Mar 26, 2024 City Council

PAGE ONE OF OUR PRINTED AGENDA, AND WE HAVE FIRST A PROCLAMATION.

SO KINDLY, WE WILL BEGIN ON

[II. PROCLAMATIONS]

I DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION IN HAND FOR THE RED CROSS MONTH.

IF, UH, ARE THERE ANY HERE FROM THE AMERICAN RED CROSS? WOULD YOU ALL COME UP PLEASE? AND I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO YOU.

NOW WE'LL READ WHAT IS ACTUALLY PRINTED ON THE DOCUMENT IS FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR OFFICE OF THE MAYOR.

IT SAYS, WHEREAS DURING AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH IN MARCH, WE RECOGNIZE THE COMPASSION OF PEOPLE, UM, IN PORT ARTHUR AND REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER IN TIMES OF CRISES.

AND WHEREAS THIS GENEROUS SPIRIT IS WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ADVANCES THE HUMAN HUMANITARIAN LEGACY OF AMERICAN RED CROSS, UH, FOUNDER CLARA BARTON, ONE OF THE MOST HONORED WOMEN IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY, WHO NORMALLY DEDICATED HERSELF TO ALLEVIATING SUFFERING.

AND WHEREAS TODAY, KINDHEARTED INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY EXEMPLIFY BARTON'S COMMITMENT AS THEY STEP UP THROUGH THE RED CROSS OF SOUTHEAST

[00:05:01]

AND DEEP EAST TEXAS, UH, CHAPTER TO PROVIDE A BEACON OF HOPE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED.

THROUGH THEIR VOLUNTARY AND SELFLESS CONTRIBUTIONS, THEY MAKE A LIFESAVING DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S DARKEST HOURS, WHETHER IT'S DELIVERING SHELTER, FOOD AND COMFORT DURING DISASTERS, PROVIDING CRITICAL BLOOD DONATIONS FOR HOSPITAL PATIENTS, SUPPORTING MILITARY FAMILIES, VETERANS AND CAREGIVERS THROUGH THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF SERVICE SAVING LIVES WITH FIRST AID CPR AND OTHER SKILLS OR DELIVERING AID AND RECONNECTING LOVED ONES SEPARATED BY GLOBAL CRISES.

AND WHEREAS WE HEREBY RECOGNIZE THIS MONTH OF MARCH IN HONOR OF ALL OF THOSE WHO LEAD WITH THEIR HEARTS TO SERVE PEOPLE IN NEED.

AND WE ASK EVERYONE TO JOIN IN THIS COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES.

NOW, THEREFORE, I THURMAN BILL BOCHY, MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM TODAY MARCH 26TH, 2024, AND EVEN THIS ENTIRE MONTH OF MARCH AS RED CROSS MONTH.

AND I ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR TO SUPPORT ITS HUMANITARIAN MISSION AND WITNESS WHEREOF.

I HAVE HERE UNTRUE A FIXED MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE GREAT CITY OF FORT ARTHUR TO BE AFFIXED THIS 26TH DAY OF MARCH IN THE YEAR BY LORD 2024.

AND IT IS SIGNED BY ME THURMOND, BILL CE, MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

AND I'LL COME DOWN AND PRESENT THIS TO YOU ALL.

AND THANK YOU ALL AGAIN.

THANK YOU MUCH.

ALL, ALL THAT YOU DO, THE COMMUNITY THANK YOU THROUGH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS AND COUNCIL PERKINS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY REMARKS, COUNCILMAN? I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE RED CROSS, HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO, UH, NOT ONLY HERE LOCALLY, BUT IN OTHER STATES.

UH, BACK IN 2009, I EXPERIENCED A HOUSE FIRE.

UH, IT WAS DEVASTATING, BUT NOT LONG AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE AND PUT THINGS OUT, THE RED CROSS WAS AT MY DOOR AND IT WAS JUST, IT, IT WAS SUCH A GOOD FEELING TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOMEBODY THERE TO HELP BEFORE MY INSURANCE COMPANY EVEN SHOWED UP.

AND THEN JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY HUSBAND WORKING OUT OF TOWN IN ILLINOIS, EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE APARTMENT COMPLEX.

HE LIVED IN RED CROSS, WAS THERE, HELPED HIM GET INTO ANOTHER APARTMENT, UH, SO THAT HE COULD CONTINUE, UH, WORKING.

SO WE JUST REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU, YOU DO.

AND FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I WANNA THANK YOU AND THE ORGANIZATION FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL .

YEAH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, RED CROSS.

I, I JUST HAVE SO MANY GOOD WORDS TO SAY ABOUT IT.

WHILE I BEEN ON THE MILITARY, GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK HOME.

I WAS IN GERMANY ACTUALLY ONE TIME.

I WAS IN IRAQ AND THE RED CROSS STEPPED IN TO GET ME BACK HOME SAFELY, UH, FOR A SITUATION.

BUT THE BIGGER THING FOR ME DURING, UH, HURRICANE HARVEY, YOU GUYS STEPPED IN AND WAS SO PROFESSIONAL.

UH, YOU KNOW, UH, FOUR HOURS BEFORE THAT I WAS IN WALMART, UH, BUYING TOYS FOR SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL KIDS THAT WERE AT THE CIVIC CENTER AND FOUR HOURS LATER I WAS USING RED CROSS.

SO THAT'S JUST A TESTIMONY FOR ME AND HOW WELL YOUR ORGANIZATION RUNS.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THIS, THIS STATE, THIS COMMUNITY, THIS NATION.

AND I JUST WANNA SAY PERSONALLY, UH, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

NEED IT PERSONALLY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IN OUR OWN PERSONAL LIVES.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COUNCILMAN FRANK.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO.

UH, UNFORTUNATELY RED CROSS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT UNTIL WE

[00:10:01]

BUT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO AND FOR THE PRESENCE, UH, THAT YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE IN OUR CITY AND IN OUR NATION AND, AND ESPECIALLY IN OUR WORLD AS WELL.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AND GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO IN THE FUTURE.

THE RED CROSS IS ALWAYS FILLED IN THE GAPS.

I WAS IN A VIETNAM VETERAN RED CROSS HELPED A LOT OF SOLDIERS TO, THEY HAD INCIDENTS HAPPENING IN THE FAMILY, HELPING 'EM TO GET HOME, HELPING 'EM TO GET BACK TO THE, TO THEIR DUTIES APPRECIATED.

RED CROSS IS A WELL RUN ORGANIZATION.

IT HAS BEEN.

I'VE READ ARTICLES WHERE CORPORATIONS, THE PERSON THAT STARTED UP THE RED CROSS, THE MANAGERS CORPORATION TRIED TO RECRUIT THIS PERSON TO RUN THEIR ORGANIZATION.

HE WOULDN'T DO IT.

, HE WAS COMMITTED TO, UH, I CAN'T THINK OF HIS NAME RIGHT, BUT HE WAS COMMITTED TO DOING WHAT HE'S DONE.

YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE AT T UH, ANOINTED AND SOME PEOPLE, UH, OTHERS THINGS, YOU KNOW.

ANOINTED IS BY GOD, OKAY? YES.

AND, UH, OTHERS IS OTHERS.

THAT'S BY MAN, MAN.

BUT I APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.

THANK, THANK YOU EVERYONE.

WE THANK YOU.

UM, I JUST WANNA SAY, AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND BEEN WITH THE ORGANIZATION IN, IN SEVERAL CAPACITIES OF DISASTER FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS, UM, THAT I APPRECIATE THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND, UM, ALL THE GREAT PEOPLE IN PORT ARTHUR.

UM, I WAS BORN HERE.

UH, I LIVED HERE FOR SOME TIME AND, UM, I'M FROM A MILITARY FAMILY, SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE VETERAN'S CAPACITY BEING AN ARMY BRAT AND AN ARMY WIFE AT THAT TIME.

SO I JUST THANK YOU ALL AND WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND WE'RE GONNA BE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US.

NO.

THIS IS MICHAEL CHAMBERS.

I'M SORRY, HE'S NOT GONNA SPEAK.

HE'S MY COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER LEADER.

WHEN I'M NOT HERE, HE WILL BE HERE.

SO YOU MIGHT NOT ALWAYS SEE MY FACE.

I CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE IN THE CHAPTER.

I COVER 17 COUNTIES.

SO I TRAVEL A LOT AND I'M ALL OVER THE PLACE TRYING TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PUSH OUR MISSION DAILY.

SO, UH, FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS, YOU MAY SEE HIM INSTEAD OF ME, BUT, UH, HE'S, HE'S JUST QUIET.

THANK YOU ALL.

TO ROMAN NUMERAL THREE, WHICH IS SPEAKERS.

OKAY, NOW WE'LL MOVE

[III.A.(1) Jersson A Herrera Regarding Late Night Noise (Part 1 of 2)]

WE, THE FIRST SPEAKER WE HAVE IS JERSON HERRERA REGARDING, UH, LATE NIGHT NOISE.

WOULD YOU BEGIN, PLEASE BY STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS? SURE.

AND YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES? SURE.

UH, MY NAME IS J HERRA AND, UM, THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS, UH, IT'S A BUSINESS RIGHT NEXT TO OUR HOUSE.

IT'S A LOT OF NOISE.

UH, YOU CAN BE ANY TIME ONE O'CLOCK, BUT I'M GONNA LET MY, THE BILLS SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

OKAY? SO I'M GONNA LET, LET Y'ALL HEAR WHAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH IT, UH, WITH THIS BUSINESS RIGHT NEXT TO OUR HOUSE.

OKAY? 8:13 PM OKAY, NOW I'M GONNA GO TO ONE ONE O'CLOCK.

ONE O'CLOCK JULY 11TH.

THAT WAS, THAT WAS ONE O'CLOCK.

NOW LET ME GO TO THREE O'CLOCK.

IN THE MORNING.

[00:15:07]

OKAY? THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS BUSINESS.

UH, I ADDRESSED, UH, THIS MATTER, UH, WITH, UH, MRS. UH, MELANIE BRYAN.

I BROUGHT THIS TO HER THE FIRST TIME.

AND, UH, I SPEAK TO HER TO TELL HER, LOOK, GO WITH THESE PEOPLE.

TRY TO FIND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THIS MATTER.

SO I KNOW THAT IT HAS TO WORK.

I KNOW THEY HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING, BUT WE HAVE TO REST.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME.

IT CAN BE ONE O'CLOCK, THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, FOUR O'CLOCK.

SO PRETTY MUCH IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR THEM TO BE, UH, TO WORK FROM SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING TO 8:00 PM IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

THEY CAN CONTINUE ALL THE WAY TO 10:00 PM SO PRETTY MUCH WITH A HUNDRED REST, WHEN I GET OUT FROM WORK, THIS IS WHAT I HEAR AROUND 8:00 PM SO THE SECOND SIGN, UH, I MADE THE COMPLAINT COMPLAINT TO THROUGH THE COURTHOUSE.

UH, I BRING THIS MATTERS TO MR. JOSEPH.

MR. JOSEPH.

HE DIRECT ME TO MRS. THOMAS RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF ME.

UH, MRS. THOMAS SPEAK TO HIM.

HE DIRECT ME TO MRS. DARLAND THOMAS.

RIGHT? IT TOOK ME LIKE A WEEK, ONE WEEK, SO I CAN SPEAK TO HER OR REACH OUT TO HER.

SO FINALLY I SPEAK TO HER.

THE FIRST THING SHE TOLD ME, THAT'S NOT HER DEPARTMENT.

SO SHE TURNED FOR ME TO, TURNED FOR ME TO ANOTHER PERSON.

I TRIED TO REACH OUT FOR THIS PERSON, YOU KNOW, MAKE A, A COUPLE OF PHONE CALLS.

AND FINALLY AFTER ONE WEEK, HE CALLED ME BACK, AND THEN HE TOLD ME I, WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.

LET ME LOOK AT IT.

STILL WAITING FOR THIS CALL.

SO, SECOND TIME I GO BACK TO THE COURTHOUSE, UH, I WENT BACK WITH MR. JUSTICE SANDERS.

AND, UH, THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE WITH, WITH THIS PEOPLE, IT'S NOT THE ONLY, UH, NOISE WORKING AT, UH, LATE NIGHT SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, SUNDAY PRESSURE WASHER FROM EIGHT O'CLOCK.

IF WE'RE LUCKY, THEY, THEY STOP AROUND THREE O'CLOCK.

IF WE'RE NOT LUCKY, THEN WE'LL STOP TO SIX O'CLOCK.

UH, DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS NINE, THEY PRESSURE WASHER FROM 7:00 PM TO 8:00 PM I HAVE TO, UH, CALL THE POLICE OFFICERS TO, TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER.

OKAY? FINALLY, ONE OF THE POLICE OFFICER WENT OVER THERE AND ISSUED A CITATION FOR IT.

BUT THAT IS NOT, DO NOT STOP THESE PEOPLE FOR KEEPING WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

SO THIS, THIS PROBLEM BEEN GOING, IT BEEN ON, ON AND ON AND ON.

AND, UH, WE'RE TIRED.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE TIRED.

THIS, THIS MATTERS.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON WHY, WHY I'M HERE TO, TO BRING THIS MARRIAGE TO Y'ALL TO SEE WHAT, WHAT SOLUTION WE CAN, WE CAN COME OUT WITH, YOU KNOW? BECAUSE, UH, MAN, IT'S BEEN YEARS DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM, TO BE HONEST.

SO WE HAD ENOUGH, WE, SO, OKAY.

UH, THANK YOU MR. HERRE.

YOUR TIME IS ACTUALLY EXPIRED.

I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

NO, SIR.

I SAID YOUR TIME IS ACTUALLY EXPIRED.

THE FIVE MINUTES THAT YOU'RE GIVEN NOW, I HAVE SOME OTHER COUNCILPERSON, I THINK MAYBE HAVE SOME DOUBTS.

MOTION.

MOTION TO INCREASE THE TIME.

MOTION TO INCREASE THE TIME.

IT'S A MOTION TO, UH, EXTEND YOUR TIME FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES.

SO, UH, EVERYONE AGREE IS IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS? YES.

THE, THE ONLY SOLUTION THAT I, THAT I CAN FIND IS BRING THIS TO Y'ALL.

SO YOU CAN WRAP.

OKAY, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

YOU GOT ABOUT TWO MORE MINUTES, MY BROTHER.

I'M, I'M SORRY.

I PROBABLY Y FOR THAT.

AND, UM, I BEEN TRYING, LOOKING FOR A PROOF SOLUTION TO THIS MATTER.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I SPOKE TO MR. BRIAN ABOUT IT.

AND SHE SPOKE TO THEM, AND THIS IS THE GAME THAT THEY PLAYING.

THEY STOP FOR A LITTLE BIT, RIGHT? AND THEY GO BACK INTO IT, THEY STOP FOR A LITTLE BIT, THEY GO BACK INTO IT.

IT'S LIKE, THAT'S THE GAME THEY'RE PLAYING.

THEY'VE BEEN PLAYING FOR MANY YEARS.

MY NEIGHBOR, SHE WENT SPEAK TO DAN AND I BRING THIS MATTER, HEY, CAN YOU PLEASE STOP? ESPECIALLY WHEN, WHEN THEY PATIENT RUSHER, THEY USE, UH, ING OUTSIDE THE GREASER OR DIESEL AND THE OIL COMING FROM THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF STRONG.

SO MY NEIGHBOR, SHE WENT TO SPEAK TO THEM ABOUT IT.

AND I TELL HER, LOOK, YOU, Y'ALL NEED TO STOP.

WELL, THEY'RE LAUGHING AT HER.

THEY SAY THEY DON'T SPEAK NO ENGLISH, BUT MY NEIGHBOR, SHE SPEAKS SPANISH TOO.

SO SHE SPEAK ON BOTH ENGLISH, THEY TURN AROUND, THEY WALK AWAY LAUGHING AT HER, HER.

SO THE ONLY, THE ONLY

[00:20:01]

OKAY? UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU GOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY? YES, I REASON, OKAY.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

YOU CONTACTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SURE.

AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ISSUED CITATIONS.

NOW MY PROBLEM NOW IS WHY, AND THAT'S MULTIPLE TIMES, RIGHT? SURE.

WHY HASN'T THE PROSECUTOR DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT? THAT'S WHAT I'M, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE I'M AT NOW.

AND NOW YOU'VE DONE WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO.

THE CHIEF AND STAFF HAVE DONE WHAT THEY SUPPOSED TO DO.

NOW IT FALLS ON, ON, ON A ORDINANCE VIOLATION.

THAT CITY ATTORNEY, WELL, YOU WAS NOT HERE, BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE NOW.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE AT.

NOW.

WE NEED TO ENFORCE THAT, THAT NOISE ORDINANCE AND ANY, AND ANY TIME YOU CAN HEAR, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN HEAR IT FROM THE STREET.

WE PUT IT IN THE ORDINANCE.

IT'S YOUR CITATION.

SO ALL THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE.

SO I NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE PROSECUTION.

UH, COUNCILMAN KINLAW, UH, COUNCILMAN, ARE YOU ASKING FOR ANSWER OR YOU WANT ME? WELL, I WAS, THAT'S THE PROSECUTOR RIGHT THERE.

IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE PROSECUTOR TO RESPOND, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

IF I MAY.

INITIALLY THE MATTER WAS REFERRED TO THE POLICE.

JUDGE, MAY YOU CAN COME DOWN.

THE MATTER WAS REFERRED TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THERE WAS ALSO A COMPLAINT ABOUT OB OBNOXIOUS FUMES.

A CITATION WAS IN FACT ISSUED.

IT WAS ISSUED TO THE WRONG PERSON.

THE MATTER IS ON MY DESK TO BE FILED WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW, ONLY ONE CITATION, UH, WAS ISSUED.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I'M AWARE OF IN MUNICIPAL COURT.

AND AGAIN, IT WAS, UM, ISSUED TO A PERSON WHO HAD ALLOWED A TRUCK, WHO HAD THE TRUCK AT THAT LOCATION TO BE REPAIRED RATHER THAN THE BUSINESS OWNER WHO HAD TURNED ON THE TRUCK.

COUNCILMAN UH, KEN LAW.

UH, I REMEMBER YOU, I REMEMBER YOU CONTACTED ME SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS SITUATION.

UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GAVE YOU ADDRESS AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR PRESENTATION.

WHAT IS YOUR ADDRESS? UH, MY HOUSE AT, UH, 2224 SECOND AVENUE FOR RECER.

AND I DO REMEMBER YOU CALLING, I, I DO ALSO REMEMBER REPORTING TO STAFF ABOUT YOUR SITUATION.

YOU EXPRESSED TO ME ABOUT, UH, CONTACTING POLICE DEPARTMENT, CONTACTING OUR, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT.

AND NOTHING HAS BEEN HAPPENING.

YOU ALSO CONTACT ME ABOUT THEY ACQUIT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEN THEY'LL START UP.

AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE YOU SEEM TO BE VERY PASSIONATE WHEN YOU TALK TO ME ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.

SO, UH, SINCE WE GOT THIS BACK IN OUR HANDS, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT THE PROSECUTORS HAVE, UH, WRITTEN A CITATION TO THE WRONG PERSON.

DID YOU SAY THAT CORRECTLY? IT WAS THE POLICE OFFICER.

EACH OF THE CITATION TO THE WRONG PERSON.

AND SO, AS A RESULT OF THERE, IF I'M TRYING TO FILE AGAINST THE OWN ERROR.

WELL, UH, OPENLY IN OPEN SESSION YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION, UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET TO THE RIGHT PERSON TO WRITE THIS CITATION AND, AND WE COULD COME TO SOME TYPE OF COMPROMISING, UH, DURING WORK HOURS.

BUT I DON'T BELIEVE WORKING AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, YOU HAVE TO WORK AND GO TO SLEEP YOUR FAMILY AS WELL.

SO WE REALLY NEED TO KIND OF TIGHTEN UP ON THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

SO THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING ME AGAIN.

UH, COUNCILMAN ETT.

AND LET'S BE MINDFUL, WE HAVE ABOUT TWO MINUTES 'CAUSE WE NEED TO START A PUBLIC HEARING.

GO RIGHT AHEAD.

I I JUST HAVE A QUESTION IN REFERENCE TO, YOU SAID, UH, HOW MANY TIMES, UH, YOU CALL THE POLICE? UH, A DEPART ON THE RECORD.

IT'S MORE THAN 10 TIMES, EIGHT TIMES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S A LOT OF TIMES CALL THE COPS.

EIGHT OR 10 TIMES.

AND I'M HEARING THAT SIX SAN YEAH, ABOUT RIGHT.

I THINK, I CAN'T REMEMBER, TO BE HONEST.

IT DON'T HAVE, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

WE ONLY HAVE ONE CITATION, BUT YOU'VE CALLED EIGHT OR SIX TO EIGHT TIMES.

THAT'S WHERE I GOT THE BREAKDOWN IN.

OKAY, SURE.

WE JUST HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT CHIEF.

WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS JUST SUSPEND THIS RIGHT NOW.

OH YEAH.

WE HAVE ABOUT TWO MINUTES AND IT'S GONNA BE TOO LONG FOR ALL THIS DIALOGUE.

WE HAVE TO PICK IT BACK UP IN A FEW MOMENTS.

UH, UH, ATTORNEY AND CITY SECRETARY.

IT'S EIGHT, I MEAN 9 58.

IF WE NEED TO MAKE, WAIT TWO MINUTES TO BEGIN.

AND THEN IN TWO MINUTES, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GIVE, I THINK, WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO WANT.

AND SO THE TIME, EVERYBODY WOULD JUST COUNT TO 120 FOR ME.

COUNT TO ONE 20.

SO I COUNT 1, 2, 3, 4.

BECAUSE I WAS JUST BEING HUMOROUS.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S GOING, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE UP TO TWO MINUTES THAT I NEED

[00:25:01]

Y'ALL QUIT LOOKING AT ME, SO SERIOUSLY PLEASE.

WE HAVE TO BEGIN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

YOU CAN HAVE A SEAT.

SIR.

SIR, WE'RE THROUGH FOR RIGHT NOW.

DON'T LEAVE.

WE ARE THROUGH FOR RIGHT NOW.

UH, AND WE JUST WAIT.

POINT OF ORDER THE PUBLIC, YOU CANNOT START THE PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THAT TIME, SIR.

THAT'S WHY I DID COUNT.

HMM.

NOTHING.

UH, IF YOU WOULD GO TO PAGE TWO, EVERYONE AS THE KARAT COUNTS DOWN, WE HAVE A FEW SECONDS AND THEN, UH, ABOUT A FEW MORE SECONDS.

THANK YOU MS. MALLOW FOR COMING UP.

WE WILL BEGIN THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING ON PAGE TWO, ROMAN NUMERAL FOUR.

10:00 AM ON TODAY'S STATE, AND WE ARE AT ROMAN NUMER FOUR ON THE PRINTED AGENDA FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

IT IS NOW

[IV.(1) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments To Consider The Proposed Amendment Of The Following: Proposed Change: A Zoning Map Amendment (Z24-01) Ballou Towing, LLB Construction. To Change From "MDR" Medium-Density Residential (Formerly Referred To As "2F" Two-Family) To "PD" Planned Development District For An Existing Warehouse, Future Warehouse, And Wrecker Service Legal Description: 0.7245-Acre Of Land Being Out Of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas (1428 Austin Avenue & 501 13th Street)]

IT'S PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENTS TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE FOLLOWING, PROPOSED CHANGE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT Z 24 DASH ZERO ONE BALLOU TOING, LLB CONSTRUCTION TO CHANGE FROM MDR MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, FORMALLY REFERRED TO AS TWO F OR TWO FAMILY TWO PD PLANNED A DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR AN EXISTING WAREHOUSE, FUTURE WAREHOUSE AND RECORD SERVICE.

LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY IS, UH, 0.72 OR SEVEN THREE ACRES OF LAND, UH, BEING OUT OF, UH, PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS, UH, PHYSICALLY 14TH 28 AUSTIN AVENUE AND 5 0 1 13TH STREET.

AND AGAIN, THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO VIEW THIS PUBLIC HEARING VIA THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT WWW.PORTARTHURTX.GOV.

AND ANY PERSON MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.

WE WILL NOW BEGIN.

GO AHEAD.

FOR THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PROPERTY.

GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER.

CITY COUNCIL.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6.03 E OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE IN CHAPTER TWO 11 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT, ALSO REFERRED TO AS A ZONING MAP, CHANGE OR REZONING FOR APPROXIMATELY 0.7245 ACRE OF LAND CONSISTING OF TRACKS TWO FIVE DASH A AND SEVEN DASH A BLOCK 498 CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.

THE PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED AT 1428 AUSTIN AVENUE AND 5 0 1 13TH STREET.

NEXT SLIDE.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING FOR MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, FORMERLY REFERRED TO AS TWO FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO A PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR THE CONTINUED USE OF A WAREHOUSE FOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL AND THE REDEVELOPMENT OF A RECORD SERVICE.

FORMER LOCATION OF BO BLUES RECORD SERVICE, WHICH CONSISTS OF INDOOR STORAGE AND OFFICE SPACE.

A COMPLETED APPLICATION WAS FILED, THE PLANNING IS ON A COMMISSION ON OR AROUND JANUARY 19TH, 2024, REQUESTING A ZONING CHANGE.

THE ZONING CHANGE WILL ALLOW THE PROPOSED USES TO LEGALLY CONFORM ITS SAID LOCATIONS.

PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RATING OF THE PROPOSED SITES ON FEBRUARY 14TH AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 2024.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 4TH, 2024, INVITING CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED THREE ZERO, RECOMMENDED THE REQUEST BE DENIED.

BASED ON THE FOLLOWING CONCERNS, THE PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO A TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD ON FEBRUARY 27TH, 2024.

THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 DASH 582 CALLING FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING.

THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PUBLISHED THE PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON MARCH 9TH, 2024, AS WELL AS PREPARED IN MAILED NOTIFICATIONS TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS ON MARCH 12TH, 2024.

[00:30:01]

THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY ZONED MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND, AND AN MDR ZONE DISTRICT IS INTENDED TO PROMOTE VARIOUS SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS.

THIS DISTRICT CAN ALSO SERVE AS A TRANSITION DISTRICT BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

THE PROPOSED ZONING IS A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

THIS DISTRICT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR INNOVATION AND PROJECTS.

IT ALLOWS FOR SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS OR MODIFIED REGULATIONS TO THE BASE ZONING DISTRICT, PLUS A LIST OF REQUESTED EXEMPTIONS FROM OR MODIFICATIONS TO APPLICABLE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.

THE SITE LOCATION IS ADJACENT TO THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT TO THE SOUTH AND MEDIUM DISNEY RESIDENTIAL TO THE NORTHEAST AND WEST.

THIS IS A CONCEPTUAL RENDERING OF THE PROPOSED RECORD, STORAGE AND OFFICE SPACE CONCEPT.

OKAY, THIS IS AN AREA OF VIEW OF THE PROPERTY I NEXT SLIDE.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS A STREET VIEW OF THE PROPERTIES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE EXISTING WAREHOUSE.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS A VIEW OF THE EXISTING WAREHOUSE, AND THIS SLIDE SHOWS A VIEW OF THE PROPOSED LOCATION FOR THE FUTURE WAREHOUSE IN RECORD SERVICE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS UNDEVELOPED PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

CODE SECTIONS TWO 11.006 AND TWO 11.007.

A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES AND TIMES TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

ON MARCH 4TH, THE PLANNING IS ON A COMMISSION.

ONE LETTER OF OPPOSITION, ONE VERBAL OPPOSITION, AND NO LETTERS RETURNED.

AND ON TODAY, MARCH 26TH, 2024, ONE WRITTEN OPPOSITION.

BEFORE I LEFT MY OFFICE THIS MORNING, I DID RECEIVE A PHONE CALL OF ANOTHER, UM, VERBAL OPPOSITION AND ONE LETTER RETURNED.

THIS SLIDE REFERS TO THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION TWO 11.006 F OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE STATES THAT A CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE OR DENY THE PROPOSED MATTER BY ITS SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.

IN THE EVENT SUCH AS THIS, THAT A PROPOSED CHANGE TO A REGULATION OR BOUNDARY IS DENIED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, THEN THE PROPOSED CHANGE MUST BE APPROVED BY AT LEAST THREE FOURTHS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL WHO ARE QUALIFIED TO VOTE.

THEREFORE, A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPROVE THIS REQUEST.

ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? NO, SIR.

UM, WE WILL, UH, ENTERTAIN ANY, UH, ANYONE IN THE GALLERY.

WE HAD SOMETHING.

IF YOU COULD STEP UP PLEASE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

HI, GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS LUCY DENNIS AND I LIVE AT 5 47 13TH STREET.

THE AREA THAT THEY'RE SPEAKING ABOUT IS CLOSE TO MY HOME RIGHT NEXT ON THE, LET'S SAY, THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY HOME IS WHERE THEY'RE PLANNING FUTURE WAREHOUSES.

THAT AREA IS WHERE MY BEDROOMS ARE.

I'M AFRAID OF THE NOISE PER CHANCE.

WE WILL HAVE CONTINUAL TRAFFICKING AND NOT TO SPEAK ABOUT RODENTS THAT MAY COME ALONG.

SO I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE NOT APPROVE THIS AT ALL.

I'M A SINGLE LADY LIVING ALONE.

I ALREADY HAVE TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF THINGS IN MY COMMUNITY, AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN AFFORD TO DEAL WITH TRAFFICKING RODENTS AND NOISE.

ANYONE ELSE IN THE GALLERY? I, GOOD MORNING.

PROPERTY AT 1428 AUSTIN AVENUE BE REZONED TO PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.

UH, MY NAME IS VIVIAN BALLOU AND MY HUSBAND AND I ARE HERE TODAY TO REQUEST THAT THE

[00:35:01]

UH, OUR PROPERTY IS ON 14TH STREET, NOT, UH, 13TH STREET.

UH, THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO REOPEN BLUE TOWING BALL.

BLUE TOWING HAS SERVED THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR FOR OVER 80 YEARS.

MY HUSBAND'S GRANDFATHER STARTED THE BUSINESS DURING WORLD WAR II.

IT BEGAN AS A MECHANIC SHOP ON WEST 10TH STREET AND FOLEY AVENUE.

MY FATHER-IN-LAW, JESSE BALLOU SENIOR, PURCHASED A BUSINESS FROM HIS FATHER IN 1979.

IT WAS IN PORT ACRES AT THE TIME.

MR. BALLOU GREW THE BUSINESS AND MOVED TO AUSTIN AVENUE WHERE HE PURCHASED 5 0 1 13TH STREET, WHICH HE EVENTUALLY SOLD.

AND 1428 AUSTIN AVENUE.

BOTH WERE WAREHOUSES.

THE BUSINESS WAS PREVIOUSLY A SCAFFOLDING AND INSULATION COMPANY.

IN THE MID E EIGHTIES, I EVEN CONVERTED THE BUILDING TO A HAIR SALON AT SOME POINT.

THE CITY REZONED THE AUSTIN AVENUE AREA TO MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL USE.

YESTERDAY I COUNTED SEVEN RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES ON AUSTIN AVENUE BETWEEN GULF WAY DRIVE AND SEVENTH STREET, HALF OF WHICH WERE VACANT.

AND WE'RE ALSO DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PORCH.

SO WE ARE FACING AUSTIN AVENUE.

UH, IT IS PRIMARILY COMMERCIAL.

SO WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO REVERSE THE ZONING BACK TO COMMERCIAL TO ALLOW US TO REOPEN THE FAMILY BUSINESS.

THE PROPOSED WAREHOUSE, AS YOU SAW, WAS A MODERN WAREHOUSE SURROUNDED BY AN EIGHT FOOT FENCE PRIVACY FENCE, WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE ANY NOISE AND VISIBILITY ISSUES AND WILL BE WELL LIT.

WE BELIEVE THAT IT WILL ADD TO THE COMMUNITY, NOT TAKE AWAY.

WE WILL CREATE SIX FULL-TIME JOBS AND INCREASE THE TAX BASE.

UM, MY NAME'S JESSE BALLOU.

RAISE THE MIC UP PLEASE, MR. BALL, SO YOU CAN, YEAH, SO MY NAME'S JESSE BALLOU.

UM, MY WIFE AND I ARE TRYING TO ADD TO THE CITY, UM, THE BUSINESS END OF IT.

UM, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING AS FAR AS OUR BUILDING, THE STRUCTURE, THE FENCING, UM, WE BELIEVE IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT'S EXPECTED RIGHT NOW FOR RUCKER SERVICES.

UM, THE FENCING AREA IS DESIGNED TO HOLD DOWN NOISE.

MOST OF OUR ACTIVITY WILL BE DONE INSIDE THE BUILDING.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE BUILDING.

UM, MOSTLY INSIDE STORAGE, UM, SO THAT YOU'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN SEE, LIKE SOME PLACES NOW, UH, WHERE YOU HAVE VEHICLES JUST PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE.

JUST BEING HONEST.

UM, WE'VE TRIED TO PLAN, IT'S BEEN PLANNED IN THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING, WE BELIEVE, UM, BRINGS VALUE TO THE CITY.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU ALL.

ANYONE ELSE IN THE GALLERY OR FROM THE GALLERY WOULD CARE TO SPEAK? GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL AND MAYOR.

I'M DR.

ROSALYN.

QUEEN 2 2 9 4 BAYOU DRIVE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS 7 7 6 4.

I AM HERE IN WITH REPRESENTATION FROM THOSE NEIGHBORS THAT LIVE THERE.

WE AS A COMMISSION VOTE? NO, MA'AM.

NOT A PROBLEM, MA'AM.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

JUST AS A, NOT A PROBLEM.

THAT'S ALL WE WANT, BUT I NEED TO KNOW FROM COUNCIL.

OKAY? OKAY.

IF YOU VOTE IN AGREEMENT TO CHANGE THE ZONING, I'D LIKE TO KNOW, WILL YOU STAND 10 TOES DOWN AND TELL THAT TO THE NEIGHBORS WHY YOU VOTED? YES.

ANYONE ELSE FROM THE GALLERY? ANYONE ELSE FROM THE GALLERY? OKAY.

WE'LL NOW ENTERTAIN, UH, DIALOGUE FROM THE COUNCIL.

UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, ETT? YES.

YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE, UH, MS. BELU WAS SAYING ABOUT BRINGING BUSINESS AND DEVELOPING BUSINESS WITHIN THE, UH, CITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO REALLY AS A COUNCIL, LOOK AT OUR ORDINANCE AS I KEEP SAYING THAT ALL THE TIME, ORDINANCE, WE WANT TO PROTECT, UH, OUR ZONING ORDINANCE.

THIS, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, UH, PROPERTY WAS ZONED, UH, RESIDENTIAL, UH, BEFORE THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T ZONE JUST ONE

[00:40:01]

PIECE OF PROPERTY.

IT'S A WHOLE AREA.

SO THAT WAS ZONING, THAT WAS ZONE AS RESIDENTIAL.

EVIDENTLY SOMEBODY GAVE, UH, A REZONING WITH A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, AND THAT'S PROBABLY HOW THAT WAREHOUSE GOT TO BE BUILT THERE.

OR THEY BUILT IT ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT FACED, UH, OR GOT THE PERMIT TO FACE AUSTIN.

BUT THE STREETS ARE RESIDENTIAL, SO WE WANT RESIDENTIAL AREAS TO BE PROTECTED.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO STOP LETTING BUSINESSES BUILD WHERE OUR ZONING ORDINANCE SAYS RESIDENTIAL.

AND WHEREAS COMMERCIAL, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE NOW SUPPORT DEVELOPERS AND BUSINESS TO COME AND DEVELOP IN THAT AREA.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THESE ZONING ORDINANCES.

WE HAVE THEM SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO MIX THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ZONING.

YOU KNOW, WE COULD KEEP THE SINGLE FAMILY, WE KEEP THE MULTIFAMILY.

WE HAVE COMMERCIAL, WE HAVE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE STAYS WITHIN THE ZONE OF OUR OILINESS.

AND IF WE EVER MAKE AN EXCEPTION TO THAT, IT SHOULD NEVER BE MADE WHERE IT IS IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON THE RESIDENTS RESIDENT THAT PEOPLE LIVE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

SO WE SHOULD ALWAYS PROTECT THAT.

UH, MAYOR PRO TEMP.

MS. MULLO, THIS QUESTION'S FOR YOU.

REGARDING THE CURRENT STRUCTURE THERE, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR.

MM-HMM? , THE OWNERS OF THE CURRENT STRUCTURE IS BLUE.

NO, THE CURRENT STRUCTURE IS MR. NGU.

, THIS IS TWO APPLICANTS FOR THIS ZONE CHANGE.

SO THERE ISN'T ANY ACTIVITY THERE RIGHT NOW? UM, I AM UNSURE OF THAT, BUT I IT'S EXISTING.

I WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY IS THERE CURRENTLY AND WHAT CHANGE WOULD IT BE? GOOD MORNING.

THE CURRENT STRUCTURE IS BEING USED AS WAREHOUSE, UM, AS A WAREHOUSE BY MR. NGUYEN TO SUPPORT HIS, UM, RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

AND IT IS GRANDFATHERED.

COUNCILMAN LEWIS, DID I UNDERSTAND YOU TO SAY IT WAS A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY THERE AND, UH, AND WHAT, WHAT KIND OF, WHAT DID YOU REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID? YES, SIR.

UM, THE QUESTION WAS IN REGARDS TO THE CURRENT STRUCTURE THAT'S LOCATED, UM, WITHIN THIS AREA, IT IS CURRENTLY BEING USED AS WAREHOUSE, A WAREHOUSE, UM, FOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL FOR A RESIDENTIAL BUILDER WITHIN THE CITY.

MM-HMM, .

NOW, WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL ZONING? UM, HONESTLY, I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND, AND RESEARCH THAT.

UM, THE PROPERTY ITSELF WAS UTILIZED FOR BAULUS TOWING SERVICE, UM, PRIOR TO THIS ZONING CHANGE.

UM, THE RESEARCH WOULD BE IN IF BAULUS, UM, WHEN THE PURCH THE PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED, UM, THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT WAS PURCHASED BEFORE THERE WAS ZONING ENACTED IN THE CITY OF PORT OTTER.

THEREFORE, THAT USE WOULD HAVE BEEN GRANDFATHERED WHEN THE ZONING ORDINANCE WAS APPROVED BACK IN 1989.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT THAT WAS A, IT WAS ZONE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND.

AND I RECALL DEALING WITH THIS BEFORE.

NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE, IT WAS A BARBER SHOP AND A BEAUTY SALON TRAINING CENTER.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WAS THERE.

I CAN GET THE INFORMATION, BUT IT WAS, I COULD RECALL IF THAT PARTICULAR AREA WAS A BEAUTY SHOP, BARBER SHOP, IT WAS A SCHOOL.

NOW THAT IS A LONG WAYS THAT FALLS UNDER NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE.

WE ALLOW CERTAIN THINGS WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS.

BUT TO GO FROM, UH, THAT FROM RESIDENTIAL, IT DOESN'T TO ALL THE WAY TO COMMERCIAL.

THAT'S A, THAT'S QUITE A LEAP.

THE ORIGINAL ZONING FOR THAT PROPERTY, AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE RESEARCHING.

AND THE, UM, STRUCTURE THAT IS CURRENTLY THERE, I BELIEVE ONCE WAS BALLOU'S RECORD SERVICE.

SO IT HAS BEEN UTILIZED, UM, FOR RECORD SERVICE IN THE PAST.

I, I, UM, THE QUESTION WOULD BE IN REGARDS TO

[00:45:01]

I REMEMBER THAT DISCUSSION AND, UH, MR. BALLOU CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

I REMEMBER THAT DISCUSSION.

HE WAS ONLY GOING TO PARK HIS TRUCKS THERE AND PUT VEHICLES INSIDE.

AS OPPOSED TO, AND, AND HE HONORED THAT.

HE, HE, YOU KNOW, HE, HE HONORED THAT.

AND I, AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT FAMILY, THAT, THAT HAS REBUILT NEIGHBORHOODS AND EVERYTHING YES SIR.

THEY DO WHAT THEY SAY.

THEY DO QUALITY THINGS.

BUT NOW WE ARE DEALING WITH A RESIDENTIAL THING.

AND WE DON'T WANT, AND, AND WHAT MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT PLANNING IN THE ZONING SAID NO.

A STRONG NOTE.

RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE SAYS NO, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE KIND OF RESPONSE FROM THOSE THAT'S AN OLD NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY DON'T, MAYBE THEY MAY READ THE MAIL OR THEY MAY NOT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN FOR US TO APPROVE IT.

UM, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION, AND I AGREE, UH, WITH, UH, WHAT THE COUNCILMAN ARE SAYING, THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTIAL, UM, OUR RESIDENTIAL, UM, UH, STATUS, UH, FOR OUR CITIZENS.

BUT I AM IN INQUISITIVE ABOUT, UH, THE FACT THAT WE SOLD, WE'VE SOLD THE PROPERTY, UH, ADJACENT AND ACROSS THE STREET, UH, FROM THIS TO THE PORT, UM, THAT BEARING THAT THAT HAS ON THAT, UM, HOW ARE WE ABLE TO DO THAT WHEN IT IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET? SO IS, IS AUSTIN AVENUE THE DELINEATION BETWEEN, UM, THE RESIDENTIAL, UM, UH, APPROPRIATION THERE? THAT IS CORRECT.

UM, ZONING IS, UM, DIVIDED UP BY THE, UM, CENTER POINT OF THE STREET RIGHT OF WAY.

SO THE PROPERTY THAT WAS SOLD FROM TO THE PORT, EXCUSE ME, IS ZONED AS INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY.

I WAS GONNA JUST PUT MY INSIGHT ON INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY.

UH, MY CONCERN ABOUT IT, UH, GIVING THE, THE, UH, INFORMATION FROM PNZ VOTING NO, UH, IT WAS THERE BEFORE.

UH, THE RE THE CONCEPTUAL RENDITION OF THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE A PARKING LOT FOR CARS ON THE OUTSIDE.

SO MY CONCERN WITH THAT RESIDENTIAL AREA THAT THERE WOULD BE PARKING THIS OUT THERE AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLUIDS THAT'S GONNA BE OUT OF THOSE WRECKED CARS.

SO, UM, IT WOULD BE KIND OF PRESSED FOR ME TO AGREE TO THIS BECAUSE OF THAT.

UH, LOOKING AT YOUR BUILDING, IT LOOKS LIKE AN OFFICE SPACE BUILDING.

UH, BUT THE CARS MAY BE OUTSIDE, UH, IN THE PERIMETER OF THE GATE.

SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A CONCEPT OF THIS DRAWING OR THIS RENDITION.

UH, BUT YOU KNOW, I, I DO TOO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE, UH, FOLLOWING THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY.

AND AT ONE TIME IT MAY HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, UH, RESIDENTIAL AND IT SLIPS THROUGH THE CRACKS WITH BALLOU, UH, IN THE YEAR OF 78 OR 79.

BUT WE REALLY NEED TO GET BACK TO OUR ORDINANCE IN THE FORCING OUR ORDINANCE AND ENSURE THAT OUR RESIDENTIAL, UM, UM, CITIZENS ARE GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS AND TO HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS FROM THE, UH, GALLERY, MS. MULLIN? ARE WE READY FOR THE NEXT ONE? OKAY.

I MEAN, BUT THAT'S IT, RIGHT? NOBODY ELSE? THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SEE IF SHE ASKED SOME MORE.

I JUST SAID HER NAME.

NO, THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING.

JUST GIVING HER AN OPPORTUNITY.

SO THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT YOU HAVE TO ADD? NO, SIR.

AND NO ONE ELSE FROM THE GALLERY? AM I CORRECT? OKAY.

WELL SEE YOU MA'AM.

IN, IN, IN THE REAR.

UM, I HAVE MS. EDWARD.

NO MA'AM.

SO WHEN YOU GET THERE, YOU JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

NOW, IF YOU ARE, HAVE SOMEONE ON THE PHONE THAT'S GOING SPEAK YES.

IT MAY NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO BE CLEAR THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S PERMISSIBLE IF, BECAUSE SHE WORKS FOR JUST A MINUTE.

NO, YOU, JUST A MINUTE.

LET ME ASK THE ATTORNEY.

I WAS CALLING THE NUMBER TO GET IN THROUGH THE ID NUMBER, BUT IT'S NOT WORKING FOR ME.

? YEAH.

IF THAT, IF THAT PERMISSIBLE.

SO I JUST NEED TO BE SURE LEGALLY WE COULD DO WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO MAYOR.

I THINK IF, IF SHE'S UNABLE TO CONNECT, I THINK IT'S PERMISSIBLE TO SEE IF WE CAN HEAR

[00:50:01]

WE CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

TURN IT.

HI.

NO, NO, NO.

I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENT OF 5 34 14TH STREET.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ZONING OF 24 0 1.

THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE, UH, TOWING SERVICE THAT THEY WANNA PUT THERE.

SIR, WE'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THAT AREA OVER 40 YEARS.

40 YEARS NOW.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT MIGHT BE PRODUCTION THAT'S GOING ON, BUT IN OUR RESIDENTIAL AREA, WE WANNA KEEP THE RESIDENTIAL.

AT THIS TIME IT'S A LOT OF GROWTH, BUT IT'S GROWING IN THE WRONG AREA.

IT NEEDS TO GROW IN A COMMERCIAL AREA, THE DOWNTOWN AREA OR OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE COMMERCIAL BUSINESS.

NOT IN OUR RESIDENTIAL AREA WHERE WE NEED TO CONTINUE BEING SAFE AND PEACE.

WE'RE AT A STATE RIGHT NOW IN OUR AGE WHERE WE JUST WANT PEACE.

WE DON'T WANNA HEAR NOISE, WE DON'T WANT THE NUISANCE, WE DON'T WANT OUR TAXES INCREASE OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

AS A RESIDENT OVER THIS AREA, OVER 40 PLUS YEAR AND TAXPAYER, ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH COMMERCIAL BUSINESS NEED NOT TO BE IN THE AREA OF RESIDENTIAL.

WE ASK THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR PEACE AND SAFETY BECAUSE BUSINESS ONLY INCREASED CRIME AND TAXES IN OUR AREA.

NOT TO MENTION WE HAD CONSTRUCTION DONE TO OUR STREET.

AT THIS TIME, OUR STREETS ARE NOT LOOKING LIKE IT HAD CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE ALL THE TRUCKS AND THINGS THAT'S GOING ON NOW, IF WE HAVE MORE COMMERCIAL ITEMS, PUT OUR BUSINESSES IN OUR AREA IS GOING TO DO NOTHING BUT MAKE A DOWNFALL IN OUR AREA.

WHY PUSH THE RESIDENTS OUT OF THEIR HOMES FOR COMMERCIAL BUSINESS WHEN WE HAVE AREAS THAT HAVE COMMERCIAL, EMPTY LOTS PARKING AREAS, YOU HAVE A EMPTY AREA THAT FITS THE ACQUAINTANCE THAT HE NEEDS RIGHT DOWN ON AUSTIN AVENUE AND SEVENTH STREET.

YOU HAVE WHAT HE NEED IN SPACE RIGHT THERE ON PROXY.

IF HE WANNA PUT HIS BUSINESS OVER THERE, THANK YOU.

TO PUT IT IN THE AREA WHERE WE RESIDE AT, WHERE WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU DO NOT, DO NOT CHANGE THE LAW AND KEEP IT AS A FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AREA.

WHEN YOU START PUTTING ONE COMMERCIAL, EVERYBODY ELSE WANNA DO COMMERCIAL AND THAT PUSHES THE RESIDENTIAL PEOPLE OUT.

SO I OPPOSED AS THE RESIDENT OF THAT AREA, THE OTHER ONES THAT WE WENT TO THAT MEETING AND WE SPOKE AND WE WROTE LETTERS, BUT THEY SAID, OKAY, THEY NOT HEARING US, BUT Y'ALL NEEDS TO HEAR US.

HAVING A MEETING THIS MORNING WAS AN INCONVENIENCE TO ME, BUT A CONVENIENCE TO YOU, WHICH IS GOOD, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I TRIED YOUR VOICE NUMBER TO GET IN ON THIS MEETING.

I ASK THAT YOU DO NOT ALLOW ANOTHER COMMERCIAL BUSINESS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.

ANYONE ELSE? MS. JONES? JOANNE JONES.

THAT IS MY, UH, AREA WHERE MY HOME IS.

I'VE BEEN THERE FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

WHAT STATE'S ADDRESS? I'M JUST SIX 40 EAST CHIN STREET.

I'VE BEEN THERE OVER 50 YEARS AND THAT WAS A COMMER, UH, THAT WAS, THAT WAS NOT A CO COMMERCIAL AREA.

AND WITH THE UM, THE UM, THE OTHER ACROSS THE STREET ON AUSTIN, THAT HURT US A LOT.

YOU KNOW, THAT PART THERE FOR COMMERCIAL REALLY HOLD, HURT THE HOME, HOME, UH, AREA THAT WE HAVE.

AND BECAUSE FOR THE SIMPLE REASON, WE HAD KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BIG TRUCKS WERE UP TEARING UP THE STREETS AND COMING DOWN THE AVENUES AND, AND, AND EVERYTHING.

