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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN MAY 30 1989 TOWN MEETING CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD MAY 30, 1989 - 7: 00 P.M. NORTH END BAPTIST CHURCH 5115 EASTEX FREEWAY BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, conducted a Town Meeting this the 30th day of May, 1989, with the following present: HONORABLE: Maurice Meyers Mayor Bob Lee, Jr. Mayor Pro Tem Councilman At Large Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Michael Brumley Councilman, Ward II Audwin Samuel 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 Harold Halcomb, North End Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by by Mayor Meyers. -000- MAYOR MEYERS: The Town Meeting concept, of course, was initiated a few years ago in an effort to provide an opportunity like this for all of you who during the day for work or other reasons find it difficult to get to a Council meeting, and we move through the four Wards of our city. I would like to now turn the microphone briefly to your host this evening, Dr. Lulu Smith, who is your Council representative in this Ward, and ask if she would make some comments of welcome, please. COUNCILMAN SMITH: Thank you Maury. We appreciate very much, Reverend Halcomb, for you letting us meet tonight in your church. We' re very grateful to you for it. And, as I look out over here and see my neighbors, I appreciate your coming tonight. This is your chance to voice your concerns about your community and your city, for those of you who work during the day, and we' re very happy to see you and appreciate your coming. Thank you. -133- May 30, 1989 City Manager Riley informed the audience that City Staff will present an update of the conditions of city streets and look at some type of system whereby a comprehensive approach may be taken toward a preventative maintenance and rehabilitative maintenance program for our major street system. In further explanation, he defined major street system as being those streets other than residential. Residential streets are those which provide access or egress to our homes. They are not part of the major street system. The major street system is composed of arterial streets (provide transportation across the entire community) and collector streets (takes traffic from an arterial street into a neighborhood) . Mr. Riley introduced Keith Truman, City Engineer, and Jim Terry, Operations Manager for the Street and Drainage Department who presented an overview of the Major Street Maintenance Program. They explained the good, fair, and poor rating system used for determining street rehabilitation need: good--#1 rating, no preventative maintenance needed for approximately 7 years; fair--#2+ rating, preventative maintenance may be deferred for 4-7 years; fair--#2 rating, preventative maintenance may be deferred for 1-4 years; fair--#2- rating, streets requiring immediate preventative maintenance; and poor--#3 rating, streets requiring extensive rehabilitation. Cost for rehabilitating streets increases considerably per square yard with deterioration. Ideally, maintenance should occur at a point of cost effectiveness. They analyzed 126 miles of streets indicating 38 miles, or 300 of the streets, are rated in good condition ( 1 rating) ; 12 miles, or 9% of the streets, are rated in fair condition ( 2+ rating) and to bring them up to acceptable standards would cost $915, 694; 35 miles, or 280 of the streets, are rated in fair condition ( 2 rating) and to bring them up to acceptable standards would cost $2, 061, 871; 24 miles, or 190 of the streets are rated in fair condition ( 2- rating) and to bring them up to acceptable standards would cost $2, 150,000; 18 miles, or 140 of the streets are rated in poor condition ( 3 rating) and to bring them up to acceptable standards would cost $2, 419,000. Mr. Riley referred to the Major Street Maintenance Program handout provided Council and members of the audience stating that the 126 miles of streets has been broken down into 147 alphabetical listings of currently designated arterial or collector streets. The first listing has the rating, proposed maintenance and estimated cost based on the proposed maintenance expenses. The next listing is broken down by rating according to need of repair. Mr. Riley reiterated that the cost per square yard is the greatest in those streets in poor or unacceptable condition. He reviewed General Fund resources for FY 1988, FY 1989, and FY 1990 and how they have been or will be expended. In FY 1988 overall actual revenues were $43 .1 million, in FY 1989 overall revenues are estimated to be $42 . 