[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6225164,"mediaKeyId","3540430-19f8e6be1ef60f98f8807535fad2c81f","parentId",3540430,"title","Library commissioners and residents urge council to keep downtown library intact amid children's museum proposal","audioSeconds",462,"startMs",2670000,"endMs",3132000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3540430-19f8e6be1ef60f98f8807535fad2c81f&start=2670&end=3132","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3540430-19f8e6be1ef60f98f8807535fad2c81f/thumbnail_2670000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6225164/Beaumont/Jefferson-County/Texas/Library-commissioners-and-residents-urge-council-to-keep-downtown-library-intact-amid-childrens-museum-proposal","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225164-a66a36e60fe1a26dd13a240fb5ac1471/orig.mp4?Expires=1771996272&Signature=ijxFhyC2~7PoeuHG8swGpgR85wUp41qzRbEwGeRWp53VGGWVKjGOjS2ZaUYWFpsj2TSAR4l0ZAlmktyng3rVQnu1ksNfgQUKXBVsel-tjVfd7bqHnhpCl81o9ZLWt2PWmBx0K6H2m38fXUSI1Y6iQ4YxmAvEo-A3O3-3WSPAv7B0oBuSXvaW5C3yQZ6i2G7a2LiuZWfDvie-9JutsnxKZy7jb-yxhKNzjcwN~qzSg3Q3m4H6dfLUhjZ1-L1gDVpRIRs1x7ko33nFGgFvlZJXit04rupOHZ439B9S10gQLhKBHi0Vq4E0aWimgcYb-EDMqzwcZqyT4uMEGZhM3zBx8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Beaumont, Texas","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","Several library commissioners and residents told City Council they are concerned about a proposal for the Beaumont Children’s Museum to lease most of the downtown public library building and urged the city to seek alternate downtown locations.

Kate Hambright, a Beaumont Library Commission appointee and president of the Terrell Historical Library Association, said the downtown building at \"Downtown Main\" (the identifier used by speakers) is a roughly 30,000‑square‑foot facility and that the museum seeks to lease 20,000–25,000 square feet. \"That would leave the library with the use of only 5 to 10,000 square feet of its own building,\" Hambright said. She told council that library administrative and technical‑services offices already occupy about 9,500 square feet and that relocating those offices would be unlikely under current budgets.

Hambright also cited the city charter in questioning whether the downtown library may be repurposed. She said the charter’s library article (as read to council during public comment) restricts the city’s ability to rent certain city facilities and that a charter amendment might be necessary to accommodate a long‑term lease of the library building for a museum.

Dora Nisby, chair of the Beaumont Library Commission, reiterated the commission’s concerns and urged council to preserve downtown library services. \"City libraries are one of the few free resources offered to citizens,\" Nisby said, and she described programming the library provides, including adult education classes and outreach that reached more than 50,000 people last year.

Speakers asked the council to encourage the museum to work with Beaumont Main Street and private downtown property owners to find alternative locations that would not displace library services. The council did not take formal action during the public‑comment period; staff and council members acknowledged the comments and said the matter would be considered in upcoming agenda items and planning discussions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting May 20, 2025 | City of Beaumont, TX","oneSentenceSummary","Library commissioners and patrons told council the proposed plan for the Beaumont Children's Museum to lease most of the downtown library building would leave the library with limited space, could require a charter amendment and risk interrupting current programs; speakers urged consideration of alternate sites.","taxTitle","Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas","taxId",2805,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6225168,"Beaumont council approves publication to seek $20.5 million in certificates of obligation",1552,6264000,7816000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3540430-19f8e6be1ef60f98f8807535fad2c81f&start=6264&end=7816","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3540430-19f8e6be1ef60f98f8807535fad2c81f/thumbnail_6264000.jpg","/articles/6225168/Beaumont/Jefferson-County/Texas/Beaumont-council-approves-publication-to-seek-205-million-in-certificates-of-obligation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225168-55d992cd77d2ca546b28638ff23c943d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771996272&Signature=jlFaLPxcZBOHPc~i5RTQmpQ0GJdrWvKId4Ib29RsQZRjXwXjE7RrtBg0s0Z~TJFHKUbyvmtTB6M-JjmpwAWQPuISFLSJZHi1SjKLxc3vfW8VAKxIpJp0bXOQc7f3PtzZVTclssOmp2jgtNARUqDybyHgSMwPlvR8M2hqFS~Uwuv3o57Ta2E-KP2-82CqAwcQU~yaDruNaPzdtgMGPeLTkJWBVNb9ebyhZYiCPJD6fBP~FydoO36h-SfpzNV-v35UEu00HxRQOhN7ZCnkkjoK7g8xSjswQ6~ARpcRo0YvKAZO9AiWmSk04Sty8f2k3H~TptcvhmaBVvoxgwZkKxxcsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Beaumont City Council voted to publish a notice of intent to issue certificates of obligation for up to $20.5 million to fund capital projects already included in the adopted budget and community investment plan.

