Nov 08, 2022 City Council

OKAY.

EXCUSE

[00:00:01]

GOOD MORNING.

YEAH, WE'RE READY.

AND I WAS JUST INFORMED BY OUR ASSISTANT CITY SECRETARY.

THERE'S A TECHNOLOGICAL, UH, BREACH RIGHT NOW, SO WE ARE BEING RECORDED, BUT IT'S NOT VIDEO.

OKAY.

AND IT'LL COME ON PROBABLY IN A FEW MOMENTS.

WE'RE GATHERED HERE THIS MORNING FOR OUR REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS DAY, NOVEMBER 8TH, 2022.

UH, AT, WE ARE AT 9:44 AM WE'RE READY TO BEGIN THE MEETING AND HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF CITY HALL.

YOU MAY ATTEND THE MEETING BY THE MEDIUM OF, UH, VIDEO CONFERENCING.

OUR TELECONFERENCING, UH, BY ENTERING MEETING ID 8 24 5 7 3 6 3 2 90.

AND THE PASS CODE OF 2 5 3 7 4 1.

AND YOU MUST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 52 47, OR 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.

AND WE ARE ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.

AND IF ANYONE HAS, UH, A DESIRE FOR US TO PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU MUST CALL IT CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT, UH, 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.

AND THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR YOU.

[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]

PLEASE, FATHER GOD, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE THANK YOU THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AGAIN.

WE PRAY, OH GOD, THAT THIS MEETING WILL BE TO YOUR GLORY.

AND TO YOUR HONOR, WE PRAY THAT EVERYTHING THAT IS SAID AND DONE IS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF PORT ARTHUR.

WE PRAY, OH GOD, FOR TODAY, THE SELECTION DAY.

WE PRAY THAT EVERYTHING THAT IS DONE WILL BE AGAIN TO YOUR GLORY AND HONOR IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY.

AMEN.

AMEN.

JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE.

I PLEDGE THENCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH WE STAND ONE NATION UNDER GOD AND VISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE HALL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTELLIGENCE IN OUR OPENING CITY SECRETARY.

WOULD YOU PLEASE ESTABLISH THE QUO FOR US? MAYOR BART, PRESENT MAYOR PRO, TIM HOLMES.

COUNCIL MEMBER JONES.

COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MOSES HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK HERE.

YOU HAVE A CORU MAYOR.

THANK YOU SO KINDLY.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH PROCLAMATIONS.

I DON'T HAVE ANY UP HERE, CITY SECRETARY.

THERE AREN'T ANY.

OKAY.

UH, AND NOW

[III.A.1. Brittani Collins And Kirkni Richardson On Behalf Of Legacy CDC Regarding A New Program For Homeowners ]

UH, FIRST WE HAVE, UH, THIS IS BRITTANY, UH, OR BRITTANY COLLINS AND KIRK KUNEY, I'M SORRY, EXCUSE ME FOR SAYING YOUR NAME.

KUNEY RICHARDSON ON BEHALF OF A LEGACY, UH, CDC, UH, REGARDING A NEW PROGRAM FOR HOMEOWNERS.

ARE YOU ALL PRESENT? GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

I'M KIRK RICHARDSON AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF LEGACY CDC.

WE ARE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION LOCATED HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.

AT LEGACY, WE OFFER PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO JEFFERSON COUNTY.

A FEW TO NAME ARE THE HOMEOWNER'S PROGRAM, RENTAL AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND THE HOMEOWNER'S ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH I WILL BE SPEAKING ON TODAY.

TEXAS HOMEOWNERS FINANCIALLY IMPACTED BY THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC AFTER JANUARY 21ST, 2020.

NOW HAVE ACCESS TO LOCAL IN-PERSON SUPPORT FROM THE TEXAS HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION FUND.

TDH CA IS ABLE TO PROVIDE HOMEOWNERS ONE ON ONE PERSONALIZED HELP FROM TRAINED STAFF WHO LIVE IN OR NEAR THE COMMUNITIES.

THE PROGRAM HAS NEARLY 500 MILLION AVAILABLE STATEWIDE TO HELP ELIGIBLE TEXANS WHO ARE BEHIND ON MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, PROPERTY TAXES, PROPERTY INSURANCE, HOMEOWNERS SLASH CONDO ASSOCIATION FEES AND OR UTILITY BILLS.

THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS RECENTLY APPROVED 18.5 MILLION IN CONTRACTS FOR 26 SUBRECIPIENTS ACROSS THE STATE, 13 OF WHICH ARE ALREADY ACTIVATED TO SERVE AS LOCAL RESOURCES FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSION, HOUSING COUNSELING, AND LEGAL COUNSELINGS.

APPLICATION

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EACH HOUSEHOLD MEMBER CAN RECEIVE UP TO $65,000 IN TOTAL ASSISTANCE FROM TX H A F FOR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, PROPERTY TAXES, PROPERTY INSURANCE, HOMEOWNER SLASH CONDO ASSOCIATION FEES AND OR UTILITY BILLS.

AMONG THEIR REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY, HOMEOWNERS MUST HAVE EXPERIENCED FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AFTER JANUARY 21ST, 2020 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND HAVE HOUSEHOLD INCOME AT OR BELOW A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE AREA, MEDIUM INCOME OR UNITED STATES MEDIUM INCOME, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

WITHIN THE PROGRAM, WE HAVE UTILITIES, PAYMENTS PROGRAM ELIGIBLE.

HOMEOWNERS CAN GET HELP PAYING PAST DUE BILLS, PLUS UP TO THREE MONTHS OF FUTURE PAYMENTS FOR ELECTRICITY, NATURAL GAS, PROPANE WATER, AND WATERWAY SERVICES.

IF APPROVED PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE DIRECTLY TO THE UTILITY VENDORS IN THE FORM OF ONE LUMP SUM.

TO QUALIFY FOR UTILITY PAYMENTS, YOU MUST MEET ALL OF THE ORIGINAL TX H A F PROGRAM CRITERIA.

AND NUMBER ONE, YOU MUST HAVE A PAST DUE UTILITY BILL DATED WITHIN THE LAST 45 DAYS.

TWO, YOU MUST OWN THE RESIDENCE AT THE ADDRESS LISTED ON THE PAST DUE UTILITY BILL.

THREE, THE TOTAL OF YOUR PAST DUE UTILITIES AND THREE MONTHS OF FUTURE PAYMENTS IS LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 10,004.

YOU HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FOR UTILITY TYPE YOU ARE NOW REQUESTING ASSISTANCE FOR.

WE ALSO HAVE THE FUTURE MORTGAGE PAYMENTS PROGRAM.

