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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN SEP 26 2017BEAUMONT 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, Mayor Pro Tem Virginia H. Jordan, Ward I CITY COUNCIL MEETING Michael D. Getz, Ward II Audwin Samuel, Ward III SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 Robin Mouton, 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 in strict compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551 on September 26, 2017, 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 Presentation and Recognition Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda item No. 1-5/Consent Agenda Consent Agenda Mayor Ames called the council meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Time Turner with Wesley United Methodist Church gave the invocation. MayorAmes led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was made by Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Present at the meeting were Mayor Ames, Mayor Pro Tem Wright, Councilmembers Jordan, Getz, Pate, Samuel and Mouton. Also present were Kyle Hayes, City Manager; Tyrone Cooper, City Attorney; Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Proclamations, Presentation, Recognitions Presentation - September 26, 2017 — Gary Chalk, Southeast Texas District Director for CenterPoint Entergy Mayor Ames read the announcement regarding Executive Session being held at the conclusion of the General Business portion of the meeting. Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-5/Consent Agenda None CONSENT AGENDA * Approval of minutes — September 19, 2017 Confirmation of committee appointments — Resolution 17 - 188 Minutes —September 26, 2017 Gillian Jenkins would be reappointed to the Civil Service Commission. The term would expire October 3, 2020. (City Manager Kyle Hayes) A) Approve a resolution approving the write-off of uncollectible EMS and weed accounts — Resolution 17- 189 B) Approve a resolution approving the write-off of uncollectible water accounts — Resolution 17 -190 C) Approve a resolution approving a contract with Garden of Gethsemane Nursery & Landscaping for grounds maintenance of Tyrrell Park — Resolution 17 - 191 D) Authorize the City Manager to execute all -documents necessary to accept funds associated with the "State and Community Highway Safety Grant Program" — Resolution 17 - 192 E), Authorize the City Manager to execute all documents necessary, specifically including a Common Area Advertising Agreement, in order for the Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force to maintain an ad panel display of public information regarding auto thefts at Parkdale Mall — Resolution 17 -193 Councilmember Pate moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Jordan seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT, COUNCILMEMBERS JORDAN, GETZ, PATE, SAMUEL AND MOUTON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider an ordinance adopting the FY 2018 Budget by a record vote. Article VI, Section 8 of the City Charter states that "the budget shall be adopted by the favorable votes of at least a majority of all members of the Council." Section 9 states that "the budget shall be finally adopted not later than the twenty-seventh (27th) day of the last month of the fiscal year. Should the Council take no final action on or prior to such day, the budget as submitted by the City Manager shall be deemed to have, been finally adopted by the Council." Also, SB 1760 provides that if the tax rate exceeds the effective tax rate, the vote on the ordinance setting the tax rate must be a record vote and must be approved by at least 60 percent of the members of the governing body. If the tax rate vote fails, then the lower of the effective rate or prior year tax rate will be the tax rate. Section 102.007 of the Government Code requires the vote to adopt a budget to be a record vote. In addition, the adopted budget will contain a cover page that includes the statement on whether the budget will raise more, less or the same amount of property taxes as the prior year, the record vote of each member of council by name, property tax rates for the preceding and current fiscal years, the effective tax rate, the effective maintenance and operations rate, the