* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.

[00:00:01]

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING.

AND WE ARE READY TO THE SECRETARY.

RIGHT.

OKAY.

[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]

GOOD MORNING.

WE ARE GATHERED HERE ON THIS BEAUTIFUL DATE, DECEMBER 20TH, UH, THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2022 TO BEGIN OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

AND, UH, THIS MEETING MAY BE, UH, YOU OR YOU MAY ATTEND IT, UH, THROUGH THE MEDIUMS OF VIDEO CONFERENCES ARE, UH, TELEPHONIC, UH, MEDIUMS. UH, FIRST YOU MUST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9, AND ENTER MEETING ID 85 27 2 I, EXCUSE ME, 78 23 7 3 2 2, AND THE PASSCODE OF 64 0 5 3 9.

AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE MEETING THROUGH THOSE MEDIUMS. AND WE ARE ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AND WE WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS UPON YOUR REQUEST BY CALLING THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING.

AND THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE WILL DO ALL THAT IT POSSIBLY CAN TO ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH YOUR REQUEST.

WE ARE NOW READY TO BEGIN THE MEETING.

UH, COUNCILWOMAN MOSES, YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO DO THE INVOCATION BECAUSE YOU WERE SO EARLY AND .

I KNEW .

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

I GOT YOU, FATHER.

GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY YOU'RE GIVING US TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.

WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY.

WE PRAY, GOD, THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS THE CITY TO PROSPER IN EVERY BOUNTIFUL AND BENEFICIAL WAY.

FATHER, WE PRAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE HOMELESS WITHOUT A PLACE TO LAY THEIR HEAD IN THIS WEATHER.

WE PRAY, GOD, THAT YOU PROVIDE.

WE KNOW THAT YOU CAN AND YOU WILL.

GOD WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE GLORY, THE HONOR AND THE PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING.

IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

THANK YOU.

YOU PLEASE JOIN US IN UNISON WITH REPEATING THE P PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

PRAY.

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

THANK YOU ALSO KINDLY FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN OUR OPENING CITY SECRETARY.

WOULD YOU PLEASE EXCUSE ME, ESTABLISH THE QUO? YES, SIR.

MAYOR BART, PRESENT MAYOR PRO.

TIM HOLMES.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER JONES.

COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS.

COUNCIL MEMBER MOSES.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK.

HERE.

MAYOR, YOU HAVE A QUO.

AT THIS TIME WE WILL MOVE TO ROMAN NUMERAL TWO FOR PROCLAMATIONS.

UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY BEFORE ME AND I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY, UH, CITY SECRETARY ARE THERE.

OKAY, THANK

[III.A.1. Phillip Kees Cupples Regarding Water Disconnection]

YOU.

NEXT ROMAN NUMERAL THREE AND PETITIONS AND THE COMMUNICATIONS.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH SPEAKERS.

WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, MR. PHILLIP KEYS, COUPLES, UH, REGARDING WATER DISCONNECTION.

IF YOU ARE PRESENT, WOULD YOU APPROACH, PLEASE? GOOD MORNING.

WOULD YOU BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS WHEN ONCE YOU MEET, REACH THE MICROPHONE AND YOU MAY BEGIN.

YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL ON YOUR CONCERN.

GOOD MORNING.

APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND HERE TODAY.

UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, UH, I LIVE AT, MY NAME IS PHILLIP COUPLES.

I LIVE AT 61 0 6 17TH STREET, PORT ARTHUR, AND THAT'S FOSTER ESTATES OUT IN FO OUT NEAR FOSTER VILLAGE.

THERE, UH, IT WAS ON, UH, LET ME GET MY GLASSES HERE.

IT WAS MONDAY, 1211 THAT THIS HAPPENED.

I I HAVE SIX CAMERAS AROUND MY HOUSE AND THERE'S SECURITY CAMERA CAMERAS AND THERE'S ALARM ON IT.

SO WHEN SOMEBODY COMES UP IN MY YARD, THE ALARM GOES OFF AND I WENT TO SEE ON MY MONITOR WHAT THE ALARM WAS ABOUT.

AND THERE WAS A CITY TRUCK IN THE FRONT OF MY HOUSE THAT DROVE AWAY.

SO I WENT OUT INTO MY FRONT PORCH

[00:05:02]

THINKING THAT IT WAS FOR THE LADY NEXT DOOR, CUZ SHE'S ALWAYS HAVING HER WATER TURNED OFF.

AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY GET OUT OF THE CAR AND THEY WALK STRAIGHT BACK TO HER BACKYARD, TURN OFF HER WATER, AND GO BACK TO THEIR TRUCK AND LEAVE.

WELL, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT, BUT THERE WAS A PIECE OF PAPER ON THE GROUND BY MY FEET.

I REACHED DOWN TO PICK IT UP AND IT SAID THAT WE'LL BE BACK TO TURN OFF YOUR WATER.

AND SO I ASKED MY WIFE, ARE WE IN DELINQUENTS, UH, WITH A WATER? SHE SAID, NO, I'VE LIVED AT THE PLACE FOR, SINCE 1977.

I'VE BEEN PAYING MY BILLS REGULARLY MONTH AFTER MONTH SINCE 1977.

I'VE NEVER HAD A CUTOFF NOTICE.

WELL, NOW I'VE GOT A CUTOFF NOVI NOTICE, AND I HAD PAID MY BILL.

AND SO I REALIZED THAT THEY HAD THE WRONG ADDRESS.

AND THE GUY CAME BACK ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER AND HE WAS SAYING, LOOK, I LEFT THIS NOTE AT THE WRONG PLACE.

AND THE THE NOTE SAID, YOU HAVE A LOCK ON YOUR GATE, WE'RE GONNA COME BACK AND SHUT YOUR WATER OFF.

HAD I NOT HAD A LOCK ON MY GATE, MY WATER WOULD'VE BEEN SHUT OFF.

AND HE WOULD'VE GOT BACK IN HIS TRUCK, TRUCK AND LEFT.

NOW, IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN IN THE, IN THE SHOWER, TAKEN A BATH, SHOWERING HER HAIR AND THAT STUFF, THE WATER WOULD'VE GONE OFF AND SHE'D HAD COME OUT MATTERING THE WET HEN.

AND SO, UH, THE YOUNG MAN CAME UP TO THE DOOR AND HE SAID, CAN I HAVE THE PAPER BACK? I SAID, YEAH.

I SAID, WHY DID YOU DO THIS? HE, BECAUSE IT'S CITY POLICY.

I SAID, WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S CITY POL CITY POLICY? YOU JUST SHUT THE WATER OFF AND YOU DON'T TELL THE PEOPLE INSIDE THAT YOU'RE GONNA SHUT IT OFF.

EVEN IF THEY HAD A NOTICE THAT THE DISCONNECT WAS COMING, HE GOES, THAT'S CITY POLICY.

WELL, BACK IN, UH, I THINK IT WAS IN THE NINETIES, MID NINETIES, THE CITY POLICY WAS NOT DOING ANY MAINTENANCE ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. WELL, I'M AN ELECTRICIAN FOR 56 YEARS AND I'M LICENSED TODAY.

