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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN JUNE 17 1997 M I N U T E S CITY O F BEAUMONT Lulu L. Smith DAVID W. MOORE, MAYOR Becky Ames, Mayor Pro Tem Guy N. Goodson CITY COUNCIL MEETING Andrew P. Cokinos John K. Davis JUNE 17, 1997 Bobbie J. Patterson Lane Nichols, City Attorney Ray A. Riley, City Manager Patrice Fogarty, City Clerk The City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in a regular session on June 17, 1997, 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 1:33 p.m. Father Rodney J. Armstrong, Blessed Sacrament Church, gave the invocation. Jonathan Maida and Ryan Pere, members of Boy Scout Troop 85, led the pledge of allegiance. Present at the meeting were: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Ames, Councilmembers Smith, Goodson, Cokinos, Davis, and Patterson. Also, present were Ray A. Riley, City Manager; Lane Nichols, City Attorney; Patrice Fogarty, City Clerk; and Barbara Liming, Deputy City Clerk. *Presentations and Recognition - None presented *Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items Citizens were invited to comment on the Consent Agenda and Main Agenda items. No one wished to address these topics. CONSENT AGENDA The following consent agenda items were considered: * Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting held June 10, 1997; * Confirmation of committee appointments - No appointments made A) Accept improvements constructed in Pine Glen Subdivision, Third Addition, Phase One for City maintenance - Resolution No. 97-137 B) Authorize the settlement of lawsuits and claims - Resolution No. 97-138 (Lonnie Lewis v. City of Beaumont, et al in the amount of$3,000.00) and Resolution No. 97- 139 (the claim of Paul Blount in the amount of$12,500.00) Councilmember Cokinos moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilman Patterson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Ames, Councilmembers Smith, Goodson, Cokinos, Davis and Patterson Noes: None GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider approving Change Order Number One and Final Payment to Excavators & Constructors, Inc., for water distribution system improvements. Mayor Pro Tern Ames moved to approve Resolution No. 97-140 authorizing Change Order No. 1 reflecting actual quantities used in the amount of $7,100.44 and final payment in the amount of $78,582.40 to Excavators & Constructors, Inc. Councilmember Davis seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Ames, Councilmembers Smith, Goodson, Cokinos, Davis and Patterson Noes: None 2. Consider authorizing an agreement with the Texas Department of Public Safety to participate in the "Denial of Renewal of License for Failure to Appear" Program. Councilmember Smith moved to approve Resolution No. 97-141 authorizing a contract to implement the provisions of V.C.S. 6087d (Denial of Renewal of License for Failure to Appear). Councilmember Goodson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tern Ames, Councilmembers Smith, Goodson, Cokinos, Davis and Patterson Noes: None Minutes;6/17/97; Page 2 3. Consider authorizing the acquisition of property for the expansion of Liberia Park. Councilmember Patterson moved to approve Resolution No. 97-142 authorizing purchase of 3710 Waco, Tract 62, Plat B-10, J. W. Bullock Survey, Abstract 7, in the amount of $22,430.00 from Mrs. Wanda M. Jones for Liberia Park expansion. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tem Ames, Councilmembers Smith, Goodson, Cokinos, Davis and Patterson Noes: None 4. Consider a resolution urging the Environment Protection Agency to maintain existing air quality standards. Prior to taking action on Item 4, Mayor Moore invited Port Neches Mayor Frances Monk to share comments. Mayor Monk said as a past president of the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission she became involved in air quality issues several years ago and most recently was invited to testify to a House Sub-committee in Washington, D.C. on the air quality issue and was much encouraged by their response to a better understanding of the problem. Mayor Monk said she is interested in air quality, but we can't control all elements. In view of the fact that this issue will be considered by the EPA within two days, it is vital that Southeast Texans not only recognize that it is important for our children to have clean air to breath, but that their parents have jobs, and there is no way to comply with more rigid standards and this action is economically important to our community. Mayor Moore and Councilmember Goodson joined in thanks to Mayor Monk for her representation to the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission, her testimony in Washington, D. C. on behalf of the Golden Triangle and joined in support of her views on unreasonable standards being offered now, the importance of water and air quality and job protection being vital for our community. Councilmember Smith moved to approve Resolution No. 97-143 in support of maintaining existing EPA air quality standards. Councilmember Patterson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Moore, Mayor Pro Tem Ames, Councilmembers Smith, Goodson, Cokinos, Davis and Patterson Noes: None OTHER BUSINESS Minutes;6/17/97;Page 3 * Receive presentation from the Beaumont Housing Authority relating to their FY 1996 Annual Report Mr. John Goodyear, chairman of the Beaumont Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, recapped happenings of the Beaumont Housing Authority this past fiscal year and findings of their 1996 audit. In 1996, Mr. Goodyear said the main focus was to replace 150 units lost in the sale of the Neches Park complex, said intensive public hearings were held in January and the Board has decided to amend their original proposal of clustered housing in groups of 25 to a scattered site proposal. He stated that will allow 70 houses to be purchased throughout the city and move citizens into home ownership. They are hoping to build 25 to 30 units throughout the city and 40 to 48 homes in the Charlton Pollard area that was heavily impacted by the sale of Neches Park. Mr. Goodyear said an implementation schedule will be forthcoming, said