[00:00:01]
[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE A SENIOR MANAGER HERE, THE CITY ATTORNEY, IS HE A CITY SECRETARY AND, UH, I THINK BOTH GOVERNING BODIES OR WE IN AUDIT.SO I LIKE TO BEGIN OUR MEETING AND WE WILL BEGIN AS WE NORMALLY DO.
UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, FRANK WITH YOU.
SO KIND AS TO GIVE US THE INDICATION.
WE DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN UNISON, PLEASE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OUR OPENING MEETING CITY SECRETARY TO BE SO OKAY.
AS YOU DO THE ROLE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR BARTEE PRESENT MAYOR PRO TEM, FRANK COUNCIL MEMBER HOMES HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER JONES, COUNCIL MEMBER, KEN LAW, COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS, COUNCIL MEMBER, MOSES.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY, UH, MR. MATISSE, I THINK THAT TOLD ME THAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO ROLL CALL FOR YOUR BOARD.
WAS BETTY'S WOULD YOU COME INTO MIC PLEASE? THANK YOU.
UH, CHAIRMAN AND, UH, CHAIRMAN SURFACE, COMMISSIONING COMMISSIONER, CHRISTOPHER SMITH, COMMISSIONER RASHAD HARRIS COMMISSIONER DALLAS SMITH, COMMISSIONER ROSEVILLE, PETRI COMMISSIONER, RHONDA CONNOR.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU HAVE A REPORT.
AND TO EACH OF YOU WHO ARE PRESENT BOTH, UH, STAFF AND GUESTS, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY.
AS WE CONVENE THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND THE BOARD OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
I BELIEVE THAT EACH OF YOU WOULD HAVE ONE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
[II. 1. A Discussion Regarding Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation Programs, Plans, Projects And Contracts]
ITEM CALLS FOR DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THE PORT.I THINK A NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENT, CORPORATIONS, PROGRAMS, PLANS, PROJECTS, AND CONTRACTS ATTORNEY.
HOW SHALL WE PROCEED ON IT? SO YOU'VE ANNOUNCED THE CAPTION AND I GUESS THE PRESENTATION WHOEVER'S GIVING THE PRESENTATION CAN MOVE FORWARD.
AND THEN IF YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS AFTER THE PRESENTATION.
DID YOU PULL THAT MIC?
I WANTED TO THANK THE COUNCIL, FLEEING, BITING THE BOARD TO THIS MEETING SPECIAL MEETING TODAY.
AND I THINK, UH, WHEN WE RECEIVED THE AGENDA FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UH, THERE WAS SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WAS REQUESTED.
UH, WHAT ARE WE GONNA TRY TO DO TODAY? UH, UH, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO OUR PRESENTATION TODAY? WE'LL WE'LL UPDATE YOU GUYS ON THE FOLLOWING TIME.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOB TRAINING PROGRAM, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, MICRO LOAN PROGRAM, USE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, THE ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE INCENTIVE PROGRAM PARK AND RECREATION, THE BUSINESS PARK.
AND WE DIDN'T GO INTO THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PLAN AND, UH, I HAVE JANET
FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY, THANKS, JANNA AND JOYCE FOR WORKING VERY HARD, BUT THIS POWERPOINT TOGETHER, I WILL LET THEM MAKE THE PRESENTATION.
[00:05:02]
UM, ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE THE TELEPHONE AND YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON.YEAH, I THINK WE WANT THE RIGHT OKAY.
MY NAME IS GEORGE DAVIS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE PORT ARTHUR EDC, UM, MAYOR COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY EDC BOARD.
WE'RE GONNA PUT TOGETHER A SLIDE SHOW, BASICALLY LIKE MR. BATTY SAID KIND OF GIVING YOU GUYS A RUNDOWN OF WHAT, UH, THE EDC HAS DONE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
UM, I'M GONNA START WITH THE FIRST BOOK THAT HAD, UM, THAT FIRST SLIDE THAT JOHN HAD AND BASICALLY THE FIRST, UH, ONE MORE, ONE MORE.
FIRST PROGRAM THAT WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS IS THE CDL PROGRAM WITH LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, YOU CAN RECEIVE A CLASS A AND CLASS B CDL LICENSE, AND THIS IS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED RESIDENTS THAT MEET TWCS INCOME GUIDELINES.
IF THEY DON'T QUALIFY THROUGH TWC.
THE NEXT THING WE TELL THEM IS TO COME AND TELL THEM ALL, BASICALLY THAT THE EDC WILL QUALIFY THEM FOR THEIR CDL TO DATE 43 PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM AND OBTAINED THEIR CDL LICENSE AND UTILIZING PA EDCS ASSISTANCE.
AND THERE ARE 36 PERSONS CURRENTLY ENROLLED.
CURRENTLY AN AGREEMENT IS PENDING UPON COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
THE PA EDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS ALREADY APPROVED PAYMENT FOR TUITION FOR 10 PORT OFF THE RESIDENTS WHO WISH TO COMPLETE THEIR N C E R PIPEFITTER ONE ENTRY-LEVEL PIPEFITTER TRAINING AT THE COST OF $2,700 PER STUDENT.
[00:10:01]
SERVICE.THIS IS ONE OF OUR NEWEST PROGRAMS THAT WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO PUT OUT THE RESIDENTS.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 19 PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS ENROLLED IN THIS 13 WEEK PROGRAM.
TUITION IS A HUNDRED PERCENT PAID FOR BY ACADIAN AMBULANCE PORTAL AT THE EDC IS PAYING $7 AND 50 CENTS AN HOUR FOR UP TO 10 HOURS PER WEEK AS A STIPEND FOR ALL STUDENTS IN ENROLLED UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION.
UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS EMT PROGRAM, UH, THE STUDENTS ACTUALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK AND ENROLL IN PARAMEDIC TRAINING, WHICH IS ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF.
AND AGAIN, THAT'LL BE PAID FOR A HUNDRED PERCENT, UM, BY ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE.
UM, THE NEXT SLIDE IS BASICALLY THE FLYER.
WE ALSO HAVE A SCALPEL TRAINING PROGRAM WITH LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR AND IT'S, UM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH BRAN WAY SCAFFOLDING, WHICH IS A SUBCONTRACTOR WITH VALERO.
THE COMPANY GUARANTEES A JOB TO ALL STUDENTS ONCE THEY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE PROGRAM.
AND ONCE AGAIN, PORT ARTHUR, EDC IS PAYING A STIPEND OF 8 25 PER HOUR TO PULL IT OUT.
THE RESIDENTS ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM.
WE ALSO DO MICROLOANS PUT OFF THE EDC SMALL BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM ENCOURAGES BUSINESSES AND SELF-EMPLOYMENT AS A MEANS OF ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
IT PROVIDES A DIRECT FUNDING SOURCE FOR QUALIFYING SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO REPAY THE LOAN, BUT LACK THE ABILITY TO ABILITY TO OBTAIN FINANCING THROUGH TRADITIONAL SOURCES.
THE LOAN MAY BE USED TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT OR INCREASE INVENTORY.
IT MAY ALSO BE USED FOR MARKETING WORKING CAPITAL OR SITE IMPROVEMENTS.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE THREE MICRO LOANS THAT ARE OUT AND IT'S TOLD THEM $59,000, THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY NINE STUDENTS PLACED IN INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS THIS SUMMER PROVIDING VALUABLE JOB TRAININGS AND SOME EMPLOYMENT FOR PORT ARTHUR YOUTH.
AND THIS IS NOT IN THE SLIDE, BUT WHAT ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO? WE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM ONE OF THE EMPLOYERS ALREADY ASKING WHEN IS THE LAST DAY OF THE INTERNSHIP, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO EMPLOY SOME OF THE STUDENTS RIGHT NOW.
SO WE SEE THAT AGAIN AS ANOTHER SUCCESS BECAUSE WE TRY OUR BEST TO PLACE THESE STUDENTS IN JOBS THAT WILL RETAIN THEM.
AFTER THE INTERNSHIP IS DONE, THE YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS, EVERY SUMMER, WE AWARD FIVE PORT OFF THE RESIDENCE WITH SCHOLARSHIPS, FULL RIDES TO LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR, UH, AT $13,500 OF SCHOLARSHIP.
UM, SO FAR WE'VE GIVEN OUT 15 TOLD THEM 202,500 AND $500.
THE APPLICANT MUST HAVE A 2.5 GPA.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS SELECTS THESE STUDENTS APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AND THROUGH THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS.
THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS YOU A PICTURE OF OUR BUSINESS PARK.
THE BUSINESS PARK IS A 430 ACRE PARK, WHICH 204 ACRES ARE CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY 20 BUSINESSES.
THESE BUSINESSES HAVE A TOTAL PROPERTY VALUE OF $32,916,609.
THIS TRANSLATES INTO A TOTAL PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT OF 1 MILLION, $101, $101,685 CREATING $206,669 OF TOTAL ANNUAL TAX PAYMENT FROM ALL BUSINESSES COLLECTIVELY DUE TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
THESE BUSINESSES ARE SET POINT MOTION, INDUSTRY, MOTIVA ENTERPRISES, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
THE NEXT SLIDE BASICALLY SHOWS, UM, OUR CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE INCENTIVES THAT ARE OUT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE REAL CAJUN T O JUANITA WALK ON SOUL FOOD AND THE OLD MARKET BASKET, UM, ON WHAT IS IT, STADIUM AND GULF WAY.
SO WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM, WE OFFER INCENTIVES UP TO 40%
[00:15:01]
OF THE TOTAL INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS.WELL, WE ACTUALLY, THE PEOPLE THAT DO WHEN THEY COME TO US, THEY SENT US BASICALLY THE BIDS FOR ALL OF, UM, ALL OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE GET IT VERIFIED BY THE CITY'S ENGINEER, AND THEN WE COULD OFFER THEM UP TO 40% TO PUT BACK INTO THEIR BUSINESSES.
UM, THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 23 OPEN INCENTIVE AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING BOTH ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE AGREEMENTS, TOTAL $7.2 MILLION.
NEXT SLIDE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
THE FIRST ONE WE DISCUSSED IS STREETS THE EDC THROUGH A BALLOT PROPOSITION APPROVED BY THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF PORT.
ARTHUR CONTRIBUTED ONE EIGHTH OF ITS SALE TAX REVENUE FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS.
AND THE MONEY TOTAL $5.4 MILLION AND WAS USED FOR STREET REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
CURRENTLY THERE IS, UM, THE PROPOSITION WITH PARKS AND RECREATION.
IT WAS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS THAT THE PORT ARTHUR EDC WILL CONTRIBUTE $1 MILLION FOR THREE YEAR PERIOD WITH THE OPTION TO EXTEND FOR ADDITIONAL THREE YEARS FOR A POTENTIAL TOTAL OF $6 MILLION.
NEXT SLIDE HERE, WE HAVE A RENDERING OF WHAT ROSE HILL PARK IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE ONCE THIS IS ALL SETTLED.
UM, AND I THINK WAS IT YESTERDAY MR. BURDEN? UM, MS. ALPORT MENTIONED, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW, BUT TONIGHT AT SIX O'CLOCK AT THE AMOS EVANS CENTER, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING DISCUSSING THIS SO EVERYBODY CAN PUT THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE NEXT SLIDE.
A RENDERING OF WHAT WE WOULD LIKE FOR ELLUCIAN ALBUM'S PARK TO LOOK LIKE, WHICH IS LOCATED RIGHT BEHIND, UM, UH, GUADALUPE, OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE NEXT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
OH, WE, UH, WE ALSO SPOKE WITH, UH, D D SEVEN.
WE KNOW THAT THAT AREA IS REAL LOW.
MR. KEN LAW, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR DISTRICT IS SO LOW OVER THERE.
UM, SO WE GOT WITH D D SEVEN AND WE'RE COORDINATING WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND, UH, PARKS AND REC.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MOVE DIRT FROM A LOCATION WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO DO A DETENTION POINT AND ASSIST WITH, UH, FILLING UP THESE LOW AREAS.
AND THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, MONIES WON'T BE SPENT ON PUTTING SO MUCH DIRT IDEA CAN GO SPECIFICALLY TO THE PROJECT ITSELF AS OPPOSED TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE ULTIMATE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS PEOPLE.
IT IS PEOPLE NOT CAPITAL OR RAW MATERIALS THAT DEVELOP AN ECONOMY.
THE PA EDC HAS ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PETITION THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE LEGISLATOR TO CHANGE THE LAW, TO ALLOW THE CORPORATION TO COMPLETE CERTAIN TASKS, THE LEGISLATOR ALLOWED THE PEDC TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DOWNTOWN TARGETED AREA.
THIS ITEM HAD A SUNSET CLAUSE AND WAS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
ALSO, THE LEGISLATURE ALLOWED FOR THE INVESTMENT INTO STUDENT HOUSING, WHICH AGAIN, THE CLAUSE HAD A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND WAS COMPLETED BY A CERTAIN DATE.
AND THE LAST LAW THAT THE EDC TOOK THE LEGISLATOR WAS TO ALLOW FOR A TYPE CORPORATIONS INCENTIVES INTO LIFE SKILLS AND JOB TRAINING ENDEAVORS, WHICH AGAIN, HAD A CLAUSE AND WAS UTILIZED INDEFINITELY.
AND NOW JOHN IS GOING TO GO OVER THE SECOND HALF.
ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR? UM, COUNCILMAN MARK, UH, EXCUSE ME.
ON THE CDL PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE WITH, WITH LAMAR.
UH, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I WAS SPEAKING ON THE BREEZE RADIO STATION AND WE HAD A CALL OR, UH, TO CALL IN AND, UH, TALKED ABOUT, AND I SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT IT.
THE ISSUE WAS THAT THE TRAINING WAS NOT, UH, THEY WERE NOT BEING TRAINED TO DRIVE THE, THE TRUCKS THAT ARE ACTUALLY THE, THE DUMP TRUCKS THAT ARE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH THE, THE HEAVY INDUSTRY WITH THE BUILDING OF THESE LNG PLANTS AND EVERYTHING THEY WERE BEING TRAINED ON, UH, AUTOMATIC.
