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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN FEB 21 1989 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD FEBRUARY 21, 1989 - 1: 15 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 21st day of February, 1989, 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 Michael Brumley Councilman, Ward II Audwin Samuel Mayor Pro-Tem Councilman, Ward III David W. Moore Councilman Ward IV Ray A. Riley City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend Bryant Epsteen, Church of Christ Bible. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Moore. -000- Mayor Meyers extended a welcome to Mr. Ray Riley as the new City Manager and expressed anticipation for continued progress under his leadership and guidance. Citizens and employees were invited to attend a get acquainted reception in Mr. Riley' s honor immediately following the business session. -000- Mayor Meyers announced that at the close of the reception an Executive Session will be conducted in accordance with Section 2(e) of the Open Meetings Act of the State of Texas to discuss pending or contemplative litigation. -000- Councilman Smith announced that an official reception for Mr. Riley is planned for Thursday, March 7, from 5 : 30 to 6: 30 p.m. at the Civic Center entrance. All citizens and friends of Mr. Riley are invited. Future public announcements will be made extending the invitation to all Beaumont residents and friends. -40- February 21, 1989 Mayor Meyers invited Mr. Riley to comment on his new assignment as City Manager. MR. RILEY . . .Mayor, it' s a pleasure to be back and to be part of the City government again. I can' t tell you how excited I am about this opportunity. I want to thank all of you for extending to me this challenge. Thank you. -000- Two Proclamations were issued: "Fifth Annual Ms. Lindberg Health Care Center Beauty Pageant Day, " February 23, 1989; and "National Engineers Week, " February 20-24, 1989. -000- Mayor Meyers read a portion of a January 25, 1989 news release, "when Mr. John Victorian, Commissioner, and Mr. John Estes, Acting Executive Director, accepted a Certificate of Special Achievement from Mr. Samuel Pierce, Jr. , Secretary of HUD in Washington, D.C. and presented by Mr. James Wilson, Manager of HUD office in Houston, in recognition of the dedicated efforts of the fight against drugs in public housing. " Mayor Meyers related this is an effort Council is especially proud of because of Councilman David Moore' s effort in that area of concern. Mr. Estes, Acting Executive Director of the Beaumont Housing Authority, introduced Staff members present and asked Mr. John Victorian to make two presentations. Mr. Victorian explained the purpose and intent of the drug eradication program in housing complexes and expressed his personal opinion that the greatest combined efforts of everyone will only slow down the drug problem. Mr. Victorian made two presentations to Councilman David Moore and to Lt. Charles Tyler on behalf of the Beaumont Police Department which read: The Housing Authority of the City of Beaumont presents a Certificate of Special Achievement to City of Beaumont in recognition of your contribution and dedicated efforts in the Drug Eradication Program and in the fight against drugs in public housing, your continued commitment to campaign against drugs to enrich the quality of life for the residents of public housing and in the City of Beaumont. Your leadership provides an example that others may follow in provid- ing a safe and secure environment in which to raise a family and live a productive life. Mr. Victorian recognized Officers Ball, Meadows, Gurski, and Barker as participants in this program and concluded that when the curtain of drugs is opened, it' s next door to all of us. -41- February 21, 1989 Councilman Moore thanked everyone that has been involved in this program to make it so successful and asked that we not stop now, but continue to help people say "no" to drugs and "yes" to a higher quality of life. Mayor Meyers expressed thanks on behalf of the citizens of Beaumont to Mr. Victorian, the Housing Authority for leadership in the program, the Police Department and anyone else involved for making Beaumont a better place to live. -000- Councilman Smith reviewed the revitalization effort of Old Town that began last summer. At the end of the reorganization Dr. Gates and students of the Industrial Engineering Department at Lamar University were asked to perform a survey of parking and drainage, utilization of a tram, and demographics. Mr. Buddy Blake, a member of the Old Town Neighborhood Association, introduced Lamar students, Amrou Atasi, Scott Martin, Aymen Kayal, Erwin Padillo, Joseph Breaux, Scott Selman, Greg Chilek, Rodney James, Keith Sabo, Clarence Davis, Kevin Barry, James Glenn, Kelly Smith, Denise Pennacchi and Steve Jeansonne, who participated in this project and said the in-depth study they provided would have cost thousands of dollars