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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN APR 05 1994 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD APRIL 5, 1994 - 1:30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 5th day of April, 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 K. Davis Councilman, Ward III David W. Moore* Councilman, Ward IV Ray A. Riley City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk * (Councilman Moore arrived at 1:57 p.m. immediately before citizen comments on the Consent and Main Agendas. ) -000- The Invocation was given by the Councilman Alter. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Davis. -000- Mayor Lord announced that an Executive Session will be held 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: Magistrates of the Municipal Court, and in accordance with Section 551.071 of the Government Code to discuss contemplated or pending litigation: Iris Thompson vs. City of Beaumont. following the regular session of City Council. -000- Four Proclamations were issued: "Shots Across Texas Immunization Month, " April, 1994; "WalkAmerica Day, " April 9, 1994; "Imagination Station Workday, " April 9, 1994; and "Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust, " April 3 - 10, 1994 . (Councilman Moore arrived. ) -77- April 5, 1994 Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Main Agendas. Mrs. Delia Harrington, 815 Willow Street, and Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 2880 Grand, addressed Council in support of Agenda Item No. 1 endorsing the Beaumont Independent School District's bond proposition. Mr. Jesse J. Baker, 2950 West Lucas, addressed Council in opposition to endorsing BISD's bond proposition, said the City should remain neutral and not set a precedent that would open opportunity for other entities to solicit the City's endorsement for future bond issues. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held March 29, 1994; Resolution No. 94-79 appointing Carol Cottle to the Convention and Tourism Advisory Committee to fill the unexpired term of Frank Almeida ending October 25, 1995; Resolution No. 94-80 accepting a 26.359 acre easement out of the Pelham Humphries Survey, Abstract 32 tendered by the Texas Board of Criminal Justice for construction and maintenance of a sewage treatment plant; and Resolution No. 94-81 authorizing an annual contract for pest control services with Bill Barnes Pest Control in the amount of $1,565. 00 per month and flea treatment, as needed, in the amount of $40. 00 per hour at various City facilities (all Fire Stations, Park Community Centers, City Hall, Libraries, Police Station, Civic Center, Julie Rogers and Jefferson Theaters, warehouse and maintenance building and the Health Department Complex) . The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 94-82 endorsing the Beaumont Independent School District's bond proposition on the May 7, 1994, Joint Election was introduced by the City Manager. Before reading the resolution, Mayor Lord said she would like to preface the reading with a comment that "the gentleman that spoke to us last was quite correct. We have never done this before. This is precedent making. I think if you added up our years of service up here on City Council, you'd end up with 60, maybe 70 years of service that we've all -78- April 5, 1994 put in here, and it's never been done in any of our recollections. However, when we say that we are separate entities, and we have taken that stance for many, many years and through many, many storms, this is the first time that we're going that way, largely, because we have realized this has become our business because part of our job, for instance, has been to wrestle with the economic development of our city. And, so many times, we have had the response from a business that we don't care to come from your city, or we're thinking twice about coming to your city because of the problems with your school district. And, we really feel that we could not function properly or continue in the vein in which we wish to continue with the economic development of our city as long as our schools were facing the dilemma that they were facing. So, we have decided to break with precedent, and I guess as future things come down the pike, we'll have to face them, and it will be more difficult because we have broken this line. However, I have every confidence in the strength of the Council and the Councils in the future that they will be able to do so, if proper. I would also add that the City does realize what it's doing here by doing this. And, in a nutshell, and please correct me, if I 'm wrong, but because of the extra taxes, this will mean the City is very cognizant, we are as members of Council very cognizant, that we cannot look forward, after we have met our obligations with the Street and Drainage Bonds, of having more infrastructure that will go up to tax this community. This is a sacrifice that we, as a City, must make, bearing full well in mind the capacity that the tax-paying citizen can bear. So, it will be a sacrifice. I do repeat, after we have met the obligations that we already have with our drainage and street program. So, I will read the resolution: (RESOLUTION NO. 94-82) WHEREAS, after an extensive community planning process, the Beaumont Independent School District has voted to place a major bond proposition on the May 7, 1994 election ballot; and WHEREAS, members of the Beaumont City Council are elected