[00:00:01]
RECORDING IN PROGRESS.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AND WELCOME HERE TO THE GREATEST CITY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS.MATTER OF FACT, THE GREATEST CITY IN ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
AND WHAT I WANT TO ASK YOU NOW, IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE DEVICES, I KNOW ALL OF Y'ALL GOT ONE, JUST PUT IT ON MUTE.
Y'ALL PROBABLY ALREADY, ALREADY HAD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE Y'ALL A LOT SHARPER THAN I AM.
AND EVERYONE ELSE, ALL OF THE OTHER OLD PEOPLE PUT YOURS ON MUTE LIKE ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE DONE.
OKAY, NOW LET'S HAVE A GOOD MORNING.
AND WE ARE GATHERED HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON THE FIFTH FLOOR HERE IN CITY HALL FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEGUN, UH, AT NINE 30.
IT IS NOW 9 42 AND WE ARE BEGINNING, UM, IN ADDITION TO YOUR PERSONAL ATTENDANCE, YOU MAY ATTEND THIS MEETING THROUGH THE MEDIUMS OF VIDEO CONFERENCE OR TELEPHONIC, UH, MEDIUMS. HOWEVER, YOU MUST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
AND YOU WILL ENTER THE MEETING ID NUMBER OF 8 5 6 2 8 4 6 4 9 3 7 AND THE PASSCODE OF 7 6 3 9 3 7.
AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING.
ALSO, IF THERE WOULD BE A NEED FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU WOULD ONLY NEED TO CALL 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 9 8 3 OR 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.
LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS ARE AND THEY WILL DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWER TO PROVIDE THOSE SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR YOU.
NOW, AND I'VE ALREADY ASKED US TO, UH, MUTE ALL OF OUR ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND WE WILL BEGIN OUR MEETING WITH OUR NORMAL OPENING, WHICH IS WITH THE UNIFICATION AND, UH, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE ROLL CALL.
SO I WANNA ASK, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE SO KIND AS TO GIVE US THE INDICATION ON THIS MORNING? WOULD YOU ALL STAND, PLEASE AND JOIN US? LET US BY ALL, ALWAYS IN ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AT LIFE.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE BLESSINGS THAT WE ENJOY BY LIVING IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY.
AND WE THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER, FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO DO YOUR WILL HEAVENLY FATHER, AND TO BE A BLESSING FOR YOUR PEOPLE.
GIVE US WISDOM, GUIDANCE, AND YOUR MERCY AS WE GO FORWARD ON THIS DAY IS OUR PRAYER.
THE POWERFUL AND PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS, THE RISEN CHRIST WE PRAY.
JOIN US IN SO IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, OUR 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.
SEE THE SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH THE QUORUM.
MAYOR VART, PRESENT MAYOR PRO, TIM HAMILTON, PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
AND AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL JUST TO REITERATE THAT FACT.
AND WE WILL BEGIN OUR MEETING TODAY WITH
[II. PROCLAMATIONS]
PROCLAMATIONS AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS HERE IN THE CHAMBERS WITH US TODAY WHO ARE HAPPEN TO BE, UH, A GROUP OF CELEBRITIES AROUND THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS AS FAR AS I'VE HEARD.AND WE ARE OVERJOYED THAT YOU WOULD JOIN US TODAY IN OUR COUNCIL MEETING.
AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS READ TO YOU A DOCUMENT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND IT SAYS, FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR.
WHEREAS THE PORT NAS GROVES FOOTBALL TEAM FINISHED WITH AN OUTSTANDING SEASON WINNING THE FIVE A DIVISION TWO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CHIP.
AND WHEREAS THEY STOOD STRONG IN THE
[00:05:01]
FACE OF A STORM AND EXHIBITED DEDICATED STRENGTH AND COURAGE WITH COMMITMENT AND TEAMWORK, THIS GROUP OF YOUNG MEN AND EVEN YOUNG WOMEN AND THEIR COACHES ENDED THE SEASON REMARKABLY WITH A GREAT WIN.AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE COACH JEFF JOSEPH.
COACH, IF YOU'RE HERE, YOU WOULD JUST STAND.
YOU JUST STAND COACH JEFF, JOSEPH, HE HIS STAFF, THE OTHER COACHES WHO ARE PRESENT WITH YOU STAND.
I MEAN THIS MAN CAN HANDLE THE WHOLE TEAM BY HIMSELF.
WE GOT ANOTHER COACH IN THE ROOM.
SO COACH, THOSE MADE, I KNOW YOU THE MAN.
OKAY? WE HAVE ALSO TEAM MEMBERS AND I HOPE I DON'T BUTCHER ANY OF YOUR NAMES.
I PRACTICED THEM THE OTHER DAY.
SHAY ADAMS SHAKE, STAND UP STA STANDARDS.
DID I SAY IT RIGHT? JONATHAN, SAY HI, CAMERON.
DID I SAY THAT CORRECT? I COUGH MY BAD MAN.
LANDON ENGLISH, KEEGAN FLORES, SEAN GARDNER, JULIAN GUIDRY, DYLAN HICKS, CHASE JOHNSON, COLE KIDWELL, MARIO, MIGUEL, ISAIAH.
YEAH, MAN, YOU COULD RUN
OSI GTO, MIGUEL VERA, CADEN PELLEGRIN WILL POOL REED RASHAD DYLAN WROTE MERO CADE, SHE SCHNEIDER, MAXWELL SCROGGS, ISAAC SUNNET, JAGGER, SONJA, DYLAN TALBERT, FREDDIE TORRES AND NOR WASHINGTON.
NOW THEREFORE, I THURMAN BILL BOCHY, MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THIS DAY, JANUARY 30TH, 2023 AS PORT NATURES GROVES HIGH SCHOOL BOYS FOOTBALL TEAM.
FIVE A D TWO CHAMPIONSHIP DAY IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND I ASK ALL OF PORT ARTHUR TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNITION OF THESE YOUNG MEN AND THEIR AWESOME ACCOMPLISHMENT IN WITNESS WHEREOF.
I HAVE HERE UNT YOU AFFIX THE SEAL AND SET MY HAND AND CAUSE THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED ON THIS DOCUMENT THIS 30TH DAY OF JANUARY IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
[00:10:01]
2024, AND HAS SIGNED YOUR TRULY MAYOR THURMAN.BILL BO T AND COACH, I THINK YOU CAN COME FORWARD HERE IN THE CENTER AND WE CONGRAT AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS HAVE, I'M GONNA MOVE THIS, MOVE THIS, AND I'M GONNA GET THE WHOLE TEAM TO COME UP HERE AND WE'RE GOING ALL TAKE SOME PICTURES, THEN WE GOING DO THE JUMP.
NOW, COACH, YOU MAY HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY OR YOU GOT A CAPTAIN THAT'S GONNA SPEAK OR WILL I, I, I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
WE KNEW, UH, GOING INTO THE PLAYOFFS AND INTO THAT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME THAT WE HAD THE SUPPORT OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND, AND ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE IN OUR AREA FROM PORT ARTHUR AND NEEDLING, AND OBVIOUSLY PORT NASON GROVES AS WELL.
BUT WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT, WE APPRECIATE, UH, THE HONOR WE'RE RECEIVING HERE.
WE DO HAVE PLAYERS IN OUR TEAM AND COACHES THAT LIVE IN AND HAVE PORT ARTHUR ADDRESSES.
WELL, I THINK WE ONLY HAVE ONE OF 'EM HERE RIGHT NOW.
OUR BOY CAMERON, PORT ARTHUR, COME ON HOME.
TAKE MY PICTURE WITH ME AND MY HOMIE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, MAYOR.
YES, YOU CAN SAY PORT ARTHUR DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHAMPIONS I'M TALKING ABOUT.
SO AGAIN, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE AND TO BE HONORED LIKE THIS.
ANY YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING, MAN? GAR, YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING, MAN? YEAH, SAY SOMETHING MAN.
HE WAS BORN IN PORT MR. RED, REALLY PROUD OF THIS TEAM FOR EVERYTHING THEY DID THIS YEAR.
I DIDN'T GET TO PLAY MY WHOLE SENIOR YEAR, BUT I REALLY ENJOYED WATCHING THEM GO OUT AND WIN IT ALL SCALP.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN.
WE, WE, WE HAVE WE HAVE ALL THE PICTURES.
NOW YOU ALL MAY WANT TO TURN AROUND BECAUSE I'M MORE THAN SURE.
AND SOME FOLK ON THE COUNCIL WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE, UH, WITH US AND TO HONOR YOU ON TODAY.
UH, YOU ARE PART OF A CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL TEAM AND YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT, UH, FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, THE, THE MEMORIES THAT YOU MADE, UH, TOGETHER ON YOUR MARCH TOWARD THAT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
UH, TRUST ME, UH, AS GOD GIVES YOU STRENGTH AND ALLOWS YOU TO LIVE, UH, FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL REMEMBER THE RELATIONSHIPS, THE COACHES, UH, ALL OF THAT WILL HELP YOU, UH, AS YOU GO FORWARD IN LIFE AND YOUR CAREERS, UH, WHEREVER LIFE TAKES YOU.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT ON THIS DAY, WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU AND THAT WE CELEBRATE WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE A PART OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS, WHICH MEANS YOU GUYS ARE PART OF US.
CONGRATULATIONS ON COUNCILMAN WILLIE BAY LEWIS.
UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR HARD WORK DISCIPLINE, HARD WORK, GET TO WORK EARLY.
THIS IS GOING TO FOLLOW YOU ALL THE REST OF YOUR LIVES THROUGHOUT CORPORATE AMERICA.
THE CORPORATIONS LOVE TO HIRE ATHLETES BECAUSE THEY'RE DISCIPLINED.
THEY GET TO WORK ON TIME AND THEY STAY LATE AND THEY'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO SERVE.
Y'ALL HAVE DONE HONOR TO PORT ARTHUR AND PORT NATURES CONGRATULATE Y'ALL.
WHEREVER YOU ALL LIFE, TAKE YOU ALL.
BUT JUST REMEMBER WHERE YOU'RE FROM AND CARRY YOUR DISCIPLINE WITH YOU.
UM, I WAS OUT IN DALLAS AT THE TIME THAT, UH, YOU WON YOUR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
AND WHEN I TELL YOU WE BOUGHT A CROWD OUT THERE IN DALLAS, IT WAS PURPLE, PURPLE AND WHITE THE WHOLE TIME, UH, THE WEEKEND THAT I WAS THERE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU GUYS.
AND JUST LIKE SOME OF MY COUNTERPARTS STATED THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE GONNA REMEMBER FOREVER.
THESE SAME GUYS, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE SOME TYPE OF MONUMENT WITH YOUR GUYS' NAMES ON IT AND STATES THAT, UH, THAT YOU WON A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
[00:15:01]
BUT I DO HAVE TO SAY THIS, UH, PORT ARTHUR TITANS MADE YOU TOUGH.'CAUSE Y'ALL REMEMBER THAT
WHO, WHERE WAS THE RECEIVER? WHO'S THE RECEIVER? UH, NUMBER IS THAT YOU? WHAT? 19.
HEY MAN, I WATCH YOU THE WAY YOU HANDLED YOURSELF ON THAT FIELD, MAN.
UH, I WOULD SAY KUDOS TO YOU AND STATE JUST HOW YOU ARE.
BIG THINGS ARE COMING YOUR WAY.
MRS. BECKHAM, THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AS A FORMER TEACHER IN THE PORT NATURES GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WHEN I WAS THERE, WE WENT TO THE PLAYOFFS EVERY YEAR, BUT WE NEVER MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO STATE.
AND YOU GUYS ARE LIKE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK SAID, Y'ALL ARE GONNA REMEMBER THIS FOREVER.
WHEN YOU GO TO YOUR 40TH HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, LIKE I JUST WENT TO MINE.
Y'ALL ARE STILL GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE MADE IT TO STATE MY SOPHOMORE YEAR AT TJ.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SOME OF THE BEST FRIENDS OUTTA THIS GROUP.
YOU'LL RAISE YOUR KIDS TOGETHER, YOUR GRANDKIDS TOGETHER.
SO CARRY THIS WITH YOU IN YOUR HEARTS AND GREAT JOB.
REMEMBER TEAMWORK, REMEMBER COMRADERY.
REMEMBER THE DAYS THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN LIKE EACH OTHER AND Y'ALL WAS GETTING ON EACH OTHER'S NERVES, BUT YOU STILL CAME TOGETHER TO PLAY HARD.
SO REMEMBER THESE, UM, THINGS AND THESE NUGGETS THAT YOUR COACHES, YOUR TRAINERS, YOUR TEACHERS, YOUR PARENTS, YOUR FAMILY, GRANDPARENTS, EVERYBODY IS PUTTING INTO YOU RIGHT NOW, AND TAKE THAT WITH YOU.
THE GOOD DAYS AND THE BAD DAYS, THEY WILL CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF YOUR LIFE.
I PROMISE YOU, I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF Y'ALL.
SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THOSE SAME THINGS AS YOU CONTINUE TO GROW.
WHERE IS IT? OKAY, ATTORNEY, CAN YOU ENLIGHTEN US ON WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW? OKAY.
UH, WE, I JUST WANTED TO, AGAIN, I KNOW THE YOUNG MEN LEFT, BUT I SAID IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAD THE YOUNG MEN HERE TODAY AND ALL OF THEIR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE OUTSTANDING YOUNG MEN, OUTSTANDING YOUNG WOMEN FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IT SHOWS TODAY YOU'LL SEE SOMETHING THAT SHOWS THE, THE BROAD ABILITIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE.
AND THESE KIDS ARE RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND AGAIN, I KNOW THE YOUNG MEN HAD TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, BUT, UH, WE REALLY ARE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT THEY DID.
[III.B.(1) A Presentation By The Memorial 9th Grade Students Regarding The Futuristic Port Arthur 3D Models]
GROUP HERE TODAY, UM, UNDER ITEM B ONE, IF YOU ALL COULD CALL ITEM B ONE.UH, WE HAVE A GROUP OF YOUNG LADIES CALL IT UP.
UNDER PRESENTATIONS, A PRESENTATION BY THE MEMORIAL NINTH GRADE STUDENTS REGARDING THE FUTURISTIC PORT ARTHUR 3D MODELS.
AND SO, UM, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, IT'S JUST GREAT THAT WE SEE ALL OF THE, THE TALENT
[00:20:01]
THAT OUR KIDS HAVE.UH, SPORTS, ACADEMICS, ARTS, UH, IS REALLY GREAT.
SO TODAY, UM, I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE, UM, UM, THE MEMORIAL NINTH GRADE CLASS ON ARCHITECTURE.
UM, THEY'RE HERE WITH THEIR TEACHER.
WHAT'S VERY INTERESTING IS THESE ARE NINTH GRADE LADIES AND THEY'RE IN A CLASS WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE OF PORT ARTHUR WOULD BE AND ACTUALLY DO A STUDY.
THEY HAVE A BRIDGE PROJECT THAT THEY'LL EXPLAIN AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER THERE'S A BREAK, IF YOU ALL, UH, CITIZENS WANT TO COME AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT, WE CAN LEAVE IT ON DISPLAY FOR A WHILE.
BUT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, AND MISS ABREA GORDON IS THEIR TEACHER.
SHE'S AS WELL AN ARCHITECT WHO'S BEEN TEACHING THIS CLASS.
THEY FOUND A FIVE HOUSE RADIUS, A COUPLE OF BLOCK RADIUS OF ACTUAL LAND THAT IS VACANT RIGHT NOW ON PROCTOR STREET.
AND THEY AS NINTH GRADERS PUT THEIR, UM, DREAMS TO PAPER AND CREATED A, UM, AREA ON ONE MAP WHERE YOU'LL SEE WHERE THE HOUSES WOULD BE LOCATED, FLOOR PLANS.
AND THEN THEY DID A 3D MODEL OF FUTURISTIC PORT ARTHUR.
BUT, UM, IF MS. GORDON COULD COME UP AND THEN ASK THE GIRLS TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND THEN THEY CAN TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.
AND THIS IS A ACTUAL PROJECT THAT'S REAL.
THESE ARE REAL PLANS AND THEY DID IT.
AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S JUST A GREAT DAY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN, IN THIS AREA TODAY.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
WE TRULY APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND EXPOSURE.
I TEACH PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE MEMORIAL NINTH GRADE.
I WANNA INTRODUCE YOU TO MY STUDENTS.
THEY'RE GONNA COME UP AND GIVE A LITTLE QUICK STATEMENT ABOUT THEIR PROJECT OR HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE CLASS.
AND LIKE MS. TEO SAID AT ANY POINT, WE'RE GONNA LEAVE THEM HERE SO EVERYONE FROM THE CITY CAN ACTUALLY COME UP AND VIEW AT THEIR LEISURELY.
UM, AND I WILL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, MA'AM.
IF Y'ALL COULD JUST TELL US, MS UH, GORDON, WHERE THE BLOCK IS.
SO OUR ACTUAL PROPOSED SITE IS BETWEEN PROCTOR LIBERTY AND ST.
WE'VE NOTICED THAT PORT ARTHUR, JUST LIKE BEAUMONT, AND THAT'S WHERE I'M FROM.
WE'VE NOTICED THERE ARE A LOT OF VACANT LOTS.
SO WE KIND OF GOT TOGETHER AND SAID, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THIS CITY THRIVE MORE? WHAT COULD WE DO TO BRING THE LOVE BACK? SO AS PROCTOR STREET IS A MAIN ARTERY AND WHAT WE DID RESEARCH IN THE 1960S, SEVENTIES, AND IN THE FIFTIES THAT IT WAS ALIVE AND THRIVING.
SO WHAT WE DECIDED WAS TO BRING THE BEAUTY BACK.
THE IDEA WAS FOR MY STUDENTS TO ACTUALLY DESIGN, THEY WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE PHASES OF SDS, DDS, AND CDS, UM, WHICH IS SCHEMATIC DESIGN, DESIGN DEVELOPMENT, AND ONE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS THAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU TO ACTUALLY GIVE A GREAT VIEW OF WHAT IT COULD BE.
HOW ARE YOU GUYS TODAY? THAT'S GREAT.
I AM REPRESENTING MEMORIAL NIGHT GRACE CENTER PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE AND THE PROJECTS.
THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE DESIGNED IS SPECIFICALLY FOR PROCTOR STREET.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEE OUR CITY GROW AND PROCTOR STREET IS A GREAT BEGINNING TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
MY NAME IS JAMARI HINTON AND I TAKE PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE REPRESENTING MEMORIAL NINTH GRADE CENTER.
UM, I JOINED THIS CLASS BECAUSE ARCHITECTURE IS ESSENTIAL TO ANY THRIVING ENVIRONMENT.
I FEEL THAT OUR PROJECTS CAN HELP PORT ARTHUR BECOME BETTER THAN BEFORE, ESPECIALLY PORT ARTHUR PROCTOR STREET DUE TO THE LACK OF HOUSING.
HI, MY NAME IS BRIANNA K AND I GO TO MEMORIAL NINTH GRADE ACADEMY.
I AM HERE IN THE PRINCIPAL ARCHITECTURE CLASS.
MY PROJECT IS HERE TO BECOME A OFFICIAL VISION OF PROCTOR STREET IN PORTATO, TEXAS.
I'M HERE TO REPRESENT MEMORIAL NINTH GRADE CENTER.
SO, UM, I CREATED MY HOUSE OUT OF CREATIVE THINKING AND I WANT PROCTOR TO PROCTOR STREET TO BE MORE ALIVE, TO COME MORE ALIVE.
AND I WOULD HOPE LIKE OUR HOUSES BECOME LIKE THERE AND THE PEOPLE WHO MOVE INTO THEM LOVE THEM.
[00:25:02]
MY NAME IS JULIA BAILEY AND I AM A STUDENT AT MEMORIAL NINTH GRADE CAMPUS.
UM, ACTUALLY ARCHITECTURE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST CLASSES I PICKED BECAUSE OF MY CREATIVENESS.
AND IT'S GIVEN ME A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS I LIKE TO DO.
AND I ALSO THANK MS. GORDON FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND SHOW OUR FLOOR PLANS AND WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE CITY.
AND I THANK YOU GUYS SO, SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, YEAH, Y'ALL COULD SEE IT IF Y'ALL WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T WANNA SAY TOO MUCH, BUT THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS REAGAN HARRIS AND I'M ALSO A STUDENT AT MEMORIAL NINTH GRADE ACADEMY.
UM, AS A STUDENT OF PRINCIPALS OF ARCHITECTURE, I'VE LEARNED TO DESIGN AND GO STRUCTURE HAND IN, AND TODAY I'M JUST HAPPY TO SHOW WORK AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
I'M IN NINTH GRADE AT MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS PROJECT IS CENTER AROUND, UM, PROCTOR STREET.
AS A FUTURE DESIGNER, I WOULD WANT TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR BELOVED FOR ARTHUR.
I HOPE THAT OUR DESIGN COULD COME TRUE ONE DAY.
DO Y'ALL WANT TO JUST TELL US ABOUT THE FLOOR PLANS AND THEN WHENEVER PEOPLE ARE READY THEY CAN LOOK AT IT.
DID YOU WANT HOLD IT UP OR HOLD IT? YEAH, HOLD IT UP.
AND WE'LL START WITH MS. BAILEY, WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING, COULD YOU PLEASE GRAB THE MICROPHONE SO THAT GALLERY CAN HEAR YOU? YES MA'AM.
WE CAN TURN IT BOTH WAYS SO THE PEOPLE CAN SEE IT.
UM, WELL THIS IDEA, WELL, I CAME UP WITH THIS FLOOR PLAN BY, YOU KNOW, EVERYDAY LIVING.
I'VE USED SOME INSPIRATIONS FROM MY, YOU KNOW, LIVING SITU, NOT LIVING SITUATION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT Y'ALL WANNA CONSIDER, BUT I CONSIDER IT, YOU KNOW, TWO HARD GARAGES.
WELL, TWO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, UM, IT'S A THREE BED, THREE BATH.
THERE'S AN OFFICE, A WASHING ROOM THAT YOU CAN ENTER FROM THE GARAGE.
IT'S AN OPEN CONCEPT, LIVING ROOM AND KITCHEN.
AND I LIKE THAT IDEA BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE IT'S IN A MORE INVITING ENVIRONMENT AND IT'S, UM, GOOD FOR EVENTS, YOU KNOW, SOCIALIZING WITH EACH OTHER AND IT GIVES, YOU KNOW, FULL, I MEAN, IT GIVES GOOD LIGHTING, YOU KNOW.
ANYWAY, THEN WE HAVE OUR DINING ROOM TO THE LEFT.
UH, WE HAVE OUR, UH, DINING ROOM TO THE LEFT OF IT.
AND YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST AN OPEN CONCEPT, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S GOOD FOR ALL AGES AND CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, ELDERS, YOU KNOW TOO MUCH.
MY GRANDMA, I WAS USING MY GRANDMA'S INSPIRATION.
OH, MY GRANDMA, SHE AIN'T GONNA SEE THIS.
YES, SHE, BUT YOU KNOW, I JUST USE, YOU KNOW, CRITICAL THINKING WORD.
BUT ACTUALLY THIS WAS MY FIRST PROJECT WHEN I TRANSFERRED OVER, SO I ACTUALLY THINK I DID PRETTY GOOD FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU KNOW.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE A BRIANNA KEEL AND THEN REAGAN.
MY NAME IS BRIANNA KE AND THIS IS MY FLOOR PLAN.
WE NAMED IT ROOMMATES BECAUSE IT, IT IS A TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATH WITH, UM, UH, OFFICE SPACE IN THE LIVING ROOM.
AND IT'S ALSO A KITCHEN, A TWO CAR GARAGE AND A PRETTY SPACIOUS LIVING ROOM.
I'M REAGAN HARRIS AND YOU CAN HAVE IT LIKE THAT.
AND ONE OF MY HOUSES IS, UH, IN A CATEGORY OF ALL OF US.
UH, I HAVE A TWO CAR GARAGE, UH, MY WASHER AND DRYER ON THE SIDE.
I HAVE A FOUR BEDROOM, ACTUALLY.
SO GOOD LIVING SPACE FOR LIKE A SOMEWHAT BIG FAMILY.
AND I ALSO HAVE A, UM, OFFICE AND WALK-IN CLOSETS AND WALK-IN BATHROOMS AND YEAH,
[00:30:01]
THAT'S ABOUT IT.OH, AND WE ALSO HAVE A JACK IN JAIL BATHROOM, UH, UP TO THE LEFT AND YEAH.
OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE A CARLY AND THEN LINE.
UM, SO HERE I DESIGNED THIS HOUSE.
UM, I GOT THE IDEA FROM MY CHILDHOOD HOUSE, BUT IT'S LIKE SIMILAR BUT NOT ALIKE.
SO, UM, RIGHT HERE WE HAVE TWO STANDARD SIZE BEDROOMS, ONE MASTER, ONE STUDY.
WE HAVE A FORER, LIKE WHEN YOU WALK IN.
AND THEN WE HAVE A POWDER ROOM AND, UM, A STORAGE CLOSET.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE LIVING ROOM.
UM, WE HAVE A MASTER BATHROOM, UH, A KITCHEN, TWO CAR GARAGE, LAUNDRY ROOM, AND, UH, ANOTHER STORAGE ROOM.
UM, I LOVE WHAT IT CAME OUT TO BE.
WHENEVER I WAS FIRST DESIGNING IT, I WAS KIND OF QUESTIONING MYSELF.
I WAS LIKE, UM, I THINK IT'S GONNA COME OUT CRICKET.
SO, UM,
AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S VERY COZY HERE AND I LIKE HOPE TO SEE IT COME.
I HAVE A TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATH, AND A TWO CAR, TWO CAR GARAGE.
SO WHEN YOU WALK IN HERE THROUGH FOYER, YOU HAVE THE DINING ROOM TABLE, THE BA IN THE BATHROOM.
AND RIGHT HERE I HAVE A TWO CAR GARAGE AND A, A NICE, A BIG KITCHEN WITH AN ISLAND.
AND RIGHT HERE I HAVE A BIG NICE LITTLE ROOM FOR ALL MY FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS TO COME IN AND VISIT.
AND, AND OVER HERE I HAVE A BIG NIGHT, UM, MASTER BATHROOM WITH A WALK-IN CLOSET AND A WALK-IN, UM, BATHROOM.
AND RIGHT HERE IS MY GUEST BEDROOM.
AND I HAVE TWO GUEST BEDROOMS ACTUALLY, AND AN OFFICE.
I CANNOT TELL YOU GUYS HOW PROUD I AM OF YOU JUST TO SEE YOUR DESIGNS COME THROUGH, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU DID IT ON PAPER.
BUT TO ACTUALLY SEE IT, I AM LIKE A PROUD MAMA, BUT I'M MORE PROUD THAT YOU GUYS ARE MY STUDENTS AND I HAVE WATCHED YOU GROW.
I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO SEE ALL WHAT YOU HAVE AND EXPOSURE.
I THINK IT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT.
I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GONNA GO OFF AND DO GREAT BIG THINGS, BUT ALWAYS COME BACK HOME AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN ALSO DO FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS WHY THIS PROJECT IS SO IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE HERE.
AND, AND AS, AND I LOOK AROUND IN THE ROOM AND I THINK I SAW MISS GAYLE FORD COMING IN.
HER DAD TAUGHT THIS AT LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL 50, 60 YEARS AGO.
BUT IT WAS ON THE BOYS IN THE CLASS.
I MEAN, I NEVER TOOK IT 'CAUSE I WENT TO MUSIC, BUT OKAY, THAT WAS ONLY, I SAID DRAFTSMAN RIGHT HERE.
NOW GRADUATED FROM PRAIRIE VIEW.
WHO TOOK THOSE CLASSES RIGHT THERE? MR. WOFF? LIKE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY GIRLS IN THOSE CLASSES, MAN.
OKAY, NOW WE SEE HOW THE COIN HAS FLIPPED AND I'M LIKE, BUT IT'S NO GUYS, I DON'T KNOW GUYS THAT AREN'T INTERESTED IN IT OR YEAH, BUT YOU ALL ARE PHENOMENAL BECAUSE YOU ARE FEMALES IN THE NINTH GRADE.
NOW SHE'S GOING TO GET READY TO TEACH YOU SOMETHING.
ALL I ASKED HER ABOUT, I GUESS IN THE NEXT SEMESTER OR SOMETHING, IF YOU ALL HAD THE SPECS, BECAUSE THE SPEC, THE SPECS ARE GOING TO ALL GONNA SPECIFY WHERE THE PIPES WOULD GO AWAY, THE ELECTRICITY, ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU ARE AN ARCHITECT, YOU'RE GOING HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TELL THEM HOW, DIG DOWN.
SO Y'ALL CAN ARGUE WITH THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THE DRAINAGE IS NOT RIGHT AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS, OKAY? BUT ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO BE A PART OF WHAT YOUR LIVES TO BE.
I MEAN, I CONGRATULATE YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE PATIENCE.
I SEE EVEN THE SILVER ENGINEERS BECAUSE I, I SEE BRIDGES OR WALKWAYS OR SOMETHING THAT'S OVER HERE THAT YOU ALL HAVE DESIGNED AS WELL.
SO WE, WE GONNA BE ABLE TO KEEP IT HERE.
SO WHEN, AT ANY TIME, AT SOME TIME WHEN THE OTHERS WHO ARE HERE, I KNOW IF PARENTS ARE HERE,
[00:35:01]
Y'ALL, Y'ALL PARENTS, Y'ALL STAND UP Y HERE, Y'ALL STAND UP.PARENTS, Y'ALL PARENTS, Y'ALL STAND UP.
I MEAN, YOU'D BE PROUD GRANDPARENTS.
IF, IF SOMEBODY'S YOUNG, COME ON.
I KNOW YOU, YOU GREW UP, YOU, YOU HAVE ALL DRESSED UP FOR THAT.
AND IT'S A BLESSING TO SEE THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS AND THE COMMUNITIES AROUND AMERICA THAT NO ONE TALKS ABOUT THIS.
SO NEWS PEOPLE, NOT THAT HUMBUG THIS WHAT YOU OUGHT TO REPORT TODAY.
NO, THIS WHAT YOU OUGHT TO REPORT TODAY.
I KNOW YOU CAN'T TELL YOUR PRODUCERS, BUT YOU SEE THIS IS THE FUTURE AND I WISH YOU ALL COULD STAY BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA COME UP A LITTLE LATER ON.
IT'S IRONIC THAT YOU WOULD COME AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING, A GATEWAY.
I'M GONNA LEAVE IT ALONE BECAUSE I'M PREACHING NOW AND MY ATTORNEY TELLING ME TO SHUT UP.
SO IT'S, IT'S YOUR FAULT, OKAY? YEAH.
TELL DR. MURPHY THAT YOU, HEY, YOU ALREADY MADE HER SCHOOL PROUD TODAY.
THE NINTH GRADE CENTER IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, RIGHT? P-A-I-S-D.
HOW Y'ALL SAY THAT? Y'ALL ROCK ME.
Y'ALL GOT SOMETHING FOR HIM? READY? YES, SIR.
MRS. BECK, I JUST WANNA REITERATE SOMETHING THAT YOUR TEACHER SAID BECAUSE IT, IT APPLIES TO MY LIFE.
OKAY? I KNOW A LOT OF YOU WILL, WILL MAYBE LEAVE TO GO OFF TO COLLEGE AND START YOUR CAREERS ELSEWHERE, BUT REALLY THINK ABOUT COMING BACK TO PORT ARTHUR.
WE NEED TALENT LIKE THIS IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO CONSIDER COMING BACK AND DOING THESE KIND OF PROJECTS TO BETTER OUR CITY.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DID.
I LEFT WHEN I WAS YOUNG, WENT TO LAW SCHOOL OUT OF TOWN, STARTED MY CAREER AND I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M GONNA GO BACK HOME.
I'VE BEEN BACK FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.
SO PLEASE, PLEASE KEEP THAT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MINDS.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER GOING INTO A CAREER AS AN ARCHITECT.
APPRECIATE Y'ALL PRESENTATION AND YOU, YOU'RE GETTING AN EARLY START.
SO WHEN YOU COME OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, YOU'RE READY TO, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, CORPORATE AMERICA IS WAITING ON YOU ALL.
YOU HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE IN CORPORATE AMERICA.
I SPENT 45 YEARS IN CORPORATE AMERICA.
YOUR BACKGROUND, YOUR DISCIPLINE IS GOING TO PAY YOU DIVIDENDS IN THE FUTURE.
OKAY, MR. FRANK, I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND JUST WANT TO, UM, TELL YOU, STAY THE COURSE, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
JUST KEEP ROCKING, KEEP GOING.
UH, MAYOR PROAM, LADIES, UH, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE IN SPEAKING WITH SOME OF YOU GUYS EARLIER ABOUT YOUR PROJECTS.
IT'S AMAZING THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND IT MAKES PORT ARTHUR PROUD.
WE'RE TRYING TO REHAB AND, UH, DO BETTER IN PORT ARTHUR.
AND YOU GUYS ARE TESTIMONY THAT NINTH GRADERS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NINTH GRADERS THAT ARE OUT THERE WITH THIS TYPE OF MENTALITY AND THOUGHT PROCESS.
I CONGRATULATE YOU GUYS AND GOOD LUCK IN YOUR ENDEAVORS.
YEAH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF MEETING THIS YOUNG LADIES EARLIER THIS MORNING BEFORE COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THIS IS THE PROMISE THAT I MADE TO THEM.
I'M PURSUING A GRANT OF SOME $20 MILLION FOR PROCTOR STREET AND PROCTOR STREET EXTENSION IMPROVEMENT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS REPLACE THE BRIDGE ON PROCTOR STREET EXTENSION.
SO I'M, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO BE PART OF THE DESIGN TEAM FOR THE, THE PROCTOR STREET EXTENSION BRIDGE.
AND, AND IF I'M STILL YOUR CITY MANAGER, THEN YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE BEING PLACED ON THE PLAQUE AND YOUR PICTURES ARE BEING PLACED THERE WHEN WE OPEN THAT BRIDGE, I PROMISE THAT TO YOU.
YOU SPOKE WITH AUTHORITY AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO CONTINUE TO WALK WITH.
GOD HAS GIVEN YOU SOMETHING SPECIAL.
SO PLEASE TAKE ALL OF THE ADVANTAGES OF THESE SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOUR TEACHER AND THE SCHOOL IS, UM, IS MAKING AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
I HEARD ONE YOUNG LADY RIGHT HERE WITH A BLACK SWEATER ON.
SHE SAID, MY GOAL, I CAME HERE TODAY BECAUSE MY GOAL WAS TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL.
[00:40:01]
I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID.SO WE SHOULD NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY.
WE SHOULD NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR POURING INTO YOURSELVES ENOUGH TO WANT TO SHARE IT WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
WE CAN I GET THE PICTURE TOGETHER? YES MA'AM.
YOU CAN COME AND GET IN THE PICTURE AND, AND MISS CHERYL SEND IT TO YOU.
COME ON UP JUST FOR THE RECORD.
SHE SAID, I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW WE DO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN.
DID WE? AND YOU KNOW WHAT, NOW, AT ONE TIME PRAIRIE VIEW DID HAVE SOME TYPE OF SUMMER PROGRAM.
I ACTUALLY WENT TO THAT SUMMER PROGRAM.
I DON'T KNOW WHO CALLED DOWN THERE, BUT CALLED SOMEBODY DOWN THERE.
SEE YOU CALLED THEM AND WORRY THEM.
AND THEN THEY WOULD GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION FOR YOUR CHILD TO BE A PART OF A PROGRAM THAT'S ALREADY A GRANTED PROGRAM, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
AND YOUR LADIES KEEP YOUR VALUES OUT.
YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR CREATIVITY.
OKAY? AND, BUT SEE, THE MANAGER SAID Y'ALL THAT REALLY HELP AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOU GONNA MOVE FOR A BREAK? UH, MR.
UH, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING SO NICE.
AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO JUST DEVIATE AND DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE, FOOTBALL TEAM AND THOSE YOUNG FOLK WITH THAT, WITH THAT TYPE PROGRAM THERE, AND THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S MEANINGFUL.
NOW WE'LL GO BACK TO THE NATURAL FLOW OF OUR AGENDA.
AND WE ARE AT PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS.
AM I CORRECT? UH, CITY SECRETARY.
[III.A.(1) Melissa Charlot, Jeanette Price And Conswella Bates Regarding An Update And Solutions To The Paratransit Cancellation]
WE HAVE IS MS. MELISSA CHARLOTTE, UH, JEANETTE PRICE AND, UH, MS. CONSWELL BATES REGARDING AN UPDATE AND SOLUTIONS TO THE PARATRANSIT, UH, CANCELLATION.AND WHEN YOU BEGIN, PLEASE UH, STATE YOUR NAME AND, AND YOUR ADDRESS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE AGAIN TODAY.
TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS MYSELF AND FOR ME TO HAVE A VOICE.
I WANNA GIVE Y'ALL AN EXPERIENCE, A MELISSA EXPERIENCE.
I HAVE THE AMOUNT OF VISION THAT IF YOU WERE TO LOOK INTO
[00:45:01]
A MCDONALD'S STRAW, THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF VISION I HAVE IN BOTH OF MY EYES.COMBINED LATELY, I HAVE REALLY BEEN GOING THROUGH IT BECAUSE OF THE PARATRANSIT SERVICES.
ME NOT BEING ABLE TO RIDE THE PARATRANSIT ANYMORE.
I HAVE ADJUSTED TO MY VISION LOSS.
I HAVE, UM, ACQUIRED ALL THE ACCOMMODATION AND TRAININGS THAT I NEED TO LIVE AN INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLE.
AND IT'S LIKE, AS SOON AS I WAS JUST EMBRACING EVERYTHING THAT I HAD TO EMBRACE IN LIFE AS IT COMES TO MY GRADUAL DECREASE OF VISION LOSS, MY TRANSPORTATION GOT TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.
THAT WAS LIKE A SLAP IN MY FACE AND A PUNCH IN MY GUT.
I HAVE BEEN WALKING AROUND WITH ANXIETIES AND STRESSED OUT, THROWING UP BECAUSE OF THE SIMPLE FACT I CANNOT GET OUT THE HOUSE ANYMORE.
IT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT ME, IT AFFECTS MY GUIDE DOG AS WELL.
HE'S PACING AROUND THE FLOOR BECAUSE HE'S BORED, BECAUSE WE'RE STUCK AND WE'RE BOUND INTO OUR HOME.
PEOPLE PROBABLY LOOK AT ME AND THINK, I HAVE ALL THIS HELP IN THE WORLD TO GET OUT AND TO DO THE THINGS THAT I NEED TO DO.
BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS THERE FOR YOU UNTIL YOU REALLY NEED PEOPLE.
I'VE BEEN REACHING OUT TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND OF COURSE EVERYBODY HAVE THEIR OWN LIVES THAT THEY HAVE TO DO.
SO IMAGINE HOW THAT MAKES ME FEEL INSIDE WHEN I'M BEING TOLD THAT, YEAH, I MAY COME OR I DON'T.
THAT PUTS ME ALL OVER INTO MY SEVEN, UH, STAGES OF GRIEF WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, LOSING YOUR SIGHT.
SO BASICALLY I'M SAYING, I'M JUST SAYING THAT I JUST WANT YOU TO PUT YOURSELF INTO MY SHOES 'CAUSE IT'S ME TODAY.
IT COULD BE YOU OR ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS TOMORROW.
AND I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO HELP ME TO BE ABLE TO GET MY PARATRANSIT SERVICES BACK BECAUSE I NEED THOSE SO I COULD BE A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN.
NOW I AM IN SCHOOL NOW, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN ONCE I GRADUATE AND GET MY CERTIFICATION, I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO WORK BECAUSE I'M NOT GONNA HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION.
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO LOOK FOR A JOB BECAUSE I'M NOT GONNA HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION, THE JOB THAT I AM, UM, GOING TO ACQUIRE ONCE I ATTAIN MY CERTIFICATION.
IT IS IN PERSON, IT IS NOT ON ONLINE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO PUT YOURSELF IN MY SHOES AND PLEASE GIVE ME A CHANCE TO BECOME A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AGAIN.
PULL THE MIC OFF FOR CAN YOU PULL IT UP FOR I'LL HOLD IT.
I'M STANDING HERE WITH MY BLIND SISTER, MELISSA CHARLOTTE, AS SHE FIGHT FOR HER RIGHTS AS WELL AS HER INDEPENDENCE, SPECIAL TRANSIT, SPECIAL TRANSIT SERVICES.
CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING IN AND OUT.
SPECIAL TRANSIT SERVICES IS A VITAL RESOURCE THAT IS NEEDED WITHIN THE DISABLED COMMUNITY.
IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS AS WELL AS GIVE US OPPORTUNITIES TO BE INDEPENDENT, EXCUSE ME, GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INDEPENDENT WITHOUT PUTTING BURDENS ON OTHERS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON THIS TRANSPORTATION, BUT DUE TO LACK OF OPTIONS, THAT IS THE ONLY RESOURCE THAT IS GIVEN TO THEM.
UM, THERE WITHOUT THIS RESOURCE, HEALTH RISK OCCURS DUE TO ISOLATION, DEPRESSION, AND EVEN LONELINESS.
HOPEFULLY VERY SOON THERE WILL BE A SOLUTION THAT COME ABOUT WHERE MS. CHARLOTTE, AS WELL AS OTHERS, UM, BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
SO THE, SHE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE THE THIRD, THE THIRD INDIVIDUAL WAS NOT HERE.
SHE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE, SHE, SHE DIDN'T MAKE IT.
AND WE, UH, AND I'M SAYING WE AS, AS A COUNCIL, WE AS A CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR AND I, AS THE MAYOR, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND YOUR PLIGHT.
[00:50:01]
I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE ARE BEING INSENSITIVE TO WHAT YOUR NEED IS OR YOUR NEEDS ARE.AND IT'S NOT ONLY IN THE, UH, SITE CHALLENGE COMMUNITY, BUT CHALLENGED THE COMMUNITY.
BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WITH SOME HEALTH CHALLENGES THAT ACTUALLY, UH, HAVE BEEN AFFECTED ADVERSELY, IF YOU WILL, BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WHAT THE RULE HAS BEEN AS FAR AS OUR TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR IS CONCERNED.
NOW, WHAT HE HAS, AND HE ACTUALLY, AND I THOUGHT I BROUGHT THE DOCUMENT UP HERE WITH ME, BUT I EVIDENTLY LEFT IT ON MY DESK.
IT'S, AND I THINK IT'S WHAT WE HAD SPOKEN WITH YOU ABOUT BEFORE.
UH, I'VE SPOKEN WITH TWO, TWO OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED IT'S DOLLAR RIDE.
NOW, I THINK THE DOLLAR RIDE PROGRAM YOU ON JULIAN STREET, BECAUSE I LOOKED AT YOURS PERSONALLY ON JULIAN STREET, ACTUAL PICKUP SPOT FROM WHAT THE GPS TOLD ME ON YESTERDAY WAS ABOUT A BLOCK FROM YOUR HOME ON JULIAN STREET BECAUSE RAY AVENUE IS RIGHT, I GUESS TO BE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT TO TO, TO, YOU KNOW, WALKING OUT OF YOUR, YOUR, UH, RESIDENCE AND THE DOLLAR RIDE CAN PICK YOU UP.
IF YOU, LEMME FINISH THE DOLLAR RIDE WOULD BE ABLE TO PICK YOU UP AT RAY, BRING YOU TO THE CENTRAL TRANSFER STATION, WHICH IS THE LIBRARY.
YOU CAN THEN HAVE PARATRANSIT TO PICK YOU UP AT THAT LOCATION AND BRING YOU ANYWHERE WITHIN THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF OUR NORMAL BUS ROUTE.
THEY AS LONG AND YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, YOU PREARRANGE THAT AND THEY WOULD BE THERE TO PICK YOU UP OR YOU CAN THEN GET, UH, YOU KNOW, DESCEND FROM THE DOLLAR RIDE OF MOBILE AND GET ON THE NORM, UH, UH, A TRANSIT, REGULAR TRANSIT BUS AND GO TO AN AREA THAT IF, IF THAT IS WHERE YOU WOULD PREFER AT THIS, AT THIS JUNCTURE, THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER UNTIL WE COULD FIND OUT EVEN BETTER CLARIFICATION AS TO PUTTING THIS TOGETHER OR EVEN IF THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF RETURNING THE WAY IT WAS.
BUT FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN BRIEFED ON, THERE IS A CERTAIN CIRCUMFERENCE THAT OUR NORMAL BUS ROUTES ACTUALLY HAVE TO COVER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THEN WE HAVE THE DOLLARIDE AREAS AND THE DOLLARIDE AREAS HAVE A SPECIFIC CIRCUMFERENCE FOR, FOR, FOR, FOR THAT AREA.
JUST A MOMENT, I'M GONNA LET YOU TALK AND, AND WE MUST COMPLY WITH THOSE.
NOW MY COLLEAGUE AT ONE POINT SAID, WELL IF WE COULD EXPAND THE TAR, EXPAND THE, UH, JURISDICTIONS, WHICH SOUND SOUNDS LIKE THE GREAT IS IDEA AND A GREAT WAY TO ALLEVIATE WHAT HAS GONE ON.
HOWEVER, IF WE EXPAND THE TERRITORIES, WE NOW RUN IN AS ADMINISTRATORS OF TRANSIT FOR CITIZENS.
WE NOW HAVE ENLARGED THE AREA.
SO WE WOULD NOW BE IN, REALLY, WE WOULD BE FORCED TO BUY MORE BUSES.
WE WOULD BE FORCED TO HIRE MORE DRIVERS.
WE WOULD BE FORCED TO HAVE OTHER ROUTES ADDED IF WE EXPAND THE TERRITORIES.
NOW ALL OF THIS IS THE BRIEFINGS THAT I'VE GOTTEN.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU, I EVEN SPOKE WITH INDIVIDUALS IN WASHINGTON DC CONCERNING THIS TWO WEEKS AGO.
MM-HMM,
AND WHAT I WAS ASSURED BY THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WAS THAT IF WE WERE PROVIDING THE SERVICES, AS I HAD EXPLAINED
[00:55:01]
WITH THE PARATRANSIT, GOING WITHIN THE NORMAL CIRCUMFERENCE OR AREA OF OUR NORMAL BUS ROUTES AND THE ABILITY AND AVAILABILITY OF THE DOLLAR IN DIFFERENT ZONES, I THINK THAT'S THE TERM THAT WAS USED, THAT WE WERE IN COMPLIANCE.AND BECAUSE AT THIS JUNCTURE, UNTIL WE STUDIED THIS AS A COUNCIL AND GET ALL OF THE LEGAL ADVICE THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN, IF WE WERE JUST ABRUPTLY, EN LARGE OUR TERRITORY, THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPONENTS THAT WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY BE PREPARED TO FINANCIALLY AS WELL AS HUMANLY, UH, PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN.
BUT AT THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTURE TODAY, ON THE 30TH OF JANUARY, WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU AND OTHERS IS THE DOLLAR RIDE AND THE DOLLAR RIDE WOULD PICK YOU UP AT THE SPECIFIED LOCATIONS, BRING YOU TO THE CENTRAL TRANSFER LOCATIONS AGAIN, IF YOU WOULD SCHEDULE PARATRANSIT, BECAUSE PARATRANSIT CAN THEN PICK YOU UP AT THAT CENTRAL LOCATION AND THEN GET YOU TO ANOTHER LOCATION.
AS LONG AS IT IS WITHIN THE, UH, THE AREA THAT THE, THAT THE, UH, TRANSIT AUTHORITY SAYS THAT WE CAN TRAVEL IN, THAT THAT IS THE OPTION THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU, MA'AM.
AND TO OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN ILL AFFECTED BY WHAT YOU RECEIVED.
AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THE SHOCK, I CAN UNDERSTAND THE ANXIETY.
I, I I, I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DESCRIBED ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS ON THIS, BUT IF YOU WILL, IF YOU COULD JUST FOR ONE SECOND TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE ARE NOT TRYING TO DO ANYTHING AND WE ARE, BUT WE'VE GOT TO SAY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE LAW, AND IF WE HAVE PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE TELLING US THIS IS WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO UNTIL WE CAN FIND AN, AN ENTIRE BETTER WAY.
THE BIGGEST PRAYER WOULD BE IS IF WE EXPANDED THE TERRITORIES THAT WE WOULD GET THE FINANCING THAT'S NECESSARY TO PURCHASE THE OTHER BUSES AND ALSO HAVE THE PERSONNEL, WHICH WOULD BE, UH, AN ENCUMBRANCE RIGHT NOW THAT I DON'T THINK WOULD ACTUALLY FIT WITH WHAT, HOW WE ARE MOVING RIGHT NOW.
I JUST WANT TO CAUTION THE COUNCIL, UH, THAT THIS IS A SPEAKER PRESENTATION AND THEN I WOULD NOT, UH, WOULD ASK THAT WE NOT GO INTO ANY POLICIES LAW OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE SOMETHING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU ALL AS WELL.
UM, BUT WE ARE HAVING A MEETING, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED YESTERDAY WITH, UM, THE FTA AND THOSE OFFICIALS TO KIND OF ADDRESS THIS.
AND UH, IT WIND UP BEING PUSHED TO TOMORROW MORNING.
SO IT IS MY HOPE THAT AFTER WE MEET WITH THEM, UM, 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH YOU, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE, WE UNDERSTAND THE DEPARTMENT'S CONCERNS AND AFTER WE MEET WITH THEM AND THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT TOMORROW, WE'LL YEAH, WE'LL HAVE SOME.
SO HOPEFULLY BY TOMORROW WE'LL HAVE SOME BETTER INFORMATION THAT THAT'S GOOD AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE THE RIGHT POLICY DECISION AFTER WE GET THAT.
AND, AND THAT MEETING IS NOW SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW.
I WAS PRAYING, I WAS HOPING THAT IT WOULD BE TODAY, BUT THERE WAS A CONFLICT YESTERDAY, SO IT WILL BE TOMORROW MORNING.
SO, BUT AS OF TODAY, WHAT I'VE SAID IS THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.
AND I SAID IT TODAY, JANUARY THE 30TH.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER TODAY.
COULD JUST GO, KINDA GO TO THE MIC.
WHAT I HAD WANTED TO SAY WAS, YOU HAD BEEN OFFERED ME THE DOLLAR RIDE.
IF THAT WAS A GREAT OPTION FOR ME, I WOULD'VE JUMPED ON IT LIKE IT WAS NO, TOMORROW.
IT'S A REASON THAT I RIDE THE PAIR OF TRAINS AND NOW IF THE DOLLAR RIDE CAN COME DOOR TO DOOR, OF COURSE I GET ON IT.
THAT COULD BE AN OPTION FOR ME.
BUT THE DOLLAR RIDE DOES NOT COME DOOR TO DOOR.
THE DOLLAR RIDE GOES CURVE TO CURVE.
IN REFERENCE TO THIS, WHEN WE ALL TALKED ABOUT IT, I THOUGHT WE WERE LOOKING FOR OPTIONS.
WHAT I'M HEARING IS EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD IN PLACE WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
[01:00:02]
OKAY? UH, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE.LET'S, LET'S NOT CONCENTRATE ON JUST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKING CARE OF CITIZENS.
OKAY? IT'S NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE IMPACTED.
I'M SORRY, IF YOU DON'T MIND ME TELLING YOU, IT'S MORE THAN THE FIVE.
VERY MANY MORE THAN THE FIVE, OKAY? YEP.
EVEN IF IT'S, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT IN LATER ON.
NO, IT'S VERY MANY MORE THAN THE FIVE.
EVEN IF IT'S MORE THAN FIVE, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT POSSIBLE WAYS OF DOING THIS.
AND EVEN IF WE HAVE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES NECESSARY, WE NEED TO DO IT, YOU KNOW, THE DOLLAR RIGHT? SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA.
BUT FOR SOMEBODY WITH DISABILITIES AND IT'S RAINING OR IT'S COLD, IT DOESN'T EVEN MEET THE COMMON SENSE TEST.
WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SEND MONEY TO PORT ARTHUR FOR IT TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO DISABLED PEOPLE, IT DON'T DO IT BY AREAS.
SO IF WE CANNOT SERVE THE AREA WITH WHAT THEY GIVE US, THEN WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SO I HEAR ALL THIS ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT WHAT I WANT TO HEAR IS WHAT ARE POSSIBLE WAYS WE COULD DO THIS? 'CAUSE LIKE I SAID, MY BIGGEST CONCERN ABOUT THIS DOLLAR RIDE IS WEATHER.
YOU GOT A DISABLED PERSON TRYING TO GET TO ANOTHER BLOCK A AND WEATHER, IT DOESN'T MEET THE COMMON SENSE TEST.
IT'D BE HARD JUST FOR SOMEBODY WITHOUT A DISABILITY TO TRY TO GO SOMEWHERE IN ANOTHER BLOCK.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED, WE GONNA DISCUSS IT.
BUT LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT, I'M NOT THOROUGHLY CONVINCED THAT THE WAY TO GO IS TO JUST DEPEND, DEPEND ON FEDERAL MONEY.
OKAY? WE MAY HAVE TO SPEND SOME MONEY, BUT WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN FEASIBLE.
LIKE I SAID, YOU WANT THEM TO WALK, WALK TWO BLOCKS OR ONE BLOCK IN THE RAIN AND THEY DISABLED.
WE GOT TO DO BETTER THAN THAT.
OKAY? COME COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES.
UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION AND EVERYTHING.
CITY MANAGER, IF IT TAKES RESOURCES LIKE COUNCILMAN DEUCE SAID, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY AND YOU CAN AMEND THE BUDGET ONLY, ONLY EMERGENCIES, WE CAN DO THAT IF WE NEED MONEY TO FIX THE CONDITION THAT YOU'RE IN UNTIL IT CAN COME INTO COMPLIANCE LATER ON.
BUT THE CITY, WE NEED TO TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR, YOUR WELLBEING IS TAKEN CARE OF.
AND I CONSIDER THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, OKAY? AND ON THE EMERGENCY, IF THE MONEY IS NOT BUDGET ON THE EMERGENCY, THE COUNCIL CAN LEGALLY AMEND THE BUDGET TO MEET Y'ALL ACCOMMODATION.
OKAY? AND WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
OKAY? ANYONE ELSE? I DON'T THAT'S IN ANY LIKE, SO THANK YOU LADIES FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION TODAY.
[III.A.(2) Joe Tant, President Of The Great Port Arthur Chamber Of Commerce Regarding The Partnership With The City Of Port Arthur]
MR. JOE CHANT, WHO IS OUR NEW PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER PORT ARTHUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REGARDING THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.ALSO, MR. TANT ON THE PROMOTION IN YOUR NEW POSITION.
I TELL YOU WHAT, IN NINTH GRADE I WAS MAKING MUD PIES.
I WASN'T DOING ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
AND THAT GOES TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
PORT ARTHUR IS MOVING FORWARD.
THE CHAMBER HAS A VERY LONG STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CITY AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ENGAGED, WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
I'VE HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERY INDIVIDUAL UP HERE.
I HOPE TO HAVE A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CHAMBER IS AVAILABLE NOT ONLY TO OUR CITY LEADERSHIP, BUT TO EVERYBODY IN THE CITY.
HERE'S SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
I WOULD LIKE TO COME BEFORE OUR CITY COUNCIL ONCE A QUARTER AND GIMME A UPDATE.
[01:05:01]
OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, LET UPDATE YOU OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS CHAMBER HAS.I WANNA INVITE YOU EVERY MONTH TO OUR CONTRACTOR GROUP, FEBRUARY 14TH, 9:00 AM CARL PARKER CENTER WHERE YOU CAN HEAR WHAT OUR LOCAL CONTRACTOR HAVE GOT GOING ON.
IT'S A VERY UNIQUE GROUP, A VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER GROUP, AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO HEAR WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE HEARING.
WE ARE GOING TO PUT POOR ARTHUR FIRST.
WE ARE GONNA PUT POOR ARTHUR TO WORK AND THAT IS WHAT YOUR CHAMBER IS ALL ABOUT.
I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR INVITING ME UP HERE.
I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS FOR BEING FRIENDS, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
UH, AND AGAIN, AS I SAID, MR. KENT DID HIS FIRST ANNUAL CHAMBER BANQUET AS CHAIR ABOUT, UH, A WEEK AGO AND HAD A TREMENDOUS, UH, SHOWING AND A GREAT PROGRAM.
AND SO IT MAKES US PROUD OF YOU AND PROUD OF PORT ARTHUR AND PROUD OF THE BOARD THAT THEY DID CONSIDER YOU AND, UH, SUBSEQUENTLY CHOSE YOU TO, UH, CONTINUE WITH US IN PORT ARTHUR IN A VERY FAMILIAR POSITION.
UH, ANYONE ELSE, IF NOT, WE, WE THANK YOU AND, AND YOUR STAFF.
[III.A.(3) Gail Pellum, Phyllis Baker And Gail Castille Of The African American Cultural Society Regarding Upcoming Events]
WE HAVE AS A SPEAKER, MS. GALE PELHAM, MS. PHYLLIS BAKER, AND MS. GALE CASTILE OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE SOCIETY REGARDING UPCOMING EVENTS.GOOD MORNING, STATE, YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
OKAY, SANDRA CASTILE, 83 23 CANDLELIGHT CIRCLE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS 7 7 6 4 2.
AND I HAVE WITH ME PHYLLIS BAKER, 60 16 BUCKNER DRIVE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, AND A OH FIVE 13 STREET
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE THIS MORNING AND GOOD MORNING TO OUR DISTINGUISHED CITY COUNCIL PERSONS, ALL THOSE WHO ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, AS WELL AS OUR PORTER AUTHORS.
WE'RE HERE THIS MORNING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE SOCIETY AND WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER AND WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING.
UM, INITIALLY WE HAVE A POWERPOINT, IF YOU CAN DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE POWERPOINT.
WHERE DO I PUNCH TO GET THE NEXT ONE? THERE IT GO.
UM, INITIALLY WHAT WE ARE, WE'RE A DEDICATED ORGANIZATION.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO PRESERVING, CELEBRATING, AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS ABOUT OUR RICH HERITAGE AS AFRICAN AMERICANS.
AND BASICALLY WHAT WE ARE DOING IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR HISTORY, AND WE'RE MAKING HISTORY RIGHT HERE NOW, TODAY, WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT OUR HISTORY IS GOING TO BE PRESERVED.
WE WORK WITH SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS, MUSEUM OF GULF COAST, SOUTHEAST TEXAS MUSEUM OF GULF, GULF COASTS, AS WELL AS BEAUMONT, UM, HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE ORANGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THEM AS, UM, THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE IN TRYING TO KEEP AND MAINTAIN OUR HISTORICAL INTEGRITY.
WE ALSO ARE A 5 0 1 C3 THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, WE ARE HERE AS A SERVICE ENTITY.
NEXT, WE OFFER A UNIQUE AUTHENTIC LENS, AND THAT IS A POINT OF VIEW.
WE HAVE, UH, GENERATIONS OF FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE PORT ARTHURS.
THAT DATES WAY BACK TO THE 1800.
AND, UH, WE ARE, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT HISTORY, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE HISTORY IS MAINTAINED.
UM, WE ARE, WE HAVE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WITH OUR ESSENTIAL STATE STAKEHOLDERS.
WE ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT PORT ARTHUR, VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT PORT ARTHUR.
AND AS WE HAVE HISTORY, WE'RE MAKING HISTORY AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAKEHOLDERS, OUR CITIZENS, ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS INDUSTRY, HAS AN UNDERSTANDING AND HAS A, A, A POINT OF REFERENCE AND PERSONS TO, UH, TO GO TO, TO ASK IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES OR ANY CONCERNS OR WHAT THE HISTORY OF PORT ARTHUR
[01:10:01]
IS AS FAR AS AMERICAN AT, AS IT RELATES TO AFRICAN AMERICANS AND ALL, UH, ETHNIC GROUPS AND CULTURES.OUR PRIMARY, UH, RESOURCE OF RESEARCHERS AND AURA IS TO BE A PRIMARY SOURCE OF RESEARCHERS AND LOVERS OF HISTORY, HERITAGE, AND CULTURE.
WE PARTNER AGAIN WITH BEAUMONT, AS WELL AS OUR OWN MUSEUM, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR HISTORY IS BEING KEPT AND THAT IT'S BEING KEPT IN A MANNER THAT IS NOT ONLY A FACTUAL, BUT ALSO STORIES OF OUR HISTORY, INDIVIDUAL STORIES OF OUR HISTORY.
AND WE WANT TO PROVIDE OUR YOUTH WITH INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE, AND HISTORY TO COMMUNICATE AND, UH, TRANSFORM OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THAT BASICALLY IS WE ARE GONNA PARTNER WITH OUR ISDS, LOCAL ISDS IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE, OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE ARE PARTNERING WITH SPECIFIC SCHOOLS AS WELL AS TEACHERS, HISTORIANS OF THOSE SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT HISTORY IS BEING KEPT AND ITS INTEGRITY.
OUR PURPOSE, OUR PURPOSE IS THAT AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORICAL AND CULTURE CENTER WILL PROVIDE A PERMANENT HOME FOR HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.
AND RIGHT NOW YOU CAN GO TO THE MUSEUM OF GULF COAST AND SEE A VERY, VERY GOOD OVERVIEW OF ALL OF OUR HISTORY IN THIS AREA, ESPECIALLY OUR INDUSTRIAL HISTORY.
WE WANT TO ALSO INCLUDE AND HAVE A PLACE OF REFERENCE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY WITH HOPES OF INSPIRING TOLERANCE AND APPRECIATION FOR OUR DIFFERENT DIFFERENCES OF EACH OTHER AND SHARED COMMUNITY.
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE CENTER WILL MAINTAIN A GOAL OF STRUCTURE.
I'M CUT OFF OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ACCESS AND REPRESENTATION OF AF OF HISTORICAL AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE AND TRADI TRADITION.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ONCE WE HAVE MADE HISTORY, THAT THAT HISTORY IS CHRONICLED AND THAT IS FROM PAST, PRESENT, AND OUR FUTURE.
AND WE'RE MAKING, AGAIN, HISTORY RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
WHEN THE CULTURE SOCIETY OPENS, VISITORS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS, UM, FROM AROUND THE REGION AND NATION WILL ENTER A DYNAMIC HUG OF ACTIVITY THAT TELLS COMPELLING STORIES AND HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.
AGAIN, WE JUST DON'T WANT TO BE A, A CHRONOLOGICAL, UM, POINT OF HISTORY.
WE WANT TO ALSO INCLUDE STORIES THAT ARE, UH, VERY DEAR TO US.
THE WEST SIDE STORY, THE EAST SIDE STORY, ALL THOSE STORIES THAT, THAT HAVE ENCOMPASSED AND TO, TO WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AND HERE AT I AT THAT CENTER, WE WILL UNDERTAKE RESEARCH, LEARN ABOUT AND EXPERIENCE CULTURAL OBJECTIVES, HIGHLIGHT, UH, THROUGH PERMANENT AND CHANGING EXHIBITIONS, AS WELL AS AN EDUCATIONAL, MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS THAT ENRICH AND INFORM.
WE, UM, HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT AND BLUEPRINTS THAT ARE GOING TO GIVE US THAT ACCESS TO THAT HISTORY AND THAT KNOWLEDGE FOR ALL PEOPLE.
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES, THE CENTER WILL FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND THOSE ARE OUR ORGANIZATIONS, INDUSTRY, UM, THE CITY AS WELL, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, AND CREATE, UH, CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS.
THESE CREATIVE COLLAB COLLABORATIONS SHALL ALIGN WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING AND PROMOTING THE CULTURE BUSINESSES, HERITAGE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE, AND, UM, COMMITTEE COMMUNITIES, INCREASED TOURISM AND ACTIVITIES IN ALL COMMUNITIES.
AS YOU'RE COMING INTO PORT ARTHUR, YOU SEE THE JANICE JOS JOPLIN, UH, BILLBOARDS AND SOME OF THE BILLBOARDS FOR REGION OF GULF COAST AND, UH, THE GULF COAST MUSEUM.
AND WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT AS WELL.
WE WANT TO BE A RESOURCE FOR PORT ARTHUR AND OTHERS COMING INTO PORT ARTHUR VIA TOURISM OR JUST VISITING THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND TO HEAR AND UNDERSTAND AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT WE OFFER AT PORT ARTHUR AS FAR AS, UM, OUR HISTORY, OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY.
I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO PHYLLIS LACEY BAKER RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. CASTILLO.
[01:15:01]
I DON'T WANT YOU, HOW CAN I SAY THIS? I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON WHY WE ARE REALLY HERE.WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT POWERPOINT AND WHAT I THINK WE PROBABLY WOULD LIKE TO DO IS TO MAKE COPIES OF THAT POWERPOINT SO THAT YOU'LL HAVE AN OVERVIEW OF EVERYTHING THAT THE THREE OF US ARE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY.
BECAUSE WE HAVE, THIS IS NOT OUR FIRST TIME COMING HERE, SO ALL OF YOU KNOW WHO WE REPRESENT AND WHAT SOME OF OUR AIMS OR GOALS ARE AS OUR POWERPOINT GIVES YOU MUCH MORE EXPLANATION ABOUT.
BUT TODAY OUR VISIT IS, UM, HOPEFULLY, UM, TO PRESENT TO YOU AN IDEA THAT WE NEED A PLACE TO GROW.
THIS ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN A PART OF PORT ARTHUR SINCE, AND THAT'S MY MY PART TO, TO GIVE YOU FROM THE POWERPOINT IF IT'S, IT IS UP ON THE SLIDE NOW THAT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE SOCIETY HAS, WAS DEVELOPED WAY BACK IN 1984, AND IT'S HAD ITS INCORPORATION AS A 5 0 1 C3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION SINCE 1994.
UH, DID I SAY 84? THAT IT WAS ORGANIZED? YES.
SINCE 1994, WE HAVE BEEN CELEBRATING AND ILLUSTRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND PORT ARTHUR.
EVERYONE HERE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE KWANZA CELEBRATION, THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, THE MANY OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN NATIONALLY THAT WE CELEBRATE.
WE ARE HERE TODAY AS MS. CASTILE WAS PROPOSING TO YOU, THAT WE NEED A LOCATION AND A LOCATION THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IS ONE THAT WE WANTED YOU TO KNOW WE ARE INTERESTED IN.
WE DON'T KNOW YET EXACTLY HOW WE GO ABOUT IT, BUT WE WANTED THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD TO KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT WE NEED.
AND, UM, MOST OF THE EXPLANATION HAS COME FROM WHAT MS. CASTILE HAS ALREADY READ FOR YOU AND, AND EXPLAINED TO YOU AS WELL AS MUCH, MUCH MORE.
I HAVE A LOT HERE I COULD GO ON, BUT SOME OF IT YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT MS. GALE PELHAM, WHO'S STANDING TO MY RIGHT HERE, ESTABLISHED THIS, UH, PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION, UH, MAINLY AROUND JUNETEENTH IN THE BEGINNING, BUT THIS IS 2024 NOW.
AND NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN ADDED TO OUR CALENDAR SINCE THEN, UH, WE HAVE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT WE TOLD YOU ABOUT EARLIER, THE PORT MARKER, CELEBRATING THE SURVIVAL OF OUR ANCESTORS AS THEY CROSS THE MIDDLE PASSAGE TO OUR SHORES HERE.
AND SO, CONSEQUENTLY, UM, THE, UH, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LOCATION WISE WE ARE ASKING YOU FOR, BUT WE IDENTIFIED THERE IS A BUILDING, UH, HERE IN PORT ARTHUR ON WHAT USED TO BE SEVENTH STREET, WHICH IS NOW RANSOM HOWARD BOULEVARD, THAT WAS, UH, NAMED.
AND, UH, IT WAS ONCE PART OF THE PORT ARTHUR LIBRARY SYSTEM FOR THE WEST SIDE WAS NAMED THE MATTHEWS CENTER.
AND I'M SURE THAT IT IS OF SOME BENEFIT NOW, BUT WE REALLY THINK THAT IS A LOCATION THAT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR US TO ESTABLISH UPON FROM WHICH WE COULD WORK.
AND I HAVE A LOT OF, I'M, I'M LOST FROM THE SLIDES BECAUSE I CAN'T REALLY SEE IT THAT WELL.
BUT I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE, UM, PURPOSE.
WHERE AM I? UM, WE FEEL THAT THE CITY SHOULD, UH, BE MORE THAN DELIGHTED AT THE, SOME OF THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE USE OF IT.
IT WILL BE AN INSPIRATION FOR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE, BECAUSE THERE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO EXHIBIT THE WORKS THAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS, UH, AND GIVE THEM AN APPRECIATION OF THE STRUGGLE THAT OUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THROUGH WHO LIVE HERE.
EACH OF US, THERE'S A, UM, A FACEBOOK PAGE THAT'S CALLED WE, UM, UH, SHOP AT, UH, ALFRED'S AND LISTEN TO KJET.
THAT FACEBOOK PAGE IS VISITED, I'M SURE, SEVERAL TIMES A DAY BY ALMOST EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS ANY CONNECTION WITH THAT EXPERIENCE WHATSOEVER.
THAT'S THE ONLY HISTORICAL PLACE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
BUT THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD THOSE EXPERIENCES, WE HUNGER FOR IT.
WE HUNGER FOR THE PRIDE THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS FOR OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN CITIZENS AND HOW, WHERE THEY CAME FROM, THE LEGACY THAT THEY HAD HAS BEEN PASSED ON TO US.
WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT.
AND PRETTY SOON THE PEOPLE IN OUR AGE GROUP WILL BE GONE.
SO WHAT ARE WE GONNA HAVE TO, TO ACTUALLY COMMEMORATE AND TO CELEBRATE? AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
UH, WE, WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT HERE.
TOO MUCH THAT WE COULD GO WITH YOU NOW,
[01:20:01]
BUT WE JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WE'RE INTERESTED IN IT.AND I'M GONNA LET MS. GALE PELHAM CLOSE OUT FOR US AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE.
BECAUSE I'M SPEAKING TO YOU, I COULDN'T STAY ON SCRIPT BECAUSE I, 'CAUSE I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANTED YOU TO FEEL MY PASSION AND, AND THAT WOULD'VE GIVEN ME, TAKEN ME AWAY FROM WHAT I'M REALLY HERE FOR.
BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THIS MORNING, UH, DEFINITELY TIFFANY AND EVERYBODY, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IF WE DON'T DOCUMENT AND LEAVE SOMETHING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION, AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT SHOULD BE DISPLAYED.
YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN WE GO BACK AND WE LOOK LATER, THAT DISPLAY SHOULD BE A PART OF THAT MUSEUM WHEN THEY COME BACK.
AND NOW SHE'S PUT IN 30 YEARS THAT THEY CAN SEE THAT THEY WERE HERE IN THE BEGINNING FROM THE NINTH GRADE.
SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE DO WANT TO DOCUMENT.
WE DO WANT TO LEAVE SOMETHING FOR THAT GENERATION TO COME.
AND WE WENT TO THE MUSEUM, UH, IN BEAUMONT HOW IMPORTANT THOSE THINGS WERE.
THEY HAD THINGS THAT WERE OVER 100 YEARS OLD THAT WAS NEVER MOVED.
THEY LIVED IN THAT HOUSE JUST LIKE IT WAS 100 YEARS AGO.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
WE GOT SO MUCH HISTORY ON THE WEST SIDE AND THAT OUR CHILDREN DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL CAME FROM THE WEST SIDE.
AND THAT HISTORY IS SO IMPORTANT THAT THAT HISTORY GIVES YOU THE NEXT STEP ON WHERE WE MUST GO.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK Y'ALL, AND I'M HOPING YOU, UH, GIVE US SOME SUPPORT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE GONNA START WITH THAT BUILDING.
WE'LL MAKE THAT A MUSEUM BECAUSE AS I SEE DOWNTOWN, IT'S GETTING READY TO TAKE OFF.
WE'RE GONNA GET ONE OF THE BIG SHINY NEW BUILDINGS TOO.
I I DON'T SEE ANY LIGHTS ON, BUT WHAT I'VE GATHERED FROM YOUR PRESENTATION IS THAT THE, UH, JB MATTHEWS CENTER, OR I CALLED IT WAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO WE CALLED IT THE WEST SIDE LIBRARY LIBRARY.
UH, UH, IS, IS, IS, IS, IS A, UH, FACILITY THAT YOU ALL WOULD WANT.
WE WOULD'VE TO WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO FIND OUT FEASIBILITY POSSIBILITY.
AND IF IT CAN HAPPEN, HOW IT CAN HAPPEN, AND THE SUSTAINABILITY.
'CAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO JUST MOVE ON SAYING, OKAY, LET'S LET THEM HAVE IT, AND THEN IT, NO ONE IS THERE TO BE SURE TO BE THE CO AND TO BE SURE THAT THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN THERE.
SO I THINK, I MEAN, YOU, YOU STARTED ON SOMETHING GREAT, I BELIEVE, BUT, UH, THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT AND IT'S A PROCESS.
BUT I APPRECIATE Y'ALL BRINGING IT FORTH TO US.
AND AS WELL AS I KNOW, EACH OF Y'ALL NEVER EVEN TOLD ME ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY, IS BECAUSE AS I SAY, WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T KNOW THE HOW'S.
WE DON'T KNOW THE WHAT'S, BUT WE NEED GUIDANCE.
AND WE, AND AS YOU CAN SEE FROM WHAT ALL THREE OF US SAID, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETING AND, AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER KINDS OF THINGS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOU MENTIONED FOR THE FUTURE, WE JUST WANT A PLACE TO START.
AND GAIL SAID, WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE TO STAY HERE.
WE HOPE WE'LL GROW SO BIG UNTIL WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING, SOME OTHER PLACE.
I, AT MY AGE, I DON'T KNOW, MOST OF YOU PROBABLY, YOU KNOW HOW OLD I AM.
THURMAN AND I, I HOPE I'LL BE AROUND ANOTHER 20 YEARS.
TAKE, BUT I WANNA SEE SOMETHING MOVE.
I WANT US TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT I'M HERE.
BECAUSE UNTIL MY DYING BREATH, UNTIL I CAN NO LONGER GET UP AND GET OUTTA BED IN THE MORNING, I'M GONNA BE WORKING WITH THIS GROUP AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE IT SO THAT OUR LEGACY CAN BE CARRIED ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AND WE'LL HAVE MORE NINTH GRADERS COMING IN HERE WITH ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT THEY ARE DEVELOPING BECAUSE THEY CAN DREAM AND THEY KNOW THAT DREAMS CAN COME TRUE.
YOU WANTED TO, YOU WERE ABOUT TO SAY.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE WORKING ON A BLUEPRINT AND WE WOULD LIKE IN 60 DAYS TO COME BACK TO YOU WITH THE BLUEPRINT AS WELL AS A BUDGET OF WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING RIGHT NOW.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT.
AND, UM, WE ARE GOING TO GET A BUDGET AND A BLUEPRINT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION OF THE LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU MENTIONED WORKING WITH FROM ORANGE AND BEAUMONT.
IF I MISHEARD, JUST PLEASE CORRECT ME, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR YOU MENTION THE PORT ARTHUR HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
HAS THERE BEEN A, THE MEMBERS, OKAY.
THE ORGANIZATION HAS A MEMBERSHIP AND THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS WITHIN THAT.
AS, AS WELL AS NAACP, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, NAACP, WE ARE MEMBERS ALSO OF THE BEAUMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY AS WELL.
[01:25:01]
PLEASE CONSIDER THIS JUST CAME TO MIND IF THERE WAS A BUILDING AVAILABLE THAT WE FIND SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR SHARED SPACE TO BEGIN WITH.I KNOW THAT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE PORT ARTHUR HISTORICAL SOCIETY DOESN'T HAVE A SPECIFIC BUILDING.
NAACP, WE DON'T HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT QUITE POSSIBLY COULD BE AN OPTION TO, TO START.
WE'RE OPEN TO ALL OPTIONS AT THIS POINT.
AND PARTNERSHIPS WE ENJOY AND WE, UM, WE ENJOY COLLABORATION.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THAT, THAT THAT WEST SIDE, UM, OLD LIBRARIES IS A GOOD, IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO, IT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START.
WELL, YOU CAN EXPAND THAT TOO.
BECAUSE YOU GOT PLENTY OF ROOM AROUND THAT.
YOU CAN, AS YOU GO ALONG AND BUDGET AND, AND ALL THE DISPLAYS AND ALL THE ILLUSTRATION FROM THE HISTORY.
AND THAT'S A GOOD PLACE ON THE WEST SIDE.
SO Y'ALL WORK OUT YOUR BUDGET AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED THAT'S GOING TO, IT IS GOING TO COST A LITTLE MONEY.
IS THIS A MINUTE? ONE MORE THING.
UM, I TALKED TO MS. MS. GALE, WE'D HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT PULLING TOGETHER SOME OF THE PANEL LINUX, UH, TO DO THE MARKER.
HAVE WE, HAVE WE COMPLETED THAT MARKER? HAVE WE FINISHED PAYING FOR THAT MARKER? OR GOTTEN THE FUNDS FOR THAT MARKER YET? PRETTY MUCH, PRETTY MUCH.
CAN WE NOT DISCUSS THAT? JUST SO I'LL TELL THEM ABOUT IT.
IT'S NOT DISCUSSED WE'LL BACK WITH YOU.
THANK YOU FOR ASKING, COUNCILMAN.
[III.B.(2) Chandra Alpough, Director Of Parks And Recreation Regarding Wayfinding Update]
A PRESENTATION BY MS. CHANDRA ALPO, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION REGARDING, UH, WAY FINDING UPDATE.GOOD MORNING, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
I AM SHARA APO, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE WAY FINDING AND SIGNAGE PROJECT COMMITTEE MEMBERS, WHICH INCLUDE MR. GEORGE DAVIS, TAMMY ZER, PAMELA LANGFORD, GEL ROBERTS, CLIFTON WILLIAMS, IKA WILLIAMS. WE, I AM HERE TO REPORT AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE SAID WAY FINDING PROJECT.
THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S WAY FINDING SIGNAGE PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO CREATE A GRAPHICALLY UNIFIED FAMILY OF DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE, CONTEXTUAL AND IDENTIFICATION SIGNS ACROSS A ROD, A RANGE OF SIGNAGE, MEDIUMS. THIS PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS, BICYCLES, AND PEDESTRIANS ALONG AND THROUGH STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND PUBLIC SPACES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AS I STAND BEFORE YOU, MY FIRST INITIAL UPDATE, IT'S TO SAY, JUST LOOK OUTSIDE AND AROUND THE CITY FOR THE REAL UPDATE.
BUT BEFORE I DO, I'LL JUST GIVE A HE A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WAYFINDING PROGRAM AND SOME OF THE MILESTONE DATES REGARDING THE PROGRESSION OF THE PROGRAM.
JUNE 30TH, 2020, PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 DASH 28, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH CLARK CONDO ASSOCIATES FOR THE DESIGN AND IMPLE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OF A WAY FINDING AND MONUMENT SIGNAGE PROGRAM.
MAY 11TH, 2021, CLARK CONDO AND ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED CAME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL AND MADE A PRESENTATION THAT SHOWED THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR THE WAY FINDING PROGRAM.
AT THAT SAME CITY COUNCIL MEETING, PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 21 DASH 1 8 0, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH CLARK CONDO AND ASSOCIATES INCORPORATING FOR THE LANDSCAPING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS FOR THE WAY FINDING PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, MEETINGS WERE HELD WITH CITY STAFF AND CLARK CONDO REGARDING THE PLACEMENT OF THE WAY FINDING SIGNS.
SITES HAD TO MEET THE GUIDANCE OF T DOTS INTERLOCAL GATEWAY MONUMENT GUIDE
[01:30:04]
MARCH, 2022.THE DESIGN FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR MONUMENT AND SIGNAGE PROGRAM.
SIGNAGE PROJECT WAS COMPLETE IN APRIL OF 2022.
THE DESIGN PACKET HAD TO BE UPDATED WITH THE REVISED SLOGAN, GATEWAY TO OPPORTUNITY, WHICH DEFINITELY WAS EXHIBITED TODAY.
AS WE SHOW THAT THE GATEWAY TO OPPORTUNITY WAS SHOWN TODAY WITH THESE WONDERFUL NINTH GRADERS THAT CAME THROUGH, SHOWN THAT WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE CAN DO HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, WE DEFINITELY ARE THE GATEWAY TO OPPORTUNITY.
MAY, 2022, THE COMPLETE DESIGN PACKAGE WAS SENT TO TEX DOT.
PRIOR TO BEGINNING ANY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR HAD TO FULLY EXECUTE A GATEWAY MONUMENT AGREEMENT WITH TDO JULY 19TH, 2022.
PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 22 DASH 3 1 9, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ENTERED INTO AN INTERLOCAL GATEWAY MONUMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE WAY, FI WAY FINDING SIGNAGE SEPTEMBER, 2022.
CITY STAFF DISCUSSED THE AREAS WHERE THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE WILL BE PLACED AT PLEASURE ISLAND.
WE RECEIVED THE GRAPHIC DESIGNS FOR ALL THE OTHER SIGNAGE TYPES.
REMEMBER THE, THE PRIMARY AND THE SECONDARY MONUMENT TYPES WERE SITE SPECIFIC, MEANING WE HAD TO GET A SEPARATE SITE AND SEPARATE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENT FOR EACH SITE.
ALL THE REST OF THEM, WE COULD GET THEM GROUPED TOGETHER.
OCTOBER, 2022, WE RECEIVED THE SIGNAGE, SIGNAGE PACKAGE WITH TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND DRAWINGS TO BE ADVERTISED FOR BID.
THIS WAS ALSO SENT TO TEX D FOR THE FINAL PERMIT.
NOVEMBER, 2022 BIDS WERE ADVERTISED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WAY FINDING SIGNS FOR THE WAY SIGNING WAYFINDING SIGNAGE PROGRAM.
BIDS WERE RECEIVED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WAYFINDING PROJECT.
PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 DASH NINE FIVE, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH PREFERRED FACILITIES GROUP, U-S-A-L-L-C OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF WAY FINDING SIGNS FOR THE WAY FINDING AND MONUMENT SIGNAGE PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WITH A PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $1,000,237 101,000,237 $130 AND 40 CENTS OF THAT 1087074 CENTS FUNDED BY HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, AS I REPEAT, FUNDED BY HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
AND THANK MS. TAMMY COULTER AND THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU IS WITHOUT THEIR HELP AND PASSION THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THIS FAR BECAUSE IT'S WITH THE HOTEL AND OCCUPANCY TAX.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET THIS DONE.
CITY STAFF HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PROJECT MANAGER CONTRACTOR AND THE RAILROAD KCS EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PAINT ANYTHING ON THE OVERPASS.
CITY STAFF DECIDED TO REMOVE THE OVERPASSES AT THIS TIME AND REVISIT AT A LATER DATE.
MAY 25TH, 2023 MEETING WAS HELD WITH DEX TEXTILE TO REVIEW THE LOCATIONS OF THREE OF THE PRIMARY SIGNS.
TEXTILE HAD TO HAVE THE FINAL APPROVAL ON THREE PRIMARY SIGNS SINCE THEY'LL BE INSTALLED IN TEXTILE RIGHT OF WAYS.
HOWEVER, THE SECONDARY SIGNS WILL BE CONFIRMED BY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
ALSO, IN MAY, SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WERE HAD BETWEEN CITY STAFF PER PREFERRED FACILITIES GROUP, CLARK CONDO, JEFFERSON ELECTRIC, AND ENTERGY, REGARDING SETTING UP ENERGY ACCOUNTS, REVIEWING ELECTRIC CONDITIONS AT EACH SITE AND WHAT WAS NECESSARY, IF ANYTHING, TO HAVE ELECTRICITY AT THE SITES.
OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER, THE CONTRA, THE CONCRETE FOUNDATION AT VARIOUS SITES
[01:35:01]
WERE INSTALLED.DECEMBER, 2023, THE SIGN FABRICATION WAS COMPLETE OPERATION CHRISTMAS BOX WAS COMPLETED.
AS MENTIONED, THE CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS WERE INSTALLED, INCLUDING THE ONE AT CITY HALL.
SO WE WERE HAVING THE HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES.
THERE WAS THIS CONCRETE FOUNDATION THAT WAS THE MIDDLE OF CITY HALL, AND WE WERE ABOUT TO HAVE THE HOLIDAY LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
SO THE CONTRACTOR CAME OUT AND BUILT A CHRISTMAS BOX PRESENT OVER THE SITE, WHICH YOU SEE HERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, JUST SO THAT WHEN WE WERE TAKING PICTURES AND CITIZENS, CITIZENS CAME DOWN, THEY WOULDN'T JUST SEE THIS BOX.
THEY SAW A DICE WRAPPED PRESENT JANUARY, 2024.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY MONUMENT SIGNAGE SIGNAGES WERE INSTALLED AT THE VARIOUS SITES.
AS MENTIONED IN PREVIOUSLY IN THIS PRESENTATIONS.
THE WAY FINDING UPDATE IS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE THE THREE PRIMARY MONUMENT SITES, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDES.
AND YOU HAVE THE THREE SECONDARY SITES.
THE SIGNS AREN'T COMPLETE, AREN'T COMPLETELY FINISHED.
IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, CONTRACTORS WILL BE WORKING ON THE LIGHTING 'CAUSE THE SIGNS WILL BE LIT.
THERE'S LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION LEFT TO BE COMPLETED ON THE SIGNS AS WELL.
ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 23RD, 2024, WE MET WITH MATT FROM PREFERRED FACILITIES.
WE DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL MARCH FOR THE SPRING SEASON TO PLANT SOME OF THE PLANTS DUE TO THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THE WEATHER.
HE'S SAYING THAT SOME OF THE PLANTS ARE DYING, YOU KNOW, IN HOUSTON.
SO SOME OF THE ONES THAT WE HAD THAT WERE RECOMMENDED.
SO WE DECIDED TO WAIT AS WELL.
PREFERRED FACILITIES ALSO HAD A CONTACT.
UH, ALSO HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH C-C-P-K-C, WHO IS THE NEW OWNERS OF THE RAILROAD.
THEY HAVE DEVISED A PLAN TO WHERE WE CAN NOW POSSIBLY PAINT THE BRIDGES.
BUT DUE TO THE ESTIMATED COST TO PAINT THE BRIDGES, IT WAS DISCUSSED THAT WE POSSIBLY MAY HAVE TO PAINT THE BRIDGES AND PUT THAT AMOUNT INTO NEXT BUDGET YEAR.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING ON TO PHASE TWO.
PHASE TWO OF THE WAYFINDING PROGRAM WOULD INCLUDE SIX DESTINATION SIGNS AT PLEASURE ISLAND AND 11 DIRECTIONAL SIGNS, WHICH YOU SEE HERE AT THE BOTTOM PICTURE.
THE TOP PICTURE SHOWS THE, HOW THE LIGHTING WILL LOOK WHEN THE SIGNS ARE LIT, WHICH IS CITY HALL.
WHEN ELECTRICITY ARE ON THE SIGNS, THE BOTTOM PICTURE SHOWS THE DIRECTIONAL AND THE DESTINATIONAL SIGNS OF HOW THEY'RE GONNA LOOK.
WE WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, AND IF NOBODY ELSE, THE CITIZENS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
WE'VE HAD COUNTLESS MEETINGS, PRESENTATIONS, MORE MEETINGS, MORE PRESENTATIONS, JUST SO THAT WE CAN HAVE, BE ABLE TO HAVE A MONUMENT PROGRAM THAT'LL REPRESENT THE CITY FOR DECADES TO COME.
UM, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE IS FOR, AND FIRST OF ALL, THE SIGNS LOOK VERY NICE.
THEY DO LOOK EXTREMELY NICE, AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE FINALLY PUTTING A STAMP ON THIS.
MM-HMM,
AND WE TALKED ABOUT THESE THINGS, DEVELOPED THESE THINGS, AND IT'S EXCITING TO FINALLY SEE IT COME INTO FRUITION.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE C-P-C-P-K-C MM-HMM.
BUT WHY ARE WE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAINTING THEIR PROPERTY? UM, DID I MISUNDERSTAND? IN PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM,
[01:40:01]
THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THEY'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT AESTHETICS OF THE BRIDGE.THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE BRIDGE.
AND SO THEY HAVE REPORTS TO SHOW THAT, UM, THE BRIDGES ARE SAFE.
THEY DON'T WORRY ABOUT HOW THEY LOOKS.
SO IN, IN OUR MEETINGS, WE DID STRESS THAT HERE WE ARE DOING THESE THINGS TO MAKE OUR CITY LOOK A CERTAIN WAY.
SO THEY STRESSED OUR CONCERNS TO, YOU KNOW, THEIR LOSSES.
AND SO THIS IS THEIR, THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH US, BUT THEIR MAIN CONCERN IS THE INTEGRITY TO BE ABLE TO HOLD WHAT THEY'RE TRANSPORTING AND THINGS.
UM, I JUST ASK THAT WE KEEP PUSHING FOR SHARED COSTS POSSIBLY.
UM, AND THE SIGN THAT IS OFF OF, LET'S SEE, ONE IS OFF OF THE HIGHWAY.
I'M GOING BACK TO THE PICTURE.
IS THAT, THAT ONE BY CHICK-FIL-A YES MA'AM.
IS THAT STATE PROPERTY? HOW DID THAT WORK? IT IS, IT'S KIND OF ON, WE HAD TO GET PERMISSION FOR THAT.
UM, WE HAD TO GET KIND OF PERMISSION.
IT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE ONES, IT'S THAT ONE AND THE ONE, UM, COMING INTO THE CITY FROM LIKE BRIDGE CITY.
THEY'RE SECURED A DIFFERENT WAY TO WHERE IT'S A EXTRA LITTLE FOUNDATION TO WHERE IT'S NOT MOVING.
BUT, UM, IT'S KIND OF, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S AT AN ANGLE, BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT ANY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SIGNS.
LIKE WHEN YOU'RE COMING INTO THE, IF YOU ARE COMING INTO OTHER CITIES.
'CAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER CITIES, THEY HAVE SIMILAR SIGNS AND ANGLES SIMILAR TO THOSE.
SO IT IS NOT NOTHING THAT IS A DIFFERENT OR STRANGE.
THIS IS A NORMAL PLACEMENT FOR A SIGN.
'CAUSE IT WAS, IT WAS DISCUSSED.
'CAUSE WE WANTED, IT WAS DISCUSSED.
SO IT'S NOT A NORMAL PLACEMENT.
I GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, BUT I, I LIKE IT THERE.
IT'S, IT'S A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA AND TO ME IT JUST SHOWS THAT WE ARE TAKING A STEP FORWARD ON CREATING A MORE BEAUTIFIED COMMUNITY.
BEFORE I CALL ON COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM, UH, AND IF, IF YOU YIELD TO HIM FOR ONE SECOND, COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A, A COUPLE.
I MEAN, THEY REALLY LOVE THE SIGNS AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY IS DOING WELL.
THIS IS PORT ARTHUR, SO FOLK MAY SAY ANYTHING.
BUT EVERYONE THAT I'VE SPOKEN WITH, THEY REALLY LOVE THE SCIENCE.
HOWEVER, THE ONE THAT'S ON 365, THEY ASKED IF IT COULD BE RAISED.
SO MYSELF, THE FOUNDATION THEY WERE SAYING, AND I, WHEN I PASSED, YOU SEE HOW THAT RAILING IS? AND IT'S, IT'S SOME OF THE P THAT YOU REALLY CAN'T, YOU REALLY CAN'T SEE IF YOU'RE DRIVING QUICKLY.
AND THEY, THEY JUST, AND, AND I TOLD HER, I SAID I WOULD ASK, I DOUBT IT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S PERMANENT.
BUT THEY WERE ASKING IF THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY SO THAT THEY COULD BE RAISED.
AND I TOLD, I, I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY COULD HELP.
ALL I CAN DO IS PROPOSE THE QUESTION.
I DON'T MIND PROPOSING ANY QUESTIONS TO THE, UM, YOU CAN SEE IT THERE REAL GOOD ON FROM THIS SIDE.
AND IF YOU ARE DRIVING, YOU REALLY CAN'T SEE THE P OKAY.
AND THE O SO, YOU KNOW, UH, APPROACH.
UH, THIS IS REALLY TIMELY FOR ME, MS. ALPO, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, AND THE REASON IT'S TIMELY IS I'VE HAD A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS ASKING ME ABOUT THE SIGNS ONCE THEY SAW THEM GOING UP.
THEY'VE GOT LOTS OF QUESTIONS THAT YOUR PRESENTATION COVERS.
COULD I TROUBLE YOU TO EMAIL THIS POWERPOINT TO ME SO THAT I COULD SHARE IT WITH SOME CONCERNED CITIZENS JUST SO I CAN ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS? A LOT OF THIS HAPPENED BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL, AND SO I'VE HAD TO TELL 'EM, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT I WILL GET IT FOR YOU.
AND YOUR PRESENTATION ANSWERS ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
IT WAS A GOOD PRESENTATION IN A TIMELY MANNER.
AND I'M QUITE SURE THE REASON YOU PUT EMPHASIS ON HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, THAT YOU WANTED TO LET CITIZENS KNOW WHO
[01:45:01]
WAS ASSOCIATING THESE SIGNS WITH STREETS MONEY AND STUFF.THAT SHOULD BE A LESSONS TO US THAT WHEN WE UNDERTAKE THINGS OF THIS NATURE, MAKE SURE WE GET THE WORD OUT TO THE CITIZENS SO THEY'LL KNOW ALL THESE THINGS.
AND THAT WAY THEY WON'T ASSUME.
OKAY, YOU ALSO MAY A POINT TO EMPHASIZE, UH, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
THAT'S JUST ONE FORM OF REVENUE WE HAVE HERE.
ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE DECIDE THAT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE THINGS THAT WE CAN USE IT FOR.
SEE, SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DOING TWO THINGS AT ONE TIME, YES, WE COULD DO TWO THINGS BY ONE TIME.
WE JUST GOTTA LOOK AT WHAT OUR SOURCES ARE THAT ARE THERE AVAILABLE TO US AND MAKE SURE WE USE THE CORRECT FUNDS TO DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE USE HOTEL OCCUPANCY, OCCUPANCY TAX FOR.
AND WE DECIDE TOO WHERE IT GOES.
AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IN YOUR PRESENTATION IS THE, UH, KC BRIDGE, UH, JOE, UH, MAKE JOE UP.
I, I'D LIKE FOR, UH, US TO CHECK INTO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN, UH, KANSAS CITY AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BECAUSE, UH, WE PROVIDE AN EASEMENT TO THEM.
AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN THESE EASEMENTS AND ALSO, UH, FIND OUT, UH, IF THEIR OVER PATH BECOMES SO MESSED UP LIKE IT IS, WHY ARE THEY ALLOWING US TO PAINT IT? AND THEY'RE NOT PAINTING IT.
THEY ARE USING AN EASEMENT THAT WE, GRANTED, I'M QUITE SURE WITHIN THAT AGREEMENT, THEY HAVE SOME TYPE OBLIGATION IS NOT KANSAS CITY ANYMORE.
WHOEVER OWNS IT, WHOEVER WE TALK, WHOEVER OWNS IT, WHOEVER TELLING US TO PAINT IT, MS. ALPO, THEY NEED TO GO BACK AND DO SOME RESEARCH TOO.
BECAUSE DREAN, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND THAT PATH THEY HAVE, THAT'S CALLED AN EASEMENT.
WE APPROVE THEM AND WE ESTABLISH THEM, BUT WE ALSO GOT IN THAT AGREEMENT THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD DO.
SO WE NEED TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
I THINK IT'S A PERSON YOU TALK TO THAT CAN'T MAKE THE ANSWER, BUT WANTS TO MAKE THE ANSWER.
SO LET'S SEE IF THAT PERSON NOT TALKING TO RIGHT LINGO, LET'S TAKE IT UP.
ANOTHER NOT, YOU'LL FIND, YOU'LL GET SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING TO SAY, YEAH, WE'LL PAINT THIS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
AND I WAS, HAD A, I HAD A CONCERN ABOUT THAT, THAT KCS, UH, OVER PASS.
AND, UH, I GOT A SPIKE I KEPT FOR YEARS.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR REASONING IS.
WE PRETTY MUCH HAD 'EM IN LINE THAT THEY WAS GOING TO DO.
THEY WAS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT, THAT OVERPASS.
BUT THEY GOT CROSSED WAY WITH THE MAYOR AT THAT TIME.
AND IT SEEMED LIKE IT'S BEEN A PERSONAL THING EVER SINCE WE EVEN WENT DOWN TO, TO THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND TO, TO APPEAL TO THEM.
THE CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME HAD 'EM PRETTY MUCH CONVINCED.
AND THEN THE MAYOR AT THAT TIME THREATENED THEM.
BUT COUNCILMAN ETT TO TALK ABOUT, UH, SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE A COPY OF THAT AGREEMENT SO I CAN LOOK AT IT.
ALSO, NO OTHER PLACE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY THAT I HAVE SEEN OR UNDER OVER PASS LOOKS LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S PERSONAL AND YOU MAY WANNA APPEAL TO THE CHAMBER OR THEY WANT TO BE PARTNERS.
THEY MAY HAVE SOME, UH, THEIR EAR AND MAY HELP US WITH THE PUBLIC FROM THE PUBLIC RELATIONS SIDE.
NOW THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX, WE HAD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON HOTEL MOTEL TAXES.
THE HOTEL PEOPLE FILLED UP CITY HALL, THEY OPPOSED IT.
AND THEY LOBBIED ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WIND AND DYING THEM, TOOK THEM TO DINNER, ALL OF THOSE, WHATEVER, BROWN BAGGED THEM.
AND WE STILL PASSED IT BECAUSE WE KNEW WHAT THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE.
SO SOMETIME YOU HAVE TO BITE THE BULLET
[01:50:01]
NOT TO, NOT TO ABUSE THE LAW.COMMON SENSE DOES NOT APPLY WITH THE LAW.
YOU CAN'T BREAK THE LAW TO DO SO.
IT WAS NOT A VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
SO WE WENT AHEAD AND VOTED IN THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX AND WE'LL REAPING THE BENEFITS TODAY.
WE'RE POSTED TO TALK ABOUT WAY FINDING, SO I THINK WE JUST A REMINDER.
UH, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THESE SIGNS A LONG TIME AND I I REALLY THANK YOU, UH, JUST KIND OF DISPELLED AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU DID THAT TODAY.
UM, TAKING, UM, STREET MONEY AND GETTING SIGNS AND ALSO PUTTING A SIGN IN GROVES OR PORT NATURES OR MIDCOUNTY, YOU KNOW, I, I AM JUST SO GLAD THAT YOU, YOU CAME HERE BEFORE US TODAY AND TO DISPEL THESE RUMORS THAT'S GONE OUT THERE.
BECAUSE FACT FINDING, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT'S GONNA VALIDATE.
UH, OUR JOB IS TO AND AS COUNCILMEN, AND YOU AS A DIRECTOR IS TO FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE AND BEAUTIFY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
WE ARE THINKING OUT OF THE BOX, AND WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING TWO THINGS AT ONE TIME.
SO THANK YOU DIRECTOR AND AND YOUR STAFF, YOUR TEAM, UH, FOR THESE BEAUTIFUL SIGNS.
AND FINAL THING, UH, WHEN I BEGAN MY TENURE AS MAYOR HERE, THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT YOU ALL HAVE PRESENTED THAT YOU PRESENTED AS DIRECTOR.
I WAS JUST SAYING NEW DIRECTOR.
YOU SHOWED ALL OF THE STEPS IN THE BUREAUCRACY THAT WE ACTUALLY DWELL IN THAT THERE, THERE ARE STEPS THAT WE HAVE GOT TO TAKE AND HOW T DOT HAD TO BE A PARTNER AND, AND, AND OTHERS.
SO, UH, YOU ALL DID A TREMENDOUS JOB.
AND I KNOW WE ARE GETTING READY TO GO INTO PHASE TWO OF THE SIGNAGE AND THERE'LL PROBABLY BE SOME OTHER OTHERS THAT, THAT WOULD MM-HMM.
AND EVEN OTHER SIGNS IN OTHER PARTS OF OUR CITY BECAUSE, UH, OUR CITY IS SORT OF VAST.
AND, UH, WE MIGHT WANT TO BEGIN, IF I'M ATTORNEY, IF I MAY, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE, UH, SUPREME PASS AREA THAT WE, WE, WE WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO CONSIDER SOMETHING IN, IN, IN, IN THAT AREA AS AS MAYBE AS, AS WELL AS, UH, WELL JUST THERE FOR SURE.
AND EVEN PROBABLY ONE OTHER AREA THAT YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER, UH, WHERE, UH, EDMORE ROAD, WHICH WE CALL THE WEST PORT ARTHUR ROAD.
I THINK IT'S THE EDMORE HIGHWAY AND 365, UH, IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA THERE, UH, WOULD BE ANOTHER AREA THAT WE MIGHT FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION.
UH, AND NOT TRYING TO SPEND ALL TIME IS MONEY.
BUT, UH, THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THO THOSE ARE TWO AREAS THAT I, I WEREN'T INCLUDED AND I COULDN'T VISUALIZE IT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO.
YOU KNOW, NOW THE TANGIBLE PART OF IT IS THERE.
SO AS YOU ALL MOVE FORWARD, EVEN WITH PHASE TWO, UH, MAYBE SOME CONSIDERATION ON THAT.
IT'S SO PHASE TWO AND THE PHASE THREE, WE HAVE A, A WHOLE, UM, YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS THAT JUST KIND OF CLIPPED A FEW, IT'S A WHOLE FAMILY OF SIGNAGE THAT, OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.
UM, IT, IT IS JUST GONNA TAKE SOME, SOME MONEY AND YEARS JUST TO PLAN IT OUT TO SEE WHICH ONES ELEMENTS WE DO.
AND ONE OF THE THING, BECAUSE I WAS, EVEN WHEN I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE OTHER ONE, HE SAID, WELL, IT'S NOT, I SAID, THE ONE CITY HALL IS LIT.
I SAID, BUT, AND I, I SAW THEM POUR THE FOUNDATIONS.
I SAID, SO NOW THEY ALL HAVE 'EM.
I SAID, BUT THERE'S SOME REASON WHY THAT THEY'RE NOT THERE.
SO I WOULD WANT ALL THE CITIZENS WHO ARE LISTENING AND KNOWING THAT CONTRACTORS WILL BE GETTING IN ABOUT ANOTHER WEEK OR SO.
DOING WHAT'S NECESSARY TO, TO PUT THE LIGHTING AND THE POWER THERE.
AND COUNCILMAN BECKER, YOU MIGHT WANT THE RAW PICTURES NOW, BUT YOU MIGHT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER MARCH WHEN THEY GET ALL, ALL THE BEAUTY AROUND THEM, YOU KNOW, TO, TO SHOW, BECAUSE I, I REMEMBER THE SKETCHING AND IT'S, IT IS GOING TO BE, THEY'RE GONNA BE REAL PRETTY WHEN THEY PUT ALL THOSE PRETTY OF, OF FLOWERS AROUND, AROUND ALL OF EM.
[01:55:01]
IT IS GOING TO LOOK REAL.UH, COUNCIL LEWIS, YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YES.
UH, YOU, YOU COMMENTED ABOUT THE, UH, YOU COMMENTED ABOUT THE DISCUSSION THAT EXPANDED.
MOTEL TACO WAS IN HER PRESENTATION.
AND ALSO THE KCS, UH, RAILROAD CROSSING OUR SCHEDULE.
I WAS SCHEDULE TO GO TO KCS ALONG WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
WHEN MY JOB INTERFERED, I COULD NOT ATTEND.
SO THE CITY MANAGER ASKED ME WOULD I CONSIDER THE MAYOR AT THE TIME GOING TO MY PLACE? I SAID, YES.
I SAID, BUT I WANT YOU TO STOP AND GET A ROLL OF DUCT TAPE BECAUSE HE GONNA PROBABLY GO ON, UH, NO, STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP.
NOW, UH, UH, MAYOR POEO LAST COMMENT.
UM, THESE SIGNS, JUST FOR ANYONE THAT CAN HEAR THE SOUND OF MY VOICE, HELPS US TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT IS ACTUALLY PORT ARTHUR.
THOSE TAX DOLLARS GO TO PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
SO ONE SIDE MAY BE NEEDLING, ONE SIDE MAY BE PORT ARTHUR, BUT THERE IS NO MID-COUNTY TEXAS.
AND THESE WAY FINDING SIGNS WILL HELP YOU TO RECOGNIZE WHAT IS ACTUALLY PORT ARTHUR TEXAS.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOUR LIGHT IS OFF.
BUT AT ONE TIME THEY HAD A SIGN AND I HAD A GUY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAD IT REMOVED.
THEY HAD A SIGN, SAID PORT ARTHUR ON 365 IN MEMORIAL.
THEY HAD A SIGN, SAID PORT ARTHUR, NINE MILES AWAY.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY, MS. APPLE, UH, ANY, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ELSE.
THANK YOU IN YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR YOU ALL TO DO IT.
[III.B.(3) A Presentation By Information Technology (IT) Regarding The City Of Port Arthur Website Redesign Launch]
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP REGARDING THE, UH, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WEBSITE.MR. SHE'S HERE CLOSE TO Y'ALL TODAY.
MY NAME IS FAYE YOUNG AND I SERVE IN A ROLE AS DIRECTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, OR IT, AS EVERYONE LIKES TO CALL US TODAY, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE WEBSITE.
I WILL NOT BE DOING A DEMONSTRATION THAT WILL BE DONE BY THE WEBSITE SAYS CONTENT MANAGER.
BUT BEFORE SHE COMES UP HERE, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY OF HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE IT MAY SOUND SIMPLE THAT WE'RE REDOING THE WEBSITE, BUT THE TRUTH IS, FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, THE WEBSITE HAS BEEN LIKE A BABY IN A BASKET THAT'S BEEN PASSED AROUND THROUGH MULTIPLE HANDS.
AND A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE CITY MANAGER SAID, WE NEED TO TAKE THE WEBSITE MORE SERIOUSLY.
AND HE GAVE IT BACK AGAIN,
AND NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS NOT THRILLED WITH THE IDEA OF TAKING THE WEBSITE ON AGAIN, BECAUSE AS MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, IT IS A TASK, IT IS A JOB, IT IS A FULL-TIME JOB.
AND SO UP TO THAT POINT, IT'S BEEN, IT DIDN'T REALLY GET THE RESPECT THAT IT DESERVED.
AND I THINK WHEN YOU LOOKED AT OUR WEBSITE OVER THE YEARS, YOU COULD KIND OF TELL THAT IT WAS NOT GETTING THE RESPECT THAT IT DESERVED.
SO THE CITY MANAGER MADE THAT DECISION AND ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO, I THINK IT WAS FY 2022, HE PUT IN A BUDGET FOR A WEBSITE SLASH DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER.
AND TO TELL YOU HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS, IT TOOK US 18 MONTHS TO FIND A PERSON THAT COULD PROVIDE THE SKILLSET THAT WE NEEDED TO CREATE A WEBSITE THAT THE CITY COULD BE PROUD OF.
SO TODAY WE ARE GONNA HAVE MS. TIANA JOHNSON, SHE IS OUR WEBSITE AND DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER.
SHE'S GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU WHAT THE REDESIGN WEBSITE LOOKS LIKE.
I WANT YOU TO PAY ATTENTION THAT HER TITLE IS CONTENT MANAGER.
THAT MEANS SHE DOESN'T COME UP WITH THE CONTENT.
SHE USES THE CONTENT THAT IS PROVIDED TO HER TO PLACE ON THE WEBSITE IN A WAY THAT LOOKS PLEASING, THAT IS EASILY NAVIGATED AND THAT WILL INFORM THE CITIZENS.
BUT SHE IS NOT THE SOURCE OF THE CONTENT.
SO WE DIDN'T HIRE A PERSON TO COME
[02:00:01]
UP WITH CONTENT FOR OUR WEBSITE.WE HIRED A PERSON TO PRESENT THE CONTENT THAT IS ON OUR WEBSITE IN A WAY THAT IS PLEASING TO THE SITE.
SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME TO OUR WEBSITE, NOT ONLY ARE WE PROUD OF THE WAY IT LOOKS, THAT SEEMS TO BE THE THEME TODAY, MAKING PORT ARTHUR PROUD OF HOW WE LOOK AND HOW WE PRESENT OURSELVES.
BUT SHE IS THE PERSON THAT IS NOW CHARGED WITH THAT ACTIVITY.
SO I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO HER, HER TO YOU.
BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, I ALSO WANNA INTRODUCE HER SUPERVISOR, MR. OSCAR EVANS.
NOT JUST BECAUSE HE'S HER SUPERVISOR, BECAUSE IT WAS ALL ALSO ONE TIME HIS HANDS THAT THE WEBSITE WAS PLACED IN.
AND HE HELPED TO SUSTAIN THE WEBSITE ALONG WITH, UH, SOME ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES FROM MS. CHERYL GIBBS.
SO I WANTED TO ALSO POINT OUT THE EFFORTS THAT HE'S PUT IN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, WE CAN KEEP THE WEBSITE LOOKING AS WELL AS WE COULD BECAUSE HE AND I, WE ARE TECHNICAL PEOPLE, RIGHT? SO WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THAT CREATIVE EYE, BUT IT DID WORK TO KEEP THE INFORMATION PRESENTED OUT THERE IN A RESPECTABLE MANNER.
SO TO GIVE YOU A DEMO OF WHAT THE WEBSITE IS COMING TO LOOK LIKE, WE HAVE OUR WEBSITE AND DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER, MS. TIANA JOHNSON, MAYOR, JUST BEFORE, YES, JUST BEFORE MS. JOHNSON BEGINS, I, I WANT TO THANK MS. YOUNG FOR, UM, RELUCTANTLY TAKING ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY, BUT I WASN'T GOING TO GIVE UP BECAUSE I KNEW THAT UH, SHE HAS THE CORRECT STAFF AND UM, IF WE GIVE HER THE RESOURCES, WE'LL GET THE JOB DONE.
UM, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, SO I DIRECTED THAT WE HAVE EVERY DIRECTOR INVOLVED IN CONTRIBUTING, YOU KNOW, TO MS. JOHNSON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE UP HERE.
YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE LOOKED AT VERY PROMINENT SITES THROUGHOUT SITES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE NUMBER ONE SITE, MUNICIPAL SITE IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE.
SO THAT WAS THE OBJECTIVE, YOU KNOW, ENGAGE STAFF, MAKE SURE THAT THEY BRING THE IDEAS FORWARD AND THEN MS. FEE AND US STAFF PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.
UM, SO MY NAME IS TIANA JOHNSON AND I AM THE WEBSITE AND DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
UM, BEFORE I START, I'M GONNA BE VERY OPEN.
I AM SUPER EXCITED TO SHARE WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.
I TEND TO TALK FAST WHEN I GET NERVOUS, SO I'M GONNA TRY TO SLOW DOWN.
BUT PLEASE FEEL FREE IF AT ANY POINT I'M LIKE JUST RUSHING THROUGH THINGS TOO FAST TO LIKE STOP ME AND ASK QUESTIONS IS JUST FINE.
SO ACCORDING TO CUTTING EDGE PR, A WEBSITE CAN BE THE ULTIMATE AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED PR TOOL EXPERTS IN THE FIELD SAY A WEBSITE CAN BE ACCOMPANIED, OR IN THIS CASE A CITY'S GREATEST ASSET.
A WELL-DESIGNED WEBSITE CAN CONVEY A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION AND CREATE ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR USERS.
SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A GREEN AND BLUE COLOR SCHEME, WHICH IS IN CONTRAST TO THE WHITE AND GOLD OF THE CITY LOGO.
WE HAVE ONE PICTURE AS THE HEADER, WHICH IS STAGNANT AND CAN'T REALLY SHOW OFF HOW BEAUTIFUL THE CITY IS.
AND THERE'S LIMITED ROOM FOR THINGS TO LIVE ON THE HOMEPAGE.
BUT THAT, I MEAN IF YOU LOOK, WE HAVE THE 12 GREEN AND BLUE BUTTONS.
IF WE EVER WANT TO ADD SOMETHING TO THE HOMEPAGE, ONE OF THOSE BUTTONS HAS TO LEAVE, WHICH CAN BE QUITE AN ISSUE.
THIS IS THE BOTTOM OF THE HOMEPAGE.
YOU SEE THE NEWS FLASHES AND UPDATES AND YOU SEE THE CALENDAR, THE NEWS FLASHES AND UPDATES SHOULD ENTICE PEOPLE TO KEEP CLICKING TO LEARN MORE AND INVITE THEM INTO THE CITY.
AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEWS FLASHES, IT TAKES YOU TO AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PAGE THAT'S JUST NOT VERY ENGAGING AND AT SOME POINTS CAN BE A BIT FRUSTRATING.
SO WE SAW A NEED FOR A COMPLETE FACELIFT AND WITH THE HELP OF CIVIC PLUS AND OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I BELIEVE, AND I HOPE YOU SEE THAT WE GAVE IT JUST THAT.
SO WE BEGAN MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS IN LATE JULY TO UPDATE INFORMATION ON THE SITE AND TO EDIT THE INDIVIDUAL PAGES TO BETTER SHOW THE INFORMATION.
THAT PROCESS WILL ALWAYS BE ONGOING BECAUSE THERE'LL ALWAYS BE PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE PUT ON THE SITE.
WE MET WITH CIVIC PLUS IN AUGUST.
WE SUBMITTED PICTURES AND COLOR SCHEMES OF SEPTEMBER.
WE CHOSE A LAYOUT WE LIKED IN NOVEMBER.
WE RECENTLY APPROVED THE CHANGE REQUEST IN JANUARY.
[02:05:01]
NOW THE NEW SITE IS SET TO LAUNCH ON FEBRUARY 7TH, 2024 FROM 9:00 AM TO 10:00 AM.THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT, WE HAD THREE MAIN GOALS TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL LOOK OF THE CITY'S WEBSITE, TO PROMOTE THE CITY'S BRAND AND TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT.
IMPROVING THE OVERALL LOOK OF THE WEBSITE AND PROMOTING THE CITY'S BRAND WENT HAND IN HAND.
WE CROSSED THOSE TWO HURDLES IN ONE LEAP BY CHANGING THE COLOR SCHEME OF THE WEBSITE.
AND BY ADDING MORE PICTURES ON YOUR SCREEN AT THE BOTTOM YOU'LL SEE A THREE COLORED BOX, WHITE, GOLD AND BLUE.
THE WHITE AND GOLD REPRESENT THE CITY'S LOGO AND THE BLUE WE CHOSE TO OFFSET THOSE COLORS 'CAUSE THOSE ARE TWO VERY STRONG COLORS IN COLOR THEORY BLUE IS ASSOCIATED WITH TRUST AUTHORITY WITH LIABILITY AND INTELLECT.
IT IS THE COLOR SOCIAL MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA SITES SUCH AS FACEBOOK AND LINKEDIN USE.
AND THAT IS ALSO WHY WE CHOSE IT TO OFFSET IT.
YOU SEE TWO PICTURES ON THE SCREEN.
ONE IS A DRONE SHOT OF THE WATER TOWER PICTURE.
THAT PICTURE INDICATES PICTURES ON THE SITE THAT'LL BE MORE INDUSTRIAL, THAT SHOW OFF PLACES IN THE CITY THAT ARE REALLY QUITE BEAUTIFUL.
THE OTHER PICTURE WAS TAKEN AT THE LAKEFRONT PARK RIBBON CUTTING THE SITE NEEDED MORE FACES SO WE ADDED MORE FACES.
THE FACES ARE GONNA SHOW THAT YES, THE CITY IS INDUSTRIAL AND YOU CAN COME WORK HERE, BUT YOU CAN ALSO RAISE YOUR FAMILY HERE AND HAVE FUN WITH YOUR KIDS HERE AND COME VISIT HERE.
'CAUSE THERE ARE THINGS TO DO IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
THESE ARE A COUPLE MORE PICTURES THAT'LL BE ON THE SITE.
WE HAVE A PICTURE FROM THE CHRISTMAS PARADE, A PICTURE FROM THE RIBBON CUTTING AT THE PLEASURE ISLAND DISC GOLF COURSE, A PICTURE FROM THE PAVILION AND A A DRONE PICTURE FROM THAT BRIDGE THAT GOES TO PLEASURE ISLAND.
SO THE OTHER GOAL THAT I STATED EARLIER WAS TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT.
ONE WAY THIS WAS DONE WAS BY HOLDING MEETINGS WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS CONCERNING THE CONTENT AND THE CONTENT AND THE LAYOUT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PAGES.
SO BASICALLY WE MET WITH THEM, THEY TOLD US WHAT WAS OUTDATED, WHAT WASN'T OUTDATED, AND WE JUST BROUGHT THE PAGES UP TO DATE.
ANOTHER WAY THIS WAS DONE WAS BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF PAGES AND CLICKS.
I WENT TO LAMAR UNIVERSITY, I GRADUATED WITH MY DEGREE IN CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS.
AND A BIG THING I LEARNED THERE WAS THAT THE MORE YOU HAVE TO CLICK ON A WEBSITE, THE LESS YOU CARE ABOUT WHAT IT'S TELLING YOU.
SOME OF THE PAGES HAVE MAYBE ONE TO TWO SENTENCES OF INFORMATION ON 'EM.
THAT'S VERY FRUSTRATING FOR A USER AND IT'S NOT VERY USER FRIENDLY.
SO AFTER MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS, THEY LET US KNOW WHAT CAN BE CONDENSED TO FIT ON ONE PAGE.
SO WE GOT MORE INFORMATION AND MORE SO LESS AREAS.
SO ALL THAT WORK HAS LED US TO THIS.
ON FEBRUARY 7TH, THIS IS WHAT'S GONNA FEBRUARY 7TH, AFTER 10:00 AM THIS IS WHAT EVERYBODY IN THE CITY IS GONNA SEE YOU WHEN THEY CLICK ON THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S HOMEPAGE, YOU SEE THE HEADER, THAT HEADER MOVES.
SO EVERY THREE TO FIVE SECONDS A NEW PICTURE IS GONNA SHOW UP.
THAT'S ALSO EXTREMELY HELPFUL BECAUSE ABOVE THE COLORFUL BUTTONS IS A WHITE BOX.
THAT BOX IS A LINK THAT'S GONNA MOVE WITH THE HEADERS.
SO SAY THERE IS A BIG EVENT, LIKE WE HAD THAT BIG CHRISTMAS PREY IN 2023, WE CAN MAKE A GRAPHIC, PUT IT UP THERE.
THAT LINK IS GONNA TAKE YOU TO MORE INFORMATION.
SO AS SOON AS PEOPLE ARE COMING TO THE PAGE, THE FIRST THING IS THEY'RE SEEING IS WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON BELOW ARE THOSE COLORFUL BUTTONS.
THOSE ARE LINKS BELOW THOSE BUTTONS.
IT SAYS PULL OUT THEIR POPULAR RESOURCES.
BUT THE THING IS WE CAN ADD OR TAKE AWAY TO THOSE AS WE SEE FIT.
SO YOU HAVE MORE THAN 12 THINGS LIVING ON THE HOMEPAGE.
BELOW THAT ARE THE NEWS FLASHES AND UPDATES.
I STATED EARLIER THAT RIGHT NOW TO SEE ALL THE NEWS FLASHES, YOU HAVE TO GO TO AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PAGE THAT SCROLLS.
SO YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO LEAVE THE HOMEPAGE TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
AND THIS IS THE BOTTOM, IT'S THE CALENDAR.
SO WHILE WE MOSTLY LOOK AT THINGS ON OUR COMPUTERS, WE KNOW THAT THE CITY IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THINGS ON THEIR PHONES.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS GONNA LOOK WELL ON THE PHONE TOO.
SO WE USE THE APP AND THAT'S WHAT IT'LL LOOK LIKE IF YOU'RE SCROLLING THROUGH THE HOMEPAGE ON YOUR PHONE.
NOT ONLY DID THE LAYOUT OF THE PAGE CHANGE, BUT SO DID THE CONTENT.
THIS IS THE CURRENT ANIMAL DEPARTMENT PAGE.
THIS IS WHAT IT'LL LOOK LIKE WHEN THAT PAGE LAUNCHES.
THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS THAT PREVIOUSLY YOU COULD NOT SEE THE ANIMALS ON THE ANIMAL CONTROL PAGE.
SO NOW INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO UP THERE, YOU CAN CALL ANIMAL CONTROL.
THEY'LL TELL, I SPOKE WITH ANTHONY MITCHELL, ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.
HE SAID, HE'LL TELL PEOPLE GO TO OUR WEBSITE.
SO NOW WE HAVE INTERNAL PEOPLE PROMOTING
[02:10:01]
THE WEBSITE AND WE HAVE REASONS FOR THEM TO KEEP COMING BACK.'CAUSE THAT'S GONNA BE CONSTANTLY UPDATED BECAUSE ANTHONY MITCHELL ACTUALLY UPDATES THAT HIMSELF.
AND HE IS BEEN DOING IT AND HE'S BEEN DOING AN AMAZING JOB AT IT.
SO WHEN ANIMALS COME IN, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO CALL ME, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO EMAIL ME.
HE PUTS THEM IN AND WHEN THEY'RE GONE HE TAKES THEM OUT.
THIS IS THE CURRENT FIRE DEPARTMENT PAGE.
THIS IS WHAT IT'LL LOOK LIKE WHEN IT LAUNCHED.
PREVIOUSLY THIS PAGE WAS A BUNCH OF LINKS.
BUT NOW WE HAVE THEIR MISSION, THEIR VISION STATEMENT, AND THEIR VALUES.
THAT BOX AT THE BOTTOM IS ACTUALLY A SLIDESHOW.
IT SHOWS PICTURES OF THEM NOT ONLY FIGHTING FIRES BUT ALSO ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE PICTURES IS THEM HANGING OUT WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE KIDS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE TWO MORE LINKS UP THERE, THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE IN THE SURVEY.
BEFORE I ENDED THIS, I WANTED TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHO HELPED ME CHOOSE WHAT LAYOUTS WE WERE GETTING, WHAT ADD-ONS WE WERE GONNA PUT.
AND THEY ALSO HELPED ME PICK THE COLORS.
WE MET A LOT LINDSAY HARRIS, BRANDY PATTISON, CHERYL GIBBS, AND DIETRA JONES, BONNIE BOLAND, AND CHRISTIE WHITLEY.
I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE A GIANT THANK YOU TO THE GIS TEAM, KENNETH BAO AND DEREK HOLLAND.
THEY GAVE ME A BUNCH OF DRONE SHOT PICTURE PICTURES TO PUT ON THE WEBSITE.
I WANTED TO THANK ALL, IT'S NOT ON THERE, BUT ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO MET WITH ME.
UM, I WANTED TO THANK CITY EMPLOYEES FOR PUTTING ON EVENTS, THE CITIZENS, FOR GOING TO THE EVENTS AND CIVIC PLUS WHO WORKED WITH US BEHIND THE SCENES TO BUILD THIS NEW SITE.
THE LADIES ARE SHOWING OUT TODAY.
THE LADIES ARE, THE LADIES ARE DOING THE DOGGONE THING TODAY FROM OUR YOUNG GIRLS TO THE WAY FINDING TO THE WEB PAGE.
MAN, LISTEN, IT'S AN EXCITING TIME IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AND YOU ALL ARE LEADING THE WAY.
I WANT TO INVITE OUR CITIZENS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS TO JUST GET A HOLE AND TO GRASP THE EXCITEMENT IN OUR CITY.
I WANT TO INVITE INDIVIDUALS TO BANDWAGON.
YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM MIGHT HAVE LOST, BUT YOU CAN JOIN THE PORT ARTHUR BANDWAGON.
SOME GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN OUR CITY.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR TALENTS AND YOUR GIFTS AND YOUR ABILITIES TO THIS PROJECT.
AND UH, MAN, I'M JUST EXCITED.
AND FOR THE TEAM THAT HAS BEEN CREATED SURROUNDING THESE EFFORTS, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES.
CITIZENS WILL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CLICK ON LINKS TO COMPLETE FORMS. TOO OFTEN THEY'RE HAVING TO COMPLETE A PHYSICAL PAPER FORM FOR INFORMATION AND THROUGH MUNI CODE TO FIND OUT DIFFERENT, UH, ORDINANCES.
ARE WE ALSO MAKING THAT USER FRIENDLY EVEN TO GET TO OUR AGENDA OR THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS IS A TASK THAT IS A PART THAT THE CITIZENS MAY NOT EVEN GO TO LOOK AT, BUT FOR WHAT WE LOOK AT.
SO IS THERE OPPORTUNITY FOR STREAMLINING THOSE PROCESSES AS WELL? MM-HMM.
IN THE BACKGROUND WHERE I WORK, THERE IS A FORMS, I DON'T WANNA SAY APP, I JUST CAN'T THINK OF THE EXACT WORD, BUT WE CAN BUILD FORMS. AND SO AS FORMS ARE NEEDED, PEOPLE CAN EMAIL ME.
I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE ONE ON THE WIX PAGE.
AND ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PAGE, THERE'S USUALLY, UH, THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION.
SHE ASKED ME IF WE COULD CHANGE IT TO A FORM BECAUSE SHE HAD THAT EXACT SAME CONCERN.
AND SHE ALSO WAS CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT SHE COULDN'T TELL WHERE EMAILS ARE COMING FROM, LIKE FROM CITIZENS OR LIKE SPAM.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE PROCESS AND THAT I WILL CONTINUE DOING AS PEOPLE EMAIL ME ABOUT FORMS AS FAR AS SEEING, I FORGOT THE WORD YOU SAID.
[02:15:01]
WATCH A MEETING OR AGENDAS ONE OF THOSE TWO YOU GO TO, IT TAKES YOU TO THE BACK.THAT ONE IT TAKES YOU TO A DIFFERENT SITE AND THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN SEE AGENDAS, MEETING MINUTES.
THERE'S A LOT BACK THERE THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE.
AND WE MADE SURE TO PUT IT AT THE VERY TOP.
'CAUSE WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS FOR PEOPLE, FOR TRANSPARENCY REASONS.
IN ADDITION TO THEM BEING ABLE TO COMPLETE A SPEAKER FORM TO REQUEST TO SPEAK OR REQUESTING FOR A PRESENTATION.
NOT TO STREAMLINE THIS PROCESS.
I KNOW IT CAN BE DONE AND THEY SHOULD BE FILLABLE SO THAT IT'S NOT TAKING DAYS HAVING FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO REVIEW THE FORM, TO SUBMIT IT.
AND IT'S EMBARRASS, IT'S BEEN EMBARRASSING.
UM, SO I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED YES.
THAT THIS PROCESS IS COMING INTO FRUITION.
UM, PLEASE, PLEASE, WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU NEED, DON'T HESITATE TO ASK.
SO I'LL NEED TO EMAIL PEOPLE JUST TO FIND OUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE ON THE FORM AND WHO IT NEEDS TO GO TO.
BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE AND THAT I WILL WORK ON.
AND, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? OH YES.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND I PULLED OUT THE, I HAD TO JUMP THROUGH ALL KINDS OF HOOPS TO GET TO WHERE I NEED TO BE.
OH, BY THE WAY, YOU SEE THAT LOGO UP THERE? MM-HMM.
YOU SEE THE SAILBOAT? I ADDED THAT.
UH, UH, MS. JOHNSON, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE IT AND I, I, I, UH, ARTICULATE THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES, UH, NOT TO SAY ANYTHING BAD, MS. MS. FAYE ABOUT THE PREVIOUS PAGE, BUT I HATED IT.
IT WAS ALL WE HAD AND YOU KNOW, YOU HAD TO JUST LEARN TO NAVIGATE THROUGH IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE FAITH FOUND YOU, BUT I'M GLAD SHE DID.
WE APPRECIATE HER AND YOU ALWAYS KEPT IT, YOU KEPT THIS UNDER THE WRAPS BECAUSE I WAS TELLING CHRISTIE ABOUT IT AND SHE JUST SAID, WELL, IF SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN, MAYOR, SOMETHING'S GONNA HAPPEN.
AND SHE NEVER TOLD ME IT WAS REALLY GOING TO BE THIS.
BUT AGAIN, I, I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I THINK EVERYONE IN THE CITY DOES, BUT WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU.
MAYOR, JUST QUICKLY, MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE INPUT OF THE IT DEPARTMENT.
UM, SOMETIMES IN MUNICIPALITIES, THE IT DEPARTMENT GOES ON RECOGNIZED AS JUST ANOTHER FUNCTION IN THE CITY.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEW AGE AND AS WE CONTINUE TO CATER TO, UM, YOUNGER MILLENNIALS AND, AND WHAT'S THE, DO YOU CALL IT GEN GENERATION X? YOU KNOW, THAT WE CONTINUE, YOU KNOW, TO UM, INCORPORATE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS REQUIRED AND IS NECESSARY.
AND, AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT OF, WE HAVE YOU HERE AS WELL.
THE THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AND YOU KNOW, SHE'S DONE SO WELL.
AND I'M GONNA TAKE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE.
WE ARE GONNA TAKE A BREAK FOR 10 MINUTES AND WE, WE, WE COME RIGHT BACK TO THE MEETING.
UH, CITY, UH, SECRETARY, YOU GOING TO REESTABLISH FOR ME, PLEASE? YES, SIR.
AND BEFORE WE WOULD PROCEED, I'M GLAD, UH, WE DID TAKE A BREAK AT THE, AT THE PROPER TIME.
THERE'S A WATER SITUATION IN THE, IN OUR BUILDING.
CITY MANAGER WORKING ON, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL TELL ME IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I JUST THOUGHT I'D THROW THAT OUT THERE.
SO YOU, YOU MAY HAVE SOME ISSUES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW QUICKLY THEY'RE GONNA RESOLVE IT.
BUT, UH, SO WE DID TAKE A BREAK JUST IN TIME.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE ARE STILL ON PAGE
[III.E.(1) A Discussion Regarding The Lake Arthur Detention Pond (Requested By Councilmember Beckcom)]
TWO, AND WE'RE AT A DISCUSSION NOW.WELL, E DISCUSSIONS, E UH, A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE LAKE ARTHUR DETENTION POINT.
IT'S BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM.
[02:20:01]
COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM.UM, LAST WEEK ON THURSDAY, I WAS A RECIPIENT OF AN EMAIL FROM THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.
UH, AND IT WAS ORIGINALLY REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW REGARDING, UH, THE LAKE ARTHUR DETENTION POND EXPENSE DETAILS TO DATE, UH, WHICH INCLUDED VENDOR AND TIMEFRAMES.
AND SO NOW THAT WE'VE GOT THE TIMEFRAME AND THE MONEY THAT'S BEEN SPENT ON THIS PROJECT, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT.
WHERE ARE WE AND WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH IT? OKAY.
UH, AND CITY MANAGER, DO WE HAVE, WE HAVE THAT OR FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS THAT INFORMATION? OR AGAIN? WELL, THE, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT GAVE US THE, THE NUMBERS AND THE DATES.
BUT WHAT WE NEED NOW IS, UH, AN UPDATE ON WHERE THE PROJECT IS.
IS ANYTHING GOING ON? DO WE HAVE ANY KIND OF SCHEDULE? WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE, IS CRAIG HERE OR CRAIG? CRAIG COME.
COULD, COULD YOU COME FORWARD PLEASE AND GIVE US SOME SORT OF UPDATE ON THE LEAK AFTER DETENTION? AND AS MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IT'S NO LONGER A PROJECT WITH THE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, CRAIG.
UH, BEFORE YOU GET BEGIN, MR. UH, COUNCILMAN KIN, ADD SOMETHING.
JUST TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT, AND, UH, JUST TO KIND OF BRING COUNCIL BACK, I, I DID DO A TIMELINE TO KIND OF EXPEDIENT THIS PROCESS.
UH, 9, 10, 20 19, WE ACTUALLY STARTED THIS FORMAT.
UH, THE PROPERTY ID NUMBER 2 6 8 1 2 5 3 0.971, UH, THE PROPERTY WAS, HAD IT'S 14 ACRES, AND IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR APPRAISAL ON 9 16 20 19.
AND IT WAS SENT TO THE CITY OF, UH, 9 10, 20 19.
UH, WE ACTUALLY HAD APPRAISED, THE CITY HAS DONE AN APPRAISAL FOR THIS PROPERTY.
THE ID NUMBER WAS 7 4 5 1 6, VALUED AT 400, UH, AND $33,000.
WE THEN SOLD THIS PROPERTY FOR 850, UH, THOUSAND DOLLARS, UH, ON 12 3 20 19.
SO, UH, PROPERTIES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PROPERTY, WE ACTUALLY OWN, UH, THE CITY ACTUALLY OWNED THIS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TEEM AND, AND FEDERAL FUNDING.
I'VE BEEN, UH, INSTRUMENTAL IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WERE GONNA DO WITH THIS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, BECKHAM TO ENSURE THAT WE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, DO SOME DRAINAGE OPPORTUNITIES HERE BECAUSE OF BCAS AND BCRS, UH, UH, THIS PROJECT KIND OF STALLED AND WE SPEND, I THINK, A TOTAL OF $881,000, UH, UH, MONIES, UH, TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE DRAINAGE IN THAT AREA, UH, LAKE ARTHUR AREA.
SO JUST TO KIND OF BRING YOU ABREAST OF THOSE THINGS, I DO HAVE DOCUMENTATION SUBSTANTIAL, SUBSTANTIATE THIS, UH, THESE ITEMS, UH, FOR, UM, CONSIDERATION.
BUT WE ARE AT A DEAD STILL AT THIS POINT WITH THIS PROPERTY.
I, UM, MS. CRAIG, YOU CAN TAKE THE HAIL NOW.
THE, UH, THE PROJECT, ACTUALLY, THAT WAS THE LAND PURCHASE, UH, TIMEFRAME.
THE PROJECT ACTUALLY STARTED BY THE FORMER PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, IDENTIFYING THAT THIS WOULD BE A PROJECT TO SUBMIT UNDER THE FEMA HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM, THE 4 0 4 PROGRAM, WHICH IS ONE ARM OF, OF DISASTER RECOVERY.
AND THAT PROJECT WAS, WAS IDENTIFIED PHASE ONE, WHICH IS THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND, AND, UH, APPLICATION, UH, WAS COMPLETED.
UH, AND ONCE WE GOT THROUGH PHASE ONE, UH, AND THAT $880,000 OR SO, UH, THE GOOD NEWS FOR THAT IS THAT THE, ALL OF THAT IS REIMBURSABLE.
UH, OR SOME OF THAT MONEY'S ALREADY COME IN FROM FEMA.
THE CDBG PAR PORTION OF THE REIMBURSEMENT, UH, IS IN PROCESS.
SO THAT PHASE ONE, UM, WAS BASED ON THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR'S IN INSTRUCTION.
THAT, THAT WAS ONE OF, I THINK, SIX APPLICATIONS WE WERE PREPARING.
UM, COUNCILMAN KINLAW IDENTIFIED THAT WE GOT TO A POINT OF A, WHAT'S CALLED A BCR, UM, BENEFIT COST RATIO.
UH, AND IF, IF THE PROJECT DOESN'T REACH A BENEFIT OF ONE, THEN FEMA WON'T APPROVE THE FUNDING FOR PHASE TWO.
UH, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT PROJECT, THAT, UH, IT WAS DISALLOWED OR, OR IT DIDN'T MEET THE BENEFIT COST, UH, RATIO FOR FEMA TO APPROVE PHASE TWO FUNDING.
UH, AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHY THE PROJECT NO LONGER EXISTS IN TERMS OF A, UM, A PHASE TWO PROJECT.
[02:25:02]
YES.WHEN THIS PROJECT FIRST STARTED OUT, YOU KNOW, WE TALKING ABOUT FEMA, THE, THE, THE CITY IDENTIFIED THREE AREAS FOR FLOODING, VESTER, STONE, UH, STONEGATE, THAT AREA THERE, AND, UH, PORT ACRES.
THOSE WERE THE THREE MAJOR AREAS WE PAID TO HAVE STUDIES DONE AND DESIGNED, DONE FOR THOSE THREE AREAS.
AT NO TIME WAS ANYTHING, ALL THESE PROJECTS HINGED ON FEMA MONEY OR NOT GETTING MONEY.
IF SOMEONE HAD COME TO THE COUNCIL AND SAID THAT WE CAN'T DO THIS UNLESS WE DO THIS, THEN WE PROBABLY WOULD'VE DONE WHAT WE DID WITH STREETS.
WE COULD APPLY FOR CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS, OBTAIN THE MONEY, AND FIX THOSE PROBLEMS. BECAUSE THOSE PROBLEMS WERE IDENTIFIED AS CREATING A PROBLEM WITHIN THOSE AREAS.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THOSE THREE PROJECTS, IF WE HAD DONE THEM, WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I SEEN THE PROJECT GO FROM US SAYING, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT DONE.
I, ON COUNCIL, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT DONE TO SOMEONE TELLING US, OH, WE COULD GET FEMA MITIGATION.
OKAY, THAT'S NOT THE COUNCIL'S JOB TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE FUNDING AND HOW IT'S GOING TO GET DONE.
BUT THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE GET BACK TO THE POINT WHEREBY NOW, OH, THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT ONE.
BUT WHAT DID WE DO? WHAT DIRECTION WE TOOK AFTER THAT TO GET THIS FUNDED AND GET IT DONE? UH, THE C THE CITY ENGINEER DID NOT DECIDED THAT WAS THE PROJECT, UH, PRESENTED TO US.
IT WAS, UH, THE CITY ENGINEER SOUTH TEXAS, A WC HAD REPRESENTATIVE IN THERE.
AND DR TO ME ALSO WAS IN THE MEETING WHEN THIS AREA WAS DISCUSSED.
AND THEY WAS TALKING ABOUT THE DRAINAGE IN THAT AREA AND WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST LOCATION AND HOW TO DO IT.
SO THIS IS NOT NOTHING THE CITY ENGINEER DECIDED IT WAS THESE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND FIRMS THAT MADE THE DECISION.
I'M JUST, I'M JUST SURPRISED THAT WE WAIT HOW MANY YEARS? ABOUT FIVE YEARS SINCE 2019, ABOUT FIVE YEARS FOR SOMEBODY TO COME BEFORE US AND SAYS, IT'S DEAD.
IT'S NEVER DEAD UNTIL WE SAY IT'S DEAD.
WE COULD GO AND GET CERTIFICATE OBLIGATIONS LIKE WE DID WITH STREETS, BUT IT'S OUR CHOICE IF YOU GIVE US THE RIGHT INFORMATIONS, BUT KEEP LEADING THIS COUNCIL ON LEADING THIS COUNCIL, ON LEADING THIS COUNCIL ON, AND THEN COME AND SAY, IT IS DEAD.
AND WE COUNT ON, WE COUNT ON STAFF AND EVERYBODY JUST GIVE US THE, THE, THE STRAIGHT INFORMATION.
SO I'M, I'M REALLY SURPRISED THAT WE ARE NOT DOING THAT ONE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE GOLF COURSE.
BUT THAT WOULD BE PRETTY INTERESTING TO SEE IF IT GONNA STOP THAT FLOODING, BECAUSE WHEN WE GET WATER HEAVY RAINFALL DES DD SEVEN DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO GET IT OFF.
WE COULD GET IT TO THEM, BUT IT AIN'T GONNA GET US OFF.
SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO RETAIN IT, I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING.
I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, BUT I'VE LISTENED TO ENGINEERS WHO'VE TALKED ABOUT DRAINAGE AND STUFF, AND I'VE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IF YOU DO SOMETHING TO GET WATER TO THE CANAL, ONCE THE CANAL REACHES HEIGHT, YOUR OUTFLOW AIN'T GOING INTO IT.
WHERE'S THE WATER GONNA GO? SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DID WITH THE GULF COAST.
I NEVER UNDERSTOOD IT BECAUSE THE MAIN THING I DID UNDERSTAND WAS THE, THE 10, THE DETENTION POND WAS GONNA GET THE WATER OFF OF.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE SAID ABOUT IT.
[02:30:01]
YOU'VE SPOKEN CONSTABLE FRANK.I'M TRYING TO, I'M TRYING TO ASCERTAIN EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE.
AND THE COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE IS SAYING, UM, THAT WE DETERMINE AS A COUNCIL, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT PROJECTS ARE DONE AND, AND ALL OF THAT.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE, UM, THAT THE BCA, THE BENEFIT COST OR THE BCR, THE BENEFIT COST RATIO WAS NOT, UH, OF A NATURE THAT WE COULD DO THE, SO HOW DO WE GO, HOW DO WE BYPASS THE BCR WITH TO DO THE PROJECT IF WE DESIGNATE WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE DONE? I, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET PAST THAT.
THE BCR WAS, WAS IMPORTANT WHEN WE WERE, THE BCR WAS IMPORTANT.
WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PORT ACRES PROJECT, THE BCR WAS IMPORTANT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER PROJECTS.
HOW DO WE NOW JUST BYPASS THE BCR AND GO AHEAD AND DO THE PROJECT? AND THEN WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OTHER PROJECTS AS WELL.
AND, AND SO, UM, WE RELY ON STAFF, WE RELY ON, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF FOR THE, YOU KNOW, TO, TO, TO TELL US WHERE THE FUNDING IS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
HOW DO WE JUST BYPASS THE STAFF TO DO A PROJECT NOW? OKAY.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO GET OUR CITY ENGINEER IN ON THIS, AND I KNOW HE IS NOT HERE TODAY.
SO IF WE COULD PUT THIS BACK ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
UH, AS A DISCUSSION ONCE AGAIN, SO THAT WE CAN GET HIM INVOLVED.
BECAUSE IF, IF HE DIDN'T SAY THE PROJECT'S DEAD, THEN I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE, THIS PROJECT IS NOT DEAD.
UH, WE CAN ISSUE, UH, CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FOR THE FUNDING.
UM, I, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE DURING HURRICANE HARVEY, I HAD CONSTITUENTS AROUND THAT AREA THAT HAD NECK DEEP WATER IN THEIR HOMES AND IN THEIR STREETS.
AND THIS PROJECT NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD, AND WE NEED TO FIND THAT PATH TO MAKE IT MOVE FORWARD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, LET ME CLARIFY A FEW THINGS.
WHEN ALL THIS STARTED WITH THE FLOODING, THE CITY WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR FOUR PROJECTS.
THREE OF THEM TODAY HAVE BEEN FUNDED AND ARE ACTUALLY AWARDED FIXING TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS ELVIS FOUR ACRES.
AND STONEGATE, THIS PROJECT WAS PART OF THE FOUR THAT WAS NOT FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO WHEN CRAIG SAYS IT'S DEAD, IT'S NOT DEAD AS A PROJECT, IT'S DEAD AS A FEDERALLY FUNDED OR STATE FUNDED PROJECT.
SO IF THE COUNCIL'S WISHES IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT A BUDGET THIS COMING YEAR, FIGURE OUT HOW WE GONNA FUND IT AND MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
BECAUSE LIKE YOU ALL SAID, YOU DECIDE IF THIS PROJECT NEEDS TO GO FORWARD OR NOT, BUT ON OUR SIDE, WE WERE TRYING TO FUND IT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY.
BUT YOU GIVE US THE DIRECTIVE WHICH WAY YOU WANT TO GO, WHERE WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MOVE FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION.
WHAT'S THE MAGNITUDE OF IT? OKAY, JUST A MINUTE.
WELL, UH, IS THAT SOMETHING ELSE THAT YEAH.
WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT? MM-HMM.
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY COUNCILMAN CONSTABLE KILL LAW'S ATTORNEY.
HOW MUCH, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? THE COST OF THE PROJECT TO DO THE RETENTION POND AND TO PLACE IT, TO PLACE IT THERE.
HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? I MEAN, THE GOOD NEWS IS LIKE, IT HAS BEEN STATED THAT THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN ACQUIRED AND PAID FOR FEDERALLY TO COME UP WITH A PRICE.
TODAY, WE WILL HAVE TO COME BACK AND REEVALUATE THE PROJECT BECAUSE THE NUMBERS FROM FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO DON'T APPLY.
AND I DON'T WANNA EVEN TRY TO GUESS IF IT IS 300% OR 200% MORE.
SO WE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE TABLE, LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED, AND TRY TO GET AN ESTIMATE FOR YOU OF WHAT THAT COST WILL BE.
SO THE $830,000, THE $830,000 WAS FEDERAL DOLLARS.
GREG CAN, SOME OF IT I BELIEVE WAS FUNDED.
SO THE, THE, THE LAND ACQUISITION COST IS NOT FEDERALLY REIMBURSED.
ALL THE OTHER FA, PHASE ONE ENGINEERING, ALL THE HYDRAULIC STUDIES, ALL THE MANAGEMENT COSTS, ALL OF THAT WAS, IT WAS AND IS REIMBURSABLE.
THE LAND ACQUISITION PIECE IS NOT BEING REIMBURSED BY, BY FEMA OR TITO.
I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT HE SAID TO, OKAY.
BUT GUYS, LET, LET ME BE, JUST BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHY SPEND MONEY ON A PROJECT OR ON PROPERTY THAT'S SET FOR FIVE YEARS?
[02:35:01]
OKAY, LET'S, LET'S START IN THE BEGINNING.THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME, I THINK IT WAS, UH, COUNCILMAN ETT AND MYSELF WERE THE ONLY TWO ON THE COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR, YOU ALL ON THERE? I THINK YOU HAD JUST GOT ON.
BUT LISTEN, GUYS, WHY SPEND MONEY ON A DETENTION POND THAT WE GONNA LET SIT FOR FIVE YEARS? THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED.
WE NEED TO GET IN FRONT OF THE, OF THE APPROVAL OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN TEEM THAT WAS TOLD TO THIS COUNCIL, WE NEED TO GET READY FOR THIS PROJECT BECAUSE CHANCES ARE WE WILL GET, UH, SUPPORT IN, UH, OF THE FUNDING FROM, UH, TEEM AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S WHY I WAS ON BOARD WITH THIS.
THAT'S WHY COUNCILMAN DE SAID, AND, AND THE MAYOR WAS ON BOARD WITH THIS PROJECT.
AND THEN TO GET THE DOOR SLAPPED IN YOUR FACE AND SAY, OH, WELL, ONE OF YOUR PROJECTS WON'T GET APPROVED.
THIS IS AFTER WE SPENT $881,000 IN TOTAL FOR THE PROPERTY.
SO THAT'S THE CONCERN WE HAVE.
SO WE HAVE PROPERTY THAT WE OWN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DETENTION POND THAT THE CITY OWNS.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE, AND WE, I THINK IT WAS LAST TIME WE WAS, UH, UH, GIVEN A PRESENTATION, FOUR FEET, SIX FEET OF SLUDGE THAT WE'D HAVE TO GET OUT OF THERE TO GET IT AL.
AND THERE'S SO MANY OTHER THINGS WE HAD TO DO.
SO NOW WE AT A POINT, WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PRESSURE WATER PRESSURES THAT'S GONNA BE ON NINTH AVENUE AND JIMMY JOHNSON.
BUT WE SPEND THE MONEY, OR WE'VE GOTTEN THE MONEY.
I, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE'VE GOTTEN BACK.
YOU SAID THAT WE ARE GOING TO, WE'VE GETTING, WE'RE GETTING SOME OF THE MONEY BACK THAT WE ACTUALLY PUT UP FRONT.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT ANSWER.
NOBODY'S COME TO THIS COUNCIL AND SAID, HEY GUYS, THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS NEED TO DO.
SO I'M TOTALLY UPSET ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS SOMETHING BEEN, SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED SIX YEARS AGO.
YOU HAVE ALL THE RIGHT TO BE UPSET BECAUSE MONEY WAS SPENT, AND AT THE TIME WHEN ALL THIS WAS GOING DOWN, THAT PROPERTY WAS OUT FOR SALE.
AND WHEN WE WANNA DO DETENTION IN THAT AREA, KNOWING HOW MUCH LAND THE CITY OWNS AROUND IT, THAT WAS THE ONLY VIABLE LOCATION FOR THAT DETENTION.
SO, ALTHOUGH THE PROJECT DIDN'T HAPPEN, AND IT'S NOT ON THIS YEAR'S BUDGET OR PROJECTS, IT CAN BE ON NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, IT CAN BE ON THE YEAR AFTER, BASED ON WHEN YOU ALL CHOOSE TO FUND IT.
SO PURCHASING THE LAND WAS NOT IN VAIN, ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS OF SITTING THERE.
BUT THEY SPENT THREE YEARS GOING BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH WITH THE GOVERNMENT TRYING TO FUND THIS PROJECT.
SO, AND I THINK THE LAST WORD OF FINAL, NO WAY.
THEY JUST RECEIVED LAST YEAR, I BELIEVE GREG, WHEN THEY FINALLY SAID, THIS IS NOT GONNA BE FUNDED.
OR WAS IT 20 TO 21? SO IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S, IT'S SAD ALL THIS TIME.
THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR IT, BUT IF WE DIDN'T PURCHASE IT, THEN SOMEBODY ELSE WOULD'VE PURCHASED IT, BUILD SOMETHING ON IT, AND ELIMINATED THAT AREA OF BEING A POTENTIAL DETENTION, BECAUSE LIKE COUNCILMAN DO, DUETTE SAID, DD SEVEN CAN TAKE SO MUCH OF THAT WATER, AND AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER, WE HAVE TO HOLD SOME OF IT AND DISCHARGE IT TO THEM AT A CERTAIN RATE.
SO WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, FLOOD ANYBODY ELSE DOWNSTREAM FROM US.
SO WHAT WAS THE PLAN OF ACTION? IF WE WASN'T GONNA GET FUNDING, AND IT WAS SINCE 21, UH, WOULDN'T HAVE A STAFF OR, OR ANYONE COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS PLAN TWO, OR THIS IS OPTION TWO.
SO WE GOT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT AREA WHERE NINTH AVENUE AND JIMMY JOHNSON, A HIGH RATE OF DEVELOPMENT, SOME OF YOUR MOST EXPENSIVE HOMES, UH, BUSINESSES.
SO WHEN YOU CALCULATE BCRS BCAS, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? IT HAD ALMOST 80% OF DAMAGE IN THAT AREA AS WELL.
SO WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR? WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SUBMITTING NUMBERS THAT IT DOESN'T CHANGE.
SO FIVE YEARS LATER, OR SINCE 20, UH, 21, WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? WHAT'S THE OPTION? WHAT'S OPTION TWO? SO ONE THING, LET ME CLARIFY THAT, THAT THE JIMMY JOHNSON AREA IS THE STONEGATE PROJECT.
THAT'S NOT THE LAKE ARTHUR PROJECT.
SO THE LAKE ARTHUR PROJECT IS NOT, WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO TAKE ON THE JIMMY JOHNSON.
THAT'S THE STONEGATE PROJECT, WHICH IS APPROVED, WHICH IS, UH, COMING BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR FINAL, UH, CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND VALUE ENGINEERING.
SO, SO THAT, THAT IS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, IN TERMS OF THE, IN TERMS OF THE, THE LAKE ARTHUR PROJECT, UM, WE'VE, WE'VE COME MULTIPLE TIMES TO TALK ABOUT THE BCR NOT COMING, COMING FORWARD.
WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THAT.
[02:40:01]
THAT IS NOT OUR ROLE TO, TO KILL THE PROJECT OR NOT KILL THE PROJECT.WE'RE REPORTING ON WHAT THE FEMA AND C-D-B-G-R FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOR THAT PROJECT.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER HARVEY EVENT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE FLOODING AGAIN IN PORT ARTHUR, JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, FLOODING THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS.
THAT'S, THAT'S A, THAT'S A GIVEN.
SO WE, WE'VE BEEN CLEAR ABOUT THAT, AND WE DON'T WANT TO, WE DON'T WANNA MISLEAD ANYONE, ESPECIALLY THE PUBLIC, TO THINK IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER HARVEY EVENT, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE FLOODING IN HOMES.
AGAIN, IT'S THE SAME THING AS ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE NEW ORLEANS AREA.
THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FLOOD IMPROVEMENT, IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER KATRINA, THERE WILL BE HOMES FLOODED AGAIN.
UH, THAT'S JUST A, A, A FACT OF NATURE.
UM, BUT BOILING IT DOWN TO THESE PROJECTS, UM, THE STONEGATE WILL, WILL ANSWER THE, THE JIMMY JOHNSON AND, AND, UM, NINTH AVENUE AREA THAT'S PART OF THAT PROJECT AREA, UM, OR THE IMPACT AREA FOR THAT PROJECT.
UM, IN TERMS OF THE DETENTION PONDS, IF YOU CHOSE TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE, UM, SOURCE OF FUNDING, THE ISSUE THAT, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FACE, AND, AND THIS IS NON-ENGINEERING SPEAK, ALRIGHT? IS THAT EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE DETENTION AREA, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE PIPE SIZES, THE PIPE LOCATIONS, OR INLETS IN THE PIPE SIZES, UH, TO GET THE WATER TO THE DETENTION QUICK ENOUGH SO THAT IT, IT DOESN'T BACK UP.
UM, AND SO PART OF THE ISSUE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, PORT ARTHUR IS, IS A BIT OF A VICTIM OF DOING BUILDING, RIGHT?
SEE, SO, SO FEMA FORCES COMMUNITIES TO ADOPT FLOOD ELEVATIONS, RIGHT? OR THEY DON'T FORCE, BUT THEY, THEY OBVIOUSLY ENCOURAGE MANDATE, RIGHT? UM, AND SO IF YOU WANT HOMEOWNERS TO BE ABLE TO BUY FLOOD INSURANCE, YOU ADOPT A FLOOD ELEVATION THAT FEMA ACCEPTS.
AND SO WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AS A CITY, HIS HISTORICALLY, OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS OR SO, IS THAT ALL OF THE NEWER DEVELOPMENTS HAVE HAD TO BUILD TO CERTAIN ELEVATIONS ON THE BACKSIDE.
WHEN YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT YOU WANT TO DO IMPROVEMENTS TO AND HAVE FEMA FUNDED, IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO SPEND THAT MUCH MORE MONEY TO SHOW, UM, THE PROJECT THAT HAS TO BE SO BIG TO SHOW THAT THERE'S A BENEFIT TO IT IN ORDER TO GET FEMA TO FUNDING.
AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE, BECAUSE YOUR ELEVATION LEVELS OF THEIR, OF YOUR HOMES, NOT YOUR STREETS, REMEMBER 4 0 4 MITIGATION DOES NOT MITIGATE STREETS.
AND SO THAT WAS PART OF THE CHALLENGE OF THE LAKE ARTHUR PROJECT, IS THAT THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A DIRECTION THAT WAS GOING THAT WAS REALLY MORE ABOUT MITIGATING INUNDATION ON, ON ROADWAYS AND PASSAGE PASSAGES THAT WAS NEVER GOING TO GET THROUGH THE FEMA PROCESS.
AND SO WE GOT CLOSE, BUT WE COULDN'T GET IT TO, TO A POINT WHERE THE ELEVATION OF THE HOMES WERE, WERE CONTINUED TO BE AT RISK FOR THE MONEY THAT YOU WOULD'VE TO SPEND.
UM, AND SO THAT'S WHY THE LAKE ARTHUR PROJECT ULTIMATELY, UH, DIDN'T PASS THE BCR.
SO IF YOU'RE GONNA TAKE IT ON AND, AND GET A, A, YOU KNOW, A GO BOND OR WHATEVER ELSE, UH, THAT YOU GUYS WOULD CHOOSE TO USE, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY AN OPTION TO THE COUNCIL.
YOU, YOU MAKE THAT DECISION AS THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY.
UM, BUT YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA BE SPENDING A, A GOOD BIT OF MONEY, UH, TO GET THE INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT THE WATER CAN GET TO THE DETENTION PONDS, UH, AND HOLD THERE UNTIL DD SEVEN IS AVAILABLE.
NOW LET ME, UH, MAKE SURE WHAT I'M HEARING.
WE GOT THE, WE GOT THE RETENTION POND.
THE CITY HAS THAT, RIGHT? OKAY, SO HE HAS THAT NOW.
NOW YOU GOTTA CONVEY, GET WATER CONVEYANCE OR WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT, GET THE WATER TO THE RETENTION POND.
I'M HEARING THAT YOU ALL WAITED UNTIL YOU GOT APPROVAL FOR ON REFUNDING.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW AHEAD OF TIME THAT THE REGULATION WILL ALLOW FOR RE REFUND TO BE, TO BE REFUNDED BY, UH, FEMA OR WHOEVER.
UH, I, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, BUT THE, IN TERMS OF THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND,
[02:45:01]
NO, FORGET THAT.OKAY? CONVEYING THE WATER, GETTING THE, GETTING THE FLOOD WATER TO THE RETENTION POND.
WHAT AM I HEARING THAT THAT WILL NOT BE FUNDED? WHAT AM I HEARING THAT WILL NOT BE FUNDED? PHASE PHASE TWO, WHICH WOULD BE THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT.
IT WOULD BE THE, THE FINAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
NONE OF THAT WAS DONE BECAUSE FEMA, FEMA INDICATED THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FUND THE PROJECT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MEET THEIR BENEFIT COST RATIO.
SO THAT'S WHERE THE PROJECT STALLED.
IN TERMS OF IT NOT MOVING FORWARD, THERE WAS NO IDENTIFIED FUNDING SOURCE TO PAY FOR THAT WORK.
SO THE CITY IS THE CITY FACES.
NOW, IF THE, IF YOU CHOOSE TO PURSUE THE LAKE ARTHUR PROJECT, EVEN IN MODIFICATIONS, IT WOULD BE OUTSIDE OF A FEMA FUNDED PROJECT.
WHAT WAS, WHAT WAS, WAS PREVENTING YOU ALL FROM CITY GOING AHEAD AND PRE-FUND THE THING BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED AND BUILD IT TO THE SPECS AND THEN PURSUE WHY YOU PURSUED A REIMBURSEMENT.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WAS STOPPING THE COUNCIL FROM DOING THAT? I, I CAN'T ANSWER WHAT WAS STOPPING THE COUNCIL.
I MEAN, IF I WERE ON THE COUNCIL, IT, IT WOULD BE THE FINANCING OF THE PROJECT.
THAT'S TO LET A CONTRACT OF THAT MAGNITUDE WITHOUT IDENTIFIED FUNDING SOURCE.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LONGER YOU WAIT COSTS INCREASES, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE COUNCIL WAS NOT INQUIRING GETTING UPDATES AS TO WHERE YOU ALL AT IN THE PROJECT.
WHY YOU WASN'T GETTING UPDATES.
WAS IT COUNCILMAN? LET ME SAY ONE THING.
ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.
WHEN THAT PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED, THE CITY STARTED USING THAT PROPERTY FOR PARTIAL DETENTION FROM THE BEGINNING.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S NOT BEING UTILIZED FOR DETENTION AT ALL, BUT IT IS BEING PARTIALLY USED FOR DETENTION.
SINCE, SINCE WE GOT THAT PROPERTY, THERE IS WATER THAT GOES TO THAT POND.
THE PROJECT WAS GONNA DESIGN THE VOLUME WE NEED FOR DETENTION, MODIFY THE TWO PROPERTIES WE HAVE, AND THE LAND THEY PURCHASE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT VOLUME, AND ALSO BRING THE WATER TO THE POND THROUGH MODIFICATIONS TO INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HOME TO THE POND, BASICALLY.
AND THEN FROM THE POND TO THE D SEVEN.
SO THE CITY, IF WE WANT TO GO OUT AND DO A PROJECT, WE USUALLY BRING IT TO COUNCIL, WHICH THIS LEVEL, AT THIS POINT, THIS PROJECT WAS NOT BROUGHT TO COUNCIL AS LET'S DO THIS PROJECT, YOU KNOW, VIA CITY MONEY.
BASICALLY BONDS IS CITY MONEY THAT THE CITY PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR.
IT HAS NOT BEEN BROUGHT TO THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHY, UH, JOHN IS NOT HERE.
AND I WASN'T INVOLVED FROM 21 TILL NOW IN THAT PROCESS.
SO WE WILL LOOK INTO IT AND SEE WHY IT WAS NOT, BUT WE'LL ALSO START REVIEWING THE COST ESTIMATES THAT WERE DONE AT THE TIME, AND THEN BRING YOU THAT COST ESTIMATE.
BUT WE DON'T WANNA GO SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS ON ENGINEERING TO DESIGN THIS PROJECT WITHOUT SECURING THE CONSTRUCTION FUNDING FOR IT.
SO MOST PROJECTS WE BRING TO YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, A BUDGET FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, YOU APPROVE, THEN WE ENGAGE IN THE ENGINEERING BECAUSE YOU MIGHT APPROVE IT AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBERS MIGHT CHANGE OR TERM OUT.
AND THEN NEW COUNCIL COMES IN.
I DON'T WANNA FUND THIS CONSTRUCTION.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE BRING YOU THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FOR YOU TO APPROVE.
AND FROM WHAT I'M HEARING TODAY, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A CONSENSUS THAT THE COUNCIL WANT THIS PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO WE WILL BRING YOU SOME NUMBERS, WE'LL DISCUSS WITH FINANCE HOW IT CAN BE FUNDED.
WE'LL GIVE YOU A BETTER IDEA WHERE WE CAN GO FROM HERE.
UH, COUNCILMAN
YOU SAID SOME OF THE FUNDING WERE GETTING PAID BACK ON THE FUNDING.
I DIDN'T GET A NUMBER OR AMOUNT THAT WAS ALREADY BEING PAID BACK TO THE CITY BASED ON WHAT WE PAID FOR THE PROPERTY, UH, TO, FOR THAT PURCHASE OF THAT PROPERTY.
WE'LL GET THEM, WE GET GREG TO GIVE THAT NUMBER TO THE CITY MANAGER.
HE DISTRIBUTED, SO WE DON'T SHOOT FROM THE HIP STANDING AT THIS POINT.
UH, ANY MORE DISCUSSION? NO OTHER LIGHTS ON.
UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO, IS IT DISCUSSION REGARDING HONOR? MR. MAYOR, I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION IF YOU'D LIKE.
SO THE, THE CITY HAS RECEIVED 667 140 $2,000 AND 94 CENTS FROM FEMA.
AND THE SB SEVEN REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT PROJECT WAS $158,361
[02:50:01]
AND 61 CENTS.AND WHAT IS TO BE COLLECTED FROM C-D-B-G-R MONEY IS $52,787 AND 20 CENTS.
SO ABOUT $200,000? NO, YOU HAVE 667 FOR THAT, FOR THAT PROPERTY PURCHASE PRICE WE RECEIVING, WE'VE GOTTEN HOW MUCH BACK FOR THE PROPERTY PRICE THAT WE PURCHASED? ZERO.
[III.E.(2) A Discussion Regarding The Development Of An Ordinance To Implement Senior Citizen Exemptions For Water And Sewer (Requested By Councilmember Lewis)]
MOVE TO NEXT, UH, ITEM, UH, NUMBER TWO, DISCUSSION, UH, REGARDING THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF AN ORDINANCE TO IMPLEMENT SENIOR CITIZEN EXEMPTIONS FOR WATER AND SEWER.THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? YES.
UH, ARE WE GOING TO DISCUSS THIS HERE IN THE PUBLIC? OR THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION? SOMEBODY MENTIONED THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO DEVELOP AN ORDINANCE.
WE APPROVE THE BUDGET AND WE DISCUSSED THESE, UH, BACK IN PRIOR TO THE BUDGET OCTOBER, BUT WE DIDN'T FOLLOW UP.
I SHOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO FOLLOW UP AND MAKE SURE THE STAFF BRING THE, BRING THE ORDINANCE FORWARD TO, TO, TO, TO ADD THESE DISCOUNTS.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE AT NOW, UH, WHERE ARE WE ON DEVELOPING THIS ORDINANCE? ORDINANCE AND, AND HOW WE GONNA, HOW IS IT GOING TO BE DONE ON, ON THE, ON THE DEDUCTION, I MEAN EXEMPTION? YES, SIR.
AFTER YOU BROUGHT IT UP, WE DID SOME RESEARCH AND WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 14,700 RESIDENTIAL METERS IN THE CITY.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING, DON'T KNOW HOW CORRECT THESE NUMBERS ARE, BUT THERE'S 13.2% THAT ARE LIVING IN PORT ARTHUR THAT ARE SENIOR CITIZENS.
SO IF WE CONVERT THAT TO METERS, WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT 1,925 METERS.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO VERIFY THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS DISCOUNT THAT THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND DECIDE WHAT IS IT GONNA BE.
BUT SPEAKING THROUGH, UH, WITH TYLER, THE BEST WAY TO DO A DISCOUNT IS NOT A PERCENTAGE TO THEM, BUT RATHER A SOLID FIXED AMOUNT.
SO THE SOFTWARE WE HAVE DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONFUSION, AND WE'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE CONFUSION.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT SAYING WE ARE GONNA GIVE EVERY SENIOR CITIZENS $5 DISCOUNT A MONTH, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE NUMBERS STATISTICALLY CORRECT, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 115,000 A YEAR IN REVENUE LOSS.
UH, CAN THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT ABSORB THAT COST A HUNDRED PERCENT.
WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST FUNDS IN MANY, MANY YEARS.
SO IF THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO TAKE THAT APPROACH, WE, UH, CAN DEFINITELY AFFORD IT FINANCIALLY.
BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO AT THIS TIME IS GO INTO A WORKSHOP OR, UH, SCHEDULE A WORKSHOP SO WE CAN GO WITH ALL INTO ALL THE DETAILS WITH Y'ALL, AND YOU GIVE US RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO.
WE DON'T HAVE TO CREATE AN ORDINANCE.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS INTRODUCE AN, UH, A SECTION IN OUR EXISTING ORDINANCE THAT WILL ACCOMMODATE THIS TYPE OF DISCOUNT.
I HEAR, I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
AND YOU TALKING ABOUT A HUNDRED AND SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS IMPACT.
WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED THIS, WE IMPLEMENTED THIS, THAT INCREASE INDUSTRY IS GOING FAR MORE THAN, SO I DON'T CONSIDER THAT THAT LITTLE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT RETROACTIVE.
BUT WHAT WE ARE GETTING FROM INDUSTRY FAR OUTWEIGH THE, A LITTLE, LITTLE SMALL IMPACT THAT SENIOR CITIZEN EXEMPTION IS GOING TO BE DOING.
BUT I, AND I WOULD LIKE TO, WE GO AHEAD AND DO THE WORKSHOP, WHATEVER, WHATEVER IT TAKE.
AND THEN I WANT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT RETROACTIVE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN BOMBARDED ABOUT THIS, UH, THE SENIOR CITIZENS COMING DOWN HERE AND, AND STAFF SAYING, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT NO EXEMPTION.
WE, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING.
I MEAN, COUNCILMAN, THE, THE NUMBER I GAVE IS JUST AS AN EXAMPLE.
SO I PUT, YOU KNOW, NUMBERS INTO PERSPECTIVE.
YOU ALL DECIDE HOW YOU WANNA DO THIS.
WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE DIRECTION FROM YOU.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO AN ORDINANCE, UH, ADDITION AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.
SO YOU TELL US WHICH WAY YOU'D LIKE TO GO IN THE WORKSHOP, AND WE WILL MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
HOW SOON CAN WE DO THE WORKSHOP? AS SOON AS YOU NEED, WE ARE READY.
WE GOT ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED.
HOW SOON CAN WE GET THE WORKSHOP DONE SO WE CAN GET THIS THING IN PLACE? WE'LL WORK WITH THE CITY SECRETARY TO SEE WHEN THAT CAN BE DONE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT AS WELL IS THE POLICY.
YOU KNOW, AS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I HAVE HAD THAT DISCUSSION,
[02:55:01]
YOU KNOW, UM, AS TO WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL IS A PROPERTY OWNER OR, YOU KNOW, WHETHER ONE IS JUST GOING TO, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ABUSE AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT A HUNDRED PERCENT.AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE WILL DISCUSS IN THE WORKSHOP OF HOW OTHER CITIES ARE DOING IT TO ELIMINATE THE ABUSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS NEW, UH, ITEM THAT'S DIRECTED TO HELP SENIOR CITIZENS.
WE GOT, WE GETTING QUITE A WINDFALL FROM INDUSTRY.
WELL, THAT'S WHY I WENT ALONG WITH IT, BECAUSE THE, THE, THE BUDGET, WHAT THE IMPACT THAT, THE GREATER IMPACT THAT THE INDUSTRY WAS GOING TO HAVE ON TODAY POINT, JUST PURCHASE A LOT.
COUNCILMAN? THEY HAVE THAT IMPACT DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE, BUT WHEN THEY GO TO OPERATIONS, THE INDUSTRY IS NOT A VERY BIG USER DURING THEIR OPERATION.
'CAUSE MOST OF THEIR OPERATING WATER COMES FROM THE LNVA.
WE HAVE ONE LARGE USER RIGHT NOW, BUT THE REST OF THEM, I MEAN, THEY'RE GOOD SIZE USERS, BUT IT'S NOT THE VOLUMES THAT YOU THINK THEY WOULD BE USING TO OPERATE.
WELL, THAT'S ANOTHER SUBJECT OF, UH, THE IMPACT ONLY THE LEAKS WE GOT.
IN REFERENCE TO THE SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT WAS.
LET ME CORRECT COUNCILMAN LEWIS.
THE DISCUSSION WAS AFTER WE DID THE BUDGET, OKAY? MM-HMM.
COUNCIL ELECTED TO APPROVE THE RATE INCREASE WITH THE RATE INCREASE WENT RAISES FOR EVERYBODY.
WHEN YOU BROUGHT UP DISCOUNT FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, I SAID EVEN THEN, IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.
I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT, BUT WE NEED TO STOP, WANT TO AFFECT OUR PROJECTED REVENUE THAT WE BALANCE THE BUDGET ON TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE WHEN WE DID THE BUDGET, THIS TOPIC YOU BROUGHT UP WAS RIGHT CLOSE TO AFTER, RIGHT AFTER WE DONE THE BUDGET.
SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO REALLY IS JUST TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE WANT TO DO AS A COUNCIL.
AND THEY'RE FIXING TO START THE BUDGET.
AND IF WE DECIDE THAT, UH, WE WANT TO DO A DISCOUNT FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, ALL IT TAKES IS US DETERMINING WHAT TYPE OF DISCOUNT WE WANT TO ESTABLISH.
PUT IT IN THE FORM OF RESOLUTION, THE COUNCIL APPROVE IT.
AND WHEN THE CITY MANAGER DOES HIS BUDGET, THEN HE WILL IMPLEMENT AND CALCULATE THE REVENUE FROM WATER UTILITIES WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT US GOING BACK AND WAIT.
SO I THINK YOU, YOU'RE TRYING TO RUSH THIS, BUT I DON'T SEE A NEED TO RUSH IT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT DISCOUNT AS PART OF OUR BUDGET.
SO WHAT, WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE GOTTA GO BACK AND AMEND THE BUDGET AND WE GETTING INTO THE NEW BUDGET CYCLE WITH THE STAFF.
SO I DON'T THINK ANYBODY AGAINST IT, BUT I JUST THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THIS, DON'T NEED TO RUSH THIS RIGHT NOW.
WE COULD JUST GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THE PROCESS WOULD BE WITHIN BUDGET AND THEN ALL THIS WILL BE FIGURED IN.
I JUST DON'T SEE WHY WE GOTTA RUSH THIS, YOU KNOW, SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE VOTED FOR THE INCREASE.
UM, I DON'T INTEND THIS TO BE SOMETHING FOR YOU TO ANSWER NOW, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT FOR THE WORKSHOP.
UH, YOU MENTIONED THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE, NUMBER ONE, THEY'RE SENIOR CITIZENS AND THEN YOU SAID PROPERTY OWNERS.
SO THAT MADE ME START THINKING ABOUT, WELL, WHAT ABOUT SENIOR CITIZENS THAT ARE RENTERS THAT DON'T OWN THE PROPERTY, THEY LIVE IN A RENT HOUSE IN PERRY RIDGE OR WHATEVER.
UM, SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING, UH, LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO CONFIRM OWNERSHIP.
BUT A RENTER THAT'S A SENIOR CITIZEN SO THAT WE DON'T LET THEM FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
WE'LL GIVE YOU MORE INFO ON IT DURING THE WORKSHOP.
WHEN THIS WAS INITIALLY DISCUSSED, IT ALSO INCLUDED THOSE THAT ARE DISABLED.
[03:00:01]
A LOT OF POINTS TO THIS.BUT I WANT US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT ELIMINATING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, SETTING TIMEFRAMES AS TO WHEN IT WILL BE REVIEWED TO KNOW IF THAT PERSON STILL QUALIFIES OR THAT PROPERTY STILL QUALIFIES.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO MAKE IT, TO MAKE THIS RIGHT.
AND HOPEFULLY IT COULD BE DONE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU HAD SOMETHING ELSE? YES.
UH, WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS AND, AND, AND IMPLEMENTED THE BUDGET WAS NOT, WE HAD VOTED ON THE BUDGET, BUT THE BUDGET WAS NOT IMPLEMENTED.
WE DID IT BEFORE WE IMPLEMENTED THE BUDGET.
SO, UM, IT'S NOT LIKE IT WAS PAST OCTOBER THE FIRST AND THEN WE DECIDED TO AMEND THE BUDGET.
THIS WAS DONE BEFORE THE BUDGET WAS IMPLEMENTED.
UH, THERE'S ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS.
[V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
I THINK ON PAGE THREE WE HAVE, UH, WELL, WE HAVE ANY REPORTS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST FROM, UH, UH, LET'S SEE.COUNCILMAN BECKHAM, YOUR LIGHT ON? YES, I HAVE SOMETHING FOR NUMBER FIVE.
UM, THESE ARE PICTURES FROM THE FIRETRUCK PUSHIN CEREMONY THAT I WAS PRIVILEGED TO ATTEND.
AND THIS IS MY FIVE YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER.
HER NAME IS BECKHAM ROSE RUTHERFORD.
AND SHE HAS BEEN TALKING EVER SINCE SHE WAS ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD, THAT SHE WANTED TO BE A FIREFIGHTER.
UH, AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO, TO, UM, YEAH, THERE SHE IS.
JUST WANTED TO, UM, GIVE, UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I THINK THE CHIEF HAD TO STEP OUT.
UH, THIS WAS IN CELEBRATION OF THEIR NEW LADDER TRUCK.
UH, IT'S THE BIGGEST TRUCK THAT THEY HAVE.
THEY WERE RIGHT THERE STABILIZING IT TO PUT THE LADDER UP AND THE WEATHER HELD OUT FOR US JUST LONG ENOUGH TO, TO DO THAT.
AND I'D LIKE TO SAY AT THIS JUNCTURE, I DO TRY TO ATTEND THESE DIFFERENT EVENTS AROUND THE CITY, UH, JUST TO SHOW MY SUPPORT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, EVEN IF IT'S NOT IN MY DISTRICT.
UH, AND I REALLY TRY TO GO TO THE THINGS THAT ARE IN MY DISTRICT, BUT I CAN'T GO TO 'EM IF I DON'T KNOW ABOUT 'EM.
YESTERDAY THERE WAS, UH, AN EVENT WHERE, EXCUSE ME, SOME GRANT MONEY FROM HUD WAS AWARDED TO THREE DIFFERENT APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN DISTRICT THREE.
AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT EVENT.
UH, SO I'M MAKING A, UH, PLEA HERE IN THIS OPEN MEETING THAT I COULD BE INCLUDED, UH, IN ANY EMAILS OR COMMUNICATION THAT GOES OUT, PARTICULARLY ABOUT EVENTS IN DISTRICT THREE.
AND, UH, TO ANSWER THAT COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM, I DID RECEIVE THE INFORMATION, BUT IT WAS DONE, DONE THROUGH HER.
AND, UH, IN THE FUTURE, WHAT I WOULD DO WOULD GET WITH CHRISTIE AND WHEN THINGS ARE JUST NOT IN YOUR DISTRICT, WITH ANYBODY'S DISTRICT, WE WOULD TRY TO GET, UH, BETTER COMMUNICATIONS ON THAT.
SO THAT THAT'S NOT, BUT I WOULD'VE TO JUST TAKE THE BLAME.
I JUST DIDN'T HAVE HER AS SEND IT TO ANY OF THE COUNCIL BECAUSE WE WERE GIVEN A LIST.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN DONE HERE, AND THEY CHANGED IT.
THEY, THEY, THEY, UH, HOOD GOT BACK TO ME, CHANGED IT, AND COUNTY JUDGE AND I WERE WORKING WITH SOMETHING ON IT.
BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY REALLY HUD'S, UH, PRESENTATION TO THEM FOR US BEING, UH, AWARD THE MONEY IN OUR CITY.
BUT, BUT IN THE FUTURE, WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND I'LL LET CHRISY KNOW ABOUT IT.
SO IF I DON'T REMEMBER THAT, YEAH.
AND, AND, AND THAT FOR EVERY, UH, COUNCIL PERSON.
AND ANSWER COUNCIL PERSONS WHEN SHE DOES EMAIL YOU OR CALL YOU, AND THEN YOU OUGHT TO ANSWER AND RESPOND, OKAY? OKAY.
UH, ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, NOW LET'S MOVE TO, UH, WELL, THERE IS NO PUBLIC HEARING AND NOW
[VI.(1) P.R. No. 23469 – A Resolution Approving The First Amended And Restated Agreement For Professional Services And Employment As Chief Executive Officer Of The Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation (Part 1 of 2)]
WE HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS.ON PAGE THREE AND FIRST RESOLUTION, WE HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS RESOLUTION NUMBER, PR NUMBER 23 4 6 9.
IT'S A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND EMPLOYMENT AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE PORT ARTHUR, SECTION FOUR, A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
[03:05:01]
MOVE MAYOR.AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT, UH, PR NUMBER 23 4 6 9 IS READ.
WE READY TO VOTE? QUESTION, ASSUMING WE HAVE A QUESTION.
HAVE QUESTION, COUNCILMAN? UH,
YEAH, WE HAD THE, THE CONTRACT WAS SENT TO US FOR, FOR US TO LOOK AT IT AND STUFF, BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS IT.
ARE WE GONNA DISCUSS IT HERE IN THE OPEN? UM, OR IS IT GOING TO GO CLOSE? OKAY.
ATTORNEY, YOU ALL HAD SOME QUESTIONS THAT I SENT OVER TO THEIR ATTORNEY AND, UM, TO THE EDCS ATTORNEY.
AND MY, THE RESPONSE IS, AS I RECALL, WAS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE IT UP AT THE MEETING AND GET BACK WITH US.
SO YOU DID HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND I SENT THEM OVER TO HIM.
UH, HE AND I HAVE NOT COMMUNICATED TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWER YET.
HE HAS, I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TO THOSE QUESTIONS YET.
WELL, WHEN THIS, THIS IS WHAT CAN HAPPEN.
AND MS. WEST, UH, WEST, THAT'S HER MAIDEN NAME.
I THINK MAYBE SHE HAD TO LEAVE.
SHE WAS HERE EARLIER AND SHE HAD INFORMED ME ON YESTERDAY IF THERE WOULD BE QUESTIONS THAT WE DID HAVE AND, UH, THAT IF WE WOULD SEND THEM OVER IN WRITING TO HER AND THE BOARD.
AND SHE WAS REPRESENTING THE BOARD.
'CAUSE MR. ANDERSON COULD NOT BE HERE.
FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD ON YESTERDAY, HE COULDN'T MAKE THE MEETING TODAY.
BUT IF, ARE THERE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES, I DID.
WELL THIS, IF YOU WOULD DO THIS, GET WITH THE ATTORNEY.
THE COUNCIL GAVE ME THE QUESTIONS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND I SENT THE QUESTIONS OVER TO THEIR ATTORNEY.
SO, SO IF THEY'VE GOT 'EM, BUT IF, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, COULD, COULD WE JUST PRIVATELY GET WITH THEIR ATTORNEY ON THAT, UH, TO EXPEDITE TIME AND, AND THEN SHE'LL GET THEM OVER TO 'EM? WELL, THIS, THIS, THIS RELU, I MEAN, RESOLUTION BEING COMING NOW ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TIMES.
COULD WE KEEP TABLING THE TABLE? THE TABLE? LET'S VOTE ON, WAIT A MINUTE.
NO, THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY I ASK YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PROLONG IT WITH A, I'M NOT PROLONGING WITH A LONG DISSERTATION.
LET'S, LET'S MOVE, LET'S MOVE.
I AM THE CHAIR OF THE MEETING.
I'M THE REASON THE MEETINGS LAST LONG BECAUSE I ALLOWED TOO MUCH.
I TELL YOU WHAT POINT OF ORDER.
WHAT'S YOUR POINT? I'M MAKING A STATEMENT TO YOU TO EXPEDITIOUSLY EXPLAIN IN DIALOGUE WHAT YOU WANT.
GO ONCE AGAIN, THIS HAS COME US TWO, THREE TIMES.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, THAT WE REMOVE THE ITEM UNTIL WE HAVE GOT ALL THE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS IT AND THEN WE PLACE IT ON THE AGENDA IN WHICH WE WILL THEN BE ABLE TO DISPOSE OF IT.
YOU GOT A SECOND ON IT? THAT'S MINUTES.
GOT A SECOND? I'M GETTING I THE MOTION.
AND SECOND THAT THIS WILL BE REMOVED, BUT YOU FURTHER DISCUSSION IS ABLE TO BE HAD ON IT.
ARE WE READY? WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON IT? THAT READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT? AYE.
SOMEBODY WE HAVE A NO, BUT NO.
WE GOT, UH, LET'S DO A ROLL CALL.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A QUESTION IN THE MIDDLE OF A VOTE.
I'M YOU, I MEAN, I CALL FOR HIM.
AND YOU GIVE OUT A SECOND AND YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF VOTING, YOU CAN'T STOP THE VOTE.
IT'S A QUESTION ABOUT THE MOTION.
SO NO, BUT, BUT WE CAN'T ENTERTAIN YOU RIGHT NOW.
MAYOR FAILS THE MOTION TO REMOVE FAILS.
CAN I, UM, MAYBE ADD SOME INSIGHT? GO AHEAD, LET'S GO.
AND THEN MR. UM, SANDERS IS ALSO TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH MR. Z THEIR UNDERSTANDING.
AND I WAS THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A JOINT MEETING TO CLEAR UP THE REST OF THE QUESTIONS.
AND I THINK WHATEVER DAY THE JOINT MEETING WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN, THE WEATHER OR SOMETHING, IT, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
SO YOU MIGHT WE'LL WORK TOWARD THE JOINT MEETING WHILE SINCE THIS, THIS, THIS MEASURES FAILED.
BUT ANYWAY, WE, AND, AND I, BECAUSE I, I WANT, I WANT US TO BE IN HARMONY ON MOVEMENT HERE IN OUR CITY ON, ON EVERY FACET OF EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY MAY NOT, MAY NOT GET WHAT THEY WANT, BUT AT LEAST WE CAN HAVE
[03:10:01]
A GOOD AMICABLE, UH, SOLUTION TO IT.SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL WORK TOWARD GETTING THIS MEETING SET UP AGAIN IN THE, IN THE MEANTIME.
BUT NOW THIS ACTUALLY THE MAJOR FIELD, SO IT STAYS ON, BUT WE MIGHT STILL BE ABLE TO GET A MEETING.
AM I CORRECT ON THAT? THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WANTED A MEETING, BUT I RELAYED THE QUESTIONS.
THREE TO FOUR QUESTIONS AND I GAVE IT TO THEM.
MR. DUC SAID IF THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE HE WOULD GIVE IT, YOU PRIVATELY INCLUDE THAT IN THAT AND THEN THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT BACK TO US.
BECAUSE THE DISCUSSION I HAD YESTERDAY WITH, UH, MRS. HOLMES CONCERNING HER BEING HERE TODAY, IF THERE WOULD BE QUESTIONS, HER RESOLVE WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD GIVE THEM, GIVE THEM TO HER IN WRITING AND THEY WOULD GO BACK WITH THAT.
WE'VE ALREADY GIVEN, WE'VE ALREADY GIVEN TO, OKAY.
MAYOR, WE, YOU GOTTA VOTE YOUR MOTION TO REMOVE VOTE ON THE WHOLE MOTION.
SO WE STILL NEED A MOTION TO EITHER ADOPT OR REMOVE.
WE STILL NEED A MOTION ON THE CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION.
SO NOW WE NEED TO VOTE ON, ON, ON THE MAIN MOTION.
OR TABLE OR MAIN MOTION TO APPROVE 23 4 6 9.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
I I JUST WANNA BE SURE I'M, I'M SAYING IT CORRECTLY.
THAT'S I'M ASKING OR TABLE OR SOME KIND OF MOTION TO REMOVE IT FROM THE FLOOR.
AND WE DO, WE'RE DOING WHAT NOW? YOU COULD TABLE IT TO REMOVE IT FROM THE FLOOR.
SO NOW I'LL READ IT AGAIN, RIGHT? OR PR NUMBER 2, 3, 4, 6, 9.
RIGHT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING, FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND EMPLOYMENT AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE PORT ARTHUR, SECTION FOUR, A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION.
UH, I HAVE TO GET ANOTHER MOTION TO GO.
THAT WE WOULD'VE, IT'S BACK ON THE TABLE.
OKAY, WE'RE READY FOR QUESTIONS AGAIN ON THIS FLOOR.
OKAY, THEN I'LL ASK ALL MY QUESTIONS.
HE SAYS IT'S GOING TO COME UP.
I'M GIVING YOU A CHANCE TO NO, NO, NO, I'M JUST GONNA EXPLAIN ME.
IT'S TIME FOR QUESTIONS BECAUSE I HAD QUESTIONS AND I KNOW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER HAD STATED QUESTIONS.
THAT'S WHY I SAID WE SHOULD RE THAT'S WHY I MADE THE MOTION TO REMOVE IT.
SO WHEN WE GET ALL OUR ANSWERS, THEN WE COULD HAVE DEALT WITH IT.
BUT SINCE THE COUNCIL DECIDES NO, WE DON'T WANT REMOVE IT, THEN THAT MEANS NOW WE GONNA VOTE IN.
SO GUESS WHAT? WE'RE GONNA PUT IT ON THE FLOOR.
I'M READY TO QUESTION BRING ON FORWARD.
WE'RE GOING TO ANSWER MY QUESTION AND YOU ALL WON'T HAVE Y'ALL ANSWER.
BRING WHO, BRING WHO? THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FORWARD.
SOMEBODY GOTTA ANSWER THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
BUT GO AHEAD, ATTORNEY MIGHT BE THE ANSWER.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT SOMEONE FROM ME.
SEE, ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT'S WHAT I DIDN'T, I HAVE YOUR LISTED CHANGES, UH, THAT I SENT OUT, UH, TO THEM.
SO IF YOU WANT ME TO GO OVER THAT HERE OR IN WHATEVER FORMAT I HAVE.
THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD, YOU HAD, WELL, LET'S GO, GO OVER THERE.
WHAT'S THE FIRST QUESTION? MR. UC? BUT THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, SIR.
OR IF YOU WANT ME TO DO IT IN EXECUTIVE.
SO WE, WE STILL HAVE IT ON THE FLOOR.
WE CAN BRING IT DOWN AND BRING IT BACK UP TO TAKE ACTION.
SO LET'S, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS, THE COHORT, UH, COUNCILMAN D'S QUESTION.
WE CAN ANSWER HIM DOWN THERE AND BRING IT BACK HERE.
IT'S THIS ONLY ONE ITEM THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
SO, UH, WHAT DO I DO? UH, MAKE A MOTION.
WE MUST STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE FLOOR FOR THAT SPECIFIC DISCUSSION.
YEAH, BUT WE GONNA BRING, OKAY.
YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I'M VERY SORRY.
DO WITH THE INFORMATION THAT MR. JOSEPH IS TRYING TO ACQUIRE FROM MR. Z, ARE YOU EXPECTING THAT TODAY? SECOND, THE ANSWERS, I DON'T KNOW.
WE, WE, AS, AS I UNDERSTOOD, THE QUESTIONS WOULD BE ANSWERED IN A JOINT MEETING, BUT I DO HAVE WHAT YOUR QUESTIONS ARE AND I CAN GO BACK OVER THEM.
AND, UM, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION IF YOU WANNA HOLD.
[03:15:01]
MY QUESTION TO MY COHORTS IS CAN WE AT LEAST HOLD THIS UNTIL AC AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION TO GIVE MR. JOE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A RESPONSE FROM MR. ZACK AND NOT TABLE IT? JUST HOLD IT UNTIL AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.THAT, THAT, THAT WAS THE CONSENSUS JUST NOW.
IT SOUNDS SOUNDED LIKE A TABLE AGAIN, THAT'S WHY IT SAID HAD A QUESTION.
NO, WE WERE SAYING WE JUST GO EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH IT AND THEN IF THERE WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE AN ACTION ITEM THEN, AND WE WOULD FROM THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE'D HAVE TO COME AND ACTIVE ON IT AGAIN HERE IN OPEN SESSION.
I'M JUST ENCOURAGING US TO PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE MOVEMENT ON THIS TODAY.
I, I'VE ALREADY, YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION OKAY THAT WE JUST HOLD IT UNTIL WE GO TO EXECUTIVE BRING IT BACK.
I'D LIKE TO MOTION THAT, UH, PR NUMBER 23 4 69 BE HELD UNTIL WE GO AND RETURN FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND THEN MOVE AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, HOLD UNTIL AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THAT PARTICULAR, UH, PR ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? NONE.
[VI.(2) P.R. No. 23494 – A Resolution Approving A Training Agreement Between The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation And Lamar State College Port Arthur For Tuition Reimbursement For Five (5) Port Arthur Resident High School Graduates Attending A 2-Year Associate Degree Program Not To Exceed $67,500.00; Funds Available In EDC Account No. 120-80- 625-5475-00-00-000]
PR NUMBER 23 4 9 4.A RESOLUTION RATHER APPOINTING, APPROVING RATHER A TRAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, SECTION FOUR, A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND LAMAR STATE COLLEGE PORT ARTHUR FOR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT FOR FIVE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES ATTENDING A TWO YEAR ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM NOT TO EXCEED $67,500.
THOSE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN EDC ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 2 0 8 0 6 2 5 DASH 5 4 7 5 DASH 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN ETT? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN BECKER SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 4 9 4 IS RED.
WE READY FOR QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS ON IT? UH, COUNCILMAN BECKER? YES.
UM, THE, THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS WAS ON THE AGENDA, I NEEDED SOME CLARIFICATION, UH, ABOUT WHETHER THESE STUDENTS WERE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO GO INTO THE PROCESS OPERATOR OR THE INSTRUMENT TECH PROGRAM OR IF THEY CAN GO INTO OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALSO IN HIGH DEMAND IN THE AREA.
YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION, MR. STOKE? YES.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WHILE, UH, CONDUCTED RESEARCH.
UH, WE ARE AS A FOUR A CORPORATION BOUND BY, UH, TWO THINGS THAT DETERMINE WHERE WE CAN, UH, DIRECT WORKFORCE FUNDS.
UH, THE LEAD OF THAT IS WHAT TYPE OF INDUSTRIES A FOUR A CAN INVEST IN.
UH, AND THAT IS WHERE THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IN EXISTENCE RIGHT NOW ARE GEARED AROUND, GEARED AROUND WHAT DO STATE STATUTES SAY ARE THE INDUSTRIES THAT A FOUR A, UH, CAN INVOLVE ITSELF IN AS IT RELATES TO WORKFORCE.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE LEEWAY OF WHEN THERE IS A, A, A MAJOR D DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN OURSELVES AND THE STATE.
STATE DOES ALLOW US TO THEN LEAN UPON OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE BOARD IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY RECOMMEND OR VIEW AS HIGH DEMAND, UH, JOBS.
SO THAT IS THE, THE FALLBACK, IF YOU WILL.
UH, REGRETTABLY THE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SUGGESTED, UH, LAST MONTH WAS A PARALEGAL PROGRAM.
AND I DID TAKE THAT TO THE BOARD, UH, REGRETTABLY THAT IS NOT RECOGNIZED RIGHT NOW BY THE LOCAL WORKFORCE BOARD AS HIGH DEMAND.
UH, SO IT WOULD BASICALLY, LONG STORY SHORT REQUIRE US TO GET A LEGAL EXCEPTION FROM THE STATE TO GO DOWN THAT PATH.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED FOR IT, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU AS A LAWYER CERTAINLY KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT GONNA BE AN EASY PATH.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK INTO FOR THE FUTURE? UH, WE CERTAINLY CAN.
UH, BUT AGAIN, WE WOULD NEED THE STATE TO CHANGE THEIR STATUTES OR WE WOULD NEED AS OUR FALLBACK, THE WORK FOR THE LOCAL WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS BOARD FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS TO CHANGE WHAT THEIR, UH, NUMBERS ARE SHOWING ARE THE HIGH DEMAND JOBS FOR INDUSTRIES IN THE AREA.
I THINK GOING WITH TWC WOULD BE THE PATH OF LESS RESTRICTION AND RESISTANCE.
SO IF WE COULD FIND OUT FROM THEM, UH, GOING FORWARD, WHAT WOULD THEIR REQUIREMENTS BE FOR US TO SEEK THAT EXEMPTION THROUGH, THROUGH THEIR STANDARDS, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, ETT? YES, MR. STOKES,
[03:20:02]
UH, WHERE IS THAT FOUND THAT THE CORPORATION CAN ONLY LOOK AT INDUSTRIAL JOBS TRAINING? UH, ON, I'M SORRY, FORGIVE ME.ON THE CONTROLLER STATE CONTROLLER'S WEBSITE.
UH, IN FACT, ON THE HOMEPAGE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, IT LISTS THE TYPES OF JOB TYPES, EXCUSE ME, THE TYPES OF INDUSTRIES SLASH PROJECTS.
AND THEN IF YOU READ A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, WHAT WE CAN SUPPORT FOR THOSE INDUSTRIES AS WELL AS THE TYPES OF PROJECTS.
AND THAT'S WHERE YOU GET INTO THE WORKFORCE.
SO THAT WORKFORCE HAS TO BE TIED INTO THOSE PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES.
BUT LIKE I SAY, WE DO HAVE A FALLBACK, AND THAT'S OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS BOARD.
WELL, YOU KNOW, UH, UNDERSTANDING THE MISSION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, IT SAYS TO CREATE AND EXPAND NEW BUSINESS.
AND WHEN WE, WHEN I, WHEN IT'S TRAINING, I NEVER SEEN ANYTHING WHERE THEY SAID, WHEN THE, IF THE CORPORATION DECIDE TO PROVIDE TRAINING, I, I SEEN NOTHING THAT EVER SAID WHAT SPECIFIC TYPE TRAINING THAT, THAT CORPORATION'S SUPPOSED TO DO OTHER THAN WHAT THEY DECIDE THAT'S BEST WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU REFERRING TO INDUSTRY, BUT LET'S NOT DO INDUSTRY BECAUSE THE CORPORATION IS NOT CONFINED TO INDUSTRY.
A TYPE A CORPORATION IS NOT CENTERED AROUND INDUSTRY.
AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO JOB TRAINING, MM-HMM,
SO, SO WHY ARE WE ATTACHING, UH, INDUSTRY TO WHEN WE TALK IN JOB TRAINING? WELL, THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY, UH, INTERPRETATION.
AND WHEN THIS, UH, QUESTION WAS ORIGINALLY POSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM BACK IN DECEMBER, UH, AS I, UH, ALLUDED TO, WE WENT, WENT BACK TO THE BOARD AS WELL AS TO OUR ATTORNEY, AND I ASKED FOR HIS OPINION, HIS RESEARCH ON THAT.
SO WHAT I AM ESPOUSING TO YOU IS THE GUIDANCE THAT I RECEIVED.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM GOING BACK AND ASKING FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION FROM HER LAWYER.
UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT IS.
UH, SO LET ME, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WOULD JUST HUMBLY ASK, LET ME, UH, DEFER THAT QUESTION AND REFER IT TO OUR ATTORNEY AND LET HIM DO, PROVIDE US SOME, ALL OF US SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT.
I APPRECIATE IT IF YOU DO THAT, 'CAUSE THAT SOUND LIKE A, A, A GOOD THING.
UH, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING PERTAINING TO JOB TRAINING PROVIDED BY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TYPE A THAT SAYS IS ASSOCIATED WITH INDUSTRY.
SO IT'S WHAT WE'VE FIGURED THE DEMANDS ARE.
SO HOW WOULD YOU, UH, CHECK ON THAT? AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BRING ME BACK TO COUNCIL, BUT YOU COULD GIMME A CALL AND IF I, YOU FEEL NEED TO, THEN I COULD PUT IT ON AN AGENDA AND WE COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE WHOLE COUNCIL.
BUT RIGHT NOW I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY SOMEONE TRYING TO DEFINE TRAINING TOWARD THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE IT'S NOT WRITTEN.
MR. STOKES, WHEN YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH, WILL YOU PLEASE INCLUDE A LIST OF ALL OF THE, UM, THE JOBS THAT WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF IN, IN OUR COMMUNITY? LIKE, UM, WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF NURSES.
WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS.
AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, SO IT'S STILL, YOU KNOW, UP TO A CERTAIN LEVEL.
BUT IF THAT IS IN PLAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO USE, I, I GOOGLED IT BECAUSE I, I GOT KIND OF THROWN IT SAID TYPE A WASN'T JUST FOR INDUSTRY, BUT JOB TRAINING IS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS LISTED THERE.
SO IF THAT IS THE CASE, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BE PROACTIVE IN TRYING TO FILL THOSE JOBS THAT WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S, LIKE I SAY, THAT WE, WE ARE ALLOWED THAT BACKUP WITH THE LOCAL WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS BOARD BECAUSE I, I GUESS THE THINKING IN AUSTIN IS THEY'RE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
SO HERE IS A GLOBAL STATUTE, HOWEVER, THAT STATUTE MAY NOT WORK IN LUBBOCK, IT MAY NOT WORK IN PORT ARTHUR, IT MAY NOT WORK IN CORPUS CHRISTI.
[03:25:01]
A BACKUP.SO THAT'S A PART OF THE RESEARCH THAT I'LL BRING TO YOU ALONG WITH COUNCIL.
SO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY, HAVE A BALANCE TO BE ABLE TO SAY, LET'S GO AFTER X, Y, Z.
IT'S A FINITE AMOUNT OF FUNDS.
THERE AREN'T ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMAN ETT, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? NO, I'M OKAY.
OKAY, WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES? SO HONOR, WE HAVE APPROVED, APPROVED RATHER.
NEXT WE HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS,
[VI.(3) P.R. No. 23495 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation To Utilize PreEmployment Workforce Training Funds To Implement A 2024 Youth Employment Program In An Amount Not To Exceed $83,200.00; Funds Available In EDC Account No. 120-80-625-5475-00-00-000]
PR NUMBER 23 4 9 5.THIS IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF FORT ARTHUR.
SECTION FOUR, A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION TO UTILIZE PRE-EMPLOYMENT WORKFORCE TRAINING FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT A 2024 YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $83,200 FUNDS AVAILABLE IN EDC ACCOUNT NUMBER ONE 20 DASH 80 DASH 6 25 DASH 54 75 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KINLOCK? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK SECOND.
IT'S MOVED IN SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE PR R NUMBER 23 4 9 5 IS RED.
WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? UH, COUNCILWOMAN BECKER? YES.
MY QUESTION IS IN REGARD TO THE HOURLY WAGES BEING SET AT 18 TO $20 PER HOUR, UM, THAT SEEMS A LITTLE UNREALISTIC IN THE AREA FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.
UM, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS DICTATED BY THIS PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE HOURLY WAGE AT 18 TO 20? OR COULD WE LOOK AT MAYBE A 12 TO $15 WAGE AND MAYBE ADD AN ADDITIONAL STUDENT OR TWO TO THE PROGRAM? I'M GONNA TRY AND GIVE YOU A, A, A CONDENSED ANSWER.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, IN TERMS OF THE, THE STATUS OF THE STUDENTS, THESE ARE FOLKS THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN IN ADVANCED CLASSES.
SO THEY'RE NOT THE TYPICAL, I'M FRESH OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY HAVE BEEN, THEY'VE BEEN EXPOSED, IF YOU WILL.
UH, BACK IN THE EARLY PART OF THE LAST YEAR, UH, WE CONDUCTED SOME RESEARCH, SAT DOWN WITH A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROGRAM THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE PAST.
LONG STORY SHORT, ONE OF THE THE CONSTANT FEEDBACKS WE GOT WAS THEIR DIFFICULTY IN HOLDING ON TO THESE FOLKS THAT THEY FEEL THAT THEY'VE INVESTED A GREAT DEAL IN AND HAVE TARGETED AND VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE SKILL SETS THAT THE STUDENTS BRING IN.
AT THAT TIME, WE WERE AROUND THE WAGE THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.
UH, AND THAT WAS RUNNING AT THE TIME $6 BEHIND CHICK-FIL-A UH, AT AN ENTRY LEVEL.
AND THAT WAS JUST, THAT WAS JUST NOT WORKING FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE EMPLOYERS THAT WE WERE TARGETING.
SO IN THE NEXT BUDGET WE INCREASED THAT, BUT THAT WASN'T JUST WILLY-NILLY, THAT WAS BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE FOLKS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM.
OKAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE SO ORDERED.
WE WILL APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 4 9 5 AS READ.
[VI.(4) P.R. No. 23543 – A Resolution Approving Water And Sewer Adjustments To Valero Services Utility Accounts Due To Leaks And/Or Equipment Malfunction]
WE HAVE PR NUMBER 2 3 5 4 3.IT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING WATER AND SEWER ADJUSTMENTS TO VALERO SERVICES UTILITY ACCOUNTS DUE TO LEAKS AND OR EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILOR KINLOCK.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND, IT IS REMOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2, 3 5, 4 3.
AS READ, UH, WE ARE AWARE OF QUESTIONS OF COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM.
I THINK MY QUESTION IS PROBABLY GONNA BE FOR THE WATER UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
UM, I UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE HAVING TO DO THIS.
UM, BUT MY QUESTION IS, AND I'VE I'VE LOOKED AT THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AND I'VE LOOKED AT THE TIMELINE FOR WHEN ALL OF THIS HAPPENED AND I, I UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WERE SOME DELAYS IN GETTING IT ALL DONE.
BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW, IS THERE A PLAN FOR FUTURE PREVENTION? I MEAN, WE'VE ALREADY HAD ONE HARD FREEZE.
WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE AT LEAST ANOTHER ONE.
FEBRUARY USUALLY IS NOT REAL FRIENDLY TO THIS AREA.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING IN TERMS OF FUTURE PREVENTION FOR ANOTHER EVENT LIKE THIS? WELL, RIGHT NOW I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A PROPOSAL, UH, FOR A COMPLETE MU CHANGE OUT.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF BEATERS THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WITHIN THE CITY.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE AN ISSUE LIKE THIS, AND WE WERE FACED WITH COV WHERE WE COULD NOT GET THE SUPPLIES THAT WE NEEDED, UH, THOSE LARGE METERS ARE NOT NORMALLY SHELVED, UH, BECAUSE THERE ARE UNDER WARRANTY FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.
SO THE PROCESS IS TO REMOVE THE METER REGISTER, SEND IT BACK INTO THE COMPANY, AND THEN THEY IN TURN WILL SEND US A REPLACEMENT FOR THAT METER.
[03:30:01]
SO HAPPENS BECAUSE OF COVID, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET THE SUPPLIES NEEDED.UM, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT REPLACING METERS CITYWIDE OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT JUST ABOUT INDUSTRY? WELL, UH, CITYWIDE AND I DO BELIEVE THAT DR.
TOME AND, UH, PROBABLY CALVIN MATTHEWS CAN ADDRESS THAT FURTHER.
UH, BUT WE ARE REQUESTING BIDS RIGHT NOW FOR THAT PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO BRING THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
MM-HMM?
TELL, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN.
WE ARE DO, DOING TWO THINGS TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE FIRST ONE, WE'VE ALREADY REPLACED ABOUT 12,000 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT USING CITY FORCES IN ORDER TO GET THOSE READS, UH, CORRECTED.
BUT TODAY WE HAVE THREE TO 4,000 METERS AT ANY TIME, NOT SENDING THE INFORMATION CORRECTLY, MESSING UP ON THE NUMBERS, OR NOT SENDING INFORMATION AT ALL.
SO WE ARE DOING THIS INTERNALLY BECAUSE WE KNOW THE METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM AND THE NEW READING SYSTEM IS GONNA TAKE SOME TIME.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS OUT THAT ARE DUE THIS MONTH, NOT THIS MONTH, SORRY, IN FEBRUARY THAT WILL BE COMING IN, THAT WE WILL REPLACE, WE ARE GONNA GO AWAY FROM THESE MECHANICAL, UH, METERS THAT HAVE A LOT OF ERROR.
AND WITH TIME THEY BECOME LESS EFFICIENT TO ELECTRONIC METERS WITH NEW TRANSMITTERS.
AND WE ARE CONTROLLING THAT NARRATIVE.
SO WE WILL HAVE A 10 YEAR FULL REPLACEMENT METER TRANSMITTERS ON THIS PROJECT, OR THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO PIVOT IT.
AND AFTER THAT WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER 10 YEARS THAT ARE GONNA BE RETROACTIVE BASICALLY.
AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS NOT GONNA COST THE CITY A PENNY BECAUSE WE ARE EXPECTING TO HAVE REVENUE INCREASES FROM THE DE EFFICIENCY THAT WE ARE THE EFFICIENCY THAT IS LOW RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE DOING THIS WITHOUT IMPACTING THE BUDGET, PAYING FOR IT FROM ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT'S GONNA BE ABLE TO BE CAPTURED AND IN HOPEFULLY INCREASING OUR REVENUE AS WELL.
SO WE, WE ARE ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE AN AWARD IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.
WHAT'S THE PRIORITIZATION? ARE WE LOOKING AT INDUSTRY FIRST? RESIDENTIAL FIRST? WE ARE GONNA TRY TO CAPTURE THE INDUSTRY FIRST BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE LARGER VOLUMES THAT, UH, THEY ARE USING.
BUT THE TIMELINE OF RECEIVING THAT EQUIPMENT CAN HINDER THEM BEING GOING FIRST IN LINE.
SO WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON THEIR EQUIPMENT, WE WILL BE STARTING TO WORK ON THE RESIDENTIAL ACCOUNTS.
UH, DOC, WE'RE JUST REAL QUICK.
DOES SHELF LIFE ON THE LARGE METERS, ARE YOU PLANNING ON HAVING ONE ON, ON STOCK OR ON HOLD? UH, UH, I KNOW IT'S KIND OF A DIFFICULT QUESTION FOR YOU.
IT'S, UH, BUT WE'RE GONNA NEED THOSE THINGS AND, AND JUST LIKE MY COHORT STATED THAT WE KNOW WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE ONE MORE HEART FREEZE.
SO ARE YOU PLANNING ON HOLDING ONE ON, BECAUSE IF WE HAVE TO ORDER IT, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, IT MAY, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WOULD BE.
AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE BRINGING THAT POINT OUT.
'CAUSE LIKE I SAID, ON THIS NEW PROGRAM, WE ARE CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE NOW AND WE CAN MAKE IT PART OF THE PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE THESE METERS ON THE SHELF, EITHER AT OUR FACILITY OR THEIR FACILITY AND MUST BE DELIVERED WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO DAYS OR THREE DAYS.
AND WE WILL, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT IS PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS WE WILL HAVE.
BUT TO HAVE, FOR US TO HAVE THESE METERS ON THE SHELF IS VERY COSTLY.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF METERS JUST SITTING THERE.
AND WE'D RATHER PUT IT IN WATER AND SEWER LINES.
ANY OTHER COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES.
UH, GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU? YES, SIR.
NO, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS.
UH, BOTH PARTIES, THE CITY AGREES WITH WHAT, WHAT THEY'RE GONNA BE PAYING OR CREDITED.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BOTH PARTIES.
BUT WHAT I DO HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT, THAT'S A CUSTODY METER, RIGHT? IT'S A WHAT? IT'S CONSIDERED A CUSTODY METER.
A CUSTODY CUSTODY METER, WHICH IS WHAT IT NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT TERM.
MY CONCERN IS HOW OFTEN IS IT CALIBRATED? HOW ACCURATE IS IT? YEAH.
DAILY, DO YOU, THESE METERS MUST BE CALIBRATED YEARLY.
BUT THE PROBLEM WE HAVE TODAY WITH A LOT OF THESE METERS IS THEY ARE VOLS THAT ARE ALWAYS WET.
AND WHEN THEY WERE INSTALLED, THEY WERE NOT INSTALLED WITH VALVES ON EACH SIDE TO WHERE YOU CAN GO CALIBRATE ON SITE.
SO EVERYTHING NEW WE DO IS GONNA BE CALIBRATED ON SITE WITHOUT HAVING TO REMOVE A METER.
YEAH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMOVE IT.
I'M, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE METER IN SERVICE.
YOU'RE CALIBRATED AND, AND AND IT'S WITNESSED BY BOTH PARTIES.
THE CITY'S GOT A WITNESS AND THE, AND INDUSTRY HAS A WITNESS.
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ARE GONNA BE DOING.BUT TODAY THE ONES WE HAVE ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO GO GET TO, TO CALIBRATE AND, AND AND, UH, BRINGING INTO THE REFUND THAT THEY ARE GETTING THAT YOU MENTIONED, ACTUALLY VALERO WORKED VERY, VERY WELL WITH US.
WE'RE EVEN SPLITTING THIS OVER TWO BUDGET YEARS.
SO IT DOESN'T IMPACT OUR, UH, FINAL NUMBERS FOR THIS BUDGET YEAR OR, BUT NEXT BUDGET YEAR.
SO SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING YOU HAVEN'T BEEN REALLY, YOU HAVE NOT BEEN CALIBRATING THEM? NO, SIR.
SO WE COULD BE OVERCHARGING INDUSTRY.
'CAUSE THESE METERS BECOME LESS EFFICIENT WITH TIME.
SO INSTEAD OF READING A HUNDRED PERCENT ACCURACY IN 10 YEARS, THEY MIGHT BE READING 90 TO 85%.
ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE AUDIT THIS PAST, UH, APPROVED PR NUMBER 2 35 43.
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]
MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THE CONSENT AGENDA.THERE ARE ITEMS HERE BASICALLY OF A ROUTINE IN NATURE.
AND WOULD THERE BE ANY ITEMS THAT ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD WANT REMOVED AND ACTED UPON INDIVIDUALLY? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? GIVE ME THE ITEM NUMBER AND THE PAGE PLEASE.
ITEM 1, 23, PAGE FIVE, ITEM 24 PAGE.
WHICH, WHICH WHAT, WHICH ONE? YOU SAID PAGE FIVE, ITEM NUMBER ONE.
THAT'S CLOSE ENOUGH, YOU SEE? OKAY.
ANY OTHERS? ANY OTHERS? UH, UH, MAY I APPROACH HIM? PAGE ONE, ITEM NUMBER TWO.
AND COUNCILMAN HAMILTON, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? NO, YOUR LIGHT IS STILL ON.
OH, ANYONE ELSE? I WAS JUST DOUBLE CHECKING, BUT I THINK THAT WAS ALL.
MAY I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ACCOUNT, THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF ITEMS NUMBER ONE, ITEM NUMBER TWO, ITEM NUMBER 10.
AND WE WOULD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THOSE STATED ITEMS. WE READY? QUESTION? ANY QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A, ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE.
SO REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED NOW FOR THOSE ITEMS THAT WE WILL DEAL WITH INDIVIDUALLY, WHICH WOULD BE ITEM NUMBER ONE
[VII.C.(1) P.R. No. 23124 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager Or His Designee To Negotiate A Professional Engineering Services Contract With Chica And Associates, Inc. For Construction Management And/Or Necessary Engineering Services Regarding The Stonegate Drainage Improvement Project. Funds Are To Be Allocated From The Hazard Mitigation Grant Account And The Community Development Block Grant DR Account. Project No. DR1P04]
ON PAGE FIVE PR NUMBER 23 1 24, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CENTER MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO NEGOTIATE A PRIVATE ENGINEERING CONTRACT WITH CHICA AND ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND OUR NECESSARY ENGINEERING SERVICES.REGARDING THE STONEGATE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FUNDS ARE TO BE ALLOCATED FROM THE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT ACCOUNT AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, UH, DR ACCOUNT PROJECT NUMBER D ONE P ZERO FOUR.
UH, WE MAKING GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK SECOND.
OKAY, WE MOVED IN SECOND AND WE READY FOR QUESTION.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS? UH, A CITY ATTORNEY? UH, THIS ITEM 23, UH, P 22 23 1 24.
ISN'T THAT RELATED TO PO 7 2 2 4 UNDER THE HAZARD OF MITIGATION? ARE THEY RELATED? LET'S SEE, LET ME PUT MY EYES ON THAT.
UH, THIS IS FOR, UM, STONEGATE DRAINAGE.
IF I'M LOOKING AT 23 1 24, THIS IS TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER FOR THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT OF THE STONEGATE DRAINAGE PROJECT.
THIS IS COMING OUTTA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.
NOW OVER HERE, UH, OVER HERE ON UH, 20, WHAT I WANT TO, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE ON, ON, ON ITEM NUMBER TWO.
MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS RELATED TO THAT? AND THIS IS A RESOLUTION.
SO, SO IS THIS, IS THIS IS ONE GONNA BE FUNDED OUT OF, OF, UH, ITEM TWO.
SO ON PO 7 2 2 4, THERE'S A LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS.
SO MAYBE IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE FINANCE
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DIRECTOR.I DON'T WANT TO, LET ME JUST PULL IT REAL QUICK.
I'M GONNA PULL UP THE ORDINANCE REAL QUICK.
ON PO 7 2 2 4, THERE'S A LIST OF THINGS AND UH, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE RELATED.
SHE'S SAYING NO, IT'S NOT, THEY'RE NOT RELATED.
AND IN FACT, UM, THIS IS TO NEGOTIATE CONTRACT.
YEAH, THIS IS JUST TO NEGOTIATE.
SO IT'S NOT AWARD IT NEGOTIATE CONTRACT.
SO THEY HAD AN RFQ AND THIS IS JUST TO DO THE NEGOTIATION, RIGHT? RIGHT, RIGHT.
AND THEN WHEN THEY, AFTER THEY NEGOTIATE, THEY'RE GONNA COME WITH THE CONTRACT.
I'M TRYING TO COMPLETE THE MONEY.
YEAH, THEY, THEY HAVE A CONTRACT AND THEN YOU'LL, OKAY.
SO THIS IS JUST AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATION.
THE QUESTION COUNCILMAN ETT, YES.
WE ARE TAKING THE FUNDS FROM TWO ACCOUNTS.
HOW MUCH IS COMING FROM ONE ACCOUNT? HOW MUCH IS COMING FROM THE OTHER ACCOUNT? YOU KNOW, WHENEVER WE GET TWO FUNDS, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IS COMING FROM ONE AND HOW MUCH IS COMING FROM THE OTHER.
THAT WOULD BE FOR CINDY ENGINEER OR, OR FOR FINANCE.
YEAH, YOU, VAL, YOU WANNA ANSWER AT THIS POINT WE'RE JUST NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE CONTRACT'S FOR.
SO NOW I'M HEARING THAT YOU SAYS THE FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED OKAY.
TO BE ALLOCATED FROM THE MITIGATION ACCOUNT AND FROM THE COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT ACCOUNT.
SO IF WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE GOING TO BE ALLOCATING, HOW CAN WE APPROVE IT? MAY, MAY, MAY, MAY I SAY THIS WHEN WE, WE SENT OUT FOR THE RFQ, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS WE, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WHEN WE ARE GOING TO USE THESE FUNDS.
NOW THERE ISN'T ANYTHING I'M RECALLING THAT STATES YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIFIC AMOUNT PRIOR TO APPROVING WHAT WE ARE ASKING RIGHT HERE.
AM I CORRECT ON THAT? ATTORNEYS PROBABLY THIS LANGUAGE PROBABLY DIDN'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE IN HERE AND THAT, I'M NOT SURE.
YEAH, BUT, BUT LEMME JUST ANSWER, LEMME JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION.
THIS IS JUST AUTHORIZING HIM TO NEGOTIATE.
THIS IS JUST SHOWING WHO THE MOST QUALIFIED BIDDER WAS.
AND SO WHEN WE GET, WHEN WE, WE'VE NOW ESTABLISHED THAT THIS COMPANY WILL BE THE, IS THE MOST QUALIFIED, THEN WE'LL COME BACK WITH A CONTRACT.
AND WHEN WE COME BACK WITH THE CONTRACT, THAT'S WHEN THE FUNDING WILL BE PUT IN.
SO THAT LANGUAGE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT PREMATURE.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT YOU SAY THAT LANGUAGE, RIGHT? BECAUSE, BUT IF YOU WOULD READ IT, IT SAID FUNDS ARE TO BE ALLOCATED FROM THESE ACCOUNTS, WHICH, WHICH SIMPLY STATES STATE FUNDS ARE TO BE B2B IS FUTURISTIC.
AND AS YOU SAID, MAYBE IF THAT WEREN'T IN THERE AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, I MIGHT THAT IN THERE PREMATURELY, SOMETIMES WE PUT TOO MUCH AND IT COMPLICATES, IT COMPLICATES THE MATTER.
SO LEGAL DEPARTMENT, Y'ALL ARE SMART LAWYERS.
BUT WHEN WE AWARD IT, WE PUT THE RIGHT, WE READY TO VOTE.
YOU, YOU, YOU LIGHT THOUGHT AGAIN, COUNCIL.
BUT YEAH, THAT'S MISLEADING WHEN IT SAYS IT'S GOING TO BE FUNDED.
OKAY, WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO WE ARE APPROVED PR NUMBER 23 1 24.
AND DON'T THINK ANYBODY, THAT'S GOOD DISCUSSION THERE BECAUSE IT CLARIFIES THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
[VII.C.(2) P.R. No. 23437 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Renew A Memorandum Of Understanding Between The City Of Port Arthur And The YMCA Of Southeast Texas For Operations Of The West Side Development Center And To Issue A Payment To The YMCA Of Southeast Texas In The Total Amount Of $80,000.00 For 2024 Operations Of The West Side Development Center. Funding Is Available In Account No. 001-15-043-5470-00-20-000]
NUMBER 2, 3 4 3 7 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO RENEW A MEM MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OR MOU BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND THE YMCA OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS FOR OPERATIONS OF THE WEST SIDE DEVELOPMENT CENTER.AND TO ISSUE A PAYMENT TO THE YMCA OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS IN A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $80,000 FOR 2024 OPERATIONS OF THE WEST SIDE DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
CENTRAL FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 0 0 1 DASH 15 DASH FOUR THREE.
I MEAN, UH, 0 4 3 DASH 5 4 7 0 2 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN LEWIS? MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN BECKHAM SECOND.
MAY YOU HAVE A QUESTION? UM, MAYOR, I APPROACH HIM.
IT'S REALLY MORE OF A COMMENT.
I AM DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF THIS MEMORANDUM
[03:45:01]
OF AGREEMENT.I'VE BEEN ASKED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE LIGHTING SURROUNDING THE WEST SIDE DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND I DID RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM, UM, THOSE WHO MANAGE THAT BUILDING STATING THAT THEY ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THE LIGHTING FOR THAT BUILDING.
AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAY HAVE BABY SHOWERS THERE AND IT'S GETTING DARK EARLIER AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING IN THE PARKING LOT AND IT'S SO DARK AROUND THAT AREA.
SO JUST KNOW THAT IT'S IN THE WORKS AND IT'S COMING VERY SOON.
OKAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS MATTER? NOW WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSES? AYE AB FOR THIS HONOR, WE HAVE APPROVED PR NUMBER 23 4 3 7.
[VII.C.(10) P.R. No. 23560 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 5 To The Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur And Texas Materials Group, Inc. – Gulf Coast Area Of Beaumont, Texas, For The Various Streets Roadway Improvements Project-Districts 2 & 3, For Seventeen Additional Driveways On Tyrrell Parkway From 32nd Street To Woodlawn Drive, That Increases The Contract Amount By $102,136.00 To The New Contract Amount Of $9,076,677.93. Funding Is Available In The Capital Improvement Project Account 307-21-053-8517-00-10-000]
10, PR NUMBER 2 3 5 6 0 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER FIVE TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND TEXAS MATERIALS GROUP INCORPORATED, GULF COAST AREA OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE VARIOUS STREETS.ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS, PROJECT DISTRICTS TWO AND THREE FOR 17.
ADDITIONAL DRIVEWAYS ON TAROT PARKWAY, UH, FROM 32ND TO STREET WOODLAWN DRIVE, UH, THAT INCREASES THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY 100,102,000, UH, $136 TO THE NEW CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $9,076,677 AND 93 CENTS.
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH FIVE THREE DASH 8 5 1 7 0 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A, UH, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN ETT? SOME OPPOSED? MAY I GET A SECOND COUNCIL? KEN LAW SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THIS, UH, UH, RESOLUTION.
UH, COUNCILMAN UH, BECKHAM? YES, I THINK THIS WILL BE FOR THE CITY ENGINEER TO ANSWER FOR ME IF YOU CAN.
IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU COULD SEND ME, UH, BY EMAIL THE SPECIFIC ADDRESSES OF THE DRIVEWAYS THAT ARE IN DISTRICT THREE SO THAT I CAN CONFIRM WITH MY CONSTITUENTS THERE, UH, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PROJECT? I GET CALLS AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
SO I JUST WANNA BE ABLE TO CONFIRM WITH THOSE RESIDENTS IF THEIR DRIVEWAY IS ONE OF THE ONES ON THE LIST.
UM, I DID WANNA POINT OUT THAT THIS CONTRACT ORIGINALLY, WE WEREN'T REPLACING THE DRIVEWAYS.
I'M AWARE AND WE AWARE WE, GOING BACK DUE TO THE, SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS WE HAD, UH, COUNCILMAN KINLAW WAS VERY INVOLVED ON BERNHARDT.
AND SO WE'VE MADE A DECISION TO TRY TO REPLACE THESE DRIVEWAYS AND ACCOMMODATE THE FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
RIGHT? I JUST, I JUST WANNA BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS THAT THEIR ADDRESS ACTUALLY IS ONE OF THOSE DRIVEWAYS.
THE ONE QUESTION I HAD ABOUT THIS WAS FOR THE STREETS THAT WERE REMOVED FROM SEVENTH STREET TO WILLIAMS AVENUE.
HOW DO I EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF THE REMOVAL? ALRIGHT, THAT, THAT JOB IS BEING DESIGNED NOW AS WE SPEAK.
IT WILL BE LET, WE HAVE ABOUT A $2.8 MILLION BUDGET ON THAT JOB.
'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA REPLACE IT WITH CONCRETE SO THAT JOB'S NOT BEING REMOVED.
IT WAS REMOVED FROM THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE OF THE POOR CONDITION OF THE ROAD.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA REPLACE IT, BUT IT'D BE BUDGETED IN THE NEXT YEAR, I BELIEVE.
THEN IT MAKES A LOT OF MORE SENSE.
NOW ANY MORE QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO THIS ORDER, WE APPROVE NUMBER, PR NUMBER 23 5 6 0 AS PRESENTED.
NOW WE WILL MOVE TO THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA.
NOW WHAT WE HAVE IN THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE ITEMS NUMBER ONE, ITEMS TWO, AND ITEMS THREE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO FOREGO THOSE ITEMS UNTIL WE ACTUALLY GET TO, UH, PO NUMBER SEVEN 20, UH, 7 2 2 4.
AND THEN WE WILL RETURN TO THESE ITEMS BECAUSE IT'S ACCORDING HOW THOSE ITEMS GO, WHETHER WE WOULD DEAL WITH THOSE.
SO WE ARE GONNA BEGIN WITH ITEM NUMBER
[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 23571 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 4 Between The City Of Port Arthur And Texas Materials Group, Inc. - Gulf Coast Area (Formerly Known As Gulf Coast A CRH Company) Of Beaumont, Texas, For The Addition Of Dense-Graded Hot Mix Asphalt, Increasing The Contract Amount Of $1,733,007.65 By $121,797.92 To The New Contract Amount Of $1,854,805.57 For The 5th And 6th Street Rehabilitation Project. Funds Are Available From The Street Maintenance Account 307-80- 625-8518-00-10-000. Project Nos. ST1P54 AND ST1P55]
FOUR ON PAGE NINE.ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON PAGE NINE WILL BE OUR BEGINNING POINT.
AND IT STATES PR NUMBER 23 5 7 1.
IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER FOUR, BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND TEXAS MATERIALS GROUP INCORPORATED GULF COAST AREA, FORMERLY KNOWN AS GULF COAST, A CRH, COMPANY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS.
FOR THE ADDITION OF DENSE GRADED HOT
[03:50:01]
MIXED ASPHALT, INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $1,733,007 AND 65 CENTS BY $121,797.AND THE 92 CENTS TO THE NEW CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $1,854,805 AND 57 CENTS FOR THE FIFTH AND SIXTH STREET.
REHABILITATION PROJECT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE STREET MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT, UH, IN, UH, NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH EIGHT ZERO DASH 6 2 5 DASH 8 5 8 0 0 DASH ONE ZERO DASH ZERO ZERO.
AND IS KNOWN AS PROJECT NUMBERS ST ONE P 54 AND T ONE P FIVE FIVE.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN ELLO? SO MOVED.
NOW I GET A SECOND, COUNCILMAN FRANK SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 5 7 1 IS READ.
WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY QUESTIONS IS READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSES? AYE IS ORDERED.
WE APPROVE PR R WRITTEN NUMBER 23 5 7 1.
[VIII.A.(5) P.R. No. 23579 – A Resolution Appointing Members To The Port Arthur Youth Advisory Council (YAC) (Requested By Mayor Bartie)]
PR NUMBER 2, 3, 5, 7 9.IT IS A RESOLUTION APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE PORT ARTHUR ADVISORY YOUTH COUNCIL AS REQUESTED BY MAYOR BCE.
AND THE YOUNG LADY'S NAME IS, I THINK SHE JUST STATED IT.
AND MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS.
UH, THE FIRST ONE IS ASHER, A-S-H-E-R.
THE SECOND STUDENT IS ALICIA, A-L-E-S-I-A.
ANY, THE OTHERS? YOU HAVE ANY NAMES? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? UH, I'M GONNA HOLD OFF ON IT.
BECAUSE BACK ON THE NEXT YEAH, JUST, JUST LET US KNOW BECAUSE I, I DO COSMAN, ETT AND I, IF I MAKE ATTORNEY, I THINK I SAID YOU STILL HAVE ONE MORE DOUCETTE.
SO YOU'VE GOT ALL YOUR THREE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BECK, YOU HAVE THREE, I BELIEVE COSMAN LEWIS? YEAH.
AND YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY TAKEN, YOU HAD, YOU STILL HAVE ONE? YOU, YOU TOOK TAKE? OKAY.
MAYBE I, MAYBE I LOOKED AT IT INCORRECTLY.
BUT IF, IF YOU ALL CAN GET 'EM ALL BECAUSE THEY'LL, THEY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE MOVING ON THAT AND YOU DON'T WANT YOUR KIDS BEHIND.
YOU KNOW, AT LEAST YOU, YOU GOT ONE MORE THOUGH.
SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY GOT A NAME? I'LL FIND YOU ONE.
YOU NEED SOMETHING? YEAH, I NEED A COPY OF THE LIST.
AND I GET, AND, UH, MATTER OF FACT, I GOTTA MAKE A CALL TO SABINE, GET THE NAMES AND I'M, AND I'M GETTING THEM TO YOU.
WE, WE, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT BY NEXT WEEK.
I MEAN BY NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, MAYOR
UM, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL PROVIDING THESE NAMES.
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD THIS FRIDAY.
WE'LL BE TAKING THE CHILDREN TO A, UM, YOUTH ADVISORY SUMMIT IN LEWISVILLE.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR PRAYERS FOR TRAVELING GRACE.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO EXPOSE OUR CHILDREN FOR GREATER OPPORTUNITIES AND KNOWING HOW TO, TO SERVE AND PRACTICING LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THESE NAMES.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER ETT, I DO HAVE SOME THAT I WILL BE MORE THAN WILLING TO SHARE WITH YOU.
HE TOLD ME JUST TO GET IT IN AND TURN IT IN.
AND THEN I'M GONNA GET, I'M GONNA GET FOR COUNCILMAN LEWIS, I'M GONNA HOOK UP, UH, INTERVENE OKAY.
ISN'T THAT YOUR DISTRICT ANYWAY? COSMAN LEWIS? YEAH.
AND SO I'M, I'M, I'M GONNA GET WITH, WITH WITH, OKAY.
I'M, I'M GONNA GET WITH HER AND GET AND, AND GET, GET GET, GET YOU SOMETHING THERE.
UH, EVERYONE WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT.
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7213 – An Ordinance Amending The Zoning Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur By Changing The Zoning From Low Density Residential To Commercial Retail On Approximately A 4.00-Acre Tract Of Land Being Out Of Port Acres, And Consisting Of Tract 2, Lot 8, Block 12, Port Acres Subdivision, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas (Violation Of Any Provision Of This Ordinance Shall Be Guilty Of A Misdemeanor And Shall Be Punished By A Fine Not Exceeding $2,000.00, As Provided In Chapter 1, Section 1-13 Of The Code Of Ordinances, And Each Day Which Violation Is Permitted To Exist Shall Constitute A Separate And Distinct Offense.); And Providing For Publication In The Official Newspaper Of The City Of Port Arthur And Effective Immediately After Publication Date Z23-09 – Farhan Khokhar]
UH, WE HAVE PO NUMBER 73, I MEAN 72 13.IT IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BY CHANGING THE ZONING FROM LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL RETAIL ON APPROXIMATELY FOUR ACRES OF TRACK OF LAND BEING OUT OF THE, OUT OF PORT ACRES AND CONSISTENT
[03:55:01]
OF TRACK TWO LOT EIGHT BLOCK, 12 PORT ACRES.SUBDIVISION OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY TEXAS.
VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND SHALL BE PUNISHED BY A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $2,000 AS PROVIDED IN CHAPTER ONE, SECTION ONE DASH 13 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
AND EACH DATE, WHICH, UH, VIOLATION IS PERMITTED TO EXIST SHALL CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT OFFENSE AND PROVIDING FOR A PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUBLICATION DATE.
AND THIS IS Z 23 DASH OH NINE.
UH, FAHAN KOHAR, I THINK IF I HAVE SAID IT NAME CORRECTLY.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE FIRST ORDINANCE, RIGHT? RIGHT.
UH, WE'LL, MAKING A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
I GET A SECOND, COUNCILMAN FRANK SECOND.
WE, UH, TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE, WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION.
COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN ETT? YES.
THAT'S THE ONE IN PORT ACRES THAT THEY HAD THIS, UH, ABANDONED, UH, SOME HOME, BUT, UH, THIS ONE WHERE THE NURSING HOME WAS RIGHT.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE PROPERTY REVERTED BACK TO, UH, RESIDENTIAL AND THE, AND IT, UH, PROPERTY OWNER, THE GUY THAT BOUGHT IT, HE BOUGHT IT.
HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT, IT WAS RESIDENTIAL, BUT IT WAS REQUESTS.
THEY WANT TO GO FROM RESIDENTIAL BACK TO RETAIL.
AND SOME CITIZEN THAT CALLED ME.
AND THEY HAD SOME CITIZENS CAME AND SPOKE BEFORE COUNCIL WHO LIVE OUT THERE, UH, AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE A REZONED BACK TO COMMERCIAL.
AND AS, AND AS I STATED BEFORE, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, WHEN SOMEONE IS REQUESTING REZONING INTO OUR RESIDENTIAL AREAS TO BE COMMERCIAL.
WE'RE INTERRUPTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVED THERE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
AND ALSO IF SOMEBODY INTERESTED IN RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL, THEY NEED TO GO AND BUY AND PURCHASE PROPERTY.
AND THAT WAY THEY DON'T NEED TO COME TO US AND REQUEST REZONING.
SO, UH, PEOPLE REACHED OUT TO ME.
SOME PEOPLE CAME BEFORE COUNCIL.
SOME WAS ON THE ZOOM THAT SAID THAT THEY WERE PAUSING IT.
AND, UH, DOESN'T NEED TO REMOVE MYSELF TO SPEAK ON THIS QUESTION, ATTORNEY.
I JUST HAVE A STATEMENT I WANTED TO MAKE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO ENTER INTO A DEBATE, YOU'LL HAVE TO LOOK, IT'S NOT DEBATE A STATEMENT.
THE COMMENT I WANNA MAKE ON THIS, NOW, IF THIS WAS FIRST A NURSING HOME, THAT'S A BUSINESS.
IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WAS ON, AND THEN IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE A ABRAHAM HOUSE OR SOMETHING WHERE THAT'S A BUSINESS WHERE FOLK ARE ALLOWED TO STAY.
NOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO GROW IN PORT ARTHUR, WE'RE GOING GO IN IN, IN PORT ACRES.
IF WE'RE GOING GROW IN
NOW, IF IT'S ALREADY BEEN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT COUNCILMAN DO SAID HE IS SAYING.
AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CITIZENS ARE SAYING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW, UH, I, I, I FREQUENT THAT, THAT THAT FACILITY SEVERAL TIMES 'CAUSE IT WAS A BUSINESS, A NURSING HOME AND, YOU KNOW, TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT I DEAL WITH.
SO, YOU KNOW WHY I WENT TO THE NURSING HOME.
AND, UH, UH, IT WAS A BUSINESS.
SO I DON'T SEE THE BIG DIFFERENCE IN IT RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S JUST WHAT I WANT TO SAY.
AND IT'S SOME GROWTH FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WITH, UH, A LOT OF THESE EXPANSIONS THAT WE HAVE COMING AND THE CERTAIN THINGS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN.
WE GOING TO, WE GOING TO EXPERIENCE GROWING PAINS ALL OVER THE CITY.
IF WE ARE GOING TO RE, RE GENTRIFY REGROW AND JUST REDO PORT ARTHUR, IT'S GOING TO BE SOME THINGS THAT'S GONNA BE LIKE THAT.
THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, AND I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH YOU.
IT'S JUST THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REGROWING, WE NEED TO MAKE THE SURE THAT WE KEEP IN MIND ORDINANCE THAT, UH, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED IN OUR CITIZENS.
WHEN WE START ALTERING OUT THE ORDINANCES AND CITIZENS WHO LIVE AND AFFECTED BY IS NOT PLEASED WITH IT, THEN WE ARE NO LONGER SERVING.
WE ARE DOING SOMETHING TO, TO, NOW YOU MENTIONED IT WAS YES, WE HAVE A LOT OF PLACES, SCHOOLS, THEY ALL WERE APPROVED TO BE IN THAT AREA.
THAT'S WHY WHEN A SCHOOL GOES AWAY, THAT PROPERTY GOES BACK TO RESIDENTIAL BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING ELSE TO COME IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OTHER THAN RESIDENTS.
AND THAT'S WHAT THESE PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE US AND THE PEOPLE WHO CALL ME, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
THEY'RE SAYING IT'S GONNA BE INCREASED
[04:00:01]
NUMBER OF TRAFFIC AND THEY GOT KIDS.SO IT'S GONNA ALTER THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND IF IT WAS STILL A BUSINESS, IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE A BIG IMPACT.
BUT THAT PLACE HAS BEEN UNOCCUPIED.
SO THEY HAVE GOTTEN BACK TO WHERE THEY'RE NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE US.
SO IF THERE'S ONE WHEREBY IT WAS COMMERCIAL TODAY AND NEXT MONTH, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ASKING US TO MAKE A COMMERCIAL THAT'S NOT VERY MUCH A LAPSE IN TIME.
SO, SO I THINK PEOPLE CAN, CAN SAY, WELL THEY HAS, BUT WHEN PEOPLE COME BEFORE US AND THEY SAID IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S RESIDENTIAL, WE DON'T WANT THE CARS COMING.
AND YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT GROWTH WITH THE REFINERIES, ALL THIS TURNAROUND WE GOT GOING ON, WE GOTTA BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE A LOT OF THE THINGS THEY DOING, THEY'RE NOT DOING TO PROMOTE AND TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE DOING IT IN SUPPORT OF THE EXPANSIONS AND THIS STUFF.
THAT'S JUST LIKE THE OTHER ONE WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT THIS ONE HERE IS THE SAME, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
WE WANT THE, UH, EXTENDED STAY.
BUT DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, THE GUY COULD MAKE THE MONEY HE INVESTED IN AND THEN HE COULD JUST LET IT GO TOO.
SO I THINK AT SOME POINT WE GOTTA DO WHAT YOU SAY AND ALSO LISTEN TO CITIZENS AND BALANCE IT.
AND, AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, SINCE IT'S NOT COMMERCIAL, WE SHOULDN'T CONSIDER COMMERCIAL.
COUNCILMAN UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YOU AT YOUR LETTER? YES.
UH, YOU SAID THE NURSING HOME, WAS THAT BEFORE? YES.
NOW UNDER NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE, NURSING HOME, BARBER SHOPS, BEAUTY SHOPS, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
WHEN YOU GET INTO RETAIL, THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER, THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER BALL GAME BRINGING ALL KINDS OF FOLKS THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO IT WAS NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE WHEN IT WAS, UH, UNDER, UH, IT MAY HAVE BEEN COMMERCIAL BUT WAS NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE, BARBERSHOP, BEAUTY SHOP, THOSE KIND OF THINGS ARE ALLOWED MAKE, EXCEPT AS LONG AS THEY GOT ALL STREET PARKING.
SO, BUT IT DEFAULTS BACK TO RESIDENT.
THAT'S WHERE IT NEEDS TO STAY.
MY CONCERN WITH THIS HAS BEEN, UM, NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT IT BEING SO MUCH ABOUT IT BEING A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS, BUT ABOUT THE DRAINAGE.
WE HAD SEVERAL MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS, UM, SEWAGE BACKUP IN THEIR HOMES AND IN SOME OF THE OTHER BUSINESSES, I'M SORRY, IN THEIR HOMES AND THE PROPERTY SURROUNDING THE AREA.
SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS THERE, I WOULD QUESTION, ARE WE LOOKING INTO THE DRAINAGE ISSUE THERE FOR WHATEVER MAY COME, WHETHER IT'S THIS BUSINESS OR, OR SOME OR HOMES.
SO YOU'D BE SPEAKING ABOUT AN INFRASTRUCTURE, UPBRINGING, INFRASTRUCTURE PERIOD FOR THE ENTIRE AREA.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CITY MANAGER AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT ALL OVER AMERICA AND THEIR FUNDS ARE GONNA BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF THIS TO HAPPEN.
BUT IT'S GONNA BE TIME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN 120 5-YEAR-OLD CITY.
AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
SO, UH, I THINK THE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE IS SOMETHING THAT'S, THAT'S DOWN THE ROAD THAT THE ENGINEERS KNOW.
BUT I CAN'T TELL HOW SOON THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, BUT IT, IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT IS PROBABLY LEAD PIPES OUT THERE.
BUT NOW WE HAVE A DEADLINE IN THE NEXT 24 MONTHS ON A LOT OF THOSE THINGS FEDERALLY.
WOULD THAT PROPERTY STILL BE UNDER OUR DEADLINE IN THE YEAH, WELL, NO, NO.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN PURCHASED BY IT.
AND IT, AND IT'S, AND THAT'S WHY I'M CALLING IT BECAUSE THEY SAY IT THAT WAY.
THEY WERE SAYING IT THAT WAY IN WASHINGTON A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES, YOU KNOW, SO WHATEVER IT NEEDED IN EACH NEIGHBORHOOD TO UPGRADE IT IS WHAT'S GOING TO OCCUR.
NOW, I CAN'T SPECIFICALLY SAY, YOU KNOW, WHICH LINE WOULD BE MOVED, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE LEAD WATER LINES.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE GONE.
IF THE DRAINAGE PIPE IS NOT WHAT YOU ALL SUPPOSED TO HAVE SIZE AND THE MATERIAL THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND ALL OF THAT MAY EVEN, UH, ENHANCE THE DRAINAGE AND, AND THE WATER FLOW IN THAT, IN THAT, WELL, NOT JUST IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT'S GONNA BE CITYWIDE ON THAT.
SO EVERYONE SPOKEN? UH, WE READY TO VOTE?
[04:05:01]
ALL IN FAVOR? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.NO, I MEAN, I JUST TRY, I MADE MY STATEMENT BECAUSE I'M WANT GROW.
BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CITIZENS WANT.
THEY WON'T GROW THE MIDDLE OF A VOTE.
I'M DO, DO YOU WANNA DO A ROLL CALL? VOTE YOU NEED TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
I THINK EVERYBODY SAID NO THOUGH, RIGHT? OKAY.
CAN YOU PLEASE SAY NO? YOU NEE YOU SAID OKAY.
YOU SAID, DID YOU SAY ALL IN FAVOR? NO ONE SAID, OKAY.
YOU DID AND NO ONE SAID ANYTHING.
YEAH, IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY, WE'RE GOOD.
SHE, SHE, SHE DON'T LIKE MY SINGING TAKE TOO LONG.
THAT'S WHY THE WRONG LEMME HIT YOU WITH THIS NAME.
[VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7224 – An Appropriation Ordinance Amending The City Of Port Arthur Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2023 And Ending September 30, 2024, Increasing The General Fund By $130,874.00, The Capital Fund By $14,200,000.00, The Transit Fund By $7,611.00, Water & Sewer Fund By $382,730.00; Pleasure Island Fund By $318,000.00 And By Adding Provisions To The Budget For Special Revenue Funds To Include The Following: The CDBG Fund By $1,042,808.00, The Home Grant Fund By $722,625.00, The GLO Fund By $34,641,107.00, The CDBG-R By $10,959,455.00, The Hazard Mitigation Fund By $500,000.00, And The ARPA Fund By $118,000.00]
NEXT PO NUMBER.IT'S NUMBER TWO ON PAGE 10, PO NUMBER 7 20 72 24.
IT IS AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER ONE, UH, 2023 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
INCREASING THE GENERAL FUND BY $130,874.
THE CAPITAL FUND BY $14,200,000.
THE TRANSIT FUND BY $7,611 WATER AND SEWER FUND BY $382,730 PLEASURE ISLAND FUND BY $318,000.
AND BY ADDING PROVISIONS TO THE BUDGET FOR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING, THE CBBG FUND OF 1 MILLION OR 400, I MEAN FOUR $2,808.
THE HOME GRANT FUND BY $722,625, THE GLO FUND TO BUY 34,000.
AND THE C-B-B-G-R BY $10,959,455.
THE HAZARD MITIGATION FUND BY 500,000 AND THE ARPA FUND BY $118,000.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND.
IT IS REMOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 72 24.
WE READY FOR QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN ETT? YES.
THE FIRST, ALL OF THESE I UNDERSTAND, UH, AND I'LL JUST SAY IT FOR CITIZENS, UH, A LOT OF THESE, UH, AMENDMENT TODAY BUDGET IS DONATIONS OR GRANTS OR SETTLEMENTS, WHICH MEANS SIMPLY THAT THE CITY HAS RECEIVED MONIES FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES OR EXPENDITURES.
AND BY DOING SO, YOU HAVE TO PUT IT INTO THE BUDGET.
AND WHEN YOU PUT IT INTO THE BUDGET, THAT'S WHEN IT BECOME A FUNDING IT.
SO WHEN THAT PARTICULAR THING IS GET READY TO BE DONE, YOU GOT THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT.
WE SHOULD, SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IT.
SO I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING UNTIL WE GET TO THE BOTTOM.
THAT'S WHERE MY QUESTIONS COME IN.
ONE 118,018 FOR TRANSFER FROM APA.
OKAY? NOW, WHEN WE HAD GOT APA, WE ALLOCATED MONEY TO DIFFERENT THINGS.
OKAY? SO WE DIVIDED THE 26 MILLION AND UH, WE HAD, UH, ARTURO TO MANAGE IT, RIGHT? SO WE TAKEN $118,000 FROM IT.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHERE IS THE $118,000 COMING FROM? BECAUSE THERE WERE NO NOTHING TELLING ME WHERE THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM.
NOW, ONCE YOU TELL ME WHERE IT'S COMING FROM, THE NEXT THING TO TELL ME WHAT IT'S GONNA BE USED FOR, BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR US TO APPROVE THINGS, WE GOTTA KNOW THE WHOLE STORY.
WHERE THE MONEY COMING FROM, WHAT THEY GONNA
[04:10:01]
USE IT FOR BEFORE WE APPROVE, TRANSFERRED, AND IN THE FUTURE, RIGHT NOW WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF THIS AND WE GOT THIS NOT TRANSPARENT TO THE CITIZENS.AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE FINANCE ON MUNICIPAL LEVEL.
BUT WHEN WE SAY TRANSFER FROM A, WE ARE TRANSFERRING FROM A FEDERAL GRANT AND WE GOING TO A DEPARTMENT PLEASURE, PLEASURE ALLEN A WELL A, A DIFFERENT ENTITY WHENEVER THAT COME BEFORE COUNCIL LET US KNOW THAT YOU ARE TRANSFERRING MONEY AND IT'S NOT WITHIN A DEPARTMENT.
IF IT'S WITHIN A DEPARTMENT, THEN THE MANAGER IS THE PROVEN AUTHORITY.
BUT IF IT'S ANYTHING OTHER THAN LINE ITEM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, IT TAKES COUNCIL APPROVAL.
SO WHEN YOU BRING IT TO COUNCIL, DON'T TELL US THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE.
'CAUSE IT'S NOT, IT WON'T BE AVAILABLE UNTIL WE APPROVE THE TRANSFER.
SO DON'T DECEIVE ME IN THE FUTURE, MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE WANT THIS AND THE MONEY CAN BE AVAILABLE.
HOWEVER, THE MONEY BEING TRANSFERRED, YOU COULD WRITE IT IN THERE AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, 'CAUSE WHEN I GET HOME, I'M GONNA TRANSFER IT FROM WHERE YOU'RE TAKING IT FROM IN MY BUDGET AND I'M GONNA PUT IT WHERE YOU GONNA PUT IT AT.
SO AT THE END OF THE YEAR I'M GONNA HAVE A ACTUAL TOO.
SO IF I, IF I'M AGAINST WHAT YOU'RE TRANSFERRING FOR, AT LEAST I HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE AGAINST IT.
BUT DON'T TELL ME IT'S THERE AND IT'S NOT THERE.
OKAY? SO WHAT I NEED TO KNOW NOW IS WHERE THE ONE 118 COMING FROM AND WHAT THE PURPOSE OF IT.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THE 118 IS ACTUALLY PART OF INTEREST THAT WE'VE RECEIVED SINCE WE HAD NOT SPENT ALL OF ARPA.
SO IT'S ACTUALLY THE INTEREST THAT IS BEING TRANSFERRED, THE 118 TO THE PLEASURE ISLAND.
AND I CAN LET GEORGE TALK ABOUT WHAT THE $118,000 IS FOR.
OKAY, BEFORE JOY, BEFORE GEORGE, COME ON GEORGE.
BUT BEFORE GEORGE SPEAK, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU.
OKAY? THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT YOU JUST SAID FROM THE INTEREST THAT MEAN THAT WE GOTTA OFFER MONEY IN AN INVESTMENT AS OPPOSED TO IN A BANK.
YOU KNOW, SOME, SOMETIME WE HAVE THESE PROJECTS OR WE HAVE THINGS THAT DON'T GET DONE AND THEN AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO WE ASK WHERE'S THE MONEY? AND I'VE HEARD IT MANY TIMES.
I'M NOT GONNA SAY A MILLION, BUT I'VE HEARD IT TOO MANY TIMES WHERE SOMEBODY SAYS, I DON'T KNOW.
SO, SO BASICALLY WHAT I'M SAYING IS, YOU KNOW, WE TAKING INTEREST, MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT WHATEVER MONEY YOU GOT TIED UP, IS IT FOR SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING NOW INSTEAD OF HAVING IT INVESTED? I WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH THAT.
OKAY THEN I'M NOT GONNA HOLD THIS ONE UP.
I WANNA HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE PURPOSE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, LYNN, YOU NEED TO REALLY TAKE A CLOSE LOOK.
AT WHAT WE HAVE TIED UP IN INVESTMENT TO INCLUDE STREET MONEY.
WE NEED THIS MONEY WHEN WE GET THESE PROJECTS AND WE NEED TO PAY.
AND WE CAN'T DELAY PROJECTS BECAUSE WE GOT IT INVESTED AND WE WAIT FOR THE PERIOD TO DRAW IT.
SO WE'RE NOT GONNA LIVE ON INTEREST.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS MONEY AND PAY FOR WHAT WE GET IT FROM.
I'M GONNA BE LOOKING VERY CLOSELY.
DON'T, DON'T GO TOO FAR THOUGH.
UM, WE WERE SENDING THE, UH, QUOTES TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR THE UM, 118,000.
IT'S EQUIPMENT FOR PLEASURE ISLAND AS FAR AS, UH, A SKID STEER, A BAD WING, UM, A TRAILER TO TRANSPORT THE EQUIPMENT AND, UM, A PRESSURE WASHER CURRENTLY.
OKAY? NEXT TIME WE HAVE SOMETHING COMING BEFORE US, KIND OF, KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT THEY BRING, GIVE COUNSEL THAT INFORMATION SO YOU HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION RIGHT THERE.
RIGHT? IF IF WE HAVE IT, THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO CALL YOU AND ASK YOU, YOU KNOW, OKAY.
SO MAKE SURE WE GET ALL THE INFORMATION, GEORGE.
[04:15:01]
NO PROBLEM WITH THAT EQUIPMENT.Y'ALL GONNA DO SOME WORK? YOU KNOW, I AIN'T GOT NO COMPLAINT ABOUT THAT.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? YES.
THE NEXT ITEM DOWN HERE, MAYOR, THE 14 POINT 14,200,000 AND IT SAYS UNALLOCATED FUNDS.
THE FIRST THING THE CAPITAL FUNDS.
OKAY, YOU GOT THE LAST SHEET HERE? YEAH.
I MEAN THAT SHEET, BUT I HAD IT, BUT I, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
OKAY, SO LET ME JUST FOLLOW THIS.
A ORDINANCE WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL FOR $3 MILLION TO CONSTRUCT AND RECONSTRUCT WOODWARD BOULEVARD.
AM I CORRECT? I KNOW YOU WASN'T HERE, BUT THOSE ORDINANCE CITY ATTORNEY JOE, THAT'S THE FIRST ORDINANCE WAS WAS FOR 3 MILLION.
AND THE MONEY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN UNALLOCATED STREET.
UNALLOCATED STREET MONEY FROM YEAR ONE THROUGH FIVE.
THAT'S 3 MILLION COUNCIL APPROVED IT THEN THAT WAS THE SECOND ORDINANCE THAT CAME BEFORE COUNCIL, WHERE COUNCIL WAS ASKED TO APPROVE AN ADDITIONAL 4.2 MILLION.
AND THEY SAID THAT THE MONEY WAS AVAILABLE IN UNALLOCATED STREET FUNDS YEAR ONE THROUGH FIVE.
SO THAT'S NOW BRINGING A TOTAL OF 7.2 MILLION APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
OUR LAST MEETING, WE HAD THE THIRD ORDINANCE THAT CAME BEFORE US.
THAT ORDINANCE SAYS WE ARE REQUESTING ADDITIONAL 7 MILLION MILLION DOLLARS.
AT WHICH TIME I INFORMED COUNCIL THAT WE DON'T HAVE NO FUNDING, WE DON'T HAVE NO ORDINANCE.
IT VIOLATES THE CHARTER, BUT SOME MEMBERS OF COUNCIL DIDN'T THINK IT WAS VIOLATING THE CHARTER EVEN AFTER YOU SAID WHAT I SAID WAS CORRECT AFTER CITY ATTORNEY SAID, I DIDN'T SIGN OFF ON IT, BUT THEY FELT THE NEED TO APPROVE THAT.
AND IT'S VERY CLEAR YOU DON'T PUT AN ITEM ON AGENDA IF YOU, IT WASN'T FUNDED IN THE BUDGET OR IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A ORDINANCE AT THE MEETING APPROPRIATING THE MONEY.
SO WHAT WE GOT TODAY, I GUESS IS ORDINANCE OR SOMEBODY DONE FIGURE OUT, OH, WE DONE BEEN SO WE GONNA DO THIS TO COVER IT UP.
WELL, I DON'T CARE 'CAUSE IT DON'T WORK LIKE THAT IN FINANCE.
WHERE'S $14.2 MILLION? THE 14.2 MILLION ARE, YEP.
THE 14.2 MILLION ARE FUNDS THAT WERE IN INITIALLY OBLIGATED, BUT WERE NOT SPENT FOR THE PAST TWO TO THREE YEARS.
AND SO THAT IS WHERE THAT MONEY IS.
SINCE YOU DID APPROVE IT, IT WAS ALLOCATED FOR THAT.
HOWEVER, IT WASN'T SPENT SO IT STAYED IN THAT FUND.
TECHNICALLY THE TERM IS ISN'T AFTER SPENDING A LENGTHY AMOUNT OF TIME SPEAKING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, I MAY HAVE MIS I MAY NOT HAVE WRITTEN CORRECTLY.
IT IS ACTUALLY ASSIGNED RATHER THAN UNALLOCATED.
IT, IT'S JUST A TECHNICAL TERM THAT WE USUALLY USE IN THE ODDITY THAT SAYS THERE'S THE MONEY, BUT IT'S UNASSIGNED AND THEN IT'S LEFT AS A FUND BALANCE.
HOWEVER, IT'S, IT IS UNASSIGNED.
EVEN UNSIGNED, RIGHT? YES SIR.
WHAT, WHERE IS THE UNSIGNED MONEY? IT'S GOTTA BE FUND BALANCE.
WHERE IS $14.2 MILLION COMING FROM THAT YOU'RE GONNA TAKE NOW? 'CAUSE IF THIS IS THE CASE, THIS GOES INTO THE, INTO THE GENERAL FUND, YOU KNOW, UH, IT GOES TOWARD THIS PROJECT THREE, FUND 3 0 7.
AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE, THAT'S WHERE THE BONDS, SOME OF THE BONDS ARE IN FUND 3 0 7.
UH, BUT, UH, DON'T WE, WE GET, WE GET X AMOUNT OF MONEY ALLOCATED FOR BONDS.
SO WE HAD $50 MILLION I THINK WHEN I WATCHED THE NUMBERS.
THEY WAS CARRYING IT LIKE THAT.
BUT ACTUALLY WE DON'T SELL BUT
[04:20:01]
10 MILLION EACH YEAR.AND I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS CRAZY FOR YOU TO TELL, KEEP SHOWING ME THIS NUMBER WHEN ACTUALLY YOU ARE NOT SELLING BUT 10 MILLION A YEAR AND THE LOW GOVERNMENT CODE IN ALL ORDINANCES SAYS IF WE DON'T SPEND THAT 10 MILLION THAT YEAR FOR WHICH STREETS WE SELECTED, IT ROLLS OVER TO THE NEXT YEAR.
IT IS NOT UNASSIGNED, IT ROLLED OVER FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
'CAUSE THOSE STREETS ARE STILL ON ON THERE.
THIS YEAR WE SOLD 10 MILLION, BUT THE COUNCIL ELECTED NOT TO SELECT STREETS UNTIL THEY BROUGHT ALL OF THE STREETS THAT WERE ON THE LIST UP TODAY AND TO ENSURE THAT WE HAD FUNDING FOR ALL THESE STREETS.
OKAY? THEN AFTER THAT, WE ARE NOW SUPPOSED TO GO BACK AND SELECT STREETS WITH THE REST OF THIS MONEY.
SO IF WE ARE LOOKING AT STREETS LIKE THAT, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT, WHERE'S THE 10 MILLION? NOW THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, OTHER THAN BONDS, OUR INVESTMENTS, WHEN WE RECEIVE THE PROCEEDS, IF IT'S NOT SPENT RIGHT AWAY, IT STAYS IN INVESTMENTS UNTIL IT IS RELEASED FOR THE ACTUAL CAPITAL PROJECT.
OKAY? SO WE DON'T HAVE 14.2 MILLION WORTH OF ENTRIES, DO WE? THESE GO INTO OUR INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS.
SO THEY ARE IN OUR EVENTS INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS, WHICH HOLDS THOSE BOND DOLLARS FOR US.
HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH IS, SO THE BALANCE IN THE 3 0 7 FUND IS APPROXIMATELY $53.6 MILLION.
AND THE 53 6 53 0.6 MILLION, HOW, HOW MANY MILLIONS OF THAT IS IN THERE? BECAUSE WE'VE ASSIGNED, BECAUSE WE GOT IT FOR A PURPOSE, I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT PREVIOUS BUDGETS AND SEE WHAT WAS SPENT OUT OF THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
UH, RIGHT NOW, THIS, THIS, THIS, UH, PROJECT AND EVERYTHING, THIS HAS TO BE LOOKED OUT WITH SOMEBODY JUST LOOKING AT IT THAT'S GONNA UNDERSTAND, UH, MUNICIPAL FUNDING BECAUSE ACTUALLY WE'VE AL THIS COUNCIL HAS ALREADY APPROVED 14.2 MILLION FOR THIS PROJECT.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE GOTTA PUT 14.2 MILLION IN IT IF IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.
SO, BUT LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT GONNA HOLD IT.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO THIS, THIS, THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? RIGHT? OKAY.
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 23326 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute An Agreement With Architect’s Studio PLLC Of Manvel, Texas For The Architectural And Design Services For The Construction Of An Interactive Monument Sign On Pleasure Island In The Amount Not To Exceed $45,000.00; The Funding For This Project In Professional Services Account Number 450-60-400-5420- 00-00-000 Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of A Budget Amendment Via Adoption Of Proposed Ordinance 7224]
TO ITEM NUMBER ONE ON PAGE EIGHT, PR NUMBER 23 3 26 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED AND CENTER MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH ARCHITECT STUDIO PLLC OF MANVILLE, TEXAS FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL AND DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION OF AN INTERACTIVE MONUMENT SIGN ON PLEASURE ISLAND IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 45,008.UH, THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT, UH, IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ACCOUNT NUMBER FOUR 50 DASH SIX ZERO DASH 400 DASH 54 20 DASH ZERO DASH 0 0 0 IS CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET, AND WE JUST, UH, APPROVED THAT IN, UH, ORDINANCE NUMBER 7 2 2 4.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN ETT? SO MOVED.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 33 26.
ARE WE READY FOR QUESTIONING UNDER ANY QUESTIONS? YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO YOU WITH 1 0 1? 1 0 1? NO, I THINK, AND THE, THE, THE MAJORITY CONSENT, UH, OF APPROVAL OF, UH,
[04:25:01]
PR NUMBER 2 33 26.[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 23483 – A Resolution Awarding A Bid And Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With BDS Constructors, LLC, DBA MK Constructors, LLC, Of Vidor, Texas, For The Woodworth Boulevard Streetscape Improvements Project From Lakeshore Drive To State Highway 87 (Gulfway Drive) For $13,426,347.92. Funding Contingent Upon Pending Budget Amendment PO No. 7224. Funds Will Be Placed In Capital Improvements Project Account 307-21-053- 8517-00-10-000. Project No. ST4014]
NUMBER TWO ON PAGE NINE, WHICH IS, UH, PR NUMBER 23 4 83.IT IS A RESOLUTION AWARD IN THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH BDS CONTRACTORS, L-L-C-D-B-A, MK CONTRACTORS, LLC OF VITA, TEXAS FOR THE WOODWORTH BOULEVARD STREET SCAPE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FROM LAKE SHORE DRIVE TO STATE HIGHWAY 87, WHICH IS GOWAY DRIVE FOR $13,426,347 AND 92 CENTS.
FUNDING CONTINGENT AGAIN UPON THE AMENDMENT THAT WE JUST APPROVED IN, UH, PO NUMBER 7 2 2 4.
AND THOSE FUNDS WILL BE PLACED IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, PROJECT THREE OH ACCOUNT 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH FIVE THREE DASH 85 17 DASH ZERO DASH ONE ZERO DASH ZERO OR MORE SUCCINCTLY.
I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MCKEN LAW.
SO MOVE I GET A SECOND, COUNCILMAN FRANK.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 23 4 83.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? UH, COUNCILMAN DEUCE? YES.
UH, THE, THE SUM HERE IS $13,426,347 AND 92 CENTS.
BUT YOU BUDGETED, I MEAN, YOU ADMITTED THE BUDGET FOR 14 TOO.
WHAT CAN, CAN, CAN YOU EXPLAIN MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS? I BUDGETED ORIGINALLY THE 14.2, THAT WAS THE ESTIMATE THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME AT THE TIME THAT I WAS WRITING THE ORDINANCE.
AND THEN WHEN THEY TOLD ME HOW MUCH THE ACTUAL CAME IN AT, I ASKED IF THAT WAS, IF YOU HAD ADDED 5% TO THAT, SHOULD THERE BE ANY KIND OF CONTINGENCIES THAT WOULD HAVE TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL THE FIRST 5%.
AND THAT ACTUALLY AMOUNTS TO THE 14.2.
SO THAT IS BASED ON THAT ESTIMATE AT THE TIME.
AND THEN WHEN THIS ONE CAME IN, I SAW THERE WAS A 5% POTENTIAL SO THAT I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND KEEP THE ORDINANCE THE WAY THAT IT WAS.
I THINK IT CAME IN LAST WEEK AND THAT'S HOW I KEPT IT AT 14.2.
SO, SO LET ME UNDERSTAND, LYNN, YOU'RE TELLING ME, YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT FIVE, 5% OF THE 13,000,400 AND SOMETHING THOUSAND, ABOUT 5% OF THAT IF YOU ADDED TO THAT SUM TO COME OUT TO 14 TWO AROUND YES.
IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF CHANGE ORDER.
I'D RATHER US HAVE THE MONEY THAN HAVE TO GO BACK AND TRY TO AMEND A BUDGET TO PUT IT IN.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIGURED IN, ALWAYS FIGURED IN CONTINGENCY.
NOW MY LAST QUESTION, LYNN, IS IT SAYS THAT THE FUNDS WILL COME FROM STREETS.
SO WE WENT FROM YOU TELLING ME THAT WE HAD THIS MONEY IN INVESTMENTS AND STUFF, BUT NOW IT'S COMING FROM STREETS.
SO IT'S ACTUALLY THE STREET PROJECT.
THE STREET PROJECT IS ACTUALLY WITHIN THAT 3 0 7 FUND.
AND IN THE BUDGET BOOK IT IS, IT HAS THAT IN THERE.
SO IT'S, YES, IT'S A STREET PROJECT, BUT IT'S NOT ACTUALLY COMING OUT FROM GENERAL FUND.
IT'S COMING FROM THE 3 0 7 CAPITAL FUND WHERE THE BONDS ARE ACTUALLY HOUSED AT AS WELL.
SO WHILE WE GOT THE PROJECT NUMBER, WHICH, SO IT'S A PROJECT NUMBER AND THE PROJECTS SO THAT WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF THE STREETS THAT WE DO WITHIN THE 3 0 7, WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT CAPITAL, UH, CAPITAL FUNDING SOURCES.
WE HAVE ONE IN GENERAL, WE HAVE ONE IN FUND 6 25, AND WE HAVE ONE IN 3 0 7.
THOSE ACTUALLY HAVE STREETS WITHIN ALL THREE OF THOSE FUNDS.
AND THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS COMING OUT OF THE 3 0 7.
SO THE LAST QUESTION IS GONNA BE VERY SIMPLE AND DIRECT.
IS ANY OF THIS MONEY COMING FROM STREETS, FUNDS, ANY OF THIS MONEY THEY'RE COMING FROM OF IT? NO, SIR.
AS UNLESS YOU ARE COUNTING BONDS AS STREET MONEY, THEY'RE ACTUALLY COMING FROM THE BONDS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY APPROVED IN THE PAST.
NOW WHEN YOU SAY BONDS, LET'S BE, LET'S TALK LAYMAN.
'CAUSE CITIZENS AND I, WE, WE UNDERSTAND BONDS.
THEY GOT ALL TYPE BONDS, GENERAL OBLIGATIONS GOT CERTIFICATE OBLIGATIONS.
IT'S NOT A BOND TECHNICALLY IT'S A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION THAT, THAT'S WHERE I WAS FITTING TO GO.
WE, WE WE GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT.
[04:30:03]
YEAH, BUT WE YEAH,BUT, SO, SO NO, 'CAUSE I WANNA MAKE CLEAR, I WANT HER ANSWER BECAUSE WE, THE STREET MONEY IS COMING FROM CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
SO MY QUESTION IS SIMPLE AND IT'S $14.2 MILLION.
IS ANY OF THAT $14.2 MILLION IS GOING COME FROM ANY OF THOSE FUNDS? FROM THE SALE OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATIONS? YES.
SO THIS COMING FROM STREET FUND.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU GOTTA RUN.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT'S, THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM STREETS, AND THIS IS THE SECOND, THIS IS THE SECOND GATEWAY TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
GATEWAY ONE WAS LANDSCAPE, PALM TREES AND EVERYTHING TO STEM.
THE, THE OUTFLOW OF RETAIL FROM THE DOWNTOWN, IT FELL AND THE TREE AND THE, THE PALM TREES ALL DIED.
NOW I HAVE A, THE GATEWAY THAT I NEED TO, THE GATEWAY THAT I NEED TO BE DEALING WITH IS THOMAS BOULEVARD FROM, FROM FROM HOUSTON AVENUE.
BOTH SIDES, ALL THE WAY TO NINTH AVENUE.
THAT'S THE GATEWAY THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.
AND YOU GO, YOU LEAVE HERE, DRIVE DOWN THERE BOTH SIDES.
IMPACTS A WHOLE LOT MORE CITIZEN THAN THAT IS 36 BLOCKS THAN I WANT TO DEAL WITH.
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT LESS THAN 15 BLOCKS AND, AND A VERY FEW PEOPLE, VERY FEW CITIZENS.
BUT I GOT CITIZENS ON BOTH SIDES FROM HOUSTON AVENUE ALL THE WAY TO NINTH AVENUE, 36 BLOCKS.
NOW THAT'S, THAT'S THE GATEWAY THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.
AND THAT, AND, AND THIS GATEWAY MEMORIAL BOULEVARD FROM GOWAY DRIVE TO PROCTOR.
IT'S THE, IT'S THE SECOND GATEWAY, SIR.
UH, COUNCILMAN BECKHAM, THANK YOU.
I I HAVE SOME OF THE SAME CONCERNS AS COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
UM, I THINK THAT THIS IS A VERY WORTHY PROJECT, UH, ONE THAT, THAT DOES NEED TO BE DONE TO BEAUTIFY THAT PART OF WOODWORTH BOULEVARD.
BUT I, I THINK IT'S IS NOT TIMELY RIGHT NOW, UH, CONSIDERING THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, UH, AND THAT THIS IS A STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
I THINK OUR PRIORITIES ARE A LITTLE BIT SKEWED RIGHT HERE.
AND THAT WE SHOULD POSTPONE THIS PROJECT UNTIL WE CAN GET SOME OF OUR OTHER STREETS THAT ARE JUST IN TERRIBLE NEED OF INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR, UH, TAKEN CARE OF.
ANY OTHER READINESS? WE READY TO VOTE? OH, OH, OH, GO AHEAD.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE ALL GOT DIFFERENCE, AND I DON'T WANNA MAKE IT PERSONAL, BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE STREETS, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STREETS FUNDS, WE HAVE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO THE CITIZENS WITH THE MONEY THAT THEY GET AND HOW THE MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THOSE DISTRICTS IS SPENT.
YOU KNOW, NOW WE HAVE THREE OUT OF FOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO'S AFFECTED WITH THIS MONEY IN THIS STREET THAT SAYS, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE WITH THIS ONE, WITH THESE FUNDS.
WE NEVER SAID WE AGAINST WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, BUT WE SAYING DON'T TAKE MONEY FROM OUR DISTRICTS THAT WE HAVE TO FIX STREETS.
THAT'S THREE OUT OF THE FOUR DISTRICT COUNCILORS.
SO, SO I'M FIXING TO FINISH OUT.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE.
AND, UH, WE, WE, WE ARE NOT FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND STUFF.
WE JUST NOT GONNA HAVE TO, THAT'S WELL TAKEN.
WE READY TO VOTE? NO, THEY OFF THE SCREEN? NO, NO, THEY'RE OFF THE SCREEN.
I MEAN, I DON'T HEAR 'EM TALKING.
AND FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TRAINED, YOU HAVE TO BE SEEN ON THE SCREEN TO PARTICIPATE.
ARE WE READY TO VOTE OR COUNT? COUNCILMAN HAMILTON? I JUST WANTED TO OFFER, BUT SHE, NOT ONLY ANYMORE, SHE DIDN'T PUT OFF.
SHE WANTED TO OFFER CLARITY THAT THERE ARE STREETS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
IT IS GIVEN THE IMPRESSION THAT STREETS IN OUR COMMUNITIES WILL NOT BE COMPLETED IF THIS PROJECT MOVES FORWARD.
AND THAT IS NOT WHAT'S BEING OFFERED.
[04:35:01]
OKAY, GO AHEAD.UH, MA'AM, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE.
YOU HAVE YOUR, ARE YOU NOT SPEAK? YES.
UH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH, WE CAN.
I LIVE IN 6 6 6 6 2 5 JADE AVENUE.
AND I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
UH, YOU PLANNING TO APPROVE THIS PROJECT, AND I JUST WANT TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE MONEY FOR MAINTENANCE ON THE PROJECT BECAUSE IT LOOK LIKE YOU PLANNING TO PUT 56 PALM TREE ON IT.
I THINK IT IS GONNA NEED SOME LANDSCAPING ON IT.
IT IS MONEY AVAILABLE FOR MAINTENANCE OF THIS PROJECT.
THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS, UH, TEAM WILL ANSWER THAT, BUT I CAN ANSWER IN AFFIRMATIVE.
WE ARE GOING TO MAINTAIN, I WOULD PROBABLY BE GONE OR BE, AND I THINK EVERYBODY UP HERE WILL BE GONE, HOPEFULLY DEAD, BUT NOT, NOT SERVING WHEN THIS TOTALLY COMES TO TOTAL FRUITION.
AND IF WE ARE GOING TO GROW AND RE GENTRIFY DOWNTOWN PORT ARTHUR, I HAVE TO BEG TO DIFFER WITH OTHERS HERE.
WHO WOULD, WHO WOULD, THINKING ABOUT THE GATEWAY.
BUT IF WE ARE ASKING THESE CORPORATIONS TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DOWNTOWN, AND I THINK YOU WERE HERE PRESENT EARLIER WHEN A YOUNGER GROUP OF CITIZENS IN THIS CITY TALKED ABOUT THIS SAME THOROUGHFARE AND HOW THEY WOULD REALLY WANT IT TO BE, THEY, WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE HERE RIGHT NOW.
SO AS MAYOR PROTE SAID, WHAT WE ARE DOING, WE ARE NOT TRYING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE STREETS.
THE STREET BY MY HOUSE IS TERRIBLE.
BUT WE, WE ARE TRYING DO SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING.
YOUR HONOR, THE QUESTION I THINK I'M NOT ANSWER MY QUESTION EITHER.
THE QUESTION SHE ASKED WAS, DO WE HAVE MONEY FOR MAINTENANCE? THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR.
SO LET, AND WE HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE MAINTENANCE.
I WAS JUST GIVING YOU SOME OTHER EXAMPLES, BUT GO.
IS THAT GOOD FOR YOU? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.
EVERYONE ELSE WAS WEIGHING IN AND SO I WANTED TO WEIGH IN AS WELL.
I'M GOING TO VOTE YES FOR THIS PROJECT.
YOU GONNA VOTE? WHAT? NO, WE DON'T WANNA KNOW HOW YOU GONNA VOTE? WELL, EVERYBODY ELSE GOT TO SAY WHY THEY WANT VOTE.
BUT JUST DON'T SAY THAT, PLEASE.
LEMME, I'M GONNA SAY WHAT I WANT TO SAY.
BUT I WANTED, I, I SIMPLY WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
UM, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR THIS AS A CONTINUATION OF THE PROGRESS THAT WE WANT TO SEE, UH, IN OUR CITY.
I, I DON'T WANT INDIVIDUALS TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT ULTIMATELY SOMETHING IS NOT, UM, UM, UH, SOMETHING IS AWRY WITH THIS PROJECT OR THAT WE WE'RE NOT GOING TO FAKE STREETS AGAIN.
WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME.
AND SO THIS IS A PROJECT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD SUPPORT.
WE DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE MISINFORMED.
LANDSCAPING IS NOT A PART OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEY'RE NOT A PART OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THE BOND CO, IT IS A VIOLATION OF THE BOND COVENANT.
IT'S, IT'S A VIOLATION OF BOND.
POINT, YOU DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC.
YOU, YOU DON'T WANT THE PUBLICAN KNOW, HUH? OKAY.
LET, WHAT IS YOUR POINT? AND BE RESPECT.
WHAT IS YOUR POINT? MY POINT IS, YOU ARE USING INCORRECT VERNACULAR TO EXPLAIN YOUR POSITION INCORRECT.
YOU WAS, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW SOMETHING.
CAN I CALL FOR A VOTE PLEASE? OR HOLD SIR? USING INCORRECT VERNACULAR.
WHAT DO YOU COME WITH THIS CALL A QUESTION.
AND WE DO A VOTE OR A VOTE? YOU KNOW, A HOG IN THE HILTON.
OKAY, SIR, SIR, SIR, YOU OUT OF ORDER? GO RIGHT AHEAD AND SEE THE SECRETARY.
UH, OKAY, WE NOW WE'VE COVERED THOSE.
THAT WAS BOTH OF THOSE WE'VE BEEN ON SO LONG.
DO NUMBER THREE? UH, UH, UH, YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S THE LAST ONE THAT'S CONNECTED WITH THAT.
[VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 23563 – A Resolution Authorizing The Recertification Of Tender Loving Care Center For Children D/B/A Legacy Community Development Corporation As A CHDO And Authorizing Amendment No. 3 To The Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur And Tender Loving Care Center For Children D/B/A Legacy Community Development Corporation And Allocate An Additional $108,000.00, And Extend The Contract Expiration Date From May 31, 2024 To December 31, 2024. Contingent Upon The Approval Of A Budget Amendment Via Adoption Of Proposed Ordinance 7224]
THAT'S PR NUMBER 23 5 63.[04:40:01]
IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE RECERTIFICATION OF 10 11 CARE FOR CHILDREN DBA LEGACY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AS A CHOTO OR CHDO.AND, UH, AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND 10 11 CARE CENTER FOR A CHILDREN, DBA LEGACY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND ALLOCATE THE ADDITIONAL 108,000, EXCUSE ME, DOLLARS AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT EXPIRATION DATE FROM MAY 31ST, 2024 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2024, CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT VIA ADOPTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE 7 2 2 4, WHICH HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
SO MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE PRA NUMBER 23 5 63 AS PRESENTED, WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
HAVE IT SO IT ON PR NUMBER 2 3 5 63 IS APPROVED AS READ.
THERE'S PR NUMBER, UH, I MEAN PO I'M SORRY.
[VIII.B.(3) P.O. No. 7227 – An Ordinance Amending The Zoning Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur By Changing The Zoning From High Density Residential To Commercial Retail On Approximately 21.038-Acres Of Land Being Out Of And Part Of The W. Kyle Survey A-414, And Consisting Of All Of Lots 10-25, Block 27, A Portion Of Oleander, Violet, Gardenia, Camellia, Cox, & Daisy Streets, And A Portion Of Willow Drive, A Portion Of Blocks 25 & 26, And All Of Blocks 14, 15, & 16 Of The Palomar Addition, Section 1, An Unrecorded Subdivision Plat, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas (Violation Of Any Provision Of This Ordinance Shall Be Guilty Of A Misdemeanor And Shall Be Punished By A Fine Not Exceeding $2,000.00, As Provided In Chapter 1, Section 1-13 Of The Code Of Ordinances, And Each Day Which Violation Is Permitted To Exist Shall Constitute A Separate And Distinct Offense.); And Providing For Publication In The Official Newspaper Of The City Of Port Arthur And Effective Immediately After Publication Date]
NUMBER 72 2 7 OR 7 2 2 7, EXCUSE ME.AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BY CHANGING THE ZONING FROM HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL OR RETAIL ON APPROXIMATELY 21 POINT, UH, ONE ACRES OF LAND, UH, OUT, UH, OUT OF AND PART OF THE W CAL SURVEY, A FOUR 14 AND CONSISTING OF ALL LOTS, 10 THROUGH 25 BLOCK 27, A PORTION OF OLENDER, VIOLET, GARDENIA, AND CAM, UH, CAM, COX, AND DAISY STREETS, AND A PORTION OF WILLOW DRIVE A PORTION OF BLOCKS 25 AND 26, AND ALL OF BLOCKS 14, 15, AND THE 16 OF THE PALMORE EDITION, SECTION ONE AND UNRECORDED SUBDIVISION PLAT PORT ARTHUR JEFFERSON COUNTY.
VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND SHALL BE PUNISHED BY A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $2,000 AS PROVIDED IN CHAPTER ONE, SECTION ONE DASH 13 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
AND EACH DAY, WHICH VIOLATION IS PERMITTED TO SHALL TO EXIST SHALL CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT OFFENSE AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, AND EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUBLICATION DATE.
THIS IS KNOWN AS Z 23 DASH 10 BDS CONTRACTORS, L-L-C-D-B-A-M-K CONSTRUCTORS.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK SECOND.
UH, I MOVED THAT WE'VE BEEN APPROVED, CORRECT? UH, PO NUMBER 7 2 2 7.
COUNCILMAN MAYOR, CAN I SAY COUNCILMAN DEUCE? MAY I SAY SOMETHING? JUST A REMINDER THAT THIS WAS RE UH, REJECTED.
BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING AND IF THEY RECOMMENDED IT BE DENIED.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO NEED AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THREE FOURTHS OF ALL MEMBERS TO OVERRULE THAT RECOMMENDATION.
THIS IS THE ONE THAT, UH, THE PLANNING ZONING REJECTED AND IT WAS OVERWHELMING.
THEY WANTED TO DO A, UH, PARK AND RIDE.
I GUESS IT'S DEALING WITH THE OTHER THING.
SO IT, I THINK WE ALL WAS UN CONSENSUS WITH THAT ONE, SO I WON'T TALK.
UH, MAYOR
NO, I, I THOUGHT WE WAS DOING A ROLL CALL.
THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM? NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER ETT? NO COUNCIL MEMBER.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA SING TO HIM.
[IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)]
ARE NOW READY FOR OUR CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND IN THE CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE HAVE ITEMS THAT WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS.AND ACCORDING TO, TO SECTION 5 51 0.101 OF THE CHAPTER 5 5, 1 OF THE OPEN MEETING LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
UH, IT WAS FORMERLY ARTICLE 62, 52 DASH
[04:45:01]
ONE SEVEN, SECTION TWO SUBSECTION A.I, BEING THE PRESIDING OFFICER MUST MAKE THIS FOLLOWING STATEMENT IN OUR CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE WILL COVER 5 5 1 0.071 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE AND OR, OR CONSULTATIONS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING POTENTIAL AND OR PENDING CLAIMS, CONTRACTS, LITIGATIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL MATTERS.
AND WE WILL COVER 5 5 1 0.074, THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT AND OF, OF AN INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY DUE TO RE THE RETIREMENT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY AND TRANSITION THEREOF TO DISCUSS THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTEES AS WELL.
AND ALSO, WE WILL DEAL WITH SECTION 5 5 1 0.087 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, AND OR INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS PROSPECTS.
AND WE HAVE DISCUSSION OF 5 5 1 0.072 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY.
AND AT THIS JUNCTURE, WE WILL RECESS DOWN TO THE, UH, UH, CONFERENCE ROOM AND BE THERE IN THE ACTION ITEMS COMING FROM THE, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'LL RETURN TO COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND TAKE THE ACTION ON THOSE ITEMS. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE RECESS? I MEAN, WE GOOD, RIGHT? WE GOOD? LET'S GO.
UH, CITY SECRETARY, UH, WOULD YOU REESTABLISH, UH, UH, THE QUO FOR ME, PLEASE? MAYOR BARTEE.
WE ARE, WELL, WE, I NEED TO CLOSE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, RIGHT? YES.
SHALL WE CALL ONE ONE MOTION? IT'S ALL ONE MEETING.
ONE MO WE HAVE ONE MOTION COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MAYOR, I, I, I WAS TRYING TO GET TO GO HOME.
UH, YOU, WHO, WHO HAS IT GO, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
I'M LOOKING FOR THE ITEM NUMBER.
WE DON'T HAVE TO READ THE BEGINNING.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE AMEND CHAPTER 78 DASH 180 6 E ECHO TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION AS IT PERTAINS TO SICK LEAVE AND COMP TIME ACCRUALS FOR COUNSEL APPOINTEES AS STATED IN THE CHARTER.
AND SECOND, THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE AMENDING AMENDMENT AS STATED, UH, BY MAYOR PROAM AND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ETT.
THEY HONOR ANY QUESTIONS? READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
SO IT'S AUDIT THAT AMENDMENT TO OUR, UH, CHARTER WOULD BE, UH, APPROVED NOW.
UH, WOULD THERE BE ANYTHING ELSE? THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE.
THE EDC ITEM, THE EDC ITEM 2 3 4 6 9 OH, EXCUSE ME.
[VI.(1) P.R. No. 23469 – A Resolution Approving The First Amended And Restated Agreement For Professional Services And Employment As Chief Executive Officer Of The Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation (Part 2 of 2)]
TO REMOVE, UH, PR NUMBER 2 3 4 6 9 FROM THE, UH, AGENDA? SO MOVED AND SECOND.THE SECOND TO REMOVE FROM THE AGENDA PR NUMBER 2 3 4 6 9, WHICH IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AS EMPLOYMENT AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE PORT ARTHUR, SECTION FOUR, A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WOULD BE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS OR ANY QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? I HAVING TO PR 23 4 6 9 HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA.
WITH THAT IN MIND, I'D LIKE I CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND SECOND THAT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE CLOSED.
WOULD YOU PLEASE REESTABLISH SO THAT WE CAN, WE ALREADY ONE MEETING? OH YEAH, THERE WAS JUST ONE MEETING SO I COULD JUST DO IT.
BY THE ORDER OF THE POWER THAT'S BEEN GIVEN TO ME SOMEWHERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THIS MEETING IS OVER.