Jul 18, 2023 City Council

AND, UH, COMING FOR, UM, HERE FOR THE PROCLAMATION.

WE ALSO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE PROCLAMATION, MAYOR PROTI AND OUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR, UM, THE PROCLAMATION.

AND THAT WAS GIVEN.

I MISSED YOU GUYS ALL UP OVER ON THIS SIDE.

IT'S WEIRD ON THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE.

SEEMS LIKE I'M GETTING TONGUE TIED OR SOMETHING, BUT WE'RE GLAD TO BE HERE IF WE COULD GET A PHOTO WITH EVERYBODY.

UM, AND IF ANY OF OUR OTHER MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING, UM, DO THEY HAVE A MOMENT TO DO SO? OKAY.

AND DR.

JUDITH SMITH, ONE OF OUR HONOREES HERE AND OUR HONOREE AS WELL, RIGHT? YES.

WE'LL GET A PHOTO WITH EVERYBODY.

UM, ALICIA, DID YOU ALL SAY ANYTHING? I THINK EVERYBODY'S GETTING SHOT BEING SHY TODAY.

PUSH THIS OUT WAY.

WONDERFUL.

AND THANK YOU, UM, MAYOR PROTON FOR CALLING EVERYONE'S NAME OUT.

WE HAVE DOLORES FULTON IS HERE WITH US, AND OF COURSE, ALL THE OTHER, UM, HONOREES.

WE HAVE SIX HONOREES, AND OUR LUNCHEON IS GONNA BE HELD ON AUGUST THE THIRD AT THE, UM, HOLIDAY INN IN BEAUMONT.

AND SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE, ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND AND WATCH THESE HONOREES COME BEFORE, UM, THE COMMUNITY THIS COM, THIS, UH, ACTUALLY OUR, UM, GROUP, THEY, WE DO SO MUCH IN HELPING THE COMMUNITY AND GIVING BACK.

SO WE ARE SO GLAD TO HONOR THESE WOMEN WHO'VE GIVEN BACK ALL OF THEIR LIVES AND SERVE THIS COMMUNITY WITH ITS ENTIRETY.

SO THEY'RE HONORED BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DO, UM, BECAUSE OF HOW THEY GIVE AND WHAT THEY DO IN THIS CITY AND, AND THIS CITY AND BEAUMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTY, THEY WORK TIRELESSLY.

AND SO WE'RE JUST, UM, UM, WE ARE JUST GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO HONOR THEM.

AT THIS TIME I HAVE.

HEY.

AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO PIONEERING WOMEN.

[00:10:01]

OUR SECOND PROCLAMATION IS SUPPORTING BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS MONTH.

IS ANYONE HERE IN YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO THE PODIUM? GOOD MORNING.

MORNING.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO STATE YOUR NAMES? MY NAME IS DENISE YOUNG.

I'M THE BREASTFEEDING COORDINATOR WITH THE WIC DEPARTMENT.

TERESA FIGUEROA, WIC DEPARTMENT.

CHANTEL.

CHANTEL LLOYD, PEER COUNSELOR WIC DEPARTMENT.

WELL, THANK YOU LADIES FOR COMING.

WHEREAS FAMILIES ARE A PRIORITY IN PORT ARTHUR, AND PART OF HELPING FAMILIES THRIVE IS ENSURING THAT THEY RECEIVE COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO DEVELOP AND SUSTAIN HEALTHY LIFESTYLES.

AND WHEREAS ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICS AND GENEAL, GYNECOLOGY, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY, PHYSICIANS AND OTHER LEADING HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS, BREASTFEEDING IS THE OPTIMAL FOOD FOR INFANTS EXCLUSIVE BEST BREASTFEEDING FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS AFTER BIRTH WILL WHILE CONTINUED BREASTFEEDING FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF LIFE, ENSURES THAT BOTH MOTHERS AND INFANTS RECEIVE MAXIMUM HEALTH BENEFITS.

AND WHEREAS BREAST MILK IS PSYCHOLOGICALLY TAILORED TO MEET INFANTS, MATURING DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS, ENSURING PROPER GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, BREASTFEEDING IS ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER RATES OF CHILDHOOD ILLNESS SUCH AS OBESITY, DIABETES, AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AS WELL AS REDUCED RISK OF MATERNAL BREAST AND OVARIAN CANCERS, AND FASTER RECOVERY FROM CHILDBIRTH AS COMPARED TO FORMULA FEEDING.

AND WHEREAS BREASTFEEDING PROMOTES MATERNAL INFANT BONDING AND BENEFITS THE ENTIRE FAMILY AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH LIFELONG HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, IT IS VITAL EMERGENCY PROTECTION FOR THE INFANT DURING TIMES OF DISASTER BY PROVIDING A SAFE, SECURE SOURCE OF FOOD AND HYDRATION THAT IS READILY AVAILABLE.

AND WHEREAS A PARENTS' DECISION TO BREASTFEED SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS BY PROVIDING A SUPPORTIVE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT, A BREASTFEEDING FRIENDLY COMMUNITY ENCOURAGES FAMILIES OF ALL RACES AND ETHNICITIES TO CONTINUE BREASTFEEDING.

AND WHEREAS RECOGNIZING THE PERSISTENT INADEQUACIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES BIRTH OUTCOMES AS EVIDENCED BY OUR HIGH INFANT MORTALITY RATE SUPPORTING BREASTFEEDING IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN IMPACT EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND REDUCE DISPARITIES.

NOW THEREFORE, I THURMOND BILL BART, MAYOR OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM TUESDAY, JULY 18TH, 2023 AS BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE CRITICAL ROLE OF BREASTFEEDING, IMPROVE MATERNAL INFANT HEALTH, AND REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WITNESS WHEREOF, I HEAR, AND TWO, SET MY HAND AND CAUSE THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS 18TH DAY OF JULY IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2023 THURMAN.

BILL BART, MAYOR, CONGRATULATIONS LADIES.

I LEARNED ABOUT, UM, A YEAR AGO THAT JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY RATE, NOT IN TEXAS, BUT IN THE NATION.

THAT'S EMERGENCY.

SO WE REALLY, UH, APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO.

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR A, WE HAVE SPEAKERS ONE SPEAKER LISTED, MR. ROBERT PATA REGARDING EAGLE PARK.

UH, ON BEHALF OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE WIC DEPARTMENT, AND THE HEALTHY TEXAS MOTHERS AND BABIES JEFFERSON COUNTY COALITION, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR CONSIDERING THIS AS A MATTER OF IMPORTANCE.

UM, EVERYONE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF THE PROVIDERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND MOMS HAVE A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO PROMOTE BREASTFEEDING.

UM, WE WANT WOMEN AND MOTHERS TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE WELCOME IN THIS COMMUNITY, UM, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE BREASTFEEDING.

BUT WE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED AND THEY HAVE A PLETHORA OF RESOURCES TO

[00:15:01]

GO TO.

UM, WE WANT TO CELEBRATE THEM.

WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING AWARENESS TO OUR, UH, YEARLY BREASTFEEDING EVENT THAT WE ARE HAVING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9TH AT THE CIVIC CENTER.

IT'S OUR A THIRD ANNUAL JEFFERSON COUNTY BREASTFEEDING CELEBRATION.

IT'S ENTITLED BOSS MOM.

WE WILL BE CELEBRATING, UH, BREASTFEEDING MOMS, JUST HONORING BREASTFEEDING IN GENERAL AND BRINGING THEM TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

UM, SO AGAIN, THEY CAN KNOW THEY HAVE THAT SUPPORT IN THIS COMMUNITY.

IT'S FROM THREE TO 7:00 PM WE INVITE YOU ALL TO ATTEND OR EXTEND THE INVITATION.

THANK.

OKAY, NOW WE ARE DONE WITH OUR, OUR PROCLAMATIONS.

NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS

[III. A.(1) Robert Petisca Regarding Eagle Park]

WILL YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD? GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS ROB BOB SKA.

I'M, UM, SPEAKING ABOUT PORT ACRES PARK AND THE CHILDREN OF PORT ACRES AND PORT ARTHUR.

UH, I'M KIND OF LIKE THEIR VOICE.

UM, LAST TIME I WAS HERE, WE HAD ASKED FOR SOME THINGS FOR THE PARKS AND, UM, I SPOKE TO, UH, MR. BURTON AND MS. ALPO PARKS AND RECREATION.

AND MR. BURTON INDICATED THAT, UH, HE ASKED IF THINGS WERE DOABLE.

MS. ALPO SAID YES.

HE SAID, DO IT.

UH, AT THIS POINT NOTHING'S BEEN DONE, BUT I ASKED MS. UH, ALPO HOW MUCH MONEY WAS ALLOCATED TO THE PARKS AND PORT ARTHUR AND PORT ACRES, AND SHE INDICATED NOTHING.

UH, WHEN ARE WE GONNA TAKE A STAND AND HELP THESE KIDS? THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T HAVE A, A DECENT PLACE FOR TO, UH, FOR ACTIVITIES.

THEY DON'T HAVE A, A DECENT PLACE TO WHERE THEY CAN GO AND GET RID OF SOME OF THIS BURNUP INJURY.

THEY HAVE, UH, OUR PARKS ARE NEED JUST DIFFERENT THINGS WE NEED IN, IN EAGLES PARK, FOR INSTANCE.

WE NEED A BASKETBALL COURT.

WE NEED A DRINKING FOUNTAIN.

WE NEED ANOTHER COVERED, UH, FACILITY OUT THERE.

WE NEED MORE, UH, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.

THEY NEED TO FINISH THE PARKING LOT THAT GOES TO THE HANDICAP.

AND THEN IT GOES IN FRONT OF THE BATHROOMS AND TIES INTO THE OTHER, UH, PAVEMENT, UH, WALKWAYS.

UH, THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS, UM, IF THE CONCRETE ISN'T PUT DOWN, THE SLABS NOT PUTTING DOWN, PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE TO WALK THROUGH THE MUD AND, AND EVERYTHING TO GET TO THE BATHROOMS. IT'S NOT ASKING FOR MUCH.

UH, IN PLACE OF DOING THAT, WE NEED SOME PERMANENT BATHROOMS FOR THE KIDS, BUT WE ALSO, UM, OUR LIGHTS NEED REPAIRING.

THEY'RE NOT WORKING.

UM, THE FLOODING OF THE, UH, EAGLES PARK, I, I TALKED TO MS. ALPO AND SHE SAID IT'S IN THE WORKS.

UH, THEIR ENGINEERING IS TRYING TO GET OVER THERE AND, AND SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

AND I ALSO, UH, ASKED ABOUT GETTING THE TREES REPLACED THAT WE'D LOST.

AND SHE SAID THAT THEY HADN'T DONE IT BECAUSE

[00:20:01]

OF THE FLOODING.

SO THEY, IF THEY GET THE FLOODING PROBLEMS TAKEN CARE OF, THEN THEY'LL GO AHEAD AND REPLANT THE TREES.

UH, BUT AGAIN, I GOTTA REEMPHASIZE THAT THESE KIDS, IF THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO, TO GO AND, AND GET RID OF THEIR FRUSTRATIONS, THEY'RE GONNA START FORMING GANGS.

AND THE FIRST THING YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA BE MISCHIEVOUS.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, THEY'RE GONNA START DOING OTHER THINGS THAT ARE AGAINST THE LAW.

SO MY INTENTION IS TO TRY AND GET THINGS DONE IN THESE PARKS TO WHERE THESE KIDS CAN HAVE A PLACE TO PLAY AND GET RID OF THEIR, THEIR FRUSTRATIONS AND, AND, UH, THAT WAY THEY'LL HAVE A CHANCE, GET 'EM BEFORE THEY GET INTO TROUBLE.

YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER MR. DOUCETTE.

QUESTION.

WHO'S GOING TO ANSWER? CITY MANAGER? GOT A FEW QUESTIONS, STAFF, GO AHEAD.

FIRST ONE, UH, ARE WE GONNA HAVE THE $1 MILLION FROM ADC FOR PARKS THIS YEAR? YES, WE DO.

THEN WE'RE GONNA BE DOING A BUDGET, DO HAVE A PLAN AND A, UH, LIST OF PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS $1 MILLION TO DO? YES, WE DO.

UM, WE ARE COMPLETING THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AT THIS POINT.

UM, PART OF THE MASTER PLAN WILL DEP WILL BE DEPRIORITIZATION OF PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS UNDER THE MASTER PLAN.

AND, UM, WE WILL BEGIN TO UTILIZE THE FUNDING, UM, FOR THE, THE EDC FUNDING AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED.

IF WE'RE GONNA PUT A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, AND IF I STAND CORRECT, THE THE MILLION DOLLAR IS FOR PARKS.

SO IF WE'RE GONNA PUT A MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE BUDGET FOR PARKS, THEN WE MUST HAVE IDENTIFIED THE PROJECTS THAT WE GOING TO DO IN THE DIFFERENT PARKS.

SO WE SHOULD HAVE A PLAN THAT'S GONNA BE PRESENTED ALONG WITH THE BUDGET, WHEREBY ALL OF THE PROJECTS ARE IDENTIFIED.

THE COST FOR THE PROJECT, ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES ARE LISTED BY THE PROJECT, IS NOT THAT WE HAVE A CHOICE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IN BUDGETING.

SO IT SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED.

SO ANYTHING WE'RE GOING TO DO WITHIN RELATIONSHIP TO ANY PARKS SHOULD BE LISTED AS A PROJECT.

THE ESTIMATED COST SHOULD BE INCLUDED.

AND THEREFORE, WHEN WE START THE YEAR OFF, WE KNOW THAT THESE THINGS ARE GONNA BE DONE.

THE FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED.

THAT'S HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.

SO RIGHT NOW, THIS DEAL THAT WE HAVE WITH EAGLE PARK, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FUNDING, IT'S FAR MORE IN LINE WITH MAINTENANCE AS OPPOSED TO PROJECT.

SO WE SHOULD HAVE HAD SOME WAY OF FORMS OF MAINTAINING THE PARKS.

NOW THAT MAINTENANCE OF PARKS, WE FUND THAT THROUGH OUR ANNUAL BUDGET, DON'T WE? YES, THERE IS A, UM, THERE IS A BUDGET FOR PARKS MAINTENANCE.

AND, UM, CONTINUED MAINTENANCE.

UM, THE, THE PROJECTS THAT THE, THE GENTLEMAN IS REFERRING TO, UM, IN TERMS OF A BASKETBALL COURT, THESE THINGS REQUIRE A BIT OF, UM, PLANNING AND DESIGN.

UM, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE ARE HEARING ABOUT THOSE, THOUGH I'M ALMOST SURE THAT THE, UM, THE PS DIRECTOR HAS CONTINUED COMMUNICATION.

THE MORE PRESSING NEED THAT WE HAVE ADDRESSED AS FAR AS EAGLE'S PARK WAS CONCERNED WAS THE FLOODING AND PS ARE DESIGNED TO BE FLOODED AS WELL.

WE, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE PATTERNS THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN BEAUMONT, AND WE, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE BLUEPRINTS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY SERVE DUAL PURPOSES IN COMMUNITIES.

HOWEVER, THERE IS A BUDGET FOR IT.

THERE'S A HUNDRED AND TH UM, 23,000, CLOSE TO $130,000 FOR THAT.

UM, UM, WE ENGAGED AN ENGINEERING COMPANY THAT HAS JUST COMPLETED THAT, UM, SOUTH ERS.

AND, UM, WE ARE LOOKING TO FUND THAT IN THE NEW BUDGET.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

WE HAVE COMPLETED WORK ON THIS, ON THE PARKING IN EAGLES PARK, UM, UM, UH, THE, THE TREE PLANTING, UM, UH, IMMEDIATE THINGS THAT WE COULD ATTEND TO THOSE THINGS, UH, LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT WE COULD PICK, YOU KNOW, AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE ALONG WITH THOSE.

UM,

[00:25:01]

BUT WE DON'T ONLY HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS WE SHOULD HAVE THIS YEAR.

WE NOT, WE SHOULD, WE WILL HAVE THIS YEAR $2 MILLION FOR THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF ALL PARKS, INCLUDING EAGLES PARK.

UM, A LOT OF WHAT MR. BATISTA IS REFERRING TO, WE CAN ATTEND TO.

SOME OF IT REQUIRES A BIT OF MORE IN-DEPTH PLANNING AND DESIGN, UM, LIKE THE, THE, UM, THE IDEA OF A BASKETBALL COURT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WHILST WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE FLOODING PART OF IT, BECAUSE PARKS ARE DESIGNED TO BE FLOODED.

AND AS I INDICATED, THEY CAN SERVE A DUAL PURPOSE BOTH AS A RETENTION OR, OR, OR, OR, OR DETENTION FOR, UM, STORM WATER WHEN THAT'S NECESSARY.

WE HAVE PERFECT EXAMPLES IN OTHER COMMUNITIES WHERE THAT IS BEING DONE.

SO WHATEVER WE ARE DOING WITH EAGLES PARK, WE ARE GIVING IT SOME CON CONSIDERATION.

AND WHATEVER LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT CAN BE PICKED AND ADDRESSED, WE WILL, WE WILL ADDRESS IT.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO INDICATE, IF I CAN, THAT, UH, WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY, UH, OVER PLEASURE ISLAND AND A LOT OF FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE THEIR KIDS OVER THERE.

SO IF THEY TAKE AND SPEND THE MONIES ON OUR PARKS, IT WOULD PROBABLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD USE THESE THINGS.

I HAVE, UH, SOME INDICATION THAT, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T USE IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT, UH, KEPT UP.

I MYSELF HAVE GONE OUT THERE AND CUT GRASS AND, AND DONE DIFFERENT THINGS OUT THERE.

BUT, UM, WE NEED, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THESE KIDS.

UM, I THANK YOU.

WELL, WELL, MY, MY MAIN THING, CITY MANAGER, FIRST OF ALL IS, IS IT'S IN DISTRICT FOUR, BUT, UH, IT'S NOT ABOUT JAGA PARK.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT WE GOING TO DO AND WHAT WE GONNA DO IN THIS COMING YEAR, AND WE'RE GOING TO, AND, AND BE ABLE TO FUND IT AND THEN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

UH, WE, WE GOT ALL THE PARTS, BUT WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING AT ONE TIME.

BUT WE SHOULD HAVE, IN THIS BUDGET, IDENTIFY WHAT WE GONNA DO IN NOT JUST EAGLE PARK, BUT ALL OUR PARKS.

SO THEREFORE THE CITIZENS CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO THIS YEAR AND THEN WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

SO WE SHOULD HAVE A PLAN, AND THESE PLANS SHOULD BE FUNDED SO THAT ONCE THE YEAR STARTS, WE KNOW WHAT WE GOING TO DO AND WE GET IT DONE AND THE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE.

SO I THINK WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS SIT DOWN WITH, UH, MR. PATIS, LOOK AT WHAT THE PARK, WHAT THE CITIZENS OUT THERE ARE TALKING ABOUT, BUT UNDERSTANDING, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S ONLY ONE OF MANY PARKS, BUT WE NEED TO GET TO A POINT WHEREBY WE COULD HAVE A PLAN SO THEY COULD SEE WHERE THAT PART GONNA CONSTANTLY BE DEVELOPED TO ONE DAY BE WHAT THEY WANT WITHOUT DOING IT AT ONE TIME.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL CITIZENS UNDERSTAND WHERE THE MONEY'S GONNA GO FOR THAT YEAR.

, THAT MONEY NEEDS TO BE ALLOCATED AND PLACED FOR A PROJECT.

ONCE WE DO THAT, THEN WE KNOW WHAT WE GOING TO DO SO THAT CITIZENS COME UP.

THEY WON'T HAVE TO QUESTION OR THEY WANT TO HEAR NO MONEY FOR IT.

IF WE DON'T PUT IT IN THE BUDGET, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT YEAR.

WE TALK ABOUT IT NEXT YEAR.

SO, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET SO THEY'LL KNOW THAT SOME MONEY'S GONNA BE SPENT IN THIS PART.

SO I THINK THAT'S THE MOST CRITICAL THING THAT WE NEED TO DO, BECAUSE IF WE START ADDRESSING IT IN THAT FASHION, THEN EVENTUALLY CITIZENS WILL SEE THESE PARKS DEVELOPING, AND AFTER THEY DEVELOP, THEN THEY CAN SEE WHERE WE GOING.

SO WE KNOW THAT WE ARE PUTTING MONEY INTO ALL OF THE PARKS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

HAS BEEN SELECTED, YOU KNOW, TO, TO, UM, DEVELOP THE MASTER PLAN FOR US.

YEP.

I MAY PRO, I MAY ADD TO THIS, UM, UH, YES, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

UM, PART OF THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THE MASTER PLAN IS A VERY, UM, PROGRESSIVE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS THAT WHERE WE INVITE CITIZENS.

I KNOW MISS MS. ALPO HAS GONE ON THE RECORD TO MAKE SURE THAT CITIZENS ARE AWARE OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT ARE BEING HELD, UM, AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AS PART OF THE MASTER PLANNING PROCESS, BECAUSE WE DO WANT PUBLIC INPUT.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE CITIZENS ARE PART OF PROVIDING THE IDEAS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR PARKS, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ULTIMATELY WILL USE IT.

SO, UM, IT, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

WE, WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY, THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS WHERE WE INVITE PEOPLE WITH THE COMPANY THAT

[00:30:01]

WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S SUSTAINABLE, IT'S MUCH MORE SUSTAINABLE WHEN THERE IS PUBLIC INPUT IN DEVELOPING PUBLIC FACILITIES.

IT'S VERY, VERY, I AS A PLANNER, I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY AS WELL.

SO THEY'RE BOTH THE, THE, THE, THE, UM, UM, RESIDENTS OF PORT ACRES, THOSE THROUGH THE CITY DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

I KNOW MISS ALPO, UM, UM, MISS ALPO, DO YOU WANNA ADD ANYTHING TO THIS? BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHETHER, UH, WE FLEW WITH THE PUBLIC INPUT PART OF IT FOR THE PLANNING PROCESS, BUT BECAUSE THE PLAN IS JUDICI THIS YEAR, THE MASTER PLAN IS DUE THIS YEAR.

WE'LL BRING IT TO COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION THEREAFTER.

DID YOU JUST SHARE IT BEFORE THAT MANAGER? IT IS 10:00 AM DO WE NEED TO COME BACK TO THIS FOR, UNLESS YOU WANNA FINISH VERY, VERY QUICKLY AND THEN LET'S DO THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR MS. ALWIN, THEN WE HAVE THREE PUBLICS.

THEN SHOW THE, THE QUESTION.

UM, THE INTEROFFICE MEMO REGARDING JUST FOR PUBLIC RECORD ACTIVITY HAS BEEN GONE ON AND STAFF HAS, UM, GONE TO THIS PARK AND ESTIMATES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED, AND THE REQUEST OF A APPROXIMATELY $154,000 WILL BE REQUESTED TO BE PUT INTO THIS BUDGET SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PARK.

SO ACTIVITY HAS BEEN GONE, UM, ON, AT THIS PARK SINCE FEBRUARY, 2023.

SO YOUR CONCERNS HAVE NOT BEEN IGNORED AND OTHER CITIZENS' CONCERNS HAVE NOT BEEN IGNORED.

BUT I WILL ASK CITY MANAGER, IS IT OKAY FOR HIM TO EVEN HAVE A COPY OF THIS? OKAY.

SO, UM, MAYBE WE CAN PROVIDE THIS OKAY.

TO YOU A LITTLE BIT LATER SO YOU CAN, UM, ALSO KNOW WHAT WE'RE, WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YEAH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OF, OF THE PARKS, BUT THIS IS DEVELOPMENT OF THE KIDS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M KNOWN.

I UNDERSTAND THAT'S, YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

MS. ALPO, JUST REAL QUICK, I SHOULD GET A PRELIMINARY, UM, INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN AT THE END OF THE WEEK, BUT WE ARE SCHEDULED TO HAVE ONE MORE.

AND THE COMMUNITY OF PORT ACRES HAS BEEN, HAVE DEFINITELY DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE IN RESPONDING TO SURVEYS COMING OUT.

SO THEY'RE VERY RESPONSIVE WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING INPUT ON WHAT THEY WANT, YOU KNOW, FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SO I DO APPLAUD THEM FOR THAT.

VERY GOOD.

SO, UM, WE'LL MAKE SURE MR. PATCO, THAT WE GET YOU A COPY OF THIS BEFORE YOU LEAVE TODAY.

YOU'RE, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

UM, MR. KELLY AND MS. DAVIS? YES, MA'AM.

WE WILL NOT FORGET YOU.

I'M SORRY.

WE, WE WILL NOT FORGET YOU.

WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING.

CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSARY AND NECESSITY REQUIRE THE OPERATION IN THE CITY OF THE PROPOSED RECORD COMPANY.

A PUBLIC HEARING TO

[IV. (1) A Public Hearing To Consider Whether Or Not Public Convenience And Necessity Require The Operation In The City Of The Proposed Wrecker Company And To Authorize The Chief Of Police To Issue A Wrecker Permit For The Following Named Business: A.C. Towing & Transport Aaron Campbell, Owner/Operator 331 Augusta Avenue Port Arthur, Tx 77642]

AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO ISSUE A RECORD PERMIT FOR THE FOLLOWING NAMED BUSINESS AC TOWING AND TRANSPORT.

AARON CAMPBELL, OWNER SLASH OPERATOR 3 31 AUGUSTA AVENUE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS 77 6 42 IS MR. CAMPBELL HERE.

THE, THE, THE, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS GONNA BE CONDUCTED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GONNA GIVE THE PRESENTATION.

THE APPLICANT DOESN'T CONDUCT IT.

CHIEF, YOU OKAY? OH, MR. LIEUTENANT SEGLER.

HI.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT MY PART IN THIS PART IS NOW.

WHO CALLED FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING? THE COUNCIL CALLED FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED BY STATUTE.

WHAT YOU, THE, THE, YOU? THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR AN APPLICATION AND WE HAD A RESOLUTION ON THE LAST AGENDA CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH WE CALLED THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR TODAY.

AND THE AD, I BELIEVE, WAS RUN IN THE PAPER.

SO UNDER CHAPTER ONE 14 OF THE CODE, AFTER AN APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED, WE, UM, HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING THAT IS WHAT'S REQUIRED.

SO THE, UH, ELEMENTS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING HAVE BEEN PROVIDED.

UH, AND, AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING WHERE THE, THE, THE PRESENTATION IS MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT ISSUES THE PER PERMIT, WHICH WOULD, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING WOULD BE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DISCUSS THE APPLICATION AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND TO THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.

SO WHAT WE ARE ASKING YOU ALL TO DO IS TO, UH, EXPLAIN THE APPLICATION AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PERMIT.

MR. SEGLER, DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE AGENDA OR WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO READ IT ONE MORE TIME? I'VE GOT ONE ON MY BACK, MA'AM.

PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

THE, UH, RECORD PERMIT WAS SUBMITTED BY AARON CAMPBELL ON BEHALF OF AC TOWING AND TRANSPORT

[00:35:01]

HE WAS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTATION OF OCCUPANCY WITHIN THE CITY.

THE FACT THAT, UH, HE HAS A TDLR LICENSE TO OPERATE WITHIN THE STATE.

UH, THE WRECKER AND THE VSF ARE THE VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITY.

UH, HE IS NOT IN THE ARREARS TO THE CITY.

AND ONCE HE PROVIDED ALL THE UNNECESSARY DOCUMENTATION WITH A WRECKER AND HIS STORAGE YARD WERE INSPECTED, ALL OF HIS DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN PRESENTED AND APPROVED.

UH, HE IS TRYING TO GET ONTO THE NON PREFERENCE ROTATION LIST, WHICH CURRENTLY CONSISTS OF 13 RECORD SERVICES OF THE ALLOTTED 17 BY ORDINANCE AND AT THE GOOD MORNING.

AND AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NO OPPOSITION TO THAT.

IS THAT ALL THAT YOU HAD? YES, MA'AM.

DO WE HAVE ANY, UM, SO DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC? CAN I ASK JUST ONE? YES, MA'AM.

I JUST WANNA POINT OUT ONE THING.

SO BASICALLY I GUESS WHAT THEY'RE INDICATING IS THAT ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ONE 14 HAVE BEEN MET.

IF, IF SO, THERE'S AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA AS WELL.

UH, I BELIEVE THERE'S AN ITEM.

I WASN'T HERE.

THIS, IT'S OKAY.

YOU CAN GO AND I'M, YES.

AND I THINK THERE'S A ITEM ON THE AGENDA AS WELL, UH, WHERE YOU CAN CONSIDER THE, UH, APPLICATION AND WITH THE, UH, ITEM ON THE AGENDA, IF Y'ALL CAN HELP ME OUT AND TELL ME WHICH ITEM THAT IS.

LET'S SEE.

PR FOUR, FIVE? YES.

ON PAGE SEVEN, NUMBER ONE.

AND, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING ON THAT ONE, UH, IS THAT THEY WILL ALSO BE ISSUED, UH, UM, TO BE ON THE NON ROTATION LIST.

SO, UM, YES, WE CAN OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, UH, THE REQUIREMENTS OF ONE 14 HAVE BEEN MET.

AND THEN AFTER WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND FINISH ALL THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, UH, YOU, YOU DO HAVE AN ITEM TO CONSIDER.

WELL, WE NEED TO DO ALL THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

AND THEN ONCE WE FINISH THAT, IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK TO PAGE SEVEN, NUMBER ONE, BUT I GUESS WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.

AND AT THIS TIME, EVEN IF THE APPLICANT WISHES TO GIVE ANY QUESTIONS OR YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS, UH, YOU CAN DO THAT AFTER THE PUBLIC SPEAKS.

UM, SECOND TIME, IS THERE ANY INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC? ANY INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY.

COUNCILMAN, UM, LEWIS, MR. LEWIS, YOU STILL HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS ONE? YOUR LIGHT WAS STILL ON? YES.

UH, A NOTICE IS, IS GOING TO BE FOR STORAGE ALSO.

IS THAT GONNA BE BEHIND A FENCE OR WHATEVER? YES, SIR.

IT'S NOT GONNA BE VISIBLE FROM THE STREET, RIGHT? CORRECT.

CAUSE WE GOT PROBLEMS. YOU KNOW WHAT, WE GOT SOME PROBLEMS ALREADY.

AND ISN'T THAT, DO YOU CITE THOSE PEOPLE ALSO THAT, THAT DOWN ON GULF WAY DRIVE ABOUT THE 1600 BLOCK THEY'RE STORING? SOME OF IT IS STUFF ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE, THE FENCE.

SOME OF THAT FALLS INTO, UNDER MY REALM, SOME OF IT FALLS UNDER CODE ENFORCEMENT AND OKAY.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS ADDRESSING THE ISSUE DOWN IN THE GULF.

AND THEN IN THE 900 BLOCK OF GULF WAY DRIVE, THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE DOWN THERE TOO.

BUT WE NEED TO STAY ON TASK.

THAT'S REGARDING AC TOWING AND TRANSPORT.

UH, EXCUSE ME MINUTE MAYOR.

