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ARE READY.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
GOOD MORNING.UH, THIS IS THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR JANUARY 31ST HERE AT UH, 9:30 AM AND IT IS NOW, UH, 9 44.
AND WE'RE READY TO BEGIN THE MEETING.
UH, THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS BEING CONDUCTED HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND THE COUNCIL HAS TO BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT HERE IN THE CHAMBERS.
AND YOU MAY PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING.
IF YOU CANNOT BE, UH, PHYSICALLY PRESENT BY, UH, VIDEO CONFERENCING OR TELECONFERENCING, UH, YOU WOULD FIRST NEED TO DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
AND UH, YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEDIAN ID OF 8 4 3 4 4 6 0 5 3 3 3.
AND THE PASS CODE OF, OR PASSCODE, EXCUSE ME, OF 4 1 7 5 1 3.
AND IF YOU, UH, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS A SPECIFIC DISABILITY AND NEEDS CERTAIN OR SPECIFIC ACCOMMODATIONS, THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR YOU.
HOWEVER, YOU MUST CONTACT THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE BY DIALING 4 0 9 9, UH, 8 3 8 1 1 5, AND MAKE THAT REQUEST.
AND THEY WILL DO ALL THAT IN THEIR POWER TO ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH YOUR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO ASK OUR COUNCILMAN MARKS TWO LEADERS IN THE INVOCATION, AND WE'LL HAVE THE PLEASURE FOR LEADERS IN THE ROLL CALL.
WOULD YOU BUY 'EM? PLEASE, FATHER GOD, WE COME TO YOU THIS MORNING THANKING YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY.
WE THANK YOU, FATHER FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL BLESSINGS AND OUR COLLECTIVE BLESSINGS.
YES, WE ASK YOU, FATHER, THAT YOU LOOK DOWN UPON THIS MEETING TODAY AND GIVE US THE STRENGTH, THE COURAGE, AND THE WISDOM TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
WE ASK THIS IN YOUR SON'S NAME, AMEN.
TO JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, OUR PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IS STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU ALSO KINDLY FOR JOINING US IN OUR OPENING CITY SECRETARY.
WOULD YOU PLEASE ESTABLISH THE COURTROOM FOR ME? MAYOR BART, PRESENT MAYOR PRO.
COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSES, COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK HERE.
AND AGAIN, YOU WANNA WELCOME EACH OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TODAY BEFORE WE WOULD ACTUALLY BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY, UH, COURTESIES AND THANKS TO MAYOR APPROACH HIM FOR HANDLING THE MEETING DURING MY ABSENCE.
UH, AND I ALMOST CALLED YOU AGAIN THIS MORNING BECAUSE IT WAS A LITTLE TOO COLD FOR MY HELP, BUT OKAY.
BUT I THANK YOU SO KINDLY AND THE COUNCIL AND PAUL, YOU'VE DONE EVEN CITIZENS WHO GAVE ME WELL WISHES DURING THE TIME OF MY, UH, CONVALESCENCE, UH, PROCLAMATIONS.
DO WE HAVE ANY, I DON'T HAVE ANY BEFORE ME AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROCLAMATIONS.
[III.A.1. Claire Jackson Of Motiva To Present Grants To The Port Arthur Police Department And The Port Arthur Fire Department]
SO WE'LL MOVE TO ROMAN NUMERAL THREE, WHICH IS PETITIONS.WE HAVE SPEAKERS THIS MORNING.
WE HAVE MS. CLA JACKSON OF YOU PRESENT GRANTS THROUGH, UH, THE PORT ARTHUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE, UH, PORT ARTHUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, I SAID, YOU HERE MS. ROBERTS? SO YOU ARE THAT PERSON.
WOULD YOU COME FORWARD PLEASE? GOOD MORNING.
I AM RAYMOND SH ROBERTS, THE S R C A ADVISOR FOR MOTIVA.
AND HERE I HAVE, UM, WITH ME WE HAVE JODY MOFFITT, I VICE PRES, VICE VP OF PRODUCTION, JODY, UM, SHANE THOMAS, OUR FIRE CHIEF, AND ERIC ROBERTS, OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY, UH, MANAGER.
WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT THE PORT ARTHUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PORT ARTHUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, GRANTS THAT THEY WON THROUGH OUR FIRST RESPONDER GRANTS THAT WE HAVE AT MOTIVA.
WE HAD 25, UM, APPLICANTS NATIONWIDE AND WE ARE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT OUR PORT ARTHUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IN PORT ARTHUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE GRANTS
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FIRE HOLD OFF THE POLICESO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS AWARDED $9,875 AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS AWARDED $6,600.
DO YOU MIND IF WE TAKE A PICTURE, IF YOU COME DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE? OF COURSE.
OH, I'LL THIS OF COURSE HERE
I DUNNO, HOW DID THE BIG GUY COME? YES, SIR.
AND AGAIN, THANKS TO MOTIVA FOR THIS GRACIOUS GIFT TO OUR CITY.
[III.A.2. Hassan Shomalzadeh Of HP Engineering/Construction, Inc. Regarding Willowood Townhouse Development, Fire Department Excess Requirement]
WE HAVE MR. HASSAN OF HP ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED REGARDING WILLOW WOOD TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCESS REQUIREMENT.I DON'T KNOW IF THERE SHOULD BE ACCESS, BUT, GOOD.
I HAVE SOME HANDOUT IF I MAY GIVE IT TO CITY SECRETARY.
HEY MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M DEVELOPING A PROJECT TOWNHOUSE PROJECT 6.5 MILLION, WHICH BRING TO THE CITY APPROXIMATELY $400,000 A YEAR.
REAL ESTATE TAXES AND WATER AND SEWER REVENUE.
I SUBMITTED A PLAN TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR THEIR REVIEW AND APPROVAL, SHOWING AN ENTRANCE TO THE RICE FARM ROAD CITY DEPARTMENT.
REVIEWED THE PLAN AND GOT APPROVAL.
THIS IS SHOWN IN EXHIBIT NUMBER ONE, THE LOCATION OF THAT ENTRANCE.
I HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALMOST 60% OF THE BUILDINGS.
RECENTLY I SAW A CREW AT THE END OF THE RICE FARM ROAD ASSEMBLING A WOODEN BA A WOODEN FORMS TO PULL A CONCRETE BARRIER AT THE END OF THAT ROAD, CLOSING THE ROAD PERMANENTLY.
THIS KIND OF BARRIER USUALLY USED FOR HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT DIVIDING THE TRAFFIC LANES.
WHEN I ASK DO I HAVE A RIGHT OR APPROVAL TO USE THAT ENTRANCE,
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I WAS TOLD BY CITY MANAGER, WHICH IS NOT MADE ON THE JOB SITE, IS GONNA GO BACK TO THE OFFICE AND DISCUSS WITH THE STAFF AND GET BACK WITH ME.I TRIED TO CALL TWO THREE TIMES, DIDN'T GET A REPLY.
RISE FARM ROAD BACK IN 85 WAS BARRICADED THE PORTION OF THE ROAD ALMOST 460 FEET LONG AND WAS BARRICADED UNTIL THE DAY CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IMPROVED THE ROAD AS A TRUE TRAFFIC ROAD OR COLLECTOR ROAD.
THIS IS SHOWN ON THE ORDINANCE NUMBER OR OR RESOLUTION NUMBER 85 DASH 67.
UNTIL SUCH A DAY THAT END OF THE ROAD TO BE CLOSED BY TYPE THREE BARRICADE, IT TELL YOU HAD TO INSTALL IT AND MAINTAIN IT UNTIL SUCH A DAY, MAYOR AND CANCEL, CANCEL.
I'M HERE TO REQUEST A DECISION ON WHETHER I CAN CONTINUE TO MY CONSTRUCTION THE WAY THE SETUP PLAN APPROVED.
MY PLAN IS STEEL DON'T VIOLATE IT.
ANY ORDINANCE THAT ROAD REMAIN CLOSE BY PROPOSING A GATE THAT I SHOW IN EXHIBIT NUMBER THREE, THAT R WOULD CLOSE THAT ENTRANCE ONLY THING THAT THAT ROAD IS, THAT GATE OR ENTRANCE WOULD ALLOW FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CITY STAFF TO USE IT WHEN IT'S NECESSARY.
