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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN JUN 13 1989 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD JUNE 13, 1989 - 1:15 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 13th day of June, 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 Barbara Liming Deputy City Clerk *Councilman Samuel arrived at 1 :45 p.m. -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend Harland Marriam, Saint Andrew' s Presbyterian Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Crystal, a youngster visiting Council with her mother. -000- Mayor Meyers called an Executive Session of the Beaumont City Council, pursuant to Section 2(e) of the Texas Open Meetings Act, to discuss pending or contemplated litigation following the Workshop Session. -000- Mayor Meyers welcomed and introduced former Councilman Evelyn Lord to the meeting. -000- Ms. Brenda Casseroler and a group of students from Lamar University were recognized, and Ms. Casseroler was extended an invitation to explain the program. Ms. Casseroler: Project 1, 2, 3 was funded by the Job Training Partnership Act, back on -141- June 13 , 1989 low February 15th of this last year. It is an adult education project. It began as an adult literacy project, which we've since changed . . . There' s been opposition to the term literacy because of the term illiteracy connected to it, and these are not illiterate adults. They are adults who have seen a need to improve the quality of their lives through education. They come from primarily Jefferson County, some from Hardin County, some from Port Arthur. They go to school everyday at Lamar University. They are trying to improve the quality of their lives through education. They fight the same battles we fight every day. They have child care; they have transportation problems. All the problems we have. Everyday they get up at six, five, six o'clock in the morning, come to Lamar University between 8:00 and 3 : 30. We learn reading, writing, and arithmetic, but because this is an adult education project, we learn a lot more than that. We are funded through June 30th. It' s a pilot project. We are under scrutiny by Regional to see how well we do. We've been told tentatively that we' ll probably be refunded another year. I will know this, maybe today. We started out with about 75 students. We' ll have a graduating class of somewhere between 65 and 68. We' ll be graduating the end of this month. We' re gonna have a cap and grown ceremony. We took a pre G.E.D. test yesterday. Some of their goals is G.E.D. . .We took our pre G.E.D. yesterday, and I found out this morning, they don' t even know this, that most of them passed. So, we' re really, really proud of them. . .We had our own little secret list of those we thought would pass and those that wouldn' t. They surprised us all. They just have done remarkably well. They are real enthusiastic students. Among them they have 173 children. We have a theme song, and that' s The Greatest Love of All, and it talks about the reason--there are times that we do things that are tough and a lot of times it' s because we have kids that we care about and we want to change the future of their lives. I 'm real proud of them. They've made this project what it is, and they've done really well. I appreciate the invitation here to the Council meeting. Thank you. -000- Two Proclamations were issued: "Southeast Texas Big "I" Insurance Youth Golf Classic Day, " June 19, 1989, " and "National Flag Day, " June 14, 1989. -000- Mr. Tom Harken, National Flag Day Chairman, presented Council with small American flags and brochures displaying pictures of early flags of the United States and extended an invitation to attend a Flag ceremony at 6 : 00 p.m. , Wednesday, June 14th, in front of City Hall. Replicas of ten flags flown during the early years of the United States and ten flags flown over the State of Texas will be displayed at this ceremony. Mayor Meyers encouraged everyone to pause for 45 seconds with over 200 million Americans all over the nation tomorrow at 6: 00 p.m. to pledge the flag at this special ceremony or, if that is not possible, at home. -142- June 13, 1989 Mayor Meyers introduced Mrs. Carolyn Chaney, the representative in Washington D.C. for Beaumont. Mrs. Chaney reported good news regarding grant funding for the Waterpark Project with formality the of application process remaining, said there is still an application pending for some housing programs with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, stated she has met with various groups in Beaumont including City Staff and Department Heads, the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission, Jefferson County, City Boards and Commission members, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Bid Resource Center and considers these meetings to have been profitable. She observed a noticeable difference in Beaumont, an extra spark, improved cleanliness of the streets, new and rehabilitated buildings. Mrs. Chaney expressed her pleasure in being affiliated with Beaumont and the opportunity to work toward its progress as a Washington Assistant. (Councilman Samuel arrived during Council comments to Mrs. Chaney. ) Members of Council each expressed appreciation for the representation and valuable information provided Beaumont by Mrs. Chaney. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent Agenda and Main Agenda Items 2, 3 and 4. Mr. Roberto Flores, 2425 Buchanan, addressed Council on Agenda Item 2 (ratification of the labor agreement with Local 399 of the Firefighters) as a member .of the Affirmative Action Committee to report that soon a five-year plan of affirmative action will be presented to Council, reviewed present minority employment in the Civil Service positions, projected goals for minority employment in these positions, and expressed displeasure that three recent Hispanic graduates from the Police Academy received no publicity for this achievement. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held June 6, 1989; and Resolution No. 89-118 authorizing Texas Commerce Bank - Beaumont to release $455,000 in securities held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas/Houston Branch, effective June 13, 1989, and authorized First City National Bank - Beaumont to pledge $300,000 in securities with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas/Houston Branch effective June 13 , 1989. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Samuel. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- -143- June 13 , 1989 A public hearing was called to consider the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Final Statement of Objectives and Projected Use of Funds for the 1989 Program Year in the amount of $1,689,000 (Housing, $1,015 ,000; Neighborhood Improvements, $175,000; Historic Preservation, $15,000; Economic Development, $72,000; Social Service, $84,000, and Administration-Personnel, $328,000) . Mr. Herman Rogers, Chairman of the Community Development Block Grant Citizens Advisory Commission, addressed Council to express appreciation for the opportunity to serve and stated the CAC feels they have brought forth a recommendation that will serve the citizens of Beaumont well, thanked the sub-committees for their work, and offered to answer any questions. There being no one else to address Council, the public hearing was closed. -000- Mr. Riley commented that many members of the Citizens Advisory Commission have served for more than ten years, and they spend countless hours reviewing the programs and changes. Their assistance is very valuable and offers good direction. After a lengthy discussion concerning more rehabilitation and less demolition, placements of funds, affordable and safe housing, decrease in housing rehabilitation funds, and neighborhood revitalization Resolution No. 89-119 authorizing submission of the Community Development Block Grant Final Statement of Objectives and Projected Use Funds for the 1989 Program Year in the amount of $1,689, 000 to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: Mayor Meyers Nayes: Councilman Councilman Lee Moore Councilman Cokinos Councilman Smith Councilman Brumley Councilman Samuel -000- Resolution No. 89-120 authorizing ratification of a labor agreement with Local 399 of the International Association of Firefighters providing for an 8% pay increase retroactive to October 1, 1988, an increase in the City' s contribution to the pension program from 100 of wages to 10 1/2% retroactive to October 1, 1988 and other negotiated changes (members of bargaining unit shall not bargain for themselves individually or individually with another bargaining unit member without written consent of the Union; reports and minutes of the joint safety committee shall be posted by employer at all work sites for at least 30 days; the joint safety committee shall cooperate and -144- June 13, 1989 coordinate activities with the City' s risk manager and copies of all minutes of the committee shall be sent to the risk manager; grandparents and grandchildren of the employee or spouse shall be added to list of immediate family members in a clause entitling employees to be granted up to four days ( 2 shifts) off with pay in case of death; all employees except training officer shall receive premium pay in the amount of $10 per hour for time teaching at basic fire academy in addition to any other compensation entitlement; term of agreement is from October 1, 1988 until replaced by a successor agreement; sick leave may be used for any bonafide illness of a immediate family living in the same household; and the department shall provide transportation between stations for employees transferred from on station to another temporarily unless employees notified of change prior to reporting for duty) was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 89-121 authorizing purchase of two 14-cubic-yard dump trucks for the Street and Drainage Department at a total price of $108,132. 12 from Smart' s White GMC Truck and Trailer Equipment Co. of Beaumont, a local bidder, (Barrett White GMC of Tyler bid only $26 .84 lower after multiplier analysis used to deduct $164. 96 gain in sales tax) was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 89-122 awarding an annual contract to Manning' s School Supply for furnishing office supplies at an estimated cost of $28,508. 65 for listed items and a 36% discount on unlisted items was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Lee. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000 Councilman Smith reported the "Old-Town Bash" held last Saturday was successful and thanked the Parks and Recreation Division for the Show- mobile, the Police Department for closing the streets and monitoring traffic, and all other support received from City staff. Councilman Moore congratulated the Alex Durley Foundation for bringing the football camp to Beaumont and said it was well attended and most importantly it was the corporate citizens that made this event possible. He invited everyone to attend the Juneteenth celebration Saturday, June 17th, from 10: 00 a.m. to 7: 00 p.m. at Riverfront Park. Councilman Lee announced that "Sunday in the Park, " June 18th will be hosted by Friends of Sunday in the Park. -145- June 13, 1989 Councilman Brumley extended an invitation to attend the second Concerts on the Move for the 1989 season, Thursday, June 15, 7: 00 p.m. at Rogers Park to hear the Jimmy Simmons Jazz Band, and urged everyone to mark their calendar for a special July 4th display at Riverfront Park. -000- Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, P. O. Box 2720, addressed Council on many items of interest to him. Mr. Hardy Charles, 1415 Avenue A, addressed Council regarding the opening of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway and the clean community award received by Beaumont. -000- - Workshop Session was conducted to review the status of "Main Street on the Neches" activities. -000- There being no further business, the regular City Council meeting and Workshop Session were recessed to conduct the Executive Session of City Council. -000- I, Barbara Liming, Deputy 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 13, 1989. Barbara Liming Deputy City Clerk -146- June 13, 1989