Sep 14, 2021 City Council

OH, SHE DID A DIFFERENT

[00:00:01]

NOPE.

GOOD.

OKAY.

FIRST OF ALL, I CAN SAY GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL.

AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO WEB AND BEING HERE AND THANK GOD FOR ALLOWING US TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE BECAUSE, UH, WORSE THINGS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH THIS STORM.

SEE, I WANT YOU TO KEEP YOUR GUARDS UP PLEASE, BECAUSE, UH, WHAT WE HAVE IS MAYBE ANOTHER SYSTEM COMING LATER THIS AFTERNOON, BUT WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT HOW HE WORKS.

AND MAGICALLY CAME IN, IS LEAVING NOW, AND THEY WILL LET US KNOW AFTER THE 10 O'CLOCK CALL, IF THAT BAND OR WHETHER IT'S STILL GOING TO AFFECT US.

UH, I, WASN'T WANTING TO TAKE HIS MOMENT.

THIS IS MY FIRST MEETING SINCE JULY.

AND, UH, I THANK YOU ALL THE HOLD OF YOU, WHO ARE, WHO PRAY FOR ME AND, UH, UH, WISHING ME, WELL, I MADE SOME CALLS TO ME OR WHATEVER.

I APPRECIATE THAT I AM HERE, UH, BY THE GRACE OF GOD.

UH, STILL HAVE SOME ISSUES, BUT IT WITH MEDICATION AND OTHER, OTHER METHODS FROM MY DOCTOR TO BE SURE THAT I CAN FUNCTION.

SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I'M GOING TO CALL THIS REGULAR SICK CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2021 TO OD.

AND NOW THE CITY COUNCIL WE'RE HERE ACTUALLY TO CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS IN A REGULAR MEETING FASHION.

UH, THAT'S BEEN SCHEDULED FOR TODAY OR THIS MEETING CAN ALSO BE ACCESSED THROUGH TELEPHONIC AND VIDEO CONFERENCING.

AND IN ADDITION TO ALLOWING IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE, A QUORUM, UH, OF THE CITY HALL CITY COUNCIL IS, UH, NECESSARY PHYSICALLY ON DATE BECAUSE OF THE BUSINESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONDUCT.

AND I DO SEE THAT WE HAVE EACH, UH, ELECTED A FISHER HERE TODAY.

SO THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR US.

UH, THE PUBLIC MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING IN PERSON BY DIALING A NUMBER 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.

AND YOU MUST ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 4 8 4 7 3 9 5 0 7 8 ARE EVEN, AND EVEN RELEVANT PASSCODE OR 4 3, 3 0 5 4.

AND WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AND WE WILL PROVIDE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS OR COUNCIL MEETINGS.

HOWEVER YOU NEED TO CONTACT CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE TOWARDS THE FOUR HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING BY CALLING 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5 IN ORDER FOR THE OPEN ACCOMMODATIONS TO BE PROVIDED FOR YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ATTENTIVE TO THOSE HOUSECLEANING MATTERS THERE.

AND AGAIN,

[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]

I THINK I'LL GIVE THE IMPLICATION ON THE DATE AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE A PLAY AND A ROLL CALL WHO STAYED WITH ME ALL THE GOD.

IT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS THAT WE APPROACHED UP AND THE HEART OF GRACE AND MERCY AT THIS HOUR.

YOUR GOD, VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU GOT TO SPARE US AGAIN FROM THIS WEATHER DISTURBANCE DAY IS JUST EVEN UPON US NOW ACTS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US AND CONTINUE TO GIVE US YOUR PROTECTION HERE IN OUR CITY.

AND EVEN IN OUR SURROUNDING CITIES FROM A WELL-LIT.

AND WHAT COULD AFTER THE PILLS THAT THAT ARE GOING TO BE DROPPED TO FALL OFF BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER PATTERN THAT IS BEFORE US, OR WE PRAISE YOU GOD, FOR ALL OF YOUR BLESSINGS, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BE EVEN IN OUR MIDST ON TODAY, AS WE ATTEMPTED TO CONDUCT PORTIONS OF THE CITY'S BUSINESS, GOD ALLOW US TO DO THAT DECENTLY AND AN AUDIT, AND WE WE'LL BE ABLE TO, SOME CALIFORNIA GOT TO GIVE THE NAME, THE PRAISE, THE GLORY, AND THE HONOR.

NOW THESE THINGS WE ASK IN THE NAME OF JESUS BEFORE I PSYCH WE DO PRAY A MAT.

NOW TURN WITH IT.

THEN WE DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLUDED TO A LACK OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL IS TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM FOR MAYOR BARTEE, MAYOR PRO TEM, FRANK

[00:05:02]

YOU HAVE A CORE MAN.

OH, OKAY.

UH, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, WE HAVE SOME ITEMS HERE THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH BECAUSE ABOUT ANOTHER 15 MINUTES, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN PUBLIC HEALING.

WE HAVE SPEAKERS, WE HAVEN'T JOINED JONES.

UH, THE GUARDIAN COUNCIL, UM, ZOOM MEETINGS ON MONDAY, KICKING A MEETING IS CITED HERE MEETING ON AUGUST 31ST, 2021.

I DON'T SEE MS. JOAN WAS PRESIDENT.

SHE'S NOT HERE.

OKAY.

UH,

[III. A2. Harold L. Doucet Sr. Regarding The Fiscal Year 2021- 2022 Proposed Budget]

AND YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR BUSINESS IN FRONT OF ACCOUNTS.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS HAROLD DUDE SAID I RESIDE AT 51 80 CAMBRIDGE STRAIGHT PULLED OUT TO TEXAS.

I'M HERE THIS MORNING IN REFERENCE TO THE BUDGET THIS TIME OF YEAR.

IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME FOR ANY CITIES WHEN IT COME TIME TO DONE BUDGETS.

YOU KNOW, NORMALLY YOU HAVE A, YOU EITHER FINISHED A YEAR WHERE YOU, UH, HAD MADE MORE MONEY THAN YOU SPENT, WHICH MEANS LESS WORK YOU IN THE YEAR WHERE YOU SPENT MORE MONEY THAN YOU MADE, AND YOU HAVE A LITTLE WORK AND SOMETIME YOU HAVE IT WHERE YOU, UH, SPEND, WHAT WOULD IT YOU RECEIVE.

AND, UH, YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE EXTRA MONEY FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO FIN.

SO THEY HAVE FOR YOU.

I DO A LOT OF WORK, BUT IT HERE WE HAVE.

IT'S ONE THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN IN A WHILE WHEREBY WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE FOR A SIMPLE FACT THAT YOU'RE IN, IN A YEAR WITH 500 AND I MEAN, 5.4 MILLION OVER THE, UH, REVENUE.

