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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN AUG 31 1993 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD AUGUST 31, 1993 - 1:30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 31st day of August, 1993, 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 the Reverend Michael Clayton, Northend Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Cokinos. -000- Mayor Lord said that, with the permission of Council, she would reverse the Agenda and consider business items before conducting the two Public Hearings. Council concurred with the Mayor's suggestion. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent Agenda and Main Agenda Items 1 through 3 . No one wished to address the items. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held August 24, 1993; and Resolution No. 93-213 authorizing purchase of a 1994 Chevrolet one-ton cab and chassis equipped with a Versalift and service body in the amount -204- August 31, 1993 i of $38,461.00 from Buddy Chevrolet, Inc. for use by the Public Works Department's Transportation Division in the maintenance and repair of traffic signals. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 93-214 authorizing a two-year depository agreement for banking services with First Interstate Bank of Texas, N.A. from October 1, 1993 through September 30, 1995 at estimated annual interest earnings of $75,900. 00, service costs of $47,964 . 00 for a total of $27,936. 00 in estimated annual net earnings was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem. Goodson and seconded by Councilman Alter. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 93-215 authorizing a one-year contract with Memorial Health Network, Inc. D/B/A Memorial HealthNet to serve as claims administrator for the City' s medical insurance program for approximately $155,802 . 00 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 93-216 authorizing an annual contract with APAC-Texas, Inc. to provide asphaltic concrete (1, 000 tons of patch mix--$32 ,500, 2, 000 tons of hot mix/hot laid--$45, 600 and 5, 000 tons of hot mix/cold laid--$123, 200) for use by the Streets and Drainage Division at approximately $201, 300. 00 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Goodson. 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 2 (e) of the Texas Open Meetings Act to discuss contemplated or pending litigation: Andrew Stanfield vs. Southeast Cable Construction Inc. and a claim against the Hartford involving the Texas Municipal League and in accordance with Section 2 (g) to discuss appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee: Chief Magistrate, Magistrate, City Clerk. -205- August 31, 1993 Mayor Lord asked the City Manager to describe to the audience the difference between the two public hearings to be held today. Mr. Riley Two public hearings are required. The first is that related to the tax rate which is being considered by the Council, and is a requirement in so much as that the tax rate has, the effective tax rate, has changed in excess of the 3% authorized under the State law. The second will be the City proposed budget and the five-year Capital Program. So, the two are different in that the first is related to the tax rate. The second then is a requirement as a separate public hearing, subject to those items which are being considered as part of the budget for 1993 . Mayor Lord opened the Public Hearing on the proposed ad valorem property tax rate of $0.62 per one hundred dollars valuation and requested those desiring to speak to state their name and address for the record and to try to limit comments to three minutes. Mr. Albert Bo Faggard (3840 LeBleu) addressed Council to complain about the Central Appraisal District, suggested establishing a Quality Review Board to assess the Appraisal District, complained about his property being revalued twice in last two years, asked for an increased Homestead Exemption, said he is addressing the total issue of all County-collected taxes, and said an economic flight has been created by taxation. Mrs. Diane Derbins, 3660 Augusta Drive, addressed Council to ask they do whatever possible not to increase the cost of living, explained her dilemma in trying to stretch finances to remain a stay-at-home mom and said she does not want to be forced to move out of the City limits because of higher taxes. Mr. Louis Vaughn, 2475 Ranier, told Council that he agrees with previous comments about taxes, added that, as a realtor, he has lost sales because of Beaumont's tax rate, said tax appraisals are not in line with the Texas Real Estate Commission's sales figures regarding prices of homes, said taxes should not rise faster than the cost of a home, asked for a Homestead Exemption and a decrease in the anticipated tax rate. Mr. C. L. Sherman, 585 Belvedere Drive, complimented Council for an excellent job in controlling the budget and placing Beaumont in the middle of the top cities in Texas, said he is not criticizing Council, does not want cuts in Police and Fire personnel, but there is a heavy burden on taxpayers and people are suffering. Mr. Sherman said the Tax Reduction Committee has requested holding the tax rate at $0. 