[00:00:02]
OKAY.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
GOOD MORNING.I THINK EVERYONE IS HERE IN PLACE.
AND COUNCILMAN BECKHAM, I SEE YOU ARE ON.
SHE SHE COULD BE ON JUST LIKE THAT.
SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE, 'CAUSE THERE'S NO VOTING.
WE ARE GATHERED HERE FOR A, A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON DATE WEDNESDAY, UH, AUGUST 23RD, 2023, AND IT IS NOW 11:09 AM CENTRAL STANDARD TIME.
AND WE ARE GATHERED HERE IN AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AT CITY HALL ON THE FIFTH FLOOR IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
UH, THIS MEETING MAY BE ATTENDED THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF, UH, MEDIUMS OF TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCING.
AND, BUT YOU MUST FIRST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING ID NUMBER OF 8 4 7 1 4 7 9 1 9 7 4, AND THE PASSCODE OF 3 9 7 7 4 1.
AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING.
AND AT THIS MEETING, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AND YOU WOULD ONLY NEED CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.
HOWEVER, IT MUST BE 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING TO MAKE YOUR REQUEST KNOWN THROUGH THE CITY SECRETARY'S STAFF.
AND THEY WOULD DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWERS TO, UH, ACTUALLY PROVIDE WHATEVER THOSE SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS WOULD BE FOR YOU.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION AND A PLEDGE FOR COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
WOULD YOU DO AN IMPLICATION FOR US, PLEASE? AND THEN WE WOULD DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
WOULD YOU STAND WITH ME? OH, HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BLESS YOUR NAME.
THANK YOU FOR THIS MEETING THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO CONDUCT, THAT WE CONDUCTED AN ORDER.
WE WILL ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BLESSING THE CITIZENS OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
WE ASK ALL THE BLESSINGS, YOUR SON JESUS NAME.
IN PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, I HAVE 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.
WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH THE QUORUM? MAYOR BARTEE, PRESENT, MAYOR PROTO HAMILTON.
PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK MAYOR, YOU HAVE A QUORUM.
AND FOR OTHERS, COUNCILMAN BECKHAM IS ON, UH, IS IN ATTENDANCE, UH, USING THE MEDIUM OF VIDEO CONFERENCING.
[II. WORKSHOP]
OKAY.WE WERE NOW, EXCUSE ME, MOVED TO ROMAN NUMERAL TWO, WHICH IS A WORKSHOP, A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND DISCUSSIONS REGARDING KEY MATTERS RELATED TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FROM THE 88 REGULAR TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE INTERIM PERIOD.
AND THIS WILL BE DONE BY WHOM I WOULD CALL OUR LOBBYISTS, MS. KAREN KENARD.
CITY, UH, ATTORNEY WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THE INTRODUCTIONS.
THIS IS A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND DISCUSSION, AND WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS KEY MATTERS, UM, THAT SPECIFICALLY IMPACT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AS WE KNOW THAT WERE MANY BILLS THAT WERE PASSED DURING THE 88TH, UH, LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND, UH, WE BELIEVE THERE MAY BE AN UPCOMING THIRD SESSION, I BELIEVE.
UM, TODAY WE HAVE KAREN KENARD OF THE GREENBERG TRO LAW FIRM.
UM, SHE FOCUSES HER PRACTICE ON GOVERNMENT LAW, POLICY, AND REGULATORY MATTERS, AND WITH AN EMPHASIS ON MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
KAREN HAS A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA, AND HER, UH, CAREER HAS, UM, SHE HAS WORKED AS A CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AS WELL AS SHE'S SERVED AS GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
AND, UH, SHE WORKING WITH US AND HAS BEEN REPRESENTING US IN MATTERS AFFECTING THE LEGISLATURE.
SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN UPDATE AT THIS TIME.
UH, WE GAVE YOU ALL ALSO JUST A GENERAL HANDOUT, UH, THAT T M L, UH, PROVIDED TO CITIES IN GENERAL, UH, AT THE END OF THE SESSION.
AND, UH, MISS, UH, ATTORNEY KAREN KENARD WILL ALSO EMPHASIZE SOME KEY ISSUES.
[00:05:01]
THANK YOU.IT MAY BE, NEED TO TURN IT ON.
I AM A LAWYER, SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE THEY USED TO.
I DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT ENGINEERS, BUT THANK YOU MAYOR.
AGAIN, I'M KAREN ARD, UH, WITH GREENBURG TIG.
AND I DO WANNA SAY THAT EVEN THOUGH I AM THE FACE OF YOUR GOVERNMENTAL REPRESENTATION HERE, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO THANK MY COLLEAGUES AT GT WHO ALSO HELP IN REPRESENTING THE CITY AT THE LEGISLATURE.
UH, OUR TEAM LEADER, MR. DEMETRIUS MCDANIEL, UH, MY, UH, LAW PARTNER ELIZABETH HATLEY, AND THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR TEAM, SERGIO CAVASSO, UH, THE FOUR OF US FORM THE TEAM THAT ACTUALLY REPRESENT YOUR INTEREST, UH, AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
AND WE COULD, I COULD NOT DO THIS JOB WITHOUT THEIR HELP AND THEIR ASSISTANCE THERE.
UH, I ALSO WANNA BEGIN, UH, BY TELLING YOU THAT, UH, THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UH, WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO, UH, GOOD FOR THE CITY WITHOUT OF COURSE, UH, THE HELP OF YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE, REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTIAN MANUEL, AND OF COURSE, UH, SPEAKER DADE FELAN.