WELL, UH, I THINK IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH BEING ABLE TO SHIFT THE TRUCK SO THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO, TO BE EMPLOYED ON THE REALLY GOOD PAYING JOBS, WHAT THEY WERE BEING EMPLOYED ON WAS THE, UH,
[00:20:01]
DRIVING THE BUSES, UH, TO, TO TAKE THE WORKERS OUT TO THE PLANTS.AND WE WERE, YOU WERE LOOKING INTO THAT.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT? NOW I RESPONDED TO YOU.
I DID CHECK WITH STAFFORD AND THE BOY HAD BOTH AUTOMATIC TRUCK DRIVING TRAINING, AND THEY TRAINING BOTH OF THEM.
IT IS THE OPTION OF THE STUDENT.
THEY COULD DO BOTH OF THEM, OR YOU COULD DO THIS ONE.
A LOT OF THEM JUST GO FOR THE, UH, I DUNNO CLASS, BUT DRIVING BUSES DO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR AUTOMATIC AND STAMPS.
SO THE, THE STUDENTS THAT THE EDC ACTUALLY FUNDS THAT WE PAY FOR, IF THEY, IF THEY GO AND THEY SAY, UH, I JUST WANT THAT CLASS B, THEN THEY, YEAH, THEY GO TO THE MORE, BUT I GUESS THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS, IS THAT THE, THE BUS DRIVERS ONLY, UH, MAKE SOMETHING LIKE 15 TO $17 AN HOUR, THOSE TRUCK DRIVERS WHO WERE DRIVING THE, THE DUMP TRUCKS OUT TO THE PLANTS AND STUFF, THEY'RE MAKING SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF ANYWHERE FROM 65 TO THE $85,000 A YEAR, DRIVING THOSE TRUCKS.
WHEREAS WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU'RE DOING $15 AN HOUR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $30 A YEAR.
SO, UH, COSMIN UH, NORMALLY WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INTERFACE WITH THE CLIENT THEMSELVES.
UH, THEY CALL US, WE TELL THEM NOT TO GO TO THE TWC BECAUSE AS JOY SAY, WE TRY TO LEVERAGE THE TWC MONEY FOR, THEY DO HAVE TRADING MINING, BUT THEY HAVE GUIDELINES OF YOU STATED IF THEY DON'T WORK FEEDING THOSE GUIDELINES, THEN THEY COME TO US.
WELL, LAMAR CALL US AND SAY, I HAVE A FULL DOCUMENT.
AND WE DOCUMENT THAT THEY ARE ARRESTED AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS WITH LAMAR.
HOW ARE WE DOING HIS PAIN FOR THEM? BUT I COULD ASSURE YOU THAT BOTH AUTOMATIC AND STAMPING TAUGHT.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT MR. BETTY'S, UH, I GUESS THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS, IS THAT AS, AS THE EDC AND, AND, AND, AND I, I HAVE TO SAY THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL HAVE DONE A GOOD, UH, AN EXCELLENT JOB OVER THERE.
I WAS SITTING ON THAT BOARD FOR, FOR A LONG TIME.
IN FACT, WHEN THIS PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED AND WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS, UH, PUSHING OUR PEOPLE TO GET THE, THE BETTER PAYING JOBS AND SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ACTUALLY, UH, BE, BE POINTED TOWARDS THE TRUCK DRIVING, UH, TRAINING THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE RUNS TO THE LNG AND TO THOSE LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WHERE THEY COULD INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY MAKE PER YEAR.
AND IF, IF, IF WE'RE NOT DOING THAT, BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF, OF, OF, UH, UH, JOBS DRIVING THOSE, THOSE BUSES TO, TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITES.
WHEREAS THERE ARE LOOKING FOR TRUCK DRIVERS FOR THE DUMP TRUCKS, AND THEY'RE BRINGING THEM IN FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM OUTSIDE OUR AREA.
UH, AND SO THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE MAKING THE GOOD MONEY.
UH, AND, AND SO THAT, THAT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND I SHARED THAT WITH YOU WHEN WE TALK.
SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM, I WOULD HOPE THAT, THAT WE CAN, UH, INTERFACE MORE CLOSELY WITH LAMAR W WHEN WE'RE PAYING THOSE, UH, THE STIPENDS OR THE TUITION, SO THAT WE CAN DIRECT THEM TO GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE MONEY IS MADE IN, IN, IN, IN, IN LEARNING HOW TO SHIFT TO DRIVE UP DUMP TRUCKS, NOT THE BUTTON.
AND WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HIM.
UH, MR.
[00:25:01]
CITY QUESTION ON THE SCAFFOLDING TRAINING, SCAFFOLDING TRAINING.I SEE YOU HAVE ONE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENT ENROLLED.
WHAT'S THE CAPACITY OF THE ENROLLMENT.
HOW MANY STUDENTS CAN YOU WRITE? WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH MARTHA 10.
UH, MY UNDERSTANDING ONLY ONE COMPLETED.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ONLY ONE HAS COMPLETED AGREEMENT IS FOR PAYING THE TRAINING.
LAMAR DOES HAVE KIND OF THAT MICROPHONE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO YOU.
LAMAR DOES HAVE A, UH, WE HA YOU KNOW, MYSELF AND LAMAR AND GEORGE, WE SIT DOWN WITH SAFEWAY, SAFEWAY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO EMPLOY THE SCAFFOLD.
SO ONCE THESE FOLKS ARE TRAINED, THEN THEY GO TO WORK FOR SAFEWAY.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING, WE ONLY HAD ONE COMPLETION FESTIVAL.
NOW I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY WE HAVE IN REAL MILL, BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE SLOTS FOR AT LEAST 10, THE CAPACITY TO HIRE 10.
UH, COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AT THIS POINT.
UH, MY CONCERN IS THE ACADIANA SERVICES THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M BIG ON IT.
I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THAT IN THE PAST.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, CLEAR WITH THIS, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SERVICE AMBULANCE SERVICE PAYS A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE COST AND EDC PAYS THESE STUDENTS TO GO TO SCHOOL.
I THINK YOUR FEES LIKE EIGHT BUCKS, 700, SO SEVEN OR $8 FOR 10.
WELL, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE DOING WITH THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM? BECAUSE I MEAN, IF YOU PAY ME TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TO GET, UH, SOME TYPE OF TRAINING, I THINK THAT WOULD SPARK A LOT OF INTEREST.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST.
HOW CAN WE GET THESE KIDS, UH, INTERESTS IN, IN OBTAINING THIS TYPE OF TRAINING? AND I THINK, UH, COUNSELING COUNSELING TO BE THE PURPOSE OF US ACTION, THE CO THE BOY AND THE COUNSELOR COULD GIVE HIM A STIFLE WHEN STRICKEN TRIED TO GET HIM STATE BECAUSE WE TRAINED, HE WAS THREE, BUT I THINK GEORGE, WE STARTED, WE HAD 33 KIDS, 30, WE NOW AT THE 19TH AND THEN DRAW, YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPED, WE ALSO COMMUNITY DEVELOPS.
I THINK THERE'S, WE PROBABLY NEED TO PARTNER WITH SOME SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION TO BEGIN COUNSELING SOME OF THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES THERE, IT'S JUST THAT WE NOT THINKING THAT WELL, YOU KNOW, AND I AGREE WITH, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IS NOT MADE TO PLAY BASKETBALL OR, YOU KNOW, PLAY MUSIC OR DANCE.
SO I THINK WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS PARTICULAR, UH, TRAINING, UM, YEAH, GO AHEAD, GEORGE ME, THE ONLY THING I WAS GONNA SAY, CAUSE I, I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I WENT AND TALKED TO THE PEOPLE AND, AND, AND JUST TO GIVE YOU, UM, A BETTER PICTURE OF IT, IT'S OPEN TO ANY ADULT, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF HIGH SCHOOL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ENCOURAGED TO WAS SAY AT THE CAPE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, WE HAD STILL, WHERE WERE THEY OUT OF, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC TRAININGS.
SO THE NURSING PROGRAM, I WAS TRYING TO ENCOURAGE SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS TO GO INTO THIS ONCE THEY GRADUATE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I'LL USE MYSELF, FOR EXAMPLE, I'VE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL OVER 20 YEARS.
SO I CAN'T JUST GO SIT IN THIS CLASS.
IT'S NOTHING BUT SIGNS FROM WHAT THEY'RE TELLING US.
SO THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THAT BIG DROP-OFF BECAUSE YOU HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SAID, OKAY, YEAH, I CAN GO SIT IN HERE AND GET THIS IT'S 13 WEEKS OF REAL WORK.
IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF IT IS A VIRTUAL, EVERYBODY, NOT A VIRTUAL LEARNER.
YOU KNOW, YOU SITTING AT HOME AND YOU HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT DISTRACTIONS.
YOU HAVE ONE DAY ON A TUESDAY THAT THEY ACTUALLY MEET UP AT THE SCHOOL AND YOU KNOW, DO WORK IN CLASS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE IN THE DROP-OFF BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, THEY JUST CAN'T FOCUS LIKE THE NEXT MAN.
SO I THINK AS TIME GOES, IF WE DO IT NEXT YEAR AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WE GET MORE STUDENTS OR MORE PEOPLE THAT'S GEARED TOWARD THAT HEALTH FIELD OR WHATEVER.
AND IN SCIENCE RELATED FIELDS, IT'LL BE A LOT BETTER THAN, YOU KNOW, THAT 13 DROPPING DOWN TO A 19.
CAUSE YOU KNOW, WE, WE ALL SAYING THE SAME THING.
THEN I'LL ALSO DO MR.
I HAVE SEEN IT, BUT IS THERE A SPECIFIC MARKETING CONCEPT THAT WE'RE USING, SAY FOR INSTANCE, FOR THE SCAFFOLDING TYPE PROGRAM, ARE WE PUTTING THIS INFORMATION OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, IN THE PARTS OF THE POPULATION THAT NEED THIS INFORMATION?
[00:30:01]
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE SOME OF US IN THIS ROOM WE MAY KNOW ABOUT VACCINATIONS AND THEN THERE MAY BE ANOTHER PERSON THAT YOU GO RIGHT NEXT TO, AND THAT PERSON DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT VACCINATIONS, BUT YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DEAL IN THE SAME, UH, UH, ARENAS.SO IT'S A MARKETING CONCEPT OR PLAN THAT WE USE.
AND SO THAT WE CAN EVEN ATTRACT INDIVIDUALS WITH THE, I WOULD CALL IT MAYBE THE RAW SKILLS THAT THEY'VE BEEN OUT OF, UH, AN ACADEMIC SETTING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM, THEY MET, THERE MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD PREPARE THEM SO THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING INTO THE PROGRAM.
BECAUSE IF WE'RE LEARNING THAT WE MAY BE MARKETED IN ONE SPECIFIC, UH, FORM, BUT THOSE WHOM WE ATTRACT JUST DON'T HAVE THAT SKILL LEVEL.
SO ARE WE THINKING MAYBE AHEAD TO SEE, BECAUSE WE'VE DONE IT ONE WAY AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN THAT SUCCESSFUL WITH IT, THE PROGRAMS ARE GOOD.
AND THERE, WE CAN'T SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE CITIZENS THAT NEED IT, BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PUT IT WHERE THEY CAN GET IT? ANY RESPONSE TO THAT? MAYOR, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION AND THAT AGREEMENT ALLOWED TWC, TEXAS WORKFORCE TO PROVIDE US A DUMP OF EVERY RESIDENT FROM PORT ALL THROUGH THIS, IN THEIR SYSTEM.
AND THEY CALL US, WE TELL THEM, GO GET HIM, THAT SYSTEM, SCAFFOLD BILLS.
WE HAVE RENAMED THE RV STATION.
WE HAVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STAFF, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THAT SYSTEM AND THEY CAN GO PULL ALL THE SCAFFOLD BUILDINGS AND MAKE EMAIL.
WE HAVE THE SAME THING THAT TWC HAS.
SO I WILL PULL IS BASED UPON WHAT'S IN TWC.
SINCE WE KNOW THE CRAFT FOLKS, WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND WE KNOW THOSE WHO WANT TO BE IN THAT TRAY BECAUSE WHEN THEY REGISTER, THEY REGISTER FOR THE CRACK.
SO THAT'S HOW WE, THAT'S HOW WE RECRUIT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I KNOW FOR SURE, MR. MOSS CALLED ME ABOUT THE ACADIAN AMBULANCE, BECAUSE I THINK, UM, THE FIRST SIGN I LOCATED WAS RIGHT ON GULF WAR AND SAVANNAH, WHATEVER.
SO ACADIAN AMBULANCE KIND OF GOES OUT AND PUT THEIR SIGNS OUT.
WE PUT STUFF IN OUR NEWSLETTER THAT WAS ISSUED OUT THROUGH THE MAIL.
OF COURSE WE DO THE FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM, ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE YOU SAY, YOU GOT TO TOUCH EVERY ARENA, YOU, THE YOUNGER CROWD, THE SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT YOU KNOW, THE SEASON PEOPLE DON'T.
SO WE STILL PUT STUFF IN THE NEWSPAPER AND, YOU KNOW, THE NEWSLETTER AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO W WE'RE TRYING, AND, UH, AND, BUT HE ALSO SAID SOMETHING SO KEY THE AMBULANCE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS A SCAFFOLD PROGRAM, THIS IS THE FIRST GO ROUND.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE'LL BE LEARNING FROM WHAT WE'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, AND MAYBE HAVE SOME STATISTICS THAT COULD PROVE IF WE DO IT A DIFFERENT WAY, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT THE, UH, AMBULANCE, UH, MEDIC TRAINING.
I THINK I SAW IT ON TELEVISION, BUT THEN I WAS DRIVING AND THAT WAS SOME, UH, YARD SIGNS, YOU KNOW, BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU STILL GOING TO RUN INTO SOMEONE WHO TELLS YOU, I DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT HIM.