THE ROAD REMAIN CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
NOBODY CAN USE IT EXCEPT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CITY STAFF WHEN IT NEEDED.
MY PLAN DOES NOT VIOLATING ANY, ANY ORDINANCE OR ANYTHING.
I'M TO THE POINT THE CONTRACTOR IS IN INSTALLING FENCE AROUND THE SITE AND THEY THAT THEY FABRICATING A GATE ON THE TOWNHOUSE ENTRANCE BECAUSE WE GONNA HAVE A GATE.
IT'S CLOSED SEVEN AT THE EMERGENCY USE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME EXPRESS MY CONCERN.
THANK YOU MR. ASSAN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UH, THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT IS IN MY DISTRICT AND I'VE GOT NUMEROUS CALLS ABOUT IF YOU'RE GONNA OPEN THAT ROAD COMPLETELY.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT ROAD WOULD NEVER BE ACCESSED BY THE PUBLIC OR AUTOMOBILES GOING THROUGH THAT AREA.
NUMBER TWO, WE WOULD HAVE BARRICADES ON BOTH SIDES OF THOSE.
THAT ENTRANCE ON THAT, WHAT IS THAT? THE WEST SIDE AS AS LONG AND ON ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF THAT.
AND IT IS ONLY GONNA BE ACCESSED BY EMERGENCY PURPOSES ONLY.
IT'S A EASEMENT TO DO SOME TYPE OF WORK OR SOME TYPE OF EMERGENCY CALL.
UM, CITY MANAGER, YOU GOT ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO IMPLY? I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WHAT WE TELL OUR CITIZENS IN ARE MY CITIZENS IN DISTRICT THREE, EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
AND I'VE HAD NUMEROUS CALLS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WILL BE JUST AS IT IS NOW.
IF IT'S SOMETHING ELSE OUT THERE I NEED TO KNOW AT THIS POINT.
SO WE CAN ASSURE THE PUBLIC IN THE, IN THAT COMMUNITY THAT WE WON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF CARS THAT CUT BACK IN THAT AREA TRYING TO DIVERT AND GET BACK ON JIMMY JOHNSON.
SO I JUST WANT TO BE STRAIGHTFORWARD THAT THEY'LL HAVE NO ACCESS, NO PUBLIC ACCESS, JUST ONLY EMERGENCY PURPOSES ONLY.
AND ALSO I WOULD ADD THAT THERE IS, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THERE IS A LITTLE PORTION OF THE ROAD THAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED AND ALSO THAT PORTION IS PART OF THE, MY DEVELOPMENT.
I PAY FOR IT AND ALSO I'M WILLING TO PAY THE GATE THAT ARE PROPOSED IN THE PACKAGE OR SHOWS ON EXHIBIT NUMBER THREE.
WELL THE STANDARD OF THAT PORTION I THINK IS THAT THAT 50 60 UH, FEET YARDS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT'S TO THE LEFT.
SO IT HAS TO BE WITHIN STANDARDS OF THE CITY, RIGHT? UNDERSTAND.
MAKE WHATEVER WHAT FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENT IS A CITY STANDARD.
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CITY MANAGER.MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THE MATTER IS NOT AS SIMPLISTIC AS THE DEVELOPER MAKES IT TO SOUND.
UM, IT'S A MATTER THAT REQUIRES THE INTERVENTION OF THE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S NOT A CITY MANAGER'S DECISION.
IT'S A MATTER THAT I HAVE DISCUSSED AT LENGTH WITH THE FIRE CHIEF AND WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL MAKING THE INPUT AS IS REQUIRED.
THE MATTER IS ALSO CONVOLUTED BY THE FACT THAT, SO WHEN THE PLANS WERE APPROVED AND WHAT WAS DISCLOSED TO THE PLANNING STAFF.
SO IT'S A MATTER THAT REQUIRES INTENSE INVESTIGATION AND REVIEW OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH THE CITY MANAGER CANNOT BE INVOLVED IN AT ANY TIME IN MAKING A DECISION.
THERE WERE TWO ORDINANCES, ONE A PD THAT APPROVED THE DEVELOPMENT.
AND THERE IS ANOTHER ORDINANCE THAT SPECIFICALLY STATES WHEN THE THE ROAD IS TO BE OPENED AND IN WHAT CONDITION IT IS TO BE IN OPEN IN TERMS OF ITS IMPROVEMENT, IS NOT AS SIMPLISTIC AS THE DEVELOPER MAKES IT TO SOUND OR AS THE COUNTS WOULD LIKE TO HEAR.
THE MATTER IS A MATTER FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WHATEVER THE DECISION THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MAKES IN TERMS OF HANDLING IT, THAT IS THE DECISION THAT WE HAVE TO BUY TO.
SO IT'S A MATTER THAT RE REQUIRES INTENT.
AND I, I SEE THE FIRE MARSHAL IS HERE.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE FIRE MARSHAL BEFORE.
I WANT THE FIRE MARSHAL TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO THE COUNCIL WHAT IS THAT STICK AND WHEN THE PLANS WERE REVIEWED, WHAT WAS REVED, WHAT WAS, WHAT THEY WERE INFORMED OF AND WHAT APPEARED BOTH ON THE PRELIMINARY PLANS AND WHAT PRESENTLY APPEARS ON THE FINAL PLANS.
YES, WE HAVE, WE CAN HAVE THE FAIR MARSHAL COME FORWARD AND EXPLAIN THAT IN DETAIL TO US.
SO PER FIRE CODE, UH, DEVELOPMENT, THE SIZE OF THIS ONE DOES REQUIRE TWO ENTRANCES.
UH, IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRE THOSE TO BE THROUGH STREETS.
IT SIMPLY REQUIRES THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICES HAVE TWO ENTRANCES.
UH, THAT WAS ON THE PLANS THAT WE APPROVED.
IT SHOWED THAT SECTION OF THE ROAD BEING DEVELOPED TO THE SECOND ENTRANCE.
UM, I HAVE NOT SEEN, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVEN'T SEEN THIS PROPOSAL THAT YOU GUYS WERE JUST GIVEN.
SO I CAN'T COMMENT SPECIFICALLY AND SAY, YES, WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED, UH, MEETS OUR REQUIREMENTS.
CUZ UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT ACTUALLY IN WRITING YET.
BUT THE LOCATION, JUST IN GENERAL, THE LOCATION OF THAT SECOND ENTRANCE THAT WAS ON THE PLANS THAT WERE SIGNED OFF ON, UH, DOES MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS.
UM, MR. HASSAN MENTIONED PUTTING A GATE ACROSS THAT IF THAT IS LIMITED BY, SAY THE KNX EQUIPMENT THAT WE UTILIZE FOR OUR ENTRANCE AND OUR USE ONLY, THAT DOES MEET OUR FIRE CODE REQUIREMENTS.
I SAID IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A THROUGH STREET.
IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE A SECOND EXIT.
IT'S MEANT TO BE A SECOND ENTRANCE FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.
NO, I I'M JUST GONNA ASK YOU, YOU HAD ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES.
SO THE GATE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, OR THE GATE THAT MR. HASSAN WANTS MM-HMM.
SO IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, WHO, WHO, HOW DO, HOW DO YOU GET IT OPEN? IT'S LOCKED BY.
SO IT'S KIND OF, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE NOTICED ON SOME OF THE BUSINESSES, THERE'S A LITTLE FD SIGN NEAR SOME OF THE FRONT DOORS WITH A STEEL BOX IN THERE.
WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT AND ONLY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS ACCESS TO THAT.
WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE THE KEY TO THAT.
THAT'S CALLED THE KNOX KEY SECURE SYSTEM.
UH, THERE'S ALSO PADLOCKS THAT TIE IN WITH THAT SYSTEM.
IF IT'S A MANUAL SLIDING GATE, HE CAN PURCHASE ONE OF THE KNOCKS, PADLOCKS PUT ON THERE.
AND THE KEY TO THOSE IS LOCKED AND SECURED IN OUR FIRETRUCKS.
COUNCIL, MY ONLY CONCERN IS, UH, THIS COUNCIL, KEN LAW DISTRICT, AND HE ASKED ALL THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO ME.
