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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN OCT 22 1991 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD OCTOBER 22, 1991 - 1:30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 22nd day of October, 1991, with the following present: HONORABLE: Evelyn M. Lord Mayor Lulu L. Smith Mayor Pro Tem Councilman, Ward I Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Brian R. 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 Tyrone Cooper Asst. City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk *Councilman Samuel arrived at 1:40 p.m. during presentation of the second proclamation. -000- The Invocation was given by Councilman Alter. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Assistant City Attorney Cooper. -000- Five Proclamations were issued: "Business Women's Week, " October 20-26, 1991 (Ms. Delores Lawless accepted the proclamation and, on behalf on the Business and Professional Women's Club, recognized Maurine Gray for outstanding civic and community service and presented a check in the amount of $100. 00 to Friends of the Library in Ms. Gray's honor. ) ; "Catholic Daughters of America Week, " October 10-25, 1991; "Red Ribbon Week, " October 19-27, 1991 (A visible and unified preventive drug education program encouraging the use of red ribbons to demonstrate commitment to drug-free life styles sponsored by cities across Southeast Texas, Texan's War on Drugs, Jefferson County Medical Society Auxiliary and the Telephone Pioneers) ; "Southeast Texas Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, " October 26, 1991 (Emphasized effectiveness of the Crime Stoppers program through anonymity in solving crime in the community since its inception in 1981) ; and "United Nations Day, " October 24, 1991. -268- October 22, 1991 Mr. Arden Loughmiller, Gulf States Utilities Company Division Vice- President--Beaumont, representing their Team City Program addressed Council to make a presentation. MR. ARDEN LOUGHMILLER: . .Mayor, City Council, City Manager, appreciate the opportunity to be here. I was struck by the presentation of the Proclamation to the Crime Stoppers, that everywhere you look in Beaumont, there's a team effort of some sort going on, and, so I 'm here as a member of another team today. The Team City Program is designed to promote teamwork among city officials, community leaders and GSU's economic development professionals with the goal of achieving economic development in our community. The program's only as good as the local leaders who give of their time and effort to foster economic development. Beaumont excels there. They must be prepared to put their community's best foot forward on a moment's notice, and Beaumont excels there. And they must be dedicated to bringing new jobs to our area, as well as helping retain existing jobs. Beaumont excels in all of those areas. Team City guidelines require a review of the preparedness of the team effort and updating goals and objectives every two years. This has been done. In Beaumont' s case, all of the ingredients are here as they were two years ago when you were certified as a Team City, and it's with great pleasure that I present you with a designation of continued Team City and have a certificate that I would like to present to you. It reads that, "To Beaumont for its successful completion of the Biennial Goals and Objectives Review and acknowledges that this city has updated it' s designation as an official TEAM CITY. This accomplishment is a testament to this city's extensive and total team effort to develop, attract and retain new businesses and industries, effective October 1, 1991. " MAYOR LORD: Thank you, Arden. And, on behalf of this team, I 'm happy to accept. Thank you very much. MR. LOUGHMILLER: Thank you very much, and I would like to also present you each with a Team City pin. Mr. Loughmiller presented the lapel pins to each Council member, and Council each expressed their appreciation. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Main Agenda items. No one wished to address these subjects. -269- The Following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held October 15, 1991; and Resolution No. 91-268 authorizing Rogers K. Coleman, Ross B. Snyder, Ray A. Riley, Walter Thomas, and Kandy Daniel as signatories for paying employees' health insurance claims for the City of Beaumont on Account No. 05007003908 at Texas Commerce Bank and authorizing Dawn Gaudet, Deborah Johnson, Doris McCauley and Debora Guillory as signatories for the cash bond account for the City of Beaumont on Account No. 0823450 at Texas Commerce Bank. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Goodson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Mayor Lord announced an Executive Session will be conducted following City Council meeting in accordance with Section 2 (e) of the Texas Open Meetings Act to discuss pending or contemplated litigation: Excavators and Constructors vs. The City of Beaumont. -000- Resolution No. 91-269 authorizing execution of a contract with Watkins Construction Company for construction of Phase II of Riverfront Park in the amount of $380,996. 