to represent the interests of the entire community and to work for the betterment of the community; and WHEREAS, the City Council believes that Beaumont's young people deserve to have the best educational system and school facilities the community can provide; and WHEREAS, our youngest students will be well served and increasingly motivated to excel in their educational pursuits if they are able to attend attractive new schools closer to their homes; and WHEREAS, adoption of that bond proposition by the voters would authorize the school district to proceed with the building of essential new schools and implement an amended student assignment plan; and WHEREAS, the Beaumont community will benefit from economic development and job growth as a result of the planned improvements to our local school system; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT -79- April 5, 1994 THAT the Beaumont City Council wholeheartedly endorses and supports the Beaumont Independent School District bond proposition; and the City Council urges all members of the community to actively go to the polls and vote in favor of the proposition on May 7, 1994. Mayor Lord said "if approved now, would be passed by the City Council of the City of Beaumont on the 5th day of April, 1994, " and asked Councilmembers for any questions or discussion on the resolution. councilman Davis Because of the importance of the bond issue and what we, as a city, have gone through for many years, I am going to support the bond issue. But, there are some things that I want, I definitely want to make aware to my Councilmember, City Councilmembers. Representing Ward III provides a, a unique opportunity to really learn a lot about different people. I am very concerned about whatever happens to young people in this city, simply because from the Ward I represent, we are challenged with a lot of the negative problems that are confronting a lot of American cities today. But, this particular bond issue has an opportunity to move us forward. I am, and I 've read this, the information presented by Dr. Mallet last week. I 've read it four times, simply to try to find out if this is the best direction that we should go. I think there are some things that may of should of been done, but I wasn't involved in that process, and I definitely respect Mr. Mallett and the members of Beaumont Independent School District and the members of the committee. And, I think they were diligent in trying to address the concerns, but I wanted to make sure that I was on the record as stating that whenever there's an opportunity, Dr. Mallett, do some positive good for young people, and especially from, people who live within my district, a good number of them are poor people. The only way for them to succeed in America, for them to have a good education, and it really shouldn't matter where they go to school. The only thing that should matter is that they are given the same opportunity to have a good education. That is very, very important, and I commend you and the (School) Board and the members of the Committee, and I hope that with all that you said and all that Reverend Walker and the other gentlemen said, you intend to be true to the cause. This a very, very delicate subject in the community in which I represent, but I have the utmost confidence in what you said to us Tuesday, and am going to support you because of what you said and really hope and feel that you and the Board understand that if the City passes this bond issue, it will say a lot for the community and would do a lot for the community, but if what is written isn't carried out, I think that's going to serve us absolutely no good. And, to that end, Sir, I wish you the very best of luck, and in any capacity, I wish to be able to help you, especially as it pertains to talking about this issue in Ward III. It is very important that the Board understand that this Councilman wants everything to be, that was said in that information that you provided, to be done. I wish it was possible that we could add four more million dollars to the Bowie Middle School area because some -80- April 5, 1994 of the things in which, which you're trying to do with that amount of money, I don't know if it's possible, but you guys have a lot more experience than I do, and to that I wanted to say that and definitely be on record of saying it, Sir. Mayor Pro Tem Goodson I 'll just be brief. I appreciate both what Mr. Baker and the other commenter said. . .and I, too, have been consulted at length, John, about this matter because many times, just as you and I have discussed, many people have perceived previous bond issues as just benefiting just maybe the north or northeast side of town or the southside of town at the expense of what my constituents feel was the tax burden brought upon them on the westside of town, and I truly believe that the work that Dr. Mallett and his committee have done should convince people that we can no longer view anything that happens to the BISD as divisive. We have got to work cooperatively for this whole community. I want to see the economic development that the Mayor encouraged, but I would also like to see more people working at jobs and less people incarcerated in our Criminal Justice facilities, and the only way we can do that is start with people when they are young. We can no longer cure the problems out there on that highway. We've got to cure it in our schools and in the homes, and unless we're willing to make that sacrifice at