AND WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY NEVER MAINTAINED THE, THE ELECTRICAL DISCONNECTS.

AND THEY WERE WIDE OPEN AND STUFF.

AND THERE WAS A BOY, AND HIS NAME WAS ANTHONY PARAMO.

HE WAS BLOWN OFF A FENCE BECAUSE HE, HE LEANED AGAINST A TWO 40 VOLT LIGHT POLE THAT WASN'T GROUNDED.

THE CITY WASN'T INSPECTING THE BALLPARKS, AND THERE WAS DISCONNECTS ALL OVER THE CITY.

I TOOK OVER A HUNDRED PHOTOGRAPHS OF DISCONNECTS AND ILLEGAL INSTALLATION OF ELECTRICAL WIRING.

I CAME HERE AND PRESENTED IT TO YOU ALL.

I MADE ALL THE INFORMATION.

PUBLIC RECORD.

WELL, THAT WAS BECAUSE OF POLICY.

WELL, NOW WE HAVE A POLICY THAT YOU'RE GONNA SHUT OFF WATER ON AN INNOCENT PERSON AND IT MIGHT NOT GET IT HOOKED UP FOR THREE DAYS BECAUSE IT'S GOTTA GO THROUGH THE CHAIN OF CITY MANAGEMENT.

IT'S GOTTA GO THROUGH ONE DESK, ANOTHER DESK, AND THEN FINALLY TO THE MAN THAT'S GONNA DISCONNECT IT.

WELL, HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT HE'S GONNA GET IT TO THE RIGHT PLACE? THERE'S NO GPS ON A TRUCK.

THAT'S THE SOLUTION.

THESE TRUCKS NEED TO BE GPSD, AT LEAST THE ONES THAT ARE SHUTTING OFF THE WATER.

AND SO I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT YOU ALL WOULD FEEL IF THIS HAD HAPPENED TO YOU.

AND I REALLY CAN'T IMAGINE HOW YOU WOULD'VE FELT IF IT WAS YOUR MOTHER OR YOUR FATHER OR SOMEBODY DISABLED.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

IT'S BECAUSE OF POLICY.

POLICIES LIKE THIS WILL MAKE US END UP LIKE PORTLAND, OREGON OR SAN FRANCISCO OR HOUSTON.

I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO OUR PORT ARTHUR.

I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 77.

I'M A MAN OF, I'M A MAN OF INTEGRITY.

I PAY MY BILLS AND I DON'T WANT SOME INNOCENT PERSON MALIGNED LIKE THIS.

AND I'M LEAVING IT UP TO YOU TO COME ABOUT A, A SOLUTION.

I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER FOR HIS RESPONSE.

AND, UH, CALVIN MATTHEWS, HE MADE AN EFFORT TO GET IN CONTACT WITH ME AND APOLOGIZE.

THE CITY MANAGER MOVED MOUNTAINS TO GET AHOLD OF ME.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORT OF THOSE TWO GENTLEMEN.

NOW I'M RELYING ON THE COUNCIL TO COME UP WITH A BETTER POLICY, PUT A GPS ON THE, ON THE TRUCKS THAT ARE DISCONNECTED.

HE, THE GUY THAT CAME TO MY HOUSE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIVE BLOCKS AWAY.

IT WAS THE SAME HOUSE NUMBER, BUT IT WAS FIVE BLOCKS AWAY.

THAT'S UN UNACCEPTABLE.

AND I DON'T WANT ELDERLY PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT ARE INNOCENT GETTING THEIR WATER SHUT OFF BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE THREE OR FOUR DAYS BEFORE THEY GET IT BACK ON.

[00:10:02]

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES, SIR.

COULD YOU, UH, HOLD A A SECOND, MR. MR. COUPLES, UH, I, THE COUNCIL WANT TO ADDRESS YOU.

OKAY.

UH, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW, UH, THANK YOU MR. COUPLES FOR YOUR, YOUR EXPLANATION OF IT.

BUT IT SEEMS TO, DID THEY EVER TURN YOUR WATER OFF AT THAT DAY? NO.

NO.

SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT WAS, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS A MISTAKE THAT THE YOUNG MAN HAD A YEAH, IT WAS A MISTAKE.

IT WAS JUST AN HONEST MISTAKE.

SO DON'T, YEAH, IT WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE.

BUT HOW MANY HONEST AND HONEST MISTAKES HAVE THERE BEEN THAT HAVEN'T BEEN, UH, TRACKED? YOU, YOU TRACK THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T PAY THEIR BILL, BUT WHEN YOU SHUT OFF THE WATER, YOU DON'T GET THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO GET A SHUT OFF.

WELL, YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU WERE, YOU WERE AN ELECTRICIAN FOR 50 SOMETHING YEARS.

YOU'VE MADE MISTAKES IN YOUR JOB JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

AND IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT IT WASN'T INTENTIONAL THAT THE YOUNG MAN CAME TO YOUR HOUSE AND PUT THE WATER.

YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T KNOW MY RECORD AS AN ELECTRICIAN.

WELL, I MEAN, YOU, YOU'RE NOT A YOU HADN'T, YOU, YOU CAN'T TELL ME YOU STAND UP THERE REF, YOU KNOW, BEFORE US AND SAY YOU'VE NEVER MADE A MISTAKE IN ANYTHING YOU'VE DONE.

I'M SAYING THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME, THAT THE YOUNG MAN WENT TO YOUR HOUSE IN ERA AND PUT A, A POST-IT STAMP ON THERE.

A A, SOME TYPE OF DISCONNECTION.

THIS WAS A PIECE OF PAPER.

YES.

RIGHT.

THAT FELL TO THE FLOOR.

YOU SAID YOU I'M NOT DENYING THAT.

SO LET'S DO THIS.

I MEAN, I, I, I AGREE WITH YOU AND, AND I WANT TO GET FROM THE, OUR LEGAL ADVICE THAT, UH, WE DO HAVE A POLICY IMPLANT AND A LOT OF, MOST OF OUR EQUIPMENT HAVE TYPE OF TRACKING DEVICES ON THEM.

BUT EVEN HAVING THAT, YOU STILL CAN GO TO THE WRONG ADDRESS.

AND THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

I I I'M NOT SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A, A THING THAT HE CHOOSE TO DO.

I'M SAYING IT'S A SIMPLE MISTAKE.

UH, CITY ATTORNEY.

DO WE HAVE POLICIES THAT'S ALREADY ESTABLISHED WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WATER BILL? AND MAYBE WE CAN HAVE THE DIRECTOR TO COME AFTER YOU AND GIVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING ABOUT OUR POLICIES AND WHAT WE DO? WELL, YOU SHOULDN'T SHUT THE WATER OFF WITHOUT KNOCKING ON THE DOOR AND TELLING THE PEOPLE THE WATER'S GOING OFF.

WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL DO THIS.

WE'LL AFTER YOU GET, ARE YOU THROUGH WITH YOUR PRESENTATION? WE'LL HAVE THE DIRECTOR TO COME UP AND HE CAN GIVE A CLEAR DECIS HONEST EXPLANATION.

WELL, THE, THE MAN HIMSELF TOLD ME THAT IT WAS CITY POLICY JUST TO TURN THE WATER OFF AND LEAVE.

