Sep 21, 2023 TIRZ #1 Board of Directors Meeting

UH, QUORUM FOR PLEASE? YES.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE WORD OF PRAYER? FATHER GOD, IT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS THAT WE APPROACH YOUR THRONE OF GRACE AND MERCY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING.

DEAR GOD, THANKFUL THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED US TO BE ABLE TO GATHER HERE IN THIS CENTER OF GOVERNMENT FOR OUR CITY.

WE'RE ACTUALLY A GOD YOU WOULD ALLOW US TO CARRY OUT THE BUSINESS ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL FOR THIS CITY.

AND BLESS US, HEAVENLY FATHER, TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE THINGS ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL.

WE'LL BE SO EVER SO CAREFUL TO GIVE YOUR NAME THE PRAISE, THE GLORY AND THE HONOR.

AND AGAIN, DEAR GOD, WE INVOKE YOUR PRESENCE EVEN IN THIS MEETING AT THIS HOUR.

THESE THINGS WE ASK IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

FOR A SAKE WE PRAY.

AMEN.

JESUS TO THE BACK OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN THE VILLAGE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

OKAY, THANK YOU MAYOR BARTEE.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA, UH, APPROVE OF THE MINUTES AS PREVIOUSLY DONE IN DOWNTOWN TAX REINVESTMENT ZONE TURNS.

NUMBER ONE, BOARD MEETING HELD ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 4TH, 2023 AT 11 O'CLOCK.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THOSE MINUTES? I MOVE.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

YOU SURE? RIGHT ABOUT THAT? OKAY.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE MOVING FAST.

I KNOW PEOPLE GOT THINGS TO DO.

I'M, THANK YOU.

UH, CITY ATTORNEY, WOULD YOU ESTABLISH,

[2. Establishment of quorum and call to order. ]

FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS, UH, CHAIRMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS KINLAW HERE.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DONALD R. FRANK.

HERE.

MAYOR, UH, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR THURMAN BARTEE.

I'M PRESENT.

UH, JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER MICHAEL SHANE SENEGAL.

UH, DRAINAGE DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN.

COMMISSIONER JAMES GAMBLE.

SABINE NATURES NAVIGATION DISTRICT.

UM, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH JOHNSON.

COMMISSIONER PORTER, PORT ARTHUR.

NAVIGATION DISTRICT.

RANDY T. MARTIN COMMISSIONER.

YEAH.

PRESENT.

UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU CITY ATTORNEY FOR THAT.

AND THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME ON TRACK.

UH, NOW WE CAN GET TO

[3. Approval of Minutes from the previous Downtown Tax Reinvestment Zone TIRZ #1 Board Meeting held on Friday, August 4, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. ]

NUMBER THREE.

APPROVE OF THE MINUTES FOR THE PREVIOUS DOWNTOWN TAX REINVESTMENT ZONE.

TOUR NUMBER ONE BOARD MEETING HELD ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 4TH, 2023 AT 11:00 AM MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THAT? SO MOVED.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

THERE'S BEEN MOTION AND A SECOND THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES ON AUGUST 4TH, 2023.

ANY QUESTIONS? IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL NOW CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED THE AYES.

HAVE IT.

[4. Discussion and possible action regarding current and future projects within the boundaries Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ #1). ]

NEXT, NUMBER FOUR, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING CURRENT AND FUTURE PROJECTS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DOWNTOWN TAX INCREMENT, REINVESTMENT ZONE, TUR NUMBER ONE, CITY ATTORNEY.

UH, WHERE WE'LL BE CLOSING THE ROAD, UH, FOR THEM TO RESUME THEIR WORK.

UM, WITH REGARD TO FUTURE PROJECTS.

AND I THINK THAT IT ALSO, UM, GOES HAND IN HAND WITH ITEMS NUMBER FIVE AND SIX.

UM, AGAIN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT THE CURRENT PROJECT THAT WE HAVE IS IN THE CORRIDOR OF, UM, AUSTIN AVENUE, WHERE, UH, AURORA CAPITAL HOLDINGS IS, UM, ALSO AFFILIATED WITH MOTIVA ENTERPRISES.

IS, UM, WORKING ON, UM, REINSTATING SOME BUILDINGS.

UM, THE MOST UPDATED INFORMATION WE HAVE ON THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT, WHICH IS OUR, UH, FIRST AND RIGHT NOW ONLY DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, IS THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE STARTING WORKING AGAIN.

UM, THE CITY COUNCIL MOST RECENTLY PASSED, I THINK MS. VIAL, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE, UH, ROAD CLOSING AGREEMENT,

[00:05:01]

SO, UM, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE.

