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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN DEC 05 1995 I REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD DECEMBER 5, 1995 - 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 December, 1995, with the following present: HONORABLE: David W. Moore Mayor Becky Ames Mayor Pro Tern Councilman-At Large Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman-At-Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward Guy N. Goodson Councilman, Ward II John K. Davis Councilman, Ward III Bobbie Patterson Councilman, Ward IV Ray A. Riley City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Rosemarie Smith City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend Dennis Rozell, pastor of Highland Avenue Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Robert Lynn DeMary, President of the Neighborhood Association Federation. -000- Mr. Vic Carlstrom, Keep Beaumont Beautiful Committee, told Council two groups were present to sign "Adopt A Street" contracts: student Danielle LeBlanc, Austin Middle School Sea-Cology Club for the portion of Delaware from Eastex Freeway to French Road and Jarred Boudreaux, Kappa Sigma Fraternity, for the portion of Pipkin from M. L. King, Jr. Parkway to Highland. -000- Citizen comment was invited on items contained in the Consent Agenda and Main Agenda Items 7 and 8. 317 December 5, 1995 Mr. Timothy Gregory, 1550 Lyle Street, owner of Yardboy Lawn Service, addressed Council on Agenda Item No. 8 to express his concern of the bidding procedures and bid packet information provided to prospective bidders which included detailed numbers and the process he had used in submitting the successful bid in a previous year. He said he was aware that this information is public record but felt that the detailed information contained in the bid packet was used by other bidders as a basis to submit a reduced bid. He sited last year's contract being assigned to his company when the successful low bidder decided inability to complete the contract. He also stated his concerns for job performance and cut employee numbers when bidders substantially undercut past contract amounts. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held November 21, 1995; Resolution No. 95-323 reappointing Carol Cottle to the Convention and Tourism Advisory Commission, term to expire October 25, 1997; 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. 95-71 changing the zoning from RS (Residential Single Family Dwelling) to RCR (Residential Conservation and Revitalization) for the property located at 2308 Hazel at Seventh Street at the request of George Rayfield to open the Oaks Financial Group, Inc., a mortgage company in the now vacant store building, was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 95-71 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 30 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, AND IN PARTICULAR THE BOUDARIES OF THE ZONING DISTRICTS, AS INDICATED UPON THE ZONING MAP OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, BY CHANGING THE ZONING OF PROPERTY PRESENTLY ZONED RS (RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING) DISTRICT TO RCR (RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION AND REVITALIZATION) DISTRICT FOR THE PROPERTY AT 2308 HAZEL, BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITYP; 318 December 5, 1995 PROVIDING FOR REPEAL AND PROVIDING A PENALTY. Ordinance No. 95-71 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Davis. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 95-72 authorizing a Specific Use Permit at the northwest corner of Gladys Avenue (extended) and Major Drive to allow a funeral home to be located in a GC-MD (General Comercial - Multiple Family Dwelling) District was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 95-72 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A FUNERAL HOME TO BE LOCATED IN A GC-MD (GENERAL COMMERCIAL MULTIPLE-FAMILY DWELLING HIGHEST DENSITY) DISTRICT, IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS. Ordinance No. 95-72 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Goodson and seconded by Councilman Davis. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 95-73 authorizing a Specific Use Permit and modified screening and landscaping for two businesses (the administrative offices of Antiochian Christian Orthodox Radio Network aka A.C.O.R.N. and "Balloonatics") to be located in a former residence at 2455 North Street in an RCR (Residential Conservation Revitalization) District was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 95-73 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR TWO BUSINESSES TO BE LOCATED IN A FORMER RESIDENCE IN AN RCR (RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION REVITALIZATION) DISTRICT, IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS. 319 December 5, 1995 Ordinance No. 95-73 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- An ordinance authorizing a Specific Use Permit to allow a private helistop at 2525 North Eleventh Street for the Ramada Inn was considered: AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A PRIVATE HELISTOP TO BE ESTABLISHED IN AN AREA ZONED GC-MD (GENERAL COMMERCIAL-MULTIPLE FAMILY DWELLING) DISTRICT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2525 N. ELEVENTH STREET, IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS. Questions were raised by Councilmembers concerning receipt of the FAA's Letter of No Objection and whether there was sufficiency of liability insurance. It was decided that action on the item would be tabled for two weeks pending additional information. -000- An ordinance authorizing a Specific Use Permit at 9550 Doty Street to allow a private school for grades Kindergarten through Fifth for 17 students was considered. Twenty-eight notices were sent to property owners within 200'. Nine responses in opposition and one in favor were returned. Two people spoke in opposition at the public hearing. The percentage of protest was 27.46% of the property within a 200-foot radius of the applicant's lot. The 20% Rule for approval of the permit is in effect. At the Joint Public Hearing held on November 20, 1995, the Planning Commission voted 7 to 0 to deny the specific use permit request. AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR K-5TH GRADE IN A RESIDENCE WITHIN AN RS (RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING) DISTRICT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 9550 DOTY STREET, IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS. 320 December 5, 1995 The ordinance was denied on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ames. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 95-74 establishing an HC-L (Historic-Cultural Landmark Preservation Designation) for the "J. L. Eisen" home at 2301 Long Avenue was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 95-74 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 30 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, AND IN PARTICULAR THE BOUNDARIES OF THE ZONING DISTRICTS, AS INDICATED UPON THE ZONING MAP OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, BY ESTABLISHING AN HC-L (HISTORICAL-CULTURAL LANDMARK PRESERVATION DESIGNATION) FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2301 LONG AVENUE, BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL AND PROVIDING A PENALTY. Ordinance No. 95-74 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Goodson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 95-324 authorizing the award of annual contracts for the purchase of approximately 1,000 tons of Aluminum Sulfate at an estimated $122,000 to Clear Value, Inc.; approximately 200 tons of Liquid Chlorine at an estimated $85,000 to Van, Waters & Rogers and approximately 60 tons of Aqua Ammonia at an estimated $23,000 to Skyhawk Chemical for an estimated annual expenditure of $230,900 for water treatment chemicals for use by Water Production was approved on a motion made by Councilman Davis and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None Resolution No. 95-325 authorizing the award of an annual contract to American Remediation Options for mowing privately owned vacant property ($0.0013 per square foot for 13,500,000 square feet of vacant property and $0.0026 per square foot for removal and disposal of grass clippings from 1,350,000 square feet of vacant property) was approved on a motion made by Councilman Davis and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None 321 December 5, 1995 Councilmembers requested a review and report of purchasing procedures and bid packet information to determine if a better process could be established. -000- Councilman Cokinos expressed appreciation to Public Works Director Tom Warner on repairs to certain railroad crossings and mentioned others needing attention. Mayor Pro Tem Ames told those present that the week had been extremely busy. She said that she had made two visits to the Laurel construction site and said that even though it is better, large boulders are in the street and travel is still very limited and expressed her concerns for citizen access during the scheduled Home Tours for the Christmas season. She asked that the city closely monitor the contractors and their work. Mayor Pro Tem Ames also mentioned that at a recent meeting of the ACORN Neighborhood Association members are still very interested in establishing a park for the area. Councilman Goodson mentioned a recent visit to the Odom Academy and complimented their program for challenged students to reach higher goals. He complimented Carraba's Restaurant Councilman Goodson also expressed his concern for the Laurel project and sited two incidents of large trucks hauling materials from the construction site not observing 4-way stop traffic control signs at intersections within the project. Councilman Davis spoke about his recent attendance at the National League of Cities Conference. He said he had visited with the City's Washington Assistant Carolyn Chaney to tell her about his areas of concern including economic development dollars for downtown and affirmative action issues. He also congratulated Mayor Moore on his reappointment to the Board of Directors. In addition, he said that all who saw his name badge and city knew our Mayor and had good things to say about him. Councilman Patterson said she, too, was delighted with Carraba's Restaurant and their delicious food. She also told of her"good learning experience" with her attendance at the recent National League of Cities Conference. She told Mayor Moore about the many favorable comments she had heard about him from other attendees at the conference. Councilman Smith said that the NLC Conference was very interesting, that a major thrust of the conference was the National budget deficit and its effect on cities. She said that there is a greater need for partnerships to be developed between cities and the state since there will be no federal dollars in several areas. She also expressed her concern for the lack of relationship between available jobs and education received by our future workforce. She addressed the need to continually look at the jobs market and the training needed to fill those positions and the need to reeducate our workers to meet the changing demand. 322 December 5, 1995 Mayor Moore expressed his concerns for the changes to affirmative action issues and spoke to the need of leveling the playing field through education. He said he had a special meeting with HUD Secretary Cisneros and was able to address some specific concerns. The Mayor mentioned that he was invited to participate in a Mayor's Journal Radio Show panel with mayors from Phoenix and Columbus, Ohio. Mayor Moore thanked Public Works Director Tom Warner for the progress made on the Laurel Project and asked that he continue to closely monitor the project. He also congratulated three "ambassadors" for the city shone as the Southwest Conference took its final bow in football: University of Texas sophomore quarterback and West Brook High graduate James Brown; Texas A& M junior offensive right guard and Central High graduate Leeland McElroy; and Texas A& M junior offensive right guard and West Brook graduate Calvin Collins. Mayor Moore again expressed his appreciation for the time Robert Reed spent with the "I Have a Dream" kids at the Sterling Pruitt Center recently. Mayor Moore welcomed former Mayor Bill Neild who was in attendance, awaiting the City Council Workshop Session. -000- Ms. Linda Gaudio, 2020 Higgins, addressed Council to said that Santa Claus would be arriving in Downtown Beaumont on Thursday, December 7th, and would be visiting from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. She said that his visit is sponsored by the Downtown Museums, Beaumont Main Street and corporate sponsors - Mobil and Market Basket. Mr. Lynn DeMary, 430 E. Elgie, addressed Council to say that 30 more members of the Neighborhood Associations have completed "Citizens on Patrol" (COP) classes, bringing the total to 105 citizens on patrol. He told Council that the next Neighborhood Association Federation meeting will be held January 5, 1996. -000- There being no further business, the meeting was recessed before continuing with the City Council workshop session. -000- 1, Rosemarie Smith, 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 December 5, 1995. Rosemarie Smith City Clerk 323 December 5, 1995