SO I'M WHAT THE LADY JUST SAID, I FULLY AGREE WITH HER ON IN THAT AREA BECAUSE THE TAX, YOU GOTTA THINK ABOUT THE TAX, UH, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO, UH, WITH THAT TYPE OF BUSINESS, HOW THEY GOING TO TAX THE PROPERTY GONNA BE WORTH MORE OR LESS, YOU KNOW.

SO I FULLY AGREE WITH WHAT SHE IS SAYING AND I'VE BEEN THERE QUITE SOME TIME AND I'VE SEEN A MANY THINGS GOING ON AND IT'S GETTING WORSE BY LETTING ONE OR TWO PEOPLE IN.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

OKAY, SIR, IS YOUR APPROACH.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

[00:55:01]

NAME IS RICHARD BALLOU.

I'M HERE WITH MY NEPHEW JESSE BALLOU.

AND I WAS JUST WONDERING CONCERNING THE ZONING THAT IT'S COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL IN CERTAIN AREAS AND HOW SOME PLACES COULD BE RESIDENTIAL, BUT RIGHT NEXT DOOR OR IN THE BACKYARD IS COMMERCIAL CASING POINT IS AC C'S RUCKER STORAGE.

IT IS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET ON THE CONDO OF FOURTH STREET AND AUGUSTA AVENUE AND RIGHT NEXT TO HIM ARE BRAND NEW HOMES.

HOW DID THIS BECOME COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL ZONING AT THE SAME TIME AS COMPARED TO THE SAME THING THAT MY NEPHEW WAS ASKING? THE, AT THE, UH, HOW DO YOU SAY THE ADVANTAGES TODAY IN STORAGE IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN IT USED TO BE.

PEOPLE, UH, SOMEONE WAS MENTIONING ABOUT LIQUIDS COMING OUT OF THE VEHICLES.

WE NOW HAVE DIFFERENT TYPE OF MATERIALS TO BE PLACED UNDER VEHICLES TO ABSORB THAT LIQUID SO THAT IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO IT CAN BE IN COEXISTENCE WITH THE, THE WAREHOUSE AND NOT AFFECT AGAIN, THE ENVIRONMENT.

IF NONE, WHAT'S THE QUESTION? THEN? WHY CAN'T WE REESTABLISH THESE TAX BASE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES? THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE FROM THE GALLERY? OKAY, I KIND OF SEE THE DIRECTION OF KEN BY SAYING YOUR NAME AGAIN, PLEASE.

AND ADDRESS, I'M SORRY.

JESSE BALLOU 30 30 PARK, PLAZA CIRCLE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.

UH, I UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTION THAT YOU ALL ARE, ARE LEANING TOWARDS RIGHT NOW AND I RESPECT IT AND RESPECT THE COUNCIL, RESPECT THE MAYOR.

UH, BUT I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS.

MR. KIN LAW, YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THE OUTSIDE STORAGE.

WE'RE BUILDING A, BUILDING A WHAT I CALL STATE OF THE ART BUILDING STRICTLY FOR INSIDE STORAGE.

THE OUTSIDE THAT YOU SEE ON THAT RENDERING IS A SLAB THAT'S ALREADY THERE.

WE ARE GOING TO USE THE BUILDING FOR STORAGE.

THERE WILL BE NOTHING OUT THERE OTHER THAN MAYBE OUR TRUCKS STANDING BY.

UM, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING THAT BECAUSE ME BEING, UM, FROM THE PREVIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, I DO UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING THEIR VEHICLES TOWED.

UM, GOING SIT OUTSIDE OF THE STORAGE FACILITY.

UM, TEXAS IS THE BIGGEST, UH, CONVERTER CADILLAC CONVERTER THEFT STATE IN THE UNION.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE PLANNING TO HAVE INSIDE STORAGE, NOT OUTSIDE STORAGE.

UM, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WHEN MY DAD FIRST TOOK OVER THAT PLACE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT THE SAME BUILDING THAT MY DAD HAD, THIS IS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE PROPERTY.

THIS MY DAD'S BUILDING'S ON 13TH STREET DOWN THE STREET FROM THE YOUNG LADY WHO SPOKE EARLIER.

MINE IS ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STREET.

IT'S ON 14TH STREET.

IT'S ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SPECTRUM FROM WHERE SHE LIVES.

UM, ORIGINALLY WHEN HE HAD THAT BUILDING, IT WAS ZONED, UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS LIGHT COMMERCIAL.

IT, IT WASN'T RESIDENTIAL.

SO WHEN THE, THE ORDINANCE CHANGED, WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THAT.

AND THAT'S OUR FAULT.

WE DON'T KEEP UP, YOU KNOW.

BUT, UM, THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GO IN IS TO GIVE SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

UM, WE ORIGINALLY CHOSE THAT AREA OR THAT CORNER BECAUSE MY FAMILY ORIGINALLY OWNED IT AND AS I SAID, IT WAS ORIGINALLY ZONED FOR WHAT WE WERE GOING TO USE IT FOR AND THE ZONING HAS CHANGED, SO THAT'S ALL.

OH, WE THANK YOU MR. BLUE.

ANYONE ELSE IN THE GALLERY? COSMAN LEWIS, YOU LIKE TO ON? WELL, JUST A MINUTE.

GO AHEAD SIR.

GOOD MORNING, ANTHONY LA 37 37 DOCTORS DRIVE.

FORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.

I'M WITH THE COMPANY SOUTH TEXAS REPRESENTING THE OWNER, TRYING TO GET THIS ZONE CHANGED AND KNOWING A LOT BETTER NOW, THE HISTORY OF WHAT EXISTED AT THIS, UH, PROPERTY THERE ON 14TH STREET IN AUSTIN.

UM, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE WAS ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES, HAIR SALON, HAIR TRAINING FACILITY, HAIR CUTTING, WHICHEVER, AND ALSO BLUES TOWING.

IF THAT HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED PRIOR YEARS, WAS THERE ANY COMPLAINTS AT THAT TIME? UM,

[01:00:01]

WOULD YOU REAPPROACH PLEASE MA'AM.

HI, LUCY.

DENNIS AGAIN.

PULL PULL THE MIC DOWN SO THAT THEY CAN RECORD.

LUCY, DENNIS AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO NO, MA'AM.

JUST SAY YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, SO, OH, OKAY.

HE SAID THAT, UM, NO MA'AM.

NO MA'AM.

I NEED YOU TO SAY YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

UM, I'M JUST RESPONDING TO HIM.

HE SAID, UM, WHY DID, WHY THERE WASN'T ANY RESPONSE TO WHEN THEY ZONED IT IN THE BEGINNING.

WELL, IF I WAS LIVING THERE, I WOULD HAVE, AT THE TIME WHEN BALLOU WAS ESTABLISHED ALONG WITH THE SALON, I WASN'T LIVING THERE.

BUT IF I WAS, I WOULD HAVE.

ANY OTHER, UH, COMMENTS FROM THE GALLERY? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YEAH, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

UH, IT WAS MENTIONED ABOUT AC TRUCKING ON STEEL.

WELL, THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL PLAN FOR THAT.

ZONING CHANGE WAS ILLEGAL BECAUSE IT WAS CALLED SPOT ZONING.

SO WE HAD TO WAIT TO, TO, TO ZONE A LARGER AREA, HAD A LONG STRIP AND THAT WAS INCLUDED.

WE, WE, WE AMENDED A MASTER PLAN, BUT AT FIRST IT WAS ILLEGAL.

NOW IT APPEARS TO ME THIS IS SPOT ZONING AND I THINK THAT'S INCONSISTENT AND YOU JUST CAN'T ON THE SPOT IS ZONING.

YOU JUST CAN'T PICK A LITTLE SMALL AREA AND DO IT.

YOU HAVE TO DO A LARGER AREA.

IF A COUNCILMAN DO SAID MENTION EARLIER, YOU CAN'T BUT A CITY ATTORNEY, YOU NEED TO RESEARCH SPOTS ZONING BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS, BEFORE WE COME BACK UP AND VOTE ON IT.

BUT I THINK IT'S, THIS IS CONSIDERED SPOTS ONLY.

YOU CAN'T DO IT.

COUNCILMAN DO THAT? YEAH.

UH, I THINK WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW, UH, WHAT COUNCILMAN LEWIS IS ALLUDING TO IS, UH, WHAT WE CALL SPECIAL USE PERMITS, YOU KNOW, IN WHICH WE CAN REZONE PROPERTY AND WE CAN REZONE IT FOR ONLY THAT PURPOSE FOR WHICH WE HAVE.

AND NORMALLY WE USE A PLAN DEVELOPMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, AND WE USE A PLAN DEVELOPMENT ONLY FOR THE REASONS FOR GIVING FLEXIBILITY IN THE BUILDING OF THE STRUCTURE SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU READ THE ALL AND STUFF, THAT'S, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT STANDS.

SO AT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING.

I THINK ALL COUNCILMEN HAVE PRETTY MUCH SAID THE SAME THING IS EITHER WE'RE GOING TO HAVE RESIDENTIAL OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COMMERCIAL.

ANY OTHER, UH, COMMENTS FROM THE GALLERY? ANOTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? THERE AREN'T ANY.

PUBLIC HEARING AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

WELL, WE CAN ACTUALLY DECLARE THIS PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH BEGAN ABOUT 37 MINUTES AGO AT 10:00 AM AT NOW, AT 10 37.

WE CAN DECLARE THIS, UH, PUBLIC, PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER ONE CLOSED AT THIS JUNCTION.

OKAY, NOW WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER, UH, TWO, WHICH IS, UH, AGAIN, ROMAN NUMERAL FOUR

[IV.(2) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments To Consider The Proposed Amendment Of The Following: Proposed Change: A Zoning Map Amendment (Z24-02) Health And Safety Council. To Consider Changing The Zoning From “HI” Heavy Industrial To A “PD” Planned Development District For A Health And Occupational Clinic For The Industrial Workforce Legal Description: For 3.155-Acres Of Land Being Out Of The Port Arthur Land Company, City Of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas. (1250 Highway 365)]

ON PAGE THREE.

AND IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING, UH, BEGINNING HERE AT, AT 10:37 AM FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENTS TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE FOLLOWING, PROPOSED A CHANGE, A ZONING MAP, AMENDMENT Z 24 DASH ZERO TWO HEALTH AND THE SAFETY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER CHANGING THE ZONING FROM HI HEAVY INDUSTRIAL TO A PD PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR A HEALTH AND OCCUPATIONAL CLINIC FOR THE INDUSTRIAL WORKFORCE.

LEGAL DESCRIPTION IS 3.2 ACRES OF LAND, UH, BEING OUT OF THE PORT ARTHUR LAND, THE COMPANY CITY OF PORT ARTHUR JEFFERSON COUNTY, UH, TEXAS 1250 HIGHWAY 365.

AND THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO VIEW THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING, UH, VIA THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT WWW.PORTARTHURTX.GOV.

AND ANY PERSON MAY PARTICIPATE IN, UH, THE, UH,

[01:05:01]

YOU MAY BEGIN.

MS. MULLER? YES, SIR.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6.03 E OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE IN CHAPTER TWO 11 OF TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKEDED TO CONSIDER REZONING MAP AMENDMENT, ALSO REFERRED TO AS A ZONING MAP, CHANGE OR REZONING FOR APPROXIMATELY 3.155 ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF LOT FIVE, TRACK FOUR BLOCK 13 RANGE L PORT ARTHUR LAND COMPANY, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.

THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 1250 HIGHWAY 365.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM HEAVY INDUSTRIAL TO A PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HEALTH AND OCCUPATIONAL CLINIC FOR THE INDUSTRIAL WORKFORCE.

A COMPLETED APPLICATION WAS FILED WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ON OR AROUND JANUARY 29TH, 2024, REQUESTING A ZONING CHANGE FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROPERTY.

THE ZONING CHANGE WOULD ALLOW FOR THE USE TYPE ASSOCIATED WITH A HEALTH AND OCCUPATIONAL CLINIC FOR THE INDUSTRIAL WORKFORCE AS A LEGALLY CONFORMING USE AT SAID LOCATION.

PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THE PROPOSED SITE ON FEBRUARY 14TH AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 2024.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 4TH, 2024, INVITING CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED THREE ZERO, RECOMMENDING THE REQUEST BE APPROVED ON FEBRUARY 27TH, 2024.

THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 DASH 6 28 CALLING FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING.

THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PUBLISHED A PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON MARCH 9TH, 2024, AS WELL AS PREPARED A MAILED AND MAILED NOTIFICATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 12TH, 2024.

THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY IN A HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONE DISTRICT, WHICH IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE LOCATIONS FOR LARGE SCALE INDUSTRIAL USES THAT INVOLVE EXTENSIVE PROCESSING, MANUFACTURING, OR ASSEMBLY OF LARGE PRODUCTS OR EQUIPMENT.

THE DISTRICT IS ALSO INTENDED TO ALLOW FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE MORE INTENSE THAN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AND MAY INCLUDE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES OR THE USE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.

THE PROPOSAL ONLY IS A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, A PD.

THE DISTRICT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR INNOVATION AND PROJECTS.

THE SITE LOCATION IS ADJACENT TO THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT TO THE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST SLIDE.

FROM THE GALLERY? NOW WE WOULD GET THE COUNCIL.

THIS IS A CONCEPTUAL RENDERING OF THE PROPOSED HEALTH AND OCCUPATIONAL CLINIC FOR THE INDUSTRIAL WORKFORCE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE SITE HAS AN EXISTING BUILDING FOR THE PROJECT IN QUESTION.

THIS IS AN AERIAL, OH, THAT'S ANOTHER CONCEPTUAL RENDERING.

HERE'S AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROPERTY.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS A VIEW OF THE, OF THE EXISTING BUILDING AND THE STREET FRONTAGE.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS A VIEW OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET AND WEST OF THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS TWO 11.06 AND TWO 11.07.

A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES AND TIMES TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

ON MARCH 4TH, THE PLANNING IS ON A COMMISSION.

THERE WAS ZERO OP LETTERS OF OPPOSITION, ZERO VERBAL OPPOSITIONS, AND ZERO LETTERS RETURNED.

AND MARCH 26TH FOR CITY COUNCIL TODAY, THERE WAS ZERO LETTERS OF OPPOSITION, ZERO VERBAL OPPOSITION, AND ZERO LETTERS RETURNED.

SECTION TWO 11.006 F OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE STATES THAT A CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE OR DENY THE PROPOSED MATTER BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY JU VOTE.

IN THE EVENT THAT A PROPOSED CHANGE OR REGULA REGULATION OR BOUNDARY IS DENIED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, THEN THE PROPOSED CHANGE MUST BE APPROVED BY AT LEAST THREE FOURTHS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL WHO ARE QUALIFIED TO VOTE.

THEREFORE, ONLY A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPROVE THIS REQUEST.

ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

UH, THANK YOU MS. MILO FOR YES, SIR.

THE INFORMATION THAT'S GIVEN ANY, UH, REMARKS FROM THE GALLERY CONCERNING THIS PROPOSED CHANGE AND REMARKS FROM THE GALLERY? AGAIN, ANY REMARKS

[01:10:01]

COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES, I HAVE A QUESTION.

YOU THREW ME, THIS WAS REAL CONFUSING TO ME.

SO I GET TO LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT ZONING TODAY.

WHY DID THEY DO A PD IF THEY WERE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL? IF IT'S HEAVY INDUSTRIAL, THEY PRETTY MUCH CAN DO WHAT THEY WANTED, AIN'T IT? HUH? WELL, THIS TYPE OF USE WOULDN'T CONFORM IN A HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.

AND WE'RE DOING THE PD SO THAT IT CAN ALIGN MORE WITH THE USES THAT CONFORM IN THE AREA ALTOGETHER.

SO THAT WHAT IF THEY SELL IT IN THE FUTURE, UM, YOU DON'T WANNA COME BACK FOR ANOTHER ZONE CHANGE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO A CERTAIN ACTIVITY IN THE AREA.

SO THE PD INCLUDES LIGHT, INDUSTRIAL, HEAVY INDUSTRIAL, AND COMMERCIAL RETAIL USE.

THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FRANK? YEAH, UH, THAT WAS WHAT I WANTED TO, UM, THAT WAS WHAT I WANTED TO, UH, ADDRESS WAS BECAUSE NOW THIS IS, UH, THE EXISTING STRUCTURE, UH, WAS AN EVENT CENTER AND RIGHT DOWN, UH, THE ROAD FROM THAT, THERE'S A, UM, THERE'S A HARDWARE STORE.

SO, UM, THE, THE CHANGING OF THE ZONING WOULD ALLOW FOR BOTH OF THEM TO COEXIST.

UH, IN THE SAME, IN THE SAME AREA.

TO THE NORMAL FLOW OF THE AGENDA, AND WE WERE ON MR. HERRERA, UH, IF HE'S STILL HERE.

SO IT ALLOWS FOR MORE USE? YES, SIR.

ANY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE GALLERY? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE, UH, COUNCIL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? OKAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE GALLERY AND ANY OTHER FROM THE COUNCIL? OKAY.

WELL NOW THANK YOU, MS. MILO AGAIN, AND I CAN DECLARE THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO THAT BEGAN AT, UH, 10 37, WE'RE NOW IN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 10:45 AM ON THIS 26TH DAY OF MARCH, 2024.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE.

NOW WE'LL RETURN

[III.A.(1) Jersson A Herrera Regarding Late Night Noise (Part 2 of 2)]

YES, YES, SIR.

WE SHOULD RETURN, SIR.

AND I BELIEVE WE WERE AT A JUNCTURE WHERE, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS WAS ASKING A QUESTION OF THE CHIEF.

AM AM I CORRECT ON IT? JUST A MINUTE.

AM I CORRECT ON IT? UH, MR. LEWIS? YES.

I THINK I OKAY, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

I THINK I COVERED THAT WITH THE, WITH THE CHIEF AND ALSO CITY ATTORNEY.

SO YOU, YOU I COVERED ALL THAT.

YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU'RE GOOD.

IT WAS DEALING THIS A REFRESHER BECAUSE HE'S THE CH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE WHAT THEY SUPPOSED TO DO.

THE PROSECUTOR HAS ALREADY STATED WHAT'S NEEDED TO BE DONE.

AND WE, AND BRINGING THE PROSECUTOR FORWARD, WE FOUND OUT THAT CITATION WAS ISSUED WRONG.

SO WE GOT TO START, GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE AND THEN COME BACK BECAUSE YOU HAVE ISSUED THE CITATION TO THE WRONG PERSON.

THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I HEARD, RIGHT? RIGHT.

PROSECUTOR.

SO WE GOT TO START OVER.

THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE, MR. HAR SURE.

I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S AN AGGRAVATING SITUATION, UH, FOR YOU AND FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

BUT THIS IS THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE WHEN, AND, AND THE CHIEF IS HERE, AND SO MAYBE HE CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION, BUT WHEN THERE'S AN ACTIVE VIOLATION OF A NOISE ORDINANCE THAT'S, THAT'S OCCURRING, AND THE POLICE, UH, COME OUT TO THAT SITUATION, CAN'T THE POLICE CAUSE THEM TO CEASE AND DESIST IMMEDIATELY FROM VIOLATING THE NOISE ORDINANCE THAT'S HAPPENING AND TRANSPIRING, I MEAN, IMMEDIATELY.

SO IF THEY'RE VIOLATING, THEN I DON'T SEE WHY THEY'RE BEING ALLOWED.

AND YOU'RE CALLING THE POLICE ON THOSE SITUATIONS WHEN THAT'S HAPPENING.

AND WHEN THE POLICE COME OUT, THEY SHOULD MAKE THEM STOP IMMEDIATELY AND, AND BE CALLED IF AND IF THEY WAIT FOR A TIME PERIOD, UH, AND GO BACK TO WORK AND GO BACK TO MAKING THE NOISE THAT THEY'RE DOING, THE POLICE CAN BE CALLED AGAIN TO MAKE THEM STOP IMMEDIATELY.

HAS THAT HAPPENED AND OCCURRED? MAY I SAY SOMETHING? YES, SIR, PLEASE.

BUT IT'S 8:00 PM WITH THE PRESSURE WASHER.

UM, YES, SIR.

THE CALL I, I CALLED THE POLICE OFFICERS AND HE TOLD ME THIS THE LAST TIME THAT I CALLED IN.

THEY HAD THE PRESSURE WASHER AROUND 8:00 PM THAT'S A COMMERCIAL ZONE, THAT'S A WORKSHOP.

AND I SAY, YES IT IS,

[01:15:01]

OH, I JUST SPOKE TO DAN.

I DON'T HEAR THE NOISE, BUT THEY PUT EVERY, ALL THE TOOLS, THEY STOP ALREADY.

THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT ANYMORE.

I SAY, I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHAT THEY TELL ME.

IF THEY CAN, CAN CONTINUE MAKING NOISE, CALL THE POLICE OFFICERS RECORD, MAKE A PHONE CALL, CAN CONTINUE CALLING ON, THEY MAKE THEM TO STOP.

SO YOU, SO, AND I GUESS WHAT THE QUESTION THAT I'M ASKING, AND I'M JUST TRYING TO GARNER SOME INFORMATION HERE.

MM-HMM, .

SO YOUR HOME IS NOT IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA? NO.

IT'S IN A COMMERCIAL ZONE.

NO, MY HOME, I'M EXPLAINING TO YOU THIS WAY.

THIS IS THE SHOP RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS MY NEIGHBOR HOUSE.

THIS IS MY HOUSE.

MORNING MANAGER, MR. BLACK.

WE ARE RIGHT NEXT TO IT.

THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THE BEAT.

SO YOU, Y CAN HEAR HOW LOUD IT IS.

BUT OUR PROBLEMS GOT WORSE AFTER JOE SHINE THE CITY ORDINANCE FROM SIX TO EIGHT.

SO BEFORE AT 6:00 PM THEY STOPPED COMPLETELY.

RIGHT? NO MORE NOISE.

FINE.

BUT NOW THEY HAVE TO STOP ALL THE WAY TO 8:00 PM BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR THEM.

8:00 PM SO I GUESS THEY FIGURED OUT, LET'S GO THE WAY TONIGHT PM ALRIGHT.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR THEM.

8:00 PM SO ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, CRANK IT UP.

THE, THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT NOW ONLY ONE, LIKE THREE, THREE, UH, TRUCK RUNNING FIVE O'CLOCK, FOUR O'CLOCK.

SO I BELIEVE FOR THEN THERE IS NO LIMIT OR THERE IS NO LOAD THAT APPLIED TO THEM.

THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE.

BUT THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M HERE.

TALK, SPEAKING TO Y'ALL.

CHIEF, WHAT AM I MISSING? I'M FRANK.

HOW ARE YOU? NICE TO MEET YOU LARRY.

J MORNING COUNSEL.

MAYOR.

UM, I THINK WE'RE DEALING WITH A COMPLICATED SITUATION HERE THAT'S GOT SOME KIND OF PUT IN MIC UP SOME, UH, CHIEF PLEASE.

I THINK WE'RE DEALING WITH A COMPLICATED SITUATION HERE THAT, UM, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

AND WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT LOCATION IS HEAVY COMMERCIAL WITH NO TIME RESTRICTIONS.

UM, JUST SO HAPPENS THE YOUNG MAN HERE IS A COUPLE OF HOUSES AWAY FROM THAT, THAT LOCATION.

UM, WE'VE SENT OFFICERS OUT THERE ON MANY OCCASIONS AND THEY'VE CEASED DURING THE TIME THE OFFICERS WERE THERE.

AND ACTUALLY A CITATION WAS, WAS WRITTEN.

UM, WHETHER IT'S WRITTEN TO THE WRONG PERSON OR NOT IS DEBATABLE IN MY OPINION.

UM, BUT IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED SITUATION.

TO WHERE IT'S HEAVY COMMERCIAL MM-HMM.

WITH NO TIME RESTRICTIONS.

SO WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE CAN, WE CAN CHANGE THAT SOMEHOW.

AND, AND, UM, THE, WHERE WE COULD BENEFIT BOTH PARTIES.

UH, WE'VE TRIED TO, UH, TALK TO SOME PEOPLE OVER THERE TO GET AN AGREEMENT WITH TIMES, BUT IT'S JUST, UH, AN AGREEMENT THAT'S NOT WRITTEN WITH, WITH ANY NO PENALTIES ATTACHED TO IT.

SO I UNDERSTAND HIS PLEA AND I'M PLEAING ALSO BECAUSE THE OFFICERS ARE HAVING TO RESPOND OVER THERE, UH, LEAVING WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO HELP A CITIZEN.

SO, SO MAY MAY OR MAY I CONTINUE GO.

SO, BUT I HEARD, I THOUGHT CITATIONS WERE ISSUED, RIGHT? SO IF IT'S NO, IF THERE'S NO, IF THERE'S NOT A VIOLATION, HOW DO YOU ISSUE A CITATION? WELL, LIKE I SAID, THE, THAT'S DEBATABLE AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD DEBATE THAT AT ANOTHER TIME INSTEAD OF THIS FORUM.

UM, OKAY.

BECAUSE I DON'T, I'M NOT TRYING TO DISPUTE ANYTHING OUT IN THE PUBLIC WITH OUR CITY OFFICIALS.

SO WE COULD DO THAT IN PRIVATE.

I, I WOULD MUCH RATHER THAT, BUT IF WE WANT TO DO IT HERE, WE CAN DO IT.

HERE IT IS.

I'M JUST ASKING TO RESPECT THE RESPECT THE, THE GROUP, OUR, OUR TEAM MEMBERS, BECAUSE IT'S DEBATABLE CITY MANAGER.

UH, YES.

CAN WE PLEASE SCHEDULE TIME, PULL THIS ORDINANCE SO THAT WE CAN GO INTO FURTHER DISCUSSION? THIS ISN'T, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS THE ONLY RESIDENT THAT'S HAVING THIS SAME SITUATION BEHIND OUR HOUSE.

UH, MAY I APPROACH HIM? THANK YOU MAYOR.

UM, CITY ATTORNEY AND MORE SO CITY ATTORNEY, BUT ALSO CITY MANAGER.

[01:20:01]

WE HAVE THE SAME SITUATION AND THE ONLY THING THAT SEPARATES US FROM A BUSINESS IS A FENCE.

AND IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT TO WHERE WE LITERALLY DROVE OVER THERE AND TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT THE BABY TO SLEEP.

SO I GET IT.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT THE LAW IS THE LAW.

SO IF WE WANT SOMETHING TO CHANGE, THEN WE NEED TO CHANGE THE LAW.

SO BEING OUR ATTORNEY, WILL YOU PLEASE PULL THE ORDINANCE AND UM, GET WITH US TO SCHEDULE TIME SO THAT WE CAN REVIEW IN MORE DETAIL SO THAT WE CAN UPDATE THIS ORDINANCE TO, SO THAT WE CAN LIVE COHESIVELY BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS.

MAYOR, YOU GOTTA THANK YOU MAYOR TIM.

UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS.

THE SOLUTION IS VERY SIMPLE.

IT'S ZONE HEAVY, HEAVY INDUSTRY.

AM I CORRECT? IT'S VERY SIMPLE, BUT WE GOT RESIDENTIAL.

IT'S, IT IS A COMBINATION.

SO ALL WE NEED TO DO IS TO SHUT THE, SHUT THE NOISE DOWN BECAUSE THEY CAN MAKE ALL THE NOISE THEY WANT DURING THE DAYTIME.

SO WHEN YOU CUT IT OFF, WE CUT IT OFF AT 10 O'CLOCK OR CUT IT OFF AT 12 O'CLOCK.

THAT WAY Y'ALL CAN GET SOME REST.

SO THAT'S ALL WE NEED TO DO.

SO THAT WOULD BE A, A, UM, COMPROMISE WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE THE ZONING IS THERE WITH THE NOISE LEVEL IS, IS UNREGULATED.

BUT RESIDENTS, WE HAVE A NOISE ORDINANCE FOR RESIDENTS.

SO WE JUST COMPROMISE WITH IT.

10 O'CLOCK OR 12 O'CLOCK, SHUT IT DOWN.

CITATION WILL HOLD NEXT TIME, REGARDLESS OF WHO IS THERE.

ISSUE THE CITATION TO THE PEOPLE THAT'S MAKING A NOISE.

EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM, IF THERE'S 50 OF 'EM IN THERE, YOU GOT 50 CITATION ISSUE.

YOU THROUGH COUNCILMAN LEWIS? ALRIGHT.

UH, COUNCILMAN ETT? YES, I WAS ALL RIGHT TILL YOU SAID, UH, THE, THE, UH, NOISE CHIEF.

I WAS ALL RIGHT UNTIL YOU MENTIONED ABOUT NOISE.

AND, UH, THE COMMERCIAL STUFF, OUR NOISE ORDINANCE, DOES IT DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN ZONES OR DOES OUR NOISE ORDINANCE JUST STAY AFTER THIS TIME? YOU WILL NOT HAVE SOUND MEETING SO MANY DECIMALS.

SO WHAT DOES THE ORDINANCE STATE? I WOULD'VE TO GET BACK WITH YOU TO GIVE YOU SPECIFICS ON THAT, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN IT'S HEAVY COMMERCIAL, UH, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO MAKE MORE NOISE THAN THE AVERAGE, UH, CITIZEN.

BUT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I COULD FACTUALLY SAY AT THIS POINT.

WELL, WELL, THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION BECAUSE I'M HERE A LOT OF TIME I GET A RESPONSE.

WELL, THAT'S THE WAY WE'VE BEEN DOING IT, OR THAT'S WHAT THEY DONE.

HOWEVER, IT IS WRITTEN.

WE HAVE A NOISE ORDINANCE IN THIS CITY, SO WE NEED TO CHECK THE NOISE ORDINANCE AND WHATEVER OUR NOISE ORDINANCE STATES RIGHT.

THEN THAT SHOULD BE ENFORCED.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD GO BY.

SEE PAM COMING UP.

SHE HAVE A COPY OF IT FOR YOU, PAM STEPPING ME OUT.

Y'ALL TAG TEAMING UNDER THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S NOISE ORDINANCE.

UM, IT DOES D DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN ZONING DISTRICTS FROM RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.

UM, WHAT IT GOVERNS OVER IS THE AMOUNT OF DECIBELS, RIGHT.

UM, THAT IS DONE, UM, VERSUS DAYTIME VERSUS NIGHTTIME.

IT DOESN'T GIVE SPECIFIC TIMES, UM, CUTOFF TIMES LIKE 10:00 PM 11:00 PM IT JUST SAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT, YOU CAN'T, UM, EXCEED 150 MI 59 DECIBELS AT NIGHT.

SO IT DOESN'T MEAN ACTIVITY STOP AT NIGHT.

YOU JUST CAN'T EXCEED 159 DECIMALS.

WELL, THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR THE ORDINANCE.

AND RES THEN WE SHOULD FIND OUT WHAT THOSE DECIMAL IS.

BECAUSE IF THAT HE'S HEARING AT TWO HOUSES DOWN YES, SIR.

MAYBE THOSE DECIMALS IS EXCEEDING WHAT IS REQUIRED.

BECAUSE NORMALLY IF YOU'RE DOING HEAVY EQUIPMENT, YOU MAY HAVE A TRUCK COMING IN, OR YOU MAY BE MOVING EQUIPMENT.

BUT ALL THIS LOUD NOISE THAT I HEARD AND IT'S TWO HOUSES AWAY, THOSE DECIMALS MAY BE EXCEEDED.

THEREFORE WE CAN ENFORCE OUR ORDINANCE AS IN PLACE.

FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT 'EM AND IN OUR ORDINANCE.

AND IN THE EVENT WE CANNOT, UH, DO IT, THEN WE NEED, UH, RECOMMENDATION.

'CAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS CHANGE OUR ORDINANCE, SIR.

WE CAN AMEND OUR ORDINANCE.

SO THEN WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF

[01:25:01]

AND ONCE WE AMEND THE ORDINANCE, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN APPLY IT, YOU KNOW, AND GIVE EVERYBODY A THING.

SO WE NEED TO JUST GET BACK TO THE BLACK AND WHITE, DETERMINE WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO FIX IT.

AND THEN WE COULD FIX THIS.

ALSO, IT'S MY, MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MOST OF THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE STARTING OF DUMP TRUCKS IN 18 WHEELERS.

RIGHT? OKAY.

THE, THE ISSUE IS I USED TO BE A, I HAD EQUIPMENT MECHANIC BEFORE.

I HAVE EQUIPMENT RUNNING.

IT'S MORE THAN A HUNDRED DECIBELS.

I'M GONNA ASK, ASK, UH, ANSWER TO HER.

I SAY MY TRUCK RUNNING, IT'S MORE THAN A HUNDRED DECIBELS.

I SAY MY TRUCK IDLY.

IT'S NOT A HUNDRED DECALS, IT'S 300 DECALS.

THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAD, THEY KEEP THOSE EQUIP ME RUNNING FOR FIVE HOURS, THREE HOURS WITHOUT STOP.

THAT CREATE A LOT OF, UH, DIESEL EXHAUST FUEL.

YOU CANNOT EVEN BE, NOT EVEN OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY.

MR. OKAY, MR. I UNDERSTAND.

THAT'S WHY I TOLD THE CHIEF, WE GONNA HAVE TO REALLY FIND OUT WHAT IT IS SURE.

BEFORE WE TRY TO APPLY IT.

AND THEN ONCE WE FIND OUT WHAT IT IS, THEN STAFF COULD BRING RECOMMENDATIONS TO US.

AND WE CAN ALWAYS CHANGE ORDINANCE.

THAT'S, THAT'S INDUSTRIAL AND STUFF.

SO WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS, YOU FINISH, GO AHEAD.

UH, LABELED INDUSTRIAL.

SO THEY HAVE RIGHTS TO, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO GET, UH, REAL CAREFUL ABOUT.

AND THAT'S WHAT CHIEF WAS TALKING ABOUT.

I THINK WE HAVE HEARD FROM, WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR, WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE POLICE CHIEF.

WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE CONCERNS CITIZENS.

WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE CITY PROSECUTOR, LET THE PROCESS TAKE ITS TOLL, LET IT GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

AND I THINK ALL THIS CAPABLE INDIVIDUALS, WE'LL PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND COME WITH A SOLUTION, UM, MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT PORT ARTHUR IS AN INDUSTRIAL CITY, AND WHATEVER CHANGES THAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT IN THE ENTRIES OF THE RESIDENTS AND OF THE BUSINESSES IN THE CITY.

SO LET THE PROCESS TAKE ITS PLACE THROUGH THE PROSECUTOR, THE POLICE CHIEF, AND THE OTHER CONCERNED DEPARTMENTS.

AND WE SHOULD COME UP WITH A RESOLUTION THEREAFTER.

OKAY? OKAY, SIR.

THANK YOU MR. ERRA.

AND AS CITY MANAGER SAID, AND WE, WE WILL WORK ON THIS AND SEE WE COME OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, SOMEONE WILL, FROM ADMINISTRATION, WE'LL GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU.

OKAY? SURE.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

[III.B.(1) A Presentation By Sharon DeJohn Of Memorial High School Regarding A Principle Of Marketing And Finance Class]

MOVE TO PRESENTATIONS.

NOW WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY, UH, MS. SHARON DEON OF MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL REGARDING THE PRINCIPAL OF MARKETING AND FINANCE CLASS.

IS MS. DIJON HERE, MS. DIJO AND MS. DIJO.

I GATHER THAT.

NO ANSWER TO THAT CALL.

NEXT, WE HAVE

[III.B.(2) Dr. Pastor Keith Richard Of The New World Harvest Church Regarding Homelessness In The City Of Port Arthur]

DR.

UH, PASTOR KEITH RICHARDS OF THE NEW WORLD HARVEST CHURCH REGARDING HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WOULD YOU PLEASE APPROACH? GOOD MORNING COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS PASTOR KEITH RICHARD, NEW WORLD HARVEST CHURCH.

THE ADDRESS IS 6 3 6 6 JADE AVENUE.

I CAN GET YOU TO PASS THE PLEASE.

I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE GROWING, STRONG GROWING CONCERN WITH HOMELESSNESS.

SHE'S GONNA PASS OUT SOME FLYERS THAT WE HAVE PRESENTED TO THE, UH, CITY MANAGER AND THE STATE SECRETARY.

THAT'S PROBABLY ON SCREEN NOW.

I ALSO HAVE IN MY PRESENCE, UM, ONE OF THE HOMELESS GENTLEMEN.

SO THAT WAY, IF YOU WANNA BE ABLE TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WE CAN DEFINITELY GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY NEED AND WHAT THEY WANT.

WE CAN ASSUME A WHOLE LOT, BUT THEY'RE OUT THERE.

THEY'RE LIVING AS CONDITIONS.

UM, I HAVE BEEN, I GUESS WHAT YOU WOULD CALL ANOINTED TO TAKE THIS LEAD.

AND I RANT LIKE JONAH AND LORD SPIT ME BACK OUT.

WHEN YOU HAVE A PERSON WHO HAVE SERVED THIS COUNTRY AS A VETERAN, COME TO YOU IN TEARS CRYING THAT HE'S GETTING DISPLACED OR GET MOVED, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

IT'S NOT A RESOLUTION.

I'M SORRY.

PROPOSALS TO THE COUNCIL TO TRY AND HELP TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN A RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.

SO I'M HERE TO PRESENT TWO

[01:30:01]

IT MAY NOT BE THE BEST, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAVE COME UP WITH.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION THAT I HAVE, JUST GIVING THE INSIGHT OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

OUR CHURCH HAVE TAKEN A LEAD IN THE COMMUNITY, IN THE PORT ACRES AREA TO REALLY BECOME A COMMUNITY CENTER AND A SPOKEPERSON FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE HELD SEVERAL EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE THEM INFORMATION THAT WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR CITY.

UH, WE TRY TO DO THAT ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

WE HAVEN'T DONE IT IN A WHILE.

WE ALSO HAVE PARTNERED WITH, PARTNERED WITH THE RED CROSS.

DURING THE FREEZE, WE USED THE CENTER AS A WARMING STATION.

THEY WERE ABLE TO COME OUT AND BRING COTS AND, AND, AND BLANKETS.

AND, AND SO WE'VE BEEN VERY, UH, UH, ADAMANT ABOUT DOING SO.

MAN, THANK THE CITY MANAGER AND, UH, THE POLICE CHIEF AND, UM, THE FIRE CHIEF HAVE REALLY RESPONDED TO OUR NEEDS.

THEY'VE ALWAYS, UM, RESPONDED TO OUR CALL.

WHEN I CALLED THEM.

THEY NEVER PUT ME OFF EVEN WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL.

UM, AND EVEN NOT BEEN ON COUNCIL, THEY STILL RESPOND.

SO WE THANK YOU GUYS FOR, UH, REACHING OUT TO US WHEN WE, UH, NEEDED THE HELP.

OUR CHURCH IS A 5 0 1 C3.

WE'RE NON, UH, DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH.

WE HAVE ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

JUST GIVING YOU INSIGHT OF WHAT WE ARE DOING.

WE HAVE BECOME A SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION.

THAT'S, WELL, MY BYLAWS ALLOWS ME TO DO THAT.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE, WE WANNA BE A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE CITIZENS AND THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO HAVE.

WE HAVE HAD SENIORS TO CALL US IN THE AREA.

THEY HAVE TRIED TO GET SOME THINGS DONE, UH, THEY WASN'T ABLE TO.

SOMETIME THEY GIVE UP.

AND OUR CHURCH AND OUR STAFF, WHICH IS HERE TO HELP US REPRESENT, UH, THE CHURCH.

THEY HAVE ALSO TAKEN A LEAD TO CALL, UM, EACH DEPARTMENT AND TRY TO GET SOME THINGS RESOLVED, LIKE GARBAGE CANS AND YADA YADA, YADA, DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE, BE A SEARCH, A SOCIAL SERVICE FOR THE CITIZEN, JUST A BRIDGE TO HELP, UH, WITH COMMUNICATION.

WE ALSO HAVE PUT TOGETHER A TRANSITIONAL FOR THOSE THAT CAN'T SPEAK ENGLISH, UH, THAT ARE ABLE TO COME HERE.

THEY DON'T KNOW THE DOCUMENTATION.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.

SO WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT THAT CAN TRANSLATE IN ENGLISH.

UH, I'M SORRY, ENGLISH TO SPANISH AND ALSO ASIAN.

UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY ARABS YET, BUT SOONER OR LATER, WE'LL, WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT.

WE HAVE DOCTORS, UH, THAT ARE, THAT ARE MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH.

WE HAVE, UH, NURSES.

I MEAN, WE HAVE COUNSELORS.

SO WE'LL, WE'LL PRETTY MUCH ESTABLISH TO THE NEEDS DEFINITELY FOR THE HOMELESS.

A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS AND ABOUT TO BE HOMELESS.

GETTING READY TO PREACH.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE BROCHURE THAT I, THAT I PRESENTED TO YOU UNDER THE, UM, OUR STAFFING, LIKE AGAIN, WE WANNA BE ABLE TO BE A SERVICE CENTER TO HELP AND ASSIST IN DOCUMENTATION.

WE ALSO, UM, HAVE MEMBERS THERE THAT ARE, CAN HELP WITH COUNSELING AND ABUSE, FAMILY ABUSE, DRUG COUNSELING.

WE HAVE ALSO PARTNERED WITH GULF COAST HEALTH HEALTH.

EDDIE, EDDIE PATTON FROM THE GULF COAST HEALTH IS NOT HERE TODAY, BUT HE WAS GOING TO DO A PRESENTATION ALSO TO WORK WITH, TO SHOW YOU GUYS AND MENTION THAT THINGS THAT THEY HAVE HELPED US AND OFFER, UH, UM, UM, OFFERED ONE OF THE BROCHURES THAT YOU HAVE.

I BELIEVE THAT WAS ON FEBRUARY THE 22ND.

WE HAVE HELD A, WHAT WE CALL A HEALTH FAIR FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE HOMELESS.

IT WAS VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL.

WE FED THE FED, THE ONES THAT COME OUT THERE.

GULF COAST HEALTH HAD BROUGHT THEIR, UH, MOBILE UNIT.

THE, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE VACCINED, UM, THEY'VE GOT MEDICATED.

UM, THEY, THEY'VE GOT, UH, IDENTIFIED THEIR HEALTH NEEDS.

UH, IT WAS A GREAT, GREAT SUCCESS.

WE PLANNING TO DO A SECOND ONE, UH, JUNE 22ND, HOPEFULLY TO BE BIGGER.

SOME OF THE COUNCIL PEOPLE HAVE SENT SOME, UM, THE BROCHURE OUT TO EAT THE FLYER.

COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE HAD ATTENDED THAT, I THINK, UH, COUNCILMAN TIFFANY HAD HAD RECEIVED IT.

UM, THE FLYERS.

SO ANYWAY, AT THE SAME TIME, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LEFT SIDE OF THAT SUPPORT AND SOLUTION, THERE IS THE STRONG, STRONG NEED TO HELP THE HOMELESS PEOPLE.

AND WHAT WE'LL PROPOSE AT THIS TIME, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONTROL ENVIRONMENT.

WE HAVE, AS WE'RE ASKING THE CITY, AS WE CONTINUE ALONG, WE'VE ASKING THE CITY, IF THE CITY HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT THEY CAN LEASE TO US FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, WE CAN GATHER THE HOMELESS PEOPLE, PUT THEM ON THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY, AND M MONITOR THEM.

I'M PARTNERED WITH, UM, A RECOVERY CENTER OUT OF, OUTSIDE OF DALLAS, BEN WHEELER, UM, TEXAS, WHICH IS VICTORY LIFE MINISTRY.

THEY WILL COME AND PICK UP ANYONE WHO, WHO HAVE DRUG PROBLEMS, ABUSE, WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS.

THEY WILL COME PICK THEM UP, BRING THEM TO THEIR, TO THEIR FACILITY.

AND IT'S A ONE YEAR, UH, REHAB PROGRAM.

WE'RE PARTNERED WITH THEM.

BUT THERE IS A PROCESS, THERE'S

[01:35:01]

THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE CONTACTED AND TRIED TO WORK WITH.

THEY'RE SET UP FOR ABOUT TO BE HOMELESS.

THESE PEOPLE, HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO ARE US CITIZENS, MOST OF THEM, ALL THE THING, THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE IS A PAC SAC OR A WALMART PUSH CARD.

THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE.

THEY ARE HOMELESS.

THEY ARE THE, THE BOTTOM OF THE, OF THE BOTTOM.

THEY DON'T HAVE, MOST OF THEM DON'T HAVE ID IDENTIFICATION.

THEY'RE LOST THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR TRAVEL OR BEING DISPERSED OR STOLEN FROM THEM.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM GET IDENTIFIED.

ONCE WE CAN GET THEM TOGETHER IN ONE SPOT, ONE LOCATION, WE CAN GET THEM TREATED.

WHATEVER, UH, PROBLEM THEY HAVE IN PHYSICALLY, WHETHER IT'S MENTAL, DRUG PROBLEM OR PHYSICAL ISSUES.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE THEM.

AND WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN DO THAT AND HELP US DO, DO THOSE THINGS.

I HAVE, AGAIN, TALKED WITH SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE.

NOW, I'M NOT, I DON'T WANNA CALL ANY NAMES, BUT SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS HERE NOW ARE HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE ABOUT TO BE HOMELESS.

THEY HAVE FINANCES TO DO TO DO THAT.

I'M HELPING THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS, WHO DON'T HAVE AN INCOME, MANY OF WHICH ARE DISPLACED FROM HARVEY.

AND THEY'RE LOCATED FROM DIFFERENT AREAS.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE INCOME TO $1,500, $1,200 A MONTH TO PAY FOR AN APARTMENT.

VERY, VERY LOW INCOME.

600 TO $800 INCOME IS ALL THEY HAVE.

MAYBE SOME OF THEM.

I HAVE A GENTLEMAN HERE, CHRIS, HE'S A VETERAN.

HE WAS DISPLACED DURING ONE OF THE HURRICANES, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, CORRECTLY FROM, FROM UM, UM, FLORIDA.

HE HAS SOME PERSONAL ISSUES.

HE MIGRATED THIS WAY, BEEN HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS.

HE'S TRYING TO GET HIS, UH, VETERANS BENEFITS.

HE DON'T HAVE A LOCATION.

HE DON'T HAVE A MAILING ADDRESS, SO THEY CAN'T GET TO HIM.

BUT IF WE CAN FIND A PARTICULAR LOCATION, WE CAN ESTABLISH THAT LOCATION FOR THEM.

THEY'LL BEGIN TO HAVE AN ADDRESS.

WE CAN WORK WITH THEM, ASSESS THEM, ASSESS THEIR REAL NEEDS.

NOT WHAT WE THINK THEY NEED, BUT WHAT THEY REALLY, REALLY NEED.

THEY NEED HELP.

SO I'M PROPOSING TO THE COUNCIL THAT WE TAKE THE LEAD AS A CITY.

MANY, MANY CITIES HAVE COME UP WITH DIFFERENT, UH, PROPOSALS AND, AND WHATEVER, YADA, YADA, YADA.

NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.

WE CAN DO IT.

YOU GUYS ARE BRILLIANT PEOPLE.

GOD, THE LORD HAS PUT YOU IN THESE POSITIONS TO DO IT.

I KNOW MOST OF YOU PERSONALLY, I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CRAVE IN YOUR HEART TO DO IT.

SO LET'S TAKE THIS STEP AND DOING THAT.

IF YOU TURN TO THE, TO THE THIRD PAGE FROM THE FRONT, YOU'LL LOOK AT ONE OF THE FIRST PROPOSALS FOR THE LAND.

IF THE CITY HAS A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT THEY CAN LEASE TO US.

THESE, THE PEOPLE THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM LIVING IN A TENT FOR TEMPORARILY.

THEY DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM IN DOING THAT.

THEY HAVE FORMED TOGETHER A COMMUNITY.

THEY TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

THEY WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

WHEN WOMEN ARE, ARE, ARE THERE, THEY TAKE CARE OF THE WOMEN.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE REALLY FORMED A, A, A STRONG BOND.

SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT IN THIS COMING WORLD.

THE WAY THIS WORLD IS GOING TO BE OR WHAT WE THINK IT MAY BE.

THEY DO TAKE CARE.

THEY HELP EACH OTHER IN VARIOUS WAYS.

OF COURSE, YOU SEE THEM PANHANDLING.

I'M NOT SAYING THEY DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS, DRUG PROBLEMS, ALCOHOL PROBLEMS. I'M NOT SAYING THAT A LOT OF THEM DO.

BUT MANY OF THEM ARE GOOD, GOOD PEOPLE.

AND A LOT OF 'EM DON'T HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. I MET A YOUNG LADY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE WENT TO, BUT SHE WAS IN ONE OF THE RESOURCE CENTERS.

SHE WAS BRUTALLY RAPED YOUNG GIRL AROUND 32, 33 YEARS OLD.

BRUTALLY RAPED.

AND SHE HAD NO PLACE TO GO.

A LOT OF THE, THE SINNER THAT WE HAVE HERE REQUIRE SOME INCOME.

THEY WOULD TAKE YOU TEMPORARILY, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOME FINANCES, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO SURVIVE AS WELL.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE UNDERSTAND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT WE TALKING ABOUT.

WE TALKING ABOUT HELPING THOSE THAT REALLY NEED TO BE HELPED.

AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, CONTINUE ON THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY, THEY WILL CLEAN UP THEMSELVES.

