[00:00:05]
EXCUSE ME.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
GOOD MORNING.WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT 4 44 FOR STREET.
AND WE ARE HERE FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 2023.
AND IT, IT, UH, NOW WELL CLOCK IS SAYING 10, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY NINE, UH, 30 2:00 AM UH, DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME, I GUESS, OR STANDARDS TIME RIGHT NOW.
AND, UH, CENTRAL STANDARD TIME.
THIS MEETING MAY BE, UM, ATTENDED THROUGH THE MEDIUMS OF, UH, TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCE.
I HAVE A, YOU MUST FIRST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9, AND YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING CODE OF 8 4 3 8 3 4, EXCUSE ME, 4 2 3 1 7 8 8 2, AND THE PASSCODE OF 0 8 7 2 2 6.
AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING.
WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AND IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS THAT YOU WOULD NEED SO THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING, YOU WOULD NEED CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, HOWEVER, 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5, AND LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO THE CITY SECRETARY STAFF, AND THEY WOULD DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWERS TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE YOU WITH YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS.
IF YOU HAVE A, UH, DEVICE THAT WOULD DISTURB THE MEETING AT THIS TIME, BE ELECTRONIC OR WHATEVER, WOULD YOU PLEASE SILENCE IT OR MUTE IT.
UH, AT THIS JUNCTURE, WE HAVE INVOCATION AND WE WILL HAVE, UH, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
UH, PASTOR FRANK, WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US VERIFICATION? YES, SIR.
LET US BOW ALL WISE IN ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE THIS MORNING, GOD, TO BE IN YOUR PRESENCE.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE THIS MORNING AND TO TAKE, UH, HEAVENLY FATHER, THESE, UH, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS FOR OUR CITY.
WE PRAY CONTINUALLY, FATHER, THAT YOU WOULD WATCH OVER US, PROTECT US, AND KEEP US.
AND THEN WE'LL BE CAREFUL TO GIVE YOUR NAME, THE GLORY, THE PRAISE, AND THE HONOR.
THIS WE ASK IN THE POWERFUL AND PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY.
WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN US IN RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN OUR OPENING.
WE WILL BEGIN THE MEETING WITH THE PROCLAMATIONS.
I DON'T HAVE ANY IN FRONT OF ME HERE.
MAYOR TI PRESENT, MAYOR PRO, TIMM HAMILTON, PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
NOW ON TWO, UH, PROCLAMATIONS.
UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY IN FRONT OF ME.
UH, CITY SECRETARY, SO THERE AREN'T ANY.
[III.A.(1) Phyllis Baker And Sheila Norwood Regarding The Middle Passage Ceremony And Historical Port Marker]
WITH, UH, SPEAKERS.WE HAVE FIRST MS. PHYLLIS BAKER, MS. UH, SHEILA NORWOOD REGARDING THE MIDDLE PASSAGE CEREMONY AND THE HISTORICAL PORT MARKER.
WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE APPROACH? GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS PHYLLIS LACEY BAKER.
I AM A NATIVE OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
I LIVE CURRENTLY AT 60 16 BUCKNER DRIVE HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
MY NAME IS SHEILA IN THE MIC, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS SHEILA NORWOOD AND I LIVE HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
I LIVE AT 3 1 2 5 15TH STREET, PORT ARTHUR.
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MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBER AND I ARE HERE TODAY REPRESENTING TWO ORGANIZATIONS, ONE OF WHICH I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH, WHICH IS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY, WHICH HAS BEEN A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS NOW.FOUNDED, UH, AND ORGANIZED BY MS. GALE PELHAM.
THE OTHER ORGANIZATION IS A LOT LESS FAMILIAR TO YOU, SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU HAVE YOUR FOLDERS, A FOLDER THAT HAS YOUR NAME ON IT.
I HOPE IT HAS BEEN PLACED AT EACH OF YOUR STATIONS.
AND AS I FINISH THE REST OF WHAT I HAVE TO SAY, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO REFER TO SOME OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT'S IN THAT FOLDER.
MA'AM, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DI DISSEMINATED YET.
CAN I GET SOMEONE TO GET 'EM FROM
A CITY SECRETARY WILL ASSIST YOU, ALL OF YOU RIGHT THERE.
THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH I WAS REFERRING IS CALLED THE MIDDLE PASSAGE CEREMONIES AND PORT MARKERS PROJECT.
I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT IS FAMILIAR TO ANY OF YOU, BUT WE HAVE HAD AN ASSOCIATION WITH THAT PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS NOW, UH, WHEN ONE OF THE DIRECTORS AND MS. UH, PELHAM BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH EACH OTHER AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD SOMETHING IN COMMON.
SO IF YOU OPEN THAT FOLDER, THERE ARE SEVERAL ABOUT, UH, FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT ITEMS IN IT THAT I'LL BE REFERRING TO.
I COULD TELL YOU A WHOLE LOT ABOUT BOTH THE, UM, AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE SOCIETY AND BECAUSE OF MY RECENT ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE MIDDLE PASSAGE CEREMONIES IN PORT MARCO PROJECT.
I COULD ALSO EXPOUND ON THAT FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
BUT IT IS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE AND TO OUR ADVANTAGE IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTS IN THE FOLDER WHEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, AND WE WILL MENTION THEM AS WE GO FORWARD.
THE FIRST ONE I'D LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO IS THE ONE THAT WILL TELL YOU MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MIDDLE PASSAGE CEREMONY IS IN PORT MARKER PROJECT.
IF YOU HAVE THAT ONE, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
IT'S A TRI-FOLD OR RATHER DOUBLE FOLD LITTLE BROCHURE.
AND ON THE BACK OF IT IS AN INDICATION OF VARIOUS PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE THE MIDDLE PASSAGE CEREMONIES AND PORT MARKET PROJECTS, ONE OR BOTH OF THEM HAVE TAKEN PLACE.
THE NAME TELLS YOU JUST ABOUT WHAT IT HAS TO, UH, DO WITH, AND IF YOU OPEN IT UP, YOU CAN READ THE INFORMATION THERE.
AND PORT ARTHUR IS NOW LISTED IF YOU LOOK DOWN ON THE BACK AS BEING ONE OF THE PLACES THAT HAS BOTH THE MARKER OR WILL HAVE BOTH THE MARKER AND THE CEREMONY.
AND THAT IS THE MAIN PURPOSE FOR US BEING HERE TODAY.
WE NEED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THIS AND TO ALSO ASK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW? NO, MA'AM.
HOLD, LET, LET LET HER FINISH.
LET'S GO RIGHT AHEAD AND THEN, THEN, OKAY.
'CAUSE LIKE I SAY, MANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED INSIDE THE BROCHURES.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO BE, UH, IN THE, UM, NEXT THING I NEED YOU TO LOOK AT RIGHT QUICK IS, UH, AN INVITATION.
IT LOOKS LIKE AN INVITATION AND IT IS ALSO CAN BE OPENED UP.
THAT WILL EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT WE ARE HAVING IN OUR CITY RIGHT HERE, VERY CLOSE TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, THE FIRST WEEK IN DECEMBER.
NOTICE THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE A RECEPTION, AND THEN THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A CEREMONY THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN POPEYE'S PARK.
AND THEN WE WILL ALSO HAVE A RECEPTION AND WE'LL HAVE A CHURCH SERVICE AT, UH, ONE OF OUR HISTORICAL CHURCHES.
UM, A, UH, ISRAEL CHAPEL, AME CHURCH, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE.
THE PRESS RELEASE, WHICH IS ALSO IN YOUR PACKET WILL BE ISSUED.
AND AGAIN, IT ALSO HAS ALL THIS VALUABLE INFORMATION IN IT.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE A SPONSORSHIP LETTER BECAUSE OUR FUNDING IS GOING TO COME PRIMARILY FROM THE VARIOUS SPON, UH, INDIVIDUALS.
AND WE HAVE A SOUVENIR PROGRAM THAT WILL BE PRODUCED.
SO THIS IS A PAGE THAT LETS YOU SEE THE TYPE OF ADS THAT WE WILL BE SELLING AND SOLICITING.
AND LAST, BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST INSIDE YOUR PACKET IS A LETTER
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THAT WAS WRITTEN BY ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, ANN COBB, IN REFERENCE TO OUR, UM, IT'S ADDRESSED TO COMMISSIONER SENEGAL BECAUSE IT'S A PORT MARKER THAT WE ARE HAVING ERECTED.AND SO THE PORT A PORT ARTHUR WOULD BECOME DEPTH OF THE COUNTY WOULD BE PART OF THAT PROCESS.
I'M GONNA DEFER FOR A MINUTE TO MS. NORWOOD.
MS. MOORE, WHAT? MS. UH, BAKER RAISE.
ON WHAT MS. BAKER HAS, UH, SPOKEN ABOUT, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS, REQUEST AND INFORMATION.
DID YOU HAVE HAVE A QUESTION FOR AC? WE'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
WELL, WELL, THE QUESTION I, I WAS ORIGINALLY WAS GOING TO ASK, BUT I THINK IT IS IN SPONSOR.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT HELP YOU EXPECT FROM US AS A COUNCIL? WE WILL BE USING PROPERTY THAT IS HERE.
UM, UH, BUT MS. NORWOOD, COULD YOU GIVE 'EM A BETTER DESCRIPTION THAN ME OF EXACTLY WHERE IT IS? UM, WE WILL BASICALLY THE MIC PLEASE.
NO, NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT.
UM, THE CEREMONY ON FRIDAY WILL BE AT THE PRESS ROOM ACROSS THE STREET FROM CITY HALL, AND THE CEREMONY ON SATURDAY WILL BE IN THE POPEYE PARK.
AND WE WOULD JUST LIKE THE, UM, CITY HALL AND COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR THE, UH, EVENTS.
OTHERS? THE MARKER WILL BE PLACED IN A GROVE OF TREES THAT IS BETWEEN THE COURTHOUSE AND THE, UH, THE ACTUAL, WHERE THE FLAGS ARE.
IT'LL BE IN THAT LITTLE GROVE OF TREES RIGHT THERE, RIGHT TO THE RIGHT OF THE SIDEWALK.
YEAH, AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING, I WAS TRYING TO GET, WAS IT CITY EASEMENT, UH, PROPERTY OR WAS A COLLECTION BETWEEN COUNTY AND AND CITY.
SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
SO IT'S RIGHT THERE BY THE FLAGS IN THE FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PARK BENCH RIGHT THERE.
AND THEN THERE'S A NICE LITTLE SHADED GROVE OF TREES THAT WHEN YOU WALK ALONG THE SIDEWALK, WE HAVE, UH, LOCATED A SPOT THAT WILL ATTRACT THE TENSION.
ANYONE WHO IS WALKING MAYBE FROM THE PARKING, UH, LOT TO THE COURTHOUSE, THEY WOULD NOTICE SOMETHING SITTING OVER THERE IN THAT LITTLE GROVE.
AND WE ARE HOPING OUR MARKER, JUST TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT, IS BOTH ARTISTIC AS WELL AS IT IS INFORMATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL.
ONE SIDE OF IT WILL DEPICT THE MIDDLE PASSAGE AND HAS A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION CONCERNING ALL OF THE PLACES ALONG THE PORCH, ALONG THE EAST COAST, AS WELL AS THE GULF COAST THAT WERE ENTRANCES FOR OUR ANCESTORS.
AFRICAN AMERICAN ANCESTORS WHO BROUGHT, WERE BROUGHT HERE.
ALSO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF IT HAS THE, UH, SECOND STAN OF JAMES WALDEN JOHNSON'S POEM, BECAUSE I ALMOST CRY.
I'M, I'M ABOUT TO TEAR UP BECAUSE THAT THE STANDS IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND IT MEANS SO MUCH.
AND SO EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE THREE OF THEM, THAT, THAT SECOND ONE, IT SPEAKS SO MUCH TO WHAT OUR, OUR ANCESTORS HAVE BEEN THROUGH.
AND THE PURPOSE OF ALL OF THIS IS TO HONOR THOSE ANCESTORS, HONOR THOSE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES AT SEA, AND THOSE THAT WERE IN, IN, EXCUSE ME, ENSLAVED FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS HERE IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND, UH, SO CONSEQUENTLY, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THE IMPORTANT, UH, MIDDLE PASSAGE ASSEMBLY AND IMPORTANT MARCUS PROJECT IS ABOUT, ALLOWING VARIOUS PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN RESEARCHED AND FOUND TO BE ACTUAL PORTS OF ENTRY DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND CONSEQUENTLY, WE HONOR THAT IN, IN THE SENSE THAT THE FORT MARKER RECOGNIZES IT.
AND, UH, A LOT AFTER THE RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE AND, AND ACTUALLY ASSIST US SOMEWHAT FINANCIALLY, MOST OF THE FINANCE FOR THE PROJECT ARE THE ACTIVITIES WE WILL HAVE TO, AS AN ORGANIZATION, UH, BASED UPON FUNDING THAT WE CAN GET FROM OTHER SOURCES AS WELL AS OUR OWN DONATIONS TO TRY TO GET THE, UH, WHOLE, WHOLE COST OF IT.
IT'S PRETTY, IT'S NOT A, A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.
IT'S A PRETTY GOOD BIT, BUT THE MENTAL PASSAGE CEREMONIES AND, UH, FORT MARKET PROJECTS DO ASSIST US IN PORT A PORTION OF THAT.
SO, SO YOU JUST NEED A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM MAYOR COUNCIL THAT WE WOULD SUPPORT THIS ENDEAVOR? OR ARE YOU ASKING THIS COUNCIL TO WE'LL, PROBABLY, UM, YOU WANNA SPEAK TO THAT MS. NORWOOD? WE BASICALLY WANT YOUR SUPPORT.
UM, IT, IF WE'RE NOT ASKING FINANCIAL, WE ARE ASKING, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT, SUPPORT, JUST SUPPORT LETTER OF SUPPORT OF THE ENDEAVORS OF THE MARKER.
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LIKE I SAID, MOVE MS. BAKER, MOVE TOWARD THE, SPEAK TOWARD THE MIC.WE HAVE A PRESS RELEASE, BUT WE DO NEED ALL THE PUBLICITY.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME ANYTHING LIKE THIS WILL HAVE HAPPENED.
THAT'S PART OF A BIG NATIONAL PROJECT.
THIS IS PORTS, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE BACK OF IT ALL ALONG THE EAST COAST AS WELL AS ONE, AS CLOSE AS GALVESTON.
THEY, UH, YOU SOME PORTS DECIDE TO HAVE JUST THE CEREMONY.
OTHERS HAVE THE CEREMONY AND THE MARKER.
AND WE ARE GOING TO BE AMONG THE ONES THAT HAVE BOTH THE CEREMONY, WHICH WE, AS WE, AS MS. NORWOOD MENTIONED, WILL BE ON THE SATURDAY.
AND, UH, WE'LL ALSO HAVE THE PORT MARKER REVEALED OR UNVEILED AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.
SO WE WOULD NEED OUR MAYOR, WE WOULD NEED VARIOUS OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD BE THERE TO ATTEND THAT CEREMONY IN WHATEVER CAPACITY THAT THEY CAN POSSIBLY DO.
UH, COUNCILMAN HAMILTON? COUNCILMAN UH, MAYOR
MAY I PLEASE HAVE A COPY OF THE POEM? THE POEM THAT YOU SHARED? UM, WE CAN GET, OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE EMAILED TO US SO THAT WE CAN I'LL READ IT.
WE'LL GIVE IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW.
ARE YOU WANNA, HAVE YOU WANT IT RIGHT NOW OR DID YOU WANT I'LL CATCH UP WITH YOU.
WELL, YOU CAN HAVE THIS, THE, UH, PAPER THAT MS. NORWOOD IS PASSING ON IS ACTUALLY THE SIDE OF IT.
THAT'S THE POETIC AND AND GRAPHIC SIDE.
YOU'LL NOTICE THE SAN COPA BIRD, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE SAN COPA BIRD AND WHAT IT SYMBOLIZES, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH US LOOKING BACK.
IT SAYS, GO BACK AND FETCH IT.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE IDEA IS YOU CANNOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'VE BEEN.
AND SO THE SANKOFA BIRD, UH, IS, UH, I HAD A PICTURE OF IT THAT I COULD, WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BIRD? HEAR IT.
IT'S VERY ON THE FRONT OF YOU.
AND IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE ON OUR MARKER IN FULL COLOR.
THAT'S THE OTHER THING I FORGOT TO MENTION, THAT BOTH SIDES OF THE MARKER, THE PORT MARKER WILL BE IN COLOR.
AND THE MAP IS QUITE GRAPHIC AS IT SHOWS THE VARIOUS PORTS AND PORT ARTHUR AND SABINE PASSED.
IT'LL ALL BE INDICATED ON ONE SIDE THAT'S EDUCATIONAL.
AND THE OTHER SIDE, AS I SAY, IS BOTH INSPIRATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING TO BRING THIS TO FRUITION.
COUNCILMAN FRANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING.
I THANK GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TRAVEL, UH, TO GHANA AND TO SEE THE SLAVE CASTLES AND TO SEE THE DOOR OF NO RETURN.
SO, UH, IT IS, IT IS A MOVING EXPERIENCE.
HOW DO WE, IS THERE, UM, IS THERE A FUND, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO HELP YOU FINANCIALLY? WE'D LIKE TO PLACE THAT OUT THERE AS WELL, SO INDIVIDUALS CAN HELP YOU TO BEAR THAT BURDEN.
I PREFER TO MS. NO, UH, AS WELL.
WE DO HAVE, UM, SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES THAT'S AVAILABLE THAT YOU CAN, UH, DONATE, UM, WHATEVER AMOUNTS THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH FINANCIALLY.
CAN YOU MAKE THOSE AVAILABLE? AND WE CAN YES, WE CAN.
WE HAVE THEM HELP TO PASS THAT OUT.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF, AND I SU THEIR PROGRAM.
WE WOULD WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE COUNCIL HAVE A PLACE, A PAGE IN THAT SOUVENIR PROGRAM.
AND MS. BAKER AND, AND, UH, IT, IT THAT ON JAMES WELDON JOHNSON, THAT'S STONY THE ROSE.
FELTON D WITH HOPE UNBORN HAD DIED, YET WITH A STEADY BE HAVE NOT OUR WEARY FEET COME TO THE PLACE FOR WHICH OUR FATHER SIGH.
WE HAVE COME OVER AWAY THAT WITH TEARS HAVE BEEN WATERED.
COULD YOU COME BACK? AT LEAST ONE OF YOU, ONE OF YOU COME BACK, I NOTICED, GET WITH THE CITY SECRETARY AND GET A LIST OF OUR, ALL OUR, ALL OUR REFINERY PUBLIC RELATIONS PEOPLE AND CONTACT THEM FOR YOUR HELP.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMAN.
[III.A.(2) Gloria Sanchez Regarding Drainage At Jade Avenue]
ANOTHER, UH, SPEAKER.UH, THIS IS GLORIA SANCHEZ REGARDING DRAINAGE AT JADE AVENUE.
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6 6 2 5 JADE AVENUE.UM, AND I HAVE BEEN, UM, GETTING SOME DRAINAGE WATER INTO MY PROPERTY.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE GONNA BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE.
IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO, UM, SEE THAT WAY.
BUT ANYWAYS, THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS, UM, AND JADE, ALL THE WATER RUN FROM 67 60 FEET EVERYWHERE TO JADE THAT IS IN FRONT OF MY PROPERTY TO GO TO THE, THE SEVEN DRAINAGE THAT IS ON ALL THE SIDE OF MY PROPERTY.
THEY CANNOT HANDLE ALL THE WATER THERE.
WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT THIS GOT OVERFLOWED AND GOES EVERYWHERE, AND MY PROPERTY IS IN THE BACK AFTER THE RAIN.
MY PROPERTY IS LIKE A RIVER THERE.
I KNOW IT'S A DRAINAGE PROJECT COMING TO PORT ACRES.
THEY HOPING IT'S GONNA HELP PART OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE BUILDING HOUSES, THEY START BUILDING IN THE AREA AND JUST NEXT TO MY PROPERTY, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN RAISED THE LAND AND ALL THEIR WATER AGAINST RUNS TO MY PROPERTY.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE INSPECTION OR, OR THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT OR ENGINEER DEPARTMENT OR WHATEVER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.
DIDN'T ASK FOR A DRAINAGE TO SEND THEIR WATER TO THE DISH AND NOT TO THE NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY.
THE, I'M THE ONLY NEIGHBOR THERE.
I HAVE LIKE 15 ACRES OVER THERE, BUT IT'S LIKE A RIVER.
WHEN IT'S RAIN AND IT'S NO RAIN FROM THE SKY, IT'S RAIN FROM THE CITY STREET AND FROM MY NEIGHBORS, I CONTACT CITY MANAGER, I CONTACT ENGINEER DEPARTMENT, I CONTACT SPECIAL DEPARTMENT.
I CONTACT MR. BRETT BROWN DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT.
EVERYBODY, SOME OF THEM HAS BEEN RETURNED THE PHONE TO ME OR THE EMAIL TO ME.
SOME OF THEM NEVER DID ANYTHING.
TRY TO SEE WHO CAN HELP THIS ONE AND HOW THIS IS GONNA BE HELP.
BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THE WATERFRONT, THE DISH, MAYBE IT WILL HELP FROM THE DRAINAGE PROJECT THAT IS GONNA BE THERE.
BUT WHAT ABOUT MY NEIGHBORS WHO IS GONNA HANDLE THAT SITUATION? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE CITY SHOULD HAVE, MAKE THEM TO HAVE A DRAINAGE PLAN BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY GIVE IT TO THEM THE FINAL INSPECTION OR BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY GIVE IT TO THEM, THE AUTHORIZATION TO BUILD SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IS THAT ALL YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON AT THIS? YES.
WITH HER PROBLEM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, ONE, THE HOUSE SHE MENTIONED THAT'S NEXT TO HER PROPERTY.
WE KNOW WITH THE FEMA FEMA NEW TABLE PROPERTY'S COMING LIKE WAY UP FOR THE REQUIREMENT TO MEET THE, UH, PROPER ELEVATION FOR INSURANCE AND STUFF.
HOWEVER, THE CITY ORDINANCE STATES THAT IF A PERSON RAISES THEIR PROPERTY, THEN THEY MUST BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE WATER RUNS TO THE DESIGNATED DRAINAGE.
IN THE PARTICULAR CASE WHERE THERE'S OPEN DITCH, THEN THAT WATER SHOULD RUN TOWARD THE DITCH.
UH, IF IT'S ON THE SIDES OF SOMETHING, RATHER THAN GOING ON THE OTHER PERSON'S PROPERTY, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO A SWELL.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO THE SWELL, THE SWELLS SUPPOSED TO TAKE THE WATER FROM THE SIDE TO THE DITCH.
SO, UH, ARE WE REQUIRING THE RESIDENTS NOW THAT ARE BUILDING HOMES UNDER THE NEW REQUIREMENTS, ARE WE ACTUALLY REQUIRING THEM TO ENSURE THAT THAT DRAINAGE MEETS THAT ORDINANCE IN A WAY OF EITHER A SWELL OR A SNOW OPENING IT? 'CAUSE ALL WATER'S SUPPOSED TO GO THROUGH CURVES OR OPEN DITCHES.
IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO STAY ON LAND.
SO WHERE ARE WE? SHE SAYS TWO YEARS.
WHAT'S UP? YOU ASKING THE CITY MANAGER? YEAH, I WANT TO, I WANT RON TO SAY WHAT WE GONNA DO WITH THAT.
LET ME ASK MS. LANGFORD TO COME.
BUT YES, WE HAVE BEEN, AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE NOT ADOPT, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT ADOPTED THE RECENT FEMA MAPS BECAUSE, UM,
[00:25:01]
WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN GREEN LIGHT FROM FEMAS YET TO DO THAT.WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT WE HAVE PUT ALL THE BEST PRACTICES IN PLACE SO THAT DEVELOPERS FOLLOW WHAT IS REQUIRED, UM, BY THE CITY.
YES, WE HAVE AN, IT, IT'S, IT'S A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS BETWEEN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND THE PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT THAN WE DO.
SO, BACK TO HER, YOU CAN STEP UP, PAM, MAYBE YOU CAN HELP.
WE TALKING ABOUT HER PROPERTY AND HER SITUATION.
SHE'S ONE IDENTIFIED THAT WATER IS RUNNING BACK.
NOW WHEN IT COMES TO PROPERTY OR WATER IN THE BACK, WHETHER IT RAIN HARD OR NOT, THE ONLY WAY THAT THAT CAN BE AFFECTED BY THE CITY, THAT'S IF THE WATER'S COMING FROM THE DITCH GOING TO THE BACK.
BUT IF IT'S JUST RAIN AND THE WATER IS ACCUMULATING, THAT'S JUST LOW GROUND.
BUT WHEN SHE MENTIONS THE FACT THAT THE NEIGHBOR BUILT NEXT TO HIM AND I, AND I SAW THAT HOUSE, OKAY.
THAT IS CLEARLY WHAT THE ORDINANCE SAYS.
THAT IF YOU RAISE THAT PROPERTY, THEN YOU MUST REST ENSURE THAT THE RUNOFF WATER RUNS TO THE DRAIN THAT'S EITHER IN THE REAR EASEMENT OR TO THE FRONT.
IF IT'S A CURB TO THE CURB, IF IT'S A OPEN DITCH, THEN THAT WAS SHOULD RUN TO THE OPEN DITCH.
AND IF YOU ON THE SIDE, THE WAY YOU GET THAT TO GO, YOU GOTTA DO THE SWIRL.
SO WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT, UH, THE WATER FROM THE NEIGHBOR IS NOT RUNNING UNTIL THE NEXT NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY.
AND I DID SPEAK WITH THE BUILDING OFFICIAL IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER.
WHAT IS REQUIRED BY FEMA IS THAT A, IT'S CALLED A TB 10 TECHNICAL BULLETIN 10.
UM, TB 10 REQUIRES THAT AN ENGINEERED DRAINAGE PLAN BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH, UM, BUILDING PLANS.
WHEN YOU ARE CONSTRUCTING, UM, A STRUCTURE IN A FLOOD PLAIN, A SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA, AND YOU ARE UTILIZING FIELD DIRT, THAT TB 10 HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE INSPECTIONS AND PERMITTING DEPARTMENT.
HOWEVER, I WILL GET WITH THE CITY ENGINEER TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT TB 10 HAS BEEN PROPERLY INSTITUTED AS IT RELATES TO THAT CONSTRUCTION.
WELL, WELL ALSO, 'CAUSE WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT IF YOU GO, YOU'LL FIND IN THE ORDINANCE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT NEW CONSTRUCTION.
YOU KNOW, IF I JUST BRING DIRT AND I JUST WANNA RAISE MY PROPERTY.
ANY, WHEN, ANYTIME YOU RAISE IT, THEN YOU MUST ENSURE THAT THE WATER GOES TO THE DESIGNATED DRAINAGE.
FOR THAT PARTICULAR, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M REFERRING TO WITH HER, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO.
IT IS NOT GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ELEVATION.
IT'S GOT TO DO WITH IF YOU RAISE PROPERTY.
ANYTIME YOU RAISE IT, THEN YOU MUST ENSURE THAT THE WATER DRAINS TO THE DESIGNATED DRAIN.
AND THAT'S WHY THAT TB 10 IS REQUIRED.
BUT AGAIN, I WILL GET WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE IT IS BEING CONSTRUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT ENGINEERED PLAN.
SHE SAID IT'D BEEN TWO YEARS, SO WE'RE GONNA FIX THIS, OKAY? YES, SIR.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, MS. SANCHEZ? OKAY, THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY THE GREATER PORT ARTHUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, UH, PRESIDENT PAT AVERY REGARDING THE CERTIFICATE OF, UH, COMMENDATION PRESENTED AT THE PLEASURE ALLEN, UH, DISC GOLF COURSE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY.
UH, BUT WE, I I DON'T SEE MS. AVERY HERE AT ALL.
ANYWAY, SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS WE HAVE A, UH, NEED TO FIND IT HERE.
[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 This Is the Second Public Hearing Held Pursuant To Chapter 43.142 Of The Local Government Code. A Detailed Map Of The Proposed Area To Be Disannexed, Is Also Available For Inspection At Port Arthur City Hall, 444 Fourth Street, Port Arthur, Texas Between The Hours Of 8:00 A.M. And 5:00 P.M., Monday Through Friday And Continuously Online At www.portarthurtx.gov The City Council Will Consider An Ordinance Formalizing The Disannexation Of Said Tract At Its Regular City Council Meeting On November 21, 2023]
UH, IT'S 10 0 1.WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, UH, AND, UH, IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, REGARDING THE PROPOSED D THIS AND ANNEXATION OF 17.97 ACRE TRACK ACRES TRACT OF LAND IN THE COOPERATIVE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, NEAR WEST PORT ARTHUR ROAD, AND VITERBO.
UH, ROAD, UH, CITY TRACK OF LAND IS LEGALLY, UH, DESCRIBED AS TRACK ONE A WE PLANT OF LOTS, ONE AND TWO, TRACK ONE LOT THREE, TRACK TWO
[00:30:01]
BLOCK 18 RANGE, M-P-A-L-C-O ALCO IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.THIS IS THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING HELD PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 43.142 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
UH, A DETAILED MAP OF THE PROPOSED AREA TO BE DISH ANNEXED IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT PORT ARTHUR CITY HALL HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 AM AND 5:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
AND CONTINUOUSLY ONLINE AT WWW.PORTARTHURTX.GOV.
THE CITY ARE CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE OF FORMALIZING THE, THIS ANNEXATION OF SAID TRACK AT ITS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 2023 AT, UH, 10:00 AM WE ARE READY.
UM, THIS IS THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING WITH REGARD TO THE TRACK LISTED ABOVE.
UM, THIS TRACK IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY JEFFERSON COUNTY AND, UM, THE, UH, ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNER, UH, WHO HAS PROPERTY, UH, THAT HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN DIS ANNEXED IS, UH, MADE THIS REQUEST THAT THIS PROPERTY BE DIS ANNEXED ALONG WITH THE COUNTY, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN FACILITATE A SALE.
UM, TO ANSWER YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION, THEY, UM, THEY HAVE NOT COME UP WITH A SPECIFIC, UH, PROPOSED PROJECT, BUT THEY WILL BE DOING SOMETHING THAT MEETS THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS IN THE AREA.
BASICALLY, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY'RE INTERESTED IN EXPANDING THEIR, UH, CURRENT FACILITY.
UM, SO THIS IS THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING.
AGAIN, IT IS ADJACENT TO PROPERTY OWNED.
UH, UM, IT IS ADJACENT TO PROPERTY THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY DIS ANNEXED AS WELL.
UM, YOU MAY RECALL, UH, OR SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL LAST TIME WHEN WE DIS ANNEXED BEFORE, THIS WAS PROPERTY THAT WAS UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE BEEN DIS ANNEXED, BUT WAS ACTUALLY IN THE CITY LIMITS.
SO THIS IS JUST KIND OF LIKE A SECOND CLEANUP OF THAT.
UM, AFTER, UH, CONSIDERATION, AND WE'VE MET ALL THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, WE'VE NOTIFIED JUST ABOUT EVERY ENTITY YOU COULD THINK AND PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, NEARBY.
UM, AFTER THESE REQUIREMENTS MET, WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY OBJECTIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
UM, SO, UM, WE WOULD BE ASKING AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH IS POSTED FOR THE 21ST THAT THE DIS ANNEXATION MOVE FORWARD AND AGAIN.
ATTORNEY OR COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES.
YOU, YOU SAY THE COUNTY OWNS THE LAND? YES.
THEN YOU SAY THE COUNTY WANTS TO, UM, SELL THE LAND.
THE, THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER WOULD LIKE TO BUY IT FROM THE COUNTY, AND, UM, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THIS DIS ANNEXATION.
UH, RIGHT NOW WHAT, WHAT ARE THEY PAYING US? THEY PAYING US IN LIEU OF TAX OR WHAT? NO, THEY, IN THE ETJ, NO, WE ARE, WE DON'T HAVE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENTS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS OF THAT NATURE.
WE ONLY HAVE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENTS WITH, UH, INDUSTRY TYPE FACILITIES.
UH, SO NO, WE, THEY DO NOT, UH, DO AN IN LIEU OF PAYMENT WITH US.
SO, SO WE HAVEN'T BEEN RECEIVING ANY, ANY TYPE REVENUE FOR THIS PROPERTY? IS THAT, WELL, THIS IS OWNED BY THE COUNTY ANYWAY, SO WE OKAY.
WHAT I'M JUST SAYING IT, IT DIDN'T IMPACT ON US REVENUE WISE.
ANY OTHER REMARKS? ANY OTHER REMARKS? OKAY.
I SEE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILOR? KINLOCK SECOND MAYOR.
JUST, JUST, I APOLOGIZE IF I'M MOVING TOO SLOW TODAY, BUT DID ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC I ASKED? NO.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE CARRIED THE VOTE.
ANY OPPOSES? I SO IS ALL THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW ENDED.
WE WILL NOW MOVE BACK TO OUR REGULAR, UH, EXCUSE AGENDA ITEMS. AND AS I WAS STATING, I DON'T SEE MS. AVERY HERE TODAY, UH, FROM THE, UH, CHAMBER ABOUT THE DISC.
[Items III.B.2. & VII.C.10.]
UH, WE HAVE A, UH, PRESENTATION BY BIRD CONSULTANTS INCORPORATED A, UH, CONROE REGARDING THE, UH, PARKS MASTER[00:35:01]
PLAN.THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT CONTINUALLY STRIVES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED SOME HELP WITH OUR EFFORTS IN DOING THIS.
SO WE CONTRACTED BURDETT CONSULTANTS TO HELP WITH THIS PLAN THAT WE HAVE THAT WILL HELP GUIDE US WITH WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH FUTURE ENDEAVORS WITH THE PARKS.
SO, WHAT WE HAVE PAUL HOWARD HERE WITH VERDICT CONSULTANTS, WHO'S GONNA GIVE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MASTER PLAN THAT WE HAVE PRESENTED BEFORE YOU.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ATTEMPTING TO TILT IT UP.
UM, ASHANDA SAID THIS IS GOING TO BE A, A, AN OVERVIEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MASTER PLAN.
THERE'S A LOT IN THE DOCUMENT.
UH, WE SPENT THE LAST YEAR WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY WITH STAFF AND VARIOUS, UM, USER GROUPS, UM, TO IDENTIFY, UM, THE RECREATION NEEDS, BOTH PHYSICAL AND IN TERMS OF PROGRAMMATIC OR NEW FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
LET ME, DID IT CLICK? THERE IT GOES.
SO THE PLANNING PROCESS OVERALL, UH, INVOLVES, UH, THE FIRST STEP OF GETTING TO KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY.
WE EVALUATED EVERY PARK AND FACILITY DOWN TO EVERY BENCH AND EVERY TRASH CAN AND EVERY PLAYGROUND FEATURE, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, THIS INVOLVED, UH, RATING EACH, UH, FEATURE, UH, ON A CATEGORY OF EITHER GOOD, MEDIOCRE OR POOR SO THAT WE COULD UNDERSTAND THE CONDITION OF FEATURES AND IF THERE'S THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR, UM, OR, UH, REMOVE, THEN WE CAN, UM, DEAL WITH THAT ALONG THE WAY.
UM, IT'S ALSO INVOLVED A NEEDS AS ASSESSMENT, WHICH IS A COMBINATION OF BOTH WHAT WE'VE OB OBSERVED ON THE GROUND AND WHAT WE SEE, UM, FROM STAKEHOLDER INPUT, UM, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, INV, UM, INVOLVED SURVEYS, UH, ONLINE.
ONLINE AND WORKSHOPS AND, UM, MEETINGS IN THE, UM, IN THE PARKS, AS WELL AS REACHING OUT TO VARIOUS, UH, USER GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY ALL THAT INFORMATION GETS BROUGHT BACK SO THAT WE CAN ANALYZE WHAT'S THE BEST APPROACH TO, UM, FIXING, UM, THE NEEDS, UM, AND BRINGING NEW, UH, RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES TO, UM, PORT ARTHUR.
AND, UM, LET'S SEE IF I CAN CLICK THAT AGAIN.
SOME OF THE STUDIES INCLUDED, UM, LIKE I I MENTIONED BEFORE, UH, AN INVENTORY OF YOUR PARKS AND, UH, FACILITIES.
AND ALSO LOOKING AT, UM, NON-CITY RECREATION PROVIDERS.
THERE'S, UM, A LOT THAT'S OUT THERE IN TERMS OF GYMS AND, UM, PRIVATE CLUBS AND, UM, ATHLETICS, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT PROVIDED BY THE CITY THAT ARE PART OF THE OVERALL RECREATION ECOSYSTEM, IF YOU WILL, IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO NOT TRYING TO DUPLICATE THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY BEING PROVIDED WELL BY OTHERS IS, UM, PART OF THE ASSESSMENT.
ALSO, WE EVALUATED, UM, THE COMMUNITY ON A, WHAT THEY CALL A 10 MINUTE WALK ANALYSIS.
THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK SOCIETY, UH, ASSOCIATION, EXCUSE ME, UM, CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF, UM, EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK OF A PARK.
SO WE EVALUATED, UM, ALL OF THE, UM, AREA OF PORT ARTHUR, UH, GEOGRAPHICALLY, AND, UM, DETERMINE THAT, WELL, I'LL GET INTO APPROXIMATELY 57% OF RESIDENTS LIVE WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK OF A PARK.
MANY COMMUNITIES DON'T COME EVEN CLOSE TO THAT.
UM, YOU HAVE A, A WELL DISTRIBUTED, UM, SYSTEM OF PARKS AND FACILITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEN WE EVALUATED, UH, BASED ON STANDARDS BOTH, UH, REGIONALLY AND, UM, LOCALLY TO, UM, AS BENCHMARKS OF, UM, WHERE THE CITY'S AT IN TERMS OF, UH, PROVIDING RECREATION FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS. AND, UM, AND WE LOOKED AT, UM, CURRENT BEHAVIOR PATTERNS IN RECREATION.
WE HAVE DATABASES THAT ALLOW US TO FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY DOING, UH, FOR RECREATION, UM, THROUGH IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.
AND THIS IS AVAILABLE THROUGH, UM, THINGS LIKE SPORTING GOODS, SALES, AND OTHER, UM, UM, RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE INDUSTRY.
THIS IS A EXAMPLE OF THE 10 MINUTE WALK ANALYSIS WHERE YOU CAN SEE GEOGRAPHICALLY, UM, THE, IN THE GREEN, UM, WHERE ALL THE AREAS THAT ARE WITHIN THE 10 MINUTE WALK OF A PARK, THERE ARE SERVICE GAPS.
AND MOST OF THOSE, UM, TENDED TO BE AREAS THAT ARE RELATIVELY UNPOPULATED RECREATION DATA.
THIS IS, UH, UH, A CHART SHOWING SOME OF THE MOST, UH, COMMON, UH, RECREATION ACTIVITIES THAT, UH, RESIDENTS ARE CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING.
THIS WAS AGAIN FROM THAT, UM, THAT INDUSTRY DATA.