HU SON WAS, HAVE THIS A, B, AND C? AND HE SAYS, YES, YOU CAN HAVE ALL WE
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NEED.AND MY MY CONCERN IS WHY WE GOTTA KEEP COMING FOR THE COUNCIL WITH THESE MATTERS WHEN ALL THE DEVELOPER AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOTTA DO IS GET TOGETHER CHEAP AND WASHBURN AND JOE AND EXPAND PLANS FOR THEM.
WHAT, WHAT'S ALL YOUR PLANS? PUT THE PLANS IN FRONT OF YOU.
YOU KNOW, WHY WE GOTTA COME IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL AND MR. RABBITS AND RAISE, AND THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
KNOW, KILL, ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
SO WHY WE STAY AT THE STANDSTILL, WHY HE CAN'T GET PROJECT? NO, HE SHOULD HAVE ASKED THIS TO THIS PROJECT, IN MY OPINION.
YOU KNOW, SO THIS SHOULD BE A SIMPLE MATTER.
GOTTA GET TOGETHER, GET THE PLAN STRAIGHTENED.
NOW I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
UH, I GUESS THIS NEW PROPOSAL IS WHAT HE HANDED OUT IS SOMETHING NEW.
BUT, UH, I THINK WHAT I JUST WANNA POINT OUT, AND I THINK SOME OF THESE ARE MATTERS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION WHERE I CAN GIVE YOU SOME LEGAL ADVICE, OKAY? YOU HAVE TO GO BY THE PLANS THAT WERE APPROVED AT THE TIME THE DEVELOPMENT WAS PUT IN PLACE.
UM, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I JUST SAW THIS PROPOSAL, BUT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT USING PUBLIC DOC DOLLARS TO OPEN UP A ROAD, IF THAT'S THE PROPOSAL, IS THAT WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS? THE IMPROVEMENT OF THAT SECTION THAT IS TALKING TO MIKE, PLEASE.
THE, THE IMPROVEMENT THAT YOU SEE ON EXHIBIT NUMBER ONE IS PART OF THE ORIGINAL PLAN THAT DEVELOPER PAY FOR.
THAT IS NOT PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS IS PART OF THE PLAN.
IS THAT PROPERTY OWNED BY YOU? THIS A SERIES RIGHT OF AWAY THE IMPROVEMENT BE DONE BY DEVELOPER.
BUT IF WE MAKE IT A PUBLIC STREET, EVEN IF, IF YOU MAKE IT A PUBLIC STREET, THE PUBLIC HAS TO HAVE FULL ACCESS TO IT.
YOU CAN'T PUT UP A BARRIER ON A PUBLIC STREET.
SO I THINK THAT MAYBE THIS REQUIRES A LITTLE MORE CONVERSATION AND STUDY.
AND THEN WE CAN KIND OF ADVISE, BECAUSE I'M JUST SEEING THE PROPOSAL AND I'D LIKE TO GET A GOOD UNDERSTANDING.
BUT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING IN A ROAD, IF IT'S PUBLIC, IF IT'S PUBLIC PROPERTY, THE PUBLIC HAS TO, HAS ACCESS TO IT.
SO MAYBE WE NEED TO SIT OUT AND GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOUR PROPOSAL IS.
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE HANDING OUT NOW.
BUT BECAUSE IF IT'S, IF IT'S PUBLICLY OWNED, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE RIGHT PROCESS.
AND I GUESS I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS YOU'RE ASKING.
I DON'T, I'M JUST SEEING THIS PROPOSAL FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SO MAYBE WE'LL GET SOME MORE INFORMATION AND GO FROM THERE.
THAT WILL PROBABLY BE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE GET SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HE'S ASKING.
OKAY, LET ME LET COUNCILMAN MARKS SPEAKING IN KNOWLEDGE SPEAKING.
IN, IN LISTENING TO THE DISCUSSION, THERE WAS AN ORIGINAL PLAN THAT WAS SUBMITTED.
AND THEN THIS IS, THIS IS A MODIFIED PLAN THAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY.
IS A OR IS THIS THE SAME PLAN? THIS IS THE SAME PLAN.
IT'S THE SAME PLAN EXCEPT WE DON'T SHOW THE GATE AT THAT ENTRANCE.
WE PROVIDING A GATE ON THAT AREA, THAT IMPROVEMENT WILL BEGIN COMING TO THE TIMELINES.
SO IT'S MODIFIED THEN IF YOU ADDED A GATE, THEN IT'S JUST A GATE.
I UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS SUBMITTED ORIGINALLY.
AM I RIGHT OR WRONG? UH, THERE WAS NO, THERE IS NO ADDITION TO THE PLAN THAT WAS SUBMITTED.
NO, I'M MY LIGHT ON FOR WHEN YOU FINISH.
I'M NOT PART OF THE, THAT PROCESS.
BUT WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND, BECAUSE WE'RE POSTED JUST AS A SPEAKER, IF WE CAN GET ALL THE INFORMATION AND THAT WAY WE CAN COME BACK AND REPORT TO THE COUNCIL WITH THE RIGHT FACTS AND THE RIGHT INFORMATION.
BUT I, I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DEVELOPER IS ASKING, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS JUST A SPEAKER, UM, POSTING, WE, WE CAN SIT DOWN AND GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HE'S ASKING.
THIS IS, UH, I I I CAN, WE CAN BE BETTER PREPARED TO ANSWER COUNSEL'S QUESTIONS.
I GUESS HE'S ASKING THE, THAT THE CITY CONSIDER HIS NEW PROPOSAL.
BUT WE NEED TO, TO, TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT, WHAT'S DIFFERENT AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT'S BEING ASKED.
SO, UH, I WOULD THINK THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE THE PROPER FORM BECAUSE THIS IS A SPEAKER.
AND WE'RE TURNING THIS INTO A DISCUSSION AND A DELIBERATION.
BUT IF YOU WOULD GIVE STAFF THE TIME, WE'D BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH HIM AS SOON AS THIS AFTERNOON AND SIT DOWN AND TALK TO HIM AND GET A, GET A FEEL FOR WHAT HE'S ASKING.
UH, AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO COUNCIL COUNCILMAN MARKY, THAT THAT'S, IT IS MODIFIED.
I THINK THAT WAS THE GIST IS IS THAT THAT'S MODIFIED.
AND, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE GOT THE PHOTOS UP HERE.
I JUST WANTED TO ENSURE, UH, MY, MY DISTRICT AND, AND OUR COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT THREE THAT IF YOU LOOK TO THE EAST OF THIS SCREEN HERE, THE
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BARRIER CAGE THAT'S RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM.CAN YOU CHANGE THAT PHOTO? UH, LINDSEY? NO.
THAT'S THE AREA, THAT'S THE ROAD RIGHT THERE THAT HE'S SPEAKING OF.
BUT YOU TALK ABOUT GOING MAYBE ABOUT 60 FEET DOWN THE WAY HE WANTS TO DEVELOP THAT ROAD AND HAVE ACCESS TO THE BACK OF THOSE, UH, TOWNHOUSES.
SO, BUT ONCE AGAIN, MY QUESTION, AND YOU'RE VERY THOROUGH WITH THAT, THERE WILL NOT BE ACCESS TO PUBLIC ON THAT ROAD BECAUSE THIS BASICALLY IS SUBSTANDARD ROAD RIGHT THERE.
AND I, OTHER THAN THE FIRE AND, AND, AND UTILITIES, YOU KNOW, I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
BUT ANY OTHER ACCESS DRIVING CARS AND ALL OF OTHER STUFF, DELIVERIES, NO ACCESS, AND I WOULDN'T BE IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU CLARIFIED THOSE ANSWERS WITH ME TODAY.
I THINK THE CITY ATTORNEY IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT BECAUSE OF BEING A PRESENTATION, YOU PROBABLY WANT TO GET THIS TO US AND, AND GET ON THERE SO WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED TO THE FIRE MARSHAL, HE'S GAVE ME CONFIDENCE OF WHAT, WHAT'S NEEDED TO BE HAPPENING IN THAT AREA.
AND, UH, THEN YOUR NEXT STEP WILL PROBABLY, IF YOU DO PUT THIS BACK WHERE WE CAN GET DISCUSSION ON THIS BECAUSE, UH, YOU HAVE IT ON THE PRESENTATION WITH NO POS WITH NO POSSIBLE ACTION TODAY, RIGHT? NO POSSIBLE THERE'S NOTHING AND IT IS ONLY A SPEAKER.
