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Home My WebLink AboutMIN FEB 17 2009 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 February 17, 2009 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 February 17,2009, 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/Consent Agenda Consent Agenda Mayor Ames called the council meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Pastor James Blackwell of South Park Baptist 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 "Red, White and You Week and Lamar University Basketball Celebration Days" - February 16 - 21, 2009 - Proclamation read by Mayor Ames; accepted by Billy Tubbs, Athletic Director "Engineers Week"-February 15-21,2009 - Proclamation read by Councilmember Smith; accepted by Dr. Hani Tohme Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1/Consent Agenda. Robert Braswell Jr. 9827 Neesonwood Dr. Shreveport LA Spoke regarding item#1 on the agenda, drilling of oil and gas wells within the City limits of Beaumont Kurt Ley 7330 Fern Avenue Shreveport LA Spoke regarding item #1 on the agenda, oil and gas well drilling Minutes-February 17,2009 Tom Sibley 3450 B - Dowlen Rd. Beaumont TX Representing Kingwood Exploration Company, spoke in opposition of approving a moratorium Mickey Phelan 75022 nd St. Beaumont TX Spoke regarding the drilling of oil and gas wells in the City of Beaumont Joe Ryan 1805 W. Virginia St. Beaumont TX Spoke in regards to Item #1 on the agenda, drilling of oil and gas wells Charles Granger 1955 W. Virginia St. Beaumont TX Spoke in regards to Item #1 on the agenda, drilling of oil and gas wells Alexander Tyler 4540 St. Louis Beaumont TX Concerned about the drilling of oil and gas wells, inquired as to who would take care of his slab if it became cracked Gilbert Hawthorne Jr. 4430 Raven St. Beaumont TX Commented on safety, and the drilling of oil and gas wells CONSENT AGENDA Approval of minutes - February 10, 2009 Confirmation of committee appointments - None A) Appoint Craig Lively as the Chief Magistrate for the Municipal Court of the City of Beaumont- Resolution 09 - 049 B) Approve the purchase of pet crates for use during emergency evacuations-Resolution 09- 050 C) Authorize the City Manager to execute all documents necessary, specifically including a Grantee Acceptance Notice, for funding for the Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force - Resolution 09 - 051 D) Authorize the City Manager to execute a License Agreement in order for the Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force to maintain a kiosk at Parkdale Mall - Resolution 09 - 052 Page 2 of 6 Minutes-February 17,2009 E) Approve a resolution accepting payment and authorizing the release of a paving lien against property described as Cadillac&Sarah Lot 11 & Block 2 Pear Orchard, Beaumont, Texas- Resolution 09 - 053 F) Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Ticketmaster L.L.C.to provide for a computerized box office ticketing and distribution system - Resolution 09 - 054 Councilmember Pate made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Mayor Pro Tern Samuel seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, BEAULIEU, WRIGHT, PATE AND SMITH NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Mayor Ames read the announcement regarding Executive Session being held at the conclusion of the General Business portion of the meeting. GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider approving a moratorium on the issuance of permits for the drilling of oil and gas wells within the city limits of Beaumont for a period of sixty (60) days. Administration recommended approval of a moratorium on the issuance of permits for the drilling of oil and gas wells for sixty (60) days. Administration is asking forthis moratorium to give staff time to review the current ordinances that pertain to the drilling of oil and gas wells within the city limits of Beaumont. Recently,the City has been approached by concerned residents about possible drilling near their homes. Mayor Pro Tern Samuel moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE MORATORIUM BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED, AND THAT THE PROCESS BE EXPEDITED, IT WAS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT KINGWOOD EXPLORATION COMPANY SET UP A MEETING WITH THE HOMEOWNERS TO EXPLAIN THE DRILLING PROCESS. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, BEAULIEU, WRIGHT, PATE AND SMITH NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 09 - 055 Page 3 of 6 Minutes-February 17,2009 Mayor Pro Tern Samuel left the meeting at 2:35 p.m. COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER COLEMAN - ASKED THAT EVERYONE TRY TO ATTEND LAMAR UNIVERSITY'S BASKETBALL GAME ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21,2009,CONGRATULATED CHIEF MAGISTRATE CRAIG LIVELY ON HIS APPOINTMENT, THANKED FORMER CHIEF MAGISTRATE MCNICHOLAS FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICES WITH THE CITY, COMMENTED ON A CHARITY MARATHON RACE THAT HE AND HIS WIFE RAN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS COUNCILMEMBER BEAULIEU - CONGRATULATED DR. COLEMAN AND HIS WIFE JULIE ON THEIR MARATHON RACE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, THANKED COUNCIL FOR THEIR PATIENCE ON THE ISSUE OF THE DRILLING OF THE OIL AND GAS WELLS, ASKED THAT EVERYONE COME OUT AND SUPPORT LAMAR UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL COUNCILMEMBER WRIGHT- GLAD THAT THE CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT COME FORWARD WHEN THEY HAVE CONCERNS,DID NOT THINK THAT DRILLING ONE OIL WELL WOULD EXPAND THE CITY'S GROWTH, WOULD LIKE FOR COUNCIL TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CITIZENS WHEN THEY HAVE CONCERNS,THANKED THE STAFF OF BINGMAN ELEMENTARY FOR INVITING HER TO READ TO THE KIDS FOR LINCOLN'S 200TH BIRTHDAY COUNCILMEMBER PATE - ASKED THAT EVERYONE SUPPORT LAMAR UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL,ALSO TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED FOR ONE DOLLAR AT KFDM CHANNEL SIX IN SUPPORT OF LAMAR BASKETBALL, THANKED COUNCILMEMBER COLEMAN AND HIS WIFE JULIE FOR THEIR REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT,ALSO COMMENTED ON CITIZENS ATTENDING COUNCIL MEETINGS TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL- ABSENT COUNCILMEMBER SMITH - THANKED CITY STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THE OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING ISSUES, THANKED KINGWOOD EXPLORATION COMPANY FOR ATTENDING THE MEETING AND SPEAKING TO COUNCIL, ALSO ENCOURAGED KINGWOOD TO MEET WITH THE HOMEOWNERS IN THE PEAR ORCHARD NEIGHBORHOOD, THANKED THE CITIZENS OF THAT AREA FOR VOICING THEIR CONCERNS, THANKED SOUTHERLAND SCHOOL FOR THE INVITATION TO READ TO THE KIDS,WAS ALSO INVITED TO THE L. L.MELTON YMCA, Page 4 of 6 Minutes-February 17,2009 ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2009 TO READ TO THE KIDS CITY ATTORNEY COOPER- NONE CITY MANAGER HAYES - NONE MAYOR AMES- COMMENTED ON FAIRNESS,AND BEING FAIR TO ALL AREAS OF THE CITY Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) Kerry Avie 3035 Elinor Beaumont TX Religious Comments Rev. Sammie Singleton 720 Roberts Ave Beaumont TX Asked that the red light cameras be installed, would like to see the speed limits enforced in residential areas, commented on the mobile food units, as well as a steep ditch in front of his home stated there are gas and sewer lines that are exposed that need to be looked at Kurt Ley 7330 Fern Ave. Suite 801 Shreveport LA Thanked council on behalf of Kingwood Exploration Company for listening to their comments, looks forward to working with council and homeowners, asked that they be informed as to what will be transpiring as this process progresses, due to their company being located outside of the City Joe Ryan 1805 W. Virginia Beaumont TX Continued to voice his opposition to the drilling of oil and gas in his neighborhood Open session of meeting recessed at 2:52 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION Consider matters related to contemplated or pending litigation in accordance with Section 551.071 of the Government Code: Tina Lewallen vs. the City of Beaumont City of Beaumont v. Texas Workforce Commission and Keith D. Breiner City of Beaumont v. Texas Attorney General, et al Page 5 of 6 Minutes-February 17,2009 In the Matter of Arbitration between the City of Beaumont and Keith D. Breiner In re: Lyondell Chemical Company, et al, Chapter 11 Case No. 09-10023 There being no action taken in Executive Session, Council adjourned. Audio available upon request in the City Clerk's Office. IZJ &Z� '- Becky Am , Mayor %I Tina Broussar , City Clerk Page 6 of 6 Minutes-February 17,2009