596 by cutting 20 positions in the work force through attrition. He said the Committee might accept a compromise rate, that it would be a good gesture to cut the tax rate by any amount, and he said appraisals will probably not increase significantly next year and taxes may have to be raised then, but now is an opportune time to help citizens. -206- August 31, 1993 Mr. Frank Kiefer, 3190 Willowood, addressed Council in support of Mr. C. L. Sherman and the Tax Reduction Committee, questioned how the money would be spent if the tax rate is not lowered and the increase from rebates on the State sales tax, and asked for additional Police personnel if taxes are not to be reduced. Mr. Frank Hinchey, 3910 Cypress Point, expressed concern for citizen's ability to pay any additional taxes. There being no one else desiring speak, the Public Hearing was recessed until 6:00 p.m. -000- Mayor Lord opened the Public Hearing considering the proposed City budget for the 1993-94 fiscal year and proposed five-year Capital Program. Presentations were made representatives requesting funding for their organizations. Ms. Sheila Stewart . .I 'm Sheila Stewart, and I 'm representing the Art Museum, and I think hearing conversations about budget hearings on, at a time when arts organizations and arts institutions are coming and presenting is very timely. I think our whole community and whole country are concerned about the ways that public institutions and city services are supported. The City of Beaumont has a 49-year history supporting the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. We're really proud of that history. The Art Museum has not just let the City of Beaumont support it. We have, indeed, gone out and looked for broad community support, and that community support has come from the region, not just from our Beaumont community. We have a lot to thank our City for, though. Our City has given the seed money to make sure the Art Museum can stay open free to everyone. Last year we had over 24, 000 children tour the Art Museum. That was up from 21, 000 from the year prior. Interestingly enough, it was up from 7, 000 in 1989, so we've made substantial inroads to getting children into the Art Museum. Our total audiences last year was 175, 000 people, so you can see that the contribution that the City of Beaumont is making to the Art Museum is being served better than a dollar per person. So, I think that's very significant. I would like to thank the City for the support, not only of that's contribution, but also through SETAC, which is a program-granting group here in town, arts council, for your assistance through CVB, which gives the Art Museum, not dollars so much, but promotional and marketing assistance. I 'd like to thank the City Councilmen for their assistance, both in terms of the Phone-a-thon, which happened last week, which was very successful, but also for the advice and assistance that I 've been able to go to you on many occasions and garner. And, also, Kaleidoscope, which would not be possible -207- August 31, 1993 without the City of Beaumont's support through Claudie Hawkins and the City's Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Thank you, Mayor Lord. Ryan Smith Good afternoon, Mayor Lord and City Council. My name's Ryan Smith. I am the Director of the Texas Energy Museum. I wanted to introduce, of course, a couple of our Board Members that came with us. Our President, Maury Meyers, I think just stepped out of the room, and our Vice President, Roy Steinhagen, who's in the back of the room. I also want to kind of repeat what, what Sheila also said, that the Museum entities in this town are very appreciative of what the City has done, and we hope that we're giving something back to the City of equal amount. As you know, we've had a request into the City, and the City's supported us for the past few years. Particularly, getting the Museum going, getting it started and making it a significant part of the Beaumont community. For the last year, during the last year, our attendance has been up about 27% over the previous year. We think this is due mainly in part to the fact that we've really opened the Museum up to the community. We established some programs that really go to a large number of the community, particularly with the children and a lot of the families in the area. About 53% of our visitors do come from outside of this area. That would be people coming from over two hours away, and it doesn't take long to kind of figure out that each of these people coming in do spend some money in our community. They're, they have a part in this community, and some of them, of course, are spending the night, so those dollars, of course, are coming back to us. And many of these people, of course, are from, not only just, you know, out of this region, but outside of this state and a number from foreign countries. We have had a