Sep 01, 2022 Special City Council

MAY I APPROACH TIM MAY APPROACH TIM HOMES HERE? COUNCIL MEMBER JONES, COUNCIL MEMBER, KEN LAW, COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS COUNCIL MEMBER, MOSES COUNCIL MEMBER, FRANK.

YOU HAVE A CORE MAYOR PROTEIN.

WE'LL MOVE TO THE

[II. PUBLIC HEARINGS — 10: 00 A. M.]

PUBLIC HEARING.

UH, THE PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING IS TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER PUBLIC COMMENT FROM ALL INTERESTED CITIZENS.

WITH REGARD TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR 2022 TAX YEAR, A TAX RATE OF 0.0 6 9 1 5 3 5 PER $100 VALUATION.

PARDON ME, HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.6 9 1 5 3 5 PER $100, NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE 0.6 1 7 5 1 2 PER $100 VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE 0.6 9 1 5 3 5 PER $100 VALUATION.

THE NO NEW TAX RATE, NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS THE TAX RATE FOR THE 2022 TAX YEAR.

THAT WOULD RAISE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FROM THE SAME PROPERTIES IN BOTH THE 2021 TAX YEAR AND THE 2022 TAX YEAR.

THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE IS THE HIGHEST TAX RATE THAT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR MAY ADOPT WITHOUT HOLDING AN ELECTION TO SEEK VOTER APPROVAL OF THE TAX RATE.

THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS GREATER THAN THE NEW, NO NEW TAX RATE.

THIS MEANS THAT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IS PROPOSING TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE 2022 TAX YEAR.

THE PUBLIC WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO VIEW THE PUBLIC HEARING VIA THE CITY'S WEBSITE@WWWDOTPORTARTHURTX.GOV.

AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR TO STAFF TO, UH, GIVE THEIR PRESENTATION AND OVERVIEW OF THE TAX RATE FOR 2022.

THANK YOU, MS. DANIELS.

[00:05:02]

OKAY, GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF SLIDES OF HAVE SHOWED YOU BEFORE, BUT WE'LL GO OVER IT ONE MORE TIME FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENS WHO MAY BE HERE.

YOU NEED TO KNOW THE FIRST SLIDE IS, UM, SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE FROM FISCAL YEAR 22 TO THE PROPOSED FOR FISCAL YEAR 23, UH, FISCAL YEAR 22, THERE WAS A 71 CENT, NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE THAT HAS BEEN REDUCED TO 62 CENTS AS CALCULATED BY, UH, JEFFERSON COUNTY TAX ASSESSORS.

THAT'S A REDUCTION OF 9 CENTS.

THE BOATER APPROVAL TAX RATE WAS 74 CENTS.

UM, FOR 22, THE PROPOSED IS, UH, 0.6 9 1 5 3 5 OR 69 CENTS.

THAT'S A REDUCTION OF 5 CENTS.

UH, AND THE, THE TAX RATES WE ARE PROPOSING, UH, FOR THE IMMUNO OR THE GENERAL FUND RATE IS 49 CENTS, UH, 4 22 AND PROPOSED 43 CENTS FOR 23, WHICH IS A 6 CENT REDUCTION.

THE DEBT RATE WENT FROM 25 CENTS TO 26 CENTS, WHICH IS JUST A PENNY INCREASE MAKING THE TOTAL PROPOSED TAX RATES.

UH, THE ACTUAL FROM 20 TO 74 CENTS RIGID, REDUCED TO 69 CENTS, UM, FOR THE CURRENT UPCOMING YEAR.

AND THAT'S A 5 CENT REDUCTION.

THE PROPOSED TAX RATE, UH, IS EQUAL TO THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.

UH, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, UM, NEXT PAGE, UH, LINDSAY, THIS JUST, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF EXPLANATION.

THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS BASICALLY THE TAX RATE NEEDED TO GENERATE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TAXES FOR LAST LAST YEAR.

UH, THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE IS THE HIGHEST TAX RATE A TAXING UNIT CAN ADOPT WITHOUT HOLDING AN ELECTION.

THERE WAS NEW LEGISLATION IN 2021, WHICH CREATED A MODIFICATION TO THE FORMULA USED FOR THE GENERAL FUND OR MNO RATE.

UH, THE CHANGE IN THE MAXIMUM RATE INCREASE, UH, WENT FROM 8% TO THREE AND A HALF PERCENT WITHOUT REQUIRING AN AUTOMATIC ELECTION.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAVE HAD TO GO BY THE THREE AND A HALF PERCENT INCREASE.

UH, IN THE PAST, WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, WE QUALIFIED FOR, TO USE EMERGENCY RATE, UM, WHICH WAS 8%.

UH, THE CALCULATION DID RESULT IN A 5 CENT REDUCTION IN PROPERTY TAX RATE FROM 74 TO 69 CENTS.

AND THE LAST PAGE, LINDSAY, THIS JUST SHOWS A COMPARISON OF THE ASSESSED VALUES, UM, FROM TAX YEARS, 21 AND 20 TO 22, UH, CERTIFIED BY THE JEFFERSON CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND THE ORANGE COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

UH, THESE NUMBERS ARE IN BILLIONS.

UH, THE TOTAL MARKET VALUE, UM, 4.7 BILLION FOR 21 TAX YEAR AND FIVE TO 5.6 BILLION CERTIFIED FOR THE 22 TAX YEAR.

THAT'S A 14% INCREASE WHEN YOU DEDUCT YOUR CAPS AND EXEMPTIONS, YOUR NET TAXABLE VALUE FOR 21 WAS 3.4 BILLION IN 22, IT'S 3.8 BILLION.

THAT'S A $389 MILLION INCREASE OR 11% INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THAT'S MY LITTLE PRESENTATION THERE.

AND IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.

MS. DANG, AT THIS TIME ARE YES.

UM, I CAN HOLD MY STATEMENT, UM, REAL QUICKLY.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY BEFORE YOU OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC, THAT JUST TO REITERATE THAT ALL THE REQUIREMENTS WERE MET AND, UM, THAT WILL BE, UH, RATIFYING THE TAX RATE WHEN WE GET TO, UH, PROPOSED, UH, ORDINANCE 7 0 9 4, AND WE'LL HAVE SOME SEPARATE MOTIONS WE'LL HAVE TO DO IN CONJUNCTION WITH IT.

RIGHT.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT, IT INCLUDES, I DON'T BELIEVE IT INCLUDES THAT 11% PAGE.

UM, AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? UM, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, CUSTOMER VERMONT'S? YES.

UH, JUST FOR CLARITY SAKE, THE 11% INCREASE ON THE TAXABLE VALUE, UH, WILL THAT, FOR THAT INCREASE, THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY THAT WAS ADDED TO THE TAX ROLLS FOR THIS YEAR? IS THAT, IS THAT A, IS THAT GOOD? UM,

[00:10:03]

THAT'S JUST YOUR INCREASE.