UH, TWO YEARS AGO, WE CAN SAY YOU SENT IT ALL TO A CHURCH AND THEY WOULD HEAR, BUT FOLK DON'T GO TO CHURCH ANYMORE.
AND SO, AND THEN CHURCHES HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS TO GIVE HIM THE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
NOW, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING HAS BASICALLY, UH, GONE THROUGH A LITTLE CHANGE IF YOU WILL.
AND SO I JUST WANT US TO BE ON TOP OF BEING SURE OF THAT, BUT WE'RE DOING, SO I THINK THAT YOU ALL ARE, AND WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TRYING TO STAY AHEAD OF TIME JUST TO, JUST TO DISSEMINATE THE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU, CONGRESSWOMAN HALL.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO, FOR BOTH OF THE PRESENTATIONS.
I REALLY APPRECIATED HEARING A COMPOSITE OF WHAT YOU ALL ARE PROVIDING.
I JUST WANT TO ALSO SAY EMT AND PARAMEDIC PERSON IS NOT FOR THE FAINT AT HEART.
AND, UM, ACADIAN HAS, UH, DONE THEIR OWN MARKETING.
I MEAN, I I'VE WORKED WITH THEM ON SOME OF THEIR PROJECTS AND, AND THEY'VE DONE THEIR OWN MARKETING FOR THIS PROGRAM AS WELL.
SO I THINK AS YOU ALL ARE MARKETING YOUR COMPONENT OF THAT, ACADIAN IS ALSO DOING THIS BECAUSE THE REASON THEY'RE DOING IT IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MEDICS.
AND AT ONE TIME YOU COULD FIND AN EMT
[00:35:02]
A LITTLE MORE FREQUENTLY FOR PRIVATE COMPANIES, JUST GOING TO PIGGYBACK ABOUT WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THE EMT AND HOW THEY MARKET IT, BECAUSE THEY HAD SIGNS ALL DOWN TWIN CITY.UM, EVEN AT OUR CHURCH, WE TOOK THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND PUT IT INCORPORATED WITH OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS AT PLAY AND THEN SHARED OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS ON FACEBOOK, UM, AS WE DO.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, SO THEY, THEY CAME PERSONALLY TO US ASK US, CAN YOU MAKE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT? SO THEY ACADIAN DID THEIR MARKETING STRATEGIES AND THEY HAD SIGNS AND ASKING ME TO PUT A SIGN HERE.
AND THEY, THEY WERE ALL DOWN, UM, UH, TWIN CITY, HIGHWAY GULF WAY DRIVE.
SO I KNOW THAT THEY PARTNERED WITH YOU GUYS AND THEY REALLY DID A, A GREAT, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN ON GETTING THE WORD OUT ON THAT.
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S A FAILURE OF, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S A COUNSELING, WENT HOME, SAID IT'S NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
THEY, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD THEIR POOL UP.
I'VE MET WITH, UM, THE ACADIAN STAFF AND THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD A POOL OF, OF GETTING STAFF IN FROM ALL OVER, BUT MAINLY FROM PORT ARTHUR.
AND IT'S JUST WHAT THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY AND COMMUNITY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY THAT'S AVAILABLE TO US.
I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM.
IT'S JUST THE INTEREST AS LIKE EXPLORER PROGRAM FIREFIGHTING, LETTING THEM KNOW YOU CAN BECOME A FIREFIGHTER RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
WE STARTED TO EXPLORE A PROGRAM.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES AND WE PARTNER WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH THAT PROGRAM, BUT THERE WAS THE LACK OF INTEREST.
AND I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING UNTIL WE SEE THE INTEREST THERE.
BUT THE MARKETING IS THERE, THE PROGRAMS ARE THERE, THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE, IT'S JUST TAKING ADVANTAGE.
UM, EDUCATING PARENTS, CHURCHES GOT ALL THE ANNOUNCEMENTS BECAUSE I KNOW IT WAS NOT JUST OUR CHURCH.
IT WAS ALMOST EVERY CHURCH IN PORT ARTHUR THAT GOT THAT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT ACADIAN.
SO, UM, THE STRATEGIES ARE THERE.
WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
SO THIS PART OF THE PRESENTATION, WE'RE GONNA MOVE INTO THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PLAN THAT, UH, YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH FROM 2015.
AND WHAT THE BOARD HAS DONE TODAY IS PROVIDED, UH, THE STAFF.
I'M SORRY, IT'S PROVIDED THE COUNCIL AND THE BOARD ANOTHER COPY OF JUST THE FRONT SUMMARY THAT TALKS ABOUT, UH, THE HOUSING DENSITY NEEDS AND THE MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY NEEDS AND THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED IN THIS ASSESSMENT AND HOW THE EDC HAS MOVED FORWARD TO, UH, TO WORK THIS PLAN.
SO, UM, SLIDE 22, WE, UH, GONNA TALK ABOUT HOW 5 0 1 PRACTICE STREET WAS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CREATED TO ASSIST WITH DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT, HOW THE PD PA EDC, UH, ASSISTED WITH DEVELOPING A TIF FOR THE DOWNTOWN PORTAL AT THE TARGETED AREA.
THE PEDC INVESTED $2 MILLION IN STUDENT DORMITORIES AT LAMAR PORT AUTHOR.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE, HOW WE HAD TO HAVE THE LEGISLATURE GIVE PERMISSION FOR 48 TYPE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO WE HAD TO DO THAT BEFORE THE SUNSET DATE ON THAT PROJECT, THE VOTERS ASSISTED, UH, AND I'M SORRY, THE VOTERS APPROVED FOR THE EDC TO ASSIST WITH DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO BUILD 60 HOMES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO DATE 21 HOMES HAVE BEEN BUILT.
THE ISSUE IS NOT LACK OF APPLICANTS IS LACK OF LAND PURCHASE.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE, REQUESTED THAT THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL APPLIED WITH THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY, UH, TO BUILD A RENAISSANCE, THE 108 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX ON FOURTH STREET.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE AS WELL.
THE GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $4.8 MILLION TO RENOVATE THE OLD PORT ARTHUR NEWS BUILDING THAT I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE PRESS THEY LIVE IN DESKS GOING TO SUPPORT JOB TRAINING, I'M SORRY, EDUCATION AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVORS APPLIED IN CONJUNCTION WITH LAMAR STATE COLLEGE PORT ARTHUR FOR AN EDA GRANT FOR THE ARMORY REBUILDING THAT GRANT CAME IN AT ABOUT $5.7 MILLION.
THE ADC INJECTED ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE ARMOR REBUILD.
AND THEN OUR RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT WILL BE THAT A HUNDRED PORTAL OUT THE RESIDENTS RECEIVE TRAINING AT THAT FACILITY FOR FREE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED IN EDA
[00:40:01]
COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT AND RECEIVED AN AWARD OF ABOUT $3 MILLION TO PLACE THE UTILITIES ON THE GROUND IN THE DOWNTOWN TARGETED AREA.SO THE NEXT SLIDE IS JUST AN, UM, UH, A PICTURE OF THE INSIDE OF 5 0 1 PROCTOR.
AND, UH, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THOSE STUDENTS AT LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, WHO, UH, HELPED RESTORE THAT STEALING AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN A MINUTE, BUT WE CAN GO ON TO HOME OWNERSHIP AND TALK ABOUT THE 21 HOMES THAT THE PORT ARTHUR EDC HAS, UH, GIVEN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO AT ABOUT $30,000 A PIECE.
SO WE'VE PROVIDED ABOUT A TOTAL OF $630,000, UM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH A NDC ON THE NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX.
THE RENAISSANCE THAT EDC HAS NEGOTIATED THAT IN DC, WE'LL GIVE TO LEGACY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OF THEIR, UH, DEVELOPMENT FEES IN ORDER TO PURCHASE MORE PROPERTY.
AND WE KNOW THAT PROP THAT PROGRAM IN SEPTEMBER 30TH OF NEXT YEAR.
SO WE HAVE TO REALLY GET BUSY.
SOME OF THEIR HANGUPS ARE THAT THESE PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN ABANDONED, UM, BY PEOPLE WHO, UH, THAT INTESTATE, UM, SO THEY DIDN'T DO THEIR, I WANNA SAY THEY DIDN'T DO THEIR WILLS AND PROBATES PROPERLY.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, RED TAPE IN OBTAINING SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES.
SO IT'S NOT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE APPLICANTS.
IT'S JUST GOING THROUGH THE COURT PROCESS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE PROPERTY.
SO THE RENAISSANCE WILL BE IN 108 APARTMENT COMPLEX LOCATED ON FOURTH STREET IS CURRENTLY IN THE PERMIT AND PROCESS WITH THE CITY OF PORT AUTHOR UPON APPROVAL OF PROVO, THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN.
IT IS AN INCOME RESTRICTED PROPERTY USING THE CDB G HUD GUIDELINES, 70% OF THE 108 UNITS OR 76 UNITS WILL BE RESTRICTED AT 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
AND THE OTHER 30% WILL BE MARKET UNRESTRICTED UNITS.
NOW MARKET UNRESTRICTED DOESN'T MEAN THAT SOMEBODY MAKES THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR CAN GO MOVE IN THERE.
IT'S JUST THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A HUD INCOME GUIDELINES, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT TIERS.
AND SO ABOVE 80%, THEY CALL IT MARKET RATE, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO MEET AN INCOME GUIDELINE TO MOVE IN.
UM, THE NEXT SLIDE IS JUST A RENDERING OF THE KITCHEN.
AND IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE THE ACTUAL RENDERING RENDERINGS OF THE INSIDE OF THE UNITS, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO EMAIL THEM TO YOU WITH THE, UH, THE MOOD BOARDS THAT THEY'RE CREATING.
I WANTED TO ASK WHEN WE, WHEN WILL THESE BE AVAILABLE WHEN WE DID CONSTRUCTION IS SLATED TO START.
AS SOON AS THE PERMIT AND PROCESS, UM, IS APPROVED BY THE CITY.
SO WE'RE THINKING, UH, THIRD, FOURTH, QUARTER OF 20, 22.
WELL, THEY ALREADY TRIED OVER THERE AND A YEAR FROM NOW, IT'D BE CONSTRUCTED, GIVE IT 12 MONTHS, 12 MONTHS THE CITY MANAGER, ARE WE DOING ALL THAT WE CAN, I'M SURE THAT WE ARE AS FAR AS PERMITS AND ALLOWING, UH, ALL OF THE, UM, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP, UH, WITH THIS PROJECT.
UM, THE CTN, WE GOT A LETTER FROM THE NDC AND I'M THE CTO AND TONY AND I ARE REVIEWING THE LETTER SO THAT WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL AS TO WHAT COSTS WE WANT TO GO, WHETHER WE WANT TO DO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FACILITATE THE PROJECT.
WE DIDN'T MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU.
WE UNDERSTAND THE COST INVOLVED, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT FALLS WITHIN THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT.
UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROJECT WILL BE AN ASSET TO THE CITY AND, UM, IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TAXES AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT, TO CAPITALIZE ON IT AS WELL.
NOW WE'RE GONNA MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL ON THAT.
UM, JANET, THESE APARTMENTS, UH, THAT ESSAY, YOU SAID INCOME, UM, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT LOW INCOME.
NO, IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO QUALIFY IN MOST MANAGEMENT COMPANIES.
SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF IN MULTIPLIED, YOU KNOW, BY THE RENT, BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE OVER A CERTAIN IT'S ABOUT THE GROSS RENT MULTIPLIER.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? YOU CAN'T, IT'S NOT A TAX CREDIT PROPERTY.
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS NOT TAX CREDIT.
IT'S NOT PPV AND IT'S NOT A PUBLIC HOUSE.
[00:45:01]
PROGRAM THAT MAKES THE INCOME RESTRICTED.SO SOMEONE THAT MAKES $80,000 BASED ON THE GUIDELINES, THEY WILL NOT BE RESTRICTED FROM BEING A PART OF THAT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE AN IMMEDIATE, THAT'S GOING TO BE AN END INCOME GUIDELINE THAT WILL GUIDE THE ACTUAL PROPERTY OF THAT.
SO THAT MANAGEMENT COMPANY HAS TO FOLLOW THE INCOME GUIDELINE, WHO SETTING THE INCOME GUIDELINE.
AND ON THE TASTE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNICATION WEBSITE, THERE'S AN INCOME AND RENTAL.
AND IF YOU PUT IN THE TYPE OF FINANCE AND THE PLACE AND SERVICE, DATE OF THE LORE, THEN THOSE UTILITY ALLOWANCES COME FROM THE PORT OFF THE HOUSE AND AUTHORITY, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THEIR GROSS SPRINTS AND WHAT THEY CAN'T EXCEED.
AND ALSO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEIR INCOME CAN EXCEED BASED ON THEIR FAMILY SIZE.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO GET THE TYPE OF FINANCING AND STUFF, I CAN POP IT.
I DO WANT THAT BECAUSE I'M THINKING THAT THIS IS AGAIN A FORM OF A LOW-INCOME HOUSING AND I KNOW AFFORDABLE IT'S IT'S, IT'S IT'S THAT'S OKAY.
UH, THE, OF MOSES, THEY MAY SAY SOMETHING AND WE CAN CLARIFY, UH, I SAW THIS IN ACTUAL PRACTICE LIVING IN AUSTIN AND IN CHATTANOOGA, IT'S NOT LOW INCOME HOUSING.
IT'S BASICALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU PUTTING UP ANOTHER PROJECT IF I COULD MAKE IT REAL, REAL, PLAIN AND SIMPLE, BUT SOME FOLK WOULD NOT ARE GOING TO MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY TO LIVE THERE.
AND SOME FOLKS ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO LIVE THERE.
AND AS YOU GO AHEAD, ATTORNEY, IF Y'ALL WERE FINISHED, I JUST WENT INTO JAIL.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE INCOME GUIDELINES ARE FOR THE 70%? I THINK THAT MAY HELP ANSWER THIS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE KNOW WHAT THE 30%, BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE INCOME GUIDELINES ARE FOR THE 70%? MAY I SAY THIS ALSO? I KNOW IT'S BASED UPON IF YOU ARE ONE PERSON, IF IT, AS OPPOSED TO A FAMILY, THERE ARE A LOT OF MITIGATING FACTORS THAT'S INVOLVED IN IT.
