* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. YOU READY? [00:00:01] WE'RE READY. OKAY. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. EACH OF YOU, [I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL] THIS IS A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING THAT HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR TODAY. JUNE, JUNE 22ND, 2022 BEGINNING AT 10:30 AM. AND IT IS NOW 10:34 AM. ON THIS DAY HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS IN THE CITY OF PORT OFF AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET. THIS MEETING MAY BE ATTENDED THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF OTHER MEDIUMS OF TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCE BY DIALING 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9. YOU MUST ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 4 6 8 6 0 5 0 3 8 3 OR, AND THE PASSCODE OF 4 4 5 1 1 6. WE ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND IF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE NEEDED, THEY WILL BE PROVIDED. HOWEVER, THAT REQUEST HAS TO BE MADE 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING BY CALLING THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 9 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5. MAKE THAT REQUEST AND THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE BEGIN OUR MEETING IN OUR NORMAL AND REGULAR FASHION. THEY ASK YOU TO TURN OFF OR MUTE ALL MOBILE DEVICES. UH, WE HAVE AN INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE OR COSMIN MARKS. WOULD YOU DO THE INVOCATION FOR US PLEASE? WOULD YOU STAND PLEASE? FATHER GOD. WE COME TO YOU TODAY, THANKING YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU'VE BESTOWED UPON US. THE BLESSINGS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, WE ASK A SPECIAL BLESSING TODAY. FATHER ON OUR NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR, WE ASK THAT YOUR KNOWING TIM, WITH WISDOM, WITH EMPATHY, WITH KINDNESS AND GENTLENESS, AND PUT HIM IN A PLACE WHERE HE CAN LEAVE THE CITY TO THE GREATNESS THAT IT DESERVES. WE ASK YOU FATHER TO BLESS THIS MEETING SO THAT WE CAN DO THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY IN A GOOD AND DECENT ORDER. WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. NOW JOIN US AND SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC, OR WOULD YOU SAY ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE HALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OUR OPENING, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO AN ITEM THAT IS REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION OR TWO ITEMS OR ACTUALLY ONE STUDENT VERUS. I'LL TRY TO GET TO A TRUE FAST MAY PRESENT MAYOR PRO TEM HOMES, COUNCIL MEMBER JONES, COUNCIL MEMBER, KEN LAW, COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS, COUNCIL MEMBER, MOSES COUNCIL MEMBER, FRANK PRESENT. YOU HAVE A QUORUM MATE. THANK YOU SO KINDLY TO SEE THE SECRETARY AND TO EACH OF YOU AGAIN, I WANT TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO OUR CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE FOR THIS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ON TO DATE, [II.A.1. P. O. No. 7071 — An Ordinance Canvassing The Returns And Declaring The Results Of The Runoff Election, Held On June 11, 2022 For The Purpose Of Electing A Mayor In The City Of Port Arthur, Texas Una Ordenanza Que Examina Las Devoluciones