Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN AUG 03 1993 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD AUGUST 3, 1993 - 1: 30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 3rd day of August, 1993, with the following present: 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 Dr. Betty McGary, Calder Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Davis. -000- Mayor Lord called an Executive Session in accordance with Section 2 (e) of the Open Meetings Act to discuss contemplated or pending litigation, specifically Dave Shows vs. the City of Beaumont; Bennie Baskin, et al, vs. the City of Beaumont, et al; Claim against Hartford Insurance; and the State of Texas, et al, vs. Martin-Matthews, Inc. , to be held immediately following the regular City Council Session and immediately prior to Workshop. -000- Mr. Jim Stokes, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, introduced Mr. Kevin Smith, new Vice-President of SET, Inc. They gave a brief update of the proposed strategy to achieve goals for regional economic development. Mr. Steve Mayfield, representative of the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, and Ms. Wendy Alter, membership coordinator, addressed Council to report the challenge acceptance from the city councils of Orange and Port Arthur in the money-raising phonethon to be held Monday, August 23rd, from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. Mr. Mayfield also told Council that an orientation was scheduled for 5: 15 p.m. , August 19th. -177- August 3, 1993 i Citizen comments were invited for items included in the Consent Agenda. No one wished to address Council relative to the Consent Agenda. Councilman Goodson requested that item "c" authorizing a Quit Claim Deed for the north half of the abandoned Beech Street right- of-way be considered as a separate item because of his assistance on the preparation of the original abandonment prior to his tenure on Council and said he would be abstaining from action in the matter. Councilman Davis asked that the resolution making appointments to various boards and commissions be amended to remove the appointment of Geraldine Beckett to the Library Commission. The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held July 27, 1993 ; Resolution No. 93-177 appointing Geraldine Beckett to the Beaumont Advisory Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, term expiring June 30, 1995; Everett Alfred to the Keep Beaumont Beautiful Commission, term expiring September 30, 1994; Audwin Samuel to the Community Development Advisory Committee, term expiring May 31, 1995; Derrick Jaggers to the Plumbing and Mechanical Board of Review, term expiring May 31, 1994; Terrance Holmes to the Reinvestment Zone No. 1 Board of Directors, term expiring December 31, 1994; Everett Alfred to the Transit Advisory Committee, term expiring June 30, 1995; and reappointing Bobby Patterson to the Community Development Advisory Committee, term expiring May 31, 1995; Resolution No. 93-178 granting a 10-foot utility easement out of the James Rowe Survey to Gulf States Utilities for an underground electrical distribution line to provide flood lighting for the Service Center on Lafin Road 552. 0 feet south of the northwest property line of the, Service Center and in an easterly direction for a distance of 462 . 0 feet; Resolution No. 93-179 authorizing the purchase of a diesel tractor for the Parks and Recreation Department from Eastex Farm and Home of Beaumont at an amount of $14, 042. 00; Resolution No. 93-180 authorizing a contract for wrecker services with Smart's White GMC Truck and Tractor for towing inoperable City vehicles and the Police Department's seized vehicles; Resolution No. 93-181 authorizing settlement of a claim, Kellie Danna vs. City of Beaumont, at an amount of $2, 758.92 ; and -178- August 3 , 1993 Resolution No. 93-182 authorizing settlement of a claim, Jeff Patrick vs. City of Beaumont, at an amount of $4, 803 . 60. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Goodson. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 93-183 authorizing a Quit Claim Deed to all of the partners of Benckenstein, Oxford and Johnson, L.L.P. firm, to the north half of the abandoned Beech Street right-of-way between 11th and 10th Streets adjacent to Block 1, Emma Reed Addition and grantees are authorized to relocate an existing 201x500 ' utility easement to a new location shown on Exhibit "B" of the resolution was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Alter. Question: Ayes: Mayor Lord Nayes: None Councilman Cokinos Councilman Alter Abstained: Mayor Pro Tem Councilman Smith Goodson Councilman Davis Councilman Moore -000- The third and final reading of Ordinance No. 93-44 granting a solid waste collection and transportation service franchise to American Sani-Can Company, Inc. (company to pay a monthly franchise fee of approximately 7% of gross revenues with franchise expiring July 27, 1996) was considered: ORDINANCE NO. 93-44 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A FRANCHISE TO AMERICAN SANI-CAN COMPANY, INC. TO OPERATE A SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICE IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT; PROVIDING THE TERMS, CONDITIONS, OBLIGATIONS AND LIMITATION OF SUCH SERVICE; PROVIDING INDEMNITY TO THE CITY; RETAINING AUTHORITY TO REGULATE RATES; PROVIDING FOR FRANCHISE PAYMENTS AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY. The ordinance was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -179- August 3 , 1993 Resolution No. 93-184 awarding the contract for cement stabilized base for the Streets and Drainage Division from APAC-Texas, Inc. at $14.20 per ton to repair and replace driveways and storm sewers at an estimated total expenditure of $71, 000 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 93-185 authorizing a 60-month lease/purchase agreement for a Xerox 5100 high speed copier from Xerox Corporation at a total lease price of $91,806. 00 was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Goodson and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: Mayor Lord Nayes: None Mayor Pro Tem Goodson Councilman Cokinos Councilman Alter Councilman Smith Councilman Davis Abstained: Councilman Moore -000- Resolution No. 93-186 awarding annual contracts for traffic marking materials to Vulcan Signs for 500 yellow sign posts at $17.70 each; Potters Industries for 3, 000 pounds of glass beads at $0. 18 per pound; Trantex Transportation for 500 gallons of yellow and 500 gallons of white traffic paint at $6.88 per gallon; Roadrunner Traffic for 5,000 pounds of Bitumen adhesive for button replacement at $0.26 per pound and 140 pavement marking tape and arrows at $81. 