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WITH ALL RIGHT,[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
LET'S BEGIN WITH OUR INVOCATION AND OUR PRAYER.AND WE DO BLESS YOU ALL TODAY.
GOD, FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US FATHER, AS WE COME ON TODAY, WE SIMPLY ASK THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE US, LEAD US AND GIVE US WISDOM TO GO FORWARD.
WE PRAY FOR STRENGTH IN THIS TIME AND WE PRAY HEALING FOR OUR LAND.
AND WE SIMPLY ASK FATHER THAT YOU WOULD CAUSE US TO UNITE.
WE ASK ALL OF THIS IN THE POWERFUL AND PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS.
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 QUORUMS ALREADY SEE THE SECRETARY AND LET'S ESTABLISH A QUORUM.
MAYOR BARTEE MAYOR PRO TEM, FRANK PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER HOMES, COUNCIL MEMBER JONES, COUNCIL MEMBER CAIN LAW COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS, COUNCIL MEMBER, MOSES.
MAY I APPROACH? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[II. PROCLAMATIONS]
PROCLAMATIONS.IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS HERE FROM THE FAMILY OF ADAM EARNEST BOOTSIE SIMPSON, ANY MEMBERS AND THE MEMBERS OF THAT FAMILY.
WHEREAS, UH, ADAM EARNEST BOOTSY SIMPSON JR.
WAS BORN JANUARY 8TH, 1939 IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
MR. SIMPSON WAS A 1958 GRADUATE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL WHERE HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT COUNCIL BAND DRUM MAJOR AND PRESIDENT OF THE HONOR SOCIETY.
AND WHEREAS HE FURTHERED HIS EDUCATION AT TENNESSEE AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIAL STATE UNIVERSITY AND RECEIVED A BACHELOR AND MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE.
MOREOVER, ADAM WAS A MEMBER OF THE BAND AND UNIVERSITY CHOIR AND KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY.
AND WHEREAS MR. SIMPSON ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT IN GROUPS, THIRD MARINE DIVISION, THIRD BATTALION NINTH MARINES, THE M COMPANY, SADLY ON OCTOBER 3RD, 1965.
HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN SOUTH VIETNAM, QUANG NAM PROVINCE.
AND WHEREAS ADAM SERVED HIS COUNTRY.
HE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND WE ARE THANKFUL.
WE ARE HONORED TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION.
NOW, THEREFORE I THURMAN BILL BARTEE, MAYOR OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 10TH, 2021 AS FIRST LIEUTENANT ADAM, ERNEST SIMPSON JUNIOR DAY IN THE CITY OF PORT AUTHOR AND ASK ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN HONORING FIRST LIEUTENANT ADAM, ERNEST SIMPSON, JR.
UH, I HAVE HERE UNTO SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO BE A FIXED THIS THIRD DAY OF AUGUST IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 2021 THURMAN BILL BARTEE, MAYOR, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, THEN COUNCIL MIRROR PER PART TEMP PROTIUM.
AND THE REST OF THE DAY IS I JUST WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF WHAT YOU JUST READ.
SO ON DECEMBER 17TH AND 2019 A CITIZEN, MR. THOMAS JOHNS CAME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING NAMING THE PAVILION ACTOR.
FIRST LIEUTENANT ADAM SIMPSON ON MAY 6TH, MAY 26TH, 2020.
THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ON THE AGENDA REGARDING MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS ITEM.
HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL GAVE THE AUTHORIZATION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PROVIDING A BUS OR A PLAQUE REGARDING THIS.
SO DUE TO COLBY, THAT'S WHAT WE'D DONE AND DUE TO COVID IT TOOK FOREVER TRYING TO GET IT.
SO WHAT'S GOING ON NOW IS THAT WE'VE NOW HAVE THE MONUMENT UP AND WE'RE GOING TO DO AN UNVEILING OF THE MONUMENT ON AUGUST 10TH AT 10:00 AM DOWN UNDER THE PAVILION AND EVERYONE IS INVITED.
WE APPRECIATE IT WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TO HAVE ANY COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[III. A1. Greg Richard Regarding Grass Cutting Code Violations]
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS.WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS ON TODAY.
FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE MR. GREG RESHAD REGARDING GRASS
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CUTTING CODE VIOLATIONS AND SOME OTHER ITEMS AS WELL.IF YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES, SIR.
I'VE BEEN PAYING TAXES AT 5 0 9 AHO MILLS BOULEVARD IN PERTH OVER 40 PLUS YEARS.
SECONDLY, UM, THE AGENDA IS INCORRECT.
MY SUBJECT MATTER WAS PARTIALLY GRASS CUTTING.
THE MAIN SUBJECT MATTER WAS I DO MINIONS DOING WHAT I DO MEAN STUDENT.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT.
UH, THE GRASS CUTTING ISSUE WAS FINALLY RESOLVED.
UM, LAST WEEK IT TOOK 18 T A YEAR.
MY GRASS WAS ALMOST MY HEIGHT AND YOU KNOW, TO FOURTH AND I KNOW WHY THEY LET THAT GO BY LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, THEY PASS BY IT EVERY DAY.
SO ANYWAY, IT'S BEEN DEALT WITH, I'VE GOT THE DIRECT NUMBER TO THE PEOPLE AT, AT AND T I DIDN'T CALL THEM UP FROM HERE ON OUT.
SO I HAVE TO BUG YOU GUYS ABOUT THAT ANYMORE.
BEFORE WE GET GOING AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT I'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT.
SO BASICALLY SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO ME SPEAK FOR 15, 20 YEARS, PASTOR FRANK, YOU KNOW I TO DO IT.
SO, UM, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FIRST IS GOING TO BE A, GIVE YOU ALL THE SCRIPTURE, READING HOSEA FOUR SIX.
IF YOU WANT TO LOOK IT UP, HOSEA FOUR AND SIX, IT SAYS MY PEOPLE PERISH FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.
AND I GOT, I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU GUYS FOR LIKE 10, 15 YEARS PEOPLE ON THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON HERE IN TOWN.
YOU'VE BEEN IGNORING ME SO THAT YOU CAN SEE, LIKE I SAID, THAT THERE'S A CHANGE.
SO YOU GUYS STOLE MY PLATFORM DURING THE ELECTION ABOUT LABOR COMPLIANCE, ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN ON AIN'T NOTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT IT, BUT I'VE BEEN DOING IT ON MY OWN.
AND BASICALLY WHEN THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY, BUT THE OTHER ITEM I GOT YOU GUYS.
WELL, ACTUALLY THE CITY HAS BEEN PLAYED A SUCKERS BY THE US CENSUS DEPARTMENT.
YOU GOOGLED THE US CENSUS FOR 2020.
THEY SAY FOR THE TEXAS 49% WHITE.
NOW WE, ALL OF US ARE BOLD FACE LIE.
THERE'S NOT 49% WHITE FOLKS INPUT OUT THERE.
BUT WHATEVER THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT NUMBER IS, EVERYONE IN THE WORLD WILL SEE THAT.
AND BELIEVE THAT WE ARE 49% WHITE, BOTH NUMBERS, THE GOVERNMENT USE THOSE NUMBERS TO ALLOCATE GRANTS.
AND IT ALSO DETERMINED THE TERM LABOR USES THAT TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT CONTRACTORS IN THE CITY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL AFFIRMATIVE ACTION LAWS.
THEY'VE GOT NEGROS MAKING UP ROUGHLY WHAT? 37%.
SO, I MEAN, THAT'S, Y'ALL WAS JUST AT MY JOB.
I COULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING AND I COULD HAVE WROTE THE CARS, MAN.
AND, UH, AND MAYBE PETITIONER, BUT I AIN'T GONNA DO THAT.
Y'ALL AND Y'ALL LET ME LET Y'ALL DO THAT.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, YOU JUST SET THE CITY BACK 20 OR 10 YEARS.
THE NEXT, THIS IS NOT UNTIL 2030.
SO THE MEANTIME YOU AS GOVERNOR IS GOING TO BE USING THOSE NUMBERS THAT I JUST TOLD YOU TO ALLOCATE, UH, GRANTS AND, UH, UH, DO, UH, EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS AND HOW THEY'RE GONNA USE THAT.
SO AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, FOURTH IS 49% WHITE.
AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I'M TO, I'M GOING TO BE WATCHING EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO FROM HERE ON OUT.
AND EVERY TIME YOU MET THEM ON, LET ME MAKE SURE I LET YOU NO, YOU MESS UP.
CAUSE, UH, I MEAN, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, YEAH, YOU GUYS SHOULD HELP GET THAT LAYER OF COMPLIANCE WITH, UH, VIEW REVIEW AN ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, REVIEW JOBS 10, 15 YEARS AGO, BUT YOU DIDN'T YOU PAYING FOR THE CONSEQUENCES.
RIGHT NOW WITH THAT MASSIVE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, UH, THE, WHAT MY TEAM HAS GOTTEN BETTER WITH THEIR, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY I'VE BEEN NOTICED IN THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FLARING AS MUCH AS THEY USED TO.
THANKS TO ME POSTING ALL THESE VIDEOS ON FACEBOOK AND SEND THEM TO DC.
SO A AND JOHN BEARD ALSO FOR GIVING EVERYONE THOSE MONITORS, BUT WE CAN MONITOR OUR AIR QUALITY.
SO, BUT, UM, THAT THAT'S THAT NUTSHELL.
AND, UH, YOU GUYS HAVE A VERY NICE, THANK YOU, SIR.
[Items III. A2 & VII. C13]
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE, UH, MR. JAMES REED, FOUNDER OF CHOSEN GENERATION EVANGELISTIC MINISTRIES INCORPORATED REGARDING PRAISE AND WORSHIP ENTERTAINMENT EVENT.YES, GOOD EVENING AFTERNOON, MAYOR PROTEIN, FRANK, AND TO THE REST OF THE BOARD THAT'S HERE TODAY.
WE DEFINITELY THANK GOD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN HERE.
AND OF COURSE, UH, THIS RECOGNIZING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT GOES ON AND PULLED OFF THERE, UH, IT WAS LAID ON MY HEART LAST YEAR, BUT I THINK THE APPROPRIATE TIME IS NOW, UH, WE ROLLED AROUND.
WE'D BEEN WATCHING, UH, UH, GILLUM CIRCLE PARK AND ALSO THE PAVILION TO SEE IF BY CHANCE THERE IS WHAT WOULD BE MORE CONVENIENT TO HAVE THIS EVENT AT, OF COURSE, A LOT OF TIMES WITH PULLED OFF, YOU HEAR A LOT OF NEGATIVE STUFF
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INSTEAD OF THE POSITIVE STUFF.SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO AS A CHURCH IS BRING GOD'S PRESENCE IN DOWNTOWN, AS WELL AS CREATE SOME ATMOSPHERE THAT PEOPLE MIGHT GET WHAT THEY NEED IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM FROM GOD.
SO, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT WAS THE PAVILION.
AND BEFORE THAT WE PURSUED THIS ISSUE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID OUR HOMEWORK SO FAR AS IN CHECKING OUT WHAT'S AVAILABLE.
WHAT'S THE HAZARDS IN THAT AREA? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO TO, UH, MAKE THIS EVENT, UH, A SPECIAL ONE, SHALL I SAY? AND, UH, UH, WE BOUGHT, WE BOUGHT A FLYER WITH US THAT, UH, Y'ALL CAN LOOK AT.
OF COURSE WE'VE GOT WITH, UH, EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS EVENT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SAFE, UH, NOT JUST SAFE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT'S COMING, BUT SAVE FOR THOSE THAT IN THAT AREA.
CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT AROUND THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF MATERIAL FROM CONTRACTORS AROUND THERE.
SO WE, UH, UH, PUT IN OUR PROPOSAL THAT IF WE CAN GET SOME OF THAT STUFF BLOCKED OFF, UH, WITH SOME HARD BARRICADE TO KEEP EVERYBODY FROM THAT SIDE, BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT ANYONE TO BE ACCUSED OF STEALING THE EQUIPMENT.
UH, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU'RE DOING THIS TYPE OF EVENT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME PEOPLE COME, EVERYBODY, NOT IN CHURCH, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
SO OF COURSE WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO DIFFERENT CHURCHES.
WE GOT SOME PEOPLE ON STAND BY, UH, THAT'S GOING TO SEND OUT THE PRAISE TEAM OR A GROUP OR WHATEVER.
WE GOT SOME, UH, SOME WORSHIP, WE GOT SOME PRAISE, WE GOT SOME RAPPING.
WE GOT, WE GOT THE DIFFERENT ARTISTS COMING DOWN.
UH, AND ONCE AGAIN THAT JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN UTILIZE THAT, THAT, UH, PAVILION FOR THIS PURPOSE.
UH, WE DO ALSO HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON THAT MORNING, BUT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS, WHAT WE ASKED AND FOR NOW, UM, WE, UH, DEP WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT GOD'S BEING GLORIFIED IN PORT ARTHUR, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE TALK ABOUT CRIME AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.
IF WE CAN GET AT LEAST A FEW PEOPLE SAY A FEW PEOPLE COME TO GOD OR WHATEVER, THAT THAT'D BE MORE THAN ANYTHING JUST BEING DOWN HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
SO OUR NUMBER ONE PURPOSE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND GET EVERYBODY TO COME OUT, WHETHER THEY WANT TO COME AND PUT THE LAWN CHAIRS OUT THERE.
THERE, THERE IS SOME CONCERNS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE PLATFORM TO MAKE SURE THE STAGE IS LEBRON.
ALSO, WHEN THE GROUPS COME, IT WON'T BE LEANING WHERE THEY FALL OFF.
UH, THEN WE LOOKED AT ALSO THE, THE INCHES TO THE PLATFORM BECAUSE IT'S WOOTEN.
SO WE CAN GET SOMETHING DONE TO WHERE NOBODY GETS SPLINTERS IN THEIR HANDS WHEN THEY WALKING UP AND DOWN, JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE NOTICED.
UH, BUT THE MAIN THING IS MAKING SURE WE GIVE GOD THE GLORY IN THE SEA.
THEY'RE PULLED OFF THE, WE DO IT IN CHURCH ALL THE TIME, BUT IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE THE CHURCH OUTSIDE AND LET PEOPLE EXPERIENCE WHAT THEY NEED TO EXPERIENCE.
BRING HOPE BACK TO POOLED OFF THERE, AS WELL AS ENCOURAGEMENT AND LOVE.
BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, IF WE'RE NOT DOING IT, WHO ELSE IS GONNA DO IT? SO, UH, WE ASKED THEM FOR PERMISSION TO USE A PAVILION JUST FOR THAT PURPOSE, THAT ONE DAY EVENT.
AND THEN OF COURSE WE DID, UH, GET OUR CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE FOR THAT PARTICULAR DAY.
SO WE DO HAVE THE COVERAGE FOR ANYONE THAT'S COMING OUT THERE.
THAT'S ALSO IN YOUR PAPERWORK UP THERE.
UH, AND THEN SO FORTH PERMITS.
UH, WE WILL, WHEN THAT DATE IS GETTING NEAR, WE WOULD, IT WOULD THE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MAKE SURE WE CAN GET ALL OUR PERMITS FOR THE BENDERS AND AS WELL AS FOR OURSELVES.
SO, UH, UH, DEFINITELY THAT, THAT JUST PART WAS ON OUR HEART.
IF WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN, THAT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS BLESSING TO THE CEDAR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BEFORE US.
UM, CITY ATTORNEY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN AND YOUR ITEM IS ALREADY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ON PAGE 7 0 1, ASK YOUR ATTENTION COUNSEL ON PAGE SEVEN UNDER CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WANT TO PULL THAT ITEM AND VOTE ON IT.
EVEN NOW, WHILE THEY'RE HERE PR NUMBER 22 0 6 0 A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING AND ESTABLISHING THE BADGES CITY-WIDE EVENING OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP ENTERTAINMENT AREA, DESIGNATING, CHOSEN GENERATION EVANGELISTIC MINISTRIES INCORPORATED AS EXCLUSIVE CONCESSIONAIRE AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT THERE.
UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL? SECOND MAYOR HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR, UM, ACCEPTANCE OF THIS RESOLUTION.
WE PRAY THAT YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENT AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD TO SEE YOU REAL, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU, SIR.
HE WENT OUT IN THE BUSINESS TOGETHER YEARS AGO.
I TRAINED HIM TO DO TO THEM AND HE DID A GOOD JOB.
SO GOOD TO SEE YOU IN THE BATTLEFIELD, KEEP IT UP AND WE SUPPORT
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YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY.I DEFINITELY WANT Y'ALL TO KEEP US IN BREAD BECAUSE ALSO THAT MORNING WE WILL BE FEEDING THE, UH, THE BADGES PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL BE FEEDING THEM LUNCHES THAT MORNING.
SO, YOU KNOW, JUST KEEP US IN PRAYER BECAUSE WE WANT TO GIVE BACK TO
WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT IT BY ACTION.
SO WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE Y'ALL FOR APPROVING THIS.
AND Y'ALL DEFINITELY IN OUR PREP.
WE'LL BE PRAYING FOR THE MAYOR AS WELL.
EVERYBODY'S SICK PERIOD BY SEPTEMBER DIFFERENCE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, WELL NOW I HAVE PRESENTATIONS, ALL KINDS OF MUSIC.
[III. B1. A Status Update Regarding The Motiva Downtown Project Requested By Councilmember Marks)]
WELL, NOW I HAVE SOME PRESENTATIONS.UH, THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE A STATUS REGARDING THE MOTIVA DOWNTOWN PROJECT.
IT'S BEEN RECAPPED, UH, REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN MARKS.
MY NAME IS CLAIRE JACKSON, UM, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MANAGER FOR MOTIVA, AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL HAVING US HERE TODAY.
UM, WE JUST WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE DOWNTOWN PROJECTS.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, OUR, UM, MAR OUR INDUSTRY HAS SEEN A TREMENDOUS, UM, VOLATILE MARKET OVER THE PAST YEAR.
