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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN OCT 17 1989 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD OCTOBER 17, 1989 - 1:15 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 17th day of October, 1989, with the following present: HONORABLE: Maurice Meyers Mayor Bob Lee, Jr. Mayor Pro Tem. Councilman At Large Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Michael Brumley Councilman, Ward II Audwin Samuel Councilman, Ward III David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Ray A. Riley City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by the Very Reverend Sinclair Oubre of Saint Anne' s Catholic Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Amy Adams, a student at Christian Schools of Beaumont. -000- Mayor Meyers welcomed eleventh and twelfth grade students and Government Class instructor, Ms. Doris Lindow, from Christian Schools of Beaumont High School who are observing City government in action today by attending City Council. -000- Mayor Meyers announced an Executive Session will be held immediately following the Workshop Session in accordance with Section 2(e) of the Texas Open Meeting Act to discuss pending or contemplated litigation. -000- Mrs. Sharon Eaves, representing the League of Women Voters, extended an invitation to attend their second meeting of the year, Wednesday, October 18th, at 11: 30 a.m. at Drainage District 6. Mr. Tom Warner, Public Works Director, will be a resource person at the meeting on behalf of the City. Mrs. Eaves explained that the League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization addressing vital issues of the day to promote political responsibility among citizens. On November 16, -282- October 17, 1989 overcrowded prisons will be the topic for their meeting and in January, tax abatement will be the issue. In addition, Mrs. Eaves expressed appreciation for the opportunity of working as a volunteer in "Main Street on the Neches" and for the excellent leadership of Council. She acknowledged the cooperation of City staff, especially Claudie Hawkins and Mark Arrington of the Community Facilities Division, by saying they were very dedicated in giving helpful guidance "and when we have people like that working in the city, the sky is the limit. . .to where Beaumont can go and what we can do. " -000- Mrs. Betty Haisten, President of the Texas Medical Association Auxiliary, along with Ms. Phyllis Mann, addressed Council regarding a drug-free related effort. MRS. BETTY HAISTEN: Thank you, and Good Afternoon. You did mention that Phyllis is here with me, and she is the State Chemical Dependency Education Chairman for the Texas Medical Association Auxiliary, and she works untiringly in our efforts. She and I are here to present you with "JOIN ME, I 'M DRUG-FREE RIBBONS, " and to commend you for your participation in "Drug Free America Week. " The Texas Medical Association and Auxiliary, a force of 37,000, will add our support to the National Red Ribbon Campaign, October 22nd to the 29th. Our organization is committing enormous time, energy, and funding to this project, hoping to add to the impact of the campaign. We urge all the recipients of our distributed 1, 300,000 red ribbons to wear the ribbons as a statement of support for drug-free schools, homes, work places, state and America. We ask them to wear these ribbons during the entire week of October 22nd to the 29th. Now, October the 25th is "National Wear Red Day," and so we urge all Council members to wear some form of red. . .to observe our National Red Ribbon Day. In speaking of red, I think all of us are seeing red these days whenever the subject of drug abuse arises. We see red because of the lives that are being ruined. We see red because of drug-related burglaries and murders. We see red when babies are born addicted and damaged due to drug use. As people who care about the health of all citizens, it is appropriate that we all join together to combat this problem. It is a social problem. It is a medical problem. It is a people problem. It is a legal problem, and it affects you and everyone you know. I appeal to you as parents and grandparents, or like me, a great grandparent, give clear messages to our young people regarding the dangers of use and abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and or drugs. To lose a child under any circumstance is the most unforgettable, gut- wrenching trauma you can experience and suffer, so let' s all work together to make "Drug-free America Week" the most exciting and effective project we have ever undertaken. We can and we must make a difference. -283- October 17, 1989 Mrs. Haisten distributed ribbons with the message "JOIN ME I 'M DRUG FREE" printed on them to wear during the week of October 22-29, 1989. MS. PHYLLIS MANN: While Betty is passing out the ribbons, I ' ll just say that it' s a privilege to be a part of this