AND THEN SOON WE, THEY WILL BE MOVING INTO THE, UH, WHAT WILL SOON BE THE FORMER HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUILDING.

SO THE, UH, WORK ON, UH, AUSTIN AVENUE WILL BE RESUMING, UH, VERY SHORTLY.

AND WE ARE DOING THE STREET CLOSINGS.

I HAD TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD PASSED, BUT YES, WE, WE HAVE THE STREET CLOSINGS AND, UM, SO THE WORK ON THE THREE BUILDINGS WILL BE MOVING FORWARD.

UM, AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE ON THE CURRENT PROJECTS.

AND THEN, UM, WE ARE OBVIOUSLY WORKING ON, UH, WE HAVE OUR WEBSITE UP AND NOW I GUESS OUR FOCUS, IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.

IT'S JUST WORKING ON MARKETING STRATEGIES, UH, TO TRY TO ATTRACT OTHER BUSINESSES TO THE TURS.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOR THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF MANAGER OR ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, FRANK.

SO WE, SO WE HAVE ALL OF THE, OH, I'M SORRY.

SO WE HAVE, UH, I FORGOT.

SO WE HAVE ALL OF THE, UH, STREET CLOSURES AND EVERYTHING, UH, WORKED OUT WITH, UM, THE, WITH MOTIVA AND, UH, WITH THE HEALTH CLINIC AND, AND EVERYTHING.

SO EVERYTHING IS READY TO GO IN THAT REGARD.

THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

UM, HOLD ON ONE MOMENT.

UM, UH, LET ME JUST CONFER WITH MS. VITOL.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

THE MANAGER'S HERE.

YES, HE'LL CLARIFY THAT, BUT YES, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR AUSTIN AVENUE.

AND I BELIEVE IT'S FIFTH AND SIXTH STREETS.

SO WE MET WITH, UM, WE MET WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND MS. JUDY'S REPRESENTATIVE, WHEN WAS IT? ON FRIDAY, MA'AM? I BELIEVE LAST FRIDAY.

LAST FRIDAY.

SO WE MET WITH MS. JUDITH AND THE STAFF AND WITH, UM, UM, GRASS, WHAT'S THE NAME? THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

IT'S NOT SALT GRASS.

SPA GLASS.

WE MET WITH SPA GLASS AND MS. JUDITH'S REPRESENTATIVE ON SITE.

AND, UM, WE HAVE ALL AGREED TO THE, UM, NECESSARY PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES THAT HAVE TO BE PUT IN PLACE IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO HAVE FOOT TRAFFIC AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT WILL BE NOT INTERRUPTED DURING THE TIME.

UM, WE ALSO DISCUSSED, IT'S A VERY SHORT TIMELINE BECAUSE WE ARE ON TARGET TO MOVE INTO THE NEW HEALTH DEPARTMENT BY NOVEMBER.

UM, BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE ON A FEAST BASIS BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, YOU KNOW, SO WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO MOVE MAYBE UNTIL PAM THINKS IS IN SPRING.

SHE'S GONNA MOVE IN SPRING.

UM, BUT THAT'S BEING SAID, THE, THE, THE IMPACT WILL BE MINIMAL ON THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE REVVED UP AFTER CHRISTMAS AND WHERE YOU SEE A FEW HUNDRED WORKERS ON SITE BECAUSE THEY'RE PUTTING UP THIS SCAFFOLDING AND EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW.

AND, UM, IT'S REALLY GOING TO REV, REV UP WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THERE WORKING THE VARIOUS FLOORS, YOU KNOW, SO THANK YOU.

UM, AND THAT'S GOOD.

UM, APART FROM THAT, UM, YES, THERE IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON MONDAY, A PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE, FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.

PAM CAN EXPOUND ON THAT.

WELL, WE HAVE THE, THE CLOSURE, THE ABANDONMENT OF THE STREETS.

AND AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE FEW PEOPLE WHO STILL OWN PROPERTY WITHIN THE AREAS AND, UM, GIVEN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, WE HAD TO INFORM THEM, YOU KNOW, UM, AND THEY'RE GOING TO APPEAR AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON MONDAY.

SO YOU MIGHT HAVE A FEW PEOPLE APPEARING THAT MAY DISAGREE, YOU KNOW, TO THE ABANDONMENT.

AND, UM, WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

WE SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

UH, MAYOR BARTEE.

YEAH.

AND, BUT CITY MANAGER AND, AND, AND, AND MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU ON, ON THE, UH, STREET CLOSURE.

