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Home My WebLink AboutMIN JULY 13 2004 M I N U T E S - CITY OF BEAUMONT Lulu L. Smith EVELYN M. LORD, MAYOR Nancy Beaulieu Andrew P. Cokinos CITY COUNCIL MEETING Becky Ames, Mayor Pro Tern Bobbie J. Patterson July 13,2004 Audwin Samuel Lane Nichols, City Attorney Kyle Hayes, City Manager Rose Ann Jones, City Clerk The City Council of the City of Beaumont,Texas, met in a regular session on July 13,2004, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 801 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas, at 1:30 p.m. to consider the following: OPENING Invocation Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Presentations and Recognition Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-4/Consent Agenda Consent Agenda Mayor Lord called the council meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Ronnie Black of Westwood Bible Church gave the invocation. Councilmember Patterson led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was made by Rose Ann Jones, City Clerk. Present at the meeting were Mayor Lord, Mayor Pro Tern Ames, Councilmembers Smith (arrived 1:35 p.m.),Cokinos and Patterson. Absent:Councilmembers Beaulieu and Samuel. Also present were Kyle Hayes, City Manager; Lane Nichols, City Attorney; Rose Ann Jones, City Clerk. Proclamations, Presentations, Recognitions None Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-4/Consent Agenda. None CONSENT AGENDA Approval of minutes- Minutes of June 29, 2004 Confirmation of committee appointments - none A) Authorize the City Attorney's office to institute litigation againstthe Hampton Inn,Interstate Inn and Scottish Inn concerning unpaid local hotel occupancy taxes -Resolutions 04-146, 04-147, 04-148 Minutes-July 13,2004 B) Approve a contract for the purchase of employee work uniforms - Resolution 04-149 C) Authorize the acceptance of a 20-foot wide sanitary sewer easement off Lafin Road for the placement of a new sanitary sewer line - Resolution 04-150 D) Approve a resolution to reimburse Sunoco Pipeline, L.P.forthe adjustment of theirfacilities on FM 364/Major Drive - Resolution 04-151 E) Approve a resolution endorsing the appointment of a chairman and commissioners to the Beaumont Housing Authority Board of Commissioners by Mayor Evelyn M. Lord as required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development - Resolution 04-152 Councilmember Cokinos moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Mayor Pro Tern Ames seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR LORD, MAYOR PRO TEM AMES, COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, COKINOS,AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED At this time,Mayor Lord gave the Oath of Office to the Beaumont Housing Authority Board of Commissioners: Chairman Doug Landry (2 years), Commissioners Brian Bommer (two years),Connie Redeaux(two years),Gloria Ramirez(one year)and Eddie Tronser(one year). GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider authorizing the City Manager to execute an Industrial District agreement with Martin Operating Partners - Resolution 04-153 The administration requested approval of a resolution to authorize the City Manager to execute an Industrial District agreement with Martin Operating Partners who have purchased property owned by Neches Industrial Park. Martin Operating Partners have purchased property owned by Neches Industrial Park and have agreed to assume all obligations of the previous agreement in lieu of taxes executed by Neches and the City on November 20,2001. The agreement called for payments from 2002-2008 in the amount of$18,250 per year payable on February 1 of each year. Council previously approved a resolution to execute an Industrial District Agreement with Neches Industrial Park on November 20, 2001. Councilmember Cokinos moved to APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 04-153 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANGER TO EXECUTE AN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENT WITH MARTIN OPERATING PARTNERS. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. Page 2 of 6 Minutes-July 13,2004 AYES: MAYOR LORD, MAYOR PRO TEM AMES, COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, COKINOS AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED 2. Consider amending the existing Administrative Service agreement between City of Beaumont and the ICMA Retirement Corporation to provide a VantageCare Retirement Health Savings(RHS)Plan for eligible Civilian employees -Resolution 04-154 Administration recommended that as of July 29, 2004, Council amend the existing Administrative Services Agreement between the City of Beaumont and the ICMA Retirement Corporation to provide the City of Beaumont VantageCare Retirement Health Savings (RHS) Plan for eligible Civilian employees. The City currently offers to all full-time employees a 457 deferred compensation plan through the ICMA Retirement Corporation. The RHS plan is an employer-sponsored health benefit savings vehicle that allows an eligible employee to accumulate assets to pay for medical expenses for the employee, his spouse and/or dependents in retirement on a tax-free basis. Councilmember Cokinos moved to APPROVE RESOLUTION 04-154 TO ADOPT THE PLAN IN THE FORM OF THE ICMA