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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/21/2020 MINBEAUMONT MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT COUNCIL MEETING W.L. Pate, Jr., At -Large BECKY AMES, MAYOR Randy Feldschau, Mayor Pro Tern Taylor Neild, Ward I CITY COUNCIL MEETING Michael D. Getz, Ward If Audwin Samuel, Ward III JULY 21, 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 July 21, 2020, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 801 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas, at 1:30 p.m. to consider the following: rAltl4_k, lik" Invocation Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Presentation and Recognition Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda item No. 1/Consent Agenda Consent Agenda Mayor Ames called the council meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Rick Ivy with Wesley United Methodist 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 Tern Feldschau, Councilmembers Neild, Getz, Pate, Samuel and Mouton. Also present were Kyle Hayes, City Manager; Tyrone Cooper, City Attorney; Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Proclamations, Presentation, Recognitions "Women's Suffrage Centennial Celebration" - August 1, 2020 - Proclamation read by Mayor Ames; accepted by Morline Guillory, President of Pioneering Women 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 item No. 1/Consent Agenda None CONSENT AGENDA Approval of minutes — July 14, 2020 Confirmation of board and commission member appointments - None Minutes — July 21, 2020 A) Approve a resolution accepting improvements on the previously annexed 0.398 acres of land located approximately 3,380 feet south of Dishman Road — Resolution 20-148 B) Authorize the City Manager to apply for and receive funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program and to execute all documents necessary, including an inter -local agreement with the City of Port Arthur and Jefferson County in order ,to request the funds — Resolution 20-149 C) Approve a contract with Linebarger, Grogan, Blair and Samson in accordance with Texas House Bill 2826 — Resolution 20-150 D) Authorize the acceptance of a ten -foot -wide Exclusive Water Line Easement for the construction of new apartments located at 6030 North Major Drive — Resolution 20-151 Councilmember Neild moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Pate seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM FELDSCHAU, COUNCILMEMBERS NEILD, GETZ, PATE, SAMUEL AND MOUTON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED GENERAL BUSINESS Consider amending Ordinance No. 20-028 related to the Public Health Emergency Disaster Orders for the City of Beaumont and opening certain City facilities. On June 23, 2020, the City Council amended the Emergency Disaster Orders for the City of Beaumont to allow for the opening of all previously closed City facilities on or before July 31, 2020, with the exception of the Lakeside Center. Councilmembers Samuel and Mouton have requested that this item be placed on the agenda to reconsider the opening of certain facilities. Councilmember Samuel moved to APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AMENDING ORDINANCE 20-020 TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DISASTER. ORDERS FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT; OPENING CERTAIN CITY FACILITIES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FORA PENALTY AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL. Councilmember Mouton seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, COUNCILMEMBERS SAMUEL AND MOUTON NAYS: MAYOR PRO TEM FELDSCHAU, COUNCILMEMBERS NEILD, GETZ AND PATE MOTION FAILED Minutes — July 21, 2020 PUBLIC HEARING Receive comments related to the .Community Development Block Grant -Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) Program and the submission of an application to the General Land Office (GLO) for a Texas Community Development Block Grant — Mitigation (CDBG- MIT) grant Public Hearing Open: 3:16 p.m. None Public Hearing Close: 3:1.6 p.m. WORK SESSION Review and discuss the City's General Obligation Bonds; Certificates of Obligation; Revenue Bonds; Other Debt Issues and possible refunding opportunities Dustin Traylor, Managing Director with RBC Capital Markets reviewed and discussed the City's General Obligation Bonds; Certificates of Obligation; Revenue Bonds; and other debt issues and possible refunding opportunities. Mr. Traylor stated that part of their role as a financial advisor is to continue to evaluate the city's bond portfolio, stated that both bonds that are solely secured by utility system revenues as well as the bonds that are secured by General Obligation or Ad Valorem Taxes. As the city moves forward with the issuance of $25 million dollars of new money RBC think that it would prudent for the city to consider refinancing portions of the city's existing debt. Mr. Traylor stated that interest rates at this time are at or near all-time lows for Municipal Bonds. RBC believes that there are two refinancing opportunities that the city should consider looking at, the first being Series 2010 Build America Bonds, those are bonds that have been subsidized annually, by refinancing those bonds now, the city could realize a savings of approximately $3.095 million dollars,over the remaining life of the bonds, the bonds were issued at a rate of about 6%. The other portion of that transaction to consider is that those bonds have a reserve fund that is set aside that the city doesn't have access to until those bonds mature, by refinancing the bonds now the city would free up the reserve fund that's allocated for those bonds, that reserve fund is in the amount of $2.39 million dollars, so combined the city would be looking at a benefit of about almost $5.5 million dollars for just that one refinancing. The other refinancing to look at is another portion of the city's existing debt on the utility side which is the Series 2012 bonds, by refinancing those bonds which also have a reserve fund that the city doesn't currently have access to because of old bond covenant, they would be able to free up approximately $1.45 million dollars that's set aside in that reserve fund. Mr. Traylor also discussed bonds on the General Obligation side, he stated that there are two refinancing opportunities, one is the Series 2011 bonds currently in the amount of $31.985 million dollars, which