Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN MAR 01 1994 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD MARCH 11 1994 - 1:30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in Regular Session this the 1st day of March, 1994, with the following present: HONORABLE: Evelyn M. Lord Mayor Guy N. Goodson Mayor Pro Tem Councilman, Ward II Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Brian R. Alter Councilman At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I John R. Davis Councilman, Ward III David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Ray A. Riley City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend Ralph Martin, Woodland Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by City Attorney Lane Nichols. -000- Two Proclamations were issued: "Ms. Senior Texas Week, " March 3-6, 1994 ; and "Youth Disability Awareness Week, " March 2-6, 1994. -000- Mr. Steven Mayfield approached Council to make a presentation. Steven Mayfield My name is Steven Mayfield. I reside at 565 Zavalla Drive here in the City of Beaumont. First, I like to say, Good Afternoon to the City Council and to all of you who are here today. I 'm here for one particular reason today, and that is because back in the summer of 193, Mayor Lord issued a challenge to the Mayor of Port Arthur and the Mayor of Orange and their City Councilmembers to come to the Art Museum of Southeast Texas to help raise memberships and funds for the museum for its ongoing operational cost, and the trick to that was that two City Council teams who would, let's say, come up short, would have to write a proclamation to the winning City Council. And, at this time I 'd like to -50- March 1, 1994 give you the final scores on that particular fundraiser. Orange City Council and Mayor had seven pledges, Port Arthur's Mayor and Council had seventeen, and the Beaumont City Council and it's Councilmembers had sixty-three. So, we're here today to fulfill the challenge. So, at this time I would like to introduce to some, and present to others, the Mayor of Port Arthur, the Honorable Mary Ellen Summerlin and, also, the Mayor of Orange, the Honorable Dan Cochran. And, while they are coming, just before they get to say something, I want to thank the City Council for coming out and doing this, and, as a token of our appreciation Ms. Stewart, who is the Executive Director of the Art Museum has a nice little gift for the City Councilmembers, and I would like for her to give them to you at this time. It is the catalogue to the newest exhibit that we have at the Art Museum, Back in Style, by the McFaddin Ward House. And, if you haven't had an opportunity to come out, I urge you to come and see this wonderful exhibit. Mayor Summerlin. Mayor Summerlin read a Proclamation that said: Whereas, Port Arthur shares the whole region's pride in the Art Museum of Southeast Texas; and Whereas, the Port Arthur City Council accepted the challenge to compete in a telephone membership campaign with the Beaumont and Orange City Councils; and Whereas, since Herself set this up and then flew away on international travels and it looked at first like I was going to have to be the hard worker of the group (as women so often are) ; but, when I was 13 pledges ahead, Cokinos, Goodson, and Moore finally quit joking and eating and "got with it" and insured a big victory for the Beaumont Council team; Now, therefore, I, Mary Ellen Summerlin, Mayor of Port Arthur, have come to declare Beaumont the winner, as agreed, with the proviso that we will soon have the Museum of the Gulf Coast open and may very well adopt this great membership drive idea and call on the winning Council to come to Port Arthur and return the favor, and the best wishes of all the Port Arthur Council for the growth of this and all our region's fine museums; In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Port Arthur to be affixed this 1st day of March in the Year of our Lord, 1994 . /s/Mary Ellen Summerlin, Mayor City of Port Arthur Mayor Summerlin presented the Proclamation to Mayor Lord and Council. Mayor Dan Cochran read a Proclamation that said: Whereas, the Orange City Council accepted the challenge of the Beaumont City Council and Port Arthur City Council to seek memberships for the Art Museum of Southeast Texas; and Whereas, the Losers are to read proclamations to and before the -51- March 1, 1994 winning Council; Now therefore, I, Dan Cochran, Mayor of the City of Orange, Texas, do hereby meet my obligation by reading this Proclamation into the Record of the Beaumont City Council Minutes, but, Whereas, certain facts need to be brought before this esteemed gathering: 1) Had Councilman David Moore known before the competition