THAT IS YOUR INCREASE FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

UM, DOES THAT INCLUDE, THAT'S JUST THE VALUE, THAT'S JUST THE VALUE INCREASE IN PROPERTIES.

I DON'T HAVE THE BREAKDOWN ON WHICH THINGS INCREASED.

I THINK WE, WE HAD THAT AT A COUNCIL OR PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING.

I'LL BE HAPPY TO PULL THAT UP FOR YOU AND SHOW YOU WHERE, WHERE THE SPECIFIC INCREASES ARE.

THERE WAS, UM, SOMEWHAT OF AN INCREASE IN RESIDENTIAL VALUES.

I DO REMEMBER THAT, BUT, UM, I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME AT THIS MOMENT, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO, TO GET YOU, GET IT FOR YOU AND SHOW YOU WHAT THOSE INCREASES.

WOULD YOU DID, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS GONE FOR A MONTH AND SO I MISSED ALL THE WORKSHOPS, SO I JUST NEED THAT FOR CLARITY SAKE.

ON TO, UH, OUR NON-CONSENT, UH, AGENDA ITEMS, UM, PO NUMBER 7 0 9 2 AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING, OCTOBER 1ST, 2020 SECOND, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023 IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION SEVEN, ARTICLE 12, THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, A SEPARATE RATIFICATION VOTE IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 1 0 2 0.007 C OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CALLED IS THERE AN AMENDMENT? SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED MAY HAVE A SECOND.

I'LL GET YOU THE BREAKDOWN ABOUT, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL WITH THAT? MAY I GET A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ANY QUESTIONS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED AT 10 25.

WE'LL MOVE

[III.1. P. O. No. 7092 — An Appropriation Ordinance Adopting A Budget For The Ensuing Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2022 And Ending September 30, 2023, In Accordance With Section 7, Article XII Of The Charter Of The City Of Port Arthur. A Separate Ratification Vote Is Required Pursuant To Section 102. 007( c) Of The Texas Local Government Code Two ( 2) Record Votes Required]

SECOND IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND TO, TO, UM, MOVE THE ITEM TO THE FLOOR.

UM, MAY I SAY SOMETHING? SO, UM, AS WE KNOW, UH, MRS. DANIELS HAS A, UH, A CHANGE FROM WHAT WAS PUBLISHED.

SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE HER, UH, SHE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL AMENDMENT THAT WILL BE PRESENTED.

AND THEN IF YOU ARE, UH, UH, MEANINGFUL TO THAT, THEN THERE WILL BE AN AMENDMENT.

EVERYTHING WE DO TODAY WILL BE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

SO WE'LL, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD AND THEN DOES THE AMENDMENT.

OF A MILLION DOLLARS OR, UH, REMOVING THE ELEVATED STORY STORAGE TANK REHAB BY, UH, THE, REDUCING IT BY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, UH, IN SOLID WASTE EQUIPMENT.

UM, I DO HAVE A PRESENTATION.

MAYBE HEAD IS UP THERE NOW.

IT SHOWS THE CHANGES FROM WHAT WE SUBMITTED AS THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TODAY.

NOW, THE CHANGE THAT, UM, THAT, UH, OUR CITY ATTORNEY WAS REFERRING TO WAS THE CHANGE WHEN WE POSTED, UH, THE AGENDA ITEMS LAST WEEK, UH, WE HAD A CHANGE IN THE NUMBERS ON PO 7 0 9 2 AND 7 0 9 3 BECAUSE OF SOME ACTION.

UM, THAT OCCURRED ON MONDAY AT THE WORKSHOP.

UM, IT WAS THE CONSENSUS, I BELIEVE OF THE COUNCIL TO PUT THE, UM, COST OF LIVING INCREASE BACK TO 4% INSTEAD OF THE 3%, THREE AND A HALF PERCENT THAT WE HAD INCLUDED IN WHAT WAS PUBLISHED LAST WEEK.

SO THAT'S THE CHANGES WE'VE MADE THOSE CHANGES.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBER CHANGES BECAUSE THAT CROSSES A LOT OF FUNDS.

UM, BUT IT PUTS A LOT OF THOSE NUMBERS BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE WHEN WE ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED THE BUDGET.

BECAUSE WHEN WE ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED THE BUDGET TO YOU, WE HAD A 4% IN THERE AND THEN WE REDUCED IT TO THREE AND A HALF, AND NOW WE'RE BACK TO FOUR.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE BACK AND FORTH THERE.

AND SHE'S PASSING OUT THOSE, THOSE, UM, OR THOSE REVISED ORDINANCES FOR YOU.

UH, I GUESS I'LL JUST KIND OF REITERATE WHAT THE CHANGES ARE IN THIS PRESENTATION.

IF YOU HAD THAT UP, LINDSAY, UM, THE, UH, CHANGES THAT WE HAD FROM THE PROPOSED BUDGET, UH, THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES, OR REDUCED BY 1,000,004 THAT'S BECAUSE THE TAX RATE WAS REDUCED TO 69 CENTS DUE TO THE CALCULATION OF THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE BY THE COUNTY, UH, THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.

WE ARE REMOVING LEGAL FEES AND SPECIAL PURPOSE.

UM, AND BECAUSE THEY'RE BUDGETED IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THAT'S A REDUCTION OF 70,000, UH, THERE IS ONE POSITION.

THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS POSITION, UH, IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS PREVIOUSLY

[00:15:01]

FUNDED BY CDBG GRANT.

WE ORIGINALLY WERE GOING TO PUT THAT INTO THE GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR, BUT, UH, WE'RE GOING TO WAIT ONE MORE YEAR AND FUND IT WITH, UH, THE AARP FUNDS FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR.

SO THAT'S A REDUCTION OF 98,000 TO THE GENERAL FUND.

AND THEN, UH, WE CAN REDUCE THE TRANSFER TO CAPITAL RESU RESERVE.

I'M SORRY, FOR A GENERATOR, UM, THAT WE DETERMINED WAS, COULD BE FUNDED FROM THE BRIT GRANT THAT THEY'VE APPLIED FOR.

SO THAT'S A REDUCTION OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

SO THE TOTAL REDUCTION IN EXPENDITURES IS 268,000 TO THE GENERAL FUND.

AND THE NEXT PAGE, LINDSAY JUST KIND OF SHOWS THIS, UM, SPILLED OUT, UM, THE REVENUES, UH, FOR, WE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED FOR, UH, 2023 WE'RE 76.7, AND THAT'S NOW REDUCED BY 1,000,004 TO 75.3.

THE OPERATING EXPENDITURES ARE REDUCED BY 168,000 TO 73.1 MILLION, AND THAT'S THE LEGAL FEES AND THE HEALTH POSITION THERE.

AND THEN THE TRANSFERS TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, UH, AND EQUIPMENT, UH, IS, UH, 8.6 MILLION.

THAT'S THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS REDUCTION FOR THE GENERATOR.

AND THEN OTHER TRANSFERS REMAIN THE SAME, UH, MAKING THE TOTAL, UH, REVENUES UNDER EXPENDITURES OF 8.6 MILLION.

