Oct 25, 2022 City Council

GOOD

[00:00:01]

GOOD EVENING.

[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]

GOOD EVENING.

AND CITY SECRETARY, I MAY ROLL ON.

WE NEED TO DO THE ROLL CALL AND CLOSE OUT EXECUTIVE SESSION.

OKAY.

UH, BUT AT THIS POINT WOULD YOU PLEASE, UH, DO THE ROLL CALL AND REESTABLISH THE COURT FOR ME, PLEASE? YES, SIR.

OKAY.

MAYOR BART, PRESENT MAYOR PRO.

TIM HOLMES.

OH YEAH.

MEET COUNCIL MEMBER JONES.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS.

COUNCIL MEMBER MOSES.

THERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK HERE.

YOU HAVE A QUORUM MAYOR.

TOTALLY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

CITY, THE SECRETARY.

WE ARE NOW WE CONVENING OUR SESSION FROM EARLIER AT 4:00 PM AND WE WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, CITY ATTORNEY.

THERE AREN'T ANY, UH, MATTERS WITH THE ACTION THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS.

OKAY.

WE ARE GOOD.

OKAY.

SO, UH, AT THIS JUNCTURE I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, CLOSE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

COUNCILWOMAN MOSES.

SO MOVED.

COUNCILWOMAN HOMES SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND THAT WE WERE CLOSED THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE READY FOR, UH, QUESTIONS? THERE AREN'T ANY.

WE'RE READY TO VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSERS? I HAVE SO AS AUDIT, THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS NOW OVER.

IF YOU ALL JUST BATTLES ME FOR ABOUT A MOMENT AND ALLOW THE CITY SECRETARY TO RESET OUR, UH, ELECTRONIC, UH, DEVICE DEVICES AND WE WILL BE READY TO BEGIN OUR FIVE 30 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

THE, I'M A, LET'S SEE, LET'S SEE HOW THEM RECORDING IN PROGRESS.

OKAY.

OKAY, WE ARE READY.

CITY SECRETARY? YES SIR.

OKAY.

UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY GOOD EVENING TO YOU ALL.

YOU ARE GATHERED HERE.

WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY IN OUR CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS DATE BEING OCTOBER 25TH IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2022.

YOU MAY ATTEND THIS MEETING, UH, VIA ELECTRONIC FOR VIDEO CONFERENCING TECHNOLOGY.

YOU MAY ATTEND BACK DIALING 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.

YOU MUST ENTER MEETING OR ID 8 7 2 2 6 7 2 7 1 9 5 AND THE PASS CODE OF 8 2 3 8 5 9.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO INFORM THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

AND WE WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THOSE WHOM MAY REQUEST SUCH BY CALLING THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.

HOWEVER, THIS HAS TO BE DONE 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACTUAL MEETING AND THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR YOU.

AND AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO SORT OF DEVIATE FROM THE NORMAL PRACTICE THAT WE HAVE IN COUNCIL HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

AND I AM GOING TO ASK THAT THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WAR POST, OH, EXCUSE ME.

WRONG CALL.

VERY SORRY.

GO RIGHT AHEAD.

MAYOR BART, PRESENT MAYOR PRO.

TIM HOLMES.

COUNCIL MEMBER JONES.

COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS COUNCIL

[00:05:01]

YEAH.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK.

YEAH, YOU HAVE A CORU MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

AS I WAS STATING, WE ARE GOING TO DEVIATE FROM OUR NORMAL PRACTICE AND WE WILL ASK THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARD POST NUMBER 48 20 TO COME FORWARD, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE.

UH, AMIR, WE MIGHT NEED TO HAVE THE PRAYER AND THE PLEDGE TOO.

NO, YOU SAID THE PRAYER.

THEY'RE DOING THE PRAYER.

IF YOU ALL WOULD ALLOW ME TO CHAIR MY MEETING, I'M GOING TO TAKE CARE OF, I AIN'T WANNA GO THERE, BUT I THANK YOU, SIR.

WOULD YOU PLEASE DO THE PRAYER AS YOU TOLD ME IN YOUR GROUP, ASK THAT YOU WOULD.

AM I CORRECT? YES SIR.

YES SIR.

I'VE ALREADY BEEN APPRISED OF WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO GO ON.

THANK YOU.

I LOVE COVER.

GO RIGHT AHEAD.

MOST GRACIOUS, HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL OF YOUR CIVIL SERVANTS.

THANK YOU FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE.

MAY YOU CONTINUALLY BLESS THEM.

MAY YOU GENEROUSLY GIVE TO EACH OF THEM WISE AND DISCERNING HEARTS TO SKILLFULLY GOVERN THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.

GIVE THE MAYOR, CITY LEADERS, STAFF, AND CITY COUNCIL WISDOM THAT THEY MAY SOLVE PROBLEMS. DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG AND BRING ORDER, STABILITY AND PROSPERITY TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IN YOUR SON'S MOST TOTALLY NAMED JESUS WE PRAY.

AMEN.

AMEN.

NOW THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOR YOU LEADERS AS WELL.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO KINDLY TO THE VETERANS OF , POST NUMBER 48 20 FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION HERE TODAY IN OUR OPENING CEREMONIES AND TO EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE, YOU KNOW, I THANK YOU FOR ASSISTING ME, BUT THEY HAD ALREADY TOLD ME 17 TIMES HOW IT WAS GONNA GO.

MM-HMM.

, SO I WAS WELL, WELL AWARE.

IT HAD BEEN APPRISED OF HOW THEY ACTUALLY WANTED TO CONDUCT THIS.

NOW

[III.C.1. Fire Battalion Chief Patrick Murphy, 50 Years Of Service]

AND WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE THAT I AM GOING TO READ.

UH, AND IT'S ALSO A PROCLAMATION THAT I ACTUALLY GIVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO A CITY EMPLOYEE.

SO AT THIS TIME WITH FIRE BATTALION CHIEF PATRICK MURPHY APPROACH, YOU HAVE YOUR FAMILY WITH YOU.

YES, I DO.

WOULD YOU? THE FAMILY APPROACH AS WELL.

THANK YOU'S.

SO, SO BEFORE I DO HERE, THANK YOU.

YOU DID YOU GIVE THAT MM-HMM.

, THEY CAN CHAIR ME.

GOT A SMALL FAMILY.

I LIKE THAT.

.

THIS IS JUST HALF OF IT.

.

OH YEAH, WE CAN OR CHIEF, BUT YOU TAKE THIS PODIUM AND PUSH IT OVER TO THE SIDE FOR AS WE WELL, EITHER ONE OF THE CHIEFS.