UH, AND I DON'T WANT US TO BE FRIGHTENED AND LEAVE THE MEETING THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT A PROJECT IN DOWNTOWN.
I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE ONE THING, BUT THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE.
CAN YOU TALK IT TO THE MIC? SORT OF LIKE YOUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT WITH THE CITY, THAT MEDIUM INCOME IS 80%.
WHERE DO YOU, DO YOU SEE, IS THAT 1, 1 20? SO, YOU KNOW, A PERSON IT'S A WORKFORCE HOUSE, IT'S THE HIGH LEVEL OF, OKAY.
I JUST WANT TO SEE THE GUIDELINES.
UH, DID YOU ASK HIM NO, NO MAYOR.
AND HE'S, HE'S ANSWERING MY QUESTION AS LOW AS IT, AS LONG AS IT'S NOT LOW INCOME APARTMENTS, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE MY CONCERN.
BUT IF YOU CAN SHOW THIS SCALE, THIS RATE SCALE, THAT PEOPLE QUALIFY TO 70% VERSUS TO 30%, UH, AND EXPLAINED IT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE A LOT MORE, UH, COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
QUINCY IS MOST PRIVATE IS HAVE MULTIPLE SET-ASIDES.
THEY'LL HAVE THIRTIES, FIFTIES, FORTIES, SIXTIES, AND SEVENTIES.
THIS PROPERTY IS ALL SEVENTIES OR MARKET.
AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM IS AT 60% AMI.
SO THE 70% EVEN EXCEEDS THOSE, THEY QUALIFY FOR THE HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM.
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO MOTIVA ENTERPRISES.
EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THEIR PLANS TO RELOCATE THEIR HEADQUARTERS TO DOWNTOWN.
AND THOSE PLANS ARE STILL IN PLACE.
UM, AND CONSTRUCTION SHOULD START AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
AND AGAIN, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE PURPOSE BUILDING, SORRY, IF I GIVE THEM SITE.
SO WE KNOW THAT THE PERSON BUILDING IS THE FOUR TO 7,000 SQUARE FOOT RENOVATION GOING ON AT, UM, THE OLD PORT OFF THE NEWS BUILDING THAT WE RECEIVED AN EDA GRANT FOR IN ABOUT 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF THAT BUILDING.
LAMAR IS GOING TO TEACH THEIR CULINARY ARTS AND HOSPITALITY CURRICULUM.
THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES IS SLATED TO BEGIN AUGUST 23RD.
WE HAVE POTENTIALLY SPACE WHERE THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS COMMAND CENTER.
WE HAVE FLEXIBLE CLASSROOM SPACE FOR SEMINARS, CLASSES, AND MEETINGS.
IF YOU TAKE THE WALLS OUT OF BED SPACE, IT, UM, IT HOLDS A HUNDRED PEOPLE IN THOSE CHAIRS.
UM, SO ARE THOSE DESKS, YOU HAVE A HUNDRED DESKS WITH MODESTY PANELS AND CHAIRS, OR YOU
[00:50:01]
CAN BREAK IT DOWN INTO TWO ROOMS AND HAVE 50 IN EACH OF FOUR ROOMS AND HAVE 25.SO THAT SPACE IS A REALLY GOOD FOR SEMINARS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL NON-PROFITS THAT ARE, UH, INTERESTED ALREADY IN RENTING THEIR SPACE ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS.
WE ALSO HAVE STATE OF THE ART CONFERENCE ROOMS, BELIEFS.
UM, WE'VE BEEN CONTACTED BY THOSE SAME NONPROFITS SAYING THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN LONG-TERM RENTAL, UPSTAIRS, OR CONFERENCE ROOM RENTAL AS NEEDED FOR THEIR MONTHLY MEETINGS, A DAY DESK AVAILABLE.
UH, ONE THING I DID LEARN WHEN VISITING WE WORK IN HOUSTON IS THAT THEY HAVE A LARGE OIL AND GAS, UH, SUBSIDIARY CLIENT.
SO ONCE MOTIVA MOVES DOWN HERE, IF SOMEBODY COMES INTO TOWN FOR THE DAY AND THEY JUST NEED AN OFFICE FOR THE DAY, WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE FOR THEM.
UM, WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE A FULL SERVICE RESTAURANT THAT HAS CURRENTLY OUT FOR PROPOSAL, AND WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE IN ON THE 28TH, AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UH, VET THOSE APPLICANTS, BRING IT TO THE BOARD AND THEN BRING IT TO THE COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
UM, WE HAVE NINE LONG-TERM LEASE OPPORTUNITIES UPSTAIRS IN THE, IN THE BUILDING.
AND, UH, I ALREADY HAVE LETTERS OF INTEREST FROM 12 PEOPLE, UH, THREE PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO GIVE US A CHECK FOR THE YEAR.
SO, UM, THAT'S THAT SPACE IS GOING TO BE IN HIGH DEMAND.
UM, IT WAS SIX WHEN I DID THE, UH, THE PRESENTATION, BUT, UM, IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE HOME TO THE LAB AND THE COLLECTIVE, THE LAB IS, UM, THE EDCS ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATION.
SO NOW, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS MAKING A BIG PUSH TOWARDS ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
THEY HAVE A NEW CERTIFICATION IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND I THINK THE PUSH HAS GOTTEN EVEN BIGGER BECAUSE OF COVID.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST THEIR TRADITIONAL JOBS AND STARTED HUSTLING, MAKING CANDLES, MAKING REITS, UH, SEWING, UH, YOU KNOW, DOING LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO WHAT THE ICDC HAS DECIDED IS THAT WE AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS HAVE TO TEACH THESE PEOPLE HOW TO TAKE THEIR HUSTLE AND TURN IT INTO A BUSINESS.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK IS THE LAB UNDERSCORE PORTAL OFF THEIR TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, BUT I HAVE ABOUT SEVEN, EIGHT MEETINGS A WEEK WITH A YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE LOOKING TO EITHER START THEIR BUSINESS, LEGITIMIZE THEIR BUSINESS, OR SCALE THEIR BUSINESS.
AND SO WITHOUT VALUE PARTNERS LIKE THE CHAMBER, THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, UH, AND OTHER ENTITIES LIKE THAT, WE, WE SERVE AS A VEHICLE TO PUSH THOSE BUSINESSES, TO USE THOSE SERVICES.
AND THEN WE ASSIST THEM WITH ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, THAT WE CAN IN HOUSES WHERE THE I'M SORRY.
SO IS IT, SO IS IT, IS THE LAB, SO TECHNICALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT THE LAB IS, IS MENTORING IT'S MENTORING.
SO IN A MENTORING PERSPECTIVE, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE PUT, WHAT ARE THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF THAT? I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WE TALK TO THEM AND MENTOR THEM AND GUIDE THEM, BUT ARE THERE ANY OTHER THINGS THAT THE EDC DOES TO HELP THEM IN A PRACTICAL PLACE? I THINK IT'S LIKE JANET SAID COUNSELING, WE HAVE PARTNERS, YOU KNOW, WE GOT THE SBDC THAT HELPED PUT A MIC UP, PLEASE.
WE HAVE THE SBDC WHO SHOWS PEOPLE HOW TO KEEP THEIR BOOKS.
YOU KNOW, THAT CASH IS KING, YOU GOT TO HAVE CASH.
AND WE USE THOSE SOURCES TO HELP US SCORE SCHOOL.
WE ALSO WORK VERY CLOSE WITH THESE FOLKS THAT TEACH A YOUNG BUSINESS, HOW TO GROW FICA.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SALES AND TEXTS USE PERMITS, BUT THEY DON'T REALIZE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BUY A QUARTER OF IT.
SO I MET WITH TWO PEOPLE THAT NOW HAVE A PENALTY.
SO IT'S, IT'S JUST SMALL THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, SOME PEOPLE HAVE A DBA, UH, OR DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET A DBA.
THEY, THEY MAY JUST COME IN WITH AN IDEA OR YOU MAY HAVE SOMEBODY THAT HAS ALL OF THEIR, UH, MATERIALS AND ALL OF THEIR LICENSES, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET INTO SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING OR ONLINE MARKETING.
SO WE REFER THEM TO SOMEONE THAT BUILDS WEBSITES.
UH, BUT THE, THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROVIDES A LOT OF THIS TRAINING FOR FREE.
THEY JUST DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S AVAILABLE.
SO DOES IT HELP THEM AS WELL? TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAY LLC AND SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, RIGHT? CORRECT.
AND SO AS SOON AS THE BUILDING IS FINISHED, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A, WHAT I CALL A PREMIERE LECTURE SERIES, WHERE WE HAVE, UH, PEOPLE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, AS WELL AS A LOCAL PERSON, LIKE HAROLD UNDERWOOD, WHO WAS COMMITTED TO COMING IN
[00:55:01]
AND MENTORING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN PORTAL.AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THIS WORD, BUT THAT'S CALLED A BUSINESS INCUBATOR.
SO YOU'RE TAKING, I KNOW, HELLO.
SOMEBODY SAID THAT, BUT YOU'RE TAKING A BUSINESS, BUT YOU'RE TAKING A BUSINESS FROM ITS INFANCY STAGE AND SHOWING THEM HOW TO BUILD.
WE'VE SEEN PLENTY OF THOSE AND, UH, DIFFERENT CITIES AS YOU GO TO NLC CONFERENCES.
AND YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I'VE SEEN THEM TALK ABOUT THE BUSINESS INCUBATORS.
I'M SO GLAD THAT WE'LL HAVE ONE IN THIS BUSINESS BECAUSE SO OFTEN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW PERSONALLY I'VE HELPED SEVERAL PEOPLE BEGAN TO GET THEIR EIN NUMBER, THEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE, AND THEN THERE ARE ARTICLES AND HOW ARE THEY GOING TO FORMAT THEIR BUSINESS? SO MANY PEOPLE NEED THAT.
UM, IN OUR CITY, I'VE PERSONALLY DONE QUITE A BIT ON MY OWN, BUT THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN EVEN IMAGINE IN THIS BUILDING THE EXPANSION THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE WITH HELPING THEM COME FROM THAT INFANCY STAGE TO GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TO THE STAGE OF BEING A VIABLE BUSINESS, NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST A MOM AND POP AND NOT TO DISCREDIT THEM CAUSE THEY MAKE THE, THE, THE ENERGY THAT WE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT BEING SET UP WITH YOUR FOUNDATION BEING CORRECT.
SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE WILL HAVE A, I CALL IT AN INCUBATOR.
Y'ALL CAN CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT, BUT THE LAB OR WHATEVER.
BUT I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT SOMEONE WILL BE TO GUIDE THESE BUSINESSES ALONG TO HAVE THE EXPERTISE THAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE.
AND SO, UH, I'M, I'M LOOK, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
NOW ALL WE DO WITH TALKING ABOUT THIS, AND I KNOW I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MR. BETTY'S MAYBE ABOUT A YEAR AGO, CONCERNING MAYBE SOME PROJECT THAT WE WOULD HAVE WHERE WE COULD TRAIN FOLK, HOW TO BECOME GOOD BUSINESS PEOPLE.
AND I ASKED HIM BECAUSE THERE WERE FOLK WHO HAD ACTUALLY APPROACHED EDC, BUT THEY LACK OF BUSINESS ACUMEN.
THEY WERE UNABLE TO, UH, HAVE THE PROPER PROPER DOCUMENTS SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE A BUSINESS.
NOW, WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS, AND MAYBE I'M TAKING THIS A LITTLE FURTHER THAN ATTORNEY YOU STOP ME.
IF I'M GONE FARTHER THAN I SHOOT ALL THE, WE HAVE YOUR CHAIRMAN HERE, BOARD MEMBERS AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PROGRAM.
LIKE YOU HAVE THE LAB OR ANY OTHER PROGRAM.
I'M GLAD YOU HAD A DAY BECAUSE NOW WE KNOW ABOUT IT.
BUT WHEN YOU ALL CREATE THESE PROGRAMS OVER AT THE EDC, WE SHOULD BE INFORMED OF THEM IN ITS VERY INFANCY.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL YESTERDAY, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTING IT TODAY.
AND SO THIS IS, WHAT'S THE ONE WE WANT TO DO.
MA'AM MOVING FORWARD ON THE PROJECT THOUGH.
IT HAS TO COME TO THE COUNCIL IN THE FORM OF A RESOLUTION AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THOSE PROCESSES AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PUT THINGS IN PLACE.
BUT THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT AT A LATER TIME WE CAN TALK ABOUT.
BUT BEFORE MOVING FORWARD ON ANY PROJECT, IT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND THEN THE COUNCIL IN THE FORM OF A RESOLUTION.
AND WE CAN GET INTO THAT AT ANOTHER TIME.
IT'S JUST HOW WE ARE GOING TO PROCEED IN CONDUCTING BUSINESS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EDC HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT OFFICE.
SO PROGRAMS ARE FOR THE COOK, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOR THE BOARD, HOW WE WANT TO BEGIN DOING BUSINESS FROM THIS TIME FORWARD.
IT SOUNDED LIKE A WEIRD, THERE'S A NEW MARRIAGE AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO GLAD THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS MEETING TODAY SO THAT WE CAN ESTABLISH THESE PARAMETERS AND KNOW HOW WE ARE GOING TO GO FORWARD.
SO W WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO, I THINK OUR ATTORNEY JUST SAID, THIS ONE WOULD BE A RESOLUTION OR SOMETHING, AND SHE'LL BE ABLE TO DISCUSS IT WITH YOU, HOW WE WOULD PRESENT THAT, GET IT TO THE COUNCIL AT AN OPEN COUNCIL MEETING.
WE APPROVE IT AND MOVE FORWARD.
MR. BETTY'S TALKING TO MIKE, PLEASE.
IF YOU DON'T MIND TO WHAT YOU REALLY WANT, HOW YOU REALLY WANT.