number of special projects and exhibits over the last year that, I think, show that we're really trying to be a part of this community in bringing things forward. We had a particularly good summer with a special exhibit that came from the Smithsonian Institution, a traveling exhibition on space. We had a special week. We had Astronaut John Young in here at the Museum, and these things have all really brought the Museum, I think, into the forefront in our cultural community. We've had a number of school programs, education programs. We do a lot of special events. While our numbers are not, of course, in the same level of the Art Museum, I do think we are making significant inroads in the education community, about 4, 000 school children in in tours last year. A number of these people coming in on special days like we have in October, a Dinosaur Day, and a lot these programs that we do, of course, are funded from outside sources. The City funding through the Hotel Occupancy Tax that we're looking at takes care of some of the basic operating cost. Every event that we do, whether it's a Space Week, a Dinosaur Day, a special exhibition, is coming from corporate support or private individual support. We've had a number of projects that have been funded by foundations in this area. Several of the corporations like Mobil, Temple Inland, Sandoz Agro and then individuals have supported us generously during the past year. So, our response -208- August 31, 1993 again to the City is, we appreciate the past support, we're looking forward to continued support, we appreciate what the City has done, what it means to us at the Museum. Thank you. Mickey Shuffield Good afternoon, Mayor, Council. My name's Mickey Shuffield, and the President-elect of the Beaumont Heritage Society, and we, too, are pleased to be here today and would like to express our appreciation to you in the past for your kind and generous support. And without belaboring the point, we feel that we equally good artistic citizens of this community and bring people in. I think that information is available to you through information we've given to Mr. Riley and to other Councilmembers, and we have some information for you today that we'll pass out. I 'm here today to ask, not only for your continued support and perhaps unparalleled by the speakers before me, I 'm gonna actually ask for some more generosity on your part in terms of an increase in the budget we are requesting from the City. And the contrast of asking for an increase in these difficult times coming on the heels of the speakers who spoke to you about increased taxes and the effect it has on our attractiveness to the outside community is not lost on me, and certainly not lost on the Beaumont Heritage Society. But, the fact remains that just as the Art Museum has advised you, and the Energy Museum, we feel we are good artistic citizens, and we one of the attractive features of the City of Beaumont and Southeast Texas that does in fact bring individuals here and increase revenues. The reason that we are asking for an increase this year is because we have an acute physical need in terms of the upkeep and maintenance of the John J. French Historic House. The funds that we're asking, over and above what you have generously given us in the past, are not going to be dedicated to any of our operational programs which we're very proud of. Incidentally, this year we'll reach approximately 14, 000 school children through visits to the John J. French Memorial Historic House and the outreach programs where we send traveling shows to the city, or to schools in the city. But, the point remains that we have very important needs in terms of the physical structure itself. We have to replace a number of windows. We have a picket fence that needs to be replaced so that we can maintain the facility in the same condition that it's been maintained in the past. And, as I think you can well imagine, unlike any of your typical structures, the historic, a structure like this, you simply don't go down to Andersen Window and buy a new window, you have to bring in someone who has the capability of restoring it and to maintain a continuity of the historic aspects of that facility. I have some photographs that I 'd like to present to Mr. Riley which I am sure he can make available to you. And again, without belaboring the point, we understand that times are difficult and you have some very difficult choices to make in terms of how you allot your funds that come in through the Hotel-Motel tax. This is, again, not an operational need on our part, but it's a very acute need that we hope to fill through your increased generosity and through, hopefully, some other funding which we -209- August 31, 1993 may receive through some private sources. I appreciate your time and your attention. Thank you. (Mr. Shuffield distributed photographs. ) There being no one else desiring to speak, Mayor Lord recessed the Public Hearing. -000- Councilman Smith reported that a group of seven went to the City of Tartu in Estonia in an effort to