UH, THOSE TWO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, UH, ARE VERY HELPFUL IN MAKING SURE THAT, UH, ISSUES THAT MAYBE IMPACT YOU NEGATIVELY OR POSITIVELY, UH, THAT, UH, THEY ARE ALWAYS, UH, AT THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR AGENDAS AND HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT, ESPECIALLY FROM A NEGATIVE PER PERSPECTIVE, THAT WE CAN WORK ON THOSE.
SO, I, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION THEM AND ALL THE HELP THAT THEY PROVIDE IN REPRESENTING THE CITY.
UH, I'D LIKE TO START, UH, KIND OF WITH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, IF YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THE DATA FROM T M L TO SAY THAT, UH, THIS PARTICULAR SESSION, THE 88TH, UH, 2023 THAT STARTED IN JANUARY, UH, THERE WERE MORE BILLS, UH, FILED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAN ANY OTHER SESSION IN HISTORY.
UH, AN UNPRECEDENTED 8,300 PLUS BILLS THAT WERE FILED, UH, OF THAT NUMBER THERE WERE ABOUT, UM, 1800 OR SO THAT WE TRACK THAT HAD POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE CITY.
NOT THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL 1800 SPECIFICALLY TARGET THE CITY OR ANYTHING, BUT THEY WERE CITY RELATED BILLS THAT WE KEPT TRACK OF.
AND OF THOSE 8,300 THAT WERE FILED, ABOUT 1,250 ACTUALLY PASSED.
AND OF THAT NUMBER, THERE WERE ABOUT 200 OR SO BILLS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTED THE CITY.
AND SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO MAYBE TALK ABOUT, UH, SOME OF WHAT I THINK SOME OF THE CRITICAL ISSUES THAT WE WORKED ON, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, AMONG THOSE 200 OR SO THAT PASSED.
AND, UH, I'M GONNA START WITH WHEN I WAS FIRST HIRED TO REPRESENT THE CITY IN 2019, I WAS HIRED, UH, BECAUSE THERE WAS A THREAT TO YOUR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS.
AND MY MARCHING ORDERS AT THAT TIME WAS TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO PROTECT THOSE AGREEMENTS.
THEY'RE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE OPERATION OF THE CITY, TO THE BUDGET OF THE CITY.
UH, THERE HAD BEEN AN ATTEMPT EARLIER TO, UM, UNDO, UNWIND THOSE.
AND SO WE, WE KEEP THAT IN MIND AS KIND OF OUR NUMBER ONE FOCUS, PROTECT THOSE AGREEMENTS.
UH, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT COME ALONG THAT OF COURSE WE ALSO TRACK, BUT THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE FOCUS.
AND SO THE FIRST BILL I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS IN A CATEGORY OF BILLS RELATED TO LAND USE AND ET EJS THAT WAS A SERIOUS THREAT THIS SESSION TO YOUR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, UH, AGREEMENTS, THERE WERE SEVERAL BILLS THAT WERE FILED THAT WOULD IN EFFECT REDUCE THE SCOPE OF YOUR E T J AND SEVERAL OF THE BILLS.
THEY BASICALLY JUST SAID THAT THE CITY'S E T J BASED UPON YOUR POPULATION, I THINK YOU WOULD'VE HAD, UH, MAYBE 500 INCHES.
I MEAN, THEY WERE VERY RESTRICTED.
AND OUR QUESTION TO THE SPONSORS OF SOME OF THOSE BILLS IS, WELL, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IN SEVERAL OTHER CITIES, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE AN E T J THAT HAS ALL THESE AGREEMENTS THAT THEY'VE ENTERED, AND THESE HAVE BEEN VERY LONG-TERM CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS.
HOW WILL THIS BILL IMPACT THAT? AND THE QUESTION WAS, THEY'LL NO LONGER BE IN YOUR E T J, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY WOULD IMPAIR YOUR CONTRACTS OR YOUR CONTRACTS WOULD JUST KIND OF GO AWAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS I WAS TALKING TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, TRYING TO GET THE FINANCIAL
[00:10:01]
IMPACT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HOPE THAT PEOPLE WOULDN'T WANT TO FINANCIALLY DAMAGE THE CITY.AND SO THEY WERE VER THE, THE CITY MANAGER OR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WERE VERY, VERY HELPFUL IN GETTING THOSE NUMBERS RUN IN A VERY TIMELY MANNER SO THAT WE COULD HAVE ARGUMENTS TO MAKE ABOUT THE, THE, THE SERIOUS FINANCIAL IMPACT THAT BILLS LIKE THAT.
BUT ONE OF THOSE BILLS DID PASS, UH, AND IT SENATE A BILL 2038, AND THAT IS A BILL THAT WILL ALLOW PROPERTY OWNERS TO PETITION A CITY TO RELEASE E T J FROM THE CITY.
HOWEVER, WE WERE ABLE TO GET AN, UH, AN AMENDMENT TO THAT BILL OR AN EXCEPTION IN THAT BILL THAT BASICALLY SAYS THAT BILL DOESN'T APPLY TO CITIES WHERE THERE IS AN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN PLACE.
AND SO I BRING IT UP TO JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT THE BILL PASSED, BUT THE EXCEPTION IN THE BILL DOESN'T APPLY TO YOU BECAUSE OF THAT EXCEPTION, WE WORKED VERY, VERY CLOSELY, UH, WITH, UH, LIKE I SAID, REPRESENTATIVE MANUEL, THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE AND THE AUTHORS OF THIS BILL.
THERE, THERE WERE SOME VERY, VERY HELPFUL AUTHORS OF THIS, THIS BILL THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA GIVE THOSE TO THIS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, WHAT WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO REACH OUT TO THEM TO SAY THANK YOU.
THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL IN TAKING THE INFORMATION THAT WE PUT TOGETHER AND LOOKING AT THAT AND, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO HAVE A NEGATIVE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE CITY.
