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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/16/2022 MINA � r T E X A S MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT COUNCIL MEETING Albert `°A.J." Turner Jr., At -Large ROBIN MOUTON, MAYOR Randy Feldschau, At -Large Taylor Neild, Ward I CITY COUNCIL MEETING Michael Getz, Ward II Audwin Samuel, Ward III AUGUST 16, 2022 Chris Durio, Mayor Pro Tern Tina Broussard, City Clerk Chris Boone, Interim City Manager Sharae Reed, City Attorney 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 August 16, 2022, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 801 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas, at 1:30 p.m. to consider the following: 1:67» N I111101 Invocation Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Proclamations, Presentation and Recognition Public Comment: Persons may speak on the Consent Agenda and Agenda item 1 Mayor Mouton called the council meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Tommy Williams with Trinity United Methodist Church gave the invocation. Mayor Mouton led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was made by Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Present at the meeting were Mayor Mouton, Mayor Pro Tem Durio, Councilmembers Getz, Turner, Feldschau, Samuel and Neild. Also, present were Chris Boone, Interim City Manager; Sharae Reed, City Attorney; Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Proclamations, Presentation, Recognitions "Recognition" -- The new City Manager, Mr. Kenneth Williams Public Comment: Persons may speak on the Consent Agenda and Agenda Item 1 None CONSENT AGENDA (Items placed on the Consent Agenda are considered routine in nature and are considered non -controversial. The Consent Agenda can be acted upon in one motion. A consensus of the Council is required to remove any item for discussion and separate action.) A. Approval of the August 9, 2022, City Council Meeting Minutes B. Confirmation of board and commission member appointments - Resolution 22-194 Minutes —August 16, 2022 Mary Williams would fill the unexpired term of Geary Senigaur on the Police Department Community Advisory Committee. The term would commence August 16, 2022 and expire September 30, 2023. (Councilmember Albert °A.J.° Turner) C. Approve a contract with DXI Industries, Inc., of Houston, for the purchase of sodium hydroxide for use by the Water Utilities Department - Resolution 22-195 D. Approve a contractwith Marsh Waterproofing Inc., ofVidor, forthe masonry repointing and repair of the City Hall building - Resolution 22-196 E. Accept maintenance of the street, storm sewer, water, and sanitary sewer improvements in Windemere Subdivison Section 4 - Resolution 22-197 F. Authorize the acceptance of a five -foot -wide Utility Easement located at 855 Caldwell Resolution 22-198 G. Approve the purchase of Axon TASER units and accessories for use by the Police Department - Resolution 22-199 H. Authorize the acceptance of a twenty -two -foot -wide Access and Utility Easement and a ten -foot -wide Utility Easement located at 8630 Eastex Freeway - Resolution 22-200 Councilmember Neild moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Getz seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR MOUTON, MAYOR PRO TEM DURIO, COUNCILMEMBERS GETZ, TURNER, FELDSCHAU, SAMUEL AND NEILD NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED WORK SESSION Review and discuss the proposed FY 2023 Budget Chris Boone, Interim City Manager reviewed and discussed the proposed FY 2022 Budget. Mr. Boone discussed the General Fund summary of revenues and expenditures as well as the property tax rates. The existing tax rate of $0.70500 per $100 assessed valuation would decrease to $0.685000 for FY 2023 which is what is being proposed. There was discussion of General Fund Transfers for the Transit Fund, TX Motor, Capital Reserve, Hurricane Laura, General Liability, General Improvement and Employee Benefits, totaling $18,476.600. Mr. Boone also discussed the proposed FY2023 allocations and personnel he stated that seventeen (17) positions were add and five (5) positions were removed, Wages were discussed as it relates to labor agreements and civilian employees, the budget would provide for a 4% increase in wages for Police Officers and 3% for Firefighters per their collective bargaining agreements and civilian employees would receive a 3% wage increase. The water and sewer fund balances were discussed along with the rates, it was proposed that the water and sewer rates be increased by 8%, this would