00 (Base Bid--$345, 129; Landscaping--$11, 977; Tower--$23, 340; and Fountain--$550) was considered. Councilman Cokinos questioned the wisdom, purpose, safety and liability of construction of the tower. Planning Director, Kirt Anderson, said the observation tower is one of the key elements in the overall representation of the park because it will serve as a standard or landmark to identify the park, as well as present other esthetic elements. The Assistant City Attorney said liability exists in almost everything, and that adult supervision will play a big part to insure safety, but that some insulation from liability is provided in the Tort Claims Act. Other discussion included better signage for entrance to the park, safety factors regarding the pier, and grant funds. Councilman Cokinos made a motion that action be delayed for construction of the observation tower until the wisdom and safety of the erection of a tower is determined by further study. The motion died for lack of a second. Resolution No. 91-269 was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Smith and seconded by Councilman Alter. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -270- October 22, 1991 Resolution No. 91-270 authorizing a two-year contract with Browning- Ferris, Inc. (BFI) for conducting a curbside recycling program in the amount of $1.335 per household per month for a total cost of $528, 660. 00 per year for an estimated 33, 000 customers with a renewal option for an additional year at $1.41 per household per month was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 91-87 amending Section 26-23 of the Code of ordinances to reduce the speed limit from 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour on Old Voth Road from a point 400 feet north of the centerline of RFD Road to the centerline of Guess Road was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 91-87 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 26, SECTION 26-23 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT TO AMEND A SPEED LIMIT; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL AND PROVIDING A PENALTY. Ordinance No. 91-87 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Councilman Goodson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 91-271 authorizing purchase of five trained German Shepherd dogs and supplies required for training and development of a R-9 Unit for patrol, tracking, and narcotic detection by the Police Department in the amount of $29,829.44 from Sentry Place, Inc. of Granbury, Texas was approved on a motion made by Councilman Samuel and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem. Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 91-272 authorizing purchase of computer hardware and software: one (1) D60 hardware upgrade--$231,595. 00, one (1) D60 system software upgrade--$55,455. 00, and an annual maintenance contract-- $5,961. 00, for City Hall and one (1) D35 hardware upgrade--$71,205. 00, one (1) D35 system software upgrade--$2, 146. 00, and an annual maintenance contract--$2, 796. 00, for the Police Department from IBM Corporation for a total expenditure for both system upgrades and maintenance contracts in the amount of $369, 158. 00 was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem. Smith and seconded by Councilman Goodson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -271- October 22, 1991 Ordinance No. 91-88 amending Section 13-16 of the Code of Ordinances to increase fees charged by the Health Department for certified copies of birth and death certificates from $8.00 to $9. 00 per copy and increase the charge for additional copies of death certificates after the first from $2. 00 to $3 . 00 each was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 91-88 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 13, SECTION 13-16 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT TO ESTABLISH HEALTH FEES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL; AND PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY. Ordinance No. 91-88 was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Smith and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Goodson acknowledged that today is Delia Harrington's birthday and conveyed congratulations to her. Mayor Pro Tem Smith said that earlier she may have appeared to not be concerned enough about the liability of the proposed tower at Riverfront Park, Phase II, but that when one researches the background materials and plans provided in the Council packet, the information there indicates that protection is around the observation tower platform and would be difficult for a child to fall, emphasised that all are very concerned about liability, and commented that parents need to show responsibility for their children. Councilman Cokinos responded he does not want Council to be haunted in the future with the fact that a child has been injured. Councilman Moore reported that another very informative community meeting was held at the Roberts Avenue Methodist Church last week and that he looks forward to continued support of Council and more participation from the community. He said citizens asked him to express their thanks to Council. Mayor Lord expressed a desire that in the future consideration be given to camera installation to aid with the incredible problem of motorists running traffic lights. -000- Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall Street, addressed Council to express -272- October 22, 1991 appreciation for the proclamations issued and for purchase of the German Shepherd dogs for use by the Police Department in a K-9 Unit. -000- There being no other business, the Regular Session of City Council was adjourned to conduct an 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 October 22, 1991. Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -273- October 22, 1991