Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN NOV 08 1988 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD NOVEMBER 8, 1988 - 1: 15 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 8th day of November, 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 Councilman, Ward II Audwin Samuel Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman, Ward III 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 Rabbi Peter Hyman, Temple Emanuel. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Samuel . -000- MAYOR MEYERS: We have several proclamations and order of business today but first I would like to have you all join with me in recognizing our Congressman Jack Brooks who' s taken some time to visit Council today and we welcome our Congressman and would offer him opportunity to come to the microphone. U. S. CONGRESSMAN JACK BROOKS: I just came down to say that I like the Council. I enjoy working with you as Mayor and with your Council and even with this new City Manager. And, as ever, I am delighted to be associated with the Council in Beaumont. You all know when you've got problems I can help on, I'm ready and willing to try and help. It' s a pleasure to work with you and for you. MAYOR MEYERS: While you are here, we' d like to take a personal opportunity to thank you for your efforts on behalf of earmarking that $2 .4 million for that Spindletop Project. We took the occasion upon learning of that to thank you publicly but not that you are here today on behalf of Council and the people putting that project together, we thank you for your efforts . CONGRESSMAN BROOKS: Well, I thank you very much. You' re nice to do that. You who have been in public office know how many times you do things and how few times people point it out if they are good. If they are bad, they point it out to you every day. Thank you very much. -288- November 8, 1988 Mayor Meyers recognized and welcomed "a new business to Beaumont, and one that' s kind of unique and I was pleased to meet Captain (Louis) Goode and learn that the (Texas Army) National Guard, which is a significant force in our State and Country, has moved its headquarters to Beaumont - the 133rd Field Artillery has moved from Houston to Beaumont and I think that' s a step in the right direction. . . " Capt. Goode (Administrative Officer of the 1st Battalion 133rd Field Artillery) , introduced Major Kayward Bouillion, Battalion Executive Officer and Sgt. Del Kieschnick, Unit Recruiter. Capt. Goode told that the " . . .Texas Guard is a dynamic organization with over 26 ,000 men and women. 3,500 of the personnel work full-time to support our part-time soldiers . . . . June 1st, the Texas Guard accepted the 36th Brigade, part of the 50th Armored Division, from the New Jersey National Guard. The reorganization has created 2 , 500 part- time and over 200 full-time jobs throughout Southeast Texas . The Golden Triangle is now home for the Brigade' s artillery - that' s us, 1st Battalion - headquartered in Beaumont and the 211th Engineer Dredge, which is located in Port Neches . Authorized strength for our Battalion is 611 soldiers, 32 of which are full-time employees . In Beaumont, our full-time force has increased by five times from three soldiers to fifteen soldiers today. Part-time soldiers required has increased from 86 to 213 . Federal and state expenditures in Beaumont of $250,000 in 1986 will increase to $1, 600, 000 in fiscal year 1990 . Estimated economic impact in Beaumont alone is expected to exceed $4 . 0 million. Total input in the Golden Triangle area on an annual basis is estimated at $11.0 million. We have over 200 part-time jobs open for qualified applicants now. Benefits include educational programs for college, G. I . Bill, use of military and DOD facilities and numerous technical training opportunities . we also provide good pay for your time. I' d like to invite you to drop by headquarters at 3040 College Street, see our $1 . 8 million Armory facility and meet our soldiers . Think about flying to Fort Hood, Texas, for a day during July of 1989 as a civic leader or employers and see your citizen-soldiers in action. Once our Battalion is at full strength, I envision additional National Guard units will be fielded in the Southeast Texas area. I ask for assistance for recruiting for our Battalion In return, we will continue to expand and diversify the Southeast Texas economy, maintain a high state of combat readiness and be prepared to meet any civil disturbance or natural disaster that threatens our community. People helping people, that' s what we are all about. " -000 one proclamation was issued: "Days of Remembrance of the Night of Pogroms" - November 6 - 13 , 1988 . -000- Mr. Joe Bob Kinsel, Jr. , president of the Board of Trustees of the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, addressed Council to report that documentation for accreditation of the Museum has been sent to the American Association of Museums to be reviewed. -289- November 8, 1988 Mr. Kinsel said, "There are 285 recognized museums in the State of Texas and only 28 of those are accredited, less than one in ten. Three of those are in Houston. We think with Beaumont becoming the Museum Capital of Texas that it truly makes sense for us to be an accredited institution and we are working very hard in that direction and I think we will be successful. " . . . The information will be reviewed "on the 14th of November and if they (the American Association of Museums) do not find major fallacies with the information that they have sent them, they