AND, UM, IT'S REALLY BEEN UNPRECEDENTED FINANCIAL TIMES FOR THE REFINERS IN OUR AREA, UM, ACROSS THE GLOBE.
UM, SO WE HAVE TAKEN SOME ECONOMIC STEPS TO WEATHER THE STORM AND, AND, UM, FOCUS ON CONSERVING CASH, UM, IN THIS TOUGH ENVIRONMENT WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, THE PORT ARTHUR DOWNTOWN PROJECTS ARE STILL A MUCH NEEDED HOME FOR MOTIVA AND, UM, IT'S OFFICE SPACE FOR EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARY TO THE DAY TO DAY MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OF THE FACILITY.
UM, SO WE ARE STILL SEEKING THE FEDERAL AND HISTORIC, UH, FEDERAL STATE AND HISTORICAL CERTIFICATIONS FOR THE BUILDINGS, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE MATERIALS USED ARE, UH, MEETING MODERN DAY CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS, AS WELL AS PRESERVING THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN, UM, MAINTENANCE CREWS WILL BE WORKING ON SITE TO KEEP THE GROUNDS TIDY, UM, AND MINOR WORK IDENTIFIED AS WE, UM, MONITOR THOSE BUILDINGS.
UM, A FEW THINGS I DID WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS ARE SOME ACTIVITIES THAT MOTIVA HAS DONE, UM, BECAUSE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PORT ARTHUR COMMUNITY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
AND WE PLAN TO BE A PART OF PORT ARTHUR FOR DECADES TO COME.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M NOT SURE Y'ALL ARE AWARE ABOUT, BUT MOTIVA DID MAKE A COVID-19 DONATION OF $250,000 TO C TURF, WHICH IS SOUTHEAST TEXAS EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND.
UM, AND THOUGH THAT THOSE DOLLARS WERE, UM, UTILIZED WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS.
UM, THEY WENT TO, UH, SERVICES FOR PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS LIKE CHILDCARE, UM, PANTRY SUPPLIES, AND OTHER IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
IT ALSO WENT FOR PPE FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND, UM, GASOLINE GIFT CARDS.
SO WE HAD, WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT DONATION THERE.
ANOTHER ONE JUST RECENTLY WAS THE, UM, WINTER STORM URI.
WE DONATED A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO LOCAL NONPROFITS TO HELP PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS WITH, UM, WINTERIZING THEIR HOMES, PAYING ELECTRICITY BILLS, ENERGY BILLS, UM, AND OTHER IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUST HAPPENED ON SATURDAY WAS THE WILLIE CARTER OUTREACH GIVEAWAY FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
AND, UM, THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE GIVING OUT, UM, SUPPLIES TO THE PORT ARTHUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE BOTH RECIPIENTS FROM FUNDS FROM THE WINTER STORM DONATIONS.
SO THE WILLIE CARTER OUTREACH CENTER, UM, AND CIVILIAN TASK FORCE, IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
IT WAS HOT, BUT WE WERE OUT THERE FROM ABOUT 9:00 AM TO 2:00 PM, UM, GIVING OUT SCHOOL SUPPLIES AROUND GILLAM CIRCLE.
UM, AND LASTLY, UH, WE DID THE COOLEST THING WITH THE PORT ARTHUR INDUSTRIAL GROUP.
UM, OUR PLANT MANAGER, AS WELL AS ANOTHER PLANT MANAGER ARE THE CHAIRMAN OF A WORKFORCE AND JOB PLACEMENT COMMITTEE.
AND, UM, WE HAVE A FEW THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND MY CALL TO YOU GUYS, AS WE NEED REFERRALS TO THESE PROGRAMS. SO ONE OF THOSE WE PARTNERED WITH MELVIN WHITE AT G-TECH, JUST DOWN THE STREET.
AND, UM, WE ARE WORKING TO BRING, WE BROUGHT 40 CONTRACTORS TO HEAR ABOUT HIS PROGRAM,
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UM, THE LIFE SKILLS AND THE SOFT SKILLS THAT HE TEACHES AS THE STUDENTS ARE WORKING TOWARDS THEIR NCCR CERTIFICATIONS.UM, FIVE OF THOSE CONTRACTORS HAVE COMMITTED TO WORK WITH HIM AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN AS THEY WILL HAVE 20 WEEKS OF ON THE JOB TRAINING WITH THESE, UH, CONTRACT COMPANIES, UM, LAMAR PORT ARTHUR HAS SOME PROGRAMS THAT, UM, ARE THREE WEEK 40 HOURS A WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM.
THERE ARE FUNDING OPTIONS AVAILABLE, AND WE CAN ONLY GET THREE, THREE STUDENTS IN THE CLASS.
WE CAN FIT 15 EVERY THREE WEEKS.
SO I'D REALLY MY CALL TO YOU GUYS IS THERE'S FUNDING THERE'S OPPORTUNITY.
IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION, I'LL BE A GREAT RESOURCE FOR YOU, BUT WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD THINGS GOING AND WE JUST NEED HELP GETTING TO THOSE PROGRAMS. UM, SO AGAIN, CLAIRE JACKSON, Y'ALL GET AHOLD OF ME IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UM, I WELCOME YOUR CALL ANYTIME.
ANY COUNCILMAN COMMENTS, COUNCILMAN MARKS, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, UH, MS. JACKSON FOR COMING OUT AND RESPOND AND TO OUR REQUEST FOR A STATUS UPDATE.
UH, THE REASON I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA WAS BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS, UH, TO ME ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON IN THE BUILDINGS DOWN THERE.
WE KNOW THAT THE PANDEMIC COSTS A SIGNIFICANT SLOWDOWN IN, IN WHAT WAS GOING ON AND IT, IT, IT IMPACTED, UH, THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY, UH, AS FAR AS, UH, CASH REVENUES ARE CONCERNED.
SO THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER CITIZENS IS THE PATH FORWARD IS, IS THE PROJECT STEEL, UH, HAS, HAS A GREEN LIGHT.
ARE WE STILL GOING TO BE ABLE TO LOOK FORWARD TO 500 PLUS PEOPLE BEING HOUSED IN OFFICES DOWNTOWN SO THAT WE CAN, UH, CONTINUE WITH OUR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION ALONG WITH, WITH THE WORK THAT, THAT, UH, MOTIVA IS DOING, UH, BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT OUR PLANS ARE, ARE, UH, REVOLT REVOLVE AROUND WHAT MOTIVA WAS GOING TO BRING TO DOWNTOWN.
SO, SO WE, WE HAVE A, UH, A VERY KEEN INTEREST IN WHETHER OR NOT THIS, THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO GO FORWARD.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT PLEASE? YEAH, SIR.
UM, THE INFORMATION I HAVE BEEN GIVEN IS WE ARE STILL SEEKING, UM, TO RENOVATE THOSE BUILDINGS.
SO WITH THE CERTIFICATIONS IN HAND, UM, WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
SO I DON'T HAVE A TIMELINE FOR YOU.
I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION OTHER THAN WE ARE STILL VERY INTERESTED IN MAKING THOSE HOMES FOR OUR OFFICES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
ANY OTHER COUNCILMAN? THANK YOU.
SO AGAIN, AND I'VE BEEN GETTING THE PHONE CALLS AND YOU SAY, CLAIRE JACKSON IS YOUR NAME.
UH, AND MY QUESTION IS ALSO SIMILAR TO, UH, COUNCILMAN MARKS.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE GETTING THE CALLS THAT THE PROJECT IS ACTUALLY STOPPED.
UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, AS THE HOPES TO CONTINUE THIS PROJECT, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL AND STATE, UH, TAXES, TAX CREDIT THAT YOU'RE WAITING ON.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ESTIMATE TIME? ARE YOU GOING TO GET THIS NOTIFICATION IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET THESE TAX CREDIT OR NOT? ARE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE LIKE MARK SAID THAT WE'RE WAITING, EH, TO DEVELOP DOWNTOWN BASED UPON SOME OF THE PROMISES IN THE PAST THAT WAS MADE TO THIS COUNCIL IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
SO, UH, IS ANY WAY THAT YOUR COMPANY OR YOU, OR WHOEVER IN CHARGE OF THAT COULD FIND OUT WHEN THOSE, UH, FEDERAL AND STATE TAX CREDITS ARE GOING TO BE ALLOCATED OR NOTIFY TO YOUR, YOUR COMPANIES.
I CAN CERTAINLY GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR WANT CLARIFICATION ON ANYTHING, PLEASE, MR. BARTON Y'ALL CAN CALL ANY TIME.
[III. B2. A Status Update by Joe Seago, Jr., PE, Area Engineer, TXDOTBeaumont Texas Regarding The Gulfway Drive ( SH 87) Construction And US Highway 96 At SH 73 Intersection Design]
REGARDING, UH, THE GULF WAY DRIVE, UH, STATE HIGHWAY 87, CONSTRUCTION AND US HIGHWAY 96 AT STATE HIGHWAY 73, INTERSECTION DESIGN.HELLO, SARAH, HOW ARE YOU? MAYOR PRO TEM.
FRANK, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO STAND BEFORE YOU, AND, UH, GIVE YOU SOME
[00:25:01]
UPDATES ON A COUPLE OF KEY PROJECTS IN YOUR AREA, HAVE ONE CURRENTLY ACTIVE ON GULF WAY, AND THEN THE FUTURE INTERCHANGE PROJECT AT US 69 AND STAY HIGHWAY 73 INTERCHANGE.UM, I WANT TO SAY FIRST, UH, APPRECIATE, UH, A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK, UH FLOZELLE AND ON YOUR STAFF AND STARTED HAVING CONVERSATIONS.
WE'VE SET UP A MONTHLY MEETING WITH YOUR STAFF AND, UH, CITY PORT AUTHOR TO, UH, JUST GO OVER, UH, ROADS AND ISSUES AND SHARE INFORMATION.
UH, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US, FOR MYSELF AS A NEW AREA ENGINEER IN BEAUMONT, UH, BEEN HERE FIVE MONTHS AND, UH, I'VE LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS ARE FLAT AROUND HERE.
AND SO, UH, THAT CAUSES CHALLENGES, BUT THE PUTTING THAT ASIDE, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE, WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF ON ANYTHING RELATED TO OUR ROADWAYS, TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY, TO, UH, UH, HAVE, UH, HAVE, UH, A PERSON TO REACH OUT TO, AND LET ME HELP MY OFFICE, MY STAFF, OUR DISTRICT, TO, UH, TO HELP ANY WAY WE CAN.
I DO WANT TO INTRODUCE MY ASSISTANT AREA ENGINEER.
THIS IS BRYCE BROUSSARD, HE'S, UH, THREE WEEKS IN THAT POSITION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UH, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL, UH, JUST GO INTO A PRESENTATION ON GOLF WAY.
UM, I'M GOING TO BE GIVEN JUST, UH, KIND OF A KEY, KEY MILESTONES OF WHERE WE'RE HEADED TO FINISH THE PROJECT, UH, DO WANT TO SAY, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND, UH, THE FACT ACCEPT THAT SOMETIMES THINGS GET WORSE BEFORE I GET BETTER, AND IT'S BEEN LOOKING WORSE, BUT WE ARE, ARE GETTING CLOSE.
I DID COME OUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK.
UH, WE FOUND SOME ON UNKNOWN ISSUES WITH THE MAGNITUDE OF REPAIRS, SPECIFICALLY A HOUSTON STREET, AND THEN THE RAILROAD A HUNDRED PAST WHERE IT ON EACH END, UH, THEY THERE'S A SLAB THAT WAS REALLY, UH, OUTSOURCED, YOU KNOW, BAD BUMP.
AND SO WE'VE TOOK ACTION TO DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO MAKE A RIGHT, EVEN THOUGH IT TECHNICALLY WASN'T IDENTIFIED, BUT IT'S WHEN YOU'RE DOING CONSTRUCTION, THINGS COME UP, IT'S BETTER TO ADDRESS THEM THAN IGNORE THEM.
SO, UH, WITH THAT SAID, UH, I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE, WHERE WE'RE AT.
UM, THEY'VE BEEN DOING FOR, FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THE CONCRETE REPAIRS GOING THROUGH, AND THAT'S WHERE THE INTERSECTIONS AND, AND THINGS HAVE BEEN WORKED.
THAT PART IS, IS TO, OF COURSE, THE DAMAGED SLABS OF THE BAD SECTIONS OF CONCRETE BEEN REPLACED.
THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE ON INTO AUGUST TO THE END OF AUGUST WILL BE OUR CONCRETE REPAIR.
THEN SEPTEMBER INTO OCTOBER IS GOING TO BE THAT TIME PERIOD.
WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THE CURB, TAKING OUT BAD CURB AND REPAIRING IT.
SO THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD, BUT A LOT OF WORK TO GET THAT, TO GET THAT DONE.
WE START SEALING THE CRACKS, PREPPING THE PAVEMENT TO GET IT READY.
THAT'S GOING TO BE, UH, FROM OCTOBER INTO NOVEMBER.
MID-NOVEMBER, UH, PART OF THAT CRACK CEILING WILL ALSO BE WHERE CONCRETE THAT'S OUT THERE ON NOW HAS.
SPALLS WHERE IT JUST KIND OF, WE DIDN'T REPLACE A BIG CHUNK OF CONCRETE, BUT THERE'S PLACES THAT ARE SPALLED OUT, POPPED OUT CALLED SOMETIMES LIKE A LITTLE POTHOLE.
SO THOSE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING DON UP UNTIL MID NOVEMBER.
THEN, THEN WE COME IN, WE DO A LEVEL UP WITH HOT MIX AND, AND GET IT ALL SMOOTHED OUT.
SO THEN WE CAN SURFACE PUT THE SURFACE ON.
AND SO FROM MID-NOVEMBER TO MID DECEMBER, THAT THAT WILL BE HAPPENING.
NOW, WHEN THEY DO THAT, THEY'RE GOING TO GO AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE LANES FROM THE WHOLE LENGTH, THEN THEY'LL DROP BACK AND DO THE INTERSECTIONS.
SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A PERIOD WHERE, UH, SO WHEN YOU SEE THAT THE INTERSECTIONS WEREN'T DONE, WHEN THE LANES WERE, WE ARE DROPPING BACK AND THEY'LL BE ADDRESSED AS SLOWER WORK, AND IT TAKES A LITTLE MORE TIME TO GET THOSE AREAS AT INTERSECTION.
SO WHEN THAT, UH, THAT, THAT GETS US MID DECEMBER INTO THE FIRST PART OF JANUARY, AND THEN, THEN WE HAVE THE STRIPING, THE CLEANUP, UH, PUNCH LIST.
AND THE GOAL RIGHT NOW WITH OUR SCHEDULE IS TO BE BY
[00:30:01]
FEBRUARY TIMEFRAME.OF COURSE, THAT'S ALWAYS CONTINGENT ON THE WEATHER.
UH, BUT HOPEFULLY WE DO START GETTING A LITTLE, A LITTLE MORE, A DRY SPELL IF THERE IS SUCH THING.
BUT, UH, I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
UH, BUT THAT, THAT SUMMARIZES WHERE WE STAND ON THE SCHEDULE FOR THAT PROJECT.
UH, I HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS AT THIS TIME.
MAY I APPROACH HIM? SO THE LIFT THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ON, UH, WHAT IS THE LAST STREET TERMINAL ROAD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TERMINAL ROAD FROM GULF WAY ALL THE WAY TO WHAT MEMORIAL OR IT'S PAST MEMORIAL MORELL.
AND THAT'S YOU, THAT'S GOING TO BE STARTED IN THE NEXT
YEAH, IT'S BEEN GOING ON, UH, SEVERAL MONTHS.
IT'S UNDER THE FULL DEPTH CONCRETE RIGHT NOW.
WHEN I, WHEN I GOT HERE FIVE MONTHS AGO, IT HAD BEEN GOING ON THAT PERIOD OF TIME IS OKAY.
AND THE ONLY REASON I'M SAYING IT'S SET, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT THEY TOOK THE TOP OFF AND IT JUST SAT FOR MONTHS AND, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE GETTING PHONE CALLS.
MAYOR WAS GETTING PHONE CALLS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THAT AT STATE HIGHWAY.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU DIRECTLY.
SO WHEN, WHEN WOULD YOU GUYS ACTUALLY START? UH, BECAUSE I HADN'T SEEN YOU GUYS.
I MEAN, I TRAVELED UP OF EVERY DAY, SO, UH, I JUST WANT TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING WHEN PEOPLE CALL ME, I CAN LET THEM KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO START IN A STATE HIGHWAY, A LOT OF THEIR WORK THEY'VE BEEN WORKING, SIR.
AND THEY WORK AT, UH, AT TIMES AT NIGHT WITH THESE REPAIRS THAT THE, WHEN THEY WERE MILLING AND DOING THE INTERSECTIONS, PREPARING THAT I KNOW THEY WERE DOING THAT DURING THE DAY.
UH, WE'VE BEEN PAYING SOME INVOICES EVERY MONTH AND THEY'VE BEEN WORKING.
ARE WE GLAD THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON IT? WE JUST WANTED TO, WE JUST WANT TO HAVE AN IDEA WHERE WE COULD TELL THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR, YOU KNOW, THAT GO HOME AND FROM WORK AND AN S A HIGH VOLUME TRAFFIC, UH, UH, STREET GFE WAY DRIVE.
SO I JUST WANT TO GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE HAVE THOSE PHONE CALLS, WHAT TO TELL THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND THAT'S WHAT I APPRECIATE THAT, SIR.
AND WE, THE SCHEDULE I JUST LAID OUT IS OUR SCHEDULE TO COME TO COMPLETION BY THE END OF FEBRUARY OF 2020 TO COUNCILMAN MARKS.
UH, MR.
UH, IT'S SPOKEN TO THE CITY MANAGER, UH, SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, AND I THINK, UH, HE WAS TELLING US THAT, UH, YOU GUYS WERE PLANNING TO COME AND TALK TO US.
I W I HAVE BEEN GETTING NUMEROUS CALLS ABOUT THE PROJECT BECAUSE THAT RUNS STRAIGHT THROUGH MY DISTRICT.
