HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN FEB 22 2000 M I N U T E S - CITY OF BEAUMONT
Lulu L.Smith DAVID W. MOORE,MAYOR Guy N.Goodson,Mayor Pro Tem
Andrew P.Cokinos CITY COUNCIL MEETING Becky Ames
Bobbie J.Patterson February 22,2000 Audwin Samuel
Lane Nichols,City Attorney Stephen J.Bonczek,City Manager Barbara Liming,City Clerk
The City Council of the City of Beaumont,Texas,met in a regular session on February 22,2000,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
* Consent Agenda
Mayor Moore called the meeting to order at 1:32 p.m. City Attorney Lane Nichols gave the invocation. Mr.
Bill Munson, Beaumont Transit Director, led the pledge of allegiance.
Present at the meeting were: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tem Goodson, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos,
Ames, Samuel and Patterson. Also present were: Stephen J. Bonczek, City Manager; Lane Nichols, City
Attorney; and Barbara Liming, City Clerk.
*Presentations and Recognitions - There were no presentations.
*Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items.
*Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Regular Agendas.
There were no public comments.
* Consent Agenda
* Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting held February 15, 2000.
* Confirmation of committee appointments: There were no committee appointments.
A) Approve the purchase of a pneumatic pipe bursting unit for use by the Public Works Department,
Water Utilities Division(from T.T.Technologies,Inc.,of Aurora,IL,in the amount of$66,394.81)-
Resolution 00-52
B) Authorize eminent domain proceedings to acquire Parcel 92 for the Concord Road Project (0.035 acre
out of Lots 5 and 6,Block 2, South Woodlawn Addition,4207 Concord Road, from Aaron J. Hunter
and Darrol L. Riley, in the amount of$3,200)- Resolution 00-53
C) Authorize proceedings of eminent domain to acquire Parcel 7 of the Walden Road Improvement
Project(0.1548 acre,Charles William Survey,Abstract 59,6340 Walden Road, from Jack W.Moon,
in the amount of$7,511) -Resolution 00-54
D) Approve a contract to Beaumont Products and Services, Inc., for arterial litter removal (at a rate of
$11.50 per hour,per person worked) - Resolution 00-55
E) Approve a contract for the purchase of water treatment chemicals (to Southern Ionics, Inc. -
Aluminum Sulfate at $123.20 per ton; Harcros Chemicals, Inc. - Fluorosilicic Acid at $126 per ton
and Aqua Ammonia at $331 per ton; ALTIVIA Corp - Liquid Chlorine at $302 per ton; and Stiles-
Kim Division-Phosphate at$1,880 per ton; for a total expenditure of$268,450)-Resolution 00-56
F) Approve a six(6)month contract for the purchase of sodium hydroxide(to DX Distributors,Inc. for
an estimated total expenditure of$54,600) -Resolution 00-57
Councilmember moved Cokinos to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Samuel seconded the
motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Goodson, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos,
Ames, Samuel, and Patterson
Noes: None
GENERAL BUSINESS
1. Consider approving an ordinance calling the General Election for May 6,2000 and a Runoff Election,
if necessary, for May 20, 2000 to elect a Mayor and two (2) Councilmembers-At-Large
Councilmember Cokinos moved to approve Ordinance No.00-20 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE OF THE
CITY OF BEAUMONT,TEXAS,PROVIDING FOR A GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE 6T"DAY OF
MAY 2000,FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MAYOR AND TWO(2) COUNCILMEMBERS-AT-LARGE;
DESIGNATING POLLING PLACES AND APPOINTING ELECTION OFFICIALS FOR SUCH ELECTION;
PROVIDING THE FORM OF THE BALLOT AT SUCH ELECTION;DIRECTING THE GIVING OF NOTICE OF
SUCH ELECTION;ORDERING A RUNOFF ELECTION IF NECESSARY TO BE HELD ON THE 20TH DAY OF
MAY 2000; PROVIDING FOR A JOINT ELECTION WITH THE BEAUMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
DISTRICT;AND CONTAINING OTHERPROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT. Councilmember Smith
seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Goodson, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos,
Ames, Samuel, and Patterson
Noes: None
2. Consider a request to correct Ordinance No. 99-12 to remove the following: ". . .subject to the
retention of a general utility and drainage easement . . . "
Councilmember Patterson moved to approve Ordinance No. 00-21 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE
ABANDONING A GENERAL UTILITY AND DRAINAGE EASEMENT IN BLOCK 5, PEAR ORCHARD
ADDITION, AND BLOCK 60, JEF CHAISON 2ND ADDITION IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON
COUNTY,TEXAS RETAINED BY ORDINANCE NO.99-12. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion.
MOTION PASSED.
Minutes;February 22,2000;Page 2
Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Goodson, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos,
Ames, Samuel, and Patterson
Noes: None
3. Consider to declare the structure located at 2545-65 S. Sixth Street to be a dangerous structure and
order the owner to raze said structure within ten (10) days. If the property owner fails to comply
within ten(10)days, staff is requesting City Council authorization to demolish the structure without
further notification to the property owner or further City Council action
Councilmember Smith moved to approve Ordinance No. 00-22 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE
CONCERNING THE DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL OF THE STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 2545-65 S. SIXTH
STREET; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY. Councilmember Ames
seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tem Goodson, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos, Ames,
Samuel, and Patterson
Noes: None
COMMENTS
* Councilmembers comment on various subjects
Councilmember Goodson thanked Gladys Allen for her persistence in working with the Amelia Park
Project,stated that Chevron Pipeline Company has delivered a deed to the City for almost 6 acres of
land which will assist in providing the ten acres needed for the park.
