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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN MAY 18 1993 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD MAY 18, 1993 - 1:30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 18th day of May, 1993, with the following present: HONORABLE: Evelyn M. Lord Mayor Brian R. Alter Mayor Pro Tam Councilman At Large Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Guy N. Goodson Councilman, Ward II 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 -000- The Invocation was given by City Attorney Lane Nichols. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Davis. -000- Two Proclamations were issued: "NAIW (National Association of Insurance Women) Week, " May 16-23 , 1993 ; and "Buddy Poppy Days, " May 21 & 22, 1993 . -000- Ms. Shelly Moore from Mobil Oil, and Ms. Kathleen Dominic of Valspar Corporation, on behalf of the Keep Beaumont Beautiful Commission announced the fifth annual Paint-a-Thon will be held Saturday, May 22nd. Teams of volunteers from Beaumont companies and organizations will paint ten (10) homes of senior or disabled citizens in South Park, the Charlton-Pollard area and the Northend. Valspar will donate paint in the homeowner's choice of color and volunteer labor will be furnished by Austin Industries, Beaumont Home Health Service, Petrocon Engineering, the Charlton-Pollard Neighborhood Association, South Park Rotary, Associates Club, Program for Human Services, Boys Haven, Mobil Oil Refinery, Mobil Chemical and Service Painting Company. Other companies have offered to prepare the homes for painting. They include Steel Painters, Simon Plumbing Company and Cotton Cargo. Tee-shirts with this year's Paint-a-Thon logo were presented to Council. -102- May 18, 1993 Citizen comment was invited on the Consent Agenda and Main Agenda Items 1, 3 and 4. No one wished to address these subjects. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held May 11, 1993; Resolution No. 93-110 authorizing acceptance of a fifteen foot (151 ) utility easement out of Block 37B of the College Acres Extension Addition from the Beaumont Company along the south line of their property, located on the east access road of Interstate 10 north of Washington Boulevard; Resolution No. 93-111 authorizing purchase of one (1) full size cargo van from Buddy Chevrolet, Inc. in the amount of $14,796.00, customized for use by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Police Department; Resolution No. 93-112 authorizing replacement of a passenger elevator hydraulic underground jack cylinder on the Julie Rogers Theater passenger elevator from Millar Elevator Service in the amount of $10, 970. 00; Resolution No. 93-113 authorizing Nutec Services to build and erect 600 square feet of additional office space at the Building Services Administration Building located at 1848 Pine Street at a cost of $14,973 . 00; and Resolution No. 93-114 authorizing acceptance of $418.23 from Mr. Robert Shane as full and final payment for weed and litter liens against vacant property located at 1430 Ashley Street, described as Lot 11, Block 24 of the Jirou Addition. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Alter and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Goodson was elected to serve as Mayor Pro-Tempore for a one- year period on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Davis. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None Mayor Lord welcomed Councilman Goodson to the assignment as Mayor Pro Tem for the coming year and thanked Councilman Alter for so ably serving in that capacity during the past year. -103- May 18, 1993 Mayor Pro Tem Goodson thanked predecessors of the office of Mayor Pro Tem for their "yoeman service" and said he hopes to follow in their worthy footsteps. -000- An Ordinance authorizing issuance of a Specific Use Permit to allow W. H. Taft, president of Community Cemeteries, Inc. , to expand an existing cemetery on a 2.26-acre tract of land located west of Pine Street and north of Hale Street, described as Tax Plat D-20 in the A. Williams Survey, zoned RS (Residential Single Family Dwelling) with 27% objection from owners of property within 200 feet of the tract, thereby, invoking the 20% rule, was considered: ORDINANCE NO. ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE ISSUING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO COMMUNITY CEMETERIES, INC. TO ALLOW EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING CEMETERY LOCATED WEST OF PINE STREET AND NORTH OF HALE STREET ON A 2 .26 ACRE TRACT OUT OF TAX PLAT D-20 IN THE A. WILLIAMS SURVEY ZONED RS (RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING DISTRICT) BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS. A lengthy discussion indicated Council 's desire to satisfy the objections of surrounding property owners and yet give opportunity for economic development by the cemetery owner. The possibility of an additional high density landscape buffer (besides the recommendations of the Planning Commission) , a desire to understand feelings of residents and adherence to legal implications of this ordinance were discussed. Councilman Davis reported that he met with Mr. Taft and Mr. Green, and they decided to let Council make a final decision since they could not satisfactorily resolve the objections. He said Mr. Taft indicated that he is willing to do whatever is necessary, but the residents are in opposition to any form or fashion of expansion of the cemetery. Councilman Davis suggested Council proceed with a vote on the ordinance. Since several residents have attended today's Council session, Councilman Moore asked that this item be moved to the bottom of today's agenda, and before consideration, Council recess for a period of time to allow individual Councilmembers to visit with residents and discuss the subject with them. Council concurred with Councilman Moore's suggestion. -000- Resolution No. 93-115 authorizing submission and acceptance of a supportive Housing Program grant in the amount of $1, 159, 600.00 from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the -104- May 18, 1993 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1988 to