UM, AT THE TOP OF THE LIST WAS, UH, WALKING AND HIKING AND, AND SWIMMING, UM, AMONG MANY OTHERS.
UM, THE SYNDICATED, THERE'S A DIVERSE, UM, RANGE OF RECREATIONAL INTERESTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INCLUDED AN ONLINE SURVEY THAT RAN FROM JANUARY TO APRIL OF LAST YEAR OR APRIL OF THIS YEAR.
[00:40:01]
RESPONSES, UM, WHICH THOUGH NOT STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT, UM, GAVE US A LOT OF, UH, REALLY GOOD INPUT, UM, ESPECIALLY QUALITATIVE INPUT ABOUT, UM, WHAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE PARK SYSTEM.UH, WE ALSO HAD A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP WE HELD AT BAUER ZOO CENTER BACK IN MARCH.
UH, WE HAD PARTICIPANTS, UH, ROLLED UP THEIR SLEEVES AND WORKED IN SMALL GROUPS AS WE GUIDED EM THROUGH A SERIES OF TOPICS ABOUT RECREATION TO DISCOVER WHAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE PARKS.
AND THEN WE HAD TWO OPEN HOUSES, UM, A FEW MONTHS AGO IN RO LAST MONTH AND A MONTH BEFORE IN ROSE HILL PARK IN EAGLES PARK TO SHOW OFF WHAT WE'VE COME UP WITH AND TO GET ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK.
AND WE ALSO, UH, REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TALKED TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT GROUPS.
SO WE TALKED TO THE, UM, PLEASURE ISLAND DIRECTOR ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS GOING ON OUT THERE, WHICH IN SOME CASES OVERLAP WITH, UH, THE PARKS MISSION.
UM, TALKED TO THE, UH, PARK PORT ARTHUR, ISD SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS STAFF.
UM, OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, UH, MET WITH US AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO HELP FURTHER REVEAL, UM, BOTH OPPORTUNITIES AND NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY OVERALL.
THE CHALLENGE, UM, IN PORT ARTHUR WAS THAT THERE'S, WITH, THERE'S SO MANY PARKS AND MANY OF 'EM JUST NEEDED A, A LITTLE, A FACELIFT.
THEY NEEDED NEW FE NEW LIFE TO BE BREATHED INTO THEM, AND STAFF WAS HAVING, UM, CHALLENGE GETTING THEIR ARMS AROUND THE, THE WHOLE OF THE PROBLEM.
SO OUR TASK WAS TO IDENTIFY, UH, WHERE THE NEEDS ARE IN TERMS OF PRIORITY, AND SO THAT THERE'S A PLAN CAN BE PUT TOGETHER TO, TO FIX THOSE AND THEN MOVE FORWARD.
ALSO BRINGING IN NEW AND DIFFERENT AND INTERESTING, UM, RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT RESIDENTS WANNA SEE.
UM, SO THE FIRST ON THE LIST WAS, UM, ALL OF THOSE INVENTORIED ITEMS THAT WERE IN, UM, POOR CONDITION.
UH, WE HAVE A, A SUMMARY LIST OF ALL OF THOSE, UM, FOR EACH PARK AND, UM, ASSOCIATED COSTS, UM, THAT ARE ESTIMATED FOR, UM, FIXING THOSE PROBLEMS. IN SOME CASES THAT MEANT, UM, DIRECT REPLACEMENT.
IN OTHER CASES IT MIGHT MEAN REPURPOSING THAT FACILITY SUCH AS A BASEBALL FIELD OR THAT'S NOT BEING USED IN SOME POOR CONDITION.
UM, OR REPURPOSING SOME OF THE MANY TENNIS COURTS IN TOWN TO BE FOR SOME OTHER USES THAT COULD BE PICKLEBALL OR, UM, EXERCISE, UM, STATIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, OVERALL WHOLE PARK RENOVATIONS ARE ALSO IDENTIFIED IN HERE, UM, INCLUDING STAFF SERGEANT LUCIAN ADAMS, UM, PARK, WHICH IS CURRENTLY, UM, BEING MASTER PLANNED AT A DETAILED LEVEL UNDER A SEPARATE PROJECT, UM, WHICH IS ONGOING.
AND, AND THE SAME APPLIES TO ROSE HILL PARK, WHICH IS YOUR FLAGSHIP PARK.
THERE'S ALREADY MONEY, UM, SET ASIDE TO START, UM, LOOKING AT RENOVATIONS FOR THAT.
SO THERE'S A MASTER PLAN EFFORT GOING ON TO, UH, TO COME UP WITH CONCEPTS AND OF STATEMENTS OF PROBABLE COSTS FOR WHAT THAT'S GONNA TAKE TO IMPLEMENT AND LOOKING AT FUNDING, UM, METHODS FOR, UM, ADDRESSING NEEDS AT THOSE TWO PARKS.
AND THEN WE IDENTIFIED, UM, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY AT JARED AND LOGAN MUSIC PARK, WHICH IS CURRENTLY, THE MUSIC PARK'S BEEN CLOSED DOWN FOR QUITE SOME TIME DUE TO STORM DAMAGE.
UH, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, TO BRING BACK, UM, MU MUSIC EVENTS AND OTHER, UM, TYPES OF EVENTS.
UH, WE GOT A LOT OF INPUT, UM, DURING OUR STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH FROM RESIDENTS THAT SAID THEY REALLY MISS, UM, THE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE, UM, AT JARED LOGAN MUSIC PARK.
SO WE HAVE A CONCEPT, UM, FOR WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE IN THE MASTER PLAN.
AND AT CECIL REYNOLDS PARK WAS, UM, SCHEDULED FOR, UM, A COMPLETE RENOVATION AS WELL.
WHAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU HEAR IS A IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE, UH, ON A PARK BY PARK BASIS.
SO EVERY PARK, IT SHOWS YOU, UH, WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS THERE ARE FOR THE ZERO TO TWO, THREE TO FIVE AND SIX TO 10 YEAR, UH, TIMEFRAMES.
UH, THIS IS, UM, TO BE A WORKING LIST FOR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO YEAR BY YEAR SET THEIR, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET AND THEIR, UM, THEIR OVERALL PARKS BUDGET, UM, TO TACKLE SUCH ITEMS. AND, UM, SOME OF THOSE ARE PRIORITIZED BY, UM, THE, THE OVERALL CONDITION OF THE PARK, WHETHER IT'S IN POOR OR MEDIOCRE OR, UH, CONDITION, UM, OR, UM, BY OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THOSE PARKS.
THAT'S JUST A SUMMARY OF THE SECOND PAGE OF THAT.
UM, WALKING, HIKING AND OTHER PEDESTRIAN RELATED AND BICYCLE RELATED, UH, ACTIVITIES WERE, ARE QUITE POPULAR ACCORDING TO, UM, THE INPUT WE GA GATHERED IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE IDENTIFIED A FEW, UM, AREAS FOR, UM, CONTINUING THAT EFFORT.
UM, ONE ALONG THE OLD RAILROAD RIGHT AWAY THAT KIND OF RUNS ADJACENT, UM, A PARALLEL TO UM, NINTH STREET.
UM, ALSO TAKING, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE CONSIDER THE, UH, THE OLD GOLF COURSE PATHS AT, UH, THE CART PATHS AT, UH, PLEASURE ON GOLF COURSE.
IF THE COURSE DOES NOT BE BECOME, UH, A GOLF COURSE AGAIN, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
YOU ALREADY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT COULD BE A GREAT RECREATION RESOURCE, UM, AND A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY, UH, EXPERIENCE A LITTLE BIT OF NATURE AS WELL.
[00:45:01]
RIGHT OF WAY WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE COMMUNITY THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CREATE SOME ADDITIONAL TRAILS OFF STREET TRAILS, WHICH ARE, UM, MUCH DESIRED BY RESIDENTS.AND THEN ON THOMAS BOULEVARD, THERE'S AN ABOUT A MILE, A MILE AND A HALF OF TRAIL, UM, THAT'S ALREADY THERE ALONG THE CENTER OF THE ESPLANADE THAT, UM, COULD BE REVITALIZED TO, UM, FURTHER, UM, ENHANCE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITIES IN A SAFE MANNER.
HERE WE HAVE A, UM, EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE CONCEPTS FOR, UH, LUCIAN ADAMS SPORTS PARK, UH, WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING, UM, MASTER PLANNED, UH, REMAINING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE, UH, FINISHING OUT THE, UH, OPINION OF PROBABLE COSTS.
AND, UM, IN THIS CONTRACT FOR, UM, LUCIAN ADAMS PARK, WE'RE GOING TO BE CONDUCTING A FINANCIAL IMPACT ANALYSIS, BLESS YOU.
AND, UM, AND THAT FINANCIAL IMPACT ANALYSIS WILL LOOK AT OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS AND CAPITAL COSTS FOR THE PROJECT.
AND THEN IT WILL, UM, CONCLUDE WITH THE PROFORMA THAT LOOKS AT WHAT YOUR COST RECOVERY, UM, OUTLOOK IS FOR THAT PROJECT.
UM, SHOULD IT BECOME, UM, NOT ONLY A COMMUNITY PARK, BUT AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR SPORTS, UM, ATHLETIC TOURISM.
THIS IS, UH, AN EXAMPLE AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, OF THE CONCEPT FOR, UM, LOGAN MUSIC PARK.
UM, IT INCLUDES EXPANDED, UH, PARKING, OF COURSE, UM, NEW RESTROOM FACILITIES, A LARGE EVENT LAWN WITH AN AMPHITHEATER STYLE SHELL, UM, PO TO BE DETERMINED IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, UM, ADEQUATE DETENTION TO MEET THE NEEDS ON THAT SITE.
UM, THIS WOULD OF COURSE DEAL WITH A LOT OF, UM, EARTH WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT IT, UM, DRAINS PROPERLY AND IT AS A MUSIC THEME WITH, UM, UM, FORMAL WALKS AND, UM, LIGHTING AND FEATURES, UM, THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
AND THIS CONCEPT IS ROSEHILL PARK.
UM, THERE ARE TWO CONCEPT THREE CONCEPTS DEVELOPED, UM, FOR THAT SITE THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.
UH, WE'RE FINISHING UP THE OPINION OF PROBABLE COST FOR, UM, UM, DEVELOPMENT OF THAT AS WE SPEAK.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO TYING BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS UP, UM, BY THE, UH, EARLY JANUARY.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THAT'S A GOOD, UH, STUDY YOU DID AND REPORT.
I READ THROUGH IT ALL AND, UH, I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO TO GET OUR PARKS GOING.
UH, I SEEN ON THE NEWS WE SELLING PARKS AND PEOPLE ARE UP IN ARMS FOR THAT, BUT FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER WE GOT OFF COURSE.
WE GETTING ALL THESE PARKS AND FORGOT YOU GET ALL THESE PARKS, WHO'S GOING TO MAINTAIN THEM? AND THE MORE PARKS YOU GOT, THE MORE YOU HAVE WORK TO DO.
SO MY QUESTION ON HERE IS THE, UM, LOGAN PARK, YOU KEEP TALKING A LOT ABOUT LOGAN PARK.
LOGAN PARK IS UNIQUE HERE IN THE CITY.
LOGAN PARK IS NOT ACTUALLY A CITY OWNED PARK.
AND WITHIN THAT DEEDED IT HAS RESTRICTIONS.
IT SAYS THAT IT CAN NEVER BE LEASED SO, OR USED FOR ANY OTHER EVENT OR SOMETHING OTHER THAN FOR ENTERTAINMENT, UNLESS THE MAJORITY OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR VOTE TO DO THAT.
WHICH MEANS THAT LOGAN PARK IS SUPPOSED TO BE STRICTLY FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO LEASE THE LAND OR SELL.
AND I BROUGHT THIS DISCUSSION UP BEFORE THOSE TRAILER THAT WE HAVE THERE, THEM RVS, YOU KNOW, THEY ACTUALLY ON LOGAN PARK 'CAUSE LOGAN PARK RUNS FROM THAT STREET ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE WATER.
SO FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, WE NEED TO START GENERATING SOME FUNDS AND THOSE FUNDS NEED TO BE ALLOCATED TOWARD RENOVATING AND KEEPING AND MAINTAINING LOGAN PARK.
'CAUSE LOGAN PARK SHOULD STAND ON HIS OWN BASED ON IT'S HAVING LAND.
SO EVERY TIME WE, UH, LOOK AT FUNDING IT, YOU KNOW, LOGAN PARK, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT FUNDS RIGHT THERE ON THE PARK.
THAT'S CITIZENS IN VOTE TO DO THAT.
SO WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT LOGAN PARK.
I THINK THAT'S THE ONE THAT IS KEY FOR THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN USE IT FOR ENTERTAINMENT.
YOU KNOW, WE FITTING TO DO THE CLUBHOUSE NOW.
WE COULD DO THE PARK AND WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT PUTTING THINGS OVER THERE.
GET THE ISLAND, BRING PEOPLE TO THE ISLAND.
WELL THAT'S HOW WE BRING PEOPLE TO THE ISLAND.
WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT FUNDING IT.
AND LOGAN PARK SHOULD NOT BE PART OF OUR CITY PARK PLAN BECAUSE
[00:50:01]
LOGAN PARK SHOULD BE INCORPORATED WITHIN THE PLEASURE ISLAND.AND THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE AN ADVISORY COMMISSION OVER THERE.
SO THEY SUPPOSED TO BE MANAGING AND LOOKING AT THE WAYS OF DEVELOPING HELP FOR THEIR ISLAND.
SO WE NEED TO ENGAGE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO GET INTO THIS.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO KIND OF PULL LOGAN PARK OUT IT AND, AND LET IT BE ONE THAT IS DONE BY THE PLEASURE ISLAND 'CAUSE IT'S ON PLEASURE ISLAND.
LAMAR PARK, IS THAT THE ONE UP HERE ON LAKE SHORE? YEAH, I HAVE TO LOOK AT MY MAP.
NO, LAMAR PARK IS THE ONE THAT'S RIGHT OFF OF LIKE WEST 17TH STREET.
BY WHAT KIND OF WHERE THE SCHOOL USED TO BE.
WHERE LAMAR SCHOOL USED TO BE.
IT'S IT'S ACTUALLY OWNED BY OH, OKAY.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT LITTLE PARK ON THE WEST SIDE? YES.
UH, WHICH PARK IS THIS ONE? UH, THAT THEY PLAY? SOFTBALL LAMAR, STEVE HAWK THAT IS, UM, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.
I CAN'T THINK OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I WAS TRYING TO SEE IF IT WAS LISTED.
IT IS NOT LISTED WELL, SEAHAWK PLACE.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHICH ONE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THE SOFTBALL FIELD YET THAT THEY PLACE SOFTBALL LAMAR, RIGHT.
AND THEN AT LEASE THEY MAINTAIN THAT ONE? YES, THEY DO EVERYTHING WITH THAT ONE.
WE DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH THAT ONE.
THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT'S LISTED ABOUT LOGAN PARK.
CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT FOR US? YES.
UM, WITH A THAT, LIKE HE SAID, IT WAS A, A VERY UNIQUE IN TERMS OF PARKS.
UM, WE BELIEVE THAT THAT ONE REALLY NEEDS TO DIG DEEPER INTO, UM, A A CONCEPT FOR DEVELOPMENT THAT THAT'S, UM, GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF BUILDING SYSTEMS BECAUSE, UH, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LIKE FOR INSTANCE, UH, A BA AN EVENT VENUE LIKE, UM, THE CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL PAVILION IN, IN THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS, WHICH IS MASSIVE.
AND THE STRUCTURE ON THERE, ALTHOUGH TENTED AND, AND IN PART IS ALSO, UM, A HARD STRUCTURE AS WELL.
IT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF INVESTMENT THAN SOME OTHERS ON THE MARKET AS WELL.
UM, UM, BUT ALSO, UH, LOOKING AT IT FROM A FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE, UM, PERSPECTIVE.
SO A FEASIBILITY STUDY LIKE THAT WOULD EVALUATE NOT ONLY THE, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT COSTS, UM, FOR THE SITE, BUT ALSO LOOK AT, UH, WHAT KIND OF TICKETING YOU NEED, WHAT KIND OF MARKET THERE IS FOR EVENTS IN THE REGION, AND ORDER TO, TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW IT'S GONNA PERFORM.
BECAUSE YOU, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET, GET ALL YOUR CAPITAL CA COSTS BACK.
BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO IS, UH, GET YOUR OPERATIONAL COSTS BACK IN SOME LEVEL OF THAT CAPITAL COST BACK OVER THE LONG RUN WHILE STILL PROVIDING THE, UM, TYPE OF AN EVENT VENUE THAT'S GONNA BRING PEOPLE IN HERE TO NOT ONLY VISIT FOR THE EVENT, BUT ALSO STAY IN YOUR HOTELS AND SPEND MONEY IN YOUR RESTAURANTS.
AND, UM, IT'S THOSE, UM, DIRECT AND, UM, INDIRECT, UM, IMPACTS THAT, UM, WE'D BE LOOKING AT.
AND I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT, UM, ROSE HILL PARK.
AND I THINK IF YOU REMEMBER, REMEMBER YOU AND I HAD A, A BRIEF DISCUSSION WHEN YOU HAD THE EVENT OUT AT, AT THE, AT ROSE HILL WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE, THE DIFFERENT STUDIES MM-HMM.
UM, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE LIMITATIONS THAT WE MAY HAVE FOR WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO AT ROSE HILL.
DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY THAT'S UH, DOING A STUDY, A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF THAT AS WELL? AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A CHAIN LINK FENCE THAT I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SEE GONE.
CAN WE ACTUALLY REMOVE IT? I WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING GOING ON.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY ADJACENT TO THE, UH, THE MANNER YES.
AND WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT DISCUSSION, UM, YET.
I THINK THAT'S, UM, THAT IS, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, I, I JUST KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME RESTRICTIONS WITH REGARD TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN AND CANNOT BE DONE ON THAT PROPERTY.
SO I JUST WANNA BE SURE THAT THAT'S BEING TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
I MEAN THE, THE SCHEMATIC HERE LOOKS GREAT, BUT I WANNA BE SURE THAT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN DO THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LIKE HISTORICALLY WITH YES.
WE ARE DEFINITELY GONNA TAKE IN CONSIDERATION ALL THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE FINAL EVERYTHING, THE FINAL PROJECT PLAN AND EVERYTHING.
WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA TAKE ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
DO WE HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT'S SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT, THAT IS OUR HISTORICAL COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT FOR, 'CAUSE WE HAVE TO SETTLE ON EXACT, LIKE HE SAYS, WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT PHASES AND WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER COMMUNITY MEETING OR TWO.
'CAUSE WE STILL HAVE SOME MORE COMMUNITY INPUT.
WE'RE GOING TO GET TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT THERE.
ONCE WE CAN KINDA FINALIZE WHAT THE COMMITTEE, WHAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS AND THE CITIZENS FEEL OF WHAT THEY THEY WANT THERE, THEN WE'LL MOVE TO THAT STEP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES.
[00:55:01]
PRESENTATION.OH, I ALREADY PICKED UP, UH, THE OLD ABANDONED RAILROADS TO CONSIDER OVER HIKING BIKE TRIP AFTER SIX YEARS OF BEING OFF THE COUNCIL.
I CAME BACK AND I'M, I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO GET THOSE THINGS WHEN THEY ABANDONED THEM FOR HIKING BIKE TRAILS.
SO WHEN I CAME BACK, IT WAS A JUNGLE IN LAKEVIEW AND PEARL RIDGE.
SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL TAKING THAT UNDER CONSIDERATION IN ADDITION.
AND, UH, AND A LOT OF CITIZENS ARE EXCITED ABOUT, AND WE TALKED ABOUT PUTTING SOLAR LIGHTS ON THE, ON, ON THE SEAWALL, SO, SO THEY CAN WALK AT NIGHT AS OPPOSED TO WALKING DURING THE DAY.
AND, AND, AND POSSIBLY SOLAR, SOLAR LIGHTING ON THE SEA WALL GIVES 'EM AN OPPORTUNITY TO WALK AT NIGHT AND YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER PUTTING MOTION DETECTORS ON IT.
SO IF IF NOBODY'S WALKING, THEY'LL BE OFF CONSERVE, CONSERVE THE LIGHTING.
THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT, UH, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT Y'ALL GOING TO TIE IN OLD THOMAS BOULEVARD HIKING BIKE TRAIL TWO, UH, MEMORIAL AND COME DOWN TO THE SEA WALL.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY TO, UH, GO FROM GULF WAY DRIVE TO THE SEA WALL AND TYING THEM TWO IN THAT WAY.
YOU CAN FROM HOUSTON AVENUE, ALL POSSIBLE ALL THE WAY TO MEMORIAL BOULEVARD AND THE SEA WALL BICYCLE OR WALKING.
AND WE HAVE A, A QUOTE ALREADY, UM, ACQUIRED FROM A VENDOR FOR THE SOLAR LIGHTING THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT.
AND, UM, SO THE STAFF HAS THAT AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW.
THE FIRST QUESTION I HAVE IS ABOUT THE RECREATION BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS.
AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PROPRIETARY, UM, LIST OF SOURCES THAT THEY USE, UM, WHERE YOU CAN SELECT BY, UM, GEOGRAPHY WHERE A CERTAIN AREA AND IT WILL GENERATE AN OUTPUT THAT TELLS YOU, OH, ALL THE DIFFERENT, UM, FE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES PEOPLE ARE DOING FROM EVERYTHING FROM PLAYING GAMES AND GOING GAMBLING TO, UM, BARBECUING TO OUTDOOR TRADITIONAL OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES AND, AND MANY MORE.
THERE'S, UH, IT'S A GREAT DEAL OF LIFESTYLE AND, UM, UH, OTHER TYPES OF DATA THAT THEY PROVIDE.
NOW, I DON'T HAVE, UM, ALL OF THE, UM, SOURCES FOR WHERE THEY GET THEIR DATA FROM BECAUSE THAT'S, UM, ONE OF THEIR PROPRIETARY PRODUCTS, BUT WE'VE TRUSTED THEM FOR A LONG TIME AND IT'S BEEN PRETTY REVEALING FOR MOST COMMUNITIES.
I'D ASK THAT WHEN WE ARE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR PARKS, THAT WE HAVE MORE STREAMLINED DATA FOR WHAT WE KNOW CITIZENS IN THE CITY ACTUALLY ARE INVOLVED IN.
AND I ACTUALLY DO SNOW SKI, HOWEVER, THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND I SEE THAT AS ONE OF THE THINGS LISTED HERE, AND IT SHOWS AT 1.2%.
SO MAYBE I'M JUST A PART OF THAT SMALL ONE PART, 1.2%.
BUT BASKETBALL IS HEAVIER HERE, FOOTBALL IS HEAVIER HERE.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING WHAT OUR CITIZENS ACTUALLY DO INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE ARE THINKING OF ACTIVITIES FOR OUR PARKS WITHIN THE MASTER PLAN.
AND I'D ALSO WANT TO RELATE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT IT IS NOT AT ALL IN ANY SHAPE, FORM, OR FASHION THAT COMMISSIONS WILL BE.
UM, SPECIFICALLY THE PLEASURE.
ISLAND COMMISSION WILL NOT BE EXCLUDED BECAUSE LOGAN PARK IS A PARK OF THE MASTER PLAN.
AND SO I AM JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, YOURSELF AND THE DIRECTOR OF PLEASURE ISLAND HAVE MET.
AND SO WHEN IT COMES TIME, PLEASE JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL BEING INCLUSIVE SO THAT WE CAN, THAT EVERYBODY MAKING THOSE DECISIONS, UM, WILL BE AT THE TABLE.
AND, UM, TO YOUR FIRST, UM, POINT, UM, THE ONLINE SURVEY DID ACTUALLY ASK, UM, RESIDENTS HOW THEY'RE CURRENTLY RECREATING IN A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.
SO, UM, ALTHOUGH NOT SHOWN IN THAT CHART THAT WE DID GET TO, UM, HEAR THEIR RESPONSES AS WELL FROM OH, THAT'S GOOD.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? NO, I JUST WANTED TO PIGGYBACK OFF WHAT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, EVER FEEL WAS TALKING ABOUT FROM THE PARTICULAR STANDPOINT OF PICKLEBALL.
I DID RECEIVE SOME COMMENTS FROM INDIVIDUALS, UH, WANTING TO CHANGE SOME OF THE TENNIS COURTS INTO PICKLEBALL COURTS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT WERE RELAY TO ME WAS THE ONE BY THE, UM, UH, BY THE, UH, GOLF COURSE, UH, THAT, THAT PARK, UH, WAS, UH, REQUESTED THAT PERHAPS YOU COULD PUT A A COUPLE OF PICKLEBALL, UH, COURTS THERE.
SO I SIMPLY WANTED TO MENTION THAT TO
[01:00:01]
YOU.YOU HAD SOMETHING ELSE? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YEAH, BRIEFLY.
UH, REAL QUICK, UH, AND IT MAY BE A QUESTION FOR THE DIRECTOR.
I'M, I'M LOOKING AT THE PRESENTATION, BUT GILLUM CIRCLES, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY PLANS FOR THAT AS IN THE MASTER PLAN? I KNOW WE, WE TALKED ABOUT LIGHTING THERE BEFORE WE TALKED ABOUT THE WATER, UH, UH, PLAYGROUND OR ACCESS TO WATER TYPE PARK.
SO I DON'T SEE IT ON THE LIST AND OBJECTION IF THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE.
WE GOT, WE GOT SOMEWHERE UNDER, UNDER THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BARBARA JACKET PARK.
RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST A PARKING LOT REPAIR.
JUST TO WHAT ABOUT, WOULD THAT ALSO INCLUDE LIGHTING AS WELL? AS FAR AS PARK, YES, WE WILL DO SOME LIGHTING.
IT JUST WOULD, AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHAT, 'CAUSE WHAT WE DID, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS, WE WANTED, UM, A BLIND EYE TO COME IN AND LOOK AT OUR PARKS.
WE SEE EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME AND WE KNOW WHAT WE MAY THINK WE NEED OR WHAT WE WANT, BUT WE WANTED A UNBIASED EYE TO COME IN AND SEE WHAT THEY THINK THAT WE NEED FROM VARIOUS DIFFERENT DATA ANALYTICS, FROM JUST EVERYTHING.
JUST THE WHOLE DAMAGE OF THINGS.
THAT IS A, THAT WAS A DISCUSSION AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
I, I GOT AN AMENDMENT FOR THE, YOUR PARK, I FORGOT THIS.
I WANT TO, I WANT IT AMENDED AND EXTENDED FROM MLK ALL THE WAY TO MEMORIAL BOULEVARD.
AND THAT'LL FIT IN WITH THAT FORMULA THAT'LL PUT FROM PROCTOR STREET, WEST PROCTOR TO WEST 19TH.
THAT'LL PUT EVERYBODY WITHIN 10, 10 OR 15 MINUTES OF WALKING DISTANCE OR RIDING A BIKE.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME WAY UP ON THE EAST SIDE.
THEY CAN RIDE THE BIKE OR WALK WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I WILL, THAT'S A HIGH PRIORITY.
INCLUDE MLK ALL THE WAY TO, NOT THAT, I MEAN, MEMORIAL BOULEVARD.
YOU SEE THE MAYOR? YEAH, I THINK, UM, I THINK WE'RE GOING UP, UM, OUTTA THE SCOPE OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED HERE.
THE, THE INTENT OF THIS PARK MASTER PLAN IS TO ADDRESS THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THE EXISTING PARKS, A TRANSPORTATION PLAN, AND A BIKING AND HIKING PLAN WILL ADDRESS, UM, COUNCILOR LEWIS'S CONCERN, WHICH WE HAVE COMING, WHICH I DO INTEND TO COMMISSION PRETTY SOON, COUNCILOR LEWIS.
SO THAT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF, THAT CANNOT BE TAKEN CARE OF UNDER PARKS MASTER PLAN, SO NO, IT WON'T, IT'LL BE TAKEN UNDER THE CONSIDERATION OF A TRANSPORTATION, BIKING, AND HIKING PLAN FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
LET'S NOT MIX UP AS AN ORANGES TOGETHER.
UM, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP OF GETTING ONE OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE NEED FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY.
LET US FOCUS ON THE SCOPE OF THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE SO THAT WE CAN USE IT AS A FINANCIAL PLANNING TOOL.
THIS IS THE INTENTION FOR THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS.
ANY, ANYTHING? UH, MAYOR
WHEN I, I FORGET WHICH PAGE IT WAS ON, BUT IT SHOWED US THE TRAILS THAT WERE ON THOMAS BOULEVARD THAT WERE BIKE TRAILS AND WALKING TRAILS.
BUT WE UNDER, WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF STORMS, BECAUSE OF DRAINAGE, THAT NOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, LUMPY.
SO THE DRAINAGE PLAN, THE PARKS PLAN, THE CITY MASTER PLAN, ALL OF THESE ARE BEING, UM, VIEWED IN ALLIANCE.
SO HOW, HOW IS IT BEING BUDGETED? AND THIS, MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION FOR ANOTHER TIME, BUT HOW ARE WE BUDGETING FOR THE CORRECTION OF THAT BIKE TRAIL WHEN A PORTION OF IT IS DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE DRAINAGE ISSUE? HOW, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
I'M WORKING WITH, UM, UM, UM, THE, UM, TRANSIT DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THERE ARE SPECIAL FUNDING FOR BIKE TRAILS AND HIKING THAT WE COULD ACCESS, UM, TO SEE WHAT IMPROVEMENTS.
I THINK, UM, MAYBE ABOUT 20 TO 30 YEARS AGO, A LOT OF THE FUNDING CAME FROM CDBG FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THAT AREA.
THAT'S A DISCUSSION I'M PRESENTLY HAVING WITH IVAN AS TO HOW WE CAN ACCESS FEDERAL FUNDING TO IMPROVE CONSIDERABLY, NOT ONLY THE DRAINAGE, BUT THE IMPROVEMENT, THE WALKING IMPROVEMENT OF THAT AREA.
[01:05:01]
YEAH.AND, AND THEN WE, WE ARE GOING TO TIE IT INTO OUR STREET PROGRAM AS WELL, YOU KNOW? YES.
I APPRECIATE YOU REMINDING ME.
AND THOSE TWO PROGRAMS, THE MASTER PLAN AND, AND OTHERS ARE SEPARATE.
THE HIKING BIKE TRAIL ON THAT EXISTS TODAY.
WE GOT THAT GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, SO WE CAN GO BACK AFTER THAT AGAIN.
THEY GOT MONEY LAYING ON THE GROUND.
ANY OTHER REMARKS? IF I MAY, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS GET A MOTION TO, UH, MOVE UP, UH, THIS PR 23 4 6.
AND IT, IT DEALS DIRECTLY WITH THIS.
IF I GET A MOTION TO MOVE THIS UP FROM, UH, NUMBER 10 ON PAGE SEVEN, SO WE CAN CONSIDER IT NOW.
IT'D BEEN MOVED IN THE SECOND THAT WE WOULD MOVE THE PR UP FROM ITS POSITION TO NOW, UH, IN QUESTIONS ON THAT, SIR.
ANY NO QUESTIONS FROM IT? WE READY? OKAY.
IT STATES A RESOLUTION APPRO AND ADOPTING A PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN TO PROMOTE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE, WHAT YOU HAVE NOW, AND YOU'RE LETTING US KNOW THAT IT IS GOING TO BE EVEN FURTHER, OR IT WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE GATHER OTHER INFORMATION AT A LATER DATE.
BUT FOR WHAT YOU HAVE NOW, WE CAN ACCEPT WHAT YOU HAVE NOW.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO WE WOULD, UH, APPROVE NOW PR 23 4 0 6.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
[Items III.B.3. & III.B.4.]
UH, WE HAVE A PETITION, OR EXCUSE ME, A PRESENTATION BY THE, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, REGARDING ACTIVITIES AT PRINCE HALL, UH, VILLAGE.AND I GUESS THAT WOULD BE PRINCE HALL APARTMENTS, INCLUDING NUMBER OF CALLS AND ARRESTS.
THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, UH, THE CHIEF.
SEE THE ATTORNEY AND ALL IN ATTENDANCE AFTER SPEAKING WITH COUNCILMAN LEWIS.
WE'RE GONNA POSTPONE THE PRESENTATION UNTIL THE 28TH OF NOVEMBER.
UM, THE REASON THAT WE'VE DECIDED TO DO THIS IS BECAUSE WE WANT HOOD AND THE LOCAL HOUSING AUTHORITY TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT WHILE WE'RE PRESENTING, EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER WE PRESENT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THAT GIVES THE PEOPLE IN PRINCE HALL SOME HOPE.
ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN FRANK, YOUR LIGHT IS ON.
WELL, THIS, BOTH OF THESE ARE TOGETHER.
SO THEY THEY ARE, THEY ARE TOGETHER.
[III.B.(5) A Presentation By Human Resources Regarding Vacancies And The Filling Of Said Positions Internally Vs. Externally (Requested By Councilmember Kinlaw)]
NUMBER FIVE, A PRESENTATION BY HUMAN RESOURCES REGARDING VACANCIES AND THE FILLING OF SAID POSITIONS INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW, AND I THINK MS. WILLIAMS IS COMING UP TO ADDRESS THAT.
DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY BEFORE SHE BEGAN? WE, WE.
GO RIGHT AHEAD, MS. WILLIAMS. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL, AND EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE.
HOPE YOU ALL ARE WELL THIS MORNING.
UM, I AM HERE AS THE MAYOR SAID, TO PRESENT, UH, VACANCIES AND FILLING OF SAID POSITIONS INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY AS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW.
UH, THERE IS, THERE IS A, UM, PRESENTATION ON THE SCREENS ABOVE.
SO THE OVERVIEW, UM, HIGH DEMAND AND SHORT SUPPLY FOR SKILLED WORKERS IN THE WORKPLACE MEANS THAT FILLING DEPARTMENTAL VACANCIES CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE.
WHEN NEW JOB VACANCIES ARRIVE, WE OFTEN FACE CHALLENGES WITH FILLING POSITIONS.
[01:10:01]
THE SKILL LEVEL, AND THE EXPERIENCE OF THE POSITIONS THAT WE NEED.THE PROCESS OF HIRING CAN BE OVERWHELMING TO ALL INVOLVED.
THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO WORK WITH ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS TO FILL VACANCIES AS PROMPTLY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE, WHILE ADHERING TO ALL APPLICABLE CITY POLICIES AND JOB DESCRIPTIONS.
RECOMMENDATIONS, AND, I'M SORRY.
REQUIREMENTS AND STATE AND FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT LAWS.
THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES WILL FLUCTUATE WITH EVERY UPDATE DUE TO ONGOING TERMINATIONS, RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS, AND OTHER REASONS.
HUMAN RESOURCES AND DEPARTMENT HEADS REVIEW JOB DESCRIPTIONS OF OPEN POSITIONS ON AN ONGOING BASIS AND ENSURE THEY ARE ACCURATE AND SPECIFIC TO THE DESCRIPTION.
ADJUSTMENTS ARE SOMETIMES NECESSARY AND CHANGES ARE AGREED UPON BY BOTH HUMAN RESOURCES AND THE DEPARTMENT HEAD.
CURRENTLY WITHIN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WE HAVE 76 VACANCIES.
THE BULK OF THE VACANCIES ARE IN UTILITY OPERATIONS, PUBLIC WORKS, AND THE TRANSIT DEPARTMENTS OF THE 76 POSITIONS, 27 ARE IN THE REFERRAL PHASE.
THE REFERRAL PHASE INCLUDES INTERVIEWING AND AWAITING RECOMMENDATIONS.
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 20 NEW POST POSTED POSITIONS IN DIFFERENT POSITION, DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
SEVERAL SAID POSITIONS HAVE BEEN POSTED INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.
I JUST POSTED LIKE SEVEN POSITIONS THIS MORNING, SOME WITHIN SOME EXTERNALLY.
WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, THE CITY HAS HAD SOME RETIREMENTS, OF COURSE, RESIGNATIONS AND TERMINATIONS FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
ACCORDING TO SECTION 1722, FILLING OF VACANT REGULAR POSITIONS, ALL NON-PROFESSIONAL AND NON-SUPERVISORY POSITIONS SHALL BE POSTED FOR BID ON THE BULLETIN BOARDS AND MAINTAINED BY THE HR DEPARTMENT FOR SEVEN CONSECUTIVE CALENDAR DAYS.
REGULAR PROBATIONARY AND EMPLOYEES CLASSIFIED AS CITY TEMPORARIES SHALL BE ALLOWED TO SUBMIT BIDS.
THIS INITIATES THE INTERNAL PROCESS.
THESE POSITIONS ARE CONSIDERED PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION OF EXTERNAL APPLICANTS.
IF THERE ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, THE POSITION WILL BE POSTED TO EXTERNAL APPLICANTS FROM THE SAME NUMBER OF DAYS UNLESS SPECIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
IT WILL THEN BE POSTED CONTINUOUS UNTIL FILLED WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S APPROVAL.
FOR POSITIONS WHICH REQUIRE A SPECIAL LICENSE OR SKILLSET, THE POSITION CAN BE POSTED INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY AT THE SAME TIME APPROVED BY THE CITY MANAGER.
IF THE POSITION IS POSTED FOR SEVEN DAYS.
AND ADEQUATE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS ARE REFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR REVIEW AND OR INTERVIEWS.
THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHEN POSTINGS WILL NEED TO BE REPOSTED SEVERAL TIMES TO OBTAIN THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION.
CURRENTLY, UTILITY OPERATIONS HAS 20 OPEN POSITIONS.
PUBLIC WORKS HAS 26, TRANSIT HAS SEVEN.
ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS TOTAL OF 23.
ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS INCLUDE POLICE, NON-CIVIL SERVICE, IT, FINANCE, INCLUDING ACCOUNTING AND PURCHASING, LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, PARKS AND RECREATION, MUNICIPAL COURT, AND HUMAN RESOURCES.
OF COURSE, THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF REASONS WHY THERE ARE VACANCIES, INCLUDING COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE RETIREMENTS, TERMINATIONS, AND RESIGNATIONS.
THE STATUS OF THE VACANCIES THAT I MENTIONED PRIOR, UM, THERE ARE 20 THAT ARE POSTED INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.
WE HAVE SIX THAT ARE POSTED UNTIL FIELD.
PHASE SEVEN THAT ARE, UM, INTERVIEWS BEING HELD OR WE'RE AWAITING A RECOMMENDATION.
THE HUMAN RE RESOURCES OFFICE RECEIVES APPLICATIONS FOR VARIOUS POSITIONS.
DAILY INDIVIDUALS APPLY AND OFTEN SOMETIMES DO NOT MEET MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION FOR WHICH THEY ARE APPLYING.
HUMAN RESOURCES AND DEPARTMENT HEADS MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORTS TO HIRE THE MOST QUALIFIED AND SKILLED INDIVIDUALS FOR OPEN POSITIONS.
ORGANIZATIONS PAYING COMPETITIVE WAGES DO NOT MAKE IT EASY FOR US TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE CITY.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED, ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, THE NATIONAL
[01:15:01]
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 3.9%, WHILE TEXAS'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 4.1%.THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS JOB FAIRS AND ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
COUNCILMAN KENLEY? YOUR LIGHT WAS STILL ON YOU.
