HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN AUG 15 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 August 15,2000 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 August 15, 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 1:34 p.m. Reverend Paul Sterling, Divine House of Refuge,
gave the invocation. Mayor David Moore led the pledge of allegiance.
Present at the meeting were: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern 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 -No proclamations were issued.
Former Mayor Evelyn Lord, 1240 Nottingham Lane, chairman of the Spindletop 2001 Commission and
Ryan Smith, a commissioner of the Spindletop 2001 Commission and director of the Energy Museum,
thanked Council for their support and encouragement and extended an invitation to attend the Spindletop 2001
celebration on January 10,2001. The Spindletop 2001 celebration will have a re-enactment of the Spindletop
oil gusher at 10:32 a.m., as it did one hundred years ago.
Mayor Moore thanked all the commissioners who have worked to bring this day about, said he thinks it will
be a great celebration for our community and a wonderful opportunity to showcase Beaumont. Also,Mayor
Moore read a portion of the letter he received from the Department of Housing and Urban Development
congratulating staff for maintaining high standards of excellence in administration in the Community
Development Block Grant allocations for the past six years.
* Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items.
Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Regular Agenda Items 1 through 4.
Ms. Uliana Trylowsky, Executive Director of the Southeast Texas Arts Council (SETAQ, thanked Council
for restoring SETAC funding in the proposed 2001 budget and for their understanding of the importance of
arts and humanities. Ms.Trylowsky publicly thanked those in the audience who attended the council meeting
as a show of support and submitted a petition to the City Clerk with signatures supporting SETAC funding.
* Consent Agenda
* Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting held August 8, 2000
A) Approve an agreement accepting a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation - Routine
Airport Maintenance Program ($20,000 grant acceptance for improvements with construction costs
estimated at $195,000) - Resolution No. 00-190.
B) Approve the purchase of polyethylene pipe for use by the Water Utilities Division (ACT Pipe &
Supply, Inc. in the amount of$43,488) - Resolution No. 00-191.
C) Authorize eminent domain proceedings to acquire properties for the Concord Road Project(Parcel 38,
0.016-acre out of Plat D-3, Tract 21, 2991 Concord Road and Parcel 39, .011-acre out of Plat D-3,
Tract 18, 2997 Concord) - Resolution No. 00-192.
Councilmember Cokinos moved 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 amending Ordinance 92-7 relating to Article II Solid Waste Disposal.
Councilmember Samuel moved to approve Ordinance No. 00-63 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING CHAPTER 28,SECTIONS 28-20.1 AND 28-24.1(b)AND ADDING SECTIONS 28-21.12 AND 28-21.13
OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT TO REGULATE TRASH COLLECTION
SERVICE AT CERTAIN VACANT, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY;
PROVIDING FOR REPEAL;AND PROVIDING A PENALTY. Councilmember Ames seconded the motion.
MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Goodson, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos,
Ames, Samuel, and Patterson
Noes: None
2. Consider approving a depository agreement for banking services between the City of Beaumont and
Hibernia National Bank for a three-year period.
Councilmember Ames moved to approve Resolution No. 00-193 accepting the depository agreement
for banking services with Hibernia National Bank for a three-year period commencing October 1,2000
and ending September 30,2003. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Goodson, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos,
Ames, Samuel, and Patterson
Noes: None
Minutes;August 15, 2000;Page 2
3. Receive the FY 2001 proposed Budget and schedule a public hearing.
In detail, City Manager Bonczek highlighted topics in previously distributed copies of the fiscal year
2001, $143 million proposed budget concerning the challenges of maintaining and enhancing City
services,increased fees and collections,repayment of debt, and maintaining the existing property tax
rate.
Mr. Bonczek commented that management policy is to transfer 8 to 10 percent of operating
expenditures into reserve savings account. Mayor Moore added that it is important to stress that
contingency reserve funds are critically important to the financial well being of the City.
He detailed Strategic Directions for 2001: Build and Diversify the Economic Base, Revitalize
Neighborhoods, Improve the Visual Appearance of the City, and Maintain Financial Stability.
Councilmember Cokinos moved to approve Resolution No. 00-194 scheduling a public hearing
August 29, 2000 for the fiscal year 2001 proposed budget. Councilmember Ames seconded the
motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Goodson, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos,
Ames, Samuel, and Patterson
Noes: None
4. Schedule a public hearing on the FY 2001 Capital Improvement Program.
Councilmember Smith moved to approved Resolution No. 00-195 scheduling a public hearing
August 29, 2000 to review the fiscal year 2001 Capital Improvement Program ($30 M). Mayor Pro
Tern Goodson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Goodson, Councilmembers Smith, Cokinos,
Ames, Samuel, and Patterson
Noes: None
COMMENTS
* Councilmembers comment on various matters
Councilmember Patterson commented that the Ward IV proposed budget meeting will be held August
21, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. at the Greater Good Hope Baptist Church.
