[00:00:01]
NOW WE ARE GATHERED AGAIN, AS I JUST SAID EARLIER, IN CITY HALL IN PROGRESS.I WAS JUST GOING A LITTLE TOO QUICKLY.
[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
GOOD EVENING AGAIN.AND WE ARE GATHERED HERE IN CITY HALL, IN CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEGUN AT FIVE 30.
HOWEVER, IT IS 5 51 AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.
AND WE ARE BEGINNING THE MEETING.
THE MEETING MAY BE ATTENDED VIA TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCE MEDIUMS. YOU MUST FIRST, HOWEVER, DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
AND YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 2 5 8 1 6 5 7 1 6 6, AND THE PASSCODE OF 9 7 9 8 6 1.
AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING.
WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT OUR MEETINGS HERE, UH, TODAY.
HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU MUST CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING BY DIALING 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5, AND MAKE YOUR REQUEST KNOWN TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S EFFICIENT STAFF, AND THEY WOULD DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH WHAT YOUR REQUEST OR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION IS.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE READY TO BEGIN OUR MEETING, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES THAT WOULD ACTUALLY GO OFF OR DISTURB THE MEETING, WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO MUTE IT AT THIS HOUR, IF YOU WILL, AND, UH, PARTICIPATE IN OUR INVOCATION AND EVEN IN OUR, UH, RECITING THE, UH, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SIMEON QUEEN, WOULD YOU COME FORWARD PLEASE AND GIVE US AN INVOCATION AS WE WILL BEGIN OUR MEETING.
IF WE CAN'T STAND AS THE LORD GIVES US THE LIBERTY, GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME WHERE, UH, LOVE IS ABIDING GOD, WHERE YOUR POWER IS MOVING GOD, AND WHERE YOUR, YOUR, UH, ANOINTING GOD IS SHOWING US THE WAY, GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD ANOINT THIS MEETING, GOD FOR THE GLORIFICATION OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
GOD TEACHES HOW TO LOVE, TEACHES HOW TO WALK IN UNITY, HARMONY, GOD, AND PEACE.
GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR A PRODUCTIVE MEETING IN YOU.
GOD, WE ASKS THAT YOU WOULD BLESS OUR LEADERSHIP AND BLESS EACH AND EVERY CITIZEN HERE.
GOD, GIVE THEM MORE THAN ENOUGH AND TEACH THEM EVEN THE MORE GOD OF HOW TO LOVE THEIR NEIGHBOR AS THEMSELVES.
IT'S IN THE GLORIOUS NAME OF HE WHO GIVES LIFE.
AND HE WAS THE MASTER OF ALL THINGS.
YESHUA, JESUS, THE CHRIST OF NANCY.
WE PRAY, LET THE PEOPLE OF PORT ARTHUR SAY AMEN.
WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE JOIN US NOW 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 UNTO GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH THE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN OUR OPENING CEREMONIES.
CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH THE QUORUM? YES, SIR.
MAYOR BARTEE, PRESENT, MAYOR PRO TIMM HAMILTON, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
AND, UH, AT THIS JUNCTION WE HAVE PROCLAMATIONS AND, UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROCLAMATIONS, SO WE'LL MOVE RIGHT
[III.B.(1) A Presentation By The Port Arthur Chapter Of Top Ladies Of Distinction, Inc.]
ON.WE HAVE A PRESENTATION, UH, BY THE, EXCUSE ME, THE, UH, PORT ARTHUR CHAPTER OF THE LADIES OF DISTINCTION, OR THE TOP LADIES, EXCUSE ME.
THE TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION.
AND DO YOU ALL HAVE A SPOKESPERSON FOR YOUR GROUP OR, AND THEN WE AFTER.
TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL AND STAFF.
WE ARE THE PORT ARTHUR CHAPTER OF TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION INCORPORATED.
UH, WE WERE AWARDED TWO GRANTS AND, UM, WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO IS TO DO PARK BENCHES FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR TWO PARKS.
[00:05:01]
THE BOOKER T WASHINGTON PARK.THE OTHER PARK IS THE EL VISTA PARK.
MS. VIVIAN SNEAD IS OUR BEAUTIFICATION CHAIRPERSON.
OUR FIRST VICE PRESIDENT IS, UH, LADY BREONNA KING.
UM, OUR MEMBERSHIP CHAIR IS LADY CARMEN HUDSON.
OUR TREASURER IS LADY BEVERLY KING.
AND LADY JACKIE TIMMONS IS OUR RECORDING SECRETARY.
UNFORTUNATELY, OUR PRESIDENT COULD NOT BE HERE.
SHE'S FLYING IN FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, SO SHE'S NOT HERE TONIGHT.
BUT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF, UH, PORT ARTHUR AND, UM, THE TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION, WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THIS CHECK FOR $7,000.
AND OUR DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, SHE'S GONNA COME UP AND RECEIVE.
AND WE WANT TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STAFF OF PORT ARTHUR'S PARK AND RECREATION, UH, CHANDRA, JOHNNY CLIFF IN PURCHASING, UM, AND HIS STAFF, THEY HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH US BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WORKING WITH A GROUP, WE CHANGE OUR MINDS.
SO WE ARE JUST SO APPRECIATIVE OF THEM, UH, WORKING WITH US SO MUCH.
THANK, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN COMING TO US.
MS. S NEED MS. CHASE ON FOR A COUPLE OF FEW MONTHS AND TO GET THIS FINALLY DONE.
I'M, I'M VERY GRATEFUL AND IT'S GONNA LOOK LICE ON THE PARKS.
UH, THANK YOU MS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
ONE OF AN EXTRA COMMENT OF FORMER COUNCILMAN ROSE CHASE ORANGE WHEN SHE SERVED ON THE PORT ARTHUR CITY COUNCIL.
SHE DIDN'T TAKE A SALARY, SHE TOOK HER THE MONEY AND, UH, GAVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO KIDS.
SHE DID THAT FOR, FOR SIX TO NINE YEARS, HUH? APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL PERSON, COUNCILMAN FRANK, YOU CONTINUE TO BE THE TOP LADIES, NOT ONLY OF DISTINCTION, BUT OF PORT ARTHUR AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION AND THE IMPACT AND IMPRINT THAT YOU LEAVE ON OUR CITIES.
AND ANYONE ELSE? AGAIN, LADIES, UH, TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
AND I'VE KNOWN ABOUT THE TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION SINCE I WAS A STUDENT AT CARVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
OKAY, THAT WAS FOR TWO YEARS AGO.
BUT, BUT WHAT I, WHAT I'VE FOUND, I HAVE FOUND OUT IS THAT YOU ALL ARE VERY INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
AND WHEN I READ, UH, I THINK IT WAS ON LAST WEEK OF THIS PRESENTATION THAT YOU ALL WERE GOING TO DO, I WAS JUST OVERWHELMED AND OVERJOYED BECAUSE NOT MANY ORGANIZATIONS WOULD DO SUCH A THING.
AND I PRAY GOD, THAT I WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE THE BENCHES AT BOTH PARKS AND EVEN LET YOU GET ANOTHER GRANT SO YOU CAN PUT BENCHES EVEN AT OTHER PARKS.
OKAY, NOW WITH THAT IN MIND, I
[VII.C.(11) P.R. 23391 – A Resolution Authorizing The Acceptance Of A Donation From The Port Arthur Chapter Of Top Ladies Of Distinction, Inc. In The Amount Of $7,000.00 For The Purchase Of Park Benches For Booker T. Washington Park And El Vista Park]
WANT YOU GO TO PAGE EIGHT, COUNSEL, IF YOU WILL.AND ON PAGE EIGHT, ITEM NUMBER 11.
AND IT'S A RESOLUTION 2, 3, 3, 9, 1.
IT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A DONATION FROM THE PORT ARTHUR CHAPTER OF TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION, INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,000 FOR THE PURCHASE OF PARK BENCHES FOR BOOKER T WASHINGTON PARK AND EL VISTA PARK.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? GRATEFULLY.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN BECKHAM? SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT PR NUMBER 23, 3 91 AS PRESENTED.
ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION? THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS.
WE WILL NOW ACCEPT OFFICIALLY YOUR $7,000.
[00:10:04]
NOW WE'LL MOVE NOW TO A PRESENTATION BY THE SQUI CENTENNIAL STEERING COMMITTEE AND THE CELEBRATION TEAM REPRESENTATIVES.I'M SORRY, Y'ALL ARE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT.
[IV. (1) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments Regarding The Proposed Disannexation Of 17.97 Acres Tract Of Land In The Corporate Limits Of The City Of Port Arthur (Near West Port Arthur Road And Viterbo Road). Said Tract Of Land Is Legally Described As Tract 1-A, Replat Of Lots 1 & 2, Tract 1, Lot 3 Tract 2, Block 18, Range M, PALCO In Jefferson County, Texas]
WOULD MOVE WITH THE, UH, AGENDA ON PAGE TWO.IT'S PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:00 PM THANK YOU.
AND IT IS NOW 6:00 PM CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, CENTRAL DAYLIGHT, UH, STANDARD TIME HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED THE ANNEXATION OF 17.97 ACRES, TRACK OF, UH, ACRES, TRACK OF LAND IN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, UH, NEAR WEST PORT ARTHUR ROAD, AND, UH, VITERBO ROAD.
UH, SAID, TRACK OF LAND IS LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS TRACK ONE, A RE REPLY OF LOTS, ONE AND TWO, TRACK ONE, LOT THREE, TRACK TWO BLOCK, 18 RANGE M PACO IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
THIS IS THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING HELD PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 43.142 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
A DETAILED MAP OF THE PROPOSED AREA TO BE GIVEN.
NEXT IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT PORT ARTHUR CITY HALL HERE, 4 44 FOURTH STREET, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 AM AND 5:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
AND CONTINUOUSLY ONLINE AT WWW.PORTARTHURTX.GOV.
AND A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 7TH, 2023 AT 10:00 AM.
THEREAFTER, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE FORMALIZING THE, THIS ANNEXATION OF SAID TRACKED AT ITS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 2023.
SO NOW ATTORNEY, WE ARE READY TO BEGIN THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, YES, THIS, UH, PROPERTY IS JUST BEEN REQUESTED TO BE DIS ANNEXED.
AND, UH, WE HAVE GIVEN YOU ALL THE TIMELINE ON THAT.
AND, UH, YOU ACTUALLY SET THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING, UH, REQUEST DATE.
SO BACK IN AUGUST, YOU APPROVED THE, UH, RESOLUTION TO ALLOW US TO DO A VOLUNTARY, UH, DIS ANNEXATION.
AND ON AUGUST 29TH, UM, NOTICES WERE SENT OUT.
IT'S BEEN PUBLISHED ON THE WEBSITE.
AND ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, WE HAVE TO HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UH, THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO ONE THAT WE DID BEFORE.
UM, AND SO IT'S KIND OF JUST LIKE A STANDARD DIS ANNEXATION.
AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ALL ANY QUESTIONS, BUT, UM, THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY A PROPERTY OWNER BEFORE ALONG WEST PORT ARTHUR ROAD, OKAY? YES.
AND IT IS CONTIGUOUS WITH THE CITY LIMITS.
UH, SO AT THIS, UH, TIME, DO WE HAVE, SEE IF THERE'S ANY PUBLIC QUESTIONS FROM THE GALLERY, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ONE? OF COURSE, YES.
ANYONE, UH, HAVE ANY COMMENTS, PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ISSUE AT THIS TIME? YES, MA'AM.
YOU WOULD APPROACH STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE.
MORE OF A QUESTION VERSUS A COMMENT.
BEGIN, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, AND THEN YOU TELL US WHY.
I'M ORIGINALLY FROM BEAUMONT, SO I'M NOT FROM PORT ARTHUR, BUT SHOULD I STILL SEND ME MY ADDRESS? MAAM, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
PAIGE PRIVOT ADDRESS? UM, TWO 60 30TH STREET, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.
MY QUESTION WAS, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE DE ANNEXATION? OKAY.
JUST TELL US ALL YOUR QUESTIONS YOU HAVE NOW.
CITY ATTORNEY'S GOING TO ANSWER THAT.
UH, THE PROPERTY OWNER IS JUST REQUESTING THAT THE, UH, PROPERTY NOT BE PART OF THE CITY LIMITS.
UM, SO, UH, NORMALLY WE ANNEX PROPERTY THAT'S NOT PART OF THE CITY LIMITS INTO THE CITY LIMITS, BUT THERE'S SOME PROJECTS AND THINGS GOING ON, AND THEY'RE ASKING THAT THE PROPERTY BE REMOVED FROM THE CITY LIMITS.
AND THAT'S WHY, UM, THEY ARE, UH, REQUESTING, THAT'S WHY WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A PROJECT THAT WILL BE GOING ON LATER, UH, IN THIS AREA.
UH, AND, UM, THEY'LL, THEY'RE GONNA MAINTAIN EVERYTHING AND THERE WILL BE NO COST TO THE CITY TO MAINTAIN IT AS WELL.
[00:15:01]
FROM THE GALLERY? AND I CAN BE HAPPY TO SHARE THE PRIOR RESOLUTIONS WITH ANYONE THAT NEEDS IT.ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE GALLERY? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, FROM THE COUNCIL.
WHO, WHAT, UH, CITY ATTORNEY, WHAT TYPE OF BUSINESS IS GOING TO BE GOING IN THERE? THERE IS A, UH, I'M LOOKING FOR THE RESOLUTION.
THERE'S SOME BUSINESSES NEARBY.
UM, AND I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW THE, UH, THE OWNER, I'M GETTING THE EXHIBIT TO THAT EXHIBIT.
I'M PULLING UP THE LETTER SO YOU CAN SEE IT.
IT WOULD BE AN INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY.
AND THIS PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW OWNED BY THE COUNTY.
UH, COUNTY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS, THIS REQUEST AS WELL.
BUT BASICALLY IT'S GONNA BE AN INDUSTRIAL PROJECT.
WELL, THAT'S THE REASON I'M WANT THE INTERNET, YOU, THE INTERNET INTO THE PUBLIC RECORDS.
THE CITIZEN HAS THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT'S COMING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHAT'S GONNA BE LOCATED ON THESE PROPERTIES.
AND IF MY COMPUTER WILL MOVE FASTER, I CAN SHARE THE LETTER WITH YOU, BUT I WILL, UH, DEFINITELY POST, UM, THE RESOLUTION 23 DASH 3 54 WHERE THE REQUEST WAS MADE.
AND, UH, WE CAN HAVE THE, UH, PERSON WHO REQUESTED THE DIS ANNEXATION, MAYBE GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION NEXT TIME WE MEET, JUST SO YOU'LL HAVE MORE, UH, DETAILS.
BUT I WILL, UH, GET IN JUST A MINUTE, GET A COPY OF 23 3 54, AND WE'LL POST IT ON THE WEBSITE.
AND I THINK COUNCILMAN LEWIS WAS ACTUALLY, UH, GETTING WHERE I WANTED TO GO WITH THIS.
UH, SO WAS NOTIFICATION SENT TO ALL THE AREAS? I THINK WE DO WHAT, 200 FEET MAYBE? WELL, WITH THIS ONE IT'S EVEN MORE.
SO DID WE GIVE NOTIFICATION TO THOSE? WE DID TOO.
EVEN THE RAILROADS, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, EVERYBODY.
SO DID WE HAVE ANY TO COME BACK WITH SOME TYPE OF NEGATIVE, UH, OUTLOOK ON WANTING TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN IN THAT AREA? NO.
IN FACT, UM, NOW THAT I HAVE MY COMPUTER PULLED UP, UM, I ALSO HAVE A LETTER FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY, AND THEY'RE, UM, ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
THEY'RE ONE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
UM, THE PROPERTY OWNER, MR. TATE, HAD COME TO US A WHILE BACK AND HAD SOME PROPERTY D DE ANNEXED.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT THAT WAS SOME PROPERTY THAT EVERYONE ALWAYS THOUGHT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS.
AND THEN A SURVEY WAS DONE AND THEY FOUND THAT IT WAS, AND THIS IS ADJACENT TO THAT PROPERTY, AND HE'S GOING TO, UH, BE ASKING FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT, UM, OF HIS PROPERTY, UM, WHERE THERE'S AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY.
AND, UM, LIKE I SAID, THE ORIGINAL THOUGHT, THERE WAS ORIGINAL INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS THERE, AND THEY ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS.
AND THIS IS ADDITIONAL PROPERTY.
AND AS YOU SEE, UH, THE PROPERTY OWNER IS ACTUALLY JEFFERSON COUNTY, AND THEY ARE, UM, ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES, VAL, THEY, THEY'RE REQUESTING IT.
UH, SO THEY'LL BE, UH, EXCLUDED FROM THE, IN LIEU OF TAX AGREEMENTS WITHIN THE E TT ETJ.
AND ARE THEY REQUESTING IT BECAUSE, UH, WE ARE NOT PROVIDING SERVICES? THAT, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY SAID THAT THERE WEREN'T, UM, THERE WEREN'T UTILITIES AND THEY FELT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WATER UTILITIES.
UM, AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS IN THE CITY, SO THEY ALWAYS TOOK CARE OF EVERYTHING.
SO THEY BASICALLY, THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
UM, AND WE BACK IN APRIL OF 22, WE HAD, UM, DISH ANNEXED, THE ADJOURN ADJOINING PROPERTY.
SO THIS IS JUST A CONTI CONTIGUOUS TRACT.
I CAN ALSO HAVE HIM BRING SOME MORE INFORMATION SINCE WE DO HAVE TO HAVE TWO PUBLIC NO, I JUST FIGURED IT WAS BEHIND US NOT HAVING, UH, SERVICES OUT THERE.
MOST OF THE TIME IT, YOU GOING TO REQUIRE D ANNEXATION.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.
THEY'RE TRYING TO GET OUT OF PAYING THE FULL TAXES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BEING PROVIDED THE SERVICE.
SO THEY GET THAT'S PART OF THE NEWS IN LIEU OF TAX AS OPPOSED TO THE TAX.
ANY OTHER REMARKS? ANY OTHER REMARKS? OKAY.
UH, THERE AREN'T, I'M AT THIS JUNCTURE READY TO RE ENTERTAIN A MOTION FORECLOSURE OF PUBLIC HEARING.
NUMBER ONE, COUNCILMAN, UH, KINLER.
MAYOR SECOND, COUNCILMAN FRANK.
SECOND, IS IT MOVED? AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING, UH, NOTED AS PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER ONE ON PAGE TWO.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[00:20:01]
OPPOSES? AYE.HAVE SO RECORDED PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER ONE HAS NOW ENDED.
[IV. (2) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments To Consider The Proposed Abandonment Of The Following: A23-04 MOTIVA ENTERPRISES, LLC For Approximately 1.988 Acres Of Land Consisting Of A 70' X 320' Dedicated And Improved Portion Of Street Right-Of-Way, Known As Austin Avenue, 60' X 600' Dedicated And Improved Portion Of Street Right-Of-Way, Known As 5th Street, 20' X 600' Portion Of Improved Alley Right-Of-Way Located In Blocks 109 And 110, Bounded By Waco Avenue And Fort Worth Avenue, Located In The Downtown Area Of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas]
WE'LL NOW BEGIN PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO AT 6:10 PM WE'LL BEGIN PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENTS TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT OF THE FOLLOWING.A 23 DASH ZERO FOUR MOTIVA ENTERPRISES LLC FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.99 ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF A 70 BY 320 FOOT DEDICATED AND IMPROVED PORTION OF STREET RIGHT OF WAY KNOWN AS AUSTIN AVENUE.
60 BY 600 FEET DEDICATED AND IMPROVED PORTION OF STREET RIGHT OF WEIGHT, KNOWN AS FIFTH STREET, 20 BY 600 FEET PORTION OF IMPROVED ALLEY, RIGHT OF WEIGHT, LOCATED IN BLOCKS 1 0 9 AND ONE 10 BOUND BY WACO AVENUE AND FOR WORTH AVENUE LOCATED IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
A PRECISE DRAWING AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING AND CAN BE EXAMINED IN THE CITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
THE PUBLIC WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO VIEW THE PUBLIC HEARING VIA THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT WWW.PORTARTHURTX.GOV.
ANY PERSON MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
AND I BELIEVE MR. BADAR, YOU ARE.
UH, AND CITY COUNCILMAN AND CITY MANAGER.
UM, I FIRST WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO, UH, UH, IN SUPPORT OF, UH, BREAST CANCER MONTH.