RETIREMENT CORPORATION'S VANTAGECARE HEALTH SAVINGS PROGRAM; AND THE CITY MANAGER BE AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROGRAM. Mayor Pro Tem Ames seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR LORD, MAYOR PRO TEM AMES, COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, COKINOS AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED 3. Consider authorizing the City Managerto execute an amendment to the contract with Jefferson County related to collection and assessment services-Resolution 04-155 Administration recommended approval of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an amendment to the contract for Collection and Assessment Services between Jefferson County and the City of Beaumont. The City entered into a contract with Jefferson County on October4, 1982 to bill and collect City property taxes for twenty-two cents($.22)per account. The county desires to increase this fee to thirty two cents($.32)per account in the first year of the contract and may increase this rate in future years to an amount not to exceed the most recent price of a first class postal stamp. $13,823 was paid to Jefferson County in FY 2004 Page 3 of 6 Minutes-July 13,2004 for Collection and Assessment Services. The new rate would increase the fee to $20,100 for FY 2005. Councilmember Smith moved to ADOPT RESOLUTION 04-155 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT FOR COLLECTION AND ASSESSMENT SERVICES BETWEEN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. Mayor Pro Tern Ames seconded motion. AYES: MAYOR LORD, MAYOR PRO TEM AMES, COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, COKINOS AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED 4. Consider approving an agreement between the City of Beaumont and the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) to utilize a State Homeland Security sub-grant - Resolution 04-156 Administration recommended the City Manager sign an agreement to utilize the State Homeland Security sub-grant. The FY2004 Homeland Security Program providesfundsto enhancethe capabilityof State and local units of government to prevent, deter, respond to, and recover from incidents of terrorism involving the use of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) weapons and cyber attacks. These funds support costs related to homeland security and emergency operations planning activities; the purchase of specialized equipment;and costs related to the design and development of security training programs. On May 21,2004,TEEX notified Mayor Lord that the City of Beaumont will receive a sub-grant in the amount of$213,009. Of that amount,$92,612 is a base grant and the local Council of Government(COG)provided a regional collection of$120,397 which is to be used for equipment based upon regional needs. The period for performance would become effective December 1, 2003 and terminate November 30, 2005. Councilmember Cokinos moved to approve RESOLUTION 04-156 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TEEX TO INITIATE A CONTRACT TO UTILIZE THE STATE HOMELAND SECURITY PROGRAM SUB-GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $213,009. Councilmember Patterson seconded motion. AYES: MAYOR LORD, MAYOR PRO TEM AMES, COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, COKINOS AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Page 4 of 6 Minutes-July 13,2004 COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER SMITH - NONE COUNCILMEMBER COKINOS - NONE MAYOR PRO TEM AMES - NONE COUNCILMEMBER PATTERSON - NONE CITY MANAGER HAYES - NONE CITY ATTORNEY NICHOLS - NONE MAYOR LORD- THANKED EVERYBODY FOR MAKING THE 4T"OF JULY LIBERTY FEST SUCH A SUCCESS, ONLY NEGATIVE FEEDBACK WAS LACK OF HANDICAP RAMP TO RIVERFRONT PARK; ON JULY 9TH,WELCOMED THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF THE AMERICAN LEGION AT THEIR CONVENTION Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) LeRoy Lewis III 7866 Gladys Beaumont TX Ideals for City Council included problems with trees blocking stop signs, city employees blowing grass onto the City streets, dilapidated structures needing tagging, debris along highways, better streets and drains, and more City programs Frank Kiefer 3190 Willowood Beaumont TX Spoke against city employees using cityvehicles fortheirown personal use;sewage problem on 6800 block of Concord Road and residents having raw sewage being exposed on the streets Rodney King 5670 Brett Beaumont TX Concerned about the homeless situation including the Watts House and would like these issued addressed by the City Allen Lee 5095 Maddox Street Beaumont TX Addressed his concerns about the Police Department and feels that it is a time for change in that department; disapproval of Riverfront project Donald L. LaFleur Sr. 1167 Cartwright Street Beaumont TX Page 5 of 6 Minutes-July 13,2004 Voiced his continued concerns with the alleged brutality of the police department and wants justice to be done Open session of meeting recessed at 2:04 p.m. Councilmembers met in Executive Session at 2:16 p.m. There being no action taken in Executive Session, Council adjourned at 2:25 p.m. Audio tapes are available upon request in the City Clerk's Office. Evelyn M. Lo , Mayor 0 i V uss I Rose Ann Jones, TR I!!� City Clerk ! �Ilk A Page 6 of 6 Minutes-July 13,2004