IF WE CAN PUT A DUMPSTER OUT THERE, PORT POTTIES, SANITIZE AND HAND WASH, WHATEVER, THEY WILL CLEAN UP THEMSELVES.

WE'RE PROPOSING TO MONITOR THAT.

OUR CHURCH, WE WILL MONITOR THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET AN ATTENTION THAT THEY NEED.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME 24 HOUR SECURITY.

'CAUSE THEY WOULD NEED SOME KIND.

THEY CAN SECURE, I MEAN, HAVE, DO IT THEMSELVES, BUT STILL WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE BEING DONE RIGHT.

AND MAKE SURE THAT DRUG DEALERS ARE NOT COMING TO THIS PROPERTY AND CAUSING MORE PROBLEMS FOR THEM.

[01:40:02]

THE REAL HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT WE ENCOUNTER, THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED, THEY ALSO HAVE, THEY CALL WEEKEND HOMELESS PEOPLE.

THEY LEAVE THEIR HOMES, GO ON THIS SPREE CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR THE ONES THAT REALLY NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT, THAT ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS FOR THEM.

AND I'M OUT, I'M OUT THERE.

I'M IN THE CAMPS.

I'M NOT, I'VE BEEN SICK MORE THAN A WHOLE LOT OF TIMES, BUT IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME.

I'M NOT AFRAID OF ALL THAT.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

I'M NOT AFRAID TO HUG THEM.

I'M NOT AFRAID TO LOVE THEM.

THERE'S STILL GOD'S CHILDREN.

OKAY? SO I'M NOT AFRAID OF THAT.

I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

THIS PARTICULAR CAMP IS NEXT TO MY SHOP.

THEY WERE DISPLACED FROM THE WALMART.

I, I DON'T, I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE STREET ON TWIN CITY.

SO IT WAS MOVED FROM THERE.

THEY WENT TO ANOTHER AREA.

I HAD A TRAILER STOLEN.

I'M MOVING 'EM AROUND.

WHEREVER THEY WANT TO GO, I'LL TAKE 'EM.

SO WHEREVER, WHENEVER THEY GET DISPLACED, THEY WILL COME TO ME AND SAY, KEITH, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO? I SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO EITHER.

I SAID, Y'ALL NEED TO FIND ANOTHER LOCATION AND I'LL BRING YOU, I'LL BRING YOU.

IT'S NOT A PROBLEM FOR ME.

AND SO WE DID BROUGHT THEM TO THE, UM, THE AREA OPPOSITE OF WHERE THEY WERE DISPLACED ON TWIN CITY BEHIND, UH, WAFFLE HOUSE.

AND SONIC IS WHERE THEY'RE AT NOW.

ONE OF THE CAMPS.

THEIR CAMPS SPREAD OUT ALL OVER THE CITY.

JIMMY JOHNSON HAS THREE BEHIND.

THE MEDICAL CENTER HAS FOUR.

I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ARE AWARE OF THEY'RE SMALL, BUT THEY HAVE 'EM.

ONE IS NOW AT THE RECOVERY CENTER.

NOT INCLUDING THE ONES DOWN BETWEEN, UH UH, GOWAY DRIVE.

THEY'RE SLEEPING OUTSIDE OF BUSINESSES.

EVENTUALLY, IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING, THEY'LL BE IN AN ALLEYS.

THEY'LL BE BEHIND SOME HOME OR IN A VACANT PROPERTIES.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, BUT WE HAD A LOT OF HOUSE FIRES AND VACANT PROPERTIES BECAUSE OF HOMELESS PEOPLE.

IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING, TAKE THE LEAD AS LEADERS TO DO IT.

WHO'S GONNA DO IT? WHO'S GONNA DO IT? LET'S MAKE THAT EFFORT AGAIN.

WE WANNA BE ABLE TO HELP THEM AND MONITOR THEM.

IF YOU TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE, PROPOSAL NUMBER TWO, HAVING A PIECE OF PROPERTY, PUTTING THEM ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY.

WE CAN ASSESS THEIR NEEDS.

WE CAN IDENTIFY THEM.

WE CAN ALSO STOP THE DROP OFFS.

I, MY CENTER, MY ORGANIZATION, THE PEOPLE THAT I'M WORKING WITH, THE CITY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S ORDINANCE.

BUT WE CAN, THOSE THAT WE IDENTIFY WHO ARE NON PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS, IF THEY DON'T WANT TO BECOME A PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS, THEN WE WILL ESCORT THEM BACK TO THEIR CITY.

ONCE WE CLEAN THEM UP, ASSESS THEIR NEEDS, WE DON'T WANNA JUST DROP 'EM OFF AND THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

I WILL PERSONALLY GO TO THE CITY MANAGER, CITY MAYOR AND SAY, LOOK, HERE'S A, B, C, AND D IN YOUR CITY THAT YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF.

'CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN FUNDED TO DO IT.

YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO.

I WILL, WE WILL STOP ALL OF THIS THAT'S GOING ON.

THE PANHANDLING CHURCHES, ORGANIZATIONS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO COME TO THE CAMP, BRING THEM THE FOOD, BRING 'EM THE CLOTHING, BRING WHATEVER THEY NEED TO BRING.

WE CAN COUNSEL THEM.

GULF COAST HEALTH HAS, HAS STEPPED UP ON THE PLATE TO SAY, HEY LOOK, WE HAVE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS NEED.

WE HAVE THE DRUG COUNSELING, WE HAVE THE MENTAL COUNSELING, MENTAL HEALTH.

WE CAN GIVE THEM THE MEDICATION THAT THEY NEED.

WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO HELP THEM.

THEN AGAIN, YOU HAVE THE RED CROSS.

WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THEM AS WELL DURING THE WARMING STATION.

THANK THE CITY MANAGER.

YOU ASK US TO USE OUR FACILITY FOR WARMING STATION.

WE'VE DONE THAT.

THEY HAVE PROVIDED COTS FOR US.

WE HAVE PILLOWS.

SO WE HAVE THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO WORK WITH THEM.

WE JUST NEED YOUR SUPPORT IN ANY DIRECTION YOU CAN IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING ON THIS OTHER, UH, PROPOSAL.

NUMBER TWO, IF WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY, BEAUMONT HAS PROPOSED BUILDING A FACILITY.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT LONG TERM.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SHORT TERM.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE PUTTING UP A DOUBLE WIDE MOBILE HOME HOME THERE WHERE THEY, WITH FOUR BEDROOMS, TWO BATHS, WASH AND DRY, WHERE THEY CAN COME IN, THEY CAN, THEY CAN WASH THEIR CLOTHES, THEY CAN LOUNGE, THEY CAN GET OUT OF THE COLD WHEN IT'S COLD.

THEY CAN GET OUT OF THE HEAT WHEN IT'S HOT AND THEY CAN COOL OFF IN THIS FACILITY.

WE WILL MONITOR THEM AND CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEM.

ASSESS THEM.

IF ANYONE NEEDS TO COME AND COUNSEL THEM, WE CAN SET UP ROOMS IN THIS AREA SO THEY CAN COUNSEL WITH THEM.

FAITH-BASED MINERAL, WHATEVER IT TAKES.

WE HAVE THREE, WE HAD THREE MEMBERS, ONE FROM MY CHURCH, TWO FROM THE ENCAMPMENT.

[01:45:01]

TWO BACKED OUT ON ME AND I'M STILL WORKING ON THEM TO HELP GET THEM RECOVERED.

BUT ONCE THEY SEE SOMETHING IS GOING ON TO THEIR FAVOR, THEY'RE WILLING TO DO IT.

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED IN THE PAST WAS THAT WHENEVER THEY GO TO SOMEWHERE, RESCUE CENTER, THEY'VE BEEN ARRESTED BECAUSE THEY HAVE LEGAL ISSUES.

SOME OF THEM, WE WANNA BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THAT.

WE WANNA BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THAT PROBATION OFFICER.

WE, BECAUSE THEY MINOR, THEY'RE MINOR ISSUES.

IF WE CAN JUST ASSESS THEM AND ASSESS THEIR NEEDS, THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO.

THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITIES, NOT YOURS.

WE WILL TO TAKE IT OFF OF YOUR SHOULDER.

GIVE IT TO US.

LET ME DEAL WITH IT.

LET ME WORK IT OUT.

HE WILL DO IT FOR ME.

HE JUST NEEDS SOMEBODY TO DO IT.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, UM, AGAIN, THIS DOUBLE WIDE, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AGAIN, IT WOULD HAVE 24 HOUR SECURITY, WHETHER IT'S PORT ARTHUR SECURITY OR WHETHER IT'S A THIRD PARTY SECURITY.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ASKING.

THEY'LL BE ABLE TO, TO BE TREATED.

THEY CAN LIVE IN A MORE CLEAN ENVIRONMENT, HUMANITARIAN ENVIRONMENT.

I MEAN, WE CAN REALLY, REALLY DO SOMETHING FOR THEM WITH OPTION NUMBER ONE AND OPTION NUMBER TWO, EITHER OR IS FINE FOR ME.

IF THEY JUST HAD A LOCATION WHERE THE CHIEF OR POLICE CAN PICK THEM UP, DROP THEM TO US, WE'LL ASSESS THEM.

WE WILL WORK WITH THEM AND FIND OUT WHERE THEIR REAL, REAL NEEDS ARE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO WONDER ALL OVER THE STREETS, ALL WHEREVER THEY ARE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

WE CAN DO SOMETHING.

IF YOU TURN TO THE OTHER PAGE, THE ANNUAL ONE TERM COST.

THIS IS JUST A GUIDELINE.

I WANTED TO GIVE SOMETHING TO BREAK DOWN WHAT THE COST COULD BE.

AND I DO, AND I KNOW UNDERSTAND, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY HAVE CBG FUNDS.

THEY HAVE GOTTEN GRANT FUNDS, OPIUM DRUGS.

WE'VE HAD SOME DRUG ISSUES BEFORE.

SO I'M SURE IF THE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL CAN WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGER, OPEN UP SOME DOORS, GET SOME FUNDING.

I'M NOT A PERSON THAT LIKE TO ASK FOR ANYTHING.

IF I, I LIKE TO WORK.

I'M A WORKER.

I DON'T LIKE TO ASK.

BUT THE NEED IS GREAT.

THE WORD SAYS IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T ASK, YOU DON'T RECEIVE, YOU DON'T KNOCK.

THE DOOR AIN'T GONNA OPEN.

SO I'M ASKING AND I'M KNOCKING.

NOT FOR ME, BUT FOR THEM.

'CAUSE THEY NEED HELP.

AND THE LORD, LIKE I SAID, HAVE APPOINTED ME TO DO IT AND I'M GONNA DO IT.

I RAN ONCE, BUT I AIN'T GONNA RUN TWICE.

I'M HERE.

I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR THEM AND I WILL SPEAK UP FOR THEM.

ANYONE WHO'S IN NEED.

NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT, I GAVE A BROKE A BREAKING DOWN CAUSE I'M NOT GONNA GO OVER THAT.

YOU GUYS ARE VERY, VERY HIGHLY INTELLIGENT.

YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT YOURSELF TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO RUN THIS ORGANIZATION FOR A YEAR.

AFTER A YEAR, DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, I'M ABLE TO GET GRANT FUNDING.

'CAUSE WE'RE ALL 5 0 1 C3.

WE'RE IN A PROCESS OF, OF STARTING ANOTHER, UM, 5 0 1 3 NONPROFIT TO HELP THE, WITH THIS SITUATION AND ALSO DISASTER RELIEF.

DURING HARVEY, THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS.

I WAS DISPLACED.

I LOST MY HOME BEING IGNORANT, STUPID, CANCELING MY INSURANCE LIKE MOST PEOPLE DONE AFTER 30 YEARS AND SAID, I DON'T NEED THIS FLOOD INSURANCE NO MORE CANCELING IN APRIL.

HERE CAME, HARVEY LOST EVERYTHING.

STAYED IN MY CHURCH FOR A YEAR.

ME AND MY WIFE IN A 12 BY 12 ROOM UNTIL MY DAUGHTER ONE MORNING SAY, DAD, WHAT KIND OF FATHER ARE YOU? GOT YOUR 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER SLEEPING BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR MOM.

AND I KIND OF LOOKED AND I REALIZED, MAN, THIS CHILD IS RIGHT.

I NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

SO WE DID.

AND I WOULD GO OUT, OPEN SOME DOORS.

I WAS ABLE TO GET A HOME, YOU KNOW, A TEMPORARY HOME FOR US.

BUT THEY CAN'T, THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING.

THEY CAN'T DO WHAT I CAN DO.

I'M A CONSTRUCTION OWNER.

I CAN WORK THEM, I CAN UTILIZE THEM.

I'M PARTNERED WITH THE TEXAS WORKFORCE AS WELL.

ONCE THEY CAN GO THROUGH A REHAB PROGRAM, RECOVERY PROGRAM, TEXAS WORKFORCE WILL WORK WITH THEM AND TRAIN THEM.

LAMAR HAVE NOT TALKED WITH ANYONE AT LAMAR YET.

BUT LAMAR HAVE PROGRAMS THAT THEY CAN TRAIN THEM, TRUCK DRIVERS, ANYTHING THEY HAVE THESE PROGRAMS ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM, TO UTILIZE THEM.

THEY WANNA WORK, THEY WANT DO SOMETHING.

'CAUSE TEMPORARILY THEY WORK FOR ME.

THEY COME TO MY SHOP, I LET 'EM CLEAN UP.

WE BUILD CABINETS AND, AND, AND THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS THAT, THAT I HELP THEM DO.

CUT GRASS.

THEY COME TO THE CHURCH, HELP ME CUT GRASS.

SO THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK.

A LOT OF THEM, THEY JUST NEED AN OPPORTUNITY.

THEY NEED GUIDANCE.

THEY DOWN ON THEIR LUCK.

WHEN PEOPLE GET DOWN ON THEIR LUCK, THEY JUST GET FRUSTRATED.

THEY DRUG, THEY DRINK.

THEY, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S JUST A COMMON THING.

THEY'RE NOT BAD PEOPLE.

THEY'RE REALLY ARE GOOD PEOPLE.

SOME OF THEM.

YOU ALSO HAVE A, OH, I'M SORRY MA'AM.

EXCUSE ME, PASTOR.

UH, YOU HAVE 20 MINUTES.

YOU'VE GIVEN ME THE 20 MINUTES.

UH, NOW HOW MUCH MORE YOU NEED? SOME MORE TIME? UH, FIVE MINUTES MORE IF I'M GOOD.

A MOTION TO GIVE IT MOTION TO EXTEND TIME FOR FIVE MINUTES? SECOND.

CAN WE GET

[01:50:01]

SECOND.

EVERYBODY IN AGREEMENT? YES.

ANYBODY? UH, NEGATIVE.

KNOW THIS PASSES US ALONG.

UH, UH, UH, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF WIND.

YOU KNOW, 20 MINUTES GOES FAST.

BUT I, SO I'M, I'M GONNA ASK RIGHT NOW.

CHRIS, CHRIS IS FROM THE HOMELESS CAMP.

SO I ASK HIM TO COME.

SOME OF THE OTHERS I'VE ASKED, BUT THEY WERE AFRAID TO COME FAR.

BUT HE IS ONE.

AND SO HE CAN TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.

AND YOU CAN ASK HIM DIRECTLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU DON'T HAVE A LOCATION ADDRESS.

BUT MY NAME IS CHRIS WILLIAMS. AND, UH, I'M STILL A MARINE, BUT ALWAYS BE A MARINE FROM VIETNAM.

AND I'M HOMELESS AND I'VE ASKED FOR HELP.

I'VE NEVER GOTTEN ANYTHING TURN.

I'VE NEVER ASKED FOR ANYTHING IN MY LIFE.

OH, EXCUSE ME.

AND TURN TO GET, GET IN THE, OKAY.

AND, UH, I MET THE PREACHER HERE AND I'VE NEVER ASKED HIM FOR HELP, BUT HE CAME TO ME AND SAID HE COULD PROBABLY HELP US.

SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HIM, TRYING TO STAY OUTTA THE LIGHT.

KEEPING PEOPLE OUTTA TROUBLE.

YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE PEOPLE I HAVE, EVERYBODY HAS PROBLEMS. I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PROBLEMS. UH, I KEEP THE DRUGS OUTTA MY CAMP.

I TRY TO ANYWAY.

BUT THE REST OF IT, YOU KNOW, IT COMES AND GOES.

PEOPLE COME AND GO.

'CAUSE I DON'T OWN NOTHING.

SO I CAN'T TELL 'EM NO, BUT THEY CAN'T COME.

BUT IF THEY'RE TOO MUCH OF A TROUBLE, I GET RID OF 'EM.

AND, UH, THE POLICE HAVE HELPED US A LOT.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY GOOD TO US WHEN THEY CAN.

I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY BAD ABOUT THEM.

AND WE'RE JUST, UH, I THINK HE'S HAD A PIECE OF LAND AND IT, IT WASN'T MY IDEA TO DO THIS, BUT THEY KIND OF BROUGHT IT TO ME TO DO THIS.

TO TRY TO TALK TO THE PREACHER AND GET TO THE PIECE OF LAND FOR US.

YOU WOULD, IT WOULD SOLVE HALF THEIR PROBLEMS. I UNDERSTAND.

IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

YOU KNOW, GIVE 'EM A PLACE TO STAY AND ALL THAT SOMEPLACE THEY CAN CALL HOME OR WHATEVER THEY WANT TO CALL IT.

YOU KNOW? 'CAUSE EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT PROBLEMS. AND HIS PEOPLE, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE WEEKEND PEOPLE.

YES, WE KNOW THEM VERY WELL.

THEY'RE ALWAYS AROUND ON THE WEEKENDS AND ALL THEY DO IS CAUSE TROUBLE AND THAT'S IT.

UM, I'M NOT, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CAUSE NO TROUBLE WHERE WE'RE AT.

WE CLEAN UP WHEREVER WE GO.

AND WHEN WE CLEAN UP THE MESS, IT'S THERE WHEN WE GET THERE.

AND WE HAVE, UH, AND JUST PLEASE TRY TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF HELP.

THAT'S IT.

STAY HERE.

FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, UH, WE, WE WANT, DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK THE LANDOWNER THAT HAS ALLOWED THEM THIS PARTICULAR THREE WEEKS WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN A TRESPASSING SIGN PUT OUT UP.

THERE'S BEEN SOME TRESPASSING CITATIONS ISSUED TO SEVERAL OF THEM.

IF THEY DON'T LEAVE IN A PACIFIC PERIOD OF TIME, THEY'RE SUBJECT TO BE ARRESTED.

IF THEY ARE ARRESTED, OF COURSE THEY'RE GONNA BE RELEASED.

THEY'RE GONNA BE ANGRY WHEN THEY GET OUT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

YOU'RE CAUSING MORE PROBLEMS FOR THEM.

THEY DON'T NEED MORE PROBLEMS. THEY DON'T NEED ARREST WARRANTS.

THEY DON'T NEED TO BE ARRESTED.

THEY CAN'T FIND JOBS ALREADY WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND.

SOME OF 'EM MAY HAVE COME BACK.

WE ADDING TO IT, WE ARE THE LARGEST, ONE OF THE LARGEST REFINERS IN THE WORLD.

THERE'S NO REASON NOBODY SHOULD NOT HAVE A JOB IN THIS CITY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BACKGROUND, CONTRACTORS WILL BE ABLE TO COME TO THE SITE, PICK THEM UP.

ONCE THEY GO THROUGH A PROCESS WITH US, PICK THEM UP AND UTILIZE THEM.

WE DON'T DO BACK BACKGROUND CHECKS.

I'M A GENERAL CONTRACTOR.

I'M A PROJECT MANAGER ALSO.

SO I CAN UTILIZE A LOT OF THEM.

ONCE WORK IS CONTINUED TO, UH, TO EVOLVE FOR ME.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WORKING WITH THEM.

I'VE USED THEM BEFORE.

UM, LET'S SEE.

MAY I APPROACH HIM? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

AND YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT.

AND MR. CHRIS? YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

I HEARD THAT YOU'RE THE MAYOR AROUND THERE.

WOW.

I HEARD THAT YOU'RE THE MAYOR AROUND THERE.

SO, UM, BUT I, I, I UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP.

WE'VE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE.

PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL.

AS OF TWO WEEKS AGO, THERE WERE NEW CONTACTS THAT I CAME ACROSS AND I SHOULD HAVE CALLED YOU TWO WEEKS AGO.

I APOLOGIZE.

SO LET'S RECONNECT YES.

SO THAT WE CAN, I CAN SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU.

YOUR FAMILY, BUT IT IS A NEED.

UM, I WOULD IMPLORE COUNSEL AND ANYONE AT THE SOUND OF MY VOICE TO PLEASE, PLEASE HELP IN THESE EFFORTS.

WHETHER WE DO IT AS A GROUP OR YOU DO IT INDIVIDUALLY AS

[01:55:01]

AND AS CHRISTIANS, WE DO HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE.

S THIS IS ABOUT THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME PEOPLE HAVE COME BEFORE US AND TALK ABOUT THE HOMELESS.

I PLACED IT ON THE AGENDA SEVERAL MEETINGS AGO.

SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE TO, UH, COME TO A POINT WHEREBY WE DO SOMETHING TO HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE FOR HOMELESSNESS.

AND ALSO TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM CONSTANTLY COMING BEFORE COUNCIL, GIVING THE SAME LECTURE ABOUT HELPING HOMELESS PEOPLE DOING THIS FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE.

WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA DO IT.

SO THE FIRST QUESTION I HAVE ONE, DO WE HAVE A SANCTIONED COMMISSION BOARD OR COMMISSION BOARD OR, UH, UH, COALITION? WHAT DO WE HAVE THAT IS SANCTIONED BY THE CITY TO DEAL WITH HOMELESSNESS? OKAY.

DO WE HAVE, DO, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING THAT IS SANCTIONED? WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY SANCTIONED, I MEAN THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE ESTABLISHING IT OR CREATING IT.

WE HAVE A STAFF THAT IS APPOINTED TO OVERSEE IT, OR WE HAVE A COUNCIL PERSON THAT OVERSEES IT.

AND WHEN WE SANCTION IT, YOU WILL LOOK INTO OUR CHARTER AND IT WILL APPEAR WITH OTHER BOARD AND COMMITTEES.

WE WILL SAY HOW MANY PEOPLE ON IT? WE WILL SAY, UH, WHEN DO THEY MEET? UH, SO YOU'LL BE, SO YOU, IF YOU ARE APPOINTED, YOU HAVE TO MEET AT A CERTAIN TIME SO YOU CAN DISCUSS THESE THINGS.

SO WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING ESTABLISHED AND SANCTIONED AND PASSED BY THE COUNCIL.

ONCE WE DO IT THAT WAY, THEN WHAT WE HAVE IS AN ORGANIZATION OR A COMMITTEE REPRESENTING THE CITY THAT WORKS WITH ANYBODY OR PEOPLE DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS.

WHEN YOU'RE ASKED FOR FUNDING, THEN THEY COMMITTEE COULD COME TO THE COUNCIL AND PRESENT TO COUNCIL THE NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE AND ASK COUNCIL TO FUND IT.

IF THEY NEED TO BRING, HAVE A MEETING, IF IT'S SANCTIONED BY THE CITY, THEN IN ANY OF THE CITY FACILITIES, WE MAKE THAT AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO MEET.

SO I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET DONE.

SO THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO, WE NEED TO ESTABLISH AND SANCTION AND, AND, UH, THAT GOES TO CITY MANAGER AND STAFF BRINGING US SOMETHING BY WHICH, UH, YOU PUT TOGETHER.

AND THEN WE GO OVER AND APPROVE JUST LIKE ALL OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, ALL OUR BOARD AND COMMISSION, UH, POLICE ADVISORY, UH, UH, BEAUTIFICATION, ANYTHING THAT IS SANCTIONED BY THE CITY AND APPROVED BY COUNCIL.

WE PROVIDE FUNDING AND WE PROVIDE USE OF FACILITIES AND IN SOME CASE, MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT.

SO LET'S, THAT'S THE FIRST STEP TO GET THIS OFF OF COUNCIL, BECAUSE WE JUST KEEP COMING.

PEOPLE JUST KEEP COMING, YOU KNOW, SAYING THE SAME THING.

AND WE KEEP SAYING THE SAME THING.

WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING.

LET'S STOP TALKING ABOUT IT.

THE FIRST STEP IS LET'S, LET'S, UH, BRING SOMETHING BEFORE COUNCIL.

LET US SANCTION IT AND APPROVE IT, AND THEN WORK FROM IT.

OKAY? UH, CITY, MAYOR, MAYOR, JUST, JUST A MINUTE.

JUST LET THEM TALK.

UH, UH, MAY I APPROACH HIM? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

JUST AS A, UM, FOLLOW UP, MR. DOUCETTE.

NEXT MEETING.

THE CITY SECRETARY IS ACTUALLY GATHERING THAT INFORMATION ALREADY, NOT ONLY FOR THAT COMMITTEE, BUT FOR THE OTHERS.

AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO REVIEW ALL OF THE, THE BYLAWS, THE ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE, WHAT DEPARTMENTS WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE, UH, COMMITTEES.

AND THIS HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE IS ONE OF THOSE.

SO, WE'LL, WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION NEXT MEETING.

APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION, MAN.

UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN KEEFE.

DROP 'EM TO THE MEDICAL CENTER, BUT THEY DROP 'EM OFF.

UH, WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION IN THE PAST, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU PUT IN A COMPONENT TO THOSE TO STEM THIS DROP OFF THING.

YOU KNOW, GIVE 'EM WHAT THEY NEED AND TAKE 'EM BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UM, YOU AND I HAVE HAD THE DISCUSSION SURROUNDING CITIES.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DROP 'EM OFF IN PORT ARTHUR,

[02:00:01]

WELL, THE OLD, UH, VACANT LOT ON NINTH AVENUE USED TO BE A GROCERY STORE.

THEY WOULD GIVE 'EM $50 AND THEY DROP 'EM TO THE MEDICAL CENTER AND THE MEDICAL CENTER, TREAT 'EM, TURN 'EM LOOSE, AND THEY NEVER GO NE DO NOT CONTACT THE CITIES THAT THEY COME FROM.

ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE HOMELESS, THEY WILL TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

THEY, THEY CERTAINLY WILL TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

AND I, I OWNED SOME PROPERTY.

UH, UH, WHAT HAPPENED WAS, I WOULD GO THERE.

I'M CONSTANTLY BATTLING SOMEBODY'S THERE.

I, I WENT ONE TIME AND THEY HAD, UH, TRASH EVERYWHERE.

AND I WAS, WAIT A MINUTE, I NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

I STARTED QUESTIONING THEM.

ASKED SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE NICE, NICE CALLS AND EVERYTHING IN AND OUT OF THERE.

I SAID, WHY ARE YOU HERE? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? THIS IS IN MY PROPERTY.

AND HE SAID, WELL, I GOT A FRIEND THAT I BRING HIM FOOD.

I SAID, WHERE IS HE AT? HE SAID THAT, THAT THAT TENT, THAT THAT'S HIS.

AND, UH, I SAID, IS HE A VETERAN OR SOMETHING? I SAID, A LOT OF VETERANS.

HE SAID, YEAH, MOST OF ARE VETERANS.

I SAID, VIETNAM VETERAN.

HE SAID, YEAH.

I SAID, TAKE CARE OF HIM.

LEAVE HIM ALONE.

LET HIM STAY AS LONG AS HE WANTS.

TAKE, DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

UNTIL THEY REACH THAT POINT, THEY'RE GONNA COME BACK.

THEY'RE GOING TO GO RETURN TO THE HOME, TO THE FAMILY OR WHAT? JUST ONE OF THE THINGS WE MUST UNDERSTAND.

THE, THE ELDERLY, THE POOR, THE HOMELESS.

IT IS GOING TO ALWAYS BE HERE.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE IS THEIR FACES.

THEY'RE GONNA NEED TO TRANSITION OUT OF HERE OR WHAT? NO.

OR GO BACK TO THE FAMILY.

BUT THEY ALWAYS GOING TO BE, AND I THINK COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE HAS THE PROPER SET UP, PUT IT IN A CHARTER, SET UP A BOARD.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND FOR THAT BOARD IS SOMEBODY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC RELATIONS TO, TO MAKE IT MANDATORY TO SOMEONE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SERVE ON THAT BOARD.

UH, BUT KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE DOING AND ATTEMPTING TO DO.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL WITH EVERYTHING BUT YOU AT THE RIGHT VENUE.

AND LIKE COUNCILMAN DE SAYS, SAY IT'S A REVOLVING DOOR ASKING FOR HELP.

SO WE NEED TO STEM THIS, PUT IT IN A CHARTER, HAVE NEXT ELECTION OR SOMETHING.

WE'LL HAVE A CHARTER CHANGE, ESTABLISH A BOARD, AND THEN WE CAN LEGALLY FUND IT.

UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES.

AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH, PASTOR.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE IN THAT, UH, MR. CHRIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL, UH, TO OUR COUNTRY.

BUT LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION.

'CAUSE I'VE BEEN IN, I I ALWAYS GO TO THE SESSIONS WHEN WE GO TO CONFERENCES, AND THIS IS A NATIONAL CRISES.

HOMELESSNESS IS A NATIONAL CRISIS.

WHEN YOU SIT IN THE, WHEN YOU SIT IN THE SESSIONS, UM, MANY, MANY CITIES, SOME CITIES HAVE, UH, UH, BROUGHT SOLUTIONS OF TINY HOMES, UH, WHERE THEY PUT THOSE, UH, THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY OF TINY HOMES.

BUT THE FIRST THING THAT IS STIPULATED IS, IS THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE SOCIAL SERVICES TO GO ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY, THAT YOU WILL ESTABLISH THE TENT CITY OR THE, THE, THE, THE DEVELOP, THE, UM, THE, THE, THE DOUBLE WIDE MOBILE HOME, ALL OF THAT.

THE SERVICES ARE THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE CONNECTED TO, UM, TO HELPING THIS CRISES.

AND SO I'M WONDERING, AS YOU SAID, WE COULD ASK MR. CHRIS, BUT I'M ASKING, I GUESS THE QUESTION I ASK AS WELL.

MANY OF THESE AS, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS HAS STATED, THEY'RE VETERANS, THEY'RE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SERVED OUR, UH, COUNTRY, MR. CHRIS, UH, AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS FOR VETERANS WHO ARE OUT THERE, HOW DO, IS SOMEONE HELPING YOU TO CONNECT WITH THE VA, CONNECT WITH, UM, UH, THE VA IN BEAUMONT, UM, TO TRY TO GET SERVICES FOR YOU? ALRIGHT.

THEY CAME TO, UH, THEY CAME TO ME RIGHT AFTER THE LAST TIME WE HAD TO MOVE THE VA DID.

AND, AND LIKE I TOLD HIM, I SAID, LOOK, I'VE BEEN TO COURT OVER MY VA MONEY.

I'VE DONE EVERYTHING THERE IS FOR THAT.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET IT FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS AND STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT.

I MEAN, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY I'LL GET IF I DO GET IT, BUT I DON'T EVEN WANT IT FOR ME.

I WANT IT FOR MY GRANDKIDS.

BUT THEY TRIED EVERYTHING THEY COULD.

AND THE GOVERNMENT JUST KEEPS GIVING THEM THE RUN AROUND.

IT'S NOT YOU, IT'S NOT THEM.

[02:05:01]

IT IS THE GOVERNMENT.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT VIETNAM GIVING THAT MONEY BACK TO US.

THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO.

WHY? WE DON'T KNOW.

AND THERE'S THOUSANDS OF US OUT THERE THAT WE NEED THAT MONEY.

AND HERE'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS, COUNCILMAN FRANK.

ONE OF THE PROBLEM IF HE'S, IF HE KEEPS LOCATING, RELOCATING, HOW THEY GONNA FIND HIM? THIS IS THE PROBLEM FOR HIM.

AND I'M SURE MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

THEY'RE MOVING AROUND TOO MUCH.

UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCE? YES.

I JUST WANT TO, UH, GO BACK AND ADDRESS A, A STATEMENT.

UH, COUNCILWOMAN AIRFIELD MENTIONED THAT THE CITY SECRETARY IS GOING TO BE BRINGING US A LIST OF, UH, BOYS AND COMMITTEES, BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHING FOR HOMELESS, HOMELESS, HOMELESSNESS.

SO WHAT ARE THEY GOING BRING BACK TO US SO THAT WE'LL KNOW? JUST MAY, I MAY INTERJECT HERE.

WHAT WE, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO, WE ARE DISCUSSING SOMETHING I THINK THAT WE COULD PROBABLY DO IN ANOTHER SETTING.

WHAT WE WANNA DO IS CONTINUE, UH, THE PRESENTATION.

I THINK YOU ALL HAVE COMPLETED WHAT YOU WANT TO PRESENT.

AM I CORRECT? I AM.

I JUST HAVE A STATEMENT I WANTED TO MAKE.

PLEASE.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

THE NEED IS NOT TOMORROW.

THE NEED IS TODAY.

BECAUSE AT ANY MOMENT THE LANDOWNER ON THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY OR ANY PROPERTIES COULD DEMAND THESE PEOPLE TO MOVE.

WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO? WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP? THIS IS A PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT A RESOLUTION OF ESTABLISHING A COALITION TODAY, WAITING ON THIS, SITTING ON THIS ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR MONTHS.

THAT'S NOT GONNA RESOLVE TODAY'S ISSUE.

THE, TODAY'S PROBLEM.

THEY NEED HELP.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS, I'M GONNA BE VERY CLEAR.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE WAS A PROBLEM BEHIND THE MEDICAL CENTER A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHERE THERE WAS SOME OVERDOSE ISSUES.

THEY NEED HELP, THEY NEED COUNSEL, THEY NEED RECOVERY.

FENTANYL BEFORE THIS NEW DRUG GETS TO PORT ARTHUR.

IT'S CALLED CRANK.

YOU GONNA HAVE SOME, IT'S GONNA BE TERRIBLE.

IT'S GONNA BE TERRIBLE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS VERY, VERY SOON THERE'S GONNA BE A DROP OFF BETWEEN TWO OR 300 PEOPLE COMING THIS WAY.

HOMELESS.

THE ROOM IS FROM THE CAMPS.

THEY'RE COMING THIS WAY.

WE DON'T WANT THEM TO COME.

IF YOU DO COME, GUESS WHAT YOU GONNA GET SENT RIGHT BACK HOME.

RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S NO PROCESS IN PLACE FOR THAT.

THEY CAN COME AND JUST MULTIPLY ALL OVER THE STREETS.

IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING NOW, SOON, VERY SOON IT GONNA BE A BIGGER PROBLEM FOR YOU.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS, UH, EVEN WITH THE CITY MANAGER, AND AS, AS COUNCILMAN FRANK HAS SAID, UH, AND EVEN COUNCILMAN DO SAID IS BROUGHT UP AN IDEA.

SHE, UH, UH, MAYOR APPROACH HIM.

SHE HAS SAID SOMETHING THAT SHE SAYS THAT, THAT WE COULD HAVE IN THE WORKINGS.

AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

WHILE WE, WHILE THE BUREAUCRACY IS DOING WHAT IT HAS TO DO, RIGHT.

YOU STILL HAVE REALITY OCCURRING.

PHENOMENON OF HOMELESSNESS.

AND, UH, BUT WE, UH, PASTOR FRANK SAID SOME COUNCILMAN FRANK SAID SOMETHING THAT I ACTUALLY, I'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO AND KNOWING THAT THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE FROM TRAINING.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT GO ALONG WITH WHATEVER YOU ARE TRYING TO DO, THEN YOU ARE ACTUALLY, UH, NOT ACCOMPLISHING WHAT YOU REALLY ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE THEY NEED THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, YOU ASKED THE QUESTION, COUNCILMAN FRANK ABOUT VETERANS IN PARTICULAR, A YOUNG LADY WAS WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE, UH, AND THEY MET, UH, ABOUT MAYBE A MONTH AGO THAT THEY ARE PLANNING SOME THINGS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS ON SOME PROPERTIES HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME THINGS NOT ON THE SURFACE WHERE NEWS MEDIA HAS IT, BUT TRYING TO FIND OUT, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME PRIVATIZATION AS WELL AS WHAT, AS WHAT COUNCILMAN DO SAID IS SAYING.

BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A, A BUDGETED, UH, DEPARTMENT THAT HAS FUNDS APPROPRIATED THROUGH THE BUDGET THAT WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE CARE OF THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO PROPERLY RUN, UH, ANOTHER DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT FOR THIS.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE WORLDWIDE, OR FOR SURE ALL AROUND THIS COUNTRY.

I KNOW, AND IT'S PROBABLY ALL AROUND THE WORLD OF THIS

[02:10:01]

YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING, SEVERAL APPROACHES AND SOME THINGS HAVE TO BE DONE.

I KNOW I'VE GONE OUT WITH YOU PERSONALLY.

EXACTLY.

YOU'VE CALLED ME PERSONALLY AND, UH, WE'VE OBSERVED IT.

BUT SOMETIME YOU CAN DO, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF DISPLACING AND WHEN YOU DISPLACE THEM, THEY JUST MOVE TO ANOTHER LOCATION.

'CAUSE THEY ARE STILL HOMELESS.

, THEY STILL HAVE SOME MENTAL ISSUES.

THEY STILL HAVE SOME OTHER ISSUES THAT CAUSE THEM TO BE HOMELESS.

SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS WORK IN THE COLLABORATION WHERE WE COULD PROBABLY COME UP WITH WHAT WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF IT IN PORT ARTHUR POLICE, COUNCILMAN LEWIS SAID, HOMELESSNESS IS SORT OF LIKE, UH, WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS OF THE POOL.

YOU KNOW, WE, THEY'RE GONNA ALWAYS BE WITH US.

SO WE WANT, WE, WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AND CONTINUE TO WORK VIGOROUSLY.

AND WE WILL BEGIN TO TRY TO ADDRESS IT.

ACTUALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT IT ADMINISTRATIVELY, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING, DOING AS A MUNICIPALITY, TRYING TO ASSIST WHAT THE COMMUNITY DOES BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THAT THE CITY CAN, A MUNICIPALITY CAN ACTUALLY TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY.

IT'S TOO HUGE.

AND IT, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S, IT WOULD, IT WOULD TOTALLY JUST OVERBURDEN THE CITY.

NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO SAY WHAT I'M SAYING, BUT I'M TELLING THE TRUTH.

AND SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS, YOU KNOW, THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.

UH, IF WE TALK ABOUT DENOMINATIONS, YOU KNOW, THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, UH, THE BUDDHIST COMMUNITY, EVERY RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY THAT IS A PART OF THE BIG PORT ARTHUR COMMUNITY WILL COME, WILL NEED TO COME AND SIT DOWN SO THAT SOMETHING CAN BE WORKED OUT.

BUT WE, WE, WE WE'RE GOING TO ATTEMPT IT AND SO, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.

I, I THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THOSE.

JUST ONE COMMENT IF I CAN.

REAL QUICK, I SAY, BUT JUST ONE, JUST, I MEAN, JUST COOL.

WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE SER THE SERVICES THAT YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT.

WE HAVE PARTNERS TO HELP US WITH THEM.

ALSO, YOU HAVE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THEY CAN TAKE THE LEAD IN DOING THIS.

THEY'RE ALREADY FUNDED.

THEY'RE PART OF YOUR SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM.

UTILIZE THEM, LET 'EM WORK WITH US.

GULF COAST HEALTH IS WILLING TO TAKE THE LEAD.

IF NOT, YOU HAVE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

WELL, CITY MANAGER, YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YEAH, I, I, I, I THINK WE, WE HAVE TOUCHED ON A AT LEAST OF, UM, CONCERNS HERE, BUT MORE PRACTICALLY, SO COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE, WE DO HAVE A HOMELESS COALITION THAT'S BEEN PASSED BY RESOLUTION.

UM, IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN A YEAR OR SO OLD.

UM, I KNOW THAT MS. WHITLEY DOWNSTAIRS WAS THE ONE WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE GET ALL THE REPRESENTATIVES ON BOARD AND THERE WERE REPRESENTATIVES THAT'S BEEN APPOINTED BY EACH MEMBER OF COUNCIL.

SO THERE IS A STRUCTURE IN PLACE FOR THAT.

ADDED TO THAT, I DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN FROM THE, FROM THE, FROM THE OPIOID.

UM, MM-HMM.

, UM, FUND FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT WILL TARGET, UM, HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THE USE OF DRUGS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

UM, WE ARE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, AND I SPOKE TO YOU, UM, DR. KEITH, ABOUT THAT, UH, SETTING UP THE COMMITTEE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN, HOW WE CAN UTILIZE THAT MONEY, UM, USING A SORT OF COLLABORATIVE AND COORDINATED PROCESS SO THAT WHATEVER SERVICES THOSE MAY INDIVIDUALS MAY NEED, WERE BEING AFFECTED BY THE USE AND ABUSE OF DRUGS.

WE CAN ADDRESS THAT COMPONENT OF IT.

BUT LET ME INVITE YOU FOR US TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

SO WHATEVER RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE CITY'S END, I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THOSE RESOURCES OUT THERE TO YOU AS WELL.

OKAY? THANK YOU, SIR.

UM, AND, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, SO LET, UM, MAYOR, I THINK WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON PUTTING BACK THAT COMMITTEE, UM, EACH MEMBER OF COUNCIL APPOINTING THE MEMBERS TO THE HOMELESS COALITION CO.

IT'S NOT ORDERED BY CHARTER.

I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ORDERED BY CHARTER.

I, I JUST THINK EVERY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO, UM, PUT TWO APPOINTEES, WHETHER WE DO THAT AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, UM, COUNSELOR, UM, HAMILTON.

WE COULD DO THAT.

EACH OF YOU JUST PROPOSE, YOU KNOW, TWO MEMBERS OR ONE MEMBER FOR THE COMMITTEE.

AND LET'S GET IT REACTIVATED.

LET'S GET IT BACK ON.

ITS BECAUSE THIS, THIS IS A CONCERN THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

[02:15:01]

IS THAT OKAY? THANK YOU.

OKAY, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

JUST BRIEFLY.

UH, AND IT IS NOT FOR YOU, Y'ALL.

I APPRECIATE Y PRESENTATION.

THE CITY, WHAT I WANT TO ADDRESS IS WE NEED TO, I KNOW YOU GOT THE COALITION CITY MANAGER FUNDED BY COUNCIL, BUT WE NEED TO PUT THE DUC SET INITIATIVE IN THE CHARTER.

AND ONCE, ONCE WE DO THAT, WE THE FUNDING, WE, WE DO THE FUNDING.

THAT'S BE INITIAL FUNDING.

THAT'D BE THE SEED MONEY.

THEN WE CAN BROADEN IT OUT.

WE CAN BROADEN OUT TO INDUSTRY, INDUSTRY WILL, THIS IS SOMETHING THEY WILL SUPPORT.

BUT ONCE WE PUT IT IN A CHARTER AND MAKE IT A PART OF A COMPONENT OF, OF GOVERNMENT, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

BUT, BUT COUNCIL, REMEMBER THAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO DO THAT, NOT US .

SAY AGAIN? THE PUBLIC HAS TO DO THAT WHEN THERE'S A CHARTER CHANGE COMMITTEE BEING FORMED.

YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO, BUT YES, JUST, BUT JUST REMIND US AGAIN WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT.

AND I WILL REMIND YOU, I'LL MAKE A NOTE OF THAT.

WE HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION FOLLOWING THIS NEXT PRESENTATION.

WE ARE GOING TO RECESS FOR, FOR LUNCH.

UH, NO, THIS IS THIS AND BEING CHAIRMAN, I HAVE THE, UH, ACTUAL POWER AND AUTHORITY OF BEING CHAIR OF THIS MEETING.

AND I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE NINE OR NINE 30.

AND WE'RE GONNA BE HERE MUCH LONGER.

AND WE HAVE SPENT AN HOUR OR TWO OR TWO HOURS ON THE VERY FIRST THREE ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA.

SO WHAT WE'LL DO BE 1150 RIGHT NOW.

I'M GOING TO RECESS FOR LUNCH RIGHT NOW FOR ONE HOUR AND 30 MINUTES.

SO WE WILL RETURN AT 1:20 PM AND WE WILL TAKE UP THE MEETING BEGINNING AT NUMBER THREE.

AT ONE 20.

MAYOR.

YOU BY, I GUESS SHE'S ON.

SHE JUST THEN SAID, OKAY.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, WE ARE RECONVENING AND, UH, CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO CHECK THE QUORUM FOR US? YES, SIR.

MAYOR BARTEE.

PRESENT.

MAYOR PRO JIM.

EVER FEEL PRESENT? COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM.

I'M HERE ON ZOOM.

COUNCIL MEMBER DSET HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK MAYOR.

YOU MAYOR, YOU HAVE A COURT.

ON PAGE ONE AT NUMBER THREE, A PRESENTATION BY THE PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB REGARDING P PA VOTING BADGE DAY.

THANK YOU ALL FOR RECONVENING.

NOW IT IS 1:26 PM AND WE ARE STILL IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, UH, AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AT OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING ON TODAY, OCTOBER 26TH.

UH, I'M NOT OCTOBER.

WOW.

I'M GOING REALLY FAST NOW.

AND WE LIKE TO INVENTED OUR, UH, PRINTED AGENDA AND WE ARE NOW

[III.B. (3) A Presentation By The Port Arthur Yacht Club Regarding PIPA Voting Badge Day (Requested By Councilmember Beckcom)]

THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM, WHO IS, UH, JOINING US VIA ZOOM.

AND LEMME SEE IF COUNCILMAN BECKHAM HAS SOMETHING TO SAY BEFORE YOU BEGIN.

YOU, YOU OKAY? THERE YOU GO.

I, I'M GOOD TO GO.

NO, GO.

GO AHEAD.

COUNCILWOMAN CRYSTAL MEADOWCROFT IS HERE REPRESENTING THE PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB, AND I'D LIKE TO CORRECT A TYPO ON THE AGENDA.

UH, THE WORD VOTING SHOULD ACTUALLY BE VOTING WITH A-B-B-O-A-T VOTING.

I THOUGHT THAT, BUT I WASN'T SURE.

AND WE HAVE A YOUNG LADY HERE WHO IS GOING TO BEGIN TO BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME, MA'AM, AND YOUR ADDRESS.

AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE.

UH, CRYSTAL MEADOWCROFT.

IT'S THREE 11 ROYAL WAY IN ERLAND.

READY? OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, GOOD AFTERNOON.

UH, MY NAME IS CRYSTAL MEADOWCROFT AND I'M HERE SPEAKING TO YOU BY INVITATION OF COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM AND ALSO ON BEHALF OF THE PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB TO SHARE A RECENT EVENT HELD AT THE PLEASURE ISLAND MARINA WITH YOU GUYS.

MY DAUGHTER IS A PIONEER WITH A PROGRAM CALLED AMERICAN HERITAGE GIRLS, WHICH I'M ALSO HER UNIT LEADER.

A HG IS A 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT SCOUT TYPE ORGANIZATION, AND IT'S DEDICATED TO THE MISSION OF BUILDING WOMEN OF INTEGRITY THROUGH SERVICE TO GOD, FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND COUNTRY.

AS PART OF MY DAUGHTER'S LEVEL AWARD THIS YEAR, SHE NEEDED TO PLAN AND EXECUTE A MULTI TROOP EVENT.

PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB MEMBERS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO HELP SUPPORT HER, AND THUS, THE PPE BOATING BADGE DAY WAS BORN.

TO BE CLEAR, PI PIPEE STANDS FOR PIONEER AND PATRIOT.

IT IS THE TWO HIGHER LEVELS

[02:20:01]

IN THAT PROGRAM.

UM, GROUP WITH THE GIRLS GROUPED BY AGES.

ALL RIGHT, AND I THINK I HAD A SLIDE FOR THAT, I APOLOGIZE.

ON MARCH 2ND, 2024 GIRLS AGES 12 TO 17, AND THEIR ADULT LEADERS FROM ACROSS TEXAS JOINED US TO COMPLETE THE 10 REQUIREMENTS NEEDED TO EARN THEIR BOATING BADGE.

THIS INCLUDED WATER SAFETY AND BASIC FIRST AID SAILBOAT BASICS, AND THESE ARE PHOTOS FROM THE ACTUAL EVENT SAILBOAT, SAFETY, SAFE NAVIGATION, AND PROPER BOAT USAGE, KNOTS AND MOORING OF LARGE BOATS.

AND WE ALSO ENDED THE DAY WITH A SALE OUT ON THE LAKE.

THE EVENT HAD SEVERAL AMAZING EVENT PARTNERS, INCLUDING PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB, WHO PROVIDED ALL EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES.

VALERO VOLUNTEER COUNCIL, WHO PROVIDED LUNCH FOR ALL THE PARTICIPANTS, THE PORT ARTHUR CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, WHO PROVIDED FUNDING FOR SUPPLIES AS WELL AS GIFT BAG ITEMS. AND FINALLY, THE PORT ARTHUR YMCA WHO HELPED GIRLS COMPLETE NECESSARY SWIM TESTS.

HE MAY BE WONDERING WHY WE WANT TO BRING THIS EVENT TO YOUR ATTENTION.

RECENT, RECENTLY, SEVERAL STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE THAT THE PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB DID NOT BRING VALUE TO THE ISLAND OR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

DESPITE THIS PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB HAS CONTINUED HOLDING EVENTS, EVEN AS WE AWAIT NOTIFICATION OF IF WE WILL BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE IN THE BUILDING WE PAID FOR AND BUILT 50 YEARS AGO.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS FROM THIS EVENT WITH YOU.

PLEASE KEEP THIS INFORMATION IN MIND WHEN YOU'RE CONSIDERING A PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB OFFERS VALUE AND SHOULD REMAIN FOR THIS EVENT, REGISTRATION WAS OPEN TO ALL TEXAS AMERICAN HERITAGE GIRL MEMBERS AND THEIR REGISTERED ADULT LEADERS.

ON THIS DAY, WE HAD 43 GIRLS WHO ATTENDED.

THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE TRAINING TO COMPLETE ALL THE REQUIREMENTS AND EARNED THEIR BOATING BATCH.

IN ADDITION TO THESE YOUNG LADIES' AT ATTENDANTS, THERE WERE 29 A HG REGISTERED ADULT VOLUNTEERS WHO ASSISTED WITH THE EVENT, MANY OF WHICH TRAVELED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE AREA.

THERE WERE 15 PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB MEMBERS WHO VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME TO TEACH EACH OF THE STATIONS.

THESE VOLUNTEERS INCLUDED ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS, VETERANS, MARINE ASSURANCE PROFESSIONALS, LICENSED BOAT CAPTAINS, CERTIFIED LIFEGUARDS, AND SEA SCOUTS, TO NAME A FEW TO CONCLUDE, THE DAY FIVE MEMBERS VOLUNTEERED THEIR BOATS RANGING FROM 30 TO 42 FEET AND TOOK GIRLS AND ADULTS OUT SAILING FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS.

AS A REMINDER, THESE PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB VOLUNTEERS ARE MEMBERS, AND THEY'RE EACH CURRENTLY PAYING AN AVERAGE OF $4,000 A YEAR IN SLIP RENTALS TO THE CITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN, THAT THESE WERE NOT LOCALS.

THESE GIRLS CAME TO US FROM THE FOLLOWING CITIES, WHICH I PINNED ON THE MAP AS WELL.

YOU CAN KIND OF GET AN IDEA FROM THE PINS.

WE HAVE BRIAN CONROE, AND IF I MISPRONOUNCE THESE, I APOLOGIZE.

POTE BUNA FRIENDSWOOD, DERLAND LEAGUE CITY, TEXAS CITY, HOUSTON, LUMBERTON, VICTORIA, NEW WAVERLY, PERLIN, SAN ANTONIO, SPRING, BEAUMONT, PINEHURST ROSE, SHARON, SABINE PASS, AND KATIE, THE VAST MAJORITY HAVE NEVER BEEN TO PORT ARTHUR AND LIKELY WOULDN'T HAVE HAD A REASON TO COME OTHER THAN JOINING US FOR THE SINGLE DAY EVENT.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO PAID FOR PORT ARTHUR HOTELS, SHOPPED IN PORT ARTHUR STORES, AND ATE AT PORT ARTHUR RESIDENCE WHILE THEY WERE HERE FOR THE EVENT.

WITH THE UNDERSTANDING, WE DO TRY TO FOCUS ON WORKING WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS.

I WOULD ASK YOU THIS, IS THIS STILL NOT PROVIDING VALUE TO PORT ARTHUR WITH TOURISM DOLLARS BEING SPENT IN THE AREA? AFTER THE EVENT CONCLUDED, WE EMAILED OUT A FEEDBACK REQUEST FORM TO GAUGE INTEREST FOR RETURNING.

I'D LIKE TO SHARE A FEW OF THOSE WITH YOU.

SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED WAS, WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART AND WHAT WILL YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER? THE RESPONSE WAS THE PASSION AND FRIENDLINESS OF EVERYONE AT THE YACHT CLUB, AND OF COURSE, THE SAILING.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO ATTEND THE EVENT? IT WAS A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS BADGE AND FUN SAILING.

AND I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE WORD RARE.

ONE OF THE GIRLS THAT ATTENDED IS ACTUALLY FROM VICTORIA, AND THE REASON WHY SHE CAME, EVEN THOUGH THEY LIVE NEAR CORPUS, IS AN HOUR AND A HALF AWAY PORTLAND BLOCK IS RIGHT THERE.

THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS BADGE IN HER AREA.

AND SHE HAD BEEN TRYING TO COMPLETE EVERY BADGE THAT THIS PROGRAM OFFERS.

SHE'S IN HER LAST YEAR IN THE PROGRAM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE THAT LAST ONE SHE NEEDED.

WOULD YOU ATTEND ANOTHER SAILING EVENT WITH PAYC? YES.

I LOVE SAILING AND I WOULD DEFINITELY ATTEND ANOTHER ONE.

WE HAD AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO WANTING TO COME BACK

[02:25:01]

AGAIN.

EVEN GIRLS WHO COMPLETED THE BADGE AND WOULDN'T NEED TO DO IT AGAIN, SAID THEY WOULD COME BACK AND DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN BECAUSE THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH HOW WE, HOW, EXCUSE ME, HOW IT WAS RAN.

SO, IN CLOSING, THIS IS ONLY A SMALL GLIMPSE OF WHAT PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB HAS TO OFFER.

WE HAVE USED SAILING CAMPS DURING THE SUMMER, MONTHLY FREE USED SAILING DAYS, AND WEEKLY THURSDAY NIGHT RACES WITH CAPTAINS WHO ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO NEW CREW.

THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO HAVE EXPERIENCE OR EVEN TO OWN A BOAT.

WE DO WELCOME EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH YOU, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.

THIS WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHARING.

I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS EXISTED, BUT YOU, YOU SAID THAT IT WAS MADE UP SO THAT YOUR DAUGHTER COULD, WELL, THE PROGRAM WAS CREATED SO THAT YOUR DAUGHTER COULD REACH A CERTAIN LEVEL IN HER ORGANIZATION.

SO IN IT'S IN GROUP, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BOY SCOUTS AND STUFF, HOW THEY EARN LEVELS.

IN AMERICAN HERITAGE GIRLS.

THE GIRLS ACTUALLY LEVEL UP BASED ON AGE, AND SHE IS GETTING READY TO LEVEL UP AFTER THIS CURRENT YEAR BECAUSE SHE'S TURNING 14 IN ORDER TO GET THE AWARD, WHICH BASICALLY SAYS YOU HAVE COMPLETED EVERY REQUIREMENT AND SUCCESSFULLY FULFILL THE LEVEL YOU'RE IN.

YOU HAVE CERTAIN THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO, AND ONE OF THEM IS TO PUT ON A MULTI TROOP EVENT.

AND SO A LOT OF THE GIRLS WILL DO LIKE SLEEPOVERS OR LIKE SKATING RING THINGS.

MY DAUGHTER WANTS TO ULTIMATELY DO STARS AND STRIPES, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO EAGLE SCOUT FOR BOY SCOUTS.

AND SO WE SAW IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE, AND THIS IS WHAT SHE CAME UP WITH.

THIS IS VERY GOOD.

AND THE, THE POINT IS THAT THE YACHT CLUB WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS AND 40, ALMOST 50 OTHER GIRLS.

ACROSS THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.

I MEAN, AS WE WERE ORIGINALLY, WHEN SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT PLANNING IT, WE THOUGHT MAYBE FIVE OR SIX GIRLS, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A COUPLE LOCAL GROUPS, BUT THEN WE STARTED HAVING PEOPLE FROM FOUR AND A HALF, FIVE HOURS AWAY.

WE'RE LIKE, NO, WE WANNA COME.

WE WERE EVEN OVERWHELMED A LITTLE BIT BY THE RESPONSE.

SO THERE, AND THIS WAS JUST A SMALL FRACTION.

WE ACTUALLY CLOSED OFF REGISTRATION BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING TOO OVERWHELMING FOR A TEENAGER TO HANDLE.

UM, SO IF IT, IF IT WAS ALL THE ADULTS, I, WE COULD MAKE IT EVEN BIGGER.

UM, AND WE ALSO ONLY LIMITED IT TO THE OLDER GIRLS.

THERE WAS ANOTHER LEVEL JUST BELOW MY DAUGHTER, AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY MAD THEY DIDN'T GET TO COME.

SO WE HAVE A WHOLE NOTHER GROUP OF GIRLS WHO WOULD LOVE TO DO THIS TOO.

THIS IS GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

UM, IF YOU COULD, COULD YOU SHARE MORE INFORMATION, NOT NOW, BUT INFORMATION ABOUT AMERICAN HERITAGE GIRLS? I'D NEVER HEARD OF THAT ORGANIZATION BEFORE.

UH, COUNCILMAN DEUCE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

UH, COUPLE OF THINGS JUMPED OUT WAS WITH YOUR SPONSOR, UH, THE TOURIST CONVI TRADING, UH, CONVENTION, WELCOMING CONVENTION CENTER, UH, SPONSORING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ABOUT.

, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT, UH, THEY DO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO COME AND VISIT OUR CITY, UH, TO, UH, HAVE PEOPLE TO COME AND VISIT OUR CITY AND CONTRIBUTE ECONOMICALLY IS A PLUS.

YOU KNOW, WE GOT THIS, UH, PARK THAT WE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE NUMBER ONE PARK SO THAT WE COULD BRING TOURNAMENTS HERE SO THAT PEOPLE COULD COME AND COMPETE IN TOURNAMENTS AND THEY'RE GONNA USE HOTEL OR RESTAURANT, EVERYTHING YOU DESCRIBED.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS, JUST TO LET US KNOW THAT THERE'S OTHER FACETS THAT WE CAN DO TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO OUR CITY THAT CAN ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CITY IN A FORM OF, UH, REVENUE .

, TO PUT IT BLUNTLY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR CONVENTION AND TRADE CENTER, UH, PROMOTING TOURISM TO GET PEOPLE TO COME HERE, YOU KNOW, SO I'M GLAD THAT THIS CAME OFF THE WAY IT DID.

AND ALSO, I'M GLAD TO HEAR SOMEONE DO A PRESENTATION ON, UH, THAT YACHT CLUB AS OPPOSED TO, UH, TURNING IT INTO PROFIT.

NOT IF EVERY DOLLAR AIN'T A GOOD DOLLAR.

, YOU KNOW, SOMETIME WE HAVE TO LOOK PAST THAT.

WHAT ELSE IT BRING TO US? AND TODAY YOU PRESENTED WHAT I ALWAYS FELT THAT THERE'S SOME VALUE IN HAVING THIS AND BRINGING TO OUR CITY.

THE DAY WITH US, I BELIEVE.

AND SOME PEOPLE COMING TO SEE IT.

YEP.

SO, THANK YOU.

AND TAMMY WAS, UH, AWESOME TO WORK WITH, BY THE WAY.

SHE WAS, SHE EVEN ACTUALLY CAME OUT AND SPENT MOST OF

[02:30:01]

DID, DID, DID, DID, DID, DID, DID, DID TAMMY PAY YOU TO SAY THAT? ? NO, SHE DID NOT.

HEY, COUNCILMAN, UH, KEN LAW.

HEY, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I DO VALUE, I'M, I'M AN AVID FISHERMAN.

I LOVE TO BE ON THE WATER.

I HAVE A BOAT.

UH, AND I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE GIVE OPTIONS TO OUR STUDENTS.

BUT, UH, IN LOOKING, IN HEARING YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, STUDENTS THAT'S ALL OVER THE STATE, REGIONALLY.

SO WHAT IS THE, WHAT, WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS ARE YOU HAVING GETTING LOCAL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN A PROGRAM IF IT'S SO GREAT AND IT GIVES YOUNG LADIES AND, AND, AND YOUNG MEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE, UH, BEING ON THE WATER TIME, NOT UNDERSTANDING SELLING PROCEDURES AND OBTAINING SOME OF THOSE GOALS AS YOUR, YOUR DAUGHTER? IS THAT YOUR DAUGHTER YOU TALKED? YEAH, MY DAUGHTER.

YOUR DAUGHTER.

UM, SO I CAN TELL YOU WITH THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THIS WAS SPECIFIC TO THE PROGRAM, UM, IN THIS AREA, WE DO HAVE, I THINK, THREE TROOPS NOW THAT IT DID EXPAND THIS YEAR, BUT THERE, THERE AREN'T VERY MANY OF THE OLDER AGE.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE, FIVE OF THE GIRLS THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE WERE EITHER FROM LUMBERTON OR BEAUMONT FOR THE TROOPS.

UM, BUT THAT'S REALLY ALL THEY HAVE.

THEY JUST, THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE ONES.

AS FAR AS OUTSIDE OF THAT, I THINK THE ISSUE HAS BEEN AS FAR AS ADVERTISING AND GETTING THE WORD OUT THAT WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE.

UM, SINCE I'VE COME IN AS SOCIAL CHAIR AND ALSO WORKING WITH THE SOCIAL MEDIA STUFF, UH, WE'VE BEEN PROMOTING MORE ON FACEBOOK AND TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT WITH PARTNERING WITH DIFFERENT PLACES, UM, TO GET THE WORD OUT.

UM, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO THE CHRISTMAS PARADE IN DECEMBER, AND WE ENDED UP HAVING TO CANCEL 'CAUSE OF WEATHER, BUT WE STILL SAW SO MANY CARS THAT CAME DOWN TO THE ISLAND EXPECTING TO SEE THE BOAT PARADE OUT IN THE BASIN BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HEAR THAT WE HAD HAD TO CANCEL 'CAUSE OF THE WEATHER.

UM, SO WE'RE THE, I THINK IT'S BEEN JUST A LACK OF ADVERTISING AND GETTING THE WORD OUT.

UM, WE DO HAVE PEOPLE ALREADY ASKING ABOUT OUR SUMMER CAMPS.

WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING, UM, FOR THE YOUTH SAILING DAYS, LIKE WE'RE, IT'S BUILDING UP.

IT'S JUST BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A PROCESS.

WELL, AND YOU KINDA UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS.

YOU KNOW, WE CALL IT THE PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE FROM PORT ARTHUR THAT, THAT ACTUALLY PARTICIPATES.

SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD TRY TO GET MORE OF OUR STUDENTS THAT'S IN THE CITY LIMITS OR THE ISDS TO PARTICIPATE.

SO WE ACTUALLY DO, AND I APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF.

WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE KIDS FROM PORT ARTHUR THAT COME.

WE WORK WITH THE, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WITH CAROLYN THIBODAUX.

WE SPONSOR TWO KIDS TO COME TO THE SUMMER CAMPS DURING THE YEAR.

IN PRIOR YEARS, WE HAD, WE COULDN'T EVEN GET 'EM TO COME.

THEY WEREN'T SHOWING UP.

WE PAID FOR EVERYTHING.

THE ONLY THING THEY HAD TO DO WAS SHOW UP AND THEY WEREN'T SHOWING UP THIS PAST SUMMER, WORKING WITH CAROLYN, SHE ACTUALLY WENT AND PICKED THEM UP AND BROUGHT THEM.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS LACK OF PARENT HELP OR WHAT IT WAS THAT WAS CAUSING IT, BUT IT TOOK US HAVING TO DO ALL THE TRANSPORTATION AS WELL AS PROVIDING US, UM, UH, AIR MATTRESS FOR 'EM TO SLEEP ON.

WE HAD TO PROVIDE SUPPLIES FOR THEM, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO DO SO.

UM, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS THAT THE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS ARE NOT PARTICIPATING.

WE HAVE NEVER EXCLUDED THEM.

BUT IS IT THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT IT? WE ADVERTISE, WE INCLUDE, BUT WE ARE ALSO AREN'T GOING TO EXCLUDE EVERYBODY ELSE, EVEN SINCE PORT ARTHUR DOESN'T WANNA PARTICIPATE.

WELL, YOU UNDERSTAND OUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO SUPPORT PORT ARTHUR AS A WHOLE.

AND I UNDERSTAND, BUT DOESN'T THE MONEY COME IN SUPPORT PORT ARTHUR? WELL, I, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I, YOU KNOW, I'M OLD CAT, YOU KNOW, I'M IN MY FIFTIES AND I'VE NEVER HEARD OF HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.

AND I'M A PRODUCT OF, UH, PORT ARTHUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS CLOSED TO RESIDENT RESIDENTS AT THE TIME AND, AND OR WHATEVER, BUT I'M SAYING IF WE'RE GONNA CONSIDER THIS BEING, UH, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S SUPPORTED BY THE CITY, A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE YACHT CLUB, WHICH I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH, I THINK ALL STUDENTS HAVE, SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OPTIONS.

BUT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB IN RECRUITING STUDENTS OR GETTING TO THE ISD, UH, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DR.

PORTERIE AND WHAT THEY GOT GOING ON.

I KNOW EVERY STUDENT IS NOT, NOT WANTING TO BE PART OF IT.

I MEAN, IF IT PRI SOME OF 'EM MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT IT LIKE I DID.

I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

BUT I AM, I'M HOPING NOW IF WE CAN CONTINUE THIS PROJECT AND THIS PARTNERSHIP, WE SHOULD, UH, GET THE WORD OUT TO STUDENTS TO SEE IF THEY ARE TRULY, UH, WANTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE YACHT CLUB.

WE HAVE SELF-SUPPORTED EVERYTHING.

NOW, THERE'S ONE THING I WANNA CLARIFY.

YOU SAY WITH THE CITY SUPPORTING THE CLUB IN THE PAST, THE CITY HAS NEVER FUNDED ANYTHING WITH THE CLUBHOUSE.

WE ARE SELF-SUFFICIENT.

YOU GUYS HAVE NOT PAID FOR ANYTHING WITH THE BUILDING.

YOU HAVEN'T PAID FOR ANY OF OUR SUPPLIES.

YOU HAVEN'T PAID FOR ANYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE.

SO WE DON'T PAY FOR UTILITIES OR ANYTHING.

NO.

WE PAY THOSE.

WOW.

SO IF YOU GUYS WERE TO SUPPORT, IT WOULD BE IN BACKING US UP AND THAT WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB AND WE ARE PROVIDING SOMETHING THAT IS VALUABLE TO THE, TO THE CITY.

SO WHAT, WHAT WAY WILL WE, NO FINANCIAL OBLIGATION.

WHAT WAY WILL WE SUPPORT YOU? I MEAN, OTHER BACKING YOU, WHEN YOU SAY BACKING YOU UP, WHAT DO YOU NEED US TO DO AS A COHORT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS? YEAH.

DRAKE WAS THE, HEY, IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND.

UM, EXCUSE ME.

WOULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME? YES, SIR.

DRAKE THITO? UH, I APOLOGIZE FOR MY ADDRESS.

WILL, UH, UH, NAME'S

[02:35:01]

I DON'T MEAN TO BE SPEAKING DRESSED LIKE THIS.

I'VE HAD TO LEAVE WORK.

UM, COUPLE THINGS YOU SAID, SIR, AND WE SOMEWHAT AGREE WITH YOU.

UM, DEGREE.

I'VE ONLY BEEN A MEMBER THERE A COUPLE YEARS.

UH, I'VE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY DOING A BUNCH OF CHARITABLE WORK THROUGH THE, MY EMPLOYER, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

UH, THE SAME DAY THAT THIS WAS TAKEN CARE OF, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WAS AT TAMMY, FORGIVE ME FOR THE NAME OF THE EVENT, BUT AT PORT ARTHUR CIVIC CENTER WITH A DISPLAY OF OUR BOATS TRYING TO BRING KIDS IN, THINGS OF THAT NATURE FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

UH, AGAIN, WITH WORKING WITH OUR EMPLOYER, MY EMPLOYER, WE HAVE THE EVENT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE WE'RE OUT THERE GIVING AWAY, UM, SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WE BRING THE BOATS OUT.

UH, WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF PICTURES WHERE WE'RE INVITING PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND AND DO SO.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS FOR THE SUMMER CAMP, AND GOD BLESS MS. CAROLYN THIBODAUX, NO RELATION, BUT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN US AND GOD, SHE AND I ARE RELATED SOME KIND OF WAY.

SHE HAS BEEN A HUGE ASSET.

TIFFANY, YOU CAN ATTEST THERE.

UM, WE PAY IN A ABSORBENT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR INSURANCE EACH YEAR DOWN THERE.

OUR INSURANCE, WE CANNOT TRANSPORT KIDS.

UM, THE COST WOULD BE ASTRONOMICAL.

UH, I, I DON'T WANNA SAY HOW MUCH WE'RE PAYING NOW, BUT IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

WE'VE EVEN KICKED AROUND.

DO WE WORK WITH THE SCHOOLS? 'CAUSE THE SCHOOLS POSSIBLY GET SOME BUSING WHERE THEY CAN BRING US THERE FOR THE CAMPS.

OUR CAMPS, WE DO OVERNIGHT.

INSURANCE COSTS ARE RUNNING US CRAZY RIGHT NOW.

BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE, UM, CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE HAVING.

SO WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST TO REACH OUT.

AGAIN, WE'VE KIND OF HIT SOCIAL MEDIA A LITTLE BIT, TRYING TO HELP, UH, THE CHRISTMAS PARADE THAT WE PUT OUT THERE, IF THE WEATHER WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AS BAD.

CRYSTAL SAID IT A WHILE AGO.

THAT'D BEEN HUGE.

UM, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.

WHEN THIS THING TOOK PLACE, UM, WE HAD VOLUNTEERS, BUT I HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA HAVE TO GIVE MR. DAVIS HIS CREDIT ON THIS.

UH, WE REACHED OUT TO MR. DAVIS AND THEY HELPED MAKE SURE THE LAND WAS, UH, THE GROUNDS WERE PRESENTABLE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WHEN WE WERE TALKING WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE STAYING THERE, THEY WANTED TO GO OUT TO EAT.

THE ONLY REASON SOME OF THEM HAD TO LEAVE EARLY IS MOSQUITOES.

NONE OF US CAN CONTROL THAT.

WE EVEN HAD THE CITY FLY A PLANE OVER FRIDAY.

SO WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO TRY TO FOCUS MORE ON PORT ARTHUR.

THAT INVITATION'S OPEN AT ANY TIME.

UH, THURSDAY NIGHTS WE'RE THERE.

WE HAVE ANOTHER YOUTH CAMP COMING UP APRIL 13TH.

I CAN EMAIL THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.

SIX.

I'M SORRY, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET KIDS OUT AGAIN.

UM, SEVERAL OF Y'ALL ARE VETERANS.

UH, MARRIED TO VETERANS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS OUT THERE.

WE HAVE ACT, ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY, TRYING TO TEACH THESE KIDS.

ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS WE DID, I BROUGHT SIX OF THE KIDS ON MY BOAT, IF YOU CAN GO BACK.

ONE OF THE YOUNG LADIES WAS ACTUALLY FROM BUNA.

I HAD HER DRIVING MY BOAT.

AND ONCE WE PUT HER IN SOMEWHAT OF A LEADERSHIP POSITION, WE WERE TEACHING 'EM HOW TO TRY, UH, TIE KNOTS.

UH, YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT.

AND SO I HANDED HER, AND I FORGOT THIS ONE.

I FORGOT HER NAME.

BUT I HANDED HER THE ROPE.

EVERYBODY HAD A PIECE OF ROPE AND SAID, OKAY, SHOW EVERYBODY HOW TO TIE A SQUARE KNOT.

SHOW EVERYBODY TITLE A BOWLING SHOW, EVERYBODY TITLE A CLEAVAGE.

SO WE STARTED PUTTING THOSE KIDS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS SO THEY COULD HELP TEACH.

UH, THERE'S A YOUNG MAN, I PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO SAY HIS NAME, BUT WE'VE ENLISTED HIM TO COME BE A CA CAMP COUNSELOR THROUGH MS. TIPTOE, UH, THIS YEAR.

UM, HE HAD NEVER GOT ON A BOAT UNTIL LAST YEAR.

HE GOT ON A BOAT, FIRST TIME TOOK OFF, AND HE NAILED IT.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO DO THESE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SPEAK 30, 40, 50 YEARS AGO.

I DON'T KNOW.

WASN'T THERE.

I CAN TELL YOU WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE NOW ARE TRYING TO DO.

UH, IT'S IN OUR HEARTS.

EVERY, WASN'T THERE, HAS A SERVANT HEART.

WE'RE DOING OUR BEST WE CAN WITH VERY LIMITED RESOURCES.

SO, OPEN ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL.

WELL, AND THANK Y'ALL FOR THE TIME, BY THE WAY.

UH, EXCUSE ME.

WHAT WE'VE DONE, WE'VE, UH, SURPASSED ALMOST OUR 20 MINUTES FOR THE PRESENTATION NOW.

WE WANT TO GET EXTENDED TIME.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM.

UM, YES.

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND THE TIME, UH, SO THEY CAN COMPLETE THE PRESENTATION.

WE CAN PARTICIPATE AND HELP EXPAND LIKE THAT KNOWLEDGE THAT WE'RE THERE.

GIVE ABOUT FIVE MORE MINUTES.

WE HAVE ANY WE READY IN OPPOSITION TO THAT? OKAY.

WE PUT FIVE MORE MINUTES.

WELL, I, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING OTHER, ANY OTHER INFORMATION TO SHARE.

UM, BUT I WILL SAY WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO NEW IDEAS.

WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO PARTICIPATING IN EVENTS.

I TURNED A SAILBOAT INTO A, A SLEIGH AND A CHIMNEY LAST YEAR FOR A PARADE.

AND IT WAS THE NEEDLE IN ONE, WHICH I REALIZED IS NOT PORT ARTHUR, BUT I'M A NEEDLE IN RESIDENT.

AND I COULD WALK TO WHERE THE PARADE WAS.

I KNEW IT IF PORT ARTHUR HAS A PARADE, AND THEN WE'LL DO THAT.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW OF ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES NECESSARILY AS WELL.

SO YOU ASK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT, THEN INCLUDE US ON IF THE, IF YOU KNOW OF AN EVENT THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT HAS KIDS, THEN LET US KNOW.

AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT

[02:40:01]

AND WE HAVE THAT.

WE HAVE SAILING OPTIONS AND THINGS TO LEARN AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

COUNCILMAN BECKHAM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, GO AHEAD.

I JUST WANNA THANK CRYSTAL AND DRAKE FOR THIS GREAT PRESENTATION.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND DRAKE ESPECIALLY HAVING TO GET AWAY FROM WORK TODAY.

UM, YOU GUYS DID EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO PRESENT TO COUNCIL AND TO THE PUBLIC TO SHOW THE VALUE OF THE YACHT CLUB AND WHAT YOU BRING TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

UM, I, I THINK WE ALL NEED TO CONSIDER THIS WHEN WE ARE CONSIDERING, UM, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO WITH THE YACHT CLUB.

UH, THESE KIND OF EVENTS WILL NO LONGER HAPPEN IF OUR PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB IS NO LONGER THERE.

UH, AND IF THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE IN THAT BUILDING, UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE JUST NOT GONNA BE A PORT ARTHUR ANYMORE.

SO I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER THE VALUE THAT THEY BRING, UH, THE EVENTS THAT THEY SPONSOR.

UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING EVERY MONTH.

UH, AND, AND I, I THINK Y'ALL JUST DID A GREAT JOB AND THAT, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO PRESENT TODAY.

UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS.

APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.

HELLO.

IT FI FITS RIGHT INTO OUR TOURISM, AND THAT AFFECTS OUR REVENUE STREAM, SALES TAX, HOTEL, MOTEL TAXES, UM, FAR AS GETTING THE KIDS INTERESTED.

I HATE ABOUT THAT LIABILITY OF TRANSPORTING.

FOR SOMETHING NEED TO, WAYS NEED TO BE DEVELOPED TO GET THOSE KIDS IN INVOLVED TO THOSE LOCATIONS SO THEY CAN PARTICIPATE.

YOU KNOW, ONCE THEY ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, THEY GET HOOKED AND THEY WANT TO COME BACK.

, BUT I KNOW LIABILITIES OR LIABILITIES, INSURANCE.

BUT ANYWAY, THAT IT AFFECTS OUR TOURISM.

AND FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW, THE CITY MANAGER, UH, HAS WROTE A GRANT IN, IN-HOUSE, AND IT'S A $45 MILLION GRANT COST OF EROSION.

SO, BUT IT'S, ONCE WE COULD IMPLEMENT THAT GRANT, GET THE GRANT AND IMPLEMENT IT, IT'S GOING TO ATTRACT, UH, TOURISM AND INTO SABINE PASS SALES TAX, HOTEL MOTEL TAXES IS GOING TO, YEAH.

IT'S A $42 MILLION PLANNING GRANT FOR, FOR COASTAL EROSION.

AND SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.

AND IT FITS RIGHT INTO WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.

, ATTRACTING HO TOURISM, HOTEL, MOTEL TAXES.

KEEP THE GOOD WORK UP.

PREVIOUSLY, MR. PETE THIBO, I THINK THIBODAUX? NO, NO, NO.

NOT, NOT MR. THITO.

UM, HER I KNOW.

OH, HIS NAME WAS MR. PETE, I THINK.

MR. DON, HE CREATED A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PORT ARTHUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WAS VISITING WITH MEMORIAL.

AND WE DISCUSSED ABOUT, UM, HAVING STUDENTS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL TO BE ABLE TO COME AND VISIT THE YACHT CLUB SPECIFICALLY DURING THE SUMMER.

IT WAS LIKE AUGUST.

BUT THEN, UM, ACTUALLY, MR. DRAKE, YOU ACTUALLY INVITED THE STUDENTS TO COME IF THEY CAME WITH A, A SPONSOR LIKE ON THURSDAYS WHEN YOU GUYS RACED.

BUT WHATEVER CAME, WHATEVER BECAME OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE BETWEEN MR. DON AND PISD.

SO, UM, I'M SORRY.

UM, SO, UH, DONALD HEARN, WHO'S NOW OUR COMMODORE, OUR HEAD GUY AT THE, UH, YACHT CLUB, AS WELL AS PAUL VERA, WHO'S BEEN LIVING HERE FOREVER.

MM-HMM MM-HMM.

UM, THEY ACTUALLY WENT TO SOME OF THE SCHOOLS, AND I, I'D BE LYING IF I TELL YOU WHICH ONE THEY WENT TO.

BUT THEY TRIED PUTTING THE PROGRAM IN PLACE AND IT JUST DIDN'T TAKE, AND I TRUTHFULLY FEEL IT'S COMES BACK TO IT IS THE LIABILITY, ERROR IS THE TRANSPORTATION.

TRYING TO GET FOLKS BACK AND FORTH.

YOU KNOW, I GREW UP, MY FAMILY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

UM, MY PARENTS JUST COULDN'T STOP DURING THE DAY OR AN EVENING AND TRY TO BRING ME SOMEWHERE FOR SOMETHING I MISSED OUT ON.

A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT.

ALL I CAN OFFER IS WHEN WE, IF WE GET KIDS THERE, WE'RE GONNA FEED 'EM, WE'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF THEM.

WE'LL GET WHATEVER THEY NEED.

IT'S JUST GETTING THEM THERE.

WE'RE NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO DO.

AND I WISH WE COULD.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'D LOVE TO TRY TO START THAT PROGRAM BACK UP.

IT'S JUST, WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME SUPPORT FOR IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS BEEN GOOD TO US THAT, THAT BUILDING, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE LET US USE THAT BUILDING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND I, I DON'T WANNA TAKE AWAY FROM THAT.

'CAUSE THE CITY HAS TAKEN CARE OF THAT PLACE, TAKEN CARE OF THE YACHT CLUB.

SO YEAH.

Y'ALL, Y'ALL HAVE SUPPORT US, BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN DO WHEN WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES.

UH, EVERYONE THINKS OF A YACHT CLUB AS THESE RICH PEOPLE.

I CAN PROMISE YOU, I WILL GIVE Y'ALL MY CHECKBOOK RIGHT NOW.

YOU CAN LOOK AT IT.

IT, IT AIN'T GOOD.

THE MATH AIN'T MATH.

THE MATH IS NOT WELL.

SO, UM, WE WILL HELP ANY WAY WE CAN.

WE JUST NEED A

[02:45:01]

LITTLE HELP AS WELL.

ADD ONE THING TO THAT.

MY HUSBAND'S WATCHING AND HE JUST TEXTED ME SOMETHING.

SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE DIFFERENT, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS PLAYED WITH THE SCHOOL, BUT WE'VE HAD PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT WANTED TO WORK WITH US OR PARTNER WITH US BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LEASE.

WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GONNA BE THERE IN FIVE OR SIX MONTHS.

SO IT'S HARD FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO COMMIT TO WORK WITH US ON AN EVENT IN THE FUTURE.

'CAUSE YOU CAN'T PLAN THIS, SOME OF THIS STUFF IN A WEEK.

THIS EVENT THAT MY DAUGHTER DID, WE STARTED PLANNING LAST SUMMER.

IN ORDER TO PULL THIS OFF, UM, UNTIL WE HAVE A LEASE, IT DOES LIMIT SOME OF, YEAH.

BUT HOLD ON.

THAT'S, THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER ISSUE.

I KNOW, BUT I NO, MA'AM.

NO, MA'AM.

WE'VE EXPENDED OUR TIME.

WE OUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND OUR TIME IS UP.

NOW, UH, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MOVE TO, UH, ROMAN NUMERAL THREE, WHICH IS PETITIONS.

AND WE HAVE A PETITION, A PRESENTATION, EXCUSE ME, BY OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, LEWIS, REGARDING THE UPCOMING, UH, BOOTCAMP GRANT WRITING FOR STAFF, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS.

CITY MAYOR.

I MEAN, UH, MAYOR, WE HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH I THOUGHT SO, BUT I WAS GOING OKAY.

GOOD ENOUGH.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS A PRESENTATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS REGARDING GRANTS FORECLOSING, RAILROAD CROSSINGS.

OKAY, NEXT WE'LL MOVE TO

[III.B.(5) A Presentation By Councilmember Lewis Regarding Grants For Closing Railroad Crossings]

I JUST WANNA MAKE THE CITIZENS ARE AWARE THERE IS GRANTS TO CLOSE RAILROAD CROSSING ALL BEFORE CITIZENS CAME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL FROM WEST OF HOUSTON AVENUE, 1718, UH, 15TH STREET, 14TH STREET, NINTH AVENUE, NINTH STREET.

THEY CAME BEFORE COUNCIL, YEARS AGO, COMPLAINING ABOUT THE, THE CONSISTENTLY HORN BLOWING.

WELL, AT THAT TIME, IT COST A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO CLOSE THE CLOSE.

THE STREET CITY DID NOT HAVE IT.

BUT TODAY, THERE ARE GRANTS TO IF THE CITIZENS, IF, IF THEY STILL WISH TO CLOSE ANY THE STREETS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST, I'M JUST USING, UH, WEST OF HOUSTON AVENUE AS AN EXAMPLE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER AREAS THAT, THAT HAVE COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL.

THEY HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HORN BLOWING UP.

AND ST.

MARY'S OR ST.

MARY'S AREA.

UH, WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS, UH, NOISE.

IT INCREASES THE STRESS LEVEL.

IT INCREASES STRESS.

NOW, WHAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU INCREASE STRESS, OTHER THINGS HAPPEN.

FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE FINDING, THERE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, RESEARCH, THEY'RE FOUND THAT STRESSING STRESS HORMONES ARE IN CREATED IN A NOISY AREA.

AND THAT INCREASES DIABETES AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES.

NOW TO, TO, TO MAKE IT SIMPLER FOR LAYMAN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT STRESS WILL DO.

IT DOESN'T CHANGE, NOT STRESS BY ITSELF, BUT IT CAUSES CHANGES.

FOR EXAMPLE, STRESS ON SEWAGE PIPES BREAKS STRESS ON WATER LINES, BREAKS.

THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN WITH STRESS.

THAT, THAT, THAT'S WHAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE STRESS CAUSES BRIDGES TO COLLAPSE.

THAT'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT IS STRESS.

BUT STRESS IS LIKE A CATALYST.

IT SHOWS UP, THINGS HAPPEN.

BUT ALL, ALL I WANNA DO IS MAKE THE CITY.

AND I'VE ALREADY CALLED THIS IN TO, WELL, I, WHEN I DISCOVERED THE SEMINAR WAS GOING ON AT THE NATIONAL LEGAL CITIES, I CALLED THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THE BOOTCAMP.

AND I'LL CALL YOU ABOUT, UH, THE RAILROAD GRANTS, WHICH WE DID NOT HAVE BEFORE.

SO THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN CLOSING OR WANT TO TALK ABOUT OR HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ABOUT A CLOSING IN RAILROAD CROSSINGS, UH, CONTACT YOUR, YOUR CITY COUNCILMEN AND HAVE THEM TO DO THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

NEXT WE'LL

[III.E.(1) A Discussion Regarding An Update On Streets Progress And Funding As Follow-Up From Last Request (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]

MOVE TO DISCUSSIONS.

AND WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON UNDER, UH, THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSIONS.

AND IT'S A, A DISCUSSION REGARDING AN UPDATE ON STREET PROGRESS AND FUNDING AS FOLLOW UP FROM LAST REQUEST.

AND THIS IS BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

C I'M GONNA DO THAT.

I'M LOOKING AT THE LIST THAT WAS PROVIDED, WHICH SAYS THE LIST OF, UH, STREETS IN OUR DISTRICTS THAT'S NEED REPAIR.

THAT WE GOT TO SELECT FROM? SO, UH, COUNCILMAN, THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ALL THE BUDGETED STREETS THAT I'M AWARE OF FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

LOOK LIKE THE STREETS ON HERE ARE MOSTLY ALL THAT I, THE LISTS I RECEIVE IS EITHER THEY HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, MOST OF 'EM BEEN COMPLETED.

WHAT DO WE HAVE? DO WE HAVE A LIST WITH STREETS? THAT'S,

[02:50:02]

UM, ON THE LIST, THERE ARE 170 COMPLETED STREETS THAT YOU'RE CORRECT SHOWN UP HERE.

THERE'S 34 REMAINING AND 11 ARE UNDER CONTRACT.

O OKAY.

THIS IS, THIS IS GOOD INFORMATION TO HAVE, BUT, UH, WHAT I LIKE TO HAVE IS A LIST OF STREETS THAT HAVE I, THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED THAT WE MUST REPAIR.

YES, I UNDERSTAND.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, MY FOCUS HAS BEEN TO NUMBER ONE, PREPARE THIS LIST.

'CAUSE THIS WAS KIND OF A, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE NOTICED, BUT THIS IS BASED ON THE NEW COUNCILS, UH, ALIGNMENTS.

AND I REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST CAME ON COUNCIL, YOU HAD, UH, REQUESTED THAT WE REEVALUATE THE PERCENTAGES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF STREETS THAT ARE HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACK PAGE, WE HAVE DONE THAT.

WE'VE COME UP WITH THE NEW PERCENTAGES FOR FUTURE FUNDING.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, PERCENTAGE, I DON'T THINK GOING TO, UH, BE RIGHT.

UH, BECAUSE THAT PERCENTAGE IS SUPPOSED TO ACTUALLY BE DONE EACH, EACH YEAR AFTER YOU'VE COMPILED HOW MANY STREETS ARE REMAINING.

, YOU KNOW, THE PERCENTAGE IS SUPPOSED TO BE BASED ON REMAINING STREETS, NOT STREETS COMPLAINING.

THAT'S WHY IT SAID IF WE GONNA KEEP UP WITH STREETS MM-HMM.

IF WE COMPLETED STREETS, THAT'S, THAT SHOULD BE FOR OUR RECORDS.

UH, WE SHOULD HAVE THAT FOR OUR RECORDS.

SO IF WE WANT TO GO BACK AND CHECK WHAT STREET'S BEEN DONE AND WHEN THEY WERE COMPLETED, WE HAVE A RECORD OF THERE.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON IS WHAT STREETS WE HAVE NOW THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT FUNDING AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SELECTING.

THERE FOR US TO USE AND PUT IT UNDER UMBRELLA OF STREETS BECAUSE IT'S VERY, THIS IS A SIMPLE PROCESS.

AND MY REQUEST TO GET ALL THIS INFORMATION IS REALLY, WE ARE BEHIND THE CURB BECAUSE WE SHOULD HAVE ALREADY SELECTED STREETS.

BUT THE OTHER PART OF THIS REQUEST THAT I MADE DEALING WITH FUNDING, I DIDN'T WANT TO SELECT STREETS BECAUSE WE HAVE STREETS THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SELECTED, HAVE BEEN FUNDED.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE TIMEFRAME THAT HAS FROM THE TIME OF SELECTION TO THE PRESENT TIME, THE COST IS NOT THE SAME MATERIAL AND STUFF HAS GONE UP.

SO THAT'S WHY I REQUESTED FIND ALL OF THE STREETS THAT HAVE BEEN ALREADY FUNDED.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WAS ALLOCATED, ENSURE THAT THAT MONEY NOW TODAY CAN COVER THAT MM-HMM.

AND DO THAT FOR ALL OF THE STREETS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED.

SO WHEN WE FINISH, IF WE FIND OUT THAT ALL OF THESE STREETS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED, WE HAD 10, I'M GONNA BE REAL, WE HAVE $3 MILLION WORTH OF STREET THAT WE HAD ALREADY PUT FUNDING IN FOR.

BUT NOW WHEN WE GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE COST TODAY MM-HMM.

, IT'S $3.5 MILLION.

SO WE KNOW NOW WE ARE $500,000 SHORT FOR HERE.

SO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO BEFORE WE DIVIDE THE 10 MILLION FOR THIS YEAR, TAKE THE $500,000 OF IT, GET THE FUNDING CORRECT FOR THESE STREETS.

NOW WE GOING TO DIVIDE THE REST OF THE MONEY.

AND WHEN WE DIVIDE THE REST OF THE MONEY, THEN WE KNOW WHATEVER OUR ESTIMATES AND STUFF ARE, WE KNOW THEY'RE GOOD.

WE KNOW THAT THE MONEY THAT WE'VE PUTTING IN THERE FOR THE COST OF THE STREET, PLUS THE, UH, WHAT DO THEY CALL IT? 15%, UH, CONTINGENCY.

CONTINGENCY.

YOU GOT, YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT TO SAY? MM-HMM.

BUT WE HAVE THE CONTINGENCY FIXED UP.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE MONEY TO COMPLETE WHAT WE SELECTED.

AND THAT'S THE, WE HAVE TO DO IT.

THE REASON I ASK THAT, BECAUSE AS I FOLLOWED THE STREET PROGRAM, I SEEN US TAKING MONEY FROM STREETS THAT WERE NOT IN LINE WITH THE STREETS AND STUFF, BUT IT'S COMING OUT THIS POT.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET, GET TO WHEREBY THIS POT, WHEN WE TAKE MONEY OUT, IT'S COMING OUT BECAUSE WE KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ALLOCATED.

AND IT'S NOT JUST

[02:55:01]

SO WE REALLY HAVE TO GET A HANDLE ON IT.

AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO, JOHN, IS GO BACK, LOOK AT THE STREETS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING WITH.

, GET THOSE INTO OUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS.

ONCE YOU GET THOSE IN OUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS, THEN TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WAS ALLOCATED BACK THEN WHEN IT WAS SELECTED.

DO YOUR NUMBERS AGAIN.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU GOT THAT IN THE CONTINGENCY.

MAKE SURE THAT WE GET ALL THAT MONEY AND THEN WE PUT IT BACK ON THE LIST.

AND THAT WAY IT'S GONNA HELP THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO START HAVING THESE FUNDING SITES FOR THESE PARTICULAR SEAT, UH, STREETS.

SO THAT WE KNOW.

SO HOW MUCH MONEY WE GOT, HOW MUCH MONEY WE GONNA SPEND.

NOW, THE PERCENTAGE, THE SPENT, THE PERCENTAGE IS ALWAYS BASED ON REMAINING STREETS.

AND, AND THE REASON IT SHOULD BE ON REMAINING STREETS, BECAUSE IF YOU DO A LOT OF STREETS IN, UH, DISTRICT FOUR, THEN THAT NUMBER, THAT OVERALL NUMBER HAS DROPPED.

AND YOU CAN'T DO EQUAL STREETS IN EVERY DISTRICT.

THAT'S CRAZY.

, I DON'T EVEN EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU MOVING AROUND.

SO YOU DO SOME IN THIS ONE, SOME IN THIS ONE, SOME IN THIS ONE.

BUT YOU CAN'T DO, I'M GONNA DO FIVE OVER HERE IF I, IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

IT'S BASED ON WHAT WE SELECT AND WHEN YOU GO INTO THE AREA.

BUT WE HAVE TO GET A HANDLE ON IT.

AND WE HAVE TO DO THIS BECAUSE WE NEED TO SELECT THESE STREETS FOR THIS YEAR.

AND WE NEED TO GET 'EM AND DECIDE WHICH ONES WE GONNA DO IN HOUSE, WHICH ONES WE GONNA CONTRACT OUT THOSE THAT ARE GONNA BE CONTRACT OUT.

WE NEED TO GET DESIGNS ON THEM.

WE GET A DESIGN, THEN WE NEED TO GET BIDS AND WE NEED TO GET THESE STREETS FIXED.

WHEN WE DO THAT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE STREETS ROLLING.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WHEN CITIZENS CALLED US, RIGHT? I COULD LOOK AT THIS LIST AND SAYS, YEAH, YOUR STREET IS ONE THAT WE SELECTED FOR THIS YEAR.

OR I COULD TELL THEM, OH, YOUR STREET IS ON THE LIST ALREADY.

SO THAT'S WHAT I NEED.

AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR THAT.

, I THINK YOU GOT THE BIG PART OF YOUR WORK OUT THE WAY.

'CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE STREETS AND DOING MM-HMM.

WHAT I'M REQUESTING NOW.

'CAUSE THAT'S ALREADY DONE, BUT IT'S GOING TO HELP ME TO KNOW WHAT'S REMAINING ON THIS LIST IN DISTRICT FOUR THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

BECAUSE ALL OUR STREETS ARE ALL ASPHALTS.

, YOU KNOW, ALL ASPHALTS.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT.

WE NEED TO GET CONTRACTORS NEED A CITY MANAGER.

HOW MANY CONTRACTORS WE HAVE DOING STREETS IN THE CITY AS OF NOW.

OR JOHN, CAN YOU ANSWER JOHN? GET DOWN AND SAY THAT RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT JOHN, JOHN, HOW MANY HAVE, WE'VE GOT MECHANIC STREET AND SABINE PASS.

AND THEN GULF COAST IS WORKING ON THESE, UH, 11 PROJECTS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

SO WE GOT THREE.

AND THEN, UH, ELITE, ELITE IS WORKING ON MECHANIC.

AND THEN WE JUST GOT THROUGH FINISHING THE ALCO PROJECT.

SO YES, WE HAD THREE.

SO, UH, UH, YOU SEE NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

'CAUSE WE NEED, WE NEED TO HAVE ALCO STARTING ON ANOTHER BATCH.

UNDERSTOOD.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO GET WITH THIS.

WE NEED TO GET WHEREBY WE GOT 'EM WORKING.

AND I LIKE THE IDEA THAT IT'S THREE, NOT ONE OR TWO, THREE CONTRACTORS.

WE PUT 'EM IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE SO WE DOING ALL AT ONE TIME.

I CAN'T, I CAN'T DIRECT IT, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE WAY WE TALKED ABOUT THIS STREET PROGRAM WHEN WE PUT IT IN PLACE TO TRY TO WORK FAST.

AND I BELIEVE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE, COUNCILMAN.

LIKE I SAID, WE'RE, WE'RE ABOUT TO GO INTO BUDGET HEARINGS AND WE'LL HAVE A LIST.

I'VE GOT'EM ACTUALLY ON MY PHONE OF WHICH STREETS THAT WE'RE GONNA PRESENT TO COUNCIL AND GET FUNDED.

UM, WE STILL NEED TO FINISH UP THESE 34.

ONE THING I DID WANNA POINT OUT TO YOU ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE IS THIS MAP RIGHT HERE.

THAT IS A GIS DATABASE.

YOU KNOW, THANKS TO DEREK AND KENNETH, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THIS ON THERE.

THIS IS THE STREETS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

OUR NEXT STEP IS TO PUT IN YELLOW THE STREETS TO BE DONE.

UH, I JUST A I MEAN THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD TO LET 'EM KNOW WHAT WE'VE DONE, RIGHT? SURE.

BUT I BELIEVE WHEN THEY GO TO THAT, THEY GOING TO BE, THEY GONNA BE LOOKING FOR THEIR STREET, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT STREET'S BEING FIXED.

RIGHT? YEAH.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE TOO MUCH CONCERN WITH THAT.

BUT THAT WAS GONNA BE

[03:00:01]

MY LAST POINT.

AND YOU ALREADY GOT IT.

ON THAT WEBSITE, WHEN WE SELECT STREETS, EVERY STREET THAT WE'VE ALREADY SELECTED, WE CITIZENS SHOULD GO AND ACCESS AND SEE IF THEIR STREET IS ON THERE.

AS SELECTED.

OR WHEN WE SELECT MORE STREETS, WE ADD THEM TO THE NEW MAP SO CITIZENS CAN GO THERE AND FIND OUT IF A STREET YES.

IS SELECTED OR NOT.

SO I SEE RIGHT NOW YOU GOT EVERYTHING IN PLACE.

WE JUST HAVE TO GET IT IN A FORMAT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, WE COULD WORK ON IT.

AND WE COULD MONITOR OUR SPENDING ALSO.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO, JOHN.

I'M GONNA BE, I WANT TO MONITOR MY SPENDING.

I WANNA KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY I GOT FOR THAT DISTRICT.

I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH I SPEND ON THIS STREET.

AND I DON'T WANT OVERSPEND.

AND IF I OVERSPEND IT, I KNOW I'M GONNA HAVE TO FALL SHORT.

BUT I UNDERSTAND ONCE COUNSEL APPROVE IT, I UNDERSTAND WHAT I HAVE TO WORK WITH.

I JUST WANT TO STAY ON TOP OF IT.

AND FROM THE CONVERSATION WE ARE HAVING, I THINK YOU GOT ALL OF THE STUFF, YOU HEADED THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.

THAT'S ALL.

I, I THINK THERE WAS A PERCEPTION OR THERE IS A PERCEPTION THAT WE'RE NOT ACCOMPLISHING MUCH.

AND I JUST WANTED TO PRESENT THIS TO THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.

THEY'RE WELCOME TO GET ON THIS SITE.

IT'S UNDER GIS MAPPING STREET PROGRAM.

AND IT'LL SHOW YOU WHAT STREETS WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S LIKE I SAID, JOHN, THAT'S GOOD.

AND UH, I, I NEVER SAID WE'RE NOT, WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE GOING TO GET WE GOING, WE GONNA SHIFT GEARS.

THAT'S ALL I WANT TO DO.

, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET 'EM SELECTED, GET 'EM CONTRACTED, GET 'EM BIG.

GET 'EM FIXED.

SO THAT'S ALL.

AND, AND IT'S DIALOGUES LIKE THIS THAT'S GONNA GET US WHERE WE NEED TO GO TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC.

UNDERSTOOD.

AND UH, THEN WHEN YOU DO THAT, THEN WE'LL HAVE MS. BOSWELL, UH, IF ANY COUNCIL MEMBER HAVE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW ABOUT FINANCE, THEY COULD TALK TO HER.

BUT MY THEORY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS THE DEPARTMENT THAT WHEN YOU SEND A, IN A, UH, REQUEST FOR FUNDING, THEY JUST SEE IF YOU GOT THE MONEY AND THEY TELL YOU, YEAH, YOU GOT THE MONEY OR YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

BUT THE MANAGEMENT AND THE SPENDING OF THE MONEY IS NOT REALLY THEM.

IT'S THE DEPARTMENTS.

SO, YOU KNOW.

WELL, IT'S A SHARED EFFORT.

WE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH LYNN AND BRIAN WALLACE TO GET THIS THING, UH, SITUATED AND GET IT ALL RESOLVED.

WELL, I TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I'M OKAY WITH THIS NOW THAT, NOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND MM-HMM.

WHAT I NEED TO MOVE THEN I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING IT.

YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT, HEY, WE GETTING READY.

SO I'M, I'M EXPECTING THAT TO HAPPEN.

UH, AND PERCENTAGE, I THINK ONCE YOU GET THE NUMBER OF STREETS REMAINING FROM ALL DISTRICTS AND YOU DO A PERCENTAGE, YOU NEED TO PRESENT IT TO COUNCIL BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BREAKDOWN.

WE'LL MAKE SURE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ON BOARD WITH IT.

ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS UNDERSTAND THE PERCENTAGE AND HOW IT'S GONNA BE DONE.

BUT LET'S NOT USE OLD DATA.

'CAUSE THAT'S FOR THE PERCENTAGE.

'CAUSE THAT WON'T HELP US.

SO BEFORE YOU DO THE PERCENTAGE ON STREETS, YOU GOT REMAINING.

AND THEN LET US HERE BEFORE YOU BRING IT TO US TO BLESS IT.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU BRING IT TO A BLESSED, WE WANT TO BLESS IT.

WE DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS IT.

SO GIVE US A LITTLE HEADS UP.

I WILL.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

UH, COUNCIL MCKEN LAW.

THANK YOU MAYOR JOHN.

UH, REAL QUICK, UM, I'VE, I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR A LIST LIKE THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND I'M THANK YOU THAT WE'VE GOTTEN IT AND IT'S BEEN MONTHS.

UM, BUT, UH, COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'M LOOKING ON YOUR, IF YOU WOULD LOOK ON PAGE, THE SECOND PAGE, WHAT IS BATES? I, I'M LOOKING, I'M TRYING TO, THAT THAT'S JUST A DESIGNATION FOR, UH, MR. BATES, OUR, OUR OUR STREET SUPERINTENDENT.

AND THAT, THAT'S AN, THAT'S A STREET THAT I'VE IDENTIFIED THAT HE COULD PROBABLY DO HIMSELF.

MAYBE, I WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS COMPLETED OR NOT.

OR STREET.

WHEN YOU HAVE A QUESTION MARK, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AS WELL? UH, THE QUESTION MARK.

I THINK THERE WAS A QUESTION OF WHETHER IT WAS COMPLETE OR NOT.

YOU KNOW, I HAD MY, MY, UH, FOLKS GO OUT AND LOOK AT THESE, BUT I THINK THERE WAS ONE THAT

[03:05:01]

IT TAKES A, IT TAKES TIME TO GO OUT AND ACTUALLY LOOK AT THESE STREETS, UH, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING TO TRY TO VERIFY THAT THEY'VE ALL BEEN DONE CORRECTLY AND THAT THEY'RE FINISHED.

AND MY LAST THING, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT PERCENTAGE, THAT'S MY THING, LOOKING AT PERCENTAGES AND GETTING AN UNDERSTANDING, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS HOW THE MONEY IS DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT, ON THE LAST PAGE, YOU HAVE A NEW REVISED COUNCIL BOUNDARIES.

OKAY? YES.

AND YOU HAVE ONE AND FOUR AGAIN, LEADING EACH OTHER, UH, DISTRICTS.

AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 77 STREETS EITHER BEING PROPOSED, COMPLETED WITH BATES OR QUESTION MARK UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

, YOU HAVE THOSE THINGS TO KIND OF LEAD COUNCIL AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THOSE SPECIFIC STREETS.

BUT AT THE TIME THAT WE RESTARTED THIS PROGRAM, THE FUNDING WAS DISTRIBUTED BASED UPON THE, UH, THE RESULTS FROM THE X-RAY MACHINE THAT WENT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

GAVE A READING, A RATING OR READING.

, UH, AND HOW BAD THE STREETS WERE.

SO BECAUSE OF GOING TO A, UH, DIFFERENT REVISED COUNCIL, UH, BOUNDARIES, WE NOW HAVE SOME STREETS THAT WERE IN FOUR.

CORRECT.

THAT ARE PROBABLY IN ONE OR VICE VERSA.

OR THEY WERE IN THREE.

THEY ARE NOW IN TWO.

SO MY THING IS THIS, YOU KNOW, TO BE FAIR ABOUT GETTING, UH, STREETS, I THINK STREETS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE NEED TO ADHERE TO IN THE CITY.

I'VE EXPRESSED THAT TO MANAGEMENT.

I'VE EXPRESSED THAT TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE ABOUT WHAT WE NEED AND HOW WE NEED TO DO IT.

BUT YOU CAN NEVER GET STREETS.

WE CAN ONLY TAKE A LITTLE SMALL BITE OF GETTING THOSE THINGS DONE.

AND I'VE TALKED TO YOU A HUNDRED TIMES ABOUT THIS SURE.

ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE FAIR AMONGST THE DISTRICTS.

NOW, THIS PARTICULAR THING, UH, LOOKING AT THIS PERCENTAGE IS NOT FAIR TO ME BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT IT LIKE AT ONE TIME.

YOU KNOW, A YEAR AGO WE WERE FORCED TO CHANGE OUR BOUNDARIES.

, WE WERE FORCED TO DO THAT.

AND NOW SOME OF THE STREETS WHERE IN FOUR WERE ONE.

SOMEWHERE IN TWO OR IN THREE OR, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER.

YOU KNOW, LOCATION THEY ARE NOW, BUT THEY STILL AT THIS POINT ARE BEING ACCREDITED TO THAT DISTRICT BASED UPON THE REVISED PERCENTAGES.

AND, AND, AND THIS WAS CALCULATED OFF THE EXISTING LIST.

AND LIKE EXISTING COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SAID, WE CAN LOOK FORWARD AT THE NEW LIST AND DO A PERCENTAGE BASED ON THAT.

BUT THE STREET AT THE TIME WAS GETTING DONE AND MONIES WENT TO FOUR.

YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS? WELL, SO I HAVE A HARD TIME.

I'VE EXPRESSED, IF COUNCILMAN, LET ME JUST SAY THIS REAL QUICK.

I REALLY DON'T LOOK AT THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, RIGHT.

WHEN I'M OUT THERE AND I'M DRIVING THE STREET AND I'M BUMPING AND IT'S, IT'S BAD, IRI.

I MEAN, WE FIX IT AND WE GO AFTER IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? AND SO THE DISTRICT ALLOCATIONS ARE REALLY MORE YOUR CONCERNS.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

AND I WILL PRESENT WHATEVER DATA YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR DECISIONS.

BUT I LOOK AT THE STREETS AS THEY'RE ALL IN NEED OF PREPARANCE.

AND I TOTALLY AGREE, BUT WHEN WE GET THE PHONE CALLS YES, SIR.

YOU KNOW, WHATEVER DISTRICT THAT PERSON IS IN, WE HAVE TO HEAR AND ADDRESS THOSE AT OUR LEVEL.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST TRYING TO BE FAIR WITH IT.

MAKE SURE THAT WHEN I GET THESE PHONE CALLS ABOUT I NEED MY STREET DONE.

UH, YOU KNOW, WHY, WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG? OR, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY CONTRACTORS ARE OUT THERE, OR WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT I POSSIBLY CAN GET ON THE LIST? MM-HMM.

, YOU KNOW, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO TELL A, A CITIZEN? SO I, I, I TRULY WANNA WORK WITH STAFF AND, AND, AND WORK WITH THE MANAGEMENT HERE TO, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS SOME OF THESE CONCERNS.

BUT I WON'T KNOW THOSE THINGS UNTIL I COME TO A FORM LIKE THIS.

TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS, TO GET A LIST LIKE THIS THAT I'VE BEEN REQUESTING FOR MONTHS.

WELL, AND I, THE LAST LIST WAS INCORRECT.

AND, AND WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS IT TOOK SOME EFFORT TO GET THIS LIST TOGETHER, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING AT COMPLETION DATES, WE WERE LOOKING AT MONIES EXPENDED, WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL THOSE DATA THAT I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T HERE WHEN A LOT OF THESE WERE DONE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S LOOKING AT OLD PAPERWORK AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS DONE AND WHAT HADN'T BEEN DONE.

AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I WANNA THANK MY TEAM.

I WANNA THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED, UH, FINANCE AND ESPECIALLY, AND HELP ME WITH THIS.

I THINK YOU ONTO SOMETHING WITH THIS LIST.

SO THIS IS THE START OR SOMETHING THAT WE CAN INCREASE ON AND, AND BUILD ON.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THIS LIST.

AND YOUR TEAM.

UH, BUT WE NEED TO GET, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO REALLY GET SERIOUS ABOUT STREETS.

BECAUSE I KNOW EVERYONE UP HERE GETS THESE CALLS ABOUT WHEN CAN I GET MY STREET DONE? WHY AM I DODGING POTHOLES? YES.

EVERY DAY GOING TO WORK.

WHAT? YOU KNOW, AND IT'S, IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET HERE.

THIS COUNCIL IS ADDRESSING THOSE NEEDS.

WE, THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

THIS MANAGEMENT TEAM.

THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

$50 MILLION, FIVE YEARS.

WE, YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE DON'T REALLY REALIZE IT, AND WE DON'T PAT OURSELVES ON THE BACK ABOUT IT.

BUT TO INVEST THIS TYPE OF MONEY YES.

AND TIME AND EFFORT TO TRY TO TAKE A BITE OUT OF THE STREETS.

REPAIR, RECONSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCTION, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT.

WE ARE DOING THIS, THIS COUNCIL HAS TAKING A BIG LEAP IN DOING THIS.

WE ALL GETTING BEAT

[03:10:01]

UPSIDE THE HEAD.

SO LET'S THANK YOU FOR BUILDING ON THIS.

THANK YOU FOR THIS LIST AND CONTINUE DOING THE GOOD WORK YOU'RE DOING.

UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES.

I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION ON TODAY, MAN.

I APPRECIATE IT.

I CONCUR WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID BY, UH, MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DAY IS HERE.

UH, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU JUST SAID BECAUSE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EQUITY AND EQUALITY.

AND SO, AS COUNCILMAN DEUCE SAID, WE CAN'T EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE AN EQUAL NUMBER OF STREETS DONE IN EACH DISTRICT.

AND AS WE, I I KIND OF WANTED YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE, THE SELECTION PROCESS AND THE CRITERIA, BUT YOU STATED IT AS YOU RIDE DOWN THE STREET, THE STREETS THAT ARE BUMPIEST, NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHURS, THEY ARE THE STREETS THAT NEED TO BE ATTENDED TO FIRST AND FOREMOST.

AND, AND, AND THAT'S FROM THE WEST SIDE TO LAKEVIEW.

WE NEED TO RIDE ON THOSE STREETS.

WE NEED TO FIND OUT AND IDENTIFY THOSE STREETS THAT ARE THE WORST IN, IN THE, IN THE COMPLETE CITY OR PORT ARTHUR AND ADDRESS THOSE STREETS.

IF IT'S ON WEST 17TH STREET OR IF IT'S IN LAKEVIEW, WHEREVER IT IS, THOSE ARE THE STREETS THAT NEED THE ATTENTION.

AND AS FAR AS WHAT DO WE TELL OUR COMMUNITY, WE TELL OUR COMMUNITY, IF YOU THINK YOUR STREET IS BAD, THERE'S A STREET THAT'S WORSE THAN YOURS AND IT'S BEING ATTENDED TO AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.

AND IF WE SHARE THAT WITH THEM, AND THAT'S THE HONEST APPROACH THAT WE ARE TAKING AS A CITY, THEN WE JUST HAVE TO, WE JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

UH, BUT I'LL CONTINUE TO SAY IT FOR AS LONG AS I'M AT THIS DAY.

IT TAKES TIME TO TURN A BIG SHIP.

YOU DON'T FIX IT OVERNIGHT.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AT THE SNAP OF A FINGER.

ALL OF THESE THINGS TAKE TIME TO HAPPEN, UH, AND TO CHANGE AND TO BE TRANSFORMED.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HI, MR. JOHN, I APPRECIATE YOUR INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE BEEN, THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED.

WHAT I WOULD ASK IN THE UPDATED OR EXTENDED LIST THAT WE WILL RECEIVE IS THE SAME INFORMATION THAT YOU GUYS GAVE ME A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.

IT SAID THE NAME OF THE STREET, UM, WHAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED.

AND THE APPROXIMATE TIMEFRAME.

SO THAT HELPS US TO NOT ONLY HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE, BUT TO HELP SET EXPECTATIONS OF THE CITIZENS.

SO IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE IF THERE'S A WATER LINE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED ON X, Y, Z STREET.

, IT'S EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN MAY SO THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, JUST HYPOTHETICALLY, 90 DAYS LATER, THEIR STREET MAY BE RELAYED.

SO I, ALTHOUGH WE APPRECIATE ALL THIS INFORMATION, BUT THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD NEED TO GIVE TO OUR, UM, OUR RESIDENTS.

SO, BUT THIS HAD TO BE DONE FOR YOU TO KNOW WHAT'S LEFT OVER ANYWAY.

EXACTLY.

WE'RE JUST WAITING TO KNOW WHAT PART IS LEFT OVER.

BUT IT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT STREETS NEED UNDERGROUND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, CONSTRUCTION.

, WHICH WILL HELP US TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE THE DELAY IN THEIR SPECIFIC STREETS.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE WATER DEPARTMENT, DR. HANEY AND CALVIN HAVE A LIST OF 50 WATER PROJECTS YES.

THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE OVER THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

JUST CONTINUE THAT COMMUNICATION.

, AND I'VE, THIS IS A PET PEEVE OF MINE SINCE DAY ONE, IS I DON'T WANNA FIX A STREET AND THEN HAVE THEM COME IN HERE AND DIG IT UP.

AND IT HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T STOP THE LEAKS AND WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE LEAKS ARE GONNA OCCUR.

BUT WE LO WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING TO PLAN THESE PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY THE BIG ONES WHERE WE PUT DOWN CONCRETE, WHERE WE GET THE, WELL, THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING.

SO WE CAN ALL BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

WE RECEIVE THE ACCURATE INFORMATION, AND WE CAN RELAY IT TO THE CITIZENS.

IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR.

BUT IT'S THE FACTS, IT'S THE TRUTH.

IT'S ALL WE CAN PROVIDE.

AND ON THIS WEBSITE, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN CLICK ON ONE OF THOSE STREETS, BUT IT ACTUALLY HAS THE DATE ON IT THAT IT, IT WAS EITHER COMPLETED AND IT WILL HAVE THE DATE WHERE WE'RE PLANNING ON HAVING IT STARTED.

THERE'S, THERE'S DATA BEHIND EACH ONE OF THOSE LINES TELLS YOU WHAT CONTRACTOR DID IT, UM, WHEN IT WAS DONE, THE AMOUNT OF ASPHALT THAT WAS USED.

AND THEN THERE'S SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT WE KEEP INTERNALLY THAT WE USE TO MANAGE THIS SYSTEM.

ONE THING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT IS THAT WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, THAT WE HAVE AN INVENTORY OF WHEN WE FIX THESE ROADS.

BECAUSE LET'S SAY IF THERE WAS ANOTHER HURRICANE, FEMA'S GONNA COME TO YOU AND WANT TO KNOW, WHEN DID YOU DO THESE REPAIRS? WHEN DID YOU PUT MONEY INTO THE STREETS? AND SO WE NOW HAVE A DATABASE THAT WE CAN RELY ON FOR THOSE ANSWERS.

[03:15:02]

THE OTHER PART OF THE QUESTION IS, IS THERE, RON, PLEASE, I'M NOT AT ALL, THIS IS NOT AN INTENT TO THROW ANYBODY UNDER THE BUS, BUT IF THERE'S ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO GET THIS DONE, ADMIN WORK, I MEAN, LIKE, HERE'S A COLLECTION OF DATA.

I NEED YOU TO ORGANIZE IT.

IS THERE ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR THAT? I COULD ALWAYS USE HELP.

, I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON THESE DRAINAGE PROJECTS AND STARTING THURSDAY WE, WE WILL HAVE OUR CONTRACTORS WORKING ON ALL THREE OF THE BIG FEMA FUNDED DRAINAGE PROJECTS.

SO I'LL BE BACK ON STREETS STARTING PROBABLY NEXT WEEK.

BUT YES, MY TIME GETS DIVERTED IN OTHER MATTERS.

SO, SO DO WE NEED TO RECRUIT SOME INTERNS TO JUST INPUT DATA? LET ME ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

WE ARE SLOWLY CHANGING THE CULTURE OF WORKING IN SILOS IN THE CITY WHERE WE, WE DEPEND ON EACH OTHER RIGHT NOW TO PROVIDE RELEVANT AND TIMELY DATA SO THAT IT'S SEAMLESS.

THE OBJECTIVE IS TO GET TO THE BUDGET.

IF THE INFORMATION IS THERE IN A RELEVANT AND A TIMELY MATTER FROM THE UTILITIES TO THE PUBLIC WORKS TO TO, TO THE GIS DEPARTMENT, WE WILL GET IT DONE.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON CHANGING THE CULTURE OF COL COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.

WE HAVE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS AVAILABLE, AND WE ARE WORKING THE TECHNOLOGY WITH STAFF, AND WE ARE GETTING THERE.

SO WHEN IS EXPECTED TIMEFRAME, WE ARE WORKING ON IT.

IT'S A, IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.

WE ARE GETTING THERE.

JUST LAST WEEK WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE GIS AND THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, AND I LEAD THE LAW DOWN AS TO WHAT I NEED TO SEE.

AND THAT'S ALL THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

I WILL TELL THEM WHAT I NEED TO SEE AND LET'S GET IT DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

THAT'S IT.

SO THAT'S THE ANSWER TO THE CITIZEN.

THAT'S THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.

THAT IS THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.

THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE TO WORK, WORK TOGETHER, LIKE 60 DAYS, 90 DAYS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE A LIST.

IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.

HMM.

IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.

IT IT, IT'S A, IT'S A, YOU FIRST HAVE TO ESTABLISH THE PRECEDENCE RIGHT.

AND CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE PRECEDENCE UNTIL IT'S AN ESTABLISHED NORM.

IT HAS TO BECOME PART OF THE NORM OF THE CULTURE OF WORK THAT YOU DO AND STOP WORKING IN SILOS.

DO WE UNDERSTAND THAT? THAT'S VERY, VERY CLEAR.

BUT IT STILL DOESN'T HELP US WITH A TIMELINE.

IT DOESN'T, IT'S A CON IT'S A CONTINUATION.

IT'S A CONTINUUM.

IT DOESN'T HAVE A TIMELINE, BUT IT'S INFINITY.

BUT A SPREADSHEET HAS TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF, THIS IS OUR GOAL FOR, FOR THE APPROXIMATE, EVEN IF WE SAID SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, WHICH I THINK IS EXACTLY TOO LONG.

BUT WE DO NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF TIMELINE TO SAY, THIS IS WHEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE X, Y, Z OF WHAT IS COMING, WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING.

THEN ABOUT 90 DAYS, 60 TO 90 DAYS, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DOING.

THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DOING OUT HERE.

ONE DEPARTMENT DEPENDS ON THE OTHER DEPARTMENT.

RIGHT NOW I'M LEANING VERY HEAVILY ON THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THE SURE THAT SHE COMPLETES HER, HER TWO YEAR AUDIT.

WHEN SHE COMPLETES THE TWO YEAR AUDIT, WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE CREDIBLE FIGURES AS TO WHAT THE BALANCES ARE.

THEN WE CAN SHIFT GEARS AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE BALANCES SHOW PUTS US IN A BETTER PLACE TO START UP THE NEW BUDGET.

SO THAT'S WHY I SAY IT'S A CONTINUUM.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT INFORMATION.

LYNN HAS TO COMPLETE HER, HER, HER, HER AUDITS FIRST.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CONVERTED FROM ONE SYSTEM FROM, FROM, FROM NALINE TO TYLER.

WE ARE STILL WORKING OUT, YOU KNOW, THE GLITZ AND, AND THE GLICKS GLITCHES IN THAT SYSTEM.

IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.

WE WILL GET THERE, BUT IN, IN 60 DAYS OR SO, LYNN WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHERE SHE'S WITH THE BUDGET.

THAT GIVES US A MUCH CLEARER PICTURE THAT, THAT MAKES SENSE.

AND THAT IS ANOTHER PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

THAT IS ANOTHER PIECE OF THE PUZZLE FOR US TO GET THERE.

YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? THANK YOU.

UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YEAH.

THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.

GOOD INFORMATION.

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW RIGHT NOW IS, UH, THE TOTAL MILES, THE TOTAL MILES OF STREETS THAT WE HAVE, HOW MANY, WHAT PERCENTAGE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED? 25%.

50, 60? I DON'T, I DON'T SEE THAT ON HERE.

IT WOULD BE, UH, 34 DIVIDED BY 180 1, WHATEVER.

I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S LEFT.

WE'RE PROBABLY AROUND 80 90% BY WHAT? 80

[03:20:01]

90%? ABOUT 89%.

I CAN'T TELL IT IN MY DISTRICT.

I'M, YOU KNOW, I GOT WELL, THAT'S WHAT WILL WORK THIS LIST.

IN THE FUTURE WE'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL STREETS THAT WE STILL HAVE TO QUANTIFY WHAT, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

WHAT, BUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF STREETS, DEMOLISH OF STREETS THAT WE GOT THAT NEED TO BE FIXED.

YOU WERE SAYING YOU AT 89% OF, OF THIS, OF THIS 67 MILES RIGHT HERE.

BUT I HEAR DISCUSSION ABOUT CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS GETS CALLS ABOUT THE BAD STREETS AND THEY TELL THEM ABOUT SOME MY CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT ONE, WHEN THEY WANT DOWN STREET FIXED, THEY COULD CARE LESS WHO ABOUT THE REST OF THEM.

THEY WANNA KNOW WHEN THEIR STREET IS GONNA GET FIXED ABOUT SOMEBODY ELSE.

SOMEONE ELSE HAS A WORSE STREET.

THEY COULD KILL LESS.

ALL THEY KNOW THEY CAN TAKE OFF.

NO, EAST, WEST, SOUTH, AND, AND HITTING BAD STREETS.

I MEAN, I GOT SOME STREETS.

THAT'S PATCHES ON PATCHES.

THE ONLY PATCHES MISSING IS A TOMATO PATCH.

IT JUST, IT JUST, IT'S JUST BAD.

I CAN JUST GO IN ANY DIRECTION.

UH, NOW DO WE HAVE ENOUGH CONTRACTORS? DO WE HAVE ENOUGH CONTRACTORS? CAN WE USE ADDITIONAL CONTRACTORS? I KNOW WHAT WE GOT WORKING.

WELL, LET, LEMME JUST INTERRUPT.

I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

BUT WHEN WE BID THESE STREETS OUT, WE'VE HAD TWO CONTRACTORS BID ON OUR WORK ALCO AND GULF COAST.

WE NEED MORE CONTRACTORS.

I AGREE.

WHAT DO YOU HUNDRED PERCENT.

WE NEED MORE CONTRACTORS TO GET MORE MILES OF STREETS, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T GET MORE CONTRACTORS WORKING AND BREAK THIS WORK UP, IT'LL BE 10, 15 YEARS BEFORE WE GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

THAT'S, WE NEED TO, WE NEED MORE CONTRACTORS.

SO THAT'S WHAT, FROM SPEAKING FROM DISTRICT ONE, THAT'S WHAT I WANT YOU AND THE MANAGERS TO WORK ON.

GET MORE CONTRACTORS WORKING.

PUT MORE PEOPLE TO WORK GET, YOU'RE GONNA GET MORE MILES PER DAY.

UNDERSTOOD.

AND MY PHONE GOING TO RING LESS.

UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK, ARE YOU, YOUR LIGHT IS STILL ON.

COUNCILMAN, YOU SAID YOUR LIGHT IS STILL ON, OR, YES.

I JUST HEARD A COUPLE REMARKS.

WE NEED TO GET STRAIGHT.

I WAS ON COUNCIL WHEN WE GOT THIS STREETS PROGRAM APPROVED BY COUNCIL.

THE REASON WE SELECTED THIS PROGRAM IS TO STOP STAFF OR COUNCIL GETTING INVOLVED WITH SELECTING STREETS IN INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS.

WE DECIDED ON THIS PROGRAM TO PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTING STREETS WITH THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO REPRESENT THOSE DISTRICTS.

THE REASON WE DID THAT, BECAUSE WHEN WE GET THESE CALLS ON POINT OF ORDER, THAT IS NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT PUTTING MORE CONTRACT.

HOLD JUST A MINUTE.

JUST A MINUTE.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT COUNCILMAN LEWIS.

WE ARE HAVING A DISCUSSION AND I'M ALLOWING US TO DISCUSS, NOT A DEBATE.

GO RIGHT AHEAD, COUNCIL.

SO WE, WE CAME UP WITH THIS PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED THAT YOU ALL HAVE A LIST OF STREETS.

WHEN IT'S TIME TO SELECT STREETS, YOU ALL HAVE RECOMMENDATION.

YOU ALL GET WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICT.

I LIKE YOU DO THE SAME THING IN MY DISTRICT.

I RIDE THROUGH MY DISTRICT, AND WHEN I SELECT STREET, I SELECT WORSE FIRST.

SO WHEN CITIZENS CALL ME, I DO EXACTLY WHAT IS SAID UP HERE.

I TELL THEM, THIS ONE WAS WORSE THAN YOURS.

LET'S GO LOOK AT IT.

I'LL TAKE PICTURES OF THIS ONE.

I'M THE ONE SELECTING, I'M THE ONE RESPONSIBLE.

AND THAT'S THE WAY THIS PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO GET ALL OF THESE, I'LL PICK IT UP.

YOU RIDING JOHN, THAT'S WHAT YOU DO, BECAUSE YOU GONNA MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS PER DISTRICTS.

BUT THIS PROGRAM IS SET UP THAT THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION SELECTION IS BASED ON THE DISTRICT COUNCILMAN AND YOU SITTING DOWN AND SELECTING THE STREET BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE ALLOCATED FOR THAT DISTRICT.

YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THE PROGRAM.

WE NEED TO DO THE PROGRAM.

WE DON'T

[03:25:01]

TAKE STREETS AND DO 'EM.

BECAUSE ONCE THIS IS DONE, IT COMES TO THIS FULL COUNCIL, NOT JUST A DISTRICT COUNCILMAN NO MORE.

IT COMES TO THIS FULL COUNCIL.

AND WHEN WE ALL VOTE, THAT'S IT.

EVEN IF I DECIDE TO CHANGE SOMETHING, I MUST COME BACK TO THIS COUNCIL.

THIS COUNCIL SPEAKS, THE MONEY THAT'S GONNA BE APPROVED FOR THOSE FEES IS GONNA BE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL.

THAT'S THE FINAL DECISIONS WE NEED TO DO THE PROGRAM.

AND UNDERSTAND IT.

THAT'S THE PROGRAM.

YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE CALLING, WELL, GUESS WHAT? WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

AND NOBODY SHOULD BE SELECTING ANY STREETS IN DISTRICT FOUR FOR TWO REASONS.

ONE AIN'T, BUT ONE PERSON ELECTED TO REPRESENT THAT DISTRICT.

TWO, OUR PROGRAM, OUR STREET PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TO HAVE THE FINAL SAY.

LET'S NOT GET AWAY FROM IT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

COUNCILMAN FRANK, SIR, WITH ALL MR. MAYOR, AND EVEN TO MY COUNCILMAN WHO ARE HERE ON, ON, ON THE DAYS, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

AND WITH, WITH WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE STAFF HAS TO BE THE FINAL SAY AS TO THE STREETS THAT WE DO NOT INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEN.

WE MAKE TOO MANY DECISIONS, NOT BASED ON DATA.

I CAN RIDE DOWN THE STREET, YOU CAN RIDE DOWN THE STREET AND SAY THAT THIS STREET NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THEN WHY HAVE WE TAKEN THE TIME AND SPENT THE MONEY TO GET AN X-RAY MACHINE, 90,000, $90,000 ON AN X-RAY MACHINE? YOU GOTTA USE DATA TO SELECT THE STREETS.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE THAT ARE BEING UTILIZED TO SELECT STREETS.

AND SO I UNDERSTAND, OKAY, COUNCIL, YOU, YOU, YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME INPUT, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO IT, LET'S LET STAFF MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS SO THAT WE CAN DO IT.

AS OPPOSED TO RUNNING TO STAFF AND TELLING THEM, YOU NEED TO DO THIS STREET.

I WROTE DOWN IT, IT WAS BUMPY.

IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE UNDERNEATH THERE.

IT MIGHT BE SOME OTHER, SOME OTHER, UH, DATA DRIVEN REASON WHY THAT STREET IS NOT SELECTED AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME BECAUSE IT'S CONNECTED TO SOMETHING ELSE.

SO YOU, WE CAN'T BE THE END ALL TO BE ALL AS A COUNCIL.

I'M DEPENDING ON THE DATA THAT'S BEING GIVEN TO ME TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.

SO I, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE COUNCIL HAD THE FORESIGHT TO GET THE PROGRAM IN PLACE TO SPEND $50 MILLION.

BUT LET'S LET THE CITY MANAGER AND THE STAFF BE THE ONES THAT MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO US AS OPPOSED TO SAYING, YOU KNOW, DICTATING AND TELL 'EM, YOU GONNA DO THIS STREET AND I'M GOING TO, I'M GONNA BE THE ONE TO, AND, AND LISTEN, WE DON'T NEED TO GO BACK AND FORTH, COUNCILMAN.

WE DON'T, MEETINGS ARE, ARE LONG AS WELL.

YOU'VE HAD WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY.

I'VE HAD WHAT I'VE HAD TO SAY.

LET'S, LET'S, LET'S GO ON.

BUT I, I WANT TO SAY THAT BECAUSE IT, THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE HAVE TO BE DATA DRIVEN.

THEY HAVE TO BE DATA DRIVEN.

WHEN MR. DOUCETTE SPOKE OF THE WAY THAT THE PRO WHAT THE PROGRAM WAS INTENDED TO BE, IF THAT WAS BY, I'M ASSUMING I'M ALMOST MORE THAN SURE THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED BY RESOLUTION IN THE EVENT THAT THAT RESOLUTION ACTUALLY STATED THAT IT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNCIL PERSON TO DETERMINE WHAT STREET IS REPAIRED AND IN WHAT ORDER.

I WOULD ASK THAT WE UPDATE THAT RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT SHOULD NOT BE ACCORDING TO ANYBODY'S EMOTIONAL STATUS.

NOT EVEN MINE TO DETERMINE WHAT STREET WITHIN THE DISTRICT IS WORSE OR NOT.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE DATA AND TECHNOLOGY TO BE ABLE TO HELP GUIDE US.

AND WE SHOULD BE FOLLOWING THAT DATA AND TECHNOLOGY TO GUIDE US TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS ON FACTS, NOT ON EMOTIONS, NOT ON WHAT WE CAN SEE WITH THE NAKED EYE.

BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THINGS UNDERGROUND THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO KNOW.

YES, I KNOW IT'S A BUMP IN THE ROAD, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S A BROKEN WATER LINE.

ANOTHER STREET COULD BE SMOOTH AND IT'S A WATER LEAK UNDER THE

[03:30:01]

STREET.

I CAN'T SEE THAT.

BUT THAT MACHINE THAT WE HAVE CAN, AND THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE RECEIVING OUR INFORMATION FROM TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS AND FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF STAFF WHO ARE PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION TO US FROM THE DATA THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED FROM THOSE SCANS.

SO IF THAT IS THE CASE, I WOULD ASK FOR THAT RESOLUTION TO BE UPDATED SO THAT WE CAN BE CLEAR ON WHAT THE PLAN IS AND HOW WE SHOULD EXECUTE IT.

UH, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN KINLAW.

HEY, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, I WAS KIND OF QUIET ABOUT THIS UNTIL, UH, SOME, UH, ACTIONS WAS REPORTED OR STATED.

UH, I WAS ON THE COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE AND I WERE ON THE COUNCIL WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF IT.

UH, I TELL RON ALL THE TIME, MAN, WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS THAT THIS CITY HAS NEVER HEARD OF EVER, EVER DONE.

AND I'M GONNA SAY THAT AGAIN, BUT I DID NOT AGREE AT THE TIME WITH THAT PERCEPTION.

WHAT COUNCILMAN DO, DOUCETTE STATED, NOW I UNDERSTAND THE FOUR DISTRICT COUNCILMEN HAVE, IT'S IN THEIR DISTRICT, BUT WILL COLLECTIVE COUNSEL THAT HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS IN THEIR ENTIRE COUNCIL.

OUR JOB IS TO DO EXACTLY WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS STATED EARLIER, IS TO TAKE THESE THINGS AND VOTE ACCORDINGLY.

WE SPEND 90, DO $90,000 ON THE X-RAY TRUCK TO GO THROUGHOUT THE CITY LIMITS.

TO GIVE US A RATING OF STREETS AND BRING BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

YOU WELL, YOU BROUGHT IT BACK.

UH, DOCK BROUGHT IT BACK AND SAID, HEY GUYS, THESE ARE THE LEVEL OF STREETS BASED UPON THE NEEDS.

NOW WE HAD A DIFFERENT DISPARITY OF CON CONCRETE STREETS VERSUS ASPHALT.

AND THAT DETERMINES ON THE PRICE.

NOW, WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME AT THE TIME, DISTRICT THREE COUNCIL MEMBER, OH, YOU GOT CON CONCRETE STREETS THROUGHOUT, IT COSTS MORE MONEY, BUT THE STREETS ARE IN HORRIBLE CONDITIONS.

YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH IT? YES.

SO IT, IT MAKES, IT MAKES NO SENSE WHERE THAT WE HAVE TO PUT OUR FEELINGS IN HOW SOMEONE'S STREET IS BEING DONE.

THAT GUY RIGHT THERE RUNS THE CITY.

I DEPEND ON HIM.

IF I HAVE A SITUATION, I EMAIL HIM ALL THE THINGS THAT WAS EMAILED TO ME BY A CITIZEN.

AND WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT.

BUT I THINK STAFF SHOULD BE THE DICTATOR OF HOW AND WHAT STREETS NEEDS TO BE DONE AND HOW THE FUNDING NEEDS TO BE DISTRIBUTED.

NOT A COUNCIL MEMBER.

BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE SHEET THAT YOU PRESENTED, 77 STREETS HAVE BEEN DONE IN DISTRICT 4 77.

DISTRICT, DISTRICT 1 72, A COMBINED TWO AND THREE ONLY HAVE 66 NOW.

IS THAT FAIR? SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY, EVERYBODY NEEDS STREETS TO BE DONE, BUT YOU GOT TWO MAIN DISTRICTS.

GOT THE FUNDING SOURCES AND IT'S OKAY.

AND I'M GONNA SPEAK ABOUT IT.

I THINK THAT STAFF NEED TO DICTATE TO COUNSEL ARE THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE AND TO GET STREETS DONE.

UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS.

NOW LET'S GET BACK TO WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

IF YOU GOT TWO PEOPLE TO, TO, TO COMPLETE A PROJECT WITHIN FOUR HOURS, IF I DOUBLE THE CREW, NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO HOURS.

WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE MILES OF STREETS THAT WE GOT, AND WE ONLY GOT, WHAT, TWO TO THREE CON A CITY IN HOUSE AND, AND MAYBE TWO OTHER CONTRACTORS.

I AM TALKING ABOUT PUTTING MORE CONTRACTORS WORK TO SHORTEN THE SPAN THE TIME.

FIND THEM.

DON'T, UH, I DON'T WANT, UH, 15 OR 20 STREETS GIVEN TO ONE CONTRACT.

IT'S GONNA TAKE THEM A YEAR OR TWO YEARS.

AND WITH ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED BEFORE IT GET DONE.

BREAK THE CONTRACTORS UP, BREAK 'EM UP, DOUBLE UP ON THE CONTRACT IF YOU CAN FIND THEM.

THAT'S WHAT I'M, THAT'S GOING TO SHORTEN THE TIME SPAN.

NOW, ALL THESE OTHER ARGUMENTS, THEY'LL, THEY'RE FINE AND THEY'RE WELL IN PLACE, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

THE REASON I, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT COUNCILMAN DEUCE SAID IS TO ME IT WAS IMPLIED.

BUT, BUT I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M WRONG ABOUT IT AND I APOLOGIZE FOR IT.

BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT SHORTENING THE SPAN OF TIME SO WE CAN GET MORE STREETS DONE PARALLEL.

UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE.

THE STAFF WERE SELECTING STREETS, BUT IT WAS THE STAFF SELECTING STREETS, BUT IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVING TO ANSWER TO THE STREETS.

I HEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS SAYING THINGS AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS BECAUSE YOU WAS NOT HERE AND YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAM.

UH, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RELYING ON STAFF, UH, TO DO THAT.

UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK.

THE REASON WE SELECTED THIS PROGRAM, AND WE DISCUSSED IT AT THE TIME,

[03:35:01]

SO WE DECIDED, SINCE THE COUNCILMAN HAVE TO BE THE ONES TO ANSWER TO HIS CONSTITUENTS OR HER CONSTITUENTS, THAT THEY MAKE SURE THAT THEY INVOLVED IN IT.

IT NEVER TOOK THE STAFF AWAY FROM THE RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE THE STAFF BROUGHT RECOMMENDATION.

AND I STAYED THAT EARLY WHEN I SAID, STAFF BRINGS RECOMMENDATION BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT TO GET WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER.

'CAUSE THE COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULD BE DOING THE SAME THING THE STAFF DID.

THEY SHOULD BE DRIVING THE STREETS THAT NEED TO BE REPAIRED.

SO THAT COUNCILMAN IS THE ONE THAT'S GONNA HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON WHAT STREETS GETS ELECTED, BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA CALL THAT COUNCIL MEMBER AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU FIXED THIS ONE INSTEAD OF THAT ONE.

SO THAT'S WHY IT WAS PUT UP THAT WAY.

WE HEARD MENTION $90,000 FOR A X-RAY MACHINE.

THERE'S A VIDEO OF THE MEETING.

WHEN THEY GAVE THE RESPONSE OF THE RESULTS FROM THE X-RAY MACHINE.

THE STAFF HAD RATED ALL THE CITIES IN THE STREET.

AND WHEN WE PAID TO HAVE THIS TRUCK TO GO AND DO IT, THE TRUCK CAME OUT WITH BASICALLY THE SAME RESULTS.

IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 90%.

SO THAT DATA THAT THE TRUCK GAVE US, THAT'S THE DATA THAT THE, THAT THE STAFF IS BRINGING TO US.

SO COUNCILMAN FRANK, WHEN YOU SAY YOU DEPEND ON DATA, THE COUN, THE DISTRICT COUNCILMAN ALSO, DEPENDING ON DATA, THAT DATA IS THE DATA THAT THEY BRING TO US, THAT DATA THEY BRING TO US, SUPPOSED TO BE BASED ON THE X-RAY AND THE RESULTS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WORK FOR.

SO THE STAFF IS PROVIDING THE INPUT, THE DATA FROM THE STREETS ARE BEING USED, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU GOT 10 STREETS.

THAT'S ALL CATEGORY FIVES, BUT YOU ONLY COULD FIX FIVE.

SO THAT'S WHY THE COUNCILMEN WERE INCORPORATED INTO IT.

SO WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, THIS PROGRAM TOOK IN CONSIDERATION ALL OF THAT.

WE NEVER TOOK IT FROM STAFF, NEVER TOLD STAFF WHAT TO DO.

AND THE DATA FROM WHICH WE SELECT IN STREET IS BASED ON THEIR DATA ON WHICH STREETS REQUIRE RECONSTRUCTION, WHICH STREETS CALL REQUIRE, REQUIRE REMEDIATION.

SO SEE, THAT'S THE PROGRAM.

IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAM, THEN YOU, THEN YOU HAVE THIS MISCOMMUNICATION GOING BACK AND FORTH, AND YOU ACT LIKE THE, THE, IT AIN'T ABOUT THE COUNCILMAN MAKING THE FINAL DECISION.

AND IT'S NOT THE COUNCILMAN DICTATING THE STAFF.

IT'S TO ENSURE THAT WHEN STAFF MAKES THE SELECTION, THE COUNCILMAN IS THERE WITH THEM TO ENSURE THAT WHEN THE SELECTION IS MADE, WE CAN EXPLAIN TO OUR CITIZENS IN OUR DISTRICT, THAT'S THIS WHOLE PROGRAM, TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND NOT KNOW THE PROGRAM.

YES, I COULD SEE THESE COMMENTS, BUT IF YOU KNEW IT, THEN THESE COMMENTS WILL BE UNDERSTOOD.

AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I'M DICTATING, YOU'LL FIND OUT I'M NOT DICTATING.

THAT'S THE PROGRAM.

THAT'S HOW IT'S DESIGNED.

I WANT US TO DO IT.

I WANT US TO STICK BY IT.

I'M NOT DICTATING, AND I'M USING THE DATA FROM THIS MACHINE.

SO IF YOU DON'T KNOW, JUST ASK.

DON'T SAY I'M DECIDING.

I'M, AND IF YOU SAY I'M EMOTIONAL, YOU RIGHT.

I'M EMOTIONAL.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE STREETS IN THIS CITY, WHEN I TALK ABOUT STREETS, I'M EMOTIONAL BECAUSE WE GOTTA KEEP GOING AT IT.

I MENTIONED WE DONE GOOD.

I NEVER SAID WE DIDN'T DO GOOD, BUT I WAS ON THE SAME PAGE.

COUNCILMAN LEWIS WAS.

HE JUST THOUGHT OUT WHAT, WHEN I SAID HOW MANY CONTRACTORS WE GOT, BECAUSE IF WE GOT $10 MILLION TO SPEND THIS YEAR ON STREETS, WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO END UP HAVING NO MONEY LEFT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

BECAUSE DRIVING ON OUR STREETS, IF WE CAN'T SPEND 10 MILLION A YEAR THE WAY OUR STREETS LOOK, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

SO IF I'M EMOTIONAL, I'M EMOTIONAL BECAUSE I FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, BUT I'M NOT EMOTIONAL ENOUGH TO TRY TO PUT BLAME

[03:40:01]

ON SOMEBODY.

AND I'M NOT EMOTIONAL ENOUGH TO TRY TO DICTATE TO NOBODY, BUT I'M EMOTIONAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY ON OUR COURSE.

AND THEY, AND THAT IS A, UH, VIDEO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, EVER FIELD.

IF YOU CHECK WITH THE CITY SECRETARY, SHE OUGHT BE ABLE TO FIND THAT DEALING WITH THIS PROGRAM.

AND, AND WHEN THIS PROGRAM WAS APPROVED AND, UH, AND, UH, EVERYTHING AND IT 'CAUSE IT, ARMANDO GUCCHI WAS A CITY ENGINEER.

WHO PUT THE PROGRAM TOGETHER, CAME BEFORE COUNCIL, PRESENTED TO COUNCIL.

WHEN THEY PRESENTED TO COUNCIL, COUNCIL APPROVED IT.

THAT'S HOW IT GOES.

SO IT'S NOT DO THAT, I'M DONE.

BECAUSE CITY MANAGER, WE, WE CAN WRAP THIS UP ON A GOOD NOTE.

ROMAN NUMBER FIVE, AND REPORTS ON ITEMS OF, UH, COMMUNITY INTERESTS AND INFORMATION ON THAT.

A GOOD NOTE.

THE, THE GOOD NOTE IS WE IN-HOUSE, WE ARE DOING STREETS.

AND WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL, WE HAVE THE STAFF.

THANK YOU FOR THE EQUIPMENT THAT YOU ALL HAVE PROVIDED TO US.

UM, UM, COUNCILOR KINLAW, WE ARE DOING STREETS AT 30% OF THE COST OF STREETS THAT WE ARE CONTRACTING OUT.

YOU KNOW, SO BE PATIENT WITH US.

WE HAVE ACHIEVED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, OR FROM 2018 TO NOW, 180 STREETS ON THE LIST THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED US WITH.

AS JOHN SAID, WE HAVE ONLY ABOUT 35 STREETS THEREABOUT TO COMPLETE.

SO WE ARE MAKING STEADY PROGRESS.

YOU KNOW, I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR MR. BATES AND THE, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AT REDUCING THE COST OF DOING THOSE IN-HOUSE STREETS.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE CONTINUE TO REALIZE THE SAVINGS THAT WE ARE MAKING AS ONE STREET IS COMPLETED AFTER THE NEXT, AFTER THE NEXT, YOU KNOW.

BUT WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY AT IT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.

AND AS I STATED EARLIER, AS SOON AS THOSE TWO AUDITS ARE BEING DONE, WE WILL HAVE A MUCH CLEARER PICTURE AND WE WILL UPDATE YOU AS TO WHERE THE MONEYS ARE.

YOU KNOW, WE WILL UPDATE YOU.

THIS IS AN OPEN BOOK.

THIS IS A VERY TRANSPARENT BOOK.

WE WANT YOU TO KNOW, AND WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW HOW WE ARE EXPENDING THE MONIES THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY FOR STREETS, YOU KNOW.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE.

AND WE, EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF COUNCIL, UM, WILL KNOW WHAT THEIR DISTRICT IS DOING.

AND BY FAR AND BY LARGE, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ALL ARE ROOTING FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE ALL ONE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW? SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR BEING SO, SO PASSIONATE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT.

I HAVE A COPY OF THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS DONE.

IT STARTED IN 2017 WHEN AMANDA GUTIERREZ WAS THERE WITH MR. ROBINSON.

MR. ROBINSON WAS THE CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME.

IT WAS THEN UPDATED BY ALBERTO WHEN ALBERTO BECAME, UM, CITY MANAGER.

BUT REALLY, REALLY WHEN WE BEGAN DOING WORK ON STREETS WAS IN 2019 WHEN I BECAME CITY MANAGER.

REMEMBER THAT? .

THANK YOU ALL.

DID YOU, DID YOU? YEAH.

ON THAT DISCUSS IT IS ON THAT, UH, DISCUSSION NOW.

WE'VE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

WE ARE NOW ON PAGE THREE IN

[V.(5) Information Regarding A Social, Ceremonial, Or Community Event Organized Or Sponsored By An Entity Other Than The Governing Body That Was Attended Or Is Scheduled To Be Attended By A Member Of The Governing Body Or An Official Or Employee Of The Political Subdivision; And Engineering Services Agreement With Arceneaux, Wilson & Cole, LLC, (AWC) Of Port Arthur, Texas For Construction Management Services Associated With The Woodworth Streetscape Improvements Project From Lakeshore Drive To State Highway 87 (Gulfway Drive). Funding Is Available In The Street Capital Fund Account No. 307-21-053-8517-00-10-000. Project No. ST4014-ENG 169-07-015-5486-00-40-000, ARP003.GRE.LAN]

UH, I THINK WE ALL ARE AWARE OF, UH, EXCUSE ME, LONG TIME.

SENATOR, UH, CARL PARKER PASSED AWAY ON, UH, FRIDAY.

UH, AND I DID FIND OUT, UH, WHEN WE HAD OUR RECESS FOR LUNCH.

HIS SERVICES ARE GOING TO BE NEXT TUESDAY ON APRIL 2ND AT, UH, I THINK IT'S CALLED THE BAPTIST CHURCH OVER IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS.

UH, A VISITATION BEGINS AT 1:00 PM AND THE SERVICES, ACTUAL SERVICES BEGIN AT THREE.

AND ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, ON THE THIRD, HIS BURIAL WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE, UH, TEXAS, UH, CEMETERY.

I JUST KNOW WHERE THE CEMETERY IS, I THINK AT, AND IT'S A HISTORIC CEMETERY FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS IN AUSTIN ON THE THIRD, WHICH WOULD BE THE FOLLOWING, AND WEDNESDAY IS BURIAL.

UM, SO, BUT ON WEDNESDAY.

BUT THE FUNERAL SERVICE, UH, VISITATION AND FUNERAL SERVICE IS GOING TO BE ON, UH, TUESDAY WEEK, UH, IN, IN AT, UH,

[03:45:01]

I THINK IT'S CALLED THE BAPTIST, IN, UH, IN, IN BEAUMONT WITH VISITATION AT ONE.

AND THE SERVICE IS BEGINNING AT, UH, 2:00 PM AND WE EXTEND OUR, UH, SYMPATHIES TO THE, UH, PARKER FAMILY AND ALL WHO, UH, BASICALLY, UH, AFFECTED, WHICH I THINK THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN AFFECTED IN SOME SHAPE, FORM, OR FASHION WITH THE DEATH OF A LONG TIME, UH, INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS DONE A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ALSO ON TODAY.

AND COUNCILMAN FRANK ALLUDED TO IT IN HIS PRAYER.

I'VE GOTTEN A COUPLE OF TEXTS, UH, FROM SOME MAYORS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

UH, WE EXTEND OUR PRAYERS TO, UM, MAYOR, UH, BRANDON SCOTT IN BALTIMORE, UH, MARYLAND, WHO HAPPENS TO BE A FRIEND OF MINE, A FELLOW, UH, COLLEAGUE AND MAYOR, AND EVEN THE GOVERNOR THERE WHOM I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, BE IN HIS COMPANY, GOVERNOR MOORE, GOVERNOR OF, UH, MARYLAND.

AND THEY ARE DEALING WITH THE, UH, UH, VERY, VERY, UH, DISASTROUS DISASTER TYPE SITUATION IN THEIR, UH, COMMUNITY.

SO WE WOULD EXTEND PRAYERS AND, UH, MORAL SUPPORT FROM, UH, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR THAT COMMUNITY.

AND I KNOW AS TIME PROGRESSES, INFORMATION WILL, UH, COME FORWARD ON FATALITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE COLLAPSE OF THAT BRIDGE.

WHEN I SAW IT THIS MORNING AND I SPOKE WITH COUNCILMAN FRANK, I REMEMBER WHEN THE, UH, PLEDGE APPEAL BRIDGE USED TO GET HIT RIGHT OUT THERE.

BUT WE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

BUT WE DID EXPERIENCE NOT BEING ABLE TO GET ACROSS THE, UH, TO THE ISLAND.

AND THIS WAS WAY BACK IN THE SIXTIES AND THE SEVENTIES.

BUT YOU COULD JUST IMAGINE A BRIDGE THAT 1.6 MILES AND THE ACTUAL VEIN FOR ONE OF THE LARGEST PORTS IN THE NORTHEAST, WHICH IS THE PORT OF BALTIMORE.

HOW THAT IS GOING TO, ILL AFFECT THIS ENTIRE NATION IN SOME SHAPE, FORM, OR FASHION BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER AND THE AMOUNT OF GOODS THAT COME THROUGH THAT PORT AND THAT ARE TRANSPORTED ACROSS THAT KEY, UH, SCOTT BRIDGE OR SCOTT KEY BRIDGE OR THERE.

SO WE WOULD, UH, BUT, AND AGAIN, THE LIVES THAT WE'RE GOING TO LEARN ABOUT THAT WERE, ARE ACTUALLY PROBABLY, UH, LOST AT THE COLLAPSE THIS MORNING ON THAT.

ANY OTHERS? THERE WOULD BE NO OTHERS.

WE WOULD MOVE NOW, EXCUSE ME, TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER

[VI.(1) P.R. No. 23517 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager Or His Designee To Negotiate An Amendment To The Professional Engineering Services Agreement With Arceneaux, Wilson & Cole, LLC, (AWC) Of Port Arthur, Texas For Construction Management Services Associated With The Woodworth Streetscape Improvements Project From Lakeshore Drive To State Highway 87 (Gulfway Drive). Funding Is Available In The Street Capital Fund Account No. 307-21- 053-8517-00-10-000. Project No. ST4014-ENG]

SIX, WHICH IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

ON PAGE FOUR IS PR NUMBER 23 5 17.

IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO NEGOTIATE AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ARSENAL WILSON AND COLE, L-L-C-A-W-C OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE WOODWORK STREET SCAPE IMPROVEMENT PRO IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FROM LAKESHORE DRIVE TO HIGHWAY 87, UH, MORE COMMONLY ON GULF DRIVE.

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE STREET CAPITAL, UH, FUND ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH 0 5 3 8 5 7 0 0 DASH ONE ZERO DASH 0 0 0.

AND IT HAS A PROJECT NUMBER OF ST 4 0 1 4 DASH ENGR ENGINEERING.

MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.

MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.

SECOND MAYOR, IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 5 17.

WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION.

YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS? UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, IS THIS RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE? UH, CITY MANAGER, CAN YOU BETTER OR WILL, WILL YOU BETTER BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS? UH, ANSWER THE QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S A STREET THERE.

IT'S, IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT'S A STREET.

IS THIS ABOVE GROUND OR BELOW GROUND? THIS IS TO NEGOTIATE WITH AN ENGINEERING COMPANY TO DO THE INSPECTION ON WOODWORTH.

NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT SAY HERE.

IT SAID MANAGEMENT SERVICE ASSOCIATED WITH WOODWARD.

STREETSCAPE.

WHAT AM WHAT AM I MISSING? IT'S A STREET.

IT'S A STREET PROJECT.

IS IT? YES.

INFRASTRUCTURE? YES.

IT'S SO WATER AND SEWAGE.

THERE'S NO WATER.

AND SEWAGE STREETS STREETSCAPE.

WELL, THE BOND ISSUE WAS, THE

[03:50:01]

BOND ISSUE WAS FOR STREETS.

SO HOW WHEN WE, IT'S NOT ABOUT LANDSCAPING.

AND HOW IS THIS RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE? ? IT'S NOT.

I WAS ASKED, IT'S A VIOLATION OF BOND OF IT.

I WAS ASKED TO MAKE THIS STREET LOOK NICE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

I I DIDN'T MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

I'M NOT BLAMING YOU.

UH, THE COUNCIL BEFORE YOU WAS ALL ON BOARD WITH THIS.

AND SO I'M HERE TO BUILD IT.

UH, IF, IF YOU WANT TO, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

BUT THIS IS THE, AND THEY CALL IT THE GATEWAY TO DOWNTOWN.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THEY STREETSCAPE IT BEFORE ALL THE PALM TREES, THEY ALL, THEY ALL GONE.

THEY ALL DEAD.

YOU DO IT AGAIN.

IT IS YOU, YOU'RE THROWING AWAY GOOD MONEY.

PUT THE MONEY IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE IT BELONGED.

IT COME OUT OF, AND DON'T COME HERE.

NOT YOU, BUT I'M HEARING UNEN UNENCUMBERED FUNDS NOT TRUE.

THE BOND ISSUE WAS FOR STREETS INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M VOTING AGAINST.

THAT'S GOOD.

UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

ARE READY FOR NOW FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.

DO A ROLL CALL.

VOTE PLEASE.

UH, CITY SECRETARY COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER DSET? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

FRANK? YES.

MAYOR PROTO EVER FIELD? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? NO.

PR NUMBER 2, 3, 5 1 7 IS APPROVED AS READ NOW WE

[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]

THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS ITEMS, UH, HERE THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AND I THINK THE, UH, HISTORY OR ANY, UH, INFORMATION ON THOSE ITEMS HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO COUNCIL PERSONS AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO.

AND THEY BASICALLY MOVED TO ANY NATURE.

UH, WE WOULD BE FROM PAGE FIVE THROUGH PAGE.

IS IT 11? UH, OKAY.

12.

FROM PAGE FIVE THROUGH PAGE 12.

UH, AT THE TOP OF PAGE 12.

UH, OKAY.

AND THIS, UH, IS ALL ITEM SEVEN.

IF THERE WOULD BE ANY ITEMS YOU'D WANT TO HAVE REMOVED, UH, PLEASE STATE THE ITEM AND THE PAGE NUMBER.

COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.

UH, LET'S START OFF WITH, UM, PAGE FIVE A 180 2, UH, AND THEN ON PAGE SIX, UH, PR NUMBER 23 6 3 0 PAGE.

WHAT? UH, PAGE SEVEN, NUMBER SIX.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT A MINUTE.

THAT'S NUMBER FOUR.

OKAY, YOU GOT IT ON PAGE FIVE.

FIVE.

AND THEN GO TO PAGE SEVEN.

UM, AND NUMBER SIX.

NUMBER SIX.

ON PAGE SEVEN.

AND AND NUMBER PAGE 13, NUMBER FOUR, GUYS.

YOU SAID FIVE ON SEVEN, RIGHT? FIVE ON SEVEN.

IS THAT IT? 1409 ON NINE 14.

14 ON NINE.

21 ON 10.

ANY OTHERS? ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? YES.

GO RIGHT AHEAD.

UH, NUMBER 24 ON PAGE 11.

OH, OH, EXCUSE ME.

I'M SORRY.

CAN YOU REPEAT THAT PLEASE? NUMBER 24 ON PAGE 11, TWO AND FOUR ON 11.

JUST A MINUTE.

LEMME GET TO IT.

WHO NEED, YOU SAID 24.

IS THAT IT? YES, THAT'S ALL.

UH, MAY I APPROACH HIM? PAGE 10, NUMBER 18.

18 ON 10.

JUST A MINUTE.

LEMME GET TO IT.

18 ON 10 IS THAT, IT IS.

MAY I APPROACH? YES, SIR.

THANK

[03:55:01]

YOU.

ANY OTHERS? WOULD THERE BE ANY OTHERS? WOULD THERE BE ANY OTHERS? OKAY.

THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER LIGHTS ON.

SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF ON PAGE FIVE ITEMS A ONE AND A TWO ON PAGE SIX.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON PAGE SEVEN, ITEM NUMBER FIVE ON PAGE NINE, ITEM NUMBER 14 ON PAGE 10, ITEMS NUMBER 10, AND I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, 18.

AND, UH, 21 ON PAGE 11.

ITEM NUMBER 24 WITH THE EXCLUSIONS OF THOSE ITEMS. A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE REMAINDER OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

UH, WAIT A MINUTE.

SOMEONE SAID, WHAT PAGE IS THAT? SIX ON SIX.

DID SOMEONE SAY SIX ON PAGE? I DON'T HAVE THAT.

ITEM NUMBER SIX, INCLUDING ALSO ON ITEM NUMBER SIX ON PAGE SEVEN.

WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THOSE ITEMS STATED, WE GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF SUB.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND.

AND WE WOULD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED OR READY FOR QUESTION.

HONOR.

ANY QUESTIONS? READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

SO IT IS APPROVED NOW TO GO NOW TO THE WITHDRAWN ITEMS. ON PAGE NUMBER FIVE,

[VII.A.(1) Mayor Thurman Bartie: P3 The Fundamentals Of Public-Private Partnerships Arlington, TX April 4 - 6, 2024 $991.79]

WE HAVE ITEM A ONE.

IT IS MAYOR AND THE P THREE FUNDAMENTALS OF, UH, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS.

APRIL 4TH, EXCUSE ME, APRIL 4TH THROUGH THE SIXTH, 2024 FOR AN AMOUNT, UH, NINE AT $991 AND 79 CENTS.

MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.

MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN ETT SECOND HAS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE ITEM NUMBER A ONE ON PAGE FIVE.

AND, UH, WE'RE READY FOR QUESTIONS.

COUNCILMAN KINLOCK.

HEY.

UH, AND SPEAKING WITH, UH, WITH SOME OF THE COLLEAGUES AND, AND, AND LAST MEETING, I THINK YOU BROUGHT UP MAYOR, SOME GOOD POINTS ABOUT THE P THREE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN ONE, MY FIRST QUESTION, HOW WOULD IT BENEFIT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, UH, IN ATTENDING THIS CONFERENCE, WHICH I THINK IS WARRANTED? AND NUMBER TWO, ARE YOU, UH, GONNA USE THIS IN PLACE OF A ANOTHER, UH, UH, APPROVED TRAVEL? I WAS ON THE TRAVEL COMMITTEE AND I JUST WANTED YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT OPENLY ABOVE BOARD.

OKAY, COUNCILMAN? OKAY.

NOW, THE BENEFITS, WHAT I LIKE TO JUST, AND I WOULD READ VERBATIM WHAT I ACTUALLY RECEIVED FROM THE US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS.

UH, THIS IS HOSTED BY MAYOR, UH, THE MAYOR OF ARLINGTON, MAYOR JIM ROSS, I WANT TO SAY HIS NAME.

MAYOR ROSS OF, UH, ARLINGTON, UH, AND IT'S PETE THREE INSTITUTE IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE AND MAYORS PETE THREE TASK FORCE AND THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS KNOWN AS AI.

AI AND THE NATION'S.

THE AI, AI IS THE NATION'S LEADING ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVOCATING FOR AND EDUCATING ON THE P THREE MODEL.

APA FUNDS, AND, UH, SOME OTHER FUNDING THAT EVEN FROM THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY OF ALL AND EVEN, UH, MONIES THAT WE ARE GOING TO, UH, UH, BENEFIT FROM, I THINK IT'S FROM THE ENERGY, UH, OFFICE OR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

NOW, P THREE IS A CONCEPT THAT IS NOW EMPOWERING CITIES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE P THREE PROCESS.

AND THIS CAN LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN SUCCESSFUL P THREE PROJECTS AND MORE EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH WILL HAVE AN INVALUABLE POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITIES.

NOW THROUGH THE P THREE INSTITUTE, AI, AI WILL PROVIDE THE P THREE TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO MAYORS AND THEIR STAFFS.

AND, UH, WITH THIS PARTICULAR ONE HERE, COUNCILMAN? YEAH.

AND THE BENEFITS OF IT, EXCUSE ME.

I LEARNED OF THE P THREE CONCEPT, UH, BACK IN NOVEMBER, AND IT WAS, IT'S AN ENTIRELY NEW CONCEPT FOR FUNDING FOR CITIES IN AMERICA.

NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUAL TENANT OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS, IT'S NOT ANYTHING NEW.

BUT A P THREE CONCEPT IS SOMETHING THAT'S NEW BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF HOW MONIES HAVE COME FROM THE BIDEN HARRYS ADMINISTRATION DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITIES, SOME SORT OF SUCH AS THE, UH, APA FUNDS,

[04:00:01]

AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN BENEFACTORS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND SOME OF THOSE FUNDS.

NOW, P THREE IS THE CONCEPT THAT AI, AI IS ACTUALLY TRAINING MAYORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY APPROACH THE GOVERNMENT FOR THESE FUNDS.

UH, AND AS I SAID, I LEARNED ABOUT IT IN NOVEMBER.

UH, I KNEW THAT, UH, MY CITY WOULD NOT WANT ME TO GO TO ATLANTA WHEN THERE WERE ONLY 18 MAYORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO MET IN ATLANTA.

AND TWO OF THOSE MAYORS I'M, I'M PERSONALLY INVOLVED WITH AND FRIENDS WITH, AND THEY ASKED ME, SAID, BARIE, WHY DIDN'T YOU COME? AND I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, MY CITY PROBABLY WOULD NOT SEND ME.

AND JUST AT THAT PARTICULAR FUNCTION, MAYORS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET FUNDS FOR THEIR CITIES.

THEN ONCE THE CONCEPT WAS ACTUALLY INTRODUCED BY THE US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS IN JANUARY, WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS MEETING, AND I ATTENDED THE SEMINAR, WHICH WAS A TWO OR THREE, THREE HOUR SEMINAR, WAS SPLIT UP ONE HOUR AND A HALF EACH ONE.

AND I ACTUALLY LEARNED THE PROCESSES, MET PERSONALLY WITH THE A I AI, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND I COULD SEE THE BENEFITS THAT WOULD HAVE IN A COMMUNITY.

NOW MOVING FORWARD, I KNOW THAT WE ARE IN AN ELECTION YEAR, BUT EVEN IF BIDEN AND HARRIS DON'T GET REELECTED, THIS CONCEPT IS GONNA REMAIN FOR ANOTHER 12 TO 36 MONTHS.

AND THE CONCEPT, IF WE ARE NOT AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF IT AND LEARNING IT, WE WOULD BE BEHIND.

AND MAYOR ROSS DECIDED TO DO IT BECAUSE THE NEXT MEETING WAS IN LOS ANGELES.

AND SO PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY WERE GOING TO LOS ANGELES.

AND THEN THEY HAD ANOTHER MEETING ABOUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO IN CONNECTICUT.

SO HE DECIDED TO PUT ON THIS MEETING, HOST THIS MEETING IN TEXAS, AND HE AND I TALKED, AND HE SAID IT, IT WAS BECAUSE FOLK IN TEXAS, LOUISIANA, OKLAHOMA, OR MM-HMM.

, ARKANSAS, NEBRASKA, COULD ACTUALLY DRIVE AND CONVERGE UPON ARLINGTON FOR THESE TWO DAYS OF WHERE THEN HAVE OF LEARNING THIS.

SO THIS IS WHY I ACTUALLY WANT TO ATTEND.

AND I THINK I REALLY, I WANTED THE CITY MANAGER AND THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS TO ATTEND AS WELL.

THEY CHECKED ON SOMETHING, BUT WHAT WE FOUND OUT WAS TML HAS EVEN GOTTEN ON A BANDWAGON.

OH, WOW.

WITH, WITH, WITH THIS.

AND TML HAD A SESSION ABOUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO, HOWEVER, THE TML SESSION, I THINK THAT WAS A FEE THAT WAS INVOLVED FOR THE TRAINING.

WITH THIS, YOU ONLY PAY, UH, BASICALLY FOR TRAVEL AND, AND OVERNIGHT STATE.

AND THE OTHER PART, UH, THE, THE ACTUAL TRAINING IS BEING DONE FOR FREE.

NOW, THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION, WHEN YOU SAID IF I WOULD, UH, UH, WITHDRAW FROM OTHER OTHER SOURCES, WELL, RIGHT NOW, UH, I THINK THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT WE DO HAVE WOULD BE IN ANOTHER BUDGET.

BUDGET YEAR.

SO WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS BE ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH THIS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY.

AND WHAT WE'LL DO IS I WOULD WANT US TO REVISIT WHAT WE PUT TOGETHER.

AND I'M SAYING WE, I WASN'T ON COUNCIL, BUT BEFORE AS TO WHAT TRAVEL WAS.

I THINK IF THAT WAS DONE 6, 7, 8, 9 YEARS AGO, MAYBE THAT WAS THE TRAVEL THAT WAS NECESSARY.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE CHANGING OF THE GUARDS AND THE CHANGING OF HOW THINGS ARE DONE NOW, WE MIGHT WANT TO RECONSIDER SOME CHANGING IN OUR TRAVEL POLICY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW MORE TRAVEL IS INVOLVED TO BE ABLE TO BE IN THE ROOM, WHETHER THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE TAKING PLACE.

AND YOU HAVE A GREAT STRONG POSSIBILITY OF BEING SELECTED, BUT YOU HAVE GOT TO BE IN THE ROOM.

ALRIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR BARTEE.

AND I THINK THIS 9 91 79 IS A LITTLE COST FOR THE INFORMATION YOU COULD PROVIDE TO BRING BACK.

UH, I JUST WANTED YOU TO BE ABOVE BOARD AND EXPRESS TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS THE INTENT OF GOING TO A A P THREE CONFERENCE IN AUGUST IN

[04:05:01]

TEXAS.

SO, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOTHING, YOU KNOW, HARD.

I I DIDN'T TAKE YOUR, JUST, JUST THAT P THREE SOUND LIKE A GAME.

WELL, , I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE A VIDEO GAME, A VIDEO GAME, BUT WE JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THE CITIZENS KNOW THAT WE ARE TRACKING OUR TRAVEL EXPENSES.

WE ARE ASKING QUESTIONS.

WE ALL HAVE TO COME BEFORE THIS BODY AND WE REGULATE EACH OTHER AND THAT'S OUR JOB AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

NO PROBLEM.

UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK.

YEAH, MAYOR, I'LL BE, I'LL BE PLEASED TO SUPPORT YOU AS YOU GO.

UM, TO LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THIS PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, UM, I CAME ON COUNCIL ADVOCATING, UH, FOR THE, UH, POSSIBLE, UH, CATACLYSMIC DISASTER THAT LOOMS, UH, IN SABINE PASS.

AND I'M NOT SPEAKING ILL OR WILL OR CALLING ANYTHING INTO BEING, BUT, UH, THE POSSIBILITY OF CATASTROPHE LOOMS IN THE FACT THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT OF SABINE PASS.

AND SO WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, UH, FOR, UH, THE REINSTATEMENT OF HIGHWAY 87 GOING TO GALVESTON, UH, BECAUSE OF THE LNGS, UH, THAT ARE BEING BUILT, UH, THERE.

AND BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED TRAFFIC, UH, THAT IS THERE, YOU'VE ONLY GOT ONE WAY IN, ONE WAY OUT.

YOU'VE GOT A SCHOOL THERE, AND IF A CATASTROPHE WERE TO HAPPEN, IT'S BEING PASSED WITHIN WITH ONLY ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT, MAN, IT WOULD BE, UM, IT WOULD BE CATACLYSMIC.

BUT, UM, AND I'M SAYING THAT TO SAY, UH, WITH, WITH A $40 MILLION PRICE TAG TO PUT HIGHWAY 87 BACK IN, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, UH, TO ADDRESS THAT KIND OF PROBLEM.

AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE POISED AND POSITIONED, UM, TO KNOW EVERYTHING, UH, THAT WE CAN KNOW AND TO RECEIVE ALL KINDS OF FUNDS, UH, THAT WE CAN RECEIVE IN ORDER FOR THAT, UH, TO BECOME A POSSIBILITY YET AGAIN.

COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES.

I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL OVER SIX YEARS.

ANYTIME YOU ATTEND ANY WORKSHOP, YOU SHOULD GAIN KNOWLEDGE.

EVERY TIME WE ATTEND A CONFERENCE, YOU SHOULD GAIN KNOWLEDGE.

BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A BUDGET.

WE HAVING TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.

WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT WE DO AND HOW TAXPAYERS GONNA BENEFIT FROM THIS DOLLARS BECAUSE THE TAXPAYERS ARE SAYING WE ARE TRAVELING.

BUT LOOK AT THE STREETS, LOOK AT THE WATER OF PIPES.

SO YOU SEE, WE GOTTA LISTEN TO WHAT CITIZENS ARE SAYING TOO.

SO WE HAVE TO FIND A BALANCE.

THE BALANCE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE US LIMITING TRAVEL.

SO WHAT YOU GOING TO GAIN FROM A WORKSHOP, AND THIS IS A WORKSHOP, IS NOT A CONFERENCE.

WHAT YOU GAIN FROM A WORKSHOP IS GOTTA BE SOMETHING, WHAT YOU GAIN FROM A CON CONFERENCE.

IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING.

BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S PRIORITY AND SERVING ON COUNCIL FOR OVER SIX YEARS.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT TAKES PLACE AT CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS.

YOU NETWORK, YOU FIND OUT THE LATEST THINGS THAT GOING TO BE IMPACTED ON CITIES IN SOME ANNUAL, YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE PEOPLE TO COME FROM LEGISLATORS TO TELL YOU WHAT'S IN THE FORCE, WHAT'S IN THE FUTURE FOR CITIES, UH, WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING, ASKING STUFF THAT GONNA AFFECT CITIES.

I KNOW IT TAKES PLACE AT CONFERENCES.

WE DON'T GO TO CONFERENCES AND FILL OUT PAPERWORK FOR GRANTS AND SOMEBODY MAKE A DECISION THERE.

IT, IT, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AT CONFERENCES.

SO, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT IT'S JUST HOW MUCH WE DOING.

I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT WHEN WE BRING BEFORE CANCEL TRAVEL.

SO, YOU KNOW, UH, WITH THAT, UH, WE JUST HAVE TO LIMIT IT.

NOW WE, WE, WE, WE AMENDED THAT AND I HEAR TALK, WE TALK ABOUT GOING BACK AND RE-LOOK AT IT.

I'M NOT AGAINST IT, BUT THE THING WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS, IS NOT ABOUT CHANGING OF THE GUARDS, IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT'S FOR.

BECAUSE I MET PEOPLE AT CONFERENCES WHERE THE CITY WON'T EVEN LET THEM GO, BUT TO ONE CONFERENCE.

SO FOR US TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO GO TO SEVERAL A YEAR, I THINK IS,

[04:10:01]

IS AN, A TESTAMENT TO OUR CITIZENS NOT REALLY GETTING INVOLVED.

BUT I THINK IF WE TRAVEL TOO MUCH, WE MAY FIND IT JUSTIFIABLE, BUT IT AIN'T ABOUT US.

IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WE SERVE AND THEY'RE NOT HAPPY WITH IT.

UH, AND JUST A A SIDE NOTE, WELL, WE'LL ATTEND AN NLC CONFERENCE.

IT WAS NOT ENOUGH OF US THERE TO COVER ALL THE CLASSES.

THE CLASSES WAS, IT WAS JUST THREE OF US THERE.

THE CLASSES WAS ONLY COVERED AND WE CAN ONLY HANDLE SO MUCH AND EVERYTHING WAS PRESENTED AT THE SAME TIME.

IT, IT WAS NOT ENOUGH OF US ATTENDING OUR IN THE FUTURE NLC APPRECIATIVE IF MORE COUNCILMEN WOULD BE INTERESTED IN TRAVELING TO THE CONFERENCE.

IT'S, THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFITS THERE THAT WE MISSED OUT ON BECAUSE THE NUMBERS WAS NOT THERE.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS, IF ANY? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSERS? NO.

I THINK THAT'S ON A SINGLE NOTE.

AYE.

HAVE IT? SO WE HAVE THAT.

A TWO, WHICH IS TRAVEL AGAIN.

NOW LET'S MOVE TO

[VII.A.(2) Mayor Thurman Bartie: Texas Emergency Management Conference 2024 Fort Worth, TX May 27 - 31, 2024 $1,468.00]

MAYOR THURMAN FOR TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE 2024 AND FOURTH WORTH, TEXAS MAY 27 THROUGH 31ST AT THE AMOUNT OF $1,468.

MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCIL MCIN LAW, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND.

IT IS REMOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, APPROVE A TWO ON PAGE FIVE.

UH, WE READY FOR COURT? UH, COUNCILMAN MCKINNELL? I THINK YOU BROUGHT THAT ONE UP AS WELL.

UH, JUST, JUST FOR RECORD, I KNOW THAT, UH, IF WE HAVE A DISASTER OR SOMETHING, YOU ARE THE CITY'S EMERGENCY MANAGER AND, AND WE DECLARE THIS A TOTAL COUNCIL.

SO I THINK THIS WOULD BE, UH, BENEFICIAL TO YOU.

I JUST WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT IN LETTING THE CITIZENS KNOW THAT, UH, UH, SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU MAY LEARN IN THE STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CLASS WOULD BENEFIT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

UH, TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

AND IN THIS TRAVEL, AND IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE COINCIDENTAL THAT THIS, THIS FIRST ONE THAT WE JUST APPROVED, THIS HAPPENED TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE OF A NEW CONCEPT.

UH, I WAS ALLOWED TO GO ON LAST YEAR AND COUNCILMAN, UH, DO SAID, JUST ASK ME PRIVATELY, YOU KNOW, WHY, WHY I DON'T HAVE THE, UH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS ON HERE.

THEY, THEY COME OFF A DIFFERENT BUDGET.

THEY HAVE A BUDGET IN THERE, OFFICES IN THERE, THE DEPARTMENTS FOR THEIR TRAVEL.

I AM A DIRECTOR OF, UH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

I ATTENDED IT ON LAST YEAR.

UH, I CAN'T RECALL.

AND, AND THERE WAS A, A GREAT NUMBER OF STAFF, UH, WHO WAS THERE.

AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT THIS YEAR IT, IT IS GOING TO BE DONE THE SAME.

WHAT I THANK GOD FOR IS THAT ALL THE TRAINING WE, WE DID RECEIVE, WE DID NOT HAVE TO, UH, IMPLEMENT OUR EXERCISE.

AND THAT'S A BLESSING FOR US.

BUT NOW THEY ARE EVEN NEWER CONCEPTS TO DEAL WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

I, UH, PARTICIPATED ON A PANEL AT LAMAR UNIVERSITY ON LAST WEEK WITH THE MAYORS FROM AROUND OUR SURROUNDED AREA, ALONG WITH DR. HENRY TAYLOR, THE PRESIDENT OF, UH, LAMAR UNIVERSITY.

AND, UH, NOW CYBER ATTACKS ARE ACTUALLY CONSIDERED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SITUATIONS AND NOT ONLY, UH, CYBER ATTACKS.

LAST YEAR, WE FOUND OUT AT THE CONFERENCE LAST YEAR, ACTIVE SHOOTERS ARE NOW CONSIDERED A PART OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

I CAME IN IN JULY OF, UH, I MEAN JULY OF 2019.

THE ONLY CONCEPT THAT WE HAD ON THE FRONT BURNER, IF YOU WILL, AT, UH, ABOUT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WAS HURRICANES OR INCLEMENT WEATHER.

AND I ACTUALLY THOUGHT THAT'S ALL THAT WAS INVOLVED IN IT.

AND SO BY GOING, ATTENDING THESE TRAININGS, ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS, YOU ARE MADE, UH, ABREAST OR YOU, OR YOU BECOME ABREAST OF ALL OF THE OTHER INCIDENTS, BE IT NATURAL OR MANMADE THAT ACTUALLY INVOLVE YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM AND THIS INVOLVEMENT THERE, COUNCILMAN AND COUNCIL, IS TO PREPARE US, AS I JUST STATED FROM THE ONSET, I THANK GOD THAT THE TRAINING WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR, WE, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO USE IT.

AND I'M, I'M NOT SAYING THAT DON'T WANT JUST WASTE MONEY, BUT WE ARE JUST IF WE ARE POOR, IF WE DON'T BE, IF WE AREN'T PREPARED.

BUT THIS MEETING ACTUALLY PREPARES A DIRECTOR AND ALL OF THE STAFF AND I BELIEVE, UH, CITY MANAGER, IT WAS ABOUT 30.

WE HAD ABOUT 30, UH, PEOPLE FROM OUR, I WAS, I WAS, I WAS 32.

YEAH, WE HAD ABOUT

[04:15:01]

32 FOLK FROM, UH, PORT ARTHUR, UH, WHO WERE IN ATTEND SOME IN THIS ROOM NOW.

UH, AND IT IS AN OVERLOAD OF INFORMATION.

SO IF ANYONE THINKS THAT YOU'RE JUST GOING AND YOU'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, UH, HAVING FUN, IT, IT IS NOT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TIME, THAT YOU WOULD HAVE FUN LATER AT NIGHT.

BUT ALL DURING THE DAY AND THE EARLY PARTS OF THE EVENING, YOU ARE ACTUALLY ENGAGED IN TRAININGS AND IN, UH, DIALOGUE EVEN WITH OTHERS BECAUSE YOU CAN FIND OUT HOW THEY'VE HANDLED CERTAIN TYPE OF SITUATIONS.

AND THAT'S WHAT THESE MEETINGS ARE FOR.

SO IT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT IN YOUR LEADERSHIP.

NOW I JUST HAPPEN TO BE THE PERSON WHO WAS INVOLVED IN IT AT, AT THIS JUNCTURE.

BUT YOU DON'T WANT YOUR LEADER ILL PREPARED.

YOU DON'T WANT YOUR LEADER NOT TO BE INFORMED AND THE ACTUAL INCIDENT DOES OCCUR.

OKAY? YES, SIR.

COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YOUR LIKE, ALRIGHT, QUESTION, CITY MANAGER OR CHIEF OR HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CHANGES WITH THE EMERGENCY MANAGER COORDINATOR? HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CHANGES? NO, SIR.

THEY, THEY, THEY'RE STILL, UH, MR. UH, EVERYTHING STILL.

AND WHAT YOU JUST, JEREMY AND, AND MR. HAVENS? THEY, THEY, THEY'RE STILL AT THE TOP.

AND, AND HOW MANY TRAINING SESSIONS HAVE Y'ALL HAD FROM JUNE TO JUNE.

NOW WE HAVE NOT HAD TRAINING SESSIONS, PER SE WITH US, BUT THEY'VE HAD MEETINGS AND, UH, UH, MR. UH, THE COORDINATOR, ACTUALLY JEREMY HAS BEEN OUT ILL AND, AND THE, UH, ASSISTANT, UH, YEAH.

HAVENS, BUT THEY HAVE HAD, UH, SESSIONS AND MEETINGS WHERE THEY DISCUSS SITUATIONS.

HOW MANY, HOW MANY DRIVE RUNS, HOW MANY REHEARSALS HAVE YOU ALL HAD SIMULATION.

OH, THAT DEFERRED TO THE MAYOR 'CAUSE HE'S, HE'S IN CHARGE OF THAT.

AND, AND SAID WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY SIMULATIONS THIS YEAR, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU, YOU ASKING? IT'S FROM JANUARY TO JUNE AND THE CLOCK IS RUNNING.

BUT, BUT WE, I JUST ANSWERED WHAT YOU ASKED.

NOTHING.

WELL WE, IF YOU CONNOTE WHAT YOU WANT TO FROM MY DIALOGUE.

ON THE DISCUSSION THAT WE ARE HAVING IN-HOUSE, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE FIRE CHIEF AND UM, I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS TO HAVE SOME, UM, SESSIONS GOING YEAH.

JUST LIKE WE DID FOR THE GRANT PROGRAM.

YEAH, WE ARE DOING THAT WILL BE DONE BEFORE.

SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE A MOTION ON FLOOR TO VOTE.

UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON IT? THE ONLY WE READY TO VOTE.

ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT.

SO IT IS ORDERED.

A TWO IS APPROVED.

NOW LET'S

[VII.C.(4) P.R. No. 23600 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Accept Close-Out Documents Submitted By Sitek Omni Services, LLC Of Spring, Texas, And Approve The Release Of Retainage In The Amount Of $16,960.00. Funding Is Available In The Gates Building Renovation Project Account, Account Number 307-00-000-2050-00- 00-000, Project No. BU0016-CON-BUM]

GO TO PAGE SIX.

PR NUMBER 23 600.

IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT CLOSEOUT DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY A EC OMNI SERVICES LLC OF SPRING, TEXAS, AND APPROVE THE RELEASE OF RETAINAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF 16,900 AND, EXCUSE ME, $60.

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE.

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE GATES BUILDING RENOVATION PROJECT ACCOUNT ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 2 0 5 0 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 0 0 0 0.

AND IT HAS PROJECT NUMBER BU 0 0 1 16 DASH CON CONN BUM.

AND MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCIL PERDU.

SO MOVED.

MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23.

600 AS PRESENTED.

WE READ UP A QUESTION.

COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? THINK YOU HAD THIS ONE AS WELL? NO, SIR.

NO, SOMEBODY PULLED.

OH, SOMEONE NOBODY PULLED THAT.

I THINK SOMEBODY, OKAY.

FOUR.

OKAY, SO I THINK THAT COUNCIL WHAT? COUNCILMAN BECKHAM? NO, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT HERS.

I GOT HER NAME BY HERS.

AND, AND I COULD HAVE MARKED THE WRONG DEAL, BUT, YOU KNOW.

SO CITY SECOND SAID THAT ONE WASN'T ON, SO THAT ONE IS ALREADY PASSED.

YOU SHOULD HAVE STOPPED ME AND LET ALL THAT READING, I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT MYSELF.

AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $37,825 FOR A NEW TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $116,575.

SO LET'S GO TO PAGE SEVEN.

WE HAVE PR NUMBER 23 6 13.

THERE'S A RESOLUTION.

AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACT AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE WITH THE SOLE CO GROUP LLC OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR PROFESSIONAL PLANNING SERVICES FOR PORT ARTHUR TRANSIT

[04:20:01]

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 1 DASH 7 5 3 8 5 2 6 0 0.

AND IT HAS PROJECT NUMBER TR 9 4 4 2.

I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

COUNCILMAN ETT.

SO MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN LEWIS SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 6 13 AS READ.

WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION.

COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES.

UH, CITY MANUAL.

I LOOKED AT THIS BACKGROUND AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS.

IT SAYS UNDER THE BACKGROUND IT'S FROM IVAN TO YOU.

IT SAYS IN CONVERSATION WITH THE PORT ARTHUR TRANSIT.

AND CITY DEPARTMENT.

NOW, WHO, WHO'S SPEAKING? YOU OR IVAN? IVAN.

LET ME, LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

YES, COUNCIL.

UM, ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD ONE OF THE STORMS, UM, WE RECEIVED $700,000 FROM THE FDA.

THAT WAS MONEY THAT WAS EAR MOPPED FOR FLOODING, YOU KNOW, UM, IN THE VICINITIES WHERE WE HAD, UM, STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS THAT'S BEEN OWNED BY THE CITY.

IVAN HAS BEEN VERY CREATIVE IN GOING AFTER THOSE MONIES.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THOSE MONIES ON DALLAS AND FORT WORTH AREA TO IMPROVE THE STREETS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE STREETS THERE, THE, BOTH THE DRAINAGE AND, AND THE STREETS SCAPE HAS BEEN IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY.

WE'RE USING THAT SAME TECHNIQUE AND METHODOLOGY TO GO AFTER MORE FDA MONEY THAT WE COULD USE NOT ONLY ON THE EXISTING PAT STRUCTURES OUT THERE, BUT WE CAN USE IT TO IMPROVE OTHER CITY ASSETS AS LONG AS IT MEETS THE CRITERIA AND JUSTIFICATION.

YOU KNOW? SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE, WE HAVE PUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, OUR GIS DEPARTMENT AND IVAN, AND THEY'RE SITTING AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE GRANTS THAT ARE OUT THERE FROM FDA AND TO SEE HOW IT MEETS THE CRITERIA SO THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR THOSE GRANTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE OKAY.

FROM THE FT A AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S A VERY CREATIVE WAY OF DOING IT.

BUT THE MONIES ARE THERE AND THE CRITERIA FOR THE MONIES THAT THEY'RE, AND WE, WE'VE HAD A SHORT OF IT FOR $700,000.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE COMPLETED THOSE TWO STREETS AND WE THINK THAT WE STILL HAVE A SHOT OF IT AGAIN AS WE GO OUT AFTER THOSE MONIES.

WELL, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT WHAT YOU ADDED.

UH, IVAN DOES ALWAYS DID A GOOD JOB.

WE GETTING GRANTS AND YOU SAY AGAIN WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

NOW WE ALREADY HAD A CONTRACT WITH, UH, SO-CALLED THE, SO-CALLED GROUP, WE ALREADY HAD CONTRACT AND THE CONTRACT WAS FOR THE TRANSIT AND ALSO AN ADDITIONAL, I THINK IT WAS DIVIDED LIKE 18 TO 40,000 MM-HMM.

AND THE OTHER PART WAS FOR THE REST OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE I QUESTIONED THAT THEY SAID THE MONEY FOR THAT WAS COMING FROM DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.

SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY ARE WE GOING BACK AND ADDING 37,000? WELL, $38,000.

GO AHEAD.

I ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

YEAH, I CAN ANSWER.

YOU GUYS CAN HEAR ME CORRECT? YES.

YEAH, GO RIGHT IN.

USING, UM, WE JUST SUBMITTED ANOTHER GRANT FOR EV CHARGING.

SO WE JUST, UM, ON FEBRUARY THE 28TH OF THIS YEAR, WE JUST SUBMITTED A, UH, LITTLE OVER $26 MILLION RAISE GRANT APPLICATION.

THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST COMPLIC, NOT MOST, BUT ONE OF THE MORE COMPLICATED GRANT APPLICATIONS YOU WOULD DO.

IT'S VERY TECHNICAL, UM, HAS ALL THE PLANNING ASPECTS TO IT REQUIRES A LOT OF COORDINATION WITH OUTSIDE ENTITIES.

UM, WE DO UTILIZE THE SOCO GROUP TO HELP US PUT TOGETHER THAT APPLICATION BECAUSE THERE WERE TRANSIT ASPECTS IN IT.

I WAS ABLE TO PAY FOR SOME OF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH, WHEN I SAY I TRANSIT FUNDS, WHY WOULD I PAY FOR SOME OF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PUTTING THE, UNDER THAT GRANT? UM, THEREFORE, I I, I'M GOING TO NEED MORE FUNDS UNDER TRANSIT ASPECT OF THIS CONTRACT.

UM, WE'VE ALSO JUST

[04:25:01]

THAT'S SOMETHING THE, UH, THE MAYOR HAVE BEEN ASKING US TO REALLY LOOK INTO.

SO WE JUST IDENTIFIED SOME TCEQ MONEY.

THERE'S SOME MORE THINGS.

I'M ABLE TO USE TRANSIT FUNDS FOR THAT ALSO BECAUSE IT INVOLVES, IT'S GONNA INVOLVE THE TRANSIT DEPARTMENT.

SO AS WE BURN THROUGH THE MONEY, IT'S JUST, THIS IS JUST TO ADD MORE ON SO THAT I CAN MAKE SURE WHEN I CALL THE SOCO GROUP, UM, THEY'RE GONNA BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST ME WITH A LOT OF THIS GRANT FINDING OTHER THINGS THAT I HAVE TO DO.

SO ONCE AGAIN, WE WENT FROM, I THINK THE TOTAL WAS 70, UH, 60,000 ON CALL.

AND THEN NOW WE'RE GONNA ADD 30, 38,000 MORE ON CALL.

NOW MY ONLY QUESTION IS WE PAYING THIS MONEY FOR THE CONTRACT? SO IF YOU CALLED HIM, DID I HELP WITH ONE OF THOSE GRANTS? ARE YOU GONNA HAVE TO PAY IT? YEAH, I MEAN WE WOULD, WE WOULD'VE TO PAY, I MEAN, WE MAY HAVE TO PAY ANYONE, YOU KNOW, UM, NOT HIRING, UM, ANOTHER COMPANY.

I MEAN, THE EXPECTATION WAS WE WOULD COMPENSATE THEIR EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR TIME.

SO YEAH.

SO WE HAVE TO COMPENSATE THEM.

I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, THEY, THEY EVEN HAVE TO GO OUT AND HIRE, UM, OTHER FIRMS TO HELP US PUT TOGETHER THE BUILD GRANT.

THERE WAS SOME TECHNICAL INFORMATION THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS REQUIRING THAT UH, WE HAD TO GET A HOLD OF TO INCLUDE IN OUR GRANT APPLICATION.

THE GRANT APPLICATION I THINK WAS LIKE OVER 150 PAGES OF DATA, UM, WRITINGS, UH, SKETCHES.

SO SOME OF THESE GRANTS ARE HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND UM, WE NEED SOME OUTSIDE SERVICES TO HELP US PUT TOGETHER A VERY STRONG APPLICATION.

ONE THING I WILL SAY THOUGH, WITH THE, WITH THIS RAISE BANK WE JUST SUBMITTED, UM, BECAUSE IT TOOK SO MUCH TIME AND IT'S SO TECHNICAL, WE ANTICIPATE BEING ABLE TO TAKE SOME OF THE ELEMENTS OF IT AND USE IT ON SOME OF THE OTHER GRANTS THAT WE'VE NOW IDENTIFIED.

SO I THINK THIS WAS A GOOD STARTING POINT FOR THE CITY, UM, FOR FUTURE GRANTS THAT REALLY IDENTIFIED THAT.

WE'VE ACTUALLY STARTED TALKING ABOUT, UM, MEET SOME OF THESE DEADLINES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND US WANTING TO GET SOMEONE TO HELP WITH GRANTS, PAY 'EM, OKAY.

AND ALSO SEND OUT REQUESTS FOR QUALIFICATIONS.

YOU ALREADY SEEN THIS PERSON HAS, HAS ALREADY DONE WORK FOR THE CITY.

YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT TYPE OF WORK THEY DO.

THAT'S THE GOOD THING ABOUT SENDING OUT REQUESTS FOR QUALIFICATIONS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE PAYING SOMEBODY JUST TO BE ON CALL FOR.

I CALL YOU, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T EXACTLY UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THIS MONEY WE GIVING TO SOMEBODY, BUT YET NO.

THAT WE DO CALL YOU.

WE STILL GOTTA PAY YOU.

SO WELL, WELL, WELL LET, LET, LET ME CLARIFY.

SO I THINK WE MIGHT BE TALKING ABOUT, SO I ONLY PAY THE, THEY, THEY ONLY INVOICE ME WHEN I ASSIGN THEM A PROJECT.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, LEMME GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE.

THE, UM, THE CALL WASH RFP THAT HAD TO BE PUT TOGETHER, THAT WAS HIGHLY TECHNICAL.

THEY ONLY CHARGED ME 'CAUSE I ASKED 'EM TO DO THAT.

SO THEY JUST DON'T SEND ME BILLS PER SE BECAUSE, UM, THEY JUST CAN'T.

IF I GIVE THEM A PROJECT, THEY INVOICE ME.

IF I DON'T GIVE THEM A PROJECT, THEY DON'T INVOICE ME 'CAUSE THEIR INVOICES ARE DETAILED.

IF I SEE SOMETHING I DON'T LIKE, I CALL 'EM AND WE TALK ABOUT IT.

SO THEY'RE ONLY INVOICE ME FOR THE WORK THAT THEY COMPLETE, UM, AS A CONSULTANT FOR THE CITY.

ANY OTHER, UH, UNREADINESS ON THIS? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSERS? NO.

IT SOUNDS LIKE ONLY A SINGLE NO.

SO THE YE IS APPROVED.

NEXT WE'LL MOVE TO

[VII.C.(6) P.R. No. 23630 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Settlement Of A Physical Damage Claim In The Amount Of $12,988.00 Made Against Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool (TMLIRP) As A Result Of Property Damage To Police Vehicle #2083]

PR NUMBER 23.

SIX 30.

ALRIGHT, THERE'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SETTLEMENT OF A PHYSICAL DAMAGE CLAIM IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,988 MADE AGAINST TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RISK POOL, T-M-L-I-R-P AS A RESULT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE TO POLICE VEHICLE NUMBER 2083.

MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCIL KINLOCK? SO MOVED.

MAYOR MAY GET A SECOND.

COUNCILMAN FRANK.

SO MOVED.

IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23.

SIX 30.

WE ARE READY FOR QUESTION.

UH, COUNCIL KINLOCK.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY TAKE THESE THINGS, UH, SERIOUSLY.

UH, CITY MANAGER, COULD YOU ASK THE CHIEF TO COME UP PLEASE? CHIEF? CHIEF, YOU WERE DRIVING CHIEF DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

KINLOCK? NO, HE WASN'T , NO.

CITY MANAGER.

OH, THAT'S OKAY.

UH, I, YOU KNOW, CHIEF, UH,

[04:30:01]

UH, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I'VE NOTICED THAT POLICE CARS HAVE BEEN ON THE AGENDA, BUT THIS PARTICULAR ONE GOT MY ATTENTION WHEN I READ THE BACKGROUND ON IT.

AND IT SAID ON, UH, JANUARY 30, 20, 23, POLICE UNIT, UH, 2083, OPERATED POSSIBLE, WAS FATIGUE AND BRIEFLY FELL ASLEEP.

AND HE RAN INTO A DITCH WITH A UNIT, WHICH IS A 2016 CHEVY TAHOE.

SO I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW AND WHAT'S THE POLICY I WANTED TO GET WITH THE MANAGER AFTER SPEAKING WITH YOU? UH, TO ME, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE WANT TO ALWAYS KEEP THE OFFICER'S SAFETY AS A PRIORITY.

BUT AT THIS, IN READING THE BACKGROUND, IT SEEMS LIKE THE OFFICER BRIEFLY POSSIBLE, BRIEFLY FELL ASLEEP AND RAN INTO A DITCH, UH, WITH ONE OF OUR UNITS AND THAT WE HAD THIS AMOUNT TO PAY OUT.

12, WELL, $13,000.

SO CAN YOU GIMME SOME BACKGROUND? WAS A, UH, THIS PARTICULAR OFFICER, UH, WAS GIVEN A MEDICAL RELEASE.

UH, DID YOU DO AN INVESTIGATION TO FIGURE OUT WHY HE, UH, FELL ASLEEP AND RAN INTO A DITCH WITH ONE OF OUR UNITS THAT'S, THAT BELONGS TO THE CITY.

AND WHAT IS YOUR, UH, RECOMMENDATION TO FURTHER, UH, ADDRESS THESE ISSUES LIKE THAT? BECAUSE I REALLY TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY, CHIEF, BECAUSE IF AN OFFICER IS TIRED AND HE'S COMING TO WORK AND HE FALLS ASLEEP AND RUN INTO A DITCH IN ONE HOUR, POLICE CARS, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

SO YOU BEING THE DIRECTOR OF THAT DEPARTMENT, WHAT IS YOUR, WHAT IS, WHAT IS, WHAT ARE YOU PLAN ON DOING ABOUT FUTURE EVENTS? IF IT'S, IF IT HAPPENS, WELL ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WE'RE ON THE ROAD 24 7 POLICE IN THE CITY, UM, AND OFFICERS ARE TIRED.

UH, THAT WAS A SHORTAGE AT THE TIME AND WE HAD TO FORCE OFFICERS TO WORK OVER.

SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH ALL, ALL THOSE SITUATIONS.

UH, THIS PARTICULAR OFFICER, AS HE SAID, HE FELL ASLEEP, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WELL, I MEAN, THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING IF HE FELL, IF HE FELL ASLEEP.

I MEAN, MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE HAD SOME OTHER OFFICER WORK THE SHIFT.

I'M NOT SAYING, BUT YOU KNOW, IT SAYS POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, DID YOU DO AN INVESTIGATION ENSURE THAT THE OFFICER HAD FELL ASLEEP? I MEAN, WE DO THAT TO ANY OTHER EMPLOYEE IN THE STATE, I MEAN, OR IN THE CITY.

UH, YES.

THAT WORKS IN ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT.

SUPERVISORS COME OUT, THEY DO ALL THESE OTHER TESTS.

I'M SAYING TO YOU, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE TIME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS, BUT IT'S STILL YOUR DEPARTMENT.

WE STILL GOT, WE STILL GOT, WE GOT A CITY TO, TO SURVEY.

BUT YOU KNOW, AS THE DIRECTOR, I, I NEED TO COME TO YOU AND ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME READING ABOUT THIS AND I'M OKAY WITH IT.

BUT AS FUTURE ENDEAVORS, WHAT IS YOUR JOB? BUT WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING ON DOING? OFFICERS THAT ARE FATIGUED OR POSSIBLY AS I TOLD, AND IT SAYS POSSIBLY.

SO I DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU TELL ME WHAT, RIGHT.

I MEAN THAT, THAT'S FANCY WORDS.

YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE USE, POSSIBLY SOME PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY.

UH, IT'S JUST A WORD THAT WAS USED DURING THAT, WHEN THAT STATEMENT WAS MADE.

UM, SO AN INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED, OKAY.

AND WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN PLACE, IS IF AN OFFICER'S TIRED, WE EXPECT, UH, THE OFFICER TO GO TAKE A BREAK.

BUT WE CAN'T ALWAYS FORCE AN OFFICER TO DO THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT IS WHEN YOU'RE TIRED, IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE GO GET OFFICERS, YOU DON'T THINK, YOU THINK YOU CAN WORK THROUGH IT.

AND MAYBE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS SITUATION.

I DO NOT KNOW.

I CAN'T SAY WHAT WAS IN THE OFFICER'S HEAD.

ALL I DO KNOW IS THE OFFICER REPORTED THAT HE FELL ASLEEP, ENDED UP IN A DITCH, AND WE SENT, UH, THE SUPERVISOR OUT THERE TO INVESTIGATE IT.

OKAY? I MEAN, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, CHIEF, THAT, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT'S, IT IS YOUR DEPARTMENT AND IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT, UH, FOR RECORD THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU UNDERSTAND HE'S A GO-GETTER, UH, OFFICER, AND HE POSSIBLY FELL ASLEEP AND BRIEFLY TO FATIGUE.

HEY, THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR LANE.

BUT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M GONNA ASK THESE QUESTIONS.

IF I HAVE TO VOTE ON ANYTHING THAT A PAYOUT HAS TO BE, UH, GIVEN OUT AND I HAD TO READ THE BACKGROUND, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, IT'S OKAY.

BUT I'M SAYING FOR FUTURE SAFETY ISSUES, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER IF AN OFFICER, YOU KNOW, ASK YOUR OFFICER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.

THAT'S YOUR DEPARTMENT, HOW TO RUN IT THE WAY YOU FEEL.

WELL, WE HAVE, WE HAVE SUPERVISORS THAT ARE MONITORING OFFICERS EACH DAY TO, TO MAKE SURE I WOULD THINK SO THAT THEY'RE PREPARED TO, TO WORK, RIGHT.

AND THIS SITUATION, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT IS LIKE IF YOU, IF YOU WORK IN THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT AT A CERTAIN TIME, YOU'RE GOING TO GET SLEEPY.

IT HAPPENS TO, TO ALL THE OFFICERS.

THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE OFFICER FELL ASLEEP, END UP IN A SITUATION HE ENDED UP IN.

WE DID WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO, SENT OUT SUPERVISORS TO INVESTIGATE.

AND UH, HERE WE ARE ASKING YOU GUYS TO, TO VOTE ON APPROVING IT OR DENYING IT.

UM, WE TELL ALL OUR SUPERVISORS TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE OFFICERS AND THEY SEE A SIGN OF FATIGUE,

[04:35:01]

SEE A SIGN OF ANGER, SEE A SIGN OF FRUSTRATION, PULL 'EM OFF TO THE SIDE AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH 'EM AND SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THAT SITUATION.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S NOT GONNA SAY, UH, I'M TIRED, I'M FRUSTRATED, I'M MENTALLY DISTRESSED.

SO WE LOOK FOR THOSE SIGNS.

UH, WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS ALL I CAN GO ON WHAT THE OFFICER SAID.

I FELL ASLEEP.

OKAY, CHIEF, WELL, THANK YOU.

I CAN'T PREDICT NO, I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO PREDICT.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT YOU MAY NEED TO ASK YOUR SUPERVISORS TO ASK THE OFFICERS AND TO KIND OF, I MEAN, IT'S NOTHING MORE YOU CAN POSSIBLY SAY IF THE OFFICER DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING AND FALL INTO THE DITCH BRIEFLY, THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR CALL, THAT'S YOUR DEPARTMENT.

BUT IT'S A PAYOUT FOR THE CITY.

SO IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO, IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO IT, THAT'S YOUR LANE.

YOU'RE THE DIRECTOR.

UH, OUR JOB IS TO, UH, READ, UH, THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND IF I SEE SOMETHING THAT I, UH, IS QUESTIONABLE, I'M GONNA ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT IT.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MAY HAVE TO PUT IN PLACE BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR DEPARTMENT.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WE'RE GONNA DEFINITELY LOOK A LITTLE BIT FARTHER INTO IT AND, AND WE'LL DO BETTER.

CHIEF CITY MANAGER, IF YOU DON'T MIND IF TO LOOK, OVERSEE THAT.

UH, I ASKED THE DIRECTOR TO COME AND GIVE US, BUT YOU KNOW, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND SECURITY OF AN OFFICER THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY, A LIABILITY STILL LIE IN THE CITY.

SO IF YOU WOULD JUST ENSURE THAT, UH, THEY WOULD GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIGURE OUT JUST LIKE WE WOULD DO ANY OTHER EMPLOYEE.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES, SIR.

THE STANDARD SHIFT, EIGHT HOURS OR 12 HOURS? 10 HOURS.

OH, 10 HOURS, OKAY.

ANY OVERTIME OR OFF, OFF-DUTY WORK? YOU STILL APPROVE IT? UH, YES SIR.

I APPROVE, UH, I APPROVE OFF-DUTY WORK.

UM, BUT NOT, I, I APPROVE IT FOR THE YEAR BY LOCATION.

IT'S APPROVED BY THE SUPERVISORS, UH, DAILY.

THEN WE ALSO HAVE SHIFTS THAT WE HAVE TO COVER WHEN SOMEBODY CALLS IN SICK.

IF THERE'S A SHORTAGE, WE HAVE A MINIMUM PER SHIFT.

SO IF THERE'S A SHORTAGE AND YOU'RE NEXT UP ON THE LIST TO BE FORCED, THEN YOUR NUMBER'S UP.

SO THEN YOU HAVE TO WORK AN ADDITIONAL FOUR HOURS BECAUSE WE FORCED YOU OVER.

SO THAT PUT SOME AT 14 HOURS.

UH, 16.

YOU SAID 10 HOURS? NO.

YEAH, I'M SORRY, YES.

14.

THEN THE STANDARD SHIFT IS 10 HOURS.

OVERTIME OR, OR WORKING FOR THE REFINERY OR WHATEVER OFF DUTY, YOU APPROVED THAT.

RIGHT? WAS THAT ANY OF THAT OFF DUTY INVOLVED AT THIS TIME? OFF DUTY? NO, SIR.

BUT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT FORCED OVER.

UH, MAYOR, I APPROACH YOU.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

THAT'S A SHORTAGE.

WITHOUT GETTING INTO PERSONNEL DETAILS OF THIS SPECIFIC SITUATION, CHIEF OVERALL THERE, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THERE ISN'T.

SO I'M ASKING YOU TO SHARE WHATEVER PROCESS THAT IS SO THAT THE, UM, SO THAT THE COUNCIL CAN HEAR WHAT YOUR PROCESS IS IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF SOMEONE IS FRUSTRATED, IF SOMEONE IS ANGRY, HOW THEY'RE PREPARED TO, TO GO OUT ON A SHIFT.

SOMEONE IS LOOKING FOR THOSE SIGNALS, I'M SURE.

WELL, ALL OUR SUPERVISORS ARE LOOKING FOR THOSE SIGNALS.

UH, WE HAVE, BEFORE THEY HIT THE STREET, WE HAVE A SHIFT MEETING.

AND IN THE SHIFT MEETING, THEY TELL THE SUPERVISOR THAT'S LEADING THE SHIFT MEETING TELLS THE OFFICER OR THE OFFICERS WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY, WHAT TO LOOK FOR, AREAS TO CHECK ON ROUNDS, UH, BAD PEOPLE THAT DID SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO LOCATE THEM TO BRING, TO TAKE THEM INTO CUSTODY.

AND WHEN THEY'RE DOING THAT, THEY'RE MONITORING AND TALKING TO THEM AFTER THE SHIFT MEETING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S A SITUATION.

UM, BUT MOST TIMES, YOU KNOW, OFFICERS DON'T COME FORWARD AND SAY, I AM HAVING A PROBLEM.

SO BASICALLY THAT'S, THAT'S ABOUT AS FAR AS IT GOES.

SO YOU MENTIONED A FEW TIMES ABOUT FORCED OVER SHIFTS AND THERE'S A SHORTAGE.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO ASSIST? UH, YES.

THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS YOU CAN DO.

ONE WOULD BE TO GIVE A SUBSTANTIAL RAISE TO THE OFFICERS TO WHERE WE COULD, UH, HIRE MORE OFFICERS AND GET, ATTRACT MORE, MORE OFFICERS TO THE AREA.

I MEAN, YOU'RE ASKING ME, YOU GIMME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT.

I'M JUST GONNA TELL YOU MAKE IT TO WHERE EVERYBODY WANTS TO COME TO PORT ARTHUR.

THE WORK WOULD BE ONE OF MY RECOMMENDATIONS.

UH, MR. COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE CHIEF, YOU ALMOST GOT AWAY, BUT THAT COMMENT YOU JUST GAVE HER.

OPEN THE DOOR FOR ME TO TALK.

I'M HERE.

WANT TO COMMENT AND WORK.

YOU SAY GIVE A RAISE AND MAKE 'EM

[04:40:01]

I SEEN TOO MANY COME HERE, SPEND A FEW YEARS AND THEN LEAVE AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO CHIEF, I'M NOT BUYING THAT ONE.

MAYBE WE TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE DEPARTMENT RUN AND PEOPLE STAY ONCE WE COME HERE.

'CAUSE I SEE 'EM COME AND GO.

SO THAT'S, I THINK THAT'D BE MORE A PROBLEM THAN US PAYING MONEY.

BECAUSE EVEN THE MONEY, ONCE THEY GET THEY CERTIFICATE, GET THEY TIME IN AND STUFF, THEY GOING, THEY GONNA GO IF THEY WANT TO GO, IF THEY'RE NOT HAPPY.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE THING.

I THINK WE JUST GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE GET 'EM, WE KEEP 'EM.

WELL, WELL THAT'S ALWAYS THE GOAL WHEN WE GET 'EM, KEEP 'EM.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ROOT OF IT, ALL THAT FACTORS IN, YOU LOOK AT THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, WE LOOK AT PAY RAISES AND I'M NOT GOING TO OTHER, 'CAUSE WE WE'RE DOING OTHER THINGS RIGHT NOW.

SO I PROBABLY SHOULD NEED, I PROBABLY NEED TO STOP RIGHT THERE.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, THE COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING, WE'RE NOT WHERE WE SHOULD BE.

IN MY OPINION AS THE CHIEF, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP FUEL SOME OF THE VACANCIES TO WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO FORCE PEOPLE OFF AS OFTEN AS WE DO.

WHAT YOU GOT? WHAT YOU GOT? OKAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER ASKED, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU GOT SOMETHING THERE? YEAH, BASICALLY TWO CHIEF VESTED, IS IT STILL 10 YEARS? YES SIR.

IT'S, IT IS 10 YEARS.

UH, HOW MANY VAS DO YOU GOT DOWN THERE? I'M NOT SURE.

I DIDN'T PULL THE NUMBERS.

IS IT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 12 AND 14? I THINK.

BUT DON'T HOLD ME TO THAT 12 AND 14 VACANCY.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING.

AND BRIEFLY, IF AN OFFICER WORK OVERTIME, YOU, YOU GOT 10 HOUR SHIFT.

SO IF YOU'RE GONNA WORK OVERTIME, HE WORK, DO HE WORK SIX HOURS OR DO HE WORK GREATER OR LESS? SOMETIMES HE WORKS GREATER AND SOMETIMES HE WORK LESS.

BUT IT ALL DEPENDS IF THEY GET SOMEBODY ELSE TO COME IN TO FILL THAT SHIFT.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE ON ON ON, UH, HE NOT REALLY PULLING A DOUBLE SHIFT.

THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL SHIFT IS 10 HOURS.

IF YOU PULL A DOUBLE SHIFT, NOW YOU'RE AT 20 HOURS, ONLY 24 HOURS IN A DAY.

THAT'S WHAT BOTHERS ME.

BUT, BUT WHEN, WHEN YOU'RE BEING FORCED OVER, YOU COULD HAVE SOMETHING PLANNED THAT DAY.

IT COULD BE AN ANNIVERSARY WITH YOUR WIFE AND I'M TAKING MY WIFE OUT TO ANNIVERSARY DINNER.

SO ALL THAT'S FACTORED INTO BEING FORCED OVER TOO.

SO IT CREATES FRUSTRATION, CREATES A LOT OF THINGS.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT CHIEF.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT FROM THAT SOCIAL STANDPOINT.

WHEN I, I'M, I'M LOOKING AT THE FATIGUE SIDE, RIGHT? IF, IF YOU'RE PUTTING IN 10 HOURS AND HE, AND HE PULL IN A DOUBLE SHIFT, YOU PUT IN EIGHT HOURS, HE PULL A DOUBLE SHIFT, THAT'S 16.

RIGHT? YOU STILL GOT AN X AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET HIM TO SLEEP, BUT YOU GOT A 10 HOUR SHIFT NOW YOU, HE PULL IN A DOUBLE.

NOW YOU TALKING ABOUT 20 HOURS, YOU ONLY HAVE FOUR HOURS OF SLEEP.

AND THAT'S DANGEROUS.

THAT'S ALL I WANT.

SO TYPICALLY IF AN OFFICER WORKS IS FORCED OVER FROM THE EVENING SHIFT, THEY WORK OVER FROM FOUR 30 TO LIKE NINE 30.

FOUR HOURS, HUH? IT SHOULDN'T, WE SHOULDN'T THAT, THAT OFFICER THAT PUT IN 10 HOURS SHOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER THAN FOUR TO SIX HOURS, RIGHT? YEAH.

BUT IT'S STILL AN EXTRA SHIFT.

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE FACILITIES MAINTENANCE, UH, OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES ACCOUNT SERVICE ACCOUNT, EXCUSE ME, UH, NUMBER 0 0 1 DASH 21 DASH FIVE NINE DASH 5 4 7 0 0 7 0 0.

COUNCILOR MCKEN AND YEAH, CHIEF, JUST, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO JUST NIP THIS IN THE BUD.

SO OFFICER WAS OKAY, RIGHT? YES SIR.

HE WAS, HE WAS FINE.

DID HE HAVE TO GET A MEDICAL RELEASE TO COME BACK TO WORK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? WELL ACTUALLY THE OFFICER IS ON IS ON INJURY NOW.

UH, OKAY.

AND UH, AND AGAIN, JUST FOR THE RECORD, 'CAUSE WE HAVE YOU ON RECORD CHIEF, UH, ON UH, JANUARY 29TH.

HE DID NOT HAVE A EXTRA DUTY JOB OR ANYTHING THAT CAUSED THE FATIGUE BY PRIOR TO HIM COMING TO HIS NORMAL WORKDAY.

I DO NOT KNOW THROUGH YOUR INVESTIGATION.

I DO NOT KNOW.

I I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS PART OF TO COME UP.

SO I, I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION RIGHT NOW, BUT I CAN REPORT IT BACK TO YOU GUYS.

AND ON ANY MORE QUESTIONS, WE'RE READY TO VOTE ON MR. PR NUMBER 23 6 30.

UH, MAYOR, I APPROACH THE LIGHT JUST CAME ON.

YOU ANSWER, I'M JUST READY TO VOTE MY VOICE BE HEARD.

ANY OPPOSES? ANY ANY OPPOSES? OKAY, I HAVE IT.

SO PR NUMBER 23 6 30

[VII.C.(14) P.R. No. 23655 – A Resolution Authorizing The Third Year (Second Renewal) Of The Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur And Patriot Security Of Nederland, Texas, For Security Guard Services At City Hall And The Annex With A Total Projected Impact Of $98,000.00 Through February 24, 2025. Funding Is Available In The Facilities Maintenance Other Contractual Service Account, Account No. 001-21-059-5470-00-70-000]

IS APPROVED.

NOW WE WILL GO OVER TO PAGE NINE.

ITEM NUMBER 14.

IT IS, UH, P NUMBER 23,655 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE THIRD YEAR, SECOND RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND PATRIOT SECURITY OF NEEDLE IN TEXAS FOR SECURITY GUARD SERVICES AT CITY HALL AND THE ANNEX WITH A TOTAL PROJECTED IMPACT OF $98,000, UH, THROUGH FEBRUARY 24TH.

UH, 2025

[04:45:01]

MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN? UH, LEWIS, I GET A SECOND, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM.

SECOND IF MOVE AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 6 55 AS RARE.

WE READ A QUESTION.

COUNCILMAN ETT? YES.

QUESTION.

THIS, THIS CONTRACT EXPIRED CITY MANAGER OR YEAH.

YEAH, IT'S, IT'S SAYING THAT THIS IS THE, THE SECOND RENEWAL, THE RESOLUTION 2, 2 0 5 0 AWARDED A ONE YEAR CONTRACT FOR THE SECURITY GUARD SERVICES AT PATRIOT SERVICES NETHERLAND WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR TWO ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR PERIODS.

YEAH, BUT WHEN YOU GO TO RECOMMENDATION, IT SAYS THAT AS FAR THE PROJECTED AMOUNT OF 57,000 FOR THE PHYSICAL YEAR ENDED 24.

THAT'S, UM, THEN OF THIS YEAR.

AND THEN WE GOING TO DO 41,000, UH, THAT'S GOING TO END IN FEBRUARY OF 2025.

SO MY QUESTION IS, WE SEEING A CONTRACT ENDING IN FEBRUARY? I MEAN, UH, FOR THE PHYSICAL YEAR ENDING, THAT'S OCT, THAT'S JUNE.

THAT'S JUNE.

SO THIS CONTRACT GOING TO END IN JUNE AND THEN FROM, UH, JUNE, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, GOING TO END, UH, 30TH SEPTEMBER.

SO IN OCTOBER, FROM OCTOBER TO FEBRUARY, WE GONNA PAY 41,000 JUST FOR THOSE FEW MONTHS? YES.

LET'S, LET'S CALL WHO DID THE PROCUREMENT HERE? FLO AND CLIFF.

LET'S COME.

'CAUSE IT SAYS HERE 57,000 FOR THE PHYSICAL YEAR ENDING 24.

AND THE, AND THE PHYSICAL YEAR ENDS 30 SEPTEMBER.

OKAY, SO FROM SEPTEMBER TO FEBRUARY, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY.

SO IT'S FIVE MONTHS.

IS THAT WHAT THAT CONTRACT GONNA BE FOR FIVE MONTHS? NO, NO SIR.

IT'S FOR A FULL YEAR.

SO GIVE MR SO THE AMOUNTS THAT YOU'RE SEEING ARE FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2024.

AND THEN THE BALANCE IS FI FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2025 BECAUSE THIS CONTRACT CARRIES OVER, UH, FROM THIS FISCAL YEAR INTO FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2025.

SO I HAD TO SEPARATE THE MONEY TO SHOW WHAT IS BEING ALLOCATED FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR AND WHAT'S BEING ALLOCATED FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR BECAUSE THE CONTRACT SPANS TWO YEARS, TWO FISCAL YEARS.

YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU TALKED FISCAL YEAR TO ME.

THE CONTRACT, WAS THIS A ONE YEAR CONTRACT OR NOT? YES SIR.

IF IT'S A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.

WHEN WAS THE CONTRACT INITIATED AND WHEN DID THE CONTRACT EXPIRES? HOLD ON, GO AHEAD.

COME ON CLIFF.

OKAY, SO THE CONTRACT STARTED TWO YEARS AGO.

UM, IT BEGAN IN FEBRUARY OF THINK, THINK SO.

SO WE DIDN'T GET IT TO COUNCIL FAST ENOUGH.

SO IT BUT YOU HAVE CLIFF.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR.

MY QUESTION, MY QUESTION WAS, THIS CONTRACT HAS EXPIRED.

YES IT HAS.

SO WE GOTTA APPEAL.

BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, I WANT TO SAY WE NEED TO STAY ON TOP OF THIS.

YOU'RE BRINGING, YOU'RE BRINGING, UH, THIS FOR US TO APPROVE TODAY.

BUT THIS CONTRACT EXPIRED IN FEBRUARY.

IT SHOULD HAVE CAME BEFORE US BEFORE FEBRUARY OR BEFORE THE CONTRACT EXPIRED.

AND WHEN I ASKED THE QUESTION, IT'S A SIMPLE QUESTION YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET AROUND.

THE CONTRACT EXPIRED, BUT WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO REAPPROVE IT'S YES, WE GOT IT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS UNREADINESS? ANGELA, ARE WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

THIS ORDER, WE WILL APPROVE PR NUMBER

[VII.C.(18) P.R. No. 23659 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 2, To The Contract With Preferred Facilities Group – USA, LLC Of Port Arthur, Texas For The Construction Of Wayfinding Signs For The Wayfinding And Monument Signage Program For The City Of Port Arthur, To Remove The Existing City Hall Signage, Enlarge The Font Size And Add The Address, Thereby Increasing The Contract Amount By $9,730.00 To A New Total Projected Budgetary Contract Amount Of $1,135,169.79; And Extend The Contract Time By 21 Additional Days. ($985,040.13 Available In HO1020 And $150,129.66 Available In PR0009-OTH)]

23 6 5 5

[04:50:03]

AS PRESENTED.

NEXT, WE HAVE ON PAGE 10, PR NUMBER 23 6 5 9.

IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER TWO TO THE CONTRACT WITH PREFERRED FACILITIES GROUP U-S-A-L-L-C OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF WAY FINDING SIGNS FOR THE WAY FINDING AND MONUMENT SIGNAGE PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO REMOVE THE EXISTING CITY HALL SIGNAGE, ENLARGE THE FONT SIZE AND ADD THE ADDRESS, THEREBY INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $9,730 TO A NEW TOTAL PROJECT PROJECTED BUDGETARY CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $1,135,169 AND 79 CENTS.

AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT BY 21 ADDITIONAL DAYS.

$985,040 13 CENTS IS AVAILABLE IN H OH 1 0 2 0 AND $150,129 AND 60 CENTS CENTS IS AVAILABLE IN PR 0 0 0 9 DASH OTH.

MAY I GET UH, MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.

MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCIL, MCKEN LAW SECOND MAYOR IS REMOVED.

AND SECOND, THEN WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 6 5 9 AS READ.

WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION.

UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, WELL HAMILTON, MAY I APPROACH HIM? I'M SORRY.

UM, JUST FOR THE RECORD, MY CONCERN IS NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT THE FUNDING.

I ALREADY KNOW THAT THIS, THE FUNDING HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED FOR IT.

MY CONCERN HAS BEEN ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GETTING FOR OUR MONEY AND SPECIFICALLY DEALING WITH THE LIGHTING OF OUR WAY FINDING SIGNS.

THE PURPOSE IS FOR IT TO BE ILLUMINATED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SEE, UM, AFTER DARK.

BUT BECAUSE THE LETTERS ARE SMALLER AND OPAQUE, THE ILLUMINATION DOES NOT SERVE THE PURPOSE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT.

IT SAYS CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ESPECIALLY, UM, FOR THE INTENT OF SOMEONE DRIVING BY.

SO IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEM.

SO I'M ASKING AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THESE UPGRADES FROM THE FIRST, WELL LET ME NOT FROM A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO, I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN, FROM A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO WHEN WE GAVE OUR FEEDBACK REGARDING THE SIGNS AND YOU TOLD US ABOUT THE TIMELINE OF WHEN THEY WILL BE ERECTED, WHAT THEY WOULD LOOK LIKE.

HAS ANY OF THOSE CONSIDERATIONS BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WITH THE UPCOMING UPGRADES OR IS THIS THE ONLY SIGN THAT WILL BE CHANGED? SO, UM, WHEN WE TALKED LAST, WE WERE LOOKING INTO, THERE WERE STILL THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AS FAR AS THE LIGHTING AND IRRIGATION.

THEY WERE STILL HOOKING UP ELECTRICAL AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE DOING IRRIGATION.

SO IF YOU NOTICE, UM, SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL HAS BEEN HOOKED UP AS THEY WERE BEING LIGHTING, WE NOTICED AN ISSUE WITH THE LIGHTING.

SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF FIXING THAT AS WE SPEAK.

PERFECT.

THAT SHOULD BE, UM, WE'RE TESTING ONE OF THE SIGNS WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO SEE IF THAT'LL FIX THAT ISSUE.

NOW DO KEEP IN MIND THAT AS WE FIX THAT ISSUE, THESE LINES WILL, THESE SIGNS WILL NOT BE THESE BIG HUGE BRIGHT SIGNS BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL ON, SOME OF 'EM ARE ON A HIGHWAY AND THEY WILL KIND OF IMPAIR YOUR VISION ON THE HIGHWAY AND THAT'S AGAINST SOME OF TX DOT'S RULES.

SO THEY ARE GONNA BE ILLUMINATED AS MUCH AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN IN REGARDS TO TXDOT STANDARDS.

SO THEY ARE BEING CORRECTED AND PUT UP ACCORDING TO PLANS AS WHAT THEY ARE.

OKAY? SO WE STILL ARE ON SCHEDULE AND OKAY.

TAKING CARE OF SOME OF THE ISSUES.

AND THEN THE NEXT QUESTION IS ABOUT THE ONE THAT'S SPECIFICALLY ON HIGHWAY 69 MM-HMM, , WERE WE ABLE TO GET APPROVAL FOR IT TO BE RAISED? SO YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE LETTERS? UM, NO.

THAT ONE IS GONNA HAVE TO STAY EXACTLY AS IT IS.

OKAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE DON'T HAVE ANY READY TO VOTE.

NUMBER 23 6 6 6, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED AND RATIFICATION OF THE PORT ARTHUR SECTION FOUR, A

ANY OPPOSES? AYE HAVE.

SO HONOR P NUMBER 23 6 5 9 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

NEXT WE HAVE PR

[VII.C.(21) P.R. No. 23666 – A Resolution Authorizing Ratification Of The Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation’s Award Of Bid And Execution Of A Construction Contract Agreement With BDS Constructors LLC DBA MK Constructors Of Vidor, Texas For The Emergency Rehabilitation Of The Spur 93 Business Park Lift Station At A Cost Not To Exceed $399,624.00, Funding Available In EDC Account No. 120-80-625-5479-00-00-000]

[04:55:01]

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATIONS AWARD OF BID AND EXECUTION OF A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH BBS CONTRACTORS, L-L-C-D-B-A-M-K CONTRACTORS OF VITA TEXAS FOR THE EMERGENCY REHABILITATION OF THE SPUR 93 BUSINESS PARK LIFT STATION AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $399,624.

FUNDING AVAILABLE IN EDC ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 2 0 DASH EIGHT ZERO DASH 6 2 5 DASH 5 4 7 9 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 0 0 0.

WE MAY WE GET, UH, A MOTION, EXCUSE ME FOR APPROVAL.

COUNCILMAN LEWIS MOTION APPROVAL.

MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, EXCUSE CITY MANAGER.

AM MAYOR POKY SECOND.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, APPROVE P NUMBER 23 6.

SIX SIX AS READ, WE READ UP A QUESTION.

COUNCILMAN ETT? YES, I ATTENDED THE LAST A DC MEETING AND THIS WAS THE AGENDA ITEM THAT, UH, WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD.

AND THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS BY THE BOARD MEMBERS.

IN FACT, MR. STOKES PRESENTED THIS ITEM TO THE BOARD WITH THE STATEMENT THAT HE HAD GOT.

HE HAD TALKED WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT A PARTNERSHIP TO, UH, REPLACE THE LIFT STATION OUT IN THE BUSINESS PARK ON, UH, 93.

AND SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THE BOARD MEMBER HAD TO MR. OKE WAS ONE WAS, UH, HOW MUCH THE CITY'S GOING TO PAY AS OPPOSED TO EDC AND MR. STOKES REPLIED THAT, UH, I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER RIGHT NOW.

I'LL GET, I'LL GET WITH THE CITY MANAGER, GET WITH YOU LATER.

ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WAS WHY DO WE HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT'S WITH THE CI WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S SIGNATURE ON IT? AND I DIDN'T REALLY HEAR THAT REPLY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IS WHAT'S WRITTEN HERE, MR. STOKES EXPLAINED TO THE BOARD THAT AFTER TALKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER, IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE EDC CAN DO AN EMERGENCY FUNDING.

IT'D BE LESS OF A PROBLEM TO DO AN EMERGENCY FUNDING AS OPPOSED TO THE CITY.

AM I CORRECT MR. STOKES? I DON'T WANNA MIS MISQUOTE YOU ON THAT.

THAT IS CORRECT, SIR.

OKAY THEN.

SO THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT AT NO TIME WERE THE BOARD MEMBERS TOLD THAT THE LIFT STATION IS A CITY PROPERTY.

ONCE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION DONE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OUT IN THE BUSINESS PARK, ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS TURNED OVER TO THE CITY.

THAT'S THE WAY IT'S DONE.

AND THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

UH, THAT LIFT STATION HAS TO BE INCREASED BECAUSE OF THE DEMAND THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED AND PUT ON, UH, YOU ALL BY WPM, WHICH IS ONE OF YOUR CLIENTS OUT THERE WHO'S DEALING WITH FIRE AND A LOT OF WATER.

SO THEY GOING TO BE DISCHARGING MORE WATER, WHICH PUT A LOT OF MORE STRESS ON THE SYSTEM.

AND I GUESS OUR, THE CITY WHEN THEY LOOKED INTO THIS UNDERSTOOD THAT, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE GONNA GET MORE WATER HERE, PLUS YOU GOT THIS OTHER PARTS YOU'RE GONNA DEVELOP, WE NEED TO JUST GO AND DO A BIGGER PUMP.

RIGHT NOW THE WATERLINE FOR MPW, THEY, THEY REQUESTED IT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ALL WORK WITH THEM AT IN A FORM OF INCENTIVE.

'CAUSE THEY HAD TO ALSO COME UP WITH SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO ACCOMMODATE THE BUSINESS PARK AND THEM, BUT SINCE THEY WANT TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY, THAT WAS THE AGREEMENT.

SO THE, SO GET DOWN TO THE BUSINESS HERE.

WE SAY THAT THIS, THIS REQUEST SAID, WHEN I READ IT, THAT'S WHY I HAD TO BRING IT UP.

IT SAID IN THE BACKGROUND, DUE TO THE, DUE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS IN THE SPUR 93 BUSINESS PARK, THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HAS REQUESTED PROPOSAL AND WILL AWARD BIDS AND CONTRACT THE SERVICE OF MK CONSTRUCTORS FOR THE EMERGENCY REHABILITATION OF BUSINESS PARK LIFT STATION.

[05:00:01]

THE EMERGENCY MOBILIZATION OF THIS REHABILITATION DUE TO A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS IN THE BUSINESS PARK AS CURRENT STATION CANNOT HANDLE THE CURRENT WATER OR WASTEWATER SURGE OVERFLOW THAT IS DEMANDED FROM THE BUSINESS PART, CURRENT USER.

YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED DOWN THERE AT AT EDC IS ONE THING, BUT THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY REQUEST.

SO WHEN IT COME TO US, IT SHOULD COME TO US WITH THE NECESSARY INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.

IT IS NOT AN EMERGENCY.

THIS WAS KNOWN MONTHS AGO.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EMERGENCY FUNDED, THE DESIGN HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.

SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WHO PAID FOR THE DESIGN? WHO PAID FOR THE DESIGN? RIGHT? THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

SO IF YOU PAID FOR THE DESIGN, THEN YOU BEEN NO, THIS HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS, RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY, SO WE DIDN'T, IT IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY, IT'S JUST THAT SOMEBODY JUST DRAGGED THEIR FEET ON IT AND IT BECAME MAYBE TO YOU ALL AN EMERGENCY.

SO BASICALLY WHAT I'M SAYING IS I'M NOT AGAINST REPLACE A LIFT STATION BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

I'M ALL FOR IT.

BUT I HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN I'M READING A DOCUMENT AND SOMEBODY TELLING ME IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERN AND IT'S A EMERGENCY WORK ORDER.

WHEN IT'S NOT, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, I'LL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OUR CITY MANAGERS BROUGHT THAT TO US.

OKAY? THIS IS NOT EMERGENCY, IT'S NOT, THEY HAD HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO THIS AND GET THIS DONE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA PROVE IT BECAUSE THE WORK HAS TO BE DONE AND THAT CLIENT IS VERY UPSET THAT IT TOOK SO LONG TO DO IT.

I BUT DON'T SAY IT'S EMERGENCY, UH, IS A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

'CAUSE IF IT WAS A THREAT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, IT WOULD'VE BEEN DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

NOW, IF I'M WRONG WITH ANYTHING, I SAY MR. SO PLEASE CORRECT ME.

AND I'M NOT SAYING, BUT I'M JUST SAYING WHEN IT COMES HERE, I EXPECT IT TO BE SOMETHING FOR ME TO ASSESS, EVALUATE, DON'T TELL ME SOMETHING THAT DON'T EXIST.

OKAY? THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MA'AM.

COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES.

UH, I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN.

IT'S, IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY.

THE WHAT, WHAT'S BEING CONSIDERED AS AN EMERGENCY? IT'S ABOUT TO LOSE THAT CLIENT.

BEFORE IT EVEN GO OUT FOR BIDS.

THAT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY.

THAT'S NOT A PUBLIC HEALTH THING.

THAT'S RIGHT.

IT WAS GETTING RID TO SOME, SOMETHING HAPPENED ALONG THE WAY AND IT DIDN'T DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE RUNNING LATE.

AND THE CLIENT, EXISTING CUSTOMER THAT BUYS FROM, FROM, THAT'S A, A STREAM OF REVENUE THAT WE WAS GOING TO LOSE, WE WAS GONNA LOSE THAT STREAM OF REVENUE.

SO IT IS NOT AN EMERGENCY, BUT WHAT TOOK SO LONG, WHAT WAS THE DELAY? UH, YOU, YOU WANNA HELP HIM OUT HERE OR WHAT? YES SIR.

I SEE YOU GETTING UP.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THE EDC PUT OUT THIS PROJECT FOR, UH, AN ENGINEERING DESIGN, UH, WITH SCHOMBERG AND POLK AND THE PROJECT WAS UNDER DESIGN.

UNFORTUNATELY THE DESIGN WILL NOT BE COMPLETED TILL OCTOBER.

AND WE WERE HAVING REGULAR SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS, DISCHARGING FROM THE MANHOLES AT THE EDC PARK ALSO AT THE LIFT STATION BECAUSE THAT LIFT STATION'S CAPACITY IS AROUND 400 GALLONS PER MINUTE.

IT WAS RECEIVING ABOUT 600 GALLONS PER MINUTE TO PUMP IT.

COULDN'T PUMP IT.

SO SEWER WAS DISCHARGING FROM THE MANHOLES THAT MAKES IT A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARD TO THE PEOPLE AT THE PARK AS WELL AS ALL THE PEOPLE DOWNSTREAM FROM THOSE DITCHES.

'CAUSE WHEN IT TRAINS, THAT'S WHERE THE SANITARY SEWER ENDS UP AT.

SO PAUL, YOU SAYING, SO YOU ARE TELLING ME THERE WAS AN ER ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM, AN EPA PROBLEM.

WHAT TRIGGERED THIS IT TO US? IT WAS A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARD THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR A WHILE.

AND WHEN WE REALIZED THAT THIS PUMP STATION IS UNDER DESIGN, IT'S GONNA BE FOUR, FIVE MONTHS TO BE,

[05:05:01]

WE COULDN'T WAIT THAT LONG.

BUT WE DIDN'T JUST GO FIND A CONTRACTOR AND SAY GIVE IT TO HIM.

WHAT WE DID, WE PUSHED THE ENGINEER TO COMPLETE THE DESIGN QUICKER AND FASTER.

PREPARE A BID PACKAGE.

WE PROVIDED THIS BID PACKAGE TO THREE CONTRACTORS, GOT PRICES OFFICIALLY TO UH, CLIFF'S OFFICE AND THEN CHOSE THE LOWEST, MOST RESPONSIVE BETTER.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE TREATED IT AS AN EMERGENCY AND THEN GAVE IT TO SOMEBODY.

WE TREATED IT AS AN EMERGENCY.

'CAUSE WE ARE HAVING SANITARY SO DISCHARGES IN THE, ON THE, IN THE DITCHES.

OUT OF THE MANHOLES.

BUT WE STILL GOT BIDS.

BUT WE EXPEDITED THAT PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT PUMP STATION RUNNING.

AND PART OF THE BID WAS IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE CONTRACTOR IS AWARDED THE JOB IS TO START PUMPING 800 GALLONS PER MINUTE.

SO I THINK THEY GOT THE JOB FRIDAY, ON MONDAY.

THEY HAD BYPASS PUMPING THERE, PUMPING AT 800 GALLONS PER MINUTE AND IT STOPPED THE SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS WHILE THEY REHAB THE LIFT STATION.

SO TWO UTILITIES AS UTILITIES AND BASED ON THE TCEQ RULES THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW, WHEN SEWER IS DISCHARGING OUT OF MANHOLES, IT IS OUR JOB TO FIX IT IMMEDIATELY.

SO YOU WHAT I'M HEARING THAT SEWAGE WAS, WAS SPILLING OUT OF THE MANHOLE? YES SIR.

SANITARY SEWER WAS COMING OUT OF THE MANHOLE.

AND HOW LONG, HOW LONG THAT WAS HAPPENING? THAT'S BEEN TAKING PLACE FOR A FEW MONTHS.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENED.

IT, IT HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE FOR A FEW MONTHS.

AND WE DID NOT WANNA WAIT FOUR OR FIVE MORE MONTHS TILL THIS ENGINEER FINISHES DESIGN AND IT GOES OUT FOR BIDS AND FIX IT WHEN WE CAN.

COULD HAVE FIXED IT LIKE WE DID.

YOU'VE REPORTED ALL THIS TO TCEQ? WE HAVE REPORTS TO DQ.

SO IAN FINES GONNA BE INVOLVED.

WE ARE HOPING NOT TO GET FINED BECAUSE WE DID WHAT WE DID SO QUICKLY.

SO WE ARE HOPING NOT TO 'CAUSE WE DID TAKE ACTION.

CALVIN, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU, YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY.

COME HERE.

ALL OF ALL OF OUR UH, DISCHARGES, THEY ALL RELATE BACK.

STAY ON THE MIC PLEASE.

BY CALVIN.

SO ANYTIME WE HAVE A DISCHARGE, IT'S RECORDED BY TCEQ, IT'S FORWARDED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND IT GOES INTO A BIG BUCKET AND WE AT SOME POINT WILL HEAR FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

SO WE DON'T ACTUALLY GET FINED ON AN INDIVIDUAL CHARGE.

IT'S PART OF A BIG THING THAT YOU ARE SAYING THAT WE DON'T ACTUALLY GET FUNDED.

I MEAN, UH, FINED WE DON'T GET FINED FOR AN INDIVIDUAL DISCHARGE.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TAKING OVER THE CASE BACK.

ATTORNEY GENERAL TAKE IT OVER 20 19, 20 2000.

LEMME MAKE SURE I'M HERE.

THERE'S SOMETHING BIG GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND.

OH, I I I UNDERSTAND.

BUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT, IF, IF WE NOW OR IN THE FUTURE, IF WE ARE GOING TO BE FINE AND THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR US TO SIT OF SENDING THE MONEY TO THE BIG POOL AND GOES ALL OVER THE STATE OF TEXAS.

WE THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T ALLOW US TO CORRECT OTHER PROJECTS.

WE, IT'LL BE UP ANYMORE.

WE COULD CORRECT PROJECTS.

IT'S AS SUPPOSED TO SENDING THE MONEY TO THE, TO THE STATE COUNSEL.

THE WAY IT WORKS, IF WE GET FINED, WE CAN ALWAYS REQUEST FOR A SEP IS WHAT THEY CALL IT, SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT.

BUT YOU DON'T GET ALL THE, YOU STILL GOTTA PAY 15 TO 20% OF THE FINE.

SO WHEN THERE IS AN EXISTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW, WE TRY TO FIX THEM AS FAST AS WE CAN.

AND THERE'S SOME THAT, YOU KNOW, TAKE A YEAR BEFORE WE CAN FIX IT.

'CAUSE WE GOTTA FIX 10,000 FEET OF PIPE.

BUT IN THIS SITUATION, GETTING THAT LIFT STATION UP TO PAR WAS A SOLUTION THAT WE EMBARKED ON AND WE COULD, WE COULD DO IT AND WE DID IT.

UH, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE, COUNCILMAN? THAT'S IT? YES I DO.

OKAY, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE, THE DISCHARGE.

IF MPW IS NOT PUMPING WITH THE BIGGER PIPE AND THE PARK IS NOT FILLED, WE HAVE A LIFT STATION UP THERE.

IF WE HAVE A DISCHARGE COME OUTTA MANHOLE, DID WE, WHAT CAUSED IT? WHAT CAUSED IT? WHAT DID WE, WHAT, WHAT DID WE DO? BECAUSE IT'S NOT COMING OUT NOW.

SO WHAT DID WE DO? THE MAIN PROBLEM IS WHEN THE EDC PARK INFRASTRUCTURE WAS SIZED, IT WAS SIZED FOR A BUSINESS PARK AND IT'S BECOMING MORE AN INDUSTRIAL PARK AND A BUSINESS PARK.

SO A BUSINESS LIKE NPW COMING TO THE PARK DOES NOT MEET THE ORIGINAL, YOU KNOW, PLAN FOR THE PARK.

SO YOU HAVE MORE DISCHARGES THAN YOU ANTICIPATED FROM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY THERE, WHETHER IT'S NPW OR SPRINT

[05:10:01]

FOR EXAMPLE.

SO THEY, THEIR DISCHARGES EXCEEDED THE LIFT STATION CAPACITY WITH THEM AND WHOEVER IS THERE, ONCE AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THAT YOU HAD SEWAGE COMING FROM THE MANHOLE.

IT WAS A DISCHARGE.

I ASKED A SIMPLE QUESTION, WAS IT BECAUSE OF THE LIFT STATION CAPACITY OR DID WE HAVE A PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSING THE DISCHARGE BECAUSE WE HAVE DISCHARGES FROM ALL OVER THE CITY.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S MY QUESTION IN THAT AREA.

IT'S BECAUSE THE LIFT STATION CAPACITY IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE EXISTING FLOW AT THE A DC PARK INTO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOUBLING THE SIZE OF THAT LIFT STATION RIGHT NOW.

SO I'M JUST ASKING THE QUESTION, HOW LONG THAT PART BEEN EXISTS FOR ALL THESE YEARS? OKAY.

WITH MPW 'CAUSE THEY CAME OUT WHEN IT FIRST WAS DEVELOPED, IF THAT LIFT STATION WASN'T A CAPACITY, I MEAN DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY, YOU KNOW, AS WE GOT THE PARKING, THE PARK BEEN LIKE IT IS NOW FOR A COUPLE YEARS.

AND IT'S BEEN PUMPING IT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE INCREASE IN THE LIFT STATION.

I UNDERSTAND THAT PRINCIPLE INCREASE OF CAPACITY BECAUSE YOU INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE LINE FOR MPW WHO'S DEALING WITH A LOT OF WATER.

PLUS ALSO YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE REST OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BACK PART THAT'S GOING TO COME IN.

SO WE BUILDING A BIGGER PUMP FOR THE FUTURE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT WE HAD DISCHARGED AND IT WAS BECAUSE THAT SMALL PUMP, RIGHT? I'M LIKE, I MEAN WHEN THE PUMP STATION CAN PUMP 400 GALLONS PER MINUTE AND THE DISCHARGES COMING TO IT ARE AT SIX AND 700 GALLONS PER MINUTE, THE OTHER 300 GALLONS PER MINUTE ARE GONNA COME OUT OF THE MANHOLES.

AND THESE WERE THE ILLEGAL DISCHARGES WE HAD.

IT'S OKAY.

UH, MAY I APPROACH HIM? THANK YOU MAYOR.

UM, DR.

TOME.

YOU SAID THAT IT HAD BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS.

I, I DON'T WANNA MISSPEAK, I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR.

HOW LONG WAS IT HAPPENING BEFORE WE SAID BEFORE WE KNEW IT WAS HAPPENING AND THEN IT BECAME AN EMERGENCY.

WE STARTED LOOKING AT IT FOUR MONTHS AGO.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN HAPPENING? I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T HAVE ANY DATA.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY DATA ON THAT.

BUT I KNOW FOUR MONTHS AGO WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT IT AND WE STARTED REPORTING THESE SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS, IT, IT CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF OUR NECESSITY, UH, NECESSARY PROJECTS.

WE DID AN IN-HOUSE, EXCUSE ME.

WE DID AN IN-HOUSE DESIGN.

THIS CAME TO ATTENTION.

I DID AN IN-HOUSE DESIGN OF THE EXISTING LIFT STATION, THE EXISTING FORCE MAIN.

AND WE LOOKED AT, WE COULD PUT TWO SIX INCH PUMPS INSTEAD OF THE TWO FOUR INCH PUMPS THAT WOULD MAXIMIZE THE FLOW IN THE EXISTING FORCE.

MAIN.

I TALKED WITH OUR IN-HOUSE PEOPLE, WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO CHANGE ALL THE ELECTRICAL.

SO WE HAD TO GO OUT FOR A BID.

WE TALKED WITH EDC, THEY GOT ON BOARD AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE THE CONTRACT CAME FROM TO GO WITH THE DESIGN FROM JOHN BURG AND PULP.

WHAT IS IT WE CAN DO TO DECREASE THE TIME FROM ONSET OF OUR KNOWLEDGE TO FOUR MONTHS? WHAT CAN WE DO TO DECREASE THAT TIMEFRAME? IT'S MONEY.

IT'S, IT'S PURELY, UH, MONEY.

AND, AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE EDC TO PLAN WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.

BECAUSE THE, THE PIPE COMING TO THE LIFT STATION HAS BEEN UPSIZED, THE PUMP STATION IS UPSIZED, BUT THE FORCEMENT TO THE PLANT, WE DESIGNED THOSE 800 GALLONS PER MINUTE TO MAXIMIZE THAT.

THEN THE PLANT ITSELF IS GETTING CLOSE TO THE 90% TO WHERE WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO START UPSIZING OR PUTTING UP ANOTHER PLANT.

SO WE ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THE EDC.

SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO WHERE, OKAY, NOW THE EDC HAS ANOTHER 2000 GALLONS PER MINUTE FROM A REALLY BIG CLIENT, BUT WE CANNOT BRING THEM IN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE TREATMENT CAPACITY.

SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT NOW TO FIGURE OUT WHERE CAN WE DO THAT PLANT AT? SHOULD IT BE AT THE EDC? SHOULD WE UPGRADE THE PLANT WE ALREADY HAVE OR UPSIZE IT? SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT NOW AND WE HAVE, UH, A COMPANY THAT'S GONNA DO A STUDY TO SEE WHAT EVERYTHING IN THAT AREA CAN BE WHEN IT'S ALL DEVELOPED, WHAT SIZE PLANT WE'RE GONNA NEED, WHAT SIZE FORCE, MAINS AND PUMP STATIONS.

SO WE ARE IN THAT INVESTIGATION PART OF IT.

SO WE CAN HOPEFULLY FUND SOME OF IT IN THIS COMING BUDGET HERE.

WANTED TO SAY TO, UM, TO, UM, THE DIRECTOR OF THE EDCI WANTED TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU, UH, FOR THE SEEMING INFERENCE, UH, THAT YOU HAD DROPPED THE BALL OR THAT IN ANY WAY YOU TRIED TO, UH, DECEIVE THIS COUNSEL ABOUT SOMETHING.

THIS IS DEFINITELY EMERGENCY.

[05:15:01]

SO AS FAR AS YOUR CONCERNED, I WANTED TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD, BUT I WANTED TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THIS, UH, 'CAUSE OF WHAT WAS SAID.

SO THANK YOU.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR DOING WHAT THEY DID.

IN ALL FAIRNESS, COUNCILMAN MR. STOKES IS NOT THE ONE WHO CAME UP WITH THE EMERGENCY IDEA.

THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT DID BECAUSE HE DIDN'T, BECAUSE HE DON'T HANDLE EMERGENCIES LIKE THAT.

HE'S NOT AWARE OF THEM.

BUT WE'VE BEEN HAVING THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS.

WE'VE BEEN HAMMERED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH THINGS TO WHERE IT CAN'T WAIT TILL TOMORROW.

SO WHY? AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO MAKE THAT PUBLIC THAT MR. STOKES DID NOT DO THAT.

AND BECAUSE ANYONE LISTENING TO THIS AND HAVING LOOKED AT AND LISTENED TO THE CONVERSATION COULD RECEIVE THAT AS AN INFERENCE THAT THE, THAT THE, UH, THAT THE EDC HAD DROPPED THE BALL AND IN SOME WAY SOUGHT TO, UH, COVER UP OR DECEIVE UH, UH, UH, THE COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY HAD DROPPED THE BALL IN SOME WAY.

AND I WANTED TO BE SURE TO, TO DENOTE THE FACT THAT THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED OR TRANSPIRED.

AND IN THE MAJORITY OF OUR EMERGENCIES WE GO TO GET INFORMAL BITS.

WE ALWAYS TRY TO GET TWO TO THREE BITS TO MAKE SURE WE WE'RE GETTING A GOOD NUMBER AND NOT SOMEBODY IS, YOU KNOW, JACKING UP THE PRICE ON US 'CAUSE IT'S AN EMERGENCY.

SO WE'RE ALWAYS, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO GET, UH, BID NUMBERS ON THESE JOBS.

UH, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, BUT COSMAN DE SAID AND COSMAN LEWIS, YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS ISSUE.

CAN WE GO AHEAD? YOUR VOTE ON THIS? LET'S GO AHEAD.

YOUR VOTE.

HAVE IT? SO IS ALL WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 6 5 9.

I MEAN, UH, JESUS.

23 6.

SIX SIX AS READ NOW LET'S MOVE TO PAGE

[VII.C.(24) P.R. No. 23669 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) With Sabine-Neches Chapter Of Texas Master Naturalist Of Orange, Texas, To Install A Pollinator Garden Adjacent To The Bird Blind On Pleasure Island]

11 TWO.

PR NUMBER 23 6 6 9.

IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A ME MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING COMMONLY CALLED MOU WITH S BE NATURE'S CHAPTER OF THE OF TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST OF ORANGE, TEXAS TO INSTALL A POLLINATOR GARDEN ADJACENT TO THE BIRD BLIND ON PLEASURE ISLAND.

MAY I GET A, UM, MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MOVE I GET A SECOND, COUNCILMAN FRANK.

SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PRO NUMBER 23 6 6 9 AS PRESENTED.

UH, WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION.

COUNCILMAN BECKER? THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER.

IF YOU COULD ANSWER THIS.

UM, MY CONCERN IS THE MOU IS A LITTLE BIT VAGUE ABOUT, UH, WHO'S GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, UM, PRIMARILY WATERING.

UH, IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, BOTH PARTIES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GOALS AND ACTIVITIES CITED IN THE AGREEMENT.

AND MY CONCERN IS IF WE HAVE A SUMMER LIKE WE HAD LAST SUMMER WHERE WE HAVE A DROUGHT, UH, AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RAIN.

UM, WHO IS GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THIS GARDEN DURING THE FIRST YEAR? UH, WITH WATERING IT? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

UM, THE, THE, THE ORGANIZATION OF TEXAS MASTER NAUTILUS, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, UH, DOING THE WATERING.

THEY SAID THAT, UM, THEY'RE GONNA MONITOR EVERYTHING AS FAR AS THE DEPARTMENT OF PLEASURE ISLAND.

WE'RE MORE SO NOT DOING THINGS.

FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THE WEED EATING AND THE GRASS CUTTING AND THE SPRAYING FOR INSECTS AROUND THERE, THEY ASKED US NOT TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT'LL RUIN THE GARDEN.

SO THEY'RE GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RIGHT.

ALL THE UPKEEP OF WATERING.

UH, THAT'S CONCERNING BECAUSE THAT'S NOT MENTIONED IN THIS MOU SPECIFICALLY AT NUMBER SEVEN, IT SAYS, PER AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES, BOTH PARTIES SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GOALS AND ACTIVITIES CITED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND SHALL CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PARTNERSHIP AS APPROPRIATE.

AND UNDER NUMBER FIVE, WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT WATERING, IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS DURING THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE PLANTS NEED TO BE WATERED.

BUT IT, IT, IT DOESN'T SPECIFY THAT THAT GROUP IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

SO THAT, THAT CONCERNS ME THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT SPECIFIED.

DO YOU SEE NUMBER NINE? UH, NUMBER FOUR? I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER.

I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER NINE.

WELL, IT SAYS ON NUMBER NINE, IT SAYS, DURING THE FIRST SPRING SUMMER, REGULAR MONITORING AND WATER WATERTON AS NEEDED, UM, OF THE GARDEN IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF, UH, TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST.

[05:20:03]

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THE EXHIBIT THAT WAS PLACED IN MY NOTEBOOK STOPS AT NUMBER SEVEN, AND THEN I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF PICTURES.

SO I DON'T HAVE THAT PART OF THE AGREEMENT, SO, OKAY.

I CAN, I, I, NO, NO, NO.

I WISH THAT I HAD HAD ALL OF THAT IN MY NOTEBOOK.

NO PROBLEM.

I CAN SEE TO IT THAT YOU GET, IT'S, UH, ACTUALLY TWO MORE PAGES.

SEVEN, I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, EIGHT THROUGH 17.

YEAH, I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT.

AND IT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR, UM, THE ORGANIZATION ON THERE AND, OKAY.

GREAT.

AND NUMBER FOUR, IT DOES TALK ABOUT WATERING IT.

COULD YOU PLEASE EMAIL THAT TO ME? YES, MA'AM.

ANY OTHER UNREADINESS ON THIS? COUNCILMAN? UH, YES.

MAY I? ? OKAY.

OKAY, WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

NOW WE'LL BEGIN WITH PR NUMBER 2, 3 5 9 7.

A SO P NUMBER 23 6 6 9 IS APPROVED AS READ.

WE HAVE NOW COMPLETED, OR WE HAVE COMPLETED THE CONSENT AGENDA.

NOW WE WILL MOVE OVER TO THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA, AND THAT IS ON PAGE 12, UH, ROMAN NUMERAL, UH, EIGHT.

[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 23597 – A Resolution Approving A Pre-Employment Workforce Training Agreement Between The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation And Lamar State College Port Arthur For The Training Of Port Arthur Residents As Class A & B Commercial Drivers In An Amount Not To Exceed $120,000.00 Annually; Funds Available In EDC Acct. 120-80-625-5475-00-00-000]

IT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PRE-EMPLOYMENT WORKFORCE TRAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND A LAMAR UNIVERSITY.

I MEAN, NOT LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR FOR THE TRAINING OF PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS AT AS CLASS A AND B COMMERCIAL DRIVERS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $120,000 ANNUALLY.

FUNDS AVAILABLE IN EDC ACCOUNT, UH, NUMBER ONE 20 DASH 80 DASH 6 25 DASH 54 75 DASH 0 0 0 0.

MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN? UH, ETT? SO MOVED.

MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, COUNCILMAN BECKHAM? THANK YOU.

BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 5 9 7 AS READY.

WE READY FOR QUESTIONING? BEVERLY? QUESTIONING COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES.

OKAY, MR. STOKES, I WENT OVER THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTER RENOVATION PROJECT BETWEEN LAMAR STATE COLLEGE AND UH, UH, EDC.

AND IN THAT AGREEMENT IN ARTICLE, UH, FIVE OF IT SAYS, AS SPECIFIED IN THE SECTION NINE OF THE SPECIAL AWARD CONDITIONS OF THE PROJECT, THE FEDERAL CASH CONTRIBUTION EDA SHALL BE 48 4,800,000.

THE NON-FEDERAL CASH CONTRIBUTION SHALL BE 200,000 FROM LAMAR COLLEGE, 1 MILLION FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR A TOTAL COST PROJECT OF 6,000.

AND IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT THE CORPORATION SHALL THEN REIMBURSE THE COLLEGE THERIAL AMOUNT OF EACH INVOICE UP TO 17%, NOT TO EXCEED THE CORPORATION $1 MILLION.

AND THEN ON, WHEN YOU GO TO ARTICLE TWO, ARTICLE TWO STATES THAT THE, THE ITC MAY ACCOMMODATE ITS COMMERCIAL DRIVING.

OH, I'M SORRY.

YOU GOT A COPY? NO, I DO.

OKAY, THEN I'M UNDERSTOOD.

ALRIGHT, I'LL WAIT UNTIL YOU GET TO IT.

I'LL LET YOU GET TO IT.

SATISFACTION OF PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT AS MAY BE SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY ATTACHMENT THERE TOO.

I'M ARTICLE ARTICLE TWO AT THE BOTTOM SAYS THE ITC MAY ACCOMMODATE ITS COMMERCIAL DRIVING ACADEMY AND RELATED FACILITIES ENABLING STUDENT WORKERS TO RECEIVE INDUSTRIAL CRAFTSMAN TRAINING, INCLUDING REALISTIC ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENT TRAINING AND DANGEROUS ELEMENT OF HEIGHT, DEPTH, CONFINED SPACE, CLOSE PROXIMITY TO CORROSIVE OR FLAMING MATERIAL WORKING MACHINERY AND MANY OTHER INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS.

AND IN ARTICLE 21, THAT'S THE KEY ONE RIGHT THERE, I THINK IS GOING TO HELP US HERE, SIR.

UNDER TERM EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE AGREED BY THE PARTIES DISAGREEMENT SHALL CONTINUE UNTIL THE COMPLETION AND SATISFACTION OF THE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS OF EACH PARTY AND THE SATISFACTION,

[05:25:02]

AND IN THIS AGREEMENT, THAT LAST PAGE IS WHERE THEY SAY IT'S PROJECT INVITATION IMPLEMENTATION AND TRAINING.

PORT ARTHUR RESIDENT ENROLLMENT.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 20 PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS PER YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS.

IT STATES THE WORKFORCE AND CONTINUAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR WILL PROVIDE TRAINING TO A HUNDRED PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS OVER THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD OF THE ARMORY.

EDA STUDENTS MAY ENROLL IN COMMERCIAL DRIVING TRAINING OR IN ANY CRAFT OFFERED BY THE COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE.

AND CONTINUAL EDUCATION TRAINING SERVICES SHALL BE RENDERED TO THE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS AT NO CHARGE TO THE STUDENTS, NO CHARGE TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND NO CHOICE TO THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

SO HAVE THEY TRAINED A HUNDRED PORT ARTHUR RESIDENCE? THE AGREEMENT, UH, KICKED OFF WHEN YOU ALL APPROVED IT LAST FALL.

UH, YOU MAY REMEMBER, UH, DR. STAFFORD AND I PRESENTED, UH, AND WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO YOU THAT WE WOULD DO EVERYTHING WE COULD TO ACCELERATE THAT 100 OVER FIVE YEARS, WHICH WOULD TAKE US OUT TO ROUGHLY 20 27, 20 28 BASED ON WHEN THIS AGREEMENT KICKED OFF.

UH, SINCE THAT, THOSE TWO SEMESTERS, OF COURSE, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE, OF THE SECOND SEMESTER, UH, 25 FOLKS HAVE BEEN ENROLLED IN GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM, UH, GETTING READY TO KICK OFF ANOTHER COHORT OF FOLKS.

UH, I'D LIKE TO HAVE 40 AND BE RUNNING TWICE AS FAST AS, UH, WHAT WE PLAN.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IS TO NOT DROP BELOW THE 20.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE SITTING AHEAD OF THAT AND GONNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONTINUE THAT PACE.

BUT, BUT WHILE WE PAYING FOR IT, THIS, UH, THIS RESOLUTION IS 120 $20,000 FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVING.

UH, AS BEST THAT I CAN, CAN TELL YOU, WHEN THIS WAS ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED, AND OF COURSE IT WAS UPDATED BACK IN THE FALL BECAUSE IT WAS RECOGNIZED THAT IT HAD NEVER BEEN FULLY EXECUTED.

UH, THE CDL PROGRAM WAS STILL BASED ON THE CAMPUS.

NOW, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, IT'S NOW BASED OUT IN BEAUMONT, IN A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY.

HOWEVER, WE STILL ROLLED INTO THE OVERALL PROGRAM.

INSTEAD OF SEPARATING IT OUT AND ONLY DOING A HUNDRED IN THE, THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FACILITY, WE WANT FOLKS TO ALSO BE ABLE TO DO THE CDL PROGRAM.

SO WE UNDERWRITE THIS AND HAVE UNDERWRITTEN IT FROM, AS BEST I CAN TELL, FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.

SO THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF A PROGRAM.

IT IS A MONTH LATE, LATE GETTING TO YOU, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

YOU TYPICALLY RENEW THIS IN FEBRUARY BASED ON MY RESEARCH.

SO WE'RE A FEW WEEKS BEHIND, BUT THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THAT PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND, BUT MY POINT IS, I'M READING IT, I'M READING IT, AND I'M, I'M SAYING THEY SUPPOSED TO TRADE A TRAIN A HUNDRED PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS AND, UH, IN THE EDA GRANT, IT STATES THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE LOCATED THERE.

SO IF WE MOVE THAT CDL TO BEAUMONT, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

BUT WHY DO WE PAY? LEMME LEMME TRY AND BE A LITTLE BIT CLEARER.

THE 100 FOLKS ARE TO GO THROUGH THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FACILITY.

THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THAT.

WE ALSO INCLUDED, AGAIN, PRE ME, BUT THERE WAS LANGUAGE LANGUAGE IN THERE RELATIVE TO THE CDL PROGRAM.

MY BEST GUESS IS THAT BECAUSE THE CDL PROGRAM BACK THEN WAS SELF-CONTAINED WITHIN THEIR OVERALL TRAINING, BUT WITH THE NOW STATE-OF-THE-ART, ITF AND A STATE-OF-THE-ART CDL, WHICH IS WHAT THIS AGREEMENT IS FOCUSED ON, PURELY THE CCDL, THE ITF AND THE 100 FOLKS ARE GOING THROUGH THAT PROGRAM ON CAMPUS.

AND WE STILL HAVE THAT COMMITMENT.

AND LIKE I SAY RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TRACKING SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF THE FIRST YEAR.

THIS IS FOR THE CDL PROGRAM.

O OKAY.

SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT BECAUSE IT'S IN BEAUMONT, WE CAN'T GIVE CREDIT FOR THAT? IS THAT WHAT I'M NO, NO.

I'M

[05:30:01]

SORRY.

THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS THAT THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT STANDS ON ITS OWN, AND THAT, FROM WHAT I CAN SEE, THE EDC HAS UNDERWRITTEN FOLKS GOING THROUGH THAT PROGRAM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.

THIS IS JUST A CONTINUATION OF THAT PROGRAM.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE PAPERWORK LOOKS A LITTLE CONFUSING, BUT I GUESS MY, MY BEST I WOULD ASK YOU IS SET THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FACILITY ASIDE AND THE STUDENTS THAT WILL GO THROUGH THAT, THIS IS PURELY CDL AND A CONTINUATION OF A COMMITMENT THAT THE EDC HAS HAD FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN UNDERWRITING, PUTTING FOLKS THROUGH THAT.

AND OF COURSE, UH, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE DEMAND FOR TRUCK DRIVERS IS ONLY GOING TO INCREASE AS WE CONTINUE TO BRING THE L AND G PLANTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

WELL, YOU KNOW, I JUST HAD THE QUESTION AND THE REASON I ASKED YOU THAT, 'CAUSE I WENT THROUGH THE CONTRACT, WE JUST WENT THROUGH IT TOGETHER BEFORE THE WHOLE COUNCIL.

AND, UH, YOU SAY TO PUT IT ASIDE, BUT I'M LOOKING AT THAT'S 20 PEOPLE THAT WE SUPPOSED TO GET TRAINED A YEAR AND YOU SAY, PUT IT ASIDE, BUT YOU PUTTING IT ASIDE, WE GOT A A HUNDRED, A HUNDRED PEOPLE, 20 PEOPLE TO BE THE SAME, BUT THEN WE BE IN CHARGE OF, WE GONNA PAY 120,000.

SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO KIND OF LOOK PAST THE 120,000, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE THING THAT IS LISTED, IS LISTED IN THE EDA AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE, UH, EDC AND THE, UH, LAMONT STATE COLLEGE.

I JUST DIDN'T SEE HOW WE COULD PAY FOR IT.

SIR, I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

UH, I WISH I, I I'M NOT FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS AND I APOLOGIZE.

THE 100 STUDENTS IS A COMMITMENT BY LAMAR STATE COLLEGE PORT ARTHUR IN RETURN FOR WHAT WE DID AS IT RELATES TO GETTING THE ITF ONLINE.

THAT WE DON'T PAY FOR THOSE HUNDRED FOLKS.

THAT WAS A PART OF THE AGREEMENT.

NOW YOU HAVE ANOTHER WORKFORCE PROGRAM THAT THE EDC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CALLED COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE A AND B.

THE EDC UNDERWRITES THE STUDENTS THAT GO THROUGH THAT PROGRAM TO THE TUNE OF $120,000 PER YEAR.

IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE'RE JUST SIMPLY ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO RENEW IT SO THAT FOLKS CAN CONTINUE ON BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE A NEED.

COUNCILWOMAN, UH, HAMILTON, IF MR. ETT IS SATISFIED, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

I CAN, HE, IF MR. DOUCETTE HAS HIS QUESTIONS ANSWERED, I'D LIKE TO CALL FOR A VOTE.

THE ANSWER ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT ONE.

SO IT'S ALL, UH, WHICHEVER ONE THAT WAS IT HAS BEEN APPROVED.

[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 23646 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation To Award A Bid And Enter Into A Contract For The Janitorial Services Of The 501 Procter Street And 549 4th Street Buildings With Southeast Texas Building Services, Inc. Of Nederland Texas, In An Amount Not To Exceed $21,360.00 For 501 Procter Street, PAEDC Funding Account No. 120- 80-625-5312-00-00-000 And In An Amount Not To Exceed $43,680.00 For 549 4th Street Funding In PAEDC Project No. ED0002.OTH.BUM]

I I LOST MY PAGE.

YEAH, I, I LOST THE PAGE.

OKAY, NOW, NOW WE HAD, UH, THREE, UH, UH, FOUR SIX.

IT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.

SECTION FOUR, A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO AWARD.

COME ON BACK, BROTHER.

A BID AND OR CONTRACT FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES OF THE 5 0 1 PROCTOR STREET AND 5 49 FOURTH STREET BUILDINGS WITH SOUTHEAST TEXAS BUILDING SERVICES OF NEEDLING, TEXAS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED.

$21,360 FOR 5 0 1 PROCTOR STREET, P-A-E-D-C FUNDED ACCOUNT NUMBER ONE 20 DASH 80 DASH 6 25 DASH 53 12 0 0 0 0 0.

AND IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $43,680.

5 5 49.

UH, FOURTH, UH, STREET, UH, FUNDING IN P UH, EDC PROJECT NUMBER ED 0 0 0 2 0.0.

TH POINT BUM.

MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? MOTION FOR SECOND.

OKAY, THEN MOVED.

AND SECOND, THEN WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 6 4 6.

IT'S READY.

YOU READY FOR QUESTION? GOOD.

ALL VOTE.

2 3 6 6 5 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING

THAT'S IT.

OKAY, LET'S MOVE TO PAGE NUMBER 13 PR NUMBERS

[VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 23665 – A Resolution Authorizing The Purchase Of A 2024 Polaris UTV With Accessories In The Amount Of $32,873.76 Through The FY23 State Homeland Grant Program And Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activity Program (SHSP-LETPA), Account No. 107-17-045-5214-00-30-00]

[05:35:01]

THE PURCHASE OF A 2024 POLARIS UTV WITH ACCESSORIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $32,873 AND 76 CENTS THROUGH THE FY 23 STATE HOMELAND GRANT PROGRAM AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TERRORISM, UH, PREVENTION ACTIVITY PROGRAM, WHICH IS S-H-S-P-L-E-T-P-A, ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 0 7 DASH SEVEN DASH 4 5 2 0 3 0 0 0 0.

I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KINLOCK MOVE, MAN, I GET A SECOND.

COUNCILMAN FRANK.

THANK, REMOVE.

AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THIS.

UH, WE READY FOR QUESTIONING AND THE QUESTION READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT SO IT IS ORDERED.

NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PR NUMBER 2 3 6 80.

IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO SEND A MA CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A SPECIAL ROLE USE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT AND PERMIT WITH KIRK THOMAS, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCIL MCIN LAW.

SO MOVE MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION.

UM, MAYOR PROTE.

MR. BLACK.

I'M ASKING FOR DIRECTION TO MAKE SURE I DON'T OVERSPEAK AND MAYBE IT'S MR. UH, JOSEPH.

I AM ASKING COUNSEL TO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS DUE TO THE VIOLATIONS, CONSISTENT VIOLATIONS THAT MR. THOMAS HAS DONE OVER THE YEARS.

NOT JUST A RECENT SITUATION, BUT OVER THE YEARS, TO THE POINT TO WHERE WHEN OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT, THERE'S BEEN CONFRONTATION.

THAT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE IN THIS SITUATION TO ALLOW HIM TO, TO, UM, TO OPERATE.

IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY WRONG ON HOW THIS SITUATION HAS FOLDED OUT.

AND I'M SURE THAT I CANNOT GO INTO LEGAL DETAILS OF IT, BUT I'M ASKING FOR US TO REMEMBER THE INFORMATION THAT'S PREVIOUSLY BEEN GIVEN TO US IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND VOTE ACCORDINGLY.

MAY I SPEAK HEARD? YES, SIR.

COULD YOU COME GET, GET THAT REAL CLOSE TO THAT MIC? PICK IT UP AND PICK UP? YES, SIR.

I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE MATTER BE TABLED UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE'VE DISCUSSED IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I'M TRYING TO HEAR YOU.

YOU SAID YOU WANTED THE TABLE? YES, SIR.

UNTIL WE COMPLETE EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS AFTERNOON.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE GOING TO HAVE IT THIS AFTERNOON.

IT MAY BE IN THE MORNING.

NO, NO, NO.

I'M SERIOUS.

IT MAY BE IN THE MORNING.

WE AIN'T GOT A PROBLEM ON THAT.

I DON'T HAVE NO PROBLEM ON THAT.

WE'VE BEEN HERE SINCE NINE 30.

AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO, AND I'M JUST GOING OFF SCRIPT RIGHT NOW, WE AS A COUNCIL, GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THE MEETINGS OR WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START MEETING EVERY WEEK.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH COMING EVERY TUESDAY BECAUSE STAYING HERE NINE TO 10 HOURS LIKE THIS BURDENING, I MEAN BEING A TOTAL BURDEN TO THE CITIZENS WHO COME AND THE STAFF.

NOW I'M GONNA GET BACK ON SCRIPT.

LET'S, UH, MOTION FOR MAYOR.

I CAN MAKE A MOTION.

MAYOR, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

POINT AHEAD.

YOU HAD THE OPTION.

WE HAVE THE OPTION OF TAKING THIS OUT OF ORDER.

WE, WE COULD HAVE DONE IT EARLIER.

WELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID AGAIN, BROTHER.

WELL, YOU KNOW EVERYTHING.

WHY YOU WAIT TILL NOW? COME ON BABE.

I MAKE A MOTION.

I SAID THAT.

I I JUST SAID IT.

I GOTTA MAKE IT FEEL, I'M TRYING TO STAY AWAKE.

MAYOR, POINT OF ORDER.

GO AHEAD RIGHT AHEAD.

YOU CAN GET ME STRAIGHT.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

POINT OF ORDER, MAYOR, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

WE DO HAVE SOME CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE ALL DAY LONG AND I THINK SINCE WE'RE ON THIS ITEM, IF THEY WOULD CARE TO SPEAK THAT THEY'D BE ALLOWED TO DO SO.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM.

CONSIDER THAT MATTER ON THIS ATTORNEY.

WE CAN LET THEM SPEAK SINCE ACTION.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

COME RIGHT ON UP.

GOOD EVENING.

UH, MY NAME IS BRIAN MCIL AND UH, MY ADDRESS IS 2280 BAYOU DRIVE.

I'D LIKE TO FIRST SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR COMMITMENT, UH, YOUR DISCERNMENT, UM, YOUR GOOD JOB AT BEING GOOD STEWARDS OVER OUR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW TOUGH YOUR JOB IS AND HOW MUCH IS ON THE TABLE.

SO I THANK Y'ALL WITH ALL MY HEART.

I AM AS PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS SITUATION AS ANY OF THESE CASES THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE ME.

IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY.

FOUR YEARS.

WE ARE STRUGGLING AND, AND WE ARE IN DIRE NEED OF YOUR SUPPORT TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL.

NOT ONLY ARE WE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE AT RISK OF LOSING OUR HOMES, OUR PROPERTY, OUR FAMILY GENERATION, A GENERATION PASSED DOWN LAND TO IT BECOMING COMMERCIAL OVERNIGHT.

THERE'S A DANGER

[05:40:01]

INVOLVED IN IT.

TEXAS RAILROAD SECTION EIGHT STATES THAT LAND FORMING AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

LAND FORMING.

IF YOU'RE GONNA TRANSPORT THIS TOXIC DRILL, MUD, MUD DRILLING HALL FROM ONE SECTION TO ANOTHER, OR ONE AREA TO ANOTHER AREA, YOU HAVE TO BE PERMITTED.

THE ONLY WAY YOU DON'T NEED A PERMIT IS IF YOU'RE DRILLING ON YOUR OWN LAND.

THIS STUFF IS BEING TRANSPORTED DOWN OUR STREET WITH 18 WHEELERS THAT EXCEED THE WEIGHT CAPACITY OF THE ROAD.

I HEARD EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL SAY HOW PASSIONATE Y'ALL ARE ABOUT THE STREETS.

I'VE BEEN THERE 59 YEARS.

I REMEMBER WHEN THE ROADS WERE SHELL ROADS, AND ON SATURDAY MORNINGS, MY MOM MADE US GET UP AND DUST WOULD PLEDGE FURNITURE BECAUSE IT, IT WAS FOR YE 15 YEARS, IT WAS A DIRT SHELL ROAD.

I'M A COUNTRY BOY.

SO WHEN WE GOT THOSE ROADS, PLA SASSINE PAP, I WAS EXCITED ABOUT IT.

I UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF BEING A GOOD STEWARD OVER TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS.

I WORK IN THE SAME FIELD.

YOU HAVE TO RESPOND.

YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE FAIR AND EVERYBODY MATTER.

WE CAN'T GO TO BED AND WAKE UP.

WE GO TO BED RESIDENTIAL AND WAKE UP COMMERCIAL TO BENEFIT ONE PERSON.

I'M AT THE MERCY OF YOU GUYS.

I PLEAD OUR CASE.

I'M PASSIONATE BECAUSE I HAVE PLANS.

WE HAVE PLANS OUTSIDE NOW IN THE TRUCK TO BUILD THE FIRST HOME THERE.

WE WANNA BUILD COUNTRY STYLE LIVING THAT, THAT, THAT SUPPORTS SENIOR CITIZEN LIVING.

THIS WAS A DREAM OF OUR DAUGHTERS IN THE PAST.

WE'VE COME TO YOU GUYS WITH PETITIONS SIGNED AND, AND WE'VE UNDERSTOOD THE LANGUAGE THAT HE WAS ONLY GONNA CONTINUE RUNNING UNTIL HE FINISHED THIS CONTRACT.

AND NOW YOU HAVE A CONTRACT ON THE TABLE THAT'S SAYING 24 HOURS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

IT'S NOT A COMMERCIAL ZONE, IT'S A RESIDENTIAL ZONE.

ONE 18 WHEELER KILLS THE WHOLE STREET.

I CAN SHOW VIDEO AFTER VIDEO PROOF AFTER PROOF WHERE THE WEIGHT HAS ALREADY RUINED THE NEW ASPHALT THAT WAS JUST PLACED IN SEVERAL TWO YEARS AGO.

WE JUST REPAVED IT.

IT'S ALREADY DIMINISHED.

I'M PASSIONATE.

MY VOICE MAY CARRY.

I'M NOT ANGRY.

I UNDERSTAND BUSINESS AND EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

BUT I'M NOT GONNA GO TO BED AND CREATE A BUSINESS AND WAKE UP AND INFRINGE ON MY NEIGHBOR.

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLANNED AND THOUGHT OUT AND NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THE TAX DOLLARS OF PORT ARTHUR PEOPLE AND THE CITIZENS WHO LIVE IN MONTROSE.

I HAVE A PETITION IN ORDER RIGHT NOW.

IT IS, IT'S IN MOTION TO PETITION YOU GUYS TO CHANGE THE NAME AND THE NAMESAKE OF MY DAUGHTER THAT WAS MURDERED, A CASE THAT HADN'T BEEN SETTLED.

WE WANT TO CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING POSITIVE.

WE WANNA BE TRANSPARENT.

WE WANNA BE GOOD NEIGHBORS, BUT WE WANNA BE TREATED FAIRLY.

I RESPECT Y'ALL JOB.

I UNDERSTAND IT NOW.

IT'S NOT AN EASY ONE, BUT Y'ALL ALL HAVE GOOD DISCERNMENT.

GOD HAS BLESSED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL.

AND, AND, AND, AND ME BEING IN THIS POSITION AND, AND, AND FAMILIAR WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

I ASK GOD FOR DISCERNMENT BEFORE I MAKE DECISIONS IN THE FIELD I'M IN.

I PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT AND I PUT MYSELF IN THEM.

PEOPLE'S SITUATION.

I COULD EASILY SAY, OH, THAT PUMP IS ON, IT'S PUMPING, BUT NO, I GET THE ADDRESS, THE NAME AND THE NUMBER, AND I GO SEE 'EM FACE TO FACE IN THE MIDDLE OF A NIGHT, IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM.

YOU WANNA SEE SOMEBODY VERSUS THAT'S NOT MY JOB.

CALL SOMEBODY ELSE.

THAT'S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND WHEN YOU PUT YOURSELF IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S SITUATION, THEN YOU FIND COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING FOR WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.

IF THESE TRUCKS WERE ON ANY ONE OF Y'ALL STREET, DOING THIS WITH GRANDKIDS, GREAT GRANDKIDS, NEPHEWS, MY FAMILY, WE, WE CELEBRATE OUT THERE.

IT'S NOT MUCH.

IT'S LAND, BUT WE CELEBRATE, WE ENJOY EACH OTHER.

SOFTBALL GAMES, HORSEBACK RIDING, TRAIL, BACK RIDING, PICNICS, JUST TALKING, JUST REMINISCING, TRYING TO HEAL.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE A 18 WHEELER BACK TO BACK LINED UP, SPEEDING, NOT, NOT TO MENTION IN VIOLATION RUNNING WITHOUT A PERMIT, SPEEDING DOWN THE STREET.

HOW ARE YOU GONNA RAISE YOUR CHILDREN? HOW ARE YOU GONNA RELAX? HOW ARE YOU GONNA ENJOY YOUR PROPERTY? NOT TO MENTION IT'S DEVALUING OUR PROPERTY, BUT BACK TO SECTION EIGHT OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.

THIS STUFF IS TOXIC.

IT'S UPSTREAM FROM OUR PROPERTY AND

[05:45:01]

OUR HOMES.

AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ALL MY NEIGHBORS.

I TOOK THE LIBERTY TO CALL EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM, AND THEY'RE UP IN AGE AND DEALING WITH ILLNESS THAT I WOULD BE THEIR VOICE TODAY.

THAT I WOULD REPRESENT THEM AND I WOULD DO THE BEST I COULD.

SOME OF MY PEOPLE ARE SICK.

MY NEIGHBORS ARE SICK, THEY'RE SICKLY.

SO THEY ASK ME TO STAND IN THE GAP FOR 'EM.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO AS CHRISTIANS.

THIS STUFF IS TOXIC.

IT HAS TO BE MONITORED WHEN IT'S DISPERSED UPON HIS LAND.

AND LIKE I SAID, WE DON'T HAVE, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO STOP HIM FROM CREATING A BUSINESS AND HAVING A BUSINESS.

JUST USE YOUR OTHER ENTRIES THAT YOU'VE BEEN USING.

HE DIDN'T JUST CREATE THIS PARTICULAR BUSINESS.

HE HAD A TRUCKING COMPANY THAT EXISTED THAT HE USED THE ROUTE IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE OFF OF WEST PORT ARTHUR ROAD.

WE'VE ALSO RESEARCHED AND FOUND OTHER ENTRIES THAT HE COULD USE THAT HE WON'T EVEN ENTERTAIN, THAT WILL PUT HIM IN A BUSINESS PARK AREA.

THIS STUFF IS TOXIC.

IT NEEDS TO BE MONITORED EVERY TIME IT'S DISPERSED UPON THE LAND.

IF WE GET ANOTHER HARVEY, AND LORD KNOWS, WE PRAY, WE DON'T, WE GET ANOTHER BIG STORM.

IF THAT STUFF IS BEING DISPERSED OUT THERE WITH THE CARBON AND THE TOXIC, UM, MATERIAL THAT'S IN THERE, THAT CAN RUN DOWNSTREAM TO US.

WE HAVE A THING SET UP.

ME AND MY WIFE WHERE WE MET MON.

UH, WE, WE ARE MENTORS TO CHILDREN.

WE LOVE CHILDREN.

WE PLANT A GARDEN AND WE BRING CHILDREN THERE TO PICK LIVE CHICKEN, EGGS, FRESH GARDEN EGGS, AND PICK FROM THE GARDEN.

ALL OF THAT'S IN JEOPARDY.

MY FAMILY, MY, MY, MY NEIGHBOR'S KIDS, MY FRIENDS THAT WE EAT FROM THIS, IF WE GET A HARD FLOOD AND ALL OF THAT'S DISPERSED DOWN UP ON HIS PROPERTY, RUNS DOWN TO OUR PROPERTY NOW IT'S CONTAMINATED OUR SOILS.

IT NEEDS TO BE MONITORED AND REGULATED.

THAT'S THE RULE.

THAT'S TEXAS RULE.

TEXAS RAILROAD, NO ONE'S ABOVE THE LAW.

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR.

THAT'S THE WORD OF GOD.

RESPECT OUR NEIGHBOR.

HAVE SOME COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING FOR OTHER FOLKS AS WELL.

PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ONCE AGAIN, I MEAN IT WITH ALL MY HEART.

I I UNDERSTAND Y'ALL JOB NOW AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY, THANK YOU MR. MAGILL.

UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK, YOU HAD ANYTHING ELSE? NO, SIR.

I THINK THAT SAYS IT ALL.

COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.

I THINK HE SAID IT ALL.

HOWEVER, UH, TWO THINGS.

UH, WE WILL BE ADVISED BY THE ATTORNEY TO TABLE THIS UNTIL WE GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

AND ALSO ON THE BACKGROUND IT SAYS IF MY COHORT WOULD LOOK AT IT EXHIBIT A WE'LL PRESENT AT BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, BUT IT'S NOTHING THERE.

SO YOU GUYS NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS STUFF SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

UH, MR. MAGILL FOR AN ACTION ITEM.

UH, HATE THAT YOU ALL WOULD HAVE TO WAIT, BUT, UH, TO SEE, WE WOULD BRING IT BACK.

WE WOULD GO DOWN AND HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION ATTORNEY, UH, KNOW HOW LONG WE HAVE TO BE ON THAT.

BUT WE, AND, AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK HERE FOR, FOR AN ACTION ITEM.

WE WOULD JUST COME ON BACK TO THE MIC SO IT CAN RECORD.

THE LAST THING WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS BE NOTIFIED AND INFORMED AND NOT BLINDSIDED.

WE KNOW NOW THAT THE TRUCKS HAVE CONTINUED TO RUN.

WE KNOW NOW THAT, THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, JUDGE WORTHHAM, THE LAST ZOOM MEETING WE HAD AND THAT WE ALL PARTICIPATED IN, SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE NO MORE WORK, NO MORE RUNNING IN THE TRUCKS UNTIL THE RESOLUTION, TILL THIS MATTER HAS BEEN RESOLVED.

AND WE NOTICED THAT HE'S BACK RUNNING FULL SPEED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AGAIN FROM SEVEN OR FIVE IN THE MORNING TILL EIGHT, NINE O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE SITTING IN THE DARK.

IF WE COULD JUST BE INFORMED ON WHAT'S GOING ON FROM THIS POINT AFTER THE EXECUTIVE MEETING, WE WOULD TRULY BE BLESSED AND GRATEFUL.

OKAY, I'M HERE.

OKAY, UH, COUNCIL LEWIS, YOU GOT SOMETHING? UH, DID I HEAR YOU SAY YOU HAVE A COURT ORDER IN PLACE? THE, THE LAST, THE LAST ZOOM CALL WE DID WAS IN JUDGE WORTH'S COURT.

NOW HE MAY HAVE TAKEN IT TO FEDERAL COURT WITH HIS LAWYERS THAT WE DIDN'T GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN.

AND UH, JOSEPH SANDERS WOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I TRIED TO STAY IN COMMUNICATION WITH HIM AS WELL.

BUT WE PARTICIPATED IN THE ZOOM CALL.

ALL THE NEIGHBORS ZOOMED UP, MET UP IN EACH OTHER'S HOME AND WATCHED IT ON, ON THE, ON THE TABLETS.

AND HE SAID THAT THIS WAS A CITY MATTER THAT HAD TO BE HANDLED IN-HOUSE AMONGST US, BUT THERE WOULD NO LONGER BE ANY RUNNING BECAUSE HE WAS RUNNING

[05:50:01]

WITHOUT A PERMIT.

REGARDLESS OF HOW HE SAID HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO FILL, FILL IT OUT.

HIS LAWYER SAID THAT WE DIDN'T RESPOND.

THE CITY OFFICIALS DIDN'T RESPOND FAST ENOUGH AND SO HE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO JUST START RUNNING.

HE SAYS, NOPE, YOU DON'T HAVE A PERMIT.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO RUN UNTIL YOU GET A PERMIT OR THIS MATTER IS RESOLVED.

YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THE CITY ORDINANCES IF THERE'S NO TRUCK SIGNS ON THE STREET AND, AND, AND WE, WE CALL, WE GET NEW SIGNS PUT OUT, THEY REMOVE THEM.

I, IIII HEAR YOU.

BUT WHAT I NEED TO HEAR FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND CHIEF DO, DO THEY HAVE A PERMIT TO DO WHAT THEY DO? CITY MANAGER.

HAVE YOU, IS THERE A PERMIT IN PLACE TO, TO DO ANYTHING? DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING? THAT'S WHAT WE GOT ON THE AGENDA.

AN APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT.

WELL, OKAY, SO YOU DON'T HAVE A PERMIT, SO WHY ARE THEY RUNNING POINT OF WATER? UH, POINT OF WATER.

MAYOR, GO AHEAD.

WE'VE ALREADY DIS AND I'M CITY COUNCIL.

UH, WE, WE HAVE TO GO IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION DISCUSS.

OKAY, LET'S, WE, WE REHASHING THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS NOW.

NO PROBLEM.

ALRIGHT, WELL TAKE THANK YOU.

WELL TAKEN.

AND SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS, UH, HOLD ON.

WELL I THINK I STILL HAVE TO TAKE THE MOTION TO TABLE IT TO GO DOWNSTAIRS.

AM I CORRECT? UH, YES.

WHEN ONE, ONE QUICK QUESTION, WHEN WE DO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, I'M ASKING CHIEF.

NO MA'AM.

WE DON'T WANT TO KNOW THAT.

WE DON'T WANNA KNOW THAT.

JUST STOP.

LEMME TAKE IT DOWN THERE PLEASE.

JUST, JUST, I SAID OKAY.

COME ON.

ALRIGHT, NOW LET'S, UH, HAVE A MOTION.

CONSTABLE KEN LAW.

UH, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TABLE PR NUMBER 23 6 80 IN, UM, FOR A LATER TIME AND DATE.

AND THAT'S AFTER WE, UH, UH, GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE GET A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND QUESTION.

SECOND MOVE TO SECOND THAT WE WOULD TABLE NUMBER ITEM NUMBER FOUR, UN UNTIL THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ACT ON IT WHEN WE COME BACK AFTER ACTION.

NOW NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

WE HAVE FOUR MORE POINT OF ORDER THOUGH A QUESTION.

IF WE DO IT, IF WE DO A TABLE, THAT MEANS IT'S BROUGHT BACK.

THAT IS TO THE NEXT MEETING.

NEXT MEETING.

I'M SORRY.

TERMINOLOGY SET ASIDE.

THIS SET ASIDE TO HOLD, SET ASIDE, EXCUSE ME, TO HOLD SET ASIDE.

YEAH, HOLD SET ASIDE.

PLEASE RESTATE, RESTATE PLEASE.

UH, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO SET ASIDE PR NUMBER 23 6 80 UNTIL WE RETURN, UH, FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.

AND SECOND THAT P HIRING NUMBER 23 6 80 WILL BE SET ASIDE, UH, SUBSEQUENT TO, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION.

NEXT.

UH, ALL ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSES? ALL THAT, THAT ITEM IS SET ASIDE.

YOU GOT ALL THAT? UH, CITY SECRETARY.

OKAY, NOW WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER

[VIII.A.(5) P.R. No. 23684 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Rent Equipment With Operators For Dirt Work Operation For The Public Works Landfill Division From LSJ Trucking, Inc. Of Beaumont, Texas, For The Not-To-Exceed Amount Of $648,000.00 For 1 Year With The Option To Renew For One Additional Year. Funds Are Available In The American Rescue Plan Landfill Slope Stabilization Account No.]

FIVE.

PR NUMBER 23 6 8 4 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO RENT EQUIPMENT WITH OPERATORS FOR DIRT WORK OPERATION FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS LANDFILL DIVISION.

UH, FROM LSS TRUCKING OF, UH, IN INCORPORATED OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $648,000 FOR ONE YEAR WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR ONE YEAR, ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN LANDFILL SLOPE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 6 9 DASH ZERO SEVEN DASH ONE FIVE DASH 5 4 8 6 0 4 0 0 A RP.

THAT SHOULDN'T BE 0 0 3 GRE POINT LAN MAKING A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

UH, SECOND, SECOND IS REMOVED.

AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 6 8 4 AS READ, UH, READ OF QUESTION OR ANY QUESTIONS, READ OF VOTE.

WE HAVE ORDINANCES, UH, IN SECTION B HERE.

ANY THE OPPOSES A SO P 60, I MEAN 2 36 84 IS APPROVED AS RED.

[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7233 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Sale Of Public Park Land Located At 1100 W. Gulfway Drive, More Commonly Known As Carver Terrace Park In Accordance With The Ballot Proposition Approved By The Qualified Voters Of Port Arthur And Further Authorize The City Manager To Execute A Special Warranty Deed For The Conveyance]

ORDINANCE ITEM ONE, PO NUMBER 72 33.

IT IS AN ORDINANCE, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZED IN THE CELL OF PUBLIC PARK LAND LOCATED AT 1100 WEST GULF WAY DRIVE, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS CARVER CHERRIES PARK.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE, UH, BALLOT PROPOSITION APPROVED BY THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF PORT ARTHUR AND FURTHER AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED FOR THE CONVEYANCE.

MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED.

I GET A SECOND.

SECOND.

IS IT MOVE AND SECOND.

THE PO

[05:55:01]

NUMBER 72 33 WILL BE APPROVED AS READ.

WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION ON ANY QUESTIONS.

ORDER WE'RE READY TO VOTE.

NEXUS ORDINANCE NUMBER 72 36.

ANY THE OPPOSES AYES HAVE, SO, 72 33 IS APPROVED AS RED

[VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7236 – An Ordinance Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Settlement Of An Automobile Physical Damage Claim In The Amount Of $8,153.96 Made Against Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool (TMLIRP) As A Result Of The Property Damage To Police Vehicle #2082]

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SETTLEMENT OF AN AUTOMOBILE PHYSICAL DAMAGE CLAIM IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,153 AND 96 CENTS, UH, MADE AGAINST TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE ENTERING GOVERNMENTAL RISK POOL T-M-L-I-R-P AS A RESULT OF THE PROPERTY DAMAGE TO POLICE VEHICLE 2082.

MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND .

IT'S WHAT? IT'S BEEN TOO LONG WITH THAT.

IT REALLY HAPPENED THE WAY IT SHOULD.

CITY SECRETARY, DID YOU GET 'EM? OKAY, THANK YOU.

ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION? WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

YOURS WAS THE STRONGEST.

IT IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS SUSPENDING THE RATES PROPOSED BY TEXAS GAS COMPANIES, TGSR COMPANY, GAS RE RELIABILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM GRIP FILING, UH, MADE WITH THE CITY ON OR ABOUT APRIL 9TH, 2020 FOURTH, FINDING THAT THE MEETING COMPLIES WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, UH, MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND THE PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

UH, ANY OPPOSES AS HAVE IT? SO IT IS AUDIT PR NUMBER, I MEAN, YEAH, PO NUMBER 72 36 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

THAT'S FINALLY WE HAVE, UH, PO NUMBER 72 37.

[VIII.B.(3) P.O. No. 7237 – An Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Suspending The Rates Proposed By Texas Gas Service Company’s (“TGS” Or “Company”) Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (“GRIP”) Filing Made With The City On Or About February 9, 2024; Finding That The Meeting Complies With The Open Meetings Act; Making Other Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject, And Declaring An Effective Date]

MOTION TO APPROVE PLEASE.

THEN WE WILL APPROVE THIS.

ANY, UH, QUESTIONS ON THIS? ON ANY QUESTIONS? YOU READY FOR VOTING? ALL IN FAVOR? A.

SO REGARD, PO NUMBER 72 37 IS APPROVED AS READ AT THIS JUNCTURE,

[IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)]

WE WOULD LIKE TO, UH, RECESS TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM FOR OUR CLOSED EXECUTIVE MEETING SESSION IN THIS SECTION.

UH, IN THIS SESSION, RATHER, WE ARE TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 5 5 1 0.101 OF CHAPTER 5 5, 1 OPEN MEETINGS, LAW OF THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS, TEXAS GOVERNMENT, COLDWELL, FORMALLY ARTICLE 62 52 DASH ONE SEVEN, SECTION TWO, SUBSECTION EIGHT.

AND PRIOR TO GOING TO THE MEETING MIGHT BE IN THE PRESIDING OFFICER SHOULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE, UH, WE WILL, IN PURSUANT TO THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS, WE WILL BE ACTING PURSUANT TO THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 5 5, 1 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.

WE WILL, UH, IN THAT CLOSED MEETING, THERE'S ONE ITEM 5 5 1 0.071, THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING POTENTIAL AND OR PENDING CLAIMS LITIGATION AND OTHER LEGAL MATTERS.

AND FOLLOWING THAT MEETING, UH, WE SHOULD RETURN SHORTLY WITH AN ACTION ITEM AND WOULD VOTE IN THE OPEN SESSION FOR THIS.

THANK YOU ALSO KINDLY.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, CHIEF ATTORNEY, YOU ARE HERE AND CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU REESTABLISH THE QUORUM FOR PLEASE? MAYOR BARTEE.

PRESENT.

MAYOR PER TIM EVER FIELD PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.

COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ETT.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK MAYOR, YOU HAVE A QUORUM.

AN ACTION ITEM COMING OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THANK YOU SO KINDLY, UH, ATTORNEY, I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE

[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 23680 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Special Road Use And Indemnity Agreement And Permit With Kirk Thomas]

UH, WHO, UH, COUNCILMAN ARE YOU? IT, IT'S FOR PR NUMBER 23 6 80.

GO RIGHT AHEAD.

UH, COUNCILMAN ETT, I'LL MAKE A PUT, CUT YOUR MIC ON.

I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, TABLE PROPOSED RESOLUTION NUMBER 2 3 6 8 0 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY OF MAGNITUDE INTO IT, INTO A SPECIAL ROLE USE AND IDENTITY AGREEMENT AND PERMIT WITH KURT THOMAS.

SECOND, UH, SECOND COUNCIL.

MCKEN LAW HAS MOVED.

I MEAN, SECOND COUNCILMAN DEUCE HAS, HAS MADE THE MOTION THAT WE WOULD TABLE PR NUMBER 23 6 80.

WE READY FOR QUESTION? NONE.

ANY QUESTIONS? READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.