Mar 29, 2022 City Council

[00:00:01]

EXCUSE ME.

OKAY.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]

AND WE WILL CONDUCT THIS MEETING.

THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR 9:30 AM TODAY ON TUESDAY, MARCH 29TH, 2022.

AND WE WILL BEGIN NOW AT 9:36 AM.

UH, YOU MAY ATTEND THIS MEETING BY TELEPHONIC AND BY VIDEO CONFERENCE.

UM, IN ADDITION TO ALLOWING, UH, IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE, A QUORUM AT HERE AT THE CITY HALL HAS TO BE, UH, ESTABLISHED AND WE HAVE TO BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT HERE IN THE CHAMBERS ON THE FIFTH FLOOR AT CITY HALL AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THE PUBLIC I EVER MADE PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING, UH, IN PERSON ALL BY DIALING 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 CODE OF 8 8 4 8 7 4 5 6 3 5 4.

AND THE PASS CODE OF 0 0 2 1 7 9.

WE ARE ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

WE WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR A PERSONS MAKING THIS REQUEST.

HOWEVER, THIS REQUEST HAS TO BE DONE 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING BY CALLING THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 8 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.

AND AT THIS TIME, IF YOU HAVE ELECTRONIC DEVICES, WOULD YOU PLEASE MUTE THEM? UM, AND WE WILL BEGIN OUR MEETING, UH, IN THE CASE, UH, COUNCILMAN BOX, BUT YOU BE SO KIND AS TO RENT IT INVOCATION FOR US, PLEASE.

AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

WOULD YOU STAND PLEASE, FATHER GOD, WE COME THIS MORNING THANKING YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY.

WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE FALL.

THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US INDIVIDUALLY, COLLECTIVELY, AND FOR OUR CITY.

WE ACTUALLY FATHERED THAT YOU BE IN OUR MIDST.

AS WE CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF PORT ARTHUR.

THIS MORNING, WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN JESUS NAME.

AMEN.

AMEN.

THANK YOU, JASMINE.

WOULD YOU PLEASE IN UNISON, REPEAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.

SO THE SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO CALL THE ROLL TO ESTABLISH THE COURT MAYOR T MAY APPROACH TIM FRANK PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER HOLMES, COUNCIL MEMBER JONES, COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS, COUNCIL MEMBER MOSES.

YEAH, YOU HAVE A CORE OF ME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO KINDLY AND THANK EACH OF YOU FOR BEING PRESENT HERE ON TODAY.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH OUR

[II. PROCLAMATIONS]

AND FOR PROCLAMATIONS, I DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE IN HAND.

AND IF AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, WHAT OUR HONOREE, MRS. MADDIE BAKER, MAURO COME TO THE STAND PLEASE.

OKAY.

I BROUGHT IT, BUT I DID GOOD MORNING, MRS. MORROW AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS.

IF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU CARE TO JOIN HER HERE YOU MAKE.

AND EVEN IF THERE ARE OTHERS, CHURCH MEMBERS OR WHOMEVER WOULD BE PRESENT.

SO YOUR PAST IS HERE.

OKAY.

BUT THE HABITS.

OKAY.

AND THIS IS A SPECIAL OCCASION FOR MRS. MORROW, WHO WAS AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN IT AIN'T MADDIE.

OKAY.

THE CITY OF PORT, ALL THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, WHEREAS LONGEVITY OF LIFE IS A BLESSING FOR AN INDIVIDUAL AND FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT BENEFITS FROM THEIR KNOWLEDGE, CREATIVITY, AND EXPERIENCES.

[00:05:02]

SHE GRADUATED FROM ABRAHAM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL IN 1950 AND FURTHER HER EDUCATION AT PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M UNIVERSITY WHERE SHE OBTAINED A BACHELOR'S AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION.

AND WHEREAS SHE'S A MEMBER OF THOMAS BOULEVARD, CHURCH OF CHRIST, WHERE SHE WAS BAPTIZED AT THE AGE OF 12 BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED, MRS. MORROW HAS EXCEEDED GOD'S PROMISE BY 20 YEARS.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IS PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO YOU, MS. MADDIE BAKER MAURO.

AND WE WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY.

NOW, THEREFORE I THURMAN BILL BARCHIE MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.

DO WE HEAR BY PROCLAIM MARCH 17TH, 2022 AS MADDIE MORROW DAY HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT AUTHOR.

AND I ASKED ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN US IN CELEBRATING MRS. MADDIE BAKER MORROW IN WITNESS WHERE WRONG.

I HAVE HEARING TO SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE FIELD OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO BE A FIXED ON THIS DOCUMENT.

THIS 29TH DAY OF MARCH, 2022.

AND IT IS SIGNED THURMAN BILL BARCHIE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

AND RIGHT HERE, WHAT I DID NOT INCLUDE ON HERE.

AND I PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

HER SAW RAW.

SHE IS A MEMBER ALSO DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INCORPORATED, 1913.

THAT'S GREAT.

AND MS. MORROW, I HAVE FOR YOU AFTER 90 YEARS, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO ANYWHERE IN PORT ARTHUR THAT YOU WISH.

AND I'M COMING DOWN TO PRESENT TO YOU A KEY TO THE CITY UP THERE.

YOU MAY BEGIN AND WE'LL WORK OUR WAY DOWN.

I JUST WANT TO WISH YOU A VERY, VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

YOU HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED AND SEXY INSPIRATION TO US ALL.

SO WE JUST WANT TO WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND JUST CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU DO AND BEING AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

YES.

I'M HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY.

I HAVE A BABY BORN ON YOUR BIRTHDAY.

I WATCHED YOUR VIDEOS.

I WAS DANCING ALONG WITH YOU CELEBRATING.

SO I WAS ABLE TO DO THE DANCE WITH YOU.

I PRAY YOU ENJOYED EVERY DAY THAT THEY CELEBRATED YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.

WE JUST LED TO HONOR YOU ON THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU.

SO ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY AND ALL THE CHILDREN OF EL VISTA, WHEN YOU WERE OUR TEACHER OUT AT SCHOOL, THIS WHEATLEY SCHOOL, WE REALLY APPLAUD YOU AND WE WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND MANY MORE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MARY.