I FORGOT I HAD SEVERAL OF 'EM THERE.

THANK YOU CHIEF.

OKAY.

MOTHER CHIEF TOOK CARE OF HIM, YOU KNOW.

OKAY.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE GOOD PART OF BEING PULLED OFF AND BEING SURROUNDED BY SEVERAL CHIEFS THAT YOU CAN GET THINGS DONE BY JUST MAKING A REQUEST.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO READ A PROCLAMATION TO OUR BATTALION CHIEF PATRICK KEVIN MURPHY, BUT ALSO I'D LIKE TO READ IT TO, TO HIS FAMILY AS WELL.

CUZ YOU ALL HAVE ALLOWED HIM FOR 50 YEARS.

SOME OF IT WAS FOR YOUR TIME.

WOW.

TO BE WITH US AND SERVE US HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BATTALION CHIEF PATRICK KEVIN MURPHY.

THIS IS THE PROCLAMATION HONORING YOU IN RECOGNITION OF 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF THE CITIZENS OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

AND WE THANK YOU WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ONCE SAID, BE NOT AFRAID OF GREATNESS.

SOME ARE BORN GREAT, SOME ACHIEVE GREATNESS AND SOME HAVE GREATNESS THRUST UPON THEM.

WHEREAS THE DUTIES OF FIREFIGHTERS REQUIRE UNCOMMON VALOR, UNIQUE SKILLS AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION.

[00:10:01]

AND WHEREAS HE HAS SUCCESSFULLY RISEN THROUGH THE RANKS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH APPOINTMENT AS A FIRE ENGINEER ON OCTOBER 10TH, 1975, FIRE CAPTAIN ON OCTOBER 23RD, 1978, FIRE MARSHALL ON JUNE 4TH, 1995 AND BATTALION CHIEF ON AUGUST 6TH, 1999.

AND WHEREAS BATTALION CHIEF MURPHY HAS ALSO ACHIEVED THE CERTIFICATION OF MASTER FIREFIGHTER ON FEBRUARY 27TH, 1990 FIRE AND AUSTIN INVESTIGATOR 1996 FIRE, FIRE INSPECTOR 1997, FIELD OF SERVICE INSTRUCTOR 2010 AND FIELD EXAMINER 2012 BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION.

AND WHEREAS BATTALION CHIEF MURPHY HAS BEEN LICENSED AS A PEACE OFFICER BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS AND EDUCATION IN 1996, AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL REGISTRY AND A CERTIFICATION BY THE STATE OF TEXAS AS A CERTIFIED EMERGENCY CARE ATTENDANT IN 20 0 2.

AND WHEREAS BATTALION CHIEF MURPHY HAS SERVED UNDER FIVE FIRE CHIEFS, CHIEFS, HEBERT OR ABE CHIEFS BARBIE, CHIEF CURRAN, CHIEF RICHARD, OR RASHARD AND CHIEF BENSON.

AND WHEREAS BATTALION CHIEF MURPHY HAS SHOWN OUTSTANDING BRAVERY AND COMMAND ABILITY IN EXECUTING HIS DUTIES.

AND WHEREAS BATTALION CHIEF MURPHY HAS SUCCESSFULLY FACED LIFE THREATENING FIRE EVENTS, BUT ALSO NATURE'S ONSLAUGHT SUCH AS FLOODS AND HURRICANES.

AND WHEREAS BATTALION CHIEF MURPHY ALONG AND IN CONS WITH HIS FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR SAVING THE LIVES OF PORT ARTHUR CITIZENS.

AND WHEREAS HE HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS THROUGHOUT HIS ELABORATE CAREER.

AND WHEREAS BATTALION CHIEF MURPHY'S EXAMPLE OF TRUE DEDICATION TO DUTY INTEGRITY IN SERVICE AND PLACING OTHERS ABOVE HIMSELF HAS IMPACTED THE GENERATIONS OF FIREFIGHTERS WITH WHOM HE HAS WORKED AND EVEN TRAINED.

WHEREAS WE ALSO HONOR HIS WIFE, HIS PRIDE, HIS CHILDREN, FAMILY, AND SHARING WITH HIM ALL OF THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.

AND WHEREAS BATTALION CHIEF MURPHY HAS REACHED THE QUESTS 10 CAREER, LET'S YEAH.

AND ONE OF 'EM BIG WORDS QUINN SAID, DID THE MILESTONE OF 50 YEARS OF SERVICE.

NOW, THEREFORE, CHIEF I THURMOND BILL BARCHI,

[00:15:01]

THAT IS WHERE I GOT UP WHEAT HERE IN THE CITY FOR IT SAYS HERE WHERE FOR AND WHITNEY, I HAVE HEARING TRUTH SET MY HAND AND CAUSE PROCEED OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE GREAT CITY OF ALL OF TO BE FIT.

THIS PUT IN EVERY DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR, OUR LORD 2022, PEACE, WE THANK YOU OR YOU'RE SERVING, YOU SAID YOU AS GODES UPON YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND EACH OF YOU.

THANK YOU CHIEF.

IF YOU HAVE ANY REMARKS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

NO MAYOR.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE, THE KEY THINGS WITH CHIEF MURPHY'S SERVICE IS AS YOU POINTED OUT, THAT SERVICE, THAT DEDICATION, THAT INTEGRITY AND HOW THAT HAS AN IMPACT NOT ONLY ON THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO ON THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE ALSO SERVING THE COMMUNITY.

SO IT EXPANDS THAT.

AND THAT'S A LEGACY THAT IS BUILT IN NOW AND CONTINUES.

AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS, IS JUST AWESOME.

IT'S BEEN AN HONOR SERVING THE CITIZENS.

PORT ARTHUR, I APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

BUT YOU GOTTA HAVE MORE SPEECH THAN THAT.

NO, NOT ONE FOR TALKING MUCH.

HE'S NOT ONE FOR TALKING, BUT HE BUY YOU WHAT HAPPEN, HAPPEN, KEEP YOU ONE GOING IN TO GET YOU.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE APPRECIATE ABOUT YOU COUNCIL.

YES.

WOW.

THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY, MAN.

I TELL YOU, UM, TO DO ANYTHING, UH, FOR THE LONGEVITY AND VIABILITY THAT YOU'VE HAD, MAN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG FAMILY.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG FAITH.