rollback tax rate, and the debt rate, along with the amount of debt secured by property taxes. This information is required to be posted on the city's website Minutes — September 26, 2017 and remain there for one year after adoption of the budget. The FY 2018 Budget was submitted to Council on August 15, 2017, and reviewed during a work session on September 12, 2017. A public hearing was held on September 12, 2017, which met the requirements of the Charter and state law. Approval of ordinance. Council moved to ADOPT AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE REFERRED TO AS THE "ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE" ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL PERIOD BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2017, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2018, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT; APPORTIONING THE FUNDS OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY. RECORD VOTE: MAYOR AMES — YES COUNCILMEMBER PATE -YES MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT — YES COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL -YES COUNCILMEMBER JORDAN — YES COUNCILMEMBER MOUTON - YES COUNCILMEMBER GETZ —YES MOTION PASSED Ordinance 17 — 060 2. Consider a resolution adopting the 2018 Capital Program. Article VI, Section 20 states that "the Council shall, by resolution, adopt the Capital Program with or without amendment after the public hearing and on or before the twenty-seventh (27th) day of the last month of the current fiscal year." The Capital Program was originally submitted to Council on May 15, 2017. It was submitted to Council on August 15, 2017 with the Budget, and reviewed during a work session on September 12, 2017. A public hearing was also held on September 12, 2017. Approval of the resolution. Mayor Pro Tem Wright moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE FY 2018 CAPITAL PROGRAM IS HEREBY ADOPTED AND THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2017. Councilmember Mouton seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT, COUNCILMEMBERS JORDAN, GETZ, PATE, SAMUEL AND MOUTON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 17 — 194 Minutes — September 26, 2017 3. Consider an ordinance accepting the tax roll and establishing the property tax rate for the tax year 2017 (FY 2018). The Jefferson County Appraisal District submitted the Certified Tax Roll on July 20, 2017, in the amount of $7,426,450,851. Based on this taxable value, a property tax rate of $0.71/$100 valuation for the tax year 2017 (FY 2018) is proposed, which is 2 cents more than the current rate. The tax rate would be apportioned $0.490585/$100 assessed valuation to the General Fund and $0.219415/$100 assessed valuation to the Debt Service Fund. As required by Section 26.05 of the Tax Code: The tax rate consists of two components, each of which must be approved separately by a record vote and at least 60 percent of the governing body must vote in favor of the ordinance. That ordinance must include the following statement: "THIS TAX RATE WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE". Approval of ordinance. Council moved to ADOPT AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING THE TAX ROLL FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT; ESTABLISHING A TAX RATE; PROVIDING FOR LEVYING, ASSESSING AND COLLECTING OF AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE TAX YEAR 2017 (FY 2018); PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL. 1.. Approval of the Tax Rate for Maintenance and Operations. This rate is $0.490585/$100 assessed valuation to the General Fund. Motion made by Councilmember Jordan RECORD VOTE: MAYOR AMES — YES MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT — YES COUNCILMEMBER JORDAN — YES COUNCILMEMBER GETZ — YES COUNCILMEMBER PATE -YES COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL - YES COUNCILMEMBER MOUTON -YES 2. Approval of the Tax Rate for the interest and sinking rate. This rate is $0.219415/$100 assessed valuation to the Debt Service Fund. Motion made by Councilmember Samuel RECORD VOTE: MAYOR AMES — YES MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT — YES COUNCILMEMBER JORDAN — YES COUNCILMEMBER GETZ — YES COUNCILMEMBER PATE -YES COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL -YES COUNCILMEMBER MOUTON -YES 3. Approval of Property Tax Rate of $0.71/$100 valuation for the tax year 2017 (FY2018). Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Wright Minutes — September 26, 2017 4 5 RECORD VOTE: MAYOR AMES — YES MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT — YES COUNCILMEMBER JORDAN — YES COUNCILMEMBER GETZ — YES MOTION PASSED Ordinance 17 - 061 COUNCILMEMBER PATE - YES COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL - YES COUNCILMEMBER MOUTON -YES Consider an ordinance ratifying the budgeted property tax increase reflected in the FY 2018 Budget. Section 102 of the Local Government Code includes the following: "Adoption of a budget that will require raising more revenue from property taxes than in the previous year requires a separate vote of the governing body to ratify the property tax increase reflected in the budget. A vote under this subsection is in addition to and separate from the vote to adopt the budget or a vote to set the tax rate required by Chapter 26, Tax Code, or other law." The current tax rate of $0.69 per $100 assessed valuation will increase by $0.02 per $100 to $0.71 per $100 of assessed valuation. The budgeted revenue from property taxes is expected to be $2,626,000 more than FY 2017. Of this amount, $539,095 is attributable to new property added to the tax roll this year. Approval of ordinance. Councilmember Mouton moved to ADOPT AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE RATIFYING THE BUDGETED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE FY 2018 BUDGET. Councilmember Jordan seconded the motion. RECORD VOTE: MAYOR AMES — YES MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT — YES COUNCILMEMBER JORDAN — YES COUNCILMEMBER GETZ — YES MOTION PASSED Ordinance 17 - 062 COUNCILMEMBER PATE -YES COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL - YES COUNCILMEMBER MOUTON -YES Consider a resolution approving various contracts for the purchase of traffic marking materials. Bids were requested for annual contracts to supply signage, sign materials, hardware, specialty paints, traffic control materials and thermoplastic materials for use by various divisions within Public Works. Bids were requested from eight vendors and four submitted bid responses. Specifications were divided into eight materials sections and required that each section be awarded to the Minutes — September 26, 2017 lowest overall bidder who bid the entire section and complied with the required specifications. Contracts are recommended as follows: General Fund and Capital Program. Approval of the resolution. Councilmember Pate moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE BIDS SUBMITTED BY THE VENDORS FOR ANNUAL CONTRACTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF TRAFFIC MARKING MATERIALS AND TRAFFIC MARKING MATERIALS AND TRAFFIC CONTROL MATERIALS IN THE ESTIMATED TOTAL AMOUNTS OF $577,336.55 AND THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE AND HE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH EACH OF THE VENDORS. Councilmember Samuel seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT, COUNCILMEMBERS JORDAN, GETZ, PATE, SAMUEL AND MOUTON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED RESOLUTION 17 -195 COMMENTS Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) Talsha Davis P.O. Box 7288 Beaumont TX Spoke to Council regarding employee raises for the four employees that Council supervises, stated that right now is not the time to consider raises, the City has been hit hard, people have lost everything and are still losing everything, a couple of weeks ago it was stated that the City was going through a healing time, made a statement that last year the City Manager was given a raise, it was stated that he was going to retire, instead of giving him a retirement party Council gave him a $38,000 increase, the City Manager stated he would stay through the election, but still he remains in his seat, discussed several cities and their populations and what their City Managers salary is and the cost per citizen, stated that she has been looking for some type of evaluation that would give raises, it's her understanding that there was to be an evaluation on this year but