AND I'D LIKE TO JUST PIGGYBACK WITH MY COHORTS.

THANK YOU.

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

HAPPY 90TH, BIRTHDAY, HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY.

AND YOU LOOK VERY WELL.

THANK YOU FROM MY FAMILY AND FROM THE COHORTS FROM THE TAR COUNCIL.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY MS. MORELL, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

I'M PRETTY SHOCKED.

HE WAS SOMETHING I'M COUNCILMAN KEL JONES.

I REMEMBER YOU MET AND MARRIED.

AND TOMORROW TO REMEMBER THAT HE WORKED FOR ME.

LOCAL 8, 5, 3.

I WAS VICE-PRESIDENT AT THAT LOCAL.

HE WAS LOW.

HE WAS A FARMER THAT DAY WITH ME.

AND I REMEMBER Y'ALL'S MARRIAGE.

I GOT MARRIED.

UH, SO, UH, YOU TAUGHT ME IN SCHOOL, CONGRATULATION, UNITED BIRTHDAY.

GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD KEEP YOU.

THANK YOU.

WHERE'S YOUR SON, ANDREW? UH, HIS SON, ANDREW, JR.

IS HE STILL AROUND? SAY WHAT HE SAYS? WE TAKE ANDREW.

HE WANTS TO KNOW WHERE MY HUSBAND IS.

I DON'T KNOW.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

YOU WORK

[00:10:01]

YEAH.

YEAH.

GOD BLESS.

Y'ALL THANK YOU.

GOOD JOB, BABY.

I JUST WANT TO SAY TO YOU, MS. MADDIE, HAPPY, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO A WOMAN WHO HAS REPRESENTED WELL, THIS COMMUNITY AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY SORROW FROM DELTA SIGMA, THETA AND MY MOTHER WHO WOULD SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

I ALSO ASKED SOME THANK YOU.

I BLESS YOU.

THANK YOU.

THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, MAN.

I'D LIKE TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR HONORING ME ONLY THINGS, I GUESS, 19 YEARS, I SAY NINE, BUT 19, 19 YEARS.

AND I HAPPENED TO HAVE LIVED IN PORT ARTHUR ALL MY LIFE.

I'VE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT LEAVING, SO I GUESS I'LL BE HERE UNTIL THE END AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

I LOVE ALL OF YOU.

MY NEPHEW, MY NEPHEW FOR BEING HERE.

NOW, WE

[III.A.1. Ronald R. Moon Regarding Pleasure Island, Progress Of New Management]

WE HAVE FIRST MR. RONALD MOON REGARDING PLEASURE ISLAND AND THE PROGRESS OF NEW MANAGEMENT, MR. MOON, WHICH COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

AND YOU ACTUALLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, SIR.

YES, SIR.

MORNING, MR. BARON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS RONNIE MOON.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN PORT AUTHOR, SERVED MY COUNTRY, CAME BACK, MOVED INTO PORT AUTHOR.

MY MOTHER WAS LIVING IN NEW ZEALAND.

SHE PASSED AWAY.

SO NOW RESIDE IN NEEDLE IN TEXAS, BUT I'M ON PLEASURE ISLAND ALMOST SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, 15 YEARS WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR EXXON, I HAD A, THEIR COMPANY, UH, SPONSOR TO CLEAN UPS ON THE NORTH LEVEE.

AND, UM, THEY, UH, KIND OF, I RETIRED FROM THERE, BUT I CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THING.

UM, I'VE BEEN DOING IT ON MY OWN WITH THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OVER THE YEARS.

AND, UM, THERE'S STILL A FEW LITTLE THINGS.

LITTLE THINGS ARE WHAT GONNA MAKE PLEASURE ISLAND SHINE.

WE HAVE A, A ROAD PROBLEM LAKEFRONT DRIVE THAT WE'VE, UH, I'VE TRIED TO HELP GET ON THE LISTING.

IT'S BEEN ON.

THE LISTING HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM A LISTING.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF MY PICTURES ARE SHOWING OR NOT, BUT THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT I MEET OUT THERE EVERY DAY.

AND TALK TO THEM.

THEY'RE ENJOYING THE LEVIES ON PLEASURE ISLAND.

THERE'S SOME OF THE BEST FISHING ALONG THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS COAST.

THIS, UH, BASICALLY TELL YOU WHAT I'VE DONE FOR THE LAST YEAR.

AND WHEN I'M PICKING THE TRASH UP, I TALK TO THEM.

IF THEY TAKE A, IF A CATCHING FISH, I TAKE A PICTURE, SEND IT TO MY WIFE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE INTERNET.

AND SHE PUTS ALL THEIR PICTURES ON LAKES HAVE BEEN FISHING ON PLEASURE ISLAND.

AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S PICKING UP EVERY DAY NOW BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING TO THE SUMMERTIME.

AND, UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, OUR NEW MANAGER, I GUESS, A PLEASURE ISLAND DIRECTOR.

I'VE BEEN, THIS IS MY THIRD PLEASURE ISLAND DIRECTOR, AND I'VE MET, UH, GEORGE FROM THE PLEASURE ISLAND AND WE'VE DISCUSSED A LOT OF THIS STUFF.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME I SEE POSITIVE MOVEMENT POSITIVE.

YOU CAN DRIVE ACROSS PLEASURE ISLAND BRIDGE.

NOW IT'S CLEANEST.

I'VE SEEN IT IN YEARS BECAUSE THEY HAVE FOUR EMPLOYEES

[00:15:01]

I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE GAINING SOME OF THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT AND STUFF NOW TO MAINTAIN THE ISLAND, WHICH IS GREAT.

AND, UM, GEORGE IS, UH, LISTENED TO ME JUST LIKE AL ARE TODAY, BUT I JUST LOVE PLEASURE ISLAND.

I'VE SPENT MY LIFE OUT THERE AND I'M GOING TO PROBABLY END UP SPENDING MY LIFE OUT THERE.