develop a Sister City relationship. She said the University in Tartu has an exchange program with Lamar University. Councilman Smith said they did not sign a Sister-City agreement, but have received word from Tartu's Mayor that they are no longer reluctant. She relayed some of their experiences, and said Tartu is about the size of Beaumont, the average income is $56.00 per month, and they are very medically deprived. Councilman Smith, Dr. Hoffman and his wife toured the University hospital and public clinic. She said they have no money to buy supplies and very few medicines, their physical plant resembles pictures of Bellevue in New York at the turn of the century or King's County, and they are reusing respirator hoses and IV tubing because there is no money to replace them. During their two years of independence from the Soviet Union, they have established their monetary system; they have a great spirit of entrepreneurship; they need venture capital, but are doing a fine job. In spite of poverty, she said they were gracious hosts and willing to share what they have. She said there is great opportunity for humanitarian assistance, and that she and Dr. Hoffman are working towards that effort. She said it was a wonderful experience, hopes to keep in contact with them and anticipates signing a Sister City Agreement with Tartu. Councilman Davis reported to Mr. Riley that he met with a group of citizens, and Mrs. Johnson and a group of elderly people are concerned with possible drug sale and use at 3925 Youngstown. Councilman Moore asked Public Works Director Tom Warner to check standing water at the new construction sites pertaining to drainage projects crossing Houston, Tyrrell, and Prairie Streets. He reported a well attended and very successful meeting last evening at Sunlight Manor. He said the Police Department was there with all the Zone Sergeants, Captain Crutchfield, Lt. Ray Beck and Sunlight Manor management. It was a very positive meeting and good explanation by the Police Department. Also, Councilman Moore said he "went on quite a trip, " Sunday, along with Councilman Cokinos, Police Chief and Mrs. Tom Scofield, Sheriff and Mrs. Carl Griffin and Commissioner Jimmy Cokinos at Cathedral in the Pines. He said it was one of the "most interesting programs" he has ever witnessed. Cathedral in the Pines presented a Parade of Ministries in celebration of Pastor Dabney's twenty-three years of ministry at Cathedral. He said that people talk about Beaumont and the spirit of Beaumont and one of the things that Pastor said was -210- August 31, 1993 . that in he and his wife coming from California to Beaumont, "there was no place they would rather be. " Councilman Moore repeated a queery made to Pastor Dabney about retirement, who retorted that "when I do retire from this church in the city of Beaumont, it' ll be feet first and eight strong men. " He reported to Mayor Lord that her letter and others were acknowledged. Mayor Lord expressed thanks for Council representation at Cathedral in the Pines and to Pastor Dabney for his contribution to life in Beaumont. She told Councilman Moore she was glad the meeting at 8th Street went so well; she was unable to attend because of another meeting with the Boy Scouts. She reported that Councilman Moore also had a very successful neighborhood meeting in South Park last night, said the South Park Neighborhood Association is being held up strongly as an example to the rest of the city, Council is encouraging Neighborhood Associations, and they are mushrooming throughout the city. She said she attended a meeting with Councilman Davis last week, and it, too, is going to be a strong association. She said Council and City Staff stands ready to assist. The Police Department will come out in force, explain neighborhood policing, or the Community Oriented Policing program, because they feel it a strong, leading answer to what is negative in cities today. -000- Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 2820 Pine Street, addressed Council in support of increasing transit fares and mobilization of Police in neighborhoods. -000- There being no further business, the Regular Session of City Council was recessed to hold an Executive Session in the Council Chambers and Work Shop Session in the Executive Conference Room before reconvening at 6: 00 p.m. with the two Public Hearings. -000- The Regular Session of the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, reconvened at 6: 00 p.m. this the 31st day of August, 1993, with all Councilmembers present. -000- At the request of Mayor Lord, the City Manager again explained the difference in the two Public Hearings to be reopened. -000- -211- August 31, 1993 Mayor Lord shared that Council has been in session all afternoon and that she is very impressed with the respect that Council has for each other even when there are differing opinions. She said this Council is a great team and united while maintaining individual personalities, loyalties and views. She told the audience that she has asked various members to share