it hasn't been done, the ball has been dropped somewhere within the last year, also made comments regarding the City Attorney, stated Minutes — September 26, 2017 SECTION VENDOR EST. TOTAL AMOUNT 1- Sign Blanks Vulcan, Inc., Foley, AL. $36,226.25 2- Sign Faces Vulcan, Inc. Foley, AL. $ 4,816.00 3- Finished Signs Vulcan, Inc. Foley, AL. $37,307.45 4- Sheet Material Vulcan, Inc. Foley, AL. $50,708.55 5- Hardware Trantex, Inc. Houston, TX. $364,865.00 6- Marking Materials Trantex, Inc. Houston, TX. $ 16,620.00 7- Paint Trantex, Inc. Houston, TX. $ 45,394.70 8- Traffic Control Equip R&B Supply, Groves, TX. $ 21,398.60 TOTAL $577,336.55 General Fund and Capital Program. Approval of the resolution. Councilmember Pate moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE BIDS SUBMITTED BY THE VENDORS FOR ANNUAL CONTRACTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF TRAFFIC MARKING MATERIALS AND TRAFFIC MARKING MATERIALS AND TRAFFIC CONTROL MATERIALS IN THE ESTIMATED TOTAL AMOUNTS OF $577,336.55 AND THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE AND HE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH EACH OF THE VENDORS. Councilmember Samuel seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT, COUNCILMEMBERS JORDAN, GETZ, PATE, SAMUEL AND MOUTON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED RESOLUTION 17 -195 COMMENTS Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) Talsha Davis P.O. Box 7288 Beaumont TX Spoke to Council regarding employee raises for the four employees that Council supervises, stated that right now is not the time to consider raises, the City has been hit hard, people have lost everything and are still losing everything, a couple of weeks ago it was stated that the City was going through a healing time, made a statement that last year the City Manager was given a raise, it was stated that he was going to retire, instead of giving him a retirement party Council gave him a $38,000 increase, the City Manager stated he would stay through the election, but still he remains in his seat, discussed several cities and their populations and what their City Managers salary is and the cost per citizen, stated that she has been looking for some type of evaluation that would give raises, it's her understanding that there was to be an evaluation on this year but it hasn't been done, the ball has been dropped somewhere within the last year, also made comments regarding the City Attorney, stated Minutes — September 26, 2017 that the position can be contracted out and wondered if the city has considered this course of action, made mention of a neighborhood that hasn't seen their Councilmember at all, they haven't been given any type of evacuation procedures and lost everything, stated that whoever the Councilmember is needs to get with that neighborhood because they don't know who she is Gualalupe Clark 9670 Meadowcreek Dr. Beaumont TX Spoke to Council regarding street lights that were out after the storm in her neighborhood, she went around in her neighborhood and noted all the street lights that were out and reported them to Entergy, when the report was made to Entergy she was reprimanded for reporting lights in the neighborhood where she didn't live, Entergy stated to her that the citizens that live on those streets were the ones that should have called and made the report and not her, Ms. Clark stated that she was only trying to be a good neighbor and make the report because a lot of her neighbors hadn't returned after the storm Chris Watkins 745 Roberts St. Beaumont TX Commented on the raise that would be given to the City Manager, stated that the City Manager was given a 20 percent raise on last year and that he was only supposed to stay with the City until after the 2017 election, the election is over and he is still the City Manager and now the Council wants to give him another raise, this was something that was obviously planned from the beginning and there was never going to be a retirement, also asked Council who would give a raise to a City Manager of 16 plus years in a City that has a stagnant population and sales tax revenue under his leadership, he has failed at revitalize downtown after spending millions of dollars of taxpayers money trying, who used the General Fund to balance