UH, THERE TAKES, IT TAKES SO MUCH TO HAVE A CAREER OF OVER 50 YEARS DOING ANYTHING, BUT TO DO IT WITH SUCH DISTINCTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FROM, UH, THIS COUNCIL AND MYSELF AND I, I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT FROM A CITY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELL, CHIEF MURPHY, THAT'S ALL THE WAY I KNEW YOU BACK IN THE DAY FROM 1988 AND MY TIME OF EMPLOYMENT HERE TILL I LEFT.

AND I LEFT YOU HERE AND YOU HAVE SERVED THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR SO WELL.

I WOULD SEE YOU ALL OVER THE PLACE, LITERALLY.

AND JUST TO SEE YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE SERVICE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT.

AS A YOUNG GIRL COMING TO WORK IN PORT ARTHUR, I WAS JUST MESMERIZED BY HOW YOU DID, HOW YOUR GIFT WORKED FOR YOU.

SO I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

AND JUST YOUR SERVICE IS JUST THERE.

THERE REALLY ARE NO WORRIES OTHER THAN CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.

WELL, CHIEF, 50 YEARS, UH, THAT'S A LONG TIME.

I'M 53.

SO , I'M SITTING HERE TRYING TO ADD IT UP.

IF YOU WERE WORKING 50 YEARS, WHAT AGE ARE YOU? AND ONE THING, UH, CHIEF ON A SERIOUS TIP, UH, SINCE I'VE KNOWN YOU, YOU'VE ALWAYS THE MOD FIREMEN, YOU ALWAYS STARCH, SHOES SHINE, YOU ALWAYS DRESS RIGHT.

DRESS.

AND FOR THOSE GUYS IN THE MILITARY, THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN.

SO IF I HAD TO SAY ANYTHING AND I WANTED TO MODEL MYSELF BEHIND SOMEONE, IF I WANTED TO BE A FIREMAN, WOULD BE YOU.

SO, THANK YOU CHIEF.

SO MANY YEARS, 50 YEARS IN THE GREAT CITY OF FORT ARTHUR.

THANK YOU.

I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU CHIEF, AND CONGRATULATIONS 50 YEARS AS A FIREMAN IS REMARKABLE AND CERTAINLY TO YOUR FAMILY.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR GIVING HIM TO US FOR THAT AND MORE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU AND

[00:20:01]

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS TOWN A LONG TIME.

I WATCH YOU FIGHT MANY FIRES.

I'VE BEEN AROUND AND CHIEF MISER BEFORE YOU WATCH YOU ALL.

BUT CHIEF, YOU ARE NO NOSIS TYPE CHIEF OR FIREMAN.

WHEN YOU GET A JOB, YOU'RE VERY SERIOUS.

I WATCH YOU COMMAND YOU FIREFIGHTERS, HOW YOU HANDLING YOURSELF.

AND I ADMIRE THAT.

I COULD RECALL ONE FIRE HEAD ON PORT AVENUE AND GREG MISSING CHIEF MISS REMEMBER THAT? AND THAT HEAT, I MEAN THAT IN JUNE OF JULY, BURNING HOT TWO STORY BUILDINGS BURNING DOWN.

YOU REMEMBER THAT? AND I WENT TO THE STORE, I WENT TO THE STORE IN FRONT AND GOT A CASE OF GADE.

REMEMBER THAT CHIEF CHIEF MISSING A CASE OF GATE AID THROWN TO THE FIREFIGHTERS? HE DON'T MOVE.

HE DIDN'T WANT NO GATE AID.

HE JUST STAND UP THERE, WATCH, WATCH HIS MENS MA GUY.

HE DIDN'T, HE WANTED TO WATCH THAT FIRE AND WASH HIS MENS.

HE WOULDN'T TAKE A GATE AID.

I BOUGHT ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS GATE AID, YOU KNOW, BRING IT TO HIM AND CHEAP WAS BUSY TAKING CARE OF THE FIRE, MOVING HOSE OF TAKE CARE AS PEOPLE CHIEF, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR SUPPORT.

APPRECIATE YOUR FAMILY.

YOU'VE BEEN A HECK OF A FIREFIGHTER.

HOPE YOU HAVE 50 MORE YEARS AND WE LOVE YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOU CHIEF.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MR. BENSON.

YOU HAVE ANY, ANYTHING, ANY, ANY PART WORDS YOU WANNA TELL US IN THE PORT OF, OF, UH, FOR ANY FAMILY MEMBER? I APPRECIATE PATRICK.

I DO.

HE'S MY SWEET HUSBAND, .

THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.

HE'S MY HERO.

MM-HMM.

.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HIM.

UM, AND I MEAN, HE'S, HE'S WHO WE MODEL OURSELVES AFTER, SO WE'RE JUST REAL PROUD OF OUR DADDY.

.

HE'S MY BROTHER AND I'M PROUD OF, I THINK HE'S ALL OUR HERO.

.

HE'S MY DADDY.

HE'S MINE FOR SURE.

UH, MI SO THANK YOU.

WELL, CHIEF BAGUETTE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, ALL OF THE CITIZENS WHO ARE HERE NOW, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU, WHICH CAUSES BLESSINGS UPON YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW, CHIEF MAY CALL HIM IN THE LAST DAY OFFICIALLY IS GONNA REALLY, REALLY BE, BUT HE MAY CALL YOU A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT TO COME BACK.

JUST TO HANG AROUND AND CHIEF, YOU KNOW, YOU OWE ME A BURGER BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET MY BURGER , SO YEAH.

GOOD.

YEAH.

AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, RATHER HOLD YOU AND BEAT YOU OUT.

YEP.

YOU JUST DROP BY CITY HALL ONE DAY AND YOU KNOW IT'LL BE A GOOD DAY FOR, BUT WE THANK YOU ALL.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT SERVICE AND IT'S SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS.

THAT'S ALL.

I, THAT'S WHY I GET UP TO WORK.

GO TO WORK FOR HER.

THAT'S IT.

YOU KNOW, AND WE CAN TELL THAT YOU APPRECIATE IT.

AND AFTER 50 YEARS, MAN, YOU APPRECIATE YOU.

GOD BLESS YOU.

THANK YES.

WOULD YOU COME BACK? PLEASE WON'T BRING IT HOUSE.

I WANT TAKE A PICTURE.

I'M SORRY.

.

WELL, I GUESS I'M GONNA MOVE IT AGAIN, HUH? ON COME.

COME ON.

[00:25:03]

GOOD.

.

I ALL RIGHT.

HEY, HOW YOU DOING? COOL.

I GOT A MIRROR.

AT THIS JUNCTURE I'D LIKE TO CALL FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE, IF YOU WILL.

