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Home My WebLink AboutMIN AUG 20 1991 BEGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD AUGUST 20, 1991 -- 1:30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 20th day of August, 1991, with the following present: HONORABLE: Evelyn M. Lord Mayor Lulu L. Smith Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman, Ward I Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman-At-Large Brian Alter Councilman-At-Large Guy N. Goodson 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 *Arrived immediately after roll call. -000- The Invocation was given by Councilman David Moore. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mrs. Delia Harrington, 815 Willow Street. -000- No citizens wished to address City Council on items included in the Consent Agenda and Main Agenda items 1 through 4. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held August 13, 1991; Resolution No. 91-194 authorizing Texas Commerce Bank to pledge $3,710, 122 .50 in securities as collateral for city deposits; -194- August 20, 1991 Resolution No. 91-195 appointing Joseph D. Deshotel to the Historical Landmark Commission for a term ending October 31, 1991, and Judge J. Michael Bradford to the Convention and Tourism Advisory Committee for a term ending September 30, 1993 ; and Resolution No. 91-196 authorizing the purchase of an electronic retrieval filing system for the Employee Relations Department from NB Business Systems of Houston at an amount of $16, 572 . 16. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Alter. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 91-197 scheduling a public hearing for seven o'clock p.m. on September 3 , 1991, to consider whether ad valorem property taxes should be increased above the $0.53995 per one hundred dollar valuation level by five cents ($0. 05) per one hundred dollar valuation was approved on a motion made by Councilman Goodson and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 91-198 authorizing acquisition of a "Green Belt" easement located on the east bank of the Neches River in Orange County across from Riverfront Park with the approximate dimensions of 500 feet by 1600 feet from the property owners, Beaumont L. P. , c/o W. Martin, was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 91-199 authorizing the award of a one-year contract with APAC-Texas, Inc. for furnishing hot mix-cold laid asphaltic concrete for $23 .50 a ton at the vendor's plant and $26.00 a ton delivered to job sites (Zones 1 through 4) was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -195- August 20, 1991 Resolution No. 91-200 authorizing execution of a cost-sharing agreement between the City and United Texas Transmission Company for pipeline adjustments crossing Major in the Dishman Road vicinity necessary for the widening and improvement of a section of Major Drive (FM 364) from White Road to just north of Dishman Road (estimated total cost at $83,500; City's 54.75 percent portion $45,716.25) was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Alter. Question: Ayes: Mayor Lord Nayes: None Mayor Pro Tem Smith Councilman Cokinos Councilman Alter Councilman Samuel Councilman Moore Abstained: Councilman Goodson -000- - public hearing was called to consider citizen comments on the proposed 1991 Final Statement of Objectives and Projected Use of Funds in the amount of $2, 305, 000 ($1, 250, 000 for Housing, $667, 000 for neighborhood improvements, $87,500 for public services and $300, 000 for program administration) for the Community Development Block Grant Program. No one wished to address City Council. The hearing was closed. Resolution No. 91-201 authorizing the City Manager to submit the statement to the Department of Housing and Urban Development and accept the 1991 grant entitlement was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None After a brief discussion concerning Council 's consideration of CDBG reprogrammable funds, it was decided that the item would be rescheduled for the meeting of September 10, 1991. -000- Mayor Pro Tem. Smith spoke in appreciation of the Art Museum of Southeast Texas and encouraged all to visit it often. Councilman Goodson complimented the new exhibit for the Fire Museum and thanked the partners of the new HEB Pantry Foods for the lunch today for their grand opening. Councilman Samuel asked the City Manager to explain to City employees the proposed changes in Personal Leave that have been reported in news articles, saying that it would alleviate some of the confusion he is hearing. City Manager Riley said that he would like to review this item with Council one more time and then properly inform employees. -196- August 20, 1991 Councilman Moore reminded all that extra care was needed for the safety of children with school starting again tomorrow. Councilman Cokinos expressed his concern that the district office of the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation located in Beaumont was being considered for relocation to Lufkin at the retirement of the long-time District Engineer, Franklin Young. He requested that Congressman Jack Brooks and State Senator Carl Parker and Representative Mark Stiles and Jefferson County Commissioners be contacted in an effort to seek their support in the district office remaining in Beaumont and that a resolution be passed by City Council in opposition to the relocation. Mayor Lord told those present of the free Women's Awareness Workshop to be held at the Beaumont Civic Center Saturday, August 24, 1991, from 9: 00 a.m. to 3 :30 p.m. and urged interested women to make reservations for the workshops and the child-care nursery that is being provided. In addition, Mayor Lord related several recent experiences when drivers ignored red signal lights and drove on through. She told of traffic control devices used in countries such as Switzerland which consist of boxes containing cameras that take pictures of license plates of vehicles running red lights; citations are then issued to the homes of the registered vehicles. Mayor Lord asked that the City Manager investigate the feasibility and cost of installation of such a system and report to Council on his findings. -000- Mayor Lord called an Executive Session, pursuant to Section 2 (e) of the Texas Open Meetings Act, to discuss contemplated or pending litigation, specifically "Excavators and Constructors vs. City of Beaumont. " -000- Mrs. Delia Harrington, 815 Willow Street, addressed Council to express her opposition to installing central air conditioning and heating systems in low rent housing units of the City's program as recently reported in an article in the Beaumont Enterprise. Mr. Carl Birdsong, 845 Wisteria, addressed Council to express his concern for vulnerability to crime of employees of gasoline stations and convenience stores maintaining late hours, siting a recent shooting of an attendant of a gas station and several other murders, assaults, and kidnappings involving robberies of these establishments and requested City Council 's assistance in finding solutions to reduce the risk to these employees. One suggestion Mr. Birdsong made was to shorten the hours of operation of the business. -197- August 20, 1991 Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall, addressed Council to express his concern for the safety of people who are out shopping or whatever late at night. Mr. Cleveland Nisby, 4520 Corley, representing the congregation of Starlight Baptist Church, 1090 Buford, addressed Council to express their opposition to a possible historical designation for a structure located at 1580 Port Street, saying that the church is interested in the property for its future expansion which could not take place if the designation is granted for the structure. He suggested a possible solution would be that the structure be relocated for the designation. -000- There being no further business, the meeting was recessed before continuing with the City Council Workshop 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 August 20, 1991. Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -198- August 20, 1991