UM, AND THE ENDING FUND BALANCE WOULD NOW BE 21.1 MILLION, AND THAT'S A MILLION, UH, ONE REDUCTION TO FUND BALANCE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING THERE.

AND THEN NEXT PAGE JUST SHOWS, UH, THE BREAKOUT OF THE, UH, TRANSFERS WITH THE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR REDUCTION FOR THE GENERATOR.

THEY'RE MAKING THE TOTAL TRANSFERS OUT $10.8 MILLION TO THE GENERAL FUND.

AND THE NEXT PAGE, UM, SHOWS THE FUND BALANCE.

THE FUND BALANCE THAT WE PROPOSED WAS 22.2.

UH, THE REVISED, UH, FUND ENDING FUND BALANCE IS 21.1 MILLION, BUT THAT'S STILL 105 DAYS.

UM, UH, THE MINIMUM, THE EXCESS ABOVE THE MINIMUM REQUIRED, WHICH IS 60 DAYS PLUS ONE AND A HALF MILLION EXCESS IS STILL 7.6 MILLION OR 38 DAYS.

SO WE STILL HAVE A VERY HEALTHY FUND BALANCE REMAINING.

UH, THE NEXT PAGE COVERS THE REDUCTIONS TO, UM, THE CHANGES TO THE WATER FUND.

UH, WHEN WE ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED THE BUDGET, IT INCLUDED A 15% INCREASE IN WATER AND SEWER RATES, AND THAT'S BEEN REDUCED TO 8%, UH, WHICH WAS APPROVED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

SO THAT'S A $2.4 MILLION REDUCTION, UH, IN REVENUES FOR WATER, UH, ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, UH, THERE, WE'RE MOVING THE BAXTER TRUCK FOR 480,000.

UH, I BELIEVE, UM, THEY'RE GOING TO BE BUYING A USED ONE, UH, FOR LESS COSTS THIS YEAR.

UH, AND THEY'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR A LIFT STATION IMPROVEMENTS.

THAT'S A MILLION, UH, FOUR 80 REDUCTION TO THE EXPENSE SIDE OF WATER.

AND THEN THE NEXT PAGE SHOWS THE, UM, SHOULD, IS HOW IT LINES UP IN THE FUND.

UM, REVENUES ARE REDUCED FROM 36.9 TO 34.5.

THAT'S A $2.4 MILLION REDUCTION IN THE REVENUE SIDE, OPERATING EXPENSES DO NOT CHANGE.

UH, HOWEVER, THE TRANSFER CHANGED FROM 9.5 TO 8 MILLION.

THAT'S A MILLION, FOUR 80 REDUCTION THERE, AND THAT IS THE VACTOR TRUCK AND THE LIFT STATION IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE REDUCED LEAVING, UH, REVENUES OVER EXPENSES OF 625,000.

THAT IS A $945,000 REDUCTION FROM, FROM WHERE WE WERE, BUT IT'S STILL IN THE POSITIVE SIDE.

SO, UM, WE'RE PRETTY GOOD WITH THAT.

UH, AND THEN THE LAST PAGE JUST SHOWS THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

UM, THE FIRST LINE IS, UH, GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS, THE, UH, EMERGENCY GENERATORS AT CITY FACILITIES.

WE HAD NOT BUDGETED FOR THAT BECAUSE WE, THE GRANT HAS NOT BEEN AWARDED YET, BUT IT IS CLOSE AND WE WANTED TO PUT THIS IN THE BUDGET.

SO, UM, IN THE, WHEN THE GRANT COMES THROUGH, WE WON'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU AGAIN, UH, THAT'S 490, ABOUT $500,000 WORTH OF GENERATORS THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THAT GRANT.

UM, WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE LIFT STATIONS FOR WATER IMPROVEMENTS

[00:20:02]

UH, WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE COST FOR TWO TRASH TRUCKS.

UH, AS I EXPLAINED IN A MEMO, I SENT OUT, UH, LAST WEEK TO YOU, THE, UM, THE COST HAS BEEN INCREASING FOR THOSE TRUCKS.

AND WE REALIZED WE WERE GOING TO NEED ANOTHER A HUNDRED THOUSAND IN ORDER TO FUND THOSE THIS YEAR.

SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING, WE GO AHEAD AND INCREASE THAT, UH, THEY WILL BE FUNDED FROM CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, IS THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT, UH, PLEASURE ISLAND IMPROVEMENTS.

AND WE'RE GOING MOVE A BULKHEAD PROJECT THAT WE HAD SLATED FOR THIS YEAR TO THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

UH, THEY'VE DONE SOME REPRIORITIZING OF THEIR PROJECTS OUT THERE, AND WE'RE GOING TO, UH, ADD LAKEFRONT LAKEFRONT PARK PLAYSCAPES FOR THIS YEAR.

SO THAT'S JUST A WASH, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT PROJECT.

SO I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THOSE PROJECTS WERE GOING TO BE CHANGING.

SO THAT'S A TOTAL REDUCTION OF 500,000, UH, FOR, UM, THE CAPITAL.

AND THEN I DIDN'T PUT IT ON THE SCREEN, BUT I DID PASS OUT AT YOUR DESK, THE CHANGES FROM THE PROPOSE TO THE ADOPTED BUDGET, THE FULL LIST.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THIS PAGE, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE FUNDS, EVERYTHING THAT WAS PROPOSED AND WHERE WE ARE ON THE CHANGE SIDE THERE.

AND THEN THE SECOND PAGE TO THAT JUST SHOWS YOU THE DETAILS OF WHAT I JUST SHOWED YOU.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I HAVE THERE.

ANY QUESTIONS, COUNSELOR? YES.

UM, THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, UM, OF COURSE, UM, THERE WAS A SPECIAL MEETING ON MONDAY AND I WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THAT MEETING.

AND OF COURSE I WANT TO SEE ALL THINGS ARE WELL AND EVERYTHING PROGRESS, UH, ALL THINGS PROGRESS WITH OUR CITY.

I JUST WANTED TO HEAR FROM OUR COUNCIL AS WELL.

UM, WAS IT THE, WAS IT THE MAJORITY VOTE OF OUR COUNCIL TO ACCEPT EVERY ONE OF THESE, UH, CHANGES, UH, FOR, UH, OUR BUDGET? UM, UH, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE VACTOR TRUCK.

UH, THAT WAS ONE THING THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US, UM, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAD, UH, DECIDED TO GET A USED VACTOR TRUCK AND IN LIGHT OF EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, AND, AND OTHER PLACES, UH, AS WELL, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE WATER SUPPLY FOR, UH, CITIZENRY AND THAT WE'RE DOING ALL THAT WE CAN IN OUR WATER PLANT.

SO WE'RE WE'RE IS, ARE WE REMOVING THE VACTOR, UH, THE VACTOR COMPLETELY AT $480,000? IS THAT WHAT I'M SEEING HERE ON THIS, IN THIS BUDGET? YES, SIR.