I'LL ALSO SAY THAT YOUR SURROUNDING CITY PARTNERS WERE VERY HELPFUL IN THAT BOTH THE CITY OF ORANGE AND THE CITY OF BEAUMONT.
WE REALLY WORKED AS A TEAM ON THIS PARTICULAR BILL.
AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ALSO REACH OUT TO YOUR COLLEAGUES AND SAY THANK YOU.
I THINK MAYBE SOME OF THOSE OTHER BILLS RELATED TO E T J RELEASES AND, AND, UH, NARROWING THE SCOPE OF YOUR E T J MAY BE BACK IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND SO THAT WAS SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA KEEP OUR EYE ON DURING THIS INTERIM PERIOD.
UM, MAYOR, MAY I, UH, SAY SOMETHING? YES, MA'AM.
UM, MS. ARD, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE WILL PROTECT THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.
I KNOW OFTEN THERE'S DIFFERENT IDEAS OF THINGS THAT, UH, CAN BE DONE OUT IN THE E T J, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT THE, THE ONLY EXCEPTION THAT'S OUT THERE IS IF YOU HAVE AN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENT.
SO I JUST ALWAYS SAY, YOU KNOW, INTO THE FUTURE, IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS, WHOEVER'S HERE 10 YEARS, 20 YEARS, 30 YEARS, WE HAVE TO ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ALMOST BABYSIT THOSE AGREEMENTS.
BECAUSE THAT IS THE, THE ONE EXCEPTION THAT'S OUT THERE, UH, ON THOSE ANNEXATION ISSUES IS IF YOU'RE SUBJECT TO AN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENT.
AND THANK, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR WORKING SO HARD TO PROTECT THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENTS.
YEAH, I, I AGREE WITH THAT, BUT SEEM LIKE EVERY YEAR, I MEAN EVERY SESSION THOSE, THOSE COME UP, YOU KNOW, THE INDUSTRIAL GRIEVANCE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT HIRED PART A LAWYER'S LOBBYING ALSO, AND THOSE IN REFINERIES, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THIS NEW TAX AGREEMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, I WILL JUST SAY THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE IN THE, IN THIS, IN THIS, IN THESE INSTANCES, THIS LAST SESSION.
IT WASN'T YOUR, THE COMPANIES AT ALL.
UH, THESE WERE BASED UPON OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO WHAT, WHAT I WILL CALL ANNEXATIONS THAT HAD GONE BAD AND PEOPLE WHO HAD, MANY YEARS AGO, AS YOU REMEMBER, WHEN, UH, HOME RULE CITIES HAD UNILATERAL ANNEXATION AUTHORITY, UH, THERE WERE AREAS IN PARTICULAR CITIES IN WHICH THOSE AREAS WERE TAKING IN AGAINST THEIR WILL.
BUT AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS THAT UNILATERAL ANNEXATION AUTHORITY.
OF COURSE, THAT HAS GONE AWAY.
THE COMPANIES WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THESE.
AND SO I DON'T, I DON'T WANNA LEAVE THAT IMPRESSION AT ALL.
I WAS HIRED BACK WAY BACK WHEN IN 2017 WHEN THAT WAS THE CASE.
BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY OF THE COMPANIES, I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR INVOLVED IN THESE ISSUES AT ALL.
THESE ARE RELATED TO ANNEXATIONS FROM THE NINETIES, THE MID TWO THOUSANDS, WHERE THERE WERE WHAT ARE CALLED POCKETS OF COMMUNITIES THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY WANT TO BE A PART OF CERTAIN CITIES IN THE STATE.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT THESE BILLS ARE COMING FROM.
BECAUSE, UH, AND COUNCIL, I DON'T THINK YOU HAD COME ON COUNCIL YET WHEN WE WERE BRIEFED ON THOSE, AND IT WAS, I DON'T, WELL, A CITY IN, UH, EAST, I MEAN, UH, WEST TEXAS, THEY HAD NO, NO TYPE OF, UH, INDUSTRIES, INDU INDUSTRIES OR ETJ AT ALL.
AND THE, UH, LEGISLATOR FROM THAT AREA INTRODUCED THAT BILL, AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT HOW WE WERE BRIEFED.
THIS WAS BACK IN JANUARY OR SOMETIME, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE SESSION WENT IN, OR I MEAN, AFTER,
[00:15:01]
RIGHT AFTER THE SESSION IT BEGUN.AND, UH, IT, IT WASN'T, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE COULD SAY MOTIVA WAS A PART, OR IF, I MEAN, IF THEY WERE, THEY WERE VERY SILENT.
NO, YOU KNOW, OUR INDUSTRIAL NEIGHBORS AROUND HERE, THEY WERE VERY SILENT ON THAT BECAUSE I, I BELIEVE THAT THEY REALLY, AS, AS MS. KENARD WAS SAYING, THEY REALLY UNDERSTOOD HOW THE CITIES HAVE BEEN.
IT'S BEEN A WIN-WIN FOR BOTH SIDES.
AND I WILL, I WILL, YOU KNOW, ASK THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CONTINUE THOSE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, UH, THOSE ARE HELPFUL.
THO THOSE WERE VERY HELPFUL TO SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY'S HAD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND, AND, AND AS I MENTIONED OTHER, YOU KNOW, YOUR OTHER, UM, CITY PARTNERS IN THIS REGION, THE CITY, CITY OF ORANGE WAS JUST AMAZING.
CITY OF BEAUMONT, WE ALL, UH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF COOPERATED TOGETHER ON THESE TYPES OF BILLS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE TELLING THE STORY ABOUT HOW WE HAD THESE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE THOSE COMPANIES WERE HERE, BUT, BUT I WOULD, I WOULD URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, PARTNER BUILD ON THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
BUT THEY HAVE NOT, THOSE COMPANIES HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN THESE ISSUES AT ALL.