NOW WHAT WE'VE DONE, WE'VE GONE, WE'VE GONE ABOUT 20 MINUTES IF IT WERE A PRESENTATION.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR TIME AND WHAT YOU DONE, AND WE, YOU'LL HEAR FROM US AGAIN OR SOMEONE WILL CONTACT YOU ABOUT IT.
[III.A.3. Dr. Rosalind Queen Regarding Calling Before You Dig, Training And Customer Service]
TO THE NEXT, UH, SPEAKER.ROSALYN QUEEN REGARDING CALLING BEFORE YOU DIG TRAINING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.
WOULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS OF MORNING MAYOR COUNSEL.
I LIVE AT 2294 BAYOU DRIVE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, 77,640.
I'M HERE TODAY DUE TO A DANGEROUS EVENT THAT OCCURRED AT MY HOME ON JANUARY 21ST, 23.
AT AROUND 3:00 AM THERE WAS A HUGE WATER MAIN BREAK IN MY FRONT YARD.
AFTER CALLING AND SENDING EMAILS TO THE WATER DEPARTMENT, THE CITY CREW FINALLY SHOWED UP AROUND 10:00 AM THERE WAS SEVERAL EMPLOYEES LOOKING AT THE MESS IN MY FRONT YARD, PROBABLY COLLECTING OVERTIME SINCE IT WAS ON A SATURDAY.
NOW, WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE? A ROUTINE FOR A ROUTINE LINE REPAIR TURNED INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT WAS DUE TO A PARENT SHORTCUTS AND NO ONE FOLLOWING POLICY OR PROTOCOL.
WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED WAS THAT THE CITY EMPLOYEES SHOULD HAVE CALLED BEFORE DIGGING.
SO THEN THE CITY EMPLOYEES, WHOSE NAME I'M NOT GOING TO MENTION OR REPEAT, STARTED DIGGING AND HIT A GAS LINE.
NOW, THIS CAUSED TEXAS GAS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COME OUT.
THIS ALSO SHUT DOWN THE WHOLE ENTIRE LAKESIDE PARK EDITION.
NO ONE HAD WATER AT ALL FOR HOURS WHILE WAITING ON THE GAS COMPANY.
EMPLOYEES SHOWED UP AND THE CITY EMPLOYEE HAD THE AUDACITY TO ARGUE WITH ME ON MY PROPERTY ABOUT WHOSE FAULT THIS WAS.
IT'S APPARENT TO ME THAT CITY EMPLOYEES SHOULD ATTEND AND ALL TRAINING PROVIDED THROUGH THE HR DEPARTMENT, WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO CUSTOMER SERVICE.
IT IS NOT THE CUSTOMER THAT IS ALWAYS RIGHT.
BUT WHEN CITY EMPLOYEES BECOME DISRESPECTFUL AND CONFRONTATIONAL WITH CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR, IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN MY BOOK, WE NO LONGER LIVE IN A, IN THE DARK AGES WHERE CITY EMPLOYEES THINK THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE DISRESPECTFUL AND CONFRONTATIONAL, ESPECIALLY ON THE PROPERTY OF VETERANS AND SENIOR CITIZEN HOMEOWNERS.
THIS IS WHERE THE EMPLOYEE SHOULD APOLOGIZE FOR HIS ACTIONS.
THIS APOLOGY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF YOUR EMPLOYEE AND NOT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THINGS OF THIS NATURE PROBABLY HAPPENS TO CITIZENS
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MORE THAN THEY WILL ADMIT FOR FEAR OF RETALIATION BY EMPLOYEES.AGAIN, TRAINING CUSTOMER SERVICE.
THE PLUS BE CALLING BEFORE DIGGING, MAY KEEP THE CITY FROM PAYING ADDITIONAL MONIES TO TEXAS GAS AND ENERGY FOR UNNECESSARY TIME.
THANKS FOR HEARING WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
WE HAVE ANY REMARKS? UH, COUNCILMAN MARKS? YES, I, I, I HAVE TO SPEAK TO THIS BECAUSE DR.
QUEEN ACTUALLY CALLED ME THAT SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
WE LIVE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, AND MY WATER WAS OFF TOO.
AND SHE EXPRESSED TO ME, UH, HER CONCERN FOR WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
AND MY QUESTION TO HER AT THAT TIME WAS WHETHER OR NOT, UM, 8 1 1 WAS CALLED, UH, BECAUSE YOU, ANYTIME YOU DIG IN AN EASEMENT, WHETHER YOU ARE A CITIZEN, A PRIVATE CITIZEN, OR A MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE, WE HAVE PROTOCOLS THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW WHEN DIGGING BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE UTILITIES THAT ARE IN THOSE EASEMENTS.
AND WHAT HAPPENED HERE WAS THE GAS LINE WAS BREACHED AND, AND TURNED OFF ALL THE WATER.
AND THEN WE, WE HAD AN EXPLOSIVE SITUATION.
UH, IT WAS MY SUGGESTION THAT SHE COME TO PRESENT THIS TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE, UH, OUR EMPLOYEES NEED TO KNOW, AND I KNOW THERE IS A PROTOCOL THAT, UH, WHENEVER THEY DIG THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO CALL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LINES ARE MARKED BY THOSE UTILITIES THAT ARE IN THOSE EASEMENTS.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, COMING OUT TODAY TO EXPRESS, UH, THIS CONCERN AND HOPEFULLY THAT WE PROVIDED SOME INFORMATION TO NOT ONLY OUR, OUR CITIZENS, BUT TO, UH, OUR STAFF SO THAT THEY, THEY CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE PROTOCOLS THAT EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS, IS ASKED TO FOLLOW WHEN DIGGING IN EASEMENT, UTILITY EASEMENTS.
ANYONE ELSE? I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK COMMENT TO MAKE AND IT WAS THAT, UM, MY, I'M MAKING THIS COMMENT ON BEHALF OF MY HUSBAND.
HE WANTS TO KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GONNA COME BACK AND FINISH PUTTING THE DIRT AND SOME GRASS SINCE THAT HOLE NOW IS COVERED WITH THE DIRT THEY TOOK OUT, WHICH I POSTED A COPY OF WHAT THE HOLE WAS AND HOW MUCH DIRT CAME OUT OF THE GROUND OR BECAUSE OF ALL THE RAIN WE'RE HAVING, THAT TOP LAYER OF DIRT IS COMING OFF AND IT'S GOING DOWN THE DRAIN.
SO WE GOT OTHER PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.
WOULD I EITHER, I WOULD JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE IF THERE WERE ANY, UH, MISCONDUCT CONSTRUED BY OUR CITY EMPLOYEE.
UH, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE IF THE CITY EMPLOYEE DID NOT SPEAK IN A FRIENDLY MANNER.
AND ALSO I KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
UH, ON THAT INCIDENT WE CALL LOCATES THAT MORNING.
COME, COME, COME, COME IN THE MIC PLEASE.
UH, YES, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, UH, THAT MORNING WE CALL LOCATES AND, UH, IT'S BETWEEN SEVEN 30 AND EIGHT WHEN YOU CALLED IN.
THE CREW HAD TO DO A REPAIR AND BEAN PASS WHILE THEY WERE WAITING ON LO LOCATES TO SHOW UP.
THEY RETURNED TO THE LOCATION, IT WAS MARKED, UH, THEY HIT THE GAS LINE.
AND WHEN WE HIT A GAS LINE, WE'RE REQUIRED TO CALL LOCATES AGAIN, WHICH NOTIFIES THE GAS COMPANY.
WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WE ARE REQUIRED TO STEP BACK AWAY FROM THE JOB UNTIL THE GAS COMPANY ARRIVES.
SO WE HAD TO WAIT AGAIN FOR THE GAS COMPANY TO ARRIVE, WHICH DELAYED THE REPAIR.
[III.A.4. Jason Kotz Regarding The Wrecker Ordinance, New Subsection J]
NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS WOULD BE ON PAGE TWO, STILL ENROLLMENT NUMERAL THREE.UH, WE HAVE JASON KOZ, UH, REGARDING THE WRECKER ORDINANCE, UH, NEW SUB SECTION J.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, SIR? IT'S, UH, JASON COATES, COAT 63 51 WEST WESTPORT OFF THE ROAD.
