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Home My WebLink AboutMIN FEB 18 2014M I N U T E S- CITY OF BEAUMONT W.L. Pate, Jr., At -Large BECKY AMES, MAYOR Gethrel Wright, Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Alan B. Coleman, Ward I CITY COUNCIL MEETING Michael D. Getz, Ward 11 Audwin Samuel, Ward III February 18, 2014 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 18, 2014, 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 1-2/Consent Agenda Consent Agenda Mayor Ames called the council meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Reverend Johnny Letmen Assistant Pastor at Cathedral of Faith Baptist Church gave the invocation. Charlton Pollard Student Body President Kenneth Coleman Jr. who is the son of Kenneth Coleman Sr. with the Beaumont Public Health Department led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was made by Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Present at the meeting were Mayor Ames, Mayor Pro Tem Wright, Councilmembers Coleman (arrived at 1:51 p.m.) Getz, Pate and Samuel (arrived at 1:49 p.m.). Absent: Councilmember Smith. Also present were Kyle Hayes, City Manager; Tyrone Cooper, City Attorney; Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Councilmember Smith was absent due to a medical procedure. Proclamations, Presentations, Recognitions "Professional Engineers Week" - February 16 - 22, 2014 - Proclamation read by Councilmember Getz; accepted by Maryella Begley, President of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers along with Patrick Donart, Tan Zheng, Molly Villarreal and Mark Ochoa "Charles Napoleon Charlton Day" — January 19, 2014 - Proclamation ready by Mayor Ames; accepted by Student Council Members from Charlton -Pollard Elementary School: President Kenneth Coleman; Kadence Garlington and Sentaria McDaniel along with Principal Wayne Wells Joe Nathan Hayes along with other members of the Best Years Center invited Mayor and Council to attend the Seniors Mardi Gras on Thursday, February 27, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Beaumont Civic Center Minutes - February 18, 2014 Mayor Ames read the announcement regarding Executive Session being held at the conclusion of the General Business portion of the meeting. Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-2/Consent Agenda. None CONSENT AGENDA Approval of minutes - February 11, 2014 Confirmation of committee appointments — Resolution 14 - 036 Carolyn Howard would be reappointed to the Convention and Tourism Advisory Board. The current term would expire January 7, 2016. (Councilmember Alan B. Coleman) A) Approve a resolution authorizing the granting of a Pipeline License Agreement with Enterprise TE Products Pipeline, LLC — Resolution 14 - 037 Councilmember Samuel moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Coleman seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, GETZ, PATE AND SAMUEL NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED GENERAL BUSINESS Consider approving a resolution approving an industrial district agreement with Natgasoline LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of OCI N.V. Natgasoline LLC plans to construct a new chemical plant including a methanol unit and a methanol to gas unit on land purchased from Eastman Chemical Company. The Company will receive 100% tax abatement for payments due in 2015 through 2024, on all new construction and improvements to existing land. Payments for each year of the agreement shall be equal to 100% of the Assumed City Taxes Due on existing real property during the years of abatement, 2015-2024. The draft agreement with Natgasoline LLC is attached for your review. The 2014 payment was paid at 100% at the time of the purchase of the land from Eastman. Approval of resolution. Minutes - February 18, 2014 Councilmember Wright moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE AND HE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE AN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENT WITH NATGASOLINE, LLC, A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF OCI N.V. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, GETZ, PATE AND SAMUEL NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 14 - 038 2. Consider approving a resolution approving the purchase of a data storage system from Sigma Solutions, Inc. for use in all City Departments. Pricing was obtained through the State of Texas Department of Information (DIR). DIR provides cities and political subdivisions with the means to purchase information technology at volume prices contracted under the procurement statutes of the State of Texas. The filer heads in the current data storage system have reached their end of life. At current pricing it is more economical to replace the entire storage system rather than only replacing the two filer heads. The data storage system is used for central storage across all City Departments for many different purposes including server data and storage of all Police in car videos. Capital Reserve. Approval of resolution. Mayor Pro Tem Wright moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HEREBY APPROVES THE PURCHASE OF A DATA STORAGE SYSTEM FOR USE BY ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS FROM SIGMA SOLUTIONS, INC., OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES (DIR) CONTRACT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $176,795. Councilmember Getz seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, GETZ, PATE AND SAMUEL NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 14 — 038 Minutes — February 18, 2014 WORK SESSION Herman & Kittle Properties, Inc. will make a request regarding a proposed apartment complex on Old Dowlen Road to be named Cypress Place LP. The Developer is applying for Housing Tax Credits