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Home My WebLink AboutMIN AUG 09 2016BEAUMONT T E X A S M I N U T E S- CITY OF BEAUMONT W.L. Pate, Jr., At -Large BECKY AMES, MAYOR Gethrel Wright, At -Large Claude F. Guidroz, Ward I CITY COUNCIL MEETING Michael D. Getz, Ward II Audwin Samuel, Ward III August 9, 2016 Robin Mouton, Mayor Pro Tem 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 August 9, 2016, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 801 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas, at 1:30 p.m. to consider the 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 Gerald Smith of Greater Love Zion Church of God in Christ gave the invocation. Mayor Ames led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was made by Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Present at the meeting were Mayor Ames, Mayor Pro Tem Mouton, Councilmembers Guidroz, Getz, Pate (arrived at 136 p.m.) and Samuel. Absent: Councilmember Wright. Also present were Kyle Hayes, City Manager; Tyrone Cooper, City Attorney; Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Proclamations, Presentations, Recognitions None Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-3/Consent Agenda. None CONSENT AGENDA * Approval of minutes — August 2, 2016 * Confirmation of committee appointments - None A) Approve the purchase of Self -Contained Breathing Apparatus from Municipal Emergency Services, Inc., of Houston for use by the Fire Department — Resolution 16 - 141 Minutes — August 9, 2016 Councilmember Getz moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Samuel seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM MOUTON, COUNCILMEMBERS GUIDROZ, GETZ, AND SAMUEL NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider a resolution receiving the proposed FY 2017 Budget and scheduling a public hearing. Article VI, Section 2 of the City Charter requires that the proposed budget be submitted to the Council at least 45 days prior to the beginning of the new fiscal year. In addition, Section 4 requires Council to schedule a public hearing on the proposed budget. The Administration recommends that a public hearing be held on August 23, 2016, at 1:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, located at 801 Main Street. The City Clerk will publish the notice of the public hearing. Councilmember Getz moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE PROPOSED FY 2017 BUDGET HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS HEREBY SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 23, 2016 AT 1:30 P.M. IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 801 MAIN STREET, BEAUMONT, TEXAS, AND THAT THE CITY CLERK IS TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF SAID HEARING PURSUANT TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. Councilmember Samuel seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM MOUTON, COUNCILMEMBERS GUIDROZ, GETZ, PATE AND SAMUEL NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 16 - 142 2. Consider establishing and taking a record vote on the proposed 2016 tax rate and schedule public hearings. Chapter 26 of the Property Tax Code requires taxing units to comply with truth -in -taxation laws in adopting their tax rate and requires the governing body to hold two public hearings when the proposed tax rate exceeds the lower of the rollback rate or the effective rate. Administration recommends Council establish a tax rate required to support the City Manager's proposed budget equal to the current tax rate of $0.69/$100 of valuation. In accordance with Chapter 26 of the Property Tax Code, if the proposed rate exceeds the lower of the rollback rate of $.733081/$100 or the effective tax rate of $.676932/$100, the City Council must take a record vote to place the proposal to adopt the rate on the agenda of a future meeting. The effective tax rate is the rate that would produce the same amount Minutes —August 9, 2016 of taxes in FY 2017 as was produced in FY 2016 if it was applied to the same properties taxed in both years. The proposed tax rate of $0.690000/$100 exceeds the effective tax rate of $.676932/$100 by $.013068/$100 or 1.9%. If the motion passes, two public hearings must be scheduled. It is recommended that the public hearings be held on August 23, 2016 and September 13, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The Administration recommended public hearings be held on August 23, 2016 and September 13, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, located at 801 Main Street. The City Clerk will publish the notice of the public hearing. Mayor Pro Tem Mouton moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE 2016 TAX RATE IS PROPOSED TO BE $0.69 AND THAT THE DATES OF AUGUST 23, 2016 