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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN OCT 05 1993 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD OCTOBER 5, 1993 - 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 October, 1993 , with the following present: HONORABLE: Evelyn M. Lord Mayor Guy N. Goodson Mayor Pro Tem Councilman, Ward II Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I John K. Davis Councilman, Ward III David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Absent: Brian R. Alter Councilman At Large 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 Smith. -000- Three Proclamations were issued: "Better Business Bureau Day, " October 7, 1993 ; "Restaurant Month, " October, 1993 ; and a proclamation applauding the achievements and contributions of "Gary Lee Love" and recognizing him as one of Beaumont' s special citizens and encouraging all peoples to reach for their goals and attain their full potential. (Mr. Love has been the top-rated morning show host for the past five years on Radio Station KYKR and was chosen recently by the Country Music Association as the best Country Music Air Personality in America. ) -000- City Manager Riley introduced Dr. Mark Guidry, the new Director and Health Authority for the City's Health Department and said "he comes to us with an excellent background, and not only as a physician, but with a Master's Degree in Public Health, and it's very rare that we're able to find, not only a person that is this accomplished, but also to be from our area and from our region. Dr. Guidry has grown up here in the Golden Triangle, been educated in Texas, and we're very, very pleased to have him--to be able to introduce him to the Council today as the -249- October 5, 1993 Director of Public Health, and I 'd like for him to be introduced to the Council at this time, Dr. Guidry. " (Applause--Dr. Guidry shook hands with Council. ) Dr. Guidry: It's very good to meet you, and I 'm very excited about the position of Director and Health Authority and very excited about working towards fulfilling the City of Beaumont's interest in public health and just want to thank, especially someone who inspired me towards this, is Dr. Lulu Smith, and also Ray Riley. I appreciate it very much. Thank you. Mayor Lord: Well, we're really glad to have you aboard, and we hope that all of us don't have to call on you personally, but you can call on us, anytime! Councilman Smith: Mayor. . . .how delighted that I am to have a public health physician. We have been without a permanent director there for awhile, and we're looking forward to very good things coming out of the Health Department to add to the things that they have been doing. So, I think this is a real plus for Beaumont. This is the first time that we've had a public health physician in that position, and we're just real delighted to have you, and I 've worked with Mark. He' s a fine, fine person, and he's a fine doctor. So, I know we're going to be very pleased with him. -000- Mayor Lord announced that an Executive Session will be conducted following the regular session of City Council in accordance with Section 2 (e) of the Texas Open Meetings Act to discuss pending or contemplated litigation on the following: Billy Ray Jennings vs. the City of Beaumont. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent Agenda and Main Agenda Items 1-4 and 6-7. No one wished to address these subjects. -000- Mayor Pro Tem Goodson requested that Item C on the Consent Agenda regarding an Easement Agreement with the Port of Beaumont Navigation District be separated and considered separately. -000- The following Consent Agenda item was considered: -250- October 5, 1993 Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held September 28, 1993 . The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Goodson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 93-250 authorizing an Easement Agreement with the Port of Beaumont Navigation District for a twenty-foot-wide easement corridor located between Buford Street and the Neches River 744.52 feet west of Carroll Street in the David Brown Survey, Abstract 5, for storm water drainage facilities and a maintenance/construction easement, an additional twenty feet on each side of the easement corridor, was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: Mayor Lord Nayes: None Councilman Cokinos Councilman Smith Councilman Davis Councilman Moore Abstained: Mayor Pro Tem Goodson -000- Resolution No. 93-251 authorizing annual contracts for various water service materials including couplings, brass fittings, plastic tubing and full circle clamps for the Water Distribution Division with Municipal Pipe & Fabrication Company, $32 , 098. 11; Golden Triangle Pipe, $97, 074. 35; International Supply, $18, 676. 05; and Coburn supply, $14, 069. 00 for a projected annual expenditure of $161,917.51 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 93-252 authorizing renewal of an annual computer maintenance agreement, effective October 1, 1993 through September 30, 1994, for the mainframe computers (AS/400) located in City Hall and the Police Department and services for peripheral equipment with International Business Machine Corporation (IBM) in the amount of $62 ,901. 00 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -251- October 5, 1993 Resolution No. 93-253 authorizing purchase of computer components for Management Information System's AS/400 D60 computer system from International Business Machine Corporation (IBM) for a total cost of $81,890. 00 (City Hall--3103 32MB additional storage, $19,584 ; 6501 disk controller upgrade, $2,560; 9337-120 disk subsystem upgrade, $6, 300; 9337-225 new disk subsystem (2) , $27, 200; 004 high availability mode, no charge; 1213 970 MB disk drive (3) , $12, 000; 7861-015 modem (4) , $11,564 and Police Department--2654 EIA two line communication adapter, $782; and 6050 Twinax workstation controller, enhances, $1, 900) was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Goodson and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 93-254 authorizing a one-year computer software maintenance agreement with Compu-Tech in the amount of $25,421.75 (Solid Waste Administration--$787.50; Water Utility Billing--$5,265; Solid Waste, Landfill--$1, 650; Municipal Court--$5, 250; Emergency Medical Services--$1, 597.50; Food Permits--$615; Central Collections--$7,287.50; Rehab Housing Loans--$1,473 ; Workers Compensation--$832 .50; Alarm Billing--$663 .75) was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 93-59 amending Ordinance No. 93-58 by removing the structure at 4026 Magnolia from Section 3 ordering demolition and removal and granting an extension until October 26, 1993 was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 93-59 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 93-58, SECTION 3 , TO REMOVE THE STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 4026 MAGNOLIA; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL AND PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY. Councilman Davis reported that since last week, an evaluation of the structure at 4026 Magnolia was made by he and Councilmen Cokinos and Moore and found to be under rehabilitation sufficient enough to consider granting additional time to complete the work program, and therefore, a request was made for placement on today's agenda. Councilman Cokinos said this action is indicative of Council 's sensitivity to needs and problems of Beaumont' s citizens. Ordinance No. 93-59 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Davis and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -252- October 5, 1993 Resolution No. 93-255 authorizing an annual contract for purchase of sand cement used in repairing driveways and excavating and laying culverts from APAC-Texas, Inc. in the amount of $8.97/ton for 1 sack sand cement; $10.20/ton for 1-1/2 sack sand cement; $11.40/ton for 2 sack sand cement; plantsite located at 2525 Dollinger and authorizing purchase from Bo-Mac Contractors, Inc. as an alternate in the event material is unavailable from APAC-Texas, Inc. at $9. 