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Home My WebLink About12/22/2020 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 Getz; Ward II Audwin Samuel, Ward III DECEMBER 22, 2020 Robin Mouton, Ward IV Tyrone 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 December 22, 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 the Consent Agenda * Consent Agenda Mayor Ames called the council meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Pastor John Adolph with Antioch Missionary 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 MayorAmes, Mayor Pro Tern Feldschau, Counci_lmembers Neild, Getz, Pate, Samuel. and Mouton. 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 the Consent Agenda None CONSENT AGENDA * Approval of minutes — December 15, 2020 Confirmation of board and commission member appointments - None A) Authorize the City Manager to execute an annual agreement with Capital Edge Advocacy, Inc. to provide services as the City of Beaumont's Washington Assistant — Resolution 20- 286 Minutes — December 22, 2020 B) Authorize the City Manager to execute Change Order No. 3, accept maintenance, and authorize a final payment to Chief Solutions, Inc. for the Sewer Evaluation Work Order Contract -Phase III - Resolution 20-287 C) Amend Resolution No. 20-217 for the cost to repair a compactor used at the Landfill — Resolution 20-288 Councilmember Neild moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Mayor Pro Tern Feldschau seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM FELDSCHAU, COUNCILMEMBERS NEILD, GETZ, PATE, SAMUEL AND MOUTON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED PUBLIC HEARING Receive comments on a proposed Tax Abatement Agreement with Suez Water Technologies & Solutions, Inca Public Hearing Open: 1:38 p.m. None Public Hearing Close: 1:38 p.m. GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider a resolutionauthorizing the City Managerto enter into a Tax Abatement Agreement with Suez Water Technologies & Solutions, Inc. The City was recently approached by Suez Water Technologies:& Solutions, Inc. requesting tax abatements in order to move forward with investements of $40 million in upgrades to their existing plant located.on College Street, just west of the Municipal Airport. In October 2020, the City created the Suez WTS USA-, Inc. -Project Clear Reinvestment Zone, allowing for tax abatements in accordance with Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code. The project would result in approximately seventy-five (75) construction jobs and the retention of sixty (60) existing full-time jobs.. The proposed abatement agreement would result in an abatement of City taxes on the new improvements in the amount of 100% during project completion, 100% for the first year, 90% for the second year, 80% for the third year and 70% for the final year. The proposed abatement meets the criteria and conditions set forth in the City's Reinvestment Zone Tax.Abatement Policy, adopted in September 2020. All area taxing entities have been notified of the proposed agreement. Council conduct the Public Hearing and approve the resolution. Minutes — December 22, 2020 Mayor Pro Tern Feldschau moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION OF AN APPLICATION FOR CHAPTER 312 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES FOR SUEZ.WTS USA, INC., FOR AN UPGRADE TO THEIR EXISTING FACILITY LOCATED ON COLLEGE STREET, JUST WEST OF THE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AND THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE AND HE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE A TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT WITH SUEZ WTS USA, INC., GRANTING A 100% AD VALOREM TAX ABATE DURING PROJECT COMPLETION, 100% FOR THE FIRST YEAR, 90% FOR THE SECOND YEAR, 80% FOR THE THIRD YEAR AND 70% FOR THE FINAL YEAR. Councilmember Samuel seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM FELDSCHAU, COUNCILMEMBERS NEILD, GETZ, PATE, SAMUEL AND MOUTON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 20-289 Mayor Ames read the announcement regarding Executive Session being held at the conclusion of the General Business portion of the meeting. COMMENTS * Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) Landry Rountree 1565 S. Major Dr: Beaumont TX Made comments regarding the birth of Jesus, which is the reason for the season, stated that he hopes that each of us this Christmas season can do like our Lord and Savior did and that's to go beyond our comfort zone and reach out to someone that needs to reached out to, wished each of the Councilmembers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Peter Lee Homeless Beaumont TX Stated that there are two words from the