UH, OUR PRESENTATION WILL BE DONE IN PINK, UH, BECAUSE OF THE FAMILIES AND, UH, UH, FRIENDS THAT HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY IT.
I LOST A SISTER AND A GRANDMOTHER FROM THIS DISEASE.
AND I DO HAVE A, A, A NIECE AND A SISTER-IN-LAW THAT ARE SURVIVORS OF THIS DISEASE.
SO IN SUPPORT OF THEM, I HAVE PUT THIS IN PINK.
NOW I GET INTO THE BATTERY HAND AT HAND.
THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING AS TO CONSIDERING THAT THE, WELL, LEMME DO THIS.
FIRST, THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER A ABANDONMENT REQUEST FOR A 1.988 ACRE PORTION, WHICH IS SIX 86,590 SQUARE SEVEN SQUARE FEET OF A STREET AND ALLEY RIGHT OF WAYS.
THE ABANDONMENT INCLUDES 70 FEET BY 320 FEET PORTION OF AUSTIN AVENUE, 60 FOOT BY 600 FOOT PORTION OF FIFTH STREET, 20 FOOT BY 600 PORTION OF AN ALLEY, RIGHT OF WAY BETWEEN FIFTH AND SIXTH STREETS, AND A 20 FOOT BY 600 PORTION OF AN ALLEY RIGHT OF WAY BETWEEN PROCTOR STREET AND FIFTH STREET DOWNTOWN PORT ARTHUR, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
MOTIVA ENTERPRISES, LLC SUBMITTED A COMPLETED ABANDONMENT APPLICATION TO THE CITY'S PLANNING AND ZONING DIVISION ON OR AROUND AUGUST 31ST, 2023, REQUESTING CONSIDERATION FOR THE ABANDONMENT OF SAID REQUEST LOCATED IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
AS PART OF THE ABANDONMENT PROCESS, THE APPLICATION WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SIGNED AND WRITTEN CONSENT OF ALL UTILITY ENTITIES.
UTILITY ENTITIES INCLUDE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S WATER, SANITARY SEWER, PUBLIC WORKS, AND DRAINAGE DEPARTMENTS, CHARTER SPECTRUM CABLE, TEXAS GAS SERVICE, GSU ENERGY, AT AND T TEXAS AND DRAINAGE DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN.
THE CITY'S PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023.
PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE PROPOSED SITE ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2023, AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2023.
DUE TO CONCERNS POSED BY THREE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION TABLED THE ITEM.
THE PRIMARY CONCERN WAS ACCESS TO ADJACENT PROPERTY AND A PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE ADJOINING BLOCK OF THE PROPOSED SITE OFF OF AUSTIN AVENUE.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECONVENED ON OCTOBER 2ND, 2023 AND VOTED THREE TO ONE TO APPROVE THE ABANDONMENT REQUEST.
ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 DASH 3 83,
[00:25:02]
CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT.WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR TODAY, CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PUBLISHED TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON OCTOBER 14TH, 2023.
THE PURPOSE OF THE REQUEST IS TO ABANDON AND CLOSE PORTIONS OF THE STREET AND ALLEY RIGHTS OF WAY TO DEVELOP A CORPORATE BUSINESS CAMPUS.
THIS IS AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE, UH, OF THE PROPERTY.
AND THE, UH, LARGE CIRCLE AROUND ARE THE AREAS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE PROPERTY.
UH, THE, THIS IS A PORTION OF AUSTIN STREET THAT IS BEING ASKED TO BE CLOSED IN THIS PROPOSAL.
AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM THE PROC PROCTOR STREET, UH, LOOKING EAST.
UH, THIS IS A PORTION OF FIFTH STREET THAT IS BEING REQUESTED TO BE CLOSED, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM FORT WORTH, LOOKING AT IT TO NORTH.
THIS IS A NORTH AND SOUTH VIEW OF THE PORTION OF THE ALLEY RIGHT OF WAY CLOSE TO PROCTOR STREET.
AND THIS IS A NORTH AND SOUTH VIEW OF THE PORTION OF ALLEY RAY, RIGHT OF WAY CLOSER TO SIXTH STREET.
PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED ON SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2023 TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THE PROPOSED SITE, AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2023 IN PREPARATION FOR THE SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING PLANNING STAFF DID NOT RECEIVE ANY WRITTEN NOTICES OF OUR POSITION.
HOWEVER, THREE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC VERBALLY EXPRESSED THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE SEPTEMBER 25TH MEETING.
AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
JUST, UH, BEFORE WE WOULD DO THAT, WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE, UH, GALLERY.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE GALLERY TO APPROACH? UH, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE.
UH, MY NAME IS ROOSEVELT PETRI, 5 0 1 EIGHTH STREET.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO START OUT BY SAYING, UM, I WAS ONE OF THE THREE THAT OPPOSED, UM, THE ACTION.
UH, I WILL SAY THAT I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT THAT MOTIVA IS DOING DOWNTOWN.
I THINK IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.
UM, I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT MOTIVA, AND I SENSE THE PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE PLANET AND ZONING COMMISSION.
I HAD A MEETING WITH MOTIVA AND WE HAVE RESOLVED THE ISSUE OF ME NOT AGREEING ON THE PORTION OF LAND THAT I OWN.
AND WE CAME TO A CONSENSUS, SO WE ARE GOING TO WORK THAT OUT.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT ALL OF US AND EVEN THE OTHER LANDOWNERS, WE NEED TO WORK WITH MOTIVA ON THIS.
UM, THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT NOT ONLY PORT ARTHUR, BUT JEFFERSON COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
UM, IT IS KIND OF HARD TO PUT IT IN WORDS, BUT WHEN I RIDE UP AND DOWN PROCTOR STREET AND SOME OF THE SIDE STREETS AND I SEE ALL THE NEW CURBS AND GUTTERS AND FRESH ASPHALT, NO POTHOLES, AND I'M, AND I'M JUST LOOKING AT ALL OF THIS I CONSTRUCTION AND WHAT IS GETTING READY TO BECOME, IT'S OVERWHELMING.
IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A BLESSING.
AND, UM, I WOULD ENCOURAGE PORT ARTHUR COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT ALSO.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I FULLY SUPPORT MOTIVA AND THAT MOTIVA AND I HAVE WORKED IT OUT AND IT'S A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR EVERYBODY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE GALLERY? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE GALLERY? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THANK YOU.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
UH, DIRECTOR, IF YOU CAN JUST TELL ME WHAT'S THE OTHER TWO, UH, OPPOSITIONS OR WHAT WAS THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT? WE SEE THAT THE GENTLEMAN JUST SPOKE AND SAID HE SAID FULL SUPPORT.
UH, WHAT WAS THE OTHER TWO, UH, CONCERNS? THERE WAS, WELL, ONE OF THEM, THERE WAS A BUSINESS ACROSS THE STREET FROM IT.
AND, UH, HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO VISIT HIS BUSINESS, HIS RESTAURANT,
[00:30:01]
UH, ON THAT CORNER OF SIXTH STREET AND, UH, AUSTIN.AND WERE WE ABLE TO ANSWER OR KIND OF CLARIFY SOME OF THOSE THINGS? I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE BUSINESS, BUT IF, IF, OH, IT WAS, I THINK IT WAS KELLY.
UH, SO, UH, UH, I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT HE'S SPOKEN TO MOTIVA OF ANYTHING ABOUT, I HAVEN'T HEARD OF HIM, UH, COMING BACK AND TELLING US ANYTHING THAT HE, HE SAID ABOUT IT.
AND THE OTHER, THE OTHER ONE WAS JUST AGREEING WITH THE OTHER TWO GENTLEMEN SAID.
I THINK THIS QUESTION IS PROBABLY MORE FOR A CITY MANAGER.
UH, HAS THE CITY PAID FOR ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO THESE STREETS THAT ARE PART OF THIS ABANDONMENT? NO.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE GALLERY? THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I READY TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
NUMBER TWO, COUNCILMAN KINLOCK.
SO MOVE, MAYOR, I GET A SECOND.
COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SECOND HAS BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO AT 6:21 PM UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON IT? YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
UH, PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO HAS NOW ENDED.
[IV. (3) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments To Consider The Proposed Abandonment Of The Following: A23-05 MOTIVA ENTERPRISES, LLC For Approximately 1.026- Acres Of Land Consisting Of A Dedicated And Improved Street RightOf-Way, Known As Terminal Road, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas]
NOW BEGIN PUBLIC HEARING.IT'S THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENTS TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT OF THE FOLLOWING.
A 23 DASH FIVE MOTIVA ENTERPRISES, LLC FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.02 OR THREE, EXCUSE ME, ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF, OF A DEDICATED AND IMPROVED STREET RIGHT OF WAY KNOWN AS TERMINAL ROAD, PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
A PRECISE DRAWING AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING AND CAN BE EXAMINED IN THE CITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
THE PUBLIC WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO VIEW THE PUBLIC HEARING VIA THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT WWW.PORTARTHURTX.GOV.
ANY PERSON MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
UH, THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER AN ABANDONMENT FOR REQUEST OF AN APPROXIMATELY 1.264 ACRES, 55,060 FEET, 60 SQUARE FEET PORTION OF A DEDICATED AND IMPROVED STREET RIGHT OF WAY KNOWN AS TERMINAL ROAD.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED SOUTH OF GULF WAY DRIVE AND NORTH OF MATTHEW STREET AND BY THE TERMINAL ROAD WATER TOWER, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
MOTIVA ENTERPRISES, LLC SUBMITTED A COMPLETED ABANDONMENT APPLICATION TO THE CITY'S PLANNING AND ZONING DIVISION ON OR AROUND AUGUST 31ST, 2023, REQUESTING CONSIDERATION FOR THE ABANDONMENT OF THE C REQUEST AS PART OF THE ABANDONMENT PROCESS.
THE APPLICATION WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SIGNED AND WRITTEN CONSENT OF ALL UTILITIES ENTITIES, UTILITY ENTITIES, INCLUDING CITY OF FORT ARTHURS WATER, SANITARY SEWER, PUBLIC WORKS, AND DRAINAGE DEPARTMENTS, CHARTER SPECTRUM, CABLE SPECTRUM, CABLE, TEXAS GAS SERVICE, GSU, ENTERGY, AT AND T TEXAS AND DRAINAGE DISTRICT SEVEN.
THE CITY'S PLANNING IS ZONING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023.
PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE PROPOSED SITE ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2023, AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2023.
DUE TO CONCERNS POSTED BY TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION TABLED THE ITEM.
THE PUBLIC CONCERN WAS ACCESS TO A PROPERTY OF THE ADJOINING BLOCK OF THE PROPOSED SITE, WHICH WAS A FORMER CARVER PROPERTY AND THE ADJOINING BLOCK, I MEAN KARMA, FORMER CARVER TERRACE PROPERTY, EXCUSE ME, AND THE CONTINUED USE OF THE FORMER CARVER TERRACE PARK.
THE PLANNING IS ZONING COMMISSION RECONVENED ON OCTOBER 2ND, 2023 AND VOTED FOUR TO ZERO TO APPROVE THE ABANDONMENT REQUEST.
THE SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION 23 DASH 3 85, CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR TODAY.
THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PUBLISHED TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON OCTOBER 14TH, 2023.
[00:35:04]
THE PURPOSE OF THE SAID REQUEST IS TO ABANDON AND CLOSE THE STREET RIGHT OF WAY FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY HARDENING.THIS IS AN AREA VIEW, AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROPERTY.
THIS IS A PORTION OF TERMINAL ROAD NORTH FROM THE WATER TOWER STREET, ANOTHER VIEW OF TERMINAL ROAD NORTH FROM 15TH STREET.
AND THIS IS A VIEW OF THE PLAYGROUND, PLAYGROUND ON THE EAST SIDE OF TERMINAL ROAD.
AND THIS IS A VIEW OF PIPELINES LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE TERMINAL ROAD.
PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED ON SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2023 TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THE PROPOSED SITE AND PUBLISHED IN PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2023 IN PREPARATION FOR SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING PLANNING STAFF DID NOT RECEIVE ANY WRITTEN NOTICES OF OPPOSITION.
HOWEVER, TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC VERBALLY EXPRESSED THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE SEPTEMBER 25TH AT THE SEPTEMBER 25TH MEETING.
STAFF RECEIVED NO ADDITIONAL NOTIFICATIONS PRIOR TO TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING AT THE CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY, UH, ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
NUMBER THREE, ANY REMARKS FROM THE GALLERY? ANY REMARKS FROM THE GALLERY? ANY REMARKS FROM THE GALLERY? OKAY, REMARKS FROM COUNCIL.
SO WHAT WERE THOSE, UH, EXCUSE ME, DIRECTORS.
SO WHAT WERE THOSE TWO OPPOSITIONS TO, UH, DOING THAT PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT ACCESS TO? THE, USED TO BE A PLAYGROUND, BUT THEY STILL HAVE SOME PLAYGROUND, UH, ITEMS ON IT AND IT WAS, UH, CONCERNS ABOUT CHILDREN PLAYING ON PIPELINES ACROSS THE STREET FROM IT.
SO JUST OPENLY, WHAT IS THE PLANS IF WE, WE DO THIS AND WE STILL HAVE THAT PARK THERE.
I'M SORRY, WHAT IS GONNA BE THE PLANS? IS THE CITY STILL GONNA BE CARETAKERS OF THE PARK OR THAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE AREA? I MEAN, YOU I DON'T REALLY THINK IT'S A PARK, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING WITH IT, MAN.
REMEMBER, THAT'S ONE OF THE PARKS THAT WE HAVE FOR SALE.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE BECAUSE OF THE, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF, AND THEN CAVI TERRA IS NO LONGER THERE GOT, AND WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT CONTAMINATION, SO WE PUBLISHED IT.
WE HAD THE, UM, DIRECTOR OF, UM, PARKS AND RECREATIONS.
IT'S, WHAT ARE YOU NOW? SO IT'S UP FOR SALE.
MY CONCERN, MY CONCERN IS, UH, TURN THE ROAD FROM MLK TO GOWAY DRIVE.
IS THAT GOING TO HAVE, IS THAT'S GOING TO BE GATED DURING THE COURSE OF THE, THE DAY OR WHAT IS THAT'S GONNA BE LEFT OPEN AND CLOSED AT NIGHT? I BELIEVE IT'S GONNA CLOSE IT PERMANENTLY.
I'M NOT SURE, BUT, UH, AS FAR AS I KNOW, WELL, IF, WHEN I'M CONCERNED, I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT IF YOU ALL BLOCKED, THEN I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GATE IT, LEAVE IT, YOU KNOW, LEAVE IT OPEN DURING THE, UH, NORMAL WORKING HOURS, THEN CLOSE IT AT NIGHT.
WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, IF YOU, WHEN YOU BLOCK THAT, YOU'RE GONNA SEND THAT TRAFFIC THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOWN THOMAS BOULEVARD, YOU GONNA SEND THAT ALL THOMAS BOULEVARD RAN ALL THAT TRAFFIC COMING FROM LNGS AND WHAT HAVE YOU, IT'S GOING TO END UP IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO IF YOU LEAVE THAT OPEN GATE, IT, YOU CAN, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOU GATE.
IF YOU LEAVE IT OPEN DURING THE DAY, THEY CAN COME FROM MLK TO GOWAY DRIVE AND DO NOT HAVE TO GO DOWN THROUGH THE, UH, THOMAS BOULEVARD, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE THE MAINTENANCE OPERATION AND EVERYTHING AND GRAND AVENUE.
AND, AND THEY'RE GONNA HOOK RIGHT, RIGHT BACK TO GOWAY DRIVE.
SO IF YOU LEAVE IT OPEN, THEY CAN DRIVE FROM MLK, THE GULF WAY.
WELL I'LL RELAY THAT TO, UH, MOTIVA BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY, I APPRECIATE IT.
I'M NOT A PART OF MOTIVA, SO I CAN'T SAY HOW I WANNA BLOCK IT.
SO I'LL, I'LL RELAY THAT INFORMATION TO HIM.
COUNCILMAN BECKHAM, I HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER AS TO THE PART THAT'S THERE.
ARE WE GONNA DISMANTLE THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT PRETTY QUICK? YES, WE WILL.
UH, AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
DOES MOTIVA KNOW ABOUT THE DRAINAGE ISSUE ON TERMINAL ROAD THAT AFFECTS, I BELIEVE IT'S 18TH AND 19TH STREET? I'M NOT SURE, UH, IF THEY, I'M, I'M SURE THEY'VE DONE A PLAN ON IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW MR. BURTON.
YES, THEY ARE, BECAUSE I HAVE WRITTEN TO THEM OFFICIALLY.
I HAVE SENT AN OFFICIAL LETTER AND, UM, I HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED BACK WITH, FROM MOTIVA INFORMING ME THAT IT HAS BEEN STUDIED.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STUDY THE RESULTS OF THE MASTER PLAN TO SEE HOW IT DOVETAILS WITH MOTIVA'S PLANS AS WELL.
UM, I WANT TO REITERATE AT THIS PARTICULAR
[00:40:01]
TIME, UH, THE CONCERN THAT WE'VE HAD.I KNOW THAT MOTIVA'S, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABANDONING, UH, THIS ONE SIDE OF THAT, UH, ROAD.
IT RUNS ALONGSIDE THE PARK AND, UM, NEW ST.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ABANDONING THAT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE CITY MANAGER THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE OTHER SIDE AT SOME PARTICULAR JUNCTURE AS WELL, BECAUSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMING FROM, UH, THE PLANTS, THAT TRAFFIC THAT COMES DOWN, MARTIN LUTHER KING, UM, SOME OF THOSE, UH, UH, DIVE INTO THE AREA OF 17, 18 AND 19TH STREET.
UH, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
AND SO THAT PUTS, UH, CHILDREN'S CHILDREN IN THAT COMMUNITY IN HARM'S WAY AS WELL.
SO, UH, WANTED TO SAY THAT SO THAT MOTIVA MIGHT HEAR THAT, BUT THAT YOU MIGHT HEAR IT AS WELL WITH YOUR STAFF.
COUNCILMAN ETT? YEAH, IN REFERENCE TO THE OTHER SIDE, THAT'D BE THE NORTH SIDE OF IT.
ON THE CUFF WAY DRIVE, WE HAVE A RESIDENT THAT HAS THE ACTUAL ADDRESS ON TERMINAL ROAD, IF NOT ON ONE OF THE STREETS.
THE ADDRESS RIGHT MANAGER, THE NORTH SIDE, YEAH.
YOU HAVE A RESIDENT THAT HAS AN ACTUAL ADDRESS THERE, WHICH MEANS THAT THAT'S THEIR ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY.
SO THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER SIDE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE GALLERY? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER COMMENTS.
I'M READY TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR CONCLUSION OF, UH, PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER THREE, COUNCILWOMAN BECKER.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER THREE AT 6:32 PM ON TODAY.
WE ARE READY FOR QUESTION IT UNDER ANY QUESTIONS? YOU'RE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES AYES AB OF THIS ORDERED? THE PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER THREE HAS NOW ENDED.
AND THANK YOU MR. MADON, FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND INFORMATION ON THIS.
NOW WE WILL RETURN TO THE NORMAL FLOW OF OUR AGENDA,
[III.B.(2) A Presentation By The Quasquicentennial Steering Committee And Celebration Team Representatives Regarding The Cultural Showcase And Upcoming Activities: Ms. Verna Rutherford, Ms. Pat Avery, Ms. Tammy Kotzur, Dr. Albert Thigpen, Dr. Sam Monroe, And Mr. Tom Neal]
AND WE WILL BEGIN NOW WITH ITEM NUMBER TWO ON PAGE ONE, UNDER PETITIONS UNDER ROMAN NUMERAL THREE ON, UH, PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS, WHICH IS A PRESENTATION, UH, BY THE, UH, QUAI CENTENNIAL STEERING COMMITTEE AND CELEBRATION TEAM REPRESENTED US REGARDING THE CULTURAL SHOWCASE AND UPCOMING ACTIVITIES.AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE MRS. VERNA RUTHERFORD AND MS. PAT AVERY, MS. UH, MRS. TAMMY, UH, CULTURE, UH, DR. ALBERT TH AND DR.
SAM MONROE, AND MR. UH, TOM NEAL HERE IN THE GALLERY WITH US AND WHAT YOU ALL APPROACH.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, MY NAME IS AL THIGPEN, OF COURSE, I'M HERE WITH MS. TAMMY TSA, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, DR.
