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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN APR 12 1994 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD APRIL 12, 1994 - 1:30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 12th day of April, 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 K. 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 the Reverend Amos Landry, Shilo Missionary Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro Tem Goodson. -000- Three Proclamations were issued: "Week of the Young Child, " April 17- 23, 1994 ; "Spring Sweep--1994 Week, " April 12-16, 1994 ; and announcing the "XLVI (46th) Neches River Festival, " April 16-23, 1994. -000- Mayor Lord called forward Marshall Middle School students Portia Bettis, Ray Chioa, Mehee Choi, Shelley Ervin, Ellen Fuente, Chris Heintzelman, Frances Lopez, Atul Maheshwari, Andy Olson, Tiffany Sanders, Karen Tantzen and Angela Pong, along with Mary Ann Cohen, Gift and Talented Instructor for the Independent Humanities Program, and Jean McCaskill, Marshall Middle School Seventh Grade Science Instructor, to recognize the students' hard work and devotion in planning and planting a fragrance garden for the visually impaired at Rogers Park. Mayor Lord explained that these seventh and eighth students accepted this project and used their initiative to construct, produce, record, document, determine location, research most pleasing aromatic plants, and cultivate each plant to insure continual growth on their personal -85- April 12, 1994 time after school and weekends. The project was entered in a Statewide Community Problem Solving Program and placed Second in the entire State of Texas. Mayor and Council congratulated the students and encouraged the community to stop by Rogers Park and enjoy the fragrance garden. -000- Recognition was given to City employees, departments and divisions for an outstanding safety record in 1993 to entrants with at least 50,000 on- the-job safety hours. Safe Worker Awards of Honor from the Texas Safety Association for twenty or more continuous years of work without experiencing an on-the-job injury were given to Jerry Gene May, Fire Engineer, Vincent Cormier, Fire Engineer, and Junius Reed, Parks Maintenance Worker 1. Texas Safety Association Safe Driver Awards for outstanding driving records--no moving violations or preventable accidents: Award of Honor (20 or more years) --Reginald Gentry, Solid Waste, Cyrus Leger, Fire Department; Award of Merit (15 of more years) -- Benny Baskin, Fire Department; Award of Achievement (10 or more years) -- Gary Lynn McDonald, Fire Department. Nine divisions received awards and statewide recognition in the Texas Safety Association Occupation Safety and Health Contest: Perfect Record (2 or more injury free yearsl -- Building Codes and Libraries; Award of Merit -- Health Department--100% reduction; Engineering Division--100% reduction; Parks & Recreation-- 100% reduction; Streets & Drainage--66% reduction; Water Utilities--60% reduction; Police Department--42% reduction; and the Fire Department-- 28% reduction. City employees and divisions were congratulated by Council for executing their duties in a safe and expeditious manner in serving the citizens of Beaumont. -000- Mayor Lord announced that an Executive Session will be held following the Work Shop Session 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: Magistrate of the Municipal Court; and in accordance with Section 551. 071 of the Government Code to discuss contemplated or pending litigation: Iris Thompson vs. City of Beaumont. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent Agenda. No one wished to address these items. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: -86- April 12, 1994 Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held April 5, 1994 ; Resolution No. 94-85 authorizing Parkdale Bank to release $200, 000.00 held in securities at Texas Commerce Bank-Houston effective April 12, 1994; Resolution No. 94-86 appointing Bernard Dexter (replacing Sally Dooley) to the Library Commission for a term expiring April 11, 1996 and confirming the appointment by the City Manager of Rirt Tiller to the Building Board of Appeals for a term expiring April 11, 1997; and Resolution No. 94-87 authorizing settlement of the lawsuit styled Benny F. Baskin, et al vs. City of Beaumont, et al in the amount of $5,000.00. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- A Public Hearing was opened to consider expanding Reinvestment Zone Number One by four additional city blocks located between Wall Street and College Street from Pearl Street to Trinity Street, (to provide additional parking for the new Postal facility) and to adopt an amended Projects and Financing Plan. Mr. Riley explained that this area includes the block site of the LaSalle Hotel, parking lot and vacant property, and said it is proposed to acquire the site, demolish the vacant buildings, consolidate that property with property Jefferson County is acquiring. He said funds will be used from the Reinvestment Zone for acquisition, demolition and development of the site, and said Pearl Street will be slightly relocated further to the right to allow accommodation of more parking spaces on the opposite side, an excess of 500 permanent parking spaces; the City will provide over 200 and Jefferson County the remainder of the parking spaces. Mr. Riley said financing will be from the Reinvestment Zone--Tax Increment Financing--and is included for consideration today. Mr. Tony Jones, 508 Garland, addressed the Public Hearing to question sufficient parking spaces wide enough at the proposed Postal parking facility for handicapped vans and lifts and was advised by Mayor Lord that all City parking lots meet full requirements of the American Disabilities Act. Councilman Alter questioned cost of relocating the Pearl Connector and the relocation versus rerouting traffic east on College, south on Main Street. Mr. Riley reported that with this proposal, most of the parking will be -87- April 12, 1994 located on the building side for pedestrian and traffic safety, and said it is a good opportunity to improve traffic circulation in that area and create a safer environment. He said the cost is estimated to be about $175, 000.00, but safety and ADA requirement benefits will also be gained as well as the parking spaces. There being no one else desiring to speak, the Public Hearing was closed. Ordinance No. 94-20 expanding Beaumont's Reinvestment Zone Number One (created by Ordinance No. 82-132) by four additional blocks located between Wall Street and College Street from Pearl Street to Trinity Street and adopt a Projects and Financing Plan was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 94-20 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE EXPANDING THE REINVESTMENT ZONE BOUNDARIES; ADOPTING PROPOSED PROJECTS AND FINANCING PLAN; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY. Ordinance No. 94-20 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Davis and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Mayor Lord acknowledged the presence of former Mayor Jim McNicholas and welcomed him. -000- Councilman Smith congratulated Mayor Lord for planning an executing the special Moccasin Program celebration held at the Civic Center last night. She said it was wonderful, well attended, lots of ethnic food, and delightful entertainment. Other Councilmembers added their commendations. Mayor Lord agreed that it was a super evening and gave credit to all those who participated. She said there were about 300 people in attendance and about that many different dishes of food and the were entertained with Philippine, African, Tahitian, Hula, Lebanese, and Japanese dancers, Zydeco music and Scottish Bagpipers. Mayor Pro Tem Goodson reminded everyone of the Neches River Festival activities beginning this weekend throughout all of next week and encouraged citizen participation as much as possible. Councilman Alter added congratulations to the Parks Department for the first "Neighbors in the Park" at Rogers Parks this past weekend. He said it was extremely well attended and a lot of fun. He explained that -88- April 12 , 1994 this is the new concept for "Sunday in the Park" and will travel to neighborhood parks. Also, he announced that the Convention and Tourism Department is hosting the Texas Travel Counsellors' Conference in Beaumont this week. He said this conference in Beaumont for that organization is the largest ever attended. Councilman again extended congratulation to Marshall Middle School for developing the Fragrance Garden at Rogers Park and reminded everyone to meet at Babe Zaharias Park at 7:00 a.m. , Saturday morning, for "Spring-Sweep, 1994. " Councilman Moore said that an excellent itinerary has been planned for the Texas Travel Counsellors' Conference, congratulated those who joined in the "March of Dimes Walk-A-Thon" and said it was wonderful to see so many City employees and community participants. Mayor Lord remarked about the special presentation to Officer Gary Monday as "Officer of the Year" at the banquet sponsored by the 100 Club for the Police Department this past week. She said a superb list of officers were considered for the award and congratulated Officer Monday for his achievement as recipient in bringing this honor to the Beaumont Police Department. Mayor Lord told about a group of young people called "Positively Productive" who performed outstandingly at the campus of Central Ninth Grade Sunday afternoon. -000- Mr. Jim McNicholas, 108 West Calder Drive, addressed Council on behalf of residents of Caldwood Addition to say thank you for paving of their streets, said the contractor was extremely cooperative, efficient, worked long hours and did a good job. Mr. David Bradley, 615 North 5th Street, addressed Council as a resident of the Oaks Historic District and President of the Old Town Association. Mr. Bradley said his neighbors are concerned that demolition permits have been mistakenly issued for two homes that have historical significance. Mr. Bradley confirmed they were issued in error, but asked that checks and balances be put in place to eliminate this problem and emphasized they are trying to rebuild this neighborhood and that it can be destroyed one building at a time. Mayor Lord asked for a Staff report regarding these errors. Mrs. Barbara Courville, 2188 North Street, addressed Council in appreciation for designation of the Oaks Historic District and said it is a wonderful place to live. Mr. George (Buddy) Blake, 2098 McFaddin, addressed Council to add his concern that this demolition process be taken seriously. Councilman Smith took opportunity to invite Council to drive through Old Town to view the significant changes and renewal of structures that have -89- April 12, 1994 been brought back on the tax rolls by the accomplishments of these residents. She congratulated the residents and said it is encouraging to see what a neighborhood can do when they work together and emphasized this has been through private initiative and funding. Councilman Moore said that not only can a neighborhood be destroyed one building at a time, but can also be restored and revitalized one unit at a time. Mr. Rhette Browning, owner of the Garden Shop, addressed Council regarding landscaping and parking lot buffering ordinance not being enforced, especially on small projects. Mr. Browning cited several locations including Broadway and Fourth Street, College Street and Washington Boulevard and complained also that lack of adherence to the ordinance does not present a fair bidding process. Mayor Lord asked Mr. Browning for a specific list of properties, and Mr. Riley said Staff would investigate the situation and report back to Council. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 2880 Grand, added his congratulations to Officer Monday as recipient of the "Officer of the Year" award and thanked Public Works Director Tom Warner for handicapped signage placed on buses. Mr. Tony Jones, 508 Garland, addressed Council to compliment the Fragrance Garden at Rogers Park, to complain about parking on both side of Highland Avenue from Florida Avenue to Washington Boulevard congesting traffic and requested investigation of an alternate solution. -000- There being no further business, the regular session of City Council was recessed to conduct 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 April 12, 1994 . Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -90- April 12, 1994