THINGS LIKE THESE ARE RELATIVE, WE'RE ABOUT TO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STORAGE AND WE, AND, AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, SO WE CAN ONLY TALK ABOUT STORAGE FOR AC TOWING AND TRANSPORT.

THAT IS CORRECT.

CAUSE THIS IS WHAT THE PUBLIC HEARING IS REGARDING.

UNLESS AC TOWING AND TRANSPORT IS, UM, AT ALSO HAS A STORAGE AT 900 ACCORDING TO THIS INFORMATION, IT'S AT 3 31 AUGUSTA AVENUE.

CORRECT.

SO THANK YOU MR. LEWIS.

WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, MR. DOUCETTE, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE I ITEM PR NUMBER 2 3 2 45 FROM THE INDIVIDUAL ACTION NON-CONSENT TO VOTE ON NOW AT THIS TIME.

SECOND MAYOR, WE NEED TO FINISH THE PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE WE TAKE ANY MOTION.

YEAH, CUZ YOU'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT AFTER YOU FINISH THAT, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION, IF YOU WANNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND IF YOU WOULD REISSUE YOUR MOTION.

MR. FRANK, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT REGARDING THE PUBLIC HEARING? NO.

MAY I HAVE A, A MOTION TO PLEASE ADJOURN THIS PUBLIC HEARING? I MOVE THAT WE ADJOURN THIS PUBLIC HEARING AT THE TIME.

UH, 10 TEN SECOND.

IT THIS TIME IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING TO BE CLOSED.

[00:40:01]

WE CAN, MR. DOUSE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE YOUR MOTION? NOW I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE PR NUMBER 2 3 2 45 UP FOR VOTE.

CONGRATULATIONS MR. CAMPBELL.

PR NUMBER 2 3 45 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO ISSUE A RECORD BUSINESS PERMIT TO AC TOWING AND TRANSPORT.

LOCATED AT 3 31 AUGUSTA AVENUE.

PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS MOTION.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND PLEASE.

OKAY, NUMBER TWO,

[IV. (2) A Public Hearing To Consider the proposed abandonment of the Following: A23-02 Lamar State College - Port Arthur For Approximately 0.1377 Acres Of Land Consisting Of A Dedicated Portion Of An Alley Right- Of-Way, Located In Block 180, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas A precise drawing and description of the proposed abandonment will be presented at the Public Hearing and can be examined in the City Development Services Department, Port Arthur, Texas. The public will also be able to view the Public Hearing via the City's website at www.portarthurtx.gov Any person may participate in the Public Hearing and address the City Council]

THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT OF THE FOLLOWING.

A 2 3 0 2 LAMAR STATE COLLEGE PORT ARTHUR FOR APPROXIMATELY 0.1377 ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF A DEDICATED PORTION OF AN ALLEY RIGHT OF WAY LOCATED IN BLOCK 180 PORT ARTHUR JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.

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

THE PUBLIC WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO VIEW THE PUBLIC HEARING VIA THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT WWW PORT ARTHUR TX.GOV.

ANY PERSON MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADDRESS.

THE CITY COUNCIL IS THERE, MS. PAM LANKFORD.

MAYOR PRO TIMM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE DAY.

AGAIN, WE ARE HERE, UH, FOR A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING 0.1377 ACRE PORTION OF AN ALLEY RIGHT OF WAY, LOCATED IN BLOCK 180 CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.

THIS AREA IS BOUNDED BETWEEN FIFTH STREET AND PROCTOR STREET, AS WELL AS NEW ORLEANS AVENUE AND VICKSBURG AVENUE.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 94 DASH 3 82 OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CODE OF ORDINANCES, LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR SUBMITTED A COMPLETED ABANDONMENT APPLICATION TO THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING ON OR AROUND MAY 16TH OF THIS YEAR, REQUESTING CONSIDERATION FOR THE ABANDONMENT OF A 2020 FOOT BY 300 FOOT, WHICH IS 6,000 SQUARE FEET PORTION OF THE ALLEY RIGHT OF WAY, LOCATED IN BLOCK 180 WITHIN THE CITY.

AS PART OF THE ABANDONMENT PROCESS, THE APPLICATION WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SIGNING WRITTEN CONSENT FROM ALL OF THE UTILITY ENTITIES AND ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS OF LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR BEING REGISTERED AS THE OWNER OF THE ADJOINING PROPERTIES.

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

THE CITY'S PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON MONDAY, JUNE 26TH.

2023.

PUBLIC NOTICES WERE PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON JUNE THE 16TH.

AND NOTICES WERE SENT TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THIS SITE.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED TO TABLE THIS CASE AT THE JUNE 26TH MEETING DUE TO PUBLIC CONCERNS, WHICH CONSISTED OF PARKING AND TRASH ANXIETIES.

THE ITEM WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE COMMISSION ON YESTERDAY WHERE THEY VOTED FIVE TO ZERO RECOMMENDING THAT THIS ITEM BE APPROVED.

AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON JUNE 20TH, 2023, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 DASH 2 75, CALLING FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE APPRO PROPOSED ABANDONMENT.

AN APPRAISAL REPORT WAS ORDERED FROM SCOTT, STEVEN AND ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED OF CROSBY, TEXAS.

AND AN INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE PROPERTY WAS PERFORMED ON MAY THE 12TH OF 2023.

BASED ON THE FAIR AND REASONABLE CONSIDERATION, THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE PROPERTY IS ASSESSED AT $12,000.

NEXT SLIDE, LINDSEY.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS ABANDONMENT IS TO ALLOW FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE, AND CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLLEGE CAMPUS.

IN SPECIFIC, IT WOULD BE A NEW ALLIED HEALTH FACILITY, WHICH WOULD BE LOCATED IN THIS AREA.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THE NEXT FLU FEW SLIDES, EXCUSE ME, IS GOING TO SHOW THE STREET

[00:45:01]

VIEW.

NEXT SLIDE, AERIAL VIEW.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AS WELL AS THIS IS THE CITY STONE SITE FOR MAP TO SHOW WHERE THAT ALLEY IS LOCATED IN PROXIMITY TO THE LOTS AND HOW THIS WAS PLATTED OUT.

MY NAME IS GOOD MORNING, MA'AM.

AND THIS JUST SHOWS THE ZONING.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

IN PREPARATION FOR THE JUNE 26TH PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING, PUBLIC NOTICE IS RAMEL TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THIS SITE, AS WELL AS PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON JUNE THE 16TH.

PLANNING STAFF DID NOT RECEIVE ANY WRITTEN OPPOSITION PRIOR TO THE MEETING DATE ON THE 26TH.

HOWEVER, THERE WERE TWO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS, AGAIN ABOUT PARKING AS WELL AS TRASH, AND PROVIDED THEIR VERBAL OPPOSITION OF THIS REQUEST FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING.

THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PUBLISHED THE NOTICE IN THE PART OF THE NEWSPAPER ON JULY 1ST, AS WELL AS MAILED NOTIFICATIONS TO THOSE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY WRITTEN LETTERS OF OPPOSITION, UM, FOR THIS REQUEST PRIOR TO TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING.

AND IF COUNSEL HAS ANY QUESTIONS? SORRY, WE TRADING SEATS .

UH, JUST TO SATISFY THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE TWO PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE WITH VERBAL OPPOSITION, UH, DID THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS SUCH THAT THEY FELT OKAY WITH THIS PROJECT? OR IS THAT STILL KIND OF UNRESOLVED? WELL, NO MA'AM.

UM, THE PLANNING STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO CONTACT, UM, LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR, REGARDING THOSE CONCERNS.

UM, ONE OF THE CONCERNS WAS, UM, DURING PEAK HOURS OF, UM, OPERATION FOR THE STATE COLLEGE, UM, STUDENTS PARKING, UM, OFF OF PROCTOR, UM, SOME BEING PARKED IN FRONT OF THESE, UM, AREAS, THESE HOMES, UM, THERE ARE TWO RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES WITHIN THIS PROXIMITY.

MOST OF THE BUS, MOST OF THE, UH, STRUCTURES ARE OWNED BY LAMAR, PORT ARTHUR OR, OR SOME TYPE OF COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE.

UM, HOWEVER, UM, IN, UH, SPEAKING WITH STAFF, INCLUDING THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, UM, WE DID TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION OF POSSIBLY, UM, PUTTING UP NO PARKING SIGNS.

WE DID GO OUT, UH, RIGHT NOW IT IS THE SUMMER SEMESTER OR JUST ENDING THE SUMMERSET SEMESTER OF LAMAR, UH, TO SEE IF WE COULD IDENTIFY SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT, UM, THE PUBLIC SPOKE ABOUT.

UM, AT THE TIME, BY IT BEING THE SUMMER MONTHS, OF COURSE, UM, WE DID NOT NOTICE ANY OFFS.

STREET PARKING IN PROXIMITY OF THESE TWO STRUCTURES.

LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR DOES PROVIDE OFFS, STREET PARKING OPTIONS FOR THEIR STUDENTS.

UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL PARKING SPOTS, UH, SPACES, EXCUSE ME, LOCATED STRATEGICALLY, UM, AROUND THE CAMPUS.

UM, HOWEVER, SOME STUDENTS DO OPT TO PARK ON THE STREET RIGHT OF WAY, UM, TO PREVENT FROM PURCHASING A PARKING PATH.

UM, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE CITY HAS NOT RESTRICTED OFFS, STREET PARKING WITHIN THAT AREA OF PROCTOR.

SO OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS TAKING A CLOSER LOOK OF THAT BECAUSE IF WE DO INSTITUTE THAT, THEN IT WOULD BE FOR THE WHOLE OF PROCTOR.

IT WOULDN'T JUST BE TO ACCOMMODATE LAMAR STATE COLLEGE OR, YOU KNOW, PORT ARTHUR.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING AT AS STAFF, UM, TO SEE WHAT, YOU KNOW, OPTIONS WE HAVE, UM, LEGALLY TO, UH, ADDRESS THAT CONCERN.

UM, IN REGARDS TO TRASH, AGAIN, WE DID GO OUT THERE TO ASSESS, UM, TRASH WITHIN THAT AREA.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, FOR THE MOST PART, LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR DOES DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB AT KEEPING THE CAMPUS PRISTINE.

UM, WE DID LOOK AT, UM, THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES, UM, TO SEE IF, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ANY, UM, SEMBLANCE OF TRASH THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TOSSED OVER UNTO THEIR PROPERTIES.

UM, HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT STAFF OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT, UM, NOR MYSELF WHO HAS GONE OUT THERE ON SITE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, UM, TO SEE IF I COULD IDENTIFY THAT, THAT COMPLAINT AS WELL, THAT WE HAVE ANY TYPE OF EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT CLAIM.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? YES, MA'AM.

[00:50:08]

MY NAME IS LAURA BADO.

AND WILL YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD? 1812 PROCTOR STREET.

AND, UH, MY CONCERN IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE, UH, TRASH PICKUP IN THAT AREA, THAT THE BIG TRUCKS WILL HAVE A, A ROOM ENOUGH TO TURN AROUND IF THAT'S BEEN, UH, ASSESSED AND TAKEN CARE OF, OR FIRE TRUCKS TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE AREA.

AND OTHER THAN THAT, I, I THINK EVERYTHING IS FINE.

THANK YOU MR. VETO.

AND I'D LIKE TO ADD, UH, DOREEN BEDO.

I RESIDE AT ONE 20 DRYDEN PLACE IN PORT ARTHUR.

I GREW UP AT MY MOM AND DAD'S HOUSE RIGHT THERE AT 1812 PROCTOR STREET.

WE'RE VERY HAPPY HAVING LAMAR UNIVERSITY, OR EXCUSE ME, LAMAR PORT ARTHUR, UH, AS A NEIGHBOR THAT HAS REALLY CLEANED UP THE AREA.

UH, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT WE WERE AT THAT PUBLIC HEARING RECENTLY AND THE RECOMMENDATION ORIGINALLY FROM THE COMMISSION WAS TO ASK LAMAR, UNIV LAMAR PORT ARTHUR TO REACH OUT TO THE NEIGHBORS TO REACH OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEIR VISION IS FOR THE FUTURE.

BECAUSE WE, THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

THERE WERE ACTUALLY FOUR HOUSEHOLDS THAT WERE THERE WHO SPOKE UP THAT EVENING.

AND THERE ARE FOUR HOUSES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THAT.

AND, AND THEN NOT JUST HOUSES, BUT THERE WAS ONE FAMILY THERE, UH, THAT HAD SEVERAL TRACTS OF PROPERTY THAT ARE AFFECTED.

WE JUST RECEIVED THE NOTICE YESTERDAY AT MY MOM'S HOUSE.

UH, IT DID COME BY CERTIFIED MAIL, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THE OTHERS RECEIVED THEIR NOTICE.

SO JUST KEEPING THAT IN MIND.

UM, AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MS. BETO, CITY MANAGER.

SHE MENTIONED THAT THEY JUST RECEIVED IT YESTERDAY, WAS THAT, AND IT WAS CERTIFIED MAIL.

SO WAS IT ADEQUATE TIME FOR IT TO BE HEARD? LET ME ASK MS. MS, UM, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN, UM, LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED.

UM, YES, GO AHEAD.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER TWO 11 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, UM, IN PREPARATION FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING, THE CITY'S SECRETARY'S OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLISHING PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER.

HOWEVER, THEY DO GO BEYOND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND DO MAIL PUBLIC NOTICES TO THOSE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS AS WELL.

UM, IN REGARDS TO WHEN THOSE NOTICES ARE MAILED AND DELIVERED BY THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, THAT'S NOT, WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER THE DELIVERY TIME PERIOD.

UM, BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR ARTHUR NEWSPAPER AND THOSE NOTICES WERE SENT OUT.

UM, IN REGARDS TO CONFIRMING IF ALL PROPERTY OWNERS HAD RECEIVED THAT NOTICE PRIOR TO TODAY'S MEETING, I DO NOT HAVE CONFIRMATION OF THAT.

AND THEN THE OTHER TWO CONCERNS SHE HAD REGARDING THE TRASH PICKUP AND THE FIRE TRUCKS OR EMERGENCY SERVICES, BEING ABLE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THAT AREA, UM, WITH THIS PUBLIC HEARING, IT IS FOR THE ABANDONMENT OF AN ALLEY RIGHT OF WAY.

UM, THEREFORE THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY TRASH TRUCKS OR, UM, EMERGENCY VEHICLES THAT OF COURSE WOULD TRAVEL THROUGH THAT ALLEY.

MS. LANGFORD.

COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM, I DON'T WANNA PUT ANYBODY ON THE SPOT, BUT THERE IS SOMEONE FROM LAMAR STATE COLLEGE.

PORT ARTHUR .

THE, UH, PHYSICAL PLANT.

HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THAT WERE EXPRESSED.

AND I'M SORRY, I DON'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, , IS THERE SOMETHING THAT, MY NAME IS REED RICHARD, I'M DIRECTOR OF THE PHYSICAL PLANT FOR LAMAR STATE COLLEGE FOR GOOD MORNING.

MR. RASHARD.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR PRO TIM.

AND COUNCIL, UM, AS FAR AS TRASH TRUCKS AND, UH, FIRE TRUCKS AND STUFF, THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE, UH, PORT ARTHUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, ALL OF THE CITY ENTITIES TO ADDRESS ALL OF THOSE CONCERNS THROUGH PROCESS.

DO YOU MIND THIS PULLING THE MIC THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS? THANK WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN VISITING WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY TO ADDRESS ALL OF THESE CONCERNS.

UM, MR. BE, I MEAN, UM, MRS. BETO, WERE YOUR CONCERNS ADDRESSED? OKAY.

I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE SAY THEY RECEIVED A LETTER YESTERDAY FOR A MEETING TODAY.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE PAM,

[00:55:02]

SO WE'RE GONNA GO BACK THROUGH AND SEE WE IDENTIFIED THAT THAT'S A PROBLEM.

YES SIR.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A FIX TO IT.

SO IF WE DO PUBLIC NOTICES IN THE PAPER THAT WE, THAT WAS FOR 30 DAYS AGAIN, THAT WE DO THE, HOW LONG ARE WE SUPPOSED TO RUN IT IN ACCORDANCE TO STATE LAW FOR ZONING CASE? PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER, WHICH WOULD BE THE OFFICIAL PAPER OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WOULD NEED TO BE RAN 15 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACTUAL PUBLIC HEARING DATE.

IN REGARDS TO THE MAILOUTS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS NOT A REQUIREMENT BY STATE LAW, HOWEVER, IT IS A PRECEDENT THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.

SO THEY DO SEND THOSE LETTERS, LETTERS OUT AS A COURTESY.

SO IT'S NOT WITHIN 200, WITHIN 200 FEET.

SO 200 FEET IS NOT A REQUIREMENT NOT TO SEND OUT PUBLIC NOTICES TO NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC NOTICE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE NOTICE OF THE HEARING FROM THE ZONING PLANNING AND ZONING.

AND THOSE LETTERS WERE SENT OUT, UM OKAY.

15 DAYS BEFORE THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING.

SO WHY DON'T WE JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THAT? YES.

WHENEVER WE DO IT FOR THE PAPER MM-HMM.

, LET'S MAKE SURE IF WE GONNA SEND A COURTESY ONE OUT, LET'S SEND IT OUT THEN.

AND THAT, AND THAT WAY WE WON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN CUZ WE COULD FIX THIS.

EITHER WE DO IT IF WE DON'T, BUT IF WE GOING TO DO IT, LET'S DO IT.

IN ADDITION TO THE NOTICES, WHY DON'T WE JUST, UH, SEND SOME KIDS OUT WITH SOME FLYERS.

WOW.

WITHIN 200 FEET, GO DOOR TO DOOR AND THEN THAT, THAT SHOULD FINALIZE AND COVER EVERYTHING.

UM, WE HAVE HAD THIS DISCUSSION IN THE PAST, UM, ACTUALLY WITH THE CITY CITY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OTHER LEGAL COUNSEL.

UM, WE WERE SOMEWHAT ADVISED AGAINST THAT BECAUSE AGAIN, ONCE YOU CREATE THAT PRECEDENT, THEN IT'S A PRECEDENT THAT WOULD LIVE ON, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IT FOR EVERY SINGLE ZONING CASE, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

UM, SO IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE CAN HAVE A FURTHER DISCUSSION IN REGARDS TO.

BUT, UM, ONCE WE START THAT WE CAN'T DO IT AND SINGLE OUT WHICH ZONING CASES WE WOULD DO THAT FOR, IT WOULD BE FOR EVERY SINGLE ZONING CASE, ABANDONMENT CASE, AND ANY OTHER CASE THAT REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING UNDERSTAND FROM THE CITY.

I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT THE 200 FEET DOESN'T, RADIUS DOES NOT CHANGE.

IT DOES NOT.

SO IT DOESN'T CHANGE, RIGHT? IT DOES NOT.

SO LET'S DO IT FOR, FOR ALL OF THEM.

CAUSE A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE FOR SOME REASON OR OTHER, THEY DON'T READ THE, THEY DON'T GET THE, THE, THE PAPER.

UH, THEY DON'T HAVE THE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT TO KEEP UP WITH.

UH, YOU KNOW, SO WHY DON'T WE JUST, IT SEEMED LIKE A SIMPLE THING, 200 FEET.

I MEAN, IF IT, THE CIRCLE WAS GETTING LARGER, I COULD UNDERSTAND IT, THE PROBLEM, BUT, UH, I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH, YOU'RE NOT HAVING THAT MANY, UH, UH, ZONING CHANGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU GO AHEAD AND, UH, DO THE 200 FEET IZE IT.

OKAY? MM-HMM.

, THAT WAY WE WON'T MISS ANYBODY.

THANK YOU MR. LEWIS.

BUT I'M, LET ME GO AHEAD.

LET ME, I'LL ADDRESS THIS MATTER OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS A VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE.

YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM OF CHILD LABOR TO YES.

IF SOMEBODY'S DOG BITE A KID, YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM OF LIABILITY.

I WILL TAKE IT ON THE CONSIDERATION AND MAKE A DECISION.

NOW, IF YOU KNOW SOME CHILDREN THAT WANT TO VOLUNTEER, WE DEFINITELY CAN, YOU KNOW, PUT 'EM TO WORK FOR SOME OTHER TYPES OF ACTIVITIES AND GET THEM ENGAGED.

LIKE MR. PAISA WAS TALKING ABOUT, UM, ACTIVITIES AT THE PARKS.

BUT WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING.

NO CITY MANAGER, I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE LIABILITY OF POSSIBILITY.

THERE'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY.

LIABILITY.

YOU KNOW, BUT YOU DON'T GO IN THE YARDS THAT HAS A FENCE.

YOU LIMIT THEM WHERE THEY CAN GO.

DROP IT ON THE DRIVEWAY, DROP IT ON THE, UH, SIDEWALK.

SO IT'S A POTENTIAL OF A, A DOG BITING SOMEONE.

DO NOT GO ON THE PROPERTY.

IF THERE'S A FENCE, DO NOT GO ON THE PROPERTY.

IF THERE'S A POSTED SIGN, DO NOT GO ON THE PROPERTY.

THANK YOU MR. LEWIS.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON.

THANK YOU, MS. LANKFORD.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE THIRD PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT OF THE FOLLOWING.

DASH ZERO TWO AT LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR APPROXIMATELY 0.1377 ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF A DEDICATION DEDICATED PORTION OF AN ALLEY RIGHT OF WAY, LOCATED IN BLOCK 180, PORT ARTHUR TEXAS, JEFFERSON COUNTY, PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.

MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE LAST PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT OF, UM, A 23

[01:00:01]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MAYOR PRO TIM, I MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED FOR US TO CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

PUBLIC HEARING, A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT OF THE FOLLOWING.

ALL OPPOSED AYES HAVE IT.

MOTION PASSES.

THIRD

[IV. (3) A Public Hearing To Consider the proposed abandonment of the Following: A23-03 Lamar State College - Port Arthur For Approximately 0.4821 Acres Of Land Consisting Of A Dedicated And Approved Portion Of Vicksburg Avenue, Located Between Blocks 179 And 180, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas A precise drawing and description of the proposed abandonment will be presented at the Public Hearing and can be examined in the City Development Services Department, Port Arthur, Texas. The public will also be able to view the Public Hearing via the City's website at www.portarthurtx.gov Any person may participate in the Public Hearing and address the City Council]

A 23 0 3 LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR FOR APPROXIMATELY 0.4821 ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF A DEDICATED AND APPROVED PORTION OF VICKSBURG AVENUE LOCATED BETWEEN BLOCKS 1 79 AND 180 PORT ARTHUR JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.

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

THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE ABLE, THE PUBLIC WILL BE ALSO BE ABLE TO VIEW THE PUBLIC HEARING VIA THE CITY'S WEBSITE, PORT ARTHUR TX.GOV, AND ANY PERSON MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT CITY COUNCIL'S.

ADDRESS.

MS. LANGFORD, THANK YOU AGAIN.

WE ARE HERE, UM, TO DISCUSS AN ABANDONMENT APPLICATION FOR 0.4, A TWO ACRE PORTION OF A DEDICATED AND IMPROVED PORTION OF VICKSBURG AVENUE, UM, LOCATED HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 94 3 DASH 3 82 OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CODE OF ORDINANCES, LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR DID SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING ON OR AROUND MAY 16TH, UM, REQUESTING CONSIDERATION FOR THIS ABANDONMENT.

THIS PORTION OF VICKSBURG AVENUE IS APPROXIMATELY 70 FEET IN WIDTH BY 300 FEET IN DEPTH, AND IT IS LOCATED BETWEEN FIFTH STREET AND PROCTOR STREET HERE WITHIN THE CITY.

THE CITY'S PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON MONDAY, JUNE THE 26TH.

AND PUBLIC NOTICES, UM, WERE MAILED WERE PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER, AS WELL AS MAILED TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE 200 FOOT RADIUS.

UM, THE PLANNING ZONE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID TABLE THIS ITEM AS WELL DUE TO THE SAME CONCERNS THAT WERE, UM, LISTED IN THE FORMAL PUBLIC HEARING.

THE ITEM WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE COMMISSION ON YESTERDAY WHERE THE COMMISSION DID VOTE FIVE TO ZERO TO RECOMMEND THAT THIS REQUEST BE APPROVED ON JUNE 20TH, 2023.

THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 DASH 2 74 CALLING FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING OF THIS ABANDONMENT.

AGAIN, THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE DID PUBLISH PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICES WITHIN THE PORT ARTHUR ARTHUR NEWSPAPER, AS WELL AS MAILED PUBLIC NOTICES TO THOSE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS ABANDONMENT IS AGAIN, TO ALLOW FOR THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE COLLEGE'S CAMPUS.

UM, IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, IT'S GOING TO BE A NEW ALLIED HEALTH FACILITY.

LINDSEY, NEXT SLIDE.

THIS IS JUST THE STREET VIEW OF THE PORTION OF VICKSBURG AVENUE, UM, WHICH THE ABANDONMENT IS BEING REQUESTED OF.

THIS IS THE AERIAL VIEW OF THAT LOCATION.

NEXT SLIDE AGAIN.

UM, JUST OUR STONE CIPHER MAP THAT SHOWS HOW THAT AREA WAS PLATTED OUT AND HOW, UM, THE PROXIMITY OF THIS STREET RIGHT OF WAY IN REGARDS TO THOSE ADJACENT PROPERTIES.

ZONING.

ACCESS FIFTH STREET AND THE REMAINDER OF VICKSBURG AVENUE.

UM, IN PREPARATION FOR TODAY'S, WELL, FOR THE JUNE 26TH PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING, PUBLIC NOTICES AGAIN WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS, AS WELL AS PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER.

UH, FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING.

THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE ALSO PUBLISHED, UM, PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR ARTHUR NEWSPAPER, UM, WHICH WAS ON JULY THE FIRST, AS WELL AS MAILED NOTICES TO THOSE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS.

UM, AGAIN, UM, THERE WERE SIMILAR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS, UH, STREET ABANDONMENT.

THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL, UM, MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT THAT DID HAVE QUESTIONS, UM, REGARDING, UM, ACCESS FROM THEIR PROPERTY.

THEY RESIDED ON FIFTH STREET AND THEY JUST WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THE ABANDONMENT DIDN'T EXTEND, UM, TO THEIR PROPERTY WHERE THEY COULD NOT

[01:05:01]

NEXT.

AND IF COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE? YEAH.

LOOKING AT IT, THAT CUZ VICKSBURG IS A, UH, AVENUE.

AND YOU HAVE THE, DO WE HAVE ANY RESIDENCE BETWEEN THOSE IN THOSE TWO BLOCKS ON EACH SIDE? UM, NOT IMMEDIATELY ADJOINING, UM, THE PORTION OF VICKSBURG THAT LAMAR IS REQUESTING, THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE, UM, ON EACH FOUR CORNER ARE OWNED BY LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR, HOWEVER, OFF OF, UH, PROCTOR STREET.

UM, IF YOU CAN, LET'S SEE, LINDSAY, IF YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE AERIAL.

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE, UM, ON THE AREA PHOTOGRAPH, THERE IS A PROPERTY THAT WOULD BE LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THAT PORTION OF VICKSBURG AVENUE.

THAT VACANT LOT IS OWNED BY LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, BUT THERE IS A RESIDENCE ADJACENT TO THAT VACANT LOT.

WHAT ABOUT THE NO ONE ELSE ALONG THAT STRIP? NO, SIR.

UM, ON THE OTHER THREE CORNERS, THOSE PROPERTIES ARE, UM, OWNED BY LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE SOME TYPE OF MAYBE STORAGE UNIT THAT WOULD BE ON THE EAST SIDE OF VICKSBURG AND FIFTH STREET THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE.

THANK YOU, KEN.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CONCERNS? YES, MA'AM.

MS. PETO? MA'AM, YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE MIC PLEASE.

ON THE MAIL OUTS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S A PROBLEM.

UH, I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY ALWAYS CONSIDERS THAT OUR MAIL GOES TO HOUSTON FIRST AND THEN BACK AND IT JUST TAKES SO LONG TO GET OUR MAIL.

WE WILL WORK ON DOING A BETTER JOB AT MAKING SURE YOU GET IT THE NOTICE SOONER.

AND AGAIN, DOREEN, BAD DO I RESIDE AT ONE 20 DRYDEN PLACE IN PORT ARTHUR.

UH, MY MOM IS AT 18 TO 12 PROCTOR STREET.

WE DID NOT GET THE NOTICE FOR THIS PARTICULAR ONE LAST TIME WE GOT THE NOTICE.

SO A AGAIN, SOMETHING'S JUST NOT GETTING THERE IN TIME.

I, WE ALL KNOW THE MAIL HAS BEEN SLOW, SO, YOU KNOW, I DO UNDERSTAND, UH, THERE CAN BE ISSUES WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GO DOOR TO DOOR TO BRING FLYERS, BUT IT SURELY WE CAN DO BETTER IN GETTING THE NOTICES OUT.

I I DO RECOGNIZE IT'S IN THE PAPER.

I DON'T ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, PAY ATTENTION TO THAT SECTION.

UM, BUT AGAIN, UH, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE STREET VIEW, THAT THAT WAS THERE FOR A MOMENT, JUST A MOMENT AGO.

, SO JUST DIRECTLY TO THE RIGHT OF THAT STORAGE BUILDING, THERE IS A FAMILY THAT HAS PROPERTY THERE THAT GOES ON QUITE QUITE A WAYS.

AND THAT FAMILY IS NOT HERE TODAY, BUT AT THE LAST HEARING THEY HAD RE THEY HAD, THEY EXPRESSED ISSUES WITH NOISE ALREADY, UH, WHEN THE, WHEN THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON AT LAMAR.

AND SO THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT A POTENTIAL FOR A WALL OR SOMETHING TO BE BUILT UP BETWEEN THEIR PROPERTY AND LAMAR.

SO IT'S NOT MY, IT'S NOT MY PARTICULAR, UH, ISSUE, BUT I KNOW THAT THAT WAS AN ISSUE FROM THAT PROPERTY HOLDER.

MS. LANGFORD, WAS THERE A RESPONSE YOU'D LIKE TO PROVIDE IN ADDITION TO THE CLARIFICATION OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LETTERS BEING SENT OUT FOR P N Z AND THE, UM, JUST ADDITIONAL SERVICE THAT WE'RE PROVIDED FOR COUNSEL? YES.

UM, IN REGARDS TO, AGAIN, PUBLIC NOTIFICATION, UM, WE SENT NOTIFICATION AND PUBLISH IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW.

UM, IF, UM, THE COUNCIL DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER FOR US TO TAKE ADDITIONAL EFFORTS AND ACTION REGARDING THAT, WE WILL DEFINITELY DO SO.

UM, BUT WE DO, UM, DO THE NOTICES AND SEND OUT THE NOTIFICATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW AS WE DO FOR ALL CASES, UM, THAT REQUIRE PUBLIC HEARING.

AND THE NOTICES THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF IS FOR PLANNING AND ZONING FOR PLANNING, HEARING AND ZONING.

THAT IS WHAT PLAN THE PLANNING AND ZONING STAFF, UM, DOES THE PUBLICATIONS AND THE NOTICES FOR, FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

THAT EFFORT FALLS ON THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.

AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE STATUTE THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR PLANNING AND ZONING PUBLIC HEARINGS NOT FOR CITY

[01:10:01]

COUNCIL.

PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE STATUTE I'M SPEAKING OF GIVES THE REQUIREMENT FOR BOTH.

ANY OTHER, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR HIM.

ONE OTHER THING YOU, SHE MENTIONED, UM, THE OTHER FAMILY YES.

WERE DID YOU HAVE A RESPONSE FOR THEM AT THAT PUBLIC HEARING? YES.

UM, THE OTHER FAMILY DID MENTION, UM, THE POSSIBILITY OF, UM, INSTALLING A FENCE.

THEY DO HAVE A FENCE, UM, CURRENTLY ON THEIR PROPERTY.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, WE DID BRING TO LAMAR STATE COLLEGE'S, UH, ATTENTION, MR. REID RASHARD.

I DID SPEAK TO HIM IN REGARDS TO THAT.

UM, BASED ON THEIR CURRENT PLANS THAT WE HAVE SEEN, THE PRELIMINARY PLANS FOR THEIR NEW DEVELOPMENT, THERE WON'T BE ANY STRUCTURE THAT WOULD BE BUILT WITHIN THIS LOCATION.

UM, THEREFORE IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT THAT A FENCE, UM, BE ERECTED AT THIS TIME.

HOWEVER, WE DID ASK IF THEY WOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU, COUNSELOR BECKHAM.

THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

THANK YOU MS. LANKFORD.

NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS PUBLIC HEARING? MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED.

A SECOND, SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO CLOSE THE LAST PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING TRACKED A 2 3 0 3 AT LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR FOR APPROXIMATELY 0.4821 ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF A DEDICATED AND APPROVED PORTION OF VICKSBURG AVENUE LOCATED BETWEEN BLOCKS 1 79 AND 180 IN PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.

OPPOSED? MEASURE PASSES.

WE HAVE GUEST TODAY THE ATTORNEYS FROM THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE WHO HAVE TO CATCH A FLIGHT.

I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE, BUT WE NEED TO BREAK FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION SO THAT THEY CAN SPEAK WITH US, SHARE THE INFORMATION, AND THEY CATCH THE FLIGHT.

UM, WHAT WE WOULD ASK IS IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER THAT THEY HAVE A 12, THEY, THEY HAVE TO LEAVE AT ABOUT 1230.

UM, IT'S UP TO COUNCIL'S PLEASURE OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

UM, SO YOU CAN LET ME KNOW, BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE HERE FROM OUT OF TOWN.

UM, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO ONE ITEM IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, THAT WOULD BE A REQUEST THAT WE COULD MAKE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT NOW, BUT MAYBE 1115 OR 1130.

I DON'T WANT TO, UH, INTERRUPT THE AGENDA, BUT THEY DO HAVE TO CATCH A FLIGHT BACK.

SO WHAT, HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE TO HANDLE IT, I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW.

I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT.

BUT IT'S JUST ON ONE ITEM.

IN THE, IN THE FUTURE WE HAVE OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED AND AGENDAS ARE MADE WHEN THE AGENDA IS BEING MADE.

IF WE HAVE ANY GUESS OR ANYBODY COMING IN, WHOEVER DURING THE AGENDA SHOULD TAKE A CONSIDERATION ON WHERE THE ITEMS ARE PLACED ON THE AGENDA.

BUT, UH, THAT SEEM TO BE PRETTY NORMAL, THAT EVERY TIME WE GET SOMEONE FROM OUT OF TOWN, THEY HAVE TO ALWAYS THROW TO THE FRONT OF THE AGENDA BECAUSE THEY HAVE A FLIGHT TO CATCH.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYBODY WE INVITED OVER KNOW WHAT TIME OUR COUNCIL MEETING IS BEING CONDUCTED AND WHOEVER MAKING AN AGENDA SHOULD TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION.

WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE STOPPING, UH, GOING OUT OF AGENDA FOR THIS.

IT SEEMED LIKE A ROUTINE THING.

UM, AND THAT'S ALL.

NOW I UNDERSTAND EXCEPTIONS, BUT THIS JUST SEEMED TO BE ROUTINE.

THAT'S ALL I WANT TO BRING.

SO THAT OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS DON'T GET INTERRUPTED BY SOMEBODY MAKING PLANS LIKE THAT.

AND I JUST WANNA SAY, NORMALLY WITH THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, I WOULDN'T DO THAT.

I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH THE AGENDA, LET ME SEE HOW MUCH TIME THAT, UH, THAT'LL HAVE OR IF MAY CAN MAKE SOME OTHER ARRANGEMENTS.

LET ME DO THAT.

IF YOU ALL WANT TO GO AHEAD ON WITH THE AGENDA.

LIKE I SAID, I DON'T WANT TO CREATE A PROBLEM FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S ALREADY DONE SOMETHING, BUT I'M SAYING THIS IS ON US FROM NOW ON.

WHEN WE MAKE AN AGENDA AND WHEN WE INVITING PEOPLE OVER, WE NEED TO TAKE ALL THIS INTO CONSIDERATION

[01:15:01]

LIKE I SAID, I WAS UNAWARE.

SO IT'S UP TO, IT'S UP TO YOUR PLEASURE IF YOU WANT TO DO IT, OR I CAN ASK THEM IF THEY CAN, UH, MAKE SOME OTHER ARRANGEMENTS.

I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT UNTIL A MOMENT AGO.

IN UNDER PRESENTATIONS, MR. PAUL WATSON OF CLIMATE IMPACT CAPITAL ENERGY HOLDINGS, L L C AND HILTON KELLY, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY EMPOWER AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED, C I D A REGARDING COMMUNITY POWER ACCELERATOR HUBS.

COUNSELORS, ARE WE OKAY TO JUST ADJOURN AT 1115 TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE OTHER TWO PRESENTATIONS? YES.

[III. B.(1) Paul Watson Of Climate Impact Capital Energy Holdings, LLC And Hilton Kelley, Founder And Director Of Community In-Power And Development Association Inc. (CIDA) Regarding Community Power Accelerator Hubs]

WILL YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD? GO AHEAD.

PAUL WATSON.

UM, DR.

KELLY DRIVE, AUSTIN, TEXAS, HILTON KELLY COMMUNITY AND PINE WILLIAM ASSOCIATION, NINE 10 COLORADO AVENUE, PORT ARTHUR, ARTHUR, TEXAS.

BUILD RESILIENCE, AND WE'RE GONNA DELIVER SAVINGS DIRECTLY TO THE COMMUNITY IF WE, WE CAN GET ENERGY OUT OF OUR WAY OR TO COOPERATE.

GOOD MORNING, PHILLIP.

GREAT.

SO WE'RE GONNA DO THIS, UH, I GUESS I SHOULD TURN AROUND.

I'M CONFUSED ON WHICH WAY THAT I'LL, UH, TURN, BUT I GUESS I CAN SEE IT LIKE THIS.

SO, WE ARE, UH, COLLECTIVELY TEAM IMPACT.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU, UH, HILTON FOR ALL THE STUFF THAT YOU'VE DONE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS A COMMUNITY DRIVEN INITIATIVE.

UH, I AM FROM OUT OF TOWN, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S A PRETTY AWESOME AREA TO MAKE AN IMPACT.

WE ARE AN IMPACT INVESTOR, SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MITIGATE, UM, SOME OF THE DAMAGE THAT WE'VE CAUSED TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEMONSTRATE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO DELIVER COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

SO TODAY, WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT, CAN YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? YES, SIR.

ARE THESE COUPLE THINGS, YEAH, THAT'S MUCH BETTER.

SO, AS YOU CAN SEE OVER THERE, WE'VE GOT COMMUNITY POWER ACCELERATOR GOALS.

UH, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING SOME WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

UH, WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, EXPLAINING THROUGH HILTON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HIS HPA HUB AND DEMONSTRATION.

AND THEN THE NEXT STEPS IN THE AS FROM THE COMMUNITY.

THIS IS VERY MUCH ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DELIVERING BENEFITS, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT, UH, BEEN TABOO.

GROWING UP IN HOUSTON.

I LIKE TO SAY THAT I WAS A SPY IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, CLOSET ENVIRONMENTALIST, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

WHEN I MET HILTON, HE CAME FROM 10 YEARS ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, OBVIOUSLY FAMILIAR WITH, UH, PLAYING ROLES, PLAYING CHARACTERS, AND A STUNT MAN.

AND OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS HAS BECOME, UH, VERY MUCH AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST, REALLY, TO TRY TO DRIVE CHANGE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING IS WORKING ON TRYING TO FIX THIS GRID.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICITY.

WE KNOW THAT THE ENERGY GRID IS HACKED.

UM, THERE'S NUMEROUS PROBLEMS IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW.

WE EXPLAINED IT LIKE YOU'RE DRIVING ACROSS WEST TEXAS WITH A QUARTER TANK GAS.

IT JUST MAKES YOU CLINCH.

SO WHAT'S OUR PLEDGE? CIC ENERGY? WHY ARE WE HERE? IT'S REALLY TO SUPPORT YOU, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION THAT YOU DON'T HAVE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND WE'RE JUST NERDS.

UH, WE'RE LED BY MOSTLY ENGINEERS THAT HAVE WORKED FOR THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.

MY BUSINESS PARTNER RAN SHELL CHEMICAL, UH, SHELL'S VENTURE CAPITAL ARM.

BUT WE'RE HERE TO MAKE COMMUNITY SOLAR ACCESSIBLE BECAUSE IT'S HALF THE PRICE.

NOW WE'RE DEALING WITH THE UTILITY.

SO WE'RE GONNA NEED SOME HELP FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, BUT WITH YOU, WITH EVERYBODY HERE, WITH THE COUNCIL, WITH THE SUPPORT.

RON, THANK YOU FOR CALLING, UH, THE SECRETARY.

AND, AND LINDSEY, EVERYBODY'S BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE.

BUT REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS DRIVE THIS NATIONAL PLEDGE TO BRING SAVINGS TO LOW INCOME AREAS, DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? PEOPLE THAT HISTORICALLY DON'T GET THE COOLEST TECHNOLOGY IN THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN TERMS OF CURRICULUM.

WORKING WITH MR. MELVIN WHITE, I STARTED, I GOT PULLED INTO THIS AS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT, AND I WAS THE ONLY GUY THAT WASN'T A MASTER ELECTRICIAN, BUT UNDERSTOOD CURRENT.

SO I GOT PULLED INTO A PROJECT AND IT'S JUST BLOSSOMED.

IT'S LIKE LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE.

WE'RE MOVING BEYOND WHAT WE DID IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS TO GO INTO COMMUNITY COLLEGES, BUILD CURRICULUM,

[01:20:01]

SO, GOING ON TO THE NEXT POINT, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

THERE ARE 8 MILLION JOBS IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY.

75% OF THEM ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE WAY I LOOK.

UM, I GREW UP IN THE HOOD IN HOUSTON, SO I, I DON'T, I DIDN'T COME FROM THE BACKGROUND THAT SOME ASSUME, BUT, YOU KNOW, BEING AN ORPHAN AND GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE HARD KNOCKS, I HAVE A GREATER APPRECIATION FOR SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS THAT ARE CHALLENGED.

UH, I GREW UP SPEAKING SPANISH CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO.

WE'RE TRYING TO BRING DIVERSITY TO THIS WORKFORCE AND PROMOTE JOBS.

WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT YOU CAN MAKE SIX FIGURES WITH A CONSTRUCTION TRADE SKILL RIGHT NOW? SO WHAT HILTON'S GONNA DO IS HE'S GONNA DEMONSTRATE THIS BECAUSE SEEING HIS BELIEVING, AND I HEARD ALREADY TODAY BY A YOUNG LADY OUTSIDE THAT I'M SKEPTICAL OF SOLAR.

WELL, YOU SHOULD BE.

PEOPLE BEEN FOOLING YOU FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

THERE HAS BEEN GREENWASHING GOING ON, BUT HILTON'S GONNA DEMONSTRATE THIS.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LITTLE BIT FOR Q AND A AND WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH TIME WE HAVE.

THANK YOU COUNSEL THERE.

GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU, PAUL.

AS STATED, MY NAME IS HILTON KELLY, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY AND EMPOWER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION.

AND FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS, I'VE BEEN BACK HOME IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, HAVING LIVED IN CALIFORNIA FOR 21 YEARS, WORKING IN THE, IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY OF FILM STAGE AND TELEVISION.

BUT YET, WHEN I CAME HOME, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE SAW IN PORT ARTHUR? WHAT I SAW IN PORT ARTHUR WERE DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN PROCTOR, I REMEMBER A DIFFERENT PROCTOR.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE COULD GO THERE.

THERE WERE SHOPS, THERE WERE PLACES WHERE YOU COULD EAT.

WHEN I WENT TO THE WEST SIDE, I REMEMBER GROWING UP THERE, THERE WERE BUSINESSES, THERE WERE BARBERSHOPS.

WE HAD THE HOLLYWOOD MOVIE THEATER.

AND ONCE AGAIN, WE FOUND THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES.

AND WHEN I CAME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL TO SPEAK BACK IN 2002, 21 YEARS AGO, WOW, HOW TIME FLIES.

UM, I REMEMBER, UM, THESE THEN CITY MANAGERS SAYING, WELL, MR. KELLY, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THE C D B G GRANT MONEY THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR.

UH, BUT YET I KNEW NOTHING OF THAT LANGUAGE.

I KNEW NOTHING OF NONPROFITS AND WHATNOT.

BUT HERE I AM, 21 YEARS LATER, AND NOW I TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL THEN THAT I WASN'T COMING TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE TABLE, BUT I WANTED TO BRING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE.

AND 21 YEARS LATER, HERE I AM BRINGING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE.

AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WHAT MR. WATSON IS TALKING ABOUT IS, NUMBER ONE, THE GOAL OF OUR PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP AND INCREASE ACCESS TO COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECTS IN PORT ARTHUR TO REDUCE THE ENERGY BURDEN, INCREASED RESILIENCE DURING HEAT WAVES, HURRICANES, AND PROVIDE COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP OPTIONS, OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD WEALTH AND EQUITY IN OUR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.

WE ALL KNOW OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NEED JOBS.

WE ALL KNOW THAT A LOT OF OUR AREAS OF SUFFERING DUE TO BLIGHT AND DUE TO LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES AND DEVELOPMENT, WELL, THE IN, UH, INFLATION REDUCTION ACT IS GEARED JUST FOR THAT.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THE KA KAMALA ADMINISTRATION, THEY GET IT.

THIS IS WHY MORE THAN $80 BILLION IS BEING EARMARKED AND TARGETED FOR MODERATE TO LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES LIKE WEST PORT ARTHUR.

AND LET'S JUST FACE IT, WE ARE A POSTER CHILD FOR THIS FUNDING.

AND WE HAVE TAPPED INTO THAT FUNDING.

AND THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT PORT ARTHUR CAN TAP INTO AT THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT.

AND THIS IS WHY WE BROUGHT MR. WATSON HERE TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

WE HAVE CONTRACTORS LINED UP THAT ARE WILLING AND READY TO GO TO WORK AND ALSO WORK WITH US, WITH HIRING LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE TO ALSO OBTAIN THOSE JOBS.

UNLIKE SOME OF OUR INDUSTRIES, WHICH SAY THAT, WELL, WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE MATTER BECAUSE WE HIRE ALL CONTRACTORS AND THEY HAVE THE SAY ON WHO THEY HIRE.

AND WE KNOW MANY OF OUR, OUR PARTNERS GET IN TAX ABATEMENTS BECAUSE OF THAT.

BUT YET WE NEED TO HOLD PEOPLE FEET TO THE FIRE WHEN THEY SAY THEY'RE GONNA HELP TO HIRE LOCAL.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE PLAN TO DO.

WE HAVE MR. MELVIN WHITE WITH G-TECH, WHO IS STANDING AT THE READY TO HELP TRAIN THIS NEW WORKFORCE AND EDUCATE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS NEW INDUSTRY.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY THAT IS BEING AFFORDED CITIES OF PORT ARTHUR AND OTHER CITIES LIKE PORT ARTHUR, AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTAKE IN THE JUSTICE 40 ACT.

WHAT DOES THE JUSTICE 40 ACT MEAN? THAT MEANS THAT 40% OF ALL THE MONEY THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS EARMARKED, HAS

[01:25:01]

EARMARKED FOR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.

40% OF THAT MONEY MUST BE ALLOCATED FOR THAT COMMUNITY, FOR JOB DEVELOPMENT AND TO BUILD EQUITY.

AND WEST PORT ARTHUR IS A PRIME CANDIDATE FOR THAT FUNDING.

AND WE ARE TALKING WITH FEDERAL AND STATE FOLKS AT THIS MOMENT.

NOW, I'M ALSO HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, MS. JENNIFER, UH, GRANHOLM, CAME TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

AND PRIOR TO HER COMING HERE, I WAS ON THE TELEPHONE AND ZOOM CALLS WITH HER STAFF HELPING TO DESIGN HER VISIT.

AND THEY HAD ME MEET WITH HER IN OUR MOST BLIGHTED AREA.

AND I HAD HER MEET ME OVER THERE BY THE TARY SITE WHERE THE TARY WAS STOOD, AS YOU ALL KNEW.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN TORN DOWN SINCE 2012, AND YET THERE WERE MANY PROBLEMS OUT THERE.

BUT WE STILL HAVE A GAUNTLET OF PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

AND D O E AT THE MEETING AT LAMAR URGED US TO WORK TOGETHER.

THE MONIES EARMARKED FOR US AND LET'S GO GET IT WORKING TOGETHER.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO TODAY, IS TO URGE YOU TO WORK CLOSELY.

LET'S GET IN, IN, IN SYNC WITH EACH OTHER AND WORK TOGETHER WITH GETTING THIS MONEY HOME, BRING IT HOME TO HELP DEVELOP JOBS AND DEVELOP THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

AND WITH MR. WATSON ON BOARD AND WITH THE D O E AT OUR BACK, WE CAN DO THIS.

AND MONEY IS ALREADY STARTING TO FLOW.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR PATIENCE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING US TO DO THIS PRESENTATION.

AND MR. WATSON, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY? DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE? NO.

I'LL HANDLE THAT PART FOR YOU.

SAY AGAIN? I WILL HANDLE THAT PART FOR YOU.

OH, OKAY.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO YOUR PRESENTATION? OKAY.

THE MAJOR ASK IS WE NEED CLONES OF HILTON.

WE NEED PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE NEED PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT SCARED TO STAND UP.

AND I MEAN, TO HANDLE THE ENDURANCE, YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD AND CHANCE FAVORS OF PREPARED MINE.

AND I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO, THE HARDER I WORK, THE LUCKIER THAT I GET.

AND WE NEED PEOPLE TO ENGAGE.

WHAT WE DID IN AUSTIN, WE DID A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT WHERE WE GOT WITH THE LOCAL NEWS, WE NEED TO GET WITH THE LOCAL NEWS THAT'S GONNA TAKE SUPPORT.

WE'RE GONNA BE ASKING FROM THE COMMUNITY, WE'RE GONNA BE ASKING FROM THE COUNCIL, WE'RE GONNA BE ASKING FROM, WE'RE GONNA PROBABLY WANNA PARTICIPATE IN MASTER PLAN AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WHAT GRID PARODY MEANS IS IT MEANS THAT IT'S NOW CHEAPER THAN OIL THAN COAL THAN NATURAL GAS.

SO WE CAN DO IT CHEAPER AND THANK YOU WITH PEOPLE LIKE HILTON WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CITY.

UM, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WE CAN SUPPORT OUR GRID.

UM, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT A DEMONSTRATION SITE.

DID YOU LET 'EM KNOW WHERE THAT WAS? YEAH, AS A MATTER OF FACT, UH, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTING WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS, WE ARE GOING TO BE BUILDING A EV STATION, ELECTRICAL VEHICLE, CHARGING STATION.

WE WANT TO BE PROACTIVE IN PROVIDING A PLACE FOR ELECTRICAL VEHICLES TO BE ABLE TO CHARGE UP THEIR VEHICLES AND TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD COME IN, SIT AND RELAX WHILE THEIR VEHICLES ARE BEING CHARGED.

AND THE LOCATION THAT WE ARE TARGETING IS ON THE CORNER OF REVEREND RAYMOND SCOTT AVENUE AND NINTH STREET IN WEST PORT ARTHUR, RIGHT NEXT TO THE COMMUNITY GARDEN THAT WE HAD BUILT SOME YEARS AGO.

AND ALSO IT'S RIGHT NEAR THE, UH, WEST SIDE, PORT ARTHUR CLINIC HEALTH CLINIC, NEXT TO THE DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

SO THAT WHOLE AREA IS STARTING TO EXPAND AND, AND TO, TO DEVELOP.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IN PLACES LIKE WESTPORT, ARTHUR, DEVELOPMENT, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND OP AND EQUITY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT STILL LIVE THERE.

AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THIS WILL SPREAD THROUGHOUT PORT ARTHUR AND THAT WE CAN BE A MODEL FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE DISADVANTAGE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IDEAS AND, AND OPPORTUNITIES AND PROJECTS LIKE THIS.

SO I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT IT.

WE'VE ALREADY, WE ALREADY REQUIRED ACQUIRED THE LAND AND UH, WE HAVE THE CONTRACTORS LINED UP THAT ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO THIS WORK.

THEY'VE DONE IT IN OTHER AREAS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF GETTING THE FUNDING.

AND I'M TALKING ABOUT BIG FUNDING.

AND THIS WILL HELP TO ELEVATE THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA.

AND WE ALL KNOW THE HISTORY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN IT COME TO VIOLENCE, WHEN IT COME TO A LOT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING IN TROUBLE.

SO LET'S DO SOMETHING POSITIVE.

IT'S NOT GONNA COST THE CITY A DIME.

ALL WE NEED IS YOUR SUPPORT.

WHENEVER WE COME TO YOU TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED HERE.

THIS IS WHAT WE NEED THERE.

IT'S NOTHING OUTTA THE ORDINARY, BUT THIS IS GONNA LIFT OUR COMMUNITY UP.

IT'S GONNA LIFT OUR YOUTH UP.

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN

[01:30:01]

FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY FOR PRESENTATIONS, WE DO NOT HAVE AN OPTION TO GET QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE.

HOWEVER, IF YOU DO HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO CONTACT THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AND THEY'LL GET THAT INFORMATION TO US.

UM, REGARDING THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY TO CONFIRM THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHATEVER SUPPORT WE, UM, WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER.

BUT WHAT YOU'VE SHARED TODAY HAS DEFINITELY BEEN VERY INTERESTING AND VERY EXCITING FOR GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, DO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? LEMME ASK A QUESTION.

WHERE THE SOLAR PANELS ARE.

COUNCILMAN FRANK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

OF COURSE, YOU DO KNOW THAT, UM, UM, I I'M SURE THAT YOU HAVE MET, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE, UH, NOT READY TO SIGN ON, UH, TO THE SOLAR, UH, PHENOMENON THAT'S, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, REACHED OUR SHORES, UH, HERE IN AMERICA BECAUSE, AND ESPECIALLY HERE IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS, BECAUSE WE ARE THE HUB OF THE PETROCHEMICAL, UH, INDUSTRY.

AND SO OIL IS STILL KING.

SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT AND THEN WE KNOW, UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

UH, WHEN, UM, UH, SECRETARY GRANHOLM CAME AND ALL THAT WAS SHARED, LET ME JUST ASK A SPECIFIC QUESTION THAT MANY PEOPLE MIGHT NOT ASK.

AS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IT.

WE'VE SEEN PROGRAMS, UH, TO BUILD HOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE EXPECTING THAT THIS IS THE SAME TYPE OF INDUSTRY THAT'S GOING TO LIFT OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.

BUT AS YOU PLACE SOLAR PANELS ON, UH, THE HOMES OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY ON THE WEST SIDE AND INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY, AND OF COURSE WE LIVE IN A HURRICANE LADEN, UH, ENVIRONMENT WHEN SOLAR PANELS ARE PUT ON PEOPLE'S HOMES AND, AND IF THOSE SOLAR PANELS ARE DESTROYED, UH, IN THE MIDST OF A A HURRICANE, IS THAT AN IMPACT ON THE INSURANCE OF, OF INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR HOMES? ARE THOSE PANELS REPLACED BY THE INDIVIDUALS WHO PLACED THEM ON THERE? AND ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP TO PLACE THE PANELS ON THE HOMES OF PEOPLE? CAN YOU JUST KIND OF TALK ABOUT THAT AS WE'RE HOLD ON FOR A SECOND.

SHARING, UH, TODAY? YES.

WELL, WHAT I CAN SPEAK ON IS THE PROJECT THAT I'M SPEAKING OF IN WEST PORT ARTHUR IS A COMMUNITY SOLAR HUB WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO PUT PANELS ON THEIR HOMES, BUT ELECTRICAL WIRING WILL BE RAN TO THIS SPECIFIC AREA WHERE WE ARE GONNA HAVE ENERGY BATTERY STORAGE AND THE PANELS WILL BE PLACED.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN PARTICIPATE WITH SOLAR PANELS.

YOU CAN BUILD, LET'S JUST SAY YOU BUILD A CARPORT TYPE SCENARIO AND YOU DON'T WANT IT ON YOUR, YOUR PRIMARY ROOF, THEN YOU COULD PUT IT ON THAT STRUCTURE AND STILL ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF SOLAR.

BUT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DOING IS BUILDING A ENERGY HUB.

AND IT'S ALSO, IT ALSO WOULD BE A STRUCTURE THERE FOR CARS TO PARK AND FOR PEOPLE TO COME INTO.

ALSO, THIS BUILDING WILL BE BUILT MORE RESILIENTLY SO THAT IT, IT COULD WITHSTAND THE HEAT WAVES AND FLOODING DURING HURRICANES.

WE PLAN ON ALSO MAKING IT A COOLING STATION FOR THE HEAT WHEN, WHERE WE ARE IN EXPERIENCING HEAT WAVES WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND, AND GET OUT OF THE HEAT AND BE COOL.

SO IT'S GONNA BE A, A, A, A, A ARRAY OF DIFFERENT, UH, THINGS THAT THIS BUILDING WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD CHARGE YOUR ELECTRICAL VEHICLE AND ALSO YOU COULD PARTICIPATE WITH A COMMUNITY, UH, UH, ENERGY HUB WITHOUT PUTTING THE PANELS ON YOUR HOME.

NOW, TO ANSWER YOUR, YOUR PRIMARY QUESTION, I'LL LET, I'LL LET, UH, MR. WATSON SPEAK TO THAT.

BUT YET THERE, YOUR, YOUR HOUSING INSURANCE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COVER THAT IF ANY DAMAGES OCCURRED DURING HURRICANE STRONG WINDS.

BECAUSE WHAT I UNDERSTAND THERE IS WIND STORM, UH, UH, INSURANCE AS WELL AS FLOODING.

AND YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.

AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT DURING A STORM YOU HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DAMAGES AND HURT.

AND INSURANCE COMPANIES GOT A WAY OF KIND OF SKIRTING OUT OF PAYING.

SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE.

I KNOW FOR HOUSING I HAVE IT, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE WIND DAMAGE INSURANCE.

NOW, I THINK THAT WOULD KIND OF ASSIST WITH, UH, REPAIRING YOUR ROOF IN EVENT THAT THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE ROOF THROUGH THE WIND BECAUSE THE SOLAR PANELS WERE RIPPED OFF.

INSURANCE DOES COVER IT IN MOST CASES.

YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO PAY FOR IT YET.

BUT YOU KNOW, THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE GONNA START ADDING IT.

THEY DO IT BY PANEL.

UH, THEY ALSO DO WHAT IS CALLED, UH, REPAIR AND REPLA, UH, REMOVE AND REPAIR, WHICH IS THERE'S DAMAGE TO THE ROOF, WHICH OFTEN HAPPENS.

THE SOLAR PANELS ARE VERY RESILIENT.

THEY ALSO REINFORCE SOME OF THE ENGINEERING.

YOU SEE, WE SEE STUFF FROM FLORIDA WHERE THE ROOFS ARE ALL PULLED OFF EXCEPT FOR THE,

[01:35:01]

NOW, DO WE HAVE ENGINEERING REPORTS PROVING THAT? NOT REALLY, BUT WE DO SEE A LOT OF TIMES WHERE THE ROOF IS DAMAGED.

SO THEY, THE INSURANCE COMPANY PAYS A A, A FAIR RATE.

WE DID THIS WITH A COUPLE SOLAR INSTALLATION COMPANIES.

THEY'LL PAY US TO TAKE IT OFF.

THE ROOFERS WILL COME IN AND THEN THEY'LL PUT IT BACK ON.

PANELS ARE USUALLY NOT DAMAGED.

HELL, WE'LL JUST BREAK ON IT.

THANK YOU MR. WATSON.

AND THANK YOU MR. KELLY FOR YOUR TIME.

UM, IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT COUNSEL WOULD HAVE, MAYBE WE CAN CALL FOR A WORKSHOP WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT.

BUT WE TRULY APPRECIATE, UM, YOU COMING OUT TODAY TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION, I THINK YES.

YOU TALK ABOUT, UH, HOW DO, HOW DO THESE, UH, UH, POOR PEOPLE IN THESE POVERTY STRICKEN AREAS, ARE THEY GONNA BE GETTING THE GRANTS? YOU GOT GRANTS TO PUT IT, GIVE IT TO, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT TO THEM AT ABOUT HALF.

WE NEED COME, COME TO THE MIC.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE PROPOSING THAT WE PAY FOR IT.

WE'RE FIRST GOING AFTER THE OIL AND GAS COMPANIES THAT ARE THE HEAVIEST POLLUTERS TO PAY FOR IT.

IN SOME CASES, THEY WOULD BE DONATING IT.

IN SOME CASES THEY WANT TO GET A RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

BUT EITHER WAY, BECAUSE OF THE 50% INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, WE'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY DO THAT AND DELIVER IT AT 6 CENTS PER KILOWATT INSTEAD OF THE AVERAGE 13.30 CENTS.

THEN WE CAN SELL IT TO PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT USING THEIR ROOFS OR PROPERTY AT 11 CENTS AND STILL DO IT CHEAPER.

WE DO HAVE TO NEGOTIATE WITH ENTERGY BECAUSE THEY WANNA BUY IT BACK FOR 4 CENTS, WHICH IS B******T.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE.

NO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU HAVE A TIME LIMIT ON THIS? I HAVE QUESTIONS.

WE WILL GO ON TO THE NEXT PRESENTATION AND IF POSSIBLE, MS. CANDY, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY.

WE DO.

AND WE ARE EXTENDED THAT TIME LIMIT ALREADY.

OH, OKAY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

WE HAVE TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

THANK YOU GUYS.

OH, DID WE CONFIRM WITH THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE ATTORNEYS ALREADY? SO, OKAY.

[III. B.(2) A Presentation By Finance Director Kandy Daniels Regarding Paying City Vendors (Requested By Councilmember Kinlaw)]

THIS IS THE PRESENTATION BY FINANCE DIRECTOR CANDY DANIELS REGARDING PAYING CITY VENDORS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW.

ONE SECOND.