I'M GOING TO HELP WITH ANYTHING I CAN ON THE ISLAND.

AND GEORGE, IF HE'LL PUT UP WITH ME A LITTLE LONGER, HE'S NEW TO THE ISLAND.

HE'S NOT THAT FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT I WILL FAMILIARIZING WITH THE ISLAND.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT IT'S LOOKS LIKE A POSITIVE MOVE AND I'M HAPPY TO BE UP HERE TO EXPRESS WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND I HOPE I GET A CHANCE TO COME BEFORE YOU IN THE FUTURE, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO KINDLY MR. MOON, UH, CON UH, COUNCILWOMAN HOLMES.

DID YOU KNOW YOUR LIGHT ZONE? OKAY.

OKAY.

COUNCILMAN JONES.

GOOD MORNING.

RIGHT.

MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

IT'S A TRUE SAYING THAT GOD ELSA ANSWERED THE SINNER'S PRAYER.

HE ASKED HIM MY PRAYER.

I'M GLAD THAT YOU GOT JOBS WORKING WITH YOU.

I'M GLAD GEORGIA.

YOU ENJOY DOING SOMETHING CAUSE ME, YOU WORE ME OUT.

DO YOU KNOW THAT? DON'T YOU, YOU WORE ME OUT SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 24 7, HIS WIFE LAUGHING.

I BEAT IT, COOKING FOOD SOME TIME AT HOME.

MY DAUGHTER BE PUT SOME FOOD, SEE THE PHONE RINGS.

HE SAID, DADDY, RIDE THE MOON.

I SAID, I KNOW LET'S GO TO PLEASURE ISLAND, BUT THEN GO UP TO GEORGE FOR YOU.

I'M GOING TO HAVE MUCH RELIEF.

NOW YOU ENJOY DOING SOMETHING TOGETHER.

WELL, MY PHONE STOPPED RINGING.

YOU KNOW, I LOVE TALKING TO YOU, BUT YOU CAN WEAR ME OUT AND PLAY.

AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROUD TO PARENTS BECAUSE Y'ALL THAT BOY PLAYING TOO FAST.

GET THEM DOWN WHILE YOU HEAL.

YOU NOW HAD SOME THINGS GOING ON, PAIGE ALLEN.

SO YES, GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

ARE YOU STILL DOING THIS? DOING A GOOD JOB.

YOU LOOK UP AT YOUR HOUSE.

I LOVE IT.

SO PUSH IT YOUR MONEY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

OKAY, MAN.

MAYOR PRO TEMP.

YES.

MR. MOON.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION AND FOR YOUR PURPOSE.

UM, I WISH THERE WERE A THOUSAND MORE LIKE YOU, UH, WHO WOULD FIND PURPOSE AND FIND JOY IN WHAT THEY DO, BUT ESPECIALLY IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING ANY WAY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HELP.

WE WANT TO DO THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR.

THANK YOU, SIR.

COUNSEL MCCANN LAW.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND, UH, RONNIE IS, IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU.

UH, AND FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW HIM, UH, WHEN HE SAYS HE'S OUT THERE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, UH IT'S IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

UH, AND, UH, I'M AN AVID FISHERMEN, SO I'M OUT THERE THREE OR FOUR TIMES DURING THE SUMMER.

AND I SEE HIM ALL THE TIME AND WE TALK AND WE TALK ABOUT CHANGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO TO IMPROVE THE LEVIES AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE SPOTS TO GO, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GIVE YOU KUDOS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.

I SEE YOU WITH A GARBAGE BAG IN YOUR HAND.

I SEE YOU IN YOUR TRUCK.

I SEE YOU RIDING AROUND.

I SEE YOU PICKING UP THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, OTHER PEOPLE MAY PICK UP, NOT PICK UP, BUT I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOU ON IT AND SAY, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN DOING IN PORT ARTHUR.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

OKAY.

AND AGAIN, GAME MOON.

THANK YOU.

I KNOW DURING MY TENURE AS MAYOR, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT YOUR THIRD TIME COMING IN.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND, UH, GEORGE IS STANDING IN THE BACK, STAND UP, UH, GEORGE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

AND THAT'S HOW IT PLAYS OUT IN DIRECTOR GEORGE, RIGHT? THE POSITIVITY AND IT'S HEY GEORGE, WHAT YOU AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH, HE WILL HELP PUT ME ON YOUR RIDES, YOU WITH THAT.

AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU.

SO LONGEVITY, THERE IS GOING TO HELP HIM.

I JUST WANTED TO MENTION ALSO I PASSED OUT A FLYER TO EVERYONE THAT ON MAY 21ST, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR FOURTH ANNUAL BANK FISHING CONTEST ON PLEASURE ISLAND ON THE NORTH LEVY.

UM, ME AND MY WIFE PUT THAT TOGETHER FOUR YEARS AGO.

AND, UM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FISHING FROM SEVEN TO 11.

UH, BRING YOUR FISH OR WHATEVER UP TO THE SALT CLUB.

THE SOCCER CLUB HAS JOINED IN WITH US.

IF YOU GOT A FISH THE WAY IN, GREAT.

IF YOU DON'T COME UP THERE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LINKS, CHIPS, AND DRINKS, UH, THE SPONSORS LISTED ON THERE HAVE GIVEN US, UH, GIFTS TO GIVE AWAY.

SO I'LL BE AT THE GATE AT SIX 30 IN THE MORNING, HANDING OUT DRAWING TICKETS FOR EVERYBODY.

THAT'S COMING THROUGH.

IT'S FOR REDFISH, SPECKLED TROUT AND FLOUNDER, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LINKS, CHIPS, AND DRINKS, AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE AWAY THE FISH PRIZES.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE AWAY THE FREE GIFTS AND IT'S TOTALLY FREE.

IT DOES NO ENTRY FEE, NO COST.

IT'S JUST COME OUT AND FISH AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

[00:20:01]

AND SEE THE MANAGER.

YOU CAN GET A CHAIR PIO.

SHE WILL PLACE THIS ON OUR CITY, A WEB PAGE, AND WE'LL, WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL DOING AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR WIFE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL.