I'M THE OWNER OF AIRPORT GULF AND COATS TOWING.
WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING A SERVICE TO THE CITY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
I HAVE PERSONALLY RECENTLY, Y'ALL HAVE PASSED A RECORD ORDINANCE OF AMENDING THE ORDINANCE THAT A TOW TRUCK IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE PARKED AT A HOUSE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF PORT ARTHUR.
I PERSONALLY HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES
[00:35:01]
THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.THEY PAY TAXES AND THEY'RE U EVERYTHING THEY DO IS IN PORT ARTHUR.
THEY'RE ON CALL 24 7, 365, RECORD CALL.
Y'ALL GET A, UM, WE GOT A TIME ALLOTTED TIME TO BE RESPONDED TO A CALL FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
I THINK IT'S 25 MINUTES BY THE TIME WE GET TO CALL TO CALL THE DRIVER AND GET TO THE SCENE WITH THIS ORDINANCE THAT Y'ALL HAVE PASSED.
THAT MEANS MY DRIVERS CANNOT BE ON CALL AND HAVE THEIR RECORDS PARKED AT THEIR RESIDENCE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WHERE THEY LIVE TO GO GET THIS CAR OR A VEHICLE, WHATEVER THE SCENE THEY HAVE TO GO TO.
IN OTHER WORDS, Y'ALL WANT THEM TO PARK OUTSIDE THE CITY, I'M ASSUMING, AND DRIVE THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLE TO GET THE RECORD, RESPOND TO THE RECORD CALL, GO BACK, PARK THE TRUCK, AND COME BACK AND LIVE AT THEIR HOUSE.
THEY CANNOT TAKE THEIR RECORDS TO THEIR HOUSE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW Y'ALL ARE JUST NAMING RECORDS IN THIS ORDINANCE.
THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TIME WARNER TRUCK, THE SAME SIZE TRUCK, WHICH IS A ONE TON BEEFED UP, ONE TON THAT PARKS AT THEIR HOUSE.
THEY'RE ON CALL AN ENERGY TRUCK OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE OF THAT MATTER WHEN THEY'RE ON CALL.
SO I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING AT, I MIGHT HAVE TO LET THESE EMPLOYEES GO BECAUSE WE'RE, THEY CANNOT PARK THAT VEHICLE AT THEIR HOUSE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL WERE PRESENTED RIGHT WITH THIS OR WHATEVER, WHEN Y'ALL HAD THIS ORDINANCE GOING IN EFFECT THE CHANGE, NONE OF US GOT NOTIFIED THAT THIS WAS GOING ON.
IT'S KIND, BASICALLY IT'S PUTTING THE NEWSPAPER AND WE ALL GOT IT ALL AT ONE TIME.
SO BASICALLY, I GUESS I'M ASKING Y'ALL, Y'ALL, IF Y'ALL COULD REVIEW THIS ORDINANCE AND REALIZE WHAT Y'ALL HAVE PASSED AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THESE EMPLOYEES THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A JOB.
SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE, THE RE GO AHEAD.
NOW, I, I READ WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, MR. MR. COST.
I DON'T WANNA SAY YOUR NAME CORRECTLY.
WHAT'S THAT? YOUR LAST NAME? COACH.
UH, HE, HE ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT IT'S SOMETHING WE HAD JUST PASSED.
IS, AM I, IS HE CORRECT ON THAT OR IS THIS AN ARGUMENT THAT WAS ALREADY THERE? WE HAVE JUST MAYBE MOVED INTO ENFORCEMENT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CODES, WHICH WOULD BE THE, UH, AHEAD, UH, THIS WAS A ORDINANCE THAT WAS AMENDED, UH, IN NOVEMBER.
OF COURSE, I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT COPY.
IT WAS IN NOVEMBER THAT IT WAS AN AMENDMENT WHERE THEY ADDED SUBSECTION J.
AND, UM, I WAS JUST PULLING UP SOMETHING ON MY COMPUTER, UH, TO GIVE US RESPONSE.
AND BASICALLY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE, BUT A REQUEST WAS MADE TO ADD IT TO THE RECORD ORDINANCE.
NOW, WHEN HE SAYS, LIKE IN THE RECORD ORDINANCE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE REGULATE RECORDS, SO THERE WAS A PROVISION ADDED, BUT IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE, I WAS TRYING TO PULL IT UP, BUT Y'ALL CAME TO ME TOO FAST.
UM, THE, UH, ZONING ORDINANCE DOES NOT ALLOW CERTAIN TYPES OF VEHICLES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
UM, SO TH THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN OUR ZONING ORDINANCE, AND IT'S NOT JUST A WRECKER, BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ANY TYPE OF LIKE COMMERCIAL TYPE VEHICLE.
I'LL PULL THE EXACT REFERENCE UP.
AND AGAIN, LIKE ANYBODY THAT HAS A QUESTION, I KNOW WE ARE LISTED AS SPEAKERS, I'D BE HAPPY TO SIT WITH YOU AND KIND OF GO OVER IT WITH YOU.
BUT IT'S IN, IT'S BEEN IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND I CAN PULL IT UP IN JUST A SECOND.
AND IT SAID OVERNIGHT AND THE REQUEST WAS MADE TO TAKE THE OVERNIGHT OUT AND TO ADD THAT TO THE RECORD ORDINANCE.
BUT IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, CERTAIN VEHICLES, CERTAIN LARGE TYPES OF VEHICLES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE THERE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR YEARS.
AND IT'S ALSO CONSISTENT WITH, WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN, UH, MANY CITIES AROUND THE STATE.
BUT THERE WAS A REQUEST, UM, IN NOVEMBER TO GO AHEAD AND ADD THAT IT'D BE SPEC SPECIFIED IN THE RECORD ORDINANCE.
AND NOT THAT IT JUST BE OVERNIGHT.
UM, SO I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ELABORATE.
UH, I THINK WHAT SHE REFERRING TO AS THE ZONING, THAT'S COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, WHICH IS GOT A MORE WHITE STANDARD, UH, THAN WHAT THE TRUCK THAT OUR DRIVER DRIVE HOME.
IT'S NOT THE SIZE OF A DUMP TRUCK.
IT'S NOT THE SIZE OF A TANKER TRUCK.
IT'S A SMALL, IT'S A ONE TON RECORD THAT'S BEEFED UP A LITTLE BIT.
[00:40:01]
ZONING THING GOING INTO THE RECORD ORDINANCE THAT IT WENT TO, IT'S NOT CLEAR.WELL, SOMETHING ELSE, IF THIS IS WHAT I'D LIKE TO OFFER, I REMEMBER COUNCILMAN JONES WANTS TO SPEAK, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE WORKED OUT.
YOU ARE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT IT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING UP FOR A DISCUSSION.
BUT IT'S, IT'S TO BE SPOKEN ABOUT.
WE ARE TAKING IN WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE.
WE'LL STUDY IT AS A COUNCIL, LOOK AT IT.
AND IF IT NEEDS TO BE AMENDED AT A PROPER TIME, WE'LL WE'LL PUT FORTH AN AMEND.
UH, YOU TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THIS, ALL THIS AGAIN.
CAUSE RECORD SERVICE, IF YOU CALL FOR A PURPOSE SERVICE, THEY GOTTA BE AT THEIR HOUSE.
THEY GET A CAR TO THEIR HOUSE, THEY WANT TO GET UP IN THEIR TRUCK AND GET RIGHT, GET RIGHT AWAY ON HIS CARS.
ALSO, THIS GUY PROVIDE, PROVIDE, UH, SECURITY ON THESE, ON THESE JOBS.
THEY DOCTOR ROAD OFF, THEY CLEANED UP, THEY DO OTHER THINGS BESIDES THIS NEW RECORD SERVICE.
SO WE TAKE ANOTHER HARD LOOK AT THE SEAL WE GOING, THAT'S WHAT WE GOING TRY TO AMEND IT AND GET THIS GAS SOME BELIEVE THAT'S WE GONNA DO.