SAMONE, MR. TOM NEAL, MS. PAT AVERY, AND OUR TOP-NOTCH CHAIR, MS. VERNA RUTHERFORD.
AND WE ARE HERE TODAY, AS YOU KNOW, AS A COUNCIL.
YOU APPOINTED A STEERING TEAM TO CELEBRATE THE CITY'S QUASS CENTENNIAL HUNDRED 25TH ANNIVERSARY.
AND ALONG WITH THE STEERING TEAM, WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF THE CELEBRATION TEAM WHO ARE OUT IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND IF YOU'RE HERE, WE'RE GONNA ASK YOU TO STAND UP.
WE HAVE SOME THINGS WE'D LIKE TO REPORT TO THE COUNCIL ON.
THE FIRST THING WE'D LIKE TO DO IS WE'D LIKE TO REPORT ON THE CULTURAL SHOWCASE THAT WE HELD ON OCTOBER 14TH.
WE HAVE A CLIP OF VIDEOS THAT'S GONNA BE PLAYING ON THE ONE, AND WE'D LIKE EVERYONE TO TAKE A MINUTE JUST TO SEE HOW THE CULTURE, UH, SHOWCASE WENT.
WE HAD OVER 25 DIFFERENT CULTURES OF PORT ARTHUR THAT WERE REPRESENTED.
THAT WAS QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION, THAT WAS GREAT FOOD, AND EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE A REALLY GREAT TIME.
[00:45:48]
IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK OUR CHAIRS OF THAT EVENT.
UH, MS. CAROLYN TIDO, MS. GLORIA SANCHEZ, AND MS. BRENDA VAUGHN.
THEY DID A GREAT JOB FOR US AND WE THANK YOU.
WE'RE ALSO HERE TONIGHT TO UNVEIL SOME ITEMS WHICH WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
ONE IS THE SQUI CENTENNIAL COIN.
THE STEERING COMMITTEE, ALONG WITH THE CELEBRATION TEAM, HAS 125 COINS EACH WITH AN INDIVIDUALIZED YEAR.
AND THOSE COINS ARE GOING TO BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC, UH, PURCHASE.
THEY'RE GONNA APPEAR IN A MINUTE.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THE COIN FEATURES, UH, THE IMAGE OF ARTHUR STILLWELL, THE FOUNDER OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, AS WELL AS THE QUI CENTENNIAL LOGO.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS, AGAIN, WE HAVE 125 COINS BEGINNING IN 1898 AND CONCLUDING WITH 2023.
AND WE HAVE FORMS AVAILABLE IN THE BACK AS WELL AS WE'LL HAVE THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.
BUT IF THERE IS A PARTICULAR YEAR THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE, YOU NEED TO GET THAT INFORMATION IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE THOSE ARE GONNA GO ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS.
THE COINS ARE PURE SILVER, THEY'RE GOLD PLATED, AND THEY REALLY ARE BEAUTIFUL.
THE PICTURES REALLY DON'T DO THEM FULL JUSTICE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO PURCHASE THEM.
WE ALSO HAVE, AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE PORT ARTHUR AFGHANS.
SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT IS, UM, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR HAS PURCHASED, UH, SOME OF THESE PENCIL AND INK DRAWINGS MANY YEARS AGO.
A LADY BY THE NAME OF BETTY MAGGIO, WHO WAS, UM, LIVING HERE IN PORT ARTHUR AT THE TIME.
UM, SHE'S DECEASED JUST RECENTLY.
UM, BUT SHE'S DONE A NUMBER OF HISTORIC HOMES.
YOU'VE GOT SOME BEAUTIFUL LARGE, UM, PORCH PAINTINGS OR SKETCHES OF HERS HANGING ON THE, UH, WALLS ON THE, UH, THE FOURTH FLOOR AT CITY HALL.
AND HER FAMILY ALLOWED US TO COPYRIGHT TO BE ABLE TO USE SOME OF THOSE, UM, TO CREATE THIS COMMEMORATIVE, UM, AFGHAN FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE.
UH, THEY WILL BE FOR SALE AT THE MUSEUM OF THE GULF COAST, UH, STARTING NEXT WEEK, AS WILL, THE COINS WILL BE PULLING THE INITIAL ORDERS FIRST.
SO ANYONE WHO CHOOSES TO PLACE AN ORDER TONIGHT, AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, MANY OF, UH, OF YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE SO AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC, THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK, UH, AT THE MUSEUM OF THE GULF COAST.
AND SO, UM, THANK YOU LADIES FOR SHOWING THIS AFGHAN, AND AS YOU SEE, IT'S GOT THE, UH, THE LOGO FOR THE QUAS CENTENNIAL IN THE CENTER OF IT.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND SAY THAT, UM, AS WE'VE CONCLUDED THE FOURTH OF THE FOUR EVENTS THAT WE COMMITTED TO, UM, SPONSORING AND COORDINATING ORGANIZING THIS YEAR.
PAT, AVERY, PAT, WOULD YOU JOIN ME? JUST STEP TO THE PODIUM.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING.
SHE CALLED ME LATE LAST YEAR AND ASKED IF I WOULD, UM, BE, UH, THE CHAIRMAN OF THIS EVENT AND MAYOR AND, UH, CITY MANAGER.
AS YOU KNOW, PAT APPROACHED THE TWO OF YOU AND ASKED THAT THE CHAMBER WOULD, UH, OFFER FOR THE CHAMBER TO HOST THIS, UH, BIRTHDAY YEAR CELEBRATION.
AND SO I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO PAT.
HAD PAT NOT COME FORWARD WITH MAKING THAT OFFER TO ALL OF YOU.
NONE OF US WOULD BE HERE TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT THESE EVENTS AND ALL OF THIS CELEBRATION.
PAT AND I HAVE BEEN LIKE SISTERS SINCE WE MET BACK IN I GUESS THE LATE NINETIES.
AND SO WE'VE DONE A LOT TOGETHER AND WE APPRECIATE THAT AND WE APPRECIATE THE PRIVILEGE OF, OF BEING ABLE TO HOST THESE EVENTS.
[00:50:01]
NOW, THE YEAR'S NOT OVER, AS YOU KNOW.AND SO THERE ARE A FEW OTHER EVENTS THAT WE WILL BE SUPPORTING THAT HAVE THE THEME OF THE SQUA CENTENNIAL, BUT THAT ARE NOT BEING PLANNED AND ORGANIZED BY US.
UM, THE SOUNDS OF THE SEASON CELEBRATION, THE MOTIVA CONCERT, AND I THINK YOU ALL HAVE COPIES OF THAT.
THERE ARE, UH, COPIES OF THAT FLYER, UH, BACKED BY THE AGENDAS.
AND THEN THE, UH, THAT'S ON DECEMBER THE FIFTH, THE DECEMBER 9TH MUSEUM OF THE GULF COAST JINGLE ALL THE WAY EVENT WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT THE MUSEUM, AS WILL THE DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY CELEBRATION HERE AT CITY HALL AND THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
IT'S GONNA BE AN EXCITING WEEKEND.
IT'S GONNA BE AN EXCITING CHRISTMAS SEASON.
WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AS WE END THE YEAR AND WE START, WE COLLECT ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT WILL BE GOING INTO THE TIME CAPSULE THAT WILL BE BURIED SOMETIME, I GUESS IN JANUARY, IS THAT AFTER WE'VE COLLECTED, UM, THE, THE PIECES THAT WILL GO INTO IT FROM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, IT WILL BE BURIED, UM, AS HAVE OTHER, UH, TIME CAPSULES FROM THE PREVIOUS YEARS.
AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR THIS SHORT, UH, TIME ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
WE KNOW YOU'VE GOT A BUSY SCHEDULE.
UM, LIKE TO ASK IF ANY OF THE OTHER TEAM MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
AND WE DO HAVE ORDER FORMS, UH, FOR THESE ITEMS BACKED BY THE AGENDA IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED.
AND, UH, AGAIN, THEY'LL BE IN THE MUSEUM STARTING NEXT WEEK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH YOUR TIME.
THANK AND YOU ALL JUST WAIT BECAUSE THERE MAY BE SOME COMMENTS FOR YOU.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL DO THE CULTURAL CELEBRATION EVERY YEAR.
UM, IT, IT WAS JUST SO INTERESTING TO SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT CULTURES AND TASTE THE FOOD AND, AND WATCH THE KIDS PERFORM.
I HOPE WE CAN MAKE THAT AN ANNUAL EVENT.
SO IN RESPONSE TO THAT, I WILL SAY THAT WE'VE, WE'VE PLANTED THE SEED AND I HOPE THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN.
WE'RE SO HAPPY THAT YOU, MANY OF YOU WERE THERE AND WE APPRECIATED YOU, YOU BEING THERE.
WE KNOW THAT NOT EVERYONE COULD ATTEND THAT DAY, BUT IT WAS AN EXCITING TIME.
ONE OF THE PICTURES THAT YOU SEE UP THERE IS THE WORLD MAP.
AND, UM, TAMMY HAD THE IDEA, UH, TO CREATE THE WORLD MAP THAT WOULD, WE WOULD HAVE STICKY FLAGS THAT AS PEOPLE CAME IN AND THEY SIGNED IN, THEY COULD GO PUT THOSE FLAGS ON THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OR COUNTRIES OF, OF THEIR HERITAGE.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE THINK IS GONNA REALLY BE ABLE TO BE USED AS A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.
AND TO BE USED KIND OF A, A, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO, UH, HAVE A, A COPY OF THAT TO SHOW THE DIFFERENT CULTURES.
THIS TRULY IS A CULTURAL MELTING POT.
AND, UM, SO COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM, WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD ROADMAP SET OUT.
UH, SOME OF US ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO BE INVOLVED IN HELPING TO SUPPORT IT AND DEVELOP SOME OTHER PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO, TO TAKE THAT EVENT ON.
IT CERTAINLY HAS THAT, UH, THAT, THAT OPPORTUNITY.
ANY OTHERS? WELL, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR THE GREAT JOB THAT YOU'VE DONE FROM THAT MEETING THAT WE HAD, UH, OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I THINK UP, UP UNTIL NOW.
AND AS YOU SAID THERE, THERE'S SOME OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT WE ALL GONNA BE INVOLVED IN FOR ABOUT THE NEXT EIGHT TO 10 WEEKS.
SO THERE, THAT, THAT, YEAH, THAT IS, THAT, THAT IS GREAT.
AND UH, ALSO, I KNOW THERE'S AN ACTIVITY, BUT TELL YOU WANNA TELL US ABOUT THE OTHER ACTIVITY? WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SATURDAY.
WHAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SPOOKTACULAR THIS NEXT WEEKEND AND WE'VE SENT AN INVITATION OUT TO IT IS ALSO BRANDED WITH THE HUNDRED 25TH CELEBRATION AND WE'RE INVITING ALL THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR, IF YOU WANT TO COME TO THE MUSEUM, LET US KNOW.
WE HAVE CANDY WAITING FOR YOU.
AND IT'S GREAT FOR THEM TO PUT A FACE AND NAME AND INTERACT WITH KIDS AND SO THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, MAKE THAT CONTACT.
UM, LAST YEAR WE WERE SHOCKED BY A RECORD OF, OF ATTENDANCE OF 1100 PEOPLE THAT CAME THROUGH THERE FROM 10 TO ONE.
AND SO, UH, WE HAVE, UH, WE USE A PARKING LOT AND INSIDE, SO IT WAS AMAZING THING.
SO WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US ON SATURDAY.
JUST LET US KNOW AND WE'LL HAVE SOME CANDY SO YOU CAN MAKE SOME KIDS HAPPY.
WELL, WE CERTAINLY THANK YOU ALL AGAIN, DR.
MAR MONROE, ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE AND YOU CONTINUE TO DO WITH YOUR GROUP THERE AT THE MUSEUM OF THE GULF COAST.
AND AS MY FRIENDS FROM DENVER, THEY'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT AND MAKE ME FEEL REAL GOOD.
'CAUSE WE HAVE THIS DOWN IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
SO I THANK YOU ALL AGAIN AND THANK EACH OF YOU.
AND MS. MS. AVERY, MAY, MAY I SAY THIS? UH, AND TO AND TO EACH OF YOU, UH, I THOUGHT VERNON WAS GOING TO SAY IT.
IT'S, I'M, I'M NOT LETTING THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.
MISS AVERY'S GONNA RETIRE IN A, IN A, IN A FEW WEEKS.
[00:55:01]
AND AGAIN, UH, AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND ALL THE WORK AND THE ENERGY THAT YOU ARE SHOWING EVEN NOW GOING OUT, YOU'RE NOT LIKE JUST TAKING A REST, BUT YOU, YOU'VE BEEN ACTIVE AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.IT IS BEEN MY GREAT HONOR TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR THROUGH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
IT'S BITTERSWEET TO LEAVE, BUT, UM, I'M OLD
WE'LL, UH, GO BACK TO THE NORMAL FLOW OF BUSINESS WITH OUR AGENDA.
[III.B.(3) A Presentation By Sigma Engineers On The Status Of The Port Arthur 9th Avenue Health Department Renovation Project]
HAVE ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS A PRESENTATION BY SIGMA ENGINEERS ON THE STATUS OF THE PORT ARTHUR NINTH AVENUE HEALTH DEPARTMENT RENOVATION PROJECT.UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR BARTEE AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS TINA NEJAT WITH SIGMA ENGINEERS.
I'M WITH MY GOOD FRIEND AND PARTNER, MR. COREY RAWLES, UH, IS NOT READY TO RETIRE, EVEN THOUGH HE IS BEEN WITH ME FOR 25 YEARS, BUT HE'S GOT A FEW MORE YEARS TO GO.
UH, WE HAD THE HONOR OF, UH, HAVING THE, UH, UH, BEING SELECTED BY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO DESIGN THE NEW, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON THE NINTH AVENUE.
THE COOPERATION THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY OF STAFF, UH, CITY MANAGER AND THE ATTORNEY AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY AND EXCELLENT.
AND WE HAD A CONTRACTOR THAT HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB ON THE PROJECT.
WITH THAT, I'M GONNA LET MR. RAWS TO GO THROUGH THE PROJECT WITH YOU AND THEN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
HERE WE HAVE, UH, A PICTURE OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING BEFORE WE STARTED THE CONSTRUCTION.
HERE ARE SOME MORE EXTERIOR PICTURES.
HERE'S A PICTURE OF THE, UH, FLOOR PLAN.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, THEY HAVE VARIOUS, UH, CLINICS AND OFFICE SPACE WITHIN.
HERE'S A RENDERING OF WHAT THE EXTERIOR IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE ONCE IT'S FINISHED.
AND THEN HERE'S A, UH, A DIRECTORY SIGN.
AS YOU KNOW, IF YOU NOTICE, EACH SUITE AND CLINIC HAS A, HAS A NUMBER.
AND AT EVERY ENTRY WE'LL HAVE A NUMBER TO INDICATE TO THE, UH, THE, THE CLIENTS WHICH SUITE THEY NEED TO GO TO.
WE TRIED TO MAKE IT VERY USER FRIENDLY BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT, UH, DIFFERENT RACES AND DIFFERENT, UH, NATIONALITIES THAT MIGHT BE COMING.
SOME MIGHT NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AND SO FORTH.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET TO WHICHEVER CLINIC OR, UH, OFFICE THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE IN.
HERE'S PICTURES OF THE, UH, CURRENT CONSTRUCTION, MORE PICTURES OF THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION.
HERE'S PICTURES OF THE INTERIOR, MORE PICTURES OF THE INTERIOR.
EACH CLINIC WE, UH, DESIGNATED CERTAIN COLORS SO THAT THE CLIENTS WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT AREA THEY NEEDED TO BE IN.
PICTURES OF, UH, THE RESTROOMS, TILE, UH, CABINETRY THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.
MORE PICTURES OF THE TILE FLOOR.
AND THEN HERE'S OUR PROJECT SCHEDULE, AND I'LL LET SEENA, DR.
[01:00:02]
THANK YOU COREY.UH, DESIGNING AND, AND CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THAN PLAYING A BALL GAME.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TEAM, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A QUARTERBACK, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE, IN THE CORNER AND SIDELINES THAT WOULD HELP YOU.
AND OF COURSE, AS I SAID, THE THE CITY OF STAFF HAS BEEN GREATLY UNDERSTANDING AND HELPFUL.
THEY SHOWED UP TO THE MEETINGS AND THE ATTORNEY LOOKED AT THE CONTRACTS, AND THEN WE HAD SELECTED A CONTRACTOR TOGETHER THROUGH A BID PROCESS AND LET THE CONTRACT OUT.
THE PROJECT IS, IS ALMOST 50,000 SQUARE FEET.
THIS IS A FAIRLY LARGE, LARGE BUILDING, UH, IS DIVIDED INTO ALL THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS.
UH, FORTUNATELY I'M, I'M PROUD TO, UH, TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE PROJECT IS WITHIN THE BUDGET.
THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING IN THERE OTHER THAN SOME OF THE, UH, ISSUES THAT WE FOUND THAT WERE HIDDEN IN INSIDE THE WALLS THAT WE HAD TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THAT.
UH, OTHER THAN THAT, EVERYTHING ELSE FELL INTO, FELL INTO LINE.
AND, UH, AS I TALKED TO, UH, DR. SMITH TODAY, WE'RE READY, UH, TO START RECEIVING THEIR FURNITURE, COMING BACK TOWARDS THE END OF, UH, OR MAIL OF NOVEMBER.
AND ALL OF THAT'S GONNA BE SCHEDULED, SO THERE WON'T BE ANY DELAYS FOR THE PROJECT.
SO WITH THAT SAID, AGAIN, WE'RE PROUD THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, TO PERFORM THE PROJECT FOR YOU.
I HOPE THAT THIS WOULD BE, UH, SOMETHING THAT ALL OF THE CITIZENS THAT PORT ARTHUR WOULD ENJOY.
UH, IT IS MADE LA COREY SAID, UH, TO BE ABLE TO, TO HELP ALL OF YOUR CLIENTS.
THE, THE HALLWAYS ARE, FOR EXAMPLE, COLOR CODED.
WE DON'T HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE TO JUST GO TO THE THIRD, UH, HALLWAY AND TURN LEFT AND FIFTH HALLWAY, TURN RIGHT AND KNOCK ON THE DOOR.
WE HAVE LINES ON THE FLOOR THAT WILL GUIDE PEOPLE AND IT'S GONNA BE VERY USER FRIENDLY.
WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION ON, UH, OUR NEW HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID WAS INITIALLY THAT YOU WANTED TO BE SURE THAT IT WAS USER FRIENDLY.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT OR CONSIDERED MAKING IT BILINGUAL OR TRILINGUAL? UM, SO THAT WHEN INDIVIDUALS DRIVE UP, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY ULTIMATELY CAN TELL WHICH DOOR TO GO IN AS WELL IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE.
UH, COUNCILMAN, THAT IS A GREAT IDEA.
UH, BUT I WOULD PROMISE YOU WE'LL TAKE THAT, UH, UNDER CONSIDERATION.
AND I, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO DO IT.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND REVISE THE, THE, THE DRAWING TO SHOW A BILINGUAL IF WE CAN.
AND, UH, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
YOU, YOU OUGHT TO COME BY OFFICE AND GIVE US SUGGESTIONS MORE OFTEN.
I AM, I HAVE, I'M READY TO CONSULT.
BUT, BUT SERIOUSLY, I WOULD PERSONALLY SEE TO IT THAT WE WOULD TURN THAT INTO A BILINGUAL, UH, DIRECTORY.
HEY, I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK THAT, UH, PORT ARTHUR IS JUST NEEDED FOR THOSE TYPE OF UPGRADES IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UH, IT'S A LONG TIME COMING, BUT YOU DID, UH, SAY TWO IMPORTANT POINTS TO ME ON TIME COMPLETION DATE, AND ON TARGET BUDGET.
SO AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US, UH, TO ENSURE THAT, UH, WE MEET THOSE TWO THINGS AND, AND, AND HAVE THE CITIZENS KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME UP THINGS COMING FOR THEM.
SO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU CONSULTED WITH DR.
UH, SMID ABOUT SOME OF THOSE UPGRADES THAT WE HAVE IN THERE.
IT'S VERY NICE AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE NEW BUILDING.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES, SIR.
I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE AND, UH, APPRECIATE THE WORK Y'ALL HAVE DONE.
IT IS MOVING ALONG PRETTY GOOD, YOU KNOW, AND YOU RIGHT ON, ON SCHEDULE AND, UH, IN SPITE OF THE DELAY, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, AND, AND, AND, BUT THEN BUDGET.
