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IN PROGRESS.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
GOOD MORNING.WE ARE HERE, EXCUSE ME, AT OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED, UH, COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT 4 44 FOR STREET IN THE CITY OF FORT ARTHUR.
UH, AT THIS MEETING, YOU MAY, UH, ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE, UH, BY BOTH TELEPHONIC AND VIDEO CONFERENCE MEDIUMS. HOWEVER, YOU MUST DIAL 8 7 7, UH, 8 5 3 5 2 4 7, OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEDIAN ID OF 8 7 6 6 6 5 0 3 8 5 0, AND ALSO THE PASSCODE OF 2 4 8 7 4 2, AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING.
WE'RE ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE, UH, AMERICAS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
AND IF YOU WOULD NEED SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE MEETING, YOU WOULD ONLY NEED, CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5 AND MAKE YOUR WISHES KNOWN.
HOWEVER, IT MUST BE DONE 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE WOULD DO ALL WITHIN ITS POWERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH YOUR REQUEST.
WE WILL NOW ASK IF YOU HAVE, UH, ELECTRONIC DEVICES, IF YOU WOULD SILENCE THOSE PLEASE, AS I'M DOING MINE NOW, AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION AND FOLLOWING INVOCATION, WE WILL HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO WOULD YOU STAND, PLEASE, JABAL, WITH IN THE WORD OF PRAYER? FATHER GOD, IT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS THAT WE APPROACH YOUR THRONE OF GRACE AND YOUR THRONE OF MERCY AT THIS OUR DEAR GOD, WITH JOYFUL HEARTS THANKING YOU FOR EVEN AWAKENING US THIS MORNING AND ALLOWING US TO BEGIN OUR DAY.
YOU ARE AN EVERLASTING FRIEND.
YOU ARE OUR HOPE FOR TOMORROW AND FOR THIS, DEAR GOD, WE ARE MIGHTY, MIGHTY GRATEFUL.
NOW, WE INVOKE YOUR PRESENCE UPON THIS ASSEMBLAGE.
WE ASK, DEAR GOD, THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW US WHO ARE HERE TO CONSIDER GOVERNANCE FOR THIS MUNICIPALITY TO DO THAT, WHICH IN WHICH IS WITHIN YOUR WILL FOR THIS CITY WILL BE EVER SO CAREFUL.
DEAR GOD, TO GIVE YOUR NAME, TO PRAISE THE GLORY AND THE HONOR AND DEAR GOD, BE THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD WANT TO BE CONTRARY TO YOUR WILL AND YOUR WISHES ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO CONDUCT OURSELVES THAT THAT WOULD NOT EVEN OCCUR.
IT WOULD ONLY BE A PASSING THOUGHT IN OUR MEMORIES.
WE PRAISE YOU, WE MAGNIFY YOU, WE LIFT YOU UP.
WE GIVE YOU HONOR AND GLORY AS WE GO FORTH.
KEEP US IN YOUR WILL AND IN YOUR CARE.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE DO PRAY.
AND THANK GOD, PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE 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 INDULGENCE IN OUR OPENING CITY.
SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH THE CORE? MAYOR BARI PRESENT, MAYOR PRO, TIM HAMILTON, PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT.
[II. PROCLAMATIONS]
BEGIN NOW WITH PROCLAMATIONS.AND I DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION AND IT IS, UH, FOR THE NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES, DO WE HAVE ANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS FROM THE A SOCIETY OF SENIOR ADULTS IN AMERICA PRESENT? WE DON'T.
WELL, I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION AS WE HAVE PREPARED IT.
IT SAYS, WHEREAS IN 1985 IN ST.
LOUIS, MISSOURI, A GROUP OF SEVEN MEN AND WOMEN FORMED THE ORIGINAL LEADERSHIP FOR WHAT WAS INITIALLY KNOWN AS THE US NATIONAL SENIOR SPORTS ORGANIZATION, A K A
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U S N SS O, THE VISION TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES FOR ADULTS THROUGH EDUCATION FIT, EXCUSE ME, FITNESS AND SPORTS.AND WHEREAS IN THE FALL OF 1985, THEY HOSTED A MEETING OF INDIVIDUALS CONDUCTING GAMES FOR SENIORS IN THEIR 33 STATES.
THE U S N S O WAS IN COOPERATED IN 1987 AND PLANNED THE FIRST NATIONAL SENIOR OLYMPIC GAMES HELD IN 1987 IN ST.
THIS SIGNATORY EVENT IN THE NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES BECAME THE SENIOR OLYMPICS.
THE GAMES WERE A GREAT SUCCESS FOR 2,500 COMPETITORS.
OVER 100,000 SPECTATORS VIEWED THE FIRST CEREMONIES FEATURING BOB HOPE AT THE ST.
THE SECOND NATIONAL GAMES ALSO TOOK PLACE IN ST.
LOUIS IN 1989, HOSTING 3,500 SENIORS AND RECOVERED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES E SS P N AND GOOD MORNING AMERICA.
WHEREAS THE N S G A EXISTS TODAY AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ANNUALLY HOST THE NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES, A 20 SPORT BIENNIAL COMPETITION FOR MEN AND WOMEN, 50 AND OVER, AND IS THE LARGEST MULTIPORT EVENT IN THE WORLD FOR SENIORS.
THE N G S A IS DEDICATED TO MOTIVATING ACTIVE ADULTS TO LEAD A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE THROUGH THE SENIOR GAMES MOVEMENT.
AND WHEREAS FROM JULY 9TH THROUGH JULY 19TH, 2023, JOHNNY GREEN, BEVERLY HIGGINS, ROXANNE BARRETTE, YVONNE, YVONNE FIELD, I BELIEVE IT IS, OR FIELDS, DEBORAH WELCH SHERA, UH, CHERYL WILSON, SIMONIA COLEMAN, MELVIN BENSON, AND LEROY WILLIAMS, ALL OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS PROUDLY COMPETED IN THE 2023 NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES HELD IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, WINNING TWO MEDALS AND ONE RIBBON IN THE NATIONAL BOWLING GAMES.
THESE NINE ATHLETES WERE SUPPORTED BY TWO CITY OF PORT ARTHUR PARKS AND REC RECREATION STAFF MEMBERS, NAMELY FORMER COUNCILWOMAN GERALDINE HUNT AND TERRY LYNN HAMILTON.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR HAS COMPETED IN THE NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND PLANS TO CONTINUE THE LEGACY FOR YEARS TO COME.
NOW, THEREFORE, I THURMAN BILL BARTY, MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 15TH AS PORT ARTHUR TEXAS NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES DAY HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
I IMPLORE YOU TO HONOR AND TO FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP, ENCOURAGEMENT AND WISDOM SET FORTH BY OUR ELDERS TO LEAD HEALTHY LIFESTYLES IN WITNESS WHEREOF.
I HAVE HERE UNTO SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS 15TH DAY OF AUGUST IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2023.
AND IT IS SIGNED BY ME THURMAN BILL BOCE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND WE WILL GET THIS TO MRS. HUNT AND TO THE RECREATION, PARKS AND RECREATION
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DEPARTMENT HERE IN OUR CITY.THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE ON THIS.
[III. (1) P.O. No. 7160 – An Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Authorizing The Issuance And Sale Of City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Combination Tax And Revenue Certificates Of Obligation, Series 2023 In The Aggregate Principal Amount Of $25,500,000; Levying A Tax In Payment Thereof; Making Other Provisions Regarding Such Certificates Of Obligation, Including Authorizing The Preparation And Distribution Of One Or More Preliminary Official Statements And Authorizing The Preparation And Distribution Of One Or More Official Statements And Matters Incident Thereto; Awarding The Sale Of The Certificates; Authorizing The Execution And Delivery Of One Or More Purchase Agreements; Authorizing Bond Insurance; Authorizing The Execution And Delivery Of A Paying Agent/Registrar Agreement; Authorizing And Confirming The Engagement Of Certain Professionals In Connection With The Issuance Of The Certificates Of Obligation; Finding And Determining That The Meeting At Which This Ordinance Is Passed Is Open To The Public As Required By Law; And Enacting Other Provisions Relating Thereto]
BEGIN NOW WITH A SPECIAL ACTION ITEM, PO NUMBER 71 6 0, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, COMBINATION TAX AND REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION SERIES 2023 IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPLE AMOUNT OF $25,500,000, LEVYING ATTACKS IN PAYMENT THEREOF, MAKING OTHER PROVISIONS REGARDING SUCH CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, INCLUDING AUTHORIZATION OR AUTHORIZING, EXCUSE ME, THE PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ONE OR MORE PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ONE OR MORE OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND MATTERS INCIDENT THEREOF, AWARDING THE SALE OF THE CERTIFICATES, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF ONE OR MORE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS, AUTHORIZING BOND ISSUANCE, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A PAIN AGENT OR REGISTRAR AGREEMENT, AUTHORIZING AND CONFIRMING THE ENGAGEMENT OF CERTAIN PROFESSIONALS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS ORDINANCE IS PASSED IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW AND IN ENACTING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING THERE TO, AND I WOULD CALL FOR A MOTION AT THIS TIME FOR THIS ACTION ITEM.COUNCILMAN KINLAW, WOULD YOU OFFER A MOTION, PLEASE? SO MOVED.
WOULD YOU GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KINLAW? I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, COUNCILMAN FRANK.
OKAY, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND, AND WE ARE NOW READY FOR QUESTION, UH, CITY ATTORNEY, UH, MAYOR, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS AND ALSO BE MINDFUL, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AT 10, RIGHT? SO AS FAR AS WE CAN GET BY 10, THAT'D BE GREAT.
YOU, YOU HAVE ABOUT SIX AND A HALF MINUTES
GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND MR. BURTON, IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE BACK IN PORT ARTHUR THIS MORNING.
WHAT WE HAVE FOR YOU, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY IS THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION BOND SALE THAT THE MAYOR REFERENCED.
IF I, UM, IF YOU COULD PLEASE TURN TO SLIDE THREE.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, PART OF OUR PROCESS WHEN WE ISSUE BONDS IS THAT WE WORK WITH THE RATING AGENCIES.
WE WORK WITH STANDARD AND POS.
AND AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT THE REPORT INCLUDED, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REPORT AND THE PROCESS AS WELL.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION AND WORK THAT YOUR TEAM DO, STARTING WITH MR. BURTON, MS. DANIEL AND OTHERS IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
MS UM, IS JUST, IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT AND WE SEND FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
THEY GENERALLY HAVE A LIST OF QUESTIONS.
IT TAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME TO PREPARE THIS INFORMATION, BUT IT'S SO CRITICAL BECAUSE WHEN THE RATING AGENCIES ARE LOOKING, THEY'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT PART ARTHUR, THEY'RE NOT COMPARING YOU TO JUST OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS.
THEY'RE COMPARING YOU AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE ON THEIR CREDIT COMMITTEE.
AT LEAST ONE OF THE FIVE HAS TO BE FROM OUTTA STATE BECAUSE THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STANDARDS THAT THEY ARE HOLDING YOU TO ARE, ARE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THEY ARE DOING NATIONALLY.
AND A COUPLE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IN THE REPORT, THEY TALKED ABOUT STRONG BUDGETARY PERFORMANCE, VERY STRONG BUDGET FLEXIBILITY, VERY STRONG LIQUIDITY, STRONG MANAGEMENT, AND STRONG INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK.
A COUPLE OF THE QUOTES ALSO IN THERE, THE CITY HAS HISTORICALLY POSTED OPERATING SURPLUSES DUE TO CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING PRACTICES, GOOD FINANCIAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES UNDER OUR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY, HIGHLIGHTED BY REGULAR BUDGET TO ACTUAL AND INVESTMENT REPORTING TO COUNCIL, A FORMAL FUND BALANCE POLICY, A LONG-TERM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AND STRONG INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK SCORE.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE THAT I CHOSE TO HIGHLIGHT FROM THE REPORT, STRONG BUDGETARY PERFORMANCE AND VERY STRONG RESERVES EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DESPITE
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CASH FUNDING PROJECTS.SO I THINK WHEN, WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE A CONSISTENT METHODOLOGY.
AND WHEN THEY USE THESE TERMS, THEY ARE MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE SAME TERMS THAT THEY ARE USING WITH OTHER ENTITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I KNOW THAT YOU GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, YOU GO THROUGH THE AUDIT PROCESS, UH, WE LOOK AT YOUR CAPITAL PLAN AND IT TAKES AN AWFUL LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT, BUT I THINK IT SPEAKS AN AWFUL LOT TO THE EFFORT AND THE WORK AND THE GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL AND HOW THAT GOES THROUGH YOUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND FROM THERE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE TYPE OF COMMENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR RATING REPORT.
SO I'D REALLY LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE CITY ON THAT.
UM, MOVING FORWARD MORE JUST TO, UM, THE SPECIFICS OF THE SALE, AND I'M TRYING TO, UM, BE SENSITIVE TO THE TIME.
UM, IT SHOWS 25.5 MILLION, BUT THAT WAS A NOT TO EXCEED.
ON PAGE FOUR, THIS IS AN AGGREGATE, SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PAR AMOUNT OF 24,000,475.
THERE WAS PREMIUM, WHICH ARE VERY COMMON IN THE LAST SEVERAL BOND SALES.
WE'VE HAD PREMIUM AS WELL OF ABOUT 1.4 MILLION.
SO WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THE ENTIRE 25.5 MILLION GETS TO BE DEPOSITED TO YOUR PROJECT FUND.
SO THAT CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.
THE BID THAT WE HAVE FROM THE UNDERWRITERS IS A TRUE INTEREST COST OF 4.13%.
LOOKING JUST QUICKLY TO THE NEXT PAGE, AS YOU MAY RECALL, THERE WERE PROJECTS IN HERE THAT WERE GENERAL FUND RELATED.
AND SO THOSE HAVE A PROJECT FUND DEPOSIT OF 21.1 MILLION.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT EVEN AFTER THIS ISSUANCE BASED ON PRODUCTIONS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM MS. DANIEL, NOT ONLY, I THINK WHEN I WAS HERE BEFORE WE TALKED ABOUT WE DIDN'T EXPECT THAT THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASE IN YOUR DEBT SERVICE TAX.
WELL, THERE'S ACTUALLY A DECREASE IN YOUR DEBT SERVICE TAX BASED ON PROJECTIONS.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE DECLINING FROM 25.69 CENTS DOWN TO 25.0173.
ALSO, IF YOU TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE, THERE WAS A COMPONENT THAT WAS FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS, AND THAT'S 4.4 MILLION.
A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT I, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT ABOUT THE WAY WE STRUCTURE THIS AND LOOK AT IT, AND IT WAS ONE OF THE POINTS THAT WAS MENTIONED IN, IN THE COMMENTS FROM THE RATING AGENCIES.
THEY TALK ABOUT YOUR LONG-TERM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
AND AGAIN, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE COUNCIL'S LEADERSHIP AND YOUR STAFF BECAUSE ALTHOUGH WE ARE STRUCTURING THIS BOND ISSUE, THE FACT THAT THE COUNCIL WORKS TO HAVE A FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, WHEN WE STRUCTURE THIS BOND ISSUE, WE ARE BEING MINDFUL IN PROJECTING FOR POTENTIAL BOND ISSUES THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AS WELL.
THE MORE INFORMATION WE HAVE ABOUT WHAT YOU MAY BE CONSIDERING TO DO, IT ALLOWS US TO BETTER STRUCTURE THE BOND ISSUE TODAY FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO WE KNOW THAT AS YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, YOU ARE POTENTIALLY EVALUATING CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR NEXT YEAR, AND WE HAVE WORKED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROJECTS, IN ADDITION TO THE BONDS WE'RE SELLING TODAY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK WITHIN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE CAPITAL PLAN.
UM, JUST A COUPLE QUICK HIGHLIGHTS ON THIS.
WE HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT THE PAR AMOUNT OF BONDS WOULD BE THE FULL 25.5 INSTEAD IT'S 24.475.
WE THOUGHT YOU WOULD HAVE ABOUT 450 COST OF ISSUANCE BETWEEN THE BOND INSURANCE, THE UNDERWRITERS DISCOUNT, AND ALL THE OTHER COSTS OF ISSUANCE.
BUT INSTEAD OF HAVING A REDUCED DEPOSIT TO THE PROJECT FUND, YOU WILL GET THE WHOLE 25.5.
WE HAVE BEEN PROJECTING A 4.37%, AND THE RATE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY IS A 4.13.
JUST REAL QUICKLY, MAYBE WE CAN MEET YOUR TIMING REQUIREMENTS.
UM, WE RECOMMEND THE CITY ACCEPT THE BID FROM LOOP CAPITAL MARKETS AS SENIOR MANAGER AND RAYMOND JAMES' CO-MANAGER.
THE 4.13 IS 24 BASIS POINTS LESS THAN WHAT WE PROJECTED.
THE PROJECT FUND DEPOSIT IS 450,000 MORE AND THE PARAMOUNT IS 1,000,025 LESS.
IT TAKES AN AWFUL LOT OF TIME TO DO THIS, AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR STAFF, MR. BURTON, MS. TINO, MS. DANIEL, AND ALL THE OTHERS WHO ARE PART OF THIS.
THEY, THEY, AND ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN SO MUCH IS GOING ON, THEY ALWAYS, UH, WORK WITH US AND HELP TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED ON A TIMELY BASIS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND, UH, IF THIS COMPLETES WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE, UH, HANDOUT, IF YOU ALL WOULD REMAIN, WE NEED, WE BY LAW, WE'VE GOT TO BEGIN OUR PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN THERE MAY
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BE QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL, AND WE CAN GO TO THOSE AS SOON AS WE COMPLETE THE PUBLIC HEARING.[V.(1) A Public Hearing To Consider The Proposed Amendment Of The Following: Z23-05 A Zoning Map Amendment – Approximately 7.404 Of Land Consisting Lot 16 & Part Of Lot 17, Block 7, Hillcrest 2 Subdivision, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas (Property Is Located South Of Laura Lane And West Of 90th Street)]
NOW WE ARE AT THE TIME FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, UM, ON TODAY, AUGUST 15TH, HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AND EXCUSE ME, IT'S ONLY ONE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS TWO, EXCUSE ME, UH, TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE FOLLOWING.
AND IT IS Z 23 DASH ZERO FIVE, A ZONING MAP ADJUSTMENT, APPROXIMATELY 7.4, UH, ACRES OF LAND, I THINK CONSISTENT, CONSISTENT OF, UH, LOTS.
16 AND PART OF LOT 17 BLOCK SEVEN HILLCREST, TWO SUBDIVISION, PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
AND THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED SOUTH OF LAURA LANE AND WEST OF 90TH STREET.
AND I MUST SAY AT THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO VIEW, UH, THIS PUBLIC HEARING YOU MAY, UH, AT THE CITY'S WEBSITE, AND ANY PERSON MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL BOTH ELECTRONICALLY AS WELL AS PERSONALLY IN THIS MEETING.
AND IF WE ARE READY, WE MAY, WE WILL BEGIN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT NOW.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DA.
I'M THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
UH, THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER A ZONING CHANGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 7.404 ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF LOT 16 AND PARTS OF BLOCK 17.
BLOCK SEVEN, HILLCREST SECOND EDITION OF CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS, LOCATED SOUTH OF US HIGHWAY 69 AND LOWER LANE AND WEST OF 90TH STREET, UH, PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING TO A ZONING CHANGE TO, UH, SEEKING A ZONING CHANGE FROM AGRICULTURAL ZONE DISTRICT TO A HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONE DISTRICT, WHICH WAS FORMERLY NAMED MULTIFAMILY FOR A MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WOULD BE AT LEAST, UH, APPROXIMATELY 30 DUPLEXES.
ON APRIL 27TH, 2023, THE APPLICANT APPLIED FOR A ZONING AMENDMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD NEED TO ATTEND A PUBLIC, A PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETING TO DISCUSS THE PROJECT WITH CITY STAFF.
ON JUNE 14TH, 2023, CITY OFFICIALS CONDUCTED A PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER TO DIS TO DISCUSS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPOSED SITE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING WAS TO DISCUSS CONSTRUCTION OF 30 DUPLEXES AT SAID LOCATION.
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEVELOPMENT WERE INFORMED BY PLANNING STAFF PER SECTION 3.03 OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE THAT A ZONE CHANGE WOULD BE REQUIRED BECAUSE DUPLEXES WERE NOT ALLOWED IN THE AGRICULTURAL ZONE.
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES ACKNOWLEDGED THE RE REQUIREMENT AT THE MEETING AND STATED THAT THEY HAD ALREADY APPLIED FOR A ZONING CHANGE AND THE APPLICANTS WERE PROVIDED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH THAT REQUEST.
ON JUNE 20, ON JUNE 30TH, 2023, PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED OUT TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE PROPERTY.
ADDITIONALLY, ON JULY 1ST, 2023, PUBLIC NOTICES WERE PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON JULY 17TH, 2023 TO DISCUSS THE REQUEST, THE COMMISSION INVITED CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO SAID REQUEST.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED THREE TO TWO, RECOMMENDING APPROVAL BASED ON THE DISCUSSION.
ON JULY 18TH, 2023, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 DASH 3 1 1, CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PREPARED AND MAILED NOTIFICATIONS FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS AUGUST 15TH, 2023, AND PUBLISHED A, A PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON JULY 29TH, 2023.
THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY AN AGRICULTURAL ZONE DISTRICT.
THIS DISTRICT WAS CREATED TO ALLOW FOR THE USE OF UNDEVELOPED LAND USED FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.
THE INTENSITY AND TYPES OF, UH, USES PERMITTED IN THE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT SHALL ENCOURAGE AND PROTECT AGRICULTURAL USES UNTIL URBANIZATION IS WARRANTED.
AND THE APPROPRIATE CHANGE IN THE DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION IS MADE.
THE PROPOSED ZONING IS HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, WHICH WAS FORMERLY MU MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.
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ESTABLISH AREAS APPROPRIATE FOR MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS.IT IS USUALLY LOCATED ADJACENT TO A MAJOR STREET AND SERVICES SERVES AS A BUFFER OR TRANSITION BETWEEN COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OR HEAVY AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC AND MEDIUM OR LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE SITE IS LOCATED TO HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH, WHICH WAS FORMERLY MULTIFAMILY AGRICULTURAL TO THE WEST AND LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, WHICH WAS FORMERLY SINGLE FAMILY TO THE EAST.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED SOUTH OF US, HIGHWAY 69 AND LAURA LANE AND WEST OF 90TH STREET.
UH, THIS SLIDE SHOWS A SIZE A STREET REVIEW OF THE PROPERTY AS IT IS TODAY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS UNDER DEVELOP PLAN.
THIS IS A COPY OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, WHICH IS SECTION TWO 11 DASH OH OH SEVEN.
SECTION B BASICALLY STATES THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MUST PROVIDE MUNICIPAL RESIDENTS AND AFFECTED PARTIES IN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.
THE COMMISSION MUST THEN MAKE A PRELIMINARY, PRELIMINARY REPORT, WHICH IS TO BE PROVIDED TO THE GOVERNING BODY, WHICH IN THIS CASE IS THE CITY COUNCIL.
ALSO, THE GOVERNING BODY CANNOT ACT ON THIS MATTER UNTIL IT RECEIVES THE FINAL REPORT.
SUBSECTION C STATES THAT MISS MUNICIPALITY MUST SEND OUT NOTICES OF THE TIME AND PLACE OF THE HEARING TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS, UH, WHICH IS THE CHANGE IN A PROPERTY WHERE THE CHANGE IS PROPOSED.
THIS, UH, IS A COPY OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION TWO 11.006 A SUBSECTION A FOR THE GOVERNING BODY, WHICH IS THE CITY COUNCIL.
THIS SECTION STATES THE GOVERNING BODY MUST ALSO HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING AT WHICH INTERESTED PARTIES MUST HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE HEARD.
THE PUBLIC NOTICE OF THE HEARING MUST BE PLACED IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER BEFORE THE 15TH DAY OF THE MEETING.
NOW THAT BEING SAID, PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED TO 34 PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE, UH, RADIUS OF THE PROPOSED SITE AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON THE FOLLOWING DATES FOR THE CITY, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE RECEIVED SEVEN WRITTEN OPPOSITIONS AND WE HAD THREE VERBAL OPPOSITIONS AT THE MEETING, UH, FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
IT WAS NOTED, UH, MAILED OUT ON MAY 2ND, 2023.
WE HAVE RECEIVED 14 WRITTEN OPPOSITIONS BY PETITION.
UH, AS I PREVIOUSLY STATED, THERE WERE EIGHT OPPOSITION LETTERS RECEIVED BY THE PLANNING DIVISION AND THREE CITIZENS SPEAKING AGAINST THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING.
SOME OF THE REASONS FOR THE OPPOSITIONS WERE SOME RESIDENTS BELIEVED THAT THEIR PROPERTY WOULD BE INVADED, PRIVACY WOULD BE INVADED BECAUSE IF THE TWO STORY HOME WAS BUILT ON THEIR PROPERTY, THE RESIDENTS OF THE TWO STORY HOUSE WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE INTO THEIR BACKYARD AND THEIR CHILDREN'S BEDROOM WINDOWS.
THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD INCREASE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA, ESPECIALLY ON 90TH 95TH AND EL PASO STREETS.
THESE STREETS ARE TOO NARROW AND WOULD NOT HANDLE THE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC VERY WELL.
THERE WOULD, UH, BE A DECREASE IN VALUE OF THE EXISTING PROPERTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE'S A FEELING THAT ADDING 32 NEW, UH, DUPLEXES IN THE AREA WOULD BRING 60 ADDITIONAL FAMILIES, UH, WHICH WOULD COULD ADD TO 120 EXTRA VEHICLES TO THE ALREADY CONGESTED STREETS.
THE DUPLEXES WOULD BE TOO CLOSE TO THE AIRPORT AND WOULD HINDER THE AIRCRAFTS TAKEOFF ABILITIES.
CONSTRUCTING NEW BUILDINGS AT THIS LOCATION WILL CAUSE FLOODING ISSUES TO THE EXISTING RESIDENCES.
THERE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE CONSTANTLY MOVING IN AND OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE CAN BE AN INCREASE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AND THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT THE UTILITIES AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CANNOT SUPPORT MORE, ANY MORE PEOPLE CONNECTING TO THOSE UTILITY LINES.
THE DEVELOPER ALSO HAD SOME SAY AT THE PLANNING, COMMERCIAL PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING, TRYING TO ADDRESS THE RESIDENCE'S CONCERNS.
THE DEVELOPMENTS DEVELOPER STATED THAT THE RENT THAT THE RENTERS WOULD BE PAYING WOULD BE MARKET VALUE, MARKET RATE WITH THE OCCUPANTS PAYING SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 1800 TO $2,000 PER MONTH.
THE DEVELOPER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NO LOW INCOME HOUSING AVAILABLE AT THIS SITE.
THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE GATED, WHICH WOULD HELP ASSIST IN NOT ALLOWING UNWANTED INDIVIDUALS ON THE PROPERTY.
A DETENTION POND WOULD BE BUILT ON THIS PROPERTY, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR THE RAINWATER, ET CETERA, TO DRAIN TO INTO THE POND AND NOT INTO SURROUNDING HOMES.
AT THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETING DISTRICT, UH, DRAINAGE DISTRICT SEVEN, UH,
[00:30:01]
AS WELL AS THE, UH, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUESTED THAT A DRAINING PLAN BE PRESENTED TO THEM BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION IS BUILT.THERE WILL BE NOT, THERE WILL NOT BE ANY AIRWAY INTERFERENCE AND DEVELOPMENT BEING PROPOSED AS HIGH QUALITY AND WILL NOT BRING THE PROPERTY VALUES DOWN.
THIS IS ALSO A, A SLIDE THAT REFERS TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION TWO 11.
THAT, OR APPOINT 0 0 6 D STATES THAT A CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE OR DENY THE PROPOSED MATTER BY SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.
IN THE EVENT HOWEVER, THAT A PROPOSED CHANGE TO A REGULATION OR BOUNDARY IS PROTESTED BY 20% OF THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE AFFECTED PROPERTY, THEN THE PROPOSED CHANGE WILL BE APPROVED BY AT LEAST THREE FOURTHS OF ALL, WHICH IS A SUPER MAJORITY OF ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL WHO ARE QUALIFIED TO VOTE.
PROTEST LETTERS MUST BE WRITTEN AND SIGNED BY THE OWNERS OF AT LEAST 20% OF THE AREA OF THE LOTS OR LAND IMMEDIATELY ADJOINING THE AREA COVERED BY THE PROPOSED CHANGE AND EXTENDING 200 FEET FROM THAT AREA.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HAS RECEIVED LETTERS AS OPPOSITION FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
HOWEVER, THE OPPOSITION LETTERS AND PETITIONS TOTAL ONLY 18.5% OF THE PROPERTIES.
THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD BE, UH, UH, WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THIS REQUEST BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.
AND THIS IS A, A COPY OF THE, UH, OF THE 200 FEET AND, UH, ALL OF THE, IT, IT, IT, I THINK THE, UH, THE YELLOW INDICATES THAT THERE WE GOT NO RESPONSE AND THE RED OR FROM THE PEOPLE THAT WE DID GET RESPONSES FROM.
AND, UH, SO, AND AFTER ALL THAT IS TOTALED, IT WAS, UH, 18% OF THE 18.5% OF THE PROPERTIES THAT, UH, THAT OPPOSED.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES.
THIS, UH, PULL YOUR MIC DOWN PLEASE, COUNSEL SO THEY CAN RECORD IT.
IS THAT 18% OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS ON THAT? THAT'S 18% OF THE PROPERTY THAT'S LOCATED WITHIN THE 200 FEET AREA.
WE DON'T GO BEYOND THAT 200 FOOT.
THAT'S CO THAT'S, UH, COUPONS WE TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S THE ACTUALLY A PROPERTY THAT THEY OWN.
YEAH, THAT'S THE PROPERTY OWNERS, RIGHT? BECAUSE ONE PERSON'S GONNA, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT, 20%? YES.
20% WOULD BE A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE.
ONE PERSON COULD HAVE TO 20% OF THAT, OF, AM I CORRECT ONE PERSON IF HE OWNS, IF HE OWNS A, A LOT OF PROPERTY? YES.
UH, WE NEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING UP TO THE PUBLIC FIRST AND THEN COME BACK TO COUNCIL AFTER YOU FINISH.
BUT IF HE'S FINISHED, WE NEED TO OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC.
ANY INDIVIDUALS, UH, IN THE GALLERY, PLEASE, UH, FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
I LIVE ON, EXCUSE ME, 9 5 9 1 25 LAURA LANE.
UM, I'M PART OF THE AFFECTED RESIDENCE BY THIS, UH, SUGGESTED DUPLEX BUILD.
UH, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY ON THE 18.5%, IF Y'ALL CAN GO BACK A SLIDE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S ONLY THREE HOUSES THAT WE DIDN'T GET A SIGNATURE FROM ON THE, UH, ON THE PETITIONS, WHICH WE DID IT ON A TACO TUESDAY, SO KIND OF PLAYED INTO IT.
SO WE HAVE THE, THE SIGNED PETITIONS.
THEY'RE, UH, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE ONLY MISSING 1, 2, 3, 4, ABOUT SIX SEVEN HOUSES OUT OF 34 HOMES ON, UH, LAURA LANE.
SO AS FAR AS THE 20%, IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE LOT, ALL THE, UH, EMPTY LOT ON EVERYWHERE ON THREE QUARTERS OF THE PROPERTY, OF THE EFFECT OF 200 FEET, WE DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE.
I MEAN, WE CAN'T COUNT ON, UH, ON THE CITY.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO WOULD PROTEST THAT AND WHY THEY WOULD.
SO ANYWAYS, MOVING ON TO MY, UH, REASONS WHY I OPPOSE.
UM, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF GROWING PORT ARTHUR.
I'M JUST NOT IN FAVOR OF DESTROYING A NEIGHBORHOOD IN AN EFFORT TO BUILD THESE DUPLEXES.
WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF BUILDING SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES.
WE'VE BEEN HERE 21 YEARS, BUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD,
[00:35:01]
I MEAN, REALLY DUPLEXES IN THE BACKYARD, THESE DUPLEXES BE SO CLOSE TO OUR, TO OUR HOMES.THEY'D BE LOOKING INTO OUR HOMES.
WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING IN OUR BACKYARD WITHOUT THE DUPLEXES BEING INVOLVED.
UM, DUPLEXES ALSO BRING TEMPORARY RESIDENTS.
THEY'RE JUST, UH, I MEAN IT'S IT'S WORKERS THAT COME IN.
THEY WORK FOR SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR LEAVE.
THEY PROBABLY NEVER EVEN CHANGED THEIR, UH, THEIR ADDRESS TO REFLECT PORT ARTHUR STATUS.
SO I DON'T, LIKE I SAID, I WANT PERMANENT RESIDENTS TO MAKE OUR CITY GROW, TO HELP OUR CITY GROW.
TEMPORARY RESIDENTS DON'T DO THAT.
THEY COME HERE, THEY LEAVE THEIR, UH, ADDRESS, THEY GET THE PER DIEM, GET THE MONEY, LEAVE, YOU KNOW, COME, COME BACK FOR ANOTHER PROJECT.
UM, I ACTUALLY BROUGHT A COUPLE OF NOTES WITH ME.
SO YEAH, THE DUPLEXES BEING SO CLOSE TO OUR HOMES BEING TWO STORY DUPLEXES THAT'S PRESENTED BY THE, BY THE DEVELOPER, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD AFFECT OUR PRIVACY AND IN AFFECTING OUR PRIVACY THAT WOULD AFFECT OUR VALUE.
EACH HOME OUT THERE, PROBABLY THE MEDIUM IS ABOUT $400,000 BETWEEN LAURA LANE AND LISA LANE.
HAVING DUPLEXES LOOKING DIRECTLY INTO OUR BACKYARD, THAT'S GONNA DIRECTLY AFFECT THE VALUE.
ANYBODY, IF I PUT MY HOUSE UP FOR SALE, IT'S GONNA, THE FIRST THING THE PERSON'S GONNA SAY IS, WHY IS THAT GUY LOOKING DIRECTLY INTO MY HOUSE? SO, UH, I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, IT'S GONNA DECREASE OUR VALUE, IT'S GONNA DECREASE OUR PRIVACY.
UH, WHENEVER WE WENT AROUND FOR, UH, GETTING RESIDENTS TO SIGN A PETITION, SEVERAL NEIGHBORS EXPRESSED, UH, THE SAME QUESTION.
WHEN DO YOU THINK THIS WILL START? DO YOU THINK WE HAVE TIME TO SELL? DO YOU THINK WE HAVE TIME TO MOVE? SO PEOPLE ARE ALREADY LOOKING INTO MOVING OUT.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF BUILDING PERMANENT HOMES, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE HOMES, JUST NOT MULTI-FAMILY.
UH, THE TRAFFIC SITUATION IS, IS SOMETHING ELSE.
UH, 90TH STREET IS VERY NARROW.
UH, NINE FIFTH STREET IS ALSO NARROW.
UM, 90TH STREET HAS SOME DEEP DITCHES ON THE SIDE.
THIS WOULD BE THE MAIN ENTRANCE FOR THESE DUPLEXES.
UH, LIKE LARRY ALREADY EXPRESSED.
UH, THAT'S 30 DUPLEXES, 60 FAMILIES SAYING EACH FAMILY HAS AN AVERAGE OF TWO VEHICLES.
THAT'S 120 VEHICLES DRIVING THROUGH ONE STREET, 90TH STREET.
SO IT WOULD BRING UP UNNECESSARY TRAFFIC TO OUR, UH, ALREADY CONGESTED STREETS.
UH, ANOTHER THING WOULD BE EVERY TIME IT RAINS, THE WATER LEVEL RISES ON, UM, BOTH UM, LAURA LANE AND LISA LANE ON ONE SIDE, ON THE SIDE CLOSEST.
THE WATER RISES ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
IF THESE DUPLEXES ARE PLACED DOWNSTREAM OF US, THEY'RE GONNA TAKE PRIORITY ON THE WATER.
WE RELY HEAVILY ON THE HEAD PRESSURE OF THE WATER RISING IN THE STREET FOR THE WATER TO GET OUT.
IT HASN'T RAIN IN PROBABLY THREE MONTHS, BUT IF IT RAINS AND YOU GO OUT THERE AND CHECK THE CULVERTS A MONTH AFTER IT RAINS, THE CULVERTS ARE STILL, UH, STREET LEVEL WITH WATER FILLED WITH WATER.
THEY DON'T DRAIN UNLESS YOU HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT PUSHES IT OUT.
SO PLACING THEM DOWNSTREAM OF US, DOWNSTREAM OF US WOULD PLACE PRIORITY ON THEM OVER US.
SO THAT'S WHERE OUR WORD COMES FROM ABOUT FLOODING IN THE FUTURE, IF THESE DUPLEXES ARE ARE BUILT, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE DUPLEXES, IF WE, OR IF Y'ALL AUTHORIZE THIS ZONE CHANGE TO HIGH A DENSITY POPULATION, IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE LUXURY DUPLEXES.
IT PRETTY MUCH THE BUILDER CAN GO OUT THERE AND BUILD WHATEVER HE WANTS AND WE CAN'T STOP HIM.
'CAUSE IT'S ONLY A RECOMMENDATION THAT IT BUILDS SOMETHING IN, IN, UM, SIMILAR TO OUR HOUSES OR SIMILAR TO OUR PROPERTY VALUES.
SO HE CAN GO OUT THERE AND BUILD SECTION EIGHTS, NOTHING AGAINST SECTION EIGHTS, BUT IT'S UNSTABLE.
WE PAY ENOUGH TAXES FOR STABLE ENVIRONMENT.
WE PAY ABOUT $10,000 A HOUSE ON TAXES OUT THERE.
AND WE PAY FOR, WE PAY THAT PRICE BECAUSE OF STABLE AND BECAUSE OF PRIVACY.
THIS WOULD, I MEAN THIS WOULD ELIMINATE THAT.
SO LIKE I SAID, ONCE, IF THIS PASSES, IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE LUXURY ANYTHING.
AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP 'EM.
THE NEXT THING, UM, ANOTHER THING IS WE'RE ALREADY SURROUNDED BY UM, APARTMENTS.
WE GOT PINEWOOD VILLAGE ON ONE SIDE AND WILLOW LAKES ON THE OTHER.
YOU PUT ANOTHER SET OF TEMPORARY HOUSING BEHIND US.
[00:40:01]
YOU'RE JUST SURROUNDED BY TEMPORARY HOUSING.AND ANOTHER THING IS, WELL THE LAST THING ON MY AGENDA, UH, WE HAVE TEMPORARY HOUSING POPPING UP EVERYWHERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
WE NEED SOME PERMANENT HOUSING AND NOT JUST THE HOUSES THAT ARE BEING BUILT BY THE STATE.
WE NEED PERMANENT HOUSING, PERMANENT NEIGHBORHOODS, NEW NEIGHBORHOODS BEING BUILT IN PORT ARTHUR.
ALL WE ALL WE HAVE EVERYWHERE.
YOU LOOK AT THE NEW BUILDS, THEY'RE ALL APARTMENTS, DUPLEXES, I MEAN IT'S ALL TEMPORARY.
PEOPLE ARE JUST ABUSING OUR CITY.
WE NEED PEOPLE THAT COME HERE TO STAY AND INVEST IN THIS CITY.
ANYONE ELSE TO APPROACH? PLEASE MA'AM OR SIR, BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
THANK YOU MAYOR BARTEE AND COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE FOR REPRESENTING OUR DISTRICT, ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS KENNETH MILLER AND I RESIDE AT 92 40 LAURA LANE HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY STRONG OPPOSITION, UH, TO THE PROPOSED REZONING, UH, APPLICATION Z 23 DASH OH FIVE.
UH, TO CHANGE THE CURRENT AGRICULTURE ZONING TO H D R OR HIGH DENSITY, UH, RESIDENTIAL.
WHILE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY MAY BE UNABLE TO PLAY A ROLE IN THIS DECISION, THIS CHANGE WILL BE DE DETRIMENTAL TO THE AREA.
BUT ALL BUT THREE OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE 200 FOOT ZONE HAVE OPPOSED THIS CHANGE FOR THE ADDITION OF THE MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING THAT WERE CAUSED.
TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ISSUES DESTROY LOCAL W WILDLIFE, POTENTIAL INCREASED FLOODING AND LOWER THE PROPERTY VALUES OF THE EXTENDING, UH, THE EXISTING COMMUNITY.
TRAFFIC AND SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS ARE A MAJOR CONCERN IN OUR SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD.
MANY RESIDENTS WALK AND RUN OFTEN WITH CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
DURING THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, THE DEVELOPER SPOKE OF ADDING 30 DUPLEX UNITS, WHICH MEANS 60 ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL HOUSING.
THE DEVELOPER ALSO SPOKE OF EXTENDING 90TH STREET AS A SINGLE ENTRANCE AND EXIT TO THIS DEVELOPMENT.
THIS WOULD MEAN ABOUT 120 ADDITIONAL VEHICLES, UH, THAT WOULD NOW TRAVEL ON 90TH STREET.
UH, THIS STREET HAS NO SHOULDER NORTH SIDEWALK AND THIS ALONE WILL CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE COME TO ENJOY THE FREEDOM WHO WALK OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE IS HR DEVELOPMENT ALREADY ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
BOTH OF THESE COMPLEXES USE OUR STREETS TO EITHER, UH, ACCESS OR EXIT THEIR FACILITIES, WHICH RESULT ALREADY IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES ON OUR STREETS.
THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS IN THESE TWO COMPLEXES ALREADY FAR OUTNUMBER THE RESIDENTS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
QUESTIONS THAT I HOPE THAT YOU AS A COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING THIS DECISION.
HAS A CITY DONE A STUDY THAT SHOWS A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL HOUSING? WHAT IS THE CURRENT OCCUPANCY RATE OF EXISTING H D R FACILITIES? IS THERE A REAL DEMAND FOR ADDITIONAL H D R HERE IN OUR CITY VERSUS INDEPENDENT OR INDIVIDUAL HOMES REGARDING POTENTIAL FLOODING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED DURING HEAVY RAINS, OUR STREETS OFTEN FLOOD, ESPECIALLY ON THE NORTH END.
AGAIN, DURING THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION A MEETING, UH, IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THE DEVELOPER WOULD BE REQUIRED TO RAISE THE ELEVATION OF THIS DEVELOPMENT PROPERTY BY FIVE FEET.
THIS INCREASE IN ELEVATION WILL CAUSE ADDITIONAL RUNOFF INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND INCREASE FLOODING EVEN FURTHER.
SHOULD THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE ZONING CHANGE, I URGE YOU NOT TO DO SO UNLESS THE COUNCIL AGREES TO INVEST AN ADDITIONAL MEANS TO HANDLE THE INCREASE OF WATER INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
PROPERTY VALUES, UH, RANGE ANYWHERE FROM 350 TO $550,000 AND THOSE NUMBERS WILL LIKELY GO DOWN.