provide transitional housing for participating families (from the Women's Shelter, Trinity Valley Emergency Homeless Shelter and the Salvation Army) by negotiating lease agreements for eligible housing for a period up to two years was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Goodson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 93-116 authorizing acceptance of the bid in the amount of $32, 060.00 for structural repairs and application of protective coatings to the South Maintenance Hangar at the Municipal Airport from S & M Building Systems was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Goodson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Mayor Lord recessed the regular session of City Council as requested to allow individual discussion with residents of Morningside and Hale Street regarding the Specific Use Permit to allow expansion of a cemetery located west of Pine Street and north of Hale Street. -000- City Council reconvened with all members present. Issuance of a Specific Use Permit to Community Cemeteries, Inc. to allow expansion of an existing cemetery located west of Pine Street and North of Hale Street on a 2.26 acre tract out of Tax Plat D-20 in the A. Williams Survey zone RS (Residential Single Family Dwelling District) was reconsidered. Action on this item was deferred one week on a motion by Councilman Davis and seconded by Councilman Alter, . Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Davis said he enjoyed attending "Sunday in the Park. " Councilman Alter congratulated all the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance and Education) students graduating this week. Mayor Pro Tem Goodson reported that he had the opportunity to represent the Mayor at the DARE graduation with 378 students completing the program. He said that the Police Department held the students attention with an impressive demonstration of the Canine Patrol maneuvers. -105- May 18, 1993 Councilman Smith complimented Councilman Cokinos for a fine job at "Sunday in the Park" and said the Seacology Club of Austin Junior High presented an interesting program. Mayor Lord suggested that Council receive a full agenda of "Sunday in the Park" activities to keep aware of special presenters such as the Seacology Club, who just received national recognition in a contest. Councilman Smith said a lack of continuity in staff recently has created a communication problem that should be resolved soon. Councilman Alter reminded everyone that "Concerts in the Park, " sponsored by the Mobil Foundation, Inc. , is scheduled to begin this season at 7:00 p.m. , Thursday, May 20th, at Rogers Park with the Jimmy Simmons Jazz Band performing. He said that other performances are slated for June and July with August reserved as a rain date. Councilman Moore said constituents of Ward IV would like to host a "Concert in the Park" at Alice Keith Park and expressed support of alternating locations for the activity in each Ward as practiced in previous years. -000- Mr. Rick Ramirez, 6015 Suzanne Court, addressed Council to state that as a member of the Community Development Advisory Commission (CDAC) , their recommendation to not fund Hotel Beaumont was partially based on the fact that only approximately 90 residents and 30 employees would receive assistance from the $700, 000 allocation. He said they could divide that amount among several other applicants and assist a greater number. Mr. Donald Green, 3750 Morningside, desired to address Council regarding the Specific Use Permit request of Communities Cemeteries, Inc. , but was informed that since a public hearing had been conducted, it would be improper to allow further public comment without representation from both sides of the issue. Mr. Green thanked Council on behalf of the citizens of Morningside and Hale Street for their tolerance. Mr. Forrest F. "Ted" Posey, 3695 Edmonds, complimented Council for their decisions and spoke of various civic endeavors. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall Street, congratulated Councilman Goodson for his election as Mayor Pro Tempore. Mr. Doak Proctor, 4315 Thomas Court, addressed Council to express reservation in loaning $700, 000 in CDBG funds to Hotel Beaumont with their present financial situation and suggested that assistance should be given to a non-profit organization even though the housing for low to moderate income families is needed. Ms. Dorothy Rao, 1050 Chatwood, as a volunteer of Hotel Beaumont, spoke -106- May 18, 1993 in support of funding the hotel 's present rehabilitation needs through a loan, said there are many good things derived from Hotel Beaumont's operation, expressed a need to consider the situations of low to moderate income elderly people, said there would be another empty building in Beaumont if the operation ceases, applauded the good faith efforts of the Urban Group in establishing the facility, suggested Council visit and meet residents of Hotel Beaumont because some of them do not have an option to live in another retirement center in Beaumont, and asked Council to consider these comments in their decision. Ms. Agile Gillette, a resident of Hotel Beaumont, addressed Council in support of funding Hotel Beaumont and expressed her happiness in living there. Ms. Mae Moore, Room 932 Hotel Beaumont, explained having to sell her home to pay medical bills, the need to find an affordable residence, said Hotel Beaumont is not as plush as some other retirement centers, but they have something far better--companionship, love, compassion and camaraderie, and expounded on the reasons to keep the building in repair and occupied. Mr. Jack Baird, Jr. , a Hotel Beaumont resident, addressed Council to complain about the short timing of traffic walk lights on Orleans and Crockett Streets, complained about turning restrictions at the traffic lights on dead-end streets, such as Dowlen at College, 23rd Street going into Washington Boulevard and 11th Street at College. -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, certify that the above is a true copy of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held May 18, 1993 . Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -107- May 18, 1993