SO, OKAY.

AND GEORGE, ONE MORE THING.

WE'LL RUN IT.

YOU JUST WANT TO CALL AND TALK TO ME SOMETIME LIKE HE USED TO DO CALL ME AND WE WERE STILL TALKING, YOU KNOW, SHOOT THE BULL.

IF YOU GOT A PROBLEM, CALL GEORGE.

THANK YOU, GEORGE.

I WILL.

I PROMISE.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU.

SO KINDLY IT IS NOW, UH, 9 56 GETTING READY TO BE AT 9 57.

WE ARE TO BEGIN A PUBLIC HEARING AT 10:00 AM.

SO, UH, ATTORNEY AND WE BEGAN ABOUT THREE MINUTES EARLY.

WOULD THAT BE A PROBLEM? PRIVATE RATE.

OKAY.

AND, AND, UH, WE HAVE, UH, ANOTHER PRESENTATION WHERE WE HAVE PRESENTATIONS AND HERE YOU HAVE 20 MINUTES ON THE PRESENTATION.

SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS, UH, YEAH, UH, LIKE I KNOW WHAT I CAN DO IN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE MINUTES.

WE CAN SKIP OVER TO, UH, I THINK IT IS, UH, UH, NUMBER FIVE,

[V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF TWO ( 2) MINUTES PER COUNCILMEMBER) (Part 1 of 2)]

AND WE CAN, WE CAN DO THAT.

UH, WHAT I DO HAVE IS A REPORT OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS.

OUR, UH, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, UH, PROMPT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS HAS RECEIVED G F O A, WHICH IS THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATIONS, DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD FOR ITS BUDGET.

AND I HAVE THE CERTIFICATE HERE, WHEREAS THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION OF WANT PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING, OCTOBER 1ST, 2021.

AND IT'S SIGNED BY MR. CHRISTOPHER MORRILL, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

SO TO THE, OUR FINANCE PRICES, WOULD YOU ALL STAY AT FERGUSON FROM THE FINANCE OFFICE, IF YOU ARE HERE? OKAY, WE WANT THERE AND Y'ALL CAN SEE IT.

Y'ALL WANT TO CHECK IT.

WE DIDN'T GET YOU TO MAKE, I DIDN'T MAKE OUT HIS GAME ABOUT IT.

OKAY.

EVERYONE HAS ONE.

AND, UH, FOR OUR CITIZENS, OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS DOING A GREAT JOB OR, UH, AND BEING STEWARDS OF OUR FINANCES AND PRESENTING A BUDGET THAT IS IN, UH, I GUESS, COMPLIANCE WITH, UH, UH, WHAT THEY WOULD CALL IT.

I'M A MINT COUNTY.

THEY CALLED IT, UH, UH, STANDARD ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S I KNOW IAN'S WOULD GO.

THAT'S WHAT THEY CALLED IT WHEN I TOOK, UH, ACCOUNTING.

AND, BUT I'M MORE THAN SURE THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, STILL STANDS ON TODAY.

BEING 9 59, WE HAD A COUNTDOWN NOW AND WITH THE BLESSINGS OF THE ATTORNEY ARE REMOVED TO PAGE TWO OF OUR PRINTED AGENDA.

AND WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS TO BEGIN IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND WE ARE AT THE COUNTDOWN.

AND I BELIEVE MAY I BEGIN ATTORNEY, OKAY.

ATTORNEY SAY THAT I CAN BEGIN.

SO WE WILL, WE HAVE A PUBLIC

[IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS — 10: 00 A.M.]

AND BRYANT DRIVE SAID TRACKS ATLANTA LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS 39 POINT 73 ACRES OF LAND OUT OF THE T N N O R R SURVEY SECTION NUMBER THREE, ABSTRACT NUMBER 2, 5 8, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS BEING HELD PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 43.142 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, A DETAILED MAP OF THE PROPOSED AREA TO BE DID THIS ANNEX OR DNX IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE PORT OFF THE CITY HALL, WHICH IS LOCATED HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 AM AND 5:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

AND IT IS CONTINUOUSLY ONLINE AT WWW DOT PORT AUTHOR T X DOT GO.

A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY, UH, COUNCIL REPORT PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 5TH, 2022.

THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER, ARE THEY HAPPY? EXCUSE ME.

THE CITY COUNCIL

[00:25:01]

THE ANNEXATION OF SAID TRACKS AT ITS REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING ON APRIL 26TH, 2022.

SO AT THIS TIME WE WILL BEGIN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BE THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WE CAN'T SPEAK ON THIS MATTER, OR YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE IT, ATTORNEY WE'LL COME BACK.

SO THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 43, UH, 1 42 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH IS SUBJECT TO OUR CHARTER.

WE HAD A REQUEST FROM A LANDOWNER TO THE COUNCIL TO DISCONNECT SOME PROPERTY.

UM, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE LAND WAS ACTUALLY IN THIS, IN THE CITY LIMITS.

UM, IT WAS PLACED IN THE CITY LIMITS IN ABOUT 2008.

PRIOR TO THAT, IT WAS IN WHAT'S CALLED THE EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION.

UM, AND THE REQUEST HAS BEEN MADE TO PUT IT BACK INTO THE ETJ AND OUTSIDE OF THE CORPORATE LIMITS.

SO BASICALLY WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A MAP AND WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT, BUT THERE'S A MAP THAT SHOWS THAT THE AREA IN RED, IF YOU ALL CAN SEE THAT IS ATTRACTIVE LAND NEAR WEST PORT ARTHUR ROAD AND BRAY DRIVE B R A I DRIVE.

AND THAT HAS PRIOR PREVIOUS IN PREVIOUS YEARS HAS BEEN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA.

IT WAS ONCE A BUSINESS CALLED US INTECH.

UM, THAT BUSINESS WAS, UH, SOLD, UH, CLOSED.

AND, UM, AT THE, SINCE THAT TIME, UM, SINCE ABOUT 2008, IT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE CITY LIMITS.

IT'S GOING TO BE USED FOR INDUSTRIAL TYPE BUSINESS PURPOSES, UH, NOW, AND THERE'S SOME EXPANSION THERE.

