Jan 04, 2024 TIRZ #1 Board of Directors Meeting

ARE WE STARTING A LITTLE LATE? WE WAIT.

THANK YOU, DEE.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS, UH, STARTING THE MEETING,

[1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.]

WAITING ON, UH, SOME MORE BOARD MEMBERS AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA START THIS MEETING.

THAT IS, UH, TODAY, THURSDAY, JAN 4 20 24 AT 2:00 PM AT THE PORT ARTHUR CITY HALL FIFTH FLOOR.

UH, COUNCIL CHAMBERS 4 44 FOURTH STREET, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, 7 7 6 4 0.

THE MEETING WILL ALSO BE HELD BY TELEPHONIC AND VIDEO CONFERENCE, IN ADDITION TO ALLOW, UH, ALLOWING PERSON IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE IN THE QUORUM OF THE TS BOARD, UH, WILL BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, UH, ON THE FIFTH FLOOR.

UH, THE PUBLIC MAY PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING IN PERSON OR BY DIALING IN ONE OF THESE FOLLOWING NUMBERS, TOLL FREE NUMBERS.

AND THE MEETING ID NUMBER IS 8 1 1 4 0 0 6 4 1 1 7, AND THE PAS CODE WOULD BE 0 8 9 9 3 3.

AGAIN, YOU CAN ALSO DIAL TOLL US TOLL FREE, 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7.

AND AN ADDITIONAL NUMBER IS 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.

UH, TO ALSO USE, UH, US TOLL, TOLL-FREE NUMBER.

THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO DISCUSS THE, AND TO ADOPT SUCH ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, AND MOTION, AND TO TAKE, UH, UH, DIRECT AND INDIRECT ACTIONS AS IT MAY BE NECESSARY, CONVENIENCE AND DESIRABLE WITH THE RESPECT OF THE FOLLOWING MATTERS.

UH, WE'RE GONNA FILE THE, THE AGENDA AS PRINTED.

UH, WE HAVE THE INVOCATION, UH, AND PLEDGE OF ELATION, AND FOLLOWED BY THAT, THE EXCEPTION QUORUM.

SO I'M GONNA ASK, UH, UM, MAYOR T WOULD YOU MIND DOING THE INVOCATION? AND THEN WE'RE GONNA DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLS AND START THE AGENDA AS PROMPT.

AGENDA APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS DOWNTOWN TAX INCREMENT, EXCUSE ME, REINVESTMENT ZONE TERMS NUMBER ONE, UH, BOARD MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 21ST, 2023 AT 2:00 PM MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THOSE MINUTES? MAKE MOTION TO APPROVE.

Y'ALL STAND PLEASE WITH ME.

LET'S GO FOR WORD OF PRAYER.

FATHER GOD, IT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS THAT BECOME BEFORE YOU THRONE, GRACE AND MERCY AT THIS OUR DEAR GOD, WITH HUMBLE HEARTS AND CONTRACT SPIRITS, DEAR GOD, ASKING THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW US TO DO THAT, WHICH WOULD BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR WILL FOR THIS, OUR CHURCH BOARD HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WE THANK YOU, DEAR GOD, FOR BLESSING US TO EVEN ENTER 2024.

AND WE ASK YOUR HOLY GUIDANCE UPON US AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN 2024.

BLESS THIS CITY, BLESS OUR COUNTY, BLESS OUR STATE, BLESS OUR COUNTRY, DEAR GOD, AND BLESS OUR WORLD.

THESE THINGS WE ASK IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

FOR HIS SAKE, WE DO PRAY.

AMEN.

AND THANK GOD LED TO THE FLAG, FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH TO STAND, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR BART FOR THE INVOCATION.

UH, NEXT WE HAVE ON THE

[3. Approval of Minutes from the previous Downtown Tax Reinvestment Zone TIRZ # 1 Board Meeting held on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.]

COULD STILL GO TO THE NEXT ONE AFTER THIS, BUT I THINK WE AFTER DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO DO THE QUORUM.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

IT WAS MOTION TO SECOND THAT WE ACCEPT THE MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER THE 21ST, 2023.

ANY QUESTIONS? AT THIS TIME? IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

GO AHEAD, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I'M SORRY.

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

LET'S GO BACK.

THANK YOU, VALERIE.

YOU GOTTA KEEP ME HONEST NOW.

CITY, CITY ATTORNEY.

LET'S ESTABLISH A QUORN.

I'M SORRY, GUYS.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DONALD R. FRANK? YES.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS KINLAW, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CHAIRMAN HERE.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR THURMAN BARTEE, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR PRESENT.

UM, COMMISSIONER MICHAEL SHANE SENEGAL.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, JAMES GAMBLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY, DRAINAGE DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN.

UM, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH JOHNSON.

SABINE NAS, NAVIGATION DISTRICT PRESENT COMMISSIONER RANDY T. MARTIN, PORT OF PORT ARTHUR, NAVIGATION DISTRICT HERE.

UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU DO HAVE A THANK YOU CITY ATTORNEY.

UH, SHOULD I GO BACK TO, UH, NUMBER THREE? AND WE, WE OKAY WITH THAT? OKAY.

UH, CITY ATTORNEY, UH, CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? OKAY.

POSSIBLE ACTIONS REGARD NUMBER FOUR, DISCUSS AND, UH, POSSIBLE ACTIONS REGARDING CURRENT PROJECTS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DOWNTOWN TAX INCREMENT, REINVESTMENT ZONE,

DISCUSS

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

[00:05:01]

CHURCH NUMBER ONE, CITY ATTORNEY.