AND WE, UH, AT LEAST, I DIDN'T KNOW, UNTIL SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, I THOUGHT IT WAS A CITY PROJECT, BUT WE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS STATE HIGHWAY.
THAT THAT WAS ME NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS, WHAT WAS GOING ON BECAUSE I KEPT BOTHERING MR. BURTON ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE STREETS, BECAUSE I'M GETTING THESE CALLS.
SO NOW, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ACTUALLY LET THOSE CITIZENS WHO THOUGHT IT WAS PORT AUTHOR, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WORKING ON THE STREETS.
THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY, YES, SIR.
UH, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR OF THE STREETS IS ONE PARTICULAR AREA ON, UH, I THINK IT'S IN THE 1500 BLOCK OF GUFF WAY.
THERE'S A PARK THAT THEN I CAN'T, IT'S A SMALL PARK, BUT, UH, I ACTUALLY HAD, HAD HAD, UH, THE RESIDENT COME AND MEET WITH ME AND MR. BURTON ABOUT THAT ISSUE.
AND HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE, THE, THE TRUCKS THAT PASS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
SOMETIMES THAT, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, THE LARGER TRUCKS ARE RUNNING DOWN THERE, BUT IT'S SHAKING HIS HOUSE.
AND, AND, AND IT'S, IT'S, UH, THERE'S SOME BIG BUMP OR SOMETHING THAT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THAT BAR.
AND IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, IF I CAN ACTUALLY COME TO ONE OF THE MEETINGS WITH YOU AND, UH, OUR, UH, NEW, NEW PLANNING DIRECTOR, WE CAN SIT DOWN AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS, AND THEN WE CAN GO OUT AND, AND, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AREA AND SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO MITIGATE THAT PROBLEM UNTIL THE PROJECT IS FINISHED IN, IN, I THINK YOU SAID FEBRUARY.
SO, UH, IF, IF WE CAN DO THAT, UH, I JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THE NEXT
[00:35:01]
MEETING IS, YOU SAID YOU, YOU MEAN ON A MONTHLY BASIS SO THAT I CAN COME IN, SIT, SIT DOWN.AND BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT PROJECT RUNS STRAIGHT THROUGH MY DISTRICT.
AND I WILL SAY WE'VE BEEN HAVING THOSE MEETINGS, UH, TELECONFERENCE, UH, THE FIRST TWO, BUT ONE THING, UH, DO WANT TO REMARK ON IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE DOING THE CONCRETE REPAIRS.
SO I'LL, I'LL HAVE OUR STAFF, UH, GO LOOK AT THAT BLOCK AND MAKE SURE THAT IF IT'S NOT REPAIRED YET AND THEY'VE, AND IT'S NOT, UH, IDENTIFIED TO REPAIR THAT WE WILL REPAIR AND, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, THAT BLOCK, MAKE SURE IF WE HADN'T GOT THERE YET, LET COUNCIL KNOW IF, UH, IF IT'S NOT IDENTIFIED IN OUR PLANS, WE WILL CORRECT IT.
W W LET'S DO THIS, MR. SEAGO, IF YOU WOULD LET US EXCHANGE BUSINESS CARDS AND I'M GONNA, I CAN GET YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND I CAN ACTUALLY HAVE THE RESIDENT AND HE CAN GIVE YOU THE EXACT LOCATION.
SO, SO I WON'T BE GUESSING AND YOU ALL, WON'T BE GUESSING, AND WE CAN GET OUT THERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO IMMEDIATELY.
I DIDN'T BRING ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE.
I APOLOGIZE, BUT, UH, THAT CAN BE A PODIUM THAT COULD JOKE OR YOUR PRESENTATION.
HEY, LET ME ASK YOU THE QUESTION.
UH, WELL, WE'D RATHER, THIS IS STATE HIGHWAY AS OPPOSED TO STATE HIGHWAY PROJECT TYPE FACILITY.
SO W WHY CAME, WOULD YOU LIKE, BOOM, MY ROBIN DOING A FULL TIME, NIGHT SHIFT.
WE CAN GET MORE DONE BECAUSE YOU HAVE LESS TRAFFIC.
NIGHT WORK IS LESS DISRUPTIVE ON OUR ROADS THAT ARE REAL BUSY.
AND WE, WE, THAT, IF THAT'S THE QUESTION BEING ASKED, YEAH.
CAN WE DO A NICE YEAR BECAUSE IT'S LESS TRAPPED.
YOU CAN GET MORE DONE AND NICE.
IT IS, UH, THAT'S HOW WE LOOK AT OUR MAJOR CITY STREETS, SUCH AS GULF WAY THAT IT'S THE LESSON, THE IMPACT TO COMMUTERS AND DURING THE DAY AND BUSINESS, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S THE TYPE OF ROAD THAT DOESN'T HAVE A, PROBABLY LIKE A, A PEAK HOUR, TWO TIMES A DAY, LIKE FREEWAYS DO, PEOPLE ARE USING IT ALL DAY LONG AND WITH LIGHTS AND TURN LANES AND SUCH THOSE TYPE OF FACILITIES, IT'S PREFERRED IF WE CAN DO THEM AT NIGHT.
SO YOU CONSIDER THAT YOU MIGHT GO THAT ROUTE.
YOU MIGHT GO THAT ROUTE NEXT YEAR.
WERE YOU THINKING ABOUT THE NIGHT SHIFT ROUTE? YES.
I MEAN, WELL, IT, WASN'T A NICE FEEL.
THEY START TYPICALLY THEY START AT NINE AND THEY GOT TO BE OFF ABOUT FIVE FOR THE NIGHT SHIFT.
HE SEEN THEM BY WE'LL GET AT NIGHT WHERE WE DO HAVE, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF RAIN AND, UM, IF NO ONE, IF NOT SAYING ANYBODY, UH, LIKE I HAVE INSPECTORS THAT THEY WORK NIGHT WHEN THEY ARE OUT THERE WORKING.
IF I'M HEARING THAT Y'ALL, AREN'T SEEING PEOPLE OUT THERE NIGHT OR DAY, NO NIGHT THERE, THE QUESTION IS THEY'RE WORKING.
IF THEY'RE WORKING AT NIGHT, THAT IS WHEN THE MAJORITY OF THEIR EFFORTS ARE BEING DONE.
I'M SORRY IF I MISUNDERSTOOD, SIR.
YEAH, I'D BE HAPPY TO, WE HAVE OUR, UH, REPORTS OF WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE WORKING.
I CAN, I CAN PROVIDE WHAT NIGHTS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THEY HAVE BEEN OUT THERE.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PROJECTS UNDER A, UH, IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND ORANGE AND HARDENED THAT I OVERSEE THAT ARE DELAYED AND THEY'RE BEHIND.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM BECAUSE CONCRETE, YOU DON'T WANT TO POUR CONCRETE WHEN IT'S RAINING.
AND IT'S GOOD TO A LITTLE EXTENT, BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE MISUNDERSTANDING THE QUESTION.
THANK YOU, JOE, FOR COMING TO, UM, GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE, ON HIGHWAY 87 GULF WAY DRIVE.
AND I CONCUR WHEN I WAS PIGGYBACKING OFF OF COUNCILMAN CAL JONES IN WHICH HE WAS SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE FOR THEM TO WORK AT NIGHT, UH, TO AVOID THE TRAFFIC AND WHAT WE'RE HAVING DURING THE DAY.
UM, AND SO HE, AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE IF THEY WOULD WORK AT NIGHT, THEY COULD GET A LOT OF THE WORK DONE WHILE WE HAVE LOW TRAFFIC AREAS.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU ARE WORKING AT NIGHT CURRENTLY.
BRYCE HAS BEEN INTERACTING ON A DAILY BASIS ON THE DAY IN DAY OUT OPERATIONS,
[00:40:01]
BUT I KNOW IT, I HEARD YOU SAY NINE TO FIVE THAT'S DAYTIME TO ME, BUT IS IT NINE TO FIVE? NOT 9:00 PM TO 5:00 AM, BUT AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT, THEY ARE THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK WASN'T NIGHT.NOW DURING THE DAY DURING THESE CONCRETE, UH, FULL DEPTH OF PAIRS, IT IS DURING THE DAY.
UM, NOW, UH, WE CAN, WE CAN DEFINITELY TALK WITH THEM TO WHEN WE START DOING PAVEMENT OPERATIONS FOR THE FULL LANE, UH, ASPHALT OVERLAY, UH, WE CAN ASK THEM FOR, FOR NIGHTTIME, UH, BUT ALSO, UH, FOR THE CURB AND CONCRETE REPAIR, THE DETAIL IN THAT.
YES MA'AM BUT ANY OF THE WORDS THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY GET DONE? THE MAJORITY OF THAT, I THINK, AS A COUNCIL, WE'RE ASKING TOO AT NIGHT.
WOULD, Y'ALL LIKE AN UPDATE ON THE UPCOMING PROJECT AT THE INTERCHANGE.
OTHERWISE I'M NOT, UH, SO A MA'AM SIDED, UH, IT'S MY FIRST INTERCHANGE PROJECT SINCE, UH, BEEN HERE TO OVERSEE, UH, IT IS SCHEDULED TO LET NEXT MONTH IN SEPTEMBER, UH, WE'LL BE EARLY SEPTEMBER WHEN THE BIDS GET OPENED, UM, OR TO START STARTS.
UH, SO THIS MONTH IS WHEN THE PLANS ARE OUT THERE AND, AND COMPANY CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES ARE LOOKING AT THEM AND GETTING THEIR BIDS PREPARED.
UM, THE PROCESS IS WE WILL KNOW THE APPARENT LOW BIDDER AT THAT TIME.
AND, AND THEN IT GOES TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION IN AUSTIN AT THE END OF THE MONTH AND THEIR MONTHLY MEETING, UH, TO BE OFFICIALLY APPROVED.
SO THAT'S THE PROCESS IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, THEN ONCE THAT'S BEEN APPROVED, GET ALL THE PAPERWORK WE'RE LOOKING AT DECEMBER, JANUARY TIMEFRAME, WHERE CONTRACTORS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE GOAL IS HAVE A PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING AND, AND THEY PRESENT THEIR SCHEDULE.
AND WE TALK ABOUT, UM, ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT OF PHASING AND SUCH TO, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM STARTING TO DO WITH OUR PROJECTS, SUCH AS THE INTERCHANGES ON THE TXDOT WEBSITE HAVE A, UH, PROJECT PAGE.
AND THAT PROJECT PAGE WILL ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO, TO LOOK AT THE LATEST INFORMATION, APPROXIMATE SCHEDULE AND OF WHERE WE'RE AT AND, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT I'M TALKING TO.
FLOZELLE, UH, IN OUR LAST MEETING THAT, UH, SUGGESTS MAYBE YOU HAVE THE LINK ON YOUR WEBSITE TO TAKE YOU SO YOUR CITIZENS CAN SEE WHEN THEY VISIT YOURS WEBSITE TO GO LOOK AT INFORMATION IF THEY WANT.
SO IT IS, UH, SCHEDULED TO BE, UH, IT'S AN $80 MILLION PROJECT IS THE ESTIMATE.
IT'S A FOUR YEAR PROJECT AND I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DISCUSS ABOUT HOW THAT PROJECTS GO ON, AND AGAIN, MONTHLY BE MEETING WITH YOUR STAFF TO STAY IN TOUCH AND ON, ON THAT PROJECT AS WELL.
WE HAVE PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS.
[Items III. B3 & VII. C16]
WE'LL NOW HAVE A PRESENTATION BY STAFF REGARDING CITY OF PORT OFF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF RELOCATION STATUS REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN MARKS.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE DIOCESE ON JUNE 22ND OF THIS YEAR, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 21 DASH 2 6 1 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT WITH SIGMA ENGINEERS OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE RENOVATIONS OF THE NEW HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO BE LOCATED AT 58 60 NINTH AVENUE.
THERE WERE FIVE ENGINEERING WHO SUBMITTED PROPOSALS TO THE CITY AND A COMMITTEE OF CITY STAFF EVALUATED AND RANKED THOSE PROPOSALS WITH SIGMA ENGINEERS, RANKING THE HIGHEST AND MOST QUALIFIED TO PERFORM THE WORK ON JULY 20TH, 2021 SIGMA INJURED AGENT ENGINEERS, EXCUSE ME, SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL TO THE CITY MANAGER, UM, WITH DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING THE SERVICES THEY WOULD PROVIDE THAT, UH, PROPOSAL
[00:45:01]
IS ATTACHED TO PR NUMBER 2, 2 0 6 6, WHICH IS PART OF YOUR CONSENT RESOLUTION FOR APPROVAL TONIGHT.UM, BASED ON THIS PROPOSAL, UM, AGAIN, WE ARE SUBMITTING THIS RESOLUTION FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL.
WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT AND A COMMITTEE HAS BEEN FORMED TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF SIGMA ENGINEERS COULD BEGIN THE PROCESS.
THAT MEETING HAS BEEN TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 11TH.
UM, THE MEMBERS OF THAT COMMITTEE WILL BE MS. JUDITH SMITH, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES.
MS. LATASHA MAY YAWN THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, MS. CHRISTINA PATTERSON, THE WIC DIRECTOR, MR. DERRICK HOLLAND, OUR GIS COORDINATOR, ANDREW RATHMAN, PHILLIP BOULARDII BUILDING OFFICIAL AND JENNIFER EDWARDS, OUR CIP MANAGER THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, RIGHT? ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL? ANY, ANY COUNCIL? I DON'T SEE ANY LIGHTS ON IT.
ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, HOW RESERVE MY, UH, MY QUESTIONS DO WHEN WE GET TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT PR 2, 2 0 6, 6.
OH, OH, HE DIDN'T WANT TO PULL IT UP NOW.
WE COULD PULL IT UP RIGHT NOW.
WHICH ONE IS IT'S IT'S NUMBER 16 CONSENT AGENDA.
LET'S ENTER IT INTO, LET'S GET A MOTION AND GET IT ON THE FLOOR.
YOU KNOW, I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION AND THEN WE CAN PULL IT UP.
UM, UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA, NUMBER 16, UH, PR NUMBER 2, 2 0 6, 6, OR RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CON TRACT WITH SIGMA ENGINEERS OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, UH, IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED IN, IN THE, NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $490,585 FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE NEW HEALTH FACILITY LOCATED AT 58 60 NINTH AVENUE, PORT AUTHOR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS FUNDING, AVAILABLE IN CAPITAL NUMBER B YOU 0 0 0 6 DASH E N G.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVE SECOND.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL REMARKS SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENALOG DISCUSSION.
UH, THE CONCERN THAT THAT I BRING TONIGHT IS WE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH MOTIVA.
AND SO THE CURRENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE TWO MOTIVA, AND THERE WAS A 18 MONTH AGREEMENT, I THINK, UH, WHERE WE HAD, WE DID NOT, WE WOULD NOT PAY ANYTHING, BUT AFTER 18 MONTHS, THE, UH, CLAUSE KICKS IN WHERE THE CITY OF FORT AUTHOR'S GOING TO HAVE TO PAY, UH, UH, RENT OR ARC.
MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT, UH, THAT ORIGINAL CONTRACT WAS SIGNED SOMETIME BEFORE I CAME ON BOARD.
THE, UH, UH, COUNCIL TODAY IS AUGUST 3RD.
AND IF, IF, UH, IF MY NUMBERS ARE CORRECT, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE 10 MONTHS INTO THE CONTRACT, SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO THAT.
AND SO WE'VE ONLY GOT EIGHT MONTHS LEFT AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO OUT TO DO.
AND I KNOW ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE NECESSARY, BUT EACH ONE OF THE STEPS TAKES TIME.
AND, AND, AND SO TO, TO GO OUT FOR THE CONTRACT FOR THE DESIGN AND THE ARCHITECTURAL READING THROUGH THE RESOLUTION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF THREE TO SIX MONTHS BEFORE ALL OF THIS IS FINISHED.
SO THAT, THAT PUTS US TO 16 MONTHS.
AND THEN THE TWO MONTHS WE'LL ADD UP TO 18, AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING TO PAY, AND I DON'T REMEMBER OR RECALL EXACTLY WHAT, WHAT THOSE NUMBERS WERE AS FOREST LEASING, THIS CONCERN.
YEAH, BUT, AND, AND, AND THAT'S NOT RELEVANT RIGHT NOW.
WHAT'S RELEVANT TO ME RIGHT NOW IS, IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO WORK WITH MOTIVA? BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE PHASE OF WHERE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN MOVE
[00:50:01]
INTO THE, THE NEW BUILDING, THE RENOVATED BUILDING BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT 18 PAST THAT 18 MONTH MILESTONE.AND SO IF, I GUESS MAYBE YOU MS. LANGFORD, OR MAYBE THE CITY MANAGER, SOMEBODY, COULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK TO THAT AND SEE IF WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO, TO WORK WITH MOTIVA TO, TO, TO HELP US OUT WITH THAT SITUATION.
CAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF MONEY HERE AND, AND, AND, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYERS' MONEY.
AND, AND THEN THAT'S WHAT I I'M, I'M TRYING TO DO IS TO, TO WATCH WHAT WE'RE DOING.
LET ME, LET ME ASSURE THE COUNCIL THAT I'M IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH JIHAD.
UM, THAT IS, WAS PART OF THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS, UM, FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, THERE IS A FIGURE THAT IS INSERTED IN THE CONTRACT FOR RENT.
THAT FIGURE I RE RECALL IS BETWEEN 26 AND $28,000 A MONTH.
UM, THAT FIGURE HAD TO BE INSERTED BASED ON THE MARKET VALUE AND BASED ON THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE DO HAVE WITH THEM.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE INDICATED IN THE CONTRACT THAT IF THERE IS AN AD, WHEN WE NEGOTIATED THAT CONTRACT, IT DEPENDS, IT WAS NOT ANYWHERE ON THE HORIZON AS YET.
AND WE DID INDICATE IF THERE WAS A DISASTER OF ANY NATURE THAT THE COMPANY WOULD CONTINUE TO LOOK AT, IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT IMPEDED THE PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT, AS FAR AS THAT PROJECT WAS CONCERNED, THAT WOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
BASED ON MY DISCUSSION WITH INDUSTRY WITH MOTIVA, I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE COULD WORK SOMETHING OUT AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED.
