought back to Council that an architectural drawing be provided for clearer understanding of the project. Mayor Pro-Tem Samuel requested that a recommendation for awarding a contract not come forward with a contingency of compliance with our MBE policy. -000- Councilman Moore requested that follow-up begin with individuals and businesses who have expressed interest in joint participation and private contributions for rehabilitation of Walden Road. Councilman Cokinos added there is Federal money that may be available for repairs to Walden because of the amount of traffic generated by the Postal Service located there and asked the City Manager to pursue this route. Mr. Haines confirmed inquiries regarding Beaumont' s eligibility have been made with the Postal Service and stated efforts are being made to coordinate plans with the Postal Service and property owners on either side of the Interstate. Councilman Samuel requested that the Minutes of the January 21st Special Session reflect he was not absent, but came in late. ( Councilman Samuel arrived after Executive Session was called and Clerk excused. ) -000- Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1067 Wall Street, added his welcome to Mr. Ray Riley as City Manager, supported the restoration of the Tyrrell Historical Library, asked that Ms. Frances Bean, Administration of Transition Station, be designated to participate on the Mayor' s Committee for the Employment of the Handicapped, applauded the efforts of New Jerusalem Mission and the Salvation Army to house the homeless during this period of cold weather, and expressed to Mr. Haines that he would miss him when he leaves Beaumont to become Houston' s Director of Finance and Administration. Mrs. Margie Boyd, 4465 Thomas Lane, addressed Council as the immediate past president of the Southeast Texas Genealogical and Historical Society and thanked Council for their support of the restoration of the Tyrrell Historical Library. Mr. C. L. Sherman, 485 Belvedere Drive, welcomed Mr. Riley as the new City Manager and wished Mr. Haines well in Houston. Mr. Sherman stated that at County budget time, $2 1/2 to $3 million is allocated for roads, -32- February 7, 1989 and that Port Arthur and Port Neches receive $10 to every $1 Beaumont receives for participation in repair of County roads. Since Walden Road is semi-outside the City limits, he suggested that Beaumont pursue participation with the County for the needed repairs. -000- There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. -000- 2, 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 February 7, 1989 . Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -33- February 7, 1989