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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN MAY 08 1990 w REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD MAY 8, 1990, 1:15 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 8th day of May, 1990, 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 David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Absent: Michael Brumley Councilman, Ward II Audwin Samuel Councilman, Ward III Ray A. Riley City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by Rabbi Peter Hyman, Temple Emanuel Synagogue. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Lee. -000- Three Proclamations were issued: "Transportation Week, " May 13-19, 1990; Goodwill Industries Week, " May 6-12, 1990; and Kaleidoscope Neon 90 's Weekend, " May 12-13, 1990. -000- MAYOR MEYERS• . . .I want to extend my compliments personally to Councilman, Mayor Pro Tem Bob Lee for his service because I think it has been exemplary. It's been creative, imaginative, energetic, and I think he's done the things that citizens expect of their elected official, and I think the City is going to miss your services. I 've taken the liberty of making a few short notes that I 'd like to share with Council at this time. First, that it's been my pleasure to serve with you, and I really feel the past four years have been rewarding for me and for all of us working together. I believe our citizens reflect a new spirit that offers a bright and prosperous future for our city, and I 'm particularly encouraged that our young people are -111- May 8, 1990 once again planning their futures in Beaumont. Innovation and creativity, I think, have been the cornerstone of this Council. And for a city to be a high-achiever, it must be willing to foster change and try new things. The cities that practice "business as usual, " I believe, will be left behind in the dust. We must keep our ear to the pulse of the community as we reach out to all segments of our population. Try to anticipate and not react. Continue to initiate new challenging programs that keep our citizens involved. The volunteer in Beaumont is truly the keeper of our city spirit, and we must not let that effort lessen, if anything, we have to try to increase it, which will be difficult. Opportunity abounds, I believe, for the City of Beaumont, and we've come through adversity, and I think we've come through it a much stronger community, and I 'm very optimistic about the future of our city. We're fiscally sound, and with Ray Riley guiding the City, I think we're in a very solid position for continued growth in the 1901s. And, our economy continues to strengthen and consumer confidence is improving daily. As I leave the mayor's office, I 'd like to thank the citizens of Beaumont for allowing me to serve, and it's my wish that they will continue to support the efforts of Council and respond to the continuing challenges before us. The diversity of effort required of our citizens, I think, has been most unique. Not only in the State of Texas, but in America, and we have literally replaced financial resources with human resources. Whatever the job to be done, there was a volunteer there to do it, and they did it well. I believe Evelyn Lord will be an outstanding mayor, capable of leading our city to bigger and better things. In closing, I want to thank the City Council. I have truly enjoyed serving with each one of you. And to Ray Riley and all of our employees, I offer my compliments, and I encourage continued emphasis on our Citizen Friendly Policy. (audience laughter) That's an inside joke. And a special wife, she's here. I 'd like to thank my wife, Arlene. Jokingly, last night at a reception, I stated that a mayor does wake up with the city and go to bed, only most of the time, when I go, she's asleep, and when I come home, she's asleep! But, I do want to recognize my wife and ask her to stand. (audience applause) And, to the citizens of our city, I publicly thank you for the confidence that you've shown in me in electing me four times as your mayor. It is an honor that I shall cherish. It's been my privilege to wake up with the city and put it to bed, and I like that, and I think that's what mayors are supposed to do. The commitment of time is far overshadowed by the rewards of appreciation shown by those you serve. I shall continue in public service because I know that that's what provides me the greatest satisfaction. So, I wish best wishes to the new City Council, congratulate Andrew Cokinos and Brian Alter on their decisive victories, and I commend those who ran and didn't win, and I would like to close and state that competition makes for better business, and competition certainly makes for better government, and so with that thought, I thank all of you for the support and work that we've had the time to do together. (Applause by audience) Thank you very much. -000- -112- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Regular Agenda items. No one wished to address these items. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held May 1, 1990; Resolution No. 90-83 authorizing pledge and release of $3, 000, 000. 00 in securities by Texas Commerce Bank effective May 8, 1990; Resolution No. 90-84 appointing Richard Chappell and Madelyn Harden to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway Commission for terms expiring January 1, 1993 ; Clayton Weeks and Evelyn Pickren to the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee for terms expiring September 30, 1990; and Paul A. Brown to the Beaumont Housing Authority for a term expiring February 28, 1993 ; and Resolution No. 90-85 accepting the donation by Gulf States Utilities Company of right-of-way for South (0. 138 of an acre) and Smart Streets (0. 1555) out of the Noah Tevis Survey, Abstract 52, where those streets crossed the 100-foot-wide right-of-way of the Beaumont, Sour Lake and Western Railroad Company between 11th and Oxford Streets. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 90-30 canvassing the returns of the May 5, 1990 Joint City General Election showing a total vote of 16, 674 with Evelyn M. Lord elected as Mayor with 10, 141 votes, Andrew P. Cokinos with 11,194 votes and Brian Alter with 6,831 votes elected to the two offices of Councilman At Large was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 90-30 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE CANVASSING THE RETURNS OF THE REGULAR GENERAL ELECTION HELD IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT ON THE 5TH DAY OF MAY, 1990, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MAYOR AND TWO (2) COUNCIL MEMBERS-AT-LARGE; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL. Ordinance No. 90-30 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -113- May 8, 1990 Attorney Cleve Bachman, associated with the Orgain, Bell and Tucker Law Firm and Notary for the State of Texas, administered the Oath of Office to Evelyn M. Lord as Mayor of the City of Beaumont, Andrew P. Cokinos and Brian Alter as Council Members-At-Large for the City of Beaumont as elected on May 5, 1990. -000- MAYOR LORD: I didn't want to let anybody get away because Maury's taught me very well, don't let them break up while you still have something to say. So I did want to say a few things because after this we're going to have a break of about twenty minutes for refreshments, and I did want to say something to you all. I want to thank everyone, of course, not just the people and the team that supported me, and not just Sam Lord, but everybody who participated, who voted, and who ran for office. We had some fine people running for office, and I think those who participate in the system are making it work. I also want to thank Valencia Winfree who is the young lady sitting beside my husband. She's my student in the "I Have a Dream Program, " and Valencia's been a believer all along. So, I appreciate that very much. I 'm a very lucky lady that I 've had the chance to work with the teams that I have worked with. We're going to miss Maury and Bob up here very, very much, and we're very grateful to them for everything they've done. (applause by audience) We still have a super team up here. I 've worked with Ray and with Lane before. It seems like old times, and I have nothing but happy memories of my times here, and I know that it's going to continue. I 'm sorry that Mike isn't here today because, of course, his experience will lend a lot to what we're going to do in the months ahead. And, Audwin has always been a special person to me. I watched and I 've known him before he came on Council, and I know now that he's studying law that he will contribute even more to the Council and to his community. Lu is a woman that I 've always respected and admired and liked, and her background and her experience will also, I 'm going to count on her input very heavily, indeed. And, Andrew really knows this city and the people in it. He has a special touch with the people because he's always in touch with the people. This means a great deal, and we're going to count on that a great deal. -114- May 8, 1990 Brian is new to us. He's not new to all of us who know us. He's full of energy, full of creative ideas, and I think he'll bring a wonderful perspective to the things that we want to do. Now, what can I say about David. I 've know David a long time, too, and I 've worked with David, and he's the most dedicated and devoted of public servants, and he has so much to offer, and I 'm so glad that he's still here to offer it. (applause by audience) And, I want you to know that I not only count David as an ally in the things that we'll plan and do for the city, but I count him as a friend as well. We're going to make Beaumont better. Now, no captain could have had a better team than I have. You add to all this the best Fire Chief anywhere around, the best Police Chief anywhere around, the best Firefighters, the best Police Officers (applause) , super Department Heads. And, all of the crews and all of the departments just really--Beaumont is so fortunate--and I hope you realize how fortunate we all are. I really feel good about the city and its future when I know all these fine people work for the City of Beaumont. Now, what about your new mayor? A lot is being made of the fact that I 'm your first woman mayor. Well, I certainly am a woman. I look quite a bit like one. I think like a lot of women think. I act like a lot of women act. I share many characteristics with other women, but I, like many other women, share many of those same characteristics with men. My favorite description of a woman is from Anne Morrow Lindbergh's book, Gift from the Sea, and I 'd like to read it to you. "For to be a woman is to have interests and duties raying out in all directions from the central mother core, like spokes from the hub of a wheel. The patent of our lives is essentially circular. We must open to all points of the compass, spread out like a spider's web exposed to all of those points, husband, children, friends, home, community. Sensitive like that spider's web to each breeze that blows and to each call that comes. " The description fits me as it does other women, and I think it fits a lot of men, too. And, if you think about it, it's a fine description of a good politician as well. Government itself is inanimate. It's neutral. It's almost sterile, but when human beings carry out the functions of government, it takes on some of the personality of those human beings. You' ll have a mayor with a sense of humor, who' ll smile a lot, and who loves to laugh. She finds great joy in human inter- relationships, and she'll enjoy most of the job, and she won't be afraid to show that. You' ll have a mayor that's move by tragedy and sadness of much of the human scene. You'll probably see her shed a tear now and then, and that when she's deeply moved. It's not that men so not feel the same things. It is simply that often men and women show things differently. The most important thing is that I believe and I hope that you will find this piece of