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Home My WebLink AboutMIN JUL 08 2008 M I N U T E S - CITY OF BEAUMONT W.L. Pate, Jr.,At-Large BECKY AMES, MAYOR Gethrel Williams-Wright, At-Large Dr. Alan B. Coleman, Ward I CITY COUNCIL MEETING Nancy Beaulieu, Ward II Audwin Samuel, Mayor Pro Tem,Ward III July 8, 2008 Jamie Smith,Ward IV Tyrone E. Cooper, City Attorney Kyle Hayes, City Manager Tina Broussard, City Clerk The City Council of the City of Beaumont,Texas, met in a regular session on July 8,2008, atthe City Hall Council Chambers, 801 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas, at 1:30 p.m. to considerthe following: OPENING Invocation Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Presentations and Recognition Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-3/Consent Agenda Consent Agenda Mayor Ames called the council meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Johnathan Elms of the Apostolic Church gave the invocation. Skylar Vallier, Grandson of Councilmember Gethrel Williams-Wright led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was made by Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Present at the meeting were Mayor Ames, Mayor Pro Tern Samuel, Councilmembers Coleman, Beaulieu,Wright, Pate and Smith. Also present were Kyle Hayes,City Manager;Tyrone Cooper,City Attorney; Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Proclamations, Presentations, Recognitions Presentation - 17th Annual TexSwana Road'eo, Presented by Bengy Williams, Clean Community Director, Bengy introduced 12 participants that participated in the rodeo, they were, Dewayne Matthews, Danny Jackson, Carl Guillory, Manual Westbrook. Ann Joseph, Rose Guillory, Elaine Gibson, Chris Johnson and Gerald Glasper, he also introduced three winners, Micheal Wilkerson, Jimmy Davis and Skipper Thomas Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-3/Consent Agenda. None CONSENT AGENDA Approval of minutes - July 1, 2008 Confirmation of committee appointments - None Minutes-July 8,2008 I Mayor Pro Tern Samuel made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Beaulieu seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, BEAULIEU, WRIGHT, PATE AND SMITH NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider authorizing the City Manager to apply for and receive grant funds for equipment, technology, training and overtime through the U.S. Department of Justice. Administration recommended approval of authorizing the City Manager to apply for and receive grant funds through the U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) FY 2008 Child Sexual Predator Program. The grant is by invitation only, and the Beaumont Police Departmentwas invited bythe U.S. Attorney's office to participate. The goal of the grant is to provide law enforcement with state- of-the-art training, equipment and to reduce child endangerment. The funding will allow Beaumont the opportunity establish and enhance strategies to locate, arrest, and prosecute child sexual predators,as well as enforce state sex offender registration laws. The Beaumont Police Department will coordinate activities with local, state and federal agencies. There is no local match requirement. The total grant amount is $494,483. Mayor Pro Tern Samuel moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE AND HE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO APPLY FOR A CHILD SEXUAL PREDATOR GRANT AND RECEIVE UP TO$494,483 FOR EQUIPMENT,TECHNOLOGY,TRAINING AND OVERTIME COSTS THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES (COPS) FY 2008 CHILD SEXUAL PREDATOR PROGRAM(CSPP)TO REDUCE CHILD ENDANGERMENT. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, BEAULIEU, WRIGHT, PATE AND SMITH NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 08 - 201 2. Consider approving a contract for the purchase of lime slurry for use by the Streets and Drainage Division. This item was deferred by Council. Page 2 of 7 Minutes-July 8,2008 3. Consider authorizing the City Manager to increase the Oaks Historic District Water Main Rehabilitation Project for "extra work". Administration recommended approval of increasing the Oaks Historic District Water Main Rehabilitation Project amount by $39,734.74. The proposed changes to the contract will include 1,000 linear feet of trench safety, repair/rehabilitate 1,890 square feet of four inch(4") concrete sidewalk, repair/rehabilitate 42 linear feet of concrete curb and gutter, furnish and install 34 square yards of sod, and furnish and install fittings. The proposed changes will increase the contract time by 15 calendar days. Funds for the project are available in the Capital Program. Councilmember Pate made a motion to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE AND HE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $39,734.74 FOR A REVISED TOTAL AMOUNT OF $389,354.74 FOR THE OAKS HISTORIC DISTRICT WATER MAIN REHABILITATION PROJECT. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, BEAULIEU, WRIGHT, PATE AND SMITH NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 08 - 202 WORKSESSION • Review and discuss conceptual plans for the Downtown Event Center, Lake Park and Waterway Mr. Scott Slaney,architect of the Houston-based SWA Group, led the worksession along with W.O. Neuhaus III and Trung H. Doan of Studio Red Architects. Mr. Slaney discussed several guiding principles which included, creating a destination; activating downtown, programing places for people, a center for cultural growth, creating value, and phased implementation. It was discussed that the potential downtown ideas would include a water garden, retail and restaurant area, a lake which would be 2 to 3 acres in size and 6 to 9 feet deep, a great lawn which would be 6 to 8 acres of open area for events and family gatherings, an events center, waterway, a marina and theater.The location of the entire lake/event center park property will be about 16 acres and will be located between Neches Street and Martin Luther King Parkway off Crockett Street. The proposed two-to-three acre lake would be between Neches and Jefferson Streets east of the great lawn,which would stretch between Archie Street and MLK. The event center would be between the lake and the lawn which would replace the old Harvest Club and would be the focal point of the community. The City Manager and the Mayor recognized State Representative Joe Deshotel, Port Commissioner Lee Smith and former City Attorney Lane Nichols Page 3 of 7 Minutes-July 8,2008 COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE WORKSESSION MAYOR AMES- COMMENTED ON THE DOWNTOWN IDEAS, VERY PLEASED WITH THE PRESENTATION, EXCITED THAT THEY SHOWED DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT FROM THE LAWN ON ONE SIDE TO THE LAKE ON THE OTHER SIDE, ALSO COMMENTED ON THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION CONCERNS REGARDING THE DOWNTOWN PROJECT COUNCILMEMBER WRIGHT- INQUIREDABOUTAN AMTRAKAND GREYHOUND STATION AS WELL AS A TROLLEY CAR TO TRANSPORT TOURIST BACK AND FORTH TO THE AIRPORT, ALSO ENJOYED THE PRESENTATION COUNCILMEMBER BEAULIEU- ENJOYED THE FACT THAT THE PRESENTERS WERE ECO- SENSITIVE AND COST EFFICIENT,WISHED THAT THERE WAS MONEY AVAILABLE TO DO EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE COUNCILMEMBER SMITH- ENJOYED THE PRESENTATION, AGREED THAT THE PROJECT WOULD BRING FAMILIES INTO DOWNTOWN,COMMENTED ON THE BEST YEARS CENTER AS WELL AS THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OCCUPYING SPACE DOWNTOWN MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL - THANKED STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOE DESHOTEL FOR ALL OF HIS HELP, LOVED THE IDEA OF THE GREAT LAWN, THE LAKE AND THE EVENT CENTER BEING THE FOCAL POINT OF THE CITY, REQUESTED THAT A PORTABLE MICROPHONE BE USED SO THAT THE CITIZENS ARE ABLE TO HEAR WHEN PRESENTATIONS ARE BEING MADE, CONGRATULATED THE CITY MANAGER ON A GREAT JOB HE HAS DONE IN WORKING WITH THE ARCHITECTS AND THE VISION THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED COUNCILMEMBER COLEMAN- THANKED THOSE INVOLVED IN THE PRESENTATION, INVITED THE PUBLIC TO HAVE SOME INPUT, ASKED THAT THEY CONTACT COUNCIL TO LET THEM KNOW THEIR LIKES AND DISLIKES, THIS IS SOMETHING FOR THE CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT COUNCILMEMBER PATE - COMMENTED ON THE "RICH WITH OPPORTUNITY" AND "RICH WITH CULTURE" SLOGAN AND THE WAY THAT THE CITY IS TYING THIS TOGETHER WITH THE RIVER, THIS WILL MAKE THE PLAN EXCEPTIONAL FOR THE COMMUNITY The City Manager announced the dates and times that the council meeting will be aired on the City access channel, those dates and times are Tuesday through Sunday, 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Page 4 of 7 Minutes-July 8,2008 COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER SMITH- ENJOYED THE PRESENTATION,HOPED THAT EVERYONE HAD A GREAT 4T" OF .JULY, THANKED JACKIE SIMIEN FOR ALLOWING HIM TO SPEAK AT THE MINI ROGERS JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER ON MONDAY,JULY 7,2008,APPLAUDED .TERRY BALL FOR WHAT HE IS DOING IN THE PEAR ORCHARD COMMUNITY MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL - THANKED CLAUDIE HAWKINS FOR THE 4T" OF JULY CELEBRATION OVER THE