UH, MAY I APPROACH IT, MS. KENARD, JUST FOR CLARITY, DO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE NOTES AND HOLD THE QUESTIONS FOR EACH BILL THAT YOU GO THROUGH UNTIL THE END? OR IT IS OKAY IF WE, I DON'T WANNA TAKE YOU OFF TRACK FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO ANS ASK QUESTIONS NOW, THAT'S FINE.
FOR THE TIMELINE FOR THE BILL THAT PASSED THE 2038.
HOW DOES THAT AFFECT US IF WE HAVE CONTRACTS THAT EXPIRE FOR OUR CONTRACTS THAT MAY EXPIRE? I THINK I JUST ANSWERED MY OWN QUESTION.
ANYWAY, HOW MAY THAT AFFECT ANY OF OUR CURRENT CONTRACTS? IT WON'T, IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T AFFECT YOUR CONTRACTS AT ALL.
YOU HAVE AN EXCEPTION UNDER THE ACT.
SO IT SAYS THAT THIS BILL JUST DOESN'T IMPACT YOU IF YOU HAVE THOSE IN PLA AND, AND THE LANGUAGE JUST TALKS ABOUT THAT.
SO, SO IF YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS, SO FOR NEW CONTRACTS, THEN IT WOULD AFFECT, MY UNDERSTANDING IS HOW YOUR, AND I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR YOUR CITY ATTORNEY, IS THAT YOU RENEGOTIATE THOSE BEFORE THOSE EXPIRE? I, I ASSUME? UM, YEAH.
ME, I MEAN, BRAND NEW, FORGET ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
IF WE HAD NEW ONES COME INTO PLAY CORRECT.
THEN THEY WOULD FALL UNDER THIS CURRENT BILL, CORRECT? WELL, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN I D A THOUGH.
YEAH, IF YOU, BECAUSE IT'S IN AN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT OUT.
AS LONG AS IT'S, I DIDN'T MEAN TALK OVER YOU.
UH, AS LONG AS IT'S IN THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT, WE CAN DO AN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENT WITH THEM.
AND LIKE I SAID, I DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THAT, BUT THIS JUST CREATES AN EXEMPTION FOR YOU FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO, UH, PETITION FOR REMOVAL FROM THE E T J.
AND SO IF NOBODY'S OUT THERE RIGHT NOW WITH AN AGREEMENT, THEY WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE.
IF THEY HAVE AN AGREEMENT, THEY'RE STILL NOT ELIGIBLE.
BUT IF, SAY YOU HAD A NEW PERSON AND THEY, THEY'RE COMING TO YOU AND THEY WANT AN AGREEMENT, THIS JUST GIVES YOU AN EXEMPTION, YOU KNOW, TO SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE TO PETITION FOR REMOVAL FROM THAT AREA.
THE NEXT, UH, KIND OF, UH, LAND USE BILL I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THESE REALLY, UM, FAST.
THEY RELATE TO YOUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND UNDER CURRENT LAW, THERE ARE CERTAIN TIMELINES IN WHICH, UH, PLATTS AND, AND OTHER TYPES OF PERMIT PERMITS HAVE TO BE APPROVED.
UH, HOUSE BILL 36 99 MADE SOME CHANGES TO THAT WHERE, UH, IT ALLOWS FOR, UM, UH, THE CITY TO HAVE TO CREATE LIKE A CALENDAR FOR WHEN YOU ARE REQUIRING PEOPLE TO SUBMIT CERTAIN PERMITS.
AND SO THAT IT, YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, ESTABLISH UPFRONT VERY TRANSPARENTLY WHAT THE TIMELINES ARE FOR PURPOSES OF THAT SHOT CLOCK.
UH, IT REMOVES PLANS, UM, JUST PLANS NOT PLAS.
SO IF YOU HAVE DEVELOPMENT PLANS, IT, IT REMOVES THOSE FROM THAT 30 DAY SHOT CLOCK REQUIREMENT.
UM, AND IT, IT ALSO WILL PROHIBIT YOUR, UM, PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE FROM REQUIRING LIKE A STUDY OR AN ANALYSIS OF A, OF A, OF A, OF A DOCUMENT OR AN AGREEMENT THAT YOU'RE UNDER CONSIDERATION.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO, UM, OR THE PLANNING ZONING COMMITTEE'S GONNA HAVE TO REVIEW THAT BASED UPON THE, UH, INFORMATION THAT'S PERMITTED THAT'S, UH, SUBMITTED TO THEM BASED UPON THAT.
ALSO, UH, HB 14 IS ANOTHER BILL THAT RELATES TO YOUR, UH, PLANNING AND, UH, UH, ZONING KIND OF AREA.
EXCUSE ME, CONSTABLE LEWIS, YOU HAD SOMETHING ABOUT THAT LAST BILL, THAT BILL YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THE DEAL WITH THE PLANNING 36 99.
[00:20:01]
36 99 HOUSE BILL, 36 99 HOUSE BILL.AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER BILL, UH, HOUSE BILL 14, AND IT BASICALLY JUST SAYS THAT, UH, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE THIRD PARTY REVIEW, WHICH IS AN OUTSIDE COMPANY OR CONSULTANT THAT YOU CAN HIRE TO HELP YOU WITH, UH, REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT PERMITS, UH, IF YOUR PERMITS ARE NOT ACTED UPON WITHIN THOSE TIMELINES SET IN STATUTE.
BEFORE THAT, THERE WAS SOME QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU COULD CONTRACT, BUT THIS BILL SAYS THAT THIRD PARTY REVIEWS ARE REQUIRED IF YOU'RE NOT ACTING UPON THOSE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT PERMITS WITHIN THE TIMELINES.