[III.A.5. Juan Reyes Regarding The Wrecker Ordinance, New Subsection J]
NEXT WE HAVE MR. WARREN RES REGARDING THE RECORD ORDINANCE.UH, NEW SUBSECTION J STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE, SIR.
UH, JUANES AND, UH, 29 41 EIGHTH AVENUE.
UH, PRETTY MUCH IS WHAT HE TALK ABOUT, ABOUT THE RECORDS.
YOU KNOW, UH, IT'S HARD IN US.
IT'S HERE IN THE, UH, COMMUNITY I GUESS BECAUSE LIKE HE SAY, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN ALL PARK THE TRUCKS IN THE HOUSE, HE PROBABLY LET HIS EMPLOYEES GO.
LIKE I SAY, IT'S HARD IN US AND IT'S HARD IN THE, THE COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S REALLY, I THINK, UH, WE NEED TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT IT AND MAKE A DECISION ON THIS.
SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT.
[III.A.6. Allen Valka Of Allen Valka/Opie's Towing Regarding City Ordinance No. 22-78, Wreckers At Home]
YOU SIR.NEXT WE HAVE MR. ALLEN VAKA OF ALAN VAKA OPS, UH, TOYING REGARDING CITY ORDINANCE NUMBER 22 DASH 78 RECORDS AT HOME.
TO COME UP PLEASE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
HELLO, I'M ALAN VAKA, LIVE AT 37 41 MEMORIAL BOULEVARD.
I'M THE OWNER OF OPIE STONE OPIE'S, STOLEN IN TRANSPORT.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO SEE THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS OF GETTING THIS ORDINANCE DEMOLISHED OFF OF HERE.
THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NEVER NO REASON FOR IT TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST A TOW TRUCK COMPANY HAULING JUNK CARS AROUND.
WE'RE A RECORD SERVICE SERVING THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY THAT THE CITY HAS ALWAYS WANTED TO KEEP IT A PORT ARTHUR.
WE DO EVERYTHING FOR THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND WE STAND FOR THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE DONE THIS RECORD STUFF OUR WHOLE LIFE.
AS MR. COAT SAID, WE'VE BEEN DOING IT 2030 YEARS ON THE STREETS EVERY DAY, 24 7, RAIN SNOWS, SLEETS, SHINE, HURRICANES, TORNADOES, WHATEVER.
THIS RED NOR AWKWARDNESS LIKE HE SAID, IT'S CAUSING TROUBLE WITH OUR DRIVERS, OUR AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET TO OUR CUSTOMERS QUICK ENOUGH.
WE'RE TALKING A 25 MINUTE TIMEFRAME, NO MATTER IF IT'S A TOW, UNLOCK A JUMPSTART OR WRECK CAR IN A DITCH, WHATEVER.
WE'RE D WE'RE BEEN DOING THIS AND WE'RE DOING THIS FOR THE CITIZENS AND OURSELVES TO TAKE CARE AND MAKE OURSELVES LOOK GOOD.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS ALL THIS TIME FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS.
ALL THIS CONSTRUCTION GOING ON ON 69.
ALL THIS CONSTRUCTION GOING ON.
THE CLOVERLEAF, THEY'RE FIXING SHUT MORE OF THE CLOVERLEAF DOWN.
YOU WANT US TO GO BACK TO OUR HOUSE? GO GET THE RECORD.
GO OVER THERE AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, WE GOT A FOUR CAR, FIVE CAR PILOT BECAUSE WE COULDN'T GET THERE QUICK ENOUGH.
AND WHOEVER CAME UP WITH THIS ORDINANCE BACK THEN OF THE TOW TRUCKS BE BEING MESSED WITH NEEDS TO RETHINK THEIR OCCUPATION.
WE'RE NOT JUST A TOW TRUCK SERVICE.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR REGISTRATIONS AND OUR PERMITS, WE'RE CONSIDERED EMERGENCY RECORD SERVICES THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS, THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE ANSWER EVERY MONTH AND EVERY YEAR TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSE AND REGULATIONS, WHICH IS WAY MORE HIGHER POWERFUL THAN Y'ALL ARE.
THIS IS, Y'ALL ARE CAUSING THIS ON US.
THIS BEAUTIFICATION STUFF THAT FIRST STARTED ALL OF THIS.
THAT'S WHY I CAME ON THE NEWS CAUSE I'M PRETTY IN PINK.
BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, YOU WANNA WORRY ABOUT BEAUTIFICATION.
HOW ABOUT THIS? THE OTHER NIGHT WHILE THIS RAM IS COMING ON, WE'RE WORKING A WRECK HARD UP UPSIDE DOWN IN THE DITCH.
AND THE DITCH DITCH IS FOUR FOOT OF GRASS IN IT.
TRASH, DEBRIS, EVERYTHING FROM NOBODY PICKING UP THE TRASH, NOBODY CLEANING UP.
THIS IS WHAT WE GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE DAY.
BUT WHEN WE GET ON SCENE AND WE TAKE CARE OF CALLS, WE'RE DONE QUICKER THAN ANYTHING.
AND WE DO MORE OF THE CITY OF CLEANING THE ROADS UP FROM THE DEBRIS OF THESE INCIDENCES THAN THE CITY DOES.
WE NEED TO HAVE A TALK ABOUT THIS.
24 7 TOW TRUCKS SHOULD NOT BE INVESTIGATED WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
[00:45:01]
COUNTY CERTIFIED.WE'RE ALSO CERTIFIED IN PORT ARTHUR.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO, WE CAN'T BE DOING THIS.
ONLY YOU'RE HURTING OUR CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
AIN'T THAT WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR IS FOR OUR CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN ABOLISH THIS RECORD ORDINANCE THAT YOU GOT ON THIS FOR TOW TRUCKS AT OUR HOUSE AND ABOLISH IT AND SUPPORT US TO DEFENDING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR 24 7.
WE GOT DRIVERS THAT DON'T EVEN SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES CUZ WE'RE TOO BUSY WORKING BECAUSE OUR CITIZENS COME FIRST.
CITY OF PORT ARTHUR COMES FIRST.
THAT'S WHAT WE ALL TALKED ABOUT IN THE GET GO, WASN'T IT? THEN WHEN DO WE START COMMUNICATING? Y'ALL DID PULL THIS UP AND Y'ALL DID START POSTING THIS, STARTED THIS NINE 13 OF 2022 WHEN Y'ALL ADDED JAY J.
UNLESS A RECORD IS BEING OPERATED BY THE PURPOSE OF TOWING OR REMOVING THE VEHICLE AS SET FORTH IN CHAPTER ONE 14, SECTION 1 21 OF THE PORT DAKOTA OF ORDINANCES, NO RECORD SHALL BE PARKED AT ANY OPEN PARKING SPACE GARAGE, COME ON.
CARPORT DRIVEWAY, FRONT YARD OR SIMILAR PARKING FACILITIES IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA.
HOW'S THAT GONNA JUSTIFY TAKING CARE OF THE CITY? HOW'S THAT GONNA JUSTIFY TAKING CARE OF OUR CITIZENS? YOU DON'T HEAR US TALKING ABOUT OUR MONEY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIVES, LIVES OF THE CITY.
PORT ARTHUR AND LAST YEAR'S SENSES ON POPULATION IN PORT ARTHUR WAS 66,000 PEOPLE ORIGINALLY RIGHT HERE IN PORT ARTHUR WITH CONSTRUCTION.
ALL THE EXPANSIONS, ALL THE REFINERIES AND STUFF.
JUST GOT A LETTER THE OTHER DAY FROM TECH.
SO YOU'RE OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND THAT WE'RE HAVING TO SIT BACK AND LET THEM WAIT AND THEIR LIVES GET JEOPARDIZED AND THE CONSTRUCTION SLOWS DOWN.
WE WANT THE MONEY IN PORT ARTHUR.
THEN WE NEED TO HELP THESE CITIZENS SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO GO TO WORK.
THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PAY THEIR BILLS.
OUR DRIVERS CAN PAY THEIR BILLS, WE CAN PAY OUR TAXES.
EVERYBODY LIVES IN PORT ARTHUR.
THEY PAY THEIR RENT, UTILITIES, GARBAGE PROPERTY TAXES.