AND ONE OTHER THING I WANNA REMIND YOU OF, UH, WHEN YOU INVITE COUNCILMAN, UH, FRANK, BE SURE YOU HAVE A BROWN BAG FOR HIM.
WE, WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE CONTRACTS, UH, FOR THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
WE, WE DESIGNED THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT BUILDING.
WE DESIGNED THE, UH, SABINE NATURES NAVIGATION OFFICES.
UH, WE'VE DESIGNED THE SABINE PILOTS BUILDINGS.
AND JUST LIKE THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WE HAD SOME GREAT, GREAT OWNERS.
IT'S, IT IS A PLEASURE TO STAND UP HERE AND NOT HAVE TO HEAR COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE, BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK FROM YOUR STAFF AND, AND PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING ON THOSE DRAWINGS.
UH, I WAS BRAGGING TO ONE OF THE, THE LADIES HERE, IT SAID, WHEN THEY DON'T SEE ME AT THE JOB SITE, THAT MEANS THE JOB IS GOING VERY WELL.
AND COREY AND THE REST OF THE TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB FOR US.
[01:05:01]
JUST WANNA SAY THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE AESTHETICS OF THE BUILDING.UH, IT'S IN MY DISTRICT AND I DRIVE BY IT USUALLY ONCE OR TWICE A DAY.
UH, I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE PROGRESS OF IT AND I'M REALLY ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE INSIDE.
AND IT'S REALLY A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND IT'S A GREAT ADDITION AND IMPROVEMENT TO THAT BUILDING FOR, FOR PORT ARTHUR.
THE, THE BUILDING WAS NOT THE PRETTIEST BUILDING WE EVER WORKED ON, BUT, BUT I THINK WITH WHAT, WHAT OUR, OUR, UH, ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS HAVE DONE, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE INDIVIDUAL, UH, UH, ENTRANCES, THOSE ARE GONNA BE LIT UP AT NIGHT AND THE BIG NUMBERS ARE GOING TO SHOW, I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THEM BILINGUAL.
I THINK THAT'S PRETTY, PRETTY COMMON, RIGHT? 1, 2, 3.
BUT WE'LL DO THE REST OF IT AND, AND YOU WOULD BE PLEASED TO SEE THAT BUILDING IS GONNA BE SAFE AND SECURE AND THERE IS A BIG GENERATOR THAT WE'RE GONNA PUT IN THERE.
SO SOME OF THAT BUILDING'S GONNA BE USED FOR IN, IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES.
DOESN'T IT FEEL GOOD THAT, UM, WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED WITHOUT ANY CHANGE ORDERS?
YOU, YOU KNOW, BUT ON, ON A MUCH MORE SERIOUS NOTE, YOU KNOW, UM, I'M VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO THE TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH US, PAM AND, AND DR.
TOME AND, AND, AND THE IT DEPARTMENT AND DEREK HOLLAND AND MISS JUDITH.
AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ATTENDED TO IT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU.
THOSE ARE DEDICATED CITY WORKERS, YOU KNOW, WHO CONTINUE TO GIVE THEIR ALL 110% OF THEIR ALL, YOU KNOW.
SO I'M VERY, VERY THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE SUCH A MAGNIFICENT TEAM OF CITY WORKERS TO WORK WITH.
WHO HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE WITHOUT A CHANGE ORDER.
YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD, SIR.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT, THE NUMBERS WERE NOT IN LINE, NO
TOME, UH, MET WITH US TIME, AFTER TIME, AFTER TIME, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THIS WITHIN THE BUDGET.
CONTRACTORS WAS VERY GENEROUS IN GIVING US, GIVING US BACK THE TRUE COST OF WHAT WE DELETED.
BUT WITH, WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE DELI DELETED THE PROJECT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST RESOURCEFUL THINGS THAT YOU CAN HAVE RIGHT NOW.
VERY GRATEFUL BECAUSE I CAN'T DO MAGIC ANYMORE.
AND I, I TOLD THE TEAM, SO THERE WAS NO WAY THAT I WAS GOING TO TAKE FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISHES AND MAKE A BASKET OF FOOD,
IT WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME.
SO, I MEAN, THE TEAM LISTENED AND THE TEAM ACTUALLY PUT IT TOGETHER.
THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR SEEING THE NEED, YOU KNOW, OF ALLOCATING THE RESOURCES AND, AND TAKING US FORWARD.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU GENTLEMEN, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMMENTS.
[III.E.(1) A Discussion Regarding The Status Of The Development Of A Water Park And Other Attractions At Pleasure Island (Requested By Councilmember Beckcom)]
MOVE TO NOW DISCUSSIONS.ON PAGE TWO, WE HAVE THE FIRST ITEM UNDER DISCUSSIONS.
UH, ITEM NUMBER ONE OF DISCUSSION REGARDING THE STATUS OF DEVELOPMENT OF A WATER PARK AND OTHER ATTRACTIONS THAT PLEASURE ISLAND.
AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM.
AND, UH, I BELIEVE, UH, MR. DAVIS.
OH, ACTUALLY THIS, YEAH, THIS GONNA BE THE CITY ATTORNEY.
I, I CAN BE REALLY, REALLY QUICK BECAUSE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY AND I HAD A CONVERSATION, UH, LAST WEEK, I THINK IT WAS, AND SHE CLARIFIED A LOT OF THIS FOR ME.
BUT WHAT, WHAT I REALLY WANTED FOR THE OPEN MEETING IS FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW KIND OF WHERE WE STAND WITH THE, UH, THE CONTRACT.
I KNOW THE CONTRACT'S BEEN AWARDED.
SO IF YOU'LL JUST EXPLAIN BRIEFLY, UH, WHERE WE STAND WITH THAT.
WE HAD A PROPOSAL THAT WENT OUT AND THE VENDOR WAS SELECTED, MY COMPUTER AND A VENDOR WAS SELECTED.
UM, AND, UH, AT THIS POINT, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO PAY THE FAIR MARKET VALUE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE PROPERTY.
UM, THE VENDORS, UH, THE, THE PERS THE PERSON THAT WON THE BID, THE COMPANY THAT WON THE BID, THEIR ATTORNEY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US ON, UH, TRYING TO PREPARE A THREE 80 DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
UM, AND THAT IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN, UH, IN DISCUSSIONS WITH.
UH, THEY WERE TRYING TO FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF INCENTIVES WE HAD, AND WE HAVE SENT THEM ALL OF OUR INCENTIVE DOCUMENTATION AND SIMILAR INCENTIVES.
SO, UH, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THEM TO MAKE PAYMENT AND COME INTO, UH, COME INTO COUNCIL WITH A PROPOSED DEVELOP THREE 80 DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
AND DO WE HAVE ANY TIMELINE FOR THAT? UM, I THINK WE WOULD TRY TO MOVE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE AT THIS POINT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE LAST COMMUNICATION THAT WE HAD, WE SAID WE WOULD MEET AND IRON
[01:10:01]
OUT THE THREE 80 AGREEMENT, SO THAT, THAT JUST NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND GET BACK TO COUNCIL SO THAT, UH, EVERYTHING CAN BE, UM, FINALIZED.SO SHARE COUNCIL, UM, MEMBER BECKHAM THAT, UM, THE DEVELOPER ALMO ALSO EXPRESSED INTEREST IN APPROACHING THE EDC FOR ASSISTANCE.
AND, UM, I DID EXPLAIN TO THEM OR MAKE THEM AVAIL OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE AS TO WHAT THE EDC CAN ASSIST AND CAN'T ASSIST WITH.
SO IF WE COULD DOVETAIL BOTH THE ASSISTANCE FROM THE EDC AND THE ASSISTANCE FROM THE CITY AND PRESENT IT AS A PACKAGE TO COUNCIL, I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO GO.
THAT, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S ENOUGH INFORMATION FOR YOU.
MR. COUNCILWOMAN? COUNCILMAN FRANK, YOU HAD SOMETHING? YES.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THE CONVERSATION AS WE'RE DISCUSSING IT.
FOR SO MANY YEARS, INDIVIDUALS HAVE TALKED ABOUT PLEASURE ISLAND AND WHAT THEY WANNA SEE ON PLEASURE ISLAND, AND YOU KNOW, WHAT PLEASURE ISLAND COULD, UH, COULD POTENTIALLY BE.
AND FOR SO MANY YEARS, DEVELOPERS HAVE COME, BUT WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO BRING ANY PROJECT TO, UH, FRUITION THERE.
AND I SAY, AND I'M, AND I'M SAYING TO US AS A COUNCIL, TO US AS A CITY, UH, WE'RE AT THAT PRECIPICE.
WE'RE AT THAT PLACE WHERE WE'RE RIGHT THERE, UH, BEING ABLE TO MAKE, UM, THIS HAPPEN AND OCCUR.
AND SO I WOULD SAY TO US THAT WE BE SURE THAT WE SAY TO OUR STAFF, UH, AND TO OUR CITY MANAGER, WE NEED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WE NEED TO BE INVITING, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE CITY'S INTERESTS, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, DOTTING OUR I'S AND, UH, AND CROSSING OUR T'S.
BUT LET'S, LET'S BE WELCOMING, LET'S BE OPEN, UH, TO THOSE DEVELOPERS AS THEY COME AND DO ALL THAT WE CAN, UH, TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT THIS COMES TO PASS IF IT BE GOD'S WILL.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS CITY, UH, CITY ATTORNEY.
IS THAT WETLAND STILL AN ISSUE? HAVE Y'ALL WORKED AROUND THAT? I BELIEVE THEY ARE AWARE OF ALL OF THE ISSUES, YES.
THEY, THEY'VE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THAT AND, OKAY.
WHATEVER DISCUSSION WE'RE HAVING, WE'RE TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
ANY OTHER, UH, INPUT ON THIS DISCUSSION?
[III.E.(2) A Discussion Regarding Meeting Dates For The Port Arthur Coalition For Homeless Advisory Board (Requested By Councilmember Beckcom)]
OKAY.IT IS A, UH, DISCUSSION REGARDING MEETING DATES FOR THE PORT ARTHUR COALITION FOR HOMELESS ADVISORY BOARD.
AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM.
I'LL BE REALLY QUICK WITH THIS ONE ALSO.
UH, WE DISCUSSED THIS AT THE, UH, PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING ABOUT KIND OF REVIVING THE HOMELESS COALITION AND THAT THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, ARE AWARE OF WHO THE, UH, I GUESS THE DEFACTO LEADER OF THAT BOARD IS SO THAT WE CAN SET SOME MEETINGS AND BEGIN MEETING AS REGULARLY AS WE CAN.
AND WE WILL TAKE THAT UNDER CONSIDERATION AND MOVE SWIFTLY TO, UH, ADHERE TO THAT REQUEST.
ANYTHING ELSE FROM ANYONE ELSE ON THAT? DOES THE CITY ATTORNEY HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT WHO THAT, WHO THE LIAISON IS FOR THAT BOARD? FOR OUR, UH, I'M SORRY.
LET ME PUT MY, UH, I'M, I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO BACK AND REFER YOU SAYING THE CITY'S LIAISON WITH THE, WELL, FOR THE HOMELESS COALITION, WHO'S, WHO IS THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR SCHEDULING THE MEETINGS? I DON'T.
THAT HAS, IT'S THE STAFF MEMBER FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
IF, IF I COULD GET CHRISTIE TO REACH OUT TO ME SO THAT WE CAN SCHEDULE SOMETHING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, MAYOR.
AND THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHAT I, I THOUGHT I WAS ANSWERING WHEN I SAID THAT WE WERE GOING TO TAKE WHAT YOU ASKED UNDER CONSIDERATION AND MOVE AS SWIFTLY AS POSSIBLE ON BEING SURE THAT WE WOULD REESTABLISH WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE REESTABLISHED FOR THE COALITION.
SO WE WE'RE GOING, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I KNEW WHO TO, TO GET IN TOUCH WITH.
THAT, UH, IT'S A RESOLUTION, THE PROCLAMATION FOR, BUT IT'S, IT'S A RESOLUTION.
AND, UH, WHICH, WHICH, WHICH ITEM? JUST VOTE TO MOVE IT UP IF YOU ALL YEAH.
I DIDN'T GET A NOTE ABOUT MOVING IT.
IT'S, UH, NUMBER EIGHT, I MEAN, NUMBER 17 ON PAGE EIGHT.
I WASN'T, WASN'T, I WASN'T, WE FORGOT TO MOVE YOU UP.
AND SO IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO MOVE IT UP, YOU'D JUST YEAH, WE CAN, WE CAN.
AND I'M SORRY THEY'VE BEEN SITTING HERE.
[VII.C.(17) P.R. 23408 – A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, In Which The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Joins The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe Of Texas In Support Of The Tribes Of Texas Equal Fair Opportunity Act (Requested By Mayor Bartie)]
ON MY NOTES.[01:15:01]
JUST DO THIS RIGHT HERE ON PAGE EIGHT, NUMBER 17, PR NUMBER 23 4 0 8 IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF CITY OF OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, IN WHICH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR JOINS THE ALABAMA KEDA TRIBE OF TEXAS IN SUPPORT OF THE TRIBE'S OF TEXAS EQUAL FAIR OPPORTUNITY ACT.AND IT IS A REQUEST THAT HAS BEEN MADE BY THE MAYOR.
AND IF I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 4 0 8 AS PRESENTED AND READ.
COUNCILMAN ETT? YEAH, I READ THE, UH, BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND I ALSO READ ABOUT THE TRIBE AND ALL.
I WENT TO THEIR SITE AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE'S CASINO OVER BY LEVISON.
I MET AS MANY TIMES I'D BE UP THERE AT CONROE.
I'VE BEEN GAMBLING, BUT I STILL DIDN'T GET WHY WE WHAT THIS OKAY.
MAY, MAY, MAY, MAY I ANSWER OR DID YOU WANT TO NO, I, I WAS APPROACHED BY, UH, COUNCILWOMAN.
I CAN'T, I CAN'T EVEN GET HER NAME READY 'CAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY NOTES IN FRONT OF ME AT, UH, A PREVIOUS MEETING.
AND WE HAD TALKED, EVEN WHEN I WAS AT A MEETING IN JASPER, UH, THAT, THAT DEALT WITH THE, UH, SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL PLANET AND ALL OF THE, UH, CITIES AS FAR AS I WAS CON, UH, I THINK I WAS INFORMED, HAVE CO-JOINED WITH THE TRIBE TO ACTUALLY SUPPORT THEM IN WHAT THEY ACTUALLY CALL THIS EQUAL AND FAIR OPPORTUNITY ACT.
AND, UH, I DIDN'T WANT PORT ARTHUR TO BE LEFT OUT.
AND EVERYONE ELSE WAS ACTUALLY JOINING INTO SOMETHING THAT WAS ACTUALLY BENEFICIAL TO THE TRIBE, TO THE, TO THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY WHO CALLED THAT AREA HOME AND FOLKS FROM AROUND THE STATE WHO ARE ACTUALLY JOINING IN BEING SURE THAT EVERYTHING GOES WELL WITH THEM AND GOES FAIRLY WITH THEM.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT IN.
I ACTUALLY WAS, UH, ORIGINALLY DOING IT WITH A PROCLAMATION, AND ONCE WE GOT IT DOWN AND THE, UH, LEGAL DEPARTMENT LOOKED AT IT THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE A RESOLUTION AND THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S HOW IT, I FORGOT THAT IT WAS EVEN ON IT BECAUSE, UH, MS. BELLA DIDN'T, UH,
BUT THAT, THAT'S WHY WE ARE DOING IT AT OUR REQUEST.
BUT WE GOING TO SEND, IS IT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA GO TO THE LEGISLATURE OR WHAT? THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED TO KNOW.
I THINK HE, HE COULD TELL US BETTER.
THEY COMPILE WHAT INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE TO SEE WHAT MUNICIPALITIES ARE SUPPORTING IN, IN, IN THEIR SUPPORT IN THIS.
AND THEY, THEY, AS YOU SAID, THEY'RE ONLY ONE WHO ARE NEAR TO US, THE OTHERS IN LOUIS STATE, LOUISIANA.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT NEAR US.
GO RIGHT AHEAD AND IT WILL GO TO CONGRESS.
I'M REPRESENTING THE ALABAMA KADA TRIBE OF TEXAS, WHICH IS THE LARGEST, UH, TRIBE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THE OLDEST TRIBE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN PARTNERS AND FRIENDS TO EAST TEXAS FOR MANY YEARS SINCE BACK TO DATING, BACK TO GENERAL SAM HOUSTON, WHO HELPED US GET US THAT LAND.
WHAT THIS PROPOSITION WITH THIS RESOLUTION IS, IS IN TO SUPPORT, UH, OUR NEIGHBORS AS WE'VE BEEN NEIGHBORS TO EAST TEXAS, UH, FOR MANY YEARS AS WE PART WHERE WE'RE PART OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS, WHEN THEY WENT DOWN TO SAN JACINTO AND WON, OF COURSE, THE FREEDOM FROM MEXICO, FROM THE MEXICAN ARMY.
AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN NEIGHBORS DURING THE HURRICANE A FEW YEARS AGO, HURRICANE HARVEY, UH, THE ALABAMA KHATA TRIBE CONTRIBUTED FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM THE MONIES THAT WE ARE HAVING, WHICH IS SAL CASINO HELPED WITH OUR NEIGHBORS OF CONTRIBUTING OVER $500,000 TO OUR NEIGHBORS.
AND WE'VE, UH, UH, UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S HELPED, UH, A LOT OF NEIGHBORS.
UH, THERE'S A TOWN, UH, UH, NEARBY IN TYLER COUNTY THAT, UH, RECEIVED THOSE MONIES AND IT HELPED THEIR WATER SYSTEM.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN NEIGHBORS TO, AGAIN, UH, TO HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS OUT FOR, FOR MANY YEARS.
SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO ASK AND REQUEST OUR FRIENDS AROUND OUR AREA.
WE HAVE, UH, UH, RESOLUTION FROM THE JEFFERSON COUNTY AND, UH, MATTER, AS A MATTER OF FACT, TONIGHT, UH, I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU TO SAY WE WANT YOU BE OUR 100TH SUPPORTER, OUR 100TH RESOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN SIGNED AS FAR AS GALVESTON, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE RED RIVER, TEXAS, AND OKLAHOMA, THE RED RIVER COUNTY THAT HAS SUPPORTED US.
SO WE'RE ASKING YOU AS THE, UH, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AS MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES THAT WE'VE EVEN HAD A, UH, SOME TRIBAL MEMBERS THAT LIVED HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT, UH, PORT ARTHUR, THAT HAS ALSO WORKED,
[01:20:01]
UH, IN THE MUSEUM AS WELL.SO, WE'RE HERE THEN ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON HR 28 73, WHICH WAS, UH, FOUNDED BY, UM, UM, CONGRESSMAN MORGAN LATRELL.
MORGAN LATRELL TELLS US IN WASHINGTON DC WITH THIS SUPPORT AND THE MANY SUPPORT FROM EAST TEXAS AND ALL OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS, THAT ALL THE FOLKS THERE IN DC ARE LISTENING AND KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT.
THE ALABAMA K TRIBE, TEXAS HAS THE MANY GREAT SUPPORT FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS THAT WE CALLED, UH, FOR, FOR MANY YEARS SINCE THE EARLY, UH, 18 HUNDREDS, LATE 17 HUNDREDS.
SO WE WOULD LIKE FOR PORT ALTAR TO BE THE 100TH RESOLUTION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, READINESS ON THIS? THANK YOU.
SO CAN WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT.
SO ALL YOUR RESOLUTION HAS BEEN, ACTUALLY, I'M, WE UNDER OUR LANGUAGE, WE, AND WE'LL ASSIGN IT ON TOMORROW SURE.
AND, AND, AND YOU ALL GET SURE.
CAN WE TAKE A, A PHOTO? YES, SURE.
YOU WANT, Y'ALL WANT TO COME AND STAND HERE? AND WE CAN ALL STAND UP HERE AND, OH, SHE HAS IT NOW BACK.
NO, NO, I WAS JUST, OH, Y'ALL STAND RIGHT HERE.
AND THE OTHERS, THE OTHERS WANT TO COME TOO.
[III.E.(3) A Discussion Regarding City Manager And Staff Responsiveness To Councilmember Inquiries/Requests (Requested By Councilmember Kinlaw)]
THANK, THANK YOU.THE, UH, THE THIRD ITEM WE HAVE, OR FOR DISCUSSION IS, UH, DISCUSSION REGARDING CITY MANAGER STAFF RESPONSIVENESS TO COUNCIL MEMBER INQUIRIES AND REQUESTS.