Y Declara Los Resultados De La Eleccion De Segunda Parte Celebrada El 11 De Junio De 2022 Con El Fin De Elegir Un Alcalde En La Ciudad De Port Arthur, Texas] THERE IS ONE ITEM THAT ACTUALLY REQUIRES INDIVIDUAL ACTION ON THIS MORNING, THE ITEM BEING PO NUMBER 7 0 7 1. IT IS AN AUDIT MINUTES, CANVASSING THE RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE RUNOFF ELECTION HELD ON JUNE 11TH, 2022 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING EMIR AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. MAY I GET A MOTION FOR THE CANVASSING? COUNCILMAN FRANK. SO MOVED. MR. MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN JONES HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION THROUGH THE CANVAS IN PROCESS. ARE WE READY FOR QUESTIONING? THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS WE'RE READY TO VOTE ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. SO IT IS AUDIT. I AM THE MAYOR AT THIS TIME, [III. SWEARING IN OF MAYOR] [00:05:02] WE'RE GOING TO MOVE DOWN AND MY ATTORNEY ALWAYS HAS TO TELL HIM, YOU KNOW, LIKE, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL BEEN DOING THIS FOR ME AT MY PERSONAL ATTORNEY OUT THERE TODAY IN CASE YOU MESS UP. OKAY. OH, OKAY. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS A STEP DOWN CITY SECRETARY. WE'RE READY? YES, SIR. OKAY. UH, SHOULD MY COUNSEL JOIN ME HERE? THEY ARE, BUT THEY REMAIN, I JUST WANTED TO DO IT DOWN HERE. INGRID DID HER AND SHE MAY APPROACH HIM, BUT SHE WAS UP HERE. I JUST WANTED YOU TO BE CLOSE TO YOU ALL. I WANTED TO DO IT UP HERE, DOWN HERE LAST TIME I DID. I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER FIRST. I'M THE MAYOR. I'M THE MAYOR Y'ALL COME ON. YES, IT IS. . THIS IS YOUR STATEMENT OF OFFICE. I , I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM, SWEAR AND AFFIRM THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY, THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID, UH, INDIRECTLY PAID, OFFERED, OFFERED PROMISE TO PAY TO PAY CONTRIBUTED, CONTRIBUTED OUR PROMISE TO CONTRIBUTE, PROMISE TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE IN THE MONEY OR THING OF VALUE OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE PROMISE ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT OR EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT WE'RE GIVING WITH HOLDING A VOTE FOR GIVING OR WITHHOLDING WITHHOLDING OF VOTES AT AN ELECTION, AN ELECTION AT WHICH I WAS ELECTED AT WHICH I WAS ELECTED OR AS A REWARD OR AS A REWARD, SECURE MY CONFIRMATION TO SECURE MY CONFIRMATION. WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME, GOD. OKAY. AND THIS IS YOUR OATH OF OFFICE IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS IN THE NAME AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF, AND THE NAME AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. I THURMAN BILL BARR, TEAM THURMAN, BILL BARCHIE. DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES, THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, OF THE OFFICE, OF THE MAYOR, OF THE MAYOR, OF THE CITY OF PORT OX, THE CITY OF PORT AUTHOR, AND WE'LL DO THE BEST. THAT WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE OF MY ABILITY TO OBSERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THIS STATE AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME, GOD, HELP ME. GOD CONGRATULATE LET ME SAY, BRO, BUT EACH OF YOU JUST LIKE TO SAY, I BELIEVE