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I opted to do the overflow room for tonight’s Beaumont City Council meeting. I feel very safe with this warning.
On tonight's agenda is residential speed limits, video surveillance at the city's hike and bike trails and a dog park, among other items.
I've been saying (jokingishly) that someone put these items on the agenda just because it's an evening meeting.
The council also will vote on this one: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/insider/article/Tax-breaks-sought-to-restore-former-Edson-Hotel-15914009.php
And some background on the dog park: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Dog-park-idea-might-have-legs-13678938.php
Overheard in the overflow room: Having an evening meeting is a good idea even if just to say, "We had the meeting, where were you?" when residents say they couldn't ever talk to the council.
Councilman Mike Getz came back to visit us peasants in the overflow room.
And we're on!
About 20 people are here split between the council chambers and the overflow room (not including city staff and the council members).
The council chambers, which holds about 11 additional people observing social distancing, was filled about 20 minutes before the meeting began.
Now we're up to 25 people.
Update: Five or six of those were at the meeting for a proclamation.
We now have three City Council candidates in the overflow room -- Roy West, AJ Turner and James Eller. I believe Biguita Hernandez-Smith is in the council chambers.
No one is here to address the council during the comment period preceding agenda items.
The first item would allow a commercial construction and renovation business at 747 College Street. It's a special use permit because that's generally a Central Business District.
The council unanimously approved the permit.
An interesting note: All of the council members are masked today. That has not been the case at previous meetings.
The next item abandons a utility easement at 301 N. MLK Pkwy.
The company requesting the abandonment owns buildings on each sides and would like to combine them.
The company requesting the abandonment owns buildings on each sides and would like to combine them.
The council unanimously approved the abandonment.
On to the item regarding the potential Edson Lofts. Again, here's some background: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/insider/article/Tax-breaks-sought-to-restore-former-Edson-Hotel-15914009.php
In addition to exclusive support, city staff is recommending a fee waiver.
A city council member asks for a timeline on the project (if you read the article, you'd know).
