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Home My WebLink AboutMIN JUN 10 2008 M I N U T E S - CITY OF BEAUMONT W.L. Pate, Jr., At-Large BECKY AMES, MAYOR Gethrel Williams-Wright,At-Large Dr. Alan B. Coleman, Ward I CITY COUNCIL MEETING Nancy Beaulieu, Ward II Audwin Samuel, Mayor Pro Tem,Ward III June 10, 2008 Jamie Smith, Ward IV Tyrone E. Cooper, City Attorney Kyle Hayes, City Manager Tina Broussard, City Clerk The City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in a regular session on June 10, 2008, 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 and 3/Consent Agenda Consent Agenda Mayor Ames called the council meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Reverend Carlos R. Phillips of St. James United Methodist Church gave the invocation. Councilmember Pate led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was made by Tina Broussard,City Clerk. Present at the meeting were Mayor Ames, Mayor Pro Tern Samuel, Councilmembers Coleman, Beaulieu,Wright, Pate and Smith. Also present were Kyle Hayes, City Manager;Tyrone Cooper,City Attorney; Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Proclamations, Presentations, Recognitions "Walk Against Domestic Violence Day" - June 14, 2008 - Proclamation read by Councilmember Wright; accepted by Dr. Alvin Williams with ami y Services of Southeast Texas Presentation - Carolyn Howard, Executive Director of Beaumont Main Street Mayor Ames read the announcement regarding Executive Session being held prior to Item # 3 and at the conclusion of the General Business portion of the meeting. Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1 and 3/Consent Agenda. John Stover P.O. Box 1728 Lufkin TX Spoke regarding Item#3 on the Agenda, Entergy Gulf States Inc.'s application for authority to change rates and reconcile fuel costs Minutes-June 10,2008 Jim Wilson 5770 Glasgow Lane Beaumont TX Spoke regarding Item#3 on the Agenda, Entergy Gulf States Inc.'s application for authority to change rates and reconcile fuel costs CONSENT AGENDA Approval of minutes - June 3, 2008 Confirmation of committee appointments - None A) Authorize the acceptance of a water line easement to provide access for fire prevention services - Deferred Councilmember Wright made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Beaulieu seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, BEAULIEU, WRIGHT AND PATE NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider approving a contract for the Calder Avenue Drainage Diversion and Pavement Improvement Project (Phase 1). Administration recommended the award of a contractto Reytec Construction Resources, Inc. of Houston in the amount of $23,733,567.95. On May 22,2008 the City of Beaumont received four(4)bids for the Calder Avenue Drainage Diversion and Pavement Improvement Project(Phase 1). The lowest bid was submitted by Reytec Construction Resources Inc. in the amount of $23,733,567.95. The Engineer's estimate for the project before receipt of bid was $24,200,000.00. The recommended low bidder has been certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) by the City of Houston and is HUB certified through the State of Texas. Funds are available in the Capital Program. Councilmember Beaulieu moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE BID SUBMITTED BY REYTEC CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES, INC. OF HOUSTON, FOR A CONTRACT FOR THE CALDER AVENUE DRAINAGE DIVERSION AND PAVEMENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT(PHASE I)BE ACCEPTED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. Page 2 of 7 Minutes-June 10,2008 AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, BEAULIEU, WRIGHT, PATE AND SMITH NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 08 - 174 WORKSESSION • Review and discuss a proposed Downpayment Assistance Program for low-to- moderate income families. Chris Boone, Community Development Director, stated that the City of Beaumont receives an annual allocation of federal HOME Investment Partnerships funds(HOME funds)from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide affordable housing opportunities to low-to-moderate income families. In prior years,the City utilized these funds primarily for the development of newly constructed housing, yielding on average eight to ten homes per year. In order to increase the number of families receiving assistance, the Administration proposes adopting a Downpayment Assistance Program available to first-time home buyers that will provide up to $14,999 to assist with down payment and closing costs for up to 20 eligible low-to-moderate income families. Federal regulations require that the City receive public comment on any new program under consideration for funding from the Consolidated Block Grant Program. PUBLIC HEARING • Receive comments relating to a proposed Downpayment Assistance Program Public Hearing Open: 2:09 p.m. Public Hearing Close: 2:10 p.m. 2. Consider adopting guidelines and allocate funding for a proposed Downpayment Assistance Program. Administration recommended Council adopt guidelines and allocate funding in the amount of $300,000 for a proposed Downpayment Assistance Program. Funding is available from the 2007 HOME Program. Mayor Pro Tern Samuel made a motion to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HEREBYADOPTS THE GUIDELINES FORA FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND ALLOCATE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000 FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. Page 3 of 7 Minutes-June 10,2008 AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, BEAULIEU, WRIGHT, PATE AND SMITH NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 08 - 175 Council recessed into Executive Session at 2:11 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION • Consider