for a consulting firm to submit and would not have been the product of these three individual surveys. The surveys were beyond what was requested in each case. Mr. Blake stated these surveys could have a major impact not only on the Old Town area of Beaumont, but the Downtown area as well. Dr. Gates expressed appreciation for the opportunity for students to earn course credit toward graduation, learn something about the real world, and make a lasting contribution to the community. He thanked the Old Town Association and the City of Beaumont for the opportunity to work on this project. James Glenn presented a parking and traffic survey of the street systems of Old Town featuring a color-coded map of existing parking and potential future parking. Steven Jeansonne presented a demographics survey identifying the boundaries for Old Town as the area bounded by Interstate 10, Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. , Laurel, and 11th Street and including a complete survey of every block, house, business, type of business, etc. in almost a 300 page document. Amrou Atasi presented a bus survey that implemented the use of a tram system with a route linking Old Town to the Downtown district to enhance the tourist image of the city, provide for diversification and economic development of the two areas by using two trams in a rotating schedule, charter services for conventions and other endeavors. Mr. Blake presented a certificate to the students that said, "Beaumont' s Old Town Neighborhood Association certifies is an honorary member of the Old Town Neighborhood Association this 21st day of February, 1989 . an industrial engineer student at -42- February 21, 1989 Lamar University is a participant of Lamar University' s Industrial Engineering and Industrial Technologies Department Community Outreach Involvement Program. This program under the direction of Dr. David Gates allows students to become involved in current projects being conducted by the City. distinguished himself by the timely and professional manner in which he and his fellow students completed their assigned project, the extent of the area survey, detailed analysis, additional information provided was beyond the scope of the assignment and reflected great credit upon himself, Lamar University, and the Industrial Engineering and Industrial Technology Department. The survey will contribute significantly to the economic and orderly development of Beaumont' s Old Town area for now and in the future. Old Town, and indeed, all the citizens of Beaumont, owe you a debt of gratitude and thanks for your professional and outstanding efforts. We honor you and your fellow students as citizens of Old Town and grant you all the rights and privileges of the Association for life. /s/ George Blake Councilman Smith thanked the students for the compilation of their findings and said they would be shared with BUILD and reported a meeting with John Bordelon, Dr. Gates, and Planning Director Kirt Anderson to survey Downtown in a cooperative effort with Gulf States and BUILD. Mayor Meyers added his thanks to the students, Dr. Gates, Mr. Blake and Councilman Smith. He expressed appreciation for the fresh approach taken by the students in their reporting. -000- Citizen comment was invited on Agenda Items A through D. Mr. Tony Sacker, 4635 Elmherst Drive, addressed Council to inquire if the contract for Agenda Item D-3 included a drug-free statement of employees by the contractor as he suggested a few weeks ago. Mr. Sacker was told no one was aware of the Purchasing Department making such a statement part of the bid specifications. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall Street, addressed Council in support of Agenda Item B-1 authorizing re-entry of the Elissa. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held February 14, 1989, and Resolution No. 89-28 appointing David Rodriguez to the Convention and Visitors Bureau for a term expiring July 31, 1990; Walter Barrutla to the Clean Community Commission for a term expiring September 30, 1989; and Dr. Leldon Sweet to the Airport Advisory Commission for a term expiring May 31, 1989; -43- February 21, 1989 Resolution No. 89-29 authorizing purchase of personal computers from Beltron Computer Systems, Inc. in the amount of $13 ,077. 30 (AT Compatible Systems with no mass storage capabilities, 386 - Based Systems with 1 megabyte of random access memory and minimal mass storage capabilities, color monitors, and monochrome monitors) and Entre Computer Center in the amount of $4,224. 00 (System 36 Emulation Boards, and 16 - Bit Communications Boards) for the Police Department; Resolution No. 89-30 designating Ray A. Riley, along with Betty Dunkerley and Walter Thomas, as authorized signatories for banking, investment, handwritten and facsimile purposes for any institution the City Council has already or may designate as a depository for the City of Beaumont, effective February 20, 1989, and Resolution No. 89-31 authorizing a contract with Australian Courtworks of Brandon, Mississippi in the amount of $16, 673 . 