Councilmember Cokinos commented that he has received several calls regarding trash at the College
Street bus stop and asked Mr. Bill Munson of the Transit System to address rectification of the
problem.
Mr.Munson stated that he was contacted by the City Manager's office regarding the problem with the
bus stop at Pinchback and College, and explained that according to the City's bus bench ordinance,
Benchmark Advertising is responsible for retaining insurance and cleaning up the trash at this site.
Mr.Munson stated that when he was notified,Transit employees were sent to clean up the trash at the
bus stop, however, it is not the City's responsibility to clean up this area.
Councilmember Samuel reported that he attended the Avenues Association meeting last evening; it
was well attended; and he is happy to see that they are moving forward and making progress.
Councilmember Patterson announced that the South Park Neighborhood Association will hold their
monthly meeting Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at South Park Baptist Church,and the featured speaker will
be Housing Director Richard Chappell. She asked Mr. Bill Munson to expound on a plan that has
been devised to change the 11 th Street bus route to accommodate residents in the Hollywood/Fannin
area.
Minutes;February 22,2000;Page 3
Mr.Munson outlined the changes that had recently been made to the 11 th Street bus route,commented
about complaints received with the changes, outlined corrected adjustments that will be made to
accommodate Hollywood/Fannin area rider ship, cited two concerns with this plan being time
constraints and width of Crockett and Brenham Streets, and stated that a report will be presented at
the conclusion of the 30-day trial period.
In response to Mayor Moore's query,Mr.Munson stated there is a 90%adherence to the current time
schedule, buses are hindered at times by trains at major crossings and sometimes experience
mechanical problems. He responded that the west end of Beaumont is an excellent place to expand
the bus system, however, problems would be encountered due to time constraints and the cost to
maintain the City's aged buses. He stated that a bus less than 30 feet would not accommodate the
riders in any given area, and smaller buses do not cost less to maintain.
Mayor Moore requested information to be presented at a later date regarding cost to provide bus
service to the far west end of Beaumont where expansion of the city is being experienced.
* City Manager's Report - Beaumont Recycling Task Force, New Southend Branch Library, First
Quarter Fire Staffing,Wading Pool Renovation,Projected 2000 Mineral Values and CDAC Meeting
The City Manager reported that the Beaumont Recycling Task Force has held meetings and their focus
will be on increasing citizen recycling participation. They reviewed a report on the cost structure on
the City's solid waste operation, and are evaluating the feasibility of expanding materials recycled,
revised communication program and a fee/rebate system. Council will be made aware of their
progress. Mr. Bonczek stated that the architectural proposals have been received for the new
Southend Branch Library, and Architectural Alliance has been selected at a fee of 7.8%of the total
construction cost. He reviewed CDBG funds available for the project and site acquisition. He also
highlighted the first quarter Fire Staffing Report, addressed causes for overtime, apparatus out of
service, labor issues and call volume and response times. Mr. Bonczek addressed State law changes
requiring renovation ofwading pools. Renovation of a wading pool costs approximately$20,000 and
$40,000 for installation of mist sprayers. Mr. Bonczek asked for Council direction for a basis to
analyze possible solutions. In response to a previous inquiry by Mayor Pro Tem Goodson,he reported
information received from the Appraisal District has projected that 2000 mineral values increased a
hundred percent and that we could realize a half million dollars in property tax revenue. He told of
the Community Development Advisory Committee meeting to review various public service
applications with staff, stated that eligibility criteria has been set, priority projects are new
construction and rehab, and have set another meeting for February 24. Mr. Bonczek proposed
arranging a meeting for City Council to meet and welcome the new Exxon/Mobil Plant Manager,
tentatively March 7.
Councilmember Patterson suggested renovation of a wading pool in each Ward. Mayor Moore voiced
an opinion that attendance usage should be a factor and stated that he prefers keeping those located
near public housing to remain open,if possible. He also requested that,as a safety factor,a"learn to
swim"program be considered as an enhancement to the present program.
Mayor Moore congratulated Mr. Fred Simon on his 27th Annual Tournament in our City and stated
that he welcomed the visitors at West Brook High School that were attending the competition. He
thanked Mayor Pro Tem Goodson for being innovative and extending his presence at the lengthy
Planning and Zoning Meeting on January 21,when he was scheduled to conduct a public hearing in
Minutes;February 22,2000;Page 4
another City. Mayor Moore asked Beaumont residents to sign a petition in the City Clerk's office to
help fight hunger in America, and commented that there is only a week left for this opportunity to
assist the South East Texas Food Bank.
* Public Comment(Persons are limited to three (3)minutes)
Mr. Bill Johnson, 2390 Pecos Boulevard, submitted information to Council and addressed them
regarding disrepair ofPecos Boulevard in the historic district,commented on the age ofthe Boulevard,
stated that it is not well maintained, and outlined items that need to be addressed in the area.
Ms. Judy Allen, 7360 Concord Road, addressed Council regarding disorganization of the Planning
and Zoning Meeting held on January 21 and negligence in disseminating a plan for the intended use
of the property on Concord. She said neighbors are concerned about the traffic in the Concord area
created by the proposed shopping center. Before the plan is approved, she urged Council to speak
with a business owner in the area that is willing to sell adjacent property that could provide another
exit to expedite traffic flow.
There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 2:09 p.m.
David Moore, Mayor
:z
Barbara Liming, City Clerk
Minutes; February 22,2000;Page 5