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF TWO CITY EMPLOYEES OVER THE PAST WEEK OR EIGHT DAYS, OR ONE IN THE PERSON OF MR. FREDERICK PETER, BILL, AND MR. JEFFREY CHRIS, BOTH EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE, IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AMEN.

AMEN.

NOW,

[IV.1. A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments Regarding The Proposed Disannexation Of Tracts Of Land In The Corporate Limits Of The City Of Port Arthur ( Near Taylor' s Bayou, The Intracoastal Waterway, State Highway 87, Keith Lake, Sabine Neches Waterway), Said Tracts Of Land Are Described As Approximately 41. 347 Acres Of Land Out Of The JNO & John Bennett Survey Section In Jefferson County, Texas. This Is The First Public Hearing Held Pursuant To Chapter 43. 142 Of The Local Government Code. A Detailed Map Of The Proposed Area To Be Disannexed, Is Also Available For Inspection At Port Arthur City Hall, 444 Fourth Street, Port Arthur, Texas Between The Hours Of 8: 00 A. M. And 5: 00 P. M., Monday Through Friday And Continuously Online At www. portarthurtx. gov After The Two ( 2) Required Public Hearing Have Taken Place, The City Council Will Consider An Ordinance Formalizing The Disannexation]

WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 6:00 PM AND IT IS NOW 6:00 PM A PUBLIC HEARING, NUMBER ONE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED THIS ANNEXATION OF, UH, TRACKS OF LAND IN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR NEAR TAYLORS BY YOU, THE INTRA IN COASTAL WATERWAY STATE HIGHWAY 87, KEITH LAKE, SABINE NATURE'S WATERWAY SAID, TRACKS OF LAND ARE DESCRIBED AS APPROXIMATELY 41.347 ACRES OF LAND OUT OF THE J N O AND JOHN BENNETT SURVEY SECTION IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.

THIS IS THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING HERE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 43.142 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, A DETAILED MAP OF THE PROPOSED AREA TO BE DX.

THIS ANNEX IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT PORT ARTHUR CITY HALL HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 AM AND 5:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

AND THEY ARE AVAILABLE CONTINUOUSLY ONLINE AT WWW.PORTARTHURTX.GOV.

AND AFTER THE TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE, THE CITY COUNCIL WE'RE CONSIDERING ORDINANCE FORMALIZING THE DIS ANNEXATION.

AND WE WILL BEGIN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME.

AND, UH, ATTORNEY, YOU WANT TO FURTHER DISPO? YES, YES, I CAN.

I CAN JUST GIVE THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

UM, ACCORDING TO CHAPTER 43 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST TO DIS ANNEX PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF PORT ARTHUR.

UM, WE HAVE A MAP THAT SHOWS THIS IS, UH, AREA OF THE AREA NEAR HIGHWAY 87, KEITH LAKE AND SABINE NATURES, UH, WATERWAY.

IT'S APPROXIMATELY, AS YOU SAID, 41.37 ACRES OF LAND.

UM, THIS IS LAND, UM, BASICALLY ADJACENT TO, UH, UH, LOCAL, UM, LNG PLANT.

THIS PROPERTY, UH, IS ALSO ADJACENT TO PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY, DIS ANNEX.

UM, JUST SO YOU'LL KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS TODAY, AND THE, THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD, UH, NEXT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST.

AND IT IS THE CITY'S, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, WE, THE DIS ANNEXATION ORDINANCE WILL COME UP FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 3RD.

UM, BUT BASICALLY THIS IS THE REQUEST FROM SEMPRA.

UH, AND

[00:30:01]

UM, AND WE'RE JUST ASKING THAT THEY'RE, THEY ARE ASKING THAT THE PUBLIC BE MADE AWARE OF THE DIS ANNEXATION PURPOSE OF IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A REPRESENTATIVE HERE.

IS THERE A REPRESENTATIVE HERE? NO, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE HERE TODAY.

BUT BASICALLY THE PURPOSE OF IT IS TO GIVE THEM, UH, A LITTLE MORE ROOM IN, UH, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE LNG PLANT THAT THEY ARE OPERATING.

UM, AND THIS IS ALSO CONTIGUOUS WITH WHAT, WITH WHAT WAS, UM, THIS ANNEX A COUPLE, FEW YEARS AGO.

SO IT'S JUST, UH, BASICALLY FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE LNG, WE DO HAVE A INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENT WITH US WHERE, UH, PAYMENTS WILL ALSO BE MADE TO THE CITY, UH, IN LIEU OF TAXES.

SO THERE WILL BE NO FINANCIAL LOSS TO THE CITY BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE A, UH, AMENDMENT TO THE IDA AGREEMENT.

UM, SO THIS IS BASICALLY THE AREA AND, UM, THIS IS THE REQUIREMENT.

WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING.

UH, IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR WANT TO LOOK AT ANY OF THE DOCUMENTATION, IT IS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.

AND THIS WILL BE DISCUSSED AGAIN ON THE, UM, FIRST THE NEXT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER, NEXT TUESDAY.

AND THEN WE WILL NOT ATTEMPT ANY DIS ANNEXATION PER PROCEEDINGS UNTIL THIS 22ND.

SO ALL THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT IT.

OKAY.

WE HAVE ANY, UH, REMARKS FROM THE PUBLIC? SOME YOUR APPROACH.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

I'M REGINALD TRAINER.

I LIVE AT 35 14 12TH STREET.

AND IT IS ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE.

I THANK YOU MAYOR.

I THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL FOR ACCEPTING ME.

I HAVE TWO POINTS AND THE FIRST POINT THAT I HAVE, THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT LIVE BACK THERE.

WHAT WE GONNA DO ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE? AND THE SECOND QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS THAT, WHAT IS IT THE CITY GONNA REALLY PROFIT FROM THAT? CUZ I KNOW MOTIVA BUILT A BUNCH OF, UH, SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING CARE OF THIS DOWNTOWN AND THEY AIN'T DID NOTHING WITH THAT.

SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON, WHY THEY WANT TALK.

YOU SAID THAT IT DIDN'T GO HURT NO CITIZENS, BUT I KNOW FOR SURE PEOPLE LIVE.

THAT'S 25TH STREET AINT RIGHT.

NO, NO, NO.

THIS IS, THIS IS, THIS IS ON THE WEST SIDE.

MR. TRAIN.

OH, I'M, NO, NOT THE WEST SIDE.

YEAH, THIS IS, I HAD THE WRONG THING.

I APOLOGIZE TO THE COUNCIL, BUT WHENEVER THAT COME UP IT'S GONNA BE NEXT.