IN ADDITION TO THE, IN ADDITION TO ASSISTANCE FOR PASS DUE HOME LOANS, ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS CANNOT ALSO GET UP TO THREE MONTHS OF FUTURE PAYMENT PROGRAMS. TO QUALIFY FOR MOR FOR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, YOU MUST MEET ALL OF THEIR ORIGINAL TX H A F MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CRITERIA, AND EITHER NUMBER ONE, HAVE A MONTHLY DEBT TO INCOME RATIO OF 0% OR 55% OR TWO, HAVE A RATIO OF MONTHLY MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, EXCEEDS 31%, BUT IS, BUT IS AT OR BELOW 55%.

AND THE HOMEOWNER STATES THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE THAT MONTHLY MORTGAGE PAYMENTS.

FUTURE FUTURE MORTGAGE PAYMENTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE OVERALL HOUSEHOLD ASSISTANCE CAP OF 65,000.

YOU CAN FIND OUR MAIN OFFICE AT 3,800 PARK LANE DRIVE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS SEVENTY SEVEN SIX FORTY TWO.

AND ALSO BY PHONE, WHICH IS, WHICH IS (409) 832-2723.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

AND YOU AND MS. COLLINS? I'M MS. RICHARDSON.

MS. RICHARDSON, , RICHARD.

OKAY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

AND MS. RICHARDSON, UH, WE HAVE ANY REMARKS OR ANY, ANY, UH, QUESTIONS, SIR? FROM THE COUNCIL? OKAY, GO AHEAD, COUNSEL.

AND MS. UH, RICHARDS, YOU ALREADY, UH, LEGACY ALREADY OPERATES IN THE CITY LIMITS, RIGHT? YES.

YOU ALREADY HAVE A PROGRAM THAT'S ALREADY ESTABLISHED.

YOU HAVE REFERRALS, YOU HAVE, THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH YOU? YES, SIR.

OKAY.

TODAY IS JUST TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR PROGRAM AND JUST TO GIVE INFORMATION AND HOW TO CONTACT YOUR ORGANIZATION.

CORRECT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

OKAY.

AND, UH, ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN? AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THAT, UH, I SPOKE WITH MRS. OU, WHO IS THE CEO I THINK OF, OF LEGACY.

YES, SIR.

AND, UH, THAT'S SOME INFORMATION THAT I WOULD GET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY TO SPEAKING PRIVATE WITH THE COUNCIL, BUT IT'S SORT OF THE REASON THAT THEY ACTUALLY CAME AND THEY, YOU REMEMBER THAT WITH MYSELF AND CITY MANAGER OR CITY MANAGER THAT, AND THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT CITIZENS IN PORT ARTHUR NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF.

OKAY.

OR ANYONE FROM THE EDC IS ANY OTHER THING.

OKAY.

NO ONE FROM EDC BECAUSE EDC HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS.

NOW THAT THEY'RE NO LONGER INVOLVED IN IT, UH, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DISCUSS WITH COUNSEL AND SOME OTHER, SOME OTHER JUNCTURE.

BUT WE THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

OKAY.

[III.B.1. A Presentation By Staff Regarding The Woodworth Boulevard Rehabilitation Project ]

YOU ARE, UH, YES.

UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCILMAN MEMBERS.

AND, UH, I, MR. MAY.

YES, SIR.

UM, TODAY WE WANTED TO PRESENT TO YOU SOME CONCEPTS THAT WE'VE HIRED, UH, ARSENAL WILSON AND COLE TO DEVELOP, UM, FOR US ON WOODWORTH BOULEVARD.

UM, WE HAVE THE ENGINEER DEREK GINO, STANDING HERE WITH THE, UH, HIS, UH, BOARDS.

UM, AND THEN JOE WILSON IS IN THE BACK.

MARK CHO IS WITH US ALSO

[00:10:01]

UM, BUT WE JUST BRIEFLY WANTED TO KNOW, LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED TO A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT ON THIS JOB.

UH, CULLEN COLTRANE IS WORKING WITH US AND CAME UP WITH SOME IDEAS.

UM, WE MET WITH THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND PRESENTED THESE TWO OPTIONS TO THEM.

UM, AND, UH, BASICALLY, I'M GONNA STEP AWAY FROM THE MIC HERE, I HOPE.

WELL, I GUESS I CAN BRING THIS WITH ME.

UM, THE FIRST, THE FIRST DISPLAY IS THE, UH, CROSS SECTION OF THE STREET.

WE'RE LOOKING AT REHABBING THE PAVEMENT AND THEN WIDENING THE SIDEWALK ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE STREET TO ABOUT 16, 17 FEET.

THAT'LL PROVIDE ROOM FOR A SIDEWALK ON EITHER SIDE OF WOODWORTH.

AND THEN OF COURSE, UH, WE'VE GOT THE ORNAMENTAL LIGHT FIXTURES THAT WE'RE PLANNING ON USING THE SAME THAT, THAT ARE DOWN THERE NOW, AND BRING THAT FORWARD ALL THE WAY TO GULF WAY.

UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'LL BE NEW CURBING GUTTER, NEW DRAINAGE PROGRESS, NEW DRAINAGE IN THERE ALSO.

UM, SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE $3 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR NEXT YEAR ON THIS PROJECT.

AND I THINK WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS PHASE IT SO THAT WE DO THE SECTION DOWN BY ROSE HILL UP TO ABOUT SEVENTH STREET FIRST.

AND THEN AS MORE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE, WE'LL CARRY IT ON ALL THE WAY TO GULF WAY AND THEN UP TO THE RAILROAD TRACK.

UM, ULTIMATELY THIS LOOKS LIKE ABOUT A 10 TO 11 MILLION PROJECT.

WE'VE GOT 3 MILLION SET ASIDE RIGHT NOW AT ROSE HILL.

UM, IS THE TWO CONCEPTS YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE.

UM, CONCEPT B WOULD PROVIDE FOR SOME PARKING IN THE MEDIAN.

WE WOULD, WE WOULD DEVELOP A PARKING THERE.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE'S BEEN OUT THERE LATELY.

ON A NICE DAY, YOU GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT PARK DOWN THERE AND WALK THE LEVEE.

SO I THINK PARKING IS GONNA BE AN ISSUE THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS.

UM, WE LOOKED AT ADDING SOME PARKING OVER IN FRONT OF THE ROSE HILL BUILDING.

THAT'S STILL AN OPTION, BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE SHOWING EITHER PARKING HERE IN THE MEDIAN, OR IF YOU LOOK AT CONCEPT A, WE'RE ADDING SOME PARKING DOWN HERE ALONG LAKE SHORE.

BOTH, BOTH CONCEPTS.