will then schedule a visit to Beaumont in the Spring. That will be a very significant time for us because they will then in person be interviewing probably some of you, certainly a lot of the volunteers at the Museum and certainly the staff to see if we pass muster, to see if we can become the 29th accredited institution in the State of Texas . . . " -000- Mrs . Maree Calcote, Chairman of the Clean Community Commission, Jan Bevo, Ellen Coggin, Lynn Ohmstead and Paige Windom, Junior League representatives working with BUILD and Beautify Beaumont told Council that a project had been identified for landscaping improvements for a strip of City-owned property located on Fannin Street, between Trinity and Neches Streets , which they felt would be a wonderful asset to downtown. The Junior League has a budget of $3 ,000.00 for this project which would include new sod and planting materials such as Aristocrat Pears and two live oak Trees . -000- No one wished to address City Council during the Public Comment portion on Agenda Items A through C. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held November 1 , 1988; Resolution 88-241 appointing Janet Thomas to the Clean Community commission, term to expire September 30, 1990 and Anthony Sacker to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, term to expire June 30, 1990; Resolution 88-242 ' accepting 236-foot extension of Spring Meadow Drive from just north of Northmeadow Drive northward to Drainage Ditch No. 46 of Drainage District 6 , 855-foot extension of Meadowcreek Drive from Spring Meadow Drive northwesterly to Westmeadow Drive and 575-foot extension of Westmeadow Drive northward to and including a cul-de-sac and accepting water and sewer lines serving Lots 20-21, Block 2, Lots 36-46 , Block 9, Lots 12-25, Block 13 and Lots 1-16 , Block 14 , Evangeline Meadow Unit IV; -290- November 8, 1988 Resolution 88-243 approving the sale of 1 .74 acres of land south of Pollard Avenue and described as Abstract 385, Tract 118 in Plat D-2.0 of A. Williams survey, which was acquired through foreclosure for delinquent taxes, to William J. Adams for $150 . 00; and Resolution 88-244 approving the sale of a 50 x 120-foot vacant lot at 1905 Nora Street which was acquired through foreclosure for delinquent taxes to Louis E. Vaughn for $700.00 . The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Lee. Question: Ayes : All Nayes : None -000- Councilman Brumley made a motion to appoint Mr. Jim Weber to the Clean Community Commission to replace Mr. Mike Bradford; motion was seconded by Councilman Lee. Question: Ayes : All Nayes : None -000- CITY MANAGER: I would like to make a brief presentation on behalf of the Government Finance Officers Association. For the second year.-in a row, we have received the highest award in financial reporting on behalf of the Government Finance Officers Association. As Council may recall when we received it a year ago for the fiscal year ending 1986 , this is the year ending September 30, 187 , a description of that award and what it really means was presented to you and essentially it suggests that we have reached the highest standards relative to our reporting responsibilities to this Council and to the public on our financial situation and on how we manage our financial affairs . What is, I think, significant on this award is that it is now the second year and we think we have now attained a level where you and our citizenry can feel that we are truly reporting and providing financial disclosure as would be fitting the highest standards of any community in this United States. I would like to present this to Walter Thomas today as our Comptroller. Walter, if you would come forward and receive this, we will assure that this plaque is posted next to the one we got last year. I might recognize that, not only is Walter receiving this on behalf of the Finance Department, but, Walter himself has- been asked to participate in reviews of financial reports himself on behalf of the GFOA. And, so, we are real proud of you, Walter, and how we have seen such a tremendous expertise developed within our department. Walter, Tom Lowrance is here. I see Carol (Toups) and Kim (Johnson) as well as Betty (Dunkerley) and others from staff. We really do appreciate what they do. _ MAYOR MEYERS: Walter, thank you. I would like to extend our congratulations to you and your co-workers for an outstanding joh. - We appreciate it very much and I think it' s a credit to the work that you all do. -291- November 8, 1988 COUNCILMAN MOORE : The interesting thing, you know, we received this award last year and ,we simply said we'll see you here this time next year, So, can we go for three in a row? MAYOR MEYERS: Right, that' s what was said. CITY MANAGER: That' s right. Oh, yes. We intend to keep this an annual . . . annual occurrence. MAYOR MEYERS: Betty, do you want to say anything on behalf of your folks? MRS . BETTY DUNKERLEY, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE : I' d just like . to say how proud I am of each and every one. The accountants aren' t represented here today but they too deserve a round of applause as well but most importantly I want to recognize the team leader in Walter and then of course Tom Lowrance who keeps us straight all year long. And, thank you, Council for supporting us and we know, almost as much as we, that you too appreciate an award of this kind. -000- Resolution 88-245 authorizing a contract with John Bankston Construction and Equipment Rental Company at $247, 979 . 