Beaumont council approves year-end budget changes, engineering contracts and multiple rezones; one special-use permit denied

Beaumont City Council voted on a package of budget adjustments, professional services contracts and land-use requests at its Sept. 30 meeting, approving most items on the consent agenda and taking separate action on several zoning and code-enforcement matters.

The council approved an ordinance amending the fiscal year 2025 budget to increase appropriations for funds with projected overages, moved forward a contract to upgrade the water production SCADA system, approved a downtown traffic ingress-and-egress study, accepted a change order on a water-line rehabilitation project, amended the city's agreement for water utility service line inspections and adopted updates to Chapter 21 of the city code (salary schedule language for EMTs). Council also approved two rezoning requests and denied a specific-use permit for a large-vehicle storage facility.

The budget amendment was presented by the assistant finance director, who said cities commonly amend year-end appropriations to cover projected overages and to transfer a remaining debt-service fund balance into employee benefits. The council then voted to approve the ordinance.

On contracts and professional services, the council: - Approved a resolution awarding a contract to Soap Engineering LLC of Houston for water production SCADA improvements. Staff told the council the firm is new but had satisfactory references and the selection followed reference checks; several council members asked staff to monitor potential change orders closely. - Approved a resolution authorizing professional engineering services with Wolpert Inc. of Dayton, Ohio, for a downtown traffic ingress-and-egress study. - Authorized change order No. 2 and final acceptance for V & S Construction Company (Manville, Texas) for rehabilitation of a 12-inch water line along Gladys Avenue from Dallin Road to West Lucas Drive; staff described this as a favorable change order that reduced the contract cost. - Approved an amendment to the city's water utility service line inspection agreement with Republic Meter Inc. (Dallas, Texas).

Council also adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 21 of the city code to revise salary wording for certain EMT pay steps; the city attorney and council members described the language as more detailed and requested the motion include the stated amendment language.

On land use, the council approved two rezoning requests from RMH (Residential Multi-Family Highest Density) to GCMD (General Commercial Multiple Family Dwelling): one for property at 2685 Washington Boulevard and another for roughly 11.18 acres at the southeast corner of Northwest Parkway and Old Dolan Road. A separate request for a specific-use permit for a large-vehicle storage facility at 2450 South Fourth Street was denied; the planning commission had recommended approval with seven conditions, but council voted to deny the SUP.

Votes at a glance: - Item 1: Ordinance to amend fiscal year 2025 budget — approved (motion and second recorded; roll-call not specified in transcript). - Item 2: Resolution awarding contract to Soap Engineering LLC for water production SCADA improvements — approved (motion, second; discussion requested monitoring of change orders). - Item 3: Resolution awarding engineering services to Wolpert Inc. for downtown traffic study — approved (motion, second). - Item 4: Resolution authorizing change order No. 2 and final payment to V & S Construction for Gladys Avenue water-line rehabilitation — approved (motion, second). - Item 5: Resolution amending water utility service line inspection agreement with Republic Meter Inc. — approved (motion, second). - Item 6: Ordinance amending Chapter 21 (EMT pay language) as amended on the floor — approved (motion, second). - Item 7: Rezoning at 2685 Washington Boulevard (RMH to GCMD) — approved (motion, second). - Item 8: Rezoning ~11.18 acres at NW Parkway & Old Dolan Road (RMH to GCMD) — approved (motion, second). - Item 9: Specific-use permit for large-vehicle storage at 2450 South Fourth Street — denied (motion to deny carried).

Several items drew brief council discussion about procurement, contract vetting and monitoring of change orders; council asked staff to ensure close oversight on the SCADA contract and to continue efforts to streamline longstanding code-enforcement and health cases when appropriate.

Ending: The council completed the business on the regular agenda and moved into council-member comments, where members highlighted upcoming veteran events and the city's October public calendars.