AND THIS IS BEING PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW.
UH, JUST, JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST FOR THE OPEN AND TRANSPARENCY, UH, THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION IS DONE BY THE CITY MANAGER, UH, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE ARE ELECTED BY THE VOTERS AND THE COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, WHEN WE REQUIRE INFORMATION OR WE HAVE SOME HICCUPS THAT GOES ON IN THE CITY'S EXPECTED SOMETIMES, BUT WHEN THOSE THINGS ARE NOT EXPECTED, WE NEED TO GET INFORMATION IN A TIMELY MANNER.
SO I BOUGHT THIS AND I WANTED TO DISCUSS THIS WITH MY COHORTS, ALONG WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO FIND OUT WHAT WILL BE THE BEST, UH, RESOLUTION TO GETTING INFORMATION.
BECAUSE WHEN I, WE ALL GET THESE PHONE CALLS, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE RESPOND BACK TO OUR, OUR DISTRICTS, UH, AND CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IN A TIMELY MANNER.
SO I WANT TO GET FROM THIS INFORMATION FROM THE CITY MANAGER ALONG WITH INPUT FROM, UH, MY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, ABOUT HOW TO GO ABOUT DOING THAT, UH, AND BE LEGALLY, UM, UH, IN LANE OF WHAT OUR DUTIES ARE.
I DID CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT SOME OF THE, UH, WAYS TO DO THIS.
SO SHE SUGGESTED I WOULD PUT IT IN AND PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION.
SO, CITY MANAGER, IF YOU CAN GIMME A CLEAR, DECISIVE, UH, INQUIRY, UH, NOTICE ON HOW WOULD YOU WANT A RESPONSE BACK AND TO SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS
[01:25:01]
THAT WE HAVE AS CITIZENS OUT THERE, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DRIVE THE SHIP IN THE SAME DIRECTION.ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, UH, FROM COUNCIL? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL? WELL, I, I NEED TO ANSWER OPENLY, THAT'S WHY.
NO, I WAS JUST TRYING TO SEE IF I HAD ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.
SO, WHEN, WHEN HE, WHEN HE WOULD SPEAK, HE WOULD ANSWER EVERY, EVERY, EVERY, EVERY WORD REQUEST.
SO USUALLY WHEN I GET INVOLVED WITH THE CITY MANAGER, UH, SOMETIME I WOULD, UH, GO DOWN AND TALK TO THE STAFF, GET THE, I WOULD ORIENTATE THE STAFF FIRST, AND THEN I WOULD TELL THEM, WHATEVER YOU DO, WHATEVER RESEARCH YOU DO, IMMEDIATELY, YOU RELEASE IT THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER.
MEANWHILE, I WOULD ALSO GO TO THE CITY MANAGER AND TELL THEM WHAT I, WHAT I'VE DONE.
BUT AT NO POINT IN TIME, I WANT, I WANT THE STAFF TO EVER BYPASS THE CITY MANAGER BECAUSE HE, HE NEEDS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON.
SO I KEEP THE STAFF INVOLVED NOT TO RELEASE ANYTHING AND TO RELEASE IT THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER.
AND, YOU KNOW, I REALLY HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST, I GOT JUST ONE LITTLE ITEM AND HE KNOWS WHAT IT IS.
WELL, AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, BUT YOU KNOW, AS A COHORT, AS A COLLECTIVE COUNCIL, OUR JOB IS TO, UH, ENSURE THAT WE ALL GET THE SAME INFORMATION.
I'M TOTALLY IN AGREEANCE WITH YOU, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL TRANSPARENT TO THE VOTERS OUT THERE.
UH, THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION IS, UH, CONDUCTED BY THE CITY MANAGERS.
SO, SO WHEN THOSE COMPLAINTS COME TO US AS INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND WE HAVE TO, AND WHAT I DO, I'M JUST GONNA SPEAK WHAT I DO.
UH, I MAKE SURE THAT I GO OUT AND I CONTACT CITIZENS BASED UPON THEIR INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS.
SO I PUT THIS ON THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE I WANT A CLEAR, DECISIVE ANSWER FROM THE CITY MANAGER ON HOW WOULD HE WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.
UH, IF I SEND EMAILS, IF I CALL, OR IF I GET COMPLAINTS FROM CITIZENS, AND I FORWARD THOSE, UH, COMPLAINTS AND, AND INQUIRIES, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FOR RECORD HOW WE GET THIS INFORMATION BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND SO THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN GET THAT BACK TO THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? COUNCILMAN DEUCE? WELL, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD, UH, TOPIC THAT WE HAVE THERE THAT COUNCILMAN KINLOCK PUT ON.
AND I THINK IT'S, UH, WHAT WE ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND.
AND IT'S GOOD THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO DISCUSS IT AND, UH, COME TO AN AGREEMENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, UH, WE HAVE FOUR DIS DISTRICT COUNCILMEN AND, AND WE ALL GET COMMENTS.
THEN WE HAVE A LARGE COUNCILMAN.
WE GOT THE MAYOR, YOU ALL GET CALLS, AND THEN WE HAVE THE CITY MANAGER GET CALLS.
BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF, THEY HAVE TO PERFORM THE DUTIES AND THEY HAVE THEIR SCHEDULES MADE OUT.
SO SOMETIME WE MAY CALL AND WANT SOMETHING DONE BECAUSE THE CONSTITUENT CALL US, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO TAKE IN CONSIDERATION PRIORITIES AND, UH, WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.
AND, UH, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE WAY WE SHOULD WORK, AND THAT'S THE WAY I'VE ALWAYS WORKED, AND, UH, STAFF RARELY EVER SEE ME CALL THEIR OFFICE AND TALK TO THEM.
I, I NORMALLY TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER CONTROLS THEM.
AND WHEN THEY, UH, HAVE CERTAIN THINGS TO RESPOND TO HIM, THEN HE'S GOTTA GET BACK TO ME.
AND NORMALLY I'LL KNOW THE LENGTH OF TIME AND HE ALSO KNOWS THE LENGTH OF TIME.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY KNOWING WHO WE CONTACT, LIKE YOU SAYING, SO THAT WE ALL BE ON THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC AND THAT WE ALL WORK THE SAME WAY AND WE LET THE MANAGER RUN THE CITY.
SO IF WE GO THROUGH THE MANAGER, THEN WE COULD HOLD A MANAGER ACCOUNTABLE.
'CAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY PERSON WE REALLY COULD HOLD ACCOUNTABLE, ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME.
THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T RESPOND TO US AND THEY DON'T WORK FOR US.
AND NOT, NOT ONLY, BUT THE CHARTER SAYS WE DO NOT DIRECT THEM.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD DIRECT OUR INQUIRIES AND, AND THINGS TO THE MANAGER AND THAT FOR THE MANAGER TO KNOW WHAT'S COMING IN.
HE COULD GET WITH THE STAFF, THEN GIVE US FEEDBACK.
AND THAT WAY, UH, WE WON'T INTERFERE WITH WHAT THEY ALREADY DOING, OR THE PRIORITY WILL BE IN THE ORDER THAT IS RECEIVED.
BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME WE ALL CALL HIM FOR THE SAME THING.
JUST DIFF DISTRICT, DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
SO I THINK IT'S, I, I THINK IT'S GOOD.
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO ESTABLISH THAT.
SO I, I'LL BE, UH, OPEN TO FINDING OUT HOW WE GONNA DO IT.
AND, AND I DON'T HAVE WAY I, THAT IS JUST MY INPUT AND THAT'S THE WAY I DO IT, BUT WE NEED TO BE ON ONE PAGE.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM, FROM FROM COUNCIL? OKAY.
[01:30:01]
MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE, UH, REMARKS FOR THIS? ABSOLUTELY.COUNCILOR KENDO, UM, COUNSELOR BILL LEWIS AND, UM, COUNSELOR ETT.
UM, WE DO, I, I DO HAVE IN PLACE A WELL-OILED MACHINE AS FAR AS A RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE CONCERNED.
UM, WHETHER WE COMMUNICATE BY EMAIL OR BY TEXT MESSAGES, MY FIRST AND FOREMOST PRIORITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT I GET IN CONTACT WITH THE PERSONS WHO ARE DIRECTLY PERFORMING OR UNDERTAKING THE DUTIES AS IT'S CONCERNED TO GET A, UM, UPTODATE TIME AND CONDITION ANALYSIS AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND, IF IT'S A MATTER THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE GROUND, AND, UM, PROVIDE YOU WITH UPTODATE INFORMATION ON, ON THAT.
SOMETIMES IT MAY TAKE A FEW HOURS, SOMETIMES IT MAY JUST REQUIRE A PHONE CALL FROM ME, OR SOMETIMES IT MAY REQUIRE SOME SORT OF RESEARCH IF IT HAS TO DO WITH A PROJECT OR A PROGRAM OR ANY OTHER THING OF THAT NATURE.
AND STAFF MEMBERS ARE GENERALLY, GENERALLY 99.999%, YOU KNOW, VERY, VERY RESPONSIVE.
AND, UM, PROVIDE SOME SORT OF DETAILED INFORMATION, UM, IN, IN, IN RESPOND TO THE REQUEST THAT COMES FROM, FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT, TO MAKE SURE THAT I PROVIDE COUNCIL WITH THE INFORMATION IN A VERY TIMELY AND IN A VERY RELEVANT MATTER AS THEY COME, UM, UM, UP FOR, FOR, UM, FOR CONCERN THAT HAS BEEN EXPRESSED.
UM, THOSE NORMALLY GO THROUGH MY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY.
SO IF YOU SEE, YOU SEND AN EMAIL TO ME AND, UM, YOU ALMOST GET AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO, UM, BEFORE THE DAY'S UP, YOU KNOW, I MAKE SURE THAT I, I WORK WITH, UM, THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND WITH THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY TO MAKE SURE THAT A RESPONSE FROM ANY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HAS COME IN, GOES OUT.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE CHECKING ON THE MATTER.
AND IT'LL BE, YOU'LL BE COMMUNICATED WITH, IF YOU SEE THAT YOU ARE BEING COMMUNICATED WITH INDIVIDUALLY IN AN EMAIL, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL SEES IT.
BECAUSE AGAIN, MY POLICY IS EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER WILL BE COPIED.
BUT I, I CONSULT VERY CLOSELY WITH THE, WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY SO THAT MAKE SURE WE DO NOT HAVE A WALK IN QUO ROOM
SO IF YOU SEND OUT AN EMAIL OR A TEXT MESSAGE, AND IT'S ONLY SENT TO TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS, I MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ONLY BEEN SENT TO THESE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT IT'S BEEN CARBON COPIED TO ALL THE ENTIRE COUNCIL INVOLVED.
SO THOSE ARE BEING DONE IN A VERY EXPEDITION AND IN A EXPEDITIOUS AND IN, IN A VERY TIMELY AND RELEVANT MATTER.
UM, UM, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN THOSE COME, COME UP, IF IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, IT MEANS THAT THERE'S ADDITIONAL RESEARCH THAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE CORRECT INFORMATION.
BUT WE DO TAKE THOSE VERY SERIOUSLY.
IT'S ALL PART OF THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IF YOU HAVE SOME CONCERN, THE CONSTITUENTS ARE WAITING FOR RESPONSE FROM YOU.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CONSTITUENTS ARE BEING, WHATEVER CONCERNS THE CONSTITUENTS ARE, THEY'RE BEING ADDRESSED IN A VERY TIMELY AND RELEVANT MANNER.
UM, I WILL CONTINUE TO ENDEAVOR TO IMPROVE ON THAT.
IF THERE IS NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT, WE WILL LOOK AT IT AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER MEASURES ARE REQUIRED, WE WILL INSTITUTE THOSE AND WE WILL GET YOU THE RESPONSES THAT YOU WILL GET.
OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR JOB IS MUCH EASIER OUT THERE AS YOU CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
UH, NOW WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS, COUNCILMAN KINLOCK SINCE YOU, YOU, YOU, UH, ACTUALLY BROUGHT THIS IN, UH, TO LIGHT ON THIS.
AND I WAS LISTENING TO THE REMARKS THAT THE CITY MANAGER WAS MAKING AND MAYBE THAT WE CAN HAVE, UH, AN ESTABLISHED A FLOW, IF YOU WILL, ON THE PROTOCOL THAT'S GOING TO BE, UH, ACTUALLY PUT IN, IN PLACE FOR THIS NOW CITY MANAGER.
AND CORRECT ME IF I'M, IF I'M, I'M, IF I'M, IF I'M WRONG, YOU SAID ONCE YOU WOULD RECEIVE A COMMUNICATION FROM ANY ONE OF US, THE FIRST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS GET A DIRECT ANALYSIS ANALYSIS OF THE REQUESTED INFORMATION.
SO YOU ARE GOING TO, THAT, THAT MAY HOPEFULLY IT, IT'S, IT CAN BE DONE EXPEDITIOUSLY, BUT IF IT TAKES TIME OR WHATEVER YOU ARE GOING, AND THAT WOULD MEAN GOING TO YOUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENT HEADS OR YOUR EXECUTIVE SECRETARY GOING TO THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENT HEADS.
AND I SWEAR AND GATHERING THAT.
NOW, THE NEXT THING I GATHERED WAS THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY IS THE FIRST LINE OF COMMUNICATION WHEN DEALING WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
SO IF, IF WE SEND AN EMAIL TO YOU OR A PHONE REQUEST TO
[01:35:01]
YOU, YOU IN TURN DEAL WITH YOUR EXECUTIVE SECRETARY WHO ACTUALLY, I GUESS, CONTACTS YOUR DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR YOU.I MEAN, NO, IT GOES PROTOCOLS.
ANY, ANY EMAIL THAT COMES TO ME GOES FIRST TO MY, I'VE SET IT UP IN THAT WAY BECAUSE I GET 200 EMAILS A DAY, MAY I WANT TO SEE THROUGH THE, THE ONES THAT ARE MUCH MORE URGENT.
YOU KNOW, FROM FROM THE COUNCIL, SHE'S GOING.
SHE'S GONNA PRIORITIZE AND DO THAT.
I JUST WANNA BE SURE I WROTE THIS, I WROTE THESE PROCEDURES DOWN CORRECTLY.
'CAUSE WHAT I'M GONNA DO, I'M GONNA HOLD YOUR FOOT TO THE FIRE
SO WHEN THEY, WHEN IT'S BROUGHT TO ME BY MY COLLEAGUES AT THE MAYOR, MAYOR, CITY, CITY MANAGER DIDN'T DO THIS, I CAN REFER BACK TO THIS.
AND THE NEXT THING IS, AN ANSWER WOULD BE COPIED TO ALL COUNCIL PERSONS NO MATTER WHAT.
THAT WHOEVER MADE THE ORIGINAL REQUEST.
THE ANSWER IS GOING TO BE CAP IT TO EACH, UH, COUNCIL PERSON SO THAT EVERYONE WOULD HAVE THEM.
EVERY ANSWER THAT I PROVIDE TO ONE COUNCIL MEMBER, I, IT'S, I ALWAYS DO PROVIDE IT TO EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND, AND EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER, THE REMAINDER OF IT.
AND, AND THE REASON WHY I THINK THAT THIS IN THIS PHONE IS RECORDING EVERYTHING I'M SAYING, OKAY.
WHY? IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST JUMPING.
IT'S JUST JUMPING AND GOING ALL, ALL ACROSS HERE, OR GOING TO ONE OF MY COUSINS.
BUT WHAT WHAT IS ACTUALLY OCCURRING HERE IS WE ARE ESTABLISHING SOME PROTOCOLS.
IF THEY WEREN'T CLEAR PRIOR TO THE DATE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE CLEAR FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, AND EVERYONE WILL KNOW EXACTLY HOW THE RESPONSE IS SUPPOSED TO COME.
AND THE ONLY THING I WOULD WANT EACH OF US, AND WE EVEN HAVE COUNCILWOMAN, UH, HAMILTON, UH, UH,
IF, IF, AND IF IT'S WORKING CORRECTLY AND PROPERLY.
SHE, SHE'S BEING APPRISED OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW AS WELL, THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE FROM OUR, UH, CITY MANAGER WHENEVER REQUEST IS MADE SOME SEMBLANCE OF WHAT I WENT OVER HERE.
AND THIS IS PER YOUR ANSWER, CITY MANAGER.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP AND EXPECT THIS.
AND MAYOR, IN THE FULL INTEREST OF DISCLOSURE, THERE ARE ONLY TWO, UM, ITEMS OR SUBJECTS THAT IS NOT OPEN TO MY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, AND THAT IS MY COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND PERSONNEL MATTERS.
UM, BUT ANY OTHER EMAIL WITH THE TWO OR 300 EMAILS I RECEIVE ON A DAILY BASIS, INCLUDING COUNCIL, COUNCIL IS MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
INFORM YOU ALL AT ALL TIMES WITHIN 24 HOURS, YOU KNOW, ANY REQUEST THAT I GET FROM YOU, I GIVE A DIRECTIVE TO MY STAFF FOR MY, UM, SECRETARY, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT I RESPOND TO YOU.
COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? NO, UH, UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE GONNA EX UH, ESTABLISH A PROTOCOL.
I, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT, UH, OUR OBLIGATION, LIKE I SAID BEFORE IN THIS CONVERSATION, THIS DISCUSSION THAT WE ARE OBLIGATED TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITIZENS TO GET THAT INFORMATION BACK.
SO IF WE CAN DO THAT, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET BACK WITH THEM IN A, A TIMELY MANNER.
AND, UH, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT, UH, SHARE WITH THE COHORTS AND, UH, ALONG WITH THE LEGAL SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR DOING, BRINGING THIS, UH, CHUCK TO OUR ATTENTION SO WE COULD ADDRESS IT IN A MOST INTELLIGENT MANNER.
WHAT WORKS FOR ME IS, LIKE I STATED EARLIER, I NEVER BYPASS THE CITY MANAGER.
WHAT WORKS FOR ME, AND IT ALWAYS HAS WORKED AND IT EXPEDITE EVERYTHING.
I CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT HEAD, THE STAFF, TELL THEM TO PULL THE INFORMATION, PULL THE INFORMATION TOGETHER AND RELEASE IT THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER.
NOW, I KNOW THE CITY MANAGER DESK AND HIS PHONE AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS LIKE HIGHWAY SEVEN, INTERSTATE 10.
SO I, I SPEED IT UP, SORT IT OUT, HELP HIM OUT.
I CONTACT THE STAFF, PUT IT TOGETHER, WHATEVER I WANT, PUT IT TOGETHER, RELEASE IT THROUGH THE CITY MINUTES.
AND WELL NORMALLY DON'T GET A, I WOULDN'T GET A RESPONSE.
I, I'VE BEEN DOING IT THAT WAY BECAUSE I GOT TIRED OF WAITING THREE AND FOUR, NOT ON THIS CITY MANAGER, THREE AND FOUR DAYS A WEEK.
UH, AND, BUT I, I WOULD WANT EACH OF US TO KEEP IN MIND WHAT, UM, COUNCILMAN DE SAID, DID ALLUDE TO, YOU KNOW, IT, IT IS, UH, AS PER THE CHARTER, AND I WOULD'VE TO SPEAK WITH THE ATTORNEY TO GET WHAT THAT ARTICLE IS IN THE CHARTER, BUT IT, IT SORT OF PROHIBITS US FROM GOING DIRECTLY.
AND I'M SAYING US COUNCIL PERSONS
[01:40:01]
GOING TO DIRECTLY TO DEPARTMENT HEADS OR EMPLOYEES WITH OUR CONCERNS.SO I WANT US TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, AND, AND WE WOULD GOVERN OURSELVES ACCORDING TO THAT.
EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, IT'S NOT, I'M SORRY.
I KNOW YOU CAN'T SEE THIS, BUT MAYOR PRO TEM WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT FROM ZOOM, PLEASE.
YOU, I COULD NEVER PLEASE LINDSEY COULD UNMUTE.
UH, MAYOR PRO TEMP, CAN YOU HEAR US? YES, SIR.
AT SOME POINT IN TIME WHEN IT COMES TO OUR COMMUNICATIONS TO HELP STREAMLINE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
I KNOW IT CAN HAPPEN NOW, BUT AT SOME POINT I WOULD DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY LIKE TO SEE US GO TO A PLATFORM SUCH AS BLACKBOARD.