IF YET A THIRD H D R DEVELOPMENT IS ALLOWED TO BUILD A PETITION WAS A CIRCULATED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH 98% OF THE RESIDENTS WITHIN THE 200 FOOT RANGE OPPOSE THIS DEVELOPMENT.
I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE ZONING AND PLANNING BELIEVES THAT A CHANGE SUCH AS THIS ONLY AFFECTS RESIDENTS WITHIN 200 FEET.
UH, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS CHANGE WOULD AFFECT THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I URGE YOU TO DISAPPROVE THIS PROPOSED ZONING AND FROM THE RECENT MEETING AND DISCUSSIONS WITH MY NEIGHBORS, I KNOW THAT MY OPINIONS ARE SHARED WITH MANY WHO HAVE NOT MANAGED TO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS OR WRITE LETTERS OR EMAILS.
SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE AND YOUR TIME.
[00:45:03]
BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.I'M THE ORANGE DOT BETWEEN THE TWO YELLOWS UP THERE.
AND FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU THE, THE RESIDENT TO MY NORTH SIDE IS A REFUGEE FROM SYRIA.
HIS BUSINESS WAS BOMBED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND HIS FAMILY HAD PRE-PACK SUITCASES OUT OF FEAR FOR THEIR LIFE AND THEY RAN FOR THEIR LIFE.
THEY WILL NOT GET IN ANYTHING POLITICAL OUT OF FEAR, NEVER.
THE PEOPLE TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF ME HAVE RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES THAT DOESN'T ALLOW THEM TO BECOME INVOLVED.
SO IT'S NOT THAT THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED, IT'S THAT THEY HAVE CONSTRAINING FACTORS.
WHEN WE BOUGHT THE HOUSE, WE LOOKED AT THE FLOOD ZONE MAP.
IT COMES DIAGONALLY THROUGH LAURA LANE AND LISA LANE AT A DIAGONAL GOING DOWN TOWARD 90TH STREET WHERE IT CONNECTS TO FRONTAGE ROAD.
I CAN'T EVEN COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES ON MY HANDS THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO GET INTO OUR RESIDENTIAL AREA BECAUSE THE WATER WAS SO DEEP AT THAT INTERSECTION BLOCKED OFF BY THE POLICE WITH BARRIERS WHERE WE COULD NOT COME IN.
ALSO, EL PASO STREET WAS IN THE SAME SITUATION, SO WE HAD TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND UP TO THE AIRPORT AND COME IN THAT WAY.
NOW I WANNA SAY THAT WE HAVE LIVED THERE 15 YEARS IN THAT 15 YEARS IN THE LAST YEAR.
BUT TWICE IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, WE HAVE CALLED OUT THE SEWER SYSTEM OF PORT ARTHUR TO COME DEAL WITH THE CITY SIDE, NOT OUR SIDE.
I PERSONALLY WENT AND TALKED TO THE GUY, I SAID, TELL ME WHAT CAN WE DO TO KEEP THIS FROM CONTINUING TO HAPPEN? HE SAID, IT'S NOTHING YOU'RE DOING, WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP DOING THIS 'CAUSE IT'S A CITY'S PROBLEM.
AND TWICE THIS YEAR ALONE, I HAVE HAD RAW SEWAGE RUNNING OUT MY VALVE, MY CLEANUP VALVE, WHICH SITS, I FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS A FOOT OR SO.
I ACTUALLY MEASURED IT, IS ALMOST ON THE SIDEWALK, RAW SEWAGE.
AND I HAPPEN TO WALK OUT MY FRONT DOOR AND THERE IT IS, POURING OUT TOILET PAPER AND RAW SEWAGE OUT ACROSS THE STREET.
NOW THAT IS NOT A GOOD CITY INFRASTRUCTURE OUTTA 15 YEARS OF LIVING THERE.
IT'S NOT HAPPENED UNTIL THIS LAST YEAR.
BUT WE CANNOT CONTROL WHAT ALL THESE PEOPLE IN THESE APARTMENT BUILDINGS ARE DOING.
ANOTHER THING, IF ANYBODY THINKS THAT THESE DUPLEXES ARE ONLY GONNA HAVE ONE FAMILY IN ON EACH ONE, EACH SIDE, YOU'RE CRAZY.
I CAN SHOW YOU HOUSE AFTER HOUSE THAT HAVE AS MANY AS FOUR GENERATIONS LIVING AT THEM, EVEN ON OUR SINGLE FAMILY STREETS.
AND I CAN SHOW YOU HOW SET OF THE HOUSE THAT HAS THREE TO FOUR CARS PARKED IN EVERY DRIVE OR OUT ON THE STREET.
I ALSO CAN TELL YOU THAT WE WERE PROMISED FAITHFULLY BY THE DEVELOPERS WHEN THAT SOUTH SIDE SET OF APARTMENTS WENT IN THAT THOSE GATES WOULD NEVER BE OPENED TO 90TH STREET EXCEPT DURING EVACUATION AND EMERGENCIES.
THEY'RE OPENED EVERY SINGLE DAY.
EVERY SINGLE DAY BY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO CIRCUMVENT HAVING TO GO OUT ONTO 365 AND DEAL WITH THAT STOPLIGHT.
ABSOLUTELY NOBODY IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY OF JEFFERSON WANTS TO DEAL WITH A 365 69 STOPLIGHT.
AND AS I POINTED OUT IN MY COMPLAINT, I SAT AT THAT EL PASO STREET STOP SIGN WAITING TO TURN LEFT INTO MY SUBDIVISION AS I WAS DRIVING NORTH ONE DAY.
SAT THERE 10 MINUTES BY 40 SOMETHING CARS POURING OFF OF FURNITURE ROAD ONTO 90TH AND TURNING IN A VERY NARROW LITTLE STREET THERE ONTO EL PASO, WHICH IS ALWAYS FULL OF POTHOLES BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANNA GO THROUGH THE 365 INTERSECTION.
THEY WANTED TO CIRCUMVENT IT SO THEY COULD GO WEST.
AND THEY DO THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SOMETIMES IT'S FEWER, SOMETIMES IT'S MORE.
BUT IT IS A STEADY STREAM CIRCUMVENTING THAT.
I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF TIMES WE'VE NEARLY BEEN T-BONED RIGHT THERE AT ROSS DRESS LIST BECAUSE NONE OF THOSE PEOPLE COMING OUTTA THAT RAW STRESSFUL MALL WILL STOP.
I DON'T CARE IF IT IS PAINTED IN FOUR FOOT LETTERS, IT'S FADED.
SO EVEN I CAN HARDLY READ 'EM.
THEY THINK THEY HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY.
EL PASO STRAIGHT DOESN'T AS FAR AS THEY'RE CONCERNED.
AND WE HAVE COME CLOSE TO BEING T-BONE IN THE 90 SECTION.
I'M COMING NORTH, A CAR IS HEADED STRAIGHT TOWARD ME, STRAIGHT TOWARD ME IN MY LANE, TOTALLY 100% IN MY LANE.
I STOP, I PULL AS FAR AS I CAN BEFORE I STOP OFF ONTO THE PARKING DRIVE.
AND STILL THE WOMAN LOOKS UP FINALLY AND REALIZE THAT SHE'S COMING STRAIGHT OUT AND PULLS OVER AND ALMOST DEADHEADS INTO THE FIELD.
[00:50:01]
NOW YOU ADD ANOTHER SEVERAL HUNDRED CARS TO THIS, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BE KILLED ON 90TH OR EL PASO ONE AND IT MAY BE A WHOLE FAMILY 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.WE ARE NOT GET I, I HAVE CONTACTED THAT MALL OWNER TWICE TRYING TO GET HIM TO PUT UP SOME BARRIERS AND STOP PEOPLE FROM DOING THAT.
AS FAR AS HE'S CONCERNED, HE DON'T CARE.
BEEN TOLD THAT TWICE SOMEBODY'S GONNA BE KILLED OUT THERE.
THE FLOODING SITUATION IS BAD.
WHEN HARVEY CAME ALONG, BEFORE HARVEY EVEN CAME, SEWER WAS RUNNING OUT ONTO THE STREETS THE DAY BEFORE HARVEY EVEN GOT THERE, THE WATER WAS SO BAD.
BY THE TIME HARVEY GOT THERE, THE CANAL WAS FULL BEFORE IT'S OVER WITH, THE WATER WAS UP IN MY GARAGE AND I'M NOT EVEN IN THE FLOOD ZONE.
THE FLOOD ZONE STARTS TWO OR THREE HOUSES BELOW ME AND CUTS ACROSS AND ALMOST ALL OF 90TH.
AND I SUSPECT ALL OF THIS LAND IS TOO IN THE FLOOD ZONE.
NOW I'M TELLING YOU SOMETHING, IF IF THIS HAPPENS, THERE NEEDS TO BE A STREET BUILT STRAIGHT DOWN TO 365 AND PEOPLE NEED TO BE FORCED TO GO THERE.
OTHERWISE, THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE US HERE, WE'LL BE GOING TO ASK THAT LAURA AND LISA BE GATED OFF.
AND WE HAVE A GATED COMMUNITY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE GETS TO.
WE'RE REALLY TIRED OF ALL OF THESE PEOPLE CUTTING THROUGH OUR SUBDIVISION AND THEY DON'T CARE HOW FAST THEY GO.
THEY DON'T CARE IF THEY RUN DOWN A KID OR SOMEBODY THAT'S PLAYING BASEBALL.
I DON'T BELIEVE IN KIDS PLAYING IN THE STREET.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LET 'EM PLAY BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL IN STREETS.
WE'VE GOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM OUT THERE.
AND THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE THREE BUSES THAT COME EVERY DAY TWICE A DAY THROUGH THERE.
AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE AS MANY AS 20 CHILDREN OR MORE GETTING ON AND OFF THE BUS ON THAT NORTH SIDE WILLOW'S APARTMENT.
THERE'S ALSO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, BUT THE BUS SYSTEM IS LETTING PEOPLE OUT ON 90TH STREET TO GO IN THE BACK WAY TO THOSE APARTMENTS.
SO WE HAVE PARENTS STANDING ON 90TH STREET WAITING TO GET THEIR KIDS OFF THE BUS.
AND 90TH STREET ALREADY IS ALMOST A ONE LANE STREET WHEN THEY PUT THEIR, THEIR GARBAGE BINS OUT THERE ON GARBAGE PICKUP DAY AND THEY PARK THEIR BIG TRUCKS.
AND A LOT OF THESE CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE LIVING IN THOSE SOUTH SIDE DUPLEXES, THEY HAVE TRAILER HITCHES THIS LONG STICKING OFF THEIR TRUCK AND IT STICKS RIGHT INTO THE STREET.
I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE POLICE ABOUT THAT BEFORE AND MY COMMENT WAS WHERE THEIR OWN PRIVATE PROPERTY, THEY CAN'T GO ANYWHERE ELSE.
WELL YOU KNOW WHAT, THEY HAVE A GARAGE BUT THEY WON'T USE IT.
THE GARAGE IS FOR STORAGE AND THAT'S ALL THEY USE IT FOR.
AND SOME OF THESE BIG TRUCKS, THEY CAN'T EVEN GET 'EM IN THE GARAGE.
BUT THE HITCHES STICK OUT INTO OUR ROAD AND WE ALREADY HAVE SOME BUSINESSES DOWN THERE.
THE IRON WORKER MAN HAS ALREADY SOLD HIS BUSINESS AND LEFT.
PEOPLE DON'T WANNA STAY WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING.
TALKING ABOUT CRIME, WHEN WE FIRST MOVED THERE, THERE WERE AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR HOUSES BROKEN INTO ON OUR STREET.
WE ALL HAD TO RUSH OUT AND GET HOUSE ALARMS AND THEY WERE BREAKING INTO 'EM AT NOON.
EVEN THE DEVELOPER HAD HIS HOUSE BROKEN INTO AT NOON RIGHT AFTER HE GOT LUNCH AND LEFT.
AND WE HAVE STOPPED TWO OR THREE PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW FOR SURE BASED ON THE QUESTIONS THEY WERE ASKING AND WHAT THEY WERE DOING THAT WERE CASING THEM.
WE'VE EVEN HAD NEIGHBORS TO COME OVER AND KNOCK, LOOK SO-AND-SO'S CASING, KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND WE'VE WATCHED AND REPORTED.
SO IF YOU THINK CRIME'S NOT COMING IN JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE CHARGING $2,000, THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE 'CAUSE THEY'RE MOVING IN THREE AND FOUR FAMILIES TO PAY THAT.
IT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE AND IF YOU COME TO OUR STREET, YOU'LL SEE IT HAPPEN THERE.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE STREETWISE, SEWER WISE TO DEAL WITH THIS.
AND SO SOMETHING HAS GOT TO HAPPEN AND I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT IF FOR ANY REASON THIS GOES THROUGH THAT YOU FORCE THESE PEOPLE TO HAVE A STREET ALL THE WAY TO 365 AND USE IT.
AND I ALSO STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU MAKE THOSE PEOPLE ON THE SOUTH SIDE LOCK THOSE DOORS AND KEEP 'EM LOCKED WHERE THEY CAN'T OPEN THOSE GATES TO 90TH STREET EXCEPT IN A MAJOR HURRICANE EVACUATION OR MAYBE A FIRE OR WHATEVER.
NOW WE'VE ALREADY HAD ONE DUPLEX TO CATCH ON FIRE ON SOUTH SIDE OF 90TH.
AND NOW WE'VE GOT ALL THESE PEOPLE, HAZMAT PEOPLE, EVERYBODY OUT THERE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THIS FIRE THAT HAS TOTALLY DESTROYED THIS, THIS SIDE OF THE DUPLEX.
AND THE OTHER SIDE'S GONE TOO 'CAUSE THEY HAD TO EVACUATE.
WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION CONSTANTLY OUT THERE.
WE HAVE LOWS OUT THERE DELIVERING THINGS.
WE HAVE, UH, THE US POST OFFICE OUT THERE AND DID Y'ALL SEND CERTIFIED LETTERS TO THE APARTMENTS? THE PEOPLE IN THE APARTMENTS? I WAS TOLD YOU DID, DID
[00:55:01]
YOU? IF THEY WERE, IF THEY WERE IN THE 2200 FOOT RADIUS, WE SENT THEM A NOTE.MY MALE PERSON, WHICH I KNOW PERSONALLY AND HAVE HER PERSONAL CELL PHONE, SHE TOLD ME PERSONALLY, SAID EVERY ONE OF THOSE DID NOT GO TO THE PEOPLE, THEY WENT TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE.
SO HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO GET ANY COMPLAINTS OR ANY CONCERNS FROM THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE APARTMENTS WHEN ALL OF THE LETTERS WENT TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE? JUST SAYING IF YOU WANT YOUR 20%, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.
AND I'LL TELL YOU SOME OF THE PEOPLE UP THERE THAT AREN'T REPRESENTED, THEY WORK.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY CAN'T GET HOME IN TIME TO GET TO THE POST OFFICE TO COLLECT THEIR CERTIFIED LETTER.
AND EVEN WHEN THEY SIGN SOME OF THEIR STUFF AND STUCK IT ON THE DOOR AND SAID, LEAVE IT ANYWAY, IT DIDN'T GET LEFT.
SO I'M TELLING YOU, THERE'S MORE PEOPLE THAN YOU THINK THAT ARE OPPOSED TO THIS BECAUSE THE PROMISES IN THE PAST HAVE NEVER BEEN KEPT.
ANYONE ELSE? STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE.
ROSALYN QUEEN 2294 BAYOU DRIVE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS 7 7 6 4 0.
I AM ONE OF THOSE NO VOTES FROM THE P AND Z.
I NEED TO KNOW, LET THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS KNOW I DISAGREED WITH THIS PLAN OF ZONING CHANGE BECAUSE MY QUESTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO THE INVESTOR CAME WITH, WHATEVER HE BROUGHT HE SHOWED OF ORIGINALLY HE SAID 60 DUPLEXES BUT CHANGED IT TO 30 BECAUSE IT'LL BE TWO TO EACH DUPLEX, WHICH WILL BE 30 BUILDINGS, BUT 60 INDIVIDUAL DUPLEXES.
SO I WAS A NO VOTE AGAINST THIS AND I BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT COUNCIL SHOULD DO THE SAME AND VOTE THIS ZONING CHANGE DOWN.
OKAY, ANY ANYONE ELSE? AND, UH, ATTORNEY? OKAY.
MY NAME'S BACKLOGS AND I LIVE AT 93 40.
VERY SIMPLY PUT, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STREETS TO SUPPORT THIS AT ALL.
ALSO, I'M VERY, VERY FEARFUL ABOUT THE DRAINAGE SITUATION AS IT EXISTS TODAY.
NOT WITH MORE HIGH DENSITY BUILDINGS.
I WAS LIVING IN MY HOUSE WHEN HARVEY CAME.
THE WATER KEPT COMING UP AND UP AND UP AND REACHED THE BOTTOM OF MY FOUNDATION.
AND THE LORD SPARED ME BY ONE INCH WHEN BIG TRUCKS WOULD COME DOWN THAT STREET, THEIR WAKE WOULD WASH UP WATER UNDERNEATH THE DOOR.
AND I PUT A PIECE OF PLYWOOD UP THERE AT THE FOYER OF MY HOUSE TO STOP THAT.
I REMEMBER THE NIGHT THE LAST NIGHT OF HARVEY AND THE RAINS AND THE RAINS AND THE RAINS AND I WAS SPRAYING AND WHAT SAVED AN AWFUL LOT.
I KNOW AT LEAST ME FROM WATER WAS WIND CAME FROM THE NORTH LOW AND SOUTH AND THAT STREET OUT THERE, LOWER LANE BECAME LIKE A RIVER AND IT WENT OVER 90TH STREET AND THE WATER WENT OUT THERE AND ON TOWARDS 365.
I I DON'T BELIEVE IT COULD DO THAT TODAY DAY.
SO I BELIEVE OUR SITUATION IS MORE PRECARIOUS BECAUSE OF THE RENT RENTAL PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH AND, AND, UH, UH, A LOT OF PAVED AREAS, SO FORTH AND SO ON.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE AREN'T OTHER PLACES WHERE IT WOULD BE SAFER TO BUILD THESE DUPLEXES FOR ALL CONCERNS.
AND IF THESE DUPLEXES ARE TO BE BUILT, YOU SIMPLY MUST RUN STREETS PERPENDICULAR TO 365.
SO PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO EXIT THAT COMMUNITY AND EVEN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE CHIEF PROBLEM I HAVE WITH WHERE I LIVE IS IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE CONFINED
[01:00:01]
IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO GET INTO IT AND TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF IT.AND I DO HOPE YOU ALL REALIZE THAT WE HAVE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY AT 365 AND 69 INTERSECTION.
I DON'T HAVE ANY EASY ANSWERS FOR THAT, BUT UH, THAT BECOMES A MESS FROM ABOUT FOUR O'CLOCK TO ABOUT SEVEN O'CLOCK.
THAT BECOMES A REAL NIGHTMARE.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND FOR THE WORK YOU DO HERE, AND UH, YOU HAVE A NICE DAY.
ANYONE ELSE APPROACH? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS.
YES, UH, MR. MAYOR AND UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE DEVELOPER FOR THE PROJECT.
THAT'S, UH, WE TRYING TO GET TO PORT ARTHUR.
I DUNNO, I'VE BEEN SEEING THE GUYS LIKE, UH, THE NEIGHBORS, WHICH IS, I DUNNO, EVERYBODY SAY THEIR OWN OPINION.
IF WHAT'S UP? LIKE THE HOW YOU CAN GUARANTEE FOR US THAT YOU'RE GONNA BUILD A LUXURY HOUSES.
HOW ARE WE GONNA GUARANTEE THAT YOU NOT GONNA GET SECTION EIGHT OVER THERE? HOW YOU GONNA GUARANTEE THIS? GUARANTEE THIS? I CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT I GONNA LIVE TOMORROW.
NOBODY CAN GUARANTEE THIS, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT'S WHAT'S MY PLAN TO DO.
OKAY? AND WHICH IS I SHOWED THE, I BELIEVE I SENT TO CRYSTAL WHAT, UH, ON THE POWERPOINT, WHAT'S THE PROPOSED, UH, PROPERTY TO LOOK LIKE NOW? UH, EVERYBODY'S SAYING THE BAD SCENARIOS ABOUT THE PROJECT.
NOW WE ARE LIVING IN PORT ARTHUR.
IF WE BEEN LOOKING IN PORT ARTHUR, HEY, I WANNA LIVE IN A HOUSE.
I DON'T WANT NO SUCH AN NEIGHBOR TO BE BEHIND ME.
I DON'T WANT NO SUCH AN NEIGHBOR TO BE NEXT TO ME.
THAT MEAN WE'RE GONNA BE SITTING IN A MARSH TO RIGHT NOW.
EVERYBODY WANT TO DO WHAT THEY FEEL LIKE DOING WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE.
THAT WE ARE LIVING IN A BIG CITY AND FOR EVERYONE TO IMPROVE BY THE LAW, TO DO EVERYTHING THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO ACCORDING TO, UH, THE CITY COORDINATES AND ALL OF THAT.
NOW, WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT THE ELEVATION, EVERYBODY'S SAYING LIKE, I, I SPOKE TO A COUPLE OF THE NEIGHBORS, UH, WHICH IS I HEARD THAT THEY MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE ELEVATION.
THERE'S NO FIVE FEET OF DIRT NEED TO BE ADDED ON TOP OF THE PROPERTY.
WHAT IT SAYS, THE ELEVATION, THAT'S IT'S NEED TO BE UP TO THE FIVE FEET LEVEL.
THAT'S THE ELEVATION, HAS TO BE UP TO THE FIVE FEET LEVEL, WHICH IS WE ALREADY MORE THAN FIVE FEET WHAT I HAVE ON MY PROPERTY AND WE TAKEN OUT OF IT.
AND I HAVE MY ENGINEER HERE, MR. KISSING CALL, AND HE'LL BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN ANY QUESTION ABOUT THE PLAN, LIKE THE PLANS, THE ELEVATION, THE DRAINAGE, AND HE, HE KNOWS LIKE HE'S VERY WELL KNOWN ABOUT THE DRAINAGE.
NO, THE ENTRANCE FOR THIS PROPERTY IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE NINE 50 STREET.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE LIKE EVERYBODY SAYING 90TH STREET.
THAT'S A PLAN TO BE FROM THE 90TH NINE FIFTH STREET, UH, FOR ALL THE PROJECT AND WHICH IS BIGGER STREET.
AND IT'S GOES ALONG THE, I BELIEVE THE WILLOW APARTMENTS, UH, IN NETHERLAND AND WHAT WE INTEND TO DO A GATED COMMUNITY.
AND WE HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ANY, UH, ANY, UH, KIND OF PARTIES PROBLEMS. YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN, IN A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD MYSELF, YOU KNOW, IN CHANDEL LANE.
AND I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS.
AND WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR GATE THE CITY.
WE ASKED THE GATE, THE STONE GATE.
WE ASKED THE CITY PORT ARTHUR TO PROVIDE US WITH GATES, UH, BECAUSE OF THE, A LOT OF PEOPLE WALKING ON THE STREET.
NOW IN THIS NICE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I'M LIVING IN, AND IT'S GOT HUGE HOUSES AND BIG HOUSES, WE DO HAVE A BREAK-INS.
BREAK-INS COULD HAPPEN IN BEVERLY HILL.
IT COULD HAPPEN IN, IN THE WEST END, IN THE EAST END, IN THE NORTH END DOES NOT MEAN LIKE IF YOU LIVE WHEREVER YOU'RE GONNA LIVE, OH, THESE APARTMENTS OR THIS DUPLEX IS GONNA CAUSE THAT YOU
[01:05:01]
HAVE BREAK-INS ON ROBBERIES.AND THIS NOW, UH, IN, IN OUR PL PROJECT, WE INTEND TO HAVE LIKE A FULL TIME OFFICE EMPLOYEE TO MAINTAIN AND TAKE CARE OF OUR DUPLEXES, THE LUXURY DUPLEXES THAT WE INTEND TO DO.
WE INTEND TO DO A LUXURY DUPLEXES, UH, THE TIME TO BUILD, EVERYBODY COMPLAINING ABOUT, OH, WHEN IS THE TIME TO BUILD FOR ME TO MOVE, TO MOVE AWAY IF THEY WANNA MOVE AWAY.
EVERYBODY LIKE, IT'S THEIR, IT'S THEIR OWN HOUSE.
THEY CAN SELL IT, THEY WANNA STAY.
I I'M NOT GONNA FORCE NO ONE, YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL YOU THE TIME TOO.
IT COULD BE LIKE WITHIN A START, WITHIN A YEAR, WITHIN TWO YEARS.
I'M NOT GONNA, I'M NOT GONNA GIVE YOU ANY GUARANTEES ON THIS.
UH, NOW, LIKE, AS I'VE BEEN SAYING ABOUT EVERYBODY COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WATER AND THE FLOOD, WE HAVE AN ENGINEERS WHO CAN SPEAK ON THIS BEHALF.
THEY CAN DESCRIBE LIKE HOW THE WATER WILL FLOW, WILL FLOW IN THIS PROPERTY AND HOW THE WATER, WATER SHOULD BE DRAINED TO THE DRAINING DISTRICT.
AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY FOR RIGHT NOW.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE ON THE G I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOMEBODY ON ZOOM TRYING TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS ES
UH, UM, I JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE NOT LONG AGO AND I THERE A SIMILAR CONCERN, UH, TO WHAT OTHER NEIGHBORS HAD ALREADY SHARED.
UH, LIKE WE DISCUSSED, UH, PROBLEMS WITH THE, WITH THE FLOODING.
I'M, I'M NOT TOO FAMILIAR WITH IT.
LIKE I SAID, I JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE NOT SO LONG AGO, BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD A WEDDING IN A LONG TIME.
UM, BUT I'M SURE THE OTHER NEIGHBORS HAVE SHARED THE SAME CONCERN.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED WITH THE TRAFFIC, UH, PRIVACY.
UM, ALSO I WOULD RECOMMEND CITY TO LOOK AT.
SO WE ALREADY HAVE THE TWO APARTMENT COMPLEXES ON EACH SIDE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, THE ONE SIDE IS ALREADY
THEY HAVE MULTIPLE UNITS THAT'RE ALREADY EMPTY, SO, AND THEIR RENT IS ABOUT 1600 TO $1,800.
I MEAN, IF, IF THEY CANNOT FILL THEIR APARTMENTS, I, I'M NOT SURE HOW THIS DUPLEXES ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO FILL AT THE HIGHER RATE THAT, THAT, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.
UH, WHICH, WHICH I'M SURE THAT IF, IF HE CANNOT FILL AT THE HIGHER RATE, IT IS GONNA START GOING DOWN ON THE RAMP.
UH, AND IT'S GONNA CREATE MORE PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD.
UH, I'M, I'M SURE ALL THE OTHERS THE SAME, UH, INPUT.
SO I, I REST MY CASE AND I HOPE YOU GUYS, UH, DISAPPROVE THIS CHANGE.
ANYONE ELSE IN THE COUNTY? ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.
I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION FOR THE, THE DEVELOPER.
YOU, ARE YOU THE OWNER OF THE ALL, ALL OF THAT LAND? ARE YOU JUST A DEVELOPER? I'M THE OWNER AND THE DEVELOPER FOR THAT LAND.
AND ALSO, I WANNA MENTION SOMETHING.
I DO OWN THE OTHER LAND IN THE OTHER SIDE OF LISA LANE, ALSO, THE SIX ACRES, LIKE MY LAND, IT'S, I HAVE A LAND, THE NINE ACRES ON THIS SIDE THAT THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT.
UH, LAND, THE SIX ACRES, THE SIX ACRES, MY INTENTION AND MY PLANS, WHICH IS I'M STARTING WITH MR. KI COBA.
WE GONNA START BUILDING A LUXURY HOUSES, 500, $600,000 HOUSES ON THIS LAND.
THE REASON I ASK THAT QUESTION, A LOT OF, A LOT OF TIME, UH, LANDOWNERS WILL HAVE CONTINGENT UPON THE SALE OF THE LAND.
THEY'LL, THEY HAVE THE BURDEN OF GETTING A ZONING CHANGE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I ASKED YOU.
I'M, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE YOU.
SO YOU OWN ALL THE LAND THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DEVELOP.
I'M ON IT BECAUSE THIS IS MY RETIREMENT PLAN FOR THIS LAND.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST, I WANNA OWN LIKE A LUXURY.
THAT'S MY VIEW FOR A LONG TIME.
LUXURY DUPLICATE, UH, COMPLEX.
AND AS I MENTIONED, I'M NOT GONNA BUILD SOMETHING BAD OVER THERE THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE COMPLAINING ABOUT MY, MY NEIGHBORS.
UH, I'M DESTROYING MY OTHER PROJECT THAT'S, IT'S THE ENTRANCE TO THAT LAND.
THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO SAY, SIR.
[01:10:03]
COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES.WOULD YOU PLEASE STEP BACK UP TO THE MIC, PLEASE? YES, SIR.
YOU KNOW, UH, SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT THE CITIZENS ARE MAKING ARE COMMENTS THAT WE HEAR A LOT.
AND THE REASON WE HEAR IT A LOT, BECAUSE IT'S THINGS THAT THEY HAVE SEEN HAPPEN BASED ON WHAT HAVE BEEN SAID.
YES, YOU MAKE A LOT OF GOOD STATEMENTS ABOUT NO GUARANTEE, NO PROMISES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, CITIZENS HAVE TO RELY ON WHAT THEY'VE SEEN AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
THIS AREA WE TALKING ABOUT HAS VERY EXPENSIVE HOMES OUT THERE.
AND, UM, I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT REPRESENTING THIS DISTRICT SINCE, SINCE 2011.
SO MOST OF THE HOMES THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVE BEEN HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT SINCE 2011.
SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA.
I HAD A CONCERN WHEN THEY BUILT THE APARTMENTS, UH, OFF OF 90TH.
UH, THEY HAD SOME APARTMENTS OFF OF 95TH, BUT THOSE PEOPLE BUILT THOSE HOMES IN THE BACK, AND THEY, AND THEY BUILT NICE, EXPENSIVE HOMES.
DEVELOPERS HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY WANT TO BRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO PORT ARTHUR.
IT, IT, IT'S AMAZING HOW EVERYBODY USED THAT TERM.
I WANNA BRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO PORT ARTHUR AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
YOU WANT TO TRY TO, TO PUT THE MOST ON PROPERTY TO GAIN THE MOST AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR PROFITS.
SO, ARE YOU REALLY INTERESTED IN AFFORDABLE HOME? YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY, REALLY STRIKES ME AS A INDIVIDUAL THAT'S SAYING, SAYING SOMETHING, BUT HOW MUCH CAN I DEPEND ON? YOU SAID THAT I OWN ANOTHER SIX ACRES BEHIND IT, AND MY PLAN IS TO BUILD NICE BIG HOMES.
WELL, WHY NOT BUILD A NICE BIG HOMES NOW NEXT TO THESE OTHER NICE HOME WHERE THOSE PEOPLE CAN FEEL GOOD, UH, AND THEY KNOW THAT.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU WANT TO GO BIGGER AND, AND BETTER.
SO IT'S KIND QUESTIONABLE TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHEN YOU SAYING, OH, I'M GONNA BUILD SOME BIGGER HOME LATER.
BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT GONNA BUILD NO HOMES.
NOT AS BIG AS YOURS, BUT NO HOME.
DUPLEXES, IT IS, IS NOT TOWN HOMES.
PEOPLE KIND OF SAY, OKAY, TOWN HALLS NOT BAD.
'CAUSE MOST OF THESE PROPERTIES, UH, EVERYBODY'S PAYING THEIR OWN WATER BILL, THEIR OWN UTILITIES, PROPERTY TAX AND ALL.
SO ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE COMING BACK INTO THE, UH, CITY AND WITHIN REVENUES, YOU KNOW, SO I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CITIZENS ARE SAYING, AND I'M THE COUNCILMAN FOR THAT DISTRICT.
AND, UH, A LOT OF 'EM CALL ME.
AND DON'T GET ME WRONG, WHEN I SET UP HERE, I DO WHAT I FEEL IS RIGHT FOR THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
'CAUSE ONCE I GET IN THIS SEAT, I'M NO LONGER DISTRICT POOR.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL CITIZENS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.
AND WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR CITY IS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY.
I'M PRETTY MUCH LIKE THESE CITIZENS WHEN IT COMES TO SOMEBODY SAYING, WE WANT TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOME, AFFORDABLE HOME, AFFORDABLE HOME.
BUT THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE THING.
BUT EVERY TIME IT'S SAID, WHAT DO WE HAVE AT THE END RESULT? I'VE SEEN PEOPLE GIVE US PLANS ON WHAT SOMETHING WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
UH, RV PARK OFF OF 73, BEAUTIFUL.
AND AS SOON AS THEY STARTED THE EXPANSION, NONE OF IT DEVELOPED LIKE WE WAS TOLD.
AND IT'S EVERY SPACE THEY ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY HARD FOR US TO CONTROL THINGS ONCE WE SAY, OKAY, SO I UNDERSTAND YOU WANT TO BRING THINGS TO PORT ARTHUR, YOU HERE, YOU LIVE AT PORT ARTHUR.
[01:15:01]
BUT WE HAVE AGRICULTURAL LAND.AND IF WE REALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO BRING THAT REVENUE THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR, THAT TAX BASE, THAT THAT HOMEOWNER, YOU KNOW, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAYBE CONSIDER THE HOUSES FIRST AND SEE HOW IT GOES.
BUT LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT HERE TO SAY I REPRESENT PEOPLE AND I UNDERSTAND BUSINESS.
I CAN, I CAN MAKE HARD DECISIONS AND, AND CALL IT LIKE IT IS.
BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IF IT WAS TOWNHOUSES OR TOWN HOMES OR CONDOS, SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, I WOULD PROBABLY FEEL A LITTLE DIFFERENT ABOUT IT.
BUT DUPLEXES, I'M LIKE THE, UH, MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT COMPLAINED.
SO, CAN I SPEAK NOW? NOW, PLEASE, PLEASE, YES.
IT'S NOT A ONE WAY CONVERSATION.
AND THERE, THERE'S BEEN COUNCILMAN FRANK.
YOU USED THE TERMINOLOGY, UM, LUXURY.
TALK TO ME ABOUT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF, UM, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR PROJECTION, UH, FOR, FOR THIS.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE DUPLEX, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT EACH, I DUNNO THE TERMINOLOGY OF, UH, UH, LET'S SAY DUPLEXES.
UH, TOWN HOMES IN CALIFORNIA, THEY CALL 'EM DIFFERENT.
IN JORDAN, MY COUNTRY, THEY CALL 'EM DIFFERENT.
THE CONDOS, THEY CALL 'EM, EVERYBODY CALL IT DIFFERENT.
NOW, WHEN I SAY THE, THE, THE LIKE DUPLEXES, I MEANT TWO STORY, WHICH IS MAYBE I CAN CALL 'EM AS A TOWN HOME, TWO STORY TOWN HOME WITH A PRIVATE BACKYARD FOR EACH PERSON, FOR EACH SIDE, WHICH IS, I HAVE PICTURE FOR THE PROPOSED WHAT WE NEED TO BUILD, IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
AND EACH, EACH LIKE UNIT WILL HAVE ITS OWN GARAGE.
NOW, UH, WITH THE TERM OF THE AFFORDABLE, I'M NOT BUILDING AN AFFORDABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
UH, SQUARE FOOTAGE IS GONNA BE 1500 A UNIT, 1500 SQUARE FOOT A UNIT.
THAT DOESN'T SOUND LUXURY TO ME.
WELL, THAT'S, THAT SOUNDS LUXURY.
THE WAY IT'S GONNA LOOK, THE WAY THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GONNA GET 1500 SQUARE FOOT A UNIT.
NOW, WHENEVER YOU ADD 'EM TOGETHER, IT'S GONNA BE 3000 SQUARE FOOT UNIT WITH TWO BALCONIES, GARAGES, BACKYARD.
THAT'S, THAT'S BIG TIME LUXURY.
BUT, AND NOW IF I WANNA RENT SOMEONE 2000 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE, I'M NOT GONNA RENT IT TO HIM FOR $2,000.
THAT'S LIKE IN A BUSINESS WISE.
UH, BUT WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, NO ONE WILL BUILD AN APARTMENT 22,000 SQUARE FOOT APARTMENT.
THIS IS LIKE, IT'S, IT'S VERY HARD TO BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, I'M BEING REALISTIC HERE.
I'M TELLING YOU WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S GOING ON, HOW ARE WE GONNA DO 'EM? AND THE LUXURY COUNCILMAN, THE, THE, THE WAY YOU'RE LOOKING AT LUXURY, THE WAY THE STREETS WILL BE MADE, THE TREES THAT THE PLANTS, THAT'S THE VEGETATION GONNA BE PLANTED IN THIS STREET.
THAT'S GONNA BE PROPOSED FOR THIS DUPLEX, UH, THE WAY THE GATE GONNA LOOK.
ALL OF THIS, THE LUXURY THAT WE'RE GONNA BRING TO THAT AREA, OKAY? THE WAY THAT'S THE, THE GRASS GONNA BE GROWN AND ALL OF THIS, THE TAKING THE KEEP UP WITH THE PROPERTY, THAT'S A LUXURY.
AS I DO LOVE THE AREA OF LAURA LANE AND LISA LANE, THE WAY THEY LOOK.
AND THAT'S WHY I, I DID INVEST IN THIS AREA BECAUSE I SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS.
AND I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THESE PROPERTIES FOR THE PAST FIVE, SIX YEARS, ME AND MYSELF, TILL I MADE THE, THE DECISION TO BUY THAT LAND AND THE OTHER SIX ACRES.
AND NOW ABOUT THE OTHER TERMS OF, UH, AFFORDABLE, NO, I'M NOT DOING NO AFFORDABLE HOMES.
WHENEVER WE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOMES, THAT HOMES THAT COULD BE BILLED WITH $60,000, $70,000, JUST LIKE A QUAKE.
THAT'S THE AFFORDABLE HOMES, WHICH IS WITH THIS, THE, THE, THE RECENT ZONING THAT WE HAVE IN THIS, UH, THIS PROPERTY, LIKE AS AGRICULTURE, I CAN GO AHEAD AND CARRY STREET IN IT, WHICH IS BY THE COORDINATES OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND I DON'T HAVE TO COME AND DO ANY, ANY COUNCIL MEETING OR A HEARING.
AND I CAN BUILD ANY KIND OF HOUSES.
I WANT $50,000 HOUSE, $60,000 HOUSE.
AND THAT WILL BE WAY CHEAPER FOR ME.
BUT I WILL NOT CHOOSE TO DO SO BECAUSE I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NICE FOR THIS AREA.
[01:20:01]
LIKE JUST AFFORDABLE ANYTHING, BRING ANYONE TO THIS AREA.IT'S GONNA BE LIKE MY OWN PROJECT.
NO ONE WILL TRY TO BRING TO HIS OWN HOUSE ANY KIND OF TENANTS.
IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UH, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, AND MAYBE YOUR ENGINEER, I HEARD THAT SOME OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS WERE, UM, HAVING TO RAISE THE LAND.
YOU SAID FIVE FEET, AND I THINK YOU SAID TWO ADDITIONAL FEET.
SO IS THE LAND ALREADY ELEVATED WHERE THAT THE DRAINAGE ISSUES THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT'S FLOWING, UH, TO THE SOUTH, UH, WOULDN'T CAUSE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS? THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
AND THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALSO MY CONCERN IN LOOKING AT THIS DIAGRAM.
HOW CLOSE WOULD THE APARTMENTS BE TO THE BACK OF THE RESIDENTS HOUSES? THOSE ARE MY TWO QUESTIONS I NEED TO GET CLARIFICATIONS.
UH, IN, IN REGARDS TO THE ELEVATION, THE KIND OF THE, I GUESS, MISCONCEPTION THERE WAS THAT THEY MENTIONED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT UP TO ELEVATION FIVE, AND I THINK THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION THAT THAT MEANT THEY WERE GONNA ADD FIVE FEET TO THE PROPERTY, BUT YOU WOULD'VE TO ADD SOMETHING, UH, TO YOUR COMPANY.
CURRENTLY, CURRENTLY, THE SITE IS ALREADY ABOVE ELEVATION FIVE AS IT SITS WITH NO, NO, NO FIELD BEING BROUGHT IN.
AND DID I HEAR YOU SAY ABOUT A RETENTION POND THAT'S GONNA BE IN THE COMPLEX OR SOMETHING? CORRECT.
UH, IN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN'S DRAINAGE POLICIES, UH, YOU'RE NO LONGER RE ALLOWED TO DISCHARGE ANY ADDITIONAL RUNOFF FROM THE SITE AS IT SITS.
SO YOU TAKE THE RUNOFF THAT IS COMING OFF THIS SITE CURRENTLY, AND YOU DO YOUR CALCULATIONS.
AND THEN ANY INCREASE IN RUNOFF THAT WILL BE BROUGHT IN FROM IMPERVIOUS COVER HAS TO BE DETAINED ON SITE.
UH, AND SO THAT'LL REQUIRE A DETENTION POND, WHICH WOULD BE LOCATED ON THE, LET'S SEE, THAT'S GONNA BE THE WEST SIDE, BASICALLY BA UH, UP AGAINST THE AIRPORT PROPERTY IS WHERE THE DETENTION POND WOULD BE LOCATED.
AND HOW CLOSE TO THE BACKYARD? SO THE RESIDENCE, WOULD THIS COMPLEX BE THE, THE, THE ACTUAL STRUCTURES, THE DUPLEX STRUCTURES? UM, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT FAR IN THE DESIGN YET.
I, I, I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT CURRENTLY.
UM, IT WOULD BE THE MINIMUM SIZE FOR HIS BACKYARDS THAT HE'S GONNA TRY TO PUT IN, BUT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT FAR INTO DESIGN.
WE'RE JUST CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET THE ZONING CHANGE DONE BEFORE WE GET THAT FAR ALONG.
WELL, UH, MR. DEVELOPER, I MEAN, YOU CAN KEEP YOUR SEAT.
UH, I DID GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT THIS, UH, PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT OPPOSED, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT OF IT.
UH, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I'M STILL FOGGY ABOUT AND, YOU KNOW, WHY NOW, HOW, AND THAT'S YOUR CHOICE AS A DEVELOPER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST TAKE THE CONSIDERATION OF THE CITIZENS WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS HERE AS A COLLECTIVE COUNCIL.
SO I, I DO WANT TO KIND OF, UH, PIGGYBACK ON WHAT COUNCILMAN, UH, FRANK STATED EARLIER THAT, YOU KNOW, WHY NOT BUILD THESE LU LUXURY HOUSES NOW AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT BECAUSE OF SO MANY OPPOSING TO IT TO HELP YOUR INCREASE YOUR VALUE.