I WANT TO PROCEED WITH COMMITTEE EXPERIENCE.
YEAH, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT THAT WAY.
YOU WOULDN'T JUST HAVE IT ON OUR LIST.
SO WE ALSO, I GUESS WE WOULD DO A RESOLUTION FOR WHAT I'M CALLING THE COLLECTIVE.
SO WE KNOW THAT ONE, UM, ONE, UH, BIG PROGRAM.
ONE BIG THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THE DOWNTOWN TARGET AREA.
SO THE COLLECTIVE INSIDE THE BUILDING WILL BE WHAT I CALL A LIVING ART GALLERY.
WE HAVE SO MANY ARTISTS AND CULTURAL FOLKS IN PORT OFF THAT THEY HAVE TO GO TO BEAUMONT, TOOK HIS STUDIO SPACE.
AND SO WHILE WE DON'T HAVE TRADITIONAL STUDIO SPACE IN A BUILDING, WHAT WE DO HAVE IS A LOT OF DRYWALL.
AND SO THOSE ARTISTS WILL BE ABLE TO, UH, AGAIN,
[01:00:01]
WE'LL, THIS IS SOMETHING JUST CAME TO MY BRAIN TWO NIGHTS AGO, BUT WE'LL, UH, HAVE TO COME IN, THEY'LL HAVE TO BRING THEIR PORTFOLIO.AND THE ARTWORK THAT THEY DISPLAY WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED TO HANG IN THE BUILDING POSSIBLY FOR FUTURE, UH, YOU KNOW, PURCHASED BY ANOTHER CONSULTANT.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE A REASON TO HAVE THOSE FOLKS COME DOWNTOWN AS WELL.
SO I THINK THAT THAT WOULD ATTRACT, YOU KNOW, THE CULTURAL ASPECTS OF PORT OFF THAT THAT'S MISSING DOWN TO THEM.
SO THIS SLIDE IS JUST TALKING ABOUT COWORKING SPACE, THE FEATURE OF THE OFFICE, AGAIN, IN MY RESEARCH, UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BIG NATIONAL COMPANIES LIKE, UH, WE WORK AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU HAVE COMPANIES THAT ARE NO LONGER RENTING TRADITIONAL OFFICE SPACE BECAUSE OF COVID.
EVERYBODY DOESN'T NEED TO GO INTO THE OFFICE EVERY DAY.
AND INSTEAD OF SPENDING MONEY ON THOSE BIG LEASES, THEY JUST LEASE COWORKING SPACE OR THE ABILITY FOR THEIR WORKERS TO GO INTO A COWORKING SPACE.
AND SO THAT'S HOW THINGS HAVE EVOLVED IN THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF VACANT COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ACROSS THE NATION.
AND SO THE ANSWER TO THAT WAS TO BUILD THESE OFFICE SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN REVOLVE INSTEAD OF HAVING, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, STANDARD OFFICE.
UM, ALSO THE NEXT SLIDE, I JUST, UH, PUT SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM ENTREPRENEUR.COM ABOUT HOW THEIR RESEARCH HAS EVALUATED THE NEED FOR CO-WORKING SPACE, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT THE NEED FOR LONG-TERM LEASES.
A LOT OF THESE, UM, UM, BUILDINGS HAVE, UH, JUST PLACES FOR BUSINESS OWNERS TO COME AND TALK AND NETWORK AND GET IDEAS AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT FROM EACH OTHER, UH, FLEXIBILITY, UH, NOT HAVING TO, YOU KNOW, BE THERE EVERY DAY OR RENT AN OFFICE EVERY DAY AND DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP LEADS TO WIDER ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFECTIVE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS.
SO THE NEXT ONE I HAVE, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE LABS.
SO, UM, I WON'T GO THAT AGAIN, BUT, UM, THAT'S JUST A SYNOPSIS OF WHAT I SAID EARLIER.
AND THEN WITH THE COLLECTIVE, IT'S JUST CREATING AN ECOSYSTEM FOR ARTISTS AND CREATIVES TO COLLABORATE AND NETWORK WITH EACH OTHER, ASSIST CREATIVES IN LEARNING HOW TO TURN THEIR ART INTO A BUSINESS.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, MICHAEL
WE ALSO HAVE SCOTT, A BEAR FROM LAKE CHARLES WHO'S COMMITTED, AND HE'S A PHOTOGRAPHER FROM RIGHT THERE IN LAKE CHARLES, BUT HE'S WORKED WITH TYLER PERRY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ALSO LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO'S AGREED TO COME AND DO A CLASS ON THE ART OF THE HEADSHOT, UH, FOR LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHERS.
BECAUSE WHEN I SPOKE WITH THEM, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A NEED, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN TAKE GLAM PHOTOS, THEY CAN TAKE WEDDING PHOTOS, BUT THE ART OF A HEADSHOT IS IT'S REALLY AN ART.
SO HE'S AGREED TO COME AND DO THAT.
AND THEN WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE LIVING ART GALLERY, UM, SLIDE 38.
WE TALK ABOUT, UH, THE REGIONAL EDA OFFICE LOCATED IN AUSTIN, SEXIST SERVES A FIVE STATE AREA.
AND WE KNOW THAT IN THE NEXT ALLOCATION, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ABOUT $3 BILLION, $3 BILLION IN FUNDING DUE TO THE CARES ACT.
AND, UM, WHAT WE WILL, WE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD OR WILL BE BRINGING TO THE BOARD AND, UH, TO THE COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE, HOPEFULLY IS A PROPOSED EDA PROJECT CALLED THE SHOPS ON PRACTICE JURY.
AND IT IS PHASE TWO OF OUR ENDEAVOR TO ASSIST SMALL BUSINESSES.
ONCE THEY LEARN HOW TO BUILD THEIR BUSINESS, IT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO A NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET.
YOU WOULD SEE IN ANY OTHER CITY ABOUT 20 BUSINESSES WOULD HAVE BETWEEN SEVEN AND 800 SQUARE FEET.
AND THEN MAYBE ON THE TOP FLOOR, THERE WOULD BE A ROOFTOP RESTAURANT.
UH, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN IN TOUCH WITH CHICK-FIL-A TO MAYBE DO A CHICK-FILET EXPRESS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THIS WOULD BE LIKE A PERMANENT POP-UP SHOP.
THIS WOULD BE A PLACE WHERE SMALL BUSINESSES WHO CAN'T AFFORD $2, A SQUARE FOOT, $1,800 A MINUTE A MONTH, I'M STILL ON TOWARDS NORTH PORT OFF OF WOULD HAVE A PLACE TO SELL THEIR GOODS.
AGAIN, ATTRACTING PEOPLE TO THE DOWNTOWN TARGET AREA.
YOU'RE BUILDING THAT SALES TAX REVENUE AND, UH, CREATING A DOWNTOWN ECOSYSTEM FOR THE CITY.
SO THAT, THAT IS A PROJECT THAT WE JUST, YOU KNOW, PUT AT THE END, GEORGIA NAT.
WE LIKED IT BECAUSE WE LIKED IT.
[01:05:01]
IT.AND WE THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE SOME SORT OF MARKET DOWNTOWN.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE THE MOTIVA CAMPUS, YOU KNOW, BENCHES OPEN.
SO THAT'S THE END OF MY LITTLE PRESENTATION.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I REALLY TRULY APPRECIATE THIS PRESENTATION.
IT WAS LONG OVERDUE BECAUSE WE OBVIOUSLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF ALL OF THESE PROJECTS, BUT IT REJUVENATES MY SPIRIT.
IT MAKES ME KNOW THAT E D C IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL HAS A GROUP TO FOLLOW AND TO WORK WITH AND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.
AND I AM EXCITED ABOUT THOSE INNOVATIVE PROJECTS THAT YOU GUYS MENTIONED.
IT COULDN'T DO MY HEART ANY BETTER.
THAT'S WHY I RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL AND YOU MAKE ME BELIEVE I DID THE RIGHT THING.
OH GOSH, LET ME SAY SOMETHING.
I I'M REALLY, REALLY, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU BROUGHT, BUT I'M REALLY EMOTIONAL BECAUSE WHEN I RAN FOR PORT ARTHUR AND FILM, MY, MY, UM, COMMERCIAL WAS DOWN IN A VACANT BUILDING DOWN HERE, AND IT WAS BUILDING A BETTER PORT ARTHUR, AND I'D FILMED IT DOWNTOWN PORT ARTHUR.
WE FOUGHT FOR A LOT OF THINGS HERE.
WE VOTED FOR THOSE HOMES, FLOYD, AND TO SEE US HAVE 30, 21 HOMES DOWNTOWN WHEN THEY WERE NOTHING IN 2015 TO SEE THAT WE'RE ON A PATH.
I MEAN, PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT WHY YOU BUILDING HOMES.
WHY WOULD YOU PUT ANYTHING DOWNTOWN PORT ARTHUR? IT WAS NOTHING IN 2015.
AND TO SEE WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITH THE PLAN THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE FROM THE TIME I SERVED ON ADC IN 20 13, 20 14, AND TO SEE WHAT'S IN PLACE NOW TO SEE THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HERE, IT'S OVERWHELMING FOR ME.
AND IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO KEEP COMPOSURE BECAUSE YOU SEE THE EVIDENCE AND THE FRUIT OF THE LABOR OF PRAYERS AND SEEING WHAT'S BEEN PUT HERE.
THANK YOU, JANA FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, FLOYD FOR BRINGING IT TO US BECAUSE WE CAME FROM NOTHING AND ALL I HAD WAS A VISION OF BUILDING DOWNTOWN PORT ARTHUR.
THAT'S BUILDING A BETTER PORT ARTHUR, AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET ANYTHING AS LONG AS I HAVE THE LAST TWO YEARS ON COUNCIL, NOTHING STOPPED THE VISION FROM GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU, COUNSEL, COUNSEL, UH, KENALOG.
UM, WHEN I DECIDED TO GET IN, UH, POLITICS, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK, AND I THOUGHT THAT, UH, YOU'RE DOWNTOWN IS YOUR HEARTBEAT OF ANY CITY.
AND IF YOUR HEARTBEAT IT'S HAPPY HAVING PROBLEMS, AND I CAN TESTIFY TO THAT.
UH, IT MAY CAUSE YOU SOME ISSUES, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, UH, I SEE, UH, PASS, COUNCILMAN DO SAID WE WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO? AND, UM, COUNCILMAN JONES, WHAT CAN WE DO TO BETTER PORT ARTHUR PROJECT'S DEVELOPMENT, UH, GETTING PEOPLE TO WANT TO COME TO PORT ARTHUR.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LINE UP TO WANT TO COME TO PORT ARTHUR AND DEVELOPING THE PORT ARTHUR AGENDA.
YOU HAVE SOME PERFECT PRESENTATION TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE.
WE GOT OUR CITY MANAGER, DIEHARD, DIEHARD GUY THAT WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE CITY.
AND I'M GLAD TO BE PART OF A TEAM.
THEN I HAVE TO CONCUR WITH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN MOSES, MY LAST TWO YEARS, UH, ON THIS COUNSELOR, I'M GOING TO BE PUTTING THE PRESSURE BECAUSE WE GOT TO DO THIS FOR THIS PEOPLE.
WE ALL ARE DIEHARD PORT ARTHUR INS HERE ON THIS COUNCIL.
AND TO HEAR A PRESENTATION LIKE THAT SHOWS THAT PEOPLE THAT'S IN THIS COMMUNITY, PEOPLE THAT'S OUT THERE LOVE PORT ARTHUR, TOO.
IT'S GOING TO BE A TIME THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ON TOP AND IT'S COMING PRETTY QUICKLY.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
AND LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, UH, IS A MARRIAGE IS A NEWLY MARRIAGE THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO INFORM EACH OTHER ABOUT WHAT WE GOT GOING ON.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND AGAIN, FOR THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PRESENTATIONS THAT BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR THIRD ELEMENT OR ROMAN NUMERAL THREE, WHICH WOULD BE A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION ATTORNEY.
AND IT WOULD BE, I THINK THAT WAS NUMBER TWO.
THERE WAS, AM I CORRECT? ON A GEORGE?
[01:10:01]
NOPE.AND YOU KNOW, I'M UM, MY, I WAS THINKING THAT WAS NUMBER TWO.
WELL, THIS IS MY, I WAS GOING TO QUICKLY,
[II. 2. A Discussion Regarding Projects And Programs Regarding The Use Of Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation Funds As It Pertains To 501 Procter Street, Inc., And City Council Resolution Numbers. 13- 227 And 13- 228]
WE HAVE NUMBER TWO IN DISCUSSIONS AS A DISCUSSION REGARDING PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS REGARDING THE USE OF PORT OFFICE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COOPERATION FUNDS, AS IT PERTAINS TO 5 0 1 PROCTOR STREET, INC.AND A CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NUMBER 13 DASH 2, 2 7 AND 13 DASH 2, 2 8.
UH, I THINK THE CITY OF COUNT, UH, CITY ATTORNEY SAID, UH, YOU GUYS HAD SOME CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, RESOLUTION, UH, 2, 2 7 2, 2 8.
UH, WHAT ELSE LIKE TO DO SEE YOUR ATTORNEYS KIND OF GO BACK AND TELL HIM HOW THIS THING HAPPENED? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE COUNCIL PERSON THAT'S CURRENT HERE THAT WAS AROUND.
WHEN WOULD THAT BE APPROPRIATE? EXCUSE ME.
WOULD YOU HOLD THE MIC? CAN YOU DO LIKE APPRECIATE IS HOLDING YOUR HAND.
NOW, BECAUSE I SIT DOWN WITH MY BANK.
YOU CAN SIT DOWN AND JUST KEEP IT CLOSE TO YOUR MOM.
UM, EACH RESOLUTION AT A TIME, THE FIRST RESOLUTION I CAN EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS.
IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF, UH, HOLD ON, LET ME GET IT RIGHT, BECAUSE I CAN'T READ FROM UP THERE, UH, AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL TO CREATE AN ENTITY, TO DO A NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT TRANSACTION.
AND, UH, IT, THIS WAS A RESOLUTION FROM 2013.
