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Beaumont council approves hotel study, riverfront change order and ordinance allowing liens for unpaid city utilities
Summary
At its Oct. 29 special meeting the Beaumont City Council approved a series of resolutions and ordinances, including a $275,000 hotel feasibility agreement, change order five for Riverfront Park, and an ordinance enabling liens on property for unpaid city utility bills; several consent items and grant applications also passed.
The Beaumont City Council approved multiple consent and regular-agenda items at its Oct. 29 special meeting. Key votes included authorization for a hotel feasibility study, a change order on the Riverfront Park restoration contract, and a new ordinance governing liens for unpaid city utility bills.
Hotel feasibility study: Council authorized the city manager to negotiate an agreement with Stonehenge Holdings (transcript name rendered as 'Stonehedge') for a not-to-exceed price of $275,000 to conduct a market study, preliminary design, cost estimates and a business and finance plan for a potential hotel on city-owned property. The motion was moved and seconded and carried after clarifying that the property in question is city-owned and that the agreement covers feasibility work rather than city ownership of the eventual hotel.
Riverfront Park change order: Council approved change order number 5 to the contract with Kellen Marine Limited for the Riverfront Park restoration project. Staff explained that a $1,000,000 contingency was included at contract outset for unforeseen conditions (for example, previously discovered creosote pilings) and that after this change order $665,512.54 remains in contingency. The contractor’s revised target completion had slipped past an earlier September projection; staff reported a contractor target in November and expressed confidence in opening by December.
Utility lien ordinance: Council adopted an ordinance authorizing the city to place liens on real property for failure to pay city-run utilities (water and sewer). City attorneys and staff clarified that the ordinance is prospective (not retroactive), will not apply to homestead properties protected by the Texas Constitution, and requires specified due-process steps including separate disconnect notices and hearings for customers who dispute bills.
Other approvals: Council also approved (by motion) the Beaumont CVB grant application to Jefferson County Tourism Commission ($13,210), an increase for remote fuel-level monitors for water production, the lease of five vehicles with Enterprise FM Trust, final payment to Eastex Utility Construction for Union Pacific ditch maintenance, an amendment to Article 24.09 of the city code affecting Calder Avenue properties, a resolution supporting a state historical marker designation, a specific use permit for 2398 Lower Street, and authorization to submit a Federal Transit Administration grant application to support the Beaumont Zip transit service.
Votes and procedure: Most motions were approved by voice vote with 'aye' recorded; the consent item labeled 'n' passed with one abstention recorded. Where staff provided technical clarification (for example, on quiet zones or lien notice requirements), council accepted those explanations before voting.
What happens next: For the hotel feasibility study and Riverfront Park work, staff will proceed under the approved agreements and change orders. For the utility-lien ordinance, staff said they are drafting the required customer notices and hearing procedures before liens could be pursued for new delinquencies.
