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RECORDING IN PROGRESS.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
GOOD AFTERNOON.WE ARE HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND WE WILL BEGIN NOW HAVING OUR ACTUAL SPECIAL EXECUTIVE MEETING PRIOR TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING.
AND AS I STATED, THE EXACT LOCATION WHERE WE ARE, IT'S NOW 4:10 PM AND, UH, YOU MAY PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING AND YOU WOULD FIRST NEED TO DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 8 5 8 1 2 2 6 1 8 6, AND ALSO THE PASS CODE OF 1 5 1 7 2 6, AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE AND ATTEND THE MEETING.
ALSO IN THIS MEETING, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AND IF THERE IS A NEED FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU MAY RECEIVE THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS AND ALSO MAKE THE REQUEST FOR THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS BY CALLING THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.
HOWEVER, IT HAS TO BE DONE 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING SO THAT THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS MAY BE PROVIDED FOR YOU AT THE EXACT MEETING.
WE WILL NOW, UH, SILENCE OUR PHONES OR ELECTRONIC DEVICES IF WE HAVE THOSE.
AND WE HAVE THE, UH, INVOCATION AND FOLLOWING THE INVOCATION, THE, UH, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
UH, COUNCILMAN UH, FRANK, WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US THE INVOCATION? YES.
LET BOW LETTER BOW, ALWAYS IN ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR OUR ASSEMBLING ON TODAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR CHOICES AND YOUR RICHEST BLESSINGS THAT YOU ARE CONTINUALLY BESTOWING UPON US.
AND GOD, AS WE COME TOGETHER TODAY TO DO THE BIDDING OF OUR CITY, WE PRAY FOR YOUR WISDOM, YOUR GUIDANCE, AND YOUR GRACE.
WE ASK NOW, HEAVENLY FATHER, THAT ALL THINGS BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER AND IN ACCORDANCE HEAVENLY FATHER, WITH THE ORDINANCES OF OUR CITY.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR CITIZENS AND FOR ALL THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR GREAT CITY.
WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSINGS UPON OUR CITY, OUR STATE, AND OUR NATION AS WELL IN THE POWERFUL AND PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY.
LET US RECITE THE P OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PRAY ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTELLIGENCE IN OUR INTRODUCTION.
WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH THE CORPSMAN? WELCOME BACK WITH US ALSO
TIFFANY HAMILTON, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
[II. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)]
WE ARE ACTUALLY READY TO MOVE INTO OUR CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION AT WHICH WILL BE HELD DOWN IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE FOURTH FLOOR.AND IN THIS SESSION AND MY BEING THE PRESIDING OFFICER, I MUST MAKE THIS FOLLOWING STATEMENT THAT WE WILL BE AND MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 5 5 1 0.101 OF CHAPTER 5 5, 1 OF THE OPEN MEETINGS LAWS OF THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS IN OUR GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH WAS FORMERLY, UH, ARTICLE 62 52 DASH ONE SEVEN, SECTION TWO, SUBSECTION EIGHT.
AND IN THE CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SECTION, WE WILL COVER SECTION 5 5 1 0.07, ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE WHERE WE WILL 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.
WE'LL ALSO COVER SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 AGAIN OF THE CODE TO DISCUSS AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING
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PENDING LITIGATION AS IT PERTAINS TO SILVER ACTION NUMBER, EXCUSE ME, 0 1 2 3 DASH CV DASH 0 0 0 9 2 STYLED MCLEAN LEE VERSUS CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS IN THE BEAUMONT DIVISION.WE'LL COVER SECTION 5 5 1 0.072 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY'S WEST SIDE.
AND WE'LL COVER SECTION 5 5 1 0.087 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, OR RESIDENTIAL, EXCUSE ME, AND OR INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS PROSPECTS.
AND IF THERE WOULD BE A NEED FOR ANY ACTION FROM THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
THE ACTION ITEMS WILL BE DISCUSSED AGAIN WHEN WE RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND SO AT THIS TIME, WE WILL RECESS DOWN TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM FOR OUR CLOSED EXECUTIVE SPECIAL MEETING ON TODAY, AUGUST 1ST, 2023.
AND WE ARE, WE ARE ALL UP HERE.
WE ARE READY TO RETURN AND RECONVENE IN OUR SPECIAL EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT BEGAN AT 4:10 PM ON TODAY.
UH, CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU REESTABLISH THE QUORUM FOR ME, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.
PRESENT, COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TIMM HAMILTON, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
AND AGAIN FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE IN CHAMBERS WITH US NOW, WELCOME AND THANK YOU.
AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO, UH, WE'LL RECONVENE OUR, EXCUSE ME, SPECIAL SESSION HERE IN, UH, CHAMBERS.