AND I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT, THAT'S FINE.
BACK IN 2013, WHEN WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF, OF A RETROFIT AND 5 0 1, UH, PROCTOR STREET BUILDING, ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WAS APPLIED FOR WHAT WE CALL NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS, NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT.
I THINK MOST OF YOU GUYS KNOW, WE HEAR IT EVERY DAY ABOUT THE RICH GUY WHO PAID LOW TAXES, RIGID BUSINESS PAYLOAD TAXES.
AND THAT'S WHAT NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT IS.
WELL, WHAT WE DID WAS WE APPLIED AND CHASE MANHATTAN BANK PURCHASE SOME CREDITS, AND WE CHOOSE THE VALUE OF THIS BILL.
BUILDING THAT WE KNEW WAS ABOUT 5.4.
THEY GAVE US 1.8, $1.9 MILLION.
THEY GOT CREDIT FOR $5.4 MILLION.
SO THAT'S HOW THE GUY, SO THEY DIDN'T PAY TAXES ON $3 MILLION.
I SAID, THE GUYS THAT WEREN'T WORKING, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS WE AS A GOVERNMENT, AS QUASAR GOVERNMENT ENTITY COULD NOT RECEIVE THE MONEY.
SO, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH THE LAWYERS, FROM CHASE, DEALING WITH THE LAWYERS, FROM AN APPLE COMPUTER, UH, DEALING WITH NDC LAWYERS, WE HAD TO CREATE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
SO HOW WE CREATE THE NONPROFIT, HOW DID WE CREATE THE NON-PROPERTY ARVIN INNOVATION? THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SAID WE WANTED TO HAVE SOME SAFE IN THAT BOARD.
SO EDC BOARD VOTED TO HAVE THREE MEMBERS OF THE CURRENT BOARD, EDC BOARD ON THAT ENTITY.
AND TWO OUTSIDE MEMBERS, THE THREE MEMBERS, THEY SAY IT WAS THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE-PRESIDENT AND THE SECRETARY.
AND THEY HAD TWO ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, WHICH WERE LATE PEOPLE.
UH, SO IT WAS A FIVE MEMBER BOARD.
WHEN WE CREATED THE ORGANIZATION, WE CAME TO THE COUNCIL, WE ACTUALLY THE COUNCILS TO DO THIS.
WELL, ONCE THE BOARD WAS CREATED AND I, IT IS ON THE AGENDA, TALKS ABOUT FUNDS, EDA.
I MEAN, SORRY, BUT EDC DID SPEND SOME MONEY TO CREATE THE ENTITY
[01:15:01]
BECAUSE IT WAS OUR CREATION.ONCE WE CREATED THE ENTITY, IT BECAME ITS OWN ENTITY.
AND I SEE MOST OF YOU GUYS WHO, REVEREND FRANK, YOU MEDITATE CHURCH.
WHEN YOU CHARTER AN ENTITY, YOU CANNOT CHARTER WITH A PRESIDENT.
WE DID EXACTLY WHAT THE BOARD SAID.
WE PUT THE PRESIDENT WAS THE PRESIDENT OF EDC NAME.
CAUSE YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE NAME AND ADDRESS.
WE PUT THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE CURRENT EDC AND THE SECRETARY AND THE TWO ADDITIONAL PEOPLE THAT BECAME AN ENTITY ON HIS OWN STAND BY ITSELF.
AND IF YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS, THE COUNCIL CAME.
BUT ONCE WE CREATED THE ENTITY, THEN WE WENT AFTER THE COUNCIL.
WELL, CAN WE MAKE THIS ENTITY, GIVE THE BUILDING AND MAKE THEM THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING.
AND WE BECOME THE MASTER TENANT OF THE, WE WANTED CONTROL OF THE BUILDING.
AND IF WE WERE THE MASTER TENANT OF THE BUILDING, WE CONTROLLED THE BUILDING.
BUT THE BUILDING FOR SEVEN YEARS, THE NEW MARKET PERIOD, AND THEN BOUGHT THE CREDIT WAS FOR SEVEN YEARS OR SEVEN YEARS, WE COULD NOT OWN THE BUILDING BECAUSE STATE LAW, FEDERAL LAW SAYS THE NON-PROFITS OTHER THAN US HAVE TO OWN UP.
CAUSE THAT'S WHY THE CREDIT COULDN'T COME.
AFTER THE SEVEN YEARS, WE CAME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND WE, WE TOOK CONTROL OF THE BILL TODAY.
I THINK IT WAS IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT DATE, BUT THE BUILDING IS NOW CURRENTLY OWNED BECAUSE THE NEW MARKET PERIOD IS OVER.
SO NOW THE BUILDING IS OWNED BY EDC.
THE ENTITY IS STILL OUT THERE.
THEY COULD DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO.
WHEN WE CREATED THE INTERVIEW IN BEAR BYLAWS, I REMEMBER WE WOULD THE CREATOR OF THAT ENTITY IN THAT VIAL.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER THAT INTRODUCED US IS CYCLED BACK TO US.
SO THE PURPOSE OF THE BYLAWS, THAT PURPOSE SAID THEY WERE ESTABLISHED TO A CYST, PULLED OFF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN REVITALIZING POURED OFF.
SO ANY FUNDS THAT THEY HAVE, THAT'S ALL THEY COULD DO.
THEY COULD HELP US REVITALIZE THIS PLACE.
NOW I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE 600 HOURS.
BUT WELL, BEFORE I GO THERE, SO YOU GUYS KNOW HOW HE GOT MONEY.
HOW DID HE GET MONEY? WELL, W WHAT HAPPENED WAS AFTER WE GOT THE NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT REAPPLY FOR WHAT WE CALL THC, TEXAS HISTORICAL CREDIT.
WHEN I APPLIED FOR THE TEXAS HISTORICAL CREDIT, I COULD NOT APPLY FOR IT.
YOU SEE NAME BECAUSE WE DIDN'T OWN THE BUILDING 5 0 1 ON THE BUILDING.
SO WE APPLIED FOR THE MONEY FROM THC APPLE COMPUTER BOUGHT THE BOOK, THE CREDIT, JUST LIKE, JUST LIKE CHASE DID APPLE GAVE US $1.2 MILLION.
UH, THEY GOT FULL MILLION DOLLARS WITH THE CREDIT.
YEAH, BUT I'M SAYING THAT BECAUSE WE COULDN'T APPLY FOR THE CREDIT IN OUR NAME BECAUSE WE DIDN'T OWN THE BUILDING.
SO, SO 5 0 1 GOT THE $1.2 MILLION FROM APPLE FOR THE CREDIT.
THAT'S HOW THEY GOT THE MONEY IN THE BANK.
AND LET'S GO BACK TO THE PURPOSE CLAUSE.
THAT PURPOSE CLAUSE SAID THEY ALL WERE CREATED TO ASSIST PULLED OFF THE SECTION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
SO $600,000 WHEN WE WERE FINDING ALL THESE UNKNOWNS AT 5 49, I SEE
[01:20:01]
5 0 1, GOT SOME MONEY.LET'S GO AHEAD AND SNIP WITH THE MONEY.
THEY SAID, YES, THAT'S HOW WE GOT THE $600,000.
THEY STILL HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK UNTIL THEY DISSOLVED.
AND ONCE THEY DISSOLVED, THEN THEY COULD GIVE THAT MONEY TO SOME OTHER NONPROFIT.
BUT ONLY THAT NONPROFIT THAT'S DOING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEET THAT PURPOSE.
GLOSS HAS TO MEET THAT PURPOSE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE CHARGED AT FOR, YOU KNOW, UH, I THINK, UH, THAT'S SOME QUESTION, ALL THAT, OH, YOU KNOW, THIS THING IS, IS A LONG TIME AGO, AND I'M TRYING TO PAINT A PICTURE OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENED FOR YOU GUYS TO REALLY SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND I WILL SAY THIS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT BUILDING 5 0 5 49, EVERY TIME WE SPENT A PENNY, I HAD TO GO TO 5 0 1 BECAUSE THEY OWN THE BUILDING.
I HAVE TO GO TO 5 0 1 FOR THE SEVEN YEARS THAT WE WANTED THE NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT.
THE CITY CITY WAS FULLY AWARE OF THAT BECAUSE WE HAD TO PAY RENT EVERY QUARTER, $15,000 TO 5 0 1.
AND WE WOULD SUBMIT IT TO THE CITY FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE COUNSELOR HAD ALREADY APPROVED ALL THIS STUFF.
COUNSELORS, UH, THE FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT COULD HAVE CHECKED AND WE SENT HIM THE 5 0 1.
SO FOR SEVEN YEARS WE PAID RENT EVERY QUARTER, THE 5 0 1, BECAUSE WE WERE JUST LEASING THE BUILDING.
WE DIDN'T OWN, WE DIDN'T KNOW IT.
YOU KNOW? UH, I KNOW IT'S VERY COMPLICATED TRANSACTION, BUT IT WORKS.
AND AGAIN, I HATE THE CERTAIN MILE OPINION, BUT I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BEZOS AND THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED FOR THE CITY OF PORT OFF IT.
MR. MATTHEWS, I HAVE ONE QUESTION AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING.
OH, SO FOR SEVEN YEARS, UH, AND 5 0 1 IN, IN, IN OPERATION, WE HAD THE SAME PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY OF THE EDC FOR SEVEN YEARS.
SO THEY COULD BE PART OF THAT, UH, 5 0 1 NORTH OF THE BOARD TO REPRESENT THE EDC IN THE PORT CITY OF BOROUGH.
WHEN WE CREATED THE ENTITY, THE BOARD SAID THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT, AND THE SECRETARY WILL SERVE ON THAT BOARD.
ONCE WE CREATED IT, THEN IT BECAME HIS OWN ITCH.
AND THEN HE DID WHAT NOW, AFTER IT WAS CREATED, THE 5 0 1 WAS CREATED, IT BECAME ITS OWN ENTITY.
AND WE HAD NO CONTROL WHO THE FUTURE BOY WE KNOW, WE KNEW WHEN WE CREATED IT, IT WAS GOING TO BE A PRESIDENT OF VICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY FROM UDC AFTER HE CREATED, WE COULD, WE HAD NO CONTROL.
THEY, THE ONLY SEPARATE INDEPENDENT BOARD NEEDED.
SO WE KIND OF CREATE A LITTLE MONTH AGAIN, WE KIND OF CREATE A LITTLE MONITOR.
WE CREATED A TOOL, A TOOL FOR REVITALIZATION.
I, I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WERE DOING, BUT I'M THINKING, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, UH, BASICALLY, AND IF INCEPTION, THE, THE PERSON WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE VP AT THAT TIME, OR WHO WAS A VICE PRESIDENT AT THAT TIME, AND THE PERSON WHO WAS THE SECRETARY AT THAT TIME WOULD TAKE POSITIONS ON THE CREATED ENTITY, WHICH WAS 5 0 1 PROCTOR.
BUT AS SOON AS THEY BECAME MEMBERS OF THAT BOARD AND THEN THEIR COUNSELOR PERSON WHO APPOINTS THEM TO SERVE ON THE EDC NOW NO LONGER HAS ANY GREAT COMMUNICATE, BUT NO AUTHORITY OR THEY'RE SERVING ON THE 5 0 1 PROCTOR BOARD BECAUSE DOW 5 0 1 PROCTOR BECOMES A SEPARATE ENTITY.
AND NO ONE HERE ON THIS PARTICULAR BODY HAS ANY CONTROL OF THE INDIVIDUALS
[01:25:01]
WHO SERVE ON THAT BOARD.WE ARE ELECTED, AM I CORRECT? WE ARE ELECTED.
BUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS NOW SERVING ON THAT BOARD DON'T OWN THE CITIZENS, ANYTHING OR ANY EXPLANATIONS OR BEST SERVICE, BECAUSE NOW THEY ARE SERVING IN AN INDEPENDENT CAPACITY.
AND, AND THIS, THIS IS OKAY, JUST THROUGHOUT THE MUMBLE.
AND WHAT WE HAVE NOW, AND THE REASON I SAY THAT NOT BE FACETIOUS.
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, I THINK WHEN WE CREATED A LITTLE MONSTER AND IF YOU NOTICE, I SAY THIS CALMLY AND IT SOUND OKAY AND NOT TO BE FACETIOUS, BUT NOW WE'VE CREATED SOMETHING THAT'S BENEFITING THE CITY.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE PERSONS THAT, FROM WHAT I LEARNED IN TRAINING ON YESTERDAY, IF SOMETHING OCCURS IN THE EDC AND THIS EDC PERSON'S BROTHER SMITH, YOU ALL HERE, MR. UH, YOU WERE HERE YESTERDAY, MR. DAVIS, YOU WERE HERE YESTERDAY.
BUT WHAT I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND IN THE TRAINING THAT WE RECEIVED ON YESTERDAY, BUT I'VE ACTUALLY REQUESTED THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A MEETING TODAY.
AND I WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT SITUATIONS WE HAVE AS BEING COEXISTING, BEING A COLLABORATIVE IN THE CITY OF PORT OFFER DURING THAT ADMINISTRATION OF THURMAN BARKY, AS MAYOR OF PORT ARTHUR, I NOTICED IS IT CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
BUT THEN IT'S ALSO A COLLABORATION OF MYSELF WITH THE MAYOR.
THAT MEANS COUNCIL PERSONS AND YOU ALL TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS.
NOW, WHAT WE HAVE IS AN ENTITY OVER HERE THAT HAVE INDIVIDUALS.
AND THEN THOUGH I'M NOT INSINUATING IN ANY WAY THAT SOMEONE HAS DONE SOMETHING WRONG OR ILLEGAL.
SO I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO MISCONSTRUE WHAT I AM SAYING.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET CLARIFICATION AND UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO OPERATE IN FOR OFFER LIKE THIS, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE INCORPORATED UNDER SOME STATE RULES, THAT ACTUALLY HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG BECAUSE AT THE TIME THAT THOSE OFFICES, IT'S WHAT THEY HELL.