matters related to contemplated or pending litigation in accordance with Section 551.071 of the Government Code: EGSI's Application for Authority to Change Rates and Reconcile Fuel Costs, SOAH Docket No. 473-08-0334, PUC Docket No. 34800 Council reconvened into Regular Session at 3:07 p.m. 3. Consider adopting the terms of settlement in Entergy Gulf States, Inc.'s application for authority to change rates and reconcile fuel costs. Administration recommended approval of a resolution adopting the terms of settlement in EGSI's application for authority to change rates and reconcile fuel costs. On September 26, 2007, Entergy Gulf States, Inc., now Entergy Texas, Inc.,filed a statement of intent with the City of Beaumont to increase electric rates in the EGSI service area by $107.5 million per year. The City Council, on October 16, 2007, continued its original jurisdiction over the rate increase request and suspended until September 26, 2007 the effective date of the increase. The City of Beaumont,along with the other affected cities in the Company's service area, have intervened and are participating in the rate review at the Public Utility Commission of Texas. A settlement of this matter has been proposed by Entergy to the various parties to the rate increase. The proposed settlement provides for a rate increase over a two-year period. Under the terms of the settlement,the total over-all net increase will be$12.1 million in year one and rise to approximately$29.1 million in year two. The rate increase will be allocated to all customer classes on an equal percentage basis. These settlement amounts are well below the$107.5 million originally requested by the Company. All reasonable expenses associated with rate matters will be reimbursable by the Company as they have been in the past. Page 4 of 7 Minutes-June 10,2008 Mayor Pro Tern Samuel made a motion to APPROVE A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, JOINING WITH OTHER ENTERGY SERVICE AREA CITIES IN SUPPORT OF A NON-UNANIMOUS STIPULATION REGARDING THE RATES TO BE DETERMINED FOR ENTERGY TEXAS, INC. IN PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION DOCKET NO. 34800 BE ACCEPTED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. Councilmember Beaulieu seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, BEAULIEU, WRIGHT, PATE AND SMITH NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 08 - 176 COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER SMITH - CONGRATULATED COUNCILMEMBER COLEMAN AND HIS WIFE ON THEIR ANNIVERSARY,ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO HIS SON ON HIS GRADUATION FROM WEST BROOK HIGH SCHOOL MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL - ANNOUNCED THE BRICKYARD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION CLEAN UP ON SATURDAY, .TUNE 21, 2008, THANKED THE MAYOR FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT HER AT THE TEXAS STATE FIRE MARSHALLS' ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, CONGRATULATED COUNCILMEMBER COLEMAN AND HIS WIFE ON THEIR ANNIVERSARY, AS WELL AS THE 2008 GRADUATES COUNCILMEMBER PATE- COMMENTED ON THE AMERICAN RED CROSS' HURRICANE PARTY FUND RAISER,THE 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY OF COUNCILMEMBER COLEMAN AND HIS WIFE, LAMAR UNIVERSITY'S LULLABY FUND RAISER FOR THE FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT, THANKED SUSAN COMBS, THE STATE OF TEXAS COMPTROLLER, FOR HER PRESENTATION, AND CONGRATULATED ALL GRADUATES COUNCILMEMBER WRIGHT- APPRECIATED THE MAIN STREET PRESENTATION, THANKED THE PRIVATE INVESTORS FOR THEIR PUBLIC SERVICES, COMMENTED ON THE 1 ST YEAR APPRECIATION SERVICE FOR REV. AND MRS. TROY L. ALLEN AT STARLIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH, CONGRATULATED COUNCILMEMBER COLEMAN AND WIFE JULIE ON THEIR 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Page 5 of 7 Minutes-June 10,2008 MAYOR BEAULIEU - INTRODUCED TWO POLICE OFFICERS THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE COUNCIL MEETING,ERIC WILSON AND CHRIS CUNNINGHAM, COMMENTED ON THE BEAUMONT MAIN STREET PRESENTATION COUNCILMEMBER COLEMAN- CONGRATULATED THE MAYOR AND HUSBAND, RODNEY, ON THEIR 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY,THANKED BEAUMONT MAIN STREETS, CAROLYN HOWARD AND TOM BELL FOR THEIR PRESENTATION AND COMMENTS, CONGRATULATED THE FIREFIGHTERS FOR BRINGING THE TEXAS STATE FIRE MARSHALLS' ASSOCIATION TO THE CITY CITY ATTORNEY COOPER - NONE CITY MANAGER HAYES - NONE MAYOR AMES- THANKED EVERYONE THAT COVERED FOR HER FOR SO MANY THINGS HAPPENING IN THE CITY, COMMENTED ON THE ATTENDANCE AT THE TEXAS STATE FIRE MARSHALLS' ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE,ATTENDED THE SCOTT OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH CELEBRATION FOR THEIR PASTOR'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY,COMMENTED ON SUSAN COMBS,THE STATE COMPTROLLER,AND HER PRESENTATION,COMMENTED ON THE GREEN TEAM ORIENTATION AT THE BEAUMONT CIVIC CENTER Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) Bruce Hoffer 2615 Gladys Beaumont TX Spoke regarding the registration for the fall season, anyone in the City of Beaumont and surrounding areas may sign up, will be hosting a summer camp the week of July 14, 2008 Sam Bethea 350 Pine Beaumont TX Spoke regarding the Entergy Gulf States, Inc. rate increase,thanked Council fortheir support Open session of meeting recessed at 3:30 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION Consider matters related to contemplated or pending litigation in accordance with Section 551.071 of the Government Code: Claim of Kandy Daniel Page 6 of 7 Minutes-June 10,2008 There being no action taken in Executive Session, Council adjourned. Audio available upon request in the City Clerk's Office. B ky Ame fp ayor �. w Tina Broussard, City Clerk Page 7 of 7 Minutes-June 10,2008