THEY HAVE GIVEN YOU ALL HAS GIVEN US THE ASSURANCE THAT IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE IT ON TIME, WE WILL BRING UP THAT SECTION OF THE CONTRACT AS IT RELATES TO DEFEND THEM.
SO I'M PRETTY MUCH CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP AND I WILL KEEP THE COUNCIL BREASTS LONG BEFORE WE GET TO THAT BRIDGE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I DO INTEND TO MEET WITH
AND I WILL INFORM YOU, THERE WILL BE NO SURPRISES.
I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T NEED PAM.
BUT I DO THINK THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THIS NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH A COPY OF THAT CONTRACT SO THEY CAN HAVE IT AND B FOR THEIR IT'S A PUBLIC DOCUMENT.
THEY CAN GET A COPY OF THE CONTRACT THAT THIS COUNCIL VOTED ON THAT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THAT TIMEFRAME.
UM, AND IF WE WERE NOT THERE, WHAT WOULD TAKE PLACE AND HOW THEY WOULD ADDRESS IT GOING FORWARD.
SO I THINK YOU ALL THAT YOU SHOULD GUYS SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THAT.
SO THAT WAY YOU'LL BE AWARE OF, OF, OF WHAT THAT, YEAH.
WELL, I WAS SIMPLY SAYING THEY HAVE COME TO US TONIGHT.
MOTIVA DID COME, MS. JACKSON COME AND SAY TO US THAT THEY, BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND ALL OF THE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, UM, THEY WOULD HAD TO WIT PULL BACK.
AND SO I AM SURE THAT THEY WILL HAVE THE SAME KIND OF, UH, UNDERSTANDING WITH US AND WHAT IS TRANSPIRED DOING OF THIS PANDEMIC AS WELL.
AND ESPECIALLY IF IT'S IN THE CONTRACT ALREADY, ISN'T IT? NO, THERE WAS AN OTHER PART TO THAT PLAN AS WELL.
I HAVE, UM, EVEN THE COVID REALLY FUNDS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED $27 MILLION.
PART OF THAT FUND AS IS SUBMITTED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE TARGETED TOWARDS COVID.
UM, BASED ON MY DISCUSSION WITH THE HEALTH DIRECTOR, UM, WE HAVE SEEN THE NEED FOR, UM, THE IMPROVEMENT OF THAT BUILDING AS WELL, TO ACCOMMODATE SOME VACCINATION CENTER.
AS YOU KNEW RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE UTILIZED THE, UM, ABOUT SLEEPING CENTER.
AND, UM, WE ARE UTILIZING AN ALTERNATIVE SIDE, WHICH IS OWNED BY THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, THAT TO DO THAT, WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IS WE CONTINUE TO PLAN AND EXECUTE THOSE PLANS AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE THROUGH RENOVATING THAT BUILDING, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS THE PLEASE TONIGHT, YOU WILL GET AN UPDATE FROM THE HEALTH DIRECTOR AS TO THE INCREASE IN NUMBERS FOR COVID.
UM, I'M NOT A SUPERIOR BEING, BUT I CAN'T BE TUBING THAT COVID IS GOING WHEN WE, ANYTIME FROM NOW.
SO THE LEAST THAT WE COULD DO IS TO CONTINUE TO
[00:55:01]
PLAN AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED.AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN ALL THAT, THAT WE CAN PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF PORT APPA.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL DO.
AND IT'S PART OF MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE COME TO YOU IS TO UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS AT LEAST ABOUT $4 MILLION FOR THE CONTINUING IMPROVEMENT OF THAT BUILDING THE REST OF THE BUILDING SO THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE CITIZENS VACCINATION IN THE FUTURE.
NEED TO VOTE? WE NEED TO VOTE.
[III. B4. A Presentation By Hani Tohme Regarding The City Of Port Arthur Landfill]
WE'LL HAVE A, UH, PRESENTATION BY MS. UH, DR.TAMI REGARDING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR LANDFILL.
MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
GOOD EVENING, LANDFILL LANDFILL.
SO MANY PEOPLE SPOKE ABOUT THE LANDFILL AT THIS PODIUM AND A LOT I'VE BEEN GOING ON AT THIS LANDFILL.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THE LANDFILL HAD EXPERIENCED A LOT OF CHALLENGES.
WHAT ARE THOSE CHALLENGES ARE RELATED TO PERMITS AND TCEQ AND EPA REGULATIONS, WHETHER THEY ARE RELATED TO COVID.
AND MOST RECENTLY, RELATED TO THIS WINTER STORM, WE HAD IN FEBRUARY, A COMBINATION OF ALL THESE ITEMS TOGETHER ON TOP OF SEMPRA DELAYING THEIR PROJECT, WHICH WAS A LIFELINE TO THIS LANDFILL IN TERMS OF PROVIDING US WITH DIRT AND REVENUE.
WE HAD TO TAKE SOME EXTREME MEASURES TO GET THE LANDFILL WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE SO THAT IT BECOMES A TRUE ENTERPRISE FUND TO WHERE THE LANDFILL CAN PAY FOR ITS OWN BILLS FROM ITS REVENUE.
BEFORE WE START TALKING NUMBERS.
AND WHAT THE PLAN IS, I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU SOME BEFORE PICTURES FROM THE LANDFILL, AND THESE WERE TAKEN ALMOST RIGHT AFTER THE WINTER STORM, WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO OUR SLOPES CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO OUR ROADS AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO OUR RE LEACHATE PUMPS THAT CAUSED
TRUCKS WERE WAITING FOUR HOURS, SOMETIMES TWO HOURS, HOUR AND A HALF IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DUMP, WHICH AFFECTED THE REVENUE AS WELL, KNOWING OF ALL THE VIOLATIONS, KNOWING OF THE IMPACT OF THE STORM, WE HAD TO TAKE ACTION.
SO THE CITY MANAGERS ASSIGNED THE LANDFILL TO ME IN MARCH AND IMMEDIATELY WE STARTED MAKING THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED.
IF YOU DROVE BY THE LANDFILL IN MARCH, APRIL, YOU'D PROBABLY SEE TRASH DOWN THE SLOPES.
YOU'D PROBABLY SEE TRASH ON THE HIGHWAY, GARBAGE BAGS HANGING ON THE FENCE.
THAT IS NO LONGER THE CASE BECAUSE WE SPENT ABOUT $1.2 MILLION ON DIRT ALONE IN ORDER TO FIX THE SLOPES, THE MAJORITY OF THE SLOPES THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED, AND THE GRASS IS ALREADY GROWING ON THEM.
SO NOW THE ACCESS INTO THE LANDFILL AND OUT OF THE LANDFILL CAN BE DONE.
IN FEW MINUTES, WE CHANGED THE FACE WHERE THE LANDFILL OPERATION IS TO WHERE WE CAN UNLOAD FOUR TO SIX TRUCKS AT THE SAME TIME.
AND THAT ELIMINATED THE WAIT TIME.
WE ALSO REPAIRED ALL THE LEACHATE PUMPS.
SO THERE IS NO MORE LEACHATE RUNNING DOWN THE SLOPES INTO THE DITCHES AND DRAINAGE.
[01:00:02]
WHAT DID THAT MEAN? AS YOU KNOW, OVERTIME HAD TO BE INCREASED IN THESE BUDGETS BECAUSE WE HAD TO WORK LONG HOURS, WHETHER IT IS AT THE LANDFILL OR AT SOLID WASTE, BECAUSE THAT WINTER STRONG CAUSED A LOT OF BRANCHES AND TREES TO GO DOWN.AND ON TOP OF THAT, THE DIRECTOR FROM THE CITY MANAGER TO SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS IS CLEAN UP THE CITY.
SO PARKS AND RECREATION HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF CUTTINGS.
SO WE EVEN HAD TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE TCEQ TO EXTEND OUR HOURS AND WORK SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS, TO BE ABLE TO CATCH UP TWO MONTHS AGO, WE MET WITH THE COUNCIL OF MOMENT MOSES DURING ONE OF THE MEETINGS.
AND ONE OF HER BIGGEST CONCERNS WAS THE HEAVY TRASH, WHICH WAS ACCUMULATING IN MANY AREAS.
AND I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW THAT HEAVY TRASH HAS BEEN PICKED UP OR THE MAJORITY OF IT HAS BEEN PICKED UP.
THE SECOND CHALLENGE THAT AFFECTED THIS BUDGET, HIGHLY WAS EQUIPMENT.
WE HAD EQUIPMENT FAILURES THAT COSTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX.
FOR EXAMPLE, I'M SURE AT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE GARBAGE CANS FALLING INTO THE GARBAGE TRUCKS, BECAUSE THE ARMS ARE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY.
THAT REPAIR ALONE COSTS ABOUT $174,000.
SO THE BUDGET OF COURSE GOT EFFECTED BY THAT.
AND WE ARE PROJECTING TO BE APPROXIMATELY $2.2 MILLION OVER BUDGET FOR THE ENTIRE SOLID WASTE DIVISION.
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THAT IS THERE IS A GRANT THAT WILL MOST LIKELY COVER AROUND 1.2 TO $1.3 MILLION OF THIS COST BECAUSE IT IS RELATED TO THE WINTER STORM.
SO THE DEFICIT AT THIS TIME ON THE EXPENDITURES PART WILL BE APPROXIMATELY A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND MAJORITY OF THAT EXPENDITURE AT THE LANDFILL WENT TO COVER UP THE DIRT, THE SLOPES WITH THE DIRT THAT WE HAD TO PURCHASE IN ORDER TO MEET REGULATIONS, STOP THE BLEEDING OF THE LEAD SHADE INTO OUR WATERWAYS AND PROVIDE A LANDFILL THAT LOOKS GOOD, OPERATES WELL, EASY ACCESS TO WHERE WE CAN ATTRACT NEW CLIENTS.
WE GOING TO STOP THE BLEEDING AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO BALANCE THE BUDGET THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND WITH THE MILLION DOLLAR, UH, TRANSFER, BUT WE CAN NOT CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME EXACT THING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THESE POINTS IN THE ORDER THEY'RE IN, BECAUSE I BELIEVE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AT THE LANDFILL IS TRAINING TRAINING TRAINING.
WE WENT IN THERE AND WE HAD EMPLOYEES THAT BEEN WORKING AT THE LANDFILL FOR MANY YEARS, SOME UP TO 13 YEARS, BUT THEY HAVE NEVER RECEIVED THE TRAINING REQUIRED.
EVERY EMPLOYEE AT THE LANDFILL TODAY RECEIVED EVERY BIT OF TRAINING.
THEY NEED TO EVEN GET A LICENSE.
THREE EMPLOYEES TOOK THEIR TEST AND WE KNOW OF TWO THAT ALREADY PASSED.
THEN HAVE A CLASS, A LICENSE TODAY.
SO THE TRAINING DOESN'T ONLY PROVIDE THE EMPLOYEES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED TO OPERATE.
AND IF WE LOSE A CLASS, A LICENSE, WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER ONE AS A REDUNDANCY.
SO THROUGH THE TRAINING OF ALL THE STAFF, WE REALIZE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE THICKNESS OF THE DIRT USED TO COVER THE TRASH ITSELF WAS ABOUT A FOOT WHERE WE ONLY NEED SIX INCHES.
SO THAT PART OF THE TRAINING IS ALREADY IMPACTING THE SAVINGS ON THE BUDGET TO CLIENTS, CLIENTS, CLIENTS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE NEW CLIENTS TODAY.
I CAN EASILY SAY THAT THIS LAND IS VERY ATTRACTIVE FOR NEW CLIENTS BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION.
EASY IN, EASY OUT, OUR RATES FOR A BULK IS ONLY $5 PER CUBIC YARDS.
AND WE GOING TO GO AFTER THESE CLIENTS, WE'VE ALREADY SPOKE TO CLIENTS, SUCH AS VALERO WHO HAVE A BIG PROJECT ONGOING TODAY.
WE LOOKED AT THE SAMPLES FROM THEIR SOILS AND THEY MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE A DEAL WITH
[01:05:01]
THEM IN ORDER TO GET THAT AVENUE, AS WELL AS THE DIRT THAT WE CAN USE AT THE SAME TIME, SIMILAR TO THE SIMPLER TYPE PROJECT, THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME VOLUMES, BUT EVERY CUBIC YARD IS GOING TO HELP.AND WE HAVE OTHER CLIENTS WE'RE NEGOTIATING WITH RIGHT NOW.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT PUBLICLY YET BECAUSE THEY ARE DEALING WITH OTHER ENTITIES IN THE AREA.
NUMBER THREE, WE HAVE A BIG PARTNER IN THIS AREA CALLED DRAINAGE DISTRICT SEVEN, THAT MR. BURTON HAVE ALREADY STARTED A PARTNERSHIP TYPE RELATIONSHIP WITH I'VE APPROACHED THERE, A NEW ENGINEER, MR. ALLEN SIMS, AND THEY HAVE TWO BIG DRAINAGE BONDS.
THEY'RE FIXING TO EMBARK ON IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO TWO MONTHS.
AND WE ARE ON TOP OF THE LIST TO NEGOTIATE FOR THAT DIRT AND TRY TO RECEIVE IT FROM THEM IN ORDER TO SAVE MORE MONEY ON THE DIRT ITSELF.
UH, DD D SEVEN IS A BIG ASSET TO US.
SO WE HAVE TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND THEY ARE VERY, VERY WILLING TO WORK WITH US, UH, ON THAT DIRT.
AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY, UH, ACHIEVABLE, UH, HANG ON.
WE'VE GOT A FEW MORE DARK USAGE WHEN WE HAD THE TCQ INSPECTION THIS YEAR AROUND APRIL, THE CITY WAS USING TARPS TO COVER DIRT OVERNIGHT GARBAGE OVERNIGHT.
SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO USE DIRT.
AND THEY SAID NO, BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF VIOLATIONS THAT WERE NOT MET YET OR NOT TAKING CARE OF.
AND WE HAD TO COMPLY FORTUNATELY ENOUGH LAST WEEK WE MET WITH THEM AND THEY SAW ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS.
ONE HAS TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET CHALLENGES AND THEY AUTHORIZED US TO USE THE TARPS AGAIN.
SO WHAT WE CAN DO INSTEAD OF COVERING WITH DIRT EVERY NIGHT DURING THE WEEK, WE CAN PUT A TARP OVER THE GARBAGE TO KEEP IT IN PLACE ALL THE DOWN, NOT LET IT FLY OFF TO THE HIGHWAY.
AND THEN IN THE MORNING WE GET MORE TRASH THAN WE COVER.
WE CAN DO THAT AS LONG AS WE DON'T HAVE MORE THAN 24 HOURS OF COVERAGE.
SO ON SATURDAY, WE HAVE TO CLOSE UP THE LANDFILL, CAP IT OFF AND, UH, NOT USE THE TOPS, BUT DURING THE WEEK, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND THEN THERE ARE A LOT OF SAVINGS ON, ON THAT THOUGHT USAGE AS WELL.
UH, THE LANDFILL HAVE TO HAVE ITS OWN DIRT PIT ON THE LONG RUN, ESPECIALLY IF SEMPRA DOES NOT ENGAGE WITH US AND CONTINUE THIS PROJECT, A DIRT PIT CAN BE AT THE LANDFILL ITSELF.
HOWEVER, HAVING THAT REQUIRES SOME MITIGATION BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL WETLANDS OR IT CAN BE AT A PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE LANDFILL THAT THE CITY CAN PURCHASE.
AND WE ARE EVALUATING ALL THESE OPTIONS IN TERMS OF LOCATION, COST AND SAVINGS.
THE LAST OPTION WE WANT TO USE IS INCREASING RATES AND CHANGING THE RATES, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET WHEN WE GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND, LIKE WE DON'T MEAN NOW TO TAKE A MILLION DOLLARS TO BALANCE THE ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGET, WHICH SHOULD PAY FOR ITSELF WITH TAKING A MILLION DOLLARS AWAY FROM STREETS AND DRAINAGE AND OTHER PROJECTS THAT CAN TAKE PLACE.
SO WE DO NOT KNOW IF WE NEED THAT RATE INCREASE YET OR NOT.
AND WE DO NOT KNOW IF WE NEED ONE, WHAT THE NUMBER IS GOING TO BE.
I'M JUST GIVING YOU THIS INFORMATION.
AND IN ABOUT 30 TO 45 DAYS BEFORE THE NEW BUDGET YEAR STARTS, WE WILL COME BACK WITH SOLID NUMBERS IN TERMS OF REVENUE, WE'RE GOING TO GET FROM ADDITIONAL CUSTOMERS.
IF VALERO IS GOING TO GET US DIRT, IF D SEVEN IS GOING TO HAVE SOME EXTRA FOR US, AND THEN WE CAN DETERMINE IF THAT RATE INCREASE IS NEEDED OR NOT IN CASE THAT RATE INCREASE.
IF YOU LOOK AT NEIGHBORING CITIES AND WHAT THEIR RATES ARE TODAY, OUR RATE IS BASICALLY 1975, WHICH INCLUDES THE FIRST CONTAINER AND HEAVY TRASH PICKUP.
THE SECOND CONTAINER AT OUR RATE IS SEVEN 50 OTHER CITIES THAT ARE ALL DIFFERENT RANGES.
BEAUMONT IS AT 1975 WITH A $1 PROPOSED
[01:10:01]
INCREASE COMING UP IN OCTOBER 1ST.BUT THEIR SECOND CONTAINER IS IN THE $3 RANGE.
UH, YOU GO TO BAYTOWN THEY'RE IN THE 27, 20 $8 AND NO CHARGE FOR THEIR SECOND CONTAINER.
WHY DO WE SEE ALL THESE FLUCTUATIONS IN RATES FROM DIFFERENT CITIES? BECAUSE DIFFERENT CITIES ESTABLISH THE RATE IN A WAY TO BALANCE THEIR BUDGET.
