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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN APR 13 1993 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD APRIL 13, 1993 - 1:30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 13th day of April, 1993, with the following present: HONORABLE: Evelyn M. Lord Mayor Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Guy N. Goodson Councilman, Ward II Audwin Samuel Councilman, Ward III David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Absent: Brian R. Alter Mayor Pro Tem Councilman At Large Ray A. Riley City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend Don White, Forest Park Methodist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Norman Thompson, a student from Orange, and cousin of Byron Grimes, the 1993 Sunday in the Park poster contest winner. -000- Three Proclamations were issued: "National Organ and Tissue Donor Week, " April 18-24, 1993 ; "WalkAmerica Day, " April 17, 1993; and "National Volunteer Week, " April 18-24, 1993. -000- Councilman Smith thanked Millie Hartel of Young Audiences for conducting the Sunday in the Park Poster Contest and Saint Elizabeth Hospital for their sponsorship. She asked Curtis Hatchcock, the City of Beaumont's Recreation Division Program Coordinator, to make a presentation to the 1993 poster contest recipient and to unveil the winning poster that will be used to publicize Sunday in the Park monthly activities for children at Riverfront Park. Mr. Hatchcock distributed copies of the poster to Council and announced that judges of the contest were Greg Busceme, from the Art Studio; Susie -76- April 13, 1993 Bruce, of the Southeast Texas Art Museum; and Teresa Strange, Saint Elizabeth Hospital. He said the judges chose this poster because of the content and because it accurately depicts Sunday in the Park. Mr. Hatchcock introduced Byron Grimes, a nine-year-old student from Our Mother of Mercy School, as winner of the Sunday in the Park Poster Contest and presented him with a $100 Savings Bond. Council congratulated Byron and asked him to autograph their posters. -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 April 6, 1993; Resolution No. 93-85 authorizing acceptance of $1,000.00 from Mr. Everette D. Alfred as full and final payment for weed liens against vacant property located at 1335 Calvin Street, described as Lot 3, Block 3 of Washington Park Addition; and Resolution No. 93-86 amending Resolution No. 93-70 to authorize final payment in the amount of $65,832.05 to Excavators & Constructors, Inc. for construction of the High School Ditch Drainage Project Phase I. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 93-87 authorizing application and acceptance of a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation for a five-month 1993 Summer Occupant Protection (seat belts) Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) in the amount of $20, 000. 00 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 93-88 authorizing an annual contract for limestone for use by the Streets and Drainage Division with Transit Mix Concrete and Materials Company at $10.05 per ton F.O.B. plantsite and with Davidson Construction, Inc. for delivery to jobsites at $12 . 10 per ton was -77- April 13, 1993 approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Smith reminded everyone that "Sunday in the Park" will commence this weekend, April 18th, and promises to be a very excellent program sponsored by the Southeast Texas Organization for Education of Children, Young Audiences, and the Women's Symphony League. She said a great crowd and lots of fun is anticipated. Councilman Goodson said he was unable to attend City Council last week because he attended a three-day "Texas Clean 2000" meeting in Austin sponsored by the Texas Water Commission. He said there were attendees from the Water Development Board, the Health Department and a number of other agencies that all have some impact on our city. He said it was a very interesting meeting, and he met some of the contractors that work on City projects that were educating themselves on these matters. Councilman Goodson said he brought back information that he will circulate and distribute to Council for review. Councilman Samuel asked Public Works Director Tom Warner to supply him with a time schedule for the resurfacing of Jeanette Street. Councilman Moore thanked the Charlton-Pollard Neighborhood Association, Mobil Oil and private contributors for sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt at Carroll Street Park; asked that the Parks and Recreation Department be notified that the lights at Carroll Street Park need attention because they are not timed correctly and some are not operating; said that he has received complaints regarding contractors responding unacceptably to citizens when they make inquiries and that when contractors work for the City, they are working for the citizens of Beaumont and should respond positively and respectfully to them and said he feels that the "Citizen Friendly" policy for City employees should extend to contractors working for the City. Mayor Lord commented that perhaps contractors should be educated in this area when contracts are awarded. Councilman Samuel reported receiving increased complaints and concerns recently about water runoff being worse now than before ditches were dug. He questioned new technology, new methods or alternatives in digging ditches to help the problem. Councilman Smith added the complaint about water from the recent heavy rains being up to doorways and receding exceptionally slow in her neighborhood. Councilman Moore said he also has received several similar calls and that he and Mr. Riley went on a "ditch tour" to become better acquainted with the situation. Public Works Director Tom Warner explained that receiving 13 inches of rain in a 24-hour period is considered to be a hundred year -78- April 13, 1993 rain, and that in receiving two inches of rain in an hour, as we have experienced in the last three heavy rains, it is comparable to a hundred year rain. He said the very high intensity of rain received in a short period of time has created some unusual problems, in addition to the ground being completely saturated. -000- Mrs. Billye Norris Bostic, 2835 Hebert Street, addressed Council about parked vehicles and broken glass creating an unsafe atmosphere for children and families at Liberia Park. She said there is insufficient signage prohibiting vehicles and alcohol in the park. Councilman Moore confirmed Mrs. Bostic's complaint about the lack of signs. Mr. Forrest F. "Ted" Posey, 3695 Edmonds, addressed Council in support of bus service on Sunday, citizens keeping curbs clean in front of their property to avoid drains becoming clogged or being assessed a fine, and using individuals on probation to clean cemeteries. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall Street, addressed Council to compliment Byron Grimes for winning the Sunday in the Park Poster Contest and the City Transit workers for participating in an Easter Egg Hunt last week. Mr. Mark Williford, 8335 McLean, addressed Council to request assistance in boarding an abandoned grain elevator in his neighborhood. On April 9, a 15-year-old youth gained entry to the elevator and suffered serious injuries. Mr. Williford said he has already made calls to the City regarding standing water and a vehicle parked there for several hours. He cited the grain elevator as a danger to inquisitive children and asked for Council assistance in boarding the structure. City Attorney Lane Nichols explained the legal process, and Assistant City Manager Sterling Pruitt apprised Council and Mr. Williford that a Fire Inspection was made this morning, electrical services have been disconnected or properly secured, Community Development inspectors have determined there is a problem with the building being opened and accessible, the building has been tagged and they are in the process of contacting First National Bank of Dayton, owner of the property, the Environmental Health Division has inspected the standing water problem, and Mr. Pruitt said several initiatives are underway to secure the building. Mayor Lord said securing the building will be expedited as quickly as the law allows so there will be no further incidents. -000- There being no further business, the Regular Session of City Council was recessed to reconvene in Workshop Session. -000- I, Rosemarie Chiappetta, City Clerk of the City of Beaumont, Texas, -79- certify that the above is a true copy of the Minutes of the Regular City Council Session held April 13, 1993. Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -80- April 13, 1993