WE ADDRESS THAT PARKING ISSUE DOWN THERE.

UM, OTHER THAN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME INDIAN HAWTHORNES WE'RE PLANNING ON PLANTING.

WE WILL BE PUTTING IN, UH, IRRIGATION SO THAT WHATEVER WE PLANT WILL HAVE WATER TO GROW.

AND, UM, WE PRESENTED THIS IDEA THAT, UH, MISS CHANDRA, AND OF COURSE, UH, WHATEVER WE BUILD, UH, WE'LL HAVE TO MAINTAIN, YOU KNOW.

UM, AND SO THIS IS KIND OF THE IDEA RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE SHOWING PALM TREES RUNNING DOWN THE MIDDLE.

AS YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE LIVE OAKS.

UH, SOME OF THOSE HAVE, THEY'RE NOT DOING REAL WELL.

BUT, UH, ORIGINALLY THERE WAS PALM TREES IN THE MEDIAN.

WE'RE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS, AND WE HADN'T MADE ANY DECISIONS YET.

WE JUST WANTED TO, UH, PRESENT TO THE COUNCIL KIND OF WHERE WE'RE GOING ON THIS AND SOLICIT ANY, UH, INPUT THAT WE, WE DEFINITELY CONSIDER AT THIS TIME AND AT THAT TIME.

AND, UH, I'LL OPEN IT TO QUESTIONS.

OKAY.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN, UH, HOLMES MAY THAT I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I WANT TO SAY THIS IS AN AWESOME PROJECT.

VERY GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEGUN, AT LEAST THE DRAWINGS ON THIS.

UH, THE AREA DOES ATTRACT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE ON BEAUTIFUL DAYS.

IF YOU PASS TODAY THIS AFTERNOON, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF CITIZENS WHO DON'T NECESSARILY LIVE IN THAT PART OF TOWN, BUT, UM, ACCESS THAT AREA.

SO IT'S A GREAT, UH, PROJECT AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE IT HAPPEN.

THANK YOU.

YES, MA'AM.

AND WE'RE ANXIOUS TO GET TO CONSTRUCTION NEXT SUMMER WITH IT.

SO WE, WE SHARE THAT ENTHUSIASM.

.

OKAY.

COUNCILMAN MOSES? YES.

I, UM, GOSH, AS I LOOK AT THIS AND JUST SEE THAT IT'S ALMOST LIKE A DREAM, A VISION TO COME TRUE.

AND BEFORE YOUR EYES TO SEE, UM, MEMORIAL OR THE MAIN THOROUGHFARE IN PORT ARTHUR TO LOOK LIKE THIS.

IT'S AMAZING.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE CONTEMPLATED AND JUST WAITED FOR.

SO I'M JUST AS, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I THINK IT LOOKS AMAZING.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT, UH, LITERALLY COME TO FRUITION.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

UM, PALM TREES TO ME, UM, JUST MY OPINION, LOOK A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN, UH,

[00:15:01]

SO, MM-HMM.

, THAT'S JUST A PERSONAL OPINION OF MINE.

YES.

I THINK OAK TREES, THE ROOTS ARE JUST HORRENDOUS.

UM, THE WAY THEY, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, LIVE OAKS TAKE UNDER, OH, I'M SORRY, UNDER, UNDER CONCRETE, THE WAY THE OAK TREES SPUN, SPAN OUT.

CORRECT.

UNDERNEATH THAT, UM, THE ROAD.

I THINK IT'S JUST KIND OF, PALM TREES MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO ME.

YES.

LIVE OAKS TAKE YEARS TO DEVELOP, SO WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING FOR SOME, YOU KNOW, IMPACTS RIGHT NOW.

YEAH.

PALM TREES WILL DO IT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

COUNCILMAN, UH, FRANK? YES.

I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THAT AND SAY, MAN, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS, AND THIS IS THE KIND OF PROJECT I BELIEVE THAT BRINGS TO BEAR THE MINDSET AND MENTALITY THAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE FOR OUR CITY.

WE WERE LOOKING AT TRYING TO DO SOME SEAWALL SUNDAYS, UH, THIS PAST YEAR, AND WE DIDN'T QUITE GET THAT TO WHERE WE WANTED TO, BUT THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WILL CAUSE THAT TO COME TO FRUITION, UH, AS WELL.

AND SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, UH, TO BEAUTIFY OUR CITY AND TO MAKE OUR CITY ATTRACTIVE TO OUR CITIZENS AND AS WELL TO OUR VISITORS WHO COME TO OUR CITY, UH, IS MUCH NEEDED.

AND SO LET'S CONTINUE TO GO, AND I'M SURE WE'LL GIVE SUPPORT AND DO ANYTHING NEEDFUL, UH, AND NECESSARY TO GET IT ACCOMPLISHED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, COUNCIL MCKINNELL.

HEY, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD PRESENTATION.

VERY GOOD PICTURES.

UH, IT GIVE US THAT OLD CFA TYPE LOOK.

OH, SEA WALL.

I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF IT.

UH, BUT THE PARKING ASPECT YOU SAID ON, UH, LAKESHORE, THAT'S GOING TO, THAT CAN BE ADDITIONAL PARKING FOR RESIDENTS IN PORT ARTHUR.

YES.

UH, WOULD THAT BE ON THE NEXT PHASE? OR HOW WOULD YOU INCORPORATE THAT BASED UPON WHEN YOU START THE PROJECT? NO, WE, WE'D ADD THE PARKING IN THE FIRST PHASE.

I MEAN, WE WANT TO DO THAT ROAD.

WE WANT TO DO ROSE HILL.

NOW.

THE ONLY OBSTACLE RIGHT NOW IS JUST THE CORE OF ENGINEERS DOING THE LEVY CONSTRUCTION, YOU KNOW, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA WAIT ON THAT.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT'S GONNA COME IN.

WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS LOOK ATTRACTIVE.

BRICK PAVERS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

UM, LIKE I SAID, I'D LIKE TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION NEXT SUMMER ON THIS.

YEAH.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, JOHN.

OKAY.

COUNCILMAN MORRIS.

UM, JUST A QUICK QUESTION.

UH, YOU MENTIONED THE MAINTENANCE OF, UH, THIS PROJECT IN THE FUTURE.

WHO, UH, WHAT DEPARTMENT, MR. CITY MANAGER OR, UM, MR. CANNON TELL WHO'S GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE IN, IN THE BUDGET? UH, BECAUSE ONCE WE, ONCE WE BUILD THIS, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN IT AND, AND, AND KEEP IT AESTHETICALLY PLEASING FOR YEARS TO COME.

AND SO THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO SET ASIDE MONIES EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROPERLY MAINTAIN.