fight against drugs. The Auxiliary has been involved in this since 1980 when Ross Perot first handed out the assignments, and we have been doing more every year and hope to continue. We feel that the Red Ribbon Campaign cannot end with Red Ribbon Week. We hope that it' s the beginning of education efforts in all of our schools by volunteers. We are encouraging all Auxiliary members to use the drug education in the school' s programs that we have. We have taught 1,700 fifth graders two hours of drug education for the past two years. We' re beginning our third year, and we' re also beginning a new program for fourth graders--a puppet education program that feeds into the fifth grade--and we hope that volunteers all across America will take up this as their responsibility to help educate in the schools in the drug awareness. MAYOR MEYERS- Thank you very much. As you mentioned Ross Perot in 1980, it was coincidental that I was at the meeting that the Governor called. And Ross Perot to try and graphically show how oblivious the community really was to drugs, took a sack on his airplane and it was full of drugs, needles, all drug paraphernalia, and he had it in his arm, flew to Austin, came to the meeting, used it all in the meeting he conducted, put it all back in this grocery sack, got back on the plane to return to Dallas. No one said a word. Absolutely, not a word! . . .Really, it was a graphic point. I don' t think that could happen today, but at that time nobody questioned whatever he had in the sack. And, it was just full of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Thank you for coming today. We appreciate it very much. -000- Mayor Meyers stated he received a letter several months ago from Mrs. Elizabeth Maduzia in California informing him of a scheduled presentation of a work created by Elton J. Louviere entitled "En Passant" -Gulf Oil 1901-1984 to the Port Arthur City Council and wanted to do the same for Beaumont. Mayor Meyers recognized Mr. Art Spencer, Manager of Public Affairs for Chevron and Mr. Al Smith, the Division Manager of Chevron Pipeline. Mayor Meyers thanked Chevron and all its divisions for recently making a significant contribution to the Energy Museum. Also recognized was Mr. Francis Munch, Director of the Texas Energy Museum. Mayor Meyers said the presentation today will probably be displayed at the Energy Museum. Mrs. Maduzia was asked to introduce the guests with her today. MRS. MADUZIA• My husband, • Bill Maduzia, is here from California, and we have the artist Elton J. Louviere of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and then also with -284- October 17, 1989 us, let' s see, we have Earl Futrelle, representing the National Chevron Gulf Retirees Association, and Mr. Bill May is representing the Houston area Gulf Annuitant Club, and Mr. Richard Doyle of the Port Arthur. . . I just want to make a few comments now about what we're doing here. I am here in the Golden Triangle to introduce this special commission limited edition print "En Passant" (in passing) Gulf Oil 1901-1984. We've chosen Beaumont for our introduction because this area is the birthplace of Gulf Oil, Lucas No. 1 at Spindletop, and Gulf Oil has been an important part of the community for over eight decades. The "En Passant" project was first conceived in 1984 during the time of the Gulf-Chevron merger and various artists were considered for the painting, but none could adequately capture the beauty and the emotion required for a fitting tribute to the proud Gulf disk. The project was stalled until this Spring. My husband, Bill, picked up a Christmas present for my parents which was an art book Images of Louisiana by Elton Louviere of Lake Charles. The book was more than fifty of Elton' s finest works, and that showed that he could not only paint, but really capture the emotion in his work. And, you can see in this book the mystical, haunting moods and that told us that he was the man to do the project, and I 'd like to thank Elton for bringing the project to life. He did a wonderful job in using the talents to produce this historic artwork. And thanks to my husband, Bill, for being the spirit behind the project. His contribution was the heart-felt emotion that he felt with the passing of Gulf Oil, which was his employer for fifteen years. And, the print is designed to commemorate the final rebranding of all the Gulf stations in Louisiana and Texas, and the painting you see right here, the print, could depict the view from your rear-view mirror as you see the Gulf disk at a service station fade behind a hill until it' s no longer in view. And the familiar Gulf disk, an landmark to our fathers and to their fathers before them is vanishing from our roadways, and we will miss the orange disk, but we know the spirit of Gulf Oil will live on in Gulf ' s commitment to high quality products and community services being carried on by Chevron. We would like to present