WE PAY PROPERTY TAXES ON ALL OF OUR STORAGE YARDS LICENSE IN PORT ARTHUR BY CITY AND THE STATE.
SO I'M ASKING FOR, UH, LET'S COME TOGETHER ON THIS AND DEMOLISH ALL THIS, TRYING TO REGULATE THE TOW TRUCKS BEING IN OUR RESIDENCE IF THEY'RE LEGAL AND YOU GOT THAT PORT ARTHUR PD STICKER ON THERE, OR JEFFERSON COUNTY OR WHATEVER, AND IT'S LEGAL AND IT'S STATE CERTIFIED.
THERE AIN'T NO DIFFERENT THAN THE TEXAS DOCK TRUCK, PORT ARTHUR TRUCK, CITY DEPARTMENT, TRUCK, WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT TRUCK.
THAT'S WHAT I'M, THAT'S MY POINT OF THIS IS, IS BECAUSE WE'RE HERE FOR THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR, WE MADE THIS OBLIGATION AND WE PAY THIS CITY TO OPERATE IN THIS CITY UNDER THE GUIDELINES.
BUT THIS ONE GUIDELINE IS, SHOULDN'T EVEN BE THOUGHT OF.
SO I'M ASKING FOR IT TO BE DEMOLISHED FROM THE ACCOUNT, THE ORDINANCE, EVEN PARKING AT NIGHTTIME.
THEY DON'T NEED TO BE TOUCHED TO TOW TRUCKS.
WHEN Y'ALL ARE AT HOME SLEEPING WITH Y'ALL'S FAMILY, WE'RE OUT THERE IN THE WEATHER SAVING CITIZENS.
SO YOU NEED TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF CREDIT AND SUPPORT THE TOW TRUCKS INSTEAD OF GETTING DOWN ON US.
I'M GONNA ASK YOU FOR QUESTIONS.
ALL MY EARS ARE YOU THROUGH? SO ARE ARE YOU THROUGH, HAVE YOU COMPLETED YOUR PRE OH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
AND UH, THANK YOU, UH, OPIE OP, I I I I'LL LISTEN TO YOUR PRESENTATION AND I'M HEARING THAT YOU'RE SAVING LIVES.
YOU'RE OUT THERE, YOUR TOW TRUCKS ARE, ARE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY.
YOU'RE STAYING BUSY, NOT MAKING A LOT OF MONEY.
WELL, YOU JUST, THEY DEPEND ON US.
THEY DEPENDING ON Y'ALL HO HOLD, HOLD ON.
I'VE GIVEN YOU GOOD CHANCE TO SEE IF SOMEONE'S GONNA SPEAK.
I DON'T WANT 'EM TO HAVE, IT'S NOT FOR A DISCUSSION.
NOW THEY MAY HAVE SOMETHING THEY TO YOU, I AFRAID UP TO BRING IT TO THE TABLE AND I'M BRINGING IT TO THE TABLE.
WELL, I'M ONLY JUST REPEATING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, SIR.
YOU SAYING YOU'RE BUSY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE TOW TRUCKS OUT THERE, YOU'RE SAVING LIVES AND IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.
BUT YOU'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF ORDINANCE, UH, NEW SUBSECTION J YES.
AND I, I I'VE GOT MANY CALLS ABOUT THAT.
BUT THEN YOU EARLIER STATED THAT YOU'RE PICKING UP MORE DEBRIS AND, AND GARBAGE THAN THE CITY WORKERS.
SEE, I THINK THAT'S UNFAIR TO YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT WELL, THAT'S YOUR OPINION.
BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THESE POSITIONS THAT ARE MAKING AND PROVIDING FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
SO I THINK THEY WOULD PROBABLY TAKE OF OFFENSE IF YOU SAYING THAT WITHOUT HAVING ANY DATA.
MY THING TO YOU IS THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU COME UP ON A WRECK, I DO SEE TOW TRUCKS, YOU KNOW, BLOCKING OFF TRACK IN ALL THOSE GOOD THINGS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOUR BUSINESS AT, WHERE, WHERE'S YOUR BUSINESS LOCATED PHYSICALLY? 3,200 BLOCK OF 25TH STREET.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY OPERATES THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT WHAT, 10 MINUTES, FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM YOUR HOUSE, RIGHT? ABOUT 12.
[00:50:01]
SO IF YOU SAID YOU'RE ON MEMORIAL AND YOU SAID 25TH STREET BY THE TIME YOU, BUT YOU GOTTA REALIZE WHEN YOU GET OUT, PUT YOUR JEANS ON, PUT YOUR, AND BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE TIMEFRAME.WELL, ALL, ALL I'M JUST SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE START CROSSING RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESSES TO TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S MY CONCERN.
OUR RESIDENCE IS WHERE WE LAY OUR HEAD AT.
SO YOU TRUCKS, WE ALLOW OTHER BUSINESSES TO DO THE SAME THING YOU'RE SPEAKING OF TO BRING THOSE DUMP TRUCKS HOME.
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TALKING DUMP TRUCKS.
I'M JUST SAYING IT'S IN THE SAME CATEGORY.
IT'S NEVER BEEN TOW TRUCKS OR GO CARRIES THEM.
YEAH, IF YOU JUST, JUST MAKE A STATEMENT.
I'M GONNA JUST MAKE A STATEMENT.
WE GONNA, I HOPE THAT IT'S OUR, UH, OUR WILL AS A TOTAL COUNSELOR TO LOOK INTO THIS.
UH, I HAVE CONCERNS, I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MIX, UH, BUSINESSES WITH RESIDENTIAL.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE YOUR CARS HOOKED UP WHILE YOU'RE AT YOUR HOUSE OR YOU I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING UNTIL I GET THAT WE STAY BY EATING LUNCH, TAKING CARE OF DINNER, SLEEP.
NO, THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NOT FOR, THIS IS NOT FOR DEBATE.
I'M JUST MAKING A STATEMENT AND WE'RE GONNA END IT.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE DOING THAT OR NOT, BUT WE GOTTA GET THE INFORMATION SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO WITH THIS SUBSECTION J BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE FAIR TO YOU GUYS.
AND WE ALSO WANT TO BE FAIR TO THE RESIDENCE OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE A TOW TRUCK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE A CAR HOOKED UP OVERNIGHT, 24 HOURS.
WE'VE NEVER, WE WE'RE NOT ALLOW TOW TRUCK.
AND THEN WE GET THE DATA AND THEN WE CAN MAKE A DECISION ON IT.
YEAH, I THINK Y'ALL NEED SOME DATA.
UH, MR. VAKA FOR YOUR, YOUR APPRECIATION YOU'LL SPEAK TO TODAY.
[III.B.1. A Presentation By Dr. Liv Haselbach, Teressa Duesler, And Davon Chargois Regarding An Introduction Of The Lamar Center For Resiliency]
MOVE NOW TO, UH, PRESENTATIONS.UH, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY DR.
LIV SERACH, UH, THERESA, UH, DUESLER, UH, AND DEVON SHAWA REGARDING AN, UH, INTRODUCTION TO THE LAMAR CENTER FOR RESILIENCY.
I'M A PROFESSOR AT LAMAR UNIVERSITY AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR RESILIENCY.
AND DEVON SUA IS, UH, ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WORKING FOR SOME PROJECTS IN THE CENTER OF RESILIENCY.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME COME HERE AND DO THIS PRESENTATION.
I HAVE LEFT THE PDF AND SOME COPIES HERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION ON IT AND I DON'T WANNA TAKE EVERYONE'S TIME TOO MUCH HERE.
SO IF YOU COULD, UM, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO, THE CENTER FOR RESILIENCY AT LAMAR UNIVERSITY STARTED WITH THE LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION REQUEST THAT THE UNIVERSITY DID TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
UM, IT BASICALLY, UH, SAID THAT WE WANTED TO SERVE THE STATE OF TEXAS TO ASSIST IN ESTABLISHING A NETWORKING CENTER AND DATA COLLABORATIVE PROVIDING SERVICE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION FOR IMPROVED MULTI DISASTER RESILIENCY IN THE GULF COAST REGION.
EVANS SAID, WE GET A LOT OF DISASTERS HERE, SO WE NEEDED A CENTER FOR THIS.
UM, IT WAS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR IN JULY OF 2021.