HUD is optimistic about the plan, and they hope this will allow them to take low-income families into two-year ownership programs, moving from the emphasis of an apartment complex to a self-sufficiency role. Mr. Goodyear said the audit shows the Beaumont Housing Authority to be in the best shape in recent history. Last year the BHA was rated by HUD as troubled with expenses high and reserves low. A large cost cutting program has been initiated, revenues have been increased by collecting rents due in a timely manner, applications for grants have been made and received and they have moved from a 16% reserve to a 69% reserve and are financially in good shape. He said they foresee a reduction in future federal funding and have tried put in place a method by which the Housing Authority can generate income to continue programs at their present level. Mr. Goodyear reported that about$5 million of the $11 million they received has been spent to modernize existing housing with about$3 million budgeted for the Concord unit that will be reduced by 42 units with the widening of Concord to four lanes. He said a 100% grade from HUD is expected on their next review and thanked Mr. Wilson for his performance as Executive Director and City Council for their support, especially Councilmembers Patterson and Davis. Councilmembers expressed thanks to the City Manager and City Staff for working towards providing home ownership to low income families and to Mr. Goodyear and Mr. Wilson for their leadership and success with the Beaumont Housing Authority and for serving and listening to citizens. Executive Director Earnest Wilson presented a short video entitled, Helping People Help Themselves, depicting facets of the BHA's program in action. It spoke of their partnership with industry and community residents, community based programs designed to provide home ownership opportunities, assistance in crime prevention, and empowerment of individuals and communities. An overview of scattered housing, qualified buyers, an alliance with the Federal National Mortgage Association, affordable housing and a personal review of Mrs. Carolyn Smith was addressed. Statistics of housing complex inhabitants, the NIMBY (not in my backyard) syndrome, community investment and six programs designed to help owners to succeed: RBEP (Resident Business Enterprise Program), PAL (Police Activities League), Smart Moves Program, Transitional Child Care, Counseling Intervention Services and Education Job Training Services were explained. Mr. Wilson explained the Minutes;6/17/97;Page 4 overall philosophy of the program, said that their mission statement is the development of programs to assist residents in their growth and development by utilizing self-sufficiency programs, drug elimination programs, counseling, and educational programs. He said traditional methods of working with residents have been abandoned and they are now assisting them to help themselves by catering to programs that will have the end result of home ownership. He stated that outside social service organizations have been utilized and in-house programs have been initiated to help participants become self sufficient in education, job readiness and job placement and to help them grab the dream of home ownership by helping people help themselves. The aim is to provide education and assistance and through hard work give residents an opportunity to improve their personal lives and community conditions. The vision is to help people help themselves by stimulation, motivation and by teaching fisherman skills so they may feed themselves for a lifetime, and a motto of theirs is that "a hand up is a hand out of community housing into home ownership." COMMENTS * Councilmembers comment on various matters Councilmember Smith announced that a Minority Business Enterprise Committee has been developed, said they met last Wednesday and received a good report and deferred further comment to Councilmember Davis. Councilmember Goodson thanked Boy Scouts Jonathan and Ryan for attending Council today to work on their Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge that he is teaching and said other members of Troop 85 will periodically attend Council this summer to work towards badges. Also, Councilmember Goodson commended members of the Charter Review Committee for their work in recent months. Councilmember Davis thanked Councilmembers that were able to join he and Councilmember Smith at the Minority Business Seminar. He reviewed dialogue between he and Councilmember Smith in the past regarding methods of helping minority businesses to competitively join the City's bidding process. He said their plan is not grandiose, goals of minority participation have been met and exceeded, and complimented the City Manager, the Purchasing Department Manager, other Staff members and especially Kyle Hayes for promotion and assistance in this endeavor. He said more could be done with better community business participation and said all questions at the seminar were answered and everyone left with a positive attitude. Councilmember Patterson told Ward IV residents to expect a newsletter with their next water bill, announced that the Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor a Concert in the Park at Alice Keith Park on Thursday, June 19th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and a Family Evening in the Park will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Fair Park. Minutes;6/17/97;Page 5 Mayor Moore commented about the Parks and Recreation Department and other City Staff working to bring venues of entertainment throughout the community at no cost, congratulated Solid Waste Director John Labrie for influencing SWANA to again hold their conference in Beaumont for a second time in five years, said he had opportunity to address the gracious group and said he also had occasion to greet a large group of young ladies here for the Order of Rainbow Girls who have returned for a second time to hold their conference in Beaumont. * Public Comment (Persons are limited to 3 minutes) No one wished to address Council. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:26 p.m. Mayor David W. Moore Patrice Fogarty, CUy Cle Minutes;6/17/97; Page 6