generate an estimated $3.775 million in additional revenue for the water fund. The solid waste fund was also discussed along with a proposed $1.50 increase in garbage rates from $20.75 to $22.25, the last Minutes —August 16, 2022 increase was in FY 2022, this increase will generate an estimated $657,000 in additional revenue for the solid waste fund. Benefits was discussed as those rates will increase, for the medical plan, PPO will be increased from $7.75 to $8.53, the Employee + one dependent will increase from $110.93 to $122.02, the Employee Family will increase from $156.99 to $172.69. The dental plan will increase as well, for employee only it will increase from $4.96 to $5.11, employee + one dependent will increase from $12.39 to $12.76, employee family will increase from $16.05 to $16.53. The primary care visit will increase from $10.00 to $20.00; specialist visit will go from $30.00 to $40.00; overall deductibles will go from in - network $500 individual to $750.00 and for family from $1,000.00 to $1,250.00 as well as overall deductibles and out of pocket limits that will increase. AGENDA 1. Consider establishing and taking a record vote on the "proposed" 2022 tax rate and schedule a public hearing. Chapter 26 of the Property Tax Code requires taxing units to comply with truth--in-taxation laws in adopting their tax rate and requires the governing body to hold a public hearing when the proposed tax rate exceeds the lower of the no -new revenue or voter -approval tax rate. Administration recommends Council establish a proposed tax rate required to support the City Manager's proposed budget equal to the tax rate of $0.6850001$100 of valuation. In accordance with Chapter 26 of the Property Tax Code, if the proposed rate exceeds the no - new revenue rate of $0.637867/$100 or the voter -approval tax rate of $0.781362/$100, the City Council must take a record vote to place the proposal to adopt a rate not higher than the proposed rate on the agenda of a future meeting. The no -new revenue tax rate is the rate that would produce the same amount of taxes in FY 2023 as was produced in FY 2022 if it was applied to the same properties taxed in both years. The proposed tax rate of $0.6850001$100 exceeds the no -new revenue tax rate of $0.6378671$100 by $0.0471331$100 or 7.4%. If the motion passes, a public hearing must be scheduled. It is recommended that the public hearing be held on September 13, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The Administration recommends that a public hearing be held on September 13, 2022, at 1.30 p.m. in Council Chambers, located at 801 Main Street. The City Clerk will publish the notice of the public hearing. Councilmember Getz moved to APPROVE, A RESOLUTION THAT THE 2022 TAX RATE Is PROPOSED TO BE $0.695000 /$100 OF VALUATION; AND THAT THE DATE OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2022, BE AND THE SAME IS HEREBY SET AS THE DATE AT WHICH THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE. THE MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 801 MAIN STREET, BEAUMONT, TEXAS AT 1:30 P.M., SEPTEMBER 13, 2022, AT WHICH TIME THE COUNCIL WILL RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF $0.6950001$100 of VALUATION, THE CITY CLERK IS TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF SAID PUBLIC HEARING PURSUANT TO V,T.C.A., TAX COME §26.06. Councilmember Turner seconded the motion. RECORD VOTE: Establishing a proposed 2022 Tax Rate and Scheduling a Public Hearing AYES: MAYOR MOUTON AYES: MAYOR PRO TEM DURIO AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS GETZ Minutes — August 16, 2022 AYES: AYES: AYES: AYES: NAYS: MOTION PASSED Resolution 22-201 COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER TURNER COUNCILMEMBER FELDSCNAU COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL COUNCILMEMSER NEILD NONE Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) Vernon Durden 2110 Westbury RD. Beaumont TX Congratulated Mr. Kenneth Williams on being selected as the new City Manager and welcomed him to Beaumont, stated that on last week citizens were able to see democracy at work, stated that Mr. Williams is inheriting a city that the last City Manager lost population, gave the numbers of what the population was and what it is at present, commented on the salaries that Council discussed earlier in the meeting, if everyone works together progress can be made, the citizens are watching and looking, the citizens want the entire Council to work together regardless of how they voted, asked that everyone work to move the city forward and to support