UH, DIRECTOR, I, I REALLY HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THIS AND WE'VE SPOKE BEFORE.
I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR, I, I THINK IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, MAYBE FOUR TIMES, BECAUSE I DO HAVE A CONCERN.
UH, I KNOW ABOUT, I THINK ON OR ABOUT THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE AND YOU GAVE A PRESENTATION, WE HAD ABOUT 42 VACANCIES.
AND, UH, I TOOK NOTES ON IT AND I DID MY HOMEWORK ON IT AS WELL.
SO AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE INTERVIEW PROCESS WITH DEPARTMENT HEAD SUPERVISOR ACTUALLY CONDUCTING THIS WITH YOU, MAKING YOUR HARD, MAKING YOUR JOB A LOT HARDER.
UH, WE TALKED ABOUT REWRITING JOB DESCRIPTIONS.
UH, SO, UH, INDIVIDUALS CAN ACTUALLY GET THESE JOBS, YOU KNOW, UH, BECAUSE OF THE REQUIREMENTS.
WE TALKED ABOUT ALSO CDL REQUIREMENTS FOR SOME OF THE POSITIONS IN PUBLIC WORKS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WON'T BE, THEY WON'T HAVE A NEED FOR IT.
WE JUST WANNA HIRE THE INDIVIDUAL.
SO, UH, MY CONCERN IS WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TO CONTINUE? I, I DON'T KNOW, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD A, A VACANCY JOB FAIR, UH, FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR? BUT IF WE ASK OTHER IN INDUSTRIES OR BUSINESSES TO HIRE PORT ARTHUR INDIVIDUALS, WE SHOULD DO THE SAME THING.
SO WHAT, WHAT IS GONNA BE THE STEP, OR WHAT DO YOU FIND THAT'S YOUR SWAT THAT'S CAUSING THE NUMBER TO FLUCTUATE THAT HIGH? BECAUSE WE ALWAYS RANGE AROUND 80 AT THE PEAK, 85 AT THE PEAK, AND THEN WHEN WE START HIRING AND, AND GETTING BACK IN LEVEL AND OFF WE ROUND FORTIES.
SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT YOU SEE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT? WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TO ENSURE THAT WE START HIRING PEOPLE FROM PORT ARTHUR OR QUALIFIED PEOPLE, PERIOD.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO HAVE QUALIFIED PEOPLE FROM PORT ARTHUR.
IF THEY DON'T APPLY, I MEAN, I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
WE RECOMMEND SOMEONE, THEY MAY NOT PASS THE PRE, EXCUSE ME, THE PRE-EMPLOYMENT, PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS.
THERE'S JUST A MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENT REASONS WHY THE NUMBER IS HIGH.
SO, UH, UH, VACANCIES ARE THREE YEARS OR MORE.
DO WHAT, WHAT IS YOUR JOB OR WHAT IS THE, THE MANAGEMENT JOB TO CONTINUE PUTTING THOSE JOBS ON A VACANCY LIST IF YOU CAN'T FILL THEM, IF, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY THING.
IF WE CAN'T FILL THEM, AND YOU'RE SAYING THIS HARD AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA FIND QUALIFIED PEOPLE.
SO WHILE WE CONTINUE PUTTING IT ON A LIST THAT YOU CAN NEVER FILL BASED UPON PREVIOUS HISTORY, THREE TO FIVE YEARS, YOU HADN'T FILLED IT.
BUT WE CONTINUE PUTTING THAT JOB ON WITHOUT TRYING TO REWRITE IT OR WITHOUT TRYING TO, UH, UH, FIT THE QUALIFICATIONS WITH THE JOB DESCRIPTION THAT'S OUT THERE.
BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT ME, UH, UTILITY OPS, PUBLIC WORKS.
I MEAN, THOSE ARE ESSENTIALS THAT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR NEED, RIGHT? THAT JUST BASIC ESSENTIALS THAT THIS CITY HAS TO RUN ON.
UM, YOU DON'T NEED A DEGREE TO HAVE MOST OF THOSE JOBS.
SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? WHAT, WHETHER IT'S THE STAFF MANAGEMENT'S, UH, VISION TO HAVE THESE JOBS TAKEN OFF, THE, THE LISTS ARE REWRITING THE JOB DESCRIPTION.
SOME OF THOSE JOB DESCRIPTIONS HAVE BEEN REWRITTEN TO HIRE AND NOT HAVE THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS SUCH AS THE CDL.
WE HAVE REWRITTEN THOSE JOB DESCRIPTIONS SO THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN BE HIRED ON AND WE GIVE THEM AN AMPLE ENOUGH TIME TO OBTAIN THE LICENSURE THAT THEY NEED.
NOW, YOUR QUESTION ABOUT INDIVIDUALS KEEPING THESE POSITIONS IN THEIR BUDGET, I CAN'T, I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR HR.
THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION FOR THE MANAGER TO ASK, YOU KNOW, WHY WE CONTINUE TO KEEP THESE JOBS, UM, IN THE BUDGET IF WE CAN'T HIRE THEM.
AND MY LAST, AND I'M GONNA, I'M GOING TO, UH, DEFER, UH, TRASH PICKUP, GARBAGE PICKUP PARKS, CUTTING GRASS.
UH, I HOPE IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT, UH, WE LOOKING DESCRIPTION OF THOSE JOBS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN HIRE INDIVIDUALS, UH, PERMANENT VERSUS TEMP.
I KNOW WE HAVE TEMP EMPLOYEES WITH THE CITY.
UH, ARE THEY GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING FOR A DIFFERENT COMPANY TO APPLY FOR SOME OF THESE JOBS THAT THEY'RE WORKING, UH, AND HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME? IF THEY ARE A CITY TEMP, THEY ARE.
[01:20:01]
THE AGENCY, THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BID.NOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CHANGED.
THAT'S, THAT'S EXACTLY, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE, UM, A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY YOU ALL.
NO, LET LET THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE COME TO ME AND WANT TO GET ON WITH THE CITY.
THEY DOING WHATEVER PERSONAL OR WORKING FOR THEMSELVES, AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY BENEFITS.
SO THEY'LL COME TO ME AND ASK ME ABOUT WORKING FOR THE CITY.
MY QUESTION TO THEM IS, WHAT, WHAT ARE YOUR SKILLS? MM-HMM.
AND THEY DON'T REALLY, DON'T HAVE ANY PARTICULAR SKILLS.
I SAID, WHAT? DO YOU HAVE ACDL LICENSE? NO.
I SAID, GO GET YOUR CDL LICENSE AND COME BACK AND TALK TO ME.
BECAUSE THAT'S A, THAT'S BEEN A HIGH PRIORITY ALSO.
NOW, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW TOUCHED ON A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT AS JOBS COME OPEN.
NOT THE RE NOT THE, UH, TERMINATION JOB.
YOU CAN ESTIMATE WHAT'S GONNA BE NEEDED IN THE FUTURE.
I KNOW OF SOME, SOME CITY EMPLOYEES THAT WE PAY FOR.
WE ARE PAYING FOR THE BACHELOR TO GET A DEGREE ALSO.
I KNOW OF CITY EMPLOYEES STARTING OUT, I MEAN, WAS HIRED AT THE LIBRARY, THEY'RE NOW IN POSITION.
I KNOW, UH, UH, CITY EMPLOYEES WAS A METER READER.
NOW THEY IN FINANCE AND WE PAID FOR IT.
SO ARE YOU DOING THOSE KIND OF THINGS? AND LET ME, LET ME ADD THIS.
OUR LOCAL OIL INDUSTRY, ACCORDING TO CONTRACTS, WE, WE GOT ALL THOSE INDUSTRIAL CONTRACTS, FUTURE JOBS, FUTURE PLANS, FUTURE EXPANSION, CALLING WITH THE LABOR DEPARTMENT.
THEY'LL HAVE SIGNED AGREEMENT WITH THE LABOR DEPARTMENT TO GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND NOTIFY THE PORT ARTHUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AS TO WHAT'S GOING TO BE COMING SO THEY CAN GET THE PROPER TRAINING.
MY THING IS, THAT'S, ARE YOU DOING THESE KIND OF THINGS? IT'S, IT IS NO DIFFERENT.
ARE YOU LOOKING AT THE, THE WORKFORCE AND, AND LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT'S COMING AVAILABLE IN THREE OR FOUR YEARS FOR AS RETIREMENT SO THEY CAN PREPARE THEMSELVES.
ARE YOU DOING THOSE KIND OF THINGS? NO, SIR.
YOU'RE NOT DOING THAT? NO, SIR.
WELL, YOU NEED TO CITY MANAGER.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
AND FUND IT, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU ARE, WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY PAYING FOR DEGREES AND WHAT HAVE YOU AND RELATED TRAINING.
BUT THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
AND UH, JUST LIKE THE ONES STARTED OUT IN, IN THE LIBRARY, THEY'RE IN OTHER POSITION METER READERS IS IN, IN FINANCE.
SO WE NEED TO PREPARE OUR PEOPLE FOR THOSE THAT NEED THAT'S INTERESTED.
THE ONES THAT VOLUNTEER AND COME UP AND SAY, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TRAINING FOR A FUTURE JOB.
AND IF, IF, GUESS WHAT? IF NOT, LEMME AND THEY DO THOUGH.
I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR HR.
LIKE MY DEPARTMENT'S, THEY, THEY DO, THEY COME AND SAY, HEY, MS. TAMIKA, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TRAINING.
AND IF IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THEIR JOB, THEN OF COURSE, YES, THEY CAN ATTEND THE TRAINING.
SO I'M ASSUMING THEY'RE DOING THAT IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS WELL.
I WENT TO, I WAS WORKING FOR VALERO.
I WENT TO THE, IN THE PLANT TO TALK TO THE SECURITY GUARDS.
AND I ASKED THEM, I SAID, IN ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO, THIS, THESE JOBS GONNA COME OPEN.
GO AND GET YOUR CERTIFICATION.
YOU KNOW, THEY EMPTIED OUT THAT PLACE.
A LOT OF 'EM WENT AND GOT THEIR CERTIFICATION TRANSFERRED TO THE, TO THE PRISON SYSTEM.
CREATED OPENINGS IN, IN THE, UH, ENTRY LEVEL AT, IN THE SECURITY.
THAT'S THE KIND OF THING IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE ON YOUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
UH, MAYOR PROTE, THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER.
FOR THE POSITIONS THAT, UM, WERE SHARED WITHIN THE PRESENTATION THAT SHOW VACANT FOR LET'S SAY 24 MONTHS OR MORE, HAS OPPORTUNITY, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE SALARIES TO BE DISPERSED AMONGST THOSE OTHER POSITIONS THAT WE KNOW WE NEED AND WILL HELP US TO ATTRACT QUALITY, UM, EMPLOYEES? NO.
[01:25:01]
IT'S BECAUSE EVERY POSITION THAT IS OPENED IS A BUDGETED POSITION.THOSE POSITIONS ARE APPROVED WITH THE BUDGET.
AND IF A DEPARTMENT HEAD IS HAVING DIFFICULTY FILLING THOSE POSITIONS, IT'S A DISCUSSION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE.
A LOT OF THE, THE CHALLENGE COMES FROM POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE LICENSURE.
LIKE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
YOU, YOU NEED AN EAB AND AC LICENSE, YOU KNOW, AT VARIOUS LEVELS IN ORDER TO FILL.
THOSE ARE VERY HOT COMMODITIES.
WE LOSE THEM, LIKE HOT BREAD THAT COMES FROM THE BAKERY.
THEY COME, THEY SPEND A YEAR REFERS.
WE MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE THEM WITH THE NECESSARY TRAINING, AND WE PAY FOR THE EXAMS THAT THEY TAKE.
AND AS SOON AS THEY GET THE A, DB OR THE C CONROE PROVIDES THEM WITH $5 MORE, YOU KNOW, OR AN ADJOINING MUNICIPALITY.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE, HAVE TO LOOK AT AND CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP A PEACE WITH THE LABOR MARKET AND INCREASE THE P FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AS WE MOVE ALONG.
THE JOB DESCRIPTION HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
YOU KNOW, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT THE PAY SCALES.
AND I, I HAVE ALREADY INSTRUCTED THE HR DIRECTOR AND, UM, THE, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UM, OVER, OVER ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE ME WITH A NEW WAGE AND WAGE PROFILE IN ORDER TO DO THAT, IN ORDER TO GET THAT DONE.
AND THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED WITH THE NEW BUDGET COMING ON STREAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP A PEACE WITH THE MARKET.
AND WE REMAIN, UM, COMPETITIVE.
NOW, LET ME SHARE AS WELL, THERE IS NO POSITION, THERE IS NO VACANCY IN THE VACANCIES THAT HAS BEEN POSTED FOR FIVE YEARS.
YOU HAVE A RECURRENCE OF LICENSURE POSITIONS, AS I SAID, THAT YOU CONTINUALLY LOSE AS PEOPLE BECOME QUALIFIED.
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE TO COMBAT THAT COUNCIL HAS INCREASED THE AMOUNT THAT WE GIVE TO EMPLOYEES FROM A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES TO $3,000, ALLOWING THEM NOT ONLY TO DO YOUR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, YOUR BACHELOR'S DEGREE, YOUR MASTER'S DEGREE, BUT UP TO THE, YOUR, YOUR DOCTORATE.
AND EVEN IN TERMS OF, UM, ONE WHO'S, UM, LOOKING TO BE SOME SORT OF LICENSED CPA OR WHATEVER IT IS, WE DO ACCOMMODATE THOSE AS WELL TO MAKE SURE, AGAIN, THAT WE REMAIN COMPETITIVE WITH THE MARKET OUT THERE.
I'M ABOUT, IT'S LIKE A ROLLERCOASTER WITH VACANCIES AND I'VE LISTENED TO WHAT EVERYBODY HAD TO SAY.
THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT ARE VERY, VERY CRITICAL.
ONE, PUBLIC WORKS AND WATER UTILITIES.
WE, THOSE ARE THE TWO MAJOR SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO CITIZENS, WATER, UTILITIES, AND PUBLIC WORKS.
SO IF WE GOING TO HAVE VACANCIES, I PROBABLY WILL BE KIND OF, WELL, THINGS HAPPEN IF IT WAS IN OFFICES, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND WE GOT 40 SOME VACANCIES AND, AND, AND UNDERSTAND ME, TAMIKA, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.
IT'S ABOUT ALL OF US UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
HOW CAN WE FIX THIS? WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE AND WHAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE? YES, SIR.
AND WHAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE IS THOSE TWO DEPARTMENTS EVER BE IN THAT LOOK, WE TALK ABOUT RETIREMENT.
I HEARD THAT SAID, WELL NOW RETIREMENT IS SOMETHING THAT WE KINDA MONITOR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE BEING ELIGIBLE.
AND THEN WE KINDA MONITOR WHO'S GONNA BE GOING OUT THE NET.
SO WE NEED TO START ADVERTISING MAYBE TO GET THERE.
MAYBE WE NEED TO KEEP SOME APPLICATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE QUALIFIED.
SO I THINK, I THINK WHAT EVERYBODY SAID TODAY, I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT NONE OF THAT.
I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER ALL THAT.
AND I THINK YOU'VE HEARD ENOUGH FROM COUNCIL TODAY TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND PUT A PACKET TOGETHER ON, UH, WAYS THAT YOU CAN REALLY ADDRESS WHAT COUNCIL HAS SAID.
BUT ONE THING THAT I HOPE COME OUT OF THIS TOPIC TODAY IS I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T LIKE CITIZENS TELLING ME THAT THEY PLACED THE APPLICATION AND HE NEVER HEARD NOTHING BACK.
[01:30:01]
YOU KNOW, UH, THEY SAY THAT THE APPLICATION WAS ON THERE, BUT IT'S NOT THERE NO MORE.IF WE ARE TAKING APPLICATIONS AND WE SELECTED SOMEBODY, AREN'T WE SUPPOSED TO NOTIFY THOSE WHO WERE NOT SELECTED? ABSOLUTELY.
SO JUST GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT AND, AND, AND SEE IF WE ARE DOING THAT.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD DO BETTER.
'CAUSE THE NEXT TIME WE TALK VACANCIES.
UM, I, I WANTED TO JUST KIND OF, UM, UM, FOLLOW UP FROM WHERE, UM, COUNCILMAN KINLAW WAS.
CAN YOU KIND OF GIVE US, GIVE US A BRIEF EXPLANATION ABOUT HOW, UM, TEMPORARY INDIVIDUALS ARE MOVED FROM THE TEMPORARY CATEGORY INTO A FULL-TIME, UH, EMPLOYEE? BECAUSE I BELIEVE AT ONE TIME, AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I BELIEVE THAT TEMPORARY, UH, INDIVIDUALS HAD TO BE RECOMMENDED BY A, A SUPERVISOR FOR THAT POSITION.
CAN YOU KIND OF GIVE US, UM, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
UM, IF YOU ARE, LET'S, WE USE ARGUS TALENT NOW, UM, IF AN INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN WORKING AND THE SUPERVISOR FEELS THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL, UH, ONCE HE FEELS THAT THEY NEED TO BE A CITY TEMP, THERE'S A TRANSITION THAT CAN BE DONE.
BUT IT'S THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERVISOR AND THE DEPARTMENT HEAD.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A DIFFICULTY BETWEEN THE SUPERVISOR AND THAT INDIVIDUAL? THAT INDIVIDUAL WILL NEVER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE, UH, LIKE FROM A, THE AGENCY TEMP TO THE CITY TEMP, RIGHT? YEAH.
THAT, THAT'S A, THAT'S AN ISSUE.
AND, AND SO I THINK, I THINK THAT THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED FROM THE PARTICULAR STANDPOINT OF ALLOWING SOME SYSTEM THAT, UM, ALLOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT PERSON TO MOVE AWAY FROM PERHAPS THE PERCEPTION OF A, A SUPERVISOR IN THAT, IN THAT POSITION.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD HELP TO FILL SOME OF THESE POSITIONS AS WELL.
AND I THINK, UM, IF WE GAVE THE ARGUS TALENT INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IT, THAT WOULD HELP AS WELL.
SO CITY MANAGER, I THINK THAT CITY MANAGER, I THINK THAT THAT'S ONE ISSUE THAT I THINK THAT WE CAN ADDRESS EITHER BY, UM, BY CHARTER OR BY RESOLUTION BY SOLUTION, SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN HELP THAT SITUATION.
'CAUSE THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THE CITY YES, SIR.
FOR ELONGATED PERIOD OF PERIODS OF TIME AS TEMPORARY AND COULD MOVE INTO THOSE POSITIONS.
SO IF WE WOULD MOVE THAT BARRIER OUT OF THE WAY, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD HELP TREMENDOUSLY.
I CAN DO THAT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY MANAGER.
JUST, JUST, IS THAT ATTORNEY? I DIDN'T WANT TO I HEAR SOME, OKAY.
YOU WANT ME TO CLARIFY? I WANT TRAINING ONE VERY DANGEROUS GROUND RIGHT HERE.
WELL, IF THERE'S A POSITION THAT'S AVAILABLE, IT'S A POST-IT.
I WANNA CLARIFY SOMETHING MAYBE WE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.
IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S A TEMP THROUGH AN AGENCY, THEN THAT WAS LOOKED AT UPON AS ONLY IN A TEMPORARY CAPACITY.
IF THE PERSON WANTS A FULL-TIME JOB AND THE FULL-TIME JOB IS AVAILABLE, THEY MAY APPLY FOR IT.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? THERE ARE SOME POSITIONS, LIKE YOU MAY JUST NEED SOMEONE TO FILL IN.
UH, AND FORGIVE ME IF I'M INTERRUPT INTERRUPTING YOU, BECAUSE I THINK WE MIGHT BE KIND OF MIXING IT UP A LITTLE BIT NOW.
LIKE, SAY FOR CHRISTMAS, YOU NEED MORE PEOPLE, OR YOU HAVE A BIG RUSH IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT, YOU MAY, THE TEMPORARY IS ONLY FOR A TEMPORARY TYPE DUTY.
NOW, IF THERE'S A FULL-TIME POSITION OF THAT'S WHAT YOU DO THROUGH THE AGENCY, THINGS THAT WERE ONLY DETERMINED TO BE TEMPORARY.
NOW IF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE, UH, INTEREST IN WORKING WITH THE CITY, THEN THE JOBS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO APPLY ONLINE FOR A POSITION THAT IS FULL-TIME.
NOW, UH, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
LIKE WHEN YOU WERE SAYING, WHEN THEY WERE AT, WHEN YOU, YOUR QUESTION AND YOU WERE SAYING, HOW DOES THIS PERSON GO FROM A TEMP TEMPORARY AGENCY TO A CITY TEMP? THAT THAT'S KIND OF A, A DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT IF YOU WANT THE, I DO AGREE THAT IF YOU WANT PEOPLE FROM THE AGENCY TO BE ABLE TO APPLY IN THE SAME MANNER, THEN THAT COULD BE CORRECTED.
BUT OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HAS TO APPLY.
IF YOU ARE WORKING TEMPORARILY IN ANY OFFICE AND THERE'S A FULL-TIME POSITION, YOU MUST APPLY.
I'M NOT TALKING, I'M NOT, MAYBE I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING
[01:35:01]
YOUR QUESTION.I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT HANDING INDIVIDUALS JOBS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT NEEDING THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SUPERVISOR WHO THAT AND THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN DOING A JOB FOR FIVE YEARS AS A TEMPORARY, YOU CAN'T BE A TEMP FOR FIVE YEARS UNDER THE POLICY.
WELL, YOU SHOULDN'T BE A TEMP BECAUSE A TEMPORARY POSITION IS IN FACT, WHEN YOU, YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW WHO HAVE BEEN IN TEMPORARY POSITIONS FROM THREE TO FIVE YEARS.
AM I WRONG? AM I WRONG? AM I WRONG? NO.
WELL, MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT THE PRACTICE VERSUS THE POLICY.
BECAUSE WHEN I SAY I NEED SOMEONE TEMPORARILY, IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE A, A SHORT DATE.
SO IF THAT IS HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT FROM A POLICY, WHAT'S WRITTEN DOWN, BECAUSE IT'S SUPPOSED TO, WHEN YOU'RE LISTED AS A TEMP, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SAY, HEY, I NEED HELP FOR SIX MONTHS ON X, Y, AND Z.
SO THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
AND THEN I'LL, I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT KIND OF REPLAYING THIS, UH, TAPE AND KIND OF LOOK AT WHAT THE POLICY IS BECAUSE I THINK WE, UH, EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BID.
'CAUSE WE, THAT'S NOT THE INTENTION OF A TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE.
WHEN YOU HAVE THAT T IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THREE MONTHS, SIX MONTHS TO FILL SOMETHING THAT IS ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.
SO WE'LL LOOK AT HOW THAT'S BEING APPLIED.
LET, LET, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME THROW THIS IN THE GUMBO AS WELL WHILE I'M STANDING OVER THE POT.
UM, THERE IS A, UM, THERE ARGUS, WHO IS OUR, OUR TEMPORARY PERSON.
WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A LOCAL COMPANY HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
BUT THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET INVOLVED IN PROVIDING PORT ARTHUR INDIVIDUALS.
THEY STAFF IN HOUSTON AND OTHER PLACES, BUT THEY'RE A LOCAL STAFFING AGENCY THAT HAS BEEN TRYING TO DO WORK HERE IN OUR CITY.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN.
I DON'T KNOW WHY, UH, THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THAT OPPORTUNITY OR IF THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT, BUT THERE IS A LOCAL, I'LL SHARE THE NAME WITH YOU, UH, OR I'LL HAVE THEM TO CALL YOU, UH, AND TO, UM, SHARE THEIR INFORMATION WITH YOU.
BUT THEY HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN OUR CITY.
THEY ARE A LOCAL STAFFING AGENCY AND THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO HELP IN THIS AREA, UM, FOR A WHILE.
AND, UM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THEY HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT THE, UH, HUMAN RESOURCES, UH, DIVISION AND UH, AND, AND TO SEEK AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PROVIDE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN PORT ARTHUR, UH, FOR THESE POSITIONS.
SO I'LL SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU.
THAT, THAT ACTUALLY WOULDN'T COME THROUGH ME.
LIKE FOR A TEMP AGENCY THAT IS AN RFP, IT GOES THROUGH PURCHASING.
SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO THE PURCHASING.
I'LL SHARE THAT WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
IT'S, IT IS A COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS.
AND I, AND I'LL SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU AND PERHAPS ALLOW THEM TO BID ON THE PROCESS AS WELL, BECAUSE, UM, UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING PEOPLE IN OUR CITY TO WORK.
UH, CHIEF, I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE IN THE GALLERY WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS OR HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THIS.
AM I CORRECT? MAYOR, YOU ONLY RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM THE GALLERY WHEN YOU TAKE AN ACTION, UNLESS YOU, OKAY.
WELL, WE HAVE, THAT'S THE NORMAL PROCESS, UNLESS YOU OKAY.
WANT TO VOTE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY.
AND I WOULD EVEN CONSENT OF THE GROUP.
I THINK SOMEONE, SOME OFFICER TOLD SOMEONE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.
BUT UNDER THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
WE ONLY ALLOW PEOPLE TO SPEAK WHEN THEY TAKE AN ACTION ITEM.
NOW, IF YOU WANT TO, IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THAT, YOU CAN, YOU'D HAVE TO VOTE TO ALLOW, 'CAUSE THIS IS, THIS IS POSTED AS A PRESENT MOTION, BUT THIS IS POSTED AS A PRE THIS IS POSTED.
YEAH, MAYOR, THIS IS POSTED AS A PRESENTATION AND WE'RE KIND OF TURNING IT INTO AN OPEN DISCUSSION.
BUT MAYOR, MAYOR, POINT OF ORDER.
WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE COMPANY? I WOULDN'T GET INTO THAT IF YOU DON'T MIND, MR. LEWIS, BECAUSE ALRIGHT.
WE ARE KIND OF TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TALKING ABOUT.
I'M SORRY,
UH, UH, AND MAYBE WHOMEVER IT, IT, IT, IT'S NOT AN ACTING ITEM, SO NO.
[01:40:01]
THAT'S, UH, LET'S PASS.CAN I SAY SOMETHING THERE? YES, MA'AM.
IF PE, IF CITIZENS HAVE QUESTIONS, I KNOW SOMETIMES IT'S CONFUSING.
WE COULD DEFINITELY SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH THEM AFTERWARDS.
WE JUST PROBABLY WANNA FOLLOW OUR PROCESS.
BUT IF THEY HAVE A QUESTION, I KNOW SOMEBODY COULD PROBABLY SIT DOWN AND, AND DO THAT.
NOW, IF YOU WANNA POST IT FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION, WHENEVER THERE'S ACTION, PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO TALK, BUT, OKAY.
WE'D BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH ANYONE AFTER THE MEETING OR DURING A BREAK OR AT ANY TIME.
IF IT PLEASES MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I CAN GET THE QUESTION AND PASS IT ON TO MRS. WILLIAMS, I THINK, AND THAT, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE GOOD, I BELIEVE, BUT WE WOULD STILL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH IT, WITH THAT.
UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, WILL BEGIN AGAIN BECAUSE OUR LIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YEAH, BRIEFLY, UH, EXITED POLLS, EMPLOYEES, RETIRING EMPLOYEES, QUITTING EMPLOYEE FOR WHATEVER REASON.
ARE YOU TAKING AN EXIT POLL? WE HAVE NOT IN SOME TIME, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I AM, UM, GOING TO START UP AGAIN.
THAT'S A GOOD THING BECAUSE AN EXITING POLE CAN TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED IMPROVEMENTS.
IF IT'S A MANAGEMENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU NEED, YOU NEED TO HEAR THESE THINGS SO YOU CAN MAKE THE CORRECTIONS AND, UH, WHY YOU'RE LEAVING, YOU KNOW? YES, SIR.
SO THE EXITING POLE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
MRS. WILLIAMS, WILL YOU PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE AND THE PURPOSE BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR HIRED TEMP AND AN ARGUS HIRED TEMP? IF WE INTERNALLY HIRE TEMPS, WHY DO WE NEED ARGUS? BECAUSE ARGUS IS JUST FOR LIKE, VAL TRIED TO EXPLAIN, WELL, THE CITY TEMP, IT'S ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THREE MONTHS, SIX MONTHS.
IT SHOULDN'T BE AS LONG AS SOME OF 'EM HAVE BEEN IN THERE.
ARGUS IS FOR LIKE, A LARGE GROUP THAT WE MAY NEED FOR A DEPARTMENT THAT NEEDS TO WORK FOR LIKE A CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF MONTHS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT? WHY CAN'T WE DO WHAT THE SAME SERVICE THAT ARGUS IS PROVIDING TO US? IS THAT A, THAT'S A, IS THAT A HUGE TASK AS FAR AS HIRING A CITY? TEMPS VERSUS ARGUS TEMPS? YES.
NO, I MEAN THAT WE HAVE A TEMP AGENCY.
I MEAN, THAT, THAT WOULD BE LIKE A CITY MANAGER'S DECISION.
AT SOME POINT I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF ACTUALLY HAVING THIS OUTSIDE TEMPORARY AGENCY IF WE ARE ABLE TO HIRE THE SAME PEOPLE.
UH, I, I'LL BE INTERESTED IN IT ALONG WITH MY COHORTS.
I'M, I'M KIND OF HEARING, UH, THE VACANCY LIST THAT YOU SPOKE OF, IS IT ALL, ALL THOSE VACANCIES ARE ON THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WEBSITE THAT THEY, PEOPLE CAN GO ON AND APPLY, LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS, JOB DESCRIPTIONS? NOT EVERY, NOT ALL OF THEM.
SOME OF THEM ARE INTERNALLY AND SOME OF THEM ARE EXTERNALLY.
AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE, SOME OF THEM ARE POSTED INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.
MAY, MAYBE I NEED TO PUT THIS BACK ON A DIFFERENT TIME.
I DIDN'T SEE YOUR INTERIM POSITIONS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S DEDICATED BY YOU OR THE CITY MANAGER.
UH, THOSE POSITIONS THAT'S, WERE THERE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL WE FILL THOSE POSITION AS WELL.
I DIDN'T SEE THAT ON YOUR REPORT, BUT I AM ALSO INTERESTED IN THAT.
BUT IF YOU CAN GET THAT REPORT TOGETHER AS WELL, VACANCY LIST, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO IDEA.
WHEN WE GET THE PHONE CALLS FROM OUR CITIZENS AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR JOBS, WE WANT TO ENSURE THEM THAT ALL THE JOBS THAT WE SEE, WE CAN REFER THEM TO YOUR DEPARTMENT OR WHATEVER DEPARTMENT INTERIM OR INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL.
UH, I'M WANTING TO, UH, DECREASE THE PORT ARTHUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.
AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN HELP YOU WITH BECAUSE WE GET THE PHONE CALLS FROM THE CITIZENS.
UH, THE WAGE ANALYSIS REPORT THAT CITY MANAGERS SPOKE ON EARLIER, I WOULD ALSO WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT, UH, BY THE NEXT MEETING OR WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DOING AN RFP FOR TO OH, GET AN ORGANIZATION TO DO SOMETHING.
IS THAT I JUST, I HEARD HIM SPEAK ABOUT IT, SO YES, SIR.
SO IF HE'S GOING SAY THAT IT'S GONNA BE PREPARED AND IT'S GONNA BE IN THE NEAR FUTURE, I WOULD LIKE THE COHORTS, MY COHORTS AND I TO GET THOSE REPORTS SO WE CAN BE COMPETITIVE.
[01:45:01]
WE, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW THAT WE, WE'VE BEEN HIGHLIGHTED A LOT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, BUT WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THOSE NUMBERS DOWN.OKAY, ANY OTHER, UH, DISCUSSION? CITY MANAGER? YEAH.
UH, LEMME, UM, UM, UM, SHED SOME LIGHT ON YOU.
UM, IT'S ALSO A POLICY DOCUMENT THAT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
THE CITY MANAGER TAKES THE INITIATIVE TO, UM, INTRODUCE IT AND, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE GO OUT THERE AND WE GET THE PROPER VENDORS THAT, UM, HAS, WHO ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN, UM, MUNICIPAL EMPLOYMENT TO DO THE ANALYSIS.
UM, FOR US, IT'S A DOCUMENT THAT WE BRING BACK TO COUNCIL AND COUNSELOR DOS IT.
AND, UM, WE USE IT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
SO IT'S AN OPEN DOCUMENT AND, UM, EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER WILL HAVE A COPY OF IT WHEN IT'S BEING DONE.
IN TERMS OF, UM, COUNCILS, UM, QUESTION ABOUT THE EMPLOYMENT OR, OR THE ENGAGEMENT OF A, A, UM, TEMP AGENCY IN ORDER TO DO, UM, UH, DO TEMPORARY EMPLOY EMPLOYMENT FOR THE CITY.
THERE IS A BUDGETARY COMPONENT OF IT.
IT'S MUCH CHEAPER, MUCH, MUCH CHEAPER TO ENGAGE, UH, A TEMP AGENCY BECAUSE WHY YOU DO NOT PAY BENEFITS FOR SEASONAL WORKERS.
AND IT'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE MEAN THE PARKS AND RECREATIONS DEPARTMENT, UNLIKE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS, WE ENGAGE A VERY HIGH TURNOVER OF SEASONAL WORKERS.
AND THEN IF YOU'VE GOT TO FACTOR THAT INTO A BUDGET, YOU WOULD HAVE A BUDGET THAT WOULD BE BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENGAGE.
IT KEEPS THE NUMBERS LOWER FOR A BUDGET FOR A BUDGETARY, YOU KNOW.
UM, AND THE THIRD QUESTION, LET'S GO BACK TO PAGE EIGHT.
LET'S GO BACK TO PAGE EIGHT HERE.
UM, IT'S NOT ALL GLOOM AND DOOMED THOUGH.
UM, PAGE EIGHT, LINDSAY, IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE EIGHT INTERVIEWS, HELD A WAITING RECOMMENDATION.
REFERRALS, THERE ARE 27 POSITIONS.
SO WE, WE HAVE A, A AMONG THE 70 OR MORE POSITIONS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, WE HAVE ABOUT 40 POSITIONS THAT ARE SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW, IN THE, IN, IN THE MACHINERY OF THE HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY TAKING ACTION ON, ON A DAILY BASIS.
EITHER LOOKING AT THEM, REFERRING THEM TO THE, TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS OR TO THE SUPERVISORS.
THEY ARE AT SOME STAGE OF PRO BEING PROCESSED IN THE SYSTEM.
EITHER WE ARE WAITING ON A BACKGROUND CHECK FOR THEM, YOU KNOW, UM, UM, WHERE WE ARE CURRENT CURRENTLY DOING THE INTERVIEWS OR WE ARE PUTTING THE MATRIX TOGETHER.
SO THEY ARE AT SOME STAGE OF PROCESS OF BEING PROCESSED IN THE SYSTEM.
SO ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS WILL FLOCK TO IT ALMOST ON A WEEKLY BASIS OR ON A MONTHLY BASIS BECAUSE THEY'RE AT SOME STAGE OF BEING PROCESSED.
AND 40 OF THOSE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS RIGHT THERE, 40 OF THOSE ARE BEING, UM, AT SOME STAGE OF BEING.
SO IT'S NOT ALL GLOOM AND DOOM.
IT'S NOT ALL 70 POSITIONS JUST BEING OPEN AND SITTING THERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WITH SOMEBODY TWIDDLING THEIR, THEIR THUMBS, THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TEMPORARY POSITION AND A VACANCY, A VACANCIES, A VACANCIES, A VACANCIES, A VACANCY, AND THEY ARE ALL VACANCIES.
THERE ARE NO TEMPORARY POSITION, THERE ARE NO POSITIONS THAT THE CITY MANAGER, UM, UM, CHOOSES, YOU KNOW, THAT HE'S GOING TO KEEP IT.
OR THE HR DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO KEEP A VACANCY IS A VACANCY THAT HAS TO BE PART OF THE VACANCY LIST AS WELL.
THOSE ARE JUST THE CLARIFICATIONS I WANTED TO PROVIDE.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT WE, WE MAY BE AT THE END OF THIS.
MS. WILLIAMS. UH, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER LIGHTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
[III.E.(1) To Discuss The Conduct Of City Council Meetings (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]
OUR NEXT ITEM ON, UH, PETITIONS AND, UH, COMMUNICATIONS.WE HAVE, UH, FOR DISCUSSION TO DISCUSS THE CONDUCT OF COUNCIL MEETINGS.
UH, THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ETT.
WELL, I GOT A GOOD BASIS TO START ON THIS MEETING.
YOU KNOW, UH, WE, WE'VE BEEN HAVING SOME LONG MEETINGS AND, UH, I THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND I LOOKED AT IT AND I'VE HEARD CITIZENS TALK ABOUT OUR MEETINGS AND, UM, I WANTED TO TRY TO FIND A BASIS, BUT I, BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND IT'S A, WE, IT'S NOT ABOUT THIS PERSON, THAT PERSON.
IT'S WE, BECAUSE THIS COUNCIL MEETING IS NOT OUR MEETING.
THE, THE COUNCIL MEETING IS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR
[01:50:01]
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT, UH, ARE EXPECTED OF US AS PUBLIC SERVICE.
UH, MEETINGS, TIMES, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS COME HERE TO HEAR US CONDUCT MEETINGS.
THEY SAT HERE AND THEY WANT TO CONDUCT MEETINGS.
SO WE GOTTA TRY TO, UH, KEEP THE MEETING IN THE FASHIONS THAT CITIZENS COULD COME IN AND THE MEETINGS ARE IN THE, IN THE SHORTEST PERIOD OF TIME WE COULD CONDUCT IT AND CONDUCT IT WITH THE IDEA OF ACCOMPLISHING WHAT WE CAME HERE FOR.
THE KEY THING TO IT IS STARTING ON TIME.
OKAY? IF, IF WE LATE OR IF WE GO LONG, SOME OF THAT COULD BE ATTRIBUTED 'CAUSE WE AIN'T STARTING ON TIME.
SO ONE THING WE HAVE TO REALLY TAKE TO HEART IS THAT WE ARE HERE TO DO THE MEETING.
SO IF WE TELL CITIZENS IS AT FIVE 30, WE NEED TO BE KICKED OFF AT FIVE 30.
CITIZENS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT AROUND FOR US.
THE OTHER IS, UH, ROBERT RULES OF ORDERS AND, UH, PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES.
WE, WE AS A COUNCIL HAS TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK, MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND, UH, PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES AND ROBERT RULES OF WATER.
THESE TWO, UH, THINGS WILL AID US IN ONE, KEEPING THE MEETING IN A ORDERLY FASHION AND TWO IN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME.
SO I THINK, UH, IF WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT, WE NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT.
AND I SAY WE, I'M INCLUDED TOO.
AND TAKE A LOOK AT HOW CAN WE CONDUCT OUR MEETINGS, TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUT HERE AND CAPTURE WHAT WE DO.