THEN COUPLED WITH THAT, YOU ALSO HAVE A DEFICIT WITH YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET OF SEVEN, OVER $7 MILLION, WHICH MEANS THAT, UH, YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THAT BUDGET.

THE ONE YOU'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT AND ALL THAT TO APPROVE IT.

WELL, I LOOKED AT, UH, THE BUDGET AND THE WAY IT'S BEING PRESENTED AND FROM THE CONVERSATIONS AND THE MEETING, YOU ALL HAVE HEARD IS OBVIOUS THAT THE METHOD THAT IS BEING CHOSE RIGHT NOW IS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, THE 7 MILLION, BY GOING TO THE FUND BALANCE.

THAT'S MOST OF THE SERPENT PORTION OF THAT BUDGET THAT I SEE BECAUSE YOU TAKE, YOU'RE STARTING OUT IN 2000, 19, 20 YEAR, WE HAD A 27 MILLION, $28 MILLION IN THE FUND BALANCE, I'LL SAY RESERVED.

SO CITIZENS CAN UNDERSTAND.

AND THE RESERVES, UH, WHEN WE THOUGHT THIS CURRENT YEAR AND I WAS ON COUNCIL, WE APPROVED THAT WE HAD, UH, 28 MILLION IN RESERVES.

AND NOW AT THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU OVER SPENT 5 MILLION AND YOU WANT TO BALANCE YOUR BUDGET WITH 7 MILLION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THAT ESTIMATED AMOUNT THAT IS PREDICTED TO BE THERE AT THE END OF YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET EACH YEAR IN YOUR RESERVE IS 20 MILLION.

THAT MAY SOUND GOOD RIGHT NOW.

BUT IF YOU HAVE HURRICANE AND THE THAT YOU'RE DOING NOW, YOU HAVE DISH SEASON FOR HURRICANE AND WINTER, AND THEN YOU HAVE ALSO HURRICANE SEASON NEXT YEAR, THAT'S GOING TO BE WITHIN THIS BUDGET THAT YOU FIT IN, THAT YOU FIXING TO APPROVE.

SO ALTHOUGH YOU MAY END UP WITH MORE MONEY IN THE RESERVES, THEN WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR YOU TO HAVE BY THE STATE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.

IF YOU HAVE DISASTER, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND MONEY BEFORE, LONG BEFORE YOU CAN REIMBURSE.

AND YOU ALSO BE ABLE TO HAVE TO SPEND MONEY THAT YOU WON'T GET REIMBURSED FOR.

THAT IS PERFECT FOR THE RESERVES.

SO RESERVES HAVE TO BE PROTECTED TO THE POINT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HAVING JUST WHAT WE NEED, BUT HAVING WHAT WE MAY NEED IN ORDER TO BETTER SERVE THE CITIZENS IN CASE OF DISASTERS OR ANY UNFORESEEN EVENTS THAT WILL OCCUR ONCE THAT BUDGET IS APPROVED.

NOW, HOW YOU GO ABOUT BALANCING THE BUDGET? IF THE KEY TO THE WORK, WHEN YOU HAVE A DEFICIT OF 7 MILLION, YOU HAVE THREE CHOICES IN BALANCING

[00:10:01]

TWO, YOU GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND START LOOKING AT WHAT YOU SPENDING MONEY ON FOR THAT COMING YEAR.

AND YOU START SLICING YOUR EXPENDITURES, UH, THREE WHO RAISE TAXES.

THAT'S HOW YOU BALANCE A BUDGET.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.

I SEE NO ACTION FOR BACK FOR OUR ROOTS.

REDUCING THE DEFICIT IS GOING TO THE FRONT BALANCE AND WON'T TAKE THE WHOLE 7 MILLION.

BUT WHEN I LOOK TO WATCH YOUR LOOK AT YOUR BALANCE AND YOUR EXPENDITURES, YOU ARE CREATING NEW POSITIONS.

YOU OFTEN ERASE EMPLOYEES.

SO YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF WHEN YOU HAVE TO BALANCE A BUDGET AND YOU'RE TALKING $7 MILLION, DO YOU INCREASE JOBS? MOST PEOPLE FREEZE JOBS HIRING.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY FREEZE JOBS.

ANOTHER KEY AREA THAT I ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT IS STREET PROGRAM.

AND THIS YOU BUDGET.

YOU HAVE $10 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR STREETS.

THEN YOU HAVE 3.5 MILLION.

THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND $3.5 MILLION.

IF YOU CHECK ON HOW MUCH YOU ACTUALLY HAVE RIGHT NOW, THAT IS ALREADY ALLOCATED FOR STREETS AND TAKE A LOOK AT HOW MUCH STREETS YOU'RE DOING AND WHAT YOU CAN DO.

YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT YOU'RE GOING TO END UP SPENDING MONEY INTO STREETS AGAIN.

AND THAT BUDGET YOU DON'T SEE HOW MUCH IS REMAINING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED.

AND YOU KEEP PUTTING THE MONEY.

IT'S LIKE PUTTING MONEY FOR SOMETHING, BUT YOU AIN'T DOING IT.

WELL, THIS IS A TIME WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE THINGS, THAT'S $3.5 MILLION RIGHT THERE OUT OF YOUR GENERAL FUND, YOU COULD PUT THE 10 MILLION THAT 10 MILLION STILL WOULD NOT BE SPENT AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

NOW I'LL PUT MY LIFE ON THAT BECAUSE YOU GOT TO CONTRACT STREETS, DESIGNED STREETS, AND DIDN'T DO THE STREETS.

AND YOU ALREADY HAVE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY ALREADY IN THERE THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU HAVEN'T SPENT.

SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE READILY AVAILABLE TO SLASH THIS EXPENDITURE WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE SO MUCH MONEY OUT OF THAT FUND BALANCE.

I CAME ON COUNCIL IN 2011 AND COUNCIL HAD JUST BORROWED $17.6 MILLION FROM THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE THE FUND BALANCE HAD GOT LOW.

AND IF YOU DON'T PROTECT YOUR FUND BALANCE, THAT'S WHAT CAN HAPPEN.

YOU CANNOT PREDICT WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

THAT'S WHY IT'S A RESERVE, THE BEST WAY YOU CAN SERVE AND PROTECT CITIZENS.

MR. DOUCETTE, UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I HAVE ALLOWED YOU ABOUT SIX MINUTES.

WE GOT SOME OTHER TIMES, CAUSE WE WANT TO BEGIN A PUBLIC HEARING.

SURE.

YES, I COULD.

I COULD FINISH UP THE PUBLIC HERE.

NO PROBLEM.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR HEARING ME.

THANK YOU, SIR.

OKAY.

NEXT

[III. A3. Hilton Kelley Of The Community In- Power And Development Association Inc. (CIDA) And Michelle Smith Of The Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) Regarding CIDA & HARC Solar Project Proposal]

YOU ALL BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS? YES.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS HILTON KELLY.