Mayor Pro Tern Goodson thanked the City Manager for his budget presentation today and at the public
meetings. He commented that he supports the budget funding of SETAC, and said that it was a
difficult year because the City could not fund at previous levels and significant adjustments had to
be made. Mr. Goodson stated that if the City was in a budget surplus year, rather than a budget
deficit year, he could see supporting many other programs that have come forward and spoke of not
adding to the budget deficit.
Minutes;August 15, 2000;Page 3
Mayor Moore commented that he has a great level of appreciation for the arts, because of its
contributions to the community, the number of participants who have an opportunity to take active
roles, how it can help to improve the quality of life, and also add to the overall enrichment of our
community. He commented on fiscal concerns with which the City is confronted and meeting
challenges. He said the Convention and Visitors Bureau is a very important part of our success,we
have experienced double digit growth in the past years, and we want to continue promoting our
community. Mayor Moore commented that it is the job of the City Manager to bring those issues to
Council's attention,and it is the responsibility of Council to be fiscally responsible. He commented
that last night's budget meeting in Old Town was an excellent meeting,and there was an opportunity
to hear from many of the citizens. Mayor Moore announced there will be a Neches River cleanup on
September 9, 2000 beginning at the Beaumont Yacht Club and encouraged public participation.
Mayor Moore reminded everyone that schools are open, slow down and watch for children and
encouraged parents and citizen support.
* City Manager's Report - Photographic Red Light Enforcement, U.I.L. Softball Tournament,
Lawrence Drive Sewer Line Rehabilitation, Water Sewer System Improvements, Pools at the Parks,
Tyrrell Park Pay Phones, Fire Training Center Agreement, Railroad Horns Meeting and Landscape
Ordinance.
The City Manager discussed the August 9,2000 meeting with railroad companies regarding regulatory
enforcement of train horns in the city. Basis of the discussions was the City's enforcement of the
1958 train noise ordinance with without compromise to public safety, but increased sensitivity to
surrounding neighborhoods. He also discussed AHS horns as an alternative resolution to train horn
noise impact. He discussed photographic red light enforcement at intersections, the new agreement
between the Fire Training Center and Lamar University at a fixed rental of$20,000 a month, and
selling recycled fuel for other uses. He also commented that the partnership with Lamar University
is stronger than ever. City Manager Bonczek discussed the availability of pay phones in our parks and
reported that Southwestern Bell did replace one pay phone at Tyrrell Park Recreation Building, but
the City must provide additional lighting to discourage vandalism. Mr. Bonczek commented that the
Alice Keith Park and Magnolia Park pools have extended the swimming season with alternate
openings on Saturday and Sunday. He commented on the magnificent design on the new Theodore
S. Johns, Sr. Library.
Mayor Pro Tern Goodson commented on the landscape ordinance updating various Planning and
Zoning provisions, said it also extends some new requirements for redevelopment of areas and
encouraged Council to consider the establishment of an advisory committee to be fair and equitable
to all affected parties.
(Councilmember Patterson left the Council Chambers at 2:20 p.m. and returned at 2:24 p.m.)
In response to Councilmember Samuel's question about who would be called if there is a problem with
train noise,the City Manager responded that these violations are enforced by the Police Department.
* Public Comment (Persons are limited to three(3) minutes)
Ms. Peggy Pierre, 1220 Avenue F, addressed Council regarding directions to the Beaumont Yacht
Club and thanked Council for the library computers and printers.
Minutes;August 15, 2000;Page 4
Ms.Gethrel Williams,4495 Fortune Lane,representative and business agent for the National Alliance
for Public Employees, addressed Council regarding their efforts to maintain the budget by capital
improvements and services,but expressed concern about employee wages. Ms. Williams requested
improvements on base wages for City employees and expressed disappointment with the Condrey
recommendations.
Ms. Sharon Braquet,Bra-K Wreckers, addressed Council regarding motorists near her business that
cut through the railroad crossing arms. She cited counting 52 stop sign violators one morning, and
suggested that police officers patrol the area, ticket motorist for cutting through the railroad arm
crossing,and running stop signs because of the fatalities at that intersection. She also commented that
a train engineer sounded his horn from Major Drive to Keith Road and beyond city limits.
Mr.Jesse Doiron,635 Sue Lane,director of Lamar University Language Institute and a volunteer for
Southeast Texas Arts Council, thanked Council for funding SETAC.
There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 2:50 p.m.
David Moore, Mayor
Barbara Liming, City Clerk
Minutes;August 15, 2000;Page 5