AND, UH, IT WAS, UH, DEEMED, UH, REQUESTED BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT IT, IT GO BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL, UH, LOCATION IN THE ETJ.

SO WE'RE HAVING THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING WILL TAKE PLACE ON APRIL 5TH.

AND THEN ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, THE COUNCIL WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO DIS ANNEX THE PROPERTY ON APRIL 26.

UM, AND THERE THAT, THAT'S BASICALLY THE PRESENTATION THAT I HAVE.

UH, WE'RE JUST PRETTY MUCH BRINGING IT BACK, UH, INTO THE ETJ FROM THE CITY LIMITS.

AND THEY WILL ALSO, UH, MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO THEIR COMPANY.

UH, AND OF COURSE, UH, TO THE LOCATION, BECAUSE IT'S MORE THAN ONE PROPERTY OWNER, OF COURSE, BUT IF THERE IS ANY TYPE OF FIRE OR ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE OF FIRE SUPPRESSION OR ASSISTANCE NEEDED FROM THE CITY IN ALL OF THOSE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENTS, UH, WE ALWAYS SERVE AS BACKUP.

SO THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE ALONE.

WE WILL, UH, PROVIDE BACKUP.

SO UPON COMPLETION OF THE DIS ANNEXATION, WE WILL HAVE SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT IN PLACE AS WELL FOR THAT.

BUT, UM, BASICALLY THAT'S THE BULK OF MY PRESENTATION.

AND THEN MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY CITIZENS.

OKAY.

DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AND NO ONE CARES YOU MAKE ANY COMMENTS, ANYONE CARE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON THEM? OKAY.

UH, COUNCIL PERSONS, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS MATTER? THANK YOU ALL SILENCE.

RIGHT.

WELL, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY ON APRIL 5TH, IF ANYONE HAS ANY CONCERNS AND WE'LL MAKE CERTAIN, THIS INFORMATION IS ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL.

OKAY.

SO NOW WE WILL, UH, END OUR, UH, PUBLIC HEARING.

OKAY.

SO WE IN A MOTION NOW TO END THE PUBLIC HEARING COUNCILMAN MARKS, SO MOVED, UH, SECOND, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, MOSES OKAY.

IS REMOVED.

AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD END THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT BEGAN AT 10:00 AM THIS MORNING THAT WE WOULD END IT AT 10:05 AM ON THIS DATE, MARCH 29TH, 2022 HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

UH, READY QUESTION.

WE READY TO VOTE ALL IN FAVOR.

ANY OPPOSES THAT HAS HAPPENED TO US, ALL OF THE PUBLIC HEARING HAS NOW ENDED.

WE WERE NOW RETURNING TO THE NORMAL FUNCTIONING IN OUR PRINTED AGENDA AND UNDER ROMAN NUMERAL THREE,

[III.B.1. Presentation By Mistie Layne Of The Tween Esteem Camp Regarding A Self- Esteem Camp For Girls Ages 9- 12]

[00:30:01]

WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY MISTY LANE OF THE TWEEN ESTEEM CAMP REGARDING A SELF-ESTEEM CAMP FOR GIRLS AGES NINE THROUGH 12.

DO YOU ALL COME APPROACH AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE? GOOD MORNING.

I'M JOSEPH GILLERY, 39 37 GREENWAY APPOINT DRY PORT OFF THE TEXAS.

HELLO, MS. DELAY 4, 4 1 9.

CHERYL WOULD DRIVE PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS COUNSEL.

JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU THIS MORNING.

UH, MISSY AND I MET THROUGH, UH, DR.

KEN LAW ON MARCH 10TH AND, UH, WE HAD A MEETING.

WE SAT DOWN AND HAD A DISCUSSION AND WE WERE BLOWN AWAY BY HER STORY AND HER PASSION FOR CHILDREN.

AND AS YOU KNOW, AS ONE OF THE, UH, NEW ELECTED, UH, SOON TO BE JUDGE, UH, UH, GUILLORY, UM, THIS KIND OF 10 AND LYNN TO WHAT WE WANT TO DO, UH, WITH OUR KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, ADDRESSING SOME OF THE SOCIAL NEEDS, UM, UH, JUST AS YOU AND I HAVE A NEED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE IT'S EASIER TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE THAT'S NOT FAMILIAR WITH US SO WE CAN SHARE MORE.

AND IN THIS LESSON AND IN THE, IN THIS, UH, ONE DAY CAMP, THE CHILDREN HAD AN, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME, SOME DEEP INNER FEELINGS AND IT HELPED THEM AND WHAT HER PROGRAM, HER PASSION FOR WHAT SHE'S DOING.

IT ALLOWED THEM A PLATFORM TO BE SAFE AND SECURE.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER DO I WANT TO LET MISTY, UH, SHE BROUGHT A PRESENTATION ALONG, UH, TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THOSE HIGH POINTS IN THE SUCCESS, UH, THAT WE HAD THIS PAST WEEKEND, UH, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT, UH, ISSUE, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU FEEL AS WELL, THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND NOW I WILL LET MISS THE, UH, GIVE A PRESENTATION.

YEAH, I'M MUCH SHORTER.

HELLO, I'M MISTY LANE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME THE PRESENTATION.

I'M GOING TO JUMP RIGHT IN AT THE END, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TESTIMONY FROM ONE OF THE KIDDOS THAT THEY CAME TO THIS CAMP THIS PAST SATURDAY, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK DR.

KINLAW FOR MAKING THIS ALL HAPPEN.

UM, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHEN I'M DONE WITH MY PRESENTATION, MY PASSION, WHY I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING THIS PARTICULAR AGE NINE TO 12, AND GOD SAVED ME.

GOD SAVED ME FOR A REASON.

I'M FULFILLING THAT REASON TODAY.

I BELIEVE I'M ON HIS MISSION.

I'LL LISTEN TO THE DIRECTION HE SENDS ME AND DR.

KAHN, KEN LAW WAS PUT IN MY PATH DELIBERATELY AND INTENTIONALLY, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHY I'M STANDING HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY.