YES, LET, LET'S JUST HEAR FROM COUNCIL.

YOU, YOU'RE READY.

COUNCILMAN KINLAW? YEAH, I, I'M, I'M READY.

UH, BUT DIRECTOR, UH, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE, UH, THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING OR TWO, UH, WE, WE DISCUSS ON YOUR MATRIX AND HOW VENDORS ARE BEING PAID OUT.

SO I'M VERY CONCERNED TO GO AND, AND, AND GET QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW, UH, IN GETTING PHONE CALLS, UH, WHY VENDORS ARE NOT GETTING, UH, PAID.

UH, YOU, YOU STATED, I I GUESS WHAT WAS THAT MARCH, APRIL TIMEFRAME THAT YOU WERE BRINGING BACK TO THE COUNCIL, UH, MATRIX AND HOW IT COMES TO YOUR OFFICE WITH THE INVOICES AND WHAT PROCESS AND WHAT PROCESS OF APPROVAL, UH, THOSE THINGS HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

UH, AND WE ARE STILL HAVING SOME SITUATION.

I KNOW THAT WE STARTED WITH THIS NEON SYSTEM MAYBE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO.

UM, AND I DID DO MY HOMEWORK ON THAT.

I THINK WE STARTED THE NEW SYSTEM, THE TITLE MINUS IN, IN APRIL, 2021.

SO MY THING, UH, WITH, WITH THE DIRECTOR, I MEAN, UH, TO GO ON A SITE AND TO FIND OUT FROM THE CITIZENS, UH, UH, WHY THE CONTRACTORS ARE NO LONGER WORKING IS BECAUSE THEY HADN'T BEEN GETTING PAID.

I HAVE A CONCERN WITH THAT.

AND THAT'S GOING OVER THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

WE'RE JUST NOT ADDRESSING IT AND BRINGING IT TO LIGHT.

BUT TODAY, I'M GONNA BRING THAT TO LIGHT.

UH, PARTICULAR COUPLE OF STREETS AGO, UH, UH, DAYS AGO, I WENT TO A SITE AND FOUND OUT THAT, UH, THE, THE CONTRACTORS WALKED OFF BECAUSE HE WASN'T GETTING PAID.

I TALKED TO THE, THE CITY MANAGER.

HE HAD, YOU KNOW, HE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE AT FAULT, BUT I, I WANT A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, JUST AT FAULT.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE GOING AROUND, AROUND WITH THIS, THIS PROGRAM, UH, THIS WAS INTRODUCED A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO.

NEVERMIND THAT, UH, IT WAS GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A NEW SYSTEM, TYLER MINUS IS GONNA REPLACE THE SYSTEM.

ALL THOSE KINKS AND BUGS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST, WE WON'T HAVE 'EM ANYMORE.

WE WE'RE BACK HERE AGAIN SIX MONTHS LATER, FIVE MONTHS LATER.

SO IF WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS AND WE DON'T BRING THEM TO LIGHT, WE'RE GONNA BE IN TROUBLE.

WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE BEING IN TROUBLE.

WE'RE GONNA ALWAYS HAVE THIS BLACK EYE FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT NOT PAYING OUR BILLS ON TIME.

AND WHATEVER REASON IT IS, I DON'T KNOW, UH, I STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE MATRIX THAT YOU PROMISED THIS COUNCIL.

UH, WHEN COUNCILMAN MARKS WAS ON THERE, I

[01:40:01]

THINK HE WAS THE PERSON THAT ASKED FOR IT.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS? WHAT IS THE INVOICE PROCESS IT GOES THROUGH TO GET APPROVED? WHO'S THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THOSE, THOSE HANDS TO, TO PUSH THIS GREEN LIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S, UH, UM, APPROVED TO GO TO THE NEXT PROCESS WHERE THAT A CHECK CAN BE SENT OUT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

AND IF WE KEEP ON HIDING AND, AND, AND NOT ADDRESSING THESE THINGS, THE COMMUNITY'S GONNA SAY THEY DON'T WANNA DEAL, HAVE, UH, DEALINGS WITH PORT ARTHUR BECAUSE THEY DON'T PAY.

THEY WANT THE SERVICE, BUT THEY DON'T PAY.

BUT IT'S SHAMEFUL FOR ME TO GO ON THE SITE.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I FOUND OUT BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORHOOD CALLED ME AND ASKED ME TO COME OUT THERE, AND NOBODY'S BEEN THERE FOR THREE TO FOUR WEEKS.

AND THEY KNEW BASED ON TALKING WITH THE VENDORS, THAT GUESS WHAT? THEY WALKED OFF THE JOB BECAUSE THEY HADN'T BEEN PAID.

CALL UP HERE.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

SO, WITHOUT SAYING WHO THE VENDORS ARE, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? SO I ASKED YOU TO BE PUT ON HERE TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS AND ALSO PROVIDE TO THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL THE MATRIX.

AND I KNOW THIS IS CITY MANAGER'S LANE, BUT WE ARE GETTING THE PHONE CALLS.

MY COHORT AND I ARE GETTING THESE PHONE CALLS AND FIGURING OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN ADDITION TO THAT, MS. CANDY, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT STAFF NEEDED TO BE TRAINED ON, UH, MORE STAFF NEEDED TO BE TRAINED ON THE NEW PROGRAM, BUT THE VENDOR WASN'T AVAILABLE FOR TRAINING.

SO IF THAT IS TRUE, UM, WE NEED TO FIND ANOTHER VENDOR.

WE WE'RE JUST GETTING ALL TYPES OF DIFFERENT INFORMATION.

BUT WE DO TRULY WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND BE ABLE TO RECTIFY IT.

LET ME, LET ME, LET ME AS WELL SAY, UH, AS MAY I, YES, SIR.

LET ME AS WELL SAY THAT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, UH, A FEW, A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE DID HAVE THE EDC COME BEFORE US AND THEY WERE REQUESTING TO PAY THEIR OWN BILLS BECAUSE OF THAT SITUATION AND THIS SITUATION THAT OCCURRED.

AND, AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT, ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT HAPPENED AND OCCURRED, WELL, WE WERE TOLD, UH, THAT IT WAS BECAUSE, UH, IT, THE, UH, PAYMENT HAD TO BE INITIATED BY DIRECTORS AND THAT THERE WERE PROCESSES THAT HAD TO GO FORTH TO GET THAT PAYMENT.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE BROUGHT THIS TO LIGHT, EVERYBODY GOT PAID.

EVERYBODY GOT PAID, EVERYBODY GOT MONEY, AND EVERYTHING WAS HUNKY DORY FOR, UH, A PERIOD OF TIME.

BUT NOW IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WE'RE GOING BACK DOWN THAT SAME, UH, RABBIT TRAIL.

SO IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO DISCUSS THIS.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BRING THIS TO LIGHT.

BUT WHATEVER IT WAS THAT WE DID IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THAT CONSIDERATION HAS TO BE ON THE CONTINUUM.

IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING IN A CONTINUAL MATTER.

SO THAT, AS COUNCILMAN KINLAW SAID, WE DON'T GET THIS BLACK EYE, WE DON'T HAVE THIS PERCEPTION THAT PORT ARTHUR WANTS SERVICES, BUT THAT WE DON'T PAY MR. LEWIS.

UH, ONE OF THE, ONE OF OUR PROBLEMS, I'VE DEALT WITH THIS, AND I'M NOT GONNA GO DOWN THERE, THAT TRAIL AGAIN, I'VE HAD CONTRACTORS TO CONTACT ME IN, UH, IN, IN AUGUST, AND THEY HAD ALL THEIR INVOICES AND EVERYTHING IN, IN APRIL.

THEY WAS, THEY WAS NOT PAID.

YOU GOT SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE CLEANING THAT CLEAN CITY HALL.

THEY NEED THEM, THEY NEED THEIR MONEY.

THEY DON'T GET PAID ON TIME.

THEY GOT TO GO BORROW MONEY.

FORTUNATELY, SOME OF THEIR COMPANIES THAT I'VE DEALT WITH HAD, UH, OPERATING FUNDS WHERE THEY COULD GET THROUGH THIS.

BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WE NEED TO PUT AN ALTERNATE SYSTEM, PUT BACK IN PLACE, A MANUAL SYSTEM UNTIL WE GET THIS, WHATEVER SUPPOSED TO BE AUTOMATED SYSTEM CORRECTED.

BUT WE NEED TO HAVE AN, A MANUAL SYSTEM TO PAY THESE PEOPLE.

THE INVOICES HAVE BEEN IN THE SYSTEM SINCE APRIL.

AND THEN ENTER THAT INFORMATION IN THE SYSTEM LATER ON.

STATE ALONE, IF I'M, I HAVEN'T READ IT LATELY, BUT STAY LOST IT.

THAT'S A TURNAROUND.

30 DAY TURNAROUND, 38 DAYS.

EVERYBODY'S SUPPOSED TO BE PAID FIFTH STREET DOWN THERE WHERE MY CHURCH AT NEW LIGHT MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, THEY WALKED OFF THE JOB BECAUSE THEY WASN'T GETTING PAID.

THEY WENT, YOU KNOW, THIS.

AND NOW THIS, THIS HAS HAPPENED A WHILE BACK, BUT I'M HEARING FROM COUNCILMAN, UH, KEN LAW, WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

BUT NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME LATELY.

BUT I'M NOT SAYING HE'S, HE, HE'S FALSE.

THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE.

AND WHAT I DISCOVERED, LOSS OF, UH, INVOICES.

THAT'S WHY I ASKED YOU DID YOU HAVE A, A PROCESS ON THE INVOICE AND A TIMELINE? UH, THE CONTRACTORS I'VE DEALT WITH HAD TO RESUBMIT THE INVOICES.

CAUSE I CALLED THE HEAD TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

UH, THE YOUNG MAN IS NO LONGER THERE.

I CALLED HEAD AND HE SAID, I DON'T HAVE ANY INVOICES.

BUT

[01:45:01]

IT'S AN INTERNAL PROBLEM.

WHATEVER SYSTEM THAT WE ARE PAYING TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR IS NOT WORKING.

SO WE NEED TO PUT A MANUAL SYSTEM IN PLACE AND GET THESE PEOPLE PAID SO WE CAN, UH, GET CONTRACTORS BACK ON THE JOB, ON THE JOB, AND DO CONTINUOUS WORK AND CONTINUE TO DO GOOD WORK.

WE GOT THE, THE PROBLEM IS NOT OUTSIDE.

THE PROBLEM IS INSIDE.

I THINK SOMEBODY ELSE HAD THEIR LIGHTS ON.

I DO SAY THAT.

NO, I WANT HEAR, I WANT CITY MANAGER PLEASE.

CITY MANAGER.

WANNA HEAR? LET ME, UM, I JUST SENT ONE OF THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS TO GET A MEMO THAT WAS, THAT HAS ADDRESSED THE MATTER, UM, WHICH BEGAN WITH A PRESENTATION BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE EDC SOME TIME AGO.

UM, WHICH REQUIRED, UM, SOME THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE PAYMENT OF OUR BILLS, WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS NO DELAY APP, ABSOLUTELY NO DELAY IN THE PAYMENT OF THE EDC BILLS AT THE TIME.

AND THAT ALL BILLS, ALL INVOICES WERE ADDRESSED.

THAT MEMO WAS CIRCULATED TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT WAS CLEARLY STATED IN THAT MEMO THROUGH THE COUNCIL, THAT WE HAD PAID $3 MILLION IN BILLS THAT WEEK.

IS THAT CORRECT? MS. MS. MS. KANDY? YES, SIR.

IT WAS VERY, UH, AFTER THAT I CIRCULATE.

THAT'S A CONSISTENT BASIS.

WE PAY AT LEAST A MILLION EVERY WEEK.

EVERY WEEK.

LAST WEEK WE PAID 3.4 MILLION.

THAT'S CORRECT.

MY STAFF PROCESSES EVERY PAYMENT THEY CAN POSSIBLY PROCESS EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

NOTHING IS HELD IN THE SYSTEM.

IF IT'S NOT PAID, IT'S NOT IN THE SYSTEM BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT.

LOCAL VENDOR BECAUSE WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL, WHO NEEDS TO SURVIVE.

AND WE, WE AS SPECIFICALLY, I HOPE DR.

FIGMAN COMES BACK WITH THAT MEMO.

I SPECIFICALLY STATED IN THAT MEMO THAT WE WERE TRANSITIONING FROM ONE SYSTEM TO THE NEXT, FROM TO TYLER, FROM, UM, NALINE TO TYLER.

AND THAT THE MATTER WAS A, A NOT THAT COMPLEX, BUT IT INVOLVED NOT ONLY, WELL, IT DID NOT FALL ON THE, THE, THE, THE SHOULDERS OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, BUT IT WAS, UH, UM, SOME CONCERN THAT HAD TO BE ADDRESSED BETWEEN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND OUR IT DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON DILIGENTLY.

UM, IF ONE UNDERSTANDS THE SYSTEM THAT WE ARE ADOPTING, LIKE MANY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, THERE ARE VARIOUS KINKS THAT HAS TO BE WORKED OUT.

THOSE DOUBLY TAKES MONTHS, UM, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, AS WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT, WE CONTINUE TO TRAIN STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT STAFF IS ACQUAINTED WITH WHAT IS REQUIRED OF THEM, UM, FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VARIOUS SEGMENTS OF THAT PROGRAM.

HAVING DONE THAT, I MUST COMMEND KAND AND HER STAFF GIVEN THE, THE TURNOVER OF STAFF EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

YOU KNOW, FOR SOME REASON, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS, UM, IN THE AREA OF PUBLIC FINANCING AND ACCOUNTING HAVE FOUND THAT THEY COULD WORK AT HOME OR ELSEWHERE.

AND THAT HAVE PROVIDED A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, UH, A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN ORDER TO FILL POSITIONS, VERY SENIOR POSITIONS FOR STAFF, YOU KNOW, UM, ESPECIALLY IN ACCOUNTING AND IN THE DEFENSE.

IN SPITE OF THAT, IN SPITE OF THAT, MS. DANIELS HAS DONE AN AWESOME JOB WITH HER STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH VENDORS.

APART FROM THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT PAY UP, YOU KNOW, COME IN ON TIME.

AND THERE IS NOT A DELAY BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY REPORTING TO MS. DANIELS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE ARE BEING DONE IN A VERY TIMELY AND IN A VERY RELEVANT MANNER SO THAT, UM, VENDORS ARE BEING PAID.

YES, WE DO HAVE A STATUTORY MANDATE OF 30 DAYS.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A BAD PRACTICE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY AND THINK THAT WE CAN GET THE, A CHECK CUT AT THE WHIM AND FANCY OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

THERE IS A STATUTORY MANDATE OF 30 DAYS THAT A VENDOR MUST WAIT IN ORDER TO PAY TO BE PAID.

WE HAVE, WE HAVE TRIED TO ACCOMMODATE EVERY

[01:50:01]

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THOSE SMALL VENDORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BEING PAID ON TIME.

YOU KNOW, BUT THAT IS A MATTER THAT WE HAVE PUT TO REST, WE THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THE CALLS ARE COMING.

YES, I DID SPOKE, I DID SPEAK WITH COUNCILOR KINLAW ABOUT THE, THE WHAT'S 15TH STREET.

UH, THAT WAS, UH, EVERGREEN.

EVERGREEN.

YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE, UM, ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WITH PAY APPS THAT WE HAD SEVERAL MEMBERS OF STAFF WHO WERE SICK.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE PLACED, WE HAVE POSTINGS WITH, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UM, FOR OPERATIONS WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PAY UPS ARE BEING PROCESSED ON TIME.

WE HAVE MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THOSE PAYS, THAT REQUIRED SEPARATION AND SEGREGATION HAS BEEN DONE AND IS BEING FORWARDED TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

WE CONTINUE, WE DO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE PROCESS OF ROUTING, NOT ONLY PAYS, BUT IN INVOICES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN AREA WHERE THOSE, THOSE INVOICES, AS WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE TECHNOLOGY, IT'S DONE IN A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT AND REALISTIC MANNER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PAY ALL OUR BILLS ON TIME.

WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT.

THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE EXCELLENT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR VENDORS AND TO ACHIEVE OUR, THE COMPLETION, UH, OF OUR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS ON TIME.

SO, I, I, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU CANDI, FOR WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO IN THE, IN THE DEPARTMENT AND TO WORK WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF STAFF TO MAKE SURE, BUT THAT IS DONE, BUT WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CORRECT WHATEVER OR WHATEVER INEFFICIENCIES WE DO HAVE IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

CITY MANAGER.

UM, I WOULD ASK THAT WE KEEP ALL OF OUR CO COMMENTS SHORT BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK FOR THAT ONE ITEM IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

BUT, UM, WITHIN THE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE, COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW, THE COUNCIL MEMBER, FRANK, UM, CITY MANAGER, WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST ADVISE US? I, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU SAID SOME OF THOSE THINGS HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, BUT WE'RE BEING HEMMED UP ON AISLE SEVEN AND H E B ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE NOT TAKEN CARE OF.

SO WE NEED A PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO RECTIFY THOSE WHO ARE STOPPING WORK AND HAVE NOT BEEN PAID.

AND WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT THE, YOUR OFFICE, MS. CANDY IS THE BE ALL, END ALL.

BUT WHEREVER THE HICCUP IS IN THAT PAYMENT PROCESS, WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT SO THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND I'M DOING THAT PRESENTLY.

I'M NOT GONNA USE ANY EXAMPLES.

I'M NOT GONNA CO BLAME ANYBODY.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT WHAT I'M GONNA SAY IS GONNA BE SIMPLE.

WE AS COUNCIL, WE ARE HERE CITY MANAGER, TO PROVIDE WHATEVER SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE THE STAFF AND MANAGER NEED IN ORDER TO GET JOBS DONE.

I'VE HEARD TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT PEOPLE NOT BEING PAID ON TIME.

I'VE HEARD THAT WE CONVERTED TO A SYSTEM IN 2021 TAKES TRAINING.

I'VE HEARD THAT WE HAVE, UH, PEOPLE, IT'S HARD TO FILL JOBS.

OKAY? SO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE RIGHT NOW? CITY MANAGER, YOU NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING TO FIX THIS.

EVERYBODY SHOULD BE PAID WITHIN 30 DAYS.

IF PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK SATURDAYS, WORK AT NIGHT OVERTIME.

I I'M NOT HERE TO TELL THE CITY MANAGER HOW TO RUN THIS CITY.

I'M NOT TELLING ANYBODY HOW TO DO IT.

BUT AS A COUNCILMAN, I'M GONNA SAY THIS.

WE HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK, AND IF WE CAN'T PAY SOMEBODY IN 30 DAYS, WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

SO THIS NEEDS TO STOP AND IT NEEDS TO STOP NOW.

WHATEVER YOU NEED, CITY MANAGER, I'M QUITE SURE WE ALL GOING TO DO IT, BUT WE WANT PEOPLE PAID IN 30 DAYS.

NO EXCUSES.

[01:55:02]

COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEN.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM CANDY AGAIN.

UH, THIS IS GONNA BE THE SECOND REQUEST.

WE'VE ASKED FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER, THE PROCESS FLOW CHART.

ONCE YOU GET THESE INVOICES, WHERE ARE THE APPROVALS? I MEAN, WHERE DOES THE PROCESS GO FROM START TO FINISH? THAT WAS ASKED BY, UH, COUNCILMAN MARKS, I GUESS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

UH, MARCH, APRIL TIMEFRAME.

WELL, WE DIDN'T GET THAT, BUT I'M ASKING AGAIN FOR THAT.

WELL, THIS IS A PROCESS.

ONCE THIS NEW SYSTEM THAT YOU HAVE, THAT WAS THE NEXT BEST THING FOR THIS WHOLE CITY TO, TO CONVERT FROM AS, UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE STATED EARLIER, WE WENT HERE, WHAT, APRIL 1ST, 2021.

THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED THE NEW SYSTEM.

SO IT'S A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS.

AND WE WERE, UH, GIVING YOU GUYS, WELL, NOT YOU, BUT THE, THE TRAINING.

THEY USED OUR OFFICE FOR ALMOST A YEAR, AND I REMEMBER THAT.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OUR EMPLOYEES WERE GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TRAINED ON THIS NEW SYSTEM.

AND IT WOULD MAKE ALL OUR LIVES A LOT EASIER.

SO I'M ASKING FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE PROCESS FLOW CHART WHEN INVOICES COME TO YOUR DEPARTMENT FROM THE BEGIN, AND THE WHERE'S THE CHECK WHEN THE CHECK GOES TO FOR PAYOUT.

AND IF YOU COULD PROVIDE IT TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

COUNCILMAN FRANK, WHAT YOU OKAY.

UM, LEMME I NEED CITY MANAGER.

YEAH, LET ME, LET ME JUST MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO THE COUNCIL AS WELL THAT THE MATTER THAT WITH THE GULF COURSE PAYMENT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, BUT WITH THE DEPARTMENT AT HAND.

AND I'M GOING TO ADDRESS IT.

I DO INTEND TO ADDRESS IT.

CITY MANAGER GOLF COURSE ON THE STREETS WITH THE STREETS WHERE THE PEOPLE WALKED OFF THE JOB.

IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PHIL DEPARTMENT.

THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE, BUT I'M GOING TO ADDRESS IT.

GOLF COURSE.

GOLF COAST.

OH, GOLF COAST.

WELL, WHERE THE, WHERE THE WORKERS WALKED OFF.

THE JOB THAT YOU INFORMED ME OF, START SWEATING THINKING THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE.

IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE, THE YOUNG LADY AT THE PODIUM.

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

SHE HAD NO PART IN IT.

BUT I AM GOING TO ADDRESS IT.

CITY MANAGER, DON'T, DON'T, DON'T, DON'T GET US WRONG.

WE WE'RE, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO, THAT'S YOUR JOB.

TO WHAT? WE ARE JUST TRYING, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BRING TO LIGHT AND THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIX.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE FLOWCHART, IF WE CAN ALLOW YOUR TEAM YOU TO GET THIS PROVIDED TO THE COUNCIL, WE GETTING THESE PHONE CALLS AND, AND I'M SURE THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALSO PROVIDING THAT TO YOU.

SO WE DON'T THINK WE WE'RE TRYING TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT'S, THAT'S BROKEN AND MAY HAVE BEEN BROKEN BEFORE.

SO LET'S JUST, LET'S NOT, YOU KNOW.

NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE? YES.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RECESS THE, UH, OPEN MEETING AND, UH, GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

MAY I PLEASE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

UM, EYES HAVE IT MEASURE PASSES.

SESSION IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE RE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 5 51 0.101 OF CHAPTER 5 51, OPEN MEETINGS, LAW OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, FORMERLY ARTICLE 62 52 DASH 17 SECTION TWO A.

WE'LL MOVE TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE

[IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION) (Part 1 of 2)]

PRIOR TO GOING INTO CLOSED MEETING, THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE CITY SHOULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT.

A CLOSED MEETING OF EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL NOW BE HELD PURSUANT TO THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 5 51, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0 71 LITIGATION AND OR LEGAL ADVICE, UM, CITY ATTORNEY, WE'RE JUST GONNA FOCUS ON THAT ONE FOR RIGHT NOW.

ACTION NUMBER 0 1 23 DASH CV DASH 0 0 0 9 2.

WE WILL, NO, YOU HAVE TO READ THE CAPTION.

SECTION 5 51 0.072, LAND SECTION 5 51 0.07.

THREE NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS FOR PERSPECTIVE GIFTS TO THE CITY.

SECTION 5 51 0 7 4 PERSONNEL SECTION 5 51 0.076.

SECURITY PERSONNEL OR DEVICES, SECTION 5 51 0.087 DELIBERATIONS REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES CLOSED FOR CLOSED MEETING, NUMBER ONE, ITEM ONE, CLOSED MEETING, SECTION 5 51 0.07.

ONE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING PENDING LITIGATION AS IT PERTAINS TO CIVIL

[02:00:01]

MCLEAN LEE VERSUS CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, BEAUMONT DIVISION.

WE HAVE A MOTION FOR US TO BREAK FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO, MAYOR, PRO CHAIR, A SECOND.

WE WILL BREAK FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE'LL BE BACK SHORTLY.

I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ITEMS FOR ACTION COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.

MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION? SO MOVED, MADAM.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED FOR US TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

CITY SECRETARY MAYOR, PLEASE HAVE A ROLL CALL.

MAYOR BART.

MAYOR PRO.

TIM HAMILTON, PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER BECCA HERE.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS, UM, CONTINUED.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT.

MAYOR PRO.

TIM, YOU HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU, MS. MOORE.

OKAY,

[III. B.(3) A Presentation By Fire Chief Greg Benson Regarding The Process For The Issuance Of Permits For The Operation Of Emergency Service Vehicles (Ambulances) Within The City Port Arthur Pursuant To Chapter 114, Article II Of The Code Of Ordinances]

AND WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY THE FIRE CHIEF GREG BENSON REGARDING THE PROCESS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS FOR THE OPERATION OF EMERGENCY SERVICE VEHICLES AMBULANCES WITHIN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 114, ARTICLE TWO OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHIEF BENSON.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHIEF.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, PRO, TEM, AND COUNCIL.

SO JUST TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES, UH, TO KINDA GIVE YOU AN UPDATE, PROVIDE A FEW LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON SOME THINGS.

THE, UH, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE, THE STATUS AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATION, WE'RE EXPLORING OR LOOKING AT TWO OF THE APPLICANTS, WHICH I THINK EVERYBODY HERE IS ALREADY AWARE, IS ONE IS ACADIA AND THE OTHER IS CITY AMBULANCE.

SO LINDSEY, IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SOC ALSO IS SOMETHING THAT IS TO BE DONE EFFECTIVELY.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING RIGHT NOW AT THE, UH, ENSURING THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND THEIR CAPABILITIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EMS QU THE QUALITY MEASURES OF EMS, IT LOOKS AT YOUR RESPONSE CAPABILITY.

GETTING THERE IS IMPORTANT.

ALSO, YOUR PATIENT ASSESSMENT ACCURACY, ASSESSING THE PATIENT TO DETERMINE WHAT THEIR MEDICAL PROBLEM MIGHT BE, AND THEN INITIATING WHAT WOULD IS OFTEN CONSIDERED TIME SENSITIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT.

AND THEN BEING ABLE TO TRANSPORT THEM TO THE APPROPRIATE FACILITY.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT EACH OF THOSE THINGS AS WELL TO ENSURE THAT EACH OF THOSE IS GOING TO BE MET, UM, FOR THE, THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE, UH, THE COMMUNITY.

SO THE, UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT TOO, WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT, UM, LINDSEY, IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE, PLEASE.

AT DOING A, UH, A STANDARD OF COVER, WHICH IS A SYSTEMATIC LOOK AT ALL OF THE, THE RISKS AND HAZARDS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES NEEDED FOR THEM.

SO IN SOME COMMUNITIES OR MAYBE RESOURCES, UH, EMERGENCY RESOURCES NEEDED FOR CERTAIN THINGS, UH, BASED ON COMMUNITY NEEDS OR MAYBE RESOURCES NEEDED FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

BUT ALSO IT, IT ALSO ESTABLISHES THE, UH, THE SOC ALSO ESTABLISHES WHAT ARE THE PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS THAT ARE LOOKED TO BE MET.

THEN, SO THEN YOU START TO MEASURE THAT.

ARE WE MEETING THOSE? PART OF THE OTHER THING IS THE, THE SOC, UH, AND THIS WOULD BE A, A FUTURE STEP WOULD BE THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS A MASTER PLAN FOR THE PORT ARTHUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND SO THEN THE MASTER PLAN IS WHAT DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT IN THE NEXT FIVE PLUS YEARS TYPE OF THING AS FAR AS GROWTH IN THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THOSE THINGS ALSO.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE

[02:05:01]

WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND GET THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND THEIR INPUT ON THEIR SATISFACTION, THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFERENT, UH, SERVICES.

AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS TO THAT.

IT WON'T GET INTO THAT, THAT WEEDS, BUT IT'S GETTING INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

THE, UH, THESE ARE SOME OF THE KEY THINGS HERE.

THERE'S THAT RISK ASSESSMENT, LOOK AT THE RESOURCE DEPLOYMENT.

WHERE SHOULD THE RESOURCES BE POSITIONED TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THEIR RESPONSE FOR AREAS, UH, ENSURING THAT HAVE THE APPROPRIATE TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS, AND THEN ALSO THE QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.

BECAUSE WHAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT ALL THE TIME IS HOW DID WE DO AND COULD WE DO SOMETHING BETTER IN THE FUTURE? SO THAT'S ONE OF THE, THE BENEFITS OF DOING AN SOC IS TO START TO ESTABLISH THAT, THAT PROCESS.

UM, OUR MEDICAL GROUP DID, UH, SEND OUT A, UH, A, UH, A SURVEY TO SEE IF MEMBERS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, IN INCREASING THEIR LEVEL OF MEDICAL TRAINING.

UH, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE, LINDSEY, I JUST WANNA EXPLAIN TOO, THERE'S A LITTLE, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT EMS MODELS OUT THERE.

ONE IS THE, THE PRIVATE EMS TRANSPORT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

THE OTHER IS FIRE BASED EMS, WHERE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS AMBULANCE, YOU KNOW, THEY RUN THE AMBULANCE SERVICE.

AND THEN THE THIRD ONE IS WHERE THE, THERE'S THIRD PARTY STAFFING.

SO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, IN THE FIRE STATIONS, YOU HAVE AN AMBULANCE, BUT THE ACTUAL STAFFING FOR THAT AMBULANCE IS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY, NOT BY, NOT BY THE, UH, THE CITY OR THE E S D NECESSARILY.

NOW THERE'S LITTLE VARIATIONS IN ALL OF THESE, BUT JUST TO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INSIGHT INTO HERE'S KIND OF THE THREE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THESE.

AND THERE'S PROS TO, PROS AND CONS TO EACH OF THESE, IF YOU WILL.

BUT AGAIN, NOT TO GET INTO THE, INTO THE WEEDS TOO FAR, BUT JUST HERE, THIS, THIS INFORMATION IS.

SO, UM, AND SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW IS, IS THOSE QUALITY, EXCUSE ME, THOSE EMS QUALITY, WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT ARE LAID OUT IN THE ORDINANCE ARE BEING MET.

UM, AND DOING SOME RESEARCH FOLLOWING UP WITH SOME OF, OF THE DIFFERENT, UH, REFERENCES AND OTHER CUSTOMERS THAT THE, THE TWO HAVE, SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, GET, GET AS MUCH COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION TO MAKE, UH, PROVIDE THE COUNSEL FOR MAKING AN INFORMED DECISION.

SO THE, UM, IT IS A PROCESS AND, UM, JUST TO, UH, TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD ON THAT, UM, SO THAT WE CAN PRESENT SOMETHING TO YOU HERE IN A RELATIVELY, UH, TIMELY MANNER.

SO, UM, I DO WANT TO CORRECT ONE THING THAT I MENTIONED, UH, LAST TIME I MENTIONED HOUSE BILL 6 21 WAS ACTUALLY HOUSE BILL 6 24.

I GOT THE NUMBER WRONG.