I'M THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY AND, AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION LOCATED HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.

AND ONCE AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO COME BEFORE YOU, UH, WITH, UM, OUR PROJECT.

WE HAVE A SOLAR PROJECT THAT HAS TAKEN OFF.

WE HAVE MOVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SOLAR PROJECT.

SO I'M GOING TO LET MICHELLE SMITH, UH, GO AHEAD AND TAKE OVER FROM HERE, BUT THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR ALLOWING US TO COME BEFORE YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. KELLY, THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US THE TIME TO SPEAK ON THIS TODAY.

UM, YES, THAT'S IN FACT, THE CASE, UM, MY NAME IS MICHELLE SMITH.

I'M ACTUALLY WITH THE COMMUNITY EMPOWERED DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION.

I'M THE MARKETING DIRECTOR, BUT I'M ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF HARK HERE TODAY.

UM, WE'RE HERE BEFORE YOU TO ASK FOR A LETTER OF SUPPORT AND RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF OUR SOLAR PROJECT.

WE'VE BEEN ALLOWED TO PROGRESS TO THE NEXT

[00:15:01]

AND WE'RE, UM, WANTING TO PROPOSE A PROPOSAL TITLED THE, UM, SOLAR FOR SAFETY AND SUCCESS OR THREE S COMMERCIAL, SOLAR DISASTER RESILIENCE, JOB TRAINING AND LONG-TERM FINANCING.

UM, AS YOU HAVE ALREADY STATED, UM, THE PROPOSAL TEAM ACTUALLY CONSISTS OF SEED OF THE COMMUNITY EMPOWERING DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION AND HARK THE HOUSTON ADVANCED RESEARCH CENTER.

NOW SITA HAS WORKED IN PORT ARTHUR FOR OVER 20 YEARS TO, UM, TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES.

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION SPECIFICALLY AROUND AIR QUALITY, HEALTH AND FLOOD RESILIENCE.

AND THE HOUSTON ADVANCED RESEARCH CENTER IS A 5 0 1 C3 NON-PROFIT RESEARCH ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN THE WOODLANDS.

THEY WERE FOUNDED IN 1982 AND ARE COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY AND HAVE EXPERIENCED DEVELOPING DATA VISUALIZATIONS AS COMMUNICATION TOOLS AND WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY AND ASSESS BARRIERS TO COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.

UM, SITA AND HARK HAVE PARTNERED PREVIOUSLY TO DEVELOP THE PORT ARTHUR GOLDEN TRIANGLE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE, OR EJI FOR SHORT, AND, UH, WE'VE DONE SO WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, MULTIPLE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND EVENTUALLY THE U S EPA.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON REDEVELOPING, THE, UH, PORT ARTHUR DISASTER RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY PLAN WITH AN EQUITY LENS.

AND BY APPLYING AN EQUITY LENS TO THIS EXISTING PLAN, THE PROCESS, WHAT RESULTS IN A MORE EQUITABLE OUTCOME FOR AT-RISK COMMUNITIES, VULNERABLE, UNDERSERVED UNDER SOURCED AND OTHERWISE MARGINALIZED RESIDENTS THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AT RISK FOR THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE HAZARD.

NOW, UM, SITA AND HART CAME TOGETHER TO WORK ON THE EJI TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL AND FINANCIAL INJUSTICES OR ECONOMIC INJUSTICES.

THE PROPOSAL AIMS TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL CAPACITY AND BUILD UPON PREVIOUS EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE MAJOR REDUCTION IN GREENHOUSE GAS, EMISSIONS AND HEALTH RISKS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION.

THIS EJI INITIATIVE WILL ALSO EXAMINE HOW TO IMPROVE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EFFORTS, EXCUSE ME, ADVANCED JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT SERVICES UPGRADE THE LOCAL TRANSPORTATION SECTOR AND STRENGTHEN EDUCATIONAL AND HEALTH EQUITY.

THE FUNDAMENTAL GOAL OF THIS INITIATIVE AND ALL OF THESE PROJECTS IS TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL STATE AND LOCAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF VARIOUS STRATEGIES BY LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, TO TRANSFORM THE MOST DISTRESSED NEIGHBORHOODS INTO FLOURISHING, SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY AND SECURITY FOR THEIR RESIDENTS.

SITA AND HARK ARE NOW WORKING TOGETHER ON ANOTHER ASPECT OF THIS EJI INITIATIVE.

AND THAT'S THE SOLAR FOR SAFETY AND SUCCESS OR THREE S THE OUTPUTS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT WILL INCLUDE ONE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF SOLAR AND STORAGE AT LARGE BUILDINGS AND FENCE LINE COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING LOCALLY OWNED, SMALL BUSINESS, UM, SCHOOLS, HEALTH CLINICS, CHURCHES, AND CIVIC CENTERS BY CREATING RESILIENCE AND, UM, SMALL OR SORRY, SOLAR AND STORAGE, MICRO GRIDS.

UM, THEY CAN BE USED FOR RESIDENTS THEN SEEKING SHELTER DURING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY POTENTIALLY.

UM, NUMBER TWO IS THE ANALYSIS OF AVAILABLE FINANCIAL TOOLS, SUCH AS PACE AND LONE STAR AND ASSESS ADDITIONAL NEEDS.

THREE IS A POLICY ANALYSIS AIMED AT CREATING FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS THAT COULD MEET THOSE NEEDS SUCH AS A LOCAL RESILIENCE BANK, OFFERING LOW INTEREST LOANS FOR PROJECTS IN LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS OR LEASING MODELS WITH IMPACT INVESTORS.

AND FOUR, IT INCLUDES JOB TRAINING TO HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS BUILD THE SKILLS THAT THEY NEED TO CONTINUE SOLAR INSTALLATIONS AND OPERATE IN PORT ARTHUR, GAIN WELL-PAYING JOBS AND BENEFIT FROM SOLAR GROWTH IN YEARS TO COME.

THE TEAM WILL ALSO SEEK AN ANALYTICAL SUPPORT WITH STEPS.

ONE THROUGH THREE, AND MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO WEIGH COSTS, BENEFITS, AND PERCEPTIONS TO DETERMINE THROUGH CONSENSUS BUILDING, HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATIONS.

UH, THE PROJECT TEAM WILL ENSURE THAT FLEXIBILITY IS BUILT INTO THESE SOLUTIONS SO THAT THEY CAN BE RESHAPED AS COMMUNITY NEEDS EVOLVE.

EXCUSE ME.