the budget for several years, who cost the city millions of dollars in settling a lawsuit under his leadership, whose leadership had the City without drinking water for eleven days, who has had .a large number of department heads leave in the last year Christopher Jones 1045 Doucette Beaumont TX Spoke to Council regarding the Executive Session, stated that he knows that this particular session deals with not just raises but with evaluations for the appointed officials, the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and City Magistrate, as a representative of what he calls the sleeping giant here in Beaumont and those are mainly individuals that are intimidated by these positions, there are two particular positions that are listed on Executive Session which is the City Manager and the City Attorney, which are in question by the citizens in the City of Beaumont because of their lack of performance and or extensive research to save the City money and lives, they are asking for the reinstallation of the City Clerk and the City Magistrate as well as pay increases for those two, as far the City Manager and the City Attorney they are asking for their termination and or resignation Michelle Ardoin 3155 French Rd. Apt. 21 Beaumont TX Stated to Council that it was their responsibility to evaluate before rewarding or holding accountable the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk, mentioned major mistakes that the City Manager and or the City Attorney made without any accountability, such as the discrimination against women in the Police Department that cost tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars, discrimination against the disabled by using policies proposed by the City Manager and approved by the City Attorney that recently cost the taxpayers over Minutes — September 26, 2017 $800,000, the failure to revitalize downtown, a lack of vision and action to attract people to the City, dismantling of the Water Department, asked Council what it would take for them to do the job they were elected to do, when will the employees be held accountable for their mistakes, also stated that on today Council should be discussing which independent company will conduct an investigation instead of discussing how much of a raise will be given to the City Manager and the City Attorney whose mistakes shut down the City for 11 days without water and costing businesses millions of dollars, shutting down hospitals, evacuating nursing homes and jeopardizing public health and safety J. D. Roberts 5475 Landry Ln. Beaumont TX Thanked Mayor and Council for their well wishes while he was in the hospital, a copy of a letter was passed out to Council, the letter was hand delivered to Mr. Wheeler and City Manager Kyle Hayes, pertaining to SOC (Save our Children) purchasing some City property, stated that he never heard anything after the letter was delivered, a call was made to his Councilmember who looked into the issue for him, the information that he received was that the offer wasn't a serious offer, the offer was made due to an appraisal from the Jefferson County Appraisal District, it was his understanding that things like this were supposed to come before Council, this never came before Council as far as he knows, at this time he's bringing it forth and asked Council to please consider the proposal that he has made, asked them to go out and take a look at the building and see if it's worth $39,000.00 or if a life is worth more than $39,000.00, he is still interested in purchasing the building Jason Marshburn 1070 Monterrey Dr. Beaumont TX Spoke to Council regarding the evaluation that they are about to do, stated people are hurting and have lost everything, this is a token gesture not to give people raises right now, there are a lot of things that need to be taken care of throughout the City, if a raise is given it would probably not be accepted by the citizens Councilmembers/City Manager/City Attorney comments on various matters COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER GETZ - STATED THAT HE LISTENED TO THE CITIZENS TODAY IN REGARDS TO RAISES FOR THE FOUR EMPLOYEES THAT COUNCIL SUPERVISES, MENTIONED THAT HE ALSO ADDRESSED THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND TOLD THEM THAT HE DIDN'T THINK