UH, THE PERSON WHO PRESIDES OVER TO ME MUST EXTRA BE PREPARED BECAUSE THE MEETING IS BASICALLY GONNA BE HOW YOU CONTROL THE MEETING BASED ON WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AND HOW WE DOING.
AND IT'S, AND, AND I DIDN'T SAY MAYOR BECAUSE THE MAYOR MAY BE OUT OF TOWN.
WE MAY HAVE THE MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, CHAIR IN THE MEETING, OR WE MAY HAVE ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE ANYTIME WE HAVE FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE CAN CONDUCT BUSINESS.
SO ALL OF US SHOULD BE PREPARED THAT WHEN WE PRESIDE OVER THE MEETING, KNOW THE PROPER WAY TO PRESIDE OVER THE MEET, UNDERSTAND PARLIAMENT RULES.
COMMENTS WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AS A COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE GOTTA LIMIT OUR COMMENTS.
YOU KNOW, FOR AN EXAMPLE, IF SOMEBODY COME AND RECEIVE A PRO A PROCLAMATION, NORMALLY THE MAYOR'S GONNA READ THE PROCLAMATION, DESCRIBE WHAT THE PERSON HAS DONE, THEN THE MAYOR NORMALLY MAKES COMMENTS AND STUFF.
BUT YOU KNOW, IF ALL OF US HAVE TO TAKE A TURN TO THANK THE PERSON TO TALK ABOUT IT, IT'S NO LONGER BUSINESS.
SEE, WHEN WE TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS IS ISSUING THE PROCLAMATION.
WHEN WE START EVERYBODY TALKING, NOW WE DOING A CEREMONY WHERE EVERYBODY COME AND SAID, THESE ARE THINGS WE, WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO, UH, CONSIDER.
SO WITHOUT POINTING FINGERS, WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, THE THINGS I MENTIONED.
AND IF ANYBODY MAKE ANY COMMENTS, LET'S ALL LOOK AT 'EM.
WHEN WE LEAVE HERE, THE NEXT MEETING, WE COME BACK AND LET'S START SHORTENING OUR MEETINGS DURING OUR MEETING IN THE EARLY FASHION.
AND I THINK EVERYBODY'S GONNA KNOW THE CHANGE ABOUT IT.
AND THEN THEY'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE MADE AN EFFORT TO SHORTEN AND, AND CONDUCT OUR MEETING PROPERLY WITHOUT US.
BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK THAT WE ARGUING SOMETIME BECAUSE TWO PEOPLE'S TALKING AT ONE TIME.
BUT IT REALLY, NOT AN ARGUMENT.
BUT IF WE FOLLOW THE RULE WHERE ONLY ONE PERSON TALK, IT CAN NEVER BE INTERPRETED AS AN ARGUMENT BECAUSE IT'S ONLY ONE PERSON TALKING.
THESE ARE JUST SOME THINGS I PICKED UP AND I DON'T, IT'S A LONG MEETING AND I'M NOT GONNA MAKE IT LONGER.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT NOW.
I THINK EVERYBODY GET THE PICTURE.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT AS LONG AS WE, THE CEREMONIAL KIND OF THING, YOU CAN SHORTEN THAT.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE DON'T WANT TO DO, IT'S A RUSH CITY BUSINESS.
NOW I'VE BEEN NOTICING, UH, WHEN IT COME TIME TO VOTE ON SOME MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
ARE THERE ANY, UH, DIS DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS THAT'S BEEN, THAT'S BEEN OMITTED? WHAT HAPPENED TO IT? WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE YOU APPROVE IT, YOU ARE LIMITING WHAT, WHAT THE,
[01:55:01]
WHAT THE, UH, PUBLIC, YOU'RE LIMITING PUBLIC INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN OMITTED.AND I'VE BEEN INTENDING TO ASK, WHEN WAS THIS? WHEN DID THEY CUT IT OUT? I, OKAY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE
[III.E.(2) A Discussion Regarding City Policies And Procedures For The Distribution Of Public Information, Improving Council And Community Relations, And Dispelling Misinformation (Requested By Councilmember Frank)]
IS A, UH, DISCUSSION REGARDING CITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, IMPROVING COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND DISPELLING MIS INFORMATION.AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, I JUST WANT TO, UM, I JUST WANT TO APPROACH SOME ISSUES AND, UH, PUT SOME INFORMATION OUT BECAUSE I HAVE RECEIVED, UH, PHONE CALLS, UH, FROM INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY CONCERNING, UM, SOME OF THE POSTS ON FACEBOOK THAT HAVE BEEN COMING FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I WON'T GO INTO WHICH COUNCIL MEMBERS OR, OR WHERE IT'S COMING FROM, BUT THERE'S BEEN SOME INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PUT OUT THERE.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPERATIVE AND NECESSARY THAT THAT INFORMATION BE DISPELLED.
I WAS ONCE TOLD BY, UM, UH, A REVERED INDIVIDUAL WHO I SERVED WITH ON ANOTHER BOARD, AND SHE SAID TO ME, SON, YOU NEVER HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT YOU DON'T SAY.
AND SO I FOLLOWED THAT, UH, THAT ADVICE, AND IT HAS CARRIED ME IN GREAT STEAD.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME MISINFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID.
LET ME SAY FROM THE ONSET AS WELL, THAT IN MY COMMENTS, I AM NOT DEFENDING ANYONE, UM, UH, BECAUSE, UH, THEY CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES.
BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MISINFORMATION, THERE ARE TIMES WHERE YOU GOTTA SPEAK UP.
THERE ARE TIMES WHERE YOU CAN REMAIN SILENT, BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO SPEAK UP SO THAT ULTIMATELY WE CAN KNOW TRUTH, BECAUSE TRUTH IS IMPORTANT AND IMPERATIVE WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO, UH, UH, DO THE BUSINESS OF OUR CITY, UH, WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT DEVELOPERS AND ATTRACT INDIVIDUALS TO OUR CITY.
AND WHEN TRUTH IS NOT SPOKEN, ULTIMATELY IT CAN LEAVE US IN A POSITION WHERE ULTIMATELY INDIVIDUALS BELIEVE THAT THE INFORMATION THAT IS BEING DISSEMINATED IS RIGHT AND CORRECT.
AND SO I WANT TO ADDRESS THAT ON TODAY.
AND SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE, THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PUT OUT THERE THAT COUNCILWOMAN HAMILTON EVER FEEL, UH, ABOUT HER RESIDENCE.
SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AND SHE CAN SPEAK FOR HERSELF.
BUT THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PUT OUT THERE, THAT HER RESIDENCE WAS KNOWN BY INDIVIDUALS ON THIS COUNCIL, AND THAT IT WAS THE COUNCIL'S DIRTY LITTLE SECRET WHERE SHE LIVED, BUT THAT WE DID NOT ADDRESS IT BECAUSE IT WAS, IT, IT WAS, UH, IMPORTANT TO OUR VOTING FACTION.
LET ME DISPEL THAT QUICKLY AND LET ME SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE, UH, WHERE COUNCILMAN, UH, HAMILTON EVER FIELD LIVES.
COUNCILMAN ETT LIVES, COUNCILMAN BECKHAM LIVES, COUNCILMAN KINLAW LIVES.
I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE ANY OF THEM LIVE, SO I DO NOT KNOW AND HAVE NOT EVER KNOWN WHERE SHE LIVES, BUT THAT HAS BEEN PUT OUT THERE ON FACEBOOK THAT WE KNEW WHERE SHE LIVED AND ALL OF THAT.
I WANT TO DISPEL THAT RIGHT NOW.
SECONDLY, I WANT TO DISPEL THAT THIS WHOLE IDEA OF, UM, INDIVIDUALS, UH, ON THIS, IN THAT SAME REALM AND IN THAT SAME POST MADE, MADE THE INFERENCE AND SAID THAT ULTIMATELY DEALS WERE BEING DONE UNDER THE TABLE AND MONEY WAS BEING TAKEN.
THAT WAS WHAT WAS BEING INFERRED AS WELL.
LET ME SAY THAT WE HAVE HAD, UH, WE'VE HAD AUDITS THAT HAVE COME BACK CLEAN AND CLEAR SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL.
I HAVE BEFORE ME A LIST OF 13 THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AND TRANSPIRED SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL SINCE, UH, BEING HERE.
WE'VE HAD 143 STREETS, RECON, UH, RECONSTRUCTED 57 MILLION RENOVATION OF WASTEWATER PLANT, 60 MILLION DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT, 4 MILLION PARKS IMPROVEMENT, 3 MILLION, UH, IN STATE, STATE-OF-THE ARC FIRE ENGINES, 10 MILLION IN ELEVATED STORAGE TANKS, 10 MILLION IN CONSTRUCTING A MODERN, FULLY EQUIPPED ANIMAL SHELTER.
ADOPTION OF A DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PLAN.
ADOPTION OF A COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN FOR THE CITY.
12 MILLION NEW FIRE STATION THAT'S GOING TO BE IN PORT ACRES, 13.4 MILLION ACQUISITION,
[02:00:01]
RENOVATION, CONSTRUCTION OF A STATE-OF-THE-ART HEALTH SERVICES FACILITY, ADOPTION OF A PARKS RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN, ACHIEVE STATE OF TEXAS DESIGNATION, CAPE CAPITAL OF TEXAS.WE'VE BEEN WORKING AND IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT IF WE DON'T WORK TOGETHER.
EVERYONE COMES TO THE COUNCIL WITH AN AGENDA.
WE COME TO THE COUNCIL BECAUSE WE WANT PORT ARTHUR TO BE BETTER.
WE COME TO THE COUNCIL BECAUSE WE WANT TO SERVE CITIZENS.
BUT WHEN WE ARE PUTTING OUT MISINFORMATION, THAT MONEY IS BEING MISAPPROPRIATED.
THE, THE INDIVIDUAL FROM THIS COUNCIL WHO PUT OUT A, A FACEBOOK POST, UH, ULTIMATELY PUT ONE OUT THAT HAD TO BE TAKEN DOWN BECAUSE SHE, UH, BECAUSE IT WAS, THE COMMENT WAS MADE THAT THE 220, THE $200,000 THAT WAS GIVEN TO US WAS BEING USED FOR SOMETHING ELSE, WHEN IN FACT IT WAS $25,000 FROM SOMEONE ELSE THAT WAS BEING USED.
AND WHEN ULTIMATELY THEY WERE TOLD THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING ELSE, UH, UH, THEY PUSHED BACK AND SAID THAT IT WAS, THAT NO, IT WAS NOT.
THERE'S NOTHING, UH UH, THERE'S NO MALFEASANCE.
WE'RE SEEKING TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN AND FOR PORT ARTHUR TO GET WHERE IT NEEDS TO GET, WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO ROLL TOGETHER.
WE MAY HAVE COME OVER ON DIFFERENT SHIPS, BUT WE ON THE SAME BOAT NOW.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE ARE LIVING IN WORK TOGETHER.
WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME WHERE THE WOKE FOLK ARE AGAINST THE MAGA FOLK AND ALL THIS KINDA STUFF.
LISTEN, THAT'S THAT, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD WITH.
IT WOULD'VE BEEN SO EASY FOR A COUNCIL PERSON SITTING ON THIS DESK TO SIMPLY SAY TO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN HAMILTON, UH, BOO, WHERE YOU LIVE, WHERE DO YOU LIVE? I HAVE A QUESTION.
I WANT TO KNOW, I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
RATHER THAN GO THE ROUTE OF ULTIMATELY GETTING TO A POINT AND PLACE WHERE WE GOTTA GO TO THE NEWSPAPER AND WE GOTTA DO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS AND PUT EVERYTHING ON FRONT STREET.
AND SO WE'VE GOT TO DO DIFFERENTLY.
WE'VE GOT TO DO IT DIFFERENTLY.
UM, LET, LET ME SAY AS WELL THAT WE'VE GOT TO MOVE TO THAT POINT.
WE'VE GOT TO MOVE TO THAT PLACE WHERE WE WILL WORK TOGETHER.
AND I, AND I I I HATE, BUT IT BREEDS MISINFORMATION.
THE COUNCIL DOES NOT MAKE $36,000 A YEAR.
BUT WE, BUT WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH MISINFORMATION.
AND WHEN WE START SAYING THOSE THINGS, THOSE THINGS GET OUT THERE AND ULTIMATELY THEY AFFECT WHERE OUR CITY IS.
AND IT'S MORE ESPECIALLY HOW OUR CITY IS PERCEIVED.
AND SO I WANTED TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS.
AND I WANT TO SAY TO US AS WELL, THAT AS A COUNCIL, AS SOON AS, AS IS DELIBERATELY POSSIBLE, WE NEED TO TAKE SOME ETHICS.
AND, AND, AND BECAUSE WE HAVE A COMMUNICATION POLICY, AND THE COMMUNICATION POLICY TELLS OUR EMPLOYEES WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO ON FACEBOOK.
AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO STOP ANYBODY'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
BUT LET ME SAY THIS, THAT AS A LEADER, NOTHING SHOULD EVER BE EXPECTED OF AN EMPLOYEE.
THAT IS NOT REQUIRED OF A LEADER.
AND JUST BECAUSE A THING IS LAWFUL DOES NOT MAKE IT EXPEDIENT.
JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DO IT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT TO DO.
AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT AS A COUNCIL, I WOULD ASK THAT WE WOULD COMMUNICATE, I WOULD ASK THAT WE WOULD CEASE AND DESIST MAKING COMMENTS THAT ARE NOT VERIFIABLE, CANNOT BE PROVEN.
AND IF THEY'RE YOUR OPINION, PLACE AND PUT A DISCLAIMER SAYING, IT IS MY OPINION.
BUT DON'T PUT IT OUT THERE LIKE YOU'VE GOT PROOF.
AND THAT ULTIMATELY, UH, IT'S THE GOD HONEST TRUTH.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, PASS THAT DOWN.
MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GET A COPY.
[02:05:04]
FIRST OF ALL, I NEVER RESPOND TO ANYTHING ON, ON FACEBOOK.YOU PUT SOMETHING ON FACEBOOK, IT TAKES UP LIFE OF ITS OWN.
AND YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T UNRE, YOU CAN'T UNRAVEL A BANK AND YOU CAN'T UN UNRING A BELL.
NOW SINCE THAT INFORMATION WAS PUT OUT, AND YOU HAVE BROUGHT IT HERE PUBLICLY ABOUT THE POSITION TWO, I PUT, WHAT, WHAT? YES HE DID.
WHAT, WHAT? YOU SHOULD BE WHAT? ANYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL, WE ALL HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY.
WHEN WE HEAR THAT WE MAY HAVE AN ILLEGAL COUNCIL PERSON SERVING BECAUSE THEY VIOLATED THE CITY CHARTER.
IT'S NOT OUR POSITION TO COME UP HERE AND TRY TO DISPEL IT.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS TO COUNCIL MEMBER, THE MAYOR CAN DO IT, OR ANY COUNCIL MEMBER, TWO OR THREE OF 'EM CAN DO IT.
YOU CALL FOR AN INVESTIGATION.
YOU DON'T COME UP HERE AND TRY TO WHITEWASH IT OR PAINT IT WITH A BROAD BREAST.
YOU DISPEL IT WITH AN INVESTIGATION.
THIS ARTICLE TWO SECTION SEVEN, ARTICLE TWO, SECTION SEVEN OF THE CITY CHARTER CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION.
NOW, WHAT HAS TO TAKE PLACE? NOW WE HAVE TO CALL FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO VERIFY THIS BECAUSE WE GOT CONTRACTS THAT'S BEEN AWARDED THAT MAIL ONE BY ONE VOTE.
QUORUMS HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY ONE VOTE YOU CAN'T DO.
WHAT IF, IF ANY OF THIS IS TRUE ABOUT THAT RESIDENTIAL THING, IT VOIDS.
IF IT PASSED BY ONE VOTE, IT VOIDS.
AND NOW IT GETS, NOW YOU GOT CONTRACTORS OUT THERE THAT GOT A CONTRACT BY ONE VOTE.
IF WE INTERRUPT, WE INTERRUPT AND VOID THAT THE CONTRACT IS GOING TO SUE US BECAUSE WE DID NOT DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
IF YOU'VE GOT, IF THERE'S A QUESTIONABLE ABOUT A COUNCIL RESIDENT, YOU MUST LIVE IN THE RESIDENT ONE YEAR BEFORE YOU CAN RUN FOR COUNCIL.
YOU MUST NOT JUST YOUR ADDRESS WHERE YOU'RE LIVING NOW, BUT YOU COULD LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
BUT WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU COME BACK, YOU BETTER BE, YOU BETTER.
BEFORE YOU FILE FOR CITY COUNCIL, YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT FOR ONE YEAR.
NOW, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTION NOW, CITY ATTORNEY, IT IS YOUR, YOU INVOLVED IN THIS TOO.
WE HAVE TO CALL FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND, AND IN AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY, UH, UNDER THE STAFF OF THE CITY MANAGER TO CREATE A CONFLICT OF ION.
WE MUST CALL FOR AN, IN A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION TO FIND OUT WHAT IS TRUE, WHAT IS NOT TRUE.
MAYOR, WE CAN'T DO THE RHETORIC.
MAYOR, JUST MAY I PLEASE, THERE'S NO ACTING.
I NO, I I NEED TO SAY SOMETHING.
IF YOU GO, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE.
COUNCILMAN ETT, IF YOU HAVE, IF Y'ALL DON'T, I WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE OFF THE TOPIC.
THAT'S WHAT I, THAT'S WHAT I KNOW.
AND THE TOPIC WAS TO TALK ABOUT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND WHAT'S LISTED, BUT WE ARE GETTING INTO THINGS ABOUT SPECIFIC PEOPLE, SPECIFIC INSTANCES, AND COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS HAS BROUGHT UP THE CHARTER.
THERE ARE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND LEGAL, UH, REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDRESSING CERTAIN THINGS.
UM, YOU KNOW, LET'S, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO EVERYONE, LET'S STICK WITH WHAT'S POSTED AND IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC THINGS, THERE ARE POLICIES, THERE'S POLICIES IN THE CHARTER AND OTHER THINGS.
BUT LET'S, LET'S, LET'S TRY TO STAY ON, ON TOPIC.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, UM, FRANK, FOR EVEN BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION WHEN IT COMES TO ETHICS.
IT HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY, LEMME START OVER BECAUSE I WANT TO RESPOND WITH A WAY THAT WILL SHUT THIS DOWN.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
WE FOCUS ON THAT JUST A MINUTE, AND I'M JUST NEED TO DO THIS.
WE ARE, WE AREN'T DISCUSSING YOUR RESIDENT OR ANYONE'S RESIDENCY AT THIS MOMENT.
WE WANT, WE WANNA BE GENERALITIES IN FOLLOWING PROPER ETHICS.
AS AS SPOUSE, CAN I, CAN I CONGRESSMAN FRANK AHEAD? RESPECTFULLY.
I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE.
WE REALLY NEED TO STICK WITH THE AGENDA.
YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS
[02:10:01]
THAT PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS WITH, BUT LET'S POST IT PROPERLY AND HAVE IT GO BEFORE THE PROPER PROCESS.BUT WE DON'T WANNA GET INTO ANYONE'S WON SPECIFIC ANYTHING.
WE, BECAUSE HE'S, UH, UH, HERE IN RUSSELL LEE, I'VE BEEN SCOLDED BY COUNCILMAN ETT THAT I'M, WE OFF, WE WANNA STAY, KEEP IT ON.
SO I'M GONNA KEEP IT ON POINT.
AND AS LONG AS YOU SAY, WITHIN THESE BOUNDARIES THAT I HAVE IN MY BRAIN, WE'RE GONNA BE GOOD.
WHAT I WANT TO ASK REGARDING LITERALLY WHAT'S STATED ON THE AGENDA, IMPROVING COUNSEL AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND DISPELLING MISINFORMATION, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK CITY ATTORNEY IS HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE CENSOR THE SPELLING OF MISINFORMATION? OKAY.
JUST, JUST A MINUTE ON THAT, AND I'M GOING TO STATE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE ON THAT.
UH, WE AREN'T DISCUSSING CEN AT THIS, AT, AT, AT THIS JUNCTURE, COUNCILMAN.
WELL, HOW DO WE DISPEL IT? THAT'S THE QUESTION WE'LL DISCUSS.
CENSURE, WHEN IT'S POSTED PROPERLY ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
CENSURE IS NOT POSTED ON THE AGENDA.
HOW DO WE DISPEL MISINFORMATION? WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO DO IT? OKAY.
THE, THE COUNCIL HAS ASKED, YEAH, IF YOU HAVE THE CHARTER, MR. LEWIS IS HOLDING UP THE CHARTER.
WE, UM, HAVE TALKED ABOUT HAVING WORKSHOPS AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOMETHING COMING UP SOON WHERE WE CAN GET INTO SPECIFICS.
UM, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR ISSUE AND CONCERN IS, WOULD, WOULD BE THE ROUTE TO GO.
SO WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT INFORMATION.
AND WE ARE ALSO GONNA BE HAVING A WORKSHOP WHERE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT THE CHARTER, TALK ABOUT, UH, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PATHS THAT ARE LEGAL AND PRUDENT, UH, TO DEAL WITH ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T COME HERE TO DEAL WITH PERSONAL ISSUES.
SOMETIMES PERSONAL ISSUES ARE, UH, HANDLED IN THE COURTHOUSE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, BUT WHATEV WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE, WE HAVE A WORKSHOP SCHEDULED, AND THEN WE CAN TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS AND GIVE YOU THE VERY SPECIFIC ANSWERS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I WANT US TO STAY WITH THE POSTING AND NOT GET OFF TRACK RIGHT NOW.
ANYTHING ELSE? SO, WE'RE MAKING A REQUEST TO WORKSHOP.
WELL, WE HAVE A WORKSHOP COMING UP ANYWAY, AND WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
SOME ISSUES, UH, DEPENDING LIKE, ON WHAT IT IS, YOU CAN INVESTIGATE IT IN THE CHARTER.
SOME THINGS YOU REFER TO OTHER ENTITIES.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMEONE'S SPECIFIC CONDUCT, UM, WE CAN TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT'S THE PROPER ETHICAL ROLE IN DOING SO.
BUT LIKE TODAY, WE ARE NOT POSTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS PERSON OR THAT PERSON OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE AND, UM, WE CAN HAVE A WORKSHOP.
I THINK THEIR QUESTIONS ARE ALL ACROSS THE BOARD, SO I CAN'T ANSWER 'EM WITH ONE BROAD BRUSH, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
I UNDERSTAND YOU TALKING TO ME.
WELL, I MEAN, I'M, I'M, GO AHEAD, COUNSEL.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
COUNCILMAN, COUNCIL, MAYOR, I PUT YOU AT THE FLOOR.
NEXT, NOW, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND DISPELLING MISINFORMATION.
NOW, I'VE LISTENED TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND I'VE LISTENED TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT SPOKE BEFORE ME ABOUT HOW WE CAN ADDRESS IT AND HAVING A WORKSHOP, BUT THE INFORMATION WASN'T DISPELLED PRIOR HAVING A WORKSHOP.
SO, UH, I WAS INFORMED ABOUT THIS WAS GONNA BE ON THE AGENDA, BUT I DID GET PHONE CALLS FROM THE PUBLIC AND CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR ABOUT, UH, IF I KNOWN ANYTHING ABOUT RESIDENCY, AND WHY WOULD I PIGGYBACK AND GO ALONG WITH IT.
SO, UH, AT THIS TIME, SINCE WE ARE GONNA JUST STICK TO THE TOPIC AT CAN, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, MISINFORMATION, I, I KNOW ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT'S ON THE COUNCIL.
THEY'VE ALL, I'VE NEVER BEEN INSIDE THEIR HOUSE TO VALIDATE IF THEY STAY IN THAT HOUSE OR ANY HOUSE THAT THEY, THEY LIVE IN.
SO I CAN'T BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW.
SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT COUNCILMAN KINLAW TALK ABOUT MISINFORMATION, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED THE PUBLIC TO KNOW.
UH, I DO TOO THINK THAT WORKSHOPS ARE JUST FUTILE.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE WORKSHOPS HERE IN THE CITY, AND WE DON'T DO ANYTHING AFTER THE WORKSHOP.
THERE'S NOBODY ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANYTHING THAT THEY DO.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORKSHOPS AND NOTHING'S DONE AFTER THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, BEING ON A COUNCIL, WE ARE THE LEADERS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, I THINK THAT IT WOULD, COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY TAKEN CARE OF BY, UH,
[02:15:01]
PHONE CALLS, EMAIL TEXTS.AND AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, WHEN THAT PERSON SIGNS THE INFORMATION AND WANTED TO GET ON COUNCIL OR SIGNED THAT FORM, THAT LEGAL DOCUMENT OR WHATEVER, THEY STATE WHERE THEY LIVE, THEY STATE THEIR ADDRESS, THEY STATE THEIR PHONE NUMBER NAME, THEY STATE THAT THEY'RE A CITIZEN OF, UH, THIS GREAT STATE OF TEXAS.
AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THEY STATE HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN IN, IN, IN PORT ARTHUR PRIOR TO THE ELECTION.
SO IT'S NOT MY JOB TO GO, LIKE, I WAS GIVEN A PHONE CALL TO GO OUT AND VALIDATE WHERE ANY OF MY COHORTS LIVE.
SO I THINK THAT'S UNFAIR TO SAY THAT PERSONALLY THOMAS KINLAW WAS, UM, AWARE OF THAT, BECAUSE I'M NOT.
SO THAT, JUST KEEP IT WHERE IT IS, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT APPLES AND ORANGES AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S APPLES, APPLES, ORANGES, ORANGES, UH, IT'S NOT MY JOB, BUT IT'S NOT ANY COUNCIL MEMBER JOB TO KNOW WHERE, AND TO VALIDATE OR VET THESE, THE INFORMATION THAT WAS GIVEN PRIOR TO ELECTION.
MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT OPENLY FOR THE RECORD.
IN REFERENCE TO THE, UH, TOPIC, UH, DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, PROVING COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND STUFF.
AND I THINK THE WAY WE CAN ADDRESS THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK, IS WE, AS COUNCIL MEMBER, UNDERSTANDING WE ALL ARE DIFFERENT.
WE ALL GOING TO THINK DIFFERENT.
WE AIN'T GONNA NEVER AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT THAT'S WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT WHEREBY WE BE ABLE TO TALK AND COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT ALL STARTS.
SO, UH, HOW CAN WE DISPEL IT FROM THE COUNCIL STANDPOINT IS BE MORE UPFRONT WITH ONE ANOTHER AND, AND, UH, LET'S SAY WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY TO ONE ANOTHER.
AND ALTHOUGH WE MAY NOT AGREE WHAT WOULD'VE SAID, AT LEAST LET'S GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE BOTH KNOW WHERE ONE ANOTHER STAND AND LET'S MOVE ON AND GET READY TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEXT BUSINESS.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT GOING TO EVER AGREE ON EVERYTHING.
AND AS FAR AS THE, UH, COMMUNICATION TO THE CITY, TO THE CITIZEN, NOW THAT'S, THAT'S VERY CRITICAL.
NOW WE HAVE TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT WHEN WE DO THAT BECAUSE WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT WE AT LEAST INFORM THEM OF, UH, THINGS SO THAT THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T BE PUT IN A POSITION TO SIDE WITH SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, GIVE 'EM TRUE AND ACCURATE INFORMATION AND LET THE INDIVIDUALS DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES.
SO I JUST THINK WE JUST NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A SITUATION CAME UP.
I THINK AT THIS POINT, THE PEOPLE DONE FIND OUT WHERE IT WAS.
THAT'S WHY IT DIDN'T BOTHER ME.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S GONNA BE WHAT IT IS.
SO LET'S BE MORE OPENLY COMMUNICATING WITH ONE ANOTHER, UH, AND CITY MANAGER.
I THINK I, I THINK YOU CAN HELP US WITH MAKING SURE THAT THE STAFF DO WHAT WE TALKING ABOUT DOING.
NOW, A WHEN WE PUT OUT STUFF, MAKE SURE WE DOUBLE CHECK IT.
YOU KNOW, THE STAFF AIN'T PUTTING OUT NO CONFRONTATION, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE NEED TO CHECK WHAT WE PUT OUT AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INFORM CITIZENS PROPERLY.
AND I THINK THAT'LL HELP US IN THIS TOPIC.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOUR LIKE MAYOR.
ALL THOSE THINGS Y'ALL TALKING ABOUT.
COUNCILMAN SCOTT, I MEAN, COUNCILMAN, UH, SCOTT
THE CITY ATTORNEY TALKING ABOUT WORKSHOPPING.
YOU GOT YOU SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
WE HAVE TO DISPEL THIS SINCE IT'S BEEN PUT UP HERE AND IN THE PUBLIC MEETING, AND THE COUNCIL ADDRESS IT AS LONG AS IT SAY ON FACEBOOK, THAT'S, HEY, THAT'S, I, I JUST GOSSIP.
BUT NOW IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY.
AND, AND LOOK AND, AND, AND THIS HYPOCRISY ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER, THAT'S ALL IT IS.
HYPOCRISY THE SAME PERSON TALKING ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER.
OPPOSE MY NO, MY APPOINTMENT TO THE EDC BOARD.
TALKING ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER.
NO, YOU GETTING OFF TOPIC? GETTING OFF TOPIC? IT'S ON, I'M ON TOPIC.
NOW, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS, AND THAT IS ON PAGE THREE.
MAYOR, I DID HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION.
FOR OUR, UM, POLICY THAT STAFF RECEIVES ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, CONDUCT, IS THAT FROM 2014? IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, COUNSEL ALSO SIGNED THAT AS WELL.
WAS THAT A PART OF OUR PACKET IN 2023 AS WELL?
[02:20:02]
UH, THE CITY SECRETARY? I DON'T, I DON'T REMEMBER IT BEING A PART OF, BUT, UH, YEAH, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS PART OF THE PACKET, BUT I'D HAVE TO RESEARCH THAT ISSUE.WE, I'D HAVE TO RESEARCH THAT ISSUE.
WHAT PACKET ARE YOU REFERRING TO? THE PACKET THAT WE RECEIVE WHEN WE ARE SWORN IN.
I THINK IT'S PART OF THE STAFFS ONBOARDING.
I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S PART OF THE COUNCIL.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT WAS A DIRECTIVE THAT HAD TO DO WITH STAFF.
I'D LIKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW THAT WHEN WE WORKSHOP IT.
I, I, I WOULD, I JUST WANT TO CLEAR SOMETHING UP.
YOU ALL, WE BEEN PLANNING WORKSHOPS ON DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO IF THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL, THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL DIRECTED THAT I DO.
THESE ARE, UH, TOPICS CAN BE USED AS TRAINING IF YOU WANT IT OR DON'T WANT IT.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S OFFERED.
BUT I'M JUST, THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF ME STAYING IN AT ABOUT A WORKSHOP.
IS TO TRAIN ON DIFFERENT AREAS AND YOU CAN TRAIN ON WHATEVER AREA YOU SO, DEAN.
[V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
UH, ROMAN NUMER FIVE, WHICH IS, UH, ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.AND, UH, THE FIRST ITEM, WELL, I HAVE AN ITEM THAT I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON, UH, THAT WAS SHARED WITH ME BY OUR HEALTH DIRECTOR, UH, DR. JUDY SMITH.
UH, IT IS, UH, A ONE, ONE PILL CAN KILL.
IT'S A PUBLIC MEETING THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE DEADLY THREAT OF FENTANYL OPIOID ABUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IT SAYS HERE THAT FIVE TEXANS DIE EVERY DAY FROM FENTANYL OVERDOSE.
AND I KNOW WE EXPERIENCED IT HERE IN OUR OWN CITY, UH, A FEW WEEKS AGO, UH, UH, WITH, WITH, WITH THE YOUNG INDIVIDUAL.
AND I LEARNED THAT THAT WASN'T ACTUALLY THE FIRST ONE.
BUT ON THURSDAY, NEXT WEEK, ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH, AT 6:00 PM AT THE ECCLESIA CHURCH AT 5909TH AVENUE HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AT 6:00 PM THERE WILL BE A GATHERING THAT WILL GIVE INFORMATION.
AND I HAVE THE, UH, I GUESS, I GUESS I CALL IT HAND BILL RIGHT HERE, ABOUT THE UPCOMING MEETING.
IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE OR IF YOU, OR YOU YOURSELF WOULD WANT TO HAVE INFORMATION ON THE ABUSE OF FENTANYL AND OPIOIDS, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE IT'S PRESENTED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR AND EVEN OUR SURROUNDING AREA TO ATTEND THIS MEETING ON NEXT THURSDAY, THE 16TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, AT 6:00 PM AT ECCLESIA CHURCH AT 5909TH AVENUE, HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
AND IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS, UH, NOR DO WE HAVE SOME OTHERS, UH, THAT, THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH THIS.
AND WE'LL HAVE, UH, THE SHERIFF TO PUT IT ON OUR, UH, WEBSITE FOR, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IF THE CHIEF'S PIO CAN ACTUALLY PUT THIS ON, UH, YOURS, YOURS AS WELL, CHIEF.
SO THE CITIZENS HAVE INFORMATION ON THIS, BUT WE, WE, UH, UH, MS. MAYON, YOU, YOU ALL HAVE ANY OTHERS ON THIS? WE DO HAVE SOME AVAILABLE, UM, IN ADDITION, THEY OR THEY WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
WE ALL PLAN ON DOING ANOTHER EVENT DEPENDING ON HOW THIS ONE GOES.
UH, MAYBE CLOSER IN TOWN IN PORT ARTHUR, BUT AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON OUR TURNOUT AT THE ONE ON THE 16TH.
OKAY? I DON'T KNOW IF THE CHIEF WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING.
BUT I, I WANTED TO, TO, UH, I WAS ASKED TO DO IT AND, AND THEN INFORM THE PUBLIC HERE ABOUT THIS.
WE'LL GET IT THEM, PUT IT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND WE'LL PASS INFORMATION AROUND OKAY.
UH, MAY I APPROACH HIM? YOU HAVE SOMETHING OR YOU LIKE WITH THIS ON, UM, ABOUT A DIFFERENT ISSUE? OH, OKAY.
I'D LIKE TO, UM, REMIND EVERYONE THAT TODAY IS ELECTION DAY AND THE POLLS ARE OPEN FROM 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM YOU CAN GO TO THE JEFFERSON COUNTY, UM, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS WEBSITE, AND YOU WILL FIND THE LIST OF ALL OF THE POLLING LOCATIONS.
WE'RE VOTING ON TEXAS AMENDMENTS.
SO MY TEAM AND I HAVE TRIED OUR BEST TO MAKE PHONE CALLS, SEND TEXT MESSAGES, UM, MAKE POSTS TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PLEASE LIFT YOUR VOICE AND GET OUT AND VOTE.
JUST BECAUSE IT ISN'T A MUNICIPAL ELECTION, IT'S STILL EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE RAISE OUR VOICE AND CAST OUR VOTES TODAY.
POLLS ARE OPEN AGAIN FROM 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM FOR TEXAS.
UM, OUR STATE ISSUES, THE STATE AMENDMENTS
[02:25:01]
AND CITY SECRETARY ON THIS TODAY, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A CITY, UH, SANCTIONED, THEY MAY VOTE AT ANY POLLING PLACE.I JUST WANNA PUT THAT OUT THERE WITH, YOU KNOW, IF ANYONE IS LISTENING, OR IF YOU ARE HERE, YOU CAN GO TO ANY POLLING PLACE.
MATTER OF FACT, I BELIEVE YOU CAN GO RIGHT ACROSS.
THAT'S MY PLAN TO GO RIGHT ACROSS TO THE COURTHOUSE IN A LITTLE WHILE AND, UH, CAST MY BALLOT.
ANY POLLING PLACE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY IS HAVE YOUR IDENTIFICATION, UH, PASSPORT DRIVER'S LICENSE, A HANDGUN, UH, ID, UH, WITH, UH, THREE OTHER TYPES.
I THINKING THERE ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MORE THAT YOU CAN HAVE TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF, COUNCILMAN LEWIS.
NOT THE HANDGUN, BUT THE HANDGUN ID.
LOOK, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT THE VOTERS NEED TO KNOW, THE SAMPLE BALLOT THAT YOU, THAT'S AT THE POLLS.
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, PICK IT UP AND GO TO YOUR HOUSE, GO TO YOUR CAR, AND YOU CAN MARK IT AND CALL YOUR FRIENDS, WHICH, WHICH, WHICH YOU'RE NOT CLEAR ON.
YOU CAN MARK YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT AND TAKE IT IN THE POLL WITH YOU.
OKAY? MARK YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT AND TAKE IT IN THE POLL WITH YOU.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR NEXT, UH, A AGENDA ITEMS. AND, UH, THAT ITEM WOULD BE THERE, THERE AREN'T ANY, OR ISN'T ANY, UH, UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
SO WE WOULD MOVE TO THE, UH, CONSENT
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]
AGENDA.AND IN THE CONSENT AGENDA, THERE ARE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, COUNSEL HAS BEEN, I, I THINK, GIVEN, UH, INFORMATION ON THESE ITEMS. AND THE CONSENT AGENDA IS FROM PAGE FOUR THROUGH PAGE, UH, EIGHT, I BELIEVE.
YEAH, THROUGH PAGE EIGHT, BECAUSE PAGE NINE BEGINS NON-CONSENT, PAGE FOUR THROUGH PAGE EIGHT.
AND IF THERE BE ANY ITEMS, UH, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD WISH TO HAVE, UH, ACTED UPON INDIVIDUALLY, PLEASE GIVE ME THAT ITEM NUMBER AND THE PAGE NUMBER.
COUNCILMAN, UH, COUNCILMAN BECKHAM.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 11 ON PAGE SEVEN.
AND ITEM NUMBER 16 ON PAGE EIGHT.
ITEM 12 ON, UH, PAGE SEVEN AT 12.
ITEM 15 ON EIGHT, MAYOR, ITEM 15 ON PAGE EIGHT.
ANY OTHERS? OKAY, IF NOT, I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THE STATED ITEMS. UH, ITEM, UH, A ONE, UH, EXCLUSION OF ITEM, UH, 11 ITEMS 11 AND 12.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? UH, MAYOR POIN.
MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? SECOND, IT'S REMOVED.
AND SECOND, THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THOSE ITEMS TO BE WITHDRAWN IF JUST STATED, ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION UNDER THE QUESTION? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSERS? AYES AB SO IS HONORED.
WE WOULD ACCEPT THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA.
NOW, THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN, THE FIRST ONE BEING ON PAGE
[VII.(A1) Mayor Thurman Bartie: Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) Conference 2023 Houston, TX October 10 – October 13, 2023 $2,054.60]
FOUR, ITEM A ONE, UH, WHICH IS THE MAYOR BART TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, TEDC CONFERENCE, 2023, HOUSTON, TEXAS, OCTOBER 10 THROUGH OCTOBER 13TH IN THE AMOUNT OF 2050 $4 AND 60 CENTS.IF I GET A, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
SO, MOVE, MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND, IT IS MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT THIS ITEM, OR WE READY FOR QUESTION OR COUNCILMAN? UH, DUC SAID, I THINK, SAID, I'M SORRY.