IT WOULDN'T DO, YOU KNOW, JUSTICE TO BUILD 50, $60,000 HOMES WHEN EVERYBODY AROUND YOU HAVE 300, $400,000 HOMES.
SO, UH, YOU MIGHT WANNA LOOK AT THAT.
UH, BUT I DID GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT OPPOSING THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT.
UH, AND I HOPE THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE SLIGHT TO NOT CONSIDER PORT ARTHUR, BUT OUR JOB IS TO CONSIDER THE WHOLE, UH, CITY AT ALL TIMES AND THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT CONFUSING SOME TERMINOLOGY HERE.
AND THIS IS MORE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE, BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN WITH ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT IN PORT ARTHUR THAT'S IN MY DISTRICT, UH, WHERE THE DEVELOPER SAID, I'M BUILDING LUXURY TOWN HOMES.
AND BY THE END OF THE PROJECT, IT WAS AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.
SO THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TERM TOWN HOME AND CONDO, DUPLEX AND APARTMENT.
AND JUST LIKE OUR RESIDENT HERE SAID, THOSE ARE GONNA BE TEMPORARY PEOPLE COMING IN FOR JOBS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
A TOWN HOME OR A CONDO IS SOLD TO AN INDIVIDUAL OWNER.
SO THERE WE HAVE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOME OWNERSHIP INTEREST THAT WILL STAY AND PAY TAXES AND RAISE THEIR KIDS HERE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE BUILDING, YOU'RE BUILDING DUPLEXES, RIGHT? NO, I'M LOOKING AT, COME, COME BACK UP TO THE MIC SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.
I JUST DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE MISLED ABOUT WHAT THESE UNITS ARE GOING TO BE.
ARE THEY GONNA BE SOLD TO INDIVIDUAL OWNERS LIKE TOWN HOMES AND CONDOS, OR ARE THEY GONNA BE RENTED TEMPORARILY AS DUPLEXES OR APARTMENTS ABOUT WHAT'S THE FUTURE? UH, PLANS ABOUT? IF I GONNA KEEP THE DUPLEXES, I GONNA START GETTING REVENUE, GIVING, GETTING LIKE SOME MONEY, LIKE BACK
[01:25:01]
FROM THE, THE PROJECT.LIKE EVENTUALLY I WILL BE SELLING THOSE, YOU KNOW, TOWN HOMES.
THAT'S WHAT, I DUNNO, IT COULD BE CALLED TOWN HOMES BECAUSE EACH TWO STORY UNITS IS GONNA BE, IT HAS TWO BACKYARDS IN THE BACK OF IT.
I DUNNO IF THEY CALL 'EM LIKE, IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE, HEY, UH, I CAN SELL EACH UNIT SEPARATE SEPARATELY IF I WANT TO.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THAT'S NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
BUT, UH, SELLING, I'M NOT INTENDING TO SELL NOTHING RIGHT NOW.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU.
I WANNA SELL 'EM FOR US TO BRING, I WILL BE PAYING THE TAX BACK TO PORT ARTHUR, SIR, AND THE JEFFERSON COUNTY, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THE TAX THING IS NOT AN ISSUE.
LIKE THE, THE OTHER DAY, THE DOCTOR COMMISSIONER WHO SPOKE JUST EARLIER, SHE SAID, ARE YOU GONNA BE PAYING THE TAXES? I WAS WONDERING LIKE, WHY THIS QUESTION? OF COURSE, I WILL BE PAYING THE TAXES, YOU KNOW, I PAY MY TAXES.
I'VE BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY 23 YEARS AND I KNOW MY DUTIES AT THIS POINT.
NOW THAT'S WHAT'S THE TERMINOLOGY BETWEEN TOWN HOMES AND APARTMENTS? APARTMENTS, OF COURSE, I'M NOT GONNA DO NO APARTMENT.
ME, MYSELF, UH, THAT'S WHY I DON'T HAVE ACTUALLY, LIKE, ALL WHAT I OWN IS HOUSES ON, LIKE, THAT'S MY RENTAL PROPERTY.
ANY OTHER QUESTION? SO IF THIS IS GONNA BE A DUPLEX, UM, PROJECT, ARE YOU GONNA BE THE, THE PROPERTY MANAGER? ARE YOU GONNA YES, MA'AM.
YOU OKAY? WILL THERE BE ANY OTHER, UM, DISCUSSION? YES, SIR.
STATE YOUR NAME AGAIN, PLEASE.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ANSWER MR. KEN LAW'S, UH, QUESTION ON, UM, WHEN HE QUESTIONED ABOUT THE DIS DISTANCE OF THE DUPLEX TO MY BACKYARD, WHICH MY BACKYARD WOULD BE DIRECTLY, UM, BEHIND THE DUPLEX.
HE'S GOT ABOUT, ACCORDING TO HIS PRESENTATION, THE PICTURE HE PRESENTED, HE, HE'S GOT ABOUT A PROBABLY MAX 15 YARD, 15 FOOT YARD.
AND THEN YOU GOT A TWO STORY DUPLEX WITH A BALCONY.
SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR MAIN CONCERNS TO 15 FEET, TWO STORY BUILDING WITH A BALCONY LOOKING DIRECTLY INTO MY HOUSE, MY BACKYARD, MY KIDS PLAYING.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S, I'M JUST TRYING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ON THAT.
CAN WE, I MEAN, I'M SAYING THERE'S SOME OTHER MATTERS I NEED TO ATTEND TO JUST FOR A SECOND, LIKE ABOUT THE DESCRIPTION, HE'S SAYING LIKE THE, HIS BACKYARD 15 FEET AND THIS, UH, I'M NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE.
HOW I GONNA BUILD MY, THE, THE, THE DUPLEXES, I'M SORRY.
BUT THE POINT IS, IS GONNA BE THE BALCONY IN THE FRONT OF, LIKE, AGAINST THEIR HOUSES.
THERE'S NO BALCONY GONNA BE ON TOP ON THEIR BACKYARD.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
THERE'LL BE NO OTHER DISCUSSION, UM, ON THIS MATTER.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO I GET A MOTION TO, UH, WELL DO, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S GOOD.
IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, IF I GET A MOTION, YOU'LL BE ABLE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND WE WOULD CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT BEGAN, UH, AT 10 0 2 ON, UH, THIS MATTER OF, UH, THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT.
AND, UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR OF CLOSING PUBLIC HEARING A, ANY OPPOSES? OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIP PART PARTICIPATION.
NOW I'D LIKE TO CALL THE, UH, BOND ATTORNEYS BACK UP IF I'M MAY.
YEAH, FINANCE, FINANCIAL ADVISORS.
I'M SORRY, I JUST LOOKED AT A CERTAIN PERSON AND THOUGHT BOND ATTORNEY.
UH, CAN I SAY SOMETHING? YES, MA'AM, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
OH, AND UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE TIMING OF THE MARKET, WE ARE NOW ON A TIME CRUNCH, RIGHT? WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE RIGHT.
AND COUNSEL, WILL YOU EXPLAIN TO COUNCIL WHAT'S GOING ON, PLEASE? A, A ATTORNEY? YES.
ACTUALLY, JUST I HAD TWO MORE QUICK COMMENTS.
IS ONE, I WAS GOING TO INTRODUCE DERRICK MITCHELL, WHO'S THE CITY'S BOND COUNCIL AND WITH HOLLAND AND KNIGHT.
AND BEFORE I GO, I JUST WANTED TO VERY MUCH THANK THE CITY COUNCIL
[01:30:01]
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS TRANSACTION.WE GREATLY APPRECIATE BEING A PART OF YOUR TEAM, AND I'LL LET DEREK SPEAK AND THEN I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
UH, WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THIS.
THE UNDERWRITER'S BEEN HOLDING THE BID ACTUALLY SINCE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
AND WITH THE VOLATILITY IN THE MARKET, WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO KIND, UH, ATTORNEY MITCHELL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, I WANNA SAY GOOD JOB BY ANN AND HILLTOP.
HER TEAM DID A HECK OF A JOB, AND OF COURSE, CANDY AND RON AND, AND VAL, UH, Y'ALL GOT A GREAT DEAL AS USUAL, UM, IN THIS SITUATION.
SO, UH, WE HOPE THAT YOU APPROVE.
THOSE JUST, ANY, ANY OTHER, ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S ALL.
OKAY, ATTORNEY, UH, WE NEED TO TAKE SOME ACTION ON THIS PRIOR TO, UH, YOU DO HAVE ANY, IF, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS, WE HAVE A TIME FOR QUESTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS THEN AFTERWARDS, A COUNSELOR, BECAUSE IF THEY, IF I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS AN ACTION ITEM WE NEED TO WORK ON.
IT'S THE, THIS ITEM TO MESS UP IS A ORDINANCE.
SO WE ALREADY HAVE A HAVE IT ON THE FLOOR.
PO SEVEN, ONE SIXTEEN, YOU CAN CALL A QUESTION, RIGHT? SO NOW IF, IF THERE ARE ANY, ANY OTHER, UH, QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL HAS, HAS ANY QUESTIONS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS MATTER? THERE AREN'T ANY.
OKAY, NOW WE WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT, UH,
[IV.B.(3) A Presentation By Claire Marceaux Regarding Community Benefits Agreement And Potential Community Impact In Port Arthur (Requested By Councilmember Frank)]
UH, NEXT ITEM WOULD BE, LET ME FLIP MY PAGE BACK.UM, THERE IT WAS IN THE, UH, SPEAKERS FOR MR. MAYOR.
I WANNA MAKE A MOTION IF I CAN.
UM, I KNOW, UM, THAT, UM, WE HAVE A FULL SCHEDULE ON TODAY AND THERE IS SO MUCH THAT HAS TO BE DONE, BUT I'VE ASKED MS. CLAIRE, MARCEL TO COME, UH, AND TO SHARE A PRESENTATION.
SHE'S ON HER WAY, UH, TO AUSTIN FOR ANOTHER MEETING.
I'M ASKING COUNSEL IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER BY MOTION, AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION, UH, THAT SHE BE ALLOWED TO GIVE HER PRESENTATION.
SO THAT SHE COULD GET ON THE ROAD.
WHERE, WHERE, WHERE'S HER PRESENTATION? HER PRESENTATION IS UNDER FOUR.
UH, BECAUSE I KNOW WE, WE, WE, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE IN A FEW MINUTES, UH, TO GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE WE HAVE ANOTHER ATTORNEY HERE.
SO, I MEAN, WE, WE, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, UH, WITH, WITH THAT.
ANYONE ELSE DOES? WE'RE ROLLING.
UH, WELL, AND, AND, BUT WE JUST, AND IF I HAPPEN TO PASS OVER SOMETHING, Y'ALL JUST HELP ME ON THIS.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE, UH, ITEM NUMBER THREE ON PAGE THREE, PRESENTATION BY MS. CLARA.
MORE SO REGARDING COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENTS AND POTENTIAL COMMUNITY IMPACT.
AND PORT ARTHUR REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN FRANK.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR OF AYE.
SO ITS HONOR, WE ARE GOING TO NOW CALL MS. CLAREMORE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
UM, SO, UH, SKIPPING OVER THAT FIRST SLIDE, JUST TO TALK TO YOU BRIEFLY SO THAT YOU HAVE SOME CONTEXT FOR WHO I AM AND, AND WHY I'M HERE.
UM, AT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK'S REQUEST, UH, MY NAME IS CLAIRE ABERT MAR.
SO THOSE CREDENTIALS AFTER MY NAME STAND FOR, UH, PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPER, AND, UH, CERTIFIED LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPER.
I'M BORN AND RAISED IN CAMERON PARISH, JUST ACROSS THE SABINE RIVER.
FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, I SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC PORT AUTHORITY IN CAMERON PARISH CALLED, UH, THE CAMERON PARISH, PORT, HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT.
IN MY DISTRICT, UH, THAT I RAN FOR THOSE EIGHT YEARS ARE PROJECTS LIKE SEMPRA'S, UH, CAMERON, L N G, IMPORT AND EXPORT FACILITY FOR LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS, CHENE ENERGY, SABINE PASS EXPORT FACILITY, UH, VENTURE GLOBAL'S, CALIE PASS FACILITY.
SO THREE EXPORTERS IN MY PORT DISTRICT IN THE PARISH THAT I'M BORN AND RAISED.
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN, UH, PASTOR AND I IS THAT HIS COUSIN, MS. JUANITA HARRISON, WAS MY HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY TEACHER.
SHE INSTILLED A LOVE, UH, OF LEARNING IN ME AND, UM, A COMMITMENT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY THAT RAISED ME.
UM, AND SO WHAT I DO FOR, AS YOU SEE THE, THE LOGO IN THE, THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER, A T G STANDS
[01:35:01]
FOR ALLIANCE TRANSPORTATION GROUP.THAT IS THE FIRM THAT I JOINED WHEN I LEFT, UH, THE CAMERON PARISH, PORT HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT.
MY CAREER HAS TIME, UH, THREE YEARS WITH FEMA AFTER HURRICANE RITA.
UH, TIME SPENT IN TWO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BOTH IN CAL AND CAMERON PARISH AT TIME, WORKING FOR ENTERGY, THE UTILITY COMPANY.
AND THEN, AS I MENTIONED, THOSE EIGHT YEARS RUNNING THE CAMERON PARISH, PORT HARBOR INTERNAL DISTRICT ALLIANCE TRANSPORTATION GROUP DOES JUST THAT.
WE WORK ON TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND EN ENGINEERING PROJECTS.
WE'VE DONE, UH, SEVERAL IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
AND, UM, AS A SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER THERE, MY ROLE IS TO DO, UH, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY PASTOR AND I MET.
UM, THESE ARE SOME, UM, ADDITIONAL DETAILS ABOUT WHAT, UM, OUR FIRM DOES.
BUT THE MAIN REASON I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY IS TO GIVE YOU A GENERAL AND HIGH LEVEL PRESENTATION, UH, AT THE PASTOR'S REQUEST ABOUT WHAT SOMETHING CALLED COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS ARE, UH, WHAT THEIR POTENTIAL BENEFITS CAN BE, AND SOME OF THE MEASURABLE RESULTS THAT YOU MIGHT CONSIDER, UM, IN THE PORT ARTHUR COMMUNITY.
THINGS LIKE WHO NEGOTIATES THOSE AND SOME RESOURCES THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO LEAVE YOU WITH.
SO BASICALLY, UH, THE WAY THAT I CAME TO LEARN ABOUT COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS IS THAT, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, IN A PLACE LIKE CAYMAN PARISH, LOUISIANA, WHICH BY THE WAY, OUR POPULATION RIGHT NOW SINCE HURRICANE LAURA HIT US IN AUGUST OF 2020, IS ABOUT 5,500 PEOPLE.
UH, BEFORE HURRICANE RITA, OUR POPULATION WAS ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE.
SO FOR MORE CONTEXT, CAMERON PARISH IS THE SECOND LARGEST PARISH IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA WITH THE MOST SECOND MOST LAND AREA, BUT HAD THE SECOND SMALLEST POPULATION.
NOW WE REGISTER AS THE SECOND SMALL, THE, THE, THE SMALLEST POPULATION IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT WITH 12,000 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS THAT WERE ON SITE IN HACKBERRY IN CAMERON PARISH IN DECEMBER OF 2017 FOR SEMPRA'S CAMERON L N G EXPORT PROJECT, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW MANY OF US ACTUALLY LIVE THERE AND HOW MANY CONSTRUCTION WORKERS THERE WERE.
SO I KNOW THAT PORT ARTHUR HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT, UM, CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROJECTS, SPECIFICALLY IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY.
AND LIKE US IN CAMERON PARISH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHARE.
SO IN, IN ALL OF THAT GROWTH, I REACHED OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BECAUSE THESE PROJECTS ARE OVERSEEN, TYPICALLY, IF THEY'RE ENERGY RELATED PROJECTS BY SOMETHING CALLED THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION OR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND A NOW RETIRED D O E EMPLOYEE SHARED SOMETHING WITH ME ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO CALLED COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS.
THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES.
THEY ARE IMPLEMENTED IN OTHER PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY, IN OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL.
AND SO THIS SLIDE GIVES YOU A BASIC UNDERSTANDING, IF YOU WILL, AND, AND BY, UM, UM, ALSO, ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT I'M SHARING WITH YOU COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU TWO QR CODES AT THE END OF THIS, IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED, HAPPY TO SHARE THIS KIND OF INFORMATION.
UM, AND SO THIS ISN'T INFORMATION THAT CLAIRE'S MAKING UP.
THIS COMES FROM, UM, THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
SO WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT PLANS, THESE ARE TOOLS THAT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SUGGEST THAT COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS RESEARCH AND UTILIZE PRIMARILY BEFORE AN ENERGY PROJECT.
ALTHOUGH THEY CAN BE APPLIED TO OTHER KINDS OF DEVELOPMENTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, LIKE THE ONES THAT WERE DISCUSSED EARLIER TODAY DURING THE HEARING.
UM, BUT THEY ARE INTENDED TO BE IMPLEMENTED, DISCUSSED BEFORE THE PROJECT IS ANNOUNCED.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY CAN'T BE USED ONCE THE PROJECT IS ANNOUNCED, BUT IDEALLY IT IS A NEGOTIATING TOOL THAT A COMMUNITY CAN USE.
SO THESE AGREEMENTS ALSO PIVOT AROUND LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT.
THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT A LOCAL GOVERNING BODY LIKE YOURSELF OR THE CAMERON PARISH POLICE JURY OR ANOTHER LOCAL GOVERNING BODY OR STATE GOVERNING BODY HAS TO BE THE ONE TO NEGOTIATE THESE KINDS OF AGREEMENTS WITH DEVELOPERS.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DRIVEN BY COMMUNITY LEADERS, BY CHURCH GROUPS, BY NONPROFIT GROUPS.
THERE IS NO SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THAT IT BE A LOCAL, UH, OR STATE GOVERNING BODY.
THE GOAL OF THESE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS IS TO BRING IN LINE THE SUPPORT FROM A COMMUNITY THAT A DEVELOPER NEEDS, REDUCING THEIR RISK, REDUCING THEIR COST TO DEVELOP THE PROJECT WITH THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY IDENTIFIES THAT IT NEEDS.
SO, EXAMPLES OF THAT MIGHT BE HIRING DIRECTLY FROM A COMMUNITY.
FOR ME, AND I SHARED THIS WITH PASTOR MANY TIMES, IT WAS A, A PRIMARY GOAL OF
[01:40:01]
MINE AS A CAMERA PARISH RESIDENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LOCAL TALENT, AND BY THE WAY, FROM SOUTHEAST TEXAS THAT WAS ALREADY HERE, ALREADY LOOKING FOR JOBS, COULD GO RIGHT TO CAMERON PARISH AND WORK AT THESE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROJECTS.UM, IT COULD ALSO INCLUDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC TRUST FUNDS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA WORK ON IN CAMERON PARISH NEXT IS A ROAD AND BRIDGE TRUST FUND THAT THE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, PUTTING ADDITIONAL STRESS ON OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE WILLING TO PARTNER WITH US TO FUND, UM, WORKFORCE TRAINING GUARANTEES.
IF A PROJECT IS COMING INTO YOUR COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE NOT CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATING THEMSELVES TO TRAINING THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN YOUR CITY, YOU NEED TO ASK WHY THAT NEEDS TO BE A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HERE THAT, UM, I WANTED TO PULL OUT THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.
THESE ARE, AGAIN, LIKE I MENTIONED, CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS.
THESE ARE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE SIGNED THAT EXIST SO THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR REPORTING ON THOSE THINGS TO HAPPEN, EVERYBODY'S CLEAR ABOUT THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER AND THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, REMEMBER THAT THESE DO NOT, AND I WANNA DRIVE THIS POINT HOME, THIS IS NOT A RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO TAKE ON.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO EXPLORE SOMETHING LIKE THIS OR RESEARCH IT, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO, ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, UM, THESE ARE ENFORCEABLE, LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACTS.
AGAIN, THIS INFORMATION THAT I'M SHARING WITH YOU ON THESE SLIDES COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DEVELOPERS SPECIFICALLY OF ENERGY RELATED PROJECTS SHOULD PURSUE.
THESE ARE WAYS THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH NEIGHBORHOODS, WITH COMMUNITIES, WITH CITIES, WITH MUNICIPAL AREAS CAN FIND SUPPORT FOR THEIR PROJECTS, WHICH THEY ARE DOING ALREADY.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SUPPORTERS OF THEIR PROJECTS THAT HELPS TO OPEN THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION.
SOME COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS.
ALL THEY, UH, BRING UP CONTRACTUALLY IS THAT THERE'S AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION THAT ON A REGULARLY SCHEDULED BASIS, THE DEVELOPERS OF THOSE PROJECTS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES COME BEFORE YOU TO TALK ABOUT AND GIVE YOU UPDATES ON THE PROJECT.
THEY CAN BE THAT SIMPLE OR THEY CAN INCLUDE OTHER THINGS LIKE WORKFORCE, UM, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS SO QUICKLY.
UM, COMMUNITY BENEFITS, LOCAL EMPLOYMENT COMMITMENTS.
THESE AGREEMENTS CAN BE WHATEVER YOUR COMMUNITY COALESCES AROUND AND SAYS THAT THEY NEED INVESTMENT IN ADDITIONAL TRAINING, UH, INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE ARE PROJECTS IN NEW ENGLAND THAT WANTED ICE RINKS.
WE DON'T WANT ICE RINKS IN CAMERON PARISH, BUT MY POINT IS IT CAN BE, IT SHOULD BE STRUCTURED AROUND WHAT YOU IDENTIFY IN YOUR COMMUNITY AS A NEED.
EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES, MAKING A PERCENTAGE REQUIREMENT OF ALL THE SUBS OF THE, UM, ENGINEERING, PROCUREMENT AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS WHO ARE BUILDING THESE VERY LARGE MULTINATIONAL ENERGY PROJECTS THAT THEY UTILIZE CONTRACTORS, SUBCONTRACTORS TO BUILD THE PROJECTS, WHETHER THAT'S HUMAN RESOURCE, CONTRACTUAL SUPPORT, BUILDING FENCES, CUTTING GRASS THAT'S NOT, UM, TOO DIFFICULT TO, TO COME UP WITH ON THE DEVELOPER SIDE OF THINGS.
IT HELPS TO ENSURE PUBLIC COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
I MENTIONED REDUCED RISK AND ACCESS TO STATE AND LOCAL SUBSIDIES IN LOUISIANA.
WE OFFER INDUSTRIAL TAX EXEMPTIONS, WHICH I KNOW ARE OFFERED IN TEXAS AS WELL.
UM, AND THOSE ARE WAYS THAT THINGS CAN BE PULLED INTO THOSE AGREEMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVELOPER IS SEEING BENEFIT.
THOSE ARE THOSE BENEFITS THAT I MENTIONED.
MEASURABLE RESULTS, I MENTIONED A PRETTY WIDE RANGE OF THINGS THAT CAN BE LISTED IN THESE AGREEMENTS.
THERE ARE MANY AVAILABLE ON, UH, MANY EXAMPLES OF THESE AVAILABLE ON THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S WEBSITE, WHICH I'LL SHARE QR CODES FOR, UH, FOR TWO PARTICULAR RESOURCES FOR YOU.
THESE AGREEMENTS ALLOW DELIVERABLES TO BE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED.
SO THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT, WELL, I THOUGHT PROJECT X, Y Z WAS GOING TO HIRE X NUMBER OF OUR RESIDENTS.
WELL, YOU CAN GO BACK TO A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT, WHICH I MENTIONED IS A CONTRACT AND REFERENCE THAT THE, THE OTHER THING THAT COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS DO IS THEY IDENTIFY WHAT THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY IS, WHAT THEY'RE AGREEING TO, AND WHAT THE DEVELOPER IS AGREEING TO.
IT ALSO DESCRIBES WHAT HAPPENS IF THE DEVELOPER DOESN'T MEET THOSE EXPECTATIONS AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS.
[01:45:01]
SO IT'S CLEAR, NO QUESTION, BY THE TIME THE AGREEMENT IS EXECUTED, LEGAL, UM, PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON THE DOCUMENT, THINGS SHOULD BE CLEAR.I TALKED BRIEFLY ABOUT WHO NEGOTIATES A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT.
BOTTOM LINE IS IT'S NEGOTIATED BY THE GROUP THAT IS REPRESENTING COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND A DEVELOPER IN BOLD.
AND THE TOP LINE OF THAT SLIDE IS PRIOR, PRIOR TO GOVERNMENT APPROVAL OF DEVELOPMENT OF A PROJECT.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT CAN'T HAPPEN AFTER THAT.
YOU CAN'T GO BACK TO THE DEVELOPER AND SAY, HERE'S SOME THINGS WE'VE IDENTIFIED WE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT WITH US? BUT IDEALLY, IT'S BEFORE THESE HAPPEN.
SO, UM, IN SOME CASES, AGAIN, STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE.
A SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT, AS YOU'LL SEE IF YOU START TO RESEARCH, UM, AGREEMENTS, IS THAT THERE'S A HEAVY AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INVOLVEMENT.
THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER WORK HOURS SO THAT YOU GET INPUT FROM YOUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THEY REALLY NEED.
UM, BLOCK CLUBS, CHURCH-BASED GROUPS, COLLECTIVE ACTION IN MY EXPERIENCE, HAPPENS WHEN THE MOST PEOPLE GET ASKED WHAT THEY NEED.
THIS IS AN EXERCISE THAT YOU CAN GO THROUGH TO UNDERSTAND, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.
HOW TO START MIGHT SEEM OVERWHELMING.
BASICALLY, RESEARCHING AND IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BRING IMPORTANT BENEFITS OR SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO YOUR CITY TO WHERE VERY LARGE PROJECTS ARE GONNA BE DEVELOPED IS THE GOAL HERE.
ORGANIZING COMMUNICATION, TALKING WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS, HOLDING PUBLIC MEETINGS, ENGAGING WITH THE DEVELOPER.
THOSE ARE ALL IMPORTANT PARTS TO HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS.
HERE ARE THE QR CODES I MENTIONED.
SO THE ONE IN BLUE ON THE LEFT IS THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S COMMUNITY BENEFIT TOOLKIT.
I CAN SHARE THIS INFORMATION, UM, WITH COUNCILMAN FRANK.
CERTAINLY THE ONE ON THE RIGHT, UH, IS WHERE THE, THE MOST OF THE INFORMATION THAT I SHARED WITH YOU THIS MORNING COMES FROM THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT RESOURCE GUIDE.
THESE ARE VERY SIMPLE MEASURES THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I HOPE IT DIDN'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME.
THERE'S MY CONTACT INFORMATION.
UM, THE WORK THAT COMMUNITY SERVANTS DO IS CERTAINLY, UM, WITHOUT QUESTION, VERY IMPORTANT.
UM, THE PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE HISTORIC, BUT WE'RE USED TO SEEING THEM.
I THINK IT'S, UH, IT'S TIME THAT ALL OF US WORK TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO BRING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACTS WE POSSIBLY CAN TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE WHERE THESE PROJECTS ARE DEVELOPING.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE ANY.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
MY QUESTION IS, ALL THESE THINGS ARE NICE, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THEY'RE DOABLE AND THEY'RE WORKABLE, OKAY? BUT TO GET BOTH SIDES, THE COURT, GET THE INDUSTRY TO COATE, WE HAVE DONE ALL THESE THINGS YOU'RE TALKED ABOUT IN LIEU OF OUR TAX CONTRACTS.
OUR PROBLEM HAS BEEN COMPLIANCE OFFICERS IN PLACE.
DO YOU ALL HAVE A COMPLIANCE OFFICER IN PLACE? AND WHO PAY THAT COMPLIANCE OFFICER, THAT INDUSTRY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN LOUISIANA, DO THEY HAVE A COMPLIANCE OFFICER? SO THEY IN PLACE TO HIT THESE MARKERS THAT, THAT YOU'LL NEGO NEGOTIATED? WHAT, WHAT I HAVE GO AHEAD.
WHAT I HAVE USED IN THE PAST WITH THE GO FARM CORPORATION, THEN LATER ON, CHEVRON, ALL YOUR, ALL, ALL OF YOUR INDUSTRY, ALL OF YOUR BIG RETAILS, ALL OF THEM, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY GET MOST OF THEIR MONEY'S FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
THEY GOT THESE HUGE GOVERNMENT CONTRACT.
NOW WHAT? THEY GOT WHAT'S CALLED THE OFFICE OF FEDERAL CONTRACT COMPLIANCE.
YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
THAT'S WHO I'VE USED IN WHILE I WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY.
THEY, THEY WAS NOT HIRING FROM THE COMMUNITY.
THEY WAS, THERE WAS RACIALLY IMBALANCES.
UH, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO USE THE, THEY TRY TO USE THE SS M A STATISTICAL METROPOLITAN AREA.
BUT IT HAD A BIGGER WORKFORCE.
IF THE WORKFORCE INSIDE THE, THE PLANT IS MADE UP THAT'S GREATER THAN THIS SS M A,
[01:50:01]
YOU USE THAT WORKFORCE.UH, BUT MY THING IS WE HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS.
I MEAN, FROM 60%, 70% TAXES UP TO 80, 90% BECAUSE THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T COMPLY.
BUT THE PROBLEM HAS ALWAYS BEEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COMPLIANCE OFFICER IN PLACE PAID FOR BY THE CITY, NOT PAID FOR BY INDUSTRY.
IF YOU, IF THE IF INDUSTRY PAY FOR IT, THEY WILL CONTROL 'EM.
BUT IT, THE THING THAT HAS CHANGED FROM, UM, SAY EVEN ONE YEAR AGO, ONE CALENDAR YEAR AGO, IN TERMS OF THE, UM, THE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION IS THE REQUIREMENT THAT THESE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS BE PUT IN PLACE, BE SUPPORTED BY INDUSTRY, SPECIFICALLY THE ENERGY INDUSTRY, WHICH SO HEAVILY IMPACTS BOTH YOUR SIDE OF THE SABINE RIVER AND THE LOUISIANA SIDE.
WE ARE SEEING SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN A WAY THAT WE'VE NOT SEEN BEFORE.
UM, RECENTLY THERE, THERE'VE BEEN ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ABOUT THESE DIRECT AIR CAPTURE HUBS AND ONE OF THE COMPONENTS, THESE, THESE, UM, FACILITIES THAT WILL EXTRACT CARBON AND SEQUESTER IT, DIRECT AIR CAPTURE HUBS.
IT IS AN ELEMENT SPECIFICALLY REQUIRED.
NOW, COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS, COMMUNITY BENEFIT PLANS ARE NOW REQUIRED BY PROJECTS RECEIVING THAT FUNDING.
THERE IS A PROJECT IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA THAT IS NOW REQUIRED TO UTILIZE THIS KIND OF STRUCTURE THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I THINK THAT WHAT WE WILL SEE MORE AND MORE, BECAUSE WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED IS VERY COMMON EXPERIENCE FOR US IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA, IN LOUISIANA, PERIOD.
THE COMPLIANCE OFFICER IS AN ABSOLUTE I AGREE.
I THINK REQUIREMENT, AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE PAID FOR THERE, IT SHOULD BE IN TANDEM.
THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS SHOULD WORK ON THE ENERGY SIDE AND ON, ON THE COMMUNITY SIDE.
AND THEY SHOULD HAVE A VERY STRONG LEGAL BACKGROUND.
BECAUSE THESE AGREEMENTS THAT I'M REFERENCING THAT THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ARE HELPING ALL OF US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THEM REQUIRE, THEY ARE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS.
THE PARTIES CAN SPECIFICALLY, THE DEVELOPER CAN BE TARGETED FOR NOT LIVING UP TO THOSE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS.
THIS GOES FARTHER THAN THE TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT.
THIS IS RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
THAT'S WHY I SHARED UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY INFORMATION.
YOUR TAX ABATEMENTS, THAT'S A SEPARATE FUNCTION.
BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE, ALL YOUR BIG INDUSTRY, YOUR BIG OIL COMPANIES, ALL YOUR BIG RETAILERS, YOU CAN WALK, WALK INTO A RETAIL STORE AND, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE COMMUNITY.
YOU EVER NOTICED THAT THE HIRING, EVERYBODY WORKING THERE, IT LOOKS, IT REFLECTS, IT REFLECTS THE ETHNIC MAKEUP OF THE COMMUNITY.
BUT YOU GO IN THE INDUSTRY, YOU GOT A WHOLE NOTHER BALLGAME.
THE PROBLEM IS COMPLIANCE REVIEW.
I HAVE CHECKED AND, AND TALENT FOR COMPLIANCE REVIEW, AND I'VE CALLED THE HOUSTON OFFICE.
THEY GOT THE LOCAL HOUSTON REGIONAL, THE NATIONAL MM-HMM.
THEY GETS CONTROL OF THOSE PEOPLE.
THE LOCAL ONES, THEY WIND AND DINE 'EM AND THEY BUY 'EM DINNERS AND ALL THAT KINDA STUFF.
AND THEY BUY BOATS AND TAKE 'EM ON TRIPS.
YOU CAN'T GO WHEN YOU, IF YOU'RE GOING TO FILE FOR A COMPLIANCE REVIEW, YOU CONTACT THE NATIONAL OFFICE AND THEN THEY COME DOWN TO DALLAS AND THEN LOCAL.
DO NOT GO TO THE LOCAL OFFICE.
THEY ALL BOUGHT THE PAPER FOR MAN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THE REASON WHY I ASKED YOU TO COME, AND I NEED THE COUNCIL AND ALL OF US TO UNDERSTAND, WHEN I GOT ON CITY COUNCIL, THERE WERE SO MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD ASK ME, WHY DOES PORT ARTHUR LOOK LIKE IT LOOKS WITH SO MUCH INDUSTRY, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE LARGEST PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN NORTH AMERICA, BEING RIGHT HERE, UH, AND, AND ALL OF THE INDUSTRY, WHY DOES PORT ARTHUR LOOK THE WAY THAT IT LOOKS? WHY DO OUR ROADS LOOK THE WAY THAT IT LOOKS? WHY DOES OUR CITY LOOK THE WAY THAT IT LOOKS? IT OUGHT TO LOOK BETTER.
WHY IS OUR UNEMPLOYMENT HIGH THE HIGHEST IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS WHEN WE HAVE ALL OF THIS INDUSTRY HERE? AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO PUT ALL OF THE TOOLS, UH, THAT WE CAN GET IN OUR TOOL BELT WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING OUR CITY AND MAKING OUR CITY LOOK THE WAY THAT IT
[01:55:01]
NEEDS TO BE.AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS WITH IDAS, AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND TALKING ABOUT, I WAS SO GRATEFUL TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO IT PRIOR TO, BUT IT IS NOT HELD TO THAT STANDARD.
AND THAT WE CAN EVEN NOW GO AND TALK TO MOTIVA, VALERO TOTAL, ALL OF THOSE COMPANIES THAT ARE IN OUR, IN OUR, IN OUR SCOPE IN OUR CITY, AND SAY TO THEM, WE WANT TO BE PARTNERS IN, UH, THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE.
WE GOTTA ASK OURSELVES THE QUESTION WHY, WHEN WE ONLY HAVE ONE STADIUM HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, WHY ISN'T THE NA, WHY AREN'T THE NAMING RIGHTS OF THAT STADIUM, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, THAT OF AN INDUSTRY HERE IN OUR CITY SO THAT OUR STADIUM CAN LOOK, UM, THE WAY THAT IT OUGHT TO LOOK IN A CITY, UM, OF, OF SUCH WEALTH BEING HERE? WE, WE COMPLAIN ABOUT PEOPLE DRIVING INTO OUR CITIES AND THEN GOING OUT OF OUR CITIES.
WHY HAVEN'T WE TALKED TO THEM, TO SOMEONE ABOUT, UM, FIXING OUR ROADS OR WHATEVER WOULD BE NECESSARY TO, UM, FIX THOSE ROADS THAT ARE BEING USED AND UTILIZED BY THOSE INDIVIDUALS AS THEY'RE BUILDING THEIR, UH, INDUSTRY UP AND, AND DOING ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE DE, UH, THAT WE ARE DOING.
SO WE NEED TO FORMULATE THESE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS IN, STRUCTURE THEM IN SUCH A WAY.
AND I, I PRAY THAT OUR COUNCIL AND THAT OUR CITY MANAGER AND OUR STAFF WOULD BEGIN TO UTILIZE THESE GOING FORWARD.
BUT AS WELL, LOOKING BACK AND GOING NOW AND REACHING OUT, I'VE TALKED TO PAT AVERY, UH, WHO IS OF THE, UM, UH, WHO YOU MENTIONED, UH, WHO IS, UH, HERE IN OUR CITY WITH OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT DOING, UH, HERE, IS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT JUST A SIMPLE THING LIKE PUTTING THE, UM, UM, THE, UM, COVERS OVER OUR BUS STOPS.
WHY CAN'T THAT BE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY, UH, COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT WITH THE CHAMBER THAT SAYS, AND, AND, AND DON'T GET IT WRONG.
DON'T, DON'T GET IT TWISTED AS THE VERNACULAR SAYS, WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A HANDOUT.
SO THAT INDUSTRY ACCOMPLISHES WHAT THEY WANT, BUT THAT WE ARE IMPACTED IN OUR CITIZEN, YOU KNOW, IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR COMING ON TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SHARE THIS WITH YOU.
I HOPE THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER PURSUING IT.
AND, UM, PASTOR, IF I CAN EVER BE OF ASSISTANCE, I'M HAPPY TO HELP.
UH, JUST ONE COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? YES, MA'AM.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND OH, YOU'RE WELCOME.
COME FROM FRANKFURT INVITING YOU.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE, ALL OF YOUR INDUSTRIES, WHEN THEY GOT THESE FEDERAL AGREEMENTS, THEY HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP AND SIGNED OFF ON WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY ABOUT TRAINING, WHAT JOBS AND EVERYTHING.
AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO, WHEN THEY GOING TO EXPAND, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT JOBS GONNA BE COMING AVAILABLE.
THEY HAVE ALREADY SIGNED FEDERAL CONTRACTS THROUGH THIS ALWAYS.
THAT'S WHY I SAY ALWAYS CALL FOR A COMPLIANCE REVIEW.
YOU PULL DOWN FEDERAL CONTRACT AND YOU LOOK AT, AND YOU SEE, THEY HAVE NEVER MET 'EM, BECAUSE WE DON'T, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DON'T HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE.
DON'T, DO NOT TALK TO 'EM WHEN MOST OF THE, EVERYBODY FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.
I SPENT 45 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY, OKAY? I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
THE WORKINGS AND, AND THE, ALL OF THE HIGHEST WEAVING TOGETHER.
YOU GOT TO LOOK AT THEIR CONTRACTS.
I, I HAD SUCCESS WITH CHEVRON, AND THAT'S WHY CHEVRON HAS SO MANY HIRED PEOPLE FROM PORT ARTHUR, ALL LEVELS, MACHINISTS, ALL OF THE TRADES.
BECAUSE I WENT TO THE FEDERAL CONTRACT COMPLIANCE OFFICER.
I CALLED FOR A COMPLIANCE REVIEW.
NOW THAT HUMAN RESOURCE THINK THEY GOT CONTROL OF EVERYTHING.
BUT IF YOU GO TO CALL FOR A COMPLIANCE REVIEW, ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY GET TAPPED ON THE SHOULDER.
WHY YOU OUTTA COMPLIANCE? WHY YOU NOT, WHY YOU NOT HIRING LOCAL PEOPLE? WHY YOU NOT TRAINING THE LOCAL PEOPLE? WHY YOU NOT NOTIFYING THE SCHOOLS AND, AND PUTTING THE TRAINING PROGRAMS IN PLACE IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS? SO WHEN THEY COME OUT, THEY'LL HAVE SOME KIND OF SKILLS THAT THEY CAN MARKET.
BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY I FEEL YOUR FRUSTRATION IN A VERY REAL WAY IN CAMERON PARISH AND IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.
PERHAPS YOUR COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS
[02:00:01]
HAVE ONE THING THAT REVIEW AND THE COVERS FOR YOUR BUS STATIONS, BUS STOPS, AND THE STADIUM REVITALIZATION.IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED.
IT HAS TO BE AS MANY PEOPLE IN UNISON SAYING, WE WANT THE PLACE WE LIVE TO BE BETTER.
THINK ABOUT HOW INDUSTRY ATTRACTS OUTSIDE TALENT, THAT THERE MAY NOT EXIST.
HOW DO THEY TALK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE WHERE YOU LIVE? ARE THEY AS INDUSTRY PROUD OF? WHAT IS BEING OFFERED? ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO LIVE AND PLAY AND BE EDUCATED AND, AND WORK AT A A HIGH PAYING JOB? ARE THOSE THINGS, ARE THERE RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE? Y'ALL HAVE SO MUCH GOING ON IN TERMS OF INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S NOT GONNA TAKE A LOT TO MARRY WHAT EXISTS, WHAT'S COMING, YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE FEDERAL, UH, COMPONENT OF THIS AND SOME VERY SIMPLE IDEAS.
AND I THINK WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS ENERGY VERY WILLINGLY COMING TO THE TABLE AND SAYING, WE WANNA PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
IT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION AND I, UM, I TOO WANNA SEE PORT ARTHUR SHINE LIKE IT SHOULD.
IT'S AN ENERGY CITY FOR A REASON.
WE, WE ARE WORKING COASTS WHERE WE LIVE IN LOUISIANA, WHERE I LIVE IN LOUISIANA AND WHERE Y'ALL LIVE, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY OUR COMMUNITIES CANNOT BENEFIT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INDUSTRY.
SO THAT, THAT WAS THE MESSAGE THAT I THINK PASTOR WANTED ME TO SHARE.
AND AGAIN, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALLALL AGAIN.
[VI. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)]
ATTORNEY AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA OF AT 1130, WE WOULD RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.UH, WE HAVE SOME, UH, BUSINESS AT, UH, ANOTHER OTHER BUSINESS AS TIMELY AS THE, THE BOND ISSUE WAS JUST A MOMENT AGO.
UH, AND THAT BOND ISSUE IN THE WAY THAT YOU MAY WANT TO CONNOTE, UH, BUT WHEN WE WERE DEALING WITH THE, UH, FINANCIAL, UH, BONDING, UH, SO WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE, UH, THE, UH, WE'LL GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AND WE WILL RETURN AT THE, UH, CONCLUSION OF THE CLOSED SESSION.
THIS, I BELIEVE THE, UH, FILMING OR TAPING OR THIS, OR THIS LIVE, UH, UH, UH, BROADCAST WILL CONTINUE AND WE WILL RETURN.
AND YOU ALL ARE WELCOME TO REMAIN THERE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED UPON OUR RETURN.
HAVE, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW LONG THAT WILL BE, BUT WHEN WE COMPLETE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE WILL RETURN HERE IN CHAMBERS.