began that the prize for selling the most memberships was a "Step Exerciser, " I feel sure that his production would have been cut in half; and 2) As to Councilman Andrew Cokinos, we express our heartfelt appreciation to him for leaving as soon as the pictures had been taken, and therefore making the odds better for us to win; Now therefore, I, Dan Cochran, Mayor of the City of Orange, do hereby proclaim TO THE VICTOR GOES THE SPOILS, BUT WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR! In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and have caused the seal of the City of Orange, Texas to be hereto affixed this the 1st day of March, 1994. /s/Dan Cochran, Mayor City of Orange, Texas Mayor Cochran presented his Proclamation to Mayor Lord and Council. In addition to presentation of the Proclamations, Mr. Steven Mayfield, Membership Coordinator for the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, presented Council with a "Spirit Stick, " approximately four feet long. The decorated "Spirit Stick" was designed by local artist Herman Davis and was inscribed on one side with "Catch the Spirit" and the names "Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange" on the other. Mayor Lord thanked Mr. Mayfield and accepted the Spirit Stick and said, "I must say all of us in the Golden Triangle have it, and that includes my friends in the back row. " Mayor Lord also expressed appreciation to Mr. Davis for his creation of the Spirit Stick. In return, Mayor Lord presented Keys to the City of Beaumont to Mayor Mary Ellen Summerlin and Mayor Dan Cochran and thanked them for joining the Beaumont City Council in soliciting membership to the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent Agenda and Items 3 and 4 of the Regular Agenda. No one wished to discuss these items. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: -52- March 1, 1994 Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held February 22, 1994; Resolution No. 94-46 appointing Glenda McCray, Chairman, and Franklin Young, Vice-Chairman, of the Martin Luther Ring Parkway Commission for one-year terms; Beverly Hatcher to the Martin Luther Ring Parkway Commission for a term expiring January 4, 1995; and Charles Denson to the Community Development Advisory Committee for a term expiring October 5, 1994 ; Resolution No. 94-47 accepting Street and Storm Sewer Improvements: Shinnecock Hills Circle from the existing pavement on Willowbend Drive approximately 906 feet west to and including the cul-de-sac and Water and Sanitary Improvements: Lots 1-13, Block 1, in Willow Creek Country Club Estates, Phase I, Section V, contingent upon filing of the final plat, complete with filings of dedication of all rights-of-way and easements required on the preliminary and final plats and installation of streetlights; Resolution No. 94-48 authorizing the City Manager to apply for and accept a grant from the Small Business Administration in the amount of $12, 000. 00 for the Parks and Recreation Department to plant trees in Collier' s Ferry Park that have been lost or damaged by the environment and the incursions of humans; and Resolution No. 94-49 authorizing the City Manager to apply for and accept a grant from the Small Business Administration in the amount of $3,500. 00 to plant oak trees on the median on Dowlen Road. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Davis. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 94-10 granting a Specific Use Permit to allow Analytic Stress Relieving, Inc. to open a sales and operational office at 4960-70 Fannett Road, (Tracts 18 and 19, Tax Roll Plat B-19, S. Stivers Survey, Abstract 51) in an area zoned LI (Light Industrial) was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 94-10 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR A SALES AND OPERATIONAL OFFICE ON LAND ZONE LI (LIGHT INDUSTRIAL) FOR PROPERTY BEING LOCATED AT 4960-4970 FANNETT ROAD. Ordinance No. 94-10 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -53- March 1, 1994 Ordinance No. 94-11 granting a Specific Use Permit to allow Mr. and Mrs. Allen Williams, owners of Bethany Counseling Center, to offer out- patient individual and family counseling services at 2431 Liberty Avenue, (west 37.5 ' of Lot 5 and the east 27. 5' of Lot 6, Block 25, Averill Addition, 0. 184 acres of land) in an area zoned RCR (Residential Conservation and Revitalization District) was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 94-11 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING SERVICES ON LAND ZONED RCR ( RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION AND REVITALIZATION DISTRICT) FOR PROPERTY BEING LOCATED AT 2431 LIBERTY AVENUE. Ordinance No. 94-11 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 94-12 amending Section 26-23 of the Code of Ordinances to establish a 30 mile speed zone for Broussard Road between Tram Road and the City limits was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 94-12 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 26, SECTION 26-23 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT TO ESTABLISH MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM SPEEDS IN CERTAIN ZONES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL AND PROVIDING A PENALTY. Ordinance No. 94-12 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 94-50 authorizing an annual contract for office supplies with Lamb's Office Products at $14,915.05 for high volume supplies, based on estimated annual quantity usage, and a discount of 37% on catalogued items, for an estimated annual expenditure of $70, 000. 00 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Alter. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -54- March 1, 1994 Mayor Lord announced that an Executive session will be held following the regular City Council meeting in accordance with Section 551. 074 of the Government Code to discuss appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee: 1) Chief Magistrate, 2) City Attorney, 3) City Manager and reported to Council that the contemplated or pending litigation: Kevin R. White vs. City of Beaumont will not be discussed as previously posted. -000- Councilman Davis asked the City Manager to direct the Street and Drainage Division to investigate a complaint by Mrs. Wilson at 2690 Landis about flooding following heavy rains. Councilman Alter extended congratulations to: Magnolia Gardens for their presentation in honor of Black History Month that he and Councilmembers Davis and Moore attended; Councilman Davis' fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, for their banquet with Mrs. Thelma Jeter--a delightful 90-year-old lady--as guest speaker, who said "she strayed from the path of what she was going to speak about and didn't know if she knew the way back;" and to all the citizens of Beaumont for the reception held last night by the Convention and Visitors in honor of 119 citizens who were instrumental in bringing conventions, meetings and events to Beaumont in 1993, resulting in almost $12 million in economic impact, and wished everyone Happy Texas Independence Day tomorrow. Mayor Pro Tem Goodson congratulated Public Works Director Tom Warner for being selected as "Engineer of the Year" by the Sabine Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. Councilman Smith echoed the comments of Councilman Alter about the Convention and Visitors Bureau and added that Jef Russell and his staff are to be congratulated for the wonderful job they perform in this area and congratulated Tom Warner for his recent recognition and expressed appreciation for his expertise and contribution to the City of Beaumont. Mayor Lord thanked Councilmembers for attending the program at Magnolia Gardens while she attended a Boy Scout meeting and said that she and Councilman Davis attended a very impressive Black History performance at Ogden School that exhibited a lot of talent. Councilman Moore said he had opportunity to participate in a really good Black History Program at South Park where students performed acts showing diversity; said he also attended the Kappa Alpha Psi achievement awards ceremony and agreed that the program at Magnolia Gardens was good; commented that while the Dallas Cowboys, the 1993 NFL champions, are being honored at the White House today, we have in our Council meeting a young man who grew up in Beaumont, Mr. Mickey Washington, "one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL playing for the Buffalo Bills. " -55- March 1, 1994 Mr. Jack Baxter, 5865 Longwood, owner of Jack's Tire Co. on College Avenue, addressed Council to complain about the Homeless Shelter clientele approaching customers for money, abusing business and public property, stealing, littering caused by broken whiskey, beer and wine bottles and alleged that dope traffic is created by individuals driving into the area in a yellow Firebird, a BMW and a blue Chevrolet pickup and asked for Council help. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 2880 Grand, addressed Council to present brochures advertising the Passion Play which will be present by First Baptist Church at the Julie Rogers Theatre March 25-28, 1994. -000- There being no further business, the regular session of City Council was recessed 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 March 1, 1994 . Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -56- March 1, 1994