BE READY IN A FEW MINUTES.

NOT, THAT'S NOT THE ONE I'M GONNA BE READY.

OKAY.

CAN I DON'T GO RIGHT AHEAD.

OH, LET ME JUST CLARIFY.

WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT PUBLIC HEARINGS, BUT I KNOW THAT SOME OF 'EM CAN BE MIXED UP.

THIS IS THE AREA, LET ME READ IT OFF OF HIGHWAY SET 87 NEAR KEITH LAKE, NEAR SABINE LAKE.

THIS IS PORT ARTHUR, L AND G.

THIS IS THE LNG TERMINAL.

THERE ARE NO RESIDENTS.

THIS IS INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY ONLY.

YEAH.

SO THIS IS THE LNG PLANT? NOT, NOT THAT ONE.

.

OKAY.

IT'S BEING PASSED.

AND I HAVE ALL THE, THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, AND IT'LL BE ON THE WEBSITE, BUT THIS IS THE AREA OF THE LNG PLANT.

THIS IS INDUSTRIAL CONNECTED TO WHAT'S ALREADY SEMPRA, UH, PORT ARTHUR, L AND G.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THE SOINE PASS AREA WHERE THEY WANTED TO, UH, SEMPRA WANTS TO, UH, ACQUIRE SOME PROPERTY THERE.

OKAY.

THERE, THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS.

UH, ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? ONE LAST ONE.

WE WILL ASK SEMPRA TO COME TO THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING ON TUES ON NEXT TUESDAY, SO THAT THAT WAY ANY QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED BY THEM.

OKAY? OKAY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UH, I SAW A LIGHT, BUT IT WENT OFF.

THAT WAS YOU.

OH, OKAY.

OKAY.

ANY, ANY QUESTIONS BY COUNCIL? OKAY.

IF THERE AREN'T ANY, I, I CAN OBTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER ONE, COUNCIL MCKINLEY, SOME MAYOR LIKE IN THE SECOND COUNCILMAN JONES, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDARY CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER ONE.

ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION ON ANY QUESTIONS? YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.

AYE.

ANY POSE? US PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER ONE IS NOW CLOSED AT 6:06 PM WE

[IV.2. To Discuss And Receive Public Comment Regarding The Proposed Abandonment Of The Following: A22- 02( A) Motiva Enterprises, LLC For Approximately 4. 878- Acres Portion Of A Dedicated Public Right- Of-Way, Known As 25th Street And Being Part Of Blocks 4 & 5, Ranges " K" And " L", Port Arthur Land Company Subdivision, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas A Precise Drawing And Description Of The Proposed Abandonment Will Be Presented At The Public Hearing And Can Be Examined In The City Development Services Department, Port Arthur, Texas. The Public Will Also Be Able To View The Public Hearing Via The City' s Website At www. portarthurtx. gov. Any Person May Participate In The Public Hearing And Address The City Council]

[00:35:01]

A PRECISE DRAWING AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING AND CAN BE EXAMINED IN THE CITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR ARTHUR TEXAS.

THE PUBLIC WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO VIEW THE PUBLIC HEARING VIA THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT WWW.PORTARTHURTX.GOV, AND IN PERSON MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

SO WE ARE READY TO BEGIN DIALOGUE ON PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO, AND I BELIEVE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER LANGFORD.

YES, SIR.

GO RIGHT AHEAD.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNSEL.

OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DAY IS, UM, AGAIN, I AM HERE TO JUST PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW FOR THE ABANDONMENT OF THE PORTION OF 25TH STREET.

UM, AGAIN, AS YOU STATED, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER AN ABANDONMENT REQUESTS FOR A 4.878 ACRE PORTION OF THE DEDICATED AND IMPROVED PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, KNOWN AS 25TH STREET, AND BEING PART OF BLOCKS FOUR AND FIVE OF RANGES K AND L OF THE PORT ARTHUR LAND COMPANY SUBDIVISION HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.

THIS PORTION OF RIGHT AWAY IS LOCATED BETWEEN FLORIDA AVENUE AND SAVANNAH AVENUE, ALSO KNOWN AS SPUR F TWO 15 AND LOCALLY REFERRED TO AS THE RESERVOIR ROAD.

NEXT SLIDE.

IN NOVEMBER OF 2019, PLANNING STAFF RECEIVED AN APPLICATION FROM MOVA ENTERPRISES LLC REQUESTING THE ABANDONMENT OF THE 4.878 ACRE PORTION OF THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY 25TH STREET.

THIS RIGHT OF WAY SECTION IS LOCATED AGAIN BETWEEN FLORIDA AVENUE AND SAVANNAH AVENUE AS PART OF THE ABANDONMENT PROCESS.

THE APPLICATION WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SIGNED AND WRITTEN CONSENT OF ALL UTILITY ENTITIES AND ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS WITH MOTIVA ENTERPRISES, LLC BEING THE REGISTERED OWNER OF THE ADJOINING PROPERTIES.

UTILITY ENTITIES INCLUDED THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WATER, SANITARY SEWER DIVISION, PUBLIC WORKS, DRAINAGE, CHARTER SPECTRUM CABLE, TEXAS GAS SERVICE, ENERGY AT AND T TEXAS AND DRAINAGE DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN.

AN APPRAISAL REPORT WAS ORDERED FROM COOKS AND ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS ON NOVEMBER 18TH, 2019.

AND AN INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE PROPERTY WAS PERFORMED ON DECEMBER 11TH, 2019.

BASED ON THE FAIR AND REASONABLE CONSIDERATION, THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE PORTION OF PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY WAS APPRAISED THAT $127,500.

THE CITY'S PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON MONDAY, MARCH 16TH, 2020.

AND PUBLIC NOTICES WERE PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON MARCH 7TH, 2020.

UM, THERE WERE ALSO NOTICES THAT WERE SENT TO THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS OF THAT PROPOSED SITE ON MARCH 17TH, 2020.

CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 DASH 83 CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THIS A PROPOSED ABANDONMENT.

HOWEVER, FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH COUNCIL IN EXECUTIVE SESSION YIELDED A DECISION TO REQUEST THAT MOTIVA ENTERPRISES WITHDRAW ITS REQUEST FOR ABANDONMENT DUE TO TRAFFIC AND SAFETY CONCERNS POSED BY THE COUNCIL MOVING FORWARD.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM MOTIVA ENTERPRISES SUBMITTED A NEW APPLICATION FOR THIS SET ABANDONMENT ON SEPTEMBER 9TH OF THIS YEAR, WITH THE REQUEST REMAINING THE SAME AS PREVIOUS.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER THE 19TH.