AND THAT'S WHY THERE IS NO ONE STANDARD.
THERE IS NO, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IN THIS AREA IS CHARGING ONE NUMBER.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO PICK UP THE CAR BAIT.
YOU HAVE TO PICK UP HEAVY TRASH.
THESE ARE TWO ITEMS THAT RELATE DIRECTLY TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
AND AGAIN, IT WILL BE UP TO THE COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND HOW THEY WANT TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET.
AND ON THE BAR CHART, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'RE STILL DOING VERY WELL ON RATES COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES.
I, I TOLD YOU ABOUT ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT'S, WE'LL MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THESE ARE THE EMPLOYEES WHO CHOSE TO WORK.
12 HOUR SHIFTS CHOSE TO WORK ON THE WEEKEND, CHOSE TO OPERATE HEAVY EQUIPMENT, 10 HOURS A DAY IN ORDER TO SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS YOU SAW IN THE PICTURES EARLIER AND GET THE LANDFILL TO THE LEVEL IT IS AT TODAY AND GET THE CITY CLEANED UP.
LIKE THEY ARE CLEANING IT UP EVERY DAY.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND ARE NOT PERFECT.
THERE IS NO DIVISION OR DEPARTMENT IN ANY MUNICIPALITY.
WE HAVE OUR WEAKNESSES, BUT WE'RE STRIVING EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THESE WEAKNESSES ARE GONE TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE SUPERIOR CUSTOMER SERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS, WHICH IS OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL.
AND IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
LET ME JUST LET ME JUST CHIME IN AS WELL AND STATE THAT, UM, ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, THIS WAS A VERY HOT TOPIC OF DISCUSSION BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
AND SO COUNCIL APPROVED A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO ADD STAFF FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PURPOSES IN ORDER TO SERVICE THE EQUIPMENT.
AS THE, TO ME INDICATED A LOT OF OUR EQUIPMENT, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPEND LARGE SUMS OF MONIES ON THOSE EQUIPMENT BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE STAFF IN PLACE.
WE HAVE THAT IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.
SO YOU WILL SEE A REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF MONIES THAT WE CONTINUE TO SPEND.
WE HAVE A LONG-TERM PLAN IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THOSE SHORTCOMINGS THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST.
AND WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THEM GRADUALLY, DR.
TOMMY, LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION.
WHAT WAS THE GLITCH WITH THE SIMPLE PROJECT? THEY PUT IT ON HOLD.
AND SO THEREFORE WE DON'T HAVE THAT DIRT AVAILABLE TO US THAT WE WERE COUNTING ON SEMPRA WAS SUPPOSED TO START DELIVERING DIRT IN NOVEMBER, UNFORTUNATELY WITH COVID GOING ON, THEY HAD A LOT OF DELAYS.
AND THE ONLY INFORMATION I HAVE FROM THEM IS EVALUATING ENVIRONMENTAL TYPE CONDITIONS AND SAVINGS ON THEIR PARTS.
AND IT WILL BE THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2022 BEFORE THEY START ON THIS PROJECT.
AGAIN, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GOING TO GET DIRT IN 2022.
I MEAN, THEY'RE GOING TO START INITIATING THAT PROJECT AGAIN.
AND AS YOU ALL HAVE SEEN IN THE MEDIA, SOME OF THEIR PARTNERS, YOU KNOW, BROKE OFF THIS PROJECT.
WE CAN NOT, WE CAN NOT SIT AND DEPEND ON SEMPRA TO SAVE THE DAY AND GIVE US THIS LIFELINE BECAUSE WE'VE DONE THAT FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW.
AND IT HAS BEEN DISAPPOINTING AT THE END OF EVERY BUDGET YEAR.
MY QUESTION ALSO BY THE DIRT, WE SUPPOSED TO HAVE GOTTEN THOUSANDS OF UNITS DISCUSSED TWO WEEKS AGO.
SO RIGHT NOW I'M HOPING WE GET SOME NEW CLIENTS, YOU KNOW, TO HELP MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
SO I HATE TO SEE A COLA PUBLIC BY THE RATE INCREASE.
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO PUB AN ALREADY INCREASED BACK BACK THEN BAD ENOUGH ALREADY.
SO WE CAN GET SOME MORE CLIENTS THAT WILL BE HELPFUL, WORK HARD ON THAT.
[01:15:01]
TO COME TO OUR LANDFILL.IT'S HAD A GORGEOUS RATE INCREASE IF WE CAN.
WE WENT FROM SEMPRA WAS GOING TO GENERATE ABOUT $19 MILLION IN REVENUE WITHIN THREE YEARS AND PROVIDE US DIRT COVER FOR EIGHT TO 10 YEARS TO SEMPRA IS NOT COMING.
AND WE ARE AGGRESSIVELY, I'M PERSONALLY AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING NEW CLIENTS.
AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE, SO BRING THEM ON.
TAMI, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THE DIFFERENCE IN THE LANDFILL AS YOU DRIVE BY, YOU CAN SEE THE GREEN GRASS PRIOR TO LAST YEAR WHEN YOU WOULD DRIVE BY.
AND I WOULD HAVE THIS INTENSE ARGUMENT WITH MY HUSBAND, UM, WHO WOULD SAY THAT YOU SEE THAT TRASH AND I'M LIKE, I CAN'T A BLIND BARTIMAEUS COULD SEE THE TRASH.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE, IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS WHAT WE SAW AND IT WAS, IT LOOKED TERRIBLE FOR OUR CITY TO DRIVE DOWN THE LANDFILL AND SEE THE TRASH ALL OVER.
BUT I COMMEND, UM, YOUR EMPLOYEES, YOUR STAFF, FOR THE DIFFERENCE YOU'RE MAKING, UM, IN OUR LANDFILL AND NOT ABLE TO SEE IT.
IT IS IT'S, UH, JUST TO SEE GREEN GRASS IS A BIG, UM, A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.
AND THE LAND ACTUALLY PICKING UP TRASH BECAUSE I DRIVE THE CITY TO ABOUT TRASH BECAUSE WE PRIOR TO ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AGO, WE HAD TRASH EVERYWHERE WHEN WE STILL, IT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT IT, BUT IT'S BETTER.
AS YOU KNOW, THE TRASH PICKUP HAVE BEEN VERY CHALLENGING WHEN YOU HAVE EIGHT TRUCKS AND ONLY THREE ARE RUNNING.
I MEAN, WE EVEN TOOK DUMP TRUCKS FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND USE THEM PICK UP TRASH BY HAND, JUST TO TRY TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS.
AND I WAS WALKING IN WITH MR. MOSES AND HE SAID HE WANTS TO HAVE EARLY DINNER.
THAT TOLD ME, UH, YOU SPOKE TO THE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE THAT, THAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER FOR THE EQUIPMENT AND WE'VE ADDED SOME PEOPLE.
AND NOW THE, THE SCHEDULE IS CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DETAIL ABOUT HOW THAT'S, HOW THEY'RE SET UP NOW, I'M NOT OVER THE GARAGE, BUT I KNOW ONE THING AND MR. BURTON CAN EXPAND ON THAT.
IVAN IS A FIRECRACKER FOR ANYBODY CAN GET THIS IN PLACE AND COME TO YOUR HOUSE.
DID I GET BY THE EAR, TAKE YOU TO THE SHOP AND MAKE YOU CHANGE THE OIL ON YOUR TRUCK? HE'S THE ONE TO DO IT.
SO MR. BURTON PICK THE RIGHT PERSON, AND I THINK THE GARAGE WILL BE IN ORDER VERY QUICKLY.
UM, LET ME SHARE TWO THINGS WITH COUNCIL.
I'VE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF BEGUN SOME ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES.
UM, AS FAR AS THE GARAGE IS CONCERNED, UM, ASSIGNING NEW DIRECTORSHIP AND, UM, IMPROVING THE REPORTING, UM, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BOOST STAFF MORALE OUT THERE AND WE WILL GET VALUE FOR THE MONEY THAT WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE GARAGE.
UM, I HAVE CHOSEN TO PUT IT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TRANSIT DEPARTMENT WITH IVAN.
UM, WHO'S THE DIRECTOR OF THE TRANSIT DEPARTMENT HAS EXPANSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF MECHANICS AND, UM, GARAGE OPERATION.
UM, I THINK ONE OF MY PRIMARY CONCERNS HERE IS SERVICE DELIVERY AND COST COTTON.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, GET A FIELD WITH EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT USES THE GARAGE TO PROVIDE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY OF CITY RESOURCES THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE IN THE HUNDRED YEARS THAT THE CITY OF PORT APPLE HAVE EXISTED.
AND SO I'VE BEEN BACKED ON THAT JUDY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY AND QUALITY SERVICE DELIVERY.
AND I THINK I'VE BEEN, CAN DELIVER THAT.
THE SECOND THING I'VE BEEN BACKED ON FOR THE LANDFILL OF THE TWO OF ME, AND I HAD A VERY INTERESTING DISCUSSION WITH A CLIENT JUST THIS WEEK.
AND, UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT USING THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY THAT'S BEEN PRODUCED IN THE LANDFILL FOR SEA AND CONSUMPTION TO INDUSTRY.
I CANNOT AT THIS POINT TALK ABOUT IT IN PUBLIC, BUT I WILL INFORM THE COUNCIL AS THIS CONTINUES TO MATERIALIZE.
AND AS THE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE ME WITH THE PROJECTIONS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TO SEE WHETHER IT'S FEASIBLE AND IT'S PROFITABLE FOR THE CITY,
[01:20:01]
WE DON'T WANT TO BE, OH, I'M SORRY.I DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT CLIENT, BUT NONE OF THEM CAN.
I JUST WANT, I WANT TO MOVE PAST THAT, BUT I JUST, COULD YOU GIVE US, GIVE US A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE WEIGHT SCALE? BECAUSE THE WEIGHT SCALE HAD BEEN THAT THING THAT WE HAD BEEN WORKING WITH PILLARS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AS WE WOULD TRY TO, EXCUSE ME, BRING THAT ONLINE AS WELL.
YOU ALREADY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH SPRINT TO INSTALL THE WASTEWATER TANK AND THE WATER TANK FOR THE BUILDING.
WE ALREADY HAVE A BED FOR THE WALKWAY THAT NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE SCALE AND THE BUILDING ITSELF.
OUR STAFF IS GOING TO BE INSTALLING THE, UH, LIMESTONE AROUND THE BUILDING, UH, PROBABLY THIS WEEKEND, CAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME DRY WEATHER.
SO I'M HOPING WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, THE SCALE WILL BE FUNCTIONAL.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HOW THE SCALE IS GOING TO INCREASE.
OUR REVENUE IS GOING TO INCREASE OUR REVENUE.
WHAT THE SCALE IS GOING TO DO IS OPEN UP A NEW STREAM OF REVENUE FROM CLIENTS THAT HAVE TO WEIGH.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE USING THE SCALE FOR.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO RUN EVERY TRUCK THAT COMES TO THE LANDFILL THROUGH THAT SCALE AND START CHANGING OUR BILLING STRUCTURE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO COMPETE WITH OTHER LANDFILLS.
BUT THE CLIENTS THAT HAVE TO WEIGH IS WHERE THAT SCALE IS GOING TO COME INTO PLAY BECAUSE NOT MANY OTHER LANDFILLS HABITS.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE ATTRACTING NEW CLIENTS, UH, FOR THAT, BUT HOPEFULLY WITHIN TWO TO THREE WEEKS.
WE HAVE NO, UH, EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION FOR OUR WONDERFUL EMPLOYEES, BUT WE APPRECIATE THEM CORRESPONDENTS.
[III. E1. A Discussion Regarding Parks And Esplanade Maintenance — Schedule ( Requested By Councilmember Holmes)]
TO DISCUSSIONS.OUR FIRST DISCUSSION WILL BE A DISCUSSION REGARDING PARKS AND ESPLANADES MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HOLMES.
SO ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS OR YOU JUST WANT ME TO GIVE A OVERVIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT'S GOING ON? I'D LIKE TO JUST GET AN OVERVIEW AS LONG AS JUST SAY THE REASON I REQUESTED THIS IS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN GETTING A NUMBER OF CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR PARKS, THE CUTTING OF THE GRASS AND OUR ESPLANADES AND OUR PARKS AND THE, THE STATEMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL, YOU KNOW, WE GET THESE VIOLATIONS AND YOU ALL ARE IN VIOLATION AS WELL.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT PARK'S HIS FAULT BECAUSE THEY WORK VERY HARD TO, TO, TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A CLEAN COMMUNITY, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO WELL, JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE HEADS UP AND KIND OF INFORM EVERYONE OF WHAT WE DO.
SO WHEN YOU SPEAK OF VIOLATIONS, THAT'S NOT PARKS, THAT'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
WE DON'T DEAL WITH, UH, THE, THE VIOLATIONS OF ANYTHING.
AND WE DON'T LIKE PROBABLY YES, WE ARE, ARE, SHOULD BE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARDS THAT WE'RE ASKING THE CITIZENS TO BE HELD TO.
THEN IN THE WAY HE IS, WE ARE IN VIOLATIONS, BUT JUST TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW, UM, IT IS KIND OF UNDER AN ASSUMPTION THAT WE DO PARKS, BUT WE DO PARKS BOULEVARDS.
WE DO THE FLATS, WE DO TRIANGLES, WE DO DITCHES, WE DO SHOULDERS.
PLUS WE ALSO TRAIN, WE DO TREE PRUNING AS WELL AS, UM, HERBICIDE SPRAYING.
SO IN THE NORMAL PERFECT WORLD.
SO WITH THE 35 PARKS, WITH ALL THE DITCHES AND SHELTERS, AND I'M THINKING EVERY AREA OF THE CITY WITH THE WONDERFUL FULL-TIME STAFF OF 10 PEOPLE, WE LITERALLY CAN DO THE WHOLE CITY.
IN ADDITION TO THE HELP THAT WE GET FROM STAFFING AGENCIES, WE DO HAVE SOME STAFFING AGENCIES THAT WE CAN DO WITH NO RAIN.
EVERYTHING'S WET, EVERYTHING'S DRY.
WE CAN LITERALLY DO THE WHOLE CITY AND PROBABLY TWO WEEKS AND TWO DAYS, BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD A DRY SPELL FOR MORE THAN A WEEK SINCE I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN.
SO WHEN WE HAVE THAT GOING ON AND MIND YOU, ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IS WHEN AFTER THE WEEKEND, PARK'S BEEN AT LEAST TWO HOLIDAYS PICKING UP TRASH.
WE GO AROUND THE CITY FROM THERE'S TRASH ON BOULEVARDS.
THERE'S TRASH ON THE PARKS FROM AROUND THE SEAWALL TO THERE'S TRASH, EVERYWHERE.
THE CITY'S JUST FULL OF TRASH.
SO WE SPEND TWO DAYS THAT WE COULD BE MOWING, PICKING UP TRASH.
SO AFTER WE PICK UP THE TRASH, AND SO WHAT WE DO, WE DO HAVE SOME CONTRACTORS.
[01:25:01]
KIND OF HAVE, WE CALL 15 GROUPS, DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY, OF HOW WE GROUP THEM ALL.SO WE STARTED OFF WITH, I THINK, UM, NINE NOW WE'RE DOWN THE OTHER AREAS, PARKS GOODS.
NOW WE'RE DOWN TO SEVEN AND WE MIGHT BE LOSING TWO MORE DUE TO, FROM THE PANDEMIC FOR REASONS DUE TO THEY CAN'T MOW FROM EQUIPMENT.
UM, THEY CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE GRASS MOWING, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GETTING FROM CONTRACTORS.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR OWN YARDS, MOST PEOPLE LITERALLY RIGHT NOW, WHEN IT'S DRY, YOU'RE CUTTING YOUR YARD ONCE A WEEK.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, WE CAN'T GET TO EVERY PART OF THE CITY IN A WEEK, EVEN ON DRY DAYS, BUT WE'RE DOING, AND WHAT WE TRY NOT TO DO IS HOP AROUND THE CITY.
WE ARE ON A SCHEDULE, WE START FROM ONE END OF TOWN AND WE GO TO THE OTHER, WE TRY NOT TO GO TO THIS END AND GO TO THAT END AND GO TO BED.
WE JUST TRY TO STAY ON A SCHEDULE.
SO WE'LL KNOW THE EXACT ROTATION AND THINGS AND HOW THAT GOES.
MR. MANAGER, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THOUGH, AS, AS WE DO THIS AND WE MAY ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN OUR PARKS, I THINK MS ALPA IS DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE HER SOME ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.
OUR PARKS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE AND IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT BECAUSE SHE OBVIOUSLY JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE STAFF.
BUT WHEN I PASS BY PARKS, THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND, AND THE GRASS IS GREATER THAN 12 FEET TALL AND IT'S ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.
AND I UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THE FACT THAT SHE HAS ALL THE SITUATIONS WITH THE RAIN AND ALL OF THAT.
BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO INVEST THAT KIND OF MONEY, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THE WAY OUR CITY LOOKS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP HER TO, TO, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN DOING THAT.
I APPRECIATE YOU AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DID.
CAN I RESPOND BEFORE YOURS? OKAY.
AND JUST TO BRING A LITTLE MORE CLARITY WHEN IT RAINS, THE WATER SEATS, YOU KNOW, AND IN SOME, AS WATER SITTING ON A PARK IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS WATER SITTING BY SOMEONE'S HOUSE OR BY IN A DITCH OR BY SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PUDDLE ISSUES WE HAVE, AND JUST AS THEY WERE TALKING, WE DO NOT WANT TO RUN UP WHAT WE HAVE.
AND PART OF SPENDING THE MONEY IS MAKING SURE THAT WE DO THESE TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS ON THESE PARKS, TO WHERE WE CAN BE RESILIENT FROM THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE DAYS OF RAIN, PUTTING THINGS IN PLACE TO WHERE WE HAVE THESE PAWNS TO WHERE WATER CAN DRAIN OFF.
AND IT'S NOT JUST SITTING THERE.