AT THIS JUNCTURE, I WAS SINKING DEEP IN SIN BECAUSE MIKE MIGHT BE GOING OUT, CAN RENEW MY TEST, TEST, TEST, TEST. THANK YOU. THEY'RE LISTENING TODAY. ANYWAY, I WAS SINKING DEEP IN SIN, FAR FROM THE PEACE FOR SHOW. I WAS VERY DEEPLY STAINED WITHIN HOW WAS HE EVEN SEEKING TO RISE NORMAL, BUT [00:10:02] A MASTER. OH, THE D MY DESPAIRING CRY FROM THE WATERS. HE LIFTED ME NOW SAFE. AM I, YOU KNOW, WHO LOVE DID ME WHEN NOTHING ELSE COULD HELP LIFTED ME? THAT'S THE REASON I STAND HERE ON TODAY. I THANK YOU. THE CITIZENS OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT, ALL THE TEXAS FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE PROGRESS. I THANK MY FAMILY, MY CAMPAIGN MACHINE, MY SUPPORTERS, MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE RETURNED TO CONTINUE THE PROGRESS. I THINK EVEN MY POLITICAL PHONES AND EVEN MY HAYDEN'S ATTEMPTS TO PETE THROWN ON ME, BUT I'D LIKE THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE INVIGORATED ME TO WORK EVEN HARDER TO CONTINUE THE PROGRESS. NOW, MOVING FORWARD, I CONTINUE TO SOLICIT YOUR PRAYERS. AS I BEGIN THE SECOND TURN SERVING AS MIRROR A WALL, PUT ALL THE RUINS. THE ROAD AHEAD WILL BE FILLED WITH SMOOTH TERRAIN, AS WELL AS ROUGH AND RUGGED STRETCHES. BUT THE STEADFAST HOPE IN THE ASSURANCE OF DIVINE INTERVENTION ILS, I'LL PUT THE MENTAL SOURCE AND OUR FOUNDATIONAL SOURCE JUST KNOW THAT I AM NOT NEVER EVER LEAVING ON MY OWN UNDERSTANDING, BUT ALL WEEK I'M LEAVING. AND I'M DEPENDING ON GOD'S OMNISCIENT KNOWLEDGE TO GOVERN HIS PEOPLE AND TO DIRECT HIS CITY, PSALM 23 AND FIVE, AND THE EIGHT PORTION SAYS THOU PREPAREST A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MINE. ENEMIES. I HAVE BEEN ELEVATED IN THE MIDST OF GREAT OPPOSITION TO SERVE THIS PRESENT AGE. AND FOR THIS, I AM HUMBLED AND I AM MIGHTY, MIGHTY GRATEFUL. AND BOYS IN THE BOOK OF ISAIAH IN THE 54TH CHAPTER IN THE 17TH VERSE WHERE IT STATES NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST THE SHELL PROSPER, I CAN ONLY SAY, LOOK AT ME. I MET TESTIMONY. I AIN'T STANDING ON MY OWN, BUT IT WAS JESUS. WHO'S GIVEN ME THIS OPPORTUNITY. TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT ME. I AM THAT TESTIMONY. I EXPERIENCE THE FORM WEAPONS, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT PROSPER. SO WITH ALL OF THAT IN MIND, THE MAJORITY OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE BOARDING PROCESS, IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, I'VE SPOKEN, I AM THE MAYOR. I AM THE MAYOR PUT [00:15:01] ALL THE RINGS. SO NOW LET'S JOIN THE GUM. THAT'S WORK TOGETHER. LET'S MARCH TOGETHER. LET'S PRAY TOGETHER AND MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD TOGETHER TO MAKE THE OFFER THAT GOD WANTS PORT ARTHUR. BE I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE ON THIS DAY, AND I WISH BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS UPON YOU. AS I BEGIN THE PROCESS TO CONTINUE THE PROGRESS. THANK YOU. AND GOD BLESS YOU. AND NOW I ENTERTAIN HIM EMOTION FOR EXELON. HE DIDN'T DO IT ALL. IT COMES FROM A JONES, LIKE AN EMOTION TO A JOHN CONSTABLE MOSES, BACK IN A SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND WE WOULD HAVE JOINED THIS MEETING TODAY AND WE ARE READY FOR QUESTIONS. THERE AREN'T ANY. SO WE'RE GOING TO THE BOARD ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. AND I WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL FOR SURE. AND COUNCILMAN JONES JUST