AND WE STARTED WITH JUST THIS ONE PAGE DOCUMENT IN SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2021.
SO COULD YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? SO WHAT I ENVISIONED AND WHAT THE PROVOST AND THE PRESIDENT ENVISIONED IS THIS BRINGING THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY TOGETHER WITH AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPRESENTING ALL FIVE COLLEGES, OTHER MAJOR CENTERS AT LAMAR, THE TEXAS DISASTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS FINANCE AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES.
BUT OUR VISION AS WAS IN THE LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION REQUEST, WAS TO BE A NETWORKING CENTER AND A DATA COLLABORATIVE FOR MULTI DISASTER RESILIENCE SERVING, UM, THE GULF REGION.
SO COULD YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? WE HAVE SOME CORE PROJECT VALUES ON IT, THAT IT'S FOR THE GULF COMMUNITY NEEDS.
WE WOULD BE, HAVE DATA INTEGRITY, RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY, INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE AND DIVERSITY.
AND THEN SOME CORE COMPONENTS IS WE'D HAVE EDUCATION, OUTREACH, RESEARCH, DATA COLLECTION, AND INFORMING DECISION MAKING, WHICH IS ONE OF THE, UM, ITEMS THAT WE WOULD BE TOING HERE WITH A COMMUNICATION EXCHANGE.
AND OF COURSE, ASSESSOR WORK AND PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY, WHICH IS A, A FOUNDATION OF LAMAR UNIVERSITY.
SO WE STARTED IT WITH THIS PLAN THAT I'M THE DIRECTOR AND WE HAVE STAFF AND WE HAVE A EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPRESENTING, UH, BASICALLY THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY.
WE ALSO HAVE AN EXTERNAL ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES HERE IS ON IT AND, UH, REPRESENTING THE AREA AND THE STATE.
BUT IN THE MIDDLE THERE YOU'LL SEE THESE FOUR BOXES.
SO BASICALLY WE HAVE SPRINGBOARD PROJECTS, AND THAT IS EVERY SINGLE COLLEGE
[00:55:01]
GETS SOME, UH, FINANCING EACH YEAR FOR THEIR PROFESSORS IN ALL TO DO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, WHETHER IT'S, UH, DEALING WITH, UM, UH, SOUP KITCHEN OR, UH, FOOD DISTRIBUTION STUFF DURING DISASTERS OR WHETHER IT HAS TO DO WITH ALZHEIMER'S, UH, DISEASE AND THE IMPACTS OF, OF DISASTERS ON IT OR OTHER A ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AREA.WE ALSO HAVE INTERDISCIPLINARY PROJECTS WHERE WE TRY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND HAVE MORE COMMUNICATION.
WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL INITIATIVES AND I, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THEM HERE.
AND THEN OUR BIGGEST THING IS THE FLOOD COORDINATION STUDY.
UM, I STARTED THAT HERE IN THE FALL OF 2019 JUST AFTER TROPICAL STORM AMELDA.
AND IT'S BEEN A VERY EFFECTIVE AND AS IT'S, IT'S STATED HERE AS WE DO EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND RESEARCH.
SO COULD YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? SO LAST FISCAL YEAR WE ESTABLISHED THE CENTER.
WE GOT OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WE HIRED SOME STAFF, WE ESTABLISHED THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.
WE STARTED SOME PROTOCOLS BECAUSE WE'RE STARTING AN ENTIRE ORGANIZATION FROM SCRATCH.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH SPRINGBOARD PROJECTS, LAMAR PROJECTS, FLOOD COORDINATION STUDY IN THE FIRST YEAR.
WE INVOLVED OVER 70 FACULTY, OVER A HUNDRED STUDENTS, AND, UH, TO THE ORDER OF ONE, 1.2 MILLION TO THEM TO DO THESE INITIATIVES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A WEBSITE AND WE HAD SOME OTHER RESOURCES FOR THERE.
I I WOULD ASK YOU TO GO TO THE WEBSITE AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT TOPICS.
I KNOW I'M TALKING FAST, BUT I DON'T WANNA TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME THIS YEAR.
WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH THIS YEAR'S PROJECTS, BUT, UH, MAINLY EXPANDING THE INITIATIVES.
AND THIS IS WHERE I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE.
UM, THIS MONTH WE LAUNCHED A CITIZEN LECTURE SERIES.
THE FIRST SPEAKER WAS ENERGY, WHICH BASICALLY THEY WERE TELLING, UM, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE POWER GOES OUT.
AND SO THESE CITIZEN LECTURES WILL FEED FOR THE PUBLIC.
UH, WE'RE HOPING THAT THE NEXT ONE IN FEBRUARY WILL BE FROM, UM, VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS TALKING ABOUT VOLUNTEERING FOR IT.
WE'VE BEEN ASKED BY SOME JUDGES AND MAY MAYBE TO DO A HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS ONE.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THE CITIZENS HERE IN PORT ARTHUR MIGHT ALSO START ATTENDING THESE LECTURES.
WE HAVE SOME BROWN BAGS ON OUR, OUR RESEARCH, THE SUMMIT.
AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO TELL YOU, UNDER EDUCATION, WE'VE STARTED A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES.
SO FOR INSTANCE, WE HAD A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ONE IN OCTOBER WHERE SOCIAL WORKERS COULD GET THEIR CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR IT.
WE'LL HAVE A POVERTY POVERTY SIMULATION IN APRIL AND OTHER ONES SO THAT DIFFERENT, UM, PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE CAN CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION FOR BASICALLY NO COST FOR THEIR VARIOUS LICENSES THAT THEY HAVE.
BUT THE OTHER ONE THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO START IS THE CENTER FOR RESILIENCY CORE.
AND WE'RE ESTABLISHING A TRAINING PROGRAM TO HAVE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE MORE PREPARED, A LITTLE BIT SMARTER BEFORE A HURRICANE, KNOWING THINGS LIKE IF YOU GO OUT, PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN WATER, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BUG SPRAY, MEDICAL KITS, ALL VARIOUS THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND, UM, I S T C IS GONNA DEVELOP THAT TRAINING PROGRAM THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE TO START TAKING FOR THE AREA HERE.
UM, AND UH, SO YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE FLOOD COORDINATION STUDY BECAUSE UH, I WORK A LOT WITH DD SEVEN AND I KNOW IT FLOODS A LOT HERE.
WE HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS AND IT'S WELL ATTENDED, STATE, FEDERAL AND ALL PEOPLE GOING ON IT.
BUT OUR LARGEST PROJECT IS THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF WE HAVE DEPLOYED OVER 70, UM, LOW-COST FLOOD SENSORS IN THE SEVEN COUNTY REGION.
SEVERAL OF 'EM HERE THAT DD SEVEN HE HAD US PUT IN.
AND I JUST WANNA ALSO TELL YOU THAT WE WERE JUST AWARDED A DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY GRANT THAT DEVON IS HELPING US WITH, UM, WHICH WE ARE JUST KICKING OFF, BUT WILL ALLOW US TO PUT IN AT LEAST 20 MORE SENSORS.
PLUS THE GLO IS INTERESTED IN MAYBE US EXPANDING MORE SO THAT MORE AREAS THAT YOU'RE FLOOD PRONE HERE FOR YOUR FIRST RESPONDERS OR FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW.
AND I'LL GONNA SHOW YOU A LITTLE DETAIL ON IT BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PUBLIC DASHBOARD.
OUR SECOND BIG THING THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT HERE IS THE HIGH FREQUENCY RADAR PROJECT.
AND I'LL GO TO THE SLIDES FOR IT.
BUT WE HAVE OTHER PROJECTS ON POLLUTION AND DREDGING AND OTHER TOPICS THAT ARE IMPORTANT HERE, LIKE, UH, A MOBILE LEVEE TESTER IN THOSE KIND OF PROJECTS.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING IN SOME TER EXTERNAL GRANTS AND THIS BIG ONE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, I LEFT ANOTHER SHORT PDF ON IT, IT'S JUST KICKING OFF.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY DATA YET, BUT I'VE LEFT IT OVER THERE IN CASE YOU WANNA LOOK AT IT.
AND IN CASE YOU WANT US TO COME BACK AS
[01:00:01]
WE START DEVELOPING