THAT'S WRONG.

YOU'RE DOING A LEGITIMATE WELL LET YOU'RE FINISH.

WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T DEBATE, WHICH ALL WE SAYING FINISH INFORMATION.

I HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

THE THING THAT I HAVE TO SAY.

YOU'RE DOING A LEGITIMATE REASON.

MM-HMM.

AND AN ILLEGITIMATE WAY.

OKAY.

JUST, JUST A SECOND.

CITY MANAGER, CAN YOU HELP? CAN YOU GET THIS UP? YES.

MAYOR, AFTER I'VE SPOKEN TO THE GENTLEMAN, HEY RON, PUT YOUR MIC UP.

WE CAN'T HEAR YOU MAYOR, AFTER I'VE SPOKEN TO THE GENTLEMAN, MY DECISION IS TO LOOK INTO THE POLICY AND MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES TO REFINE IT, TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

THAT'D BE FINE WITH ME.

THAT'S ALL.

WE'RE GOING.

YES, SIR.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT, I DON'T WANT OUR CITY TO GO THROUGH, UH, LITIGATION FOR BODILY INJURY OR WRONGFUL DEATH.

AND WE HAD THAT BACK IN THE NINETIES.

YES.

I DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN ANYMORE CUZ THAT AFFECTS MY TAXES.

YES.

YEAH.

WE ARE COMMITTED, I AM COMMITTED TO ENSURE THAT WE PROVIDE EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS.

YEAH.

WELL, DON'T SHUT THE WATER OFF WITHOUT KNOCKING ON THE DOOR.

AND THAT'S WHY WE LOOK AT THE POLICY.

I AM COMMITTED TO LOOK AT THE POLICY AND REFINE IT TO PROVIDE GOD BLESS YOU.

GOD BLESS.

GOD BLESS YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE.

I APPRECIATE YOUR RE RESPONSE.

THANK YOU.

IS THAT IT FOR ME? JUST, JUST ONE SECOND.

SO WE HAVE IT NOW, MR. COUPLES, WHAT I I'D LIKE TO DO AT THIS JUNCTION BEFORE YOU LEAVE IS APOLOGIZE FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT OCCURRED.

OKAY.

AND WE WILL DO, IN MY BEING MAYOR, ALL WITHIN OUR POWER TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE SERVICING THE CITIZENS WHO ARE OUR CUSTOMERS HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

AND WHATEVER CHANGES MAY NEED TO BE MADE, WE WILL BEGIN TO IMPLEMENT THOSE.

AND IF THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO INFORM A PERSON OR A CUSTOMER THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE OR HAVE A, A DISCONTINUANCE OF THEIR SERVICE BECAUSE OF THE NONPAYMENT OF THE BILLS LIKE ENERGY AND OUR OTHER PROVIDERS, WE WOULD COME UP WITH THE MOST CONVENIENT WAY TO INFORM PEOPLE.

BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR COMING AND LETTING US KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

ONE MORE THING.

YES, SIR.

I WAS TOLD THAT I COULDN'T PUT A LOCK ON MY GATE.

OKAY.

WELL, I I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

AND I KNOW ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEY, LET ME, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WAS I WAS TOLD, HE SAID I COULDN'T PUT A LOCK ON MY GATE BECAUSE THE WATER ME WAS IN THE BACKYARD.

I BELIEVE IN FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND THE CASTLE LAW.

THE CASTLE LAW SAYS THAT I CAN PROTECT MY HOUSE.

SO IF SOMEBODY'S IN MY BACKYARD, I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS, I CAN CAN FIND OUT WHO IT IS.

RIGHT.

SO I'M NOT GONNA UNLOCK MY GATE AND MAKE MY HOUSE VULNERABLE TO ATTACK.

RIGHT.

AND, AND, AND I'M, I'M SORRY,

[00:15:01]

I I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD BE TOLD THAT YOU COULD NOT PUT A LOCK ON YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW ALL OF THE BEHAVIORS THAT ALLEGEDLY OCCURRED WITH THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT AND SEE IF WE CAN BETTER SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS.

YEAH.

WELL I, YOU KNOW, I, I SEE THE ANSWER.

THE ANSWER IS KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND TELL 'EM YOU'RE WELL.

IT'S, WE ARE GOING TO, WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW EVERYTHING AND SEE IF WE CAN BETTER SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS.

THANK YOU.

BUT I APPRECIATE YOU ENLIGHTENING US ON THIS TODAY.

GOD BLESS YOU.

YOU THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.

OKAY, LET'S MOVE TO THE NEXT, I HAVE MY LIGHT ON.

OH, BUT CAN WE, CAN WE NOT SPEAK MORE ANYMORE ABOUT THIS? NO, I JUST NEED TO NOT ON, FOR THE RECORD.

FOR THE RECORD.

GO RIGHT AHEAD.

FOR THE RECORD, I'D LIKE, UM, FOR, UM, SOMEONE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT SEND US A COPY OF THE POLICY THAT, UM, YEAH, YOU JUST SEND IT.

WE, WE, WE'RE NOT GONNA DISCUSS IT.

I DON'T WANT, I DON'T WANNA TALK.

YOU JUST SEND IT.

I JUST TO EMAIL IT TO, IF YOU'LL SEND ME A COPY OF THE POLICY AND ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PROVIDE THEM WITH WHAT THE POLICY, UH, CURRENTLY STATE SO THAT WE CAN REVIEW IT AND, UM, MAKE OUR OWN ASSESSMENT TO IT AND GET BACK WITH, UH, THE MANAGER SO THAT HE'LL HAVE, UH, OUR REVIEW OF THE POLICY.

OKAY.

THAT'S IN PLACE.

THANK, THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

OKAY.

[III.A.2. Rabindra Nauth Of Dwarka Construction Regarding Investment Properties And Demolition Of Property]

NOW LET'S MOVE TO OUR SECOND PRESENTATION.

I THINK IT IS, IS, AND I DON'T WANNA MESS UP YOUR NAME.

RARA NA YES.

OF, UH, DER CONSTRUCTION.

YES.

OKAY.

I HOPE I SAID IT CORRECTLY.

COURSE, REGARDING INVESTMENT PROPERTIES AND DEMOLITION OF PROPERTY.

YES.

THANK YOU.

WOULD YOU BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS? BROTHERS ARE NOT OWNER OR OPERATOR.

DEKA CONSTRUCTION.

AND MERRY CHRISTMAS AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR FOR EVERYBODY.

ALL RIGHT.

I THINK YOU HAVE SOME PICTURES OF A PROPERTY.

UM, 24 24 EL PASO, OH, EXCUSE ME, YOUR ADDRESS AS WELL, PLEASE.

1815 PROCTOR PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.

UH, THERE'S A WRONG PROPERTY BUT, HUH.

24.

24 EL PASO.

THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE PROPERTIES I'VE ALREADY REDID.

SO, UH, STARTING A, I BOUGHT THIS, PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY IN, UH, LAST YEAR IN NOVEMBER.

AND I DID A COMPLETE RESTORATION IN A PROCESS, A COMPLETE RESTORATION OF THIS PROPERTY.