City staff said the request is the statutory first step required under Texas law to begin borrowing by certificates of obligation; approving the publication starts the required public-notice period (the city manager said a 45‑day notice is standard) and does not itself authorize issuance of debt. \"This requested action today is just for the publication,\" the city manager said. Council approved the publication after a short presentation and discussion.

City staff listed projects that the $20.5 million would cover, most of them streets and drainage programs: citywide ditching and street rehabilitation programs, stormwater pipe inspections, bridge repairs, pump-station repairs, West Lucas Drive work, Fourth Street and other projects. The CIP list presented also includes park-related projects such as athletic-complex parking-lot rehabilitation and design funding for pickleball courts (staff said $40,000 in the current fiscal year is for design), and Colliers Ferry boat‑ramp and pier work (engineer estimate shown as about $440,000 total for that project).

Staff said most items are already included in the budget and the CO publication simply starts the legal process; the formal request to issue the certificates would return to council for approval at a later meeting (a date on the calendar in July was mentioned). City staff emphasized certificates of obligation are a common borrowing tool for municipalities and differ from general-obligation bonds, which require voter approval.

Council members asked about project timing, the split between design and construction, and whether borrowing now vs. later could affect debt service costs. The city’s financial advisor discussed interest‑rate dynamics and noted that long-term borrowing rates do not necessarily fall immediately when the Federal Reserve cuts short‑term rates. He also noted the city typically includes call features to allow refinancing if future market conditions improve.

Council approved the publication by voice vote; staff said the publication will be posted in the local paper and on the city website as required. The council will consider formal authorization to issue the certificates at a later meeting if it proceeds.","Council authorized publication of a notice of intent to issue up to $20.5 million in certificates of obligation to fund CIP projects including streets and drainage, park upgrades, Colliers Ferry work and annual programs; the publication starts a 45‑day legal notice period.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6225174,"Beaumont unveils parks master plan; proposes signature upgrades for Terrell Park",1153,2629000,3782000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3540430-19f8e6be1ef60f98f8807535fad2c81f&start=2629&end=3782","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3540430-19f8e6be1ef60f98f8807535fad2c81f/thumbnail_2629000.jpg","/articles/6225174/Beaumont/Jefferson-County/Texas/Beaumont-unveils-parks-master-plan-proposes-signature-upgrades-for-Terrell-Park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225174-aebc51806d0cfe9addb986054ab42f80/orig.mp4?Expires=1771996272&Signature=j6bRQGHb1Jn~1-C2Fnipd6aMeacxdbhDyD9yzoELHjbiZJXnlFRS5MF9isQuSyOP~B~yqdmOVLyW7Pkes7SUiGwVDcQAeH5Bqqvze4IMksQyIpYuMvdbOFOYWi4emRnuJYAQoknUPy7w8ZpCzkoZBoQ3kWXVKQGng8y0eUOAp3w4wHrVcCG7SQCaz3bQvCOeWfW0DU4nPW8jZfAZ79CGgoClDZFHYe-RMCL4CPzzp4Q0pm19o7efewbeqUsbIThLYuFi-vMWm1fNYa50QJ7a9QbqlV1TkrAiqPcgzyaGvq4ZxWhqWG1Dgc0oO97PAfA8y1HWh5Jb~sDsh8292qJG0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Beaumont officials and Half Consulting presented a parks master plan intended to guide city parks, recreation and green-space investments for the next 5 to 10 years, with a list of priority projects and a concept for a transformed Terrell Park.

Kenneth Reggett, the city’s parks director, introduced the plan adopted in draft form for council discussion. Julian Salasporus, project manager for Half Consulting, said the plan followed 12 months of existing-conditions work, public engagement with more than 600 residents, steering-committee meetings and site visits to every park.

The consultant identified four goals: invest in park system assets, improve access and safety, expand programming to encourage health and community interaction, and strengthen operations and maintenance. The plan includes about 80 recommended actions and a priority, plan-identified CIP list of roughly 20 projects, Half Consulting said.