TOLD ME TO DO IT. YOU SEE THE ONLY WAY HE CAN BE A GOOD LEGAL LEADER. FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MY BAD BADDIE. YOU NEED TO BE ON THIS SIDE, BUT GOD, LET ME HEAR IT. YOU GO, I THANK YOU. I THANK EACH OF YOU PERSONALLY, BUT I'LL NEED TO DO IT PUBLICLY. WE'VE STOOD TOGETHER. WE'LL YET STANDING TOGETHER AND WE'RE GOING TO BE STANDING TOGETHER TO MAKE PORT AUTHOR THE CITY THAT GOD WANTS IT TO BE. THANK YOU ALL. AND I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF HERE. THEY DECORATED SO NICELY AND THEY HAVE REFRESHMENTS AND, UH, ALL OF THAT LITTLE BAPTIST SERMON. SO WE'RE GOING TO GET YOUR HEAD, BUT HERE WE CAN PICK UP A LITTLE OFF, BUT IN THE REAL COOL HALL. BUT AS I DO THIS, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO TAKES ME THIS MORNING. AND I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE. PREMIER ROLLINS, FOR ALL OF YOU ATTENDED CLASSES TOGETHER. WE WERE IN WASHINGTON DC TOGETHER ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO. HE WAS POOR OUT THERE A FEW WEEKS AGO, I MET HIM. HE CALLED AND HE, HE WAS WITH HIS ALPHA BROTHER. OUR PULLED OFF. HE IS A PROVIDER OF GOODS FOR CITIZENS IN PORT ARTHUR, BY THE QUEEN, ROBIN, THE QUEEN. AND THEY, THEY, THEY ARE FRIENDS, BUT AS BAIL STANDS ON ALL THE CAMPUS TO STAND, BUT YOU ALL CAN STILL SHOW HIM SOME LOVE. AND YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO BE MAN THING NOW. SO GOT ONE BROTHER HERE IS FRESH. THE ONE SIGMA SAID AND ALSO HELP. BRING THEM ON, BRING YOUR BROTHERS. THEY ALL WAS REALLY OUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR BROTHERS. AND SO I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO BE ALONE. I HURRIED UP AND CALLED HIM THIS MORNING. I TOLD HIM, YOU SAID YOU WERE COMING AND THEN SHOWED UP. OKAY. MAYBE. I MEAN, MY ATTORNEY, HE JUST GOT OFF A PLANE AND CAME STRAIGHT HERE, MAN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TRACY GOING TO DO, BUT HE CAME STRAIGHT HERE. OKAY. BUT HE KNEW HIS BREAD BROTHER WAS COMING. SO I APPRECIATE THE CAMARADERIE, THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HIS BROTHERS PASSED ON TO ME, IT'S ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE IN THIS. AND WHEN YOU BEGIN SERVICE AT THIS LEVEL, YOU'RE NOT ALONE. SOMETIMES YOU MAY THINK THAT YOU ARE ALONE, BUT YOU ARE NOT ALONE. AND SOMEONE ALWAYS HAS SOME INFORMATION, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO BE AT THE PLACES. AND I KNOW FOLK AND PULLED OFF AND SAY, WELL, WHAT IS THE MAYOR GOING, GOING? BECAUSE I CAN'T LEARN IT HERE. THE THING THAT I PICKED UP, I LOVE MY COUNCIL, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE, THIS ABOUT THE HEAD [00:20:01] OR WHEN I GET UP IN THIS THE OTHER DAY, A FRIEND FROM NEW YORK CALLS ME ABOUT SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, MAYOR SHAWN PATTERSON. OKAY. AND THEN MAYOR SCOTT TEXTED ME, SEND ME THE PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE ASSOCIATION IN ST. LOUIS. YOU BEGIN TO MAKE RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUALS. AND I HAD NO IDEA. THEY HAD THAT MUCH RESPECT FOR HIM. HE SAID HE SHOWED UP THAT HE MUST THINK I KNOW SOMETHING, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR MAYOR. GOD'S BLESSINGS UPON YOU, MAN. AND ENJOY YOUR DAY HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. OKAY. AND Y'ALL DON'T THINK FOR ONE MOMENT THAT I WAS STABBED. I WANT ALL OF, ALL OF OUR STEPS, THE CHIEF'S HERE. CHEAP. COME ON. YEAH, LOOK, WE HAVE OTHER STAFF MEMBERS HERE, CITY APART, CHIEF POLICE IS BACK THERE SHOULD MANAGE IT. YEAH. AND WE HAVE ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HERE AND I APPRECIATE THEM. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE ALSO WORKING. YOU DON'T WORK. WHAT WAS IN THE MOJO. I MEAN, HE HANDLED SOME LEGAL MATTERS YESTERDAY FOR HIM. I THOUGHT HE WAS IN THIS MORNING. OKAY. YOU KNOW YOU, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW ONE THING NOW. DON'T THINK I'M DOING THESE THINGS AND I DON'T HAVE ANY LEGAL MINDS TELLING ME THAT SOMEONE SAID, OH, W WHEN I BEGAN, BUT WELL, HE'S ALWAYS ASKING HIM QUESTIONS. WHY ARE WE PAYING THEM? THE MALE DOESN'T KNOW EVERYTHING. HE JUST OVER EVERYTHING. OKAY. IN WHATEVER SENSE YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT? ALL RIGHT. THEN WHEN YOU ARE THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE ROOM, YOU OUGHT TO LEAVE THAT ROOM. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT ALREADY, YOU DIDN'T CAPTURE IT, BUT I JUST, I WANT TO TAKE THE TIME AND SAY THIS ONE, LAST THING, MY COUSIN IS HERE, ANTHONY BARCHIE PARISH AND LAKE CHARLES. SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THEY GOT SOME BULLETS. HE'S ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND PUBLIC OFFICE. AND HE'S AN ALPHA TO JAMES. WE HAVE TWO IN THE FAMILY LIKE THAT. HE IN THE COURT. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. CAN I KEEP HIM MISTREAT? AND YOU'RE IF YOU KNOW, IF I'M GOING TO SAY I WAS CLOSING YET I'M BAPTIST. I HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL HERE WHO STARTED WITH ME IN 1994. WHEN I BEGAN MY POLITICAL JOURNEY THAT HAD THERE BEEN A CAMPAIGN THAT I'VE EVER HAD. THE, HE HADN'T BEEN THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER. WE CALL HIM DR. ALEXANDER WE EXPERIENCED A COUPLE OF DOWNS, BUT WE'VE CONTINUED TO BOUNCE BACK. AND IF ANYBODY WANTS TO RUN THIS UP AND HE'S RETIRED NOW, HE AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO DO. HE WANTS TO GO HIS GRAND BABIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. REALLY DO. BUT AGAIN, I THANK YOU, BUT FAMILY, EVERYONE IS HERE. THERE WE GO. GO OUT AND ENJOY OURSELVES FOR THESE, UH, UNTIL WE TELL YOU ALL, YOU HAVE TO GO, UH, MY COUSINS. OH, I'M SORRY. MY DELTA SIGMA DATA PEOPLE IN THE OMEGA. THEY GOT A CUBAN GUY, JOE, BACK THERE. MY LITTLE BROTHER. I'M SO SORRY. THE DELTAS DELTA SILVER HERE. UH, OH, OKAY. I'M SORRY, CHERYL. WOULD'VE TOLD ME ABOUT IT. WHY? YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING? YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE JUST WANNA WAIT SO THEY CAN CATCH YOU BY YOURSELF IN YOUR OFFICE AND TELL YOU WHAT YOU DIDN'T DO THE AKA, RIGHT? YEAH. YEAH. OKAY. AND WHO ELSE? WHO ELSE DID I MISS? OKAY. SEE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO, OH, AND MY CLASSMATE FROM THE CLINTON CLASS OF 72 DON'T WE LOOK GOOD AND RULES WILLS BY CHURCH MEMBERS AND POST SIXTH STREET. DID I MISS? [00:25:02] OKAY. I'M DOING LIKE ROMAN HOWARD USED TO SAY CHARGE IT TO MY AND NOT MY HEART. ALL RIGHT. I LOVE YOU. WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK HERE AND YOU CAN HAVE A CHAT JUST TO FELLOWSHIP. THAT'S THE BEST THING THAT OUR COSMIC COW JONES, HE GOING TO TAKE ALL Y'ALL HEADS. GOD BLESS YOU. AND THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. ALL RIGHT. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.