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Home My WebLink AboutMIN JUL 18 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 July 18,2000 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 July 18,2000,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 1:35 p.m. City of Beaumont Certified Code Enforcement Officer and Associate Minister of Trinity Church, Bonnie Semien, gave the invocation. Entergy Customer Service Manager Greg Shepherd led the pledge of allegiance. Present at the meeting were:Mayor Moore,Councilmembers Smith,Cokinos, Ames,Samuel,and Patterson. Mayor Pro Tern Goodson was absent. Also present were: Stephen J. Bonczek, City Manager;Lane Nichols, City Attorney; and Barbara Liming, City Clerk. *Presentations and Recognitions -No proclamations issued. *Public Comment: Persons may speak on items listed on the Consent and Regular Agenda.-No one wished to address these subjects. * Consent Agenda * Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting held July 11, 2000 * Confirmation of committee appointments: No appointments made. A) Approve the purchase of one road recycler for use by the Public Works Department, Streets and Drainage Division (in the amount of$89,000 from Waukesha-Pearce Industries, Inc.) - Resolution No. 00-164 B) Approve contracts for the purchase of personal computers and printers (a three month contract for personal computers with sound and ethernet cards from Tangent Computers and printers from Entre Business Technologies for the Information Services(IS)Division in an estimated amount of$62,958) - Resolution No. 00-165 C) Approve the purchase of an insurance policy for maintenance of office equipment (with Specialty Underwriters through Insurance Concepts in the amount of$51,371) - Resolution No. 00-166 D) Approve a contract for improvements to an earthen backstop firing range used by the Police Department (with Triangle Paving, Inc. at a total cost of$27,387.15) Resolution No. 00-167 E) Authorize the acquisition of property for the Concord Road Improvement Proj ect(Parcel 78: .011 acre out of Lot 21,Block 1,Minglewood Addition, 3965 Concord Road for appraised value of$715 from Darlene Pelaez) - Resolution No. 00-168 F) Approve the purchase of a document image processing for the Information Services (IS) Division (from Decision Management Company, Inc. in the amount of$239,708) - Resolution No. 00-169 Councilmember Cokinos moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore,Councilmembers Smith,Cokinos, Ames,Samuel and Patterson Noes: None GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider authorizing the acceptance of the terms of the Texas Department of Transportation Commission Minute Order 108176 for the construction of the frontage roads on IH-10 between Walden and Major. Councilmember Smith moved to approve Resolution No. 00-170 accepting TXDot's Minute Order 108176 with a commitment from the City of Beaumont for $1 million toward the estimated construction cost of$12 million. Councilmember Ames seconded the motion.MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore,Councilmembers Smith,Cokinos,Ames, Samuel,andPatterson Noes: None 2. Consider approving the execution of an agreement for operation and maintenance of the Henry Homberg Golf Course at Tyrrell Park. Councilmember Patterson moved to approve Resolution No.00-171 revising the November 9, 1999 five-year agreement with Thomas A. Hebert for operation and maintenance of the golf facility at Tyrrell Park for an extension of five additional years and abatement of certain rental fees during reconstruction. Councilmember Ames seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore,Councilmembers Smith,Cokinos,Ames,Samuel,and Patterson Noes: None Mayor Moore confirmed that fees would only be abated for the time period a portion of the golf course would be undergoing rehabilitation and unavailable for use. 3. Consider approving the purchase of a Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) System for the Police Department for City/County helicopters. Minutes;July 18,2000;Page 2 Councilmember Cokinos moved to approve Resolution No. 00-172 authorizing approval of a FLIR aircraft surveillance imaging system in the amount of$178,680 from FLIR Systems,Inc.through the General Services Administration (GSA) federal contracts. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore,Councilmembers Smith,Cokinos,Ames,Samuel,and Patterson Noes: None Mayor Moore questioned guidelines for use of the FLIR system in residential areas,and Deputy Chief Weldon Dunlap responded that the equipment would be used on an as needed basis by pilots and trained police officers in a professional, non-invasive, discretionary manner. COMMENTS * Councilmembers comment on various subjects Councilmember Samuel complimented the opportunities in track and basketball summer youth programs, and commented about no financial funding provided for those who succeed to progress to the higher competition levels. He suggested meeting with representatives from the City, BISD, and interested private entities to consider a means of sponsorship for youth to continue in their achievements and not send a mixed message to them. Councilmember Samuel cited a personal experience requiring his daughter to provide her own coach for an event, his ability to provide the means, but others not having that capability. Also, Councilmember Samuel notified Public Works Director Tom Warner that South Magnolia on the west corner at IH-10 has broken curbs with iron rods protruding that could cause damage to automobiles. Mr. Warner advised Councilmember Samuel that he will report the problem to TXDot. Mayor Moore congratulated Councilmember Samuel's daughter for her achievement of going to nationals, said he would encourage dialogue between Parks and Recreation, school officials, and our local corporate partners regarding Councilmember Samuel's request for sponsorship,added comments concerning summer youth activity programs,their success and awarding them for their achievements. Mayor Moore reported to the City Manager about a second public telephone in Tyrrell Park being vandalized and spoke of the importance of telecommunication being available for emergencies. City Manager Bonczek responded that he will investigate the matter. * City Manager's Report - Library Grant Funding, Receipt of Texas Department of Health Grant Funds, Public Health EMS Services, Running/Walking Trails, Neighborhood Budget Meetings and Library Grant Funding Update Mr. Bonczek reported that Library Director Maurine Grey and her staff have been very successful in attaining various grants from the Texas Education Agency,Texas Telecommunications Infrastructure Grant, and Gates Foundation for the literacy program and computer equipment for every library. He stated that Public Health Director Ingrid Holmes has also applied for and has been awarded a$217,000 Minutes;July 18,2000;Page 3 youth educational grant for prevention and stop smoking programs. Mr. Bonczek also reported that City personnel is working toward the possibility of a walking/jogging trail at Wuthering Heights Parks with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. He commented about the success of the swim programs at the Melton Y and the YWCA with extended seasons, and announced that he is working with the Clean Community Director and City Attorney regarding a policy for removing brush from vacant lots. * Public Comment (Persons are limited to three (3)minutes) Mr. Leroy Lewis, I11, 1201 Euclid, addressed Council in support of all ethnic races respecting each other, asked that Black leaders help their people, and spoke of the conditions in his area needing a complete make-over. He stated that there are drug houses and liquor stores opening in the area, homeless citizens sleeping on bus benches, home invasions and robberies on the rise, and said more police patrols are needed. Mr. Lewis spoke in support of the use of a helicopter by the Police Department, more stringent curfew and loud noise regulations, and mandatory use of porch lights to deter illegal drug sales after dark. Mr.Lewis admonished Black leaders to use their God-given talents and said other doors would then be opened to them for greater service. Mr.Benny Mendoza,5655 South Kenneth,addressed Council to report a successful meeting held last night by the College Corridor Neighborhood Association meeting,thanked Councilmember Cokinos for his attendance,and invited all Councilmembers to attend. Mr.Mendosa told Council that he is also a member of LULAC 4594 and displayed a copy of their logo. EXECUTIVE SESSION * Consider matters related to the deliberation of the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect in accordance with Section 551.086 of the Government Code There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 2:04 p.m. David Moore, Mayor Barbara Liming, City CIA Minutes;July 18,2000;Page 4