government, this City Council right here in Beaumont, because of the people in it, because of the people that are involved in it, showing and manifesting in every way the finest human characteristics. I 'm not apologetic, I 'm hopeful that here you will -115- find a personality in this Council reflecting warmth, concern, compassion, and caring for those who come under its aegis, for those for whom and in whose name we govern. We're family in this city, each and everyone of us. Men and women are partners in the work to be done and the satisfaction to be derived. Beaumont has a wonderful reputation for being friendly. Sam and I came back here because it's the most friendly place we've ever lived. And, that reputation will continue. It also has a wonderful reputation, as Maury had mentioned, of volunteerism. As we move into the months ahead, many areas where financing is or maybe unavailable can still be addressed as we volunteer with our volunteer efforts. In today's label conscious society, if they want to label us, let them call us the volunteer city. Let this be the volunteer Council. Let this be the volunteer mayor. Let each of us recognize that family, that partnership, that brotherhood and sisterhood that calls for each of us give of our best to the family as a whole. Your ideas, your participation, your personal involvement are actively sought and will be warmly and sincerely welcomed. Together, all of us, working together voluntarily can make Beaumont the humanly beautiful that each of us wants it to be. And! I thank you for allowing me to be a part of that effort. . .We don't often have music in this chamber, but it certainly isn't out of place. . .Fred Simon is now going to sing what I feel is a most appropriate song to close this part of our business, and then we will take our short break and Council return in about twenty minutes. Mr. Simon presented a beautiful acappella rendition of America. Councilman Brian Alter expressed excitement for the opportunity of serving as a Councilmember and thanked his wife, children, other family members, campaign workers, media, and the voters for this support. In the absence of Councilman Brumley, Councilman Alter announced that a reception honoring Mayor Meyers and Councilman Lee for their service on City Council on May 22nd from 4 :00 to 6: 00 p.m. at the Civic Center. Councilman Andrew P. Cokinos said that with all Beaumonters working together the big job ahead will be accomplished. Councilman Cokinos commended and thanked the citizens for voting in this election and for their concern and interest in Beaumont's future. He vowed to exert every effort to live up to the expectations of his supporters and to serve every sector of the city. He said that now is the time for all the people to come back together and move forward to a bright and prosperous future. He also welcomed Mayor Lord and Councilman Alter to the Council. -000- - short break was taken to attend a welcoming reception for the newly elected Councilmembers. -000- -116- May 8, 1990 Resolution No. 90-86 authorizing a $26, 000. 00 allocation from the Street Improvement Fund for construction of sidewalks on Orleans between Blanchette and Franklin and on Franklin west from Orleans for a distance of approximately 150 feet, construction of curbs and gutters on Orleans to Franklin and on Franklin west of Orleans for approximately 150 feet and construction of drainage improvements to encourage redevelopment in the 4700 block of Orleans Street was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 90-87 authorizing a one-year contract with S. Gomez Lawn Service of Port Arthur to maintain non-utilized City-owned property at $0. 0032 per square foot for developed land and $0. 00209 per square foot for undeveloped land for an approximate yearly cost of $42,915. 00 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- After a discussion concerning expansion of service deeper into the community and modification of service coverage by a future amendment, Resolution No.90-88 authorizing a one-year renewal of a contract with Beaumont Products and Services, Inc. , a non-profit agency for handicapped persons, for litter removal at a cost of $11,786.72 per month or $141,440.64 per year was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Alter reiterated that a reception honoring Mayor Meyers and Councilman Lee will be held on May 22, 1990 from 4 : 00 to 6: 00 p.m. at the Civic Center and announced that Concerts in the Park at Rogers Park has been cancelled due to the weather conditions. Councilman Alter expressed his desire that the volunteerism developed by the past Council will prevail through this present Councilman. Councilman Moore extended his congratulations to the newly elected Councilmembers and welcomed them to Council. Councilman Smith also welcomed the new Councilmembers and said that the Concerts in the Park has been rescheduled for May 22 , 1990 at Rogers Park at 7: 00 p.m. Mayor Lord announced that Councilman Brumley sent his regrets for not being in attendance today. -117- May 8, 1990 Ms. Susan Bushman, 285 East Circuit, addressed Council as a representative of the East Texas Nature Club to request the appointment of the East Texas Nature Club as steward of the Cathy and Heathcliff Park on Delaware Street, whereupon they will adopt the park and recruit and act as a clearing house for volunteers interested in assisting the Parks and Recreation Department in maintaining the park. Ms. Jeannie Mitchell, representative of the Mobil Oil Beaumont Refinery, addressed Council to present on behalf of the over 1,700 employees, a check in the amount of $4, 000. 00 for sponsorship of Concerts in the Park for the second year. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall, addressed Council to congratulate Mayor Lord and presented her with a pin. -000- There being no further business, the 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 regular City Council session held May 8, 1990. Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -118- May 8, 1990