, SORRY, IT'S IT'S HOUSE BILL 6 24.

SO, SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU, UH, YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE, LINDSEY.

AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND REALLY THAT, THAT'S REALLY ALL, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF KEEP IT SHORT TODAY JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE UPDATE ON THINGS, UM, AND TO SEE IF, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, UM, THAT MIGHT BE THERE.

BUT JUST AGAIN, TALKING WITH MR. BURTON, WANNA BE TRANSPARENT WITH, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC AND THE COUNSEL WITH WHAT'S GOING ON SO WE CAN BRING THINGS FORWARD IN A, AN APPROPRIATE MANNER.

CITY ATTORNEY.

OH, I APOLOGIZE, MS. BECK, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS BECAUSE I'M EDUCATING MYSELF ON ALL OF THIS AS WELL.

UM, SO I APOLOGIZE IF ANY OF THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE COUNSEL BEFORE MY TENURE.

UM, HOW MANY FIREFIGHTERS DO WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF COURT? ARTHUR TOTAL? UM, RIGHT NOW OUR, UM, I WANNA SAY OUR, OUR NUMBER IS 1 0 4.

UM, AND OUT OF THAT 1 0 4, HOW MANY OF THEM ARE PARAMEDICS? THERE'S SEVEN OR EIGHT THAT ARE PARAMEDICS, BUT TWO OF THE PARAMEDICS ARE IN ADMINISTRATION.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN DONE HERE RECENTLY IS,

[02:10:02]

AND 40% OF THE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN, IN INCREASING FROM BASIC EMT TO ADVANCED OR ALL THE WAY TO PARAMEDIC.

AND IS THERE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO, TO HELP THEM WITH THE COST OF THAT, OR WOULD IT BE BORNE BY THE INDIVIDUAL? WELL, UM, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL HAVE TO WORK WITH THE CITY ON GOING FORWARD TO SEE IF WE CAN'T START TO, UH, AT, AT, YOU KNOW, ALLOCATE CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY SO THAT WE CAN GET, YOU KNOW, BEGIN TO GET PEOPLE TO, UH, ATTAIN HIGHER LEVELS OF CERTIFICATION.

AND, AND THE REASON I ASK THAT IS THAT MM-HMM.

, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF WE HAVE MULTIPLE AMBULANCE SERVICE, THAT THEY GO ON A ROTATING SCHEDULE SO THAT IF THERE'S AN AMBULANCE ON CALL DOWN ON THE WEST SIDE AND THE NEXT AVAILABLE AMBULANCE, UH, THE CLOSEST ONE IS NOT THE ONE THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF, IF THERE'S AN AMBULANCE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT ACROSS FROM MY HOUSE AND MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE CHOKING AND I CALL, BUT THEY'RE NOT THE NEXT ONE ON THE ROTATION, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE THE CLOSEST, I DON'T GET THAT ONE.

IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, THE, THE ROTATION CAN BE DONE A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS.

IT CAN BE DONE BY, BY LOCATION.

IT CAN BE ALSO DONE BY TIMEFRAMES, BY WEEKS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE NEED TO EXPLORE A LITTLE BIT MORE AND PROVIDE SOME, UH, OPTIONS.

THAT, THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN.

AND I'VE HAD SOME CITIZENS REACH OUT TO ME ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

UM, THAT IT'S THEIR UNDERSTANDING ALSO THAT IF, IF WE HAVE MULTIPLE AMBULANCE SERVICES AVAILABLE, THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY GET THE CLOSEST ONE.

AND SO THAT BRINGS UP THE ISSUE OF DO WE HAVE ENOUGH FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE CERTIFIED AS PARAMEDICS SO THAT THEY CAN KIND OF TAKE, TAKE THE OVERLOAD? YES.

WELL, AND THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE THING, I THINK SOME OF THE, THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE INTERESTED IN INCREASING THEIR MEDICAL TRAINING BECAUSE ABOUT 75, 70 6% OF THE CALLS THAT WE GO ON ARE MEDICAL IN NATURE.

SO, AND THAT'S A POSITIVE THING.

, UM, THEY'RE NOT ALL SEVERE, IF YOU WILL, BUT IN YOUR LITTLE SCENARIO, IF A, A CHILD IS CHOKING, UM, YOU KNOW, GETTING SOMEBODY THERE IN A VERY TIMELY MANNER THAT CAN TAKE THESE STEPS TO, YOU KNOW, TRY AND CLEAR THAT AIRWAY IS GONNA BE GOOD.

GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.

CITY ATTORNEY.

I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO DO IS, OH, I'M OKAY.

YOU WANT, YOU'RE RIGHT.

I CALLED ON YOU.

UM, UM, UH, OF, OF A LIST OR A SIDE BY SIDE ANALYSIS OF SOME CRITICAL OUTLIERS BE GENERATED BETWEEN THE TWO COMPANIES TO SEE WHAT WE, UH, WOULD BE GETTING AS, AS, UH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN.

I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, JUST FOR PROCEDURE, WHAT WE WANTED TO DO, WE HAVE A LITTLE ACTION ITEM ON, I BELIEVE, UM, AFTER THIS THAT, YOU KNOW, SO WE CAN SET A FINAL TIMEFRAME.

SO WHAT WE ARE SAYING THAT AFTER THIS PRESENTATION, THE THINGS IN THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO A NEW CONTRACT AND WE'LL SEND THAT TO YOU CUZ WE'RE NOT GONNA USE OBVIOUSLY THE OLD CONTRACT.

UH, AND THEN YOU CAN DETERMINE, UM, HOW YOU, YOU WANNA MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITH, UM, THE SELECTION PROCESS.

SO WE MAY NEED JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME, BUT WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE CONTRACT WE HAD AND UPDATE IT WITH ALL THESE NEW THINGS AND GET THAT TO YOU.

UM, SO JUST FOR POINT OF CLARITY IS WHAT YOU JUST, UM, TALKED ABOUT, THERE'S AN THE, RIGHT, SO IS THERE GONNA BE AN ACTION WITH PO THAT'S THE POSSIBLE ACTION COMING OUT? YEAH.

IF YOU WANNA DO A FINAL 60 DAY AND THAT, WHAT WE ARE GONNA DO NOW IS IF YOU DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRESENTATION, INSERT THESE THINGS INTO THE NEW CONTRACT AND COME UP WITH WHATEVER PROCESS, UH, THAT, THAT IS RECOMMENDED.

IF YOU HAVE ONE, IF YOU HAVE TWO, WE'LL, WE'RE GONNA UP UPDATE THE CONTRACT THAT WE USED TO HAVE WITH THE NEW LANGUAGE.

AND SO WE'LL BE READY.

WE'LL BE READY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT I THINK WE'RE ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL 60 DAYS.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WANTED TO ASK, UH, IN REFERENCE TO THIS WHOLE PROCESS AS YOU BRING YOUR PRESENTATION BEFORE US AND HOW THE SELECTION IS GOING TO BE MADE.

AND I GUESS THE QUESTION I WAS ASKING, OR THE QUESTION THAT LOOMS IN MY MIND IS, ARE YOU AND THE CITY MANAGER, THE STAFF, PER SE, GOING TO BRING A RECOMMENDATION TO US AS COUNCIL? AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, I WAS WONDERING IF A,

[02:15:01]

UM, BECKHAM SAID, UH, YOU KNOW, DOES, DOES ONE COMPANY OFFER US MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRAINED, UH, PARAMEDICS, UH, HAVE THOSE SIDE BY SIDE.

AND, AND THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A GENERAL, UH, CRITICAL OUTLIER OR, UM, THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT WE GET SIDE BY SIDE, ALL OF THOSE KIND OF CRITICAL OUTLIERS GENERATED.

SO I CAN LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, IF I, YOU KNOW, IF I SELECT THIS COMPANY, THIS IS WHAT I GET.

IF I SELECT THIS COMPANY, THIS IS WHAT I GET OR WHAT I DO NOT GET.

THAT, THAT HELPS US IN THAT SELECTION PROCESS.

AND I KNOW THAT AS YOU'RE GOING FORWARD, IT HELPS TO, IF YOU ARE MAKING THAT DECISION OR PRESENTING THAT TO US AS A, A COUNSEL, IT HELPS TO SUPPORT, UH, YOUR DECISION AS IT COMES TO US, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT YOU'VE LOOKED AT THAT AS WELL.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, WE HAVE A MEDICAL DIVISION THAT WAS FORMED WHEN I STARTED, AND THE MEDICAL DIVISION IS PART OF THE PROCESS OF, UH, REVIEWING AND ALSO TALKING TO BOTH OF THE APPLICANTS SO THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED, AND THEN BRING THAT AS A, YOU KNOW, AS A RECOMMENDATION, UH, WHICH THEN I'LL BRING TO THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY DISCUSS THAT.

AND THEN ULTIMATELY I'LL BRING IT TO, TO YOU.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST ONE PERSON.

WE HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS, WHICH ALSO IS WHY ASKING FOR THE 60 DAY EXTENSION, BECAUSE IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BUT GETTING DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THINGS.

THE, THE MEDICAL DIVISION, THEY HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE, SO THEY'RE BRINGING SOME OF, YOU KNOW, HEY, WHAT ABOUT THIS? AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

SO, THANK YOU.

COUNCILOR LEWIS.

I DON'T KNOW IF I, LIKE WHAT I'M HEARING, WHAT HE JUST SAID.

IT, IT GIVES ME THE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A, WE'RE GOING TO SELECT ONE FROM BOTH OF THESE.

WE'RE GONNA SELECT ONE.

WE'RE NOT IN THE FRANCHISE.

WE DON'T HAVE A FRANCHISE.

WE'RE NOT LIMITED TO ONE SERVICE.

THE CITIZENS WANT MORE THAN ONE SERVICE.

THEY CAME HERE AT CITY HALL A FEW YEARS AGO AND ADDRESSED THAT.

NURSES AND OTHER FOLKS IN THOSE FIELDS, WE NEED, WE NEED TWO, WE NEED AT LEAST TWO SERVICES.

NOW, DO WE NEED THREE? THAT'S A WHOLE, NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

BUT WE NEED AT LEAST TWO SERVICES.

AND I'M, I'M GONNA TELL YOU UP FRONT, I'M, I'M SUPPORTING TWO SERVICES NOW.

WHAT I'M HEARING, WHAT, WHAT YOU GOING TO BE DOING? AND, AND THE STAFFING, AND THEN TURN THAT INFORMATION OVER TO US AND WE MAKE A DECISION.

I DON'T THINK SO.

I'M IN THE FREE, I BELIEVE IN THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM.

FREE ENTERPRISE.

NOW, IF THEY, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO A FRANCHISE, WELL, THAT'S A NO WHOLE OTHER STORY.

TALK ABOUT IT IN THE FUTURE.

, BUT NOT NOW.

I, YES, SIR.

WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, UM, MAYBE I WAS, UH, DIDN'T CLARIFY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE JUST ONE SERVICE.

WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS BOTH SERVICES THAT APPLY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS AND CAN, YOU KNOW, WOULD IT BE IN THE BEST INTEREST TO HAVE TO CHOOSE BOTH OR TO CHOOSE ONE OR THE OTHER, OR WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE.

SO IT'S NOT JUST LIMITED TO ONE, UM, TO ONE SERVICE THAT WE WOULD, WE WOULD CHOOSE.

THAT IS, AND THE OTHER THING I JUST WANNA MENTION REAL QUICK IS THAT WHOMEVER, WHETHER IT'S ONE OR TWO DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AT THIS POINT.

BUT WE WILL BE HOLDING THOSE SERVICES SERVICE PARENTHESES AS SERVICES.

WE WILL BE HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PERFORMANCE, UH, BENCHMARKS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT INTO THE, INTO THE ORDINANCE.

SO THAT'LL BE A, ANOTHER O ANOTHER AREA THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO, TO THOSE.

SO IT'S NOT JUST, SORRY, IF I WAS CONFUSING BEFORE, IT'S NOT JUST ONE SERVICE.

IT COULD BE TWO, YOU KNOW, SO COUNSELOR FRANK.

YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY IT WAS NOT MY IMPLICATION.

UM, THAT WASN'T

[02:20:01]

WHAT I WAS SAYING.

THAT WASN'T TRYING TO LEAD US INTO THAT ROAD OF ONE SERVICE.

I WAS SIMPLY SAYING THAT WE COULD SEE A SIDE BY SIDE ANALYSIS.

YOU, YOU BOTH WERE VERY CLEAR.

UM, I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, CHIEF.

YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD RANK THE, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT APPLIED ON ARRIVAL TIME, PATIENT ASSESSMENT, ACCURACY.

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE PATIENT ASSESSMENT ACCURACY? WELL, YOU LOOK AT WHAT, UH, IT, IT GOES BACK TO THE, THE QUALITY ASSURANCE, CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.

SO WHAT WAS THE PATIENT, UH, AND THIS GOES BACK TO CONTINUALLY LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT CALLS.

SO IF A PATIENT CALLS AND THEY'RE SAYING, MY RIGHT LEG HURTS, UM, WHATEVER THE CASE IS, DO THEY, DO THEY DO AN APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT OF THAT PERSON VERSUS, UM, REALIZING THAT THEY'VE GOT A BANDAID ON THEIR LEFT ARM AND START LOOKING AT THAT INSTEAD OF WHAT'S GOING ON? SO THIS IS THE, THE MEDICAL ASSESSMENT? YES.

NOT NECESSARILY ASSESSMENT OF SERVICE.

CORRECT.

GOT IT.

IT'S, IT'S THE MEDICAL ASSESSMENT.

AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, ALSO TOO, UM, YEAH, THEY REFER TO IT AS THE MEDICAL PRACTICE.

BECAUSE IT'S ONGOING.

UM, IT'S CHANGED OVER THE YEARS AND IT'LL CONTINUE TO CHANGE MM-HMM.

, UM, I CAN'T THINK OF WHAT THIS THING THEY HAD A FEW YEARS AGO WAS, UH, OH, COVID.

, SORRY.

UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT CHANGED A LOT OF THE, UH, THE SYMPTOMS THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING MM-HMM.

SO, BUT BEING ABLE TO CONTINUING TO STAY UP, HOW DO YOU ASSESS SOMEBODY? DO YOU DO IT APPROPRIATELY? AND WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT THEY ARE, THEIR INITIAL SYMPTOMS, THEIR REP, UH, REPRESENTATION WAS THAT THEY'RE HAVING CHEST PAIN, THEY MAYBE DO HAVE A CARDIAC EVENT, THEN TAKING THOSE STEPS IN A VERY TIMELY MANNER TO TREAT THEM, TO TAKE THOSE INITIAL STEPS.

AND YOU MENTIONED SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS IN THE EVENT THAT WE DO HAVE TWO SERVICE PROVIDERS, SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS TO DETERMINE WHO, UM, GETS THE CALL.

, SO YOU SAID TIMEFRAMES, MEANING TIME, YOU SAID TIMEFRAMES, WEEKLY SCHEDULES, AND THE LOCATION OF THE AMBULANCE.

CAN YOU HELP ME UNDER, WE UNDERSTAND THE LOCATION OF THE AMBULANCE.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON WHAT IF I ENVISION THEM SITTING SIDE BY SIDE? SO THEN WHAT, THEN, UM, THE WEEKLY SCHEDULES, I'M ASSUMING IT'S COMPANY A HAS WEEK TWO AND FOUR, COMPANY B HAS, YOU KNOW, OPPOSITE OF THAT AND THE TIMEFRAMES OF WHAT? WELL, THAT IN THE TIMEFRAMES, I'LL SAY IN THE, UH, IT, WHAT I'VE, WHEN I'VE WORKED IN MULTIPLE, UH, SCENARIOS, I'LL SAY IN ONE SITUATION, THEY, THEY HAD A, UH, IT WAS FROM SEVEN IN THE MORNING TILL SEVEN AT NIGHT.

OH, A SHIFT SCHEDULE.

YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF SWITCHED.

THAT GOT A LITTLE BIT, UH, CONFUSING.

UM, SO LOOKING AT LIKE A, UH, YOU KNOW, A MONDAY MORNING AT OH 600 TO, YOU KNOW, UH, NEXT MONDAY MORNING AT OH 5 59 KIND OF A THING.

SO, YEAH.

IMPLEMENTED? WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO TRACK THAT VERY, UH, VERY, UH, CRITICALLY.

AND THEN IN THE EVENT THAT WE HAVE RE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE HAVE ONE OR TWO MM-HMM.

, IS THERE A PROBATIONARY PERIOD THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS TO PROVE YES, WE'RE MEETING THE MARKS BEFORE WE CAN KNOW THE CONTRACT? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE DO? NO, I DON'T RECALL THAT BEING IN THE ORDINANCE THAT WE PUT TOGETHER.

BUT WHAT WE DID LOOK AT WAS, OR WHAT WE DID, AND CITY ATTORNEY CAN CORRECT ME, BUT WE DID ESTABLISH THOSE PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS TO BE LOOKED AT ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO GIVE THE PROVIDERS OR PROVIDER FEEDBACK.

AND THEN HOW DO THEY ADDRESS IF THERE'S DEFICIENCIES THERE, HOW ARE THEY, HOW DO THEY ADDRESS THAT? RIGHT? SO WHAT'S THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE'RE GONNA ALLOW THEM TO MAKE THE CORRECTION IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG? AND IF THE CORRECTIONS AREN'T MADE DURING THAT TIMEFRAME, THEN WHAT IS OUR PLAN OF ACTION TO HAVE ADEQUATE SERVICE FOR OUR CITIZENS, UH, IN THE ORDINANCE? IT DOESN'T GIVE A, A REAL, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT DOESN'T GIVE A REAL HARD TIMEFRAME FOR CORRECTION.

BUT SOMEBODY SHOULD COME UP WITH A PLAN, AND THEN HOW'S THAT PLAN BEING

[02:25:01]

AND IF THEY'RE NOT ADDRESSING THAT PLAN IN A TIMELY MANNER, THEN THERE'LL BE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS TO, UH, WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO TO FIX THIS? YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO MEET THE, THE NEEDS OF THE, UH, OF THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS THAT GOES.

SO I WOULD, SO THAT'S WHY I'M SORRY, I BRING UP THE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE.

, SORRY, DIDN'T MEAN TO, I WOULD, I WOULD HAVE A ASK THAT IN THE EVENT, LET'S HOPE THAT THAT NEVER HAPPENED, BUT MM-HMM.

, A CONTRACT IS A CONTRACT, AND IF IT'S NOT WRITTEN, IT'S NOT REAL.

SO WE DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A PLAN B OUTSIDE OF GIVING THEM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SET A TIMEFRAME.

IF YOU SAID YOU CAN CORRECT THIS IN 90 DAYS, AND THEN IT ISN'T DONE, WE'LL GIVE YOU A SECOND TERM OF 90 DAYS.

IF IT ISN'T DONE, WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO KEEP PLAYING BACK AND FORTH.

SO I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP, AND IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE CONTRACT, I WOULD ASK FOR THAT TO BE INCLUDED.

I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE UPDATE THAT WE ARE DOING.

WE'LL HAVE SOME RAMIFICATIONS FOR NOT PERFORMING RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, RIGHT.

I'M, I'M REFERRING TO THE CURRENT CONTRACT.

THERE ARE SOME, UH, PROPOSED, UH, MODIFICATIONS THAT ARE BEING PUT TOGETHER.

COUNCILOR LEWIS.

SEE, YOU HAVEN'T, OH, YOUR LIGHT IS STILL ON.

OH, OKAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA REMIND MY POSITION HAS NOT CHANGED.

WHEN A, WE HAD SEVERAL SERVICES HERE, WHEN ACADIAN COME IN MM-HMM.

, THEY WAS TRYING TO GET IN HERE, BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLES WAS, WAS FILLED UP, AND THEY HAD THEIR ATTORNEYS.

I STOOD UP FOR THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, AND I'M, I'M, I'M NOT CHANGING MY MIND.

WE NEED, WE NEED A, AT LEAST TWO SERVICES.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, I DON'T, WE DON'T NEED NO, THREE, FOUR, LIKE WE HAD FIVE.

MR. LEWIS, WE CAN HAVE THAT.

YOU CAN SHARE THOSE THOUGHTS WITH US WHEN WE GET TO DISCUSSION.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST DOING THE PRESENTATION.

YOU GOT MY ATTENTION WHEN Y'ALL MENTIONED A CONTRACT.

WE DO CONTRACTS.

WE ALWAYS HAVE OUTS, RIGHT? YES.

WE ALWAYS HAVE AN OUT.

WE JUST WANTED TO TIGHTEN UP IN THE EVENT THAT TIGHT, PUT SOME TIGHTER LANGUAGE THEN WHAT WE HAVE NOW.

WELL, I JUST WAS COMMENTING ON THE FACT WHEN SHE MENTIONED THE PROBATION AND ALL THIS STUFF HERE, BUT ANYTIME WE DO CONTRACTS, WE ALWAYS LEAVE IT OUT.

NOT ONLY FOR US, BUT ALSO THE OTHER PERSON.

SO WE, WE GOING TO INCLUDE OUT ON THIS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF? CHIEF? DID YOU HAVE ANY, ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US? UM, NOT RIGHT NOW, NO.

BUT I WILL.

FOUR DISCUSSIONS TO DISCUSS AND POSSIBLY TAKE ACTION REGARDING A FINAL 60 DAY EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING AMBULANCE SERVICES BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE INCORPORATED TO FACILITATE DELIBERATIONS OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

WELL DEFINITELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THE NEXT SECTION ON THE AGENDA IS FOR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION.

WE HAVE NONE, UM, CORRESPONDENCE, NONE.

AND NEXT

[III. E.(1) To Discuss And Possibly Take Action Regarding A Final 60 Day Extension Of The Existing Ambulance Services Between The City Of Port Arthur And Acadian Ambulance Service, Inc., To Facilitate Deliberations Of The Application Process]

MAYOR PROTON.

I THINK WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GIVE A 60, SAY A 60 DAY EXTENSION, UH, AND, AND, UH, UH, GO AHEAD WITH THAT EXTENSION.

ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE THAT PROCESS.

I WOULD ASK THAT BEFORE WE, WELL, THE, BEFORE WE ACCEPT THAT MOTION, WE HAD ONE OTHER LIGHT.

ALL I HAVE MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR.

WE, WE WOULDN'T NEED A SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT SECOND, THAT WE, UM, TAKE ACTION TO TAKE ACTION REGARDING A FINAL 60 DAY EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING AMBULANCE SERVICES BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICES INCORPORATED TO FACILITATE DELIBERATIONS OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

ANY OPPOSED? YOU GOT QUESTION? I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T ASK FOR QUESTIONS BEFORE I CALLED FOR IT, BUT THE MOTION WAS ABOUT NOT HAVING ANY MORE QUESTIONS.

SO, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THERE'S A DISCUSSION.

DISCUSSION.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY LIGHTS.

NO DISCUSSION.

OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

[III. E.(2) A Discussion And Possible Action Regarding The Conduct Of City Council Meetings (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]

NEXT ITEM ON DISCUSSION.

A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE CONDUCT

[02:30:01]

LAST TIME I BROUGHT IT UP, I GAVE COUNCIL ADEQUATE ENOUGH TIME TO GO AND REVIEW THIS ORDINANCE.

THE REASON I BROUGHT IT UP, BECAUSE WE HAVE A ORDINANCE THAT DICTATES OUR MEETINGS FOR REGULAR MEETINGS.

THE ONLY MEETINGS THAT THE COUNCIL SET TIME, PLACE AND DATES ARE FOR SPECIAL MEETINGS.

CITY SECRETARY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING A SCHEDULE.

AND WE DO THAT SCHEDULING THE BEGINNING OF YEAR, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THE ORDINANCE SAYS THIS EVERY OTHER TUESDAY, ALTERNATING FROM MORNING TO EVENINGS.

IT SAYS THAT IF THE DATE COINCIDE WITH A HOLIDAY, STATE, LOCAL, FEDERAL, THAT IS ON THE NEXT PRECEDING INDICTMENT, UH, THE ORDINANCES WERE SET UP SO THAT CITIZENS CAN BASICALLY KNOW WHEN WE GOING TO HAVE MEETING, OR THEY COULD GO TO OUR SITE AND SEE THE SCHEDULE OF THE MEETINGS AND THEY ALSO COULD ATTEND THE MEETINGS.

AND, UH, THE ORDINANCE DOESN'T SAY MAY, IT SAYS SHELL, WHICH MEANS THAT THAT'S WHAT WE ARE BOUND TO.

WHAT WE CAN DO AS A COUNCIL, WE CAN ALWAYS AMEND THESE ORDINANCES CUZ WE APPROVE THEM.

WE, AS LONG AS THEY EXIST, WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO VIOLATE THEM.

SO THEREFORE, WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS ORDINANCE IS ONE THING THAT CAME TO MIND IS THAT IT STILL SAID EIGHT 30.

SO WE NEED TO GO BACK IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT TO SEE AT THAT TIME.

SO COUNCIL CHOOSES TO DO THESE MORNING MEETS AT NINE 30.

IT WOULD BE THE QUESTION CITIES.

UM, RIGHT NOW, I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS THE ATTORNEY OR THE SECRETARY THAT, UM, COMMENTED ON THAT LAST TIME AND SAID THAT THERE WAS A MEMO OR THEY THOUGHT THAT IT HAD BEEN UPDATED BUT WASN'T SURE MAY APPROACH HIM.

IT'S NOT ABOUT MEMO.

WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE.

I'M SORRY.

NOT, NOT A MEMO AND AMENDMENT.

WELL, HAD IT BEEN AMENDED, MAY I RESPOND? YES, MA'AM.

MISS YOU.

I KNOW THAT FOR COVID WE HAD CHANGED IT.

THAT'S THE ONE THAT I FOUND THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN WE SWITCHED TO ZOOM AND ALL OF THAT, WE, WE ALLOWED FOR TIME FOR THEM TO SET THAT UP.

BUT THAT WAS JUST DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THAT WAS THE ONLY CHANGE I FOUND.

UH, I THINK AFTER WE, AND NOW WE'RE IN THE WORLD OF WHERE WE'RE GONNA DO ZOOM.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF HAD, I THINK WE DECIDED TO DO NINE 30 INFORMALLY TO GIVE THEM TIME TO SET UP.

BUT THE, THE, THE ORDINANCE I FOUND WAS JUST CUZ OF COVID.

BUT NOW THAT WE ARE DONE WITH THAT, I GUESS WE NEED TO ESTABLISH DECIDE YEAH.

ESTABLISH.

CAUSE IT DID ORIGINALLY SAY EIGHT 30.

SO, UH, ONE OF THE MOTION I'LL MAKE AFTER THE DISCUSSION WILL BE FOR THE MORNING MEETING.

BUT BEFORE I MAKE THAT MOTION, UH, I WANT TO ALSO, UH, MENTION THE FACT THAT THE EVENING MEETINGS, WE DO A SPECIAL MEETING BEFORE THE MM-HMM.

, THE REGULAR MEETING MM-HMM.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL.

THAT'S A SPECIAL MEETING.

AND WE CALL THAT AND WE SET THAT TIME.

BUT THE REGULAR MEETINGS ARE GOVERNED BY THAT ORDINANCE.

AND WE SHOULD START THE MEETING AT FIVE 30.

CITIZENS SHOULD NOT COME AND WE STAY DOWN TILL A SPECIAL MEETING WHEN WE KNEW, AND WE TOLD THEM THAT THE REGULAR MEETINGS WE SUPPOSED TO CONVENE AT FIVE 30 MM-HMM.

SO WE NEED TO CONVENE OUR MEETINGS AS SCHEDULING.

WE NEED TO STAY WITH THE SCHEDULE AT THE TIMES THAT ARE IN THE ORDINANCE SO THAT CITIZENS CAN GET, TUNE 'EM WITH OUR SCHEDULE, SCHEDULE FOR MEETINGS.

AND ALSO, IT ALSO IS VERY SPECIFIC THAT IF WE GET, IF WE CANCEL A MEETING AND RESCHEDULE IT, THAT THAT MEETING IS GONNA BE HELD AT THE TIME OF THE DESIGNATED TIME OF THE MEETING, WE CANCELED.

LIKE THE LAST MEETING WE HAD WAS AT 10 30 IN THE MORNING.

NOW WE HAVING ANOTHER MORNING MEETING MM-HMM.

ALL IN.

THIS IS CLEAR.

WE HAVE ALTERNATING.

SO IF WE CANCELED ONE AND IT WAS A FIVE 30 MEETING, IT SHOULD HAVE CAME BACK AT FIVE 30.

TO ALLOW, UH, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER TO COMMENT.

SO, UH, I'LL DEFER THE MOTION

[02:35:01]

THEN AFTER THAT, THEN I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

COUNCILOR FRANK? YES.

I HAD MY LIGHT ON BECAUSE I CONFERRED WITH THE, THE CITY MANAGER AND, UM, THE, UH, CITY, THE CITY ATTORNEY.

BECAUSE I WAS, I WAS MORE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE MEETING WAS, UH, WAS CONSTRAINED TO, UH, A TIME AS OPPOSED TO, UH, A MORNING, UH, SPECIFICALLY.

SO, UH, THEY DID ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR ME.

UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCE IS RIGHT, IT DOES SAY EIGHT 30 IN THE MORNING, BUT I WAS, UM, WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME LENIENCY CONCERNING BETWEEN EIGHT, HOW DID WE GET TO NINE 30 AS OPPOSED TO EIGHT 30? AND THAT QUESTION, UH, WAS ANSWERED.

AND SO I, I WAS CONCERNED AS TO WHETHER OR NOT, OR WAS THERE AVAILABILITY OF OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO NINE 30.

UH, BUT AS HE STATED, IT IS AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS EIGHT 30.

AND SO, UM, WE, WE ARE THERE.

COUNCILOR KEN LAW.

MAYOR PROTI, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

I WAS JUST KIND OF GETTING SOME, HEARING THE SIDEBAR OVER HERE ABOUT THE EIGHT 30, BUT I'M, UH, NOT SURE IF THAT BECAME AN ISSUE, UH, SINCE WE HAD CHANGED IT SINCE COVID OR JUST KIND OF, IF YOU CAN KIND OF GIMME A LITTLE HEADS UP OF WHAT'S, WHY WE DISCUSSING THE EIGHT 30 VERSUS NINE 30 BASED UPON COVID.

YOU KNOW, UH, WELL, ONCE WE HAD TO IMPLEMENT ZOOM, THAT WAS TO GIVE STAFF PLENTY OF TIME TO, TO PREP FOR THE MEETING.

AND, AND WE STILL GONNA STICK WITH THE ZOOM.

I MEAN, WE'RE GOING AWAY.

WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE, HAVE TO DO IT.

SO WE, DO WE, I MEAN, IS IT WE STILL WANT TO KEEP IN CONSIDERATION OF HAVING TO SET UP OR WE GONNA GO AWAY WITH, OR ARE YOU GONNA HAVE TO DO IT EARLIER OR, YOU KNOW, MY THING IS, YOU KNOW, WHY IS THE ISSUE BETWEEN EIGHT 30 VERSUS NINE 30 AND WE STILL GONNA USE ZOOM AND YOU'RE STILL GONNA NEED TO SET UP TIME.

SO YES, SIR.