20 for construction of public streetscaping improvements (Alternates 1 and 3 and Items 11 and 12 of Alternate 2 , for street work, sidewalks , paving and curbs and gutters, pedestrian lighting system and foundations for four new street lights and seven trees and tree grates) related to the Stedman Building Project was approved on a motion made by Councilman Lee and seconded by Councilman Brumley. Question: Ayes : All Nayes : None -000- Resolution 88-246 authorizing a bridge load posting agreement with the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation concerning the installation of load posting signs on bridges within the City' s jurisdiction (on Avalon Avenue south of Washington Boulevard, load limit 15, 000 pounds; on G endale Avenue, south of Washington Blvd. , load limit 12 , 500 pounds; on Hagner Road, north of Cardinal Drive, load limit 10,000 pounds; on Langham Road, south of the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks, load limit 5,000 poun s; on Wescalder Road, load limit 10,000 pounds; and on Marina Drive, load limit 10,000 pounds) was approved on a motion made by Counci man Lee and seconded by Councilman Brumley. Question: Ayes : All Nayes : None -292- November 8, 1988 Resolution 88-247 authorizing a request to the Texas Water Development board for the City to be included in the Fiscal Year 1989 Intended Use Plan for purposes of obtaining assistance in the amount of $20,000,000 from the State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund for the financing of sanitary sewer system improvements (diversion of sewage treatment plant effluent from Hillebrandt Bayou to the Neches River by pipeline from the plant to the River and improvements for the collection system) was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes : All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Lee urged all to participate in the American Heart Association' s "Turkey Walk" to be held Saturday, November 19th, beginning at 9:00 a.m. , either by walking or by sponsoring someone who does . The "walk" will begin at Marshall Middle School to old Dowlen Road and back and consists of approximately 5 miles . Mr. Lee encouraged employee participation in this event. In addition, Councilman Lee mentioned the 92nd Sunday in the Park to be hosted by Mayor Meyers Sunday, November 13th from 2 : 00 to 4 :00 p.m. He read a statement from Mayor Meyers : "The Mayor has requested that everyone be present at 2 : 00 p.m. for the final Sunday in the Park, 1988. It will be worth everyone' s time to see City Council ' s final program. All members will participate. " Councilman Lee asked the Mayor if he would like to share any information with any of Council so that they might be prepared. Mayor Meyers response to the suggestion was, "Not a word. . . . I'm only encouraging that there be citizen presence at 2 :00 o' clock so that they can enjoy this and, of course, everyone from Council be present. " Councilman Moore reported the Harvest Club at Fair Park is in need of attention, especially in the areas of the restrooms, floors, tables and chairs . In addition, he asked for enforcement of parking regulations on May Street and mentioned problems with 18-wheel trucks and dump trucks parking in the area. Councilman Moore also mentioned the cracked pavement in 23rd Street. Councilman Samuel questioned the status of the Mrs . Sally Lee' s barking dogs problem and mentioned a telephone conversation with her and the continuous barking while trying to converse. City Attorney responded that Mrs . Lee is filing formal complaints each day the dogs cause a disturbance. In addition, Councilman Samuel requested the name of the contractor and type of work being done on Helbig Road, saying that it appears to be incorrectly done. Councilman Samuel also questioned the status of a dilapidated structure scheduled for demolition near Big John' s Bar and Grill. -293- November 8, 1988 Mayor Meyers questioned whether garbage trucks have flashing lights when backing because of a complaint received from a resident on Threadneedle about trucks with no flashing lights when backing. Mayor Meyers also questioned development of a better, more "citizen friendly" method of picking up trash than is presently used, when some trash is picked up from the call-in method and other trash in the same area or on the same street is left. In addition, Mayor Meyers questioned the status of problems of Mr. William Kliewer with an automated garbage container. -000- Mrs . Delia Harrington, 815 Willow, addressed Council to complain that the contractor of a sewer line project has not repaired the curbing at Magnolia and Harrison and complained about recent drainage problems . In addition, Mrs . Harrington complained about the accumulation of trash at Hazel at Grand and Grand at Harrison and Willow at Harrison. Mrs . Harrington extended a special invitation to all to Beaumont Inter- Choral Society performance of Mozart Requiem at the First United Methodist Church downtown at 3 : 00 p.m. Sunday, November 13th. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall, addressed Council to again express his appreciation for the recently held Job Fair for the employment of the handicapped. In addition, Mr. Dannenbaum encouraged all to vote today. -000- There being no further business, the regular City Council session was recessed and the Council Workshop Session was immediately begun. -000- _, Rosemarie Chiappetta, 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 November 8, 1988 . Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -294- November 8, 1988