ALL, ALL OF THE, EVERYBODY THAT WENT TO HOUSTON, RIGHT, IS RUNNING LIKE 16 SOMETHING.
AND WHEN I LOOKED AT IT, IT WAS ABOUT LODGING.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH LODGING? UH, I'M NOT SURE.
UH, AND I DIDN'T EVEN, I DIDN'T EVEN VIEW IT, AND I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE INVOICES FOR IT.
[02:30:01]
AND I, I LOOKED AT IT AND WAS WONDERING WHY IT WAS MUCH MORE THAN THE REST OF THEM.BUT MAYBE THEY CHARGED MY ROOM BECAUSE, WELL, WE ALL AT THE SAME MOTEL.
WE WEREN'T, YOU WEREN'T, OKAY.
YOU WEREN'T, THREE OF US WERE AT THE SAME HOTEL.
YOU WERE AT HOTEL AND I WAS AT A DIFFERENT HOTEL, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.
AND, AND, AND WHENEVER, UH, BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY ASSIGNED THE HOTELS TO US.
I I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE DIFFERENT HOTEL, ALTHOUGH THEY, THEY BOOK 'EM THE PRICE ARE NOT THE SAME.
HOWEVER, WHEN WE BOOKING THEM, WE KNOW 'EM COULD GET THE SAME.
SO, AND, AND THAT, THAT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.
BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHY WHEN WE BOOK 'EM, WHY DIDN'T WE BOOK EVERYBODY AT THE SAME HOTEL? WELL, I'M THE CITY SECRETARY.
CAN YOU ANSWER THAT? THAT'S A GOOD POINT, COUNCILMAN.
UM, WHEN WE ARE BOOKING THE ROOMS, WE HAVE TO SPLIT IT UP BETWEEN TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT SECRETARIES BECAUSE IT'S, UH, THE WAY THE HOUSING DOES FOR TML, IT'S LIKE A LOTTERY FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, RIGHT? SO IT'S LIKE BUYING TICKETS TO A CONCERT AND THEY'RE SOLD OUT IN THREE MINUTES.
SO THERE'S, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH PEOPLE.
WE HAVE TRIED EVERY CONVERSATION WE CAN HAVE, AND IT JUST REMAINS THE SAME.
AND IT DOES CAUSE A DIFFERENCE IN SOME PRICING.
WELL, WELL, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS FROM THE STAFF POINT, NOW WE NEED TO GET ONE SYSTEM SO THAT WHEN YOU ALL ARE, ARE SCHEDULING US, LIKE IN THIS CASE, FIND OUT, OKAY, WE GOT THIS CONFERENCE GOING.
WHO IS GOING, OKAY, WHEN, WHO IS GOING? WE DO THAT.
WE DO HAVE A PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOW EACH TIME.
WHAT IF, IF, IF WE HAVE A PROCESS AND WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE GOING, MY MY POINT IS WHY CAN'T WE PUT 'EM IN THE SAME HOTEL? THAT'S NOT OUR CHOICE.
WHAT WE DO IS YOU HAVE TO GET ONLINE, YOU HAVE TO START REGISTERING SERIOUSLY.
LIKE YOU'RE BUYING CONCERT TICKETS.
THAT'S GONNA SELL OUT IN THREE MINUTES.
YOU START WITH EVERYBODY AT THE ONE HOTEL.
IT'LL SELL OUT BEFORE YOU CAN EVEN GET THE FORM FILLED OUT.
IT DOESN'T BLOCK IT WHEN YOU START FILLING OUT THE FORM, YOU ACTUALLY ARE ON A RACE TO SEE WHERE YOU CAN GET THEM.
OKAY? WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT.
OKAY? THEN I'LL GO TO THIS, MY SECOND POINT.
MY SECOND POINT IS, IS ALSO WHEN WE REGISTER, 'CAUSE WE REGISTER FAR ENOUGH IN ADVANCE, NORMALLY WE GOING TO GET IN TO GET NO SIR.
THE REGISTRATION, YOU REGISTER BEFOREHAND.
THE ROOMS, THEY START, UM, SAY THEY'LL START TOMORROW AT 10:00 AM THEY OPEN THE BLOCKS AT ONE TIME.
IT'S LITERALLY LIKE A TICKETING AGENCY.
YOU, IF YOU REGISTER EARLY, IF YOU WANTED TO RESERVE A ROOM, YOU WOULD BE OUT OF THE BLOCK TO GET EVERYBODY IN THE SAME HOTEL.
YOU WOULD BE PAYING THE ADDITIONAL COST.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH AND THAT WE HAVE TALKED TO TML ABOUT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.
YOU CANNOT REGISTER EARLY TO GET EVERYBODY IN THE SAME HOTEL.
IT STARTS AT 10:00 AM THIS YEAR.
BY 10 0 5, THE HOTELS WERE SOLD OUT.
'CAUSE IT'S EVERYBODY IN TEXAS CALLING IN AT THE SAME TIME OR BEING ONLINE.
WE WOULD APPRECIATE A DIFFERENT WAY TO DO IT.
ANY OTHER UNREADINESS? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YOU, YOU HAD A QUESTION? OH, I PRETTY, PRETTY MUCH COVERED EVERYTHING.
NOW MY PROBLEM IS SOMETIME I DON'T RESPOND FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS ONCE I DECIDE TO GO.
AND NOW THE CLOCK, MEANWHILE THE THING IS STILL CLOCK IS RUNNING.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
OKAY? BY THE WAY, UH, SOME OF THESE PRICES ARE STILL PRETTY CLOSE TOGETHER.
TRUST ME, WE WAS NOT IN THE SAME ROOMS. OKAY? OKAY.
SO, UH, ITEM A ONE IS APPROVED.
[VII.C.(11) P.R. 23410 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Soutex Surveyors & Engineers Of Port Arthur, Texas For Professional Engineering Services Associated With Drainage Improvements For Rice Farm Road In The Amount Of $124,000.00. Funds Are Available In CIP Account No. 307-21-053- 8517-00-10-000, Project No. ST5003]
HAVE, UH, ON PAGE SEVEN, ITEM NUMBER, UH, 11, UH, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER, WELL, IT'S PR, EXCUSE ME, I'M SORRY.PR 23 4 10 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER, ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH SALT TEXAS SURVEYORS AND ENGINEERS OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS FOR RICE FARM ROAD IN THE AMOUNT OF $124,000.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN CIP ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 5 3 8 5 1 7 0 0 0 0.
[02:35:09]
PROJECT NUMBER IS ST 5 0 0 3.MAY I GET, UH, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN? UH, UH, ETT? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? MAYOR
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23, 4 10.
UH, COUNCILMAN BECKHAM? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UH, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE CITY ENGINEER TO COME AND EXPLAIN THIS PROJECT.
THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HAD SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS ABOUT, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE TOWN HOME COMPLEX THAT'S BEEN BUILT OFF OF RICE FARM ROAD.
AND I'D LIKE FOR HIM TO EXPLAIN SO THAT THE, THE CITIZENS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WILL UNDERSTAND THE PROGRESS OF THE, OF THE PROJECT.
UM, AS MANY MEMBERS KNOW, UH, THERE WAS A TOWN HOME SUBDIVISION BUILT ON RICE FARM ROAD, AND SEVERAL CITIZENS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE DRAINAGE ALONG RICE FARM ROAD.
UH, WE MET WITH THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT TWICE TO DISCUSS THIS.
PART OF THE OUTFALL OF THIS STRUCTURE IS A DRAINAGE DISTRICT SEVEN, UH, UNIMPROVED, RIGHT OF WAY.
SO WE'VE TALKED TO THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT ABOUT A PARTNERSHIP ON TRYING TO IMPROVE THIS DRAINAGE, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE AGREEABLE.
AND I'M, I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT BECAUSE IT'S PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS, BUT THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD DO THE WORK, THE CONCRETE WORK, TO LINE THIS DITCH IF THE CITY DID THE ENGINEERING AND MAYBE PROVIDED, UM, MATERIAL.
YEAH, RON, I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT, AND WE HAVEN'T FORMALIZED THIS AGREEMENT YET.
UH, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THIS MAY BE THE FIRST TIME THE CITY'S WORKED WITH THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT TO TRY TO IMPROVE A DITCH IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
I, THERE'S PROBABLY BEEN IN THE HISTORY OF PORT ARTHUR, THERE'S PROBABLY BEEN A LOT OF DITCHES DONE, BUT, UH, AND, AND, AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON HARD AND WE'D JUST LIKE TO GET THE ENGINEERING DONE SO WE CAN PROCEED WITH THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND, AND WASN'T THERE AT LEAST ONE MEETING WHERE WE TALKED TO THE DEVELOPER, UH, ONCE WE GET BEYOND THE ENGINEERING PLANS, UH, THAT, THAT HE MIGHT BE KICKING IN SOME AS WELL, OR IS THAT NOT A POSSIBILITY? NO, MA'AM.
THAT THAT WASN'T PART OF, I MEAN, WE, WE APPROACHED THE DEVELOPER EARLY ON, BUT, UH, THERE WAS A LOT OF, UH, DISCUSSION ABOUT, I RECALL DETENTION PONDS AND LACK OF, UH, AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING THAT.
AND SO THE CITY'S TAKING THIS ON AS OUR OWN COST.
ANY OTHER UN READINESS? ANTHONY, UH, READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES ABSENT TO THIS ORDER? PR NUMBER 23 4 10 IS APPROVED AS READ.
[VII.C.(12) P.R. 23413 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A 3rd Contract With The Center For Transportation And The Environment (CTE) Of Atlanta, Georgia To Function As The Project Manager For The Deployment Of Port Arthur Transit's Four (4) Zero- Emission Buses In An Amount Not To Exceed $199,000.00; Funds Available In Account 401-70-530-8523-00-60-000]
WE HAVE PR NUMBER 2, 3, 4, 1 3.IT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A THIRD CONTRACT WITH THE CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THE ENVIRONMENT, CTE OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, TO FUNCTION AS THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PORT ARTHUR'S TRANSITS FOUR ZERO EMISSION BUSES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $199,000.
FUNDS AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 1 DASH 7 5 3 8 5 2 3 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KINLOCK? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK.
AND ON THIS COUNCILMAN LOUIS, WE READY FOR QUESTION? CITY MANAGER.
IS THIS STILL AN 80 20 MATCH? 20% FROM THE CITY AND 80% FROM THE, UH, THE FEDS? NO, THOSE BUSES ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL.
AND, UM, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, WE ARE TRYING TO COLLECT DETAIL ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THOSE BUSES BECAUSE IT'S A SCIENCE THAT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE AND, UM, WE HAVE TO ENGAGE THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DATA THAT WE'RE TRYING TO COLLECT, UM, IS BEING SENT BACK TO THE, UM, UM, FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION FOR PROCESSING, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, THAT SORT OF THING.
ANY OTHER UN READINESS? EVERYTHING? WE ARE READY TO VOTE.
WE HAVE APPROVED PR NUMBER 23 4 1 3 AS READ AND PRESENTED.
[VII.C.(15) P.R. 23421 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase One (1) Gradall XL3100 4X2 Series V For The Public Works Drainage Division From Associated Supply Company, Inc. Of Houston, Texas, Through The BuyBoard Cooperative Purchasing Program, Contract No. 685-22, With A Total Budgetary Impact Amount Of $497,523.00. Funding Is Available From Account No. 625-21-000-8523-00-00-000]
HAVE ITEM NUMBER 15, EXCUSE ME, PR NUMBER 2, 3, 4, 2, 1, WHICH IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE ONE.ALL XL 3,104 BY TWO SERIES FIVE FOR THE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DRAINAGE DIVISION
[02:40:01]
FROM ASSOCIATED SUPPLY COMPANY, INCORPORATED OF HOUSTON, TEXAS THROUGH THE BY BOARD COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT.CONTRACT NUMBER 6 85 DASH 22 WITH A TOTAL BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $497,523.
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FROM ACCOUNT NUMBER 6 25 DASH 21 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 85 23 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, ETT? NO.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN BECKHAM? SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PER NUMBER 23.
UH, COUNCILMAN ETT? YES, RON, WITH THIS GRADE, ALL THAT'S A NEW ONE.
AND IT'S REPLACING THE ONE THAT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS, RIGHT? YES.
NOW WE'RE GONNA GET THE NEW GRADE ALL.
WHAT ABOUT THE DUMP TRUCKS THAT ACCOMPANIED THEM? YOU KNOW, WE GOT THESE AT WHAT, EIGHT YARD TRUCKS.
AND IF YOU EVER GO AND OBSERVE A DITCH CUTTING CREW, YOU'LL FIND THAT, THAT YOU SPEND ALMOST MORE TIME WAITING FOR THE TRUCK TO GO AND DISPOSE OF THE DIRT, THEN ACTUALLY CUT IT.
AND, UH, I DON'T SEE HOW WE CAN KEEP UP.
WE, WE FINISHED SPENDING ALMOST A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, BUT ARE WE GOING TO ACTUALLY GET MORE DONE IF WE CAN'T KEEP THE GRADE ALL CUT? WE GOT, WE GOING TO BY THE GRADE, ALL THE GRADE HALL IS NOT CUT.
YOU KNOW, YOU CUT FOR 15 MINUTES, THE TRUCK IS FILLED.
NOW YOU HAVE TO GO DISCARD OF IT.
SO THEY SET, THEY WAIT TILL THEY COME BACK.
UH, WHAT WE GONNA DO TO FIX THAT, RON? UM, WE DID HAVE A VERY INTERESTING DISCUSSION WITH STAFF.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED STAFF TO DO IS AS SOON AS THE BUDGET IS APPROVED, ESPECIALLY THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PART OF IT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET AHEAD OF OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER AND EQUIPMENT, UM, THAT IS A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR EACH AND EVERY, UM, DEPARTMENT HEAD AND DIRECTOR.
THAT'S A, THAT'S, THAT'S A DIRECTIVE FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
THE, THE IRONIC PART OF IT IS SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE ORDERED FOR 2023 WILL BE COMING IN 2025 BECAUSE OF CHAIN SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOSE COMPANIES PRODUCING THE EQUIPMENT NOW HAVE NOT GOTTEN OVER THE SHORTAGE OF STAFF AND RETIREMENT OF, OF, OF INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
SO WE, EVEN FOR THE LAST BUDGET, WE HAVE EQUIPMENT THAT WE CANNOT GET FROM CHAIN SUPPLY RIGHT NOW.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE EITHER HAVE TO REAPPROPRIATE IT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEW BUDGET.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE ALWAYS TOLD STAFF, AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN THE BUDGET IS BEING DONE, I WANT, UH, UM, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, A REQUISITION IS BEING MADE.
YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS THAT IS, THE BUDGET IS APPROVED THAT WE GET.
WE ARE WORKING ON IT TO MAKE SURE, AND THAT IS PART OF THE EQUIPMENT LIST.
I, I'VE DISCUSSED WITH STAFF, WE NEED TO GET THE ORDERS IN TRUCK AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT.
YEAH, BECAUSE EVERY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, OKAY, THAT MEANS EVERY PIECE, YOU KNOW THAT, I MEAN, WE PAYING A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, BUT IF WE GOT THIS EQUIPMENT NEW AND IT'S SITTING THERE FOR FOUR HOURS, I MEAN SIX HOURS AND WE'RE CUTTING TWO HOURS, THAT'S CONTROVERSIAL.
BUT NOW THAT WAS MY BIGGEST CONCERN.
AND ONE, WE HAVE ANOTHER PLAN IN PIECE.
I'M, I'M LOOKING AT, UM, OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING THAT WE HAVE, UM, UH, TO EXPEDITE THE, THE, THE, THE USE OF THOSE FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ENGAGE CONTRACTORS THAT WOULD ASSIST US AT THE SAME TIME.
ANY OTHER READINESS? THERE ISN'T ANY.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES ADV THIS ORDER? WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 4 21 AS READ.
[VII.C.(16) P.R. 23424 – A Resolution Authorizing The Acceptance Of A Donation From Cheniere Energy, Inc. In The Amount Of $50,000.00. For A Dog Park On Roosevelt Park]
WE HAVE NUMBER, ITEM NUMBER 16, WHICH IS PR NUMBER 23 4 24.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A DONATION FROM SHANI ENERGY AND, UH, SHANIA ENERGY, EXCUSE ME, INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 FOR A DOG PARK ON ROOSEVELT PARK.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF MAYOR
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? SECOND.
IT'S MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WERE APPROVED.
[02:45:01]
PR NUMBER, UH, 2 34.UH, AS READ, UH, WE, UH, READ IT QUESTION ON IT AND I THINK IT'S COUNCILMAN BECKHAM.
THIS QUESTION IS FROM MS. ALPO AND MS. ALPO.
I'M JUST WONDERING, UM, HOW WAS THE DECISION MADE FOR THE DOG PARK TO BE AT ROOSEVELT PARK? WAS THERE SOME COMMUNITY INPUT OR FEASIBILITY STUDY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? UM, NO.
COMMUNITY INPUT WAS VISUAL BECAUSE THEY'RE CURRENTLY USING IT AS A DOG PARK, NOT BY WHEN WE PASS BY THERE ALL THE TIME.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S BEEN USED FOR.
AND THERE'S A CURRENT FIELD OUT THERE AND, UM, FROM STORMS AND STUFF, IT'S, IT WAS THE OLD BASEBALL FIELD, SO, AND IT'S RIGHT ON THE GULF WAY.
SO IT WAS A PERFECT SPOT, BUT IT'S CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR THAT.
AND WELL, SINCE A QUESTION ON THAT AND IF, IF, IF I MAY.
SO ALL, ALL I KNOW WE WERE UPGRADING THE STREETS AROUND THERE, THE DRAINAGE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND THE DOG PARKS THAT MY KIDS HAVE BROUGHT ME TO, UH, IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO, I'VE BEEN INTRODUCED TO NICE DOG PARKS.
MM-HMM,
OH, IT'S GONNA BE REALLY NICE.
I JUST WANT TO BE SURE IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE COMPATIBLE.
YOU LIKE, JUST DON'T PLANT NO MUSTARD GREENS IN IT.
UH, WE'RE GONNA DO IT OVER WHERE WE WERE YESTERDAY.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE READY TO, UH, VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? AYE.
SO WE, UH, HAVE APPROVED PR NUMBER 23 4 24.
NOW WE, I THINK THIS IS COMPLETION OF THE, UH, CONSENT.
WE ARE READY TO MOVE OUT TO PAGE NINE, EXCUSE ME, TO THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA.
AND ON PAGE NINE, FIRST ITEM IS
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. 23392 – A Resolution Ratifying Emergency Centrifuge Repairs At The Water Purification Plant By Centrifuge & Pump Service Of Stone Mountain, Georgia In The Total Not To Exceed Amount Of $99,173.40. Funding Is Available In Water Utilities Equipment Maintenance Account No. 410-40-210-5318-00-00-000]
PR NUMBER 2 3 3 9 2.AND IT IS A RESOLUTION RATIFYING EMERGENCY CENTRIFUGE REPAIRS AT THE WATER PURIFICATION PLANT BY CENTRIFUGE AND PUMP SERVICE OF STONE MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA IN THE TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $93,170 AND 40 CENTS, EXCUSE ME, MY BAD.
MY EYES WENT TOGETHER ON THAT.
UH, AND FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN, UH, WATER UTILITIES EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT NUMBER FOUR 10 DASH FOUR ZERO DASH TWO 10 DASH 53 18 DASH 0 0 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MAY I GET A SECOND THOUGH? MAYOR PROTE, IT IS REMOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE P NUMBER 2 33 9 2.
UH, HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A.
HAVE IT SO ORDERED PR 2 33 92 GETS APPROVED AS READ.
[VIII.A.(2) P.R. 23405 – A Resolution Appointing Members To The Port Arthur Youth Advisory Council (YAC) (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Hamilton)]
WE HAVE PR NUMBER 2 34 0 5.IT IS A RESOLUTION APPOINTING MEMBER TO THE PORT ARTHUR YOUTH ADVISORY YAK.
AND THIS IS REQUESTED BY MAYOR PRO TIM HAMILTON.
UH, MAY, DO WE HAVE ANY NAMES FOR IT YET? UH, UH, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY NAMES BEING OKAY.
SO NOW WE NEED TO GET OUR, OUR NAMES TOGETHER ON THIS.
FOR THIS, THIS REQUEST IS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE NAMES.
SO MESSAGES WERE SENT TO, UM, ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ASKING THEM TO PLEASE BE PREPARED TODAY WITH YOUR THREE NAMES SO THAT WE CAN APPOINT, UM, TO THIS BOARD.
I, I, I PROBABLY, I I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T, I PROBABLY LOOKED OVER THE MESSAGE.
SO NOW WE KNOW TODAY, PLEASE PROVIDE THREE NAMES OF STUDENTS WHO ARE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS TO BE APPOINTED TO THE PORT ARTHUR YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL.
CAN WE, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO POUR BACK INTO 21ST CITY SECRETARY? CAN WE ADD THAT ON THE 21ST? THAT MORNING MEETING THAT QUICK? WE CAN, MM-HMM,
MAY I MOVE THE TABLE? MOVE? OKAY, GO
[02:50:01]
RIGHT AHEAD.WHO MADE THE SECOND? THANK YOU.
OKAY, MA'AM, SO WE, WE, WE ARE BASIC.
THE AYES HAVE, SO WE, WE'LL TABLE IT AND WE'LL ACT ON IT AGAIN AT THAT NEXT MEETING.
[VIII.A.(3) P.R. 23411 – A Resolution Casting Votes For The Board Of Directors Of The Jefferson Central Appraisal District For The Term Ending December 31, 2024]
ITEM THREE P NUMBER 23, 4 11.IT IS A RESOLUTION CASTING VOTES FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE JEFFERSON CENTRAL APPRAIS DISTRICT FOR THE TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.
UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVED COUNCIL MCKINNA? SO MOVE MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND.
IT IS REMOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 4 11 AS PRESENTED.
YOU ANSWER, UH, YOU HAVE TO STATE WHO YOU'RE GOING TO CAST YOUR VOTES FOR, FOR SEE THE SECRETARY.
YOU HAVE THE NAME, THE NAMES ARE IN SECTION TWO OF THE RESOLUTION.
YOU HAVE TO VOTE, VOTE FOR THE FIRST AND THEN YES.
LET'S, LET'S, THAT'S WHERE WE, OKAY.
THIS IS THE ONE WHERE YOU HAVE NOMINEES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY.
AND WE'VE ALSO PLACED THE NOMINEE.
SO, UM, AND YOU'LL BE DOING THE SAME THING FOR ORANGE, BUT YOU HAVE TO SAY, UM, WHERE TO CASE, WE JUST APPROVE THIS, THIS PORTION FIRST.
ALL IN FAVOR, JUST STATE, YOU HAVE TO STATE WHO YOU WANT TO.
THAT, THAT THE NAME IS SPARROW.
AM I LOOKING AT THE RIGHT ONE? THIS IS JEFFERSON COUNTY.
THIS YOU SAID ORANGE COUNTY? I, NO, JEFFERSON COUNTY.
WE'LL BE DOING THE SAME THING IN THREE AND FOUR.
YEAH, I SAID I DON'T HAVE, BUT YOU ALL HAVE.
YOU WANT ME TO LIST THE NAMES? I HAVE THEM LISTED.
YOU WANT ME TO STATE THE NAMES? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
THE NAMES ARE THROUGH ACROSS THE COUNTY AND WE HAVE TIM FUNES, EUGENE LANDRY, KENNETH MARKS, LAUREN WILLIAMS, MASON, AND ROBERT THIEMAN.
THOSE ARE THE NAMES THAT'LL BE, UH, CONSIDERED.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR, WHO ARE YOU GONNA NOMINATE? THESE ARE THE NAMES.
NOW YOU ALL HAVE TO THEN MAKE A MOTION FOR WHO YOU WANT TO NOMINATE TO CAST THE VOTES FOR ONE NAME OUT OF THAT GROUP OF NAMES.
OR YOU CAN, WE'VE DONE IT SEVERAL WAYS.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, WHEN WE DO ORANGE COUNTY, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW EVERYBODY, SOMETIMES WE'VE DIVIDED IT.
SO YOU NEED TO DETERMINE HOW YOU'D LIKE TO CAST THEM.
AND, AND, AND JUST ANSWER ME SO I CAN TURN
THAT'S THE PERSON WE NOMINATED.
SO NOW WE ARE APPROVING ALL OF THE PERSONS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY, BUT STILL OUR, OUR APPOINTEE, OUR NOMINEE.
AND THESE PEOPLE I NAMED ARE ALL OF THE NOMINEES.
SO NOW YOU DETERMINE HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO CAST THOSE VOTES.
SO OUR, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I SAY.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION, YOU HAVE 178 VOTES TO MAKE A MOTION.
I'LL MAKE A NOMINATION, MAYOR, THAT WE, UH, FOLLOW UP ON THE NOMINEE OF KENNETH MARKS TO THE JEFFERSON, UH, CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
AND SECOND, THAT CAN MARK BE THE NAME.
WE READY TO VOTE, BUT COURSE WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? WAS THE QUESTION THAT WE READY TO VOTE ALL IN FAVOR? A? YEAH.
OKAY, WELL, OKAY, WELL, GOOD, GOOD.
DO YOU HAVE TO DO A ROLL CALL? NO, WE UNDERSTAND.
SO WHEN I SIGN IT, HIS, HIS NAME WILL COME UP AS NO.
NOW, UH, NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER
[VIII.A.(4) P.R. 23412 – A Resolution Casting Votes For The Board Of Directors Of The Orange County Appraisal District For The Term Ending December 31, 2024]
FOUR, PR NUMBER 23 4 12, A RESOLUTION CASTING VOTES FOR THE VOTE OF DIRECTIONS FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY APPRAISER DISTRICT FOR THE TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.AND THAT'S THE ONE WHERE SPARROW'S NAME IS THE NAME THAT WE SUBMITTED.
BUT THEN, I DON'T KNOW, WE HAVE ENOUGH VOTES.
SO WE'VE NEVER HAD ENOUGH VOTES TO, TO GET WHOEVER WE'D SEND ANYWAY.
SO BECAUSE WE'RE, 'CAUSE OF OUR SIZE, THE, THE SIDE, RIGHT? SMALL PORTION.
WE HAD 178 VOTES FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY.
SO SAME THING, YOU CAN DETERMINE HOW YOU, THE CASE THE SAME THING.
THAT NAME ON THAT WOULD BE, UH, UH, WAYNE SPARS, THE PERSON THAT WE HAD, UH, SUBMITTED HIS NAME TO.
UH, SO SHE'S SAYING GET IT ON THE FLOOR AND THEN OUT OF THE, OKAY, SEVEN NAMES, EIGHT NAMES LISTED.
PUT ME, UH, MAY I GET A MOTION? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE.
I MOVE THAT WE PLACE, UH, THE NAME WAYNE SPARROW AS OUR NOMINATION FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY, UH, DIS APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
THANK YOU SHAKING HEAD COUNCILOR LEWIS.
AND SECOND THAT WE HAVE, UH, MR. FARROW'S NAME IN INSERTED IN THIS 23 4 12 RESOLUTION.
WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION ON ANY QUESTIONS READY TO
[02:55:01]
VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.ANY OPPOSES? AYES HAVE SO ORDERED.
WE HAVE APPROVED P NUMBER 23 4 12 AS READ.
[VIII.A.(5) P.R. 23419 – A Resolution Appointing Members To The Port Arthur Housing Finance Corporation Board Of Directors]
HAVE P NUMBER 23 4 19.IT IS A RESOLUTION APPOINTED MEMBERS TO THE PORT ARTHUR HOUSING FINANCE COOPERATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY NAMES FOR THAT? UH, YET SINCE, UH, NOT, OKAY, WE DON'T, WE WE NEED TO TABLE THAT ONE AGAIN.
DID WE DO THAT? SO MAY I ANSWER THE QUESTION ON THIS ONE? EACH COUNCIL MEMBER HAD AN APPOINTEE.
DISTRICT ONE AND DISTRICT THREE HAVE APPOINTED SOME INDIVIDUALS.
SO THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNCIL, EACH ONE HAS A APPOINTEE.
SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO APPOINT SOMEBODY, I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY.
EACH PERSON CAN MAKE THEIR NOMINEE NATION.
I'M SORRY IF, IF NOT, WHATEVER Y'ALL CHOOSE TO DO.
I'M SORRY, I WASN'T LOOKING AT THIS.
I JUST NEED TO SAY THAT THE SPELLING OF ROBERT REED'S LAST NAME IS INCORRECT.
IT'S WITH A, I IT SHOULD BE REID.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS, CITY ATTORNEY.
I SAID APPOINTEE REQUIRES NO VOTE BY COUNCIL.
JUST AS LONG AS YOU GIVE YOUR NAME, RIGHT? YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST GO.
UH, NOW WE, WE ARE GOING, WE ARE GONNA CARRY, CARRY THE VOTE.
I GOT A MOTION, RIGHT? WE DON'T HAVE ANY NEW NAMES.
SO WE JUST, UH, WHENEVER Y'ALL ARE READY, ONLY DISTRICTS ONE AND THREE HAVE GIVEN NAMES.
AND, AND THE OTHER, WHEN THE OTHERS DO, WE ARE PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA.
WELL, CAN WE TABLE IT CAN, THAT'S WHAT I, THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL, Y'ALL HAVE WHATEVER TIMEFRAME YOU NEED, MAYOR.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I SAID EARLIER.
I MAKE, I MOVE TO TABLE, UH, PR 2, 3, 4, 1 9 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE PORT ARTHUR HOUSING FINANCE, UH, CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
COUNCILMAN ETT SECOND? NO, I HAVE A QUESTION.
OKAY, WELL, YOU SECOND COUNCILMAN FRANK? YEAH.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, TABLE IT.
WE HAVE A QUESTION ON THE SECOND.
YEAH, I I MEAN ON THE, YOU KNOW, QUESTION, A QUESTION ON THE TABLE.
YOU KNOW, WHY ARE WE GONNA TABLE IT? BRING IT BACK FOR US TO GIVE NAMES IF WE APPROVE THE ACTION NOW IT'S A DONE DEAL AND THE, AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE NAMES, THEY'LL APPROVE WHENEVER WE GET NAMES.
SUBMIT SOME NAMES, WE SUBMIT 'EM TO THE CITY SECRETARY.
IT IS ALREADY, YOU KNOW, IS APPROVED.
I MEAN THAT WAY WE BRINGING BACK WHEN YOU GIVE, WE JUST HAVE TWO NAMES.
SO RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MEET AND IT IS WHAT'S KIND OF STATED WE DO NEED TO MEET.
BUT, BUT, BUT THE ACTION THAT, THAT COUNCILMAN DE SAID IS IN READINESS.
IF WE ARE GOING TO PROVE THIS, WHEN WE SUBMIT THE NAMES, THEY AUTOMATICALLY WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE A RESOLUTION FOR THE RECORD SHOWING IT.
BUT YOU CAN GIVE US SOME NAMES.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS IT'S DONE EXPEDITIOUSLY.
WELL WE WERE GOING TABLE IT SO WE CAN DO THAT.
OKAY, SO ONLY QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR OF TABLING.
AYE A, ANY OPPOSES A HAVE SO ORDERED.
[VIII.A.(6) P.R. 23420 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Reject All Proposals For The Leasing Of Two Buildings Inside The Gated Pleasure Island Marina And Authorizing The Purchasing Division To Re-Advertise Leasing]
NEXT WE HAVE PR NUMBER 23, 4 20.IT'S THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO REJECT ALL PROPOSALS FOR THE LEASING OF TWO BUILDINGS INSIDE THE GATED PLEASURE ISLAND MARINA AND AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING DIVISION TO RE ADVERTISE LEASING.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MCKINLEY? SO MOVED.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23, 4 20 AS, UH, PRESENTED.
WE HAVE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS ON THIS? ANY QUESTIONS ON IT? MAYOR, YOU HAVE A MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SIDE? OKAY, THAT'S WHY I JUST ASKED QUESTIONS OR, OR STAND NEED TO STAND.
STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE.
SHE, UH, I, I'M A RESIDENT OF PLEASURE ISLAND FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS, 8 0 6 SOUTH WIND.
UM, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT, UM, REGARDING THE PROCESS OF THE YACHT CLUB, RFPI JUST WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS, UH, HAVING LIVED THERE AND REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THAT YACHT CLUB IS.
UM, I HAVE A LOT OF NOTES, SO I TRIED TO BRIEF THEM DOWN.
UH, YACHT CLUB'S BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT STORMS AND THE MEMBERS THEMSELVES ACTUALLY DID ALL THE WORK TO, UH, REBUILD, TO IMPROVE.
THEY, AND IT'S MEMBERSHIPS THAT ARE, UH, PAYING FOR EVERYTHING.
THEY HAVE A LEASE THAT'S A VERY MINIMAL AMOUNT OF JUST THE LEASE.
BUT WHAT THEY DO IS THEY BRING IN THE BOATS.
THE CITY GETS THE, UH, SLIP FEES FOR THE BOATS THAT ARE IN THERE.
AND, UH, IT'S A REALLY GREAT SOCIAL CLUB.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF YOU'LL KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE ORIGINAL LEASE, THERE'S, UH, A LOT OF GROUPS THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES
[03:00:01]
AND OTHER THINGS SUCH AS BOYS HAVEN, GIRLS HAVEN LIBRARY, KIDS WENT OUT, SEA SCOUTS, TJ MIDDLE SCHOOL.THEY HAVE, UH, EXCEPTIONAL YOUTH JUNIOR SAILING.
I HAVE A LOT OF PICTURES THROUGH THE YEARS OF ALL THE LITTLE KIDS ON THE BOATS.
THEY LEARN THAT FOR, UH, WEEK TIME CAMPS.
THEY'VE, UH, I'VE BEEN ATTENDED MYSELF IN ADULT SAILING, UH, UM, CLASSES OR WORKSHOP, WHATEVER IT WAS.
UH, THEY HAVE, UH, IT REPRESENTS, UH, PORT ARTHUR EVERYWHERE IT GOES BECAUSE IT'S A PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB.
THEY HAVE RACES AT CRYSTAL BEACH.
THEY HAVE THEM IN THE, UH, OUR AREA AND THEY GO OTHER PLACES AS WELL.
UM, IT WAS AROUND, UM, ABOUT 2021 WHEN, UM, WE KIND OF HAD JUST A LITTLE CHANGE OVER AND THERE WERE SOME SLIP FEE RENTAL RECORDS AND, UM, BOAT STORAGE TOO.
I MEAN, DRY STORAGE WERE KIND OF, UH, LOST IN THAT AREA.
SO, UM, SO WE DIDN'T GET, THEY DIDN'T GET BILLED.
I DIDN'T EITHER, UM, BILLED FOR TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE RECORDS WERE MISSING.
SO, UM, THE REVENUES, UM, THERE WERE, I'M SURE, UH, LOWER AT THAT TIME.
UM, UH, SO FOR TWO YEARS WE DIDN'T GET ANY BILLING.
AND THEN FINALLY THE CITY FINANCE DEPARTMENT TOOK OVER, UH, THE RECORDS AND EVERYTHING.
AND THEN, UH, JANUARY, 2023, THEY BEGAN BILLING US AGAIN THROUGH THE CITY RECORDS.
AND SO I KNOW MY HUSBAND AND I FOR DRY STORAGE, WE NEVER STOPPED PAYING, BUT SOMETIMES IF YOU DON'T GET A BILL, LIKE THE WATER DEPARTMENT, IF YOU DIDN'T GET A BILL FOR TWO YEARS, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY NOT BE CONTINUING TO PAY YOUR BILL.
THAT'S JUST A NORMAL HUMAN, UH, INFORMATION.
SO WHEN THEY DID START BILLING, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, THEY, UH, BILLED NOT ONLY FOR THE, THAT MONTH, BUT ALSO INCLUDED ALL OF THE PAST TWO YEARS WORTH THAT NO ONE PAID.
SO, OBVIOUSLY, UM, A LOT OF THE BOATS LEFT 'CAUSE THEY WEREN'T GONNA PAY THOSE BIGGER FEES.
SOME PEOPLE, THEY DID NEVER EVEN, THEY ABANDONED THEM.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHOSE THEY WERE.
UM, SO I'M THINKING THAT WAS A HUGE LOSS OF REVENUE.
I'VE LOOKED AT SOME OF THE RECORDS, UH, FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND, UH, THE RECORDS, UH, ON THE FINANCES SEEM TO, THEY LOOK SIMILAR ON THE, THE FINAL, UH, AMOUNTS FOR THE BULK RENTAL FEES.
SO THEY HAVE NOT, DON'T SHOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN AFFECTED TOO MUCH.
UM, IN THE SPRING OF 2023, YOU GUYS, WHOEVER'S IN HERE, IT'S FROM SPRING, YOU APPROVED, UM, INCREASES IN THE FEES.
'CAUSE UH, AT THIS TIME, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS LOSS OF INCOME AND THE FEES WERE ANYWHERE FROM 75% INCREASE TO, I KNOW MINE WAS 150% INCREASE ALL OF A SUDDEN.
WELL, UH, WE, WE KEEP ON MOVING.
WE, WE LIKE WHAT WE HAVE AND I LIKE THE BOATS STILL BEING THERE.
WELL, THAT OBVIOUSLY CAUSED A FEW MORE BOATS TO LEAVE AT THAT POINT.
SO NOW WE'RE DOWN TO, UM, UM, SOMEWHERE AROUND IN JUNE, I BELIEVE I, I RAN ACROSS, UM, A POWERPOINT THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU GUYS THAT WAS DONE FROM PLEASURE ISLAND.
AND IT SHOWED, UH, IN, IN PARTICULAR THAT, UH, IT WAS AN UPDATE FOR PLEASURE ISLAND AND, UH, SEEMED TO BE DOING REALLY WELL.
BUT, UH, I ACTUALLY TOOK A PICTURE.
Y'ALL DON'T HAVE IT, BUT IF YOU'LL GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE POWERPOINT, YOU CAN SEE IT.
IT SAYS THE MARINA AND DRY STORAGE UPDATES.
AND ORIGINALLY THERE WERE, NOW WAIT, THIS, THIS, UH, AFTER THE STORM FEMA CAME AND BUILT, THERE'S 300 SLIPS IN THIS MARINA AND IT'S FLOATING DOCKS.
UH, BUT THIS POWERPOINT SHOWED THAT THERE WAS ORIGINALLY 67 BOATS THAT WERE OCCUPIED.
HOWEVER, ONLY 28 BOATS WERE IDENTIFIABLE AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THE, THE YEARS OF THE NON-BILL.
AND AS OF TODAY, 44, THIS IS JUNE 44.
BOAT SLIPS ARE OCCUPIED AND CURRENT ON PAYMENTS.
AND THEN IT WENT INTO DRY STORAGE AS WELL.
ALRIGHT, SO ON THE BUDGET, IT SHOWS THAT THE END OF THE YEAR AMOUNT FOR THE REVENUES FOR BOAT SLIPS, I BELIEVE IT'S AROUND, LET'S SEE, FOR THIS YEAR, 'CAUSE I HAVE IT, UM, HANG ON.