AND SO, SO WHO OR WHICH DEPARTMENT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE, UM, COUNSELING WITH, UM, IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION, IT WILL BE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE PARKS AND RECREATIONS DEPARTMENT AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, WHATEVER THE DEPARTMENT WE SEE.

BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO PRIMARY DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, IN RESPONSE TO, UM, LET ME JUST SHARE WITH COUNSELORS.

WELL, WE, UM, WE HAVE ENGAGED THE COMPANY TO DEVELOP THESE TWO CONCEPTS, UM, FOR WOODROW BOULEVARD BASED ON COUNCIL'S REQUEST.

AND WE HAVE FOLLOWED THAT VERY CLOSELY.

THE WHOLE IDEA, AS COUNCIL INDICATED, WAS TO MAKE, UM, OF THE ENTRANCE, ONE OF THE MAIN ENTRANCES TO OUR CITY, AND MORE PARTICULARLY SO TO OUR DOWNTOWN, VERY ATTRACTIVE TO PERSONS WHO CONTINUALLY VISIT NOW, NOT ONLY TO OUR VISITORS, BUT TO OUR RESIDENTS.

UM, ENGENDER IN A SENSE OF PRIDE, YOU KNOW, UM, IN, IN, IN OUR CITY.

AND SO WE HAVE DEVELOPED THOSE TWO CONCEPTS.

THE NEXT, UM, OUR NEXT RESPONSIBILITY, CUZ COUNSELORS COMMITTED TO IT, WE HAVE PLACED 3 MILLION, AS JOHN HAS INDICATED.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL BECAUSE THERE'S A 10 MILLION FOR OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN ALLOCATED AS YET.

AND, UM, AGAIN, UM, FOR, WE WILL BE GOING OUT FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF, UM, OF FUNDING FOR ANOTHER 10 MILLION.

SO I WOULD LIKE THE MOMENTUM, AND IF IT'S COUNCIL'S PLEASURE TO CONTINUE THE FUNDING AND DO IT IN PHASES AS WE MOVE ALONG TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NO GAP IN BETWEEN FOR THE FUNDING OF THIS PROJECT, BECAUSE IT WILL PAY DIVIDENDS TO US, YOU KNOW, AS WE CONTINUE TO ATTRACT, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR CITY AND MORE PARTICULARLY SO, MAKE IT MUCH MORE ACCESSIBLE AND PLEASING TO OUR RESIDENTS, AND THEN THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE OUT THERE.

SO WITH THE, WITH THE BLESSING OF

[00:20:01]

UM, BECAUSE IN THE FUTURE, AS WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS, THERE ARE MORE OTHER PROJECTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT TO COUNCIL AS WELL THAT WILL LEND TO THE AESTHETICS, BECAUSE THIS WILL BUILD IN NICELY TO THE, WE FINDING PROJECT THAT MISS ALPO HAS, UM, THAT'S BEEN FUNDED BY HOP TAX MONEY, YOU KNOW, AS WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY SIGNAGE FOR VISITORS AND FOR RESIDENTS ALIKE.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WELL WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

I'D LIKE TO ADD, UH, THAT WAS AN IDEA THAT I PRETENDED DIDN'T IMAGINE THAT WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE GROUP FOR THE 125TH, UH, CELEBRATION FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

UH, THERE'S A FANCY NAME FOR IT.

I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, SO I DON'T WANT TO MISPRONOUNCE IT.

BUT, UH, THAT BEGINS NEXT YEAR IN 2023.

AND I'M JUST AS EXCITED AS THE OTHER COUNCIL PERSONS HERE, UH, BECAUSE I LIKE TO SEE US BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, AT GULF GOING DOWN, UH, UH, AND REALLY BEAUTIFYING THAT, THAT PARTICULAR CORRIDOR.

AND, UH, THAT THERE WAS AN IDEA THAT WE DISCUSSED EVEN WITH, UH, SOME ART, UH, BEING A SCULPTURE TYPE ART, UH, THAT, THAT YOU SEE IN LARGER CITIES, UH, IN THE MEMORIAL AREA OF HOUSTON AND SOME OTHER PLACES.

AND, UH, WE COMMISSION AN ARTIST EVEN TO CREATE SOMETHING NEAR OUR FIRE STATION THERE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, EVEN NEAR MORE, MORE, UH, A LOT, MAYBE CLOSER TO GULF WAY MM-HMM.

.

BUT THERE'S, THERE'S SOME OTHER IDEAS WE WANT TO INCORPORATE, AND WE WERE GONNA TRY TO GET SOMETHING DONE IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 125TH, UH, CELEBRATION FOR OUR CITY THAT WOULD GO THERE ALSO.

SO THAT'S AN IDEA THAT I PUT FORWARD, AND I'LL GET WITH YOU ALL ON IT, AND WE'LL SEE HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT, BECAUSE IT'S ALL ON THAT CORRIDOR DOOR THERE.

YEAH.

YEAH.

OKAY.

AND, AND ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS THAT, UM, IS OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS GONNA KIND OF HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE INFLATIONARY CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY.

AND SO IT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT THAT WE, AS WE ALLOCATE THIS MONEY, WE SPEND IT BECAUSE IT, IF AS WE WAIT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, THE PRICES ARE GONNA GO UP, PRICE GONNA GO UP.

SO I, I WANNA MAKE THAT A PRIORITY TOO, THAT AS THE MONEY'S ALLOCATED, WE GET IT SPENT QUICKLY.

YEAH.

OKAY.

AND WE WOULD GET ON THE PROGRAM QUICKLY.

UH, I I I WOULD JUST BE A PROPONENT OF THE ALLOCATIONS OF THE FUNDS IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO US TO, FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT.

OKAY.

AND ACTUALLY SECURING, UH, WHATEVER'S NECESSARY THROUGH PROCUREMENT TO BE SURE THAT WE LOCK IN THESE PRICES NOW AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE WITH THE COMPLETION DATE, MAYBE AT THE END OF 23.

I'M NOT LOOKING TO CARRY IT INTO 25.

YOU KNOW, I WANT IT TO BE, I WANT, I WOULD WANT IT TO BE DONE SO THAT WE WOULD MAKE A STATEMENT TO CONTINUE TO ENHANCE WHAT WE WANT TO DO DOWNTOWN.

AND IF WE DON'T BUY INTO IT, I CAN'T GET ANYONE ELSE TO WANT TO COME DOWNTOWN IF WE DON'T DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SO I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AESTHETIC THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO SHOW OTHERS THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT REDEVELOPING.

THE CHURCH DISTRICT WAS THE CHAIRMAN.

THAT PARTICULAR DISTRICT THAT'S RIGHT HERE.

