* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. GOT IT. THANK [00:00:01] YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD [I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL] MORNING. GOOD MORNING. WE'RE GATHERED HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR A REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING ON TODAY, JUNE 18TH, 2024. AND IN THIS MEETING AND DURING THIS MEETING, YOU MAY ATTEND THE MEETING AND PARTICIPATE IF YOU WOULD FOLLOW THE PROMPTS, WHICH WOULD BE DIAL IN 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7, OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9, AND YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 3 0 9 5 5 7 8 4 9 0, AND THE PASSCODE OF 1 1 5 1 0 2, AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN TODAY'S MEETING. WE ARE ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, EXCUSE ME, HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND DURING THIS MEETING, HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL REQUEST FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU MUST CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE AT UH 4 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5 PRIOR TO 24 HOURS, EXCUSE ME, PRIOR TO THE MEETING, MAKE YOUR REQUEST. AND CITY SECRETARY STAFF, EXCUSE ME, WILL DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWERS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH YOUR REQUESTED ACCOMMODATIONS. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL NOW, IF YOU HAVE ELECTRONIC DEVICES, ASK THAT YOU WOULD SILENCE THOSE PLEASE OR TURN THEM OFF, WHICHEVER WOULD BE YOUR PREFERENCE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR INVOCATION AND ROLL CALL. WOULD YOU ALL MIND STANDING AND JOINING US IN OUR INVOCATION? PLEASE LET US PRAY. FATHER GOD, IT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS THAT WE APPROACH YOUR THRONE OF GRACE AND MERCY, YET IS OUR DEAR GOD IN DEEP CONTRITION, FATHER HUMBLING OURSELVES. BEFORE YOUR MIGHTY HAND, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE US, GIVE US THE WHEREWITHAL THAT WE WOULD NEED TODAY TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THIS GREAT CITY YOU HAVE BLESSED US WITH. DEAR GOD, ALLOW YOUR SPIRIT TO PERMEATE OUR BEING. EVEN IN THIS ASSEMBLAGE. WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR MANYFOLD BLESSINGS. YOU'RE SUCH A GOOD GOD. YOU ARE KIND FATHER, YOU ARE AN EVERLASTING FRIEND. YOU ARE OUR HOPE FOR TOMORROW, AND BECAUSE OF THIS, WE ARE MIGHTY, MIGHTY, GRATEFUL, AND WE WORSHIP YOUR HOLY NAME IN WHICH WE PRESENT THIS PETITION. AND THAT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS THE CHRIST. AMEN. WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN US NOW IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, I HAVE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN OUR OPENING CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH THE CORPS? MAYOR BARTEE, PRESENT, MAYOR PRO TEM BECKHAM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT. YOU HAVE A QUORUM MAYOR, THANK YOU SO KINDLY. AND AGAIN TO EACH OF YOU, WELCOME HERE ON THIS DATE TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WE WILL BEGIN [II. PROCLAMATIONS] NOW WITH PROCLAMATIONS AND I HAVE SEVERAL THAT WE HAVE GATHERED. THE FIRST ONE I HAVE GATHERED HERE IS FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH. DO WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS HERE WHO WOULD RECEIVE THAT? WOULD YOU ALL COME FORWARD PLEASE? THANK YOU ALL SO KINDLY. THIS IS FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, AND IT STATES WHEREAS OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELLBEING OF THIS CITY BY WORKING, CAREGIVING, VOLUNTEERING, AND ACTIVELY PRESERVING CUSTOMS, RITUALS AND TRADITIONS. AND WHEREAS AS WE AGE, WE BUILD MOMENTUM BY ACCUMULATING KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, INSIGHT, AND WISDOM THAT CAN BE SHARED TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS ABUSE OF OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS A COMMUNITY CONCERN AFFECTING THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS. AND WHEREAS [00:05:02] THERE ARE 120,069 REPORTS OF ABUSE OF OLDER AMERICANS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN TEXAS, OR THERE WERE, EXCUSE ME, IN 2023. AND WHEREAS ABUSE AGAINST OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS GROSSLY UNDER-REPORTED BECAUSE OF SOCIAL STIGMA, EMBARRASSMENT, AND FEAR. AND WHEREAS ADULT ABUSE AFFECTS MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL INCOME AND ABILITY LEVELS, ALL CULTURAL AND ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS IN ALL COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS ELDER ABUSE IS EVERYONE'S BUSINESS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO STRENGTHEN OUR EFFORTS TO PREVENT REPORT AND ADDRESS ELDER ABUSE. NOW THEREFORE, I THURMAN BILL BCE, MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JUNE AS ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND I URGE ALL CITIZENS, ALL RESIDENTS, TO WORK TOGETHER TO REDUCE ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. AND IT'S IN WITNESS WHEREOF. I HEAR UNTO SET MY HAND AND CAUSE THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF FORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS 18TH DAY OF JUNE IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2024. AND IT SIGNED MAYOR THURMAN, BILL . AND I'M GOING TO COME DOWN AND PRESENT IT TO YOU THERE. OKAY. HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? BECAUSE SOMEONE MAY TAKE SOME PICTURES. OKAY. AND I WANNA PRESENT THIS TO YOU RIGHT HERE AND IT'S FIT BACK. YOU ALL KNOW HOW TO DO IT. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL YOU Y Y'ALL. SOMEONE WANNA TAKE PICTURES NOW? OKAY. NO, I'M Y'ALL GOOD? OKAY. THANK Y. EXCUSE ME. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY COUNCIL WANT, WE HAVE PRO TAMMY, WANT SAY ANYTHING FOR YOU? THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TAKE CARE OF US. OKAY. THANK, OKAY. OKAY. EXCUSE ME. NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, FOR A MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. DO WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS HERE SHOULD RECEIVE THIS? IF NOT, I'M GOING TO READ IT. IT SAYS, FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR. WHEREAS MENTAL HEALTH IS ESSENTIAL TO THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF ALL RESIDENTS. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TO REDUCE STIGMA AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THOSE IN NEED. AND WHEREAS GULF COAST HEALTH CENTER HAS BEEN A STEADFAST ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE AND COMPASSIONATE CARE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE GULF COAST HEALTH CENTER INCORPORATED PROVIDES VITAL SERVICES INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS, COUNSELING, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, TREATMENT, AND INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE, SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MANY RESIDENTS. AND WHEREAS THE MONTH OF MAY IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS A MONTH, A TIME TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, CELEBRATE RECOVERY, AND SUPPORT THOSE LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. [00:10:02] AND WHEREAS GULF COAST HEALTH CENTER INCORPORATED HAS DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, FOSTERING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND TREATMENT SERVICES. AND WHEREAS THE CITY'S EFFORT IN COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL WELLNESS, EXCUSE ME, AND PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND VETERANS ARE COMMENDABLE AND INVALUABLE. AND WHEREAS IT IS FITTING AND PROPER TO RECOGNIZE THE GULF COAST HEALTH CENTER INCORPORATED FOR ITS DEDICATION, ITS LEADERSHIP, AND ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENHANCING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND CARE HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. NOW, THEREFORE, I THURMAN BILL BOCHE, MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2024 AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN HONOR OF GULF COAST HEALTH CENTER, INCORPORATED IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. WE URGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN THIS OBSERVANCE BY PARTICIPATING IN MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS ACTIVITIES, SUPPORTING THOSE AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, AND RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT MENTAL HEALTH PLAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY'S OVERALL WELLBEING. THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZES GULF COASTS HEALTH CENTER INCORPORATED FOR ITS VITAL ROLE IN PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. IN WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HERE AND TWO, SET MY HAND AND CALLED THE SEAL OF THE GREAT CITY OF FORT ARTHUR TO BE AFFIXED THIS 18TH DAY OF JUNE IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2024. AND IT IS SIGNED THURMOND BOYT MAYOR. AND WE WILL SEE THAT THE HEALTH GULF COAST HEALTHCARE GROUP RECEIVES THIS AS WELL. AND I DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION AGAIN, THIS FINAL ONE'S FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND THIS IS ON BEHALF OF MS. GUNDA TRAINOR, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE ON TODAY, HOWEVER, TOLD HER THAT WE WOULD BE PRESENTING IT TODAY. AND, UH, SHE SENT HER REGRETS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND. THIS SAYS, FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, I AM DELIGHTED TO EXTEND MY SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. GLENDA TRAYNA. WHEREAS MS. TRAYNA, WE HONOR YOU FOR 42 YEARS OF DEDICATION TO EAST MOUNT OLIVE YOUTH AT THE AS THE YOUTH CHOIR MUSICIAN. YOUR COMMITMENT IS ADMIRABLE AND YOU ARE A TRUE BLESSING TO THIS COMMUNITY AND MORE PERSONALLY TO EAST MOUNT OLIVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. AND WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PROCLAMATION. MAY THIS ALWAYS REMIND YOU OF HOW MUCH JOY YOU BRING TO OTHERS. NOW, THEREFORE, I THURMAN BILL B MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM, AND IT IS IN RETROSPECT, IT WAS ON JUNE 9TH, 2024 AS GLENDA TRAINER DAY IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND EVEN AT THAT TIME, I VERBALLY ASKED ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING HER FOR ENHANCING THE LIVES OF YOUTH IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND IT SAYS, IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE HEARING TO SET MY HAND AND CAUSE THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO BE AFFIXED THIS 18TH DAY OF JUNE IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2024. AND IT SIGNED THURMAN BILL AWARDEE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND I BELIEVE THAT'S IT FOR PROCLAMATIONS CITY SECRETARY. OKAY. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND INDULGENCE AS WE CONDUCTED THIS CEREMONIAL PRESENTATION. WE'LL [III.A. (1) The African American Cultural Society Regarding Upcoming Events] [00:15:01] NOW MOVE TO SPEAKERS IN ROMAN LUMAL THREE. AND THE FIRST SPEAKER WE HAVE IS THE AMERICAN, UH, AMERICAN, AFRICAN AMERICAN, I'M SORRY, CULTURAL SOCIETY REGARDING UPCOMING EVENTS. MAY I APPROACH, PLEASE BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SANDRA CASTILE. I'M JUST PLAYING WITH Y'ALL YESTERDAY, THE LADY ON THE NEWS MADE A MISTAKE AND CALL ME SANDRA. SO TODAY I THOUGHT I'D , BUT I'M GAIL PELMAN. I'M PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY. IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE AND WE STAY IN HERE TODAY TO LET YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR 40TH YEAR, UH, WITH THE JUNETEENTH PARADE AND CELEBRATION. UNFORTUNATELY, WE WILL BE CANCELED TOMORROW BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER, BUT WE WILL BE RESCHEDULING MOST OF THE ACTIVITIES WITH OUR KWANZA CELEBRATION. SO THOSE DATES WILL BE FROM DECEMBER THE 30TH AND THE 31ST, 11:00 AM AT THE ROCK ISLAND BAPTIST CHURCH. UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE CITY FOR THE PAST 40 PLUS YEARS OF SUPPORTING THE JUNETEENTH ACTIVITIES, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE? OKAY. UH, WELL, I LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, I GUESS BEING THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR PER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, I APPRECIATE YOUR ACQUIESCENCE TO A REQUEST TO COUNCIL. WE DON'T KNOW HOW POORLY THE WEATHER WILL BE ON TOMORROW, BUT IF THE PREDICTIONS ARE AS THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN, AND WE ARE GONNA EVEN GET AN EVEN MORE UPDATED, UH, PREDICTION ON THIS AFTERNOON IN OUR MEETING AT FOUR 15, UH, THE WEATHER MAY NOT BE CONDUCIVE TO OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES OR EVEN TO MOVEMENT AND TRAVEL AROUND OUR CITY OR EVEN AROUND OUR REGION. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND JUST LET US KNOW WHEN, UH, THE DECEMBER DATES DURING KWANZA YES. AND WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO SUPPORT YOU AND, AND, UH, HELP WITH THAT PARTICULAR, UH, CEREMONY AND ACTIVITY. PLEASE INFORM US, UH, THROUGH OUR CITY MANAGER THE WAY YOU'VE ALREADY ALWAYS DONE. AND WE WILL SEE, UH, WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN DO TO BE SUPPORTIVE AND TO THE, UH, COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, WE ARE SORRY ABOUT THE 19TH OF JUNE AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON THAT? A WONDERFUL PROGRAM LINED OUT FOR TOMORROW UNTIL IT'S JUST MIND BOGGLING THAT YOU HAD TO CALL EVERYBODY AND START CANCELING. BUT WE HAD A WONDERFUL PROGRAM LINED UP. RIGHT? BUT IT'S NATURE AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOD'S, UH, BUSINESS AND NOT OKAY. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. OKAY. NO ONE ELSE. OKAY. DID YOU HAVE STUFF? OKAY. THIS DEAL IS NOT WORKING. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FLAG RAISING CEREMONY LAST WEEK. IT WAS VERY MOVING. EVERYTHING WAS JUST SO WONDERFULLY PUT TOGETHER. UM, AND, AND IT WAS A REALLY ENJOYABLE TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU MAYOR PORT. OKAY, IT'S WORKING NOW. CITY SECRETARY. IT TOOK ABOUT 14 TOUCHES. OKAY. I WAS COUNTING. OKAY. SO IF YOU SITTING THERE FOR MAYOR PODIUM, WE GONNA TOUCH IT ABOUT 14 TIMES AND IT MIGHT DECIDE IT'S GOING TO WORK. OKAY, NEXT [III.A. (2) Phillip Cupples Regarding Code Violations And Safety, No Permits] WE HAVE MR. UH, PHILIP COUPLES REGARDING CODE VIOLATIONS AND SAFETY AND, UH, NO PERMITS. I BELIEVE IT'S WHAT IT'S ACTUALLY STATES. YOU BEGIN BY SAY, STATING YOUR NAME, SIR, AND YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR PROCEED. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MR. BARI. UH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. I KNOW YOU'RE A FAIR AND JUST, MAN, I WOULD ASK FOR A LITTLE LENIENCY ON MY TIME IF POSSIBLE. OKAY. WELL, WE NEED YOU TO START OUT WITH YOUR NAME AND SO EVERYBODY WILL KNOW AND YOUR ADDRESS AND THEN WE'LL ONCE. MY NAME'S PHILLIP COUPLES. I LIVE AT 61 0 6 17TH STREET. I'VE BEEN AN ELECTRICIAN FOR 50 YEARS. I'M CON I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN THE CITY. FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. I'VE WORKED UNDER THE CITY REGULATIONS AND CITY ORDINANCES. UH, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU OF THE MAN I HAD GREAT CONFIDENCE IN WAS BUTCH HAS, HE WAS A ELECTRICIAN, INSPECTION INSPECTOR FOR PORT ARTHUR. HE ENFORCED THE CODE TO ITS INTENT, THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE. HE ALSO DUG IN AND AFTER PEOPLE THAT WERE DOING WORK ILLEGALLY, IF A TRUCK DIDN'T HAVE THE NAME OF THE BUSINESS ON THE TRUCK, AND JUST RECENTLY A STATE LICENSE HAS TO BE ISSUED ON A VEHICLE THAT'S DOING ELECTRIC WORK. IF THOSE THINGS WEREN'T THERE, HE WOULD PROSECUTE 'EM. AND [00:20:01] WHAT THAT DID WAS IT, IT INSURED SAFETY THAT PEOPLE THAT WERE WORKING IN THE AREA UNDER ELECTRICITY WERE LICENSED AND BONDED BY THE CITY. THEY HAVE TO BE LICENSED BY THE STATE. NOW, THIS IS MY STATE LICENSE. I'M STATE LICENSED NOW. NOW I COME UP FOR ANOTHER, UH, TESTING IN JULY AND I'LL BE TAKING THAT TEST IN JULY. BUT MY ISSUE IS THERE WAS A MAN NEXT DOOR THAT BOUGHT A THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR, AND HE MOVED. HE, HE MOVED IN A TRUCK AND I WENT OVER TO SEE WHO IT WAS AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE OWNER. AND SO HE SAID, I SAID, I ASKED HIM WHO HE WAS AND HE TOLD ME. BUT WHAT REALLY GOT ME WAS IT WAS AN LLC, SO HE WAS A BUSINESS BUYING THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY. AND FOR 50 YEARS, I DEALT WITH PEOPLE THAT WERE INVESTORS ON PROPERTY. AND I SAID, ARE YOU GONNA BE LIVING HERE? AND HE SAID, NO, I'M GONNA MOVE MY MOTHER-IN-LAW IN. AND I SAID, OH, THAT'D BE GOOD. AND THEN I LEFT, I WENT BACK HOME. I JUST SAW IT WAS A OWNER. AND, UH, RIGHT ABOUT THAT TIME, HE HAD TWO TREES CUT DOWN. THAT WAS A GIGANTIC PECAN TREE, AND ALL THE TRASH WAS THROWN INTO THE DITCH. SO AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS A LOT OF RAIN. AND, UH, I CALLED THE CITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAME OUT AND TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS GONNA HAVE TO REMOVE IT, AND HE GAVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL, GAVE HIM, UH, 10 DAYS TO GET A DUMPSTER THERE AND GET THE STUFF OUT OF THE DRAINAGE DITCH. AND, UH, ON THE LAST DAY, A DUMPSTER CAME OUT AND THEY PUT THE STUFF IN THE, IN THE DUMPSTER. AND SO THAT WAS TAKEN CARE OF. WELL, RIGHT AFTER THAT HAPPENED, HE, HE BROUGHT IN ROOFING MATERIAL AND SET IT ON THE DRIVEWAY. AND THAT GAVE ME KNOWLEDGE THAT HE WAS GONNA BE DOING A ROOF. AND SO I WAITED AND WAITED, AND THEN ANOTHER TRUCK CAME IN AND THEY SET A-H-V-A-C UNIT THAT'S A HEATING UNIT ON THE DRIVEWAY. AND SO IT SHOWED ME THAT THEY WERE GONNA BE PUTTING IN, UH, AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT IN THE ATTIC AND A CONDENSER OUTSIDE. I DO ELECTRICAL WORK, AND I KNEW THAT WAS GONNA TAKE SOME ELECTRIC ELECTRICAL WORK. SO I, I CALLED, UH, ENFORCEMENT, ENFORCEMENT CAME AND SHUT 'EM DOWN, MADE A STOP WORK PERMIT. IT WAS ISSUED ON THE 26TH. AND, UH, I, I CAN GIVE YOU THE DATE, THE, THE PERMIT E EXPIRED ON 3 24. BUT, UH, LEMME GET MY GLASSES. HE WAS ISSUED ON TEN FIVE, TEN FIVE TWENTY THREE. AND SO HE INSTALLED THE UNIT. BUT WHAT WAS WEIRD ABOUT IT WAS SOON AS HE GOT TO STOP WORK PERMIT, HE JUMPED IN HIS TRUCK AND CAME DOWN TO THE PERMITTING APARTMENT AND BOUGHT A PERMIT THAT DAY AND WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE AND STARTED INSTALLING THE, THE PERMIT. AND THEN THEY STARTED TEARING OFF THE ROOF. THERE WAS NO PERMIT ISSUED FOR THE WORK ROOF. AND SO I CALLED ABOUT ALL THIS GOING ON, BUT EVERY TIME I CALLED, THEY ASKED ME. IT WAS LIKE, I, I NEED TO KNOW THING. I HAD NO NEED TO KNOW WHETHER THERE WAS A PERMIT ISSUED OR NOT. AND THEY SAID, WHAT IS IT TO YOU? AND SO I WAS VERY DISCOURAGED. SO I KEPT CALLING ENFORCEMENT ABOUT THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON IN THE HOUSE. WELL, AFTER SOME OF IT WAS GOING ON FOR A WHILE, HE CAME BACK OVER AND HE WAS VISITING THE PEOPLE THAT WERE WORKING IN THE HOUSE. AND I SAID, WELL, HOW'S IT GOING? HE SAYS, WELL, YOU WANT TO SEE? AND I SAID, SURE. SO HE BROUGHT ME INSIDE AND HE SHOWED ME THAT HE ADDED PLUGS IN THE HOUSE. HE ADDED A RECEPTACLE IN THE BATHROOM, AND HE EXTENDED THE TWO WIRE CIRCUIT FROM THE LIGHTING CIRCUIT AND MADE A PLUG. YOU CAN'T PUT A RECEPTACLE IN A BATHROOM UNLESS IT'S ON A ITS OWN CIRCUIT, AND IT HAS TO BE GFCI PROTECTED. AND NEITHER ONE OF THOSE WERE DONE. HE MADE A THREE WIRE CIRCUIT CIR, UH, THREE WIRE PLUG ON A TWO WIRE [00:25:01] CIRCUIT. THAT MEANS THAT PLUG HAS NO GROUND. NOW THERE IS A WAY YOU CAN DO THAT BY TAKING THE NEUTRAL CONDUCTOR AND WRAPPING IT AROUND AND PUTTING IT ON THE GROUND. AND IF YOU PUT A TESTER IN IT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A GROUND. BUT YOU CAN'T USE A CURRENT CARRYING CONDUCTOR FOR A GROUNDING WIRE. GROUNDING AND GROUND DEAD ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. AND SO HE'S CREATED A HAZARD. YOU'VE EXTENDED YOUR, YOUR, YOUR, UH, THE TIME THAT'S ALLOWED, SIR, HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH LONGER? YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE HOW, HOW MUCH? HOW MUCH? HOW MUCH? I CAN'T HEAR YOU. OKAY. HOW MUCH MORE YOU NEED TO TALK BECAUSE YOU'VE, YOU'VE USED UP ALL OF YOUR TIME. RIGHT NOW I NEED TO ANOTHER TWO OR THREE MINUTES. YOU ALL AGREE? OKAY, FINE. LET'S GO WITH THREE MINUTES. NOW COME, YOU GOTTA KIND OF WRAP IT. HE, HE WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE AND CHANGED ALL THE PLUGS TO THREE WIRE PLUGS ON A TWO WIRE CIRCUIT THAT ENDANGERS ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE IT'S NOT PROTECTED BY A GROUND FAULT INTERRUPTER. THEY GOT THREE CHILDREN LIVING THERE. THE MAN MOVED THE PEOPLE IN WITHOUT A FINAL INSPECTION ON ANY OF IT. THESE THINGS HAVE TO BE INSPECTED SO THAT YOU CAN GET A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. AND I DISCUSSED THAT WITH HIM AND HE SAID, I DON'T NEED ANY PERMITS. I DON'T NEED ANY INSPECTIONS. I DON'T NEED A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. AND THE PEOPLE I'M WORKING HERE DON'T HAVE TO SEE IF THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE COMPETENT. I'M GONNA DO WHAT I WANT TO DO. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS UP AGAINST. AND EVERY TIME I TRIED TO FIND SOMETHING OUT, I WAS UP AGAINST A, A, A BLANK WALL. NOW YOU GOTTA REMEMBER THE SERVICE ON THE OUTSIDE WAS BUILT IN, IN 65. IT'S GOT EIGHT MAINS IN THERE. YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED FIVE MAINS. THERE'S THREE WIRES IN THE LINE CONNECTION. THEY'RE ALL CLIPPED THE WIRE IN THE, IN THE, AN OUTLET HAS HAD STRANDS CLIPPED OFF THE WIRES. THE SERVICE IS ILLEGAL. THERE'S ONE MAIN ON THE RIGHT, THERE'S THREE MAINS ON THE LEFT, AND THERE'S FOUR MAINS IN THE TOP OF THE PANEL THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. THE RISER IS INCH AND A HALF PIPE, IT SHOULD BE TWO INCH. THESE VIOLATIONS NEED TO BE CAUGHT BY THE, BY THE CITY BECAUSE THE LITTLE CHILDREN ARE IN DANGER. AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF, THERE'S NO SMOKE DETECTORS. THERE'S NO GFCI PROTECTION AND ANYTHING IN THE HOUSE. THERE'S NO KITCHEN RECEPTACLES, NO GARAGE, NO OUTSIDE, NO BATHROOMS. THOSE ARE ALL SUPPOSED TO BE GFCI PROTECTED. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOTTA SAY. OKAY. JUST A MINUTE. UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOUR LIGHT WAS FIRST. YES. JUST, JUST, UH, BRIEFLY, I NEED FOR YOU TO GET WITH THE CITY MANAGER. YOU SAY YOU TALKED TO SOMEONE AT THE CITY? YES. YOU NEED TO GET WITH THE CITY MANAGER. LET THE CITY MANAGER KNOW WHO YOU TALK WITH. HE SAID, AND HE'LL WORK, HE'LL DEAL WITH IT FROM THERE. OKAY. AND THEN ONE ADDITIONAL, THIS RIGHT HERE, THIS RIGHT HERE. I UNDERSTAND IT'S ALL THE EMAILS AND ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND I'VE GIVEN IT TO HIM ALREADY. YOU'VE GIVEN IT TO THE CITY MANAGER? YES, SIR. OKAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT THEN. AND THAT'S JUST ONE CORRECTION. AND STATE, STATE HAS THE RIGHT TO LICENSE EVERYONE TO WORK FROM CITY TO CITY, BUT STATE LAW ALLOW INDIVIDUAL CITIES TO TO, TO ISSUE THEIR OWN LICENSE AND PULL THEIR OWN PERMIT. BUT THEY CAN ONLY WORK IN THAT CITY. THAT'S JUST AN ADDITIONAL I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? NO, SIR. OH, SHALL I CUT IT OFF? YEAH. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? UH, YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION, UH, MR. COUPLES. BUT ONE, ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UH, I DON'T KNOW THE TIMEFRAME OF ACTUALLY WHEN YOU GAVE THAT INFORMATION, BUT NOW YOU MADE AWARE OF THE CITY COUNCIL AS A UNITY. UH, I WOULD, WOULD LIKE TO GET AN, UH, CITY MANAGER. I WOULD LIKE TO GET A FOLLOW UP ON HIS COMPLAINT. UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE INSPECTORS THAT MAY WANT TO COMMENT. I I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE ADDRESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU MAY HAVE THIS SITUATION WITH, YOU KNOW, DUE TO BEING A PUBLIC MEETING. BUT AS FAR AS, UH, SOMEONE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT, YOU GOT THE EAR TO COUNCIL. UH, I'M VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THAT. BUT BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, EVERYTHING HAS A CODE, EVERYTHING HAS A LAW, EVERYTHING HAS SOME TYPE OF, UH, CHECKS AND BALANCE. AND IF THIS PERSON OR THIS WOMAN, WHOEVER IT IS, IS NOT DOING THAT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE CITY IS AWARE. AND I HEARD THAT YOU SAID TODAY THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS AWARE OF IT, BUT NOW YOU MADE THE CITY COUNCIL AWARE OF YOUR SITUATION AND YOUR COMPLAINT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO GET A FOLLOW UP AS A COUNCIL MEMBER WITH, ALONG WITH MY COHORTS SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE ARE DOING THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THAT CAUSES FIRES, THAT CAUSES PREMIUMS TO GO UP, THAT CAUSES A LOT OF THINGS THAT AFFECTS THE CITY. THERE'S THREE BABIES THERE. I'M SORRY. THERE'S THREE BABIES THAT LIVE THERE. OKAY. AND OF COURSE, THE YOUNG, THE BABIES. SO WE GOT YOU. WE HEARING YOU, [00:30:01] UH, UH, THE, THE CITY MANAGER UNDERSTANDS WE WOULD LIKE A FOLLOW UP ON YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION TO MOVE FORWARD. MAY I SAY ONE MORE THING? SURE, GO AHEAD. THIS LLC MOVED THOSE PEOPLE IN THERE KNOWING THERE WASN'T ANY FINAL INSPECTIONS OR OCCUPATIONAL, UH, CERTIFICATE. AND SO HE MOVED THEM IN WITH NO SMOKE DETECTORS. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A SMOKE DETECTOR IN EACH ONE OF THE BEDROOMS. OKAY. THOSE CHILDREN HAVE NO PROTECTION FOR SMOKE. WELL, WELL THIS, THIS MEETING IS RECORDED. YOU'VE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO LOOK INTO IT. WE WE'RE, WE ARE WANTING TO LOOK INTO IT. GET WITH THE CITY MANAGER AGAIN. HE WILL GIVE, WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, WE GOT INSPECTORS. I SEE PHIL TIS BACK THERE. UH, GET WITH HIM AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT IF A PERSON COMES TO DO SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL WORK IN THIS CITY, HE HAS TO BE CERTIFIED AND IT HAS TO BE DONE. RIGHT. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP. YOU GOT I EAR GIVE US OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF IT. WHEN I CALL TO REPORT, SOMEBODY GIVE US, HOLD ON, HOLD ON. GIVE US A, GIVE US OPPORTUNITY TO, TO GET IT DONE RIGHT. WE HEAR YOU. I HEAR YOU. WHEN THEY PULL UP IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THEY'RE NOT, THEY DON'T HAVE A LICENSE ON THEIR, ON THEIR VEHICLE. GOT IT. YEAH. AND I REPORT IT. THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF THE, THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF THE THING THE CITY MANAGER'S GONNA LOOK INTO. BUT WE DO HEAR YOU. GIVE US OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'LL WORRY ABOUT THOSE BABIES. THANK YOU MR. COUPLES. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO KINDLY. OKAY. NOW WE'LL [III.A. (3) Eric Linton Of JVL Safety Solutions / E&L Safety Consultant Services Regarding Offering 30 Hours Construction Safety & Health Courses To The City Of Port Arthur Natives] MOVE TO, UM, NUMBER THREE. WE HAVE MR. ERIC LIN LINTON, EXCUSE ME, OF, UH, JBL SAFETY SOLUTIONS AND, UH, E AND L SAFETY CONSULTING SERVICES, REGARDED OFFERING 30 HOURS CONSTRUCTION, SAFETY AND HEALTH COURSES TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR NATIVES. GOOD MORNING. MORNING BY STATING YOUR NAME, PLEASE AND, AND ADDRESS. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. UH, MY NAME IS ERIC LIN. LONG TIME PORT ARTHUR NATIVE FOR 47 YEARS. I RESIDED 27 19 30 SIXTH STREET, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. UM, SIMPLE AND SHORT. I COUNTED ALL JOY. I'D LIKE TO PASS TO THE, COULD YOU JUST TO PASS THIS SO THEY CAN SEE CITY COUNCIL? THANK YOU. I'M AN OSHA AUTHORIZED CONSTRUCTION TRAINER IN, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND HEALTH. UM, I'M THE OSHA GUIDELINES. I'M FAIRLY ABLE TO MOVE AROUND AND TRAIN THESE COURSES IN EVERY CITY, IN EVERY STATE, THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. SO I COME HERE BEFORE YOU ALL WITH A WILL AND HEART, WITH A CONSIDERING HEART AND IN TRANSPARENCY, WANT TO GIVE OUT AND OFFER A SKILL, A TRAINING, AND A STRATEGIC TRAINING CONCERNING WORKPLACE SAFETY, UH, IN OUR INDUSTRIES, IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE, THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS. UH, WITH THIS TRAINING, WITH THIS SKILL, WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE, OUR OWN PORT ARTHUR NATIVES AND CITIZENS WILL BE ABLE TO GO OUT IN CONSTRUCTION. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GO OUT IN, UH, INDUSTRIALS, WHETHER IT BE MANUFACTURE OR WAREHOUSES. UH, UNDER THIS OSHA 30, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY HAZARDS, MITIGATE HAZARDS FROM A WORKPLACE SAFETY STANDPOINT. THEY WOULD ALSO LEARN THE OSH 1970 ACT UNDER THE GENERAL DUTY CLAUSE OF 5 0 1. WITH THIS CERT, OUR CITIZENS WOULD BE ABLE TO NOW GAIN EMPLOYMENT OF, OR EARN INCOME WAGES ANYWHERE BETWEEN 95,000 TO 120,000 A YEAR. IT'S A FOUR DAY COURSE, 8.5 HOURS A DAY, UH, 10 MINUTE BREAKS EVERY TWO HOURS, A 30 MINUTE BREAK. I'M WILLING TO OFFER THIS AS A OSHA OUTREACH TRAINER, UH, TO OUR NATIVES. IT'S $150 PER TRAINEE PER STUDENT. NOW, MIND YOU, I UNDERSTAND THAT I'M BEFORE YOU THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THIS IS THE PA EDC THING. I'VE TRIED FOR THREE WEEKS TO CONTACT PA EDCC. HOLD UP JUST A MINUTE. YES, SIR. JUST GIVE US YOUR REPORT. OKAY. JUST GIVE US YOUR REPORT. UNDERSTOOD. OKAY. SO ALL I WANT TO DO IS GIVE BACK. THAT'S MY GENUINE THING. AS A PORT OF ARTHUR NATIVE, I WANNA DO MY BEST TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, TO THE CITIZENS. WE GOT MAJOR CORPORATIONS OUT HERE IN GOLDEN TRIANGLE RIGHT NOW. GOLDEN PASS. L-N-G-P-A-L-N-G. AND A LOT OF TIMES, MOST OFTEN OUR CITIZENS GET LOOKED OVER IN PORT ARTHUR AND THEY HAVE TO GO IN AS A LABORER BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A SKILLED OR TRAINING OR A CRAFT. I'M HERE WILLING TO PRESENT THIS SKILL OF TRAINING AND CRAFT. I KNOW THERE'S A SAYING THAT WE ALL FAMILIAR WITH, RIGHT? THAT OUR PEOPLE PERISH BECAUSE OF A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. WHY I'M HERE TO SHARE THIS KNOWLEDGE. I'M HERE TO GIVE THIS KNOWLEDGE. I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY. I WANT TO DRESS THEM UP WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE. I WANT TO SHOW THEM [00:35:01] RESUME BUILDING TECHNIQUES. I WANT TO SHOW THEM HOW TO SHOP ONLINE AND HOW TO MAKE THEIR RESUME STICK OUT. I WANNA SHOW THEM HOW TO BE PROPERLY PREPARED FOR INTERVIEW PROCESSES. AND I HAVE CONTACT THAT CAN HELP THEM TO GET IN THIS AREA. I WOULD NEED A BUILDING. I DO HAVE A BUILDING RIGHT THERE ON 3,103, UH, HIGHWAY 365. IT CAN SIT 20 PEOPLE. I'M ABLE TO INSTRUCT 40 PEOPLE AT A TIME. I TOOK A LOOK IN THE BUILDING AT THE PRESS BUILDING WHERE I COULD SEE 40 PEOPLE AND I COULD TRAIN THESE STUDENTS, 40 STUDENTS AT A TIME. IT'S JUST A FOUR DAY COURSE. SO AGAIN, I KNOW THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR, YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE NO GOVERNING PROCEEDINGS OVER P-A-E-D-C. BUT I WANTED TO MAKE THE CITY COUNCIL AWARE OF WHAT ITS OWN, PORT ARTHUR NATIVE AND CITIZEN IN ME, ERIC LINTON IS TRYING TO OFFER TO THE COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE IT WOULD BLESS THEM, IT WOULD HELP THEM. AND PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, THESE MEN AND WOMEN WOULD BE ABLE TO BECOME PROPERTY OWNERS. THEY'D BE ABLE TO PURCHASE LAND RIGHT HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS BECAUSE OF EARNED INCOME WAGES RIGHT HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. AND WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW ME TO SPEAK. OKAY. HOLD ON. HOLD ON. MR. UH, MCC COUNCILMAN LEWIS. YES. WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO, TO OUR CITIZENS. UH, THEY NEED THOSE, THAT KIND OF EXPOSURE. I SPENT 45 YEARS IN, UH, IN, IN THE OIL INDUSTRY. EVERYTHING YOU TALKED ABOUT IS NEEDED AND IT'S, THE RESUME WILL LOOK A WHOLE LOT BETTER IF THEY GOT SOME OF THESE CERTIFICATION AND THE BACKGROUND CHECK TOO, ON THESE PEOPLE, SO THEY WON'T GET DISQUALIFIED. OKAY. APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, ETT, MR. LEONARD? NO, MA'AM. IT'S NOT A DISCUSSION. I, I UNDERSTAND MS. JONES. IT IS NOT A DISCUSSION, IT'S A SPEAKER PRESENTATION. I'M SORRY. YES, MA'AM. GO JUST, UH, JUST A MINUTE. COUNCILMAN ETT. YES. UH, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU WANT TO PROVIDE THAT TRAINING AND YOU'RE QUALIFIED AND HAVE RESOURCES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE IT. AND ALSO BEING HEAVILY INDUSTRIAL WITH ALL THESE REFINERIES HERE, I COULD SEE WHERE OUR CITIZENS CAN REALLY BENEFIT FROM YOUR SERVICE. UH, THE KEY THING YOU MENTIONED WAS PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. THAT IS PART OF THEIR MISSION IS TO CREATE TRAINING IN ORDER TO GET JOBS. SO, UH, YOU, YOU MENTIONED YOU WENT THERE. SO MY INSTRUCTION TO YOU IS TO GO BACK THROUGH THE EDC. AND IF YOU, UH, CANNOT GET ANY, UH, RESPONSE, UH, PLEASE NOTIFY ME. AND THEN I WILL, UH, SEE ABOUT US GETTING THERE OVER THERE, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT DEDC IS ABOUT. PROVIDE TRAINING AND CREATE JOBS. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCILMAN KEN LAW. THANK YOU. UH, UM, MR. LENTON, UH, YOU SAID A COUPLE WORDS EARLIER IN YOUR PRESENTATION. IT KIND OF GOT ME LIKE, YOU KNOW, HAZED A LITTLE BIT. SO, UH, YOU SAID YOU HAVE SOME STUMBLING BLOCKS, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET YOUR, YOUR THING OFF THE GROUND. SO IF YOU HAVE IT ESTABLISHED, AND I DO AGREE WITH THE INDUSTRIAL, UH, UH, AVENUES WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND THE SURROUNDING CITIES. I MEAN, SAFETY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS, UH, THAT YOU CAN ASK FOR. I, I, I ALSO WORKED IN THE REFINERY AND, AND I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PROVIDE A TRAINING SOURCE LIKE THIS. SO, UH, CAN YOU BRIEFLY SHARED WITH ME SOME OF THE STUMBLING BLOCKS THAT YOU'VE ENCOUNTERED TRYING TO GET THIS OFF, OFF THE GROUND? I, I NOTICED THAT YOU'RE IN HUMBLE TEXAS. YES, SIR. THAT'S BEING CHANGED. THAT'S WHILE I WAS AWAY. BUT I CURRENTLY STAY IN, UH, DISTRICT NUMBER 4 27 19. THOSE CARS WILL BE, UH, REPRINTED WITH THE CORRECT ADDRESS ON IT. BUT THE STUMBLING BLOCK THAT, UH, THAT I'VE RECENTLY ENCOUNTERED WAS FOR THREE WEEKS. I PRESENTED MY BUSINESS CARDS FOR THREE WEEKS. I DECIDED TO MAKE PHONE CALLS, LEAVE VOICEMAILS AND VARIOUS, UH, PHONE NUMBERS FOR P-A-E-D-C. ALSO, ALONG WITH THAT, I DECIDED THAT I WOULD CC NOT ONLY MAYOR PARTEE, BUT MAYOR BART'S SECRETARY, EVEN THOUGH, AGAIN, I KNOW CITY COUNCIL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PA EDC. AND THEN I ALSO CCD PA EDC BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET A FOLLOW UP. I DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE, I DIDN'T GET A PHONE CALL. I DIDN'T EVEN RECEIVE A RESPONSE ON EMAIL. AND I TAKE THAT BACK. ONE RESPONSE I GOT ON EMAIL WAS THAT I'LL FORWARD THIS INFORMATION OVER TO PA E-D-C-C-E-O. AT THAT TIME, I DIDN'T KNOW WHO PA E-D-C-C-O WAS, BUT NOW I DO KNOW THAT HIS NAME IS TERRY STOKES. SO, AT THIS PRESENT MOMENT, AT 11 O'CLOCK, UH, AM TODAY, I WILL HAVE A MEETING WITH P-A-E-D-C-C-E-O, TERRY STOKES ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION. [00:40:01] ALL I WANT TO DO IS MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I'M A LONGTIME PORT ARTHUR NATIVE FOR 47 YEARS. I KNOW THE BLOCKS, THE HEARTACHES THAT WE AS PORT ARTHUR CITIZENS HAVE WHILE GOING INTO REFINERY LNGS. I WORKED THERE FROM ARUN HELPER. THEN AT THE SAME TIME, I BECAME A GERMAN PIPE FITTER. BUT THEN EVEN THEN I REALIZED THAT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH BECAUSE I, I REALIZED THIS, YOU CAN DO THE HARDEST WORK, DO THE BACKBREAKING WORK, AND STILL GET PAID THE LESS OUT IN THESE REFINERIES AND LNGS, I HAVE SOMETHING THAT GOD HAS GIFTED ME WITH. AND THAT IS A TALENT IN THIS SKILL, IN HIS KNOWLEDGE AND WORKPLACE SAFETY. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND, UH, I TOO ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR MEETING AT 11 O'CLOCK. YES, SIR. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK. THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. LINDA FOR COMING FORWARD WITH THIS PRESENTATION, UH, ON TODAY. I CONCUR WITH EVERY ONE OF OUR CITY COUNCILMEN, UH, WHO ARE, UH, THANKING YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND THANKING YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. WE DO, AGAIN, NEED THIS, UH, IN THE LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS, UH, WHO ARE SEEKING, UH, TO BE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED AND TO HAVE A PLACE, UH, IN THE WORKFORCE, UH, INDUSTRY HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. UM, IN YOUR MEETING TODAY, UH, WITH, UM, UH, MR. STOKES AT 11 O'CLOCK, AND I'M GRATEFUL, UH, THAT YOU ALL HAVE CONTACTED ONE ANOTHER AND THAT, THAT, UM, THAT PLANNING IS GOING TO BEGIN TAKING PLACE. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, I HEARD YOU SAY, UH, THAT THERE IS A BUILDING THAT YOU HAVE, UH, SOME, WHERE'S THAT BUILDING? IT IS IN, UH, LOCATED ON 3,100 HIGHWAY 365 AND CENTRAL MALL. ONLY DIFFERENCE IS IT'D BE MINIMIZED WITH THE TRAINEES, ONLY 20 STUDENTS. BUT AFTER DOING THE WALKTHROUGH IN THE PRESS BUILDING, I REALIZED THAT THEY CAN HOLD UP TO 40 TRAINEES AT A TIME. AND I'M ALLOW AND ABLE TO INSTRUCT 40 STUDENTS AT A TIME. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT, UM, THAT IN THAT PRESS BUILDING, THAT'S WHAT IT, UH, HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND DESIGNATED FOR. BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT AS WELL, UH, ON THE WEST SIDE DEVELOPMENT CENTER. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT FACILITY FOR IT, UH, TO BE THERE AS WELL, UH, AS AND AS WELL AS BEING ALLOWED TO, UH, PERHAPS USE THE FACILITY AT THE, AT THE, UH, BOB BOWERS OR SOMEPLACE WHERE INDIVIDUALS, UH, COULD GET THERE, UH, WITH A MINIMAL, UH, STRAIN ON THEMSELVES. WE, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I, I, I KNOW THAT ABILITY, UH, IS, UM, A CHARACTERISTIC, UH, THAT IS NECESSARY. BUT AVAILABILITY IS PARAMOUNT. SO PUTTING IT IN A PLACE WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN GET THERE, CATCH A BUS, UM, UH, CATCH A RIDE, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE IMPACT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE IN OUR CITY. I REALLY DO. AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING FORWARD WITH THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR STICKTUITIVENESS AS WELL AND WANTING TO GIVE BACK TO YOUR CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. LEWIS. COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU'LL LIKE TO JUST BRIEFLY, UH, ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU TALK ABOUT, ALL OF THE CERTIFICATIONS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, TALKING ABOUT, I HAVE A SON THAT HAS THOSE CERTIFICATION AND HE WORKS IN, IN SAFETY IN YES. IN THE LOCAL INDUSTRY. OKAY. SO IT'LL BENEFIT A LOT OF CITIZENS. YES. THEY NEED TO GET THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS. AND LIKE COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE AND COUNCILMAN, UH, UH, KEN LAW SAID TO GET, I HAVE AN APPOINTEE OVER THERE ON THAT BOARD AND I'LL BE TALKING TO MY APPOINTEE. OKAY. YES SIR. AND SO THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. UM, UM, MR. LINDEN, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ENLIGHTENING US ON WHAT CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN FOR, UH, FOLK WHO ARE PREPARED FOR EMPLOYMENT. NOW, UM, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION AND WHEN COUNCILMAN FRANK WAS JUST SAYING, UH, I THINK RIGHT NOW YOU NEED A VENUE FIRST RIGHT NOW, AND, AND, AND, UH, NOW YOU HAVE A BUSINESS. AM I CORRECT? YES, SIR. IN DOING THIS. OKAY. SO IS, UH, I KNOW THEY, THEY MENTIONED THE PRESS BUILDINGS. ARE YOU LOOKING, UH, TO GET SOMETHING IN, IN LIEU OF PAYMENT OR ARE YOU PREPARED TO PAY THE RENTAL FEES FOR, UH, THE PRESS BUILDING OR YOU, YOU SAID THE CIVIC CENTER, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE BUSINESS OPERATIONS FROM, FROM THE CITY NOW. AND THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING, 'CAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT, HE DID SAY WEST SIDE DEVELOPMENT CENTER. YES. NOW WEST SIDE DEVELOPMENT, YOU WOULD GO THROUGH THE, UH, MS TRAIN. WE EVEN ON, ON TODAY WITH, WITH THE, UH, YMCA. OKAY. YOU SEE, I WANT YOU TO STUDY EVERYTHING. DON'T SAY THAT SOMEBODY DIDN'T DO SOMETHING. MAYBE THEY ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AS FAR AS GETTING STARTED. YOUR INVESTMENT IS YOUR TRAINING I THINK RIGHT NOW. YES. NOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE FINANCIAL [00:45:01] STABILITY TO DO IT ALL, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO, YOU NEED TO SAY IT AND SAY, SAY, OKAY, I NEED THESE THINGS IN LIEU OF PAYMENT. YOU SEE, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO COME YES, SIR. AND TELL US HOW BADLY WE ARE DOING IN THE CITY OF PORT. NOT THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT, BUT I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO COME AND TELL US HOW BADLY WE ARE DOING YET THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DO WHAT'S NECESSARY. 'CAUSE IF OTHER FOLK COME AND TELL US THEY WON'T DO TRAINING, DON'T WE RENT THOSE PLACES TO, OKAY. SO I WANT, I WANT, I WANNA PUT THAT OUT THERE FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK, I KNOW, I WOULDN'T BE TRYING TO HURT YOU AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE ELSE IS. SO WHEN YOU GO HAVE YOUR MEETING, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO PAY THE FEES FOR THIS, INFORM THE PERSONS OVER THERE. I DON'T THINK THE EDC IS THERE. IF THE EDC DID THAT FOR EVERYBODY, I'M GETTING IN LINE TOO BECAUSE I GOT SOME IDEAS. OKAY. I UNDERSTAND. ALRIGHT. BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS BE SURE THAT IF YOU NEED CERTAIN TYPES OF ASSISTANCE YES SIR. YOU PUT THAT OUT WHEN YOU PUT OUT YOUR PROGRAM. YES, SIR. AND 'CAUSE YOU WANT TO HELP THE CITIZENS. NOW WITH THOSE PARTY STUDENTS WHO WOULD PAY THE TUITION FOR THOSE, YOU GONNA HAVE TO CHARGE THE TUITION. AM I CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. SO HOW MUCH TUITION WOULD EACH STUDENT HAVE TO PAY YOU SAY HOW, HOW MANY DAYS FOR THE PROGRAM? FOUR DAYS. AND IT'D BE A HUNDRED. YOU YOU SAID 44 DAYS. FOUR DAYS. OKAY. I'M LIKE MY BROTHER, YOU KNOW, I GOT A HEARING CHALLENGE. YES SIR. ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THOSE FOUR DAYS. HOW MUCH IS IT PER STUDENT FOR THOSE TRAINING? FOR THE FOUR DAYS? IT'S $150. PER STUDENT. PER STUDENT, OKAY. SO NOW ARE YOU SEEKING PAYMENT OF TUITION FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR THOSE STUDENTS? YES, SIR. OKAY. WELL SEE YOU GOTTA SAY THAT. YEAH, I DID. OKAY. OKAY. WELL, BUT I MEAN, BUT BUT, BUT SAY IT EXPLICITLY LIKE I'M SAYING IT RIGHT NOW. IF YOU DID SAY IT, MAYBE IT SLIPPED RIGHT OFF, RIGHT? YES, SIR. RIGHT OVER ME. OKAY. NO, BUT I'M, YOU KNOW, AND I'M GOING SOMEWHERE WITH IT. I UNDERSTAND. SO WHAT WE NEED IS YOU NEED A COMMITMENT FROM THE EDC OR FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR THAT WE ARE GOING TO PAY THE TUITION FEE. NOW HOW ARE WE GOING TO, UH, SELECT THE STUDENTS? IS THERE GOING TO BE A CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT A PERSON, IF WE ARE GONNA PAY THE $150 FOR, UH, 40 STUDENTS, UH, YOU KNOW, IF WE GONNA TAKE ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY? I BELIEVE ME, I COULD BE WRONG. SAY THE MANAGER. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH YOU FIRST WHERE HE WOULD HAVE A COMMITMENT THAT FINANCIALLY WE CAN HANDLE IT? NO. OKAY. NOT THAT, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING. BECAUSE YOU SEE WHEN THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN, SEE PEOPLE STOP YOU AT A EB AND WALMART AND EVERYWHERE ELSE TELLING YOU HOW WRONG YOU ARE. MAYOR BOY. 'CAUSE Y'ALL DIDN'T DO IT. YOU SEE? SO I'M JUST PUTTING IT ALL OUT HERE RIGHT NOW. YOU UNDERSTAND MR. LIN? I TOLD YOU. I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. SO WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR MEETING, IF YOUR COMPANY CAN PAY THE RENTAL FEES FOR WHATEVER FACILITY, YOU'RE GOOD. IF NOT, YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT COUNCILMAN FRANK SUGGESTED, THE, UH, WEST SIDE DEVELOPMENT CENTER. 'CAUSE THEY HAVE A LARGE ROOM AND YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE CLASSES ON THE DAYS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE SOMETHING ELSE IN THERE. I DON'T THINK THAT THEY CHARGE A FEE FOR THE USE OF THAT FACILITY AS LONG AS IT'S A COMMUNITY TYPE OR USE. BUT SHE'LL TELL YOU WHAT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO BE SURE THAT YOU CAN GET THAT FACILITY WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY A RENTAL FEE. AND THE TIMES THAT YOU CAN GET IT, AND THEN YOU WORK WITH, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE EDC OR WHOMEVER YOU WOULD WORK WITH TO BE SURE THAT YOU GET THE PORT ARTHUR PEOPLE AND HOW THOSE FUNDS WOULD BE USED OR WHERE WE WOULD GET THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR YOUR COMPANY TO TRAIN THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TO TRAIN. I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. I WANTED TO SHARE ONE, ONE THING THAT I RIGHT MENTION COUNCILMAN, UH, THE FORMS THAT I, UH, SHARED WITH YOU ALL WHERE YOU SEEN THE REQUEST FOR EXEMPTION FOR TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION TO TRAIN AT, UH, TEXAS WORKFORCE. THERE WAS THE SAME THING THAT I SENT OUT JUST IN THE HEADING, BUT NOT THAT I SENT THAT OUT IN ADVANCE TO TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION. KNOWING THAT POSSIBLY PA EDC WOULD PROBABLY SEND ME TO TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION. A LOT OF TIMES, MOST OFTEN PA EDC WOULD SEND YOU TO TEXAS WORKFORCE HOPING THAT MAYBE PERHAPS YOU WOULD GET DENIED AND THEN YOU WOULD PROBABLY GET ASSISTANCE FROM PA EDC. WELL, IN THE EVENT I DID, BUT I HIGHLIGHTED ON PURPOSE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTING WHERE IT SHOWS THAT IT'LL TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 40 OR 45 DAYS TO 60 DAYS JUST TO GET A RESPONSE FROM TEXAS WORKFORCE IN ORDER TO TRAIN IN THEIR BUILDING. AND HERE'S MY THING, WHY GO TO TEXAS WORKFORCE WHEN WE CAN COME TO OUR VERY OWN P-A-E-D-C? THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SIR. KIND. DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? ONE LAST THING, MR. YES, SIR. ONE LAST THING. AS FAR AS I'M [00:50:01] CONCERNED, THIS IS NOT A, UM, A MIGHT HAPPEN. IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. YES, SIR. AND WILL HAPPEN. IF YOU FIND ANY DIFFICULTY FINDING A VENUE, CONTACT ME. LET ME KNOW. UM, WE CAN FIND A VENUE AND WORK ON THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. FRENCH. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU MR. NICK. OKAY, NEXT [III.A. (4) Ernesto Flores Of The Titans Boxing Club And Youth Organization Regarding Youth Support] WE HAVE, UH, NUMBER FOUR. MR. ERNESTO FLORES OF THE TITAN BOXING CLUB AND YOUTH ORGANIZATION REGARDING YOUTH SUPPORT. YOU ALL COME UP. JUST START OUT BY STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR PROCEED. MORNING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ERNESTO FLORES. I LIVE IN 39 0 1 PLAT AVENUE. UH, I AM THE YOUTH DIRECTOR IN PRESIDENT OF TITAN BOXING CLUB AND YOUTH ORGANIZATION. WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR ALMOST 12 YEARS NOW. UM, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR SERVING FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. WE'VE BEEN REPRESENTING THE CITY THROUGHOUT NUMEROUS YEARS UNDER NATIONALS, STATES, AND LOCAL TOURNAMENTS. OUR MISSION IS TO DEVELOP THE BOXING SKILLS OF BOYS AND GIRLS WHILE FOSTERING THE POSITIVITY INVOLVING COMMUNITY PRIDE, ACADEMICS, AND BECOMING BETTER PEOPLE IN LIFE. STAYING AWAY FROM DRUGS, VIOLENCE, AND NOT BEING IN THE STREETS. I STAND HERE TODAY TO SEEK THE CITY OF ARTHUR TO HELP US FUND OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. BY INVESTING IN THIS PROGRAM, PER ARTHUR WILL BRING BACK THE CITY A PAR ARTHUR, THE BACK TO THE BOXING MAP. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO HELP THE AT RISK USE TO STAY IN THE PATH TO SUCCESS. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE A FUTURE. WITHOUT THEIR POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT, OUR SOCIETY WILL HAVE NO FUTURE. I MUST BRING YOUR ATTENTION ON THE, THE ATTENTION OF THE RISING JUVENILE CRIME RATES THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CITY AND ALL OVER SAUDIS, TEXAS. IT'S DISHEARTENING FOR ME THAT CITIZENS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE COMMITTING CRIMES AND TAKING THE WRONG PATH, BUT YET OVERLOOKING OUR PROGRAM TO KEEP THESE KIDS OUTTA THE STREETS AND NOT LETTING THEM TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING POSITIVELY. AND IT'S CRUCIAL FOR THE CITY OF PER ARTHUR TO INVEST IN OUR PROGRAM TO KEEP THESE KIDS OUTTA TROUBLE AND GUIDE 'EM TOWARDS PRODUCTIVE LIVES. DESPITE OUR EFFORTS, COMMUNITY SUPPORT HAS BEEN LACKING. WE'VE BEEN ASKING BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE AND INDIVIDUALS OFTEN DECLINE OUR SPONSORSHIPS FOR THE YOUTH CITING PREVIOUS COMMITMENT TO OTHER CLUBS, EVEN THOUGH WE LET THEM INVITE THEM TO COME TO OUR CLUB. 'CAUSE WE'RE THE ONLY FACILITY HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. UM, SUPPORTING OUR PROGRAM IS A LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE KIDS. WE'RE ALSO ASKING AN ASSISTANCE FROM THE CITY OF PER ARTHUR TO HELP US OUT IN OUR UPCOMING USA BOX BOXING ASSOCIATION SANCTION EVENT BE TAKING PLACE ON AUGUST 17TH. THIS WOULD, THIS EVENT WOULD NOT ONLY BRING POSITIVELY ATTENTION TO PORT ARTHUR, BUT ALSO BOOST THE ECONOMY FOR THIS CITY. BECAUSE AS MANY BOXERS FROM OUT OF TOWN AND OUTTA STATES, WE'LL BE COMPETING AND VISITING OUR SMALL TOWN OF PORT ARTHUR. FURTHERMORE, I URGED THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO REACH, TO MAKE A DEAL WITH USA BOXING. THIS REGISTRATION WILL ALLOWED US AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO BRING BACK WHAT IT WAS BACK THEN IN PORT ARTHUR WHEN PORT ARTHUR USED TO HAVE NATIONAL GOLDEN GLOVES IN THE CITY OF PAR, ARTHUR JUNIOR OLYMPICS TOURNAMENTS, NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS. THESE HOSTING, THESE EVENTS WILL BRING NATIONAL RECOGNITION TO PAR ARTHUR AND STIMULATE ECONOMIC GROWTH. AND ADDITIONALLY, I ALSO WANT THE CITY OF PO TO BE REGISTERED, UM, ON THE USA BOXING. SO WE CAN BE HOSTING LONG EVENTS THAT WAS THERE, BUT NOT EXISTING. NO MORE LIKE THE BATTLE OF THE BADGES, WHERE OUR LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS, EMS FIREFIGHTERS CAN PARTICIPATE IN A FRIENDLY BOXING MATCH, FOSTERING THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND BRINGING UNITY BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE ALSO DOING A SUMMER PROGRAM FOR, FOR FAMILIES OF LOW INCOME FOR FREE. WE, WE DON'T REALLY ASK THAT MUCH FOR THESE KIDS. YOU KNOW, THESE KIDS IS OUR FUTURE. THESE KIDS [00:55:02] WILL BE IN A POSITIVE PATH BECAUSE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, WHAT I ALWAYS SEE IS THAT THE CITY OF PORT OUT THERE BEEN BEEN HAVING A LOT OF NEGATIVITY BY THE KIDS. BUT FOR ME, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR NO MORE KIDS SAYING THAT I WANNA LEAVE PORT ARTHUR. NO, I WANT FOR THEM TO STAY IN PORT ARTHUR BECAUSE I KNOW PORT ARTHUR HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR THESE KIDS. SO THESE KIDS DON'T HAVE TO MOVE FAR AWAY TO STAY LOCALLY, STAY HERE WHERE THEY WERE BORN, STAY HERE WHERE THEY WERE FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. IN CONCLUSION, UM, THE INVESTMENT OF THIS PROGRAM IS IN IS THE FUTURE OF PARUM. YOU'RE NOT ONLY HELPING OURSELVES, BUT YOU'RE HOPING THE FUTURE OF THE CHILDREN FOR THEM TO BECOME FUTURE LEADERS AND FOR THEM TO BE POSITIVELY ROLE MODELS FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS. OKAY, YOU THANK YOU. UH, JUST A MINUTE. UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE, YOUR LIGHT CAME OFF FIRST. YES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. MM-HMM. . AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY, EVERYBODY COMES TO THE COUNCIL FOR ASSISTANCE AND STUFF, AND THAT'S WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO BE, PROVIDE THE CORRECT INFORMATION. OKAY. WE DON'T, UH, PROVIDE FUNDING FOR NONPROFITS OTHER THAN THROUGH THE CDBG, WHICH IS A GRANT PROGRAM WE HAVE. BUT WE DO HAVE A GRANT OFFICE WHERE MOST OF OUR NONPROFITS, THEY GO THERE, YOU CAN GET AN APPLICATION AND THEN YOU CAN FILL YOUR APPLICATION NOW SO THAT YOU COULD BE ON THE LIST TO BE CONSIDERED FOR RECEIVING GRANTS. AND THAT'S HOW FUNDING COME FOR NONPROFITS THROUGH THE CITY. OTHER THAN THAT, THE CITY DON'T TAKE TAXPAYERS MONEY TO FUND NONPROFITS. HOWEVER, THAT IS ONE WAY YOU CAN LOOK FOR, UH, HELP. SO YOU GO TO THE GRANT MANAGEMENT, THEY'RE LOCATED IN THE BUILDING NEXT TO US, AND THAT SHOULD HELP YOU AS FAR AS THE CITY BEING ABLE TO HOST TOURNAMENTS AND STUFF. THAT'S SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY, UH, NEED TO TALK WITH OUR PARK AND RECREATION DIRECTIVE IN, IN, UH, TERMS OF OUR FACILITIES, AVAILABILITY OF FACILITIES, AND WHAT TYPE OF ASSISTANCE THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE SINCE THAT, SUPPORTING EVENTS AND STUFF. THE, THOSE ARE THE PLACES TO GO. BUT THAT'S WHERE THE ANSWERS ARE NOW. OKAY. BECAUSE WE WILL PULL STUFF WHEN IT'S COME HERE. BUT THAT'S WHAT IT, THAT'S WHERE YOU NEED TO GO FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU, MR. OKAY. UH, MAYOR PROTE BECKHAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I WANNA START BY SAYING THAT MY GRANDFATHER, MY MOTHER'S FATHER WAS A GOLDEN GLOVES BOXER HERE IN PORT ARTHUR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO. SO I HAVE A FINE APPRECIATION FOR THE SPORT. UM, AND I WANNA ASK YOU, BECAUSE I WANNA HELP YOU ADVERTISE THIS, THIS CAMP. DO YOU HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE? ARE YOU PUTTING IT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA? HOW ARE YOU ADVERTISING THIS? WE, WE POST IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE REPOSTING IT, SHOW SHARING IT. WE, UM, IF YOU GO UNDER TIGHT BOXING GYM ON FACEBOOK, WE SHOULD BE THE FIRST ONE TO BE POPPING OUT. OKAY? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. UH, WHAT I'LL DO IS I WILL CAPTURE THAT AND I'LL SHARE IT ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, BUT THEN I'LL ALSO PUT THE FLYER OUT. UM, HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT ADVERTISING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? HAVE YOU TALKED TO ADMINISTRATION? WE, WE SEND OUT EMAILS. WE, WE CHAT WITH THEM, BUT WE NEVER HAVE A, YOU KNOW, RESPONSE BACK. SO, OKAY. I'LL, I'LL SEE IF I CAN GET WITH SOME ADMINISTRATORS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, NOT JUST PORT ARTHUR, BUT SOME OF THE SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TOO, TO SEE IF WE CAN GET, GET SOME MORE INTEREST FOR YOU. THANK YOU. BUT THANK YOU FOR THIS PROGRAM. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID ABOUT, UH, THE WHY BEHIND THE PROGRAM. SO I'M GONNA HELP YOU AS BEST I CAN. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCILMAN, UH, FRANK, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. I CAME, UH, I COME FROM A COMMUNITY WHERE MIN CHAKA BOXING, UH, ACADEMY WAS A PART OF, UH, MY UPBRINGING. UH, RONNIE SHIELDS, WILFORD SIP, AND UH, ALL OF THOSE WERE INDIVIDUALS IN MY COMMUNITY, UH, WHO BEGAN BOXING AND, 'CAUSE I CAME ALONG DURING THE TIME OF BUBBLE BEEF SHAMMY, UH, AND, AND GOLDEN GLOVES AND ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE WAS CORRECT ABOUT THE, THE, THE FINANCES. AND EVEN ON TODAY, UH, WE'RE LOOKING, UH, TO AWARDING, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN GRANTED SOME MONIES. LION HEARTED. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THEM? YEAH, WE, UH, WE, WE WORK WITH THEM SOMETIMES. SO YEAH, LION HEARTED IS SLATED TO BE HAVING SOME FUNDS GIVEN TO THEM ON TODAY. MM-HMM. . SO THEY DID GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND, UH, THOSE MONIES ARE LOOKING, UH, TO BE VOTED ON TODAY, UH, BY THE COUNCIL, UH, TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR, UH, BOXING TRAINING PROGRAM. SO, UH, WE ARE SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES TO, UH, [01:00:01] HELP INDIVIDUALS, UH, DO WHAT YOU ARE SEEKING TO DO. BUT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU ON TODAY. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN LEWIS. YES. APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, IN ADDITION TO COUNCILMAN ETT DIRECTION, WE GOT A, WE GOT AN OIL, WE GOT AN INDUSTRY GET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE. GET THE PUBLIC RELATIONS PEOPLE FROM, FROM THE LOCAL INDUSTRY. OKAY. AND WE ALSO HAVE, AND THOSE, THEY MAKE, THEY MEET AND THEY MAKE, UH, CERTAIN DONATIONS. OKAY. DO YOU HAVE A BUDGET? UH, NOT AT THE MOMENT. WELL, YOU NEED, WE, WE GOTTA CREATE A BUDGET. LOOK, YOU NEED A BUDGET AT FROM YESTERDAY, AS OF YESTERDAY. OKAY. YOU GET YOUR BUDGET TOGETHER BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE, GET YOUR BUDGET TOGETHER, THEN CONTACT THE CITY SECRETARY AFTER YOU GET YOUR BUDGET TOGETHER. OKAY. AND CALL ME. YES SIR. YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO GO OVER YOUR BUDGET WITH YOU, OKAY? YES, SIR. UH, 4 9 7 1 8 0 5 8 6. CITY SECRETARY GAVE YOU ONE OF MY CARDS OR SOMETHING. OKAY. GET YOUR, LET'S GET YOUR BUDGET TOGETHER. LET'S FIND OUT WHAT'S FEASIBLE. OKAY. YOU GOT THE INDUSTRIES HERE. UM, VENDOR VENDORS IN THE CITY OF PORT ALTO, LIKE THE AMBULANCE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE FOLKS. THEY LOVE TO HELP. OKAY. BUT YOU, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PUT MONEY IN A BLACK HOLE. OKAY. AND DON'T KEEP GOING BACK AND BEGGING THEM. IT'LL BE A FINAL GO BEG SOMEBODY ELSE. OKAY? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. COUNCIL, IT'S LIKE YOU ASKED ONE MORE THING. CAN WE HAVE THIS PLACED ON OUR WEBSITE? YEAH. WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THIS PLACE ON OUR WEBSITE, SIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU ALL. NOW, WERE YOU ALL AT THE, UH, JUNETEENTH UH, BOXING, UH, EXTRA EXTRAVAGANZA THIS PAST WEEKEND? WE WERE SUPPOSED TO, BUT WE WERE BUSY WITH ANOTHER EVENT. OKAY. WELL YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE. I WAS THERE. ALL THE USA BOXING PERSONS WERE THERE. I SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH THEM. THEY LOVE BEING IN PORT ARTHUR. THEY DO. NOW, THIS IS WHAT I'M SAYING AGAIN. AND EACH OF THESE PERSONS HAVE TOLD YOU WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. THE FIRST THING, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN, YOU CAN'T COME BACK FOR, FOR NOTHING. YEAH. OKAY. NOW I'M JUST GOING, I'M TALK TO YOU RIGHT HERE. OKAY? YES, SIR. SO DON'T EVER DO THAT ONE AGAIN. WHEN YOU COME, YOU HAVE IT ALL. THIS IS HOW WE WOULD NEED, WHAT WE GOING TO USE THE MONEY FOR. OR IS MR. ESSEX IN THE ROOM? SEE THAT LADY RIGHT BACK WAVING RIGHT THERE. YES SIR. BEFORE YOU LEAVE, HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER. OKAY? OKAY. SHE'S GOING TO SHOW YOU, OR MAYBE SHE'LL SHARE WITH YOU WHAT LION HEARTED DOES. NOW YOU GOTTA WAIT ANOTHER YEAR. OKAY. FOR, FOR SOME FUNDING TO BE AVAILABLE TO YOU. BUT NOW MY GRANDSON, THAT'S SIX YEARS OLD, GO TO YOUR PLACE. YOU KNOW, LITTLE BOY YOU SAID? YEAH. HE GONNA BE A GOOD BOXER. I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE GETS IT FROM. I DON'T WANT NOBODY HITTING ME. OKAY. BUT I LIKE YOUR PLACE BECAUSE YOU ACCEPTED MY, MY HE SAW THE RING AND WANTED TO STOP IN THERE AND HIS FATHER STOPPED AND BROUGHT HIM IN THERE AND HE ENJOYED IT. OKAY. AND GENTLEMAN, UH, YOU, YOU KNOW THE OTHER GENTLEMAN HE STARTED WORKING WITH, HE WAS TRAINING BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE ALLOWING HIM TO TRAIN. YEAH. IN YOUR SAID. SO I'M UP ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. BUT WHEN I OBSERVED AND ATTENDED SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT THE JUNETEENTH OF BOXING EXTRAVAGANZA, WELL ATTENDED AN ECONOMIC BOOST COUNCIL MEMBERS, I THINK I SHOULD MENTIONED IT TO THE CITY MANAGER ON YESTERDAY. THERE WERE OVER TWO TO 300 PERSONS IN PORT ARTHUR FOR TWO NIGHTS. STAYED AT HOTELS, SPENT MONEY IN RESTAURANTS, AND IN THE OTHER PLACES WHERE WE COULD GET SALES TAX FROM FOR TWO, TWO AND A HALF DAYS ALMOST. THAT IS WHAT WE WANT IN PORT ARTHUR AND I GOT IN THE RING AND ASKED THEM AFTER THEY PUT ME IN THERE, 'CAUSE I COULDN'T BILL OVER. OKAY. AFTER THEY GOT ME IN THE RING, THAT WAS THE FIRST THING I DID WAS ASK THEM TO COME BACK TO PORT ARTHUR. WELL, YOU ALL WITH, WITH LION HEARTED AND THE GUYS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THAT WITH THE USA BOXING, YOU ALL GET TOGETHER, MAN. SEE, INDIVIDUALLY YOU COULD DO YOUR OWN THING, BUT COLLECTIVELY YOU COULD DO A BIG THING. YEAH. WE, UH, WE, WE DID ONE LAST YEAR, UH, HERE. PAR ARTHUR. YEAH. SAME RESULTS. Y'ALL DIDN'T INVITE ME. SO Y'ALL INVITED, HE INVITED ME THIS TIME, , AND NOT REALLY, I'M TELLING YOU. YEAH. AND SO I, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE IT, AND WHEN I SAW HOW PROFESSIONAL IT WAS, I MEAN, IT WAS PROFESSIONALLY PUT ON. THEY HAD ALL OF THESE PEOPLE, DOCTORS, UH, REFEREES, OFFICIALS, EVERYBODY WHO IS SOMEBODY IN USA BOXING. THEY WERE PRESENT AT LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, [01:05:01] UH, CARL PARKER CENTER. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT IN PORT ARTHUR. OKAY. LIKE I SAID, WE, WE WANT BOXING BACK IN PORT ARTHUR. YEAH. YOU KNOW, THIS IS, WELL, WE'RE READY TO WORK WITH YOU. TALK TO MR. ESSEX. MM-HMM. , WE GOING, WE GOING AND YOU CAN START THE PROCESS. SURE. AND I JUST WANNA SAY EACH AND ONE OF Y'ALL WELCOME TO COME INTO OUR, OUR FACILITY. ANYTIME. YOU'RE WELCOME. THAT'S YOUR HOME. AND I KNOW EACH ONE OF Y'ALL ARE DOING GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY. OKAY. UM, THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU COLLECTS WHAT YOU CALL HOP TAX MONEY. OKAY. AND YOU COULD ACTUALLY GO TO THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU AND THEY CAN SPONSOR AN EVENT BECAUSE IT ATTRACTS STORIES INTO THE CITY. SO THAT'S WHERE YOU NEED TO START WITH YOUR PLAN AND GO TO THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU TO ASK TO SPEAK TO MS. ZA, YOU KNOW, AND THEY COULD ACTUALLY SPONSOR EVENTS BECAUSE IT ATTRACTS VISITORS INTO OUR COMMUNITY. YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. OKAY, SIR. WELL, THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. I MEAN, YOU, YOU GOT A GREAT START. THANK YOU. BUT DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT SPEAKING WITH MS. ESSEX. OH, GO, GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE IT. JUST BRIEFLY, WHEN YOU GET YOUR BUSINESS PLAN TOGETHER, LET ME KNOW OR JUST GO STRAIGHT DOWN TO LAMAR, LAMAR UNIVERSITY. YES, SIR. THE DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND, AND SHOW THEM YOUR BUSINESS PLAN SO THEY CAN TWEAK IT FOR YOU. OKAY? GOTCHA, SIR. AND THEN YOU GO BACK TO PUT YOUR BAG AND SHIRT ON. OKAY? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. AND BY THE WAY, WHEN YOU INVITE THE MAYOR AND A COUPLE OTHER COUNCILORS, BE SURE YOU HAVE SOME BROWN BAGS. OKAY. , I'LL PUT EACH ONE OF Y'ALL. FIGHT EACH OTHER SOME DAY. SO, ? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES, IT WAS REAL GOOD. BARBECUE ALL DAY. OKAY. OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE, [III.A. (5) Wayne Dolcefino Of Dolcefino Consulting Regarding The City Of Port Arthur] UH, NUMBER FIVE, MR. WAYNE JOSEPHO OF JOSEPHO CONSULTING REGARDING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. MORNING. WAYNE, DINO, 1951 RICHMOND AVENUE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. UM, FIRST I, I'VE BEEN HERE AND SPOKE A NUMBER OF TIMES, UH, TO THE COUNCIL, AND I NOTICED THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FEEL IS LIKE NEVER HERE. HEY, STOP. JUST A MINUTE, SIR. NOW, PLEASE DON'T BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION WITH PERSONAL ATTACKS ON MY COLLEAGUES THIS MINUTE. I KNOW WHY SHE'S NOT HERE, SIR. SO PLEASE JUST REFRAIN FROM THAT. OH, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU NOT TO SPEAK AT ALL. OKAY? WELL, YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD. PROCEED. PROCEED. SIR, YOU COULD PROCEED. PROCEED, SIR. MAYOR, DON'T, DON'T DO THAT. PROCEED. NO, DON'T YOU DO WHAT YOU WERE GETTING READY TO DO. I JUST, YOU PROCEED. SAID SHE'S NEVER HERE. YOU GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA FILE DECOR, SIR. AND IF I WAS A MEMBER, IF I WAS A RESIDENT OF THAT DISTRICT, I WOULD MOVE TO RECALL HER. I'M SORRY THAT THAT'S CONSIDERED A PERSONAL ATTACK. SHE'S A PUBLIC OFFICIAL AND PEOPLE ELECT HER. SO LET ME MOVE ON. UM, THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN HERE A NUMBER OF TIMES, UM, EVER SINCE WE BUSTED ACADIAN AMBULANCE FOR FALSIFYING THEIR RESPONSE TIME RECORDS. UM, I HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY PERSONAL ATTACK MAYOR LIED TO, UH, BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS. UM, THEY HAVE SYSTEMATICALLY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME PUBLIC RECORDS. YOU MAY KNOW THAT WE FILED A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT THE OTHER DAY AGAINST THE CITY SECRETARY WHO HAS BEEN, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER INTENTIONALLY OR NOT, SHE JUST IGNORES US NOW. UM, AND IN APRIL, UH, AFTER YOU, AFTER THE CITY MANAGER, THE FIRE CHIEF, UNFORTUNATELY, JUST 'CAUSE HE HELPED US EXPOSE ACADIAN AMBULANCE. UM, BY THE WAY, I WAS KIND OF HOPING ON THE AGENDA I WOULD SEE THAT APPEAL. UM, SO WE COULD VOTE TO REINSTATE HIM. BUT IN APRIL, CHIEF HAVENS, UM, SEND AN EMAIL TO THE CITY MANAGER SAYING, I AM NOT RESPONDING TO THIS OR ANY OTHER EMAIL FROM DOLCE FINO OR ANYONE FROM HIS COMPANY. AND OF COURSE, HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUNISHED AND TOLD HE GOT TO RESPOND TO LEGITIMATE PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS UNDER STATE LAW. BUT INSTEAD HE WAS NOW THE ACTING FIRE CHIEF. ALL PART OF THIS, I GUESS BUDDY BUDDY SYSTEM WITH ACADIAN. RIGHT NOW, MY COMPANY HAS FILED A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT WITH THE JEFFERSON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. MR. COUNSEL, WE HAVE DONE THAT BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, IT IS A PREREQUISITE PRIOR TO A FILING OF A CIVIL LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF FORT ARTHUR. RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DENYING US WITHOUT REQUESTING ANY ASSISTANCE FROM THE AG OR ANY OF THAT STALLING NONSENSE. THEY SIMPLY JUST WERE DENYING US RECORDS, ALL THE RECORDS ON PLEASURE ISLAND, ALL THE EMAILS RELATING TO THAT DEVELOPMENT. UM, MAYOR YOUR RECORDS, CITY MANAGER, YOUR RECORDS ALL BEING DENIED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CITY SECRETARY [01:10:01] GETS TO GET THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT BECAUSE SHE'S THE LEGAL CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS UNDER THE STATUTE. SO I'M HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU A COUPLE THINGS. EVER SINCE CHIEF HAVENS HAS BEEN IN OFFICE, I HAVE BEEN MONITORING VARIOUS FIRE STUFF. I MET THE CITY AMBULANCE PEOPLE WHEN I STARTED INVESTIGATING IN PORT ARTHUR. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOUR RESPONSE TIMES ARE BETTER. YOU WOULD THINK YOU WOULD REWARD THEM INSTEAD. CHIEF HAVENS IS BASICALLY TRYING TO MESS WITH THEM. NOW, I'VE EVEN HEARD A DISPATCH WHERE A REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS MADE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REFUSED, REFUSED TO HELP THE AMBULANCE SERVICE ON A CALL. THAT SHOULD BE SHOCKING TO ALL OF YOU, BUT I GUESS IT'S NOT. THE POLICE CHIEF COULD HAVE TAKEN THE ACADIAN CASE TO THE GRAND JURY MONTHS AGO. THE CITY MANAGER SAID HE WAS GONNA DO THIS THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, AND THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY NONSENSE NOT HAPPEN. SO RIGHT NOW, I SIT HERE WITH SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED UNDER STATE LAW COUNSEL, AND THEY'VE NOT BEEN GIVEN TO US. UM, OUR REQUESTS, OUR DEMANDS FOR PRODUCTION HAVE BEEN IGNORED. UM, I DON'T LIKE SUING CITIES BECAUSE THESE FOLKS END UP PAYING FOR IT, BUT THEY DO. BUT HERE IS MY CLEAR MESSAGE TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, AND IT'S TIME THAT YOU GUYS TAKE BACK CONTROL OF THIS. IF WE DO NOT GET FULL PRODUCTION OF ALL RECORDS BEING ILLEGALLY WITHHELD FROM US, INCLUDING HAVEN'S PHONE RECORDS, HIS EMAILS, INCLUDING ALL THE PLEASURE ISLAND EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS, OR MAYBE YOU DON'T THINK PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW THAT, INCLUDING ALL THE RECORDS REGARDING THE AMBULANCE SERVICES. IF WE DON'T GET ALL THOSE RECORDS BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS FRIDAY, I WILL FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND WHILE I'M AT IT, COUNSEL, I WILL ALSO SUGGEST THAT TELLING PEOPLE THEY HAVE TO SIGN UP A WEEK IN ADVANCE TO SPEAK AT A MEETING WHEN THEY HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN THE AGENDA IS I BELIEVE VIOLATIVE OF THE STATUTE. SO WHILE I'M SUING, I'M PROBABLY GOING TO, IF YOU DON'T CHANGE THAT IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE ONCE YOU POST THE AGENDA, THESE PEOPLE CAN'T SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA. THAT IN MY VIEW IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. AND SINCE I'M GONNA HAVE TO SUE ANYWAY, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY SECRETARY AND YOUR ACTING FIRE CHIEF WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED FOR DOING THIS, ARE GONNA GIMME THEIR RECORDS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE NEED TO DO, BUT I'M, YOU KNOW, WE AIN'T PLAYING ANYMORE. YOU ARE GONNA MAKE ME SUE THE CITY. YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ME WASTE YOUR LEGAL TIME AND MY LEGAL TIME. BUT I'M GONNA GET MY MONEY BACK FROM A JUDGE FRIDAY, FIVE O'CLOCK. IF I DON'T GET MY RECORDS, WE SUE. ANYBODY GOT ANY QUESTIONS? NO, SIR. THANK YOU. ANYBODY HONOR? GOOD TO SMITH. HOLD ON. GO AHEAD. CAPTAIN . YES, MR. DELPHINA? YES, SIR. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UH, REQUESTS FOR OPEN RACKETS, YES, SIR. THERE'S A STATE LAW AND THAT'S ALL IN GOVERNMENT. SO IF SOMEBODY IS NOT APPLYING, UH, WITH THE LAW HERE IN OUR CITY, THEN YOU NEED TO TAKE THE PROPER ACTION THAT YOU STATED. AND IF YOU SUE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, IF SOMEONE IS NOT PROVIDING THE INFORMATION AND FOLLOWING THE LAW, I'M NOT DEALING WITH THAT. THAT'S A PERSON. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HERE WITH THE LITIGATION NOW, NOW IS UP TO THIS COUNCIL. NOW THAT IS WHEN WE NOW HOLD SOMEBODY ACCOUNTABLE. SO IF YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET RACKETS AND YOU'VE COME TO THIS COUNCIL, THAT'S PERSONNEL. HOWEVER, IF YOU FILE SUIT NOW, IT'S GONNA COME TO US. NOW I'M GONNA ASK, AND I'M GONNA WANNA KNOW WHY WE DID NOT FOLLOW LAWSUIT. NOT BASED ON WHO CLAIMING OR, OR, OR WHAT. OKAY. AND I HEAR YOU TALKING ABOUT FOLLOWING THE LAWSUIT BEFORE FRIDAY. I'M GONNA KIND OF SAVE YOU A LITTLE MONEY HERE. BUT WHEN WE PLACE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE A SESSION WHEREBY CITIZENS CAN, CAN COMMENT ON ANY ITEM THAT WE HAVE TO VOTE ON. WHEN'S THAT, SIR? PARDON ME? WHEN IS THAT, SIR? WHEN WAS IT? THIS WEEK? NO, NO, NO. LISTEN TO ME. LISTEN TO ME. OKAY? I LISTENED TO YOU. YOU DON'T KNOW. I'M TELLING YOU. AND, AND WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED, YOU WILL RESEARCH GO. YOU GONNA FIND OUT WE ALLOW [01:15:01] CITIZENS TO VOTE ON ANY ITEM THAT WE DISCUSS AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE ON. SO IF IT'S ON THE AGENDA, AND WE ARE GONNA VOTE ON THAT ITEM, ANY CITIZENS OR ANYONE PRESENT, ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS RAISE THEIR HAND, BE RECOGNIZED. GREAT. AND THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THAT MATTER. IF THEY WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS COUNCIL, LIKE IN YOUR CASE, THEN YOU GO THROUGH THE PROPER PROCEDURE AND YOU PLACE YOUR NAME ON THE AGENDA. AT WHICH TIME, IF YOU ONE OF THE FIRST FIVE PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE DO FIVE, THEN YOU WILL BE SEEN. OKAY? SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT INTO THE THEATRICS, BUT I DO FOLLOW THE, UH, THE, THE RULES. I UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS COUNCIL IS. AND WHEN YOU COME BEFORE COUNCIL, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND COUNCIL, WE LISTEN. NOW, I DON'T SPEAK FOR EVERY, I SPEAK FOR COUNCILMAN ETT. ABSOLUTELY. HOWEVER, JUST DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. BECAUSE IF WE ARE NOT DOING OUR JOB AND WE HAVE TO PAY TAXPAYER MONEY FOR LITIGATION BECAUSE SOMEONE IN STAFF IS INCOMPETENT, THEN I'M GONNA HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE THEN, BECAUSE NOW IT'S NO LONGER A PERSON. MAY ALL MATTER. IT IS A COUNCIL MATTER. SO YOU JUST HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, WHEN YOU COME IN HERE BEFORE US, A LOT OF THINGS, YOU MAY, UH, EXPECT US TO JUMP IN. AND NOW IT, IT IS A PROPER WAY THAT IT GETS TO US. AND WHEN IT COMES TO US IN THAT FORM. BUT WE HEAR YOU. WHEN YOU SAY, I'M NOT GETTING RECORDS, WE HEAR YOU, BUT WE DON'T DO THE RECORDS. THE CITY SECRETARY DO THE RECORDS. IF WE GET SUED AND IT'S BECAUSE OF HER NOT DOING HER JOB RIGHT, THEN WE RESPOND. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, I APPRECIATE THE CITY SECRETARY HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR US SINCE JANUARY. BUT IT'S THE MAYOR, IT'S THE CITY MANAGER. AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, COUNCILMAN, THE REASON I'M TALKING TO COUNCIL IS BECAUSE THAT GUY WORKS FOR YOU. OKAY? THAT GUY WORKS FOR YOU. THE CITY SECRETARY WORKS FOR YOU. RIGHT? OKAY. SO WHEN YOU SAY THESE ARE PERSONNEL MATTERS, THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST INCOMPETENT. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTENTIONALLY WITHHOLDING DOCUMENTS JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT TO. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE. I DEAL WITH INCOMPETENCE IN GOVERNMENT ALL THE TIME. BUT THIS IS NOT JUST INCOMPETENCE, SIR. THIS IS INTENTIONAL WITHHOLDING, WHICH IS A CRIMINAL VIOLATION, MR. MR. DEL, AND YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT IT, MR. MR. DE, MR. DELFIN. WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP RUNNING AROUND WITH THIS. AND LIKE I SAID, WHEN YOU COME TO US, I WAS JUST SAYING IT SO THAT YOU'LL UNDERSTAND. YOU'RE NOT SAYING THINGS ON DEAF EARS. WE HEAR YOU. WE UNDERSTAND IT. SO DON'T, DON'T, DON'T PUT EVERYBODY IN A, IN A BAG WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING TO US, YOU KNOW? SO I JUST SAID IT AND I'M NOT HERE TO DEBATE AT, BUT WE HEAR YOU, WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, AND I'M FOLLOWING YOU. I'M FOLLOWING IT. I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. AND COUNCILMAN, UH, KEN LAW. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MR. DELFIN. DELINO. DELFINO. BUT THAT'S CLOSE ENOUGH. WELL, THANK YOU. UH, I, I TOO, UH, I WANT, UH, ECHO WHAT COUNCILMAN DO SAID, STATED EARLIER. NOW IF WE'RE DOING SOMETHING BY STATE LAW, THAT IT'S ABSOLUTELY, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION BY THE OPEN RECORDS REQUEST. AND IF THAT'S NOT HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A CONCERN WITH THAT. ANYTHING WE ARE, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO HIDE AT ALL IF A CITIZEN OR IF A CITIZEN COME BEFORE THIS, THIS BODY OR THIS STAFF, AND ASK FOR RECORDS, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S BEEN UNTIL YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU STATED EARLIER ABOUT PHONE ADDRESS, EMAILS, AND IF THAT CITY PROPERTY OR GOVERNMENTAL PROPERTY, YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO GET THAT IN A TIMELY MANNER. AND IF THAT'S NOT HAPPENING, I DO HAVE A VERY FEST, UH, CONCERN ABOUT THAT. SO, LIKE, UH, MY COHORT SAID EARLIER, WE ARE LISTENING. I'M LISTENING BECAUSE ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SHOW WHEN YOU ASK FOR THE INFORMATION, IF IT WASN'T PROVIDED IN A TIMELY MATTER BASED UPON OUR RULES AND REGULATION, THAT'S GONNA BE A SITUATION. AND I WOULDN'T BE YOUR COUNCILMAN WITH ALL DUE RESPECT IF IT WAS JUST NOT MEETING THE DEADLINES. WHEN WE ARE NOW IGNORED, WE ARE TOTALLY IGNORED. OUR COMMUNICATIONS, THERE IS NO RESPONSE. AND THE RECORDS ARE BEING INTENTIONALLY WITHHELD. AND I KNOW THEY ARE. AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WITHHOLDING THE RECORDS ARE ACTUALLY BEING REWARDED, LIKE THE NEW ACTING FIRE CHIEF. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE CITY [01:20:01] ATTORNEY KNEW. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS KNEW. 'CAUSE I, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I MEAN, I'VE, I'VE SUED GOVERNMENT BEFORE YOU, YOU PROBABLY KNOW MY TRACK RECORD. I'LL DO IT AGAIN, BUT I DON'T WANNA WASTE Y'ALL'S TIME AND MONEY AND MY TIME AND MONEY. BUT, BUT SOMEONE'S GOTTA MAKE THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY SECRETARY AND EVEN THE MAYOR GIVE US WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GIVE US. WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR JOB AS COLLECTIVE COUNCIL. UH, THAT'S OUR EMPLOYEE, THE MANAGER, AS WELL AS THE CITY SECRETARY. SO LET'S DO THIS. GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY. UH, YOU SAID BY FRIDAY. FRIDAY AT FIVE, YOU SAID FRIDAY AT FIVE NEXT WEEK WE'RE GONNA SHOOT. BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR THING. UH, BUT WELL, THAT'S NOT MY THING. I'M JUST TIRED OF PLAYING GAMES. WELL, THAT'S YOUR DECISION. WE'VE BEEN PLAYING GAMES HERE FOR FIVE MONTHS. THAT'S YOUR DECISION. PEOPLE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING. WELL, OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO THE RIGHT THING AND THEY'RE OUR EMPLOYEES. SO GIVE US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO IT AND, UH, WE'LL GET BACK WITH YOU ONCE WE GET THE INFORMATION REQUEST. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY, WE ARE GONNA MOVE ON. I HAVE A LIGHT ON. I HAVE A LIGHT ON. Y'ALL STILL GOTTA TALK TO HIM? YEAH, NO, I DON'T WANNA TALK TO HIM. NO, GO RIGHT AHEAD. COUNCILMAN LEWIS. NO, I DON'T, I DON'T NEED TO TALK TO HIM. HE DONE STATED WHAT HE HAD SAID. I JUST GOT SOME COMMENTS. WHAT? SEE, I HAD TO PUT UP A FILTER TO FIND OUT WHAT HE REALLY WANT. HE COME IN THE ROOM WITH A SHOTGUN, YOU KNOW, AND WHEN YOU USE A SHOTGUN APPROACH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. NOW. I AIN GOT THE FILTER, ALL THIS STUFF. NOW FINALLY, I FINALLY FOUND OUT WHAT, WHAT HE WANTED, HE WANTED SOME SPECIFIC RECORDS. HE COULD HAVE SAID THAT IN THE FIRST SYMPTOMS, BUT WHEN YOU COME IN THE ROOM WITH A SHOTGUN, MAN, EVERYBODY DUCKS. OKAY? SO CITY ATTORNEY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS IT IN, IN CONVERSATION CITY ATTORNEY, IF THERE, UNLESS THERE'S SOME LEGAL REASONS NOT TO RELEASE THAT INFORMATION, GET LET HIM HAVE IT. OKAY? YES, SIR, MR. OKAY. YOU GOT IT? OKAY. ANY, ANYTHING ELSE? NO. OKAY. NOW, UH, WE ARE ON [III.B. (1) A Presentation By Mr. Ced Ceballos, Mr. Craig Smith And Mr. David Adefeso Of Sootchy, Inc. & Sootchy Charitable Foundation Regarding The Sootchy Education Program (SEP)] PAGE TWO. WE HAVE PRESENTATIONS AGAIN NOW, UH, BY MR. UH, SAID SEVERAL. OKAY? UH, UH, MR. CRAIG AND, UH, MR. DAVID, UH, WE'RE HERE FROM THE, UH, SUSHI, UH, CHARITABLE FOUNDATION REGARDING THE, UH, SUSHI EDUCATION PROGRAM HERE IN THE CITY OF, UH, PORT ARTHUR. YOU ALL GO RIGHT AHEAD. TODAY, WE PUT OURSELVES IN THE SHOES OF CYNTHIA CARE. IMAGINE YOU'VE BECOME CEO OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST MINING COMPANIES, ANGLO AMERICA, $25 BILLION IN SALES, 162,000 EMPLOYEES, TWO THIRDS OF THEM IN SOUTH AFRICA. AND FOUR MONTHS INTO YOUR JOB, YOU HEAR THE NEWS. SO I'VE BEEN A FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR MANY YEARS, AND I, UH, WAS SPEAKING AT AN EVENT. THIS GIRL WALKS UP TO ME WITH HER DAD, SHE'S MAYBE 23, 24, AND SHE STARTS TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE'S GRADUATED. SHE HAS 125,000 STUDENT LOANS. SHE DID A MASTER'S PHILOSOPHY OR SOMETHING, AND SHE MADE 53,000. THAT WAS HER STARTING SALARY. SHE WANTED TO BUY A HOUSE WITH HER FIANCE WHO SHE COULDN'T GET MARRIED TO BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T AFFORD IT. SHE WANTED TO HAVE KIDS, AND SHE FELT DEFEATED. AND SO I SPENT SOME TIME LOOKING INTO STUDENT LOANS, AND I DISCOVERED SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T LIKE. 46 MILLION KIDS HAVE STUDENT LOANS. 11% OF THOSE KIDS, ALMOST 6 MILLION OF THEM ARE IN DEFAULT. IT'S A TRAVESTY. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO OUR KIDS? THEY GRADUATE, THEY GET A STARTING SALARY OF AVERAGE WORTH 36,000, AND THEY GET A BILL WORTH 37,000 BUCKS IN STUDENT LOANS THAT BASICALLY MORTGAGES THEIR LIVES BECAUSE MOST KIDS STILL HAVE TO TAKE OUT STUDENT LOANS. UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU FOCUS ON MAJORS THAT HELP YOU MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY. BUT THE PROBLEM IS, MANY KIDS GO TO SCHOOL, AND THEY'RE NOT DOCTORS OR LAWYERS. THEY BECOME PHILOSOPHY MAJORS, PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT STUDENT LOANS, GO WORK FOR A NONPROFIT, GO ACHIEVE YOUR DREAM. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT [01:25:01] WE'RE TRYING TO DO AT C CHI. WE'RE TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE IRRESPECTIVE OF MONEY. WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE CHOICES. WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM FULFILL THEIR DREAM. I AM DAVID ASO, I'M THE CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF SOCHI INC. HELLO, I'M DAVID ASO. UH, THIS IS, I WISH I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO COVER EVERYTHING, BUT I DON'T. SO I'M GONNA PICK, I'M DAVID ASO FROM LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU FOR SEEING ME. HERE'S MY COLLEAGUE CRAIG SMITH, ALSO FROM INGLEWOOD IN CALIFORNIA. UH, YOU KNOW, ON FEBRUARY 13TH, WE, UH, PRESENTED TO YOU, YEAH, IF YOU COULD HOLD IT. YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET THAT. ON FEBRUARY 13TH, WE WERE HERE TO HAVE A PRESENTATION. WE TOLD YOU WHAT WE WANTED, UH, WERE PLANNING TO DO IN YOUR CITY, WHICH WAS ESTABLISH THE SUI EDUCATION PROGRAM. THE INTENT WAS TO GET, UM, UH, TO START WITH 3000 CHILDREN WHO EITHER WENT TO SCHOOL IN THE CITY, OR WHO, UH, PARENTS LIVED IN THE CITY, WHO WENT TO SCHOOL OUTSIDE THE CITY TO GET THEM A COLLEGE FUND OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF FUNDING IN ORDER FOR THEM TO EITHER GO, YOU KNOW, TRADE SCHOOL APPRENTICESHIP, BUY A FIRST HOME, OR START A BUSINESS. SO TODAY, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR PROGRESS SINCE THEN, AND ALSO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE OVERALL PROGRAM AND A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL, JUST SO YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE PLANNING TO DO. FIRST. UH, YOU COULD START THIS SLIDE, SIR. UH, NEXT ONE. KEEP GOING. ONE MORE. HERE'S THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE. 10% OF THE EARNERS IN AMERICA MAKE 60% OF THE INCOME. THE BOTTOM 50% ONLY ACCOUNT FOR 2.6%. HOW DO YOU SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. STUDIES SHOW IF A CHILD HAS AN EDUCATION, THEY MAKE $1 MILLION MORE OVER THEIR LIFETIME THAN A CHILD WHO DOESN'T. THAT'S ABOUT $23,000 PER YEAR. THAT'S 60% MORE THAN THEY WOULD OTHERWISE MAKE. THE PROBLEM IS THE COST OF A EDUCATION HAS GONE UP 1200% OVER THE LAST 43 YEARS. MEANWHILE, THE AVERAGE WAGES OF A REGULAR INCOME EARNER HAS GONE UP 38%. SO THE COST OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION NOW IS $145,000. HOW DOES A FAMILY THAT MAKES THE MEDIAN INCOME OF $75,000 AFFORD TO SEND TWO KIDS TO COLLEGE? AND THAT COST GROWING AT 8% IS GOING TO BE ABOUT $582,000 IN 18 YEARS. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. SO THESE KIDS END UP DOING THAT, TAKING STUDENT LOANS, OR INSTEAD THEY JUST DON'T GO TO COLLEGE, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY LEADS THEM TO STAY EITHER IN POVERTY OR ACHIEVE LESS THAN THEIR POTENTIAL. HERE'S THE PLAN THAT WE'VE CREATED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THREE PARTS. FIRST IS ACCESS FINANCING AND FINANCIAL LITERACY. WE'VE DEVELOPED A SYSTEM CALLED ACTIVATION EVENTS. WE GO INTO CITIES AND WE SIGN KIDS UP. SO BEFORE WE CONTINUE, I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU A VIDEO OF THE TYPE OF EVENT WE'D LIKE TO ESTABLISH HERE. AND MAYBE DO ONE, ONE ONCE A MONTH IN EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT. MAYBE DO ONE ON ONE IN EACH SCHOOL, MAYBE DO ONE IN EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS. AND SO WOULD YOU PLEASE PLAY THE SECOND VIDEO WHILE HE'S DOING THAT? THE SECOND PART OF THE PROCESS. SO IN THAT, IN THOSE ACTIVATION EVENTS, WE HAVE FUN, WE HAVE GAMES, HOT ROOMS TURN ICY COLD INSTANTLY WITHOUT AC WHILE SLASHING ELECTRIC BILLS. OKAY? UH, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS WITH YOU? STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT IF YOU GO TO COLLEGE, YOU WILL MAKE $1 MILLION MORE. THE FOREMOST IMPORTANT WORDS YOU CAN EVER SAY TO ANYONE IS I BELIEVE IN YOU. WHEN YOU SAY THOSE WORDS TO SOMEONE, WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU'RE EMPOWERING THEM. I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH COACH. YOU JUST MADE PROBABLY THE BEST DECISION YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ALL YEAR EDUCATION SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN'T TAKE AWAY FROM YOU. [01:30:01] TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO START YOU ON THE JOURNEY TO MAKING $1 MILLION MORE. AND YOU THOUGHT YOU WOULD MAKE IT BEFORE YOU GOT HERE TODAY, THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE EVERYONE A COLLEGE. YES, A COLLEGE PARTY. WHEN YOU PLAY THIS GAME THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET TO PLAY LATER ON, YOU GET TO WIN THE MONEY. OUR STRING IS TOO, AND WE'RE GONNA GET PAID $10 AN HOUR. SO WHO COULD TELL ME THE TOTAL OF THESE THREE THINGS? DOES EVERYONE AGREE THAT THIS IS $16? YES. OKAY. SHE'S WILLING TO PAY $15 FOR ONE OF YOUR BRACELETS. OKAY, SO $120, WHAT WE MADE EVERYTHING COST US $16, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT WAS YOUR COST, RIGHT? IT COST YOU $16 TO MAKE EVERYTHING, INCLUDING YOUR TIME, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT. ENTREPRENEURS, YOU GOTTA GET PAID FOR YOUR TIME. SO WHAT'S ONE 20 MINUS 16? SO 1 0 4 PROFIT FOR HOW MANY BRACELETS? THAT'S NOT TOO BAD, IS IT? WHEN YOU BUY A NINTENDO GAMING CONSOLE SWITCH OR WHATEVER? ARE YOU AN INVESTOR, A CONSUMER, OR BOTH? OOH, THE CORRECT ANSWER IS CONSUMER. BUT AGAIN, EVERYBODY WINS. PERFECT. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. WHENEVER YOU DO LOG INTO THE APP, IT'S GONNA BE JUST PART OF THE SITE, LIKE ON YOUR PROFILE WHERE IT'LL BE LIKE MY VOICE. SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA CREATE TODAY IS A VISION BOARD. SO AGAIN, YOU ARE WHAT YOU MANIFEST. IF YOU WANNA TELL YOURSELF, I WANNA HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS IN MY ACCOUNT IN FIVE YEARS, YOU HAVE TO CONTINUALLY TELL YOURSELF THAT, OKAY, THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO BE. SO THIS MEANS THIS IS WHERE YOU WANNA BE IN A YEAR. IT COULD BE IN FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS, WHO YOU WANNA BE AS AN ADULT, OKAY? AND WHY YOU WANNA KEEP YOUR FEET SHOULDER APART? GOOD. OH, COME ON. ALL RIGHT. AND WHAT I MEAN BY GREAT JOB, YOU WERE GREAT LISTENERS. EVERYBODY HERE IS A COLLEGE FUND AND IS $50 THAT'S GONNA BE IN YOUR COLLEGE FUND. WHY DO PEOPLE STILL READ BOOKS? THOSE ARE ACTIVATION EVENTS. THAT'S HOW WE REACH THE CHILDREN. NOW, BEFORE I TALK ABOUT THE OTHER TWO PARTS, THE FINANCING AND THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE, I WANNA INTRODUCE AGAIN, CRAIG SMITH. UH, YOU MET ONE OF MY PARTNERS BEFORE, UH, CEDRIC SABALOS, UH, NBA PLAYER WHO'S, YOU KNOW, STEEPED IN IN DOING THIS WORK TO GET OUR KIDS, UH, OUT OF POVERTY. UH, CRAIG SMITH IS ALSO AN NBA PLAYER. I'VE KNOWN HIM PROBABLY SINCE HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, CRAIG REALLY, AND I REALLY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF STARTED THIS A FEW YEARS AGO. UH, MY WIFE WAS A FEW, A FEW YEARS EARLIER THAN YOU, BUT WE KIND OF STARTED THIS AND HE'S, YOU KNOW, UH, GONNA SAY A FEW WORDS. HELLO, HELLO. UH, OF COURSE, AFTER WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT DOING THIS AND, AND ME JOINING IN BEFORE THAT, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, LIKE BACKSTORY ON JUST ME GROWING UP. I GREW UP IN THE INNER CITY OF LOS ANGELES. I WAS BORN IN INGLEWOOD. I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY I WAS BORN IN WAR. I HAD CERTAIN DISADVANTAGES. MY BROTHER WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD. SO I WAS ALREADY LOOKING AT AN OUTLOOK FOR MYSELF TO FIND, UH, TO, TO MAKE PEACE AND TO FIND A HAPPINESS AND A LOVE AND A PURPOSE. AND BY DOING THAT, NOT ONLY DID I INSPIRE MYSELF TO BECOME AN NBA PLAYER, BUT I INSPIRED A LOT OF KIDS IN THE CITY IN WHICH I DO TODAY BECAUSE I'M AN AMBASSADOR OF MY FORMER TEAM, THE LA CLIPPERS. I'M A CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR, AND I'M A GUY WHO'S HEAVILY IN THE COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDS WHAT THESE KIDS NEED ON A DAILY, BECAUSE I WAS A KID WHO WAS TRYING TO FIGURE ITSELF OUT IN THIS CRAZY WORLD. NOW, IT IS A DIFFERENT TIME DUE TO ALL TECHNOLOGY AND DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT THE SAME RULES APPLY. IF YOU REALLY FOCUS ON YOUR CRAFT AND YOUR ENDEAVORS AT A YOUNG AGE, YOU CAN BECOME SUCCESSFUL OUTRIGHT, AND YOU CAN BEAT THE SYSTEM IN THAT REGARDS OF FINDING YOUR OWN SUCCESS AND INSPIRING OTHERS. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WAS ABLE TO DO BY ONE, BECOMING AN NBA PLAYER, BUT THEN ALSO BECOMING A CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR, BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT HAVING THE [01:35:01] KIDS GO OUT FOR THEIR DREAMS JUST LIKE I DID. NOW, BEING THAT KID WHO WANTED TO BE SOMETHING, THESE KIDS HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TOO, BUT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE IT GOES LIKE THIS FOR ME. THERE'S NOT A RULE THAT SAYS ONLY 100 OR 200 KIDS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR CLASS. EVERYBODY CAN IN THEIR OWN RIGHT? BUT THEY HAVE TO APPLY THEMSELVES. AND I THINK ONE OF THOSE THINGS ARE, WE CAN'T JUST FOCUS ON ONE THING. WE NEED MORE DOCTORS. WE NEED MORE LAWYERS, RIGHT? BECAUSE EVERYBODY CAN'T BE A RAPPER. EVERYBODY CAN'T BE AN ATHLETE. ME BEING AN ATHLETE, I'M, I'M LIKE 0.5% OF EVER MAKING IT ONE OUT OF 5,000 TO EVER PLAY IN THE NBA. BUT FOR ME, MY PURPOSE IS, IS TO INSPIRE THESE KIDS. BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I GO OUT THERE AND I, AND I SPEAK TO 'EM, I SPEAK LIFE INTO 'EM. AND I KNOW I FIND THEM TO WHERE THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR PASSIONS AND REALLY GET AFTER AND GO AFTER THEIR DREAMS. BUT THE REAL REASON ABOUT THAT AND BEING ABLE TO GO AFTER YOUR DREAMS AT A YOUNG AGE IS HAVING THE POWER TO SAY NO. AND I HAD THE POWER TO SAY NO TO THE GANGSTERS, TO THE THUGS, AND EVERYBODY WHO WANTED TO PUT THAT NEGATIVITY AROUND ME. BY HAVING THAT CHOICE IS WHAT PUT ME IN POSITION TODAY TO REALLY INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION. MY NAME IS CRAIG SMITH. THANK YOU. PART OF THE REASON WHY CRAIG AND CEDRIC AND ALL THE, YOU KNOW, FEW OTHER NBA PLAYERS AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE HERE IS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I AM FROM LAGOS, NIGERIA. AND I, UH, I HAVE AN ACCENT AND I, UH, TALK DIFFERENT. I, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES, UH, AND SO I SOMETIMES HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN THE COMMUNITY. I MEAN, THEY, I WAS TOLD, YOU KNOW, BY SEVERAL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING PORT ARTHUR, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE DON'T, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW YOU. THEY NEED TO KNOW YOU AND GET TO KNOW YOU. AND I FIND MYSELF, WHEN I SPEAK TO KIDS, YOU KNOW, THEY LISTEN, BUT THEY LISTEN TO NBA PLAYERS BETTER. THEY LISTEN TO CELEBRITIES BETTER, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO INSPIRE THEM IN A WAY THAT I CAN'T. SO I SIT IN THE BACK AND I DO THE THINKING AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE CREATING OF THE PROGRAMS AND THAT WE GO FROM THERE. THE SECOND PART OF WHAT WE DO, APART FROM ACCESS IS FINANCE FINANCING. WE'VE CREATED A WAY TO FUND, HOPEFULLY ALL THINGS GO RIGHT, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE COST OF EITHER FOUR THINGS, A COLLEGE EDUCATION OR, UH, A TWO YEAR, FOUR YEAR COLLEGE AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, TRADE SCHOOL, A KID TO BUY A INVESTMENT IN REAL ESTATE IF HE DOESN'T WANNA GO TO SCHOOL OR TO START A BUSINESS IN THE CITY. THE FIRST TWO EDUCATION AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS YOU CAN DO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. HOWEVER, BUYING A BUSINESS OR START A A REAL ESTATE, STARTING A BUSINESS OF BUYING REAL ESTATE HAS TO BE DONE IN THE CITY. THIS IS NOT JUST EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND GETTING KIDS READY FOR THE FUTURE. IT'S ALSO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY. WE NEED TO BRING MONEY INTO THE CITY. AND A LOT OF THE MONEY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HELP THE KIDS SAVE IF THEY DON'T WANNA GO TO COLLEGE, THEY CAN USE THAT MONEY, UH, UH, BUT ONLY IN THE CITY. NOW, THE THIRD THING WE DO, AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE FIGURED OUT THE COST OF AN EDUCATION. PARENTS WRITE A CHECK FOR 60% OF THE COST OF COLLEGE OR, OR AN EDUCATION FOR PARENTS WHO CAN'T AFFORD THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE KIDS DON'T GO TO SCHOOL OR THEY TAKE STUDENT DEBT. SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE RECREATED THE SYSTEM AND WE'VE ADDED EMPLOYERS AS A WAY TO FUND A, THE, A COLLEGE FUND OF KIDS. UH, JUST LIKE 401K PLANS IN 1973. UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE DONE 401K PLANS FOR 20 YEARS. AMERICA HAD A RETIREMENT CRISIS. NOW IT'S A LOT LESS. WHY? BECAUSE WE STARTED THESE THINGS CALLED 401K PLANS. WE GIVE TAX DEDUCTIONS NOW 60, 62. I THINK PERCENT OF EMPLOYERS HAVE IT. AND ALMOST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALMOST 9.3, UH, $9 TRILLION IN THOSE PLANS. SO WE'VE CREATED A SYSTEM VERY, VERY SIMILAR TO THAT. WE ALSO USE FOUNDATION MONEY. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF FOUNDATIONS. WE'RE CONNECTED TO A LOT OF THE LARGEST FOUNDATIONS IN THE WORLD. UH, THE ILLA MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION IS SPONSORING OUR FIRST SIX CITIES, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY INCLUDING PORT ARTHUR, THE FIRST ROUND AND A FEW OTHER, YOU KNOW, UH, FOUNDATIONS. AND WE ALSO, UH, ENGAGE THE GOVERNMENTS TO, TO HELP. THE FINAL THING WE DO IS FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE. WE HELP TO TEACH KIDS AND PARENTS THE THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MONEY. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, CRAIG, YOU KNOW, AND CEDRIC AND A FEW OTHERS ARE NOT JUST THE ONLY FRIENDS IN THE MB OR CELEBRITIES THAT I HAVE, AND ALSO CLIENTS. MANY PEOPLE COME TO ME, MANY, MANY FAMOUS PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE BROKE. AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THEY'VE MADE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE MONEY. SO WE TEACH KIDS HOW TO USE MONEY. SO THE FIRST PART IS ACCESS. WE GIVE 'EM A COLLEGE FUND. THE SECOND PART IS WE HELP 'EM GET THE MONEY. THE THIRD PART IS WE TEACH THEM THE THINGS THEY NEED TO KNOW WHEN THEY GET THE MONEY. I'M GONNA KEEP GOING REALLY QUICKLY. I'M GONNA SKIP OVER A BIG PART. SO HERE'S THE DETAILS OF THE PLAN. AND AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO, UH, LEAVE A LOT OF ROOM FOR QUESTIONS. SO I'M GONNA SPEAK THROUGH REALLY FAST. SEP IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND US WITH A COUPLE OF ENTITIES THAT WE HAVE. IT'S A, A FOR-PROFIT [01:40:01] THAT CREATES TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS. BUT THE ONE YOU'RE GOING TO BE INTERACTING WITH IS THE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION. THAT'S THE ONE THAT GETS THE MONEY, AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT DISTRIBUTES THE MONEY. THE SECOND PART, HOW DO YOU ENROLL? WELL, WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR SCHOOL, YOU ENROLL THROUGH OUR ACTIVATION EVENTS. YOU ENROLL, HOW DO YOU EN UH, UM, WHO'S ELIGIBLE? ANY CHILD? WE NEED 3000 KIDS. EITHER YOU GO TO SCHOOL HERE OR YOUR PARENTS LIVE HERE, OR YOU GO TO SCHOOL SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE'LL TAKE YOU. UH, WHAT'S THE MONEY FOR? WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT. SCHOOL APPRENTICESHIP, TRAINING PROGRAMS, UH, BUYING A REAL ESTATE PROPERTY OR STARTING A BUSINESS. WHAT ARE THE, WHERE ARE THE SAVINGS COMING FROM? I ALREADY TOLD YOU FIVE WAYS. EMPLOYERS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT. THE SECOND IS, UH, FOUNDATIONS AND NONPROFITS. GOVERNMENT FUNDING PRIMARILY THE STATE PARENT CONTRIBUTIONS, AND THEN FRIENDS AND FAMILY, UH, GIFTING. SO INSTEAD OF TOYS, WE ENCOURAGE, BUT WE HAVE A TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY JUST PUSH A BUTTON AND GIVE $10 ON A KID'S BIRTHDAY. YOUR, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR NIECE'S BIRTHDAY INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY GOING THERE. UH, WHERE, OR INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY GIVING A TOY, WHERE WILL THE MONEY BE HELD? TWO PLACES. YOUR STATE HAS WHAT'S CALLED A TEXAS COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM. IT'S A 5 29 PROGRAM. SO THAT'S THE PLAN WE WE INTEND TO USE FOR THE COLLEGE AND THE APPRENTICESHIP. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CAN'T USE THAT TO BUY A HOME, UH, A REAL ESTATE OR TO START A BUSINESS. SO WE USE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ACCOUNT, UH, FOR THAT. IT'S JUST A NON-QUALIFIED INVESTMENT ACCOUNT. WE ARE, UH, THE, WE ARE A REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR, SO WE'RE UNDER THE SECURITY AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. SO I'M JUST, I'M ALMOST LIKE A BANK, RIGHT? I CAN ACCEPT MONEY, BUT I CAN'T ACCEPT CASH. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. UH, I CAN ACCEPT CHECKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND, AND, UH, WE, YOU KNOW, WE INVEST THE MONEY IN STOCKS, BONDS, REAL ESTATE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE REGULATED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. BANKS ARE REGULATED BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND OCC OFFICE OF THE CONTROL, THE SORT DIFFERENT, UH, UH, FEDERAL REGULATOR, BUT STILL FEDERAL REGULATION. UH, THE COST OF THE PLAN IS 1% FOR ALL OF THE MONEY THAT'S IN THERE PER YEAR. WE CHARGE 1% FOR OPERATIONS, FOR COST FOR THE ACTIVATION, ADVANCE FOR TECHNOLOGY AND ALL THOSE THINGS. UM, PORT ARTHUR, WHY DID WE SELECT PORT ARTHUR AS THE LAUNCH CITY? WELL, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE HAD, UH, A PILOT CITY SEARCH. WE WENT THROUGH EIGHT DIFFERENT CITIES. I'M SORRY, MAYOR, HOW LONG DO I HAVE TIME? YEAH, BUT FOUR MINUTES. OKAY. WE WENT THROUGH A PILOT CITY SEARCH, AND WE WENT THROUGH EIGHT CITIES. WE STARTED LAST YEAR, JUNE, WE INTERVIEWED EIGHT CITIES. WE WENT TO THOSE CITIES MULTIPLE TIMES. I'VE PROBABLY BEEN TO PORT ARTHUR ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN TIMES, AND WE WENT TO EACH CITY, UH, THAT'S MY ALARM TELLING ME THE TIME IS UP. SO I GET THREE. AND, UH, WE HAD SIX CRITERIA. CITY WITH 20,000 TO 100,000 PEOPLE, 20% HIGHER NATIONAL, UH, UH, POVERTY RATE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. 20% HIGHER, UH, LOWER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE, 20% LOWER COLLEGE GRADUATION RATE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, 20% MEDIAN INCOME BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, AND A 20% PER CAPITA INCOME BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. WE NEEDED CITIES THAT WERE NEEDY. I HAVE, UH, UH, I WORK WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYORS ASSOCIATION. MOST OF THE MAYORS. WE HAVE MAYORS IN LOS ANGELES AND HOUSTON, WHO ARE FRIENDS AND, AND NEW YORK WHO HAVE BEEN OUR RELATIONSHIPS. AND WE DECIDED NOT TO GO TO THOSE CITIES TO COME TO PORT ARTHUR, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE NEED IS. AND SO WE LOOKED AT EIGHT CITIES, KINGSTON, NORTH CAROLINA UNIVERSITY, GEORGIA FOREST PARK, EAST POINT, GEORGIA, INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA KILLING, TEXAS, PIG SCALE, NEW YORK, AND PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. AND WE PICKED PORT ARTHUR FOR FOUR REASONS. NUMBER ONE, THE PEOPLE. WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME HERE, WE JUST LOVE THE PEOPLE. NUMBER TWO, THE BUSINESSES YOU HAVE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE MONEY, THEY CAN HELP TO FUND THESE KIDS'. EDUCATION. NUMBER THREE, YOU HAVE THE PORTS. THAT'S A MAJOR PORT OF THE MAJOR, YOU KNOW, MAJOR, UH, UH, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO, TO, TO REALLY BLOW, UH, UH, DO SOME GREAT THINGS IN THE CITY. AND THEN THE WILLINGNESS OF THE CITY TO BE AN EMPLOYER. SO TO FUND, TO, TO, TO, TO, YOU KNOW, MEMORIALIZE THIS FACT THAT WE SELECTED YOUR CITY OUT OF EIGHT CITIES. AFTER SPENDING SO MUCH TIME, WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT AN AWARD, UH, IN CLOSING TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, WHO ACCEPTS THIS AWARD. UH, HOW DO WE DO THIS? YES, YOU PRESENT. UH, CRAIG, YOU WANNA CLOSING? MAYOR BARI, ON BEHALF OF SUI INC. AND SUI CHARITABLE [01:45:01] FOUNDATION, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. UH, WE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE WORKING WITH YOU SO FAR. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THIS AWARD FOR, FOR WINNING THE PILOT CITY PROGRAM OUT OF EIGHT CITIES, A VERY GRUELING THREE STEP PROCESS. YOU WON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK, WE WANT SAY A BIG THANK YOU. WE, IN CLOSING, WE HAVE A LOT MORE. BUT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL, WE WILL, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL DO THAT. UH, IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO TWO PEOPLE. UH, MR. THIGPEN AND THE MAYOR HAVE BEEN AMAZING. YOU KNOW, MR. THICKEN PICKS UP EVERY SINGLE CALL AND I CALL A LOT, YOU KNOW, AND THE MAYORS JUST OPENED UP THE DOORS FOR US. YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL. I MEAN, IT'S AN INTENSE AMOUNT OF WORK. WE NEED TO DO A LOT OF WORK, AND WE NEED YOUR HELP. AND, AND FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, WE WOULD LIKE YOU GUYS, GIVE US YOUR CARDS. WE DIDN'T CALL YOU BECAUSE WE WANTED TO DO, DO THIS FIRST. TO PRESENT YOU THE AWARD. WE'RE GONNA BE REACHING OUT TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO COME INTO YOUR DISTRICTS, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR SPECIFIC DISTRICTS, AND HAVE ACTIVATION EVENTS AND ENGAGE YOU, UH, MS. BECKHAM, THOSE, THOSE INDIVIDUALS YOU MENTIONED WHO ARE IN DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT WHOSE PARENTS LIVE HERE. WE'D NOT JUST LIKE THOSE KIDS. WE'D ALSO LIKE THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WE'D LIKE TO HAVE AN INTRODUCTION TO THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING SO RESPONSIVE TO US, AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. OKAY. ANY, ANY REMARKS? GREG? UH, MAYOR , THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'D BE HAPPY TO MAKE THOSE INTRODUCTIONS. THAT'D BE THE PORT NECHES SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE ERLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE HAVE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT LIVE WITHIN THE PORT ARTHUR CITY LIMITS IN MY DISTRICT, UH, THAT ATTEND THOSE SCHOOLS. SO I, I'LL BE HAPPY TO MAKE THOSE INTRODUCTIONS FOR YOU. AND, AND I HAVE TO SAY, I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING. UM, IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO PUT MY DAUGHTER THROUGH SCHOOL, EVEN THOUGH I'M AN ATTORNEY AND I MADE GOOD MONEY. COLLEGE IS EXPENSIVE. UH, THANK GOODNESS WE HAD THE TEXAS TOMORROW FUND, AND, AND SHE WAS ABLE TO GET AT LEAST ONE VERY SMALL SCHOLARSHIP. SO I APPRECIATE THIS FROM THE PERSONAL STANDPOINT OF HAVING TO STRUGGLE TO PUT HER THROUGH SCHOOL. SO I'M VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM, AND I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, SELECTING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AS THE, THE LAUNCHING PAD. YES. UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS. YES. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL PRESENTATION. AND, UH, EDUCATION IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE I PUT THREE OF THEM THROUGH. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET A, A FOUR YEAR SENTENCE, BUT I AIN'T THERE WITH A 12 YEAR . I HAD A DAUGHTER, I THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO GET A BACHELOR IN PHARMACIES, AND I THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO KNOW SHE WANTED TO GO BECOME A DOCTOR PHARMACY. AND THEN SHE GOT SHE DOING GOOD IN ATLANTA. AND THEN ANOTHER DAUGHTER THAT SHE WAS A HAS A MASTER'S IN JUVENILE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET, THAT'S WHAT CONTINUED THE FIRST WOULD SAY SIX YEARS, AND THE NEXT MISTAKE, SIX YEARS. AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW HOW THEM BOYS ARE? YEAH. THEY TRYING TO FIND THEIR WAY. . HE, HE STILL TRYING TO FIND HIS WAY. HE, OMAR ALONE, . BUT HE'S, HE'S WORKING IN AND HE USING HIS EDUCATION AND EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, I'M A PROCESS ANALYZER TECHNICIAN INSTRUMENTATION. AND HE, UH, HE WAS AT, UH, TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. AND THE INTERESTING THING WAS HE TRIED INSTRUMENTATION IN COLLEGE AND, YOU KNOW, HE, AND AIRPLANE INSTRUMENTATION, UM, AIRCRAFT, ALL KINDS OF STUFF, YOU KNOW, SO HE FINALLY FOUND HIMSELF. SO HE'S, HE'S WORKING IN THE OIL INDUSTRY AND IN THE SAFETY PROGRAM. SO HE'S MAKING A LIVING. HE'S OUTTA MY POCKET. OKAY. , THANK PAYING THE OWN BILLS. COUNCILMAN, UH, KEN LAW. HEY, THANK YOU, MAYOR. HEY, GUYS, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR PROGRAM. I VALUE EDUCATION AND, AND UPPER, UH, DEGREES. UH, BUT I THINK YOU'RE ONTO SOMETHING WHEN YOU'RE TARGETING PORT ARTHUR. THIS CITY REALLY NEEDS HELP. UH, STUDENTS REALLY NEEDS HELP. UH, WE GOT SOME BRIGHT, INNOVATIVE MINDS HERE. AND I THINK THAT A PROGRAM LIKE THAT WOULD ENHANCE AND SHOW LITTLE JOHNNY [01:50:01] AND JANE THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE DIFFERENT LIFESTYLES. AND YOU, WE KNOW WHERE WE GOING WITH IT. I HEARD YOUR, YOU START YOUR CONVERSATION OFF THAT WHEN YOU WERE BORN INTO WAR, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T DI WE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE TO PLAY THE CARDS WE WERE DEALT WITH. YEAH. AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS. SO I REALLY AM, YOU KNOW, COMMEND YOU GUYS, UH, IN COMING BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, THIS COHORT, UH, BUT, UH, OUR COMMUNITY, WE CAN USE SOME HELP. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GOT GOING AND WHAT YOU PLAN ON DOING WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN FRANK. I, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AS WELL. I, I THINK WE ALL HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, UH, WE HAVE SEEN, UH, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE COME TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY, UH, AND INSTITUTE, UH, THOSE KINDS OF PROGRAMS AND PLANS THAT HELP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, UH, THAT HELPS INDIVIDUALS GRADUATE WITH A, UM, AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE AND A HIGH SCHOOL, UH, DIPLOMA. BUT WE, ANY, IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN SEE THAT EXTENDED AS YOU GUYS ARE, UH, GOING TO BE DOING, AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, ACCENTUATE THE PROGRAM THAT COLLEGE EDUCATION OR TRAINING, UH, IS IMPORTANT IS GOING TO BE. UM, SO VERY IMPORTANT. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU FOR HELPING. THANK YOU FOR, UM, DECIDING AND CHOOSING PORT ARTHUR TO HELP, UH, IN THIS PROCESS. UH, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, MY MONEY, UH, GOES TO PRAIRIE VIEW. WE GOT TWO COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ARE THERE NOW AND, UH, GETTING READY TO GRADUATE AND DO ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED. BUT I'VE GOT, UH, 17 OTHER GRANDCHILDREN. SO, MAN, UH, HELP . THANK YOU. OKAY. JUST A MINUTE. GO AHEAD. JUST BRIEFLY, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT Y'ALL NEXT PROGRAM, YOU GOT A SOMETHING, UH, COMMITMENT OR SOMETHING, BUT IF Y'ALL COULD STICK AROUND FOR ITEM NUMBER FOR ITEM NUMBER THREE. THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS INVOLVED IN THIS, IN THIS LOCATION. OKAY. MAYBE Y'ALL CAN COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS THAT TAILORED TO FIT THOSE, THAT PROGRAM. IT WON'T BE THAT LONG. OKAY. OH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE HERE TILL TOMORROW NIGHT. JUST SO YOU KNOW. I WAS, UH, I, I, YOU KNOW, I SAT HERE TODAY AND I WAS A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTED. AND THE REASON WHY I WAS DISAPPOINTED IS 'CAUSE I DROVE FROM DALLAS AND I WENT TO HOUSTON FIRST TO PICK UP MY CLOTHES. I HAVE, YOU KNOW, A VERY BIG NIGERIAN OUTFIT WITH A HAT AND JEWELRY. WHY? 'CAUSE I WAS GONNA BE GRAND MARSHALL TOMORROW. . SO NOW THAT IT'S CANCELED, WELL, I'M GONNA DO NEXT YEAR, MAYOR, JUST SO WE'RE HERE TILL TOMORROW, JUST BRIEF. OH, I APPRECIATE THAT. I JUST BRIEF A MINUTE. I'M GOING, I'M GONNA GET IN TROUBLE. I HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER THAT, SHE'S A MASTER'S IN MATHEMATICS. OKAY. AND SHE WENT TO AFRICA AND SHE ALSO STUDIED TO HIT HIDDEN FIGURES. ALSO. SHE HAS A MASTER'S DEGREE IN MATHEMATICS. OKAY? AND I, I'M GONNA GET INTO TROUBLE. SO I HAVE A DAUGHTER, INGLES HAS A, A DOCTOR OF PHARMACY, AND, UH, THE DAUGHTER, QUILA HAS A MASTER'S DEGREE IN JUVENILE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY. AND, UH, AND OMAR, HE'S, HE'S DOING, HE, HE'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT. OKAY. , HE WANNA TALK ABOUT OMAR. MAN, THAT'S MY CHURCH MEMBER. OKAY? UH, GENTLEMEN, A AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AND NOW, AND, AND FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND SEVERAL OF US HERE KNOW THAT THIS RELATIONSHIP BEGAN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. AND, UH, WE, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I MET, I THINK IT WAS AT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES ASSOCIATION, UH, ACTUAL MEDIA. AND THEN, UH, SMITH CAME ON, AND, BUT THIS IS FROM NETWORKING AND HAVING RELATIONSHIPS, BUT YOU STILL PUT PORT ARTHUR THROUGH THE SAME GRUELING, UH, I GUESS, UH, INTERVIEWS AND OTHER THINGS AND INTERACTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT ALL THE OTHER CITIES, AND I REMEMBER Y'ALL CALLING ME AND SAYING, BUT EVERYBODY SAYS, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU ALL SMITTY AND, AND SO SELMA, BECAUSE YOU ALL TOLD HIM, NO, MAN, YOU GOT TO GO BACK TO PORT ARTHUR. OKAY? AND WE, WE APPRECIATE THAT. BUT THE COMMUNITY, AND I, I LIKE THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU GAVE WITH, WITH THE POWERPOINT BECAUSE IT SHOWED, IT, IT, IT DIDN'T JUST SHOW THE TRUTH, THE STUDENTS WHO WERE GRADUATING, BUT YOU SAW, UH, I GUESS SIXTH, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH GRADERS PREPARING, GETTING THEM TO BE INVOLVED IN THE DREAM AND ACTUALLY WORKING WITH THEM TO SHOW THEM WHAT THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY WOULD BE THROUGH INTERACTIONS WITH STARTING BUSINESSES, MAKING BRACELETS OR WHATEVER. BUT IT GIVES A KID A HANDS-ON, UH, ACTUAL INVOLVEMENT IN [01:55:01] HOW BUSINESS WORKS AND EVEN THIS BEING, BEING A BUSINESS. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE, NONE OF US WILL PROBABLY EVEN BE ON COUNCIL WHENEVER THIS ACTUALLY COMES TO FRUITION FOR CITIZENS. BUT IF OUR FAMILIES CONTINUE, FRANK JUST SAID HE HAS, IF HE HAS 17 OF THEM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE NUMBER, YOU KNOW, NUMBER 14, 15 AND 16 AND MAYBE 17, THEY MIGHT GET A CHANCE TO BENEFIT FROM IT. THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE MAY NOT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE PROGRAM LONG ENOUGH. BUT THOSE WHO COME BEHIND US, AND, UH, OUR MAYOR PRO SPOKE ABOUT HER CONNECTIONS WITH POOR NATURE'S GROVES AND NEEDLING WHO ACTUALLY PAY TAXES WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF FORT ARTHUR. THOSE, BUT THEY HAVE STUDENTS WHO ATTEND SCHOOL IN NILAND. SO WE WOULD APPRECIATE INVOLVEMENT WITH THOSE DISTRICTS BECAUSE WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE PORT ARTHUR AND THERE ARE ACTUALLY IN THOSE WHO DISTRICTS. BUT WITH THAT IN MIND, WITHIN THE JURISDICTIONS OF PORT ARTHUR, WE HAVE SABINE PASS SCHOOL DISTRICT. OKAY? AND NOT ONLY SABINE PASS, BUT ALSO HAVE BOB HOPE, UH, CHARTER SCHOOL AND DECOR CHARTER SCHOOL, WHICH ARE SITUATED HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND THERE IS AN ORGANIZATION IN PORT ARTHUR THAT DEALS WITH HOMESCHOOLING. SO, UH, NOW I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACTUALLY GET AHOLD TO THOSE BECAUSE THE PERSON YOU CAN, CAN YOU WORK ON THAT? 'CAUSE THE PERSON THAT I DID, DID HAVE WITH HOMESCHOOLING, THEIR KID GRADUATED A COUPLE YEARS AGO. SO I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING. I HOMESCHOOL MY GRANDKIDS. OKAY. SO, YEAH. BUT KIDS WHO ARE BEING HOMESCHOOLED ARE EVEN GOOD, UH, PERSONS FOR THIS PROGRAM. SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS BY, I THINK NOVEMBER IS GOING TO BE OUR, OUR, UH, ACTUAL LAUNCHING DATE. SO WHAT WE CAN DO IS BE SURE AND COUNSEL THAT, UH, BY NOVEMBER OR BEFORE NOVEMBER, WHATEVER, UH, RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE WITH OTHERS BESIDE P-A-I-S-D, YOU KNOW, AND, AND MAYBE EVEN MAYBE TACO BOB HOPE, BECAUSE THEY'RE KIND OF CLOSE TO US. BUT, BUT, BUT WITH, WITH SABINE PASS, UH, NEEDLE, P AND G AND HOMESCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS, LET'S GET THIS WORD OUT TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PORT ARTHURS ABOUT PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROGRAM. YES, SIR. WE ALSO HAVE, UH, BEAUMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ALSO. YOU COME DOWN THE WEST ARTHUR WEST, WE HAVE BEAUMONT DISTRICT. RIGHT, OKAY. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WE WOULD HAVE OUT THERE, BUT THEY ARE SITUATED THERE. I THOUGHT MOST OF 'EM GO TO NEEDLING, BUT THERE COULD BE SOME IN, IN, IN BEAUMONT. SO WE, WE, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET THE WORD OUT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE LATER, DR. THIGPEN AND, AND YOUR STAFF. I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE. AND I DID TELL YOU, I SAID, MAN, Y'ALL DON'T HAVE TO TALK TO ME ANYMORE. , YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE FOLKS YOU ALL ARE GONNA SPEAK WITH. AND THEY ARE THE ADMINISTRATORS HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND THEY, BUT THEY KEPT ME ABREAST. EVERY TIME YOU HAD A MEETING, EVERY TIME YOU ALL DISCUSSED SOMETHING, I RECEIVED A REPORT OR A PHONE CALL ABOUT IT AND HOW WE WOULD EVEN DO THIS. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, DILIGENCE DR. THIGPEN, ALONG WITH YOUR STAFF. WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND TO YOU ALL FROM SUSHI, THE ONLY THING, MAN, I I, I DIDN'T GET A T-SHIRT. I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA BRING ME A T-SHIRT OR SOMETHING ON A CAP ON TODAY. OKAY. OKAY. GOT YOU. GOT LIKE A CAP. AND YOU, I LIKE THE MATCH RED. PREFERABLY. THEY GOT A BROWN BAG. OH, THEY ALREADY BROWN BAG. OKAY. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL. SO KIND. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. YES SIR. WHEN SHE, THAT I PLEAD SAY THAT, THAT'S OKAY. . Y'ALL, Y'ALL ALL RIGHT WITH ME? OKAY. NOW WE ARE GONNA MOVE TO, UH, ITEM [III.C. (1) A Staff Report By Judith Smith, Health Director Regarding A Partnership With The City Of Port Arthur Health Department And Baptist Hospital, For A Women’s Clinic Within The Port Arthur Health Facility] C OR, UH, SECTION C OF THE PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS. AND WE HAVE NOW THE CITY MANAGERS, UH, STAFF REPORTS, AND WE HAVE ONE I KNOW, UH, UH, DR. JUDY SMITH HAS, HAS, HAS BEEN, UH, UH, UH, ANXIOUSLY AWAITING TO DO HER PRESENTATION REGARDING A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND BAPTIST HOSPITAL. WE ARE SO GLAD FOR THE, UH, CREATION OF THIS WOMEN'S CLINIC WITHIN THE, UH, PORT ARTHUR HEALTH FACILITY. OKAY. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GOOD MORNING. UM, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK, UM, TO THIS MEETING AND JUST GIVE YOU A BRIEF, UM, SOME BRIEF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL LOOK LIKE. WE WERE SCHEDULED TO DO IT ON THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, BUT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO IT. BUT YOU DID APPROVE THE MOU ON THE LAST [02:00:01] COUNCIL. I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH BAPTIST HOSPITAL AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY FOR A PRENATAL CLINIC WITHIN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. I DON'T TAKE ANY, UM, CREDIT FOR BEING THE VISIONARY OF THIS GRAND IDEA, BUT I SHARE IN THE VISION OF THE ONES WHO THOUGHT AND SAW THE NEED FOR THIS CLINIC. IF, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF OB DOCTORS IN PORT ARTHUR AND THE SURROUNDING CITIES HAVE DECREASED. UM, AND SO MANY OF OUR YOUNG LADIES IN PORT ARTHUR AND THE SURROUNDING CITIES ARE HAVING TO STILL TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY FOR PRENATAL CARE. MANY OF THEM ARE STILL TRAVELING TO GALVESTON. AND WE, OF COURSE, ALL HEAR ABOUT STORIES OF, UM, BABIES BEING BORN ON THE FERRY. SO WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH BAPTIST. ALL WE WE'RE DOING NOW IS JUST SHARING OUR SPACE. AND I HAVE MR. UM, GARRETT FRED HERE FROM BAPTIST, AND HE'S GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION. BUT I WANT YOU TO JUST LOOK AT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. A YOUNG LADY WILL BE ABLE TO COME INTO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND GET A PREGNANCY TEST IF SHE THINKS SHE'S PREGNANT. IF SHE'S, IF THE PREGNANCY TEST IS POSITIVE, SHE CAN BE REFERRED TO OUR NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. IF SHE'S A FIRST TIME MOM, SHE'LL BE ABLE TO BE REFERRED TO OUR WIC FOR WIC SERVICES, AND SHE WILL BE ABLE TO BE REFERRED TO, UM, HAVE PRENATAL CARE WITHIN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO IT IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR THE LADIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. RIGHT AT OUR LAST, UM, COUNCIL MEETING ON THAT SAME DAY, UM, A REPORT CAME OUT AND IT'S BEEN IN THE NEWS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT THE MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT CAME AT THE RIGHT TIME AND THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY FOR US WHEN WE MOVED INTO THE NEW BUILDING AND WHEN THE VISION, THE VISIONARIES PRESENTED THE VISION TO US AND TO MR. BURTON, THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR US TO BE ABLE TO JUST PLAY A SMALL INTEGRAL PART IN HELPING TO PREVENT, UM, MATERNAL MORTALITY. WE DID LOSE, UNFORTUNATELY, IN MAY, WE LOST ONE OF OUR NURSES, UM, DURING CHILDBIRTH, AND THAT IS STILL REALLY DIFFICULT TO, TO SWALLOW. BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I BELIEVE THAT IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE A, A BIG, A BIG HELP FOR THE YOUNG LADIES SEEKING THE PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL CARE TO BE CARED FOR WITHIN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO, I'M GONNA LET MR. RE KIND OF TALK TO YOU AND JUST KIND OF TELL YOU BRIEFLY WHAT THIS MEANS AND HOW THIS WILL LOOK FOR OUR LADIES. GOOD MORNING COUNSEL. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GARRETT FRIT. I DO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR BAPTIST HOSPITAL AS WELL AS PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, I KNOW SHE MENTIONED US AS VISIONARIES, THAT IS NOT RIGHT. UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT A STRATEGIC PLAN, WE LOOK AT ALL THE TOOLS, AND I THINK THE CITY HAS THE RIGHT TOOLS WITH THE NEW HEALTH DEPARTMENT BEING LOCATED RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM A LOT OF ROOFTOPS SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND WITH OUR TOOLS, HAVING NOW SEVEN OE PROVIDERS AT THE HOSPITAL, WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE MOTHERS WHO NEED DELIVERIES IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS. UM, CURRENTLY, LIKE WAS MENTIONED, THEY'RE TRAVELING AN HOUR AND A HALF. I KNOW THERE'S OVER 200 DELIVERIES GOING INTO GALVESTON AND HOUSTON FROM THESE TWO ZIP CODES IN PORT ARTHUR. SO WITH THAT, THAT SHOULDN'T BE DONE. AND SO IF WE CAN HELP THIS AND PROVIDE THESE PRENATAL SERVICES, UM, OUR GOAL AND OUR VISION, WE'VE TOURED LAST WEEK WITH OUR IT CREWS SETTING UP OUR SOFTWARES, OUR ELIN, OUR, UM, SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT TO ONBOARD THESE PATIENTS. WE'LL START IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR AND START PROVIDING THOSE PRENATAL SERVICES. WE HAVE A MID-LEVEL ALREADY IDENTIFIED IN ORDER TO, UM, TREAT THOSE PATIENTS. AND I COULDN'T THANK Y'ALL ENOUGH FOR THE PARTNERSHIP. AND WE LOOK TO, UH, SERVE, SEE A PORT AUTHOR WITH PRENATAL SERVICES THAT ARE WELL NEEDED. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, MAYOR PROTE BECKHAM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I, I JUST WANNA SAY THIS, THIS PROGRAM COULD HAVE FAR MORE REACHING EFFECTS THAN, THAN JUST THE PRENATAL POSTNATAL CARE. I DO A LOT OF WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, PRIMARILY REPRESENTING CHILDREN THAT ARE IN THE, THE CUSTODY OF THE STATE. AND SO MANY TIMES, YOUNG MOMS, ESPECIALLY FIRST TIME MOMS, THEY DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO BECOME A MOM. AND SO THEY DON'T HAVE THE SKILLS AND THE KNOWLEDGE, AND THAT TAKES THEM DOWN A PATH THAT OFTEN TIMES THEY END UP IN COURT. AND SO I THINK THIS IS GONNA HAVE SOME REALLY FAR REACHING EFFECTS THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC MAY NOT COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. SO IT'S EXTREMELY [02:05:01] IMPORTANT AND I, I I'M SO PROUD THAT IT'S GONNA BE IN PORT ARTHUR AND THAT IT'S IN MY DISTRICT, IN OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW HEALTH DEPARTMENT, . OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? AND AGAIN, UH, THANK YOU ALL. UH, AND I, I KNOW THAT THE, UH, ALL ANTICIPATED AND POTENTIAL PATIENTS THAT YOU ALL, YOU ALL WILL HAVE, UH, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ALL HAVE COACH ON WITH OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE HERE FOR OUR CITIZENS. AND I, I WAS AWARE OF THE NURSE THAT WE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, UH, NO LONGER HAVE BECAUSE OF THAT. AND IT WAS JUST IRONIC THAT THE NURSE HAD WORKED IN RIGHT THERE. I I CALLED IT PRENATAL CARE OR, BUT YOU MADE ONE STATEMENT THAT I HAD JUST THOUGHT, I WAS JUST SEEING, I HAD NO EMPIRICAL, UH, UH, EVIDENCE OF DATA ON IT. BUT WHEN YOU SAY THAT IT SUBSTANTIATES WHAT I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE LACK OF A GYNECOLOGIST. I HAD COUPLE FRATERNITY BROTHERS WHO PRACTICED, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY WERE RETIRED. THEY'RE NO LONGER HERE. AND WELL, NOT BEING A LEADER, I DIDN'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAD REPLACED THEM OR NOT, YOU KNOW? UH, AND WHEN YOU SAID THAT, I'M LIKE, OKAY, WELL THIS IS ACTUALLY A CURRY AND THIS CAUSES, UH, FOLK WHO NEED THIS SERVICE TO EITHER HAVE TO TRAVEL TO GALVESTON OR TRAVEL TO HOUSTON, OR MAYBE EVEN TO LAKE CHARLES OR SOMEWHERE ELSE. THEY CAN'T, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GO TO BEAUMONT BECAUSE THIS IS ALL PART OF THE TRIANGLE, AND THEY'RE DECREASING IN, IN, IN BEAUMONT AS WELL. SO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL AND THE FORETHOUGHT TO, TO PUT THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER ON, ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR AND ALL THE FUTURE OF PORT ARTHURS, WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU ALL. OKAY, [III.C. (2) A Staff Report Regarding An Update On The Repairs To The Restrooms Located At The H.O. Mills Operation Center] NEXT WE HAVE UNDER THE CITY MANAGER STAFF REPORT A, UH, STAFF REPORT, UH, REGARDING THE UPDATE ON THE REPAIRS TO THE RESTROOM THAT'S LOCATED AT THE O MILLS OPERATIONS CENTER RIGHT HERE. YEAH. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. YES. MY NAME IS GEL ROBERTS. I'M THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, AND AS THE MAYOR SAID, I'LL, UH, GIVE YOU A STATUS REPORT ON THE OPERATION CENTER'S RENOVATIONS. FIRST, I'LL GIVE YOU, UH, AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUILDING. IT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1965, WHICH MAKES IT 60 59 YEARS OLD. UM, SOME OF THE ORIGINAL FIXTURES ARE STILL IN USE. UH, AFTER 59 YEARS, THE STRUCTURE SUSTAINED FLOODING DURING HURRICANE HARVEY, IT WAS SUBMERGED, AND THE STRUCTURE IS ALSO LOCATED IN A FLOOD ZONE, AND IT'S FLOOD ZONE A, WHICH MAKES IT PRONE TO 100 YEAR FLOODS. NEXT SLIDE. SO THE NEXT FEW SLIDES WILL SHOW THE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF THE BUILDING. YEAH. SO WHAT YOU JUST, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING NOW ARE, UH, PICTURES OF, UM, ONE OF THE CEILINGS. UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S PATCHING, UH, ON THE CEILING. SOME OF THAT PATCHING IS FROM, UH, ROOFING WORK THAT WAS COMPLETED AT THE BUILDING AND VARIOUS OTHER, UM, ACTIVITIES THAT WERE COMPLETED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. EVENTS ARE MISSING. THERE ARE CRACKS, UH, IN THE, UM, IN THE WALLS FROM THE SETTLING OF THE BUILDING. NO, GO BACK, PLEASE. THERE. THANK YOU. UM, HERE AGAIN, YOU, YOU CAN, THE PATCHING IS MORE PRONOUNCED THAT IN THE, THE [02:10:01] PICTURE ON THE LEFT, UH, THAT'S WORK THAT WAS LEFT OVER FROM THE CEILING REPAIR, THE ROOF WORK THAT WAS DONE. YOU CAN ALSO SEE SOME CRACKING IN THE WALLS, UH, IN BOTH PICTURES, AGAIN, FROM SETTLING OF THE BUILDING. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF THE MEN'S RESTROOM. UM, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT, UH, SIDE, UH, UNFORTUNATELY THE MEN DON'T HAVE MUCH PRIVACY, UM, WHEN THEY'RE USING THAT FACILITY. UM, AND USING THE URINALS OR WHEN THEY NEED TO TAKE A SHOWER, NEITHER DO THEY HAVE PRIVACY WHEN THEY NEED TO USE, UM, A TOILET. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, CAN YOU CLICK AGAIN? UH, IT MAY BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO SEE, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, WE HAVE PADLOCKS ON EVEN ON THE, THE TOILET TISSUE HOLDERS. NEXT SLIDE. WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS, UM, A PHOTO OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING. THIS IS THE FRONT SIDE OF THE BUILDING. THIS, THIS WOULD BE THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING. UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, SOME OF THE, THE CONCRETE HAS FALLEN OFF THE COLUMN. UM, IT APPEARS THIS OCCURRED SOME YEARS BACK. UH, THERE ARE SOME RUSTING OF THE REBAR WITHIN THAT, THAT COLUMN BECAUSE OF THE OXIDATION. NEXT SLIDE. THESE ARE PHOTOS, UM, UNDERNEATH THE WALKWAY FROM UNDERNEATH THE WALKWAY. AGAIN, EXPOSED REBAR FROM YEARS OF DETERIORATION, UH, AT THE SITE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO I APPROACHED MR. BURTON ABOUT, UM, DOING SOME WORK AT THE BUILDING BECAUSE OF SOME OF, SOME OF WHAT YOU SAW. UM, AND THEN THERE WERE OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT AREN'T, AREN'T PICTURED IN THIS PRESENTATION. UM, AND SO WE ENGAGED, WE, WE BROUGHT FORTH, UH, A RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU, YOU ALL FOR APPROVAL, UH, TO ENGAGE IN ARCHITECT TO CORRECT SOME OF THESE DEFICIENCIES THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE. THE SCOPE OF THE WORK, UH, IS SHOWN HERE WHERE WORK WILL BE DONE WITHIN THE OFFICES, UH, WITHIN THE EXTERIOR, WITHIN THE RESTROOMS, AND ALSO ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING. UH, I WON'T READ TO YOU SLIDE EACH ITEM, UM, BUT THIS IS GENERALLY WHAT THE SCOPE OF WORK IS FOR THE ARCHITECT, UH, THAT WE'VE ENGAGED. AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THE ARCHITECT THAT WE'VE ENGAGED IS LONG ARCHITECTURE, UH, OUT OF BEAUMONT. YEAH. LONG, UH, ENGAGED FITZ AND SHIPMAN, UH, AN ENGINEERING FIRM ALSO OUT OF BEAUMONT. UM, THEY DO STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING. SO FIRST WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT THE STRUCTURAL, UM, UH, THE STRUCTURE ITSELF AND DETERMINE, UM, WHAT ANY DEFICIENCIES ARE AND HOW, IF, IF ANY OF THOSE DEFICIENCIES COULD BE CORRECTED. FITS AND SHIPMENT PROVIDED A REPORT ON AUGUST 14TH, 2023, WHERE IT HAD, UH, NUMEROUS RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING THE REPAIR OF EXTERIOR COLUMNS BY CLEANING RUST FROM THE EXPOSED REBAR, APPLYING A BONDING COAT TO THE EXISTING CONCRETE, AND REPAIRING THE SPAD CONCRETE AND WATERPROOFING THE SURFACE. ALSO, THEY RECOMMENDED REFILLING THE CRACKS WITHIN THE BRICKS WITH MORTAR, UH, INJECTING THE CRACKS AND THE CONCRETE SLAB WITH EPOXY SCRAPING REAPING FLOATING AND FLOATING THE DRYWALL CRACKS. NEXT SLIDE. UPON RECEIPT OF FITS AND SHIPMENTS REPORT, STRUCTURAL REPORT, LONG ARCHITECTURE, UM, WORKED ON THEIR DESIGN PLANS. SO THAT WAS BETWEEN AUGUST OF 2023 AND JANUARY, 2024. UH, THEY PROVIDED PRELIMINARY PLANS, UM, TO STAFF IN JANUARY ABOUT JANUARY 12TH, 2024. AND THOSE PLANS ALSO INCLUDED TWO OPTIONS FOR CHANGES TO THE MEN'S RESTROOM, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE A MAJORITY OF OUR SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE GOING TO BE. SO FOR ABOUT A MONTH, PLANS WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO STAFF TO LOOK AT THOSE OPTIONS, TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS, TO PROVIDE [02:15:01] ANY COMMENTS OR RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, ON THEIR PREFERENCES. THAT INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED, UH, TO LONG ARCH ARCHITECTURE IN ABOUT FEBRUARY OF 2024. LONG, UM, WORKED, AGAIN, WORKED ON THEIR PLANS, THEY MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES. AND IN APRIL OF 2019, APRIL 19TH, 2024, EXCUSE ME, WE MET WITH LONG AGAIN TO FINALIZE THE PLANS AND PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. I'M SORRY. NEXT SLIDE. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, WE'RE EXPECTING THE FINALIZED SET OF PLANS BY THE END OF THIS WEEK. UM, IF BY CHANCE WE DON'T GET THOSE, THAT FINALIZED PLAN SET, WHICH IS, I'D PROBABLY SAY MAYBE 5% CHANCE THAT WE DON'T GET THAT PLAN SET THIS WEEK, UM, IT'S BECAUSE, UH, THE ARCHITECT IS WAITING ON A SECOND OPINION ON THE FLOOR COATING THE, UH, FINAL MEP PLANS, WHICH IS MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND PLUMBING PLANS FROM THEIR SUB-CONSULTANT OR A COST ESTIMATE. SO ONCE WE RECEIVE OUR FINAL PLANS, OUR NEXT STEPS ARE TO, UH, CONFIRM THAT THERE ARE NO LAST MINUTE CHANGES TO THE PLANS, BRING FORTH THE PLANS, UM, FOR BIDDING, AND THEN MOVE ON TO CONSTRUCTION. OKAY. IS THAT, IS THAT ABOUT THE END OF YES, SIR. JUST A MINUTE. IF, IF, IF YOU ALL WILL COUNCILMAN, DO AND COUNCILMAN FRANK, IF YOU ALL CAN WAIT FOR, FOR A SECOND. WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS, THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE ON, ON THIS THAT DEALS WITH THE OPERATION CENTER, UH, JUST ASKED COUNCILMAN ETT. HE HAS, UM, UNDER DISCUSSIONS, HOWEVER, AND I THINK COUNCILMAN D UH, UH, I MEAN, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW AND COUNCILMAN ETT HAS SOMETHING TO GUARD AND TRASH PICKUPS. SO NOW ANYONE ELSE FROM THE, UH, WHO, WHO WOULD DEAL WITH TRASH PICKUPS, THAT'S AS YOUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL? YES. SIRAM, AM I CORRECT? OKAY. AND WITH THE, UH, REPAIRS OF VEHICLES ON THAT, THAT, THAT'S OKAY. WHO IN THE AIR WOULD BE THE PERSON? NO ONE, THEY ARE, THEY ARE PRESENT. OKAY. BUT NO, NO, NO. WITH THE OPERATION CENTER, UH, UH, AT THIS FACILITY THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW. RIGHT. AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REPAIRS. THIS DEALS SPECIFICALLY, THIS ITEM HERE DEALS SPECIFICALLY WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. OKAY. RIGHT. OKAY. BUT NO, WHAT I WAS TRYING TO EXPEDITE AND GET INFORMATION, BECAUSE WHAT COUNCILMAN KIM LAW HAS REQUESTED IS A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE STATUS OF VEHICLES UNDERGOING REPAIRS BY THE CITY GARAGE, NUMBER OF VEHICLES BY DEPARTMENT AND EXTENDED HOURS. OKAY. BUT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T, A REPORT LIKE MS UH, ROBERTS HAS GIVEN US TO SORT OF EXTENSIVE, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE COULD SEE IT AND IF WE WOULD'VE TO GO AND FURTHER DISCUSS IT. OKAY. OKAY. AND I WAS TRYING TO SEE IF WE COULD ALSO ACCOMPLISH WHAT COUNCILMAN KINLAW HAS REQUESTED IN THE SAME SETTING RIGHT. AT, RIGHT NOW. BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE THAT COULD GIVE THE INFORMATION THAT HE'S REQUESTED. AM I CORRECT? YEAH. BUT YEAH, WE HAVE PROVIDED IT. WE, NO, WELL, I DIDN'T HAVE IT. THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T, I, I WASN'T SURE. I'M SORRY. OKAY. WELL LOOK, NO, I WANT TO DO IT ALL RIGHT NOW WHILE WE HAVE THAT'S FINE. DON'T, DON'T, DON'T, DON'T BE ALARMED. DON'T, DON'T YOU. NO, THIS IS WHAT I'M DOING. I DON'T WANNA PUT ANYBODY IN A, UH, UH, UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION. SO WE HAD YOU UP HERE FOR THIS NOW ON GARBAGE PICKUP. COUNCILMAN, UH, UH, ETT OR REGARDING THE TRASH PICKUP? I'D SAID GARBAGE PROBABLY USED THE WRONG TERM ON TRASH PICKUP IN SPECIFICALLY. WAS THERE AN AREA THAT, THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, OR JUST IN GENERAL, WHAT THE SCHEDULE IS CONTRACTING AND PICKING IT UP ON TIME IS IN THERE IS, I'M SORRY. CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE LINE? YEAH. OKAY. SO CAN YOU, CAN YOU ASK HER WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IT IS YOU WANT TO KNOW NOW WHILE WE HAVE HER UP HERE? YEAH, THAT'S, YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU. OKAY. GO. HE, HE'S GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT, AND THAT, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE OF NUMBER FIVE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE BEING A DISCUSSION REGARDING TRASH PICKUP. GO. GO AHEAD. COUNCILOR. MAYOR. MAYOR, MAYOR. YES. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE BUILDING FIRST. OKAY. AND WE GONNA GET BACK TO THAT. AND, AND I'M, I'M, IF YOU DIDN'T LET ME DO THIS, WE GONNA GET BACK TO YOU AND WE GOING YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. SHE, SHE STILL THERE? SHE'S NOT GONNA LEAVE. OKAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. OKAY. I'M OLDER. OH, YEAH. NO, BUT I'M OLDER THAN YOU. I GOT IT WRITTEN DOWN. OKAY. JUST A MINUTE. NOW YOU GOING DON'T, I DON'T WANT, I WANT TO, I WANT TO STAY WITH THIS FIRST. OKAY. JUST, OKAY. THE BUILDING THE BUILDING. GO RIGHT AHEAD. GO RIGHT AHEAD. QUIT. LOOK AT IT, BUT TALK. OKAY. PUT THE LIGHT ON. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU. UH, MS. ROBERTS. FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY, UH, I WANT THANK THE [02:20:01] CITY MANAGER FOR BRINGING THIS, UH, TO US. UM, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL AND CAME, UH, I REMEMBER THE DAY, UH, WHEN I WAS FIRST MADE, UH, AWARE OF THE FACILITY THAT, UM, OUR EMPLOYEES, UH, WERE OPERATING IN. IT WAS THE DAY, UH, THAT A BELOVED FRIEND AND EMPLOYEE ELTON SLATER, UH, MET HIS DEMISE. UH, AND WE WERE ALL THERE COMFORTING, CONSOLING EACH OTHER, UH, BECAUSE OF ELTON'S DEATH. AND, UH, I, I BECAME APPRISED OF THE FACILITY, UH, AND THE DISREPAIR, UH, THAT IT WAS IN. AND I, I, I, I KNEW THAT DAY THAT WE COULD DO BETTER, UH, THAN WE WERE DOING. SO, I'M ELATED. I WAS COMMUNICATING, UH, WITH THE CITY MANAGER. AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING IN ALWAYS, UH, PUSHING, UH, FORWARD, UH, AS WE'VE BEEN OPERATING IN SO MANY VEINS OF OUR CITY. SO, I AM ELATED AND EXCITED THAT THIS IS COMING TO FRUITION, UH, BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN AND ALWAYS FELT, UH, THAT WE COULD DO BETTER THAN WE HAVE BEEN DOING. UH, UM, THE, I GUESS THE QUESTION I WANT TO ASK, THE CITY MANAGER, UH, THAT ENTIRE STRUCTURE AND FACILITY, UH, IS 50 YEARS OLD. UM, AND SO, UH, WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT BUILDINGS, OF COURSE WE TALK ABOUT THAT'S THE LIFETIME OF A BUILDING. THE EXPECTANCY, UH, MOST TIMES OF A BUILDING IS ABOUT 50 YEARS. SO, UM, WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE BATHROOMS NOW, BUT WHAT IS THE PLAN GOING FORWARD AS FAR AS, UH, THAT WE, I KNOW WE'VE GOT THE LAND ON, UM, UM, AT ST. MARY'S AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND TRANSPIRE. WHAT'S THE LONG RANGE GOAL AND PLAN HERE? WE WILL GET IN ON THE PLANNING BOOKS AS WELL AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT, UM, FUNDING FOR THE ENTIRE REMOVAL. OR NOT ONLY THAT, IT'S IN A FLOOD PLAIN. IT'S IN A FLOOD ZONE. THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ALWAYS REMINDS ME ABOUT THAT SO OFTEN. SO THAT'S ANOTHER CHALLENGE. AGAIN, UM, WE NEED TO FIND A HOME FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PERMANENTLY AND NOT ON THE LANDFILL. WHENEVER A HURRICANE . UM, THAT'S A CHALLENGE. BUT ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT IS WE DID THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY REPORT FOR THE BUILDING. MM-HMM. . AND, UM, WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS, IT'S, IT'S NOT AS SEVERE AS WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, WOULD'VE BEEN IN TERMS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE REPAIRS THAT WE CAN AND THEN TO PLAN AHEAD FOR THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY GETTING THAT, UM, OUT OF THE AREA. YOU KNOW? UM, YEAH. REMEMBER WE AS WELL, WE HAVE SERIOUS CHALLENGES WITH CITY HALL AS WELL. THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS ALWAYS REMIND ME ABOUT THAT. CITY HALL IS NOT A DA ACCESSIBLE, AND WE LEARNED THAT AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN WE HAD A FIRE CALL. YOU KNOW, UM, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES CANNOT USE THE STEPS TO GET DOWNSTAIRS, YOU KNOW, SO THAT, THAT'S A VERY SERIOUS CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF FACILITIES LIKE THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT, IT, IT IS GOOD. YES, SIR. OKAY. COUNCILMAN ETT? YES. DID, UH, YOU HAVE A SECTION IN YOUR BUDGET FOR BUILDING MAINTENANCE, RIGHT? YES, SIR. MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING? YES, SIR. OKAY. DID YOU, UH, BUDGET THIS, THIS YEAR'S BUDGET FOR, FOR THAT PROJECT? WE DO HAVE MONEY. THERE IS A, A CAPITAL BUDGET THAT IS BEING USED FOR THIS. SO IT HAS PREVIOUSLY HAS BEEN BUDGETED IN PREVIOUS YEARS. AND SO THAT MONEY IS SITTING THERE, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THAT LATER ON. MM-HMM. THIS MORNING ON ANOTHER PROJECT. THAT'S WHAT THE BUDGET IS FOR. YES, SIR. THAT'S WHY COME, I FIND IT ODD THAT WE'VE, UH, ENTERTAINED THIS UPDATE ON US JUST MAINTAINING A, A, A BUILDING. MM-HMM. . THAT'S JUST PART OF WHAT YOU ALL DO. YES, SIR. WE GET THIS INFORMATION WHEN WE APPROVE BUDGETS FOR THE YEAR. SO ALL THIS STUFF I'M LOOKING AT ON THIS BUILDING, I'M TALKING ABOUT HOW OLD THIS BUILDING IS. MM-HMM. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DECIDED PROBABLY DURING THE BUDGET. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIVE. WE SHOULD HAVE PUT MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO DO THAT PROJECT. OKAY. AND WE KEEP HEARING MONEY IN CAPITAL, CAPITAL, CAPITAL IF, YEAH, WE HAVE A CAPITAL FUND, BUT IF WE DIDN'T PUT MONEY IN THE BUDGET, THEN WE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO ADDRESS IT. AND IF WE'RE GONNA DO, TAKE MONEY OUT OF A CAPITAL FUND AND PUT IT IN THERE, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO AMEND OUR BUDGET, TAKE THE MONEY OUTTA THE CAPITAL FUND AND PUT IT INTO THE CURRENT BUDGET. AND THEN WE DO IT THIS YEAR. SO I'M SITTING HERE LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENED LIKE COUNCILMAN FRANK SAID OVER YEARS AGO. THAT'S FINE. WE NEED TO DO THAT. BUT THERE'S A WAY [02:25:01] WE DO THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE APPROPRIATION OF MONEY. THAT'S WHAT A BUDGET DOES. THAT'S COME, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS, UH, PRESENTATION ON DOING RESTROOMS AND, AND, AND MAINTAINING A BUILDING THAT'S JUST NORMAL OPERATIONS OF CITIES. AND THE WAY WE DO IT IS WE IDENTIFY THESE THINGS AND THEN WHEN IT'S TIME FOR THE BUDGET TO COME UP, THAT'S WHEN IT COMES TO THE COUNCIL. AND THE COUNCIL THEN SAYS, OKAY, YEAH, WE GONNA PROVE THE MONEY FOR THAT. 'CAUSE WE DON'T REALLY PUT THE MONEY IN THERE FOR IT. THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL RECOMMEND TO US. OKAY. SO I'M HEARING THIS MONEY COMING FROM CAPITAL. RIGHT. OKAY. I'LL DISCUSS THAT LATER ON IN, ON ANOTHER TOPIC ON SPENDING MONEY. OKAY. THAT'S JUST, I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT. SO ACTUALLY THIS IS NOT NOTHING IN THE BUDGET. 'CAUSE IF IT'S IN THE BUDGET, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO RECEIVE THIS. LET, LET ME EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU. THE MONEY IS IN THE BUDGET. THE MONEY WAS BUDGETED AND APPROVED ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO. WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF DOING THE DUE DILIGENCE. THAT WAS THIS, I THINK WE HAVE OVER $700,000, 1.6, $1.6 MILLION THAT WAS APPROVED TWO BUDGETS AGO. IN SPITE OF THAT, WE HAD TO DO THE DUE DILIGENCE, LIKE A STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY REPORT, DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE. SO THE MONEY CARRIED OVER IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET. IT WAS SPECIFICALLY BUDGETED WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THEN AND THERE TO PUT IT IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET. AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, WE HAD TO DO THE DUE DILIGENCE. AGAIN, THAT WAS NECESSARY. ARCHITECTURAL AND STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, WHICH HAS BROUGHT US TODAY TO CONSTRUCTION, THE MONEY IS IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET. IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR USE. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ON THAT CLARIFICATION ON THAT POINT, THEN, I GUESS THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION THAT THE MONEY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED, AND I LOVE IT. BUT THE PART THAT YOU CLARIFIED, AND THE REASON THAT WE GOT TO MY QUESTION IS FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT IF WE DID THIS OVER A YEAR AGO AND THIS BUILDING WAS THAT MUCH, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT SOONER. SO IF WE HAD DONE IT, THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE ASKED THAT QUESTION. OKAY. SO I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT THE MONEY HAS BEEN APPROPRIATE, AND I'LL CHECK WITH FINANCE AND, AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS APPROVED. BUT IF IT WAS APPROVED ALL THIS TIME AGO AND WE HAD DONE IT, THEN I WOULDN'T BE HAVING MY DISCUSSION NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. OKAY. NOW, UH, TO, TO MOVE ON WHILE YOU'RE HERE, UH, IF, IF ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE BUILDING, ANYTHING. OKAY. NOW WE CAN MOVE TO THE OTHER PART ABOUT, AS YOU HAD COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE DEALING WITH THE, UH, TRASH PICKUP. I THINK I, UH, YEAH. AND, AND THE SCHEDULE FOR THE TRASH PICKUP, AND WE CAN, UH, YEAH. COME ON UP. WE CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. OKAY. GO RIGHT AHEAD. OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. I PLACED THIS ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE, UH, I WAS OUT OF TOWN, BUT I WAS ON VIDEO CONFERENCE AND I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY VIDEO. I COULD NOT COMMENT AS TO WHEN COUNCILMAN LEWIS HAD QUESTIONED YOU ALL ABOUT THE NUMBER OF TRUCKS AND HOW MANY OPERATION AND WHY WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS. I HAD RECEIVED NUMEROUS CALLS FOR PROBLEM WITH TRASH. BUT UPON MY RETURN BACK TO THE CITY AS UP I RIDING AROUND, I SAW THESE BIG TRUCK PICKING UP TRASH, A BIG TRUCK, I'M SORRY, PICKING UP TRASH. AND THEN I SAW ANOTHER ONE. SO I'M SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, WE GOT SOMEBODY ELSE PICKING UP TRASH OTHER THAN US. SO THEN THE QUESTION WAS, IF WE HAVE A CONTRACTOR PICKING UP TRASH, THEN THERE BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE WITH OUR TRASH PICKUP. SO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WAS CALLING AND TELLING ME TRASH BEEN OUT HERE FOR THREE WEEKS AND FOUR WEEKS, THEN I IMAGINE IT. SO, BECAUSE INITIALLY WHEN A PERSON CALLS ME AND COMPLAINS ABOUT TRASH, I'M UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE'VE GOTTEN A DAY BEHIND OR TWO DAYS BEHIND. OKAY? BUT I'M FINDING OUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE. WE ARE MORE THAN TWO OR THREE DAYS BEHIND. OKAY? THE OTHER THING IS, IF WE BRING A CONTRACTOR IN, THEN, YOU [02:30:01] KNOW, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW. BECAUSE IF I KNOW A CONTRACTOR IS PICKING UP TRASH AND SOMEONE HAS BRIEFED ME ON IT, WHEN CITIZENS CALL ME, I CAN RESPOND. I DON'T NEED TO BE CALLING IN AND SAYING, OH, WELL, WE BE HAVING BE HERE NEXT WEEK. I DON'T WANT NOBODY NEXT WEEK, BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM IS GREATER THAN YOU JUST BEING BEHIND. SO THE QUESTION IS, WE HAVE SOMEONE CONTRACTED TO DO PICK UP RIGHT NOW. SO WHAT IS OUR PROBLEM WITH ONE, MAINTAINING THIS SCHEDULE, OKAY. MAKING SURE THAT IT'S DONE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN GET SO FAR BEHIND IF WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN B AS FAR AS VEHICLES. I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS COUNCIL FOR SINCE 2011, OFF AND ON. I'VE NEVER SEEN A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE TRUCKS ARE DOWN SO MUCH. BUT DO WE HAVE A MAINTENANCE PLAN? YOU JUST DRIVE TRUCKS TILL, TILL YOU BREAK. IF A TRUCK BREAK TODAY, HOW ARE WE GONNA PICK UP THE TRASH ON THAT ROUTE TOMORROW? THAT'S A, THAT'S CALLED A PLAN B. IF A WORKER CALLED IN AND SAYS, I'M SICK. OR IF YOU TERMINATE A WORKER TODAY, WHO'S GOING TO TAKE HIS PLACE TOMORROW? BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PICK UP THE TRASH. LET ME MAKE THIS CLEAR. TRASH PICK UP IS NOT COMPLIMENTARY. WE ARE NOT DOING THIS 'CAUSE WE ARE GOING TO HELP OUR CITIZENS. IT IS A SERVICE THAT IS PAID FOR BY CITIZENS. I'M GETTING TO THE POINT THAT I FEEL GUILTY THAT THIS CITY IS COLLECTING TRASH IF WE GET MORE THAN TWO WEEKS BEHIND. BECAUSE IF WE DO, THAT MEAN THEY PAID FOR A MONTH BUT DIDN'T GET THE SERVICE. IT IS NOT COMPLIMENTARY. IT'S A SERVICE. THEY PAY FOR IT. WHAT IF THE CITIZEN SAYS, I'M NOT PAYING THIS BILL BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T PICK UP MY TRASH. AS YOU SCHEDULE IT, I KNOW FOR A FACT WE GONNA BE IN A BIND IN THIS CITY, BUT I UNDERSTAND BUDGETING AND MONEY TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANT, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO NOT HAVE THIS PAYMENT BECAUSE WE GOT REVENUE WE PROJECTED TO GET FROM THERE. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO NOT CHARGE THEM. BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO CHARGE THEM AND NOT PRODUCE THE SERVICE THAT WE CAN'T DO. WE NEED A PLAN A AND A PLAN B FOR TRASH. IF YOU ARE ONE DAY BEHIND TRASH, WHY ARE WE NOT PICKING IT UP THAT SATURDAY? WHY DON'T WE MAKE UP THAT ONE DAY? WE FALL ONE DAY BEHIND, THEN ANOTHER DAY BEHIND, THEN ANOTHER DAY BEHIND. THAT'S HOW WE GET TO BE WEEKS BEHIND. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT IS UNEXCUSABLE. WHAT'S MY THOUGHTS ABOUT IT IS THIS CITY DOESN'T HAVE A MAINTENANCE PLAN WHERE THOSE VEHICLES ARE PULLED OFF THE ROUTE. ANOTHER VEHICLE IS PUT ON THE ROUTE THAT DAY, AND YOU WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT OUT WHEN IT'S IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION. EVIDENTLY WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES THAT IF EMPLOYEE CALL AND SAY THEY CAN'T COME TO WORK, WE DON'T HAVE NOBODY TO PUT ON THE TRUCK. WE HAVE TO PUT SOMEBODY ON THAT TRUCK. WE HAVE TO PICK UP THIS TRASH A PLAN B. THAT'S ALL THAT IT TAKES TO MAKE THIS WORK. CITIZENS ARE TIRED, AND AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I AM TIRED. CITY MANAGER, WE NEED A PLAN B, WE NEED A MAINTENANCE PROGRAM TO KEEP THOSE TRACKS RUNNING. AND WE NEED TO PICK UP TRACKS. THERE SHOULD NOT BE NO EXCUSE FOR US TO GO MORE THAN A DAY BEHIND. IF WE GOT EVEN GOOD ON A SATURDAY, EXCUSES HAVE RUN OUT, MY PATIENTS HAVE RUN OUT. I JUST ASK THAT WE LOOK, GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND WE [02:35:01] DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS. I'M NOT UPSET NOW I'M GONNA BE UPSET THE NEXT TIME CITIZENS CALL ME AND TELL ME THIS TRASH IS NOT PICKED UP ON TIME, THEN I'M GONNA BRING THIS BACK TO THE COUNCIL. BUT THE NEXT TIME I BRING IT BACK, I'M GONNA BE VERY EXCITED. BUT RIGHT NOW I JUST WANT US TO COMMUNICATE AND I WANT US TO REALIZE THE SERIOUSNESS AND I WANT US TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'M CALM NOW, BUT I CANNOT BECOME ANY LONGER AND I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE CITIZENS TO CALL ME AND SAY THAT THEY PAID FOR A SERVICE THAT THIS CITY DID NOT PROVIDE. I HOPE THAT WHAT I SAID, WE JUST TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND FIX IT. CITY SECRETARY WHAT? CITY SECRETARY YOU DUCKED OUT ON ME. UH, YOU GOT ASSISTANT SECRETARY HERE. OKAY. KELLY, HOW ABOUT MAKING A NOTE? THE COMMENTS I JUST MADE, I WANT 'EM INCLUDED IN PART OF THE RECORDS. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. ROBERTS. OKAY. UH, CITY MANAGER MAYOR, I'M PLEASED TO REPORT WITH THE PRESENCE OF TIME THAT WE HAVE MOVED FROM PLAN A TO PLAN B BECAUSE WE ARE AHEAD OF THE GAME AS FAR AS TRASH PICKUP IS CONCERNED. LET ME START BY INFORMING THE COUNCIL ALMOST FOUR WEEKS AGO WHEN THERE WERE TWO STORMS THAT CAME IN. THE STAFF AND I SAT DOWN AND THERE THE COUNCIL HAD ALREADY APPROVED PLAN B SO THAT WE COULD, UM, EXPAND OVER $75,000 THAT WAS PART OF UPPER MONEY. IS THAT CORRECT? SO THAT WE COULD PUT INTO PLACE PLAN B. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID. THE FOUR WEEKS AGO. THERE WERE TWO STORMS THAT CAME IN AND THERE WAS AN EXCESS OF DEBRIS THAT WE ANTICIPATED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. SO WHAT DID WE DO? WE MOVED FROM PLANT. APART FROM PROVIDING THE SERVICE ON A NORMAL BASIS, WE WENT INTO PLAN B BY CALLING OUT THE CONTRACTOR USING UPPER MONEY. SO YOU SAW THAT THE CITIZENS HAD AN EXTRA SERVICE TO REMOVE THE DEBRIS THAT WAS IN THE BACKYARDS OVER A TWO WEEK PERIOD. SO ACTUALLY WE WERE PROACTIVE IN WHAT WE WERE DOING THEN, AND WE CONTINUE TO BE PROACTIVE WHEN THAT MONEY WAS EXPENDED. WE HAVE MOVED BACK TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN FROM THE PROCUREMENT PART OF IT BECAUSE WE HAVE OVER $200,000 REMAINING AGAIN FROM UPPER MONEY BECAUSE WE PLACED PLAN B IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WERE ENOUGH RESOURCES. SO IN ANTICIPATION OF ANOTHER STORM EVENT, WE WOULD HAVE PLAN B WORKING. SO YOU HAVE BOTH A CONTRACTOR AND THE NORMAL SERVICES BEING PROVIDED WITH PLAN B IN PLACE. THE ONLY TIME THAT THE CONTRACTOR HASN'T WORKED WAS YESTERDAY BECAUSE PART OF THE AGREEMENT IS GIVEN THE INCLEMENT, WHETHER THESE PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED ON MACHINERY WHERE THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HIT BY LIGHTNING OR, OR, OR ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS IS PLAN B THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. THEY WILL RESUME ON FRIDAY WITH PLAN B AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT EXTRA SERVICE FOR US. HAVING SAID THAT, WE HAVE ABOUT SIX MEMBERS OF STAFF WHO HAVE TO BE ACCREDITED WITH CDLS. ONLY INDIVIDUALS WITH CDLS CAN OPERATE TRASH PICKUP. AND THOSE WHO ARE PERMANENTLY EMPLOYED WITH THE CITY, WE ARE SHORT OF SIX PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHT NOW ON SICK LEAVE. SO THE GOOD PART OF IT IS PLAN B CONTINUE TO WORK BECAUSE PLAN B CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WHERE WE HAVE FALLEN SHORT WITH THE REGULAR TRASH PICKUP FROM THE CITY END OF IT. AND I'M PLEASED TO RECOMMEND, I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT TO THE CITY. NOW YOU HAVE A MUCH LARGER VOLUME OF DEBRIS BECAUSE WE HAVE ADVISED PEOPLE ON OUR WEBSITE, THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED, UM, SHRUBBERY AND TREES BEING BROKEN IN THEIR BACK YARD. PLEASE BRING IT OUT TO THE FRONT FOR US SO THAT WE CAN GET IT IN A TIMELY AND IN A RELEVANT MANNER BECAUSE WE ARE PROVIDING THEM WITH THAT EXTRA SERVICE. ISN'T THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. AND SO WE DID THAT FOUR WEEKS AGO. NOW, APART FROM THAT, WE [02:40:01] HAVE SIX VEHICLES THAT'S JUST SITTING THERE WITH US. SO IF ONE BREAKDOWN, WE GO TO THE OTHER FIVE, THEN WE GO TO FOUR, THEN WE GO TO THREE. WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT WE HAVE SIX VEHICLES THAT ARE ON STANDBY APART FROM THOSE THAT WE OPERATE ON A DAILY BASIS. SIX VEHICLES ON STANDBY. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. OKAY. SO WE ARE DILIGENTLY ATTENDING TO PLAN B AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO UPDATE OUR CITIZENS ALMOST ON A DAILY OR WEEKLY BASIS WHERE WE ARE WITH TRASH PICKUP. MM-HMM, , HAVING SAID THAT, WE ARE 1.5 WEEKS BEHIND AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SIX MEMBERS OF STAFF WHO REQUIRE A CDL TO OPERATE THE TRASH VEHICLES. AGAIN, PLAN B IS IN EFFECT WITH THE CONTRACTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE SO THAT WE DO NOT GET INTO CRISIS MODE. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. UH, ONE MORE COMMENT. MAYOR, GO AHEAD. COUNCILMAN DOUCEY, CITY MANAGE. I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID. SO YOU ANSWERED SOME OF MY QUESTIONS. YOU MADE COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT I SAID, BUT YOU JUST SAID YOU ARE WEAK AND A HALF BEHIND. I'M NOT GOING TO QUESTION YOU, BUT WE FARTHER BEHIND IN THAT. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, I MADE IT PLAIN AND SIMPLE. I WASN'T HERE. I GAVE YOU MY TAKE ON IT. I HEARD YOUR TAKE ON IT, BUT I HOPE THAT YOU AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT I SAID. FIX THE PROBLEMS. NO EXCUSES, BECAUSE CITIZENS PAY FOR THIS SERVICE AND WE WILL PROVIDE IT. AND IF YOU SAY YOU HAVE A PLAN B, THEN I'M LOOKING FOR YOU TO EXECUTE IT. BECAUSE IF SO, I'M NOT GOING TO HEAR PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TRASH NOT BEING PICKED UP AGAIN. I'VE HAD I SAID WHAT I HAD TO SAY AND I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID. SO I'M GONNA BE MONITORED FROM NOW ON. I EXPECT TRASH TO BE PICKED UP AND IF IT IS NOT PICKED UP, I WILL BE BACK HERE. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I WILL BE BACK HERE IN DEFENSE OF CITIZENS WHO YOU WANT TO PAY FOR IT. SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DEBATE ABOUT. I SAID WHAT I SAY, I HEARD YOU VERY CLEARLY, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER. TRASH WILL BE PICKED UP AS WE DESIGNATED IF WE GOING TO COLLECT THE FUNDS. IF WE CAN'T DO IT, WE SHOULDN'T CHARGE THE CITIZENS AND WE SHOULD NOT BE BEHIND NO WEAK BECAUSE A WEAK MEAN YOU JUST FELL BEHIND TO FAIL TO PICK UP SOMEWHERE. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. THAT IS WHAT I'M SAYING. OKAY? REMEMBER, I DON'T TELL COUNSEL, I DON'T TELL STAFF AND I DON'T TELL MANAGER HOW TO DO YOUR JOB, BUT I COULD SURE TELL WHEN IT AIN'T BEING DONE. AND I WILL SAY THAT. OKAY? AND IF WE HAVEN'T PICKED UP TRASH AS WE HAVE SCHEDULED THAT WE TELL THEM WE DIDN'T DO THE JOB, NOW WE COULD TALK ABOUT WHY ALL DAY LONG. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE DID NOT DO IT. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. EITHER YOU DO IT OR YOU DON'T. TELL ME NOTHING. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR NO MORE EXCUSES BECAUSE WE GOT A PLAN B. LIKE THE MANAGER SAID, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GET TO THIS NO MORE. 'CAUSE PLAN B GONNA TAKE OVER CDL. WELL, WE NEED PEOPLE CONNECTED WITH CDL. WE NEED TO START GETTING PEOPLE QUALIFIED AND PUT PEOPLE WAITING LISTS WITH CDLS WHEN THE TIME COMES. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO NOT HAVE IT. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. WHEN A PLAN B, A PLAN B, B IS ANY PROBLEMS WE INCURRED, WE NOW FIND A WAY TO GO TO FIX IT THE NEXT TIME AROUND. ONLY THING I WILL BE ACCEPTING FROM THIS POINT ON. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND LIKE I SAID, MANAGER, I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAY, BUT I WILL FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE ALL OF THIS BY THE WAY WE PROVIDE THE SURVEY FROM THIS DAY FORWARD. THANK YOU. OKAY. THIS IS A DISCUSSION. MS. JOANNE, YOU STOOD UP? YES. BECAUSE OF THE DISCUSSION [02:45:01] MATTER. YOU ALL STAND, UH, UH, ALLOW HER TO SPEAK RIGHT THERE. UH, MS. MS. ROBERTS, PLEASE TO THE CITY MANAGER, JUST, UH, JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. MS. JONES JONES. SIXTH PARTY EAST 10TH STREET TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE COUNCILMAN. I'M SPEAKING FOR THE CITIZEN OF PORT ARTHUR. AS YOU KNOW, MOST OF YOU KNOW I HAVE A BEAUTY SHOP AND PEOPLE COMMUNICATE ME WITH ME EVERY DAY FROM SUNUP TO SUNDOWN. AND SINCE I'VE BEEN COMING UP HERE, THEY LOOK FORWARD TO ME AND GIVE ME THE, THEIR, UH, SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE I WILL BRING IT TO THEM AND THEY'RE VERY SATISFIED, SATISFIED CITY MANAGER. YOU MUST GIVE ATTENTION TO THE, UH, CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR THEN AND THE TRASH DEPARTMENT. IT IS OUTTA HAND. AND PLUS WITH THE STREETS, STREETS IS ALSO A BEAUTIFICATION. THEY HAVE THE STREETS FIXED. I'VE GONE TO NEED AND I'VE GONE TO BOW MOUNT AND IT'S SO MUCH BETTER THAN PORT ARTHUR GOING TO VISIT MY KIDS. I GOTTA RIDE FIVE MILES AN HOUR ON THESE SIDE STREETS. AND I DID NOT FALL IN A HOLE. RAW TRASH IS BEING POURED IN THE, IN THE DITCHES OF, OF, OF COMMUNITIES. CITY PROPERTY IS BEING LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE STREETS FOR MONTHS AT A TIME, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WHERE WE, WHEN THEY NEED MORE, THEY'LL CALL FOR US TO PAY FOR SOME MORE. AND THE CITY, THE, THE, UH, THE, THE, THE MANAGERS LET THEY PEOPLE APPROVE OF THIS THE WAY THEY LEAVE, UH, AFTER THEY GET THROUGH DOING THE JOB, THE WAY THEY LEAVE IT, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT, NOT, NOT A, NOT WITH SHOWING THAT THEY DID A JOB. NO, IT IS, IT'S AWFUL THE WAY THEY DO A JOB AND JUST LEAVE IT. I MEAN, REAL, REAL, THE BAD, LOOKING AT IT, IT'S PITIFUL BECAUSE YOU MIGHT AS WELL HAVE NOT DONE IT IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE PRIDE TO CLEAN UP ROUND YOURSELF. AGAIN, YOUR WORKERS, THE WORKERS OF THE CITY, THEY HAVE A THING THAT THEY TELL THE, THE, UH, THE OVERHEAD, WHAT THEY GOING TO DO AND WHAT THEY NOT GOING TO DO. WHY? BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE CONSEQUENCES, UH, OF DO, UH, YOU KNOW, IF ANYBODY APPROACHED THEM AND THEY KNOW THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT THEY WANNA DO OR WHAT THEY NOT. SO IT'S, THIS THING IS, IS REAL BAD AND IT'S OUTTA HAND. SOMEBODY NEED TO LOOK INTO IT. AND, UH, WE NEED CONSEQUENCES. AND THIS YOUNG MAN THAT CAME UP HERE, THE FIRST ONE, FOLLOW MS. JOANNE, TRY TO KEEP IT, KEEP IT, WE REALLY, WERE TALKING ABOUT TRASH. WE TALKING ABOUT TRASH, THE CONSEQUENCES. I MEAN, IT'S, WE NEED'S TALK ABOUT TRASH. OKAY? THE TRASH IS, IS IT'S JUST OUTTA HAND. SOMEBODY NEED TO TAKE HOLD AND FOLLOW AND FOLLOW THE, UH, UH, WHAT'S DID I SAY? SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GIVE SOME RULES AND REGULATIONS AND SOME, AND, AND, AND, AND SOME BACK BACKLOGS. IF YOU DON'T DO THE JOB, YOU KNOW, AND THE RAW CRASH ON THE STREET IS PITIFUL. WE ARE NOT USED TO LIVING LIKE THAT. WE ARE NOT USED TO LIVING THERE. THIS IS NOT US IN PORT ARTHUR. I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE SOME TIME. I GOT GRANDCHILDREN AND CHILDREN. AND WHEN I PASS BY AND SEE RAW TRASH IN THE DITCHES, IT JUST MAKES ME WANNA THROW UP, YOU KNOW? AND, UH, THE DISHES IS, IS STILL, SOME OF THE DISHES IS STILL CLOSED THAT WHERE WATER CAN'T RUN AND IT CAN'T RUN BECAUSE OF THEIR, THE TRASH IN THE DISHES. AND THESE MEN THAT'S WORKING FOR US, LIKE I SAY, CONSEQUENCES, IF THEY DON'T WANNA DO THE JOB, THEY NEED TO GO. THEY NEED TO GO. SO YOU NEED TO STAND BEHIND THEM AND I MEAN, AND, AND LET 'EM KNOW THAT IT'S CONSEQUENCES IF YOU GONNA BE HERE. SO, UM, LIKE I SAY, WE CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE. I'M SPEECH. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE, OF THE CITIZENS, NOT JUST MYSELF. AND WE, WE GOTTA, WE GOTTA PUT OUR FOOT DOWN, SIR. WE GOTTA PUT OUR FOOT DOWN. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY YOU FOR YOUR SER FOR YOUR SERVICES. IT'S NOT BEING DONE. THAT GOES FOR ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. OKAY, MAYOR PRO, TIM BECKHAM. THANK YOU. I HAVE A, A KIND OF A QUESTION AND A COMMENT THAT GOES IN LINES WITH MS. JONES WAS JUST SPEAKING OF, I GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS, UH, FROM CITIZENS THAT THEY SEE THE TRASH TRUCKS GO PARK SOMEWHERE AND OTHER CITY VEHICLES GO PARK SOMEWHERE, AND THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT DOING THEIR JOB. SO HOW ARE WE MONITORING THAT? DO ANY OF OUR TRUCKS HAVE GPS ON 'EM WHERE WE CAN SEE WHERE THEY ARE? ARE WE CLOCKING IN AND OUT WHEN WE'RE FINISHED WITH OUR SHIFT? UM, THIS IS A CONSTANT COMPLAINT THAT I GET. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF SECURING BIDS RIGHT NOW FOR THE GPS SYSTEM THAT, UM, WE NEED IN ORDER TO, UM, JUST [02:50:01] LAST WEEK I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THE CHIEF MANAGER TO MAKE SURE THAT I WENT TO AN LLC MEETING, NLC MEETING A FEW, UM, MONTHS AGO. AND, UM, ONE OF THE CITIES IN THE NORTH, WHENEVER THE TRASH TRUCK COMES ALONG, IT HAS A GPS SYSTEM ON IT TO SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHEN IT GETS TO THE ADDRESS AND WHERE THEY PICKED UP THAT TOTAL OR THE CHARGE THAT WAS ON THE GROUND. SO IF THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINED LISTENER, THEY MISSED MY TRASH, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS GET IT FROM THE CELL PHONE AND WE CAN PRINT BOTH A PICTURE ON TIME AND IN TIME AS TO WHETHER THE SERVICE WAS PROVIDED OR NOT. SO WHAT WE ARE DOING, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SAME TECHNOLOGY TO SEE HOW WE CAN EMPLOY IT ON EVERY VEHICLE IN THE CITY OF PO ARTHUR TO MAKE SURE IN TIME WE KNOW WHERE EVERY CITY VEHICLE IS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY'RE ON THE JOB OR OFF THE JOB, OR WHETHER THEY PROVIDED THE SERVICE OR NOT. OKAY. I I APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT THE TRASH PICKUP. IF THEY DON'T PICK UP YOUR TRASH, WE CAN LOOK AND SEE, WELL, YEAH, THEY DID, OR NO, THEY DIDN'T. BUT THE, AND, AND THAT'S A COMPLAINT THAT WE GET AS WELL AS MS. JONES WAS TALKING ABOUT. BUT THE COMPLAINT THAT I'M GETTING MORE OFTEN THAN NOT IS THAT A VEHICLE IS NOT WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ON ITS APPOINTED ROUTE AND THE WORKER IS JUST TAKING A BREAK. WE ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS TO INFORM US ABOUT THAT BECAUSE EVEN, AND WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT PASS, IT PLACES THE CITY IN BAD LIGHT. AND, UM, AND ALSO THE, THE IT PLACES THE LEVEL OF SUPERVISION THAT WE ARE PROVIDING TO THOSE EMPLOYEES, IT MEANS SOMEBODY IS NOT DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. YOU KNOW? SO THAT IS ON THE REVIEWER AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT INFORMATION NOT ONLY TO THE EMPLOYEES, BUT TO THE SUPERVISORS WHO PROVIDE SUPERVISION TO OUR EMPLOYEES. YES. OKAY. COUNCILMAN LEWIS, CITY MANAGER, YOU SAYING THAT THAT PROGRAM IS BEING MONITORED, I REMEMBER WE SAY BY A CONTRACTOR OR IS IT MONITORED BY THE CITY, THE GPS SYSTEM BY THE CITY, NOT BY A CONTRACTOR. NO, WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE PURCHASE OF THAT SOFTWARE. WE HAD THAT SOFTWARE LONG BEFORE HARVEY, BUT FOR SOME REASON IT WAS NOT COMPATIBLE ON ALL CT VEHICLES. WE BACK IN THE DAYS OF ROSS BLACKETT, YOU KNOW, SO, SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT UP TO NO, NO, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT UP TO THE, BECAUSE WHAT USED TO HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, I USED TO GET CALLS THAT CITY EMPLOYEES IS, IS PLAYING EIGHT LINERS AND THEY'VE BEEN HERE SINCE NINE O'CLOCK OR THEY'VE BEEN HERE. YOU KNOW, I USED TO GET THAT CALL ALL THE TIME AND I USED TO CALL IN, I SAID, WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE MONITORS? BUT I NOW, I, I REALIZE THAT IT IS NOT UP TO SPEED. YEAH. AND, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE SOFTWARE AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON NOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S COMPATIBLE WITH EACH AND EVERY CD, VEHICLE AND CDP OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE AS WELL. OKAY. UH, NOW COUNCILMAN KEN LAW ON THE DISCUSSION THAT YOU WERE, YOU WERE HAVING, AND HE DID GIVE A, UH, A MAINTENANCE UPDATE. DOES THAT ANSWER, OR YOU, YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR? IS IT IS ON FROM THAT DEPARTMENT HERE? UH, UH, CITY MANAGER? YES, MA'AM. YES, I HAVE. I HAVE IVAN HERE, UM, WHO PROVIDED US WITH A LIST THAT I PROVIDED TO COUNCIL. UM, YOU CAN COME UP, IVAN. UM, I KNOW THE LIST THAT COUNCILMAN LER REQUESTED IS MUCH MORE DETAILED. UM, YOU KNOW, HE ASKED ABOUT PMS AND, AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE, DO THEY HAVE A COPY COMPILING? DO THEY HAVE A COPY OF IT? YES. DO YOU GUYS HAVE A COPY? I GIVE, I GIVE, YEAH. YES. SOMETHING HERE NOW. OKAY. THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN, YES. YOU GOT ANOTHER ONE? LET ME GIVE YOU AN UPDATED LIST. I MADE AN ADJUSTMENT LAST NIGHT. THIS, THIS ONE WAS UPDATED JUNE 14TH. I DID SOMETHING LAST NIGHT. I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE YOU GUYS HAVE. JUST LET, JUST LET JUST GO AHEAD AND GIVE IT TO THEM. WELL, I, IVAN, UM, WHILE YOU, UH, PASSING THE COPIES OUT, UM, I, I PUT THIS, UH, PARTICULAR, UH, DISCUSSION ITEM ON THERE. IT'S THE SAME ONE. YEP. UH, FRANK, FRANK DOESN'T HAVE ONE. FRANK, HE'S ONE, EXCUSE ME. AND, AND DIRECTOR. YOU KNOW, UM, I, I PUT THIS ON THERE BECAUSE OF CALLS AND COMPLAINTS, AND I THINK COUNCILMAN ETT AND COUNCILMAN LEWIS ALLUDED TO, UH, AS WELL AS COUNCILMAN BECKMAN ABOUT, UH, THE CALLS THAT WE GET ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. MM-HMM. , AND I THINK I MISSED THE LAST MEETING, BUT COUNCILMAN LEWIS BROUGHT IT UP AND I DID, UH, ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE, THE MEETING ON VIDEO AND THAT BROUGHT ME TO, UH, WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ACTUALLY DOING IN THE GARAGE AREA AS WELL AS DOING, UH, PCSS ON THESE VEHICLES. SO, [02:55:01] UH, THAT'S GONNA BE THE KEY WHEN YOU, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LONG TERM MAINTENANCE PLAN FOR YOUR VEHICLES AND HOW OFTEN THAT YOU DO 'EM. UH, BEING A RETIRED ARMY OFFICER, THAT WAS PART OF MY JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VEHICLES EQUIPMENT WAS STEADFAST AND READY AT ANY TIME THAT WE NEEDED TO GET IT DONE. BUT, YOU KNOW, LISTENING TO THE CITY MANAGER AND, AND ULTIMATELY HIS, HIS RESPONSIBILITY, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO PAY FOR SERVICES. YOU'RE NOT GETTING, THEN I HAVE TO GO BACK DOWN TO FIGURE OUT, WELL, WHAT ARE WE DOING AS A CITY AND WHAT ARE WE DOING COLLECTIVELY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY MANAGER HERE, WHAT WE WANT TO BE DONE WHEN IT'S TALKING ABOUT MAINTENANCE AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE THROUGH OUR VEHICLES. WE HEAR SO MUCH THAT OUR VEHICLES ARE DOWN. BUT WHAT ARE YOU DOING IF YOU'RE THE PERSON THAT'S IN CHARGE OF PROVIDING THE MAINTENANCE, MAINTENANCE RECORDS? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HIRING CDL DRIVERS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING A GARAGE THAT'S OPEN 24 HOURS TO GET THE TRUCKS BACK ON THE ROAD ORDERING PARTS, UH, WHEN WE KNOW THAT CERTAIN TRUCKS NEED PARTS. AND THEN WE HEAR SO MUCH THAT WE'RE WAITING ON PARTS AND IT'S THREE WEEKS TO GET PARTS. THAT'S THE LEVEL OF, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATION WE HAVE WITH THE CITY MANAGER. AND I THINK THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING BETTER. AND I THINK IT STARTS WITH YOU ALONG WITH THE CITY MANAGER PROVIDING, UH, THESE SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR. SO I'M KIND OF DETAILED. I I SEE WE HAVE ABOUT 22 VEHICLES THAT'S IN THE GARAGE OR HAVE SOME TYPE OF SITUATION. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU WOULD EXPOUND ON THOSE THINGS, UH, BRIEFLY. UH, AND WHY, HOW LONG, WHEN WE'RE GONNA GET 'EM BACK IN THE ROAD. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, WE CAN'T PROVIDE A SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS. SO IT'S IT'S HAND IN HAND. YEAH. AND IF YOU HAVE A PLAN, I WOULD SURE LIKE TO HEAR, I, I WOULD THINK THAT ALL THE COUNCILING MEMBERS WANT TO HEAR, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GARBAGE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRASH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WASTEWATER CONVEYANCE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STREET VEHICLES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STREET SWEEPERS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. BUT IF WE CAN'T GET THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION ON A DAILY OR QUARTERLY BASIS OR A MONTHLY BASIS, WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT. DO YOU KNOW THE WAY WE GET THEM, GET THAT INFORMATION FROM THE CITIZENS WHEN THEY'RE CALLING OUR PHONES COMPLAINING ABOUT NOT GETTING THE SERVICES. SO IF IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, IF IT'S THE CITY MANAGER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE YOU DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL, MAYBE WE ARE AT FAULT. BUT AS OF TODAY, WE ARE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET SOME TYPE OF REPORT THAT THAT'S PROVIDED TO THE COUNCIL THAT WE CAN ENSURE THE CITIZENS WHEN THEY CALL US, HEY, WE'RE DOWN BECAUSE, OR WE ARE A WEEK AND A HALF BECAUSE OF, UH, VEHICLE A AND, AND TRYING TO CHOOSE PLAN B. TO ME, THAT'S NOT FAIR BECAUSE I WOULD HATE TO BE A PERSON TO PAY FOR CABLE SERVICES AND I DON'T GET IT. SO PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME, UH, YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR OPINION ON WHY WE HAVE 22 VEHICLES. BECAUSE IF WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. IF WE NEED TO HIRE MORE MECHANICS AND RUN A 24 HOUR MECHANIC SHOP TO GET VEHICLES ON, LET'S DO THIS. OKAY. SO, SO THERE'S, THERE'S A FEW THINGS. SO AT 22 VEHICLES, THE CITY, I DID THE MATH LAST NIGHT, THAT'S WHY I MADE AN ADJUSTMENT. THE CITY HAS 300, UM, WHERE SOME OF THESE ARE ESTIMATES, THE NUMBER GOES UP AND DOWN, BUT THE CITY HAS ABOUT 399 VEHICLES IN ITS FLEET. SO 399 VEHICLES AS OF JUNE THE 14TH, AND THE NUMBER MIGHT'VE GONE UP, MIGHT'VE GONE DOWN. THINGS BREAK. WE ONLY HAVE 22 DOWN. UM, THERE ARE CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT DO BREAK MORE THAN OTHERS JUST BECAUSE OF THE USAGE, THE TYPE OF VEHICLES THEY ARE. UM, WHICH IS WHY YOU PROBABLY SEE CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS ON HERE MORE THAN OTHERS. THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF VEHICLES THAT TEND TO BREAK MORE, UM, WHEN THOSE VEHICLES BREAK. WE DO HAVE AN INITIATIVE, WE HAVE A DIRECTIVE FROM THE CITY MANAGER THAT CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS GET PRIORITY BY PRIORITY, UM, WHEN THEIR VEHICLES BREAK AND WE KNOW THAT THEIR, UM, THEIR SPARE RATIO IS GONNA BE BELOW WHAT'S NEEDED, THEY GET BUMPED UP ON THE LIST IN TERMS OF, UM, THEY GET PRIORITY FROM THE GARAGE. SO WE MIGHT HAVE TO BUMP SOMEBODY ELSE OFF THE LIST. WE MIGHT HAVE TO SEND SOMEBODY ELSE'S VEHICLE OUT. UM, THERE'S A LOT, THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT PLAY. BUT OVERALL, UM, AS OF THE 1422 OUT OF THE 399, I'M TALKING ABOUT VEHICLES ONLY. THERE'S ALSO EQUIPMENT, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VEHICLES AS OF NOW. UM, THE GARAGE CURRENTLY HAS, I THINK YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT, UM, STAFFING. THE GARAGE CURRENTLY HAS 12 MECHANICS, UM, FOUR SUPPORT STAFF, A TOTAL OF 16 STAFF TO MAINTAIN, UM, CLOSE TO 665. I'M CALLING THEM ITEMS IN GENERAL. THAT INCLUDES GENERATORS, THAT INCLUDES VEHICLES, THAT INCLUDES A BACKHOE. THAT INCLUDES, UM, A TRAILER, 665 ITEMS. WE HAVE BASICALLY 16 STAFF MEMBERS. UM, THE GARAGE HAS TO MAINTAIN IT. UM, NOW OTHER DEPARTMENTS, JUST, YOU GUYS MIGHT ALREADY KNOW THIS, UH, THERE [03:00:01] ARE A FEW DEPARTMENTS WHO DO THEIR OWN MAINTENANCE. UM, TRANSIT HAS A SEPARATE GARAGE THAT DOES ITS MAINTENANCE. UH, THE POLICE HAS A PERSON WHO HANDLES THEIR VEHICLES AS WELL AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BUT EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY, THE GARAGE HANDLES, UM, WITH THOSE 16 INDIVIDUALS. NOW, WE DO SEND STUFF OUT WHEN NEED BE. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE TOOLING FOR, UM, WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING FOR. SO WE WILL SEND STUFF OUT TO BE REPAIRED BY, UM, OUTSIDE FACILITIES, OUTSIDE REPAIR FACILITIES. UH, I, I GUESS IF YOU, I GUESS IF THE QUESTION, AND SO I GUESS THE QUESTION, QUESTION IS MY, YOUR MY QUESTION, MY, MY QUESTION IS NOT LIKE HOW MANY VEHICLES AND STAFF AND SUPPORT LISTEN, WE CAN STREAMLINE IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M ASKING. YEAH. UH, I I I'M TOTALLY AWARE THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 400 VEHICLES. THAT'S NOT MY QUESTION THAT I'M ASKING. IN THE STAFFING, I'M SAYING WHAT WE CAN DO AS A COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE GET THE SERVICES THAT THEY DESERVE. AND WHEN I LOOK AT RESIDENTIAL, UH, COLLECTION VEHICLES, I'M LOOKING AT FOUR MM-HMM. . THEN I'M LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, STREETS. IS THAT, I ASSUME THAT STREET SWEEPERS, UM, OR IS THAT TRUCKS? SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRASH COLLECTIONS. WHEN YOU SAY STREETS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT V VEHICLES OR THAT USE THE STREETS DEPARTMENT. I DON'T, THAT'S JUST WHAT IT IS ON HERE. AND THAT'S WHAT IS FACE VALUE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS. MM-HMM. , WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ESSENTIAL, UH, UH, AMENITIES THAT COUNT, UH, CITIZENS DESERVE AND THEY PAY FOR, I MEAN, THE COUNCIL HAS SPOKE LOUDLY ABOUT TODAY ABOUT WHAT THEY EXPECT. AND OUR JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT THEY GET WHAT THEY, THEY PAY FOR. SO WHEN I LOOK AT THIS LIST, THAT TELLS ME I'M, YOU KNOW, DRAINAGE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF DRAINAGE. IS IT A DRAINAGE TRUCK OR IS IT DRAINAGE? A, A A VAC TRUCK? I DON'T KNOW. MM-HMM. . BUT WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD BE MORE DETAILED THAN WHAT WE ARE GETTING IN PROVIDING. BECAUSE WHAT WE CAN DO AS COUNSEL, MEN AND WOMEN, WE CAN HELP YOU OUT WHEN THOSE CITIZENS CALL, WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING PCSS ON THESE VEHICLES AND HOW OFTEN THEY'RE DOING IT. THOSE THINGS, THAT'S GONNA HELP YOU, IT'S GONNA HELP US. IT'S GONNA HELP THIS COMMUNITY KEEP VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. SO, I DON'T KNOW BY FACE VALUE LOOKING AT THIS, WHAT TYPE OF VEHICLE IT IS OTHER THAN THIS IN THE STREET DEPARTMENT. MM-HMM. OR THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT. BUT I KNOW THIS IS ESSENTIAL TO WHAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS FOR, FOR CITIZENS. AND IT, AND I AGREE. IF WE HAVE TO WORK ON WEEKENDS TO KIND OF CATCH UP, SOMETIMES WE NEED TO DO THAT BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE PROVIDE, THEY PAY. SO THAT'S WHY I'M COMING. AND I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA TO SPEAK WITH YOU AND THE CITY MANAGER TO FIND OUT IF WE ARE RUNNING A, A, A MAINTENANCE, UH, A GARAGE SHOP THAT JUST OPENED EIGHT, DO EIGHT HOURS, MAYBE 10 HOURS. WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. YEAH. WE WOULD, WE NEED TO HIRE STAFF. WE PROBABLY NEED NEED TO HIRE STAFF. WE'VE BEEN LIKE THIS FOR WHILE. WE NEED TO HIRE STAFF. STAFF. WE NEED TO HIRE STAFF. THE SHIFT. YEAH. WE NEED, WE NEED NOT HIRE STAFF. I, I AGREE. WE NEED TO HIRE STAFF SHIFT. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE WHAT WE, THE OUTCOME THAT WE EXPECTING. IF WE'RE, UH, IF WE WE'RE BUYING PICKUP TRUCKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR DEPARTMENTS, THEY NEED TO HAVE TIRES OR THINGS THAT'S IN THE STREET THAT SOMEBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT, EQUIPMENT THAT THE CITY OWNS THAT'S BEEN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR YEARS, MONTHS, DAYS. PUT 'EM IN A TRUCK, LET'S TURN 'EM IN. IF WE'RE GONNA BUY P UH, PICKUP TRUCKS AS A CITY COUNCIL. I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ME AS A LEADER, I LOOK INTO, AND I HOPE MY COHORTS ALSO LOOK INTO THAT. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AND IT'S NOT TO, YOU KNOW, TELL YOU HOW TO RUN YOUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, BUT WE ARE GETTING THE CALLS ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO BETTER. AND I JUST WROTE 10 BULLET POINTS OF WHAT WE CAN DO. SO LET ME JUST, I JUST WANNA SAY ONE THING. AND THIS ISN'T TO THROW ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT OUT THERE. I DON'T INVOLVE MYSELF WHEN THEY'RE DOING. YEAH. BUT JUST BECAUSE VEHICLES, JUST BECAUSE VEHICLES ARE ON THIS LIST OF BEING BROKEN DOWN, THAT IS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN, THAT MIGHT BE WHY SOME OTHER THINGS ARE HAPPENING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS. AND WHY I SAY THAT IS THERE ARE, THERE'S SPARES. SO WE KEEP A SPARE RATIO, ALTHOUGH I SAY THOSE DEPARTMENTS HAVE A SPARE RATIO FOR A LOT OF THEIR EQUIPMENT. SO FOR SOME DEPARTMENTS, WHEN WE KNOW THAT NUMBER'S GETTING DOWN, WE AUTHORIZE OR WE MANDATE OVER TIME, WE'LL SEND IT TO A SHOP. WE'LL SEND IT UP TO BEAUMONT. WE HAVE TECHNICIANS COME FROM VANGUARD, SOMETIMES FROM HOUSTON. WE MAKE SURE NUMBERS DON'T DROP BELOW. WHAT'S NEEDED TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE IN TERMS OF VEHICLES, WHETHER OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT BE GOING ON. I, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS, BUT I KNOW SOMETIMES THE EASY TARGET IS VEHICLES ARE BROKEN, LET'S GO AND TALK TO THE GARAGE. AND THINGS DO BREAK. AND I, I, I MEAN THEY BREAK, BUT WE DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET THOSE VEHICLES UP AND RUNNING WHEN WE KNOW THAT'S GONNA IMPACT A DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE WHAT THEY NEED TO PROVIDE TO THE CITY. MAY I, MAY I SUGGEST SOMETHING TO YOU DIRECTOR? MM-HMM. , YOU KNOW, WHAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT INDICATORS [03:05:01] OF A VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO BREAK DOWN? MM-HMM. IS THE PMCS THAT'S PROVIDED. 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA GIVE YOU A TRACK RECORD. I'M GONNA, I I'M GONNA DISAGREE WITH THAT. WELL, BECAUSE I GOT 25 YEARS IN. OKAY. BUT, BUT, AND HOLD UP. WAIT, WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT A MINUTE. YOU CAN DISAGREE ALL YOU WANT, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, I HAVE 25 YEARS IN DOING THIS TYPE OF JOB AND WORK. AND IF PEOPLE ARE DOING P CMSS ON VEHICLES, IT GIVES YOU A GREAT INDICATOR WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO THAT VEHICLE. AND IT GIVES YOU TIME TO REACT AND TO ORDER PARTS TO GET THOSE EXPERT, UH, MECHANICS IN. BUT I WOULD CHALLENGE YOU ON THE VEHICLES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY WHERE ACTUAL PM CSS ARE DONE TO SHOW THAT DIFFERENTLY. NOW WE CAN, WE CAN CHALLENGE EACH OTHER ON THAT ONE. AND I CAN PULL YOUR 22 AND SEE FOR MYSELF HOW MANY PMCS HAS BEEN RECORDED AND THAT'S BEEN SURVEYED BY YOU, A DIRECTOR OR SOME TYPE OF SUPERVISOR TO SHOW DIFFERENT WELL, I, AGAIN, I, I, MAYOR. MAYOR. HEY, LET, WE ARE NOT HERE TO TAKE PART IN AN ARGUMENT. NO, NO. HE'S RIGHT. NO, THE, THE COUNCIL IS RIGHT. YOU KNOW WHY WHEN I CAME IN HERE AS CITY MANAGER, THERE WAS ONE VEHICLE IN THE ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT WITH $16,000. WE SPENT $92,000 ON REPAIRING IT. CITY MANAGER. OKAY. WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET NO ARGUMENT HERE WITH THE COUNCIL. WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO, POINT OF ORDER, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING THAT IS NECESSARY POINT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FUNCTION, WE FUNCTION POINT OF MARY AS AN EFFECTIVE, AS AN EFFECTIVE NO POINT OF ORDER. EVERYONE STOP SPEAKING THE COUNCIL. POINT OF ORDER. MAYOR, HOLD ON. BUT I GOTTA RECOGNIZE YOU MINUTE, BUT JUST A MINUTE. NO, WHAT WE HAVE DONE, COUNCILMAN, UH, CITY MAYOR. THE MAYOR. HOLD ON JUST MINUTE. THIS A MINUTE. MY POINT OF ORDER. NO, NO SIR. IT'S ONE O'CLOCK. WE GOING TO TAKE A 30 MINUTE BREAK. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME. WE'RE READY TO RECONVENE. NO, HE STAND IN THE BACK. FRANK. MM-HMM. , CAN YOU, UH, LOOK OUT TO SEE IF, UH, CONST FRANK IS IN THE LOBBY? THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. UH, CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU REESTABLISH FOR ME PLEASE? MAYOR BARTEE. PRESENT MAYOR PRO. TIM BECKHAM. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? NO. LEWIS COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON. EVER. FIELD COUNCIL MEMBER DEUCE. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK HERE. YOU HAVE A CO MAYOR. THANK YOU SO KINDLY. UH, WE WERE, UH, MR. MITCHELL, HE, HE, HE'S, HE'S IN THE BACK. OKAY. WELL, WE WERE IN, IN, IN A CONVERSATION, UH, DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF, UH, FLEET MANAGEMENT. I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT THAT, BUT HE HASN'T RETURNED. UH, OKAY. SO, NO, NO, WE, WE, GOOD. WE, I MEAN, I I WAS GONNA ASK COUNCILMAN, UH, KEN LAW, BECAUSE HE HAD IT, THERE WERE, WERE, WERE, WERE YOU ABLE TO REACH A RESOLVE WITH THIS? UH, YES. MAYOR, UH, I, I DID SPEAK WITH THE CITY MANAGER, UH, BUT I WOULD ASK IF HE WOULD GIVE A, UH, SOME TYPE OF PAPERWORK PRESENTATION TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL THAT DEPICTS UH, SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAD SO WE COULD HAVE IT FOR RECORD. UH, I DID EXPRESS THAT TO HIM. OKAY. BUT, UH, FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, WHEN THEY COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL, THEY NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING IN HAND THAT WE CAN USE FOR REFERENCE TO CONTINUE THE PROCESS OF MAKING THINGS BETTER. GOOD. ALRIGHT. GOOD. AND, UH, MIGHT, MIGHT, I MIGHT I ADD OR CITY MANAGER AND MR. UH, MITCHELL ISN'T HERE, BUT HE MAY VIEW THIS, THIS IS FOR THE CONSIDERATION FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. LET'S CONSIDER A BUDGET INCREASE TO EVEN EXTEND THE OPERATION HOURS OF OUR REPAIR GARAGE. NOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I, I HAD EVEN WRITTEN THIS PRIOR [03:10:01] TO LEAVING. I LEFT IT, I THOUGHT SOMEBODY MIGHT READ IT, BUT MAYBE YOU WOULDN'T, DIDN'T READ MY HAND. CAN'T READ MY HANDWRITING. BUT I LEFT IT HERE BECAUSE AFTER HAVING THIS DISCUSSION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SERIOUSNESS, I THINK THAT EVERYONE HAS EXPRESSED OF WANTING TO ANSWER CONCERNS OF THE CITIZENS AND HAVING OUR, UH, MACHINERY IN AN OPERATIVE AND, UH, EFFICIENT MANNER, THAT MAY TAKE MORE TIME THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN GIVING IT. SO BECAUSE WE ARE GOING INTO A BUDGET, UH, A REVIEW IN, IN, IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS, MAYBE THEY COULD BEGIN THAT PROCESS OF SEEING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO EXTEND THE HOURS OF OPERATION FOR THAT, UH, FOR, FOR THE GARAGE CENTER. AND THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING I JUST WANTED TO PUT OUT THERE AS A CONSIDERATION. AND, UH, IT WOULD ALSO MEAN ADDITIONAL STAFF WOULD BE NEEDED TO EXTEND THESE HOURS OF OPERATION. SO HR WOULD BE INVOLVED AS WELL. CITY MANAGER, YOU KNOW, BUT MAYBE WE COULD JUST GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER. AND THEN WHEN YOU ALL BRING THE REPORT TO US. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD BE CONSIDERED IF IT, IF IT'S FEASIBLE TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER OR AT SOME OTHER TIME, BUT MAYBE WITH THE THOUGHT IN MIND OF, UH, MOVING TOWARDS THIS. OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. I'M FINE TO ADD. I'M GOOD TO WHAT YOU, YOU'RE ON POINT. OKAY. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? I DON'T SEE THE LIGHT, SO WE CAN MOVE ON, RIGHT? OKAY. NOW, UH, LEMME SEE WHERE WE WERE. OKAY, WE BACK UP. OKAY. UH, NOW I THINK NUMBER, NUMBER TWO, RIGHT ON PAGE TWO. THIS WHAT I DON'T HAVE SCRATCHED OFF. OKAY. THE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE, UH, FIRST SOURCE PROGRAM WITH THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION, EDC. AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN ETT. WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT. NO, SIR. GO, GO BACK TO TWO NUMBER TWO NUMBER, UH, SIR, I THINK YOU'RE ON THE THIRD. OH, NUMBER THREE. EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY. NUMBER THREE. NO, YOU SAID NUMBER TWO AND I WENT NUMBER NUMBER THREE. YEAH. WELL, ALL THAT. WAIT, DON'T GO BUDDY. JUST KEEP YOUR CLOTHES ON. OKAY. NOW MY OMISSION, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NUMBER THREE, NOT TWO. I WENT TO TWO. THEY SAID TWO. I WENT TO WHERE I SAW TWO. OKAY. UH, A STAFF [III.C. (3) A Staff Report Regarding Prince Hall Sanitary Sewer Improvements And Alley Clean-Up] REPORT REGARDING PRINCE HALL, SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENTS AND THE ALLEY CLEANUP. SO YOU PREPARED FOR THAT. THE SEWER, THE, UH, SEWER IMPROVEMENTS IS REALLY WHAT I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO. THE, UH, WE, WE HAD BEEN OUR IN-HOUSE, UH, PIPE BURSTING CREW MOVED OVER THERE, AND THE EXISTING SEWER WAS AN OLD, UM, EIGHT INCH CLAY PIPE THAT WAS FAILING AND HAT FAILED OVER THE YEARS. THERE WERE SECTIONS WHERE THEY HAD SLIP LINED IT WITH A SIX INCH PVC JUST TO MAKE TEMPORARY REPAIRS. SO BEN PIPE BURST A THOUSAND FEET. HE FINISHED THE THOUSAND FEET YESTERDAY. HE'S DONE EIGHT TAPS AND TIE-INS, AND THERE'S ABOUT FOUR MORE TO GO. AND THERE'S TWO MANHOLES THAT'LL BE REPLACED PROBABLY AFTER THE RAIN, ASSUMING IT HITS THE WAY THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO THAT WILL HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE SEWER THROUGH PRINCE HALL APARTMENTS. UH, THE ALLEY WE LOOKED, WE, I THINK IT WAS WITH, UH, MR. WILLIE BAY. WE LOOKED AT THE ALLEY. I HAD, UH, DARYL HARMON. IT WAS VERY WET AND IT WAS TOO WET TO MOW, BUT OUR CREWS DID NOT FIND A WATER LEAK. SO I'M THINKING IT WAS JUST RAINWATER. THAT'S A, IT IS A LOW, LOW AREA THAT WOULD HAD ACCUMULATED. I, WE CAN SEND THEM BACK OUT TO LOOK, BUT WE DIDN'T FIND A WATER LEAK OKAY. IN THE ALLEY. YOU, YES. SO GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, GO AHEAD. NO, I'M, I'M, I'M JUST, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE WATER LEAKS AND WHAT HAVE YOU? OKAY. YOU REMEMBER THERE YOU HAD A SECOND, A WATER LEAK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. OH, THE BACK ALLEY. OH, YEAH. FROM 14TH, YOU RIGHT. AND DARRELL DID NOT FIND A WATER LEAK THAT DAY. RIGHT. TO REPAIR. SO WE'RE ASSUMING IT WAS JUST ACCUMULATED RAINWATER. I WENT OVER THERE AND I FOUND IT. IT WAS, YOU FOUND WATER LEAK? IT DRIED UP. IT WAS, NO, IT WAS, IT'S POOLING WATER. OKAY. IT WAS NO LEAK. ALRIGHT. RIGHT BESIDE THE HOUSE. YEAH. YEAH. IT WAS JUST POOL WATER. IT, IT NEEDED TO BUILD THAT UP. IT PROBABLY TORE DOWN AN OLD HOUSE AND DIDN'T ELEVATE, DIDN'T, DIDN'T HAUL IN DIRT, SO IT POOLS THERE. OKAY. BUT THE SEWER LINE IS, HAS, UH, BEEN REPLACED. THEY GOT SOME CLEANUP WORK TO DO. THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCRETE THAT HAD TO BE BROKEN OUT, SO IT TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO DO THE JOB. UH, ONCE THIS IS FINISHED, HE'LL BE MOVING BACK TO 10TH STREET, UH, 10TH STREET TO CONTINUE REPAIRS IN THAT AREA. WHAT? I'M A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTED. WHERE ARE THE, WHERE ARE THE, THE VIDEOS? THE, THE FILMING ACTUAL WORK THAT'S BEING DONE. [03:15:02] I DON'T, WE DON'T TAKE VIDEOS OF THE WORK BEING DONE. I MEAN, A PICTURE, YOU, YOU KNOW, I'M TALKING ABOUT PRINCE HALL AND I DIDN'T TAKE ANY VIDEOS. YOU DIDN'T, YOU DIDN'T. WE DON'T NORMALLY TAKE VIDEOS OF THE REPAIR PROOF. WELL, YOU DIDN'T, THE ACTUAL WORK IS ACTUALLY BEING DONE. Y'ALL DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. WHAT DO YOU MEAN TAKE? NO. OKAY. THAT'S, OH, WE DON'T DO VIDEOS. OKAY. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE VIDEO DOWN THE PIPE? YEAH. UH, WE DO. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE DIDN'T RECORD ANY VIDEO ON THAT. I CAN CHECK, UH, THE LARGE CAMERA WON'T GO INTO ANYTHING WITH A SIX INCH PIPE IN IT. SO THEY, THEY MAY HAVE DONE A PITCH CAMERA, BUT I DOUBT THEY WOULD'VE RECORDED THE VIDEO. THE PIPE BURST IN. THE ACTUAL PIPE BURST IN. YES, SIR. Y'ALL DIDN'T HAVE, Y'ALL DIDN'T DOCUMENT THAT. WE JUST DOCUMENT FROM WHERE TO WHERE. SO WE UPDATE OUR, UH, WELL LOOK, I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO GIVE THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS A CLOSE OVER AS TO ACTUALLY WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE. I, I'M SORRY. I JUST THE, THE CREW'S WORKING EVERY DAY, SO I, IF YOU WANT VIDEOS OF PIPE BURSTING CREW, WE CAN, I CAN GET YOU SOME. YES. IT'S, UH, BUT ANYWAY, IT'S KIND OF BORING ACTUALLY, IF YOU, BUT I MEAN, IT'S HARD WORK, BUT, WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, WHAT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE AND, AND, UH, THE PIPE BURSTING CREW, THE PIPE BURSTING CREW, THEY ARE, THEY'RE TOP NOTCH. OKAY. HOW, HOW MANY FEET OF PIPE DID Y'ALL PULL YESTERDAY IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS? WELL, YESTERDAY WE PULLED 500 FEET. TYPICALLY WE DO ABOUT 2000 A MONTH. TWO. YEAH. YOU PULL RIGHT. YOU THAT, THAT NEEDS TO BE FOURFOLD. IF WE COULD GET, THEY JUST GOT ONE, ONE CREW ON PIPE VERSUS THOSE GUYS ARE THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY'RE GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO. AND THEY ARE, THEY PULL THAT AMOUNT 500 FEET. AND CAN YOU IMAGINE WITH FOUR CREWS OR TWO CREWS OR FOUR CREWS IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, OUR SEWAGE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY. YEAH. ALL THAT WOULD GO AWAY. WE NEED TO REINFORCE WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT THEY ARE DOING. THESE GUYS ARE THE SWAT TEAMS OF, OF THAT. THEY, THEY'RE GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO. AND, AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT 'EM CLOSE UP AND, AND BE A PART OF WHAT THEY DOING. NORMALLY YOU PASS DOWN THE STREET, THE STREETS ARE CLOSED OFF, THEY'RE BLOCKED OFF. YOU DON'T REALLY SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT I WALKED WITH 'EM. OKAY. WHAT WE, AND I INHERITED THIS MESS. WHAT WE ARE, WHEN I, THAT LEWIS PRINCE HALL, LEWIS MANOR IS NOW A PART OF DISTRICT ONE. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, THE PROBLEMS OUT THERE BY PASTOR, PASTOR CUOMO AND DEACON THORNTON. WHEN I GO THERE, I FOUND A WHOLE BUNCH OF PROBLEMS. I FOUND, I FOUND ENOUGH WORK FOR THE, FOR THE CITY CREWS, BEEN GOING THERE, UNPLUGGING STUFF, AND THEY, THEY DUMPING GREASE IN THE LINE, CITY CREWS. SO I WAS GLAD THEY MADE A DECISION TO REPLACE THAT MA AND MADE THAT MASTER LINE, THE MAIN LINE. BUT ON TOP OF THAT, I ALSO FOUND FIVE APARTMENTS. LISTEN, FIVE APARTMENTS, EIGHT APARTMENTS. PUT, PUT FIVE BUILDING WITH EIGHT, EIGHT UNITS. THAT'S 40 APARTMENTS. WHAT I DISCOVERED, THE ELDERLY FOLKS, THE POOR PEOPLE, WHEN THEY TAKE A SHOWER, WHAT I DISCOVERED, THEY, THEY HAD TO PLUG UP THE DRAINS TO KEEP THE SEWAGE FROM BACKING UP ON THEM. AND IT'D BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. SO WHEN THE CITY DOING THEIR PART REPLACED, REPLACED THE WHOLE MAIN SEWER LINE ON CITIES RIGHT AWAY, THEY, THEY PIPE BURST IT. THE NEW OWNERS, THEY HAVE DONE THEIR PART, THEY UNPLUG AND CAN CLEAR THE GREASE OUT FROM ALL OVER THE BUILDING. THEY GOT, EVERYTHING IS FLOWING. DARLENE, SHE'S GOING TO BE, THEY'RE DOING WELL. SHE GOING TO, SHE GONNA SPEAK TO THAT. I DON'T KNOW. DARLENE, YOU, ARE YOU GONNA SPEAK JAMES BROWN GOING SPEAK TO THAT? SHE'S WALKING IN RIGHT NOW. JAMES BROWN GONNA SPEAK TO THAT. OKAY. OH, OKAY. OKAY. AFTER, AFTER YOU. BUT, AND THEN, AND THE FINAL PLAN IS WE'RE GONNA BE CLOSING STREETS. LET'S, LET'S FACE IT. I'VE BEEN KEEPING, I'VE BEEN PURPOSELY KEEPING IT OUT OF THE NEWS. OKAY. BEEN TO KEEPING IT OUT THE NEWS, BUT THE NEWS PROPOSAL BEEN AFTER ME TO TALK ABOUT IT. I DIDN'T WANNA TALK ABOUT IT. WHAT I'M PROPOSING TO CLOSE 13TH STREET. NOT CLOSE IT. MAKE 13TH STREET. 13TH STREET AND D WALK. CLOSE IT. 15TH STREET AND [03:20:01] D WALKED BEHIND ST. JOHN CHURCH. CLOSE IT. POINT OF ORDER. WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? WHO'S THIS? THIS IS ALL IT ALL POINT OF ORDER. OKAY. JUST A MINUTE. WHAT'S YOUR POINT? MY, MY POINT IS LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SURGE AND THE, AND AND THE TER THE SANITARY IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL LEWIS. AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT STOP, STOP, STOP. WAIT A MINUTE NOW. NO, I JUST NEED TO KNOW YOUR POINT. AND WE GOING, WE GOING TO CHECK THAT. WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR POINT OF ORDER? OKAY. MY POINT OF ORDER IS THAT THE CLOTHING OF THE STREETS ARE NOT PART OF THE SAN OKAY. THAT'S IT. OKAY. UH, GO. AND I AM GONNA CORRECT ATTORNEY. I, I I NEED TO CARRY INTO OUR VOTE. I ACT THE CONSENSUS OF THE GROUP. YOU WANT IT TO BE. YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT STREETS IN THIS OR JUST THE ALLEYWAY AND THE SEWAGE. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN, I THINK, UH, WITH, WITH A GENERAL CONSENSUS OF THE GROUP POINT OF ORDER IS ACCEPTED, AND PLEASE KEEP YOUR REMARKS TO WHAT IS ACTUALLY POSTED, WHICH IS THE IMPROVEMENTS OF THE SANITARY SEWER AND THE ALLEY CLEANUP. AND WE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER TIME AND ANOTHER DATE. YEAH. WELL, I, I, I, I'LL PUT IT BACK ON. THANK YOU. OKAY. PROCEED. THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S PROCEED. PROCEED. THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM. OKAY. PROCEED. YEAH. THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM. BUT, YOU KNOW, BUT PROCEED. NO, BUT PROCEED JUST FOR, WITH WHAT I JUST ASKED YOU TO DO JUST FOR EFFICIENCY. BUT THAT, I'LL DO IT THAT WAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COME ON. OKAY. ALRIGHT. JAMES, JAMES BROWN NEEDS TO COMMENT ABOUT GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL. ALRIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR. I'M SPEAKING ON THE ALLEY CLEANUP THAT'S GOING, THAT'S TAKING PLACE BETWEEN 13TH, 14TH AND 15TH STREET ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN. WE'VE GONE IN AND WE'VE EVALUATED A LOT OF THE PROPERTIES. WE'VE SEEN WHERE A LOT OF OUR PROBLEMS EXIST. WE'VE HAD THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WITH US. WE'RE OUT THERE CHASING DOWN WATER LEAKS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, WHICH WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THAT A LOT OF THE AREAS ARE LOW LYING AREAS AND THEY'RE MAINTAINING WATER. SO THERE IS MAKING IT HARD FOR OUR CONTRACTORS TO GET IN AND GET THE WORK DONE. MM-HMM. . BUT YET WE ARE STILL MOVING FORWARD. PRETTY MUCH 75% OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED TO BE IN VIOLATION HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF YET. WE STILL HAVE SOME THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DEAL WITH AS FAR AS THE MOISTURE OR THE SATURATION OF THE PROPERTY. WE'VE HAD TWO CONTRACTORS, TRACTORS THAT HAD BEEN STUCK OUT THERE, WHICH WE HAD TO HAVE RECORD DRIVERS TO COME AND PULL THEM OUT. SO WE'RE STILL MOVING FORWARD. WE'RE TRYING TO GET THESE SITUATIONS TAKEN CARE OF, BUT PRETTY MUCH WE'RE 75% COMPLETED WITH ALL OF THOSE ALLEYS THAT WE HAD IN QUESTION OF BEING IN VIOLATION. NOW, WITH THAT, WE WAS ON A, SPEAKING OF WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE ALLEYS BY ORDINANCE, OUR PROPERTY MAIN, OUR PROPERTY OWNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE, YET THEY TELL US THAT THEY CAN'T GET TO IT BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE WATER THAT'S STILL SITTING OUT THERE. RIGHT. WHICH PROMPTED US TO HAVE THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO GO WITH US AND TO SEE IF WE CAN LOCATE ANY OF THE WATER LEAKS OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN THOSE ALLEYS AS FAR AS PUBLIC WORKS IS CONCERNED, AND YET THE BACKFILLING OF SOME OF THOSE AREAS HAD NOT TAKEN PLACE. SO THAT WE HAVE PUDDLING AND DIPS AND PRETTY MUCH SOME DITCHES INVOLVED IN THAT, BUT YET WE'RE STILL MOVING FORWARD TO TRY TO GET ALL OF THESE HIP PROPERTIES TAKEN CARE OF. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO YOU DIDN'T FIND ANY, ANY, ANY WATER LEAKS AT ALL? THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOUND NO WATER LEAKS. HE STATED THAT PREVIOUSLY. OKAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. CITY MANAGER, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, AND I WANT TO, I WANT TO, I'M GONNA PUT THIS ITEM BACK ON AND I WANT ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE FILMS AND VIDEOS AND EVERYTHING SHOWN FOR, FOR THE NEXT NEXT COUNCIL SESSION. OKAY. WE'RE GONNA REDO THIS BECAUSE THAT THOSE PEOPLE DID SOME OUTSTANDING WORK ON THAT, ON THAT, ON THAT, REPAIRING THE SEWER AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND THEN SOME OUTSTANDING WHERE Y'ALL NEED TO SEE, VISUALLY SEE WHAT, WHAT'S, WHAT'S TAKING PLACE. I WANT THE VIDEOS, FILM. I GOT, I I TOOK QUITE A FEW OF 'EM. I'LL SEND 'EM TO YOU. OKAY. AND WE GONNA REDO THIS. OKAY. BECAUSE, AND ALSO, AND, AND I WANT SOMEBODY FROM THE PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT WITH MOTIVA HERE. OKAY. I WANT SOMEBODY FROM THE PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT WITH MOTIVA HERE. BECAUSE WHAT MOTIVA? THAT THAT TANK FARM IS THE REASON THAT HUD IS NOT FUNDING PRINCE HALL ANYMORE BECAUSE THAT IS POLLUTED AND I'M NEED, IF I HAVE TO HAVE A SIT DOWN WITH THE CROWN PRINCE, I WANT THAT WHOLE THING CLEANED. I DON'T CARE IF IT COSTS A BILLION DOLLARS. WE WANT THAT PROPERTY CLEANED. OKAY. OKAY. JUST A MINUTE ON THAT, COUNCILMAN. THAT'S NOT, NOT AN ITEM THAT WE WOULD BRING IN THE COUNCIL MEETING. NOW THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD SET UP WHEN WE MEET WITH MOTIVA. NO, NO, NO. BUT COUNCILMAN, WHICH WE HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT. THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWER THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED IN A PUBLIC SETTING. SO IF YOU JUST FOLLOW MY LEAD, I'M FROM NOWHERE, WEST SIDE. I GREW UP BACK THERE. I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. [03:25:01] SO LET'S JUST DO IT. PLEASE TAKE MY SUGGESTION. IT HAS NOTHING. PLEASE TAKE MY, MY SUGGESTION, MALE POINT OF ALL. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT I WANT DO. OKAY. WHAT I'M TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. OKAY. OKAY. YOU WANNA DO, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. HOWEVER YOU WANNA DO IT, IT'S OKAY. SO GET THE PUBLIC RELATIONS PEOPLE HERE AND WE'RE GONNA DO THIS THING, OKAY? OKAY. OKAY. WE'RE GONNA REDO IT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? ALRIGHT, NOW LET'S MOVE TO THE [III.C. (4) A Staff Report Regarding Priorities For Water And Waste Water Infrastructure] NEXT ITEM, UH, WHICH WOULD BE A STAFF REPORT, UH, REGARDING PRIORITIES FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. UH, AND THIS IS THE REPORT THAT WE HAVE HERE. AM I CORRECT? YES. WHICH ONE IS UP AND DOWN RIGHT HERE. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, AFTERNOON. WE ARE HERE TODAY AT YOUR REQUEST TO PRESENT TO YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE NEEDS AT THE, UH, UTILITIES DEPARTMENT. I'M NOT SURE IF COUNCIL HAS EVER BEEN PROVIDED AN OVERVIEW OF EVERYTHING THAT IS NEEDED IN THE PAST OR ANY TIME IN RECENT HISTORY. THE THE NUMBERS YOU ARE GONNA SEE, PLEASE NOTE, THESE ARE TODAY'S NUMBERS. THEY DO NOT INCLUDE ANY INFLATION THAT CAN HAPPEN IN THE NEXT 10 TO 80 YEARS, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU'RE GONNA APPROACH THIS, UH, PROBLEM. HOW WE GONNA ADDRESS IT? NEXT SLIDE. THE FIRST SLIDE I WANNA SHOW YOU IS WHAT WE HAVE IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS BUDGET HERE FOR THE 2024. WE HAVE $8 MILLION APPROVED. 2 MILLION OF IT IS BEING PAID, UH, IN CASH, 5.6 MILLION IN CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AND 500,000 IN GRANT FUNDING THAT WE APPLIED FOR. THE 25, 26, 27, 28 YEARS ARE GETTING ADJUSTED WITH THIS NEW BUDGET, WITH NEWER NUMBERS. AND WHAT DIRECTION THIS COUNCIL IS GONNA WISH TO TAKE WILL DETERMINE WHAT THESE YEARS ARE GONNA BE IN TERMS OF SPENDING. SO LET'S START WITH SANITARY SEW STATIONS. WE TRY TO PRIORITIZE EVERYTHING WE HAVE IN TWO ITEMS. SO WE HAVE PRIORITY ONE, AND THESE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE NEEDED. NOW THESE ARE SIX 16 SANITARY SEWER LIFT STATIONS THAT NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. SOME OF THEM ARE UNDER DESIGN, WHICH ARE TWO OF THOSE. ONE IS UNDER A CAPACITY STUDY AND THE REST ARE AWAITING FUNDING TO ADDRESS THOSE 16 SANITARY SEWER LIST STATIONS. THE PROJECTED BUDGET IS $18.9 MILLION. THE SECOND SET OF SANITARY SEWER LIFT STATIONS IS WHAT WE ARE CALLING PRIORITY TWO. UH, THESE ARE 37 SANITARY SEWER LIFT STATIONS THAT CURRENTLY WE ARE ABLE TO BABY PATCH ADDRESS, MAKE THEM WORK AND SERVE THE PURPOSE, BUT THEY ARE IN NEED OF REHABILITATION. AND THE TOTAL COST FOR THOSE 37 SANITARY SEWER LIFT STATIONS IS 37.7, SORRY, $57.3 MILLION. I'M NOT GONNA GO AND ADDRESS EVERY LIFT STATION AND ITS NEEDS. YOU HAVE THAT REPORT. YOU ALL CAN LOOK AT IT FOR THE SAKE OF TIME. I THINK THE TOTALS IS WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IN, IN THIS CASE. THEN WE HAVE THE, WE MISSED ONE SEWER SANITARY SEWER PIPE REPLACEMENT. EVERYTHING ON THE SANITARY SEWER PIPE REPLACEMENT IS PRIORITY ONE. THE PROJECTS YOU SEE LISTED, SOME OF THEM ARE ALREADY UNDER DESIGN, WILL BE READY TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION, BUT WE HAVE ABOUT 220 MILES OF CLAY PIPE AND REINFORCED CONCRETE PIPE WITHOUT TOPS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. SO OVERALL, WE HAVE ABOUT $265 MILLION WORTH OF SANITARY SEWER PIPE REPLACEMENT THAT IS NEEDED. NEXT, THE WATER LINES. OUR PRIORITY ONE USED TO BE 57. COUNCIL APPROVED THE ATLANTA WATER LINE, UH, TWO MONTHS AGO. THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION. SO WE HAVE 56 WATER LINES THAT ARE READY FOR CONSTRUCTION DESIGNED. ALL WE NEED TO DO IS BID THEM AND START THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE ON THEM. WE HAVE APPLIED FOR, UH, TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FUNDING FOR THESE WATER LINES THAT WE ARE WAITING [03:30:01] ON THE RESULTS. AND THE TOTAL COST OF THESE 56 WATER LINES IS $27.3 MILLION. THEN WE GO TO PRIORITY TWO ON THE WATER LINE REPLACEMENT. WE HAVE 400 MILES OF CAST IRON AND AC PIPE. THAT'S THE LAST ITEM. NUMBER 11. IN ORDER TO REPLACE ALL THE WATER LINES THAT ARE NOT PRIORITY ONE ARE ON PRIORITY TWO. WE HAVE $470 MILLION OF ESTIMATED BUDGET. ALTHOUGH THESE 400 MILES ARE NOT ADDED TO PRIORITY ONE BECAUSE WE PUT PRIORITY ONE AS THE LINES THAT ARE ALREADY DESIGNED. A LOT OF THOSE ARE A PRIORITY TODAY, BUT WE PUT THEM IN PRIORITY TOO BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR THEM AT THIS TIME. THE WATER TOWER PROJECTS, WE HAVE 13 TOWERS THAT NEED SOME FORM OF WORK OR ANOTHER. THEIR ESTIMATED COST IS 9.9 MILLION. THE NEXT INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE WATER PURIFICATION PLANT AND THE GULF PUMP STATION PROJECT, THERE'S $16.5 MILLION WORTH OF WORK NEEDED. MAINLY IT'S ELECTRICAL WORK THAT IS REQUIRED AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT BECAUSE OF THE OLD ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THE SINGLE FEED, THE WAY IT HAS BEEN BUILT ORIGINALLY, AND THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT ITEMS TO US BECAUSE OF THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT FAILS OR HAVE A COMPONENT FAIL. AND WE ARE OUT OF OPERATION. WE CAN'T PROVIDE WATER, PORTABLE WATER TO THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR ON THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROJECT. LIKE YOU ALL KNOW, THE MAIN PLANT IS UNDERGOING A $70 MILLION IMPROVEMENT RIGHT NOW. BUT WE NEED IMPROVEMENTS AT THE PORT ACRES WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH ARE WORTH 8.7 MILLION. SABINE PASS IS GONNA NEED A NEW WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, AND THAT'S A $24 MILLION, UH, PROJECT. BUT TO PATCH THE EXISTING PLANT AND MAKE IT MEET PERMIT LIMITS TODAY, WE NEED TO SPEND AROUND A MILLION DOLLARS AT THAT PLANT. THE TOTAL IS 33.7 MILLION FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS. WE IDENTIFIED ABOUT 300 HYDRANTS THAT ARE A PRIORITY ONE BASED ON THE RESEARCH AND THE FIELD INVESTIGATION THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID THAT WILL COST 1.65 MILLION. BUT CITYWIDE, WE HAVE 2,500 HYDRANTS THAT NEED REPLACEMENT AND THE COST IS 13.7 MILLION. IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THESE ARE NOT A PRIORITY ONE, BUT ARE ITEMS THAT WE SHOULD START LOOKING INTO AND CONSIDERING. HOW WE'RE GONNA BUDGET FOR IS FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO SUPPORT GROWTH INDUSTRY, PETROCHEMICAL AND SO ON SO FORTH. UH, AND THOSE RANGE FROM WATERLINE PROJECTS. SO WE CAN HAVE DUAL FEED TO PRO PROJECTS OF, UH, WATER UNDER INFRA UNDER THE CHIP CHANNEL, UH, EXPANSION OF THE PORT ACRES WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. IF IT GETS TO THAT 90% CAPACITY AND ADDING AN ELEVATED STORAGE TANK IN SABINE PASS, THAT'S $282 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS. BUT LIKE I SAID, THESE ARE JUST LISTED SO THEY STAY ON THE BACK OF YOUR MIND OF THINGS THAT WILL BE NEEDED IF WE GONNA GROW. SO IN CONCLUSION, IF YOU BREAK THESE PROJECTS UP INTO PRIORITY ONE, PRIORITY TWO, AND TOTAL FUTURE, THE PRIORITY ONE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE LISTED WILL TOTAL TO 365 MILLION PRIORITY TWO PROJECTS WILL TOTAL TO 529 MILLION. SO THE, THE TOTAL OF PRIORITY ONE AND PRIORITY TWO IS $895 MILLION. IF YOU ADD TO THAT, THE FUTURE EXPANSION TYPE PROJECTS, WE ARE AT 1.177 BILLION. SO THE QUESTION IS TO COUNCIL IS WHICH DIRECTION [03:35:01] DOES THIS COUNCIL WANT THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT TO MOVE IN? AT WHAT RATE DOES THE COUNCIL WANT US TO REPAIR THIS INFRASTRUCTURE? WHERE IS THIS GONNA BE FUNDED FROM AND HOW MANY YEARS IS IT GONNA TAKE? TO GIVE YOU THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT, CURRENTLY, THE DEPARTMENT IS STRUCTURED IN THE MANAGEMENT AND IN THE ENGINEERING DIVISIONS TO EASILY BE ABLE TO HANDLE AND MANAGE 50 TO $60 MILLION A YEAR OF PROJECTS. WE HAVE ENOUGH ENGINEERS ON STAFF, ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO MANAGE 50 TO $60 MILLION A YEAR IN PROJECTS. WHAT DOES 50 MILLION A YEAR MEAN? 50 MILLION A YEAR MEAN IN SEVEN YEARS, WE CAN ADDRESS ALL OF PRIORITY ONE 11 EXTRA YEARS. WE ADDRESS PRIORITY TWO. SO IN 18 YEARS, WE ADDRESS PRIORITY ONE, PRIORITY TWO AT 50 MILLION A YEAR. IF THIS IS GONNA BE FUNDED BY THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, IT'S GONNA REQUIRE EIGHT TO 9% RATE INCREASE A YEAR TO FUND IT AT THAT RATE, AT THAT SPEED. AGAIN, NOTE THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE TODAY'S NUMBERS. SO FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT WE ARE PROJECTING IS 1.5 MILLION FOR A SEWER LIFT STATION CAN BE 2 MILLION. AND THE LONGER WE TAKE TO ADDRESS THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, THE MORE IT'S GONNA COST BECAUSE NO PRICES ARE GOING DOWN TODAY. SO WE NEED DIRECTION FROM YOU ALL. IT'LL BE GREAT TO GET SOME OF THAT DIRECTION BEFORE THAT BUDGET IS FINALIZED. SO WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND WHERE DO YOU WANT THIS DEPARTMENT TO BE IN 10 YEARS, 20 YEARS, OR IF WE GO TO THE 8.9 MILLION THAT WE HAVE BEEN USING NINE 10 MILLION IN THE LAST FEW YEARS FOR CAPITAL, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 85 YEARS AT TODAY'S RATE TO FINISH FIXING WHAT WE NEED TO FIX. IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE 'EM. YES, SIR. BUT VICKY, I'D LIKE TO START, UH, WITH, UH, JUST MY INPUT ON THIS $1.17 BILLION THAT, UH, WE WILL, WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE LOOKING AT TODAY IN 2024 DAYS MONEY, UH, IF WE FOLLOW OUR NORM, WE WON'T EVEN DISCUSS THIS FOR THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS, AND PROBABLY LOOK AT IT AGAIN IN 2027 OR 2028. AND THIS WOULD'VE GROWN PROBABLY ABOUT THREE TO $4 BILLION TO UNDERTAKE IT. NOW, WITH THAT IN MIND, AND I'M LOOKING AT HOW IT HAS BEEN PRIORITIZED, I WOULD SUGGEST A CITY MANAGER ALONG WITH, UH, YOU ALL THAT WE WOULD HAVE A WORKSHOP SETTING WITH COUNCIL AND WITH YOU SO THAT WE COULD MAKE A CONFIRMED, IF YOU WILL, DECISION ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO TAKE, WE COULD SPEND THE NEXT 30 MINUTES, EVERYBODY GIVING THEIR OPINION, AND WE STILL HAVEN'T MOVED AN INCH. SO I WOULD PROPOSE THAT IF WE COULD, IF WE COULD ACTUALLY AGREE WITH WHAT I'M ASKING US TO DO, IS THAT WE WOULD MOVE TOWARD A WORKSHOP SETTING TO DISCUSS THIS WATER AND WASTEWATER REHABILITATION UPDATE. AND MAYBE BY THE END OF MAYBE ONE OR TWO SESSIONS WE COULD COME UP WITH HOW WE WE WOULD WANT TO OPERATE. BUT THAT WOULD BE WHAT I WANNA PRESENT TO THE GROUP AT THIS JUNCTION. GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN. I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY. WE DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT NOW BECAUSE BRINGING IT TO US IN THIS MANNER DOESN'T REALLY ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU ALL WANT US TO DO AND WHAT WE NEED TO RESPOND TO. BUT I COULD JUST SAY THIS, IN YOUR PREPARATION FOR THIS WORKSHOP, WHAT I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ADDRESS THE PRIORITIES. OKAY? THE PRIORITIES SHOULD BE BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW CITIZENS ARE COMPLAINING MOST ABOUT. OKAY? WHAT DO THEY COMPLAIN THE MOST ABOUT? THAT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR US. I MEAN, WE HERE TO SERVE CITIZENS, NOT US. SO WHATEVER THEY TALK YOU AS ENGINEERS OUGHT TO KNOW. SO SORT OF GET WHAT YOU FEEL IS A PRIORITY. FUNDING. WE UNDERSTAND FUNDING, YOU KNOW, WE ONLY GOT SO MUCH TO WORK WITH THAT OTHER SOURCE OF FUNDING. THE OTHER SOURCE OF FUNDING IS FOR A STAFF MANAGER TO GO OUT AND SEEK GRANTS AND ALL THIS STUFF. NOT CANCEL. [03:40:01] OKAY? HOWEVER, SO MUCH MONEY WE GOING TO PUT INTO THIS EACH YEAR, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED YOU ALL TO GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT WE NEED TO PUT IN, KEEPING IN MIND HOW MUCH WE CAN AFFORD TO DO. SO IF YOU ALL DO THAT, GET THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER AND, AND WE DO THE WORKSHOP, I THINK WE COULD SAVE A LOT OF TIME. LIKE DAMIR SAID, YES, SIR. I DON'T WANT, SIR, DON'T WANNA GO. JUST BRIEFLY, CITIZENS, NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS SANITARY SEWER. SANITARY SEWER BACKUPS. AND WE HAVE $40 MILLION WORTH OF GRANTS APPLIED FOR ALREADY. 20 MILLION FOR SEWER LIFT STATIONS, 20 MILLION FOR SEWER PIPE NOW IN, IN THE, IN THE WORKS. SO, YEAH, WELL, THAT'S WHY I SAY WHAT MAYOR'S SUGGESTION WAS. I'M ALL FOR IT BECAUSE WE NEED TIME. WE NEED TO TALK, WE NEED TO GET A GOOD UNDERSTANDING, WE NEED TO ISSUE DIRECTORS, BUT, UH, THIS IS NOT A TIME WE GOT OTHER THINGS TO DO. SO I AGREE WITH US SETTING UP A WORKSHOP. THAT'S A GOOD TOPIC. IT'S A GREAT REPORT. I MEAN, THIS, THIS IS GOOD FOR YEARS TO COME AND THAT'S WHAT THIS CITY NEEDS. SOMETHING WHEN YOU GONE AND I'M GONE, THAT SOMEBODY COULD PICK UP SOMETHING AND CONTINUE THIS CITY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THAT'S THE WAY WE HAVE TO OPERATE. WE OWE IT TO CITIZENS. WE OWE IT TO THIS CITY. YES. UH, JESS AND CHRISTIAN AT THE OFFICE DID A GREAT JOB, UH, GATHERING ALL THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER FOR US TO PUT IT IN, UH, THIS REPORT. AND WE CAN ALSO ADD TO THE WORKSHOP, WHERE IS THIS KIND OF FUNDING GONNA COME FROM, IF IT'S RATE INCREASES, WHAT RATE INCREASE WILL PROVIDE, HOW MUCH? SO YOU ALL DECIDE WHICH DIRECTION YOU WANNA GO. WE'LL GIVE YOU THOSE NUMBERS AS WELL. OKAY. COUNCILMAN FRANK. NO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. AND I, I CONCUR WITH, UH, THE MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THANK YOU FOR SUGGESTING THAT THIS GO TO A WORKSHOP. I APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO CONCUR WITH COUNCILMAN DEUCE THAT WE LOOK, UM, AT THOSE PRIORITIES OF WHAT THE CITIZENS, UH, HAVE FOR US. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT AND IMPERATIVE THAT WE USE YOUR EXPERTISE, UH, AS WELL. UH, WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS, UM, HEALTH AND SAFETY, UH, FOR OUR CITIZENS, SO THAT THAT FALLS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF, UH, THE SEWER LINES, THAT'S HEALTH, UH, AS WELL. BUT, UH, I'VE ALWAYS, UM, UH, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, I'VE ALWAYS, UH, APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THE CITIZENS DON'T KNOW. UH, I NEVER KNEW WHAT AN ATLANTA VALVE WAS. I NEVER KNEW THE PRIORITY OF THAT VALVE UNTIL OUR CITIZENS DIDN'T KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT VALVE BEING REPLACED. AND HOW, UH, IF THAT WERE TO GO DOWN, WE WOULD'VE LOST WATER, UH, TO AN ENTIRE SEGMENT OF OUR CITY. SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT, UH, DON'T, UM, AREN'T, UH, READILY AVAILABLE OR READILY KNOWN, UH, BY US. FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, BRING THOSE TO US AS WELL. OF COURSE, UH, THOSE, UH, THINGS THAT, UM, NEED TO BE WORKED ON THAT WE PERHAPS DON'T KNOW, UM, IN OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR EVERYDAY TODAY, UH, GOING FORWARD. SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR THOSE AS WELL. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCILOR KEN LAW. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, GREAT PRESENTATION. VERY DETAILED. UH, I WAS, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT IT, UM, MAKING SURE THAT I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING. AND I THINK THAT YOU GUYS CAPTURED A LOT THAT WE NEED TO DO. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 1 MILLION, UH, COSTS 1000 MILLION, HUH? 1000 MILLION. 1.1 BILLION. 1 BILLION, 1 BILLION COSTS AT THE END OF THIS COMPLETION OF, UH, ALL THESE THINGS THAT WE REQUIRING. BUT I WOULD ALSO KIND OF ASK YOU GUYS TO TAKE THE DATA. YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL, USE THE DATA THAT YOU'VE ALREADY COMPILED. UH, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A GRANT WRITER THAT'S COMING ON BOARD. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE AT WITH THE PROCESS OF HAVING THAT PERSON, BUT BE READY TO PREVENT, UH, PROVIDE THE DATA TO THAT PERSON. AND SO WE CAN CONTINUE GOING FOR THOSE GRANTS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT. AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TALKING DOC, YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THESE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE NEED TO STAY IN FRONT OF THE BALL. UH, THE GRANTS, UH, PRIORITIZING, I THINK THE RATE INCREASE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REALLY TALK REALLY HARD ABOUT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. RATE INCREASE TO THE CITIZEN. I KNOW WE HAVE TOUGH DECISIONS, TOUGH ANSWERS, TOUGH QUESTIONS, BUT HOWEVER, THAT SHOULD BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE KIND OF LOOK LATER AFTER EXALTING, ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT'S WITHIN OUR CONTROL. SO I DO THINK A WORKSHOP IS NEEDED FOR THIS. LET'S TAKE A, YOU KNOW, A HALF A DAY, DISCUSS ON A COUPLE OCCASIONS AND JUST, JUST REALLY PUT THE NUMBERS TOGETHER AND SAY WHERE YOU GUYS AT WITH THE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, WHERE WE AT AS COUNCIL AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE WE GONNA BE IN 10 YEARS. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS, UH, PRESENTATION. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL SO KINDLY. ALRIGHT, NOW WE'LL [03:45:01] MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM, UH, WHICH WOULD BE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION, NEITHER. DO WE HAVE ANY CORRESPONDENCE, RIGHT? CITY SECRETARY? YES. OKAY, NOW WE'LL GO DOWN TO DISCUSSIONS WHERE [III.F. (2) A Discussion Regarding The Status Of The First Source Program With The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation (EDC) (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)] I HAD ACTUALLY HAD MY AV AND GONE DOWN TO EARLIER, WHICH WOULD BE NUMBER TWO, A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE, UH, FIRST SOURCE PROGRAM WITH THE, UH, PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION, EXCUSE ME. EDC. AND THIS IS GONNA BE REQUESTED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ETT. HOW YOU DOING MR. STOKES? GOOD AFTERNOON. OKAY. WHERE ARE WE WITH IT? GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA, GIVING ME, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY AS YOU HAD PROMISED THAT YOU WOULD TO UPDATE, UH, COUNCIL ON THIS PROGRAM. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS REMISS IN DOING THE LAST TIME THAT I, UH, WAS HERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, UH, PARTICULAR PROGRAM WAS KINDA LEVEL SETTING AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTOOD THE, THE HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM. SO LET ME JUST BRIEFLY DO THAT AND THEN WE'LL, UH, TALK FORWARD LOOKING. UH, PREVIOUS P-A-D-D-C, UH, LEADERSHIP APPLAUD A VERY CREATIVE APPROACH, UH, TO TACKLE AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM THAT WE STILL SOMEWHAT FACE TODAY. AND THAT IS GETTING PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS, UH, HIRED FOR THE, THE MYRIAD OF HIGH DEMAND HIGHWAY WAGE JOBS THAT EXIST, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PRESENT INDUSTRIAL BOOM. UH, SAID FORMER LEADERSHIP ALONG WITH THE FORMER LEADERSHIP OF THE, UH, LOCAL WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS COM, UH, COMMISSION WERE ABLE TO CREATE A DATABASE THAT GAVE, UH, THE PADC ACCESS AND VIEWING, UH, TO ALLOW SIFTING THROUGH REGISTERED WORKFORCE JOB SEEKERS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE REFERRALS AS NEEDED TO P-A-E-D-C CLIENTS THAT HAD BEEN APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CORPORATIONS INCENTIVE PROGRAM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF HIRING AND RETAINING A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS. WHILE IT WAS AN EXCEPTIONALLY CREATIVE AND USEFUL TOOL AND OVERALL PROGRAM, UH, MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE PROGRAM DID NOT GET THE DESIRED TRACTION, UH, THAT WAS ORIGINALLY HOPED FOR, AND EVENTUALLY WAS NOT BEING USED BY EMPLOYERS TO THE EXTENT THAT, UH, WAS HOPED FOR. UH, AND THOSE EMPLOYERS STARTED IN TURN USING MORE TRADITIONAL WAYS TO, UH, FILL THEIR POSITIONS AND MEET THEIR REQUIREMENTS, UH, WITHIN THE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAD, UH, CONTRACTED WITH US. UH, IT ALSO, UH, SADLY BECAME A LITTLE BIT INEFFICIENT, UH, FOR PADC STAFF, UH, AS THE CORPORATION FOUND ITSELF KINDA SLOWLY BUT SURELY MORPHING INTO A STAFFING AGENCY RATHER THAN AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION. SO, WHILE I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PROBLEM IT MEANT TO ERADICATE STILL EXISTS AND THE NEED TO FIND MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS DEFINITELY STILL EXISTS. UH, THE RALLY IS THAT THE FIRST SOURCE REFERRAL PROGRAM, UH, SIMPLY BECAME OUTDATED AND UNUSED, UH, THREE YEARS, UH, FROM AS WE CURRENTLY SIT HERE. NOW, UH, FURTHERMORE, THE DATABASE, WHICH WAS SERVED AS THE UNDERPINNING OF THE PROGRAM WAS A CUSTOMIZED, UH, DESIGNED AND CREATED PROGRAM, UH, BY A WORKFORCE SOLUTION STAFFER THAT, UH, IS TWO YEARS REMOVED FROM THAT ORGANIZATION ALONG WITH THE LEADERSHIP THAT WAS IN THE ORGANIZATION AT THAT TIME. SO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE P-A-A-D-C AND THE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS COM COMMISSION, THAT WAS THE, THAT SERVED AS THE CREATION OF THIS OVERALL PROGRAM, NO LONGER IS IN EFFECT AND HAS NOT BEEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS. NOW, ALL THIS TO SAY THAT THE FORMER, UH, FIRST SOURCE REFERRAL PROGRAM, ALTHOUGH VERY CREATIVE, UH, AND INVENTIVE, UH, SIMPLY NO LONGER EXISTS AND HASN'T FUNCTIONALLY EXISTED SINCE LONG BEFORE I CAME ON BOARD WITH THE PADC. THAT'S THE HISTORY. WITH ALL THAT SAID, IT IS MY DUTY AND MY FULLEST INTENT TO FIND NEW, EFFICIENT, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE HIGHER ABILITY OF OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE. FIRST STEP, UH, THAT I TOOK, UH, TOWARDS CREATING THAT, UH, TYPE OF SUSTAINABILITY IS TO, UH, CREATE THE CORPORATION'S FIRST EVER OFFICIAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, MANAGEMENT POSITION. IN ADDITION, UM, LIKE I SAY, ADDING TO THE WORKFORCE COMPONENT, UH, WAS THE COMPONENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. AND THAT WILL THEN FOCUS ON THE MUCH NEEDED, [03:50:01] UH, EXCUSE ME, THE MOST NEEDED FOCUS TO ROOT, TO LOOK AT THE ROOT OF THE ISSUES OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE FACES, SO THAT NOT ONLY DO WE INJECT FUNDS INTO SKILLS TRAINING, UH, AS YOU KNOW, IN, IN KEEPING WITH THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD EARLIER, UH, WITH SOCHI AND MR. LINTON AND I WILL BE HAVING IN A LITTLE WHILE HERE. UH, BUT ALSO HAVING THE PADC BECOME A CONDUIT FOR THE AWARENESS OF AND POTENTIAL UNTAPPED RESOURCES FOCUSED ON SOCIAL DEFICIENCIES NEEDING TO BE HANDLED BEFORE A PERSON CAN EVEN GO TO WORK AND MAKE USE OF THESE HIGH DEMAND HIGH WAGE JOBS. INTERVIEWS FOR THE POSITION THAT I MENTIONED BEGAN LAST MONTH, AND WE WERE PRESENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT RECRUITING PROCESS. IN THESE INTERVIEWS, WE ARE IMPRESSING UPON CANDIDATES, OUR STRONG DESIRE FOR THEM TO BRING TO THE TABLE FRESH PROPOSALS, UH, IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA OF WORKFORCE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, IT IS MY GOAL TO, LIKE I SAY, TO HAVE THIS PERSON IN PLACE, UH, WITHIN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE MONTHS. IN ADDITION TO NEW STAFFING, HOWEVER, I AM ALSO COLLABORATING WITH COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE STATES OF TEXAS, LOUISIANA, AND OKLAHOMA TO COLLECT THEIR CURRENT BEST AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES TO MATCH WITH IDEAS THAT, THAT I AND STAFF PRESENTLY HAVE, UH, IN THIS ARENA. AND I'M PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SIMILAR IN INDUSTRIAL BASE TO THAT OF PORT ARTHUR. AS I MENTIONED, IT IS MY GOAL TO HAVE THIS NEW HIRE IN PLACE IN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE MONTHS. UH, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED IN THIS CONVERSATION AND AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME WHEN IT WORKS FOR YOU ALL SCHEDULE, I'D LIKE TO COME BACK, UH, SAY WITHIN FIVE, SIX MONTHS AND GIVE AN UPDATE TO WHERE WE ARE ONCE WE HAVE THE STAFFING IN PLACE AND THE IDEAS OF OUR NEW PROGRAMMING STARTING TO GEL AND BE IMPLEMENTED. SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH THE FORMER PROGRAM. LIKE I SAY, UH, AT ITS ROOT, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND VITAL, UH, JUST WASN'T SUSTAINABLE. SO NOW WE NEED TO KIND OF BUILD ON THAT FOUNDATION AND CREATE A PROGRAM THAT DOES HAVE THAT SUSTAINABILITY, THAT REPEATABILITY. IN FACT, IF I COULD PARAPHRASE YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE, AS YOU WERE JUST MENTIONING, UH, ON THE OTHER SUBJECT OF, OF THE, THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WHEN WE ARE LONG GONE, THE PROGRAMS NEED TO CONTINUE ON AND TO CONTINUE ON BEING SUCCESSFUL. UH, THEY SHOULD NOT BE TIED AROUND TO ONE OR TWO OR THREE INDIVIDUALS. THEY NEED TO BE REPEATABLE BY WHOEVER COMES AFTER US, UH, AND THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL. AND THAT WILL BE MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AS IT RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR AREA. OKAY. OKAY. WELCOME. THANK YOU MR. STOKES. UH, BUT, UH, I'M GONNA AGREE WITH YOU AND WITH NEW LEADERSHIP, EVERY, EVERYONE SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN NEW IDEAS AND TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. UH, NEW SET OF EYES SOMETIMES ARE THE BEST WAY TO, TO IMPROVE THINGS. I'LL GO ALONG WITH THAT, BUT JUST A WORD TO THE CITIZENS AND WHOEVER HEARD YOUR PRESENTATION. FIRST SOURCE WAS A GOOD SYSTEM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO BRIEFED YOU ABOUT IT, BUT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THAT SYSTEM AS A DIRECTOR AT THE EDC AND ALSO AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. THE PROGRAM STRENGTH CAME FROM THE, THE DIRECTOR COMMUNICATING WITH THE PERSON IN THE REFINERIES WHO WERE THE ONES THAT WAS OVER THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR, YOU KNOW, AND COUNCILMAN KINLAW IS PROBABLY THE ONLY COUNCILMAN ON COUNCIL RIGHT NOW TO SHOW YOU HOW THIS WORKED AND EVERYTHING. BUT WE HAD THE LAST L AND G CONTRACT WE DID, THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR DID NOT WANT TO WORK WITH FIRST SOURCE, AND THAT'S PART OF US CONTRACTING WITH 'EM. AND THEY HAD A FEW THINGS. THEN WHEN THEY SAID THAT, WE SAID, OKAY, YOU DON'T WORK WITH THAT, THEN NO PROBLEM. YOU GET THE STANDARD CONTRACTS. WELL, THEY CAME BACK AND TOLD US HE'S GONNA WORK WITH US. AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS HIS SUBCONTRACTORS STARTED CONTACTING THE EDC AND SAYING, WE GONNA NEED THESE, MANY OF THESE, THESE, MANY OF THESE, THESE MANY OF THESE. AND THAT'S WHEN THE EDC STARTED SENDING OUT THE CALLS TO THE PEOPLE WHO THEY FOUND IN THE SYSTEM TO FILL IT IN. SO, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE SYSTEM WORKED, BUT THE SYSTEM WORKED BECAUSE THAT WAS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR TALKING DIRECTLY WITH THE COMPANY PEOPLE AND WHERE WE ARE AS A COUNCIL. OUR THREE COUNCIL MEMBER, OUR INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE, [03:55:03] THEY WERE TALK WITH THE PLANT MANAGER OR HIS REP, AND THEY WOULD ITERATE ON THESE THINGS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO MADE DECISION IN THE, IN THE, IN THE, UH, PLANTS. SO REGARDLESS ON WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD NOW, THAT IS THE STATUS OF THE OLD PLAN. SO IT WORKED. JUST THE PEOPLE HAD TO WORK IT. BUT I'M NOT EVEN INTERESTED IN FIRST SOURCE NO MORE. I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING A NEW DIRECTION. YOU SAY TWO, THREE MONTHS, WE'RE GONNA GET THE NEW PLAN. IN ABOUT FIVE OR SIX MONTHS, WE REPORT BACK, LEMME COME BACK. YES, SIR. THEN I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT TIME. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. OKAY. THANK YOU MR. STOKES. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER LIGHTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, UH, DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER. NEXT [III.F. (3) A Discussion Regarding The Infrastructure Of Downtown Port Arthur (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)] WE HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF, UH, DOWNTOWN PORT ARTHUR. THERE'S TWO HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ETT. OKAY. CITY MANAGER. WHO WOULD BE THE PERSON FOR THE, IS THERE A STAFF PERSON THAT YES. OH, OKAY. MR. COTTON. OKAY. I WAS SORT OF ASKED ABOUT THIS OFFLINE. WHAT DID I WANT IN IT? IT WAS SIMPLE. I HAD A SIMPLE QUESTION. WE HAD A GRANT FOR FACING THE UTILITIES ON THE GROUND FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT. NOT JUST MOTIVA, BUT WE HAD A GRANT, THE EDA GRANT, UH, WHAT WAS IT? CITY MANAGER. WHAT WAS THAT COST OF THAT? YEAH, THAT'S THE RIGHT TRACK. THE EDA GRANT. $3 MILLION. HOW MUCH? $3 MILLION. OKAY. 3 MILLION. WE HAD TO PUT $700,000 WITH IT. OKAY. YES. AND IT'S, AND THAT WAS AWARDED TO US WHEN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WHEN THEY ASKED ME WHAT WAS I'M GOING, WHAT IT ENTAILS TODAY, WHAT I WANT TO KNOW, I WANT TO KNOW WHEN WAS THAT GRANT AWARDED? AND THE REASON I WANT TO KNOW THAT, BECAUSE I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE IT'S BEEN A WHILE AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE ARE NOT MOVING ON THAT PROJECT. YEAH. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MOVED ON IT. YEAH. YES, SIR. UM, I WANT TO SAY I GOT HERE IN 2022. IT WAS ALREADY AWARDED. WE SOLICITED FOR ENGINEERS SOME TIMES THAT YEAR. WE HIRED A WC TO DO THE PLANS ON THAT JOB. UM, THE PLANS ARE READY AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT RIGHT NOW, UM, THE PROJECT IS BEING REVIEWED BY AN ATTORNEY. WE NEED A, A TITLE OPINION GIVEN ON THE PROJECT BEFORE THE PLANS CAN GO TO THE EDA. NOW, ONCE THEY GET TO THE EDA, THEY'LL BE REVIEWED. HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET APPROVAL AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION. BUT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW. OKAY. LET'S HAVE A UPDATE ON THAT ONE. THAT IS ONE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO STAY ON TOP OF. IT'S A EDA GRANT. AND MY CONCERN, JOHN, IS BECAUSE OF THE TIMEFRAME THAT FROM WHEN IT WAS AWARDED TO WHERE WE ARE NOW. OKAY. WE JUST GONNA HAVE TO PICK THAT UP. YEAH. YOU KNOW, SO, UH, I, I THINK COUNCIL AND MYSELF, WE ARE GOING TO NEED A STATUS REPORT ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS. MM-HMM. WHEN WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING SOMEBODY TO BREAK THE GROUND OR IF WE HAVE IT. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THIS ON THE AGENDA. SO THAT INFORMATION, IF YOU DON'T HAVE NOW, THAT'S INFORMATION THAT WE NEED. MAYBE THE NEXT MEETING. 'CAUSE THIS JUST FINDING OUT WHERE YOU ARE. MM-HMM. . BUT I NEED TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE THAT IS CRITICAL. NOT ONLY JUST FOR MOTIVA, SOME PEOPLE THINK WE DO THINGS FOR, NO, THIS IS NOT FOR MOTIVA THAT E THAT EDA GRANT WAS ACTUALLY APPLIED FOR BEFORE THEY CAME INTO THE PICTURE. YES. YOU KNOW, SO IT WAS FOR DOWNTOWN, THAT'S THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND WE NEED TO GET THAT DONE. OKAY. YEAH. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. SURE. OKAY. UH, WE WILL MOVE OVER TO PAGE THREE. UH, [III.F. (4) A Discussion Regarding Bandit Signs (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Beckcom)] ITEM NUMBER FOUR. UH, WE HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING BANDIT SIGNS, UH, REQUESTED BY MAYOR PRO TEM BECKHAM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THIS WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, UH, NUMBER ONE BY THE BEAUMONT CITY COUNCIL WHO ADDRESSED THIS AT ONE OF THEIR MEETINGS LAST MONTH, BUT ALSO BY, UH, SOME, UH, PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT ASKING ABOUT, UH, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS? AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE [04:00:01] GOT SOME CODES THAT ADDRESS THIS. AND SO, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT IS HERE, AND I BELIEVE OUR BUILDING INSPECTOR'S GONNA ADDRESS IT AS WELL. AND, AND BANDIT SIGNS, THAT'S KIND OF A, A EUPHEMISM, I GUESS. BUT, BUT THESE SIGNS ARE LIKE LOST PETS, GARAGE SALES, ESTATE SALES, AND THEY'RE TACKED UP ON UTILITY POLES. THEY'RE STUCK IN RANDOM PLACES. MY YARD GETS BARRAGED WITH THEM EVERY NOW AND THEN BECAUSE OF WHERE I LIVE ON THE CORNER OF JIMMY JOHNSON. PEOPLE THINK, OH, HIGH TRAFFIC, I'M GONNA GO STICK A SIGN IN YOUR YARD. AND THEY GO DIRECTLY IN THE GARBAGE. BUT THIS IS MORE ABOUT THE SIGNS THAT WE SEE AROUND TOWN, AND I JUST WANT THE CITIZENS TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM. OKAY. WELL, GENERALLY THE ORDINANCE ITSELF SAYS NOTHING IS ALLOWED IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. NO SIGNS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY, NO SIGNS ON POLES, ANYTHING LIKE THAT. UH, WHEN THE INSPECTORS ARE OUT IN WHICH WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A SIGN INSPECTOR PER SE, WE ALL THE INSPECTORS KIND OF KEEP IT ON THEIR AGENDA TO LOOK FOR THESE AND GRAB 'EM AND THROW 'EM IN THE TRUCK AND THROW 'EM AWAY IN THE DUMPSTER WHEN THEY GET BACK HERE. BUT I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO ADD SOME TEETH TO THE, UH, TO THE ORDINANCE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IS, IS FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF THIS. IF THERE'S A PHONE NUMBER ON IT, WE GENERALLY CALL 'EM AND SAY, HEY, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. BUT A LOT OF THIS STUFF WE SEE IS IN REFERENCE TO SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN ON THE 17TH, SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN HERE. UH, PEOPLE ARE BUYING HOMES FOR CASH. UH, WE SEE A LOT OF THAT STUFF AROUND. WE GRAB ALL THAT UP AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO PUT SOMETHING ON THEIR PROPERTY, PERSONAL PROPERTY, IT CAN'T BE, UH, SOMETHING OF COMMERCIAL, YOU KNOW, WITH COMMERCIAL, UH, OVERTONES. SO YOU CAN'T SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA PUT THIS, THIS IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. IT STILL IS NOT A, A LEGAL SIGN AT AT THAT POINT. SO YEAH, IF WE CAN ADD SOMETHING TO THIS, UH, BANDIT SIGNS AREN'T REALLY, UH, DEFINED IN HERE. WE CALL 'EM TEMPORARY SIGNS. UH, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD ADD SOMETHING TO THE, TO THE ORDINANCE. AND IF I GET SOMETHING IN THERE, I'LL, I'LL, UH, RUN IT BY Y'ALL FIRST TO MAKE SURE. IF YOU WANNA SEND ME SOME SUGGESTIONS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND I DO HAVE A COPY OF WHAT, UH, BEAUMONT, UH, HAS, UH, HAS PUT FORTH AND WE JUST NEED TO GET THAT CODIFIED. IF I COULD GET YOU TO SEND ME A COPY OF WHAT YOU GOT FROM BEAUMONT SO THAT I CAN LOOK AT IT AND THEN, UM, WE'LL WE WILL MEET AND DECIDE WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO. OKAY, GREAT. I WILL DO THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, WE'VE COMPLETED THAT ONE. NOW WE ARE INTO, UH, [V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST] OR NUMBER FIVE, WHICH WILL BE REPORTS OF, UH, COMMUNITY INTERESTS. UH, I DO HAVE SOMETHING IN FRONT OF ME HERE THAT I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH. UH, IT IS, UH, A BLOCK PARTY FOR HOME OWNERSHIP, UH, WHICH IS GOING TO COMMENCE ON JUNE 21ST. HOPEFULLY. THE WEATHER INCREMENT WEATHER, WEATHER HAS PASSED BY, BY THAT TIME, I THINK THAT'S 21ST IS FRIDAY AT 500 PROPERTY, WHICH WOULD BE AT THE PAVILION BEGINNING AT 5:00 PM AND IT HAS BEEN ACTUALLY, UH, SPONSORED AND GIVEN BY LEGACY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. SO ON FRIDAY THE 21ST, UH, BEGINNING AT 5:00 PM THEY WANT YOU TO BUCKLE UP FOR AN EVENING OF BURSTING WITH FUN GAMES, FOOD TRUCKS, MOVIE NIGHT VENDORS, UH, CAPTIVATING SHOWS AND EVEN MORE. AND THIS, AGAIN, IS BEING SPONSORED BY THE LEGACY, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION, WHICH IS I THINK ONE OF THE PARTNERS IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF OUR, UH, DOWNTOWN AREA. SO IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE BEGINNING AT FIVE ON FRIDAY, AND IT'S DRIED OUT REAL WELL, THAT'LL BE A GOOD PLACE TO COME, UH, TO BEGIN YOUR, UH, WEEKEND. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, UH, IN THIS SECTOR THERE? OKAY, THERE AREN'T ANY LIGHTS. WE WILL MOVE RIGHT ALONG AND WE WILL, UH, UNFINISHED BUSINESS THERE, THERE ISN'T ANY, UH, THAT I HAVE HERE. SO WE WILL GO NOW [VII. CONSENT AGENDA ] TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE CONSENT AGENDA ACTUALLY BEGINS ON PAGE FOUR THROUGH PAGE, UH, EXCUSE ME. UH, I THINK AT FOUR THROUGH PAGE EIGHT. UH, IT, UH, YEAH, I BELIEVE THAT IS CORRECT OR NO, THAT'S NON JUMP THROUGH. YEAH, WELL THROUGH PAGE SEVEN, IT GOES THROUGH PAGE SEVEN, MY, MY, MY MISTAKE FROM PAGE FOUR THROUGH PAGE SEVEN. AND THERE ARE ITEMS HERE THAT, UH, ARE BASICALLY WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL ROUTINE, UH, OR ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE. AND, BUT THERE'LL BE ITEMS THAT A PER ACCOUNTS A PERSON WISH YOU WOULD HAVE WITHDRAWN. WOULD YOU PLEASE, UH, TELL ME THE PAGE NUMBER AND THE ITEM? SERGEANT WITH COUNCILMAN FRANK? MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO WITHDRAWN FOR CONSIDERATION. [04:05:01] UH, FIVE ON FIVE. HOLD JUST A MINUTE. FIVE ON FIVE. OKAY. AND, UM, SEVEN ON SIX AND SEVEN ON PAGE SIX? YES. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES. UH, PAGE, UH, FIVE ITEM ONE. OKAY. GIVE ME JUST A SECOND. GO. YEAH. ITEM ONE, JUST, JUST A SECOND. OKAY. ITEM ONE? YES. OKAY. ON. YEAH, PAGE FIVE. PAGE FIVE. THAT'S IT. OKAY. UH, UH, COUNCILMAN ETT? YES. OKAY. DID, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK PULL FIVE ON FIVE? HE DID, YES. SOMEONE'S ALREADY DONE FIVE ON FIVE AND LEWIS GOT ONE ON ONE FIVE. SO GOOD. I'M GOOD, MAYOR. OKAY. UH, MAYOR PRO TEMP. THANK YOU. NUMBER 17 ON PAGE SEVEN. 17 ON SEVEN. AND THAT'S IT. OKAY, SO NOW I'M READY TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR, OH, OH, YOUR LIGHT STILL ON? YEAH. A SECOND. OH YEAH. PAGE, PAGE SEVEN. ITEM 15, PAGE SEVEN, NUMBER 15. OKAY. COUNCILMAN FRANK, YOUR LIGHT STILL ON? NO SIR, I WAS. OKAY, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NOW I'M READY TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED WITH THE EXCLUSION OF ITEMS 1 5 7, 15 AND 17. MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MOVED. MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK. SECOND MAYOR IS BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THE, UH, STATED ITEMS. MAY UH, ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION? ARE ANY QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSES? AYE. SO IS ALL THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THOSE THAT I JUST CALLED OUT IS APPROVED NOW FOR THE ITEMS TO CONSIDER INDIVIDUALLY, [VII.C. (1) P.R. No. 23729 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Soutex Surveyors & Engineers Of Port Arthur, Texas, To Provide Drawings And Specifications For The Extension Of Jimmy Johnson Boulevard From The Medical Center Of Southeast Texas To State Highway 365, For The Not-To-Exceed Amount Of $410,000.00. Funds Are Available In The Street Improvement Account No. 307-21-053-8517-00-10-000. Project No. ST4001] LET'S LOOK AT PAGE FIVE. ITEM NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS PR NUMBER 23 7 29. IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH SOUTH TEXAS SURVEYORS AND, UH, ENGINEERS OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO PROVIDE DRAWINGS AND THE SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE EXTENSION OF JIMMY JOHNSON BOULEVARD FROM THE, UH, MEDICAL CENTER OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS TO HIGHWAY 365 FOR THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $410,000 FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE STREET. IMPROVE, UH, IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH 0 5 3 DASH 8 5 7 0 0 DASH 0 0 0 0. AND IT HAS A PROJECT NUMBER OF ST 4 0 0 1. MAY I GET A, UH, EXCUSE ME, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL ON THIS ONE? UH, COUNCILMAN MOTION FOR MOTION FOR APPROVAL? OKAY, MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, MAYOR SECOND. IT BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. THEY WERE, WOULD APPROVE PER NUMBER 23. UH, 7 29 READY FOR QUESTION? UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES. I'M LOOKING AT THIS DESIGNS AND EVERYTHING. WHAT ABOUT THE, THE RIGHT OF WAY? WHO OWNS THE RIGHT OF WAY? WHO OWNS THE LAND? ARE WE GONNA BE BUYING THE LAND FROM 'EM OR ARE WE GOING TO BE, UH, ARE THEY GONNA DONATE THE LAND OR WHAT? THAT IS THE PLAN. WE, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. WE, WE'VE BEEN GIVEN AN AGREEMENT BY THE DEVELOPER WHERE HE WOULD DONATE THE LAND FOR THE ROADWAY AND THEN GIVE US FIVE YEARS, I BELIEVE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS TO BUILD THE ROAD. AND THEN, UH, THE LAND WOULD OBVIOUSLY BECOME AVAILABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT. WHAT, WHAT ABOUT, WHAT ABOUT THE, UH, UH, THE WETLANDS? HAVE THAT BEEN AN ISSUE, BEEN DEALT WITH? IT, IT HAS THE, UH, PROPERTY OWNER AT THIS TIME HAS GOT AN ASSESSMENT AND HE'S, UH, TALKED WITH THE CORPS AND HE'S GOTTEN AN OKAY TO GO AHEAD AND, AND HE'S PUT IN DITCHES. SO THE LAND HAS BEEN DRAINED AFTER, YOU KNOW, THE LAST YEAR OR TWO AND CLEARED. SO WAIT A MINUTE. YOU'RE SAYING THE LAND HAS BEEN DRAINED, BUT WHAT CLASSIFIED IT AS WETLANDS BEFORE? I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S THE ABILITY TO DRAIN. HAVE THEY MITIGATED THAT OR THEY PLANNED TO, IS THAT MITIGATION FOR THAT? I MEAN, REPLACE IT? I HAVEN'T GOT INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PART OF IT AT, AT, AT THIS POINT YET. I KNOW THAT HE [04:10:01] CLEARED THE LAND AND HE IS TOLD THE CITY THAT THE LAND IS CLEARED IN ENVIRONMENTALLY. WELL, WE NEED TO GET THAT IN WRITING. AND ALSO, UM, THE DONATION, YOUR DISCUSSION OF JUST TALKING ABOUT DONATING THE LAND, YOU GOT THAT IN WRITING ANYTHING IN, IN CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH THAT, I'VE, I'VE GOT A ME A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT HASN'T BEEN PROCESSED YET. YOU SEE MY POSITION ON COUNCIL IS I NEED TO BE FINE LOOKING FOR SOURCES OF, OF REVENUE. MM-HMM. AND I, I FEEL OPENING THAT UP IS GOING TO CREATE THE VALUE. YOU, IT IS GOING OUR WAY TO 365. RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE PROPOS TO DO. YES. CORRECT. THAT'S GOING TO CREATE VALUE. OKAY. BUT I DON'T WANT US TO BE SPENDING 400 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS AHEAD OF TIME ON SPECULATION. YES. NOW WHAT ARE THE, ONCE THE LAND, ONCE THIS IS PUT IN AND I'M, AND, AND, AND I HAVE TROUBLE, I HAVE PROBLEM WITH, I READ SOMETHING TALKING ABOUT EVACUATION ROUTE. I DON'T, I I'M NOT BUYING THAT EITHER. YOU GOT A, A MEDICAL BULLET BOARD GOING RIGHT TO THE SAME POINT YOU JUST GOING BEHIND THE, THE MEDICAL CENTER. MM-HMM. , I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT, UH, EVACUATION ROUTE IS GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO ANYTHING. BUT THE POINT I NEED TO KNOW EVERY, IF WE, IF WE DO THIS, THAT THE VALUE IS GOING TO GO UP AND LIKE I SAID, MY POSITION IS SOURCE OF NEW REVENUE VALUE IS GONNA WORK, THE PROPERTY VALUE IS GOING TO INCREASE, AND WE ARE GOING TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE IN THE FUTURE. OKAY. BUT WHAT ARE THEY PROPOSING TO DO WITH THAT ONCE THAT THAT STREET IS OPENED UP? WHAT, WHAT'S PROPOSED TO BE BUILT IN THAT? YEAH, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS PLANS. HE'S PLATTED IT AND, UH, I HAVE THE ENGINEER HERE WITH ME. IF, IF YOU WANT HIM TO ENTER, LET'S GET HIM UP HERE. IF YOU DON'T MIND, JEREMY, BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA GO DOWN THE ROAD ON SOME SPECULATION. COUNCILMAN, HOLD UP, MAYOR COUNCILMAN LEWIS. I HAVE A EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT, UM, FOR THAT PROPERTY, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR OVER A 20 YEAR PERIOD IS, IS WILL BENEFIT $17.9 MILLION IN SALES TAX AS A RESULT OF THAT 63.0, UM, MILLION DOLLARS IN PROPERTY TAXES AND 51 MILLION, 51 MILLION IN UTILITIES OVER A PERIOD OF 20 YEARS. UTILITY FRANCHISE TAXES 12, $12.6 BILLION AS AN ECONOMIC IMPACT. AND I CAN SHARE THAT WITH THE COUNCIL. I, I HEAR, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. IT'S STILL ALL SPECULATION. WE DON'T HAVE ANY AGREEMENTS IN PLACE AND WE GOING TO SPEND FOUR OR $500,000 UP UPFRONT DESIGNING SOMETHING THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN. AND I DON'T, I'M NOT DOUBTING YOUR NUMBERS, I'M NOT DOUBTING THAT THE, THE, UH, WHAT YOU JUST SAID, BUT WHAT, WHAT DO WE GOT IN PLACE THAT SAY THESE PEOPLE THAT OWNS THE LAND GOING TO DONATE THE LAND TO US AND AND GOING TO DEVELOP THE LAND. I KNOW PUTTING ANOTHER ROAD IN THERE WILL UPGRADE, UM, THE, THE THE VALUE OF TAXABLE VALUE. YEAH, THAT'S, BUT WHAT, WHAT KIND OF AGREEMENTS DO WE GOT ON THIS SPECULATION, BUT AS, AS THE ENGINEERS SAID, THERE'S A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT HE'S HOLDING ON TO, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE OF DEVELOPER, JEREMY, YOU WANT TO, HELLO JEREMY MITCHELL, SOUTH TECH SURVEYORS ENGINEERS, WE'VE WORKED WITH THIS DEVELOPER IN THE PAST AND SO FOR THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY, HE'S NOT THE TYPE OF DEVELOPER THAT'S GONNA SAY, I'M GONNA GO PUT A WALMART THERE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. HE'S MORE OF SOMEBODY THAT'S GONNA JUST MARKET THE LAND AND SELL IT TO OTHER INDIVIDUALS, IS MY UNDERSTANDING. HE HASN'T GIVEN US A CONCRETE, THIS IS THE EXACT PLAN. I KNOW OVER THE YEARS THERE'S BEEN OTHER DEVELOPERS THAT'S LOOKED INTO THE PROPERTY SUCH AS HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GENERATING DIFFERENT, UH, THAT MR. PATEL HAD DONE THAT REPORT, I THINK. BUT AGAIN, THIS DEVELOPER, HE HASN'T TOLD ME EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTS TO DO WITH IT OTHER THAN IT'S GONNA BE MARKETABLE. SO IT'S STILL SPECULATION. OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE AN AGREEMENT. HE HAS SENT AN AGREEMENT TO THE CITY SAYING THAT HE WILL GIVE THE RIGHT OF WAY TO THE CITY. THERE WAS A, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE ISSUE COMES DOWN TO IS THERE'S STILL GONNA NEED, NEED TO BE SOMETHING BETWEEN LEGAL AND STUFF TO SORT IT OUT. BUT HE HAD SOME TYPE OF MEMORANDUM THAT HE HAD SENT THE CITY STATING THAT HE CLEARLY WANTS TO GIVE THE RIGHT OF WAY. HIS MAIN CONCERN IS HE WANTS TO ENSURE THAT IF HE'S GONNA COMMIT TO THE CITY BY GIVING THE RIGHT OF WAY, THAT THERE'S GONNA BE SOME TYPE OF CONSIDERATION GIVEN BACK TO HIM THAT IT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN A TIMELY MANNER. AND HE'S BEEN IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM AND WITH THE CITY, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT HE'S OPEN TO THAT AS WELL. HE JUST WANTS TO KNOW, JUST LIKE YOU WANT REASSURANCES HE WANTS REASSURANCES THAT SOMETHING'S GONNA HAPPEN IN A, IN [04:15:01] A TIMELY MANNER AND HE WANTS TO WORK THAT OUT WITH THE CITY. OKAY. COUNCILMAN ETT. OKAY. THIS PROJECT WAS BROUGHT TO COUNCIL ATTENTION ON THE 12TH OF OCTOBER, 2021. MR. PATEL, THE DEVELOPER DONE A PRESENTATION BEFORE CITY COUNCIL AT THE TIME MR. PATEL WAS SAYING AND ASKING THAT COUNCIL APPROVE, PUTTING THAT ROAD IN AND THAT HE HAD 30 DAYS IN WHICH HE NEEDED COUNSEL TO APPROVE PUTTING THE ROAD IN OR HE WOULD NOT PURCHASE THE PROPERTY. OKAY. SO THE FIRST QUESTION THAT I HAVE, HAS MR. PATEL PURCHASED THE PROPERTY? DOES HE OWN THE PROPERTY? I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT BUYING IT. DOES HE OWN THE PROPERTY? THAT'S THE QUESTION. YES. SURE. GO. GOOD AFTERNOON. GO AHEAD. WE'RE TALKING HISTORY AND I WAS THERE, SO, NO SIR, HE DID NOT PURCHASE THE PROPERTY 'CAUSE OF THE WETLAND SITUATION. OKAY. THAT'S IT. I DON'T WANT, NICK, I'M ASKING QUESTIONS. CITY, CITY, SECRETARY, ALL MY QUESTIONS AND THE RESPONSE, WOULD YOU PLEASE ENTER THEM INTO THE RECORDS PLEASE? OKAY, SO HE DOESN'T OWN THE LAND? NO SIR. OKAY THEN. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. AT THAT TIME, THE CITY ATTORNEY CLEARLY EXPLAINED TO COUNCIL HOW WE GO ABOUT DOING ROLES. ONE IS THAT YOU COULD HAVE A DEVELOP A PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT INCENTIVE IN WHICH HE PUTS THE ROAD IN AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE CITY CAN PAY UP TO 30%. THAT IS ONE WAY OF DOING IT. THE OTHER WAY OF DOING IT IS THAT THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY DONATES TO THE CITY THAT RIGHT OF WAY. AND AT THAT TIME IT IS NOW OURS. THEN WE ENTERTAIN WHETHER WE WANT TO PUT THE ROAD IN. SO THE DEVELOPER DON'T OWN THE LAND, HE HASN'T DONATED IT TO THE CITY. AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A PROVEN MONEY TO DO A DESIGN ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. WE HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING. WE, THIS IS, THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE. OKAY. SO NOW THAT WE KNOW WE DON'T DO STREETS ON OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTY, CITY MANAGER, WE DON'T EVEN DO DESIGN CITY ATTORNEY, LISTEN TO ME. WE DON'T SPEND MONEY ON PROPERTY. THIS TAXPAYER'S MONEY. AND IF YOU'RE GONNA BRING THIS BACK TO THIS COUNCIL IN THE RIGHT FORM, AND I HOPE COUNCIL MEMBER LISTEN TO THIS 'CAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS STEP HERE. IF IT COMES BACK IN THE RIGHT FORM, LET US KNOW WHAT THE ESTIMATED COSTS OF A ROAD IS GOING TO BE BEFORE YOU ASK US TO START PUTTING IN THE DESIGN. WE WANNA KNOW BEFORE WE APPROVE INDUSTRY STREET IN THIS CITY, HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST US. YOU DON'T BRING THAT, WHAT DO WE KNOW? IT'S GONNA BE ANOTHER WOODWORK. YOU'RE GONNA START WITH 3 MILLION. SO YOU'RE GONNA START WITH ONE, IT'S GONNA BE TWO, THERE'S GONNA BE THREE GONNA NO A COST. Y'ALL SUPPOSED TO GET AN ESTIMATED COST FOR THESE PROJECTS BEFORE YOU BRING 'EM TO US. SOME OF THE COUNCILS MAY NOT BE AGGRESSIVE THIS, SO THAT'S WHY I'M GOING THROUGH IT TODAY BECAUSE I DO KNOW AND I FEEL A INSULTED TO HAVE IT TO COME BEFORE ME. OKAY? WE DON'T HAVE AN ESTIMATED COST. WE TALKING ABOUT DOING TWO PHASES, TWO LANE, AND THEN A FULL LANE. THE DISTANCE. HOW FAR ARE WE GOING TO GO? ARE WE GOING FROM BY THE MEDICAL CENTER TO 365? ARE WE GOING FROM THE MEDICAL CENTER TO [04:20:01] THE STREET THAT'S ALREADY THERE FOR THE DEPARTMENT? BECAUSE AS I READ ALL OF THIS, YOU ARE GONE INITIALLY AND FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM THE SURVEYOR IN THE 12TH OCTOBER MEETING, HE SAID, WE ARE GONNA GO TO WHERE THE EXISTING ROAD IS AND TIE INTO THAT AND WE'RE GONNA DO TWO LANE. THEN AFTER THAT, WE'LL DO THE OTHER TWO AT A LATER DATE. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE ROAD THAT EXISTS THERE DOES NOT BEAT THE CITY'S STANDARDS. YOU ARE GONNA HAVE TO TEAR ALL OF THAT ROAD UP AND GO TO THE EIGHT INCH. WE'VE WENT THROUGH THIS WITH A DEVELOPER. THIS, THIS 20, ALL THESE MILLION DOLLARS, ALL THIS INFORMATION THIS DEVELOPER PRESENTED TO US, THAT'S GREAT. BUT THE MONEY THAT WE SPEND AIN'T BASED ON WHAT MY PLANS ARE OR WHAT I WANT TO DO. AND YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT THE OTHER OWNERS THAT'S ALSO INVOLVED THAT 'CAUSE YOU DON'T OWN THE PROPERTY. THIS IS ALL WRONG. THIS IS ALL WRONG. THE REASON I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS, ALL OF THAT AREA OFF OF MEMORIAL BOULEVARD LOW'S, DISCOUNT, TIDE ERS, THE MEDICAL CENTER, WALMART, ALL OF THAT WAS MARCHED AT LEAST IN 2002. AND IT GOT DEVELOPED BY A DEVELOPER, KERRY LAGRAND. HE DEVELOPED ALL THAT, BUT HE WAS PUTTING IT IN AND HE WAS GETTING INCENTIVE. THAT'S HOW THE CITY OPERATES THE ROAD BY THE HO BY UH, CHEDDAR'S. WHEN HE GOT READY TO DEVELOP THAT PORTION, WE MADE HIM TAKE THE WHOLE STREET UP BECAUSE THE STREET THAT HE HAD PUT IN THERE THE FIRST TIME WAS ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY FOR THAT. BUT WHEN IT BECAME A PUBLIC TO US, HE HAD SEVEN INCHES OF CEMENT. WE MADE HIM PULL IT UP. 'CAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE EIGHT. THE WHOLE STREET HE HAD PULLED, HE TORE IT UP. BUT YOU WANT US TO APPROVE $500 FOR A PROJECT. THE PERSON WANTING US TO DO THIS DON'T EVEN OWN THE LAND. I SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE MANAGER AND JOHN I MENTIONED, I ASKED, I SAY, DO WE OWN, DO HE OWN THE LAND? DO WE OWN THE LAND? AND I SPECIFICALLY SAID, IF YOU BRING IT BEFORE COUNCIL, IT'S GONNA BE A BAD DAY FOR SOMEBODY AND FOR IT TO COME BEFORE US. THAT'S TELLING ME SOMEONE JUST DON'T BELIEVE IN DOING IT RIGHT ROUND HERE. COUNSEL, I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SPEND TAXPAYERS MONEY FOR A DESIGN OF PROPERTY THAT WE DON'T OWN. AND A PERSON THAT'S MAKING A QUEST ON, ON WE ARE, WE, WE, WHOA, THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS WRONG WITH THIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW. THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, CITY ATTORNEY. UM, IF THAT'S THE CASE, UH, CAN YOU GIMME SOME INPUT BECAUSE I'M REALLY MUCH, VERY MUCH WANNA KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE. UH, THE COUNCILMAN HAS MADE HIS STATEMENTS ABOUT IF WE ARE IN THAT TYPE OF, UH, PRAIRIE VIEW. IF NOT, UH, THAT'S GONNA BE ONE OF THE DECIDING FACTORS FOR ME BECAUSE I ALSO WANTED TO PULL THIS ITEM AFTER READING THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION I SUPPORTED, BASED UPON THE EMERGENCY EVACUATION ROUTE, HAVING ADDITIONAL ACCESS TO THE HOSPITAL AND HAVING INDIVIDUALS IN AND OUT OR OUR CITY AS A, UH, UH, QUALITY TIME. BUT I WANT TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, STRAIGHTFORWARD FROM YOU, WOULD THIS BE A LEGAL THING TO DO OR TAKE A VOTE ON THIS? OR WILL WE BE DOING SOMETHING THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE, UH, IN SPENDING MONEY? I DO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE SPEND THE MONEY OPEN IT UP, IT'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UH, TAX MONIES TO COME INTO THE CITY OF PORT [04:25:01] ARTHUR. BUT AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, ARE WE DOING EVERYTHING WITHIN THE LEGAL PREVIEW OF THIS COUNCIL TO VOTE ON THIS RESOLUTION TODAY, MR. KINLAW? I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PAST, BUT, BUT WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A, THIS IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE YOU TO SPEND MONEY WITH THE, UH, ENGINEERS TO DESIGN THE ROADWAY. BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY DOES NOT YET OWN THE RIGHT OF WAY. I'VE NOT SEEN A CONTRACT. I'M TOLD THAT THERE IS AN AGREEMENT FROM THE DEVELOPER NOW, I BELIEVE THE DEVELOPER THAT THEY'RE, THEY THEY'RE DISCUSSING TODAY IS THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, IS MY UNDERSTANDING CORRECT? IS THAT CORRECT? THE CURRENT OWNER IS THE ONE PLANNING TO DEVELOP IT. NOT MR. PATEL FROM THE PAST, BUT THE CURRENT OWNER OF THE PROPERTY. SO HE, SO A CITY ATTORNEY, HE IS THE CURRENT OWNER. SO IF, IF THAT'S THE FACT, I MEAN, ARE WE DOING EVERYTHING LEGALLY BY VOTING ON THIS RESOLUTION? I, I GOT IT. BUT YOU KNOW, LIKE, UH, A COHORT STATED EARLIER, IT PROMISES CAN BE MADE, PROMISE CAN BE TAKEN BACK. WELL, YOU'RE DOING IT LEGALLY TO AUTHORIZE THE, THE, UH, DESIGN OF THE ROADWAY, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THE ON RIGHT OF WAY TO BUILD IT ON AT THIS POINT. OKAY. AND SO LET MAYOR I DO NEED TO ASK ONE QUESTION. YEAH, GO AHEAD. THE ENGINEERS, YEAH, GO AHEAD. WOULD THE, WOULD THE, UM, DESIGN OF THE ROADWAY INCLUDE THE SURVEY OF THE RIGHT OF WAY? YES, IT WOULD INCLUDE THE PLAT THAT WOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE DEDICATION. IT'S KIND OF THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE. I UNDERSTAND COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE AND HE HAS PORTRAYED TO US THIS ISSUE. UM, HE WASN'T IN FOR IT. AND SO, UH, LEMME JUST SAY IT TAKES EIGHT MONTHS TO 10 MONTHS TO DO THE ENGINEERING. SO WE WERE TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THIS, TRYING TO GET THE PLANS READY SO THAT WE COULD GO TO CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR. BUT IF THE COUNCIL SEES FIT TO DELAY THIS, THAT, THAT'S FINE WITH ME. LIKE I SAID, I I DON'T KNOW THAT, UH, THE LEGALITIES OF IT. AND I DO KNOW THAT THE DEVELOPERS PLEDGED TO, TO PUT A HUNDRED FOOT RIGHT AWAY, GIVE IT TO THE CITY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A ROAD. THAT'S WHAT I KNOW. WELL, OF COURSE. WELL, WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU JOHN. MM-HMM, , IT'S, UH, CLEAR, UH, INSTRUCTIONS. BUT MAYOR, WOULD I BE, UH, OUT OF ORDER IF I, UH, I ASKED TO, UH, TABLE THIS AND COME BACK IN THE SAME FORM UNTIL WE GET THAT INFORMATION? BECAUSE IF, IF, IF I DON'T WANT TO, I DON'T WANT, I THINK INFORMATION WOULD, WOULD, WOULD HELP US. I DON'T WANT, YEAH. I DON'T WANNA VOTE. AND, AND WE, AND THIS AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE BASED UPON NOT HAVING INFORMATION THAT'S GONNA MAKE, OKAY, SO IF WE, WE TAPE COME TO THE NEXT MEETING, IT COMES BACK TO THE, OKAY. I HAVE, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. I'D LIKE TO SAY ONE THING. IF YOU ALL, IF I MAY, IS THAT WHEN THIS WAS DONE ON THE 26TH OF, UH, IT WAS APRIL OR SOMETHING, UH, IN 20, IN 2021, AND I VOTED EVERYONE THERE WAS A, A, A UNANIMOUS VOTE. HOWEVER, WITH THAT VOTE, AND I LOOKED AT IT AGAIN, I BELIEVE THE ENTIRE COUNCIL VOTED ON THIS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE, AND I STILL BELIEVE AT THIS MOMENT NOW, THAT THE EXTENSION OF JIMMY JOHNSON BOULEVARD WILL INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INVESTMENT AND EXPAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. NOW, THE OWNERSHIP PART OF IT, I THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT COMPLETELY. BUT WHAT WE CAN'T DO AS LEADERS, WE HAVE TO HAVE A VISION. OKAY? I, I UNDERSTAND EVERYONE'S POINT. EVERYONE HAS MADE VALID POINTS. BUT WHAT WE CAN'T DO, I BELIEVE AS A COUNCIL, AS A BONAFIDE GROUP FOR GOVERNANCE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THE ADAGE WHICH YOU SAY YOU COULD MAKE IT, GIVE 'EM A CANDY AND TAKE IT BACK. THIS AIN'T CANDY. NO, THIS IS LIVELIHOOD. THIS IS FUTURISTIC FOR THE GROWTH OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND I JUST WANT US ALL TO KEEP IN MIND THIS IS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYONE TO SAY IT'S WRONG BECAUSE I KNOW MORE ABOUT IT THAN SOMEONE ELSE. I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO TAKE THEIR POSITION. I PRAY NOT. BUT I WOULD WANT US TO UNDERSTAND WHEN IT WAS DONE IN 21. AND WHAT I WOULD VOTE TODAY, IF IT WAS A VOTE TODAY, WOULD BE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF THE INCREASE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. NOW, YOU DID SAY, AND I ASKED SOME OTHER LIGHTS, BUT IF YOU ALL DON'T MIND, IF YOU COULD RELINQUISH AND ALLOW US TO TABLE THIS OR DID YOU ALL WANNA SPEAK? I I'M NOT TRYING TO BE A DICTATOR. I WANTED TO SECOND [04:30:01] THE MOVE TO TABLE. GO RIGHT, GO, GO AHEAD. I WANTED TO SECOND THE MOVE TO TABLE. OKAY. I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. GO, GO RIGHT AHEAD. , VERY QUICK QUESTION. SINCE I WASN'T ON COUNCIL AT THE TIME, COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE ME THE FULL NAME OF THE DEVELOPER THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? WHO IS THE CURRENT REGISTERED OWNER OF THE PROPERTY? ARE THEY ONE AND THE SAME? OKAY, WELL THEN I NEED TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE DEVELOPER AND I NEED TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE OWNER 'CAUSE I'M GONNA DO MY OWN DUE DILIGENCE ON THIS BEFORE IT COMES BACK. MM-HMM. , MR. VERNON IS THE PROPERTY OWNER. AND WHAT'S HIS FIRST NAME? MARK VERNON. MARK MARK VERNON. OKAY. ANTHONY PATEL WAS THE DEVELOPER. AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NOW THERE IS NO WETLANDS THERE. ANTHONY IS NEGOTIATING WITH THE REAL ESTATE AGENT FOR MR. UH, VERNON. THEY'RE BACK IN, THEY'RE BACK TALKING ABOUT THIS. UM, MAYOR. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. OKAY. IS THAT GOOD? OKAY. I HAVE A, I HAVE A COMMENT THOUGH. OKAY, GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD, , BEFORE YOU MAKE THE MOTION, MOTION'S BEEN MADE POINT FORWARD. OKAY? ALRIGHT THEN SINCE I'M THE PARLIAMENTARIAN HOLD UP. SINCE I'M THE PARLIAMENT. NO, WAIT, I'M THE CHAIR OF THE MEETING. HE SAID POINT, GIVE ME A CHANCE TO DO MY JOB. GO AHEAD NOW. WHAT'S YOUR POINT, SIR? I CAN YOU ACCEPT IT? GO AHEAD. I'M GONNA GO WHEN I GET READY. GO AHEAD. RIGHT? NO, SIR, DON'T TALK. I'M NOT READY. OKAY. I JUST SAID I'M GONNA MOVE WHEN I GET READY. YES, SIR. WE ALL ARE ASTUTE IN ENGLISH. THE CONNOTATION OF WHAT MEANS ATTORNEY, I'M GOOD. I'M GOOD. SPEAK COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES, SIR. MY POINT WAS, IS THAT THE COUNCILMAN MADE A MOTION AND I TO TABLE, HE HAD A MOVE TO TABLE. I SECOND THE MOVE TO TABLE. OKAY. AND SO I WAS, MY POINT IS, IS THAT SINCE I DID MAKE A SECOND BEFORE ANY OTHER FURTHER DEBATE GO FORWARD, THE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN ON THE MOVE ON THE SECOND THAT I MADE TO MOVE TO TABLE. BUT YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN. OKAY? THANK YOU MA'AM. IF THERE ISN'T ANY OTHER, JUST A MINUTE. YEAH, JUST A MINUTE. WE ARE GOING TO NOW DEAL WITH THE MOTION TO THE TABLE AND I'M GONNA CALL FOR A QUESTION AND THEN YOU SPEAK. IF THAT'S WRONG, YOU CORRECT ME IN A COURT OF LAW. WE ARE READY. AM I CORRECT? MAYOR, MAYOR, UH, UH, MAYOR, UH, ATTORNEY. YOU'RE NOT THE LAST TIME I DID IT, I DID IT THIS WEEK. YOU'RE NOT CORRECT? OKAY. WELL, GUESS WHAT? YOU'RE NOT CORRECT. I'M GONNA BE WRONG UNTIL WE SHOW OUT YOUR SO MUCH. COME UNTIL BACK INTO IT THIS WAY. WHY DID Y'ALL ELECT ME TO BE PARLIAMENTARIAN? AND WE HAVE A PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION. NO, THAT IS NOT SOME LEGAL POSITION, SIR. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU, I'M GOING RESPECT YOU, SIR. I'M GONNA RESPECT YOU. THAT IS AN HONORARY TYPE POSITION. NOW WE GOING TO ARGUE THE POINT OF YOUR BEING PARLIAMENTARIAN. WE'RE JUST GONNA ARGUE THE POINT OF OUR DOING IT CORRECTLY. MAYOR, SHOW ME IN THE BOOK WHERE I'M WRONG. RIGHT? FIND IT. GO AHEAD. WE TALK AND FIND IT. I DON'T NEED TO FIND IT. OKAY? NO, YOU NEED TO FIND IT. OKAY? I SO WE CAN DO IT RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH. COME ON, FIND IT. I'M GONNA DO IT THIS TIME. DON'T YOU GONNA DO IT EVERY TIME? NO, I'M NOT. OH, YES YOU ARE. AS LONG AS I'M BAIL. I TOLD YOU WHAT, AS LONG AS I'M BAIL BUS SAID WE GOING DO IT. I TELL YOU WHAT THEN COME ON, TELL IT. READ IT TO ME. SHOW IT TO ME. YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL. YOU DON'T DICTATE. HEY, YOU DON'T DICTATE TO ME MR. I DON'T EITHER. I HAD A NO, YOU TRIED TO. I JUST DON'T ACQUIESCE. NO, NO. YOUR PROBLEM IS, NO, I AIN'T GOT NO PROBLEM. YOU DON'T, YOU BETTER GO AHEAD ON WITH THAT ONE. YOU LISTEN. DON'T MISS, LET'S MOVE THE MEDIA. LET'S MOVE THE MEDIA, MAN. WHAT YOU WANNA SAY? I WANT TO SAY, DON'T CHAD ME. TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT. THAT'S RIGHT. I WANT TO SAY NO ONE CAN MOVE TO DISPOSE OF A MOTION THAT'S TABLING IT, DELAYING IT, SETTING IT ASIDE. NO ONE CAN MAKE THAT MOTION UNLESS EVERY PERSON WHO CHOOSE TO COMMENT ON A MAIN MOTION HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. THEREFORE, AS LONG AS SOMEONE WANTS TO COMMENT ON THE MOTION, HE HAS TO WAIT AND THEN YOU CAN MAKE THE MOTION TO TABLE. THAT'S THE WAY IT'S OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CORRECTION. NOW, DOES ANYONE FEEL THE WAY HE JUST EXPRESSED? MR. MR, GO RIGHT AHEAD. ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER STATES THAT A MOTION TO TABLE IS NON DEBATABLE. IF SECONDED DISCUSSION ENDS AND MUST BE VOTED ON IMMEDIATELY. TELL HIM WHERE YOU FOUND THAT. UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK ROBERT'S RULE. NO, NO. IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A, A A PAGE NUMBER OR IT'S A NUMBERED ARTICLE OR SOMETHING THAT GOES WITH THAT. HOLD UP. HOLD UP. I'M, WAIT A MINUTE. OKAY. I ASKED YOU TO FIND IT EARLIER. NO, NO, THAT'S BECAUSE YOU READING SOMETHING THAT'S DEALING WITH, WE SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING AT MOTIONS. OKAY. MOTION. MOTION. IF YOU [04:35:01] LOOKING FOR THE MOTION? NO, I'M YOU READING IT. FACT, COME ON, I TO FIND THIS, GONE THROUGH THIS DRILL WITH YOU GUYS. OKAY. GET TIRED OF IT. COUNSEL, GO AHEAD. NO, I'M NOT COUNCILMAN DO SAID IF YOU, YOU KNOW, I CAN RESEND IF YOU NO, I'M, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, UH, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JUST CONTINUE TO COMMENT SO WE CAN DECIDE IF WE'RE GONNA TABLE, UH, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME. I CAN RESCIND IT AT THIS TIME. THAT'S WHAT WE NORMALLY DO. OKAY, SO GO AHEAD. BUT I CAN FIND IT IN WRITING. WELL, LET, PLEASE DO. I WANT TO HEAR THOUGH, WE GOT ONE HOUR Y'ALL AND WE GONNA HAVE TO, UH, WE TAKE CARE OF RECESS AGAIN. I'M JUST, JUST A MINUTE. I'M JUST LETTING KNOW WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S, UH, AN EMERGENCY NATURE AND ONE HOUR I'M HAVE TO RECESS THE MEETING AGAIN BECAUSE WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SITUATION. GOT AT FOUR O'CLOCK. NO, I MEAN, I'M, THAT'S NOTHING THAT'S TELL YOU BEFOREHAND. WELL, COUNCILMAN DE SAID IF YOU, IF YOU OKAY WITH IT, UM, IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GET YOUR DISCUSSION ITEM OR OR DISCUSS ON THIS BEFORE WE MAKE A MOTION, OKAY, LET, LET'S GET THIS SO WE CAN JUST KINDA MOVE ALONG WITH THIS. I'LL DO THAT. ALRIGHT. BUT I'M NOT GONNA BE GOING THROUGH THIS BULLYING. I DIDN'T BULLY YOU, SIR. THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR OPINION ON THAT? WHAT I STATED IT AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. OKAY. WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS, UH, JOHN, YES, SIR. OKAY. UH, IN IN LINE WITH WHAT COUNCILMAN KEN LAW AND, AND BECKHAM AND EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT, WE WANT TO HEAR IF IT COMES BACK. ONE IS ALSO THE, UH, BACKGROUND INFORMATION YES. THAT WE RECEIVED, UH, TELLING US THAT THAT, UH, ONE OF THE PURPOSES FOR US TO HAVE A TRAVEL, A ROUTE TO TRAVEL NORTH. YES. YES. THAT ROAD, THAT ROAD GOES WEST WEST. YES. AND THEN IT ONLY GO LIKE ABOUT A HALF A MILE OR A MILE. YEAH. NORTH. THEN WHEN YOU GET THERE, YOU GOTTA GO LEFT. I MEAN WEST OR EAST. YEAH. ON 365. SO, SO THAT IS NOT, THAT IS NOT NOTHING THAT WE CAN, UH, REALLY LOOK AT BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE IT'S BEING GIVEN TO US. LIKE IT'S A ROUTE THAT TRAVELS NORTH. AND ALSO THE PART THAT IT BEING AN EVACUATION ROUTE, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND JIMMY JOHNSON'S RUNNING EAST AND, UH, WEST. MM-HMM. . AND WHEN YOU GET COMING THAT WAY, YOU GOING UNDERNEATH SIX NINE, WHICH IS A MAJOR HURRICANE EVACUATION ROUTE. AND IF YOU DO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DURING, WHEN YOU GET TO 365, 365 IS A MAJOR EVACUATION ROUTE. SO WE DON'T WANT PUT THAT SO THAT WE SHOULD NEVER DESIGNATE THAT AS A, AS A, UH, UH, EVACUATION ROUTE. IT JUST DOESN'T MEET THE COMMON SENSE TEST AND, AND, AND, UH, EVERYTHING. SO JUST, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THINGS IF THIS COME BACK. YEAH. THESE ARE THINGS THAT I WERE GONNA COMMENT AFTER WE TALKING BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF WHAT I'M GETTING HERE MM-HMM. I'M NOT AGREEING WITH. AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT I, BUT I CAN STATE INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE I SAID, THAT'S WHY I'M TIRED OF GOING AROUND THERE. SOMEBODY SAY YOU DIDN'T NO, I'M READING. OKAY. I'M READING. I'M NOT ACCEPTING ANYTHING THAT'S GIVEN TO ME. I'M READING MM-HMM. . AND THEN I'M UNDERSTANDING WE DEVELOP A PROPERTY THIS, EVERYBODY KEEP TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THIS GUY GOING TO PUT IN THIS DEVELOPMENT. IF HE COULD PAY ALL THESE MILLION DOLLARS OF DEVELOPMENT. YOU CAN'T PUT A SIMPLE ROAD IN. THAT'S WHAT WE REQUIRE. YOU PUT THE ROAD IN, WE COULD GIVE YOU 30% OF IT OR GIVE US THE PROPERTY AND THEN WE'LL PUT THE ROAD IN. YEAH. NO, WE DON'T DO THIS UNDER CONDITION. WE APPROVE THIS AND THEN HE GONNA DONATE. NO, HE GIVE US THE PROPERTY AND THEN WE DO THE ROAD. NOW IT'S OUR ROAD. AND IF WE GONNA DO THIS ROAD MM-HMM. , WE NEED TO BRING THIS BEFORE COUNCIL. YEAH. SO THAT WE CAN KNOW HOW MUCH THIS ROAD GOING COST THE CITIZENS AND US BEFORE WE APPROVE IT. COUNCILMAN DE SAID, CAN I JUST INTERRUPT YOU REAL QUICK? I AM NOT A DEVELOPER, I'M NOT A BUSINESS ANALYSIS. I'M AN ENGINEER. ALL I WAS HERE WAS TO HIRE AN ENGINEERING FIRM. JOHN. JOHN. YEAH. AND I'M NOT GONNA GET IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS. NO, NO. JOHN. JOHN, YOU'RE NOT ADMIT OF IT ALL. YOU HAVE TO. NO. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS I ASK SIMPLE QUESTIONS. YES. AND I DON'T TELL YOU NOTHING. YES. I ASK A SIMPLE QUESTION AND I EXPECT STAFF TO GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER. YES. AND I DON'T EXPECT A DEBATE WITH STAFF AND I DON'T. CORRECT. AND, AND I DON'T ATTACK STAFF, BUT I ASK QUESTIONS. AND THE QUESTIONS I ASK, EITHER YOU CAN ANSWER 'EM FOR ME OR YOU CAN'T. AND THAT WAY YOU'RE NEVER IN THE MIDDLE BECAUSE I DON'T PUT PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE. I JUST ASK SIMPLE QUESTIONS. MM-HMM. . OKAY. AND LIKE I SAID, IF WE'RE GONNA DO THE PROJECT, WE NEED TO DO IT. BECAUSE WHEN I'M SEEING THIS, THE $400,000 AS I READ IT, IS COMING FROM THE STREETS [04:40:03] CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND. AND ONCE AGAIN, I, I GOT QUESTIONS BECAUSE Y'ALL KEEP BRINGING THIS AND KEEP SAYING FROM THE STREET CAPITAL PROOF. I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR 10 MONTHS. MM-HMM. TO TELL ME HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THIS AND WHAT IT'S FOR. MM-HMM. . BECAUSE THE MONEY THAT'S IN THERE, JOHN, IS FOR STREETS WE'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED. MM-HMM. . AND IF WE DIDN'T SPEND THAT MONEY IN THAT DISTRICT, THE MONEY HAD BEEN APPROVED BY A COUNCIL TO STAY IN THE DISTRICTS. OKAY. SO IF IT'S IN THE DISTRICT, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE NO UNALLOCATED FUND. SO THIS MONEY Y'ALL KEEP SAYING IS AVAILABLE IN STREET CAPITAL. YEAH. IT'S A LARGE SUM IN THERE. BUT IT WASN'T FOR THIS BECAUSE WHEN WE MIXED DONE THE BUDGET, WE DIDN'T PUT THE MONEY IN IT. YES. THAT'S WHAT I'M ABOUT NOW. YEAH. THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN ABOUT SINCE I GOT ON THIS COUNCIL. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 10 MONTHS. I'VE ASKED FOR, I ASKED FOR THIS SIMPLE QUESTION, GIVE ME THIS INFORMATION FOR 10 MONTHS. COUNCILMAN KEN LAW DID IT FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS. HE STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT. SO MY THING IS, DON'T CARE. AS LONG AS THE ANSWERS JUST GIVE ME THE ANSWER. YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUST ANSWER THE SIMPLE QUESTION. BECAUSE THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER IS GONNA BE, IF THE ANSWER IS WRONG, SOMEBODY GOING TO SOMEBODY GONNA BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT. MM-HMM. . THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE. JUST TELL ME THE ANSWER. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, I SAY, TELL ME YOU DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER. I'M NOT GONNA STAY HERE AND DEBATE WITH STAFF. I'M NOT GOING DEBATE WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M NOT HERE TO DEBATE. I'M HERE TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS FOR THE CITY. I DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL, BUT I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE WHAT I SAY PERSONAL EITHER. I'M NOT GOING, I'M NOT GONNA GO THAT ROUTE. I DON'T DO IT. I DON'T DO IT TO NOBODY AND I DON'T WANT 'EM TO DO IT TO ME. I MAKE THAT CLEAR. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. A THOMAS. THANK YOU. UH, UH, COUNCILMAN DUC, MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN QUICK, IF YOU DON'T MIND. YEAH. JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GOOD DIRECTIVE. SO WE WILL BRING YOU A COMMITMENT FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER THAT THEY WILL DONATE THE LAND AND THE COST ESTIMATE OF THE LAND OF THE PROJECT. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR? NO, NOT A COMMITMENT. WE NEED TO OWN A PROPERTY BEFORE WE SPEND TAXPAYER'S MONEY. ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IF THE PROJECT IS NOT DESIGNED, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THESE LIMITS ARE GONNA BE FOR THAT CO FOR THAT OWNERSHIP. OKAY. SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THE DESIGN IN ORDER FOR THAT PERSON TO GO AND CUT THAT LAND OFF AND DONATE TO THAT. SO, EXCUSE ME, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THE STUDY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN 21 WOULD GIVE US THE ANSWERS. I MEAN, YOU IF, IF I'M MISTAKEN NOW, IF WE, WE DID THIS UNDER THE PRESUMPTION THAT THIS WAS GOING TO PUT US WHERE IF IT WOULD NEED TO BE A, UH, AN EVACUATION ROUTE IF IT NEEDED TO BE WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE, HOW IT MOVES. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE FOUND OUT IT WAS, UH, UH, IT WAS MARSH LAND AND HE COULD NOT BUILD THE HOMES WHERE HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THE HOMES. I THINK WHOMEVER IT WAS, UH, HE PULLED OUT, WE'LL TALK TO LEGAL AND SEE YES, WHAT IS THE LEGAL PROCEDURE FOR US TO GET THIS COMMITMENT AND GET THE LAND WHEN, WHEN THE LAND IS DETERMINED WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE AND HOW WIDE AND ALL THAT STUFF YOU SEE. BUT WOULD THAT WORK OR BUT NO, ON THE PROCESS, MAYOR, THIS DEPARTMENT I'M TRYING TO MAKE, AND I WANNA MAKE EVERYBODY CLEAR HERE BECAUSE THIS AIN'T ROCKET SCIENCE. THIS THE DEVELOPER IS THE ONE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO GET THE DESIGN. THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO YOU ALL. IF HE WANTS THE ROAD, HE DOES. NOW, IF WE GOING TO, IF HE GONNA DONATE US THE PROPERTY RIGHT, THEN WE DO THE DESIGN. SEE THE BUT UNTIL, UNTIL, UNTIL WE HAVE GOT WHERE IT IS OUR PROPERTY, WE CAN'T DO IT. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. OKAY. ATTORNEY, GET ALL THAT. SAY THE ATTORNEY MAYOR. I THINK THAT, UH, AN AGREEMENT COULD BE REACHED WHEREBY THE OWNER WOULD AGREE TO DONATE THE PROPERTY IF THE CITY AGREED TO BUILD THE STREET. STREET. RIGHT. UH, I DON'T THINK YOU NECESSARILY HAVE TO HAVE TITLE TO THE PROPERTY TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING. RIGHT. BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BINDING AGREEMENT FROM THE DEVELOPER THAT HE WILL IN FACT DONATE THE PROPERTY. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO NOW ACCORDING TO WHAT I'VE READ THE TABLING, WE HAVE A MOVE, I MEAN A MOTION AND A SECOND THE TABLE. YES. RIGHT. SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE ARE READY FOR QUESTION ON TABLE. NO, WE'RE GOOD? YES. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSES? SOUND LIKE THE AYES HAVE IT. AYE AYE. OKAY. ALRIGHT. AYES HAVE IT. SO IT'S ORDERED THIS MOTION, THIS NOT MOTION. THIS, UH, PROPOSAL WILL BE TABLED UNTIL THE, UH, NEXT MEETING. OKAY. NOW [04:45:01] WE ARE AT [VII.C. (5) P.R. No. 23791 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 5 Of The Main Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project With Allco, LLC Of Beaumont, Texas, For An Increase Amount Of $1,118,591.00 To A New Total Contract Amount Of $68,958,856.43. Funding Is Available In Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000, Project No. WS0023] ITEM NUMBER FIVE ON PAGE FIVE, PR NUMBER 23 7 91. IT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER FIVE OF THE MAIN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WITH ALCO LLC OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR AN INCREASED AMOUNT OR SHOULD BE INCREASED AMOUNT, I GUESS AMOUNT OF 1,000,001 $18,591 TO A NEW TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $67,958,856 AND 43 CENTS. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH 4 0 0 8 5 16 DASH ZERO DASH 0 0 0 0. AND WHICH IS PROJECT NUMBER WS 0 0 2 3. MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED AND MAKE A SECOND. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2371 AS PRESENTED. WE READ UP THE QUESTION OF COUNCILMAN FRANK. ALRIGHT, MR. MATTHEWS, HOW ARE YOU SIR? YES SIR. FINE. UH, CHANGE ORDER ME IN MY MINDSET CHANGE ORDER MEANS MORE. CHANGE CHANGE . ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. SO I GOT MY JOKE HERE FOR THE DAY. ALRIGHT. BUT, UM, IT'S FOR A GRID SYSTEM. YES, SIR. AND I, I READ THE BACKGROUND TO THAT. UH, I LOOKED UP, I I I WASN'T FULLY AWARE OF ALL OF THAT AND I DID SOME RESEARCH ABOUT GRID SYSTEMS AND LOOKED AT ALL OF THAT AND THE, THE VARIOUS GRID SYSTEMS. BUT I'M, I'M, I GUESS MY QUESTION AROSE IS TO WHY ARE WE APPROVING A, UM, A GRID SYSTEM AT THIS PARTICULAR PHASE OF THE PROJECT AS OPPOSED TO AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT? WHY? YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, IT'S LIKE ME GOING TO BUY A CAR AND THEN AFTER I GET THE CAR, THEN I LOOK AT THE MOTOR THAT WANTS TO GO INTO THE CAR. OKAY. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE'S, YOU KNOW, I MEAN GRIT SYSTEMS SEEMS AS THOUGH THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT WAS IN THE, IN THE, IN THE, IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT, DESIGN OF THE PROJECT. WHY ARE WE APPROVING A GRID SYSTEM AT THIS PHASE? OKAY, SIR. UH, THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FOR THE PLANT WAS DONE OH, BEFORE I ARRIVED IN PORT ARTHUR. UH, DURING THAT PERIOD, UH, I GUESS IT WAS DONNY STANTON AND, UH, FRIES NICHOLS REVIEWED THE VARIOUS TYPES OF GRIT. THEY SELECTED THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS BASICALLY, IT'S A STAINLESS STEEL SET OF TRAYS. AND THE IDEA IS YOU SLOW THE WA INCOMING WASTEWATER DOWN TO THE CORRECT VELOCITY TO ALLOW THE HEAVIER GRIT TO SETTLE WHILE THE LIGHTER ORGANICS CONTINUE ON. AND THE PURPOSE OF GRIT, JUST VERY QUICKLY IS THAT THE INORGANICS ARE PRIMARILY SAND AND SMALL THINGS AND THEY CAUSE WEAR PROBLEMS IN THE PLANT. RIGHT. SO WHEN WE BID THIS PLANT, WE, IT CAME IN ABOVE OUR BUDGET. SO THE, WE, WE, MEANING THE CITY, WE ASSEMBLED THE ARPA FUNDS WITH OUR BUDGET BECAUSE WE HAD TO AWARD AT THE BID BID PRICE AT THE SAME TIME, ANNIE, MYSELF AND REZA NICHOLS AND A WC SET WITH ALCO THE LOW BID AND WENT THROUGH A VERY DETAILED VALUE ENGINEERING PROCESS BECAUSE WE HAD TO GET IT DOWN TO WHAT THE BUDGET WE HAD TO CONTINUE ON BECAUSE OTHER DEPARTMENTS WANTED THE ARPA FUNDS BACK. WE HAD ARPA FUNDS BUDGETED FOR OTHER PLACES. AND GRIT WAS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS WHERE WE COULD TAKE THE MECHANIC EQUIPMENT OUT. AND IF YOU GO TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S 1.7 MILLION IN THE APPROVED BUDGET FOR CHANGE ORDERS ON THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. AND WE, THE PLAN WAS WE TAKE THIS EQUIPMENT OUT, WE MOVE FORWARD, WE BUDGET IN OUR CAPITAL BUDGET TO PUT IT BACK IN. SO AND SO THIS IS REPLACED BASICALLY PUTTING THE EQUIPMENT BACK IN THAT WAS ORIGINALLY SPECED. IT'S A DIFFERENT BRAND THAN WAS ORIGINALLY, YOU KNOW, DONE. BUT IT DOES THE, THE, THE SAME. THIS IS THE AERATING GUY? NO, IT'S IT'S THE SAME TYPE. IT'S A SERIES OF TRAYS AND THE GRIT GOES IN AND I'M TOLD THIS ONE WORKS. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 40 YEARS. I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE THAT REALLY PERFORMS WELL, BUT OUR ENGINEER AND PEOPLE SWEAR THAT THIS IS THE BEST ONE THAT'S OUT THERE IN THE MARKET. SO I'M HOPING I'M IMPRESSED. BUT, UH, IT'S REQUIRED BY LAW. SO WE'RE [04:50:01] GONNA PUT IT IN. SO BASICALLY WE REMOVED IT AND THEN BY THE TIME WE, UH, GO TO PUT IT BACK IN WITH THIS YEAR'S CAPITAL BUDGET THERE, THERE WAS UH, BASICALLY A PATENT HAD RAN OUT. SO THERE WERE OTHER MANUFACTURERS OF THE SAME EQUIPMENT THAT FITS IN THE SAME SLOT IN THIS BIG CONCRETE THREE STORY BUILDING. 'CAUSE IT, IT HAS TO FLOW BY GRAVITY FROM THE GRIT CHAMBER INTO THE REST OF THE PLANT. SO IT'S WINDS UP IN THE AIR. SO HOW, SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THE ONE AND WE SAVED A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, SO THE $1.7 MILLION YOU'RE TELLING ME WAS TAKEN OUT? OR WAS THAT IN THE PROJECT FOR MISCELLANEOUS OR IT'S FOR MISCELLANEOUS CHANGE ORDERS BECAUSE WE KNEW THERE WOULD BE CHANGE ORDERS ON A 60 $70 MILLION PROJECT. SO WE'RE GONNA USE THE ENTIRETY OF THAT $1.7 MILLION TO PUT THIS, WE'LL USE THAT ENTIRETY AND THERE WILL BE MONEY IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET FOR ADDITIONAL CHANGE ORDERS. THIS IS A, A BROWN FILL PROJECT, WHICH MEANS WE'RE BUILDING INSIDE AN EXISTING PLANT THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR VERY LONG TIME. THERE'S BEEN CHANGES UNDERGROUND THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT. AND WHEN WE DIG A HOLE, WE FIND THINGS AND WHEN CONTRACTORS FIND THINGS THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT, THEY ASK, IT TURNS INTO CHANGE ORDERS. SO WE WILL HAVE MONEY BUDGETED EVERY YEAR IN OUR BUDGET FOR THIS PLANT FOR CHANGE ORDERS. SO MR. CALVIN, YOU SAID THAT THAT THE, THAT THE GRID SYSTEM IS, IS MANDATED BY LAW. SO THE, SO WHEN MR. STAN, OR, AND I DON'T MEAN TO CALL ANY NAMES, I'M SIMPLY USING IT FOR A POINT OF REFERENCE. WHEN THE DESIGN WAS MADE INITIALLY AND WHEN THE VALUE ENGINEERING TOOK PLACE, YOU, HOW COULD YOU TAKE THE GRID SYSTEM OUT? WE DID NOT TAKE THE STRUCTURE OUT FOR IT. WE, WE, WE REMOVED JUST THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO MOVE FORWARD KNOWING WE WERE GONNA PUT IT BACK IN THIS YEAR. OKAY. THE, THE PROJECT WAS ALREADY APPROVED, SO DID NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH A NEW REVIEW PROCESS FOR APPROVAL. I UNDERSTAND. AND WE KNEW OUR END GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN START THIS PROJECT. SO WE HAD TO CUT THE ITEMS THAT WE CAN CUT THAT ARE NOT GONNA HAPPEN IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS. AND THEN WE ARE PUTTING THEM BACK IN THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. BUT IT'S, IT'S A PROJECT THAT HAD TO GO THROUGH, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TCQ VIOLATIONS, IT HAD TO HAPPEN. OKAY. RIGHT. IT'S, IT'S ALL, IT'S A VERY HIGH LEVEL ON THE CURRENT REVIEW BY TCQ, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS WASTEWATER PLANTS AND THIS WAS ONE OF THEIR ORIGINAL PROBLEMS. SO MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW, BUT MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW. BUT I GUESS PERHAPS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS MIGHT BE, IS THIS AN UPPER END GRID SYSTEM? IS THIS A MEDIA, IT'S A VERY TOP END GRID SYSTEM. IS THIS A THIS THIS IS THE UPPER ECHELON GRID SYSTEM. THIS IS WHAT I'M TOLD. THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE, THIS IS ONE OF THE NEWER TECHNOLOGIES. UH, AND IT, LOOKING AT IT, I THINK IT HAS A REASONABLY GOOD CHANCE OF WORKING. LIKE I SAID, THEY, MANY OF THE OLDER STYLES AREN'T THAT SUCCESSFUL. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WITH THIS GRID SYSTEM, IT BASICALLY TOOK THE TOP OF THE MARKET AND IT'S GONNA BE MODIFIED TO MEET LOW FLOWS AS WELL, WHICH IS WHEN THESE GRID SYSTEMS START FAILING IS DURING LOW FLOWS. SO THERE IT'S GONNA GET MODIFIED TO MEET THE LOW FLOWS FOR US. SO WE PROJECT'S GONNA BE A REALLY GOOD SYSTEM. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, CONSTABLE LER. OH, I'M SORRY MAYOR. OH, UH, CONSTABLE, YOU SAID YOUR . YES. I'M, UM, MY QUESTION'S IN LINE WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK'S COMMENTS. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE, AND I SEE IT DIFFERENTLY, I SEE WHEN WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT WE HAVE THOSE MANY CHANGE ORDERS AND THEY'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH LIKE THAT, IT LEADS ME TO QUESTION THE DESIGN. THE WAIT MEAN, LIKE I SAID, CALVIN, I DON'T DEBATE WITH STAFF. I'LL SPEAK AND I'LL LISTEN TO ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO SAY, BUT WE DON'T. I UNDERSTAND. I'M SORRY. OKAY. WE'RE NOT A DEBATE HERE. I DIDN'T NEED TO SAY THAT ANY, I DIDN'T MEAN FOR THAT TO COME OUT VERBALLY. LEMME TELL YOU WHAT, I'M FINISHED. I'M SORRY. YEP. WHEN I FINISH, YOU KNOW, I LISTEN TO EVERYTHING STAFF SAYS. OKAY. BUT YOU KNOW, THESE TYPE THINGS, I TALK WITH PEOPLE. IF I'M GOING TO DISCUSS AN ENGINEER, I KNOW ENGINEERS AND I RUN THESE THINGS BY 'CAUSE I TRY TO UNDERSTAND IT. SO WHEN I GET HERE, I'M NOT TALKING WITH LINGO. YOU SHOULDN'T UNDERSTAND. BUT A LOT OF TIME WHEN WE DON'T DO A GOOD DESIGN, WE START HAVING A LOT OF CHANGES [04:55:01] AND WE START HAVING A LOT OF CHANGES. WE LOOK AT WHAT TYPE OF CHANGES THEY ARE. AND THAT'S WHAT I LOOKED AT WITH THIS PROJECT. THIS PROJECT CAME UP WHEREBY INITIALLY WE DROPPED, WE REDUCED SIX POINT SOME MILLION DOLLARS REDUCED THE, UH, PROJECT. SO MY QUESTION IS, I MEAN, WHATEVER WE DID TO REDUCE $6.2 MILLION, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INITIALLY IN THE DESIGN AND STUFF. SO I JUST FIGURED THAT, UH, UH, UH, SOMEBODY ELSE WENT BACK THROUGH THIS DESIGN AND FOUND WAYS TO, UH, CUT MONEY. BUT I THINK WHENEVER WE DO DESIGNS, THAT'S WHAT OUR DEPARTMENTS, OUR ENGINEERS SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING AT. NOT WHAT THE FIRM OR A CON A CONTRACTOR'S GOING TO DO WITH IT. YOU ALL SUPPOSED TO HAVE THAT ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE TO FIND OUT THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS. BUT WE REALLY DON'T NEED TO USE THAT BECAUSE A FIRM, THEY GOING TO, THEY MAKE MONEY ON WHAT THE COST OF PROJECTS IS. 'CAUSE A LOT OF TIMES DESIGNS ARE BASED ON PROJECT COSTS. OKAY. AND IT'S GOVERNED BY STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS WITH, WITH THE CONTRACTING AND PRICING OF IT. SO A LOT OF TIME, IF YOU GIVE SOMEBODY SOMETHING, THEY GONNA GIVE YOU THE BIGGEST PRICE. SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. SO SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE, RIGHT? SOMEBODY HAVE TO BE OUR PROTECTOR. IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN THEY FINISH AND GIVE US THIS, YOU ALL NEED TO BE ABLE TO SAY, THIS IS FAIR AND THIS IS NOT FAIR. OKAY, WE SHOULD OR WE SHOULDN'T DO THIS. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA BOIL DOWN TO IS BETTER SERVING AND PROTECTING TAXPAYERS MONEY. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT 20 22 54 IS ABOUT. WE START TALKING ABOUT SENDING OUT R THAT'S JUST THE FIRST THING BECAUSE YOU, YOU NOW GOTTA NEGOTIATE. THE BIG PART OF THAT IS NOT WHO GETS THE CONTRACT IS WHO'S GOING TO DO IT FOR THE RIGHT PRICE. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THIS, THIS, THIS PROJECT BEEN BOUNCING. I'LL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. EVEN IF YOU, EVEN IF YOU REDUCE IT, 6.9% IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, WELL MAYBE COULD HAVE BEEN REDUCED FOR 8 MILLION BUT THEY AIN'T GONNA GIMME BUT 2 MILLION BACK, I'M GONNA POCKET THAT TO 2 MILLION. I MEAN, WHEN THE PROJECT IS LIKE THIS, IT'S HARD TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE WORK. OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO, I DON'T NEED TO REISE I MEAN, I'M JUST MAKING A COMMENT. THIS, IN THIS PARTICULAR GRID SYSTEM ITEM, THE REASON IT WAS PICKED TO BE TAKEN OUT WAS THE PRICE BECAUSE THE CONTRACTOR REFUSED TO HONOR THE ORIGINAL PRICE AND WENT UP BY ABOUT $130,000. THE MANUFACTURER. SORRY. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE PULLED IT OUT. 'CAUSE WE WERE NOT GONNA PLAY THE GAME OF, NOW THAT YOU HAVE IN THE, YOU HAVE IT IN THE BID, YOU'RE GONNA COME AND INCREASE OUR PRICE AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ABLE TO BRING IT DOWN 108,000 LOWER THAN THAT NUMBER PLUS GETTING A BETTER PRODUCT. 'CAUSE IT'S MODIFIED FOR LOW FLOW. SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT COUNSEL A HUNDRED PERCENT. WE, WE LOOK AT THESE ITEMS AND UH, SOMETIMES WE ALWAYS TRY TO DESIGN FOR THE CADILLAC, BUT A BUICK WILL WORK IF THE CADILLAC WE CANNOT AFFORD. I WANT, THIS IS WHAT BOIL DOWN. I WANNA SAY ONE THING, MR. DOUCETTE. I WAS NOT HERE DURING THE DESIGN AND I CAN'T SPEAK EVIL OF THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T HERE. BUT SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT CAME WERE BECAUSE I WAS HERE AND WE DID MAKE SOME CHANGES AFTER I WAS HERE. YEAH, YEAH. CALVIN. AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I, THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT, I SPENT 40 YEARS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE. MM-HMM. AND MY GOAL WAS TO RAISE THE PRICE OF THE ENGINEERING. SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. OKAY. AND WE WENT THROUGH THIS ENGINEERING AND MATTER OF FACT, WE HAVE PROBABLY CAUSED A CERTAIN YOUNG ENGINEER TO HAVE LOTS OF GRAY HAIR. SEE, WE HAVE HEARD IT. YEAH. BUT SEE CALVIN, WHEN I GET PEOPLE BEFORE ME LIKE YOU AND I'M TALKING ABOUT A, A A A A PROJECT THAT OCCURRED PRIOR TO YOU ARRIVING. I'M NOT DIRECTING IT TO YOU. I KNOW, I UNDERSTAND. I'M JUST SAYING I ENJOY GOING THROUGH THIS PROJECT ONCE I GOT HERE. BUT SEE YOU THE PERSON THAT COMES BEFORE ME. RIGHT. SO WHETHER YOU STARTED IT OR NOT, YEAH. I'M UP HERE QUESTIONING A PROJECT FOR WHO DID IT. YOU ARE NOW THE ONE TO ANSWER TO IT. IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL WITH ME. I KNOW, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I DO. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME READING. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME GOING ASK PEOPLE ENGINEERING QUESTIONS. SO WHEN I COME HERE, I HAVE A GOOD IDEA ON WHAT I'M GONNA VOTE AND WHY I'M GONNA VOTE WITHOUT HAVING TO LISTEN TO WHAT IS BEING TOLD TO ME. [05:00:01] AND WHEN I START PUTTING IN THAT MUCH TIME, I'M NOT TRYING TO ATTACK, JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION. YOU GOT IT. AND I CAN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION AND I'M FINE WITH IT, BUT I'M NOT GONNA STOP HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. THAT CITIZENS EVEN TALKED TO ME ABOUT SOME IN SOME CASES. OKAY. THANK YOU GUYS. ONE MORE THING. OKAY, GO. ONE MORE THING. THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO ADD TO THAT, UH, UM, WAS WHEN I WAS DOING THE STUDY OF THIS, THE STUDY OF THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SELECT COMPANIES AND WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS COMPANY AND THEY COME BEFORE US AND THEY DO A LARGE PROPORTION OF, OF THE PROJECTS. BUT THE MARKUP ON THIS, UH, THE MARKUP ON THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, UM, WAS $40,000. JUST THE MARKUP ON IT. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS. AND, AND I KNOW EVERYBODY'S IN EVERYTHING TO MAKE MONEY, BUT WHEN YOU ARE DOING A LARGE AMOUNT OF WORK FOR INDIVIDUALS AS INDIVIDUALS ARE DOING FOR OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA YOU GOTTA, YOU GOTTA WORK WITH US. AND $40,000 MARKUP ON THE, ON THE EQUIPMENT, IT'S ON, IT'S ON, IT'S UH, IT'S A PART OF WHAT YOU GAVE US THERE ON THE BACKSIDE, UH, THERE, I APPRECIATE THE, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT THEY GAVE US SOMETHING, BUT YOU STILL GOT A $40,000 MARKUP. AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MENTION OF THAT AS WE TALK TO COMPANIES THAT WE ARE DOING BUSINESS WITH AS WELL. THANK YOU. YEAH. THAT, THAT MARKUP IS FROM THE CONTRACTOR AND AS PER THEIR CONTRACT, WHEN WE DO CHANGE ORDERS, IT'S TIME MATERIAL PLUS 50 15%. SO THAT 15% WAS NEGOTIATED DOWN TO ABOUT 5% TO BE ONLY 40,000. SO THEY DID NOT EVEN CHARGE THE 15% THEY CAN PER CONTRACT, THEY CUT IT DOWN TO 5%. SO WE WERE AWARE OF THAT. WE WERE NOT GONNA PAY THEM THAT 15%. SO THAT'S WHY. AND THAT'S, WELL THE 40% IS 0.47. UH, 0.4, YEAH. 7% OF THE $849,000. SO, AND THEY COULD HAVE CHARGED 15 AS PER THEIR CONTRACT WITH THE CITY. SO, OKAY. WE CUT IT BY A THIRD. ALRIGHT. YES SIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NO PROBLEM. OKAY, THANK YOU. UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSES? AYE. SO PR NUMBER 23, EXCUSE ME, 7 91 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. NEXT WE HAVE ON PAGE SIX [VII.C. (7) P.R. No. 23794 – A Resolution Approving The 2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Allocation For $1,030,589.00 From The Department Of Housing And Urban Development] PR NUMBER 23 7 9 4. IT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2024 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, BETTER KNOWN AS CDBG FUNDING ALLOCATION FOR $1,030,589 FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN? UH, LEWIS? YEAH, MAY I GET A A A SECOND? UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. SECOND IS A MOVE TO SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PER NUMBER 23 7 94 AS PRESENTED. WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION. COUNCILMAN FRANK. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. HEY, MS. ES, HOW YOU DOING? FINE. YOU DOING OKAY TODAY? DOING GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? FINE, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD. LISTEN, I, I, YES SIR. IT'S NOT SO MUCH AS A QUESTION FOR YOU UHHUH, AND YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SHED SOME LIGHT YES, SIR. ON IT AS WELL. I WAS SO, UH, GRATEFUL THAT, UM, COUNCILMAN, UM, DOUCETTE GAVE SOME DIRECTION EARLIER TO SOME YOUNG MEN WHO CAME RIGHT AS WELL. AND I, YES, AS I WAS GOING THROUGH MY PACKET, I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE FACT THAT WE WERE PARTICIPATING, UH, IN A SUBSTANTIAL WAY WITH LION HEARTED GETTING MONIES, UH, INTO OUR, UH, COMMUNITY. MY, MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, UM, IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO ASSIST, UM, ORGANIZATIONS, THAT WE DO IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, UM, ESPOUSE A PHILOSOPHY THAT SAYS, PUT THE MONEY AS CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE AS AS YOU CAN. AND IF YOU DO THAT, YOU ALWAYS ENSURE THAT YOU ARE MAKING THE MOST OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE. AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE CBDG FUNDS, UH, AND I HAVE, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, HELPED HERE. UM, I'M LOOKING FOR MY, MY PAPER. OH, HERE IT IS. I GOT IT. I GOT SO MUCH STUFF HERE. UM, I HAVE, I HAVE NO [05:05:01] PROBLEM WITH I HELPING THE ORGANIZATIONS. A LARGE PROPORTION OF OUR, UM, OF OUR MONIES, UH, IS GOING TO GO TO THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, EMERGENCY MINING, MINOR REPAIR, UH, UH, THESE FAMILIES NEED HELP. UH, AND, AND THEY DO. SO, UH, I, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. MM-HMM. , UH, UM, I GUESS WHEN I'M LOOKING AT, UM, THE MONIES THAT GO TO, UM, UH, CASA, UH, YES, SIR, WE ALWAYS, WE THAT'S BEEN THERE SINCE I'VE BEEN, UH, COMING. HOW DOES, HOW DO THOSE, HOW DO WE DE HOW DO WE ESTABLISH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE SEND TO CASA? WELL, WHAT, ALL THE NONPROFITS WE LOOK AT, IF WE FUNDED LAST YEAR, HOW MUCH, UH, WHAT SERVICES THEY PROVIDE AND OUR ALLOCATION, OUR ALLOCATION DECREASED THIS YEAR. UM, SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH BASED ON LAST YEAR'S AMOUNT. AND IF WE'RE ABLE TO INCREASE IT A LITTLE BIT, WE CAN. AND, AND I, I MAKE NO, I MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT. I'M, I'M OPEN, I'M OPEN WITH MINE. UM, I SEE THE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, YOU KNOW, I SEE THE JUNIOR BEADS. I SEE, UM, THE, UH, PORT CITY RESCUES MISSION. UH, THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET INTO THE LOOP SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL UHHUH. UM, I, UH, I SEE THE OTHER ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS ON THE WEST SIDE OF PORT ARTHUR, FAITHFULLY INSPIRED SERVING, UH, WITH HONOR, THEY'RE ON THE WEST SIDE OF PORT ARTHUR. AND, UM, SO I I'M SAYING TO US AS A COUNCIL, UH, UM, THAT WHEN WE HELP ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE KNOW ARE CLOSE TO OUR CITIZENS, WE CAN, WE, WE, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE, UM, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE HAVING AN EFFECT. AND SO I, I WANT US TO KIND OF DO WHAT WE NEED TO, TO ADOPT A PHILOSOPHY OF HELPING THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE GRASSROOTS, HELPING THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CLOSER, CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE. AND SO, I, I DON'T REALLY KNOW ALL THE PARTICULARS OF HOW THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE, BUT I WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE TO ESPOUSE A PHILOSOPHY FOR US AS A COUNCIL AND AS A CITIZEN WITH OUR CBDG FUNDS THAT WOULD HELP THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE CLOSEST TO OUR, OUR YOUTH. UH, CLOSEST TO, UH, WE DID ENTER INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH PORT ARTHUR, UM, WITH PORT CITY PARTNERS. WHEN THE COLD WEATHER CAME, THEY OPENED UP THEIR FACILITY AND ALLOWED FAMILIES TO COME, BUT YET WHEN THEY MAKE REQUESTS FOR RESOURCES, THOSE, THOSE REQUESTS AREN'T MET. AND SO, UM, UH, IT HAS TO BE A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP. I THINK IF WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM THAT WE WORK WITH. IF THEY'RE GONNA WORK WITH US, WE WORK WITH THEM YES, SIR. TO HELP THEM AS WELL. SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. BUT I THINK THAT PHILOSOPHY, I THINK AS WE WORK HAND IN HAND THAT WE, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO, UH, TO, TO, TO HELP THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER UNREADINESS ON THIS? OKAY, WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSES? AYE. HAVE IT. SO THIS ORDER, PR NUMBER 23 7 9 4 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. NEXT, WE'LL GO TO PAGE SEVEN, [VIII.C.(15) P.R. No. 23806 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute An Industrial District Agreement With GT Logistics, LLC For The Blue Ammonia Terminal Project] PR NUMBER 2 3 8 0 6. IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENT WITH GT LOGISTICS, THE LLC FOR THE BLUE AMONG YOUR TERMINAL, UH, PROJECT. BACK IN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KINLOCK. SO MOVED. MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE P NUMBER 2 3 8 0 6 AS PRESENTED. WE ARE READY FOR QUESTIONS. COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES, SIR. AND SHOOT, TURN YOUR MIC ON, PLEASE PICK YOU UP. YES. HUEY? YES SIR. ON THE, ON THE GT ON LOGISTICS HERE. WHAT DID THEY, WHAT ABOUT THEIR PROCUREMENT OFFICE? UH, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE AN OFFICE IN OUR CITY LIMITS. UM, I HAVE A REP HERE FROM GT LOGISTICS. AGAIN, UH, EXPLAIN THAT. MM-HMM? . JOHN SPILNER, SENIOR, UH, PROPERTY TAX MANAGER. SAN ANTONIO. RIGHT. HOWARD ENERGY. WE OWN GT LOGISTICS. WE HAVE A, WE HAVE AN OFFICE IN [05:10:01] AN ADJOINING PARCEL NEXT TO THOSE FOUR THAT WERE DE ANNEX. THAT'S OUR, THAT'S OUR GULF, WHAT'S CALLED OUR GULF WAY OFFICE. OKAY. SO IT'S STILL IN THE CITY LIMITS. OKAY. OKAY. IF, IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. SO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? YES, I DO. YES SIR. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. OKAY. ANY OTHER READINESS? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSES? AYES HAVE IT. SO IT'S ORDERED PR NUMBER 23 8 0 6 IS APPROVED AS READ. NEXT WE [VII.C. (17) P.R. No. 23811 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Lease Agreement Between The City Of Port Arthur And SM Brother & Sisters Corporation DBA Island Grocery And Cajun Cabins For Approximately 2.96 Acres Located At 1900 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr., Port Arthur, Texas, 77640] HAVE PR NUMBER 23 8 11. IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND SM BROTHERS AND SISTERS CORPORATION, DBA ISLAND GROCERY AND CAJUN CABINS FOR APPROXIMATELY 2.96 ACRES OF, UH, ACRES LOCATED AT 1900. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DRIVE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. 7 7 6 FOR ZERO. MAY GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. COUNCILMAN ETTE. SO MOVED. MAY GET A SECOND. COUNCILMAN LEWIS SECOND IS REMOVED IN SECOND. THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 8 11 AS PRESENTED. WE ARE READY FOR QUESTION COUNCILWOMAN, UH, BECK BECKHAM. THANK YOU. UH, THIS, UH, QUESTION IS PROBABLY FOR BOTH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY. UM, WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS LEASE EXTENSION POTENTIAL LAST YEAR ABOUT THE TIME THAT I GOT ON COUNCIL. SO IT WAS AROUND MID TO LATE JULY. UM, AND THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHY THEY WANTED TO HAVE THIS, THIS LARGER EXTENSION AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH ON THE PROPERTY. DO WE KNOW IF THAT'S STILL THEIR INTENTION WITHOUT REVEALING TOO MUCH ABOUT WHAT OUR DISCUSSION WAS BECAUSE IT WAS IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT IS THAT STILL THEIR INTENTION TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE? YES. IT'S STILL THEIR INTENTION. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY HAVE GONE AHEAD AND MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROPERTY AS WELL AND TO THE CABINS OUT THERE. AND, UM, I THINK APPRO APPROVING THE LEASE FOR THEM BASED ON THE NEW APPRAISAL THAT WE HAVE DONE. WE HAVE ARRIVED AT A NEW RATE FOR THE, UM, LEASING OF THE PROPERTY TO THEM. UM, THE LEASE WAS DONE SOMETIME, UM, LAST YEAR, WHICH IS STILL CURRENT WITH US. AND SO IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR 10 YEARS WITH THE, UH, POSSIBILITY OF RENEWAL FOR FIVE MILES. BUT TO ENTER, IF, IF IT COMES UP AGAIN, IT, IT OPENS UP THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEM TO BUY IF THAT HAPPENS. YES. OKAY. ALRIGHT. GREAT. THANK YOU. YES. OKAY. ANY OTHER UNREADINESS? OKAY, IF THERE IS, WE ARE READY TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE TO, SO ORDER PR NUMBER 23 8 11 IS APPROVED AS READ. NOW WE MOVE ON TO PAGE EIGHT. UH, WE HAVE, THIS IS THE, UH, NO, EXCUSE ME, I'M SORRY. STILL NON-CONSENT. AND THAT'S ALREADY APPROVED. AM I? NO. SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS NON-CONSENT. JUST FINISH CONSENT BEEN TOO UP TOO LONG. OKAY. THERE AREN'T ANY, UH, RESOLUTIONS OR, OR THERE ANY ORDINANCES HAVE THERE? UH, THERE, THERE'S A ORDINANCE [VIII.B. (1) P.O. No. 7252 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Sale Of A City Owned Vacant Tract Of Land Located At 937 Grannis Avenue And Further Authorize The City Manager To Execute A Special Warranty Deed For The Conveyance] THAT, SO THERE ARE ORDINANCE IS WHAT I WANT TO SAY. PO NUMBER 72 52. IT IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZED IN THE SALE OF A CITY, UH, ON, UH, VACANT TRACK OF LAND LOCATED AT 9 37 GRANNIS AVENUE AND FURTHER AUTHORIZED THE, UH, CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED FOR THE, UH, CONVEYANCE. MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MOVED. MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK. SECOND IS REMOVED IN SECOND. THAT WOULD, UH, APPROVE PEO NUMBER 72 52 AS PRESENTED. UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? I SEE NO LIGHTS. WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT. SO IS ON PO NUMBER 72 52 IS PRESENTED AS READ AND APPROVED. NEXT WE [VIII.B. (2) P.O. No. 7255 – An Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas Authorizing The Suspension Of The Effective Date For An Additional Ninety (90) Days Beyond The Effective Date Proposed By Texas Gas Service Company, A Division Of One Gas, Inc. In Connection With Its Statement Of Intent To Increase Rates Within The Incorporated Areas Of The Central-Gulf Service Area, Filed On June 3, 2024; Authorizing The Hiring Of Lawyers And Rate Experts; Authorizing The City's Participation To The Full Extent Permitted By Law At The Railroad Commission Of Texas; Requiring Reimbursement Of Municipal Rate Case Expenses; Finding That The Meeting Complies With The Open Meetings Act; Making Other Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; And Declaring An Effective Date] HAVE PO NUMBER 72 55. IT IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE SUSPENSION OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 90 DAYS BEYOND THE EFFECTIVE DATE PROPO PROPOSED, EXCUSE ME, BY TEXAS GAS, UH, SERVICE COMPANY, A DIVISION OF ONE GAS INCORPORATED IN CONNECTION WITH ITS STATEMENT OF INTENT TO INCREASE RATES WITHIN THE INCORPORATED AREAS OF THE CENTRAL GULF SERVICE AREA FILED ON JUNE 3RD, 2024, AUTHORIZING THE HIRING OF LAWYERS AND RATE EXPERTS AUTHORIZING THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION TO THE FULL EXTENT OF PER UH, EXTENT, PERMITTED BYLAW AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS, REQUIRING REIMBURSEMENT OF MUNICIPAL RATE CASE EXPENSES, FINDING THAT THE MEETING COMPLIES WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. [05:15:01] MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? MOTION? MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, UH, COUNCILMAN BECKHAM SECOND AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR . I'M SORRY I WAS MOVING TOO FAST IN MY BRAIN. OKAY, WE, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, APPROVE PO NUMBER 72 55. WE READY? QUESTION? AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS? YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? OH, I THOUGHT YOU JUST HAD YOUR LIGHT ON. IT WAS DOWN. OH, OH, OKAY. YEAH, YOU CAN'T SEE WE'RE LOOKING. YOU HAD A QUESTION? YOU GOT, YEAH. OKAY. GO AHEAD. CITY ATTORNEY. THESE, THESE, THESE, UH, LAWYERS AND RAID EXPERTS THAT TO SEE IF THEY JUSTIFIED THE INCREASE. THAT'S WHAT YOU WANTED. THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING. RIGHT. SEE IF THEY JU SEE IF THEY JUST, THEY'RE ASKING FOR A RATE INCREASE. TEXAS GAS IS ASKING FOR A RATE INCREASE. THAT IS CORRECT. AND YOU'RE SUSPENDING THE RATE FOR 90 DAYS FOR THE CONSULTANTS TO STUDY THE RATE SO THEY CAN LOOK RIGHT. OKAY. THAT WAY. SEE IF THEY CAN JUSTIFY WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. ALRIGHT, BECAUSE ONE, ONE YEAR WE, WE DID THAT AND WE SAVED $600,000. OKAY. ANY OTHER, IF NOT, WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT. SO IT IS ORDERED THAT PO NUMBER 72 55 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. NOW WE ARE READY TO, UH, [IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)] RETALIATE AND GO INTO WE CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 5 5 1 0.101 OF, UH, CHAPTER 5 5 1, UH, OPEN MEETINGS LAWS OF THE, UH, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH WAS FORMERLY ARTICLE 6 62 52 DASH 17, SECTION TWO SUBSECTION EIGHT. PRIOR TO GOING INTO THIS MEETING, IT MIGHT BEING, UH, THE PRESIDING OFFICER SHALL MAKE THE FOLLOWING, UH, ARGUMENT. WE WILL COVER SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS, UH, AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING POTENTIAL AND OR PENDING CLAIMS, CONTRACTS, LITIGATIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL MATTERS INVOLVING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND ALSO WE WILL, UH, DISCUSS SECTION 5 5 1 0.074 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS THE DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THE EVALUATION OF THE CITY SECRETARY. WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS AT THIS, AT THIS JUNCTURE TO MOVE THAT WE WOULD GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE WOULD GO IF WE WERE PLEASED AND, UH, CITY'S ATTORNEY, IF I WERE TO CHANGE THE ROOM FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION, ARE WE GOOD CITY SECRETARY? AND WE WOULD GO OVER INTO THE OFFICE WHERE THE COUNCIL MEETS. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE OUT OF THERE. SO WILL THE CITY MANAGER, 'CAUSE WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MEETING IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM, BUT THE CITY, UH, COUNCIL GONNA HAVE A QUORUM AND YOU ALL CAN PROCEED WITH THE, UH, EVALUATION PROCESS AND THE OTHER OTHER MATTERS. IF YOU FINISH BEFORE WE FINISH THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MEETING, YOU OUGHT TO RETURN CITY. UH, MAYOR PO. YOU, YOU'LL CONDUCT THIS THAT WAY. I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU. Y'ALL GOTTA WAIT TILL FOUR 30 OR FIVE O'CLOCK. SO, AND I'VE BEEN THINKING THIS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN EXPEDITE IT. SO IF, IF IT CAN EVERYONE YES, SIR. SEE SAYING SO THEY CAN PICK IT UP. THE DIRECTOR OF, HUH? NO. YES, SIR. THE MIKE COULD PICK IT UP. YEAH. IS THE DIRECTOR OF, UM, DD SEVEN'S GONNA BE THERE? YES. I NEED TO TALK TO HIM. OKAY. WELL THAT, THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE. WE AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. OKAY. COME ON. WE, WE GOING TO, WE GOING TO RECESS? WE ARE GOING INTO THE OFFICE AREA FOR THE COUNCIL. WE READY? OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN. OR GOOD EVENING. MIGHT I SAY IT'S 5 0 3. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. I'M GONNA BE CORRECT. MS. VITO. ATTORNEY , UH, CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU RE-ESTABLISH FOR US? MAYOR BARTEE. PRESENT. MAYOR PROTE BECKHAM. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. HERE. COUNCILMAN ETT? HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK, YOU HAVE A COURT MAYOR. THANK YOU SO KINDLY. UH, WE ARE NOW BACK IN SESSION RETURNING FROM THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, YOU HANDLED THAT SESSION SO NICELY FOR ME. THANK YOU. NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY ACTION ITEMS? NO, WE DO NOT. MAYOR. OKAY. THERE AREN'T ANY ACTION ITEMS AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY TAKEN CARE OF THE, UH, BUSINESS FOR THE AGENDA ON TODAY. CITIZENS WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING, STAFF WHO IS HERE. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE WITH US FROM NINE TO FIVE, YOU KNOW, WORKING. YOU ALL DID YOUR WORK TODAY. THANK YOU. SO KINDA CITY, UH, INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY, USC INTERIM [05:20:01] MEAN VERY WELL. I MADE THAT WORD. OKAY. WOULD YOU DO ANY GOOD? OKAY. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU, PLEASE TAKE CAUTION. IT'S A DISTURBANCE FOR WHAT I NOTES THAT I HAVE THAT IT'S REACHING NOW 45 MILES AN HOUR WINDS, BUT IT IS GOING THROUGH OLD MEXICO, UH, IN A WESTWOOD, UH, NORTHWEST UH, DIRECTION. HOWEVER, THAT PUTS US IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE DISTURBANCE. WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED WITH FROM SABINE PASS TO CAMERON, LOUISIANA, AND THAT IS PORT ARTHUR, THAT THERE MAY BE SOME HIGH TIDES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE IN OUR LOWER AREAS WHERE FLOODING NORMALLY OCCURS WITH JUST A HALF A INCH OF RAIN. YOU KNOW, YOU MAY HAVE SOME FLOODING BECAUSE THERE COULD BE FROM ONE TO SIX INCHES. WE JUST DON'T KNOW. BUT GOD HAS TAKEN GOOD CARE OF US AND WE EVEN PRAY FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE DOWN IN MEXICO AND WHO WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE, THE, THE BRUNT OF THIS, UH, DISTURBANCE. ALSO, NO ONE SAID IT, BUT THERE IS A SECOND DISTURBANCE THAT'S CLOSER TO TEXAS THAT'S OUT IN THE GULF AND IN ABOUT 48 HOURS, . YEAH, I DIDN'T WANNA TELL Y TELL Y'ALL THE WHOLE THING IN ABOUT FOUR, EIGHT HOURS. YEAH, IN ABOUT FOUR EIGHT HOURS WE'LL BEGINNING TO KNOW SOMETHING ELSE, BUT RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CALLS FOR OUR REGION RIGHT NOW. BUT, UH, MAYBE ONCE WE COME BACK, HAVE A HAPPY RESTFUL JUNETEENTH. AND WE ARE SORRY FOR THE WEATHER, BUT HEY MAN, IT'S GOD'S COUNTRY. SO I GUESS HE WANTED US ALL TO REST TOMORROW. SO GO AHEAD AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES, GET YOUR REST AND TRY TO BE BACK ON THURSDAY. WELL, ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S, IT'S IT. I'M GONNA DECLARE THIS MEETING CLOSE. GOD BLESS YOU. HAPPY JUNETEENTH. THANK YOU, SIR. YEAH, I DIDN'T WANT. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.