[03:05:03]
UH, THE BOAT SLIP RENTAL FEE BUDGETED AMOUNT FOR 2324 IS $160,000.WELL, IF THERE'S ONLY 44 BOATS PAYING FOR THE WHOLE YEAR, I FIND THAT'S THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S TOUGH ON THE NUMBERS.
MY MATH IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
MAYBE THAT COMES TO THAT, I DON'T KNOW.
UH, THE SITUATION IS WHENEVER WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RFP, UH, I MEAN IT WASN'T POSTED ANYWHERE.
I DIDN'T SEE IT IN THE NEWSPAPER.
I DIDN'T SEE IT ANYWHERE ELSE.
AND I'M HERE AS A, JUST A RESIDENT THEN.
UM, I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN A MEMBER OF THE YACHT CLUB IN THE PAST.
UM, AND WE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AND IT WAS, CAME KNOWLEDGE TO ME BY ASKING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT LOOKED LIKE THE CITY, UM, HAD DONE A, UM, ANYWAY, THEY WANTED A FAIR MARKET VALUE COST OF THE LAND.
WELL, THE ISSUE IS THE YACHT CLUB HAS BEEN THERE FOR WAY BEFORE I CAN REMEMBER.
AND LIKE I SAID, THEY, THEY DON'T PAY A LOT IN RENT, BUT THEY BUILT THE BUILDINGS, THEY FURNISH THE BUILDINGS, THEY PROVIDE FOR ALL THE EDUCATION.
THEY GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND THEY'VE, THEY PAID FOR EVERYTHING TO BRING THE BUILDINGS BACK AFTER THE STORMS. I MEAN, THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING AND THEY ARE WHERE THE BOATS MOSTLY ARE LOCATED.
I'D SAY OVER 80%, PROBABLY CLOSER TO 90% OF THE BOATS, UH, IN THE MARINA ARE MEMBERS OF THE YACHT CLUB.
SO THAT IS THE REVENUE THAT THE CITY'S GETTING FOR WHAT, ANYWHERE FROM THREE, $500 DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE BOAT EACH MONTH.
SO THERE IS, UH, INCOME COMING FROM THERE.
I, I HATE TO SEE, 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW THE SITUATION WITH THE RFP.
I DO UNDERSTAND IT, UH, HAD SOME ISSUES 'CAUSE IT WOULDN'T BE ON THE AGENDA TO CANCEL, UH, THE WHATEVER, WHATEVER RFPS HAD GONE OUT.
BUT AS FAR AS MY CONCERN WITH, UM, TO RE ADVERTISE FOR IT, AGAIN, MY REASON I'M UP HERE, MY FINAL SAYS ARE, UM, I'M HIL, I'M, UH, FIRST I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS.
THE ADVISORY BOARD, IF YOU'LL CHECK THE MINUTES OF THE PAST MEETINGS, THEY WERE NEVER ADVISED OR DIDN'T MAKE ANY DECISIONS OR THERE WAS NO IN INFORMATION IN THE MINUTES ABOUT, UH, KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT THE RFPS.
THERE WAS NEVER ANY DISCUSSION OR ANY INFORMATION GIVEN TO THOSE IN THOSE MINUTES AS WELL REGARDING THE FEE INCREASES, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S, UH, THE CITIZENS ARE NOT BEING INCLUDED.
AND SO THAT IS MY CONCERN THAT MAYBE WE CAN HAVE MORE, UH, MEETINGS BEFORE THIS NEXT PROPOSAL GETS READVERTISED AND HAVE THE YACHT CLUB, THERE'S SOME YACHT CLUB, OTHER PEOPLE HERE, UM, AND HAVE DIS DISCUSSIONS AND HAVE A RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE TO HAVE A SAY BECAUSE THE PEOPLE HAVE NOT HAD A SAY.
IT'S, IT'S ALL BEEN DONE WITHOUT THE PEOPLE'S, UH, INFORMATION.
THAT MAYBE YOU WOULD, UM, UNDERSTAND MORE OF, UH, HOW THIS SEEMED TO GO DOWN ON, ON THIS ONE NATURE.
I'M JUST SAYING WE WANT TO HAVE A SAY SO.
UH, MAYOR
WHAT'S THE QUESTION? YOU SAID? WHAT'S THE QUESTION? I CAN WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO, IF THEY NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY BE SEATED NOW.
UH, IF THIS IS THE QUESTION ON THE MOTION.
WE NOT GONNA QUESTION EACH OTHER? YES.
YOU, OH, I THOUGHT THAT THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC.
I THOUGHT THAT, I THOUGHT WAITING.
I'M GONNA CALL A RECESS RIGHT HERE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK.
WE'VE ALL BEEN IN THIS ROOM TOO LONG.
WE'VE ALL BEEN IN THIS ROOM TOO LONG.
[03:10:01]
SECRETARY, DO YOU NEED TO REESTABLISH? YOU MAY.WE ARE IN, UH, THE QUESTION PERIOD OF, UH, DISCUSSING ITEM NUMBER SIX ON THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S SOMEONE FROM THE GALLERY WHO WOULD CARE TO SPEAK.
YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE, TO COME RIGHT ON.
THAT WOULD BE YOU OR SHE WOULD.
UM, MY NAME IS CRYSTAL MEADOWCROFT.
ADDRESS IS 3 1 1 ROYAL WAY IN NEELAND.
UM, I'M NOT A RESIDENT OF PORT ARTHUR, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE DO HAVE STRONG TIES TO THE CITY AS WELL AS THE PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB.
UM, IN FACT, I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT SAYING THAT MY HUSBAND AND I ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE GOTTEN MARRIED ON A SAILBOAT RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THAT CLUBHOUSE, UM, WITH A SAILBOAT TIED UP AND EVERYTHING.
UM, I'M CURRENTLY THE SOCIAL CHAIR WITH THE PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING SO MUCH TIME, OUR VOLUNTEER TIME, NONE OF US ARE PAID MEMBERS OF THAT CLUB.
UM, TRYING TO BUILD UP THE YOUTH PROGRAMS, WORKING WITH THE LIBRARY KIDS.
UM, WE DEVELOPING CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER, UH, BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, THE HEB COMMUNITY OUTREACH HAS WANTED TO HELP WITH OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS AND DENOTING, UH, DONATING TO IT.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ALLOWED TO SAY IT, BUT VALERO HAS SPONSORED STUFF WITH OUR JUNIOR SAILING CAMPS.
THE ITEM AT HAND IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU GUYS SHOULD PULL THE BIDS AND START ALL OVER AGAIN.
AND HONESTLY, IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS PUT A BID IN, THEY HAVE THE FINANCES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND THE CONNECTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S DEVELOPER IS WANTING TO WORK WITH US AND MAINTAIN IT.
THEN WHY NOT DO THAT? WHY GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN AND START ALL OVER AND WE'LL BE, YOU MAY NOT EVEN BE HERE.
IF YOU DO THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO BREAK THE SPIRIT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU'RE SENDING THE MESSAGE THAT YOU DON'T WANT US, YOU DON'T WANT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVING TO YOU GUYS FOR FREE.
YOU GUYS DON'T, THE CITY DOESN'T PROVIDE THAT.
SO WHY, WHY START OVER? WHY, WHY DO THAT? I THINK THAT'S IT.
ANYONE ELSE FROM THE GALLERY? NO.
STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE.
UH, I'M PAUL VERA, 37 0 1 RUSSELL GROVES, TEXAS, FORMERLY FIFTY TWENTY FIVE PROCTOR STREET.
BORN AND RAISED IN PORT ARTHUR.
I LIVE AND BREATHE PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB.
I HAVE BEEN COMMODORE TWO OR THREE TIMES.
I MEAN, BUT BUSINESS IS BUSINESS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE'VE BEEN OVER THERE 30 SOMETHING YEARS FOREVER.
AND WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH HURRICANE IKE.
THIS IS WORSE THAN HURRICANE IKE.
'CAUSE WE STAND TO LOSE OUR CLUB, OUR HOME.
BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'S BUSINESS.
AND UH, I ALWAYS TELL THE LITTLE KIDS WHEN WE GO TEACH 'EM HOW TO SELL.
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE IN YOUR ENTIRE SCHOOL THAT KNOWS HOW TO SAIL.
ME AND DON EARN DID MEMORIAL HIGH JUNIOR HIGH.
THOSE KIDS DIDN'T HAVE AN IDEA WHAT WE WERE DOING, BUT BOY, I GAVE THEM SNICKERS BAR AND BOY, THEY WERE HAPPY
'CAUSE ONCE WE LEAVE THERE, WE GOT NOWHERE TO GO.
AND WE DO THE BEST ADVERTISING WHEN WE GO TO PORT ARTHUR.
WE PUT PORT ARTHUR ON OURSELVES FROM AUSTIN TO CORPUS CHRISTI TO DALLAS.
[03:15:01]
WHEN WE IN, WHEN WE ENTER IN A REGATTA, IT'S PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB AND NOTHING ELSE.THANK Y'ALL FOR LISTENING TO ME AND MAKE A REALLY GOOD DECISION.
HEY, GOOD MORNING OR AFTERNOON.
UH, IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO FOLLOW PAUL, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
DRAKE THITO 3 5 0 5 THOREAU STREET.
UM, I AM NOT A PRESIDENT OF PORT ARTHUR, BUT I AM PRETTY ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
I'M SORRY, I KEEP LOOKING UP AT THAT LOGO THERE WITH THAT SAILBOAT ON IT.
IT'S BEEN A CONSTANT, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FOLLOW, UH, COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR SOME TIME.
UH, WE ALWAYS HEAR, YOU KNOW, BRINGING MONEY TO THE AREA, BRINGING JOBS TO THE AREA, BRINGING OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO THE AREA, KIND OF FOLLOWING WHAT OTHERS SAID.
UH, CLUB'S BEEN THERE SINCE 1965.
UM, WE'VE BEEN BRINGING MONEY TO THE AREA ON AVERAGE.
UM, THE YACHT CLUB MEMBERS PAY ABOUT $4,000 A YEAR BETWEEN SLIP FEES AND DUES AND TAXES.
WHEN WE HAVE REPAIRS THAT GO MAY BE MADE.
WE GO TO PARKER'S LUMBER, UH, WHEN WE NEED FUEL.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY ON AN ISLAND YET, BUT WE TRY TO GO DOWN THERE TO GULF WAY.
AND THEY GOT A GREAT FUEL STATION THERE.
OBVIOUSLY Y'ALL CAN LOOK AT ME.
PORT ARTHUR HAS VERY GOOD FOOD, SO WE TRY TO EAT THERE AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUTREACH PROGRAMS, I CAN'T SPEAK ENOUGH ON THAT.
UH, WITH THIS CLUB, WE LITERALLY DONATE THOUSANDS OF HOURS A YEAR.
I CAN SHARE WITH Y'ALL AT ANY TIME IF YOU NEED TO SEE THAT.
THAT'S ON TOP OF WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR OUT HERE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE TRIED TO GET A LEASE FOR THREE YEARS.
UH, WE MET WITH VARIOUS PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS, UH, AND, AND WITH THE CITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HADN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
UH, I'LL GLADLY MEET WHATEVER, WHOEVER WE NEED TO MEET WITH TO TRY TO PUSH THIS WITH SOME MORE KIND OF HEARING THAT THE AWARD MIGHT ALREADY BEEN DONE.
UM, NORMALLY ARE IF PRE-PROCESS THAT GETS FED BACK.
SO THAT IS A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTING.
UH, IF NOT THE CASE, UH, I'LL DIGRESS ON THAT.
BUT BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR A DECISION.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA BREAK A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY THAT WE'VE HAD FOR 58 YEARS.
SO I HOPE THAT MEANS SOMETHING.
UH, AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE TIME AND ANY QUESTION THAT, JUST KEEP LOOKING BACK AT THAT LOGO WITH THAT SAILBOAT ON IT.
SO MIGHT ASK EVERYBODY ELSE TO TOO.
ANYONE ELSE FROM MC GALLERY APPROACH? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
MY NAME IS DONALD HEARN AND, UH, MY ADDRESS IS THREE TO, PARDON ME.
I DON'T GET UP AND SPEAK TOO OFTEN.
3 9 5 BERRY ROAD, BEAUMONT, TEXAS.
UH, MY BOAT I PURCHASED, UH, WHILE AT THE, UH, YACHT CLUB.
I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE 2010.
PAYING SLIP FEES ALL THAT TIME.
I'M, UH, APOLOGIZE FOR MY ADDRESS.
I WASN'T PLANNING TO SPEAK TODAY.
UH, I'M THE, UH, SEA SCOUT COMMODORE FOR THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.
AND, UH, I'M CURRENTLY TRYING TO REACH OUT TO, UH, THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS TO BUILD ADDITIONAL SEA SCOUT SHIPS, TO BRING MORE YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, UH, TO THE, UH, YACHT CLUB AND TO TEACH, UH, SAILING.
I WORKED WITH PAUL VERA IN THE AFTER SCHOOL SAILING CLUB IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UH, IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT I, WE HAD AN AGREED CONTRACT, STILL NEEDED THE PROCESS A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY AT THAT TIME.
AND WE NEVER HEARD BACK, OR TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE NEVER HEARD BACK FROM IT.
UH, WE, WE'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DELAY FOR THE YEAR AND A HALF, AND, UH, FELT LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE, UH, KNOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.
UH, WE ARE, UH, UH, WORKING CLASS, UH, UH, YACHT CLUB.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HERE'S YACHT CLUB AND THINKS THAT WE'RE MULTI-MILLIONAIRES AND WE'RE A LAKEWOOD YACHT CLUB OVER IN CLEAR LAKE, BUT WE'RE NOT.
WE'RE OUT HERE TO SERVE WHAT ARTHUR HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH EACH OTHER.
[03:20:01]
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.ANYONE ELSE FROM GALLERY? IF NOT, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, DOUCETTE.
WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS ON THE AGENDA AND I READ THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION, AND I LOOKED AT THE BIDS THAT WE HAD ALREADY SENT OUT, MY FIRST QUESTION WAS, WHY WAS, WHY WERE WE EVEN BIDDING IT OUT? I UNDERSTAND ABOUT REVENUE, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE DO IN THIS CITY.
IT'S GOTTA BE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT YACHT CLUB AND YOU READ ABOUT IT, WHAT YOU HEAR, THE YOUTH TAKING KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL, TEACHING 'EM ABOUT THE BOATS.
UH, THEY HAVE IN THEIR, OUR CITY NAME ON THEIR CELLS.
WHEN THEY GO SOMEWHERE, UH, THEY BUILD THIS BUILDING OR THEY MAINTAIN THIS BUILDING.
SO IT'S NOT COSTING US NOTHING TO MAINTAIN IT.
AND THEN WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR IN RETURN? YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING BEFORE US, DON'T LIVE IN OUR CITY, BUT THEY'RE TELLING US WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR OUR YOUTH IN OUR CITY.
SO A LOT OF THIS IS NOT ABOUT MONEY, BECAUSE IF WE COULD PUT PLAY SCAPES ON PARKS SO OUR CITIZENS CAN ENJOY QUALITY OF LIFE, WHY CAN'T WE HAVE SOMETHING DEALING WITH THE MARINA THAT BRINGS QUALITY OF LIFE? WE TALKING ABOUT THE LAND.
THEY GOT SOME KIDS INTERESTED IN VOTING.
THEY'RE NOT RESTRICTING TO JUST KIDS FROM WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR KIDS AND OUR CITY.
AND HERE WE ARE, NOT JUST ABOUT A DOLLAR.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENSURE THAT ALL OUR CITIZENS AND OUR KIDS GET EXPOSED TO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP THEM.
NOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BUILDING, THEY MAINTAINING IT.
SO IF THEY MAINTAINING IT, THEY PAYING THE LIGHT AND ELECTRIC BILL.
IN REALITY, ALL THEY DOING IS USING THE LAND AND THE BOAT SLIPS.
I UNDERSTAND REVENUE FROM THE BOAT, FROM THE BOATS, UH, SLIPS AND ALL.
BUT I WAS ON COUNCIL WHEN WE GOT THE MONEY TO BUILD THESE BEAUTIFUL FLOATING DOCK SLIPS.
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DOING THINGS FOR OUR CITIZENS AND MAKING MONEY.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
BUT WHERE IS IT WHERE WE DRAW THE LINE OF MAKING MONEY? AND DURING, FOR CITIZENS, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, BOAT FEES FOR SLIPS.
IF YOU GOT FOUR BOATS IN THERE AND YOU CHARGING $50 A MONTH, YOU KNOW THAT'S $200.
BUT IF YOU GOT 20 BOATS IN THERE, HE CHARGE $35 A MONTH, YOU'RE GONNA GET MORE MONEY.
SO WE REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THESE THINGS.
BUT ONE THING WE HAVE TO CONSIDER, WHAT IS THE YACHT CLUB DOING FOR OUR CITY AND OUR CITIZENS? AND WHAT IS THE COST? AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ, NOT I HEARD THE CITIZENS, BUT WHAT I READ, I READ WHAT THEY WAS TELLING ME.
LOOK AT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY INVOLVED WITH THE YOUTH DURING THIS, THE YOUTH DURING THAT, I KEPT SAYING, WHY ARE WE EVEN BIDING THIS OUT? WE SHOULDN'T BE BIDING THIS OUT.
WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING WHAT IT TAKES FOR THIS CLUB TO CONTINUE TO FUNCTION.
IF ANYTHING, IF THEY CAN'T PAY THE RENT, MAYBE WE COULD PAY THE ELECTRIC BILL, BUT WE GOT TO DO IT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DOING IT FOR THEM.
THEY'RE DOING IT FOR OUR KIDS, AND THEY'RE DOING IT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, GRANT ME, I UNDERSTAND THE, THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO REBID IT OUT, BUT LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, STAFF HAS GOT TO RUN OUR CITY.
[03:25:01]
OTHER CITIES GET REVENUE.AND I KNOW THAT'S THE WAY THEY BE THINKING SOMETIMES.
BUT SEE, WHEN IT GET TO US, WE GOTTA THINK CITIZENS TOO.
SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE THE REVENUE ALONG WITH WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITIZENS.
WHAT I'M IN FAVOR OF ALLOWING THEM TO CONTINUE.
AND WE LOOK AT WAYS TO MAKE THIS WORK AND HELP IF NOTHING ELSE.
BUT LET'S NOT LOOK JUST ON THE REVENUE SIDE OF THIS.
LET'S TAKE BOTH IN CONSIDERATION AND THEN WE GONNA MOVE FORWARD.
BUT I READ IT AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT WE WERE REBUILDING IT.
UH, MAY, MAY I, YEAH, GO AHEAD.
I WANTED TO JUST INTERJECT REAL QUICKLY.
SO A FEW YEARS AGO, THIS HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1974.
AND, UH, SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE WORKED WITH THE YACHT CLUB AND THEY WANTED, THE COUNCIL HAD DIRECTED THAT WE PUT SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE ON PAPER TO, YOU KNOW, SET UP, UH, THE RELATIONSHIP, UH, ON HOW THINGS WOULD WORK.
SO I WANTED TO KIND OF CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE, UH, WHAT WE DID WAS WE DID A LEASE WHERE THEY LEASED THE PROPERTY FOR A DOLLAR.
AND IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT DOLLAR IS THE PUBLIC PURPOSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE DO THAT ALL THE TIME.
IF YOU CAN FIND WHERE IT BENEFITS THE PUBLIC, THEN YOU JUST PAY A DOLLAR.
NOW, WHEN YOU CEASE TO HELP THE PUBLIC, THEN YOU HAVE TO PAY THE FAIR MARKET VALUE.
AND THAT, THAT, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN GOING WITH.
UM, IT DID EXPIRE IN 2020, BUT IT DID HAVE A ROLLOVER.
SO WE'VE BEEN KIND OF JUST GOING AS IS UNDER THE SAME PREMISE.
UM, I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHY IT WAS BID OUT, BUT HERE'S THE LAW ON THAT.
ON, ON THE, SINCE IT HAS BEEN THAT, THAT THAT'S A DIFFERENT, UH, PERSON CAN EXPLAIN WHATEVER REASON IT WAS BID OUT.
BUT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN BID OUT, AND THIS IS ON ANYTHING, ANYTHING, TABLES AND CHAIRS, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN BID OUT, THAT THAT'S A FACT THAT, THAT AN RFP OR A COMPETITIVE SEALED BID IS THERE, THEN THE COUNCIL HAS TO AT LEAST DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT THIS RFP OR COMPETITIVE SEALED BID IS OUT THERE.
SO THE PROCESS ON WHICH YOU DO THAT, ON, ON ANY TYPE OF COMPETITIVE ITEM IS THAT THE COUNCIL CAN ACCEPT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN IT'S AN RFP, YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE SCORE.
THE COUNCIL CAN CHOOSE TO ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE SCORE AND RECOMMENDATION.
IF THEY DON'T, WITHOUT ME PULLING OUT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
IT, IT BASICALLY SAYS IF THE COUNCIL DOESN'T ACCEPT WHAT THE COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED, THEN THEY CAN REJECT IT AND REBID IT IF YOU CHOOSE TO REJECT IT AND REBID IT.
NOW, IF YOU GO INTO THE RFP WITHOUT GOING INTO A LOAN THING ON PAGE SIX, IT, IT OUTLINES THE PROCESS OF WHAT'LL HAPPEN.
UH, IT BASICALLY SAYS, AND I EMAILED IT TO LINDSAY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO AND PULL ALL THAT UP RIGHT NOW.
BUT WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE, IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE SIX, IT SETS FORTH, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.
THERE'S AN EVALUATION PROCESS, AND THEN IT SAYS, CITY STAFF SHALL RECOMMEND TO THE COUNCIL WHO THEY THINK IS THE MOST QUALIFIED BIDDER.
THEN THEY ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WHEN THE SERVICES AND FEES AGREED UPON, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY DO THAT AND THEN THEY PROVIDE CONTRACTS.
AND IF THE NEGOTIATION IS UNSUCCESSFUL, THEN THEY GO TO THE NEXT HIGHEST RANKED VENDOR AND THEN, UH, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
SO BECAUSE AN RFP WAS OUT THERE, WE DO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
NOW, IT COULD BE DEALT WITH THROUGH A REJECTION, A PURE REJECTION.
AND THEN, BUT NORMALLY WHEN WE HAVE RFP SOMETHING OR HAD A COMPETITIVE BID, THE NORMAL PROCESS IS TO REBID IT.
NOW, IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO REBID IT, YOU CAN JUST KILL IT.
BUT OUR NORMAL PROCESS, WHEN YOU, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE USUALLY YOU DON'T GO OUT FOR BIDS AND CHANGE YOUR MIND.
SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHY IT WAS BID, BUT YOU CAN EITHER GO WITH WHAT IS IN THE RFP TO GO WITH THE COMMITTEE B, YOU CAN REJECT IT AND REBID IT BECAUSE YOU PUT IT OUT THERE, OR YOU CAN REJECT IT AND, AND TAKE ANOTHER PATH.
AND THE ONLY THING, JUST TO MAKE LIFE A LITTLE CLEARER ON THIS, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LITTLE, UH, CONFUSION.
WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION FROM REVIEWING THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, ON ONE HAND WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC PURPOSE.
PUBLIC PURPOSE, YOU USUALLY PAY THE DOLLAR AND FULFILL THAT PURPOSE.
BUT THEN THERE'S SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT FAIR MARKET VALUE.
SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT FAIR MARKET VALUE, YOU WOULDN'T LOOK AT PUBLIC PURPOSE.
SO I I, IN REVIEWING IT, I REC DISCUSSED WITH YOU AND I PUT IT IN RAIN.
THERE WAS SOME INCONSISTENCIES.
YOU KNOW, IF IT JUST SAYS WE'RE GONNA PAY FAIR MARKET VALUE, THEN YOU DON'T GO INTO ALL OF THAT.
BUT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE DID WITH EVERYONE ELSE, IF YOU'RE GONNA DELVE THE PUBLIC PURPOSE ROAD, THEN IT'S A DOLLAR.
[03:30:01]
FIX YOUR CONTRACT UP TO PUT MORE, UM, YOU KNOW, SPELL OUT SOME MORE DETAILS.BUT THAT'S THE ROAD WE'VE BEEN ON.
BUT BECAUSE THIS RFP IS OUT, WE'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT IN SOME SORT OF WAY.
UH, MAY I APPROACH HIM? THANK YOU, MA'AM.
UM, CITY ATTORNEY, IN THE SECTION ON PAGE, ACTUALLY IT'S THE FIRST PAGE OF THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.
IT SAID THAT IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT IT BE REJECTED DUE TO INCONSISTENCIES IN THE RFP AS IT PERTAINS TO THE EVALUATION OF USE FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE VERSUS COMMERCIAL PURPOSE.
ADDITIONALLY, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE NEW RFP SPECIFICALLY STATES A LEASE AMOUNT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE NOTICE OF ANY FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS THAT MAY BE INCURRED.
SO WOULD THE, WAS THE ENTIRE PURPOSE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO, I UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS WRITTEN HERE, BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WAS THE PURPOSE TO CONFIRM IF WHOMEVER HAS A YACHT CLUB WOULD BE, UM, FOR PROFIT OR NOT FOR PROFIT.
IF IT IS A PUBLIC FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE, THEN IT'S STILL OKAY TO CHARGE A FEE.
SO HOW IS THAT? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE BALANCE.
YEAH, I THINK MAYBE IF IT'S FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE A REASON TO CHARGE A FEE.
NOW, I, AND I DON'T KNOW ALL HOW DO YOU PROVIDE THE PUBLIC PURPOSE WITHOUT ANY FEE? I DON'T DETAILS.
LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, WE GIVE LOTS TO PEOPLE FOR A DOLLAR.
WE GIVE BUILDINGS TO PEOPLE FOR A DOLLAR.
THE CONSIDERATION THAT'S LOOKED FOR IN A CONTRACT IS THE PUBLIC PURPOSE.
YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WAS LEASING A HOUSE FROM YOU FOR $500 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU GIVING ME THE HOUSE, I'M GIVING YOU $500, NO HOUSE FOR $500 TO BE FOUND ANYMORE.
BUT ANYWAY, BUT IN PUBLIC PURPOSE PROVISIONS IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING TO HELP THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
ANY GROUP, A CHURCH, A FOOD, FOOD, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE GROUPS, WE DEAL, WE ARE GETTING CONSIDERATION OF THE PUBLIC PURPOSE INSTEAD OF MONEY.
AND THAT'S WHY IT CAN BE FOR A DOLLAR.
AND IN THIS, IT WAS KIND OF INCONSISTENT.
LIKE ONE POINT, THEY TALK ABOUT PAYING THE FULL VALUE, WHERE IF YOU'RE PAYING THE FULL VALUE, YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST A LITTLE INCONSISTENT.
BUT IF YOU DO THE PUBLIC PURPOSE, UM, THE DOLLAR.
NOW SOMETIMES WITH THINGS LIKE ELECTRICITY, WE DO BASICALLY, LIKE ON EVERYTHING ELSE WE'VE DONE WITH BUILDINGS, YOU KNOW, WE TURN THE WHOLE BUILDING OVER TO YOU.
YOU GIVE US THE DOLLAR, THEN YOU TAKE CARE OF IT.
I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT HOW THIS, UH, OPERATION RUNS, BUT YOU COULD PUT SOME, SOME MORE MEAT ON IT.
UH, BUT, BUT THAT'S THE GIST OF IT.
I HOPE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
BUT THE FEES THAT I WAS MENTIONING WASN'T NECESSARILY JUST THE DOLLAR I'M TALKING ABOUT.
SO THE YACHT CLUB HAS TO BE OPERATIONAL.
SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE A WAY TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE ELECTRICITY, THE WATER BILL.
AND SO THEY'RE CHARGING A MEMBERSHIP FEE.
BUT IF IT'S FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE, HOW ARE WE, HOW IS IT NOT? UM, MY UNDERSTANDING, IF IT WAS A PUBLIC PURPOSE, LIKE IF WE RENTED THE LIBRARY, WE COULDN'T CHARGE AN ENTRY FEE BECAUSE IT WAS CITY PROPERTY.
WELL, IS THIS NO, IT'S LIKE WHEN WE GIVE AWAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE GIVEN AWAY A, WE GIVE AWAY A BUILDING.
SO A CHURCH COULD HAVE A FOOD BANK.
THE PUBLIC PURPOSE IS THAT YOU ARE FEEDING OUR CITIZENS WHO MAY NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT, BUT IT'S NOT A FEE TO COME TO, TO BE A PART OF THAT CHURCH.
NO, WE DON'T EVEN GET INTO THAT.
IF THEY'RE A NON-PROFIT AND THEY CAN MEET THAT NEED, WE DON'T LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY GET THE FOOD OR HOW, YOU KNOW, WE JUST LOOK AT ARE THEY FULFILLING A PUBLIC PURPOSE AND THEN WE, WE LET ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THE PROPERTY FOR A DOLLAR.
SO I HOPE I'M UNDERSTANDING YOUR QUESTION PROPERLY.
I DO, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT PART.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR ON WHAT I'M ASKING BECAUSE, UM, I ACTUALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE THINGS THAT THE YACHT CLUB HAS DONE, AND I'VE BENEFITED FROM SOME OF THEM.
MR. DON TAUGHT ME HOW TO SELL.
SO IT IS NOT, WHAT I'M ASKING IS FOR BUSINESS, IF WE ARE SAYING A PUBLIC PURPOSE, IS THAT ENTITY ALLOWED TO EARN A PROFIT? EARN AN INCOME? THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.
INCOME OFF OF, OFF OF THE BUILDING.
OFF OF THE SERVICE THAT'S BEING PROVIDED.
SO WE, THE, THERE IS A MEMBERSHIP FEE TO BE A PART OF THE YACHT CLUB.
THAT'S A SEPARATE NONPROFIT ENTITY.
THIS IS LIKE BEING A MEMBER OF THE Y OR BEING A MEMBER OF THE WHATEVER.
SO I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO FOLLOW, OKAY.
I'M TRYING TO, SO TO ME, A MEMBER OF THE YACHT CLUB, YOU PAY A FEE, RIGHT? BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP THEM FROM BEING A NON, AND THAT'S BEEN FROM THE SERVICES.
RIGHT? JUST LIKE THE YMCA, WE PAY MEMBERSHIP.
AND I HATE TO PUT THAT SAY, BUT YOU, YOU
[03:35:01]
JOIN ORGANIZATIONS, YOU PAY A MEMBERSHIP TO BE THE Y RIGHT? THE Y IS STILL A NONPROFIT.AND WE CAN STILL DO PUBLIC PURPOSE THINGS FOR THE Y 'CAUSE IT'S NOT LOOKING AT THE ORGANIZATION, IT'S LOOKING AT WHAT THEY DO.
AND BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO HELPS PEOPLE, THAT'S WHERE THE DOLLAR COMES IN.
AND SO IS THE QUESTION, IS THE QUESTION THAT WE ARE BEING ASKED DO CONTRACTUALLY? IS THIS, IF THIS CONTRACT IS NOT, UM, CLEAN OR YOU KNOW, IT, IT SAID IT HAD A MISCONSTRUED WORDS OF, OR LANGUAGE OF, UM, MARKET VALUE AND THEN PUBLIC PURPOSE BEING INCLUDED IN THE SAME CONTRACT, DOES IT HAVE TO BE, DO WE HAVE TO START OVER IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE AMENDED TO MAKE IT RIGHT, TO MAKE THE LANGUAGE CORRECT? YOU, YOU WOULD HAVE TO AWARD IT TO THE PERSON WITH THE HIGHEST SCORE.
YOU EITHER TAKE THE RECOMMENDATION OR YOU START OVER, OR YOU COMPLETELY REJECT IT.
SO WHAT IS THE FAIR LEGALLY, WHAT IS THE FAIREST THING FOR US TO DO? TO NOT BE SUED BY THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY IS A PART OF THE PROCESS NOW TO SAY, NO, WE'RE JUST GONNA SCRATCH IT AND KEEP IT THE WAY IT IS.
HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE PREVENT? I MEAN, BECAUSE BECAUSE THE CONTRACT HASN'T BEEN AWARDED, IT'S THE COUNCIL'S DISCRETION TO SAY, WE GONNA GO AHEAD AND NOT DO THIS ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS. YOU CAN SAY, HEY, WE ARE NOT GONNA DO IT.
UM, NOW YOU CAN DECIDE YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO IT AND CONTINUE ON WITH THE PUBLIC PURPOSE.
OR YOU, IF YOU WANT TO ELIMINATE THE INCONSISTENCIES, YOU CAN REBID IT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT KIND OF COMES DOWN TO, LIKE WE SAID, I THINK THERE'S SOME CONFUSION WHEN THIS WAS BID.
LIKE WAS THIS JUST TO HELP THE PUBLIC OR IS THIS A FOR-PROFIT? THOSE LINES WERE A LITTLE BIT BLURRED IN THE DOCUMENT.
I SAW THE DOCUMENT AS I READ IT.
SO IT NEEDS TO BE MY OPINION WITH THAT.
IF IT'S A LEGAL DOCUMENT, IT NEEDS TO BE, SO IT'S ALREADY BEEN BID.
YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHAT'S BEFORE YOU.
SO AGAIN, YOU CAN AWARD IT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER, YOU CAN REJECT IT AND REBID IT, OR YOU CAN REJECT IT AND, AND CONTINUE THE PATH THAT YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN ON.
BUT WE KNOW, I KNOW I HAVEN'T BEEN GETTING ANY INFORMATION.
NOBODY KNOWS WHO THAT HIGHEST BIDDER IS.
IT'S JUST, IT'S IN THE, IT IS IN THE RESOLUTION.
IT'S ATTACHED TO RESOLUTION AS AN EXHIBIT.
I THINK I THE LAST TIME I OVER EXHIBIT B.
THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
NOW YOU'VE BEEN, YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO BREAK IT DOWN, BUT I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
AND ACTUALLY JUST, UH, LISTENING TO SOME OF THE CITIZENS THAT ARE NOT IN THE CITY, BUT THE SURROUNDING CITIES, UH, I HEARD ONE OF THE CITIZENS STATE THAT RECORDS WERE MISSING AND IT WAS A TWO YEAR LOSS OF INCOME.
IS THAT, DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY? MM-HMM.
SO, UH, IN, IN, IN TALKING ABOUT THAT NON-BILL SLIPS, WE TALKED ABOUT 67 TO 28.
SO AS A COUNCIL, WE ARE DECIDING ON TODAY TO REJECT THESE BIDS BASED UPON THE FLAWS THAT YOU SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT.
RIGHT? AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? YOU SAID SOME INCONSISTENCIES OF THIS RFP AND HIGH WENT OUT.
SO WITH THE YACHT CLUB, CURRENT AT A STATE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BID AGAIN, WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO BID? YEAH, ANYONE CAN BID ON IT IF YOU DECIDE TO REBID IT.
IF YOU DECIDE TO REBI, IF WE DECIDE TOBI, ANYONE CAN DECIDE, WOULD THEY BE ELIGIBLE TO REBID AGAIN? YES.
BECAUSE I'M KIND OF HEARING TOO, DI HEAR THE PASSION THAT THE CITIZENS ARE TALKING ABOUT SINCE 1974.
THE COMMANDER, THE COMMODORE STATED EARLY BUSINESSES BUSINESS.
BUT ARE THEY A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SLOPES ACTUALLY EXCLUSIVE TO PORT ARTHUR CITIZENS? ARE THEY, BECAUSE I HEAR BEAUMONT GROVES, NELAND, YOU KNOW, IN NOR NONPROFIT IS JUST A NON-PROFIT.
YOU KNOW, THEN I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF THEIR, UH, BYLAWS OR ANYTHING.
BUT AS LONG, EVEN IF IT'S LIKE SOMETIMES IF, YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE A, A CHURCH OR ANYTHING, AS LONG AS YOU FULFILL IN A PUBLIC PURPOSE, IF YOU HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND, YOU KNOW, WOULDN'T THAT PUBLIC PUR PURPOSE BE ONLY FOR PORT ARTHUR CITIZENS? IT HAS TO BE FOR THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL.
AND, AND, AND THEN IT DOES MENTION PORT ARTHUR CITIZENS AS WELL.
IT SAID PORT ARTHUR CITIZENS RIGHT HERE.
AS LONG AS YOU'RE BENEFITING PORT ARTHUR CITIZENS, LIKE, OKAY.
SO AT THIS POINT, ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO THIS COUNCIL IS TO REJECT THESE BIDS BASED UPON SOME OF THOSE, UH, ERRORS THAT YOU FOUND EARLIER, UH, IN THE RPS? AM I UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY? WELL, AND THEN YOU, THERE'S SOME INCONSISTENCIES THAT MIGHT CAUSE SOME PROBLEMS DOWN THE LINE.
IF YOU AWARD IT AS IS, YOU COULD REJECT IT AND IF YOU WANT TO REBID IT OR JUST REJECT IT AND CONTINUE IN THE MANNER YOU WOULD, BUT ELIGIBLE TO, YEAH.
[03:40:01]
AND I THINK THE COUNCIL, YES, THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.NOTHING WOULD STOP THEM FROM BEING ELIGIBLE.
BUT I THINK THAT THE, THE, THE DIRECTIVE NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TO WHOEVER'S PREPARING THIS RFP.
WHAT ROAD DO YOU WANT TO GO DOWN? DO YOU WANT TO GO DOWN THE FOR-PROFIT ROAD OR THE NON-PROFIT ROAD? BUT IF YOU GO, IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE IT THE WAY IT IS, YOU CAN REJECT IT AND JUST, UH, UPDATE THE CONTRACT.
OR IF YOU WANNA GIVE OTHER PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY, THAT THAT'S THE CHOICE YOU HAVE TO MAKE.
DO YOU WANT TO GO FOR PROFIT? DO YOU WANT TO OPEN UP THE NON-PROFIT THING TO COMPETITION, OR DO YOU JUST WANNA KEEP IT THE WAY IT IS? ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS ARE LEGAL.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M, I'M LIKE, UH, MAYOR PRO TIMM, ARE WE WANTING TO DO IT FOR PROFIT? ARE WE WANTING TO DO IT FOR PUBLIC ENHANCEMENT? THAT, THAT'S WHAT I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE.
AND I THINK THAT ABOUT, MAYBE, MAYBE THAT'S WHY THE CONFUSION IN IT WAY IT WAS WRITTEN, IT WAS WRITTEN BOTH WAYS.
SO MAYBE IF YOU DO DECIDE YOU WANT TO GO BACK OUT, THAT'S, THAT'S THE DECISION THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE.
UH, DID COUNCILMAN, UH, FRANK, I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION, AND MAYBE MR. VE OR OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION FOR ME.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS, AND I HEARD THE, I HEARD, UH, THE DELIBERATION FROM COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE, UH, ABOUT HELPING OUR CHILDREN AND ALL OF THAT, AND I'M VERY, VERY, UM, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
I, UH, AS ALL OF US ARE, HOW SUCCESSFUL HAVE YOU BEEN AS A YACHT CLUB, MEETING THOSE GOALS OF HOSTING, UH, SEA SCOUTS ADVENTURE, UH, UM, SAILING PROGRAMS FOR FOSTER CHILDREN? HOW WOULD YOU, HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THE SUCCESS RATE OF DOING THAT? VERY SUCCESSFUL.