IF WE DON'T DO IT, WE CAN'T EXPECT SOMEONE ELSE TO, TO COME AND DO IT FOR US.

SURE.

UNDERSTOOD.

YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL.

ALL RIGHT.

APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY.

[III.B.2 A Presentation By Ardurra Group Regarding Funding For The El Vista And Port Acres Area - FEMA Funding Drainage Projects]

UH, DRAINAGE PROJECTS.

GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR.

GOOD MORNING.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF THE DAIS, UM, AS WE HAD, HAVE TALKED WITH YOU MANY TIMES, UH, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ABOUT THE HAZARD MITIGATION 4 0 4 PROJECTS.

UH, WE WANTED TO COME BACK AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF WHERE THESE TWO PARTICULAR PROJECTS ARE.

IF YOU RECALL, WE, UH, WE HAD SAID THAT THEY WERE READY FOR BID AND THEY HAVE GONE OUT FOR BID.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AL VISTA AND PORT ACRES IN PARTICULAR THIS MORNING.

UH, AND WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE AS TO THE, THE RESULTS OF THOSE BIDS.

TO GIVE YOU A BACKDROP, REMEMBER THAT THE APPLICATION PROCESS, UM, TOOK PLACE WAY BACK FROM AUGUST OF 18 TO MAY OF 19.

UH, WE SUBMITTED MULTIPLE PROJECTS.

THESE WERE TWO OF THE PROJECTS THAT TETUM HAD IDENTIFIED AS, UH, SELECTED.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE PROJECT COMPLETION, UH, TIMELINE IS STILL PROJECTED FOR VESA TO BE FEBRUARY OF 2024,

[00:25:02]

UH, THE, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE, OR THE NEWEST CHALLENGE, I SHOULD SAY TO THESE PROJECTS IS, UH, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE, UH, PRE-ENGINEERING BACK IN NINE, UH, 2019, UH, FOR AVISTA WAS 3.2 MILLION.

AND PORT ACRES WAS 9.4 MILLION THROUGH MULTIPLE, UM, ANALYSIS AND, UH, EXPANSION OF SCOPE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THE PROJECT MET THE, UH, APPROPRIATE BENEFITS.

YOU'LL, YOU'LL NOTE THAT THE ESTIMATES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE WENT TO 6.2, ALMOST 6.3 FOR L VISTA AND FOR PORT ACRES, 16.4, ALMOST 16.5.

UNFORTUNATELY, UH, FROM 2020 TO NOW, UM, AS WE HAVE ALL SEEN, UH, BOTH IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES AND IN OUR PROFESSIONAL LIVES, COSTS HAVE ESCALATED DRAMATICALLY, EXPONENTIALLY ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND SO THE BIDS THAT WENT OUT, UH, CAME BACK IN.

THE LOW BID FOR AL VISTA IS 10 MILLION, AND FOR PART ACRES 29.8 MILLION.

AS YOU CAN NOTE, UH, DRAMATIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 2020 ESTIMATE OF, OF COST AND THE ACTUAL COST BASED ON, UH, DELIVERY SCHEDULES, UH, PRICE OF COMPONENTS, CONCRETE, EVERYTHING THAT THAT GOES INTO THE PROJECT, INCLUDING LABOR, UM, HAS GONE UP.

SO THAT LEAVES US WITH A $17 MILLION, UH, GAP BETWEEN THE TWO PROJECT, UH, CURRENT FUNDING AND THE BID PRICES.

UH, WE HAVE KIND OF SCRATCHED AND, AND CLAWED THROUGH SOME, UH, SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES.

AND WE'RE HERE TO, TO PRESENT TO YOU SOME POTENTIALS.

UM, YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE BLUE, UH, TO THE, THE THIRD COLUMN, UH, FROM THE, FROM THE END, RIGHT END, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S A POTENTIALLY 7.9 MILLION ACCESSIBLE THROUGH, UH, UNALLOCATED FUNDS WITH TETUM.

SO WE'VE MADE APPLICATION TO THAT, THAT IS ALREADY UNDERWAY, UH, REQUESTING, UH, THOSE FUNDS.

IF THAT COMES THROUGH, UH, THEN THE, THE L VISTA PROJECT WILL BE COVERED FOR THAT CONSTRUCTION PHASE.

THE, THE FEDERAL, UH, STATE LEVEL, UM, PORTION.

IF IT ALSO, IF THAT COMES THROUGH, WE'LL ALSO HAVE A PORTION OF THE PORT ACRES PROJECT.

UH, AND THEN WE CAN COUPLE THAT WITH THE CDB GDR MONEY FROM HARVEY THAT IS STILL AVAILABLE.

UM, AND WHICH WOULD LEAD LEAVE US WITH AN 8,890 $1,000 DEFICIT.

UH, NOW THESE NUMBERS ARE BEFORE ANY VALUE ENGINEERING IS BEING DONE.

SOC, THE ENGINEER OF RECORD, UH, IS PERFORMING SOME VALUE ENGINEERING ON BOTH OF THE PROJECTS, UH, BASED ON THE BIDS THAT HAVE COME IN.

AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT, UH, BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS COULD, COULD REALIZE SOME REDUCTIONS FROM THE VALUE ENGINEERING AS MUCH AS A MILLION DOLLARS EACH.

UH, AND IF THAT, OBVIOUSLY, IF THAT HAPPENS, THAT IS TO THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY, UH, IN TERMS OF IT, ANY ADDITIONAL OUT OF POCKET COSTS.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GAVE YOU THIS UPDATE AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

CURRENTLY, THE BID, UH, THE BIDS ARE IN, UH, OBVIOUSLY, AND, UM, THE, THE LOW BIDDER IS HOLDING HIS PRICE.

UH, RIGHT NOW FOR US AS WE GO THROUGH THIS, UM, THIS MACHINATION OF, UH, RESOLVING THE, THE FUNDING GAP.

HOWEVER, IF THAT BID, IF THAT BID PRICE EXPIRES AND WE HAVE TO GO BACK OUT FOR BID, UH, THERE IS THE RISK THAT WE'LL SEE AGAIN, ANOTHER HIKE IN THE COST.

UH, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE, WE'RE LITERALLY CHASING THE DOLLAR, UH, EVERY PROJECT THAT, UH, THAT IS GOING ON.

IT'S NOT JUST IN TEXAS OR PORT ARTHUR.

UH, OUR COMPANY HAS NATIONAL PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND EVERY SINGLE PROJECT IS, IS EXPERIENCING THESE TYPES OF, UH, ESCALATED COSTS.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GAVE YOU THIS INFORMATION.

WC IS HERE, OBVIOUSLY, UH, ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS IS HERE AS WELL, UH, TO ANSWER ANY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE.