this point and put the money into the schools and be willing to make some sacrifices in the future, as the Mayor says, here within the city, then we are looking down a dark path. And, I hope that others will see that this is not one end of town's advantage over the other, but this is truly something that is for the entire city. Councilman Smith I think I agree with all that my fellow Councilmembers have said, but I think the one thing that makes this unique, from my perspective, this is the first time that I have seen leadership in every aspect of our community come together, to be willing to compromise and move forward on something that they can all, we can all live with. And, I don't apologize for supporting this as a private citizen or as a member of this Council. I think education is the most important thing in our Country today. We cannot move forward in Ward III or anywhere else in our City or State or our Nation, if we don't solve this problem. So, I think we must all give this our very best shot, and I think with the groundwork that's been done, the consensus that's out there, I really think that we're going to do it this time, and I 'm very excited about it. Councilman Moore Jerry, and those of you who have worked on this issue, I think a lot has been stated in regards to leadership coming together for the benefit of the community. We've all heard the adage, pay now or pay later. Well, we've been doing a lot of paying later, and it's a great deal more than -81- April 5, 1994 what we could have done, say we took this position ten years ago. They tell you, you should be a good steward of the gifts that you're given, and this is not exactly a gift 'cause it has to go for the approval of the citizens, and, hopefully, they will approve it. But, I will say this, and I think this needs to be stated not only by us, but by you and citizens all over this community, new buildings, new concepts and new programs are good, and I think are needed and are essential, but all of those tools will be absolutely no good, if the adults of this community and the parents of this community don't understand they also have to put some participation and some time into this. That is extremely important. Just putting dollars out there will not fix our problems, but it's a great start in terms of getting attitudes corrected, mended and healed. So, all I'm saying is I hope that as we pursue this concern about the bond issue, we also talk to parental involvement and citizen participation, even if you don't have children in our school systems, because this is only a part, and with that, Mayor, I ' ll give it back to you. Councilman Alter May I add one thing to what everybody else has said, too. There are, we are all sitting up here as Councilmembers, there are also many of the candidates that are in the room, and in the last four to six weeks we've all been asked a lot questions about the bond issue, which is one of the reasons why we wanted to learn more about it so that we could properly inform the public. I know that, too, and, Tom, I 'm going to put you a little bit on the spot, I think all three of the mayoral candidates who are in, that are in the room are all in favor of it. (Mr. Tom Jackson nodded yes) I think that shows solid leadership regardless of who get elected on May 7th, and I think that's strong for the community. One of the things that I would like to ask the community is that we are trying to step forward as a community, together, in compromise to make sure that we all are equitably treated, that we get our children educated so that our community can grow. I have heard from a number of citizens about things that occurred when Mike Taylor was Superintendent and when Mr. Austin was Superintendent, and we have to put those things behind US. Right or wrong, that happened yesterday, and we can't change that yesterday. We need, it's time that we need to take a step forward, all of us together as a community, in order that we can get our schools better, in order that we can step forward and help our community grow. And, that's why I 'm real pleased that as a Council, that we're going to step forward to help support that fact. Mayor Lord I think that summed it up rather well. We can't change yesterday, but we can change tomorrow. Is there any other Councilman that has a question or comment? If not, I will ask for a motion. Resolution No. 94-82 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith -82- April 5, 1994 and seconded by Councilman Alter. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None Mayor Lord called Dr. Jerry Mallett forward to receive a copy of Resolution No. 94-82. After receiving the Resolution, Dr. Mallett recapitulated that today Proclamations have been issued and a Resolution passed that emphasized our freedoms, health, recreation and education. Dr. Mallett said we have no freedoms unless we have the other three, and none of them are maintained unless the other three are present. Dr. Mallett thanked Council supporting this opportunity for the community to work together by passage of Resolution No. 94-82 . He said this is a community project, that none of the entities in our area can stand alone and survive and proclaimed a celebration will be in order about 9: 30 p.m. on May 7th after the polls are closed! -000- Resolution No. 94-83 amending the agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation to provide for installation of traffic signal equipment by the City of Beaumont at the intersections of Spur 380 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway) frontage roads with Pennsylvania and Park Streets and intersections of Spur 380 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway) at Franklin, College and Wall Streets, for an estimated project cost of $150,000. 