HOWEVER, AT THE END OF THE TENURE OF THE PERSONS WHO APPOINTED THEM, THEY NOW STILL CONTROL TAX CREDITS THAT ARE GIVEN TO ASSIST THE CITY OF PORT OFFICE.
IF YOU WILL, TO THE PERSONS WHO SERVE YOU, I DON'T THINK IS A REAL GOOD POLITICAL PICTURE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ALL LYRICALLY INVOLVED IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY OF PORT OFFER.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING, I'M MAKING A STATEMENT THAT I AM MAKING.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I DON'T CLEARLY UNDERSTAND.
AND I WOULD WISH THAT AT SOME POINT WE COULD PROBABLY WORK TOWARD BABY, IF IT'S A CORRECTION ON THAT OR IMPLEMENTING SOME CHANGE IN THAT, BECAUSE THAT WAY THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVED THERE WILL BE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE ARE AWARE OF.
AND MAYBE MR. ANDERSON SHOULD BE ON THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHO HIS SECRETARY IS.
I JUST KNOW EITHER THE CHAIR AND WHOEVER THE, I THINK MR. SMITH IS THE SECRETARY.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHO THE VICE CHAIR IS IN YOUR GROUP, BUT I WOULD ASSUME THAT IF ANYTHING COULD BE DONE, AND I'M ONLY OFFERING THIS AS A SUGGESTION, YOU MISS THE VEGGIES THAT IT MAY BE WITH YOUR, WITH YOUR ATTORNEYS.
YOU ALL CAN EVEN CLARIFY THAT, THAT WHEN THE OFFICES CHANGE ON THE BOARD, THAT THE POSITIONS IN THE 5 0 1 CHANGES SO THAT THE PERSONS WHO WERE ON THE BOAT WILL THEN SERVE IN THAT PARTICULAR, UH, ENTITY.
I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T NEED 5 0 1 ENTITY.
I UNDERSTAND ALL THE LOGISTICS AND ALL OF THE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS AND CONSTITUTIONAL ARTICLES THAT GO ALONG WITH HIS CREATION AND ITS FUNCTIONING.
AND HONESTLY, I'M, I'M SPEAKING FOR MAYOR BARTEE.
I CANNOT HONESTLY AGREE WITH HAVING A BOARD THAT HAS MEMBERS MAKING DECISIONS THAT HAVE NO CONNECTION WITH THE PERSON WHO WAS SERVED HERE.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE CAN CORRECT THAT, I MAY BE THE ONLY PERSON UP HERE THAT FEELS THIS WAY, BUT I'M ONLY EXPRESSING IT TO YOU OPENLY BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT WE ABLE TO HAVE THIS TYPE DIALOGUE, YOU KNOW, WHERE I CAN EXPRESS OR ANY PORTION HERE CAN EXPRESS WHAT HE OR SHE THINKS APPEALS
[01:30:01]
SHOULD BE HAPPENING IN THE EVERYDAY OPERATIONS OF AN ENTITY THAT'S INVOLVED IN OUR CITY.SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM SAYING? I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAID, BUT I'M JUST EXPLAINING MY POSITION AND VIEW ON IT.
CAN I RESPOND? YOU MAY, YOU MAY RESPOND TO OTHERS WHO ARE LIT UP HERE.
UH, LET ME SAY THIS 5 0 1 PROPERTIES MAKE NO DECISION THAT AFFECT THE CITY OR EDC, NONE.
THEY MAKE NO DECISION THAT AFFECTS THE CITY OF PORT AUTHOR OR E D C ZERO.
OTHER THING IS, AS I SAID EARLIER, YOU, YOU KNOW, PRIOR COUNCIL APPROVED THE CREATION OF THIS ORGANIZATION, THE PRIOR COUNCIL APPROVE THE MEMBERS THAT WERE THIRD ON, ON THIS.
AND TO ME WHERE YOU ARE TRYING TO SAY, NO, WE WOULD HAVE TO ASK 5 0 1 TO COME BACK, HAVE A MEETING WITH US AND ASKS THEM, MAKE A REQUEST THAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID, IF WE WANTED YOUR BOARD MEMBER QUIT OR CHANGE, THEN YOU SELECT SOMEONE FROM, UH, THE EDC BOARD.
THEY ARE IN INDEPENDENT ENTITY, INDEPENDENT.
WE HAVE NO, WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY OVER THEM.
THE ONLY THING WE HAVE HOLD OVER THEM IS THAT PURPOSE AND PURPOSE IS WHATEVER MONEY YOU GET.
YOU HAVE TO HELP THE CITY AND EDC REVITALIZED TO ERIC.
THAT'S ALL WE HAVE THAT PURPOSE.
I GET US INDEPENDENT, UH, ENTITY, HOWEVER, AND YOU SAID THAT THE PURPOSE THEY HAVE TO DEVELOP OR INVESTED BACK IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
BUT AT ANY TIME FROM MAY, 2013, THE ATTENTIONS OF 5 0 1 PROCTOR WAS TO DISSOLVE AT ONE POINT, NO, SIR.
NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR YOUTUBE BEFORE YOU SPEAK IT, YOU KNOW, I WITNESSED IT.
IF YOU COULD PULL UP, UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST, WHERE STATEMENT IS THING, THEY ONLY, BECAUSE IT SAYS THAT THEY HAD TO BE IN EXISTENCE FOR SEVEN YEARS.
BECAUSE THAT WAS THE TAXPAYER BEING THAT DOESN'T SAY THEY HAVE TO BE DISSOLVED.
THEY HAD TO BE IN EXISTENCE FOR SEVEN YEARS BECAUSE THAT TAX CREDIT THAT WE RECEIVED WAS FOR SEVEN YEARS.
AND AFTER THE SEVEN YEARS, THEY COULD HAVE DECIDED TO, THEY COULD HAVE DECIDED TO DISSOLVE.
AND AS I SAID EARLIER, THE MONEY THAT THEY HAD, THE MONEY HAD TO GO TO A NONPROFIT.
IF THEY DISSOLVE, THEY HAVE TO, THEY HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE SAYING, GOT IT, GOT IT.
AND THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
BUT I STILL, I TOO, LIKE THE MIRROR UNDERSTAND 5 0 1.
PROCTOR IS HIS ONLY ENTITY, BUT THE OVERSIGHT OF THAT, AND WE HAD TRAINED YESTERDAY TO CA TO KIND OF GET MORE CLARIFICATION, UH, THE BYLAWS AGREEMENTS, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF UNTIL YESTERDAY WITH THE TRAINING THAT WAS PROVIDED.
NOW, IF, IF COUNCIL OR COUNCIL MEMORY OF MAYOR WOULD HAVE BYLAWS JUST TO KIND OF GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
AND I KNOW IT'S ITS OWN ENTITY, BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOUR ORGANIZATION LIKE THAT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE BYLAWS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AGREEMENT.
THEY HAVE BYLAWS AND THAT THEY HAVE BYLAWS AND BYLAWS AND AGREEMENTS CAN BE UPDATED.
IF WE HAVE TO MEET WITH THEM AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO AMEND THAT, WE COULDN'T, BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
OUR RELATIONSHIP IS IN THAT PURPOSE CLAUSE.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID TO THE MAYOR IS NOTHING.
DOES THAT AFFECTS EDC OR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR OR TO HELP.
I'M DONE OVER HERE, MR. MAYOR.
[01:35:01]
CAUSE I KNOW ALL 5 0 1 C3 IS A GOVERNMENT.THEY'RE GOVERNED BY THEIR BYLAWS.
NUMBER ONE, UM, REQUIRE THAT YOU CHANGE THE LEADERSHIP, UM, ANNUALLY BY ANNUALLY OR HOW THAT'S ONE QUESTION AND THEN ALSO DOES YOUR BYLAW BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, AGAIN, THEY'RE GOVERNED BY THE BYLAWS.
SO IF THE BYLAWS SAID, THEY'D HAVE TO DISSOLVE YOU.
YOU JUST ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.
SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DISSOLVE AFTER SEVEN YEARS, THEY HAD TO BE IN EXISTENCE FOR SEVEN YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP.
SECONDLY, DOES, ARE THEY VIOLATING CURRENTLY THEIR BYLAWS WITH THE THREE, WITH THE BOARD THAT IS CURRENTLY SITTING? ARE THEY IN VIOLATION? I CANNOT SAY THAT BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE A FEMI ANNUAL MEETING.
AND IF THEY HAVE AN ELECTION OF OFFICERS I'M NOT INVOLVED IN THAT MEETING, IF THEY HAVE AN ELECTION OF OFFICERS IN THEIR MEETING, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT ANY 5 0 1 C3, RIGHT? THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO ELECT THEIR OFFICERS.
HOWEVER, THE BYLAWS STATE, IF IT SAYS ANNUALLY, THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, THEY REELECT THEIR BYLAWS, THEIR, THEIR, THEIR, THEIR OFFICERS.
IF THEY, IF THE BYLAWS DON'T STATE THAT.
AND IF YOU HAVE MINUTES TO REFLECT THAT THEY'VE HAD THOSE MEETINGS AND THAT THEY'VE DONE, THEY'VE ELECTED NEW OFFICERS.
THEY DON'T HAVE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO, BUT I HAVE SEVERAL 5 0 1 C3 IS I HELPED HOLD MEETINGS TO ELECT OFFICERS ANNUALLY.
AND NO ONE CAN COME IN AND TELL ME ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT MY 5 0 1 C3 THAT IS CREATED SO I CAN ELECT THEM.
BUT IF I'M IN VIOLATION OF MY BYLAWS, THAT'S, WHAT'S GOVERNING.
NOW, IF YOU'RE IN VIOLATION OF THE VIBE, BYLAWS, THEN THAT'S A PROBLEM, BUT IT CAN BE FIXED BY YOU AMENDING MAKING AMENDMENTS AND DOING CERTAIN THINGS TO THAT NATURE.
BUT IT'S A SEPARATE ENTITY FROM THE CITY.
IT IS A SEPARATE ENTITY FROM THE EDC AND THEY CANNOT BE GOVERNED BY EITHER ONE OF THOSE.
I CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I DO.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF 5 0 1 PROCTOR IS IN VIOLATION OF ITS OWN BYLAWS BECAUSE THAT THAT'S THE ENTITY.
WE DON'T, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE WITH THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT'S HOW, IF IT'S A 5 0 1 C3 SET UP IN THIS STATE, THAT'S HOW IT'S GOVERNED AND COUNSEL.
THEY DO HAVE AN ANNUAL MEETING.
DO THEY HAVE AN ELECTION AT THAT ANNUAL MEET? I'M NOT, I'M NOT PART OF IT BECAUSE THE PURPOSE IN WHICH IT WAS CREATED IS GREAT.
THEIR PURPOSE WAS TO SUPPORT ANY REVITALIZATION, DOWNTOWN PORT ARTHUR.
THAT'S WHAT THEY, THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE THERE FOR.
I'M TRYING TO WONDER WHAT THE, I GUESS THE BIG DEAL IS ABOUT 5 0 1 PROCTOR.
IF THEY'RE IN VIOLATION OF THEIR OWN RULES, THEN THEY NEED TO CORRECT IT.
THEY CAN CORRECT IT WITH AN AUDITOR.
THEY CAN CORRECT IT WITH AN ACCOUNTANT.
THEY CAN GET THE RIGHT THING IN PLACE AND MAKE A CORRECTION.
UH, COUNCIL, WOMAN, UH, HOMES.
AND IN REGARD TO EVERY AND ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, I THINK ALL DULY, UM, STATED, AND WITH ALL THE RESPECT OF THAT, I THINK ONE OF THE MISSING PIECES THAT I WOULD ASK THAT WE WOULD DO IS TO TALK TO 5 0 1 BECAUSE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, AND THEY'RE NOT HERE.
AND ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, MR. BETTY'S HAS CONTINUALLY SAID THAT THEY'RE A SEPARATE ENTITY FROM EDC.
SO I THINK IN GOOD FAITH, IF WE TALK TO THEM AND ASK THEM, WHAT ARE THEIR INTENTS? BECAUSE I DID SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE EDC FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND I DID NOT SERVE ON 5 0 1, NOT AND NOT A PROBLEM BECAUSE I THINK I MAY HAVE SEEN IT AS A CONFLICT BECAUSE IF I'M, I'M GIVING MONEY TO AN ENTITY THAT I'M WORKING WITH, SO I'M NOT, I'M NOT, UH, SAYING THAT I AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THAT.
I'M JUST SAYING, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO BE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
WELL, THAT'S THE MONSTER THAT I MADE REFERENCE TO IT.
WASN'T ANYONE IN PARTICULAR, BUT YOU ARE FEEDING AND NURTURING THAT MONSTER.
HI, IT'S ON ME BY BRINGING IT UP.
NOT, NOT IN A DERIVED OR A DEMEANING WAY.
NO, YOU SEE DIALOGUE CAUSES CHANGE.
EVERYBODY MAY NOT LIKE THE CHANGE, BUT THE CHANGE HAS TO OCCUR AND DIALOGUE HAS TO BEGIN SO THAT THE CHANGE CAN BEGIN TO TAKE PLACE.
AND THAT'S ALL WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY.
SO I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY HERE IS
[01:40:01]
HAPPY IF EVERYONE ELSE IS WHO, THEY'RE GLAD THEY MET IN HERE AND I'M HAPPY I AM IN HERE.SO WE CAN BE A PART OF THE CHANGE CONSTANTLY.
I, I UNDERSTAND, UM, THE, UM, THE DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THE 5 0 1 C3 AND HOW IT IS A SEPARATE ENTITY, 5 0 1.
IT IS, UM, IT IS, UM, UH, SELF EVOLVING, SELF CHANGING.
SELF-OPERATING I GET ALL OF THAT, BUT IN, IN, IN IT, IN ITS ESSENCE, THE THING THAT HAPPENS IN TRANSPIRES IS THAT IT WAS CREATED FOR, UH, FOR THE EDC AS A TOOL IN THE TOOL BOX.
AND SO WITH THAT, UM, THAT'S WHY THOSE INDIVIDUALS, THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE SECRETARY WERE INITIALLY ON THAT BOARD BECAUSE IT WAS A TOOL OF THE EDC.