WE DO HAVE, I, I BELIEVE IT IS THREE ITEMS, THREE ITEMS THAT REQUIRE A, A PUBLIC VOTE AND, UH, ATTORNEY, ARE WE READY WITH THE MOTIONS? UH, YES WE ARE.
THE FIRST MOTION PERTAINS TO CLOSED MEETING ITEMS ONE AND TWO AND IT IS A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO SEND A REQUEST TO THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
MAY I GET, SHALL REQUEST AN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION? YES.
MAY I GET A MOTION? COUNCILMAN KINLAW? I MAKE A MOTION.
WE ACCEPT THE MOTION READ BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
OKAY, MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? I SECOND MAYOR.
SORRY LEWIS, BUT YOU CAN'T BE YOUR REAL NAME.
OKAY, BUT I GOT COUNCILMAN FRANK SECOND ON IT.
UH, WE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? YOU GOT A QUESTION? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES, A CITY ATTORNEY.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEND THIS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND NOT THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE.
IT'S GONNA BE AUTHORIZING ME TO SEND A LETTER TO REQUEST AN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION AND BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SEND IT TO, TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THAT REQUEST WILL BE MADE THROUGH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE.
THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
OKAY, ANY OTHER UN READINESS? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE SO ORDERED THE MOTION AS READ HAS BEEN APPROVED.
THE NEXT ITEM ATTORNEY, THIS ITEM PERTAINS TO THE NUMBER TWO ITEM ON THE AGENDA AS IT PERTAINS TO, UH, LITIGATION PENDING IN CIVIL ACTION 0 1 2 3 CV 0 0 0 9 2 MCLEAN LEE VERSUS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS BEAUMONT, UH, DIVISION AND IT IS A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE LEGAL COUNSEL REPRESENTING THE CITY TO OFFER A SETTLEMENT IN THE MCLEAN LEE LAWSUIT IN THE AMOUNT OF 120,000.
THIS AMOUNT IS BEING OFFERED IN RETURN FOR DISMISSAL OF THE LAWSUIT, RESIGNATION OF THE, UH, EMPLOYMENT OF MS. LEE WITH THE P A E D C AND A WAIVER OF ALL CLAIMS
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ARRIVING ARISING DURING HER EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND THE E D C.OKAY, MAY I GET A MOTION? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? SECOND IS A MOVE AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT THE MOTION AS READ.
WE ARE READY FOR VOTE ALL BUT EXCUSE ME.
ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES HAVE IT.
SO IT IS ORDERED, THE MOTION FOR THE SETTLEMENT IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
THE NEXT ITEM ATTORNEY, THE NEXT ITEM, UH, PERTAINS TO ITEM NUMBER THREE THAT IS POSTED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING THE, UH, DELIBERATE THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY ON THE CITY'S WEST SIDE.
AND IT IS A MOTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A SALES AGREEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 2 72 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE WITH THE PORT OF PORT ARTHUR NAVIGATION DISTRICT FOR THE SALE OF CITY OWNED VACANT LOTS LOCATED ON THE CITY'S WEST SIDE NEAR DENVER AND GRANITE AVENUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE PORT PORT ARTHUR'S OFFER LETTER TO THE CITY DATED JULY 11TH, 2023, WHICH WILL BE ACCOMPANYING THIS, UH, MOTION.
THE FINAL APPROVAL AND SALE WILL BE, UM, IS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
SO THE CLOSING DOCUMENTS WILL BROUGHT BE BROUGHT BACK TO YOU AND THE, UM, APPRAISED VALUE IF AND SALES PRICE WILL BE $311,800.
OKAY, MAY I GET A MOTION? COUNCILMAN BECKHAM? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN LEWIS IS REMOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL AS READ, UH, MOTION, EXCUSE ME, FOR ON THE PROPOSAL FOR, UH, THE EXCHANGE OF PROPERTY FOR THE SET AMOUNT IS READ BY THE ATTORNEY.
WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION ON ANY QUESTIONS? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE THAT MOTION IS ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED BY, UH, OUR ATTORNEY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER OR WILL THERE BE ANY OTHER, UH, ITEMS ATTORNEY? NO SIR.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THERE AREN'T ANY.
UH, I'M READY TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT OF THE, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION COUNCILOR KINLOCK.
COUNCILMAN BECKHAM SECOND HAS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT THE EXCUSE EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH BEGAN AT FOUR 10, UH, PM TODAY, ON TODAY, AUGUST 1ST HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS WOULD NOW BE OVER.
WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? WE DON'T.
ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY POSES? AYE.
SO IT'S ALL OF THE MEETING FOR OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SPECIAL EXECUTIVE SESSION HAS NOW ENDED.