SO IF YOU CARE TO STICK AROUND, YOU MAY STICK AROUND AND, UH, WE WILL COME BACK AND COMPLETE THIS.
AND IN THIS CLOSED SESSION, AND YOU ALL MAY MOVE AROUND, IT'S JUST SOMETHING I OVERLOOKED.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS SECTION 5 5 1 0.07, ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS AND REVIEW LEGAL, UH, ADVICE REGARDING, UH, PENDING LITIGATION AS IT PERTAINS TO CIVIL ACTION NUMBER, UH, ONE TWO, UH, TWO THREE DASH CV DASH 0 0 0 9.
JEW MCCLAIN LEE VERSUS CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, BEAUMONT DIVISION.
AND WE ALSO, UH, COVER SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 OF THE TEXAS 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.
AND BE THERE A NEED FOR ACTION TO COME OUT OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
WHEN WE RETURN, UH, HERE IN OPEN SESSION, WE WILL DEAL ON THE ACTION ON THOSE ITEMS. THANK YOU SO KINDLY.
WE, WE ARE, WE ARE BACK IN OUR GENERAL SESSION.
CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO REESTABLISH THE QUORUM.
MAYOR BART, PRESENT MAYOR PRO TIMM HOLMES.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT.
NOW, WE HAD GONE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND
[02:05:01]
ATTORNEY.WE DO HAVE, UH, TWO ITEMS, UH, FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, THE FIRST MOTION RE, RE, UM, PERTAINS TO, UH, LEGISLATIVE SERVICES.
AND, UH, THE MOTION IS TO RENEW THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR A TWO B YEAR PERIOD WITH REGARD TO LEGISLATIVE AND OTHER RELATED SERVICES WITH THE GREENBERG TAREK FIRM.
OKAY? AND WE HAVE VOTED MS. COUNCILWOMAN, UH, BECKHAM.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY, UH, APPROVE THE MOTION THAT'S READ BY THE ATTORNEY CONCERNING, UH, UH, LEGAL SERVICES FOR OUR AUSTIN OFFICER RIGHT IN THE A OFFICESS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT MOTION? THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS READY FOR, UH, VOTING.
UH, THE NEXT MOTION, UH, COUNCIL, UM, OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
YOU ALL HAVE ASKED FOR A MOTION AS IT PERTAINS TO, AND LET ME MAKE SURE I HAVE IT.
ARTICLE TWO, CITY COUNCIL SECTION SEVEN OF THE CHARTER INVESTIGATING BO INVESTIGATING BODY.
AND YOU ALL ARE, UH, ASKING FOR A MOTION TO, UM, BEGIN THE PROCESS UNDER ARTICLE TWO, SECTION SEVEN OF THE CHARTER AS IT PERTAINS TO AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE, UH, MCLEAN LEE VERSUS CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CASE.
UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, LEWIS MOTION FOR APPROVAL? UH, SECOND COUNCILMAN FRANK.
AND SECOND, THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE MOTION AS STATED BY THE ATTORNEY.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MOTION? THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS READY TO VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSES AYE HAVE.
SO IT'S ORDERED THAT MOTION CARRIED AND IS APPROVED AS READ.
THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER MOTION, UH, ACTION ITEMS COMING OUT OF THE RECESSED, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE, OUR NORMAL, UH, FLOW IN, EXCUSE ME, OUR AGENDA AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING SO PATIENT AS TO ALLOWING US TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND RETURN.
[IV.A.(1) Robert & Monica Barraza Introducing Themselves To The City Council]
SPEAKERS, UH, AND I BELIEVE MR. ROBERT AND MONICA BARRAZA, UH, INTRODUCING THEMSELVES TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.ARE YOU ALL PRESENT? I GATHER THAT THEY ARE NOT.
[IV.A.(2) Mrs. Joan Jones Regarding Being Customer Service Friendly]
JONES REGARDING BEING CUSTOMER SERVICE FRIENDLY.[IV.A.(3) Mr. Gerry Howard Regarding Water Meters]
WHO IS LISTED, CALLED AND REQUESTED THAT HE WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE, UH, SPEAKER LIST ON DATE.AND, UH, ALSO OUR FIRST PRESENTATION
[IV.B.(1) A Presentation By The Entergy, Inc. Regarding Port Arthur Street Lighting (Requested By Councilmember Kinlaw)]
WOULD HAVE TO BE RESCHEDULED FOR OUR AUGUST 29TH MEETING BECAUSE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE, UH, PRESENTER.[IV.B.(2) A Presentation Regarding The Wayfinding Signage Project (Requested By Councilmember Frank)]
NEXT WE WILL MOVE TO THE SECOND PRESENTATION, WHICH IS A OKAY, UH, PRESENTATION REGARDING THE WAYFINDING, UH, SIGNAGE PROJECT.UH, WE HAVE SOMEONE AVAILABLE FOR THAT.
WE HAVE OUR PLEASURE, ALLEN DIRECTED.
AFTERNOON, UM, MAYOR, COUNCIL AND THE DAY.
I'M GEORGE DAVIS, THE DIRECTOR OF PLEASURE ISLAND.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE WAY FINDING AND SIGNAGE PROJECT COMMITTEE MEMBERS, WHICH INCLUDE MS. CHANDRA, MS. TAMMY, MS. PAM, MS. FLO, MR. CLIFTON, AND MS. IKA.
UM, I AM HERE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE WAY FINDING SIGNAGE PROJECT.
UM, WELL, I'LL DO IT THIS WAY.
THE WAY FINDING AND SIGNAGE PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO CREATE A GRAPHICALLY UNIFIED FAMILY OF DIRECTIONAL,
[02:10:01]
CONTEXTUAL AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS ACROSS A RANGE OF SIGNAGE MEDIUMS. THIS PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS, BICYCLISTS, AND PEDESTRIANS ALONG AND THROUGH STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND PUBLIC SPACES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.SO PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS A, UM, TIMELINE.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS THE UPDATE FROM THAT PARTICULAR, UM, MEETING, UH, PRESENTATION, SO TO SPEAK.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO WITH ON MAY 26TH IN 2020, PURSUANT TO THE RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO ZERO DASH 1 73, A CONTRACT WAS NEGOTIATED WITH CLARK CONDO ASSOCIATES INC.
OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR THE DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OF AWAY FINDING AND SIGNAGE PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JUNE 23RD, 2020.
PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 DASH 2 0 8, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH CLARK CONDON FOR THE DESIGN AND IMP IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OF A WAY FINDING AND MONUMENT SIGNAGE PROGRAM.
ON MAY 11TH, 2021, CLARK CONDON CAME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL AND MADE A PRESENTATION THAT SHOWED THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OF THE WAYFINDING PROGRAM.
PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 21 DASH 180.
THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH CLARK CONDON FOR THE LANDSCAPING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS FOR THE WAY FINDING PROGRAM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, MEETINGS WERE HELD WITH THE CITY STAFF CLARK CONDON, REGARDING THE PLACEMENT OF THE WAY FINDING SIGNS.
SITES HAD TO BE, UH, SITES HAD TO MEET THE GUIDANCE OF TEXT TDOT'S INTERLOCAL GATEWAY MONUMENT GUIDE.
AND IN MARCH OF 22, THE DESIGN FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR MONUMENTATION AND SIGNAGE PROJECT WAS COMPLETE.
IN APRIL OF 22, THE DESIGN PACKET HAD TO BE UPDATED WITH THE REVISED SLOGAN GATEWAY TO OPPORTUNITY.
THE ORIGINAL SLOGAN THAT WE CHOSE WAS ACTUALLY, UM, UH, THE, THE PORT OF PORT ARTHUR HAD THE SAME SLOGAN.
SO WE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND COME BACK WITH A, A NEW SLOGAN FOR THE CITY IN MAY OF 22.
THE COMPLETE DESIGN PACKAGE WAS SENT OUT TO TEXDOT.
PRIOR TO BEGINNING ANY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR HAD TO FULLY EXECUTE A GATEWAY MONUMENT AGREEMENT WITH TEXDOT JULY 19TH OF 22.
PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 22 DASH THREE 19, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ENTERED INTO AN INTERLOCAL GATEWAY MONUMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE INSTALLATION OF WAY FINDING SIGNAGE.
CITY STAFF DISCUSSED THE AREAS WHERE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE WOULD BE PLACED ON PLEASURE ISLAND, AND WE RECEIVED THE GRAPHIC DESIGNS FOR ALL OTHER SIGNAGE TYPES, TEXTILE REQUESTED TRAFFIC CONTROL PLANS AND STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLANS.
CLARK CONDON WORKED WITH A CIVIL ENGINEER TO GET THIS DONE SO THAT WE CAN GET APPROVAL FOR CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS IN ORDER TO BID ON THE PROJECT.
IN OCTOBER OF 22, WE RECEIVED THE SIGNAGE PACKAGE WITH TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND DRAWINGS TO BE ADVERTISED FOR BID.
AND THIS WAS SENT OUT TO TEXDOT FOR THE FINAL PERMIT IN NOVEMBER OF 22.
BIDS WERE ADVERTISED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WAY FINDING SIGNS FOR THE WAY FINDING SIGNAGE PROGRAM.
JANUARY 18TH OF 23, BIDS WERE RECEIVED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WAY FINDING PROJECT.
AND ON MARCH 14TH OF 23, PURSUANT TO 23 DASH OH NINE FIVE PREFERRED FACILITIES GROUP WAS AWARDED THE CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WAYFINDING MONUMENT SIGNS.
IN MAY OF 23, CITY STAFF HAD A DISCUSSION WITH PREFERRED FACILITIES GROUP AND CLARK CONDO REGARDING THE RAILROAD.
K C S EXPLAINED TO PREFERRED FACILITIES AND CLARK CONDO THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PAINT ANYTHING ON THE OVERPASSES.
SO INITIALLY WE HAD THE OVERPASS ON GOWAY AND AS WELL ON MEMORIAL PART OF THE PLAN.
BUT K C S SAID THAT THEY DON'T ALLOW YOU TO DO ANY PAINTING ON THE OVERPASS.
ON MAY 10TH OF 23, THAT WAS A WAYFINDING PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING HELD WITH CITY STAFF MATT ING AND JOHN ROBINSON FROM PREFERRED FACILITIES GROUP AND BRANDON WHITAKER FROM CLARK CONDO.
IT WAS DISCUSSED THAT THE SIGNS CAN'T BE LIT UNTIL WE GET METER CANS.
WHAT COULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY 52 WEEKS TO COME IN AND ON MAY 12TH, 23 CITY STAFF BEGAN WORKING WITH MS. RHONDA BELL, SENIOR ENGINEERING TECH TO OBTAIN ADDRESSES FOR THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SITES SO THAT ACCOUNTS CAN BE SET UP THROUGH ENERGY.
ON MAY 24TH OF 23, CITY STAFF RECEIVED COMMUNICATION THAT PRIOR
[02:15:01]
TO SETTING UP ENERGY ACCOUNTS, JEFFERSON ELECTRIC AND AN ENERGY ENGINEER HAD TO MEET AT EACH SITE TO REVIEW EACH SITE EXISTING ELECTRICAL CONDITIONS.THE METER CANS WOULD NOT BE ORDERED UNTIL ENERGY ENGINEER HAS REVIEWED THESE SITES AND DETERMINE WHAT SIZE METER CANS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR EACH SITES.
AND, AND THEY REMINDED US AGAIN THAT THE METER CANS WERE STILL ESTIMATED TO TAKE APPROXIMATELY 52 WEEKS.
ON MAY 25TH OF 23, A MEETING WAS HELD WITH TEX.TO REVIEW THE LOCATIONS OF THE THREE PRIMARY SIGNS AND TEX DOT HAD TO HAVE FINAL APPROVAL.
SINCE THEY WILL BE INSTALLING THESE MONUMENTS IN THE TEXT DOT RIGHT OF WAY, THE SECONDARY SIGNS WILL BE CONFIRMED BY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
THE FINAL LOCATIONS OF THE MONUMENTS ADDRESSES WERE CONFIRMED, AND THOSE ARE LISTED.
WE HAVE THREE THAT ARE PRIMARY, UH, MONUMENTS OFF OF HO MILLS HIGHWAY 365 AND GULF WAY DRIVE.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UM, THREE SECONDARY MONUMENTS THAT'S ON WOODWORTH FOURTH STREET AND WEST TB ELLISON.
LASTLY, ON JUNE 28TH OF 23, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE ORIGINAL REPRESENTATIVE FROM ENTERGY WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO A DIFFERENT POSITION.
SO, UM, ON JULY THE 13TH OF 23, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT ADDIE HOLYFIELD WOULD BE THE NEW ENTITY REPRESENTATIVE FOR THIS PROJECT.
ON JULY 21ST OF 23, ADDIE MET WITH PREFERRED FACILITIES GROUP TO REVIEW THE FIVE LOCATIONS FOR THE, UH, THE AREAS THAT REQUIRE NEW SERVICE.
AND ON AUGUST 4TH OF 23, A MEETING WAS HELD WITH CITY STAFF, CLARK CONDO AND JEFFERSON ELECTRIC AND ENTERGY ENTERGY ADVISED PREFERRED FACILITIES GROUP THAT A NEW POLE AND TRANSFORMERS MAY HAVE TO BE INSTALLED AT FOUR OF THE FIVE LOCATIONS.
ENERGY WILL ALSO NEED A TEXT OUT PERMIT, WHICH TAKES APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS.
THERE IS NO LEAD TIME ON THE NEW TRANSFORMERS.
AND ONCE THE PERMIT IS APPROVED, THE BILL HAS BEEN PAID.
IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS FOR INTERGY TO MOBILIZE THE SITES AND INSTALL POLES AND TRANSFORMERS.
JEFFERSON ELECTRIC HAS LOCATED AN ALTERNATE SIZE METER CAN THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY ENTERGY.
SO THE METER CANS WILL NOW ARRIVE IN FAR LESS THAN THE 52 WEEKS.
THAT WAS ORIGINALLY, UH, DISCUSSED WITH US.
PREFERRED FACILITIES GROUP WILL PROVIDE T DOT WITH A SURVEY OF THE SIGN LOCATIONS.
AND JUST TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN IDEA OF WHAT THE PRIMARY MONUMENTS ARE GONNA LOOK LIKE IN THE THREE LOCATIONS, THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE SCREEN NOW.
AND THEN AT THE SECONDARY LOCATIONS, THOSE ARE THE SIGNS.
ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN ETT? YES.
WE MENTIONED THAT, UH, RAILROAD, UH, SAID WE COULDN'T PAINT.
WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO ABOUT 'EM? THEY ALL RUSTED.
OKAY, SO WE TALKING PARTNERSHIP, WE TALKING ABOUT, UH, THEM HAVING RIGHT OF WAYS THROUGH OUR, WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS.
AND I'M NOT A GURU HERE, BUT I KNOW THAT ALL OF THE COMPANIES THAT WE GRANT RIGHT OF WAYS, IF WE GO BACK AND CHECK CONTRACTS, THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING INCLUDED WHEREBY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN THEM AND KEEP 'EM UP TO A CERTAIN STANDARD.
SO IF THEY DON'T WANNA BE A PARTNERSHIP, I MEAN THEY DON'T WANNA BE A PARTNER WITH US PUTTING PAINT ON THE OVERPASS, THAT'S FINE.
BUT CITY MANAGER, WOULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THE FACT THAT Y'ALL PAINTED IT'S, IT'S HORRIBLE.
HOUSTON HAVE IN THE GULF WAY NO MORE.
SO IF WE CAN'T PAINT THEM, THEN THEY PAINT THEM.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HELP WITH THAT.
COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES.
LET ME, UH, SAY TO YOU THAT I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH KANSAS CITY, UH, SOUTHERN AND CALL THEM AND COMPLAIN TO THEM ABOUT THE WAY THAT THOSE OVERPASSES LOOK ON GULF WAY DRIVE, UH, AND, UM, UH, GULF WAY DRIVE AND HOUSTON AVENUE, THAT UNDERPASS
[02:20:01]
OVERPASS THERE.AND THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY CANNOT PAINT THAT OVERPASS.
UM, THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE SAID TO ME PERSONALLY, THAT THEY CANNOT O UH, PAINT, UH, THAT OVERPASS BECAUSE IT WOULD HIDE SOME CRACKS, UM, IN, UH, IN THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THAT OVERPASS.
NOW, I'VE WORKED IN A PLANT, SO I KNOW YOU CAN PAINT TANKS AND STEEL AND ALL OF THAT.
THAT DIDN'T SOUND RIGHT TO ME.
AND I HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND SO HE IS AWARE OF IT.
HE AND I WILL COMPARE NOTES 'CAUSE HE CONTACTED THEM, UH, AS WELL.
SO THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
THERE'S SOME LETTER THAT WE HAVE TO WRITE, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.
I DID, UH, PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.
UH, YOU SAID THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO USE THE, OR THAT WE WOULD NOT USE THE SLOGAN GATEWAY TO OPPORTUNITY.
WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE SLOGAN? NO, NO, NO.
THAT, THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE ARE USING.
INITIALLY, WE HAD A SLOGAN, UM, AND IT WAS DEEMED THAT THE PORT HAD, I DON'T KNOW IF THE TERM IS, UH, COPYRIGHTED.
AND SO WE CAME UP WITH THE, UM, GATEWAY OPPORTUNITY.
SO THIS IS THE SLOGAN WE'RE USING.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS, CITY MANAGER.
WE MET WITH THE, UH, OVERTIME.
WE MET WITH THE K C S RAILROAD PEOPLE, ABOUT THE HORN BLOWING ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND THEY WAS, THEY WAS, THEY WAS AT THE PAUSE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE OVERPASS, BUT THE MAYOR AT THAT TIME IRRITATED 'EM.
SO COULD YOU SCHEDULE ANOTHER MEETING WITH, WITH K C S FOR US? I'D LIKE TO MEET WITH 'EM, KNOWING ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH 'EM.
UH, THEY'LL, ALL THE OTHER OVERPASSES, THEY'RE NOT LIKE THAT.
I, THROUGHOUT THIS JEFFERSON COUNTY, MAN, YOU DON'T HAVE NONE OF 'EM RUSTED UP LIKE THAT.
I HAVE A SPIKE THAT FELL FROM THAT.
IT COULD'VE WENT THROUGH SOMEONE'S WINDSHIELD.
I STILL HAVE IT, BUT, UH, WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THAT.
AND I APPRECIATE THE CONFERENCE, FRANK, THE EFFORT THAT HE HAS BEEN PUTTING IN.
BUT THAT'S A, THAT'S A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
WE GET THE, GET IT SETTLED, GET THE MEETING SCHEDULED FOR ME.
I THINK, I THINK WHEN WE START GETTING INVOLVED AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THESE PEOPLE THAT'S IN CHARGE AND MAKE THESE DECISIONS, THEY TALK, THEY TELL US ANYTHING.
WHENEVER WE GET TO A POINT LIKE THIS, WE NEED TO SEND A LETTER WITH, ON A LETTER HERE, UH, SIGNED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER AND ATTORNEY TO LET THEM KNOW THIS IS OFFICIAL.
THEY'RE NOT TALKING TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS LETTER, THIS, THIS LETTER IS A REPRESENTATION OF THIS COUNCIL AND WE ARE REQUESTING IT.
WE NEED TO DO IT THE FORMAL WAY SO THAT THEY'RE GONNA RESPOND BACK TO THIS COUNCIL.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA TALK ONE-ON-ONE AND STUFF.
LET'S, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S PUT IT IN THE RIGHT CHANNELS HERE.
UH, COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN LEWIS? SO, UH, COUNCILMAN DEE SAID, WHEN I MENTIONED INVOLVED THE CITY MANAGER, THAT'S EXACTLY, HE HAS TO COMMUNICATE WITH, WITH OUR OFFICIAL LETTERHEADS.
THAT'S ALL, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT IN THE PAST.
AND WELL, THANK YOU MR. DAVIS.
AND SO MAYBE WE MIGHT GET SOMETIME SHORTER.
OUR NEXT, UH, PRESENTATION WOULD BE, UH, IS A PRESENTATION.
AND WE ARE, WE'RE MOVING TO PAGE THREE NOW, BUT WE'VE ALREADY DONE NUMBER THREE, SO WE'RE MOVE NUMBER
[IV.B.(4) A Presentation By Councilmember Beckcom Regarding Code Enforcement Issues In District 3]
FOUR.UH, OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS A PRESENTATION, UH, BY COUNCIL MEMBER BECKER REGARDING CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES IN DISTRICT THREE.
I'M GONNA GET THE REMOTE FROM LINDSEY.
UM, SO I PUT TOGETHER THIS PRESENTATION.
STARTING, UH, SHORTLY AFTER I WAS INSTALLED ON COUNCIL ON JULY 5TH, I BECAME INVOLVED IN SEVERAL SOCIAL MEDIA GROUPS THAT ARE, UH, SPECIFIC TO DISTRICT THREE.
THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY ONE OF THE SUBDIVISIONS IN DISTRICT THREE.
SO I BECAME INVOLVED IN THOSE GROUPS AND I STARTED HAVING KIND OF WHAT I CALL TOWN HOME MEETINGS AND, UH, TALKING WITH PEOPLE AND GETTING PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS AND VARIOUS THINGS.
AND SO I DECIDED TO START COLLECTING PICTURES OF THE VARIOUS CITY SERVICES ISSUES AND CODE ORDINANCE OR CODE OF ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS TO PUT TOGETHER.
UH, AND I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THIS AS QUICKLY AS I CAN.
I GOT OVER A HUNDRED PICTURES.
I DIDN'T USE ALL OF THEM BECAUSE SOME OF THEM WERE REPETITIVE, BUT YOU'LL SEE IN ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS
[02:25:01]
IN DISTRICT THREE THAT WE'RE HAVING SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES, HIGH GRASS AND WEEDS, HEAVY TRASH DEBRIS, TREE LIMBS ARE PILED AND SITTING UP FOR WEEKS AND SOMETIMES MONTHS.THERE'S MANY DILAPIDATED HOUSES AND STRUCTURES THAT NEED TO BE RED TAGGED.
AND THERE'S SOME RED TAGGED HOUSES THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING LITERALLY FOR TWO AND THREE YEARS ACCORDING TO THE NEIGHBORS.
UH, THERE'S MULTIPLE FAMILIES AND WORKERS LIVING IN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN DISTRICT THREE, UH, THERE ARE SOME GARAGES THAT HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO LIVING QUARTERS IN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
I'VE GOT SOME PICTURES OF THAT.
JUNK CARS, TRAILERS, CARS PARKED IN YARDS, 18 WHEELERS, MULTIPLE CARS AT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
DISTRICT THREE, UH, DILAPIDATED BUSINESS SIGNS.
I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS, BUT SOMEONE BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION.
QUITE A FEW HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.
THESE ARE HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES, AND EACH ONE OF THESE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT I RECEIVED REPRESENTS AT LEAST ONE, IF NOT MORE, PHONE CALLS TO EITHER CODE ENFORCEMENT OR SOME OTHER CITY SERVICES.
UH, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.
THIS IS THE AREA OF TOWN WHERE I LIVE.
UH, THIS IS AN ABANDONED VEHICLE THAT'S BEEN IN FRONT OF THIS SEEMINGLY ABANDONED HOUSE SINCE HURRICANE HARVEY.
THERE'S NO ELECTRICITY, THERE'S NO WATER.
RICE FARM ROMANDI PLACE STILL.
THIS IS ACTUALLY RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO MY HOUSE.
AND I'VE MADE SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, UH, OVERGROWN GRASS TO THE POINT THAT SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS, WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD OUR OWN LAWN SERVICES, CUT THE GRASS, UH, SEVERAL TIMES.
THERE'S JUNK FURNITURE AND A JUNK CAR, UH, UNDER THE CARPORT GARBAGE.
UH, THE PARTICULAR PROPERTY OWNER, THIS IS A RENTAL PROPERTY, AND THE PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET IS ALSO RENTAL.
IT'S OWNED BY THE SAME PERSON WHO OWNS MULTIPLE PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND IF I SAID HER NAME, YOU WOULD PROBABLY KNOW WHO SHE IS.
SHE'S BEEN CONTACTED MULTIPLE TIMES.
HER SON HAS BEEN CONTACTED MULTIPLE TIMES.
NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY THE PROPERTY OWNER, SO NOW SHE NEEDS TO BE CITED FOR IT.
SO THIS IS IN THE LAKE ARTHUR AREA.
NOW THIS IS NOT REALLY A CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE, BUT THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT MY NEIGHBORS, MY CONSTITUENTS WANNA BE UPDATED ON.
THIS IS THE CHRISTUS BUILDING THAT'S ON THE CORNER OF HIGHWAY 73 AND NINTH AVENUE.
UH, IT WAS PURCHASED BY THE PORT ARTHUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TURNED INTO THEIR TRANSPORTATION HUB, IS WHAT I'VE HEARD.
UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A STATUS AND A TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION.
UH, AND WHO'S DOING THE UPKEEP DURING CONSTRUCTION? THERE'S BROKEN GLASS EVERYWHERE.
THERE'S HIGH WEEDS, THERE'S HIGH GRASS, AND NOW TRACTOR TRAILERS AND 18 WHEELERS ARE PARKING THEIR VEHICLES IN THE PARKING LOT AND LEAVING THEM THERE.
UH, THE BOTTOM TWO PICTURES ARE A NURSING HOME SLASH ASSISTED LIVING CENTER THAT HAS BEEN IN THIS CONDITION SINCE HURRICANE HARVEY IN 2017.
THERE'S NO ELECTRICITY, THERE'S NO WATER.
I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING MUST LOOK AND SMELL LIKE.
THERE ARE HOMELESS PEOPLE LIVING IN AND AROUND THE PROPERTY BEHIND THE FENCED AREA.
OF COURSE, THERE'S TRASH EVERYWHERE, HUMAN WASTE EVERYWHERE.
THIS IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARD, AND MOST NOTABLY,
AND THIS ISN'T ANYTHING THE CITY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT, BUT THE HOMEOWNER'S PROPERTY APPRAISALS IN LAKE ARTHUR THAT ARE RIGHT BY THIS, THEIR APPRAISALS HAVE GONE UP NOW.
THIS IS STONE GATE, STONE GATES HAVING ALL KINDS OF ISSUES, HEAVY TRASH PILES, LIMBS, CONSTRUCTION, DEBRIS, REMODELING, FENCING MATERIALS.
NOW THIS, THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CONTRACTORS LEAVING THEIR TRASH BEHIND FOR THE CITY TO COME AND PICK UP.
SO WE REALIZE THAT'S A PROBLEM.
THE TREE SERVICES ARE DOING IT AS WELL.
BUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE LEAVING THIS DEBRIS PILED UP.
THEY'RE NOT BRINGING A ROLL OFF BOX.
THEY'RE NOT BRINGING THE APPROPRIATE, UH, TRUCKS TO CLEAN THIS STUFF UP.
AND THEY'RE LEAVING IT THERE SO LONG, THE HOMEOWNER CAN'T GET THE CONTRACTOR TO COME BACK AND PICK IT UP.
SO THEY LEAVE IT THERE FOR THE CITY.
AND THE CITY SAYS WE'RE NOT GONNA PICK IT UP BECAUSE IT'S CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS.
SO IT'S A COMMUNICATION ISSUE.
BIG PILES OF TREE LIMBS STILL IN STONEGATE.
UH, THIS DEBRIS THAT'S IN THE STREET, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT IT'S BEEN THERE FOR MONTHS ACCORDING TO THE NEIGHBORS JUNK FURNITURE IN THE DRIVEWAY, HIGH GRASS AND WEEDS.
AND AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE TREE SERVICE THAT DID THAT, OR IF THE HOMEOWNER DID IT.
UH, THIS IS AN ESPLANADE IN STONEGATE, THE BOTTOM PICTURE THAT'S NOT BEING MAINTAINED.
IT'S NOT BEING MOWED OR EDGED.
AND AGAIN, FENCING DEBRIS, AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE HOMEOWNER, IF IT'S A CONTRACTOR.
THIS IS A SWIMMING POOL IN STONEGATE THAT IS DAMAGED AND UNSECURED.
[02:30:01]
ANYBODY COULD GO BACK THERE, SLIP AND FALL, HIT THEIR HEAD, DROWN IN THE NASTY RAINWATER, ALGAE THAT'S IN THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL, HIGH GRASS AND WEEDS ALL AROUND IT.THIS ONE HAS HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE IN IT.
UH, CANS HAVEN'T BEEN PICKED UP.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS THERE.
HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE OVERFLOWING STILL IN STONEGATE.
THIS PARTICULAR TRAILER HAS BEEN PARKED IN THIS DRIVEWAY FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS, POSSIBLY LONGER.
THE HOMEOWNER HAS BEEN VISITED BY WHAT THE NEIGHBORS CALL A CITY EMPLOYEE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHICH DIVISION THIS, UH, CITY EMPLOYEE IS FROM.
AND AT THE VISIT, THE HOMEOWNER CLAIMS SHE CAN'T SPEAK ENGLISH, BUT THE NEIGHBORS KNOW GOOD AND WELL THAT SHE DOES SPEAK ENGLISH.
SHE CLAIMS THE TRAILER DOESN'T BELONG TO HER.
WE'RE NOT SURE IF CITATIONS ARE ISSUED OR NOT, BUT OTHER NEIGHBORS IN STONEGATE WHO HAD TRAILERS PARKED IN THEIR DRIVEWAYS, THEY WERE ISSUED CITATIONS TO MOVE THEM IN 30 DAYS, WHICH THEY DID.
NOW THIS IS THE HEATHER BOOK APARTMENTS IN STONEGATE.
MOST OF THESE ARE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ISSUES, BUT SOME OF THEM CITY SERVICES COULD, COULD TAKE CARE OF AN ELDERLY DISABLED WOMAN, WHO'S THE MOTHER OF A FRIEND OF MINE REACHED OUT TO ME.
SHE USES A WALKER, AND THE SIDEWALKS AROUND THE BUILDING ARE BROKEN.
IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR HER TO GET AROUND.
AGAIN, THAT'S THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THAT.
UH, THE INTERIOR OF HER APARTMENT NEEDS REPAIR.
MANAGEMENT IS NOT ON PROPERTY AND DOESN'T ANSWER CALLS, AND SHE HAS TO RELY ON HER FAMILY FOR WHAT MINOR REPAIRS SHE'S ALLOWED TO DO.
UH, THE STREET, IT'S HARD TO SEE ON THIS PHOTOGRAPH, BUT THE TOP RIGHT PHOTOGRAPH, THE STREET LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOT A SINKING PROBLEM.
IT'S BROKEN AT THE CURB, JUST MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO GET AROUND.
SO THIS, THE PICTURES I GOT HERE REALLY HURT MY HEART.
THIS IS A RED TAGGED HOUSE THAT'S BEEN TAGGED FOR SEVERAL YEARS ACCORDING TO NEIGHBORS, AND IT'S NOT BEEN TORN DOWN.
AND THEN THIS BOTTOM PICTURE IS A DILAPIDATED HOUSE THAT REALLY SHOULD BE RED TAGGED THAT'S BEEN LIKE THIS FOR YEARS.
THIS IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARD.
ANOTHER HOUSE THAT NEEDS TO BE RED TAGGED.
WE'VE GOT HOMELESS PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS ONE.
ANOTHER HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARD STILL IN PERRY RIDGE.
UH, APPARENTLY THE HOMEOWNERS DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO CUT THE GRASS BEHIND THEIR FENCE AND THE ALLEYWAY.
THIS IS IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS.
THIS IS A HOUSE IN PERRY RIDGE THAT IS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
IT'S PROBABLY A TWO BEDROOM, ONE BATH HOME, UH, BY THE LOOKS OF THE CARS THAT ARE PARKED IN FRONT OF THIS HOUSE DURING THE DAY OR WHEN NOT WORK HOURS.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE, PROBABLY MULTIPLE FAMILIES OR MULTIPLE CONTRACT WORKERS LIVING IN THIS HOME.
AND THE HOMEOWNER, IT'S A RENTAL PROPERTY, HAS RUN A SEWER LINE FROM THE HOUSE TO THE DETACHED GARAGE THAT YOU CAN SEE KIND OF CIRCLED IN RED.
AND THERE'S PEOPLE LIVING IN THE GARAGE.
THIS IS THE BUSINESS PROPERTY I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS JEFF, JEFF, JEFFERSON CITY, WHERE THERE'S EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN.
IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE THAT LONG AND YOU'RE THAT OLD, YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT THAT LITTLE COMMERCIAL JINGLE, ALL OF THE SIGNS, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE ONE OR TWO, ARE THEY'RE IN THIS CONDITION.
PROBABLY HURRICANE RITA, MAYBE HURRICANE IKE, UH, ALONG WITH THE PAWN SHOP ACROSS THE STREET, SAME THING.
SO I'VE BEEN THIS WAY FOR A LONG TIME.
UH, THIS IS SOME NEW BUSINESS PROPERTY AND, UM, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION WERE HERE EARLIER TODAY, THE MCPHILLIPS, BUT THEY'VE LEFT.
AMIN'S NEW, UH, OFFICE BUILDING.
THIS IS THEIR NEW OFFICE BUILDING ON TWIN CITY.
AND THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR MONTHS NOW TO GET THIS DITCH BEHIND THE PROPERTY, PROPERLY GRADED, GET THE GRASS CUT ON CITY, CITY PROPERTY.
THE RUNOFF FROM THE RAIN FLOODS THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR.
AND REPEATED CALLS BY BOTH OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE RESULTED IN NOTHING.
GRIFFIN PARK IS HAVING LOTS OF ISSUES.
THIS HOUSE RIGHT HERE HAS BEEN IN THIS CONDITION SINCE HURRICANE RITA, I BELIEVE.
UH, THIS IS, OR NO, HURRICANE HARVEY.
I'M SORRY, I'M THINKING OF ANOTHER ONE.
MULTIPLE PEOPLE AND WORKERS LIVING IN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
THERE'S 12 TO 14 CARS PARKED IN FRONT OF THIS HOUSE.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF HOMES IN GRIFFIN PARK AND IN PERRY RIDGE AND IN STONEGATE THAT ARE BEING, UH, CONVERTED INTO BOARDING HOUSES.
AND THAT'S AGAINST OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES.
WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE WORKERS THAT ARE COMING IN FOR SHORT-TERM JOBS.
THEY'RE LIVING IN THESE, THESE
[02:35:01]
HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN CONVERTED WHEN WE'VE GOT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF HOTEL ROOMS THAT THEY COULD BE IN.THERE'S MULTIPLE CARS ON THIS PROPERTY.
THEY ALSO PARK AT OTHER LOCATIONS NEARBY, LIKE IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S HOMES, UH, ALONG WITH JUNK CARS IN THE YARD.
THIS IS ANOTHER HOME THAT WE BELIEVE HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A BOARDING HOUSE.
THE ONE IN THE TOP LEFT PICTURE, LARGE WHITE HOUSE, I THINK IT'S ON, UM, I WANNA SAY IT'S ON 25TH STREET.
UM, WE'VE GOT THIS DILAPIDATED METAL FENCE, MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN THE HOME.
THERE'S AN 18 WHEELER PARKED IN THE YARD, MULTIPLE VEHICLES IN THE YARD.
IT'S OBVIOUS THAT TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN THAT HOUSE.
UM, THIS HOUSE RIGHT HERE IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE ON THE BOTTOM OF HEAVY TRASH, FENCING, DEBRIS.
MORE PEOPLE WORK, PEOPLE LIVING IN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, MULTIPLE CARS PARKED IN THE YARD, JUNK CARS, TRAILERS, TIRES.
THESE TIRES HAVE BEEN PILED UP HERE.
THE NEIGHBORS TELL ME FOR, UH, QUITE A FEW MONTHS, AND I REALIZE THERE'S SOME SPECIALIZED TRASH THAT THE CITY CAN'T DEAL WITH, BUT STILL IT'S AN ISSUE.
MORE TRASH PILED UP IN GRIFFIN PARK.
CARS PARKED IN THE, ON THE SIDEWALK.
MULTIPLE CARS PARKED AT A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WERE SENT TO ME BY MY CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT THREE.
AND EVERY PHOTOGRAPH REPRESENTS AT LEAST A PHONE CALL.
THEY'RE NOT JUST SENDING ME THESE SAYING YOU TAKE CARE OF IT.
UH, THIS, UH, THE TOP TWO PICTURES.
THIS IS ANOTHER LARGE HOUSE THAT WE BELIEVE HAS BEEN CONVERTED INTO A BOARDING TYPE SITUATION.
MULTIPLE APPLICANT OCCUPANTS IN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
UH, THIS HOME ON THE BOTTOM LEFT, UH, I BELIEVE THAT THIS HOMEOWNER HAS BEEN CITED, AND THIS IS THE CASE THAT I BELIEVE HAS NOW ESCALATED UP TO DISTRICT COURT.
OUR CITY ATTORNEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO CLARIFY.
UH, THE NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE STREET HAVE LITERALLY BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS FOR TWO YEARS.
AND IT STILL LOOKS LIKE THAT, UH, ANOTHER HOME THAT MULTIPLE PEOPLE LIVING IN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
I THINK THE BUT BUTTON MUST HAVE GOT STUCK.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST MORE OF THE SAME STUFF.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BE REPETITIVE.
THIS IS IN GRIFFIN PARK, A CITY EMPLOYEE PARKING THEIR VEHICLE IN THE YARD.
YOU CAN'T PARK VEHICLES IN THE YARD IN PORT ARTHUR AND ANOTHER MULTIPLE CARS AT A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
UH, THESE ARE, UH, THE TOP ONE IS AN ABANDONED HOME.
IT'S AN EMPTY LOT THAT'S BEEN OVERGROWN.
AND THEN THIS BOTTOM RIGHT, THIS IS A HOUSE THAT'S BEEN DILAPIDATED IN TERRIBLE CONDITIONS SINCE HURRICANE HARVEY.
IT'S NOT RED TAGGED OR ANYTHING.
VEHICLES PARKED IN THE YARD, MULTIPLE CARS AT A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, AGAIN, LOOKS LIKE A BOARDING HOUSE SITUATION.
THIS IS A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT THAT IS VERY CLOSE TO BOB HOPE'S SCHOOL.
IT'S IN THE WOODS RIGHT NEAR THE SCHOOL.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE SAME ENCAMPMENT THAT USED TO BE ON JIMMY JOHNSON THAT GOT RUN OFF FROM THERE.
AND NOW THEY'VE MOVED OVER TO WHERE THEY ARE NOW.
MULTIPLE PEOPLE LIVING IN TENTS.
THEY PANHANDLE AT WALMART AND OTHER LOCATIONS.
UH, A NEW PANHANDLING LOCATION IS THE CORNER OF JIMMY JOHNSON AND NINTH AVENUE.
THEY'RE THERE ALMOST EVERY DAY.
AND THIS IS A HUGE HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERN.
NOW, I DON'T THINK THE POLICE CHIEF IS IN HERE.
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT THE BROKEN WINDOWS THEORY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS? ANYBODY EVER HEARD THAT BEFORE? ANYBODY HEARD IT? OFFICER SEGLER KNOWS WHAT IT IS.
I TEACH ABOUT THIS AT LAMAR PORT ARTHUR EVERY SEMESTER.
WHAT IT BASICALLY MEANS IS IF A COMMUNITY OR A NEIGHBORHOOD ALLOWS THEIR PROPERTY TO START GETTING BROKEN WINDOWS AND HIGH GRASS AND WEEDS, AND WE'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF IT, AND WE'VE GOT JUNK CARS ALL OVER THE PLACE, THAT TELLS NOT ONLY THE COMMUNITY, THAT IT TELLS THE CRIMINALS, HEY, WE DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR PROPERTY.
YOU CAN COME IN AND BURGLARIZE US.
YOU CAN COME IN AND BREAK INTO OUR CARS.
AND THAT'S WHAT SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE STARTING TO LOOK LIKE.
THE RESIDENTS ARE TIRED OF CALLING AND GETTING NO RESULTS.
AND WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M TELLING THEM NOW IS DON'T JUST CALL, SEND AN EMAIL, BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE A TIMES STAMP AND A DATE STAMP ON YOUR EMAIL THAT SHOWS
[02:40:01]
WHEN YOU CONTACTED THAT PERSON AT WHAT DEPARTMENT YOU CONTACTED.AND THEY CAN'T SAY, OH, WELL, WE NEVER HEARD FROM YOU.
IT'S REAL EASY TO PASS ON A PHONE CALL AND SAY, YOU NEVER CONTACTED US, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO PROVE THAT YOU MADE A PHONE CALL AND TO WHOM YOU SPOKE.
SO I'M TELLING THEM, SEND AN EMAIL, YES, MAKE THE PHONE CALLS, BUT SEND AN EMAIL BECAUSE THESE PROPERTY OWNERS WHERE NECESSARY NEED TO BE CITED FOR THESE VIOLATIONS.
AND IN ALL DEFERENCE TO CODE ENFORCEMENT, I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE NOT READILY ASCERTAINABLE BY DRIVING AROUND IN A VEHICLE AND JUST LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY, THE SWIMMING POOL THAT'S UNSECURED.
YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY SEE THAT FROM THE STREET.
BUT THE NEIGHBORS KNOW IT'S THERE AND IT'S BEEN CALLED IN.
UM, THEY WON'T NECESSARILY SEE 14 CARS PARKED IN FRONT OF ONE OF THESE BOARDING HOUSES DURING THE DAY BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL AT WORK.
THEY'D HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND AFTER HOURS TO SEE THAT THAT'S A PROBLEM.
UH, CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES AND TREE COMPANIES THAT ARE NOT TAKING THEIR DEBRIS, WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
AND WE WANT OUR CITY WORKERS TO GET THEIR JOBS DONE.
HEAVY TRASH IS SUPPOSED TO BE PICKED UP ON A SCHEDULE.
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A SCHEDULE.
UH, MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT KNOW WHEN THAT SCHEDULE IS.
UH, WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING OUR REGULAR TRASH PICKED UP.
I WATCHED AT MY STREET THE OTHER DAY, THE GARBAGE TRUCK WENT DOWN THE STREET AND PICKED UP THE OTHER SIDE.
AND TYPICALLY THEY'LL MAKE THE BLOCK AND COME BACK.
SO THEY'RE GOING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION FOR THE ARM TO PICK UP.
THEY NEVER CAME BACK AND PICKED UP THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET.
UH, CURBS AND ESPLANADES AND THEN CODE ENFORCEMENT.
WE WANT CODE ENFORCEMENT TO WRITE CITATIONS AND GET SOME OF THIS STUFF TAKEN CARE OF.
COUNCILMAN, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YEAH.
YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE PREVIOUS CITY MANAGERS TO ROTATE THOSE INSPECTORS EV EVERY SIX MONTHS AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND DO AN INVENTORY AND YOU AN UPDATE.
YOU ROTATE 'EM EVERY SIX MONTH THINGS, THEY, THEY GET COMFORTABLE AND IF THE NEIGHBORS DON'T COMPLAIN, THEY DON'T DO NOTHING.
