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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN FEB 20 1996 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD FEBRUARY 20, 1996 - 1 :30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 20th day of February, 1996, with the following present: HONORABLE: David W. Moore Mayor Becky Ames Mayor Pro Tern Councilman-At-Large Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman-At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Guy N. Goodson Councilman, Ward II John K. Davis Councilman, Ward III Bobbie Patterson Councilman, Ward IV Ray A. Riley City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Barbara Liming Deputy City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by Father Gary Jones, Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Convention & Tourism Director Jef Russell. -000- One Proclamation was issued: "National Engineers Week," February 18-24, 1996. -000- Mayor Moore announced that an executive session will be held following the regular session of City Council in accordance with Section 551.071 of the Government Code to discuss contemplated or pending litigation: Steven Broussard v. Beaumont Police Department, et al. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent Agenda and Main Agenda Items 1 through 4. 63 February 20, 1996 Mr. Lynn DeMary, 430 East Elgie, spoke in support of Agenda Item 1 authorizing acquisition of property for a branch library at the corner of East Lucas and Helbig Road, commented that the location should be pleasing to neighborhoods in both Ward I and Ward 3, and said this is a "dream come true." -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the City Council meetings held February 13, 1996. Resolution No. 96-50 authorizing First Interstate Bank to release $5,000,000 in securities held at Texas Commerce Bank, Houston, effective February 20, 1996; Resolution No. 96-51 appointing Adrian Hudspeth to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee for a term expiring September 21, 1996; and Resolution No. 96-52 authorizing annual contracts for purchase of gaskets, couplings, meter boxes, ells, street ells, bushing reducers, manhole covers, plug and wyes to be used for repairs for the Water Utilities Department, Sewer Maintenance Division, with Coburn Supply in the amount of$16,328.06 and Golden Triangle Pipe in the amount of$38,723.05; The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Davis. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 96-53 authorizing acquisition of 4.106 acres out of the A. Williams Survey and 2.8528 acres out of the F. Bigner Survey, a total of 6.9588 acres, from Mrs. Edna Mae Block Houseman for the negotiated value of $47,000.00 for construction of the North End Branch Library at the corner of East Lucas Drive and Helbig Road was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Davis. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None Councilman Davis said he is very pleased with action on this item today and thanked fellow Councilmembers, said "this is really a good day because it says a lot about our commitment to our communities, all our communities in the city of Beaumont." Councilman Davis also thanked Community Services Director Maurine Gray and City Manager Ray Riley for their commitment and enthusiasm for this project. He said that much time has been spent with the City Manager to bring action to this point, told the City Manager that he sometimes gets impatient, but plays fair and hard 64 February 20, 1996 deems important. Councilman Davis expressed appreciation to Maurine Gray for the excitement about the project that she conveyed to employees at the Service Awards Banquet last week, said that it is really important that folk at the management level share that enthusiasm since Council positions are part time and limits their contact with employees and said this project will prove to be something excellent for the community. Councilman Smith said she would like to echo the comments of Councilman Davis, pointed out that the library will be located in an area that butts upon both Wards 1 and 3, said she is very excited and looks forward to getting the project underway. Mayor Moore added congratulations to everyone involved in this project, not only Council and Staff, but the citizens of Beaumont who expressed a need for the library. He said Council has been working on areas in the city that lack parks, activity centers and libraries ever since he has served on Council and that these cultural and social improvements are "slowly covering every quadrant of our community...and the best thing about that is we have a place for people to express themselves in spirit and body...and now in mind." -000- After a brief discussion regarding warranty, deliver and local vendors, Resolution No. 96-54 authorizing purchase of thirty-nine (39) vehicles through the State of Texas Cooperative Purchasing Program for a total expenditure of$755,932.00 (11, 4-door sedans, $156,189; 1, cargo vans and 1, utility vehicle, $33,104; 6, pickup trucks, $85,022; 1 3/4 ton cab and chassis, $15,785; 5 3/4 ton pickup trucks with diesel engines, $100,010; 5, 3/4 ton and 1, 1-ton crew cab pickup trucks, $137,113; 6, cab and chassis--15,000 GVWR, $154,683; and 2 medium duty cab and chassis -30,200 GVWR) was approved on a motion made by Councilman Goodson and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 96-55 authorizing a contract with A & B Builders, Inc. in the amount of $368,200.00 for furnishing all labor, equipment, materials and machinery necessary to repair the foundation of the Julie Rogers Theatre building was considered. Councilman Cokinos asked if foundation damage could have been caused during implosion of the LaSalle Hotel, if the foundation was inspected before and after the demolition and if there is validation of non damage by the implosion. The City Manager confirmed that the foundation of the Julie Theatre was not damaged by the implosion of the LaSalle Hotel and Public Works Director Tom Warner said "that as part of the contract with the demolition of the LaSalle, there were seismographic instruments placed around adjacent to the LaSalle and some distance away. None of those recorded any shock waves that would be detrimental to any of the surrounding buildings. 65 February 20, 1996 Resolution No. 96-55 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Goodson and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ames. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 96-56 authorizing an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Major Drive was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Goodson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- A presentation of a tourism development plan was made by Mr. Rocky Chase, Chairman of the Convention and Tourism Advisory Committee, and Mr. Jef Russell, Director of the Convention & Tourism Department. Mr. Chase thanked Council for the opportunity to address them and said that funds are being requested for a positioning statement for the city of Beaumont and the surrounding areas. He said they feel like they need to come up with a marketing plan to entice travelers to exit the Interstate, make Beaumont a destination point and visit the many points of interest in the area including the Big Thicket, Sam Rayburn Lake and Sea Rim State Park. He said that at a recent planning workshop, the Convention and Tourism Advisory Committee, Staff and Council liaisons determined that an advertising campaign needed to be produced and select a slogan that would effectively highlight and promote area attractions. Mr. Russell also thanked Council for the opportunity to come before them and said, "we feel like we have an opportunity to strike in a very, very positive way to impact our tourism industry. Tourism is a number one industry world-wide, it's number three in the State of Texas. Some of you were available or were able to come to our presentation a couple of weeks ago where we had our annual Hall of Fame Awards ceremony that speaks specifically to groups, to convention meetings and events. I think that all of you were, I hope that all of you were as impressed as I was with the turnout, with the enthusiasm of the people that were there. The Board recognizes that our convention and meeting activity has reached exemplary status and we all feel like we're going in absolutely the right direction there. The reason that we are seeking additional funding for a special project is for the express purpose of reaching out to the leisure travel market. The last time we checked with Grayline of Houston, they're running approximately 80 buses a weekend from the Houston market to the Louisiana gaming casinos. The traffic count is going through the roof out on Interstate 10, and the one question that we seem to continually be asked, and ask ourselves, is "How do we get those people off of Interstate 107' We know `the where,' we know `the who,' we know`the why,'just don't have our finger on the pulse of 'the what' to the degree that we want to. 66 February 20, 1996 One of the parts of this program that we feel like is extremely important is the image development that we want to get involved in through some of our local people who are involved in advertising business here. We need to reach out and find some real creative talent to come in and assist us in putting together a package that can be sold to impact this, the travel community today. I think that all of you do have our position paper in front of you entitled Planet Beaumont. We are requesting a certain percentage of the hotel occupancy tax fund balance to complete this project, and we have visited with the City Manager. He has been very, very supportive, and we appreciate his time and input. Also want to express appreciation to our Board liaisons, Becky Ames and Guy Goodson, for their encouragement and support and to all the members of Council who always seem to be there and seem to offer words of encouragement. We're on the right track. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to saturate the market with the Beaumont message, and we're looking forward to some significant returns." Mayor Pro Tem Ames asked Mr. Russell to specifically explain the funding source and uses. Mr. Russell said that "we were very fortunate last year in exceeding the amount that was budgeted in hotel occupancy tax collections by approximately $100,000." He said that 1995 was an outstanding year for hotel occupancy tax collections, and "State law says that those collections should be only for a specific purpose, and that is the solicitation of travel and tourism business." Mr. Russell said the fund balance is in the black and proposing to use 65% of that balance and still retain a healthy balance with another outstanding year for hotel occupancy tax collections anticipated. He said these funds will hopefully impact local citizens, generate additional pride in the product and their home that he said is incredibly important for a tourism program. He said that citizens are the best sales people. Mayor Moore congratulated Mr. Russell and his department for the year end growth report indicating a 33% increase, spoke of effective marketing, complimented the demographic work, and said he thinks we can capture some of the traffic business on Interstate 10. Mayor Pro Tem Ames, as a Council liaison, thanked the Advisory Board and Tourism Staff for their hard work. She said they have given a lot of time brainstorming marketing ideas and commented about the recent workshop. Councilman Cokinos told about a recent visit of 16 German businessmen to Beaumont, said that Karen Kiesling, Judy Stone and Kathy Weathington did a good job in making them feel comfortable and said this is an example of Convention & Tourism activities. The position paper provided Council outlined their proposal for $50,000 for Media--outdoor, newspaper, radio and television advertising; $10,000 for Special Programs--image development and consumer research; $28,000 for Special Services--video production, photographic library, media promotion kit; and $10,000 for Printing--motor coach tour manual; for a total of $88,000 representing approximately 65% of the current hotel occupancy tax fund balance. 