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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN FEB 09 1988 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD FEBRUARY 9, 1988 - 1: 15 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 9th day of February, 1988, with the following present: HONORABLE: Maurice Meyers Mayor Bob Lee, Jr. Councilman At Large Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Mike Brumley Mayor Pro-Tem Councilman, Ward II Audwin Samuel Councilman, Ward III Absent: David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Albert E. Haines City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend Herman H. High, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Robert Alexander Young, a 3rd grade student at Fehl Elementary School. -000- A proclamation was issued designating February 9, 1988 as "Bonnie Cokinos School of Dance Day. " Mrs. Bonnie Cokinos thanked Councilman Cokinos, Mayor Meyers, and the City Council and said, "I am indeed honored to have been selected as the only studio to represent the State of Texas in the Young American Dance Festival, and I feel it' s a great honor for Beaumont that we 'gave been selected to do this. These are. . .the young Americans that will be representing us in California. Girls, why don't you just quickly get up and tell them your name. " The participants are Stacey Girard, Stephanie Heilman, Tiffany Knoblach, Angie Walters, Stacy Heilman, Amy Gotreaux, Tiffany Hornach, Jana Hartman, Stephanie Reese, Elizabeth Woodhead, Raquel Minton, and John Mazzola. Mrs. Cokinos further said, "Our young dancers will be participating in master classes as well as a competition. They will be competing in ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, and we have a solo and duet, and the first round will be our gold medal winners. The gold medal winners have a chance to compete against other dancers for the silver cup. The silver cup, the winning school comes back with the silver cup which will be engraved with our name on it, and we go back next year to present the silver cup at the expense of Young Americans. So, our goal is to bring the silver cup home to Beaumont." -42- February 9, 1988 MAYOR MEYERS• Thank you all so much for coming today, and we wish you the very best of luck, and we know that you' ll not only do well in the competition, but looking at this group, we are beautifully represented. A proclamation designating February 7-13 , 1988 as "Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week" was accepted by Fehl Elementary 3rd grade student Robert Young for students of Fehl Elementary School and Principal Cathy Chavis. ROBERT YOUNG: Mr. Mayor, Councilmembers, I am Robert Young, a third grade student at Fehl Elementary School. Mrs. Cathy Chavis is our Principal. On behalf of the students at Fehl, and throughout the city, I accept this proclamation setting aside this week as "National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week. " Thank you for caring about the children of Beaumont. MAYOR MEYERS• Thank you, Mr. Young. Mr. Young, no offense to any of the other audience, but you're the classiest act we 've had at that microphone in a good while. Congratulations, you did beautifully! The students distributed Valentine cards and candies to Councilmembers. A third proclamation designating February 7-13, 1988 as "Vocational Education Week" was presented to three BISD groups, Ms. Marge Culloty, teacher at the Career Center, and Student Council President Roger Cude; Mr. Rex White, teacher from Westbrook High School, and F. F. A. President Jason Wellens, C.V.A.E. Coordinator Larry Head; and Karen Eason, a student; and Tammy Odom, V.O.E student at Central High School., and Barbara Comeaux, Office Education teacher. MR. ROGER CUDE- Mr. Mayor and Councilmembers, the faculty, staff, and students in the Career Technology Department of the Beaumont Independent School District . thank you for this proclamation. We are proud to participate in the "Vocational Educational Week. " We would also like to invite you to visit our new Career Center located on the corner of 7th and North. We look forward to seeing you there. Thank you. -000- Mayor Meyers explained the operation of the First Stop Business Center under the direction of Mrs. Beverly Hatcher, housed within the Chamber of Commerce, is to work with other agencies in the public/private sector to assist new and existing businesses in obtaining permits or licenses, and answer or research any questions they might have relative opening a business. -43- February 9, 1988 Mayor Meyers recognized Mr. Jim Stokes, President of the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Wilton White, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Charles Glass, Vice-Chairman of the Economic Development Council, Mr. Jerry Nathan, a board member working with other business volunteer working with Beverly Hatcher, and Mr. Bill Kimbrough and asked Mrs. Hatcher to explain her role with First Stop Business Center and the role it plays in our community. MRS. HATCHER: Thank you, Mayor, and to the City Councilmen, also to Wilton White, the Chairman of our Board, Jim Stokes, our President, and the other members of the Chamber of Commerce. As manager of the First Stop Business Center, for those of you in the audience, that may or may not know, we're a private/Public partnership that began in 1985. It, we are a < resource and referral center to help new and existing business. In just a few minutes we 're going to be recognizing some of the new and existing businesses that have come through the First Stop Business Center' s doors within the last year or so. We do a number of things, and we' re proud to represent not only the City of Beaumont, but the Chamber of Commerce, where those two entities joined together in 1985, and for the last three years we've been working to try and help and assist new and existing business. MAYOR MEYERS• Thank you very much, Beverly. Stay up here, if you would. Sometime back, I guess it's about three or four months ago, at a Council meeting, I mentioned the fact, or I asked the question, "Wouldn't it be nice, if today, I could tell you about a new company that was going to employ 40 people?" On that day, I believe, we had eleven people stand up, and they were eleven small-business people who, in that recent quarter for a three-month period, had gone out and started businesses and were employing 40 people. The important thing is not whether one business employs the 40 people, but the fact that there 40 people working. So, I would restate today, and then I 'm gonna ask and hope most of these folks are present 'cause in my opinion they deserve to be here at City Council. This media sitting here should recognize that as far as our community, unemployment figures tell you nothing except who' s not working. Employment is what gives people money in their pockets to drive and fuel and economy. And, we have 16 business people who are employing 76 people, and these are people who have come through this First Stop Business Center. And, I 'd like to ask all of those who could come, and I hope all of them could, that would be: Beaumont Carpet--Lindy Menefee and Ray Lyons Marino & Sons Jewelers--Kyle A Marino, Henry A. Marino Professional Secretarial Services--Brenda Ryan Dr. Louis Binder, O.D. Triplex Plumbing--Shirley Horton Art Pre-Sort Service--Roger Tywater Sharlotte's Ice Cream & Cookies, Inc. Frank & Sue Adams -44- February 9, 1988 California Nails to Go--Robert & Darlene Saunders Southern Air & Heat--Michael A. Jolivet Little King Deli--Trina & Bruce Franke School Stop, Inc.