SO IF YOU ROTATE 'EM, AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHY PREVIOUS CITY MANAGERS DIDN'T WANT TO IMPLEMENT THAT.
IF YOU ROTATE EVERYBODY EVERY SIX MONTHS, THINGS WILL GET BETTER.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, WE'LL
[IV.E.(1) A Discussion And Possible Action On The Effect Of HB 2127 Regarding The Parking Of Wrecker Vehicles In a Residential Area (Requested By Councilmember Beckcom)]
MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.UH, WE HAVE EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION.
THERE IS ANY, UH, OR CORRESPONDENCE WE MOVE NOW, EXCUSE ME, TO DISCUSSIONS.
UH, THE FIRST DISCUSSION IS A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE EFFECT OF HOUSE BILL 2127 REGARDING THE PARKING OF WRECKER VEHICLES IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN BECKHAM.
AFTER HAVING A DISCUSSION WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY, UH, WHEN WE BROKE FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, I'M GONNA ASK THAT THIS BE PULLED OFF THE AGENDA UNTIL THE AUGUST 29TH MEETING.
UM, THERE'S BEEN SOME, UH, MOVEMENT BY SOME ATTORNEYS WITH T M L TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THIS FOR US.
AND, UH, I'VE NOT BEEN, UH, MADE PRIVY TO THAT YET.
SO I'D LIKE TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE SUGGESTING AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL.
AND THEN, UM, WE MAYBE IF WE HAVE A LITTLE SPECIAL WORKSHOP, WE CAN TALK ABOUT A LOT OF LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AS WELL.
WHEN BEFORE THE 29TH MAYBE? YEAH.
UH, OF COUNCILWOMAN, IF, CAN WE, UH, HOLD IT TO WHEN EVEN I SUGGESTED WHEN WE HAVE THE, UH, OTHER ATTORNEYS TO COME SPEAK? YEAH, THEY'LL COME BEFORE THE 29TH.
YEAH, THEY'LL COME BEFORE THE 29TH AND WE CAN DO, IT'LL TEXT THEM AND GET A DATE.
[IV.E.(2) & IV.E.(3)]
TWO IS DISCUSSION AND THE POLICY BY ACTION REGARDING THE $16.9 MILLION DRAINAGE PROJECT FOR THE STONEGATE AREA REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN BECKER.YES, I, I REQUESTED THAT WE BE UPDATED ON THIS.
UM, I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT SINCE IT HIT THE NEWS MEDIA BACK IN, I BELIEVE FEBRUARY.
UH, SO I ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO KIND OF GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT PROJECT AND MAYBE SOME OTHERS AROUND THE CITY.
UM, I HAVE CRAIG HERE WITH US AND, UM, WE'LL DO A TWO FOR ONE, UM, WHILST WE ADDRESS COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM'S, UM, PROJECT IN HER DISTRICT, UM, AS WELL AS COUNCILMAN ETT.
SO HE HAS, OKAY, SO WE REPORT ON ALL THREE PROJECTS.
SO COUNCILMAN, WE WANNA JOIN THAT IN TOGETHER.
UH, UH, SO WHAT WE ARE DOING IS, I'M, I'M GONNA READ OUT THE, THE THIRD, UH, MEASURE HERE DISCUSSION REGARDING DRAINAGE PROJECTS IN THE PORT ACRES AND VE AREAS, UH, REQUESTED BY COUNCILWOMAN, UH, D UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ETT
SO, UH, SO, UH, I WAS DICKING AT HER.
DAVID SAID, OKAY, SO WE HAVE BOTH OF 'EM.
WOULD YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
[02:45:01]
YES, SIR.UH, COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM AND, AND COUNCILMAN ETT.
WE'RE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN UPDATE.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, BECKHAM, I APOLOGIZE.
I WAS USING THE PORT ARTHUR ASSUMED EMAIL ADDRESS TO SEND YOU AFTER YOU WERE PUT, UH, INTO OFFICE TO SEND YOU SOME INFORMATION.
AND I GOT THE UPDATE THAT YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT EMAIL ADDRESS THAT, THAT I SHOULD BE USING SO THAT THAT'LL HAPPEN FROM GOING FORWARD.
SO, UH, TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN, AN UPDATE, UH, I WANT TO START WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND EXPLANATION OF 4 0 4, UM, PRO PROJECTS AND HOW THAT WORKS, SIMPLY BECAUSE TO JUMP IN WITHOUT THAT LEAVES YOU A LITTLE BIT, UM, MAYBE UNCLEAR ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO, IN TERMS OF, UH, THE 4 0 4 PROJECTS, KEEP IN MIND THAT WHAT 4 0 4 MEANS IS IT'S A DESIGNATION WITHIN THE FEMA CO, UH, REGULATIONS THAT IS A FUNDING SOURCE FOR MITIGATION TYPE ACTIVITIES.
UH, IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT AT ALL.
WE, WE ALSO HAVE WHAT'S CALLED 4 0 6, AND THEY WORK IN CONCERT 4 0 6.
MITIGATION IS SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED TO, UH, ACTUAL STORM RELATED DAMAGES.
4 0 4 COMES FROM A FORMULA BASED ON THE IN, UH, INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE AND THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR ANY PARTICULAR NAME, STORM, OR EVENT.
AND THAT FORMULA PRODUCES A, A POT OF MONEY.
4 0 4 PROJECTS ARE COMPETITIVE, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY'RE NOT AUTOMATIC.
ONCE THE MONEY IS RELEASED, THERE'S A NOTICE OF OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY THAT IS RELEASED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UH, AND THEN ANY ELIGIBLE ENTITY WITHIN THE AFFECTED AREA CAN APPLY FOR THOSE PARTICULAR GRANT FUNDS.
THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT 4 0 4 IS IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO A DAMAGED ELEMENT FROM THE STORM, UH, BUT IT HAS TO BE OBVIOUSLY, UH, ELIGIBLE WITHIN THE, WHEN THE STORM IMPACTED AREA.
ALSO, THE, THE REAL CRITICAL ITEM THAT YOU'LL HEAR US TALK ABOUT FREQUENTLY AND, UH, COUNCILMAN KIN LAW'S VERY AWARE OF, UH, OF THE FRUSTRATION THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE B C A OR BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS.
UH, THE BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS IS THE TOOL THAT FEMA USES TO DECIDE OR TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE MONEY THAT A PROJECT COSTS IS WORTHWHILE SPENDING.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF THEY CAN, IF THE APPLICANT, SUCH AS CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CAN SHOW THAT THERE'S AT LEAST A ONE-TO-ONE BENEFIT OF THE DOLLAR SPENT, UH, TO THE PROTECTION AND MITIGATION THAT WILL BE ACHIEVED FOR FUTURE, AGAINST FUTURE DAMAGES, THEN IT'S A POSITIVE PROJECT.
IF IT DOES NOT ACHIEVE A, B, C A OF ONE OR B C R OF ONE, THEN THE PROJECT IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
NOW THAT WHAT I JUST TOLD YOU HAS VOLUMES OF INFORMATION THAT GO, THAT BACKS IT UP, AND THE TOOLS ARE VERY COMPLICATED AND CONVOLUTED.
UM, SO IT, IT'S MUCH MORE, UH, DETAILED THAN THAT.
BUT THAT IS THE OUTCOME THAT THAT NUMBER DRIVES.
THE PROJECTS, THE PROJECTS HAVE TO BE APPROVED AT TWO LEVELS, FIRST AT TEEM, UH, AS THE STATE RECIPIENT OF FEDERAL FUNDS.
AND THEN FEMA ALSO HAS TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE PROJECTS WITHIN THEIR SPECIFIC MITIGATION DIVISION PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HOLDS COMMUNITIES FROM USING OR PURSUING 4 0 4 MITIGATION FUNDS IS THAT IT, THAT PROJECTS HAVE A 75 25 COST SHARE, WHICH MEANS THE INDIVIDUAL OR LOCAL APPLICANT HAS TO COME UP WITH 25% OF THE COST OF THE PROJECT.
THAT OFTEN CAUSES COMMUNITIES TO NOT PURSUE THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS BECAUSE OF THE COST SHARE INVOLVED.
UH, FORTUNATELY, TEXAS AND SENATE BILL SEVEN BACK IN 2020, UH, PASSED A MEASURE THAT ALLOWS OR PROVIDES FOR ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, UH, FOR NOT ONLY 4 0 4, BUT FOR THE HARVEY PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROJECTS AS WELL.
THAT WAS A CRITICAL MEASURE THAT WAS PASSED, UH, THAT ALLOWED MANY COMMUNITIES TO HAVE A GREATER OPPORTUNITY TO USE THESE FUNDS.
NOW, IN TERMS OF, UH, THE PROCESS, 4 0 4 PROJECTS OCCUR IN TWO PHASES.
PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO, BEFORE WE EVER GET TO PHASE ONE, THERE'S A SELECTION OF PROPOSED PROJECTS THAT HAPPENED.
SO WAY BACK IN 2018, WHEN THE NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES WERE PRESENTED, THE CITY CAME UP WITH SEVERAL PROJECTS.
UM, THERE WERE ACTUALLY FOUR PRIMARY PROJECTS.
THE FIRST THREE WERE LAKE ARTHUR,
[02:50:01]
UH, PORT ACRES AND EL VISTA STONEGATE CAME IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER.UM, AND LAKE ARTHUR DIDN'T MEET THE B C A, SO WE WIND UP WITH THE, THE FINAL THREE.
BUT IN THAT SELECTION PROCESS, WHAT HAPPENS IS THE CITY LOOKS AT WHAT MITIGATION MEASURES NEEDS, NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
AND JUST LIKE MOST CITIES, ESPECIALLY COASTAL CITIES IN AMERICA, THERE ARE MORE NEEDS THAN THERE ARE FUNDING TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
SO IT BECOMES A SOMEWHAT OF, OF A SCIENTIFIC, SOMEWHAT OF A SOCIAL, SOMEWHAT OF A CULTURAL, AND SOMEWHAT OF AN ENGINEERING PROCESS TO GET TO WHICH PROJECTS THAT WAS LARGELY GUIDED BY THE, UH, BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR BACK IN 2018.
WE ASSISTED WITH, UH, AND DEVELOPED THE APPLICATION, UH, AND IN A PHASE ONE, IT'S A GENERAL BROAD APPLICATION.
IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS, THESE ARE THE INTENDED PURPOSES, UH, OF THESE PROJECTS, UH, HOW IT WILL MITIGATE, BUT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DETAIL AND GRANULARITY TO THOSE PROJECTS.
SO BASICALLY WHAT TATUM DOES IS THE REVIEWS, DO THESE PROJECTS MEET THE CRITERIA.
THEY DON'T GET INTO THE DEEP LEVEL OF A B C A.
THE B C A IS BASED ON GENERAL NUMBERS AT THAT, AT THAT POINT, WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A PHASE ONE APPROVAL, AND WE MOVED, WE MOVED FORWARD.
UH, IN TERMS OF THE PHASE TWO PROCESS, THAT'S WHEN WE GET INTO PROJECT SUBMISSION, WHERE WE, UH, ASSIST THE CITY IN IDENTIFYING AND, AND BRINGING ON ENGINEERING FIRMS TO START THE DESIGN PROCESS, TAKE CARE OF SURVEYING AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, AND START TO REALLY GET INTO THE DETAILS OF HOW THE PROJECT WOULD LOOK.
SO THE CITY SELECTED A W C FOR TWO OF THE PROJECTS, UH, AND STEWART CONSULTING FOR THE OTHER PROJECT.
AND THOSE PROJECTS STARTED DOWN THE ROAD, UH, FOR PHASE TWO APPROVAL.
AGAIN, ONCE THAT DESIGN AND THE SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE PROJECTS WERE, WERE DEVELOPED, WE HAD TO UPDATE THE B C A, UH, WITH NEW COST ESTIMATES.
AND AS COST CHANGE, WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND ADJUST THE B C A MODEL AS WELL.
UH, SO THE ADDITIONAL REVIEW BY TATUM AND THE REVIEW BY FEMA AT THE PHASE TWO LEVEL, MUCH MORE INTENSE, MUCH MORE DETAILED, UH, AND I, I DON'T WANNA SAY IT'S ADVERSARIAL, BUT IT IS, IT IS THEIR JOB TO CHALLENGE EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT IS PUT IN, AND THEY HOLD ALL THE RULES, RIGHT? HE WHO HAS THE GOLD MAKES THE RULE.
AND SO WHATEVER THEY SAY WE NEEDED TO DO TO PROVE TO THEM THAT OUR INFORMATION WAS ACCURATE, WE HAD TO CONTINUE TO DANCE TO THEIR TUNE, SO TO SPEAK.
FORTUNATELY, PHASE TWO APPROVAL CAME, UH, SO THE NOTICE OF AWARD TO THE CITY WAS RECEIVED.
UH, AND NOW WE ARE AT THAT, THAT FINAL STEP IN THE PHASE TWO APPROVAL PROCESS OF THE DESIGN.
FINAL DESIGN HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
UH, AND NOW WE GET INTO THE BID BIDDING, THE PROJECTS AND STARTING CONSTRUCTION.
ACTUALLY, THE THIS PRESENTATION IS, IS PRETTY TIMELY BECAUSE SATURDAY, THE FIRST TWO PROJECTS WILL BE, WILL BE OUT FOR BID, UH, FOR THE SECOND TIME THE PORT ACRES AND THE EL VISTA PROJECT GO OUT BID, UH, ON SATURDAY, THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY, THE STONEGATE PROJECT GOES OUT BID, UH, TO, TO REACH ITS ADVERTISEMENT.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THIS IS WHAT THE CITY HAS IN ITS HAND AT THIS POINT.
THE STONEGATE PROJECT IS APPROVED FOR $16.9 MILLION.
EL VISTA IS APPROVED FOR 10.2, AND PORT ACRES IS APPROVED FOR $30.5 MILLION.
SO THAT 57 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS, UH, IS NOW IN THE CITY'S HANDS.
NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY, OBVIOUSLY, UH, BUT IT, IT IS APPROVED AS THE BUDGET FOR THESE PROJECTS.
AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS IN TERMS OF A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, UH, AND I'LL TRY TO, DID I GO BACKWARDS HERE? SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I'LL TRY TO MOVE THROUGH QUICKLY HERE SO WE DON'T GET BOGGED DOWN WITH A LOT OF THE DETAILS.
YOU HAVE A COPY OF THIS AND CERTAINLY CAN REVIEW IT AND, AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
BUT REMEMBER, WE STARTED WAY BACK IN 2018, UH, WITH THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROJECTS, THE PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE FOR THE PROJECTS THAT WE, THAT WE CHOSE OR WERE SELECTED BY THE CITY.
YOU CAN LOOK DOWN AT, AT THE THIRD COLUMN.
EL VISTA WAS ESTIMATED AT 3.2 PORT ACRES AT 9.5, BASICALLY, AND STONEGATE AT 2.9.
THOSE FIGURES WERE WOEFULLY LOW WHEN WE GOT TO PHASE TWO AND WE STARTED TO DIG INTO THE, TO WHAT HAD TO HAPPEN FOR A B, C A TO GET TO ONE, AND WHAT THOSE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT
[02:55:01]
WERE, WE GOT TO, WE, WE ACHIEVED A LEVEL OF, OF INITIAL DESIGN AND NEW COST ESTIMATES.AND YOU CAN SEE IT WENT FROM, UH, 3.2 TO 6.8, 9.5 TO 18, AND 2.9 TO 16.9.
HOWEVER, ONCE WE GOT TO THAT POINT, AND WE MOVED TO THE POINT OF HAVING THE APPROVAL LETTERS FROM TEEM AND FEMA WITH THOSE AMOUNTS, THEN WE REALIZED ONCE WE WENT OUT TO BID THE FIRST TIME AROUND, THAT THOSE FIGURES WERE ALSO WOEFULLY LOW BASED ON THE CONDITIONS AND THE MARKET THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE OVER THE TWO YEARS OF THAT PROCESS.
SO THE PREVIOUS BID FOR ELVIS, THAT CAME OUT IN OCTOBER OF, OF LAST YEAR, AND PORT ACRES, YOU'LL SEE THAT'S WHERE THOSE NUMBERS THAT WE ARE NOW, UH, APPROVED FOR CAME FROM.
SO THE BIDS CAME IN AT 10.2 FOR ELVIS.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAD NOT BID STONEGATE, UH, IN, IN THAT FIRST ROUND.
WE HAD NOT HAD THAT SAME APPROVAL LEVEL AT THAT POINT.
AGAIN, AS COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW PAINFULLY REMEMBERS US GIVING UPDATES ABOUT THE OTHER PROJECTS.
AND, AND STONEGATE NOT QUITE GETTING THERE UNTIL, UM, UNTIL LATER ON.
UH, SO ANYWAY, THE, THE IDEA BEHIND THIS, THIS PROCESS IS EVERY TIME WE HAVE A CHANGE IN COST, AND WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO FEMA THROUGH TEEM TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY, REFORMULATING, HOW WE WOULD USE THE MONEY THAT THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE CITY THROUGH FEMA, THROUGH SENATE BILL SEVEN, THROUGH, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, DISASTER RECOVERY FUND FUNDS FROM HARVEY.
EACH TIME WE HAD A CHANGE TO TRY TO MAKE THESE PROJECTS REAL AND RESURRECT THEM FROM DEATH, WE HAD TO REDO BCAS.
WE HAD TO RE-ANSWER QUESTIONS AND, AND REJUSTIFY THE DATA THAT WAS PRESENTED TO, UH, TO THE FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES.
THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO THESE NUMBERS.
UH, AND THAT'S HOW WE HAVE ACHIEVED THOSE, THOSE PARTICULAR, UH, APPROVALS.
NOW, HERE'S SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE YOU ARE THE KEEPERS OF THE COFFERS THAT ARE IMPORTANT, WE'LL LOOK AT ELVIS AT $10.2 MILLION.
THE COST SHARE FOR THE CITY, UH, FOR THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION AND EN ENGINEERING IS $2.566 MILLION.
THE 641,000 AND THE 1.925 MILLION FROM SENATE BILL SEVEN.
AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING MAKES UP YOUR COST SHARE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING.
WHAT THAT MEANS TO THE CITY IS THESE CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE BASICALLY FREE PROJECTS AREN'T MANY PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU GET TO SPEND $10.2 MILLION AND NOT HAVE TO DIP INTO YOUR OWN GENERAL FUND.
RIGHT? FEMA COVERS THE REMAINING PART OF THE 6.7 $0.6 MILLION TO MAKE UP THAT WHOLE CONSTRUCTION.
I WANT TO KEEP EMPHASIZING THAT'S CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING COSTS.
PORT ACRES THE SAME THING, $30.5 MILLION.
YOU ALREADY KNOW BASED ON ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU DO, VIR VIRTUALLY AT EVERY MEETING, EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS.
UH, SO AGAIN, THE BREAKDOWN BETWEEN THE CITY'S SHARE AND WHERE THOSE, THOSE SUPPORTING MEASURES COME FROM, UH, ARE LISTED THERE FOR YOU.
STONEGATE, COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM, $16.9 MILLION, UH, IS COVERED WITH THE COST SHARE OF THE CITY.
4.2, AGAIN, COVERED BY C D B G D R.
AND REMEMBER THAT C D B G D R MONEY, UM, IS MONEY THAT WAS FROM HARVEY, RIGHT? THAT IS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDS SPECIFICALLY FOR HARVEY WITH THIS.
AND ALTHOUGH THIS ISN'T PART OF THIS PARTICULAR PRESENTATION, YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MONEY THAT WAS BEING HELD TO SUPPORT AND BACK UP THESE PROJECTS.
WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THE BIDS COME IN ACCORDING TO WHAT THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATES ARE, AND WE STILL WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK TO YOU SAYING, NOW WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS ADDITIONAL SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS? OKAY? SO THAT'S THE BREAKDOWN OF, OF THE COST OF THE PROJECTS THEMSELVES.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROJECTS, UH, AS THEY EXIST.
SO THE STONEGATE PROJECT, AND YOU'LL SEE THIS, YOU'LL HEAR ME SAY TWO THINGS.
THE PROJECT AREA IS SPECIFICALLY WHERE CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL BE DONE.
IMPACT AREA IS THE AREA OF THE CITY THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM THE WORK BEING DONE IN THE PROJECT AREA.
[03:00:01]
NOW, THE STONEGATE PROJECT, UH, OR IMPACT AREA AFFECTS OVER 300 HOME SITES.UM, WHAT MADE THIS PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING, UM, AND I HATE TO KEEP SAYING THIS OVER AND OVER, RIGHT? WHAT MADE STONEGATE PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING IS THAT THE, THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOME SITES IN STONEGATE WAS, WERE CONSTRUCTED ACCORDING TO THE ELEVATION IN THE FLOOD PLAN THAT THE CITY HAD ADOPTED.
SO THE BUILDING CODE WITHIN THE CITY DID ITS JOB BY SAYING WHEN NEW HOMES WERE CONSTRUCTED IN STONEGATE, UH, AND, AND IN THE OVERALL AREA, THE IMPACT AREA, THAT THEY WERE CONSTRUCTED TO THE PROPER ELEVATIONS, WHICH MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO SHOW THAT THERE WAS A BENEFIT TO SPEND THIS TYPE OF MONEY, UM, TO IMPROVE, UH, OR TO INCREASE FLOOD PROTECTION.
SO THE RED LINE OUTLINES BASICALLY THE IMPACT AREA, AND YOU'LL SEE IT'S, IT'S A LARGE AREA.
MUCH OF IT IS, IS OPEN SPACE, BUT YOU DO HAVE OVER 300 HOME SITES, UH, INCLUDED.
THE SMALLER AREA IS THE, UH, THE PROJECT AREA.
AND I'LL DO THE, I'LL GO FORWARD AND COME BACK.
SO HERE IS YOUR, YOUR PROJECT AREA, WHICH IS PRIMARILY THE GOLF COURSE.
OKAY? NOW, SOME LOGISTICAL ISSUES RELATED TO THIS PROJECT WILL BE THE OPERATION OF THE GOLF COURSE AND HOW, HOW DO WE KEEP GOLFERS HAPPY AND MAYBE HAVING TO PLAY NINE HOLES INSTEAD OF 18, OR HAVING TO PLAY TWO ROUNDS OF NINE HOLES TO GET TO THEIR 18 OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS.
UM, BUT WE'RE OBVIOUSLY IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, UH, SO THAT IT CAN BE FUNCTIONAL, UH, AND NOT DO AWAY WITH THE ENTIRE PROJECT OR THE OPERATIONS OF THE GOLF COURSE, BUT MEET THE VERY MUCH NEEDED, UH, INCREASED RETENTION AREA, THAT DETENTION AREA THAT WILL TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE GOLF COURSE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACTED STREETS FOR THE STONEGATE PROJECT, UH, THE ONES THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN BLACK ARE THE ONES THAT WILL HAVE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION WORK.
SO THERE'LL BE SOME DISTURB, UH, CONSTRUCTION DISRUPTION ALONG JIMMY JOHNSON AND NINTH AVENUE.
AS THIS PROJECT, UH, GETS UNDERWAY, ALL OF THE OTHER STREETS WILL BE BENEFITED, BUT WILL NOT HAVE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION ON THEM.
SO THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT, AS WITH ALL, ALL THREE, BASICALLY, IS TO INCREASE THE STORM PROTECTION FROM A TWO YEAR STORM TO A 25 YEAR STORM.
NOW, THAT'S A DIFFICULT THING TO TO MEASURE, BUT IN ESSENCE, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, UH, WITH ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, THAT A RAIN EVENT THAT PRODUCES BETWEEN TWO AND SIX INCHES IN 24 HOURS IS A 25 YEAR PROTECTION LEVEL.
SO THAT'S WHAT THESE PROJECTS ARE DESIGNED TO DO, IS TO INCREASE THAT, THAT LEVEL OF PROTECTION, UH, FOR THE IMPACT AREA
SO YOU'LL, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE DRAIN LINES IMPROVE DRAIN LINE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG NINTH AVENUE AND JIMMY JOHNSON, UH, ARE DESIGNED TO CREATE THAT TYPE OF, OF PROTECTION.
AND I SHOULD HAVE GONE BACK FOR YOU THERE.
UM, FOR THE PUBLIC'S VIEW, AGAIN, THE BLACK HIGHLIGHTED STREETS ARE THOSE THAT ARE STREETS THAT WILL HAVE CONSTRUCTION ON THEM.
IN TERMS OF THE EL VISTA PROJECT, UH, THE IMPACT AREA, UH, AFFECTS 255 HOME SITES, UM, OLDER HOMES, UH, DIFFERENT ELEVATION SCHEMES WITHIN THE, THE IMPACT AREA.
UH, THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS, EXCUSE ME, THE CONSTRUCTION AREA WILL IMPACT OR THE PROJECT AREA WILL IMPACT MORE HOMES.
UM, NOW I WANNA DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO JUST WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.
SO IN THE EL VISTA PROJECT, YOU HAVE ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILES OF OLD DRAINAGE LINES BEING REPLACED WITH NEWER AND LARGER PIPING.
AND SO THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE ACTIVITY TO, TO UNDERTAKE, UH, AND TO ACHIEVE, UH, TO GET SOME OF THESE, UM, RESULTS TO MOVE THE WATER OFF THE STREETS FASTER SO THAT IT DOESN'T, UH, INUNDATE AND POND AND THEN THREATEN THE HOMES, UH, ON SUCH A REGULAR BASIS AS IT DOES NOW.
ALRIGHT, UH, THE EL VISTA DRAINAGE PROJECT IS PLANNED TO START IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY JANUARY OF 2025.
UH, SO UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF THE TIME AND THE SCOPE, IT WILL RUN THROUGH ANOTHER HURRICANE SEASON.
UH, AND HOPEFULLY, UH, WE WILL BE
[03:05:01]
SPARED IN THIS CURRENT WEATHER PATTERN, UH, NOT TO NOT TO BE, UH, DELAYED BY THAT, BY THAT THREAT.YOU'LL NOTICE THE PORT ACRES DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT AREA, UM, AGAIN, 482 HOME SITES, UH, A RATHER LARGE NUMBER OF HOMES TO BE, UH, IMPROVED IN TERMS OF THEIR LEVEL OF PROTECTION AND THE, THE PROJECT IMPACT AREA.
IF YOU LOOK AT, UM, INSIDE THAT PICTURE, YOU'LL SEE THE RED LINES.
UM, NO, I DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH FOR YOU.
SO THE RED LINE IS THE PROJECT IMPACT AREA, AND THE WHITE OUTLINE BORDER IS THE, UH, THE IMPACT AREA.
THE, THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION AREA IS THE RED LINE.
UH, I GIVE YOU THE, THE STREETS AGAIN HERE TO IDENTIFY, UM, WHICH ONES ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED AND WHERE THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE.
THIS REALLY DOES, AND I'LL GO BACK FOR A MOMENT, THIS REALLY DOES TAKE ADVANTAGE.
PORT ACRES AND EL VISTA TAKE ADVANTAGE AND COMPLIMENT SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT DRAINAGE DISTRICT SEVEN, UH, HAVE UNDERTAKEN.
SO PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THEIR RETENTION AND THEIR CAPACITY TO HOLD WATER HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE.
THE CITY'S CHALLENGE IS BEING ABLE TO GET THAT WATER TO THOSE PONDING AND STORAGE AREAS, UH, FASTER AND MORE EFFICIENTLY.
SO AGAIN, WHEN YOU START IMPROVING OLD PIPES AND PUTTING IN NEWER AND LARGER PIPES, YOU START RUNNING INTO SOME OF THE, UH, THE BENEFITS THAT, UM, WE'LL DO.
AND IN THE PORT ACRES, YOU SEE THAT WE'RE REPLACING THREE AND A HALF MILES, NEARLY THREE AND A HALF MILES OF OLD EXISTING BOX CULVERTS AND THREE MILES OF OLDER AND SMALLER DRAINAGE LINES.
SO IT'S, IT'S JUST AS IF, UH, TO PUT IT IN A SIMPLE TERM, UH, IF YOU WENT TO YOUR LOCAL SMOOTHIE SHOP AND YOU USED A SMALL STRAW, IT TAKES A LOT MORE EFFORT TO GET THE SMOOTHIE OUT OF THE CUP, RIGHT? THAT'S WHY THEY GIVE US THE BIG STRAWS, SO WE DRINK IT FASTER AND BUY ANOTHER ONE, RIGHT? SO THE IDEA IS, UM,
UH, GO OUT FORBID THEY'LL START IN NOVEMBER.
UM, PORT ACRES IS EXPECTED TO FINISH IN JUNE OF 2025.
AND IF WE, UH, SORRY I DIDN'T GO BACK, BUT, UM, JANUARY OF 25 FOR EL VISTA AND PORT, UH, STONEGATE WILL FINISH APRIL OF 2025.
OKAY, SO THE, THE LAST SLIDE THAT I'LL, I'LL SHARE WITH YOU IS THE ONE THAT PROBABLY HAS QUESTIONS, UH, FOR SOME OF YOU, AND THIS KIND OF GIVES YOU A SUMMARY.
UH, THE, THE OVERALL PROJECT FUNDING'S $57.7 MILLION.
WHAT DOES IT COST TO HAVE US ON BOARD FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS TO DO THIS WORK WITH YOU AND ALONGSIDE YOU? SO FOR MAY OF 2018 THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF 2025, TO FINISH THE CLOSEOUT COSTS YOU $4.3 MILLION, 4.4, IF YOU ROUND UP RIGHT, YOU'LL GET REIMBURSED 2.8, $2.9 MILLION OF THAT.
AND OVER THOSE SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS, UH, YOUR COST SHARE IS 1.49, $1.5 MILLION.
THAT'S A 2.6% FEE, WHICH IS A FEE THAT YOU GENERALLY HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING IN ANY CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP.
AND THE, THE RATE OF YOUR RETURN IS FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT YOU SPEND ON US, WE'VE HELPED YOU DIRECTLY BRING $37.55 BACK TO THE CITY.
UM, SO THE NUMBER IS A BIG NUMBER.
I'M, ANYTIME YOU GET INTO A SEVEN FIGURE NUMBER, IT'S A LARGE NUMBER.
UM, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT IT IN CONTEXT, UH, OF WHAT THE RETURN IS TO, TO THE CITY.
SO AT THIS POINT, OBVIOUSLY, ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ASK, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
UH, I AM MONICA IS OUR, OUR SENIOR GRANT MANAGER FOR THESE PROJECTS AND WORKS DAY TO DAY ON THESE ALONGSIDE WITH ME.
UH, SO SHE'S VERY WELL VERSED ON THE PROJECTS.
WE'RE HAPPY TO DO A WORKSHOP, WE'RE HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU ONE-ON-ONE, COORDINATE CONVERSATIONS AS, AS WE'RE TALKING WITH THE ENGINEERS ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU WE COULD GET FEMA HERE, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
THEY DON'T SHOW UP FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS, BUT WE CAN GET
[03:10:01]
THEM HERE, UH, FROM TIME TO TIME ON, ON A, AT LEAST ON A ZOOM CALL OR, OR A TEAMS MEETING.UH, TEEM WILL USUALLY SHOW UP IN PERSON IF WE GIVE THEM SOME NOTICE.
SO QUESTIONS THAT, THAT I CAN ANSWER FOR YOU.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I KNOW, UM, UH, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TALKED AND THE TALK HAS BEEN, UH, ROUGH.
UH, SOMETIMES IF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP, IT CAN APPEAR ADVERSARIAL, BUT, UH, WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN, UH, TO FOR OUR, UH, CONSTITUENTS, UH, AND ASSURING THAT.
BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU KUDOS TODAY AND TO SAY THANK YOU, I WANT TO THANK CITY MANAGER.
I WANT TO THANK STAFF, UH, FOR WORKING ON THIS.
UH, THIS WILL IMPACT OUR CITY, UH, FOR GENERATIONS YET TO COME.
UM, WE ARE ALL STILL AT TIMES TRAUMATIZED BY THE MEMORY OF HARVEY AND, UH, THE IMPACT THAT IT HAD ON OUR CITY.
AND WE ARE ALWAYS DOING WHAT WE CAN TO ALLEVIATE, UM, THAT HEARTACHE AND THAT PAIN AND THAT MEMORY.
UH, AND WE KNOW THAT AT ANY MOMENT, UH, IT CAN HAPPEN BECAUSE WE LIVE ON THIS GULF COAST, BUT AS WE ARE PREPARING LIFT STATIONS AND DOING THINGS FOR DRAINAGE IN OUR CITY, UM, IT HELPS US TO BE PREPARED FOR THOSE.
AND SO THIS IS A, A, A, A VITAL, UH, PART OF BEING PREPARED.
SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, AND, UM, APPRECIATE IT MUCH.
AND IT IS, IT IS A TEAM EFFORT.
THERE'S
UH, AND THE, THE, THE CITY'S POLITICAL PUSH AND CALLING
SO, UH, AND LOOK, WE, WE WORK FOR YOU.
SO WHEN, WHEN YOU NEED TO GO TO THE WHIP, YOU GO TO THE WHIP, AND WHEN YOU NEED TO PUT THE CARROT, YOU PUT THE CARROT, RIGHT? SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
OKAY? UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, CRAIG.
UM, MY REQUEST TO PUT IT ON HERE TO FIND OUT THE STATUS OF IT, NOT AN UPDATE.
I'VE HEARD ALL YOUR, UH, PRESENTATIONS.
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S, THAT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE ON OUR SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW, HAD THE MONEY BEEN APPROVED? YES.
SO WHAT I HEARD FROM YOU TODAY IS THE MONEY HAS BEEN APPROVED.
SO MY NEXT, UH, PART FOR THE DISCUSSION IS THAT I WOULD REQUEST CITY MANAGER THAT, UH, I BE GIVEN SOME TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT IS, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU'RE SENDING OUT A BID, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PROJECTED BID, WE SHOULD HAVE A PROJECTED DATE OF, UH, CONSTRUCTION, UH, OF CONTRACTING, CONSTRUCTION, AND, UH, PROGRESS.
THERE SHOULD BE A, UH, AND ALL OF 'EM GOT PLANS, BUT I WANT A COPY OF THAT PLAN.
SO THEN I CAN MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THE THING.
NOW THAT THE MONEY'S HERE, DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, WELL, THEY, THEY NOT WORRY ABOUT THEM.
IT IS US, HOW FAST WE MOVE AND WHAT WE DO IS HERE.
SO I WANT TO STAY ABREAST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MOVING IN THIS, IN THE MANNER THAT WE CAN GET THIS JOB DONE AS SCHEDULED.
SO IN ORDER FOR ME TO KNOW THAT I NEED TO SCHEDULE, SO IF YOU PLEASE GIMME A CONSTRUCTION MANTRA, WE'LL PROVIDE, WE'LL PROVIDE YOU YOU THE PLAN.
THE GOOD NEWS IS COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE IS, IS THE CONTRACT, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND, AND HER TEAM, UH, AND US AND PURCHASING AND
UM, WE HAVE THIS NAILED DOWN PRETTY TIGHTLY.
SO SATURDAY, WHEN THOSE ADVERTISEMENTS GO OUT, IT IS SOLID.
UH, AND SO ONCE THOSE, ONCE THOSE BIDS COME IN, THAT, UH, THEY COME IN EXACTLY WHERE WE NEED THEM TO BE, THEN THE AWARD PROCESS, WE'LL KEEP YOU ABREAST AND GIVE YOU THE SCHEDULE SO THAT YOU CAN CHECK EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
ACTUALLY, I WANT THE SCHEDULE SO I COULD FOLLOW ALONG.
SO WHEN CONSISTENT WITH ARE ASKING ME ABOUT THESE PROJECTS AND WHERE WE ARE, I DON'T NEED TO CALL OR SAY, I'M GONNA CHECK.
I'M, I'M GONNA BE ABREAST OF IT.
YOU KNOW, CONTRACTORS TEND TO LISTEN TO COUNCIL MEMBERS MORE THAN CONSULTANTS.
SO
I DON'T TALK TO CONTRACTORS AT ANY OF MY JAIL.
[03:15:01]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION.IT REALLY EXPLAINED A LOT TO ME AND I HAVE A LOT TO TAKE BACK TO MY CONSTITUENTS NOW THAT ARE CONCERNED.
UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION, AND YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS, BUT YOU MENTIONED THAT THE LAKE ARTHUR AREA WAS ONE OF THE, THE IMPACTED AREAS THAT WAS LOOKED AT.
UH, AND THEN IT DIDN'T QUITE MAKE THE CUT.
I'M WONDERING THOUGH, IF IN THOSE STUDIES THAT THE IMPACT AREA OF STONEGATE, IF IT MAY HAVE SOME IMPROVEMENT IN DRAINAGE OVER THE LAKE ARTHUR AREA AS WELL BEING THAT IT'S SUCH IN CLOSE PROXIMITY.
YEAH, THERE, THERE'S, THERE'S SOME, THERE'S SOME CROSSOVER.
MONICA, YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT FOR JUST A MOMENT BECAUSE OF THE, OBVIOUSLY THE RELATIONSHIP OF GEOGRAPHY.
RIGHT? GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
AFTERNOON AND COUNCILMAN, UH, COUNCILWOMAN PUT IT DOWN.
SO PUT IT COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM.
YES, THERE IS A CROSSOVER IN TERMS OF IMPACT AREA.
SO IF I CAN TAKE YOU BACK TO THE MAP UP THERE.
THE IMPACT AREA THAT YOU'VE SEE IN THE RIGHT CORNER OVERLAPS WITH THE LAKE ARTHUR DETENTION IMPACT AREA AS WELL.
SO THERE IS SOME KIND OF RELIEF PROVIDED.
UH, WE HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DO ENGINEERING AND DESIGN ON LAKE ARTHUR, WHICH WAS FULLY PAID BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT, UM, THIS, UH, CONSTRUCTION WILL RELIEVE SOME KIND OF DRAINAGE, UM, UH, ISSUES IN THE LAKE ARTHUR AREA AS WELL.
BECAUSE I LIVE RIGHT UP ABOVE
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
IS IT, WERE YOU OKAY, YOU BACK ON COSM LEWIS? YES.
UH, YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME AURURA AURA? YES.
I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION AND EVERYTHING.
AND WITH ALL THIS BACK AND FORTH AND GETTING REEVALUATION WITH THE FUNDING SOURCES THAT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF EFFORT.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T, WE DON'T NEED ANY AMATEURS DOING THAT BECAUSE THE CLOCK IS STILL RUNNING.
YOU SAW ACTUALLY THE PRESENTATION BY MR. DAVIS JUST ON, JUST ON WAY, WAY SIGNS, RIGHT? HOW MUCH BACK AND FORTH THAT TOOK.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE A $57 MILLION, ESPECIALLY WHEN FEMA'S LOOKING AT IT, RIGHT.
UM, THEY DON'T, WE APPRECIATE FEMA, BUT THEY DON'T LIKE TO GIVE THEIR MONEY AWAY UNLESS THEY THAT SURE.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE GIVEN AWAY.
BUT WELL SEE, WE, WE, WE, WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT SPEAKS THE LANGUAGE, YOU KNOW, CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S, WHAT'S GOING ON AND ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS. OKAY.
SO BASED ON EVERYTHING, YOUR PRESENTATION, THERE'S A GREAT PRESENTATION AND, AND THE INFORMATION YOU BROUGHT US AND, AND THE, AND THE FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE AND, AND LESS COST TO THE CITY, I THINK WE'RE GONNA KEEP YOU.
MY GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT COUNSELOR, KEN LAW.
AND, UH, I, YOU KNOW, IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET TO THIS POINT AND, UH, I REMEMBER, UH, SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD AND, AND TRIED TO EXPRESS TO, UH, OUR STATE REP AND, AND SENATORS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER GOING TO AUSTIN AND GOING TO DC AND, AND SPEAKING WITH THEM PERSONALLY ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HELP OUT WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
SO I'M JUST GLAD, AND I'M HAPPY I'M SMILING THAT AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME WE, AT THIS POINT, AND YOU SAID A COUPLE OF SATURDAYS, WE'LL BE PUTTING IT OUT FOR BID.
SO I, I'M JUST HAPPY THAT WE'LL GET SOME RELIEF IN THE STONE GATE AND THE LAKE ARTHUR AREAS THAT WE HAD.
UH, BUT WE ARE PREPARED FOR LAKE ARTHUR.
YOU KNOW, THAT
SO, UH, LET'S, LET'S, UH, CONTINUE AND LIKE, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS AS STATED EARLIER, UH, LET'S JUST NOT WAIT.
AND AGAIN, FOR THE COUNCIL AND EVERYONE ELSE, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND, UH, WHAT COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SAID, SPEAKS VOLUMES IF WE ARE APPRISED OF THE SCHEDULE AND EVERYONE KNOWS, AND EACH PERSON UP HERE HAS CONSTITUENTS WHO WOULD ASK HIM OR HER ABOUT THE PROGRESS OR WHAT THEY SEE OR WHAT THEY DON'T SEE.
SO, UH, IF YOU ARE AS TRANSPARENT WITH THAT INFORMATION AS YOU HAVE BEEN TODAY, AND I THINK THAT YOU'VE BEEN WITH IT SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS, GOING INTO MY FIFTH YEAR, OR WE APPRECIATE IT, AND THE COST SAVINGS RATIO THAT YOU'VE PRESENTED HERE IS VERY, VERY GOOD AND EFFECTIVE FOR OUR CITY.
AND IT ALSO LETS, UH, EVERYONE KNOW CITIZENRY, UH, BUT THEY ARE INFORMED AND TO, WELL, SO I APPRECIATE THE TRANSPARENCY OF WHAT YOU ARE PRESENTED HERE TODAY.
I AND COUNCILMAN KINLAW UTILIZE THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES.
IF YOU HAVE ANY DISTRICT MEETINGS THAT YOU NEED US TO STAND WITH YOU TO EXPLAIN ANY OF THE DETAILS
[03:20:01]
OR TO TAKE THE, TAKE THE TOMATOES SO THAT YOU CAN TALK AFTER THEY'VE BEEN THROWN, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT.SO JUST LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP, AND WE'LL GET THE, UH, WE'LL GET THE SCHEDULE INFORMATION TO YOU GUYS PROMPTLY.
NEXT WE'LL MOVE TO, UH, NUMBER FOUR.
[IV.E.(4) A Discussion Regarding The P-Card Policy (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]
EXCUSE ME, A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PCARD POLICY.AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE COUNCIL.
I'M GONNA DISCUSS THE, UH, PERSONAL MISUSE OF IT.
IT'S, WE HAVE WHAT IS A, UH, PROCUREMENT CARD PROGRAM, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL.
WHEN I CAME ON COUNCIL IN 2011, THERE WERE, UH, TIMES WHEN, TO BE QUITE FRANK, COUNCIL WOULD EAT MEALS AT RESTAURANTS FOR THE MORNING MEETINGS, AND THEY'D HAVE MEETINGS, MEALS BROUGHT IN IN THE EVENING.
