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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN FEB 21 2006 M I N U T E S - CITY OF BEAUMONT Lulu L. Smith,Ward I GUY N. GOODSON, MAYOR Nancy Beaulieu,Ward II Andrew P. Cokinos, At-Large CITY COUNCIL MEETING Becky Ames,At-Large Audwin Samuel, Mayor Pro Tem,Ward III February 21, 2006 Bobbie J. Patterson,Ward IV31 Tyrone E. Cooper, 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 February 21, 2006, 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 - Representative from the Corp of Engineers Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-3/Consent Agenda Consent Agenda Mayor Goodson called the council meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Mayor Pro Tern Samuel gave the invocation. Councilmember Ames led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was made by Rose Ann Jones, City Clerk. Present at the meeting were Mayor Goodson, Mayor Pro Tern Samuel, Councilmembers Smith, Beaulieu, Ames and Patterson.Absent Councilmember Cokinos. Also present were Kyle Hayes, City Manager; Tyrone Cooper, City Attorney; Rose Ann Jones, City Clerk. Proclamations, Presentations, Recognitions "Engineers Week in Beaumont" - February 19 - 25, 2006 - Proclamation read by Councilmember Beaulieu; accepted by Amalia Villarreal, Sabine Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers Patrick Donart, City Engineer in the Water Utilities Department, has been selected by the Chapter to receive the Young Engineer of the Year Award at the Chapter's banquet to be held tonight. Hani Tohme, Director of Water Utilities gave a summary of Mr. Donart's dedication to the department as well as a personal insight to this dedicated employee. Presentation: Capt. Raymo, Army Corp of Engineers - Gave an update on the completion of the curb pick-up within the City limits; still working in the parks and some other areas which should be completed in about six to eight weeks; still in process of trying to dispose of the debris which has been gathered Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-3/Consent Agenda. None Minutes-February 21,2006 CONSENT AGENDA Approval of minutes - February 14, 2006 Confirmation of committee appointments - Resolution 06-062 Traci Colbert would be appointed to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway Commission. The term would commence February 21,2006 and expire February 20,2008. (Councilmember Becky Ames) A) Approve a resolution accepting maintenance of the street, storm sewer,water and sanitary sewer improvements in Windemere Subdivision, Section Two - Resolution 06-063 B) Authorize the City Manager to apply for and receive funding through the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program and to execute an inter-local agreement with Jefferson County, Texas in order to reallocate Justice Assistance Grant funds to Jefferson County, Texas - Resolution 06-064 C) Authorize the City Manager to decrease the Sanitary Sewer Improvements Rehabilitation of the Florida Street Lift Station Project amount by adjusting the scope of work - Resolution 06-065 Mayor Pro Tern Samuel made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Ames seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR GOODSON, MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL, COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, BEAULIEU,AMES AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider approving a request for a specific use permit to allow a school bus parking and services facility located at Concord, Cottonwood and St. Helena - Ordinance 06-011 Administration recommended approval of a specific use permit to allow a school bus parking and services facility located at Concord, Cottonwood and St. Helena. Beaumont Independent School District is requesting a specific use permit to allow the construction of a school bus parking and service facility on property located at Concord, Cottonwood and St. Helena. The facility would house buses that serve the schools on the north end of the city. The site will include parking for 53 buses, an employee office and washing and fueling facilities. At a joint Public Hearing held August 15, 2005, the Planning Commission voted 7:0 to approve a specific use permit to allow a school bus parking and services facility located at Concord, Cottonwood and St. Helena with the stipulation that before the Page 2 of 7 Minutes-February 21,2006 request is placed on the City Council, agenda, the site plan be amended showing the security fence on either side and indicating that buses will not back out onto public streets. Councilmember Smith made a motion to ADOPT ORDINANCE 06-011 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SCHOOL BUS PARKING AND SERVICES FACILITY IN AN RMH (RESIDENTIAL MULTIPLE FAMILY