is coming upon its call date, by refinancing those bonds there's a net present value savings of approximately $8.57 million dollars, these are old bonds that are outstanding at a rate of 4.98%, in the current interest rate environment Mr. Traylor stated that RBC would be able to cut that interest rate in half. The second half would be to also refinance about $79.1 million dollars of the Series 2012 and Series 2013 Bonds. These bonds would have to be an advance refunding and because of current federal tax laws all the refunding would Minutes — July 21, 2020 COMMENTS have to be done using taxable bonds which is a very common thing that's being done in the municipal space, because rates are so low there is very little if any real penalty for going ahead and using a tax instrument to do that. It's RBC's belief that at present the value savings to the city to refinance those bonds would be about $11.69 million dollars and on the General Obligation side there would be a net value savings of a little over $20 million dollars which would work out with an annual cash flow of about $1.2 million dollars per year. Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) Louis Vaughn 9615 Mapes Beaumont TX Spoke to Council regarding the prison system in SETX which has the highest COVID-19 infection rate, commented on the refineries and the pollution as well as the schools which have poor ventilation, now in SETX there's COVID-19 and pollution, citizens live in a war zone, has talk to doctors in the Houston area that has stated that the most wicked cancer comes from this area, a solution to this problem would be to have a system that would remove carbon dioxide and other pollutants from buildings, then have another system that will kill the bacteria in the area, stated that there is such a system, emphasized social distancing, washing of the hands and wearing mask and everyone needs to pray Ricky Jason 1075 Magnolia Beaumont TX Stated that a bad mistake was voted upon today and that was to reopen the closed facilities, asked that the Council not reopen all schools, if the schools are reopened the kids will die, asked that people not listen to the President or the Governor of Texas, made comments relating to Satan, stated that City Attorney, Tyrone Cooper was a legend and an icon who deserves respect, also commented on the Confederate Statue that was removed several weeks ago Councilmembers/City Manager/City Attorney comments on various matters COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER MOUTON - NONE COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL - ASKED FOR AN UPDATE REGARDING CARLISLE DR., WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE IT IS ON THE STREET REHABILITATION LIST, STATED THAT ALL COUNCILMEMBERS SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THE CARTWRIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, READ A STATEMENT FROM THE EMAIL "ON BEHALF OF THE CARTWRIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THEY HAVE OBSERVED VARIOUS FORMS OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PROSTITUTION, TRAFFICKING OF NARCOTICS AND VARIOUS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES IN AND AROUND A CERTAIN PROPERTY, THE CONDUCT HAS GENERATED VARIOUS EMOTIONS THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SUCH AS TERROR, FEAR, DISTRESS AND ANXIETY, THERE ARE THIRTEEN Minutes — July 21, 2020 (13) KNOWN DRUG DISTRIBUTION HOUSES IN THE CARTWRIGHT ADDITION, STATED THAT IN THE EMAIL IT GIVES THE ADDRESSES IN WHICH THERE ARE SUSPECTED DRUG TRAFFICKING, WITH AN AVERAGE OF ONE CRACK HOUSE FOR EVERY FIVE BLOCKS", THEY ARE ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE AND HELP TO GET SOME TYPE OF RELIEF COUNCILMEMBER PATE - NONE MAYOR PRO TEM FELDSCHAU - NONE COUNCILMEMBER GETZ - ANNOUNCED A VIRTUAL DOWLEN/WEST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING ON JULY 21, 2020, STATED THAT HE'S RECEIVED A NUMBER. OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING DISCOLORED WATER, THIS IS VERY ALARMING, GLAD THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE ADDRESSED, HOPES THAT THERE WILL BE WORKSESSION TO EXPLAIN WHAT CAUSES THE DISCOLORED WATER AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT SO THAT CITIZENS CAN GET ANSWERS COUNCILMEMBER NEILD - NONE CITY ATTORNEY COOPER - NONE CITY MANAGER HAYES - STATED THAT A FEW COUNCILMEMBERS ASKED THAT HE COMMENT ON THE DISCOLORED WATER, STATED THAT IT IS NORMAL AND IS SOMETHING THAT HE AND STAFF DEAL WITH ON A ROUTINE BASIS, HE ALSO HAD DISCOLORED WATER AT HIS HOME ON LAST WEEK AS WELL AS THE MAYOR, THIS IS USUALLY CAUSED ,BY VERY HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS IN EXCESS OF 90 DEGREES, ON WEDNESDAY OF LAST WEEK THERE WERE A NUMBER OF BREAKS, ONE IN PARTICULAR WAS AROUND 10TH AND MCFADDIN WHICH WAS A LARGE BREAK, STAFF DOES A VERY GOOD JOB IN DIFFICULT CONDITIONS MAKING THESE REPAIRS SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT MAYOR AMES - STATED THAT ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY THERE WILL BE EXERCISES GOING ON AT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, IF ANYONE HAS REGISTERED WITH STAN THEY WILL RECEIVE A CALL, THE CALL WILL BE TEST, CITIZENS THAT AREN'T REGISTERED CAN GO TO WWW.STAN.COM AND REGISTER THEIR CELL PHONES TO RECEIVE THOSE CALL, ANNOUNCED LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE DOING MOBILE COVID-19 TESTING; ALICE KEITH PARK, JULY 21, 2020, ROGERS PARK, THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020, CENTRAL.PARK, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2020, AND STERLING PRUITT, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020, ON NEXT WEEK THERE WILL BE TESTING AT CRISTO REY CHURCH, 767 AVEUNE A, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, ALL FACILITIES ARE WALK UPS NO APPOINTMENTS ARE NECESSARY, ALL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON CITY, Minutes — July 21, 2020 POLICE AND EOC WEB SITES, ALSO ASKED THAT CITIZENS THAT HAVE RECOVERED FROM COVID-19 TO PLEASE GIVE THEIR PLASMA, SPOKE ABOUT THE 2020 CENSUS Open session of meeting recessed at 3:53 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION Consider matters related to contemplated or pending litigation in accordance with Section 551.071 of the Government Code: Claim of Bertha Jackson T"re being no ection taken in Executive Session, Council adjourned. Am&s! M ina Broussard, City Clerk Minutes — July 21, 2020