PUBLIC NOTICES WERE PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, AND NOTICES WERE SENT TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE 200 FOOT RADIUS OF PROPOSED SITE ON SEPTEMBER THE SEVENTH.

AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING, THERE WAS NO WRITTEN OR VERBAL OPPOSITION FOR FROM THE PUBLIC, AND THIS WAS FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.

THE COMMISSION VOTED THREE TO ZERO RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST ON SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2022.

CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 22 4 39 CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS THE HEARING TODAY.

NOTIFICATIONS OF THIS PROPOSED ABANDONMENT WAS SUBMITTED TO ALL UTILITY ENTITIES SERVICING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR COMMENT AND ACCEPTANCE.

THE PLANNING STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY OBJECTIONS TO THIS REQUEST FROM THOSE ENTITIES.

AN UPDATED APPRAISAL WAS

[00:40:01]

BASED ON THE FAIR AND REASONABLE CONSIDERATION, THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE PORTION OF PUBLIC RIGHT AWAY APPRAISED SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE 2019 REPORT AT 134,000.

IF THIS REQUEST IS APPROVED, MOTIVA WILL BE REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH THE UTILITY AND ACCESS EASEMENTS REQUESTED BY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO READ INTO RECORD MOTIVA'S STATEMENT IN REGARDS TO THE PURPOSE OF THIS ABANDONMENT.

IN CONSENSUS WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR MOTIVA SEEKS TO ENHANCE OUR PARTNERSHIP AND LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO THE SUCCESS OF PORT ARTHUR AND ITS RESIDENTS THROUGH THE ASSUMPTION OF OWNERSHIP CARE, CUSTODY AND CONTROL OF 25TH STREET.

AS DESCRIBED IN THIS PUBLIC HEARING, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR MOTIVA WILL ASSUME THE STREET IN ITS CURRENT STATE ALLEVIATING THE CITY FROM UNDERTAKING SIGNIFICANT NEEDED REPAIRS.

PUBLIC SAFETY WILL BE IMPROVED THROUGH THE ELIMINATION OF PUBLIC TRAFFIC THAT HAS HISTORICALLY RESULTED IN BURDENS TO THE CITY, CITY RESOURCES AS A CONSEQUENCE OF PRIVATE CITIZEN INTERFACES WITH THE RESERVOIRS.

FURTHER, THIS STREET HAS ALSO HISTORICALLY BECOME A LOCATION WHERE INDIVIDUALS HAVE CHOSEN TO DUMP TRASH, APPLIANCES, FURNITURE, AND OTHER DEBRIS THAT HAS FURTHER BURDEN CITY RESOURCES TO REMOVE FROM THE ROADWAY AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

ACQUISITION OF THIS ROADWAY WILL ENABLE MOTIVA TO IMPROVE SECURITY HEARTENING OF ITS PARAMETER AS MOTIVA CONTINUES TO REASONABLY MEET DYNAMIC AND EVOLVING SECURITY CHALLENGES.

THE CITY'S PARTNERSHIP IN ABANDONING 2020 FIFTH STREET TO MOTIVA WILL ALSO ALLOW MOTIVA TO SECURE MORE OF ITS PROPERTY IN A CONTINU CONTINUOUS MANNER, WHICH DIRECTIONALLY ALLOWS CONSIDERATION FOR FUTURE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND MOTIVA.

THE NEXT SLIDE.

NANCY, THIS SLIDE JUST PROVIDES AN AERIAL OF THE SECTION OF 25TH STREET, UM, WHICH IS BEING REQUESTED FOR ABANDONMENT.

IF YOU MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS A STREET VIEW OF THAT RIGHT OF WAY AND UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT IN PREPARATION FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING NOTIFICATION WAS PUBLISHED IN THE WEEKEND EDITION OF THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON OCTOBER 8TH THROUGH NINTH OF THIS YEAR.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TO OUR FIRE CHIEF GREGORY BENSON, WHO WOULD DISCUSS THE PUBLIC SAFETY IN 2019 TRAFFIC STUDY, UM, OF THAT AREA.

FOLLOWING THAT, I WOULD ALSO YIELD TO THE CITY ENGINEER MR. JOHN CANELLA AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MS. FLO ROBERTS, WHO WILL SPEAK TO THE ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE OF 25TH STREET.

OKAY, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

DAVID CHIEF.

SO WE HAVE EVALUATED THIS, THE POTENTIAL ABANDONMENT AND IN SUMMARY HAVE FOUND THAT THERE WILL BE MINIMAL IMPACT OR INFLUENCE ON THE ABANDONMENT ON PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

THAT ALSO WAS LOOKED AT IN 2019 WHEN THEY DID THE, UH, ROAD CUSTODY EVALUATION BY ALLIANCE TRANSPORTATION GROUP THAT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THERE WOULD BE MINIMAL IMPACT AS WELL.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UH, CITY ENGINEER, I BELIEVE IT IS MR. MAYOR AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, I'M UP HERE TO, UH, NOT TO ADVOCATE OR, UH, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME FACTS ABOUT THE STREET ITSELF.

UM, RIGHT NOW, UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL, UM, ISSUES, I GUESS ALONG 25TH STREET THAT I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU ARE AWARE OF.

WE HAVE A DRAINAGE PROBLEM WHEN WE GET FOUR TO SIX INCHES OF RAIN.

THE STREET FLOODS RIGHT THERE AT THE SAVANNAH INTERSECTION.

I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME PICTURES OF THAT.

UM, UH, AND

[00:45:01]

UM, THERE'S ALSO THE SAFETY ISSUE OF THE ROADWAY WHERE IT PASSES THROUGH THE RESERVOIR.

UH, IDEALLY WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SHOULDERS ON THAT ROAD TO PREVENT, UH, CITIZENS OR EMPLOYEES OF MOTIVA FROM RUNNING OFF THE ROAD INTO THE RESERVOIR.

AND I BELIEVE THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PAST, THOUGH I DON'T HAVE FACTS ON THAT.

UM, THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE TWO BRIDGES ALONG THIS STRETCH ARE IN NEED OF, UH, THEY, THEY'VE BEEN LISTED AS DEFICIENT BY TEXT DOT OR AT LEAST ONE OF THEM HAS.

AND SO WE NEED TO PUT SOME MONEY INTO THAT BRIDGE TO, UH, BRING IT STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY UP TO, UH, CODE.