DWELLING-HIGHEST DENSITY) DISTRICT LOCATED AT CONCORD, COTTONWOOD AND ST. HELENA IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT,JEFFERSON COUNTY,TEXAS. Councilmember Beaulieu seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR GOODSON, MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL, COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, BEAULIEU, AMES AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED 2. Consider authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Ron Petitt for the purchase of a life-size bronze figure of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Resolution 06-066 Administration recommended City Council authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Ron Petit for the purchase of a life-size bronze figure of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The City proposes to construct a new park named the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park on the east side of M.L. King Parkway between College and Wall Streets. The project will include the construction of benches, tables, landscaping and retaining wall, a parking area, and a life-size bronze sculpture of Dr. King. The artist, Mr. Petitt, is the Beaumont native that recently completed the sculpture for the Beaumont Police Officers Memorial. For the park project, Mr. Petitt has provided two (2) concept sketches which are original works of art and not based on a particular photo of Dr. King. As stated by the artist, the drawings are "the result of many hours of intense research and refinements. The designs are intended to capture the essence of Dr. King's strong personal beliefs, visions and determination to instill hope and inspire others." If these concept sketches are not acceptable, the artist is willing to provide another sketch based on the City's concept for the sculpture. The completed sculpture will stand atop a three-foot tall granite pedestal fitted with a bronze name plaque. The cost of the sculpture is $55,000. Funds for the cost of the bronze figure are available in the Capital Improvement Program. Mayor Pro Tern Samuel made a motion to APPROVE RESOLUTION 06-066 THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE AND HE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH RON PETITT FOR THE PURCHASE OF A LIFE-SIZE BRONZE FIGURE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IN THE AMOUNT OF$55,000. Councilmember Patterson seconded the motion. Page 3 of 7 Minutes-February 21,2006 AYES: MAYOR GOODSON, MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL, COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH,AMES AND PATTERSON NAYS: COUNCILMEMBER BEAULIEU MOTION PASSED AT THIS TIME,EVERYBODY WAS INVITED TO ATTEND THE DEDICATION/GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY LOCATED AT MILK PARKWAY AND COLLEGE STREET 3. Consider approving a resolution authorizing the participation of the City of Beaumont with other Entergy-Gulf States, Inc., service area cities to intervene in proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission of Texas for the calender year 2006 - Resolution 06-067 Administration recommended the adoption of a resolution authorizing the City of Beaumont to participate with other Entergy-Gulf States, Inc., service area cities and to intervene in proceedings filed by EGSI before the Public Utilities Commission of Texas for the Calendar year 2006. It is expected that Entergy-Gulf States, Inc., will file several matters in 2006, before the Public Utilities Commission of Texas. These matters include a fuel factor case in March, 2006, and September, 2006, to raise the fuel charge to customers; a fuel reconciliation case in May,2006,to reconcile fuel costs through December 31,2005, and address incremental capacity costs requested in 2005 but delayed until May, 2006; at least one request for a fuel surcharge to recover the difference between actual and estimated fuel charges. The case which was filed in 2005 to recover transition to competition costs and expenses will be litigated in February and March of 2006. The company will also attempt to collect an estimated $300 million of costs related to storm damage from Hurricane Rita. These matters will all be filed at the Public Utilities Commission of Texas. Historically, the City of Beaumont has joined with other cities in the Entergy-Gulf States service area in participating in proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission of Texas and various rate and fuel matters filed by Entergy-Gulf States, Inc.The purpose of this resolution is to authorize the City of Beaumont to participate with other cities by intervening in the cases that the company is expected to file in 2006. This participation is necessary to assure reasonable rates and charges and fair competition to all customer