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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/26/2020 MINBEAUMONT MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT COUNCIL MEETING W.L. Pate, Jr., Mayor Pro Tem BECKY AMES, MAYOR Randy Feldschau., At -Large Taylor Neild, Ward 1 CITY COUNCIL MEETING Michael D. Getz, Ward II Audwin Samuel, Ward III MAY 26, 2020 Robin Mouton, 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 in strict compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551 on May 26, 2020, 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 Presentation and Recognition Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-4/Consent Agenda Consent Agenda Mayor Ames called the council meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Vernon Tubbs with First Full Gospel Baptist Church gave the invocation. Mayor Ames led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was made by Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Present at the meeting were Mayor Ames, Mayor Pro Tem Pate, Councilmembers Neild, Getz, Feldschau, Mouton and Samuel. Also present were Kyle Hayes, City Manager; Tyrone Cooper., City Attorney; Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Proclamations, Presentation, Recognitions None Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-4/Consent Agenda Vernon Tubbs 3290 Pine St. Beaumont TX Spoke to Council regarding Item #3 on the Agenda; a resolution authorizing the City Manager to receive funds from the Coronavirus Relief Fund through the U.S. Department of Treasury CONSENT AGENDA Approval of minutes — May 19, 2020 * Confirmation of board and commission member appointments — None Minutes — May 26, 2020 A) Approve a payment to Motorola for a maintenance agreement to support the 800 MHz radio system — Resolution 20-104 B) Authorize the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to apply for grant funding for the continuation of the SETX Auto Theft Task Force — Resolution 20-105 C) Approve the purchase of actuators for use at the Water Plant — Resolution 20-106 Councilmember Neild moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Mayor Pro Tem Pate seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM PATE, COUNCILMEMBERS NEILD, GETZ, FELDSCHAU, SAMUEL AND MOUTON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20-018 to amend the public health emergency disaster orders for the City of Beaumont. Governor Greg Abbott on May 18, 2020 issued Executive Order No. GA -23 enacting Phase II expanding the opening of Texas. The Governor feels that certain metrics have been achieved so as to continue the strategic reopening of certain aspects of the State while at the same time minimizing the spread of COVID-19. This announcement raises the question of when and under what circumstances should the City open certain facilities. The City Manager is interested in a planned opening of City Hall and the Tyrrell Historical Library. Approval of ordinance. Councilmember Getz moved to ADOPT AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AMENDING ORDINANCE 20-018 TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DISASTER ORDERS FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT; OPENING CERTAIN CITY FACILITIES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL. Mayor Pro Tem Pate seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM PATE, COUNCILMEMBERS GETZ, FELDSCHAU, SAMUEL AND MOUTON NAYS: COUNCILMEMBER NEILD MOTION PASSED Ordinance 20-020 Minutes — May 26, 2020 2. Consider an ordinance amending the FY 2020 Budget. In accordance with Article VI of the City Charter, the City Manager shall strictly enforce the provisions of the budget as specified in the ordinance adopting the budget. He shall not authorize or approve any expenditure unless an appropriation has been made in the budget ordinance adopting the budget, and there is an available unencumbered balance of the appropriation sufficient to pay the liability to be incurred. Approving the proposed amendments will ensure that expenditures are within the approved budget and that interfund transfers are in accordance with financial policies as approved within the budget document. The details of the proposed amendments are as follows: The Henry Homberg Golf Course Fund was established to account for the revenues and expenditures associated with