00 for the resurfacing of eight tennis courts at the Athletic Complex. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 89-32 authorizing a contract with the Galveston Historical Foundation, Inc. for a return visit of the ship, Elissa, to Riverfront Park from April 6-16, 1989 for tours and social events was approved on a motion made by Councilman Lee and seconded by Councilman Brumley. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 89-8 authorizing a $130, 000. 00 increase (generated by operational changes) in the Police Department budget to fund ten ( 10) additional civilian dispatcher positions and realigning Police Management Personnel by reducing the number of Police Captains, Grade IV, by two and increasing the number of Police Lieutenants, Grade III , by one and the number of Police Sergeants, Grade II, by one was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 89-8 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BUDGET OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT FOR THE FISCAL PERIOD COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 1988 TO INCREASE THE APPROPRIATION IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AMEND THE PERSONNEL SUMMARY SCHEDULE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL. Ordinance No. 89-8 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Lee. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -44- February 21, 1989 Resolution No. 89-33 authorizing a contract with W. B. Construction, Inc. in the amount of $156,000. 00 for installing a 3-by-5-foot drainage box in an easement extending from Avie Lane to just south of Ada Street between Donna and Mayhaw Streets in the Woodland Estates Addition approximately 1, 100 feet was approved on a motion made by Councilman Lee and seconded by Councilman Moore. -000- Councilman Smith reported attending an excellent three-day Post Secondary Education Conference on Alcohol and Drug Abuse last Tuesday in E1 Paso, stated there is a tremendous problem beginning with elementary and middle- school students and encouraged support of educational programs regarding these abuses. Councilman Moore applauded the Rainbow Trout fishing event sponsored by the Mayor' s Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons at Sprott Park as a very successful endeavor last Saturday and announced the second phase of SCUP (Southend Community Uplift Program) , the Education Awareness Phase, will be launched on February 28th at 7: 00 p.m. at Starlight Baptist Church. Councilman Cokinos requested that Mr. Riley investigate the City Ordinances relative to trains switching between 7: 30 a.m. -8: 30 a.m. and 4: 30 p.m. -5: 30 p.m. and take appropriate action against the Santa Fe Railroad if this is a violation. Councilman Lee welcomed Mr. Riley as City Manager and voiced anticipation for an enjoyable and effective working relationship. Councilman Brumley also welcomed Mr. Riley and added that he and his daughters enjoyed attending the fishing tournament for the handicapped. -000- Mr. David Carnley, 4735 Carnegie, addressed Council regarding an accident claim. Mayor Meyers advised Mr. Carnley that Staff members would be available to visit with him following the reception for Mr. Riley and Executive Session. Mr. Otho Cooper, 1840 Threadneedle, addressed Council in appreciation of Police assistance in his neighborhood when they were called upon. -000- There being no further business, the regular City Council meeting was recessed for participation in a reception for Mr. Ray A. Riley, City Manager, before reconvening for Executive 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 February 21, 1989. -45- Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk February 21 . 1989 EXCERPT CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 21, 1989 COUNCILMAN COKINOS I 've got one item to discuss. Mr. Riley, I wish you'd look into the City ordinance as to the switching of the Sante Fe especially over on Calder, Laurel, McFaddin. Just religiously they start switching along about 7: 30 keeping people from coming to work, and also at 4: 30. It' s my understanding that there' s an ordinance prohibiting switching between 7: 30 and 8: 30 in the morning and also 4: 30 and 5: 30 in the afternoon. And, I would, I would like very much for you to look into that ordinance and see that, why they' re switching, and if so to stop it from people getting to town and getting to work. It' s getting worse 'cause I 've had several calls on it. It' s just getting worse in the afternoons and the mornings, and I feel there is an ordinance on the books prohibiting switching. Could you please look into that and advise the proper. . . ? MR. RILEY Certainly will, Councilman. We' ll notify the Santa Fe, it they' re doing it, please stop, and they' re not doing it, then don' t do it again! We' ll notify them. COUNCILMAN COKINOS That a boy! That' s what I like. Thank you very much