OKAY.

YOUR HONOR, CONSTABLE FRANK? YES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

YET WE ARE ALL AWARE OF, UM, THE INFLATIONARY THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR, OUR, IN OUR SOCIETY EVEN NOW.

THE HIGH PRICE OF PLYWOOD, PLYWOOD, CONCRETE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

MY QUESTION IS THOUGH, AS YOU HAVE MADE THE END OF YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU WERE SAYING THAT, THAT ULTIMATELY WE'RE GOING TO NOW GO TO VALUE, UH, ENGINEERING.

I WAS IN THE, I

[00:30:01]

I WAS IN THE LIBERAL ARTS BUILDING.

BUT SHOULDN'T WE HAVE DONE VALUE ENGINEERING, UH, BEFORE THIS PRESENTATION TO SEE WHERE WE ARE SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THE TETUM FUNDS AND WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE ITEMS? SHOULDN'T WE HAVE DONE THE VALUE ENGINEERING AT THE FOREFRONT SO WE COULD BE MORE AWARE OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE SCOPE? POTENTIALLY, YES, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT A COUNCILMAN THAT, UH, THAT WE KNOW THE DEFICIT IS GOING TO BE THERE REGARDLESS.

UM, SO WE WOULD EXPECT VALUE ENGINEERING TO BE ABLE TO POTENTIALLY, AND I'LL, I'LL HAVE WC MAYBE MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE VALUE ENGINEERING.

UM, BUT BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT EVEN WITH VALUE ENGINEERING, WE WOULD BE SHORT IN FUNDING, WE'RE GONNA NEED EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN GET.

UM, AND IF, BECAUSE THE BENEFIT IS THIS, EVEN WITH THE VALUE ENGINEERING, IF WE HAVE ANY FUNDING FROM THE CDB GDR MONEY, THEN THAT'S OUR, OUR, THE CITY'S MONEY TO UTILIZE ELSEWHERE.

SO IT'S NOT AS THOUGH THAT MONEY'S GOING TO BE ASKED FOR AND NOT USED.

SO IF WE CAN GRAB IT, WE WANT TO GRAB IT BECAUSE IT, IT'S BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY.

THE VALUE ENGINEERING WILL SIMPLY TRY TO, TO HONE IN ON WHAT WE CAN CHANGE AND SAVE ANY COSTS SO THAT IF THERE'S MONEY, WE CAN MOVE IT TO ANOTHER PROJECT.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT, WHEN, UM, I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL, BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF THOSE C B D G R FUNDS, UH, AS WELL AS THOSE TETUM FUNDS, UH, HAS THAT BEEN, HAS THAT THE WAY THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING THEIR SHORTFALLS, AND WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD HAS, HAS THAT BEEN SOMETHING THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN DOING OR CITIES HAVE BEEN DOING TO ADDRESS THESE AND HAS THAT BEEN COMING FORWARD? SURE.

UH, UH, OBVIOUSLY I WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT HOW I, I SELL THIS RIGHT .

UM, BUT THE RESPONSE FROM TETUM AND FOR THE CDBG MONEY, THE GLO GENERAL LAND OFFICE, UH, THEY'RE SEEING THIS ACROSS THE BOARD AS WELL.

SO THEY'RE HAVING TO BE CREATIVE IN THEIR RESPONSE TO CITIES THAT HAVE PROJECTS THAT CONTINUE TO HAVE FUNDING CHALLENGES.

UH, SO WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THE REQUEST.

UH, I WOULD TELL YOU, I'M OPTIMISTIC, AND IF I, IF I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THERE WAS, THERE WAS A REAL OPPORTUNITY, I WOULD TELL YOU WE'RE GONNA ASK, BUT IT'S NOT LIKELY.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE.

I BELIEVE IT IS WITH THE TETUM MONEY, IF THAT MONEY IS STILL AVAILABLE AND UNALLOCATED, I BELIEVE IT WILL COME TO, TO PORT ARTHUR.

THE, THE CDBG MONEY, UH, IS YOUR MONEY TO BEGIN WITH, AND IT'S JUST REPROGRAMMING IT, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE AN ISSUE.

EVERYTHING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROCESS.

SO I, I'M CONFIDENT, CAUTIOUSLY CONFIDENT THAT THOSE, THOSE REQUESTS WILL BE GRANTED.

AND, AND MY LAST QUESTION, I DON'T MEAN TO DOMINATE THE CONVERSATION, BUT HOW LONG IS THE PROCESS? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS THE PROCESS WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT FROM, UH, APPLICATION TO COMPLETION OF APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATION? SO THE CDBG MONEY, I WOULD EXPECT TO, TO HEAR SOMETHING, SOMETHING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THE TETUM, SAME THING.

UH, CERTAINLY BY THE END OF NOVEMBER, WE SHOULD HAVE BOTH OF THOSE ANSWERS, UH, IN PLACE.

UH, AND THAT WILL DOVETAIL VERY NICELY INTO, UM, YOU KNOW, CLIFF GOING IN AND SECURING THE, THE NOTICE TO PROCEED AND THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS AND GIVING A, A, UH, A FIRM START DATE FOR THE CONTRACTOR.

I KNOW THAT THE CONTRACTOR, UH, THAT IS SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE THE AWARD IS, IS READY TO GO.

UM, THERE'S NO DELAY BETWEEN SAYING IT'S, IT'S AWARDED AND IT'S, UH, SIGNED OFF ON, UH, THEY WILL BE READY TO, TO MOVE.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE IN A TIME OF YEAR THAT MANY CONTRACTORS TEND TO KIND OF TAKE OFF AND COME BACK IN JANUARY.

SO, UH, THAT'S BEEN EXPRESSED THAT THE NEED TO, TO GET TO THE STARTING BLOCKS AND READY TO GO AS SOON AS THE GUN SOUNDS, IT WILL HAPPEN.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

COMAN MARKS, UH, TWO QUESTIONS.

FIRST, UH, WHEN IS THE EXPIRATION OF THE BID PROPOSAL? WE HAVE A, A COMMITMENT RIGHT NOW FOR 60 DAYS.

SO WE'RE AT ABOUT 45 DAYS LEFT, SO 40 DAYS LEFT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE END OF DECEMBER, SO MID-DECEMBER.

MID-DECEMBER.

OKAY.

AND, UH, WHAT IS THE TIMEFRAME TO COMPLETE THE, UH, VALUE ENGINEERING? UH, I WILL ASK A AWC TO, TO STEP FORWARD OR JOHN, UH, THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN UNDERWAY, AND WE HAVE SOME PRELIMINARY NUMBERS.

COUNCIL, UM, AWC WHO PREPARED THE DESIGN PLANS.

