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Home My WebLink AboutMIN FEB 08 1994 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD FEBRUARY 8, 1994 - 1:30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 8th day of February, 1994, with the following present: HONORABLE: Evelyn M. Lord Mayor Guy N. Goodson Mayor Pro Tem Councilman, Ward II Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Brian R. Alter Councilman At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I John R. Davis 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 Mr. Lowell Whited, Student Minister at Lamar University for the South Park Church of Christ. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Cokinos. -000- Four Proclamations were issued: "Mardi-Gras Weekend, " February 11-13, 1994; a Proclamation recognizing the efforts of "Habitat for Humanity" and encouraging citizen donations of time and talents; "National Sales Month, " February, 1994; and "Weather School Month, " February, 1994. -000- Mayor Lord recognized the presence of State Representative Al Price and welcomed him to City Council. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Main Agendas. No one wished to address these subjects. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held -34- February 8, 1994 February 1, 1994; Resolution No. 94-29 appointing Carol Gertz as Chairman and Bill Faucett as Vice-Chairman of the Library Commission for one-year terms; and Resolution No. 94-30 authorizing settlement of the claim of Heavenly Mealanson v. City of Beaumont in the amount of $3, 500. 00. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Alter. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Ordinance No. 94-7 calling the General Municipal Election to be held May 7, 1994, to elect a mayor and two councilmembers-at-large, and to be held jointly with the Beaumont Independent School District Trustees Election was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 94-7 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT ON THE 7TH DAY OF MAY, 1994, 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 AN EARLY VOTING BALLOT BOARD FOR EARLY VOTING; APPOINTING A MANAGER AND JUDGE OF THE CENTRAL COUNTING STATION; PROVIDING FOR NOTICE THEREOF; ORDERING A RUNOFF ELECTION IF NECESSARY TO BE HELD ON THE 21ST DAY OF MAY, 1994; PROVIDING FOR JOINT ELECTION WITH THE BEAUMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL. Ordinance No. 94-7 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 94-31 authorizing a contract with Affolter Contracting Co. , Inc. in the amount of $980, 681.70 for remediation and drainage improvements (less Item 6C to the base bid involving storage and disposal of contaminated material for off site disposal) at the Fire Training facility was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -35- February 8, 1994 Resolution No. 94-32 authorizing designation of the Southeast Texas Community Development Corporation, Inc. (SETCDC) as a local Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDO) and authorizing a contract in the amount of $126,000.00 with SETCDC that would expend 1992 HOME grant funds to renovate three or four homes to be made available to rent or purchase by Beaumont families under the City's affordable housing program for low to moderate income persons was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Davis. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Mayor Lord announced that an Executive session will be held following the regular session of City Council in accordance with Section 551. 074 of the Government Code to discuss appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee, specifically: Chief Magistrate, City Attorney, and City Manager. -000- Councilman Alter congratulated the Bonnie Cokinos School of Dance for their performance of Cinderella last week and said it was a "wonderful event. " Councilman Smith congratulated City Clerk Tu Chiappetta, Glenda Lundy, Maurine Gray, (Sara Culbreth) and Claudie Hawkins for their participation and preparation of the Annual City of Beaumont Employee Service Awards Banquet last Friday at the Civic Center, and she said it was a very, very nice party held in recognition of City employees. Mayor Lord said she took her "I Have A Dream" student to the matinee of Cinderella and "she loved it" and also said that Friday night was special (City of Beaumont Employee Service Awards Banquet) and she heard lots of people say it was the best ever, said everybody had a lot of fun and that the Banquet has become quite a tradition. Also, Mayor Lord congratulated Willa Smith, Administrative Assistant at the Library, as recipient of the 1993 Doris Johnson Award, established in 1986 to be presented annually by the City Manager to an employee chosen for the attainment of excellence in their position with the City of Beaumont. Councilman Moore added his acknowledgment of Staff and all the employees, and the Emcee (Mr. Riley) who did a good job of "keeping the program going" at the Service Awards Banquet. -000- Mr. Ivory Leday, 210 South 14th Street, presented the Mayor with a letter and map explaining flooding problems in his neighborhood and asked for assistance. Mayor Lord told Mr. Leday that the information -36- February 8, 1994 would be given to the appropriate Councilmember who would investigate his request. Mr. Tony Jones, 508 Garland, addressed Council to complain about alleged incidents of reluctance of employees of the Beaumont Transit System, the Civic Center and a Library to allow his dog guide to accompany him on buses and into City buildings. Mr. Jones gave the City Clerk copies of Texas legislation relating to travel with dog guides, compiled by the Texas Commission for the Blind, to distribute to Council and volunteered to conduct a class for City employees to explain the laws and rights of sight-impaired individuals. The Reverend Charles Johnson, 5760 East Major Drive, Administrator for New Life Tabernacle Church, addressed Council on behalf of the Reverend Treadway and the church congregation, to protest consideration of closing Old Major Drive due to a four-lane extension from Gladys to Highway 105. The Reverend Johnson read and presented a petition containing approximately 249 signatures that said: "I, the undersigned, as a tax paying citizen of Beaumont, Texas and Jefferson County, do oppose the closing of East Major Drive. Our church is located on the road and it is travelled many times daily by our membership. As well, I believe that the closing of the road will be an extreme inconvenience as well as an opportunity to invite unethical behavior and activities by youth. (i.e. Drug Traffic, Alcohol Consumption and Sexual Orientation) . Thus, it's negative consequences would blemish the future youth of our city as well as degrade our neighborhood. It should be noted that the road would definitely be beneficial in the case of an emergency or accident on Major Drive or FM 105. It would allow traffic to continue to flow and thus reduce congestion. Therefore, realizing the many benefits of the road, I the undersigned, do petition the City of Beaumont and the Texas Department of Transportation to keep the road open as suggest in the original proposal. " The Reverend Johnson also said that Friendship Baptist Church operates a child care facility that utilizes the street several times each day and would be adversely affected by its closing. Mayor Lord suggested that the Reverend Johnson meet with Public Works Director Tom Warner to discuss specifics of the street closing and possible an amicable solution. Mr. Edward Perez, 1360 Edson, addressed Council to complain about the condition of Edson Street from 1370 to Gladys and asked for assistance. Mayor Lord suggested Mr. Perez confer with the Public Works Director about a resolution to the problem, and asked Mr. Warner to send a memo to Council and Mr. Perez with results of his findings or conclusions. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 2880 Grand, addressed Council to express appreciation for a BMT cap given him in commemoration of his recent birthday by a bus driver on the route he frequently rides. Mr. Forrest F. "Ted" Possey, 3695 Edmonds, addressed Council to discuss subjects of interest to him, including a possible scholarship fund for -37- February 8, 1994 youth meeting certain criteria. Mr. Scott Sheldon, an associate with the law firm of Moore, Landrey, Garth, Jones, Burmeister and Hulett, addressed Council to complain about he and his client not being scheduled for a Workshop Session, as they requested, to discuss matters concerning the Beaumont Retirement Hotel. After further discussion and explanation, Mr. Sheldon was advised to submit a distinct and specific proposal to the City Manager for possible placement on a Workshop Agenda. -000- There being no further business, the Regular Session of City Council was recessed to conduct an Executive 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 8, 1994. Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -38- February 8, 1994