the new City Manager and be proud of Beaumont Glenda McCray 890 Norwood Dr. Beaumont TX Congratulated the new City Manager, stated that her thoughts and prayers are still with Mrs. Getz and she's keeping her in her prayers, stated that she lives in the West End and she's upset about the drainage ditches, has been told by 311 that they are only being mowed twice a year, one side is mowed and cut short, the other side is a smaller portion near the fence on Norwood, the grass is growing really high and looks bad, since taxes, garbage and other things are going up, she would like to see that side of the ditch cut, stated that she's proud to be a citizen of Beaumont, proud of Council working together but if she see another gas station built she's going to be upset because she thinks that there should be more things built for our young people, not gas stations Charlie Crabbe 928 East Dr, Beaumont TX Thanked Council for their service to Beaumont, commented on the $11.00 pay rate, stated that he looks at it as a entry level pay where we are competing with surrounding businesses and not compete with bigger cities, the city should compete with smaller cities like Port Arthur, Orange etc., thinks its attractive to work for the city due to the benefits, he loves the service that is received by the city especially the heavy trash that is picked up weekly, commented on the $250,000 severance pay that the four Councilmembers approved in the event of dismissal of the new City Manager, realizes the vote has been taken to hire Mr. Williams, he doesn't object to Mr. Williams just the contract, the split vote does bring back memories of the BISD fiasco, he recalled two members of the BISD board and local electrical contractors stating that things did not seem right for electrical work that was done for BISD, remembers when the BISD Board Chairman said that they were in charge, also remembers Minutes --August 16, 2022 when the Board of Education came in and took charge and dismissed the entire board and the newly hired Superintendent and appointed new board members, wanted to know if the city is repeating the voting pattern of BISD board, he sure hopes not, stated that he does watch the meeting on television and likes Councils comments Paul Brown 4370 Cartwright Beaumont TX Thanked the four Councilmembers for appointing Kenneth Williams as the new City Manager, lets have the laughter and enjoyment but let's stay real this Country is in trouble, after35 City Managers we finally got a black man, we have a big problem in term of finances but the blacks always stay at the bottom, commented on Mardi Gras where there was twenty vendors and only one black vendor, made comments regarding several Councilmembers and the Mayor, thanked Texas House Representative Joe Deshotel for his service and good luck on retirement * Councilmembers/City Manager/City Attorney comments on various matters COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER TURNER - ASKED INTERIM CITY MANAGER CHRIS BOONE IF THERE COULD BE A DIRECTIONAL FLUSHING PLAN TASK FORCE PUT IN PLACE WHERE THERE WOULD BE SOME OF THE CITY ENGINEERS WORKING WITH MIKE HARRIS IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THEY CAN COME UP WITH AND GIVE A DEADLINE, THE CITY WOULD GET AT LEAST A PERCENTAGE DONE WITHIN A YEAR THE REST WOULD BE DONE WITHIN THE SECOND YEAR, WOULD LIKE TO START A NEW PRACTICE WHEN IT COMES TO WORK BEING DONE BY SETTING DEADLINES, MADE COMMENTS REGARDING THE BASE PAY OF $250,000 FOR THE NEW CITY MANAGER, HE'S BEEN ASKED THAT QUESTION BY SOME CITIZENS, HE EXPLAINED WHY, ALSO COMMENTED ON SOME THINGS THAT WERE REMOVED FROM THE CITY MANAGERS AGREEMENT SUCH AS INSURANCE PREMIUM, THE THREE YEAR COMMITMENT ETC., MADE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS REGARDING A SALARY STUDY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDED ON TODAY FOR EMPLOYEE SALARIES THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, ASKED THAT CITIZENS DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH REGARDING ISSUES THEY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN THERE'S DATA COUNCILMEMBER GETZ - WELCOMED THE NEW CITY MANAGER MR. KENNETH WILLIAMS AND HIS WIFE CYNTHIA, LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM AND BELIEVES THEY BOTH SHARE THE SAME VISION FOR BEAUMONT, STATED TO COUNCILMEMBER TURNER THAT THE ITEMS THAT WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE CONTRACT HE REFERRED TO IN HIS COMMENTS WERE; ONE, THE INSURANCE PREMIUM BECAUSE IT DIDN'T COMPLY WITH CITY POLICY, THE SECOND WAS THE THREE YEAR COMMITMENT; IT WAS