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Home My WebLink AboutMIN JAN 04 1983 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD JANUARY 4 , 1983 BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas met in regular session this the 4th day of January, 1983, with the following present: HONORABLE: William E. Neild Mayor Bill Cox Councilman, Ward I Evelyn M. Lord Councilman, Ward II Joseph D. Deshotel Councilman, Ward III Wayne Turner Councilman, Ward IV Also Present: Ray Riley City Manager Hugh Earnest Asst. City Manager Lane Nichols Asst. City Attorney Myrtle Corgey City Clerk -0- The invocation was given by Pastor Bob Arnold of the Touch Christian Center. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Lord. -0- A resolution (numbered 83-01) was introduced by the City Manager to conditionally award a construction contract for the Segment 66 Inter- ceptor as a project of the grant-assisted sanitary sewer improvement program. This project is subject to approval by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Department of Water Resources. The resolution was approved on a motion by Councilman Deshotel and seconded by Councilman Lord. Question: Ayes : All Nayes: None -0- A resolution (numbered 83-02) was introduced by the Manager to authorize execution of an attestation of intent to continue the South East Texas Employment and Training Consortium Agreement. The resolution was approved on a motion by Councilman Deshotel and seconded by Councilman Lord. Question: Ayes: All Nayes : None -0- A resolution (numbered 83-03) was introduced by the Manager which would authorize the execution of an agreement with the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission for the use of funds available under Section 8 of the Urban Mass Transportion Act. The resolution was approved on a motion by Councilman Lord and seconded by Councilman Cox. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -0- An ordinance (numbered 83-01) suspending the proposed Entex rate in- crease, scheduling a public hearing to be held February 15, 1983 , at 1: 15 in the City Council Chambers , City Hall, was introduced and the caption read: ORD. 83-01 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE SUSPENDING THE OPERATION OF PROPOSED RATE SCHEDULES OF ENTEX, INC. ; CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING THEREON; AUTHORIZING EMPLOYMENT AND PAYMENT OF CONSULTANTS; ASSESSING THE EXPENSES THEREOF AGAINST ENTEX, INC. ; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY. The ordinance was passed on a motion by Councilman Turner and seconded by Councilman Deshotel. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -0- -1- January 4 , 1983 A resolution (numbered 83-04) was introduced to authorize the renewal of a lease agreement with the Beaumont Art League for the use of premises at Fair Park. Renewal of the lease was approved on a motion by Councilman Deshotel and seconded by Councilman Lord. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -0- A Public Hearing was called by the Mayor for the purpose of considering certain properties within the City as dilapidated structures. Mr. George Gardner stated that the required notices had been served to each owner of listed structures and recommended that the following list of properties be razed within 30 days. 973 Bonham (15 violations) 975 Bonham (12 violations) ---------------Sunlight Baptist Church, Owner 3030 W. Crockett (14 violations) ---------Janie Bowman, Owner 645 Elm (23 violations) ------------------Julia Routt Estate 2146 Irving (22 violations) --------------Aaron Jefferson, Jr. ,Owner 2080 011ie (14 violations) --------------Margie Dalcour, Owner There being no owners of the properties present at the meeting, the Ordinance declaring the buildings to be a public nuisance was presented. ORD. 83-02 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE FINDING CERTAIN STRUCTURES TO BE PUBLIC NUISANCES, AND ORDERING REPAIR OR DEMOLITION; PROVIDING A PENALTY; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY. The ordinance passed on a motion by Councilman Lord and seconded by Councilman Deshotel. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -0- Councilman Lord asked that the City Attorney look into the advisability of establishing a Human Resources Commission, not as a funding commission, but rather one of advisory nature, to assist Council in channeling funds that, hopefully, will come directly to the City rather than going through the State in the months ahead. Mrs. Lord said that there are a lot of human needs that will have to be met and would like all of Council to consider an advisory commission to advise as to how the funds might best be used. Councilman Deshotel stated that he supported the idea suggested by Mrs. Lord and also that he would like to commend Entex and Gulf States Utilities on their program aiding the elderly and those on fixed incomes and would hope that the City can be as helpful,as the law will allow, in helping people with economic problems and that a human resources commission could be of assistance in that area. Councilman Cox also spoke in support of the idea and felt that a Human Resources Committee would be helpful in the future - also commended Utility Companies for their assistance program to the needy. -0- Councilman Turner recommended that at any time the staff initiates an investigation for a dilapidated structure, public nuisance structure, where there is an occupant, that the Council be informed at that point in time. The Manager said that this would pose no problem; whenever the staff initiates an inspection Council can be advised that the investigation is in progress. -0- -2- January 4 , 1983 Councilman Cox said he had received a number of calls pertaining to no parking zones, especially on College Street, from businesses in approximately the 1300 - 1500 blocks on College, that people are parking in no parking zones which is impeding traffic and also is close to a school zone, and results in cutting the traffic flow to a two lane rather than a four lane street. The Manager responded that they are aware of the problem and it is causing a real problem, that those no parking zones were created approximately four years ago at the same time no parking zones were created on Calder - He told the Council that he expected design for review by Council before spring on the work to be done on College from Main Street all the way to Fourth Street and that a part of the con- sideration in the schematic will be the widening of certain intersections to provide turning lanes and in some areas where parking is provided during the day but not allowed from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. , or other hours, consideration will have to be given to removing that restriction to allow two full moving lanes in both directions. Currently the Trans- portation Dept. is reviewing the problem and an attempt is being made to try to provide for a smooth movement of the traffic. A preliminary report is expected for Council within 60 days. Councilman Deshotel asked if anyone had ever looked into the intersection of Corley and Fourth Street, where numerous accidents occur when traffic attempts to turn left from Fourth onto Corley. He asked if perhaps a left turn arrow could be installed. The Manager said this probably will be considered when Corley Street is paved but that in the interim the Transportation Division could take a look to see if something could be done - perhaps a protected left turn and will ask that they give it special consideration because the construction will not begin on Corley for 6 months to a year, de- pending on the Cartwright Street drainage project. -0- The Mayor commended George Gardner for doing a good job on trying to improve the City' s appearance by eliminating dilapidated structures; he referred to a visit from a citizen who complained about a next door eyesore because of trash and junk. The Mayor said he went out and look- ed at the site, taking photographs, and agreed that it looked bad for all the neighborhood and that he could only commend Mr. Gardner for pressing forward on other such properties. The Mayor referred specifi- cally to 1300 Lincoln as the address he had reviewed. -0- There being no citizen who wished to address Council the Mayor recessed the meeting before workshop. -0- I Myrtle Corley, City Clerk of the City of Beaumont , Texas, certify that the above is a true copy ()f the Minutes of the regular City Council session held January 4 , 1983. myrtle Corley City Clerk -3- January 4, 1983