GOOD, GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON.

UM, JUST KIND OF AN UPDATE.

WE ARE SOMEWHAT GETTING MOVEMENT ON OUR BIG PROJECT, AND THAT IS THE, UH, DOWNTOWN PROJECT WITH AURORA.

UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY HAVE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME, WORKED ON GETTING THE STREET, UH, CLOSED, ABANDONED.

UM, THEY HAVE TAKEN OWNERSHIP OF THAT.

THEY'RE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THAT AND, UM, MOVING FORWARD WITH THE, UH, REDEVELOPMENT OF THE BUILDINGS.

UM, MY ALSO UNDERSTANDING IS SOON THEY WILL BE, UH, AFTER THE CITY WILL BE MOVING ITS HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THEY'LL BE ALSO WORKING ON, UH, UTILIZING THAT BUILDING AS A TRAINING CENTER.

SO, UM, WE DO HAVE, UM, MOVEMENT ON THAT WITH THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT.

UM, AND HOPE, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THEM TO GIVE US SOME UPDATES.

I KNOW THAT MAYBE THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER MAY HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON THAT HE'D LIKE TO SHARE.

UH, JUST A BRIEF NOTE THAT, UH, WE ARE EXPECTING A FORMAL UPDATE FROM MOTIVA WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO, UH, EXPLAIN WHAT PROGRESS THEY HAVE MADE AND WHERE THEY'RE HEADED.

CITY MANAGER.

UH, JUST FOR A CAVEAT, HAVE WE GOTTEN ANY MORE, UH, HITS OR BITES ON THE WEBSITE THAT WE'VE HAD IN PLACE? UH, AS FAR AS INTEREST IN THE DOWNTOWN, UH, AREAS THAT WE, I DON'T KNOW IF PAM GOT ANY HITS OR SOMEBODY'S OR WHOEVER'S MONITORING, UH, TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE DID SPEND MONEY ON THIS WEBSITE, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUTSIDE PEOPLE THEY'RE LOOKING AND PORT ARTHUR WANT TO COME DO BUSINESS.

IF, UH, WE GOT ANY NOTIFICATION, HITS, LIKES, OR ANYTHING TO SHOW INTEREST.

UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE DO HAVE SEVERAL VIEWS NOW.

WE HAVE NOT HAD ANYONE CONTACT US DIRECTLY.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE GOALS THAT WE SAID, WELL, WE WERE GOING TO BE ALSO FORWARDING, UH, LINKS TO THAT, UH, WEBSITE TO VARIOUS ENTITIES.

UM, AND WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK FURTHER INTO THAT AND REPORT BACK TO YOU.

ALL RIGHT, MAYOR, MIGHT I ADD SOMETHING? MR. CHAIRMAN AND, AND THE BOARD MEMBERS, UH, ON INTEREST LEVELS FOR DOWNTOWN, UH, THE FOLK THAT WHO HAVE SPOKEN TO ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THEY ARE, UH, ANXIOUSLY AWAITING, UH, COMPLETION, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BE MAYBE 24 MONTHS FROM NOW WHENEVER THE MOTIVA PROJECT ACTUALLY IS COMPLETED.

AND, UH, THERE HAS BEEN OTHER SMALLER COMPANIES AND ENTITIES THAT HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST TO MOVE SOMEWHERE DOWNTOWN TO BE, THEY WOULD WANT TO BE DOWNTOWN AND THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO BE WHERE MOTIVA HAS AS ITS, UH, LOCAL OFFICES.

SO WE, WE HAVE A GREAT, GREAT POSSIBILITY OF, UH, TENANCY BEING OVERWHELMING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

HOWEVER, UH, AT THE TIMEFRAME IN THE TIMEFRAME WOULD PROBABLY BE, I'M THINKING 24 MONTHS OR BETTER BEFORE ALL OF THIS WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE.

UH, ONE THING I'D LIKE TO ADD, I DID HAVE A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH OUR CONGRESSMAN, EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE BROUGHT THIS OUT IN ANOTHER MEETING.

THE CONGRESSMAN HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF WANTING AN OFFICE THAN DOWNTOWN PORT ARTHUR AND I, I COULD SAY THIS BECAUSE THE CONGRESSMAN EXPRESSED THIS TO ME.

SO WHOMEVER CALLS YOU, WHOMEVER CALLED THE OTHER COUNCILPERSON, HE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

MM.

THEY ARE IN A PROCESS NOW OF MAKING A DECISION OF HAVING AN OFFICE IN EITHER PORT ARTHUR OR ORANGE.

RIGHT NOW, IF WE NEED TO SEE THE CONGRESSMAN IN HIS SETTING WITHOUT GOING TO WASHINGTON, DC WE WOULD'VE TO DRIVE 25 MILES.

ALSO, THE FOLK IN ORANGE WOULD DRIVE, I THINK 22 MILES.

AND HE AND I SPOKE, UH, EXTENSIVELY ABOUT THAT.

BUT I WANTED TO REASSURE US THAT WE MAY HAVE A POSSIBILITY EVEN AFTER ALL OF THIS HAPPENS, TO HAVE THAT OFFICE HERE WHERE WE ARE, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN COMPETITION PROBABLY WITH ORANGE AS WELL, BECAUSE THEY WOULD WANT TO HAVE HIS PRESENCE THERE ALSO.

BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN, AND IT WAS A FALSE HOOD THAT WAS PUT OUT THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO GET AN OFFICE WITH F HERE AND WE DID NOT RESPOND.

SO I WANT THAT OUT THERE FOR US, BECAUSE WITH THIS TURD, THAT WOULD BE A PART OF THE TURD.

EXACTLY.

AND WE DON'T WANT FOLK THINKING THAT.

WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY UP HERE ON THAT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WELL, UH, I TOO WANT HIM HERE.

UH, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE MAY BE IN A LITTLE COMPETITION WITH ORANGE, BUT WHATEVER WE MUST DO TO GET HIM HERE, UH,

[00:10:01]

WE GOT A NEW FACILITY.

WE GOT A NEW, UH, PRESS BUILDING THAT, THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE HIM.

SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE DOING THE COMMUNICATIONS MAYOR WITH, UH, THE CONGRESSMAN TO SEE IF WE CAN GET HIM HERE LOCALLY, UH, BECAUSE THAT WOULD ENHANCE OUR DOWNTOWN, UH, VISION AND GOALS.

UM, GREAT.

UH, ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT, GUYS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, JUST, I'M SORRY.

JUST, UH, CHAIRMAN, UH, UH, JOHNSON, JUST, JUST, UH, CHAIRMAN, UH, JUST FOR POINT OF CLARIFICATION, WHAT CONGRESSMAN ARE YOU SPEAKING? OH, SO US CONGRESSMAN, I'M VERY SORRY THOUGH.

I'M, I'M VERY SORRY.

I DIDN'T, I'M VERY SORRY.

JUST FOR, JUST FOR, YEAH, , JUST, THAT'S ALL, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.

YES, YES, SIR.

YOU KNOW WHERE I'M, OKAY.

I, I, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE SOMEONE SCR THAT.

COULD YOU PLEASE STATE THE NAME? YES, SIR.

RANDY BER, RIGHT? YES.

CONGRESS CONGRESSMAN WEBBER US.

BER UH, DID HE ALSO EXPRESS TO YOU WHAT WOULD BE THE CONCERNS OF, YOU KNOW, PICKING LOCATIONS OR HE SAID, UH, HE, HE AND HIS OFFICE INTERNALLY, THEY ARE MAKING THE DECISION AND THEY ARE PROBABLY ALMOST ABOUT, MAYBE A YEAR OFF FROM ACTUALLY DECIDING WHICH AREA THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY, UH, CHOOSE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

UH, VAL, YOU GOT ANYTHING? WE CAN GO TO THAT.

NO, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY ALSO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE WAS ONCE SOME INTEREST IN DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO, UH, WERE FOOD VENDORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IF THE OFFICE BUILDINGS ARE COMING DOWN HERE AND THEY'RE DOING TRAINING, THAT WOULD BE A, A A A, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A SMALL BUSINESS, IT WOULD BE A GOOD FOCAL POINT IN THIS AREA AS WELL.

AND MR. CHAIRMAN, MAY, MAY I SAY SOME ALSO, UH, THIS WAS IN THE MEETING THAT, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS AND I HAD AT OUR REGULAR MEETING WITH THE, UH, UH, OUR MOTIVA TEAM.

THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A PRIVATE RESTAURATEUR, AN ENTREPRENEUR MAYBE TO ACTUALLY HAVE HIS OR HER RESTAURANT IN WHAT I LIKE TO STILL CALL THE ADAMS BUILDING.

BUT IN THAT BUILDING, MOTIVA WILL NOT OWN OR OPERATE THE RESTAURANT INDEPENDENTLY, INDEPENDENTLY, BUT THAT FACILITY WOULD BE THERE AS WE HAVE A FACILITY IN OUR PRESS BUILDING.

BUT I THINK LAMAR HAS CONTROL OF THAT ONE.

AND ANOTHER PERSON WHO'S EXPRESSED INTEREST ABOUT THEIR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY COMING DOWN, THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT PLACES OR FACILITIES FOR LUNCH FOR GREAT NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES.

AND I TOLD THEM IN ABOUT A YEAR OR SO, THAT THEY WOULD PROBABLY BEGIN TO SEE SOME FORM OF EATERIES, IF YOU WILL, OR RESTAURANTS.

BUT JUST FOR FORWARD THINKING, THERE MAY BE SOME FOLK WHO WOULD HAVE AN INTEREST IN OPERATING A RESTAURANT THAT WOULD SERVICE A LARGE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS.

MM-HMM.

, THEY MAY WANT TO BEGIN SOME FORM OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH AURORA.

I BELIEVE IT IS THE COMPANY THAT HANDLES THE PROPERTIES FOR MOTIVA BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE A PROCESS, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT, THEIR BUSINESS TO FLOURISH IN THAT BUILDING.

BE CLOSE TO OUR WEST SIDE AREA, UM, WAS THAT THERE HAD TO BE 5,000 VIABLE ROOFTOPS.

I LIKE THAT.

UM, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I MEAN, THAT'S A GREAT UPDATE.

UH, JUST, JUST ENLIGHTEN EVERYONE ABOUT, UH, THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE HERE IN PORT ARTHUR AND OUR JOB AS A CHURCH TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

UH, PAM, REAL QUICK, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS DR.