THAT WAY ALL COMMUNICATIONS ARE IN ONE SPOT.
EVERYONE CAN SEE WHO HAS MADE A COMMENT, WHO HAS, UM, SENDS A MESSAGE.
AND IT DECREASES THE, THE NEED FOR CITY MANAGER TO HAVE TO, OR ANY OF OUR STAFF TO HAVE TO GO TO CONFIRM THEY HAVE BCC, ALL OF US.
UM, WE DON'T WANNA BE NON-COMPLIANT.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL EMAILS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED THAT HAVE MADE US NON-COMPLIANT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT IN LINE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, JUST BY ALL OF US BEING ON ONE EMAIL STREAM.
I KNOW A COUPLE OF CITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE IS A CITY OF AUSTIN THAT HAS MOVED TO THAT TYPE OF MESSAGING SYSTEM JUST TO PREVENT BEING NONCOMPLIANT WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
BUT AGAIN, IT HELPS US TO STREAMLINE OUR COMMUNICATION PROCESS.
IT HAS US TO BE OPEN, UM, OPEN-ENDED, AND ONLY CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE DEEM NECESSARY CAN ACTUALLY FROM BLACKBOARD EVEN BE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC.
SO JUST PLEASE, LET'S TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AT SOME POINT IN TIME WITH UPDATING THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER, USING TECHNOLOGY TO THE, TO OUR BEST ABILITY AND STREAMLINING IT INTO ONE PLATFORM.
AND CITY MANAGER WITH THAT, UH, COMMENT FROM, UH, MAYOR
I CAN CELEBRATE AN ATTORNEY LOOKING.
WE DANCING CLOSE TO THE, I DON'T THINK YOU, CAN WE DANCING CLOSE TO THE LINE? YEAH.
YOU DON'T WANNA VIOLATE THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, BUT WE'LL, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANNA SEND OUT COMMUNICATIONS WITH JUST THE COUNCIL AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT I'M, I I, I'LL TRY TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT MAYOR PRO TEM IS TALKING ABOUT AND MAKE SURE WE ADVISE YOU ALL NOT TO, TO DO ANYTHING THAT CROSSES THE LINE.
OKAY? WE, NOT OVER THE LINE, BUT WE CLOSE TO THE LINE.
SO I'LL DO SOME STUDYING ON THAT TOO.
BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS DISSEMINATE INFORMATION, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING NECESSARY.
DELIBERATION OR, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL STUDY THAT AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PROPER, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS GOOD WHAT YOU SAID.
WE JUST MAKE SURE WE DON'T, OKAY, I'M GONNA DO IT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE TECHNOLOGY WHEREVER THERE IS THE NEED FOR PUTTING OUT INFORMATION THAT AFFECTS THE GENERAL PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, IN A VERY EFFICIENT MANNER.
AND I THINK THAT WILL ADDRESS A LOT OF WHAT ONE MAY CONSIDER TO BE, NOT MUNDANE, BUT IMPORTANT ISSUES TO CITIZENS AS WELL.
BECAUSE PART OF IT IS GETTING THE INFORMATION TO THE CITIZEN THAT MOST, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS CALL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE TRASH PICKUP, YOU KNOW, UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING ON 75TH STREET, THE PORTHOLES, YOU KNOW, THESE SORTS OF THINGS.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE NEED TO CONTINUE AND WE WILL DO THAT.
I, I, I'M FINDING IT KIND OF AMUSING AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT AND IMPERATIVE THAT WE DO SHARE AND DO GET INFORMATION, BUT I FOUND IT AMUSING 'CAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND KEEP EVERYBODY IN THE LOOP.
AND I SAW A COMMENT WHERE SOMEBODY WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT GETTING TOO MUCH INFORMATION FROM STAN.
UH, THEY WERE, THEY WERE, THEY WERE COMPLAINING THAT STAN WAS KEEP, YOU KNOW, STAN WAS KEEPING HIM UP AND ALL THE ANNOUNCEMENTS WERE COMING UP ABOUT THE FOG AND, AND EVERYTHING.
SO THEY WANT, PEOPLE WANT INFORMATION, BUT WHEN YOU SEND THEM INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT CREATES ANOTHER ISSUE WITH EVERYTHING GOING OFF.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE GOTTA TRY TO FIND THAT, UM, THAT, THAT BALANCE AND THAT MEDIUM.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS? THE CHARTER, WHAT'S IN THE CHARTER GIVES US
[01:45:01]
A VEHICLE TO HOLD THE CITY MANAGER ACCOUNTABLE.THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS FOR, OKAY.
NOW, WHEN I'M, I REVERSES THE ORDER, NO ONE KNOWS WHAT I'M DOING.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING OR HOW I'M DOING.
LISTEN, I TELL YOU, YOU ALL DIDN'T KNOW HOW I WAS DOING IT.
I JUST TOLD YOU I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS.
I REVERSED ALL AND EXPEDITE EVERYTHING.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NO, MAYOR.
[V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
HEARINGS.UH, ARE THERE ANY REPORTS OF INTEREST? UH, ROMAN NUMER FIVE ON PAGE FOUR, ANY REPORTS OF INTEREST, UH, FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCILWOMAN BECKER? YES, I HAVE ONE.
JUST QUICKLY ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE, UH, I AM ON THE FACULTY AT LAMAR STATE COLLEGE OF PORT ARTHUR.
BETTY RENARD SENT ME AN INVITATION TO A GROUNDBREAKING THAT THEY'RE HAVING, UH, AT THE NEW ALLIED HEALTH AND SCIENCES BUILDING.
THIS WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER THE SIXTH, 2023 FROM FOUR TO 5:00 PM AT 1735 PROCTOR STREET.
AND SHE, SHE SENT ME AN EMAIL, UH, ABOUT TWO OR THREE DAYS AGO ABOUT IT, BUT I, I WAS INFORMED ABOUT, BUT I'M GLAD YOU OKAY.
REMINDED ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T WRITE IT DOWN.
AND I'LL SEND THIS OUT TO, UH, THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE SO THAT THEY CAN DISSEMINATE IT TO EVERYBODY.
OR IF YOU WOULD SEND IT TO CHRISTIE.
SEND IT TO, SEND IT TO CHRISTIE.
UH, AND, AND, AND SHE'LL BE SURE TO GET IT TO EACH OF US.
UH, SHE DID SEND, SEND THAT AND ASK THAT REQUESTED AND WE'LL BE THERE.
ANY OTHER, UH, INFORMATION ON, UH, COMMUNITY INTERESTS? OKAY.
AND THERE ISN'T ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]
WE'LL MOVE SWIFTLY NOW TO, UH, PAGE FIVE, WHICH WOULD BE THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA.AND ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THESE ARE ITEMS THAT BASICALLY ARE MAYBE A ROUTINE IN NATURE AND, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE.
AND THE COUNCIL'S BEEN FURNISHED INFORMATION ON THESE ITEMS. AND IF THERE'LL BE ANY ITEMS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WOULD WANT, UH, WITHHELD AND HANDLED INDIVIDUALLY, PLEASE TELL ME THE PAGE AND THE ITEM NUMBER.
UH, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? UH, YES, MAYOR.
EIGHT AND 13, YOU SAID? YES, SIR.
OH, YOU ALREADY, YOU GIVE IT TO ME, BUT YOU GONNA DO THAT WHEN WE GET TO IT, OKAY? YOU WANT? NO, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT LIKE YOU SAID.
UH, COUNCILMAN BECKER? UH, I HAVE ON PAGE FIVE ITEM A, ONE PAGE FIVE ITEM A ONE.
UH, ON PAGE SEVEN, ITEM SEVEN, JUST A MINUTE.
AND ON PAGE EIGHT, NUMBER 15, PAGE EIGHT 16.
UH, ANY OTHERS? ANY OTHERS? AND IF THERE AREN'T ANY, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE WITHDRAWN ITEMS THAT HAVE JUST STATED? UH, COUNCILMAN D UH, ETT SO MOVED.
SECOND, COUNCILMAN LEWIS IS MOVED.
AND SECOND, THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ITEM THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO BE WITHDRAWN.
ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION? ARE WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES AYES? SO IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE ITEMS THAT WE WILL
[VII.A.(A1) Councilmember Doneane Beckcom: Newly Elected Officials Orientation San Antonio, TX August 16-19, 2023 $1,564.81]
NOW HANDLE INDIVIDUALLY.FIRST ITEM BEING ON PAGE FIVE.
ITEM A ONE IS A REQUEST FOR PRE-APPROVAL OF TRAVEL PURSUANT TO 78 DASH 2 69 B SUBSECTION EIGHT OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF ORDINANCE, UH, NUMBER 18, EXCUSE ME, DASH 63.
AND WE HAVE ITEM A ONE IS MAYOR THURMAN CE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES IN LC CITY SUMMIT, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, NOVEMBER 14TH THROUGH 19TH 2023 IN THE MONETARY AMOUNT OF 3,607 2050 8 CENTS.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KINLOCK? SO, MOVE MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN? UH, FRANK SECOND IS REMOVED.
AND SECOND, THEY WOULD ACCEPT ITEM A ONE THAT'S READY TO BE READY FOR QUESTION.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN BECKER? YES, SIR.
MAYOR, I'D LIKE A CLARIFICATION
[01:50:01]
ON THE TRAVEL DATES.UH, THIS STATES THAT YOUR TRAVEL DATES ARE FROM NOVEMBER 14TH THROUGH THE 19TH.
AND WHEN I CHECKED THE WEBSITE FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
UH, THE ACTUAL DATES OF THE CONFERENCE ARE NOVEMBER 16TH THROUGH THE 18TH.
UH, AND, AND I GUESS I, I CAN ANSWER, I WOULD'VE TO ANSWER THAT, BUT NO ONE ELSE THERE.
THE TRAVEL DATE FOR THE 14TH, BECAUSE I, I REQUESTED IN THIS AMOUNT TO ATTEND, UH, NL NLC, I THINK THAT'S THE PROPER NAME FOR IT.
AND THOSE, THOSE, THOSE MEETINGS START ON THE MORNING OR THE EVENING OF THE 14TH? THE MORNING OF THE 15TH.
AND THE ACTUAL CONFERENCE BEGINS THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHICH IS THE 16TH.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALRIGHT.
ANY OTHER UNREADINESS ON IT? COUNCILMAN
THE ADDITIONAL SESSIONS, THERE'S FOUR SESSIONS.
EACH SESSION IS A HOUR AND 15 MINUTES IN EACH SESSION COSTS A HUNDRED, $185 A SESSION.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING TO THE CONFERENCE AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS.
AND AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE TO JUST UNDERSTAND THE COSTS THAT INVOLVED AND WHEN WE GONNA DO IT, TRY TO DO IT AT THE LEAST COST TO THE CITIZENS AND STUFF.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY HERE ABOUT CITIZENS TALKING ABOUT US TRAVELING, AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO THE SAME, I'M GOING TO THE SAME CONFERENCE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO THESE ADDITIONAL SESSIONS.
I MEAN, AS FAR AS THAT'S MY OPINION.
WE DON'T NEED TO GO TO ADDITIONAL SESSION.
IF WE'RE GONNA ASK CITIZENS TO ALLOW US TO ATTEND CONFERENCES SO THAT WE COULD BETTER REPRESENT AND DO OUR JOBS AND LEARN AND NETWORK, THEN WE NEED TO GO TO THE CONFERENCE.
UH, WE PAY A, UH, A REGISTRATION FEE.
SO WHATEVER IS ENCOMPASSED IN THE REGISTRATION FEE, THAT IS WHAT WE GO TO HAVE.
THAT'S WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE GO AND DO.
THESE OTHER THINGS ARE LIKE HONS, YOU COULD GO TO THESE SPECIAL SESSIONS, THEN YOU COULD GO TO THIS, UH, MEAL.
'CAUSE YOU GOTTA HAVE A TICKET FOR THIS, A TICKET FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW, THESE, UH, CONFERENCE COULD RUN A WHOLE, THEY COULD RUN UP A HIGH COST IF YOU WANT TO GO AND PARTICIPATE IN EVERYTHING.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO STAY, WE'RE GONNA GO TO CONFERENCE.
LET'S GO TO THE CONFERENCE, UNLESS DO WHATEVER WE IS INCLUDED IN OUR REGISTRATION FOR YOU NOW.
UM, I, I APPRECIATE EVERY POSITION THAT EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER MAKES, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO MAKE MY POSITION KNOWN AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, UM, WE WENT TO A CONFERENCE HERE ON LAST WEEK, AND NOT ALL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MONEY THAT IS BUDGETED FOR OUR CONFERENCES FOR US TO GO.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT CERTAIN AMOUNT, NOT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS GO, BUT THAT MONEY HAS BEEN ALLOTTED FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GO, UH, AND TO LEARN, TO NETWORK, TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS AT THESE, THESE CONFERENCES.
AND SO, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE A MINDSET AND A MENTALITY THAT SAYS, UH, THAT THESE CONFERENCES ARE, ARE IMPORTANT, THAT, THAT WE, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION, YOU GO SO YOU CAN GROW.
AND, UH, I, I WAS, I WAS, UH, REALLY, UH, HELPED BY WHAT, UM, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UM, UH, UH, HAMILTON, UH, SAID EVER FEEL SAID AS WELL BECAUSE SHE LEARNED THAT AT A CONFERENCE.
SHE, YOU KNOW, THOSE, THAT INFORMATION, THAT'S THE KIND OF INFORMATION THAT YOU PICK UP AT A CONFERENCE THAT, THAT YOU CAN BRING BACK.
AND WE ARE WE REALLY TALKING ABOUT, AND I, YOU KNOW, I JUST REALLY AM WILL BE BE SO GRATEFUL WHEN WE GET TO A POINT AND A PLACE WHERE WE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, ABLE TO SEE THE VALUE.
SOMEBODY'S GONNA BE AT THAT CONFERENCE, SOMEBODY'S GONNA BE AT THAT CONFERENCE.
UM, SOMEBODY'S GONNA BE ALLOWED TO RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION.
WHY ISN'T IT IMPORTANT FOR PORT ARTHUR? WHY ISN'T IT IMPORTANT? WHY ISN'T IT IMPORTANT FOR OUR COUNCIL? WHY ISN'T IT, ISN'T IT IMPORTANT THAT WE RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION AND WE, UH, HAVE ACCESS TO IT AS WELL? SO, UH, I DON'T WANT US EVER TO MINIMIZE, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO US.
[01:55:01]
THAT'S MY POSITION.SO, UM, THAT'S WHERE I STAND THOUGH.
I JUST WANNA DOVETAIL OFF OF A WORD THAT YOU MENTIONED JUST NOW.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK VALUE, UH, THE TML CONFERENCE THAT WAS HELD IN DALLAS, UH, THAT'S ONE OF THE CONFERENCES THAT I CHOSE NOT TO ATTEND.
AND THE REASON I DIDN'T ATTEND IS BECAUSE I LOOK AT THE AGENDA FOR THE CONFERENCES THAT ARE COMING UP, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS VALUE.
WHAT KIND OF VALUE IS THAT GONNA BRING TO ME AS A COUNCIL PERSON? AND WHAT KIND OF VALUE CAN I BRING BACK TO MY CONSTITUENTS AND TO THE CITY FROM ATTENDING THAT CONFERENCE AND SPENDING THE CITY'S MONEY TO GO.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT, IS THE VALUE THAT WE CAN GAIN FROM A CONFERENCE AND WHAT WE, WE CAN ACTUALLY BRING BACK.
SO IF, IF THERE'S A CONFERENCE THAT IS, IS PRESENTED TO ME, THAT'S THE FIRST THING I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA LOOK AT THE AGENDA, I'M GONNA LOOK AT THE SPEAKERS, I'M GONNA SEE WHAT IT IS THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE TO ME THAT WILL BE OF VALUE.
AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THAT CONFERENCE IN DALLAS, I HAD JUST HEARD ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, PROBABLY 90% OF IT WHEN I WENT TO THE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS CONFERENCE.
SO THAT'S WHY I CHOSE NOT TO GO.
SO FOR ME, IT'S AN ISSUE OF VALUE.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON IT? WE READY TO VOTE? I GOT ANOTHER TIME.
EVERYBODY GOT THEIR OWN AGENDA, BUT WHEN I SPEAK, I'M MAINLY SPEAKING ABOUT MONIES.
BECAUSE IF THAT'S ONE THING YOU HEAR FROM ME IS FINANCE, YOU KNOW, THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND WHEN I SPEAK ABOUT IT, I'M SPEAKING TO IT FROM STUDY AND SEE HOW WE CAN BETTER MANAGE THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY.
AND, UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR TRAVEL, YEAH.
MONEY IS SET ASIDE FOR THE COUNCIL TRAVEL IN PHYSICAL YEAR, 18 WAS 43,000.
2050 2000, 21, 50 1022, 35,023.
LAST YEAR IS 80,000 IN BUDGET THIS YEAR FOR 80,000.
SO HOW DID IT JUMP THAT MUCH? IT JUMPED THAT MUCH BECAUSE WE STARTED TAKING, UH, THESE SESSIONS AND WE STARTED GOING TO CONFERENCES.
SO, DON'T GET ME WRONG, I'M NOT AGAINST COUNCIL GOING TO CONFERENCE, BUT I'VE BEEN GOING TO CONFERENCES SINCE 2011 WHEN I CAME ON COUNCIL.
AND WHAT I NORMALLY GET FROM THESE SESSIONS IS WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ATTEND THESE CONFERENCE, GO TO THE CONFERENCE AND GET, THEY PAY A REGISTRATION, WHATEVER THEY'RE ENTITLED TO, THEY ATTEND THESE SESSIONS.
YOU ALWAYS COULD GAIN SOMETHING.
YOU ALWAYS COULD BRING SOMETHING BACK.
BUT DO WE WANNA BRING SOMETHING BACK OR DO WE WANT TO GO AND GET EVERYTHING WE CAN AT THE COST OF THE TAXPAYERS? SO I'M ONLY TALKING FROM A MONETARY STANDPOINT AND I HAVE NOTHING, UH, UH, AGAINST COUNCIL DECIDING TO GO, GO, UH, THIS ROUTE OR THAT ROUTE.
BUT AS STATED, I'M LOOKING AT MONEY BECAUSE CITIZENS LOOK AT THE MONEY THAT WE SPEND AND WE HAVE THE ANSWER TO THEM.
AND THAT'S WHY I SAID THE EXTRA SESSION AT $185 FOR A HOUR AND A HALF, A FIFTH, I JUST DON'T FEEL IT'S SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE TO CITIZENS.
AND AS COUNCILMAN FRANK SAID, THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.
COUNCILMAN? UH, LEWIS, YOU, YOU HAD, YOU HAD SOMETHING? YOUR LIGHT WAS NO, IT WENT OFF THOUGH, SO, OKAY.
YES, I HAD MY LIGHT ON, BUT I, BUT, BUT, UH, I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A MISTAKE AND FALSELY ACCUSED HIM, BUT HE SUPPORTED ME ON IT, SO, SO I PUT MY LIGHT OFF.
WE READY TO VOTE? WHAT WHATCHA TALKING ABOUT? OKAY.
NO, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S STAY, LET'S STAY IN ORDER.
ALL IN FAVOR? A ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO IT'S ALL LET'S MOVE TO, OH, WHAT? COME ON.
WE, YOU GOT THREE ON IT? OKAY.
I HEARD ONE NOTE FROM YOU, SIR.
NOW LET'S, LET'S REMOVE MY MEETING, SIR, PLEASE.
YOU ALSO VOTED NO, WE HAVE TO RECORD THE NO VOTES.
CITY SECRETARY, YOU RECORD THE NO VOTES.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE MAYOR PROTI HAMILTON BE UNMUTED.
[02:00:01]
HAMILTON? YES.MAYOR BART? YES, THE MEASURE PASSES.
NOW THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE, UH,
[VII.C.(7) P.R. 23381 – A Resolution Ratifying The Emergency Repairs To The Sanitary Sewer Between Chevy Chase Lane And Cobblestone Lane, For The Not To Exceed Amount Of $254,358.40 From Water Utilities Sewer System Maintenance Account No. 410-40-220-5313-00-00- 000]
OKAY, NEXT ITEM WE HAVE IS PR NUMBER 23 3 81.IT'S A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE EMERGENCY PASS TO THE SANITARY SEWER BETWEEN CHEVY CHASE LANE AND COBBLESTONE LANE FOR THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $254,358 AND 40 CENTS FROM WATER UTILITY SEWER SYSTEM MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT NUMBER FOUR 10 DASH FOUR ZERO DASH 22 53 3 0 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SOHO? MAY I GET A, A SECOND? UH, COUNCILMAN BECKHAM SECOND.