TRIED TWO EAGLE SCOUTS, CAME OUT OF PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB.
BUT JUST RECENTLY, IN THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS, UH, DON, MY SKIPPER'S SON WAS JUST, JUST AWARDED AN EAGLE SCOUT.
THAT'S JUST THE SCOUT SIDE OF IT.
HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? ALRIGHT.
BEING INVOLVED IN THESE? SO WE HAD, IN INSURANCE ISSUES, BECAUSE OF THE, THE STUFF THAT'S GOING ON.
SO THIS YEAR WE HAD, IT'S 25, BUT THE YEAR BEFORE WE HAD 60, WE HAD TWO CAMPS OF 60 KIDS.
SO THAT PUT, WE CAN ONLY PUT SO MANY IN A CAMP BECAUSE OF THE BOAT NUMBER OF BOATS WE HAVE, PLUS INSTRUCTORS.
SO WE ARE IN A TRANSITION MODE NOW, AND WE SHOULD BE UP TO THOSE NUMBERS IN THE UPCOMING YEARS.
AND LIKE DON SAID, IF WE EVER GET INTO THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND GIVE THOSE KIDS A CHANCE TO COME TO PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB AND SELL, THAT'S GONNA, I MEAN, YOU SHOULD SEE THEIR EYES, BUT IT, IT'S GONNA BE A BIGGER NUMBER.
AND THOSE, I ALWAYS TELL 'EM, I SAYS, Y'ALL ARE THE LUCKY ONES.
UH, WELL, OH, BUT I, I DIDN'T CALL, I DIDN'T CALL YOU UP YET.
AND YOU, YOU ASKED HIM A QUESTION AND I ALLOWED HIM TO COME UP.
NO, I'M JUST, I JUST WANT GET THE, GET EVERYTHING STRAIGHT.
UH, HIS DISCUSSION IS ACTUALLY GONE MUCH LONGER THAN I HAD ACTUALLY ANTICIPATED FOR IT TO GO.
QUEEN, COME ON UP AS A COURTESY.
BUT YOU SEE, ONCE WE LET THE GALLERY SPEAK AND WE START, THEN WE DON'T, WE DON'T REVERT BACK BECAUSE THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT TAKES AWAY CONTINUITY.
WELL, MR. MAYOR, UH, UH, I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONSISTENCY.
UH, I WAS ADHERING TO WHAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HAD REQUESTED.
UH, HE SPOKE ABOUT, UH, PROGRAMMING, UH, FOR THE KIDS OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
UM, AND WHEN I RECEIVED AND CAME BACK TO PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AS A NATIVE SON, UH, I LOOKED AROUND ON THE ISLAND IN WHICH I LIVED, UH, AND I SAW NO ONE THAT LOOKED LIKE ME.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, UH, ME BEING THE FIRST, UM, LARGE BLACK FAMILY ON THE ISLAND, UH, I WATCHED FOR FOUR YEARS.
UH, AND I LOOK FOR PROGRAMMING FOR THE KIDS
[03:45:01]
OF PORT ARTHUR.I SAW A SPRINKLE HERE AND A SPRINKLE THERE.
UH, AND I ALSO LOOKED AT, UM, THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE, UH, WHICH PUSHED ME, UH, IN THE SPACE, UH, TO CREATE THE YACHT CLUB AT PORT ARTHUR, POWERED BY GRACE HUB.
UH, THIS CONVERSATION HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION, UH, THAT HAS NOT BEEN ABOUT ONE ORGANIZATION.
THE RFP IS THAT OF THREE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, THAT SUBMITTED TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR THE BENEFIT OF PORT ARTHUR RETIRED, UH, CAPTAIN SEAN CLIFFORD, UH, CAPTAIN SEAN SAM PINK, RETIRED NUCLEAR SUBMARINE, CAPTAIN FRANK JACKSON.
UH, THREE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, UH, SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL TO OPEN THE YACHT CLUB AT PORT ARTHUR FOR THAT, OF NOT ONLY A PRIVATE CLUB, BUT FOR A PUBLIC INSTITUTION, AN INSTITUTION THAT ACTUALLY NURTURED, UH, NOT ONLY THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR, UH, BUT TO BRING DIVERSITY IN A SPACE, UH, WHERE THERE WAS VERY LITTLE, UH, AND TO DISREGARD, UM, THE REQUEST.
AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST REQUEST.
THERE WAS A REQUEST MADE IN OCTOBER 16TH, 2022 FROM THE YACHT CLUB AT PORT ARTHUR, POWERED BY GRACE HUB, UH, FOR INTENT OF THE BUILDING THAT HAD NO LEASE, NO CORRESPONDENCE WAS RECEIVED, UH, NO REPLY WAS GIVEN.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE RFP POPS UP.
I DO THEM FOR MULTIPLE CITIES.
IT IS NOT REQUIRED TO ADHERE TO AN RFP FOR A NORMAL FUNCTION OF A DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS A LEASE.
BUT BECAUSE THIS GREAT BODY HAS DECIDED THAT OUR ORGANIZATION HAS DONE, UH, THE PROPER PROTOCOL CORRECTLY, AFTER THE PROPER PROTOCOL, THERE WAS AN ADDENDUM MADE TO THE RFP THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH YACHTING.
WE ACCEPTED IT AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND NOW WE STAND BEFORE THIS BODY, UH, REPRESENTING, UH, THE PEOPLE OF PORT ARTHUR.
I DROVE MY 76 YEAR OLD FATHER AND 71 YEAR OLD MOTHER TO THE MARINA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SIX MONTHS AGO.
99% OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN PORT ARTHUR HAS NEVER BEEN TO THE YACHT CLUB OR THE MARINA.
IT IS IN YOUR HANDS AND IT'S OVERDUE.
MY COMMENTS ARE GONNA BE BASICALLY FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO.
UM, AND THIS, THIS BOILS DOWN TO LEGALITIES.
UM, I HAVE SEEN THE BID PACKAGES THAT WERE PREPARED BY THE YACHT CLUB AND BY MR. KOP.
I'VE MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE YACHT CLUB, AND I'VE ALSO MET WITH MR. KOP AND PEOPLE THAT KNOW HIM.
UH, AND DURING THE RFP PROCESS, THE PARTIES HAVE THE OPTION OF ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION.
AND I'VE REVIEWED THE RFP, AND I'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS AND PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT THE INCONSISTENT LANGUAGE.
AND, AND I SEE IT, AND I UNDERSTAND IT, BUT THERE WAS A PROCESS DURING THE RFP WHERE ANYBODY COULD HAVE REQUESTED INFORMATION.
THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN CLARIFICATION.
UH, MR. KOP HAS A TEAM OF LAWYERS THAT I'M SURE HE SHOWED THIS TO.
UH, AND THEY COULD HAVE COME BACK AND ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION, AND THEY DIDN'T.
SO WE'VE GOT THESE, THESE BID PACKAGES THAT ARE WONDERFUL.
THE BID PACKAGE PUT TOGETHER BY THE YACHT CLUB, BID PACKAGE PUT TOGETHER BY MR. KOP.
UM, BUT WE'RE AT A PLACE NOW WHERE WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OR CLARIFICATION FROM ANY OF THE, THE BIDS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED TELLS ME THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
MY CONCERN IS IF WE DON'T, WE ARE SENDING A MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC THAT WHEN WE DO AN RFP THAT IT'S NOT GONNA COME TO FRUITION.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.
IT, IT DOESN'T SEND THE RIGHT MESSAGE TO PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME AND DO BUSINESS WITH OUR CITY.
NOW, I WILL SAY THIS, AND I BELIEVE MS. MEADOWCROFT UH, ALLUDED TO THIS, AND SHE SAID IT VERY WELL.
HE'S THE DEVELOPER THAT WANTS TO COME
[03:50:01]
OUT AND DEVELOP PLEASURE ISLAND.I MET WITH HIM PRETTY EXTENSIVELY, AND I'VE MET WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT KNOW HIM AS A BUSINESS PERSON.
AND HE INDICATED TO ME HE'S GOT THE RESOURCES.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE, YOU, YOU HAVE THE KNOW IT ALL.
YOU'VE BEEN THERE, YOU KNOW HOW TO RUN THAT YACHT CLUB, AND HE WANTS TO WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU.
I HAVE NO REASON TO DISBELIEVE HIM.
I KNOW WE DON'T KNOW HIM PERSONALLY, BUT FROM THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO ABOUT HIM AND HIS BUSINESS ACUMEN AND THE WAY THAT HE CONDUCTS HIMSELF AS A BUSINESSMAN, I HAVE NO REASON TO DISBELIEF THAT.
UH, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIM AS THE DEVELOPER AND YOU AS THE YACHT CLUB.
AND I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
UM, I'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN WHAT'S, WHAT'S TAKING PLACE OVER THERE.
AND I'M, I'M ALSO BEEN INTERESTED IN THE, UH, PUBLIC PURPOSE.
AND THAT COULD BE FOR A DOLLAR, A DOLLAR, $1, ANOTHER CONSIDERATION, OR $10 ANOTHER CONSIDERATION.
BUT I'M LOOKING AT THE IMPACT.
THE IMPACT THAT WAS, WAS WHAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE PAST.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT KIDS OVER IN LEWIS, MAN, YOU GOT KIDS OVER IN, UH, PRINCE HALL, THOSE AREAS THAT WILL NEVER BE EXPOSED, THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DOESN'T HAVE THIS, THIS CURRICULUM.
BUT WHEN WE GOT THESE PRIVATE ORGANIZATION THAT'S SPONSORING THESE THINGS AND EDUCATING THE KIDS AND EXPOSING THE KIDS THAT THE ONES THAT WANTS TO BE EXPOSED, IT'S, IT'S, IT HAS A GREAT IMPACT.
AND LET THEM KNOW THAT IT IS ANOTHER WORLD OUTSIDE OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT A FEW KIDS, YOU GOT A FEW KIDS HERE, UH, THAT NEVER BEEN OUTSIDE OF THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND JUST, JUST, I'M GONNA DO DIVE.
MY DAUGHTER, WHEN SHE WENT, WORKED AT BEAUMONT, THE BEAUMONT YMCA, SHE WOULD, DURING THE SUMMERTIME, SHE WOULD, WHEN SHE WOULD ON BREAK FROM TO, TO, YOU KNOW, TEACHING AT LAMAR UNIVERSITY, SHE WOULD WORK FOR THE BEAUMONT YMCA.
YOU KNOW, SHE WOULD TAKE, GET VANS ON WEEKENDS AND GO TAKE LOW INCOME KIDS TO COLLEGE'S CAMPUS.
NOT THAT THEY'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING, BUT IT EXPOSE THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, TO GET OUTSIDE OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, TO GET OUTSIDE THE BOX THAT SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO REFER TO.
BUT THAT'S A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS THAT'S IN THE BOX THAT WE COULD BE USING TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW THE MARINE LIFE, YOU DON'T KNOW.
A LOT OF KIDS END UP GOING INTO SERVICE AND THEN THEY'LL CHANGE THEIR CHANGE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF WHAT THEY'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO.
YOU KNOW, UH, WE'VE BEEN TALKING LAWYER TERMS, COUNCIL TERMS, AND EVERYTHING IS ALL ABOUT LAYMAN TERMS SO CITIZENS CAN UNDERSTAND.
THE QUESTION HERE WAS SIMPLY TO APPROVE, REJECTING THESE BIDS AND REBIDDING IT OUT, WHETHER WE SAY YEAH OR NAY.
THE CITY ATTORNEY WENT THROUGH THE OPTIONS, BUT I THINK SHE KIND OF LIKE WENT THROUGH 'EM IN A FASHION THAT WAS NOT CLEAR TO CITIZENS AND PLAIN.
WE, AFTER DISCUSSION HAVE THE OPTION OF NOT ACCEPTING THE BID AND REBUILDING, OR JUST REJECTING THIS TOTALLY NOW AND WORK WITH THE YACHT CLUB TO ESTABLISH HOW WE WANT TO GO OR WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF IT COMING TO US IN THIS FASHION BECAUSE NOW WE, I'M HEARING COUNCIL MEMBER SAY, YEAH, WELL WE TALKED WITH THE DEVELOPER AND WE TALK WITH THEM.
UH, I TALK WITH THIS PERSON, I TALKED, NO, IT'S ABOUT TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS UP HERE.
AND WHEN IT COMES UP HERE, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT SO EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT'S ON THE TABLE.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THINGS, THEY'VE BEEN MAINTAINING THE BUILDING, THEY'VE BEEN DOING THINGS FOR KIDS.
THAT AIN'T NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
SO IF WE CAN DO A PUBLIC PURPOSE, THEN WE CAN LET 'EM HAVE THE LEASE FOR A DOLLAR.
SO THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WENT BACK TO THE, UH, THING.
IF THERE'S SOME CONFLICT WITH THE AGREEMENT WE HAVE, THEN WHY DON'T WE FIX THAT AGREEMENT DEVELOPER, OKAY.
[03:55:01]
THIS, OR DO WE WANNA TAKE AWAY AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAVE BEEN HELPING THE YOUTH IN THE CITY? IT'S SIMPLE.SO IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS, ALL THE WORK THEY'VE PUT IN OVER THE YEARS, THEN IT'S SIMPLE.
WE REJECT THE BID, AS SHE SAID, AND WE, GOD FOR REBID, IF WE WANT TO LET THE CITY ATTORNEY OR LET THEM COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH SOMETHING THAT IS AGREEABLE, THEN THE PROPER VOTE IS TO REJECT IT AND NOT GO OUT FOR BID, WHICH THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID THAT'S THE THIRD OPTION.
IF WE REJECT IT, THAT MEANS WE DON'T HAVE TO REBID THIS.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS REJECT THE WHOLE BID.
AND IF WE DO THAT, THEN WHAT WE GO BACK TO IS THAT CONTRACT THAT THEY HAD THAT WE SAY WAS A PROBLEM, FIX THE CONTRACT.
UH, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE THING HERE, BUT SHE COULD CORRECT ME.
BUT THOSE ARE THE, THAT'S WHAT WE CAN'T DO, RIGHT? CITY ATTORNEY.
ALL OF CITY ATTORNEYS JUST HOLD UP.
LEMME LET, UH, WELL, YOU HADN'T SPOKEN.
UH, HEY, I, I TOTALLY, UH, UNDERSTAND, UH, BUT IF I HAVE A VOTE THAT I HAVE TO CAST TODAY ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THAT'S DON'T TELL US I THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
I'M NOT TERRIBLY NO, NO, NO, NO.
SOMEONE SAID THAT I, AND I SHOULD HAVE STOPPED THEM, BUT I, I WASN'T SHARP.
ALL, ALL, I'M JUST SAYING, MAYOR.
IT'S A PR AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT MY COHORTS ARE SAYING.
BUT SINCE 1974, UM, UM, THAT THEY'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE WITH THIS YACHT CLUB, AND I ASKED EARLIER IF IT WAS FOR PROFIT OR PUBLIC, UM, ENHANCEMENT, AND I'M STILL NOT GETTING A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING ON IF WE REJECT IT OR NOT.
HOW WOULD IT BENEFIT THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR? AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, THEY'VE BEEN HELPING WITH THE CITIZENS AND THE STUDENTS AND, BUT IF IT'S NOT GONNA BE BENEFICIAL TO PORT ARTHUR AS AN ENTIRETY, BECAUSE IT'S IN PORT ARTHUR.
I, I ASKED EARLIER ABOUT RECORDS AND BEING MISSING FOR TWO YEARS, LOSS OF INCOME, GOD, UH, 67 OUT OF 28, UH, SLIPS OR NON BILLING.
BUT AGAIN, IF WE'RE SAYING THAT IF THIS IS SOLELY FOR PORT ARTHUR, I'M ON BOARD WITH THAT.
IF IT'S NOT AND WE ARE DOING SURROUNDING CITIES, I'M NOT SUPPORTING OF THAT.
I'M A CITY OF PORT ARTHUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'M NOT BEAUMONT GROVES KNEELING.
AND I'M, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'VE GIVEN THEIR TIME AND VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME, BUT WE ARE COUNCILMEN FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
SO IF IT'S JUST PORT ARTHUR, YOU GOT MY SUPPORT.
UH, CAN I ANSWER HIS QUESTION? GO RIGHT HERE.
I DO HAVE THE OLD LEASE UP AND I DIDN'T HAVE IT.
IT DOES SAY FOR PORT ARTHUR CITIZENS IN THE OLD LEASE.
I MEAN, UH, YOU WANNA TALK AGAIN? GO RIGHT AHEAD.
SO, SO THE LAST QUESTION, MAYOR.
UM, THE LAST QUESTION IS HOW DO WE PARSE OUT THE OPTIONS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US? YOU WOULD MAKE A MOTION, YOU GAVE FOR THE ITEM, FOR THE, FOR THE, YOU'D MAKE A MOTION FOR WHAT YOU, IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S LISTED.
WHAT'S LISTED IS TO REJECT AND REBID.
IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO DO THAT, THEN SOMEONE WOULD HAVE, YOU CAN VOTE ON THAT.
OR IF NOT, IF SOME, IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO TAKE THAT ROUTE, YOU CAN, UH, MAKE A MOTION FOR THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO RIGHT HERE IS, I THINK YOU CAME, I'M PARLIAMENTARY CORRECT, BUT SEE, THE, I I COULD SUSPEND, UH, DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.
IS, IS THAT POSSIBLE? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
I JUST WANT, NO, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
BUT YOUR BUT THE, BUT YOUR, YOUR RESOLUTION SAYS TO REJECT AND REBID TO REJECT AND REBID, BUT YOU HAVE OTHER OPTIONS ON THE TABLE.
STATE LAW SAYS THAT THE COUNCIL CAN REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS.
'CAUSE THAT'S ALWAYS OUR GENERAL PROCESS.
BUT YOU, YOU DO HAVE THE OPTION OF OBJECTING.
WHAT ABOUT REJECTING EXCEL? I DON'T SEE, I'M SORRY.
COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM MADE A, MADE A STATEMENT WHERE SHE SAID, UM, THE HOPES OF THE ANTICIPATION OF WORKING TOGETHER
[04:00:01]
AND ALL OF THAT.SO WHAT IS THE RE SO THE REJECTION, I GOT YOUR QUESTION.
SO, SO THE REJECTION, SO THE ACCEPTANCE AND, UM, IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO REJECT AND REBID AND YOU CHOOSE NOT TO REJECT, THEN YOU WOULD VOTE NO, THE RESOLUTION WOULD FAIL AND WE'D MOVE FORWARD WITH, WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE.
AND MAY, MAY, MAY I SAY COUNCILMAN FRANK, IT WOULD BE TO AWARD IT, LIKE ON PAGE SIX OF THE THING IT SAID WOULD BE TO AWARD IT TO WHO THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED, TRY TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT WITH THEM.
AND IF THAT FALLS THROUGH, GO TO THE NEXT BID THAT'S ON PAGE SIX OF THE YEAH.
AND, AND MAY, MAY, MAY, I MAY, I MAY I ASK THIS THE, AT THIS POINT, WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE? THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE IS IN EXHIBIT B.
UH, I DON'T HAVE, I DON'T HAVE, I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER.
MR. LINDSEY, DO YOU HAVE THE, UH, YEAH, YOU COULD PULL UP THE RESOLUTION.
THAT MIGHT BE MY EMAIL OF THE RFP.
EXHIBIT B OF THAT PAGE OF THE RESOLUTION.
IF, UM, AND, AND EXHIBIT B SAYS WHAT? IT'S A CHART THAT WEIGHS EVERYTHING.
I'D RATHER HAVE YOU PULL IT UP.
THE RESOLUTION MR UM, HARRIS IS 2, 3, 4, 2 OH.
AND IF YOU PULL UP EXHIBIT B, THAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
CAN I EXHIBIT DECEMBER? IT'S ATTACHED TO MOTION.
DO YOU HAVE YEAH, IT'S ON THERE.
DO Y'ALL HAVE EXHIBIT TWO? I DON'T.
I'M GONNA ASK MR. HARRIS TO PULL UP THE RESOLUTION.
YOU GOT THIS AND THAT'S, IT'S A CHART ON HOW THEY SCORED IT.
SO ACCORDING TO THE RFP THAT WENT OUT, YOU, IF, IF, YOU KNOW, THE NORMAL PROCESS WOULD BE TO, IF YOU DON'T CHOOSE TO REJECT AND YOU GO WITH WHAT'S ON PAGE SIX, AND EXHIBIT B IS THE SCORE SHEET.
SO, UH, IF HE CAN PULL UP THAT AGENDA ITEM AND GO TO EXHIBIT B, EVERYBODY CAN SEE WHAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED.
MAYOR, I CAN HAND YOU MY LAPTOP AND YOU CAN, YOU WANT US? YEAH, YEAH.
WELL, UH, UH, I THINK I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO HASN'T ACTUALLY VIEWED, OR IF I HAVE IT, I DON'T HAVE IT HERE WITH ME.
HE IS TRYING TO PULL IT UP SO THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE.
OKAY, SO THIS GENTLEMAN BID IT AS WELL.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO SEE YOU.
UH, ATTORNEY, I, I I I'VE VIEWED IT.
I JUST WANTED TO BE REFRESHED ON THAT.
NOW YOU SAID THAT THE OPTIONS THAT, THAT WE HAVE AT, AT, AT THE MOMENT IS TO, BECAUSE I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
I WAS, THAT WAS, WE'VE BEEN ON QUESTION FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, BUT I I DO HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION THERE FOR THE CITY OF TIME.
I WASN'T EVEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS ANYMORE.
UM, CITY ATTORNEY, YOU SAID IT COULD CAUSE US SOME PROBLEMS LATER.
I WANNA KNOW WHAT THOSE PROBLEMS LEGALLY, WHAT THOSE PROBLEMS MAY BE LATER IF WE DO NOT REJECT AND REBID.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE RFP, AS I READ IT, SPOKE OF TWO DIFFERENT THINGS AND THE COUNCIL HAS TO DECIDE WHAT AVENUE THEY WANT TO GO DOWN.
THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.
UM, TO ME IT, IT WAS A LITTLE CONFUSING.
I, I WISH WE COULD HAVE, UM, ASSISTED IN WRITING THE RFP, BUT THAT'S NEITHER HERE OR THERE.
'CAUSE, BUT I THINK I'VE ADVISED THAT EARLIER IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, YOU KNOW? MM-HMM.
SO YOU, YOU, YOU JUST HAVE TO DECIDE IT, IT JUST, I WISH IT HAD BEEN WRITTEN BETTER, BUT WE STUCK WITH THE DOCUMENT WE HAD.
BUT, AND MAYBE THERE WASN'T, IT DOES NOT PREVENT ANYBODY FROM BEING ABLE TO,
[04:05:03]
TO SUBMIT IF YOU REJECT AND REBID.IF, IF IT'S ANYBODY CAN BID ON IT, YEAH.
NOBODY'S PREVENTED FROM, BUT IT NEEDS, YOU NEED TO, WHEN YOU REBID IT, YOU NEED TO SAY, IS IT AN APPLE OR AN ORANGE? YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S THE CONFUSION IN ALL OF THIS.
BUT CAN WE NOT DO, SO CITY MANAGER, CAN WE AGREE THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY NEEDS TO, OR HER OFFICE NEEDS TO, IF WE CHOOSE, IF WE CHOOSE TO REJECT IT AND REBID IT, THAT SHE BE INVOLVED IN WRITING THIS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT IN THIS SITUATION? AGAIN? I WOULD HOPE SO.
LIKE I SAID, CHURCH, I NEED THE STAFF AND THE STAFF CAN DO IT.
THEY JUST NEED TO KNOW WHATEVER.
IT JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME INCONSISTENCIES, BUT YOU CAN LEGALLY TAKE ALL THREE AVENUES AND IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL.
THE QUESTION WILL BE, ANYONE BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE SAYING WE WANT? YOU'RE LEGAL.
ALL THREE OF THE OPTIONS ARE LEGAL.
YEAH, IT'S A SUB, IT'S A SECONDARY MOTION.
RIGHT? I MOVED, I MOVE THAT WE REJECT THE BIZ AND ALSO NOT REBID IT.
AND THAT, UH, WE GO BACK AND HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY LOOK AT THE CONTRACT WITH THE YACHT CLUB AND GET WITH THEM.
AND IF NOTHING CAN BE WORKED OUT TO MEET WHAT THE CITY EXPECTATION IS WITH THEM AND WHAT THEY CAN DO, THEN WE THEN GO BACK AND CONSIDER REBIDDING.
WE DON'T NEED TO START THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN.
I MEAN, IF YOU GOT THE SAME PEOPLE BIDING AGAIN, YOU'RE GONNA GET THE SAME RESULTS.
THAT MOTION, YOU KNOW, EXCUSE ME.
THAT, UH, MOTION HAS BEEN MADE, HAS BEEN SECONDED.
UH, UH, QUESTION ON THAT SUBSIDIARY MOTION? BEG PARDON? YEAH, WE HAD, HE HAD, HE HAD A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE ANOTHER, ANOTHER.
WELL HE MADE A SUBSIDIARY MOTION.
SO WE'RE VOTING ON WHETHER TO A AMEND, I WANT A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
WELL, THE FIRST, YOU CAN'T GO SECONDARY MOTION CITY.
BUT I ROLL WHATEVER'S GOING FLOAT, FLOAT.
WE, WE CAN'T, WE WE CAN'T ACCEPT THAT MOTION ON THAT SECOND.
MAYOR, BECAUSE I HAD YOU HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER AN ITEM ON THE FLOOR.
THIS IS, SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THIS AN AMENDMENT? NO SUBSIDIARY.
THIS IS A SECONDARY MOTION AND IT HAS TO BE TO AMEND THE MOTION.
I SAID IT RATHER I SAID THAT REJECT THE, UH, BID BUT NOT REBID, WHICH IS AMENDING IT.
CAN WE, IT'S CHANGING THE MOTION.
WELL, WELL EVEN IF IT'S A CHANGE, IT'S THE SAME THING BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THE AMENDMENT IS.
LET'S, LET'S DO THIS, LET'S DO THIS.
LET'S VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION AND THEN, AND THEN, UH, KEEP IT SIMPLE.
THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND, MAYOR.
YOU GOT, YOU GOT A SUBSIDIARY MOTION ON THE FLOOR THEN AND ALSO HAS A SECOND.
WE HAVE TO DO AWAY, WE HAVE TO DO AWAY WITH THAT FIRST AND THEN GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION.
Y'ALL HEAR HIS POINT OF ORDER? DOES THE GROUP WANT TO VOTE ON THE POINT OF ORDER OR DISCUSS THE POINT OF ORDER? DISCUSS THE POINT OF ORDER.
YOU SAID STATE, SET YOUR POINT, SIR.
YOU HAVE TO VOTE ON THE SUBSIDIARY MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR.
YOU HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT FIRST AND THEN GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION.
THE SECOND AREA, AMENDMENT OF THE SECOND WOULDN'T BE ON THE FLOOR.
WE HAVE ONE THAT'S ON THE FLOOR.
IF WE DO, IF WE EITHER VOTED UP, DOWN OR MAKE AN MOTION OR AMENDMENT, THAT'S WHEN YOU DO IT.
YOU DON'T MAKE ONE WHEN YOU HAVE ONE THAT'S ALREADY ON THE FLOOR.
YOU HAVE A MAIN MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
I WAS, I WAS LETTING YOU SPEAK ON YOUR POINT OF ORDER.
NOW THE GROUP IS DISCUSSING YOUR POINT OF ORDER.
NOW, DO WE ACCEPT HIS POINT OF ORDER? YES.
YOU VOTE, DO YOU ACCEPT HIS? NO.
DO YOU ACCEPT HIS POINT OF ORDER? NO.
DO YOU ACCEPT HIS POINT OF ORDER? YES.
NOW NEXT THING IS, WAIT, WAIT A MINUTE.
NOW, NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.
[04:10:01]
THE NEXT ITEM IS TO VOTE ON THE MOTION.THAT WAS ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION THAT WAS ON THE FLOOR.
AM I CORRECT ON THAT? NO PASS, NO.
ANSWER THE A SUBSIDIARY MOTION.
SO THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
AND THE SUBSIDIARY MOTION IS A MOTION THAT IS USED TO MODIFY THE MAIN MOTION OR, OR POSTPONE IT.
UH, SO IT'S, SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
SO YOU CAN MAKE A, AND THERE'S SEVEN TYPES AND ONE IS TO AMEND.
SO IF YOU WANNA AMEND IT, THAT'S RIGHT.
NOW MAY I SAY THAT VOTING ON WHETHER MR. SMITH STOP TO TAKE, STOP, STOP TALKING.
YOU SEE, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S INPUT, BUT I KNEW THAT I COULD TAKE A SUBSIDIARY MOTION ON THE MAN MOTION.
I KNEW I COULD DO THAT AND I DID IT THEN I, I WAS TOLD THAT I'D DONE IT INCORRECTLY.
YEAH, LET'S BE QUIET NOW IN A MINUTE.
WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN.
AND I'M NOT AN INFIDEL ILL, NEITHER AM I SO ILLITERATE THAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT I READ STUDY AND HAVE PREPARED MYSELF FOR IN ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDERS.
NOW YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN ME.
BUT YOU'RE GOING TO RESPECT THE POSITION THAT A WHOLE, YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE THURMOND, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO RESPECT THE MAYOR POSITION THAT THURMOND HAS.
I FEEL COMPELLED TO SAY THAT GOING FORWARD, NOT JUST TODAY.
IT SHOULD BE ANY OTHER SUBSEQUENT MEETING UNTIL I'M GONE.
NOW, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL NOW ACT ATTORNEY.
AM I CORRECT? CITY ATTORNEY? DO WE NOW DEAL WITH THE SUBSIDIARY MOTION FIRST? AND THAT WOULD BE AMENDING WHAT NOW? AS AN EXPLANATION, ACCORDING, AND YOU TELL ME AND SHE SECOND YOU TELL ME IF I'M EXPLAINING IT CORRECTLY.
YOU, IF I'M RECALLING CORRECTLY, YOU WANT US TO CONSIDER THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH IS PRA UH, UH, 23 4 20.
OF ACTUALLY, AND THIS IS AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY MANAGER TO REJECT THIS PROPOSAL.
WE WOULD BE REJECTING THIS PROPOSAL, BUT IN THE REJECTION OF THE PROPOSAL, WE WOULD BE INSTRUCTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO ENTER INTO DIALOGUE WITH THE PRESENT TENANT.
THAT'S, I WOULD REFER TO AS, AND I DON'T HAVE TO SAY A NAME, THE PRESENT TENANT IN THE PROPERTIES OR ON THE PROPERTIES ON PLEDGE ISLAND BECAUSE OF THE, THE PUBLIC, UH, I GUESS INPUT AND, AND, AND, AND ITS ABILITY OR THAT TENANT ABILITY TO PROVIDE FOR PORT ARTHUR CITIZENS BASED UPON THAT.
AM I CORRECT? WELL, YOU MISS OUT ONE, ONE THING.
THE MOTION I MADE IS TO REJECT THE BIZ.
AND THE SECOND PART OF THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE TO NOT REBID IT OUT.
I DID NOT SAY THAT RIGHT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE KEY THING THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID.
WE MUST INCLUDE THAT WE NOT GONNA SEND OUT FOR BIDS AGAIN, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T, WE WE'LL BE BOUND TO HAVE TO SELECT ONE OF THOSE THREE.
SO THAT'S WHY I ADDED THAT PORTION IN IT TO NOT GO BACK OUT TO REBATE.
SO WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON IS, IS, IS THIS, THESE TENANTS HERE IN THIS MOTION AND IT ACTUALLY ENCOMPASSES THE ORIGINAL MOTION AS WELL.
YOU ARE GONNA TAKE UP THE MOTION TO AMEND, WHICH IS A SUBSIDIARY MOTION.
THAT MEASURE WILL EITHER PASS OR FAIL.
IF IT, IF IT IS THE AMENDMENT PASSES, THEN YOU GO BACK AND ADOPT THE MAIN MOTION.
SO NOW WHAT'S THE QUESTION? SAY SAY THE MANAGER HAS A INPUT
I HAVE LIKE ANYONE CORRECTING ME, PEOPLE TALK TO ME AT ONE TIME.
I DON'T MIND ANYONE CORRECTING ME.
IT IS JUST, I HAD TO SAY WHAT I HAD TO SAY JUST THEN.
[04:15:01]
GO AHEAD.I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT IF YOU REJECT THE BIDS, WHICH IS ALL FINE AND GOOD, AND YOU START OFF AGAIN AS THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID, YOU GO ORANGES FOR ORANGES, APPLES FOR APPLES, YOU REMOVE, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY OF GETTING RID OF THE AMBIGUITY THAT HAS EXISTED, WHICH IS ALL FINE AND GOOD.
THE PROBLEM WITH IF YOU REJECT THE BUSINESS AND YOU JUST GIVE A DIRECTIVE THAT WE MOVE ON WITH THE YACHT CLUB, WHICH IS ALL FINE AND GOOD TOO, BECAUSE YOU CAN DO THAT AS A CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S, I MEAN, YOU MAKE THE POLICY, IT'S ALL FINE AND GOOD, YOU CAN DO THAT.
BUT LET'S JUST, LET ME REMIND YOU THAT PLEASURE ISLAND IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND AND YOU NEED TO TELL ME WHERE TO FIND THE MONEY TO PAY THE LIGHT BILL THAT HASN'T BEEN PAID FOR 48 YEARS.
YOU JUST TELL ME WHERE TO FIND THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT.
IT'S AN ENTERPRISE FUND ACCORDING TO STATE LAW.
THAT'S WHAT THE VOTERS VOTED ON.
UM, SO I CAN CARRY THE VOTE ON THE SUBSIDIARY MOTION.
YOU WANNA DO A ROLL CALL ON IT? YES, SIR.
AND A YES VOTE WOULD MEAN WHAT I EXPLAINED, RIGHT? A NO VOTE WOULD MEAN THAT YOU WANT TO GO AND REBID IT, REBID THE ENTIRE THING.
OKAY, SO ATTORNEY, NOW WE VOTE BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION ON THE MAIN MOTION.
THE MAIN MOTION IS THE MOTION THAT WAS READ THAT IT SAYS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO REJECT ALL PROPOSALS FOR THE LEASING OF TWO BUILDINGS INSIDE THE GATED PLEASURE ISLAND MARINA AND AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING DIVISION TO RE ADVERTISE LEASING.
MAY I, CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION? YES, MA'AM.
SO WHEN WE, WHY IS, DOES THIS HAVE TO BE AN EXTENUATED PROCESS? IF THE SAME INFORMATION IS GOING TO BE REPRESENTED, MEANING THE BID PROCESS, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LONG AND EXTENUATED IF THE SAME INFORMATION IS GOING TO BE PROVIDED, BUT WITH APPLES AND APPLES OR ORANGES AND ORANGES.
SO, MAY, MAY, MAY I ASK YOU THAT? AND, AND WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, COUNCILWOMAN.
WE ALL DUE RESPECT, BUT, SO WE GOING TO DO IT.
IF IT FAILS, IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING ELSE.
IF IT PASSES, WE GOING ON TO THE NEXT THING.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT WE, WE'VE SPENT MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME ON THIS.
GO RIGHT AHEAD TO THE SECRETARY COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM? NO.
HELLO, MAYOR BARTY? YES, THE MEASURE PASSES.
NOW WE'LL MOVE TO OUR NEXT ITEM.
[VIII.A.(7) P.R. 23426 – A Resolution Awarding A Bid And Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With Allco, LLC, Of Beaumont, Texas, For The El Vista Drainage Improvement Project For The Amount Of $11,209,454.68. Funds Are Available In The Hazard Mitigation Grant Account No. 154-00-000-8515-00-10-000 And The Community Development Block Grant DR Account No. 148-00-000- 8515-00-10-000. Project No. DR1P02]
NEXT ITEM IS PR NUMBER 23 4 2 6 IS A RESOLUTION AWARDING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH ALCO, LLC OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE EL VISTA DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR THE AMOUNT OF $11,209,454 AND 68 CENTS.FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 54 DASH 0 0 8 5 15 DASH ZERO DASH ZERO DASH ZERO ZERO AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, UH, DR ACCOUNT,
[04:20:01]
UH, NUMBER 1 4 8 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 8 5 15 DASH ZERO DASH ONE ZERO DASH 0 0 0.AND IF IT IS PROJECT NUMBER D ONE P ZERO TWO, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN, UH, KEN LAW.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 4 2 6 AS RED.
OKAY, ONCE AGAIN, WE GOT TWO DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS HERE.
SO HOW MUCH ARE WE TAKING FROM EACH ACCOUNT? AND COUNCIL? A CITY MANAGER.
YOU HAVE FINANCE TO ANSWER THAT OR YOU CAN ANSWER.
THE, UH, THE ACCOUNT FOR FEMA.
LET ME, SO THE FEMA FUNDING FOR, UM, SHOW 'EM ON THE RIGHT ONE.
SO THE FEMA FUNDING FOR THIS, THE VE THE EL VISTA DRAINAGE IS 10 MILLION 0 0 7 9 7 3 20 0 0.
AND SO THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE MADE UP WITH THE CDBG DOLLARS, WHICH WOULD BE 1.20, THAT'S GOOD.
DOES THAT, THAT, THAT ANSWER COUNCIL? WELL, I JUST WANNA MAKE ONE UNDERSTATE.
WHENEVER WE HAVE TWO ACCOUNTS, LET'S JUST SAY HOW MUCH IN EACH ACCOUNT, BECAUSE WHEN I GO BACK TO MY BUDGET AND I PUT THE MONEY, I WANT KNOW HOW MUCH WE TOOK OUTTA EACH ACCOUNT.
SO LET US KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'RE TAKING FROM EACH ACCOUNT.
COUNCILMAN BECKER, DO YOU HAVE NOTHING READINESS? UH, I, I JUST KIND OF WANNA MAKE A STATEMENT HERE JUST IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY, BECAUSE SOME OF THIS TRANSPIRED BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL.
UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY OPENED BIDS FOR THE EL VISTA PROJECT BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 22.
UH, AND ALCO WAS THE LOWEST BIDDER AT THAT TIME.
AND THE, UH, COST AT THAT TIME WAS 10 MILLION, $7,000.
I'M SORRY, 10 MILLION, $7,373.
UH, AND WHEN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WENT TO AWARD THE PROJECTS, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT STOPPED THE AWARD, UH, SAYING THAT THEY WERE NOT BID AS PER ARPA RULES.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REDONE IN 30 DAYS, WHEN IN REALITY IT WASN'T REBID FOR NINE MONTHS.
SO THE NEW BIDS WERE OPENED IN OCTOBER OF 2023, AND NOW THE AMOUNT HAS JUMPED UP $1.2 MILLION.
SO THE NEW BID AMOUNT IS $11,000,209.
CAN THAT'S, CAN YOU EXPLAIN? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE WHICH ONE? THE INCREASE.
I WAS JUST IN INCREASE IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY, THE INCREASE BECAUSE IT WAS DELAYED FOR A YEAR.
IT WOULD CONTINUES TO GO UP EVERY, EVERY MONTH.