67 February 20, 1996 Mayor Moore congratulated the City of Port Arthur, their Mayor and Council and Floyd Marceaux, president of the Restaurant Association, for their efforts in the Mardi Gras celebration that attracted about 45,000 attendees. Because he was absent from Council last week, Mayor Moore extended late congratulations to Staff for the preparation and execution of the Service Awards Banquet for City employees, said it was a great evening, sad to see employees retire but significant that others are following in their stead. Mayor Moore told the audience that he must leave to attend a meeting in Houston for his employer. He extended opportunity to anyone needing to specifically discuss subjects with him to make an appointment with his secretary and asked Mayor Pro Tem Ames to chair the remainder of City Council. -000- Councilman Davis said that today is a very good day, expressed a two-year concern about minority business participation and spoke of meetings he and Councilman Smith have had with the City Manager and Kyle Hayes in an effort to analyze the workings of the Minority Business Enterprise and improve participation. He told Mr. Hayes that he is a definite asset to the City. Councilman Davis read an invitation that said: "You are cordially invited to attend a Minority Business Enterprise workshop on Wednesday, March 6, 1996, at 1:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 801 Main Street. The purpose of the workshop is to explain how the purchasing system works, how to give MBE support and to hear your questions and concerns. We will also discuss the goals of our MBE program, what we can and cannot do under State law, and provide you information relating to upcoming projects." Councilman Davis said this is important because this is a City effort to make sure all businessmen understand the process and that it is open and fair. Mayor Pro Tem Ames pointed out that 17% of the contract for the foundation repair to the Julie Rogers Theatre will be subcontracted to a certified MBE. Councilman Davis added that the MBE program is doing well, but efforts are being made to educate the business community about the bidding process. -000- Mr. Frank Keifer, 3190 Willowood, addressed Council to discuss what he called a historical fact regarding the 1980 Bond Issue, made a statement that First Baptist Church is going to build a school on Major Drive, and said it is rumored that the City will extend Folsom to accommodate the school traffic, and questioned when Concord Road reconstruction will begin. Councilmembers told Mr. Keifer there has been much conversation about Concord Road, said that Concord is on the drawing board to be extended upon completion of the MILK Parkway and explained progress that has moved Concord Road from a Category 3 to a Category 2 priority with the next step being a move to a Category 1 for funding. 68 February 20, 1996 Mr. Charles Johnson, 5080 Helbig Road (Plymouth Village), opened his comments to Council by thanking representatives from the Nations of Islam for being here and spoke about a false arrest for public intoxication on February 4, exhibited a copy of the police report and said it was full of lies, spoke of family and in support of a Civilian Review Board. Ms. Martha Clark, 1365 Brockman, told Council her community supports good policemen, alleged police misconduct and said every policeman should be held responsible for their actions. Mr. Allen Lee, 5095 Maddox, began his comments by thanking "Minister Robert Mohammed, the Southwest Regional Minister Representative of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan for sending members of the Nations of Islam on a fact finding mission to Beaumont, Texas." Mr. Lee again referred to the Civilian Review Board petition and accused Councilmembers of sitting on the fence and not putting the issue on the Agenda. Mr. Lee began to make personal comments about a specific Councilmembers and was instructed by Mayor Pro Tem Ames that personal attacks are not in order. As Mr. Lee continued with comments criticizing Council and Staff, Mayor Pro Tem Ames again asked him to keep comments to issues. Among his final comments, Mr. Lee called upon voters to not reelect incumbent Council members. Mrs. Rose Sims Bates, 5080 Helbig Road, Apartment 43, spoke in behalf of her son, Charles Johnson, and his confrontation with the Police Department and spoke in favor of a Police Civilian Review Board. Ms. Gerry Hudson (no address given) addressed Council to suggest that the issue of a Civilian Review Board be put on the ballot and let voters decide if it should be initiated. Mrs. Sonja Lemoins, 1325 Calvin, expressed wishes for a Happy Black History Month and repeated stories told in her family about courageous ancestors that helped integration and worked to provide cultural experiences for Black citizens. Mr. Tony Sacker, 4635 Elmherst, spoke in support of term limits for Council and complimented Council for doing a good job. -000- Councilman Davis addressed the issue of a Citizens Review Board, said the signatures on the petition are important, stated the citizenry in Beaumont totals 115,000, that Council has taken no position or action on the issue and that attacks have been made prematurely before information has been studied. Also, Councilman Davis said that as Mr. Johnson speaks at Council, he is working to solve some of the problems Mr. Johnson has spoken to Council about and remarked about a letter he sent to HUD with Mr. Johnson's complaints. Councilman Davis said no one spends more time working for the people of Ward III and the community than he, said Council is receptive to doing what is right to make Beaumont a better place, but personal attacks and mean 69 February 20, 1996 remarks will not make them do anything. He stated that six weeks ago he favored a Civilian Review Board, but as he studied the facts, he discovered it was not the best for Beaumont right now. He said that he cannot solve problems of the past, but works on those of the present and feels his constituents appreciate his efforts. Councilman Davis told the Ministers of Islam that he is willing to discuss the issue of the Civilian Review Board petition with them, said that he is aware they are here to find out facts and that it is a very complicated issue that Council is dedicated to solving, if possible. He enumerated that crime is down in Ward III, that a Community Oriented Policing program has been initiated, 14 neighborhood associations have been formed that he visits weekly and said that at this time, 99.9% of his neighborhood association members have said no to a Civilian Review Board. He reiterated that Council is concerned, reviews all information and attempts to do what is right for the City and said an example of the good things that are happening is the new library that will be built next to Plymouth Village. Mayor Pro Tem Ames added that it is important to note that the public microphone is open for citizens to address community problems they may be having, but not to make personal attacks on individuals. -000- There being no further business, the meeting was recessed to reconvene in executive session. -000- 1, Barbara Liming, Deputy City Clerk of the City of Beaumont, Texas, certify that the above is a true copy of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held February 20, 1996. Barbara Liming Deputy City Clerk 70 February 20, 1996