YOU KNOW, KNOW, NOT TRYING TO PUT A BURDEN ON THE STAFF OR ANYONE OUT THERE, BUT I HADN'T HAD A THOUSAND CALLS, A HUNDRED CALLS ABOUT GETTING UP AT EIGHT 30 AND WANT TO MAKE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

SO TELL ME, AM I MISSING SOMETHING? OR MAYBE I SHOULD GET MORE CLARIFICATION ON IT.

IT WAS JUST TO GIVE US MORE TIME, BUT IF YOU WANNA GO BACK TO EIGHT 30, WE'LL DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

OKAY, THANKS.

I THINK THE ISSUE WAS, UM, WHATEVER WE WERE DOING WASN'T A PART OF THE ORDINANCE.

SO IF WE WANTED TO BE NINE 30, THEN WE JUST NEED TO, THERE WE GO.

CHANGE IT TO NINE 30.

IF WE WANT IT TO BE 11 O'CLOCK, WE JUST NEED TO, WHATEVER WE CHOOSE, WE JUST NEED TO PUT IT IN THE ORDINANCE AND THEN, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW THROUGH WITH MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCERN.

SO MY ASK WOULD BE, UM, WHENEVER YOU MAKE YOUR MOTION, PLEASE, UM, I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER TO KEEP IT AT NINE 30, BUT WHATEVER IT IS, JUST, WE'LL JUST KEEP IT IN THE ORDINANCE.

WELL, TO, TO BE QUITE FRANK, THAT'S A COME, I HAD ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE AND REVIEW IT, AND THAT'S WHY I LEFT IT OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.

I'M NOT CHANGE, I DIDN'T, I'M NOT MAKING A MOTION TO CHANGE TO NINE 30 CUZ I'VE GOTTEN THE SAME RESPONSE FROM STAFF.

BUT WHAT I WANT TO ENSURE THAT EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER, IF THEY HAD AN ALTERNATE TIME TO BE ABLE TO SAY IT AND HAVE COUNSEL TO CHOOSE, IF NO ONE HAD NO DIFFERENT TIME THAN MY MOTION IS GOING TO BE NINE 30, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A RESOLUTION THAT WILL AMEND THE ORDINANCE.

SO IT WILL READ 9, 9 30, 30.

, UM, COUNCILOR KEN LAW, DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER NO.

OH, DELIGHT IS NOT ON, BUT IT'S STILL, SORRY.

IT'S OVER.

IT'S CUZ I'M IN THAT SEAT.

I'M SORRY.

LORD HAVE MERCY.

THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED THE SYSTEM YET.

I'M, I'M SORRY.

I APOLOGIZE.

AND I'M, I APOLOGIZE.

AND IT'S A BIG SEAT TO FILL .

SO MY QUESTION IS KIND OF FROM A LOGISTICAL STANDPOINT.

IF, IF WE GO BACK TO WHAT THE ORDINANCE SAYS, AND WE SAY EIGHT 30, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A QUESTION FOR CITY ATTORNEY OR FOR CITY SECRETARY.

IF WE GO BACK TO EIGHT 30, THESE MEETINGS ARE ALREADY SCHEDULED THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF 2023.

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT GONNA BE TO CHANGE THAT ON THE CALENDAR? UPDATE THE WEBSITE, GET THE WORD OUT.

UH, IT'S GONNA BE REALLY DIFFICULT.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHERE THE DI WHERE THE DIFFICULTY WILL COME? WE CAN DO THAT, BUT THE CALENDAR HAS ALREADY BEEN ROTATED THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND, AND THE COMMUNITY.

THAT, THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.

[02:40:01]

COUNSELOR LEWIS? YES, IT'S EIGHT 30.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT, UH, IT GIVES THE STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK TO WORK EARLY.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT AT ALL.

MAYBE THE PRODUCTIVITY WILL GO UP.

MAYBE SOME PEOPLE GET PAID ON TIME.

SO OUR, OUR STAFF DOES COME AT 8:00 AM RIGHT.

DISCUSSION.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE I CALL? YES SIR.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

AND THEN YOU READY FOR MOTION? RAYMOND SCOTT? 37 26 LAKE SHORE DRIVE.

UH, MY QUESTION IS TO THE CITY SECRETARY WHO JUST SAID THAT IT'D BE VERY DIFFICULT WHEN YOU MAKE THIS, THIS LIST, THIS SCHEDULE FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.

ARE YOU BOUND TO THIS SCHEDULE ONCE YOU PUT IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE CITIZENS? NO, SIR.

BUT WE DID, WE DO PROVIDE IT IN THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR AS WELL.

SO IT CIRCULATES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

SO IT HAS CIRCULATE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

SO CITIZENS ARE, HAVE CITIZENS HAVE ARRANGED THAT TIME TO COME AT EIGHT 30 THEN? DON'T YOU THINK THEY SHOULD STAY AT EIGHT 30? WELL, THE SCHEDULE SAYS NINE 30.

OKAY, BUT THE, BUT THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE WAS EIGHT 30, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

SO YOUR SCHEDULE THAT YOU MADE FOR THIS YEAR WAS BASED ON EIGHT 30, CORRECT? NO, SIR.

IT WASN'T, IT, THE SCHEDULE HAS NINE 30.

SO HOW DID IT BECOME THE NINE 30 THEN SHE MENTIONED BECAUSE OF, UH, COVID.

SO THAT STARTED A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE AMEND THE ORDINANCE FROM OUR MORNING MEETINGS ON TUESDAY.

YOU SEE FROM EIGHT 30 TO NINE 32ND.

SIR, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.

I GOT A STATEMENT.

STATEMENT.

WE CAN, UH, DO THIS MOTION AND I STILL HAVE TO COME BACK WITH THE ORDINANCE, AS YOU KNOW.

I GOT YOU.

JUST WANTED TO MAKE, BUT THE RESOLUTION IS OUR PLACEHOLDER UNTIL THE RIGHT I PUT IT ON.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN, SECONDED THAT WE AMEND WHAT, PLEASE FORGIVE ME, BUT CAN YOU GIVE ME THE ORDINANCE NUMBER WE'RE GONNA AMEND SECTION 2 52 DASH 51.

YEAH, THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TWO DASH 51.

THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.

AND WHAT'S THE NUMBER? THAT'S TWO DASH 51 2 DASH 50.

WE'RE GONNA AMEND OUR CHAPTER TWO, SECTION 51 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.

AND I'M GONNA COME BACK WITH AN ORDINANCE AS WELL, BUT YOU'RE BASICALLY DIRECTING THAT.

WE COME BACK WITH THAT, BUT IT'S TWO DASH 51.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE AMEND ORDINANCE CHAPTER TWO, SECTION 51 A, UM, TO AMEND THE TIME OF THE START OF OUR MORNING COUNCIL MEETINGS TO NINE 30.

NUMBER THREE, A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE STREET PROGRAM REQUESTED BY COUNSELOR DOUCETTE.

ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT.

MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT, NUMBER FOUR TO DISCUSS AND POSSIBLY TAKE ACTION REGARDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023.

TWO TH OH, SORRY.

[III. E.(3) A Discussion Regarding The Street Program (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]

OKAY, THIS ONE WAS PLACED ON THERE SO THAT WE CAN EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THE STREET PROGRAM.

I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPLAIN IT AS SAYING THAT, UH, THE STYLES GET STREETS AND THEY GET WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER SELECT THE STREETS, AND THEN THOSE ARE STREET THAT GOES ON THE LIST.

IT, IT'S MORE TO IT THAN THAT AND IT'S MORE INVOLVED.

SO BASICALLY THIS PROGRAM WAS BROUGHT ABOUT BECAUSE NO ONE KNEW WHAT STREETS WAS GOING TO BE FIXED IN THIS CITY.

EVEN COUNCIL MEMBER DIDN'T KNOW WHICH STREETS WERE GOING TO BE FIXED IN THE STREET, IN THE CITY.

AND IT WASN'T VERY MUCH MONEY.

SO WHAT WE DID, COUNCIL GOT TOGETHER AND WE DECIDED TO GET A PROGRAM WHEREBY WE SELECT STREETS.

[02:45:01]

NOT ONLY DID WE ELECT STREETS, BUT WE ALSO ARE TRANSPARENT WHEN SELECTING STREETS.

AND BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER WERE THE ONES THAT CITIZENS IN THE DISTRICT KEPT, CONTINUED TO ASK WHY THEY STREET WAS NOT FIXED.

WHY THAT STREET? WHY NOT MINE? WE FIXED IT.

SO THAT THE FIRST PART OF THE PROGRAM IS DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE GONNA PUT IN THE UPCOMING YEAR.

THEN IT WAS TO DIVIDE THE MONEY PROPORTIONALLY AMONG THE FOUR DISTRICTS.

THEN ONCE YOU DIVIDE THE MONEY AMONG THE FOUR DISTRICTS, THEN THE STAFF WILL THEN SELECT STREETS EQUAL INTO THAT MONEY AND RECOMMEND WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THAT RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS.

THESE ARE STREETS WE RECOMMEND THE COUNCIL MEMBER THEN LOOKS AT THOSE STRAITS HAVING KNOWN THE CONDITION OF THE STREETS IN THE DISTRICT.

THEY TALK AND THEY AGREE UPON THE STREETS.

IF THE COUNCIL MEMBER SEEN ONE NEED TO BE DONE, AS OPPOSED TO THE ONE THAT WAS RECOMMENDED, HE CAN SWITCH OR SHE CAN SWITCH AT THAT TIME.

HOWEVER, THE MONEY MUST REMAIN THE SAME BECAUSE THAT WAS ALLOCATED FOR THAT DISTRICT.

ONCE THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE STAFF AGREED THAT LIST IS COMPILED, THAT LIST IS PLACED WHERE ALL OF THE STREETS SELECTED AND THE FUNDING FOR EVERY STREET FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR, THAT IS WHAT GOES ON THE BUDGET.

AND COUNCIL APPROVES IT.

SO ONCE COUNCIL APPROVES THAT LIST, NO ONE CAN SUBSTITUTE, NO ONE CAN CHANGE, NO ONE CAN ADD TO THAT LIST UNLESS IT'S COME BACK TO COUNCIL.

ONCE COUNCIL APPROVE A RESOLUTION, NO ONE CAN CHANGE IT OR, OR ORDINANCE.

NOBODY CAN CHANGE IT UNLESS IT COMES BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

AND WHEN IT COMES BACK TO THE COUNCIL, IT'S TRANSPARENT AGAIN, BECAUSE NOW CITIZENS HERE IF WE GONNA MAKE ANY CHANGES.

BUT THAT PROCESS HAS GOT TO BE DONE IN THAT FASHION BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOKING AT FINANCE, FINANCE IS SET UP FROM THAT LIST, EACH STREET THAT'S SELECTED IS GIVEN A PROJECT NUMBER, A FUNDED BECAUSE EVERY PROJECT HAS TO BE FUNDED AND ESTIMATED COST FOR EVERYBODY.

SO THAT'S WHERE THAT MONEY GOES.

AND IT GOES ONLY FOR THAT ONE.

THE OTHER REASON WE DON'T CHANGE IT OR NOBODY CAN CHANGE IT UNLESS IT COME BACK TO COUNCIL.

IT TAKES AWAY THE AGENDAS, THE POLITICS, THE PERSONAL, AND ABOVE ALL, IT ENSURES THAT THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT AS THE COUNCIL APPROVED IT.

SEE? SO EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS INPUT IN WHICH STREETS IN THAT DISTRICT.

SO THEY COULD GO BACK AND EXPLAIN TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS WHY THOSE STREETS GOT FIXED AND WHY THE OTHERS.

HOWEVER, ONCE THE COUNCIL APPROVE IT, IT'S NO LONGER GOING BACK AND TALK TO THE STAFF OR NOBODY ELSE.

YOU CAN'T CHANGE IT.

YOU HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

BECAUSE ONCE WE APPROVE THE BUDGET, AND WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR, THAT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT ONCE WE APPROVE THAT BUDGET, WE CAN'T ADD STREETS TO IT.

WE CAN'T ADD IT.

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SAID THAT ONCE A BUDGET IS APPROVED, WE ONLY AMENDED FOR EMERGENCIES DEALING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.

SO THEREFORE YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAM.

IT'S JUST NOT ABOUT STREETS, BUT IT'S ALL FOR FINANCE DEALING WITH IT.

AND AS A COUNCILMAN FOR MY DISTRICT, I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH I'M SPENDING ON THESE STREETS BECAUSE IF THE CITY DOES THE STREET, IT'S GONNA COST LESS THAN IF A CONTRACTOR DOES IT.

SO WE SAVE MONEY,

[02:50:01]

BUT THAT MONEY DOESN'T GO INTO A POT.

IT STAYS IN THAT DISTRICT BECAUSE THE COUNCIL APPROVED THAT MONEY FOR THAT DISTRICT.

SO THAT'S, NOW, THAT'S THE PROGRAM.

SEE, SO ONCE IT'S, ONCE IT'S APPROVED BY COUNCIL, THERE'S NO MORE DISCUSSION.

AND THAT'S THE PART THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND.

AND ONCE WE GET THAT, THEN WE CAN ALWAYS GO BACK AND DO WORKSHOPS.

WHAT WE NEED.

THERE'S ONE MORE THING I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT STREETS.

I'VE SEEN ME COMING UP A LOT.

SIDEWALKS.

WHAT IS OUR POLICY FOR SIDEWALKS? DO YOU, MY UNDERSTANDING, AND, AND, AND RON YOU COULD CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE DON'T REPLACE SIDEWALKS.

AND IN FACT, UH, WE CHANGED THE ORDINANCE THAT UNDER NEW CONSTRUCTION IT'S REQUIRED THAT IF YOU DO NEW CONSTRUCTION, YOU PUT A SIDEWALK.

BUT THE CITY POLICY IS THAT WE DO NOT REPLACE SIDEWALKS.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNER.

NOW, AM I, AM I MISSING THAT, RON? YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S CORRECT.

SO IF THAT'S CORRECT, NOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IN THAT AREA, DON'T REPLACE SIDEWALKS.

WE ARE REPLACING SIDEWALKS IN SOME PLACES, AND I'M NOT AGAINST IT, BUT IF WE GOING TO REPLACE SIDEWALKS, WE HAVE TO REPLACE SIDEWALKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT WE ONLY REPLACE SIDEWALKS WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION ONLY REQUIREMENT OF NEW CONSTRUCTIONS.

AND THAT'S WHY WE DON'T REPLACE THEM.

BECAUSE IF WE GONNA MAKE THE PRACTICE OF REPLACING A SIDEWALK, WE MUST UNDERSTAND WE REPLACE ALL OF THE SIDEWALKS.

SO EVERY, ALL THE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE BROKEN IN THE CITY, WE HAVE TO GO AND REPLACE.

AND THAT'S WHY THE POLICY, EXCUSE ME ONE SECOND.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE.

IS THIS GERMANE TO THE STREETS? YES.

DEPENDS HOW YOU LOOK AT, BUT I DO WANNA MAKE A CLARIFICATION ABOUT SIDEWALKS THOUGH.

GO AHEAD.

WE ARE UNDER A FEDERAL COURT ORDER TO DO SOME SIDEWALKS EACH, YOU KNOW, CAUSE WE GOT, IS IT THE RAMP OR IS IT THE SIDEWALK? THE ACTUAL SIDEWALK.

WE WERE IN AN ADA LAWSUIT MANY YEARS AGO.

SO WE DO HAVE A BUDGET EVERY YEAR WHERE WE HAVE TO DO SOME AT LEAST, UH, $50,000 WE HAVE TO DO.

AFTER THE MEETING, WE'RE NOT GONNA, WE'RE NOT GONNA PROLONG IT.

BUT AFTER THE MEETING, I WANT TO SEE IT BECAUSE AS MY UNDERSTANDING, THAT MANDATE IS FOR THE HANDICAPPED RAMPS.

BUT I'LL GO BACK AND READ IT AGAIN.

YEAH, YEAH.

WE'LL TALK I'LL, I I'LL TELL YOU, WE HAVE TO DO THE SIDEWALKS WITH CERTAIN C CURB CUTS.

YEAH, YEAH.

WELL, JUST SO MANY YOU.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

WHAT WE TALKING ABOUT INTERSECTION? THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THE THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT THE MANDATE WAS.

I WE CAN, I CAN SHOW YOU WHAT WE HAVE.

SO WHAT I'LL DO, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THEN WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA JUST SAVE THAT ONE CITY SECRETARY, PUT IT, PUT IT BACK ON FOR NEXT MEETING, UH, SIDEWALKS, PLEASE.

AND THAT WAY WE CAN MOVE ON.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FRANK.

UH, THAT HAS TO BE, UM, A PART OF HOW YOU ALLOCATE THAT MONEY IN FIXING STREETS.

UM, I WANTED TO KIND OF ADDRESS, BECAUSE THIS IS, THIS ISSUE IS ON, UH, TO BE TALKING ABOUT OUR STREET PROGRAM.

AND I THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, DOUCETTE FOR, UH, REMINDING US HOW, UH, THE STREET PROGRAM, UH, WORKED AND HOW IT WAS, UH, INITIALLY, UH, WHEN I FOUND IT, INITIALLY, I THINK IT WAS A 40 MILLION BOND ISSUE AND 50 MILLION, 50 MILLION BOND ISSUE.

AND IT WAS, UH, DISPERSED AMONG THE FOUR, UH, DISTRICTS, UH, THAT THEY MIGHT SPEND IN GET THEIR STREETS.

ONE OF THE THINGS, UH, THAT WAS A CONSIDERATION THOUGH, UH, IN DOING IT THAT WAY WAS THAT NOT ALL, THAT THERE WERE SOME DISTRICTS THAT HAD WORSE STREETS THAN OTHER DISTRICTS.

AND THAT JUST BECAUSE OF STREET LOOKED GOOD.

UH, WHEN YOU X-RAYED THAT STREET, YOU SAW THAT THERE WERE SOME, SOME THINGS THAT COULD NOT BE SEEN WITH THE NAKED EYE.

AND SO AS I SAT ON THE COUNCIL, THERE WERE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO DEFERRED SOME OF THEIR MONIES BECAUSE SOME DISTRICTS NEEDED MORE STREETS.

I'VE, YOU KNOW, GONE THROUGH THE STREETS OF PORT ARTHUR AND THERE ARE SOME AREAS OF THE CITY WHERE THE STREETS ARE WORSE, UH, AND NEED MORE ATTENTION THAN OTHER STREET, THAN OTHER, UH, PARTS OF THE CITY.

AND SO, UM,

[02:55:01]

NOT JUST THE FACT THAT EVERY DISTRICT BE GIVEN AND ALLOTTED EQUITY IN THE, IN THE RESOURCES AND IN THE MONEY.

SO WHERE THE MONEY IS NEEDED.

I THINK, UH, THAT IS WHAT WE INITIALLY LOOK, IS WHAT WE LOOKED AT ON COUNCIL WHEN WE WERE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.

ANOTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO, TO DISCUSS OR JUST SHARE AS WELL, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, UM, A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND IT WAS, UM, THE, THE MONEY THAT THE, THE COUNCIL MADE THE DECISION TO, UH, USE THE STREET MONEY, UH, FOR THE, UH, WOODWORTH BOULEVARD, UM, UH, PROJECT THAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH, UH, DIALOGUE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD HAVE USED THAT MONEY OR SHOULD HAVE USED THAT MONEY, UH, AS WELL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I GET AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, BECAUSE I AM AN AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER AND, AND MR. KELLY DEFERRED TO IT AND TALKED ABOUT IT, WAS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE, UH, CONCERNED ABOUT HOW OUR CITY LOOKS.

THAT OUR, THAT, THAT OUR CITY DOESN'T LOOK AS THOUGH IT IS A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS HAPPENING.

AND SO THE COUNCIL HAD GOTTEN TOGETHER, WE ALL TALKED, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT POINT OF ORDER, I DON'T WANNA INTERRUPT YOU, UH, CAN, BUT WE TALKING ABOUT THE STREET PROGRAM COUNCIL, I'M ABOUT THE STREET PROGRAM.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BEAUTIFICATION AND STUFF, MADAM, MADAM CHAIR.

I THINK THAT THE STREET PROGRAM IS GERMANE.

THE CONVERSATION I'M HAVING IS GERMANE TO THE ISSUE BECAUSE WE TOOK STREET PROGRAM, WE TOOK STREET MONEY TO DO THE PROJECT.

LEAST LET THE CITIZENS IN THAT DISTRICT KNOW, HEY, I'M GIVING AWAY SOME MONEY FROM MY STREETS CUZ I DON'T KNOW OF NO COUNCIL MEMBER AT BAD AS THESE STREETS LOOKING AT THE DISTRICT IS GOING TO SAY, HEY, YOU COULD TAKE SOME OF MY MONEY.

BUT WE TOOK THE MONEY.

BUT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PROGRAM, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW STREETS WERE FUNDED.

MS UM, CAN YOU PLEASE FINISH YOUR STATEMENT, COUNCIL, FRANK? OKAY.

SO, UM, UH, SO WE, WE DID USE THAT STREET PROGRAM MONEY BECAUSE IT IS A STREET AND BECAUSE IT DOES UP UPLIFT OUR CITY.

UH, AND IT DOES, THE STREET PROGRAM WAS A BOND ISSUE.

AND SO, UH, BECAUSE IT WAS A BOND ISSUE, BOND LANGUAGE DRIVES THE USE OF THAT MONEY.

UH, IF YOU TALK ABOUT, UH, AND LOOK AT IT IN TERMS OF A GPS, A GPS GETS YOU TO A GOAL.

THE GOAL OF OUR CITY WAS TO CAUSE OUR STREETS TO LOOK BETTER, TO CAUSE OUR CITY TO, TO, TO LOOK BETTER, TO CAUSE OUR CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL DOWN THE STREETS AND THE ROADS, UH, THAT WERE DONE.

SO THAT BOND LANGUAGE, UH, UH, WAS, WAS THAT WHICH ALLOWED US THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO DO THAT PROJECT.

AND SO, UM, THAT ALLOWANCE HAS ALLOWED US TO DO THAT AND TO, TO GET, UM, UH, THAT PROJECT DONE.

UH, AND SO THAT'S A PART OF THE STREET, UH, PROJECT AS WELL.

AND THAT'S WHY, UH, I'M REFERRING TO IT IN, IN THIS DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU, UHHUH.

NO, DID YOU? WELL, I WANTED TO MENTION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE STREETS, THE REPAIRING STREETS, NOT THE MISUSE OF THAT MONEY.

OKAY, WELL THE, THE ITEM SAYS STREETS PROGRAM.

SO, SO COUNCIL DOUCETTE, NO, NO, I'M AFRAID.

FIRST OF ALL, THESE, THESE AREN'T, YOU KNOW, UH, WE TALKING ABOUT THE STREET PROGRAM.

THE STREET PROGRAM IS EXACTLY HOW I DESCRIBED IT.

AND THAT PROGRAM WAS APPROVED BY A COUNCIL.

AND ONCE AGAIN, THAT PROGRAM WAS APPROVED.

IF THIS COUNCIL CHOOSE TO CHANGE ANY PART OF THAT STREET PROGRAM, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO IT.

IT COMES IN THE DISCUSSION, ACTIONS, AND MAJORITY VOTE.

BUT UNTIL IT'S A RESOLUTION AMENDING IT, IT IS WHAT WAS APPROVED.

NOW, ALL I STATED WAS THE PROGRAM THAT WE APPROVED, AND I EXPLAINED HOW WE APPROVED IT.

I'M NOT SAYING THIS COUNCIL CAN'T CHANGE IT, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THIS COUNCIL CANNOT CHANGE ANY PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY A COUNCIL UNLESS IT GOES BACK AND AMENDED.

AND AS FAR AS A COUNCIL MEMBER GIVEN A, ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER MONEY TO FIX STREETS, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULD AT

[03:00:01]

YOU KNOW, AND WE GOT INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SPEAK IN FROM AT LARGE, THAT'S ONE THING.

BUT WE TALKING ABOUT DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE ARE THE ONES THAT'S RESPONSIBLE.

AND AS I STATED, THE MONEY IS THE BODY GIVING, GIVING SOMEBODY SOME MONEY DOES NOT, DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROGRAM IF YOU DO THAT.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, ONCE THE COUNCIL PROVE IT, YOU CAN'T GIVE MONEY.

IT TAKES AN AMENDMENT.

YOU SEE, THAT'S THE THING THAT, WELL, THERE, THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT AND COUNCILOR JONES, WAIT, WAIT A MINUTE, DID DO THAT? WAIT A MINUTE.

AMENDMENTS ARE BROUGHT IN A FORM OF RESOLUTIONS AND THEY ADDRESS EXACTLY WHAT THE PROGRAM IS.

OKAY? IF COUNCIL APPROVE THE LIST OF STREET MAYOR, PRO TEMPLE, THAT MEANS THAT IF YOU GOING TO GET ANY MONEY, THAT MEAN YOU'RE TAKING MONEY OUT OF THAT DISTRICT.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU MUST BRING A RESOLUTION TO THE FULL COUNCIL AND TELL THE COUNCIL, WE'RE GONNA TAKE MONEY FROM, GONNA TAKE X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS FROM DISTRICT FOUR AND WE'LL GIVE TO DISTRICT THREE.

AND THEN THIS COUNCIL MUST VOTE TO TAKE THAT MONEY OUT OF FOUR AND GIVE TO THREE.

AND THAT'S TRANSPARENCY.

BECAUSE NOW THE CITIZENS IN FOUR IS GOING TO HEAR THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER SAYS, I'M TAKING SOME OF Y'ALL STREET MONEY AND I'M GONNA GIVE IT TO ANOTHER STREET.

SEE, OKAY.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, TRANSPARENCY, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S WRITTEN AND HOW WE HAVE TO DO IT.

WE DON'T HAVE AN OPTION HERE.

IT AIN'T HOW WE FEEL IS WHAT'S WRITTEN.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND HOW WE DO BUSINESS.

SO THIS NOT DEBATABLE IS WRITTEN.

SO LET'S ASK CITY MANAGER.

HOW, HOW HAS THAT COME ABOUT? I DO, WHEN I DID REVIEW THE STREETS, BUDGET FUNDS WERE TAKEN OUT OF DISTRICT TWO, BUT, UM, IT DIDN'T SHOW A TRAIL OF WHERE THEY WERE REAPPOINTED TO.

UM, LET THEN IN ORDER TO SAVE TIME, LET ME HELP YOU HERE.

UM, WE NEED TO WORKSHOP THIS FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR.

UH, AT, AT THE NEXT HOUSE MEETING, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S NECESSARY FOR US TO ACT, UH, WITH THE BOTH OF THE STREET PROGRAM.

RECONSTRUCTION, BECAUSE SOME OF THE RECONSTRUCTIONS ARE MAJOR RECONSTRUCTIONS, WE HAVE, SOME OF THE PRICES HAVE DOUBLED, OKAY.

WE STARTED WITH A FIVE YEAR PLAN, 10 MILLION CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATIONS EVERY 10 YEARS WE WOULD TO ADD 4 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND SUPPLEMENT THAT, UM, SOME YEARS WE PUT IN 3 MILLION.

UM, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL, YOU KNOW, GENERALLY SPEAKING.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO, WHEN THE STREET PROGRAM DESIGNED THERE, WHEN WE STARTED, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE DID NOT FACTOR IN.

WE DID NOT FACTOR IN THE COST OF UTILITIES AND, UM, MANHOLES, STORM INLETS AND, AND THESE SORT OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, AND ONE OF THE LAST THINGS WE SAID THAT WE NEVER WANTED TO DO WAS REPAIR A STREET AND THERE WAS A BROKEN LINE, A WATER LINE, OR A MEAN WATER LINE UNDERNEATH AN EIGHT INCH LINE.

AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE COME ACROSS AS CHALLENGES, UM, AS WE SIDEWALKS, DRAINS AND THOSE THINGS, YOU KNOW, SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WE NEED TO WORKSHOP THIS FOR AN HOUR BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE GOT BETTER AS WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

YOU KNOW, OUR REAL CHALLENGE, AS COUNCILOR D SAID, IS REHABILITATION VERSUS RECONSTRUCTION.

UM, WE DO A BETTER JOB IN-HOUSE IN, UM, THE REHABILITATION OF STREETS WHERE WE PROVIDE THE ASPHALT AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE BUILT A VERY STRONG TEAM IN-HOUSE, YOU KNOW, TO GET THAT DONE AT A MUCH, MUCH, MUCH CHEAPER COST.

YOU KNOW, AND WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE QUITE A NUMBER OF STREETS IN ALL THE DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

THERE ARE SOME MAJOR STREETS THAT WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN AND WHERE THE PRICE HAVE DOUBLED.

I WON'T GO INTO THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, YES.

BUT THE JOB WAS DONE.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, WHAT I'LL DO, I HAVE GOTTEN THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WORKING VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WE NEED TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB AT THE, UH, ACCOUNTING, ACCOUNTING, NOT WITH THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT, BUT WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

YOU KNOW, AS WE CONTINUE TO ACCOUNT FOR EXPENDITURES FOR REHABILITATION VERSUS

[03:05:01]

FOR, FOR THOSE STREETS.

AND, UM, REMEMBER, REMEMBER AGAIN THAT WHEN WE CONTINUE TO USE MONIES FOR, AS PART OF THE STREET PROGRAM FOR UTILITY IMPROVEMENT, THE UTILITY FUND IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND, WHICH IS GENERALLY BROKE .

SO, AND WE NORMALLY USE, WELL, WE NORMALLY GET TO THAT HAPPY COMPROMISE WHERE WE HAVE TO DO THE STORMWATER INLETS.

WE JUST CAN'T LEAVE IT.

YOU KNOW, THE STORMWATER INLETS, YOU KNOW, THE BROKEN LINES, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, THE, UM, THE SEWER LINES THAT ARE BROKEN.

WE NORMALLY WORK COOPERATIVELY IN ORDER TO GET THAT DONE, YOU KNOW, UM, SO YES, EGG VERSUS THE CHICKEN, THAT SORT OF THING.

YOU KNOW, ARE WE TRYING TO SAVE THE CHICKEN, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WE GROW IT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE DO , WE, AND WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO.

BUT, UM, FOR COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LET, LET ME PUT A WORKSHOP TOGETHER.

IS THAT OKAY? OKAY.

I I, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO, FOR ONE HOUR IN YOUR ONE HOUR SURE.

IN YOUR, UM, WE HAVE POSSIBLE ACTION.

WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO HAVING THAT? NO, WE DON'T.

OH, IT SAID NO ACTION ON ON THIS ONE.

YEAH, SO I, I LOOK THAT OVER.

AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, I WAS HERE WHEN THE PROGRAM STARTED.

UH, I WAS IN A PREVIOUS POSITION, SO I WAS ASKED TO BE A TEAM PLAYER, UH, WHEN I WAS IN DISTRICT THREE.

UH, I DIDN'T LIKE THE NUMBERS AND HOW THE MONIES WAS, UH, UH, ALLOCATED AND I'M GONNA STAND TO THAT.

SO, UM, BUT BASICALLY, UH, UH, JUST KIND OF BRIEFLY, I WROTE SOME NUMBERS HERE.