NOW WHAT HAPPENS IN TRANSPIRES IS, IS THAT BECAUSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS, BECAUSE THOSE OFFICERS DON'T, AREN'T CHANGED TO STILL REFLECT MEMBERS OF THE EDC.
YOU DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF THE TOOL.
YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE HOLD UP, LET ME FINISH.
YOU DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF THE TOOL FROM THE REF, FROM THE ASPECT OF IT IS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY YOU DON'T.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THAT, HOW MUCH MONEY THEY HAVE.
AND IF THEY DON'T WANT IT, IF THEY DON'T, IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO GIVE IT, THEY CAN'T GIVE IT ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO GIVE IT TO YOU BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REALLY OPERATING THERE, THEY'RE THEIR OWN SEPARATE ENTITY.
SO IT HAS CREATED A SITUATION IN A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT HAS EVOLVED IN THAT, IN THE CREATION OF IT, IN THE CREATION OF IT, I'VE WATCHED THE FILM, I'VE WATCHED THE MEETING THAT OCCURRED ON THAT DAY.
AND THE UNDERSTANDING WAS, AND THE UNDERSTANDING WAS, AND IT HAS BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE POSITIONS ON 5 0 1 PROCTOR WOULD TRACK THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON THE EDC, THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT, AND THE SECRETARY THAT THOSE POSITIONS WOULD TRACK AND CHANGE.
AND SO IF THAT'S THE UNDERSTAND AND EVERYTHING, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MEETING, THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING, I'VE WATCHED THE MEETING.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION AND ALL THAT WAS HAPPENING AND TRANSPIRING IN THE CHAMBER, WHEN IT WAS CREATED, IT WAS CREATED IN THAT REGARD, WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND TRANSPIRE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WOMAN MOSES IS CORRECT AND SUCCINCT IN WHAT SHE IS SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO FIND OUT IF INDEED 5 0 1 PROCTOR IS IN VIOLATION OF THEIR OWN POLICY, BECAUSE, AND THEN THE OTHER ASPECT OF IT IS, LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION, MR. MR. UH, BETTY'S HOW MUCH MONEY DOES 5 0 1 PROCTOR HAVE LEFT BECAUSE WE, WE GOT THE $600,000 THAT WAS USED.
AND, AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY HOW IT CAME TO AN UNDERSTANDING.
UH, AND I'M TRYING TO MAKE A POINT.
THAT IS HOW WE ALL BECAME ABREAST OF THE FACT THAT 5 0 1 PROCTOR WAS STILL, UH, OPERATING.
SO WE GOT $600,000 TO HELP WITH THE 5 0 1 PROCTOR WONDERFUL THING.
HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT? HOW MUCH WHAT'S THE BALANCE NOW? UH, COUNCILMAN, WHAT I CAN SAY IS I KNOW HOW MUCH TAX CREDIT MONEY THEY RECEIVE AND WAS PLACED IN THEIR ACCOUNT.
AT THAT TIME, WHEN THEY GOT THE CREDIT, IT WAS ABOUT 1.1, $1.2 MILLION.
WE HAVE MADE A REQUEST FOR 600,000 OFF.
I KNOW THEY PAY ACCOUNTING FEE, PAY LEGAL FEES, HOW MUCH THEY HAVE LEFT.
I CANNOT TELL YOU THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOUR STATEMENT EARLIER, THAT PURPOSE CALL, WHEN WE CREATED IT, WE KNEW WE COULDN'T CONTROL THE BOY FOREVER BECAUSE THEY ARE SEPARATE.
BUT WHEN WE CREATED, WE PUT A PURPOSE CLOT IN THE BYLAWS AND THAT PURPOSE, BECAUSE THEY WERE CREATED TO ASSIST PORT AUTHOR'S, SECTION 48 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, YOU REVIT A LOT.
SO THE ONLY THING THEY COULD DO WITH THE MONEY IS HELP US CAUSE THAT'S THAT PURPOSE AND COUNSELING MODES, THE BYLAWS GOVERN THE ORGANIZATION.
[01:45:01]
THAT PURPOSE, THEY COULD ONLY DEAL WITH THAT PURPOSE.SAY THEY COULD DO, WE COULD NOT CONTROL WHO THE FUTURE BOARD MEMBERS, BECAUSE IT WAS A SEPARATE ENTITY THAT WAS BEING CREATED.
BUT WHAT WE COULD CONTROL IS HOW THAT MONEY WAS GOING TO FLOW.
AND SO THOSE ENTITIES CAN ONLY USE THAT.
THEY CAN ONLY USE THAT MONEY TO HELP PUT OFF.
I GOT THAT, BUT WATCH THIS SUPPOSE THEY DECIDE, SUPPOSE SOMETHING HAPPENS IN TRANSPIRES AND TH AND THEY SAY, WE CAN ONLY USE IT TO HELP PORT ARTHUR, BUT WE AREN'T GOING TO DO IT.
I MEAN, IN THIS HYPOTHETICAL, THEY SAY, WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE IT TO THEM.
I CAN'T USE IT ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE IT TO THEM.
AND BECAUSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS COULD BE LOCKED DOWN IN THAT POSITIONAL STANCE, THAT MONEY COULD STAY IN THERE INTO PERP, INTO PERPETUITY.
THAT MONEY WOULD NEVER HAVE TO BE SPENT.
WHILE ON THE OTHER HAND, IF INDEED THE BYLAWS CALL FOR THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT OR SECRETARY TO BE ON THAT BOARD, AND THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD TAKE THAT POSITION OF STANCE AS AN, AS AN ENTITY OR SOMEONE ON THIS CITY COUNCIL, I COULD REMOVE MY APPOINTEE FROM THAT BOAT, FROM THAT PARTICULAR, UH, FROM THAT PARTICULAR EDC POSITION AND BE PUT AND PUT SOMEONE ELSE IN THERE WHO WOULD THEN HELP THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? I HEAR YOU, BUT, BUT YEAH.
TELL US, UH, YOU KNOW, WE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE, WHAT IF, IF THEY DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY VIOLATE THEIR CHARTER.
THEY VIOLATE THEIR CHARTER BECAUSE WHEN THEY WERE CHARTERED, THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THAT PURPOSE CALLS FIT WHAT THEY WERE CREATED FOR.
AND IF YOU DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN THAT, THEY ARE IN VIOLATION OF THEIR CHARTER.
OH, I'M TRYING TO MOVE THIS RIGHT ALONG.
MAY I JUST HAVE ONE SIMPLE QUESTION? THE BYLAWS OF 5 0 1 PROCTOR WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY TO AMEND THOSE BYLAWS? THE BOY, THE 5 0 1 BOY, THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES.
SO THAT LEADS TO THE NEXT QUESTION.
THE BOARD DOES NOT HAVE TO CHANGE AT ALL FROM THE INITIAL BOARD THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE WITH THE THREE NAMES THAT WERE ON THAT DOCUMENT.
UH, COUNCILMAN MOORE, UH, I'M GOING TO USE ACTUAL COUNT FROM BOLDEN.
I WOULD SAY THAT ANNUAL ELECTION GOING TO TELL THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHO THE FUTURE OFFERS.
IT COULD BE THE SAME OFFICE, BUT THEY MAKE AN ELECTION.
AND THOSE ARE PEOPLE THEY MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE.
SO THAT LEADS TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO CHANGE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE.
AND SO IF GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, UH, THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE TO ANSWER TO ANYONE OTHER THAN THEM, THEMSELVES.
AND THAT IN MY MIND, THE MOST IS AN ISSUE.
UH, AND, AND I KNOW THAT THEY'VE DONE GREAT THINGS.
THE EDC HAS DONE GREAT THINGS, BUT I THINK THAT SOMEHOW WE NEED TO WORK TO, AGAIN, THAT'S PART OF THE MONSTER CONCEPT THAT I BROUGHT UP THAT INSINUATED THAT ANYONE IS A MONSTER OR THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO WOULD DO ANYTHING WRONG.
AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, BUT THE WHAT IS, BUT WHAT ELSE BECOME REALITY SOMETIMES? AND THAT COULD HAPPEN.
WHAT I WANTED TO TELL YOU IS, DO YOU KNOW, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE MONEY IF IT WAS NOT 5 0 1.
AND WE, WE UNDERSTAND ITS INCEPTION, UH, THE PURPOSE AND THE CAUSE AND WHAT IT HAS DONE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND WHO HEARTEDLY SUPPORT AND ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS UP UNTIL NOW.
YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE HAD, IF WE, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO ELIMINATE IT NOW OR DISSOLVE IT, I JUST WANT TO REFURBISH IT, UH, MODE.
LET ME SAY THIS LAST THING, BECAUSE
[01:50:01]
IF YOU HAVE A BOARD AND THAT BOARD IS FOCUSED ON THE PURPOSE, I HAVE, YOU KNOW, I, IF ANYBODY HAS THE WANTS TO DESIGN A PURPOSE AND THEY IT'S HOUSING, IT'S HOMELESS, IT'S WHATEVER YOU DEVELOP A 5 0 1 C3.AND IF MY BOARD UNDERSTANDS MY PURPOSE, THEY UNDERSTAND THE BYLAWS.
THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M IN EXISTENCE FOR.
I CAN ELECT, WE CAN ELECT THE SAME OFFICERS EVERY YEAR FOR 20 YEARS.
AND IF I THINK THAT THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB AND THEY'RE DOING, I DON'T WANT, I THINK IT'S DANGEROUS TO HAVE AN APPOINTEE TO CONTROL MONEY IN THAT, UH, MY APPOINTEE OR WHOMEVER TO CONTROL THE MONEY FOR THAT PERSONAL, FOR THAT 5 0 1 PROCTOR OR FOR ANYTHING I CREATE.
IF I GOT SOMEBODY THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME GOALS AND OBJECTIVES THAT I'M LOOKING FOR, I HAVE A 5 0 1, SEVERAL 5 0 1 C.
AND IF MY BOARD DOESN'T WANT TO FOLLOW WHAT, WHAT MY VISION IS, I'M GONNA REPLACE THE BOARD.
BUT AS LONG AS THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE PURPOSE AND THE INTENT OF WHAT THIS ORGANIZATION WAS BUILT FOR, THEY RE-ELECT OFFICERS ANNUALLY.
AND IF THEY ARE DOING THE ELECTING THOSE SAME OFFICERS ANNUALLY, IF I LET THEM FOR 20 YEARS, BUT THEY UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE AND THE DYNAMIC AND THE OBJECTIVE OF WHERE WE'RE GOING, WHY WOULD I CHANGE THEM? IT'S DISCRETIONARY.
WHAT WE WON'T DO IS MOVE ON RIGHT NOW.
BUT W WE, WE, WE WANT TO MOVE ON IF WE CAN, AND THAT DONE WELL TAKEN, AND EVERYBODY HAS HIS, OR HER OPINION, HIS OR HER DISCRETION.
UH, AT, AT, AT, AT THIS JUNCTURE, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS ABOUT 1205.
WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO, IT'D BE EXECUTIVE SESSION DURING THIS, OR HOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IT? AND I CAN READ IT AND THEN, OKAY.
[III. *CLOSED MEETING ( EXECUTIVE SESSION)]
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION, AND I THINK THERE'S CLOSED SESSION, I BELIEVE IS GOING TO BE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE BOARD FROM THE ADC.AM I CORRECT ON THAT ATTORNEY? OKAY.
AND IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 5, 5, 1 0.101 OF CHAPTER 5, 5, 1 OPEN MEETINGS, LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FOR HOW MANY? ARTICLE 6, 2 5, 2 DASH ONE SEVEN, SECTION TWO, SUBSECTION EIGHT PRIOR TO GOING INTO CLOSE A MEETING, A PRESIDING OFFICER, WHICH IS YOURS TRULY AT THIS POINT, UH, THE CITY SHOULD MAKE A, WILL MAKE THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT.
UH, WE ARE CLOSED MEETING EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL NOW BE HELD PURSUANT TO THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 5, 5, 1 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
AND IN THIS CLOSED MEETING, WE WILL, UH, COVER 5, 5 1 0 7 2 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING LITIGATION, PENDING CLAIMS AND LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVING THE PORT ARTHUR, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION.
AND THEN SECONDLY, WE WILL COVER SECTION 5, 5, 1 0.07, ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS INCENTIVES FOR EDC BUSINESS PROSPECTS.
AND THESE ARE THE ITEMS THAT WE WILL DISCUSS IN THE CLOSE SESSION.
I BELIEVE THE ATTORNEY OR CITY, SECRETARY, OR SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO GIVE US FURTHER DIRECTION AS TO HOW WE, WHERE WE WOULD MOVE AT, AT THIS JUNCTURE.
AND, UH, EXCUSE ME, ATTORNEY HAS HAD IT BEEN DETERMINED.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S RAINING OUT THERE OR WHATEVER.
I JUST WANTED TO TELL THEM WHERE TO GO, BUT WE JUST RESET IT NOW AND OKAY.
NOW WE CAN TELL THAT I WAS THERE FOR PRESENTS AND, UH, PREPARED FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO SECRETARY, WE'RE READY TO CONVENE AND COME BACK INTO OPEN SESSION.
WE'RE READY TO RECONVENE AND COME BACK INTO OPEN SESSION.
HE'S STILL OVER THERE WAITING FOR A RIDE.
WE DON'T HAVE AN ATTORNEY PRESENT.
WOULD YOU TAKE THE ROLE AND ESTABLISH A QUORUM PLEASE? YES, SIR.
MAYOR PRO BARTEE MAYOR PRO TEM PREY PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER HOLMES, PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER JONES, COUNCIL MEMBER, KEN LAW, COUNCIL MEMBER MARK HERE.
YOU HAVE A CORE MAYOR PRO TEM.
DO WE NEED TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM WITH EDC, MR. MR. MR. BETSY.
[01:55:03]
THANK YOU.UH, COUNCILMAN MOSER CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR A GERMAN.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR GERMAN.