operating the City's 18 -hole municipal golf course and club house. Over the past years, transfers from the General Fund have been necessary in order to operate the course and strengthen the fund balance of the Henry Homberg Golf Course Fund. As discussed in a workshop with City Council on September 10, 2019, due to the transfers and because of GASB 54 (Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No 54) it was recommended to close the Henry Homberg Golf Course Fund and account for the revenues and expenditures of such fund under the Parks and Recreation department in the General Fund. To do so, a budget amendment is needed to transfer the revenue and expenditure appropriations in the Henry Homberg Golf Course Fund to the General Fund. Also, remaining fund balance of $346,325 will be transferred to the General Fund. Henry Homberg Golf Course Fund Original Budget Proposed Amendment Amended Budget Total Revenues $485,500 $<485,500> -$0 Total Expenditures $795,500 $<449,175> $346,325 2. The General Fund has a proposed amendment to appropriate additional revenues of $485,500 and additional expenditures of $795,500 that are transferred from the Henry Homberg Golf Course budget as mentioned in item 1. In addition, a transfer of $346,325 is needed to move the remaining fund balance in the Henry Homberg Golf Course fund to close it out. General Fund Original Proposed Amended Budget Budget Amendment Total Revenues $129,284,700 $485,500+ $130,116,525 $346,325 Total Expenditures $131,825,900 $795,500 $132,621,400 Approval of the ordinance. Minutes — May 26, 2020 Councilmember Mouton moved to ADOPT AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL BUDGET OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 TO APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL REVENUES IN THE HENRY HOMBERG GOLF COURSE AND GENERAL FUNDS; TO APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES IN THE HENRY HOMEBERG GOLF COURSE AND GENERAL FUNDS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL. Councilmember Neild seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM PATE, COUNCILMEMBERS NEILD, GETZ, FELDSCHAU, SAMUEL AND MOUTON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Ordinance 20-021 3. Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager to receive funds from the Coronavirus Relief Fund through the U.S. Department of Treasury. The Coronavirus Relief Fund was established within the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). $1.85 billion from the total allocation to the State of Texas is being provided to local cities and counties on a $55 per capita basis. The fund will cover expenditures incurred between March 1 and December 30, 2020 due to the public health emergency specific to Covid-19. These funds will reimburse payroll expenses for employees working during the pandemic. Funds will also reimburse the City for equipment and actions necessary to facilitate public health measures dealing with Covid-19. Twenty percent (20%) of the funding ($1,317,580) can be received immediately upon signing the grant agreement. The remaining portion will be reimbursed as documentation of allowable expenses is provided. No matching funds are required. Approval of the resolution. Councilmember Mouton moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE AND HE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT FROM THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND THROUGH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $6,587,900 FOR EXPENDITURES INCURRED BETWEEN MARCH 1, 2020 AND DECEMBER 30, 2020 DUE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY SPECIFIC TO COVID-19. Councilmember Feldschau seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM PATE, COUNCILMEMBERS NEILD, GETZ, FELDSCHAU, SAMUEL AND MOUTON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 20-107 Minutes — May 26, 2020 4. Consider a resolution approving a contract with McCreary, Veselka, Bragg and Allen (MVBA) for collection services. Among other court -related functions, the Municipal. Court Division of the Finance Department processes payments of fines, overdue notices of outstanding fines, establishes payment plans, and processes warrants issued for non-payment of outstanding fines. An overdue account goes into warrant status at 30 days past due and is turned over to a collection agency