'CAUSE ONE, ONE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS, OWNERS, AND THERE'S ONLY COUPLE OF WHO HAVE PROPERTY RIGHT THERE IN THAT GENERAL ASSEMBLY CALLED ME AND WAS TELLING ME SOMETHING ABOUT TOTAL STREET CLOTHES, NO ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY.

THAT'S NOT NO, WHAT I OBTAINED IN THE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD.

NO.

WITH THE, THE ENTITY, NO.

NO.

AND, AND, AND I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT TO THAT PERSON, BUT THEY, FOR SOME OF, SOME OF THE REASON WHAT, AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION IN THE, IN THE FORM OF, OF MAKING THIS STATEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN INQUISITION.

HAVE, I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER ALREADY.

SO WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT TOTAL STREET CLOSURE.

NO.

WHATEVER DIRECTION IS GOING TO BE BEST FOR THEM.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

NO, NO, NO.

BUT SEE THERE'S SO MUCH MISINFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE.

THE NEXT THING IS, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOOT TRAFFIC, THAT DOESN'T MEAN, AND THAT'S FOR THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING, I HOPE YOU ARE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU CANNOT DRIVE.

NOW IT MAY BE ONE LANE, A SINGLE LANE, BUT GOING IN

[00:10:01]

AM I CORRECT? UH, MR. MR, MR. UH, MS. VI MAYOR BE, CAN I CLARIFY SOMETHING? YEAH.

WE MAY BE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A STREET CLOSURE.

YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN, THE STREET CLOSURE.

IT'S ABANDONING SURFACE RIGHTS.

A STREET CLOSURE.

AND WHEN WE, THAT'S FIFTH STREET, THAT'S NOT AUSTIN.

WE ARE NOT EVEN DISCUSSING AUSTIN AVENUE THEN.

RIGHT? THERE'S STREET CLOSURE ON AUSTIN AVENUE THAT'S NOT GOING ON HERE.

ALL STUFF TILL YOU'RE TALKING FAST AND THEY'RE LISTED, THEY GONNA SAY, SEE, I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

LET ME, LET ME, NO, HE SAID SOME THAT MEANS A LANE, RIGHT WHEN YOU ARE SAYING SOME, OKAY.

THAT HAS ALREADY GONE BEFORE COUNCIL AND, AND BEEN APPROVED AM TO, AND BEEN APPROVED.

AND WE CAN PULL UP THE RESOLUTION, BUT, AND SHOW YOU ABOUT THE STREET CLOSURE.

WHAT, WHO I'M SPEAKING, UH, UH, ABOUT WHO HAS CALLED ME ABOUT THIS HAS BEEN GIVEN THE WRONG INFORMATION.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE GOT IT FROM.

WELL, I CAN CLARIFY.

MAYOR.

YES, GO AHEAD.

I WAS, I WAS GETTING READY TO, OKAY, LEMME CLARIFY.

STOP SPEAKING.

I SPOKEN TO THE SAME PERSON.

PLEASE.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO NO, YOU NO, WE NEED TO GET THE INFORMATION.

SO IF YOU WOULD YOU WANNA ALLOW PAM, CAN I SAY SOMETHING FIRST? GO, GO AHEAD.

WE'RE TALKING, SO LET ME BE CLEAR.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES.

THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY APPROVED THE STREET CLOSURE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST.

NOW THERE'S A SECOND ISSUE THAT THERE WILL BE A RESOLUTION ON THE NEXT AGENDA TO CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO TALK ABOUT ABANDONING.

AND WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, DISCUSS ALL OF THOSE ISSUES.

WELL, NO, I MEAN, WE WOULD RELINQUISH OWNERSHIP OF THE STREET.

THAT'S WHAT WILL BE THE SUBJECT OF A PUBLIC HEARING.

THAT'S, THAT WOULD BE FIFTH STREET RIGHT THERE IN THAT AREA WHERE THOSE NO BUILDINGS ARE.

EXCUSE ME, GO AHEAD.

WELL FINISH.

CAN I KIND TALK FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE? YEAH, NO, WE ARE, WE ARE GOING TO CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AND WHEN WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING, IT WON'T BE AT THIS MEETING, WE JUST CALLING FOR IT.

THEN THEY'LL, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW SHE'S GONNA ELABORATE.

I'M JUST KIND OF, THEN WE WILL INTRODUCE WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL NOT BE UNTIL OCTOBER.

AND AT THAT TIME THEY'LL CLARIFY WHAT'S BEING DONE AND THEN LATER WE'LL VOTE ON IT AND MEASURE A PROPER TIME.

NOW WHEN YOU ABANDON, YOU RELINQUISH OWNERSHIP, BUT WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO THAT STAGE YET.