AND I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU, YOU, YOU PUT THIS ONE? NO, I DID.
I KNEW IT WAS SO ABOUT ON MY LEFT.
WE DID SKIP ONE OF THEM, BUT DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
I CAN, CAN I GO BACK TO IT? I, I JUST BACK, YOU KNOW, BUT I FLIP THE PAGE AND I DIDN'T SEE IT.
YEAH, HE CAN COMPLETE THAT WITH ANY, IS THAT OKAY? COMPLETE THIS.
AND I HAD HIM, I HAD 'EM WRONG.
COUNCILWOMAN? UH, BECKHAM, UH, UH OKAY, I'M GONNA COME BACK TO YOU.
CHARGE IT TO MY BRAIN AND NOT MY HEART.
WELL, THE BRAIN YOU DON'T HAVE, OKAY.
SO THE, THE REASON THAT I PULLED THIS ONE IS JUST OUTTA TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC.
UH, I WANTED, UH, CALVIN MATTHEWS AND DR.
TOME TO, UH, EXPLAIN, UH, THE EXPENSE THAT WE HAD AND, AND WHY WE HAD TO DO THIS IN THE STONEGATE SUBDIVISION, UH, COUNSEL AND MAYOR.
THIS, UH, YES, WE, WE WERE CALLED TO, UH, CHEVY CHASE TO A HOUSE THAT HAD A SINKHOLE IN THE BACKYARD.
THIS IS IN, I THINK IT'S THE ORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT PART OF STONEGATE.
SO, UH, THE STONEGATE IN THIS AREA HAS, UH, UTILITY EASEMENTS IN THE BACK LOTS WHERE THE SEWER, ELECTRIC TELEPHONE AND MAYBE GAS.
SO WE, THERE WAS A SINKHOLE IN THE BACKYARD, SO WE WENT OUT THERE.
INITIALLY WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO A POINT REPAIR ON IT.
WE STARTED LOOKING ALONG THE LINE.
THERE WERE TWO MORE SINKHOLES DOWN THE WAY.
THIS IS AN OLD CLAY LINE THAT WAS PUT IN PROBABLY IN THE SIXTIES.
WE TALKED TO THREE CONTRACTORS.
UH, BASICALLY ONE OF 'EM WAS WILLING TO DO IT.
WE WERE GOING TO PIPE BURST USE, UH, THE SEWER.
WHEN WE GOT, WHEN WE STARTED WORKING ON IT, WE FOUND THAT THE BACK, THE UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL, THIS, THIS SUBDIVISION HAS UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC WAS INSTALLED IN THE SAME TRENCH AS THE SEWER BACK IN THE SIXTIES.
WHEN IT WAS PUT IN, IT WAS UNSHIELDED ELECTRICAL CABLE.
WE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC.
ENTERGY AT FIRST WAS NOT WILLING TO SHUT THE POWER OFF.
SO OUR INITIAL THOUGHT WAS WHEN WE DID THE FIRST ESTIMATE WOULD BE ABOUT 400 FEET.
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO EXCAVATE, UH, FOR AN ENDING MANHOLE BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL.
WE FINALLY FOUND A PLACE WE COULD INSTALL THE ENDING MANHOLE.
SO IT ENDED UP BEING ABOUT 700 FEET.
IT, WE GOT A SCHEDULE WITH ENTERGY TO SHUT IT DOWN.
THERE WERE PROBLEMS. SO WE HAD TO, WE HAD DISCONNECTED THESE HOUSES FROM THE EXISTING SEWER IN PREPARATION FOR THE SHUT DOWN AND THE TRANSFER.
UH, IT WAS ABOUT A FIVE DAY DELAY WITH ENTERGY BEFORE THEY WERE SHUT THE POWER DOWN.
SO WE HAD TO MAINTAIN SEWAGE FLOW WITH THESE HOUSES BY PUMPING AND FACTOR TRUCK.
UH, IT, IT WAS QUITE A JOB THAT'S, IT'S, UH, THE CONTRACTOR'S FINISHED.
WE HAVE A NEW SEWER INSTALLED.
UH, GOT A LITTLE BIT OF CLEANUP WE'RE DOING WITH IN-HOUSE CREWS, BUT, UH, OVERALL IT'S A SUCCESSFUL JOB.
I JUST WANNA SAY PUBLICLY AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DID.
YOU GUYS WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND.
IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GONNA BE JUST A ONE, ONE HOUSE THING AND IT TURNED INTO ABOUT HALF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING SO RESPONSIVE AND DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID TO GET EVERYBODY HOOKED BACK UP.
WE HAVING OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? UH, THERE.
ON ANY, WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES
[02:05:01]
AYES HAVE TO RESORT.THE PR NUMBER 23 3 81 IS APPROVED AS READ.
[VII.C.(2) P.R. 23374 – A Resolution Approving A Technical Assistance Agreement Between The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation And The National Council For Community Development, Inc. DBA Grow America, For The Period Of November 30, 2023, Through November 29, 2024, In An Amount Not To Exceed $72,000.00; Funds Available In EDC Account Number 120-80-625-5420-00-00-000]
LET'S STEP BACK A PAGE AND EXCUSE ME AGAIN.COUNCILMAN LEWIS PR NUMBER 23 3 7 4.
IT'S A RESOLUTION APPRO, A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, SECTION FOUR, A ECONOMIC DEVELOP COOPERATION.
DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION, EXCUSE ME.
AND THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INCORPORATED.
DBA GROW AMERICA FOR THE PERIOD OF NOVEMBER 30TH, 2023 THROUGH NOVEMBER 29TH, 2024 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $72,000 FUNDS AVAILABLE IN EDC.
ACCOUNT NUMBER ONE 20 DASH EIGHT ZERO DASH 6 2 5 DASH 5 4 2 0 0 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND MOVED AND SECOND HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECOND WOULD APPROVE PR 23 3 7 4 AS READ.
CITY MANAGER ROSE HILL, THE 1 0 8 LOAN PROGRAM, WHICH IS, WHICH THIS, UH, ORGANIZATION CAN HELP WITH GET 1 0 8 LOAN.
DID YOU I PRESENTED THIS SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
DID YOU ALL EVER THE COST, THE, WE WAS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO REMODEL ROSE HILL AND WHAT I BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION, THE 1 0 8 LOAN PROGRAM THROUGH THE CDBG PRO.
IT'S ON THE LAST PAGE, ON PAGE SEVEN ON THE LAST PAGE.
THE 1 0 8 PROGRAM THAT, THAT THAT ORGANIZATION, NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CAN ASSIST YOU WITH THAT.
NOW YOU CAN GET A 1 0 8 LOAN THROUGH THE CDBG PROGRAM.
AND SINCE IT'S ON THE TOURIST, UH, SINCE IT'S IN THE, IN THE TOURIST, UH, DEPARTMENT, THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX CAN PAY THE NOTE.
AND I, I PROPOSED THAT, UH, YEARS AGO, BUT IT, I GUESS IT FELL OFF THE TABLE AFTER, AFTER I GOT RID OF FIVE AND SIX.
BUT ANYWAY, I, I NEED FOR YOU TO RECONSIDER THAT.
AND THE EDC, THEY'LL THAT COMPANY'S OWN RETAINER AND THEY CAN HELP YOU.
THEY'LL PUT THAT 1 0 8 LOAN PROGRAM TOGETHER FOR YOU.
THEY'RE BEING PAID, YOU KNOW, THEY OWN A RETAINER SO YOU CAN GET THEIR HELP.
ANY OTHER UNREADINESS ON IT? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? A A ANY OPPOSES AYE HAVE.
SO THIS ORDERED THE APPROVAL OF PR NUMBER 23 3 7 4 AS PRESENTED AND READ.
[VII.C.(13) P.R. 23395 – A Resolution Updating And Affirming The Investment Policies Of The City Of Port Arthur For The 2023-2024 Fiscal Year]
NEXT WE WILL MOVE TO PAGE EIGHT.NOW WE HAVE PR NUMBER 23 3 9 5 AS A RESOLUTION, UPDATING AND AFFIRMING THE INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR 2023 AND 2024 FISCAL YEAR.
UH, MAY I GET A, UH, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN ETT? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN BECKHAM SECOND.
THE SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 3 9 5 AS READ, WE ARE READY FOR QUESTION.
UH, JUST, JUST FOR BEING TRANSPARENT, I THINK WE HAVE SOME, UH, UH, QUESTIONS.
UH, AND I THINK STAFF IS GONNA ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS FOR ME.
UH, CITY MANAGER IF YOU WANNA DO THAT.
WELL, UH, RECOGNITION OF STAFF, THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES.
UH, AND I TALKED TO YOU EARLIER ABOUT THAT, IF WE CAN DO THAT BASED UPON THIS.
AND, UH, THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UM, AS IT IS OFTEN SAID, THERE IS A TIME AND A SEASON FOR EVERYTHING.
AND AS WE ARE WELL AWARE, ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL FUNCTIONS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY IS THE GUARDIAN AND PREPARATION OF ITS FINANCES.
I WANT TO SHARE WITH COUNCIL THIS EVENING THAT OUR FINANCIAL DIRECTOR HAS TENDERED HER RESIGNATION, NO, HER RETIREMENT.
HER RETIREMENT FROM THE CITY OF POFA WITH EFFECTIVE, UM, NOVEMBER THE 17TH.
MISS CAN S HAS NOTIFIED ME OF HER INTENTION TO RETIRE NEXT MONTH.
HOWEVER, WE ARE PREPARED AND SHE'S P PASSING ON THE TORCH AND ALLOWING AND ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MS. BOSWELL AND MS. GIBBS IN THE AUDIENCE.
MS. BOSWELL WILL BE OUR NEW FINANCIAL DIRECTOR, AND MS. GIBBS WILL BE OUR FINANCIAL CONTROLLER.
WHICH ONE IS WHICH? WE DON'T KNOW.
MS. GIBBS IS ON THE LEFT HERE.
CAN YOU CALL THEM UP? MS. GI IS ON THE LEFT.
[02:10:01]
COME UP.I'M GONNA BE THE FINANCIAL CONTROLLER.
AND YOUR NAME AGAIN? UH, ARIEL GIBBS.
PULL IT DOWN SO WE CAN OH YES.
IS ARIEL GIBBS AND MISS, GO AHEAD, MS. BO.
I'M LYNN BOSWELL AND I'M SO LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING YOUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE.
NOW, MS. BOSWELL, I WANNA ASK QUESTION YOU ACPA.
SO, UM, MS. BOSWELL AND MS. GIBBS, UM, WILL JOIN OUR TEAM AND, UM, IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, MS. GIBBS IS PRESENTLY WORKING ON THE FINAL LEG OF HER CPA.
AS I SAID, WE WERE ABLE TO STEAL MS. GIBBS FROM THE CITY OF SULUR, WHERE SHE HAS DONE TREMENDOUS WORK WITH IN THE CITY OF SULUR.
UM, MS. BOSWELL IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON A PHD, YOU KNOW, SO WE, UH, UH, AND, AND THOSE WERE ONE OF THE TWO VERY ATTRACTIVE THINGS WHY I MADE THIS ELECTION.
I THINK THEY COULD ADD, YOU KNOW, MUCH MOMENTUM TO WHAT CANDY HAVE DONE IN THE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THOSE, UM, SOLID BLOCKS THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED OVER THE YEARS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU CANDY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ORGANIZATION AS, AS, AS A WHOLE FOR THE PAST SIX AND MORE YEARS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN, UH, WITH US.
AND I WANT TO WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR RETIREMENT.
YOU KNOW, UM, ON OCCASIONS YOU HAVE CARRIED IT SINGLE-HANDEDLY WHERE WE WERE SHORT OF STAFF.
UM, BUT WE ARE ON A MOMENTUM NOW BUILDING ON BUILDING, UM, THE DEPARTMENT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A MOST FORMIDABLE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW? THANK YOU CANDY.
ANY OTHER COUNCILMAN? MAY WHY I PULL THIS? BECAUSE MS. MS. CANVAS, WE, UM, CAN'S IN A TRANSITION PERIOD AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR TRANSFER OF SIGNATORY STORE ACCOUNTS.
THAT HAS TO, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT I WAS ABLE TO ESTABLISH THAT IT WAS GOOD TIMING.
COUNCILOR LEWIS? YEAH, I CERTAINLY, CANDICE, CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR, YOUR WORK DONE HERE WITH THE CITY AND THE CITY MANAGER.
I'M GONNA COMMEND YOU ON THE, THE ETHNIC MAKEUP IS STILL REFLECTED IN YOUR STAFF.
ANY OTHER UNREADINESS ON? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR A.
UH, WE'VE APPROVED PR NUMBER 23 3 9 5 AS READ AND PRESENTED.
[VII.C.(15) P.R. 23397 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Apply For The Valero Community Investment Grant For Park Improvements And Enhancements]
THEN WE HAVE PR NUMBER 2, 3 3 9 7.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR THE VALERO COMMUNITY INVESTMENT GRANT FOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS AND ENHANCEMENTS.
UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? UH, COUNCILMAN KINLAW.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SECOND.
AND, AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 3 9 7 AS READ, READ OF QUESTION.
MY QUESTION IS, UM, WHICH PARKS IS THIS GONNA BE DESIGNATED TO? IT'S JUST, IS IS IT A BLANKET FOR ALL THE PARKS OR IS THERE SOME HIERARCHY? AND HOW MUCH IS THE GRANT FOR THE SECOND PART? I CAN ANSWER IT.
UM, THEY DID NOT WANT TO DISCLOSE THAT TO US FOR SOME REASON OR THE OTHER.
UM, BUT THE FIRST PART YOU GO AHEAD.
GOOD EVENING, DAYS, HARRY, Y'ALL.
SO, UM, IN ANSWERING THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION, UM, SHE, IN SPEAKING WITH THE REFINERY PUBLIC AFFAIRS PERSON, WE DISCUSSED AND SHE'S WELL AWARE OF BEFORE WE GET REALLY DEEP INTO THE GUTS OF THIS GRANT.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT COUNSEL HAS TO APPROVE IT.
AND SO ONCE COUNCIL APPROVE IT, IF YOU DID KNOW NOTICE THAT I DID PUT IN THE RESOLUTION, IT'S BY INVITATION ONLY.
SO ONCE, IF THIS PROPOSED RESOLUTION IS APPROVED AND WE'RE INVITED, WE'LL GET REALLY DEEP INTO WHICH ONES.
BUT IN KIND OF PICKING HER BRAIN, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE ABLE TO JUST GIVE HER, IT'S, IT WON'T BE ALL PARKS, JUST GIVE HER SOME PARKS, SOME PROJECTS, SOME DIFFERENT THINGS AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL GO BACK AND FORTH AND SHE HAS TO BRING IT TO A COMMITTEE FOR A COMMITTEE APPROVAL.
AND THEN, UH, FROM THAT, THEN THEY'LL DECIDE ON WHETHER OR NOT IT'S APPROVED, HOW MUCH MONEY, THINGS LIKE THAT.
OF COURSE, WE'LL HAVE TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL TO GET EVERYTHING APPROVED FROM THERE, BUT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF IT.
WHO IS GONNA BE INVOLVED IN THE KIND OF THE PROCESS OF PRIORITIZING WHICH PARKS ARE GONNA BE THE ONES ARE RECEIVED? WE HADN'T GOTTEN THAT FAR, BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WE ARE, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME.
BUT OF COURSE EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN APPROVED,
[02:15:01]
I WILL GO THROUGH MR. BURTON WITH.BUT, UM, KIND OF IN SPEAKING WITH THEM, THEY DO HAVE CERTAIN CRITERIA AND SO CERTAIN THINGS THAT THEY'LL BE LOOKING FOR.
SO THINGS THAT WE MAY THINK LIKE OUT OF THE OPEN, LIKE THIS SHOULD BE DONE.
IT, IT CAN'T BE DONE WITH THEM.
SO IT IT, IT WILL BE A DEEP CONVERSATION HAVING WITH THEM AND THEN WE CAN PRESENT AS FAR AS WHAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO.
SO THIS IS JUST STEP ONE OF THE JOURNEY, STEP ONE, JUST LETTING ME ALLOW AND THEN WE ARE JUST GONNA OPEN THE DOOR.
UH, MAYOR POTEL, YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE A COMMENT? YES, SIR.
MY QUESTION IS, FOR THE PARKS THAT WE ARE SELLING, HAVE THOSE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE LIST THAT MS. CHANDRA WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO VALERO WHEN THE TIME COMES? YES.
OR IS THAT ALL ENCOMPASSED? YES.
YES, THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE TO, YES.
BECAUSE IT WAS A COUNCIL DECISION TO SELL THEM, YOU KNOW, AND YES, NO, YES.
SO MY, JUST FOR MY, MY UNDERSTANDING THIS OF WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED TO US TONIGHT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THOSE THAT ARE, ARE THOSE THAT ARE BEING SETTLED ARE ALREADY BEEN EXCLUDED FROM MY ROSTER, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
ANYONE ELSE? OH, OH, I'M SORRY.
COUNCILMAN
YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME WE'RE DEALING WITH, UH, REFINERIES AND GRANTS AND DONATIONS AND UH, I HEARD COUNCIL MOON STATE THAT WE GOT THE DONATION AND THEY DESIGNATED WHAT WE DO.
BUT FIRST OF ALL, WHEN THEY HAVE GRANTS THAT THEY'RE GONNA ALLOW, LIKE WE SAY WE APPLY FOR 'EM.
BUT I HEARD YOU SAY THAT WE HAVE TO SUBMIT CERTAIN THINGS, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
WE WILL HAVE TO SUBMIT A PROJECT OR TWO.
SO IF WE SUBMIT THE PROJECT, THE TWO RIGHT, AND WE GET AWARDED IT, THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY GO.
SO WHY IS IT THAT WE DON'T KNOW AS A COUNCIL WHAT PROJECTS YOU ARE GOING TO SUBMIT? YOU CAN KNOW IT, IT JUST DEPENDS ON, YOU'LL KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO APPROVE IT.
'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO TECHNICALLY APPROVE ANYTHING THAT'S SUBMITTED.
NO, WELL WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU MISS I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT WHERE I GOT LOST THERE MM-HMM.
WELL THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
IF YOU SUBMITTING PROJECTS FOR THEM TO BE CONSIDERED, WHEN DO WE GET TO KNOW WHEN THE PROJECT, 'CAUSE WHAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING IS WE GOT A DONATION FROM THE REFINERY TO DO THIS.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
AND SO WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL REFER TO THE CITY MANAGER AND IF HE'S SO CHOOSES AND PLEASES THAT WE CAN HAVE WORKSHOP OR WHATEVER AND WE CAN PUT ON THE TABLE WHATEVER IT IS WITH COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY.
BUT I REFER TO HIM TO ALLOW ME TO DO SO.
WELL, WELL DIDN'T I GO TO THE CITY MANAGER? OKAY.
WE, UH, YES, BUT WE ARE PROVIDING THE APPLICATION NOW, BUT NOW IS NOT THE TIME WHEN THEY HAVE ASKED US FOR THE PROJECTS TO BE SUBMITTED, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT THOSE PROJECTS.
THAT IS WHEN WE WILL COME AND INFORM COUNCIL AT THAT TIME.
THESE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED? YES.
SO WE'RE DOING A CONSIDERATION.
WE'LL DOING THE CONSIDERATION AT AT AT THE PRESENT.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE ORDER.
WHICH CHARLES LEWIS, YOU HAD SOMETHING ELSE? CITY MANAGER.
WHAT I'M HEARING YOU GOT A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO GET YOUR APPLICATION IN IS WHAT I'M HEARING.
I SEND BEAT TO THE TOP OF THE CLASS.
FRANK, I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, I THINK ABOUT WAS WHEN WE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT APPLYING FOR THESE GRANTS.
THESE GRANTS WILL BE UTILIZED FOR THAT, WHICH IS OVER AND ABOVE THE BASICS IS, IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT I'M, IS THAT WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING? SO I, THAT THESE GRANTS WILL BE UTILIZED FOR, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME PARKS THAT JUST NEED GOALS.