classes. The action of the various cities intervening in these matters are accomplished pursuant to the direction of a Cities' Steering Committee of which the City of Beaumont is a member. The Cities' Steering Committee will retain rate consultants and attorneys who will represent the cities' interest in the above proceedings. All reasonable expenses associated with these cases will be reimbursable by the company as they have been in the past. Page 4 of 7 Minutes-February 21,2006 I Councilmember Ames made a motion to APPROVE RESOLUTION 06-067 AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION WITH OTHER ENTERGY SERVICE AREA CITIES IN MATTERS BY ENTERGY AT THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS IN 2006. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR GOODSON, MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL, COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, BEAULIEU,AMES AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED 4. PUBLIC HEARING: Receive comments on the Preliminary 2006 HUD Consolidated Grant Program Budget Opened: 2:07 p.m. Closed: 2:14 p.m. Public Comments: Toni Prados 1090 Ave H Beaumont TX Asked about a beautification program for College Street - Old Spanish Trail [Mayor Goodson dismissed himself from the meeting due to illness; Mayor Pro Tern Samuel resumed meeting.] WORKSESSION: Discuss the Preliminary 2006 HUD Consolidated Grant Program Budget During this worksession, councilmembers discussed reallocation of funds from Economic Development and reassigning them to Clearance and Demolition. This was recommended by Administration due to the increase in the number of dangerous structures and the increased costs of demolishing these buildings. Consider approving the Preliminary 2006 HUD Consolidated Grant Program Budget - Resolution 06-068 Councilmember Beaulieu made a motion to include the line item change recommended by Administration and to APPROVE RESOLUTION 06-068 APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY 2006 HUD CONSOLIDATED GRANT PROGRAM BUDGET. Councilmember Ames seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL, COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, BEAULIEU, AMES AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Page 5 of 7 Minutes-February 21,2006 COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER SMITH - NONE COUNCILMEMBER BEAULIEU - NONE COUNCILMEMBER AMES - NONE COUNCILMEMBER PATTERSON - WISHED TO RECOGNIZE REV.WALKER AND MRS.WALKER OF THE WEST TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH FOR THEIR HARD WORKING EFFORTS IN THE M. L. KING PARK; EXTENDED GRATITUDE TO JOHNNY BEATTY, STEVE RICHARDSON, JANETT LEWIS AND THE REST OF THEIR STAFF AND THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THEIR WORK WITH THE HEARINGS AND THE CDBG PROGRAM; COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT CITY ATTORNEY COOPER- NONE CITY MANAGER HAYES - THANKED JOHNNY BEATTY, JANETT LEWIS, STEVE RICHARDSON AND THEIR STAFF FOR GOING OUT EVENINGS AND CONDUCTING THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND PUTTING THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER MAYOR GOODSON - NONE MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL- ALSO,CONCURRED WITH THE CITY MANAGER IN THANKING JOHNNY BEATTY AND HIS STAFF AND APPRECIATED THEIR EFFORTS; ANNOUNCED THAT THE PARK DEDICATION WILL BE HELD THIS SATURDAY AT 1:00 P.M.AT THE CORNER OF MLK PARKWAY AND COLLEGE; ANNOUNCED THAT SATURDAY EVENING IS THE LAST LAMAR WOMEN'S GAME FOR THE SEASON Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) J.A.D.D. Properties Inc. 2498 Amarillo Beaumont TX Paula Lewis and Tracy Arlene, Executive Director- Requested tax credit for a multi- family community for low income and people with disabilities; missed last weeks meeting due to a misunderstanding of dates Gay-Lynne Jones, RN and Irene Ramirez, RN 3555 Stagg Dr. Beaumont TX Presented additional information to support the non-smoking ban proposal Toni Prados 1090 Avenue H Beaumont TX Requested the City to help with the beautification of Old Spanish Trail to include new improved lighting, sidewalks, curbs, gutters and low maintenance plants Page 6 of 7 Minutes-February 21,2006 Open session of meeting recessed at 2:45 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION Consider matters related to contemplated or pending litigation in accordance with Section 551.071 of the Government Code: Daniel Bell v City of Beaumont Curtis Breaux, et al v City of Beaumont, Texas et al There being no action taken in Executive Session, Council adjourned. Audio tape re avails le upon request in the City Clerk's Office. Guy N. Goodson, Mayor .or Um Audwin Sam I, Mayor Pro Tern t-- 4�3x W _011P 1 1 1e1 ��i Rose C Jones, TRW City ern wao�•. Page 7 of 7 Minutes-February 21,2006