at 60 days past due. A statutory collection fee of 30% is attached to the amount past due and is paid by the defendant upon payment of the past due fine. Requests for Proposal were sent to seventeen (17) vendors. The City received seven responses. The responses were evaluated by City staff and the best score was received by MVBA. MVBA will charge the statutory amount of 30%. The contract is for one year with two one- year options to renew. The City currently has a contract with MVBA to provide these services. Funds will come from the statutory collection fee paid by the defendant. Approval of the resolution. Councilmember Mouton moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE PROPOSAL SUBMITTED BY LINEBARGER, GOGGAN, BLAIR AND SAMPSON, LLP, OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, FOR A ONE (1) YEAR CONTRACT, WITH AN OPTION TO RENEW UPON MUTUAL CONSENT FOR TWO (2) ADDITIONAL ONE (1 YEAR PERIODS, FOR COLLECTION SERVICES OF DELINQUENT MUNICIPAL COURT FINES AND FEES BE ACCEPTED. Councilmember Samuel seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR PRO TEM PATE, COUNCILMEMBERS NEILD, GETZ, SAMUEL AND MOUTON NAYS: MAYOR AMES, COUNCILMEMBER FELDSCHAU MOTION PASSED Resolution 20-108 COMMENTS Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) Keitha and Debra Gallien 2315 Sabine Pass Beaumont TX Spoke to Council regarding the Anthony Cemetery where they have loved ones buried, the cemetery is in deplorable condition, there are concerns regarding health, safety and the overall integrity of Beaumont, this cemetery is located on the south side of Beaumont in Ward III, it has already been in the news, the work that needs to be done has been reported to the person in charge with no improvement, asked for help from the city and citizens to get the cemetery cleaned up Minutes — May 26, 2020 James Roberson 4750 Tannis St. Beaumont TX Spoke to Council regarding an invention that he has, would like the city to look at his invention Councilmembers/City Manager/City Attorney comments on various matters COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER NEILD - NONE COUNCILMEMBER GETZ - NONE COUNCILMEMBER FELDSCHAU - STATED TO THE CITIZENS THAT EVERYONE ON COUNCIL WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY REOPENS IN A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE MANNER, GAVE HIS REASONING FOR HIS VOTE REGARDING THE PLAYGROUND AND THE BASKETBALL COURTS, IN REGARDS TO THE PLAYGROUNDS, HE LOOKS TO THE PARENTS TO PLEASE BE RESPONSIBLE AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR .CHILDREN, HE DOES HAVE A CONCERN WITH BASKETBALLCOURTS AND CONTACT SPORTS, STATED THAT DURING THE SUMMER THERE ARE TEENAGERS WITH NO PARENT SUPERVISION DUE TO PARENTS WORKING, REGARDS TO ITEM #4 AND HIS VOTE, HE DOES PREFER LOCAL BUSINESSES BUT LINEBARGER IS A NATIONAL COMPANY, FEELS A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS AS HE CAN, DOES LISTEN TO STAFF WHO WILL BE WORKING WITH THESE COMPANIES AND THEIR EXPERIENCE WEIGHS HEAVILY ON HIS DECISIONS MAYOR PRO TEM PATE - COMMENTED ON MEMORIAL DAY AND THE EVENT HE ATTENDED AT FOREST LAWN, THANK GOD WE LIVE IN AMERICA COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL - ASKED THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAVE STAFF CHECK THE 2300 BLOCK OF EAST LUCAS GOING EAST, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE MAY BE A DIP IN THE CEMENT, WATER HAS BEEN THERE AND AS OF 10:00 A.M. THIS MORNING IT'S STILL THERE, IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THERE HAS BEEN STANDING WATER THERE WHICH LEADS HIM TO BELIEVE THAT THE AREA COULD BE SINKING, ALSO IN THE 3900 BLOCK OF PINE STREET FOR A BLOCK GOING SOUTH THE DITCHES WERE FULL TO THE STREET DURING THE LAST RAIN EVENT, THINKS THERE IS AN ISSUE THERE, ASKED THAT IT BE CHECKED, NEXT DOOR TO 3140 CORDOVA, SOMEONE HAS PLACED A LOAD OF TRASH AND DEBRIS IN THE DITCH WHICH HAS BLOCKED THAT ENTIRE BLOCK FROM DRAINING, ASKED THAT THIS BE CHECKED AS WELL COUNCILMEMBER MOUTON - NONE Minutes — May 26, 2020 CITY ATTORNEY COOPER - NONE CITY MANAGER HAYES - NONE MAYOR AMES - ASKED THAT WHEN GOING TO THE CITY PLAYGROUNDS TO PLEASE USE PRECAUTION, GAVE STATISTICS REGARDING COVID-19 TESTING, STATED THAT THE NUMBERS ARE LOW AND WANT THEM TO STAY LOW, EVERYONE NEEDS TO ADHERE TO THE CDC GUIDELINES Tina Broussa ).m. Minutes — May 26, 2020