UM, ESSENTIALLY THIS PROPOSAL WILL DEVELOP A PLAN FOR SOLAR AND STORAGE ON LARGE BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY CULTIVATING FINANCIAL RESOURCES NECESSARY TO DO SO WHILE DEVELOPING JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

THE KEY OUTCOMES OF THIS PLAN WILL INCLUDE INCREASING ACCESS TO SOLAR POWER AND BATTERY STORAGE IN PORT ARTHUR INCLUDE IMPROVING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO FREQUENT POWER OUTAGES.

AND BY LOCATING THOSE SOLAR SYSTEMS ON CON UH, COMMUNITY BUILDINGS, WE'RE ALSO GIVING ACCESS TO PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT RESILIENT YET TO ACCESS THOSE RESILIENCY BENEFITS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

UM, SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING SOME MEETINGS WILL TAKE PLACE VIRTUALLY AND IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, UM, TO ACHIEVE THESE DELIVERABLES.

AND WE'RE ASKING FOR THE CITY TO PASS A LETTER OF SUPPORT AND A RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

COOL.

OKAY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, MS. SMITH AND MR. KELLY .

THANK YOU.

SO KINDLY,

[00:20:02]

ARE THERE ANY CORRESPONDENCE? OH, WE, YOU HAVE

[III. E1. A Discussion Regarding The Pleasure Island Boat Ramp (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Frank)]

WE GOT ABOUT TWO MINUTES PREGNANT MICRON, PLEASE.

OKAY.

I WAS ASKING FOR A REPORT ON THAT BOAT RAMP, UM, AND THAT PROJECT OVER THERE, WE'D RECEIVED SOME MONIES, UH, TO, UM, DO SOME RENOVATIONS ON THE BOAT RAMP ON PLEASURE ISLAND.

AND I HAD PLACED IT, UM, ON FOR, UM, HI, THIS IS SHAUNDRA APOE, UM, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.

I CAN KIND OF ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BOAT RAMP, BUT JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A BACKGROUND OF IT.

UM, 2000, APRIL OF 2019 PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 19 DASH 1 42 CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED, UM, THE CITY MANAGER SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO THE TPW D FOR THE ACCESS GRANT IN JULY OF 2019.

WE SIGNED AN UNDER 25 CONTRACT WITH BOB RANDALL TO DESIGN AND DO THE GRANT WRITING ASSISTANCE FOR THE PARKING LOT RENOVATIONS IN OCTOBER OF 2019.

UH, THE GRANT WAS SUBMITTED TO TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE IN MAY OF 2020.

THE CITY WAS NOTIFIED BY EMAIL THAT THE BOATING ACCESS REVIEW COMMITTEE SELECTED THE BOAT RAMP RENT APPLICATION FOR THE PHASE ONE PLANNING GRANT.

SO IN JANUARY OF SQUINTY 21, UM, AND THIS IS WITH THE CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION WITH THE RETIRING OF THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR, STAFF REACHED OUT TO ROBIN PAULSON, WHO IS THE PROJECT CONTACT WITH TPW D UM, NOTIFYING HER OF THE CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION, AS WELL AS ANY INFORMATION REGARDING WHERE WE ARE WITH THE GRANT PROCESS, BECAUSE WE HAD NO IDEA.

WE COULDN'T FIND ANY RECORDS, WE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING.

SO WE WERE BASICALLY TRYING TO SEE WHAT STEPS WERE NEXT.

BASICALLY, MS. COLTON TOLD US THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE PROCESSING OF THE GRANT AGREEMENT DUE TO THE AGENCY HAVING BEEN MANDATED TO CHANGE FINANCIAL SYSTEMS WITH THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.

SO THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF MANUALLY INTEGRATING WHAT WAS SUBMITTED IN THE OLD SYSTEM INTO A NEW SYSTEM.

AND AS SOON AS THE UPLOADED INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED, SHE WILL CONTACT US.

SO WE CAN SIGN THE LOCAL GRANT AGREEMENT AND RECEIVE THE UPDATE IN FEBRUARY OF 2021 SAYING THAT THE LOCAL GRANT AGREEMENT WAS IN THE FINANCIAL OFFICE AND THEY ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF UPLOADING THE INFORMATION INTO THE NEW FISCAL SOFTWARE, MARCH, 2021, THE CITY MANAGER, PLEASURE ISLAND STAFF HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MS CALLS AND REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE GRANT.

UH, ALSO IN MARCH, WE CONTACTED REGARDING SOME TASKS THAT WERE IN THE OLD SYSTEM THAT WAS SHOWING INCOMPLETE.

AND WE REQUESTED TO KNOW IF WE HAD TO COMPLETE THOSE ITEMS SO THAT WE CAN GET THINGS DONE AND UNDERWAY.

SO SHE SAID THAT WE WILL RECEIVE A NEW TEST LIST WHEN EVERYTHING WAS UPLOADED IN THE NEW SYSTEM, APRIL, 2021, THE GRANT WAS TRANSITIONED INTO THE NEW SYSTEM, AND WE WERE PROVIDED ONLY A LOGIN INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE GRANT IN MAY OF 2021, THE LOCAL GRANT AGREEMENT WAS UPLOADED IN THE NEW SYSTEM IN JUNE OF 2021.

UH, WE EXECUTED THE LOCAL GRANT AGREEMENT, ACCEPTING THE PLANNING GRANT IN UP OR THE PLEASURE ISLAND BOAT RAMP PROJECT.

WE HAD SOME WAIT FOR ONCE THE GRANT WAS EXECUTED, WE HAD TO UPLOAD IT IN THE SYSTEM, THE LOCAL GRANT AGREEMENTS SIGNED, AND THEY HAD TO VERIFY THAT WE SIGNED EVERYTHING AND THEIR PART WAS COMPLETE.

THAT WAS UPLOADED IN JUNE.

WE WERE IN JUNE ON JUNE 20TH.

SO JULY 26TH, 2021, WE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT THE LOCAL PLANNING GRANT WAS ACCEPTED AND THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY NOW IN ACTIVE MODE, OR THE GRANT IS CONSIDERED AN ACT PROJECT NOW.

SO AUGUST 5TH, WE REACHED OUT BECAUSE WE STILL HAD NOT RECEIVED THE LIST OF TASKS THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO COMPLETE OR THE GRANT.

SO WE REACHED OUT TO A T PWD TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THOSE TASKS.

UM, THEY WERE UPLOADED LIKE TWO DAYS LATER.

SO AUGUST 30TH, WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL THAT OUR PROJECT CONTACT WAS RETIRING AND THAT WILL, WE WILL BE ASSIGNED A NEW PROJECT CONTACT.

UH, SEPTEMBER 2ND, WE RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION.

THERE WAS SOME ADDITIONAL COMPLIANCE DOCUMENTS THAT IS NEEDED IN ADDITION TO THE TASK ELEMENTS THAT WAS PROVIDED FOR EARLIEST.

SO NOW WHAT'S GOING ON IS STAFF IS REVIEWING ALL THE GRANT ELEMENTS WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CWD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TASKS THAT WE'RE DOING

[00:25:01]

CAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT WE'VE BEEN GRANTED APPROVAL FOR IS TO GET THE NECESSARY PAPERWORKS, PERMITS AND EVERYTHING TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN COMPLETE THE PROJECT.

SO IN THIS, WE'RE GETTING THE INFORMATION TOGETHER, WE'RE DEVELOPING A POSSIBLE SCOPE OF WORK AND WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO BASICALLY ENSURE THAT WE DO THE PROCUREMENT NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE.

OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CHRONOLOGY HERE WITH APPLE.

IS THAT ANSWER WHAT YOU CONCERNED WITH? YES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REPORT.

I THINK EARLY ON IN YOUR PRESENTATION THOUGH, YOU DID MAKE MENTION OF THE FACT THAT THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR, UM, WHO WAS THERE.

UM, YEAH.

THANK YOU.

I CAN'T, IT'S HARD TO .

CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN YOU HEAR ME? OH, OKAY.

YEAH, WE NEED TO JUST SEIZE THIS CONVERSATION.

IF YOU WILL, PLEASE WE'LL DISCUSS IT AT SOME OTHER TIME.

WE TIME CONSTRAINTS.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I'VE MET WITH HIM.

YOU UNDERSTAND? OKAY.

YOU HAVE A 10

[IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS — 10:00 A.M. To Receive And Consider Public Comment For All Interested Citizens With Regard To The City Of Port Arthur' s Proposed Annual Operating Budget And Capital Improvement Program For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2021 And Ending September 30, 2022. The Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation' s Operating Budget Will Also Be Considered. The Public Will Also Be Able To View The Public Hearing Via The City' s Website At www. portarthurtx. gov THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR' S BUDGET BY $ 1, 695, 759.00 OR 7. 68% AND OF THAT AMOUNT, $ 534, 730. 00 IS TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL THIS YEAR]

WE'LL BE ABLE TO COME BACK TO IT.

OKAY.

UH, THE FATHER HEARING MR. RECEIVE AND CONSIDER A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ALL INTERESTS OF CITIZENS.

WITH REGARDS TO THE CITY OF PORT AUTHOR'S PROPOSED ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING, OCTOBER 1ST, 2021, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2020 TO THE PORT OF SECTION FOUR EIGHT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS OPERATING BUDGET WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERED THE PUBLIC WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO VIEW THE PUBLIC HEARING VIEW OF THE CITY'S WEBSITE@WWWDOTPORTARTHURTX.GOV.

NOW THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE, UH, TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR, BUT I GET FIVE, $1,695,759 OR SEVEN POINT 68 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

AND OF THAT AMOUNT, $534,730 IS TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLLS THIS YEAR.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL BEGIN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

OKAY.

IT MAY, OR MAY I MAKE A COMMENT BEFORE? SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS A CONTINUATION.

THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING WAS POSTED, UH, PRIOR TO THIS ON A DIFFERENT DATE AND WHAT WE DID, WE LEFT THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN.

SO THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF WHAT WAS POSTED IN THE NEWSPAPER.

UH, WE RECESSED OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET BECAUSE UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, WE'RE REQUIRED TO TAKE ACTION AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SO WE LEFT THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN.

SO THIS IS THE SECOND PRONG WE DID RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT LAST TIME, UH, THAT WE MET ON THIS.

SO BASICALLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THIS POINT IS WE'RE HERE TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE BUDGET, UH, AT THE POINT IN WHICH WE CONCLUDE THAT, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT AND TO HEAR WHAT ANY CITIZENS HAVE TO SAY, WE CAN THEN MOVE ON TO THE ACTUAL ITEMS AND I'LL, UH, KIND OF GIVE YOU A GUIDANCE CAUSE WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL ACTION ITEMS IN SOME OF THE PO PROCESS HAS CHANGED SINCE LAST TIME, UH, WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SENATE BILL TWO.

THANKS.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY.

SO WE ALL FOR CONSIDERATION AND ACTION, AS YOU JUST STATED, AND I'M JUST REITERATING IT ON THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET OF 20 21, 20 22, UH, AN ORDINANCE FOR BOLT THE CITY AND THE EDC, AND ALSO FOR ADOPTION OF ATTACH RATE AND, UH, RELATED MATTERS TO THAT.

NOW WHAT WE WILL DO AT THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTURE IS, UH, WE HAVE ROLL CALL VOTES THAT HAVE TO BE, WE HAVE TO BE TAKEN FOR THIS FOLLOWING THE, UH, UH, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PORTION OF IT.

OKAY.

UH, SO WE GOTTA DO THE MOTIONS FIRST AND THEN HELP AHEAD AND VOTE AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.

OKAY.

SO WE'RE NOW AT THE PROPERTY HERE AS HER HOURS TO PUBLIC, AND THEN THEY'LL FOLLOW UP EITHER WAY IF YOU WANT, BUT IT'S REALLY FOR THE PUBLIC, BUT GO AHEAD.

BUT IF SHE WANTS TO GO AHEAD AND SAY, OKAY, AND THEN AFTER SHE MAKES HER COMMENTS, THIS

[00:30:01]

OKAY, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

GOOD MORNING.

I DO HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION, UH, PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UM, AND WE CAN, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

UM, THIS IS PRETTY SHORT.

UM, THE FIRST SLIDE, UH, THAT I HAVE SHOWS THE, UH, INCREASES, DECREASES THAT WE MADE TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU ON AUGUST 13TH, WE HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES ALONG THE WAY.

AND SO I'VE, I'VE KIND OF SUMMARIZED THOSE FOR YOU.

UM, THE, UH, THE, THIS IS THE GENERAL FUND CHANGES.

UH, WE'RE ADDING 350,000 RELATED TO POLICE, UH, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROPOSAL.

UH, AS I HAD MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAD A TRANSFER OF ONE POSITION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WHICH REDUCED, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S BUDGET, 55,000 AND INCREASED DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

WE ALSO ARE PROPOSING A REDUCTION, UH, OF 900,000 DUE TO LEASING SOME VEHICLES VERSUS VERSUS PURCHASING THEM.

UH, I BELIEVE WE HAVE, UH, A PRESENTATION LATER ON FROM ENTERPRISE FLEET MANAGEMENT TO DISCUSS THAT A LITTLE FURTHER, BUT THE TOTAL, UH, RESULT FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS A $550,000 DECREASE NEXT PAGE, LINDSEY, THIS, UM, THIS PAGE, I THINK YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF IT BEFORE, UM, SHOWS THE, UH, FUND SUMMARIES FOR, UH, THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR END ESTIMATE, UH, THE REVENUES, THE OPERATING EXPENDITURES, THE TRANSFERS TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, OTHER TRANSFERS, AND THEN THE NET, AND THEN DOWN, UH, TO THE ENDING FUND BALANCE.

