Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN MAY 15 1990 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD MAY 15, 1990, 1:15 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 15th day of May, 1990, with the following present: HONORABLE: Evelyn M. Lord Mayor Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Brian Alter Councilman At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Audwin Samuel Councilman, Ward III David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Absent: Michael Brumley Councilman, Ward II Ray A. Riley City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend George Williams, Westminster Presbyterian Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Lord. -000- Four Proclamations were issued: "National Employee Health and Fitness Day, " May 16, 1990; "Safe Boating Week, " May 19-26, 1990; "National Tourism Week, " May 13-19, 1990; and "Historic Preservation Week, " May 13- 19, 1990. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Main Agenda Items. Mr. Ben Rogers, 2030 Thomas Road, addressed Council to commended Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Lefler for their donation of land to be dedicated as a community park, in support of funding demolition and clearance of dilapidated structures, particularly in the Central Business District and the area around St. Anthony's Cathedral, and asked that Council address the problem of salvaging the King Edward Hotel building. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: -119- May 15, 1990 Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held May 8, 1990; and Resolution No. 90-89 appointing Betty Rienstra as Vice-Chairman of the Library Commission. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Samuel and seconded by Councilman Alter. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- On a motion made by Councilman Samuel and seconded by Councilman Smith, Councilman Andrew P. Cokinos was elected to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore for a one-year term in accordance with Article III, Section 6 of the City Charter. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 90-90 authorizing acceptance of a gift of 27.75 acres of land in the Thomas Spear League, Abstract 50, from M. L. Lefler, Jr. and his wife, Katherine, for development as a community park, adjacent to 10 acres previously donated and dedicated for use as a neighborhood park by Mr. and Mrs. Lefler in 1981, and to be named in honor of Mr. Lefler's late father, who was City Attorney from 1934 to 1938, was considered: RESOLUTION WHEREAS, M. L. Lefler, Jr. , and his wife, Katherine Lefler, have tendered to the City of Beaumont an offer of a gift of land for a park to be named in honor of Mr. Lefler's father, M. L. Lefler, Sr. who was City Attorney from 1934 to 1938; and, WHEREAS, this gift would consist of 27.75 acres of land in the Woodlands area of North Beaumont, east of Eastex Freeway, said land being valued at $167, 000; and, WHEREAS, the additional acreage combined with the 10-acre neighborhood park donated to the City by Mr. Lefler in 1983 will provide the area necessary for development of a community park; and, WHEREAS, a conceptual master plan for development of Lefler park has been developed by the Parks Department including a schedule for development of the park in stages over a period of years; and WHEREAS, the offer has been reviewed and unanimously approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee; and, WHEREAS, Mr. Lefler has tendered a letter of commitment for use as the basis for an application for State and Federal grant funds to assist -120- May 15, 1990 in the financing of the development; and, WHEREAS, the Leflers' gift for a community park will be an invaluable addition to Beaumont's recreational resources which will provide many hours of enjoyment and healthful exercise for thousands of families; 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 accept the gift of land offered to the City by Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Lefler, Jr. , for development as a community park and be it further resolved that this City Council hereby expresses its profound gratitude to the Leflers on behalf of th citizens of Beaumont for their generous public-spirited gift. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the 15th day of May, 1990. -Mayor- Resolution No. 90-90 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None Council expressed gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Lefler for their generous donation and for the opportunity it gives Beaumont in establishing another community park and enhancing the quality of life provided citizens. Mayor Lord recognized Mr. Lefler and asked him to address Council. MR. M. L. LEFLER, JR. : Thank you, Mayor, Council, Manager and Ladies and Gentlemen. I 've lived in Beaumont since the early 19201s, when I moved here as a young fellow from Cherokee County. Beaumont's been my home since that time, and my wife and I are very happy to make this donation to the City of Beaumont. -000- Resolution No. 90-91 accepting the work performed for construction of a 60-inch raw water supply pipeline across the Neches River at Lawson's Crossing under a $1, 002 , 000 contract with BRH Garver, Inc. and authorizing final payment in the amount of $113,990 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Alter. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- -121- May 15, 1990 Mr. Riley explained that Agenda Item No. 4 awarding a contract for construction of a metal warehouse at the Water Utilities Service Center will be deferred pending further review of the bids. -000- Resolution No. 90-92 approving financing continuation of a program for elimination of condemned dangerous structures in Community Development Block Grant Target Areas by transferring an additional $20, 000 to the Demolition and Clearance line item in the CDBG budget from the Street Rehabilitation line item (recently reimbursed in the amount of $61,000 through the Public Works Department for Street Rehabilitation Program) was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 90-93 authorizing eminent domain proceedings to acquire the Munro Dry Cleaning Company property at Broadway and Mariposa, Lots 1 and 12, Block 12, Calder Addition, for Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway right-of-way after failure to negotiate a purchase agreement was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Samuel. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Smith thanked Radio Station KYKR and their staff--Jack Piper, Kim Love, and Steve Table, the Learning Tree and members of Delta Sigma Theta for a wonderful "Sunday in the Park" last week. Councilman Samuel commended the participation and program presented at Crockett Middle School earlier today in conjunction with the DARE Program and the Police Department efforts in that program. Councilman Cokinos added his commendation of the program at Crockett Middle School and announced a program will also be conducted at Vincent Middle School tomorrow. Councilman Cokinos thanked Council for electing him as Mayor Pro Tem and pledged to do a good job. Councilman Alter echoed the comments of Councilmen Samuel and Cokinos regarding the impressive DARE Program at Crockett Middle School and said that during his campaign for Council, he was asked about improving relationships between the community and Police Department. He said that today was a good example of barriers being broken and relationships growing at the 6th grade level with Police Officers. He congratulated the Art Museum on the wonderful Kaleidoscope activities this weekend. Mayor Lord commented about the impressive DARE programs, particularly at Odom Middle School when the air conditioning failed. The children were -122- May 15, 1990 well behaved and echoed enthusiasm for I their teachers, the Police Officers. -000- Mr. John Keelan, 675 Zavalla, addressed Council to question maintenance of railroad crossings and relayed that the crossing on Fourth Street north of the underpass is in need of attention. Mr. Jack Tinkle, 410 North Major Drive, addressed Council to again complain about the no-parking signs recently installed near Larry's Antique Mall and to request they be removed or bagged two days per month during Trade Days. Mrs. Billie Loden, co-owner of Gerald Gene's Grocery at 3540 South 11th Street, addressed Council regarding fire alarm regulations and asked for an appointment to explain the exception she feels exempts their building. Mr. Jimmy Adams, 3820 Eastex, a representative of Community Census Awareness addressed Council to explain there has only been a 59% response to the Census count in Beaumont, enumerators are going door-to- door, and that a new campaign will be initiated entitled "Were you Counted?" near the end of May in an effort to accomplish a complete count. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall Street, addressed Council to congratulate Councilman Cokinos for being elected Mayor Pro Tem and discussed other areas of interest. -000- There being no other business, the meeting was recessed before continuing with the Workshop Session in the Executive Conference Room. -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 May 15, 1990. Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -123- May 15, 1990