AND IT WAS A LONG PROCESS DOING THAT, UH, SPIKE, HI HIKING, UH, MATERIAL AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I HAD MATERIAL THERE AND IT STOLE ALL THE MATERIAL OF THE PROPERTY.

SO I KIND OF WAITED UNTIL THE MATERIAL PRICES WENT DOWN.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, I GOT A DEMOLITION NOTICE FROM THE DEMOLITION DEPARTMENT AND I WAS DOCUMENTING EVERYTHING.

I HAVE LIKE 250 PICTURES AND THE SMALL, UH, TENT PICTURES CAN'T REALLY SHOW THE MAGNITUDE OF WORK I DID TO THE PROPERTY.

THAT'S THE WRONG PROPERTY.

YES.

ANYWAY, AND, UM, I SPOKE TO IRAN BURTON ABOUT THE SITUATION EXTENSION, AND HE GAVE ME TWO MONTHS EXTENSION.

AND, UH, SHARON FLANAGAN SENT ME AN, AN EMAIL SAYING, I HAVE TWO MONTHS AND TWO MONTHS ONLY DE IT DOESN'T DEPEND ON WHETHER OR ANYTHING, BUT JUST KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ME IF SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED.

WE'LL, I'LL LET YOU, SHE'LL EXTEND THE TIME AND ANYWAYS, WELL, THIS IS THE PROPERTY, RIGHT? 24.

24.

THAT'S WHEN I PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.

I COMPLETELY GUTTED A PROPERTY YARD, UH, DOING THE PROCESS, PUT A BRAND NEW ROOF ON THERE, REFRAME EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING WAS STRUCTURALLY, UH, DONE TO, UH, ZONE ONE CODES.

AND I FOUND ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ON THE PROPERTY DURING THAT PROCEDURE.

DURING THAT PROCESS, SOMEONE WENT IN THERE AND STOLE ALL ELECTRICAL, THE AC THE HVAC SYSTEM ON THE PROPERTY.

AND WHILE I WAS DOING THE PROCESS OF REDOING THE PROP, I WAS DOING A SIDING ON THE PROPERTY.

I GOT STOP WORK NOTICE.

AND THE STOP WORK NOTICE SAYS IT WAS SINCE MAY, 2022.

THIS IS THE ANSWER WHY I COULDN'T EVEN GET A ELECTRICIAN TO GO PULL A PERMIT OF THE PROPERTY, DO THE, REDO THE ELECTRICAL.

SO I SPOKE TO SHARON PLANK AND SHE SAYS NOTHING SHE COULD DO ABOUT IT.

OKAY.

RON CONTACTED HER AND RON, SHE GAVE RON ADVICE TO, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GO FAR, NO MORE THE PROPERTY.

SO I END UP SELLING THE PROPERTY.

I TOOK A 45,000 LOSS ON THIS PROPERTY, WHICH ARE THE PICTURES IS MULTIPLE PROPERTIES THAT DID IN PORT ARTHUR, WHICH THE FIRST SETS HE SHOWED YOU.

SO I'M BEEN HAVING A LOT OF HARASSMENT PROBLEMS WITH THE DEMOLITION DEPARTMENT.

AND THIS GOES BACK FROM HISTORY, SHARON AND, UH, DEBORAH VARE, THEY'VE BEEN IN THAT POSITION FOR A LONG TIME.

AND NICK VOUCH THE PROBLEMS I DEALT WITH THEM WITH, I HAVE OVER 21 PROPERTIES.

WE HAVE IN PORT ARTHUR

[00:20:01]

21, NOT ONE, NOT 2 21 OF THEM.

SO IF I'M WORKING ON ONE PROPERTY, THEY'LL LEAVE AND GO TAG ANOTHER PROPERTY WHILE I'M WORKING ON PROCESSING ONE OF THEM.

AND THIS IS A COMBINED INVESTMENT, ME AND MY MOM.

SO IS, UM, THESE ARE PICTURES OF THE PROPERTY WE'RE REDOING.

SHE HAS OTHER PROPERTIES THAT'S BEEN REDUNDANT SINCE IN 2018.

AND WE GOT DEMOLITION.

WE GOT, UH, WHILE IT WAS DONE DOING THE COVID SITUATION, SOMEBODY WENT IN THERE AND STOLE ALL THE ELECTRICAL, THE CABINETS, TORE THE WHOLE HOUSE UP.

THEY PUT IT BACK ON DEMOLITION LIST AND WHICH IS THE, UH, 7, 7 36 GALVESTON STEEL WILL STILL WILL.

SORRY.

IT IS, IT IS A COMBINED THING.

SHE HAD FIVE MINUTES, FIVE MINUTES.

WE CAN COMBINE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IS MY INVESTMENT WITH HER.

YOU CAN SHOW ALL THE PICTURES IF YOU WANT.

THESE ARE ONE, THIS IS A PROPERTY PUT BACK ON DEMOLITION LIST.

IT'S COMPLETELY REDONE.

SOMEBODY WENT IN THERE AND STOLE ALL THE STUFF OUT OF IT.

ALL THREE THESE PROPERTIES, ALL THE ELECTRICITY WAS STOLE OUT OF THEM.

SO AS THE INITIAL DAMAGES AND EXPENSE THAT OCCURRED, AND I BEGGED THEM FOR EXTENSION ON THESE PROPERTIES, THAT ONE PROPERTY I LOST $45,000 ON IT, IS WHAT Y'ALL GONNA DO FOR INVESTORS COMING TO THE PROPERTY WE'RE, WE'VE BEEN IN THE CITY 45 YEARS AND YOU CAN KNOW THIS JAWS BARBECUE.

EVERYBODY KNOWS US.

IT'S NOT, THIS IS ONE PROPERTY THAT WE DID, YOU SHOW PICTURES OF.

IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE NOT INVEST OUR MONEY.

WE DO HAVE MONEY TO BACK OURSELF UP TO INVEST IN THESE PROPERTIES.

WE COULD DO ONE PROPERTY AT A TIME.

AND ON TOP I HAVE A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

I STILL HAVE TO WORK TO MAKE MY LIVING.

SO IN BETWEEN THIS PROCESS, DEMOLITION DEPARTMENT IS GONNA FIND EVERYBODY PROPERTY AND TAG IT.

WE HAVE 21 PROPERTY IN PORT ARTHUR, INVESTMENT FROM, FROM FAMILY FROM NEW YORK, DALLAS, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA.

THEY'RE INVESTING MONEY IN PROPERTY TO GET 'EM RE REHABILITATED.

IT'S NOT, I'M ONLY ONE COMPANY.

SO WHEN I'M WORKING ON ONE OF MY INVESTMENT PROPERTY, THEY'LL BACKDOOR AND GO TAG ANOTHER PROPERTY.

SO THE HARASSMENT LEVEL, THEY NEED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF ESTABLISHMENT, SOMEBODY IN THE OFFICE WHO GOES THROUGH ALL THESE PROPERTY AND SEE A, THE THE PLAN OR WHERE YOU AT WITH THEM BEFORE THEY GO TAG THE PROPERTY AND PUT YOU IN A, A RIDICULOUS SITUATION.