BUT WHEN I READ THE PROCUREMENT POLICY, THEN I STARTED QUESTIONING HIM.
AND BY ALL MEANS, COUNSEL REALIZED THAT, OKAY, MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T, NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT.
SO RATHER THAN GIVE MY OPINION AND MAKE SURE CITIZEN, EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS, I'M GONNA READ IT VERBATIM MISUSE OF PROCUREMENT CARDS.
THE PROCUREMENT CARD REFLECTS THE CITY'S TRUST IN THE EMPLOYEE AND HIS, HER EMPOWERMENT AS A RESPONSIBLE EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR SAFEGUARD AND PROTECTED ACCESS AS A CARDHOLDER, EACH EMPLOYEE ASSUMES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROTECTION AND POWERFUL USE OF THE CARD, INCLUDING TIMELY RECONCILIATION.
THE FOLLOWINGS ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF MISUSE OF THE P CARDS.
THIS IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE AND IS INCLUDED FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY.
PERSONAL MISUSE, PURCHASING, USING THE CARD FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF THE EMPLOYEE.
CLOTHING AND FOOD ARE NOT AUTHORIZED BY THE EMPLOYEE'S DEPARTMENT.
WE TALK ABOUT DEPARTMENT, BUT IN ESSENCE, IT SIMPLY STATES THAT THERE'S A CREDIT CARD.
AND IF YOU USE A CREDIT CARD, YOU DON'T USE A CREDIT CARD TO PURCHASE FOOD OR CLOTHING.
IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND IT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, BECAUSE IN GOVERNMENT, IF YOU RECEIVE A SALARY, IF YOU RECEIVE A SALARY, YOU'RE NOT ENTITLED TO HAVE MEALS AT THE EXPENSE OF TAXPAYERS.
THAT'S THE U THAT'S THE US SENATORS REPRESENTATIVES, STATE SENATORS REPRESENTATIVE, ANYBODY YOU NAME.
IF YOU'RE A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE AND YOU RECEIVE A SALARY, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO FEED YOURSELF NOT ON TAXPAYERS.
THAT IS ALLOWED ON CERTAIN EVENTS AND THINGS, AND THOSE CAN BE CLASSIFIED SUCH AS RECEPTIONS.
IF WE ARE INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES FOR OUR POSITIONS, AND WE GONNA WORK THROUGH WITH THE CANDIDATES THEY'RE GOING TO, WE'LL EAT AND WE'LL INTERVIEW 'EM.
THAT'S AN EVENT COUNCIL MEETING ARE REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETINGS.
WE KNOW WHAT TIME THEY'RE GONNA BE IN THE MORNING.
SO IF WE HUNGRY, WE NEED TO EAT BEFORE WE COME DAY IN THE EVENING.
WE NEED TO EAT BEFORE WE LEAVE.
BUT TO USE TAXPAYERS MONEY BY USE OF THE CREDIT CARD IS MISUSE.
SO AS ALWAYS, I LIKE TO PUT THINGS ON FOR DISCUSSION.
I DO NOT LIKE TO POINT FINGERS.
I DO LIKE TO, UH, THAT IT'S THE PROBLEM, ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, FIX THE PROBLEM, AND WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY ABOUT THAT, THAT FOR NOW.
UM, I, I THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE FOR PLACING THIS ON THE AGENDA ON TODAY SO THAT WE CAN, UM, GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE, UH, WE ARE.
[03:25:01]
AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, UM, I HAVE, UM, COME ONTO THIS COUNCIL AND AS WE HAVE HAD MEETINGS OR, UM, UH, AND GATHERED, UH, TO TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN MEALS, IT WAS THE CUSTOM OF, OF THIS COUNCIL TO HAVE MEALS, UM, AND, UM, AND TO HAVE THEM HERE SO THAT WE COULD CONTINUE, UH, TO WORK.WE DON'T GO OUT, UH, NO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HAS A PERSONAL CREDIT CARD.
LET ME QUICKLY RUSH TO SAY THAT, THAT WE DON'T HAVE PERSONAL CREDIT CARDS THAT WE CAN GO TO RESTAURANTS OR TO WALMART OR ANY OF THAT.
SO I, I WANT TO QUICKLY, UH, DISPEL, UH, ANY THOUGHTS OF THAT IN OUR MINDS.
UM, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS WE ARE TAKING CARE OF, UM, THE CITY'S BUSINESS THAT WE HAVE HAD MEALS, UH, HERE FOR US AS WE'VE BEEN, UH, IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON LAST WEEK.
UM, OUR COUNCIL MEETING LASTED FOR SIX HOURS, SIX, SEVEN HOURS.
WE WERE HERE, UH, ON LAST WEEK.
AND SO, UM, I, I DON'T THINK THAT, UH, WE HAVE CHECKED WITH OUR ATTORNEY.
WE ASKED, UH, AND GOT A RULING ON THAT.
UH, TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER.
BUT SINCE, UM, UM, THIS NEW COUNCIL HAS BEEN SEATED, UH, THERE, UH, AND, UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE HAS RAISED, UH, AN OBJECTION OF THAT.
I DO, I AM SO HAPPY THAT HE HAS PUT THIS ON, UM, THE, UM, ON THE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN GET A CLEAR CHAR, UH, CLARIFICATION SO THAT WE ARE NOT INVI OF, UM, UM, OF WHAT, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
I CAN'T, I CANNOT BELIEVE, OR I DO NOT BELIEVE, UH, THAT THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR WOULD BEGRUDGE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE, UM, UH, UH, WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF AND BRINGING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE CITY SO THAT WE CAN WORK ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND LIFTS AND ALL OF THAT, A, A A $12 MEAL, UH, WHILE WE ARE WORKING HERE IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
AND IT DOES NOT MAKE US SUPERHEROES.
IT MAKES US HUMAN BEINGS TO WANT TO EAT A HAMBURGER, UH, WHILE WE'RE WORKING OR TO, UH, TO DO THAT.
IT'S NOT, UH, IS NOT, UH, IS NOT, UH, UH, A FULL TRAY MEAL.
MANY TIMES IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE BOX MEAL IN A STYROFOAM, UH, CONTAINER.
BUT THE QUESTION IS, AND HERE IS THE QUESTION, ARE WE IN ERA, ARE WE VIOLATING, UM, THE, THE, UH, USE OF A CARD? AND SO I WANT TO QUOTE WHAT MR. DE SAID, SAID, AND IT SAYS, PURCHASE IS USING THE CARD FOR THE, SO I THINK THAT WORD HAS TO BE EMPHASIZED AS WELL FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF THE EMPLOYEE.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT FOR THE SOLE, UH, BENEFIT OF ONE PERSON, BUT FOR THE CORPORATE BODY AS WE'RE SEEKING, UH, TO WORK.
AND, AND SO, UH, I THINK THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND.
AND THEN IT IS NOT TO BE AUTHORIZED.
UH, AND THE FOOD, UH, IS, IT'S NOT TO BE USED FOR FOOD THAT IS, UNLESS IT IS AUTHORIZED BY THE EMPLOYEE'S DEPARTMENT, WE, UH, GOT THE FOOD, OR THE FOOD IS BEING ORDERED BECAUSE THIS IS THE CITY MANAGER.
THE CITY MANAGER HAS MONEY IN A BUDGET THAT HE CAN USE FOR HIS DISCRETION.
AND IF HE CHOOSES TO USE IT TO ALLOW US, UH, AND THE STAFF THAT ARE MEETING, UH, TO HAVE A BOXED LUNCH WHILE WE'RE OPERATING, I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE BEGRUDGED THAT IF WE ARE NOT VIOLATING.
AND SO WHAT I WANT TO DO IS I WANT THE RULING, UH, FORUM, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, UH, I HAVE MY SIDE BROTHER, UH, MR. DOUCETTE HAS A SIDE AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE THEIR SIDE.
BUT WHAT DOES THE LAW SAYS AND WHAT DOES OUR ATTORNEY SAY, I THINK IS THE GOVERNING FACTOR HERE IN THIS, UH, IN THIS MATTER.
IT IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK OR WHAT I THINK, UH, WHAT THE ATTORNEY HERE SAYS, AS I STATED, AND I'M VERY CLEAR, IT'S A CREDIT CARD.
[03:30:01]
HAS THE CREDIT CARD.WHAT I READ DID NOT SAY A CITY MANAGER'S CREDIT CARD.
IT DIDN'T SAY A DEPARTMENT CREDIT.
IT SAID A CREDIT CARD, A CREDIT CARD NOT BEING USED.
SO IF THE CITIZENS, YOU SAY, THE CITIZENS WON'T SAY, WELL, I BROUGHT THIS UP BECAUSE CITIZENS HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT TO ME.
SO AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT, YOU SAY $12, THEY GIVE YOU A SALARY, AND THAT'S WHY NO OTHER, UH, PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT PURCHASE MILL USING TAXPAYER MONEY.
AND LIKE I STATED, IT'S NOT ABOUT CITY COUNCIL, US CONGRESSMAN, THE SENATORS, THE REPRESENTATIVES, STATE REPRESENTATIVES, UH, UH, UH, SENATORS.
THEY DO NOT USE TAXPAYERS MONEY TO PURCHASE THEIR PERSONAL FOOD.
AND WE CONTROL, AND WE GOT THESE MEETINGS.
SO WHEN WE HAVE THE MEETINGS, WE KNOW WE CONTROL THE MEETING.
WE COULD STOP THEM ANYTIME TO GO AND HAVE LUNCH.
BUT THAT IS NOT AN EXCUSE TO BUY A MEAL AT TAX PAYER EXPENSE.
UH, TWO THINGS, UH, UH, CITY ATTORNEY, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, GET THIS CLARIFIED, UH, TO GET THE LEGAL ASPECT OF IF THAT'S PERMITTED.
UH, I DON'T RECEIVE A SALARY, SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO ANSWER THAT SINCE HE'S, UH, PART TO THE POINT TO THE FORWARD THAT, UH, IF YOU ARE GOVERNMENT AND RECEIVING A SALARY, I DON'T RECEIVE A SALARY.
SO WOULD YOU COMMENTED ON, ON THAT AS WELL? SO WOULD I BE ENTITLED TO IT AS WELL? AND THEN IT JUST GET TO THE POINT ON IF WE CAN DO IT, IF WE CAN'T AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AND JUST MOVE ON, BECAUSE I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING HERE SIX AND SEVEN HOURS EVERY MEETING WE HAVE, AND IT'S DRAWN OUT.
UH, AND, AND IF WE NEED TO CONSIDER HAVING A LUNCH BREAK, LET'S DO THAT.
LET'S DECIDE AS A COUNSELOR IF WE NEED TO HAVE A LUNCH BREAK.
BECAUSE I MEAN, YOU KNOW, EVERY EMPLOYEE THAT'S HERE TODAY, UH, THEY, THEY ENTITLED TO SOME LUNCH OR SOMETHING TO GO OUT AND WHATEVER.
BUT LET'S IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT PUBLICLY AND, AND FOR THE ENTIRE COUNCIL SO WE CAN, UH, MAKE A DECISION.
UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, I'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT FOOD, UH, AND WE'VE TALKED TO T M L AND WE'VE RESEARCHED THIS.
THERE'S NOTHING ON IN STATE LAW THAT PREVENTS A CITY FROM, UH, DECIDING WAYS IN WHICH YOU, UH, SPEND MONEY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
A LOT OF CITIES DO SPEND MONEY FOR FOOD.
AS A HOME RULE CITY, YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE THAT DECISION, BUT THERE'S NOTHING UN ILLEGAL ABOUT IT.
AND MY MANY, MANY CONVERSATIONS OVER THE YEAR WITH T M L, THEY HAVE A PAPER ON IT.
UH, SOMEWHERE THAT WAS WRITTEN A LONG TIME AGO, AND I THINK I PRESENTED IT YEARS AGO IN A MEMO.
BUT BASICALLY, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS THE CITY AS A WHOLE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WERE PRETTY CLEAR THAT WHEN WE HAVE THESE RECEPTIONS, WE HAVE FOOD.
UH, IF IT IS SOMETHING FOR TEAM BUILDING, AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS SOMETIMES WE HAVE WORKSHOPS HERE AND, UH, THE, SAY THE STAFF HAS A WORKSHOP, AND INSTEAD OF THE STAFF LEAVING AND GOING OUT AND TAKING A LUNCH BREAK, UH, FOOD CAN BE PROVIDED AT THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
AND THEY, THEY KIND OF PUT IT UNDER THE CATEGORY OF TEAM BUILDING OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP FACILITATE THE MEETING.
IT'S BASICALLY A DECISION, UH, THAT'S AS A HOME RULE CITY, THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL.
AS FAR AS OUR POLICIES, THE PCARD POLICY TALKS ABOUT HOW A PERSON, UH, WHO IS A CARD HOLDER SHOULD HANDLE A PCARD.
AND IT TALKS ABOUT PERSONAL MISUSE AND IT TALKS ABOUT SOLE BENEFIT.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF HAVE TO BLEND ALL THESE DEFINITIONS TOGETHER.
WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND, UM, IT'S QUITE CLEAR THAT IF YOU'RE AN EMPLOYEE, YOU'RE A DEPARTMENT HEAD AND YOU HAVE A CREDIT CARD, NO, YOU CAN'T GO OUT TO EAT ON THE CITY'S MONEY JUST AT YOUR LUNCH BREAK.
IT HAS TO BE, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO SOMETHING THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE.
AND, UH, IF THE COUNCIL WOULD PROBABLY BE, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS MAYBE PUT SOME TYPE OF POLICY TOGETHER BECAUSE YOU DECIDED THAT'S A PO.
THIS POLICY IS ABOUT USING A PROCUREMENT CARD, BUT IF YOU'RE USING FOOD, YOU MAY PAY FOR IT IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.
SO THIS ONLY PERTAINS TO THE P CARD, AND IT IS, UH, YOU WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT DOES IT MEAN BY SOLE BENEFIT.
I THINK SOLE BENEFIT, IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME, AND I DID NOT WRITE THIS POLICY, BUT
[03:35:01]
IT WAS PASSED BY RESOLUTION, WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT ONLY SOLELY BENEFITS YOU.IF WE WANNA PUT MORE CLARITY IN THAT, WE CAN.
BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND ON THE ISSUE OF FOOD THAT THE COUNCIL COME TO A CONSENSUS ON WHEN THEY WANNA SPEND MONEY FOR THINGS LIKE THAT AND PUT IT IN WRITING, PUT A, PUT A MORE SPECIFIC POLICY.
BUT THERE'S NO LAW THAT PREVENTS THAT IF IT IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
SO SOME PEOPLE LOOK AT IT TWO WAYS.
YOU KNOW, YOU COULD LOOK AT IT, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE EATING, YOU EAT EVERY DAY, YOU NEED TO PAY FOR YOUR OWN FOOD.
BUT THEN SOME PEOPLE LOOK AT IT AS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING A MEETING, WE ARE HERE FOR EIGHT HOURS, WE'RE ON, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE FOR EIGHT HOURS.
UH, WE'LL TAKE A MEAL BREAK AND THE CITY WILL PAY FOR IT.
THERE'S NOTHING ILLEGAL ABOUT THAT.
IF IT BENEFITS THE CITY AS A WHOLE, THAT'S WHAT'S IN TMLS HANDBOOK.
OKAY? AND SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU PUT A POLICY TOGETHER AND CLARIFY ANY TERMS THAT CAN BE MISCONSTRUED.
WONDER AS, UH, COUNCILMAN DEUCE SAID, BROUGHT UP, IT'S A POLICY.
IT, IT'S UP TO US TO CHANGE IT.
OKAY? WE'VE HAD TO CHANGE THINGS, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF TIMES WE USED TO DO CERTAIN THINGS LIKE CITY MANAGERS AT THE TIME WAS BUYING LIQUOR FOR THE COUNCIL.
WE HAD TO STOP ALL THOSE THINGS.
WE HAD, WE HAD TO STOP ALL THAT WAS BEFORE OUR TIME AND YEAH, WHEN WE, WE, YOU WOULD MAKE CHANGES.
YOU MAKE CHANGES AS YOU GO ALONG.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS WE NEED TO EXPEDITIOUSLY MOVE ON THIS.
POLICY CHANGES AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED ON THE 29TH, THOSE WHO WOULD WANT TO CONSUME SOMETHING, WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING ANYTHING WRONG.
WE'LL HAVE CONSUMPTION, BUT HOPEFULLY BY THAT TIME WE CAN COME UP WITH HOW WE WOULD GOING TO HAVE IT.
OKAY? I RECOMMEND YOU PUT A POLICY LET TOGETHER.
[IV.E.(5) A Discussion Regarding Amending The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A EDC Bylaws (Requested By Councilmember Lewis)]
THE NEXT ITEM.NEXT ITEM IS GOING TO BE A DISCUSSION NUMBER FIVE, UH, REGARDING AMENDING THE CITY, OR PULL OUT THE SECTION FOUR, A E D C BYLAWS REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN LEWIS.
YEAH, I'LL BE, I'LL BE BRIEFED.
IT'S, UH, MISSING INFORMATION IS MY PROBLEM.
UH, FEBRUARY 13TH, 1996, WE STARTED AT THE E D C, THE ONLY, IN OCTOBER THE 20TH, 2005, WE EXTENDED TO NINE AND WE SET UP ALL THE BYLAWS AND EVERYTHING.
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A CHANGE.
NOW IN 2000, UH, EIGHT, YEAH, 2008, 2008, 2018, IT WAS A CHANGE.
BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY LISTED THE CHANGES FROM NINE DOWN TO SEVEN, AND THAT'S BASICALLY THE ONLY THING, BUT I GOT IT WAS MISSING INFORMATION.
YOU GO TO, YOU GO TO ARTICLE, ARTICLE SIX TO BE, WE APPOINT THE BOARD NOW TO BE QUALIFIED TO SERVE AS A DIRECTOR.
A PERSON MUST BE A RESIDENT AND A QUALIFIED VOTER OF THE CITY, AND BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE.
THAT'S WHAT A MISSING, THAT'S ARTICLE SIX.
THAT'S WHAT A MISSING INFORMATION ALSO THAT TO CONSTITUTE THE BOARD, IF YOU HAD BENEFITED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM TAX MONEY, YOU COULD, YOU COULDN'T BE A BOARD MEMBER.
NOW, WHEN I LOOKED AT 2018, THAT'S, IT'S, THIS INFORMATION IS MISSING.
WELL, I REQUESTED THIS DOCUMENT HERE.
CITY ATTORNEY PROVIDED ME WITH ALL OF THE CHANGES, BUT THE CHANGE, THE REMOVE OR DELETE ON THE ARTICLE SIX, THAT REQUIREMENT, IF YOU, IF YOU COULD NOT SERVE AS A BOARD MEMBER, IF YOU, IF YOU BENEFITED FROM TAX DOLLARS DIRECTLY, INDIRECTLY, NOW, AND I, I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO THAT.
I, I, WE DID THAT FOR A REASON, FOR IT WAS SOME ABUSE, OKAY? BUT IT IS, THE INFORMATION IS MISSING.
2018 CHANGES WITH CITY ATTORNEY IN HER FORM.
IT'S THERE, ALL THE CHANGES IS THERE.
BUT WHEN WAS THE DELETION ON, UH, ON REMOVAL OR AMENDMENT? AND ONLY THE, ONLY THE, THE E D C BOARD HAS THE RIGHT TO AMEN WITH FIVE TODAY WITH FIVE, FIVE VOTES.
THAT'S THE SUPER, SUPER MAJORITY.
BUT THERE WAS NO DOCUMENTATION WHEN THEY REMOVED THAT OTHER PROVISION.
TO QUALIFY FOR A BOARD MEMBER, YOU HAS TO, IF YOU, IF YOU, IF YOU BENEFITED FROM TAX MONEY DIRECTLY, INDIRECTLY HAS NOT, IT'S NOT THERE.
UH, UH, ARE YOU PREPARED TO ANSWER THAT OR IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN REVISIT? UH, UM, I'LL MAKE THE E D C ATTORNEY AWARE OF IT.
HE'S WORKING ON IT, AND I'LL MAKE SURE HE'S AWARE OF IT.
AND IF AT SOME OTHER HE'S ON THAT, WE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACT.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU'D BE, UH, SATISFIED WITH THAT? I'M SATISFIED.
LET'S MOVE TO, EXCUSE ME NOW, ACTUALLY, UH,
[03:40:02]
OUR[VII. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
NO, ROMAN NUMBER SEVEN, ACTUALLY ON PAGE FIVE, WHICH WOULD BE REPORTS FOR, UH, COMMUNITY INTEREST.I, I DON'T THINK I HAVEN'T MISSED ANYTHING.
THEN I SEE THE SECRETARY, I'M GOING GOOD.
WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION WITH COUNCILWOMAN BECKER? I'M SORRY? ARE WE ON NUMBER SEVEN? YES, MA'AM.
OR ROMAN? NUMBER SEVEN ON FIVE.
UM, I, I THINK THIS FITS INTO CATEGORY NUMBER FIVE, INFORMATION REGARDING A SOCIAL CEREMONY OR COMMUNITY EVENT, ET CETERA.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THE PORT ARTHUR Y M C A IS OFFERING FOR FAMILIES WHO HOMESCHOOL THEIR CHILDREN.
UH, SOME, UH, EVENTS STARTING IN SEPTEMBER, UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
THEY'RE DOING SOME, UH, SWIMMING AND SOME OUT OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AND, UH, KIND OF LETTING 'EM TRY SOME DIFFERENT SPORTS.
UH, AND, UH, YOU CAN GET MORE INFORMATION BY CALLING THE PORT ARTHUR Y M C A.
I BELIEVE FOR MEMBERS IT'S $35.
AND IT'S A SIX WEEK PROGRAM EVERY TUESDAY, STARTING SEPTEMBER 5TH, SPECIFICALLY FOR HOMESCHOOLED CHILDREN.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
I JUST WANT TO OFFER CONDOLENCES TO, UM, TO THE MITCHELL FAMILY.
UH, MRS. ANNETTE MITCHELL, LONGTIME TEACHER, UH, HERE, UH, IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
UH, AND A PROUD, UH, TEACHER AT THE LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL, UM, FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, UH, HAS PASSED.
AND I WANT TO OFFER CONDOLENCES, UH, TO HER SON DENNIS, UH, IN THE PASSING OF HIS MOTHER AND, UH, TO THAT FAMILY.
OKAY? COUNCILMAN LEWIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT WE GOT CITY EMPLOYEES.
I'M NOT GIVE WE HUMAN RESOURCE OR CITY MANAGERS TO GIVE WE HUMAN RESOURCE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.
WE HAVE CITY EMPLOYEES HAVE ACTUALLY NEVER MISSED A DAY FROM WORK.
AND, UH, AND SOME OF 'EM HAVE NEVER MISSED A DAY.
WE GOT TWO CATEGORIES, ONES THAT HAVEN'T MISSED A DAY FROM WORK SINCE THEY'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE CITY.
AND SOME OF THEM NEVER MISSED A DATE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND IT BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, THOSE, THOSE, UH, PEOPLE NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED.
OKAY? A GIFT CERTIFICATE OF DENTAL OR SUBSTANCE.
YOU ALL WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT WITH THE PEACOCK
THAT WAS A RECENT PROBLEM, HE THINKING ON THE STREET.
OKAY, I DIDN'T SEE THAT FOR COVER.
WELL, AND, AND WE'LL WORK ON THAT.
AND I, UH, MS. WILLIAMS IS HERE, OUR HR DIRECTOR.
SO YOU DID HEAR WHAT THE COUNCILMAN SAID, AND I GUESS, YOU KNOW, SHE'LL WORK ON THAT AND WE CAN DO SOMETHING SPECIAL, UH, FOR, FOR THEM.
[XI. CONSENT AGENDA]
INTO OUR, OUR CONSENT AGENDA.AND THE CONSENT AGENDA ACTUALLY HAS THOSE ITEMS AND SOME ARE OF ROUTINE NATURE.
AND BE THERE ANY, ANY ITEMS THAT A COUNCIL PERSON WOULD WANT WITHDRAWN, IF YOU COULD TELL ME THE PAGE NUMBER AND, AND, AND THE ITEM NUMBER AND THEN I CAN GET, GET YOURS AND MOVE ON.
COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? TWO ON SEVEN, ITEM TWO ON NUMBER SEVEN, NINE ON EIGHT.
AND WHAT, WHAT WAS THE SECOND ONE? 14 AND 15.
ON PAGE EIGHT, NINE, AND, UH, 12.
AND YEAH, I SAID 13, BUT, AND NUMBER TWO ON PAGE 7, 2, 9, 12, 13, 14.
RIGHT? WE, WE NEED THE NUMBERS CALLED PR NUMBER.
MA'AM, CAN YOU READ THE PR NUMBER? OKAY.
I, I'LL GET 'EM FOR THANK YOU.
YOU JUST, I'LL DO 'EM, I GUESS BECAUSE I HAVE MY SPECIAL, WE'LL MARK THEM AND I KNOW.
OKAY, BUT PR NUMBER 2, 3 2 7 2.
BE THERE ANY OTHERS? BE THERE ANY OTHERS? IF THERE ARE NOT, I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH
[03:45:01]
THE EXCLUSION OF THE MENTIONED PR NUMBERS.COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU GIMME A SECOND? SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, EXCUSE ME, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE NOTED AND STATED, UH, WITHDRAWALS BROUGHT ON BY COUNCILMAN DUCEY.
ARE WE READY FOR A QUESTION ON THIS? OKAY.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED AS READ NOW, WE WILL HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS ON THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA.
[XI.C.(2) P.R. No. 23272 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 1 To The Contract With Allco, LLC Of Beaumont, Texas For The El Vista Force Main Rehabilitation, Increasing The Contract Amount By $14,638.00, To A New Contract Total Of $2,314,138.50; Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000, Project No. WS0007-CON]
PR NUMBER 2 3 2 7 2 AS THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE TO THE CONTRACT WITH ALCO, L L C OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE VESTER FORCE MAIN REHABILITATION, INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $14,638 TO A NEW CONTRACT TOTAL OF 2,314, NO, 2,000,003 2,000,300, AND, UH, UH, $14,138 AND 50 CENTS IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH 4 0 0 8 5 6 0 0 DASH 0 0 0.AND IT IS PROJECT NUMBER WS 0 0 0 7 CONSTRUCTION.
MAY I GET APPROVAL FOR THIS, UH, ITEM, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? MOTION? OKAY, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILWOMAN, UH, BECKHAM SECOND.
AND WE WOULD ACCEPT PR NUMBER TWO.
UH, ON THE BACK, ON THE BACK OF THE THING, THE, UH, THE SUBCONTRACT AMOUNT ON THE, I, I CAN'T SEE THAT THERE'S THIS, THE, THIS CAME ABOUT AS REPLACING SUCTION VALVES.
IT, IT'S SUBCONTRACT AND WHAT, AND THE LAST ONE, THE PROFIT AND OVERHEAD.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THOSE TWO TO ME? WHAT IS THAT ABOUT? OH, OKAY.
I, I WOULD'VE TO VERIFY THIS, 'CAUSE THIS WAS A LITTLE WHILE BACK, BUT JUST AS A BACKGROUND TO THIS, WE WERE BIDDING THE, UH, FORCE MAIN REPLACEMENT JOB FOR EL VISTA PUMP STATION.
THE PUMP STATION IS AN EXTREMELY BAD CONDITION, AND THE SUCTION VALVES HAD FAILED, SO WE COULD NOT ISOLATE THE PUMPS.
SO JUST AS IT WAS BIDDING, WE PUT IN THE CONTRACT TO REPLACE THE SUCTION VALVES BECAUSE THERE WAS GONNA BE SOME BYPASS PUMPING GOING WHEN THEY FIRST CONNECTING INTO THE FORCE MAIN SO THAT WE CAN THEN COME IN THE FUTURE AND REBUILD THE PUMP STATION.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ISOLATE THE SUCTION VALVES TO REBUILD THE PUMP STATION.
AND WE DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE SPOOL PIECES BETWEEN THE VALVES AND THE PUMPS WERE IN SUCH BAD CONDITION.
SO WHEN ALCO, THE CONTRACTOR WENT TO PUT, STARTED TO PUT THE VALVES IN, THEY WEREN'T, THEY COULDN'T PUT THE VALVES IN WITH THE EXISTING SPOOLS.
SO THEY HAD SPOOLS MANUFACTURED.
AND I AM PO PRETTY POSITIVE THAT THIS IS THE SHOP THAT BUILT THE SPOOLS.
AND, AND THEN YOU WILL, AS SOON AS WE CAN FUND IT, THERE WILL BE A PROJECT TO REBUILD THE PUMP STATIONS.
WE NEED TO REPLACE THE PUMPS, THE OTHER VALVES, AND ALL THE PIPING INSIDE THE PUMP STATION.
WELL, I JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT CAME ABOUT, BUT I SEE WHAT HE DID.
YOU HAD TO GO AND HAVE SOMETHING MANUFACTURED.
SO HE ACTUALLY PUT THAT COST IN THERE AND THAT'S WHAT THAT COST SAID.
COUNCILMAN, IF I MAY ADD TO CALVIN'S COMMENTS.
I'M LIKE THE MAYOR AIN'T CALLED ON HIM YET.
BUT I THINK, I BELIEVE WE GOT, DID NOT INCLUDE AN ITEM THAT'S ALREADY IN THE BIG TABLE.
SO AS PER THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, THE WAY IT CAN BE BILLED IS THE CONTRACTOR'S COST PLUS THE OVERHEAD AND PROFIT.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S BROKE DOWN IN THAT FORMAT.
IT WAS AN ITEM THAT'S ALREADY THERE, LIKE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF FEED ON A PIPE REPLACEMENT, FOR EXAMPLE.
[03:50:01]
IT WOULD'VE FOLLOWED THE EXACT COST IN THE BID TABLE BECAUSE IT WASN'T IN THE BID TABLE.AS PER THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, THEY HAVE TO BILL IT ACCORDINGLY.
ANY OTHER, WE HAVE ANY OTHER READINESS ON IT? I DON'T THINK THAT WE DO.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT.
UH, NOW, UH, OUR, OUR PAST, UH, MAYOR PRO, COUNCILMAN FRANK IS GOING TO CONTINUE THE MEETING FOR ME.
I MUST EXIT AND, BUT WE STILL HAVE A, HAVE A QUORUM FOR THE MEETING, BUT, UH, I HAVE AN OBLIGATION IN ANOTHER 20 MINUTES THAT MAN, I NEED TO BE TOO.
SO HE'S GONNA HOW LET I
I AIN'T WANT Y'ALL TO JUST SAY I I LEFT TO GO TO A PARTY.
ANYWAY, WE GOING TO KNOW TO BE PARTYING AND I HOPEFULLY GOOD, I'LL BE THERE.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE READY TO CONTINUE.
[XI.C.(9) P.R. No. 23282 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract For Fuel Dispensing With Impac Fleet Of The Woodlands, Texas Through Choice Partners Cooperative Purchasing Contract No. 22/056SG-02 With A Projected Budgetary Impact Of $1,800,000.00; Funds Will Be Available In All Departments Fuel And Lubrication Accounts]
UM, OUR SECOND, UM, ITEM IS PR NUMBER 2 3 2 8 2 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER INTO TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR FUEL DISPENSING WITH IMPACT FLEET OF THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS THROUGH CHOICE PARTNERS COOPERATIVE PURCHASING.CONTRACT NUMBER TWO TWO SLASH 0 5 6 SG DASH ZERO TWO WITH A PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $1,800,000 FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN ALL DEPARTMENTS FUEL AND LUBRICATION ACCOUNTS.
SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE.
SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY, UH, COUNCILMAN BECKHAM.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? NO, NO QUESTIONS.
I, I READ, I READ ALL OF THIS, UH, REQUESTS FOR THIS COMPANY.
WE TALKED ABOUT THEM MANAGING, WELL, THEM TRACKING, RECORDING, UH, CREDIT CARDS FOR FUEL AND, UH, THEY'LL BE ISSUING THEIR CREDIT CARD, WHICH CAN, CAN BE USED AT VARIOUS SERVICE STATIONS.
THEY, UH, TRACK, UH, MILEAGE, THEY TRACK, UH, POSSIBLE ABUSE.
UH, THEY HAVE ALERTS FOR THE CARD.
AND WHAT I'VE GOT OUT THIS, RON, IS THAT WE WANT TO ENTER IN A CONTRACT WITH THEM IN WHICH THEY WILL START HANDLING, UH, THE FUEL BY, BY GIVING US CARS AND THEY GONNA KEEP ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT RECORDS FOR US AND ALL OF THIS STATISTICS AND STUFF.
I MEAN, SO IS THAT WHAT I, IS THAT WHAT I READ? I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT I GOT.
I READ THE WHOLE THING, BUT EVERYTHING I READ, I SEEN WHEREBY THAT SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING, EVEN THE CREDIT CARD.
WE HAVE A POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR A CREDIT CARD.
NOW, THE POLICY AND FOR THE CREDIT CARD, I DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT OUR POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR THE CREDIT CARD STARTS WITH THREE TIERS.
EACH DIRECT, EACH DEPARTMENT HAS A, A PERSON THAT MANAGE IT.
THAT PERSON KEEPS IT ON A DAILY, THAT PERSON GIVES IT TO THE, UH, DIRECTOR FOR A WAKE, AND THEN DIRECTOR SIGNS OFF AND SAYS, YES, ALL THESE PURCHASES WERE LEGITIMATE.
THAT PERSON SENDS THEM TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WHERE THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE PCARD PROGRAM THEN GOES THROUGH THESE SAME LIST OF CHARGES AND THEN THEY SAY THEY ARE LEGITIMATE AND THEN THE BILLS ARE PAID.
NOW THAT'S WHAT THE, UH, PROCUREMENT POLICY FOR CREDIT CARD USE SAYS.
SO, SO ACTUALLY WHEN I LOOKED AT WHAT WE WANT TO HIRE, ENTER A CONTRACT, WHAT WAS THE COST OF IT? 1.8 MILLION.
$1.8 MILLION TO DUPLICATE WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
WE PAYING PEOPLE, ALL IT IS CAN BE DONE BY OUR EMPLOYEES.
[03:55:01]
ON.THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CREDIT CARD SYSTEM? NO.
THE COST IS THE COST OF THE FUEL.
THE 1.8 IS THE COST OF THE FUEL.
AND WE PAY THROUGH THIS COMPANY.
WE HAVE A DIFFERENT COMPANY THAT WE USE NOW AND WE'RE JUST CHANGING COMPANIES.
THE REASON I ASKED, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THE WAY I READ IT AND, AND I DID SEE, I DID EXPLAIN WHAT I READ.
THAT'S THE TIME I ASKED THE QUESTION, ARE WE PAYING FOR THIS? I DIDN'T SAY, WAIT, I ASKED THE QUESTION, ARE WE PAYING FOR THIS? BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING WE ALREADY HAVE.
SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER COMPANY THAT HANDLES IT NOW AND WE'RE JUST SWITCHING TO A DIFFERENT COMPANY WHO WE BELIEVE WILL BE MORE EFFICIENT AT PROVIDING US THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO BUILD THE DEPARTMENTS.
UH, AND AND IN RESPECT OF MONEY, IS THAT, IS THAT A BETTER CONTRACT OR IT COSTS SOME MORE TO GO TO THAT CONTRACT? NO, SIR.
I THINK CLIFF CAN PROBABLY FILL YOU IN MORE ABOUT THAT PART OF IT, BUT, UH, IT, UH, REALLY IS JUST A SWITCH, UM, COMPANIES TO HANDLE THE PROCESS AND PROVIDE THE REPORTING THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THE DEPARTMENTS IN A TIMELY FASHION.
O OKAY, THEN I'LL JUST HAVE TO GO BACK AND LEARN MORE ABOUT IT FOR RIGHT NOW.
ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YEAH, WE ALL LOOKALIKE.
WHO'S AUDITING THESE CARDS? COUNCILMAN DEUCE.
WHO'S DOING THE AUDIT ON THE, ON THE CALL ON FUEL CARDS? WELL, FINANCE WILL BE THE, THE END AUDIT, BUT IT WILL GO THROUGH THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS WILL BE LOOKING AT THE, UH, THE CARDS.
THERE IS A CARD, I BELIEVE CLIFF, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THAT IS ISSUED FOR EACH VEHICLE BECAUSE MULTIPLE PEOPLE WILL USE A VEHICLE AND THAT CARD GOES WITH THE VEHICLE.
IS THAT CORRECT?
YOU, WHOEVER DRIVING THE VEHICLE USE THE CAR.
MULTIPLE PEOPLE MAY USE A CAR.
SO THAT CARD WILL STAY WITH THE VEHICLE AND THEN THE DEPARTMENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT IT'S ONLY USED.
THE DEPARTMENTS IS RESPONSIBLE.
CLIFF, CLIFF CAN EXPLAIN THAT.
YOU GOT SOME COMMENTS? GO AHEAD.
UH, SO BASICALLY THE CURRENT COMPANY WE HAVE NOW IS FUEL MAN.
SO WE ARE REPLACING FUEL MAN WITH IMPACT.
SO IT'S A FUEL CARD THAT DOES GO WITH EACH VEHICLE.
EMPLOYEES HAVE A PIN NUMBER, SO WHEN THEY GO TO THE PUMP, THEY PUT IT IN, THEY PUT THEIR PIN NUMBER.
SO IT KEEPS, THAT'S HOW IT KEEPS THE TRACKING OF HOW MUCH, UH, USED WITH A CERTAIN CARD.
NOW THE COMPANY IS GONNA BE USED FOR TRACKING PURPOSES.
SO FINANCE DOES GET THE INFORMATION FROM THEM.
WHEN THEY GET THE INFORMATION, THEY SEND THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE DEPARTMENTS TO REVIEW, TO MAKE SURE IF SOMETHING NEFARIOUS THINGS ARE GOING ON.
IF THEN THEY, OKAY, THEY SIGN OFF AND THEN THEY GET CHARGED OUT.
SO IT, IT IS AS CHECKS AND BALANCES.
THE, THE, THE, UH, AND THE PIN NUMBER.
THE PIN NUMBER IS SIGNED TO A VEHICLE.
HUH? TO, TO A PERSON, TO A, THE PIN IS SIGNED TO A PERSON.
LIKE SO FOR A POLICE VEHICLE THAT HAS MULTIPLE PEOPLE USING A CARD, THEY ALL GOT THEIR OWN PIN NUMBERS THAT THEY PUT IN INDIVIDUAL WISE.
SO, SO YOU ARE MATCHING THE PIN NUMBER WITH, WITH, WITH A VEHICLE NUMBER THAT'S UNDER THE CITY.
THE HOW DO WE KNOW WE'RE NOT PUTTING, PUTTING FUEL IN PRIVATE VEHICLES? THAT'S WHERE THE TRACKING COMES IN.
IF YOU, IF, I MEAN IF SOMEBODY'S SPENDING A HUNDRED GALLONS IN TWO WEEKS, THEN WE KNOW SOMETHING'S UP.
SO, I MEAN, IT JUST DEPENDS ON, I DON'T GET THAT DEEP 'CAUSE IT REALLY MONITOR MORE ABOUT IN GARAGE.
THEY HAVE TO GET DEEPER INTO THAT PART.
BUT I KNOW WHEN THEY SEND A REPORT ON HOW MUCH MILEAGE WAS, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU PUT YOUR PEN, IT HAS TO START AT END AND MILEAGE, I MEAN GALLONS, I'M SORRY.
AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT AND SEE HOW MANY GALLONS YOU USE OVER THE COURSE OF THAT MONTH, YOU KNOW, IF SOMETHING LOOKS LIKE WAY OUTTA LINE, THEN YOU KNOW.
'CAUSE WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH THIS.
YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS. YEAH.
AND THAT'S HOW THEY GOT CAUGHT.
'CAUSE WHEN THEY SEND REPORTS, PEOPLE HAVE SEEN LIKE THESE RIDICULOUS AMOUNTS.
'CAUSE SOMEBODY DIDN'T FUEL FOLK CARS.
WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.
THE FIRST TIME IT GOT CAUGHT WAS AN, IT WAS, UH, AT 25TH.
IT WAS, UH, THE, THE, THE STATION OWNER JUST HAPPENED TO MENTION THAT OLD BOY DOWN.
HE'S, HE'S PUTTING, PUTTING, LOOK, HE ABUSING THE CITY'S COURT.
OFF-DUTY POLICEMAN CAUGHT HIM.
IT WASN'T A SYSTEM CALLED HIM, IT WAS OFF-DUTY.
[04:00:02]
EVEN THEN THERE ARE CHECKS AND BALANCES THROUGH THE CONTROLLER DEPARTMENT AND, UM, THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EFFICIENCIES ARE APPLIED FOR THOSE THINGS.IF AN INORDINATE NUMBER COMES UP AND IT DOES NOT CORRESPOND WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH, THEY CUT, THEY CATCH IT AND THEY REPORT IT TO US AND THEN WE LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION.
YEAH, BUT THOSE ARE NOT CREDIT CARDS.
THOSE ARE FUEL CARDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF FUEL AND LUBRICANTS.
AND IT'S, IT'S SIMILAR TO THE FUELMAN SYSTEM.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[XI.C.(13) P.R. No. 23291 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Settlement Of A Property Damage Claim In The Amount Of $6,515.00 Made Against Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool (TMLIRP) As A Result Of Property Damage To Transit Unit #1965]
13.PR NUMBER 2 3 2 9 1 A RE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SETTLEMENT OF A PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIM IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,515 MADE AGAINST TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RISK POOL, T M L I R P AS A RESULT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE TO TRANSIT UNIT NUMBER 1 9 6 5.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS? UH, QUESTIONS OKAY ON THIS ONE? I PULLED, UH, 12.
CITY MANAGER CAN ALL BE, AFTER I FINISH TALKING, WE JUST ROLLING ALL THEM.
IF NOBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS, THAT'S FINE.
BUT THE REASON I PULL ALL OF THESE, ALL OF THESE ARE DEALING WITH RISK MANAGEMENT.
NOW I NOTICED EVERY TIME THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THESE, IT'S A LIKE A ONE SENTENCE DESCRIBING WHAT HAPPENS.
BUT SOME OF THESE THINGS SAYS LIKE A VEHICLE BACKING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, CITY MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT A CORNER AND HITTING A FIRE HYDRANT.
AND BACKING INTO GARAGE, BACKING INTO BUILDINGS.
I'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF THESE JUST IN THE SHORT TIME I'VE BEEN BACK ON COUNCIL.
SO I UNDERSTAND ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE.
FOR INSTANCE, IF A VEHICLE IS BACKING, THAT SHOULD BE A GROUND GUY AND THAT PERSON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT NOBODY IS BEHIND OR THAT PERSON ON BACK END TURNING A CORNER AND HITTING A FIRE HYDRANT THAT'S NEGLIGENT.
UNLESS THEY HAD A MEDICAL THING.