BECAUSE THEY, UH, THEY FOUND ENOUGH MONEY OUT OF THEIR CURRENT YEAR BUDGET TO PURCHASE A USED ONE THIS YEAR.

HER, UH, NO, I KNEW, I KNEW THAT DR.

HANEY, I KNEW THAT I KNEW THAT I THOUGHT THE $480,000 WAS THE AMOUNT FOR THE USE BACK THE TRUCK.

NO, SIR.

THAT WAS TO PURCHASE A NEW ONE FOR NEXT YEAR.

AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE THAT OUT OF NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND THEY FOUND FUNDING IN THIS YEAR'S, UH, TO PURCHASE THE USE OF, AND I DON'T KNOW THE COST, UM, DR.

TOMI, UH, HAD THAT, HE SAID, IT'S ABOUT, YES, IT'S ABOUT HALF THE PRICE BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THERE AND IT'S IN FAIRLY GOOD CONDITION.

AND SO THE, AND SO WE DID DECIDE THE COUNCIL DID DECIDE TO GO FROM 3.3 AND A HALF PERCENT COST OF LIVING TO 4%.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE, THAT, THAT SUMMARILY, UH, CAUSE THIS, UH, THIS INCREASE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, CORRECT.

WHILE THE REDUCTIONS THAT WENT UNNECESSARY FOR THE INCREASE.

WE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL, MAKE ALL THE CHANGES THAT WERE NECESSARY TO GO BACK TO WHAT WE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.

AND THE, AND SO, AND THE RE THE REDUCTION OF THE LIFT STATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, YOU'RE, YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT CITY MANAGEMENT.

UM, BASED ON MY CONSULTATION WITH DR.

HANEY AND WITH, UM, CALVIN MATTHEWS.

NO NEW BUILDINGS, DEVELOPMENTS.

WE CAN LIVE WITH THAT.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? QUICK QUESTION CENTER MANAGER.

UH, I SEE A SOLID WASTE PUTTING GUAVA TO SIDE HOW WE'RE DOING THE TRASH READING.

MY MAXIMUM, OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION GOING ON HERE.

I STILL ALLOW THE TRASH TRUCK LOAD, YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL, TRASH TRUCK CONTRACTS,

[00:25:01]

HAULING, ARE YOU HOLDING OUR NAME PERIOD, GOING TO BEAUMONT? ARE WE GETTING OUR SHARE ON THIS TRANSPLANT FIELD? UH, BASED ON, UM, OUR DISCUSSION WE'VE ADOPTED IN THE SVR, WE ARE GETTING, UH, UH, WE ARE MAKING EFFORTS AT THE SAME TIME TO SEE HOW WE CAN INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS THAT WILL BECOME INTO OUR LANDFILL.

BUT YES, YES WE ARE BECAUSE THAT WILL CONNECT ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT.

I MEAN, ALL DAY TILL FIVE O'CLOCK, THAT'S COUNTING ALARMING AND WE MISS A LOT OF BUSINESS.

WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT BUSINESS MISSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND THEY DO.

AND THEN THE COUNSELOR IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE PART OF OUR EFFORTS AS WELL, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO ATTRACT NEW CUSTOMERS TO OVER LANDFILL ORIGINAL TO THEM.

MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, CITY MANAGER OR FINANCE IS ANY PARTICULAR REASON WHY WE WANT TO STAY AROUND 105 DAYS OVER EACH ON THE FUND BOND FUND BALANCE TO DETERMINE THAT WE HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, BECAUSE IF THAT'S SO, AND THEN WE ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO HAVE THE 60 DAY PLUS 1.5, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, I DO HAVE A CONCERN WHY JUST, WE JUST DIDN'T PURCHASE THAT TRUCK.

UM, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, IF YOU HAVE YOUR REASONS I'M GOING TO, I JUST WANT TO HEAR, BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW WHAT I'M READING INTO, LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVE AT UNBALANCED, THE REASONING IS THE VACTOR TRUCK WAS NOT PURCHASED FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PURCHASED FROM WATER FUND AND WATER FUND IS, IS SUPPORTED IN AN ENTERPRISE FUND.

AND IT'S SUPPORTED BY THE TAX, THE, UH, RATE INCREASE FOR WATER AND SEWER THAT YOU DID.

AND HE HAD TO, BECAUSE ORIGINALLY THEY HAD BUDGETED 15% INCREASE AND THAT WAS REDUCED TO THE 8%.

HE HAD TO TAKE SOME THINGS OUT.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE FELT HE COULD LIVE WITHOUT, UM, THAT AND THE REDUCTION OR THE DELAY IN SOME OF THE LIFT STATION IMPROVEMENTS SO THAT HE COULD BALANCE THIS BUDGET WITH THE 8% INCREASE, AS OPPOSED TO 15%.

NO, WE'VE THE, IN TERMS OF THE, UM, OUR FUND BALANCE POLICY, WE STILL DO HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE STILL IN THE HURRICANE SEASON.

WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 60 DAYS TO GO, YOU KNOW, SO I FEEL I'M CONSERVATIVE ABOUT IT, BUT I FEEL VERY MUCH COMFORTABLE THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THAT HEALTHY FUND BALANCE BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT'S AHEAD OF US FOR THE NEXT 60 DAYS.

UM, AS, AS YOU SEE, AS CANDY INDICATED, WE DO HAVE THE $13.5 BILLION THAT IS, WE DO HAVE THIS BUILDING FUND 5 MILLION THAT'S REQUESTED FOR 60 DAYS.

WE DO HAVE, UM, BUT THERE'S STILL AN EXCESS OF $8.7 MILLION THAT WE HAVE.

UM, IF WE SURVIVE THE HURRICANE SEASON AND WE ARE GOOD TO GO, WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU BASE ANY OTHER PROJECTS, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE NEVER KNOW OF INCIDENTALS OF WHAT, UM, EMERGENCIES THAT MAY ARISE THEREAFTER.

UM, JUST IN THE LAST TWO BUDGETS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO ACCOMMODATE THE PURCHASE OF SEND MIRRORS.

YOU KNOW, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS NEVER ON OUR RADAR IN TERMS OF LONG-TERM PLANNING, YOU KNOW, SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT EMERGENCIES THAT MAY ARISE.

SO I WOULD RATHER BE A LITTLE BIT CONSERVATIVE, UM, IN MAINTAINING THAT HEALTHY FUND BALANCE WITH.

MA'AM COUNCIL MEMBER FRANKIE HAD ANOTHER.

I DID, UH, AS I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, AS I WAS LISTENING TO COUNCILMAN JONES, TALK ABOUT, UM, UH, OUR SOLID WASTE AND ALL OF THAT.

WHAT IS THE CON, WHAT IS THE STATE OF OUR INDUSTRIAL WASTE PERMIT? DO WE STILL HAVE AN INDUSTRIAL WASTE PERMIT FOR OUR LANDFILL IN PLACE? WE USE IT, IS IT WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.

WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.