Among headline recommendations is a concept to \"transform Terrell Park into a regional destination,\" with a new grand entrance, lookout tower, amphitheater, splash pad, new playgrounds and themed interpretive signage. Salasporus said the firm prepared renderings and a preliminary cost magnitude for Terrell Park improvements and that the firm’s grants team had begun identifying funding opportunities.

The plan’s assessment found Beaumont’s total park acreage is about 10.6 acres per 1,000 residents, near national guidance. The consultant flagged deficits in neighborhood and community parks, a 9-mile trail deficit, and widespread needs for restrooms, shade, ADA-compliant features and more programmed events. The report also identified about 12 playgrounds that Half Consulting recommended replacing \"almost immediately.\"

Council members and public commenters raised questions about park use, operations and funding. Half Consulting said the master plan is intended to inform future bond proposals, grant applications and budget decisions; the firm also said it had prepared a grant-opportunities memo and cost estimates to help the city begin implementation. No formal council action was taken; the plan will be used to prioritize CIP projects and to inform a possible bond measure later in the year.","City and Half Consulting presented a 5–10 year parks, recreation and green-space master plan that recommends 4 goals, about 80 actions and a prioritized CIP list including major upgrades at Terrell Park and replacement of aging playgrounds.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6225178,"Consultant tells Beaumont housing is top need as HUD consolidated plan proceeds",800,1599000,2399000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3540430-19f8e6be1ef60f98f8807535fad2c81f&start=1599&end=2399","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3540430-19f8e6be1ef60f98f8807535fad2c81f/thumbnail_1599000.jpg","/articles/6225178/Beaumont/Jefferson-County/Texas/Consultant-tells-Beaumont-housing-is-top-need-as-HUD-consolidated-plan-proceeds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225178-977b86876c9b2d3c92e5f250b9254e32/orig.mp4?Expires=1771996272&Signature=NOYVPmEU0Pmq3WXLBbVODhIpyOEjTlvSUZXyg4maSNL2~~rCJfMwP~Xt8ZGEu0ZF7~kQTPOkGSGrBaWWFtPuIxwsBvueFyQYK8Jrdo-3Zki-FAdEcgd-7krtBEQaQyqH3SVMepS~qT67UTP1JhMdYmvddwQdWUEedujjOdpoG6Q9ITXpdx3NMSQVTaXyRHyO7Iwl~TPKdaFlPVALOXALKglkwJzsHiFwiMmJ9cwsNzqCujEPq5M~C3IA4j5DArCffUg89XuLjvJ37he~0EB8nWVeTfAfRXgpqPtkvUoBxb~g3SlRWTcc9eE0JSAU9bLf9OL7OuywNBl63U6dthWF2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A consultant hired to prepare Beaumont’s HUD consolidated plan told City Council that housing shortages, including a lack of accessible units for people with disabilities, were identified as the city’s most urgent need and will drive priority funding choices for the next five years.

Patricia Santa Cruz, technical advisory services director with Grow America, said the draft 2025–2029 consolidated plan recommends three overarching priorities: provide decent, safe, affordable housing; create suitable living environments; and provide public services for low- and moderate-income households. She told council that the plan and an FY2025 annual action plan tie HUD Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to those priorities.

Santa Cruz said Beaumont is an entitlement community and that the city receives roughly $1.38 million a year in CDBG funds and about $535,000 a year in HOME funds; those amounts have been essentially level-funded recently. She said the HUD allocations announced May 13 showed a slight year-over-year decrease of about 2.7 percent overall from FY2024 to FY2025, and that the city’s draft annual action plan budget was based on the FY2024 allocations and may be adjusted slightly now that HUD has announced 2025 figures.

Grow America officials described outreach and analysis behind the draft plan. The engagement included stakeholder meetings with nonprofit and housing providers, two public hearings (the first held April 8), and a community survey that drew 132 responses with more than 300 open-ended comments. The survey and stakeholder input prioritized home repair, affordable housing, homeless services and Section 8 voucher support; infrastructure, public services and economic development followed.

Santa Cruz said the consolidated-plan process sets five-year goals and the one-year annual action plan (with a proposed budget) that must be published for a minimum 30-day public comment period. She said HUD requires a final plan to be submitted by Aug. 16 to avoid losing federal funding for the program year. The city’s next step is for council to consider the final FY2025 action plan for adoption at a future meeting; Santa Cruz noted that HUD announced allocations later than usual this year, which adjusted the city’s schedule.