SO, SO I'M ASKING FOR SOME EXTENSION OF MY PROPERTIES AND STOP THE HARASSMENT OF MY PROPERTIES.

AND SHE'S 75 YEARS OLD, IT TAGGED HER PROPERTY FOR DEMOLITION.

AND SOMEBODY'S NOT DOING THEIR JOB.

YOU HAVE EITHER GO INSPECT THE PROPERTY AND SEAT FROM THE TIME THEY WERE DONE AT A PROCESS.

I HAVE 250 PITCHERS IN ALL THESE HOUSES AND NOBODY SEES THE MAGNITUDE OF WORK.

YOU HAVE TO DO 'EM TO BRING 'EM BACK TO THE ZONE ONE CODE.

A LOT OF THESE PROPERTIES THERE LETTING PEOPLE REDO.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING DONE TO ZONE ONE CODE.

I HAVE PLENTY OF 'EM HAVE PICTURES.

I COULD, COULD SHOW YOU.

I'M A LICENSED BONDED CONTRACTOR, SO A LOT OF PEOPLE'S NOT SPENDING THE MONEY.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BUILD THESE, BRING THESE PROPERTIES BACK UP TO ZONE ONE CODES.

THEY'RE DISPATCHING IT UP AND PUTTING 'EM BACK ON THE MARKET.

AND IF YOU GO TO THE PROCESS, THESE PROPERTIES, THEY'RE ALL DONE BY CODE.

AND ALL THESE PROPERTIES, I'M SHOWING YOU ALL THE ELECTRIC, ALL THE ELECTRICITY BEEN STOLEN OUT OF THEM, HVAC SYSTEM IS STOLEN OUT OF THEM.

THE CABINET HAS BEEN STOLE OUT OF THEM.

THE TWO HAS ALREADY BEEN REDONE COMPLETELY.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.

UH, I SPOKE TO SHANNON.

SHE SAID SHE DON'T WANNA SPEAK TO ME.

UH, NOBODY WANNA SPEAK TO ME.

SO, UH, THIS IS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE I HAVE LEFT.

NEXT IS AUSTIN, TEXAS.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

I NEED TO GET A, SOME KIND OF CONCLUSION.

AND BY THE WAY, WE SPENT OVER $35,000 TAXES ON ALL THESE PROPERTIES PER YEAR IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR THERE.

OKAY.

SO YOU WANNA SPEAK, ALLOW HER TO, UH, STATE HER NAME AND ADDRESS AND SHE COULD EVER SPEAK IN THE MICROPHONE.

MY GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

GOOD MORNING.

I APPRECIATE BEING HERE.

TODAY IS MY FIRST TIME LIVING IN THE STATE FOR 44 YEARS.

AND, UM, STATE YOUR NAME.

MY NAME IS PUN BASSI SANDY.

OKAY.

AND YOUR ADDRESS? 1815 PROCTOR STREET, PORT TAR, TEXAS.

OKAY, THAT'S GOOD.

WELL, MY SON GIVE OUT A COMPLAIN ALREADY, BUT IT'S, IT'S A HARD THING TO COPE WITH IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.

IT'S ONLY ME AND HE HERE TRYING TO DO WHAT YOU CAN TO MAKE PROGRESS, NOT TO BRING THINGS DOWN BECAUSE ALL THIS PROPERTY THAT I OWNED WAS ANCIENT PROPERTY.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THEM NOW IS LIKE THE ONE THEY BUILDING RIGHT NOW.

WE BRING THEM BACK TO A STANDARD.

WE ARE, IT, IT CAN BE LOOK AT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER IS I I CAN'T HANDLE IT.

INSTEAD OF YOU GO UP, YOU COME DOWN.

WHAT SHE TRYING TO SAY? HER INVESTMENT, SHE'S LOSING MONEY IN HER INVESTMENT BECAUSE OF THESE SITUATIONS AND BECAUSE OF COVID AND ALL THESE OTHER SITUATIONS CAME IN PLACE, IT WOULD MINIMIZE SOME THE WORK.

WE MINIMIZE SOME OF THE WORK ON THE PROPERTIES BECAUSE OF THAT SITUATION.

BUT NOW I'M GETTING BACK UP BECAUSE THEY EVER GIVE YOU A TIME LIMIT ON THESE PROPERTIES.

[00:25:01]

AND THAT MUST STOP ME FROM DOING SOME OF MY JOBS.

I I LET SOME OF MY JOB GO.

AND THIS ONE PARTICULAR PROPERTY, 24 24 EL PASO, I LOST $45,000 ON THIS PROPERTY.

AND I SPOKE TO SHARON FLANNIGAN AND I TOLD HER, IS MY MONEY INVESTED? IT'S NOT A, IT IS NOT A LOAN, IT'S NOT A GRANT.

IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S CASH MONEY FROM MY POCKET THAT I LOST IN ONE PROPERTY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES, I, I COMPLETELY REDID EVERYTHING.

IT'S ONLY 250 PICTURES I TOOK ON THIS PROPERTY.

24, 24 EL PASO AND THE REST OF 'EM, THEY'RE ALL, ALL THE ELECTRIC ELECTRIC ELECTRICITY IS STOLEN OUT OF IT.

AND I HAVE TO SPEND MONEY BACK TO REDO 'EM.

AND IN THAT PROCESS, THEY'RE GONNA TAG THE PROPERTIES FOR DEMOLITION.

RIGHT.

OKAY.

AND ALSO YOUR, YOUR MOM IS SPEAKING MS. SANDY ABOUT THE, UH, INVENTING PROPERTY AND THE HARASSMENT.

SO SHE'S THE SECOND SPEAKER.

I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE IF WE ARE DOING BOTH SIMULTANEOUSLY.

FINE.

NOW IF YOU ALL JUST, JUST WAIT THERE A MINUTE BECAUSE SOME OF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO ADDRESS YOU.

COUNCIL MCKEN LAW.

HEY, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR PRESENTATION.

BUT I HEAR AGAIN, UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, YOU INVESTED IN PORT ARTHUR, YOU HAVE 21 PROPERTIES, BUT, UH, YOU BONDED AND INSURED, SO YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THEIR MONEY BACK ONCE THEY'VE STOLE YOUR EQUIPMENT OUTTA YOUR HOUSE.

UH, UH, MY THING IS THIS, WE ARE PUTTING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE INSPECTION DEPARTMENT TO CLEAN UP PORT ARTHUR.

YES.

THAT'S THE WAY YOU DO THAT.

WE CAN'T BLAME COVID.

WE CAN'T BLAME HARVEY FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

IF YOU ARE OUT THERE AND YOU PURCHASE PROPERTY, IT'S ON YOU AND YOU HAVE A TIME LIMIT TO GET THOSE THINGS TAKEN CARE OF, PERIOD.

BECAUSE IF WE ARE GONNA CLEAN THIS CITY UP AND ENSURE THAT EVERYONE SEE THOSE NICE HOUSES THAT YOU INVEST IN THOSE 21 PROPERTIES THAT YOU CHOOSE TO, TO INVEST IN, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO IT.