UH, WE EXPECT IN THIS YEAR AT ABOUT 27.5 MILLION FOR OUR ORIGINAL PROPOSED BUDGET, UH, RESULTED IN A $20 MILLION FUND BALANCE.

AND WHEN WE'VE REVISED IT, THAT WILL INCREASE THE FUND BALANCE TO 20.5.

SO THAT'S A $550,000 INCREASE TO THE FUND BALANCE FROM WHAT WE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.

UM, YOU CAN SEE ON THIS PAGE THAT, UH, THE REVENUES ARE UNDER THE EXPENSES FOR FISCAL YEAR 21 BY 5.4 MILLION, THE PROPOSED 7.4 AND THEN THE REVISED 6.9.

BUT IT HAS BEEN THE POLICY TO BALANCE THE BUDGET WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TRANSFERS TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE LINE FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT IT'S OBVIOUSLY WITHIN THAT, UH, TOP THAT, UH, AMOUNT NEXT PAGE, LINDSEY, THIS PAGE FURTHER BREAKS DOWN, UH, THE BALANCED BUDGET TO SHOW THE POLICY ACTUALLY READS THAT OPERATING EXPENDITURES MUCH MUST MATCH OPERATING REVENUES.

AND HERE WE SHOW THE OPERATING REVENUES, LESS THE TRANSFERS AND THE OPERATING EXPENDITURES, LESS THE TRANSFERS.

SO, UH, WE'RE ENDING THE YEAR WITH A NET 6.8 MILLION REVENUES OVER EXPENSES.

AND THEN THE PROPOSED, WE STILL ARE BALANCED IT'S CLOSER, BUT WE STILL ARE BALANCED 579,000 IN THE PROPOSED.

AND THEN THE REVISED 229,000 BECAUSE OF THE, UH, INCREASE TO THE, UH, POLICE.

UH, THE 900,000 IS NOT REFLECTED IN THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN OPERATING EXPENSE, IT'S A TRANSFER.

SO THAT'S BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BUDGET IS STILL BALANCED IN THIS CASE.

NEXT PAGE, LINDSEY, THIS IS JUST A DETAIL OF THE TRANSFERS TO OTHER FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WE TRANSFERRED 13.1 MILLION TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND WE'RE PROPOSING THIS YEAR TO TRANSFER 7.9 MILLION, BUT THE PROPOSED AND THE REVISED, AND THEN THE NEXT TRANSFER IS THE CAPITAL RESERVE.

THIS YEAR, WE TRANSFERRED 2.3 MILLION AND WE HAD ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED TRANSFERRING 3.5 MILLION TO CAMP OR RESERVE, BUT WITH THE SAVINGS, UH, IN THE LEASE PURCHASE VERSUS THE PURCHASE OF SOME OF THE VEHICLES, THAT'S NOW, UH, 2.6 MILLION.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE TOTAL TRANSFERS IN 21 WAS 18.5.

THE PROPOSED IN 22 IS 13.5.

AND THEN THE REVISED IS 12.6, WHICH IS A $900,000 DECREASE.

NEXT PAGE, LINDSEY, THIS SHOWS OUR FUND BALANCE POLICY, WHICH OUR TARGET FUND BALANCE POLICY IS 60 DAYS

[00:35:01]

THE REVISED, UH, THAT WE'RE PRESENTING TODAY IS $20.5 MILLION ENDING FUND BALANCE, OR 104 DAYS.

IT'S $7.2 MILLION EXCESS OR 36 DAYS.

NEXT PAGE LINDSEY.

UH, THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY OF THE, UH, GENERAL FUND REVENUES, JUST SO YOU CAN SEE, UM, CA HOW THEY ARE, UH, CATEGORICALLY, UH, PROPERTY TAXES.

WE DO HAVE A SLIGHT INCREASE THERE, ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE A 5 CENT REDUCTION AND THE TAX RATE, THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF 13% IN THE VALUES.

SO WE STILL HAD A SLIGHT INCREASE IN REVENUES THERE.

INDUSTRIAL PAYMENTS ON THE OTHER HAND ARE PROJECTED TO GO DOWN ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS BASED ON THE 5 CENT REDUCTION IN THE TAX RATE, SALES TAX HAS BEEN VERY STRONG ALL YEAR.

WE'RE CURRENTLY 9% ABOVE THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

WE DID PROJECT A MODEST INCREASE OF 3% FOR NEXT YEAR.

UH, THE GROSS RECEIPTS ARE THE FRANCHISE FEES, THE CABLE, UM, ELECTRIC FRANCHISE, THAT TYPE OF THING.

UH, THOSE ARE PROJECTED TO BE UP SLIGHTLY FOR NEXT YEAR.

AND THEN THE NEXT LINE, OTHER REVENUES, UH, SHOW A $2.3 MILLION DECREASE THAT IS PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF SOME ONE-TIME REVENUES THAT WE HAD COME IN THIS YEAR, THE SALE OF A HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUILDING AND SOME OTHER CAPITAL ASSETS.

SO THAT'S WHY THAT'S REDUCED THERE BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T BUDGET FOR SUCH THINGS.

AND THEN A REDUCTION IN THE TRANSFERS IN SLIGHTLY BECAUSE OF THE REDUCTION, BECAUSE OF A REDUCTION IN THE TRANSFER, UH, FROM WATER NEXT PAGE LINDSEY, UH, THIS LAST PAGE DOES SHOW THE OTHER INCREASES, DECREASES TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU.

UH, THIS IS THE OTHER FUNDS AND THESE REDUCTIONS ARE ALL DUE TO THE OPTION TO LEASE VERSUS PURCHASE OF VEHICLES.

UH, THE WATER FUND, $180,000 DECREASE $180,000 INCREASE TO THEIR BALANCE, SOLID WASTE, $15,000 DECREASE REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT FUND, $35,000 INCREASE.

AND THEN THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND, THE TOTAL PAYOUT IN CAPITAL RESERVE IS A MILLION, ONE 30 LESS, BUT THEIR BALANCE WILL REMAIN THE SAME BECAUSE THE TRANSFERS FROM THE OTHER FUNDS ARE LESS.

UM, THAT'S BASICALLY ALL I HAVE.

ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR IF WE WANT TO GET ON WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

WE'LL CALL YOU BACK.

OKAY.

WE READY FOR THE PUBLIC? NO PUBLIC HEARING.

YEAH.

IT'S FOR THE PUBLIC.

IF COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET, THEN HE NEEDS TO COME UP AT THE TIME THE BUDGET ORDINANCE COMES UP, BUT THIS IS ONLY FOR THE PUBLIC.