feelings on certain matters. First, she asked Councilman Alter to share information about the Homestead Act. Councilman Alter We've heard a number of times during our budget hearings and during our Public Hearings this afternoon about why the City of Beaumont doesn't provide the same Homestead Exemption that other taxing entities might, and it's not because we haven't considered it. We have looked at it long and hard, and we looked at it again during this budget time. There are, the long and short of it is, and I can give you all the numbers, but it's hard for you to keep track of that unless you're writing it all down. The net result is if we gave the same Homestead Exemption that the other taxing entities give, it would mean a net result in lost dollars to the City of a million and half dollars in taxes which is equivalent of almost five cents in property taxes. Now, the City, I hope it is obvious, can't afford to do without five cents of property taxes or tax dollars, a million and a half dollars shortfall. What the Homestead Exemption as a result would then do, since we need to raise those dollars regardless, or somewhere close, is it shifts those dollars to other people in the community. As a result, somebody who would be getting a Homestead Exemption might be paying a little less, but the next door, but the person next door, somebody has to pay more in order to make that balance out or rates have to go up in order to make that balance out. Because the net dollars and cents raised, at whatever cent level that we choose to adopt, still has to be that level, and rather than trying to shift a burden, we've left the burden as equally as we could across the board, which is why we haven't tried to deal with that Homestead Exemption, because what it does is shift. If, we had a tremendous amount of commercial property within the City limits, if all of our refineries and those types of commercial properties were in the City limits, then that burden would be shifting to commercial properties, and I think to a great extent that's where a lot of the Homestead burden was intended to be done, was to be shifted to a lot of commercial properties, so it wouldn't affect the individual. Most of these commercial properties that we have are refineries and things the City collects dollars in lieu of annexing the properties. They're not within our City limits. They pay us taxes effectively to stay out of the City limits, and that's why it doesn't work. The other thing that we've heard a lot about and that we discussed is an exemption for over 65 for senior citizens, which we have, if you're not familiar with. Okay. If you apply, you can get an exemption off of your appraised value of seventeen and a half dollars from whatever the appraised value is, and that right now, we already have, the City already has over 8, 300 -212- August 31, 1993 properties that have been granted that exemption to the extend of $870, 000 that we are not collecting from our senior citizens which is effectively shifting the burden to our younger citizens, but our senior citizens are already receiving that advantage. If you are a senior citizen, you haven't applied for that exemption, both with us and throughout the whole county, then that is something that we would all advise you to do in order to be able to take advantage of that opportunity. . . Mayor Lord added that it has been distressing "to discover that many senior citizens are now aware of this" exemption. She then asked Councilman Moore to discuss Council 's feelings about Police protection. Councilman Moore My comments would be extremely brief. One of the things that I found out, especially in the last year, that people are willing to pay for certain things. One of the most important things, outside, I think, sanitation, has been the Police protection they received in the number of different programs that have come into affect. I think most of you know we have come about with the Community Policing Program and Police have a much stronger presence in the community. We have already designated ten people to be hired to free up personnel back to the streets. Some of them meeting as late as yesterday afternoon, and that's welcome news within our community. I guess I say that to simply make this point, is that when it comes down in addressing employees, that will not be one of the areas that we are willing to address at this particular point and time because of the outcry for public safety and because of the benefit that the new program is giving to the entire community. So, I want everyone to be aware of that. However, we would like for everyone to be aware of the fact that in spite of the ten people that are being transferred over to the Police Department to free up sworn officers back to the street, five of those individuals are coming from positions already within the City, and I would like to give the Manager the opportunity to elucidate on that a little bit further, if the case need be, if there be any questions regarding that, but that was one of the issues that came up with our budget discussions this afternoon. I just wanted to give you the position of a large number of people throughout the community, throughout the entire city of Beaumont, who feel very strongly about giving the new Community Oriented Policing an opportunity to succeed. (The City Manager did not elaborate on Councilman Moore's comments. ) Mayor Lord said these subjects have total Council agreement and asked Mayor Pro Tem Goodson to discuss the possibility of a one-cent tax reduction, "where it might come from and what it would mean. " Mayor Pro Tem Goodson Thank you, Mayor. Again, I think it bears reemphasizing because it has -213- August 31, 1993 been emphasized to frequently to us on Council, that while most people want us to find a way to reduce the tax burden, that they do not want to see a significant reduction in those primary City functions, and we have also had quite a number of citizens, maybe some of you in this room, who have come to us as David (Moore) has said and asked that we try to enhance our City Police Department. That we are attempting to do with the increase in the number of uniform officers that will be on the street as a part of the new Community Policing Program. So, the City Council wanted to make it clear that it, although it has been variously reported, it is not, never has been our intention to look to that change in the staffing of the Police Department. We were never looking to that as a reduction, as a way to reduce costs. We knew that this was something the citizens wanted. But, we have been meeting this afternoon, as the Mayor said, all afternoon. This is not our first meeting. As most of you know, we received our budget much earlier in this month, and our City Manager has been advising us about various aspects of the budget for the last several months together with the Finance Department, which gives us a monthly report of where we are from our last fiscal year. And, from that we have been able to keep up with a lot of the information that is just now being brought to your attention. There are some of us on Council who would like to see, and I think even the majority, if not all the Council, would like to find a way to provide a reduction. One cent, I know, does not seem like a lot of money. It translates on the City's budget into about $315, 000. 00. And, what we have been discussing for the last several weeks is where and from what sources, without trying to provide a reduction in services, that source could come from, and we've discussed several of those today. In viewing a one-cent reduction for the time being, we discussed various things. Through no great, nothing but good luck for us, the way that our bonds are set up, the City will realize a modest reduction in the amount of money that we have to pay back on the principle of our bonds this coming year. This is nothing that Council did, but it's just the way these amortization schedule, as you're familiar with your own home loan, on bond indebtedness of the City's for some reason, it doesn't run equally every month, and I have never been smart enough to figure out how financial advisors calculate these schedules, but for some reason, this particular fiscal year we will have somewhere between $100 and $130, 000 in reduced payments that we may be required to make on debt service. That, of course, is only about a third, little under a third of a cent. In addition to that, we looked at some of the other programs. And, one of the programs that is funded partly out of the Street User Fee, but not entirely out of the Street User Fee, is our Street Maintenance Program where we try to put as much money as we. As most of you know, historically, we've tried to upgrade arterial streets and collectors and work down and start with the major streets where the least amount of improvements were necessary, but upgrade them. And, one possibility may exist that with a $. 62 tax rate, and correct me, Manager, if I 'm wrong, we would have planned to put about a $1, 400, 000 into that program or a $1, 600, 000, and we possibly could take some of that, $100, 000 or $200, 000, a modest amount out of -214- August 31, 1993 that Street User Program for this one year and use that as a vehicle by which to get part of a requested reduction back. There is also some possibility that a few personnel positions that are currently unfilled might be held vacant. The City does not have full personnel staffing at this time. There are always some vacancies that exist, but those positions plus the cost of paying for accrued vacation and every other benefit has already been built into the formula. We realize that we are not going to have full employment every day for the year for this next fiscal year. So, between these three items, there is possibly the opportunity to pick up, you know one cent of additional tax, if that is the willingness of Council and if that, after we continue these discussions. One thing, though, that I don't know if it' s a thing I need to make aware to others, I know that Mr. Sherman was here earlier and is aware of it. He spent a great deal of time going over our budget. He knows a lot about what is on our schedules for our, our debt service obligation on bonds in the future years, and even if a reduction occurs this year, let's say back to a penny, that penny plus what is more than likely three additional pennies are gonna be required next fiscal year because our debt service obligations are gonna go back up. And, you know, I 'm sorry to report that to you, but I wanted to say it to you early so that you understand that this penny that we're saving this year is due in large measure to us trying to cut the edges around some of the programs to provide, but that penny will be necessary in the coming fiscal years. Thank you, Mayor. The Mayor thanked Council for the reports and reopened the first Public Hearing regarding the proposed ad valorem property tax of $0. 62 per one hundred dollars valuation and asked each speaker to state their name and address and try to limit comments to three minutes. Mr. Brad Hogue, 3750 Long Avenue; Mr. Evert Mol, 885 Shakespeare; Mrs. Carol B. White, 7880 Autumn; Mr. I. V. Mills, 65707 Circle; Mr. Carl Holder, 810 Brandywine; Mrs. Sue Hamilton, 7980 Jackson, President of the Builder's Association of the Sabine Area; and Mrs. J. W. Brown, 1075 Glendale; complained about tax appraisals and attitude of Appraisal District personnel and in favor of tax reduction. Mr. Carroll Buttrill, 5530 Duff, complained that with over twenty taxing agencies represented by the five-member board of the Jefferson County Appraisal District, Beaumont does not have a board member and he said did not recommend a member. Mayor Lord asked Mr. Riley to recall for the audience the procedure for representation on the Appraisal District. Mr. Riley said "the members of the Appraisal District are nominated by those taxing entities and all may nominate, and then the election is based on the casting of votes from each of the taxing jurisdictions by, based on their pro-rata on their taxing effort, so that if a taxing district levies $100, 000 in taxes, another one only levies $10, 000 in -215- August 31, 1993 taxes, of course, that's never happens, but they would have ten times the votes that the other would have. So, as a result once it's done, then all of the entities cast their votes about the nomination. It so happens that the City happens to be one of the lesser taxing entities. We do not have sufficient votes to cast to elect a member. So, usually the School Districts, because they are taxing more, and the County ultimately have votes which to elect the members on the Appraisal District. The City at one time was represented, but has not been in the last few years because it has insufficient votes in which to elect a member of the board because of its taxing effort. " Mayor Lord added that " . .when we know that we can't get our person on, we combine our votes with others. . .we sent our votes up to the person that was closest to us. . . " Mr. Tom Bailey, a local home builder, said there is a serious problem with the Appraisal Board because they will not deviate from their system that is very unfair and do not have the correct square footage on 50% of the appraisals. Mr. Wayne Sherman, 325 Bradford, addressed Council to complain about City crews not working while on duty and suggested cutting personnel. Mr. Jesse Baker, 2950 West Lucas, agreed with previous speakers and the Tax Reduction Committee regarding a tax rollback and suggested cutting the services of the Washington lobbyist, spend less on streets--only make necessary repairs, don't spend $265, 000 on Central Park improvements, reduce travel budgets, and quit trying to rescue Downtown and questioned refinancing bonds at lower interest rates. Mr. C. L. Sherman, 585 Belvedere Drive, said he adamantly supported cutting positions through attrition and requiring a higher level of productivity in City personnel, and at the request of Councilman Moore, restated some of his comments made earliest and said that each year stands on its own, and that next year a tax increase may be necessary. There being no one else wishing to speak, the Public Hearing was closed. -000- The Public Hearing regarding the City Budget for the 1993-94 fiscal year and proposed five-year Capital Program was reopened for citizen comment. No one wished to comment, and the Public Hearing was closed. -000- Resolution No. 93-117 authorizing an ordinance to be placed on the agenda at the regular meeting of the City Council to be held at 1:30 p.m. on September 7, 1993 , in the City Council Chambers to adopt the tax -216- rate in the amount of $. 62 per hundred dollars valuation for the fiscal period commencing October 1, 1993 and ending September 30, 1994 was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Goodson and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- There being no further business, the Regular Session of City Council was adjourned. 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 August 31, 1993 . Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -217- August 31, 1993