WELL, I'M PART OF THAT SOMETHING WHEN YOU STATED EARLIER THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING THEIR JOB, ACTUALLY THEY ARE BECAUSE THEY PUT THAT NOTIFICATION ON YOUR PROPERTY AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU LOST $45,000 ON AN INVESTMENT, BUT YOU'RE BONDED INSURED.

YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THAT MONEY BACK FIRST OF ALL, NUMBER TWO.

NUMBER TWO, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

HAVE YOU BEEN NOTIFIED THE INSPECTION? YES.

THAT, DID YOU CONTACT THE POLICE, GIVE A POLICE REPORT? YES.

ALL THOSE THINGS ARE THE BE THE NETWORKING TOO BETWEEN INSPECTION AND YOU AS THE CONTRACTOR.

SO Y YOU KNOW, I'M KINDA LIKE FOGGY, YOU KNOW, OR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

IF, IF YOU'RE SAYING AS THE CITY FAULT THAT YOU LOST THE MONEY OR YOU'RE SAYING THAT WELL, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT WORKING WITH YOU, YOU'RE LOSING THE MONEY.

THOSE IS THE QUESTION.

AS A COLLECTIVE COUNCIL, WE HAVE TO HEAR I UNDERSTAND NOW I'M INTERESTED AND I'M, I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR YEARS.

YEAH.

WE, WE'VE BEEN DOING EACH OTHER FOR YEARS.

BUT WE HAVE TO FIND A FINE LINE TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH TO CLEAN UP PORT ARTHUR.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE.

WELL, WELL I'M PART OF IT.

I MEAN, THESE PROPERTIES, THEY HAVE PICTURES.

I OF 250 PICTURES OF EACH ONE OF 'EM.

I GOT, YOU GOT 250 PICTURES.

BUT IF YOU TAKING FIVE YEARS TO BUILD A HOUSE NO.

OR YOU RE REHAB A HOUSE.

HOW'S THAT HELPING PORT ARTHUR? I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE, WHAT, 10 YEARS NOW? I YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS.

THIS THIS IS A NEW ADMINISTRATION.

SO WHEN THE NEW ADMINISTRATORS JOIN IN, THEY DON'T SEE THE, THE WHOLE, THE PROCESS.

RIGHT.

WE'VE BEEN BUYING PROPERTY SINCE 20 YEARS NOW, PORT ARTHUR.

AND I'M AWARE OF THAT.

I'VE BEEN KNOWING YOU FOR A LONG TIME.

WE JUST GOTTA MAKE A, WE HAVE TO TAKE A STANCE ON IT.

I'M GONNA STICK TO THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO PEOPLE WILL MAKE, MAKE INVEST OF PROPERTY WITH ONE OR TWO UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S LACK OFF.

WE WE'RE OVER 20 PROPERTIES IN PORT ARTHUR.

IT'S NOT ONE OR TWO.

WELL, SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE LIKE A DIVISION OF SOMEBODY WHO WORK WITH YOU DO ONE HOUSE OR 200 HOUSES.

I MEAN, YOU INVESTED IN PORT ARTHUR, SO I GOT YOU.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I'M SAYING THAT IT GOT, WE HAVE TO TAKE A STAND AS THE CITY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT PERIOD OF WITH OUR INSPECTION DEPARTMENT.

AND THAT'S THE WAY YOU DO IT TO CLEAN UP PORT ARTHUR.

THE CRIME RATE DOESN'T HELP IN PORT ARTHUR BECAUSE WHEN THESE PROPERTY IS BEING GETTING REDONE, SOMEBODY'S GOING OVER THERE AND STEAL ALL ELECTRICITY OUT OF IT, STEAL ALL THE CABINETS OUT OF IT, STEAL OUTTA LOT OF MATERIAL OUT OF IT.

BUT, BUT WHO'S I MEAN IS THAT I'M LOST THREE CROSSES IN DIFFERENT LOCATION REPORT.

WE CAN'T, WE, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T DEBATE.

AND I'M NOT GONNA DEBATE WITH YOU.

I'M JUST SAYING WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE.

I'M SAYING THAT NOW IT'S THE TIME THAT WE HAVE TO ENFORCE OUR POLICY AND LAWS.

IF WHATEVER REASON THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN YOUR STUFFS TAKEN OUT OF THOSE PROPERTIES AND YOU'VE ALREADY REPORTED AT, YOU REPORTED IN 10 INSURANCE, YOU'VE GOTTEN YOUR MONIES BACK.

NO, I DIDN'T.

I DIDN'T.

WELL, I MEAN, I DON'T STUFF LIKE MY INSURANCE.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE WAY IT NORMALLY HAPPENS.

SO ALL I'M SAYING, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING BETTER AND THAT'S THE WAY WE DO IT TO CLEAN UP PORT ARTHUR IS PUT PRESSURE ON OUR INSPECTION, OUR CITY MANAGER GET IT DONE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES, SIR.

GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UM, FOR YOUR WORK AS YOU TRY TO REHABILITATE AND TO, UM, TAKE HOMES THAT WERE ON THE DEMOLITION ROLL AND REPAIR THEM.

I'M SORRY ABOUT ALL THAT'S HAPPENED, UH, AND TRANSPIRED IN YOUR EFFORTS TO TRY TO, TO DO THAT.

BUT LET ME, LET ME BE SUCCINCT AND GET TO THE, TO THE ROOT OF EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE SAYING WHEN YOU ULTIMATELY TOOK THIS HOUSE OR TOOK ON, UM, THE REHABILITATION OF THIS HOUSE, UM, WAS IT UP FOR DEMOLITION? WELL, THE PROGRAM, IT GO TO THE WORK PROGRAM.

[00:30:01]

OKAY.

AND THE, THE, THERE WAS MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS OF FINDING THE HOUSE DURING THE PROCESS.

OKAY.

SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GONNA TAKE LONG.

AND, AND, AND IT DIDN'T HELP WITH THE WEATHER AND THE, AND THE TIF.

IT DIDN'T HELP AT ALL.

AND HOW LONG WERE YOU GIVEN? HOW LONG ARE YOU GENERALLY GIVEN OR HOW LONG? AND I'M ASKING ALL, ALL WHO WERE LISTENING.

THE CITY MANAGER, UH, STAFF.

AND YOU, HOW LONG WERE YOU GIVEN TO GET THE HOUSE IN ORDER? SIX MONTHS.

SIX MONTHS.

I'M DOING THE PROCESS.

IF IT GETS A CERTAIN STANDARD, THEY'LL EXTEND THE, THE TIME AND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND DID YOU ASK FOR AN EXTENSION? YES.

YES.

AND HOW LONG WERE YOU GIVEN IN AN EXTENSION? GIMME ME AN EXTENSION, BUT FROM THIS NOTICE, THEY GIMME EXTENSION FOR TWO MONTHS.

AND I KEPT IN TOUCH WITH, UH, SHARON FLANIGAN EVERY WEEK.

IT, IT, IT RAINED FOR LIKE THREE WEEKS.

I'LL CALL HER AND LET HER KNOW, HEY, IT'S RAINING.

I CAN'T DO NOTHING ON THE PROPERTY.