WE TCEQ, WE PROVO MEETS.

UM, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I HAVE A VISIT SCHEDULED FOR SOMETIME THIS WEEK TO THE, TO THE LANDFILL WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE AND COMPLIANCE WITH ALL TCEQ REQUIREMENTS.

SO I, INDUSTRIAL WASTE PERMIT IS IN PLACE.

ALL I KNOW ALL OVER TCEQ REQUIREMENTS, I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK ON THE INDUSTRIAL RISK.

CAN YOU CHECK ON THAT TO SEE WHAT IS BEING, WHAT IS BEEN ACCEPTED IN OUR LANDFILL? I WILL, I WILL CHECK ON THAT.

AND I'LL LET THE ENTIRE I'LL LET YOU KNOW, THANKFULLY DID.

ALLOCATED, IT COMES FROM THE UTILITY FUND IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND.

COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS, UH, MR. BURTON GOING BACK TO, UH, THE VACTOR TRUCK THAT WE DIDN'T AND THE FUND BALANCE, BEING THAT WE HAVE SUCH A HEALTHY, UH, OVERAGE IN THE FUND BOUNDS.

ONCE WE GET THROUGH HURRICANE SEASON, I THINK YOU MENTIONED, THEN WE CAN GO BACK AND VISIT SOME THINGS.

WOULD WE BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT PURCHASING THAT NEUTRAL RATHER THAN, UH, AFTER, AFTER HURRICANE SEASON IS OVER? WELL, NO, BECAUSE THE, THE, THE, UM, WHAT IS BEEN

[00:30:01]

THE MONIES THAT WE INDICATED OUT HERE IS FROM THE GENERAL FUND, THE BALANCES ARE FROM THE GENERAL FUND, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY PARTICULAR IN THE PAST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NOT CO-MINGLE THOSE FUNDS.

UM, THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS IS SUPPOSED TO REMAIN AS A VERY INDEPENDENT FUND.

WE ARE GETTING, WE HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE'LL BE A GRAND PRIZE FUND RIGHT NOW, AS BASED ON THE 8% THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A UNBALANCE OF PRETTY CLOSE TO $800,000, 760 600 OF CLOSE TO $700,000.

SO, BUT I THINK THAT WILL GIVE US A CUSHION, BUT THAT WILL GIVE US ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR EXPENDITURES AND SEE BINS, UM, IN THE ENTERPRISE FUND TO SEE WHETHER WE COULD DO THAT.

AND WE HAVE 18 MILLION, 15 MILLION, $15 MILLION FROM OP THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO EXPAND OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

WE CAN ALSO EXPLORE THAT POSSIBILITY TO SEE WHETHER THAT EXPENDITURE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS FOR PAKISTAN AND OTHER, UM, UTILITY, UM, WATER AND WASTE FOR THE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO END UP ON THE TICK TO SEE WHETHER THAT EXPENDITURE CAN BE ACCOMMODATED THERE.

AND AS YOU KNOW, THE APP IS FREE MONEY THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE AT A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING DESIGNED AND READY TO GO IN THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT THAT WE COVER THAT, BUT WE WILL, I WILL LOOK AT THAT AS WELL TO SEE WHETHER IT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED.

SO, AND WE'LL RECEIVE, UH, UPDATES ON REGULAR UPDATES ON, ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT SPENDING AS FAR AS THE, THE PROJECTS AND THE EQUIPMENT THAT, YEAH, MY INTENTION IS TO COME BACK EVERY QUARTER TO YOU AND PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATE ON THE EXPENDITURES OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S REAL, WE'VE GOT TO REPORT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND THOSE MONIES, RIGHT.

COUNSELOR MOSES.

SO JUST FOR RECAP, THE, UM, AND JUST FOR MY CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING THE CITY MANAGER AND CANDY, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T RAISE THE WATER RATES, BUT I KNOW THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT IS A ENTERPRISE FUND MAKES MONEY, THE VACTOR TRUCK, JUST SO I CAN CLEARLY UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE TOOK THE 15%, WE DIDN'T GO WITH THE 15%, 8% AND THE ENTERPRISE FUND.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PURCHASE THAT TRUCK JUST FOR THE SAKE OF THE CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT PURCHASING THAT TRUCK OUT OF THOSE ENTERPRISE DOLLARS.

CAN'T CROSS FUNDS AND TAKE IT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.

UM, BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S ANOTHER WHOLE, A WHOLE NOTHER ANIMAL BY ITSELF.

SO BASICALLY THE ENTERPRISE FUND, WE DIDN'T RAISE THE RATES ENOUGH.

WE DIDN'T GO WITH THE 15%, WE WENT WITH 8%.

SO THAT REDUCED OUR ABILITY TO PURCHASE THAT BACK TO A TRUCK.

AND WE ARE SETTLING FOR A USED PACK, THE TRUCK.

YES, THIS IS BUDGET INSTEAD.

SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THAT.

SO IF WE WANTED TO BUY THIS OUT OF OUR CAPITAL TOOL, LIKE OUR, OUR ENTERPRISE FUND, WE WANT TO SAY, WELL, THOSE COUNCIL WANTS TO GET THAT BACK TO TRUCK BECAUSE IT'S AN ENTERPRISE FUND.

WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

WE CAN'T STICK THE MONEY FROM THE, THE, UM, FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO DO THAT.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

JUST WATCHING.

I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.

THANKS.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER CONSTANTLY? YES.

ONE MORE QUESTION IS TO THE MANAGER, YOU SAID THE TRUCK HAS MILES ON IT.

CAN WE BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THAT TRUCK? CAN WE BUY EXTENDED WARRANTY? I'M SURE THAT DOCTOR, HE NEEDS LOOKING AT THAT AS WELL.

THAT WAS THE UP THAT HE, IN HIS RECOMMENDATION, I, HE HAD LOOKED AT IT AND, UM, HE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE MOST FEASIBLE THING TO DO AT THIS TIME BYSTANDER WARRANTY, BECAUSE WE HAVE PROBLEM WITH THAT, MAN, THE COST WILL BE OFF THE ROOF, YOU KNOW? YEAH.

WELL, COUNSELOR, IF YOU REMEMBER, WE JUST, ON TUESDAY, WE JUST APPROVED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE DOZER AND THE LANDFILL THAT WE PURCHASED, UM, FOR ANOTHER, UM, I THINK IT'S, UM, 50 500,000 HOURS, YOU KNOW, SO WE CAN, WE COULD LOOK AT IT, PLEASE SEE A LOOK AT THAT.

CAUSE IT'S, WASN'T, YOU KNOW, WE PAID FOR THE STAND, THE WARRANTY.

BUT AS I SAID, COUNSELOR, WE WILL LOOK AT IT AGAIN, AS THE PROMISE COUNSELOR, MAX, AS THE YEAR, CONTINUES TO PROGRESS INTO THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR.

WE'LL LOOK AND SEE WHAT SAVINGS THAT WE HAVE.

AND, UM, WE'LL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU.

WE'LL COME BACK WITH THE RECOMMENDATION.

ALL RIGHT.

IF IT BEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

DO WE CALL FOR THE AMENDMENT? YES.

NOW IF I DIDN'T MIMIC, YES.

SORRY.

A MAYOR PRO TEM.

I MAKE, I MOVED THAT WE HAVE MEN P O NUMBER 7, 0 9 2 AS STATED BY THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF FINANCE FOR APPROVAL

[00:35:01]

I SECOND MONTH.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND TO, UH, AMEND PO NUMBER 7 0 9 2.

UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? YES.

AND YOU CAN, UH, SHE WANTS TO READ THE MEMBER.

WE PASSED OUT, PASSED IT OUT.

PLEASE READ THE AMENDMENT.

WELL, BASICALLY, YES.

THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU SEE HERE, IF YOU WANT TO, BASICALLY THE ITEM THAT WAS POSTED HAD VERY DIFFERENT NUMBERS AND, UH, IT'S BEEN AMENDED TO, TO MAKE THE CHANGES SHE SAID, BUT I'LL LET HER YEAH.

THE CONSTRUCTION, THE CAPTION IS THE SAME.

UH, IF YOU, IF YOU GO DOWN, UH, INTO THE BODY OF THE ORDINANCE, THE NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED FOR VARIOUS DIFFERENT FUNDS.

AS I EXPLAINED, UH, EARLIER IN MY PRESENTATION, SO YOU'LL SEE, UM, NUMBERS FOR THE GENERAL FUND HAVE CHANGED AND, UH, THE WATER FUND AND SOME OF THE OTHER MISCELLANEOUS FUNDS AS WELL, THE NUMBERS CHANGED FROM THE TIME THEY POSTED IT ON THURSDAY TO, UH, TODAY BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN THE COST OF LIVING, UH, INCREASE THAT WAS MOVED FROM THREE AND A HALF PERCENT WHERE WE HAD IT TO 4%.

SO THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGES THAT ARE MADE IN THIS.

UM, YEAH.

SO THE AMENDMENT OF WOOD THAT YOU HAVE IS TO, UH, MAKE THE CHANGES AS SHE STATED IN HER PRESENTATION.

AND THE NEW DOCUMENT AMENDED WILL BE UPLOADED FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE AFTER YOU DECIDE TO DO THAT.

AND EVERYTHING TODAY IS A ROLL CALL.

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'LL CALL FOR THE ROLL CALL.

VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.

MAYOR PRO TEM HOMES.

COUNCIL MEMBER JONES, COUNCIL MEMBER.

KEN LAW.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK.

THE AMENDMENT PASSES.

OH, NOW WE HAVE TO DO ALL THE MOTIONS AND FINALLY ADOPTED.

I JUST GIVE HIM MY LITTLE, SAME SPIEL I GIVE EVERY YEAR.

SO WE MET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF 1 0 2 0.09 AS THE FINANCE DIRECTOR HAS STATED.

AND, UM, ALL OF THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS NOW THAT WE'VE AMENDED THE PROPOSAL, THE, UH, COUNCIL HAS TO DO TWO THINGS.

THEY HAVE TO TAKE A SEPARATE RATIFICATION VOTE TO ADOPT ANY BUDGET THAT WILL RAISE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.

SO PRIOR TO THE FINAL ADOPTION, WE HAVE A MOTION AND WE HAVE TO GET A RECORD VOTE OF EACH CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ON THE RATIFICATION OF THE RAISING OF THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.

SO AT THIS TIME, IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE THE MOTION, MADAM MAYOR PRO TEM, I MOVED AT THE CITY OF PORT AUTHOR RATIFY THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 22, 20 23.

AS IT WILL RAISE MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, BY AN AMOUNT OF 2,000,900, $9,794, 13.4, 5%.

AND OF THAT $266,707 IS TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL THIS YEAR.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND, A SECOND NET.

IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND I CALL FOR THE QUESTION.

MAYBE WE HAVE A ROLL CALL.

VOTE.

MAYOR PRO TEM HOMES.

COUNCIL MEMBER JONES.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

KEN LAW.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK MEASURE PASSES.

WE'LL MOVE TO, UH, PO NUMBER 7 0 7 0 9 3 AND APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

I'M SORRY.

I WOULD GIVE IT A MEMBER, BUT WE DIDN'T GO BACK AND VOTE ON.

WE DID THAT.

WE NEED TO ADOPT, WE DIDN'T ADOPT.

CITY, SECRETARY, MAYOR PRO TEM HOMES.

SO I'M SORRY.

WE NEED TO MAKEOVER A PILOT.

AND I WAS READING MY SCRIPT FOR THE NEXT THING, SIR, BUT IS NOW WE NEED TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.

WE'VE HAD THE MOTION AND NOW WE FINALLY GO BACK AND FINALLY, THANK YOU.

OUR MOTION TO ADOPT THE AMENDED BUDGET.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND TO ADOPT THE AMENDED BUDGET.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? AND WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, VOTE

[00:40:01]

COUNCIL MEMBER JONES, COUNCIL MEMBER, KEN LAW.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK P OH 7 0 9.

TWO IS APPROVED AS AMENDED.

[III.2. P. O. No. 7093 — An Appropriation Ordinance Approving And Adopting A Budget For The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation For The Ensuing Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2022 And Ending September 30, 2023 In Accordance With Section 12. 03 Of The Bylaws Of The Corporation]

NUMBERS.

7 9 0 3 AND APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, SECTION FOUR EIGHT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING, OCTOBER 1ST, 2022.

AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023 IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 12.03 OF THE BYLAWS OF THE CORPORATION.

CAN I HAVE A MOTION? YES.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND TO, UH, APPROVE PO NUMBER 7, 0 9 3.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? AND IN THIS ONE, YOU WILL NEED AN AMENDMENT ALSO FOR THE SAME REASON BECAUSE OF THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, AND THIS DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY MOTIONS, BUT FOR THE SAME REASONS FOR THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.

YES, THAT'S THE THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE IS THE COST OF LIVING CHANGE FROM THREE AND A HALF TO 4%.

AND THE EDCS BUDGET IS PART OF OUR BUDGET.

SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS, WE JUST DID APPLIES TO THEM, BUT FOR THE RECORD, THEY JUST HAVE A SEPARATE DOCUMENT.

SO THEY JUST DO AN AMENDMENT FOR THE SAME REASON.

SO WHEN I, UM, I, UM, MOVE THAT WE MAKE AN AMENDMENT, UH, WITH THE COST, INCLUDING THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE AND PO NUMBER 7 0 9 3 TO HAVE A SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND TO, UH, APPROVE PO 7 0 9 3.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

NOW WE HAVE A ROLL CALL.

VOTE.

MAYOR PRO TEM HOMES.

COUNCIL MEMBER JONES, COUNCIL MEMBER, KEN LAW, COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS, COUNCIL MEMBER MOSES.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, THE AMENDMENT PASSES.