8 million and $44,000,000 in FY 1990. There has been a switchover in the past three years for the major source of revenue from property tax to sales and use tax. To fund a continuing street maintenance program, Mr. Riley presented two proposals: a three-cent increase in property tax (each cent of the -134- May 30, 1989 property tax rate represents approximately $265,000) to pay off certificates of obligation the City would attempt to sell or a monthly service fee of $1.75 to $2.00 which could appear on monthly utility bills and dedicated for this program. -000- Individually, each Councilman publicly thanked North End Baptist Church and Pastor Halcomb for their hospitality in opening their church for the Town Meeting. Councilman Brumley said he looked forward to working with Council in addressing the street problems. Councilman Lee stated that we do have a difficult issue dealing with the infrastructure relative to street maintenance and expressed appreciation to Mr. Riley for bringing forward information regarding alternatives to solving the problem and favored getting all streets fixed at the same time rather than prolonging the process. Councilman Cokinos relayed to the audience that the purpose of this meeting is to hear citizen concern, and that Council is ready to listen and attempt to solve problems. Councilman Moore said he hopes the street maintenance plan is as aggressive as it needs to be and will address those streets needing major repair as well as preventive maintenance and reported that the first "Concerts on the Move" hosted by Ward IV was very successful and thanked Staff for the preparation and Council for their support. Councilman Samuel thanked citizens for their attendance, conveyed Council concern for the on-going problem of street maintenance, and admonished a cooperative effort in reaching a decision. Councilman Smith thanked Mr. Riley and Staff for presentation of the Major Street Maintenance Program, and for the neighborhood of Woodland Acres, expressed thanks for the recent drainage projects that have affected better flood control. She thanked citizens for their attendance and directed to them comments relative to the seriousness of street problems and the need for looking at the problem carefully and making tough choices. Councilman Smith spoke in support of starting a street maintenance program now. Mayor Meyers shared a positive news report officially authorizing finalization of a $2 1/2 million grant for Trinity Industries to assist them in obtaining the Bethlehem Steel shipyards. Trinity Industries has just become the 23rd largest company in Dallas, closing their year-end with sales volume of $1, 100,000,000.00. They are considered a good, solid business. Close to 1,300 people will be employed by Trinity this year. Finalization of a contract between Bethlehem Steel and Trinity Industries should be within two weeks. -135- May 30, 1989 Mr. Terry Bennett, 5210 Bigner, addressed Council concerning excessive, dangerous dump truck traffic on Bigner and Helbig Road, He requested all dump truck traffic be rerouted to 8200 Helbig via Piney Point via Sherwood, Tram Road, on to Eastex Freeway. If this route is not feasible, he requested that traffic be equally distributed down Plant Road, Helbig Road, and Bigner Road. He also informed Council that residents are considering challenging the Specific Use Permit granted to Pine Island Sand Company on the grounds of deterioration to streets, safety hazard to children, excessive speeding, and the noise level (Mr. Bennett presented a petition containing these complaints and approximately 105 signatures directed to the Mayor and City Council to the City Clerk' s office. ) . Mr. Bennett also questioned the ability of a bridge at 6200 Helbig to safely handle the heavy weight of the dump trucks. Ms. Ruby Franklin, 5335 Bigner, addressed Council concerning drainage problem at the corner of McHale and 5110 Bigner Road down to 5395 Bigner Road and stated since October, 1988 has requested ditches be cleaned. Mrs. Esterline Graham, 7975 Helbig, again addressed Council to express opposition to dump truck traffic on Helbig Road, questioned road definitions and possible involvement of other entities in financing street repairs. Mr. Bob Howard, 5125 Linda Lane, addressed Council in favor of moving forward with funding a street maintenance program and added good streets are an important part of economic development. Mrs. Sherry Latino, 10680 Sherwood, addressed Council to complain about deterioration of streets, problems created by sand hauling vehicles and ditches that need to be cleaned. Mrs. Billie Leach, 4615 Holst, addressed Council in opposition of dump truck traffic and concern that an adequate evacuation route, if needed, would be impaired because of abuse to streets by heavy vehicle traffic. Mr. Hal McKinley, 5365 Gail, addressed Council to suggest establishment of load zones on the streets experiencing heavy truck traffic with enforcement of adherence to the limitations and requested the shoulders of the streets be bladed to aid drainage. Dr. Wesley Washburn, 7195 Ellen Lane, addressed Council to urge an equitable solution for all three streets involved with the heavy dump truck traffic. Mr. David Boykin, 4695 Ridgewood, addressed Council in opposition of routing sand hauling vehicles northward through residential areas to reach Tram Road to Eastex Freeway. Mr. Dale Karr, 5485 Richard Road, addressed Council to complain about safety hazards created by trees growing in the right-of-way in the 6500 block of Plant Road. -136- May 30, 1989 Ms. Mary Barnett, 5120 Wildwood, addressed Council in appreciation for the recent drainage projects. -000- There being no one else to address Council, the Town Meeting was adjourned. -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 Town Meeting held May 30, 1989. Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -137- May 30, 1989