OKAY.

SO NOW WE WILL, UH, OPEN, OPEN UP FOR THE CONTINUANCE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.

YOU HAVE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD CARE TO SPEAK, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FREE.

GOOD MORNING HERALD, WHO SAID 51 80 CAMBRIDGE STREET, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.

I'LL CONTINUE.

WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

I'M GLAD THAT THAT PRESENTATION CAME BEFORE YOU, BEFORE I CAME BACK UP.

NO, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.

THERE'S A LOT OF FINANCIAL TERMINOLOGY, A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID, BUT THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BUDGET IS COUNCIL.

THE MANAGING STAFF PREPARES AND PRESENT, BUT COUNSELOR HAS TO SAY IT.

I'M VERY CONCERNED WHEN THE BRIEFING THAT YOU'RE GETTING IS CONSISTENTLY SAYING THIS 7 MILLION IS FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

WE, WE DON'T APPROVE CAPITAL IMPROVE PROGRAM TO BE FINANCED BY THE GENTLEMAN.

I MEAN, BY THE FUND BALANCE, THE RESERVES FALL OF CITIZENS.

SO IF YOU GONE TO BE, IF YOU GO ON TO WANT TO, UH, BALANCE YOUR BUDGET, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND PROJECTS.

THE ONLY PART OF YOUR BUDGET, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WHEN YOU ADD ALL OF YOUR

[00:40:01]

DON'T CARE HOW YOU CUT IT.

THAT'S THE EXPENDITURE, HOW MUCH REVENUE YOU'RE GOING TO GET IS HOW MUCH REVENUE YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

I DON'T CARE HOW YOU GET IT.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

AND THAT'S THE PART THAT COUNSELOR HAS TO BE CONCERNED WITH.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU HAVE EXPENDITURES UP OVER $7 MILLION MORE THAN WHAT YOUR PROJECTED REVENUES ARE.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

SO WHAT DID YOU DO? YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE THAT BUDGET AND MAKE SURE THAT THE RESERVES AND FONT BOWELS ARE PROTECTED AND THERE'S AND HIS BUDGET.

THAT'S WHY I CAME.

I SEE WHEREBY THE RESERVE WAS NOT PROTECTED.

WE INCREASE IN POSITIONS, SOME OF THE POSITIONS YOU'RE GOT TAKE A LOOK AT THEM.

IT'S THE COMMON THING THAT HAS BEEN DONE THAT NEEDS TO STOP.

YOU CREATE POSITIONS AND YOU ELIMINATE A POSITION, BUT THE POSITION YOU CREATED HAS A HIGH RANGE IN SALARY.

YOU HAVE TO READ THAT PERSONNEL.

WHEN YOU SEE THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO ACCOUNT FOR IT.

WHY ARE WE DOING IT 7 MILLION AND REDUCING THAT FUND BALANCE TO 20 MILLION.

GIVE YOU AN IDEA.

IF YOU STARTED 2020, WITH 32 MILLION, AND YOU ARE PROJECTING THE APPROVAL OF THIS BUDGET AS IT IS, YUP.

I'M BALANCED.

THERE'S GOING TO BE 20 MILLION.

THAT'S $12 MILLION IN ONE YEAR.

SO WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT IT CAN'T HAPPEN THIS YEAR? IF YOU APPROVE THAT BUDGET, THAT'S THE POSITION YOU'RE PUTTING YOURSELF IN.

AND THAT GUY SAID THERE ARE WAYS TO DO THIS BUDGET, THAT WON'T BE AFFECTING THE OPERATION AND SERVICES.

BUT ALI, THIS WITH YOU IS INCREASING JOBS, CHANGING JOBS FROM ONE SALARY RANGE TO A HIGH SALARY RANGE DURING BUSINESS, AS USUAL IS THAT THE ACTIONS THAT YOU TAKE, WHEN YOU FIND OUT THAT YOU HAVE EXPENDITURES $7 MILLION OR MORE IN WHAT YOU PROJECTED YOUR REVENUE, IS THAT THE ACTION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE AND SURVIVE, I'LL FEEL GOOD UP HERE.

YOU'RE GOING TO PROTECT US.

THE CAPITA IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND PROJECTS SHOULD NEVER BE MENTIONED IN CONJUNCTION WITH NEEDING TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF YOUR RESERVE TO FUND IT.

THOSE PROJECTS OFF A PLAN.

WE PLAN THEM.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, GO BACK AND LOOK AT YOUR 2019 20 AND 21 BUDGETS.

THESE PROJECTS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN STARTING IN 2021.

WHEN IT WAS APPROVED EACH YEAR, ALL YOU DO IS ADD A YEAR AND A PROJECT.

THE MONEY SHOULD BE INCONTINENT.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT IN 2021, YOU HAD MONEY ALLOCATED FOR 825 FOR FIRE.

AND I'M JUST IN POLICE.

I'M JUST SHOOTING.

IT'S LIKE ZAPPING, FIRE.

THINK IT WAS 825 IN 2021.

WELL, NOW IT START WITH 2021 GOING THROUGH 26.

BUT IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT, YOU DIDN'T SPEND IT ALL.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT YOU GOT 1.6.

THAT'S GOING TO GO THAT SAME.

LIKE IT'S TWICE THAT AMOUNT.

SO EVIDENTLY YOU DIDN'T SPEND NOTHING LAST YEAR.

SO YOU'RE DOUBLING UP THIS YEAR, BUT YOU DOUBLING UP AT A TIME WHEN YOU $7 MILLION DIFFERENCE.

DOES THAT MEET THE COMMON SENSE TEST? I LISTENED TO THE PRESENTATION OUT, LISTEN TO EVERYTHING.

BUT AT THE BOTTOM LINE, IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE SIMPLE MATH AND THE BOTTOM LINE.

NOT ALL OF THE WORDS IN BETWEEN, I DON'T, YOU DON'T NEED TO HEAR CORPORATE BECAUSE Y'ALL KNOW THAT ADS THAT EXIST.

MOST OF THE MONEY WE GET IN PHARMA GRANTS, BUT YOU MAY HAVE TO SPEND MONEY.

YOU KNOW THAT CAPTAIN PROVEN PRODUCT PROJECTS.

YEAH.

WE APPROVE THEM, BUT DO WE DO THEM,

[00:45:01]

IT'S A PLAN.

DON'T JUST ACCEPT TAKING 7 MILLION HOURS TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET.

I LOOKED AT YOUR LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

YOU DON'T HEAR THE WORD DEFICIT.

EVERYTHING IS A BALANCED BUDGET.

IT'S A BALANCED BUDGET.

IF YOU TAKE THAT MONEY OUT YOUR FUND BALANCE AND BALANCE IT, IT'S A BALANCED BUDGET.

IF NOT, IT'S A DEFICIT.

WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU, IT'S A DEFICIT.

DANNY, THE $7 MILLION TOOK BALANCE TO BUDGET.

AND IT'S UP TO YOU ALL TO SAY, OKAY, OH NO, GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND START CUTTING.

AND AFTER THEY FINISHED CUTTING DIDN'T YOU LOOK AT IT.

AND IF YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO CUT SOME MORE, YOU CUT IT BECAUSE THAT BUDGET IS GOING TO BE ON Y'ALL BACKS, NOT DEMAND OUR STAFF.

ONCE YOU APPROVE IT, I ASK THAT YOU ALL TAKE A LOOK AT A WAY OF NOT TAKING THAT MUCH OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE TO, TO BALANCE THE BUDGET AND ALL THIS TALK ABOUT AFTER THIS, AFTER THAT, AFTER THE PUBLIC HERE, YOU ALL HAVE THAT OUT AND WE'LL COME BEFORE YOU WENT OUT AND COME BEFORE YOU, YOU CAN START DISCUSSING AND YOU CAN CALL FOR CHANGES.

STILL.

THAT BUDGET DOES NOT HAVE TO BE APPROVED AS IS.

THAT'S WHY IT SAYS YOUR ITEM.

YOU WILL BE DOING THIS CONSIDERATION, FRAUD, ADOPTION, AND APPROVAL.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.

I MEAN, I'VE SEEN THIS RODEO BEFORE THAT GUY SAID, I'D SEEN A BUDGET WHERE WE PRESENTED $5.6 MILLION.

THEN WE SAID, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING NEXT WORKSHOP.

WE PRESENTED WITH TWO.

WELL, WE NEED 2.8.

OH, THAT'S A LOT BETTER THAN 5.6.

THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL ARE.

NOW, WHETHER YOU WANT TO ALLOW THAT 7 MILLION TO BOUNCE THAT BUDGET, OR YOU WANT THE MANAGER AND STAFF TO GO BACK IN AND START LOOKING AT, DO THE BUDGETS TO REFLECT THAT WE MISS IT THIS MUCH MONEY, NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND NOT HAVING TO BE ON Y'ALL SIDE.

THIS FEEL BETTER ON THIS SIDE.

SO I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT, BUT IT'S THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN YOU GOT TO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND YOU GOT TO PUT THE TIME IN FOR CITIZENS AND FILE THE CITY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY.

COUNSEL, HAVE ANY CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE WE MOVE TO ADAPT? OKAY.

I'M SORRY.

YOU GOT TO GET A CUSTOMER WALKING ON BOARD.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE TIME, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I WANT TO BRING UP THE, UM, I HAD A QUESTION ON THE EDCS BUDGET.

CAN I DO THAT AT THIS TIME? OR WHEN WE PUT THE PULL THE ORDINANCE, THIS IS BECAUSE THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, UM, IS REALLY THE, FOR THE PUBLIC TO MAKE COMMENTS.

SO WHEN THE ITEM, WHEN THE EDC BUDGET COMES UP, YOU CAN DO IT.

UH, I WOULD THINK WHEN HE SEES BUDGET WILL COME UP, UH, CANDY, I WOULD DEFER TO CANDY THOUGH, IF SHE WANTS TO.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER COUNCIL COMMENT DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING SEGMENT OR THE MANAGER OR THE MANAGER OR, OH, Y'ALL GOT TO SHARE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

UM, I'VE LISTENED TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.

I HAVE PRESENTED YOU AS YOUR CITY MANAGER WITH A BALANCED BUDGET.

OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE TAKEN $4.5 MILLION

[00:50:01]

IN ORDER TO SUPPLEMENT STREETS, THE COUNCIL HAS ALWAYS STATED THAT STREETS WAS A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE THAT WHEN THOSE WHO WERE THERE AND THOSE WERE NO LONGER, THERE WERE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

IF YOU GO BACK TO THEIR BUDGET AND YOU READ IT, YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS YEAR WE HAVE TAKEN $3.5 MILLION TO ADD TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH IS STREETS.

IF YOU READ YOUR BUDGET, YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE DONE NOTHING DIFFERENT TODAY.

I HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH A BALANCED BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY CONTINUES TO OFFER IT AS IT SHOULD.

IF YOU GO BACK TO WHAT CAN THEY PROVIDE YOU WITH AS WELL? YOU HAVE OPERATING REVENUES AS $7.9 MILLION, 73.9 $74 MILLION.

YOU HAVE A PROPOSED BUDGET OF $72.3 MILLION.

HOW MUCH MORE CAN THAT BE BALANCED? I'VE LEFT IT TO THE EXPERTS.

I'VE WORKED WITH THE EXPERTS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE WITH ALL THE CRITICAL INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED AS A COUNCIL TO MAKE VERY PRUDENT DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS.

I HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH A BALANCED BUDGET.

OKAY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UH, DID HE MANAGE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I DON'T SEE ANY LIGHTS COMING ON IN THE COUNTED.

I BET YOU GOT TO WORK IN MIKE NOW ATTORNEY.

YEP.

OKAY.

IF WE, UH, OH, OKAY.

ALRIGHTY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR RON, UH, JUST TO KINDA ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES, UH, W WE HEARD IN THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, SOME OF THE JOBS THAT WE ARE NOW IMPLEMENTING, HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THE CITY WITH THOSE UPGRADE JOBS THAT I PERSONALLY HAVE A CONCERN WITH? THAT'S GOING TO MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD, UH, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE SOME JOBS THAT, UH, WE MAY NEED TO LOOK INTO MORE DETAIL IN, IN FILLING THOSE POSITIONS.

I AM ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT AS YOUR CITY MANAGER, THAT WHAT I'VE PROPOSED TO YOU IN TERMS OF THE NEW POSITIONS IS NOT FLUFF.

IF THE CITY, IF THE POLICE CHIEF HAS ASKED ME FOR A POSITION, I AM, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY, THE, THE, THE, THE CHIEF OF POLICE FOLLOWS THE PROTOCOL IN HIS REQUEST.

IT GOES FROM HIM TO THE HR DEPARTMENT, AND THEN TO ME, SO THAT THE JUSTIFICATION CAN BE MADE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

I'M NOT GOING TO MICROMANAGE ANY HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT WHERE THAT IS CONCERNED.

I WILL GIVE THEM THE NECESSARY TOOLS AFTER I HAVE MADE THE CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE REQUEST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS AS THEY SHOULD WITHOUT MICROMANAGING THEM.

AND SO I'M TOTALLY SATISFIED, ABSOLUTELY SATISFIED THAT ALL THE POSITIONS THAT ARE REQUESTED ARE NEEDED.

OKAY.

GOOD ACCOUNT.

UM, OKAY.

UH, MAN, WHERE YOUR PHONE OKAY.