SO IT'S NOT JUST TO BEAUTIFY AND MAKE PART OF IT IS LANDSCAPE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT IT AS WELL WHEN IT COMES TO THESE SERIOUS.
MAY I ASK A QUESTION? THERE'S A, ON 5 0 3 PARK.
THEY HAVE BEEN, UH, TRYING TO REMOVE THE GRASS FROM THE SIDEWALK.
IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT FOR A WHILE NOW AT THE, THERE'S A, THERE'S A TRACTOR THERE THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.
THAT'S BEEN DOING IT, BUT, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN, UH, REMOVED FOR AWHILE.
IS THERE SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THAT RIGHT NOW, OR I REALLY CAN'T ANSWER TO THAT TO WHY THERE'S A TRACTOR.
IT COULD BE SOME OTHER STUFF, BUT THEN WHAT DIRECTLY RELATES TO THE PARKS? WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING.
UM, AS FAR AS NOW, WE'RE NOT, WE WILL BE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.
SO WE ARE GOING TO DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO BRYAN PARK AND INCLUDING WITH THAT THREE THOUGH, THAT BRIAN PARK, OKAY.
WE GREW UP WITH THE FIVE OR 30 YEARS, SIR.
AND SO WE'VE, UH, I KNOW PUBLIC WORKS HAVE LOOKED AT IT FROM LIKE THE SIDEWALKS, THE CURVES, THE GUTTERS.
IT'S NOT JUST THE, MY PART OF IT IS ACTUALLY THE PLAYGROUND AREA ITSELF.
BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL, I HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS TOO.
IT SEEMED LIKE SOMEONE WAS MOVING, NO, LIKE GRASS HAD OVERTAKEN THE SIDEWALK AND IT SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE MOVING THAT, BUT IT WASN'T BEING.
SO I DON'T KNOW AT THIS TIME IT WASN'T US.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE DON'T DO THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE GET A SLOW SEASON AND, YOU KNOW, A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD TO KEEP THE CITY CLEAN CREW.
AND THAT WAS PART OF THEIR MAIN DUTIES WAS TO IDENTIFY SIDEWALKS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF SIDEWALKS IN THE CITY, NOT JUST ON PARKS, BUT ALL OVER THE CITY THAT'S WAS INUNDATED, EVEN NOT BY TREES, BRUSHES, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, BUT THEY WENT AND THEY WERE JUST IDENTIFYING SIDEWALKS IN THE CITY.
BUT THE ONE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, I CAN'T ATTEST TO THAT ONE, BUT MR. MR. CITY MANAGER, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US AS A COUNCIL, ALL OF US, UM, YOU KNOW, FIND A WAY TO INSTITUTE A PRISTINE
[01:30:01]
PORT AUTHOR OR, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, A BEAUTIFUL PORT.I MEAN, WE'VE, WE TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT A CAMPAIGN, UH, OF, YOU KNOW, THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT OR PUT TOGETHER WHERE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, HAVE I HAVE A GUY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHO TAKES A BIG DRUM AND JUST GOES THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE LIVE AND HE DOESN'T GET PAID.
HE JUST PICKS UP TRASH ON TURTLE CREEK, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE PEOPLE ALWAYS THROWING BOTTLES AND STUFF.
BUT IF WE COULD JUST DO SOME THINGS, I GUESS, TO JUST, UH, AS A CITY, YOU KNOW, JUST IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM WHERE WE, YOU KNOW, THE YARD OR THE WEEK OR THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, WHERE WE WOULD HAND OUT THOSE KINDS OF THINGS OR GET, UM, DIVINE NINE OR CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO ADOPT A PARK, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THOSE KINDS OF SITUATIONS I THINK WOULD HELP OUR CITY, UM, TO BE, UH, YOU KNOW, TO BE MORE BEAUTIFUL AND ATTRACTIVE FOR, FOR US AND FOR OUR, OUR YOUTH AND FOR OUR ENTIRE CITIZENS.
SO, UM, LET ME JUST SHARE WITH YOU AS TO WHERE WE ARE WITH THOSE IN THE NEW BUDGET, NEW BRING TO YOU IN A FEW WEEKS, THEN IN THE BUDGET WORKSHOP PROCESS, YOU WILL SEE, I HAVE REQUESTED THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, UM, WHICH I THINK WILL BEGIN TO MAKE A DENT, UM, IN THE BEAUTIFICATION OF OUR CITY AND MORE SU UM, IN IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF OUR PARKS, UM, A BOOKLET WITH ALPA IN PUTTING IN THOSE FIGURES IN THERE THAT WILL, UM, GO TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF NEW EQUIPMENT AND A NEW PROGRAM.
THEY KEEP THE CITY CLEAN PROGRAM.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON AND BUILD WE OTHER AGENCIES LIKE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHERE WE HAVE SENIORS, UM, WORKING WITH AND RECREATIONS DEPARTMENT ON A WEEKEND BASIS TO PICK UP TRASH, BUT MORE SOUP.
WE WILL DO IT ON A DAILY BASIS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER TIME.
YOU KNOW, I'M GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE GENESIS OF THIS HERE.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN THE REPOSITORY FOR CUTTING OF DRAINS AND, UM, DITCHES AND SIDEWALKS.
IT BECAME A RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WHEN THE CITY CAME AND EXPERIENCED, UM, A LOSS IN REVENUE YEARS AND YEARS AGO.
AND I JUST COME IN MISS ALPA ONE STOP FOR TAKING UP THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
AND KAREN WAS DAWN, EVEN WHEN I BECAME CITY MANAGER WITHOUT COMPLAINING TOO MUCH ABOUT IT.
UM, I THINK NOW IS THE TIME AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OUR REVENUES AND WE CONTINUE TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT PARKS ARE PART OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE, WHICH WE WANT FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OUR CITIZENS.
AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS A SORT OF ATTRACTION TO PEOPLE WHO'S WILLING TO MOVE INTO OUR WORK IN COMMUNITY.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THEM WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE EDC THAT ARE OVER THE YEARS, INVESTED TREMENDOUSLY IN QUALITY OF LIFE FACILITIES IN THE CITY OF WHATEVER.
SO WE WELCOME THAT PARTNERSHIP AND WE ARE BUILDING ON THAT PARTNERSHIP JUST THIS AFTERNOON.
I MET WITH TEXTILES, ONE OF THE ENGINEERS OUT THERE AND WITH MS. ROBERTS AND WITH THE PAST DIRECTORS, AND WE ARE LOOKING ON BUILDING ON PARTNERSHIPS, WE'VE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WE'VE LAMAR BOUGHT UP AS ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT I GET SO OFTEN FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE LAMAR PORT APHA IS WHEN MY STUDENTS COME INTO PORT OFFICE, ESPECIALLY TRAVELING ON 69.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR MENTAL WELL BEING IN COMING INTO THE CTO, WHICH IS TRUE BECAUSE IT AFFECTS ME AS A CITY MANAGER.
WHEN I DRIVE ON 69 TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF GARBAGE THAT IS, THIS IS TRUE ON THE HIGHWAY OUT THERE.
MY DISCUSSION WITH TECHSTARS IS TO CONTINUALLY TAKE ON THOSE AT A COST THAT IS NOT ONLY DETRIMENTAL TO THE CITY, BUT A COST SHARING.
WE'VE TEXTED THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, DOES IT WITH INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WORK WITH OUR GIS COORDINATOR OVER A YEAR AGO IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT HERE.
I THINK NOW IS THE TIME THAT WE TAKE IT ON GRADUALLY ON A GRADUAL BASIS.
[01:35:01]
WE PHASE IT OVER A PERIOD OF THREE TO FIVE YEARS, AND THEN WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS OUR CT ENTRANCES BECAUSE IT'S LIKE ENTERING YOUR HOME.IT MAKES IT FIRST IMPRESSION ON A VISITOR AND ON YOUR CHILDREN.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN WORKING ON IT.
UM, I WILL LOOK AT IT AND IT WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE BUDGET.
IT WILL HAVE A BUDGET IN BACK, BUT OVER THE YEARS WE WILL SEE THE CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT.
AND CAN I JUST WANTED TO SAY, THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR, BECAUSE I THINK AS PARKS IS DOING A GREAT JOB THAT THEY DO NEED ASSISTANCE, UM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TAKEN ON THINGS THAT HAVE REALLY NOT BEEN THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND SHE LISTED THAT.
AND I THINK THAT THAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY THIS COUNCIL AND BY THIS COMMUNITY.
IF I CAN JUST ADD REALLY QUICK AND I DO WANT TO THANK THE STAFF.
THEY TOO HAVE BEEN WORKING ALL DIFFERENT HOURS, YOU KNOW, JUST TRYING TO KEEP UP BECAUSE THAT'S THE, WE ARE, WE'RE TRYING TO CATCH UP RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS IT RAINS, LIKE THERE HAS TO BEEN PAST, UM, THIS PAST WEEK, THEY HELD UP TRAFFIC GETTING THOSE SLOPE, MOORES AND EVERYTHING ACROSS THE SABINE PASS.
AS SOON AS THEY'RE THERE, THEY GET ONE, TWO GOOD DAYS OF CUTTING DITCHES AND SHOULDERS.
THE BIG RAIN HITS THEY'RE STUCK.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THANKED CITIZENS JUST THINK LIKE THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING THEY'RE TRYING, BUT IT'S OUT OF THEIR CONTROL, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR WHAT THEY DO.
AND I DO APPRECIATE, WE DO HAVE SOME CITIZENS IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE TOWN, UM, THAT DO WHATEVER THEY CAN LIKE, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, I WORK HEAVILY WITH THE ONES THAT BE AROUND EAGLES PARK AND THEY, WHEN I SAY ARE ON ME AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE IT'S LIKE I SAY MORE TO US FOR US, SIX HOURS ARE BETTER THAN TWO, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, TALKING WITH THEM AND THEY VALUE THEY HAVE BOUGHT IN INTO THEIR PARK.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT THE CITIZENS TO BUY INTO BEAUTIFYING THE CITY, BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
IT HAS TO BE, UH, A COMMUNITY EVER FROM ANYWHERE.
WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF STAFF.
OUR NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM IS DISCUSSION
[III. E2. A Discussion Regarding Traffic Concerns On 7th Street Between 9th Avenue And Woodworth Boulevard ( Requested By Councilmember Holmes)]
REGARDING TRAFFIC CONCERNS ON SEVENTH STREET BETWEEN NINTH AVENUE AND WOODWORK BOULEVARD.COUNCIL MEMBER HOLMES IS YOUR ITEM AGAIN.
UM, IN REGARDS TO TRAFFIC CONCERNS ON SEVENTH STREET AND BETWEEN NINTH AVENUE AND WILKES-BARRE BOULEVARD, I DID BRIEFLY SPEAK WITH OUR NEW PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, MS. FLOZELLE ROBERTS REGARDING THIS MATTER.
THIS WAS NOT THAT THE FORMER DIRECTOR HAD REALLY APPRISED HER OF, UM, SO IF YOU DON'T MIND COUNCIL MEMBER HOLMES, IF YOU CAN PLEASE JUST KIND OF EXPOUND UPON YOUR CONCERNS SO WE CAN ADDRESS THAT.
WELL, LET ME SAY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JONES HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR SOME TIME.
HE'S BROUGHT IT TO COUNCIL SEVERAL TIMES, UH, IN THE PAST AND WE'VE POSTPONED IT BECAUSE WE HAD NOT DONE A STUDY OR LOOKED AT THE TRAFFIC FLOW TO DETERMINE WHAT THE SITUATION WAS AND WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO.
SO THE DISCUSSION REALLY, IT'S REALLY NOT A DISCUSSION.
I GUESS IT'S A REQUEST TO SEE WHAT WOULD BE BEST TO ADDRESS THE TRAFFIC CONCERNS, PARKING, UM, TRAFFIC FLOW ON IN THAT AREA, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A CONCERN BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBER JONES SHARED WITH ME AND HE BROUGHT IT TO COUNCIL AND I ASKED HIM, UH, IF WE COULD LOOK AT A TRAFFIC PATTERN, OUR TRAFFIC FLOW, AND HE AGREED WITH THAT.
[III. E3. A Discussion Regarding Seawall Operations ( Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Frank)]
DISCUSSION ITEMS BROUGHT BY ME A DISCUSSION REGARDING C WELL SEAWALL OPERATIONS.UM, THIS ITEM CAME TO ME AS I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM, UH, ONE OF OUR, UH, CONSTITUENTS WHO WAS, UH, HAD A CONCERN ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WALKING ON THE SEA WALL AND WHILE THEY WERE WALKING, UM, THERE WERE CARS THAT WOULD BE SPEEDING BY.
AND SO AS WALKERS WITH HEADSETS ON, UH, AND CHILDREN WERE RIDING BICYCLES, THE CONCERN WAS, WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CHILDREN MIGHT RIDE THEIR BIKE IN, IN THE, UM, IN THE LANES.
UH, THE SEAWALL IS, UM, IS, UH, MARKED FOR PARKED CARS.
UH, I TALKED TO, UM, THE, UH, CHIEF ABOUT THAT AND AS WELL CALLED OUR ATTORNEY AS WELL AND FOUND OUT THAT WE HAVE AN INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY.
THE COUNTY OWNS, UH, THE SEAWALL.
[01:40:01]
UH, IT IS THEIRS, BUT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, UH, FOR THE TRAFFIC, UH, AND FOR, UH, ANY, UH, THINGS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO THE SEAWALL THAT ARE NOT, UH, A RESULT OF A, CAT'S A CATASTROPHIC EVENT LIKE A STORM.IF A STORM HITS THE SEAWALL, THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE, BUT IF SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED TO MAINTENANCE OF IT, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
SO, UH, I PUT THIS ITEM ON BECAUSE I WANT US TO, UH, AS WELL, MAKE SOME DECISIONS ABOUT THE HOURS OF OPERATION.
AND I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD MAKE SOME HOURS OF OPERATION WHERE IT MIGHT BE, UH, AVAILABLE TO THROUGH TRAFFIC BETWEEN EIGHT AND FOUR.
UH, AND THEN AFTER THAT, IT WOULD BE CLOSED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, SO THAT IT WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH WALKERS, OUR, OR OUR KIDS, OUR CHILDREN WHO MIGHT BE, UH, RIDING BICYCLES OR WHATEVER ON THE PARK.
UH, I WAS INFORMED AS WELL, THAT OFFICER BLITZ WAS DOING THAT, BUT HE HAS RETIRED.
UH, AND SO NOW, UH, WHAT WE NEED ARE SOME HOURS OF OPERATION, UH, PUT IN PLACE, UH, THERE SO THAT, UH, WE CAN RELAY THAT TO OUR CHIEF OF POLICE AND SO THAT THEY CAN, UH, OPEN THE SEAWALL, KEEP IT CLOSED, OPEN IT, WHATEVER WE WOULD DESIRE FOR THEM TO DO, BUT TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO LOVE TO USE IT, UH, FOR RECREATION DISCUSSION.
WELL, I GUESS THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE THING, BUT I WANTED TO HEAR COUNSELING PROBABLY DIDN'T MAKE THAT FEASIBLE TO DO THAT ON MYSELF, BUT YOU KNOW, YOUR IDEAS ABOUT, SHOULD IT BE CLOSED ALL THE TIME? SHOULD IT BE OPENED? WHAT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE PROTECT OUR CITIZENS WHO ARE WALKING THIS WAY? I RECOMMEND YOU TO, YOU KNOW, YOU PUT HIM IN THE SEAT OF MAN AND THE CHIEF DISCUSS SOMETHING TO BRING BACK TO US.
WHEN YOU SEE ME AND PRETEND, WHEN YOU SAY CLUES FOR CLARITY, BOOKLETS IS CLOSE TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IS WHAT I'M SAYING, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SEEN AS A HAZARD TO PUT SOME, SOME CONTINUE TO WALK RIGHT ON.
SOMETIMES WHEN WE WANT TO MAKE THE CASE THAT A LITTLE LADY, ME, OR THE LITTLE OLD MAN MAY NOT BE CAPABLE ENOUGH FOR WALKING.
SO HIS OR HER SON OR DAUGHTER, WE BRING THEM OUT THERE TO VIEW THE SETTING SUN OR THE PASSAGE SHIP.
YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE THAT CASE AS WELL, BUT WE WILL WORK.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN MOSES, THANKS.
BUT I AGREE IF YOUR SUBCOMMITTEE COULD COME BACK WITH MAYBE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS OR IN THE FORM OF A RESOLUTION, I THINK THAT THE COUNCIL COULD ADOPT THAT, YOU KNOW, OR ADOPT.
AND THEN WE GIVE DIRECTION TO THOSE PARTIES THAT BE SO THAT WE CAN GET THE HOURS BECAUSE HAVING A WALK, THE SEAWALL AND HAVING CARS COME STREAMING DOWN THERE, AND YOU'RE WALKING, IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS.
CAUSE KIDS ARE RIDING THEIR BIKES AND ROLLER SKATING, UM, AND DOING A LOT OF THINGS.
SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING JUST TO COME BACK WITH THE HOURLY, WHATEVER YOU RECOMMEND, OPEN AND CLOSE, AND AS A RECOMMENDATION IN THE FORM OF A RESOLUTION, WE'LL DO THAT.
UH, IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND, MAYOR PRO TEM, I LIKE TO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE WITH YOU TO TALK WITH THE CHIEF AND THE CITY MANAGER.