THEY'VE

[00:35:01]

UM, THAT'S A GOOD COST SAVINGS.

UH, THAT WAS BID OUT, ACTUALLY, THAT WAS AN ALTERNATE BID.

WE COULD TRIM A MILLION TO MILLION AND A HALF OUT OF THIS JOB RIGHT NOW.

UM, AND IF, IF WE HAD TO, WE COULD PULL SOME OF THE ROADWAY ITEMS OUT, WHICH WOULD NOT AFFECT THE, THE IMPROVEMENT TO THE DRAINAGE OF THE, AND THEN, BUT WE, WE'VE GOT OPTIONS THAT WE CAN, UH, GIVE TO YOU NOW, BUT I, AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, WE'RE GONNA BE ASKING TO AWARD THE CONTRACT.

RIGHT.

OKAY.

AND THE REASON I ASK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY DISTRICT, AL VISTA AND PORT ACRES, SO WE KNOW THE TIMEFRAME WITH THE ESCALATING COSTS AND, YOU KNOW, THE NEW YEAR ABOUT THEM TO START.

WE DON'T WANT TO, UH, BYPASS OR, OR RUN, BLOW THE EXPIRATION DATE ON THE BID AND THEN HAVE TO GO OUT AND REBID THIS THING AGAIN.

YES, SIR.

UH, IT'S, IT'S ALREADY IN PLACE.

YOU'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED A QUALIFIED BIDDER WHO IS THE LOW BIDDER.

UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US EXPEDITE THE PROCESS WITH THE VALUE ENGINEERING, MAKE THE PRESENTATION, AND THEN WE GO AHEAD AND AWARD THE CONTRACT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

YES, THAT WOULD BE MY PLAN.

AND, UM, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THE ANSWER FROM TETUM AFTER.

AND, YOU KNOW, WORST CASE SCENARIO, WE'D HAVE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, CANCEL THE CONTRACT.

I GUESS IF WE DON'T, IF TETUM DOESN'T COME THROUGH WITH THE EXTRA MONEY, BUT WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE TALKED TO TETUM, WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS GONNA GO THROUGH.

OKAY.

SO IF WE DON'T GET THE MONEY FROM TETUM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, UH, SHELVE THIS PROJECT.

IS THAT WHAT YOU, IS THAT WHAT I UNDERSTAND? I I, I DIDN'T, THERE'S OTHER OPTIONS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OPTIONS AS, AS THEY'RE AVAILABLE.

BUT LIKE YOU SAID, NUMBER ONE WOULD BE AWARD TO CONTRACT SO THE CONTRACTOR CAN ORDER THE MATERIAL.

RIGHT.

OKAY.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT CANCELING THE JOB IS AN OPTION RIGHT NOW.

YEAH.

I DON'T THINK MY CONSTITUENTS IN PORT ACRES AND VETA WOULD BE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

UM, SO AGAIN, MY WISH IS, IS, IS THAT WE EXPEDITE THIS PROCESS AND SEE WHERE WE CAN GO EXPLORE ALL THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE.

AND IF TETUM DOESN'T COME THROUGH, THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT ANOTHER FUNDING OPTION, RIGHT.

OR REDUCE SCOPE.

YES.

YEP.

IF WE DON'T WANT TO REDUCE SCOPE, DO WE? I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK SO, BUT OKAY.

JUST EXPEDITE THE PROCESS AND BRING IT, BRING BRING IT BACK TO US.

OKAY.

CITY MANAGE.

YEP.

I MAY ONE OF THE, UM, COUNCIL MAX, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WILL ENGAGE IN IS, UM, ENGAGE THE MAYOR TO SEE WHETHER WE TAKE THE POLITICAL ROUTE AS WELL.

UM, WHETHER WE CAN MEET WITH CHIEF KID IF THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, DEVELOP THAT DISCUSSION WITH EITHER OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND WITH CHIEF GI TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ALL POSSIBLE.

SO IF WE'VE GOT TO GO THAT ROUTE, WE WILL GO THAT ROUTE AS WELL.

OKAY.

AND MS. CANELLI, UH, AND, AND, UH, I THINK YOU SAID UHC MAYBE HAD RECOMMENDED THIS CHANGING THE MATERIAL CHANGE.

IS THAT PART OF SCOPE OR, I GUESS IT WOULD BE, BUT, UH, IF YOU USE CONCRETE VERSUS PLASTIC, UH, LONGEVITY OF ITS USE IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE SETTING, WHAT IS THE THE, THE PLASTIC IS A COMPARABLE PRODUCT.

IT'S EASIER TO HANDLE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE COST SAVINGS REALLY AREN'T THAT MUCH BETWEEN PLASTIC AND CONCRETE, BUT WE BID BOTH OUT.

AND SO WE, WE CAN REALIZE, I'M THINKING IT WAS LIKE ON THE ORDER OF THREE OR $400,000, UH, COST SAVINGS WITH THE, UH, PLASTIC DRIVEWAY PIPES.

YEP.

NOW THE BIG BOX CULVERTS ARE GONNA BE CONCRETE.

THEY HAVE TO BE, YEAH.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER, UH, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? OKAY.

WELL THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU.

[III.B.3. A Presentation By Staff Regarding The September Monthly Financial Report & Quarterly Investment (Part 1 of 2)]

WE NOW MOVE TO, UH, PRESENTATION BY STEP REGARDING THE SEPTEMBER MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT AND, UH, QUARTERLY INVESTMENTS.

GOOD MORNING COUNSEL.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

HOW'S

[00:40:01]

I DID GIVE YOU AUGUST.

I NEVER DID A PRESENTATION, BUT I DID GIVE YOU THE AUGUST REPORT, UH, AND THE SEPTEMBER REPORT, AS WELL AS THE PRESENTATION IS GONNA BE COVERING SEPTEMBER.

UM, THIS IS THE, UH, PRELIMINARY END OF THE YEAR, UH, FOR FISCAL YEAR 22.

NOW, THE FINAL NUMBERS MAY CHANGE AFTER ALL THE ACCRUALS AND ADJUSTMENTS AND ALL THE INVOICES ARE PAID CUZ THEY'RE STILL PAYING BILLS FROM FISCAL YEAR 22.

SO, UM, THE, THE NUMBERS WILL PROBABLY CHANGE A LITTLE BIT FROM THIS, UH, IN THE END.

UH, BUT WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE GENERAL FUND.

THERE WE GO.

THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES FOR THE YEAR TOTALED 83.5 MILLION, WHICH IS 5.7 MILLION ABOVE THE ESTIMATE.

THE PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS WERE ABOUT FI 15.1 MILLION 6% ABOVE THE BUDGET.