00 to be reimbursed to the City of Beaumont by the State was approved on a motion made by Councilman Davis and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 94-84 authorizing a six-month contract with Dixie Materials for road oil for the Streets and Drainage Division/Public Works Department at $.78/gallon for MC-30 and RC-250; $. 66/gallon for MS- 1 and CRS-2 ; and $.79/gallon for AE-P, for an estimated total contract amount of $56,230. 00, was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Davis. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Moore said he would like to offer congratulations to Mr. Tudy Duriso for his involvement and concern this past weekend for youth by offering them alternate solutions through a football event, not that this is the only approach, Councilman Moore said, but "one man's effort, " to help young boys and he acknowledged Mr. Duriso's personal involvement in the community. Also, Councilman Moore congratulated Mobil Oil, Mobil Chemical, Olin Corporation and P D Glycol for conducting a community meeting at Dunbar Elementary School last -83- April 5, 1994 Tuesday. He said it was an excellent meeting where residents had an opportunity to communicate concerns and ask questions of the Plant Managers of these companies. Councilman Alter commended the citizens of Beaumont that have committed to participation in neighborhood associations for the betterment of their neighborhoods. He said this past week he attended the South Park, North End and Amelia Neighborhood Associations, and the levels of participation and interest is continuing to grow, and the pulling- together of these communities is beginning to grow to take the neighborhoods back and deal with the children and the unique problems in their neighborhood. He reported that the Amelia Neighborhood Association is going to be very active; they had 40 residents at the meeting with participation from all of them. Mayor Lord said neighborhood association will become even more "interesting when on the 25th. . .we will actually accomplish the Federation that will exist. The by-laws are out for their consideration. . .and we are very pleased with the things are going forward. " Also, Mayor Lord invited everyone to attend a meeting of the Moccasin Exchange Program on April 11th at 6: 30 p.m. at the Civic Center. She said this program is based on the the old Indian proverb, "Never judge another man until you've walked two moons in his moccasins. " She said this is social event where each one is asked to bring a generous dish of their favorite ethnic food to share in a meal and then be entertained by dancers from various countries and a bagpipe player. In addition, she said the Youth Commission will bring along some Oriental students from Lamar as their guests. She said it will be great coming together of young and old, and families are invited and children welcome. -000- Mrs. Delia Harrington, 815 Willow Street, addressed Council to announce "Clean Street Sweep" on Saturday, April 16, and encouraged everyone to participate and to "brighten the corner where they are and even beyond the neighborhood, if they will. " Mrs. Delores Davis, 2298 Blanchette, addressed Council to express her concern regarding youth, gang violence and drugs. She made Council aware that she and her husband have begun a program to house some of the street children in an attempt to help them rehabilitate their lives by giving them other alternatives. She said they have recently been able to acquire a 19-room house at 1930 Franklin Street that will become a "Youth Rescue Mission" (House of Praise Ministries) to house street children. She solicited City support and encouragement for these children and said she was here to inform them that "we are working with the community. . . . I haven't been here, but I 'm still working. . .trying to keep our children from killing each other. Trying to keep our children off the street is still very important to me. " -84- April 5, 1994 Mayor Lord told Mrs. Davis that in sharing some of the things in her heart for quite some time, she wishes her Godspeed in her endeavors. Mrs. Schieketha Eaglin, 3220 Christoper, addressed Council to first thank Mayor Lord for her diligent service to Beaumont and said she will be greatly missed in her role as mayor. Mrs. Eaglin acknowledged much improvement in the northend of Beaumont, but reported that GFS Digicon at 5: 00 a.m. Thursday, March 31st, came down Bigner Road tearing down utility lines off houses and poles causing sparks to fly and awakened residents. She questioned revocation of their permit for recklessly endangering the safety of her neighborhood. She said homes are gradually sinking because of this company's activities and asked for help with this problem. Mayor Lord asked Public Works Director Tom Warner to check out this complaint, and Councilman Moore asked that each Councilmember be given a copy of his findings. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 2880 Grand, addressed Council to express his sentiments on various subjects and appreciation to Council. -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 April 5, 1994 . Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -85- April 5, 1994