Council members asked how HUD constrains use of funds; Santa Cruz said CDBG has statutory \"guardrails\" including a 15 percent cap on public services and other national-objective rules (for example, demolition and slum/blight activities can qualify differently). She said HOME funds are specifically for housing activities. Santa Cruz also said the Beaumont Housing Authority has about 3,000 people on its waiting list for vouchers or public housing, a figure she cited as evidence of need.

No council action was taken at the presentation; the second required public hearing on the FY2025 annual action plan was held as part of the meeting’s public hearings, and the council will formally consider the final plan and any adjustments before the HUD submission deadline.","Grow America presented a draft 2025–2029 HUD consolidated plan and FY2025 annual action plan to Beaumont City Council, saying housing — including affordable and accessible units — is the community's top urgent need and that CDBG and HOME funding is essentially level-funded this year.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6225183,"Beaumont receives clean, unmodified audit for fiscal 2024",636,1074000,1710000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3540430-19f8e6be1ef60f98f8807535fad2c81f&start=1074&end=1710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3540430-19f8e6be1ef60f98f8807535fad2c81f/thumbnail_1074000.jpg","/articles/6225183/Beaumont/Jefferson-County/Texas/Beaumont-receives-clean-unmodified-audit-for-fiscal-2024","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225183-367bb230196953d7af62ea3b59819ad4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771996272&Signature=fqCsRmlBR5CrVPnLaNS~AAWIwiJ4sdVQpTP7s1zOW6oXgGQDsJ2bilhoyns~O1mC2c6hF-9i12yvTod9zCjIBTDObCCq1IzWQ~TKTRKaBQio56k48X5P-dabWtV~ipvgvTTlCPRWz2RS5HoALat8XqWJE~cFKe5EeLYiZoxvHcGk8fX2mErqbhyQ7RLARDqZbJKH7Pt4urZ0ryXW-IeTCsUcHmlJlPxFHDRhS7QBMC4~EDavr84KmOQ9vS3BHtmNux28DF2j7aI6coP8w16qgsB6pvPyr08Flxe2cEmnr2DwjSFsEN29luRXN~-o8WLkSQD7DwhHqCVTJdpzMSNJ8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Beaumont auditors reported a clean audit of the city's fiscal year 2024 financial statements, and city leaders said the result reflects improvements in finance operations amid staff turnover.

The independent audit firm Patillo, Brown and Hill issued an unmodified opinion — commonly called a \"clean\" opinion — on Beaumont's FY2024 financial statements and on federal and state grant compliance, Clayton Rogers, an audit manager with Patillo Brown and Hill, told the City Council. \"We are able to issue what's called an unmodified opinion on the 2024 financial statements,\" Rogers said.

The audit tests whether the city's financial statements are materially correct under generally accepted accounting principles, Rogers explained during the council meeting. He said the audit provides \"reasonable assurance\" and noted limitations of any audit, but said the work found no significant disagreements with management or material problems requiring disclosure.

The auditors also issued an unmodified opinion under the Single Audit Act for the city’s federal and state grant programs. Rogers told council that, beyond the financial statements, the firm produced a separate communication letter required by professional standards; he said it contained standard boilerplate language and no reportable findings.

Council members and the city manager thanked the finance staff for preparing the records that supported the audit. City Manager Christopher S. Boone and Mayor West highlighted the result as evidence of the finance department’s work despite recent turnover. \"This comes from the same place that your monthly financials come from,\" Rogers said, adding that the city’s finance staff organized records and assisted auditors throughout the process.

The presentation to council was an information item; no formal action was required. The audit documents are part of the city's public record and were available to council and to the public during and after the meeting.

City officials said they would continue to use the audit and the annual comprehensive financial report as reference documents for budgeting and for tracking processes and controls going forward.","Independent auditors issued an unmodified (\"clean\") opinion on Beaumont's FY2024 financial statements and on federal/state grant compliance, with no significant findings reported, city and auditors said.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Library commissioners and residents urge council to keep downtown library intact amid children's museum proposal

Beaumont council approves publication to seek $20.5 million in certificates of obligation

Beaumont unveils parks master plan; proposes signature upgrades for Terrell Park

Consultant tells Beaumont housing is top need as HUD consolidated plan proceeds

Beaumont receives clean, unmodified audit for fiscal 2024