AND SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 BE AND THE SAME ARE HEREBY SET AS THE DATES AT WHICH THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE, THE MEETINGS WILL BE HELD IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 801 MAIN STREET, BEAUMONT, TEXAS AT 1:30 P.M., AUGUST 23, 2016 AND SEPTEMBER 13, 2016, AT WHICH TIME THE COUNCIL WILL RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF $0.69 AND THAT THE CITY CLERK IS TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF SAID PUBLIC HEARING PURSUANT TO V.T.C.A., TAX CODE §26.06. Councilmember Guidroz seconded the motion. Record Vote: Mayor Ames: Yes Councilmember Getz: Yes Mayor Pro Tem Mouton: Yes Councilmember Wright: Absent Councilmember Guidroz: Yes Councilmember Pate: Yes Councilmember Samuel: Yes AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM MOUTON, COUNCILMEMBERS GUIDROZ, GETZ, PATE AND SAMUEL NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 16 - 143 3. Consider a resolution receiving the proposed 2017 Capital Program and scheduling a public hearing. Article VI, Section 2 of the City Charter requires that the proposed budget be submitted to the Council at least 45 days prior to the beginning of the new fiscal year. In addition, Section 4 requires Council to schedule a public hearing on the proposed budget. The Administration recommends that a public hearing be held on August 23, 2016, at 1:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, located at 801 Main Street. The City Clerk will publish the notice of the public hearing. Mayor Pro Tem Mouton moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE PROPOSED FY 2017 CAPITAL PROGRAM HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS HEREBY SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 23, 2016 AT 1:30 P.M., IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 801 MAIN STREET, BEAUMONT, TEXAS, AND THAT THE CITY CLERK IS TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF SAID PUBLIC HEARING Minutes—August 9, 2016 PURSUANT TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. Councilmember Guidroz seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM MOUTON, COUNCILMEMBERS GUIDROZ, GETZ, PATE AND SAMUEL NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 16 — 144 PUBLIC HEARING: Receive comments related to a grant application with the Federal Transit Administration to receive Operating Assistance funds for the Beaumont Municipal Transit System. Opened — 1:40 p.m. Closed — 1:40 p.m. 4. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit a grant application and execute a contract with the Federal Transit Administration to receive Operating Assistance funds for the Beaumont Municipal Transit System. Beaumont Municipal Transit has prepared a grant application for FY 2016 FTA funds. The grant will help fund the labor, fringe benefits, parts and supplies, purchased services, utilities, insurance, licenses, and all other miscellaneous expenses needed for the operation and maintenance of the Beaumont Municipal Transit (BMT) System in FY 2016, the period from October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016. Approval of the resolution. COuncilmember Samuel moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE AND HE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA) TO RECEIVE AN OPERATING ASSISTANCE GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,066,526 FOR THE BEAUMONT MUNICIPAL TRANSIT SYSTEM. Mayor Pro Tem Mouton seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM MOUTON, COUNCILMEMBERS GUIDROZ, GETZ, PATE AND SAMUEL NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 16 — 145 Minutes —August 9, 2016 COMMENTS Councilmembers/City Manager/City Attorney comments on various matters COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS MAYOR PRO TEM MOUTON - CONGRATULATED INIKA MCPHERSON, WHO IS A PORT ARTHUR NATIVE, SHE IS REPRESENTING THE UNITED STATES AND SOUTH EAST TEXAS, IN THE HIGH JUMP IN THE OLYMPICS IN RIO, WISHED HER ALL THE LUCK COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL - ALSO CONGRATULATED MS. MCPHERSON, WISHING HER WELL AND CHOICE BLESSING FOR REPRESENTING THE UNITED STATES, MADE COMMENTS ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF THE INTERSTATE NEAR 'PITH STREET, ON BOTH SIDES GOING UNDERNEATH THE UNDERPASS IT LOOKS TERRIBLE, GRASS IS OVERGROWN, KNOWS THAT THIS IS TXDOT, ASKED THAT ADMINISTRATION CONTACT THEM IN REGARDS TO THIS AREA COUNCILMEMBER PATE - WISHED MS. MCPHERSON WELL ON HER OLYMPIC TRIALS IN RIO, ALSO MADE COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO BABE ZAHARIAS WHO RECEIVED A GOLD MEDAL, ENCOURAGED CITIZENS TO GOOGLE THE OLYMPIANS FROM SOUTH EAST TEXAS TO SEE HOW MANY THERE WERE FROM THIS AREA COUNCILMEMBER