THIGPEN OR, UH, PAM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UH, GETTING WEST OF, UH, MEMORIAL.

WE DON'T HAVE, UH, LIKE A PHARMACY CONVENIENCE STORE TYPE BUSINESS BASED UPON NDC.

UH, AND WHAT WE ARE DOING IS PUTTING ROOFTOPS IN THIS AREA, AND THAT'S THE PLAN TO DETER AND SOME OF THE, THE GOALS OF THE CITY.

HOW DO WE GET BUSINESSES LIKE THAT INTERESTED? SAY, HEY GUYS, Y'ALL TOLD US FIVE YEARS AGO Y'ALL DIDN'T WANT TO COME LIKE A SMALL HEB YEAH.

TO ACCOMMODATE WEST SIDE, UH, RESIDENTS AND EAST, UM, EXCUSE ME, WEST OF MEMORIAL.

SO HOW DO WE GET BUSINESSES LIKE A, NOT A LARGE HEB, BUT DO YOU HAVE 'EM, NEIGHBORHOOD, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HBS THAT THEY HAD AL'S, ALDI'S OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? HOW DO WE GET 'EM INTERESTED PRIOR TO OUR PROJECTS BEING COMPLETED? UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WOULD DO WAS WORK WITH, OF COURSE, WITH OUR, UM, EDC, UM, A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE APPROACHED BY A LOT OF THESE VARYING ENTITIES THAT ARE INTERESTED TO DO BUSINESS IN PORT ARTHUR, UM, DISCUSSIONS THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH HEB THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST ABOUT DOING LIKE A PANTRY FOOD STORE, NOT A SUPER HEB, UM, WHICH WOULD

[00:15:01]

UM, A LOT OF TIMES WITH A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES, OF COURSE THEY DO THEIR OWN MARKET ANALYSIS OF WHAT'S IN THAT AREA.

AND IF THAT BUSINESS CAN BE SUSTAINED, UM, BY THE FOOT TRAFFIC, OR IF YOU CALL IT SUSTAINABILITY, UM, OF ROOFTOPS, UM, WITH NDC THAT IS BRINGING IN, UM, A TENANT BASE OF COURSE WITH, UM, THE INCLUSION OF MOTIVA, WHICH WOULD ALSO BRING FOOT, FOOT TRAFFIC AND EVEN THE, UM, RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES THAT ARE NOW BUILT ON FIFTH AND SIXTH STREET.

AND WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO PUSH THAT PROJECT ALONG.

UM, I'M CERTAIN THAT WE WILL BE APPROACHED, UM, BY PLACES LIKE HEB, BECAUSE NOW WE WOULD HAVE MORE OF A SUSTAINABLE, UM, TENANT BASE OR A CLIENT BASE, IF YOU WILL, UM, FOR THOSE TYPES OF BUSINESSES.

BUT WE WOULD COMMUNICATE AND COORDINATE WITH OUR EDC, OF COURSE, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH DOING, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS THAT WE CONDUCT WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND BRING THAT INFORMATION TO COUNCIL WHEN WE ARE APPROACHED BY A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN COMING INTO DOWNTOWN, OR I GUESS YOU COULD SAY SOUTH OF 73.

EXACTLY.

AND WE, AND, AND THANK YOU PAM, YOU'RE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.

I, WE JUST DON'T WANNA LEAVE OUT, I KNOW HIS PASSION WITH THE MAYOR AND, UH, UH, DON FRANK ABOUT HAVING INCLUDE THE WEST SIDE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ALL RESIDENTS ARE BENEFITING FROM THE TURS AND WHAT WE CAN OFFER.

UH, WE JUST GOTTA THINK, YOU KNOW, PROACTIVELY, WHEN WE KNOW WE ARE GETTING APARTMENT COMPLEX BUILT, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE, YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE BETWEEN 250 EMPLOYEES, 500 ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES.

I'M LOOKING AT THE MULTITUDE OF NUMBERS AND AND ACTUAL PEOPLE THAT'S GONNA BE LOCATED DOWNTOWN AREA.

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, YOU GOT APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT THEY HAVE TO GO DOWN GOWAY, YOU KNOW, UH, EAST OF, UH, UH, MEMORIAL TO GO TO HEB OR SOME TYPE OF STORE.

SO ABSOLUTELY.

AS A CITY, I THINK THAT THIS GROUP OF GUYS AND, AND, UH, AND BOARD MEMBERS THAT WE CAN THINK PROACTIVELY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN INCLUDE RESIDENTS ON THIS SIDE OF TOWN.

UH, YOU GOT SOME DOC? WELL, UH, JUST TO ADD TO WHAT MS. LANGFORD HAD SAID, THE CITY MANAGER, MS. LANGFORD AND I ARE, ARE GOING TO BE ENGAGING IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN ON PLANNING PROCESS, A FORMAL PROCESS TO LOOK AT THE CITY AND LOOK AT THOSE ELEMENTS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TO SEE HOW WE DO MAKE PORT ARTHUR MORE ATTRACTIVE.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ATTENDING, UH, SEVERAL CONFERENCES SUCH AS THE NLC CONFERENCES WHERE WE WORKED ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND WE ARE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE CONCEPTS BACK TO PORT ARTHUR AND ACTUALLY ENACT THEM SO THAT WE CAN ATTRACT THE TYPE OF GROWTH YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

UH, THANK YOU DOC, DAWN.