--Jackie Guillory McMakin Pharmacy Dr. L.E. McMakin, Jr. & Joyce McMakin Southwest Tube Distributors--Bill Weber Champagne Beverage Farm--John & Faye Champagne Knost Electric--Joe & Greg Knost "A" Enterprise--Anthony George & Andrew George Mayor Meyers gave opportunity for the proprietors of the businesses to comment, and on behalf of City Council and the citizens of Beaumont, congratulated them for the fortitude and determination displayed by them. MR. JIM STOKES: I couldn't help but think to myself when you were congratulating all these small business people that you' re certainly a very successful small businessman yourself, and I think small business, I know you like to say, "Beaumont is the -capital for small business, " and it' s clearly what's gonna bring Beaumont back, and I want to congratulate all these people for their venturing out into their business world. MAYOR MEYERS: Thank you, Jim. Again, I know this is just a small moment, and I think the most important thing is that it' s absolutely appropriate that we take time to say thank you to you because so much of what good will happen will happen because of people like you. I would remind all of you that Monday, February 22nd is our second Economic Summit. It is geared now from a time standpoint so that arriving anytime between 5: 00 and 6: 30 p.m. downtown will give you opportunity to participate and be present at the Summit, and we think that evening hour will make it easier for everyone. . .Again, thank you all for coming, and the best of luck to each one of you. -000- Citizen comment was invited on Agenda Items A through D. No one wished to address Council. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were cons=dered: Approval of the Minutes of the Regular City Council Session held February 9, 1988, and Resolution 88-21 authorizing Texas Commerce to release $220,000 in securities held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas - Houston Branch effective February 9, 1988. -45- February 9, 1988 The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Samuel. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance 88-13 abandoning an unused general utility easement (requested by James and Barbara Savoy on behalf of owners, Kenneth Walters and Barbara Savoy, to clear title for sale of property) at 4065 E. Lynwood Drive was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 88-13 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE VACATING AND ABANDONING A 5 FOOT-WIDE GENERAL UTILITY EASEMENT SITUATED ACROSS DEVELOPED PROPERTY AT 4065 E. LYNWOOD DRIVE, BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS. Ordinance 88-13 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance 88-14 repealing Article III of the City Code of Ordinances and enacting a new Article III requiring notification of the Police Department when a vehicle is towed away from a public/private parking lot at the request of the owner of the lot by the wrecker company making thp tow within two hours, giving a description of the vehicle, the license plate number and the storage location, and increasing storage fees was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 88-14 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 26, SECTION 26-40 OF ARTICLE III, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT CONCERNING STOPPING, STANDING, PARKING; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL AND PROVIDING A PENALTY. Ordinance 88-14 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Samuel and seconded by Councilman Lee. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- -46- February 9, 1988 Ordinance 88-15 repealing Article IV of the City Code of Ordinances and enacting a new Article IV incorporating new equipment and insurance standards established in the new State Tow Truck Act, establish requirements for wrecker company permits, allow for an increase in towing and storage fees, and require new applicants for wrecker company permits to establish public need for their services in a hearing before City Council was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 88-15 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 291 SECTION 29-70 OF ARTICLE IV OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT CONCERNING WRECKERS; PROVIDING FOR SEJERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL AND PROVIDING A PENALTY. Councilman Lee requested that the word "building" be struck from (c) 1. , page 8 of the ordinance. Ordinance 88-15 was approved as amended on a motion made by Councilman Lee and seconded by Councilman Brumley. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution 88-22 authorizing an amendment to the November 17, 1987, Development Agreement with the Stedman Building Partnership (for renovation and conversion of the former downtown warehouse into store and office space) to relieve the City of its obligation to acquire and improve adjacent property for a parking facility to be leased to the partnership and increase the five-year historic preservation tax abatement period to nine years was approved on a motion made by Councilman Lee and seconded by Councilman Brumley. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Mr. Neal Dunaway, 5685 Minner Drive, addressed Council to request they gather facts about the strike at Mobil Oil Co. from plant managers and union leaders, weight the facts, form an opinion, and assist in betting Mobil Oil and the OCAW Union back to the bargaining table. Mr. Frank Kiefer, 3190 Willowood, addressed Council to thank City Manager Haines for the call received from Mr. Kirby Richards regarding a question, to state opposition to the automated garbage collection program, in support of the traffic: awareness program advertised by Sgt, Bill Davis of the Police Department, and in behalf of the North Beaumont Lions ' Club fund raising event for the sight and hearing impaired and physically handicapped children. Mayor Meyers asked Mr. Kiefer to read the responses furnished him from the questions he asked Council at the last meeting. -47- February 9, 1988 Mr. Jeff Liddell, 9320 Cumberland Drive, addressed Council regarding tax abatements to Mobil Oil Co. and the existing strike situation. -000- There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. -000- I, Rosemarie Chiappetta, City Clerk of the City of Beaumont, Texas, certify that the above is a true copy of the regular City Council session held February 9, 1988. Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -48- February 9, 1988