WRIGHT - ABSENT COUNCILMEMBER GETZ - AGREED WITH COUNCILMEMBER SAMUELS' COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO THE STATE HIGHWAYS AND HOW BAD THEY ARE, HAS SPOKEN TO TXDOT WHO HAS STATED THAT THEY HAVE MONETARY CONSTRAINTS, ASKED THAT THE CITY THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND LOOK AT OUTSIDE RELIEF, SUCH AS PRISONERS OR PERSONS THAT HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT MAY BE ABLE TO HELP IN THIS AREA, ANNOUNCED MOVIE NIGHT, TONIGHT WILL BE BLUE HAWAII, STARRING ELVIS PRESLEY AND ON FRIDAY NIGHT, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S WILL BE SHOWING, ENCOURAGED EVERYONE TO COME OUT, TICKETS ARE $5.00, AT THE JULIE ROGERS THEATRE COUNCILMEMBER GUIDROZ - AGREED WITH COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL IN REGARDS TO THE STATE HIGHWAYS, STATED THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE CONCEPT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT WANT TO DO GOOD DEEDS, COMMENTED ON THE VIP MAGAZINE IN THE SUNDAY'S PAPER, THE COVER FEATURED RICHARD AND AMY JAMES AND THE MESSINA BROTHERS, ENCOURAGED EVERYONE TO READ THE ARTICLES Minutes — August 9, 2016 CITY ATTORNEY COOPER - NONE CITY MANAGER HAYES - NONE MAYOR AMES - STATED THAT IT WOULDN'T HURT TO CONTACT TXDOT IN REGARDS TO THE HIGH GRASS ALONG THE HIGHWAYS, COMMENTED ON MOVIE NIGHT, AND ALL OF THE EVENTS THAT WERE GOING ON DOWNTOWN ON SATURDAY NIGHT, GLAD TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE MOVING AROUND AND ENJOYING THE DIFFERENT EVENTS Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) Landry Rountree 1565 S. Major Dr. Beaumont TX Stated that he is back again after several times, requesting that the City Council use its power under the City Charter to investigate 1St Assistant City Attorney, Quentin Price, stated that he has followed the direction of the Police Department, has visited with Bob Wortham and those on his staff several times, was told to go and visit with Mr. Wortham after another case was over, he did that and now his file can't be found, thinks that he's getting the run around, stated that Council has the ability and obligation to investigate, left a copy of his complaint with Tina Broussard, City Clerk Rodney Dencklau 3190 Eastex Frwy. #131 Beaumont TX Thanked Councilmember Samuel for stating on the news that a grocery store is needed in the area of Lucas and Concord, stated that he would do anything that Councilmember Samuel needs him to do to help out, also spoke regarding the Parkdale Mall bus route, there's only three buses during the week, and only two on Saturday, the buses can get really crowded, especially when a wheelchair is on the bus, most times it's standing room only, wanted to know if the College St., route can be rerouted or can a fourth bus be added Monday thru Friday or on the first of the month as well as during the holiday shopping season, also wanted to know if there is any way the City can pass an ordinance in regards to a disabled person moving into a rental property and have the ordinance state that landlords have to make the property handicap accessible, the property that he lives in now is not handicap accessible, even though the landlord stated that it would be, he has asked that the landlord make the unit handicap accessible and as of today nothing has been done Herman Davis 3055 Robin Hood Ln. Beaumont TX Encouraged citizens to take pictures and tag them through social media post to places like TxDot, Entergy, etc, they will reach out to any citizen if you get their attention on social media, stated that citizens can take control of issue that go on in the City and on the state highways and not just rely on Council or Staff to handle these issues, commented on Mr. Richard James, thanked Councilmember Guidroz for commenting on him and his wife being featured on the front page of VIP magazine, informed Council on Inika McPherson and when she will be competing in the high jump, which will be Thursday, August 18, 2016, at 8:00 a.m. Minutes — August 9, 2016 Officer Carol Riley 801 Main St. Beaumont TX Gave an update on Officer Danny Valdez, he has had his transplant and is doing well, retired Officer Kibodeaux was his donor who was still in surgery, also commented on those that have been arrested and are getting probation or community service that can help with grass cutting, picking up trash etc., that would be something that she would be interested in working on, announced the Cops and Kids, which will take place on August 20, 2016, from 10:00 a.m., to 2:00 p.m., at the Beaumont Civic Center Open session of meeting recessed at 2:10 p.m. There being no action taken in Executive Session, Council adjourned. t in the City Clerk's Office. Tina Broussard, Minutes — August 9, 2016