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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN APR 24 1990 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD APRIL 24, 1990, 1:15 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 24th day of April, 1990, 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 Barbara Liming Deputy City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend Harland Merriam, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Dusty Ward, an Odom Middle School student and participant in the Ben Rogers' "I Have A Dream Program. " (Carol Flatten, mentor) -000- Eight Proclamations were issued: "Volunteer Week, " April 22-28, 1990; "Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust, " April 22-29, 1990; "Western Week, " April 29-May 5, 1990 with "YMBL Rodeo Days, " May 3- 5, 1990; "National Youth Service Day, " April 27, 1990; "XLII Neches River Festival Week, " April 28-May 6, 1990; "Professional Secretaries Week, " April 22-27, 1990 with "Professional Secretaries Day, " April 25, 1990; "Beta Sigma Phi Day, " April 26, 1990 (for worthwhile work with the needy and handicapped) ; and "Organ Donor Awareness Week, " April 23-27, 1990. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent Agenda and Main Agenda Items 1-5. Miss Sheila Stewart, 6057 Afton Lane, Executive Director of the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, addressed Council to "thank the City Council, Mayor, and City Manager for their cooperation and patience with the -99- April 24, 1990 (MS. SHEILA STEWART CONTINUED) "Delaware property issue. The trustees and staff are delighted with Mr. Ben Rogers' magnanimous offer in a time of crisis and joyous at the prospect of avoiding the heartache of pursuing the seeming ephemeral resolution. The broadest issues of public trust have been resolved in the most satisfying and productive way for the benefit of the coming generations because of Mr. Rogers' love for his community and his neighbors. The Art Museum provides a wealth of opportunities for the community including a place to meet. I would like to invite Miss Susan Bushman, Mr. Richard Evans, and any other interested party to use the Art Museum as a meeting place to organize and plan for the volunteer services needed by the City to make the Cathy and Heathcliff Park a reality. The Art Museum would like to sponsor the first mailing inviting its sixteen hundred members, as well as members of the Nature Club, civic groups, and the general public to such a meeting. Mr. Ben Rogers, with loving support from wife, Julie, has planted the seed to end the debates and the difficulties. It is up to us individually to make into reality a decade-long community dream. As Director of the Art Museum, I want to insure, as do the Board of Trustees and Staff, that we do what we can to assist. Again, my heartfelt thanks to Ben Rogers, to you, Mr. Mayor, and to the City Council, and City Staff. " Mr. Lindsey Walker, 8125 Evangeline Lane, addressed Council. He said, "I come before you as a representative of the East Texas Nature Club to tell you that it was a marvelous privilege to me to act as their spokesman some eight years ago and to express our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Ben, who out of his fortunately large holdings, has seen to be so generous and so kind to us, and to all of us, and we all look forwarding to helping you and the community, our kids, and our grandkids to enjoy a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful piece of land, a park. Thank you. " -000- The following Consent Agenda Items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held April 17, 1990; Resolution No. 90-72 appointing Joyce Bosch to the Clean Community for a term expiring September 30, 1991, Robert Robertson to the Library Commission for a term expiring October 31, 1991, Walter Barrutia, Dick Cantella, and Amelie Cobb to the Beaumont Housing Authority for terms expiring February 28, 1993, and Roz Levy and Jim Brown to the Beaumont Mayor's Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons, and Resolution No. 90-73 authorizing purchase of 2, 660 adapters in the amount of $10, 157. 17 from Coburn Supply Co. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Samuel and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -100- April 24, 1990 Resolution No. 90-74 authorizing execution of all necessary instruments to accept a release of the leases of approximately twenty (20) acres on the site of the former Jefferson County Tuberculosis Hospital property located at the intersection of Delaware and French Roads between the City of Beaumont and the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, as a result of Mr. Ben J. Rogers ' offer to donate $300, 000 to the art museum, contingent upon the release of its leasehold interest in the property to clear the way for its use as a passive park was considered: RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the City of Beaumont is the owner of approximately 20 acres located at the intersection of Delaware and French Roads in the City of Beaumont (herein "the property;") and WHEREAS, the property is subject to a ninety-nine (99) year lease between the City of Beaumont and the Art Museum of Southeast Texas and additionally subject to a referendum election which required the tract of land to become a passive park at the time the leases with the Art Museum either expired or were otherwise released; and WHEREAS, Ben Rogers has offered to donate Three Hundred Thousand Collars ($300, 000) to the Art Museum of Southeast Texas contingent upon the release of the lease and the acceptance by the City of the property as a passive park; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT: THAT the City Manager be and he is hereby authorized to execute all necessary instruments to accept a release of the lease of the property subject to a lease between the City of Beaumont and the Art Museum of Southeast Texas and to take all steps necessary to effectuate the release of the lease to the property; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon the release of the lease the city hereby commits to its obligations under the referendum election which dedicated the land to passive public park purposes. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the day of , 1990. -Mayor- A motion was made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore to approve Resolution No. 90-74. Mayor Meyers added for "consideration that the motion include for the record, a deep sense of gratitude to Mr. Ben Rogers for once again looking out for the interests of our community, and. . .add. . . commendation for the job being done by the Art Museum in its attempt to serve the entire community. . . " Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 90-28 authorizing abandonment of a 20-foot-wide alley running east and west from Victoria Street to Martin Luther King, Jr. -101- April 24, 1990 Parkway between Crockett and Bonham Street in Block 43 of the Van Wormer addition as requested by Bryan Investments was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 90-28 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE VACATING AND ABANDONING A TWENTY FOOT ALLEY RIGHT-OF-WAY LOCATED IN BLOCK 43, VAN WORMER ADDITION, BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS. Ordinance No. 90-28 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. . Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 90-75 authorizing annual contracts with Coburn Supply Co. at $30, 673 .25, less a 2% payment discount, for furnishing smooth interior pipe in 15, 18, 24, and 36-inch sizes and with Hancor, Inc. at $16, 556, less a 2% prompt payment discount, for furnishing corrugated pipe and couplings in 15, 18, and 24-inch sizes was approved on a motion by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 90-76 authorizing a contract with Perkins Roofing Co. for replacement of a 6,500-square-foot section of built up roof on the Fire Department Headquarters and Museum building in the amount of $33,580. 00 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 90-77 confirming the appointment of Bradley N. Randall as an Assistant City Attorney at Grade 22 with a beginning salary of $2, 150. 00 per month was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Samuel. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- A public hearing was called to consider the twenty-one (21) below listed structures found to be in violation of the City of Beaumont's Dangerous Structure Ordinance, Article III, Section 14-50: 887 Porter (garage apt. ) - Rose Conner c/o Betty Conner, Trustee, owner (21 violations) , Staff recommendation to raze within 30 days; 605 Van Buren (garage and shed) - Mary B. Arrendondo, owner (12 violations each structure) , Staff recommendation to raze within 30 days; 1270 Harriott - -102- April 24, 1990 Gene Rigby, owner (8 violations) , Staff recommendation to raze or repair within 30 days; 2199 Victoria - Anderson Williams, owner (20 violations) , Staff recommendation to raze or repair within 30 days; 1256 Harriott - Larry Wolfe, owner (13 violations) , Staff recommendation to raze or repair within 30 days; 1256 Harriott (garage apt. ) - Larry Wolfe, owner (20 violations) , Staff recommendation to raze within 30 days; 3975 Octavia (21 violations) and 3975 Octavia (garage) (8 violations) - Lawrence J. Wolfe, Jr. , owner, Staff recommendation to raze or repair both structures within 30 days; 5375 Sunset (21 violations) and 5375 Sunset (garage) (10 violations) - Federal National Mortgage & Associates, owners, Staff recommendation to raze or repair within 30 days; 2412 Park - Dale Sonnier, owner (21 violation) , Staff recommendation to raze within 30 days; 2805 Orange - Rima N. Safadi, owner (22 violations) , Staff recommendation to raze or repair within 30 days; 2411 Pecos (garage) - Alice Faye Christopherson, owner (12 violations) , Staff recommendation to raze or repair within 30 days; 5281 Roberts - I. G. Clay Estate, owner (20 violations) , Staff recommendation to raze or repair within 30 days; 3150 Waverlv - Charles J. Modiste, owner (21 violations) , Staff recommendation to raze or repair within 30 days; 425 Jackson - Calvin Minkins, owner (17 violations) , Staff recommendation to raze within 30 days; 1397 Liberty - Linda Kay Pope, owner (17 violations) , Staff recommendation to raze or repair within 30 days; 3915 Scranton (21 violations) and 3915 Scranton, (rear) (6 violations) - Jackie Ray Samuel, owner Staff recommendation to raze both structures within 30 days; and 5270 Wilshire - Thomas Saleme, Jr. , owner (17 violations) , Staff recommendation to raze or repair within 30 days. These parcels of property have been inspected, are vacant, and found to be in violation of Article III, Section 14-50 of the Code of Ordinances, notices have been sent to owners by Certified Mail and published in the Beaumont Enterprise. The thirty-six (36) structures listed below have been condemned by City Council and the owners ordered to either raze or repair them within specified time frames. Reinspection of these structures have revealed non-compliance with the Council 's order. The Public Safety Department is requesting authorization from City Council to demolish these structures in accordance with the Dangerous Structure Ordinance and charge the property owners with the cost of demolition. 552 Alma (rear), 605 Blanchette, 1805 Bolivar (rear) , 4068 Brandon, 510 Cotton Courts, 440 Flowers, 2385 Forrest, 2398 Goliad (rear garage apt. ) , 3990 Goliad, 1072 Grand, 1065 Grant, 1345 Grant, 1135 Hale, 1135 Hale (#1 rear) , 1135 (#2 rear) , 1355 Maple, 4353 Ogden, 4357 Ogden, 2805 Orange (aarage) , 2032 Pennsylvania, 2018 Primrose, 2555 Primrose (rear) , 701 Prince, 3632 St. James, 1466 Terrell, 3402 Texas (rear), 765 Trinity, 2024 Tulane (ream, 2065 Tulane, 760 Van Buren, 1120 Vermont, 3690 Waco, 2236 Washington, 3344 West, 3344 West (garage) , and 3555 St. James. -103- April 24, 1990 Mrs. Mary Arrendondo, 605 Van Buren, addressed Council regarding the shed and garage at 605 Van Buren. Mrs. Arrendondo said she recently purchased the property in question and stated the shed has recently been bl-Qwn to the ground by strong winds and requested permission to rebuild the it, and said she would also like additional time to reroof and re air the garage. Ms. Joanne Rigsby, 3094 Brenham, addressed Council regarding her mother's property at 429 San Jacinto (not on today's public hearing list) to request additional time for repairs due to the April 30, 1990 expiration date. Ms. Rigsby was instructed to contact the Building Codes Division for an extension of the work plan. There being no one else to address Council, the public hearing was closed. Council reviewed and discussed the property owned by Mrs. Arrendondo. Because of the entrance of Mr. Raymond Egland to the meeting, the public hearing was reopened. Mr. Raymond Egland, 4460 Fortune Lane, addressed Council regarding condemned property in Section 4 of the Ordinance at 3402 Texas (rear) to request additional time to repair the structure to Code regulations for accessory buildings. There being no one else to address Council, the public hearing was closed. Ordinance No. 90-29 declaring certain dilapidated structures to be public nuisances and ordering their repair or removal by their owners was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 90-29 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE FINDING CERTAIN STRUCTURES TO BE PUBLIC NUISANCES AND ORDERING THEIR REPAIR OR DEMOLITION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY. Councilman Samuel requested that the structures at 3915 Scranton and 3915 Scranton (rear) be removed and acted upon separately by Council due to a conflict of interest. With the exception of the structures at 3915 Scranton, Ordinance No. 90- 29 was approved with amendments to delete 3402 Texas (rear) from Section 4 and move to Section 2 to allow rehabilitation of structures and delete the reference to 1466 Terrell and 1135 Hale (front and rear) from Section 4 since a work plan has been established for these structures on a motion made by Councilman Samuel and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -104- April 24, 1990 On a motion made by Councilman Lee and seconded by Councilman Cokinos, action on 3915 Scranton and 3515 Scranton (rear) was approved by amending Section 2 of Ordinance No. 90-29 to include the reference of 3915 Scranton and 3915 Scranton (rear) and deletion of reference to 3915 Scranton front and rear in Section 3 . Question: Ayes: Mayor Meyers Nayes: None Councilman Lee Councilman Cokinos Councilman Smith Councilman Brumley Councilman Moore Abstained: Councilman Samuel -000- Councilman Brumley reported good Earth Day activities and announced that the first "Concerts in the Park" will be conducted at 7: 00 p.m. , May 8, with the Jimmy Simmons Jazz Band performing. Councilman Lee invited everyone to attend the Neches River Festival activities Saturday, April 28th, to enjoy a chili cook-off, band competition, and a parade. Councilman Moore commended the Earth Day program he attended at Fehl Elementary School where DuPont Corporation dedicated a science lab to the school. He said the program was outstanding with students performing in original skits that were entertaining and educational. -000- Mrs. George Ann Stabler, 430 Jay, addressed Council in opposition to the no parking signs recently posted around Larry's Antique Mall, cited the length of operation of the business with no traffic accidents as a result of the parking procedure, stated her opinion regarding the economic impact of this business, explained the paid parking procedure with proceeds going to charitable organizations, the need to promote a positive image for Beaumont, and asked Council cooperation and advice with the problem. Mrs. Virginia Christopher, 4375 Thomas Glen, addressed Council representing Altrusa Club, one of the civic organizations parking cars at Larry' s Antique Mall. Mrs. Christopher distributed copies of letters from other civic organizations that benefit from the benefit of parking cars at the establishment and requested advice about the situation. Mayor Meyers explained that legally, the signs are appropriate. He said investigation may continue to seek a possible alternate solution. Mrs. George Ann Stabler, 430 Jay, again addressed Council regarding the no parking signs. -105- April 24, 1990 Mr. Brian Alter, 4845 Oakley Lane, addressed Council to discuss the large attendance of viewers of the U. S. Navy minesweeper "USS Exultant" berthed at Riverfront Park and said that a recommendation will be made that Riverfront Park be revisted by a larger ship. Mrs. George Ann Stable, 430 Jay, again addressed Council to suggest that perhaps one time per month for three days the parking meters be sacked at Larry's Antique Mall. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall, addressed Council to comment about the ship berthed at Riverfront Park and the closing of certain schools in Beaumont. Mr. David Loden, 430 East Pipkin, addressed Council regarding requirement for a fire alarm system in his grocery store located at 3540 South 11th and to complain about not receiving a copy of the regulation requiring fire alarm systems. Mayor Meyers requested the City Attorney to furnish a copy of the information to Mr. Loden. Mr. Paul Loden, 3550 South 11th Street, addressed Council to question necessity of a fire alarm system in a small business. Mr. David Loden, 430 East Pipkin, addressed Council again regarding fire alarm regulations and said that he allegedly was told a fire alarm system was not required in small businesses of certain square footage. -000- There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. -000- I, Barbara Liming, Deputy 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 April 24, 1990. Barbara Liming Deputy City Cle k -106- April 24, 1990