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RECORDING IN PROGRESS.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
OKAY.GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE, UH, REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING FOR TODAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, 2024.
AND, UM, WE, YOU KEEP GOING DOWN IF, UH, WE ARE HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER AT 4 44, UH, FOURTH STREET HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND SEE, SEE IF IT'LL GET UP IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND THEY'RE TRYING TO FIX MY CHAIR FOR ME NOW.
UH, AND THE MEETING MAY BE ATTENDED BY BOTH, UH, TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCE MEDIUMS. HOWEVER, YOU MUST FIRST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 4 6 2 3 6 4 0 9 9 1, AND THE PASSCODE OF 8 2 5 9 4 4, AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING.
AND WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
AND IF YOU HAVE NEED FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU WOULD ONLY NEED TO CONTACT THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT AREA CODE 4 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING TO MAKE YOUR REQUEST.
AND THEY WILL DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR REQUEST OF SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS.
WE'LL NOW HAVE THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE AND THE ROLL CALL.
DO THE INVOCATION, INVOCATION FOR US, PLEASE.
FATHER, GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR OUR ASSEMBLING THIS MORNING.
WE THANK YOU, MOST OF ALL FOR WAKING US UP.
WE THANK YOU FOR STARTING US ON OUR WAY.
NOW, AS WE PRAY FOR THIS ASSEMBLY THIS MORNING, AND FOR THIS MEETING, WE PRAY THAT YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR PEACE MIGHT ABIDE, THAT WE MIGHT MAKE, MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS, UH, FOR OUR CITIZENS, UH, GOD, AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND WE GIVE YOU GLORY, P PRAISE, AND HONOR FOR IT ALL IN THE POWERFUL AND PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY.
TO JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE THE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF 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 CITY.
SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH FORUM, PLEASE? MAYOR BARTEE.
PRESENT, MAYOR PROTI HAMILTON, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
WE HAVE, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROCLAMATIONS BEFORE ME, SO THERE AREN'T ANY PROCLAMATIONS FOR THIS MORNING.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO SPEAKERS AND EACH SPEAKER HAS FIVE MINUTES.
WOULD BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE.
[III.A.(1) Wayne Dolcefino Of Dolcefino Consulting Regarding Ambulance Contract]
THE FIRST SPEAKER WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA IS MR. WAYNE.GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, I PROMISED WHEN I SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT A MONTH AGO THAT I WAS GONNA COME IN AND UPDATE YOU ON OUR INVESTIGATION OF ACADIAN AMBULANCE.
UM, AND I'M HERE TO DO THAT AND ALSO TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS BECAUSE, UM, I KNOW THE CITY MANAGER AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS AND WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE APPROPRIATE SOON, IF NOT ALREADY, FOR THE CITY TO BRIEF THE CITIZENS ON WHAT THEY FOUND AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT THEY'RE DOING ABOUT IT.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, UH, IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE WE DISCOVERED THAT ACADIAN HAD FALSIFIED RESPONSE TIME RECORDS CLAIMING THAT THEY ARRIVED AT SCENES, UM, MUCH SOONER THAN THEY DID.
SINCE WE'VE GOTTEN THE REST OF THE RESPONSE TIME RECORDS FOR 2023, WE SEE MORE THAN 150 TIMES WHERE THEY FALSELY CLAIMED, UH, THAT AN AMBULANCE HAD ARRIVED AT A SCENE WHEN IN FACT IT WAS A SUPERVISOR WHO HAD NO ABILITY TO TRANSPORT.
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DISCOVERED, AND SOME OF THESE COULD BE JUST, YOU KNOW, MISTAKES, WHO KNOWS, BUT EVERY MONTH, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WAS RECEIVING, UM, REPORTS, WHICH INCLUDED, UH, RESPONSE TIMES OF FIVE SECONDS, 13 SECONDS, 20 SECONDS.AND IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME WHEN I RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, THAT, OH, MAYBE THE AMBULANCE WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
SO I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, I'M FROM BROOKLYN, YOU KNOW, I WAS BORN AT NIGHT, BUT NOT LAST NIGHT.
INSTEAD TO MANIPULATE YOUR RESPONSE TIME NUMBERS, EXCUSE ME, I, FROM MEMOS I RECEIVED JUST YESTERDAY, THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON WHY I POSTPONED, BECAUSE I WAS WAITING FOR DOCUMENTS AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR DOCUMENTS, UM, TWO MONTHS AFTER THIS STARTED.
BUT YOU COULD SEE FROM MEMOS THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS BEEN AWARE SINCE JULY OR AUGUST ABOUT POTENTIAL PROBLEMS AND ALSO THE CITY'S ABILITY TO COLLECT LIQUIDATED DAMAGES.
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU NEED TO CONSIDER.
AND I THINK THE PUBLIC SHOULD GET A REPORT SOON, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT FROM THE CITY MANAGER OUT LOUD, RIGHT? YOU GUYS COME TOGETHER.
COUNCIL SHOULD ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO TELL 'EM WHAT WE FOUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD HAVE TO UPDATE WHAT THEY FOUND.
THIS WAS A VERY SIMPLE CASE TO WORK ON.
UM, AND I DIDN'T DO A FORENSIC AUDIT, BUT IT'S PRETTY EASY TO PUT THREE PIECES OF PAPER TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS.
AND, UM, I THINK THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW WHAT THE MAYOR, WHAT THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMAN PLAN TO DO.
AND IF YOU DECIDE LATER ON TO PUT YOUR AMBULANCE STUFF OUT FOR A BID AGAIN, UM, THEN YOU SHOULD BAN ACADIAN FROM BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS.
ANY QUESTIONS? MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER.
[III.A.(2) Aziel Flores, Angel Galvan and R. Maud Of Eleven Investment LLC Regarding A New Youth Project For Port Arthur]
YOU.NEXT, NEXT WE HAVE, UH, AZO FLORES, ANGEL GALVAN, AND A MA OF 11 INVESTMENTS, LLC REGARDING A NEW YOUTH PROJECT FOR PORT ARTHUR.
STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND PROCEED.
HOW ARE YOU DOING? MY NAME IS FLORENCE.
I'M A CITIZEN OF PUERTO ARTHUR, TEXAS, AND TODAY I'M GOING EXPRESS A, A SPEECH FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CITY REPRESE THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
WE STAND IN A PEOPLE MOMENT FOR THE CITY OF PUERTO UR, WHERE THE DECISION THAT WE MAKE CAN LY IMPACT THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CITY REACHING DIVERSITY AND AND HISTORY FACES CHALLENGES THAT REQUIRE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THE REALMS OF EDUCATION, PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THE CURRENT STATE IN UR, A LOT OF RESEARCHERS INDICATE THAT AN ALARMING NUMBER OF OUR DROUGHT ARE EXPOSES TO DRUGS WITH A SIGNIFICANT PERSON LACKING ACCESS TO ADEQUATE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS. FURTHERMORE, OUR EDUCATORS, THE BACKBONE OF OUR FUTURE FACE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE WITH SALARIES THAT DO NOT MEET LIVING WAGE STANDARDS.
THEY REPRESENTS REAL PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHOSE POTENTIAL IS BEING STIFFED, THE SOLUTION AND EDUCATION AND WELLBEING CENTER.
I PROPOSE THE CREATION OF AN EDUCATION OF, UM, WELLBEING CENTER IN IMPERATOR.
THIS CENTER WILL OFFER ADVANCED PROGRAMS IN PERSONAL FINANCE, ECONOMICS, AND PHYSIOLOGICAL WELLBEING, DESIGNING TO EMPOWER BOTH OUR YOUTH AND ADULTS PREPARING THEM FOR A PROSPEROUS FUTURE.
ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL RESERVES 2022 REPORT, FINANCIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE FINANCIAL LITERACY AND OVERALL ECONOMIC WELLBEING IN COMMUNITIES.
THIS CENTER WILL BE OUR COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE EDUCATION ON EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN THE DIGITAL AGE.
BLOCKCHAIN AND CRYPTOCURRENCIES ARE NOT JUST RENTS.
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THEY REPRESENT THE FUTURE OF FINANCE.BY INTEGRATING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ON THESE TECHNOLOGIES FOR ART CAN POSITION ITSELF AT THE FOREFRONT OF ECONOMIC INNOVATION, ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS AND TALENT.
TEXAS IS ALREADY LEADING IN THE CURRENCY SPACE, AND PORT ARTHUR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A KEY PLAYER IN THIS DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATION, AND MARKETING STRATEGY.
A ROBUST COMMUNICATION STRATEGY IS ESSENTIAL FOR SHOWCASING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS, AMBITIONS.
I PROPOSE A MULTI-PLATFORM, DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN THAT NOT ONLY PROMOTES OUR PROJECTS, BUT ALSO CELEBRATES THAT SUCCESS STORIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE IMPACT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ON PUBLIC PERCEPTION AND INVESTMENT ATTRACTION IS ON THE AFFECTED COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES CAN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE EXTERNAL INVESTMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROJECT IN, IN THIS PROJECT WILL BE FACED ENSURING ONGOING EVALUATION TO ADJUST AND OPTIMIZE OUR PROGRAMS, OUR SUCCESS.
WE'VE BEEN MEASURED NOT JUST IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATION AND SATISFACTION, BUT ALSO IN TANGIBLE IMPACTS ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING.
THE CONCLUSION, THIS PROJECT IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE HEART OF ATOR.
ITS PEOPLE WITH DATA BACKING EVERY STEP OF OUR PROPOSAL.
WE ARE NOT JUST DREAMING OF A BETTER FUTURE, WE ARE LYING IN THE BACKGROUND TO MAKE IT A REALITY.
I INVITE, I INVITE EACH OF YOU LEADERS OF THIS COMMUNITY TO JOIN IN THIS TRANSFORMATIVE EFFORT.
TOGETHER WE CAN ENSURE THAT PORT ALTO'S LEGACY IS ONE OF INNOVATION, SILENCE, AND PROSPERITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
WE HAVE ANY REMARKS? COUNCIL? IF NOT, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, ITS GOOD FOR, UH, THE LAST TIME IN THE MEETING, LAST MEETING THAT I WENT HERE, I WAS, UH, HEARING A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU, YOU GUYS NEED TO GIVE INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE.
WE HAVE THE NEWS, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE WATCH THE NEWS? I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE THE 10% OF FORER WE NEED, UH, CAMPAIGN ON STRATEGY, MARKETING, MARKETING OF
WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MAYOR? WHAT ARE THE CAUSES DOING? WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN THE STREETS? PEOPLE DOESN'T, DON'T KNOW THAT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE EVEN DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THESE KIND OF MEETINGS AND, UH, STRATEGY AND MARKETING WILL BE INCREASED.
LIKE THE COUNTRY OF EL SALVADOR.
EL SALVADOR WITH THE PRESIDENT, NABU KELLY, THEY CREATE CAMPAIGNS, A LOT OF VIDEOS IN INSTAGRAM TO YOUTUBE SO THEY CAN SEE A LOT OF INVESTORS COME TO EL SALVADOR AND INVEST PUERTO ARTUR.
WELL, PUERTO ARTUR IS A REALLY GOOD CITY AND YOU GUYS HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE IT BETTER.
[III.B.(1) A Presentation By PGAL, Inc. And Staff Regarding The Status Of The New City Of Port Arthur Animal Service Facility]
WE'LL MOVE TO NOW PRESENTATIONS.WE'LL BEGIN WITH A PRESENTATION BY PGAL, INCORPORATED AND STAFF REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE NEW CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ANIMAL SHELTER.
I AM DARLENE THOMAS PIERRE, CO COMPLIANCE MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND I AM BEYOND EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THERE'S A RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, UH, TO AWARD CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW PORT ARTHUR ANIMAL SERVICES CENTER.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, UM, AND WE ARE JUST EXCITED ABOUT IT.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO OUR COUNCIL, OUR ADMINISTRATION, OUR DIRECTOR, PAMELA LANGFORD AND OUR CITIZENS FOR MAKING THIS PROJECT HAPPEN.
AND SO THIS IS OUR TEAM AND MANY OF YOU KNOW THEM.
UM, BUT I WANNA INTRODUCE THEM TODAY BECAUSE WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW PROJECT.
UH, ANTHONY MITCHELL, OUR ANIMAL CONTROL SUPERVISOR.
UM, AMELIA MILLER, WE CAN'T SEE
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YOU, AMELIA.I'M THE SENIOR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER.
THIS IS CAROLYN JORDAN, ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER ERNEST GIBSON, ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER NAPOLEON.
UM, HE'S OUR NEWEST, UH, ONE AND THEN KENNETH JERRY, WHO CAME BACK TO US.
SO, UH, WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM AND WITH THIS NEW, UH, BUILDING, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO SOME GREATER THINGS.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR SERVICES, AND WE ARE JUST, UM, HAPPY ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
AND SO, UH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA INTRODUCE OUR ARCHITECT, UH, PGAL.
WE HAVE MR. PAUL BARNETT AND MR. PANA, WHO WILL GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT.
I'M THE PRINCIPAL IN CHARGE AT PGAL.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM THE MOMENT THAT WE, THAT DARLENE AND PAMELA CALLED US TO, TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT, IT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE UNDERSTOOD THE URGENCY AND, AND THE NEED THAT THE CITY HAS FOR, UH, THE NEW ANIMAL SHELTER.
AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT IT'S ABOUT TO GET UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
AND, UH, I'M GONNA INTRODUCE PIERRE ZANA FROM, ALSO FROM PGAL, WHO'S BEEN WORKING ON THE PROJECT, UH, WITH US.
AND HE'S GONNA GO THROUGH JUST SOME THE SITE PLAN AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROJECT.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AGAIN.
I'M GOING WALK THROUGH THIS PROJECT WHERE I'M GONNA START WITH THE SITE PLAN.
UH, JUST FOR REFERENCE, THIS PROJECT IS GONNA BE LOCATED OFF OF THE OLD MARY HOSPITAL SITE.
SO, UH, WE'LL START WITH THE SITE.
SO AS FAR AS THE BUILDING IS CONCERNED, WE'LL HAVE TWO ENTRY ACCESS TO THE, TO THE SITE, AND THEY'LL BOTH BE OFF OF GIS BOULEVARD.
AND THE ENTIRE PORTION THAT WILL HAVE THE AMMO SHELTER WILL BE 3.5 ACRES OF THE 15, UM, ACRE, UH, PIECE OF LAND THAT WE HAVE THERE.
UH, SO AS FAR AS THE PARKING SPACE IS CONCERNED, THERE'LL BE TWO WAYS OF ACCESSING THE SITE.
THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE OFF OF GATE BOULEVARD FOR VISITORS.
IN TOTAL, WE'LL HAVE 25 PARKING SPACES FOR VISITORS.
AND THEN THE SECOND ENTRY WOULD BE ALSO OFF OF GATES BOULEVARD.
BUT THERE'S AN EXISTING DRIVE THERE THAT WE, THAT WE ARE USING, OH, GO AHEAD.
UH, SO THAT PARKING WILL SERVICE THE EMPLOYEES AND ALSO FOR THE ANIMAL SERVICE VEHICLES.
SO THE VEHICLES THAT'LL BE SERVING THE, THE SPACE.
UM, ALSO ON THE SITE, WE WILL HAVE FOUR DOG RUNS.
THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SEEING THERE IN GREEN.
SO FOUR, SO THREE WILL BE ON THE NORTH THERE.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WILL BE, UH, ON THE SOUTH PORTION OF THE BUILDING.
ALSO, WE'VE ALSO, WE HAVE ALSO PLANNED FOR AN EXPANSION THAT'S FOR FUTURE NEEDS.
THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SEEING THERE IN GREEN, THAT IS HIGHLIGHTING.
UM, ALSO WE ARE PROVIDING A GENERATOR FOR THIS PROJECT TO ALLOW FOR THE BUILDING TO STAY OPERATIONAL, UH, WHEN NEED BE.
WELL LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO THIS IS A RENDERING OF WHAT THE BUILDING WE'RE HOPING THE BUILDING LOOKS LIKE.
UH, THIS IS OFF OF THE, SO THIS IS THE PARKING SPACE THAT YOU GUYS ARE SEEING FROM THE VISITOR SIDE.
SO THE MAIN ENTRY IS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SEEING THERE, THERE, THIS WOULD BE THE MAIN ENTRY.
AND IF YOU GO ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE, SO THIS PORTION IS THE EMPLOYEE'S DRIVE.
SO ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS IMAGE WHERE YOU CAN SEE A CAR THERE, THAT'S WHERE THE SALLY PORT WOULD BE.
AND ALSO THE PARKING SPACE FOR EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS.
UH, PARKING, WELL, EMPLOYEES AND SERVICE VEHICLES, PARKING, THERE YOU GO.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE KENNEL THERE, THE DOG RIGHT THERE ON THE SOUTH SIDE THERE.
ON NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS THE IMAGE OF THE ENTRY.
SO AS PEOPLE WALK INTO THE LOBBY, THIS IS WHAT THEY SHOULD BE EXPECTING TO SEE.
UM, ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THAT IMAGE, THEY'RE IN GREEN.
THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE RECEPTION AREA.
SO ANYTHING THAT'S TRANSACTION, PEOPLE COMING IN TO FOR ADOPTION OR INFORMATION WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS THERE.
THE NEXT ONE, AND THIS IS AN IMAGE OF THE, THE KENNEL PORTION OF THE BUILDING.
SO IF YOU WANNA GO BACK TO THE SITE PLAN.
SO AS FAR AS THE BUILDING ITSELF IS CONCERNED, WE'LL HAVE TWO PORTIONS.
THE FIRST ONE WILL BE THE MAIN
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BUILDING, WHICH, BECAUSE I SEEN THE ENTRY AND, UH, SOME OF THE RENDERINGS.SO WITH THAT PORTION OF THE BUILDING THERE, WE WILL HAVE THE SALLY PORT.
WE'LL HAVE A LARGE TRAINING AREA THAT CAN ALSO BE DIVIDED INTO TWO.
WE NEED TO BE, AND ALSO WE WILL HAVE THE OFFICES, SO THE ADMIN PORTION, THE STORAGE, AND ALSO A MEDICAL SPACE FOR MEDICAL NEEDS FOR DOGS, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, AND THEN THE SECOND PORTION OF THE BUILDING, WHICH IS THE KENNEL AREA THERE.
SO THAT SPACE, THAT PORTION OF THE BUILDING WILL HOST 38 KENNELS, AND OUT OF THE 38 THERE WILL BE 30 FOR NON QUARANTINE DOGS.
AND ALSO TH UM, EIGHT THAT WILL BE FOR DOG THAT NEEDS TO BE QUARANTINED.
UM, EACH KENNEL WILL HAVE AN INTERIOR SPACE AND ALSO AN EXTERIOR SPACE.
SO IF YOU GUYS SEE THAT IN BLUE, THAT'S WHAT I'M HIGHLIGHTING THERE IN BLUE, THOSE WILL BE THE, THE OUTDOOR KENNELS.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE INDOOR KENNELS ARE GONNA BE INSIDE AND THE BUILDING WILL BE AIR CONDITIONED AS FAR AS THE SCHEDULE IS CONCERNED.
THE CONTRACTOR THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING IS PROPOSING A 385 CALENDAR DAY FROM WHEN WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT UNTIL THE BUILDING IS, UM, READY TO USE.
AND I'LL JUST ADD THAT, UH, WE DO HAVE JIM ENGLISH HERE FROM, UM, CONSTRUCTION ZONE.
SO THEIR CONTRACT IS, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, LATER ON IN THE MEETING.
SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
OTHERWISE, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UM, IS THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, THE FRONT ENTRANCE, IS IT SITUATED TO WHERE IT'S, IT FACES NINTH AVENUE? OR IS IT KIND OF CATTY CORNER? IT FACES GATES BOULEVARD.
AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS THE EXISTING BUILDING THAT IS TO STAY, I I'VE DRIVEN BY MM-HMM.
IT WAS THE PROFESSIONAL BUILDING PROFESSIONAL.
AND IS THAT GONNA BE PART OF THE FACILITY AT ALL, OR IT'S NOT.
IT'S GOING TO BE A CITY FACILITY, BUT IT WON'T BE A PART OF THE ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY.
UM, I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF KENNELS, BUT YOU ANSWERED THAT IT, AND I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE.
AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, OH, I'M SORRY.
DID SOMEONE ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS? OH, NO, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
COUNCILMAN KEN, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
OH, FOR CLARITY, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK AND I WERE JUST DISCUSSING HOW MANY ACTUAL KENNELS ARE THEY GONNA BE? 30, 38.
ALSO, WE WERE HAVING, UH, SOME QUESTIONS.
I WAS HAVING QUESTIONS ABOUT DONATIONS, OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE.
WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT PREVIOUSLY.
SO THE STORAGE SPACE WHERE WE HAVE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THAT WITH THE STORAGE SPACE, WITH THE DONATIONS THAT WE MAY HAVE FROM THE, FROM THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE REALLY BEEN CONCENTRATED ON MAKING SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH STORAGE SPACE BECAUSE EVERY, UH, ANIMAL SERVICES CENTER THAT WE VISITED HAS A STORAGE.
SO WE MADE SURE THAT WE HAVE PLENTY OF STORAGE INCORPORATED.
AND THE NEXT THING, OFFICE SPACE FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
YOU GUYS LOOK LIKE YOU PACKED UP IN THE CURRENT ONE.
I'M GLAD THAT, YES, WE'RE AT THIS POINT WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY THAT'S OUT THERE VISITING.
SO WHAT ABOUT, I DON'T SEE A NUMBER OF OFFICE SPACE ON HERE.
I, I LOOKED THROUGH YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT CAN SOMEONE TELL ME HOW MANY OFFICE AND, AND DO WE ACCOMMODATE MORE OR SHOULD WE PREPARE FOR ANY, UH, MORE HIRES, UH, WITH THIS BUILDING? HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THAT AS WELL? YES.
SO AS OF NOW, THE WAY THE PLAN IS PUT THE WHITE, EXCUSE ME, SORRY.
SO AS OF NOW, WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUAL OFFICES FOR THE SUPERVISOR AND, UM, THE THE SENIOR.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A SHARED SPACE THAT'S ALSO THAT, THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO THREE AND POSSIBLY FOUR.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST LIVING UP TO THREE.
SO WE HAVE THREE THAT ARE SHARED AND THEN TWO THAT ARE INDIVIDUAL OFFICES.
WE ALSO HAVE A, A KENNEL TECH AREA WHERE WE CAN EXPAND, UM, IN THE FUTURE IF NEED BE.
COUNCILMAN FRANK, I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS ANIMAL SHELTER.
I AM TOO
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THE STAFF FOR DOING SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE FOR SO LONG.UH, BUT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.
SO I WANT TO COMMEND YOU GUYS TREMENDOUSLY.
UM, I GOT THE NUMBER OF KEN KENNELS.
WHAT IS THE, UH, TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THIS FACILITY? THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE BY 16
THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE BY 16,000.
AND I'LL, I'LL ASK THE OTHER QUESTION WHEN I, WHEN WE GET TALKED TO THE CONTRACTOR, 'CAUSE WE'LL TALK ABOUT PER SQUARE FOOT, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR THIS BUILDING.
SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.
UM, BUT, UM, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED.
I WANTED TO FIND OUT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE BUILDING, DARLENE, OF COURSE, YOU ALL WERE, WERE, YOU KNOW, PART, PART AND PARCEL OF GETTING THIS TOGETHER AND, AND REALLY TALKING ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL NEEDED AND WHAT YOU WANTED.
SO, UM, YES SIR, IT MEETS YOUR NEEDS AND MEETS, UH, THE NEEDS OF ALL OF THE GUYS.
IT IT DOES, UM, DEREK HOLLAND AND PAMELA LANGFORD, MYSELF, AND DEREK AND ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS, ALL CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONVERSATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT WHAT WE NEEDED, UH, TO HAVE A, A MORE THAN ADEQUATE FACILITY.
AND IT IS GOING TO SERVE OUR NEEDS, UH, INTO THE FUTURE.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO SAY TO WATCH OUR PAGE, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE POSTING UPDATES ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROPERTY ALSO.
UH, WE'LL BE COMING BACK AT A LATER DATE TO DO A PRESENTATION ABOUT A DONATION PORTAL, DONATION OPPORTUNITIES, NOT JUST FOR BLANKETS AND FOOD.
IF YOU WANNA DONATE A ROOM, THAT'S FINE, WE'LL TAKE THAT.
OR IF YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED ON A LITTLE TAG THAT THAT'LL BE DISPLAYED IN THE FOYER, THERE WILL BE DONATION OPPORTUNITIES AND WE'LL BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK WHEN THAT ACCOUNT HAS BEEN SET UP.
AND SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
UM, OUR CITIZENS DESERVE IT, OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE IT, AND IT WILL BE A PLACE THAT, UM, WE CAN PROSPER AND DO GREAT THINGS FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UH, COUNCILMAN BECKER, YOU GOT SOMETHING? YES, THANK YOU.
I WANTED TO KIND OF SAVE THIS FOR THE END, DARLENE AND ANTHONY, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DONE, AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST AND I'M, I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT THE CART IN FRONT OF THE HORSE, BUT I WANNA GET THIS OUT THERE BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS WILL ASK ABOUT IT.
WILL WE STILL BE WORKING TOWARDS BECOMING A NO KILL SHELTER FOR PORT ARTHUR? AND AGAIN, THAT IS, UH, OF COURSE A DECISION FOR THE COUNCIL.
UH, BUT WE'RE GONNA DO, UH, EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO, UM, SAVE AS MANY AS WE CAN.
UM, LET'S PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE FUTURE EXPANSION, UM, BECAUSE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT HERE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, DARLENE AND THE TEAM AND PAM, THEY HAD THE FORESIGHT FOR 10 OR 15 YEARS DOWN THE LINE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SPECIFICALLY RESERVED THAT AREA FOR FUTURE EXPANSION.
SO KUDOS TO YOU ALL FOR THINKING 15 YEARS AHEAD.
ONE LAST QUESTION, RIGHT? THE, YOU SAID TO WATCH YOUR WEBSITE.
IS YOUR WEBSITE PART OF THE THE CITY'S ON THE CITY'S, UH, NEW UPDATED PAGE? OUR PAGE IS UPDATED ANIMALS SERVICES PAGE IS UPDATED.
SO WE'LL BE PUTTING UPDATES ON THERE, UH, AS WE GO.
AND OF COURSE WE'LL HAVE A GROUNDBREAKING.
AND SO, UH, SO ARE YOU GONNA HAVE AN ADOPTION PAGE CONNECTED TO THAT? YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO SOME LITTLE PICTURES.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE ADOPT THESE AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND OUR PAGE AND EVERYTHING IS NEW AND EXPANDED AND YEAH.
WE'RE GONNA DO A LOT OF THINGS.
DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING ON THE PAGE? UH, WE'RE POSTING WHAT'S AVAILABLE AND WHAT'S FOUND.
SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR YOUR ANIMAL, YOU CAN GO ON THE SECTION THAT SAYS, COME, COME BACK TO FOUND ANIMALS.
UH, YOU CAN LOOK ON THE PAGE AND THERE IS A SECTION THAT SAYS, FOUND ANIMALS AND AVAILABLE ANIMALS.
AND IF THE FOUND ANIMALS ARE, ARE THERE A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME THEY'LL MOVE TO WHAT'S AVAILABLE.
SO THOSE WILL BE THE ONES THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION.
UH, CITY ATTORNEY, BUT I, I, MAYBE I JUST, DID SHE HAVE SOMETHING? OKAY.
COUNCILMAN FRANK, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? NO, SIR.
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND, UH, I JUST WANNA SAY ONE THING TO THE ARCHITECTS AND I GUESS TO THE, THE CONTRACTOR THAT, UH, WELL THE LOBBY, UH, UH, UH, VISION VISIONARY OR VISION VISUAL OF THE LOBBY, THAT'S ABOUT AS LARGE AS WHAT THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW.
SO WHEN HE WAS ASKING ABOUT THE OFFICE SPACE, IF THEY HAD SOMETHING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL THAT WAS JUST ABOUT LIKE, THAT LEFT A BIG IMPROVEMENT, BUT IT'S INSIDE, UH, SKETCH, UH, ARCHITECTURAL, UH, RENDERING
[00:30:01]
HERE IS GREAT.THE LOBBYISTS, THE, THE LOBBYISTS ACTUALLY BIGGER THAN THE OFFICE THAT THEY'RE IN NOW.
YEAH, WE WERE TRYING NOT TO SAY THAT, BUT YEAH, WE'RE, THIS IS GONNA BE FANTASTIC FOR US.
[VII.C.(1) P.R. No. 23542 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With Construction Zone Of Southeast Texas, LLC Of Nederland, Texas, For The Construction Of The City Of Port Arthur Animal Services Center Building, To Be Located At 3615 Gates Boulevard, Port Arthur, Texas, In The Amount Of $7,365,000.00; Funding Available In Capital Projects/Buildings Account No. 307-21-049-8512-00-10-000; Project No. BU0008]
AT THIS POINT ON PAGE, UH, FOUR, YOU ARE ON PAGE FOUR AND, UH, THERE ARE SOMETHING, UH, THERE ARE NUMBER ONE UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS.IT, IT IS A PR NUMBER 23 5 42 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS LLC OF NELAND, TEXAS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ANIMAL SERVICES CENTRAL BUILDING TO BE LOCATED AT 36 15 GATES BOULEVARD, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,365,000.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND BUILDINGS.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH 0 4 9 DASH 8 5 12 DASH ZERO ZERO.
AND IT IS, UH, PROJECT NUMBER BU 0 0 0 8.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MCKEN LAW? SO MOVED.
IT BEEN MOVED SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, ACCEPT THEY JUST READ, UH, RESOLUTION.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE CONTRACTOR.
HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU? I'M DANDY, AS YOU CAN TELL.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU COMING TO, UH, TAKE CARE OF THIS AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS WITH US.
UM, THE PROJECT, UM, THE PROJECT PRICE IS, UM, ABOUT $7 MILLION OR SO.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, IS THE PARTICIPATION OF BUSINESSES IN THE BUILDING PROJECT HERE IN OUR CITY.
UH, WE HAVE BUSINESSES THAT FROM TRUCKING TO DIRT, UH, TO ALL OF THAT.
AND I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT, UM, IF, UM, THOSE, IF THE BIDDING PROCESSES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, HAVE WE, UM, LOOKED AT UTILIZING, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR DIRT PITS HERE IN PORT ARTHUR? OUR TRUCKING HERE, UH, IN PORT ARTHUR, UM, WE, WE'VE GOT UNEMPLOYMENT HERE IN OUR CITY.
UH, IT'S HIGHER THAN, UH, PERHAPS THE REST OF THE COUNTY AND THE STATE.
AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT AND IMPERATIVE THAT OUR BUSINESSES HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE, UH, IN A PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
CAN YOU KIND OF, UH, YOU KNOW, SHARE THAT WITH US ON TODAY, HOW YOU GO ABOUT, UH, PROCURING, UM, THOSE, UH, COMPANIES TO ALLOW THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS AS WELL? YES, SIR.
UH, IT'S A CSP, THAT'S WHAT'S A CONCEALED, UH, SEAL PROPOSAL.
SO WE PROBABLY RECEIVED A HUNDRED, 125 BIDS.
UH, SO NOW THAT WE ARE SELECTED, WE'LL GO BACK, EVALUATE THE BIDS, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS INCLUDED, LOOK AT THE LOCATION, AND DEFINITELY TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION ON OUR, UH, SUBCONTRACTORS.
BUT YOU SPOKE ABOUT DIRT PITS AND TRUCKING AND ALL THAT.
DIRT ALWAYS COMES FROM LOCAL SOURCES 'CAUSE THE MATERIAL'S CLOSE, BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SUBCONTRACTORS.
AND I WILL SAY WE, UH, HAD A MEETING WITH THE, UH, WITH THE TEAM LAST WEEK AND THE ARCHITECT AND UH, UH, IT WAS A GREAT MEETING.
UH, EVERYBODY'S LOOKING TOWARDS, UH, THE COMMON GOAL AND, UH, IT WAS A, IT WAS A WARM MEETING AND REALLY WE REALLY ENJOYED IT.
SO IT WAS A, IT WAS A GOOD TEAM.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
YOU NEED TO MAYOR TRYING TO SLIDE AWAY, WASN'T IT? YES.
IS SALES TAX INVOLVED IN YOUR PURCHASING EQUIPMENT AND STUFF TO BUILDING MATERIAL? ARE SALES TAX INVOLVED OR YOU EXEMPTED FROM SALES TAX? UH, NO, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM SALES TAX.
I'M, CAN YOU ARCHITECT? I, I APOLOGIZE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY, IF THIS PROJECT WAS A, A TAX EXEMPT OR NOT.
IT'S INCLUDED IN, IF IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE, IT IS INCLUDED IN OUR PROPOSAL.
SO YOU WILL BE PAYING SALE TAX ON PURCHASING, UH, MATERIAL AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO.
ON NEW CONSTRUCTION, TYPICALLY WE PAY TAX, UH, AT THE POINT OF SALE.
SO, AND THERE'S NO TAX ON LABOR.
SO WHERE'S YOUR PROCUREMENT OFFICE? IS YOUR PROCUREMENT OFFICE LOCATED IN PORT ARTHUR OR IS IT LOCATED OUTSIDE OF PORT ARTHUR? I'M SAYING IT FOR A REASON.
[00:35:01]
YOU ARE IN NEEDLING, BUT YES, BUT THE, UH, THE MATERIALS WE PURCHASE AT THE POINT OF SALE, LIKE IF WE BUY MATERIALS FROM, UH, UH, PARKERS OR ANY OF THE LOCAL, THE LOCAL AREAS.BUT, BUT SINCE YOUR PROCUREMENT OFFICE IS IN NEELAND, SO THAT TELLS ME NEELAND WILL PROBABLY GET THE SALES TAX.
WHAT I NEED FOR YOU TO PUT YOUR PROCUREMENT OFFICE IN PORT ARTHUR, IN PORT ARTHUR SO THAT UNDER THE USE TAX PORT ARTHUR WILL GET THE SALES TAX.