AND I'M JUST GONNA GO THROUGH A COUPLE MORE.
UM, UH, HB 1707, UH, WAS A BILL RELATED TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
UH, AND BASICALLY WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT YOU HAVE TO TREAT A CHARTER SCHOOL, LIKE A PUBLIC INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR PURPOSES OF PERMITTING, UH, DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, UH, SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UM, BECAUSE UNDER THE STATE LAW, STATE LAW SAYS THAT THEY ARE SIMILAR TO, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
SO THIS BILL JUST REALLY CLARIFIES THAT THEY ARE TREATED JUST LIKE A, A SCHOOL DISTRICT, EXCEPT FOR THEY'RE NOT TREATED AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR PURPOSES OF YOUR IMPACT FEES.
SO, UM, BUT OTHER, ANY OTHER KIND OF DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS THAT A CHARTER SCHOOL MAY BE, UH, UNDERGOING WITHIN YOUR CITY LIMITS, YOU HAVE TO TREAT 'EM THE SAME WAY YOU TREAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT'S GOING THROUGH THAT PERMITTING PROCESS.
UH, I ALSO WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, UH, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN YOUR, UH, DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, UM, UH, WHAT'S CALLED NON-CONFORMING USES, IF YOU'RE GONNA TERMINATE SOMEBODY WHO FOR SOME REASON HAS A NON-CONFORMING USE, YOU'RE NOW GONNA HAVE TO COMPENSATE THEM IF YOU TERMINATE THAT NON-CONFORMING USE THROUGH MAYBE ANOTHER ZONING CHANGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HAPPENS A LOT HERE, BUT, UM, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM CURRENT LAW.
I NOW LIKE TO KIND OF SWITCH GEARS AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE, UM, BILLS THAT I CALL, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, IN THE FINANCE ARENA, THERE'S SOME NEW REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR, UH, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES THAT YOU MAY COLLECT.
UM, THEY'RE NOT ONEROUS, BUT THEY JUST DID CHANGE HOW YOU REPORT THOSE DIFFERENT, UH, TAXES.
UM, THE LEGISLATURE ALSO, UH, DEFINED MORE DEFINITELY WHAT A PUBLIC WORK IS FOR THE USE OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
I THINK YOU'RE, YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT OVER THE LAST TWO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, WE'VE HAD, UH, SEVERAL DIFFERENT BILLS THAT HAVE TRIED TO LIMIT THE USE OF COS.
UH, AND, UM, HB 40 82 JUST BASICALLY DEFINES WHAT IS A PUBLIC WORK.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I THINK YOU NEED TO TAKE AWAY FROM THAT IS THAT YOU CAN NO LONGER DO STADIUM ARENA OR CONVENTION CENTER FACILITIES USING CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
THAT'S THE ONE MOST IMPORTANT THING I THINK I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO TAKE AWAY FROM THAT ONE.
NEXT, I JUST WANNA SPEND A LITTLE BIT TIME ON, UH, ISSUES RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH FOR EVERY CITY IS ALWAYS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
UH, THE FIRST BILL IS HOUSE BILL THREE, AND THAT WAS A BIG OMNIBUS BILL RELATED TO SCHOOL PUBLIC SAFETY.
I THINK EVERYBODY'S AWARE OF THE TRAGEDY THAT OCCURRED IN UVALDE, AND THE LEGISLATURE, UH, TOOK A LOT OF TIME TO TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE SAFETY ISSUES IN SCHOOLS.
AND THIS BILL IMPACTS, UH, THE CITY BECAUSE IT ALLOWS CITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SPECIFICALLY CONTRACT FOR A PEACE OFFICER TO BE PRESENT IN SCHOOLS.
H P THREE REQUIRES SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HAVE AN ARMED PEACE OFFICER IN EVERY SCHOOL FACILITY.
AND SO GENERALLY, SCHOOLS EVEN, YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT, USUALLY THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE GONNA BE VERY SMALL.
AND SO UNDER THIS PARTICULAR BILL, UH, IT ALLOWS THE CITY AND A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT WOULD ALLOW ARMED CITY POLICE OFFICERS TO FULFILL THAT REQUIREMENTS THAT AN ARMED PEACE OFFICER BE IN EVERY SCHOOL.
UH, ALSO I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, HB 1442 AND HB 28 99.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE AROUND THE STATE, BUT, UH, WHAT'S CALLED THESE STREET TAKEOVERS, UH, WHERE YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DRIVE THEIR CARS AND LITERALLY
[00:25:01]
TAKE OVER A STREET, UH, HB 1442 AND HB 28 99 NOW ALLOW THE POLICE OFFICERS TO CONFISCATE THOSE CARS IF THEY FIND THEM IN THAT KIND OF SITUATION.SO BEFORE, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST GOT A TICKET, BUT NOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY CONFISCATE THE VEHICLES.
SO THAT SHOULD BE A BIG DETERRENT FOR PEOPLE DOING THAT.
ANOTHER, UH, ISSUE THAT I THINK EVERYBODY HAS CITIES HAVE BEEN WATCH WATCHING IS THAT BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 1ST, WHICH IS IN ABOUT A WEEK, CITIES WILL NO LONGER BE ALLOWED TO ADOPT JUVENILE CURFEW ORDINANCES.
SO IF YOU HAVE ONE, UH, STATE LAW WILL SAY THAT YOU CANNOT ENFORCE THAT AND YOU CANNOT RE REAUTHORIZE IT.
SO THEY WILL GO AWAY ON SEPTEMBER 1ST.
ANY JUVENILE CURFEW ORDINANCE? I HAVE A QUESTION.
SO I THINK WE WERE JUST GONNA BE IN THE PROCESS OF REPEALING OURS.
YOU, YOU CAN REPEAL IT, OR IT WILL, IT'S GONNA GO AWAY.