I HOPE THAT WE WOULD ALSO CONSIDER LIKE DOGS WITHOUT LEASES THAT ARE WALKING WITH WHAT THEY, SO, I MEAN, WE JUST TAKE THE WHOLE GAMUT OF THINGS AND JUST COMING UP.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE'LL NOW GO TO NUMBER FIVE REPORT, UH, REPORTS OF ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST, UH, LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF TWO MINUTES PER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THESE ARE ITEMS WHERE THERE ARE EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS, CONGRATULATIONS OR CONDOLENCE INFORMATION REGARDING HOLIDAY, UH, HOLIDAY SCHEDULES, UH, AND HONORARIA SALUTARY, UH, RECOGNITION OF A PUBLIC OFFICIAL PUBLIC EMPLOYEE OR OTHER CITIZEN, EXCEPT, UH, THAT A DISCUSSION REGARDING A CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF A PERSON'S PUBLIC OFFICE OR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, UH, IS NOT AN HONORARY OR SALUTE, UH, SALUTED AIRY, UH, RECOGNITION FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
A REMINDER ABOUT AN UPCOMING EVENT ORGANIZED OR SPONSORED BY THE GOVERNING BODY INFORMATION REGARDING A SOCIAL CEREMONIAL OR COMMUNITY
[01:45:01]
EVENT ORGANIZED OR SPONSORED BY AN ENTITY OTHER THAN THE GOVERNING BODY THAT WAS ATTENDED, OR IS SCHEDULED TO BE ATTENDED BY A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING BODY OR AN OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEE OF THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS INVOLVING AN EMINENT THREAT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PEOPLE IN THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THAT HAS BEEN ARISEN AFTER THE POSTING OF THE AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS THAT ANY OF OUR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ADDRESSED OR SPEAK ON AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME? ALL RIGHT.
IF THERE ARE NONE, WE'RE READY TO MOVE TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
I DIDN'T SEE UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS PR NUMBER 2, 2 0 3, 6,
[VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS]
A RESOLUTION NOMINATING A MEMBER AND OR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ORANGE COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT FOR THE 20, 20 TO 2023 TERM.DO I HAVE A MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS IN VERY WESTERN QUESTIONS? READY TO GO? YOU READY? ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO CONSIDER JIM.
NO, THE ITEM DID NOT HAVE THE NAMES AND THIRD, IT BROUGHT IT BACK.
SO YOU ALL COULD CONSIDER THE LETTER, IF YOU ALL, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH A LETTER ATTACHED WHERE, UM, AND IN SECTION TWO, YOU ALL HAVE TO NOMINATE THE CANDIDATES.
UM, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.
AND WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME IS WE ALWAYS, WE HAVE 52 VOTES IS ALL WE HAVE ORANGE COUNTY.
UM, NORMALLY, UH, THEY HAVE TO BE A DISTRICT RESIDENT FOR TWO YEARS AND NOT AN EMPLOYEE OF THE TAXING ENTITY.
UM, THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 5,000 BOATS IN THE CITY'S VOLTAGE 52, BUT, UM, JUST HISTORICALLY WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE WILL RE NOMINATE THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO LET US KNOW WHO YOU ALL WANT TO NOMINATE.
THAT'S I GUESS THAT'S WHY I KIND OF WENT THROUGH THAT.
I THOUGHT THAT WE HAD MADE A DISCUSSION AND HAD DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO READ, NOMINATE THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
YOU ALL JUST COULD MAKE THAT AMENDMENT BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION IS BLANK AS TO OKAY.
JUST MAKE THAT AMENDMENT THEN MOVE ON.
SO YOU WANT TO READ THEM, READ THE RESOLUTION, PUT THAT INTO THE AMENDMENT OF IT.
NO NAMES IN THERE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE BOOKED HIM.
I CAN GIVE YOU THE NAMES OR DOES SHERRY CITY SECRETARY, DO YOU HAVE IT? I CAN GIVE THEM TO YOU.
DID YOU MAKE THE MOTION FOR US AND THEN ADD THE NAMES? YES, SIR.
YEAH, I TALKED, I TALKED TO HIM ME ON LAST WEEK, THE MINUTE HE, HE HAD A NOMINEE ALSO, I TALKED TO SHARON ABOUT IT BY THE MAYOR HAD A NOMINEE.
SO I'M NOT SURE IT WAS, IT WAS MORE ON TABLE DESIGNED TO THE MILL.
THE CITY SECRETARY HAD TO REACH OUT TO THE COUNCIL.
SO CAN WE GO BACK? WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO VOTE ON THE MAP.
I DIDN'T GET ANYBODY THAT SAYS THE LAST MEETING.
UM, HOLD ON ONE MOMENT YOU TOOK YOUR LIGHT OFF, OUT SOMEONE HOME.
WE DID NOT RECEIVE THE INFORMATION, THE NAMES WE TABLED IT.
AM I CORRECT? SO THAT THEY COULD INFORM US OF THE NAMES AND MAKE US AWARE IF I MISSED IT? I TRULY APOLOGIZE, BUT I DON'T RECALL RECEIVING, I READ EVERY EMAIL THAT I GET THAT IN.
YOU KNOW, I'M JUST GOING TO ASK ANYBODY TO GET THAT OR RECEIVE IT.
THAT IS SOMETHING, I GUESS THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO THOUGH, IS I DID IT BY PHONE CALL.
I DID NOT EMAIL, BUT YOU CALL ME, I RECEIVED, YOU RECEIVED THE CALL.
ARE WE COUNCIL MEMBER MOSES? I APOLOGIZE.
YOU AND I DID NOT EVENTUALLY SPEAK.
[01:50:01]
COUNCILMAN KINLAW.UH, VAL, UH, WHEN DID WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO HAVE THIS NAME SUBMITTED IN AND ALREADY HAVE A DECISION ON WHAT, WHAT DATE WILL BE OUR LAST, BECAUSE WE DON'T, WE MEET MONDAY, THE CITY MANAGER.
SO WE'RE WHERE WE HAVE THE MONEY.
UH, YEAH, WE CAN ALL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE I KNEW HIM.
MAYOR TIM IN THE MIRROR HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT NAME OR A NAMES.
SO CAN WE JUST DO THAT UNTIL MONDAY? WOULD THAT BE OKAY FOR YOU, MAN? OKAY, FINE.
YOU CAN GET YOUR NAMES TOGETHER.
AND JUST FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES, THERE ARE 5,000 VOLTS AND WE HAVE FEATURES 52.
SO, UM, THEN JUST SO YOU KNOW, IS THAT WE NORMALLY NOMINATE THE CURRENT MEMBERS.
THE MAYOR HAD A CONCERN ABOUT A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT PERSON.
I DID SPEAK TO THE MAYOR AND HE DOES NOT HAVE A NOMINATION SO WE CAN PUT IT BACK ON AND YOU ALL CAN RESEARCH IT FURTHER.
CAN WE
SO IF SHE REACHED OUT TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL AND WE GET THE NAMES, IS THAT OKAY? YES.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO TABLE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HOLMES, A TABLE.
SECOND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENALOG.
THIS ITEM WILL BE ACTED ON AT THE NEXT MEETING.
NEXT SPECIAL MEETING ON MONDAY.
HAD MEETINGS GOING TO THE MEETING ON MONDAY IT'S CYNICAL CONSENT
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]
AGENDA.THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE OF A ROUTINE OR ADMINISTRATIVE NATURE.
THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN FURNISHED WITH BACKGROUND AND SUPPORT MATERIAL ON EACH ITEM AND OR IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AT A PREVIOUS MEETING.
ALL ITEMS WILL BE ACTED UPON BY ONE VOTE WITHOUT BEING DISCUSSED SEPARATELY, UNLESS REQUESTED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER OR A CITIZEN.
IN WHICH EVENT, THE ITEM OR ITEMS WILL BE IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAWN FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION IN ITS NORMAL SEQUENCE.
AFTER THE ITEMS NOT REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION HAVE BEEN ACTED UPON.
WE HAVE TRAVEL EXPENSE MINUTES, RESOLUTIONS.
AND THEN, UH, THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ACTED ON ALREADY ARE NUMBER 13 AND NUMBER 16.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO ACT ON ALL OF THOSE ITEMS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, AND 15.
ANYBODY WANT ANY ONE OF THOSE POOLS? JUST NUMBER 10, 10, YOU WANT TO PULL 10? YES.
PULLING 10, ANY OTHER ITEMS TO BE PULLED ONCE, TWICE, ANY OTHER ITEMS TO BE PEOPLE, RIGHT.
WE DON'T WANT TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR, UH, NUMBER 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, AND 15 MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
SECOND MOTION AND APPROVAL FOR ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
[VII. C10. P. R. No. 22055 — A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Negotiate A Contract For The Development Of A Master Drainage Plan And Policy With Arceneaux Wilson & Cole, LLC Of Port Arthur, Texas. No Budgetary Impact]
MR. MARKS.MAYOR PRO TEM THIS, UH, BRIEFLY, UH, ON THE MASTER DRAINAGE PLAN AND POLICY JUST IN, WHEN WE HAD THE BIG RAIN EVENT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND TERMINAL ROAD AND THE WEST SIDE WHERE MR. MAGAZINE FROM DRAINS DISTRICT SEVEN AND I DROVE THROUGH THERE AND THEN IT WAS FLOODED OVER THERE.
AND WE TALKED TO SEVERAL OF, I'VE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF THE RESIDENTS THERE, AND WE TALKED TO MR. IS IT BRAD BROWN, WHO IS THE DRAINAGE DRAINAGE SUPERINTENDENT? AND WE, UH, HAVE OUR, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE EQUIPMENT WHERE WE CAN GO IN AND DETERMINE WHERE, WHERE WE HAVE CAVE INS, WHERE THERE ARE BLOCKAGES WHAT'S CAUSING THE, THE, THE, THE PROBLEM OVER THERE OFF A TERMINAL ROAD.
CAUSE EVERY TIME THEY GET EVEN AN INCH OF RAIN, THEY'VE GOT WATER
[01:55:01]
PROBLEMS OVER THERE.AND I KNOW WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO THIS MASTER PLAN.
UH, WHAT CAN WE DO TO, UH, CAN HAVE, UH, DETERMINED HOW WE CAN HELP TO MITIGATE THAT SITUATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE CITY, BECAUSE WE HAD DRAINAGE PROBLEMS EVERYWHERE.
AND, AND, AND THIS, THIS PLAN IS, IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAYS TO, TO, TO ALLEVIATE ALL OF THIS.
BUT I KNOW THEY THEY'VE GOT A PROBLEM.
I MEAN, IF THEY GET A HALF AN INCH OF RAIN OVER THERE, THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY IT'S ALMOST FLOODING OVER.
SO CAN WE MISS THE CITY MANAGER, HAVE SOMETHING DONE WITH, UH, THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT WHERE WE CAN MEET WITH SOME OF THOSE FOLKS AND TELL THEM HOW WE GONNA DO THIS? YEAH, YES WE CAN.
AND I'VE ALREADY BEGUN THE PROCESS WITH, UM, DR.
UM, WE HAVE SENT OUT A TRUCK, A CAMERA TRUCK COME UP TO ME TO THE PODIUM, UM, THE CAMERA TRUCK OUT THERE TO ASSESS THE, UM, THE FLU AND WHETHER THE REAL PROBLEM IS ON THE SIZE OF THE CULVERTS.
UM, SO WE, AT THAT STAGE, THE SECOND STAGE IS TO ASSIGN THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HAPPENS.
UM, AND WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION I WILL BRING BACK TO YOU IS TO USE, UTILIZE AT LEAST $2 MILLION, UM, FROM THE AERO FUNDS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED RUBBED THE $27 MILLION THAT WE ARE RECEIVED, UM, ALLOCATE $2 MILLION, ALTHOUGH AS YET, I HAVE NOT STUDIED THE END IN THE ENGINEERING PART OF IT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SET ASIDE THOSE RESOURCES AND I'LL MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION TO YOU, UM, THAT WE UTILIZE THOSE RESOURCES TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR DAY AS WELL.
SO, UM, WE ARE WORKING ON IT AT BOTH ENDS OF THE, TO ME, YOU WANT TO EXPOUND ON THIS, UH, YESTERDAY, UH, WE ALREADY TELEVISE THE MAJORITY OF THE LINES THAT ARE IN THE AREA, AND WE DID NOT FIND ANY MAJOR COLLAPSES OR PIPE FAILURES THAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS, UH, FLOODING.
SO WE TRACED ALL THE PIPES WHERE THEY ARE GOING, AND WE IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AT THIS POINT AS BEING AT TRANSFER OF THE STORMWATER FROM THAT AREA TO THE PUMP STATION, THROUGH A PIPE THAT IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO DO THAT TRANSFER.
SO THAT'S WHY THE WATER IS SITTING IN THAT AREA.
AND THAT PIPE ACTUALLY GOES UNDER A RAILROAD TRACK.
SO WE ARE WORKING ON A SOLUTION FOR THAT.
AND, UH, THAT MASTER PLAN CAN DEFINITELY BE IMMEDIATELY DIRECTED TO THAT AREA SO THEY CAN DO THE ANALYSIS OF IT AND GIVE US THE SIZE PIPING.
WE NEED TO TRANSFER THE WATER FROM THAT AREA TO THE PUMP STATION, TO THE DD SEVEN DITCHES.
SO, UH, THE MASTER PLAN WOULD PAY A VERY BIG ROLE IN EXPEDITING THIS PROCESS AND FINDING A SCIENTIFIC SOLUTION INSTEAD OF GOING OUT THERE AND JUST PUTTING PIPE IN THE GROUND.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH, WHICH PUMPS STATION, BECAUSE DURING THAT EVENT, UH, MR. MAGAZINE FROM DRAIN IS DISTRICT SEVEN OR NINE.
WE RODE THROUGH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND HE TOOK ME IN, HE TOOK ME TO ALL THE PUMP STATIONS ON THIS SIDE, ALL THE, UH, ON THE WEST SIDE.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE HAD A PUMP STATION OVER AT THE PORT THERE, THE PUMP STATION OVER THERE.
AND WE WENT TO, AND HE GAVE ME A GRANT TOOL.
AND THEN WE WENT TO THE CONTROL ROOM, THAT SHOW WHERE WE HAD ALL THE PUMPS IN THE CITY AND HOW THEY HAVE MOST OF THESE PUMP STATIONS HAVE BEEN REDONE.
BUT FOR SOME REASON, THAT PARTICULAR AREA, I MEAN, WE GET A HALF INCH RAIN AND PEOPLE HAVE, UH, WATER IN, IN THEIR HOME.
SO, UH, I'M NOT TOO INVOLVED IN THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT.
I JUST GOT INVOLVED IN THAT PART OF TOWN BECAUSE MR. BURTON ASKED ME TO.
SO I WENT OUT THERE MYSELF DURING RAIN EVENTS, TRY TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS. WE SENT OUR PEOPLE TO GO DO THE TELEVISING USING CITY EQUIPMENT.
THAT'S THE STUFF WE GOT THROUGH MOTIVA AND VALERO A FEW YEARS AGO AT NO COST TO US.
AND WE DON'T HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE FAILURES.
WE HAVE A WATER TRANSFER FAILURE FROM THAT AREA TO WHERE IT SHOULD GO THROUGH A PIPE SIZE THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
UH, I CAN GET YOU MORE DETAILS AT THE EXACT LOCATION OF THAT PIPE AND THAT PUMP STATION.
IT GOES, I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT.
THEN IN THAT WAY, I CAN GO TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TALK TO THE,
[02:00:01]
TO THOSE FOLKS OUT THERE ABOUT WHAT'S CAUSING THAT PROBLEM AND WHAT WE ARE DOING, WHAT THE CITY IS DOING TO MITIGATE IT.THANK YOU, MR. MARX, WHAT AREA WERE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I'M TALKING ABOUT A TERMINAL ROAD AND 19TH STREET, THE WEST SIDE OVER THERE BY YOUR CHURCH.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS CITY MANAGER.
DID INDIVIDUALS GO OVER THERE AND LOOK AT THAT? SO THAT'S THE SAME AREA.
JUST FOR INCHES OF CLARITY, LET ME JUST TO ME INVOLVED, UM, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT EQUIPMENT IN THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO USE TO DIAGNOSE THOSE PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, BUT ACTUALLY IT'S A FUNCTION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO WE HAVE BOTH DEPARTMENTS WORKING TOGETHER.
ALL RIGHT, MAN, ONE LAST THING.
UH, W W AS WE DO THAT, CAN WE GO TO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE DRAIN, UH, DISTRICT FOUR IS THE LARGEST DISTRICT IN THE CITY.
CAN WE TAKE THAT EQUIPMENT AND, UH, THAT, THAT DEPARTMENT AND GO TO THE OTHER AREAS, LIKE OUT IN THE MANTRAS PORT ACRES AREA, TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE DRAINAGE, UH, SITUATIONS OUT THERE AND MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE ANY PIPING PROBLEMS OR WHATEVER.
AND I KNOW WE GOT A MASTER PLAN, BUT YOU KNOW, IT, IT DOESN'T HELP WHEN YOU HAVE WATER IN YOUR HOUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T HELP.
I THINK IT WILL HELP US IN THAT, THOSE, IN THE PROBLEMS WHERE WE HAVE POND IN FLORIDA CITY.
AND SO WE COULD ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, IF NEEDS BE, YOU KNOW, UM, AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT REQUIRE EXTENSIVE EXCAVATION OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, I THINK WE SHOULD DO THE INVESTIGATIVE WORK THAT'S NEEDED.
AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE RIDING THE SMARTS.
YOU DO HAVE THE LARGEST, YOU KNOW, THE LARGEST DISTRICT.
AND WE'VE BEEN TO MONTROSE AL VESTA PORT ACRES.
WE'VE BEEN OUT THERE MEETING WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS, AND IT IS A GREAT CONCERN ABOUT THE FLOODING OUT THERE.
SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT AS WELL.
UH, LET ME READ IT INTO THE RECORD AGAIN, AND THEN, UH, CALL, UH, FOR A VOTE TO, UH, FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO DO THIS, UH, PR NUMBER 22 0 5 5, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTER DRAINAGE PLAN AND POLICY WITH ARSENAULT WILSON AND CO LLC, A PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, NO BUDGETARY IMPACT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVE SO MOVED BY MR. MARK.
SECOND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENALOG.
[VIII. A1. P. R. No. 22042 — A Resolution Approving The Closing Of The Economic Development Conditional Grant Agreement Between PA Development Group, LLC And The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation]
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO, UM, SECTION EIGHT ITEMS REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL CONSENT.THIS IS THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA.
OUR FIRST ONE WILL BE A PR NUMBER 22, 0 4 TO A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CLOSING OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CONDITIONAL GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN PORT ARTHUR DEVELOPMENT GROUP, LLC, AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, SECTION FOUR, A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO COUNCILOR MOSES, SECOND COUNCILMAN HOMES.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ANY OPPOSITION? SO MOVE SO APPROVED PR NUMBER
[VIII. A2. P. R. No. 22044 — A Resolution Approving An Economic Incentive Contract And Loan Agreement Between The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation And Deztex Industrial Services, LLC D/ B/ A Ramtex In An Amount Of $49, 500. 00; Funding Available In PAEDC Account No. 120- 80- 625- 5478- 00- 00- 000]
22, 0 4 FOR A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE CONTRACT AND LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, SECTION FOUR EIGHT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND DEZ TECHS, INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, LLC, D B A RAM TAKES IN THE AMOUNT OF $49,500 FUNDING AVAILABLE IN A E D C ACCOUNT NUMBER 1, 2 0 DASH EIGHT ZERO DASH 6 2 5 DASH 5 4 7 8 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 0 0 0.DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO, SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN KIM LOFT.
SECOND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN JONES, MS. HOLMES.
[VIII. A3. P. R. No. 22050 — A Resolution Appointing And/ Or Reappointing A Director Or Directors To The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation ( Requested By Councilmember Jones)]
NUMBER 22 0 5 0 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING AND OR REAPPOINTING, A DIRECTOR OR DIRECTORS TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, SECTION FOUR EIGHT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN MEMBER JONES.[02:05:03]
SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MOSES SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MARKS.ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER JONES.
YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS? YES.
MY APPOINTMENT UPON SHE'S GOING TO BE, UH, MS. BEVERLY, RAYMOND, MS. RAMEY, COME UP AND HAVE, UH, GIVEN THE BACKGROUND ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE VOTE.
SHE'S JUST GONNA COME IN, INTRODUCE US, INTRODUCE US.
MY NAME IS BEVERLY SAMUELS, RAYMOND I'M THE OLDEST OF HERMAN AND JULIA SAMUELS.
I, UM, GRADUATED FROM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1976.
UH, I WORK AT THE POSTAL SERVICE FOR 35 YEARS WHERE I SERVE AS MANAGER, BUT 15 OF THOSE YEARS ALSO WORK WITH COMMUNITY WITH THE, UH, UH, PTA PRESIDENT OF THE PTA'S AND, UH, VERY ACTIVE IN MY CHURCH.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ON EDC TO HELP MAKE PUT OFF AS GOOD AS IT IS AND BETTER IF POSSIBLE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS, UH, RESOLUTION, UH, ALL RIGHT.
[VIII. A4. P. R. No. 22053 —A Resolution As It Pertains To Support For The First Annual Holiday Downtown, In An Amount Not To Exceed 25, 000. 00; Funds Available In Account No. MA8007- OTH- OCS 001- 01- 005- 5470- 00- 10- 000 ( Requested By Councilmember Charlotte Moses)]
RESOLUTION, AS IT PERTAINS TO SUPPORT FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL HOLIDAY DOWNTOWN IN AN ACCOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $25,000 FUNDS AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER M A 8 0 0 7 DASH OH T H DASH O C S 0 0 1 DASH ZERO ONE DASH 0 0 5 DASH 5 4 7 0 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH ONE ZERO DASH 0 0 0 REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, CHARLOTTE.MOSES, DO I HAVE A MOTION? SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MOSES, BASICALLY IT'S OUR, UM, PLANNING OUR CHRISTMAS DOWNTOWN, UH, AS WE'VE DONE EVERY YEAR ANNUALLY, BUT THIS YEAR WE'RE PLANNING SOMETHING SPECIAL.
I WORK WITH THE COMMITTEE AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO AN AMAZING DOWNTOWN CELEBRATION THIS YEAR.
[VIII. A5. P. R. No. 22062 — A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Ardurra Of Houston, Texas For Assistance With The American Rescue Plan Act Program/ Grant Management Services In An Amount Not To Exceed $ 180, 000. 00 Funding Is Available From American Rescue Plan Account # 169- 07- 015- 5470- 00- 40- 000]
PR NUMBER 2, 2 0 6 TO A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH A DURA OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT PROGRAM, GRANT MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $180,000 FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FROM AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 6 9 DASH ZERO SEVEN DASH 0 1 5 DASH 5 4 7 0 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH FOUR ZERO DASH 0 0 0.DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MOSES SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
ANY DISCUSSION IN QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF COURSE.
JUST TELL, YOU KNOW, GIVE US A LITTLE DETAIL, UH, ABOUT THE, UH, THIS PARTICULAR GRANT OR RESOLUTION.
UM, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN IS THAT OUR MONEY THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, $27 MILLION THAT, UM, WE HAVE FREE CATEGORIES.
COVID, UM, LOTS OF INCOME AND, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE UTILITIES SLASH BROADBAND.
UM, WE'VE GOT SIX YEARS TO EXPAND THOSE MONIES.
UM, IN THOSE THREE PARTICULAR AREAS, UM, WE HAVE HAD, UH, DOURO WITH US WORKING WITH US, UM, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, UM, TO RECOUP MONIES THAT WE HAVE EXPENDED, UM, FOR DISASTERS.
UM, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ALSO REQUIRED SOME FORM OF MANAGEMENT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS AS FAR AS THOSE EXPENDITURES ARE CONCERNED.
AND SO WHAT I'M RECOMMENDING HERE FOR OVER THE SIX YEAR PERIOD THAT WE HAVE TO EXPAND THOSE MONIES.
WE HAVE ALREADY ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH A DURA FOR
[02:10:01]
LONG-TERM PURPOSES IN ORDER TO ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS.THERE ARE ALSO PROVISIONS WHERE WE CAN ACCOMMODATE, UM, THE COMPANY, UM, TO CONTINUE TO SERVICE, YOU KNOW, UM, IN, IN, UM, EXPANDING UNREPORTED REPORT IN THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT GRANT.
SO I'M RECOMMENDING TO COUNCIL THAT WE ENGAGE A DURA FOR A COST OF $180,000 A YEAR.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE THE OPTION OF WE, WE COMING BACK TO COUNCIL, YOUR COUNCIL IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICES THAT'S BEING RENDERED FOR.
YOU YOU'LL HAVE THE RIGHT TO TWO MINUTES AS WELL.
ONE OTHER QUESTION IS, IS THIS IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS WE HAD, YES, THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS THAT WE DO HAVE WITH THEM.
EACH CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT HAS TO BE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE READY FOR THE VOTE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSITION? OKAY.
WE HAVE, UH, SIX YESES AND ONE.
NO, LET THE RECORD REFLECT MR. MARK'S VOTED IN THE NEGATIVE SIX EYES AND ONE NEGATIVE FIVE.
FIVE NAYS, FIVE YESES AND ONE DAY.
MR. MARKS VOTED IN THE NEGATIVE.
[VIII. A6. P. R. No. 22064 — A Resolution Appointing And/ Or Reappointing A Member Or Members To The Port Arthur Police Chief Advisory Committee]
2, 2 0 6 FOR A RESOLUTION APPOINTING AND OR REAPPOINTING, A MEMBER OR MEMBERS OF THE PORT.SO THE SECRETARY, DO YOU HAVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS? YES, I DO.
I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER MOSES HAS AN APPOINTMENT THAT I DO NOT HAVE.
SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY, AYE, I GOT THE QUESTION QUESTION.
I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER, KEN LAW HAS A NAME AS WELL.
UH, THAT WILL BE A MIKE MASON.
AND THEN THE OTHER APPOINTEE, I WILL GET BACK WITH YOU.
UM, I NEED TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION FOR THAT APPOINTMENT.
PRO TIM, I HAVE THE REAPPOINTMENTS FOR DISTRICT.
LEIBY BARNES AND GLENDA'S SHILOH COUNCIL MEMBER JONES IS RYBURN CAITLYN GARDNER AND JOANNE JONES.
COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS IS REAPPOINTING LINKS TO ADAM'S AND REGIONAL TRAINER.
YOURSELF IS REAPPOINTING L J ROBINSON AND JIMMY D RUINED.
AND THE MAYOR IS REAPPOINTING.
MUHAMMAD'S THAT HEAT AND MELANIE NED.
READY FOR THE VOTE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSITION ORDINANCES? NON-CONSENT POST OFFICE, I'M SORRY.
[VIII. B1. P. O. No. 6981 — An Appropriation Ordinance Amending The City Of Port Arthur Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2020 And Ending September 30, 2021 By $ 1, 050, 000. 00 For The General Fund And $ 1, 000, 000. 00 For The Solid Waste Fund]
NUMBER PO NUMBER 6, 9 8 1 AND APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BUDGET FOR THE PHYSICAL YEAR, BEGINNING, OCTOBER 1ST, 2020, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2021 BY $1,050,000 FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND $1 MILLION FOR THE SOLID WASTE FUND.DO I HAVE A MOTION? SECOND MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOSES.
[VIII. B2. P. O. No. 6985 —An Ordinance Extending The Declaration Of Disaster Pursuant To § 418. 108( b) Of The Texas Government Code]
PO NUMBER IS 6, 9, 8 5 AN ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE DECLARATION OF DISASTER PURSUANT TO FOUR 18.108 B OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE MOVE APPROVAL, MAN, MOVE FOR APPROVAL.DO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN JONES? SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
OH, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE SOME CALLS WITH SOME COMMENTS.
LET'S LET'S UM, MISS, UM, OH, COUNSELOR INGRID HOMES.
MY COMMENT WAS JUST TO ASK FOR WHEN YOU CALL FOR THE QUESTION, JUST TO ASK
[02:15:01]
FOR A REPORT FROM OUR, UM, HEALTH DIRECTOR REGARDING OUR CURRENT STATUS, BASED ON A MAYOR PRO TEM CAN I SAY SOMETHING PRIOR TO THAT? YES, YOU'RE RIGHT.SO TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT, WHAT WE CAN DO UNDER THIS, THIS IS A DECLARATION OF DISASTER THAT WE'VE HAD ON EVERY WEEK, SINCE COVID EVERY MEETING SINCE COVID BEGAN.
AND ONE OTHER THING WE JUST ASKED, IF YOU ALL WOULD CONSIDER THAT WE, WE DID A LITTLE TWEAK TO THIS AND WE PUT IT FOR 30 DAYS INSTEAD OF DOING IT AT EVERY MEETING.
SO I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THAT WAS WHAT WE WOULD DO INSTEAD OF PROVING IT AT EVERY SINGLE MEETING.
WE DO IT ONCE A MONTH BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING ANYWHERE.
AND AT SOME POINT, IF YOU WANT TO DO 60 DAYS, UM, MANY CITIES HAVE STOPPED DOING IT OR DONE IT FOR SIX MONTHS BECAUSE YOU KIND OF HAVE A LONG PARAGRAPH OF EVERY NUMBER.
AND ALSO, UM, UH, IN LIGHT OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS REQUEST, WE HAVE, UH, MS. SMITH IS JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, EMERGENCY.
THAT IS THE REASON FOR HAVING THIS.
BUT IF IT JUST TO POINT OUT THIS ONE WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO EVERY 30 DAYS INSTEAD OF EVERY MEETING, IF THAT'S OKAY.
WE WOULDN'T BE IN ANY, UNDER ANY VIOLATIONS IF WE DID IT THAT WAY.
CAUSE I THOUGHT IF I COULD REMEMBER WE WERE DOING IT EVERY MEETING FOR A REASON.
WELL, SO IT HAS THE AUTHORITY UNDER THE GOVERNMENT CODE UNDER THAT FOUR OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DO IT IN SEVEN DAY INCREMENTS.
LIKE ONE CITY JUST DID IT FOR SIX MONTHS OR YOU WON'T HAVE TO PUT IT ON.
SO ONCE THE SEVEN DAYS IS UP OR THE, LIKE WE WENT FROM SEVEN DAYS TO 14 DAYS, YOU CAN PUT ANY TIMEFRAME YOU WANT.
SO SINCE IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE I AT LEAST DID IT 30 AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PLAY IT BY THE END, BUT ALSO, AND MS. SMITH IS GOING TO GIVE AN UPDATE AS WELL.
UM, WE APPROACHED HIM AND COUNSEL, AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE NUMBER OF COVID CASES HAS WRITTEN RISEN SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS WITH THE LIFTING OF THE MASK MANDATES AND THE NUMBER OF THOSE UNVACCINATED.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE SITUATION IS BACK LIKE WE WERE AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR FROM JULY THE 20TH, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS REPORTED ABOUT 272 POSITIVE COVID CASES.
AND OUT OF THOSE 270 TO 242 WERE UNVACCINATED.
EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS OF THOSE FULLY VACCINATED, THE DATA IS PROVING THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE OUTBREAKS ARE AMONG THE UNVACCINATED.
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES STATED THIS WEEK, THAT AGGRESSIVE COVID 19 VARIANTS COMBINED WITH MILLION OF TECH, MILLIONS OF TEXANS WHO DO NOT HAVE ANY PROTECTION AGAINST COVID-19 ARE CAUSING A RAPID SURGE WITH POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES FOR TEXANS.
TEXAS IS ONE OF THE STATE'S LIST, HIGHEST LISTING AS HIGH AS HAVING MANY NEW COVID INFECTIONS.
SO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MADE SOME PROGRESS, UM, LATELY BECAUSE OUR DAILY VACCINATION RATES HAVE STARTED TO IMPROVE.
WE'RE STARTING TO VACCINATE MORE CHILDREN WHO ARE 12 AND UP.
HOWEVER, WE ARE STILL NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
JOSHI, HIS LAST REPORT STATED THAT JEFFERSON COUNTY WAS RIGHT AT ABOUT 40%.
SO WE STILL HAVE A GOOD WAY TO GO.
UM, WE WERE DOING BASICALLY I THINK FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY DO TO MAKE THE VACCINATIONS ACCESSIBLE, WE'VE DONE THE HOME BOUND.
WE, WE FEEL HAVE THE STRIKE TEAM GOING OUT TO THE HOME BOUND TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, TO THE COMMUNITIES.
SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE DO, WE, WE ASKED FOR THE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THE FAITH-BASED LEADERS TO JUST PLEASE HELP US TO JUST GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE NEED, TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILIES.
WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE CANNOT MAKE A MAP.
WE CANNOT UNDO WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT IN PLACE.
WE CANNOT REQUIRE MASK, BUT CDC DOES RECOMMENDED PUBLIC HEALTH WILL STAND WITH CDC TO SAY THAT IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED WEAR MASKS WHEN THEY'RE IN PUBLIC PLACES.
UM, WE ALSO JUST WANT TO, UM, STATE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE WILL CONTINUE THE FIGHT TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED, BUT THE MAJORITY OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, UNFORTUNATELY,
[02:20:01]
IS THE DELTA VARIANT AND IT IS MAKING IT'S, IT'S AN IMPACT IN THE YOUNGER POPULATIONS.WE, UM, ON THE AMOUNT OF HOSPITALIZATIONS THAT WE'VE SEEN, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN THEIR TWENTIES, THIRTIES, AND FORTIES.
SO, YOU KNOW, JUST PLEASE HELP US.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT.
WE WILL MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO RECEIVE A VACCINE.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.
AND I WANTED TO REALLY PUSH BEFORE YOU LEFT AND LET EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT THAT STRIKE TEAM THAT GOES OUT THAT STRIKE TEAM HAS BEEN AT, UH, ROCK ISLAND, UH, AND, UH, IT'S GONE TO, UM, TO O W COLLINS AND OTHER PLACES AS WELL, UH, VACCINATING INDIVIDUALS.
SO WE WANT TO CHALLENGE ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, DIVINE NINE CIVIC AND SOCIAL CHURCHES AS WELL TO CONTACT, UH, THE SOCIAL, UH, THE POLICE, I'M SORRY, THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND TO USE THAT STRIKE, UH, TEAM TO GO OUT AND INOCULATE PEOPLE IN YOUR CHURCHES AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I HAVEN'T DONE, UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT MAYOR PRO TEM.
I HAD A REALLY QUICK QUESTION FOR OUR NURSE AND I DON'T KNOW, UH, DR.
I KNOW WE WERE WORKING ON A NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE JUST FOR PORT ARTHUR.
DO YOU HAVE THAT YET? I, WE DON'T HAVE THAT YET SIMPLY BECAUSE WHEN WE ENTER IN THE INFORMATION IN AMTRAK, WHICH IS A TEXAS REGISTRY, IT ONLY LISTS BY COUNTY.
SO WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT IS MANUALLY COUNTING, MANUALLY COUNTING THE RESIDENTS.
AND I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THAT THE OTHER NIGHT.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAD IT FINISHED BECAUSE WE'VE DONE WELL OVER 50 YEARS, I THINK, CLOSE TO 50 THAT ARE OVER 50,000 VACCINES.
AND SO WHEN WE WERE AT THE CIVIC CENTER, NOT ALL OF THE PEOPLE COMING IN AND WORK FOR PORNOGRAPHY, SO WE'RE HAVING TO MANUALLY COUNT THAT NUMBER FOR YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, I TRULY APPRECIATE YOU HAVE DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, PUBLIC HEALTH IS MY BACKGROUND, SO I UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGE THAT YOU HAVE HAD AND YOU HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL.
SO MY HAT IS OFF TO YOU, BUT IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GOOD TEAM AND IT'S STILL CHALLENGING.
I KNOW WE HAVE A GOOD TEAM, UM, AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND PLUS AT THE TOWNS, WE HAVE TWO BUILDINGS GOING RIGHT NOW.
SO, AND IT IS A WONDERFUL STAFF AND EVERYBODY'S JUST TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER TO, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN BECAUSE WE'RE BACK WHERE WE WERE.
UNFORTUNATELY, I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR HELPING ME ORGANIZE AND TRY TO HELP DO THIS, UH, MAYOR AS MAYOR PRO TEM.
THANK ALL OF YOU AS WELL FOR HELPING.
AND I APPRECIATE EACH OF YOU ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR A GERMAN.
SO MOVE SECOND MOTION AND SECOND, HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.