WEEKEND ALSO THANKED ALL DEPARTMENTS THAT HELPED OUT, THANKED LENNY CABALLERO FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT COUNCILMEMBER PATE - ENCOURAGED EVERYONE THAT IS A PART OF A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION TO TALK TO YOUR ASSOCIATIONS, LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE SOME EXCITING THINGS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS, ESPECIALLY IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS, CONGRATULATED CLAUDIE HAWKINS ON A GREAT 4T" OF JULY CELEBRATION, ENCOURAGED CITIZENS TO CALL AND SPEAK TO COUNCIL REGARDING THE DOWNTOWN PROJECT WITH ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS OR SUGGESTIONS COUNCILMEMBER WRIGHT - THANKED THE CLEAN COMMUNITY STAFF FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY REPRESENT FOR OUR CITY, CONGRATULATED CLAUDIE HAWKINS ON THE 4T" OF JULY CELEBRATION, ANNOUNCED THAT HER BIRTHDAY WILL BE ON THURSDAY,.JULY 10, 2008, FAMILY REUNION WILL BE THIS WEEK BETWEEN PORT ARTHUR AND BEAUMONT, CONGRATULATED OLLIE MAY GRAVES FOR BEING WITH THEM, READ A STATEMENT REGARDING THE CLOSING OF THE LOCAL CENSUS OFFICE,ENCOURAGED ALL CITIZENS TO CONTACT THEIR CONGRESSMAN AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES COUNCILMEMBER BEAULIEU- COMMENTED ON THE CENSUS OFFICE AND THAT IT SHOULD BE A CONCERN OF THE CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT AND SURROUNDING AREAS, COMMENTED ON THE AMELIA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING, THRILLED WITH THE LARGE PARTICIPATION COUNCILMEMBER COLEMAN - ENJOYED THE DOWNTOWN PROJECT PRESENTATION, RECOGNIZED TWO BOY SCOUTS, CALEB MCFARLAND AND TRISTAN CHAVEZ WITH TROOP 779, ASKED THAT THE Page 5 of 7 Minutes-July 8,2008 PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR DISCUSS THE CALDER STREET PROJECT CITY ATTORNEY COOPER - NONE CITY MANAGER HAYES - NONE MAYORAMES - THANKED SKYLAR VALLIER, GRANDSON OF COUNCILMEMBER WRIGHT, FOR LEADING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, COMMENTED ON BOY SCOUTS CALEB MCFARLAND AND TRISTAN CHAVEZ ATTENDING THE MEETING AND THAT ONE OF THEM WAS WORKING TOWARDS HIS MERIT BADGE,SUGGESTED THAT IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA FOR EACH COUNCILMEMBER TO SET UP A WARD MEETING AND HAVE THE PRESENTATION FOR THE DOWNTOWN PROJECT PRESENTED AT THE MEETING, COMMENTED ON THE 4T" OF JULY CELEBRATION, RECOGNIZED THE SYMPHONY OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS CONCERT LEAD BY DR. JIMMY SIMMONS THAT WAS HELD AT THE JULIE ROGERS THEATRE, COMMENTED ON THE CALDER PLACE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS 4T" OF JULY PARADE Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) Frank Kiefer 3190 Willowood Beaumont TX Thanked all of Council for the 4th of July celebration, commended Chief Coffin and the police department on traffic control for the 4th of July, spoke regarding Concord Road and the increased cost in 2008, asked that Council not delay this project any longer,also commented on the raw sewage in the Pear Orchard neighborhood Jackie Simien 595 Orleans St. Suite 920 Beaumont TX Appreciated Council for always being there forthe IEA Program, presented Councilmember Jamie Smith with a certificate of appreciation for speaking at the Mini Rogers Juvenile Justice Center Louis Vaughn 9615 Mapes Beaumont TX Commented on flooding in the 3000 block of 11 th St. near Fannett Road, known as the West Oakland Addition as well as other streets, discussed health issues in the Pear Orchard neighborhood due to raw sewage, also commented on the size of the pipes that are being changed Page 6 of 7 Minutes-July 8,2008 Christina Delgadillo 595 Orleans Beaumont TX Spoke on behalf of several properties on the South and North sides of Beaumont, expressed how excited that everyone is about the proposed water way, thanked all of Council and the City Manager for their leadership downtown Mayor Ames asked that the City Manager give a report on the status of the Concord Road Project. The City Manager stated that the Capital Program in 2008 is budgeted for $16 million for the Concord Phase IV Project. In the 2009 Capital Program administration will be increasing that number to$19.2 million,due to concrete prices escalating. The City is waiting on Federal and State approval, the City, at this time, has done all that they can do and cannot go forward until those approvals have been received. There being no Executive Session, Council adjourned at 3:25 p.m. Audio available upon request in the City Clerk's Office. Becky A e ayor it, ; / Tina Broussard, City Clerk I1ti �� Page 7 of 7 Minutes-July 8,2008