200 PERSONS COMING TO WORK DOWN HERE EVERY DAY.

HAVE WE, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S THE BIG PICTURE.

BUT HAVE WE IN ANY WAYS CONTACTED HEB OR CONTACTED ALDI'S, UH, TO SEE WHAT THE STEPS ARE, UH, FOR PERHAPS, UH, BRINGING, UM, A, A NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, UH, SUPERMARKET INTO, UH, WHAT, WHAT IS CONSIDERED A FOOD DESERT? BECAUSE ANY, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WEST SIDE OF PORT ARTHUR IS A FOOD DESERT.

UH, ANYTIME YOU CAN'T GET GROCERIES OR FOOD ITEMS, UH, WITHIN A TWO MILE RADIUS, IT IS CONSIDERED A FOOD DESERT.

AND SO HAVE WE TRIED REACHING OUT TO, UM, THOSE ENTITIES, WHETHER IT BE ALDI'S OR HEV AND BEEN PROACTIVE IN THAT KIND? MAY, MAY, MAY.

I, YES, SIR.

UH, AGAIN, AND HAVE TO BE FACETIOUS.

THE NEW WAY OF HANDLING BUSINESS WITH THAT IS WHERE COUNCIL, UH, WOMAN AND OUR, UH, ASSISTANT MAYOR PROM WENT TO THAT NATIONAL MEETING IN, UH, LAS VEGAS OR WHEREVER IT WAS.

THESE MERCHANTS OR THESE BUSINESSES GATHER AT THESE TYPE FUNCTIONS.

NOW YOU GO TO THOSE FUNCTIONS AND YOU INTRODUCE YOUR TOWN'S CONCEPT TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT THESE MEETINGS, AND THEY MAKE THE DECISION BASED UPON DATA THAT THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, CALL UP ON.

AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THEY HAVE WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE PRESENT AS TO WHETHER THEY'RE COMING OR NOT.

AND RIGHT NOW, I THINK OUR BIGGEST ELEMENT THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH NOW IS TO HAVE A VISIBLE COMPLETION OF OUR RE-IMAGINING PORT ARTHUR, THE FIRST

[00:20:01]

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY UNITS THERE ARE IN THIS NEW COMPLEX HERE, BUT THE FIRST FAMILIES MOVING IN THOSE COMP IN THAT, INTO THAT COMPLEX.

AND EVEN I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME PLANS FOR SOME OTHER HOMES TO BE BUILT.

ONCE THESE BUSINESSES SEE THIS MOVEMENT, THEY MAKE SOME POSITIVE DECISIONS BECAUSE SOONER OR LATER WE HAVE AVAILABLE PROPERTY.

YOU KNOW, LUM CIRCLE, WINEGUARD HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE, UH, PROPERTIES ON HOUSTON AVENUE THAT ALL DON'T BELONG TO THE PORT COULD BE A GROCERY STORE.

A GROCERY STORE CAN FIT THERE IN BETWEEN THOSE WAREHOUSES THERE.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE.

SO, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE EASY ACCESS FOR A LOT OF FOLK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTA THINK SOMETIMES OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.

BUT WHAT WE'VE GOTTA DO FIRST IS MAKE THE MOVE TO BE SURE THAT THESE FOLKS, WHEN THEY MAKE THEIR MONETARY INVESTMENTS, IS GOING TO BE LUCRATIVE FOR 'EM.

AND I BELIEVE OUR SHOWING BY WHAT MOTIVA IS DOING HERE ARE PLAN, YOU KNOW, AS PLANNED, COMMITTED TO DO WHAT THE NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX WILL DO.

AND THE OTHERS, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME OTHER DEVELOPERS WHO'VE SPOKEN WITH US FOR THE LAND WHERE FRANKLIN SCHOOL, UH, WAS, UH, AND SOME OTHER PARCELS OF LAND WHERE THEY CAN PUT NOT LOW INCOME AS PEOPLE.

IT, IT'S A TURNOFF, BUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I'M, I'M SAYING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO PAY $1,500 A MONTH, THAT'S AFFORDABLE.

THAT FOR YOU, IF YOU COULD PAY $4,000 A MONTH, THAT'S AFFORDABLE FOR YOU.

BUT WE CAN PUT THESE TYPE STRUCTURES UP.

WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT THOSE FOOD SOURCES AND EVEN OTHER BUSINESSES THAT WILL CAUSE OUR CITY TO BE A PLACE THAT A PERSON WOULD WANT TO BE IN.

BUT THAT TYPE MEETING, IT, IT, IT'S AN ACRONYM.

I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME OF IT RIGHT NOW, BUT I LEARNED THAT A FEW YEARS AGO.

THAT'S WHERE YOU GO NOW TO GET THOSE PEOPLE TO COME TO YOUR CITY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.

UH, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBER, UH, UH, MARTIN, UM, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S.

GOOD TO SEE.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH CONCRETE STRUCTURES IN PLACE ALREADY.

YOU NEED A DIGITAL CONCEPT SO YOU CAN SELL THIS DIGITALLY.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T JUST NEED THE PEOPLE JUST TO MOVE IN.

YOU ALREADY HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON.

SO WHAT WE NEED IS ACTUALLY A DIGITAL CONCEPT OF THE OVERARCHING VIEW OF WHAT THIS DOWNTOWN WOULD LOOK LIKE IN CONGRESS OF THE PORT.

ALSO, WE NEED A CONCEPT TO WHERE YOU CAN GO TO THESE DIFFERENT, UH, PLACES RATHER IT BE MARKET BASKET, HEB, WALMART.

'CAUSE ALL OF 'EM HAVE A A A SMALLER NEIGHBORHOOD TYPE STORE TYPE STORE.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET TOGETHER AND BUILD A DIGITAL CONCEPT, YOU KNOW, KNOW WE SEE THAT IT'S BEING BUILT.

I'M SMILING.

HE HIRED A DUDE TO DO THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

WE, WE, WE YOU SMILING.

HE'S SMIRKING .

WE, WE, UH, WE, WE, WE HIRED, UH, I'M MESSING WITH HIM.

MAYORS INSIDE.

UH, BUT WE'VE HIRED SOMEONE TO DO LIKE, AND THAT'S A GREAT, UH, OPPORTUNITY.

UH, BOARD MEMBER.

UM, MARTIN, WE HIRED SOMEONE TO KIND OF DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

UH, WE, WE HAVE TO GET SOMEONE ELSE, PAM, UH, AS PAM WALKING UP.

BUT WE DID KIND OF, AND PAM WAS REAL, UH, INSTRUMENTAL IN DOING THAT.

UH, SHE CAME WITH A VISION AND SAID, THIS IS TUR.

AND WHERE WE WANTED TO GO, WE WANTED TO DO IN PHASES.

SO, UH, JUST TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK THESE SHIRTS THAT WE HAVE ON TODAY, UH, THAT'S SOME OF THE MARKETING TOOLS THAT WE'RE USING TO SHOW THAT DETER IS INDEPENDENT FROM ANY OTHER.

WE WANTED TO ALSO USE UNITE, UH, TO UNITE THIS BOARD.

UH, WE WANTED TO COME OUT TODAY, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE WERE IN OUR SHIRTS, AND THIS IS THE NEW LOGO, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO BRAND AND TO TRY TO SHOW WHAT PAM WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, THAT WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS NOW.

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IF THEY DON'T GO IN LIKE THIS NEW AGE ERA NOW.

THEY OWN WEBSITES AND MEDIA SOURCES.

IF WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE TO SHOW ABOUT THE HITS THAT WE'RE GETTING, UH, THE INTEREST THAT WE'RE GETTING, WE WILL BE OUT OF THE LOOP.

[00:25:01]

THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT.

YOU GOTTA BE AT THE TABLE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO PAM, JUST SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE BRANDING OUR TURS, WE GOT OUR OFFICIAL, UH, LOGO HERE.

AND WE GOT OUR OFFICIAL WEBSITE THAT WE STARTED AND WE ARE MANAGING, BUT WHAT ELSE CAN WE POSSIBLY DO TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS? ABSOLUTELY.

AND FIRST, LET ME APOLOGIZE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU .

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY MANAGER, UM, HAS ASKED OUR NEW ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER, UM, TO TAKE UPON IS WORKING WITH, UM, OUR WEB DEVELOPER AND, UM, CREATING A PAGE THAT SPEAKS TO OR HIGHLIGHTS THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT INCENTIVES THAT THE CITY HAS UNDER THEIR UMBRELLA TO ENCOURAGE BUSINESS.

UM, IN, IN PORT ARTHUR, BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY CLOSER TO OUR DOWNTOWN AREA IN OUR TURS.

UM, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW THINGS THAT WITHIN OUR, UM, POWER TO, UM, INITIATE TO ENCOURAGE THAT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS OPPORTUNITY ZONES, NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT ZONES, THE TURS ITSELF, UM, THREE, UM, 80 AGREEMENTS, DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENTS.

UM, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AREN'T SOMETHING THAT IN THE PAST THAT WE HAVE NECESSARILY HIGHLIGHTED AND USED AS A MARKETING TOOL, UM, TO ENCOURAGE BUSINESS, UM, WITHIN THE CITY.

UM, SO THAT IS A PROJECT THAT OUR ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER WILL BE WORKING ON IN THE ADDITION TO, UM, UM, THE, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN THAT DR.

THIGPEN SPOKE OF.

UM, SO THOSE ARE TWO OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE STARTED IMPLEMENTING.

UM, IT IS IN ITS INFANCY STAGES, BUT YOU WILL START TO SEE SOME MOVEMENT AND SOME TRACTION ON THOSE PROJECTS.

GREAT.

ANYTHING ELSE? BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY.

IF WE DON'T, UH, CITY ATTORNEY, YOU WANT TO, UH, I HAVE YOU, YOU GOT SOMETHING? YES.

UH, BOARD MEMBER JOHNSON.

AND, AND, AND DON'T FORGET THE WATER SIDE DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT OF THIS.

UM, I'M SPEAKING FROM A, YOU KNOW, FROM THE WATER SIDE.

UH, WE HAVE ALL THIS BEAUTIFUL WATERFRONT PROPERTY.

IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOME TYPE OF EATERY.

DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN ELABORATE EATERY.

BUT JUST SOMETHING LIKE AN EATERY THAT REALLY SHOWCASES THE WATERFRONT OR THAT'S DEVELOPED SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO THE WATERFRONT.

UM, AND I'M QUITE SURE IT WOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT TO SELL A COMPANY ON, YOU KNOW, WATERFRONT TYPE OF, UH, A WATERFRONT TYPE LOCATION.