SO WITHOUT ANY MORE DELAY I'M GOING TO GET ON WITH IT.

SO MY NAME IS MISTY LANE.

I GREW UP IN SOUTHEAST, TEXAS.

UM, NEXT PLEASE.

HE'S GOING TO MONITOR THAT FOR ME.

I GREW UP IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS, UM, PRETTY, UH, AVERAGE NORMAL KID.

I JUST WENT THROUGH LIFE, UH, HIT SUCCESS RIGHT AWAY.

I WAS ALWAYS VERY AGGRESSIVE.

ALWAYS WANTED EVERYTHING, UM, TO PERFECTIONISM LEVEL.

UM, I KNEW I WANTED TO BE A SURGEON.

I SET MY SIGHTS ON THAT VERY EARLY IN LIFE AND I WORKED VERY, VERY HARD TO GET THERE.

NEXT PLACE.

YOU CAN JUST KEEP ROLLING IT FOR ME.

IF YOU WOULD, IS IT GOING? IT'S NOT GOING IT DIDN'T MOVE.

JUST HIT THE ARROW TO THE RIGHT AND THINK IT SHOULD GO.

HANG ON.

CAN I, MAY I ASK MY APOLOGIES.

OKAY.

OKAY.

SO I WAS DESTINED, I WAS IN MEDICAL SCHOOL STUDYING TO BE A SURGEON.

LIFE HAPPENS.

IT HAPPENS TO ALL OF US UPS AND DOWNS.

I DIDN'T MAKE WISE CHOICES.

I BLAMED MYSELF FOR A LOT OF THINGS THAT WENT WRONG IN MY LIFE.

I BECAME VULNERABLE AND I TRIED COCAINE AT AGE 32 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.

I'M GOING TO BE VERY REAL WITH YOU TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY REAL AND VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.

OUR CHILDREN ARE FACING SO MANY ISSUES TODAY.

I WAS 32.

THE FIRST TIME I DID A LINE OF COCAINE AND IT TOOK MY LIFE OUT OF CONTROL FOR 10 YEARS.

OUR CHILDREN ARE FACING THESE THINGS MUCH EARLIER, AND I COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE HOW THEY,

[00:35:01]

SO I FOUND MYSELF DOING ALL THE THINGS I SAID I WOULD NEVER DO BEHIND MY COCAINE ADDICTION.

I WAS IN AND OUT OF JAIL.

I STARTED DOING ALL THOSE HORRIBLE THINGS, UM, LYING, STEALING, CHEATING, PROSTITUTING, EVERYTHING THAT COMES WITH IT.

I DID IT.

I'LL LIVE THAT LIFE NEXT, PLEASE.

AND THEN ON SEPTEMBER THE 18TH, IF COULD YOU GO NEXT ON SEPTEMBER THE 18TH, I WAS IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME, DOING THE WRONG THINGS.

AND I WAS ATTACKED AND ROBBED, LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE.

AND I KILLED SOMEONE AND I WOKE UP JAIL WITH MY MOTHER IN EMERGENCY WITH MY MOTHER OVER ME.

AND SHE'S THE ONE THAT HAD TO TELL ME I HAD KILLED SOMEONE.

SO I WAS FACING A 40 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL, SITTING IN A JAIL CELL FACING 40 YEARS.

AND I THOUGHT MY LIFE WAS OVER.

SO I HAD TO START WRITING.

WRITING WAS THE THERAPY THAT SAVED MY LIFE.

IF YOU COULD JUST KEEP ROLLING THEM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.

I'M JUST GOING TO GO WITHOUT THE SLIDES.

IF YOU COULD JUST GET TO THE PART WITH THE KIDDOS, THAT'D BE GREAT.

JUST SO WE COULD SHOW THE CAMP.

UM, SO WRITING SAVED MY LIFE, UH, SERVED THE TIME I GOT A FIVE-YEAR SENTENCE.

I DID MY TIME.

I CHANGED MY LIFE AND THAT'S THE THING LIKE TEACH THE KIDS IS THAT THERE IS, UM, WHAT WE DO ON THE SURVIVAL SIDE OF ADVERSITY IS WHAT SETS US APART.

SO WE ALL HAVE MISTAKES WE GO THROUGH, BUT WHAT WE CHOOSE TO DO WITH THEM MOVING FORWARD, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE WORLD.

SO I HAD STARTED WRITING THE WRITING IS WHAT GAVE ME THE RELEASE.

IT STARTED THERAPY, BUT THEN WHEN I GOT OUT OF PRISON AND I WENT BACK AND RETURNED TO MY LIFE, DOING THE RIGHT THINGS, NOW, CHANGING MY LIFE, SAYING, GETTING THING AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE IN MY PAST, I WAS ABLE TO REBUILD.

WE GAIN TRUST BECAUSE AS WE DO THE THINGS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO, THOSE THINGS CAN COME BACK TO US.

UM, BUT I WAS TOO ASHAMED OF MY, MY PAST TO PUT ANYTHING IN A BOOK TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS OLD UGLY PERSON.

THEN MY GRANDBABY WAS BORN ON SEPTEMBER THE 18TH, THE EXACT SAME DAY, EIGHT YEARS LATER THAT THE WRECK HAD HAPPENED.

SHE GOT STUCK IN THE BIRTH CANAL.

SHE CAME OUT BLIND IN DEATH FROM A BRAIN INJURY.

SHE COULDN'T SUCK HER CRY.

SHE COULDN'T EVEN HOLD HER OWN BODY TEMPERATURE.

AND I ACTUALLY ALLOWED MY PAST TO CONVINCE ME THIS WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE THE DATE WAS THE SAME AND THAT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A COINCIDENCE.

SO I, I BELIEVE THIS WAS MY, MY PUNISHMENT.

AND I HAD TO STEP BACK AND REALIZE GOD DID NOT SAVE ME THROUGH ALL OF THAT TO STAY SILENT.

AND MY GOD DOESN'T LOVE LIKE THAT.

SO I DECIDED TO TAKE THE THINGS I HAD WRITTEN.

