The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMIN APR 09 1991 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD APRIL 91 1991 - 1:30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 9th day of April, 1991, with the following present: HONORABLE: Evelyn M. Lord Mayor Andrew P. Cokinos Mayor Pro Tem Councilman At Large Brian R. Alter Councilman At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Guy N. Goodson 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 * (Councilman Samuel arrived at 1: 57 p.m. during discussion of Agenda Item No. 1. ) -000- The Invocation was given by Rabbi Peter Hyman, Temple Emanuel. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos and Kristen Bernard, a student from Beaumont Christian High School attending Council with her classmates as part of Student Government Discovery Day. -000- Three Proclamations were issued: "Walkamerica Day, " April 13 , 1991; "Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust, " April 7-14, 1991; and a Proclamation in recognition of the Forty-Third Neches River Festival. An invitation was extended by the Neches River Festival Committee for all citizens to attend a night parade, fireworks, street dance, and entertainment provided by Country artists Pam Tillis and Tracy Byrd and by the Fort Polk Marching Band, Friday evening, April 12, 1991, at Riverfront Park. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Main Agenda. No one wished to address these items. -000- -73- April 9, 1991 The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held April 2, 1991; and Resolution No. 91-74 authorizing a License to Encroach with Applied Earth Sciences, Inc. , on behalf of Mobil Oil Corporation, adjacent to Lot 36, Block 6, French Heights Addition, fifteen feet from the south right-of-way line of Concord Road and seventy feet feet from the west right-of-way line of East Lucas Street, for installation of a groundwater monitoring well to trace concentrations of various pollutants for a one time fee of $500,00. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Alter. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- (Councilman Samuel arrived at 1:57 p.m. during discussion of this item. ) Resolution No. 91-75 authorizing award of Contract III to Allco, Inc. in the amount of $1,815,717.92 for installation of water and sanitary sewer improvements (including construction of 25,000 feet of 20-inch water line and 12, 300 feet of a 27, 600-foot sanitary sewer force main) to the 1989 annexed area including the State prison facilities south of the City was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 91-76 authorizing award of Contract IV to Excavators and Constructors, Inc. in the amount of $575,685. 00 for installation of water and sanitary sewer improvements (construction of 15,300 feet of sanitary sewer force main) to the 1989 annexed area including the State prison facilities south of the City was approved on a motion made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Goodson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 91-77 urging the legislature to provide funding for highway and transportation needs was read by City Manager Riley: RESOLUTION NO. 91-77 WHEREAS, the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation has reported nearly 60 percent of the mobility needs of Texas cannot be met over the next ten years; and, -74- April 9, 1991 WHEREAS, this serious shortfall will cause many approved projects to be delayed or cancelled, critically affecting the safety and mobility of the motorists of Texas at a time the state is recovering from its economic downturn and expecting a surge of new growth; and, WHEREAS, the Department has rightly placed its highest priority on maintaining and preserving our existing highway system, meaning that funds for added capacity will be in short supply unless the Legislature and other state leaders respond to this growing problem; and, WHEREAS, the Legislature should especially consider the fact that only 9 1/4 cents of the 15-cents motor fuels tax goes to highway construction and maintenance, the remainder being transferred to the public school system, the Department of Public Safety, employee benefits, and other non-highway uses; and, WHEREAS, the Chairman and members of the Highway Commission have detailed the need for additional funding and made it clear that the impact of the shortfall will be felt in all parts of Texas, rural and urban; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT: THAT the City of Beaumont requests that the 72nd Legislature address the problem of diminishing highway construction funds and take such action as necessary to assure that sufficient funds are available over the next decade to meet the mobility needs of the people of Texas. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the 9th day of April, 1991. Resolution No. 91-77 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 91-78 authorizing a contract with Ambulance Sales and Service in the amount of $37,749.00 for furnishing a 1991 Ford cab and chassis, refurbishing and mounting an existing ambulance body on it, and delivery of the finished unit to the Emergency Medical Services Division was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Goodson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Mayor Lord announced that an Executive Session will be conducted at the close of the Workshop Session in accordance with Section 2 (e) of the Texas Open Meetings Act to discuss pending or contemplated litigation: Susan Shanks vs City of Beaumont. -000- -75- April 9, 1991 Mayor Lord introduced Councilman Samuel to the students from Beaumont Christian High School. Councilman Samuel was unable to attend a brief pre-council session with the students. -000- Councilman Goodson reported attending a most informative ethics in government program sponsored by the Texas Municipal League. He said City Attorney Lane Nichols was invited to speak on recent issues concerning city government, ethics and peer disclosures. Representatives from cities of all sizes were present, and each left the meeting with a better understanding of peer relationship between council members, attorneys and duties regarding ethical conduct and disclosure of financial information. Councilman Alter encouraged everyone to attend the Neches River Festival events this weekend, especially the night parade and fireworks. Councilman Moore reported a drainage problem at 1965 Poplar, possibly the unfinished streets between Lincoln and Schwarner adding to the problem, and thanked staff for responding to his report requests. Councilman Samuel expressed his regret to the students of Beaumont Christian High School for not being able to attend the pre-council meeting with them, welcomed them to City Hall and volunteered to answer any questions they might have after the Council meeting. Councilman Smith announced that among the activities in the city this weekend, the second "Sunday in the Park" will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. in Riverfront Park, and the theme will be "Under the Big Top. " Mayor Lord reported prompt results in installation of a tape recording that plays appropriate information for citizens calling City Hall on weekends and holidays. -000- Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall Street, spoke on various subjects. Mr. Don Pittman, 870 Ascot, owner of Short Stop Hamburgers at Fourth and University, addressed Council in support of youth employment, routing of College Street traffic during reconstruction, placement of a drainage ditch on Gilbert Street, and asked that consideration be given employers and employees in deciding how to reroute traffic on College Street. Mr. Paul Paredez, owner of Beaumont Electronics at 1775 College Street, addressed Council in support of two-way traffic during reconstruction of College Street. -000- -76- April 9, 1991 Councilman Moore and Councilman Smith attended a meeting with pastors in the Baptist Ministers Union of Beaumont regarding their concern of recent gang activity. Councilman Moore reported a good, up-beat meeting this morning with Lieutenants Tyler, Beck, and O'Quinn of the Beaumont Police Department, Luke Jackson, Recreation Department Director, Bob Pollack from the Y.M.C.A. Councilman Smith, and himself along with the concerned ministers. He said they discussed the problem, expressed concerns, reviewed success stories, and committed to a corporate effort in solving the problem. They will utilize portions of various successful programs and encourage implementation of a youth employment program. Councilman Smith added they hope to address this problem as a community in a united effort and present more programs to the young people for the summer. Mayor Lord expressed appreciation for the keen interest shown by Councilman Moore and Councilman Smith by attending this meeting and asked to be kept posted for Council support and involvement. -000- There being no other business, the Regular Session of City Council was adjourned to immediately reconvene in 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 April 9, 1991. Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -77- April 9, 1991