00 to $124.00 each; Renco Supply for 5, 000 3/4" crown yellow ceramic raised pavement markers at $0.44 each and 5, 000 3/4" crown white ceramic raised pavement markers at $0.42 each; Southwestern Materials for 5, 000 2-way yellow acrylic reflective raised pavement markers at $1. 01 each and 5, 000 1-way white acrylic reflective markers at $0.96 each; American Highway for 2, 340 aluminum sign blanks at $0. 57 to $13 . 65 each; Sign and Blanks for 191 rolls of reflective and non-reflective sheeting at $50.49 to $360. 00 each and 1, 125 sign faces at $0. 64 to $9.85 each; for an estimated total expenditure of $5,858.50, was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -180- August 3, 1993 Resolution No. 93-187 accepting the bid of Oil City Tractors for the purchase of a Ford Model 6640 75 HP tractor with an Alamo 2014" extendible boom arm slopemower at an amount of $36,637. 00 for use by the Streets and Drainage Division was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Goodson and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Mayor Lord reported that, while driving at night on College Street, she has noticed that several of the reflective "cat's eyes" or buttons are all over the street, that they have fallen off their markings and have become firmly attached to other areas of the pavement in several places, saying it makes night driving very confusing. She also reported the same happening on Gladys. She asked that these be properly reinstalled, remarking that the area of College is so new that the installer should be required to replace and reglue them into their proper place. Councilman Smith said she had attended the ceremonies at the Port Saturday afternoon and said that the Chamber of Commerce needs to be commended for all of their initiatives, particularly with small businesses. She also reported that the Old Town Association with their new historic overlay is working toward resolving some violations in that area and thanked Councilmen Moore, Davis and Cokinos for attending the meeting and for their support. Councilman Goodson said that he was out of town Wednesday through Sunday and apologized for missing both the Old Town Meeting and the Port ceremonies, "but was down at the Port this morning on another matter and they wanted to say how much they thanked the City and appreciated them joining in the recognition that was received. Thank you. " Councilman Cokinos reported that several stop signs and street signs cannot be read because of mold and mildew and trees over- hanging and asked that Tom Warner, Director of Public Works, ride with him to identify them for cleaning or replacing. City Attorney Lane Nichols asked Councilman Cokinos for a list as soon as possible of stop signs that can't be seen because of the City's liability exposure. Councilman Cokinos asked the City Manager to introduce our new employee on the third floor. City Manager introduced Kyle Hayes, "a student at Trinity University from the Beaumont-Port Arthur area. He's been involved in public government and administration and is studying to get his master's degree in public administration. We'll have him here as an intern for several months and he will be working on projects that will be of interest both to him and his education and to the City . . . will benefit from his internship. " -181- August 3, 1993 Councilman Alter congratulated the Port and the Chamber of Commerce on the work that they have done and apologized to all who held meetings last week saying, he had been involved with inventorying for his business. Councilman Moore said thanked those Councilmembers who attended neighborhood meetings in his Ward last week and thanked Mayor Lord for attending the South Park Association "sign" unveiling and Councilman Cokinos for passing "the plate" for donations for the group. He said the association is continuing to get new members and they selected their third "yard of the month" at a recent meeting. He also thanked staff for assisting them in installation of their signs and also assisting them in their grant application. Mayor Lord said "I think, again, they serve as a fine example and you've got some people nipping at their heels right now, too, with these other two new organizations coming along, so that's . . . that's wonderful. " Councilman Alter: "If I can add something that we can take back to them. We had an employee who had the unfortunate circumstance of having her apartment broken into in the last week and she is moving out of where she is living now and is specifically looking to move into the South Park area because of the good work that's been done there. " Mayor Lord thanked Mayor Pro Tem Goodson for representing her Friday through Wednesday at various events while she was out of the City. -000- Mr. Henry Rowe, 5825 Garner Road, and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Bailey, 5865 Garner Road, addressed Council to express their concerns for the type of development planned for Halbouty Park and what such development would do for their neighborhood and property values. They were invited to attend the meeting of the Parks Advisory Committee to be held at 4 : 15 p.m. Monday, August 9th where the plans and specifications for the less than 5 acres neighborhood park's development will be discussed. Mr. C. L. Sherman, 585 Belvedere, addressed Council to express his concerns and those of the Tax Reduction Committee and gave Council a list of twenty Texas cities where Beaumont is ranked 9th for City taxes. He said that approximately 1, 500 residents are contesting their recent property appraisals which reportedly raised some property values by levels of 20 to 30 percent and said that according to the Appraisal District, these are not expected to be resolved until the middle of November. Mr. Sherman requested a reduction of 1/2 percent in the tax rate because of the revenue to be generated by the City for the higher valuations. -182- August 3, 1993 Messers. O. B. Vincent, 3205 Kenneth, and Mr. Edwin Pauler, 1720 Rikisha Lane, addressed Council in support of remarks made by Mr. Sherman and asked Council to consider a reduction in the city's tax rate. -000- There being no further business, the meeting was recessed before continuing with the City Council 's Executive Session and Workshop Session. -000- I, Rosemarie Chiappetta, City Clerk of the City of Beaumont, Texas, certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the regular City Council session held August 3, 1993 . Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -183- August 3 , 1993