YOU MAKE PURCHASES HERE AND AT THIS BUSINESS AND WHEREVER THE, WHEREVER THE MATERIAL USED THERE, THAT'S WHO GETS THE SALES TAX.
SO I MEAN THAT'S, IT'S NOT FOR YOU THAT I NEED TO GET WITH YOU ON THAT.
A AFTER, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT SOME MORE BECAUSE UNDER THE STATE OF TEXAS USE TAX, WHEREVER YOUR PROCUREMENT OR WHEREVER YOU INVOICE AND YOU INVOICE IT FROM NEEDLING, THEN NEEDLING YOU, EVEN THOUGH YOU MAKE THE PURCHASE IN PORT ARTHUR AND YOU PAY THE SALE, THAT'S NEEDLING GETS THE SALES TAX.
SO, UH, I THINK IT'S PAID AT THE POINT OF SALE.
SO IF WE BUY WOOD FROM PARKER LUMBER, IT'S PAID TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITY, RIGHT? YES.
WELL, WE NEED, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
UH, COUNCILMAN ETT? YES, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UH, SUBCONTRACTING.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A, UH, PROGRAM IN WHICH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, UH, DEAL WITH, UH, DEVELOPMENTS HERE IN THE CITY WHEREBY WHATEVER YOU NEED, YOU CAN, UH, GET WITH THEM OVER THERE AND THEY CAN GO THROUGH THE WORKFORCE DATA BANK AND THEY CAN, UH, FIND OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EMPLOYED, WHO'S QUALIFIED.
YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK ON YOUR JOB BECAUSE THEY'RE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENT, BUT IF YOU WANT, UH, SOME TRUCK DRIVERS, THEN YOU GO THERE AND YOU TELL 'EM, AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IF WE HAVE COMPANIES OR PEOPLE AVAILABLE.
AND IF SO, THEY HAVE IT WHEREBY THEY CAN ACTUALLY CONTACT THEM, GET THE INFORMATION, GIVE THEM A REFERRAL SLIP AND SEND 'EM TO SEE YOU OR WHO OR WHOMEVER YOU HAVE IN CHARGE OF YOUR PROJECT.
BUT THAT'S ONE WAY THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT YOU ARE, UH, HI HIRING AS MANY BUSINESSES OR PEOPLE THAT ARE QUALIFIED SURE.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO HIRE SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN PORT ARTHUR, I'M SAYING QUALIFIED RESIDENTS OF PORT ARTHUR.
SO IF YOU GET WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THEY CAN, UH, TELL YOU MORE ABOUT HOW TO GO ABOUT LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA NEED FOR THIS PROJECT AND GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOCATE THE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE QUALIFIED.
UH, AS A GENERAL CONTRACTOR, THE MAJORITY OF HER, PROBABLY 95% OF THE GENERAL CONTRACTORS, MOST OF THIS IS SUBCONTRACTED TO CARPENTRY COMPANIES, FRAMING COMPANIES, SHEET ROCK PAINTING, STEEL BUILDING, BUILDING ERECTORS AND STUFF.
SO WE'LL TAKE, AS I SAID EARLIER, WE'LL TAKE ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE'RE, UH, EVALUATING THE, THE FINAL SUBCONTRACTOR BIDS.
YEAH, WELL THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING AS A, YOU'RE GONNA BE THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR THAT CAN ASSIST IN REACHING A GOAL THAT COUNCILMAN FRANK MENTIONED EARLIER AND THAT I'M SPEAKING OF ENSURING THAT OUR CITIZENS OR BUSINESSES OR IN INDIVIDUALS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE FOR THE JOB.
AND THAT IS ONE METHOD YOU COULD USE AS A GC AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RIPPING AND RUNNING.
YOU KNOW, YOU COULD JUST TELL THEM, OKAY, THESE ARE SOME OF THE SUM SOME CONTRACTORS OR JOBS I'M GONNA HAVE COMING UP ON THIS JOB.
YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS LIST AND YOU GOT ANY REFERRALS.
LET ME, LET ME INTERVIEW 'EM OR LET WHOEVER I GOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING THAT.
SEE, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN MISSING A ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JUST, UH, HAVING A SYSTEM AND I THINK IT'S COMMUNICATIONS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND PEOPLE COMMUNICATE, THEN IT CAN ALWAYS BE ACCOMPLISHED.
SO IF YOU JUST CHECK WITH THE EDC IN REFERENCE TO THAT, YOU CAN GET A MORE OUT, A BETTER IDEA ON WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE AND, UH, HOW TO GO ABOUT IT.
AND THAT CAN ENSURE US THAT YOU HAD ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU STILL HAD SOME YES.
I MAY HAVE MISSED MISSTATED SOMETHING EXAMPLE ON HOW THE, THE STATE OF TEXAS USED TAX WORK.
LEMME GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
YOU GOING TO, YOU GONNA BE USING THE MATERIAL IN PORT ARTHUR AND YOU PURCHASE THAT MATERIAL IN BEAUMONT IF YOU, YOU PURCHASE
[00:40:01]
IN BEAUMONT, WELL, BEAUMONT WILL GET THE SALES TAX, BUT IF YOU PUT YOUR PROCUREMENT OFFICE IN PORT ARTHUR, PORT ARTHUR AND WHERE IT'S GONNA BE, MATERIAL IS GONNA BE USED AT PORT ARTHUR GETS THE SALES TAX.LEMME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SALE.
YOU SEE THAT ENTERPRISE TANK FARM OUT THERE.
WE, THEY CAME TO US FOR A TAX ABATEMENT AND WE GAVE THEM A CONDITION TAX ABATEMENT IF THEY, WHEN YOU, IF YOU PUT YOUR PROCUREMENT OFFICE IN PORT ARTHUR, PORT ARTHUR CAP CAPTURED THE SALES, WE GOT OVER CO WE GOT OVER A COUPLE OF MILLION DOLLARS ACTUALLY BECAUSE THERE WAS PURCHASED IN OTHER LOCATIONS.
BUT THE MATERIALS USED IN PORT ARTHUR, WE GOT THE SALES TAX.
EDC GOT THE SALES TAX AND CITY OF PORT ARTHUR GET THE SALES TAX.
ALL I'M ASKING YOU TO DO IS CONSIDER YOU PUTTING YOUR PROCUREMENT OFFICE IN PORT ARTHUR.
SO WHEREVER YOU PURCHASE AND PAY THAT SALES TAX, WHEREVER, WHEREVER THAT MATERIALIST USED AT IT IS WE GET THE SALES TAX THAT'S UNDER THE, THE STATE OF TEXAS YOUTH TAX.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? UM, I I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER, CITY, UH, OR CITY ATTORNEY.
THE, THE, THE CONTRACT FOR THIS HAS BEEN LET IT, IT IT BE THE ACTUAL CONTRACT RIGHT? AND SIGNED, AM I CORRECT? THAT'S WHAT THIS MOTION IS FOR.
AND, AND IN, IN, IN THE CONTRACT, EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING, EVEN FROM THE, AND I KNOW WHAT IT IS, IT IS THE POINT OF SALE SEEMS TO BE THE ISSUE, NOT AN ISSUE, BUT THE CONCERN, UH, BUT WHEREVER YOU WOULD MAKE YOUR PURCHASES AND WHOMEVER YOU'RE GOING TO SELECT AS SUBCONTRACTORS, AND I UNDERSTAND CONSIDERATION, YES.
BUT CONSIDERATION DOES NOT ALWAYS GO OVER INTO ACTUAL ACTUALLY BEING SELECTED.
I, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE TERMINOLOGY.
BUT IT, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS MOVE OVER INTO THE REALITY OF BEING A PORT ARTHUR, UH, COMPANY.
ALSO, UH, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHERE TO PUT YOUR PROCUREMENT OFFICE, BUT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS, HAVE YOU REALLY CONSIDER THE POINT OF SALE FOR MATERIALS.
NOW LOCALLY IN PORT WE SAY LOCAL.
I'M, I'M NOT SPEAKING OF THE REGION, THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT MOVE.
BUT THE, THE, THE INITIAL MOVE WOULD BE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S A CONCERN THAT COUNCILMAN LEWIS HAS, BUT IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND THE POINT OF SALE, YOUR OFFICE CAN BE ANYWHERE, BUT IF YOU PURCHASE IT HERE, WE ARE GOING TO GET THE SALES TAX HERE.
'CAUSE YOU MADE THE, MADE THE PURCHASE HERE NOW AND A CITY MANAGER, UH, AND, AND, AND, AND MAYBE EVEN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
THESE ARE SOME TENANTS THAT WE CAN CONSIDER GOING FORWARD.
IF WE'VE ALREADY DRAWN UP A CONTRACT FOR THIS, THEN IT IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MOOT ACTUALLY.
BUT IN THE FUTURE, THE NEXT BUILDING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, OKAY, THOSE ARE CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE NEED TO PUT IN THE CONTRACT AND BE SURE THAT PORT ARTHUR FOLK GET A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE JOBS.
I'M JUST, SORRY YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD NEED IN THE FUTURE MOVING FORWARD.
WE CAN'T, WE, WE CAN'T GO BACK NOW.
UH, MAY I ASK CAN YOU, CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT THE QUESTION WAS? NO, BUT IF ACTUALLY THIS IS THE QUESTION ON A MOTION, WE WOULD, WE WOULD JUST, UH, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION AS TO POINT OF SALE AND ACTUAL, UH, PORT ARTHURS BEING CONSIDERED AS HE AND HE STATED FOR SUBCONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT IF THE CONTRACT DOESN'T HAVE THOSE TENANTS THERE, BUT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW STATE LAW AND STATE LAW HAS SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS OF WHAT YOU DO WITH THE CONTRACT OF THIS NATURE THAT THE CITY CAN'T CHANGE.
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ANIMAL SHELTER PROCUREMENT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO GO WITH EXACTLY WHAT STATE LAW SAYS.
UM, AND SO, UH, THOSE ARE THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE.
SO THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO WITH A CONTRACT, UH, FOR THIS IS A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, RIGHT? YEP.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE BE, YOU KNOW, ANY IDEAS YOU HAVE, WE CAN ALSO ALWAYS ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
BUT THIS IS A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT.
IT'S NOT AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
SO YOU'RE LIMITED TO DOING WHAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 2 52 SAYS.
THIS IS VERY STRICT ON CONSTRUCTION.
UH, YOU GOT SOMETHING ELSE, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? TWO SEPARATE THINGS.
THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, THAT'S A, THAT'S ONE ISSUE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROCUREMENT OFFICE.
HE CAN PUT HIS, LEAVE HIS PROCUREMENT
[00:45:01]
OFFICE IN NEEDLING OR HE CAN PUT IT IN PORT OFF.WE DON'T HAVE TO CONTROL THAT.
AND WHEN BY YOU PUTTING THAT PROCUREMENT OFFICE IN PORT ARTHUR, WHEREVER IN ROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS, YOU BUY THAT MATERIAL AND WHERE IT'S UNDER THE USE TAX CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, YOU INVOICE IT THROUGH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WE GET THE SALE TAX AND THAT'S THE STATE LAW.
THAT'S WHY WE WAS ABLE TO ABLE TO DO IT WITH THE ENTERPRISE TANK FARM.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE ABLE TO DO IT WITH THESE CORPORATIONS MOVING INTO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR DOWNTOWN.
THEY'RE PUTTING THEM PROCUREMENT OFFICES HERE.
SO REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY MAKE THEIR PURCHASE AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHERE IT WAS USED AT, WE GET THE SALES TAX AND I'M NOT MAKING THIS STUFF UP.
GO TO THE EDC, GO TO THE CITY MANAGER, GO TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I, BUT NO SIR, JUST TO BE CLEAR TO UNDERSTAND, JUST A MINUTE.
HE, HE WAS JUST MAKING A STATEMENT.
ANYTHING ELSE, CITY ATTORNEY? BECAUSE WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES? AYE, AKEE, THIS, UH, RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.
[III.B.(2) A Presentation By Chandra Alpough, Director Of Parks & Recreation Regarding An Update On The Dog Park]
THANK, UH, NEXT WE WILL GO TO NUMBER TWO, A PRESENTATION BY MS. CHANDRA, UH, ALPO, UH, DIRECT OUR DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR REGARDING AN UPDATE ON THE, UH, DOG PARK.CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE REST OF THE DAYS.
ACCORDING TO A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF DOG PARK DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARS INDICATED THAT THE EXISTENCE OF DOG PARKS IN THE COMMUNITY CAN INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES, BRING VIBRANCY TO THE COMMUNITY, AND ENHANCE EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT OF DOG WALKERS.
DOG PARKS CAN IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES.
ON DECEMBER 19TH, 2023, CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT SURVEY THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND ROOSEVELT PARK LOCATED AT 1900 GOWAY DRIVE TO GATHER VIEWPOINTS ON WHETHER THE RESIDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING A DOG PARK IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE PROPOSED AREAS WHERE THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE IN A 200 AND FOOT RADIUS OF THE SAID DOG PARK.
THE INSTRUMENT USED WAS A SURVEY TITLED BARK FOR THE PARK, AND WAS SENT OUT TO PROPERTY OWNERS IN A 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THE PROPOSED LOCATION.
THIS SURVEY ANNOUNCED THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW ADDITION TO ROOSEVELT PARK AND INVITED RESIDENTS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
THE SURVEYS WERE MAILED OUT ON JANUARY 16TH, 2024, WITH A DUE DATE OF FEBRUARY 16TH, 2024.
THE COMMUNITY IN THAT TARGET LOCATION HAD THE OPTION OF SCANNING THE QR CODE ON THE FLYER MAILING IN THEIR RESPONSE OR BRINGING IN THEIR RESPONSE TO THE RECREATION CENTER.
THE SURVEY WAS COMPRISED OF FIVE QUESTIONS OR MULTIPLE CHOICE ANSWERS.
THE QUESTIONS WERE, DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE A DOG? WOULD YOU BE IN SUPPORT OF A FENCED IN DOG PARK IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? PLEASE SELECT FEATURES THAT YOU FEEL THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL DOG PARK.
AND THOSE FEATURES WERE SIZE, CLEANLINESS, AND MAINTENANCE, SEPARATE FENCED IN AREA FOR SMALLER DOGS, DOUBLE GATED ENTRY, PET WASTE STATION, SHADED AREA, RESTROOMS, BENCHES AND PICNIC TABLES, DRINKING WATER, PARKING CLOSE TO THE SITE, AND DOG AMENITIES.
THE FOURTH QUESTION WAS, PLEASE SELECT THE ISSUES RELATING TO DOG PARKS THAT CONCERNED YOU THE MOST.
THOSE WERE CLEANLINESS, DOG CONFLICTS, LOCATION, PROXIMITY TO YOUR HOUSE, MAINTENANCE NOISE, DOGS GETTING LOOSE, PARKING AND CONGESTION, REPURPOSED USE OF PARK SPACE, OR NONE OF THE ABOVE.
THE FIFTH QUESTION JUST ASKED IF THEY HAD ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, CONCERNS, OR COMMENTS REGARDING THE DOG DOG PARK PROJECT.
THE SURVEY RESULTS, 35 SURVEYS WERE MAILED OUT TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS.
[00:50:01]
THREE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS OWNED MULTIPLE PROPERTIES IN THAT AREA.49% OF THE SURVEYS MAILED WERE OUTSIDE OF THAT 200 FOOT RADIUS.
THREE SURVEYS WERE RETURNED UNDELIVERABLE.
TWO SURVEYS WERE FILLED OUT AND MAILED BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT.
TWO SURVEYS WERE FILLED OUT ONLINE VIA THE QR CODE.
THE RESPONSES, THREE OUT OF THE FOUR RESPONSES RECEIVED ON THE DOG, WHICH WAS 75%.
THREE OUT OF THE FOUR RESPONSES RECEIVED WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF, OF OFFENSE, WOULD NOT BE IN SUPPORT, EXCUSE ME, OF FENCE IN DOG REPORT.
WE HAD ONE RESPONSE REGARDING IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE DOG PARK.
AND IN THE RESPONSES, THEY BASICALLY SUPPORTED ALL OF THE FEATURES.
THAT'S WHY IT HAD A HUNDRED PERCENT.
ONLY ONE PERSON ACTUALLY FILLED OUT THAT QUESTION.
AS FAR AS THE OTHER QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THOSE ISSUES RELATING TO THE DOG PARK, THEY SAID THOSE ISSUES, IT WAS A HUNDRED PERCENT REGARD IN REGARDS TO CLEANLINESS, 75% TO DOG CONFLICT, 75% TO LOCATION, A HUNDRED PERCENT MAINTENANCE, 75% NOISE, 75% DOGS GETTING LOOSE, A HUNDRED PERCENT PARKING AND CONGESTION, 50% TO THE REPURPOSED USE OF THE PARK SPACE AND 0% TO NONE OF THE ABOVE.
I LIVE DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE PARK.
CAN YOU PLEASE PROVIDE ADEQUATE PARKING TO ACCOMMODATE THIS ATTRACTION? THANKS.
THE DP SHOULD NOT BE IN A RESIDENTIAL LOCATION SURROUNDED BY HOMES AND SAFETY RUNNING AROUND GUFF WAY.
PLEASE PUT SOMEWHERE ELSE IN CLOSING.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, DOG PARKS CAN INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES, BRING VIBRANCY TO THE COMMUNITY, AND ENHANCE EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT OF DOG WALKERS.
IT ALSO GIVES THE OWNERS A CHANCE TO BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE WITH THEIR PET, WHICH IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
IT ALSO PROVIDES A SAFE SPACE FOR DOGS TO EXERCISE AND ROAM FREELY.
DOG PARK PARKS ARE FOUND TO BE IN THE MOST AFFLUENT COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
YOU KNOW, THE PERFECT PLACE FOR A DOG PARK IN PORT ARTHUR WOULD BE NEXT TO THE BABE ARIAS GOLF COURSE WHERE THE TENNIS COURTS ARE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN USED IN FOREVER AND A DAY.
UM, IT'S NOT DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM A RESIDENTIAL AREA, NOT NEARLY AS CLOSE AS ROOSEVELT PARK IS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SURVEY SENT OUT TO THE RESIDENTS THERE, UH, BECAUSE I THINK THAT YOU WOULD GET A MUCH GREATER RESPONSE.
UM, YOU ONLY GOT FOUR BACK OUTTA 35, I THINK YOU'D GET A MUCH GREATER RESPONSE OUTTA DISTRICT THREE, AND THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT PLACE TO PUT IT.
SO HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION FOR OTHER DOG PARK PLACES AROUND THE CITY WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO AND EXPLORING OTHER AREAS AND NEIGHBORHOODS? IS THAT ONE THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER IT? UM, WE COULD, POSSIBLY COULD, YES.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A DOG PARK, BUT AT THAT LOCATION, I, I GOT NUMEROUS CALLS ABOUT NOT WANTING TO HAVE IT THERE, UH, JUST BECAUSE OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS ON BOTH ALL FOUR SIDES OF THE, THE PARK.
UH, AND THE CONCERN THAT I'VE GOTTEN WAS TO ACTUALLY HAVE A PARK, UH, REHAB THERE, A ACTUAL PARK REHAB, NOT A DOG PARK.
SO, UH, IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER THAT AS WELL.
UH, I KNOW WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN WITH THROUGHOUT THE CITY WITH, UH, RENOVATION OF PARKS.
AND THAT'S ONE THAT I GOT SIX OR SEVEN CALLS ABOUT.
THEY DON'T WANT THE DOG PARK, THEY WANT AN ACTUAL RESIDENTIAL PARK THERE FOR THE KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
JUST TO KIND OF PUT MY 2 CENTS IN BEFORE YOU DIRECT IT.
HOW YOU DOING CHANDLER? I'M GREAT.
UH, THAT, THAT'S BASICALLY MY CONCERNS.
UH, WHEN THIS TOPIC CAME UP TO US, BECAUSE CITIZENS CAME BEFORE US, UH, ABOUT THAT PARK BEING THERE AND THE PEOPLE THAT CAME THERE, SOME OF 'EM WOULD SAY THEY WERE SPEAKING FOR OTHERS, THEY WAS CLEAR THAT THEY, THEY WAS, UH, AGAINST THE PARK BEING A DOG PARK WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE NO PARK.
YOU'RE TAKING A PARK FROM 'EM, MAKING A DOG PARK.
AND THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WAS HAPPENING.
AND I THINK WE ALL REALIZED THAT.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE ASKED THAT YOU ALL GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, ANOTHER SOLUTION
[00:55:01]
AND GETTING WITH THE PEOPLE.AND I SEE THAT YOU GOT WITH THE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THE SURVEY IS GOOD, BUT SOMETIME, UH, A MEETING, IF YOU JUST GET THE WORD OUT TO PEOPLE IN THE AREA AND, AND I HAVE A MEETING SOMEWHERE MAYBE CLOSE BY TO WHEREVER YOU WANT, YOU GET MORE RESPONSE BACK THAN SENDING OUT SURVEY FORMS. A LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T FILL 'EM OUT AND THEY JUST RATHER NOT BE BOTHERED WHERE THEY ARE.
THE BEST WAY TO TALK TO CITIZENS IS TO MEET WITH 'EM AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY WANT.
BUT I THINK THAT'S THE AREA HERE.
IT'S NOT AN AREA THAT THE CITIZENS WANT IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT PUTTING IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
UH, I'VE GOTTEN ONE CALL FROM A LADY WHO'S CONCERNED NOT HAVING ANY INPUT IN, WHEN WE MADE THAT FIRST ROUND OF DECISION, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY INPUT.
SO WHAT I DID, I INVITED HER TO COME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
AND SHE DID COME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL.
THEY JUST WANT INPUT INTO WHERE THE LOCATION OF THE DOG PARKS ARE GOING TO BE.
I SIMPLY WANTED TO ADD, UM, NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE DOG PARK, BUT, UH, COUNCILMAN BECKHAM DID MENTION, UH, THOSE TENNIS COURTS IN, IN, UH, AREA THREE.
I DID HAVE SOME CALLS ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WANTING THOSE TO BE PICKLEBALL COURTS.
SO THAT'S BEEN, YEAH, SO THAT'S BEEN THE BIG, UH, THAT'S BEEN THE BIG FAD NOW.
SO, SO I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT IN THE GUMBO.
WELL, UH, MS. ALPO ON, ON THAT AND YOU, YOU BROUGHT OUT SOMETHING THAT I HAD ACTUALLY RESEARCHED, UH, IN AN AREA THAT, THAT YOU ALL HAVE SELECTED.
AND I WAS OVERWHELMED THAT ROOSEVELT PARK WAS SELECTED.
I WAS, UH, ACTUALLY APPALLED TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO DID NOT WANT TO SEE AN UPGRADE IN OLD, IN OLD PART OF TOWN.
AND, UH, BEING A, YOU KNOW, A PART OF A FAMILY WHO, NOT ME PERSONALLY, BUT MY OFFSPRING AND OTHERS, UH, THEY ARE ANIMAL UH, LOVERS.
UH, AND THAT WAS MY FIRST INTRODUCTION TO A DOG PARK, WAS IN, UH, DALLAS, TEXAS, IN ELI, UH, WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND HER ANIMAL AND GOING TO THIS DOG PARK.
AND THEN, AND A LITTLE WHILE LATER, WE TALKED ABOUT IT HERE AND TO THINK ABOUT A DOG PARK, UH, THERE.
BUT NOW STATISTICALLY, IF YOU SENT OUT 200, UH, YOU GOT NO RESPONSE, UH, OR NO RESPONSE, OR IT'S ACTUALLY A YES VOTE IN SOME INSTANCES.
NOW YOU DID GET FOUR RESPONSES BACK IF YOU WOULD ACTUALLY DO THAT.
I THINK NOW STATISTICALLY THAT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE STATISTICAL DATA TO MAKE A DECISION SAYING THAT THE CITIZENS DON'T WANT IT.
SO I CANNOT AGREE WITH ANYONE TO SAY THAT THE CITIZENS DON'T WANT IT BASED UPON THE, THE DATA THAT, THAT YOU ALL HAVE PRESENTED.
AND THAT'S, I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU ARE FLAWED, BUT I THINK THE CONCLUSION IS FLAWED BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE ACTUAL, YOU KNOW, THE MAIN PART OF THIS VARIABLE THAT WE ARE MAKING A DECISION UPON.
AND, AND, AND TO, TO SKEW, UH, A DECISION TO SAY THAT THEY DON'T WANT IT.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY DIDN'T RESPOND, THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT THE LETTER, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING.
BUT IF YOU SENT OUT, AND I NOTICED THAT OVER JUST ABOUT ONE HALF OF THOSE WERE OUTSIDE OF THAT 200 FOOT RADIUS.
YOU KNOW, SO WE GOT ALL THESE DIFFERENT VARIABLES WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT STATISTICAL DATA THAT YOU PRESENTED TO ME THAT I WOULD THINK TO COME TO A CONCLUSION THAT THE CITIZENS DON'T WANT IT.
AND THAT'S A FLAWED STATEMENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO SUPPORTING DATA TO SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY HAVE ONE OR TWO PERSONS WHO DO, AND YOU MAY HAVE ANOTHER 50 WHO REALLY, I MEAN ONE OR TWO DON'T, BUT 50 WHO MIGHT WANT IT, IT, BUT JUST DIDN'T RESPOND NOW.
AND OTHERS HAVE GIVEN, UH, LOCATIONS, IF THEY DON'T WANT IT RIGHT THERE, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION BASED UPON TWO OR THREE RESPONSES.
WE WOULD NOT BE, I THINK, UH, CREDIBLE PEOPLE AT, AT THAT POINT BASED UPON THOSE RESPONSES.
THAT NUMBER, BECAUSE I CAN'T SAY THAT THE CITIZENS DON'T WANT IT, BUT ONLY FOUR ACTUALLY RESPONDED OUT OF, UH, 40 OR 50.
YOU'RE CORRECT IN, IN LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL, THAT'S WHY I MADE THAT ONE STATISTIC KNOWN BECAUSE WHEN I SAID THAT THE 49% DID NOT EVEN LIVE
[01:00:01]
IN THE ACTUAL RIGHT.MEANING THEY EITHER LIVED, SOME LIVED OUT OF THE STATE THAT I WAS MAILING THEM TO.
SOME LIVED IN GROVE, SOME LIVED IN POOR NATIA, SOME LIVED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, SOME LIVED IN MARYLAND, SOME LIVED IN GEORGIA THAT WE WERE MAILING, BUT THEY WERE THE PROPERTY OWNERS OWNER, RIGHT.
SO, UM, IT'S LIKE WE'RE MAILING AND GETTING THE OPINION OF PEOPLE WHO OWN PROPERTY, WHO DO NOT LIVE IN YES.
AND THEY COULD BE VACANT HOMES.
LIKE I SAID, WE HAD THREE THAT WERE UNDELIVERABLE.
WE HAD THREE THAT OWNED MULTIPLE PROPERTIES.
I DID SPEAK TO SEVERAL CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY AS OUR CAMPUS, OUR STAKED OUT THE PARK WHO WERE ACTUALLY BRINGING THEIR DOGS THERE.
SO I WAS LIKE, WELL, YOU DIDN'T GET THE SURVEY.
I ACTUALLY HAD 'EM IN MY CAR, WOULD FILL IT OUT WHEN I HAD IT WITH ME.
SEVERAL DIFFERENT VARIABLES THAT PLAYED A PART, BUT I'M AT THE, SO I'M OKAY.
I JUST WANTED TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE NUMBERS AND HOW I UNDERSTAND.
BUT JUST, AND I APPRECIATE THE CITIZENS THAT DID RESPOND, SPEAK OUT, AND THE ONES THAT DID COME TO GIVE THEIR YEAH, IT, I WAS ONLY MAKING MM-HMM.
AND, UH, ACTUALLY READING THE STATS AND COMING UP WITH THE FINAL, UH, I GUESS WORDING FOR IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I, THAT'S JUST, THAT'S WOULD BE MY POSITION.
AND, UH, AGAIN, I JUST WANNA REPEAT THAT BECAUSE I KNOW AROUND THE COUNTRY DOG PARKS ARE IN FLUENT AREAS.
I WAS JUST OVERWHELMED BASICALLY BECAUSE IT WAS, IT WOULD BE IN AN OLDER PART OF TOWN, YOU KNOW, NOT IN THE LITTLE AFFLUENT PART THAT WE MIGHT THINK OF IN PORT HARBOR.
AND JUST EVEN HERE, WELL, MAYBE, AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT, A LOT OF FOLK MAY NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT.
'CAUSE THEY HAD NEVER GONE TO ONE, HAD MY GRANDDAUGHTER NOT TAKEN ME WITH HER DOG, AND I SPENT TIME OUT THERE.
I HAD NEVER GONE TO A DOG PARK.
AND I COULD SEE HOW, AND NOW OUT OF THE COMMENTS, NOT THAT I WOULD DIS DISREGARD THE OTHERS.
THE ONE COMMENT, THE TOP COMMENT WAS THE ONE ABOUT IF THERE WOULD BE PARKING PROVIDED.
BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A DOG PARK, NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY THAT THOSE, THOSE, THE FOLK WHO LIVE AROUND THERE, THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED THE DOG JUST RUNNING LOOSE.
OKAY? WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ACCOMMODATING FOLK WHO ARE ACTUAL ANIMAL LOVERS.
THE DOGS LIVE IN THE HOUSE WITH THEM.
THEY SPEND MONEY AT THE VET, AT THE VETERINARIAN WITH THEM.
THEY WOULD EVEN WANT TO BRING THEIR DOG BY OUR NEW ANIMAL SHELTER AND TAKE PICTURES BECAUSE THEY LOVE THEIR ANIMALS AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE A MINDSET THAT A DOG LIVES OUTSIDE UNDER THE HOUSE, THE DOG PARK DOES NOT RELATE TO YOU.
OKAY? I MEAN, I'M JUST BEING TRUTHFUL ABOUT WHAT, WHAT I KNOW CULTURAL REALISTICALLY AS FAR AS CULTURES.
NOW WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE LOOKING AT ANOTHER SITE, GILLUM CIRCLE HAS A LOT OF LAND THAT'S NOT BEING USED, THAT MAYBE, SO WE CAN STILL BE IN THE OLD PART OF TOWN, ED GILLUM CIRCLE, UH, THOSE TWO FIELDS, ONE OF THOSE FIELDS I THINK WOULD BE ENOUGH.
AND PARKING IS ALREADY PROVIDED THERE, YOU KNOW, UH, OR YOU WOULD HAVE, MAY HAVE TO ADD SOME, SOME SOMETHING FOR A PARKING, BUT, AND THEN YOU WOULD STILL BE SERVING THIS PORTION OF TOWN.
AND IF DOWNTOWN GROWS, HOUSING GROWS THE WAY WE, UH, ANTICIPATE IN THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS.
AND FOLK WHO WOULD COME AND LIVE HERE WOULD PROBABLY BE FOLK WITH ANIMALS THAT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE CLOSE THAT THEY COULD GO WITH THEIR ANIMALS AND EXERCISE.
I'M GONNA GO BACK TO THE CITIZENS WHO CAME BEFORE US.
THEY WASN'T SO MUCH AGAINST A DOG PARK.
THEY WERE NOT AGAINST A DOG PARK.
THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT THE PARK THAT THEY HAD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TAKEN AWAY AND TURNED INTO A DOG PARK.
THAT WAS THE MESSAGE THAT THEY BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL.
[01:05:01]
THAT IS THE MESSAGE THAT THEY SAID, WE'RE NOT HERE TO SAY NO TO IT.THAT'S WHAT THEY CAME BEFORE US AND SAID WE WANTED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK IMPROVED, NOT TURNED INTO A DOG PARK.
THAT'S WHAT THE CITIZENS SAID.
'CAUSE NO ONE TALKED AGAINST IT.
YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S THE ATTITUDE THAT I GOT ALSO THAT THEY THINK SOMETHING HAS BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM 'EM.
UH, AND, AND, AND WHAT HAPPENS? WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW? THE DOGS ARE IN THE PARKS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THEY'RE WALKING 'EM IN THE PARK, BUT THEN THEY'LL LEAVE AND DROP IT.
OKAY? NOW THAT'S BE A PUT THE DOG PARK THERE.
THAT'LL BE A CONTROL ENVIRONMENT.
THEY'LL HAVE TO, TO HAVE THE BAGS AND WE'LL HAVE IT TAKE THE STUFF WITH YOU.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR THE MAYOR.
DID YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER WALK YOU WITH THE COLLAR OR WITHOUT THE COLLAR? OKAY.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU HAVE TO SAY, MA? MAYOR.
LEMME JUST MAKE A CLARIFICATION HERE.
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S THE WAY THAT WE SEND OUT THE, THE MESSAGE AND, UM, MAYBE IT'S, THERE MIGHT BE NEED FOR CLARIFICATION IN THE FUTURE.
THE ENTIRE PARK WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE UTILIZED AS A DOG PARK.
AND MAYBE WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB IN THE FUTURE AT INFORMING THE RESIDENTS THAT THIS IS THE SECTION, WHETHER IT'S A 10 BY 10 AREA OR FIVE BY FIVE AREA THAT WOULD BE UTILIZED AS A DOG PARK.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO THE DOG, THE, THE, THE, THE IDEA WAS NOT TO HAVE THE DOG RUN ALL OVER THE PARK.
SO NEXT TIME WE'RE GOING TO COMMUNICATE BETTER, BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE LEAVING HERE WITH A MESSAGE THAT THE DOG WAS GOING TO RUN ALL OVER THE PARK AND WE HAVE NOT DONE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK.
WE HAVE INVESTED OVER $50,000 IN THAT PARK JUST BY PUTTING IN SIDEWALKS THAT WE REPLACED IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
ISN'T THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO WE HAVE DONE SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT TO THAT PARK, AND IT IS SLATED IN THE MASTER PLAN TO DO THE MASTER PLAN THAT HAS JUST BEEN ADOPTED BY COUNCIL TO DO MORE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK.
ISN'T THAT CORRECT? YOU'RE CORRECT.
SO WE ARE GOING TO DO A BETTER JOB AT COMMUNICATING IN THE FUTURE.
WELL, THANK YOU, UH, MR. ALPO FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
[III.B.(3) A Presentation By BRW Regarding The Status Of Fire Station No 3 (Port Acres Station) Reconstruction Project]
PRESENTATION NUMBER THREE.IT IS BY BRW REGARDING THE STATUS OF FIRE STATION NUMBER THREE, UH, THE PORT ACRES STATION, UH, THE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
UM, AND WITH ME IS ASHTON HOLIDAY.
SHE'S THE PROJECT ARCHITECT ON THE PROJECT.
UM, WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU A QUICK REVIEW OF WHERE THE PORT ARTHUR, UH, FIRE STATION NUMBER THREE IS, UM, IN DESIGN.
UM, THIS IS A REPLACEMENT STATION FOR THE, UM, FIRE STATION NUMBER THREE IN THE PORT ACRES COMMUNITY.
UM, THAT'S CURRENTLY ON CANAL STREET.
UH, THE ORIGINAL STATION WAS BUILT IN 1961.
UH, IT'S, IT'S HAD ITS FULL LIFE AND IS DEFINITELY IN NEED OF A REPLACEMENT.
UM, IT DEFINITELY DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARDS FOR, UH, CURRENT, UH, KEEPING CARCINOGENS OUT OF THE APPARATUS BAY.
THE KITCHEN'S RIDE OFF OF THE APPARATUS BAY.
THERE'S WORKOUT EQUIPMENT IN THE BAY, UM, AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE CARCINOGENS LIVE.
UM, THIS NEW STATION IS TO BE LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF 61ST AND RAY.
UH, THE NEW STATION IS 16,152 SQUARE FEET.
IT'S A THREE BAY STATION AND SLEEPING FOR EIGHT, UM, WITH AN OUTBUILDING THAT WILL HAVE, UH, STORAGE FOR THREE RESERVE VEHICLES.
UM, AND THE RESERVE, UH, UH, STORAGE BUILDING IS 3,400 SQUARE FEET.
IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR, WE PRESENTED THE FLOOR PLAN AND EXTERIOR SCHEMES, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY OF PORT ACRES.
AND, UH, WE RECEIVED LOTS OF, UH, POSITIVE FEEDBACK.
IT WAS AN EVENING, UH, MEETING IN, UH, FEBRUARY OF 2023.
UM, THERE'S A FEW COMMUNITY AMENITIES THAT ARE WITHIN THE STATION THAT, UH, THE COMMUNITY WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.
ONE OF THEM BEING A COMMUNITY ROOM THAT'S RIGHT ON THE VERY FRONT.
UM, THAT COMMUNITY ROOM CAN BE USED FOR THE BOY SCOUTS, UM, CAN BE USED BY, UH, FOR BIRTHDAYS OR REUNIONS TO BE, UH, COORDINATED AND RENTED OUT BY THE, THE CITIZENS, UH, PORT, UH, THE PORT ACRES AREA.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A TREATMENT ROOM THAT'S RIGHT BEHIND IT OFF OF THE LOBBY THAT PHYSICIANS CAN COME IN
[01:10:01]
AND PROVIDE VACCINATIONS OR, UM, PROVIDE, UH, CHECKUPS FOR THE COMMUNITY.SO IT'S BRINGING THE DOCTORS TO THE COMMUNITY SO THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO TRAVEL NECESSARILY TO THE HOSPITALS.
UM, LOOKING AT THE SITE, UH, THERE'S, UH, AMPLE COMMUNITY PARKING.
THERE'S PARKING FOR 17, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY BE TO BE ABLE TO, UM, COME TO THE FIRE STATION.
AND THEN IN THE BACK THERE'S SECURE PARKING FOR 16 FOR TWO SHIFT OR FOR SHIFT CHANGE.
UM, SO THAT WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S THERE, THEY HAVE SECURE PARKING FOR 16.
UM, THE RETURN DRIVE COMES OFF OF RAY AVENUE AND THEN IT WILL EXIT ONTO 61ST STREET.
UM, LIKE MARCUS SAID, WE DID WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE CREATING A BUILDING THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS PROUD OF AND IN SUPPORT OF.
UM, WE ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH CHIEF BENSON, CHIEF HAVENS AND THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT WAY WE WERE NOT ONLY DESIGNING A BUILDING FOR TODAY, BUT ONE THAT WOULD LAST 50 YEARS.
AND THEY WERE INVOLVED FROM DEVELOPING OF SPACES, BUT THE FLOOR PLAN LOOKED LIKE ALL THE WAY TO DEVELOPING THE DOCUMENTS AND THE DETAILS OF THE BUILDING.
UM, ALSO WHAT MARCUS TOUCHED ON, UM, THIS BUILDING DIFFERS FROM THE OTHER ONES BECAUSE IT IS A HEALTHY STATION.
UM, AND SO WE SEPARATE, UM, THE GARAGE WITH THE EXHAUST, UM, TRANSITION ZONE SO THAT WE CAN DISCARD OF ALL THE CARCINOGENS AND THEN CREATE A COOL ZONE WITHIN THE LIVING, UM, TO CREATE A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
UM, THE BUILDING IS A HUNDRED PERCENT MASONRY AND IT'S GOT HURRICANE RATED DOORS AS WELL AS WINDOWS.
UM, IN ORDER TO LAST THROUGH THOSE STORMS, UM, THE BAYS EXIT ON 61ST STREET, AND THAT IS THE STREET THAT IT FACES.
UM, THE COMPUTER, THE COMMUNITY ROOM, AND THE TREATMENT ROOM AS MARCUS TOUCHED ON, IS RIGHT OFF OF 61ST STREET AND, UM, ACCESSIBLE WITHIN THAT PUBLIC SPACE.
UM, AND THEN THE STATION ALSO HAS THE WAR EAGLE LOGO THAT'S INCORPORATED FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, BOTH ON THE FRONT FACADE AS WELL AS RIGHT IN THE LOBBY.
UM, WE ARE FINISHED WITH OUR DESIGN.
WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE PERMITTING PHASE.
UM, IT'S ACTUALLY AT THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT, AND WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT THERE'S ONE MORE, UH, ENTITY THAT NEEDS TO REVIEW IT FOR PERMITTING.
WE EXPECT TO GET COMMENTS, UM, OR APPROVAL BACK WITHIN A WEEK.
AND THEN ONCE WE HAVE PERMIT, UH, COMMENTS BACK OR THE APPROVAL, OR, I'M SORRY, ONCE WE GET THE APPROVAL FOR THE PERMIT, IT'LL TAKE ABOUT ANOTHER WEEK FOR US TO GET THE DOCUMENTS READY FOR BIDDING.
UM, AND THEN THE CONSTRUCTION FATE OR CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE IS ABOUT 12 MONTHS CONSTRUCTION FOR THIS.
SO IF EVERYTHING WORKS SMOOTHLY, UM, IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS TO GET THAT PERMIT, YOU CAN EXPECT TO BE IN, IN THE FACILITY IN, UH, APRIL OR MAY, 2025.
DO YOU HAVE ANY, UH, COMMENTS? COUNCILMAN ETT? YES.
I'M SURPRISED Y'ALL DIDN'T HAVE SOME DIAGRAMS SO THE COUNCIL COULD SEE THIS PLACE.
YEAH, YEAH, I MEAN IT'S, I I, I TRIED TO GET IT AND IT, IT WASN'T OH, OKAY THEN.
BECAUSE, UH, THAT PLACE IS, THAT PLACE IS A TAJ MAHAL.
THEY SAY IT WAS A FIRE STATION.
I THINK WE KINDA LIKE TURNED THAT INTO TODD MAHAL.
UH, YEAH, THE CITIZENS ARE REAL EXCITED ABOUT IT.
UH, ALSO, I DIDN'T, I DON'T THINK I HEARD YOU MENTION ABOUT, UH, THEM HAVING, UH, ACCESS TO, UH, A MEETING ROOM.
THAT'S WHAT CHIEF WAS TELLING THEM, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY WANTED TO HAVE MEETINGS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUP IN THAT AREA, THEY CAN DO THAT AND EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, UH, THE ROOMS AND STUFF ARE JUST FANTASTIC AND THE CITIZENS ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
AND FROM, UH, ALL INDICATION IS THAT'S GOING TO BE THE, THE GOLD STANDARDS FOR OUR FIRE STATIONS HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IN THE FUTURE.
SO AS WE START REPLACING THEM, THEY'LL BE RE REPLACING THIS FASHION.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST ONE AREA OF THE CITY.
THAT'S THE GOAL IS TO MAKE ALL THE FIRE STATIONS OF THIS NATURE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES.
AND WHEN WE WENT OUT, UH, AND WERE DOING THE PLANNING AND MET WITH THE COMMUNITY TO GET THAT, UM, UM, ALL TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND ALL, HOW MANY, HOW MANY, I WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT, BUT I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION.
HOW MANY FIREMEN ON A SHIFT, UM, ON THIS SHIFT? IT'S, UH, EIGHT.
EIGHT FIREMEN ON A SHIFT? YES.
SO THEY'RE SLEEPING FOR EIGHT IN THE FIRE STATION.
I WANTED TO KNOW THAT AS WELL, BUT I WANTED TO AS WELL STATE, WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE FIRE STATION ON THE WEST SIDE.
THAT'S GONNA BE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AT SOME POINT.
I'VE TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER AND SO WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT THAT FUTURISTICALLY AS WELL, LOOKING AT OUR FIRE STATION ON THE WEST SIDE AS WELL.
[01:15:01]
OKAY.UM, COUNCILOR FRANK HAS JUST SAID, WE ARE ENGAGING THE COMPANY AS WELL TO GIVE US A DUPLICATE AS WELL WHILST WE ARE AT IT, SO THAT WE DON'T IN, UM, INCREASE THE COST TO PREPARE THE DRAWINGS, THE ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS FOR THE WEST SIDE.
SO WE ARE ENGAGING THEM AS WELL TO DO THAT SO THAT WE KEEP DOWN ON THE COURSE A RE A REPLICATION OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THE PORT ACRES AREA.
UH, WITH THAT, THERE ARE TWO I WOULD CALL EM, UH, COMPANION RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE, UH, EIGHT.
[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 23598 – A Resolution Ratifying The City Manager’s Decision To Authorize The Additional Scope Of Work For Architectural Design And Construction Management Services Of Fire Station #3 (Port Acres) By Brown Watford Reynolds Architects, Inc. Of College Station, Texas, And Authorize The Execution Of Amendment #1 To Increase The Contract Amount By $227,350.00 To A New Total Contract Amount Not To Exceed $968,050.00; Funding Is Available In Capital Improvement Account Number 307-21-049-8512-00-10-000. Project No. BU10012]
TWO, PR NUMBER 23 5 98 IS THE RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER'S DECISION TO AUTHORIZE THE ADDITIONAL SCOPE OF WORK FOR ARCHITECTURAL, UH, ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES OF FIRE STATION NUMBER THREE PORT ACRES BY BROWN, UH, WHITEFORD REYNOLDS ARCHITECTS IN COOPERATED OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, AND AUTHORIZED THE EXECUTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $227,350 TO A NEW, UH, TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $968,050.FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 4 9 DASH 85 12 DASH 0 0 0.
AND UH, THE PROJECT NUMBER IS BU 1 0 0 1 2.
MAY I GET A MOTION? COUNCILMAN DU FOR APPROVE? SO MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 5 98 AS PRESENTED.
LIKE WE GOOD? WE ARE READY TO VOTE.
AND SO WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 5 98.
[VIII.A.(5) P.R. No. 23616 – A Resolution Ratifying The City Manager’s Decision To Authorize The Additional Scope Of Work For Architectural Design And Construction Management Services Of Fire Station #2 (Westside) By Brown Watford Reynolds Architects, Inc. Of College Station, Texas, And Authorize The Execution Of Amendment #1 To Increase The Contract Amount By $172,475.00 To A New Total Contract Amount Not To Exceed $740,575.00; Funding Is Available In Capital Improvement Account Number 307-21-049-8512-00-10-000. Project No. BU10012]
ITEM ON PAGE NINE, PR NUMBER FIVE I, EXCUSE ME, NUMBER FIVE, PR NUMBER 2 36 16.IT IS A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER'S DECISION TO AUTHORIZE THE ADDITIONAL SCOPE OF WORK FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT OF FIRE STATION NUMBER TWO, WEST SIDE BY BROWN RATFORD REYNOLDS ARCHITECTS, UH, INCORPORATED OF, UH, COLLEGE STATION TEXAS, AND AUTHORIZED THE EXECUTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $172,475 TO A NEW TOTAL CONTRACT, UH, AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $740,575.
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH FOUR NINE DASH 8 5 0 0 0 0.
AND THIS IS PROJECT NUMBER BU 1 0 0 1 2.
MAY I GET A, UH, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN FRANK, SO WHO MAY, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KINLOCK SECOND MAYOR, IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD AUTHORIZE, UH, I APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 36 16 AS PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES, UH, PLEASE.
MIKE? DO MM-HMM?
OH, ON, ON FOR THE WEST SIDE? YES.
WE HAVE NOT DECIDED ON THAT AS YET.
WE HAVE NOT DECIDED ON THAT AS YET.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? NO.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO HONOR, WE COULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 6 1 6 AS READ.
NOW WE WILL GO BACK TO OUR NORMAL FLOW IN THE AGENDA AND, UH,
[III.D.(1) Regina Drake Regarding Paratransit Services]
CORRESPONDENCE.WE ARE, I SAW MS. DRAKE ON THERE EARLIER, UH, DEALING WITH POWER TRANSIT.
I NEED, IT'S FOR ME TO READ, MAYOR.
MS. DRAKE? UH, NO, MAYOR, SHE'S REQUESTED THAT THE CITY SECRETARY READ IT.
[01:20:01]
UM, THIS IS CORRESPONDENCE DATED FEBRUARY THE FIFTH, 2024 TO THE CITY MANAGER, TRANSIT DIRECTOR AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL, COMMUNITY LEADERS, ADVOCATES, AND INTERESTED PARTIES.I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING INELIGIBILITY FOR TRANSIT SERVICE.
BASED ON THE REASONS LISTED, IT SEEMS THAT THE DECISION TO DENY SERVICES FAILED TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THE CITY'S PREVIOUS DECISION TO HALT A FIXED ROUTE IN THIS AREA.
DOING SO CREATED A HARDSHIP AND BARRIERS FOR RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR.
IN ADDITION, THE DECISION FAILED TO CONSIDER INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER CONDITIONS, WHICH AS LIMITED OR NO VISION IMPAIRED HEARING, MOBILITY LIMITATIONS CANNOT STAND OR WALK THOSE WHO RELY ON WHEELCHAIRS, AS WELL AS ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THE TRANSIT DEPARTMENT HAS FAILED TO SEE THE IMPACT AND NEED FOR ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT FOUR.
THERE ARE SEVERAL ENTITIES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER, SUCH AS SOUTHEAST TEXAS PLANNING COMMISSION AT 1-800-259-FOUR 4 5 7, AND THE HEALTH AND HUMAN COMMISSION AT 8 7 7 6 3 3 8 7 4 7.
AS WELL AS NONPROFITS, CHURCHES, AND OTHER VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS.
IT IS WITH MUCH URGENCY THAT I ASK ALL THE DECISION MAKERS TO MOVE FAST REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF MEDICAL SERVICES AND OTHER SERVICES.
IT CAN BECOME A LIFE, LIVE OR DIE MOMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNABLE TO GET TO MEDICAL FACILITIES FOR LIFE SUSTAINING TREATMENTS.
FAILURE TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE OR A RELIABLE ALTERNATIVE NEGATIVELY IMPACTS QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN DIRE NEED OF TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, TREATMENTS AND PROCEDURES WHO NEED TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN PERSON TO ATTEND SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS, AS WELL AS OTHER ERRANDS.
THE REQUEST OF RESIDENTS SUCH AS MYSELF IS FAIR, AND THE EXPECTATION THAT THE CITY WILL PROVIDE THESE SERVICES AND ACCOMMODATIONS IS REASONABLE.
THOSE MENTIONED ABOVE COULD DO RIGHT BY THE PEOPLE OF PORT ARTHUR.
PLEASE SEE THE URGENT NATURE OF THIS ISSUE AND USE YOUR POWER TO EXPEDITE A SOLUTION TO AVOID INTERRUPTION OF CARE AND ALLEVIATE UNDUE HARDSHIP ON THOSE ALREADY FACING CHALLENGES.
AS I CLOSE, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE.
WHILE IN THE MIDST OF A CRISIS FACED WITH CHALLENGES, SEVERAL PEOPLE NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE ADDED STRESS OF SECURING RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.
THE ISSUE RESULTS FROM DECISIONS MADE BY OTHERS, DECISIONS THAT ULTIMATELY HURT THE PUBLIC.
I SPOKE WITH THE TRANSIT COORDINATOR.
WHILE I APPRECIATE MS. SIMS WILLINGNESS TO TAKE MY CALLS, THERE SEEMS TO BE VERY LITTLE INTEREST IN GETTING SERVICES RESTORED.
THE DEPARTMENT'S DECISION TO HALT THE FIXED ROUTE CAN BE RESOLVED EXPEDIENTLY AS IT IMPACTS INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR ABILITY TO OBTAIN CRITICAL SERVICES.
MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO RESTORE THE ROUTE AND TO PROVIDE PARATRANSIT SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO DRIVE OR WALK TWO BLOCKS TO THE NEAREST BUS STOP.
DOING SO WOULD ALSO PROVIDE REGULAR SERVICE ROUTES WITHIN DISTRICT FOUR.
IF PORT ARTHUR IS TO BE A GREAT PLACE WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY, WE MUST ENSURE THAT ITS RESIDENTS RECEIVE THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE, CARE AND RESPONSES AVAILABLE.
I CANNOT EXPRESS TO YOU WITHOUT URGENCY, THE NEED FOR A GROWTH MINDSET AND A CULTURE WHERE INDIVIDUALS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF SEEKING WAYS TO CONSISTENTLY PROVIDE GREAT SERVICE AND TO ENSURE THAT ALL RESIDENTS RECEIVE THE SAME SERVICES.
IF PARATRANSIT IS AVAILABLE TO SOME AND NOT ALL, THERE IS AN INEQUITY.
IT IS MY REQUEST THAT THIS MATTER BE RESOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT IN THE INTERIM, SOME TYPE OF DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE BE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE DISSOLUTION OF PARATRANSIT SERVICES IN EL VISTA, VISTA VILLAGE, PORT ACRES, MONTROSE, PALOMAR, AND LAKESIDE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I PRAY THAT EVERY ACTION MOVING FORWARD IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THOSE YOU CHOOSE TO SERVE.
THE PEOPLE OF PORT ARTHUR RESPECTFULLY,
[01:25:01]
REGINA D DRAKE.UH, MAYOR PRO, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CONVERSATION REGARDING CORRESPONDENCE.
BUT YOU DO HAVE AN ISSUE SIMILAR TO THE DISCUSSION.
YEAH, I WAS GONNA MOVE IT UP, BUT, UH, I SAW THESE LIGHTS ON, SO I, I JUST, OKAY.
[III.E.(4) A Discussion Regarding Paratransit Services (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS MOVE UP NUMBER FOUR UNDER, UH, DISCUSSIONS E FOUR.AND IT IS A DISCUSSION REGARD.
DISCUSSION, BROTHER, REGARDING PARA TRANSFER SERVICES HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ETT.
I PUT IT ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS IT BECAUSE OUR FIRST MEETING, WHEN THEY CAME BEFORE US, UH, WE ASKED FOR ALTERNATIVES OR DIFFERENT WAYS, AND, UH, WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND COME BACK TO US.
AND THE NEXT MEETING, UH, WHAT WE DISCUSSED WAS EXACTLY THE SAME THINGS THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
UH, THE ALTERNATIVE WAS NOT AN ALTERNATIVE.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS STATED THE FIRST TIME.
SO I PUT IT BACK ON THERE, BUT I TALKED WITH THE CITY MANAGER IN REFERENCE TO THIS ITEM, AND HE HAD INFORMATION IN REGARD TO THE STATEMENT THAT WERE MADE IN OUR SECOND MEETING IN WHICH THE CITY ATTORNEY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TALKING WITH SOMEBODY FROM THE REGIONAL FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION.
AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THAT HAS BEEN, UH, ACCOMPLISHED.
SO I WOULD LIKE FOR THE CITY MANAGERS TO LET US KNOW WHAT'S THE LATEST WORD ON THIS.
UM, COUNCILOR ETTE, UM, THE TRANSIT MANAGER AND MYSELF AND, UM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS AND THE CITY ATTORNEY HAVE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT SIX THAT, UM, UNDER WHICH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FALLS.
AND, UM, WE, AFTER OUR DISCUSSION, UM, WITH, WITH HER, UM, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE PROVISIONS FOR PICKUP OF, UM, FOR PARATRANSIT FOR SOME OF THE, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.
UM, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED ABOUT A THREE WEEK PERIOD BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO UPDATE THE BROCHURE THAT IS IN EXISTENCE TO PROVIDE, UM, ACCURATE INFORMATION, UM, TO ALL THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
UM, BUT IT'S IS A, A WORK THAT IS IN PROGRESS AND HOPEFULLY THE DIRECTOR OF, UM, UM, TRANSIT AND MYSELF MET YESTERDAY, AND IN A MATTER OF THREE WEEKS, WE SHOULD BE HAVING A, A RESOLUTION TO THAT.
UM, I JUST SHARED A, A COPY OF A LETTER THAT ONE INDIVIDUAL WROTE A COPY OF A RESPONSE FROM THE, UM, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
I GIVE IT TO THE COUNCIL, UM, THAT, UM, IN RESPONSE TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WROTE, UM, TO TDOT INFORMING THEM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WRONGLY DENIED SERVICE.
IN THE LETTER IT STATES THAT THE CITY OF PORT AFA AND I HIGHLIGHTED IT, THOUGH, THE CITY OF PORT AFA HAS NOT VIOLATED THE PROVISIONS OF ANY EDE REGISTRATION.
I WANT TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE IT WAS ONCE UPON A TIME, YOU KNOW, AT THE PODIUM HERE, I THINK THE MESSAGE WAS THAT THE CITY OF PORTABA CONTINUES TO VIOLATE THE, THE, THE RIGHTS OF, OF CITIZENS, UM, WITH EDA DISABILITIES.
BUT HERE IT IS THAT WE HAVE IT IN WRITING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THAT WE HAVE NEVER, NEVER, EVER VIOLATED THOSE RIGHTS.
UH, ON THIS DISCUSSION, SEE, UH, MAYOR PROTEL.
UM, A FEW MONTHS AGO I SENT INFORMATION FROM THAT I RECEIVED AT AN NLC CONFERENCE FROM LYFT AND FROM UBER.
BOTH OF THESE ENTITIES PROVIDE GRANT FUNDING THAT WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST US WITH ACCOMMODATING THESE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES, WHO HAVE BEEN, WHO ARE TRYING TO FLEE FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
IN ADDITION TO OFFERING THE, THE CITY BEING ABLE TO OFFER FUNDS LIKE IN A FORM OF A VOUCHER TO THESE RESIDENTS IN ORDER TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION.
EXAMPLES OF THAT WOULD BE TO THEIR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS.
IT WILL BE LITERALLY FROM THEIR HOUSE OR PLACE OF A REGISTERED RESIDENCY IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO THEIR MEDICAL FACILITY AND BACK HOME.
IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO BE TRANSPORTED FROM
[01:30:01]
THEIR HOME TO A FREE EVENT THAT'S SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.SO WE DO HAVE OTHER OPTIONS OUTSIDE OF A BUS OR A VAN TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION.
AND SOME OF THESE POPULATIONS THAT NEED THESE SERVICES MAY BE SMALLER THAN THE RESIDENTS WHO WOULD NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE TRANSPORTED, TRANSPORTED ON A LARGE BUS.
SO I'M ASKING AGAIN, PLEASE TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION.
AN EXAMPLE OF A CITY WHO HAS BEEN THRIVING FROM THIS IS PFLUGERVILLE.
SO AGAIN, I AM PLEADING WITH YOU TO PLEASE TAKE THESE GRANT FUNDS FOR RIDE SHARE TRANSPORTATION, TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THESE RESIDENCES SOONER THAN THESE RESIDENTS.
UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, BECKER? THANK YOU.
THIS QUESTION IS, UH, PARTLY FOR CITY ATTORNEY AND PARTLY FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
UM, IF, IF WE GO FORWARD IN EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOR THE PARATRANSIT, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SHORE UP WITH AN ORDINANCE SO THAT WE DON'T FALL DOWN THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF, WELL, YOU EXPANDED TO HERE AND NOW I LIVE ANOTHER 500 FEET AWAY.
CAN Y'ALL PULL ME IN TOO? SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE'D HAVE TO DO SOME LEGAL RESEARCH ON THAT OR WHAT.
UM, THE FTA WAS, UH, ATTORNEY WAS REALLY SPECIFIC IN TELLING US HOW WE CAN DO IT.
YOU KNOW, THEY EXPLAINED THAT, UH, INDIVIDUALS CAN BE GRANDFATHERED WHO ARE ALREADY RECEIVING THESE SERVICES.
AND, UM, SO THEY, THEY GAVE US A LIAISON WHERE, UH, WE CAN, YOU KNOW, ASK FURTHER QUESTIONS IF IT'S NECESSARY TO EXPAND THE BOUNDARIES.
BUT THEY, THEY WERE VERY DETAILED IN TELLING US HOW THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN BE, UH, GRANDFATHERED AND HOW IT'S A LOCAL DECISION.
UM, I DON'T THINK WE'LL NEED TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE TO CHANGE THE BOUNDARIES, BUT WE WILL CLARIFY THAT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE, RIGHT.
THAT'S, THAT'S MY CONCERN IS IF WE GRANDFATHER SOMEONE IN AND THEN THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT LIVES TWO DOORS DOWN, AND THEN THEY'RE WANTING US TO DO THAT FOR THEM, YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE WE, WHERE ARE WE AT THAT POINT? YEAH.
I THINK THAT, UM, JUST TO NARROW IT DOWN, UM, THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE CIVIL RIGHTS DEPARTMENT OF THE FTA, IF I'M CALLING IT BY THE RIGHT THING, UH, HAS GUIDANCE.
SO WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN VERY SPECIFIC GUIDANCE ON WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND I KNOW THAT THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS STAFF ARE WORKING ON, UH, GETTING THAT DONE.
BUT, UH, WE, WE'LL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO, UH, HAVE SOMEONE IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WORK WITH THE FTA.
WE HAVE SOME VERY GOOD CONTEXT THERE.
AND, AND, AND THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE DISCUSSION SURROUNDED AROUND THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES.
HOW MUCH DOES THE CITY WANT TO PUT INTO IT? YOU KNOW, HOW HEAVILY DOES THE CITY WANT TO INVEST INTO IT? THAT WAS THE BOTTOM LINE.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THIS, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID TO US.
YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO, YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT YOUR RESOURCES AND YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT DECISION, YOU KNOW, AS AN INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITY, YOU NEED TO ADD ANYTHING TO ADD.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE BOUNDARIES, THOUGH, WE, WE, THERE ARE SPECIFIC RULES FOR BOUNDARIES WE HAVE TO MEET WHEN IT COMES TO EXPANSION.
THERE IS, UM, IT'S MORE OPEN, BUT OF COURSE, YOU STILL HAVE TO SHOW SERVICE EQUITY.
SO IF PEOPLE START SAYING, LIKE, YOU KIND OF JUST SAID, WELL, WHAT ABOUT ME? NOW WHAT ABOUT ME? WE'RE KIND OF GOING DOWN THAT SLIPPERY SLOPE, YOU KNOW, WELL, I LIVE ANOTHER A HUNDRED FEET OVER THERE, WHAT ABOUT ME? AND THEN THAT NEXT PERSON'S GONNA POTENTIALLY COME HERE AND SAY, I'M ALSO NOT BEING TREATED FAIRLY.
SO IT'S A LOT OF THINGS WE HAVE TO CONSIDER BESIDES THE, UM, FINANCIAL IMPACT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
ALSO, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER HOW WE'RE BEING EQUITABLE TO THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY THAT WE'RE SERVING.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES, I'M, I'M GRATEFUL THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE PUT THIS BACK ON BECAUSE IT IS A, IT IS A, A DISCUSSION THAT, UH, NEEDS TO BE HAD AS YOU, AS THE DIRECTOR CAME BEFORE US, AS WE WERE LOOKING, UH, FOR SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
UM, IT WASN'T A THING, UH, AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME ABOUT, UM, THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT NEEDED TO BE PUT INTO THAT.
AND I, WHAT I WANT TO SAY, UH, TO THE COUNCIL IS, IS THAT, UM, WE NEED TO PUT MONIES INTO THIS WHEN WE CONSIDER OUR, UH, COMMUNITY AND WHAT OUR COMMUNITY, UH, NEEDS, UH, AND HOW IT DIRECTLY IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, WHAT I WOULD, UH, SAY, OR WHAT, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD SEND OUR STAFF FORWARD, UH, TO COME UP WITH A FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE, UH, PLAN, UH, TO EXPAND, UH, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGULF, UH, WHAT, UH,
[01:35:01]
COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM, UH, HAS TALKED ABOUT, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE, UH, EXTEND THE PARAMETERS OF OUR SERVICE AND DO WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AS WELL.UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE SECURING, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF EQUITY OF, OF, OF, OF SERVICE.
SO, BUT I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE AS A COUNCIL, UH, THAT WE ARE SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE AND DO WHAT IS NECESSARY, UH, BY PUTTING OUR MONIES WHERE OUR MOUTH, UH, IS TO PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, WHAT I'M HEARING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAMPER WITH THE, YOUR GUIDELINES.
WE'RE NOT GONNA TAMPER WITH YOUR GUIDELINES.
YOU GOT YOUR FEDERAL GUIDELINES, YOU GOT THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT YOU MUST, BUT WHAT I, WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND I'M HOPING I'M HEARING COUNCILMAN, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, ABOUT GRANTS, WHAT HAVE YOU, WHAT'S GONNA BE TAKEN ON THIS EXTRA EXPANDING THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BURDEN OF THE CITY, NOT YOUR BURDEN.
IT'S GONNA BE THE BURDEN OF THE CITY.
AND I THINK CONSTABLE FRANK IS, IS SAID, WE NEED TO FIND, UH, RESOURCES TO TAKE CARE OF THE, THE EXPANSION.
YOU KNOW, IT HAS, I DON'T SEE THAT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON YOUR REGULATION BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY FUNDING FROM YOU.
SO WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING GRANT, A GRANT, PRO GRANT THING, LIKE MAYOR PROM WAS TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE POSSIBILITIES OF THESE GRANTS OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, AND, AND EXPAND OUR BOUNDARIES AT THE BURDEN OF THE TAX BILL.
AND WE'RE SERVING THE TAX PAYERS.
SO I, I, I WANNA GIVE YOU JUST A QUICK EXAMPLE OF WHAT SOME CITIES DO.
THE CITY OF PHOENIX, THEY HAVE THEIR REGULAR, UH, VALLEY METRO.
THEY HAVE THEIR REGULAR FIXED ROUTE SERVICE AND PARATRANSIT SERVICE SERVING THE CITY OF PHOENIX, FOLLOWING FEDERAL GUIDELINES.
THEY ALSO RUN A SEPARATE SERVICE OUTSIDE, OUTSIDE OF NOT USING FEDERAL DOLLARS, BUT USING CITY DOLLARS.
THEY OPERATE SOMETHING ON THEIR OWN.
SO THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DO SEPARATE THINGS, BUT THEY'RE NOT MIXING THE FEDERAL DOLLARS WITH THE MONEY BECAUSE IT GETS VERY COMPLICATED.
SO THEY, THEY, THEY KIND OF JUST DO WHAT THEY WANT.
WELL, I SAY WHAT THEY WANT, BUT THEY KIND OF CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH THEIR OWN LOCAL FUNDS.
SO LOCAL FUNDS, LET'S SAY YOU HAVE, UH, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
THE CITY COUNCIL ALLOCATES, YOU GUYS CAN DO WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO WITH THOSE LOCAL FUNDS.
UM, MORE OR LESS OF HOW YOU WANT TO OPERATE IT WITHIN THE CITY BOUNDARIES, MAN.
WHAT WOULD WOULD, WOULD THAT, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CITY DOING SOMETHING SEPARATE OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WOULD THAT BE US SPENDING THE MONEY TO GET, UM, A BUS AND HIRING ANOTHER WORKER, ANOTHER TWO WORKERS, THREE WORKERS TO DRIVE THIS BUS OR WHATEVER? CORRECT.
THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT I'M TALKING, FOR EXAMPLE, YEAH.
WE MIGHT HAVE, LET'S SAY TWO CUTAWAYS THAT WE UTILIZE, UM, FOR VARIOUS, VARIOUS THINGS.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO JUST BE FOR, UM, DISABLED.
AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING, UM, TO VIOLATE PEOPLE'S CIVIL RIGHTS, WHATEVER.
WE'RE NOT UNDER FEDERAL GUIDELINES USING CITY FUNDS.
AND IT COULD BE RUN, UM, WELL, PARKS AND REC IS GONNA THROW SOMETHING AT ME, BUT IN SOME PLACES IT'S RUN BY THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.
OR CITY COUNCILMAN COULD TAKE TURNS RATHER THAN DRIVING.
NOW I'M NOT, I'M NOT SAYING IT HAS TO, I'M JUST GIVING YOU AN EXAMPLE OF HOW PEOPLE CAN DO IT.
YOU CAN DO IT KIND OF HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO IT.
BUT LIKE I SAID, THESE ARE NOT FEDERAL DOLLARS.
THEY ARE NOT TEXTILE DOLLARS, OR I CAN SAY STATE DOT DOLLARS.
THESE ARE CITY FUNDS THAT THE CITY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH THEIR OWN FUNDS.
BUT CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEYS AND, AND, AND, AND ALSO TO MR, MR UH, MITCHELL, THE, THE, THE FINAL ANALYSIS OF ALL, ALL, ALL OF THE DIALOGUE THAT WE'VE HAD IS THAT I THINK IT WAS FIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE ORIGINALLY IMPACTED WITH THIS.
SO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
SO, UM, MS. DRAKE, SHE, SHE WASN'T THE ONES, ONE OF THE ONES IN IMPACTED 'CAUSE SHE NEVER FULLY QUALIFIED.
SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE HAVE THE, SO WHAT I WOULD ASK, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.
I WOULD ASK THAT MAYBE YOU HAVE THESE POLICY DISCUSSIONS AT A MORE SPEC TIME, AT A TIME WHEN YOU'RE PROPERLY POSTED.
WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE SPECIFICS OF ANY PARTICULAR PERSON.
SO, BUT I THINK WHAT YOU ALL ARE WORKING ON, IF I MAY, YOU ARE WORKING ON A, A, A A A RECOMMENDATION.
[01:40:01]
YEAH.THE REASON WHY I'M BRINGING UP MS. DRAKE IS 'CAUSE SHE'S, WELL, SHE'S HERE.
THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS IS WHERE, WELL, I KNOW YOU ALL HADN'T COME TO ME TO SAY WE WERE READY TO ROLL IT OUT.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I I, I, WE HAD THIS TODAY.
I SAW THIS ON THE, ON, ON THE AGENDA.
IT WASN'T THERE WHEN I WAS, WHEN WE DID AGENDA REVIEW DAYS AGO.
AND, AND BECAUSE, UH, WE'RE NOT READY TO ROLL IT OUT YET.
BUT WHEN I SAW THIS, I'M, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN SPECIFIC GUIDANCE.
WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO, AND I THINK THEY'RE GONNA BE WORKING TO GIVE YOU A FORMAL PRESENTATION FORM.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M, THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING ON.
AND I, I KNOW I HADN'T RECEIVED IT, BUT WHEN THESE, THESE TWO, UH, YES.
WELL, THIS, THIS COMMUNICATION, I, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, I CAN, I MEAN, WE CAN SCHEDULE IT AND I CAN SPECIFICALLY CLARIFY WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
WELL LET, LET'S DO THAT X AS, UH, EXPONENTIALLY AS POSSIBLE.
UH, SO THAT WHOMEVER WE ARE GOING TO OR WHATEVER WE ARE GOING TO DO FOR WHOMEVER, UH, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET THAT STARTED.
ANY, ANY, ANYTHING ELSE MR. DOUCETTE? YES.
YOU KNOW RIGHT BACK TO WHY I PUT IT ON HERE, AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE CITY MANAGERS TO, UH, SPEAK ON IT BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION THAT WAS STATED WAS CORRECT AND THAT WE HAD THE RIGHT INFORMATION.
BECAUSE ALL OF THIS HAD PANNED OUT JUST THE WAY I THOUGHT IT WOULD IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE FEDERAL GO, THE FEDERAL REQUIRE ONE THING, BUT WE AS A CITY CAN DO OTHER THINGS.
NOW IT'S, NOW WE UNDERSTAND IT.
AND I THINK WE ALL ON THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC.
SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THE MEANTIME, AND YOU COMING BACK HERE, YOU NEED TO, WE NEED TO GET A LETTER TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAD SENT LETTERS OUT SAYING WE NO LONGER WILL DO IT.
WE NEED TO GET LETTERS OUT TO THEM TO SAY THAT WE ARE COMING UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE, UH, WAY TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE YOUR SERVICE OR RESTART YOUR SERVICE SO THAT THEY DON'T CONTINUE TO WRITE OR LOOK AT OTHER WAYS TO QUESTION OUR DECISIONS TO CHANGE AND HELP THEM.
SO IF THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE, THEN WE GOING, WE GOT SOMETHING.
LET THE CITIZEN KNOW THAT THAT'S NO LONGER A PROBLEM.
WE JUST GOTTA FINALIZE THE DECISION.
AND I THINK, UH, SOMEONE MENTIONED A TIMEFRAME, UH, THROUGH ALL OF THIS.
SO WE NEED ABOUT THREE, WE NEED ABOUT THREE WEEKS.
WE HAVE TO ADJUST, UM, SOME OF OUR MANUALS.
WE HAVE TO LET OUR DRIVERS KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE SOME INTERNAL THINGS TO, WELL, WELL NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
IF WE GOT THIS, THEN WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW IS SEND LETTERS OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE, LETTING 'EM KNOW, HEY, WE GONNA DO THIS, BUT WE HAVE TO DO THIS.
IT'S GONNA TAKE APPROXIMATE THIS TIMEFRAME, AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO RESUME THE SERVICE TO YOU.
THEREFORE, THEY DON'T KEEP COMPLAINING OR WRITING THIS PERSON RIGHT.
'CAUSE THEY FEEL WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING.
NOW WE HAVE DONE SOMETHING, WE FOUND OUT WE'RE GONNA DO IT.
WE NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT TO GET IT OUT NOW.
ME, AM I ALLOWED TO MAKE A COMMENT? YES.
THIS HOLD ON TIME IS JUST TO LET ME KNOW.
SO, UH, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE DEAL.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD.
AND, AND, AND NOW ON THIS, WE, UH, BECAUSE WE, WE ARE HAVING A, IT IS A DISCUSSION OF, UH, MS. DRAKE WANTS TO MAKE A COMMENT.
IS THAT PERMISSIBLE? WELL, IF THE, IF YOU ALL CHOOSE TO ALLOW IT, US YOU ALWAYS CAN TALK WHEN THERE'S ACTION TAKEN.
BUT YEAH, YOU CAN ALLOW HER, YOU CAN ALLOW HER TO SPEAK.
WE CAN ALLOW HER, WE CAN ALLOW.
WE, WE, WE, AND I JUST WAS KIND OF, UH, INTERVENING, UH, EARLIER.
'CAUSE WE DON'T WANNA GET INTO PEOPLE'S PERSONAL STUFF RIGHT, RIGHT.
BUT YES, SHE, SHE CAN BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT TO, UH, HEAR MY LETTER.
MY COMMENT IS THAT I WAS NEVER, UH,
[01:45:01]
I HAD JUST STARTED THE PROCESS.I JUST ENTERED INTO THIS REALM.
MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS NO TRANSPORTATION SERVICES OUT HERE FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME.
I HAVE TO GO TO DIALYSIS THREE TIMES A WEEK, UM, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY WHEN MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT I AM IN CONTACT WITH, UH, GO TO WORK.
AND SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE CRITERIA IS, BUT I DID RECEIVE A LETTER LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE AFTER ONE INTERVIEW.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHY I WOULDN'T QUALIFY SEEMING THAT.
I CANNOT SEE, WHICH IS THAT DOCUMENTED FROM EVEN BEING AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND UNABLE TO DRIVE.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHY I WOULDN'T QUALIFY FOR THOSE SERVICES.
AND I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO MY PERSONAL SITUATION IN PUBLIC.
SO MR. THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH ME.
WE CAN DEFINITELY MEET AS WELL AND HAVE A CONVERSATION.
BUT MY THING IS THAT NOT JUST ME, BUT THE RESIDENTS OF VEA, VESTA VILLAGE, PALMORE, MONTROSE, COURT ACRES, LAKESIDE, WE ALL DESERVE TO BE TREATED EQUITABLE.
AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AVAILABLE TO US OUT HERE IN THE, IN THIS AREA, IN DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, THAT COULD BE FOR EVERYBODY, NOT JUST ME, BUT ANYBODY.
AND JUST BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE AREN'T SPEAKING OUT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULDN'T GET STUCK ON THE NUMBER BECAUSE IF IT'S ONLY ONE PERSON AND THAT PERSON IS IMPACTED, IT'S IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EACH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT US.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A COMMUNITY, AND SO WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP ONE ANOTHER, UM, AND TO BE THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO AND BEEN A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO I THINK YOU, I DON'T WANNA TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME, BUT I'M AVAILABLE TO MEET AND TALK WITH ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO TALK WITH ME.
UM, AND SO JUST CONTACT ME MY, UH, CONTACT INFORMATION ON THE LETTER.
UH, MR. DRAKE, UH, THERE'LL BE NO, NO OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS.
[III.E.(1) A Discussion Regarding The Lake Arthur Detention Pond (Requested By Councilmember Beckcom)]
TO ANOTHER ITEM.UH, WE'LL GO BACK NOW TO, UH, DISCUSSIONS.
E NUMBER ONE, IT'S A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE LAKE ARTHUR DETENTION POND THAT'S BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, BECKHAM.
OUR CITY ENGINEER HAS SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR US.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR SO THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE LISTENING WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE KIND OF CIRCLING BACK TO SOMETHING THAT WE DID ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO, UM, ABOUT THE LAKE ARTHUR DETENTION POND.
UM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS OUT FOR THE PUBLIC, UM, THIS WAS A PROJECT THAT HAD BEEN ONGOING FOR MANY YEARS, BUT BACK WHEN HURRICANE HARVEY HAPPENED, UH, WE LOOKED AT IT AGAIN TO SEE IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD GET QUALIFIED UNDER THE, UH, FEMA WITH THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WERE GOING ON AROUND THE CITY.
AND THIS WAS ONE OF FOUR PROJECTS.
AND THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WAS NOT APPROVED BY FEMA, BUT WE NOW HAVE ALL THE ENGINEERING THAT'S BEEN DONE, UH, AND WHAT A WC HAS GIVEN US, KIND OF OUTLINES WHERE, WHERE IT IS.
AND SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO TODAY IS JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF WHERE THIS PROJECT CURRENTLY STANDS AND WHERE WE PLAN ON GOING WITH IT IN THE FUTURE.
I WASN'T AT THE COUNCIL MEETING BEFORE WHEN, UH, YOU DISCUSSED THIS.
UM, BUT JUST TO UPDATE ALL PRESENT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY THAT WAS ALLOCATED FOR THE FEMA HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT, UM, WE, THIS DIDN'T MEET THE COST TO BENEFIT RATIO, SO THAT MONEY WAS MOVED TO THE OTHER THREE PROJECTS THE CITY HAS.
AND, UH, WHAT I HANDED OUT TO YOU, I DIDN'T PREPARE A, A PRESENTATION, BUT, UM, WAS THE PROPERTY THAT WAS ACQUIRED EARLY ON IN THE PROJECT.
UM, THERE'S 14 ACRES IN THAT SECOND HANDOUT.
ACTUALLY, IT'S THE FIRST HANDOUT SHOWS THE AREA THAT THE CITY OWNS RIGHT NOW.
THIS WAS LAND THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE PARK CENTRAL MUD DISTRICT, AND OF COURSE, THAT ENTITY NO LONGER EXISTS.
[01:50:02]
I THINK IT'S 26 ACRES, ALONG WITH THE 14 ACRES THAT WAS PURCHASED BY THE CITY.AND SO THAT, UM, PROPERTY IS AVAILABLE TO DO MITIGATION WITH, TO DO DETENTION.
UM, OF COURSE, YOU'VE GOTTA EXCAVATE THE MATERIAL, GET THE DIRT OUT OF THERE.
UH, I THINK WE WERE LOOKING AT ABOUT ANOTHER 200 ACRE FEET OF STORAGE IN THIS BASIN.
THAT'S WHAT THE, UH, STUDY SHOWED THAT, UH, STEWART CONSULTING PREPARED BACK IN 2000.
UM, WE STILL HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION.
UM, AND SO THERE'S IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ONGOING ALONG THAT BASIN.
WE CLEANED THE DITCH OUT ON BOAT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE, THE BASIN.
UM, AND SO THE WATER'S FLOWING BETTER NOW INTO MAIN A CANAL.
BUT THERE'S OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO.
WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THE WHOLE $14 MILLION, BUT WE CAN DO SOME MEDIATIONS, SOME MITIGATIONS TO THIS BASIN DEPENDING ON HOW FAR THE COUNCIL WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
RIGHT NOW IT'S STILL IN THE CAPITAL FUND.
SO WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.
UH, WHAT, WHAT IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN MAKE, UH, TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE FLOODING ALONG LAKE ARTHUR DRIVE.
SO, UH, I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS, UM, IT WAS A MEMO OR SOMETHING THAT WAS GIVEN TO US THAT SHOWED THE ACTUAL DOLLARS THAT HAD BEEN SPENT ON THE ENGINEERING.
UH, IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE 800, $850,000 WAS SPENT.
UM, AND I'M, IS IS THAT IN, IN LINE WITH THE PROJECT GOING FORWARD, OR WERE THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE AFTER THAT, AFTER THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED? WELL, THE, THE STUDY WAS DONE IN PAID FOR BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
YOU KNOW, UH, I, I DON'T WANT THE CITIZENS TO BELIEVE THAT WE'VE, UH, SQUANDERED THIS MONEY.
AND SO THERE'S IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED.
UH, AND SO THAT, THAT MONEY, I THINK WAS SPENT WISELY TO LOOK AT IT.
UM, IT UNFORTUNATELY, IT DIDN'T MEET THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES, WHICH REQUIRED YOU TO SHOW SO MUCH, SO MANY HOUSES BEING REMOVED FROM THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN.
SO IF WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, THAT WOULD BE ON THE CITY, CORRECT? CORRECT.
AND, AND WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS MOVING FORWARD? HAVE WE EVEN GOTTEN TO THAT POINT YET? YOU YEAH.
WELL THIS, UH, SECOND HANDOUT SHOWS THE, THE BASIN BEING EXCAVATED AND THEN THERE'S A WEIR BEING PROPOSED ON THE DITCH.
AND THEN THERE'S TWO DITCHES BEING PROPOSED OFF OF LAKE ARTHUR DRIVE TO, TO ACCOMMODATE MORE WATER GETTING INTO THE BASIN.
UM, WE, WE'VE TALKED TO DD SEVEN ABOUT IT, AND AT ONE TIME, YOU KNOW, THERE THE MUD DISTRICT WAS TRYING TO GET DD SEVEN TO TAKE OVER THIS PROPERTY AND THEY COULD ALLOCATE MONIES TO, UH, PUT IN A PUMP STATION.
NOW, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT PUTTING IN A PUMP STATION.
PLUS IT'S A, A LARGE, UH, ENDEAVOR FOR THE CITY TO MAINTAIN THOSE PUMPS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'D WANT TO RECOMMEND THAT, BUT, UH, WE COULD AGAIN, BROACH THE SUBJECT WITH DD SEVEN AND SEE IF THEY'D BE INTERESTED IN HELPING US WITH THIS TOO.
UM, WHAT WOULD YOUR RECOMMENDATION BE AT THIS POINT MOVING FORWARD? I WOULD START WITH INSTALLING THE WEIR THAT'S SHOWN IN THIS DRAWN, UM, TRYING TO GET SOME IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE DRAINAGE OFF OF LAKE ARTHUR'S DRIVE.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO RELATIVELY EASILY.
UM, AND THEN MOVING THE DIRT, I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 300,000 YARDS OF DIRT.
TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, I MEAN, YOU'D, YOU'D PROBABLY A HUNDRED LOADS OF DIRT A DAY FOR 300 DAYS.
AND WE DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO DO THAT.
SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE'D LOOK AT CONTRACTING OUT.
WE'D HAVE TO FIND A PLACE TO PUT THAT DIRT SO THAT THOSE DISCUSSIONS COULD START IF THE MONEY'S ALLOCATED IN THE NEXT BUDGET.
SO WHAT WOULD YOU NEED FROM COUNCIL MOVING FORWARD? WELL, I, I WOULD MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE'D START ENGINEERING WORK, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IF YOU WANT TO PROCEED WITH THAT.
NOW, RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET, SO WE'D HAVE TO DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
BUT, BUT YOU DO THINK IT'S A WORTHWHILE PROJECT THAT WE DO NEED TO MORE MOVE FORWARD WITH? YES.
I THINK IT WOULD ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE FLOODING ALONG BRAES AND UP IN THAT BASIN OFF OF JIMMY JOHNSON WHERE
[01:55:01]
YOUR HOUSE IS EXACTLY WHERE THEY LAUNCHED BOATS OUTTA MY FRONT YARD.THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR BRIEF PRESENTATION.
BUT I'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THIS FOR, UH, THREE YEARS SINCE I WAS ON COUNCIL, UH, DISTRICT THREE COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND TO GET A REAL CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PROJECT.
YOU KNOW, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THAT WE DIDN'T MEET THE B-C-R-B-C-A MM-HMM.
WE HAVE NOTHING THAT'S ACTUALLY TAKING PLACE.
BUT WHEN THIS WAS PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL AND TO ME, UM, AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THE FUNDING IS SOME TYPE OF GRANT FUNDING THAT WE ASCERTAIN IN GETTING THE LAND, BUT IT WAS IMPERATIVE AT THE TIME THAT WE PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY BECAUSE WE WERE QUOTE, ALMOST GUARANTEED TO GET THIS, UH, B-C-R-B-C-A.
AND NOW WE ARE HEARING, OH, NOW I'M HEARING THAT THAT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, THE CASE.
AND, UH, IF THAT WASN'T A CASE, EVEN THOUGH WE GOT THE FUNDING, WE COULD HAVE SPENT IT ON SOMETHING ELSE IF WE WASN'T GONNA UTILIZE, UH, THIS DETENTION POND.
I'VE BEEN IN THOSE MEETINGS ALONG WITH YOU WITH DD SEVEN YES.
AND HOW CAREFUL THEY ARE AND WANTED TO COMMIT IN HELPING US OUT ON THIS SIDE.
UH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM HAS BROUGHT US SOME EXCELLENT POINTS.
I BRIEFED HER ON THIS PROJECT.
BUT NOW WE ARE, WE ARE SITTING ON IT.
AND IT'S BEEN YEARS THAT WE ACTUALLY MADE ANY MOVEMENT ON WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO WITH THE MONIES THAT WE COULD HAVE SPENT SOMEWHERE ELSE YES.
SO I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR, YOU KNOW, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND ABOUT NOT GETTING MEETING THE, THE RATIO, BUT I WANTED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME THAT WE HAD TO GET IN FRONT OF THIS PROJECT BECAUSE IT WAS ALMOST GUARANTEED THAT WE WERE GONNA GET SOME TYPE OF RESULT OR SOME TYPE OF FUNDING IN THE FUTURE.
SO, I, I JUST, I'M JUST NOT HAPPY WITH THIS, UH, THE PROCESS OF WHAT AND HOW WE STARTED THIS WAS GONNA BE THAT LONG OF A PROCESS.
MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE SPENT THE MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE WISELY.
UM, COUNCILMAN, I, I WAS NOT HERE WHEN THIS PROPERTY WAS BOUGHT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU WERE, I THINK THIS MAY HAVE PRECEDED A LOT OF US, BUT, UH, GENERALLY YOU WOULD'VE DONE THE STUDY FIRST BEFORE YOU'D MOVED INTO ACQUISITION AND OR PROJECT, UH, FUNDING.
WELL, I WAS ON A COUNCIL AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE WAY IT SHOULD, SHOULD HAVE GONE AS WELL.
BUT WE DID NOT DO IT THAT WAY.
BUT WE WENT AHEAD AND PURCHASED SOME PROPERTY FOR 800 SOMETHING THOUSAND DESIGNS AND ALL THOSE GOOD THINGS.
AND I THINK THE TOTAL COST WAS 881,000 SOMETHING.
I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME.
BUT IT'S SOME, IT'S AROUND THAT COST THAT WE COULD HAVE SPENT THE MONEY ON SOMETHING ELSE.
AND OUR JOB AS A STEWARDS, WE, WE SUPPOSED TO WATCH THE MONEY.
OUR JOB IS TO FIND OUT AND GET APPROVAL FROM STAFF.
UH, THAT COUNCIL IS, UH, THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY DICTATE WHAT WE WANT TO HAPPEN IN OUR CITY.
WE KNOW WE HAVE IN FLOODING, COUNCILWOMAN JUST STATED EARLIER, THEY WERE LAUNCHING BOATS OUTTA OUR HOUSE.
WE KNOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH JIMMY JOHNSON AND NINTH AVENUE.
SO WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT IT? THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING ME.
THEY'RE ASKING ALL THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT, AND THE MAYOR, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT IT? MM-HMM.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT IT? YOU KNOW, ARE WE GONNA WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE ANOTHER SITUATION? NO.
WE NEED TO THINK IN ADVANCE ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE WATER.
YOU GUYS GAVE 20 PRESENTATIONS, SAID NINTH AVENUE AND JIMMY JOHNSON IS A BOWL.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT IT? WELL, AND UM, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THIS IS MY PHILOSOPHY.
I, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, BUT, YOU KNOW, DD SEVEN ADDED A MILLION AND A HALF GALLONS PER MINUTE OF CAPACITY TO THEIR PUMP STATION.
IT WAS, IT WAS STARTED AFTER HURRICANE IKE AND RITA.
SO MY JOB, AS I SEE IT, IS TO GET THE WATER TO DD SEVEN STITCHES.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THE MASTER PLAN FINISHED NOW AND IT'S GONNA HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, UH, 50, A HUNDRED PROJECTS IN THE CITY THAT, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT FUNDED, BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE A PLAN MOVING FORWARD TO HOW WE CAN ALLOCATE, YOU KNOW, WISELY MONIES TO IMPROVE OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU, THIS BUDGET TO SETTING UP A PLAN.
YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD ALLOCATE 20, $30 MILLION, WE CAN LEVERAGE THAT MONEY.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S GRANTS OUT THERE,
[02:00:01]
DD SEVEN JUST GOT A GRANT.THEY WERE AWARDED MONIES AND UH, AND WE NEED TO WORK WITH DD SEVEN TO HELP THIS CAUSE IN THIS CAUSE.
HEY MAN, I, YOU KNOW, I PROBABLY WANT TO THANK YOU.
I WAS IN THOSE MEETINGS, THOSE THREE MEETINGS, WE WENT WITHIN THE LAST SIX, EIGHT MONTHS WITH YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR PORT ARTHUR BECAUSE THEY WERE ASKING SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS AND YOU STOOD UP FOR PORT ARTHUR AND I WANNA PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I, YOU KNOW, I HAD WORKED ON THE MASTER PLAN FOR DD SEVEN IN 2000, AND WE ALL KNOW THE WATER COMES FROM EVERYWHERE INTO THE CITY.
AND SO WE WE'RE GONNA TRY TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS. BUT I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT DD SEVEN IS DOING THEIR PART AS FAR AS UPGRADES TO THEIR PUMP STATION.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT SHREVEPORT AVENUE BUILDING A NEW PUMP STATION THERE FOR DOWNTOWN AREA.
SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING THEIR PART AND WE JUST NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, MAKE THIS ALL HAPPEN HOPEFULLY BEFORE THE NEXT HURRICANE HITS.
UM, DR. HANEY, DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? COUNSEL? AND TO ANSWER, UH, YOUR QUESTION ALSO, HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, WHEN THE PARK CENTER MUD DISTRICT WAS CREATED, THEY PURCHASED THAT PROPERTY FOR PONDING PURPOSES.
AND THE REASON THEY DID THAT IS THE ELEVATIONS IN THAT DISTRICT WERE TOO LOW TO BUILD ON.
SO THEY HAD TO BRING IN DIRT TO ELEVATE THE AREA TO BE ABLE TO BUILD.
SO THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AT THAT TIME TOLD THEM, YOU ELIMINATE BONDING WHERE YOU'RE BUILDING, YOU'RE GONNA CREATE PONDING SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO THAT'S WHY THAT PROPERTY WAS, UH, BUILT, WAS, UH, BOUGHT BY THEM.
AND THEN THEY WENT INTO PHASE ONE AND DEVELOPED THAT BONDING AREA FOR PHASE ONE TO BE FOLLOWED BY PHASE TWO.
AND PHASE TWO IS WHERE THIS PROPERTY IS TODAY.
SO PHASE TWO NEVER GOT ACCOMPLISHED BECAUSE THE DISTRICT GOT DISSOLVED, THE CITY TOOK OVER AND PEOPLE STARTED SELLING THESE ASSETS, YOU KNOW, LEFT AND RIGHT.
AND THAT'S WHY THAT PHASE TWO DID NOT, UH, GET BUILT.
SO, LIKE JOHN WAS SAYING EARLIER, THIS PROPERTY IS BEING USED FOR BONDING TODAY AND WE CAN DO FEW MINOR CHANGES THAT WILL NOT COST SO MUCH MONEY THAT WILL HELP HAVE MORE PONDING IN THAT AREA AS WELL AND ELIMINATE FLOODING IN THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO, AND WHEN THAT PROJECT WAS PUT UP FROM THE BEGINNING, THERE WAS MONEY ALLOCATED TO IT AND THAT MONEY COULD NOT BE SPENT FOR THAT PROJECT, WHICH HELPED US OUT TO DO THE PORT ACRES AND THE EL VISTA PROJECTS.
'CAUSE THEY CAME UP SO MUCH HIGHER THAN BUDGETED.
SO ARTURO WAS ABLE TO TAKE THAT FUNDING ALLOCATED TO THESE TWO OTHER PROJECTS AND BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THEM WITHOUT COST TO THE CITY.
SO THERE WERE SOME BENEFITS THAT CAME, UH, FROM THIS PROJECT, BUT AGAIN, IT IS ON THE CAPITAL PROGRAM.
AND MY OPINION IS WHAT JOHN JUST SAID, THINGS HAVE CHANGED FROM 2018 TILL TODAY IN 2018, DD SEVEN DID NOT HAVE THE PUMPING CAPABILITIES THEY HAVE TODAY AND THEIR ABILITY TO DROP THEIR DITCHES TWO TO TWO TO THREE MORE FEET THAN THEY USUALLY CAN.
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THAT PROPERTY, ORIGINALLY IT WAS GONNA BE AT ABOUT A MINUS TWO FOR, UH, BOTTOM ELEVATION.
IT CAN BE AT MINUS FOUR TO MINUS SIX.
SO IT CREATES MORE AND MORE CAPABILITY FOR STORAGE AND DETENTION.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO DO SOME PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING BASED ON THE CURRENT CONDITIONS TO DECIDE WHAT THE FUTURE STEPS SHOULD BE VERSUS USING THE 2017 18 STUDIES THAT MIGHT NOT BE AS BENEFICIAL TODAY AND COULD BE VERY COSTLY.
THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE TODAY WAS PREVENTABLE.
ALL THAT FLOODING OUT THERE WAS PREVENTABLE PUBLIC WORKS RECORD AT THE TIME.
I QUESTIONED HIM AS TO WHAT'S CAUSING ALL THE FLOODING OUT THERE.
HE SAID PLANNING AND THEN ZONING WAS BYPASSED.
THE CITY PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT WAS BYPASSED.
THE DEVELOPER OVER THERE TOOK OVER THE POLITICS OF THE CITY.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE PROBLEM TODAY.
AND WE HAVE TO FIND REVENUES AND WHAT HAVE YOU TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED.
THAT WAS THE FIRST THING YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
SO THE PEOPLE SURFING TODAY, AND THEY, THEY, THEY CAME UP WITH THE IDEA THAT, OH, THE RETENTION IS THE STREETS CURB AND GUTTER STREETS.
THAT'S THE, THAT'S PART OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM OUT THERE.
[02:05:01]
THE NUMBER ONE MAN.WE SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THE BATTLES, HOW THEY, THEY WAS NOT ALLOWED TO EVEN GET INVOLVED.
THE DEVELOPER TOOK OVER THE POLITICS.
SO NOW THE TAX BILLS HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH THIS.
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS DIDI MENTIONED BY DD SEVEN, THEY NORMALLY, IF WE PUT THE PUMPS IN AND GET EVERYTHING UP TO SPECS ACCORDING TO THEIR SPECS, THEY WILL TAKE OVER THE OPERATIONS, BUT THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT IT UN UNLESS IT'S BUILT TO THEIR SPEC.
BUT FROM NOW ON, WE GOTTA WATCH THE POLITICS, KEEP THE POLITICS OUT OF THE, OF THE COUNCIL, SEE THE MANAGEMENT MAYOR, I ALWAYS LIKE TO, TO LOOK AT, UM, LOOK FOR AN OPPORTUNITY.
AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
I'M LISTENING TO EVERYBODY'S DISCUSSION.
I'M LISTENING TO JOHN'S DISCUSSION.
HERE IT IS THAT WE HAVE THE ADAM PAC WHERE WE NEED OVER 300,000, COULD BE GADS OF DEATH.
WHERE COULD WE GET IT FROM? SO THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM THOUGH.
DON'T MAKE IT SOUND LIKE THIS.
HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN EXCAVATE IT.
JOHN, WE NEED TO TALK AS SOON AS THIS MEETING IS OVER WITH MS. ALPO AND LET US PUT A PLAN INTO ACTION.
LET US TURN IT INTO AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THE ADAMS BACK BECAUSE WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A MASTER PLAN FOR ADAMS BACK HERE.
IT IS WHY WE HAVE THE AVAILABILITY OF DIRT TO ELEVATE IT.
WE GOTTA THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.
[III.E.(2) A Discussion Regarding The Willow Lakes Townhome Development And Violations Of The Developer Agreement (Requested By Councilmember Beckcom)]
MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH YEP.IT IS A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE WILLOW LAKES, UH, TOWN HOME DEVELOPMENT AND VIOLATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER AGREEMENT.
AND THIS HAS BEEN ALSO REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN BECKER.
UM, SO I DON'T THINK THE DEVELOPER IS HERE, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
BECAUSE THIS INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE, UH, BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO TO HOLD THIS DEVELOPER'S FEET TO THE FIRE.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE RESIDENTS IN AND AROUND THE RICE FARM ROAD AREA.
UH, SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT THREE ARE AROUND THE WILLOW LAKES TOWN HOME DEVELOPMENT.
AND, UH, BACK IN, IT WAS EITHER LATE JUNE OR EARLY JULY.
THIS WAS AFTER I HAD BEEN ELECTED, BUT I HAD NOT YET BEEN SEATED ON COUNCIL.
I ATTENDED A MEETING, UH, JUST AS A CITIZEN OF DISTRICT THREE.
UH, THE CITY MANAGER WAS THERE.
I BELIEVE THE CITY ENGINEER WAS THERE.
I KNOW THE FIRE CHIEF, THE FIRE MARSHAL AND SEVERAL CITIZENS THAT LIVE IN THE AREA WERE THERE.
UH, AND WE MET WITH THE DEVELOPER AND WE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS WITH REGARD TO HIS CONTRACT.
UH, AND THE ONE THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TODAY IS THAT SECTION 14 OF THE DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION CONTRACT STATES THAT THESE RESIDENTIAL TOWN HOMES TO BE BUILT SHALL BE SOLD TO HOME BUYERS.
AND THERE'S SOME OTHER INFORMATION.
UM, RIGHT NOW THE COMPLEX IS NOT FINISHED, BUT THERE ARE, I BELIEVE, FIVE UNITS THAT ARE BEING OCCUPIED.
I'VE DONE THE LEGWORK AND I'VE LOOKED AT, UH, THE JEFFERSON COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT INFORMATION.
I'VE LOOKED AT THE COUNTY CLERK'S INFORMATION.
THIS PROPERTY HAS TO BE REPLANTED SO THAT EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL UNITS CAN BE SOLD AS IS IN THE DEVELOPER CONTRACT.
HE HAS NOT DONE THAT, AND HE IS LEASING THESE UNITS.
THERE'S EVEN SIGNS AT THE END OF WILLOW DRIVE THAT SAYS, FOR LEASE, WELL, I CALLED THE REALTOR THAT'S LEASING THEM NOT AS A CITY COUNCIL PERSON, JUST AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN.
AND I ASKED ABOUT, ARE THESE BEING SOLD? SHE SAID, NO, THEY'RE BEING LEASED.
THERE'VE BEEN SOME RESIDENTS THAT HAVE GONE INTO THE COMPLEX AND HAVE TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY LIVING THERE, AND THEY'VE BEEN TOLD, WE'RE LEASING.
THOSE UNITS CANNOT BE SOLD AS IS BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE REPLIED SO THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL TOWN HOME CAN BE SOLD AS A UNIT.
SO I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE HE IS NOT DOING WHAT HE TOLD US THAT HE WOULD DO.
HE'S NOT DOING WHAT THE DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION CONTRACT STATES.
AND THEN MY QUESTION BECOMES, AND I'M LOOKING AT A MEMO THAT OUR CITY MANAGER PREPARED AND GAVE TO US BACK ON JANUARY 29TH THAT LISTS OUT ALL OF THE REIMBURSABLE COSTS TO THE TUNE OF OVER $200,000.
SO MY QUESTION IS, NUMBER ONE, HAVE WE REIMBURSED HIM FOR ANYTHING? BECAUSE IF, IF HE'S IN VIOLATION OF THE CONTRACT, WE SHOULD NOT BE
[02:10:01]
REIMBURSING HIM FOR ANYTHING.UH, IN FACT, HE SHOULD BE REIMBURSING THE CITY FOR SOME THINGS.
SO I WANNA KNOW, HOW ARE WE GONNA HOLD HIS FEET TO THE FIRE? THE RESIDENTS IN AND AROUND THIS AREA ARE VERY CONCERNED AND VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS.
A UH, SO CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT IT? LET ME TRY TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS.
THIS IS A 2020 DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT.
AND UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, A CITY CAN PARTICIPATE 30% OF THE COST OF A DEVELOPMENT, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE PUTTING IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND I'M SORRY, I'M OUT OF BREATH.
UH, SO BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED IS THIS HAS BEEN, UH, THIS WAS BASICALLY A PUBLIC WORKS TYPE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT.
AND I DO KNOW THAT WE, UH, HAD A RESOLUTION COME BEFORE THE CITY.
I CAN GET THE EXACT DATE AND WE'LL KIND OF GIVE YOU AN UPDATED MEMO.
UH, BUT WE DID HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT PASSED WHERE THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS GIVEN.
SO THAT, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT IT, YOU KNOW, THE INTENT IS TO PUT IN WHENEVER SOMEONE HAS A DEVELOPMENT, LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING IN OTHER PROJECTS, UH, WE ARE, WE ARE PARTICIPATING WITH THEM IN PUTTING IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND IN TURN, THEY'RE GIVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE CITY TO, UH, HAVE AS A PUBLIC, PUBLIC WORKS, UM, ITEM.
SO IT COULD BE STREET SEWER, WHATEVER, THEY, IT'S ALL SPELLED OUT.
SO THE REIMBURSEMENT HAS BEEN GIVEN.
AND THEN I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE A LOOK AT ANY CONTRACT ISSUES AND GET WITH COUNSEL IN DETAIL AND, YOU KNOW, AND PROPERLY ADVISE YOU ON WHAT CAN BE DONE IF YOU BELIEVE THERE'S A VIOLATION.
UM, BUT THE REIMBURSEMENT WAS GIVEN BY COUNSEL.
UM, AND I CAN GET THE EXACT DATE.
I'M GLAD THIS CAME BEFORE COUNCIL.
THE RESIDENTS HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS BEEN SAID.
THE THINGS THAT COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM HAD IN CITY ATTORNEY, YOU COULD CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG AT ANY TIME.
SHE SAYS, UH, THE TOWN HOMES SHALL BE SOLD, WHICH IS IN SECTION FOUR, UH, 14.
BUT MY QUESTION ABOUT SECTION 14 IS WHY DID WE EVEN INCLUDE IT IN THERE? BECAUSE THE PART, THE DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION IS CENTERED AROUND TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE TWO 12.
IT ONLY DEALS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEY ARE VERY CLEAR.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE BUILDING AND STRUCTURES.
SO WHEN WE ADDRESS THE DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPATION, IT SHOULD BE DEALING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT BUILDINGS, NOT WHETHER THEY ARE SOLD OR WHETHER THEY'RE RENTED.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER HE SELL OR LEASE OR RENT.
THAT DOES NOT HAVE TO, NOTHING TO DO WITH TWO 12 IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
NOW, IF YOU GO TO THAT SAME AGREEMENT, AND WE LOOK AT THE AGREEMENT, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THESE THINGS TO CITIZENS.
THE AGREEMENT, IF YOU GO TO SECTION 10, THAT IS WHERE WE PROTECT THE INTEREST OF THE CITY FOR A DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPATION PROGRAM.
SECTION 10 SAYS THAT THE DEVELOPERS SHALL NOT SELL THIS PROPERTY TO ANYONE OR ORGANIZATION WHERE THIS PROPERTY WILL BE TAKEN OFF THE TAX ROLL.
THE REASON I'M BEING, THAT'S THE WHOLE BASIS OF A DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPATION IS GIVING SOMEBODY AN INCENTIVE SO THAT WE CAN DRAW AND GAIN REVENUE.
UH, THE, THE PROPERTY ITSELF, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TAX ON IT WAS APPROXIMATELY
[02:15:01]
THE CITY WAS PAYING TAX.THE, THE PROPERTY ONLY PAYING TAXES $1,100 A MONTH.
I MEAN, A YEAR WHEN HE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.
THE CITY DOESN'T GET THE $1,100.
IT'S BETWEEN ALL OF THE TAXING ENTITIES.
HOWEVER, ONCE IT'S COMPLETED, AT THE TIME IT WAS PROJECTED 1 78.
BUT NOW THAT WE KNOW WE HAD THIS BIG INCREASE IN TAXES, THAT DEVELOPMENT PROBABLY GONNA BRING 200,000 OF TAXES IN A YEAR IN WHICH THE CITY NOW WAS SHARED PART OF 200,000 AS OPPOSED TO 1100.
YOU KNOW, UH, WE, WE HEARD MENTIONED ABOUT THE CITIZENS, UH, AND OCCUPANCY.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE DISCUSSED OCCUPANCY, BECAUSE OCCUPANCY IS CONTROLLED AND MANTRA BY THE CITY.
ANY DEVELOPER OR ANY, ANY CONSTRUCTION, IT COULD BE SOMEBODY BUILDING A HOME.
WE HAVE INSPECTORS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO CONSTANTLY VISIT THE SITES.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT IS VIOLATING CODE, THEY SUPPOSED TO INFORM THE CONTRACTOR OF WHAT IS WRONG AND THEY NEED TO FIX IT.
AND THAT CONTRACTOR NEED TO RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER.
AND IF NOT, THEN THE CONTRACTORS SHOULD BE FINE OR WHATEVER APPROPRIATE ACTION.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS SAYING, PEOPLE GOING INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AND SAYING PEOPLE ARE READY.
OKAY, THEN, BUT YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS SOMETIMES REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE.
AND SOMETIMES COUNCIL MEMBERS, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD A STATEMENT MADE, YOU KNOW, UH, ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT HERE ON COUNCIL AT A MEETING, THAT THE DEVELOPMENT WAS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN IN THAT AREA.
THIS, THAT'S WHEN CITIZENS NEED TO UNDERSTAND, WE CAN'T STOP IT BECAUSE IN OUR ZONING ORDINANCE, IT SAYS, WHAT CAN BE BUILT IN THAT ZONE? AND AS LONG AS A PERSON ON PROPERTY, THEY CAN BUILD IT THERE.
AND IF WE TRY TO STOP THEM, WE GOING TO BE SUED BECAUSE WE ARE VIOLATING OUR ORDINANCE THAT SAYS, YOU CAN BUILD THIS IN THIS PARTICULAR PLACE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF TIMES CITIZENS GET UPSET ABOUT SOMETHING.
BUT SEE WHAT I TELL CITIZENS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT, EVERYBODY GOING TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO HEAR, BUT WHOEVER HAVE THE TIME TO DRIVE, GO DOWN THERE, TAKE A LOOK AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX TO THE LEFT OF IT AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE COMPLEX TO THE RIGHT OF IT, BECAUSE IT SITS RIGHT BETWEEN TWO APARTMENT COMPLEXES.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE, THEY ARE COMPLEXES.
THIS IS TOWN HOMES, OKAY? THIS TOWN HOMES, THERE'S A GATED COMMUNITY.
EACH HOME HAS ITS OWN WATER METER, ITS OWN LIKE METER.
YOU KNOW, WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT WE DON'T WANT NO MORE LOW TO MEET AN INCOME HOUSING.
WE DON'T NEED THE MOST SECTION EIGHT HOUSING.
THAT'S WHAT WE KEEP SAYING UP HERE.
BUT YOU HAVE A DEVELOPER THAT GIVES US JUST THE OPPOSITE OF THAT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT IS BAD.
AND WE SHOULD HOLD CONTRACTORS ACCOUNTABLE TO CONTRACT THAT WE SIGNED.
AND COUNCILWOMAN BECKETT MENTIONED THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPATION.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS IN THAT CONTRACT THAT SHOULD BE ABIDED BY.
AND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT ALL CONTRACTS AND ALL CONTRACTS IS THAT WHENEVER THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN COMPLYING BETWEEN EITHER PARTIES, THE PARTIES GET
[02:20:01]
TOGETHER, THEY MEDIATE, THEY CAN NEGOTIATE, THEY COULD DISSOLVE THE CONTRACT, BUT THAT'S COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEM.BUT THAT CONTRACT SAYS ALL THE THINGS THAT HE WAS ENTITLED TO.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SAYS IN SECTION FOUR OF THIS PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT IN SECTION FOUR, IT SAYS THE CITY WILL REIMBURSE HIM FOR A ROAD OR ROAD.
THAT'S JUST ONE OF ITEMS, JUST ONE OF THE ITEMS. HE GOT A LAUNDRY LIST, BUT HE DIDN'T EVEN APPLY FOR THE LAUNDRY LIST.
HE ONLY APPLIED FOR SOME, IT SAYS ROAD OR ROSE.
IT CAME TO THIS COUNCIL AND IT WAS APPROVED.
SO ONCE IT'S APPROVED, THE CITY MANAGER ENTERED TO THIS, TO THIS CONTRACT.
BUT YET NOW, WHEN THE DEVELOPER WAS THROUGH AND HE ASKED FOR THE MONEY, HE SAYS, WELL, WE CAN'T PAY YOU FOR THE ROADS.
WELL, WHY YOU CAN'T PAY FOR THE ROADS? WELL, IT'S GATED EXCUSE.
WELL, GUESS WHAT? THAT'S WHY WE ARE THE CITY.
AND THAT'S WHY WE SHOULD KNOW.
AND THAT'S WHY IF IT COMES THROUGH US, WE SHOULD KNOW WHAT TO SAY AND WHAT TO DO.
IF WE COULDN'T PAY FOR THE ROADS, IT SHOULD NEVER HAVE COME TO THIS COUNCIL.
THIS COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE NEVER APPROVED IT.
SO WE WANT TO SAY, BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER IS RENTING THE HOMES INSTEAD, INSTEAD OF SELLING THE HOME, THAT HE'S VIOLATING THE CONTRACT, BUT THE CITY DOESN'T PAY HIM FOR THE ROLES, BUT THE CITY IS NOT VIOLATING THE CONTRACT.
HOW DOES THAT SOUND? I THINK THE CITY MANAGER, YOU AND HIS STAFF, AND IF COUNCIL MEMBER WANTS TO BE PART OF, NEED TO BE MEET WITH THE DEVELOPER AND DISCUSS ANY DIFFERENCES THAT THERE MAY BE IN THE CONTRACT.
AND WHEN IT IS RESOLVED, THEN LET THE PERSON IN INFORMED THE CITIZENS, OKAY? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, EVERY TIME SOMETHING HAPPENED, IT SAYS, I'M INFORMED.
THE CITIZEN SAID, THE CITIZEN SAID, NOW IT'S COMING TO COUNCIL OCCUPANCY.
IF YOU WANNA KNOW IF SOMEBODY'S STANDING IN THE BUILDING OVER THERE AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN OCCUPANCY, ALL YOU DO IS GO TO THE CITY, CITY, JUST SAY THEY DON'T HAVE NO CERTIFICATE.
BUT SEE, IF YOU GO TO THE PROPER PLACES, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT THOSE BUILDINGS ARE GIVEN CERTIFICATE, OCCUPANCY AS THEY ARE INSPECTED BY THE CITY, AND THE CITY APPROVES THEM.
SO IF THE CITY APPROVES THE BUILDING, THEN PEOPLE CAN START MOVING IN THAT THIS IS NOT A BIG DEAL.
BUT TO SAY THAT IT'S A VIOLATION AND PUT IT IN THAT MANNER, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY THE CITY MANAGER.
AND IF COUNCIL MEMBERS WON'T BE PART OF IT, THAT'S FINE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FOLLOW OUR ORDINANCES.
AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, DON'T SAY SOMEBODY VIOLATING SOMETHING THAT WE ARE VIOLATING.
LET'S WORK IT OUT INSTEAD OF TRY TO SLANDER SOMEBODY.
UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, KIM? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUETTE IN HIS RATIONALITY ABOUT HOW HIS VIEWS ABOUT THE DEVELOPER.
UH, I DO WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
I WAS A PART OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
I DO, UH, UH, VALUE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE NEW, UH, APARTMENT COMPLEX SLASH TOWNHOUSES.
BUT THIS IS A DISTRICT THREE DEVELOPMENT.
AND AS YOU CAN HEAR, UH, YOU KNOW, OUT THERE WHAT'S GOING ON, IT'S A DISTRICT THREE DEVELOPMENT.
AND JUST LISTEN TO THE INSIDER WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON.
SO I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN WITH, UH, IF WE GOT FEEDBACK OR SOMETHING YEAH, THERE'S SOME FEEDBACK.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, MY, MY THING IS HERE, I'VE BEEN WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN OUT THERE ALONG WITH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE THERE ABOUT, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE STREETS AND, AND THE, THE GATE AND THE LOCK.
MY THING IS THIS, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, AS AN AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER, ALONG WITH WORKING WITH THE, UH, THE, THE CURRENT DISTRICT THREE COUNCILWOMAN IS WHAT WILL YOU DO TO ENSURE THAT WHAT WAS PROMISED TO THE CITY IN AGREEMENT WAS,
[02:25:01]
WAS ACTUALLY GONNA BE GIVEN TO THE CITY.NOW, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PERMITTING, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CITY INSPECTION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WAS, UH, TOLD TO THIS COUNCIL, THAT INDIVIDUALS CAME BEFORE THE PODIUM AND STATED THAT THEY WERE GONNA DO, AND HOWEVER, AT, AT THE END OF THE PROJECT CHANGED THEIR MIND.
THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THE CITY FOR YEARS.
BUT ONCE YOU START HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY SAY AND WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO, YOU HEAR PEOPLE COMING OUT IN THE WOODWORKS ABOUT EXPLANATIONS ABOUT WHY, HOW, AND WHAT DISTRICTS IT'S IN NOW.
AND AGAIN, I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN.
THIS IS A DISTRICT THREE PROJECT SINK IN MM-HMM.
SO UNTIL WE START HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY DO, AND THE DEVELOPERS OR BUSINESSES IN PORT ARTHUR, YOU'RE GONNA GET WHAT YOU GET.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU ONE THING, AND AT THE END OF THE PROJECT, I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE.
I'M GONNA MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING THAT'S IN THE CITYWIDE AS A AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, IF, IF DEVELOPERS OR BUSINESSES SAY SOMETHING, THEN THEY TURN AROUND AND SAY SOMETHING ELSE, I'M GONNA HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE.
AND YOU COULD, YOU COULD, YOU COULD DEPEND ON ME ON THAT.
SO IF WE PAY THE, WE PAY THE, THE DEVELOPER BASED UPON NOT HAVING CITY INSPECTIONS AND PERMIT MEETINGS AND AUTHORIZATION FROM THE GUY, THAT'S TO MY RIGHT.
WE HAVE A SITUATION, BUT I'M GONNA STAY ON THAT.
AND IT'S JUST NOT ABOUT THIS DEVELOPER OR BUSINESS OWNER.
IT'S ABOUT ANY BUSINESS OWNER OR DEVELOPER IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR MAYOR.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? OH, YES.
UH, COUNCILMAN DE SAID, THAT'S COVERED PART OF WHAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT.
AND THAT WAS, UH, WHAT DEVELOPMENT HAS TO DO, AGREEMENT HAS TO DO WITH SALES THE WAY HE ALREADY COVERED THAT.
UM, Y'ALL MAKE THINGS HORRIBLE.
THAT'S, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I WAS IN, WAS CONCERNED ABOUT.
UH, COUNCILMAN BECKHAM, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? YES, I DO.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE IS TRYING TO MAKE THIS OUT.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW, I APPRECIATE, UH, WHAT YOU SAID, BECAUSE THIS IS A, ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE SLIPPERY SLOPES.
THIS IS ANOTHER DEVELOPER THAT MADE US ALL KINDS OF PROMISES, AND NOW IT'S NOT KEEPING GOOD ON THE PROMISES.
AND WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN JUST IN THE SEVEN, EIGHT MONTHS I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.
I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN AT LEAST THREE TIMES.
UH, AND I TAKE ISSUE WITH, UH, BEING, UH, PORTRAYED AS ME BEING MISINFORMED, OR MY CONSTITUENTS BEING MISINFORMED TO THE CONTRARY.
UH, AS SOON AS I SAW PEOPLE MOVING INTO THAT COMPLEX, I MADE SOME PHONE CALLS BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST A TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME.
THEY HAD A TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
AND TO, TO TRY TO SAY THAT I'M SLANDERING SOMEBODY, I AM SORRY.
OKAY? THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO DISTRICT THREE.
UM, IN THE INTEREST OF FULL DISCLOSURE, UM, I DID PREPARE A MEMO TO, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF, UM, STAFF, UM, TO THE COUNCIL.
SO IN, IT'S, IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY AGAIN, THAT THAT WAS DONE.
BUT THERE IS STILL AN OUTSTANDING CLAIM OF SOME 40 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE ROAD THAT, UM, WHILST COUNCILORS DISCUSSING IT, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO READ THAT MEMO THAT I GIVE TO YOU BECAUSE THERE IS STILL 40 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS, UM, THAT THE, UM, THE DEVELOPER IS CLAIMING THAT'S, UM, FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE STREET, THE, THE RICE FARM ROAD THAT HE HAS, UM, PROVIDED THE MATERIAL FOR.
JUST WANT TO INFORM THE COUNCIL.
DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? UH, COUNCILMAN DUCEY? YES.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, I DID NOT, UH, MEAN IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL FOR WHAT YOU SAID, COUNCILMAN, UH, COUNCILWOMAN PACKHAM.
I MEANT IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL TO FIND OUT WHAT ARE THE FACTS.
THAT'S WHAT I MEANT WHEN I SAID NOT A BIG DEAL.
LIKE IF SOME, IF CITIZENS COMPLAIN ABOUT, UH, SOMEBODY NOT HAVING OCCUPANCY, IT'S SIMPLE.
WE CAN FIND IT BY COMING BACK TO THE CITY.
THAT'S WHAT I MEANT WHEN I SAY BIG DEAL, NOT THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T SAY IT.
UH, IN RESPONSE TO COUNCILMAN KEN LAW, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND DISTRICT THREE, BUT THE ORDINANCE AND THE CODES OF THE CITY IS NOT ABOUT DISTRICT THREE.
IT'S ABOUT THE WHOLE CITY, NOT DISTRICT THREE.
AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE CONTRACT, I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT
[02:30:01]
I'M READING IN VERBATIM IS NOT MY THOUGHTS.AND PARTICIPATION OF CITY ATTORNEY, I, I NEED TO MAKE, MAKE THIS REAL CLEAR BECAUSE EVIDENTLY IT CAME OFF LIKE IT WAS MY OPINION OR MY INTERPRETATION.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE TWO 12 IS STRICTLY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT STATES IN THERE ALSO NOT INCLUDING BUILDINGS.
IT'S ONLY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
AM I CORRECT? TWO 12 DOES SPEAK ABOUT, UH, DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE? YES.
I JUST WANT, NO, I MEAN, I JUST, THE QUESTION IS, I WANT TO, I'M, I'M GONNA BE REAL CLEAR 'CAUSE THIS IS A SIMPLE QUESTION.
OKAY? I SAID TWO 12 LOCAL GOVERNMENT COURT ADDRESSES DEVELOP A PARTICIPATION FOR LAND AND PROPERTY, NOT INCLUDING BUILDINGS.
SO IT EITHER IT SAYS YES OR IT SAYS, OR THE ANSWER IS NO.
I'M ASKING YOU IF WHAT I'M SAYING IS CORRECT.
CAN I, I'D LIKE TO ALSO JUST, JUST THROW ONE THING IN.
WHAT I WOULD ADVISE COUNSEL TO DO.
I THINK THAT YOU ALL ARE INTO A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES, AND IT MIGHT BE GOOD THAT, YOU KNOW, STAFF LOOK AT WHAT THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AND GIVE YOU A DETAILED ANALYSIS.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE TALK ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A TEAM OF LAWYERS NOW, SO WE COULD, UH, GIVE YOU A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF ANY CONCERNS YOU HAVE IN THE PROPER FORMAT OF A MEMO.
YOU KNOW, THAT WAY WE WON'T BE KIND OF WIDESPREAD, AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO RESEARCH ANYTHING AND ANSWER ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.
BUT WE NEED TO DO THIS BECAUSE THIS TO BE RESOLVED.
JUST A REMINDER, I'M, I, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I CAN ONLY HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE, A DEVELOPER OF WHAT HE SIGNED.
IF HE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT, I CAN HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE.
WOULD HE COME BACK LATER ON AND SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT? I CANNOT HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE.
WHAT HE SAYS AT THAT PODIUM GOES INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
BUT I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO TO THE, THE AGREEMENT TO SEE WHAT'S IN THE AGREEMENT, WHAT HE ACTUALLY SIGNED OFF ON.
AND I GUESS THERE ARE NO MORE OTHER, UH, DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM.
[III.E.(5) A Discussion Regarding Homeless Encampment (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]
UH, WE MOVE ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE, IT IS A DISCUSSION, UH, REGARDING HARMLESS ENCAMPMENT.AND THIS IS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE.
ALRIGHT, I KNOW THIS WON'T BE THAT LONG, BUT, UH, I PUT IT ON THERE, COUNSEL.
IT, IT IS FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF CALL ABOUT THIS ENCAMPMENT OFF OF MEDICAL BOULEVARD DRIVE OVER THERE BY THE HOSPITAL AND STUFF, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S IN DISTRICT FOUR, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT DISTRICT FOUR.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT HERE TO SAY, LET'S MOVE THEM OUTTA THERE BECAUSE WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED.
WE MOVED THEM OUT OF A LOCATION ON TWIN CITY HIGHWAY.
AND WHAT DID THEY DO? THEY MIGRATED TO THE LITTLE GROUP THAT WAS RIGHT THERE ON MEDICAL DRIVE FIRST NOW, AND GOT HUGE.
SO I, I'M NOT HERE TO SAY MOVE 'EM BECAUSE THEY MIGHT MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE IN MY DISTRICT, OR THEY MAY MOVE IN SOMEBODY'S OTHER DISTRICT THAT'S NOT SOLVING A PROBLEM.
WHAT I, WHAT I PUT IT ON HERE FOR, TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE COMMITTEE WE FORMED TO WORK WITH HOMELESSNESS AND HOMELY AND, AND THE PEOPLE WITHOUT, OKAY.
I CAN ANSWER, I CAN GIVE YOU AN ANSWER ON THAT.
WE, I HAVEN'T MET, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN INDIVIDUALS NOW, FIRST THING DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS, OKAY? UH, GIVE FOOD, GIVE 'EM A BLANKET, SOME CLOTHING AND OTHER THINGS.
THIS, THIS, UH, UH, IT'S ALMOST LIKE ENABLING WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS.
NOW, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BROAD SPECTRUM OF IT, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO, AND JUST TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING ON, YES, JUST YESTERDAY
[02:35:01]
I RAN INTO A GENTLEMAN RIGHT ON THE PARKING LOT AT THE PORT.ALL THE TEACHERS CREDIT UNION GENTLEMAN WAS BAREFOOT.
HE HAD A SHIRT, SHIRT ON BACKWARDS, VERY, HE WAS VERY ARTICULATE, AND HE SAID, HAD THE HOSPITAL BAND ON HIS ARM.
AND HE SAID, MAN, HE JUST RELEASED ME FROM THE HOSPITAL.
HE SAID, I'M NOT GONNA GIVE YOU ANY TROUBLE, AND THIS IS WHAT THE GENTLEMAN SAID.
AND I SAID, WELL, SIR, I SAID, WHERE ARE YOU PROMIS TO ME? YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SHOES ON.
THEY DIDN'T GIVE YOU SOME SOCKS OR SOMETHING AT THE HOSPITAL, WHERE OF COURSE HE SAID ON THAT, YOU COULD SEE THE MAN IS A MENTAL PATIENT, YOU KNOW, JUST, I'M NOT A PSYCHIATRIST OR ANYTHING, BUT JUST KNOWING, UH, INDIVIDUALS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND, AND HOW YOU CAN HAVE A PERCEPTION, BUT THEN YOU KINDA THINK ABOUT THE ACCIDENT THE PERSON IS PUTTING ON.
NOW, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT IS WE HAVE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN THE AREAS THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY TALK, SPEAKING OF, THESE FOLK AGAIN, ARE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE, THE STATE ACTUALLY FROM OTHER, UH, IN, IN OUR REGION, BUT NOT FROM OUR CITY.
THEY BRING THEM TO SOUTHEAST TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER.
FOR WHATEVER REASON, I KNOW THERE WAS A PSYCHIATRIC, UH, DEPARTMENT THERE SOME TIME AGO.
I, I WAS TOLD IT WAS CLOSED, BUT THIS GENTLEMAN YESTERDAY THAT I RAN INTO, SOMEONE BROUGHT HIM THERE.
AND HE, HE WAS, HE WAS ADMITTED BECAUSE HE HAD A HOSPITAL BAND STILL ON HIS PERSON.
I MEAN, OUR HEALTH DIRECTORS HERE, AND I THINK IN, IN PROTOCOLS IN NURSING, THEY DON'T PUT THIS ON YOU UNLESS YOU, THEY GET READY TO EXAMINE YOU OR SOMETHING.
SO HE WAS EXAMINED, OR I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG HE HAD BEEN IN THERE, BUT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS NOW.
AND HE JUST SAID HE, AND THE GUY WAS A NICE GUY.
AND I WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE GENTLEMAN, UH, NOT HAVING ANY SHOES ON.
AND AT THAT POINT, I, I SAID, MAN, I DON'T EVEN KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN JUST GET HIM SOME, READ SOME HELP IMMEDIATELY ASKING THE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH, WITH, WITH THE COMMITTEE.
WELL, UH, UH, BASICALLY THE ACT, THAT COMMITTEE IS DEFUNCT RIGHT NOW.
AND I WANTED TO, AGAIN, CALL INDIVIDUALS BACK, BUT WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS OR COMMITMENTS FOR THIS, AND I'VE LEARNED THIS AT, AT, AT SOME SEMINARS AND AT SOME OF THE MEETINGS THAT WE ATTEND, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS WITH NOW, IT'S SORT OF LIKE WHAT IT SAYS IN THE BIBLE GONNA PULL, YOU GONNA ALWAYS HAVE WITH YOU, UH, ACCORDING TO WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND OUR COUNTRY, EVERYBODY HAS, HAS, HAS SITUATION.
HOW YOU DELIVER THESE SERVICES TO THE INDIVIDUALS IS WHAT'S GOING TO ADDRESS LIKE THAT GENTLEMAN YESTERDAY.
AND ONCE YOU ADDRESS THAT, THEN AGAIN, JUST GOING BACK TO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THIS TRANSIT SITUATION, HOMELESSNESS IS GOING TO REQUIRE THE CITY TO GO OUT FOR SOME GRANTS WHERE THEY ARE BUILDING HOMES.
BUT AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PERSON WHO WANTS TO LIVE UNDER A ROOF, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S, THEY ARE MENTAL, MENTALLY, UH, UH, UH, UNABLE TO, I GUESS DISCERN WHETHER THEY NEED TO, YOU KNOW, LIVE IN UN IN UNDER A TENT OR LIVE IN A HOME, YOU KNOW, OR JUST LIVE OUT.
SO UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER, THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE, IF WE DO IT AGAIN, THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES FROM ALL OF THESE AGENCIES.
CHIEF BROUGHT A YOUNG LADY, UH, UH, THE OTHER DAY THEY HAD MET WITH, UH, ABOUT VETERANS AND, AND SOME PLANS THAT THEY HAVE FOR SOME PROPERTIES HERE AND THERE, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT'S GOING ON BASICALLY BEHIND THE SCENES.
BUT AGAIN, LIKE THE CITY MANAGER SAID, NOTHING HAS COME TO FRUITION.
DIDN'T WANNA MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT IT, BECAUSE IT MIGHT HAPPEN AND IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S, NOW THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR, BUT WHAT I'M, WHAT I WANT TO HEAR, I HEARD WE GOT THESE THINGS GOING ON.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR, YOU KNOW? AND, UH, IF THE COMMITTEE IS NOT INVOLVED, THEN YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO LET THEM KNOW.
AND IF WE GOT SOMETHING GOING, WE'RE GOING FOR MONEY, THAT'S FINE.
NOW, WHILE WE DOING THAT, WE NEED TO CONSIDER PUTTING A COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER IN THAT ENCAMPMENT, YOU SEE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S AN ENCAMPMENT.
OKAY? SO IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE THEM, LET'S DO SOMETHING TO SORT OF
[02:40:02]
TAKE SOME OF THE D UH, OF BLIGHT FROM THE AREA AND, AND, AND, AND, AND HAVE SOMEBODY TO ENFORCE THAT.ONCE WE PUT THE S THERE, YOU PUT YOUR TRASH IN THE DUMPSTER.
IF YOU CAN'T PUT YOUR TRASH IN THE DUMP, THEN WE GONNA RUN YOUR WIFE.
YOU KNOW? BUT LIKE I SAID, I DON'T WANT RUN THE PEOPLE AROUND.
AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY HAVE TO ADDRESS, AND I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION, BUT THE SOLUTION IS NOT LET THEM THROW TRASH IN THIS DRAINAGE DISH OR HAVE A LOT OF TRASH AROUND THE PLACE.
AND WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO ADDRESS.
SO I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA MOVE TOWARD THAT, BUT NOW CAN WE GET SOMETHING OUT THERE SO THAT, THAT TRASH DON'T JUST GET OKAY.
I'M LOOKING AT MY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
UH, MAYOR, MAY I ASK IF WE COULD DEVIATE FROM THE AGENDA FOR ONE SECOND? YES, WE HAVE ALREADY.
ALRIGHT, CAN WE JUST HOLD FOR ONE SECOND? I JUST WANTED TO, UM, YEAH, I, I APOLOGIZE.
I AM GETTING READY TO, UH, RUN AWAY,
I HAD A, A MEDICAL SITUATION I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF TODAY.
AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOU ALL.
UM, AND WE, IF YOU ALL CAN COME BACK TO THIS ITEM IN JUST A SECOND, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOU ALL AND THANK THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
UH, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE TODAY WILL BE MY LAST MEETING.
AND I HATE TO INTERRUPT YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS, BUT I, I DID HAVE TO, UM, HAVE A MEDICAL SITUATION, BUT I'M, UH, JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THE CITY HAS GIVEN ME, UH, TO SERVE AS CITY ATTORNEY AND, UH, JUST, UH, EXTEND MY, UH, THANK YOU.
AND I DIDN'T WANNA INTERRUPT YOUR CONVERSATION.
I, IT'S MY LAST INTERRUPTION OF ALL WONDER YEARS.
I WAS WONDERING, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU SAID 1230.
YEAH, I, YOU HAVE TO BE AT THE DOCTOR.
NO, I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING YOU.
NO, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S OKAY.
BUT WHAT I LIKE TO DO, AND IF HE, I DON'T KNOW, MEMBERS HERE, IF YOU HAVE SOME REMARKS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, GO RIGHT HERE.
AND LET'S START WITH COUNCILMAN LEWIS.
YOU HAVE ANY? AND WE JUST COME WORK, WORK OUT.
WE'LL DO IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
ONE OF THE THINGS, UH, THAT WAS A VACANCY IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND HE WAS CONSTANTLY GOING OUTSIDE.
AND I STAYED ON HIM ABOUT PHIL.
I MET HIM IN THE HALLWAY ON THE FOURTH, ON THE FOURTH FLOOR.
I SAID, CITY ATTORNEY, FILL THAT VACANCY.
WELL, THE COUNCIL'S NOT GOING TO APPROVE IT.
WELL, HE WENT AHEAD AND I SAID, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, I'LL HANDLE THAT END OF IT.
OKAY, BUT I WANT YOU TO, HE FILLED THE VACANCY AND GUESS WHO THEY HIRED? SHE GOT THE JOB.
NOW SHE KEEP CREATING ANOTHER VACANCY.
WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO THE CITY IN ALL OF YOUR SHYNESS.
WHEN SHE NEEDS TO SPEAK UP, SHE STILL SPEAKS UP.
EVEN IF SHE HAVE TO CATCH YOU IN THE HALLWAY AFTER THE FACT, SHE'LL STILL SPEAK UP.
SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US AS A COUNCIL AND TAKING MY PHONE CALLS, EVEN IF IT WAS ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
AND I WISH YOU THE BEST IN ALL OF YOUR ENDEAVORS.
UH, COUNCILMAN BECKER, I KNOW WE HAVEN'T WORKED TOGETHER FOR VERY LONG, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE TIMES THAT YOU'VE BEEN ACCESSIBLE AND AVAILABLE.
AND, UH, EVEN ON LAST MINUTE'S NOTICE WHEN WE CALL AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO HAVE A MEETING.
UM, AND BEFORE WE WORKED TOGETHER, IN MY CAPACITY ON CITY COUNCIL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING A SPONSOR FOR INTERNS FROM THE PARALEGAL PROGRAM AT LAMAR STATE COLLEGE.
MR. TRAN WAS ONE OF MY INTERNS.
UH, AND THEN LAST SEMESTER WE HAD, UH, MR. SMITH WAS AN INTERN, SO I APPRECIATE, UH, YOU HELPING THOSE INTERNS OUT AND KIND OF GETTING THEM A GOOD START IN THE, IN THE LEGAL FIELD.
SO GOOD LUCK, GODSPEED, AND, UH, GOOD HEALTH, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.
WELL,
UNLESS YOU GO EXCEPTIONALLY BEYOND DUTY, THEN I DON'T MIND.
BUT ONE THING YOU HAVE BEEN IS ACCESSIBLE AS A ATTORNEY, I SAID, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME VERY INTERESTING MEETINGS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOWED ME SOME THINGS WHEN I GO IN AND I ASK YOU, AND I WANT TO SAY WHY.
YOU KNOW HOW IT WAS YOU BRING OUT THE BLACK AND WHITE, AND WHEN YOU GIVE IT TO ME, I SAID, OKAY.
[02:45:01]
AND WE WERE DONE.SO I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM, UH, WORKING WITH YOU.
AND I ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU, AND THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, TO SAY WE AIN'T DISAGREED.
BUT ONE THING ABOUT IT, WE WAS PROFESSIONAL ENOUGH FOR ONE OF US TO UNDERSTAND THE OTHER ONE HAD SOMETHING IN WRITING, SO IT WAS USELESS FOR THE OTHER ONE TO ARGUE.
AND I RESPECT THAT ABOUT YOU AND I, AND I WISH YOU WELL.
WHATEVER YOU DO IN THE FUTURE.
UH, WELL, UH, WE'RE CLASSMATES.
UH, YOU PULLED OUT A PICTURE TWO YEARS AGO WITH US
WE'RE IN THE, I THINK WE WERE THREE.
UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN KNOWING YOU A VERY LONG TIME, VAL, AND I'M STRONG HEAD.
AND, AND THE THING THAT YOU, UH, AND I HAVE TO ADMIT, JUST WHAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE STATED EARLIER, YOU WON A QUICK OUT.
YOU WERE VERY QUICK TO PUT, UH, BRING OUT THE BLACK AND WHITE, UH, ON COUNCIL MEMBERS AND EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT IF WE'RE JUST GOING BEYOND, BEYOND OUR, UH, SPECTRUM.
UH, VAL, I KNOW YOU GOT SOME BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS, UH, COMING TO YOU.
UH, I'M GONNA ALWAYS ROUGH 87, JUST LIKE YOU ARE,
AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THE TIMES THAT WE'VE HAD THE TIME TO, UH, COMMUNICATE AND DISCUSS MATTERS OF THE CITY.
AND, AND I HOPE YOU, YOU KNOW, I WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR ENDEAVORS.
COUNCILMAN, UH, FRANK BARRISTER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM.
THANK YOU FOR BREAKING ME IN, UH, TO THIS MUNICIPAL, UH, GOVERNMENT, UH, AND HELPING ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I DID NOT UNDERSTAND.
ON A ANOTHER LEVEL, YOU KNOW THAT I KNEW YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER BECAUSE THEY WERE PARISHIONERS AT NEW HOPE CHURCH.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TO YOU AND RODNEY, COME ON HOME,
SO, UH, SO NOW THAT YOU ARE, UH, AWAY FROM COUNCIL, YOU CAN DO THAT.
CITY MANAGER, IT'S OFTEN SAID THAT NO ONE IS AN ISLAND V.
AND, UM, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS AS EVEN WHEN I WAS, UM, UM, DIRECTOR OR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PLANNING, UM, BECAUSE YOU BRED THE KNOWLEDGE TO THE TABLE THAT WAS NEEDED, YOU KNOW, AND EVEN MORE SO AS CITY MANAGER TO, TO, TO SERVE AS A GUIDE AND A, A COMPASS, YOU KNOW, THAT THE, THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE HERE AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING CANNOT BE JUDGED OR CHALLENGED.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE CHALLENGED IN COURT SINCE I'VE BEEN CITY MANAGER, YOU KNOW, ON THE ITEMS THAT CAME THROUGH THE AGENDA, AND YOUR OFFICE AND THE TEAM THAT YOU LED CONTINUOUSLY PROVIDED TRANSPARENCY AND AVAILABILITY TO ALL OF STAFF.
ALL OF OUR STAFF, THEY, I, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE WHERE WE CAN JUST WALK IN FROM ANY DEPARTMENT AND SAY, WE HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK.
AND THE CITY ATTORNEY MAKES HERSELF AND STAFF AVAILABLE TO US, YOU KNOW? SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THE AVAILABILITY, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.
THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING PART OF A TEAM WITH US.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE ON CERTAIN THINGS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE NATURE OF LIFE, YOU KNOW.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER, SOLIDIFYING THE TEAM FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY.
AND AS I'VE ALWAYS SAID, AS WE HAVE ALWAYS SAID, IT'S NOT ABOUT US, ABOUT ME, ABOUT YOU.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT THE CITY.
IT'S ABOUT THE CITY THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS.
THANK YOU FOR AIDING DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
YOU WERE PART OF THAT TEAM, YOU KNOW.
THANK YOU, UM, MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO SAY ONE LAST THING.
I, I WANNA SEE IF THE CITY SECRETARY OH YEAH.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS WITHOUT CRYING
WE, WE BOTH, WE BOTH ENTERED OUR POSITIONS AS A MATTER OF FACT THAT THEY APPOINTED US BEFORE THEY ASK US.
SO WE'VE KIND OF BEEN IN THE SAME BOAT ALL THESE YEARS.
I COULD NOT HAVE BECOME THE PERSON I AM WITHOUT YOU.
I DON'T INTEND TO BE WITHOUT YOU NOW, BUT I'LL TRY NOT TO BOTHER YOU TOO MUCH.
I JUST APPRECIATE YOU TEACHING ME EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE AND OPENING MY MIND TO THE THINGS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, NOW YOU SAID GO RIGHT AHEAD.
I JUST WANTED TO NOT, NOT LEAVE WITHOUT THANKING THE STAFF.
I REALLY, I WANT TO THANK EVERY
[02:50:01]
EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY, OF PORT ARTHUR.I KNOW I GOT ON YOUR NERVES, BUT I DID IT BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TOOK CARE OF PORT ARTHUR, UM, BEFORE I, WELL, LET ME JUST SAY, I HAD A FRIEND THAT I GREW UP WITH, ANOTHER 87 PERSON, IF Y'ALL KNOW ABOUT PORT ARTHUR.
I LEAVE HER NAME OFF AND SHE WROTE AN ARTICLE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWS IN THE FIFTH GRADE CALLED, WHY I LOVE PORT ARTHUR, AND SHE'S GONNA KILL ME, BUT HER NAME IS DERA LAVALLE
AND SHE WROTE A ARTICLE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWS ABOUT WHY I LOVE PORT ARTHUR.
AND IT WAS LIKE A LITTLE KID, UH, SAYING ALL THESE GREAT THINGS.
AND SO WE FIND THE ARTICLE YEARS LATER, AND SHE WAS LIKE, I SAID ALL THAT, I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER IT, BUT I THINK, LIKE THEY SAY, OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES OR JEWELS, AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHY WE ARE HERE.
WE HAD STATIONARY, AND I HOPE WE PUT IT BACK ON THE STATIONERY THAT SAYS, REMEMBER, WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND NO MATTER WHAT OUR PERSPECTIVE IS, I HAVE CERTAIN GOALS AS AN ATTORNEY.
DEPARTMENTS HAVE CERTAIN GOALS, COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE CERTAIN GOALS.
REMEMBER, WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND REMEMBER WHY WE LOVE PORT ARTHUR.
PORT ARTHUR'S A WONDERFUL PLACE NO MATTER WHAT ANYBODY SAYS, YOU CAN GO TO.
I WENT TO COLLEGE IN DC AND I HAD A PORT ARTHUR MINGLE, UH, THING ON THE BACK OF MY CAR WHERE I BOUGHT THEM.
EVERYWHERE YOU GO, PEOPLE ARE VERY PLEASED AND HAPPY, AND THEY LOVE OUR PERSONALITY.
AND WE ALWAYS HAVE TO REMEMBER WHY WE LOVE PORT ARTHUR AND WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AND IT JUST, WE CONTINUE WITH THAT LOVE OF OUR CITY AND, UH, WHY WE ARE HERE TO SERVE.
WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, BUT LET'S ALWAYS GIVE EACH OTHER GRACE AND WORK TO SHOW THAT LOVE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO LEAVE AND ASK, UH, THANK MY STAFF.
UH, GWEN THIBODAUX, WE TRAN, DEANDRE MOORE, JOSEPH SANDERS, SHERRY VIAL, TORIA ROTI, FRANCISCO REIS, RERA, I HOPE I PRONOUNCE FRANCISCO'S NAME RIGHT.
I PR I PRACTICED IT ALL NIGHT.
AND, UM, IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE, TORIA ROTI, SHE'S HERE IN THE BACK.
AND, UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK, WE'RE JUST A SMALL GROUP OF SEVEN OR EIGHT NOW AND, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST, WE JUST ASK THAT, UM, WE CONTINUE TO DO GOOD WORK FOR PORT ARTHUR.
AND, UH, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
AND WHAT I'LL DO IS, AS MAYOR CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TAKE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE AND WE'RE GOING TO INVITE YOU BACK IN APRIL.
AND I, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING NEW? YEAH.
YOU HAD YOUR SISTERS FROM DELTA SIGMA, THE CAME ON THIS MORNING.
THEY PRESENTED YOU WITH SOME ROSES BECAUSE OF YOU, YOU WERE NOT, NOT, DIDN'T WANNA DO IT FORMALLY, BUT YOUR LINK SISTERS I'VE SPOKEN WITH, AND WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING FOR YOU WHEN YOU HAVE TIME IN APRIL.
SO CITY AND, AND EMPLOYEES, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.
UH, WE GOTTA GO NEXT WEEK AND OPEN UP JUDI'S NEW PLACE.
AND WE HAVE SOME OTHER, UH, OTHER THINGS TO DO.
BUT WE WILL HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE ATTORNEY AND THE RECEPTION FORM ON A DAY OF COUNCIL IN A HOPEFULLY, UH, IN, IN THE MONTH OF APRIL.
OR, UH, THIS IS WHAT I DISCUSSED WITH THESE LADIES ON YESTERDAY.
YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU.
SO I'LL SAVE MY REMARKS FOR THAT DAY.
WHY GUESS WE GIVE YOU AND SHERRY
UH, HE WAS HERE EARLIER, MR. BLACK, UH, ATTORNEY BLACK.
AND, UH, HE ALSO HAD, UH, AN APPOINTMENT THAT HE NEEDED TO BE TO, AND I THINK HE, HE WAS GOING TO HOUSTON, SO HE REALLY HAD TO GO.
UH, UH, AND SO, UH, WE HAVE JOSEPH, UH, UH, SANDERS, WHO'S, WHO IS GOING TO SIT TODAY AND, AND, UH, IF WE HAVE IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO COURT TODAY, DO YOU? I HOPE NOT.
WHAT WE'LL DO NOW, MR. DOUCETTE, WE ARE BACK TO, TO WHAT, WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, UH, WHAT, WHERE WE WERE WITH, UH, E CAMERAS.
UH, I THINK, UH, I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID.
UH, WE NEED TO GET BACK THOUGH, WITH THE COMMITTEE, FIND OUT IF WE'RE GONNA KEEP 'EM, UH, SANCTIONED AND IF SANCTIONED, THEN WE NEED TO TRY TO, UH, HAVE THEM TO MEET AND GIVE US SOME TYPE OF IDEA.
I DON'T, I DON'T GET INTO WHY A PERSON OUT THERE 'CAUSE SOME OUT THERE FOR THEIR OWN REASON.
THEY'RE GONNA BE THERE SOME OUT THERE.
'CAUSE THEY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
[02:55:01]
THE FACT IS THEY'RE OUT THERE AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT 'EM.THEY'RE OUT THERE AND THEY KEEPING THE PLACE MESSY.
SO WE NEED TO MAYBE LOOK AT PUTTING A COMMERCIAL CONTAINER CONTAINER.
I WAS, I WAS LOOKING AT, UH, OUR, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, BUT I DON'T KNOW, CITY MANAGER.
UH, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WE CAN, BECAUSE WE DID DO IT AT THE NINTH AVENUE.
I KNOW WE USED, CALL IT HOWARDS RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE.
NOW, EVEN WHEN THEY HAD THE FREEZE OF, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HAVING SUMMERTIME WEATHER THE LAST WEEK, BUT FREEZE A FEW WEEKS AGO.
AND I WENT OUT ON, UH, OFF OF JIMMY JOHNSON, YOU KNOW, BY THE HOSPITAL OUT THERE.
AND THAT DOOR, I CAN'T THINK OF THE PROPERTY NAME OF THE STREET.
AND THEY WERE GIVEN THE HEATING STATIONS, THEY WERE GIVEN INFORMATION AS TO WHERE TO GO.
AND, AND THEY WERE STILL OUT THERE IN, WHEN I, UH, UH, THE, THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE TEMPERATURE WAS THAT THEY, THEY PREPARED FOR IT.
AND, AND, AND JUST, I GUESS JUST AS COMFORTABLE AS WE ARE IN OUR PLACES OF A BOARD.
SO, UH, I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IT TAKES OR WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE, BUT BECAUSE OF THAT, WHATEVER, UH, WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT SANITARY.
AND I'M LOOKING AT OUR, OUR HEALTH DIRECTOR AGAIN, BECAUSE WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN, IN THESE OTHER SITUATIONS THAT I'VE GONE TO MEETINGS, THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO BE SURE OF THE, THE, THE SANITATION THERE.
HAVING SOMEWHERE FOR THEM TO RELIEVE, UH, UH, RELIEVE THEMSELVES.
UH, AND THEN IF THEY LEAVE THE ENCAMPMENT, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD PUT YOUR, YOUR, YOUR PERSONNEL IN SOME TYPE OF HARM'S WAY, OR, OR MS. MS. SMITH.
BUT WE MAYBE WE COULD ALL WORK TOGETHER CITY MANAGER WITH, AND, AND, AND ALSO WITH, UH, WITH PUBLIC WORKS, I GUESS FOR THE, UH, THE SANITATION OUT THERE.
THE CLEANLINESS, THAT'S WHAT WE MEAN OF THE, UH, AND WHAT YOU FIND OUT, I FOUND OUT THIS ALSO, IF, IF THERE IS AN ENCAMPMENT, THEY HAVE A PRESIDENT OUT THERE, THERE'S A LEADER RIGHT IN THE ENCAMPMENTS.
OKAY, WE HAVE, BUT YOU KNOW, WE GOING HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD SOCIAL WORKER TO GO INTO THE ENCAMPMENT FOR US, FIND OUT WHO IS THE LEADER AT THAT PARTICULAR ONE, AND IF THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.
BECAUSE THERE, THERE ARE TWO ORGANIZED ONES, I THINK AT THE INNER CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND THE OTHER ONE IS RIGHT, RIGHT THERE NEAR, UH, BOB HOPE SCHOOL SOMEWHERE.
AND, BUT YOU HAVE TO GO IN AND FIND OUT, BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE.
AND SO YOU HAVE TO GO IN AND, AND IF I HADN'T GONE TO THESE LITTLE MEETINGS FOR THIS TRAINING, I WOULDN'T KNOW IT Y'ALL, BUT THEY HAVE A PRESIDENT, A PERSON WHO ACTUALLY, THAT THEY ALL LOOK UP TO.
THEY, I MEAN, THEY, MY GOING BEING THE MAYOR, PORT ARTHUR, THEY DON'T, EVEN IF THEY, IF, IF THEY KNOW IT AT SCHOOL, THEY MIGHT NOT.
BUT I'M NOT THE MAYOR OF THEIR ENCAMPMENT.
I'M NOT THE LEADER IN THEIR ENCAMPMENT.
SO WE HAVE TO RESPECT THEIR HIERARCHY IN THOSE LITTLE, UH, AREAS AND MAYBE WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN, UH, ENFORCE, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE THE PERSON TO ENFORCE THE CLEANLINESS.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS.
AND SO WE, WE, WE'LL, WE'LL WORK ON THAT.
AND THAT'S THE APPROACH THAT I HAVE THAT I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO US.
AND I'D EVEN ASKED, UH, OR, WELL, MAYOR POIN WAS ALREADY DOING A THING WITH THE YOUTH, BUT SHE HAD SOME KNOWLEDGE ON THAT.
IF THERE EVER BE SOMEONE AT, AT WHO COULD GO IN, BECAUSE IT'S A WHOLE NEW APPROACH TO THIS THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU WOULDN'T EVEN THINK OF.
UH, I SAW THE LIGHTS ON Y'ALL HAT.
THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS THIS IS A, THIS IS A GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND AS WE'VE ATTENDED, UM, THE, THE CLASSES AND THE TEACHINGS ABOUT THESE THINGS, THERE, THERE'RE CITIES THAT ARE TRYING TO DO SO MANY THINGS, TINY HOMES.
UM, BUT THE BIG THING ABOUT THIS IS, IS THAT INDIVIDUALS, UM, IN THESE ENCAMPMENTS, UH, TO TRY TO TAKE THEM OUT OF THOSE ENCAMPMENTS, IT TAKES RESOURCES LIKE SERVICES AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES, RIGHT? THOSE, THOSE KINDS OF WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
AND SO IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, UH, ALL OVER OUR COUNTRY, UH, AND, AND IN OUR NATION.
AND SO, UM, IT, IT HAS TO BE THAT KIND OF EFFORT, UH, THAT IS COORDINATED.
LEMME SEE, UH, ON THIS, OH, UH, COUNCILMAN BECKER, CAN WE GET A DEFINITIVE ANSWER THAT
[03:00:01]
THE HOMELESS COALITION IS GOING TO BE REESTABLISHED? OKAY.I THINK I'VE GIVEN THAT BEFORE.
I'VE GIVEN THAT WELL, IT, IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU WANT TO DATE? I CAN'T SAY IT'S GONNA HAPPEN TOMORROW.
AND I THINK I JUST, I JUST EXPLAINED THAT IT, IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
I HAVE IN MY MIND A CONCEPT THAT WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE OF TRYING TO GATHER THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
'CAUSE JUST TO HAVE A MEETING WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND TO SAY WE GONNA BRING 'EM SOME SANDWICHES OR GET SOMEBODY TO BRING SOME SANDWICHES AND BLANKETS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THESE SERVICES THAT WE NEED.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO MEET.
I MEAN, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A GAME PLAN AND DO SOME BRAINSTORMING AND NOT TRY TO PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE AND GET YOUR PLAN AND THEN PUT THE COMMITTEE TOGETHER.
I MEAN, THIS HAS BEEN, I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IT SINCE I GOT ON COUNCIL IN JULY, AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE WERE ASKING FOR IT BEFORE I GOT ON COUNCIL.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, OVER A YEAR THAT THIS COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET.
SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MEET SOON.
AND THEN MY, MY OTHER, MY OTHER COMMENT IS THAT, UM, AND, AND I'VE EXPLAINED THIS TO PEOPLE IN EMAILS AND ON PHONE CALLS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT I'D LIKE TO DO IT NOW IN AN OPEN MEETING AS FAR AS HOW WE MOVE THEM FROM A PIECE OF PROPERTY BECAUSE IT IS A PROCESS.
UH, FIRST WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHO THE PROPERTY OWNER IS, AND I'VE DONE THAT IN DISTRICT THREE FOR ALL OF THE ENCAMPMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD.
AND WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE THAT'S MOVED FROM ONE SPOT TO ANOTHER.
AND NOW WE FOUND THAT OWNER AND SHE'S WORKING WITH US.
SO WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHO THE, THE PROPERTY OWNER IS, AND THEN WE HAVE TO GET WITH THAT PROPERTY OWNER AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT'S GOING ON AND GET THEM TO AGREE WITH US THAT THEY WILL WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CODE ENFORCEMENT TO GIVE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE A CRIMINAL TRESPASS WARNING.
SO THAT'S STEP ONE IS FINDING THE OWNER.
STEP TWO IS GETTING THEM TO COOPERATE.
AND SO FAR, WITH THE ENCAMPMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD IN DISTRICT THREE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
THEN IF THEY ARE WARNED AND THEY DON'T LEAVE WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, THEN LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN GO BACK OUT THERE AND FORCE THEM TO LEAVE.
AND IF THEY DON'T, THEY ARE SUBJECT TO BEING ARRESTED.
NOW THE ENCAMPMENT THAT IS CURRENTLY NEAR THE MEDICAL CENTER IS DISTRICT FOUR, BUT I HAD SO MANY CALLS ABOUT IT THAT I DID SOME LEGWORK AND I FOUND OUT FINALLY WHO THE OWNER OF THAT PROPERTY IS.
WE WENT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN, IS IT THE CITY? IS IT DD SEVEN? DD SEVEN HAS AN EASEMENT, IT'S IT A, A PRIVATE OWNER OUTTA SUGAR LAND? WELL, NO, IT'S THE STEWARD HOSPITAL CORPORATION THAT OWNS THAT PROPERTY.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET THEM TO AGREE TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO, TO CLEAR OUT THAT THAT PROPERTY, NOW WHAT'S ALONG THE DITCH THAT YOU CAN SEE IS ONE THING, BUT THEY'RE ALSO FURTHER BACK IN THE WOODS GOING BACK TOWARDS THE, UH, BON V UH, NURSING REHABILITATION, WHAT, WHATEVER THAT PLACE IS.
SO IT'S NOT JUST WHAT'S ALONG THE DITCH THAT WE CAN SEE WHERE ALL THE TRASH IS.
BUT THERE'S A, SOME OTHER ENCAMPMENT LOCATED ON THAT SAME PROPERTY CLOSER TO THE, TO THE NURSING HOME.
YEAH, ABOUT THE HOMELESS AND THE ELDERLY.
UM, WHEN I WAS FIRST CAME ON THE COUNCIL, $300,000 COUNCIL PUT INTO THROUGH THE CDBG PROGRAM, FEEDING THEM, SHELTERING THEM, UH, STILL HERE.
AND THAT WAS 20 YEARS, 20 PLUS YEARS AGO.
UH, YOU CAN, ALL WE CAN DO IS JUST GO WHERE THEY AT, FIND THEM, FEED THEM, CLO THEM WHEN THE WEATHER GETS BAD, INCLEMENT WEATHER, GIVE 'EM A COAT, GIVE 'EM A HOT MEAL, GIVE 'EM AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A SHOWER, BRING 'EM SOME ADDITIONAL CLOTHES.
ORGANIZATION, CHURCH ORGANIZATION, PRIVATE ORGANIZATION.
AND ANOTHER THING THAT WE CAN, WE NOW THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY ADDRESS, DROPPING THESE SURROUNDING CITIES, THEY HAVE BEEN DROPPING THEM OFF, ESPECIALLY WITH AT, AT THAT OLD HOUSE OF PARKING LOT.
THEY WOULD DROP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, DROPPING THEM OFF FROM THE SURROUNDING CITIES, GIVING THEM $50.
THEY GO INTO THE MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT, THEY'LL DROP 'EM OVER THERE AND NEVER COME BACK AND GET 'EM.
AND THEY JUST CONSTANTLY ADDING TO OUR, UH, POPULATION OF THE HOMELESS.
BUT SURROUNDING CITIES ARE NOT DOING WHAT THEY SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
THEY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEIR HOMELESS, DO WHAT THEY CAN FOR THEM, COME YOU DROP 'EM AT THE MEDICAL CENTER, COME BACK AND GET 'EM.
AND YOU KNOW HOW I KNOW THIS, THE PEOPLE THAT'S BEEN SERVING, SERVING THE CHIEF POLICE, HAVE BEEN SERVING THESE PEOPLE AND HELPING THEM.
THEY WILL TELL YOU WHERE THEY FROM AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT THE PORT, NOT THE PORT ARTHUR POLICE, BUT THE SURROUNDING POLICE DEPARTMENT DROPS 'EM OFF AND GIVE THEM 50 BUCKS.
THAT'S NOT A WAY TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR POOR AND YOUR ELDERLY.
THEY'RE GONNA ALWAYS BE HERE WITH US.
[03:05:01]
ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE IS JUST THEIR FACES AS THEY ROTATE OR TRANSITION FROM OUT OF LIFE ONTO HEAVEN AND OTHER PLACES, THEY'RE GONNA BE REPLACED.THEY GONNA CONSTANTLY BE REPLACED.
AND NEVER, WE GOING TO ALWAYS HAVE THE HO THE THE ELDERLY AND THE, AND THE POOR.
I FIRST WANT TO STATE THAT ALL WHO WONDER ARE NOT LOST, ALL WHO WONDER ARE NOT LOST.
BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE WONDERING AND ARE LOST AND ARE LOOKING FOR SERVICES, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO GO TO THE PORT CITY'S RESCUE MISSION.
AND THE ADDRESS IS 6 0 3 FIFTH STREET HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, 6 0 3 FIFTH STREET.
OFTEN THE QUESTION IS ASKED, I SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS AND I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL 'EM.
I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO GIVE THEM, OR I DON'T KEEP, SOME OF US KEEP BLANKETS, UNDERWEAR, SOCKS IN THE TRUNK OF OUR CAR TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO 'EM.
THAT'S NOT EVERYBODY'S WALK AND THAT'S OKAY.
BUT PLEASE PROVIDE ADEQUATE AND EFFICIENT, BE EFFICIENT IN PROVIDING THE ADEQUATE, UM, INFORMATION TO THEM.
6 0 3 FIFTH STREET IS PORT CITY'S RESCUE MISSION.
THEY'RE AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION, BUT PLEASE CALL (409) 250-0481.
AND IF YOU DON'T GET AN ANSWER, SEND A TEXT MESSAGE.
ANOTHER NUMBER IS 4 0 9 304 1 2 8.
I'LL STATE THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN.
4 0 9 2 5 0 0 4 8 1 AND 4 0 9 304 1 2 8.
I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT YOU APPROACH THOSE THAT, THAT YOU BELIEVE ARE HOMELESS FOR THE SAFETY OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW THE SITUATION SOMETIMES.
BUT EVERYONE WHO, SEVERAL OF US ARE ONE PAYCHECK AWAY, TWO PAY PERIODS AWAY FROM BEING HOMELESS.
SO PLEASE DON'T PASS JUDGMENT, OFFER GRACE, OFFER MERCY.
HOWEVER, WHEN YOU DO BRING BLANKETS, FOOD, DRINKS OUT TO THE DIFFERENT ENCAMPMENTS, THEN WE ARE ALSO ENABLING THEM IN THOSE ENVIRONMENTS.
SO I ASK THAT YOU MAKE AN OFFER TO GET THEM 2 6 0 3 FIFTH STREET FOR PORT CITY'S RESCUE MISSION.
HOWEVER, AGAIN, I'M NOT TELLING YOU NOT TO BRING THOSE, I THOSE NEEDED ITEMS, UM, TO THOSE ENCAMPMENTS.
BUT WE, MY PERSONAL OPINION OF RESTING PEOPLE IS NOT GONNA CHANGE THE SITUATION.
THEY'RE GONNA MOVE TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
SO WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE ARE SMART ENOUGH TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS OTHER CITIES ARE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES TO CREATE COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORT OUR HOMELESS POPULATIONS.
PLEASE, PLEASE OFFER GRACE AND MERCY IN THESE SITUATIONS AND OFFER THESE RESOURCES.
OKAY? AND I DON'T SEE ANY MORE LIGHTS.
NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER ITEM AND I, I OVERLOOKED IT.
UH, NUMBER THREE AS A DISCUSSION REGARDING AMBULATORY CONTRACT SERVICES IN PORT ARTHUR.
THIS WAS, EXCUSE ME, THIS WAS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW.
UH, WE, I WE HAD A LENGTHY, UH, DISCUSSION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ABOUT SOME OF THE, UH, DUES AND DON'TS AND, UH, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
SO, UH, THE ONLY THING I HAVE IS HAVE WE, UM, AND THIS QUESTION IS FOR THE MANAGER OR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
UH, HAVE WE EVER HAVE YOU GOTTEN INFORMATION FROM THE FIRE CHIEF FOR THE PENALTIES AND, UM, FINES, LIQUID DAMAGES? SO BEFORE I JUST ASK TO TAKE THIS OFF, I UNDERSTAND THE FIRE CHIEF HAS SOME DOCUMENTATION FOR ME CONCERNING THE ASSESSMENT OF, UH, LIQUIDATED DAMAGES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE TIMES.
WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER MATTER, I DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE WHEN, WHAT OR WHO INFORMATION HAS AT THIS TIME.
CITY MANAGER, UH, COULD YOU JUST CHIME IN AND WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED FROM HIM? SO WE CAN JUST GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
'CAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO PULL THIS BECAUSE OF THE LENGTHY DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD IN EXECUTIVE, BUT I JUST DON'T WANNA BE, I WANNA BE TRANSPARENT
[03:10:01]
AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, IF HE HAS THAT INFORMATION WITH HIM AND YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE IT, I MEAN, WHERE WE AT WITH TRYING TO GET IT INTO YOUR HAND SO WE CAN FILE WHATEVER WE NEED TO FILE AS A, A COLLECTIVE CITY.THE, THE, THE, UM, THE FIRE CHIEF HAS PROVIDED US WITH THE INFORMATION THAT HE HAD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE'LL CONTINUE TO, UM, WORK WITH THE, UM, LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION AND UM, TO RECOMMEND WHATEVER, UM, WHETHER WE NEED TO PURSUE LEGAL ACTION OR NOT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S AT THE POINT AT WHICH WE ARE WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, UM, RIGHT NOW.
OKAY, SO I NEED TO PUT THIS BACK SO IT'S SO IT'S NOT TOO CONFUSE.
YEAH, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
I MEAN, YOU SAY YOU DON'T HAVE IT THEN THE WITH IT WASN'T PROVIDED LAST COUNSEL MEETING.
I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT THE FIRE CHIEF HAS ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT DR.
SPECIFICALLY INFORMATION THAT HAS TO DO WITH NON-EMERGENCY TRANSFERS WOULD NOT BE READILY AVAILABLE TO HIM.
AND AS A RESULT, WHILE HE MAY HAVE SOME RAW STATISTICS ON THAT, HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON HIS SPECIFIC DATES.
AND THAT, WHEN THAT IS THE INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE CRUCIAL TO FURTHER CONSIDERATION BY THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WITH RESPECT TO THOSE MATTERS THAT WERE EMERGENCY TRANSPORTS THAT THE, UM, AMBULANCE PROVIDERS HAVE GIVEN TO THE FIRE CHIEF.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT HE'S PREPARED SOME DOCUMENTATION PRESENTLY THAT I'VE NOT SEEN TODAY, BUT IS, IS FROM MY REVIEW AND THE CITY MANAGERS.
AS LONG AS YOU, YOU GET THAT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.
UH, I GUESS AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA ASK THIS, THIS ITEM BE, UH, I'M NOT GONNA HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, MAYOR, ON THIS ITEM.
[V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
ALRIGHT.WHAT WE'LL DO, WE'LL MOVE TO TWO OUR REPORTS WERE, EXCUSE ME, ROOM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH SHOULD BE REPORTS OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS.
UH, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY REPORT OF, UH, COMMUNITY INTEREST? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES.
UH, PULL YOUR MIC DOWN THE BIT.
UH, WHAT I HAVE HERE IS, UM, I WANT TO THANK THE WATER AND THE SEWAGE DEPARTMENT.
I CAN'T JUST TALK ABOUT THE WATER DEPARTMENT WITHOUT THE SEWER.
THEY'RE TIED TOGETHER, TIED TOGETHER.
BUT RIGHT NOW I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SOME PEOPLE WITHIN THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND THE METER SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
ROCHELLE ROB MITCHELL, METER SUPERVISOR, TOPHER MARTIN, ACTING METER SUPER SUPERVISOR, UH, METER MEDIA TECHNICIAN.
PHILLIP TATE, STEVE STEPHANIE, UH, WALKER, JORDAN, PAUL TONE, GOOD OLD CAMERON WILLIAMS, BYRON WHEATON, OAC, WASHINGTON, ANTHONY HORTON, AND SOMEBODY NAMED JAM.
NOW THE WATER AND THE SEWAGE DEPARTMENT IS LIKE THE ARMY.
IT DOESN'T RAIN IN THE WATER AND SEWAGE DEPARTMENT, IT RAINS ON THEM.
THEY ARE THERE CONSTANTLY AROUND THE CLOCK.
THEY ARE THERE PROVIDING A SERVICE.
SO WE, WE OWE THESE PEOPLE A DEBT OF THANKS.
I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU AT SOME POINT IN TIME TO FIND SOMEONE TO DESIGN A LOGO THAT PEOPLE THE PUBLIC CAN LOOK AT AND THINK ABOUT THE WATER AND THE SEWAGE DEPARTMENT.
THEY ARE 24 7 AROUND THE CLOCK.
IT RAINS ON THE WATER AND SEWAGE DEPARTMENT.
IT DOESN'T RAIN IN THE WATER AND SEWAGE DEPARTMENT.
SO I'M GONNA PUT IT UP TO YOU, CITY MANAGER, COME UP WITH A LOGO FOR THEM AND GIVE SOMEBODY A REWARD OR DINNER FOR DESIGNING IT.
OKAY? UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES.
I SIMPLY WANNA REMIND US AND, UH, AS A COUNCIL AND AS A CITY TO COME OUT AND SHARE.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH BUILDING ON FRIDAY AT 10 O'CLOCK.
UH, WE'RE GONNA BE THERE ONE, ONE O'CLOCK.
JUDY, HE'S GETTING THERE EARLY, BUT AT ONE O'CLOCK, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE THERE CUTTING THE RIBBON AND, UH, AND PREPARING TO, UH, SERVE THE CITY.
AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
OUR NEW PUBLIC HEALTH BUILDING ON NINTH AVENUE HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND IF THERE'D BE ANY OTHERS, UH, IT'S VOTING SEASON.
AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ALL PORT ARTHURS, UH, TO GO AND CAST YOUR BALLOT IN THE PRIMARY, UH, UH, SUPER TUESDAY IS MARCH 5TH, NEXT TUESDAY.
HOWEVER, VOTING, UH, LOCATIONS, I THINK AT THE COURTHOUSE HERE AND AT THE, UH, PUBLIC LIBRARY ARE OPEN.
[03:15:01]
UH, AND IF I'M, IF I READ IT CORRECTLY THIS WEEK, THEY OPEN FROM 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM UH, SO YOU HAVE UNTIL SEVEN O'CLOCK TODAY AND REMAIN, UH, UNTIL FRIDAY.BUT BE FRIDAY IS THE FINAL DAY OF EARLY VOTING.
BUT PLEASE, THOSE WHO ARE IN PORT ARTHUR, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, UH, ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TO VOTE.
UH, THE NUMBERS WERE LOW FOR PORT ARTHUR VOTE IN, IN, IN, IN TEXAS.
YOU EITHER VOTE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY OR THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, BUT IT WOULD NOT, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHICH PRIMARY SELECT YOU DO THAT, BUT YOU NEED TO GO AND PARTICIPATE AND VOTE.
IF YOU'RE A PORT AUTHOR, I'M BEGGING YOU TO GO OUT AND VOTE IN THIS PRIMARY.
NOPE, THAT VOTING IS WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YEAH, I FORGOT TO MENTION ONE, UH, UH, RHONDA STANSBERRY BURY ONE OF THE METER TECHNICIANS.
BUT YOU CAN SAY, HUH? I SAID SHE, SHE'S A, SHE'S A DEAD PERSON BACK THERE.
UH, AND WHAT, WHAT I LIKE TO DO ON THAT, UH, SINCE HE BROUGHT THAT BACK, UH, CITY, CITY MANAGER.
AT SOME POINT, AND I UNDERSTAND COUNCILMAN LEWIS IS CALLING THEIR NAMES, BUT AT, AT A, AT A FUTURE MEETING, WE COULD HAVE THAT ENTIRE, UH, STAFF TO BE HERE AT THE MEETING AND WE WILL OFFER A COMMENDATION TO 'EM OR, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND THEY'LL ALL BE PRESENT.
WELL, I'LL REDO IT THE NEXT TIME I'LL DO THAT.
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]
NOW, UH, IF, AND THERE, THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER LIGHTS, WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO NOW IS MOVE TO THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH ACTUALLY THE, IT BEGINS ON THREE AND IT GOES THROUGH, I THINK, PAGE NINE.NO, NO, IT GOES THROUGH, UH, EIGHT, UH, UH, AT THE TOP OF PAGE EIGHT.
AND, AND, AND THE CONSENT AGENDA, THEY, THESE ARE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, UH, BASICALLY OF ROUTINE NATURE.
AND, UH, COUNSEL HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH INFORMATION ON THESE ITEMS WOULD BE THERE ANY ITEMS. NOW THERE IS ONE ITEM THAT, UH, WE NEED TO JUST TOTALLY REMOVE FROM THE, UH, CONSIDERATIONS.
THAT IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON PAGE FIVE.
WE'RE JUST REMOVING THAT ONE TOTALLY.
UH, SO WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THAT ONE AND ONE THAT WE'VE ALREADY, UH, APPROVED ON PAGE FOUR, UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE, ARE THERE ANY OTHER RESOLUTIONS IN JUST GIMME THE PAGE NUMBER AND THE, AND THE, UH, UH, ITEM NUMBER PLEASE? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? UH, TWO ON FOUR.
AND WHAT ELSE? AND THREE ON FOUR AND THREE.
UH, ON, ON NINE, I MEAN ON FIVE WHAT? ON WHICH ONE? NO, ON FOUR.
GIMME NUMBER SEVEN, PAGE FIVE.
BE THERE ANY OTHERS? NO, I DIDN'T.
AND NUMBER 15 ON PAGE SEVEN, PAGE SIX.
NUMBER 10, WHAT YOU SAID, RIGHT? YES.
WHAT? AND AND WHAT WAS IT? PAGE SIX, NUMBER 10.
I'M READY TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE, UH, APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF NUMBER ONE, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN PASSED.
AND NUMBER FOUR, WHICH HAS BEEN REMOVED PER THE REQUEST OF THE MANAGER.
AND WITH NOW WITH THE WITHDRAWAL FOR NUMBERS 2, 3, 10, 18 AND 1915 OR SEVEN? NO, NO.
[03:20:01]
MAY I GET A, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN LEWIS MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, MAYOR PRO TEMP.AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THOSE ITEMS. JUST, UH, RECENTLY MENTIONED.
MAY, UH, ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVING THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED WITH THE NECESSARY ECL, UH, UH, EXCLUSIONS.
MAYOR, WE ARE GOING TO REMOVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO DO A MOTION AND A SECOND TO REMOVE IT.
WE, WELL, WE'VE APPROVED THAT.
NOW LET'S DO, UH, A MOTION FOR THE REMOVAL PER REQUEST OF THE CITY MANAGER OF, UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS PR 23 5 6 5.
SO, MO, MAYOR, I GET A SECOND.
IT'S REMOVED IN SECOND THAT WE REMOVE THAT ITEM.
UH, ANY QUESTION ON IT? AND NONE.
AYE, ANY OPPOSERS? AYES HAVE IT.
SO NUMBER FOUR IS OFFICIALLY REMOVED.
ALRIGHT, NOW, UH, FOR THE WITHDRAWN ITEMS, LET'S BEGIN WITH ITEM NUMBER TWO ON PAGE FOUR, PR NUMBER 23 5 5 5 AS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, UH, SECTION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND CONSULTING AGREEMENT WITH THE SOCO GROUP, LLC OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, FOR THE PROVISION OF ON-CALL ENGINEERING RELATED CONSULT CONSULTING AND GRANT APPLICATION SUPPORT SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $25,000 FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN PA EDC.
ACCOUNT NUMBER ONE 20 DASH 80 DASH 6 25 DASH 54 20 DASH 0 0 0.
SO MOVE MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK SECOND IS REMOVED.
AND WOULD, WE WOULD ACCEPT, UH, PR NUMBER 23 5.
COUNCILMAN DUC, WHO'S GONNA ANSWER THE QUESTION FOR THE EDC? HI CRYSTAL.
HI, HOW ARE YOU? ALRIGHT, I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT ONE.
I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT ONE.
THAT SEEMED LIKE A MAGIC NUMBER, BUT MY MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IT IS WE WANT TO ISSUE A CONTRACT FOR OUR ON CALL ENGINEERING RELATED CONSULTING AND GRANT APPLICATION SUPPORT SERVICE.
YOU KNOW, THAT WHOLE TERM JUST SAYS, I JUST WANT A CONTRACT AND, YOU KNOW, IF SOMETHING COME UP, I WANT TO, I WANT TO GIVE IT TO THEM AND I'M NOT GONNA SEE $25,000.
IT, IT'S LIKE CONTRACTING SOMEBODY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE WORK FOR.
RIGHT THEN IN JA, WHY DON'T WE GO ASK FOR, FOR, UH, REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS.
MAYBE I'M BACKWARDS, SO LEMME MAKE SURE I COME RIGHT.
DID WE DO A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION? I CAN TELL YOU COUNCILMAN DUCEN ON THIS ONE, WE DID NOT DO A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS.
UM, WHAT I WILL ASK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THESE TWO PARTICULAR ITEMS, UM, THEY WERE PLACED ON YOUR AGENDA BY OUR, UM, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER STOKES.
AND UNFORTUNATELY HE COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY WITH MY LIMITED INVOLVEMENT IN THESE ITEMS. I'D LIKE TO TAKE DOWN YOUR QUESTIONS AND BRING THEM BACK TO HIM.
IF THEY ARE SUBSTANTIAL, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ALL TABLE THESE ITEMS UNTIL WE CAN GET THOSE ANSWERS FOR YOU.
OH, UH, OKAY THEN, UH, 'CAUSE I'M LOOKING AT BOTH OF THEM AND, UH, NEITHER ONE ENTAILS ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO DO BY OUR NEXT MEETING.
AND THE OTHER ONE THAT I WAS GONNA PULL, UH, IS BASICALLY THE SAME THING ABOUT SERVICE AND STUFF.
SO I, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL DO THAT.
I, I'LL REMOVE, I MEAN, I WILL TABLE IT.
NO, AND THAT WAY SHE COULD BRING IT BACK, LIKE SHE SAID.
SO, UH, I'LL JUST MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TABLE ITEM, UH, PROPOSED RESOLUTION NUMBER 2 3 5 5 5 UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING.
AND THAT WAY MR. STOKES CAN COME AND GIVE US HIS RATIONALE.
UH, JUST, WELL, WE GET A MOTION.
[03:25:01]
HE'S MAKING A MOTION AND I WAS ACCEPTING IT TO REMOVE I, I MEAN A TABLE 23 5 55.BUT GOTTA DO 'EM INDIVIDUALLY.
SO FIRST ONE WE WANNA DO WOULD BE 23.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? NO QUESTIONS.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
AS TABLE, THE NEXT ONE IS TABLE 2 3 5 5, 6.
UH, MOTION COUNCILMAN? I MOVED TO TABLE.
PROPOSED RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO.
SECOND, IF A MOVE AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD TABLE 23 5 56.
UH, READY FOR QUESTIONS ON QUESTIONS.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO FIVE, UH, 23 5 5 6 WOULD BE TABLED UNTIL NEXT REGULAR MEETING.
NOW WE'LL GO TO PAGE SIX, NUMBER 10 AND MAY, I THINK THAT WAS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
DID YOU CALL FOR THAT COUNCILMAN? NO, IT WAS PAGE SOMETHING ON PAGE SEVEN.
IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE FIRST RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT WITH, UH, MCCREARY, VACA BRAG AND ALLEN PC OF, UH, ROUND ROCK, TEXAS FOR A COLLECTION OF MUNICIPAL COURT FINDS.
OR MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN, UH, KEN LAW.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE, UH, EXCUSE PR 23 6 21 AS PRESENTED.
UH, COUNCILMAN BECK? THANK YOU.
UM, MY QUESTION ABOUT THIS, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF AN EXISTING CONTRACT AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
BUT MY QUESTION IS, WHY HAVE WE NOT LOOKED AT A LOCAL FIRM TO DO THESE COLLECTIONS? I I KNOW OF SEVERAL FIRMS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY THAT DO THESE TYPES OF COLLECTIONS OF MUNICIPAL COURT FUNDS.
AND I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT THEY PROBABLY WOULD CHARGE US LESS, UH, TAKE A LESS PERCENTAGE THAN A, A FIRM OUT OF ROUND ROCK.
SO WHO CAN ANSWER THAT? I CAN.
UM, I WOULD HAVE TO GET THE BACKGROUND FOR YOU.
WE DID GO OUT FOR AN RFQ IN 2022 AND THIS WAS THE RESULTING, UM, FROM THAT GO TO ANSWER.
NO ONE FROM PORT ARTHUR THAT SUBMITTED A BID.
WELL, I'M NOT SAYING SPECIFICALLY PORT ARTHUR, JUST JEFFERSON COUNTY.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE QUICK ANSWER.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR FIRM, SO I DIDN'T THINK, BUT WE PUT OPEN BID OUT AND NO ONE SUBMITTED A BID, UH, FOR THAT SERVICE.
SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WARRANT OFFICER THAT WE USED TO HAVE IN PLACE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS? THE WARRANT? WE HAD A WARRANT OFFICER IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT DEALT WITH THESE OUTSTANDING FINES AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
OH, WHAT HAPPENED TO IT? THERE IS A BAIL OFFENDER IN MUNICIPAL COURT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT HE HAS ANY, YES, HIS TITLE IS A WARRANT OFFICER.
I DON'T THINK HE HAD ANY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE COLLECTION OF FINES.
NOT A COLLECTION OF, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? NOT A COLLECTION OF FINES, HOWEVER, A WARRANT OFFICER.
UM, OH, YOU OUTSTANDING WARRANTS IS WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT.
RIGHT? AM I CORRECT THAT THE WARRANT OFFICER, THAT WARRANT OFFICER WAS THERE BEFORE THAT WARRANT OFFICER ALSO SUED, UH, OUTSTANDING FINES AND WHAT HAVE YOU? YEAH.
WELL THAT EVIDENTLY JUST A MINUTE.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS IS NOT BEING DONE LIKE THAT ANYMORE.
IT'S JUST NOT BEING DONE LIKE THAT ANYMORE.
I, I CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY IT, IT WAS LIKE THIS WHEN I GOT HERE.
I'M A MAYOR A POINT OF, OR MAYOR, I DON'T NEED, I DON'T WANT NOBODY TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THEY DON'T DO IT THAT WAY.
OKAY, SO WHAT YOU MAKE, JUST MAKING A STATEMENT.
WHAT IS IT ILLEGAL TO HAVE THE LAW CHANGED OR SOMETHING? WHY CAN'T WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT? CAN YOU ASK THEM? CITY ATTORNEY.
BUT THE COLLECTION ACTIVITY, THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF FOLKS WHO HAVE NOT PAID THEIR FINES AND FEES.
AND SO AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, YOUR CITY SECRETARY, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT A SINGLE WARRANT OFFICER WOULD BE ABLE TO DO.
THIS IS A BILLING OPERATION COLLECTION OF FINES WHERE PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING THEIR FUNDS OR THEY START PAYING THEM.
[03:30:01]
EXCUSE ME.I AM INTERESTED IN SEEING A LOCAL FIRM IN, IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, WHEN I'M SAYING LOCAL, I'M MEANING IN OUR COUNTY AT MINIMUM BE OP.
I, I KNOW OF SEVERAL, WHICH I WOULD HAVE NO INVOLVEMENT.
UM, BUT THERE ARE SOME WHO WOULD BE OPEN AND WILLING TO BID ON THIS.
I'VE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED THIS WITH ONE OF THE FIRMS AND THEY ASKED ME THE QUESTION, WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW ABOUT IT? SO IT WAS CLEAR THAT THIS WAS JUST A RENEWAL.
SO IT WASN'T A REQUIREMENT, YOU KNOW, TO, FOR IT TO, TO GO OUT FOR BID.
BUT IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE THIS GO OUT TO BID? I MEAN, YES.
I MEAN, WE CAN REJECT IT AND REBID IT.
UM, BUT WHILE THE, THE CONTRACT IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE, SO WE WILL HAVE AVOIDED PERIOD.
SO THAT I WOULD PREFER TO RENEW IT AND THEN WE CAN OPEN THIS UP NEXT YEAR TO BID IT AND IT SO IT WOULDN'T BE RENEWED FOR ANOTHER TWO YEAR PERIOD.
CAN WE AMEND IT FOR ANOTHER ONE YEAR PERIOD IF YOU SO WISH? YES.
I MEAN, I, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT UNLESS THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, THAT'S WHO'S OVER.
IF YOU WANNA ADMIT IT FROM TWO YEARS TO ONE YEAR, I WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL FOR IT.
BUT I, I WILL SAY THIS AND I JUST HAVE TO BE HONEST 'CAUSE I GET THIS ALL THE TIME FROM PEOPLE THAT I KNOW SOMEBODY WHO'S INTERESTED AND THEY ALWAYS ASK WHY.
AND THEN WHEN IT'S TIME TO BID IT, THEY NEVER SUBMIT ANYTHING.
SO I, I, YOU KNOW, SO IF THEY'RE REALLY INTERESTED, 'CAUSE I AM FROM PORT ARTHUR, SO I AM, I REALLY WANT TO HELP ANYBODY FROM PORT ARTHUR, BUT I'M JUST GONNA BE HONEST, THIS IS A SPEECH I GET ALL THE TIME.
UM, SO I WOULD SAY THIS, IF THESE PEOPLE ARE REALLY INTERESTED, TELL THEM TO CONTACT ME.
I WILL GLADLY SEND 'EM OUT AND WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ON WHAT'S REQUIRED.
'CAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN DOING IT.
IF I JUST, YOU KNOW, WE SIT DOWN TALK AND I JUST GIVE 'EM THE JOB.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE WHOLE BIDDING PROCESS, THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED.
UH, THIS FIRM IS DEFINITELY INTERESTED THEN TELL THEM TO CALL ME.
AND, AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN FROM PORT ARTHUR, BUT THEY ARE FROM, THEY'RE CLOSER THAN ROUND ROCK.
WELL, I MEAN, HAVE 'EM CALL ME.
I, I MEAN I I'M NOT AGAINST THEM CONTACTING ME, YOU KNOW, BUT LIKE I SAID, I JUST GET IT ALL THE TIME THAT PEOPLE SEEM TO TALK TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
BUT THE PERKS IN THE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW.
WELL FROM MY, FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD, NO, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY DIDN'T, FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD THAT PREVIOUSLY THEY HAVE.
SO I'M OPEN TO THAT CONVERSATION.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF COUNSEL IS OPEN TO NOT RENEWING ANOTHER TWO YEAR CONTRACT AND A ONE YEAR CONTRACT TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A FIRM IN JEFFERSON COUNTY TO BID.
I MEAN, LIKE I SAY, I'M NOT, I'M NOT FIGHTING.
IF COUNCIL WANTS TO DO IT, I'M FINE WITH IT, YOU KNOW, BUT, OKAY.
UH, COUNCILMAN DUCEY, YOU SAID YOUR LIGHT ON.
WELL, THE FIRST THING IN, IN REFERENCE TO BE, UH, CHANGING IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SEND IT BACK OUT.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A CONTRACT ALREADY IN PLACE.
AND, UH, WHAT COUNCILWOMAN HAM HAMILTON IS SAYING, WE CAN EITHER IMPLEMENT IT, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT CLIFF SAID, WHEN NEXT TIME TO COME AROUND, LET'S DO IT.
AND SHE CAN INFORM WHOEVER SAID THEY DID, LET THEM KNOW, HEY, WE HAD TO DO IT.
AND THEY COULD THEN, UM, PUT IN IT.
BUT THIS, I HAVE NEVER AGREED WITH THIS BECAUSE THIS FIRM THAT WE PAY THIS MONEY TO, ALL THEY DO IS SEND LETTERS OUT AND THEN IF SOMEBODY PAY, THEY GET A PORTION OF THE MONEY.
NOW, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S THE PART THAT GETS ME WITH THIS.
IF, IF, IF WE WERE GIVING THEM MONEY AND THEY WOULD CONTACT PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE DIDN'T RESPOND OR PEOPLE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, THEY WOULD GO FIND OUT WHERE HE AT, GIVE HIM A LETTER OF, UM, RETURN DELIVERABLE AND ALL THIS STUFF CERTIFIED.
BUT ALL THEY DO, THEY GET THE ADDRESS OF THESE PEOPLE SEND A LETTER TO GET THE MONEY IF THE PEOPLE PAY.
'CAUSE THEY GAVE 'EM THIS LITTLE LETTER THAT IS COMMON.
NOW WE CALL 'EM WHEN THEY GONE AFTER PEOPLE FOR LATE PAYMENT AND STUFF.
BUT IF THEY PAY NOW, WE GIVE 'EM A PORTION OF THE MONEY.
WHY CAN'T WE SEND A LETTER? WE GOT THE ADDRESS.
SO IT IS NOT DEALING WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE DEALING WITH TRACTORS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT, I'M TALKING TO THE COUNCIL.
[03:35:01]
ARE WE PAYING SOMEBODY TO SEND A LETTER? BECAUSE WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.WHAT WE COULD DO, IF WE CONTRACT AN INDIVIDUAL OR FIRM, WE CAN ASK THEM FOR A REPORT ON THEIR PERFORMANCE AND SO THAT WE COULD DETERMINE THE RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT.
SO I'M ASKING THE CITY SECRETARY TO WORK THROUGH THE, THE CLERK AT THE COURT TO GET A REPORT FOR US.
IN THE MEANTIME, I WOULD NOT LIKE TO GO WITHOUT A COLLECTION FIRM BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU LIVED AN OPEN GAP ON COLLECTING FROM THE CITY AND IT BECOMES EVEN MORE DELINQUENT AS, UM, WE SUGGESTED, LET US APPROVE THIS, BUT LET US LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW? UM, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, LET'S ASK FOR A REPORT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M ALL FOR LOOKING AT IT AND, AND EXAMINING.
SO EVER, SO I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE WHAT WE GOT GOING TO KEEP GOING.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT SAYING, BUT BEFORE WE RENEW, I MEAN, SEND THIS OUT AGAIN.
WE NEED TO REALLY ACCESS WHAT ARE OUR RETURNS, WHAT WE DOING? YEAH.
'CAUSE SOME, WE MIGHT HIRE SOMEBODY THAT JUST WANNA WORK FROM HOME BECAUSE SEND LETTERS OUT UNLESS, UNLESS THAN NEED, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO GO AND COLLECT NOTES FROM THE LINE.
WELL, I'M, I'M, I'M GOOD ON THAT.
I, WE, WE NEED TO VERIFY WHETHER WE'RE GETTING VALUE FOR OUR MONEY.
YOU KNOW, SO, UM, IF LET'S, LET'S APPROVE THIS AND THEN IT'S IN THE HANDS OF THE CITY SECRETARY AND THE CLERK OF THE COURT TO GIVE US A REPORT, YOU KNOW, ON THE COLLECTION.
WE GET, WE GET REPORTS ALREADY.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE IT WITH THE MANAGER COUNCIL.
NOW A QUESTION HERE FOR CLARIFICATION.
IS THIS FOR A ONE YEAR CONTRACT? UH, UH, UH, MR. WILLIAMS, YOU'RE SAYING IT'S A TWO YEAR.
BUT NOW WITH THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE, I'M JUST PUTTING THIS OUT THERE AND TO FOLLOW YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION AND YOUR PROFESSIONAL INPUT, YOU'RE ALL PROCUREMENT PERSON.
YOU SAID THAT THE CONTRACT IS ABOUT TO END.
SO I'M, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, YOU DIDN'T GIVE US A A SPECIFIC DATE.
YEAH, MARCH, MARCH 10TH FIRST.
SO I, I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACT DATE.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT WOULD MEAN IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE, UH, FRIDAY.
NOW WITH THAT, AND YOU SAID YOU WOULD WANT TO HAVE THIS PERIOD BECAUSE YOU GO OUT FOR R-F-P-R-F-Q AND THEN, AND YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ANOTHER 60 TO 90 DAYS.
IS IT POSSIBLE, AND I'M JUST ASKING FOR THE CONTRACT, NOT FOR TWO YEARS, BUT FOR ONE YEAR, BECAUSE OF WHAT I'M, I'M HEARING UP HERE FROM MY COLLEAGUES, WE WOULD JUST FOLLOW YOUR PROFESSIONAL INPUT, BUT ONLY GIVE THEM A 12 MONTH CONTRACT.
THEY COULD SHOW US HOW THEY PERFORMED, BECAUSE EVIDENTLY IT IS A QUESTION THAT'S DUE HOW THEY ARE PERFORMING.
AND THEN IF THERE WOULD BE SOME LOCAL ENTITY WHO DOES IT, WHO WANT, WHO WANTS TO BID, WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO DO DO THAT AT A, AT THE OTHER, OTHER, ANOTHER TIME.
BUT NOW, I THINK WHEN WE DID THIS THE LAST TIME, IT WAS TWO YEARS AND WE SAID IT, IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD COME BACK TO US.
AND EVERYBODY REALLY WASN'T PLEASED WITH THIS.
WHOMEVER THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOW, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE TO TELL THE TRUTH.
BUT THEY SAID A COMMITTEE SUGGESTED THAT THIS GROUP WOULD BE THE CHOSEN GROUP.
NOW WE FOLLOWED THAT AGAIN, THAT WAS A PROFESSIONAL OR 'CAUSE THOSE PERSONS ARE PROFESSIONALS, THAT'S THEIR INPUT.
BUT NOW WE ARE NOT TOTALLY PLEASED AS A GROUP WITH WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY, ANYTHING IN WRITING.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY, MAYOR.
IS IT A QUESTION OF PERFORMANCE OF THE VENDOR OR IS IT JUST A QUESTION OF LOCATION? OKAY.
WELL I THINK MAYBE IT, WELL SOMEONE SAID IT, BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK IT IS SOME, UH, QUESTION QUESTION.
WELL, LEMME, LEMME ASK A FEW QUESTIONS.
SO YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS, IF YOU WANT BEND IT TO A YEAR, I'M FINE WITH IT.
IF YOU WANT A MINUTE TO SIX MONTHS, I'M FINE WITH IT.
I JUST WANT TO EXTEND IT PAST TODAY AND NOT HAVE THIS.
SO WHATEVER Y'ALL WANNA AMEND IT TO IS TO ME IS FINE.
CAN I SAY SOMETHING? I'M GONNA LET COUNCILMAN MAYOR, CAN I SAY GO AHEAD.
WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST TO US AS A COUNCIL AND WHERE I STAND, UH, LOOKING AT THIS, WE HAVE, WE'VE ALREADY, WE HAVE THIS HERE BEFORE US.
UM, IF WE GO BACK TO THE VENDOR OR, OR WE GO BACK TO THEM AND SAY THAT WE JUST WANNA DO IT FOR A YEAR.
THEY MAY NOT WANT TO DO IT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THEY WENT, THEY WENT, THEY BID ON THIS, UH, KNOWING
[03:40:01]
THAT OR BELIEVING THAT THEY HAD TWO YEARS.THE OTHER ASPECT OF IT IS I THINK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE IN CONSIDERATION, UM, THE APPEARANCE OF THIS WHEN WE HAVE A VENDOR BEFORE US, UH, THAT HAS GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE GONE AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WANT TO CHANGE THE PROCESS SO THAT SOMEBODY ELSE CAN BID ON THAT.
I THINK WE NEED TO AVOID THE APPEARANCE OF EVIL.
SO I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO GO ON AND APPROVE THIS ON TODAY AND THEN LET THE PROCESS PLAY OUT DOWN THE LINE AS IT AS IT HAS BEEN.
COUNCILMAN, UH, DO SAID I AGREE.
BECAUSE EVEN IF WE WERE TO DECIDE TO, UH, AMEND IT TO ONE YEAR OR SIX MONTHS, ALTHOUGH WE DECIDE THAT THEY STILL HAVE TO AGREE TO THE CONTRACT, AND THAT'S WHEN WE'RE GONNA COMMENT WHERE COUNCILMAN FRANK WAS SPEAKING OUT, WE, WE COMMEND IT, BUT IT'S STILL NOT GOING TO BE OFFICIAL UNTIL THEY AGREE AND SIGN THE CONTRACT.
AND IF THEY SAY, I'M WE NOT DOING IT NOW, WE GOT NOBODY.
SO THAT'S, SO THAT'S, HE, THAT'S A GOOD POINT YOU BROUGHT UP.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS? WELL, WHAT IS THE PER, UH, PER PERFORMANCE RECORD IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, HOW MUCH MONEY THEY COLLECTED? I DON'T HAVE THAT.
THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR A REPORT.
THAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE IT.
WE WILL GET YOU THE REPORT, BUT I MEAN, I WILL SAY THAT THEY HAVE SAID THAT THIS COMPANY WE HAVE IS MUCH BETTER THAN THE ONE WE PREVIOUSLY HAD YEARS AGO.
SO WE, WE ARE GETTING BETTER PERFORMANCE OUTTA THIS COMPANY.
I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY SOMETHING AS WELL.
WHEN WE WENT OUT FOR THE RF QS, THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS CREATED, I EXEMPTED MYSELF PERSONALLY FROM BEING ON THE COMMITTEE, BUT MY ASSISTANT CITY SECRETARY AND THE MUNICIPAL COURT CLERK WAS ON THE COMMITTEE.
AND I DO STAND BY THEIR JUDGMENT ON CHOOSING THIS COMPANY AS THE MOST QUALIFIED.
WHEN WE ARE ASKED FOR RENEWALS, I WOULD IN THE FUTURE, LIKE TO HAVE A REPORT AS SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE THE SUPPORT NEEDED IN ORDER TO RENEW.
I'M JUST, RIGHT NOW, I, I FEEL LIKE I'M BEING ASKED TO RENEW JUST OFF OF GP AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW THEY HAVE PERFORMED.
NOW, I WILL SAY GENERALLY WHEN WE ASK TO RENEW, IT IS A COMPANY THAT WE'RE SATISFIED WITH.
WE GENERALLY DON'T ASK TO RENEW SOMEBODY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T LIKE.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, AS A STANDARD, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S FINE.
I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE TRUSTING YOUR JUDGMENT, BUT I DON'T WANNA MAKE DECISIONS OFF ANYBODY'S, NOT EVEN MINE.
I WANNA MAKE 'EM OFF OF THE FACTS.
AND WE DON'T HAVE THE FACTS IN FRONT OF US.
UM, BUT I SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING, SO I YIELD.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON IT? CAN WE READY, READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR OF IT? AYE.
SO THIS PR NUMBER 2 3, 6 21 PASSES? YEAH.
NEXT WE HAVE MAYOR, LEMME JUST SHARE THIS WITH THE COUNCIL AS WELL.
UM, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE MADE A REQUEST A FEW MEETINGS AGO FOR A WORKSHOP SLASH UM, UM, FOR VENDORS FOR PORT ARTHUR.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS, I THINK IT'S APRIL CLIFF.
WE HAVE SET A DATE FOR APRIL TO SPECIALLY TARGET PORT ARTHUR VENDORS.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE IT AT THE CIVIC CENTER WHERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE ENCOURAGING ALL VENDORS FROM PORT ARTHUR TO MEET WITH THE CITY.
WE, THAT WAS A REQUEST FROM COUNCIL AND WE ARE WORKING ON IT FOR YOU.
UH, NOW WE'LL MOVE TO PAGE SEVEN.
UH, THIS WILL BE ITEM NUMBER 15, UH, PR AND PR NUMBER, UH, 23 6 28.
THERE'S A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FOR ABOUT 3.2 ACRES OF LAND BEING OUT OF THE PORT ARTHUR LAND COMPANY, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS, UH, 1250 HIGHWAY 365.
I, I GET A RESOLUTION FOR, UH, APPROVAL.
MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS.
AND SECOND THAT WE APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 6 28 AS UH, STATED, WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION.
[03:45:01]
OF THIS BECAUSE I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHERE IT IS AND IT'S THE ADDRESS FOR THE, UH, DIAMOND SPORTS BAR.SO MY QUESTION IS, I, IS THIS BUILDING GOING TO BE PART OF THE IMPROVEMENT THAT'S LISTED HERE OR IS IT GONNA BE TORN DOWN AND WHAT'S HAPPENING AFTERNOON? UM, THE PLAN IS TO RETROFIT THE EXISTING STRUCTURE.
ANY OTHERS? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
SO THERE'S ALL THE PR NUMBER 2, 3 6 2 8 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
NEXT WE HAVE PR NUMBER 2, 3, 6, 3 5.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED AND PROCEEDING WITH THE, UH, DIS ANNEXATION OF, UH, OF FOUR PORTIONS OF LAND LOCATED ALONG HIGH STATE HIGHWAY 87 NEAR TAYLOR'S BAYOU AND THE INTER COASTAL, UH, WATERWAY, EXCUSE ME, AT THE REQUEST OF LANDOWNER GT LOGISTICS.
UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KINLAW MOVE HERE? MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND.
AND THE SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 36 35.
UH, WE READY FOR QUESTION? COUNCILMAN ETT? YES, SIR.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW, UH, WHAT IS THE TAX IMPACT ON THAT? IF WE GOING TO DI AND ASK THEM, ARE THEY PAYING US ANY TAX NOW? YES.
UM, REMEMBER WE DISCUSSED THAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT OUR LAST MEETING.
HU WE MADE A PRESENTATION AND INFORMED US THAT IT WILL NOT HAVE ANY ADVERSE IMPACT ON THEM, WHAT WE ARE PRESENTLY GETTING FROM THEM, AND THEN CONSTANTLY GIVE A DIRECTIVE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND WORK WITH THEM AND LET'S GET IT DONE.
ANY OTHER UNREADINESS THAT WE'RE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO PR NUMBER 2 36 35 IS APPROVED.
LET'S GO OVER NOW TO PAGE EIGHT TO, UH, THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH ITEM NUMBER ONE ON PAGE EIGHT EIGHT ON ROMAN NUMERAL, UH, EIGHT, UH, CITY NINE.
WE SKIPPED 20 AND WE MAY HAVE MISSED NUMBER SAVING.
I HAD TO CHECK WITH BOTH OF MY, MY, MY, MY MISTAKE HAD HIS NAME IN BETWEEN BOTH OF 'EM.
PR NUMBER NINE, UH, 2 3 6 3 9, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 19.
IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN INTERCOASTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND JEFFERSON COUNTY PRECINCT THREE TO CUT THE GRASS AND APPLY HERBICIDE SPRAY AT THE NORTH AND SOUTH LEVY ROADS ON PLEASURE ISLAND THREE TIMES THIS YEAR FOR AN AMOUNT AND AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED.
$52,372 AND 8 CENTS FUNDED IS AVAILABLE IN OTHER MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 0 0 1 DASH TWO FIVE DASH SIX FIVE DASH 5 3 22 2 0 0.
UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KINLOCK? SO MAYOR, I GET A SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD, WE WOULD APPROVE, UH, PR NUMBER 23, 36, 39 AS PRESENTED.
UH, WE'RE READY FOR QUESTIONING NOW.
THIS THING CONTRACT THE LAST TIME.
WELL, THE TIME BEFORE THEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT WAS WE WERE GETTING AN A TRACTOR IN AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT.
THEN THE LAST TIME IT WAS LIKE, JUST FOR THIS TIME.
SO NOW WE TALKING ABOUT DOING IT FOR THE COMING YEARS.
SO WE HAD ALL THIS TIME AND NOW WE STILL, DURING THE CONTRACT WITH THE PRECINCT NOW, WHO CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION PERTAINING TO THE CONTRACT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M ON THE SAME PAGE AND THAT I'M NOT OUT IN LEFT FIELD.
THIS CONTRACT WITH THE DISTRICT, WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR? WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR FOR THEM TO DO THAT? THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT, RIGHT? THREE GRASS CUTS AND THREE, UH, SPRAYS OF HERBICIDE.
BUT THE BREAKDOWN OF THE COST, UH, TO GET TO THAT 50, SO THOUSAND? YES, SIR.
[03:50:02]
THE LABOR THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? YEAH, LABOR AND, AND, AND WHATEVER CHARGE.WE GOT THE LABOR AT 11,000 LABOR.
UH, FUEL CHARGE IS A THOUSAND.
AND THE PERCENTAGE FOR, UH, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH THE EQUIPMENT AND THE PARTS IS $5,121 AND 36 CENTS.
YOU KNOW, FIRST DAY, UM, THE FUEL, WE COULD PROVIDE FUEL AND, AND THAT WAS MY WHOLE POINT.
EVER SINCE WE FIRST DONE THIS CONTRACT WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, PRECINCT, YOU KNOW, THE PRECINCT, WE ARE ACTUALLY IN PRECINCT.
SO WHENEVER WE NEED HELP OR WE NEED ASSISTANCE, I'LL BE LOOKING FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER.
AND I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO PAY SOME THINGS.
BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE LABOR IS OVERTIME BECAUSE THE, HIS WORK IS GOING TO DO IT OTHER THAN ON THEIR SCHEDULED WORKLOAD.
THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT I'VE HAD AGAINST THIS THING EVERY TIME.
THE OTHER THING IS WE PAYING FOR FUEL.
WHAT'S THE FIRST ONE YOU SAID? UH, THE 11,000.
THE LABOR, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, THE, THE 5,000 FOR IN CASE THE VEHICLE BREAK.
YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS THERE YOU ALL HAVE TO JUSTIFY.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE TO JUST JUSTIFY WHY WE CAN'T DO IT, WHY WE CAN'T DO IT.
BECAUSE AS I STATED, THE FIRST TIME THIS CAME BEFORE US, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT MAY WANT TO VOLUNTEER TO MAKE THE EXTRA TIME BECAUSE WE COULD PAY THEM OVERTIME AND THEY COULD, AND WE COULD DO THIS.
WELL, IN, IN MY DEPARTMENT, I DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT.
SO IF WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT WHERE WE, I GUESS WE CAN BAR THE EQUIPMENT AND, AND DO AS YOU SAY, THAT'S FINE TOO.
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, CITY, CITY MANAGER, YOU KNOW, I BEGINNING TO HEAR, I, I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THAT LATELY.
IF I ASK A QUESTION, SOMEBODY SAY, WELL, IT IS THIS ONE.
I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, DIFFERENT DIVISIONS, BUT WE ARE A CITY AND THE MONEY WE SPENDING IS TAXPAYER'S MONEY, YOU KNOW? SO WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN TO SAVE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.
AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, YOU KNOW, I, THIS IS THE SECOND, THE THIRD TIME IT'S COMING TO US, AND YET NO, WE ARE NOT GIVING OUR PEOPLE TIME TO MAKE OVERTIME.
LIKE I SAID, THE FIRST TIME SOMEBODY COME AND TELL ME, HEY, NONE OF NONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WANNA WORK OVERTIME TO, TO DO THAT, THEN I REALLY SAY, WELL, OKAY, YOU KNOW, IF, IF OUR PEOPLE DON'T WANT WORK OVERTIME, WE SHOULDN'T EVEN EMBARK ON THAT.
YOU KNOW? 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT FORCE 'EM TO WORK OVERTIME, BUT SOMEBODY GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE EXTRA MONEY AND WE NOT DOING IT, BUT WE GIVING IT AWAY.
AND THEN, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT COME IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS THING IS LIKE THE EQUIPMENT REPAIR THING.
SO I KEEP ASKING, BUT NOBODY'S SAYING, ONCE AGAIN, WHY CAN'T WE DO IT? LET, LET, LET ME, LET ME SHARE THIS WITH YOU.
UM, WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS DOING IT.
WE ARE GETTING THERE SLOWLY BUT SURELY ON OUR JOURNEY.
WE ARE MET WITH CERTAIN CHALLENGES.
I'M WORKING WITH THE, UM, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATIONS RIGHT NOW ON EQUIPMENT.
WE WERE THE FIRST SKIS ON THE BLOCK TO PURCHASE PIECES OF NEW EQUIPMENT.
UM, UH, THE EQUIPMENT HAVE FAILED ON US.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, CONTINUE TO TAKE CORRECTIVE MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, WE, WE ARE ABLE TO REPLACE THOSE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO FUNCTION, UM, AS, AS, AS A DEPARTMENT.
NOW WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH, UM, OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITH MS. ALPO AND MR. DAVIS WORKS VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER IN TERMS OF SHARING EQUIPMENT.
JUST ABOUT TWO COUNCIL MEETINGS AGO, WE APPROVED, UM, 200 PLUS DOLLARS FOR MR. JOEL, MR. DAVIS TO MAKE SURE THAT HE HAS ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT HE NEEDS.
[03:55:01]
EXTRA MONEY THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH HIS FUND, THROUGH THE ENTERPRISE FUND.SO WE ARE WORKING, IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME FOR MR. DAVIS TO PROCURE THE EQUIPMENT THAT HE HAVE SAID.
YOU KNOW, WE, AS WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT, WE WILL LOOK AT WAYS AND MEASURES IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE CUTS AND TO GET THOSE JOBS DONE.
IN THE MEANTIME, I'M ASKING COUNCIL TO WORK WITH ME TO MAKE SURE THAT I COULD PAY AND GET THE CUT DONE.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S BEEN QUITE SOME TIME.
YOU HAVEN'T HAD MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COMING HERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH LEVY AND, AND, UM, THE UNSIGHTLY CONDITIONS OF IT.
YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S A PLUS FOR US.
YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME I AM LOOKING AT YOU SAID COUNSELOR TO SAID YOU ARE RIGHT.
I'M LOOKING AT MUCH MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WAYS OF SPENDING TAXPAYERS MONEY.
I'M WORKING TOWARDS IT WITH STAFF AND WE WILL GET IT DONE.
I'M JUST ASKING YOU, I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO APPROVE OF IT FOR ME THIS TIME.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY WHOLE POINT.
EVERY TIME I'M WORKING, I'M WORKING, I'M WORKING.
WE GOT EQUIPMENT, OUR PEOPLE USE IT.
THAT, THAT EQUIPMENT IS PARKED IN THE OPERATION CENTER ON WEEKENDS.
IF OURS WORKER SAYS NO, WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE NO OVERTIME.
SO NO, I'M NOT GONNA, I'M NOT VOTING AGAINST IT.
BUT I TELL YOU, YOU SAYING YOU'RE MAKING THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING.
UH, THANK YOU RON FOR YOUR RESPONSE, BUT I MIGHT HAVE IT.
FISHMAN AND I, I I AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN DEUCE ON THIS ONE.
UH, UH, I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL FOR A WHILE AND NOT TO BEAT IT IN THE BUSH, BUT LET'S LOOK FOR OPTIONS TO PAY OUR PEOPLE INSTEAD OF JUST PAYING THE COUNTY.
AND I'M OKAY WITH IT BECAUSE IT LOOKS REAL GOOD WHEN THEY DO IT.
HOWEVER, IF WE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, IF WE CAN INVEST 52,000, YOU KNOW, AND IF WE DO IT WITH OUR EMPLOYEES, I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
UH, I'M OUT THERE ALL THE TIME FISHING AND IT LOOKS REAL GOOD WHEN IT'S CUT AND, AND YOU GUYS SPRAY.
YEAH, BUT THAT JUST LOOK WRONG.
I MEAN, JUST LIKE, LIKE HE SAID, THAT WAS TOLD US BEFORE, MULTIPLE TIMES, LET'S INVEST IN US BEFORE WE LOOK OUTSIDE.
THAT'S, THAT'S MY KUDOS ON THAT.
I THOUGHT THE CITY MANAGER WAS, OH, I'M SORRY.
I THOUGHT HE WAS, THAT'S WHY I WAS THINKING THAT WAY.
WAS THERE A, UM, I WANNA SAY, Y'ALL MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, I JUST DON'T REMEMBER.
WAS THERE A SPECIFIC REASON AS TO WHY WE REACHED OUT OTHER THAN THE EQUIPMENT? WAS THERE ANOTHER SPECIFIC REASON AS TO WHY WE AREN'T DOING THIS IN-HOUSE WITH EXPERIENCE AS WELL.
BECAUSE THAT, THAT'S THE THING TOO.
EVEN IF WE GET THE EQUIPMENT WITH THE SLOPE ON THE LEVIES, OUR RIGHT, OUR, OUR OPERATORS AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH OPERATING THIS EQUIPMENT, EVEN IF WE PURCHASE THE EQUIPMENT, THAT'S SO TO TRAINED AS WELL.
YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE INITIALLY PARKS DID THAT, AND THAT WAS THE REASON THAT THE COUNTY CAME BACK TO DO IT BECAUSE OUR OPERATORS COULDN'T OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT ON THESE SLOPES.
SO IS THERE SOME TYPE OF, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IT BEING A PART OF THEIR, YOU KNOW, JOB DUTIES AND THEM BEING NOT, DON'T FEEL SECURE IN DOING IT, OR HAVE THEY BEEN ADEQUATELY TRAINED TO ACTUALLY DO IT? AND THAT'S JUST IT.
I DON'T THINK IN THE FIRST, WELL, YOUR WORKERS WEREN'T TRAINED FOR IT, RIGHT? YEAH.
ON THE SLOPE SIDE, IT, YOU KNOW, THEY GO OUT THERE.
IT IS NOT A, SOMETIMES IT'S A KIND OF CONFIDENCE ISSUE, BUT YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WHEN THAT THEY TAKE THAT ARM ON THAT SLOPE MORE AND PUT IT OUT THERE TO, TO KIND OF CUT AND IT, WHEN IT TILTS A LITTLE BIT, IT COULD BE SCARY.
SO, UM, PRIOR TO US, THE CONVERSATION WAS HAD WITH, UM, THE PREVIOUS PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR WITH THE, THE COUNTY FOR THEM TO TAKE THAT ON.
AND THAT RELATIONSHIP WAS WORKING.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN TIMES IN BETWEEN THE CONTRACT, THE CONTRACT WAS, AT FIRST IT WAS JUST ONE CUT.
WE WOULD GO OUT THERE AND KIND OF MAINTAIN IT AND HELP IT AND DO WHAT WE CAN.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD TEST THE WATERS WHEN IT WOULDN'T GET SO DIFFICULT.
BUT MAINLY IT'S NOT NECESSARILY, UH, EQUIPMENT AND WE COULDN'T, BUT SOMETIMES IT, IT, IT GOES BEYOND WHAT OUR CAPABILITIES.
[04:00:01]
OKAY.AND IT'S NOT, PLEASE DON'T TAKE THIS AS I'M TRYING TO THROW OUR STAFF UNDER THE BUS, BUT I DON'T WANT US TO BE PUTTING THEM IN HARM'S WAY EITHER.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE NEEDED TO DO IT, THEN MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING CITY MANAGER WE SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER IS HAVING SPECIFIC, UM, STAFF MEMBERS BE ADEQUATELY TRAINED FOR THAT SO THAT THEY CAN EFFECTIVELY OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT, UM, THAT WE HAVE.
BUT UNTIL THEN IT HAS TO BE DONE.
BUT THAT COMES WITH TIMES AND WITH SKILL, BECAUSE THE ONES THAT WE DID HAVE GOING OUT THERE, THEY'VE BEEN OPERATED SLOW MORE FOR LIKE 15, 20 YEARS.
AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE SOME NEWER SLOPE, MORE OPERATORS THAT HAVE BEEN OPERATING THAT ARE VERY TALENTED OKAY.
AND HAVE BEEN GOING OUT THERE TRYING, BUT THEY'RE STILL NEW, MAYBE OPERATING FIVE YEARS.
BUT WHEN YOU, YOU KNOW, JUST TAKE A LITTLE TIME, PRACTICE A LITTLE TIME, THEY'LL BE, BE ABLE TO, TO HANDLE AND TACKLE THE ISSUE.
OUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF STAFF TOO.
YOU KNOW, THE LAST THING, I WANT SOMEBODY TO COME AND SAY SOMEBODY'S STUCK UNDER THE SLOPE MORE, YOU KNOW, AND YOU CANNOT REPLACE THAT HUSBAND OR THAT MOTHER, YOU KNOW, FOR $52,000.
YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE PURCHASED BRAND NEW PIECES OF EQUIPMENT FOR IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATIONS DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE HAD TO RETURN TO THE MANUFACTURER.
AND WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT THE MATTER IN, IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS PLACE AN EMPLOYEE ON THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND HE ENDS UP UNDERNEATH IT.
NO, I'M NOT GONNA DO IT THOUGH.
I'D RATHER TAKE EVERY PREVENTATIVE MEASURE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STAFF IS SAFE.
OKAY, UH, ON THIS ITEM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU READY TO VOTE? AND ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO PR NUMBER 2 36 39 IS APPROVED AS READ NOW WE'LL MOVE TO PAGE EIGHT.
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 23578 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing A Member Or Members To The Construction Board Of Adjustments And Appeals]
AND WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER ONE ON PAGE EIGHT.UH, PR NUMBER 2 35 78 IS A RESOLUTION APPOINTED AND OR WE'RE APPOINTING A MEMBER OR MEMBERS TO THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS.
AND I NEVER GET BACK WITH, I'M SORRY, DO YOU HAVE THE OTHER NAMES THOUGH? NO, SIR.
MAYOR, I HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN ANY NAMES.
HERE, HERE IS, THIS SPOKE THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD FOR, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD.
SO CAN YOU, UH, YOU SAID YOU, YOU, YOU ALL HAVE A NAME? MM-HMM?
UM, FOR DISTRICT TWO, LAWRENCE BAKER, WHICH WILL BE A REAPPOINTMENT.
COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM FOR DISTRICT THREE, TOM MCDONALD.
AND, UH, IT'S, SHE'S GONE FOR MY APPOINTEE ON THAT.
SHE HASN'T EXPRESSED THAT SHE REALLY, THAT SHE WANTED TO GET OFF.
SHE SAID THE TIME WAS, BUT I THOUGHT THEY HAD WORKED IT OUT, SO YES, SIR.
I THINK THEY DID UHHUH
SO YOU'RE GONNA REAPPOINT MS. HARRISON? YEAH, SHE, YEAH.
HOW MANY MEMBERS ON THAT BOARD? REPRESENTATION? YEAH, I THINK, OKAY.
WHAT WAS DISTRICT ONE'S APPOINTEE? UM, I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION WITH ME.
YOU SHOULD, YOU DIDN'T GET THE EMAIL EMAIL THAT KELLY SENT? OH, YOU GUYS, YEAH.
KEVIN, A I SHE SENT THE EMAIL OUT, BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE, YOU ALSO HAVE IT IN THIS PACKET, I THINK.
BUT THE EMAIL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING, I'M SORRY I DON'T MAKE MYSELF A NOTEBOOK.
BUT I, AND I, UH, UH, DISTRICT ONE JOHNSON JOHNSON, LLOYD MARIE JOHNSON'S FOUR FOUR HARRISON, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ALL EXPIRES.
IS THIS ON THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD? YEAH.
BUT THEY, THE EXPIRATIONS ARE ALL FOUR, THREE, THE CITY SECRETARY.
BUT NOW THEY DON'T HAVE WHO THEY
[04:05:01]
FULL, WHO APPOINTED? NO.I KNOW YOU, YOU SENT THAT OUT ON THE EMAIL.
AND I, AND, AND I REMEMBER MS. HARRISON, BUT SHE WORKED IT OUT ABOUT THE TIMING, RIGHT? YES.
AND BASED ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED, IT'S NOT LISTED BY, UM, WHICH DISTRICT APPOINTED.
HOWEVER, ALL OF THE SEEDS ARE, UM, HAVE COME UP DUE TO TERM EXPIRATION.
I'M SORRY, MAYOR, MAY I, OH, GO AHEAD.
SO YES, THE NAMES FOR DISTRICT ONE LASHELLE EDWARDS, AND BY THE WAY, EVERYONE HAS EXPIRED ALREADY.
DISTRICT TWO, LAWRENCE BAKER, WHICH I REQUESTED A REAPPOINTMENT.
DISTRICT THREE WAS ALAN WATSON, WHICH HAS BEEN REAPPOINTED TODAY.
DISTRICT FOUR, LORD MARIE JOHNSON WATSON.
NO, I MEANT RE WAS SHE APPOINTED, SHE APPOINTED SOMEONE TODAY? YES.
UM, DISTRICT FOUR, LORD MARIE JOHNSON, DISTRICT SEVEN, BRIAN MAXIE, DISTRICT EIGHT, CLIFTON BATISTE, AND MAYOR LAURA HARRISON.
AND THOSE NUMBERS WERE JUST CHANGED, UH, FOR SEVEN AND EIGHT.
AND, AND, UH, COUNCILMAN DEON, YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO KEEP IT RIGHT? UH, UN UNLESS SOMEONE HAS ANY ADVERSE COMMENT, I, I WANT THE CONTINUITY.
SO I'LL REAPPOINT THAT PERSON.
I, OH, YOU HAVE A NEW NAME? YEAH.
UH, YOU, YOU HAVE THAT, UH, CITY SECRETARY? YES, SIR.
SO EVERYONE, EVERY, ALL THE PHYSICIANS ARE FILLED, RIGHT? NO.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ELSE YOU NEED? UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
WE HAVE DISTRICT ONE, GERALD HATCH, DISTRICT TWO, LAWRENCE BAKER, DISTRICT THREE, TOM MCDONALD, DISTRICT FOUR, LORD MARIE JOHNSON.
AND MAYOR, FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT THERE IS, UM, LAURA HARRISON.
SO WE WOULD STILL NEED DISTRICT, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, POSITION FIVE AND POSITION SIX.
MAYOR, UH, I'M GONNA REAPPOINT BRIAN MAGILL.
AND, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK JUST STEPPED OUT, SO I DON'T KNOW IF HE WANTS TO DO THE SAME AS, UH, WHO WAS THE PERSON AS CLIFTON BATIS.
HE DIDN'T MENTION IF HE HAD SPOKE TO HIM OR NOT.
WELL, WE'LL, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO BRING, BRING HIM BACK NEXT TIME.
WE'LL BE HAPPY TO BRING IT BACK NEXT TIME.
THESE THAT WE HAVE, UH, WITH, WITH THOSE NAMES, I, I GET A MOTION FOR, FOR APPROVAL.
AND MOVE, AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, APPOINT, UH, AND REAPPOINT, UH, WHO, UH, THE NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT BY THE ASSISTANT, UH, CITY MANAGER, ARE READY FOR QUESTIONING.
ANY OPPOSES? A ABT ALREADY AUDIT AND THE ONLY ONE THAT, UH, WOULD BE COUNCILMAN FRANK NEXT TIME YOU WOULD HAVE A NAME FOR YOU.
[VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 23599 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing A Member Or Members To The Port Arthur Library Board]
NUMBER TWO.LET'S GO TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.
IT'S A RESOLUTION APPOINTED AND, AND REAPPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE, UH, UH, LIBRARY BOARD.
AND STEVEN, HAD YOU GIVEN THE NAMES.
YOU HAVE THOSE NAMES? YES, SIR.
I AM SORRY, MAYOR, I BELIEVE YOU ARE, UH, TYRANNY DE QUEER TYRANNY.
AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY PERSON? YES, SIR.
I THOUGHT IT WAS TWO THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
WITH MR. RE, UH, WOULD BE THE NAME IN, IN THAT, IN THAT POSITION, MAY MAYOR, I GET COUNCILWOMAN.
I'M LOOKING AT THE LIST OF THE EXPIRED TERMS. IT WAS MORE THAN JUST ONE, UNLESS THOSE NA UNLESS AT A DIFFERENT MEETING.
UH, CAN I HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM.
BASICALLY, THE NEW MEMBER WILL BE TIER TO CURE, ALL EXPIRED TERMS WILL BE REAPPOINTED, WHICH WAS ON MARCH 1ST, 2024.
AND EVERY MEMBER WILL BE REAPPOINTED, WHICH IS POSITION 1, 3, 5, 7, AND, UH, FRIENDS POSITION TWO.
[04:10:01]
LISTS BECAUSE IT SHOWS EXPIRED TERMS FOR POSITIONS 1, 3, 5, AND SEVEN.THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE BEING REAPPOINTED RE RENEW.
OH, THEY'VE ALREADY AGREED TO REAPPOINT.
YOU JUST REPEATED WHAT I SAID.
OKAY, SO WE WE'RE GOOD WITH, WITH THE, UH, DID I, DID I I I'VE BEEN DOING SO MUCH.
DID I GET A MOTION FROM IT? NO.
SO YEAH, I'VE BEEN THERE TOO LONG.
UH, READY FOR, READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 23601 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase A Modular Building From Boxx Modular Of Fort Worth, Texas, For $74,000.00. Through The TIPS Cooperative Purchasing Contract Numbers 30902, 21020201, And 21020202. Funding Is Available In The Public Works Solid Waste – Landfill Division's Equipment Account, Account Number 403-50-320-8522-00-00-000]
WE HAVE, UH, PR NUMBER 2 3 6 0 1 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE A MODULAR BUILDING FROM BOX, UH, MODULAR OF FORTH WORTH, TEXAS FOR $74,000 THROUGH THE TIPS, COOPERATIVE PURCHASING CONTRACT NUMBERS 3 0 9 0 2 2 10, 20 20 AND ONE AND 21 0 2.0 2 0 2 FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC WORKS SOLID WASTE LANDFILL DIVISION EQUIPMENT ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 3 5 0 3 2 0 8 5 2 2 0 0 0 DASH 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCIL KINLOCK, MOVE HERE.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND, IF MOVED IN SECONDARY WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 6 0 1.
ALL IN FAVOR? WELL, ANY QUESTION? ANY QUESTION? I'M SORRY I DIDN'T CALL THE COURT.
ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT? SO 23 6 0 1 IS APPROVED.
WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED 23 6 1 6.
[VIII.A.(6) P.R. No. 23642 – A Resolution Requesting Authorization For The City Manager To Proceed With A Potential Future Change Order No. 4 To The Main Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project With Allco, LLC Of Beaumont, Texas, That Will Increase The Contract By Approximately $5,650,000.00 To A New Total Projected Budgetary Contract Amount Of $73,100,464.43; Funding In Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000, Project No. WS0023 Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of A Budget Amendment Via Adoption Of Proposed Ordinance 7229 (Part 1 of 2)]
SO WE'LL GO TO NUMBER SIX, WHICH IS 23 6 4 2.IT IS A RESOLUTION, REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO PROCEED WITH A POTENTIAL FUTURE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER FOUR TO THE MAIN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WITH ALCO LLC UH, UH, BEAUMONT, TEXAS, THAT WILL INCREASE THE CONTRACT BY APPROXIMATELY $5,650,000 TO A NEW TOTAL PROJECTED BUDGETARY CONTRACT OF $73,100,464 AND 43 CENTS.
POINT OF ORDER YOU HAVE TO DO THE, UM, B ONE B ONE FIRST BEFORE YOU DO PR NUMBER 23 6 42.
I MEAN, I JUST TOLD YOU I AIN'T SMART AS EVERYBODY, SO I I FOLLOWED A SCRIPT.
SO, UH, MAN, YOU MADE ME DO ALL THAT.
READ WHY YOU SHOULDN'T STOP ME AT THE BEGINNING.
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7229 – An Appropriation Ordinance Amending The City Of Port Arthur Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2023 And Ending September 30, 2024, By Increasing The Appropriation For The Capital Budget By $5,650,000.00]
NEXT.OKAY, WHAT WE GOING TO DO IS WE, HE SAID WE NEED TO APPROVE PO NUMBER 7 2 2 9 AND APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024 BY INCREASING THE APPROPRIATION FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET BY $5,650,000.
MAN, YOU GOT A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? UH, COUNCILMAN? OKAY, SECOND.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 7 2, 2 9.
IS WE READY FOR QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
READY TO, UH, VOTE? ORDER IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO AS HONOR, WE APPROVE PO NUMBER 7 2 2 9.
[VIII.A.(6) P.R. No. 23642 – A Resolution Requesting Authorization For The City Manager To Proceed With A Potential Future Change Order No. 4 To The Main Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project With Allco, LLC Of Beaumont, Texas, That Will Increase The Contract By Approximately $5,650,000.00 To A New Total Projected Budgetary Contract Amount Of $73,100,464.43; Funding In Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000, Project No. WS0023 Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of A Budget Amendment Via Adoption Of Proposed Ordinance 7229 (Part 1 of 2)]
BACK TO P NUMBER 23 6 42.AND BEFORE I WAS SO RUDELY INTERRUPTED, I WAS DOWN WHERE IT SAYS FUNDING IN THOSE ACCOUNTS.
WANT ME TO READ IT FOR YOU? OKAY,
I, I READ THAT YOU ALL ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THAT.
SO MONEY FOR THIS IS IN THE ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 4 0 0 0 DASH 8 5 6 0 DASH 0 0 0.
PROJECT NUMBER WS 0 0 2 3 IS CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL.
AND WE JUST DID THAT SO THERE'S NO CONTINGENCY HERE NOW.
UH, COUNCILMAN BECKHAM SECOND.
IF MOVE TO SECOND IT REMOVED IN SECOND THAT WE'VE BEEN APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 6 42.
[04:15:03]
UH, WE READY FOR QUESTION? AREN, ANY QUESTIONS? YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.HAVE IT SO PR NUMBER 2 3 6 4 2 IS APPROVED AS READ
[VIII.A.(7) P.R. No. 23644 – A Resolution Rescheduling The March 12, 2024 Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting]
NOW WE WILL GO TO NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS, UH, PR NUMBER 23 6 4 4, RESOLUTION RESCHEDULING IN MARCH 12TH, 20.RICK IS SCHEDULED MEETING TO WHAT DATE? UH, CITY SECRETARY.
I BELIEVE THE CITY MANAGER IS RECOMMENDING MARCH THE FIFTH.
9:30 AM AND MOST OF YOU NINE? YEAH.
OKAY, WILL FRANK, YOUR LIGHT IS ON.
DO OKAY? YOU JUST NEED TO GET IT ON THE FLOOR.
TALKING ABOUT DO, UH, MR DON'T COUNCILMAN DEUCE? HOLD.
WE GOTTA PUT IT ON THE FLOOR FIRST.
I THOUGHT IT WAS ON THE YEAH, I DID TOO, BUT THAT'S RIGHT.
WE GOT PUT ON THE PHONE BEFORE WE TALK.
IT'S BEEN, I THOUGHT I HAD DONE THAT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS EVERYTHING ON THE WHOLE BOOK.
ANY, UH, ANY QUESTIONS NOW? COUNCILMAN DEUCE? YES.
WE RESCHEDULING THE MEETING FOR THE 12TH TO THE FIFTH.
AM I CORRECT? THE 13TH? WHAT? WAIT MINUTE, ISN'T IT? MINUTE, THE 13TH.
SO WE GOING FROM 12TH TO FIFTH, SO WE GONNA RESCHEDULE A REGULAR MEETING.
IT SHOULD BE RESCHEDULED AT THE SAME TIME IF THAT MEETING WOULD'VE TAKEN PLACE.
SO IF OUR NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR FOUR, I MEAN FOR FIVE 30, THEN IF WE RESCHEDULE THAT MEETING, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AT FIVE 30.
THAT WAS JUST THE RECOMMENDATION I RECEIVED.
YEAH, BUT I'M TALKING ORDINANCE NOW.
I'M TALKING ORDINANCE, NOT TALKING RECOMMENDATION.
SO OUR MEETING FOR THE FIFTH SHOULD BE AT FIVE 30.
I DO HAVE, I DON'T HAVE NO PROBLEM A QUESTION.
THANK, UM, MR. DOUCETTE, THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT SAYS THAT IT STATES, IF A MEETING IS RESCHEDULED, HAS TO BE AT THE SAME TIME AT THE MEETING THAT YOU SCHEDULED TO, TO RESCHEDULE FOR.
UH, BUT, UH, GO, GO, GO AHEAD, COUNSEL.
I KNOW DOIG, UH, GIVE ME, BUT I MEAN, WE CAN ALSO, YOU KNOW, AMEND THOSE THINGS.
AND YOU GUYS KNOW THAT, UH, I'M PERFECTLY OKAY WITH IT, BUT SOMETIMES OUR MEETINGS CAN GET A LITTLE LONG AND, UH, I KNOW, AND I KNOW WHAT COUNCILMAN DEE SAID.
HE WANTS TO ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT, UH, ARE ABLE TO MAKE THE MORNING MEETINGS AND THEY CAN MAKE IT, UH, IN THE AFTERNOON.
BUT, UH, WE, WE CAN AMEND, UH, UH, THE TIME SOMETIMES.
NO, WE CAN, WE CAN AMEND ORDINANCES OR REPEAL ORDINANCE, BUT WE CAN'T VIOLATE THE ORDINANCE.
THE ORDINANCE, AS IT STANDS NOW, SAYS IF WE RESCHEDULE A MEETING, THAT MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED AT THE NEXT BILL.
I'M LOOKING, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
YEAH, I MEAN, YOU COULD GET YOU NO, NO, LET, WE JUST WANNA SEE IF THERE'S SOME LATITUDE THERE.
IF THERE'S SOME LATITUDE, I'LL BE, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY THAT DAY? MARCH 5TH.
THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL HOLD REGULAR MEETINGS EVERY OTHER TUESDAY WITH MEETING TIMES ALTERNATING BETWEEN 8:30 AM AND 5:30 PM PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT WHEN THE DAY FIXED FOR REGULAR MEETINGS TODAY, DESIGNATED BY THE LARGEST CITY, STATE, NATIONAL ILLEGAL HOLIDAY, THE MEETING SHALL BE HELD AT THE SAME HOUR, THE NEXT EXCEEDING DAY, NOT A HOLIDAY.
ALL REGULAR MEETINGS AT THE CITY COUNCIL, PULL THAT DOWN SO I CAN HEAR YOU BETTER.
I'M TRYING TO GET TO THE DEAL.
[04:20:01]
MEETINGS, THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL BE HELD IN THE CITY COUNCIL ROOM.THE DAYTIME AND PLACE OF ONE MEETINGS CAN BE CHANGED UPON A DULY ADOPTED MOTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
WITH A FINDING THAT A TEMPORARY CHANGE IS NECESSARY OR IS MORE CONVENIENT TO CONDUCT PUBLIC BUSINESS, THE DATETIME AND PLACE OF PUBLIC HEARING SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DATETIME AND PLACE OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGS.
DATE MEETING, PUBLIC HEARING SHALL COMMENCE AT NINE NIGHT MEETING.
PUBLIC HEARING SHALL COMMIT AT SIX.
UM, SO THIS IS WHAT I'M, I'M GOING FROM WHAT I FIND ON THE YEAH.
SO WITH THAT, WE COULD TAKE A RECOMMENDATION FROM WHAT HE READ.
NO, IT SAYS THE DAYTIME AND PLACE OF ONE MEETING CAN BE CHANGED UPON A DULY ADOPTED MOTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
THAT A TEMPORARY CHANGE IS NECESSARY OR IS MORE CONVENIENT TO CONDUCT PUBLIC BUSINESS.
GO BACK AND READ ABOUT THE PART ABOUT THE REGULAR MEETINGS.
THIS IS NOT A MEETING WE WANT TO GET.
THIS IS A RESCHEDULE OF A REGULAR MEETING.
SO THIS ORDINANCE IS TITLE SECTION TWO DASH 51, REGULAR MEETINGS, TIME AND PLACE.
AMENDED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 23 DASH 26.
THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL HOLD REGULAR MEETINGS EVERY OTHER TUESDAY WITH MEETING TIMES ALTERNATING BETWEEN 8:30 AM AND 5:30 PM ALTERNATE PROVIDED.
HOWEVER, THAT WHEN THE DAY FIXED FOR ANY REGULAR MEETING IS A DAY DESIGNATED BY LAW AS A CITY, STATE, NATIONAL, OR LEGAL HOLIDAY, THE MEETING SHALL BE HELD AT THE SAME HOUR ON THE NEXT SUCCEEDING DAY, NOT A HOLIDAY.
THEN SUBSECTION B, ALL REGULAR MEETINGS OF THIS COUNCIL SHALL BE HELD IN THE CITY COUNCIL ROOM AT CITY HALL.
SUBSECTION C THE DATETIME AND PLACE OF ONE MEETING CAN BE CHANGED UPON A DULY ADOPTED MOTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL WITH A FINDING.
THEN A TEMPORARY CHANGE IS NECESSARY OR IS MORE CONVENIENT TO CONDUCT PUBLIC BUSINESS.
AND THEN THERE'S A SUBSECTION D THAT'S IN A POSITIVE.
SO, SO IF YOU, I'M READING FROM, OH, NO, NO, NO.
I DON'T NEED TO GET EXCITED WHAT I NEED FOR YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.
RECOMMENDED WAS YOU SAID, SHE SAID AFTER YOU SAID, I THOUGHT Y'ALL WERE COUNTING OR SOMETHING.
I CAN MAKE YOU WANNA MAKE IT DON'T MATTER.
I LIKE TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, CITY SECRETARY, THAT THE MEETING BE CHANGED FROM THE 12TH UNTIL MARCH 5TH AT 10 O'CLOCK.
10:00 AM SO WE JUST CHANGED IN THE MEETING.
THAT OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING FOR MARCH 12TH BE CHANGED TO MARCH 5TH AT 10:00 AM UH, WE READY? ALL WELL, READY FOR QUESTION? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THAT? MM-HMM.
I SEE ALL Y'ALL LIGHTS, BUT I KNOW WHY.
ANY OPPOSES? OKAY, NOW, SO THE MEETING HAS NOW CHANGED.
[VIII.A.(8) P.R. No. 23647 – A Resolution Reconsidering The February 12, 2024 Motion For The Approval Of The First Amended And Restated Agreement For Professional Services And Employment As Chief Executive Officer Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]
WE HAD, EXCUSE ME, PRO NUMBER 23 6 47 A RESOLUTION RECONSIDER IN THE FEBRUARY 12TH MOTION FOR THE FIRST APPROVAL OF THE FIRST AMENDED, AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND EMPLOYMENT AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE PORT ARTHUR SECTION FOUR, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DOUCETTE COUNCIL MEMBER, SINCE HE IS NOT HERE.LIKE, UH, WE DID THOSE OTHERS.
CAN WE, UH, MOTION THE TABLE THIS? MM-HMM.
NO, REMEMBER WE NEEDED TO DO IT BECAUSE WE HAD A TIME TABLE.
YOU REMEMBER, UM, COUNCILMAN DUC? SAY REMEMBER WE NEED TO, I, I, I'M WITH YOU.
SO NOW WE ARE AT, WE QUESTIONS.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE DOING OKAY.
COUNCILMAN UC SAID I THOUGHT YOU, YOU LANGUAGE ON.
YEAH, I, I I MADE MY COMMENTS.
I PUT IT, I PUT IT BACK ON AGENDA.
'CAUSE AT THE TIME, SOMEONE MENTIONED ON THE, ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS SAID THAT HE WAS ON A MONTH TO MONTH, UH, CONTRACT.
THAT'S NO SUCH THING AS A MONTH TO MONTH CONTRACT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT RENTING NOTHING.
YOU EITHER HAVE A CONTRACT OR YOU DON'T.
UH, WE BROUGHT UP A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH THE BOARD.
I THINK THE BOARD HURT US AND, UH, WE, AND WE FIGURED THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS MORE OFTEN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL TOGETHER.
I THINK WHEN IT COME TO HIS CONTRACT, YOU KNOW, UH, THEY EVALUATING EVERYTHING.
SO MY ISSUE WAS WHY DID YOU LET SU GO THAT SHE'D HAVE BROUGHT, BROUGHT BACK TO US IN A TIMELY MANNER.
[04:25:01]
AND UNDERSTANDS, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE YOUR BUSINESS DOWN THERE, BUT IF YOU DON'T DO IT UP HERE, YOU GONNA HAVE A PROBLEM.AND I THINK WE CONVEYED THAT THAT DAY, AND WE NEED TO GO IT ON AND PUT HIM UNDER CONTRACT SO THEY CAN EVALUATE HIM.
AND HE, HE, HE CAN WORK AND THAT WE KEEP MOVING.
AND THAT'S WHY I PUT IT BACK ON HERE, UH, TO BE APPROVED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU READY TO VOTE THEN? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
WELL, YOU WANT TO DO, UH, IF, IF IT WAS TWO AGAINST THE OTHER GUYS WANNA DO ROLL CALL.
YOU WANT ROLL CALL? YEAH, ROLL CALL, VOTE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE CONTRACT'S ATTACHED.
THE CONTRACT'S ATTACHED TO THE, THE CONTRACT IS ATTACHED.
UH, THANK YOU, CITY SECRETARY.
NOW LET'S GO TO NU ITEM B ONE AND ORDINANCES.
I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING, BUT THAT NUMBER LOOKED FAMILIAR.
UH, NOW, UH, BUT WE HAVE TO GO.
YOU GOTTA GO? NO, WE AIN'T GOT NOTHING.
WILL YOUR CHILD COME? YOU'LL SAY NO.
ANY OPPOSES ASS EPISODE, WE, WE'LL SEE YOU TUESDAY MORNING AT 10:00 AM AND THANK YOU ALL.