STREET CLOSURE AND ABANDONMENT.

AND I'M SORRY MISS PAM, I JUST WANTED TO BUT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

GOT IT.

YES MA'AM.

PAM, JUST TO EXPOUND, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

RIGHT AFTERNOON.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

JUST TO EXPOUND UPON WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST EXPLAINED, THERE HAS BEEN NOTICE, UM, THAT HAS GONE OUT TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS AS IT RELATES TO THE ABANDONMENT.

THE FIRST STAGE IN DOING AN ABANDONMENT IS TO BRING IT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.

SO THE CALLS THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED WAS BASED ON THAT PUBLIC NOTICE.

THAT HAS GONE OUT FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, WHO WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH AT 5:30 PM IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS FOR ABANDONMENT.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WILL THEN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL.

AND IF THE RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY REFERENCE IS APPROVED BY COUNCIL AT TUESDAY'S MEETING, A PUBLIC HEARING SHALL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 14TH AT 6:00 PM SO THERE WAS NOTICE THAT DID GO OUT FOR THAT ABANDONMENT, BUT AS THE CITY ATTORNEY INDICATED, THE STREET CLOSURE IN THE ABANDONMENT IS TWO SEPARATE ITEMS. THE STREET CLOSURE WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL A FEW MONTHS AGO, UM, AND IS IN THE SAME FORM, A SIMILAR FORM TO WHAT IT WAS BACK IN 2021 WHEN IT WAS APPROVED.

BUT THE ABANDONMENT IS ALSO MOVING FORWARD AND SPEAKING WITH REPRESENTATIVES WITH, UM, MOTIVA ENTERPRISE OR AURORA CAPITAL.

UM, THEY HAVE STATED, EVEN WITH THE ABANDONMENT, UM, BASED ON COUNCIL'S DECISION, THEY WILL NOT PERMANENTLY CLOSE ANY ROLES UNTIL THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS OFFICIALLY RELOCATED TO ITS NEW LOCATION IN THE 5,800 BLOCK OF NINTH AVENUE.

AND MAY I SAY SOMETHING, I KNOW I'VE PROBABLY NEVER DISCUSSED THIS WITH ANYONE, BUT I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND THAT THE ABANDONMENT NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THE CITY IS MOVED OUT OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

I KNOW, I DIDN'T.

GOOD.

YOU KNOW, WE, FOR, FOR OUR SIDE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, WE KIND OF AT THE BEGINNING STAGES.

SO THAT WOULD ALSO BE ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION THAT IT NOT BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL WE ACTUALLY MOVE VERY WELL SO THAT WE WOULD MAINTAIN OUR OWNERSHIP RIGHTS.

BUT WE'RE AT THE BEGINNING STAGES UNTIL WE MAKE THE COMPLETE MOVE.

THEY ARE REQUESTING ALSO TO ABANDON THOSE ALLEYS THAT SIT BETWEEN THE PROPERTIES IN WHICH THEY OWN.

AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO THAT AS WELL.

CORRECT.

UM, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, AS PART OF THAT ABANDONMENT REQUEST, WHAT AURORA CAPITAL MOTIVA IS REQUESTING IS TO ABANDON A PORTION OF FIFTH STREET FROM WACO AVENUE TO FORT WORTH AVENUE AND A PORTION OF AUSTIN AVENUE FROM ALLEYWAY TO ALLEYWAY.

[00:15:01]

UM, THERE IS A MAP IN THE OFFICE OF PLANNING THAT WE HAVE MADE AND WILL MAKE AVAILABLE, UM, TO ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD WANT TO VIEW THAT, JUST TO GET A PICTORIAL DEPICTION OF WHAT IS INCLUDED WITHIN THAT ABANDONMENT REQUEST.

UM, BUT THAT IS THE OFFICIAL REQUEST THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ON MONDAY.

UH, COUNCILMAN FRANKEN THEN COMMISSIONER MARTIN.

PUT YOUR MIC ON.

I MAY BE, I MAY BE GETTING, I MAY BE GETTING, PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE, BUT, UH, I'M LOOKING FARTHER AND FARTHER DOWN THE LINE.

SO, UH, WHEN WE BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT ABANDONMENT, WOULD IT THEN BECOME INCUMBENT UPON MOTIVA TO ENTER INTO DIALOGUE WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE ADJACENT TO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING AND WHO ARE GONNA BE AFFECTED BY THIS ABANDONMENT? AND THEN, UH, A LITTLE FURTHER QUESTION FOR THE ATTORNEY IS, HOW DOES THAT, HOW DOES, HOW DOES IMMINENT DOMAIN COME INTO PLAY, UH, CONCERNING THOSE PROPERTIES? WELL, THE FIRST PART OF THAT QUESTION, CONSTITUENTS, IS THAT WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT ANYTIME YOU HAVE A, A CASE SIMILAR TO, UM, ABANDONMENTS AS WELL AS ZONING CHANGES, ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING THAT THE UM, ENTITY THAT IS REQUESTING, UM, THOSE CHANGES REACH OUT TO THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS.