DO YOU HAVE AN EXPLANATION? I SAY THIS TO YOU BECAUSE BECKHAM, THOSE OF US WHO WERE HERE, BECAUSE I THINK I WAS IN, WE ORIGINALLY TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE WERE, WE WERE MANAGER.
THEY TOLD US IF WE DID NOT MOVE ON THAT PROJECT EXPEDITIOUSLY AT THAT TIME, THAT THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASE.
AT THE TIME WE WEREN'T READY FOR WHATEVER REASON.
I CAN'T RECALL, BUT I THINK WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF GETTING CHANGE IN PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTORS.
WE WERE, WE, WE HAD, WE HAD A LOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON THAT'S, AND WHICH, WHICH PREVENTED US FROM DOING IT AT THAT CONTRACT AMOUNT.
BUT, BUT WE WERE, WE WERE WARNED.
THAT DOESN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION.
MY QUESTION IS WHY DID IT TAKE NINE MONTHS TO REDO ALL OF THESE NINE? OKAY.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S RIGHT PERSON FOR THE MANAGER ANSWER THAT.
UM, OH, I, I, I CLEARLY REMEMBER, UM, WHEN WE BROUGHT THIS MATTER SOMETIME IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER LAST YEAR, THERE WERE TWO ISSUES AT STAKE HERE.
ONE OF THE ISSUES WAS WE HAD GOTTEN, UM, VERBAL APPROVAL FROM TDO AT THE TIME THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MONIES WERE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE, UM, IN ORDER TO, UM, TO FUND THE PROJECT, THE DIFFERENCE THAT WAS NEEDED.
AND WE NEEDED A HARD NUM, WE NEEDED PAPER CONFIRMATION INSTEAD OF JUST WORDS THAT THE MONEY WAS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE.
AND WE WAITED FOR NOVEMBER, WE DID FOR DECEMBER WITH JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH IT LATER, IT CAME LATER IN THE YEAR.
APART FROM THAT, UM, THE PACKAGE THAT WAS SUBMITTED, THE,
[04:25:01]
THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS THAT WAS SUBMITTED, UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY HAD TO LOOK AT IT AND, UM, WORK WITH OUTSIDE, UM, COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THE PACKAGE WAS SUBMITTED IN THE FORM SO THAT THE, THE REAL, UM, CONCERN WAS THAT IF WE BIDDED IT AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY, THAT THERE WOULD BE A CLOUD OVER IT, THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO REPAY THE MONEY IF, IF AND WHEN IT CAME TO THE POSSIBILITY OF WE WERE BEING AUDITED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.DOES THAT, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
WAS THAT AN ATTORNEY FROM CALIFORNIA THAT HELPED WITH THAT PROCESS? IT WAS MYSELF.
AND WE'VE HAD EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.
THE ATTORNEYS THAT WORK WITH THIS, THEY'RE ALSO TEXAS ATTORNEYS.
WE UTILIZED THEM TO EXPLAIN TO THE COUNCIL IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WHAT WAS WRONG.
THE BID THAT WAS SUBMITTED ORIGINALLY DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL STATUTE THE COUNCIL WANTED, AND I RAN UP THE STAIRCASE.
SO
SO WE HAD THEM COME AND ANALYZE IT AND SHOW US THAT IT DIDN'T COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL MONEY CAN ONLY BE SPENT IN CON CONFORMITY TO TWO CFR 200.
AND THOSE REQUIREMENTS WERE NOT MET.
SO IN THE EVENT WE WERE AUDITED, WE'D BE LOOKING AT, AND THEY MADE A FINDING THAT WE DIDN'T FOLLOW THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.
WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
SO WE WENT THROUGH A VERY DETAILED PROCESS WITH COUNCIL AT THE TIME.
AND I KNOW SOME OF THE NEWER COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY NOT, YOU KNOW, KNOW ALL THAT DETAIL AND WE CAN CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GO BACK OVER THAT.
BUT WE WENT THROUGH A VERY DETAILED PROCESS AND WE WENT THROUGH A POWERPOINT AND WE OUTLINED WHAT ALL THE, UH, DEFICIENCIES WERE.
UM, JUST IN SUMMARY, WHEN WE PUT THESE RFPS TOGETHER, THESE, THESE RULES ARE SO COMPLEX AND TECHNICAL THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL WHEN WE PUT THEM TOGETHER.
SO, BUT WE WENT THROUGH A VERY DETAILED PROCESS WITH THAT AND THAT, UH, GROUP THAT'S WORKING WITH US, UH, COUNCIL ASKED THAT THEY CAN WORK WITH US AT THAT TIME.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT TEACH THE CLASSES FOR THE CITY ATTORNEYS SO THAT WE CAN BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEMA BECAUSE FEMA HAS BEEN AUDITING AND ASKING CITIES TO PAY MONEY BACK IF IT WASN'T BID PROPERLY.
SOMEONE WAS TEXTING ME WITH SOME GOOD INFORMATION.
THESE BID, THESE BIDS, UH, RFP WAS ONLY GOOD FOR 30 DAYS.
AM I CORRECT YOU TALKING ABOUT THE LAST TIME OR THIS TIME? THE VERY, I THINK THERE WAS, AND I HAVE TO REFRESH MY RECOLLECTION OF THIS, BUT I THINK THERE WAS A TIMEFRAME THAT THEY WERE GOOD FOR AS WELL.
AND SO, YEAH, I THINK THERE WAS A TIMEFRAME.
I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT MY MEMO FROM, RIGHT.
MY, MY, MY QUESTION IS, YOU, YOU HAD TO WAIT ON FEMA TO COME DOWN AND EXPLAIN IT? UH MM-HMM.
TO THE COUNCIL WHEN IT WAS BID OUT.
WE DON'T GET IT IN THE, IN OUR DEPARTMENT UNTIL IT'S READY TO GO ON THE AGENDA.
SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT AND REVIEWED IT, WE DID NOT FEEL THAT IT WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH TWO CFR 200.
THAT'S THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.
'CAUSE THIS IS NOT ANY LOCAL MONEY.
SO WHEN WE GOT IT, WHEN WE RECEIVED IT, WE RESPONDED AND WE RESPONDED TO THE COUNCIL AND EXPLAINED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WHAT THE DEFICIENCIES WERE, AND THEN THEY WANTED MORE INFORMATION.
SO WE BROUGHT SOMEONE ON WITHIN THE 30 DAYS OR WITHIN THAT TI TIMEFRAME.
I HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF I GOT IT WITHIN.
I DON'T, I I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TIMELINE IS OFF THE TIME.
I GUESS MY POINT IS THIS, WHEN WHEN WE UP, WE GOT THESE BIDS AND WHEN WE'RE UP TO AGAINST A TIME, UH, FRAME, IT'S BETTER TO SEND STAFF THERE AS OPPOSED TO WAIT ON THEM TO COME DOWN HERE.
SO ONCE THAT MONEY'S ALLOCATED, THE CLOCK'S RUNNING.
SO THEY DON'T COME DOWN HERE AND LOOK AT IT LIKE THAT.
WHAT HAPPENS IS WE AWARD THE CONTRACT, WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE EVENT THAT WE'RE AUDITED, THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WILL COME TO US.
IT MIGHT BE TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS AND REVIEW IT.
NOT THE FEMA DOESN'T REALLY LOOK AT IT DURING THE TIME OF THE AWARD.
WHEN THEY, WHEN THE ITEM IS BID OUT AND IT'S BROUGHT TO OUR OFFICE, THEN WE REVIEW IT FOR LEGALITY.
AND WE FOUND SOME THINGS THAT WERE NOT, UH, IN COMPLIANCE.
AND, YOU KNOW, NOT TO PASS ANY KIND OF DISPERSIONS ON THE PROCUREMENT BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT GUIDELINES, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THIS, JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU HAVE CDBG MONEY, YOU HAVE FEMA MONEY.
THAT'S TWO DIFFERENT GRANTS THAT YOU HAVE TO SIT THERE AND READ.
SO IT'S A VERY COMPLEX PROCESS.
AND WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A TOTAL OF $45 MILLION,
[04:30:02]
I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.YOU WANNA MAKE SURE, BUT YOU HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT TECHNICAL THINGS IN FEMA.
UM, WHAT WE LEARNED, UH, WITHOUT, AND WE HAD T-D-H-C-T TDO COME DOWN HERE AND DO A WORKSHOP WITH THE STAFF BECAUSE THE GUIDELINES ARE EVER CHANGING.
SO, UH, WE HAD TO LOOK AT BOTH GRANTS TO MAKE SURE WE WERE IN COMPLIANCE.
AND WE HAVE A POWERPOINT THAT CAN EXPLAIN, UH, TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WEREN'T THERE, WHAT THE ISSUES WERE.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK, I WANTED TO ASK, UM, CHRIS A QUESTION IF I MIGHT.
WAS IT THIS, WAS IT THE PORT ACRES PROJECT OR THE VETA PROJECT WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO REACH THAT NUMBER OF 15 OR 16? YOU REMEMBER? WE WERE HAVING DIFFICULTIES WITH GET, UH, REACHING A NUMBER THAT BCR, THAT BCR NUMBER.
THAT, THAT WAS THE STONEGATE PROJECT.
THAT'LL COME TO YOU AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.
I DON'T MIND WHAT I, I DIDN'T MIND TO, TO YIELD TO THE CITY ATTORNEY IF, IF SHE WAS ABOUT TO HELP.
I NO, DIDN'T, NO, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, AND THEN ALL OF THESE DECISIONS WERE BARRED BEFORE COUNSEL AND WE VOTE AND YOU VOTED ON THAT.
SO, UM, AGAIN, NOT TO, NOT TO OFFER ANY, UM, DISMISSIVENESS TO THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, BUT ON THE AGENDA TODAY, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH A PROCESS THAT WE MAY HAVE TO MAKE SOME CORRECTIONS ON.
IS IT POSSIBLE, OR AM I MISUNDERSTANDING SOMETHING OF HOW THIS IS BEING MISSED? NOTHING'S BEING MISSED.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
WHAT HAPPENED IS IT WAS REJECTED AND IT WAS REBID.
WE HAVE COMBED AND COMBED AND COMBED AND COMBED THROUGH IT.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT THIS CONTRACT MEETS THE FEDERAL STANDARD.
SO, UH, WE'VE, WE'VE REALLY WORKED ON IT AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE, THE, THE PROCUREMENT DOCUMENT WAS GOOD AND WE BELIEVE THE CONTRACT IS GOOD.
SO ORDERED PR NUMBER 2 3 4 2 6 IS APPROVED AS READ.
[VIII.A.(8) P.R. 23427 – A Resolution Awarding A Bid And Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With Allco, LLC, Of Beaumont, Texas, For The Port Acres Drainage Improvement Project For The Amount Of $34,891,106.81. Funds Are Available In The Hazard Mitigation Grant Account No. 154-00-000-8515-00-10-000 And The Community Development Block Grant DR Account No. 148-00-000- 8515-00-10-000. Project No. DR1P03]
P NUMBER 23 4 27 IS A RESOLUTION OF WATERING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH ALCO LLC OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE PORT ACRES DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR THE AMOUNT OF 34,000,809.YEAH, $34,891,106 AND 81 CENTS.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE HAZARD HAZARD MITIGATION, UH, GRANT ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 54 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 8 5 5 0 DASH ONE ZERO DASH 0 0 0.
AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DI ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 4 8 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 0 0 0 DASH 8 5 1 5 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH ZERO DASH 0 0 0.
AND THIS PROJECT NUMBER IS DRO ONE P ZERO THREE.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN DEUCE.
MAY I GET A SECOND? EXCUSE ME, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, SORRY.
UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.
COUNCILMAN, UH, UH, DEUCE? UH, FRANK DID YOU, WAS YOUR LIGHT ON? NO, SIR.
COUNCILMAN DEUCE SAID YOUR LIGHT WAS ON.
CHRIS, WHAT'S FOR, UH, FREEMA CRAIG? THE, UH, THE FEMA OBLIGATED FUNDING IS 29,000,851.
THAT'S FOR THE PHASE TWO CONSTRUCTION.
AND DID YOU KNOW WHAT THE INCREASE IN COST ON THIS WAS? IT'S KIND OF IN THE SAME POSITION AS THE PREVIOUS IT.
THIS ONE, THIS ONE'S ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF MILLION MORE.
I CALCULATED ABOUT 5 MILLION MORE.
SO, AS ORDERED, WE WILL APPROVE P NUMBER OF 2 3 4 2 7 AS READ.
[VIII.A.(9) P.R. 23444 – A Resolution Authorizing The November 21, 2023 Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting Date To Be Rescheduled To November 28, 2023]
2, 3 4 4 4.IT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE NOVEMBER 21ST, 2023, REGULARLY SCHEDULED
[04:35:01]
MEETING DATE.BE RESCHEDULED TO NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KINLOCK? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND COUNCILMAN FRIEND? SECOND.
AND WE'D HAVE THE MEETINGS AND THE TIMES OF THE MEETINGS, UH, CITY SECRETARY WOULD BE AT FIVE 30, AM I CORRECT? YES.
UH, WE'RE READY FOR QUESTIONS ON THAT.
YES, LET'S GO BACK TO MY COMMENT WHEN WE FIRST STARTED ABOUT CONDUCTING MEETINGS.
THESE MAY THESE MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.
AND THEY ALL IN OUR WEBPAGE, UH, WE HAVE A ORDINANCE THAT GOVERN THEM.
THE ORDINANCE CLEARLY STATES THAT, UH, WE CAN, LET'S SEE WHERE IT SAYS HERE, UPON A DAY AND TIME, WE CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE A MEETING BY A MOTION VOTE.
AND IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE OF A FINDING THAT IT IS NECESSARY FOR US TO CHANGE IT.
AND ALSO IN THE ORDINANCE ITSELF IS ALSO MENTIONED THAT, UH, IF THE HOLIDAY FALLS ON A STATE OR A FEDERAL HOLIDAY, THEN THE MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED ON THE NEXT DAY.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE INSTRUCTIONS ON WHEN TO CONDUCT OUR MEETINGS.
AND THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THIS HERE IS WE COME BACK FROM A CONFERENCE, UH, SUNDAY, UH, SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, BUT THE MEETING IS ON A TUESDAY AND, UH, THE CITY EMPLOYEES ARE STILL WORKING.
I MEAN, THE, THE CITY IS EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING AND THEY'RE CONDUCTING BUSINESS.
UH, THE ONLY REASON I CAN SEE THAT WE COULD NOT CONDUCT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING WOULD BE FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A QUORUM.
OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T SEE NO REASON WHY WE SHOULD POSTPONE THIS MEETING.
'CAUSE I DON'T THINK WE COULD JUSTIFY IT AS BEING NECESSARY.
YEAH, BECAUSE MAY, MAY, MAY, I, MAY I SAY THIS? SURE.
BEFORE, BEFORE YOU SPEAK ON THAT, UH, AND I WAS INVOLVED IN, IN, IN, IN PLACING THIS ON THE AGENDA.
UH, I THINK THAT MEETING IS TUESDAY.
IT IS THE HOLIDAY WEEK FOR EMPLOYEES.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MEETING ON THE 21ST ON THE TWO ITEMS. WE'LL DISCUSS THAT MORNING PROUDLY, HOPEFULLY ONCE NOT GOING TO TAKE US FIVE OR SIX HOURS THAT IT'S TAKING US A DAY TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE.
I WOULD NOT WANT, AS MAYOR, AND I DON'T THINK ANY COUNCIL PERSON WOULD WANT AS COUNCILPERSONS TO, TO ACTUALLY INFRINGE UPON SOME HOLIDAY TIME FOR STAFF DURING THE, DURING, DURING THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS.
AND WE COULD HAVE THE MEETING THE FOLLOWING WEEK WHEN EVERYONE WOULD BE HERE.
SO THAT IS WHY I, I PERSONALLY AGREED AND ACTIVELY WOULD PUT IT ON SO THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY JUST RESCHEDULE THE MEETING TODAY.
AND EVERYONE WOULD UNDERSTAND IF THIS, IT'S SOMETHING I UNDERSTAND FOLLOWING RULES, REGULATIONS, AND ALL THE WRITTEN, WRITTEN REQUIREMENTS.
YET I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE PERSONAL, UH, ASPECTS OF IT AND BEING COGNIZANT OF FOLK AND THEIR FAMILIES AND I'M SAYING FOLK, OUR EMPLOYEES AND EVEN OTHER COUNCIL PERSON AND THEIR FAMILIES DURING THIS FESTIVE PERIOD.
AND THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT MAYOR.
AND THE SAME RATIONALE AND THOUGHT PROCESS YOU ARE USING IS THE SAME ONE I APPLY.
BUT MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS IF THE CITY EMPLOYEES AND THE STAFF CAN WORK, THEN WE SHOULD OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.
SO I I I HEAR IT THE SAME WAY BECAUSE I LOOK AT IT THE SAME WAY THEY GONNA BE COMING TO WORK, BUT YET, NO, WE GOING TO TAKE OFF, YOU KNOW, I, AND THEN WE GO BACK TO THE ORDINANCE.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE ORDINANCE IS REFERRING TO WHEN IT SAYS NECESSARY, YOU KNOW, AND WE SHOULDN'T PUT OURSELF ABOVE THE EMPLOYEES AND THE STAFF.
NOW IF THE STAFF THAT SUPPORT THESE MEETINGS, THEY DON'T HAVE A FULL STAFF AND IT'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM TO 'EM, THEN AT THAT TIME, I THINK WE SHOULD CANCEL A MEETING.
BUT IT'S NOT GONNA BE FOR OUR BENEFIT, IT'S GONNA BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE STAFF.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS ORDINANCE IS BASICALLY.
IN TURN, IF THE CITY EMPLOYEES AND STAFF COULD WORK, THEN WE COULD COME AND CONDUCT BUSINESS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? MAYOR? I HAVE ONE GO.
RIGHT? ONE COMMENT JUST TO REMIND YOU, I DO HAVE TO DO THE DEATH ANNEXATION ON THE 21ST.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YOU'RE LIKE THAT? YEAH.
WHATEVER TIME WE CAN DO THE DIS ANNEXATION.
I'VE AL WE HAVE ALREADY ALERTED TO PRINCE HALL, THE HUD PEOPLE TO COME BE HERE ON THE 28TH.
[04:40:01]
YES, SIR.SINCE WE, UM, DO HAVE TO HANDLE THE BUSINESS OF THE D ANNEXATION ON THE 21ST.
MAYOR, CAN YOU JUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE NOT DOING EVERYTHING ELSE? I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I'M FOLLOWING WHAT YOU WERE OFFERING.
NO, THERE, THERE ARE TWO ITEMS, I THINK TWO OR THREE ITEMS. YOU SEE HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN HERE TODAY? NOW I'M, I'M JUST BEING, I'M GONNA HAVE TO JUST KICK OUT.
SO LET'S JUST, I'M JUST BEING REAL RIGHT NOW.
OKAY? WE'D HAVE TO CHANGE POLICEMEN TO GET ELECTED FROM ONE COP LEAVE.
Y'ALL DON'T WANT TO FEED PEOPLE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T, I'M JUST TELLING YOU, I KNOW I'M HUNGRY.
I KNOW EVERYBODY UP HERE HUNGRY.
WE STILL GOTTA GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND SO WE ARE JUST GOING TO COUNT TWO SHORT ITEMS ON THE 21ST.
AND I KNOW THAT GONNA TAKE US MAYBE AN HOUR AND WE SHOULD BE THROUGH AND GONE.
AND IF THE STAFF WANTS TO LEAVE, SOME OF THOSE FOLK HAVE ALREADY PLANNED TO LEAVE TUESDAY AT 12 O'CLOCK.
SO THEY COULD BE WHERE THEY WANNA BE FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING TO COOK TURKEY FOR THEIR GRANDMA.
I MEAN, I'M, I'M JUST BEING, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T SEE WHY, BECAUSE WE ARE IN A POSITION OF ASSUMED POWER TO IMPOSE UPON SOMEBODY BECAUSE OF OUR INSECURITIES OR OUR INABILITY THAT TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE DURING THE HOLIDAYS.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND.
NO OTHER REASON WE EVEN HAVING THIS DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.
Y'ALL READY TO VOTE? QUESTION.
YOU KEEP SAYING, YOU KEEP SAYING IT AND I SAY THE SAME THING TOO.
I MEAN, YOU'VE SPOKEN, I SAY, BUT NOW YOU'RE GOING BACK AND TRYING TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IT'S ABOUT THE COUNCIL.
YOU KNOW, I SAY NO, IT'S ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES.
WELL, I, I SAID THAT IF THEY WORK, THEN WE COULD WORK.
THAT'S WHAT I SAID IN THE INITIAL, BUT
I'M GONNA START GIVING YOUR NUMBER TO 'EM.
LET'S JUST DO OUR DIFFERENT POINT.
I'M TRYING TO STAY AWAKE, MAN.
ALL I GOTTA SAY IS THAT IF THE EMPLOYEE WORK, I THINK WE SHOULD WORK AND WE SHOULD NOT, UH, JUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT WE CAN DECIDE WHEN WE HOLD MEETINGS AND NOT, IT COULD BE REVERSED IN THE SAME WAY, BUT I GUESS IT ALL GOING TO COME OUT IN THE WASH ON WHAT? OUR VOTE WE BOTH HAD WHAT WE SAY.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THIS CITY SECRETARY, WHEN Y'ALL MAKE THIS THING NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE Y'ALL DO THE, THE, THE DATES, RIGHT? SCHEDULE.
Y'ALL ALREADY KNEW THANKSGIVING WAS GONNA BE ON THE 23RD.
DON'T, DON'T TALK TO THIS LIST NOW.
I DON'T WANNA MAKE IT SCHEDULED.
YOU ALREADY KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE THAT DAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT, IF IT'S AN ARTEMIS THAT MAKES YOU HAVE HAVE TO HAVE IT EVERY OTHER WEEK OR SOMETHING.
BUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WHEN WE ADOPT THAT, THERE YOU GO.
THESE DATES THAT WE CAN CHANGE.
NO, THAT THANKSGIVING WILL ALWAYS BE IN CHRISTMAS.
AND Y'ALL PUT MY BIRTHDAY IN THE NEXT TIME.
I DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THAT DECISION AHEAD OF TIME.
I KNOW, I, I KNOW I'M PROBABLY GOING, YEAH.
I ALREADY KNOW, BUT Y'ALL HEARD ME BRING TO US.
ALL IN FAVOR, MAYOR P OF WATER.
WHAT I GOT, I GOT A COUPLE OF BROWN BAGS FOR THE DAY.
OKAY,
Y'ALL DON'T WANT VOTE? MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM.
OH, YOU, OH, YOU GOTTA CALL VOTE CALL.
SORRY, I DIDN'T HAVE MY MIC ON.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS TO MOVE TODAY, CORRECT? YES SIR.
MAYOR BARTY, WHAT'S THE COUNT NOW ALREADY? I'M GONNA SEE WHO SIDE I'M ON
ALRIGHT, SO THE MEASURE CARRIES.
OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MEETING ON THE 28TH, RIGHT? AND, AND, AND ON THE 21ST, COUNCIL MEMBERS IS A MEETING AT 10 O'CLOCK AND WE SHOULD BE THROUGH AT, AT 11.
NOW, UH, WHAT PAGE AM ON, MAN, I CAN'T REMEMBER ONE AT, ALRIGHT, NOW THE NEXT
[VIII.A.(10) P.R. 23445 – A Resolution Appointing And / Or Reappointing A Member Or Members To The Citizen’s Pipeline Advisory Committee]
WEEK IS 23 OR FOUR 40, UH, FIVE.APPOINT APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTING, UH, A MEMBER TO A MEMBER TO THE CITIZENS PIPELINE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
YOU, YOU HEAR THAT? UH, CITY SECRETARY? NO, SIR.
SOMEBODY, I DON'T KNOW WHO REQUESTED IT.
HUH? IT WAS MATTHEW CHRISTIAN, UNLESS IT'S INCLUDED IN THE RESOLUTION.
[04:45:01]
OH, WHO, WHO IS THE SECOND ONE? SO SHE GONNA FIND IT.
YOU'RE GONNA FIND, LET'S LOOK IN THE, IT NEEDS TO BE APPOINTED AND POSITION FOUR.
WHAT'S THE, THAT'S, THAT'S FOUR.
WHAT'S THE NAMES RIGHT NOW? RIGHT NOW THERE ARE, YEAH, THERE, YEAH.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY NEW NAMES.
I'LL TELL YOU WHO'S ALREADY ON HERE.
THAT'S THE INDI, IF I MAY SPEAK.
UH, UH, POSITION ONE IS, UH, MR. GERALD HATCH.
POSITION TWO IS CHARLOTTE MOSES.
POSITION FIVE IS MATTHEWS CHRISTIAN POSITION SIX.
AND THE MAYOR'S POSITION IS VACANT AND THEY NEED THIS TO HAVE THEIR PIPELINE MEETINGS SO WE CAN HAVE A QUORUM.
WE HAVE THE NAME AND WE HAVE THE TWO NAMES, RIGHT? THERE'S TWO NAMES, RIGHT? CITY SECRETARY.
I MEAN, BUT WE HAVE THE NAMES FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE.
NEED NAMES? WHAT? YOU SAID THAT MR. CHRISTIAN'S NAME? NO, MR. CHRISTIAN.
THESE WERE THE NAMES I NAMED OF THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY ON THERE.
SUBMIT HIS NAME FOR YEAH, HE'S ALREADY ON THERE.
HE'S, HE'S, OH, SO, OH, WE DON'T HAVE SO TODAY, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY.
I, I DIDN'T, WE ALREADY HAD FOUR.
AND, AND THAT'S GOT DISTRICT FOUR, DISTRICT SIX AND THE MAYOR NEED TO VOTE.
AND, BUT, BUT THE PERSON WAS ON IT.
SEE SECRETARY, COULD YOU GIVE ME A LIST OF ALL THE APPOINTEES THAT I NEED TO MAKE SO THAT I CAN I CAN DO THAT.
I NEED, I NEED A LIST OF ALL OF THOSE.
UH, SO WE DON'T, WE SAID WE DON'T HAVE ANY NAMES OF THAT THEN.
MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO TABLE, UH, PR 23 4 4 5 RESOLUTION APPOINTING OR REAPPOINTING A MEMBER OF MEMBERS TO THE CITIZEN PIPELINE ADVISORY COMMITTEE UNTIL NOVEMBER 21ST.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD TABLE THIS, UH, RESOLUTION 23 4, 4 5.
READY FOR QUESTION? AND, OKAY.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
UH, WHERE'S PO MA'AM? EXCUSE ME.
I WILL MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT THE QUESTION, BUT PLEASE ADVISE THE GROUP THAT THEY HAVE A QUORUM.
I DON'T THINK THEY DO, HUH? BUT IF ONE PERSON DOESN'T SHOW, THEN THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN THE PROBLEM.
IF ONE PERSON DOESN'T SHOW, WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MEETING.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE CUSHION IN CASE SOMEBODY'S SICK 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED.
OKAY, SO THOSE OF US GET, GET OUR WORK ON GETTING MY PERSONAL ON THERE.
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7173 – An Ordinance Rescinding Ordinance No 17-08 In Its Entirety As It Pertains To The Juvenile Curfew Ordinance As Delineated In Section 62-101 To 62-106 Of The Code Of Ordinances Of The City Of Port Arthur In Response To House Bill 1819, Effective Immediately]
NOW WE HAVE, UH, ORDINANCES, PO NUMBER 7 1 7 3, AN ORDINANCE, UH, RESCINDED ORDINANCE 17 DASH ZERO EIGHT INNOCENT CHARGE AS IT PERTAINS TO THE JUVENILE CURFEW ORDINANCE AS, UH, DELINEATED IN SECTION, UH, 62.101 TO 62.106 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IN RESPONSE TO HOUSE BILL 1819.AND IT'S EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN BECKHAM? SO MOVED.
MAY THE SECOND, UH, MAYOR, I APPROACH HIM SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, APPROVE PO NUMBER 7 1 7 3 AS READ.
WE ALL READY TO VOTE? I MEAN, WE READY? QUESTION? YOU GOT A QUESTION? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES.
WILL YOU EXPLAIN FOR THE PUBLIC, WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THIS? SORRY.
THE, UH, LEGISLATURE VOTED THAT, UH, WE WOULD NO LONGER BE ALLOWED, UM, ACTUALLY OFFICIALLY SEPTEMBER 1ST TO HAVE OUR OWN ORDINANCE.
UH, THEY, THEY PREVENTED, THEY, THEY PUT IN SOMETHING THAT PREVENTED CITIES FROM DOING THAT.
SO, UM, WE JUST KIND OF CLEANING UP OUR CODE TO MAKE SURE WE MATCH EVERYTHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE MANDATED.
SO WE CAN'T PUT IN A CURFEW ANYMORE.
OKAY, YOU GOT THAT COUNCIL? THAT'S FINE.
IN OPPOSES AYES HAVE, SO THIS ORDER BE, HAVE APPROVED PO NUMBER 7 1 7 3.
[VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7189 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Sale Of Surplus Vehicles, Heavy Equipment And Minor Equipment By A Public Online Auction Through Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc.]
7 1 8 9.IT'S AN ORDINANCES AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SURPLUS, UH,
[04:50:01]
VEHICLES, HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND MINOR EQUIPMENT BY A PUBLIC ONLINE AUCTION THROUGH, UH, RENEE BATES AUCTIONEERS INCORPORATED.MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? UH, COUNCILMAN KINLAW.
SO MOVE MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE, UH, PO 7 1 7 7 180 9.
WELL, ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE FOR THE ZONING? WE APPROVE PO NUMBER 7 1 8 9.
[VIII.B.(3) P.O. No. 7190 – An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Amending Chapter 106-Traffic, Article III – Specific Street Regulations, Division 4-Speed, Section 106-143 – Speed On State And Federal Highways Of The Code Of Ordinances Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, To Establish The Permanent Maximum Prima Facie Speed Limit Along The North- And Southbound Lanes Along United States Route 69 From The Northernmost City Limits (Milepost 13.074) To The United States Route 69/State Highway 73 Interchange (Milepost 17.127); Authorizing The Posting Of Proper Signs; Repealing Conflicting Ordinances; Containing A Savings Clause; Prescribing A Penalty Of Not Less Than One Dollar ($1.00) Nor More Than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) For Each Violation Thereof; And Providing For The Publication And Effective Date Thereof]
HAVE PO I MEAN, YEAH, PO NUMBER 7 1 9 0.IT IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
AMENDING CHAPTER 1 0 6 DASH TRAFFIC ARTICLE THREE SPECIFIC STREET REGULATIONS DIVISION FOUR SPEED SECTION 1 0 6, UH, DASH 1 4 3, SPEED ON STATE AND FEDERAL HIGHWAYS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT MAXIMUM PRIMA FASCIA SPEED LIMIT, EXCUSE ME, ALONG THE NORTH AND SOUTHBOUND LANES ALONG UNITED STATES ROUTE, UH, 69 OR ROUTE 69 FROM THE, UH, NORTHERNMOST CITY LIMITS MILE POST 13.074 TO THE UNITED STATES ROUTE OR ROUTE 69, HIGHWAY 73 INTERCHANGE AT MILE POST 17.127 AUTHORIZING THE POSTING OF PROPER SIGNS, REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES CONTAINING A SAVINGS CLAUSE, PRESCRIBING A PENALTY OF NOT LESS THAN $1, NOR MORE THAN 5,500, I'M SORRY, $500 FOR EACH VIOLATION THEREOF AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE.
MAY I GET A MOTION? CAN I TAKE 'EM BOTH AT THE SAME TIME? NO, I CAN'T.
UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN UH, LEWIS MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, UH, MAYOR PROTE SECOND.
OKAY, THEN MOVE AND SECOND, THEN WE WOULD APPROVE.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? AND YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON THE COUNCILWOMAN.
THIS IS JUST A REQUEST IN THIS INFORMATION.
PLEASE BE PUT ON STAND SO THAT THE CITIZENS CAN BE AWARE OF IT.
IT, IT'S PIO OVER THERE? NO SIR.
OKAY, THAT, THAT HANDLES US FOR YOU.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO IT IS ORDER WE'VE APPROVED PO NUMBER 7 1 9 0.
[VIII.B.(4) P.O. No. 7206 – An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Amending Chapter 106-Traffic, Article III – Specific Street Regulations, Division 4-Speed, Section 106-143 – Speed On State And Federal Highways Of The Code Of Ordinances Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, To Establish The Permanent Maximum Prima Facie Speed Limit Along The North- And Southbound Lanes Along State Highway 87 From Milepost 5.400 To Milepost 14.271; Authorizing The Posting Of Proper Signs; Repealing Conflicting Ordinances; Containing A Savings Clause; Prescribing A Penalty Of Not Less Than One Dollar ($1.00) Nor More Than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) For Each Violation Thereof; And Providing For The Publication And Effective Date Thereof]
7 2 0 6.IT IS AN ORDINANCE THAT'S ON PAGE 11.
IT IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 1 0 6, TRAFFIC ARTICLE THREE, UH, SPECIFIC, UH, STREET REGULATIONS DIVISION FOUR SPEED SECTION 1 0 6, UH, DASH 1 4 3, SPEED ON STATE AND FEDERAL HIGHWAYS OF THE, UH, CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO ESTABLISH THE, UH, PERMANENT MAXIMUM PREMIUM FACING SPEED LIMIT ALONG THE NORTH AND SOUTHBOUND LANES ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 87 FROM MILEPOST.
FIVE POINT 400,000, NO, FOUR 10,000.
TO, UH, MILEPOST 14.271 AUTHORIZING THE POSTING OF PROPER SIGNS, REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES CONTAINING A SAVINGS CLAUSE, PRESCRIBING A PENALTY OF NOT LESS THAN $1, NOR MORE THAN $500 FOR EACH VIOLATION THEREOF.
AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION, UH, AND EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF.
MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER SEVEN.
TWO, UH, ZERO SIX AS READ, WE ARE READY FOR QUESTION.
THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES AS HAVE IT? SO IT IS ORDERED.
WE'VE APPROVED PO NUMBER 7 2 0 6.
[VIII.B.(5) P.O. No. 7207 – An Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Closing, Vacating, Abandoning, And Conveying Approximately 1.989 Acres Of Land Consisting Of Portions Of Improved And Dedicated Public Rights-Of-Way, Known As Austin Avenue, 5th Street, And Adjacent Alleys, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Deed Without Warranty; Providing That This Ordinance Shall Be Cumulative; Repealing All Ordinances To The Extent They Are In Conflict; Providing For Severability; And Declaring An Effective Date.]
ON PAGE 12, WE HAVE, UH, PO NUMBER 7 2 0 7 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY, UH, OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS CLOSING, VACATING, ABANDONING AND CONVEYING APPROXIMATELY 1.98 ACRES OF LAND, OR IT SHOULD BE NOW NINE ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF PORTIONS OF IMPROVED AND DEDICATED[04:55:01]
PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY KNOWN AS AUSTIN AVENUE FIFTH STREET AND ADJACENT ALLEYS, PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AG WITHOUT WARRANTY.PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE COGNITIVE REPEAL IN ALL ORDINANCES TO THE EXTENT THEY ARE IN CONFLICT PROVIDING FOR SEVERAL ABILITY AND DECLARING AND EFFECTIVE DATE.
AND THIS IS A 23 DASH OH FOUR MOTIVA ENTERPRISES, LLC.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KINLOCK? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK.
MOVE THE SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 7 2 0 7 AS READ EVERYBODY FOR QUESTION OR QUESTION IS READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
SO AS ORDERED, WE HAVE APPROVED PO NUMBER 7 2 0 7.
[VIII.B.(6) P.O. No. 7208 – An Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Closing, Vacating, Abandoning, And Conveying A 1.026-Acre Portion Of An Improved Dedicated Public Right-Of-Way, Known As Terminal Road, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Deed Without Warranty; Providing That This Ordinance Shall Be Cumulative; Repealing All Ordinances To The Extent They Are In Conflict; Providing For Severability; And Declaring An Effective Date]
WE HAVE PO NUMBER 7 2 0 8 AN ORDINANCE, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, CLOSING, VACATING, ABANDONING, AND CONVEYING A ONE ACRE PORTION OF AN IMPROVED DEDICATED PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, KNOWN AS TERMINAL ROAD, PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A DEEDED OF A DEEDED WITHOUT WARRANTY.I'M SORRY, PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE ATIVE REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES TO THE EXTENT THEY ARE IN CONFLICT PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
AND THIS IS A 23 0 4 MOTIVA ENTERPRISES LLC.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN LEWIS FOR MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, EXCUSE ME, MY BOY'S GOING, UH, MAY I APPROACH HIM SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 72 0 8.
WE ARE READY FOR QUESTION UNDER THE QUESTION READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO IT IS ALL WE HAVE APPROVED PO NUMBER 72 0 8.
[IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)]
RECESS DOWN TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM FOR OUR CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION.IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE ARE BOUND BY BEING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 5 5 1 0.101 OF CHAPTER 5 5 1, THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH WAS FORMERLY ARTICLE 62 52 DASH 17, SECTION TWO, SUBSECTION EIGHT, PRIOR TO GOING INTO THIS MEETING BY BEING THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THIS MEETING OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO MAKE THIS FOLLOWING STATEMENT IN THE CLOSED MEETING WE'LL COVER SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR CONSULTATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING POTENTIAL AND OR PENDING CLAIMS, CONTRACTS, LITIGATIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL MATTERS INVOLVING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
SECONDLY, WE WILL COVER SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 2 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
THIRDLY, WE WOULD COVER SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 2 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY ON PLEASURE ISLAND.
AND FINALLY, SECTION 5 5 1 0.087 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, AND OR INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS PROSPECTS WITHIN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND AS USUAL, IF THERE'LL BE ITEMS OF THAT WOULD REQUIRE ACTION, WE'LL RETURN HERE TO THE CHAMBERS ONCE WE HAVE CONCLUDED THE CLOSED SESSION AND ACT UPON THOSE ITEMS IN OPEN SESSION HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING THERE WITH US ALL DAY, AND IF YOU WANT TO STAY A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, ALLOW US TO GO DOWN AND WE'LL BE BACK.
YOU READY TO SIT? ASSIST? UH,
[05:00:02]
MAYOR HAMILTON.THANK YOU FOR, UH, AND CAN YOU MAKE THEM CHANGE THAT CLOCK?
YEAH, IT IS BEEN, HAPPEN ME BACKWARDS ALL DAY.
UH, CITY ATTORNEY, DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS? NOTHING REMAINING.
UH, YEAH, WE'RE NOT RECORDING.
WELL, WELL, WE'LL GO, WE'LL GO ON.
UH, I, I, I, I CAN UH, ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADJOURN.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, ADJOURN THIS AUGUST BODY OF GOVERNANCE FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
MAY I HAVE YOUR VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSE US AS IT AND NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON NOVEMBER 21ST AT 10:00 AM AND THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING FOR THAT DAY WILL BE ON NOVEMBER 28TH AT FIVE 30.
THANK YOU ALL AND HAPPY, UH, THANK, AND WELL, WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN MAYOR.