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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN FEB 15 1994 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD FEBRUARY 15, 1994 - 1:30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 15th day of February, 1994, with the following present: HONORABLE: Evelyn M. Lord Mayor Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Brian R. Alter Councilman At Large John K. Davis Councilman, Ward III David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Absent: Guy N. Goodson Mayor Pro Tem Councilman, Ward II Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Ray A. Riley City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by Dr. James Fuller, Calder Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by City Manager Ray A. Riley. -000- Dolly Johnson Gulf States Division Manager of Entergy/GSU Corporation addressed City Council to make a presentation. Ms. Johnson Good Afternoon, Mayor and Councilmembers. We do have a group to make a presentation. The purpose of this presentation is to recertify the City of Beaumont as a Team City. The Team City Program is Gulf States' way of forming a partnership between cities, Chambers of Commerce, the different groups throughout each community that work to improve business, economic development and quality of life throughout our communities. Each community, however, takes a different tenor to what it's going to do. To what—the project that it will concentrate on in partnership with Gulf States. In the City of Beaumont, the project that the Team City group has focused on has been Main Street. I 'm certain that I don't need to tell you, members of the Council and Mayor, why Main Street and Downtown revitalization is so important. Gulf State is behind your efforts one-hundred percent, whether it's in trying to get the post office located here or in any of the other many projects that Main Street is doing. We have a couple of plaques, but before we -39- February 15, 1994 present those, I 'd like Carolyn Howard to come up and talk for just a couple of minutes about what Main Street is doing now. Carolyn Howard Mayor and Council, thank you for your time. The Team Cities Program has been quite beneficial to the Main Street effort during our first two years of development. And, I really mean development in the purest sense of the word, because we started from a nominal base. For one thing, the leadership of John Bordelon, under our Business Retention and Recruitment Committee has grown to twenty-three (23) active committee members. But, we are now a mature enough program to be able to have a business recruitment team, in 1994 a marketing team and such things as our block captain group, which communicate the Main Street message personally to property and business owners in our very large Central Business District. This group also maintains private reinvestment figures. Since January of 1992--so now we've hit that two-year mark-- our private investment figures in the Main Street downtown target area equal $2, 183,000. 00 This includes the acquisition and rehabilitation of eighteen (18) structures with a net gain of ten (10) businesses. It is a large downtown area, and it is sometimes quite difficult to see these numbers at work, but I suppose the best way to look at the numbers is through a small ratio. For every dollar the City of Beaumont has put into the program, over $20.00 has been generated in private investment, and we hope to continue that. But, without the organizational value of the United States Main Street Program, nothing would be happening. We consider because we are a grass root effort, that is what Main Street is successful, and why it is successful. Every month we deal with over a hundred volunteers who are improving the quality of life in Downtown Beaumont. It is those volunteers that will maintain and keep the program going for many, many years. Downtown revitalization is not something that simply stops--just like mall management would not stop tomorrow. The best example of this grass root efforts can be found this week during "We Love Week, " and as you know, today is "We Love Historic Places. " And, I can honestly say this is (displayed brochure) what you all got in the mail, our tours are completely booked, (tours of various historic buildings in Downtown Beaumont) and I've spent all morning telling people, "I 'm sorry, we're completely booked for the tours. but we'll be glad to do it next Spring. " Another very essential product of this is partnerships, because we are not an island unto ourself, and there are a lot of groups and activities already doing wonderful things, and we don't need to do something else. We need to help them, and a perfect example of that is tomorrow--three hundred (300) senior citizens are being entertained by the Junior Forum in their presentation of the Follies tomorrow. We seek to do the difficult today, and tomorrow we seek to do the impossible. It will just take us a little longer. I appreciate your support and your patience and your visions for the heart of our community. Thank you. Ms. Dolly Johnson presented a plaque recertifying the City of Beaumont -40- February 15, 1994 as a Team City participant and framed certificates to Mr. Jim Stokes, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Ms. Carolyn Howard, Manager of the Beaumont Main Street program for their role in the program. She said the Chamber of Commerce and Beaumont Main Street are critical to this project and that GSU/Entergy Corporation will continue with their strong support to the City of Beaumont. -000- Two Proclamations were issued: "PTA Founderls Day, " February 17, 1994; and "Energy Education Day, " February 23 , 1994. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Main Agendas. 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 February 8, 1994; Resolution No. 94-33 authorizing Texas Commerce Bank-Beaumont to release $2 ,928,455.00 in securities held at Bank-One, effective February 15, 1994 ; Resolution No. 94-34 appointing Charlene Riker to the Library Commission for a two-year term; Bruce Bradford as Chairman and Dolly Johnson as Vice-Chairman of the Reinvestment Zone No. 1 Board of Directors for one- year terms; Clayton Weeks as Chairman and Sally Stokes as Vice-Chairman of the Senior Citizens Advisory Board for one-year terms. Resolution No. 94-35 authorizing sale and execution of a deed to Beaumont Motor Company (requested by Kenneth Ruddy) for a 0.356 acre tract of land out of Block 23, J. B. Langham, Sr. Homestead Tract, (City's excess right-of-way adjacent to Beaumont Motor Company's property fronting IH-10 access road between Doctor's Drive and Louisiana Street) for the appraised value of $9, 100. 00; and Resolution No. 94-36 authorizing acceptance of Street and Storm Sewer Improvements: Roberts Avenue from Twenty-third Street approximately 675 feet west to and including the cul-de-sac and Water and Sanitary Sewer Improvements; Lots 1-18, Block 9, in Washington Manor, Unit 4, contingent upon filing of the final plat complete with proper filings of dedication of all rights-of-way and easements required on preliminary and final plats and installation of streetlights. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos -41- February 15, 1994 and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 94-8 abandoning a 60 ' x 509.78 ' dedicated and unimproved street right-of-way situated between Bayou Bend and Oak Trace Additions, south of Delaware Street, subject to retention of the entire right-of- way as a general utility easement was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 94-8 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE ABANDONING A 60 FOOT WIDE DEDICATED STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY LYING AT THE WEST END OF THE BAYOU BEND ADDITION AND THE EAST END OF OAK TRACE ADDITION BEING LOCATED SOUTH OF DELAWARE STREET, BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS; AND RETAINING A GENERAL UTILITY EASEMENT. Ordinance No. 94-8 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Alter. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 94-37 authorizing Change Order No. 3 to the contract for the 1992 Street Rehabilitation Program, decreasing the amount by $43, 083 .91 to reflect actual quantities used, for a total contract cost of $1,548,310.59 and authorizing final payment in the amount of $97,562 .90 to Bo-Mac Contractors, Inc. was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Councilman Davis. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 94-38 authorizing a contract with Bo-Mac Contractors, Inc. for resurfacing nine (9) streets, approximately 3 .58 miles, (Calder from Fourth to Eleventh Street; Central Caldwood from South Caldwood to North Caldwood; West Caldwood from South Caldwood to North Caldwood; South Caldwood from East Caldwood to West Caldwood; Cross from East Caldwood to West Caldwood; Nineteenth from Calder to Harrison; Twentieth from Calder to Harrison; Twenty-First from Calder to Harrison; and Twenty-Second from Calder to Harrison) for the 1994 Street Rehabilitation Project (Recycling) in the amount of $282,961.46 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -42- February 15, 1994 Councilman Moore said he attended a most wonderful service Sunday evening at First Baptist Church to present a letter on behalf of Mayor Lord and to hear the Youth Young Adult Fellowship Alliance choir from Silsbee, said it was wonderful to witness the fantastic sharing of these two groups (The YYAFA, directed by the Reverend David Stokes, seeks to end drug abuse, suicide, pregnancy, etc. and reach out to the youth of America according to a report in the February 12, 1994, issue of the Beaumont Enterprise) . Mayor Lord called attention to the new display at the Fire Museum, recounted the honor given Sister Fatima and Saint Elizabeth Hospital last week by the Sales and Marketing Executive Club, said she had a chance to welcome over 1, 000 people, along with their Bishop, Friday morning at the African Methodist Episcopal Convention held in Beaumont, announced the "Kiss A Pig" contest kicked off on Valentine's Day for the Diabetes Foundation and explained it was very appropriate to begin the drive on Valentine's Day because of their love affair with the pig for supplying insulin through its pancreas for diabetics before synthetic development. -000- Mr. Henry Rowe, 5825 Garner Road, addressed Council to complain about crime in the Northend of Beaumont and his inability to keep rental property occupied. Mr. Evan Bowers, 2210 Ives, addressed Council to complain about holes remaining in front of his home after digging of the ditch and a manhole cover being so high above the street, it could possibly cause vehicle damage. Councilman Davis volunteered to speak with Mr. Bowers after the Council meeting, and it was suggested Mr. Bowers direct his calls to the office of the Public Works Director or speak with him after the meeting. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 2880 Grand, addressed Council to add compliments about the service at First Baptist Church last Sunday and to announce the Passion Play will again be presented at the Julie Rogers Theatre this year by First Baptist Church. -000- There being no further business, the Regular Session of City Council 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 February 15, 1994 . Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -43- February 15, 1994