HOWEVER, IN REGARDS TO THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY AS PART OF OUR PROCESS, THAT'S WHY WE SEND PUBLIC NOTICE OUT TO INFORM THOSE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS OF WHAT THAT REQUEST MAY BE AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS OR EVEN SUPPORT OF THOSE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED.

COMMISSIONER MARTIN? YES, SIR.

AND, AND, UH, MAY I, YEAH, UM, I'M SORRY, LET ME LET, HOLD ON.

YOU GOT OTHER QUESTIONS? I'M JUST WAITING COM.

AND THEN YOU GO AHEAD.

CITY, CITY ATTORNEY.

OH, ONLY, ONLY QUESTION I GOT JUST FOR CLARIFICATION OF, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR FOR THE TAX INCREMENT, UH, REINVESTMENT ZONE.

WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR US CITY ATTORNEY? DID YOU WANT TO ANSWER? MM-HMM.

YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER ? NO, I CAN, I CAN TRY TO ANSWER THAT.

SURE.

WELL, I MEAN BASICALLY WE ARE JUST, THAT'S PART OF THEM FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

SO FOR US IS JUST LETTING US KNOW THAT THE DEVELOPMENT IS MOVING FORWARD.

AND THEN THESE ARE SOME DETAILS IN HOW THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT.

NOW, AS FAR AS THE ABANDONMENT, I WANTED TO THROW IN, AND I'LL READ THE EXACT WORDS THAT THE, UM, AFTER THE PUBLIC HEAL HEARING IN THE EVENT OF, OR AN APPROVAL BY COUNCIL, THE PROPERTY IS SOLD TO THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS IN PROPORTION TO THEIR OWNERSHIP.

SO ONE PROPERTY OWNER CAN'T TAKE OVER FOR ANOTHER.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE BUDDING PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, BE NOTIFIED BECAUSE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP TOO.

WHEN THE CITY RELINQUISH WHAT THEY HAVE, ONE PERSON DOESN'T TAKE OVER FOR THE OTHER.

SO THOSE, UH, PEOPLE WHO HAVE PROPERTY THERE, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE, UH, OWNERSHIP IN THE PROPERTY THAT'S BEING ABANDONED.

AND, UM, YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT EMINENT DOMAIN, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS FOR EMINENT DOMAIN AT THIS TIME BECAUSE IT'S NOT A PUBLIC PURPOSE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THIS IS A PRIVATE, SO WE WILL NOT BE, UH, AT THIS TIME THERE'S NO KNOWLEDGE OF ENTERTAINING ANYTHING ABOUT IMMINENT DOMAIN.

BUT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ISN'T, IM DOESN'T IMMINENT DOMAIN, UM, CARRY OVER INTO THE BUSINESS SECTOR.

NOW A FEW YEARS AGO, THERE WASN'T NO, IT CAN'T BE FOR A PRIVATE ECONOMIC INTEREST, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE FOR OVERRIDING PUBLIC PURPOSE.

SO UNLESS IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BENEFIT THE, BUT, BUT NO, UH, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE FOR A GOVERNMENTAL PURPOSE.

LIKE IF THE GOVERNMENT WAS DOING SOMETHING OR THE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE TO ESTABLISH THE PUBLIC PURPOSE, BUT NOT FOR A PRIVATE ENTITY NORMALLY.

ALRIGHT, WE GOT ALL THESE QUESTIONS.

YOU GOT ANYTHING ELSE, PAM? I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, EXPOUND UPON WHAT THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY JUST, UM, REFERENCED IN REGARDS TO HOW THIS WOULD BENEFIT THE S UM, BY REDEVELOPING THOSE STRUCTURES, UM, THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING UNOCCUPIED, UM, IT ACTUALLY WILL INCREASE THE, UM, LAND VALUE IN THE TAX VALUE WITHIN YOUR TOURS DISTRICT.

OH WOW.

SO THAT'S THE BENEFIT.

GOOD.

THEY PROBABLY WANNA DO A COMPLEX CAMPUS SORTER TO KEEP CONTROL SECURITY.