UM, AS FAR AS I KNOW, NONE, NONE OF THIS IS, UH, PLANNED FOR OR BUDGETED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

BUT I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT, UH, IN MY ESTIMATE IT WOULD BE AROUND FOUR TO $6 MILLION TO BRING THIS ROAD UP TO WHAT WE'D CALL NORMAL CITY STANDARDS.

THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UH, I THINK SHE SAID ONE OTHER INDIVIDUAL, UH, MS. LANGFORD QUESTION AND A QUESTION FOR, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE YOU LATE COUNCILMAN FRANK.

GO AHEAD.

QUESTION.

YES, YOU, YOU WERE SAYING THAT IT WOULD TAKE FOUR TO $6 MILLION, UM, TO BRING THE, UM, BRING THAT STREET UP TO CODE? YES.

IDEALLY, IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE STREET.

I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF EROSION OR SOMETHING.

IT, CUZ JUST THAT SECTION OF ROAD WOULDN'T COST FOUR TO $6 MILLION.

SO WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT IS, WHAT IS IT, WHY WOULD IT COST SO MUCH TO HAVE THAT ROAD FIXED? UH, WELL THE PROBLEM WHERE IT'S FLOODING RIGHT NOW, WE'D HAVE TO RAISE IT FIVE OR SIX FEET AND THAT'S GONNA REQUIRE SOME ADDITIONAL, A LOT OF EARTH WORK TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.

I ESTIMATED THAT PART OF THE ROAD TO BE, UH, 2 MILLION.

AND THAT WOULD BECO YOU KNOW, OF COURSE WE'D HAVE TO COME BACK AND REPAVE IT.

AND THEN THE TWO BRIDGES ABOUT 1.2 MILLION AND THEN THE STRETCH BETWEEN THE RESERVOIR ABOUT ANOTHER MILLION.

SO SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FOUR OR $5 MILLION.

I'M ESTIMATING.

OKAY.

YEAH.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ANY OTHERS, MS. LANG? YES.

OUR PUBLIC WORDS DIRECTOR, MS. FLO ROBERTS.

OKAY.

I BELIEVE MR. CAN COVERED MOST OF WHAT SHE WAS GONNA SPEAK ABOUT, WHICH WAS THE BRIDGE REPAIR.

OKAY.

SO NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM YOU? NO, SIR.

OKAY.

OKAY.

WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS, UH, FROM THE PUBLIC? YES.

OKAY.

STATE YOUR NAME PLEASE AND YOUR ADDRESS.

YEAH.

UH, WILLIE BAY LEWIS 2301 LAKE SHORE DRIVE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.

UH, WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS, IT, IT'S VERY, IT CONCERNS ME AND A LOT OF CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

WHEN YOU GO TO CLOSE OFF ACCESS AND, UH, FOR ALL EVACUATION, THAT'S A WHOLE, THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER BALLGAME.

THIS ROLE NEEDS TO STAY INTACT BEFORE YOU ALL DECIDE AS A COUNCIL AND, UH, TO CLOSE THIS OR, OR THE, OR THE DNX AND LET MO HAPPY BEFORE YOU DO THIS.

YOU NEED TO CALL A REFERENDUM AND, AND ASK THE VOTERS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

MANY, MANY TIMES UNDERPASS HAS BEEN FLOODED ON MEMORIAL BOULEVARD.

I WENT DOWN 25TH STREET.

MANY, MANY TIMES I'VE COME DOWN SAVANNAH AVENUE.

THE TRAIN HAD BEEN BLOCKED.

SO I GO TO MEMORIAL BOULEVARD.

YOU CANNOT, YOU CANNOT.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S DRIVING THIS.

AND I I WAS GONNA ASK YOU ALL ABOUT THE COST, BUT IT, UH, THE STAFF GAVE ME THE COST FOUR TO $6 MILLION.

AND THAT LITTLE BIT OF FLOODING, LITTLE MINOR RANGE, THEY NEED TO EL GO AHEAD AND SPEND THE MONEY AND ELEVATE THE ROAD.

THIS ROLE MUST STAY OPEN.

AND I, AND, AND THAT'S A, YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE THIS DECISION.

CALL A REFERENDUM, PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, LET THE CITIZEN THAT'S AFFECTED MAKE THAT DECISION.

YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THIS.

CAUSE IF YOU, IF YOU DO IT, THEY CAN, THE CITIZEN CAN GET 1402ND TOOLS AND PUT THIS ORDINANCE ON HOLD.

NOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO FORCE YOUR

[00:50:01]

PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.

LET THE CITIZEN MAKE THE DECISION.

IF THEY GO TO THE POLLS, IF THEY HAVE TO GO TO DO A REFERENDUM, GET 1400 SIGNATURE, THEY GONNA BE PRETTY ANGRY.

SO IT'S UP TO YOU ALL TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.

YOU KNOW, IT IS AN ENHANCEMENT FOR MOTIVA.

YES, THAT'S FINE.

AND DANNY, BUT IT'S, IT IS A, IT'S A UNSAFE THING TO DO FOR ITS SAFETY AND ACCESS TO THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.

THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU SIR.

OKAY, PREP NEXT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

WELL, I'M GONNA GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME.

MY NAME IS REGINALD TRAIN.

I LIVE AT 35 14 EAST 12 STREET.

THE CITY OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY BROUGHT ARTHUR, TEXAS.

I HAVE TO ECHO WHAT ALL MR. LEWIS WAS SAYING BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT HE WAS CLOSING THE STREET, TO BE HONEST, THAT'S MY SHORTCUT.

THAT'S HOW I GO TO CHURCH.

I DON'T DEAL WITH ALL THEM LIKES.

SO REALLY YOU'RE TAKING THAT AWAY FROM ME TOO.

BUT I WORRY ABOUT THE CITIZENS ALWAYS HAD A COMPASSION FOR THE CITIZENS.

PEOPLE LIVE THERE.

I UNDERSTAND MOTIVA WANTS TO TAKE THAT STREET AND DO WHATEVER IT WAS, BUT I STOPPED AND ASKED MYSELF.

I WONDER HOW IT GOT LIKE THAT, WHO, WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR, TO LET THE NEGLECT LIKE THAT.

THEY GOT PEOPLE LIVING THERE AND I HEARD THAT THEY SAY, WELL, THEY COULD TAKE ANOTHER DETOUR.

WHY? WE WANT TO CRIPPLE OUR PEOPLE.

WE LIVE HERE.

THESE PEOPLE VISITING MOTIVA KNOW THAT THEY VEHICLES WERE THE PEOPLE COMING AND GOING.

THIS THE ONE TOUR UP THE STREETS.

THEY SHOULD BE FIXING STREETS ANYWAY.

YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HAVE TO, UH, UH, CAUSE CON CONVENIENCE WITH OUR CITIZENS.

WHEN THEY MOVING IN.

WE WAS ALREADY HERE.

SEE, WE LIVE HERE, THEY VISITING.

SO THEY GONNA COME AND TELL US FOR A FEW DOLLARS THAT, OH, THEY GONNA COME AND DO.

I LOOK AT THIS PROPERTY THAT THEY PUT OVER HERE DOWNTOWN.

THREE YEARS AIN'T DID NOTHING OF THAT.

HOW YOU GOING TO MOVE FROM A TO B AND YOU AIN'T DID NOTHING WITH ALL TO A I I, MAYBE IT'S JUST ME, I'M JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT.

BUT I KNOW THAT WE NEED, JUST LIKE MR. LEWIS SAID, WE NEED TO TAKE CONSIDERATION OF OUR CITIZENS.

THEY VOTED YOU ALL IN.

IT AIN'T ABOUT THE MONEY.

SOMETIMES IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

SO LET'S NOT FORGET OUR MOTTO, PRO ARTHUR, THAT WE STAND DIVIDED, WE FOUGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? APPROACH? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

HI, I'M STUART SALTER, 77 36 GOLF HILL DRIVE, PORT ARTHUR.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE, UH, GREATER PORT ARTHUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

UH, SPECIFICALLY OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PAT AVERY.

SHE COULDN'T BE HERE THIS EVENING, BUT SHE DID ASK THAT I DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING LETTER, MR. BAYER AND PORT ARTHUR CITY COUNCIL.

I REGRET THAT I COULD NOT BE WITH YOU IN PERSON AT THE COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AND I WANTED TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS AND RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU TO CONSIDER AS YOU PREPARE REGARDING THE RESOLUTION TO ABANDON OF THE SECTION OF PUBLIC ROAD 25TH STREET IN TERMINAL ROAD TO BE ACQUIRED BY MOTIVA.

I AM WRITING TO YOU ALL IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST BEFORE YOU.

THIS IS CLEAR.

IT WILL MAKE BOTH THE PUBLIC AND MOTIVA A SAFER PLACE WHILE ELIMINATING A SIGNIFICANT REPAIR LIABILITY FOR THE CITY.

IT MAY BE INCONVENIENT FOR SOME, BUT IT WOULD, I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS AS A GREATER GOOD FOR THE OVERALL COMMUNITY.

HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT THERE ARE KEY MOMENTS IN HISTORY OF NATIONS, STATE, CITIES, AND NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE LEADERS WILL MAKE THE FEW KEY DECISIONS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF THOSE THEY SERVE.

I BELIEVE THOSE TIMES ARE STARTING NOW.

THE DECISIONS YOU ARE MAKING WILL SET THE PATH FOR FORWARD VIABILITY AND DIMINISHED, OR ARE DIMINISHMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AS THE LEADER OF YOUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, I HUMBLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK MORE PROGRESSIVE AND THAN EVER AND ON THE DECISION BEFORE YOU AND FOR THE KEY ONES THAT I'M SURE WILL FOLLOW IN THE FAST YEARS AHEAD OF US.

WELL LEADERS HAVE A DUTY TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND PARTNER WITH THE BUSINESSES THAT UNDERPIN OUR ECONOMY.

FOR LONG TERM WELFARE OF THIS COMMUNITY, OUR LARGEST TAX BASE IS FACING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES THAT WILL COME WITH THE ENERGY TRANSITION AMONG OTHER THREATS TO THE ECONOMY THAT SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.

THERE'S ELECTRONIC, OUR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS POPPING UP IN THE REGION NOW, AND IT'S COMING AND IT'S COMING BIG.

THIS WILL AFFECT THE CITY'S POWER SUPPLY AS WELL AS ITS MAJOR EMPLOYERS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR DOWNTOWN BEING FILLED WITH BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE.

BUT OUR QUESTION IS, DO, ARE THEY GOING TO BE WILLING TO DRIVE THE EXTRA 15 MINUTES?

[00:55:01]

SHE'S SPEAKING OF THE CHAMBER.

OF COURSE, THIS DECISION YOU ARE CONSIDERING TODAY IMPROVES BOTH PUBLIC SAFETY WHILE ALSO IMPROVING SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR THE MOTIVA FACILITY.

IT FURTHER WILL PASS A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL LIABILITY FROM THE CITY OVER TO MOTIVA AS THE ROAD UNDER CONSIDERATION IS IN QUITE BAD SHAPE.

AS, AS WE JUST HEARD.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN EVER.

WE MUST BE MORE COLLABORATIVE THAN EVER.

AND WE WILL FIND OURSELVES NEEDING A PARTNER WITH OTHER BUSINESSES, AGENCIES, CITIES AND DEPARTMENTS TO CAPTURE SCALE IN EFFICIENCY AS WE GO FORWARD IN EVERYTHING WE DO.

LET'S START NOW AND NOT BE ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARRIVES LATE AT THE PARTY WITH YOUR SUPPORT.

WE CAN PROVIDE FOR MORE THAN PRESERVATION, BUT RATHER CREATE THE CITY THAT WE'VE ALL DREAMED A REVITALIZING AND GROWING.

AND THAT'S SIGN, UH, KIND REGARDS, PAT AVERY, PAT, UH, PRESIDENT, CEO OF THE GREATER PARKER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

UH, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I JUST WANNA SAY I GREW UP ON 29TH STREET RIGHT THERE AT MEMORIAL WHERE THE DRAINAGE DITCH IS.

END OF OUR STREET WAS THE RESERVOIRS.

MY MOMMA TOLD ME THERE WAS A BUNCH OF KIDS DROWN DOWN THERE.

SO DON'T GO DOWN THERE.

SO Y'ALL KNOW WHERE, WHERE I SPENT MY TIME GROWING UP, DOWN AT THE RESERVOIR.

UH, I DIDN'T DROWN.

THAT'S A, THAT'S A SHAME ACCORDING TO SOME PEOPLE, BUT I DIDN'T AND, AND THE POINT I'M MAKING IS I HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED AT THAT AS AN ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE.

I'M IN THE INSURANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT BUSINESS.

WE LOOK AT HAZARDS AND EXPOSURES TO LOSS THAT SITUATION THERE WITH THOSE OPEN WATER, MURKY WATER AVAILABLE TO KIDS, AVAILABLE TO ANYTHING WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE IT IS A SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE FOR THE CITY OR WHOEVER OWNS IT.