dictionary, one is conspiracy and the second is confidential informant. Councilmembers/City Manager/City Attorney comments on various matters COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER GETZ - WISHED EVERYONE A HAPPY AND JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON COUNCILMEMBER NEILD - NONE MAYOR PRO TEM FELDSCHAU - STATED THAT HIS MOTHER WAS ADMITTED TO ST. ELIZABETH'S HOSPITAL ON DECEMBER .9, 2020, FOR ROUGHLY TWELVE DAYS, SHE WAS ON THE COVID FLOOR AND SHE SUCCUMBED TO THE ILLNESS ON DECEMBER 21, 2020 AT ABOUT 2:10 A.M., APPRECIATES EVERY ONES PRAYERS, CONCERNS AND SUPPORT, STATED THAT HIS MOTHER FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT AND FOUGHT HARD, ASKED THAT, EVERYONE Minutes — December 22, 2020 CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIS FAMILY DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME, WISHED EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR COUNCILMEMBER PATE - GAVE CONDOLENCES TO MAYOR PRO TEM FELDSCHAU AND HIS FAMILY, ASKED THAT EVERYONE KEEP HIS SISTER IN PRAYER, COMMENTED ON THE LOSS OF HIS GOOD FRIEND DR. GEORGE THOMAS,.COMMENTED ON THE HIPPA LAW, STATED THAT IT ONLY PERTAINS TO PEOPLE THAT WORK 1N THE HEALTHCARE FIELD, HE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK FOR PRAYER FOR HIS FRIENDS, STATED THAT HE BELIEVES IN PRAYER AND PRAYS ALL THE TIME, IT'S THE TIME TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST WHOM IS THE SALVATION FOR US ALL, WISHED EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL - GAVE CONDOLENCES TO MAYOR PRO TEM FELDSCHAU AND HIS FAMILY ON THE LOSS OF HIS MOTHER, ALSO MINDFUL THAT .THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING ISSUES DEALING WITH SEWER THAT'S BACKING UP IN THEIR HOMES, ASKED THAT CITIZENS ATTEMPT.TO BE UNDERSTANDING AND KNOW THAT THE CITY IS TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE TYPES OF CONCERNS, REQUESTED AS THEY MOVE INTO THE NEW YEAR TO FIND A BETTER WAY TO RESPOND TO THE CITIZENS IN REGARDS TO SEWER AND DRAINAGE ISSUES, ASKED THAT IN THE NEW YEAR THERE IS A WORKSHOP, HOPES THAT HE CAN GET A SECOND FROM ANOTHER COUNCILMEMBER REGARDING THE WORKSHOP COUNCILMEMBER MOUTON - THANKED COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL FOR HIS COMMENTS ON THE SEWAGE ISSUES AND SECONDED HIS MOTION FOR A WORKSHOP IN THE NEW YEAR, GAVE CONDOLENCES TO MAYOR, PRO TEM FELDSCHAU AND HIS FAMILY ON THE LOSS OF HIS MOTHER, WISHED THE STAFF, CITIZENS AND COUNCIL A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR CITY ATTORNEY COOPER - GAVE CONDOLENCES TO MAYOR PRO TEM FELDSCHAU AND HIS FAMILY ON THE LOSS OF HIS MOTHER, STATED THAT AS THE MAYOR READ EARLIER HE IS THE SUBJECT OF TODAY'S EXECUTIVE SESSION, IT'S HIS UNDERSTANDING - THAT COUNCILMEMBER GETZ HAS PUT HIM ON EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER NEILD, THE REASON BEING IS TO INQUIRE AS TO HIS FMLA STATUS AND HIS ABSENCE DEALING WITH A CONDITION, IT'S ALSO HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT COUNCILMEMBER GETZ IS DESIRING TO EXCLUDE HIM FROM THE EXECUTIVE SESSION DISCUSSIONS, STATED THAT IF THE COUNCIL IS ENTERTAINING THAT HE BE EXCLUDED, FOR THE RECORD HE WOULD HAVE TO OBJECT TO THE REQUEST AND REQUEST A PUBLIC HEARING BE HELD, STATED THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE COUNCIL'S WISHES ARE IN THAT REGARD, TODAY'S EXECUTIVE SESSION OF COURSE ISN'T PUBLISHED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, IF THE Minutes — December 22, 2020 COUNCIL HAS QUESTIONS OF HIM, HE DOESN'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE BETTER TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS OTHER THAN HIM CITY MANAGER HAYES - NONE MAYOR AMES - WISHED EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEARS, ASKED EVERYONE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEWS, THE GOVERNOR HAS ISSUED A ROLLBACK ON HIS ORDER DUE TO THE RISE OF COVID, THE ROLL BACK WENT INTO EFFECT ON MONDAY NIGHT, GAVE CONDOLENCES TO MAYOR PRO TEM FELDSCHAU AND HIS FAMILY ON THE LOSS OF HIS MOTHER, ASKED THAT EVERYONE PRAY FOR HER MOTHER WHO IS IN HOSPICE AT THIS TIME Open session of meeting recessed at 2:02 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION Consider matters to deliberate the employment, evaluation and duties of a public officer or employee in accordance with Section 551.074 of the Government Code . to wit; specifically: Tyrone Cooper, City Attorney Consider matters related to contemplated or pending litigation in accordance with Section 551.071 of the Government Code: Claim of Lauren Lewis There being no action taken in Executive Session, Council adjourned. liah-AM, B ky A es, or 2u OL, 6A Mk" dA 101, Tina Broussard, City Clerk 0®v& U Minutes — December 22, 2020