I CHANGED IT FROM AN, A PLACE OF BLAME AND ANGER TO A PLACE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND FORGIVENESS.

AND IT CHANGED MY LIFE.

AND I DECIDED THAT DAY, IT WAS TIME TO STEP UP AND SPEAK OUT.

WHEN I STARTED THE DRUGS, MY CHILDREN, MY TWO DAUGHTERS WERE IN THIS AGE GROUP NINE TO 12 AND IT DEVASTATED THEIR LIVES.

IT COMPLETELY CHANGED THINGS FOR THEM.

THERE'S THERE'S PROS ABOUT IT.

IT MADE THEM STRONG.

IT MADE THEM RESILIENT, BUT THERE'S ALSO OTHER THINGS THAT DID TO THEM.

IT DIMINISHED THEIR SELF-ESTEEM.

IT CRUSHED THEIR IDEALS, THAT, THAT THEY HAD THIS ONE WOMAN TYPE MOTHER.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAME INTO PLAY.

THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD MADE THEIR OWN CHOICES GOING THROUGH LIFE.

DO THEY DO DRUGS? DO THEY DON'T DO DRUGS? DO THEY GO WITH THIS CROWD, THIS CROWD? SO THAT'S MY PASSION NOW AHEAD TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU, BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, I HAVE SUCH A PASSION TO SERVE THESE CHILDREN.

AND THIS IS MY BACKSTORY AS TO WHY.

SO MY WRITING IS MY PASSION AND I BELIEVE IT'S THERAPEUTIC.

SO I CAME UP, YOU CAN JUST ROLL NEXT.

I CAME UP WITH THESE CAMPS FOR THE NINE TO 12 YEAR OLD AGE GROUP, BECAUSE THEY'RE FACING SO MANY CHALLENGES.

THEIR BODIES ARE CHANGING.

THEY HAVE SELF-ESTEEM ISSUES.

THEY'RE FACING 16 BULLYING, UM, PROBLEMS WITH THEIR, EVEN THEIR TEACHERS AT SCHOOLS.

THEY'RE HAVING PROBLEMS IN THEIR HOME LIFE.

A LOT OF THEM HAVE ABSENT PARENTS.

THEIR PARENTS ARE IN JAIL.

THEY'RE LIVING WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS.

I MEAN, THE LIST IS ON AND ON.

SO I SERVE THE NINE TO 12 YEAR OLDS.

I BRING THEM IN FOR A SIX HOUR CAMP AND THEY LEARN ABOUT SELF-ESTEEM.

THEY LEARNED TO STAND TALL, STAND PROUD, SPEAK WITH CONFIDENCE AND PROJECT, THEIR VOICE.

EVEN IF THEY'VE HAD PAST MISTAKES, I TEACH THEM THAT THEY CAN OVERCOME THEM, THAT THEY CAN SERVE WITH OTHERS.

I'VE TAUGHT THEM THAT THEY ARE NOW AN AUTHORITY.

IF THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH FOSTER CARE, THEY ARE AN AUTHORITY ON WHAT THAT'S LIKE AT THAT AGE.

AND THEY CAN GIVE BACK AND SERVE TO SOMEONE ELSE.

IF THERE'S A NEW KID AT THEIR SCHOOL AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS, I CALL ON THEM.

IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN A NEW KID AT SCHOOL, YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, YOU'RE NOW AN AUTHORITY.

YOU'RE AN EXPERT ON IT.

REACH OUT TO THIS NEW KID, MENTOR THEM, SHOW THEM IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.

SHOW THEM HOW YOU CAN MAKE NEW FRIENDS.

IF THEY'VE LOST A PIT.

I MEAN, THE LIST JUST GOES ON AND ON.

IT'S ABOUT TEACHING THEM THAT THEY CAN USE ADVERSITY FOR THEIR ADVANTAGE TO BLESS OTHERS.

SO MY TAGLINE FOR THEM IS TO JUDGE LESS AND MENTOR MORE IN THE WAY I FEEL WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT IS TO BRING EDUCATION AND AWARENESS TO THE TABLE ABOUT THE ISSUES.

[00:40:01]

I TEACH THE GIRLS THAT IF YOU'RE ANGRY, YOU CAN WRITE IT OUT.

IF YOU'RE CREATIVE, YOU CAN WRITE IT OUT.

IF YOU'RE SAD, IF YOU'RE HAPPY, WHATEVER IT IS AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU HAVE PEN AND PAPER, YOU CAN ALWAYS TURN TO.

AND THAT, THAT IS AN EMOTIONAL RELEASE.

IT'S A RELEASE OF ENERGY TO TAKE YOU TO A BETTER PLACE.

SO THAT IS A BIG COMPONENT.

AND I TELL YOU, I AM IMPRESSED WITH THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT.

I SEE THESE GIRLS PUT IN TO THIS WRITING PART OF THIS, THIS SPORT SHOP.

IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT THAT THEY SHARE.

WE ALSO TALK ABOUT FINANCIAL LITERACY.

I TEACH THEM THAT THEY CAN BECOME ENTREPRENEURS.

EVEN AT THEIR EARLY AGE.

WE GIVE THEM DIFFERENT IDEAS, NAIL PAINTING, UH, YOU KNOW, CREATING POTTED PLANTS AND DECORATING THE VASES, WHATEVER IT IS THAT THERE'S A WAY FOR THEM TO EARN AN INCOME.

THEN WE TEACH THEM TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THE MONEY.

10 CENTS GOES TO CHARITY.

TWIN 20 CENTS GOES BACK INTO YOUR BUSINESS.

SO WE TEACH THEM ABOUT FINANCIAL LITERACY.

WE ALSO TEACH THEM, UM, HOW TO MANIFEST THEIR FUTURE.

YOU HAVE TO SEE IT AND BELIEVE IN IT TO CREATE IT.

SO WE DO VISION BOARDING WITH THE GIRLS WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY PUT ON, ON A POSTER BOARD, WHAT THEY WANT IN LIFE, AND THEY CAN HANG IT ON THEIR WALL AND THEY CAN BE REMINDED EVERY DAY I CAN DO THIS, AND THIS IS WHAT I WANT.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE GOALS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE DREAMS TO WORK TOWARDS.