REMOVED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T COMPLY WITH THE CITY CHARTER, AGREES THAT A SALARY STUDY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BEFORE THE SALARY OF Minutes — August 16, 2022 $250,000 WAS OFFERED, ALL OF COUNCIL DECIDED ON THE STARTING SALARY BEFORE THE POSITION WAS ADVERTISED, ANNOUNCED THE TASTING FOR SOME OTHER PLACE THAT WILL BE HELD AT THE BEAUMONT CIVIC CENTER TODAY, TICKETS ARE $'I 0.00, THE MONEY IS USED TO HELP THE LESS FORTUNATE IN THE COMMUNITY, ENCOURAGED EVERYONE TO GO OUT AND SUPPORT THEM MAYOR PRO TEM DURIO - WELCOMED MR. AND MRS. WILLIAMS TO BEAUMONT, BELIEVES THAT EVERYONE ON THIS COUNCIL IS READY TO GO TO WORK WITH MR. WILLIAMS, ASKED THE CITIZENS TO BE PATIENT WITH THE COUNCIL AND TRUST THEM TO DO THE JOB, THEY ELECTED THEM TO DO, THANKED ALL OF THE CITIZENS THAT SPOKE ON TODAY AS WELL AS ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND STAFF THAT HELP TO PREPARE THE BUDGET COUNCILMEMBER NEILD - THANKED TODD SIMONEAUX, CFO AND STAFF FOR THE BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED ON TODAY, WELCOMED MR. AND MRS. WILLIAMS TO BEAUMONT, LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM, IT'S A NEW DAY FOR BEAUMONT, EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THE TEAM COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL - WELCOMED THE NEW CITY MANAGER MR. KENNETH WILLIAMS AND HIS WIFE CYNTHIA, STATED THAT BEAUMONT IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM COUNCILMEMBER FELDSCHAU - STATED THAT LAST WEEK THE COUNCIL VOTED TO HIRE MR. WILLIAMS AS THE NEXT CITY MANAGER, HE'S SAID MORE THAN ONCE THIS MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO MAKE, THE LAST TIME A CITY MANAGER WAS SELECTED WAS NINETEEN YEARS AGO, WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC AND TO MR. WILLIAMS AND HIS WIFE, HIS "NO" VOTE WAS NOT A VOTE AGAINST THE MAN BUT WAS A VOTE AGAINST CERTAIN COMPONENTS WITHIN THE. AGREEMENT THAT HE STRUGGLED WITH, HIS PROBLEM AND THE COUNCIL'S PROBLEM IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A MECHANISM WHEREBY THEY CAN VOTE FOR THE MAN AND AGAINST THE AGREEMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE LINKED, WANTS TO HAVE A CLEAN FRESH START WITH MR. WILLIAMS, HE'S COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH HIM AND MAKING HIM A SUCCESS BECAUSE HIS SUCCESS IS THE COUNCIL'S SUCCESS, TODAY HE'S CASTING A RELATIONAL VOTE, LOOKS FORWARD TO THE FUTURE AND THE GREAT THINGS THEY WILL DO TOGETHER CITY ATTORNEY REED - DITTO INTERIM CITY MANAGER BOONE - EXTENDED A WELCOME TO MR. AND MRS. WILLIAMS, LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM FOR A BETTER AND BRIGHTER BEAUMONT Minutes —August 16, 2022 TODD SIMONEAUX, CFO - STATED THAT EVERYONE LOVES WHAT BENGY WILLIAMS DOES FOR THE CITY, RUMOR HAS IT THAT HE MAY HAVE 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AND 16 DAYS LEFT WITH THE CITY, ASKED EVERYONE TO HELP HIM TALK BENGY OUT OF RETIREMENT, ALSO STATED THAT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT LOST ITS CITY CONTROLLER OF 17 YEARS AND BUDGET OFFICER, THANKED THE NEW CITY CONTROLLER CHERYL RAY AS WELL AS STEPHANIE HARDY THE NEW BUDGET OFFICER CITY CLERK BROUSSARD WELCOMED MR. AND MRS. WILLIAMS TO BEAUMONT AND LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MR. WILLIAMS MAYOR MOUTON - ANNOUNCED THE TASTING FOR SOME OTHER PLACE AT THE BEAUMONT CIVIC CENTER, STATED THAT LAST WEEK WAS ONE OF THE BEST MEETINGS TO SEE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN ACTION, THANKED THE SHARAE REED, CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE REVISIONS, LATE NIGHTS, AND LONG WEEKENDS IN PULLING THE AGREEMENT TOGETHER FOR THE CITY MANAGER, WELCOMED MR. KENNETH WILLIAMS AND HIS WIFE CYNTHIA TO BEAUMONT, LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM, COMMENTED ON A VISITOR SHE HAD, MS. DESTINY HAMILTON WHO 1S 10 YEARS OLD, DESTINY WANTED TO KNOW IF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT WAS PLANNING ON EXPANDING THE, BEAUMONT ANIMAL SHELTER SO THAT THE CITY WOULDN'T KILL ANYMORE ANIMALS, MAYOR MOUTON INFORMED D)STINEY THAT SINCE 2019 BEAUMONT ANIMAL SHELTER HAS BEEN A NO KILL SHELTER, MADE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS REGARDING THE CITY MANAGER'S CONTRACT, THANKED THE CFO AND HIS STAFF FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK ON THE BUDGET, THANKED EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT ON TODAY AND TO SPREAD THE LOVE being no Exec F n Mouton, Mayor Tina Broussard, City Clerk Session, Council adjourned at 3:44 p.m. Minutes —August 16, 2022