NOW CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT, TO ADOPT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? MAY I APPROACH TIM? I MAKE A MOTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF PO A PO NUMBER 7 0 9 3 WITH THE AMENDMENT IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND TO APPROVE THE ADOPTION WITH THE AMENDMENT.

MAYBE WE HAVE A, DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL, VOTE FOR THIS? YES.

MA'AM YES.

MAY APPROACH TIM HOLMES.

COUNCIL MEMBER JONES, COUNCIL MEMBER, KEN LONG COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS.

COUNCIL MEMBER MOSES COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK.

ON TO PO NUMBER 7, 0 9 FOR AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A TAX RATE FOR THE TAX YEAR 2022 FISCAL YEAR, OCTOBER 1ST, 2022 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.

THE MEASURE PASSES AS A MINI.

THANK YOU, CITY SECRETARY.

WE'LL MOVE

[III.3. P. O. No. 7094 — An Ordinance Adopting A Tax Rate For The Tax Year 2022 ( Fiscal Year October 1, 2022 — September 30, 2023) Record Vote Required]

UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? MAYOR PRO TEM.

I MOVED FOR THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 7 0 9 FOR THAT PROPERTY TEXTS.

NO.

AND THEN WE JUST, UM, WE GOT TO GET IT ON THE FLOOR AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION AFTERWARDS.

SO JUST MOVE TO GET IT ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW.

I'M SORRY, SOME OLD, OKAY.

I HAVE A SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE PO NUMBER 7 0 9 4.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? AND THEN JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE'RE ABOUT TO DO THE ROLL CALL VOTE.

SO WE MET, WE HAD THE, UH, TAX RATE, PUBLIC HEARING, UM, AND THE CITY COUNCIL, AND MAY NOW VOTE ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE.

UH, AT THIS POINT AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING, UM, THE, UH, CITY IN THE, IN THE PUBLIC NPO NUMBER 7 0 9 4, IT WAS REQUIRED THAT WE VOTE TO APPROVE THE MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS COMPONENT AND THE DEBT SERVICE COMPONENT, WHICH IS LISTED HERE.

AND, UM, AT THIS TIME, IT, UM, THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT WE TAKE A SEPARATE RATIFICATION MOTION, UH, AS A ROLL CALL VOTE, UH, PRIOR TO ADOPTION.

SO AT THIS TIME WE NEED OUR SPECIAL MOTION.

THIS, THIS IS THE ALRIGHT.

UH, I MOVED FOR THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 7, 0 9.

FOR THAT PROPERTY TAXES BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.6 9 1 5 3 5, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY AN INCREASE OF 11.9, EIGHT 73%

[00:45:01]

IN THE TAX RATE.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, CITY, SECRETARY, AND MAYBE WE HAVE A ROLL CALL FUND.

COUNCIL MEMBER JONES, COUNCIL MEMBER, KEN LONG COUNCIL MARKS.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK.

WE'LL MOVE TO PO NUMBER SEVEN.

WHAT? WE'VE GOT IT.

WE NOW NEED TO GO BACK AND JUST ADOPT 7 0 9 4.

ALL WE NEED IS A VOTE.

WE HAVE, WE HAVE IT ON THE FLOOR.

AT THIS TIME, WE'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.

WE ALREADY HAVE IT ON THE FLOOR.

YOU ALREADY HAVE IT ON THE FLOOR? YEAH.

WE DON'T NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE.

AS MAYBE WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, VOTE TO ADOPT MAYOR PRO TEM HOMES.

COUNCIL MEMBER JONES, COUNCIL MEMBER, KEN LAW.

THE COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK.

NUMBER 7 0 9 5 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE 2,282 TAX ROLL FOR THE USE AND PER AND SUPPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND PROVIDING FOR THE INTEREST AND SEEKING SINKING FUND AND APPROPRIATE APPORTIONING.

THE MEASURE PASSES TONIO

[III.4. P. O. No. 7095 — An Ordinance Approving The 2022 Tax Roll For The Use And Support Of The Municipal Government Of The City Of Port Arthur; And Providing For The Interest And Sinking Fund And Apportioning Each Levy For A Specific Purpose]

EVERY LEVEE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

MAY I GET A MOTION PLEASE? CAN I GET A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND TO APPROVE PO NUMBER 7, 0 9 5.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? DOES THIS HAVE TO BE A ROLL CALL? WE NEED A ROLL CALL.

COUNCIL MEMBER JONES, COUNCIL MEMBER, KEN LAW.

COUNCIL MEMBER, MOSES COUNCIL MEMBER FRAME MEASURE PASSES.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THAT? OKAY.

AT THIS TIME WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF OUR MEETING.

MAY I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN LATE? YES, SIR.

OF COURSE.

MAPPER EXAM CAMDEN COUNSEL.

LET ME JUST TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR WORKING WITH STAFF, WORKING WITH THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, MELISSA AND CANDY, AND, UM, UM, FOR WORKING WITH US TO ACHIEVE A NET, UH, UM, SUCCESSFUL BUDGET THAT WILL REFLECT 30 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

SO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, AGAIN, I THINK AGAIN, IT'S A, IT'S ANOTHER MILESTONE IN THE CITY OF PORT DAVA, AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE ATTEND TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR CITY AND PREPARE OUR CITY FOR FUTURE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES.

THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US AND THANK YOU FOR APPROVING THIS BUDGET.

AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR ALL.

YOU ALL HAVE DONE FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND SMOOTH BUDGET PROCESS.

WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE YOU'VE DONE.

ANY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I JUST LIKE TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

UH, HAVE OUR EMPLOYEE'S BEST INTEREST AT HEART WHEN WE HAD THE DISCUSSION ON EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT INSURANCE GOING UP AND HOW IT WAS GOING TO BE A WASH IF WE JUST LEFT THAT, THAT, UH, RAISE PERCENTAGE AT 3.5.

UH, MY LAST BUDGET I GET TO ADOPT.

SO, UM, THE STAFF HAS, IT WAS ONE OF THE SMOOTHER ONES.

UM, I'M THANKFUL TO THE STAFF TO CANDY TO OUR, OUR STAFF.

THAT'S WORKED WITH HER AND TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND MANAGER.

EVERYBODY HAS WORKED AS A TEAM.

IT HAS BEEN, UM, IT'S BEEN SOMETHING, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.

SO IN THIS BEING WHAT, THE FIFTH OR SIXTH ONE THAT I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT THROUGH STILL CAN'T GET THOSE.

I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT BOLTS AND ROLL CALL NUMBERS.

HOW MANY TIMES YOU HAVE TO DO IT? I WAS THINKING, MAN, I NEED TO WRITE A PLAN TO WRITE IT SOMEWHERE SO I CAN REMEMBER THAT.

BUT THAT'S, THAT'S JUST, JUST AWESOME TO BE A PART OF SUCH A, A GROWING CITY AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IN PORT ARTHUR.

IT'S NOT ALL THAT WE WANT.