UH, FOR, FOR BUSINESS.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE AS, AS SIMPLE AS A BAIT AND TACKLE SHOP.

YOU KNOW, IT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS LARGE CORP TYPE OF BUSINESS, BUT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SMALL BUSINESSES, THE ECONOMIC DRIVER OF OUR ECONOMY, SO WE ALSO HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND IN TERMS OF, UH, BRINGING IN SMALLER, YOU KNOW, SMALL BUSINESS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THESE GREAT VISIONS AND DREAMS OF SMALL BUSINESS, THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACCESS THE MONEY.

THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET TO AND WHAT IS REALLY INVOLVED IN, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE QUOTE UNQUOTE CERTAIN GROUPS THAT DO THIS, IT'S ALMOST LIKE FINDING A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH IN TERMS OF FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON TO HELP PUT THE RIGHT PIECES TOGETHER SO THAT THAT DREAM CAN BECOME A REALITY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND COMMISSIONER, I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY, UM, VARIOUS DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN DOING, UM, THE WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CITY, UM, MORE SPECIFICALLY ACROSS FROM CITY HALL WHERE THE BOARDWALK, UM, IS LOCATED.

MM-HMM.

UM, ONE OF THE, UM, THINGS THAT KIND OF SLOWED THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT, OF COURSE, UM, IS THE LEVEE PROJECT, UM, THAT THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, UM, HAS TAKEN UPON.

AND I BELIEVE WITH A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES, THEY'RE JUST KIND OF PUT THAT ON HOLD TO ALLOW THAT PROJECT TO, YOU KNOW, START AND FINISH.

UM, SO THEY WOULD HAVE A BETTER, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

BUT WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN APPROACHED BY DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE SHOWN INTEREST.

GOOD.

AND WE DO KEEP A RECORD OF THOSE THINGS AND WE WILL REACH BACK OUT.

MM-HMM, .

GOOD POINT.

UH, BOARD MEMBER JOHNSON WATERFRONT PROPERTY, RESTAURANTS, BAIT AND TACKLE.

I LOVE THAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? THANK YOU PAM.

UH, VAL, YOU GOT ANYTHING YOU WANNA CLOSE OUT ON NUMBER FOUR BEFORE WE GET ON NUMBER FIVE? NO, NOTHING ELSE FOR NUMBER FOUR.

AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS REGARDING FUTURE PROJECTS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF

UH, DISCUSSION

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

[00:30:01]

THE DOWNTOWN, UH, TAX INCREMENT, REINVESTMENT ZONE TERMS, NUMBER ONE, VAL.

UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY OUR UM, FINANCE DIRECTOR HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A REPORT TO GIVE AND THAT MAY JUST KIND OF GIVE US A IDEA WHERE WE WERE IN TERMS OF FUTURE PROJECTS, BUT SHE JUST KIND OF WANTED TO GIVE US A FINANCIAL UPDATE.

THIS IS MRS. LYNN BOSWELL, OUR NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR.

THIS IS HER FIRST TIME COMING, I BELIEVE, TO THE TURFS TO SPEAK.

SO SHE WOULD, UM, JUST LIKE TO GIVE AN UPDATE THAT WOULD HELP US IN OUR FUTURE PLANNING.

ALRIGHT, DIRECTOR.

I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE WERE FINANCIALLY AS FAR AS THE BUDGET IS CONCERNED.

AND, AND WHAT I KNOW, IF THERE'S INFORMATION I DON'T HAVE, IT'S JUST BECAUSE IT WASN'T WRITTEN IN A PLACE THAT I COULD FIND IT.

SO WE HAVE BUDGETED $45,000 FOR THIS TOURS ACCOUNT.

WE'VE SPENT ALREADY ABOUT 5,000 IS FROM WHAT I COULD SEE ON THIS EXPENSES SO FAR.

AND I DID GO AHEAD AND PUT IN AND TRANSFER FROM OUR GENERAL FUND, THE 44,600.

SO THAT'S THE ONLY REVENUE FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IN THE RECORDS.

ANY COLLECTIONS THAT ARE TO BE HAD FOR THIS ACCOUNT ISN'T GOING TO BE SEEN UNTIL SEPTEMBER.

AND IT'S NOT VERY MUCH.

I THINK IT'S JUST OVER 10,000.

SO AT THIS TIME, WHAT I HAVE HERE, JUST VIA BUDGET, THE CURRENT BALANCE IS $40,740 AND 4 CENTS FROM THE BUDGET ALONE.

IF WE HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT, IT'S NOT WRITTEN DOWN OR WOULD NEED TO BE AMENDED IN THE FUTURE.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, QUESTION BOARD MEMBERS? SO, UH, UH, A BOARD MEMBER FRANK, JUST SO THAT I KNOW AND, UH, I AM A NEW MEMBER TO THE TOURS, UH, COMMITTEE.

SO THIS, THESE MONIES THAT WE HAVE AS A BUDGET ARE THESE MONIES TO BE EXPENDED TO ADVANCE OUR TOURS ADVERTISEMENT.

UM, UM, PERHAPS A CONFERENCE, UM, AT THE CIVIC CENTER.

IF WE HOSTED THAT KIND OF, UM, THAT KIND OF THING WHERE WE WOULD WELCOME COMPANIES OR TO PUT ON THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

IS THAT WHAT THAT MONEY IS SPECIFICALLY GUIDELINED FOR IN THE, UM, IN THE ORDINANCE OR IN THE CHARTER OF THE TURS? THANK YOU.

UH, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

VAL, IF YOU WANT TO GET IN OR I DON'T KNOW IF DOC WANNA CHIME IN, BUT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE TURS AND WHAT WE ACTUALLY CAN DO BASED UPON THE, UH, BEING AN ESTABLISHED ENTITY.

UH, YOU WANT TO KIND OF GIVE HIM JUST A ROUGH, UH, OUTLINE? YEAH.

AND I HAVE OUR PLAN OUTLINE.

AND I HAVE OUR PROJECT BECAUSE I KNOW THE DIRECTOR HAS, SHE HAS A BUDGET OUTLINE OF WHAT WE HAVE IN THE CHURCH.

BUT CAN YOU JUST GIVE THE COUNCIL MEMBER SOME, SOME, SOME IDEAS, SOME SOME DIRECTIVES ON WHAT WE CAN DO AS A TAR BOARD? RIGHT.

AND I HAVE THE PRO, THE ORIGINAL PROJECT PLAN HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DIFFERENT PROJECT, UM, DESCRIPTIONS.

WE CAN DO SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS.

THE BIGGEST CAPITAL PROJECT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS UPGRADING IN THE DOWNTOWN.

HOWEVER, LIKE WE'RE SAYING IT WOULD BE ONCE, UM, THE NEW, UM, BUSINESSES GOT ONLINE.

THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE OUR INCOME OR OUR REVENUE RATHER, UH, INCREASE.

SO FIRST WE CAN DO UTILITIES INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DOING STREET SCAPES, FIRE HYDRANTS, DIP FIRE HYDRANTS, WATER, SEWER, PAVING IMPROVEMENTS, LIGHTING, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LIGHTING, DEMOLITION, ENVIRONMENTAL ABATEMENT, UM, AND ALL TYPES OF THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT MAYBE PARTNERING WITH SOME BUSINESS FOR PRIVATE FINANCING, UH, KIND OF COOPERATIVELY WORKING WITH BUSINESSES TO DO THAT.

BUT YES, ANYTHING DEALING WITH, UM, LIKE HERE'S SOME OTHER EXAMPLES.

MORE SPECIFIC, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, LIGHTING, WALKWAYS, LANDSCAPING, STREET FURNITURE, PARKING FACILITIES, TRAFFIC CONTROL, WALKING PATHS, JUST A MYRIAD OF BEAUTIFICATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IS WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SPEND THE MONEY ON, BUT WE'VE GOTTA GET OUR INCOME UP.

YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING'S BEEN JUST FLAT.

SO, UM, THAT'S WHY WE ARE VERY ANXIOUS FOR THE DEVELOPMENTS TO START AND THE, ANY NEW BUSINESSES TO COME IN.

'CAUSE THAT'S HOW WE GET OUR REV REVENUE.

I'M USING THE RIGHT TERM REVENUE.

REVENUE UP.

SO THAT WE CAN INCREASE THE REVENUE FOR THOSE TYPES OF PROJECTS.

YOU GOOD? UM, COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES.

UH, DR.

IAN, YOU GOT ANYTHING? ARE YOU GOOD? UM, JUST AS, UH, THE ATTORNEY SAID ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE WORKING HARD ON IS INCREASING THE PRESENCE OF BUSINESS IN THE TERRORIST AREA

[00:35:01]

UH, DR.

IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, UH, WE GOT ANYTHING ELSE ON NUMBER FIVE? YOU GOOD? NO.

AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THIS TIME.

DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR, UH, YOUR NUMBERS AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

UH, I, I GUESS IF YOU WOULD COME EVERY MEETING, 'CAUSE THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN MAKE IT TO GIVE THAT INFORMATION YEAH.

JUST GIVE THAT INFORMATION SO PEOPLE COULD EXACTLY KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW WE GONNA DO IT.

SO THANK YOU DIRECTOR.

IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, LEMME ASK ONE MORE QUESTION.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, FRANK, HAVE WE BEEN CONTACT, I HEARD THAT WE'VE BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE SUBPOENA HOTEL? IS THAT, WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT? YEAH, WE'RE, I THINK THERE, THERE IS SOME FOLKS WHO'VE HAD SOME INTEREST IN IT AND HAVE EXPRESSED THAT WITH US.

I THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT, UM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO TALK WITH THE COUNCIL ABOUT HOW WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, EITHER R PING IT OR SELLING IT OR, OR HOWEVER WE WOULD DO IT.

WE CAN ALSO DO SOME THINGS THROUGH TERMS, BUT THERE'S BEEN A DEFINITE INQUIRY.

UM, WE NEED TO WORK ON TALKING ABOUT THAT AND HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

UH, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON? YES.

WE NEED TO, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, EXCUSE ME.

UM, I, I, I REMEMBER WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION ABOUT THE HOTEL AND THE POSSIBLE, UH, DEMOLITION OF THAT BUILDING.

MM-HMM.

, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S ON THE TABLE AS WELL? WELL, I, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

LAST TIME WE TALKED WITH ART, YES ART WAS HERE AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, BUT IT WOULD COST SO MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DEMO THAT AND THEN PROVIDE SOME, UH, ALTERNATIVES FOR US IN THAT AREA.

BUT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE DID TALK ABOUT DEMOS OR DEMOING THAT BUILDING AT ONE TIME.