I KNEW THAT DISTRICT FOUR HAD ABOUT 42, 40 3% OF THE, THE ALLOCATION OF THE FUNDINGS, UH, DISTRICT, UH, FOLLOWED BY DISTRICT ONE, ABOUT 30, 32, 31.

UH, DISTRICT TWO, UH, WAS IN THIRD WITH ABOUT 2020 2%.

AND THEN DISTRICT THREE HAD 13 TO ABOUT 17%.

AND I DIDN'T LIKE IT THEN, BUT I WAS ASKED TO BE A TEAM PLAYER.

SO WE WANT TO, UH, TALK ABOUT ALLOCATION OF FUNDING AND HOW WE CAME TO A DECISION BASED UPON THE X-RAY TRUCK THAT WE SPENT ABOUT $90,000 ON TO ACTUALLY SURVEY THE WHOLE CITY AND TO KIND OF GIVE US THE EXACT, UH, CONDITIONS OF THE STREETS.

UH, SO, UH, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, WE WENT THROUGH THAT, THAT BRIDGE.

AND NOW A LOT OF THOSE DISTRICTS, UH, THAT WAS HEAD OF DISTRICT FOUR, UH, THREE, WHICH WAS IN THE LAST POSITION AT THE TIME, UH, HAS COME UP.

SO I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT, UH, UH, THIS THREE PROGRAM IS WORKING.

IT HAS WORKED AND, UH, GETTING WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND FINDING OUT WITH JOHN, OF COURSE, OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE, JUST FINDING OUT WHAT WAS THE NEEDS OF THE CITY.

SO WE, WE, WE AT THIS ROAD WE'RE ABOUT TO ADDRESS IT AGAIN IN NEXT BUDGET TIME, BUT, UH, COUPLE OF MONTHS.

UH, BUT I WOULD IN, YOU KNOW, BE MINDFUL THAT, UH, WE HAVE TAKEN IN CONSIDERATION THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE STREET PROGRAM BASED UPON DISTRICTS.

SO EVEN THOUGH WE MAY, I MAY BE SITTING IN A, AT LAURA'S SEAT NOW, I HAVE A STRONG SAY, UH, AND OPINION BECAUSE I HAVE TO VOTE ON, ON THESE MATTERS STILL TODAY.

SO, UH, CITY MANAGER, IF YOU COULD DO THIS, PROVIDE OR HAVE YOUR STAFF, YOUR STAFF PROVIDE A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE PERCENTAGES OF COMPLETED STREETS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS FOR THE STREET PROGRAM.

SO WE ALL CAN HAVE THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS VERSUS THE, THE VETERANS THAT I'M CONSIDERED A VETERAN NOW, UH, HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

IT'S JUST KIND OF HARD DUDE SAID, UH, I'M A VETERAN NOW.

UH, BUT YOU KNOW, JUST FOR THE PEOPLE AND TO BE TRANSPARENT, BECAUSE OUR JOB IS WE GET THE PHONE CALLS, OUR JOB IS TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE'RE OUT THERE, WE'RE FIXING STREET.

WE FOUND THE MONEY AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE DOING THAT.

FIX THEM WITH THE COST TODAY, I THINK WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS NOT SELECT STREETS TO PUT ON THE LIST THIS COMING YEAR, BUT ALLOW THE STAFF TO GO BACK AND RECALCULATE THAT MONEY TO FIND OUT WHAT THE TRUE COST IS.

CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL MEMBER.

TOM, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU BROUGHT UP POINT AND RON, YOU BROUGHT UP A POINT I TALKED WITH, UH, YOUR STAFF AND THE CITY ENGINEER AND THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT CAME OUT THAT DISCUSSION, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO COINCIDE WHAT YOU SAID AND WHAT THOMAS SAID IS, ONE IS THAT THIS COMMON YEAR, WE REALLY DON'T NEED TO PICK STREETS.

AND THE REASON BEING, WE GOT SO MANY STREETS ON THE LIST RIGHT NOW, AND WHEN WE FIRST ELECTED THESE STREETS, THE FIRST YEAR I FOUND OUT THAT THE ASPHALT WAS LIKE $65 OR SOMETHING AND NOW'S A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING.

SO ALL OF THESE STREETS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY ON THE LIST, WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THEM THAT WE DID.

SO IF WE KEEP PICKING STREETS, WHAT WE GONNA END UP DOING IS PICKING STREETS AND WE AIN'T GONNA GONNA HAVE NOWHERE NEAR THE MONEY.

SO BECAUSE WE HAVE STREETS STILL ON THE LIST RIGHT NOW, AND WE HAVE MONEY TO

[03:10:01]

SO WHEN WE PUT IT OUT, WE HAVE THE TRUE COST.

THE OTHER THING IS, THOMAS, WHAT YOU WAS SAYING, WE HAVE REDRAWN BOUNDARY AIRLINES NOW, AND THEY HAVE DONE THAT.

SO STREETS THAT WERE IN ONE DISTRICT IS NO LONGER GOING TO BE IN THAT DISTRICT.

SO THAT'S GOING TO GIVE A DIFFERENT READOUT ON THE DISTRICTS IN THE STREETS BECAUSE WHEREBY, UH, AN EXAMPLE LIKE DISTRICT ONE TOOK A LOT OF DISTRICT FOUR, BUT A LOT OF WHAT HE TOOK IN DISTRICT FOUR, A LOT OF STREETS WERE FIXED, SO HE GOT LUCKY.

BUT IF YOU GO BACK AND DO IT UNDER THE CURRENT BOUNDARIES, THEN YOU'RE GONNA FIND OUT THE NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY, WHICH MEANS THE, THE, UH, PROPORTION AND RATIOS GOING TO CHANGE.

THEREFORE, IF WE NOT PUT SELECT STREET THIS YEAR, THAT WILL ALLOW THE STAFF TIME ENOUGH TO GO BACK AND UPDATE THESE ESTIMATED COSTS TO BRING THEM BACK IN LINE AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME AND CALCULATE WHICH STREETS ARE NOW IN WHAT DISTRICTS SINCE WITH THE LINE DRAWN UP.

AND THAT'S WHAT I GOT FROM THE MEETING WITH MR. CANELLA AND STAFF YESTERDAY.

THAT'S GOING TO, I THINK, HELP US WHERE WE DON'T BE, KEEP DIGGING OURSELF IN THE HOLE WITH NOT HAVING THE MONEY, BRING IT UP TO DATE, GET ALL THE STREETS WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE, THEN WE COULD COME BACK AND PUSH AND KNOW WHERE WE ARE.

WE CAN DO THAT.

MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT ITEM TO DISCUSS AND POSSIBLY TAKE ACTION REGARDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 THROUGH 2024, PROPOSED BUDGET FILING DATE TO COMPLY WITH TAX CODE 26.05.

IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, WE NEED TO

[III. E.(4) To Discuss And Possibly Take Action Regarding The Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Proposed Budget Filing Date To Comply With Tax Code §26.05]

UM, CITY ATTORNEY.

UH, ACTUALLY THE FINANCE, FINANCE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR IS GONNA GIVE THIS PRESENTATION.

AND THEN I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING, UM, THERE IS A MISPRINT SOMEWHAT ON THE AGENDA, UH, BUT I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT, UH, UNDER THIS ITEM.

SHE HAS ONE SIDE AND THEN I'LL, I'LL CLARIFY THE MISPRINT.

THE ITEM YOU SAID IS, I MEAN, WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS UNDER THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

I DO HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT I WANT TO CLARIFY AND THEN I'LL CLARIFY AFTER SHE'S FINISHED.

GONNA TAKE THEM A FEW DAYS THERE.

I JUST HAVE A ONE PAGE SLIDE HERE TO KIND OF EXPLAIN, UM, THE NEW LEGISLATION, UM, AND, AND, AND WHY IT'S, IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO FILE BY THE DEADLINE THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO.

UH, THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE WAS PREVIOUSLY CALLED THE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE.

AND THAT'S BASICALLY THE TAX RATE NEEDED TO GENERATE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TAXES AS THE LAST YEAR.

AND THEN THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE WAS PREVIOUSLY REFERRED TO AS THE ROLLBACK RATE, AND THAT'S THE HIGHEST TAX RATE THAT A TAXING UNIT CAN ADOPT WITHOUT HOLDING AN ELECTION.

THERE WAS NEW LEGISLATION IN 2021 THAT, UH, CREATED A MODIFICATION TO THE FORMULA USED FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE.

IT CHANGED, UH, THE MAXIMUM RATE THAT YOU COULD GO UP FROM 8% TO THREE AND A HALF PERCENT WITHOUT CALLING FOR AN AUTOMATED AUTOMATIC ELECTION.

UM, SO THAT CREATED SOME FURTHER ISSUES.

UH, NEITHER THE CERTIFIED VALUES NOR THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE WILL BE KNOWN BY JULY 22ND.

THIS NEW LEGISLATION REQUIRES THAT YOU FILE THE BUDGET BY JULY 22ND AND ADOPT BY AUGUST 21ST TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO CALL FOR AN ELECTION IF YOU RAISE THE RATE HIGHER THAN THE ALLOWED RATE.

SO THAT'S WHY THE EARLY DATE THERE.

BUT AS I STATED, WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE NUMBERS BEHIND JULY 21ST.

UH, THE CERTIFIED VALUES ARE RECEIVED FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS AND THAT'S USUALLY AROUND JULY 25TH.

AND THEN THE JEFFERSON COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR, THEY, UH, DO THE CALCULATIONS FOR THE NO NEW REVENUE, UH, AND THE VOTER APPROVAL RATES AND THEY SUBMIT THOSE TO THE CITY AFTER THAT DATE.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S

[03:15:01]

SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY FILE A PROPOSED BUDGET ON JULY 31ST, UH, WITH ADOPTION ON OR AROUND AUGUST 31ST TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREPARE THE BUDGET DOCUMENT USING MORE SOLID REVENUE AND VALUATION INFORMATION.

UH, THE CITY MANAGER IS COMMITTED TO PRESENTING A BALANCED BUDGET THAT IS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED VOTER APPROVAL RATE.

UM, SO THAT'S REALLY PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAD, UH, TO EXPLAIN IT AND I THINK THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS SOME MORE TO ADD TO THAT.

YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.

WE WERE ORIGINALLY GONNA WRITE A RESOLUTION GIVEN SOME MORE DETAIL, BUT, UM, JUST TO CLARIFY, THEY MENTIONED CHAPTER 26 OF THE TAX CODE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY ONE THING AND THAT IS RELEVANT BECAUSE THAT DOES TELL YOU ABOUT FILING FOR, UH, HAVING AN ELECTION.

BUT, UM, JUST TO KIND OF PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, IF YOU DECIDE TO EXCEED THAT RATE, YOU WOULD HAVE, YOU CAN ONLY DO SO THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, WHICH USED TO BE CALLED THE ROLLBACK RATE, IF YOU DECIDE TO EXCEED THAT RATE, YOU HAVE TO FILE BY JULY 22ND.

AND IT IS A, A STRANGE SITUATION THAT ALL CITIES ARE IN BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE DATA.

BUT I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT, UM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT CHAPTER 1 0 2 0.005 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SAYS THAT THAT DEADLINE FOR CALLING AN ELECTION IS AUGUST 22ND.

SO IF YOU WANT TO EXCEED THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, YOU HAVE TO CALL IT ON AUGUST 22ND AND UNDER 1 0 2 0.005, YOU WOULD HAVE TO FILE THE BUDGET BY JULY 22ND.

SO, UM, THEY JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT IF YOU DO DIRECT NOT TO FILE THE BUDGET ON THE 22ND, YOU WILL NOT HAVE THAT OPTION OF OF BEING ABLE TO CALL FOR AN ELECTION.

YOU'LL HAVE TO WORK WITHIN WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS.

IT'S, IT'S, IT'S REALLY STRANGE THE WAY THAT BILL WAS WRITTEN.

UH, EVERYBODY KIND OF FOUGHT AGAINST THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE MAKING A DECISION, BUT EVERYBODY'S IN THAT PREDICAMENT THAT YOU'RE MAKING A DECISION BEFORE YOU HAVE ALL THE NUMBERS.

SO IN THE PAST, SOMETHING'S BEEN FILED AND THEN THEY LATER AMENDED WHEN THEY KNOW WHAT THAT RATE IS.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT ACCORDING TO 1 0 2 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, THAT DEADLINE IS JULY 22ND.

SO IF YOU DO, UH, TAKE A VOTE TODAY TO, UH, AUTHORIZE NOT GOING BEYOND THAT DATE, JUST KNOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK WITHIN WHATEVER THAT VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE IS.

DID I SAY IT RIGHT? FINANCE DIRECTOR SAID I SAID IT RIGHT.

IT'S KIND OF CONFUSING CUZ THEY'VE CHANGED TERMS, BUT SO, UM, YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, BUT, UM, THE 22ND OR THE 31ST, BUT IF YOU GO WITH THE DATE AFTER THE 22ND, YOU, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO CALL FOR AN ELECTION.

HOLD ON.

SO THAT'S IT, RIGHT? SO I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

IT'S, IT'S LIKE WE JUST LIKE YOU COOK SPAGHETTI AND THROW IT AGAINST THE WALL AND SEE IF IT STICKS WITH OUR BUDGET.

YOU, YOU MAKE UP ONE WHICH YOU CAN COME BACK, YOU KNOW, TO AMEND.

I DO UNDERSTAND THAT PART, BUT IS THAT ONE SIDE, YOU KNOW, ONE OPTION WE JUST SUBMIT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE OR WHAT WE THINK AN ESTIMATED BUDGET AND THEN COME BACK FOR AMENDMENTS? OR DO WE PREDICT THAT WE DON'T WANT AN INCREASE, WE DON'T GO FOR AND WE WON'T NEED AN ELECTION? YES.

I'M JUST HERE TO GIVE THE LAW AND ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT'S, THOSE ARE FINANCIAL THINGS THAT I CAN'T COUNT MY OWN MONEY, SO I'LL JUST LEAVE MYSELF OUTTA MONEY.

BUT I WILL SAY IF YOU FILE BY JULY 22ND, YOU, YOU KEEP THE OPTION TO HAVING AN ELECTION, BUT IF YOU DON'T FILE BY JULY 22ND, YOU CAN'T HAVE AN ELECTION.

AND I DEFER TO THE EX FINANCIAL EXPERTS OTHER THAN THAT KIND OF A, AGAIN, THE BILL WAS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, CONFUSING CUZ IT'S, IT'S PUTTING EVERY CITY IN A SITUATION WHERE, WELL, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RATE IS, SO, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S ONLY UNDER 1 0 2 A 30 DAY PROCESS.

REMEMBER THE BUDGET IS JUST A, ONCE YOU FILE YOU HAVE 30 DAYS TO PASS IT.

SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF ERASED FOR THE CLOCK.

AND, AND YOU KNOW, SHE'S CORRECT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE DATA SO, UH, I'LL DEFER TO THE MANAGER FINANCIAL FOLKS.

SOUNDS LIKE NEED TO PASS A BUDGET AND CANCEL ALL VACATIONS CUZ WE NEED 30 DAYS TO FIGURE IT OUT.

WELL, WELL WE HAVE, HAVE ALREADY STARTED THE BUDGET PROCESS AND WE HAVE FLEW

[03:20:01]

WITH EVERY DEPARTMENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF, UM, THE FINANCE AND THE, UM, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, WHICH ARE VERY INSI WELL SMALL DEPARTMENTS COMPARED TO THE DEPARTMENTS OF PUBLIC WORKS AND, AND, UM, UTILITIES THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT DEPARTMENTS IN UNDERTAKING ACTUAL PROGRAMS, UM, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND, UM, PARKS AND RECREATIONS, YOU KNOW, INFRASTRUCTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.

WE HAVE BEEN VERY CONSERVATIVE IN OUR APPROACH.

UM, AS I PROVIDED COUNCIL A MEMO SOMETIME LAST WEEK, WHICH STATED THAT NONE OF THE REQUESTS THAT CAME FROM THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

NO, BUT CAN WE FIN, CAN WE, OH, CAN WE FUND ALL OF THEM? THE QUESTION IS NO.

UM, WE HAD A NUMBER OF REQUESTS, UM, OF 39 REQUESTS FOR NEW POSITIONS.

THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN FIND, WE CAN FUND 39 NEW POSITIONS IN THE CITY OF PORT, GIVEN THE CURRENT FUNDING.

WHEN WE LOOK AT, UM, WHEN, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR SOURCES OF REVENUE, I E UM, OUR, OUR, UM, THE PROPERTY TAXES AS, AS WELL AS SALES TAX, WHICH IS THE BULK OF PROPERTY TAX, SALES TAX, AND, AND OUR IDS, WHICH IS WHERE WE GET MOST OF OUR MONIES FROM, YOU KNOW, SO WE'VE GOT TO BE VERY CONSERVATIVE IN PROVIDING YOU WITH THE LEGISLATION.

REQUIRES THAT WE PROVIDE YOU A BALANCED BUDGET, AND THAT IS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

MAKE SURE THAT I PROVIDE THE COUNCIL WITH A BALANCED BUDGET, THAT WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS KEY AREAS OF DRAINAGE, DRAINAGE AND UTILITIES, CITY INFRASTRUCTURE AS WE MOVE ALONG.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE MAY NOT BE SEVERELY AFFECTED BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE ARE HUGE PROJECTS THAT WILL BE FUNDED FEDERALLY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WE HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED THIS ALL.

SO, BUT GOING ON, MOVING ON FOR THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, THOSE THAT REQUIRE FUNDING FROM THE GENERAL FUND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THOSE VERY CLOSELY AS WELL.

BUT I'M, I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH A BALANCED BUDGET.

UM, CAN YOU GO ANYTHING ELSE? IS THIS VAL, WOULD THIS BE THE TIME? AND I'LL GO AFTER COUNSELOR DOUCETTE, IS THIS THE TIME THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT'S IN THE BUDGET, OR THIS IS SPECIFICALLY NO SPECIFIC TO WHETHER YOU WANT TO, LET ME READ IT.

WHETHER YOU WANT TO, HOW YOU WANT THEM TO PROCEED.

IT'S ABOUT YOU.

ABOUT HOW YOU WANT THEM TO PROCEED WITH THIS.

IT WOULD BE WHETHER TO MEET THE FILING DATE TO COMPLY WITH THE, TO COMPLY WITH 1 0 2 OR WAIVE THAT, RIGHT? YOU'RE MAKING A DECISION ON WHETHER YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD WITH THE 22ND OR, OR, OR WAIT, THE STATUTORY DEADLINE IS THE 22ND.

THAT WILL ALLOW YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO CALL AN ELECTION IF YOU WANNA RAISE THE TAX RATE ABOVE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.

SO THAT'S THE DECISION YOU'RE BEING, UH, ASKED TO MAKE.

COUNCILOR DOUCETTE, YES.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIGGER ISSUE WHETHER WE RAISE AND CAN'T GET RAISED, BUT 3.5 IS 0.8.

I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET IN TERMS OF TAX RATE IS A FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR IS LOOKING TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAX AND INCREASE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.

JUST WITH WHAT I'M HEARING NOW IS GOING TO REDUCE OUR TAX REVENUE SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE WE WILL BE, UH, APPROV, UH, A BUDGET IN THE LAST OF SEPTEMBER, AND THIS IS GOING TO TAKE EFFECT AFTERWARDS.

SO THAT MEANS THAT WHATEVER WE PREDICTING FOR TAXES BASED ON THE TWO PREVIOUS YEARS, IT'S COMPLETELY OUT THE WINDOW.

SO WHEN DOING SO, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE VERY CONSERVATIVE WITH DEALING THIS TAX REVENUE BECAUSE IF, WELL, IT'S GONNA COME INTO PLAY.

IT IS, IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT BECAUSE GOING TO HAPPEN STARTING ONE JANUARY, THAT MEANS THAT OUR, OUR TAX REVENUE WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY.

LORD, THE ONLY THING THAT WE GOING, THAT WE HAVE GOING FOR US TO SAVE US THIS YEAR IS THE FACT THAT WE WILL RECEIVE TAX BASED ON JANUARY, 2023.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT FOR FUTURE WITH

[03:25:01]

TAX REVENUE.

OKAY? ANY CREDIT, REMEMBER THAT EXEMPTION GOES FROM 40,000 TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND.

A HUNDRED.

REMEMBER THAT.

AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR HOUSE IN STOCK AROUND HERE, JUST BEAR THAT IN MIND.

NOW, JUST BEAR THAT IN MIND BECAUSE I, I, I KNOW COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, WE WANT THE BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF PORT ARTHUR.

WE DO, BUT WE'VE GOT TO BE REASONABLE ABOUT IT.

WE GOTTA BE REASONABLE ABOUT WHAT WE ASK FOR, THOUGH.

WE DO.

WE HAVE, I'VE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH THE, THE FIRE CHIEF, YOU KNOW, THE POSSIBILITY OF, UM, IMP CONTINUING TO IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE TIME AND EVERYTHING TO OUR CITIZENS BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT.

AND WE, AS WE MOVE ALONG, YOU ARE MOVING INTO AN AGING POPULATION WHO REQUIRES MORE ATTENTION.

WE WANT TO PUT A BUS SHELTER IN EVERY AREA.

WE WANT A PLAYGROUND FOR A MILLION DOLLARS IN EVERY AREA.

IT COMES AT A, THERE IS 30 YEARS OF UTILITY LINES, OVER 200 MILES OF WATER LINES THAT HAS NOT BEEN ATTENDED TO OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.

THERE IS DRAINAGE THAT HAS TO BE IMPROVED, THAT HAS NOT BEEN ATTENDED TO IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.

AND THERE IS THE ADDED COST OF MAKING SURE THAT THE WATER THAT WE CONSUME HAS TO BE PROPERLY TREATED, COMES AT A COST.

THERE'S GARBAGE THAT HAS TO BE PICKED UP AND TOLD US THAT HAS TO BE BOUGHT.

SO I, I'M WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONSERVATIVE.

WE ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE AND TARGETED.

TARGETED IN WHERE WE PUT THE MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS, UH, THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THOSE WITHOUT DISRUPTION.

THE GARBAGE AND THE TRASH IS PICKED UP WITHOUT DISRUPTION ON A DAILY BASIS.

I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER LIGHTS.

THE CITY ATTORNEY, WILL YOU PLEASE ASSIST US WITH HOW WE NEED TO STATE THIS MOTION, OR FIRST THE OPTIONS FOR WHICH MOTION? UH, YOU CAN EITHER TAKE A MOTION TO, UM, FOLLOW THE, THE JULY 22ND FILING DATE, OR A MOTION NOT TO FILE, FILE THE BUDGET BY THAT DATE.

IT'S BASICALLY JULY 22ND OR NOT JULY 22ND.

IT'S UP TO YOU ALL.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO MAKE THAT MOTION WHETHER YOU FILE THE PROPOSED BUDGET, UM, BY THE JULY 22ND DATE OR NOT.

FILE THE BUDGET BY THE JULY 22ND DATE.

AND JUST FOR CLARITY, IF WE, UM, DO NOT FILE BY THE JULY 22ND DATE, WE'RE STATING WE ARE, WE'RE JUST GOING TO LEAVE IT ALONE AND WE'RE NOT IN, UM, YOU JUST WON'T HAVE THE, WON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO CALL FOR AN ELECTION.

YOU JUST WON'T HAVE THE ABILITY.

I THINK, UH, MR. JOSEPH MIGHT HAVE SOME BETTER WORDING.

HE SPOKE WITH THE COMPRO.

IF YOU DON'T FILE IT BY THE 22ND, THAT OPTION'S JUST OFF THE TABLE.

WE WON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILE AN ELECTION FOR A PROPOSED TAX RATE.

SO YOU JUST GONNA HAVE, YEAH, IT THE CITY, CITY MANAGER.

YOU JUST SAID THAT WE, WE'VE ALREADY DONE THE BUDGET, RIGHT? UH, THE BIG PORTION OF IT, RIGHT? YES, YES.

WE HAVE DONE SO.

SO, SO BASICALLY, UH, UH, WE WE'RE OKAY THIS YEAR, RIGHT? AND, AND I'M, WE HAVE DONE THE BUDGET AND WE ARE OVER AND I'M CUTTING BACK RIGHT NOW.

WELL, WELL, THAT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BALANCED, OKAY? BUT I'M TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BALANCED.

YES, BUT, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT IN TAXES CUZ THIS, THIS GONNA HAVE TO COME FROM A RECOMMENDATION.

OKAY? RIGHT NOW WE GETTING THIS YEAR TAXES, UH, SO THAT WHAT HAVE DOING IS WON'T AFFECT US.

OKAY? YEAH.

THIS BE, CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE, HAVE THE, WE DON'T HAVE THE, THE NUMBERS YET EITHER FROM THE APPRAISAL OFFICE, BUT OF, FROM THE TAX ASSESSORS.

WE DON'T HAVE THOSE AS YET.

ACTUALLY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

BUT, AND WE, BUT WE ARE GUESSTIMATING IT NOW.

BUT THE, BUT THE TAX WE GONNA RECEIVE THIS YEAR IS GONNA BE, IS BASED ON ONE JANUARY MM-HMM.

SO WE GONNA GET OUR TAXES NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES.

THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING YOUR, YOUR REVENUE PROJECTION FOR TAXES SHOULD NOT CHANGE, IS GONNA BE AFTER JANUARY.

BUT THIS IS PROPOSED FOR 2024.

[03:30:01]

SO IT'S ABOUT THE TAX RATE, RIGHT.

AND HOW HIGH YOU CAN GO.

RIGHT? SO THAT'S WHY IF YOU WANNA GO UP, IF YOU WANT TO GO ABOVE THIS NUMBER THAT WE DON'T KNOW, YOU'D HAVE TO FILE BY A CERTAIN TIME.

IF YOU WANT TO GO ABOVE THIS NUMBER THAT WE DON'T KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE AN ELECTION.

YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY HARD TO SIMPLIFY.

I'M TRYING TO FIND A WAY.

I I THINK MAYBE SHE COULD EXPLAIN IT.

HOLD, HOLD, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, IS THERE A CONSENSUS THAT WE WOULD, SOMEBODY JUST NEEDS TO MAKE A MOTION.

MOTION.

I, I WILL, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR BEFORE I, I MAKE THIS MOTION THAT WE ARE IN A CONSENSUS OF, UM, OF NOT FILING, NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH.

I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH FILING THE JULY 22ND FILING DATE.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU DO, UH, WE'LL GIVE A CALENDAR BASED ON WHATEVER DAY YOU FILE WITH THE CITY SECRETARY, CUZ WE'LL HAVE TO TAPE.

SO IT'S STILL GONNA BE BASED ON THE DAY YOU FILED UNDER 1 0 2 A 30 DUE 30 DAY PROCESS.

AND YOU DO HAVE A CERTAIN DEADLINE IN THE CODE.

SO WE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO HAVE AN ELECTION.

THAT'S RIGHT.

UM, WILL WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OUR WORKSHOPS SCHEDULED IN ADVANCE? WELL IN ADVANCE? OKAY.

THAT WAS NUMBER FOUR.

WE ALREADY DONE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO MAYOR PRO.

TIM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, PLEASE.

UH, I NEED TO LEAVE COUNSEL MEETING AT TWO 30 TO MAKE A COURT APPEARANCE IN THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE.

UH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT, UH, UNDER ROMAN NUMERAL EIGHT, THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA THAT ITEMS TWO AND THREE, UH, BE MOVED TO AN EARLIER PLACE IN THE AGENDA.

PR NUMBER 2 3 2 51, A RESOLUTION APPOINTING AND OR REAPPOINTING A DIRECTOR OR DIRECTORS TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR SECTION FOR A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REQUESTED BY COUNSELORS, UM, DOUCETTE AND BECKHAM.

ALL IN FAVOR? I'M SORRY.

WE WILL MOVE THE TWO FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS.

PRIOR TO PRIOR TO REPORTS ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.

THE FOLLOWING TWO ITEMS WILL BE REMOVED, WILL BE MOVED TO THE BEGINNING OF REPORTS, ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST

[VIII. A.(2) P.R. No. 23251 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing A Director Or Directors To The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation (Requested By Councilmembers Doucet And Beckcom)]

SO MOVED.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND? THANK YOU.

MAY I PLEASE HAVE YOUR, YOUR THE NAMES? WE PUT THAT ON THE FLOOR? YES.

FOR BOTH DOUCETTE AND FOR BECKHAM? YES.

YES, I HAVE.

SHE HAS POSITION THREE IS JERRY LEBO.

AND POSITION FOUR IS JODY HOLTON.

ANY SHE SAID? UH, HOLTON.

IT'S IN THE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? A.

ANY OPPOSED MEASURE PASSES PR NUMBER.

WELL POINT OF ORDER.

THESE ARE APPOINTMENTS.

THEY DON'T REQUIRE VOTES.

I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO REMIND COUNCILOR THAT THESE ARE APPOINTMENTS.

THEY DON'T REQUIRE VOTES.

THANK YOU SIR.

[VIII. B.(3) P.R. No. 23253 – A Resolution Appointing A Member Or Members To The Pleasure Island Advisory Commission (Requested By Councilmembers Doucet And Beckcom)]

PR NUMBER 23 2 53.

A RESOLUTION APPOINTING A MEMBER OR MEMBERS TO THE PLEASURE ISLAND ADVISORY COMMISSION REQUESTED BY COUNCILLORS, DOUCETTE AND BECKHAM.

MAY I? SO MOVED? SECOND.

OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I PLEASE HAVE THE NAMES? POSITION THREE IS SUSIE CHAIR.

THIS POSITION FOUR IS JOHN BEARD.

[03:35:02]

ANY OPPOSITION? MEASURE PASSES.

WE WILL MOVE BACK TO, THAT WAS THE ONLY TWO.

INFORMATION REGARDING HOLIDAYS SCHEDULES.

UM, WE WILL MOVE

[V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]

BACK TO REPORTS.

ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.

JUST PLEASE, COUNSELORS, REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE A LIMIT OF TWO MINUTES PER COUNSELOR PURSUANT TO 5 51 0.0415 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.

THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MAY MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS REGARDING ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST, WHICH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING EX ONE EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS, CONGRATULATIONS OR CONDOLENCES.

TWO.

THREE.

AN HONORARY OR SALUTER SALUATORY, RECOGNITION OF A PUBLIC, OFFICIAL, PUBLIC EMPLOYEE, OR OTHER CITIZEN.

EXCEPT THAT A DISCUSSION REGARDING A CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF A PERSON'S PUBLIC OFFICE OR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT IS NOT AN HONORARY OR SALUTARY RECOGNITION FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION.

FOUR, A REMINDER ABOUT AN UPCOMING EVENT ORGANIZED OR SPONSORED BY THE GOVERNING BODY.

FIVE.

INFORMATION REGARDING A SOCIAL, CEREMONIAL OR COMMUNITY EVENT ORGANIZED OR SPONSORED BY AN ENTITY OTHER THAN THE GOVERNING BODY THAT WAS ATTENDED, OR IS SCHEDULED TO BE ATTENDED BY A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING BODY, OR AN OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEE OF THESE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION.