IT'S NOT ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT I FIGURED WHERE WE'RE BETTER THAN SOME.

SO I THINK THAT OUR CITY IS ON THE MOVE UP.

IT'S UP FROM HERE.

SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND TO WORKING WITH ALL THESE AWESOME COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

IT'S JUST BEEN FUN FOR ME AND A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

SO THANK YOU GUYS.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, MOSES, UM, CUSTOMER REMARKS.

UH, YES.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE TIME TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, ESPECIALLY THE STAFF CANDY, UH, MR. BURDEN, PAM, BUT, UH, MOST ESPECIALLY WANT TO STATE THAT.

UM, THANK THE COUNCIL FOR GOING ALONG WITH THE SUGGESTION ABOUT RAISING THE, UH, THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE BACK TO 4% FROM THREE AND A HALF.

UH, AND THAT SHOWS THAT WE REALLY,

[00:50:01]

AND, AND IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK COOPERATIVELY LIKE WE ARE NOW, UH, I THINK WE ARE SHOWING OUR CITIZENRY THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM IN, IN PROVIDING SERVICE AND SAFETY TO OUR CITIZENS.

SO THANKS AGAIN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, CITY MANAGER.

WE HADN'T ALWAYS AGREED ON SOME OF THE NUMBERS, BUT, UH, AT THE END, UH, YOU YOU'RE DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITIZENS.

SO I WANT TO TELL YOU PERSONALLY, THANK YOU FOR THAT CANDY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR STAFF.

UH, THIS COUNCIL IS REALLY WANTING TO DO THE BEST THING FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

AND THIS IS JUST A TESTIMONY THAT WE'RE DOING THAT STREETS DRAINAGE, FINDING WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR CITY.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ASKED SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS AND THIS ACTUALLY WAS ONE OF THOSE MORE SMOOTH, UH, BUDGETS THAT I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE TO BE A PART OF.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU, VAL, AND, UH, FOR KEEPING US IN LINE WITH THE VOTING PROCESS, BECAUSE IT IS HARD, BUT, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, CITY MANAGER, WE CAN CONTINUE, UM, UH, PROGRESSING AND I TOO WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN MARK STATED EARLY ABOUT THE 4% COST OF LIVING, RAISE PEOPLE OUT, THEIR EMPLOYEES KNOW THAT, AND IT'S HARD RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S JUST A TESTIMONY THAT THIS COUNCIL IS DOING THE RIGHT THING TO SUPPORT CITIZENS, SUPPORT EMPLOYEES AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO ADD, UH, THE KUDOS TO FRAUD, UH, TO ALL OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

ALL ONE HAS TO DO IS TO WATCH THE NEWS AND SEE THAT CITIES, CITIES ARE BEING CHALLENGED, UH, ALL ACROSS OUR COUNTRY IN, IN SO MANY REGARDS, ESPECIALLY IN INFRASTRUCTURE, IN ALL THAT'S HAPPENING, UH, IN, IN OUR LIVES AS CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND CANDY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE CONVERSATIONS AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT CITY MANAGER.

WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THAT'S HAPPENING.

WE'VE HAD OUR CHALLENGES AS WELL IN SOLID WASTE THIS YEAR WITH TRUCKS BREAKING DOWN AND ALL OF THAT.

BUT STAFF HAS HUNG IN THERE AND I THANK GOD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, DO WHAT WE COULD TO GIVE THAT INCREASED CANDY AND TO DO THAT YOU WERE PROPONENT OF THAT.

AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

AND I THINK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING IT IS AWESOME TO SERVE WITH YOU GUYS AND TO SEE A CITY COUNCIL THAT IS WORKING COHESIVELY TOGETHER AND COLLABORATING WITH STAFF.

AND I WANT TO THANK STAFF AS WELL.

UH, FOR ALL THAT THEY'VE DONE, NOT JUST THE STAFF AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY, BUT THE STAFF OUT ON THE STREETS, THE ONES WHO WERE MAKING IT HAPPEN EACH AND EVERY DAY, PICKING UP THE TRASH, MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR STREETS ARE BEING FIXED.

I'M ESPECIALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THAT STREETS ARE BEING FIXED.

THAT WAS SUCH A HOT BUTTON, HOT TICKET ITEM.

UH, WHEN I FIRST GOT ON CITY COUNCIL THAT IS BEING ADDRESSED AND THAT IS HAPPENING AND TRANSPIRING.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, I BELIEVE THAT OUR BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD OF US.

AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S UP FROM HERE.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND TRANSPIRE.

LET'S JUST KEEP MAKING IT HAPPEN AND LET'S MAKE PORT ARTHUR THE BEST CITY THAT WE CAN MAKE IT FOR.

ALL OF US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO, OH, I'M SORRY.

COUNCIL MEMBER, JAMES LAUGHING, NOT LEAST.

UH, WHAT'S THE ONE THING ALL OF THE WORKERS IN THE FIELD WITHOUT THEM WOULDN'T NEED NO BUDGET.

ANYTHING ELSE? I WON'T GET HIM.

UH, ON EMPLOYEES, TAKE A SEAT.

IMAGINE STEP FOR YOUR HARD WORK TO DO YOUR BUSINESS.

JUST STICK TO IT.

AND THIS APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.

NO ONE NEEDS TO, BUT Y'ALL MADE IT HAPPEN.

AND WE, WE ACCEPTED, WE TRUSTED YOU ALL YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WE, WE, UH, WE PASSED IT.

SECONDLY, I WANNA THANK THIS COUNCIL VERY MUCH.

I'M THE OLD MAN ON THE CREW AND, UH, THESE YOUNG BRAINS UNTIL THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNCIL, I WROTE THEIR NUMBER NUMBER, NOT MY FORTE.

THAT'S TRUSTED THIS.

TH THESE IS PEOPLE HERE AND THEY DID THEIR WORK.

THEY DID ASK THE RIGHT QUESTION.

NOW LISTEN TO HIM.

UH, WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, MR. BONO WEST TAUGHT ME, MATT.

HE PASSED ME ON CONDITION CONDITION.

LISTEN TO HIM, GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE.

CAN MOVE ON.

YOU KNOW, SO I THINK MR. WEST, THE WEST VALLEY, THAT CAN COMPLIMENT ME FOR YOUR TAKE TOO.

AND YOUR HARD WORK.

I KNOW I TRUST YOU.

Y'ALL AND Y'ALL GET IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN JONES.

ONE LAST

[00:55:01]

THING.

JUST WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR.

UH, HE'S NOT HERE WITH US TODAY, BUT WE'RE REMEMBERING HIM AS HE'S CONVALESCING AND KEEPING THEM IN OUR PRAYERS AND JUST ASKED THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

HE'S DOING WELL.

HE'S CONTAINED CHORUS, BUT WE KNOW WE KNOW THAT, BUT, UH, WE'RE PRAYING FOR HIM AND WE MISS HIM.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WELL, WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR A GERMAN MAN.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.

NO, WE DIDN'T NEED A ROLL CALL.