SO WHEN I'M, 'CAUSE I FEEL THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH A GOAL IN OUR
[02:20:01]
REGULAR BUDGET, BUT HOWEVER, IF WE'RE GOING OUT FOR A GRANT FROM VALERO, I AM GOING TO SHOOT FOR THE STARS.AND, AND, AND MAYOR, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THE, UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THAT'S WHERE OUR, OUR MASTER PLAN, OUR PARKS MASTER PLAN WILL COME IN.
I SPOKE, JUST SPOKE TO MS. ALPO TODAY, AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL PRESENT TO COUNCIL THE PACS MASTER PLAN FOR APPROVAL AT THE NEXT CON IN NOT EARLY NOVEMBER, THE FIRST MEETING IN NOVEMBER, MS. AL? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THERE IS A BUDGET ATTACHED TO IT.
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS TO USE THE PAC MASTER PLAN TO HAVE A, A VERY SERIOUS DISCUSSION WITH INDUSTRY WHEN THEY COME IN WITH THEIR CHECKBOOK, YOU KNOW, UM, AND THAT'S ALL I'M GONNA SAY.
BECAUSE THERE'S TOO OFTEN, THAT'S ALL I'M GONNA SAY.
WE, ANY OTHER UN READINESS ON THIS? IF OKAY, IF NOT, WE ARE READY TO VOTE.
ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE SO, UH, APPROVED THE RESOLUTION AND I'VE LOST IT AT HAND.
UH, PR NUMBER 23 3 9 7 APPROVED AS READ.
[VIII.B.(4) P.O. No. 7187 – An Appropriation Ordinance Amending The City Of Port Arthur Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2023 And Ending September 30, 2024, By Increasing The General Fund Administration By $195,000.00]
THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA ON PAGE NINE.AND WHAT LIKE TO DO IS TAKE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE AND MOVE UP ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON B TO ACTUALLY HAVE THAT ACTION ON THAT ITEM FIRST.
AND THEN I ON PAGE NINE, B FOUR ALMOST SOUND LIKE A BINGO GAME.
OKAY, NOW ON NUMBER FOUR, PO NUMBER 7 1 8 7, IT SAYS IN APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024 BY INCREASING THE GENERAL FUND ADMINISTRATION BY $195,000.
MAKING A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN LEWIS.
MAY I A SECOND COUNCILMAN BECKHAM SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 7 1 8 7.
AS READ, WE ARE READY FOR QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MATTER? YEAH, MA'AM.
CAN WE DO THAT, UH, LEGALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE IT A ONE, CAN WE DO THAT PRIOR TO ACTUALLY APPROVING A ONE? UM, IF I MAY.
'CAUSE I, YES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE MONEY IN PLACE BEFORE YOU CAN APPROVE 2, 3, 3, 6, 1.
ONE IS AUTHORIZING A PAYMENT, BUT THE MONEY IS NOT THERE UNTIL YOU APPROVE 71 87.
THE LINE ITEM THAT IS ATTACHED TO 2 3 3 6 1 DOES NOT HAVE THE FUNDING.
SO YOU HAVE TO DO THE BUDGET AMENDMENT FIRST.
WELL, THE, THE ONLY REASON I'M JUST BRINGING IT TO MM-HMM.
I MEAN, LEGALLY, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YEAH, WELL I WOULD, WE, WE'D PROBABLY, IT DOESN'T MAKE A, IF IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND RESCIND IT OUT, WE'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND RESCIND IT.
BUT IF YOU PASS IT, YOU CAN'T PUT IT PAST ANYTHING WITHOUT MONEY BEING PUT.
SEE, WE'RE KIND OF IN A CATCH 22.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BOTH WAYS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE ABOVE, IF IT DOESN'T PASS, WE'D BE IN A CATCH 22.
I MEAN, IF NOT, YES, I UNDERSTAND.
AND THAT WE ARE READY TO VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT.
SO PO NUMBER 7 180 7 IS APPROVED.
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. 23361 – A Resolution Authorizing A Payment To H&P Engineering And Construction In The Amount Of $194,863.50 As It Pertains To The Developer Participation Agreement Between The City Of Port Arthur And H&P Engineering & Construction, Inc. Contingent On A Budget Amendment - Account No. 001-01-005- 5470-00-10-000, Project MA0037]
MOVE BACK TO THE ACT, ACTUAL SEQUENTIAL ORDER.AND AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE ON NINE A ONE PR NUMBER 23 360 1, IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A PAYMENT TO H AND P ENGINEERING AND THE CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $194,863 AND 50 CENTS.
AS IT PERTAINS TO THE DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND HNP ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED, CONTINGENT ON A BUDGET AMENDMENT, I THINK WE JUST DID THAT.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 0 0 1 DASH ZERO ONE DASH ZERO FIVE DASH 5 4 7 0 0 0.
AND IT IS IN PROJECT MA 0 0 3 7.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MOVE MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 3 6 1 AS READ.
[02:25:01]
JUST FOR CLARITY, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE, I'M READING THE BACKGROUND.60 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TOWN HOMES THAT'S GONNA BE BACKED THERE.
THAT'S TO BE COMPLETED BY MARCH 24TH.
UM, JUST, JUST, UH, WHO'S ON THE CITY SIDE? THAT'S THE OVERSEER OF THOSE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'VE HAD IN THAT AREA.
WHO'S THE ENGINEER OR WHO'S THE PERSON THAT'S GOING OUT THERE ENSURING THAT HH AND P ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION IS ACTUALLY DOING WHAT WE AGREED UPON AS A CITY AND A CONTRACT? UM, IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE UTILITIES AND THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE UNDERTAKEN THE EXERCISE.
AND WE'VE TAKEN CONSIDERATION OF THE ROAD UPGRADES THAT WE AGREED UPON.
AND AS FAR AS THE ROAD CLOSURE BACK THERE YES.
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT COUNCILWOMAN BECKER MAY HAVE HAD YES.
HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
WE BOTH WENT OUT THERE, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THOSE RESIDENTS IN THAT DISTRICT THREE AREA, UH, WERE PROMISED CERTAIN THINGS.
AND I JUST DON'T WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE APPROVE SOMETHING AND WE DON'T HAVE THE OVERSIGHT IN MAKING SURE THAT WHAT WE APPROVE AND WHAT WE AGREED UPON IS ONE-ON-ONE.
AND, AND THAT IS WHY IT TOOK SO LONG TO GET TO THE COUNCIL'S AGENDA.
UM, I HAD TO HAVE A PROLONGED DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY INVOLVEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT I DOT ALL THE I'S AND CROSS ALL THE T'S TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THREE T AGREEMENT THAT WAS SIGNED, IT MET, IT MET THE REQUIREMENTS, UM, AND TO PUT FUTURE PLANS IN PLACE BECAUSE WHEREVER THERE IS DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE GOING TO BE OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS LIKE FLOODING, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN THAT AREA OR THEIR EXPERIENCE FOR HARVEY, YOU KNOW, AND WE RARELY DO NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
SO I, WE HAD TO ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION WITH DD SEVEN, UM, UM, FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE DRAINAGE TO CONTINUE SO THAT THE REPETITIVE FLOODING IN THAT AREA DOES NOT TAKE SPACE.
BUT YES, WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE EASEMENTS THAT WERE NEEDED, THEY WERE BEING ACCEPTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROPERTY ITSELF WAS SAFE AND SECURE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, THAT THERE WERE ISSUES, UH, WITH THE PLA YOU KNOW, BUT WE, WE HAVE FINALLY GOT ALL OF THIS, YOU KNOW, IRONED OUT AND, AND, UM, WE HAVE GOTTEN TO THE STAGE WHERE WE COULD PUT IT TO REST AND, AND MAINTAIN OUR OBLIGATION AND FULFILL IT WITH THE H AND P CONSTRUCTION.
COUNCIL, AND I'M, I'M JUST HAPPY WE GOT TO THAT POINT.
THE, THE STATUS OF THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ACCESS ROAD, THAT WAS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON RICE FARM ROAD.
HAS THAT BEEN COMPLETED? IT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND IT HAS BEEN, UM, INSPECTED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OR OUR CITY ENGINEER.
AND, UM, WE WILL, WITH THE HELP OF THE FIRE CHIEF, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE BEING LAID DOWN ARE BEING ADHERED TO AS FAR AS I IS CONCERNED.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO ORDER PR NUMBER 23 360 1 IS APPROVED AS READ.
[VIII.A.(2) P.R. 23402 – A Resolution Appointing A Member To The Planning And Zoning Commission Of The City Of Port Arthur For A Five-Year Term Ending On October 30, 2028]
HAVE P UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER, WELL ITEM NUMBER TWO, PR NUMBER 23 4 0 2.IT IS A RESOLUTION APPOINTED A MEMBER OR MEMBERS THROUGH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR A FIVE YEAR TERM ENDING OCTOBER 30TH, 2028.
UH, COUNCILMAN OF KEN LAW BERRY, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SECOND.
OKAY, WE MOVE THEN SECOND THAT WE WOULD HAVE, UH, THIS AN APPOINTEE FOR THIS, THIS THIS APPOINTMENT TIME.
UH, THE NAME THAT WE WOULD HAVE, UH, YOUR LIGHT CAME ON.
COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES, IT DID.
I WANTED TO, UM, MAKE A MOTION THAT WE WOULD APPOINT TYRANNY TO QUEER TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION IN, IN, IN THIS ORDER.
CAN WE ADD THAT NAME? ATTORNEY? OKAY.
IF YOU HAVE A MOTION, YOU NEED A SECOND.
SO, I MEAN, I MEAN, LET ME, LET ME JUST MAKE SURE I'M HERE.
HE DOESN'T HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO OFFER A NAME.
YOU JUST WANNA OFFER A NAME OR, YEAH, I DON'T WANT TO OFFER THAT NAME.
AND THAT NAME JUST GOES WITH THE, WITH THE, AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE IF THERE ANY OTHER NAMES YEAH.
UH, YOU SEE COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM? YES.
SO SHE HAS ANOTHER NAME THEN FOR THAT.
GO TO THAT MOTION AND I GOT A, I MEAN A FIRST AND SECOND, I GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND FO SO, AND THE QUESTION COUNCIL FROM LEWIS, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
YOU CAN ONLY APPOINT FIVE PEOPLE.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING, THE COUNCIL DOES IT AS A GROUP AND YOU CAN ONLY APPOINT FIVE.
AND THERE'S ONE VACANCY TODAY.
UH, AND THEN WE HAVE THE NAMES.
SO WE WOULD VOTE ON THE NAMES OF WHAT WE DID THIS OTHER, UH,
[02:30:01]
DEAL.AND, UM, JUST TO CLARIFY, I KNOW SOMETIMES WE GET A LITTLE, UH, DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING, BUT YEAH, WE DOUBLE CHECK ROBERT'S RULES.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE TWO NAMES IN ONE MOTION, YOU MUST, YOU TREAT IT UNDER THE NOMINATIONS PROVISION.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE TWO NAMES UNDER ONE MOTION, YOU HAVE TO VOTE ON BOTH NOMINEES.
I KNOW THAT WAS A LITTLE CONFUSION AT THIS TIME, BUT WE DOUBLE CHECK THAT.
I MEAN, IF YOU CHECK IT AIN'T GOTTA PROVE IT TO ME.
WE READY TO VOTE THEN, AREN'T WE? SO YOU WOULD TAKE A ROLL CALL, VOTE ON EACH NOMINEE.
AND THE FIRST NAME WOULD BE, UH, THE FIRST VOTE.
WE'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE, UH, NOMINEE TYRANNY QUE OKAY.
MEASURE FAILS WITH A VOTE OF FOUR TO THREE.
SO NOW WE'LL VOTE ON THE NEXT.
OKAY, NOW YOU VOTE ON THE NEXT NAME.
THIS IS THE ROLL CALL VOTE FOR ROSALYN QUEEN.
ON THIS, IF YOU VOTED YES ON THE LAST ONE, CAN YOU VOTE YES ON THIS ONE? THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO YOU CAN, BECAUSE IT'S TWO DIFFERENT ONE.
VOTE WHICHEVER WAY YOU WANT TO.
YOU REALLY CAN'T ANSWER QUESTIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF A MOTION.
I'M THE ROLL CALL VOTE IS SEPARATE.
WE CAN'T TALK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VOTE.
THE MEASURE PASSES TO, UM, ESTABLISH ROSALYN QUEEN WILL BE REAPPOINTED TO THE BOARD.
[VIII.A.(3) P.R. 23409 – A Resolution Amending Article VI Of The Articles Of Incorporation Of The Port Arthur Housing Finance Corporation And Appointing Members To The Housing Finance Corporation Board Of Directors]
LET'S MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.UH, NEXT ITEM IS, IS ITEM, UH, NUMBER THREE PR NUMBER 23 4 0 9 A RESOLUTION AMENDED.
IT'S ARTICLE SIX OF THE, UH, ARTICLES OF OR INCORPORATION OF THE PORT ARTHUR HOUSING AND FINANCE CORPORATION AND APPOINTED MEMBERS TO THE HOUSING FINANCE, UH, CORPORATION, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I BELIEVE THE NAMES THAT THE YOU, THAT WE, WE'D HAVE TO VOTE ON THOSE NAMES LIKE WE JUST DID.
WELL, AND NOW WITH THIS ONE, UM, EVERYBODY CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
SO YOU CAN, YOU HAVE UP TO SEVEN NAMES THAT CAN BE OKAY.
BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE NAMES TONIGHT, THEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE NAMES TONIGHT, THEN YOU CAN TABLE IT.
BUT I KNOW
WE'LL GO FORWARD WITH THOSE NAMES AND THEN WHEN YOU GET NEW ONES, WE'LL BRING IT BACK.
WE CAN TAKE THE NAMES THAT ARE NOMINATED TONIGHT AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK AS A NEW ITEM AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE REST OF THE NAMES.
COUNCILMAN BECKER? YOUR NAMES.
SO YOU, YOU HAVE ONE COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YEAH, JUAN BARDEN.
COUNCILMAN, DO YOU HAVE A NAME? NO, I'M GONNA WAIT TILL NEXT MEETING.
COUNCILMAN KIMER, YOU HAVE A NAME? NO.
YOU HAVE A NAME? COUNCILMAN FRANK? NO, SIR.
AND NEITHER DO I THIS AT THIS TIME, BUT WE HAVE MR. WANDA BARDEN AND MR. ROBERT REED, THEIR NAMES.
OKAY, WE READY FOR QUESTION? WE READY? I'M SORRY, MAYOR, I MISSED THE MOTION IN THE SECOND.
OH, YOU MISSED WHO SECOND? DIDN'T YOU CHECK? I DID, I MISSED THE MOTION IN THE SECOND ON THIS ONE.
I I THOUGHT I DID TO PUT IT ON THE FLOOR.
IF YOU, I MEAN, I'M DOING IT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR A MINUTE.
WELL, IT, YOU KNOW, JUST FOR SAFEKEEPING, MAY I GET A MOTION? MOVE? SECOND.
WITH THOSE NAMES, I APOLOGIZE WITH, WITH, WITH THOSE NAMES.
YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE THE NAMES? YES, SIR.
ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT THAT MS. REED AND MS. UH, UH, ONE OTHER SCHOOL NAME? MS. MS. BOB, MS. B BOND APPOINTED TO, UH, UH, UH, THAT COMMITTEE NEXT AND, AND THEN WE WILL REVISIT THIS AGAIN PROBABLY ON THE SEVENTH.
WE'LL PUT A NEW ONE ON NEXT WEEK.
YEAH, ON THE, ON, ON THE SEVENTH OF, UH, NOVEMBER.
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7177 – An Ordinance Amending Subsections (3) And (5) Of Section 78-187 (e) (2) Of The Code Of Ordinances As It Pertains To Special Leaves Of Absence]
NEXT WE HAVE SOME ORDINANCES.AND EXCUSE ME, I'M SORRY, UH, APPROACH HIM.
I DIDN'T ASK YOU IF YOU HAD A NAME.
I'M GOING INTO THE NEXT MEETING.
[02:35:01]
UH, PO NUMBER, UH, 71 77.AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SUBSECTION THREE AND FIVE OF SECTION 78 DASH 180 7 E UH, SUBSECTION TWO, I THINK OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES AS IT PERTAINS TO SPECIAL LEAVES OF ABSENCE.
YOU WANNA DO A CLARIFICATION ON THAT ATTORNEY BEFORE WE I GET A MOTION? YES.
THIS WOULD GIVE MORE TIME TO THE MILITARY, UH, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED UP INTO ACTIVE DUTY, THIS WOULD, UH, GIVE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO WORK WITH.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN BECKHAM? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 7 1 7 7 AS READ.
COUNCILMAN FRANK, YOU HAD A QUESTION? NO, I'M SORRY.
OKAY, WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7185 – An Ordinance Amending Section 78-31 Of The Code Of Ordinances As It Pertains To The Definition Of Immediate Family To Add Provisions To Include Grandparents And Grandchildren]
PO NUMBER 7 180 5, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 78 DASH 31 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE AS, AS IT PERTAINS TO THE DEFINITION OF IMMEDIATE FAMILY TO ADD PROVISIONS TO INCLUDE GRANDPARENTS AND GRANDCHILDREN.AND THIS IS, UH, DIRECTLY FOR EMPLOYEES.
I, I THOUGHT THAT SHOULD BE ON THE CAPTION, BUT I DIDN'T.
FOR CITY EMPLOYEES, UH, MAKING A MOTION FOR APPROVE OF COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE.
SECOND THAT WE WOULD'VE PULLED PEO NUMBER SEVEN.
I JUST THOUGHT I'D THROW IT IN.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THIS IS AMENDING THE PERSONNEL POLICY THAT PEOPLE WERE ABLE BE ABLE TO TAKE DEATH LEAVE IN THE EVENT THEIR GRANDPARENTS OR GRANDCHILDREN.
UH, WERE UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY.
UH, IF ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS, UH, WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO IT IS ORDERED THIS, UH, PO NUMBER 7 180 5 WOULD BE APPROVED AS READ.
[VIII.B.(3) P.O. No. 7186 – An Ordinance Declaring An Intent Of The City To Reimburse Itself From Proceeds Of Certificates Of Obligation Expected To Be Issued By The City For Certain Original Expenditures Paid In Connection With The City's Financing Of Certain Streets, Drainage, Animal Control, Fire, Water And Wastewater Projects]
HAVE PO NUMBER 7 1 8 6, AN ORDINANCE DECLARING AN INTENT OF THE CITY TO REIMBURSE ITSELF FROM PROCEEDS OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION EXPECTED TO BE ISSUED BY THE CITY FOR CERTAIN ORIGINAL EXPENDITURES PAID IN CONNECTION WITH THE CITY'S FINANCING AND CERTAIN STREETS, DRAINAGE, ANIMAL CONTROL, FIRE, WATER, AND WASTEWATER.MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KID LAW.
SECOND MAYOR, IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 7 180 6 AS READ.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? THE ONLY ANY QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO ORDER PO NUMBER 7 1 8 6 IS APPROVED AS READ.
[VIII.B.(5) P.O. No. 7188 – An Ordinance Amending Article XXII [Port Arthur Youth Advisory Council (YAC)] Section 14-683 [Port Arthur Youth Advisory Council (YAC) Members] Of The City Of Port Arthur Code Of Ordinances By Decreasing The Number Of Members For The Youth Advisory Council From Twenty-Seven (27) Members To Twenty-One (21) Members]
PO NUMBER 7 1 8 8 AND ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 12, I MEAN 1222.PORT ARTHUR, UH, YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL YAK SECTION 14 DASH 6 83, PORT ARTHUR YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL YAK MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CODE OF ORDINANCES BY DECREASING THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS FOR THE, UH, YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL FROM 27 MEMBERS TO 21 MEMBERS.
AND MAY I GET A, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OR MAYOR PRO TEMP? I MOVE.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KINLOCK.
AND AS IT MOVE, AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY, WE ACTUALLY DECREASING THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS FOR THE, UH, YAK.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? IS THIS ACTIVE? IS IT NO.
WELL, SHE'S GONNA, WE GETTING READY TO GET IT BACK ACTIVE.
WE WANTED TO HAVE THE NUMBER STRAIGHT, RIGHT? THAT'S GOOD.
ANY THE OPPOSES AYES HAVE SO AS AUDIT, PEO NUMBER, UH, 7 180 8 IS APPROVED AS READ.
AND AT THIS JUNCTURE, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ADJOURNMENT OF THIS AUGUST BODY OF, UH, PORT ARTHURS AND GOVERNANCE HERE FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND I NOW DECLARE THIS MEETING DULY ADJOURNED.