EVERYTHING I DOCUMENTED, I, I KEPT IN TOUCH WITH HER AND SHE, I TALKED TO HER A MULTIPLE TIMES AND DURING THE PROCESS OF WHY I'M TALKING TO HER, SHE SAID, JUST KEEP IN TOUCH WITH HER.

ANY CHANGES HAPPENED TO THE PROPERTY, LET US KNOW.

SO I'M TAKING IN MY MIND THAT WILL EXTEND, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE MY TIME TO GO TO AND FINISH MY PROPERTY.

SO WHEN I GOTTA STOP WORKING PERMIT, I WAS WORKING A PROPERTY, I GOT THIS PERMIT STOPPED WORK.

AND IT SAYS FROM MAY, 2022, I NEVER HAD A PERMIT TO WORK IN A PROPERTY.

SO I COULDN'T GET, THAT'S WHY MY ELECTRICIAN, OH, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT SIR.

SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU HAD AN EXTENSION AND THAT THE, AND YOU'RE SAYING FROM MAY, FROM MAY TO NOW? NO, NO, NO.

I'M SORRY.

OKAY.

FROM MAY TO NOW IS PAST TWO MONTHS? NO, NO, NO.

FROM THE SEVENTH TO LAST YEAR.

IT, LAST SEVENTH, SEVENTH MONTH.

THIS, THIS YEAR THEY GIMME EXTENSION THE SEVENTH MONTH? YEAH.

SO FROM JULY TO NOW, THAT'S, THAT'S OVER TWO MONTHS.

YEAH.

SO I WAS ADDITIONALLY TELLING HER ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED IN THE PROPERTY.

SO I'M TOLD HER I'M REDOING THE WHOLE PROPERTY COMPLETE, NOT JUST THE PATCHWORK.

I WAS GONNA, THEY, THEY, THEY MAKE A LIST FOR YOU TO DO.

I'M TELLING HER REDO, REVAMPING THE PROPERTY COMPLETELY THAT MEAN FOUNDATION ON UP.

SO WHEN I TOLD HER THAT, SHE SAID, OKAY, THIS IS FINE.

JUST KEEP ME POSTED.

SO YOU, SO YOU DIDN'T JUST LEAVE, YOU DIDN'T JUST LEAVE IT UNDONE.

YOU WERE WORKING DURING THIS TIME? I WAS WORKING WHEN THEY CAME UP WITH THIS IN THE PROPERTY.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT, MR. CITY MANAGER, LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION.

SO IF HE IS IN THE, OR LEGAL, IF HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF REHABILITATING THE PRO, IF HE'S IN THE, THE PROCESS OF REHABILITATING THE PROPERTY AND HE IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN DOING SO, SHOULD HE BE STOPPED FROM DOING THAT OR BE SENT A LETTER TELLING THEM THAT HE SHOULD, SHOULD STOP WORKING ON THIS PROPERTY? WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CITIZEN IN A, IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE.

WHEN WE HAVE EXHAUSTED THAT WE, IN ORDER FOR US TO REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW, WE HAVE TO INFORM THE CITIZEN.

BUT THE QUESTION IS, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PROPERTY? HE SOLD THE PROPERTY TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

MM-HMM.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WE HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN.

MM-HMM.

SO THAT'S THE VICIOUS CYCLE THAT WE GET CAUGHT INTO.

AND THAT'S WHY THE CITY LOOKS THE WAY IT IS.

NO, BECAUSE THE CITIZENS KNOW HOW TO BEAT THE SYSTEM.

AND WHEN WE HAVE GOTTEN CLOSE TO THE END OF IT, WE'VE GOTTA START ALL OVER AGAIN.

SO WE NEVER, NEVER CATCH UP.

SO HE SOLD THE SO THAT'S THE CATCH WHEN HE THAT'S RIGHT.

IS THAT HE SOLD THE PROPERTY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

MAYOR, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

ANY NEED, OH, GO AHEAD.

IF YOU WANNA LET THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS SPEAK FIRST, GO AHEAD.

I CAN WAIT.

GO AHEAD.

AND THEN I NEED TO SAY SOMETHING.

UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS KIND OF A LEGAL ISSUE WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING INTO FACTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, WE'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT THE FILE AND, UH, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO, TO THE DEPARTMENT OR ANYONE ELSE WHO NEEDS TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING.

BUT BASICALLY YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WORK PLAN.

UM, WHETHER YOU ARE A NEW OWNER OR AN OLD OWNER OF A PROPERTY, UH, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WORK PLAN.

IT'S OUTLINED IN THE CODE AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN, UM, AND EXPLAIN THE PROCESS TO EITHER STAFF OR TO THE CITIZEN OR WHOEVER THE MANAGER ASSIGNS, YOU KNOW.

UM, BUT WE JUST WANTED TO SAY THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE ORDINANCE THAT WE CAN GO BY.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT.

GO AHEAD.

AND WE HAVE COMPLIED WITH EVERY ASPECT OF MY STAFF HAS COMPLIED WITH EVERY ASPECT OF THE ORDINANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE NOT ERODED OR INFRINGED ON THE RIGHT OF THE PROPERTY ORDER.

IT IS PROPERLY DOCUMENTED.

I HAVE REVIEWED THE FILE WITH STAFF IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PROPERTY OWNER, AND I'M SATISFIED THAT THE STAFF HAS DONE THEIR JOB.

OKAY.

UH, COUNCILWOMAN MOSES, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR, UH, UM, SHAKING YOUR MIND.

WHAT'S THIS? OKAY, MR. NA.

YES.

NOW ONE THING, ONE ASPECT THAT YOU MENTIONED, YOU

[00:35:01]

SAID PEOPLE STOLE FROM YOU.

I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THAT BRIEFLY BECAUSE IT'S, I'VE UP HERE, WE'VE ALL BUILT, REBUILT A HOUSE, REDONE WHATEVER.

YOU HAVE TO SECURE YOUR OWN ITEMS. WE DID.

UM, YOU HAVE TO, YOU CAN GET A STORAGE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT YOU COULD DO TO, TO SECURE AS YOU BUILD.

I, I BUILT, I'M SURE SOME OTHER PEOPLE UP HERE BUILT, THEY STOLE.

AND MY ITEMS THAT I PURCHASED, MR. NA, LET, I'M GONNA FINISH.

OKAY.

YOU, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE.

THE, THE BUILDER, THE CON CONTRACTOR TO SECURE YOUR ITEMS IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY'RE NOT STOLEN.

SECURE THE PLACE, BOARD IT UP, PUT PADLOCKS ON IT.

THAT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT THE INSPECTOR'S RESPONSIBILITY OR LACK ON YOUR PART TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR, UM, YOUR APPLIANCES AND ALL THE ITEMS THAT'S GONNA GO INTO THE NEW HOME THAT YOU ARE, WE THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, ENHANCE, YOU KNOW, REBUILD, TORN DOWN STRUCTURES AND, AND BENEFIT FROM THEM THAT THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY AND YOURSELF AS WELL.

BUT IN, IN THE PROCESS OF IT, WE WANT TO SEE A CLEAN CITY.

