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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN JAN 17 1995 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD JANUARY 17, 1995 - 1:30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 17th day of January, 1995, with the following present: HONORABLE: David W. Moore Mayor John K. Davis Mayor Pro Tern Councilman, Ward III Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman-At-Large Becky Ames Councilman-At-Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Guy N. Goodson Councilman, Ward II Calvin Williams 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 Gary Laidacker, Parkside Christ-Bible Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by City Manager Ray Riley. -000- Mr. Riley reported that for at least the seventh consecutive year, the City of Beaumont has received recognition for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Governmental Finance Officers Association for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). Mr. Riley said this is not a small achievement even though the City of Beaumont has received this acknowledgement for several successive years. He said the CAFR is submitted to a national group of the Governmental Finance Officers Association and is graded by peers. He said the report has to be completed and audited in accordance with general accepted auditing standards, has to be a clear and thorough view of government finances and give a complete and exact overall financial view of the City's financial conditions in such a manner that laymen, as well as accountants, can determine the true financial status of the City. Mr. Riley presented the plaque received from the GFOA to Beverly Hodges, Finance Officer, and 8 recognized staff members Paula LaBrie, Peggy Rhame and Edward Scott who helped with preparation of the report. Mrs. Hodges accepted the plaque and read the inscription to the audience: "Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting presented to City of Beaumont, Texas for Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the Fiscal Year ended September 30, 1993. The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting presented by the Governmental Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada to Government Units and Public Employee Retirement Systems whose Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports receive the highest standards in Government Accounting Financial Reports." -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Main Agendas. No one wished to address these items. -000- Mayor Moore announced that an executive session will be held 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: Municipal Magistrates following the workshop session of City Council. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held January 3, 1995; Resolution No. 95-11 appointing Dora Nisby to the Community Development Advisory Committee for a term expiring July 5, 1995 and Betty Reinstra to the Library Commission for a term expiring December 19, 1996; Resolution No. 95-12 authorizing settlement of the claim of Mamie Jarreau vs. City of Beaumont in the amount of$8,000; Resolution No. 95-13 authorizing settlement of the claim of Cindy Cross vs. City of Beaumont in the amount of$3,190.88; Resolution No. 95-14 authorizing a License to Encroach for a fence encroaching into a sixteen foot utility easement on Lots 14 and 15, Block 1 of Bellechase Addition, Section One to the Bellechase Owners Association (previously granted to Mr. and Mrs. Phil W. Meaux and Mrs. 9 Sandra Spector by Resolution No. 94-305 on November 8, 1994); Resolution No. 95-15 authorizing acquisition of Parcel 111: 0.0963 acre tract out of Lots 1, 2 and 3, Block 39, Jarrett Addition (on Liberty Street 62.84 feet west of IH-10) for a 1/6th interest of the appraised value of $12,500 for a total value of $2,083.33 from Christopher A. Maida for improvements to the Liberty-Laurel Corridor from Eleventh Street to Phelan Boulevard; and Resolution No. 95-16 authorizing execution of a two-year lease agreement with the Triangle Aids Network (TAN) for approximately 700 usable square feet of office space in the Beaumont Community Health Center located at 950 Washington Boulevard for a nominal fee of$1.00 to allow TAN to provide premises to the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston for establishment of HIV Early Intervention Clinical Services. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Ames and seconded by Councilman Goodson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- A resolution authorizing a contract with Baptist Physician Hospital Organization (Orange facility) for health care services rendered to City employees, retirees, and COBRA participants and their dependents for one-year period with annual renewal options, effective February 1, 1995, was considered. Councilman Cokinos raised questions concerning explanation of Section 2.10 - Participating Hospital of the contract, passage of this contract being in conflict with the Police and Fire contracts, how transportation would be provided to other cities in the event space would not be available at Beaumont hospitals, and requested deferral of this item to conduct a workshop to answer questions. The City Manager explained this is a continuation of the non-exclusive contracts approved by Council on December 20, 1994, said the City's medical insurance program is self-funded, therefore, the City is considered large enough to negotiate with hospitals for discounts on services to provide savings both to the City and participants. He said this contract is between the hospitals and the City of Beaumont and is not in conflict with the City of Beaumont and the Fire and Police contracts. The City Attorney confirmed the independence of these contracts and being without conflict. Mr. Riley said transportation to the participant's hospital of choice is not provided by the City. Other Council questions confirmed that employees are not limited to the services of the hospitals or physicians participating in the health care services contracts and that the level of their benefits is not negatively impacted. Councilman Cokinos still asked for a workshop and 10 deferral of this item. After discussion Mayor Moore asked that this item be deferred one week to allow Councilman Cokinos and any other Councilmembers with unanswered questions to confer with the City Attorney and/or City Manager for clarification and explanation. Council concurred with the request for deferral. -000- Resolution No. 95-17 authorizing Change Order No. 3 in the amount of $3,676.12 to adjust estimated quantities used, decreasing the contract amount to $2,028,325.03 and authorizing final payment in the amount of $116,163.56 to Bo-Mac Contractors, Inc. for the 1994 Street Rehabilitation Program "Reconstruction and Overlay" was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Davis. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 95-18 authorizing execution of a one-year contract in the amount of$300,000 with the Innovative Housing Development Corporation to continue the Homebuyer Assistance Program was considered. Mayor Pro Tem Davis questioned advertising procedures to alert citizens that these funds are available. In response, Mr. Riley asked Mr. Gaylyn Cooper (6570 Wilder Drive), president of the Innovative Housing Development Corporation, to explain the process. Mr. Cooper said there is daily advertising on the City's public television station and said that workshops have been conducted throughout the community. Also, Mr. Cooper said they have a long waiting list that will probably use all of the monies under consideration today. He said the word is out and that an open house will be held in February to advertise the program and review past successes of the program. Mayor Pro Tem Davis requested that Mr. Cooper conduct some of the planned workshops in some of the seven (7) neighborhood associations in his Ward. Mayor Moore asked Mr. Cooper to describe in capsulated form the benefits of this program for the community. Mr. Cooper said that "basically, the program is designed to provide assistance for first-time home buyers." He said that a grant is provided to serve to buy down the interest rate that assists family who would not ordinarily be able to meet regular payments. Other discussion included the financial budgeting and maintenance training classes provided the first-time home buyers and monies available for rehabilitation of existing houses. Mr. Riley said he would get a report for Council of available funds for rehabilitation of existing homes, and Councilman Goodson mentioned that he requested and received a CDBG list of allocations and completions for the past four years, showing $222,000 still available and suggested copies of this report be distributed to the remainder of Council. 11 Resolution No. 95-18 was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Davis and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Williams shared with Council and Staff that at the Pear Orchard Neighborhood Association meeting last Thursday, citizens said they were being harassed and intimidated and put in a fearful state in their neighborhood by "young thugs and hoodlums" who have taken over their streets. He said the citizens expressed dissatisfaction with assistance by the Police Department. They said they were told this was "a low priority item." Councilman Williams said he knew it would be difficult for policemen to "just happen upon the scene" to witness these intimidating activities, but asked if the problem could not be addressed with some innovation by using unmarked police vehicles in the neighborhood and even using overtime monies to provide extra police surveillance. He asked for further discussion with the City Manager about the problem and said he was going to ask the Neighborhood Association president to call another meeting to specifically deal with the problem. Mayor Moore concurred that citizens need to feel good about the level of service they receive in their neighborhood and asked that a process be speeded up to address the safety fears in this neighborhood.. Mayor Pro Tem Davis said that a couple of months ago he asked the City Manager and Public Works Department to check a lighting request at 1078 Miller Street for Mrs. Florence Trotter, an elderly citizen. He stated that when he sends in a request for service for his Ward, which is an older area of town, he usually has surveyed the problem already. He pointed out that the inquiries are coming from citizens through him and expressed lack of understanding in the delay of digging ditches or providing lighting and asked that Staff look at a more expeditious method of answering problems and keeping a good relationship with citizens. Councilman Ames concurred with Councilman Williams' concern about the problems on Sarah Street, said she would like to be involved in the neighborhood meeting he is planning and said Captain Crutchfield took down information at the meeting, and she feels he will forward that information in the right direction. Councilman Smith reported receiving a call from a resident in the 3200 block of Timberwood in the Minglewood area about standing water and drainage problems created after street repairs, said she has received complaints about mobile homes (recreational vehicles) being parked in front yards in nice neighborhoods and questioned if we have an ordinance prohibiting this. The City Attorney said he is not aware of any regulation on private property. 12 Councilman Goodson said he received a call about excessive speed and noise from 18-wheelers on Laurel between I H-10 and Sparrow, said there is a concern about safety on the streets on streets without shoulders and suggested the Police Department investigate the problem. Also, Councilman Goodson said the ACORN neighborhood group has discussed petitioning the City for a park, requested that Luke Jackson and the Parks Department or the Parks Advisory Board look at some of the sites they are considering, and said the ACORN group meet the first Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. He asked the Public Works Department for an update of the goals for the Chamberlain project soon. Councilman Cokinos said the ACORN neighborhood group would like suggestions for a meeting place, said that Mrs. Webb, 3260 Timberwood--892-0719, complained about standing water and leaves on the street, said the street south of Timberwood is in the same condition, as well as Tennyson Street, and asked that Staff look into the complaints. Mayor Moore asked Public Works Director Tom Warner for an update of the synchronized traffic control light settings for both mornings and afternoons. -000- Mr. Philip Sobelman, 6th and Long, addressed Council to complain about a recent cablevision rate increase by TCI and their selection of additions to expanded basic cable service without customer consent and asked Council to give consideration to revocation of their franchise. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 2880 Grand, addressed Council to announce that he will celebrate his 64th birthday on January 18th. Ms. Rosemarie Owens addressed Council as a member of the Charlton-Pollard Neighborhood Association to complain about piles of"junk" creating eyesores on Lincoln Street near Carrol and on Jackson between Irving and Tilson Street and asked for assistance in removal of the items.. Mr. Lynn DeMary, 430 East Elgie, addressed Council to express appreciation to the Mayor and Council for their efforts and attempts to revitalize the Charlton-Pollard neighborhood by increasing the housing stock. Mr. Roberto Flores, 2425 Buchanan, addressed Council to comment about past changing and deteriorating neighborhoods, the present opportunity to prevent an area of Beaumont from becoming deteriorated and the advantages of entities working together to stabilize neighborhoods by using a holistic approach to needs. -000- There being no other business, the regular session of City Council was recessed to reconvene in workshop session. 13 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 January 17, 1995. Barbara Liming Deputy City Clerk 14