with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Stacy Kaplowitz with Herman & Kittle Properties, Inc., spoke with Council regarding a new development called Cypress Place LP which will be applying for a Housing Tax Credit with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, which will be located on the west side of Old Dowlen Rd., N of Dowlen Rd. This new construction development will be comprised of approximately 72 one, two and three bedroom apartments, of which approximately 68 units will be financed and using housing tax credit financing. Ms. Kaplowitz ask that Council consider and adopt a resolution of support of the resolution for the project, acknowledging that all citizens of Beaumont, including those of modest means, deserve high quality, safe, and affordable housing. Moreover, this resolution would acknowledge that the City's planned work on Old Dowlen Road will directly benefit the development. Discuss the naming of the North End Community Center, located at 3580 E. Lucas, in honor of Judge John Paul Davis Councilmember Samuel discussed with Council that after the recent death of Judge John Paul Davis who lived about three blocks from the location of the Community Center, who was of course the first African American Municipal Court Judge and went on to become a County Judge with Jefferson County. This was discussed with several in the community as well as with citizens at the funeral and they were all in agreement. At this time the North End Community Center does not have a name at this time. Mayor Ames requested that this item be on the next agenda as an action item. COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER COLEMAN - "ANOTHER GREAT DAY IN BEAUMONT" COUNCILMEMBER GETZ - "ANOTHER GREAT DAY IN BEAUMONT" MAYOR PRO TEM WRIGHT - "ANOTHER GREAT DAY IN BEAUMONT" WANTED TO AGAIN SEND CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF JUDGE JOHN PAUL DAVIS COUNCILMEMBER PATE - REMINDED EVERYONE THAT EARLY VOTING STARTS TODAY FOR THE PRIMARY, ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO OUT AND EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL - "ANOTHER GREAT DAY IN BEAUMONT" ENCOURAGED EVERYONE TO GO OUT AND EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE, ALSO STATED THAT AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING THERE WERE COMMENTS MADE, ON SATURDAY MORNING THERE Minutes — February 18, 2014 WERE COMMENTS MADE, ON SATURDAY MORNING THERE WERE QUESTION ASKED REGARDING THE COMMENT, HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS CLEAR TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE COUNCIL HAS NOT TAKEN ANY POSITION ON ANY VOTING PLAN IN REGARDS TO BISD, ANY ILLUSIONS TO ANY PLANS WAS A PERSONAL OBSERVATION AND IT WAS NOT ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BEAUMONT CITY COUNCIL COUNCILMEMBER SMITH - ABSENT CITY ATTORNEY COOPER - NONE CITY MANAGER HAYES - NONE MAYOR AMES - IN REGARDS TO COUNCILMEMBER SAMUELS' PREVIOUS STATEMENT, ANY COUNCILMEMBER HAS THE RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE AS LONG AS THEY STAY WITHIN DECORUM, THAT WAS DONE BUT THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE HAS NOT TAKEN A POSITION IN REGARDS TO BISD Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) Lisa McLemore 1028 Marshall Ln. Silsbee TX Spoke on behalf of the Apartment Association of South East Texas, stated that the Association has recently adopted a Resolution that she read opposing the construction of Cypress Place LP Barbara Liming 3555 Prescott Dr. Beaumont TX Spoke regarding the development of the proposed apartment complex Cypress Place LP, in which she opposes, asked that the complex be considered somewhere else, not sure if the City needs another apartment complex Rollan Davis 535 McGovern St. Spoke in regards to his water bill with the City of Beaumont David R. Pete 4390 Corley Ave. Beaumont TX Beaumont TX Had concerns with a previous statement that was made last week by a City Councilmember, it was stated that a map had been adopted by BISD, Mr. Pete stated that the School District is not due to adopt a map until February 20, 2014, so the Council was misinformed, also requested to know from the City Attorney if there is a procedure that states if a Councilmember conducts himself in a manner that is unbecoming as a Councilmember outside of Council business is there any recourse of action that can be taken against that Councilmember for engaging in such an act, if so, he requested that information, if he needs to submit something in writing to get that information he would do so, stated if citizens have to act a certain way then so shouldn't elected officials, also stated that he saw no reason why Cypress Place LP should not be built, he supports the project Minutes — February 18, 2014 Josh Allen St. 6315 Metropolitan Dr. Beaumont TX Stated that he is opposed to the proposed apartment complex Cypress Place LP that is requesting support from the City of Beaumont, has concerns regarding the traffic if built, stated he support the renaming of the North End Community Center after Judge John Paul Davis Stacy Kaplowitz 3000 Skylark Austin, TX Made additional comments regarding Cypress Place LP and the tax credits, also due to the number of unit it would not impact the traffic as previously stated Open session of meeting recessed at 2:40 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION Consider matters related to contemplated or pending litigation in accordance with Section 551.071 of the Government Code: Statement of Intent of Entergy Texas, Inc. to change rates and reconcile fuel costs; Public Utility Commission Docket No. 41791 There being no action taken in Executive Session, Council adjourned. E 1-�-jV 1 & jil Q Tina Broussard, City Clerk in the City Clerk's Office. j Minutes — February 18, 2014