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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN FEB 13 1990 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD FEBRUARY 13, 1990, 1:15 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 13th day of February, 1990, with the following present: HONORABLE: Maurice Meyers Mayor 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 Absent: Bob Lee, Jr. Mayor Pro-Tem Councilman At Large Ray A. Riley City Manager Tyrone Cooper Asst. City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend Walter A. Moulton of the Spindletop Unitarian Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Meyers. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent Agenda and Main Agenda items. Mr. Clyde Allen, 6135 R.F.D. Road, addressed Council in opposition to increasing the speed limit on R.F.D. Road. (ENTERPRISE PROJECT NOMINATION--MAIN AGENDA ITEM NO. 4) MAYOR MEYERS: I would like to recognize the presence of Mr. Ed Gearhardt, the Manager for Atochem North America, formerly Pennwalt, before us today. And if you'd like to take opportunity to make any comment, we appreciate very much your presence. We appreciate your considered investment in future expansion. We're delighted to have you here, and to keep things in order, we'd certainly welcome you, and the microphone would be yours for any comment that you'd care to make today. -43- February 13, 1990 MR. GEARHARDT• Thank you Mr. Mayor and Councilpersons. . .I appreciate being here and for the opportunity that, I think, can come to both Atochem and to the City, County, and Enterprise Zone. We've been where we are since 1975, very quietly, but efficiently making sulphur chemicals to sell to the chemical industry that then go into the agricultural business that fattens animals, a product approved by the Federal, the F.D.A. There's a corn degradable herb. . .herbicide that's an end-use. We do put the smell, and have put the smell in natural gas. So, people have known we've been there for awhile. Last year. . .or several. . .no, two years ago nearly, we received word from our hydrogen sulfide raw material supplier that the supply would end in 1992 . And, because we've been doing what we've been doing as well as we've been doing it, the corporation Pennwalt, and now our new owners Atochem have agreed that they need to invest in the future to continue our very good operation out there. This gave us an opportunity to look at how this would be done. Because it was done out of necessity, we had to get it engineered and approved. And our new owners have already approved it, which makes it kind of unusual to come before a group and say, "Can you help us give some incentive to our parent body?" But, there' s lot of incentive here because we have to continue to modernize and upgrade the rest of our facilities which is going to add more money to that whole pot. We are going to be, in the next two years, creating thirty-one new permanent positions that should add at least $900, 000 to the annual payroll which is currently is $2 1/2 million. There's an awful lot of opportunity. We live there. This is our town, too. Most of our people live in and around Beaumont. So, the opportunity of the Enterprise Zone is in particular nomination gives us a chance to give something concrete back to the community. And, I for one, am firmly committed, to not only holding up the tenets and the detail of the Enterprise Zone, but to our best to at least meet that twenty-five minimum hiring within the Zone and the economically disadvantaged and continue our, what has been our policy from the beginning, to deal with minority businesses, to be an equal opportunity employer. In other words, to pump something back into the economy here. And, this is the opportunity we have to do that. So, I 'm excited about the chance. I know the nomination is only a nomination, and then the State has to approve it. It's a competitive thing. So, whatever your will is, we' ll be glad to cooperate one hundred percent. We're learning, and we enjoy learning with you. We're going to be working with the Texas Employment Commission. Hiring should begin in a couple of months on a slow basis for hourly, but engineers, I 'm looking for them rather quickly. And, then by the end of the year and the first part of next year, we'll be doing some pretty serious hourly hiring. MAYOR MEYERS• We're delighted to have a quality company like yours come before Council today. And, you probably are aware that, I believe we were the second Enterprise Zone in the State. Because we recognize the need to move and try and assist our businesses like yours help us, and so what you're -44- February 13, 1990 doing is really what it's all about. That's how we've been able to keep reversing our economy. We're appreciative of your coming today. MR. GEARHARDT• Thank you. Thank you for the invitation. And, we're going to continue to grow, too. That's my job to make sure the corporation sees the need here, and so I 'm going to work with you all I can. MAYOR MEYERS• Business of the day continues to be job creation. . .Yes, you want to say something, David? COUNCILMAN MOORE• I certainly do, Mayor, thank you. I 'd certainly like to say that I 'm totally in full support of this request to be an Enterprise Zone. It's in the area that I work in. I know that community would be extremely happy of the fact that the possibility of employment, because it's only going to be through employment and the good corporate citizens in the Southend of Beaumont that's going to continue to keep it a viable community. And, I think this is very positive. I think this is the vision or the scope of what we look for in a company and want to take advantage of it, and I certainly stand in support of this today. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held February 6, 1990; Resolution No. 90-24 appointing Camille Threadgill to the Clean Community Commission for a term expiring September 30, 1991, Dora Nisby to the Library Commission for a term expiring October 31, 1991, Ken Bartos to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission for a term expiring June 30, 1991, Bessie Chisum to the Historical Landmark Commission for a term expiring October 31, 1991, and Arthur Coleman to the Convention and Tourism Advisory Commission for a term expiring July 31, 1991; and Resolution No. 90-25 authorizing a License to Encroach Agreement with Groundwater Technology, Inc. to encroach into Lawrence Drive right-of-way adjacent to Lot 1, Block 1, Suburban Acres, Unit 1 for a groundwater monitoring well to be used to assess potential environmental impacts in the wake of excavation of underground tanks for renovation of the Chevron Service Station at Lawrence and the Eastex Freeway frontage road for a one-time fee of Five Hundred Dollars (500. 00) . The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -45- February 13, 1990 An ordinance establishing a 40 miles-per hour speed limit on R.F.D. Road from the north right-of-way line of State Highway 105 to a point 130 feet southwest of the centerline of Old Voth Road was considered: AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 26, SECTION 26-23 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT TO ESTABLISH MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM SPEEDS IN CERTAIN ZONES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL AND PROVIDING A PENALTY. After a discussion regarding safety of bicycle riders, children walking to school, and complaints of residents in opposition to speed increase, the ordinance was denied on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Mayor Meyers. Question: Ayes: Councilman Nayes: Mayor Meyers Brumley Councilman Cokinos Councilman Smith Councilman Samuel Councilman Moore -000- Ordinance No. 90-8 ordering an election on May 5, 1990, for the purpose of electing a Mayor and two Councilmembers-At-Large was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 90-8 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT ON THE 5TH DAY OF MAY, 1990, AS PROVIDED BY LAW, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MAYOR AND TWO (2) COUNCILMEMBERS-AT-LARGE; PROVIDING FOR PLACES WHERE SUCH ELECTION SHALL BE HELD; APPOINTING OFFICERS TO PRESIDE OVER SAID ELECTION; APPOINTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BOARD FOR ABSENTEE VOTING; APPOINTING A MANAGER AND JUDGE OF THE CENTRAL COUNTING STATION; PROVIDING FOR NOTICE THEREOF; PROVIDING FOR JOINT ELECTION WITH THE BEAUMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL. Ordinance No. 90-8 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -46- February 13, 1990 Resolution No. 90-26 authorizing purchase of pipe from A & P Water and Sewer Supply in the amount of $59,945. 00 for water and sanitary sewer line extension to serve the area where the state correctional facility will be constructed was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 90-27 nominating Atochem North America, Inc. as a qualified business for designation by the Texas Department of Commerce as an Enterprise Project to qualify for State tax rebates and other benefits which accrue for being located in the Enterprise Zone established by the City was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Cokinos congratulated Kelly High School for again winning the 3-A State Championship in the TCIL Conference. Councilman Moore asked for a progress report addressing the Neches Street detour, reported complaints of 18-wheelers driving through Neches Park and asked that park traffic be monitored and possibly consider posting "no truck traffic" signs, expressed concern about the Port's intentions on the south side of Buford Street where a mound of chips is piled and a desire for a meeting with the Port, spoke of traffic routed through the Housing Authority, relayed complaints about Walden Road and requested a time-table for repair, and asked if there is a temporary solution to the severe problem of standing water caused by the drainage setup in the subdivision which includes Columbia, Condon and Skipwith Street. -000- Mr. Ed Gearhardt, Atochem Plant Manager, thanked the City for assistance with the Enterprise Project, particularly Mr. Riley and Carol Flatten. -000- There being no further business, the meeting was recessed before continuing with the Workshop Session. -000- I, 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 February 13, 1990. Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -47- February 13, 1990