Mayor Meyers and the City of Beaumont with one of the first artist' s prints. MAYOR MEYERS Thank you. Would you have Elton come forward? Thank you very much. We appreciate your thoughtfulness coming this way, and we thank you for a fine piece of work in art. We appreciate your coming today. I think it really does speak well for a changing scene, and I think that' s what you wanted perceived. On behalf of City Council and our citizens, we thank you very much for this thoughtful presentation. . . Mr. Louviere said it was Mr. Maduzia' s steadfast entreaties that convinced him to endeavor capturing eight decades of oil production in one painting. MAYOR MEYERS• . .Gulf has played a significant part in the growth and development of this whole region and nation, and we thank you very much for coming today. -285- October 17, 1989 Six Proclamations were issued: "United Nations Week, " October 23-29, 1989; "Catholic Daughters of the Americas, " October 15-21, 1989; "National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, " October 15-21, 1989; "Dental Hygiene Week, " October 21-21, 1989; "National Business Women' s Week, " October 15-21, 1989; and "Celebrate Giftedness 189 Days, " October 20 and 21, 1989. -000- Mayor Meyers announced that the Beaumont Business and Education Forum Two Thousand will be conducted Monday, October 23 , 1989 at 5: 15 p.m. at the Julie Rogers Theater. The program will highlight the former mayor of San Antonio, Henry Cisneros, who will address our community and share some of the positive programs that have worked with the business community and school systems in San Antonio. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Business Agenda. No one wished to address these items. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held October 10, 1989; and Resolution No. 219 appointing John Logsdon to the Airport Advisory Commission for a term expiring May 31, 1991, Bruce Drury to the Clean Community Commission for a term expiring September 30, 1991, Collis Cannon to the CDBG Advisory Commission for a term expiring May 31, 1991 and Dolly Johnson to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission for a term expiring June 30, 1991. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Samuel and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 89-220 authorizing execution of a contract with the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation and Drainage District 6 for funding construction of a new bridge for Gladys Avenue across Hillebrandt Bayou under the 1987-91 Off-State System Federal Aid Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program at an estimated construction cost of $200,000 with 800 ($160, 000) to be financed from grant funds and the 20% ( $40, 000) remaining cost to be borne equally by the City and Drainage District 6 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Samuel. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -286- October 17, 1989 Resolution No. 89-221 authorizing purchases of freeway circuit lighting parts by the Street and Drainage Department from Consolidated Electrical Distributors Inc. -- $23 ,033 . 00 ( 50, HPS Luminaries 40OW 480 V (F12) at $6, 070; 50 HPS Luminaries 40OW Multi top volt (F13) at $6, 070; 25 HPS Luminaries 250W Multi top volt (F14) at $3,035; 5 Furnace Cont. 60 AMP OFF 12 AC D6 at $900; 2,000 feet of GAWG2 Cond. direct burial cable (FL1) at $2,038; 10 15" aluminum breakaway street light pole bases (F01) at $2,070; and 10 17. 5" aluminum breakaway street light pole bases at $2,850) , Allphase Electric Supply, -- $394. 00 (2,000 feet 12 AWG 2 cond. direct burial cable) , Spindletop Electric Distributors, Inc. -- $92. 50 ( 10 Photocell 105-285 (F27) , $40, and 5 Photocell 480V (F28) , $52.50) and Graybar Electric Distributors, Inc -- $840. 00 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Moore reported a good "Sunday in the Park" last week sponsored by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, inquired about construction beginning at Irving and Buford and asked that the Public Works Director Tom Warner investigate the construction site and be sure the sidewalks damaged by the construction are replaced. Councilman Samuel announced that another good "Sunday in the Park" will prevail October 22nd with KFDM--Channel 6 sponsoring the event, and that he will be reading to the children. -000- Miss Amy Webb, a student from Christian Schools of Beaumont High School, addressed Council to thank them for the opportunity of participating in today' s Council meeting. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall, addressed Council in support of the "DARE TO SAY NO TO DRUGS" program. -000- There being no further business, the meeting was recessed before continuing with the Workshop Session. -000- 2, 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 October 17, 1989. Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -287- October 17, 1989