05/ton for 1 sack sand cement; $10.55/ton for 1-1/2 sack sand cement; $12. 05/ton for 2 sack sand cement; plantsite located at IH-10 @ Bairds Bayou was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 93-256 authorizing purchase of an additional 1, 000 folding chairs at $46,750. 00 ($46. 75 each) and ten (10) chair racks at $2, 950. 00 ($295 each) , a total of $49,700. 00, to be used by the Convention Facilities, Civic Center Complex, from Virco Manufacturing Corporation as provided in their original bid received June 7, 1993, was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Goodson and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Davis told of a recent experience where he and Councilman Moore witnessed groups of young Afro-American males on the streets at a time when they should have been attending school. He expressed deep concern for their welfare and future. He rated Beaumont as a B+ city and to achieve an A rating solicited innovative ideas and ways to create an opportunity for these young men who seemingly don't have goals in place for leading a productive life. Councilman Smith asked Councilman Davis if he had any suggestions on how to reach these young people and questioned the average age of the young men. Councilman Davis responded that the young men were between 13 and 15 years old. He said that adult citizens and leaders should show an interest and concern in the young people and let them know they care about them, and then they must act as individuals. Councilman Smith said she feels a thrust to influence children must be made much earlier, spoke about jail capacity, spending money on incarceration--not prevention, and the need for the whole community to come together to address this need. Also, Councilman Smith reported that she attended another Human Development Committee meeting sponsored by the National League of Cities to discuss the proposed health care program. She said, "we don't see any hope in there for small businesses. We don't see. . .that municipalities will be treated -253- October 5, 1993 fairly. . . " She said the Committee sees a need for health care and feel very strongly that business as usual tactics cannot continue in that area, but recognizes that "a great demand in mandate is going to placed on small business" in the present program, feels a lot of posturing will be evidenced, said financing is one area that is not addressed adequately and all of the decreased costs are just smoking mirrors, there is no decrease in expenditures, $124 million will ratchet down out of Medicare over a five-year period and $114 million out of Medicaid, and at the same time benefits will be increased and everyone insured health care coverage. Councilman Smith said she has "difficulty with that math. " Councilman Moore thanked Councilmen Davis and Cokinos and Mayor Lord for attending neighborhood meetings in Ward IV. He said the Pear Orchard Neighborhood Association continued in a very good meeting with the South Park group working with them. He reported a very good mix of new people at the South Park Neighborhood Association meeting on Thursday, thanked Councilman Cokinos for his support, and said it is good to see the expansion of the association with new people that believe in the process, and said that group continues their momentum. Councilman Moore said it was very distressing to witness so many young children out of school last Wednesday, said they heard numerous, unconvincing reasons for their absence and even tracked down parents to make them aware. He said he spent 1 1/2 hours this morning meeting with the School Superintendent and 5 hours yesterday with ministers across the community discussing this problem and feels there are some things that can be done, encouraged continued focus on the need and said there are some visionary plans being developed. Also, Councilman Moore told Mr. Riley that he plans to speak with Chief Scofield and Captain Cruthchfield increase patrol and enforcement of any level of alcoholic beverage consumption in public parks. He said too many incidents are occurring as a result of drinking in the parks and bottles left there. He voiced strong opposition to promotion on the airwaves of 40-ounce bottles. He shared dealing with an incident Friday night that was neglected because of shift change in the Police Department and said better communication between shifts needs to be implemented. Councilman Smith added that in addition to health care, crime, poverty, family and education was discussed at the Human Development Committee meeting last week. She said last year's theme was "Education is Everybody's Business" and thinks we should move forward with that thought at the grass roots level, and said we cannot survive as we are, "our kids are our future. " Councilman Moore encouraged everyone to concentrate on two of the words Councilman Smith mentioned--family and education. He said he and Councilman Davis told the young people last week that the only empowerment that is a guarantee of success is education. Mayor Lord concurred that we have to meet the needs of all ages of -254- October 5, 1993 people. She reported an excellent attendance at the Mayor's Youth Commission last night with every seat filled, chairmen elected and programs developed. Central High School 's Chairman is Reggie Egans, Rachel Clayton, Vice-Chairman, Westbrook Chairman is Keely Windham and Ryan Asunto as Vice-Chairman, from Kelly High School, Derek LeBlanc is Chairman and Amanda Deering is Vice-Chairman. The representative from Beaumont Christian is Kelly Westbrook. Each group will have a community project as well as their program for the year. Also, Mayor Lord said that downtown Beaumont was alive Saturday night with the Italian Festival promoted by the Beaumont Heritage Society with lights, music and good food. -000- Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 2880 Grand, addressed Council in support of youth programs. -000- There being no further business, the Regular Session of City Council was recessed to convene in 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 October 5, 1993 . Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -255- October 5, 1993