IF SOMEBODY'S SICK, THEN THEY CAN'T HELP.
THAT'S WHAT I CALL AN ACCIDENT.
BUT IF YOU TURN THAT CORNER AND YOU HIT A FIRE HYDRANT, THE THE NEXT TIME THAT WE GET 'EM, CITY MANAGER, I WOULD, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU GIVE US, UH, A, A A A REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT REPORT.
UH, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH IT.
YOU COULD MAYBE GIVE IT TO US SO WE COULD READ HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
BECAUSE IF WE CONTINUE TO TURN TEAR VEHICLES LIKE THIS THROUGH NEGLIGENCE, I EXPECT SOMEBODY TO START BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
SO THE ONLY WAY THAT WE AS A COUNCIL CAN ENSURE THAT WE ARE NOT LETTING PEOPLE TEAR VEHICLES NEGLIGENTLY.
AND IT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE.
SO IF WE'RE GONNA PAY AND THEY'RE BEING NEGLIGENT, THEN I DON'T ISSUE PUNISHMENT.
BUT I EXPECT SOMEBODY TO TELL ME WHAT ACTIONS WE ARE TAKING WHEN OUR EMPLOYEES ARE NEGLIGENTLY TEARING UP VEHICLES FROM THEY SAY FORWARD.
UM, I'M, I'M GLAD THAT YOU YOU BROUGHT THAT UP COUNSELOR BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL LEVELS OF OVERSIGHT WHERE THAT IS CONCERNED.
WHERE THIS CITY THROUGH ITS PERSONAL POLICY HOLDS
[04:05:01]
EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBLE.ONE, WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT REVIEW BOARD.
EVERY VEHICLE THAT'S DAMAGED, THE INDIVIDUAL IS BROUGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT REVIEW BOARD.
AND THEN YOU, YOU, YOU ACCUMULATE A CERTAIN MEMBER OF A NUMBER OF POINTS WHERE IT EVENTUALLY LEADS TO TERMINATION.
OKAY? SO THERE IS A FULL REPORT THAT'S BEEN DONE AND A A, AN ACCIDENT REPORT IS BEING DONE.
YOU APPEAR THE, I THINK THE ACCIDENT REVIEW BOARD, WE MEET ONCE A MONTH.
IT'S MADE UP OF CERTAIN THE POLICE AND FIRE, WHAT HAVE YOU, CERTAIN MEMBERS OF STAFF.
AND THEN YOU ASSIGN, THERE'S A MATRIX THAT WE GO BY EACH INDIVIDUAL THAT ENDS UP DAMAGING A CITY VEHICLE OR PROPERTY GOES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT REVIEW BOARD IS BEING APPLIED AND ACTION IS BEING TAKEN THEREAFTER.
SO THE AMOUNT OF TIMES IF YOU HAVE A C D L, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR C D L AND THEN WHEN IT CANCEL TO TERMINATION, WE GET TO TERMINATION AS WELL.
SO THERE IS A FEAR AND CONSISTENT WAY IN HANDLING IT INTERNALLY.
AND WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING THE REPORTS TO BACK IT UP.
THE ONLY THING WE'RE DOING HERE IS APPROVING THE, UM, THE PART WHERE WE GO TO T M L.
BUT INTERNALLY WE DO REMEMBER, SEE AS A COUNCILMAN, CITY MANAGER, YOU SAY WE HAVE A WAY OF OF VOTING ALL THIS STUFF.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WHEN I SAT HERE AND SEE IT KEEP COMING BEFORE THIS COUNCIL AND THEN WHEN I READ THE LITTLE PART THAT I GOT MM-HMM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS BOARD DONE, BUT THAT'S NEGLIGENT.
YOU TURN THE CORNER AND HIT A FIRE HYDRANT THAT'S NEGLIGENCE YOU BACK INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE.
SO ALL I'M SAYING IS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE FUTURE, THESE THINGS KEEP COMING.
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT.
I'M NOT SAYING THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG BECAUSE WHATEVER WE DOING IS NOT DETERRING OR NOT STOPPING THING.
YOU'RE GONNA ALWAYS HAVE ACCIDENT.
BUT THESE THINGS JUST, I JUST GOT ON AND THEY JUST RISK SOMEBODY HIT THIS, SOMEBODY THIS EVEN AT THE LANDFILL AND THE LANDFILL BUMPING BACK INTO THE ONE THAT SOMEBODY'S NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND THAT WORD NEEDS TO GO OUT.
SO, SO, UH, THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTIONS WITH THAT PARTICULAR ONE, UH, COUNCILMAN, BUT IF ANYBODY WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT ONE OR ANY OF THE OTHER FOUR, THEN THEY MAY COMMENT ON IT AND IF THEY DO NOT WISH TO COMMENT THEN YOU COULD READ EACH NUMBER.
'CAUSE I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS ON NONE OF 'EM.
'CAUSE THEY ALL ARE PERTAINING TO THE SAME THING.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COUNCILMAN LEWIS YOUR LIGHT IS ON? YES.
SEE AMENDMENT, IS THAT, IS THAT A 12? IS THAT A, THE MAXIMUM IS 12 POINTS.
YOU SEE, DON'T YOU HAVE A CEILING ON THOSE POINTS? AMENDMENT? YES.
IF YOU HAVE A, IF, IF AN, IF AN OPERATOR OF A CITY VEHICLE HAS A A A PROBLEM ACCIDENT IN, IN HIS PERSONAL VEHICLE, DID WOULD THAT CARRY OVER ALSO? NO.
IS ANY OF THE OPERATION OF CITY EQUIPMENT OH, JUST ON OKAY.
UM, IF YOU GET A TICKET OUTSIDE OF YOUR CITY OF BEING, OF OPERATING A CITY VEHICLE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING US THAT TICKET BECAUSE YOU CAN GET POINTS FOR THAT AS WELL.
RIGHT? I 'CAUSE IT CAN AFFECT YOUR C D L I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE STILL IN PLACE.
SO THAT'S STILL IN PLACE? YES SIR.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, COUNCILMAN ETT HAS UM, SAID THAT WE WE'RE GONNA NEED AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION, UH, TO ADD, UM, PR NUMBER 2 3 2 9 0 PR NUMBER 2 3 2 9 2 AND PR NUMBER 2 3 2 9 3.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADD THOSE, UH, TO THAT ONE SO THAT WE CAN TAKE THEM ALL TOGETHER? SO, SO MOVED.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL GO TO OUR, UH, ITEMS
[X.A.(1) P.R. No. 23256 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 1 To The Contract With Allco, LLC Of Beaumont, Texas For The Sanitary Sewer System 9th Avenue Extension Project, Decreasing The Contract Amount By $15,310.00, To A New Contract Total Of $793,066.25 And Accept The Engineer's Certificate Of Completion, Contractor's Affidavit, Certificate Of Guarantee And Certificate And Release, And Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Certificate Of Acceptance And Pay The Retainage Invoice; Account No. 307-21-049-8512-00-10-000, Project No. BU0006-CON]
REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION, NON-CONSENT.NUMBER ONE, PR NUMBER 2 3 2 5 6 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE TO THE CONTRACT WITH ALCO, L L C OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM.
NINTH AVENUE EXTENSION PROJECT, DECREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $15,310 TO A NEW CONTRACT TOTAL OF SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETY THREE SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY 3060 $6 AND 25 CENTS.
[04:10:01]
AND ACCEPT THE ENGINEER CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION CONTRACTOR'S AFFIDAVIT, CERTIFICATE OF GUARANTEE AND CERTIFICATE AND RELEASE.AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE AND PAY THE RETAINAGE INVOICE ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH 0 4 9 8 5 2 DASH PROJECT NUMBER B U 0 0 0 6 O.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION FOR APPROVAL? DO HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[X.A.(2) P.R. No. 23259 – A Resolution Authorizing The Official Adoption Of A Memorandum Of Understanding By And Between The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation And Lamar State College Port Arthur Governing The Partnership Between The PAEDC And The College's Industrial Training Facility]
2 3 2 5 9 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE OFFICIAL ADOPTION OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, SECTION FOUR, A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR GOVERNING THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE COLLEGE'S INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FACILITY.DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MOTION.
COUNCILMAN BECKHAM? ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[X.A.(3) P.R. No. 23285 – A Resolution Nominating A Member And/Or Members To The Board Of Directors Of The Orange County Appraisal District For The 2024 – 2025 Term]
PR NUMBER 2 3 2 85.A RESOLUTION NOMINATING A MEMBER AND OR MEMBERS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ORANGE COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT FOR THE 2024.
DO YOU HAVE THOSE NAMES, SHERRY? NO SIR, I DO NOT.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE A NAME? YOU MOVE TO TABLE.
COULD I GET A MOVE TO TABLE? MOTION TO TABLE.
[X.A.(4) P.R. No. 23296 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing A Member Or Members To The Beautification Commission (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Hamilton)]
NUMBER 2 3 2 9 6 A RESOLUTION, APPOINTING AND OR REAPPOINTING A MEMBER OR MEMBERS TO THE BEAUT BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION REQUESTED BY MAYOR PRO TIMM HAMILTON.I DO HAVE NAMES FOR THIS BOARD.
COUNCILMAN? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW IS NOMINATING CATHERINE RICHARDS, MARY WYKOFF, STACEY MATTHEWS, AND SIA MCCLAIN.
MAYOR PROM HAMILTON IS RECOMMENDING ALICIA CARRIER FOR NOMINATION.
YOU'VE HEARD THOSE NAMES, COUNCILMAN? UM, ANY QUESTIONS? I'M SORRY, I INTERRUPTED BEFORE YOUR MOTION COUNSEL.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[X.A.(5) P.R. No. 23297 – A Resolution Appointing A Member Or Members To The Pleasure Island Advisory Commission (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Hamilton)]
NUMBER 2 3 2 9 7 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING A MEMBER OR MEMBERS TO THE PLEASURE ISLAND ADVISORY COMMISSION REQUESTED BY MAYOR PRO TEM HAMILTON.SHE IS APPOINTING LATASHA HENRY FOR NOMINATION.
[X.A.(6) P.R. No. 23300 – A Resolution Designating And Establishing The War Of Titans Boxing Showcase Entertainment Area, Designating Titans Boxing Club And Youth Organization As Exclusive Concessionaire And Authorizing The City Manager To Execute An Agreement Thereof]
PR NUMBER 2 3 3 0 0 RESOLUTION DESIGNATING AND ESTABLISHING THE WAR OF TITANS BOXING SHOWCASE ENTERTAINMENT AREA DESIGNATING TEXT, TITANS BOXING CLUB AND YOUTH ORGANIZATION AS EXCLUSIVE CONCESSIONAIRE AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT THEREOF.DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[X.B.(1) P.O. No. 7159 – An Ordinance Approving The Appraisal Rolls For The Year 2023 And Receiving Determinations From The Tax Assessors Under Section 26.04 Of The Texas Property Tax Code]
UH, ORDINANCES, ORDINANCES NON-CONSENT[04:15:02]
PO NUMBER 7 1 5 9 AND ORDINANCE APPROVING THE APPRAISAL ROLES FOR THE YEAR 2023 AND RECEIVING DETERMINATIONS FROM THE TAX ASSESSORS UNDER SECTION 26.04 OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CODE.DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MOTION.
COUNCILMAN BECKHAM QUESTIONS? IT HAS TO BE A ROLL CALL.
DOES THIS HAVE TO BE A ROLL CALL? NO.
PO IS GETTING LATE IN THE EVENING.
IT'S GETTING LATE IN THE EVENING.
[X.B.(2) P.O. No. 7161 – An Ordinance Amending Section 2-75 (a) (2) (b) Of The Code Of Ordinances As It Pertains To Persons Requesting To Give A Presentation Before City Council (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]
PO NUMBER 7 1 6 1 AND ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 2 7 5 A TWO B OF THE OR THE CO, THE, THE CODE OF ORDINANCES AS IT PERTAINS TO PERSONS REQUESTING TO GIVE A PRESENTATION BEFORE CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN ETT.I'M PETE CAR MULES TO DO THAT.
QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UM, MAYOR PROTI? YES, I HAVE A ISSUE, UM, ON ONE OF THEM.
I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE OKAY FOR YOU.
TO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT 2 3 2 8 5 HAD PASSED.
I'M SORRY I WASN'T IN THE ROOM.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS TABLED.
[X.B.(3) P.O. No. 7162 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 110 (Utilities), Article II (Water), Division 3 (Service Charges And Billing), Sections 110-91 (Rate Schedule) And 110-92 (Consumers Outside City Not Having Special Contracts) Of The Code Of Ordinances Of The City Of Port Arthur, As It Pertains To Rates For Residential, Commercial And Industrial Customers, And Providing For Publication]
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 1 1 0 UTILITIES ARTICLE TWO, WATER DIVISION THREE SERVICE CHARGES AND BILLING SECTIONS ONE 10 DASH NINE ONE RATE SCHEDULE AND ONE 10 DASH 92 CONSUMERS OUTSIDE CITY NOT HAVING SPECIAL CONTRACTS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AS IT PERTAINS TO RATES FOR RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION MOTION COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM.QUESTION ALL THOSE IN QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING.
I I TALKED ABOUT THIS, UH, LAST MEETING AND, UH, THE CITY MANAGER JUST SENT OUT, UH, UH, INFORMATION THING TO ALL OF IT IS PERTAINING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON LOSING BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER.
YOU KNOW, AND AS I READ THE ARTICLES, UH, SOMEONE, UH, HIGHLIGHTED, UH, CERTAIN PARTS OF IT.
AND I GUESS THOSE PARTS WERE FOR US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, TO SEE THAT THESE ARE THINGS THAT, UH, OCCURRING HERE IN OUR CITIZEN ALSO.
AND, UH, THEY COMPARE TO WELL, I AGREE WITH THAT.
HANNEY, UH, HAS GIVEN, HAS GIVEN MANY PRESENTATIONS, UH, OVER THE YEARS AND IT'S JUST, IT TALKS ABOUT THIS, IT'S, IT ACTUALLY DESCRIBES IT PROBLEM.
IT TALKS ABOUT, UH, THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
HE TALKS ABOUT HOW MANY MILES OF PIPE WE HAVE TO REPLACE, HOW MUCH MONEY IT'S GOING TO COST.
AND I GOT THAT FROM HIS PRESENTATION IN 2018.
SO IN 2018, WE, UH, DIDN'T WANT TO DO A WATER RAISE, BUT WE LISTENED.
SO WE SAID A COMPROMISE, BUT WE, WE APPROVED THE R R S T C UH, FUND, THEN THE NEXT YEAR DID THE PRESENTATION, WANTED WROTE IT, IT WAS COVID.
2020 STILL IN COVID COUNCIL, DIDN'T DO ANYTHING LAST.
THE, THE YEAR AFTER 2020 1 22 COUNCIL APPROVED A RATE INCREASE AND THEY HAD WHEREABOUT THEY WERE GONNA RECOMMEND, UH, INCREASES UP TO, UH,
[04:20:01]
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.THE, THE UPCOMING YEAR BUDGET, WHICH IS 2024.
WELL, IT'S LIKE THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THROUGHOUT THE NATION WE ALL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH WATER UTILITIES BECAUSE IT'S PART OF INSTRUCTION.
WITH ALL THIS HEAT THE GROUND IS SEPARATING.
WE GET ALL YOUR BURST NOW, YOU KNOW, THE LINE POPPING LIKE POPCORN NOW WATER RUNNING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
BUT EACH TIME WE ARE DONE A PRESENTATION, IT ALWAYS SAYS IT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX THE PIPES.
BUT WE NEED A RATE INCREASE SO THAT WE COULD GET MONEY TO START FIXING THE PIPE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO BORROW MONEY.
THAT'S THE PART THAT I CAN'T LOOK THE CITIZENS IN THE EYE AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHY WE GOTTA RAISE THE RATE.
BECAUSE JUST LIKE THIS FLYER TO THE MANAGER SENT, I READ REAL CAREFULLY BECAUSE IT REALLY MIRRORED OUR PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM THROUGHOUT, UH, THE UNITED STATES.
BUT I HIGHLIGHTED A PART OF IT THAT WAS NOT HIGHLIGHTED AND THAT IT'S SIMPLE.
IT SAYS, ON AVERAGE ABOUT 14% OF ALL WATER TREATED BY UTILITIES IS LOST THROUGH LEAKS ACCORDING TO THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FEE AGENT.
OKAY? ON AVERAGE 14, MANY STATES SET THE BENCHMARKS FOR ACCEPTABLE LOSSES TO BE BETWEEN 10 AND 15% OF WATER PRODUCED.
WHILE SOME FLUCTUATIONS, FLUCTUATIONS ARE NORMAL LOSSES EXCEEDING 20% OF THE TOTAL SUPPLY SHOULD CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS.
SO BASED ON WHAT I KNEW IN 2018 SETTING UP HERE, I HAVEN'T SEEN WHERE WE TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TO REPLACE THESE LINE BECAUSE WE ALWAYS WAS GIVEN A CHOICE.
DO BECAUSE IT TAKES TOO MUCH MONEY, WE CAN'T DO IT, WE CAN'T REPAY THE LINE 'CAUSE WE GOT SO MANY MILES OF PIPE AND IT COSTS WHAT, UH, MILLIONS, 30 MILLIONS, 30 MILLION.
BUT WHEN I READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOUR YEARS AGO, THEY STARTED DOING IT.
THEY STARTED REPLACING IT FOUR YEARS AGO.
SO BASICALLY THEY, THEY STARTED EATING THE ELEPHANT A BITE AT A TIME.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY COME UP WITH A PLAN.
AND, AND, AND SO IRONIC BECAUSE FOUR YEARS AGO WE, WE REALLY WERE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE WAS FUNDING SOME OF THIS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
AND FOR SOME REASON SOMEBODY MADE A COMMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THE 54 MILLION THAT CAME FROM THE GENERAL FUND WAS, UH, PROJECTS THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE FOR, UH, LVE AND PORTE.
BECAUSE THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE 54 MILLION WASN'T ALL WATER UTILITIES.
THAT WAS SOLID WASTE INCLUDED.
AND WE HAD IT ELIMINATED BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE YOU TELLING YOURSELF YOUR SAVING ACCOUNT OWE YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT.
IT'S YOUR SAME MONEY, BUT YOU'RE CALLING YOURSELF TO DEATH.
SO WE HAD ANY ERASE, IT HAD NO IMPACT ON US, BUT IF WE COULD GO AND GET CERTIFICATE OBLIGATIONS TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS I SAW WITH THE 25.5 MILLION PLAYSCAPES ON PLEASURE ISLAND BOAT RAMPS, AT SOME POINT IN TIME WE JUST HAD TO DECIDE WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT.
BUT WHEN WE MADE DECISIONS AS STAFF AND COUNCIL WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS AND IT IS NOT CENTERED AROUND WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM, AND THEN IT COMES LATER AND THEY STARTED TELLING US, NO, NO, NO, BUT WE TELLING THEM, LOOK, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE GONNA START GETTING MONEY
[04:25:01]
TO FIX THIS.THEY SAY, WELL Y'ALL LET IT GO THIS LONG.
SO WHAT I EXPECT AT THIS POINT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND HAVE GONE THROUGH IT FROM 2018, I WOULD'VE PREFERRED THAT WE START LOOKING AT THE SAME WAY WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING ELSE, CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION, AND ACTUALLY START REPLACING PIPE.
'CAUSE ONCE WE DID THAT, NOW I COULD LOOK THE CITIZENS IN THE EYE AND SAY, WELL LOOK, WE, WE DID THIS, WE GET THAT WAY, BUT WE HAVEN'T GOT ALL THE WAY.
SO WE STILL NEED A WAYS TO GO, BUT WE NEED Y'ALL HELP.
NOW I COULD LOOK AT 'EM AND SAY, WE NEED YOUR HELP, BUT RIGHT NOW WE NOT DOING THAT.
WE PUTTING IT ON THEM WITH THIS RAISE.
SO IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY AND I DON'T WANT TAKE UP 'CAUSE THE OTHER COUNCILMEN MIGHT WANT TO ATTACK.
BUT MY POINT IS YOU CAN EAT AN ELEPHANT BITE BY BITE, BUT YOU CAN'T EAT HIM WHOLE.
SO, COUNCILMAN UH, DOUCETTE IF I MAY WAIT.
MR. HANEY, THE ONLY WAY MR. HANEY TO ADDRESS MR. HANEY ISSUE IS TO FIX IT ONE PIECE AT A TIME.
MR. MR. HANEY HEAR, I'M GOING TO ALLOW THE CITY MANAGER, UH, TO ADDRESS THIS AND THEN I'LL BRING YOU BACK IN IF YOU'D LIKE.
LET ME JUST, UM, SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL AND UM, WITH THOSE OF US WHO ARE LISTENING HERE, THAT IF, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PAGE, THE FIRST ITEM THAT WAS ADDRESSED THIS MORNING WAS THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
UNDER THAT, THE WATER FUND, THE WATER FUND WILL RECEIVE FOR LEAF STATIONS $1 MILLION DREDGE FRESHWATER RESERVOIR, WHICH IS PRESENTLY ONGOING.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE EXIT OF, UM, SAVANNA, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE DREDGING THE WATER RESERVOIR THAT IS PART OF THE PLAN OF A MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE ARE DOING, UM, ONE, $1.5 MILLION COLLECTION SYSTEM, REHAB, A MILLION DOLLARS ELEVATED STORAGE, TANK REHAB, $900,000, $4.4 MILLION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN EXPENDED OR WE CONTINUE TO EXPEND.
SO COUNCILMAN DO SAID IS RIGHT, WE'RE EATING THAT ELEPHANT ONE BITE AT A TIME AS WE GO AHEAD NEXT YEAR.
WE HAVE SAID AS, AS, AS OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR INDICATED, THAT IS PART OF THE, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
WE WILL EAT THE ELEPHANT ONE BITE AT A TIME.
AND AGAIN, WHEN WE GO OUT FOR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION IN THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR UNDER THE NEW BUDGET, WE DO INTEND AGAIN TO HAVE ACTION ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
BUT AGAIN, THIS, THAT IS WHY WE ASK COUNCIL AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR TO APPROVE, TO PRE-APPROVE THE EXPENDITURE OF CERTAIN, OF, OF, OF, OF CERTAIN FUNDS, INCLUDING THE ENTERPRISE FUND, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTOOD THAT IT COULD NOT WAIT.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF IT.
COUNCIL, I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT IT UP.
YEAH, I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT IT UP.
AND, UH, AND YOU KNOW, I'M NOT, I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY THAT WE ARE NOT ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
I LOOKED AT WHAT WE HAVE PROJECTED FOR THE BUDGET FOR WATER UTILITIES, BUT I WOULD RATHER US PUT THAT INTO PLAY AND THEN TURN TO THE CITIZENS AND SAYS, LOOK, Y'ALL, WE, WE PUTTING THAT MONEY INTO IT NOW, BUT WE CAN'T FIGHT ALONE.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE CITIZENS ARE WANTING FROM US RIGHT NOW IS, YOU KNOW, ALL, ALL WE'VE BEEN HEARING IS RAISES, YOU KNOW, SO, SO I, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE MONEY THAT'S BEING PLACED IN THE BUDGET FOR WATER UTILITIES THIS YEAR.
I, UH, WE DOING LIFT STATION, WE DOING MAINS.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS NOT WHAT WE DOING.
'CAUSE THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT STARTING ONE OCTOBER.
MR. MR. HANEY? I'M MR. HANEY, ARE YOU AND I'LL SPEAK EITHER WAY? YES, SIR.
I JUST WANNA MAKE ONE QUICK POINT.
UH, UH, UTILITIES DEPARTMENT HAS NOT BEEN DOING NOTHING SINCE 2018.
[04:30:01]
HAVE BEEN PLANNING AND WE HAVE BEEN DESIGNING THE REHABILITATION OF WATER LINES.CURRENTLY WE HAVE 57 IDENTIFIED LINES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED, THAT ARE DESIGNED AND READY TO GO OUT FOR BIDS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T PUT ANY OF THEM OUT FOR BIDS BECAUSE THE PLAN WAS, AS WIND ALSO SUGGESTED TO DO, IS TO HAVE A RATE INCREASE EVERY YEAR TO FUND THESE PROJECTS.
BUT SINCE 2018, WE MISSED THREE OF THOSE RATE INCREASES THAT PREVENTED US FROM FUNDING THESE PROJECTS.
BUT THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET HAS, UH, ATLANTA WATER LINE REPLACEMENT FOR ABOUT $2.4 MILLION.
THAT IS IN A REAL DIRE NEED OF REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THAT LINE SUPPLIES THE ENTIRE CITY WITH WATER.
AND IF IT ENDS UP FAILING, WE CAN HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
SO WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING, WE HAVE BEEN DESIGNING, BUT THE FUNDING IS A PROBLEM.
WE CANNOT CONSTRUCT ANY OF THESE PROJECTS WITHOUT FUNDING.
AND THE PLAN IS TO FUND THEM BOTH WAYS THROUGH CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS, WHICH THIS PROPOSED YEAR IS GONNA INCLUDE ABOUT $6.2 MILLION OFF THAT, AS WELL AS PAYING 2 MILLION IN CASH FOR SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN DILIGENTLY WORKING ON THIS ISSUE.
IT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
I AGREE WITH YOU, COUNCILMAN A HUNDRED PERCENT.
WE CANNOT GO OUT THERE AND SPEND $30 MILLION AT ONE TIME AND FIX ALL THESE PROBLEMS, BUT WE CAN SPEND 2 MILLION, 3 MILLION A YEAR AND START CHIPPING ON IT ONE PIECE AT A TIME IN GETTING IT, UH, UH, DONE.
SO WE DID GIVE THIS MATTER AN IMMEDIATE ATTENTION THROUGH PLANNING AND DESIGN, AND NOW WE'RE EXECUTING BASED ON HOW MUCH FUNDS THE COUNCIL IS GONNA APPROVE.
MY NAME IS YADI CARDENA AND I LIVE ON DISTRICT TWO.
AND I'M HERE TO, UH, VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO THIS, UH, WATER INCREASE RATE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OF OUR CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A GREAT NEED OF, UH, UPDATING AND FIXING AND THE PIPING OR WHATEVER, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S OTHER INTERNAL ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT THAT NEED TO BE FIXED BEFORE YOU ASK THE CUSTOMERS TO, TO, TO BE, UH, TO PUT THEM ON, ON, ON OUR, ON OURS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE WATER LEAKS.
WE HAVE ISSUES THAT MANY OF OUR CITIZENS ASSUME, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT, THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND, UH, WASTE, YOU KNOW, COLLECTION IS PROBABLY SEPARATE, BUT IT'S ON THE SAME BILL.
SO A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS PROBABLY ARE VERY UPSET, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A WATER INCREASE RATE, THEY SEE A WATER BILL AND THE GARBAGE AND TRASH COLLECTION IS THERE ALSO.
BUT AS FAR AS THE WATER, UH, RATE INCREASE, UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT CAME HERE TODAY TO VOICE THE OPPOSITION AS WELL.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE PROLONGATION OF THE MEETING THEY LEFT.
BUT IT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION THAT ONE OF OUR CITIZENS THAT WAS HERE TODAY, SHE ACTUALLY WENT TO, UH, GROCERY SHOPPING.
AND WHILE SHE WAS THERE, SHE DECIDED TO ASK SEVERAL RESIDENTS OF PORT ARTHUR ABOUT THIS INCREASE.
AND SHE GATHERED SEVERAL SIGNATURES AND PHONE NUMBERS IN JUST ONE HOUR THAT SHE WAS THERE.
AND ONE OF THE PERSONS SAID THAT THEY STILL HAVE A LEAK.
AND IT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION AS I WAS LOOKING AT THIS LIST, THAT THAT WAS A LEAK THAT WAS REPORTED TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR THREE YEARS AGO.
AND I KNOW BECAUSE I REPORTED IT AFTER MY FRIEND CALLED IT IN AND THERE WAS NO ANSWERS.
I CALLED IT IN AND IT STILL WAS NOT FIXED.
I WAS UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT HAD BEEN FIXED.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, I REMEMBER, SO YOU ARE ASKING US, YOU KNOW, TO PAY MORE WHEN YOU CAN'T SERVICE.
UH, YOU CAN'T SERVICE US, UH, FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE ALREADY PAID FOR.
AND I LOOK, I WENT AND I LOOK AND I PULLED MY MESSAGES.
I STILL HAVE THE MESSAGES FROM THIS FRIEND OF MINE WHO CALLED ME ABOUT THIS WATER
[04:35:01]
LEAK OUTSIDE HER RESIDENCE.SHE SAID WHEN SHE WALKED OUT, SHE WAS ALREADY SINKING ON THE GRASS.
THAT'S HOW MUCH WATER THE, THE, IT HAD ABSORBED ALREADY.
I ASKED HER, I MESSAGED HER TODAY AS I WAS SITTING HERE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME LEAK AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME LEAK.
SO I FIND IT UNACCEPTABLE THAT WE HAVE THESE ISSUES THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
'CAUSE I SEEN THE POST OF SEVERAL CITIZENS ON DISTRICT FOUR SPECIFICALLY ABOUT SEVERAL, SEVERAL LEAKS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE PAST FEW DAYS.
SO, UH, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES.
I HAVE ANOTHER FRIEND WHO HAS REPORTED, UM, A LEAK WHO ALSO REPORTED, UH, EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF, UM, OF, OF CHARGES ON HER WATER BILL WHEN THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON LIVING IN THE HOUSE AND IT HASN'T BEEN ATTENDED TO.
UH, AND, AND IT'S SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THOSE ISSUES.
SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THEY COME TO THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND THEY JUST TELL 'EM TO PAY A MINIMUM AMOUNT AND THEY CAN GO FOR YEARS DOING THAT.
AND THEIR, AND THEIR SITUATION IS NEVER FIXED.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WATER INCREASES, IT'S, IT'S VERY UPSETTING.
NOT JUST TO ME, BUT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF PUERTO ARTHUR.
UM, SO I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL LOOKS MORE INTO IT BECAUSE I THINK CUSTOMER SERVICE IS, IS, IS VERY BAD IN OUR WATER DEPARTMENT AND SOME OTHER, UH, DEPARTMENTS.
AND, UM, WE NEED TO LOOK BECAUSE THESE ARE SERVICES THAT WE PAY FOR.
AND FOR THE CITY TO INCREASE THE RATES AND NOT FIX THOSE PROBLEMS, IT'S JUST SHAMEFUL AND EMBARRASSING TO PUT IT ON OUR CITIZENS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO GET THE ADDRESS OF THAT LEAK.
AND I WANNA SAY ONE THING, I WAS VERY HAPPY AT FIRST BECAUSE SOMEONE WENT TO PUT THE LITTLE FLAGS OUTSIDE ON THE LEAK, SO I ASSUME THEY FIX IT.
BUT COME TO FIND OUT, IT'S NOT THE CITY OF PERATO.
IT'S ACTUALLY THE GAS COMPANY WHO GOES OUT THERE AND MARKS IT.
BUT IT SHOULDN'T TAKE THREE YEARS.
'CAUSE I DON'T EVEN THINK THE FLAGS ARE THERE ANYMORE.
YEAH, WE NEED TO, I, I, I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE I GUESS A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
WE, WE, AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION THAT HANNEY PRE MADE, UH, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE WATER BILLS.
ONE THING THAT'S INTERESTING IN 2008, 5,000 GALLONS OF WATER COST THE CITIZEN $76 AND 75 CENTS.
TODAY IT COSTS $73 AND 72 CENTS.
IF WE GET THE RAISE RATE INCREASE, IT'LL BE $78 AND 88 CENTS.
SAY THAT, WOULD YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? IN 2008, 5,000 GALLONS OF WATER COST THE CITIZEN OF PORT ARTHUR $75 AND $76 AND 75 CENTS.
TODAY, RIGHT NOW, IT COST $73 AND 72 CENTS.
IF WE GET THE 7% RATE INCREASE, IT'LL BE $78 AND 88 CENTS.
DURING THIS TIME, WATER PLANT CHEMICALS HAVE GONE UP 300% P V C PIPE, WHICH BRINGS UP THE POINT THAT IN THAT ARTICLE THAT RON PROVIDED, Y'ALL, CITY OF HOUSTON MENTIONS, I BELIEVE IT'S 32% OF THEIR PIPE IS CAST IRON AND AC, WHICH CAUSES MOST OF THEIR PROBLEMS. IT'S ESTIMATED THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, IT RUNS BETWEEN 60 AND 70% OF PIPING IS CAST IRON AND AC.
SO WE HAVE EXTREMES AMOUNTS OF CALL OUTS FOR REPAIRS.
FRIDAY, WE HAD 33 CALLS, SATURDAY 20 SUNDAY 12, JUST LAST WEEKEND.
[04:40:01]
ARE PRIORITIZING CALLS, FIXING THE REAL BAD ONES.IF THEY'RE LARGE LINES, THEY CAN SERIOUSLY IMPACT PRESSURE.
WE ARE HAVING SOME PROBLEMS MAINTAINING PRESSURE.
WE ARE MAINTAINING PRESSURE ON LOST WATER.
BUT IF WE CAN GO FROM 30% NOW TO 15%, THE SAVINGS IS ON, IS ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS BECAUSE THE FIXED COSTS ARE VERY HIGH ON A WATER PLANT, AND THE MAIN SERVICE PUMPS ARE AT THE WATER PLANT.
SO ONCE THE WATER LEAVES THE WATER PLANT, THERE'S NOT MUCH COST UNLESS IT'S GOING TO SABINE PASS, WHERE WE HAVE TO REBUMP IT AND THE COST THAT WE LOSE, OR THE CHEMICAL COST, THE L N V A RAW WATER COST, AND THE ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, THE ELECTRICAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PUMPING.
SO IF WE GET IT DOWN TO 15%, WHICH IS KIND OF AN AVERAGE, AND WITH OUR AGE OF OUR UTILITIES, THAT WOULD BE A PRETTY AMAZING FEAT WITH OUR PIPE UNTIL, UNTIL WE EAT THE ELEPHANT.
IT'S A MILLION, WHICH IS NOT GONNA FUND.
I DON'T EVEN THINK A MILLION WILL FUND THE 30,000,057 WATER LINES, WILL IT? A MILLION A YEAR.
HOW MANY BONDS CAN I SELL? UM, MAYOR, MAYOR, IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO SPEAK, THEY HAVE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
I'M, BUT, BUT A MILLION, IF YOU ALL DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, PROBABLY WILL NOT FUND THE 57 WATER LINES.
GOT A COUPLE STATEMENTS, COUNCILWOMAN.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS, SIR? I I JUST, I JUST WANNA MAKE A COUPLE OF STATEMENTS.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DID FOR TWO OF MY CONSTITUENTS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
UH, ONE OF THEM WAS A VERY MINOR KIND OF EXPLAINING, UH, TO A PARTICULAR CHURCH ABOUT TYING INTO THE CITY SEWER BECAUSE OF SOME WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.
UH, THE OTHER ONE THOUGH, WAS KIND OF A MAJOR THING.
UH, ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS IN STONEGATE DISCOVERED A SINKHOLE ON THEIR PROPERTY THAT WAS ABOUT TO TAKE THEIR SWIMMING POOL OUT.
IT'S, I MADE ONE PHONE CALL TO CALVIN AND HE HAD A CREW OVER THERE, AND IT'S BEING TAKEN CARE OF.
AND SO I WANNA PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR, FOR THAT WORK.
THAT ELEPHANT GOT A LOT BIGGER AFTER WE STARTED LOOKING.
I KNOW IT STARTED OUT AS, YOU KNOW, DECKING AND SWIMMING POOL FOR ONE PERSON.
AND IT TURNED OUT THAT IT WAS A MUCH LARGER PROBLEM THAT WAS GONNA AFFECT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
SO JUST TO BRING THAT UP WHILE I'M HERE IN FRONT OF COUNCIL, I THINK WE GOTTA START LOOKING AT SOME MAJOR REPAIRS IN STONEGATE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT FUNDING FOR SURE, BASED ON WHAT I'M SEEING OUT THERE.
BUT, BUT I WANNA SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT THREE BECAUSE THIS, THIS ISSUE IS PROBABLY THE FIRST ONE THAT I'VE REALLY HAD TO GRAPPLE WITH SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.
UH, BECAUSE I'M SEEING IT FROM BOTH SIDES.
I'M SEEING THE ECONOMICS OF IT AND WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO TO PREVENT A CATASTROPHIC EVENT FROM HAPPENING.
BUT THEN I ALSO SEE IT FROM THE, YOU KNOW, THE CITIZEN SIDE AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE WATER BILLS GOING UP AND THAT SORT OF THING.
AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE SOMETHING THAT, UH, DR.
TOMI SAID AT OUR LAST MEETING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WAS STARTED 20 YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, WITH SOME THINGS THAT WERE NOT TURNED IN AND NOT, UH, TAKEN CARE OF THEN.
AND SO THE CITIZENS FEEL LIKE, WELL, WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED 20 YEARS AGO THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT OUR FAULT.
SO I, I GET THAT PART OF IT, BUT IN ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS THAT I'M IN ON SOCIAL MEDIA, I'VE PUT OUT A POLL IN EVERY ONE OF THOSE GROUPS.
ARE YOU FOR IT? ARE YOU AGAINST IT? DO YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION? AT FIRST, EVERYBODY NEEDED MORE INFORMATION.
SO I TOOK THAT PRESENTATION THAT YOU GUYS DID, UH, AND EXPLAINED IT, UH, GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE FEEDBACK, AND THEN EVERYBODY VOTED AND WE'RE DEAD.
EVEN WE GOT FOREIGN AGAINST, WE'RE DEAD EVEN IN DISTRICT THREE.
SO I'VE REALLY HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH IT.
BUT I, I JUST WANNA SAY, I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
AND YOU'VE GOT WAY MORE WORK TO DO THAN HOURS IN THE DAY.
ONE THING THAT THIS GENTLEMAN SITTING IN THE CORNER, WHEN HE HIRED ME, HE SAID, I WANT YOU TO BUY A HOUSE IN PORT ARTHUR.
I, I BOUGHT A HOUSE IN PORT ARTHUR, AND I THINK IT MATTERS BECAUSE THIS REQUEST IMPACTS ME, BUT I STILL SUPPORT IT.
LET ME JUST SAY, LET ME, LET ME AS WELL SAY THANK YOU AS WELL, BECAUSE I SPEND, UH, A GREAT QUALITY OF MY TIME CALLING DR.
HANEY AND CALLING YOU AND CALLING THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT LEAKS THAT ARE EVERYWHERE.
UM, AND I LET, LET, AND WHILE WE, WHILE WE ARE GRAPPLING WITH THIS MAJOR ISSUE, LET'S TAKE SOME TIME TO BE THANKFUL AS WELL, BECAUSE THERE ARE CITIES LIKE JACKSON AND, UH, FLINT THAT ARE DEALING WITH NOT HAVING ENOUGH WATER AND HAVING WATER THAT THEY CAN'T DRINK.
AND SO LET'S TAKE SOME, LET'S TAKE SOME TIME TO HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE WHILE WE GRAPPLE WITH THIS ISSUE.
UH, AND JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU.
BUT AS WELL, I I I, I DON'T WANT TO JUST ALLOW
[04:45:01]
THIS NOT TO HAPPEN BECAUSE, UH, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM, I, I HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT I AM SO CLOSE TO, UH, DON'T HAVE MY MOTHER, BUT I HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE FIXED INCOMES, INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, WHO DON'T, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, A COUPLE OF BUCKS IS NOTHING BUT FOR THEM, UM, IT MEANS, UH, WHETHER THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET SOME MEDICINE OR NOT GET SOME MEDICINE, OR EVEN GET SOMETHING TO EAT ON, ON A, A SPECIFIC DAY.THESE ARE, THESE ARE MAJOR AND MIGHTY ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH.
AND SO THEY'RE NOT TO BE DEALT WITH LIGHTLY.
UH, AT THE SAME TIME, UH, AS WE'RE GOING FORWARD, UH, THAT'S WHAT LEADERSHIP DOES.
LEADERSHIP HAS TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS THAT WE DON'T LIKE SOMETIMES.
BUT IF THAT MAJOR MAIN THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, THAT IF, IF THAT MAIN GOES OUT, WE ARE DONE.
IT, IT, IT HAS TO BE UNDERSTOOD.
IT HAS TO BE SAID THAT, THAT IT, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE.
IT'LL TAKE OUT EVERYTHING BELOW 73, HIGHWAY 73.
THAT'S THE KIND OF IMPACT, THAT'S THE KIND OF IMPACT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
AND SO, UM, UM, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
AND SO, UM, I, I, I LOOK AT THAT AS I GO FORWARD AND MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOU, YOU'VE GOT, YOU SNUCK BY ME.
THIS CALL, WHAT ABOUT THAT 73 FACTOR? YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE 73 73, THAT'S, IT'S THE COST OF WHAT? WELL, UH, WHAT I WAS SAYING IS IN 2008, THE A 5,000 GALLON WATER BILL IS $76.
AND WITH THE RATE INCREASE AT LEAST $78.
SO THAT'S FROM 2008 TO TODAY, IT, IT WENT DOWN AND THEN BACK UP.
I, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS.
SO IT WENT DOWN AND, AND COME BACK UP.
IT WENT DOWN, CAME BACK UP IT, SO THE CITY HIRED A CONSULTANT THAT'S IN THE REPORT THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY RECOMMENDED, UH, WILD RECOMMENDED IN 21, 9 0.8 22, 10 23 10, AND THEN LEVELING OFF.
AND THERE WAS AN ADJUSTMENT IN 21 TO THE WATER AND THE SEWER OF IT WAS LIKE THREE AND 12.
AND THEN IN 22 THERE WAS A SEVEN.
AND THEN WE'RE PROPOSING SEVEN NOW.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO MANAGE IT AS, AS LOW AS WE CAN.
I MEAN, THE CONSULTANTS WERE RECOMMENDING MUCH HIGHER, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP IT AS LOW AS WE CAN.
SO WE, WE DON'T DO THE GIVE YOU THIS INCREASE WHAT, A YEAR FROM NOW? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN? UH, I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, WE, IT'LL MEAN WE DON'T REPAIR ATLANTA.
IT MAY MEAN WE DON'T HAVE WATER.
IT MAY MEAN WELL, YOU'RE CONSTANTLY REPAIRING LINES.
YOU'RE CONSTANTLY REPAIRING LEAKS AND WHATEVER.
'CAUSE ON AN AC PIPE, YOU REALLY CAN'T REPAIR AN AC PIPE.
YOU PUT A RUBBER BAND AROUND IT WITH A METAL CLOWN.
YOU STRAP 'EM, YOU STRAP THEM, YOU STRAP IN 'EM.
BUT THESE ARE, MOST OF THESE ARE CAST IRON LINES.
I'D SAY PROBABLY MORE AC PIPE THAN CAST IRON.
WELL, YOU MENTIONED CAST IRON.