HEY PAM, BEFORE YOU GO, JUST TO PUT THIS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY AND CITY MANAGER, THEY HAVE ALREADY STATED THAT MOTIVA, THEY'VE ALREADY STATED THAT, UH, IT WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC ON THAT FIRST LEVEL OF THEIR BUILDING BY CLOSING THESE ROADS LIKE THAT.

I UNDERSTAND

[00:20:01]

SO WOULD THAT AFFECT US IN A WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE PUBLIC BEING ABLE TO, UH, HAVE ACCESS TO THAT FIRST FLOOR OF THAT BUILDING, IT WOULD ALLOW FOR FOOT TRAFFIC, UM, WITHIN THAT AREA.

SO THE PUBLIC'S ACCESS WOULD BE THROUGH FOOT TRAFFIC.

UM, BUT UM, MOVING FORWARD THE PLAN IS TO ELIMINATE FROM, UM, VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, UM, BEING ABLE TO PASS THROUGH.

BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DEVELOP IS MORE OF A CAMPUS CONCEPT.

YOU SEE IT A LOT IN A LOT OF YOUR OTHER CITIES.

UM, EVEN INCLUDING IN HOUSTON IS NOT AN UNCOMMON CONCEPT, BUT IT WOULD RESTRICT VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK, SOMEONE ONE OF, UH, ONE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS HAS SHOWN INTEREST IN THE SABINE HOTEL BUILDING.

UM, ARE WE MOVING ON THAT, OR, UH, HAS, HAS, IF IF HAVE WE LOOKED AT THAT, IF THE CITY CHOOSES TO, UH, PLACE THE BUILDING FOR SALE, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO SO, UH, THROUGH A REALTOR OR AN AUCTION.

SO, UH, IT DID, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN SOME INTEREST IN IT, BUT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE ACTION, UH, IN ORDER TO SELL THAT BUILDING.

UM, WE DID EXPRESS, UH, THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAD SOME INQUIRIES ABOUT THE COST AND THE COST WOULD BE AT FAIR MARKET VALUE.

AND WE DID INFORM THEM.

'CAUSE THAT IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT OF WHAT THE FAIR MARKET VALUE HAD BEEN DETERMINED TO BE.

AND SO HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD ON HOW DOES THE CITY COUNCIL MOVE FORWARD? WHAT WE DO? WE'LL PUT IT ON THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, JUST AS THE CITY ATTORNEY TOLD YOU, ADVISE YOU ALL AS TO WHAT THE PROCESS IS.

AND THEN YOU GIVE A DIRECTIVE, COUNCIL GIVES A DIRECTIVE.

YEAH.

SO YOU, AND THAT WOULD BE TO SELL IT BY YOU.

PLACE IT UP FOR AUCTION, SAY, OR, OR FOR A SALE THROUGH A BROKER.

SO WE, WE GOOD.

UH, MAYOR BART, DID THEY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ON THAT? OH YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

FIVE, CITY MANAGER, UH, REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER REGARDING ACCESSIBLES OF THE DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS IN REGARDS TO THE DOWNTOWN TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE.

ALRIGHT GUYS, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE, THAT DIALOGUE.

UH, NUMBER

[5. Report from the City Manager regarding an assessment of the dilapidated buildings in regards to the Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ #1). ]

TURNS NUMBER ONE CITY MANAGER.

YES, IT'S ON YOU.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

SO THIS IS A VERY CURSORY REPORT.

UM, AND SO IT GIVES, UM, A LIST OF THE PROPERTIES, UH, THAT ARE IN THE, WITHIN THE TOURS BOUNDARIES.

UM, AND SO IT ALSO GIVES LIKE THE STATUS OF THEM.

UH, WE DON'T HAVE VERY MANY.

UM, AND I DID NOT INCLUDE THE FEDERAL BUILDING OR, UM, IN OTHER WORDS, THE BUILDINGS THAT MOTIVA IS WORKING ON BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PLAN FOR THEM.

UM, BUT THIS IS BASICALLY THOSE PROPERTIES THAT ARE WITHIN, UH, YOUR TCE BOUNDARY.

AND SO OF COURSE WE CAN, UM, PROVIDE A MORE DETAILED REPORT, UM, IN THE FUTURE IF NEED BE.

BUT THIS RIGHT NOW IS JUST BASICALLY WHAT'S IN THE AREA.

QUESTIONS? UH, I, I HAVE A QUESTION.

IT'S NOT RED, UH, RED TAGGED.

SO IT'S JUST PROPERTIES THAT ARE BORDERLINE THAT WE'RE KIND OF KEEPING AN EYE ON.

SO THAT'S WHY WE INCLUDED THEM.

BUT THEY'RE NOT, UM, RED TAGGED AT THIS TIME.

IT'S NOT THAT THEY MAY NOT BE IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT EXACTLY IS IN THAT ZONE AND KINDA WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND WHAT WE'LL PUT A BUILDING IN RED TAG, UH, NOTICE OR STATUS.

UM, IT DEPENDS ON THE CONDITION OF IT.

UM, IF IT'S CLOSED UP AND UH, THEY'RE MAINTAINING IT, WE WON'T REALLY BOTHER IT.

BUT WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON IT.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, CAVING IN OR IT'S BURNED OR UM, IT'S JUST FALLEN INTO SUCH A STATE OF DISREPAIR THAT WE FEEL LIKE IF WE NEED TO, UH, ALERT THE OWNER TO IT, THEN THAT KIND OF IS WHAT DRAWS OUR ATTENTION.

SO UTILITIES DON'T PLAY A PART IN BEING RED TAG OR NOT? UM, YEAH, THEY CAN.

BUT IT DEPENDS ON, I MEAN, IF THE CONDITION IS BAD ENOUGH, UM, 'CAUSE NORMALLY WE DON'T, IF THEY HAVE ACTIVE UTILITIES, BUT IF THE CONDITION IS BAD ENOUGH, THEN WE WILL, UM, TAG IT AND HAVE THE UTILITIES, UM, TERMINATED.

UNDERSTAND THE, UH, EXPLANATION ON THE, THE ONE-ON-ONE DRAWER DRAWER.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, COMMISSIONERS? YES MA'AM.

AND I'M JUST TRYING TO

[00:25:01]

IT'S, IT'S, UH, IN OUR PROCESS IT'S THE VERY BEGINNING STAGE OKAY.

OF OUR PROCESS.

AND I SO SOMETIMES THEY SIT THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE CLOSED UP, SO WE'RE NOT MESSING WITH IT AT THE TIME.

AND THEN WE HAVE PROJECT 2 23, 24 DASH ONE.

SO THAT ONE IS, UH, IN A BID PACKET.

AND, UH, WELL CONDEMN I KNOW.

CONDEMN, YEAH.

IT MEANS IT'S GONE BEFORE OUR CONSTRUCTION BOARD AND THEY'VE CONDEMNED IT.

AND THE OTHER ONE.

BUT THE C B O AA, I HAVE NO IDEA.

WE HAVE, THAT'S CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS.

AND SO IT'S SCHEDULED FOR THAT AGENDA.

I JUST, I JUST LIKE TO BE INVOLVED WITH WHAT I'M READING.

AND, AND BEFORE YOU GO.

I THINK, UH, BANDMAN SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS, COUNCILMAN FRANK HAS STATED EARLIER, NOW I NOTICED THAT THESE, YOU KNOW, NOT RIGGED TAG.

SO WHEN WE SAY WATCHING THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT THESE, THESE OWNERS WATCHING THE, THE STRUCTURE, NOT THE INDIVIDUALS WELL, I MEAN THE BUILDINGS.

THE BUILDINGS, YEAH.

WE JUST MONITORING IT BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF GETTING IT TO THAT POINT WHERE IT MAY BE, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE WANNA TAG.

IT'S JUST WE, WE HAVE BUILDINGS THAT WE MONITOR BECAUSE THEY'RE KIND, MAYBE SOMEBODY'S NOT MAINTAINING IT THE WAY THEY USED TO OR THAT TYPE OF THING, OR IT'S JUST STARTING TO DETERIORATE.

YES SIR.

THAT, YEAH.

UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK.

UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT WORD I WANTED TO, YOU SAID WE'RE GONNA WA YOU KNOW, WE'RE WATCHING IT MONITOR, MONITOR MONITORING, UHHUH, .

UH, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THAT, UH, I CAN SEE BUILDINGS THAT ARE NOT ON THIS LIST MM-HMM.

THAT CLEARLY CARRY THAT MONIKER OF DILAPIDATION IN MY MIND.

WELL, THERE'S A CRITERIA THAT WE DO FOLLOW.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT CRITERIA FOR US? UM, BASICALLY IF IT'S OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE OR IT'S CAVED IN OR IT'S BURNED, YOU KNOW, OR THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

AND IT'S THE CON IT'S THE LEVEL OF, UM, DETERIORATION.

SO IT'S NOT EVERY HOUSE THAT YOU SEE THAT WE WILL RED TAG IT, IT HAS TO MEET A CERTAIN LEVEL FOR US.

UM, BUT IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR, UM, LET ME KNOW AND WE'LL DEFINITELY CHECK IT OUT FOR YOU.

I WILL.

UM, BECAUSE OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, SABINE HOTEL IS ON, IT'S ON OUR LIST.

I DIDN'T, UH, PUT IT HERE.

BUT NEXT TIME WE'LL HAVE LIKE, PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PROPERTY SO YOU CAN IDENTIFY THEM, UH, WHEN YOU SEE THE ADDRESS AS WELL.

WE'LL GO TO UH, NUMBER SIX, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF FIRE HYDRANTS WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE, TURS NUMBER ONE BOARD I SEE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, PAMELA LANGFORD.

ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS, IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS,

[6. Discussion and possible action regarding the replacement of fire hydrants within the Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ #1) Board. ]

GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, .

UM, AS REPORTED IN THE LAST TURS MEETING, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 90 FIRE HYDRANTS THAT ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE TURS BOUNDARY.

THIS IS 90 OUT OF 3,700 FIRE HYDRANTS IN TOTAL, UH, WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS.

UM, CURRENTLY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR UTILITIES DEPARTMENT ARE, UM, DOING FLOW TESTING, UM, ON THOSE HYDRANTS TO DETERMINE WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED OR POSSIBLY REPLACED, UM, AT AN ESTIMATE BASED ON 90 FIRE HYDRANTS.

IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD IN REPLACING ALL OF THEM TO NEW HYDRANTS, WE ARE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY $7,000 PER HYDRANT, WHICH WOULD BE $630,000 TO DO A FULL REPLACEMENT.

UM, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, UM, UNDER THE APPROVAL OF COUNCIL HAS APPLIED FOR A $2.3 MILLION GRANT THROUGH THE US UM, DEPARTMENT, UM, OF FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICES, UM, TO BEGIN PRELIMINARY WORK AND, UM, ENGINEER ASSESSING ENGINEERING, UM, AND COMING UP WITH A, UM, REPLACEMENT PLAN FOR ALL FIRE HYDRANTS WITHIN THE CITY, WHICH WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THOSE THAT ARE IN THE TURS DISTRICT IF WE ARE, UH, SUCCESSFUL IN RECEIVING THAT GRANT.

UM, IN WHICH THE APPLICATION DID GO OUT THIS MONTH.

UM, WE DO PLAN ON, UM, BEGINNING WORK, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE APPROXIMATELY AROUND A NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR, UM, WITH HAVING A COMPLETE REPORT BY SEPTEMBER OF 2024.

ALRIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? OKAY, WELL IT SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN, UH, CITY MANAGER AND, AND I HOPE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO THE PRICE TAG RIGHT NOW FOR FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE 90 HYDRANTS IS 630 K.

THAT IS CORRECT.

UM, THEY HAVE BEGUN SOME TESTING.

THEY HAVE NOT COMPLETED TESTING.

UM, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY

[00:30:01]

FIVE TO 10 HYDRANTS THAT THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED WITHIN TURS THAT THEY KNOW FOR CERTAIN NEED TO BE REPLACED.

BUT AGAIN, THIS NUMBER IS BASED ON THEM NOT, UM, HAVING, UM, DONE ALL OF THE FLOW TESTING, UM, WITHIN THE CITY AND AS WELL AS THE TURS DISTRICT.

UM, BUT TO, ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION, IF WE WERE TO DO A FULL REPLACEMENT, THEN YES, WE ARE LOOKING AT 600, $630,000.

QUESTIONS COMMISSIONERS.

NO QUESTIONS.

VAL, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO EXEC.

ALRIGHT, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, I'LL NOW CALL FOR ADJOURN.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION BEFORE, BEFORE YOU HAVE A MOTION? MR. CHAIRMAN? YES.

MAYOR WHITE? YES.

MAYOR WHITE.

BEFORE YOU HAVE A MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN, I APPRECIATE MY WHITE SHIRT, BUT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE CHAIRMAN ONLY WANNA GET A BLACK SHIRT.

EVERYBODY ELSE GET A NOTE, BUT I'M, I'M NOT ONE FOR MESS.

I'M MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT.

SECOND .

UH, YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THAT ? SHE WAS TRYING TO GET OUT.

YOU WAS TRYING TO GET OUTTA THERE.

YOU KNEW IT WAS COMING.

IT'S ON BACK ORDER.

COME, COME OVER.

COME HERE.

WE'RE GONNA GET YOU ON CAMERA.

THE NOTE.

EXPLAINED IT.

CAN YOU, CAN YOU, TORY CAN YOU EXPLAIN D OR SOMEBODY EXPLAINED THE NOTE.

EXPLAINED IT, BUT THEN I LOOKED OVER AND I SAW, UH, COUNCILMAN AND OUR CHAIRMAN KEN THE BLACK.