SO IT'S JUST A FUN-FILLED DAY.

IT'S NOT ALL REAL SERIOUS, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME FUN.

WE HAVE A GLOW STICK PARTY.

WE TURN THE LIGHTS OUT AND GIVE THEM A LITTLE DANCE BREAK.

UM, WE HAVE AGE APPROPRIATE MAKEUP, BUT MAKEUP ARTISTS COMES IN AND TEACHES THEM AT 13.

WHAT'S APPROPRIATE.

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? WHAT COLORS? HOW DO WE DO IT? AND THAT IS BY FAR THE FAVORITE PART.

WHEN YOU TALK TO THE GIRLS AFTERWARDS, THAT'S THEIR FAVORITE PART OF THE CAMP IS THE GLOWSTICK PORTION AND THE MAKEUP PORTION.

UM, AND THEN WE JUST WRAP IT UP WITH A GRADUATION CEREMONY WHERE THEY GET UP AND GET A DIPLOMA.

THEIR PARENTS ARE THERE AND THEY SAY ONE THING THAT THEY'VE LEARNED THAT DAY AND WHAT THEIR FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY WAS.

SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU, THESE ARE WHAT WE CALL CABOODLE KITS.

IT HAS OUR SPONSORS ON THE FRONT AND AN INSIDE IS JUST MANY ITEMS, UM, THAT WERE DONATED AND SOME WERE BOUGHT MAKEUP, UH, TOILETRIES, DIFFERENT, UH, ENCOURAGEMENT CARDS, ICEBREAKERS, BOWLING, FREE BOWLING, UH, FREE.

CHICK-FIL-A JUST THINGS THAT WE DONATED FOR THE GIRLS.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAD MISS MEG BROWN, WHICH IS BEAUMONT INTERNATIONAL, 2022.

SHE RUNS A PERIOD PANTRY.

SHE CAME IN AND TALKED TO THE GIRLS ABOUT THEIR MINISTRATION CYCLES.

AND IT WAS, UM, PRETTY SURPRISING THAT SOME OF THE GIRLS, WE HAD 30 GIRLS THERE, SOME OF THE GIRLS DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A PERIOD WAS OR THAT IT WAS COMING TO THEM IN THEIR LIVES.

SO THIS WAS A VERY VALUABLE SECTION.

SHE PASSED OUT LITTLE KITS FOR THEM AND TELL THEM THAT SHE'S TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THIS INTO ALL THE SCHOOLS.

SO THE COUNSELORS WILL HAVE THESE AND THE GIRLS WILL KNOW TO ASK FOR THE PINK BAG IF THEY NEED SUPPLIES.

SO IT'S JUST ONE FULL DAY OF EDUCATION, AWARENESS, MOTIVATION, INSPIRATION, AND TEACHING THE GIRLS, UM, TO GO AFTER THEIR DREAMS AND EMPOWERING THEM TO DO IT.

SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE OF THE GRADUATES COME UP AND SHARE FROM THIS PAST SATURDAY'S CAMP THAT WE HELD AT THE MEDICAL CENTER HERE IN PORT AUTHOR, MS. MIA PREVOST.

SO YOU'RE GONNA STAND WHAT GROUT STAND, WHAT? YOU'RE GOING TO STAND.

WHAT PROUD AND SPEAK WITH WHAT? CONFIDENT AND PROJECT YOUR VOICE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD.

I'M JUST GOING TO LET YOU SHARE WHAT YOU WANT.

OKAY.

SO I'M HERE PRIEBUS, AND I'M GOING TO SHARE A FIVE THINGS THAT I LIKED ABOUT MYSELF.

SO FIRST I'M SMART.

SECOND I'M IN STUDENT COUNCIL AT SCHOOL.

THIRD, I WORK SNACK SHACK AT SCHOOL, AND 4:00 AM UNIQUE FIVE AND I AM IN CHEER BECAUSE IT WORKS WITH, THEY FILL OUT DURING THE, OKAY.

SO NEXT IS A PAPER.

IT SAYS LIST.

ONE THING, YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR A BIGGER SMILE.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR MY FAMILY.

OKAY.

NEXT LIST.

ONE TIME JEN SITUATION OR A PERSON AND WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING FROM IT.

I LEARNED THAT WITHOUT A FEELING I WILL BE ALONE AND SCARED.

OKAY.

NEXT LIVES.

ONE PERSON.

YOU'RE A GRATEFUL FOR MY MOM AND DAD.

LIZ, ONE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF, I AM SMART LISTS.

ONE FAVORITE MOMENT FROM TODAY, TODAY'S CAMP IN THE GLOW STATE PARTY.

THE GRATITUDE TURTLES AHEAD.

THE GRATITUDE JOURNAL.

OKAY.

NEXT, EVEN THOUGH THINGS DON'T SEEM PERFECT.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR MY FAMILY, MY LIFE, MY FRIENDS AND MY PARENTS.

[00:45:02]

I AM SMART, EATING DIFFERENT FRUITS FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES.

I LIKE TRYING DIFFERENT HAIRSTYLES AND I AM TWO DIFFERENT RACES.

OKAY.

NEXT IS OUR CAR RIGHT THERE.

THAT WHY DO I FEEL THESE THINGS? I FEEL BLESSED BECAUSE I HAVE A LIFE.

I HAVE A FAMILY.

I HAVE SIBLINGS AND I AM GRATEFUL.

I FEEL EXCITED BECAUSE I HAVE THREE LITTLE BROTHERS.

I FEEL BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE GOD MADE ME PERFECT.

THE WAY I AM.

I AM AWESOME BECAUSE I'M SMART AND I'M HAPPY.

I'M IN STUDENT COUNCIL.

I AM A HISTORIAN.

I'M BRAVE.

I HELPED MY MOM OUT.

I'M LUCKY.

AND I AM IN BASKETBALL.

AND I SAY, MY PRAYERS, I AM AT A CAMP.

I'M A CHEERLEADER.

AND I DO CHORES.

AND I LIKE TO BAKE.