THAT'S WHAT I CAST IRON AND THEN IT, THE INDUSTRY MOVED INTO AC PIPE.
MOST OF OUR DEVELOPMENT, I THINK IN THIS OLD AREA, THERE'S CAST IRON.
AND THEN IF WE HAVE TO REPAIR A SECTION OF AC WE PUT PLASTIC IN AVERAGE COST PER HOUSEHOLD.
IF, IF WE, IF WE BOTH FULLY INCREASE 78, I MEAN THE, FOR 5,000 GALLONS.
I MEAN, I CAN'T TELL YOU I'M TALKING YOU, BUT I THINK THAT'S AROUND AVERAGE.
SO SAY YOU GOTTA BILL 50, $60, WHATEVER.
OKAY, WELL 7% IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
IT'S A 7% INCREASE ON WATER AND SEWER.
THAT'S WHAT THE BUDGET'S BASED ON.
SO COUNCILMAN LEWIS, THE, THE AVERAGE INCREASE ON A 5,000 GALLON WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $5 A MONTH.
I THOUGHT, I, I THOUGHT I HEARD $5 IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET IT BACK TO.
I HEARD $5, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD THAT, THAT READINESS, YEARS AGO, THAT READINESS $5 READINESS.
I VOTED AGAINST THAT BECAUSE OF THE, ALL OF THE SAME PEOPLE'S COMPLAINING, FIXED INCOME, ALL, YOU KNOW.
BUT WE STILL HAVE THE, THE PROBLEMS. IT STILL, IT, WE STILL HAVE A, IT'S STILL A GROWING PROBLEM AND STILL WAS NOT ENOUGH MONEY.
AND WE JUST GOT NOW, COUNCILMAN, I MEAN, WE
[04:50:01]
NEVER TAKE THESE RATE INCREASES LIKELY.UH, IT'S ALWAYS THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS A RATE INCREASE.
I KNOW, BUT WE GOT TO THE POINT.
IF WE DON'T START TAKING BITES OF THAT ELEPHANT ONE BITE AT A TIME AND START IMPROVING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, WE ARE GONNA END UP IN A DISASTROUS SITUATION AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO AND WE LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS, OTHER WAYS TO DO IT.
WE ARE EVEN LOOKING AT DOING IN AN IN-HOUSE DIRECTIONAL DRILLING CREW LIKE WE DID ON PIPE BURSTING.
BUT IF WE DON'T START THIS INFRASTRUCTURE REHABILITATION, WE CAN END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE WITHOUT WATER.
BEAUMONT TODAY HAD RESTRICTIONS ON WATER USAGE THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED TWO DAYS AGO.
SO IT'S NOT THAT FAR FROM US WHERE THINGS ARE HAPPENING THAT WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW TO HAPPEN IN OUR CITY.
WE SHOULD START THAT AT REHABILITATION OF THESE WATER LINES.
WE SHOULD NOT STOP TILL WE ARE REHABBING IT FASTER THAN IT IS FAILING.
YOU KNOW, UH, GROWING UP ON THE FARM IN, IN LOUISIANA, EVERGREEN, LOUISIANA.
THAT WAS A, AS A KID, THIS DECISION HERE IS DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, IT'S KIND OF LIKE, AS A KID, WE, WE USED TO ROAST POTATOES AND YOU BITE INTO A HOT POTATO, YOU CAN'T CHEW AND YOU CAN'T SPIT IT OUT, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S A DIFFICULT THING TO DO.
JUST LET YOU WE GOTTA, WE GOTTA, WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING.
ALRIGHT, WE READY? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? NO, AYES HAVE IT APPROVE.
WE NEED TO RECESS, UH, FOR A FEW MOMENTS.
[XI. WORKSHOP To Discuss The Proposed Fiscal Year 2023 – 2024 Budget]
READY TO RECONVENE OUT TEX FOR OUR WORKSHOP.YOU HAVE A QUORUM COUNCIL MEMBER ALL YES.
WE, UM, I WILL SEE TO MS. DANIEL, SHE HAS A PRE, UM, A PRESENTATION FOR THE COUNCIL.
OKAY, THIS IS NOT GONNA TAKE LONG.
UH, WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS OUR CAPITAL, UH, IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TODAY AND WHAT WE PUT IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT.
SO ON PAGE TWO, YES, THESE ARE OUR, UH, PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.
UH, STREET IMPROVEMENTS OF 10.7 MILLION.
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, 800,000.
GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS OF 14.5 MILLION.
WATER UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS OF 8.1 MILLION.
SOLID WASTE IMPROVEMENTS, 2 MILLION DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION, 50,000, UH, TRANSIT, 3.9 MILLION.
UH, PLEASURE ISLAND IMPROVEMENTS, 439,000 FOR A TOTAL OF $40.5 MILLION.
UH, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE ONGOING, UH, FROM PREVIOUS YEARS.
IF YOU LOOK IN YOUR BUDGET DOCUMENT ON PAGE 1 21, THAT WILL GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON, UH, INFO ON THE PROJECTS TO DATE SHOWING WHAT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN IN PROGRESS, THE BEGINNING BALANCE WITH THESE
[04:55:01]
NUMBERS ADDED IN, AND HOW MUCH YOU HAVE IN TOTAL.UM, NEXT PAGE, UH, LINDSEY, PAGE THREE.
UH, THIS IS THE STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, WE HAVE 10 MILLION FOR STREET REHAB AND RECONSTRUCTION.
500,000 FOR STREET STRIPING PROGRAM.
200,000 FOR SIDEWALK REHAB FOR A TOTAL OF $10.7 MILLION FOR STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THOSE WOULD BE 700,000, UH, GENERAL FUND CASH AND 10 MILLION IN CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
UH, THE, WE HAVE, UH, DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS OF 800,000.
UH, IT IS A DRAINAGE PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENTS, AND THOSE ARE GONNA BE FUNDED BY A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION.
AND NEXT PAGE, LINDSAY, IS THE GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS PAGE.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN HERE, TOTALING TO, UH, $14.5 MILLION.
UH, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IS 452,000.
WE HAVE CITY FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS OF 9.9 MILLION.
UH, PURCHASE OF TWO FIRE TRUCKS FOR $2.7 MILLION.
PUBLIC WORKS IMPROVEMENTS, A HUNDRED THOUSAND PARKS AND RECREATION, $1.3 MILLION.
THAT'S A TOTAL OF, LIKE I SAID, 14.5 MILLION.
AND THAT IS FUNDED FROM 2.6 MILLION IN CASH FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
8.2 MILLION OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, 2.7 MILLION IN A CAPITAL LEASE FOR THE FIRE TRUCKS.
AND THERE IS THE, UH, $1 MILLION E D C SALES TAX CONTRIBUTION FOR THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THOSE.
THAT, THAT 1 MILLION FROM, UH, UH, E D C SALES TAX CONTRIBUTION THAT'S ALREADY SET UP.
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE THIRD YEAR OF THE CONTRIBUTION.
UH, IT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE VOTERS FOR, UH, THREE YEARS, A MILLION DOLLARS EACH.
AND THIS WILL BE THE THIRD YEAR COMING IN.
RIGHT? IT'S BEEN ALREADY SET UP.
THAT'S, THAT'S FOUR B, RIGHT? I I, YEAH, THAT'S FOUR B PROJECT, SO YES, SIR.
DID I DO ALREADY? OH YEAH, PAGE SIX.
I GOT DISRUPTED AND, UH, LOST MY PLACE THERE.
IS THE CITY FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THAT? AND I DID INCLUDE 2024 AND 2025 ON THIS ONE.
SO YOU COULD SEE WHAT PROJECTS WE'RE GOING TO BE UPCOMING FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
UH, IN 24, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 3 MILLION TO RELOCATE THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
UH, 5.2 MILLION TO COMPLETE THE FIRE STATION AT PORT ACRES.
UM, THE FIRE, THE FIRE STATION FOR WEST SIDE HAS BEEN MOVED TO NEXT YEAR, UH, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT QUITE READY FOR THAT YET.
SO WE'VE PUT THE 5000005.2 MILLION FOR WEST SIDE INTO THE 25 YEAR UPGRADE.
EXISTING CITY FACILITIES OF 1.8 MILLION.
AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE, UH, EQUIPMENT SERVICES, UH, WASH FACILITY FOR 250,000, UH, THE CIVIC CENTER AIR CONDITIONING UNITS, 375,000, OPERATION BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS, 300,000.
UH, THE RELOCATION OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO THE NEW BUILDING TO COMPLETE THAT PROJECT.
345,000 AND 500,000 FOR THE GATES BUILDING.
SO THAT'S THE EXISTING FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE UPGRADES SCHEDULED FOR.
PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES HAS BEEN MOVED TO 2025 AT FOUR AND A HALF MILLION TO GET THAT PROJECT STARTED.
UH, 2024 TOTALS 9.9 MILLION IN PROJECTS FOR CITY FACILITIES.
UH, 1.7 MILLION, UH, OR 1.8 FUNDED BY GENERAL FUND CASH CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, 8.2 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF 9.9.
AND THEN, UH, THE TWO PROJECTS MOVED TO 25 WOULD BE FUNDED BY CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, TOTALING 9.7 MILLION.
UH, THIS IS JUST THE DETAIL THAT YOU HAVE SEEN BEFORE
[05:00:01]
ON WATER UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS.UM, PROJECTS TOTALING 8.1 MILLION.
UH, TOME WENT OVER THESE LAST WEEK.
UH, LIFT STATIONS A MILLION DOLLARS.
SABINE PASSED COLLECTION SYSTEM, 500,000.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT 394,000, UH, COLLECTION SYSTEMS, REHAB, A MILLION MAIN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENTS, 1,000,007, THE LEAD AND COPPER PHASE ONE, 500,000 WATER PURIFICATION PLANT ELECTRICAL IMPROVEMENTS, A MILLION ATLANTA WATERLINE REPLACEMENT, 1,000,005.
AND THEN THE FIRE HYDRANT REPLACEMENT 500,000.
THAT TOTALS 8.1 MILLION WITH 2 MILLION FUNDED FROM CASH FROM THE WATER FUND.
5.6 MILLION FROM CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, AND THEN 500,000 FOR THE FIRE HYDRANTS.
WE'RE HOPING, HOPING TO RECEIVE A GRANT FOR THAT.
UM, IT WAS MENTIONED THE OTHER THAT HOW MUCH ARE WE GETTING FROM L AND G ON, ON, ON THE, ON THE, UH, WATER ANNUALLY FROM, UM, HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH THEY'RE BUYING, HOW MUCH DO THEY PURCHASING? UH, SOMEBODY MENTIONED THAT, I THINK, YEAH, CALVIN IS HERE.
HE CAN PROBABLY SAY THAT BETTER THAN I SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER.
IT'S 1.9 FOR ALL THE INDUSTRY.
AND THEN CHENE OTHER THAN NIE AND RE IS, WHERE IS THAT, WHERE IS THAT FUNDING GOING? WHERE'S THAT MONEY GOING? IT GOES INTO THE GENERAL WATER FUND.
AND THEN CHENE IS FIVE OR 6 MILLION CHENE.
BUT ALL THAT GOES INTO THE WATER FUND, RIGHT? IT, IT'S PART OF OUR BUDGET.
IT SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BEING USED FOR SOMETHING ELSE, BUT, BUT GO AHEAD.
IT'S GOING INTO THE WATER FUND.
ALL OF OUR REVENUE GOES INTO THE WATER FUND.
I MEAN, I, I ACTUALLY DO WE PAY GENERAL FUND ANYTHING? I DON'T KNOW.
YES, THERE IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE THAT IS PAID TO THE GENERAL FUND.
SO THAT, I MEAN THAT, BUT THAT COMES OUT OF OUR, THAT THAT ADMINISTRATIVE FEE COMES OUT OF OUR, OUR, OUR FUND TO GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT'S ALL HOW MUCH, THAT'S ALL I'M AWARE OF.
AND THEN WE GET A, AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FROM SOLID WASTE FOR PROCESSING THEIR BILLING.
AND THEN WE GET A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY FROM SOLID WASTE FOR PROCESSING THEIR BUILDING.
THAT, THAT GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT GOES INTO THE WATER FUND.
EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING FOR ME GOES INTO THE WATER FUND.
UH, THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT WATER.
UH, THIS IS THE PLEASURE ISLAND.
THAT'S THAT ATLANTA, THAT ATLANTA WATER, THAT ATLANTA WATERLINE REPLACEMENT.
THAT'S THAT MAIN WATERLINE THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
WE HAVE AN RV PARK PLAY SCAPE 65,000 LAKEFRONT PARK IMPROVEMENTS FOR 124,000, I BELIEVE THAT'S FOR A PAVILION AND, UH, RESTROOM.
UM, AND THEN, UH, A MASTER PLAN FOR PLEASURE ISLAND, UH, FOR 250,000.
AND THAT IS ALL FUNDED FROM PLEASURE ISLAND.
WE HAVE PLEASURE ISLAND GETTING THEIR MONIES FROM WHERE THEY GOT ANY MORE LEASES OUT THE PARK.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE ANY NEW ONES.
THEIR REVENUES ARE INCREASING.
UM, GEORGE HAS BEEN DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB OF GETTING THINGS IN ORDER OUT THERE.
THEY'RE STARTING TO BUILD MORE PEOPLE, HOLD MORE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR, FOR THE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE USING.
SO, UM, THAT WE DO EXPECT THAT REVENUE TO CONTINUE TO GO UP, TO BE ABLE TO FUND SOME OF HIS PROJECTS.
HE'S ALSO VERY GOOD AT GETTING GRANTS AND, UH, THINGS TO, UH, FUND HIS, UH, PROJECTS AS WELL.
PAGE NINE IS A LISTING OF, UH, THE THINGS THAT WILL BE FUNDED FROM CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FOR THIS IN FISCAL YEAR 24.
[05:05:01]
TO THE ONE YOU APPROVED TODAY.YOU APPROVED 24.1 MILLION AND NEXT YEAR WE WOULD HAVE 24.6, WHICH WAS ALSO VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH WHAT WE HAD EXPECTED THE, UH, CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION TO BE NEXT YEAR.
AND AS ANNE MENTIONED EARLY THIS MORNING, THEY ALWAYS CONSIDER WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR, UM, FIVE-YEAR PLAN.
SO WHEN WE ISSUE DEBT, THEY LOOK AT THE WHOLE PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PAY IT BACK.
UM, THESE PROJECTS, WE HAVE 10 MILLION FOR STREET RECONSTRUCTION, UM, REHAB AND RECONSTRUCTION.
UM, 800,000 FOR DRAINAGE PUMP STATIONS.
5 MILLION, 5.2 MILLION FOR, UM, THE FIRE PORT ACRES FIRE STATION, RELOCATE THE ANIMAL SHELTER FOR 3 MILLION, MAKING A TOTAL OF 19 MILLION, UH, GENERAL FUND TAX SUPPORTED TYPE PROJECTS.
AND, UH, 5.6 MILLION IN WATER FUNDED PROJECTS WITH, UH, A 1 MILLION FOR LIFT STATIONS, 394,000 FOR SABINE PASS, WASTEWATER TREATMENT, PLANT COLLECTIONS, REHAB SYSTEMS, REHAB, A MILLION MAIN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENTS, 1,000,007.
AND THEN THE ATLANTA WATERLINE REPLACEMENT OF 1,000,005.
SO THAT TOTAL IS 24.6 MILLION FOR THIS YEAR.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK.
UM, IF THERE'S QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED, WE CAN SCHEDULE SOMETHING FOR NEXT WEEK.
OTHERWISE, THE NEXT THING IS THE PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED ON AUGUST 28TH AND THEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE ON THE 29TH, AND THEN ADOPT THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE ON THAT DAY.
UM, THE MEETING ON AUGUST 28TH, THAT'S A MORNING MEETING, IS THAT RIGHT? YES.
AND THAT'S STRICTLY A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET.
I BELIEVE THEY SAID 10:00 AM OKAY.
IS WHEN IT'S, AND THEN THE 29TH MEETING IS A, THAT'S AN EVENING REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, RIGHT? IT'S A REGULAR EVENING COUNCIL MEETING.
I TALKED WITH THE CITY MANAGER IN REFERENCE TO THE BUDGET.
UH, NORMALLY, NORMALLY WHEN I GO THROUGH THE BUDGET, I NORMALLY LOOK AT TWO PRECEDING YEARS, BUT ANYWAY, WITH ONE PRECEDING YEAR, THAT'S FINE.
I STILL CAN STRUCTURE THROUGH IT, BUT I HAVE THINGS MARKED.
THE FIRST THING I LIKE TO ASK YOU, CANDY, IS LET'S GO TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THIS, IN THIS BUDGET.
I ALWAYS USE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT 'CAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE.
UM, WE HAVE HERE THE ACTUAL BUDGET FOR, FOR REGULAR EARNINGS.
WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON, COUNCILMAN? COULD YOU TELL US WHAT PAGE YOU'RE ON? 38.
I USE THAT EXAMPLE ON HOW I GO THROUGH THE BUDGET FROM THE, UH, GENERAL.
BUT THE, I USE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT 'CAUSE LIKE I SAY, IT INVOLVES A LOT OF MONEY.
BUT ON THE REGULAR EARNINGS, THE ACTUALS AND 2020 1, 22, WHICH IS FISCAL YEAR, 22 YEAR, UH, THE ACTUALS IS 11,649.
UH, HAVE WE, UH, DONE OUR, UH, HAVE THAT YEAR, BEEN BUDGET BEEN AUDITED, 22? NO SIR.
WE GOT ALL OUR BILLS IN AND EVERYTHING.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S PROBABLY CLOSE.
IT'S NOT AUDITED, SO IT'S NOT COMPLETELY FINAL, BUT, UM, OKAY.
BECAUSE AS FAR BACK AS I COULD GO WITH ALL THESE, I ALWAYS USE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S
[05:10:01]
SOMETHING I ALWAYS NOTICE.WE DON'T FEEL THESE POSITIONS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVEN'T FILLED 'EM FOR YEARS.
SO WE ALLOCATE X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS FOR REGULAR EARNINGS AND OVERTIME.
SO WHEN WE DO A BUDGET, WHEN I REFER BACK TO THE, THE PRECEDING YEAR, I WAS SUPPOSED TO SEE THE ACTUAL COSTS.
I MEAN THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURE.
AM I CORRECT? THAT'S WHAT, YES.
THEN IF WE DON'T FILL THOSE POSITIONS, HOW CAN WE BE SPENDING THE MONEY LIKE WE BUDGETED FOR? I DON'T HAVE THE 22 BUDGET IN FRONT OF ME.
UM, I'M SURE THAT IT, IT IS LESS.
OKAY, THEN LET, ESPECIALLY FOR POLICE.
WHAT ABOUT 500 K? HOW MANY POSITIONS? I MEAN, IF WE TAKE HOW MANY, MANY POSITIONS WE HAD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OF THAT, THAT SHOULD BE MORE THAN THAT.
UH, LEFT IN THAT SALARY BENEFIT.
'CAUSE THAT'S LIKE RIGHT AT 13, COUNTING OVERTIME FOR 23.
WE GOT 13 AND WE HAD ALL THESE POSITIONS THROUGH THE WHOLE YEAR.
WHEN I LOOK AT PERSONNEL, I GO BACK TO PERSONNEL AND, UH, LET'S SEE.
OKAY, PERSONNEL IS PAGE, THIS IS PAGE 1 43.
HOW ABOUT GOING TO ONE 40, PLEASE? YOU THERE? YES, SIR.
THEN, UM, IN THIS BUDGET FOR 20, FOR 22, 23, HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE, UH, IN THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEYS? I, I USE HER OFFICE.
SHE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND FOR 2023, WE HAD 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
AND SO WE GONNA, WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD ONE THIS YEAR.
BUT WE GOT TWO NEW PEOPLE OVER IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
THAT WERE HIRED DURING THIS YEAR.
ATTORNEYS ONE, AN ATTORNEY ONE IN SCHOOL.
WE, WE HAD, WE HAD SOME PEOPLE IN THAT OFFICE.
WE, VAL ADDED A CONTRACT SPECIALIST AS AN EMPLOYEE.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UM, A CONTRACT EMPLOYEE THAT CAME IN.
YOU SAID IT WAS CONTRACT? YES.
THIS YEAR, BUT I THINK, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT YEAR 'CAUSE I WASN'T INVOLVED IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
THE POSITION SHE'S ADDING FOR THIS YEAR IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK POSITION.
SHE'S ADDING THAT, THAT ONE YEAR CANDY.
BUT I'M SAYING SHE'S GOT MORE THAN SEVEN IN THERE THIS YEAR.
TEMPORARY STAFFING IS NOT LISTED IN THE, UM, IN THE BACK, IN THE PERSONNEL SCHEDULE.
WELL, IN MOST CASES YOU, WE HAVE SEVEN EMPLOYEES IN OUR, IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
SO WHERE ARE THEY? WHERE DO I FIND OUT HOW MUCH MONEY WE T WELL, TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES COULD BE LISTED IN SEVERAL PLACES.
THEY COULD EITHER BE UNDER EXTRA HELP, WHICH BASICALLY THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE EXTRA HELP ARE THE LIBRARY, UM, RECREATION, UM, WHAT'S THE OTHER ONE? ELECTIONS.
THOSE ARE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES THAT WE BUDGET UNDER EXTRA HELP.
IF WE HAVE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES THAT WORK FOR AN AGENCY.
UM, WHAT'S THEIR NAME? I FORGET THEIR NAME.
[05:15:01]
OUR TEMPORARY AGENCY.THOSE ARE CHARGED TO, UM, TEMPORARY SERVICES, WHICH IS DOWN IN THE BOTTOM, UH, SECTION OF THE, UM, THE LIST OF ACCOUNTS.
SO THEY'RE NOT LISTED IN PERSONNEL BECAUSE WE PAY AN AGENCY.
SO IT'S MORE OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE.
THE REASON I'M ASKING YOU THAT, WHEN I GO THROUGH THE BUDGET, I LIKE TO GO THROUGH, I LIKE TO COMPARE WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR TO THE CURRENT YEAR.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND UNDER THE, BETWEEN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND OUR CLOSING ORDINANCE WITH, WITH FINANCE, IT PRETTY MUCH OUTLINED HOW WE, UH, HANDLE AN ACCOUNT FOR THE MONEY, ESPECIALLY IF WE USING THE GENERAL ACCEPTABLE ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND, UH, EVERYTHING.
SO MY THING, MY THING WITH THAT, I'M TRYING TO READ THE BUDGET HERE AND I WANT TO SEE WHERE WE ARE APPROVING MONEY.
SO DURING A YEAR I CAN TRACK THE MONEY AND THAT'S WHY SOME THINGS I, I DON'T GET BECAUSE IT SAYS THAT ALL OUR PROJECTS SHOULD BE LISTED IN THE BUDGET AND AN ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FOR EACH PROJECT.
SO IF WE DON'T LIST PROJECTS, WE ARE JUST PUTTING MONEY THERE.
SO DURING THE YEAR, WE GONNA SELECT WHATEVER PROJECTS WE WANT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO DO.
ARE YOU, ARE YOU SPEAKING OF STREET PROJECTS? NO, NOT JUST, WELL, STREETS IS ONE.
YOU KNOW, WE SUPPOSED TO LIST THE STREETS THAT ADD UP TO THE MONEY WE'RE PUTTING IN THE BUDGET.
THEY SHOULD, THEY SHOULD HAVE PROJECTS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE NUMBERS.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S ANY THAT, THAT'S ANY PROJECTS THAT WE GONNA DO, ANY PROJECT THAT WE SUPPOSED TO DO.
AND WE ARE FUNDING, WE ALSO SUPPOSED TO LIST THOSE PROJECTS.
WELL, THEY ARE AND LISTED THEY ARE.
THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE ALL LISTED.
THE INDIVIDUAL STREET PROJECTS ARE NOT LISTED BECAUSE THOSE ARE DECIDED DURING THE YEAR BY THE COUNCIL.
BUT WE SELECT THOSE STREETS IN ADVANCE OF THE BUDGET.
AND THAT LIST THAT, UH, WE PLACED FOR THE, IN THAT BUDGET FOR THAT YEAR, THAT'S HOW WE SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHICH STREETS ARE FUNDED FOR THAT YEAR.
THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY STREETS SELECTED FOR NEXT YEAR YET.
AND, UH, THAT'S BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER AND I, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT ONE BECAUSE HE, HE'S GOTTA, THEY GOTTA GET THIS STRAIGHT BECAUSE WE GOT MONEY THAT WE GONNA HAVE TO ALLOCATE.
SO IT IS REALLY FIXING, I COULD LIVE WITH THAT ONE, BUT LET'S TAKE PARK AND RECREATION FOR AN EXAMPLE.
BUT WE, IF WE PLAN ON PUTTING A PLAY SCAPE IN THIS PARK OVER HERE, IF WE PLANNING ON DURING A, A WALKING TRACK IN THIS PART OVER HERE, IF WE'RE GONNA DO A BALL FIELD IN THIS PARK OVER HERE AND WE ADDING ALL THIS MONEY UP, SO THAT'S THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE FOR PARK AND RECREATION FOR THAT YEAR.
THOSE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT WE GOING TO DO FOR THAT YEAR.
SO IF ANYBODY DECIDES TO DO ANOTHER PROJECT, WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR, BUT IF WE DON'T IDENTIFY THE PROJECTS IN EACH PARKS, THEN BASICALLY WHAT WE DOING IS WHOEVER COME AND PUT IN FOR A PROJECT, OKAY, WE GOT FUNDING.
THEN WHEN WE GET TO A PARK THAT REALLY NEEDS SOMETHING, WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING.
BUT IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEEDS OF EACH PARKS, THAT'S HOW WE SUPPOSED TO DO IT AND DECIDE WHAT WE GONNA DO FOR THAT YEAR, THAT'S WHEN WE PUT IT IN THE BUDGET AND FOR THAT PROJECT.
AND THEREFORE EVERYTHING ELSE COMES UP.
[05:20:01]
THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE BUDGET THOUGH.BUT IF WE DON'T PUT THIS MONEY WHERE WE CAN KNOW, WE SPENDING MONEY FOR THIS BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS NOTHING BUT A MIRROR OF WHAT WE WANT OUR UPCOMING YEAR TO BE.
AND WHAT, AND, AND WHEN WE CLOSE THIS BOOK AND WE SAY, APPROVED IT DON'T CHANGE.
IF WE CHANGE IT, IT'S GOTTA BE IN LINE WITH AN EMERGENCY THAT WE COULD NOT FORESEE WITH APP WITH, WITH, WITH THE THOUGHT AT THE TIME.
THAT'S DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH, GENERAL HEALTH AND SAFETY.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE BUDGET, WHEN I LOOK AT THE PAST YEAR, LIKE THIS YEAR HERE, WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT'S PROJECTED, I SEE WHAT WE PUT IN LAST YEAR.
'CAUSE THOSE ARE THE TYPE THINGS THAT I REALLY LOOK AT A BUDGET FOR.
'CAUSE THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH.
SO WHAT I WANNA DO IS I WANNA LOOK AT HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAD IN SOLID WASTE, AND THEN I WANNA LOOK AT WHAT WE, UH, WHAT WE SPENT AT THE, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHAT WE ACTUALLY SPENT.
BECAUSE I KNOW WE DIDN'T PUT MONEY IN FOR A CONTRACT TO COME IN AND HELP US WITH THE GARBAGE WHEN WE GOT BEHIND.
I KNOW WE DIDN'T PUT MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT.
WE DIDN'T PUT MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR WHEN WE BROUGHT IN THE CONTRACTOR TO HELP US WITH THE TRASH.
BUT THE MONEY IS COMING FROM SOMEWHERE.
SO I LIKE TO KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM.
YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN WE APPROVE THE BUDGET, WHEN WE SAY PERSONNEL, WHEN WE APPROVE THIS BUDGET, THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT GOT MONEY TO BE PAID IS THE PEOPLE THAT IS IN ONE OF THESE POSITIONS.
BECAUSE WE ARE TOLD BY ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES OF A COUNTY IS WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO EVEN BRING ANY ITEM TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL IF IT'S REQUIRED FUNDING.
IF WE, WHEN WE FINISH AND WE SAY WE APPROVE THIS, WE NOT SUPPOSED TO PUT NOTHING ON THE AGENDA FOR FUNDING.
DON'T, WE CAN'T ASK COUNCIL TO FUND IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET.
SO I TAKE THIS BUDGET SERIOUSLY, BUT WHEN I, WHEN I SEE IT, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT IT REFLECTS WHAT WE GOING TO DO.
BECAUSE IF WE DO THAT, WE GOING TO GET WHAT WE WANT TO DONE AND WE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH IT FOR THAT YEAR.
BUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE SUPPOSED TO INDICATE THE EXACT EXPENDITURE, THE ACT, THEY CALL IT ACTUAL.
BUT WHAT WE SPENT IN EACH LINE OUT OF, AND THE REASON I'M ON THAT, BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER AND DIRECTORS HAVE THE AUTHORIZATION TO DO TRANSFERS MM-HMM.
WHEN IT'S COME FROM DEPARTMENT TO DEPARTMENT, THEN IT'S CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL.
IF MY UNDERSTANDING IS CORRECT.
BUT IF WE TRANSFER, I, IT SHOULD BE RE REFLECTED IN THE ACTUALS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO IF I TOOK $500,000 OUT OF ONE DEPARTMENT AND PUT IT IN ANOTHER ONE AT THE END OF THE YEAR IN THE A MINUTE, WHICH ONE? IT GOES IN THE MINUTE COLUMN.
SO WHEN WE LOOKING AT THE ACTUALS AND I'M, AND YOU ASKING ME TO FINANCE THEM FOR THIS YEAR COMING, THEN I KNOW, WELL, WHY SHOULD I GIVE 'EM THAT MUCH MONEY? THEY DIDN'T SPEND IT LAST TIME YOU ASKED ME FOR THAT, FOR THAT MONEY, BUT YOU TOOK IT.
THAT'S HOW, AS A COUNCILMAN, I LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THE BUDGET, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T WANT TO DECIDE
[05:25:01]
WHERE THIS MONEY GOES.BECAUSE WHEN YOU PRESENT IN THIS BUD BUDGET, IF I HAVE A PROBLEM OR A CONCERN, THIS IS A TIME WHEN I'M SUPPOSED TO TALK WITH YOU ALL ABOUT IT.
BUT THIS ONE HERE, I GOT KIND OF CONFUSED WHEN I'M GOING THROUGH IT.
AND THEN I LOOK AT CERTAIN THINGS WHERE WE HAVE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY.
BECAUSE WHEN WE MOVING FOR A LINE ITEM, 'CAUSE I GO LINE ITEM, A LINE ITEM.
IF A LINE ITEM IS HERE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS YEAR IS, IS HERE.
IF I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN THE PRESENTATION, MY QUESTION IS, WELL WHY ARE YOU GIVING THEM THIS MUCH MONEY THIS YEAR WHEN I SAW THAT YOU ARE PROJECTING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO JUST FINISH LIKE YOU DID WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
'CAUSE THAT ACTUAL YEAR IS THE YEAR THAT REALLY DRIVES, THAT DRIVES THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT I READ ABOUT BUDGETING.
THE PRECEDING YEAR DRIVES IT BECAUSE THAT'S AN ACTUAL, THE CURRENT YEAR IS ONLY AN ESTIMATED.
SO, SO THAT ONE IS HARD TO TRY TO PROPOSE FROM.
BUT THE ACTUAL IS WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN WE DO BUDGETS.
AND I'M JUST HAVING TO, A DIFFICULT TIME.
MAYBE I NEED TO COME IN AND TALK ABOUT THIS, UH, AND SEE IT, BUT I'M HAVING A, I'M HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME REALLY IDENTIFYING THE MONEY SPECIFIC.
NOW I SEE A, I SEE MONEY IN GENERAL.
I SEE MONEY IN GENERAL, BUT I CAN'T, I CAN'T MONITOR A BLANK CHECK.
AND IN SOME CASES I HAVE TO BE A BLANK CHECK BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH STREETS, FOR AN EXAMPLE, I MEAN, YOU COULD PUT $10 MILLION, I MEAN 10 MILLION IN IT, BUT YOU'LL BE KIND OF GOING ON A LIMB IF YOU TRY TO BRING YOUR STREETS UP TO $10 MILLION.
'CAUSE YOU GOTTA HAVE, UH, UH, UH, THE, UH, CONTINGENCY BUILT IN THERE.
SO I JUST PROJECTS LIKE PARKS, THOSE ARE THINGS I HEAR PEOPLE COMPLAINING AND TALKING ABOUT.
THOSE ARE THE TYPE THINGS THAT I WANT TO KNOW.
I WANT TO KNOW, BECAUSE IF PEOPLE GOT PARKS IN DISTRICT FOUR, I WANNA KNOW WHAT WE GONNA HAVE FOR THAT YEAR.
WHAT DO YOU, HOW MUCH MONEY YOU GOING TO SPEND IN PARKS AND DIS DISTRICT FOUR
RON, COUNCILMAN, UM, YOU SAID THE WAY THAT IT, IT'S STRUCTURED, UM, WE HAVE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET AND ANY PROJECT ITEM THAT COMES IN OVER 50,000, IS IT 50,000 THAT YOU CONSIDER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT? ANYTHING THAT COMES IN OVER 50,000, WE CONSIDER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THEN WE GO INTO DETAIL AS TO WHERE THIS FUNDING COMES FROM, WHETHER THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE GENERAL FUND OR WHETHER WE GO OUT FOR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION OR WHETHER IT'S GRANT MONEY THAT'S GOING TO FUND IT FOR, FOR THE, UM, FOR THAT PARTICULAR FINANCIAL YEAR.
APART FROM THAT, WE GO TO THE, THE, UM, WE, WE GO TO THE GENERAL FUND SIDE OF THE BUDGET WHERE WE LOOK AT, THERE ARE LINE ITEMS LIKE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES AND OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
LET US SEE, LET US LOOK LIKE US.
YEAH, LET'S LOOK AT EAGLE PARK IN PUERTO ACRES, FOR EXAMPLE MM-HMM.
AND, UM, BASED ON WHAT HAS BEEN FUNDED ON FROM THE GENERAL FUND BEFORE, WHEN WE GET A BILL FOR A HUNDRED AND HOW MUCH 110,000, $120,000, THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT LOOKS AT IT.
IF IT DOESN'T, IF IT DOESN'T FIT IT, IT'S, IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY AND IT DOESN'T FIT ON THERE, YOU WOULD BRING IT BEFORE THE COUNSELOR AND SAID, LISTEN, WE ARE ASKING FOR APPROVAL.
WE ARE ASKING COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL BECAUSE THE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE ON THE, ON THE CON OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES IF THAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE SO THAT WE CAN UNDERTAKE THE EXPENDITURE ON THERE AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.
BUT WE MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO PLAN AHEAD OF TIME FOR THE NEXT FOUR TO FIVE YEARS FOR UNDER LARGE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT MAY REQUIRE EITHER GRANT FUNDING, CERTIFICATION OF OBLIGATION, OR MAYBE EVEN FUNDING FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
YOU KNOW, IT MAKES IT, IT MAKES IT VERY CLEAR TO, TO THE COUNCIL.
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE SOURCING THE, THE, THE FUNDING FROM.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT ON OF, UM, THE OPERATING EXPENSES.
MOST OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE UNDERTAKE FROM THE GENERAL FUND THAT ONE MAY CONSIDER
[05:30:01]
TO BE A PROJECT WAS UNDER THE CAP OF $50,000.SO BETWEEN UNDERTAKEN AS PART OF REGULAR OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.
YOU KNOW, OR FOR, OR FOR THAT PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S HOW IT'S BEEN COVERED GENERALLY.
BECAUSE IT COMES BACK TO THE WHOLE IDEA THAT IF YOU HAD TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR EVERY EXPENDITURE, EVERY UH, LITTLE EXPENDITURE THAT'S ORDERED, THAT'S UNDER 25,000, WHICH THE CITY MANAGER HAS THE ABILITY TO APPROVE.
LIKE BEFORE WE'LL BE OVERWHELMED WITH AN AGENDA THAT'S PACKED WITH, YOU KNOW, SO MANY ITEMS OF $24,000.
UNLESS NOW THAT THE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE CITY MANAGER'S APPROVAL, UH, THE CITY MANAGER'S ABILITY TO DO AT LEAST CONTRACTS ON THE CON CONTRACTS, $24,999.
IT HELPS IN MAKING SURE THAT WE STREAMLINE THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT IT'S BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE COUNCIL.
AND IT HELPS AGAIN IN THE FLOW AND, AND, AND, UM, AND EXECUTION OF PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. BUT ANYTHING THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THAT LIMIT HAS TO COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
YOU KNOW? UM, AND LIKE EVERYTHING SAID, IF THE, IF THE, THE POSITION IS NOT BUDGETED, IT'S NOT AN ESTABLISHED POSITION IN, IN THE BUDGET.
IF THE CITY ATTORNEY REQUIRES A TEMPORARY OR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, CITY SECRETARY REQUESTS A TEMPORARY, UM, INDIVIDUAL.
IT'S BEEN SOURCED BECAUSE FOR AUGUST, UM, UM, UM, EMPLOYMENT AGENCY, THE COUNCIL, THERE'S A POT OF MONEY OF ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S BEEN AWARDED.
NOW WHEN YOU PUT ALL THE ALLOCATIONS FROM THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, YOU COME UP WITH THAT NUMBER BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ALLOCATED.
YOU CAN ALLOCATE IT TO THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, OR YOU CAN ALLOCATE IT AS ONE PART OF MONEY THAT COMES FROM THE HR DEPARTMENT.
BUT WAY THAT WE HAVE CHOSE, WE HAVE DONE IT IN THE PAST FOR QUITE SOME TIME, IS ALLOCATING THAT MONEY TO EACH DEPARTMENT AND WHEN THE NEED ARISES FOR DEPLOYMENT TO EMPLOY AN INDIVIDUAL IS BEING SOURCED, YOU KNOW, FROM THOSE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
YOU KNOW, BUT SO I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS.
IT MAKES IT A BIT COMPLICATED, BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO SKIN THAT CAT.
AND IT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE THAT, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M VERY MUCH BIG ON TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT OUR MONEY WE'RE SPENDING, IT'S THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY.
WE GOT TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT AND OPEN ABOUT IT AS TO HOW WE ALLOCATE IT AND HOW WE SPEND IT.
YOU KNOW? SO I'M WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.
WELL, ANYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT MAKES IT MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT FOR US.
WELL, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND I, AND, AND I THINK IT IS, IT HAS TO BE COMMUNICATIONS IN ORDER FOR SOMEONE TO UNDERSTAND EXPECTATIONS AND NOT ONLY ME THAT YOU KNOW, WHAT I EXPECT, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING HOW YOU OPERATE.
WHERE I MAY MISUNDERSTOOD AND, AND, AND I DON'T MIND, BUT WHEN THINGS ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE BOTHERING ME, I WANT TO KNOW AND I WANT TO KNOW.
BECAUSE WHEN I LEAVE HERE, WHATEVER IS DECIDED BETWEEN NOT JUST ME, BUT THIS COUNCIL AND STAFF, I'M NOT A COUNCILMAN THAT JUST GOING TO GO IN NOW.
I'LL WAIT TILL THE NEXT MEETING.
I'M FOLLOWING UP ON EVERYTHING THAT WE DO UP HERE.
AND IF YOU ASK ME TO, OR US TO APPROVE SOMETHING, THEY, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA WATCH AND SEE WHAT WE DO IT.
BUT RIGHT NOW IS A BIG KEY, YOU KNOW, AND I HEAR A LOT OF TERMS AND TERMINOLOGY AND I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THINGS AND I'M LIKE, DO THEY REALLY READ THE ORDINANCE? DO THEY REALLY READ THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COURT? BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, DON'T MAKE THE COMMON SENSE TASK.
YOU KNOW, WE APPROVE THE CITY MANAGER TO DO CONTRACTS OR PURCHASES LESS THAN $25,000 WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AS YOU READ THAT SAME ORDINANCE, IT SAYS WHATEVER HE DOES IN A MONTH, IF HE DO ANY, YOU REPORT TO US MONTHLY.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S WRITTEN THAT WAY.
BUT I DON'T HEAR, I DON'T HAVE, I DON'T HEAR NOBODY SAY,
[05:35:01]
WE HAD THESE CONTRACTS DURING THIS MONTH THAT THE CITY MANAGERS APPROVE AND SIGN OFF.YOU KNOW, WE SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT ORDINANCE.
I MEAN, THAT'S HOW IT'S WRITTEN.
SO I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY THE CITY MANAGER CAN'T DO WHAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO DO.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS, THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS THAT THE CITIZENS GOT ME UP HERE TO ENSURE THAT WE DO.
AND THE CITIZENS ARE WATCHING WHAT WE DO.
SO WHATEVER WE DO, WE GOTTA ENSURE THAT IT'S TRANSPARENT.
SO IF THE CITY MAN DOES THREE, FOUR CONTRACTS UNDER 24,000 BUCKS, HE HAS THAT AUTHORITY.
BUT I KNOW AT SOME POINT IN TIME, IF HE DID, WE GOING TO HEAR IT BECAUSE WE OUGHT TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS A CONTRACT THAT WE CAN JUSTIFY.
YOU KNOW, SO THOSE ARE TYPE THINGS THAT I, THAT, THAT, THAT I'M SEEING AND I OBSERVED THAT WE, WE JUST CAN'T GO BY, YOU KNOW? AND LIKE I SAID, WHATEV, WHEN WE APPROVE YOUR BUDGET, WHEN WE APPROVE YOUR BUDGET, UNDERSTAND IF YOU DIDN'T INCLUDE IT IN THIS BUDGET, DON'T BRING IT TO US FOR FUNDING.
NOW WE COULD DISCUSS ANYTHING.
BUT WHEN IT COME DOWN TO ASKING COUNCIL TO APPROVE FUNDING SOMETHING, IF IT'S NOT IN THIS BUDGET, IT SAYS IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE AGENDA.
YOU DON'T PUT IT ON THE AGENDA IF IT REQUIRES FUNDING, AND WE DIDN'T APPROVE IT WITHIN THIS BUDGET, WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS IT'S A NO-NO.
SO, SO EVERYTHING YOU BRING TO US, WE, WE DEAL WITH A BUDGET AND I GOTTA UNDERSTAND HOW Y'ALL DO IT SO THAT WHEN I'M FOLLOWING UP AND I'M LOOKING, I DON'T, I DON'T MISINTERPRET ANYTHING.
I WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THAT.
UM, I KNOW, UH, THAT THE HOUR IS FAR SPENT AND I'M READING THE ROOM.
I WOULD SUGGEST, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE IN AN E E O C VIOLATION, UH, AND BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A LONG DAY, UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR, UH, ADJOURNMENT.
UH, AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, WE HAVE A MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? NO, I, OKAY, I SECOND I HAVE A QUESTION, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.