33.3 MILLION WAS RECEIVED IN INDUSTRIAL PAYMENTS.

WITH ALL PAYMENTS RECEIVED, UH, THE SALES AND USE TAX CONTINUES TO LOOK GOOD.

UM, EXCUSE ME, I'M SORRY.

IT'S OKAY WITH, UM, 2.4 MILLION, UM, 20% ABOVE THE BUDGETED LEVEL.

AND THERE IS A TWO MONTH TIME LAG, I'M SORRY, IN RECEIPTS.

UH, SEPTEMBER RECEIPTS REPRESENT JULY SALES GROSS RECEIPTS.

UH, TAXES ARE ALSO UP ABOUT 2 MILLION THAT IS PRIMARILY RELATED TO YOUR LADY.

IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A BREAK NOW OR IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE ELSE THAT COULD DO IT FOR YOU.

I, I'VE HAD VOICE SITUATIONS.

I KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENS.

LET ME JUST ONE MINUTE.

SHE, SHE HAS, SHE HAS A COUGH DROP HERE.

YEAH.

SCARED.

CAUSE YOU GET THAT TICK AS SOON AS YOU GET READY TO TRY TO TALK IT.

CUT.

YEAH, WE CAN COME BACK TO YOU.

NICE.

THEN IF, IF, IF YOU, IF YOU WANT TO, YOU WANNA COME BACK TO ME IN A MINUTE? YEAH.

YEAH.

HOW ABOUT THAT? OR IF YOU NEED TO CALL SOMEONE FROM YOUR OFFICE TO COME ON UP AND, UH, RIGHT.

PUT IT FOR YOU.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE RIGHT ALONG AND THEN WE'LL, UH, COME BACK.

UH, NEXT WE HAVE IS, UH, PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS.

UH, AND THERE AREN'T ANY, WE DON'T HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING

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

I JUST WOULD LIKE TO REPORT TODAY, UH, TO REITERATE WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN MOSES SAID IN THEIR PRAYER ABOUT THIS BEING ELECTION DATE AND ASKING ALL THE CITIZENS WHO ARE EVEN, UH, MAYBE VIEWING US VIRTUALLY AND THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT HERE, UH, TO BE SURE TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE.

HAVE YOUR PATCH ON LIKE I DO.

IT SAYS I VOTED.

AND WHAT WE LIKE FOR PORT AANS TO DO, UH, IT'S BEEN SAID BECAUSE OUR NUMBERS ARE NOT AS HIGH AS THEY ONCE WERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND FOLK WOULD SAY THAT THE POLITICIANS ON THE STATE LEVEL OR THE FEDERAL LEVEL DON'T WANT TO HEAR US BECAUSE WE DON'T VOTE.

SO LET'S MAKE THAT AN UNTRUE STATEMENT AND, UH, BE VERY VIGILANT ABOUT VOTING ON TODAY.

YOU HAVE UNTIL 7:00 PM AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, YOU MAY GO TO ANY POLLING PLACE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

IF YOU LIVE IN PORT ARTHUR, YOU PRESENT YOUR ID AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO VOTE BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY WILL ALLOW THEM TO PICK UP WHATEVER BALLOT YOU WOULD HAVE IN YOUR HOME PRECINCT.

SO PLEASE, PLEASE, BEFORE 7:00 PM TODAY, CASH YOUR BALLOT, ALL PORT AUTHORS WHO ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

IF THERE ARE NOT ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS, WE WILL MOVE TO JIM.

UH, DID I MISS UP? OKAY, SORRY.

[00:45:01]

YES MA'AM.

YES.

YOU GUYS RIGHT.

GO RIGHT HERE.

COUNCIL BEFORE, UM, AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF, UH, DISTRICT FOUR HAD A CALL FROM ONE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS CONCERNING, UH, AN ORDINANCE, UH, VIOLATION IN THEIR AREA OUT IN PORT ACRES.

SO, UH, TOOK A TOUR WITH, WITH, WITH THE RESIDENT OUT IN PORT ACRES.

AND THE CONCERN IS TRAILERS THAT ARE VIOLATING THE ORDINANCE, THE CITY ORDINANCE WITH PEOPLE LIVING IN, IN, IN TRAILERS THAT IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

SO WE CONVENED A MEETING THROUGH WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY MANAGER, THE PERSONS THAT, UH, WERE INVOLVED, AND I DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE, UH, THE DEPARTMENTS, BUT, UH, MR. JOE SANDERS, UH, FROM LEGAL, JAMES BROWN FROM, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS, UH, LARRY BATON FROM, UH, I GUESS THAT'S DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES.

AND, UH, CHIEF DUO WAS THERE REPRESENTING THE, UH, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND THERE WAS ALSO, UH, MISS MALO WAS, UH, S MALO WAS THERE, AND I'M NOT SURE, I THINK SHE'S IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

ALSO.

THE ISSUE WAS, UH, AGAIN, CONSTITUENT OUT IN THE PORTER CUZ THE AREA, UH, TOOK ME ON A TOUR.

AND THEN HE PRESENTED ME WITH THE LIST, WHICH I SHARED WITH THE PEOPLE.

IN THAT MEETING, THERE WERE 45, UH, INSTANCES OF VIOLATIONS IN THE PORT ACRES AREA OF TRAILERS THAT WERE EITHER PARKED IN THE FRONT SHORE WITH PEOPLE LIVING IN THEM, CONNECTED TO UTILITY SERVICES, WHICH IS IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE CITY ORDINANCE.

UH, DURING THAT MEETING, UH, MR. SANDERS ACTUALLY PRESENTED US THE, UH, SPREADSHEET OF VIOLATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE LEGAL PROCESS.

AND IT TOTALED, UH, I THINK IT'S 154 THAT ARE ALREADY IN PROCESS.

SORRY, IT'S 153.

SO, UH, HE PRESENTED THAT TO US AND WE STARTED TO, TO STRATEGIZE HOW WE WERE GONNA DO THIS.

AND WITH THAT, UH, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, UH, PRESENT TODAY.

UH, WHAT THEY WERE DOING, BECAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM.

THEY WERE ALREADY ADDRESSING THAT ORDINANCE.

AND, UH, THEY WERE UPDATING THE ORDINANCE.

AND WE WANTED TO MAKE THIS PUBLIC BECAUSE ONE OF THE INITIATIVES OF THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN TO ACTUALLY BRING OUR, OUR RESIDENTS, UH, INTO COMPLIANCE WITH CITY ORDINANCES CONCERN CONCERNING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SINGLE RESIDENTIAL, UH, AREAS.

SO IF MR. BATON IS HERE, OR MISS, UM, SORRY.