WE'LL TAKE IT OFF SEPTEMBER 1ST, BUT IF YOU WANNA TAKE IT OFF THE BOOKS.
I MEAN, I ALWAYS ADVISE MY CLIENTS DON'T HAVE LAWS THAT YOU CAN'T ENFORCE ON THE BOOKS.
BUT, UM, UH, HB 1819 IS THE BILL THAT SAYS THAT NO LONGER ARE YOU ALLOWED TO ADOPT A JUVENILE CURFEW ORDINANCE.
UM, HB 38 58 IS A BILL THAT BASICALLY IS, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S DISCRETIONARY, BUT IT SAYS THAT, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN CREATE WELLNESS PROGRAMS FOR, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN VIOLENT INCIDENTS.
AND IT PROVIDES THAT IF YOU CREATE ONE, YOU HAVE TO CREATE IT IN, IN, UH, IN ALLIANCE WITH THE T COLE, WHICH IS THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS PROGRAMS OR REQUIREMENTS.
AND IT ALLOWS FOR OFFICERS WHO'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN VIOLENT INCIDENTS TO HAVE COUNSELING AND OTHER TYPES OF, UH, MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT ARE SPRING OUT OF, UH, VIOLENT INCIDENTS THAT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN.
UM, THERE'S ALSO A NEW BILL THAT, UH, HB, I'M SORRY, SSB 1319 THAT RELATES TO MANDATORY REPORTING OF OVERDOSES.
I THINK A LOT OF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY READ THE NEWS ABOUT THE FENTANYL CRISIS THAT A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ARE EXPERIENCING.
AND UNDER THIS BILL, IT SAYS THAT, UH, EITHER YOUR LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY OR YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY, YOUR LOCAL POLICE ENTITY, UH, IS REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH AN ENTITY THAT MAPS THE LOCATION OF OVERDOSES WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, WITH THAT MAPPING, UH, THE BILL PROVIDES THAT THE ONLY USE THAT A LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITY CAN USE OF THAT MAPPING OF WHERE OVERDOSES ARE OCCURRING IS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PURPOSES.
AND SO IT'S TO TRY TO GIVE YOUR, BOTH YOUR HEALTH AUTHORITY AND YOUR POLICE, UH, ENTITIES INFORMATION ON MAYBE WHERE THOSE, OR IF THEY'RE CLUSTERS OF THOSE, SO THAT FOR, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY PURPOSES, MAYBE THEY CAN DEPLOY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THOSE AREAS.
UH, MAY I,
MS. ARD FOR HB 38 58, YES, MA'AM.
IS THAT IF AN OFFICER IS INVOLVED IN VIOLENT INCIDENTS, MEANING ON THE JOB OR EVEN AT HOME, THAT'S ON THE JOB INCIDENTS.
AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT A MANDATORY PROGRAM.
IT'S A DISCRETIONARY TO CREATE THESE WELLNESS PROGRAMS, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH, LIKE I SAID, T COLE IS THE STATE, UH, LICENSING ENTITY FOR PEACE OFFICERS.
AND SO THEY WILL HAVE SOME REGULATIONS ABOUT IF YOU, IF YOU WANT TO DO A PROGRAM, WHAT ARE THE PARAMETERS OF THAT PROGRAM.
AND, UM, FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, SSB 29.
AND IT JUST BASICALLY SAYS THAT THERE CAN NO LONGER BE ANY C OVID 19 ORDERS ON THE LOCAL LEVEL.
THAT ANY TYPE ANY ORDERS RELATED TO C OVID 19 WILL HAVE TO COME FROM THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UH, SWITCHING GEARS AGAIN, UH, THIS RELATES TO, UH, UH, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS, UH, WHO ARE DEFINED AS POLICE OFFICERS.
FIREFIGHTERS, E M SS, UH, HB 4 71, UH, PROVIDES FOR A NEW PAID ILLNESS AND INJURY LEAVE.
AND THIS PARTICULAR LEAVE WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER MANDATED LEAVE, LIKE THERE IS A COVID LEAVE, THERE ARE OTHER TYPES OF LEAVE WORKERS' COMP LEAVE.
THIS, UH, PAID INJURY AND ILLNESS LEAVE IS IN ADDITION TO THAT.
AND IT WOULD BE UP TILL ONE YEAR OF INJURY AND
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ILLNESS LEAVE THAT THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS WOULD BE ENTITLED TO, UH, UH, UNDER HB 4 71.UH, I'D ALSO LIKE TO, UH, MENTION THAT YOU ARE A CIVIL SERVICE CITY, AND AS A CIVIL SERVICE CITY, H B 1661 RAISES THE MAXIMUM HERRING AGE BEYOND 45 IN CIVIL, IN A CIVIL SERVICE CITY, UH, UNDER THE LAW.
UH, THIS GOES INTO EFFECT SEPTEMBER 1ST.
UH, THERE WAS AN AGE CUTOFF FOR WHEN A PERSON COULD FIRST GO INTO, UH, UH, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND NOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN, UH, HAS BEEN, UH, THAT RESTRICTION HAS BEEN LIMITED BEYOND THE AGE OF 45.
AND ALSO IN THE PERSONNEL, UH, ARENA, HB 24 68, UH, IS A BILL RELATED TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS.
AND BASICALLY, IT JUST PRO NOW WILL PROVIDE THAT THERE ARE LIFETIME BENEFITS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ENCOUNTER A SERIOUS BODILY INJURY IN THE COURSE AND SCOPE OF THEIR DUTIES.
SO THEY WILL GET LIFETIME WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS.
UH, YOUR PERSONNEL DEPARTMENTS PROBABLY WORKING WITH YOUR WORKERS' COMP CARRIER ON IMPLEMENTING THAT, BUT, UH, WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
UH, THERE WERE A FEW, UH, PUBLIC INFORMATION, UH, AND OPEN MEETINGS, THINGS THAT I WANTED TO MENTION.
UH, UH, H P 30 IS A, UH, BILL THAT REPEAL WHAT'S BEEN REFERRED TO AS THE DEAD SUSPECT EXCEPTION UNDER THAT PARTICULAR EXCEPTION.
UH, PREVIOUSLY, IF THERE WAS A PERSON WHO WAS SUSPECTED OF COMMITTING CRIMES OR INVOLVED IN A CRIME AND THAT PERSON PASSED AWAY OR DIED, UH, THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE RELEASE OF ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THAT.
THIS BILL, HB 30, ALLOWS FOR THE RE RELEASE OF THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION.
AND SO THAT, FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PUBLIC INFORMATION AND TRANSPARENCY ABOUT CASES IN WHICH SOMEBODY HAS DIED, YOU KNOW, YOU STILL HAVE OTHER EXCEPTIONS THAT MAY BE APPLICABLE TO THAT INFORMATION, BUT YOU CAN'T USE THAT PARTICULAR INFORMATION TO JUST WITHHOLD EVERYTHING.
AND THEN, UM, THERE'S ALSO SOME NEW, UH, POSTING REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR MEETINGS UNDER THE, THEY'RE NOT SUBSTANTIAL UNDER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
SO, UH, YOU PROBABLY ALREADY
YOU'RE PROBABLY ALREADY USING THOSE, BUT JUST WANTED TO MENTION THOSE.
AND, UM, SSB 9 43 WILL REQUIRE NEWSPAPERS TO PLACE NOTICE OF THE NEWSPAPER'S WEBSITE IF THEY USE A NOTICE CLEARING HOUSE FOR YOUR NOTICES THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO PLACE IN, IN, THERE'S CERTAIN NOTICES THAT HAVE TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER.
SO, UM, JUST THOUGHT I'D MENTIONED THAT ONE.
ALSO, UH, I'D LIKE TO NOW MOVE TO SOME KIND OF OTHER GENERAL REGULATIONS THAT I KNOW YOU HAVE IN PLACE.
UM, UH, HB 35 79 RELATES TO THE RE REGULATION OF MASSAGE BUSINESSES OR ESTABLISHMENTS, AND IT BASICALLY JUST REITERATES THAT THE CITIES ARE ALLOWED TO REGULATE THOSE THINGS LIKE LOCATION HOURS AND, AND THOSE TYPES OF REGULATIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE IN PLACE.
UM, UH, SENATE BILL 2 71 IS A BILL THAT NOW REQUIRES, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO REPORT ANY CYBERSECURITY INCIDENCES, UH, TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES.
SO, HOPE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN THOSE, OR WON'T BE INVOLVED IN THOSE.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU, YOU KNOW, OPERATE A WATER UTILITY AND OTHER TYPES OF, UH, UH, SERVICES THAT THE CITY PROVIDES WHERE YOU COLLECT, UH, INFORMATION ON MAYBE YOUR CITIZENS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY'S SENDING IN SOMETHING ON A PARKING TICKET OR THINGS LIKE THAT, IF THERE IS A CYBERSECURITY INCIDENT, NOW THE CITY MUST REPORT THAT TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THAT INCIDENT OCCURRING.
AND THE LAST THING I WANNA MENTION ON THIS SENATE BILL 1893, IF THE CITY PAYS OR PROVIDES, OR PUBLIC FUNDS ARE USED TO PROVIDE, UM, TELEPHONES, IPADS, UH, LAPTOPS, UH, THOSE CITY PROVIDED DEVICES CANNOT HAVE THE APP TIKTOK ON THEM.
SO, UM, IF THE CITY'S PROVIDING A TELEPHONE, LIKE I SAID, OR IPAD OR ANY OTHER TYPE TYPE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE, UH, THE APP TIKTOK CANNOT BE DOWNLOADED ONTO THOSE CITY DEVICES.
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I'M GONNA MOVE ALONG TO, UH, JUST A COUPLE OTHER THINGS THAT I, I KNOW THERE WAS, UH, A LOT OF INTEREST IN HB NINE HJ R 1 25.UH, IT IS CREATING, IF YOU RECALL FROM LAST SESSION, UH, THERE WAS THE, UH, THERE WAS SOME, UH, THERE WAS SOME LEGISLATION RELATED TO EXPANDING BROADBAND WITHIN THE STATE, ESPECIALLY FOR UNDERSERVED AREAS OF THE STATE HB NINE AND H J R 25 INCREASE AND EXPAND THAT, UH, UH, SPECIFICALLY, UH, THE STATE OF TEXAS RECEIVED $3.3 BILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR BROADBAND EXPANSION.
AND UNDER THESE BILLS, UH, THE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE FUND IS CREATED.
IT'S GOING TO BE, UH, ADMINISTERED UNDER BY THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.
SO THERE WILL BE THE ABILITY TO APPLY FOR GRANTS AND OTHER TYPES OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO EXPAND BROAD BROADBAND IN UNDERSERVED AREAS AND COMMUNITIES OF THE STATE.
H J R 1 25, WHICH IS RELATED TO HB NINE, IS, IS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
WE WILL HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELECTION HERE IN TEXAS IN NOVEMBER.
THAT'S ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WILL BE ON IT TO, UM, TO CREATE THE CONSTITUTIONALLY, THESE, THIS PARTICULAR BROADBAND EXPANSION FUND.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER THINGS, UH, ON THAT CONSTITUTIONAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, BUT THAT'S ONE OF, I THINK, THE THINGS THAT A LOT OF CITIES ARE INTERESTED IN, THE EXPANSION OF BROADBAND IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
AND I THINK I'M GONNA END UP HERE, MAYOR WITH A BILL.
I KNOW THAT YOU ARE VERY
AND IT RELATES TO THE TEXAS WATER FUND AND THE NEW WATER SUPPLY FOR TEXAS FUND.
AND THAT'S A NEW FUND THAT'S CREATED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CITIES AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, AND WATER SUPPLY AND WATER FACILITY PROGRAMS. UH, THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WILL ALSO BE ON THE, UH, THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, BUT IT'S A VERY BROAD PROGRAM THAT WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS TO INCREASE WATER SUPPLY AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WATER SUPPLY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND WITH THAT, UH, I'M GONNA STOP AND SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
I KNOW WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT SOME LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO SOME OF THE PREEMPTION BILLS THAT PASSED SPECIFICALLY, UH, 2127.
UH, BUT I'D LIKE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT ANYTHING I'VE TALKED ABOUT HERE.
UH, ONE THAT I WAS PRETTY INTERESTED IN WAS VETOED, UH, HOUSE BILL 47 59 WITH DOG ATTACKS.
UH, I'M SORRY, THE WHAT? TAX? IT'S, UH, DOG DANGEROUS DOG ATTACKS.
UH, I THINK, UH, THAT WAS A, WAS THAT A SENATE BILL? THAT'S A HP, BUT, OKAY.
BUT IT DEALT WITH, UH, GETTING A SWORN STATEMENT FROM SOMEONE THAT ACTUALLY WITNESSED THAT.
UM, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WOULD BE VETOED, WHERE THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SEE SOMEONE YOU GOT BITTEN AND, AND, AND REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION, AND, YOU KNOW, AND I'M THERE TO WITNESS THE WHOLE THING.
I MEAN, I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
AND I WAS REALLY FOLLOWING THAT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND TO SEE THAT IT'S VETOED, I'M KIND OF JUST MIND BOGGLED ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR THING.
WELL, I DON'T HAVE THE VETO MESSAGE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I CAN GET IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE BILL PASSED, SO, BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHO THE INTERESTS WERE THAT WERE OPPOSED TO THAT.
UH, BUT I CAN GET YOU SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THAT RELATED TO THE VETO MESSAGE THAT THE GOVERNOR ISSUES WITH ALL OF HIS VETOES.
AND ALSO ONE MORE THING, UH, GAME ROOMS. UH, I KNEW THE INTENDANT TALKING WITH, UH, THE STATE REP ABOUT HOW WE MONITOR THE GAME ROOMS MM-HMM.
SO I DON'T SEE THAT, BUT I DID SEE SOMETHING WITH CHARITY.
SO GAME ROOMS, I GUESS DIDN'T MAKE IT, NOT THIS SESSION.
LAST SESSION GAME ROOMS WAS A BIG ISSUE.
BUT, UH, THIS SESSION, I THINK THAT, UH, ESPECIALLY FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, UH, I THINK THAT WITH THE COUNTY REGULATIONS AND THE CITY REGULATIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE OR THAT ARE ALLOWED TO BE IN PLACE, THEY, THAT ISSUE DID NOT COME UP AS MUCH THIS SESSION.
UH, BUT, UM, LAST SESSION IT WAS A BIG ISSUE, BUT NO, THAT WAS NOT A BIG ISSUE THIS SESSION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU.
IT IS OUR HONOR TO REPRESENT THE CITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ABOUT THE LEGAL ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE REGARDING THOSE OTHER ISSUES.
UM, WE DO EXECUTIVE SESSION, UNLESS ANYONE, IF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, WILL WE COME BACK TO, YOU KNOW, YEAH.
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BY ANY OTHER VIEW? WE'LL, WE'LL GONNA JUST DO A BRIEF EXECUTIVE SESSION, EXCUSE ME, THE RIGHT PAGE.[III. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)]
WE ARE, UH, NOW GOING TO OUR CLOSED MEETING, OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND IN THE CLOSED MEETING, WE WILL, UM, DISCUSS SECTION 55 5 1 0.07, ONE OF THE 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.SO AT THIS JUNCTURE, WE WILL, UH, RETIRE DOWN TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM FOR OUR CLOSED MEETING AND RETURN HERE, UH, IN OPEN SESSION FOR ADJOURNMENT.
AND IF THERE'LL BE ACTION ITEMS, WE WOULD HAVE A VOTE PUBLICLY.
WE DO, DO, DO I NEED TO GET, UH, REESTABLISH? YEAH, YEAH, GO RIGHT AHEAD TO THE SECRETARY.
AND NOW, UH, AND, AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO, MA'AM, CITY, THE ATTORNEY.
UH, YOU ALL HAD SOME FURTHER QUESTIONS, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO BRING MS. KENARD BACK UP, DID YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? OKAY.
COUNCILMAN, YOU SAID YOU HAD OPPOSITION.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PRESENTATION OR ANYTHING ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE ISSUES? COUNCILMAN LEWIS DIDN'T COME BACK.
AND, AND WE, WE, WE, WE ARE GOOD WITH ALL THE EXPLANATIONS.
MR. UH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN YOU OKAY? OKAY.
UH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
SO IF THERE AREN'T ANY COUNCILMAN DOUCEY, MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOIN SECOND
IT'S BEEN MOVED SECOND, THAT WE WOULD'VE JOINED THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF, OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR THAT BEGAN AT 11:09 AM ON THIS MORNING, AND IT'S NOW 1:00 PM AND WE WILL, UH, END THIS SESSION ALL IN.
WELL, ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? THERE AREN'T ANY.
ANY OPPOSES? THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT MS. KENARD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR EXPERT, UH, PARTICIPATION ON TODAY.