AND SIX ANNOUNCEMENTS INVOLVING AN IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PEOPLE IN THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THAT HAS ARISEN AFTER THE POSTING OF THE AGENDA.

POSSIBLE ACTION MAY NOT BE DISCUSSED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INFORMATION PER PROVIDED IN THIS REPORT.

COUNSELORS.

I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, PROVIDE INFORMATION OF A COMMUNITY FAMILY FUND FAIR AND PUBLIC HEALTH EVENT THAT WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, BEGINNING AT 10:00 AM AT 2248 THOMAS BOULEVARD.

IT'S ACTUALLY AT MY CHURCH, AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS WELCOME TO COME.

THERE WILL BE HEALTH SCREENS, UM, HEALTH SCREENINGS PROVIDED, AND AGAIN, ALL ARE WELCOME TO COME SATURDAY.

UM, JULY 22ND, BEGINNING AT 10:00 AM ALL RIGHT.

UM, NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]

IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MAY I PLEASE HAVE A LIST OF ANY ITEMS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PULLED? WONDERFUL.

MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IS? SO MOVE.

ANY OPPOSED? MEASURE PASSES.

ITEMS REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION, NON-CONSENT WE'VE ALREADY DONE.

PR MA'AM? NUMBER ONE? YES.

ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 6 9 0 7 0 1 5.

? WE DID, WE DID.

UM, SO WE'RE MOVING TO NUMBER

[VIII. A.(4) P.R. No. 23258 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into The Third Year (Second Renewal) Contract With Ardurra Of Houston, Texas For Assistance With The American Rescue Plan Act Program/Grant Management Services In An Amount Not To Exceed $180,000.00 Per Annum. Funds Are Available From American Rescue Plan Account #169-07-015-5470-00-40-000, Project No. ARP0007]

FOUR, PR NUMBER 23 2 58.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO THE THIRD YEAR, SECOND RENEWAL CONTRACT WITH OUR DORA OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT PROGRAM.

GRANT MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $180,000 PER ANNUAL FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FROM AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

5 4 7 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0.

PROJECT NUMBER A R P 0 0 0 7 MOTION.

SO MOVED.

ANY DISCUSSION? YES.

COUNCIL DOUCETTE, WE QUESTION TWO, LEMME KNOW.

BILLING FOR THE APA PROJECTS AT THIS TIME.

HEY, MY NAME IS CRAIG RO WITH, UH, THEDO COMPANY.

I READ THE CONTRACT, I READ THE, I READ THE CONTRACT.

UH, YOUR CONTRACT, UH, YOUR INVOICE.

DO YOU INVOICE THE CITY FOR ANYBODY OTHER THAN YOURSELF? THERE ARE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE FOR THAT WORK FOR ADORA, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, CHICA AND ASSOCIATES WHO IS A SUBCONTRACTOR WHO ALSO WORK.

SO CURRENTLY, UM, THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE WORKING AT DIFFERENT, VARIOUS, UH, ASPECTS OF THE, OF THE PROJECT.

I AM THE ONLY PERSON

[03:40:01]

UH, OKAY.

BUT IN YOUR CONTRACT HAS SAID THAT ANYONE THAT YOU HAVE TO ASSIST OR YOU WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, DID I READ THAT IN THE CONTRACT THAT WE, THE CITY DON'T PAY YOUR ASSISTANCE.

THE CITY PAYS FOR? THE CITY PAYS FOR ANY, ANYONE WHO WORKS ON THAT CONTRACT, THERE'S A RATE SCHEDULE THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.

BUT CURRENTLY I'M THE ONLY PERSON ON THE TEAM BILLING AT THE FOR UPPER PROJECTS.

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CONTRACT ITSELF.

THE GIST OF IT IS THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING THE CITY, UH, MARKET AND, UH, DETERMINE HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THE AR I MEAN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONIES, UH, I MEAN WE, WE RECEIVED THE MONIES, CORRECT? WE'VE ALREADY ALLOCATED THE MONEY.

AM I CORRECT? TO THE DIFFERENT THAT'S CORRECT.

SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WE'RE MANAGING THE PROJECTS.

EACH PROJECT HAS TO BE MANAGED IN TERMS OF TRACKING, UH, EXPENDITURES SCHEDULES, QUARTERLY REPORTING.

UH, THERE'S, SO EVERYTHING THAT COMES THROUGH ON EACH OF THOSE PROJECTS HAS TO BE MONITORED FOR, UH, FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE US TREASURER GUIDELINES.

NEXT QUESTION, RON.

WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT? BECAUSE THERE ARE, WITH THE APA PROJECT, THERE ARE NEW GUIDELINES THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, PRESENTED EVER SO OFTEN, UM, BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND WHEN WE RECEIVED THE MONIES, UM, WE DECIDED THAT IT WAS APPROPRIATE IN ORDER THIS $26.7 MILLION IN ORDER TO, UM, ALLOCATE THE MONEY AND MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THE ALLOCATIONS WERE APPROPRIATELY DONE THAT WE RECRUITED IN THE, UM, ADURO, WHICH HAS THE NECESSARY EXPERTISE TO DO THAT.

FOR US, THE GUIDELINES WERE ALMOST A THOUSAND PAGES LONG, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, THE CONGRESS CONTINUED TO CHANGE THOSE GUIDELINES AS WE MOVED, AS THEY MOVED ALONG.

IT CHANGED EVERY OTHER WEEK OR EVERY THREE WEEKS.

AND IT WAS, IT WAS, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO GET STAFF TO STAY ABREAST WITH THOSE GUIDELINES BEFORE THAT IT WOULD BE MONEY WELL INVESTED.

AND WE WERE ALSO INFORMED THAT IF THERE WERE ANY SHORTCOMINGS IN THOSE GUIDELINES, WE WOULD BE ASKED TO PAY BACK ALL THE MONEY.

SO WE BETTER BE, WE WERE TRYING TO BE SAFE.

AND, SORRY, WHEN WE MADE THAT DECISION, I UNDERSTAND BEING SAFE AND, SORRY, I UNDERSTAND THAT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, UH, THE MONEY IS SENT, YOU KNOW, WE WASN'T ONLY CITY.

A LOT OF CITIES GOTTA AWARD THIS MONEY.

OKAY? AND WHEN YOUR AWARD IS MONEY TO GIVE YOU GUIDELINES, YOU HAVE TO DO REPORTS AND STUFF.

OKAY? BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, I LOOKED AT THE CONTRACT AND THE CONTRACT IS NOT TO EXCEED $108,000.

AND, UH, AT SOME POINT IN TIME WE HAVE TO START DOING THINGS AND WE GOING TO HAVE TO START READING BECAUSE WE GOING TO DO THIS.

BECAUSE WHEN I READ THE CONTRACT, WE STARTED OUT WITH DISASTER.

UH, AND THAT, AND THAT WAS A CATASTROPHE.

I UNDERSTAND HARVEY.

IT WAS A LOT OF MONEY OUT THERE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS.

AND I DON'T THINK OUR STAFF WAS EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO GO AFTER THIS STUFF.

SO WE HIRED THEM.

OKAY? THEN AFTER, UH, HARVEY, WE HAD COVID, BUT WE OUTTA THIS NOW AND WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN TO 26 MONTHS.

THE MONEY IS HERE.

WE'VE ALREADY ALLOCATED ALL OF THE MONEY.

SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS IT LEFT? BECAUSE WHEN I READ THE CONTRACT, TALKING ABOUT MARKETING, UH, GETTING WITH OUR MARKETING PEOPLE, GETTING WITH THIS PERSON, THAT PERSON DOING THIS, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.

YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, AT SOME POINT IN TIME WE HAVE TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, THE LONG PAGES OF STUFF.

WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT.

WE GOT THE MONEY SO EVIDENT WE READ IT, OKAY.

EVIDENT WE READ IT, YOU KNOW, AND $180,000.

AND I, I, I READ THIS CONTRACT PROBABLY ABOUT TWO, THREE TIMES.

CAUSE I REALLY WANTED TO GET A UNDERSTANDING.

AND I STARTED READING ABOUT WHAT IT ACTUALLY

[03:45:01]

ENTAILS.

AND I'M SAYING TO MYSELF, IF WE CANNOT DO THIS, WE ARE IN TROUBLE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE COMPLYING WITH IT.

WE GOT THE MONEY.

WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BREAKING IT DOWN NO MORE.

WE ALREADY DONE BROKE IT DOWN.

THAT'S A HUNDRED.

AND NOT TO EXCEED A $180,000.

AND I JUST DON'T SEE WHERE WE CAN'T DO THIS.

BECAUSE AT SOME POINT IN TIME WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND A CONTRACTOR FOR A CERTAIN PURPOSE.

LIKE I SAY, HARVEY WAS HUGE.

COVID HUGE.

BUT WE'VE GOTTEN THIS GRANT.

IF WE GET ANOTHER GRANT, HE GOT A, WE GOING TO PAY A ADMINISTRATIVE COST TO DO IT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE GOT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE DOING, WHAT OUR STAFF DO, AND WHAT PEOPLE COME IN AND DO FOR US.

AND THIS IS, THIS IS 180 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THE MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED TO SUTTON.

AND IF WE CAN'T FOLLOW THAT UP, I THINK WE GOT IT.

WE GOT A PROBLEM.

UH, WE'VE BEEN WITH LED DURA SINCE 2018 OR 17.

WHICH ONE? APRIL OF 2018.

2018.

WHEN IS IT GONNA STOP? SOMETHING YOU WANNA SAY? MAY COUNSEL, MAY I, MAY I COMMENT? SURE.

LET ME SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICKLY AND THEN SURE, NO WORRIES.

WE, WE'VE HAD THESE CONCERNS AND, UH, THEY'VE BEEN WELL-DOCUMENTED IN OUR MEETINGS.

UH, WHEN WE APPROVED, UH, THE CONTRACT, WE HAD THE SAME DISCUSSION, UH, ABOUT, UH, ABOUT APPROVING THE CONTRACT AND ALLOWING, UH, DORA TO CONTINUE, UH, THEIR WORK, UH, HERE IN THE CITY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE NOTED AS I'VE BEEN ON CITY COUNCIL, UH, FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME IS, UM, HOW SLOW, UH, THE RESPONSE SOMETIMES IS.

I THINK WE JUST GOT A CHECK HERE IN THE CITY FROM RITA.

UH, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT THE, THAT THE WHEELS OF THE GOVERNMENT CAN SOMETIMES GRIND, UH, SO FINELY, I DON'T THINK, UM, THAT, UH, I MEAN $180,000 IS $180,000.

I, I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO MY RETIREMENT TO GET THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY OUTTA MY ACCOUNT.

I DO RECOGNIZE, UH, THAT IT IS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK ABOUT IS, IS THAT AS YOU WATCH AND LOOK AT MANAGING GRANTS AND MANAGING MONEY, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS AND TRANSPIRES, SOMETIMES THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL.

AND THOSE FINE AND THAT FINE PRINT.

AND WHEN YOU DON'T DO THAT, WHEN STAFF DOESN'T HAVE THE TIME BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING, OR WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS AND TRANSPIRES, I DON'T WANT TO SEE US HAVE TO GO BACK AND PAY MONEY BACK.

AND SO WHEN I, I'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN AS WELL, UH, WHEN YOU DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO A GRANT OR WHEN YOU DON'T DO THAT, AND I WOULD RATHER HOLD A DUAL RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT THAN TO HOLD OUR STAFF RESPONSIBLE, UH, FOR HAVING TO, UH, GO BACK AND BECAUSE WE DIDN'T SEE SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE TRAINED TO DO OR SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO GO AND REPAY MUCH MORE THAN $180,000.

SO, UM, HAVING THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, I WOULD BE IN AGREEMENT WITH, UH, UH, PAYING THAT AND ALLOWING THEM TO MANAGE THAT GRANT TO, UH, KEEP FROM, UH, HAVING TO SEE OURSELVES PAY MONEY BACK.

SO, COUNCIL CAMERA.

UH, YOU KNOW, UH, HOW YOU DOING? OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

UH, HOW CAN I START? I HAVE TO AGREE WITH, UH, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCE ON, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO AFTER A DOER THAT JUST UP FRONT, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE HERE A COUPLE YEARS.

YOU'VE BEEN GREAT TO THIS COMMUNITY, WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER

[03:50:01]

AND THE STAFF.

BUT, UH, WE REALLY SHOULD START LOOKING IN THE FUTURE ABOUT HOW THIS CITY IS GONNA OPERATE ONCE WE START APPLYING FOR GRANTS.

ON THE FLIP SIDE, 180 K IS A SMALL AMOUNT TO ENSURE THAT THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN DISTRICT THREE, CUZ I IMAGINE THAT THE 26 7, SOME OF THAT IS DISTRICT THREE DRAINAGE PROJECTS.

AM I CORRECT? YOU HAVE, WELL, IF YOU'D LIKE, I CAN GO THROUGH THE PROJECTS, BUT YES, YOU HAVE A, YOU HAVE A MEAN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT, THAT COVERS EVERYTHING.

AND SERVING UNDER GOVERNORS BEFORE I GET THE WHOLE PROCESS, THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT WANTS TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND SHOULD BE SELF-SUFFICIENT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT CAN BE.

AND THAT'S $11 MILLION OUT OF THE 26 BY ITSELF.

AND, AND JUST HOLD YOUR POINT, BUT I DO WANT YOU TO GO THROUGH THE ITEMIZED LIST OF, UH, WHAT THAT'S GONNA ENTAIL WITH THE 26TH MILL.

UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE, WE REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TAPER AWAY FROM, UH, SUPPORT ENTITIES LIKE YOURSELF.

YOU'VE BEEN WONDERFUL TO THIS CITY, BUT AS A CITY ENTITY, WE GOTTA LOOK IN THE LONG, UH, FUTURE FOR, UM, STANDING ALONE FOR OURSELVES.

SO THANK YOU.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST GOING THROUGH THAT LIST, I APPRECIATE IT.

I I'D BE HAPPY TO.

UM, SO KEEP IN MIND THAT COUNCILMAN DOSSETT IS CORRECT THAT THE, THE A R FUNDING, UH, WAS NON-COMPETITIVE.

AND SO WHEN THE, WHEN CONGRESS PASSED THAT BILL, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, IT ALLOCATED FUNDS TO CITIES, UH, METROPOLITAN AREAS THROUGHOUT THE, THE COUNTRY.

UH, AND IT WAS NON-COMPETITIVE.

HOWEVER, THERE IS, THERE IS A CAVEAT TO THAT.

IN FACT, CONGRESS HAS BEEN MOVING TO RECLAIM SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS.

SO CITIES WHO HAVE NOT ACTED AND CITIES WHO ARE NOT COMPLIANT ARE AT RISK FOR THOSE DOLLARS BEING TAKEN BACK ONCE YOU SPEND THEM.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE NOT, THAT YOU ARE FREE AND CLEAR.

YOU STILL HAVE TO HANDLE, AS ALWAYS, WITH FEDERAL FUNDS, UH, REVIEWS AND AUDITS.

AND IF THOSE AUDITS ARE UNSUCCESSFUL, UH, YOU STAND THE RISK OF, OF THOSE MONIES BEING, UH, PULLED BACK AS WELL.

UH, SO IN TERMS OF THE OPERA PROJECTS THEMSELVES, I, I'LL GO THROUGH IT REAL QUICKLY FOR YOU.

UH, AND, AND I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE, UH, TRYING TO SCHEDULE A WORKSHOP TO DO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND HAVE WORKED ON TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE TO THOSE THINGS AND, AND BRING EVERYONE UP TO SPEED.

SO AT THIS POINT, THE 26 MILLION, 26.7 MILLION IS BROKEN DOWN INTO, UM, 7.1 MILLION IS FOR GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES.

THAT IS THE CATEGORY THAT OPERA ALLOWS FOR UP TO 10 MILLION OF WHAT IS CALLED REVENUE LOSS.

UH, THE CITY HAS SPENT 80,000 ON TEMPORARY WORKERS FOR, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION, 80,000, UH, FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF THE Y M C A TO OPERATE THE WEST SIDE DEVELOPMENT CENTER, 480,000, UH, OF WHICH ONLY 76,000 HAS BEEN SPENT.

UH, BUT IT'S AN ONGOING ALLOCATION FOR, UH, GARBAGE COLLECTION SUPPORT, UH, 200,000 FOR THE HOUSTON AVENUE STREET REPAIR PROJECT, UH, WHICH IS A COMPLETE PROJECT ONLY, THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 10,000 REMAINING OF RETAINAGE THAT THAT IS DUE FOR THAT PROJECT.

THERE IS $160,000 THAT IS ALLOCATED FOR, UH, MATCHING FUNDS FOR, UH, ANOTHER LOCAL GRANT, UH, FOR GENERATORS, UH, THAT HAS BEEN AWARDED, UH, THE SABINE PASS BOAT RAMP FOR 1 MILLION, UH, 5 MILLION FOR THE NEW HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUILDING AND $101,000 FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, UH, EMPLOYEE SUPPORT THAT COMES OUT OF THAT 7.1 MILLION.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, 11.1 MILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR THE MAIN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN IMPROVEMENTS.

UH, THAT'S A PROJECT THAT IS ONGOING AND SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

UM, 1.8 MILLION FOR THE SABINE PASS, PORT ACRES WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, 2 MILLION FOR THE LANDFILL, UH, SLOPE STABILIZATION PROJECT.

IF YOU RECALL, THERE WAS, UM, AN ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, COMPLIANCE ISSUE OUT AT THE, AT THE LANDFILL.

AND THIS HAS BEEN, UH, HELPING TO CORRECT THAT 2 MILLION FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT VACCINATION CENTER AND $2 MILLION FOR DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS AT 17TH AND 19TH.

UH, SO THAT MAKES UP, UH, IN ADDITION, OBVIOUSLY OUR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, UH, COMES OUT OF THAT AS WELL.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL, I DO WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT HAVING, HAVING SERVED BOTH, UH, IN ELECTED OFFICE

[03:55:01]

BUT WHEN IT CAN'T BE, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THEN TO MAKE YOUR CITIZENRY SUFFER OUT OF A PRINCIPLE OF WANTING TO BE.

AND I, SO I AGREE TOTALLY THAT WHEN YOU CAN BE SELF-SUFFICIENT, YOU SHOULD BE SELF-SUFFICIENT.

NOW, I WOULD BE, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS GONE ON IS THE OVERALL WORK THAT ADORA HAS PROVIDED.

YES, WE CAME IN, IN 2018 ON THE INCREDIBLE, UH, DIFFICULTIES THAT HARVEY PRESENTED, THE AMOUNT OF FLOODING AND DAMAGES AND, AND DISARRAY THAT THE, THE PROGRAM WAS IN.

AND OVER THAT TIME, BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AND THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE MADE THROUGHOUT THE, THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY, UH, THERE'S BEEN A GREAT BENEFIT.

DOES IT COST? ABSOLUTELY, IT DOES COST.

UH, BUT I, I CAN STAND HERE AND TELL YOU THAT, UH, I THINK YOUR INVESTMENT IN OUR PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL.

UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE PURSUED AND ARE PURSUING 178 MILLION FOR THE CITY.

WE'VE HELPED OBLIGATE 138 MILLION, 138 MILLION IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS BECAUSE OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU.

AND THE COST TO THAT HAS BEEN A 5%.

NOW, I'M NOT A FINANCIAL EXPERT, BUT I COULD TELL YOU THAT I WOULD PAY 5% ON A RETURN FOR $138 MILLION EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT BENEFITS THE, THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

HAS IT BEEN FAST? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THAT'S PART OF WHY WE'RE STILL HERE.

UH, OUR JOB IS TO WORK OURSELVES OUT OF A JOB AND AS, AS YOU GUYS GET YOURSELVES TO, TO A PLACE WHERE, UH, YOU CAN PURSUE ALL THE GRANTS INDEPENDENTLY AND, AND FOLLOW THEM AND COMPLY WITH THEM, I THINK MS. MS. ESSEX SAYS A FINE JOB.

BUT THE AMOUNT OF GRANTS THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR THE, FOR THE AMOUNT OF, UH, WORK THAT'S REQUIRED, UH, SURPASSES WHAT HER, HER DEPARTMENT CAPACITY IS.

NOT BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T DO A GOOD JOB, BUT BECAUSE THERE'S MORE WORK THAN OUR PEOPLE DO IT.

SO ANYWAY, UH, WE, WE SERVE AT YOUR PLEASURE.

THERE'S NO TWO WAYS ABOUT THAT.

UH, WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE GIVEN A GOOD PRODUCT, UH, AND WE HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THAT, THAT PARTNERSHIP.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER ADORA, HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO GROW AND PROSPER, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS THE CHANCE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER DISASTER.

UH, AND IF THERE IS, CERTAINLY WE WOULD HELP YOU IF YOU HAVE US.

IF NOT, UH, THEN WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE TO THIS POINT, UH, FOR YOU AND WITH YOU, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO SERVE AT YOUR PLEASURE FOR AS LONG AS YOU WOULD HAVE US, MR. LEWIS.

SO YOUR, YOUR ANNUAL FEE ARE WHAT? $188,000? THE R CONTRACT CALLS FOR $180,000 PER YEAR.

SO THIS IS PER YEAR? YES.

AND YOU'VE BEEN, YOU'VE BEEN WITH THE, UH, WITH THE COUNCIL SINCE 2018.

YEAH, BUT THE APA CONTRACT, THIS IS OUR SECOND RENEWAL.

SO THIS IS YEAR THREE FOR THE APA WORK.

AND THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU HAVE RECOVERED.

KNOW HOW TO WORK THE PRO, BRING HOW THAT PERSON GET THAT PERSON BY.

WITH THE 26.7 MILLION IS WHAT WE'RE HELPING MANAGE WITH THE CITY, RIGHT? SO YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO SUPPLY ALL OF THE DOCUMENTATION.

WELL, IT'S ALLOCATED.

THIS, THIS IS CITY DONE SPENT X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS DURING, DURING THE DISASTERS.

SO NOW WE ARE IN RECOVERY.

WELL, ON THE ARPA IT IS, IT, IT IS MONEY THAT WAS ALLOCATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THE CITY CHOSE HOW TO SPEND IT ON WHICH PROJECTS WE'RE HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE EXPENDITURES MATCH THE US TREASURY FINAL RULE IN, IN TERMS OF COMPLIANCE, PROCUREMENT, ALL OF THOSE ASPECTS THAT HAVE TO BE FOLLOWED TO KEEP THE MONEY SAFE.

RIGHT? SO THEY MAKE IT SO THEY COME WITH YOUR, WITH YOUR PROGRAM AND YOU, AND YOU MAKE DRAWDOWNS AND YOU VERIFY ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

CORRECT.

SEEM LIKE IT'S PRETTY CHEAP.

WHAT'S THE, WHAT AM I MISSING NOW, LEMME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

WE HAD A 12 MILLION FROM PREVIOUS STORMS, AND MAYBE A COUPLE HAD, HAD GOT, UH, A COUPLE OF MILLION AND HAD ABOUT EIGHT TO 10 MILLION LEFT.

AND I, THREE OR FOUR YEARS HAD GONE BY.

[04:00:01]

THEY BROUGHT THAT PERSON IN AND SHE, SHE STARTED CA CAPTURING ALL, RECOVERING, GETTING, GETTING ALL OUR MONEYS BACK.

THE CITY HASN'T SPENT MONEY, LIKE $12 MILLION.

AND NOW WE HAVE THE RECOVERY BROUGHT THAT PERSON IN.

AND, AND I, AND I GOT HARVARD ROBINSON TO CONTINUE A CONTRACT.

CAUSE THE MONEY WAS JUST LAYING OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU GOTTA PAY SOMETHING.

AND I THINK THIS IS PRETTY CHEAP BASED ON WHAT, WHAT I'M JUST LOOKING AT WHEN I'M JUST BEING PRIVILEGED TO, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? $188,000 PEANUTS.

LET'S GO WITH IT.

YOU KEEP SAYING ALL OF THESE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, YOU MISSING THE WHOLE POINT.

WE PAID YOU, YOU BOUGHT, YOU DONE WELL WITH, UH, HARVEY, YOU DONE WELL WITH COVID.

YOU WERE PAID FOR THOSE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT WHAT SOMEBODY DID IN THE PAST.

THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS TALKING ABOUT THE, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

THAT MONEY WAS ALLOCATED.

THAT'S NOT ONE THAT WE JUST WENT OUT AND GOT.

YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY ALLOCATED THIS, IT WENT TO CITIES.

OKAY, WE GOT THAT.

OKAY, IT'S HERE.

WE'VE ALREADY DIVIDED YOU WERE YOU HELPED IN THE SYSTEM MAYBE UNDERSTANDING TO GIVE IT HERE.

GIVE IT THERE.

OKAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT NOW THAT WE'VE ALREADY ALLOCATED, AND THIS IS IT, YOU GAVE US THE LIST OF THE BREAKDOWN.

YOU HELPED US DO THAT.

AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, CRAIG, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'VE DONE WELL, YOU'VE BEEN HERE, YOU'VE DONE WELL, WE PAID YOU WELL FOR A JOB.

WELL DONE.

BUT NOW, THANK YOU.

BUT NOW WE TALKING ABOUT MONIES THAT WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED, WE'VE ALREADY BROKEN DOWN.

OKAY? AND AT SOME POINT, AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO THE LITTLE THINGS AND LET'S GET IT IN ON TIME AND MANAGING.

WE HAVE GOT TO START MANAGING.

WE GOT PERSONNEL.

WE, WE GOT PEOPLE WE PAYING MONEY TO THAT HAVE TO HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY, SOME MANAGEMENT.

OKAY? AND LIKE I SAID, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ALL THAT WE'VE DONE, THAT'S FINE.

BUT WE'VE BEEN PAID, WE PAID YOU FOR THAT.

YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.

AND, AND YOU KNOW, I WAS ONE, I WAS ONE OF, YOU KNOW, BIG SUPPORTERS TO COME HERE TO GET YOU HERE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT JOB.

BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT WE ARE DOING AND TO MANAGE MONEY, WE ALREADY DONE ALLOCATED.

IF WE CAN'T DO THAT, WE, WE IN BAD SHAPE TO GIVE SOMEBODY 180,000, I'LL DO IT.

AND I'M ONLY ONE.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

UNDERSTAND, I'M ONLY ONE.

THERE'S JUST A, I'M ONLY ONE GUY.

THERE'S A FEW SPECIAL SPECIAL CA CASES TO THIS MONEY.

IT'S NOT JUST THE SAME, BUT I, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND MR. LOOK, LOOK, MR. COUNCIL, CRAIG, CRAIG, YOU AND I, YOU AND I GO BACK, YOU KNOW, I, I'M A, I'M A BIG FAN OF ADORA.

I WAS ONE OF THE CHEERLEADERS TO GET YOU GUYS HERE, BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH MILK OR BLOOD WE GET FROM A TURNIP.

AND AT SOME TIME WE GONNA HAVE TO DO, THIS IS NOT A BIG DEAL FOR US.

WE'VE ALREADY BROKE IT DOWN.

WE'VE GOT THE MONEY.

IF WE CAN'T MANAGE THIS, WE GOT ISSUES.

THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MA'AM.

I'M DONE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, MR. CRAIG.

YES, FOR YOUR, UM, FOR YOUR RESPONSES.

MAY I APPROACH FOR, MAY I APPROACH HIM? CALL FOR THE VOTE.

MAY I PLEASE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? FURTHER DISCUSSION.

UM, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? OPPOSED.

MEASURE PASSES.

WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT SECTION.

YES, ALL WE'LL MOVE,

[VIII. B.(1) P.O. No. 7131 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Transfer Of Ownership Of Police Canine "Remy" To LAK9, LLC Of Maurice, Louisiana]

ORDINANCES, NON-CONSENT NUMBER ONE, PO NUMBER 71 31.

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF POLICE CAN NINE REMY TO LA K NINE L L C OF MAURICE, LOUISIANA.

[04:05:01]

[VIII. B.(2) P.O. No. 7132 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Transfer Of Ownership Of Police Canine "Reus" To The Personal Care Of LAK9, LLC Of Maurice, Louisiana]

7 1 32.

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF POLICE CANINE REUSE, UM, TO THE PERSONAL CARE OF LA K NINE LLC OF MAURICE, LOUISIANA.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

PO NUMBER 71 51 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CELL OF A CITY OWNED VACANT TRACT OF LAND LOCATED AT 6 27 WEST 10TH STREET AND EXECUTION OF A SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED.

ANY OPPOSED? MEASURE PASSES.

[VIII. B.(3) P.O. No. 7151 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Sale Of A City Owned Vacant Tract Of Land Located At 627 W. 10th Street And Execution Of A Special Warranty Deed]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION SAMMU? SECOND.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN A DISCUSSION.

NEXT SESSION FOR CLOSED MEETING EXECUTIVE SESSION.

ANY OPPOSED? MEASURE PASSES.

[IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION) (Part 2 of 2)]

IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 5 51, NUMBER 1 0 1 OF CHAPTER 5 51, OPEN MEETINGS, LAW OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, FORMERLY ARTICLE 62 52 DASH 17 SECTION TWO A.

PRIOR TO GOING INTO CLOSED MEETING, THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE CITY SHOULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT, A CLOSED MEETING OR EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL NOW BE HELD PURSUANT TO THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 5 51, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 51 0.071 LITIGATION AND OR LEGAL ADVICE SECTION 5 51 0.072, LAND SECTION 5 51 0.073 NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS FOR PROSPECTIVE GIFTS TO THE CITY.

SECTION 5 51 0 0.074 PERSONNEL SECTION 5 51 0.076, SECURITY PERSONNEL OR DEVICES SECTION 5 51 0.087 DELIBERATIONS REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES.

CLOSED MEETING SECTION 5 51 0.071 GOVERNMENT, WE DO NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT ITEM RIGHT? WE ALREADY DEALT WITH NUMBER ONE IN, UM, EARLIER IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I'LL MOVE TO NUMBER TWO.

SECTION 5 51 0.071 GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING POTENTIAL AND OR PENDING CLAIMS, CONTRACTS, LITIGATION, AND OTHER LEGAL MATTERS INVOLVING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

NUMBER THREE, SECTION 5 51 0.072 GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF PORT ARTHUR.

NUMBER FOUR, SECTION 5 51 0.072 GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE E T J INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.

NUMBER FIVE, SECTION 5 51 0.087 GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, AND OR INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS PRO UM, PROSPECT.

THE ITEMS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY BE DISCUSSED AND ACTED ON IN OPEN SESSION.

WE WILL NOW GO DOWN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND BE BACK FOLLOWING, TAKE FIVE MINUTES, LET'S GO.

OKAY, WE HAVE COMPLETED, UM, EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO SECOND, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT.

ANY POSITION? ALL RIGHT.

EXECUTIVE SESSION IS CLOSED.

NEXT WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING.

OH, WE'LL HAVE TO DO A ROLL CALL.

CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE ESTABLISH YOUR ROLL CALL? MAYOR BT.

MAYOR PRO, TIM HAMILTON, PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM.

COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW HERE.

MAYOR PRO.

TIM, YOU HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU MS. MOORE.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN OUR MEETING.

SECOND, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MEETING ADJOURNED AT 3:27 PM ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.