THAT IT WAS THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR THEM TO BE GIVING RAISES BECAUSE SO MANY CITIZENS HAVE LOST SO MUCH DURING HARVEY, THE 2% RAISE FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE GIVEN AS WELL AS FIRE AND POLICE SHOULD BE GIVEN THEIR CONTRACTUAL RAISES ALSO, THINKS WHAT HE HEARD THE CITIZENS TALK ABOUT ARE THE FOUR POSITIONS THAT THE COUNCIL DIRECTLY SUPERVISE, THAT THEY NOT GET INCREASES, DIDN'T HEAR ANYONE SAY ANYTHING REGARDING CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES NOT GETTING A 2% COST OF LIVING INCREASE (THE MAYOR ASKED COUNCILMEMBER GETZ IF SHE COULD STOP HIM FOR JUST A MOMENT, SHE STATED THAT WHAT HE'S DISCUSSING IS A POSTED ITEM, STATED HE'S GOING AROUND THE COUNCILAND Minutes — September 26, 2017 DISCUSSING SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVEN'T EVEN DISCUSSED FOR ANY OF THE FOUR PEOPLE THAT THEY SUPERVISE, STATED THAT SHE DIDN'T THINK THAT IT'S FAIR TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL, IN HER OPINION, TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TALKED ABOUT YET, THERE WERE ALSO STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE ON FACEBOOK ABOUT THE OUTCOME, ASKED COUNCIL TO SUPPORT HER ON THIS, ASKED THAT HE NOT SPEAK ABOUT THIS UNTIL AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE MAYOR ASKED IF ANY COUNCILMEMBER DISAGREED WITH HER, COUNCILMEMBER JORDAN STATED SHE AGREED WITH THE MAYOR AS WELL AS MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT THAT THE TOPIC SHOULD BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE MAYOR STATED THAT SHE'S GOING ON RECORD AND ASKING COUNCILMEMBER GETZ NOT TO SPEAK OF THIS ISSUE UNTIL AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION COUNCILMEMBER GETZ THEN ASKED IF THERE WOULD BE AN EVALUATIONS DONE FOR THE FOUR EMPLOYEES, HE ALSO WANTED TO KNOW IF THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY TO ISOLATE A RAISE FOR THE FOUR EMPLOYEES THAT THEY SUPERVISE FROM THE EMPLOYEES AS A WHOLE, IS THERE A MANDATE THAT THE SAME 2% RAISE BE GIVEN TO THE FOUR EMPLOYEES THAT THEY SUPERVISE (THE QUESTION WAS DIRECTED TO THE CITY MANAGER WHO STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION) COUNCILMEMBER GETZ THEN STATED THAT ON LAST WEEK IT WAS SAID THAT A GREAT JOB WAS DONE RESPONDING TO HURRICANE HARVEY, HE STATED HE WOULD LIKE A DEBRIEFING GIVEN TO COUNCIL AND FOR THEM ALL TO GO OUT AND LOOK AT THE PUMP STATIONS ETC., AND COULD THERE BE A WORKSESSION DONE ON THIS, THE MANAGER STATED THAT DAMAGES ARE STILL BEING ASSESSED, THE MAYOR CAN SET A DATE AS TO WHEN THE DEBRIEFING CAN HAPPEN, THAT WON'T BE UNTIL AFTER EVERYTHING HAS BEEN ASSESSED, THE MAYOR STATED THAT SHE WON'T SET A DATE UNTIL ALL ASSESSMENTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, SHE WILL THEN LET EVERYONE KNOW OF THE DATE COUNCILMEMBER JORDAN - NONE MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT - STATED THAT SHE WAS IN FAVOR OF ALL EMPLOYEES THAT COUNCIL DOESN'T GOVERN TO GET A 2% RAISE, THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK LOST EVERYTHING AND STILL WORKED HARD DURING THE STORM, NOT ONLY WOULD SHE LIKE FOR THEM TO GET THE 2% RAISE SHE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THEM GET A BONUS, THIS IS JUST HER OPINION, MENTIONED THAT AFTER EVERY HURRICANE THERE IS A DEBRIEFING DONE, BELIEVES THAT IS WHY THE CITY DID SO WELL THIS TIME BECAUSE IT WAS NOTED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER AFTER HURRICANE RITA, THANKED ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT VISITED Minutes — September 26, 2017 COUNCIL TODAY, THANKED CENTERPOINT ENERGY FOR THE DONATION, STATED SHE RECEIVED PHONES CALLS ABOUT HOW HAPPY CITIZENS WERE THAT THE WATER WAS BACK ON SO FAST, TALKED OF HER LOVE FOR THE CITY AND HER BEING BORN HERE, BEAUMONT IS A GOOD CITY AND HAS LESS FLAWS THAN MOST, OFFERED CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF DR. ATAYA AND MARY FORD COUNCILMEMBER PATE - THANKED CENTERPOINT ENERGY FOR THE DONATION, THANKED EOC FOR THE GREAT JOB THEY DID, MENTIONED HOW WELL IT'S RUN, BETTER THAN ANY THAT HE HAS EVER SEEN, COMMENTED ON THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE EXCEPTIONAL JOB THEY DID, THANKED THE CITIZEN THAT TOOK NOTES ON THE STREET LIGHTS THAT WERE OUT IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD AND REPORTED THEM, GAVE CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF ROY WEST, SR., MARY DOWERS, AND CARLO BUSCEME III, THEY ALL PLAYED A TREMENDOUS ROLE IN MAKING BEAUMONT A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, STATED HE KNOWS THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE MAD AT THE NFL AND THAT'S YOUR CHOICE, BUT IF YOU SUPPORT LAMAR UNIVERSITY THEN COME OUT ON SATURDAY NIGHT, THE GAME STARTS AT 7:00 P.M. COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL - STATED THAT HE WAS A BIT PERPLEXED, IN THE PACKET HE RECEIVED THERE WAS NO MENTION OR DISCUSSION OF A RAISE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES OR ANYONE ELSE, EXECUTIVE SESSION AS HE UNDERSTOOD WAS TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATED TO APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT, DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER, THROUGHOUT THE WEEK THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT RAISES FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, CONTRACT EMPLOYEES AND APPOINTED EMPLOYEES, THERE IS NOTHING THAT HE HAS SEEN IN HIS INFORMATION THAT THIS WAS BEING CONSIDERED, THERE WAS DISCUSSION AS THOUGH THIS WAS AN AGENDA ITEM OR AN ITEM TO BE DISCUSSED TODAY, STATED THAT HE HAS PREVIOUSLY SAID THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS SOME TYPE POLICY ON HOW THEY DEAL WITH ISSUES SO THAT ANY INFORMATION GOING OUT TO ONE COUNCILMEMBER SHOULD GO TO ALL COUNCILMEMBERS, THAT HAS BEEN THE BASIS OF HIS REQUEST OVER THE YEARS, HOW IT REACHED THIS POINT HE WASN'T SURE, AS FAR AS THE COMMENT THAT WAS MADE ABOUT THE NFL PLAYERS AND THEIR ATTITUDES, EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OF THEIR BELIEFS AND IDEAS, THEY ARE NOT SOB'S OR INCONSIDERATE, THAT IS A PART OF A RIGHT THAT WE HAVE AS A CITIZEN OF THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, STATED THAT HE DOESN'T TAKE THIS PROCESS LIGHTLY Minutes — September 26, 2017 COUNCILMEMBER MOUTON - GAVE CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF CARLO BUSCEME, COMMENTED ON THE REMARKS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT RAISES, THE COST OF LIVING RAISE IS SOMETHING THAT WAS BUDGETED LONG BEFORE HARVEY CAME, SO TO COMPARE AND LUMP HARVEY WITH A COST OF LIVING RAISE THAT HAS BEEN BUDGETED MONTHS BEFORE WE EVEN KNEW THERE WOULD BE A HURRICANE IS JUST WRONG, THE COST OF LIVING RAISE IS SO DESERVING OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, VERY PROUD OF THE WAY THE EMPLOYEES STEPPED UP WHEN THEY LOST EVERYTHING AND THEIR FAMILIES NEEDED THEM BUT STILL CONTINUED TO WORK TO HELP OTHERS, AS THE MAYOR STATED THE EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE FOUR EMPLOYEES THAT REPORT TO COUNCIL HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSED AND SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED OR MENTIONED IN OPEN SESSION, IT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, IT'S NOT FOR THE. PUBLIC, IT'S FOR THE COUNCIL TO MAKE THE DECISION, ALSO COMMENTED ON THE MOTHERS OF THE NFL PLAYERS REGARDING NAMES THAT THEY WERE CALLED WAS HURTFUL AND INAPPROPRIATE, GLAD THAT THE NFL TOOK THAT STANCE THAT THEY DID CITY ATTORNEY COOPER - NONE CITY MANAGER HAYES - NONE MAYOR AMES - MADE COMMENTS TO MS. CLARK THAT SPOKE EARLIER DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING THE STREET LIGHTS, STATED THAT THERE IS A NUMBER ON THE LIGHT POLE THAT CAN BE CALLED, ALSO MADE MENTION OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES AND THAT SHE PERSONALLY SAW CITY EMPLOYEES WORK DAY AND NIGHT, THEY LOST THEIR HOMES AND WERE STILL WORKING TIRELESSLY THROUGH THE STORM, PRAISED THEM FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK Open session of meeting recessed at 3:05 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION * Consider matters related to appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee in accordance with Section 551.074 of the Government Code to wit: City Manager — Kyle Hayes City Attorney — Tyrone Cooper City Clerk — Tina Broussard Chief Magistrate — Craig Lively Minutes — September 26, 2017 There b ing n actio taken in Beck es, Jor' Tina Broussard, City Clerk tive Session, Council ed. Minutes —September 26, 2017