WE WANNA SEE A A A A NOT CITY, NOT BUILDINGS THAT ARE TORN UP OR YOU'RE TAKING YOUR YEARS TO REBUILD OR TO, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP HAVING EYESORE IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT BASICALLY WHEN YOU PREPARE AND YOU ARE BUYING APPLIANCES, AND YOU'RE BUYING CABINETS, AND YOU'RE BUYING THE STOVES, YOU'RE BUYING THE ELECTRICAL, WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING, IT'S UP TO YOU AS THE DEVELOPER AND THE CONTRACTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THINGS ARE SECURE AND THAT THEY'RE IN A PLACE WHERE NO ONE CAN PUT THEIR HANDS ON THEM.

OKAY.

THAT'S NOT THE, THAT'S NOT FOR STAFF.

OKAY.

LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING.

THESE HOUSES HERE, THEY WERE LOCKED UP.

THEY WERE INSIDE, THEY WERE INSTALLED.

I CAN, I, I CAN'T SEE HOW YOU COULD GET ANY MORE SAFER THAN THAT.

PUT A CAMERA UP, .

OKAY.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN PLACE? ONE MORE QUESTION.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN PLACE? THESE ARE THREE HOUSES IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN PORT ARTHUR OF SOMEONE GOING TO STEAL ALL ELECTRICAL OUT OF IT.

THAT'S MY RE I MEAN, THAT'S OKAY.

COUNCILMAN FRANK? NO SIR, I'M FINISHED.

OKAY.

MS. NORTH AND EVERYONE, UH, I THINK, UH, HAS APPROPRIATELY, UH, SPOKEN TO YOU.

AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING A CITIZEN OF PORT ARTHUR.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ACTUALLY INVESTING IN PORT ARTHUR.

AND, UH, I REALLY WISH THAT THAT WAS A DIFFERENT, UH, ENDING.

I COULD GIVE YOU AND YOUR MOM, UH, LIKE, LIKE OTHERS, I'VE KNOWN YOUR FAMILY.

I THINK I REMEMBER ONE OF THE FIRST PROPERTIES YOU BOUGHT ON WEST NINTH STREET MM-HMM.

WAY BACK IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES.

AND, UH, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN INVESTING IN THIS COMMUNITY DURING MY ADOLESCENCE.

YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FATHER, YOU, YOU KNOW, I, I REMEMBER THAT.

SO WE APPRECIATE IT AND, AND YOU ALL, UH, HAVE DONE SOME GREAT THINGS TO TRY TO BEAUTIFY THE CITY AND WE, WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.

OKAY.

AND, UH, WITH THE STAFF AND YOU, AND WITH THE COMMENTS THAT'S BEEN MADE HERE, THAT I BELIEVE THAT A COHESIVE PLAN CAN BE APPROACHED AND IMPLEMENTED.

THAT'S ALL I WANT.

OKAY.

SO WE ARE GOING TO, TO WORK TOWARD THAT END.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD ONE.

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS.

A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

BYE-BYE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU.

OKAY,

[III.A.4. Keith Carter Regarding Drainage In El Vista Area]

WE'LL MOVE NOW TO OUR NEXT, UH, SPEAKER.

IS MR. KEITH CARTER REGARDING DRAINAGE IN THE VETA AREA? YOU ARE PRESENT.

WHAT? NO, LOOK WHAT, HEY, IF Y'ALL LET ME DO IT, I GOT IT.

OKAY.

WE, WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT.

MR. CARTER COME, IF I CALLED YOU UP, IF THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED TO HAPPEN.

STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE.

OKAY.

MY NAME IS KEITH CARTER.

I LIVE AT 3,500 TURTLE CREEK DRIVE, UM, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS 77 6 42.

GO RIGHT AHEAD.

OKAY.

I JUST HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE DRAINAGE AND, UH, THE AVE STAIR AREA.

YOU KNOW, HAS ANYTHING BEEN DONE APPRECIATE IT.

ARE IN THE WORKS TO BE DONE, JUST CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED WHEN HARVEY CAME AND ALL THE DAMAGE, YOU KNOW, LIKE IN BESTA VILLAGE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND I WAS JUST WONDERING HAD ANYTHING BEEN DONE OR GOING TO BE DONE, BUT I CAN DO IS WE CAN ALLOW THE CITY MANAGER TO ADDRESS WHAT YOUR CONCERN IS.

OKAY.

WELL, I DID GET A CALL FROM A, UH, SUPERVISOR, DRAINAGE BROWN,

[00:40:01]

AND HE KIND OF WAS TELLING ME THEY WAS DOING A FEW THINGS, BUT I WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

OKAY.

HE CAN CITY MANAGER CAN, CAN ENLIGHTEN YOU ON IN THAT AREA WHAT'S GOING ON.

YES.

UM, MAY, I COULD TAKE SOME TIME AFTER THE MEETING TO ADDRESS THE GENTLEMAN ON WHAT WE ARE MEETING, BUT FOR THE EDIFICATION OF THE PUBLIC, YES, WE CONTINUE TO WORK, UM, WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND WITH THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS FOR, UM, IMPLEMENTATION IS BEING DONE.

UM, WE, RIGHT NOW, WE, WE ARE, WE HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS AND, UM, WHAT WE ARE, WE ARE APPROACHING CLOSELY APPROACHING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS, UM, FOR THE EL VISTA AND, AND FOR THE PORT ACRES AREA.

AND HOPEFULLY YOU, WE, WE ARE, WE ARE ASKING FOR A MEETING BEFORE YOU, YOU, YOU END SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.

WE ARE WAITING FOR FINAL WOOD FROM FEMA.

WE KNOW THAT ALL THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN ALIGNED THUS FAR IN ORDER TO GET THAT DONE SO THAT WE COULD AWARD, UM, A CONTRACT SOMETIME IN THE NEW YEAR TO IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT, WHICH WILL TAKE A FEW YEARS TO COMPLETION.

OKAY.

BUT WE ARE VIGOROUSLY WORKING ON, ON THE PROJECT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALLEVIATE THE DRAINAGE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, NOT ONLY IN INDIA VISTA AREA, BUT IN THE PORT ACRES AREA AS WELL.

THOSE ARE TWO VERY LARGE PROJECTS THAT HAS BEEN FUNDED TO THE TUNES OF TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UM, TO ENSURE THAT, THAT WE RECTIFY WHATEVER DRAINAGE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE AREA.

SO YES, AND WE WILL HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING, UM, LONG BEFORE, LONG BEFORE WE GET OUT THERE AND BEGIN THE PROJECT SO THAT THE, THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THE UNDERTAKINGS THAT WE WILL, WE WILL BE, UM, IMPLEMENTING OUT THERE AND HOW LONG AND WHATEVER INCONVENIENCES THAT MAY ARISE AS A RESULT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT.

I THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Y'ALL HAVE THEM.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

AND YOU CARTER.

I HOPE THAT THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS.

OKAY.

[III.B.1. A Presentation By Sigma Engineering, Inc. Regarding An Update On The Renovation/Relocation Of The City's Health Department (Requested By Councilmember Kinlaw)]

WE NOW HAVE PRESENTATIONS.

WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY SIGMA ENGINEERING AND COOPERATED REGARDING AN UPDATE ON THE RENOVATION RELOCATION OF THE CITY'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW.