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GOOD MORNING.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, ON TODAY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23RD, 2024 FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED, UH, COUNCIL MEETING.AND THIS MEETING MAY BE ATTENDED VIA TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCE MEDIUMS, HOWEVER YOU MUST FIRST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING, UH, ID OF 8 6 3 0 3 6 9 4 0 1 2, AND THE PASSCODE OF 3 7 4 8 4 9, AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED, UH, TO PARTICIPATE AND ATTEND THE MEETING.
WE ARE ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, AND AT THIS PARTICULAR MEETING, AND IF THERE WOULD BE A NEED FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU WOULD CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.
HOWEVER, THIS HAS TO BE DONE 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
YOU WOULD MAKE YOUR REQUEST KNOWN TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S STAFF, AND THEY WILL DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWER TO FULFILL YOUR WISH OR YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL HAVE OUR INVOCATION AND, UH, PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE ROLL CALL, PASTOR FRANK, WOULD YOU GIVE US THE INVOCATION? YOU'RE ALREADY STANDING.
ALL WISE, IN ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR THIS DAY AND FOR ALLOWING US TO ASSEMBLE GOD IN A COUNTRY WHERE WE ARE FREE.
WE THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER FOR PLACING US IN THIS CITY, AND WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSINGS.
IF YOU ALL JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE, AND AS SOON AS I GET THIS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO DEVELOP A QUORUM FOREST, PLEASE.
MAYOR BART, PRESENT MAYOR PRO.
TIM HAMILTON, EVER FIELD COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, HERE, HAVE A CALL ME.
AND MY SCREEN HERE IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, BUT WE'LL GET THIS ON THIS APPARATUS HERE.
[III.A.(1) Joe Tant President/CEO Of The Greater Port Arthur Chamber Of Commerce Regarding An Update Of The Chamber Of Commerce]
WITH, UH, SPEAKERS AND ACTUALLY SPEAKERS HAVE FIVE MINUTES.UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, KEN LAWS KEEP THE TIME FOR US.
AND, UH, WE'LL BEGIN WITH MR. JOE 10TH, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GREATER PORT ARTHUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REGARDING AN UPDATE OF THE, UH, CH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE, YOU GUYS.
THIS IS, WE ARE 90 DAYS IN TO HAVING A WHOLE NEW REGIME AT THE POOR NORTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UM, SUPER, SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT ARE GOING ON.
UM, TODAY AT 11 O'CLOCK WE'RE GONNA BE HOSTING A LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON THAT'S GONNA BE INVOLVING, UM, OUR VERY GOOD FRIEND UNA SMITH, WHO I SAW WHILE AGO FROM THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, FROM DR.
RENARD, FROM THE LARGE STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR, UM, P-A-I-S-D.
WE'LL BE HEARING FROM THE PORT, THE
YOUR CHAMBER HAS BEEN, UH, HAS BEEN AWARDED A FIVE STAR ACCREDITATION FOR THE WORK THAT YOUR CHAMBER HAS BEEN DOING, UH, OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
UM, THAT IS BEING SAID, THERE ARE ONLY 27 IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, SO YOU SHOULD BE PROUD THAT THIS CITY HAS GOT ONE OF ONLY 27 5 STAR ACCREDITED CHAMBERS IN THE ENTIRE STATE.
THERE ARE ONLY A HUNDRED IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES, SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, TAKING CARE OF FOLKS, UM, AND, AND MOVING THINGS UNDERWAY.
GOLDEN TRIANGLE DAYS IN AUSTIN, WHICH I BELIEVE I MOST OF Y'ALL HAVE ATTENDED.
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FEBRUARY, 2025.THE PLANNING'S UNDERWAY FOR THAT.
YOUR CHAMBER IS THE HOST CHAMBER THIS YEAR, IT'S OUR TURN.
UM, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS NOW, BEEN THERE 12 YEARS.
WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO PULL THIS OFF.
UH, I, I FEEL LIKE WITH NO HITCH.
SO THAT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REALLY WORK FORWARD TO.
SEPTEMBER 26TH, WE ARE GONNA HOST A MASSIVE LUNCHEON AT THE MALL.
IT IS TIME TO WORK ON SOME OF THE, UH, ACADEMIC AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON FOR NOT ONLY OUR CITY, BUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE FEEL LIKE BRINGING SOME OF THAT INFORMATION AND SOME OF THAT LIGHT TO THE MALL IS GONNA BE VERY HELPFUL.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE PARTNERING, UM, WITH THE LAMAR STATE COLLEGE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER TO TRY TO PUT THAT TOGETHER, BRINGING IN SOME SMALL BUSINESSES, HELPING SUPPORT THEM.
AND WHO KNOWS, MAYBE WE'LL TRY TO WORK ON FILLING UP THEM ALL SO WE KNOW THAT'S AN AREA OF OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN, COULD REALLY WORK ON.
YOUR CHAMBER WAS, UM, HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE IN EARTH DAY THIS PAST FRIDAY, HAD 30 FOLKS COME AT THE CITY FAIR CENTER AND WE CLEANED UP PROCTOR STREET AND WENT OVER HERE TO THIS SIDE AND WORKED, UH, OVER HERE, CITY HALL AND THE PRESS BUILDING.
SO THAT WORKED OUT VERY, VERY WELL.
YOUR CHAMBER'S WORKING ON NOT ONLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEMS SUCH AS GOLDEN TRIANGLE POLYMERS, BRINGING THEM DOWN HERE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY NEED THE HELP FOR NOT JUST ORANGE COUNTY, BUT JEFFERSON COUNTY.
WE WANNA PUT FOLKS TO WORK HOSTING JOB FAIRS, ONE ON THE NINTH AND ONE ON THE 17TH OVER AT THE, UH, CIVIC CENTER.
WE'VE GOTTA WORK WITH WORKFORCE.
WE GOTTA WORK WITH LARGE, UH, CONTRACTORS LIKE, UM, BECHTEL TO SEE IF WE CAN'T PUT OUR FOLKS TO WORK.
AND WE DON'T DO THE HIRING, BUT WE KNOW TO HOW, HOW TO GET THE WORD OUT.
WE KNOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT AND HELP THOSE FOLKS.
UM, ALL IN ALL YOUR CHAMBER'S MOVING REALLY, REALLY WELL.
I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THE FIRST 90 DAYS.
I APPRECIATE THE OFFER TO COME BACK AND KIND OF UPDATE Y'ALL ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
LOTS OF OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE GOING ON, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS WERE RIGHT IN THE THICK OF THAT, YOUR CHAMBER HERE TO SUPPORT OUR CITY, OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE HOPE TO DO THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN AND, AND DO THAT, UH, IN THE BEST POSSIBLE MANNER.
THANK Y'ALL VERY, VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME UP TODAY.
UH, NEXT WE HAVE, UM, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PRESENTATIONS.
BEG YOUR PARDON? OH, WELL SEE.
YOU GOT A TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, CORRECT? I DO, YES, SIR.
I NEED, I NEED FOR YOU ALL TO CHECK AND SEE IF THE FUNDING FOR WIDENING OF NINTH AVENUE IS STILL AVAILABLE.
WHICH STATE? WE DO HAVE MR. RON, UM, ARSENAL.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN UPDATE SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM JANUARY, BUT I'LL ASK HIM AND, AND HAVE HIM DIG INTO THAT FORTH.
OH, LET ME JUST INFORM COUNCILMAN, UM, WILLIE, BE LEWIS, THE CITY'S WORKING ON THAT.
YOU HAVE PASSED A RESOLUTION FOR THE RELOCATION OF, OF THE UTILITIES.
YEAH, BUT I UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S OTHER FUNDINGS FROM THE STATE.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON AS WELL, THAT'S STILL IN PLACE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON AS WELL, FUNDING FROM THE STATE BECAUSE WE, WE MOVED THAT FUNDING TO, TO OPEN UP, UH, THE, THE NORTH END OF NINTH AVENUE.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THE FUNDING IS PUT BACK.
THANK YOU MR. TANT FOR YOUR, UH, DELIVERY.
UH, WE HAVE, WE DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION
[II. PROCLAMATIONS]
AND I BELIEVE, UH, THIS PROCLAMATION AS FAR THE, UM, DECLARATION OF MAYBE AN OLDER AMERICAN'S MONTH.AND I HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, AND IT SAYS, EXCUSE ME, WHEREAS MAY IS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH, AND WHEREAS OLDER ADULTS IN PORT ARTHUR ARE THE ROOTS FROM WHICH OUR COMMUNITY GROWS, WHO BESTOW GIFTS OF WISDOM AND INSIGHT UPON YOUNGER GENERATIONS AND STRENGTHENED BONDS BETWEEN NEIGHBORS TO CREATE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.
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WHEREAS THE OLDER ADULTS IN PORT ARTHUR SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR ROLE IN CREATING AND BOLSTERING THE FIBER OF OUR COMMUNITY AND NATION.AND WHEREAS WE WISH TO JOIN TOGETHER TO EXTEND ASSISTANCE TO THE OLDER ADULTS IN PORT ARTHUR BY INCREASING THEIR OPPORTUNITIES TO REMAIN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AS ACTIVE, ENGAGED CITIZENS.
AND WHEREAS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IS SPONSORED BY NUTRITION AND SERVICES FOR SENIORS, A NONPROFIT AGENCY DEDICATED TO PROVIDING INNOVATIVE, EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST OLDER ADULTS IN LEADING QUALITY LIVES WHILE MAINTAINING DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENCE.
AND WHEREAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS INITIATIVE IS TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DIVERSITY, STRENGTH, AND THE UNITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO MAKE THEIR LIVES COMFORTABLE AND RESPECTABLE.
AND WHEREAS TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO OUR COMMUNITY, ECONOMICALLY, SOCIALLY, CULTURALLY, OR OTHERWISE, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN PORT ARTHUR NUTRITION AND SERVICES FOR SENIORS IS HOSTING THE 12TH ANNUAL DELIVER THE DIFFERENCE, BENEFITING MEALS ON WHEELS TO HONOR CINDY AND MICHAEL LINDSAY ON THURSDAY, MAY 2ND, 2024.
NOW, THEREFORE, I THURMAN BILL BCE, MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2024 AS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH HERE IN THE CITY OF FORT ARTHUR.
AND I ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT IN THIS ENDEAVOR.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HERE, AND TO SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS 23RD DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2024.
AND IT SIGNED THURMAN BILL BCE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND I WILL COME DOWN AND PRESENT THIS TO PEOPLE.
I JUST WANNA SAY VERY QUICKLY, GO AHEAD, HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE EACH ONE OF YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
YOU GUYS ARE SO STRONG IN YOUR SUPPORT OF YOUR SENIORS, AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
WE COULD NOT DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT YOU.
AND IT IS AN HONOR TO PARTNER WITH YOU TO BUILD A STRONGER SENIOR COMMUNITY HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
AND I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
REAL QUICKLY, IF Y'ALL WILL GIVE ME JUST A SECOND.
I WANNA INTRODUCE TO YOU NUTRITION AND SERVICES FOR SENIORS, VICE PRESIDENT OF, UH, FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT, AND OUR BOARD CHAIRMAN COLIN MOORE.
[III.C.(1) A Report By Staff And The Burditt Consultants, Inc. Regarding The Rose Hill Park Master Plan (Part 1 of 2)]
CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS, ACTUALLY THAT WE HAVE HERE.AND THE FIRST REPORT WOULD BE A REPORT BY STAFF AND, UH, THE ETTE BIRDETTE RATHER, CONSULTANTS INCORPORATED REGARDING THE ROSE HILL
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MASTER PLAN.I HAVE STAND BEFORE ME WITH BURETTE CONSULTANTS WHO'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SO DILIGENTLY REGARDING THIS ROSE HILL MASTER PLAN.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'M GONNA LET THEM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR YOU SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT, UH, THE MASTER PLAN.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SHE'S OUR SENIOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND ACTUALLY THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR, UH, THE ROSE HILL PARK MASTER PLAN.
UH, I, I COME HERE TO REALLY JUST GIVE SOME CONTEXT BECAUSE, UH, OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, UH, WE'VE HAD THREE, UH, MAJOR PLANNING PROJECTS GOING ON, ONE OF WHICH YOU'VE ALREADY ADOPTED, WHICH WAS THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN, WHICH IS THE CITYWIDE, UM, PLANNING EFFORT, UM, FOLLOWED BY A ROSE HILL PARK MASTER PLAN THAT CLAUDIA'S BEEN, UM, DEVELOPING THIS TIME THROUGH THIS TIME PERIOD.
AND THEN, UM, SOON TO COME WILL BE THE, UH, CONCLUSION OF THE LUCIAN, UM, ADAMS, UM, PARK MASTER PLAN AS WELL.
IS THERE, UM, IS IT, DID IT CHANGE? YES.
THAT'S THE ONE I'VE BEEN, THERE YOU GOES.
UH, MAYBE I JUST DIDN'T PRESS IT.
SO, JUST FOR A LITTLE, UH, CONTEXT ABOUT THAT, THE OVERVIEW OF THIS PROCESS, UH, THE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE, UM, THE OVERALL PARKS MASTER PLAN FOR THE, UM, CITY, UM, PARK SYSTEM, WE ALSO LOOKED, UM, WITH A EVEN FINER EYE AT, UH, ROSE HILL PARK, UM, SPECIFICALLY JUST A COMPLETE INVENTORY OF ALL THE, UH, FEATURES ON SITE, UM, AND, UM, CONSIDERATION OF WHAT CONDITION THEY'RE IN, UM, THE REPLACEMENT LIFECYCLE AND, UH, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK.
UH, THIS IS FOLLOWED UP BY INTENSE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THIS WAS DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OVERALL CITYWIDE MASTER PLAN TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ONLINE SURVEYS, UM, PUBLIC MEETINGS, UM, INTERVIEWS WITH STAFF AND VARIOUS, UM, USER GROUPS, UM, TO ULTIMATELY COME UP WITH A, A LIST OF, UH, PRIORITIES FOR, UM, THE PARK.
UM, WHICH, UM, THEN RESULTS IN, UM, A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH WE WENT THROUGH WITH STAFF FOR, UM, VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, THE SITE OBSERVATIONS.
THERE'S, UM, THERE'S BEEN SOME RECENT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SITE, INCLUDING THE, THE RENOVATION OF THE TENNIS COURTS, A NEW PARKING LOT, AND THAT, UM, NICE NEW, UM, PLAYGROUND OUT THERE.
UM, THE REMAINDER OF THE PARK, UM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE, UM, FITNESS CIRCUIT, UM, OR FITNESS CENTER THAT IS OUT THERE KIND OF IN, UM, OVER NEAR THE WATERFRONT, UM, IS A LOT OF AGING EQUIPMENT.
AND, UM, IT'S JUST TIME FOR RENEWAL.
AND BEING THAT THIS IS THE CITY'S, UH, FLAGSHIP OF THE PARK SYSTEM, UM, THIS WAS CHOSEN AS A PRIORITY BY THE CITY TO, UM, TO LOOK TO, UH, MASTER PLANNING AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK.
AND I'M GONNA LET CLAUDIA GO OVER, UM, WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES WERE, UM, IDENTIFIED AND, UM, THE RESULTING, UM, MASTER PLAN CONCEPT.
SO, UH, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.
UM, SO WE, UH, DID DO SOME INVENTORY ANALYSIS OF, OF THE, THE ENTIRE PARK.
AND BASED ON THE, THE ORIGINAL FINDINGS AND JUST THE, THE, THE CONDITIONS OF THE, UH, THE, ALL OF THE, THE SITE AMENITIES AND, AND ALL, AND THE, THE OPEN SPACES AVAILABLE, THE, THE CANOPY TREES AND THE EXISTING, UH, CURRENTLY IMPROVED SITE AMENITIES THAT WE UNDERSTOOD.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO PROPOSE, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY REMOVING OR, OR, UH, EVEN, UH, RENOVATING SOME, SOME OF THESE AREAS BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY INVESTED, UH, MONIES IN, IN THESE SPACES.
SO THINK HAVING ALL OF THAT INTO, UM, INTO ACCOUNT, WE HAD PROPOSED SOME, UM, PRESERVATION OF, OF THE, THE, THE TREE CANOPIES, UH, THE USAGE OF THE OPEN SPACES FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, MORE, YOU KNOW, OPEN SPACE TYPE AMENITIES AND, UH, THE, UH, PRESERVATION OF THE, THE, THE PARKING LOT WITH SOME, UH, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANSION.
UH, ADDITIONAL SHADE IN, IN THE, THE, THE, UH, PLAYGROUND SPACES AND JUST REORIENTING, UH, THE, THE SITE WITH THOSE CONDITIONS IN MIND AND, AND MAKING IT A A BIT MORE, UM, YOU KNOW, ORGANIZED AND, UH, YOU KNOW, RENEWING THOSE SPACES AS WELL.
SO, UH, THE DIAGRAMS HERE SHOW JUST SOME OF THE, THE, UM, THE BACKGROUND THINKING BEHIND ALL OF
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THESE ITEMS. AND SO WE DID, UM, COME UP WITH A FEW OF KIND OF PROJECT GOALS BASED ON ALL OF THOSE UNDERSTANDINGS, ONCE TO UTILIZE THE, THE SITES CONDITIONS THAT WERE, THE AMENITIES THAT WERE, UH, EXISTING, UM, TO REDUCE SOME OF THE COSTS, PRESERVE THE, THE TREE CANOPY AND INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL SHADE.THERE'S, THERE'S BIRD MIGRATIONS THAT PASS THROUGH HERE AND ADDING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF, UH, WILDLIFE AND, AND, UH, DIVERSITY IN, IN, IN THE, THE, THE PLANTINGS WOULD ALLOW FOR THE, THE, UM, BIRD WATCHERS AND, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, OF THE, THE, I CAN'T TELL IF THIS THING GOES ON AND OFF.
UM, SO, UH, CREATING A LITTLE BIT MORE DIVERSITY ON THAT END, AND, UH, INVITING MORE WILDLIFE TO, TO COME IN.
ALSO TO UTILIZE, AGAIN, THE, THE, THE WIDE OPEN SPACE AS A MULTI-PURPOSE, UM, SPACE FOR RECREATION GATHERINGS AND SUCH, UH, IN CREATING THE CONCENTRATED KIND OF CORE ELEMENT WITH THAT, WHERE THERE'S SOME OF THE EXISTING, UM, AMENITIES ARE ALREADY THERE, EXPANDING UPON THAT AND CREATING A CORE, UH, SPACE FOR, FOR THE HIGHER, UH, ACTIVITIES.
AND THEN THE, UM, THE OTHER TWO ARE TO EXTEND AND, AND ENHANCE THE TRAIL SYSTEM.
SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF TRAILS ALREADY, BUT, UH, CREATING MORE OF A, A LOOP SYSTEM FOR, FOR THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO, UH, USE, UTILIZE THE PARK AS, AS A EXERCISE OR JUST HAVING A, A NICE, UH, STROLL INTO CREATING CONNECTIONS TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME IMPROVEMENTS ALREADY, UH, BEING TAKEN PLACE ON, UM, WOODWORTH ROAD THAT WILL ALLOW FOR, UH, SOME TRAILS, UH, SOME REALLY SIDEWALKS AND MORE CONNECTIVITY.
SO KIND OF GRABBING ONTO SOME OF THAT ALREADY, UH, BEING TAKEN, UH, IN, INTO CONSIDERATION AND EXPANDING UPON THAT TO CREATE MORE CONNECTIVITY, UH, WITHIN, UM, THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO, UM, PAUL MENTIONED, UH, ALL OF THE, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WE HAD, UM, THAT, SO ALONG WITH, WITH THE SITE FINDINGS AND JUST ALL THE OVERALL UNDERSTANDINGS, WE ALSO HAD THE, UH, VARIETY OF COMMUNITY, UH, ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES WE HAD, UH, AS PART OF THE, THE PARKS MASTER PLAN, WE, UH, HAD A, UH, A WORKSHOP, UH, KINDA, UM, ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP, UH, THAT INCLUDED THE, UH, THE, UM, THE ROSE HILL PARK AS WELL.
THEN WE HAD A, UH, POPUP EVENT ON, AT, ON SITE IN THE PARK FOR, FOR, UH, THE MULTIPLE PROJECTS.
UM, AND THE LAST ONE WAS AN OPEN HOUSE OF THE, THE, UM, WITH THE PARK CONCEPTS IN MIND TO GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WHEN, ONCE THOSE CONCEPTS WERE, WERE IN, UH, INTACT.
AND SO SOME OF THE MAIN ITEMS THAT THAT KEPT COMING UP WERE, YOU KNOW, MORE SHADE, UH, COMMUNITY GARDENS, MOSQUITO CONTROL, THAT WAS OVERALL, UM, UH, MORE, UH, MOWING AND TRAILS.
AND SO THOSE WERE KIND OF THE MAIN, UM, COMPONENTS THAT CAME OUT OUT OF ALL OF THE, UH, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS.
THE, YOU KNOW, A, AFTER GETTING ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, WE WENT, UH, FORWARD WITH THE, THE, THE PARK MASTER PLAN.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, UH, WE HAD THE, UM, KIND OF GENERAL THREE DIFFERENT SPACES THAT WE, UH, THAT WE CREATED BASED ON, UH, THE, UM, THE NEEDS.
ONE WAS A, A FAMILY RECREATION SPACE WHERE WE UTILIZED THE, THE, UH, EXISTING, UH, ITEMS AND EXTENDED UPON THOSE, UH, AMENITIES.
ANOTHER ONE WAS A COMMUNITY AND EVENT, UM, SPACE WHERE YOU CAN HAVE SMALLER, MORE INTIMATE EVENTS, UM, ALL THE WAY UP TO A LARGER, UH, UH, GATHERINGS AND THE KEY PROGRAM RECREATION, UH, ATTRIBUTES THAT WAS, UH, IN RELATION TO SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL SOCCER FIELDS OR MULTIPURPOSE FIELDS THAT CAN BE USED AND SEPARATED INTO SMALLER, UH, AREAS.
AND AS WELL AS THE, THE, THE TRAIL SYSTEM, UM, FOR OTHER, UM, UH, PROGRAM USES.
SO THIS WAS THE FAMILY RECREATION AREA.
WE, UH, HAVE, UH, EXTENDED PARKING SPACE CREATED A KIND OF A, UH, A SINGLE ENTRY, UH, GLO UH, CLEANER, UH, ENTRYWAY.
A, UH, SEVERAL AREAS FOR, FOR, UH,
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PICNIC, UH, EXPANDING.UH, IF, IF TIME FOR THE, UH, PUBLIC MEETING.
UH, WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO JUST PUT A PAUSE ON YOU RIGHT THERE.
NONE OF THE ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY WANTS TO WORK FOR US TODAY, SO I COULDN'T SEE THE TIME.
COUNCILMAN, JUST LET ME SEE IT.
IT'S 10 0 1 AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BEGIN AT 10:00 AM A, UH, PUBLIC HEARING.
SO EXCUSE ME, IF YOU ALL JUST, JUST, JUST RETIRE FOR A MOMENT AND THEN WE ARE, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
[IV.(1) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments Regarding The Proposed Voluntary Disannexation Of 11.59 Acres Tract Of Land (Consisting Of Four Parcels) In The Corporate Limits Of The City Of Port Arthur (Located On State Highway 87 (aka South Gulfway Drive) Near The Intracoastal Waterway). Said Tract Of Land Is Legally Described As 11.59 Acres of Land Out Of The T. & N.O.R.R. Survey Section No. 122, Abstract No. 486 In Jefferson County, Texas This Is the Second Public Hearing Held Pursuant To Chapter 43.142 Of The Local Government Code. A Detailed Map Of The Proposed Area To Be Disannexed, Is Also Available For Inspection At Port Arthur City Hall, 444 Fourth Street, Port Arthur, Texas Between The Hours Of 8:00 A.M. And 5:00 P.M., Monday Through Friday And Continuously Online At www.portarthurtx.gov The City Council Will Consider An Ordinance Formalizing The Disannexation Of Said Tract At Its Regular City Council Meeting On May 7, 2024]
A, A PUBLIC HEARING THIS MORNING AT 10 0 0 1 AM IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED VOLUNTARY DI DIS ANNEXATION OF 11 POINT, UH, SIX ACRES OF LAND ACRE TRACTOR LAND CONSISTING OF, OF FOUR PARCELS IN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, LOCATED ON HIGHWAY STATE HIGHWAY 87 AKA, UH, ALSO KNOWN AS SOUTH GUFF WAY, UH, DRIVE NEAR THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY.SAID, TRACK OF LAND IS, UH, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS 11.59, UH, ACRES OF LAND OUT OF THE T AND NORP SURVEY, SECTION NUMBER 1 22, ABSTRACT NUMBER 4 86 IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, UH, TEXAS.
THIS IS THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING HELD PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 43.142 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, A DETAILED MAP OF THE PROPOSED AREA TO BE DISH ANNEXED IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT PORT ARTHUR CITY HALL HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 AM AND 5:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
AND IT IS AVAILABLE CONTINUOUSLY ONLINE AT WWW.PORTARTHURTX.GOV.
AND THE CITY WILL CONSIDER, UH, AN ORDINANCE FORMALIZING THE, THIS ANNEXATION OF SAID TRACK AT ITS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING ON MAY 7TH, 2024.
UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, COUNSEL, THIS IS THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED VOLUNTARY DIS ANNEXATION OF 11.59 ACRES OF LAND, WHICH CONSISTS OF FOUR TRACKS, UH, LOCATED ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 87, ALSO KNOWN AS SOUTH GUTFIELD DRIVE NEAR THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY.
UH, SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
ON FEBRUARY 9TH, THE CITY RECEIVED A FORMAL REQUEST FROM THE LANDOWNER GT LOGISTICS, LLC REQUESTING TO DE ANNEX FOUR TRACKS THE LAND FROM THE CITY LIMITS AND INTO THE EXTRA TERRITORY JURISDICTION OF THE CITY, ALSO KNOWN AS THE ETJ ON INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT OF FORT ARTHUR.
UH, THE PURPOSE OF THE D ANNISON IS FOR GT TO PROCEED WITH THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT KNOWN AS THE BLUE AMMONIA TERMINAL PROJECT, WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE GT OMNI SUPPORT SITE THAT IS LOCATED IN THE ETJ.
UH, ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION, UH, PER RESOLUTION 24 DASH OH EIGHT NINE, COUNSEL GAVE AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH THE DIS ANNEXATION AFTER FINDING THAT THE FOUR PORTIONS WERE CONTIGUOUS TO THE CITY'S BOUNDARY.
AND THE D ANNEXATION IS, UH, VALID IN THE ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 43.142 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
AND ARTICLE ONE SECTION SIX OF THE CITY CHARTER, UH, PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 24 DASH NINE EIGHT AND SECTION 43.062 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE PUBLIC HEARING DATES WERE SET AND NOTICE WERE PROVIDED TO PROPERTY OWNER, PUBLIC, PRIVATE ENTITIES, AGENCIES, UTILITIES, AND RAILROAD COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE SERVICE WITHIN THE AREA OF THE DIS ANNEXATION.
AND THE CLIPPING IS A COPY OF THE NOTICE THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWS AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S WEBSITE SITE.
UH, THIS IS BASICALLY AN AREA OF WHERE THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED IF YOU'RE DRIVING SOUTH TOWARDS THE BEAN PASS ON, UH, STATE HIGHWAY 87, UH, SOUTH 40 DRIVE, THE PROPERTY IS TO YOUR LEFT RIGHT BEFORE THE INTRO COASTAL WATERWAY BRIDGE.
UH, KEY DATE TO CONSIDER, AS YOU MENTIONED, TUESDAY, MAY 7TH, 2024, AT THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR AGENDA.
WE WILL, UM, ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO FINALIZE THE DE ANNEXATION.
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UH, ONCE THE DESANT STATION IS FINALIZED, THE CITY WILL THEN ENTER INTO A, UH, INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENT WITH GT LOGISTICS FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, AND ALSO INCLUDE THE DNX AREA INTO THE AGREEMENT TO CATCH THE IN LIEU TAX, UH, PAYMENT.AND COUNSEL, YOU HAD MENTIONED AT THE LAST PUBLIC HEARING THAT YOU WANTED TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IN LIEU TAX PAYMENT VERSUS TAX PAYMENT.
UH, ON THE FIRST ROW, YOU COULD SEE, UM, WELL, THIS IS BASED ON THE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR VALUATION.
SO THE TOP ROW YOU'LL SEE THE ETJ INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT, UH, PROJECT.
AND THE SECOND ROW IS THE CORPORATE LIMITS.
OF COURSE, YOU SEE THE CORPORATE LIMITS IS TAXED AT A HUNDRED PERCENT RATE.
AND THE ETJ, UH, THIS RATE IS USED FOR THIS YEAR'S CURRENT PILOT RATE AT 85%.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE ANNUAL ESTI ESTIMATED PAYMENT, IT'S A DIFFERENCE OF, UH, 97, UH, THOUSAND $296 AND 15 CENTS.
AND, UH, ONE THING TO, UH, CONSIDER IS FOR PROPERTIES LOCATED IN THE ETJ, THE CITY WOULDN'T BE OBLIGATED TO PAY, UH, TO PROVIDE FOR THE FOLLOWING MUNICIPAL SERVICES, WHICH IS, UH, WATER WASTEWATER, POLICE AND FIRE PROTECTION, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, ROAD AND STREET REPAIR, AND SOLID WASTE OR GARBAGE COLLECTION.
UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE COUNSEL.
HEY, HERE, GO BACK TO, UH, IN LIEU OF TAX PAYMENT VERSUS TAX PAYMENT, AND YOU SAID 85%, WHY DID YOU HAVE AN AVERAGE OF 85%? UH, THIS YEAR'S, UM, PILOT RATE IS ACTUALLY AT 85%.
SO THE POWER RATE IS 85% AVERAGE.
THIS, I THINK WE'RE IN LIKE A YEAR, SIX OR SO.
YEAR FIVE OR SIX IS FIVE OR SIX MM-HMM,
THE REASON I ASK THAT QUESTION, I ALWAYS ASK THAT JUST SO CITIZENS CAN BE AWARE OF IT, BUT THE SECOND PART OF IT IS THE PART THAT WE NORMALLY DON'T, UH, SAY TO BE TRANSPARENT.
AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU, UH, EXPLAINED THAT SO CITIZENS CAN UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE DO NOT DE ANNEX THEM, WHAT ARE WE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING? AND SOMETIME WHEN YOU TAKE IN CONSIDERATION THESE SERVICES, ALSO WHERE IT'S LOCATED AND ALL, YOU'LL FIND OUT THAT, UH, IT'S GOING TO CAUSE INCREASE IN, UH, THE NUMBER OF TRUCKS WE HAVE, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE HAVE, AND THE PEOPLE WE PAY.
AND SOMETIME THAT'S JUST NOT WORTH IT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE ISSUES RIGHT NOW, MAINTAINING WHAT WE HAVE JUST WITH CITIZENS.
THAT'S WHY ALL OF OUR INDUSTRIES ARE DNX, BECAUSE THEY WILL REQUIRE A HEAVY, UH, RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SUPPORT.
SO NONE OF OUR IN INDUSTRIES ARE ANNEX, AND HOPEFULLY WE DON'T ANNEX THEM BECAUSE IF THEY, WE ANNEX THEM WHEN THEY GONNA PLAY THE GAME TOO.
YOU FORCE US TO COMMENT ON YOUR RULES TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU PROVIDE US, AND THEY HAVE ENORMOUS REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR SUPPORT SERVICES AND STUFF.
SO IT'S ALWAYS BEST IN MOST CASES FOR THE CITY TO DNX THING.
SO SOME CITIZENS DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T INCLUDE A CITY MANAGER IN ALL OF OUR REQUEST FOR DD ANNEXATION AND PRESENTATION BY STAFF IS THAT THEY DO EXACTLY WHAT HUEY DID, UH, BRING ABOUT THE CHART THAT SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE IN, UH, IN LIEU OF TAX PAYMENTS AS OPPOSED TO TAX AND ALSO WHAT IT ENTAILS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UH, APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR PRESENTATION.
JUST KEEP IN MIND WHEN YOU GET AROUND TO, IN LIEU OF TAX CONTRACTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT STUFF THAT WE TALKED ABOUT MM-HMM.
SHE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING YOU, YOU CAN APPROACH.
UH, COULD YOU PULL THE MIC DOWN, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
MY NAME IS YADI CARDENA, AND MY ADDRESS IS 2124 WOOD ROAD DRIVE PO TEXAS.
AND I HAD A FEW QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ANSWERED THIS MORNING ALREADY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, UM, FROM A CITIZEN'S PERSPECTIVE,
[00:35:01]
HOW MUCH IS THIS, UM, SERVICES GONNA COST TO THE CITY? OKAY, THE POLICE PROVIDING POLICE WATER BECAUSE IT'S, THIS IS JUST ONE, UM, PLANT THAT IS COMING TO A AREA.AND I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
WHY ARE WE NOT PREPARED TO SERVICE OUR INDUSTRY? AND WE ARE, ARE DISAGREE AND WE ARE FORCED TO, UM, HAVE TO DO THESE AGREEMENTS THAT PROVIDE, IT'S NOT A BIG DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU COMPARE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND ALSO HOW THIS WILL AFFECT, UH, JOBS FOR AS CITIZENS AND WHO IS GONNA ENFORCE ALL OF THAT WHEN THIS AGREEMENT COMES, WHEN THE CITY DECIDES TO VOTE FOR THIS ANNEXATION.
UM, THAT'S A BIG CONCERN FOR OUR COMMUNITY JOBS THAT ARE LOCAL THAT SOMETIMES ARE NOT PART OF THESE AGREEMENTS OR SOMETIMES ARE PART OF THESE AGREEMENTS.
SO I HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT, AND I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, AND WE NEED TO BE MORE, UH, OPEN ABOUT IT SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW, UM, THIS INFORMATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN, UH, PRESENTED TO US DURING THE FIRST HEARING AND NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SECOND HEARING, UM, TO UNDERSTAND, UH, THE PROCESS.
BECAUSE I THINK OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN THIS, UM, PROCESS AND JUST THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT IS ANNOUNCED, AND IT'S NOT EVEN, UH, DETAILING THE NAME OF THE COMPANY REQUESTING.
THAT'S SOMETHING ALSO THAT WE NEED TO KNOW BECAUSE, UM, WE ALREADY HAVE, UH, ANOTHER PROJECT THAT IS CALLED, UH, CORAN CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AS A CITIZEN ALSO IF THIS, UH, PROJECT, UH, CORAN CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT IS RELATED TO THIS BLUE AMMONIA TERMINAL PROJECT, OR ARE THEY GONNA BE WORKING TOGETHER? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE, UM, THE WAY THE BLUE AMMONIA TERMINAL PROJECT, THE WAY I SEE IT, IS MORE LIKE A TRANSPORTATION HUB, I THINK, UM, BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF, OF THE, OF THE STRATEGIC LOCATION OF THIS, UM, PLACE, UM, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE, UH, THIS AMMONIA, AMMONIA PROJECT COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, AND THIS AMMONIA PROJECT THAT IS COMING IS ALREADY GETTING, UH, TAX CREDITS OR RECEIVING BENEFITS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.
SO I, I WOULD BE, UM, IT TRAVELS ME WHEN A COMPANY COMES AND ASKS FOR DESIGNING NEXT SESSION AND, AND WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY GOING TO GET IN EXCHANGE OF THAT? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS, UM, FOR OUR COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO THESE DECISIONS? AND ALSO, UH, PLACING ANOTHER PROJECT, UH, IN THIS AREA THAT CONCERNS ME A PART OF THIS, UM, WHAT, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN, WHAT, WHAT'S GONNA BE TAKEN IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY, UM, IS SAFE FROM ALL THESE, UH, POSSIBLE, UM, ACCIDENTS THAT COULD HAPPEN WITH THESE COMPANIES.
AND, UH, I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALSO BRING INTO THE SAFETY CONCERNS.
I KNOW THIS IS, UH, INDUSTRIAL AREA, AND WE CANNOT STOP THEM FROM BUILDING, UH, CERTAIN, UH, BUSINESSES, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE CITY GIVES THIS, UH, TAX BREAKS OR ENTER INTO THESE AGREEMENTS, THAT THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY IS ALSO, UH, TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
UH, SHE'S GETTING A, SHE'S PRESENTING A, A PRESENTATION, HOWEVER, YOU CAN'T ALLOW HIM TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
ALLOW HIM TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.
I I WAS JUST GIVING HER TIME TO FINISH BECAUSE SHE, SHE DON'T A QUESTION TO ANSWER.
NO, BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH SHE WAS READING A PREPARED STATEMENT.
SO I WAS JUST GIVING HER TIME TO READ IT.
NO, NO, I'M, I'M, I'M GONNA, YEAH.
I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS AND MAYBE YOU SAY AHEAD.
I'M HERE AND THERE, BUT YES, I WANT TO, UH, THE, THE QUESTIONS I HAVE, I, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
[00:40:01]
THAT WHEN THIS IS PUT ON THE AGENDA, THAT SOME OF OUR COUNCIL MAY CONSIDER SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN, UM, THE BENEFITS AND THE BENEFITS VERSUS THE, THE, NOT JUST THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, OR THE MONEY THAT THE CITY'S GONNA SAVE IF THEY DON'T PROVIDE THE SERVICES.BUT I THINK WHEN YOU CONSIDER, UH, GIVING THIS TYPE OF AGREEMENTS TO THE, TO THESE CORPORATIONS, WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO THE JOB CREATION, AND TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF PORT ARTHUR ARE HIRED THROUGH THESE COMPANIES.
IF, EXCUSE ME, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST, JUST ALLOW HER TO FINISH.
SO I HAVE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I'M NERVOUS, SO I'LL PROBABLY YEAH.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, AND I HOPE IT'S NOT THE LAST TIME THAT THE CITIZENS OF PERATO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THIS, UH, PROCESS.
AND, UM, IF THIS, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I DO HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HOW MUCH MONEY IT WAS GONNA IS GONNA TAKE THE SICK TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES, UM, AND WHY WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO SERVICE THE INDUSTRY WHEN WE HAVE, UH, WE ARE AN INDUSTRIAL CITY.
BUT, UM, IT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY, UM, THAT, UH, WE, WHEN WE TAKE THIS DECISION, WE, WE NEED TO BE AWARE IF THIS ALSO COMPANIES IS, IS GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
AND IF SO, HOW CAN WE BEST, UH, PUT ALL INTO IT WHEN THE CITY DECIDES TO GIVE THIS, UH, UH, THIS ANNEXATION, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND DECIDES, UH, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE CAN RECEIVE THROUGH THIS.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY, MR. WYNN.
UH, YOU HAD, OH, YOU ANSWERED, EVERYTHING THAT YOU ASKED WAS ASKED A LOT QUESTION, BUT A MINUTE SOMETHING AGO, A JUST A MINUTE, PLEASE.
YOU ANSWERED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT, THAT I NOTICED THAT SHE ASKED.
SO I THINK WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE, UH, PUBLIC NOTES, ANYTHING ELSE YOU HAVE.
SO, IN REGARDS OF THE LOCAL HIRING AND LOCAL SPENDING, WE DO HAVE THOSE, UH, MILESTONES INCENTIVES BUILT INTO THE CONTRACT.
SO IF THEY MEET A CERTAIN MILESTONE, THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL GET INCENTIVES FOR IT.
THAT'S FOR LOCAL SPENDING AND LOCAL HIRING OF LOCAL PORT ARTHUR RESIDENT INCORPORATED.
AND WE GOING, BECAUSE WE'RE IN A PUBLIC HEARING, AND IF I'M CORRECT ATTORNEY, AND YOU CORRECT ME, I, I'VE ALLOWED A DIALOGUE FROM THE, FROM THE, UH, GALLERY, THE PRESENTER IS SPEAKING.
SO THAT I CAN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MAY I, IF YOU WANT, I CAN MEET WITH HER AFTERWARD AND DISCUSS THE DETAILS.
THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE PERFECT.
I'M READY TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
WHICH ONE WAS IT FIRST? I, NO, I'M, I'M READY TO CLOSE.
WELL, WELL, WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS, UH, YOUNG LADY, UH, YOUR PRESENTATION, MAKE SURE THE CITY SECRETARY GET A COPY OF WHAT YOU GOT THERE.
IF YOU WANT TO, YOU MAKE IT PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD.
YOU READY? UH, COUNCILMAN, YOU, YOU, SAM? MAYOR, COULD WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, HEARING? CAN I GET A SECOND? SECOND.
AND WE WOULD ACTUALLY CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING, UH, THAT BEGAN AT 10 0 1, AND NOW IT'S 10:20 AM ANY QUESTIONS ON IT? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES AYES EVER? THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW COMPLETED.
[III.C.(1) A Report By Staff And The Burditt Consultants, Inc. Regarding The Rose Hill Park Master Plan (Part 2 of 2)]
AND, UH, YOU HAVE EXPENDED ABOUT NINE MINUTES YOUR TIME, SO YOU MAY HAVE NINE MORE.SO, UH, WE, THIS IS AGAIN, THE, THE FAMILY RECREATION AREA, UH, WITH IMPROVEMENTS TO ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES, PICNIC, UH, AREAS, UH, MORE SHADE OF IN THE, ON OVER THE EXISTING, UH, PLAYGROUND STRUCTURES AND THROUGHOUT THE PICNIC SPACES.
AND, UM, AN ADDITIONAL, UH, SPACE FOR SPLASH PAD AND THE RELOCATION OF THE EXISTING, UM, FITNESS SPACE AS WELL TO KIND OF REORIENT EVERYTHING ELSE.
THE OTHER AREA IS A COMMUNITY AND EVENT SPACE.
THIS IS, UH, AGAIN, ON UNDERNEATH THE
[00:45:01]
EXISTING TREES TO ALLOW FOR SOME OF THAT, THAT, UH, UH, UH, CANOPY AND SHADE.THIS WOULD HAVE A CONNECTION TO THE PARKING AS WELL, BUT ITS OWN SPACE FOR, UH, PAVILION LARGE, UH, GATHERING PAVILION FOR WHETHER IT'S FOR RENTALS, SMALL EVENTS, UH, GATHERINGS AND AND SUCH.
AND THEN THE RESTROOM SPACE WOULD BE, UH, NEARBY WHERE IT'S MORE CENTRALIZED.
UH, IT'S JUST A, A SIMPLE SMALL RESTROOM SPACE FOR, FOR THE USE OF THE ENTIRE PARK FACILITY.
THE, THE REST OF THE, THE EVENT SPACE WOULD HAVE, UM, OUTDOOR, UM, AMENITIES SUCH AS, UH, THE, UH, TENNIS, UH, TABLE TENNIS AND, UH, OTHER, UH, AMENITIES OF THE SORT.
AND THE LAST ITEM ON, ON THAT IS A SMALL AREA FOR, UH, LIKE A SMALL STAGE FOR PERFORMANCES, WHETHER IT BE, UM, A, YOU KNOW, A SMALL, UH, BAND OR A LITTLE, UH, THEATER ACT OR OF, OF ANY, ANY KIND OF A SORT OF, OF A PROGRAMMED OR, YOU KNOW, JUST FUN KIDS PLAYING, PRETENDING TO BE IN FRONT OF A, UM, OF A STAGE AS WELL.
THE, THE LAST SPACE IS THE PROGRAM SPACE.
SO TWO LARGE MULTI, UH, USE FIELDS THAT CAN AGAIN, BE, UH, SEPARATED INTO, INTO THE DIFFERENT, UM, SIZES OF SOCCER OR, UH, FOOTBALL FIELDS OR, UH, EVEN JUST GOING OUT THERE, FLYING A KITE.
THIS SPACE ALSO WOULD ALLOW FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE EVENT SPACE AS A GATHERING FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, BOUNCY, UM, WHAT ARE THEY, THE CALLED THE, THE INFLATABLES OR WHATEVER THE PROGRAMS ARE FOR, FOR, FOR THOSE SPACES.
IT'S ALSO A SMALL, UH, AREAS WITH A SEATED CANOPY FOR WATCHING THE, THE GAMES THROUGHOUT.
AND SO THIS, UH, OVERALL JUST KIND OF GIVES YOU THE, THE, THE, THE, THE IDEA OF WHAT THE, UH, THE, THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF, OF THE, THE, THE SITE WOULD BE.
SO HEALTH AND WELLNESS IS, UH, ALWAYS OF, UH, NEAR AND DEAR TO, TO, UH, US AS, AS, UH, WE PROVIDE SPACES FOR, UM, FOR PEOPLE TO, TO, YOU KNOW, STAY HEALTHIER, FEEL HEALTHIER IN MANY ASPECTS OF IT.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY JUST, UH, WORKING OUT RECREATION, IT'S ALSO BEING OUT OUTDOORS IN, IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND SO ALLOWING FOR THOSE SPACES ALONG WITH THE MULTIPLE, UH, PARK SYSTEMS THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE IN, IN, IN, UH, PORT ARTHUR, IT'S A LOT OF PARKS
THE, THE TRAIL CONNECTIVITY, THE, THE, THE PARKS COULD THAT SOME OF THEM, UM, HAVE THE, UM, THE WORKOUT EQUIPMENT AND THE, THE SOCCER FIELDS.
THOSE ARE ALREADY IN, YOU KNOW, GENERALLY IN PLACE IN MANY, MANY AREAS.
SO THIS IS, UH, KIND OF EXPANDING UPON THAT NATURE.
ACCESSIBILITY AND SAFETY GOES REALLY, UH, IN SAME KIND OF FRAME AS, AS, UH, THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS IS TO ALLOW FOR THE ENTIRE, UH, COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO ACCESS THE SITE AND FEEL COMFORTABLE, FEEL, UH, WELCOMED TO THESE PLACES WITH LIGHTING, UH, YOU KNOW, SAFETY LIGHTING, UH, AMBIENT LIGHTING AT NIGHT WITH ACCESSIBLE, UH, ROOTS TO AND FROM THE, THE, THE SITE AND OUT TO THE REST OF THE, THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND OF COURSE, UM, YOU, THE, THE ACCESSIBLE PLAY FEATURES AND WORKOUT FEATURES AS WELL, SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN REALLY ENJOY THE PARK AS A WHOLE.
THE EVENTS AND GATHERING SPACES WE KNOW IS, UH, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS.
THERE'S SO MANY, SO, SO MANY, UH, PROGRAMMED EVENTS THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER FOR, FOR THE COMMUNITIES.
UM, I ABSOLUTELY ENJOY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, BUT, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S POSSIBILITIES OF, UH, CREATING SPACES FOR SOME, UH, ADDITIONAL SPACES.
I KNOW THERE'S ALREADY SOME FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, MOVIES IN THE PARK FOR, UH, EVENTS DURING, UH, EASTER OR, UH, HALLOWEEN, UM, AND JUST, UH, THAT, UH, THOSE ARE PROGRAM SPACES, BUT THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITIES FOR RENTALS FOR FAMILIES TO COME IN AND, AND, AND RENTAL SPACES AND CREATE THEIR OWN, UH, UH, EVENTS AS WELL.
AND I BELIEVE THIS LAST ONE, LAST ONE ON, ON THE, THESE ENHANCEMENTS IS THE, THE WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENTS.
[00:50:01]
SO ALLOWING FOR, UM, THE, THE CREATION OF, UM, SPACES WHERE WILDLIFE CAN COME AND, AND ENJOY THE PARK AS WELL.THAT'S, UH, FOR WITH A, UH, EXCUSE ME, THE, UH, UM, BLANK OUT THE, UH, COMMUNITY GARDENS AND THE, UH, THE ADDITIONAL, UH, KINDA, UH, TYPES OF, OF PLANTINGS THAT WOULD BRING IN THE, THE, THE REST OF THE, THE WILDLIFE, WHETHER IT'S, IT COULD BE, UH, YOU KNOW, SMALL BIRD HOUSES OR, UH, BAT HOUSES, UH, THAT, THAT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE FUN TO, TO, TO INTRODUCE AS WELL.
BUT IT CURATES A DIVERSITY THROUGHOUT AND EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE IS, YOU KNOW, HELPS UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING AS WELL, EDUCATING THE, THE PEOPLE.
AND THE LAST ONE IS HERE IS, UH, KIND OF A BIG PICTURE OPINION OF PROBABLE CAUSE BASED ON ALL OF THE UNDERSTANDINGS AT THE MOMENT.
UM, AND WE HAVE IT TO WHERE IT'S WITHIN A RANGE, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS, IS FLUCTUATING SO, UH, DRASTICALLY.
I, I THINK WE'RE FINALLY GETTING TO WHERE IT'S STARTING TO BE STABLE.
BUT WE DO HAVE A 10% RANGE ON, ON BOTH ENDS FOR, JUST FOR PLANNING PURPOSES.
UM, AND SO THE, THE, UH, THE TOTAL AT THE MOMENT IS FROM, FROM 3.2 ALL THE WAY UP TO 4.0.
UM, IN, IN COST ESTIMATES FOR, FOR WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING ON THE, THE MASTER PLAN.
UH, WELL THANK YOU ALL AND, UH, COUNCILMAN BECKHAM.
STAY THERE BECAUSE MY FIRST QUESTIONS ARE FOR YOU.
UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENTS AND THE, YOU KNOW, MIGRATORY BIRDS WE'RE, WE'RE IN MIGRATION RIGHT NOW WITH HUNDREDS OF SPECIES OF BIRDS THAT COME THROUGH HERE.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO KNOW IF, UH, IF YOU'RE AWARE THAT SOUTHEAST TEXAS IS ONE OF TWO FLYWAYS FOR THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY MIGRATION.
UH, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY OCCURRING RIGHT NOW, TOO.
WE'RE KIND OF ON THE END OF THE SPRING MIGRATION INTO CANADA, AND THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER WHEN THEY GO BACK.
SO, UM, UH, SUGGESTING THAT, UM, YOU GUYS MEET WITH OUR BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE, UH, THERE ARE THREE MASTER GARDENERS THAT I HAVE APPOINTED TO THAT COMMITTEE, AND THEY WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IN, UH, GETTING A LIST OF NATIVE PLANTS AND THOSE THINGS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WERE NATIVE TO THIS AREA AND NOT NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, BRING IN FROM OTHER AREAS SO THAT WE CAN, UH, HAVE AN ATTRACTION FOR THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES AS WELL.
SO WOULD Y'ALL BE WILLING TO DO THAT FOR US? YES, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
WE ALSO HAVE, UM, OUR OWN, UM, AND IN THE OFFICE THAT, THAT, UH, UM, THAT IS CERTIFIED AS WELL, SO.
AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTIONS ARE FOR PAUL.
UM, IT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, BUT BACK IN SEPTEMBER, YOU AND I HAD A BRIEF CONVERSATION AT THE, AT THE POPUP, AND I WAS ASKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE FENCE LINE THAT'S AROUND ROSE HILL MANOR ITSELF.
THERE'S, THERE'S AN OLD, UH, KIND OF A ROCK WALL, AND SOME OF IT IS STILL THERE, AND SOME OF IT'S GONE, AND THEN THERE'S A DILAPIDATED HURRICANE FENCE AROUND IT.
HAVE Y'ALL MADE ANY, UM, ANY STRIVES TOWARDS, LIKE, WITH THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OR, OR WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH REGARD TO THAT FENCE LINE? WE HAVE NOT, UM, THAT PROPERTY WAS, WOULD YOU MOVE TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE? OH, YEAH,
SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE BACKGROUND DATA ON THAT SITE.
UM, I MEAN, WE CAN INVESTIGATE, UM, SOME MORE INTO THAT.
IT'S, UM, I, I UNDERSTAND IT IS A REGISTERED HISTORIC PLACE.
AND SO, AND IT WAS DEEDED TO THE CITY WITH THAT IT, THAT WILL COME WITH SOME RESTRICTIONS.
I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE, THE WALL SLASH FENCE ITSELF THOUGH.
UM, SO, AND IN THOSE CASES, WE DECIDE TO, UM, LEAVE IT BE IN AT THE MOMENT,
CHANDRA, COULD YOU STEP UP TO THE MIC AND MAYBE LET'S ELABORATE ON IT A LITTLE BIT.
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HELP THEM WHEN IT COMES TO THAT POINT SO THAT WE CAN GET WITH THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT VIOLATING ANY OF THE, UH, THE DEED WHEN THAT PROPERTY WAS DEEDED TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FROM THE ESTATE, UM, SO THAT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE THAT HURRICANE FENCE IS SUCH AN EYESORE, IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO ALLEVIATE THAT, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ASSIST THEM WITH THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL PRESENTATION.
IT IS NOT A CRITICISM OR ANYTHING.
IT NOT AN ADMONISHMENT, IT'S JUST SOMETHING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
YOU JUST CAN'T START A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE.
SIR, SIR, SIR, WE, WE ARE GONNA SPEAK ABOUT THAT.
WE, WE, WE ARE ON SOMETHING ELSE RIGHT NOW.
I'M, LET'S, LET'S, WE HAVE A QUESTION FOR THEM.
I WANNA TALK ABOUT, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE LATER.
[00:55:01]
DON'T HAVE TO INTERRUPT THE PRESENTATION.THEY COULD HAVE COMPLETED THEIR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION, SIR.
MA'AM, ARE WE ALLOWED ASK QUESTIONS? YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THEM ON, ON, ON THE, ON, ON THE, OUR PRESENTATION, SOMETHING THAT, JUST SOMETHING THAT WOULD, MIGHT BENEFIT THEM.
COME TO MIKE, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND, HI.
I JUST MOVED HERE DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON FROM CALIFORNIA.
UH, JUST MAKING SOME OBSERVATIONS OF THE AREA.
ONE HAS SPECIAL NEEDS, SO THE PARK IS A WONDERFUL THING FOR US.
WE DO LIVE NEXT TO ROSE HILL PARK, UM, IN AN OLD, UH, A HUNDRED YEAR OLD BUILDING THERE.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE THE, UM, PERSONALITY OF IT.
I THINK THE IMPROVEMENTS FOR ROSE HILL PARK WOULD BE FANTASTIC.
UM, I MIGHT ALSO SUGGEST THAT, UH, THEY DO SOMETHING THEY'RE DOING IN CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS HAVING BUSINESSES SPONSOR SECTIONS OF THE PARK TO HELP WITH COST OF LANDSCAPING OR EQUIPMENT.
UM, IT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE WITH OUR WALKING PATHS AND, UH, THE, THE AMOUNT OF THINGS THAT WE HAD AVAILABLE IN THOSE PATHS.
UH, SOME OF THE BUSINESSES WOULD COVER THE EXERCISE EQUIPMENT AND THE PLANTS AND HORTICULTURE, UM, AREAS.
SO PUBLIC SCAPE IS SPEAKING NERVOUS, SORRY,
BUT, UH, YEAH, JUST A BENEFIT THAT WE SAW AT THE PARKS THERE.
UH, I TALKED TO YOU ALL ABOUT LIGHTING UP THE SEA WALL SO PEOPLE CAN WALK AT NIGHT.
WE DID, UM, ACTUALLY REACH OUT TO A LIGHTING VENDOR FOR SOLAR LIGHTING, UM, AND PROVIDED SOME QUOTES FOR, UM, CHANDRA TO, UM, UH, TAKE AND, UM, AND DEAL WITH.
AND, UM, SO, UM, THAT'LL REALLY COME DOWN TO, UH, WHEN THE CITY'S, WHAT, WHAT BUDGET THE CITY WANTS TO PUT THAT IN.
IS IT GONNA BE A PARKS AND RECREATION PROJECT OR A TRANSPORTATION PROJECT? HOW YOU'RE GONNA FUND THAT.
BUT, UM, YOU DO HAVE A QUOTE, UM, AVAILABLE AS A STARTING POINT TO, UM, TO UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET FOR PUTTING LIGHTING ALONG THAT, FOR THAT WHOLE, UM, WHAT, I GUESS IT'S 6,000 FEET OF WALKWAY ALONG THERE.
THEY WANT, THEY DON'T HAVE TO, THEY COULD WALK AT NIGHT AS OPPOSED TO WITH THE SO AND MOTION DETECTORS, YOU KNOW, UH, THAT BE A MUCH SAFE AND MUCH COOLER AND MORE PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY PARTICIPATE IN, IN EXERCISING.
WHEREVER WE PUT IT, LET'S GET IT DONE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I WAS WANTED TO TALK, UM, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM, RECREATION, UH, PROGRAM, RECREATIONAL ASPECT OF IT.
YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE SOME PROGRAMS AND LOOK AT HAVING SOME PROGRAMS OUT THERE.
AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO THAT, IS THAT GOING TO BE AN INCREASE OF YOUR STAFF? AND HOW, HOW IS THAT GOING TO BE, UM, UH, PUT TOGETHER AND, UH, INCLUDED IN ALL OF THE IDEAS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING AT THE PARTY? AS OF RIGHT NOW IN LOOKING AT THE PROGRAM RECREATION, IT'S NOT GONNA COST AN INCREASE OF STAFF MAYBE IN THE YEARS TO COME.
BUT ONCE WE GET EVERYTHING BUILT AND TAKEN CARE OF AND THE PARK IS FLUCTUATING, WE JUST LIKE WE DO NOW, WE GRADUALLY INCREASE OUR PROGRAMMING TO FIT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO THAT MAY COME UP TO AN ISSUE.
I WOULD NEVER SAY, I DO NOT WANT ANYBODY TO GIVE ME ANY MORE STAFF, BUT JUST IN, UH, REFERENCE TO YOUR QUESTION AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW, WE'LL, WE'LL BE OKAY FOR RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND THAT, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY DURING THE CITY MANAGER'S, UH, PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
NOW YOU HAVE A REPORT BY STAFF REGARDING THE, UH, LEADERSHIP.
MAYOR, DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THE MASTER PLAN NOW? OH, EXCUSE ME.
EXCUSE ME BEFORE YOU COME UP, MA'AM.
UH, LOOK, LET'S GO TO, UH, PAGE EIGHT.
[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 23677 – A Resolution Approving And Adopting The Rose Hill Master Plan To Promote And Improve The Quality Of Life For The Citizens Of Port Arthur, Texas]
WE WANT TO LOOK AT PR NUMBER 2, 8 3 6, 7, 7.UH, THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD.
AND, UH, IT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND
[01:00:01]
ADOPTING THE ROLES HERE.MASTER PLAN TO PROMOTE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE CITIZENS OF PORT.
OH, I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
SO MAYOR MAY GET THE SECOND COUNCILMAN FRANK.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 6 7 7 AS READ, WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MA, ON THIS? LEMME JUST, LEMME JUST SHARE WITH COUNSEL THAT WE'RE NOT STARTING FROM SCRATCH.
WE DO HAVE AT LEAST A MILLION DOLLARS AVAILABLE ALREADY FROM THE EDC FROM YEARS BACK FOR THOSE BACKS.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? WE'RE NOT READY.
ALL IN FAVOR? A A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT.
SO IT IS ORDERED TO PR NUMBER 23.
SEVEN IS APPROVED AS, UH, PRESENTED.
[III.C.(2) A Report By Staff Regarding The Leadership Academy]
APPROACH MS. WILLIAMS. GOOD MORNING, UH, COUNCIL STAFF AND CITIZENS.UM, I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO JUST GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.
WE GAVE, UM, APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO THE CITY OF, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR UNDER THE, THE DIRECTION OF THE FORM.
FORMER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR REGINA DRAKE AND ALCHEMY CONSULTING GROUP CREATED THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY IN AUGUST OF 2022.
THE ACADEMY WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO TRACKS.
THE FIRST TRACK WAS FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND THAT TRACK CONSISTED OF WORKSHOP TOPICS SUCH AS BUILDING AND SUSTAINING TRUST, COMMUNICATIONS FOR IMPACT, LEVERAGING, CREATING AN INCLUSIVE CULTURE, UM, EFFECTIVE WRITING SKILLS FOR LEADERS, EMPLOYMENT LAW FOR MANAGERS, AND RESOLVING WORKPLACE CONFLICT.
THE SECOND TRACK WAS GEARED TOWARD OUR SUPERINTENDENTS AND SUPERVISORS.
THE WORKSHOP INCLUDED THE TOPICS, UM, THE SAME ONES FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS WITH ADDITIONAL TOPICS INCLUDING, UM, LEADERSHIP STYLES AND TWO SESSIONS ON BUD TO BOSS.
FOR FIRST TIME MANAGERS, THE ACADEMY WAS A NINE MONTH PROGRAM THAT HELPED TO IMPROVE BOTTOM LINE PERFORMANCE, ATTRACT AND RETAIN EMPLOYEES, DRIVE STRATEGY, EXECUTION, AND INCREASED SUCCESS IN NAVIGATING CHANGE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO COMPLETED THE ACADEMY.
IF YOU'RE PRESENT, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN MAKING THE ACADEMY A SUCCESS WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED.
SO I KNOW MS. FAYE IS OUTTA TOWN THIS WEEK, BUT MS. FAYE YOUNG, MR. GEORGE DAVIS, MR. STEVEN WILLIAMS, MS. BEVERLY FREEMAN, SHANDRA, ALPO, MS. SHANDRA ALPO, MS. JUDITH SMITH, MR. ROBERT HAVENS, CHIEF GREG BENSON, MS. DARLENE THOMAS PIERRE, MR. CALVIN MATTHEWS, MS. FOIA ROBERTS, MS. CRYSTAL MUELLER, MR. ROGERS COLLINS, MR. CLYDE TRAHAN, CHIEF TIMOTHY DSO, MS. PAMELA LANGFORD AND MS. SHARON FLANAGAN.
THOSE WERE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT COMPLETED THE ANNUAL, THE FIRST ANNUAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.
SO IF YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
SO ANY FUTURE, UH, LEADERSHIP ACADEMIES AND TRAININGS, UM, WILL BE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF OUR NEW TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR.
MS. SHARA HINTON, UH, SHE'S NOT PRESENT RIGHT NOW, BUT I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU ALL THAT SHE WILL BE THE NEW TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
[III.C.(3) A Report By Staff Regarding The April 10, 2024 Weather Event]
HAVE A, UH, REPORT UNDER THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS, UH, BY STAFF REGARDING THE APRIL 10TH, 2024 WEATHER EVENT HE'D WALK OUT.WE'RE WAITING FOR THE PERSON WITH THAT INFORMATION.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MAYOR, CITY SECRETARY.
ALRIGHT, JUST TO GIVE Y'ALL A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE TORNADIC EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE ON APRIL THE 10TH.
ON THE 10TH OF APRIL, AT APPROXIMATELY 5:26 AM UH, THE NATIONAL WEATHER
[01:05:01]
SERVICE ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING, UH, FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY.UM, DURING THAT TIME, SHORTLY AFTER WE STARTED RECEIVING NUMEROUS CALLS FOR SERVICE IN REFERENCE TO PEOPLE THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM.
UM, WE, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 5:00 AM AND 9:00 AM WE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 39 EMERGENCY CALL FOR SERVICE USING NINE ONE ONE.
UM, THERE WAS ANOTHER 123 CALLS FOR SERVICE THAT CAME IN THAT WERE MADE IN REFERENCE TO THE STORM THAT'S GONNA BE THE ALARMS, UM, DEBRIS IN THE ROADWAY.
UM, THE PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO CHECK ON PEOPLE THAT IN, IN THE AREA BECAUSE THEY, THEY HEARD ABOUT THE DAMAGE, UM, FROM THE STORM.
UM, IT WAS LATER CONFIRMED THAT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WAS, UH, IMPACTED BY EF TWO TORNADO, UH, WITH WINDS AT ABOUT 120 MILES PER HOUR.
THAT IS WHAT ACTUALLY IMPACTED OUR CITY.
UM, OUR ASSESSMENT TEAM PLANNING AND UM, DEVELOPMENT, UH, BEGAN CONDUCTING ASSESSMENTS OF THE CITY, UH, WHICH IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE MOST HEAVILY IMPACTED AREA WAS BETWEEN SHREVEPORT GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN TO WOODWORTH WOODWORTH BOULEVARD OVER THE END OF THE ROSE HILL.
SO WE'LL TAKE SHREVEPORT 19TH AND WE'LL GO DIAGONAL ALL THE WAY ACROSS TO, UM, TO THE AREA OF ROSE HILL.
UM, ASSESSMENT OF THE HEAVILY IMPACTED AREAS REVEALED THAT THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106 RESIDENTS THAT WERE DAMAGED HERE IN THE CITY, UM, IN THAT HEAVILY IMPACTED AREA, SHALL I SAY.
UM, ANOTHER SIX COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES WERE IMPACTED.
THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 2,500 CITIZENS WHO WERE WITHOUT POWER DURING THAT TIME OF THE STORM, WHICH ENERGY DID A GREAT JOB OF RESTORING.
WE HAD A WATERLINE WHICH WAS DAMAGED.
UM, AND, UH, UH, UH, UTILITIES TEAM DID A GREAT JOB, UH, WITH GETTING THAT REPAIRED AND THE BE REMOVAL.
AND I LIKE TO COMMEND OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM FOR ON A GREAT JOB OF CLEARING THE ROADWAYS AND GETTING EVERYTHING UP AND GOING.
UH, I STARTED RECEIVING CALLS FROM OFFICERS EARLY AT APPROXIMATELY FIVE O'CLOCK IN REFERENCE TO DEBRIS.
AND WHEN I CALLED MRS. ROBERTS, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, HER TEAM WAS ALREADY OUT THERE ON IT.
SO THAT, THAT WAS A GREAT JOB ON THEM.
UM, WITH ALL OF THESE THINGS, THE DISASTER DECLARATION WAS ISSUED BY GOVERNOR ABBOTT.
UM, ANOTHER DISASTER DECLARATION WAS FOLLOWED UP BY MAYOR BARTEE FOR OUR CITY.
UM, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AT THIS TIME ARE STILL CALCULATING, UM, DAMAGE EXPENDITURES DUE TO THE TORNADIC EVENT FOR OUR COUNTY.
UM, OF COURSE, I SHOWED THE NUMBERS FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY TO MEET OUR THRESHOLD IS 1.3 MILLION.
UM, AND FOR THE STATE, WE HAVE TO REACH THE THRESHOLD OF 52.6 MILLION.
HOWEVER, WE DID SPEAK WITH OUR REGIONAL COORDINATOR WHO STATED THAT DUE TO THE DISASTER DECLARATIONS BEING ISSUED, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF SBA LOANS BEING ISSUED OUT TO THIS AREA.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GONNA HAPPEN, BUT AS SOON AS IT DOES, WE'LL INFORM THE MANAGER AND STAFF IN, IN REFERENCE TO THIS.
ANY QUESTIONS? AND ANY, ANY, OKAY.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES, UH, I'VE BEEN GETTING CALLS.
PEOPLE THAT DON'T, DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE INSURANCE, THEY GOT DAMAGE TO THEIR PROPERTIES AND THEN THEY WANTING TO KNOW ARE THERE GONNA BE ANY HELP WITHIN THE FUTURE.
NOW, WHAT YOU WERE SAYING THAT HAS NOT BEEN DECIDED YET? NOT AS OF YET.
THAT HASN'T COME OUT AS OF YET, SIR.
SO I'LL JUST HAVE TO LET 'EM KNOW THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN DECIDED.
ONE THING, UH, JUST GIVE YOU A TITLE, UH, AND YOUR POSITION SO PEOPLE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
THAT'S THE FIRST THING I WANT YOU TO DO.
I'M SORRY, HAVE JEREMY HOUSTON, DEPUTY CHIEF AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
THANK YOU CHIEF AND AND CHIEF, YOU DID A MAGNIFICENT JOB.
I SAW THE PRESS CONFERENCE, UH, GIVING OUR, OUR CITIZENS THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO KNOW WHAT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENED SO QUICK IN THAT AREA.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.
UH, CHIEF, UH, PLEASE, THAT'S IMPERATIVE.
I THINK COUNCILMAN LEWIS IS KIND OF LEADING WHAT I WANT TO SAY, THE SBA LOANS.
MAKE SURE AS SOON AS YOU GET NOTIFICATION OR THE CITY MANAGER OR THE CITY, BECAUSE WE DID HAVE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS, I GOT A LOT OF PHONE CALLS ABOUT, OKAY, HEY, MY HOUSE IS MESSED UP.
YOU KNOW, WHO CAN I CONTACT? WHERE CAN I CONTACT, WHERE CAN I GO TO, YOU KNOW, GET SOME SERVICES.
SO AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, COULD YOU GET THIS INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC? YES, SIR.
AS SOON AS WE GET IT, WE WILL PASS THAT INFORMATION TO THE MANAGER AND THE MAYOR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DOUCETTE? YES.
[01:10:01]
SIR.I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS, SIR.
THE FIRST ONE, UH, BEING, UH, THE GOVERNOR HAS DESIGNATED CERTAIN COUNTIES, UH, IN AREAS FOR THE DECLAR, THE DECLARATION.
SO, UH, THAT MEANS THAT JESSON COUNTY HAS REQUESTED FOR HIM TO DECLARE IT.
UH, THE NEXT QUESTION IS WHAT OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
AND THE MAYOR HAS, UH, ISSUED A DECLARATION YES, SIR.
ONCE THE MAYOR ISSUED A DECLARATION OF DISASTER, THEN ALSO WE CAN DO THINGS, UH, IN THOSE UNDER THAT.
WHEREBY THE CITY TAKES THE COST.
AND I, AND I HEARD, UH, YOU TALK ABOUT THE TRASH PICKUP AND, AND HOW GREAT A JOB THEY DID WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC WORKS, GOT OUT THERE, GOT THE CLEANING UP AND TAKING EVERYTHING OUT THE STREETS.
AND, UH, THE CITY DONE A GREAT JOB OF NOTIFYING CITIZENS THAT THE TRASH AND STUFF WILL NOW GO TO A DELAY BECAUSE OF THIS EMERGENCY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY EMERGENCY AND DECLARATION.
BUT MY QUESTION IS, WHY DIDN'T WE INITIATE THE DEBRIS PICK UP THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE AND LET THEM COME AND CLEAR THAT AND PICK IT UP, YOU KNOW? UH, OR IS IT, UH, UH, IT TOOK TOO LONG TO DEMO TO MOBILIZE THEM AND GET HERE? NO.
UM, PUBLIC WORKS HAS ACTUALLY, UM, ACTIVATED, UH, THEIR, THEIR CONTRACT FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL.
UM, I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC TIME AS FAR AS WHEN THEY WILL BE IN, I WOULD HAVE TO, UM, HAVE MRS. ROBERTS, UH, SPEAK ON THAT, OR THE MANAGER, LEMME ANSWER.
THIS COUNCIL HAS ALREADY APPROVED A RESOLUTION FOR $75,000 IN THE EVENT OF A DISASTER OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE THAT WE COULD GO AHEAD AND ACTIVATE IT.
UM, AND THAT IS A PART FROM WHAT'S IN PLACE FOR THE HURRICANES, THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, THE CONTRACTS THAT WE DO NORMALLY HAVE.
SO WE HAVE THAT IN PLACE AND IT GOES UP TO $75,000.
SO THEY WILL BE IN, ON, UM, I THINK THEY WILL BE IN SOMETIME TODAY OR TOMORROW.
BECAUSE WHAT WE, WHAT WE SAW THAT A LOT OF THE DEBRIS THAT WE SAW ON THAT DAY CAME FROM THE FRONT.
PEOPLE ARE CLEANING UP THEIR BACKYARDS AND SO ON, AND THEY WILL BE HAULING THAT TOWARDS THE STREETS RIGHT NOW.
SO AS THE DAYS GO BY, YOU CONTINUE TO SEE THE PILES BEING, YOU KNOW, UM, PILING UP, YOU KNOW, ON THE STREETS.
SO, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO DO, GET THAT GOING.
THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH WE NEEDED TO GET IMMEDIATE HELP, THAT'S WHAT WE TOOK.
BUT AS THE STUFF GOT PILED UP, OUR CREWS SHOULD NOT BE PICKING UP ALL THIS STUFF.
THEY'LL NEVER STAY ON SCHEDULE.
THE, THE, UH, A CONTRACTOR MM-HMM.
AND ONCE THEY ASSIST US, THEN WE GET ALL THIS STUFF UP AND OUT OF THE, UH, OFF THE SIDES OF THE STREET.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING CITY, MANDY, IS THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE, TRACTORS YES.
AND THEY SHOULD BE HERE ANYTIME FROM TODAY.
UM, AND WE KEPT IT BELOW $75,000.
WELL, WE GOT 75,000, BUT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY AND A DISASTER THIS NATURE, THEN WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK IN A AMEN.
SO BASICALLY WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO GET THIS JOB DONE, AND IF IT'S MORE THAN 75,000 TO BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL.
BUT WE WANT THIS STUFF PICKED UP AND OUT OF THE WAY SO WE CAN CONTINUE WITH OUR REGULAR TEAM.
WE WERE JUST TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE WITH THOSE.
MY, I DON'T SEE IT, BUT MY APPARATUS'S NOT WORKING.
IF I LOOK DOWN, I DIDN'T SEE IT THE FIRST TIME I LOOKED DOWN THERE.
A A FEW WEEKS AGO, UM, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HAD COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL, SO IT WAS KIND OF DEJA VU WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND THE SITUATION.
SO I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT AND A THANKS TO MR. MICHAEL CHAMBERS.
UH, AND HE WAS, UM, UH, ON THE SCENE TRYING TO CONTACT AS MANY PEOPLE AS HE COULD.
BUT I HAVE GOTTEN CALLS FROM SOME PEOPLE THAT I TALKED TO WHO STILL HAVE NOT, UH, CONNECTED WITH THE RED CROSS, AND I TALKED TO THE MR. CHAMBERS YESTERDAY ABOUT THAT.
BUT IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN COORDINATE WITH SOME OF THE CALLS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AND GET INFORMATION TO OUR CITIZENS, HOW THEY CAN CONTACT, UH, THE RED CROSS? BECAUSE I THINK MR. CHAMBERS IS OPERATING
[01:15:01]
IN THE CITY BY HIMSELF, AND WITH THE, UM, WITH THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS QUITE THIS MANY, BUT WITH THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, WE NEED, UM, A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION FROM THE RED CROSS THAN, THAN JUST MR. CHAMBERS.
I UNDERSTAND, UH, INITIALLY, UH, THAT THEY WERE ASKING HIM TO GET TO LUMBERTON OR TO GET OUT OF THE AREA.
UM, BUT, UM, OUR NEED WAS SO GREAT, UH, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SAY TO THEM, WE NEED SOMEONE HERE, UH, AS WELL.
BUT I THINK WE, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN COORDINATE, UH, WITH THE A RED CROSS, BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOT GOTTEN FOOD OR NOT GOTTEN, UH, THE MONEY, I THINK THAT RED CROSS GIVES IN THESE SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES.
I COULD GET WITH, UM, THE RED CROSS AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, GET WITH OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER TO PUT OUT INFORMATION WHETHER CITIZENS CAN REACH OUT TO RED CROSS AND GET THAT, GET WITH THEM.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL AND, UH, AS SOME OF THE COUNCIL, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THIS, UH, INDIVIDUALS ACTUALLY HAVE SHOWN UP HERE AT THE CITY HALL WHO GET THE INFORMATION, UH, OUR, UH, SECURITY AS WELL AS THE STAFF.
SOME OF 'EM IN HERE NOW HAVE, UH, INTERACTED WITH CITIZENS SINCE THE, UH, TORNADO.
'CAUSE THEY'VE COME AND THEY WANT THE CITY TO REPAIR THEIR HOMES AND WITH THE DECLARATION.
AND WE HAVE A, UH, SOMETHING ON, ON THE AGENDA TODAY TO CONTINUE THE DECLARATION BECAUSE IF THE GOVERNOR CAN, UH, MAKE THE DECISION, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT HE'S GONNA GET SOME FEDERAL HELP THAT'S GONNA BE SENT DOWN TO TEXAS, IF WE COULD, IF WE DISCONTINUE IT, THAT MEANS WE DON'T NEED IT.
SO WE, WE, WE, WE HAVE IT, I THINK, UH, FOR SEVEN MORE DAYS.
AND THEN WE WILL, WE JUST DO IT THE WAY WE DID DURING, UH, COVID AND THE OTHERS, WHERE, YOU KNOW, EVERY, EVERY OTHER WEEK, WE WOULD JUST, YOU RENEW IT, EXTEND IT UNTIL, SO WE CAN BE PREPARED AND THE CITIZENS CAN RECEIVE WHATEVER FEDERAL HELP WOULD BE AVAILABLE IF IT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE.
BUT WE THINK, WE THINK Y'ALL WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE BECAUSE, AND EVEN THE STAFF, UH, PUTTING TOGETHER INFORMATION THAT, UH, WE COULD USE TO HELP THE CITIZENS, UH, THE, THE BLESSING EVEN IN THIS CATASTROPHE, IF YOU WILL, THE FACT THAT NO LIVES WERE LOST.
AND THERE WERE NOT EVEN INJURIES WHERE HOMES WERE KNOCKED OFF OF THEIR PILLOWS OR THEIR FOUNDATIONS WITH OCCUPANCY INSIDE, YET THOSE PERSONS DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURY.
AND SO WE THANK GOD FOR THAT AND WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND THE CHIEF, UH, EVERY DEPARTMENT.
I LIKE TO THAT, THAT, THAT WORKED WITH YOU ALL IN THIS MAN.
I LIKE TO COMMEND EVERY DEPARTMENT.
I MEAN, EVERY, IT WAS ALL HANDS ON DECK.
EVERYONE WAS HELPING OUT, UH, DURING THAT EVENT, EVERY DEPARTMENT.
I LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND LET MR. BURTON KNOW THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT REALLY, TRULY DID A GREAT JOB.
AND, AND EVERYONE RESPONDED POSITIVELY.
SO WE APPRECIATE IT WITH, WITH THE RESILIENCE OF BEING IN PORT ARTHUR AND OUR, OUR, UH, REACTIONS TO THIS.
AND NOW WHAT, EXCUSE ME, WHAT WE'LL DO, WE WILL REMOVE TO, UH, NOW WE HAVE, UH, DISCUSSIONS, UH, ON PAGE TWO, WHICH I'M GETTING EVERYTHING, UH, YEAH.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY, ANY EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION OR CORRESPONDENCE.
YOU SAID ABOUT EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION.
SO CITY MANAGER, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THOSE TEAMS ARE RE REACTING AND CLEANED UP FOR THE STORM AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
I DON'T WANNA GET AHEAD OF MYSELF LIKE I DID THE LAST TIME.
[III.F.(1) A Discussion And Possible Action Regarding The Woodworth Boulevard Project (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]
AND POSSIBLE, WELL, DISCUSSIONS AND, UH, REGARDING THE, UH, WOOD WOODWARD BOULEVARD PROJECT, AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE.UH, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION BY WOODWARD BOULEVARD, SO I'M NOT GONNA REHASH THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
UH, WE HAD CITIZENS COME BEFORE US, AND, UH, THEIR CONCERNS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ONE THAT, UH,
[01:20:01]
I'VE HAD WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.UH, I WAS TALKING WITH A COUNCILMAN AND HE SAID THAT I'VE BEEN FIGHTING THE PROJECT SINCE I GOT ON COUNCIL.
I'VE BEEN FIGHTING IT SINCE BEFORE I GOT ON COUNCIL.
I'M NOT AGAINST THE RENOVATION OF WOODWARD BOULEVARD.
I'M AGAINST TAKING STREET MONEY FROM THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION TO DO BEAUTIFICATION AND STREET SCAPE OF WOODWORTH BOULEVARD.
THAT'S WHAT I AM FIGHTING AND I'M AGAINST.
AND SOME OF THE REASONS THAT I'VE DONE IT, I GAVE THE, UH, SECRETARY, UM, THE INFORMATION TO MAKE MATTER OF RECORD.
SO I DON'T HAVE TO KEEP TELLING THAT TO, UH, INCLUDE THIS IN THE RECORD, AND I'LL MAKE THIS AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE.
BUT THE REASON I'VE BEEN OPPOSED TO THIS PROJECT, THIS PROJECT HAS VIOLATED SOME THINGS.
I FEEL THAT VERY IMPORTANT WITH THE COUNCIL.
AND I, THIS PROJECT WENT FROM ONE COUNCIL OBTAINING MONEY FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, AND ANOTHER COUNCIL COMING ON AND FEELING THIS COULD BE USED FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE, UH, FROM EVERYBODY YOU TALK TO.
SOME PEOPLE SAY YES, SOME PEOPLE SAY NO.
I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT IMPORTANT TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS ONE, HOW CITIZENS FEEL ABOUT IT.
AND I THINK THE CITIZEN EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT IT.
AND TWO, HOW DID WE DO THE PROJECT? OKAY.
THE PROJECT ITSELF IS LIKE TRANSPARENCIES.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE TEXAS, UH, OPEN MEETING ACT CLEARLY TELL US.
WE HAVE A CITY ORDINANCE, UH, AND THAT'S CHAPTER TWO, SECTION 31 E OF OUR CITY ORDINANCE CLEARLY STATES HOW WE OUGHT TO PLACE ITEM AND APPROVE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, AND ALSO TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SEC, UH, CHAPTER 1 0 2, SECTIONS 1 0 2, 0 2 0 0 2, AND SECTION 1 0 2 0 0 3, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OPEN MEETING ACT.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE, UH, INFORMATION IN RESOLUTION THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN REFERENCE TO THAT, THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED TO BE A RECONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF WOODWORTH BOULEVARD.
THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
AND THERE WAS A COMPANY THAT WAS HIRED TO DO THE DESIGN TO RECONSTRUCT AND CONSTRUCT WOODWARD BOULEVARD.
AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN ESTIMATED COST OF $3 MILLION.
IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL BECAUSE WE TALKING ABOUT CONSTRUCTING THE STREET.
ALTHOUGH THAT RESOLUTION IN ITSELF VIOLATED, UH, CHAPTER TWO, SECTION 31 E BECAUSE IT WAS PLACED ON THE AGENDA AND IT WAS APPROVED, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE, THEY DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDING ALLOCATED IN THAT BUDGET FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE CODES SAY, THE CODE SAY, IF IT'S NOT ON THE BUDGET, WHEN YOU APPROVE THE BUDGET, THEN YOU MUST HAVE AN ORDINANCE AT THE MEETING WHEN YOU APPROVE IT.
OKAY? AND, UM, ALSO THE OTHER ONE IS CHAPTER TWO, SECTION, UH, TWO, UH, 1 31.
THE PROJECT INCLUDED IN 2023 AND 24 PHYSICAL YEAR BUDGET.
WELL, IT WASN'T APPROVED WHEN WE DID THE BUDGET, THEREFORE, THE REQUEST FOR FUNDING WAS NOT ACCOMPANIED IN IT.
THE RESOLUTIONS, EVERY RESOLUTION DEALING WITH THAT PROJECT.
THE FIRST RESOLUTION, 21 542, AUTHORIZING $3 MILLION FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF WOODWORTH BOULEVARD, RESOLUTION 22,284, UH, REQUESTING AN ADDITION, UH, ACCOMP TO DO THE DESIGN RESOLUTION 23 1 49.
THAT RESOLUTION THERE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE AMENDED ORIGINAL RESOLUTION AND APPROVE FOUR TH $4,200,000 ADDITIONAL.
AND IN THAT TIME, IT SAYS THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THE RECONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE STREET.
THEN THE FINAL RESOLUTION WAS RESOLUTION 23, UH, DASH 5 29.
AND THAT RESOLUTION STATED THAT, UH, IT WILL TAKE AN ADDITIONAL $7 MILLION GETTING TO A TOTAL OF $14.2 MILLION.
WELL, EACH ONE OF THOSE RESOLUTION, EVERY TIME IT CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL, NONE OF IT WAS PLACED IN A BUDGET.
THEREFORE, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AMENDMENT TO THE, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BUDGET.
[01:25:01]
THE LAST RESOLUTION, 23 DASH 5 59 WAS DISTURB WAS DISTURBING ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR, UH, RESOLUTION.AND CASE COUNCIL WASN'T AWARE.
THE, UH, I STATED TO THE COUNCIL THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE ON THERE IN THAT FORM.
IT SHOULD ALSO BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE IN THE BUDGET TO AMEND THE BUDGET.
RATHER, AT THAT MEETING, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR CAME UP AND SHE SAID, YES, THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
WHEN THE CITY ATTORNEY WAS QUESTIONED, THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID, MY OFFICE DID NOT SIGN OFF ON THAT RE RESOLUTION.
WHEN THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYS, MY OFFICE DID NOT SIGN ON THAT RESOLUTION.
EVERY RESOLUTION WE HAVE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SIGNED OFF AND APPROVED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY BEFORE COMING BEFORE COUNCIL.
WITH THAT INFORMATION PRESENTED TO COUNCIL, COUNCIL STILL VOTED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS DELAY IT, BRING IT BACK WITH AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BUDGET.
OKAY? DURING THE WHOLE PROCESS OF TALKING ABOUT MONIES, WE SAID THAT MONEY WAS AVAILABLE IN UNALLOCATED STREET FUNDS IN THE BUDGET.
NO MONEY IS PLACED IN THE BUDGET THAT IS UNALLOCATED, THAT'S FOLLOWING THE, UH, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, UH, 1 0 2 SECTION 0 0 2 AND 0 0 3, IN WHICH ALL ITEMS, ALL PROJECTS.
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SAID, ALL PROJECTS THAT ARE PLACED SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE BUDGET, AND THE ESTIMATED COST FOR EACH ONE SHOULD ACCOMPANY THAT.
SO ALL IN ALL, YOU KNOW, I, I SEEN THESE THINGS COME BEFORE US SAYING THE COUNCIL HAS NOMINATED OR DESIGNATED WHAT WE, EXCUSE, COUNCILMAN, YOU'VE ACTUALLY GONE OVER THE TIME FOR, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WHAT YOU WRAP IT UP, JEREMIAH, PLEASE.
MAYOR, SIR, APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION, BUT I'M, I'M ABOUT, I'M ABOUT THROUGH MAYOR.
SO, AS I WAS STATING, WHEN WE GET TO THE END OF ALL THIS, YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND, AND WHAT ARE CITIZENS AWARE OF.
AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, YOU KNOW, WE VIOLATING ORDINANCE, WE VIOLATING LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, AND WE HAVE ATTORNEYS SAYING, NO, AND WE DO IT ANYWAY.
SO I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND IT'S BEEN SAID THAT, UH, I'M AGAINST, I'M NOT AGAINST IT, BUT WE'VE BEEN VOTING ON THE INDIVIDUAL.
TODAY, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION THAT THE MONEY THAT WE USE FOR WOODWORTH BOULEVARD BE THE MONIES THAT ARE ALLOCATED FOR STREET CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION.
AND THAT WE DO NOT USE ANY MONEY FROM THE STREET FARM, FROM THE SALES OR CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DOING THE STREET SCAPE OR ANY BEAUTIFICATION PORTION OF THAT ROAD.
IF WE WANNA DO IT, LET'S DO IT WITH SOME FUNDING.
BUT LET, LET'S NOT TAKE STREET MONEY THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN OUR DISTRICTS, NOT ON A PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT IS SUPPORTED BY ONLY CERTAIN MEMBERS.
AND IN THIS CASE, WE SAY FOUR MEMBERS IS A MAJORITY, BUT MAJORITY DON'T OVERRULE THESE ORDINANCE.
OKAY? COUNCIL OR THESE CODE? COUNCILMAN YOU, YOU AT THE TIME, HAS IT BEEN EXPENDED? NOW, UH, WE, WE, WE HAD CALLED FOR A MOTION TO APPRECIATE YOUR REMARKS.
APPEAL COUNCIL, I WOULD APPEAL.
BUT ALL DUE RESPECT, WE'VE GIVEN YOU THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND ACTUALLY, UH, ACTUALLY, WE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ALMOST ABOUT THREE MINUTES.
AM I CORRECT? CITY SECRETARY? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME? BUT WE'VE GONE, WE'VE GONE NINE AND A HALF MINUTES, ALMOST MAYOR, ON THIS MAYOR, MAYOR POINT OF MAYOR, WAIT A MINUTE.
I I UNDERSTAND YOUR RULING, MAYOR.
I DON'T HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT.
I'LL APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL TO LET ME FINISH.
I'LL APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL TO ALLOW ME TO WRAP UP NOW.
HOW LONG, UH, SIR? LET WRAP IT UP.
HOW LONG TO WRAP IT UP? WELL, MAY, IF NO, YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE WRAPPING IT UP ABOUT THREE MINUTES AGO.
[01:30:01]
DON'T NEED TO GET NO, I'M JUST ASKING.I'M ASKING, MAYOR, I JUST GOT PERMISSION FROM THE COUNCIL.
YOU JUST, NO, SIR, I HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON IT YET.
CALL, SO I ASK, I'M ASKING YOU MANY MINUTES.
HOW MANY MINUTES, SIR? I'M JUST BEING EMPHATIC ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME? THREE MINUTES.
UH, MOTION TO, UH, WRAP UP OR GET TO A CONCLUSION WITHIN THREE MINUTES HAS BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND, ARE WE READY TO VOTE ON THAT? YES.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES BEGINNING NOW.
IT IS, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, I, I'M GONNA MAKE THE MOTION AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA VOTE AND I'M GONNA REQUEST THAT WE DO A ROLL CALL, VOTE ON IT.
AND AT THAT TIME, UH, COUNSEL NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT I SAID ABOUT THESE VIOLATIONS, AND I'M NOT GOING TO ACCEPT, UH, SPENDING ANY MONEY FOR BEAUTIFICATION AND, AND, AND, AND A STREETS SCAPE.
AND I DON'T WANT COUNCIL TO THINK THAT, UH, IT'S PERSONAL WITH ME.
IT'S JUST THAT IT IS ALL ABOUT HOW WE DO BUSINESS.
AND THAT IS NOT THE GENERAL ACCEPTABLE ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOR, FOR GOVERNMENT IN FINANCE.
OKAY? SO IF THERE'S NO COMMENTS, I'LL MAKE A, I'LL MAKE MY, UH, MOTION.
AND, UM, IF IT IS A COMMENT, THEN I'LL WAIT, MAYOR.
OKAY? AND WE HAVE, YOU HAVE EXTENDED, WE'VE GIVEN YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO YOUR PRESENTATION.
MAYOR, I NEVER ACCEPTED THE MOTION, SIR.
MAYOR, YOU, YOU A SECOND IN A VOTE, MAYOR.
I DIDN'T NEVER HEAR THAT, SO, NO, NO, WE'RE GOING, I HAVEN'T MADE THE MOTION.
BUT YOU WERE SAYING IT, BUT, AND NO ONE, NO.
I SAID, IF NO ONE HAS, GO RIGHT IN, SIR, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
DON'T TRY TO JUST, JUST, JUST FOLLOW ALONG.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE MONIES THAT WE EXTEND FOR THE WOODWORK PROJECT BE ONLY SPENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BOULEVARD ITSELF.
AND ANY MONIES FOR THE STREETSCAPE OR BEAUTIFICATION OF THAT PROJECT BE FUNDED IN ANY OTHER MAN EXCEPT TAKING MONEY FROM THE CERTIFICATE OBLIGATIONS FOR STREET FUNDS FOR WHICH WE, UH, OBTAIN THOSE OBLIGATIONS.
SECOND, OKAY, IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND, BUT ATTORNEY CALL.
NOW, WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED THIS.
NOW HE'S MAKING A MOTION TO DIS APPROVE OR JUST, UH, VACATE EVERYTHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DECIDED ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
HOW, HOW DO WE HANDLE THAT? I, I THINK IT'S, IT'S A PROPER MOTION.
HE'S ENTITLED TO BRING UP THE MOTION.
IT WOULD BE, AS HE STATED, TALKING TO MIKE FOR ME, PLEASE, SO I CAN HEAR YOU BETTER.
AND THE MOTION, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS TO REMOVE THE FUNDING FROM THE STREETSCAPE AND PUT IT BACK INTO STREETS REPAIRS.
SO I, I'M, THAT'S, THAT'S THE MOTION BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
BUT I'M, I'M WANTING TO UNDERSTAND FOR MYSELF, HOW DOES THAT FUNCTION, OR HOW DOES THAT CAUSE US TO VACATE WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED BY THIS COUNCIL FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT? I THINK THAT A MOTION CAN IS IN ORDER TO RESCIND A PREVIOUS MOTION.
AND SO THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD, IF THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO DO SO, THAT WOULD VACATE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED ON THAT.
WELL, JUST THE CONTENTS OF THAT MOTION.
THE, THE FUNDING FOR THE STREETSCAPE.
YOU SAID THE FUNDING, IT WOULD, I, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR.
I WANT EVERYBODY BE, I WANNA BE CLEAR, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION WERE FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND A PORTION OF THOSE THAT FUNDING WAS USED WAS ALLOCATED TO WHAT WE CALL STREETS SCAPE, WHICH WAS THE, UH, THE, UH, PALM TREES AND BENCHES AND OTHER AMENITIES RELATED TO THE STREETS.
AND YOUR BONDING ATTORNEY I HAVE TALKED WITH, AND YOU TOLD ME THAT THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION WAS BROAD ENOUGH TO INCLUDE OTHER RELATED IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THE COUNCIL, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, CHOSE TO DO THAT.
AND THIS MOTION IS TO RETURN THAT MONEY OR TAKE THAT MONEY BACK FROM THAT, THAT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE, UH, STREET SCAPE.
NOW WITH, TO SOME SORT OF STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
OKAY? NOW, WITH THAT, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE PROPOSED, UH, PROJECT? HOW WOULD THAT AFFECT THE FINANCING? UH, AND, AND, AND I'M, I'M ASKING FOR SPECIFIC REASONS.
[01:35:01]
DON'T KNOW AT THIS, IT WOULD BE THE FUNDING.NO, BUT IF, IF, IF WE WERE TO DO THIS, THEN CITY MANAGER, OKAY, HOW DO WE NOW FUND THE PROJECT? WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY ALLOCATED.
OKAY, SO THAT MEAN THE PROJECT DIES OR GOES AWAY? NO, NO.
MAYBE WITH SOME MIGHT WHAT I'M THINKING.
LET ME ADDRESS, MAY I, MAY I SAY SOMETHING? YEAH, YEAH.
MAY I SPEAK TO THE MOTION? YEAH.
WE TRYING TO BE TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL.
IT WOULD DE THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S WHY THE MOTION IS BEING MADE.
AND THAT'S WHAT EXACTLY IS HAPPENING.
AND TRANSPIRING, WE ARE TRYING TO KILL THE PROJECT, AND IT, IT, WE CAN PUT IT IN ANY OTHER WORD PROJECT ON, HOLD ON.
I JUST WANT CLARITY ON WHICH PROJECT, BUT I'M SPEAKING HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.
THE ONE WE ADDRESS, COUNCILMAN, EVERYBODY'S GONNA GET A CHANCE TO TALK.
HERE WE ADDRESS COUNCILMAN, EVERYBODY'S GONNA GET A CHANCE TO TALK.
UH, I'M GOING TO SAY IT ONE MORE TIME.
THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE AIM TO KILL THE PROJECT.
IF WE, IF WE ALLOW THE FUNDING TO GO BACK, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO PULL RESOURCES FROM SOMEWHERE OUT ELSE, FUND BALANCE AND ALL OF THAT.
AND IT WOULD JUST BE BEGIN THIS ELONGATED PROCESS TO KILL THE PROJECT.
THE, THE, THE, THE, UH, ATTORNEY HAS SAID THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN A RULING THAT WE CAN DO THIS.
AND I, THE, THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO SAY AS WELL WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCILMAN ETT MADE ALL OF THESE, UM, STATEMENTS ABOUT RESOLUTIONS AND GOING THROUGH IT, UH, AND ALL OF THAT.
AND I WOULD WANT TO HAVE ALL OF THAT CHECKED BEFORE I WOULD EVEN CONSIDER MAKING THAT MOTION.
AND THOSE THINGS HAVE NOT BEEN CHECKED.
THEY'VE NOT BEEN CHECKED BY OUR ATTORNEY, UH, PRECISELY.
AND SO HE BRINGS THEM UP AND HE MAKES THAT STATEMENT.
AND IT SOUNDS PROFESSIONAL, AND IT SOUNDS GOOD, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
BUT IT, BUT, BUT IT'S NOT BEEN CHECKED AND VERIFIED.
WHAT HAS BEEN CHECKED AND VERIFIED IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE CHECKED TO SEE IF WE COULD APPROPRIATE THESE MONIES FROM STREETS TO DO THE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE SEEKING TO DO FOR OUR CITY.
AND THAT HAS BEEN CHECKED, BUT WE'RE CONTINUALLY TALKING ABOUT THIS.
WE'RE CONTINUALLY PROJECTING, UH, THIS, THAT WE ARE MISAPPROPRIATING AND DOING ALL THAT, AND, UH, MISAPPROPRIATING MONIES AND, AND GOING FORTH WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF OUR CITY, UH, AND OUR CITIZENS WHEN IN FACT WE DO TALK TO CITIZENS.
AND THERE IS A PROPORTION OF OUR CITIZENS WHO WANT TO SEE THIS PROJECT AND WHO WANT TO SEE THIS GO FORWARD.
SO I APPRECIATE THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO SEE IT DONE, WHO COME AND SHARE.
AND YOU'VE VOICED YOUR OPINIONS, BUT THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T COME HAVE A VOICE AS WELL.
AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO THEM, THEY HAVE SPOKEN TO ME, AND BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT HERE, THEY ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT THIS PROJECT GO ON.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I WILL NOT BE VOTING, UH, TO, TO MOVE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE PROJECT THAT WE ARE GOING FORWARD ON.
THIS, THIS IS KIND OF, THIS IS KIND OF FUNNY TO ME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALREADY HAD COM UH, COMMUNICATIONS WITH SOME OF THE CITIZENS OUT THERE.
UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU KNOW, MADE A STATEMENT, WHICH WE NEED TO CLARIFY TODAY, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT TRUE.
UH, WE, YOU, HE SAID THAT THE, THE ATTORNEY DIDN'T SIGN OFF ON, UH, ON THE PAPERWORK WHEN WE, WE DECIDED TO TAKE HIS VOTE.
ALSO, HE ALSO STATED THAT THE ATTORNEY DIDN'T, UH, DIDN'T TELL THE PA CCC THAT WE COULD NOT DO IT.
THAT'S NOT TRUE, SHE GUESS FOR RECORD.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE MEETING, SHE SAID WE COULD DO IT.
THE, THE BOND ATTORNEY SAID THAT WE CAN DO IT.
NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, HE'S MAKING THE ILLUSION THAT WE ARE NOT DOING STREETS.
WHEN HE WAS OFF THE COUNCIL FOR THREE YEARS, WE CONTINUED DOING STREETS.
WE'VE BEEN DOING STREETS FOR THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS.
WE HAVE NEVER STOPPED DOING STREETS.
BUT THE ILLUSION IS OUT THERE THAT WE'RE TAKING MONEY OUTTA STREETS AND, UH, USING WOODWORK TO BEAUTIFY THE CITY THAT WE ALL LIVE IN.
[01:40:02]
AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO HOODWINK THE CITIZENS, BECAUSE LEMME GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS AGAIN.IN DISTRICT ONE, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING 37% OF THE MONEY THAT'S ALLOCATED FOR FUNDING THIS NEW BUDGET AND DISTRICT FOUR 37%, AND TWO AND THREE IS ONLY 12 OR 13%.
SO HE'S GONNA FIGHT TO THE END TO GET THIS MONEY, TO GET IN HIS DISTRICT TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE FOR THE STREETS IN DISTRICT FOUR AND IN DISTRICT ONE.
AND I TOLD HIM, THERE'S NOTHING THAT I'M SAYING BEHIND HIS BACK BECAUSE I'VE TOLD HIM, BECAUSE THE NEW ALLOCATION CAME OUT MAYBE TWO MONTHS AGO, AND I'M NOT GONNA AGREE WITH THAT.
BUT IF WE GONNA RUN THIS CITY AND BE EFFECTIVE, TELL THE WHOLE STORY.
WHY WOULD HE, WHY IS HE FIGHTING SO HARD TO GET THE MONEY OUTTA SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BEAUTIFY PORT ARTHUR? IT IS NOT, IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE CITY.
BECAUSE GUESS WHY? HE WANTS THE MAJORITY OF THE SEATS.
THE, THE MAJORITY OF THE RAPE MONEY THAT GOES INTO HIS DISTRICT PROMISE IS BEING MADE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S, WE NEED TO START TALKING ABOUT THIS THING OPENLY IN, IN, IN, IN, IN OPEN, UH, SESSION.
YOU TELLING ME WE CAN'T, WE HADN'T DONE ANYTHING SINCE HE'S BEEN OFF THE COUNCIL.
THAT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE WE STILL BEEN DOING STREETS, WE STILL BEEN DOING DRAINAGE, WE STILL BEEN DOING THE THINGS THAT THE CITIZENS BEEN SAYING THAT WE, WE NEED TO IMPROVE.
NOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WE GONNA ALLOW ONE COUNCIL MEMBER DICTATE TO THIS WHOLE COUNCIL? NO, THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
I'M SORRY IF HE FEELS THAT WAY OR NOT.
SO IF WE WANT TO TAKE A ROLL CALL, VOTE AND GET OUT THERE.
BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE AT THIS DIOCESE, WE ARE UNITED AS ONE.
WE AGREE TO DISAGREE SOMETIMES, AND I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.
NOW, IF YOU TELL 'EM, WE CAN ONLY DO ONE THING, AND THAT'S ALL YOU HEAR FROM STREETS, STREETS, STREETS.
WE CAN DO MORE THINGS THAN JUST STREETS IN THIS CITY.
GET OUT OF THE MENTALITY OF JUST THINKING THAT WAY.
OKAY, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE ON? WE CAN WORK BACK THIS WAY.
I'M GONNA REMIND YOU ALL WE HAVE A GREATER ISSUE.
CITY ATTORNEY, IT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO RAISE, TO TALK TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THE QUESTION, THE ELIGIBILITY OF ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT PASSED BY ONE VOTE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID TWICE, SHE SAID IN THAT SEAT RIGHT THERE, NOBODY, SHE CALLED THE CITY, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE QUESTION, THE RESIDENCY.
AND SHE SAID NOBODY RETURNED HER CALL.
NOW, WHOEVER HEARD OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY NOT RETURNING CALLS.
NOW WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS TO CONTACT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND ASK THAT IS THERE AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION VERIFY ORDER, MAYOR VERIFY.
WANNA VERIFY, MAYOR COUNCILMAN LEWIS, WE MOVING MONEY? WE MOVING COUNCILMAN LEWIS? COUNCILMAN LEWIS, ILLEGAL MAYOR, BECAUSE WE HAVE A POINT POSS COUNCIL RESIDENT, YOU HAVE TO STOP DIAL COUNCIL PERSON MAY NOT BE LEGITIMATE.
YOU HAVE TO STOP DIALOGUE TO ANSWER THE POINT.
WHILE YOU WERE TALKING, YOU WOULD NOT, UH, COUNSEL, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO.
IT'S NOT GERMANE TO THE MOTION.
OH, YES, IT IS, IT IS NOT GERMANE TO THAT'S HOW YOU WANT.
BY ONE VOTE, IT'S NOT GERMANE TO THE MOTION.
IT IS NOT GERMANE TO THE MOTION.
JUST A MINUTE, JUST A MINUTE, GENTLEMEN.
NOW, SO I'M GOING TO ASK THE MAIN COUNCILPERSONS, DO YOU FEEL THAT WHAT COUNCILMAN LEWIS IS SAYING WAS A PART OF THAT MOTION? OR, OR SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WHILE WITH CAMERON DISCUSSION? YOU DON'T NO.
ANYONE ELSE WHAT HE DISCUSSED? WHAT IS THE QUESTION? NO, NO, NOT YOU.
AND I CAN DETERMINE WHETHER WE HAVE A VALID POINT OF ORDER AND WE'LL MOVE ON.
IT'S JUST A YES OR NO IF WHAT HE WAS SAYING, IF YOU AGREE WITH THAT, AND THAT SHOULD BE A PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
WELL, UH, WE CAN EX WE CAN SEPARATE AND EXPEND TIME.
WE CAN SEPARATE, BUT I WANT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO THAT.
WE DO ALL, YOU CAN'T DIRECT ANYBODY TO DO ANYTHING BY YOURSELF.
I WANT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS.
IT IS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED AN ORDER.
THE PREVIOUS CITY ATTORNEY ISSUED AN ORDER.
THE ORDER IS ALREADY THERE TO FIND OUT FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS THE TEXAS RANGERS IN INVESTIGATING A PARTICULAR COUNCILMAN COUNCIL PERSON ON THIS COUNCIL, YOU KNOW THAT WE DISCUSSED THAT.
OH, WAIT, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT COUNCILMAN? ABOUT TEXAS RANGERS NOW? AND SEE I'M TALKING, I MEAN, DOES THAT A I'M TALKING ABOUT FA FILING A FALSE AFFIDAVIT.
WELL WE IT'S NOT GERMANE TO THE, OKAY.
IT'S NOT GERMANE TO THE JUST MINUTE.
WE WANT TO KEEP THIS DEALING WITH THIS MOTION THAT,
[01:45:01]
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE I THOUGHT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TALKING ABOUT.HUH? YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? NO, I SAID WE WANT TO KEEP IT WITH WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING.
WE CAN DO THAT, BUT, BUT THIS IS NOT GOING TO END.
WE GOING TO I WANT THAT INFORMATION.
WE GONNA GET THAT INFORMATION.
LEMME GO AHEAD WITH THE MEETING.
COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM, GO RIGHT AHEAD PLEASE.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT COUNCIL MEMBERS DO SET MOTION EFFECTIVELY DEFUND THIS PROJECT.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT DOES.
WHAT HE IS REQUESTING IS TO PUT THE MONEY BACK IN THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AND THEN TO FIND THE MONEY TO PUT BACK IN THE PROJECT FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF WOODWORK BOULEVARD.
HE'S NOT ASKING THAT THE PROJECT BE DEFUNDED.
AND I'LL SAY THIS JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING, UH, JUST BECAUSE WE CAN DO SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING.
MEANING WE'VE GOTTEN AN OPINION THAT SAYS THAT YES, WE CAN USE THAT MONEY FROM THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO.
SO WHAT HE'S REQUESTING, AND I SUPPORT HIM IN THIS, IS THAT WE PUT THAT MONEY BACK IN THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AND THEN WE FUND THIS BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT IN ANOTHER MANNER.
WE'RE NOT ASKING THAT IT BE, OR HIS MOTION IS NOT ASKING THAT IT BE DEFUNDED.
AND WE'RE SPEAKING TO THIS BECAUSE OF THE CITIZENS THAT HAVE COME TO US ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THEIR STREETS IN THIS ENTIRE CITY.
IT'S NOT ABOUT HIS DISTRICT, IT'S NOT ABOUT MY DISTRICT, IT'S ABOUT THE ENTIRE CITY.
AND THE CITIZENS ARE COMPLAINING TO US ABOUT THE, THE, THE, THE DISREPAIR OF THEIR STREETS.
AND THEY SEE THAT WE'RE WANTING TO TAKE THIS MONEY FROM THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE SEEING THAT, THAT A VOTE OF FOUR TO THREE WA WAS IN FAVOR OF TAKING THAT MONEY FROM THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION THAT SHOULD BE GOING TO THE REPAIR OF THE STREETS TO BEAUTIFY SEVEN BLOCKS OF WOODWORTH BOULEVARD.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE RESPONDING TO.
WE'RE NOT ASKING THAT IT BE DEFUNDED.
WE'RE ASKING THAT THE MONEY COME FROM THE APPROPRIATE SOURCE.
AND I WOULD CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A MEMORANDUM THAT TINO, OUR, UH, PREVIOUS CITY ATTORNEY, UH, GAVE TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATED JANUARY 29TH, 2024.
THAT SPEAKS TO THIS VERY ISSUE.
SO I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD REQUEST THAT ALL COUNCIL GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT MEMORANDUM.
NOW, UH, WE HAD A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM ROLL CALL.
NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, UH, DISCUSSION ITEM BY POSSIBLE, UH, UH, REGARDING THE PROPOSED CHARTER CHANGE REMOVE.
PUT ON FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND ON, ON THAT, DO WE, WE DON'T NEED TO GO THROUGH A MOTION TO REMOVE IT.
NOW, UH, WE HAVE AN ITEM, WELL, WE
[V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
IN ANY REPORTS OF A COMMUNITY INTEREST? YES.UH, COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM, GO AHEAD.
UM, UNDER NUMBER FOUR, REMINDER ABOUT AN UPCOMING EVENT, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT ON THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK, WHICH IS APRIL THE 25TH AT 6:00 PM THERE IS A PUBLIC MEETING ABOUT THE STONE GATE DRAINAGE PROJECT.
UH, IT'S TO BE HELD AT THE NEW PORT ARTHUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON NINTH AVENUE IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM.
UH, SO PLEASE BE IN ATTENDANCE.
UH, THIS IS ABOUT THE STONEGATE DRAINAGE PROJECT.
PEOPLE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, ON THE GOLF COURSE, UH, AND THE VARIOUS DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UH, LET YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS KNOW ABOUT THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK, THE COMPANY.
I WOULD JUST TRY TO GET THAT DATE AGAIN.
YOU, YOU, YOU, UH, THE DATE? IT IS SAID THURSDAY.
IT'S THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 25TH, 6:00 PM AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THE NEW HEALTH DEPARTMENT? YES.
ANYONE ELSE? BECAUSE I CAN'T, YEAH, MAYOR, WE GOT, UM, THE, THE VENDORS WORKSHOP, WE HAVE ABOUT 50 VENDORS THAT HAVE REGISTERED FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, AND THAT TAKES PLACE TOMORROW.
THE WORKSHOP FOR FROM NINE O'CLOCK.
[01:50:01]
YES.AND WE HAVE MADE PROVISIONS FOR ABOUT 50 50 PEOPLE.
COUNCILMAN FRANK, YOU HAD SOMETHING? UM, I WANTED TO, THIS IS CONDOLENCES AND ALL OF THAT AS WELL.
I WANTED TO OFFER CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF, UM, DR. WILLIE MAY ELMORE, UM, WHO PASSED.
UM, SHE WAS A FORMER SCHOOL BOARD, UH, PRESIDENT, AND, UH, AN INTEGRAL PART OF, UH, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HERE FOR SO MANY, UH, YEARS.
UH, HER FUNERAL SERVICE IS GOING TO BE, UH, THIS COMING SATURDAY AT 10:00 AM UH, AT THE NEW HOPE CHURCH.
AND SO I WANTED TO OFFER, UH, THOSE CONDOLENCES AND AS WELL, UH, LET EVERYONE KNOW WHERE THE SERVICES ARE GOING TO BE.
WE ARE CONTINUALLY, UH, LIFTING HER HUSBAND, RAYMOND, UH, HER TWO BOYS AND HER ENTIRE FAMILY UP IN PRAYER.
ANYONE ELSE? AND I HAVE TO LOOK AT HER AROUND Y'ALL 'CAUSE THIS NAME DOESN'T WORK.
SO, CITY SECRETARY, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THIS.
I WORKED WITH HER QUITE A FEW TIMES ON DIFFERENT ISSUES AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
ONE OF THE THINGS, ALMOST 15 TO 20 YEARS BEFORE MOLD HIT DR.
UH, ELMO WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS MOLD IS AND PEOPLE DON'T HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF IT.
SHE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR YEARS, AND FINALLY IT HIT, IT HIT AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY PREVIOUS YEAR HAD FILED, ONLY HAD PAID OUT ONLY $1,200 THAT HAD ONLY, UH, 12 MOLD CASES THAT WHEN THEY, WHEN IT HIT, THEY HAD OVER 1200.
SHE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND TRIED TO GET THE PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT, BUT THEY JUST FELL ON DEAF EARS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, MY CONDOLENCE TO HER FAMILY.
ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, IF THERE'LL BE, UH, NOTHING ELSE ON ITEM NUMBER, UH, ROMAN NUMER.
FIVE, WE'LL GO TO ROMAN NUMERAL SIX, WHICH IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
[VI.(1) P.R. No. 23661 – A Resolution Authorizing The Acceptance Of A Request For Proposal Response From Selim Kiralp, LLC For The Leasing Of Two Buildings Inside The Gated Pleasure Island Marina And Further Authorizing The City Manager To Negotiate Said Lease]
I DO HAVE A REQUEST HERE TO HAVE, UH, P NUMBER 2 3 661, UH, REMOVED.UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR THAT? UH, SO MOVED.
AND WE'LL REMOVE FROM THE, UH, AGENDA TODAY.
PR NUMBER 23 6 61 ON PAGE THREE, THIS BRINGS US TO, UH, THE, OH, OH, I'M SORRY.
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]
BRINGS US TO PAGE FOUR, ONE NU SEVEN AND THE CONSENT AGENDA.AND THESE ARE ITEMS FROM PAGE SEVEN, UH, THROUGH PAGE, UH, I MEAN PAGE FOUR THROUGH SEVEN, I THINK IT IS, ISN'T IT? YEAH, I THINK THAT'S CORRECT.
PAGE FOUR THROUGH PAGE, UH, SEVEN 14 DIFFERENT ITEMS. I BELIEVE IT IS.
UH, DO, ARE THEY, AND, AND I'M GONNA HAVE TO SEE IF YOUR LIGHTS COME ON, BECAUSE I CAN'T LOOK AT THIS, MY LITTLE SCREEN TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY, ANY ITEMS THAT YOU'D LIKE.
UH, NUMBER SEVEN, EIGHT AND NINE.
YOU SAID SEVEN, EIGHT AND NINE.
I'D LIKE TO PULL, UM, NO, THAT'S OKAY.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF NUMBER FOUR ON PAGE FIVE, NUMBER EIGHT ON PAGE SIX, NUMBER 12, SEVEN AND 9, 7, 8.
MY, MY, MY, MY, I CAN LOOK AT THE CHECKS ON.
MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF NUMBER FOUR ON PAGE FIVE, NUMBER SEVEN, EIGHT,
[01:55:01]
AND NINE ON PAGE SIX, NUMBERS 12, 13, AND 14 ON PAGE SEVEN, UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? MOTION APPROVAL? MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILWOMAN BECKER SECOND IS MOVING.SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, AS STATED ALL IN.
WELL, WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION.
AB, SO ALL OF THOSE, UH, ITEMS ARE APPROVED NOW FOR THE WITHDRAWN ITEMS.
[VII.C.(4) P.R. No. 23638 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 1 For The Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur And Delk Construction, Inc. Of Nederland, Texas Increasing The Contract Amount By $6,000.00 To A New Contract Amount Of $191,000.00 For Port Arthur Transit's Storage Building Construction; Funds Available In Account 401-70-530-8512-00-60- 000, Project TR2035B.CAP.BUI]
UH, NUMBER FOUR ON PAGE FIVE, UH, PR NUMBER 23 6 38.A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE FOR THE, UH, CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND DELK CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED OF NEEDLING TEXAS INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $6,000 TO A NEW CONTRACT AMOUNT OF 191,000 FOR PORT ARTHUR TRANSIT STORAGE BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 1 DASH 7 5 3 8 5 2 0 6 0 0.
AND, UH, KNOWN, UH, PROJECT T 2 0 35 B, UH, POINT CAP.
POINT BUI, UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN ETT? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? SECOND IT MOVE.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR 23 6 38 AS READ.
UM, I'M, I'M GUESSING THAT CITY MANAGER MIKE, BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS SINCE MR. MITCHELL'S NOT HERE.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, AND I'M I'M JUST SPEAKING FROM A SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY WITH THE, UH, WITH THE CITIZENS THAT, UH, WE ARE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL $6,000 TO THIS CONTRACT.
AND THE BACKUP SAYS IT'S TO ADD, UH, WE'RE ADDING THIS TO RELOCATE ELECTRICAL LINES.
SO I'M, I'M WONDERING, WAS THIS SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCOVERED WHEN WE GOT INTO THE PROJECT? SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT BEFOREHAND? CAN YOU ELABORATE FOR THE CITIZENS WHO WOULD HAVE THAT FOR YOU? COUNT? UH, CITY MANAGER, I, THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT WOULD HAVE THAT, BUT, UM, IN THE CAMP, HE CLEARLY, HE, HE STATED THAT, UM, THE DESIGN AND MATERIAL ADJUSTMENTS HAVE OCCURRED.
THERE ARE CERTAIN, UM, AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE DESIGN, WHICH HAVE INCREASED THE AMOUNT TO $6,000.
WELL, BUT MY QUESTION IS, IT SAYS THAT THIS, THIS INCREASE WAS TO RELOCATE ELECTRICAL LINES? NO.
UM, WE HAVE A COPY OF THE CAM.
AND, BUT AS, AS CONSTRUCTION, YOU DESIGN AND MATERIAL ADJUSTMENTS HAVE BEEN, HAVE OCCURRED RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL EXPENSES AND SAVINGS.
THIS RESULT IS A NET CONTRACT INCREASE OF $6,000 FOR NEW, FOR A NEW CONTRACT OF $191,000.
AND YES, THE ELECTRICAL LINES COULD, IS PART OF IT AS WELL.
UH, I, I MEAN, MOVING ELECTRICAL LINES, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCOVERED AFTER WE GOT INTO THE DESIGN PHASE OF THE PROJECT? I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING, I DON'T WANNA SAY IT'S SIMPLE, BUT IT KIND OF IS SIMPLE.
BUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE DISCOVERED ON THE FRONT END OF DESIGN AND WE WOULDN'T DISCOVER IT AFTER THE FACT AND BE ADDING MONEY TO THE CONTRACT, I WOULD ASSUME SO.
UM, WHAT I WOULD ADVISE COUNCIL TO DO, LET'S TABLE IT AND BRING IT BACK AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING OR NINTH WHEN IT'S AVAILABLE.
AND, AND THAT WAS A MOVE FOR APPROVAL, RIGHT? NO, THAT WAS THE TABLE.
WE, SO THAT, THAT, THAT ONE WOULD BE, UH, TABLE.
WE JUST NEED TO VOTE ON THE MOTION TO TABLE, MAYOR.
UH, ALL THE, ALL THE FA ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT TABLE.
SO IT'S ALL P NUMBER 23 6 38 WILL BE TABLED UNTIL THE, UH, NEXT REGULAR MEETING.
[VII.C.(7) P.R. No. 23711 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Settlement Of A Physical Damage Claim In The Amount Of $23,928.04 Made Against Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool (TMLIRP) As A Result Of Property Damage To Electrical Components In The EDC Building (501 Procter Street)]
NUMBER SEVEN ON PAGE 6 7 23 7 11.A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SETTLEMENT OF A PHYSICAL DAMAGE CLAIM IN THE AMOUNT OF $23,928 AND 4 CENTS MADE AGAINST THE MU, UH, TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE INTERGOVERNMENTAL, UH, RISK POOL T-M-L-I-R-P AS A RESULT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE TO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE EDC BUILDING 5 0 1 PRACTICE STREET MAKING MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
SO MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? SECOND MOVE
[02:00:01]
AND SECOND IT, WE WOULD APPROVE PR 23 7 11.ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION? UH, COUNCILMAN BECK? YES.
MY QUESTION ON THIS ONE IS, SINCE THIS DAMAGE WAS AS A RESULT OF POWER SURGES TO THE BUILDING, HAS THERE BEEN ANY INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT EXACTLY CAUSED THE POWER SURGE SO THAT MAYBE WE WON'T HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN? OKAY.
MRS. UH, MS. PICK, I KNOW THAT IT WAS A WEATHER RELATED INCIDENT THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE, BUT AS FAR AS, UM, EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, I WOULD HAVE TO FIND OUT THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU.
AND THAT WHAT, WHAT WAS THE WEATHER EVENT? THAT WAS LIKE A THUNDERSTORM OR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED THAT DAY? OKAY.
AND THE EDC DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION? YES.
HE'S THE ONE WHO PROVIDES THAT INFORMATION TO US.
I DON'T WANNA HOLD UP THE, UM, YOU KNOW, PASS PASSING THIS BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE INSURANCE CLAIM, BUT IF WE COULD INVESTIGATE THAT JUST TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE WE NEED TO LOOK INTO TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.
WELL, LET'S APPROVE IT AND WE LET'S MOVE ON WITH THAT AND WE COULD GET THE INFORMATION FOR YOU ALL.
THERE ARE NO OTHER COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOUR LIGHT IS OFF.
YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE A BIG HELP IF SOME OF THESE CHANGES, NOT ALL OF 'EM, BUT SOME OF THESE CHANGES THAT MAY HAVE AN IMPACT ON, ON WHAT'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S BEEN APPROVED.
CALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TELL 'EM, EXPLAIN TO US WHY YOU, WHY YOU WANT TO DO THAT.
OKAY? THAT MAY SAVE SOME TIME.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON IT? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO IS AUDIT NUMBER, PR NUMBER, UH, 23 7 11 IS APPROVED AS, UH, PRESENTED.
[VII.C.(8) P.R. No. 23712 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Settlement Of A Physical Damage Claim In The Amount Of $8,286.00 Made Against Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool (TMLIRP) As A Result Of Property Damage To Drainage Unit #2128]
WE HAVE PR NUMBER 23 7 12.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SETTLEMENT OF A PHYSICAL CLAIM MINIMUM AMOUNT OF $8,286 MADE AGAINST T-M-L-I-R-P AS A RESULT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE TO DRAINAGE UNIT.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SECOND IS MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WERE APPROVED.
UH, WE READY? WELL, WE ALL READY TO VOTE? WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? COUNCILMAN BECKHAM? YES.
AGAIN, I DON'T WANNA HOLD UP THE PROCESSING OF AN INSURANCE CLAIM, BUT MY QUESTION ABOUT THIS IS, UM, WE HAD ONE DRAINAGE UNIT BACK INTO ANOTHER ONE.
UM, I MEAN, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WERE THEY IN A PLACE WHERE THEY COULDN'T SEE EACH OTHER OR, UM, THEY WERE IN THE OPERATION CENTER PARKING LOT, I BELIEVE AND I GUESS THEY JUST WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION.
THAT'S THE ONLY DE THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN TELL.
I MEAN, I, WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL ISSUES HERE, BUT, UM, HAS, ARE WE DOING SOMETHING TO PREVENT THESE KIND OF THINGS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE? 'CAUSE THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME IN MY TENURE ON COUNCIL THAT WE'VE HAD PEOPLE BACKING INTO EACH OTHER AND RUNNING INTO PARKING BARRICADES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
YEAH, WE, UM, WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO LIKE THE SAFETY TRAININGS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT TO, YOU KNOW, HELP ASSIST THE EMPLOYEES WITH, YOU KNOW, BEING BETTER WITH THEIR DRIVING SKILLS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEY ARE ISSUED POINTS FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, ACCIDENTS THAT OCCUR AND IT DOES AFFECT THEIR JOB IF THEY GET SO MANY POINTS.
ANY OTHER UN READINESS? IF NOT, WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
ANY OPPOSES? SO PR NUMBER 23 7 12 IS APPROVED AS READ
[VII.C.(9) P.R. No. 23716 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Apply For The FY24 Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA Grant With No Cash Match Requirement]
AND WE HAVE NUMBER NINE P NUMBER 23 7 16 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR THE PHYSICAL YEAR 24, UH, PROSECUTING GOLD CASES USING DNA GRANT WITH NO CASH, UH, MATCH REQUIREMENT.MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS SECOND THEN MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 7 16 AS PRESENTED IN READ.
WE READY FOR QUESTIONS? UH, COUNCILMAN BECKER? THANK YOU.
I DON'T SEE CHIEF DURSO HERE, BUT PERHAPS HIS DEPUTY CHIEF COULD ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS FOR ME.
SO MY QUESTION IS, UM, AS FAR AS COLD CASES THAT CAME OUT OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY, UH, HOW OLD THEY ARE AND WHAT TYPE OF CASES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? UM, WITH THE DNA, THIS IS GONNA BE IN REFERENCE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES.
UM, I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY, I KNOW THAT IT IS, UM, LIEUTENANT HARPER THAT HAS BEEN BEEN WORKING ON THIS GRANT.
UM, SHE'S BEEN ASSIGNED TO ME.
UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S QUITE A FEW, BUT UM, IT'S GONNA BE MAINLY SEXUAL ASSAULTS.
ANY HOMICIDE CASES THAT ARE PULLED? WE DO HAVE SOME.
IT'S GONNA, IT, IT ALLOWS FOR THEM TO LOOK INTO EVIDENCE AND, AND SEE IF THEY COULD COLLECT DNA FROM IT.
UM, I, I DON'T WANNA HOLD UP THIS, THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE STATS ON THAT.
[02:05:01]
HOW OLD ARE THEY? UH, JUST SOME, SOME DETAILS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.ANY OTHER UNREADINESS? IF NOT, WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
ANY OPPOSES AS SWEAR THIS ORDER WE APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 7 16 IS READ.
[VII.C.(12) P.R. No. 23721 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 1 To The Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur And Brystar Contracting, Inc. Of Beaumont, Texas For The Stonegate Drainage Improvement Project For Value Engineering Savings That Reduces The Contract By $850,689.90 And Modifies Areas Of The Project On Jimmy Johnson Boulevard. Funds Available In The Hazard Mitigation Grant Account No. 154-00-000-8515-00- 10-000 And The Community Development Block Grant DR Account No. 148-00-000-8515-00-10-000 Are Not Impacted. Project No. DR1P04]
NEXT WE HAVE ON PAGE SEVEN PR NUMBER 23 7 21 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND BRI STAR ARE CONTRACTING IN COOPERATIVE BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE STONEGATE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR VALUE ENGINEERING SAVINGS THAT REDUCES THE CONTRACT COST BY $850,689 AND MODIFIES AREAS OF THE PROJECT ON JIMMY JOHNSON BOULEVARD.FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE HAZARDOUS MITIGATION GRANT.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 54 DASH 0 0 0 DASH 8 5 15 DASH ZERO DASH ZERO DASH 0 0 0 AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 48 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 8 5 5 0 0 0 0 AND UH, NOT IMPACTED.
AND THIS IS PROJECT NUMBER DR ONE P ZERO FOUR.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.
COUNCILMAN, UH, UH, KINLAW SECOND MAYOR, IS IT MOVED? SECOND, UH, THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23, UH, UH, 7 21 AS WE, WE READY FOR QUESTION? COUNCILMAN BECKER? THANK YOU.
I DON'T SEE MR. CANTELLA HERE, BUT MAYBE YEAH, DR.
UM, I APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS A COST REDUCTION, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC, UH, WHAT THE MODIFICATIONS ARE AND WHY THEY'RE NECESSARY.
UH, GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, WE DID SOME VALUE ENGINEERING OF THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WE KNEW AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL COST CHANGE ORDERS.
SO WE WENT THROUGH THE PROJECT AND WITH THE HELP OF THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND THE CITY ENGINEERS AND THE CONTRACTOR, UH, WE FOUND SOME QUANTITIES THAT DID NOT MATCH THE BID ITEMS SUCH AS THE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS THAT WE ARE GONNA CLEAN FROM THE PONDS.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE PAGE THAT BREAKS THAT DOWN, THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY $560,000 IN CHANGES.
AND WE ALSO CHANGED THE, UH, BASE MATERIAL FROM CEMENT BASE TO FLEX BASE, WHICH WILL NOT IMPACT THE QUALITY OF THE PROJECT AT ALL.
SO THAT, THAT KEPT US IN THE NEGATIVE, ALTHOUGH WE ADDED FEW ITEMS ON THIS PROJECT AND THE ITEMS WE ADDED WERE RELATED TO THE PIPELINES THAT ARE AT THE GOLF COURSE.
THE ELEVATIONS OF THESE PIPELINES WERE IN CONFLICT WITH THE ELEVATIONS OF THE BOXES, SO WE HAD TO LOWER OUR BOXES IN ORDER TO GO UNDER THESE PIPELINES.
THERE'S ABOUT A FOOT DIFFERENCE AND THE OTHER ITEM WAS THE ADDITION OF A CONCRETE, UH, BASE AND SIDEWALL FOR THE CHANNEL BECAUSE THE WATER TABLE STARTED COMING UP ON US AT ABOUT ELEVATION MINUS EIGHT.
SO WE COULDN'T DO THE WORK WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT THE CONCRETE IN PLACE.
OKAY, ANY OTHER, OKAY, COUNCILMAN, HEY DOC, YOU, YOU ANTICIPATE ANY OTHER CHANGE ORDERS TO THAT MAGNITUDE? BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, FLEX IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN ACTUALLY GOING TO THE OTHER MATERIAL, BUT DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY OTHER TYPE OF CHANGE ORDERS LIKE THAT, THAT WE CAN HAVE COST SAVING? UH, WITH THIS DRAINAGE PROJECT? I THINK WE HAVE MAXIMIZED THE COST SAVINGS, WHICH PUT US IN THAT MINUS $850,000 FROM THE ORIGINAL, UH, BID AMOUNT.
SO I'M HOPING, WHAT, WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL BID? LIKE 14, SOMETHING LIKE THAT? UH, AROUND 14 POINT 14.
SOMETHING LIKE TWO, SORRY, 18.7 WAS THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT.
COUNCILMAN FRANK? NO, I'M GOOD.
ANY OTHERS? OKAY, IF NOT, WE ARE READY TO VOTE.
WE APPROVE PR NUMBER, NUMBER 23 7 21.
[VII.C.(13) P.R. No. 23722 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute An Agreement With Geofill Construction Of Schertz, Texas For The Renovation Of Both Sets Of Restrooms In Lakefront Park On Pleasure Island In The Amount Not To Exceed $206,175.00; Funding Available In Account Number 450-00-000-8525-00-00-000 Project Number PI0007]
P NUMBER 13, WHICH IS PR NUMBER 23 7 22.IT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH UH, GEO FIELD CONSTRUCTION OF SHIRTS, UH, TEXAS FOR THE RENOVATION OF BOAT SETS OF RESTROOMS IN LAKEFRONT PARK ON PLEASURE ISLAND IN THE AMOUNT NOW TO EXCEED $206,175.
FUNDING AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER FOUR 50 DASH 0 0 8 5 2 5 0 0 0 0.
[02:10:04]
AND THIS IS PROJECT NUMBER PI 0 0 0 7.UH, MEGAN, MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
MAYOR MEGAN, UH, SECOND COUNCILMAN LEWIS SECOND HAS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 7 22.
UH, WE'RE READY FOR QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES, I HAVE A QUESTION.
IT BE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION ABOUT THE AWARD OF THE CONTRACT TO THIS COMPANY AND I LOOKED AT THE MATRIX FOR THE BIDS AND ACCORDING TO THE BACK TO THE INFORMATION THAT'S PROVIDED FOR BACKGROUND, UH, THE LOWEST BIDDER, THE SOUTHERN STYLE SERVICE LLC, UH, FOR 115,320.
HOWEVER, THEY DIDN'T, UH, SUBMIT ALL FIVE OF THE, UH, DENIM AND SO THEREFORE THE, THEY WENT TO THE NEXT LOWEST RESPONSIBILITY BIDDER, WHICH IS THIS GEO FILL FOR 206,000 $175.
SO MY QUESTION IS, AS I LOOKED AT GEO FILLS, UH, MATRIX, THEY DID NOT INCLUDE IN THEIR BID THE NUMBER OF DAYS.
SO ON, ON THAT BID, WE DIDN'T DISQUALIFY 'EM BECAUSE OF DAYS BECAUSE THE DAYS DIDN'T AFFECT, UH, AFFECT THE PRICING.
UH, THE REASON WE DIDN'T DO SOUTHERN STYLE BECAUSE THE ADDENDUMS HAD FACTORS THAT WE ADDED TO THE PROJECT THAT WOULD INCREASE THE PRICE, WHICH THEY DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE.
SO THAT'S WHY THEY WERE DISQUALIFIED.
I'M JUST GONNA ASK THIS QUESTION.
MM-HMM,
WE ASK THAT AND THEY DON'T GIVE IT TO US.
WHY DO WE NOT GO TO THE BIDDER THAT PROVIDES US EVERYTHING? BECAUSE THE NEXT BIDDER IS, UH, SKR CONSTRUCTION AND THEY HAVE IT AND THEIRS IS 1 38.
AND YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T SEE US GIVING IT TO SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT PUTTING THE NUMBER.
NOW WHY WOULD WE GIVE SOMEBODY A CONTRACT THAT DON'T TELL US HOW LONG IT GONNA TAKE US TO DO IT? AND THAT'S WHY WE ASK THAT.
I'M SAYING, BUT YOU GENERALLY, WHEN WE DO THAT, WE'LL NEGOTIATE WITH THE CONTRACT AND DICTATE THE NUMBER OF DAYS.
WELL, WELL EVEN SO IT SHOULD BE IN THE CONTRACT.
I MEAN, IT SHOULD BE IN THE BID.
UM, ONE CONSIDERATION ON THAT WAS BECAUSE THE MONEY WAS REAL TIGHT FOR PLEASURE ISLAND, REALLY TIGHT.
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE LOOKING AT THE COST SAVINGS AND SINCE THAT JAIL FIELD FULFILLED OUTSIDE OF THE DAYS, THEY FULFILLED EVERY OTHER REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAD.
WE WANTED TO GO WITH THE BETTER COSTS, BUT WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T GET THE LOWEST BIDDER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ALL THAT.
THEN IT, IT, IT'S LIKE YOU GIVE US ALL THE STUFF AND IF YOU DON'T, I KNOW WHEN I LOOK AT BIDS AND HOW WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO 'EM, WE GET, SOMETIMES WE HAVE A BID WHEREBY YOU MAY CHANGE SOMETHING INITIAL, IF YOU OPEN IT, YOU THROW IT OUT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S CERTAIN THINGS WE LOOK FOR.
NO, I UNDERSTAND NOW, BUT IN THE SPACE, WE DO HAVE THE OPTION TO ACCEPT CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE MISSING.
AND LIKE I SAY IN GENERAL, WHAT DAYS THAT CAN BE NEGOTIATED THAT DOESN'T AFFECT THE PRICING.
UM, SO LIKE I SAY, WITH SOUTHERN STYLE PRICING WAS THE ISSUE BECAUSE IF WE WOULD'VE AWARDED THAT, IT WOULD'VE BEEN AN ISSUE OF CHANGE ORDERS LATER.
'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE EVERYTHING.
SO THAT'S WHY THAT WAS DISQUALIFIED.
BUT I MEAN, IF COUNCIL WANTS TO GO AHEAD, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT STUFF, I DEAL BEHIND IT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AND I UNDERSTAND HOW WE SEND OUT FOR BIDS AND WHAT WE SAY IN BID PACKETS.
AND WHEN SOMEONE COME TO ME AND SAY, WELL, THEY GAVE A BID TO SOMEBODY THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE,
[02:15:01]
THE DATE, ESPECIALLY THE PERSON THAT'S NEXT IN LINE THAT GIVE YOU EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, UH, IIII DON'T SEE US ACCEPTING BIDS THAT DOES NOT ANSWER AND MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE WHAT YOU TELL ME NOW, WELL WE, WE, WE ASKED FOR THIS, BUT THEN WE GOT SOME FLEXIBILITY.WELL, THIS HAS GOTTA BE SOMETHING THAT'S IS, IS KNOWN TO EVERYBODY AND, AND, AND, AND, AND EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND.
BUT WE GIVE, THAT'S THAT'S IN OUR GENERAL INFORMATION.
BUT THEY DON'T, THEY DIDN'T GIVE US NO, NO, NO, NO TIME.
SO DO WE TELL 'EM IT IS SOMETHING THAT OPTIONAL? IS IT OPTIONAL? WHEN WE SEND THE BID OUT, DO WE LIST NUMBER OF DAYS AS AN OPTION TO THE BID PROCESS? I, I DIDN'T USE THAT WORD, BUT IN OUR GENERATION IT DOES SAY WE CAN, UH, WE HAVE THE OPTION TO OMIT OR ACCEPT CERTAIN ERRORS, YOU KNOW, IN THE BID IT, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT WORD IN MY HEAD, BUT WE HAVE THAT, WE HAVE THAT OPTION IN THERE.
BUT I MEAN, I'LL SAY THAT I'M, I'M NOT AGAINST THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS COMPANY IS FROM, UH, SEARCH TEXAS AND UH, YOU KNOW, THE COMPANY THAT SUBMITTED EVERY, EVERYTHING IS FOR PORT ARTHUR.
YOU KNOW, SO WE GOING DOWN THE LINE, WE, I MEAN WE THREW OUT THE ONE THAT DIDN'T DO ALL THE DENIM.
SO NOW WE SAYING WE GOT THIS OPTION.
SO I GUESS HOW WE FEEL LIKE ABOUT A BID IS WHAT WE GOING TO DO.
AND IT'S NOT BEING DER TOLD, BUT IT'S JUST FACTS BECAUSE I'M LISTENING.
UH, THE OTHER, THE, THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS PARTICULAR ITEM WE SET, UH, THIS IS FOR THE RESTROOMS AND IT'S, UH, 850,000.
WAS, WAS THIS PROJECT A PROJECT THAT WAS LISTED IN THE BUDGET WHEN WE DID THE BUDGET FOR PLEASURE ISLAND IN SEPTEMBER? WAS THIS ONE OF THE PROJECT THAT WAS LISTED? YES.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT, UM, WE HAD, UH, INTENDED TO UNDERTAKE? YES.
WE HAD LISTED, OKAY, SO HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE ALLOCATE IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT? I CAN'T RECALL.
MAYBE, UM, MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, I CAN'T RECALL, BUT I'M SU GEORGE.
YEAH, I THINK GEORGE CAME, BUT I THINK IT WAS AROUND ONE 50, BUT I, I'M GUESSTIMATING ON THAT.
WE DID HAVE, LIKE YOU SAID, ABOUT 150, AND THEN I THINK IN ONE OF THOSE AMENDMENTS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, SHE DID TRANSFER SOME MORE MONEY OVER TO HELP US OUT.
UH, BECAUSE THE FERRING, HOW MUCH, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT TOTAL, UM, AMOUNT THAT WE DO HAVE, BUT AS MR. CLIFF SAID, WE WERE ON A TIGHT BUDGET AND THIS FIT IN OUR BUDGET.
I UNDERSTAND THE TIGHT BUDGET, EVERYBODY COMING HERE, AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE THING I'M, I'M GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF, AND WE'RE GONNA BE DISCUSSING IT.
WE HAVE A, A, A BASIC WAY OF DOING FINANCING.
ACCOUNTING, OKAY? SO IF YOU HAVE AN OBJECT, A, A, A, A PROJECT AND YOU ALLOCATE X AMOUNT OF MONEY, IF YOU GO AND DO YOUR, UH, SEARCH OF IT AND FIND OUT THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY, THEN NORMALLY WHAT YOU DO IS YOU COME BACK AND YOU ASK FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY.
DOES COMMON COUNCIL, COUNCIL APPROVES IT? NOW YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY.
SO NOW I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WAS ALLOCATED FOR THIS PROJECT BECAUSE A REASON TO ACCEPT A BID BE THAT'S MISSING THE NUMBER OF DAYS BE BECAUSE OF TIGHT BUDGET.
THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER THAT I, THAT I WANT TO HEAR.
I WANT TO HEAR THE ANSWER OF WHETHER WE CAN ACCEPT THE BID OR NOT.
SO DETERMINING FACTOR HERE IS HOW MUCH MONEY IS BUDGETED FOR THIS PROJECT.
IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY BUDGETED FOR THIS PROJECT THAT THE NEXT BIDDER THAT GAVE YOU EVERYTHING HAD, THEN WHY, WHY DIDN'T WE DO THAT? YOU KNOW? BUT TO TAKE THE ONE THAT LEFT OUT THE NUMBER OF DAYS AND SAY IS A TYPE, THEY
[02:20:01]
TYPE FOR MONEY.I DON'T, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE YOU STATED, THE PERSON WHO HAD THE LOWEST BID WAS DISQUALIFIED BECAUSE THE ADDENDUMS WOULD AFFECT THE PRICING.
IT WOULDN'T BE WHAT YOU SAID, 115,000.
IF THEY ADDRESS EACH ADDENDUM, IT WOULD ADD MORE TO THAT COST.
SO THEN WE WENT ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
THE DAYS ISN'T ON THERE BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NEGOTIABLE WITH THE CONTRACT AND IT WOULDN'T AFFECT THE PRICING.
OKAY? SO IT, I MEAN, TAKING MY BUDGET OUT, OKAY, NOW I'M GOING, NOW I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT HOW WE DO CONTRACTING.
OKAY? YOU STAY, I MEAN, YOU TELL ME AND I'M LISTENING, BUT NOW SOMEONE NEED TO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
ONCE WE AWARD A CONTRACT TO SOMEBODY, I DON'T CARE WHAT WE HAVE WRITTEN FOR THE CONTRACTOR AMOUNT, WE GO THROUGH A NEGOTIATION PHASE.
SO IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THAT NEGOTIATING DAYS IS PART OF THAT PROCESS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NEGOTIATING AS OPPOSED TO AWARDING, WE SAY WE AWARD THE CONTRACT BASED ON WHAT'S TURNED INTO US ALL.
IT ONLY, I WOULD SAY THIS, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THAT WE HAVE ABOUT DAYS IS DAYS IS REALLY NOT A DETERMINING FACTOR AND NOT AWARD.
NOW, IF IT WAS A DETERMINING FACTOR, THEN I WOULD UNDERSTAND.
IT'S NOT THAT WE AWARD ONE PERSON.
IF THEY SAY THEY 230 DAYS AND SOMEBODY ELSE IS 200 DAYS, IT'S NOT LIKE WE GIVE IT TO 'EM 'CAUSE THE EXTRA DAYS.
SO THAT'S ONE REASON WE DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT A DETERMINATION AS FAR AS OUR AWARDING PRICE IS A DETERMINATION.
SO THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE LOOK AT THAT HARDER.
WELL, YOU KNOW, IN SOME CASES THAT'S WHY THEY SAY THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE, RESPONSIBLE BID.
BECAUSE IF WE NEED SOMETHING DONE QUICK, THE NUMBER OF DAYS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT IN OUR SELECTION, RIGHT? THEN WE STRESS THAT IN THE BID THAT IT MUST BE DONE IN THESE THEN, THEN IT BECOMES A DETERMINING FACTOR.
SUBMIT IT, OKAY? AND IF WE ARE NOT GONNA ACCEPT THAT, THEN WE SHOULD SAY WHY.
OKAY? AND THE NEXT PERSON THAT HAS EVERYTHING, NO QUESTIONS, AND THEY'RE NOT AWARDED BID.
I, I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE IT.
NOW, IF YOU SAID THEY WAS MORE THAN WHAT WAS BUDGETED, THEN I HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T AWARD IT FOR MORE THAN, BUT I'M ASKING YOU ALL HOW, HOW MUCH WAS BUDGETED.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? ARE WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A.
[VII.C.(14) P.R. No. 23724 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 6 To The Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur And Texas Materials Group, Inc. – Gulf Coast Area Of Beaumont, Texas, For The Various Streets Roadway Improvements Project-Districts 2 & 3, For The Removal Of One (1) Street, The Addition Of Five (5) Streets, The Addition Of Two (2) Driveways, Remove/Replace Storm Inlets, Tree Removal, And Removal/Replacement Of Two (2) Driveways For The Amount $922,245.13. Funding Is Available In The Capital Improvement Project Account 307-21-053-8517-00-10-000]
HAVE, UH, LET SEE.RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 7 24 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE, UH, CITY MANAGER, UH, TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER SIX TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, UH, AND TEXAS MATERIALS GROUP INCORPORATED, GULF COAST AREA OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE VARIOUS STREETS.
ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS, DISTRICTS TWO AND THREE FOR THE REMOVAL OF, UH, NUMBER FIRST STREET, UH, OF ONE STREET.
OKAY, THE ADDITION OF FIVE STREETS, THE ADDITION OF TWO DRIVEWAYS REMOVE, REPLACE STORM INLETS, TREE REMOVAL AND REMOVAL.
REPLACEMENT OF TWO DRIVEWAYS FOR THE AMOUNT.
FUNDING, UH, IS AVAILABLE IN THE, UH, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NUMBER, EXCUSE ME, 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH FIVE THREE DASH 8 5 7 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MOVE I GET A SECOND.
THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PERR NUMBER 23 7 24 AS PRESENTED.
WITH STREAKS, YOU SAY STREETS, I'M GONNA BE VERY INTERESTED IN IT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A DISCUSSION EARLIER
[02:25:01]
AND EVERYBODY WANT TO TALK ABOUT STREETS.I THINK IT, IT STARTS RIGHT HERE WITH OUR PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM CLEARLY DEFINES HOW WE DO STREETS.
I'VE BEEN ASKING SINCE AUGUST TO GIVE ME A LIST OF ALL THE STREETS IN THE CITY THAT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIATED OR RECONSTRUCTED.
I'VE BEEN ASKING SINCE AUGUST.
I'VE ALSO ASKED THAT LET THE COUNCIL KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IS REMAINING IN EACH DISTRICT FOR THE STREETS IN THOSE PARTICULAR DISTRICTS THAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
SO IF THE NUMBER OF STREETS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, WE WOULD PUT THAT MONEY IN THAT DISTRICT FOR TO FINISH THAT LIST SO THAT ALL STREETS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED HAVE THE REQUIRED FUNDING TO DO THOSE STREETS SO THAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE DISTRICT, DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER CAN GET HOW MUCH MONEY'S GOING GO INTO THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICT.
AND WE COULD SELECT OUR STREETS FOR THIS YEAR.
I'VE BEEN ASKING THIS SINCE AUGUST, THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO.
ALL OF THEM WERE STREETS THAT HAD BEEN COMPLETED.
EVERY TIME WE TALK STREETS OVER IN THIS, FOR THIS COUNCIL FOR SOME REASON, EVERYBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT HOW MANY STREETS WE COMPLETED.
NO, WE TRYING TO GET THOSE FIXED.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE DISCUSSING.
IT DIDN'T SUPPOSED TO BE TRANSPARENT, NOT FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE SHOULD HAVE THIS PUBLISHED.
CITIZENS SHOULD GO AND SEE WHAT STREETS ARE SELECTED, HOW MUCH STREET COSTS, HOW MUCH WE ALLOCATING, HOW MUCH WAS ACTUALLY SPENT.
IF A DISTRICT COMPLETES ALL OF THE STREETS FOR SOME REASON IN THAT DISTRICT FOR THAT YEAR, AND THERE'S SOME MONEY REMAINING IN THAT DISTRICT, THAT MONEY JUST ROLLED OVER TO THE NEXT YEAR.
SO WHENEVER YOU ALLOCATE THAT MONEY, THIS COUNCIL, THIS DISTRICT STILL HAS THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S BEEN ALLOCATED TO THE DISTRICT.
THEY JUST MAY BE ABLE TO DO MORE STREETS.
THIS SIMPLE, THIS VERY SIMPLE, BUT TO SELECT STREETS.
AND WE NOT HAVE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS.
I DON'T SEE IT IF, IF YOU TELL ME YOU HAD MONEY LEFT, HOW MUCH MONEY, HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN DISTRICT TWO? HOW MUCH MONEY IN DISTRICT THREE.
EVERY TIME I SEE ANYTHING RELATING TO STREETS, SINCE I'VE COME ON THIS COUNCIL, IT ALWAYS REFERRED TO THE STREET FUND.
THE STREET FUND IS NOT A POT OF MONEY THAT YOU JUST GO AND GET EVERY TIME YOU DECIDE TO DO THINGS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE, WE SELECT STREETS ALONG WITH THE STAFF AND THEN ONCE IT'S ALL DONE, WE BRING IT TO THE FULL COUNCIL AND THE FULL COUNCIL VOTES ON IT.
THOSE ARE THE STREETS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS FUNDED AND APPROVED FOR THE YEAR.
AND THEN WE SAY THE NEXT TIME WE DO IT, IT'S, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.
BUT I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, I'VE BEEN SEEING PEOPLE AS STREETS, THEN I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY, WELL WE DECIDE TO DO THIS STREET 'CAUSE IT WAS NEXT TO WHERE THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER OR THE CONTRACTOR WAS DOING.
SO IT SAVE US MONEY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO MOBILIZE.
OKAY? BUT NOW YOU PUT A STREET ON THE LIST THAT'S GONNA BE ON THIS LIST TO BE REPAIRED AND NOW YOU REPAIRING IT.
'CAUSE EVEN IN THAT AREA, BUT YOU REPAIRING THE STREET BEFORE STREETS THAT WERE ON THE LIST THAT WERE SELECTED FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
WE SUPPOSED TO DO THIS IN A FASHION THAT WHEN WE ORDER, WHEN WE APPROVE STREETS THIS YEAR, THOSE ARE THE STREETS WE DO THE NEXT YEAR.
WE ADDED STREETS, THEY GO ON AFTER THEM AND WE DO IT IN THAT ORDER.
WHEN WE SELECT ALL THESE THREE, IT'S UP TO THE DEPARTMENT,
[02:30:02]
THE PUBLIC WORD DEPARTMENT, TO TELL US HOW IT'S GONNA BE DONE.AND THAT'S AFTER YOU GET WITH THE CONTRACTORS.
I'M NOT GONNA MICROMANAGE YOU.
I DO NOT GO INTO THESE OFFICE AND TELL NO STAFF TO DO THIS STREET OR I WANT THIS FEED DONE.
I WANT, BECAUSE ONCE IT COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER KNOW WHAT'S GONNA BE DONE IN MY DISTRICT AND HOW MUCH MONEY IS BEING SPENT IN MY DISTRICT.
AND WHEN YOU UPDATE ME, PEOPLE QUESTION.
NO, I DON'T WANT MORE FOR MY DISTRICT.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE KNOW WHAT OUR FAIR SHARES ARE IS THAT WHEN EVERYTHING IS TALKED ABOUT AND DISCUSSED, IT'S DISCUSSED IN THIS OPEN MEETING.
AND IF WE HAVE A PROGRAM, WHY ARE WE NOT EXECUTING THE PROGRAM? WHY IS STAFF TALKING AND WE CANCEL MEMBERS THEN COME TO US AND WANT US TO ADD LISTED IT AS STREETS TO THIS LIST.
WELL, WHAT'S THE USE OF THE PROGRAM? WHY DON'T WE FOLLOW THE PROGRAM? I NEVER SAID WE DON'T DO STREETS, BUT WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE PROGRAM.
AND I DON'T HAVE NOTHING AGAINST WHAT WE SAYING HERE, BUT IF THERE'S SOME STREET THAT NEED TO BE ADDED IN THESE TWO DISTRICTS, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE ARE NOT WAITING TO ADD.
AND WHEN WE SELECT OUR LIST AND IF THE STAFF WILL BRING US OUR LIST, THEN ALL OF THE DISTRICT COULD HAVE STREETS.
WE WANT TO ADD RIGHT NOW, IF YOU DO THE PROGRAM, IF YOU READY FOR US, LET US ALL DO IT.
ALRIGHT, ANY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? WAIT, I'M DONE.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO TALK TO THE YEAH, LORD.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? LET LET LEMME WRAP IT UP THEN.
OKAY, LEMME WRAP THIS UP, BUT NO, IT'S DIFFERENT.
NO, REALLY, I, I, I'M SINCERE ABOUT THIS.
YOU KNOW, THE STAFF NEED TO BRING US THE INFORMATION I'VE BEEN ASKED, I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IT SINCE AUGUST.
THAT'S NO EXCUSE THAT IT'S NOT BEEN DONE.
AND NOW YOU COME BACK TELLING ME THAT YOU FITTING TO, DO YOU WANT ME TO APPROVE SOMETHING THAT'S BASICALLY IN LINE WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR? NOT ME, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, COUNCILMAN UH, BERFIELD AND COUNCILMAN BECKERMAN MYSELF.
I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SEE.
NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT JUST FOR TWO DISTRICTS.
LET'S DO IT FOR THE WHOLE PROGRAM.
AND THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT IT IN THE OPEN.
DID YOU HAD SOMETHING? HOLD ON, LEMME SPEAK JUST BEFOREHAND.
UH, YOU STAY UP, UH, DOC, UH, JUST TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, EASE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, MINE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DISTRICT THREE.
AT THE TIME I WAS A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, SO I WAS PRETTY MUCH IN, OH YEAH, I WAS IN IT.
UH, I WAS INVOLVED WITH THESE NEW CHANGES IN AMENDMENTS AND ADDITIONS TO STREETS, TRYING TO GET MORE STREETS DONE.
THE CITY MANAGER CAME TO ME AND AT THE TIME IT WAS COUNCILMAN JONES AND HE HAD ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE NEEDED TO APPLY FOR MORE STREETS.
SO WE DID MEET WITH HIM, UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND, AND WE DID GET SOME ADDITIONAL STREETS PUT ON THE LIST AT THE END OF THE STREET, UH, BUDGET YEAR.
SO I WAS PRETTY MUCH IN, UH, INVOLVED WITH THAT.
I HAVE TO AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE.
WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR A LIST EVEN BEFORE AUGUST.
I'VE BEEN ASKING, I'VE BEEN PROBABLY THE ONLY SOLE COUNCIL MEMBER TO ACTUALLY PUT STREET REPORTING ON THE AGENDA FOR REPORTING BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU TRACK THE FUNDING.
THAT'S HOW YOU TRACK THE STREETS.
THAT'S HOW YOU TRACK WHAT AREA AND WHAT DISTRICT.
EVEN WITH THE REALIGNMENT, YOU TRACK THE STREETS LIKE THAT AND IT GIVES THE COUNCIL MEMBER AN INDICATION OF HOW AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO NEXT BASED UPON, UH, DISTRICTS, UH, UH, DISTRICTS.
SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO LET THE COUNCIL MEMBER KNOW THAT I WAS PRETTY MUCH INVOLVED WITH YOU, THE CITY MANAGER, UH, MR. CANELLI, ABOUT HOW IN DISTRICT THREE, THE IMPROVE MORE STREETS GETTING DONE BECAUSE YOUR MOST EXPENSIVE STREETS PRETTY MUCH IS IN DISTRICT THREE.
BUT WHEN WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME OF THOSE STREETS AT A SAVE
[02:35:01]
COST SAVING, WHAT YOU HAD SAID, DOC, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU DOC, UH, COST SAVING.UH, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
THE LIST THAT MR. CANELLA PROVIDED TO YOU A FEW WEEKS AGO INCLUDED ALL THE STREETS WE COULD FIND ON LISTS THAT WERE ACCUMULATED SINCE 2018, THAT COUNCIL HAD GIVEN DIRECTIVES OR DIRECTION OR VOTED ON TO BE ON THAT LIST.
THE LIST, I BELIEVE INCLUDED ALL THE PROJECTS WERE THAT WERE COMPLETED, WHICH IS ABOUT 170 TO 180 STREETS.
I'M GOING FROM MEMORY AND ALSO INCLUDED ABOUT 60 STREETS THAT WERE STILL ON THE LIST THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
SO THE COMPILATION OF THE LIST THAT THE STREETS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND ARE LEFT ON THE TO-DO LIST WAS WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU.
THE FINANCIAL ASPECT OF IT IS STILL IN THE WORKS.
IT'S IN THE WORKS BECAUSE WE HAVE A FINANCE DEPARTMENT DOING THE AUDITS FOR 2022 AND 2023 THAT ARE NOT COMPLETED YET.
AND WE ARE GATHERING ALL THIS INFORMATION AND AS SOON AS THAT IS COMPLETED, WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THOSE DOLLAR AMOUNTS AS WELL.
AS FAR AS THIS CHANGE ORDER, IN FEBRUARY 23, THE COUNCIL APPROVED APPROXIMATELY $10.2 MILLION WORTH OF WORK ON THE STREETS FOR DISTRICTS TWO AND THREE.
THIS HAD A DEDUCTIVE CHANGE ORDER OF $2.47 MILLION DUE TO REASONS SUCH AS THE STREET COULDN'T BE JUST OVERLAID.
IT NEEDED A COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION, FOR EXAMPLE, OR THE STREET WAS IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.
SO INSIDE CITY CREWS, MR. BATES' CREW WENT OUT THERE AND ALREADY RENOVATED THAT STREET.
SO THERE HAS BEEN A $2.47 MILLION DEDUCTION.
THEN THERE WERE FOUR OTHER CHANGE ORDERS, 2, 3, 4, 5 THAT ADDED WORK TO THESE PROJECTS.
WHAT WE ARE BRINGING YOU TODAY IS CHANGE ORDER NUMBER SIX, UH, TO ADD THE STREETS.
WE ARE ADDING ONE OF WHICH IS TRINITY, WHICH IS NOT ON ANY LIST, BUT THE PIPE BURSTING CREW THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY IS REPLACING THE SEWER LINE AND THE TAPS ON THAT STREET.
AND IT'S GONNA DESTROY IT BY THE TIME THEY'RE DONE.
'CAUSE THE PIPE IS UNDER PAVEMENT.
THE OTHER STREETS THAT YOU ARE SEEING ON THE LIST WERE CHOSEN BY STAFF BASED ON SEVERAL ITEMS. ONE, THE STUDY THAT WAS DONE IN 2022, THE STAFF DRIVING THOSE STREETS, EVALUATING THEM AND ASSESSING THEM AS OF THIS YEAR, 2024, UH, THREE, THE PROXIMITY TO DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT THIS CONTRACT HAS.
'CAUSE IF WE GO OUT THERE AND REBID THESE TREES, THE PRICING IS GONNA BE HIGHER BASED ON INCREASE IN MATERIAL COSTS SINCE FEBRUARY 23.
SO STAFF BROUGHT THESE STREETS TO YOUR ATTENTION FOR APPROVAL OR NOT APPROVAL.
IT, IT'S UP TO YOU ALL TO DECIDE IF YOU WANNA DO THEM OR NOT.
ALL WE WANT TO DO IS FIX STREETS.
IF THE ONES WE ARE PROPOSING TO YOU DO NOT MEET YOUR ACCEPTANCE AND VOTE, THEN YOU GIVE US DIRECTIVES.
WHICH WAY WOULD YOU WANT US TO GO? OKAY.
THAT'S MY PROBLEM RIGHT THERE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SELECT AND RECOMMEND WE DO THIS ON A YEARLY BASIS.
THE ONLY TIME YOU COULD BRING SOMETHING BACK TO US IN THE CURRENT YEAR, IF YOU'RE GONNA COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND SAY, COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO SAY WE HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE STREETS THAT YOU ALL HAVE SELECTED FOR THIS YEAR.
WE'D BE GLAD TO GIVE YOU MORE STREETS.
BUT WHY DO YOU HAVE TO RECOMMEND IN THESE STREETS WHEN YOU HAVE A LIST OF STREETS HAS ALREADY BEEN SELECTED BY COUNCIL? YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA MICROMANAGE STAFF, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I EXPECT US TO FOLLOW THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
YOU KNOW, UH, UH, I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.
WE CAN GET WITH STAFF AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ON TOP OF OUR DISTRICT, BUT WE CAN'T STAY ON OUR TOP ON TOP OF THE DISTRICT IF WE DON'T HAVE INFORMATION.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IF YOU ALLOCATED X AMOUNT OF MONEY, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET ONLY THAT.
AND I DON'T, AND YOU WANNA MAKE SURE I DON'T GET IT.
SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS DOCUMENTATION FOR THE WHOLE COUNCIL.
HE MAY WANT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW TO BREAK DOWN THIS.
THE MAYOR, WE ALL NEED, WE DON'T NEED TO BE TALKING ONE-ON-ONE.
[02:40:01]
TAKE DIRECTOR FROM ONE-ON-ONE.YOU ALL DEAL WITH US AS A COUNCIL WITH THIS STREET PROGRAM.
THE STREET PROGRAM IS A BIG DEAL IN THIS CITY.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE PEOPLE GOING UP.
WE NEED TO ALL UNDERSTAND HOW WE BE, HOW WE DOING IT.
AND, AND I REALLY NEED THIS INFORMATION.
COUNCIL MCKEN LAW, BEEN HOLLERING ABOUT IT.
I'M FINN I'M, I'M FINNA WRAP IT UP.
IN FACT, LESS THAN A MINUTE, BUT COUNCILMAN KEN LAW BEEN ASKING FOR IT FOR TWO YEARS.
I'VE BEEN ASKING IT FROM AUGUST.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN AUDIT BEING CONDUCTED NOW, BUT THAT, THAT INFORMATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO US.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU LISTEN TO WHAT WE SAYING, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, BUT WHEN YOU START TELLING ME A LOT OF THINGS THAT NOT DEALING WITH WHAT I'M ASKING ABOUT, I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT.
EVERY, EVERY PROJECT ON THE LIST HAS FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR IT.
AND IT'S EITHER IN A DESIGN PHASE, BIDDING PHASE, OR CONSTRUCTION PHASE IF IT'S NOT SHOWING AS COMPLETED.
SO WE ARE NOT IGNORING THE LIST.
THE LIST IS ALREADY BEING DESIGNED, BUILT OR CONSTRUCTED.
WELL, WELL, WELL WHY, WHY ARE WE ADDING? AND, AND, AND WE STILL GOT STREAK THAT, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A CONTRACT THAT ALREADY WENT OUT THAT HAD THIS KIND OF MONEY LEFT IN IT.
AND WE ARE TRYING TO UTILIZE THAT.
WE'LL, WE'LL, YES, LET'S MOVE ON WITH THIS.
AND, UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE NEXT MEETING, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT, AS DR. HAYES INDICATED TWO WEEKS AGO, MR. CONELLO WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THERE ARE LIST OF STREETS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED, BUT THEY ARE IN SOME STAGE, EITHER THE DESIGN FEES OR THE BIDDING FEES.
WE WILL BRING THAT LIST BACK TO YOU AND DIVIV IT UP A AMONG EACH DISTRICT, OKAY.
SO THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S REMAINING.
OKAY? WE'LL GIVE YOU A, THAT WILL GIVE YOU A BETTER PICTURE.
AND, AND WE NEED OUR, WE NEED TO SELECT STREETS.
WE NEED TO SELECT THEM AND WE NEED TO GET BIDS OUT AND CONTRACTS OUT SO WE CAN CONTINUE ROLLING.
AND I WILL COMMUNICATE THAT TO MR. CONTEL AND THE REST OF OUR STAFF.
SO WE GET IT GOING, WE GET IT MOVING.
UM, WELL, WE, NOW THE QUESTIONS READY TO VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? A, ANY OPPOSES? AYE.
SO ALL WE APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 7 24 AS PRESENTED.
NOW WE'LL MOVE THROUGH THE, UH, NON-CONSENT, NON-CONTENT CONSENT, EXCUSE ME, AGENDA.
WE HAVE ON PAGE SEVEN AT THE BOTTOM.
[VIII.A. (1) P.R. No. 23676 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Accept The Energy Efficiency And Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) From The Department Of Energy For $118,760.00, With No Cash Match, Appropriated In The General Fund And Contingent Upon Approval Of Budget Amendment Via Adoption Of Proposed Ordinance No. 7242]
ITEM NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS P NUMBER 2, 3 6 7, 6, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT THE, UH, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR $118,760 WITH NO CASH MATCH, UH, APPROPRIATED IN THE GENERAL FUND AND CONTINGENT UPON, UH, APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT VIA ADOPTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE SEVEN, UH, 72, 42.AND THAT, THAT WOULD BE LATER.
UH, AND WE, WE ARE DOING IT IN THE RIGHT ORDER OR DO WE NEED TO DO IT FIRST? YES, WE, WE ARE DOING IT IN THE RIGHT ORDER.
WE'RE DOING IT IN THE RIGHT ORDER.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN, UH, KEN LAW.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? SECOND.
WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23.
READY FOR QUESTION? MAYOR, LEMME JUST FINALLY, UM, UM, SHARE WITH COUNCIL THAT WE ARE FINALLY MOVING TO HAVING THE ENTIRE CITY LED, UM, IN AT LEAST 18 MONTHS.
I'M, I'M JUST THROWING THIS FIGURE OUT THERE.
FINALLY, WE ARE GETTING THERE.
UM, WE WILL MAKE A PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING AS TO HOW WE ACCESS THE FUNDS AND, UM, A TIMELINE WITH, UM, ENERGY.
APPROVED PR NUMBER 23 6 7 6 AS READ.
[VIII.A. (3) P.R. No. 23713 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Renew Insurance Policies For Various Locations With Wright National Flood Insurance Company For Flood Insurance In The Amount Of $90,078.00. Proposed Funding By: 612-11-025-5410-00-00-000 – $90,078.00 Liability Insurance Fund Contingent Upon Approval Of Budget Amendment Via Adoption Of Proposed Ordinance No. 7242]
MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER THREE ON PAGE EIGHT.PR NUMBER 23 7 1 3 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY MANAGER TO RENEW INSURANCE POLICIES FOR VARIOUS LOCATIONS WITH A RIGHT NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE COMPANY FOR FLOOD INSURANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $90,078.
UH, PROPOSED FUNDING BY, UH, COUNT NUMBER 6 1 12 DASH 11 DASH 25 DASH 54 10 DASH 0 0 0.
AND THEN, UH, $90,000 AND 78 CENTS FROM THE LIABILITY INSURANCE FUND CONTINGENT UPON APPROVAL.
AGAIN, A BUDGET AMENDMENT, UH, VIA ADOPTION OF PROPOSED, UH, BUDGET ORDINANCE 72 42.
MAY I GET A, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN BECKHAM SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 7 13 AS READ.
WE ARE READY TO, UH, WELL, ANY QUESTIONS?
[02:45:01]
YES, MAYOR FRANK.UM, I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION.
THIGPEN, IF YOU WILL, OR WHOEVER IS WORKING WITH THE INSURANCE.
I THINK THEY HAD SOMEBODY ONLINE, SIR.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS AND WE'VE BEEN, UH, TALKING ABOUT THIS INSURANCE FOR A WHILE BECAUSE I HAD SOME ISSUES, UH, INITIALLY WITH, UM, THE PROCUREMENT OF INSURANCE FOR OUR CITY AND THE WAY IN WHICH IT WAS BEING HA UH, IT WAS BEING, UM, UH, PROCURED MM-HMM.
AND SO I WANTED TO BE SURE, UH, THAT WE HAD FOLLOWED UP ON THOSE, ON THOSE MATTERS AND, AND THAT IN THAT DIRECTION THAT WE'D DONE THAT.
DID WE, UM, DID WE, UH, ULTIMATELY DECIDE THAT WE WOULD GIVE OUT, UH, THE, UM, THE P THE, UH, THE, UH, THE FIRMS TO THE INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT THEY WANTED? OR DID WE STAY LIKE WE WERE WHERE RIGHT.
ALL OF THE, THE, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING DOESN'T APPLY TO THIS ONE BECAUSE WRIGHT IS THE ONLY FLOOD INSURANCE, RIGHT.
YOU'RE SPEAKING OF THE NEXT ITEM.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
SO ORDER PR NUMBER 23 7 1 3 IS APPROVED AS READ.
[VIII.A. (4) P.R. No. 23717 – A Resolution Authorizing The Purchase Of Commercial Windstorm Coverage In An Amount Not To Exceed $1,867,754.20 Per Annum Proposed Funding By: General Liability Insurance Fund 612-11-025-5410-00-00-000, $1,867,754.20 Contingent Upon Approval Of Budget Amendment Via Adoption Of Proposed Ordinance No. 7242]
HAVE PR NUMBER 23 7 1 7.IT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE PURCHASE OF COMMERCIAL WINDSTORM COVERAGE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,867,754 AND 20 CENTS PER ANNUM.
PROPOSED, UH, FUNDING BY GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE FUND ACCOUNT NUMBER 6 1 12 DASH 11 DASH 0 2 5 DASH 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 AND $1,867,754 AND 20 CENTS, UH, CONTINGENT UPON APPROVAL OF, UH, BUDGET, UH, AMENDMENT NUMBER, UH, BUDGET AMENDMENT, EXCUSE ME, UH, VIA ADOPTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 72 42.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KINLOCK? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN? UH, DOUCETTE SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 7 1 7.
ALRIGHT, SO A AGAIN, WE'RE ALL AWARE THAT THE MARKET HAS GONE UP THAT, YOU KNOW, INCREASED MONIES FOR INSURANCE AND I WANTED TO BE SURE THAT WE WERE GETTING, UH, THE MOST INSURANCE THAT WE COULD, THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK.
AND SO I WANTED TO BE SURE THAT THE PROCESS WAS, UH, SUCH THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE BEST RATES AND I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
UM, THERE WERE TWO BIDS THAT WERE RECEIVED FOR THIS, UH, INDIVIDUAL RFP.
UM, WE SELECTED OF COURSE, THE LOWER, UH, BIDDER, UM, THE PROCESS.
WE EVEN GAVE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS TO GET SOME INFORMATION IN SO THAT WE CAN GET THE, UM, THE BEST PRICE.
SO THE PROCESS WAS DONE CORRECTLY? YES, SIR.
THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO BE SURE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THEY HAVE NONE.
ANY OPPOSES AYES AVERAGE RESULT? WE APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 7 17 AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7241 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Sale Of Public Park Land Located At 2201 Lakeshore Drive, More Commonly Known As Civic 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]
WE ARE AT ORDINANCES, UH, FROM THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA.WE HAVE, UH, ORDINANCE NUMBER 72, UH, 41 AND ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CELL OF PUBLIC PARK LAND LOCATED AT 2201 LAKE DRIVE ARE MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS CIVIC PARK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 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, UH, THEREOF.
UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, DEUCE, WOULD YOU GIVE ME A MOTION FOR APPROVAL PLEASE? VOTE.
COUNCILWOMAN BECKER, WOULD YOU SECOND THAT PLEASE? SECOND, IT IS BEEN MOVED.
AND WE WOULD APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER PO O 7 2 4 1 AS PRESENTED.
YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS COUNCILOR? FRANK? NO, I'M SORRY.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO WE'LL APPROVE PO NUMBER SEVEN.
[VIII.B. (2) P.O. No. 7242 – An Appropriation Ordinance Amending The City Of Port Arthur Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2023 And Ending September 30, 2024, Increasing The General Fund By $690,975.00 The Home Grant Fund By $1,000,453.00 And The General Liability Fund By $1,957,833.00]
NUMBER 7 2 4 2.IT IS APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
[02:50:01]
INCREASING THE GENERAL FUND BY $690,975.THE GRANT HOME GRANT FUND BY $1,000,453 AND THE GENERAL LIABILITY FUND BY $1,957,833.
EXCUSE ME, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN UH, KEN LAW? SO MOVE HERE.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? IT BEEN MOVED AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER SEVEN.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES, I HAVE, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
UH, AS FOR THE, THE GENERAL FUND, WE ARE GETTING 690,007 $975.
OKAY? AND SO FAR, UH, THAT BRINGS OUR GENERAL FUND UP, WHAT, APPROXIMATELY FIVE LITTLE, RIGHT AT 5 MILLION TO FOUR AND A HALF 0.4 0.5 MILLION THAT WE'VE AMENDED, UH, THIS YEAR.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE TOTAL FUND, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT? 97.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE ARE, WE ARE, UH, AMENDING THE BUDGET AND WE ARE PLACING MONEY INTO THE, UH, GENERAL FUND AND TO FUND THESE DIFFERENT THINGS, INSURANCE AND LIABILITY.
OKAY? THAT'S NOT OPTIONAL, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT ANY MORE FUNDING WE NEED TO START DOING WHETHER WE WANNA AMEND THIS BUDGET, WE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF IT.
WHERE WE GONNA START WORKING ON NEXT BUDGET.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO GO INTO THE RESERVE BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WE KEEP, WHENEVER WE AMEND THE BUDGET AND TAKE MONEY FROM THE FUND BALANCE AS SOME THINGS ARE LISTED HERE, WHEN YOU TAKE MONEY FROM THE FUND BALANCE, YOU HAVE, YOU ARE ACTUALLY TAKING MONEY FROM THE RESERVES.
AND I SAY RESERVES SO THE CITIZENS CAN UNDERSTAND OUR FARM BALANCES ARE RESERVE.
BUT WHEN WE TAKE MONEY FROM THAT, ALL WE DOING IS WE PAYING FOR SOMETHING.
BUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE WHAT CALL A FARM BALANCE.
AND WE HAVE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THAT MAINTAINING A CERTAIN LEVEL FOR IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.
AND ALSO WE NEED TO KEEP IT THAT WAY FOR WHEN SOMETHING COME UP LIKE THE, UH, INSURANCE LIABILITY, THINGS THAT IMPACT ON OUR, UH, EMPLOYEES, UH, THE, THE TORNADO HIT.
AND WE NEED SOME, UH, MONEY TO HELP CLEAN UP AND KEEP THINGS IN THE AND DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
WE REALLY NEED TO WATCH THE FUND BALANCE.
SO I JUST WANT TO CAUTION US, UH, TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT REQUEST FOR FUNDING.
THAT'S GOING TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE AND PUT IN THAT GENERAL FUND.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? NO.
MA, CITY MANAGER HAVE THAT FUND BALANCE OR RESERVE, IS THIS STILL 60 DAYS? OPERATE THE CITY 60 DAYS OR HAVE THAT CHANGE? NO, WE STILL HAVE THAT THRESHOLD.
WE STILL HAVE THAT THRESHOLD AND IT'S ACCORDING TO STATE LAW THAT WE'VE GOT TO MAINTAIN THOSE BALANCES.
UM, I JUST WANT TO REMIND COUNSEL NOW THAT, UM, YOU HAVE MADE CERTAIN REQUESTS TO FUND, UM, FROM THE GENERAL FUND, UH, ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION FOR TRANSIT, THAT'S GOING TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE THAT HAS NOT BEEN BUDGETED.
SO AS WE CONTINUE TO SAY THAT, REMEMBER THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTA GO INTO THE FUND BALANCE.
I, I'VE HAD THREE PROPOSALS THAT THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT IS PREPARING FOR ME.
AND THEN YOU WILL CHOOSE ONE OF THOSE OR WE'LL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU.
UM, COUNCILMAN, DID YOU SAY WHAT YOU SAID? WELL, THAT, THAT'S WHAT I JUST STATED.
CITY MAN, IT IS PERTAINING TO LIABILITIES AND INSURANCE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES OR IF IT'S PERTAINING TO CITIZENS AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR CITIZENS.
THAT'S A NO BRAINER WHEN IT COMES TO GOING INTO OUR RESERVES.
UH, UH, OUR FUND BALANCE, I UNDERSTAND THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT ANY OTHER THINGS, THINGS WE WANT TO DO OTHER THAN DIRECTLY DEALING WITH CITIZENS HEALTH AND WELFARE ARE OUR EMPLOYEES.
BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING, WE NEED TO WHAT? JUST PUT IT IN THE, IN THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR AND LET'S DO IT NEXT YEAR, BUT WE DIDN'T DO IT.
[02:55:01]
FAVOR? A, ANY OPPOSES AYES ABSENT WILL APPROVE PO NUMBER 7 2 4 2 AS PRESENTED.[VIII.B. (3) P.O. No. 7244 – An Ordinance Extending The Declaration Of Disaster Pursuant To §418.108(b) Of The Texas Government Code]
NUMBER 7 2 4 4 AN ORDER EXTENDING THE DECLARATION DISASTER PURSUANT TO, UH, SECTION FOUR 18.108, SUBSECTION B OF THE THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MAYOR, MAKE IT A SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 72 42 AS PRESENTED.
WE'RE READY TO, UH, ANY QUESTIONS? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
SO PO NUMBER 7 2 4 4 IS IS EX FOUR.
FOUR IS EX EXTENDED AND APPROVED.
[VIII.B. (4) P.O. No. 7245 – An Ordinance Amending Section 18-33 Of The Code Of Ordinances By Adding Subsection (b) As It Pertains To Permit Schedule As A Result Of The April 10, 2024, Weather Event And Providing An Effective Date]
PO NUMBER 72 45 AND ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 18 DASH 33 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ADDING SUBSECTION B AS IT PERTAINS TO PERMIT SCHEDULE AS A RESULT OF THE APRIL 10TH, 2024 WEATHER EVENT AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.UH, MOTION FOR APPROVAL COUNCIL KINLOCK.
AND SECOND, WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 72 45.
WE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? ON ANY QUESTION? YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
HAVE IT PO NUMBER 72 45 YEARS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)]
TO MOVE INTO OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND, AND WE WILL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH, UH, SECTION 5 5, 1 POINT, EXCUSE ME, 1 0 1 OF THE, UH, CHAPTER 5 5, 1 OF THE OAKLAND MEETINGS LAWS OF THE STATE OF, UH, THE GOVERNMENT, UH, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND WHICH IS FORM THE ARTICLE 62 52 POINT UH, DASH 17 SECTION TWO SUBSECTION A.UH, AND PRIOR TO GOING INTO THE MEETING, MY BEING THE PRESIDING OFFICER I WOULD MAKE SHOULD MAKE THIS, UH, FOLLOWING UH, STATEMENT.
IN THE CLOSED MEETING WE WOULD DISCUSS SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE AND WE WOULD DISCUSS AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR CONSULTATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING POTENTIAL AND OR PENDING CLAIMS, CONTRACTS, LITIGATIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL MATTERS INVOLVING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
UH, SUBJECT, UH, THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE KIRK THOMAS VERSUS CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WESTSIDE DEVELOPMENT, UH, PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT AND AMBULANCE SERVICES.
UH, SECONDLY WE WOULD DISCUSS, UH, SECTION 5 5 1 0.072 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE AND WE DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE WITH, UH, POSSIBLE ACTION PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE OF VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF PORT ARTHUR, UH, SUCH AS LAND ADJACENT TO THE, UH, PORT ARTHUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT LOCATED AT 1308 NINTH AVENUE LAND ADJACENT TO IMMIGRANTS PARK PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3030 NINTH STREET AND BABES, THE HARS GOLF COURSE AND PLEASURE ISLAND.
AND WE WERE ALSO, UH, DISCUSSED SECTION 5 5 1 0.074, THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
AND WE WERE AT THAT WE WOULD BE DISCUSSING THE DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE EVALUATION OF THE CITY MANAGER.
SO AT THIS TIME WE WILL, UH, RECESS TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM AND IT IS NOW 1234.
THE ALTERNATIVE PLEASE, AT ABOUT 1245, GIVE US ABOUT FIVE OR 10 MINUTES.
AND AT 1245 WE WILL BEGIN OUR CLOSED SESSION.
AND WHAT WE CAN DO IS, OR WILL DO, IS AT THE CLOSE OF THE, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION, IF THERE'LL BE ANY ACTION ITEMS, WE WILL RETURN HERE TO THE CHAMBERS AND VOTE ON THOSE ITEMS IN OPEN SESSION.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO KINDLY, YOU READY TO SEE THE SECRETARY? YES, SIR.
WE ARE RETURNING FROM OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, 3:29 PM AND WE ARE BACK IN, UH, OUR MEETING THAT BEGAN THIS MORNING AT ABOUT 9 35.
UH, CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE WE ESTABLISH THE COURT? MAYOR BARTEE, PRESENT MAYOR PRO TIMM HAMILTON AFIELD.
FRANK, YOU HAVE A QUORUM, MA'AM.
UH, WE WE'RE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ATTORNEY, WE DO HAVE ACTION ITEMS. YES? YES.
AND COUNCILMAN DEUCE, YOU HAVE THOSE ITEMS? YES, I DO.
WOULD YOU PLEASE READ OUT THE FIRST ONE? OKAY, THE FIRST MOTION IS A MOTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A FOURTH AMENDMENT
[03:00:01]
TO THE CONTRACT FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF DAVE ZAHARA MEMORIAL GOLF COURSE WITH A COOLER GOLF INC, INC, BY EXTENDING THE CONTRACT TERMS FOR A PERIOD OF 120 DAYS.AND SECOND, THAT WE WOULD, UH, EXCUSE ME, ACCEPT THE FIRST MOTION THAT HAS BEEN READ BY COUNCILMAN UH, DOUCETTE.
BE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT MOTION? ARE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO THAT MOTION CARRIES THE SECOND ONE.
UH, COUNCIL A MOTION AUTHORIZING CITY MAN TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE PORT ARTHUR HOUSING AUTHOR HAS PURCHASED 3.80 ACRE OF LAND CONSISTING OF TWO TRACKS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE CITY'S PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AT 1308 NINTH AVENUE.
SUCH CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE WILL BE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THIS MOTION.
NUMBER TWO, SECOND MOTION THAT'S BEEN READ BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE, WE READY FOR QUESTION? THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
ANY OPPOSES ABBOT? THE SECOND MOTION IS APPROVED AS READ.
AND THIRDLY, A MOTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO PROCEED WITH THE LISTING OF THE CITY ON VACANT PARENT TRACK OF LAND WHERE IMMIGRANTS PARK IS SITUATED WITH A LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 2 72 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE SECOND, I MEAN THIRD MOTION.
UH, AND WE READY FOR QUESTION ON ANY QUESTIONS? READY? APPROVE.
SO THIS ORDER MOTION NUMBER THREE IS APPROVED AS READ CITY SECRETARY, IF THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO ACTUALLY CONSIDER AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE PRINTED AGENDA AND I WOULD NOW DECLARE THIS MEETING OF THIS AUGUST, BODY ADJOURNED.
GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU AND WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING.