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SECRETARY.WELL, SHE'S TALKING WITH CITY MANAGER I, ME.
WE ARE GATHERED HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET, HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, AND OUR CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, JULY 30TH, 2024.
IT IS NOW 5:38 PM AND WE WILL BEGIN THE MEETING.
YOU MAY ATTEND THE MEETING AND PARTICIPATE, UH, VIA TELEPHONIC AND VIDEO CONFERENCE MEDIUMS. HOWEVER, YOU MUST FIRST DIAL YOU 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 2 3 5 7 0 8 0 2 2 4, AND THE PASSCODE OF 4 5 9 2 5 5 AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE, UH, THE MEETING IN IN THE MEETING.
IN THIS MEETING, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
AND IF YOU HAVE A NEED FOR ANY SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU WOULD ONLY NEED TO CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.
HOWEVER, IT MUST BE DONE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE.
YOU WOULD MAKE YOUR DESIRES KNOWN FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE WILL DO ALL WITHIN ITS POWERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH YOUR REQUEST.
[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL ]
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE OUR REGULARLY, UH, PERFORMED, UH, OPENING, WHICH IS THE INVOCATION, THE PLEDGE, AND THE ROLL CALL, UH, COUNCILOR MCKEN LAW.WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO DO THE INVOCATION FOR US? YES, SIR.
WILL YOU STAND, PLEASE? OH, HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS COUNCIL COULD COME TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY.
BLESS THIS ENTIRE CITY, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BLESS MANAGEMENT STAFF, CONTINUE BLESSING WATCHING OVER THE CITY THAT WE WILL PROSPER.
WE ASK ALL THESE BLESSINGS IN YOUR SON JESUS NAME, I PRAY, WE PRAY.
WOULD YOU PLEASE NOW JOIN US 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.
BUT NOW, CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU ESTABLISH A QUORUM FOR US, PLEASE? MAYOR BARTEE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT.
[II. PROCLAMATIONS ]
WE WILL BEGIN THIS MEETING WITH PROCLAMATIONS AND I DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE, AND IT IS A PROCLAMATION TO ACKNOWLEDGE PORT ARTHUR, LNG AND BETO IN AN EFFORT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN WITH SOME PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS, AND WHICH YOU ALL COME UP AND EVEN THE INDIVIDUALS WHOM YOU ALL HAVE ASKED TO ACCOMPANY YOU IN THE MEETING.ALL THESE FINE GENTLEMEN HERE, RIGHT? AND WELL, YOU ALL MIGHT WANNA FACE US FIRST.
AND THEN I'M GONNA GET YOU ALL TO TURN AND YOU'RE GONNA FACE THE, UH, ENTIRE, UH, GROUP IN A MOMENT NOW.
AND I'M GOING TO READ NOW THE PROCLAMATION THAT'S BEEN PREPARED FROM, UH, IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
AND SO THIS IS FROM THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, YOUR HOME.
AND IT STATES, WHEREAS PORT ARTHUR, LNG IS CHAMPIONING AND WORKFORCE OR CHAMPIONING A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.
IN 2023, THEY PARTNERED WITH BECHTEL TO COMMIT $1 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS TO ENHANCE TRAINING, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND TALENT RETENTION.
AND WHEREAS ONE NOTABLE INITIATIVE IS THE PIPE FITTING PROGRAM AT MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION, BETTER KNOWN AS KATE, WHICH WAS DELIVERED ON CAMPUS.
THROUGH THIS GREAT COLLABORATION, STUDENTS WHO COMPLETED THIS PROGRAM GRADUATE WITH A VALUABLE NATIONAL CENTER FOR
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CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION AND RESEARCH KNOWN AS N-C-C-E-R CERTIFICATION.THIS PROGRAM HAS SIGNIFICANTLY STRENGTHENED LOCAL PIPE FITTING AND WELDING CURRICULUMS, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS FOR CAREERS IN THE EXPANDING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
AND WHEREAS SIX GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2024, AND I HOPE I DON'T MESS ANYONE'S NAME UP,
MARIAN MITCHELL, JAYLEN REED, JOSE VALET, EMMANUEL RUIZ AND CAMERON THOMAS HAVE ALREADY BECOME APPRENTICES CONTRIBUTING TO SECURING PORT ARTHUR'S FUTURE AS A KEY PROVIDER OF REGIONAL ENERGY SECURITY.
THESE GRADUATES WHO ARE WITH US TODAY ARE PROUDLY STARTING THEIR CAREERS AS APPRENTICES ON THE PORT ARTHUR LNG PROJECT.
THEIR SUCCESS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM AND A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR FUTURE STUDENTS.
BECHTEL HAS EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS BY PROVIDING EQUIPMENT AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO THESE TALENTED YOUNG MEN.
NOW, THEREFORE, I THURMAN BILL BCE, MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE PORT ARTHUR, LNG AND BECHTEL IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
WE ALSO COMMEND THEM FOR THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF PORT ARTHUR'S WORKFORCE AND THEIR DEDICATION TO BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY.
THEIR COMMITMENT AND EFFORTS ARE NOT JUST RECOGNIZED, BUT DEEPLY APPRECIATED.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER IN WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HERE AND TO SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS 30TH DAY OF JULY IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2024.
AND IT'S SIGNED THURMOND, BILL BOCE MAYOR.
AND I'M GOING TO COME DOWN AND PRESENT THIS TO YOU ALL AND GENTLEMEN HAVE THIS, ONLY HAVE ONE.
SO, BUT YOU KNOW, KNOW WHAT, WHAT I CAN DO IS I'M GONNA HAVE MY OFFICE SPARE SIX OF THESE, OKAY? AND YOU ALL CAN PICK THEM UP FOR EACH OF YOU, BUT HAVE ONE OF THESE.
WHAT WE'LL DO, LOOK HERE, UH, I USED TO PUSH THIS, I WANT Y'ALL TO STAND ABOUT PUSH THE PODIUM BACK THAT WAY.
Y'ALL COME ON THIS SIDE, OKAY? AND WE'LL TAKE THIS AND THEN MAYOR, APPROACH HIM ME, IT IS GONNA CALL OUT AND SEE WHO, WHOEVER Y'ALL, Y'ALL COME UP DOWN ON EACH SIDE OF ME HERE, OKAY? ALRIGHT.
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YEAH, THERE YOU GO.YOU WANT COME? SHE'S GONNA GET IN TOO.
AND I, YOU ARE NOT GONNA GET IN LOOKING AT THE CAMERA UP HERE LOOKING RIGHT HERE.
1, 2, 3, 2, MARK, 1, 2, 3, PUT AND WHO'S SPEAK? TELL ME.
YOU DON'T WANT ME TO WAIT FOR YOU TO GET UP THERE? OKAY.
WELL, MR. MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL, KELLY PROSSER FROM PORT ARTHUR, L AND G, AND ON BEHALF OF THE, WE'RE ONE TEAM THERE, BECHTEL'S DOING THE CONSTRUCTION.
WE GOT EMPER INFRASTRUCTURE EMPLOYEES DOING STUFF, BUT WE'RE PORT ARTHUR, LNG.
WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF THESE YOUNG MEN.
AND WE DO NEED TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT'S DUE.
'CAUSE MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL HAD, AND THE LEADERSHIP THERE IN THIS PROGRAM HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THESE YOUNG MEN STANDING HERE TODAY.
SO BECHTEL PUT THE TOOLS IN THE SCHOOLS, WE GOT THE TEACHERS HERE THAT ACTUALLY PUT THE PROGRAMS TOGETHER.
WE'VE GOT WELDERS HERE AND PIPE FITTERS TONIGHT.
AND IN MAY WHEN THESE YOUNG MEN GRADUATED FROM MEMORIAL, THEY ALSO RECEIVED AN OFFER FROM PORT ARTHUR, LNG FROM BECHTEL TO COME WORK AS APPRENTICES ON OUR SITE.
SO WE SAID, WHEN WE SAID TO YOU, GOSH, HOW MANY YEARS AGO, I THINK, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS SAID, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS 20 YEARS.
WE, WE FINALLY GOT HERE, BUT WE SAID LOCAL INVESTMENT.
SO THIS IS LOCAL HIRE, LOCAL BUY LOCAL PROCUREMENT, AND LOCAL COMMUNITY INVESTMENT.
SO THIS IS LOCAL HIRE AND, AND WE'RE JUST, WE'RE THRILLED THAT BECHTEL, UH, WORKS SO CLOSELY WITH DR.
PORTERIE AND HIS TEAM AT MEMORIAL HIGH.
AND OBVIOUSLY THESE YOUNG MEN ARE TESTAMENT TO, AND THEY'RE HAVING FUN.
AND I THINK, I THINK IT WAS, UH, COUNCILMAN KINLAW THAT ACTUALLY WANTED TO HEAR FROM ONE OR TWO OF THE GUYS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE.
SO I'M GONNA GET OFF THE MIC AND WHO'S GONNA BE BRAVE HERE,
UH, I, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.
I MEAN, THIS IS A TESTIMONY OF WHAT WE CAN DO WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
OUR KIDS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE 18 AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY WORKING AND MAKING MONEY.
THE FIRST THING, WHEN I CAME DOWN AND SPOKE WITH THEM, WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS JOB? AND THEY SAID, WHAT? MAKING MONEY.
THEY'RE NOT IN TROUBLE AND THEY'RE DOING THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO DO.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSTRUCTION, THANK YOU FOR THE, THE, THE COMPANIES AND WORKING WITH US.
BUT JUST REAL BRIEFLY, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, JUST TELL US SOME OF THE EXPERIENCE YOU'VE HAD WORKING, AND I THINK YOU'RE GONNA GO SECOND, RIGHT? SO JUST REAL BRIEFLY SO PEOPLE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS PROGRAM.
SO, UM, SOME OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD, LIKE GOING INTO THIS JOB, BEING AN APPRENTICE, I REALLY AIN'T KNOW MUCH, BUT LIKE, MY CREW IS OUTSTANDING.
RAISE THE MICROPHONE SO WE CAN ALL HEAR YOU.
YO, MY CREW IS OUTSTANDING CREW.
YOU KNOW, THEY TEACHING ME AS WE GO, ACTUALLY LETTING ME PUT MY HANDS ON STUFF.
NOT JUST MAKING ME A RUN BOY AND GO GET THIS, GO GET THAT.
WE ACTUALLY IN THAT FIELD, BEFORE I GET TO THE EXPERIENCE, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MEMORIAL CTE PROGRAM AND BE, THEY GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE NOBODY THOUGHT WE COULD HAVE.
AND BEING OUT THERE, THEY SHOW US A LOT.
LIKE BEFORE I GOT THERE, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO USE THE SIMPLE TOOLS.
THEY TALK, THEY WALKED ME THROUGH EVERYTHING.
THEY DID EVERYTHING SHOWING ME HOW TO DO EVERYTHING.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU IN GENERAL, COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.
UH, I GUESS WE JUST BEGIN BY SAYING, GIVING GOD ALL THE GLORY, THE PRAISE AND THE HONOR FOR IT ALL.
UH, I SEE MYSELF AS, UM, UM, UH, THE EIGHTH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER BECAUSE THE CAPE BUILDING, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE ALWAYS PUSHED AND PROMOTED.
AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT THAT PROGRAM, UH, IS THE CROWN JEWEL, UH, HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
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I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, PORT ARTHUR, L AND G, KELLY, HELENE BECHTEL, THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING THIS A REALITY.UM, UM, YOU, AND THE GREATEST THING THAT I CAN SAY ABOUT YOU ALL ON TODAY IS YOU KEPT YOUR PROMISE, YOU DID WHAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO.
AND SO THE ONLY THING STRONGER THAN CONCRETE IS SOMEBODY'S WORD.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DOING.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, P-A-A-I-S-D, UH, DR.
UH, I WANT TO THANK THE WELDING, UH, UH, TEACHER AND, UH, ALL OF THEM.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THIS CITY NEEDS.
THIS IS WHAT THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS.
IT IMPACTS, UH, THESE YOUNG MEN FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
BECAUSE WATCH THIS, AND I WANNA SAY THIS IN CLOSING, IF YOU DON'T TEACH 'EM HOW TO MAKE A LIVING, THEY'LL TAKE A LIVING.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU GET TO FEED YOURSELVES AND YOU GET TO FEED, UH, TO FEED YOUR FAMILIES.
THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR MAKING THIS DREAM A REALITY.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU ALL.
YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY, NOW YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT WORK.
AND YOU HAVE TO PAY IT FORWARD AND BRING SOMEONE ELSE WITH YOU.
SO, REMIND YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR FAMILY THAT ARE IN YOUR AGE GROUPS OR MAYBE YOUNGER OR OLDER, THAT IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WHEN THEY'RE PROVIDED TO YOU.
AND Y'ALL STUCK WITH IT AND YOU RESPECTED THE PROCESS.
SO I'M EXPECTING GREATNESS FROM Y'ALL.
I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY TELLS Y'ALL.
I LOOK AT THESE BLACK AND BROWN FACES, AND WE ARE EXPECTING GREATNESS FROM Y'ALL.
I'M EXPECTING GREATNESS FROM YOU ALL.
I HOPE ME SAYING THAT THREE OR FOUR TIMES, IT SINKS IN.
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S EXPECTED OF YOU FROM THE WORLD? SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT.
AND I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF Y'ALL.
THIS PROJECT WAS PLANNED BEFORE SOME OF YOU ALL WAS EVEN BORN.
I'VE ALWAYS PUSHED WITH THE, WITH THE EDC, ALWAYS PUSHED TO GET KIDS INVOLVED IN SKILL THAT THEY CAN COME OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL AND HAVE, GO INTO THE, THE INDUSTRY WITH, WITH THE TECHNICAL SKILLS AND, AND THE CRAFT SKILLS THAT YOU NEED TO BE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
ONE THING, KEEP IN MIND, BUY YOUR FIRST CAR OUTTA YOUR SECOND $25,000.
NOW, IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE, I SAY, REMEMBER THIS? THAT'S A CONSTANT FACTOR.
IF YOU INVEST $1 AT 12% INTEREST IN SIX YEARS, YOU'LL HAVE $2.
IF YOU INVEST $1 AT 12% INTEREST, YOU'LL HAVE IN SIX YEARS, YOU'LL HAVE, YOU'LL HAVE $12.
NO, DON'T ASK ME WHY IT WORKS.
IT WORKS $12, I MEAN 12%, $1 IN SIX YEARS, YOU'LL HAVE, YOU'LL HAVE $2, 6%, $1, 6%, 12 YEARS, YOU'LL HAVE $2.
DON'T DO NOT LIVE FROM PAYDAY TO PAYDAY.
I PUT 45 YEARS IN THE OIL INDUSTRY.
AND I, WHAT I'VE LEARNED, I'M PASSING ON TO YOU ALL.
DON'T BE SO QUICK TO WASTE YOUR MONEY.
SAVE YOUR MONEY BECAUSE THAT, THAT RAINY DAY IS GONNA COME.
I NORMALLY DON'T SPEAK WHEN WE DO PROCLAMATIONS, BUT WHEN I SEE YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE YOU ALL THE FUTURE, IT REALLY MOVES ME TO SAY SOMETHING.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK PORT ARTHUR, LNG.
SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE REFINERIES AND INJURIES TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN HIRE YOUNG PEOPLE.
THAT'LL BE YOUR FUTURE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LONG TIME TO WORK FOR YOU.
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OPPORTUNITY.AND IF YOU'VE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, THEN WE CAN GET RESULTS.
SO FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO GET IT IN THERE.
SO THANK PORT ARTHUR, L AND G FOR LETTING PEOPLE SEE THAT IF WE HAVE QUALIFIED PEOPLE, WE WILLING TO BRING THEM ON YOUR APPRENTICESHIP SO YOU CAN MOVE ON TO BE THE ACTUAL PEOPLE.
THE NEXT THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS YOU AS INDIVIDUALS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL AND DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING A JOB.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, DON'T WANNA GO TO COLLEGE.
YOU COULD GOT, YOU GOT A JOB AND YOU COULD GO TO COLLEGE.
SO YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO ASK NOBODY FOR NOTHING.
YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT YOURSELF.
ALSO, I WANNA THANK PORT ARTHUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR A LONG TIME I KEPT TALKING ABOUT THE CRAFTS, ARTS AND CRAFTS.
YOU KNOW, HERE WE, INDUSTRIAL CITY, PIPEFITTERS, WELDERS.
THESE ARE JOBS THAT ARE ALWAYS IN DEMAND.
IF THEY'RE ALWAYS IN DEMAND, WHY AREN'T WE PREPARING THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE THESE JOBS? WELL, I GUESS THEY GOT THE MESSAGE.
'CAUSE WE GOT NOW TRAINING BY PEOPLE IN REFINERIES WHO KNOW HOW TO TRAIN YOU TO GO WORK IN THAT REFINERY, AND THE REFINERY WILLING TO HIRE YOU.
SO IT'S A THREE WAY DEAL, OKAY? IS THE COMPANY'S WILLING TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY? IT'S YOUR SCHOOL PROVIDING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.
SO YOU ALL ARE THANKFUL, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND, WE BEING THE FIRST PEOPLE GONNA LOOK AT YOU, HOW YOU DO AT THAT REFINERY IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY CAN HIRE A FUTURE 18 YEAR OLDS AND HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY.
SO YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, AND WHEN YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL, YOU STUDENTS COME BEHIND YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL COULD SAY, HEY, HE TOOK PIPE.
HE WORKING OVER THERE IN THE REFINERY, HE MAKING BIG DOLLARS.
I HOPE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND A LOT OF EYES GOING BE ON YOU AND THE WAY YOU PERFORM IS GOING.
DETERMINE IF WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HIRE PEOPLE, IF THE SCHOOL PROGRAM IS WORTH WHAT IT IS INVESTMENT IN.
I'M GONNA BE PRAYING FOR YOU GUYS.
YOU KNOW, MAYOR PROTE, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T THINK THANK AND ASK THE PARENTS, WE DIDN'T THANK THE PARENTS FOR THESE STUDENTS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE THANK YOU OPENLY IN AN OPEN MEETING.
THANK YOU PARENTS FOR ALLOWING YOUR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.
IF, IF THERE ARE ANY PARENTS, WOULD YOU MIND STANDING SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU PROPERLY? THANK YOU.
OH, GUYS, I JUST WANNA CLOSE, UH, OUR OUR DISCUSSION OF YOUR SUCCESSES HERE WITH, UH, ONE THING THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS MENTIONED, BUT AS YOUNG AS YOU GUYS ARE, YOU'RE GONNA GET TO RETIRE EARLIER THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THE PLANT.
SO I KNOW YOU'RE, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT RETIREMENT YET, BUT JUST KEEP THAT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND.
MAYOR PRO TIM, MAYOR, PRO TIM.
ONE OF Y'ALL JUST ONE COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
YEAH, JUST BRIEFLY YOU ALL, WHEN Y'ALL GO TO WORK IN THE PLANT FOR THE, IN THE PLANT, Y'ALL WORK IN THE CONSTRUC CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
GET TO WORK ON TIME, WORK SAFELY.
THE COMPANIES ARE GOING TO BE PULLING FROM THE, THAT, THAT POOL FOR PERMANENT JOBS.
SO TAKE CARE OF YOUR JOBS OKAY? AND WORK SAFELY.
[00:25:06]
AT THIS JUNCTURE, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS, YEAH, MOVE FROM, UH, OUR REGULAR FLOW OF THE AGENDA.ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IN THE PRINTED AGENDA ON PAGE EIGHT, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, IT IS PR NUMBER 23 8 6 1.
IT'S IS, YEAH, NO, IT'S, IT'S THE WRONG ONE.
I WAS GOING ON WHAT I HAD RIGHT HERE.
IT IS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT? IT'S THE WRONG ONE.
OKAY? YOU ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR STAFF.
SOMETIME THEY MAKE A MISTAKE, YOU JUST FLOW WITH IT.
[VII.C.(4) P.R. No. 23831 – A Resolution Authorizing The Execution Of Major Pipeline Permit 23-03 From The City Of Port Arthur To Port Arthur Pipeline, LLC C/O Sempra Energy Of Houston, Texas For The Installation Of A Forty-Two Inch (42") Natural Gas Pipeline Within The Corporate Limits Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas ]
IT'S NUMBER FOUR.HERE IT IS, UH, UH, PAGE FOUR.
IT IS A RESOLUTION, UH, NUMBER 23 831 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A MAJOR PIPELINE PERMIT.
23 DASH THREE FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO PORT ARTHUR PIPELINE, LLC, UH, COMMONLY KNOWN AS SEMPRA ENTERGY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, FOR THE INSTALL INSTALLATION OF A 42 INCH NATURAL GAS PIPELINE WITHIN THE COOPERATIVE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KIM LAW? SO MOVE MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 831 AS READ AND PRESENTED.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS.
SO ORDER P NUMBER 23, 831 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
NOW WE WILL GO BACK TO OUR PRINTED AGENDA, PAGE EIGHT, MA'AM.
AND EXCUSE ME, THERE IS ANOTHER ITEM ON THIS AGENDA, UH, THAT I HAVE, AND IT IS JUST IN THE WRONG SPOT HERE.
OKAY? THEY HAVE THE ARROW POINTED DOWN ON THE OTHER SIDE, UH,
[VIII.A.(8) P.R. No. 23863 – A Resolution Appointing A City Attorney For The City Of Port Arthur And Establishing The Terms Of Employment ]
2 3 8 60 PR NUMBER 23 8 63.AND THIS IS ON PAGE EIGHT AS WELL.
UH, AND I, I SAID THAT FIRST AND THE OTHER ONE WAS ON, I SAID THE WRONG PAGE FOR THE FIRST ONE.
A RESOLUTION APPOINTING A CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND ESTABLISHING THE TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.
AND THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN THE TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.
UH, COUNCILMAN KIM, I MAY I GET A MOTION? SO, MOVE, UH, MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPOINT THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY, UH, FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CITY SECRETARY.
YOU HAVE THAT NAME OF THAT INDIVIDUAL
WELL, I KNOW OF THE INDIVIDUAL CITY ATTORNEY AND I WANT HER UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU STAND PLEASE.
CITY ATTORNEY DOES ATTORNEY, AND COME AND PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME CORRECTLY FOR US HERE SO THAT THE CITIZENS WILL KNOW.
THAT'S WHY I LET HER SAY IT FIRST.
UH, AND SHE IS THE, UH, LOAN, UH, RECIPIENT.
UH, WE READY FOR QUESTION ON THIS? WE DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY THE OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT.
SO IT IS ORDERED RESOLUTION 23 8 6 3 IS APPROVED AS RED MS. CONTINENTAL, THANK YOU.
YOU ARE NOW THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING TO BEGIN ON THE 19TH.
I'M SAD TO, UH, SAY THAT TO YOU TONIGHT, BUT YOU CAN'T LEAVE TONIGHT.
YOU CAN LEAVE ON THE 20TH, I THINK IT IS.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY? I'D LIKE TO THANK MY LORD AND SAVIOR FOR THIS GLORIOUS OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE.
UM, TO SAY THAT I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS HUMBLING OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE MOST BLESSED, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE WHO WERE PART OF THIS ENERGETIC CITY.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WILL WORK VERY HARD FOR YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE WELCOME YOU AND YOUR GROOM TO THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
[00:30:01]
A ROOM.YEAH, HE'S CERTAINLY FOLLOWING A TO, TO PORT ARTHUR.
AND, UH, HOPEFULLY HE LOOKS FORWARD TO TEACHING.
HE'S A FIRST ASSISTANT SURGICAL ASSISTANT.
UH, SO HE CLOSES PEOPLE UP FOR SURGERIES AND I THINK HE, HE'S INSPIRED BY TONIGHT'S CHILDREN WHO CAME BEFORE YOU.
AND HOPEFULLY HE WILL TEACH SOON.
[III.A.(1) Richard And Claudette Bowden Regarding The Port Arthur Youth Tennis Club ]
OKAY, NOW WE WILL NOW MOVE TO, UH, ROMAN NUMBER THREE.UM, AND WE DON'T HAVE A, A PUBLIC HEARING, AM I CORRECT? CITY, UH, SECRETARY BECAUSE IT'S 6 0 9, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO SPEAKERS AND THE FIRST SPEAKER, THE SPEAKERS, WE HAVE THE SPEAKERS.
YOU ARE HAVE, UH, FIVE MINUTES, UH, TO, UH, GIVE YOUR SPEECH TO THE COUNCIL, UM, UH, RICHARD AND CLAUDETTE BOWDEN REGARDING THE PORT ARTHUR YOUTH TENNIS CLUB.
AND YOU BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS CLAUDETTE BOWDEN, EIGHT 20 SMITH STREET, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF MY HUSBAND.
I, OKAY, I'M GONNA BE VERY SHORT.
I'M NOT THE PERSON WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE.
HE GOT CALLED INTO WORK, SO I WILL JUST READ WHAT HE HAS.
HE'S BEEN A LIFELONG CITIZEN OF CITY, OF PORT ARTHUR, THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
HE IS THE MANAGER OF THE PORT ARTHUR YOUTH TENNIS CLUB AND A PROUD GRADUATE OF THE LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1978.
THE GREAT, HE HAS SOME CLASSMATES HERE WITH HIM, UH, TONIGHT TO SUPPORT HIM AS WELL.
HE PLAYED TENNIS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AND RE REAPED THE MANY BENEFITS OF DOING SO.
HE RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP FOR FOUR YEARS TO PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M ON TENNIS.
SO HE WANTS TO INCORPORATE A NEW TENNIS CLUB FOR THE CITY.
HE SAID TENNIS IS NOT ONLY A GREAT WAY TO STAY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE, BUT ALSO TEACHES VALUABLE LESSONS AND SKILLS LIKE DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK, AND PROBLEM SOLVING, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL YOUTH TO ENGAGE IN CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES LIKE TENNIS CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR FUTURE PROSPECTS.
IT NOT ONLY KEEPS THEM OCCUPIED, BUT ALSO FOSTERS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
WELL, I AM HERE ON HIS BEHALF SEEKING YOUR SUPPORT IN TWO WAYS.
THE FIRST WAY IS THE USE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TENNIS COURTS.
THAT WAY, WHENEVER THEY HAVE PRACTICE OR THEY HAVE TURNINGS, WHATEVER, THEY HAVE SOMEWHERE WHERE THE KIDS CAN PLAY.
HE'S ALSO ASKING IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO DONATE ANY KIND OF DONATIONS AS FOR THE TENNIS BALLS OR WHATEVER YOU NEED FOR THE LI TENNIS STUFF, IF YOU COULD STEER HIM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UM, HE HAD ALL THESE FOR Y'ALL TO LOOK AT.
THERE'S A LETTER THAT HE WROTE THAT I GAVE THAT DOC CAN READ OVER JUST TO CONSIDER HIS REQUEST.
HIS TELEPHONE NUMBER IS LISTED ON THE LAST PAGE OF HIS, UM, HANDOUT.
HE DOES GO TO WORK AND WE'RE NOT MESSING WITH THAT JOB.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME, TAKING THE TIME TO CONSIDER THIS.
AND WE ASK THAT Y'ALL DISCONTINUE TO KEEP US IN OUR PRAYER BECAUSE HE'S THE TENNIS PERSON.
SO IF Y'ALL WOULD JUST CONSIDER IT AND LET US KNOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, MRS. BOWDEN, I'M SO SORRY.
UH, SOME, UH, COUNCILPERSONS MAY WANT TO OH, OKAY.
BECKHAM, I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU AND IF, IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER THEM AND I NEED TO SPEAK ON YOUR HUSBAND, I'LL TRY BEST.
UM, WHAT AGE GROUPS ARE WE, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
MELANIE NED, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COME TO THE MIC PLEASE.
JUST STATE, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORDS, PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE AGES.
[00:35:01]
STAY ON THE MICROPHONE.THE AGES FIVE UP TO 12, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE WANNA INSTILL IN THEM HOW TO PLAY TENNIS, HOW TO ENJOY PLAYING TENNIS.
SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS Y'ALL SUPPORT TO BACK US UP.
SO AGES FIVE TO 12 AND AND ARE YOU GONNA BE DOING IT AROUND TOWN AT, AT THE DIFFERENT TENNIS COURTS THAT YOU CAN ACCESS? ACTUALLY WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ON ROSE HILL.
BECAUSE THAT'S THE CENTRAL LOCATION.
BUT IF NEED BE, WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM MOVING AROUND.
WHEREVER WE CAN GET THE MAJORITY OF THE KIDS TO COME AND LEARN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
AND IS IT GONNA BE A PROGRAM THAT RUNS YEAR ROUND? WEATHER PERMITTING? WE WOULD LIKE WEATHER PERMITTED.
COUNCILMAN KIM? YEAH, MELANIE, UH, CLAUDETTE.
UH, WHAT'S THE CONTACT, UH, NUMBER? WHERE IS THAT? BECAUSE IT'S LIVE, IT'S GONNA BE A LIVE STREAM.
WHAT'S THE CONTACT INFORMATION WOULD THEY, UH, NEED TO CONTACT YOU GUYS ON? RICHARD'S NUMBER IS 4 0 9 7 1 8 2 7 5 9.
YOUR NUMBER IS 4 0 9 5 4 3 1 5 8 5.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK IS TO HELP US GET TENNIS RACKETS TO, AND TENNIS BALLS SO THAT THE KIDS THAT WE CAN GET INVOLVED DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.
OKAY? UH, COUNCILWOMAN HAMILTON.
IS THERE A MEMBERSHIP INVOLVED INTO, UH, FOR THE CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE? IT IS.
LIKE A MEMBERSHIP FEE? YES, MA'AM.
WE ARE DOING THIS OUT THE KINDNESS OF OUR HEART BECAUSE WE'RE INTERESTED IN THE YOUTH.
SO JUST AS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY STATED, THIS IS LIVE STREAM FREE PORT ARTHUR YOUTH TENNIS CLUB, FREE PORT ARTHUR YOUTH TENNIS CLUB.
WE'RE GIVEN OUR TIME TO TEACH.
WE JUST NEED THEM TO GIVE US THEIR CHILDREN.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS? OH YEAH.
WHAT'S THAT AGE LIMIT AGAIN? FIVE TO 12.
WE HAVE FUN WITH EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW.
UH, HE LIKES TO LAUGH AND I LIKES TO LAUGH.
BUT LOOK, THIS MAY BE SOMETHING, Y'ALL GOT A BUDGET TOGETHER YET.
HAVE YOU EVER PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET? NO, WE HAVEN'T SET ONE YET.
WELL, IN THE FUTURE YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK AT PUTTING, PUTTING TOGETHER A BUDGET AND, AND UNDER THE CDBG PROGRAM, YOU MAY QUALIFY Y'ALL GET WITH MARY ETT.
WE CAN FUND THAT'S LIMITED FUNDS, YOU KNOW, BUT THEY'LL FUND YOU UP TO A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT Y'ALL HAVE TO DO FUNDRAISING.
SO WE'LL HELP YOU ALL GET WITH MARY ETT.
HE'S OVER THE GRANT PROGRAM AND SEE WHAT Y'ALL CAN WORK OUT.
IT MAY BE SOMETHING CITY MANAGER.
WE ADOPTED THE PORT ARTHUR TRACK CLUB ONE TIME, AND SO WE MAY, WE MAY HAVE TO ADOPT THEM, GET THEM STARTED.
YES, CITY MANAGER WORKED WITH US.
IN REFERENCE TO THE DIFFERENT, UH, LOCATIONS TO PRACTICE, THEN, UH, YOU NEED PROBABLY GET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN YOU DO SOFT, UH, BASEBALL, WHEN THE BASEBALL SEASON, LITTLE LEAGUE MM-HMM.
SO WHAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO DO IS CHECK WITH PARK AND RECREATION, DECIDE OF WHICH, UH, PLACE YOU WELL BECAUSE, UH, ROSE HILL HAS THE MOST COURTS AND YOU KNOW, IT'S A GOOD LOCATION.
BUT THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE TO DO SOME TYPE OF RESOLUTION WHERE WE ALLOW YOU CERTAIN TIMES DURING A CERTAIN YEAR WHERE YOU'LL HAVE A PRIORITY WHEN YOU GO THERE.
SO ANYBODY ON THERE, THERE'LL BE, NOW THAT'S WHY IT NEEDS TO BE DONE THAT WAY.
OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S PUBLIC FACILITY AND ANYBODY COULD BE ON IT.
BUT IF YOU GET WITH THAT, THEN IT'LL BE BROUGHT TO US AND WE CAN APPROVE A RESOLUTION WHERE WE DESIGNATE A CERTAIN TIME AND DATE IN WHICH YOU ALL WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE THAT FACILITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRACTICING.
YOU SHOULD DO IT THAT WAY IF YOU WANT TO BE GUARANTEED, BECAUSE OTHER THAN THAT, IF ANYTHING WE HAVE IS
[00:40:01]
PUBLIC.SO WHAT I, WHAT I DO, I WILL SCAN THE LETTER IN AND SEND IT TO MS. ALPO AND HER STAFF.
SO SHE'LL BE EXPECTING YOU TO COME AND INITIATE THE DISCUSSION WITH HER AS TO HOW YOU USE THE CITY RESOURCES.
KNOW WE APPRECIATE HIS, HIS, UH, DILIGENCE IN, IN, IN WANTING TO WORK WITH KIDS TO, UH, BE PROFICIENT IN TENNIS.
[III.B.(1) A Presentation By Human Resources Regarding Hiring Practices, The Status Of Vacancies Including The Current Number Of Vacancies And Those Vacant For Two Years Or More, The Number Of Temporary, Contract And Consultant Positions Currently Held ]
WE WILL MOVE TO PRESENTATIONS.AND WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY HUMAN SERVICES.
UM, YEAH, HUMAN RESOURCES, I'M SORRY.
HUMAN RESOURCES REGARDING HIRING PRACTICES, THE STATUS OF VACANCIES, INCLUDING THE CURRENT NUMBER OF VACANCIES, AND THOSE VACANT FOR TWO YEARS OR MORE.
THE NUMBER OF TEMPORARY, UH, CONTRACT AND CONSULTANT POSITIONS CURRENTLY HELD FOR, UH, TWO YEARS OR MORE.
THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW, AND I BELIEVE MRS. WILLIAMS IS PREPARED TO DO THAT FOR US.
HOW ARE YOU ALL? GOOD EVENING.
UM, WE CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE PRESENTATION THAT I HAVE, UH, PREPARED, UM, AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILMAN KINLAW, UM, THE BRIEF OVER, WE'LL HAVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW, UM, AN EXPLANATION OF THE HIRING PROCESS, STATUS OF VACANCIES AND CURRENT NUMBER OF EACH, UH, THE VACANT POSITIONS OF TWO, UH, YEARS OR MORE, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID.
UM, NUMBER OF TEMPORARY VACANCIES, CONTRACT, EMPLOYEES, FINAL TIPS AND TAKEAWAYS AND FUTURE PLANS FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
SO, AS I STATED IN MY PRESENTATION ON MAY 21ST, OUR HIRING PRACTICES HAVEN'T CHANGED SINCE THEN, BUT I WILL GO OVER THEM AGAIN.
UM, HUMAN RESOURCES CONTINUES TO WORK WITH ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS TO FILL VACANCIES AS PROMPTLY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE, WHILE ADHERING TO ALL APPLICABLE CITY POLICIES, DESCRIPTION REQUIREMENTS, AND STATE AND FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT LAWS.
JOB VACANCIES ARE OF COURSE, POSITIONS WITHIN THE CITY THAT ARE CURRENTLY OPEN AND AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS TO APPLY FOR THESE VACANCIES.
ARISE DUE TO VARIOUS REASONS SUCH AS EMPLOYEE TURNOVER, RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS, TERMINATIONS, RECONSTRUCT, RESTRUCTURING, AND RECLASSIFICATIONS.
THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES WILL FLUCTUATE WITH EVERY UPDATE.
DUE TO THE REASONS MENTIONED, HR AND DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE WORKING TO FILL VACANCIES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE RECOGNIZE WE'RE IN COMPETITION WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AS WELL AS INDUSTRY.
THE HIRING PROCESS FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
WHEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR HAS A JOB VACANCY, WE TYPICALLY ADVERTISE THE POSITIONS THROUGH VARIOUS CHANNELS SUCH AS ONLINE JOB BOARDS, CITY WEBSITE, OR THROUGH RECRUITMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS TML AND OTHERS.
THE JOB QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED LOCATION, SALARY AND BENEFITS ARE ALSO POSTED THERE.
JOB VACANCIES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOB SEEKERS TO APPLY AND POTENTIALLY SECURE EMPLOYMENT IN THEIR DESIRED FIELDS FOR THE CITY.
FILLING JOB VACANCIES WITH QUALIFIED CANDIDATES IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE SMOOTH OPERATION AND GROWTH OF THE ORGANIZATION.
THE PROCESS OF FILLING JOB VACANCIES TYPICALLY INVOLVE SEVERAL STEPS, INCLUDING RECEIVING AND REVIEWING APPLICATIONS, CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS, ASSESSING CANDIDATES QUALIFICATIONS FOR THEIR AND FIT FOR THE ROLE, AND ULTIMATELY SELECTING THE MOST SUITABLE CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION FILL AND JOB POSITIONS.
UM, DEPARTMENTS SUBMIT A REQUISITION AND JUSTIFICATION FOR THE VACANCY FOR WHICH THEY HAVE IN THEIR DEPARTMENT, AND IT IS EXECUTED BY THE CITY MANAGER.
THE POSITION IS POSTED INTERNALLY, EXTERNALLY, OR BOTH DEPENDING ON THE SKILLSET NEEDED FOR THE, UM, POSITION.
IT'S POSTED FOR ONE WEEK INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY, OR EITHER OR.
IF THERE ARE NOT INTERNAL BIDDERS, UM, THE POSITION IS POSTED EXTERNALLY FOR THE PUBLIC USING THE APPLICANT MANAGER.
WE ALSO USE INDEED ZIPRECRUITER JOBS.COM.
AND, UM, OTHER OUTSIDE RESOURCES POSITIONS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE MAY NOT BE EQUAL TO THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES THAT THE CITY HAS, UH, DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF THE TIME
[00:45:01]
THAT IS POSTED, THE POSITION IS CONSIDERED CLOSED AFTER THE PERIOD AND WILL NOT BE SHOWN ON THE WEBSITE PER SECTION 1727 OF THE PERSONNEL POLICY.A REGULAR OR PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEE SHALL BE GIVEN PREFERENCE OVER ALL OTHER APPLICANTS.
IF MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS ARE MET.
APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO SEEK THOSE WHO MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE VACANT POSITION.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT AN APPLICANT COMPLETE THE APPLICATION IN ITS ENTIRETY TO BE CONSIDERED INCOMPLETE.
APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE REVIEWED UNTIL COMPLETE.
THE CURRENT SYSTEM DOES SEND THE APPLICANT A NOTICE VIA EMAIL THAT THE APPLICATION IS INCOMPLETE OR COMPLETE AND WHEN IT'S COMPLETE.
SO THE APPLICATIONS AND REFERRALS ARE SENT TO THE DEPARTMENTS TO REVIEW, AND THE DEPARTMENT SETS UP INTERVIEWS WITH HR, UM, FOR US TO BE PRESENT.
HR REQUESTS THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS, THE MATRIX, THE MATRIX CRITERIA FOR REVIEW.
PRIOR TO INTERVIEWING THE CANDIDATES, THE DEPARTMENT MUST COORDINATE WITH CANDIDATES ON THE DATE OR DATES THAT THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO INTERVIEW, WHICH TAKES EFFORT.
ONCE A CANDIDATE HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED, THE CITY MANAGER SIGNATURE EXECUTES THE DOCUMENT AND PRE-EMPLOYMENT PREREQUISITES ARE SET UP.
THE PROCESS VARIES DEPENDING ON WHEN A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE IS AVAILABLE TO START A SAID PROCESS.
WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE THIS PROCESS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, HOWEVER, IN SOME INSTANCES, IT TAKES LONGER THAN OTHERS.
ONCE PRE-EMPLOYMENT PREREQUISITES ARE CLEAR, HR COORDINATES WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND THE, AND THE CANDIDATE TO START, UM, TO COME UP WITH A START DATE.
A REGRET LETTER IS SENT TO OTHER CANDIDATES WHO ARE NOT HIRED VIA THE APPLICANT MANAGER ONCE THE POSITION IS CLOSED.
IF AN INTERNAL BIDDER WAS RECOMMENDED FOR AN IN INTERNAL POSTING, REGRET LETTERS ARE SENT VIA INTEROFFICE MAIL CONFIDENTIALLY.
SO AS OF TODAY, UM, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR HAS FOUR PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS, WHICH INCLUDE THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, A SENIOR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY IN THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARY.
WE HAVE FOUR TECHNICAL POSITIONS, NINE ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS, AND 27 LABOR, UM, OPERATIONS POSITIONS, WHICH INCLUDE THOSE POSITIONS IN STREETS, DRAINAGE, UTILITY OPERATIONS, IN TRANSIT FOR A TOTAL OF 44.
THE APP, THE APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF TEMPORARY POSITIONS IN THE CITY.
UM, WE HAVE 10 CITY TEMPS AND 44 AGENCY TEMPS THROUGH ARGUS TALENT FOR WHICH WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE POSITION, WHICH IS THE WATER SYSTEM MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR AND UTILITY OPERATIONS WATER DISTRIBUTION THAT HAS BEEN OPEN SINCE AUGUST OF 2022.
UH, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR HAS ONE CONSULTANT THAT HAS BEEN PERFORMING DUTIES FOR PUBLIC SERVICES, UH, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITY OPERATIONS, AND HAS BEEN SINCE APPROXIMATELY JANUARY, 2018.
TAKEAWAY FINAL TIPS AND TAKEAWAYS.
THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES WENT FROM 78 TO 44 SINCE MAY 21ST, 2024, VACANCIES ARE CONSTANTLY BEING FILLED.
THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR MAKES EVERY EFFORT TO FILL VACANT POSITIONS DEMONSTRATING ITS COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND ACHIEVING ITS GOALS BY EFFECTIVE RECRUITING STRATEGIES, COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, STREAMLINE APPLICATION PROCESSES, INVESTING IN EMPLOYEE BRANDING, INTERNAL TALENT DEVELOPMENT, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
AND BY IMPLEMENTING THESE STRATEGIES AND PRIORITIZING THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF TOP TALENT ORGANIZATIONS CAN INCREASE THE, THEIR CHANCES OF FILLING VACANT POSITIONS WITH, WELL, OUR, OUR ORGANIZATION CAN INCREASE THEIR CHANCES OF FILLING VACANT POSITIONS WITH QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO ARE GOOD, WHO ARE A GOOD FIT FOR THE ROLE AND A GOOD, UH, CULTURAL FIT.
UM, LAST TIME I WAS HERE IN MAY OF MAY 21ST, WE DID TALK ABOUT A JOB FAIR.
WE WILL BE HOSTING A JOB FAIR EARLY OCTOBER.
UM, WE'LL BE PARTNERING WITH OTHER ENTITIES TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS.
AND WE'VE ALSO CREATED DIFFERENT, UM, FREE JOB SITE POSTINGS, POSTINGS FOR JOB SITES LIKE GLASSDOOR, LINKEDIN, UH,
[00:50:01]
SIMPLY HIRED, UM, AND OTHERS LIKE THAT.THE RFP THAT WAS CONDUCTED FOR STUDY OF COMPETITIVE SALARIES FOR POSITIONS MENTIONED IN MY MAY 21ST PRESENTATION WAS AWARDED TO AN ORGANIZATION, UM, EVERGREEN SOLUTIONS.
SO WE'RE IN THE INITIAL STAGES OF THAT PROCESS.
SO DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
UH, COUNCIL MCKEN LAW DIRECTOR, I HAVE A BIG OLD SMILE ON MY FACE.
THE VERY FIRST, YOU HAD ME AT THREE SLIDES WHEN YOU GOT IN THE PRESENTATION.
UH, THIS IS WHAT, UH, I EXPECT AND THE COUNCIL EXPECT.
UH, I GIVE KUDOS TO THE CITY MANAGER AND YOU, DR.
THIGPEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE ASKED TO HIRE OUR OWN AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, UH, THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
UH, AND THEN, UH, THE SIDEBAR OR THE CITY MANAGER OVER, HE SAID, WE HAVE FOUR PROFESSIONALS BECAUSE WE JUST HIRED A CITY ATTORNEY.
UH, THIS IS THE WAY WE NEED TO DO BUSINESS, CONDUCT BUSINESS.
WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE HIRING PRACTICE, I'M SO HAPPY, UH, WITH THIS TYPE OF PRESENTATION BECAUSE WE HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE RIGHT.
WHERE OUR DOORS IS OPEN AND WE WANT TO HIRE EMPLOYEES, UH, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
SO IF ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO AS A COUNCIL, I CAN DO PERSONALLY, I THINK THIS IS EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
I THINK I, ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD YOU ANSWERED, ANSWERED.
SO I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY, BUT A GREAT PRESENTATION.
HEY, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK AGAIN, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU AS WELL, MAN.
I DON'T WANT US TO REST ON OUR LAURELS, THOUGH.
AND SO IN, UM, IN THAT VEIN, I'M GOING TO ASK SIMPLY THAT THIS QUESTION, UH, THE LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, I, I SEE, UH, THAT WE ARE USING ZIPRECRUITER AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER MEANS.
I THINK THAT, THAT PERHAPS HAS HAD, UH, HAS HELPED US IN SOME WAY.
BUT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I WANTED TO ASK WAS, UM, IF THERE WAS SOME KIND OF, UM, A PROBLEM WITH USING, UM, THE MIDPOINT STAFFING AGENCY, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE CONTRACT WITH ARGA, UH, ARGUS.
SO HAVE WE CONTACTED MIDPOINT, THE LOCAL STAFFING AGENCY? WE HAVE ONE HERE IN THE CITY.
HAVE WE CONTACTED THEM YET? WE HAVE ACTUALLY COMPLETED AN RFP.
UM, THAT PACKET WAS SENT TO ME ON, UH, LAST WEEK, AND THAT PORT ARTHUR VENDOR DID NOT BID.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB AS ALWAYS.
UH, CONSULTING POSITIONS HAVE BEEN OPEN SINCE 2018.
WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM ON FILLING THAT? UM, THAT POSITION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT COMES THROUGH MY OFFICE.
THAT'S THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER.
CO UH, COUNSELOR LEWIS, THE CONSULTANT POSITION, WE HAVE ONE CONSULTANT POSITION, AND IT'S FILLED SINCE 2018.
WHAT'S SOMETHING MISSING ON MY PLATE? NO, NO, THAT'S DR.
HE DONE BEEN DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.
HE'S BEEN AN ASSET TO THE CITY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY AND, UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO YOUR STAFF FOR THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
30 MI 37, 30 ISH MINUS JOBS IS A BIG DEAL.
WE ARE HIRING AND THAT QR CODE BRINGS THEM DIRECTLY TO THIS LIST OF THE VACANCIES THAT YOU, THAT YOU SHARED WITH US SO THAT THEY CAN APPLY.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE, UM, THAT WE USE WHEN WE ATTEND DIFFERENT JOB FAIRS, BUT WHATEVER THE MANAGER WOULD SUGGEST FOR ME TO DO.
SO CITY MANAGER, I'M SUGGESTING THAT AS A MARKET, A MARKETING, UH, TACTIC THAT WILL NOT COST US ANYTHING.
WE'LL WORK WITH THE IT DEPARTMENT.
COUNCILMAN, UH, DOUCETTE? YES.
I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR THE POSITION THAT ARE POSTED INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.
MM-HMM?
SO IF SOMEONE APPLIED FOR ONE INTERNALLY, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
[00:55:01]
IF THEY'RE SELECTED, THEN THAT POSITION THERE IS NOW GONNA GO FOR IF, IF THAT PERSON, IF IF SOMEONE BIDS FROM WITHIN ON AN INTERNAL POSITION AND THEY'RE SELECTED, THEN THAT FILLS THAT POSITION.BUT WHAT ABOUT THEIR POSITION? THEN? WE'D HAVE TO START, YOU KNOW, WE'D HAVE TO START THE PROCESS TO FILL THAT POSITION, STARTING WITH A REQUISITION AND A JUSTIFICATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
THE, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING POSITIONS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE MAY NOT EQUAL TO THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES THE CITY HAS DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME POSTED.
WHAT? SEVEN THEY'RE, THEY'RE POSTED FOR SEVEN DAYS.
SO IT, IT KIND OF, YOU CAN HAVE, WE HAVE 44 VACANCIES.
SO IF WE PUT SOMETHING ON THE WEBSITE, IT'S ONLY ON THERE FOR SEVEN DAYS, DEPENDING ON THE POSITION.
UNLESS WE HAVE A CONTINUOUS UNTIL FIELD POSITION.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE, IT'S NOT GONNA BE LISTED ONCE THAT SEVEN DAYS IS UP, BECAUSE THEN WE'RE REVIEWING APPLICATIONS AND VETTING APPLICATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
AND I HAD, UH, ANOTHER CHIME IN FOR THE LABOR AND OPERATION POSITION.
WE HAVE 44 VACANCIES, BUT I'M KIND OF STUNNED BY THE NUMBER 27.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S MORE THAN 50% OF 'EM IS IN THE, WHERE A RUBBER MEETS THE GROUND.
IT'S JUST DIFFERENT THINGS COME UP, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE RECOMMENDED.
UM, IT'S JUST DIFFERENT FACTORS.
DO WE EVER HAVE A A, A FILE WHERE SOMEBODY HAS ALREADY WENT THROUGH AND THEY'VE BEEN VETTED AND WE KEEP IT ON FILE? SO IF A VACANCY COMES YES, SIR.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN HAMPTON, YOU, YOUR LIGHT IS STILL ON YOU, YOU ANSWER PROMISE.
YOU MENTIONED THAT WHEN A POSITION IS FILLED, THEN THE ESS QUESTION WAS, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE POSITION THAT THEY'RE LEAVING FROM IF IT'S AN EX INTERNAL CANDIDATES? RIGHT.
AND THEN YOU MENTIONED THAT REQUISITION AND JUSTIFICATION FORM.
IT'S A FORM THAT INITIATES THE VACANCY.
IT'S JUST AN INTERNAL DOCUMENT, WHICH DOES NOT, UM, HOLD UP YOUR PROCESS.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR WORKING WITH ME SO DI DILIGENTLY IN, UM, FILLING THESE POSITIONS.
SO I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THEM.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER, LIKE, SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION.
NEXT WE HAVE, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CORRESPONDENCE.
[III.F.(1) A Discussion On Accounts And Identifying Funding (Requested By Councilmember Doucet) ]
NOW TO, EXCUSE ME, DISCUSSIONS, UH, ON PAGE TWO UNDER F1, DISCUSSION ON ACCOUNTS AND IDENTIFYING, UH, FUNDING THAT'S REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ETT.OH, WE DON'T HAVE MEN HERE TONIGHT.
THE, UH, ASSISTANT FINANCE PERSON IS HERE.
WE, SHE, YOU GONNA WAIT ON IT? YEAH.
LET ME, UH, WELL, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I COULD, I COULD JUST ADDRESS IT NOW AND THEN, UH, THE WORD COULD BE PASSED ON TO HER BY THE MANAGER.
YOU KNOW, IT, IT WAS IN REFERENCE TO THESE NUMBERS.
UH, CAN WE HAVE A DESCRIPTION, UH, SOMETIME IN PLACE OF THESE NUMBERS? BECAUSE I CAN ASK ANY DIRECTOR RIGHT NOW, IF I READ ONE OF THEM ACCOUNT CODES OFF TO 'EM, IF I JUST READ THE LOAN NUMBER TO A DIRECTOR RIGHT NOW, OUT OF THAT DEPARTMENT, THEY'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE BUDGET TO SEE WHICH LINE ITEM.
AND IF THEY CAN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT'S COMING FROM, HOW, HOW ARE WE GONNA KNOW? YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO GO TO THE BUDGET AND LOOK AT IT.
SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT BUDGET WITH US.
WHEN WE AT MEETINGS, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO VERIFY THAT THE THE FUNDS ARE COMING FROM THE RIGHT ACCOUNT.
YOU KNOW, AND I'VE SEEN SOMETIME WHEREBY, UH, YOU PUT A FUNDING, IT COULD BE FROM THE WATER UTILITY MAINTENANCE.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN ISLAND NUMBER.
[01:00:02]
PUBLIC WORKS STREETS.I MEAN, SOMETHING TO TELL US WHAT ITS FUND IS WITHOUT THIS LONG NUMBER THAT NOBODY KNOWS UNLESS THEY'RE LOOKING AT A BUDGET.
SO WE PUT IN PARENTHESIS AFTER THE ACCOUNT NUMBER.
WHAT ARE UTILITIES? CONVEYANCE, YOU KNOW, TELL YOU TOO, RONNIE, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO SAY CONVEYANCE.
I MEAN, JUST PUT, PUT US IN A DIRECTION.
YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE IF YOU SAY, WELL, UTILITIES, I'LL FIND IT.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO, WE CAN DO THAT.
JUST SOMETHING TO PUT US IN A BALLPARK.
WATER, UTILITIES, PUBLIC WORKS.
[III.F.(2) A Discussion Regarding Development On Heatherbrook and Briar Point (Requested By Councilmember Kinlaw) ]
WE HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF, UH, DEVELOPMENT ON HEATHER BROOK AND BRO POINT.AND THIS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW, SAME MANDATORY YOU GOT COMING UP HERE.
UM, WE'VE GOT THE DI WE'VE GOT, UM, OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL HERE.
WE'VE GOT SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE THOUGH.
UM, BUT WE, WE HAVE THE ASSISTANT, UM, UM, CITY MANAGER WHO OVERSEES THAT DEPARTMENT.
WELL, I GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
THERE'S JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UH, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UH, I, I, I'VE HAD CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE DISTRICT THREE COUNCILWOMAN, UH, BECKHAM ABOUT THIS, UH, PROJECT.
UH, I, I'M NOT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING, UH, AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.
UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IT'S 204 APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT'S GONNA BE IN THAT AREA.
UH, IT'S, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING ALSO THAT THE FLOOD ZONE IS CHANGE.
UH, SO ELEVATION REQUIREMENTS WOULD HAVE TO BE ADHERED TO.
UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, UH, DRAINAGE IS GONNA HAVE TO, UH, BE ADHERED TO IT AS WELL.
UH, IT'S ALREADY FLOODING ON NINTH AVENUE AND JIMMY JOHNSON.
WE HAVE, UH, MAJOR WORK THAT'S GOING ON.
COUNCIL, WE, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, MAYOR PRO, TIM BECKHAM AND I, WE TALK ALMOST DAILY ABOUT WHAT WE ARE PLANNED, WHAT'S THE PLAN IN DISTRICT THREE AND IN THE ENTIRE CITY AS FAR AS DRAINAGE.
SO I HAVE A CONCERN, AND I'M SURE SHE HAS ONE AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, IF WE ALREADY HAVE, UH, UH, FLOODING IN THE AREA, HOW ARE WE GONNA ENSURE THAT, UH, THAT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA WILL NOT IMPACT THE FLOODING? IF YOU ELEVATE, YOU PUT MORE CONCRETE IN THAT AREA.
I MEAN, WE HAVING AN ISSUE RIGHT NOW.
WE GOT A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING IN DISTRICT THREE.
SO IF YOU WOULD HAVE THE EXPERT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR RECORD, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S NOT GONNA BE ZERO IMPACT TO THE FLOODING AREA, BUT WE ALREADY HAVE IN FLOODING, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE BACK AT SQUARE ONE.
SO I, I NEED TO EASE MY MIND ON THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT.
IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO ME IF YOU HAVE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS EXPLAIN TO ME AND ENTIRE COUNCIL.
AND I FOUND THAT JORDAN HAS JUST APPEARED AT THE BACK.
WELL, IF I MAY, COUNCIL, IF I CAN JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, UM, TO THIS PROJECT, AND THEN I DEFINITELY WILL YIELD TO THE CITY ENGINEER.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE REPRESENTATIVES FROM DRAINAGE DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN, AS WELL AS THE BUILDING OFFICIAL WHO ARE PRESENT TODAY THAT CAN ANSWER MORE OF THE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO BRING TO COUNCIL'S ATTENTION.
UM, WHEN THIS PROJECT CAME FORWARD, UM, THERE WERE TWO, UM, PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS THAT WERE HELD WITH THE DEVELOPER.
THE LAST PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETING, UM, BEING ON AUGUST 30TH, 2023, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT DIVISIONS WITHIN THE CITY, WHICH INCLUDE PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING, THE BUILDING OFFICIAL, THE FIRE MARSHAL, OUR, UM, UM, REGULATORY SERVICES DIVISION AND SO FORTH, WERE PRESENT AT THIS MEETING TO DISCUSS THIS DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDE INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY'S ORDINANCES AS WELL AS FEDERAL REGULATIONS ON WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DEVELOP IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE DOES REALIZE THAT THE PROPERTY IS IN FACT ZONED FOR MULTIPLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT.
SO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT ZONING DESIGNATION, UM, BECAUSE IT IS PROHIBITED BY, RIGHT.
THIS ISN'T A MATTER THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, NOR CITY COUNCIL FOR PRE-APPROVAL PRIOR TO THIS DEVELOPMENT MOVING FORWARD.
UM, THERE ARE, AND I DID OBTAIN A COPY OF THE PROJECT REVIEW FORMS FROM ALL OF THE DIVISIONS AND ENTITIES THAT WERE REPRESENTED IN THAT
[01:05:01]
PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETING, WHICH PROVIDED GUIDANCE TO THE DEVELOPER ON WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE TO ADDRESS DRAINAGE AS WELL AS BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS AND FIRE REQUIREMENTS.UM, WE ARE REQUIRED BY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BECAUSE WE PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM TO ADHERE TO ANY FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY FEMA.
SO ELEVATION REQUIREMENTS ARE IN PLACE.
UM, IF IT'S IN FACT IN A FLOOD ZONE, UM, I WOULD BELIEVE THAT IT'S PROBABLY A FOUR FOOT ELEVATION REQUIREMENT FROM THE BASE FLOOD.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A ONE FOOT FREEBOARD REQUIREMENT.
UM, SO THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO ELEVATE FIVE FOOT ABA ABOVE THE BASE FLOOD ELEVATION.
I DID SPEAK TO THE DEVELOPER AND THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN CAN DEFINITELY, UM, PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
BUT HE HAS RECEIVED A PERMIT FROM DD SEVEN AS IT RELATES TO DRAINAGE.
HE IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO, UM, PROVIDE DETENTION OR RETENTION TO THIS PROJECT IN, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S A THREE ACRE SITE, UM, THAT HE WOULD HAVE A DETENTION OR RETENTION POND TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THE DRAINAGE CONCERNS AS IT RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
BUT AT THIS TIME, I WOULD YIELD TO THE EXPERTS THAT CAN PROVIDE MORE OF A TECHNICAL RESPONSE TO THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE.
AND WHILE HE'S WALKING UP, UH, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT THE DETENTION POND, BUT HOWEVER, UH, IT'S THEIR JOB TO, IT'S OUR JOB TO GET THE WATER SO THEY CAN PUMP IT TO THE STREET.
SO I HAVE A DEFINITELY, I HAVE A CONCERN AND, AND I WANT, YOU KNOW, I WANT THEM TO COME IN AND SPEAK BEFORE THE, THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR, BECAUSE ACTUALLY THAT'S A HALF A BLOCK AWAY FROM OUR HOUSE.
AND WE'RE WORKING ON THOSE DRAINAGE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND IT'S NOT THAT I'M NOT, I'M AGAINST DEVELOPMENT.
I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THE, THE CITIZENS, MY, THE DISTRICT THREE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON A SOLUTION, WE JUST CAN'T SAY THAT WE'RE GONNA ELEVATE BECAUSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE ZONING CHANGE.
AND IF THEY HAD A 3.4 ACREAGE OF DETENTION, BUT THEY HAVE TO GET IT TO THE STREET THAT'S ALREADY FLOODING.
SO IF SOMEONE COULD TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT, I CAN EASE MY MIND A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
MR. CANELLA CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, AND OF COURSE, MR. SIMS AND HIS TEAM CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
UM, MR. KINLAW, UH, AS WE HAVE TALKED IN THE PAST, UH, YOU WERE THE ONE THAT INFORMED ME ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE YOU CALLING ME.
UM, OF COURSE, WE HAVE A PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETING, BUT THIS DRAINAGE WORK HAD BEEN GOING ON SINCE MARCH, I BELIEVE, WITH THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
THE DEVELOPER HAD BEEN TALKING TO THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT, AND SO THEY HAD GIVEN IT THEIR BLESSING.
I DID NOT SEE THE PLANS UNTIL, I THINK THE MONDAY AFTER YOU CALLED ME.
UM, I GOT WITH THE, UH, ENGINEER ON THE PROJECT AND EXPRESSED THAT THERE ARE STILL SOME CONCERNS THAT THE CITY HAS.
THE, THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT LOOKS AT THEIR, UH, SYSTEM AND ASKS FOR DETENTION TO MITIGATE IMPACTS TO THEIR SYSTEM.
BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS THEIR OWN, UH, RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND ONE OF THOSE IS TO MAKE SURE THE WATER GETS TO THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM THROUGH OUR STORM SEWER SYSTEMS. UM, I'VE MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DESIGN ENGINEER, I'M NOT SURE, IS JEREMY? IS JEREMY, I DON'T THINK JEREMY'S HERE.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, LOCAL CONSULTING FIRM IS HANDLING THE, UH, DESIGN ON THIS PROJECT.
AND MY IDEAS ARE TO KIND OF SPLIT THE DRAINAGE IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS SO THAT WE DON'T IMPACT, UH, IS IT HONEY, HONEY TRAILS OR HONEYWOOD HONEYWOOD.
BECAUSE THAT IS A CONCERN, LIKE YOU SAID, THE STREETS IN THAT AREA FLOOD NOW REGULARLY.
WE KNOW THAT, UH, THE STREETS WERE BUILT TOO LOW JUST FOR EVERYONE'S INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, AND SO THE WATER GOES TO THE LOW SPOTS AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT.
THE OTHER ISSUE THAT, YOU KNOW, PAM ALLUDED TO EARLIER, WE HAVE THESE REQUIREMENTS NOW TO ELEVATE EVERYTHING TO ABOVE THE FLOODPLAIN.
WELL, THAT'S FINE FOR OUR NEW DEVELOPMENTS, BUT OUR EXISTING RESIDENTS SUFFER BY THAT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE RAN INTO THIS ON WILLOW WOOD, THE DEVELOPMENT AT WILLOW WOOD, WHERE THE BACK OF SOME OF THESE HOUSES WERE IMPACTED.
THE DEVELOPER WORKED WITH US TO PUT SOME DITCHES BEHIND THE HOUSES, WHICH I'M GONNA MAKE THAT SAME RECOMMENDATION OR SAME, UH, REQUEST OF THE DEVELOPER BECAUSE WE WANT THAT WATER TO GET OFF OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEN NOT IMPACT THE DRAINAGE IN THE BACK HOUSE, THE BACKS OF THESE HOUSES.
[01:10:01]
UM, WE, WE, WE TALKED TO THE, UM, AND I HAVE NOT DISCUSSED ANY OF THIS WITH THE DEVELOPER, BUT I HAVE TALKED TO HIS ENGINEER.
SO I'M HOPING ALL THIS GETS, UH, CHANNELED CORRECTLY AND WE, WE CAN ADDRESS ALL THESE ISSUES.
THE OTHER THING THAT, UM, PHIL ARDI HANDLES, HE'S THE FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR, IS MITIGATIONS TO THE FLOOD WAY, THE FLOODPLAIN.
AND I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE IF WE'VE ADDRESSED THAT, BUT WE'RE GONNA START TALKING ABOUT THIS.
LIKE I SAID, I JUST SAW THESE PLANS LAST WEEK.
SO WE'RE STARTING TO PROCESS OF, UH, ADDRESSING CONCERNS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE IMPACT DOESN'T AFFECT ANY OF OUR SYSTEMS, UM, AND OUR RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA.
UH, I'M GONNA BE REAL BRIEF 'CAUSE I WANNA DEFER TO, UH, UH, MY COHORTS HERE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I DO, I DID, UH, CALL, UH, UH, ENGINEER ALLEN SIMS LAST WEEK, AND WE HAD A, A VERY HEALTHY, UH, DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.
BUT, YOU KNOW, DD SEVEN, THEY ARE, THEY'RE TAKING ON WATER FROM MID-COUNTY WATER RUNS DOWN SOUTH.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE A, A NATURALLY, UH, FLOW OF WATER THAT'S COMING THAT PORT ARTHUR.
WE HAVE OUR HOME PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF.
AND I TOLD 'EM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, RING SOME BELLS TO GET PEOPLE TO NOTICE THAT WE ARE TAKING ON A LOT OF WATER, YOU KNOW, FROM MID-COUNTY ALL THE WAY DOWN TO, TO PORT ARTHUR.
WE HAVE OUR OWN PROBLEMS, AND I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT OUT LETTING THOSE WATERS INTO TWO SEPARATE AREAS, BUT I JUST WANT THE CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT WE ARE FIGHTING HARD.
THIS COUNCIL'S FIGHTING HARD TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE SAME PROBLEMS. WE'RE WORKING HARD.
WE ARE TRYING TO FIND FUNDING LIKE THE MANAGERS SPOKE ABOUT IN TWO MEETINGS AGO.
WE ARE LOOKING TO GET THOSE, BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE GONNA HAVE DEVELOPMENT AND BASED UPON THE DIFFERENCE OF FLOOD ZONING AND FLOODPLAINS THAT THEY HAVE TO ADHERE TO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY TAKE YOUR RECOMMENDATION, THE CITY MANAGED RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW AND ONCE THEY ELEVATE THEIR PROPERTIES, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST.
IF YOU ELEVATE SOMETHING AND I HAVE A LOW AREA, IT'S GONNA RUN LOW.
AND THAT'S IN BACK OF PEOPLE YARDS.
SO WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION AND I THANK YOU.
I THANK YOU FOR COMING WITH, UH, SUGGESTIONS.
AND, AND ADDITIONALLY TO THAT, COUNCILMAN, IF I COULD JUST INTERRUPT, BUT, UM, WE'RE SPENDING MONEY TO MITIGATE THESE DEVELOPMENTS JUST LATER ON THE AGENDA.
WE HAVE A PROJECT ON RICE FARM ROAD THAT WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT.
AND LIKE I SAID, I WANT THE CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT THIS, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY COGNIZANT OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND NOT ONLY ARE WE ADDRESSING DEVELOPERS' CONCERNS, BUT WE'RE SPENDING MONEY TO MITIGATE AND TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS. LET ME, MAY, MAY, LEMME JUST SHARE, SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL.
I HAVE SOME LATEST INFORMATION JUST BEFORE WE CAME UP HERE, THIS, THIS, THIS EVENING.
I SPOKE TO THE DEVELOPER ON THE PHONE AND, UM, HE INFORMED ME THAT HE WAS NOT GONNA BE HERE, BUT HE, THE DEVELOPER BY HIS WORD, IS COMMITTED TO WORK WITH YOU, JOHN, AND WITH DD SEVEN TO MAKE WHATEVER AMENDMENTS THAT HE NEEDS TO MAKE OR WHATEVER SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE, HE'S WILLING TO MEET WITH YOU AND, AND WITH THE, UM, LOCAL ENGINEERING FIRM TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE CHANGES ARE INCLUDED SO THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAD A VERY LONG DISCUSSION ON THE PHONE AND, UM, HE INTENDS TO CALL, CALL YOU BACK, AND, UM, FOR US TO WORK IT OUT, WHATEVER CHANGES YOU HAVE SUGGESTED.
THAT WAS THE LAST THING THAT I HAD BEFORE 5:00 PM BECAUSE I DID, I, COUNCILOR KINLAW, YOU DID SHARE WITH ME YOUR CONCERNS, AND SO I HAD TO PUT IN A CALL TO THE DEVELOPER.
UM, I ECHO ALL OF THE CONCERNS THAT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW HAS.
UM, MY QUESTION THOUGH IS THE $67 MILLION DRAINAGE PROJECT THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THAT'S GONNA MITIGATE THE FLOODING IN THE STONEGATE AREA.
WHAT, WHAT IMPACT IS THIS GONNA HAVE ON THAT? I MEAN, WHEN THAT PLAN WAS DEVELOPED, DID IT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS, SPECIFICALLY A 204 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX AND HOW THAT MIGHT CHANGE THE DRAINAGE IN THE AREA? YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN, I WASN'T HERE WHEN THE, THE, THAT PROJECT WAS DESIGNED, BUT MY REC, MY OPINION IS NO, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS AREA.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE STONEGATE DRAINAGE PROJECT, UH, HELPS THE GOLF COURSE, OAKMONT GOLF HILL BACK AROUND THE GOLF COURSE, BUT THIS AREA KIND OF DRAINS, IT DOES DRAIN INTO MAIN B CANAL, BUT IT'S KIND OF A SEPARATE AREA.
[01:15:01]
HOW YOU DOING? GOOD.APPRECIATE YOU PRESENTATION, UH, DRAINAGE.
YOU, WE, WE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DRAINAGE RIGHT NOW, BUT MY OTHER CONCERN IS WHAT SIZE THAT APARTMENT COMPLEX GOING TO BE? HOW MANY ESTIMATED 200, 200 AND SOMETHING UNITS? I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE.
NOW, WHEN THAT DEVELOPMENT WENT IN OUT THERE, I TALKED AND THE CITIZEN WAS DOWN HERE COMPLAINING, COMPLAINING ABOUT ALL OF THE FLOODING.
SO I ASKED THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR WHAT WENT WRONG.
HE SAID, THAT SYSTEM IS UNDERSIZED, AND WE WAS BYPASSED PLAN.
THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WAS TOLD TO STAY OUT OF IT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE TODAY, PUT MONEY IN THERE TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. NOW, MY OTHER CONCERN RIGHT NOW, THE DRAINAGE AND THE STREETS WAS, WAS THE, UH, WAS THE HOLDING POND.
WHAT, WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN? AND I, I THINK THAT THIS CITY MANAGER HAS CORRECTED THAT THE MCDONALD SHORE, WHEN DEVELOPMENT GO IN, YOU PUT IN THE RETENTION PONDS FIRST.
THE STREETS WAS THE, THE RETENTION PONDS.
THAT'S WHY IT WAS FLOODING SO MUCH.
NOW YOU ALL, YOU ALL ARE CORRECTING THAT.
BUT MY OTHER CONCERN RIGHT NOW, IF THE, IF THE FLOODING SYSTEM, THE STORM DRAINING SYSTEM WAS UNDERSIZED, WHAT ABOUT THE SEWER SYSTEM? THAT'S GOING PROBABLY GONNA BE OUR NEXT PROJECT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FUND.
I BET YOU TEND TO WONDER THAT'S UNDERSIZED TOO.
AND WITH THIS IMPACT OF INCREASED DEVELOPMENT, WE GOING TO BE, YOU'RE GONNA BE BACK HERE TRYING TO FIND MONEY GRANTS TO TRY TO CORRECT THAT PROBLEM.
BUT THAT IS, THAT'S KIND OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO CORRECT TODAY BECAUSE A BLIND EYE WAS, THEY WAS, STAFF WAS TOLD STAY OUT OF IT PLANNING HIS OWN DEPARTMENT GOT BYPASSED, AND THAT CAME FROM BOB BOWES.
WELL, AND, AND COUNCILMAN, YOU'RE RIGHT, BECAUSE THIS WAS PART OF THE PARK MUD CENTRAL.
AND SO, NO, I DON'T WANT YOU TO IMPLY THAT THE CITY LOOKED THE OTHER WAY.
THIS WAS A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE CITY.
CURB COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN, TURN YOUR MIC ON YOU.
I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE HAD CURBING GUTTER STREETS OUT THERE, NEWTOWN DEVELOPMENT CURB AND GUTTER STREETS OUT THERE GROWING GRASS AND NO HOUSES.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE SUFFERING TODAY BEHIND A LOT OF THINGS.
WE HAVE TO CORRECT THEM TODAY BECAUSE THE PROPER TENSION RETENTION PONDS WAS NOT PUT IN, WAS NOT PUT IN AND WAS NOT ENFORCED.
IF YOU WANTED TO KEEP YOUR JOB, YOU, YOU COULD, YOU DIDN'T, YOU WASN'T ALLOWED TO EVEN GET INVOLVED WITH IT.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES, SIR.
MR. CANTELLA, HOW ARE YOU, SIR? GOOD, GOOD.
WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE AREA AND AREA THREE AND TALKING ABOUT, UM, THIS DEVELOPMENT, THERE IS A, UM, THERE'S A PORTION OF LAND THAT IS, AND AND OF COURSE I DON'T PURPORT TO BE AN ENGINEER OR, OR TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, BUT THERE'S A LARGE PORTION OF LAND RIGHT THERE ON NINTH AVENUE AND JIMMY JOHNSON.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN EVEN TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION OR BEGIN TO TALK TO, I DON'T KNOW WHO OWNS THE LAND OR WHAT IT'S THERE FOR, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE IN SOME WAY, UH, INCLUDED IN A DRAINAGE PLAN, UH, FOR RETENTION PONDS OR TO DO SOMETHING, UH, THAT WOULD HELP TO ALLEVIATE FLOODING, UH, IN THAT AREA.
IT'S A LARGE PROPORTION OF LAND AND IT'S BEEN VACANT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
PEOPLE PUT SIGNS ON IT WHEN THEY'RE RUNNING, BUT, BUT RIGHT THERE, THAT LARGE, IT'S ABOUT FIVE TO 10 ACRES OF LAND MM-HMM.
THAT WE COULD JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, USE PERHAPS IN SOME WAY.
I THINK IT WOULD, IT WOULD BEHOOVE US TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE HOW WE COULD, UH, INCORPORATE THAT IN OUR DRAINAGE VISION.
UM, YOU KNOW, AT ONE POINT IN TIME WE SPOKE ABOUT THE PROPERTY AT THE BACK OF THE CHURCH, FIVE ACRES, THE FIVE ACRES THAT WAS THERE, UM, IN ORDER TO ALLEVIATE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE HAD ON RISE FARM ROAD, UM, AS TO WHETHER IT STILL NEEDED, I KNOW TONIGHT WE HAVE SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA FOR THE APPROVAL OF A, UM, A, UH, WORK WE ARE GOING TO DO WITH DD SEVEN, UM, OUT THERE IN THAT VERY SAME AREA.
MAYBE WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS COME BACK AND LOOK AT IT AS WELL TO SEE WHETHER THE, THE NEEDS STILL EXIST CONSIDERING THE APARTMENT COMPLEX IS GOING OUT THERE, AS LONG AS IT WOULD HELP IN MITIGATING, UM, THE FLOODING PROBLEMS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE OUT THERE AS
[01:20:01]
WELL.SO MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY AS WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
LET, LET ME JUST ADDRESS THAT, UH, RON, UM, WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE CHURCH TO DO OUR RICE FARM ROAD DRAINAGE PROJECT, AND WE'RE GONNA ACQUIRE AN EASEMENT FROM THE CHURCH TO PUT THE DITCH IN, BUT THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, DETENTION POND.
THEY, THEY'RE NOT REALLY IN FAVOR OF THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S SOME MORE LAND LIKE COUNCILMAN FRANK WAS SAYING, THAT WE CAN FIND, WE CAN START A PROCESS OF LOOKING STRATEGICALLY FOR SOME LAND.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A, WHAT IS IT, A 30 ACRE TRACK OFF OF LAKE ARTHUR THAT WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, DEVELOPING THAT AS A DETENTION POND.
BUT EVERYTHING HELPS, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING LITTLE PIECE HELPS.
AND, AND YEAH, THE LAST THING, MAYOR, UM, I KNOW THAT THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL BE LOOKING AT IN THE NEW BUDGET FOR THE REVIEWING OF OUR SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS AS WE CONTINUE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT COUNCILOR LEWIS.
THOSE ARE POLICY DOCUMENTS THAT WILL HELP US FROM NOT MAKING THE MISTAKES THAT WE MADE YEARS AGO AS WE CONTINUE TO UPDATE OUR POLICY DOCUMENTS AS IT RELATES TO DEVELOPMENT.
SO OUR SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS WILL PLAY A VERY PIVOTAL ROLE, YOU KNOW, AS WE CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH DD SEVEN AND EVEN WITH, UM, TEXT.IN BRINGING IN DEVELOPMENT AND ACCOMMODATING OUR DEVELOPMENT NEEDS.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER, THAT'S ANOTHER PROJECT THAT'S ON THE HORIZON THAT WE WILL UNDERTAKE, UM, IN ORDER TO WORK WITH JOHN AND, UM, ADDRESS OUR DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES AS WE MOVE AHEAD.
AND LASTLY, UH, JOHN, THANK YOU.
UH, UH, I'M GONNA SAY THIS, I THINK THE CITY ENGINEER NEEDS TO BE IN ALL DEVELOPMENT.
I'M JUST GONNA BE BLUNT AND SAY THAT, BUT I'M GONNA ASK IF, UH, ALLEN SIMS FROM DD SEVEN, WOULD HE COME UP AND JUST KIND OF GIVE THE SCENARIO WHAT TYPE OF IMPACT TO THE DRAINAGE, UH, SITUATIONS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE IN, UH, DISTRICT THREE? UH, I JUST, I, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO EASE MY MIND.
I, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO EASE THEIR MINDS.
UH, ABOUT HOW ARE YOU TODAY? HEY, MAN.
UH, I KNOW WE HAD A LLY DISCUSSION LAST WEEK.
UH, YOU'RE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO ENDURE IN THIS DISTRICT, BUT IT, ON YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION WITH THAT PROJECT AND THE FLOODING, UH, THAT PROBLEMS WE HAVE, WOULD YOU EXPRESS THIS TO THE COMMUNITY AND, AND THE SHEER PEOPLE HOW THIS WOULD DO THAT? YES, SIR.
COULD YOU BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? OKAY.
I'M ALAN SIMS. I'M THE ASSISTANT MANAGER OF DRAIN DISTRICT SEVEN HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
UH, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE DO HAVE ISSUES IN THAT AREA.
UH, ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KIND OF A COMBINATION.
I WANNA ADDRESS SOMETHING COUNCILMAN LEWIS SAID ALSO, BUT, UH, WE HAVE A DRAINAGE CRITERIA MANUAL THAT WAS INSTITUTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2019.
AND THAT CAME ACROSS, CAME ABOUT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER 2015 OR 2017.
PRIOR TO THAT, WE AS THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT HAD NO INPUT, NO SAY IN ANYTHING TO DO WITH DEVELOPMENT AT CITIES AND COUNTY LEVEL.
WE COULD DO HANDLE OUR STUFF, BUT WE COULD NOT INPUT ON, ON THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
STATE LAW PASSED, I BELIEVE IT WAS 15.
I, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T LOOK THAT UP BEFORE I CAME, WHICH REQUIRED THAT IF A DISTRICT LIKE US WANTS TO HAVE INPUT, WE DEVELOP A CRITERIA MANUAL, AND THEN WE PUT IT OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE GET IT ACCEPTED BY ALL THE CITIES, THE, THE COUNTY AND EVERYBODY.
SO THAT GAVE US THE SIGNATURE AUTHORITY ON THE PLAT.
OKAY? SO WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS IN 2019, AND WE GOT IT IN PLACE IN NOVEMBER OF 2019.
SO SINCE THAT POINT, WHEN SOMETHING COMES TO YOU GUYS, IT HAS TO COME TO US.
WE REVIEW THOSE PLANS AND THEN WE REVIEW THE DRAINAGE TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT GONNA NEGATIVELY IMPACT DRAINAGE DISTRICT SEVEN'S FACILITIES.
IT'S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK YOUR STORM SEWER TO SEE IF IT CAN GET FROM THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY TO MY DITCH, MY PROPERTY.
MY PROPERTY IS, OR MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT DOESN'T CAUSE NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO MY DITCH.
OKAY? SO THAT'S ONE OF THE, THE GRAY AREAS WHERE WE CROSSOVER BUT DON'T REALLY OVERLAP VERY WELL.
UM, SO AFTER 2019, THESE IN THIS COMES TO US, OUR REQUIREMENT IS THAT A FACILITY CANNOT HAVE MORE RUNOFF FROM THE SITE AFTER DEVELOPMENT THAN IT HAD PRE-DEVELOPMENT IN A HUNDRED YEAR STORM.
A HUNDRED YEAR STORM BEING, I BELIEVE IN THIS AREA IS 16 INCHES AND 24 HOURS.
SO IF RIGHT NOW, WHILE IT'S BEFORE THEY CLEAR IT AND IT'S WOODED AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, IF IT HAS ROUND NUMBERS, 10
[01:25:01]
CUBIC FEET PER SECOND OF RUNOFF COMING OFF THAT SITE, WHENEVER IT'S DEVELOPED, CONCRETE PARKING LOTS, EVERYTHING THAT'S DONE, ALL THAT CAN COME OFF, THE MAXIMUM THAT CAN LEAVE THAT SITE IS 10 CFS PER ACRE, OR 10 CFS.I KNOW IN THIS SITE, WE STARTED REVIEWING THE PLANS, I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND MARCH, EXACTLY MARCH 15TH, 2024.
WE MADE COMMENTS ON THE 20TH ON APRIL 4TH, ANOTHER SUBMITTAL APRIL 23RD, A THIRD SUBMITTAL.
WE WENT THROUGH SIX ROUNDS OF COMMENTS TO GET THIS SYSTEM WITHIN COMPLIANCE ON MAY 9TH.
WE'VE MADE OUR LAST COMMENT AND GOT A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION TO US ON MAY 13TH OF THIS YEAR.
AND WHAT THAT, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE, UH, DEVELOPER PROBABLY WASN'T VERY HAPPY ABOUT HAVING TO GO THAT FAR.
BUT WE DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE.
AND AT THAT POINT, I'D HAVE TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THIS FIND JUST EXACTLY WHERE IT IS.
BUT THE, I KNOW THAT ON THIS ONE, THE POST-DEVELOPMENT FLOW WAS SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT FLOW IN A HUNDRED YEAR STORM EVENT.
AND I SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT MARKED, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT NUMBER IS SHORTLY, IF YOU GIMME JUST A SECOND.
BUT IN, BUT WHAT I WANTED TO, THE REASON FOR THAT, I GUESS THE STATEMENT, A LITTLE HISTORY, A LOT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT OCCURRED IN THE SEVENTIES.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, IN DEFENSE OF YOUR STAFF, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT THEY DID.
THE ONES THAT ARE HERE NOW, I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS AN ISSUE THAT IS A LEGACY THAT WE'RE GONNA ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
AND THE BIGGEST ISSUE, AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT COUNCILMAN KINLAW WAS REFERRING TO, IS THE FACT THAT AT THAT TIME, AND IN MANY PLACES, A CURBING GUTTER STREET IS DESIGNED WHERE THE STORM SEWER, THE PIPES UNDERGROUND, ARE DESIGNED TO CARRY APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH AN HOUR OF RAINFALL.
AND THEN THE DITCH OR THE ROAD ITSELF THEN BECOMES A DITCH TO CARRY ANYTHING IN EXCESS OF THAT TO OUR, FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO OUR DITCH.
THAT'S NOT IDEAL, BUT IT'S BETTER THAN THE WATER GETTING IN THE HOUSES.
OKAY? SO, AND IT'S REALLY AN EDUCATION THING THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR PEOPLE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT.
AND THEN WHEN YOU GET RAINFALLS IN EXCESS OF AN INCH AN HOUR, LIKE WE HAD, SAY, MOTHER'S DAY, WE HAD THREE INCHES IN ABOUT 15, 20 MINUTES THAT EXCEEDS THE SIZE OF THOSE PIPES.
AND WHEN I WAS RIDING DOWN THAT ROAD AND I WAS TALKING TO COUNCILMAN KID LAW, AT THE SAME TIME, I'M DRIVING DOWN JIMMY JOHNSON, AND ABOVE THE CATCH BASINS ARE THE INLETS ON THE ROAD, WHICH YOU ARE HOLDS THIS BIG ON EAST SIDE.
THERE ARE GREAT BIG WHIRLPOOLS.
THE WATER GOING IN THE WATER WAS NOT GETTING OFF THE STREET INTO YOUR SYSTEM.
AND THEN NOW THAT'S OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM INTO OUR DITCH.
AN HOUR LATER IT WAS DRY, BUT AT THAT MOMENT, I WILL NOT LIE, IT WAS FLOODED.
UH, I'VE SEEN THAT, I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE DISTRICT SINCE 99 AS A CONSULTANT AND ON STAFF SINCE 21.
AND I'VE SEEN IT MANY, MANY TIMES, HUNDREDS OF TIMES, PROBABLY OVER THE YEARS.
UH, AND IT'S COMMON, ESPECIALLY IN CURB AND GUTTER STREETS.
YOU ALSO HAVE ISSUES IN STREETS WITH ROAD ROAD DITCHES.
I MEAN, UH, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT TOO, BECAUSE THERE'S A, A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH PEOPLE STACKING TRASH IN THOSE ROAD DITCHES.
UH, I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN IT.
AND, UH, THAT'S AN, THAT CAN BE JUST AS BIG OF A PROBLEM AS A CURBING GUTTER WITH WATER IN IT.
SO THERE'S PROS AND CONS OF BOTH SITUATIONS.
UM, NOTHING'S PERFECT, BUT WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, DR.
UH, BY ALLEN, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YES, SIR.
UM, MR. ALLEN, YOU MENTIONED, THANK YOU FOR EDUCATING US.
YOU MENTIONED THAT WE, UM, DON'T DO A GOOD JOB WITH THE OVERLAP.
TELL US WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION AND HOW WE CAN DO BETTER TO HELP PREVENT SOME OF THESE ISSUES?
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THINGS WORK INSIDE THE CITY.
WE LOOK AT OUR PIECE AND WE SIGN OFF ON THAT.
THAT'S THE KIND OF OVERLAP AREA.
[01:30:02]
ROUGH EXAMPLE, HERE'S YOUR PIECE OF PROPERTY, WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING DRAINS TO THIS POINT.WE KNOW THAT COMING OFF THIS POINT IS, EXCUSE ME, I CAN'T READ THAT.
IF IT'S COMING OFF HERE AT 10 CF S WE LOOK AT IT AND SAY, OKAY, AFTERWARDS IT'S COMING OFF AT NINE CCF S THAT'S A REDUCTION, THAT'S A BETTER SITUATION IN A 16 INCH RAIN.
THAT'S A BETTER FOR ALL OF US.
NOW, FROM THAT POINT TO OUR DITCH, I DON'T KNOW WHO LOOKS AT THAT.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE GRAY AREA I'M NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT.
BUT WE LOOK AT THIS, AT THAT POINT RIGHT HERE.
AND THAT'S PROBABLY, UH, AND MY ONLY POINT OF SAYING IS FOR YEARS I DID REVIEWS ALSO FOR DD SIX AND CITY OF BEAUMONT AND LOTS OF OTHERS.
AND THAT WAS, AT THAT TIME, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS TASKED WITH.
BUT AT DD SEVEN, THAT IS NOT PART OF OUR, OUR SCOPE.
SO MR. CITY MANAGER, IN THE EVENT THAT THIS COULD HELP US TO DECREASE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES, CAN WE PLEASE WORK ON HAVING AN EFFICIENT PLAN FOR TO REDUCE THE OVERLAP? WE'LL, UM, I THINK WE'LL, WE'LL, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW, STRONGLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, I, I THINK IT CAN BE ADDRESSED.
WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE ALREADY.
WE HAVE PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS SET EVERY WEDNESDAY.
WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE TABLE AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE COMES TO THE TABLE TO ADDRESS THEIR DEPARTMENT'S CONCERNS.
AND THEN THE INFORMATION FILTERS BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT OR THE DEPARTMENT HEAD OR TO THE ENGINEER OR VICE VERSA, WHATEVER IT IS.
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE INVITED TO THE MEETING COME TO THE MEETING, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I'D HAVE THE BREAK IN COMMUNICATION.
BUT I WILL MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
JUST FOR POINT OF REFERENCE, THIS SITE WENT FROM 121 CFS TO 105 AFTER THE DETENTION.
UH, COUNCIL MC AND THEN THE CITY MANAGER.
UH, AND, AND, UH, ALAN, IF YOU DON'T MIND, TO THE POWERS THAT BE, THAT'S IN DD SEVEN, UH, JUST LET 'EM KNOW.
WE, WE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME HANDLING OUR WATER AND WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING.
WE, WE ARE INVESTING, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO, UH, GET THIS WATER OFF OUR STREETS.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
SO, UH, TO YOUR POWERS THAT BE AT DD SEVEN, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW THAT WE'RE TAKING ON MID-COUNTY, SOME BAUMONT MID COUNTY AND IT'S FLOWING OUT SOUTH, UH, WATER.
AND LET THEM KNOW WE, WE NEED SOME CHANGES.
WE NEED SOME FUNDING DOWN HERE.
IF WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE DOING THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM THAT IS RECOMMENDED BY THE COUNTY OR YOUR, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR DD SEVEN, YOUR DISTRICT, WE NEED FUNDING TO CONTINUE DOING IT.
IF, IF, IF WE HAVE TO OUT LET THAT WATER SOME, SOME OTHER WAY, WE, WE NEED TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE ARE TAKING ON OTHER PEOPLE'S WATER AND WE'RE HAVING A DIFF DIFFICULT TIME JUST TO BE BLUNT ABOUT IT.
UH, WE HAVE EVALUATED SOME OPTIONS.
WE'VE LOOKED AT SOME THINGS JUST THE NATURAL FALL OF THE LAND.
I MEAN, JUST PLAIN AND SIMPLE, BASICALLY FROM SAY APPROXIMATELY HEB PLUS OR MINUS IN THAT AREA.
DRAINS DOWN THERE AT UH, AND AT HEB IS IN PORT ARTHUR.
BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT PAST THAT, PROBABLY ABOUT THREE BLOCKS IN EACH DIRECTION THAT DIRECTION DRAINS DOWN THROUGH THIS AREA.
THAT'S JUST, I DIDN'T DO THAT.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE EVALUATED THE OPTION OF TAKING SOMETHING FROM THAT AREA AND TAKING IT TO THE RIVER, BUT YOU'RE GOING UPHILL.
AND TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST WITH YOU, WATER DON'T GO UPHILL UNLESS IT'S PUMPED AND THAT GETS REAL EXPENSIVE REALLY FAST.
MAY, BUT WE HAVE THAT WAY THE OPTION MAY, MAY I SAY SOMETHING I THINK COUNCILMAN DO, SAID HE HAS SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY, BUT FROM WHAT I'M HEARING IS, UH, IN THAT PARTICULAR, UH, SECTION OF TOWN ORIGINALLY, AND, UH, IF, IF, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS IS, IS CORRECT ON HIS RECOLLECTION, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS UNDERSIZED.
YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT SUPPORTED THAT WHEN YOU JUST SAID THAT THE DESIGN THAT WE HAVE THERE PRESENTLY IS DESIGNED TO MOVE WATER AT THE ONE INCH I PER HOUR INTERPRETATION FALLING ONE INCH PER HOUR, WHICH MEANS WE MUST HAVE ABOUT A SIX OR EIGHTH, UH, INCH PIPE.
WELL, MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE A 20 INCH PIPE.
I WOULD SAY YOU PROBABLY GOT AN 18 TO 24 AND YOU PROBABLY NEED A 48.
OKAY, WELL, OKAY, BECAUSE I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, SO I'M JUST, JUST THINKING IT'S REAL SMALL.
[01:35:01]
AND WITH THE POTENTIAL OF GROWTH IN THAT AREA, BECAUSE PORT ARTHUR WOULD HAVE TO GROW IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.WE WERE TALKING JUST THE OTHER DAY ABOUT, UH, MAYBE EXTENDING DOWN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF, UH, 365, I MEAN, UH, 69, UH, TOWARD 365 FROM JIMMY JOHNSON.
AND ALL OF THAT STILL INCLUDES THAT AREA, UH, CITY MANAGER AND, AND, AND, AND ENGINEERS, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW YOU WEREN'T HERE, UH, ALAN, YOU WEREN'T A PART OF IT WHENEVER THIS WAS ACTUALLY, UH, UH, UH, THIS, THIS ENTIRE PROJECT WAS BROUGHT ON, I BELIEVE AT THE PARTICULAR TIME.
AND COUNCILMAN LEWIS SAID IT, BUT HE DIDN'T SAY THIS PART.
WE HAD A MUD THERE, UH, WHICH I THINK WAS A MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT YES, SIR.
THERE THAT ACTUALLY HANDLED ALL OF THE, UH, DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THAT AREA, WHICH MAYBE, UH, PRECLUDED THE CITY, UH, DEPARTMENTS FROM MAY BASICALLY MAYBE BEING INVOLVED.
I DON'T KNOW ANY OF THE INTRICACIES WITH THAT, WELL BEFORE ME.
BUT IN 2024, WE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IT, IF WE CAN STUDY, SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO HEAR THAT TERM, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN.
FIRST STUDY WHAT ALL IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO CORRECT THAT.
BECAUSE I CAN UNDERSTAND THE CITIZENS, UH, WHO LIVE IN THAT AREA AND IF THEY'RE GOING TO PUT 200 UNITS THERE, WHAT THE SEWER PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO BE, WHAT THE DRAINAGE PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO BE, WHAT EVEN WATER DELIVERY PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO BE IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.
AND IF WE NEED TO HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE TOTALLY CHANGED THERE, THERE'S GONNA BE MONEY OR COST INVOLVED.
COUNCILOR MCKEN LAW, I'M LISTENING TO EVERYBODY SPEAK, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK OF SOME GREAT IDEAS THAT MAYBE COULD ACTUALLY OCCUR.
IF WE ARE TAKING ON WATER FROM NORTH OF US, THEN MAYBE THOSE NORTH OF US CAN ACTUALLY ASSIST US FINANCIALLY IN SOME SHAPE, FORM OF PASSION WITH CORRECTING THE PROBLEM THAT LIES IN OUR CITY, BUT IT'S EVEN ENLARGED BY THE WATER THAT COMES FROM OTHER, UH, MUNICIPALITIES TO OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
AND WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO CORRECT IT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GROW AND WE CAN'T IMPEDE, I DON'T BELIEVE IT WOULD BE PROPER FOR US TO, UH, IMPEDE GROWTH BECAUSE OF SOME 40 OR 50-YEAR-OLD SITUATION THAT OCCURRED AND THAT WAS ALLOWED TO OCCUR.
AS YOU SAID, IF WE HAVE AN 18 INCH, THEN WE NEED A 48 INCH.
SO, UH, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO, UH, FOR THE FUTURE, AGAIN, OF OUR CITY AND THE FUTURE GROWTH OF OUR CITY.
AND WE PROBABLY NEED TO BEGIN ON THAT YESTERDAY.
YOU'RE STEPPING OUT SOME OUTSIDE MY AREA.
BUT SINCE WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION, NOT OUTTA MY ENGINEERING SINCE WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION, UH, BUT I DO WANNA ALSO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THE ISSUES ALSO BECAUSE WE HAVE A, DD SEVEN HAS APPLIED FOR MULTIPLE GRANTS AND WE HAVE, AND WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE PIECES OF MONEY AND DIFFERENT PROJECTS GOING ON.
AND SO YOU UNDERSTAND WE WE'RE NOT SPENDING THAT MONEY ON STONEGATE, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT'S BEING SPENT ON PORT ARTHUR.
AND TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST WITH YOU, THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY OF IT SOUTH OF 73 MM-HMM.
WHICH IS PROBABLY YOUR OLDEST AREA AND THE MOST DETERIORATED.
BUT RIGHT NOW ON, OUT OF THE 40 41 OR SO THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN ON THE CDBG, MIT, UH, I'D SAY A HUNDRED PERCENT OF IT IS BENEFITING THAT AREA IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
EVEN IF WE'RE DOING A PROJECT JUST NORTH OF 73, IT'S TO REDUCE THE WATER COMING DOWN PAST 73.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT NEGLECTING YOU GUYS JUST CAN'T COVER ALL OF IT.
AND YOU ALSO KNOW THE LIMITATIONS ON SOME OF THESE GRANTS, BUT I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE COLLECTED THAT'S HARD FOR, FOR US TO FIND MONEY FOR.
YEAH, YOU, YOU KIND OF HIT ON WHAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE TOPIC, I THINK MOST OF THE CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED HERE ABOUT PORT ARTHUR THAT WE ALWAYS HEAR IS THEY DIDN'T TURN THE PUMP THE PUMPS ON.
WHY DON'T THEY TURN THE PUMPS ON? WELL, IT'S, IT IS LIKE YOU EXPLAINED, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
YOUR PUMPS IS DESIGNED AND LOCATED TO PUSH WATER FROM OUT OF THE CITY INTO THE LARGE BODY WATER.
YOUR DISTRICT'S DD 70 IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR INNER CITY DRAINAGE.
[01:40:01]
YES, SIR.SO BASICALLY YOU BROUGHT OUT ANOTHER POINT THAT I, THAT IS THE WAY WE SHOULD GO.
WE SHOULD HAVE OUR ENGINEERS STUFF LOOKING AT THE PLACES THAT ARE MOST PRONE TO FLOODING.
AND LET'S GO BACK AND TAKE OUT, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT.
BUT WE NEED TO START EATING IT ONE BITE AT A TIME.
YOU KNOW? 'CAUSE WE LEAVE THAT ELEPHANT LIKE IT IS, WE GONNA CONTINUE TO HAVE YOU TO BRING IN ALL THESE BIG PUMPS YOU BRINGING IN, BUT THE WATER'S NOT GETTING THERE.
AND EVERYBODY'S SAYING TURN THE PUMPS ON.
IF WE START INCREASING SOME OF THESE PIPES, LIKE YOU SAID, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ALL, BUT WE NEED TO START SOMEWHERE.
THE PLACE TO START IS WHERE IT'S THE MOST FLOODING.
WE DO THAT WE GETTING WATER TO YOU.
I DON'T KNOW WHY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THINK THAT IT'S DD SEVEN.
NO, YOUR CANAL AND YOUR SYSTEM RIGHT NOW CAN HOLD IF WE COULD GET IT THERE.
AND THE ANSWER IS, WE'RE NOT GETTING IT THERE BECAUSE THE PUMPS.
'CAUSE IF IT'S, IF IT'S FLOWING, IT'S GONNA GO TO THE PUMP.
SO WHEN WE STARTED HEARING PEOPLE SAYING WE ARE FLOODING, WHY THEY HAVING TO TURN ON THE PUMPS? WHY THEY HAVING TO TURN? I, I WISH CITIZENS WOULD UNDERSTAND.
THAT'S BECAUSE WE NEED TO WORK ON OUR SYSTEM TO GET THE WATER TO THE PUMPS.
THE PUMPS ARE THERE WAITING FOR THE WATER, AND DD SEVEN DOES NOT CONTROL IT.
SO, UH, WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, SO THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE'S THE MOST FLOODING OCCURRING? WHAT IS OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS IN ORDER TO TAKE THAT WATER FROM THERE TO THAT PUMP OR TO THE CANAL.
AND I THINK ONCE WE START WORKING ON THAT, THEN WE'LL, UH, GET ALL THIS WATER OFF OF US A LOT FASTER AND WE COULD AT LEAST REDUCE FLOODING IN THE MOST PRONE AREAS THAT ARE FLOODED.
BUT I UNDERSTAND, UH, THESE SEVEN, COULD YOU ALL PUT HOW MANY PUMP BIG PUMPS Y'ALL REPLACED? WELL, WE'VE RE WE'VE ADDED A NEW PUMP STATION THAT, UH, AT ALLIGATOR, WHICH ALL, WHICH HAS SIX NEW PUMPS.
IT'S A MILLION AND A HALF GALLONS A MINUTE TOTAL CAPACITY.
AND WE HAVE ALSO BEEN UPGRADING A LOT OF THE STATIONS BY REPLACING DIESEL ENGINES, BRINGING 'EM INTO MORE MODERN OPERATION, UH, INCREASING OUR EFFICIENCY AND SO FORTH, WHICH IS INCREASING THE OVERALL PUMPING CAPACITY.
AND WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A GRANT MOVING FORWARD TO, UH, ENLARGED SHREVEPORT PUMP STATION RIGHT HERE NEXT TO THE HEALTH CENTER, WHICH WOULD ACTUALLY COME AS A WAY TO FACILITATE THE GROWTH OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I ALSO WANT TO GO AHEAD AND LODGE YOUR, YOUR ENGINEERING STAFF, BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE A STUDY THAT IS, IF IT'S NOT COMPLETE, IT'S VERY NEAR TO COMPLETE OF YOUR ENTIRE DRAINAGE SYSTEM THAT ONE OF THE LOCAL ENGINEERING FIRMS HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR PROBABLY THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND THAT'S A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES.
ONCE WE, ONCE WE, UH, IMPLEMENT THAT, THEN WE'LL GET THE WATER TO YOU.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE SYSTEMS UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY START SEEING, THEY HAVEN'T TURNED THE PUMPS ON.
THEY HAVEN'T TURNED THE PUMPS ON.
THE PUMPS ARE THERE WAITING, THEY'RE GETTING THIRSTY, BUT WE NOT FEEDING IT.
SO WE NEED TO WORK ON FEEDING IT.
MANY, MANY TIMES WHEN PEOPLE CALL, THERE'S NOT, YOU'RE CORRECT.
THERE'S NOT WATER AT THE PUMP TO PUMP YET.
AND SOON THEREAFTER IT GETS THERE AND WE TURN THEM ON.
THERE'S ALSO A VERY LARGE MISCONCEPTION THAT ALL OF OUR PUMPS ARE DIESEL.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE SHOWN UP AT A STATION NOW AND HAVE SOMEONE STAND OVER WITH THEIR EAR AGAINST THE DOOR SAYING, I DON'T HEAR THIS PUMP STATION RUNNING.
AND WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR, IT'S AN ELECTRIC PUMP.
THERE'S, THERE'S NO DIESEL ENGINE, YOU'RE NOT HEARING ANYTHING.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S JUST MISCONCEPTIONS.
AND I'VE HAD PEOPLE SITTING THERE AND TELL ME, I'VE LIVED ACROSS THE STREET MY WHOLE LIFE AND I'VE HEARD IT EVERY TIME.
BUT TODAY, AND THESE ARE THE PUMPS THAT, THAT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR PUT IN IN THE THIRTIES THAT ARE ELECTRIC AND REALLY DOUBT THAT THEY'VE BEEN THERE.
YOU KNOW, THEY'VE HEARD IT ALL THAT TIME.
THEY MAY HAVE HEARD THE GENERATOR A FEW TIMES WHEN WE LOST POWER, BUT THEY DIDN'T HEAR THOSE PUMPS RUNNING 'CAUSE THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN ELECTRIC.
SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING DU SAID, YOU'RE CORRECT A HUNDRED PERCENT.
WE GET BLAMED A LOT AND LESS TIMES.
I MEAN, I'VE HAD PEOPLE VERY, UH, FORCEFUL AND VOCAL ABOUT TURN THE PUMPS ON AND THAT'S THE POLITEST WAY TO PUT IT.
AND THEY'RE, THE FOUR BAY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN, ESPECIALLY OUT HERE, LAKEVIEW OR LAKESIDE, YOUR PORT ACRES, YOU GOT THAT BIG POND AND WATER HAS TO GET UP TO A CERTAIN POINT BEFORE IT FLOWS OVER INTO OUR PUMP.
THERE'S NO WATER FLOWING OVER INTO OUR PUMP.
BUT I'M GETTING YELLED AT LIKE CRAZY BECAUSE THOSE PUMPS ARE ON.
[01:45:01]
YEAH, BRIEFLY, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR PRESENTATION.I GOT A PHONE CALL WHILE I WAS STILL WORKING THAT THE QUEEN BOULEVARD WAS FLOODED ALL THE WAY DOWN.
AND I TOLD RICHARD, ER, I SAID, DO ME A FAVOR, GO AHEAD.
HE CALLED ME AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PUMP OUT ON, I SAID, GO DOWN THERE TO, TO THE SEA WALL, GO TO THAT DD SEVEN PUMP AND TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE.
AND I SAID, THEY GOTTA SCALE THAT.
TELL ME WHERE THE WATER IS AT.
SO IMMEDIATELY I KNEW WE COULDN'T GET, THE WATER WAS NOT GETTING THERE.
AND IF THOSE PUMPS, THE PUMPS CANNOT RUN WITHOUT A PROPER LOAD, THEY'LL, THEY'LL TEAR ITSELF UP.
THAT'S WHY THEY SHUT, THAT'S WHY IT GOT FLOATS SHUT.
SO WHAT I DID, I GOT THE STAFF TO GO UNDERGROUND.
WE FOUND OUT AND WE CORRECTED.
IT HADN'T FLOODED SINCE THE, THE WATER TRANSFER SYSTEM HAD COLLAPSED.
AND WE CORRECTED THAT THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY.
YOU CANNOT PUMP IT IF YOU CAN'T GET IT TO YOUR PUMPS.
ANYTHING ELSE? WE THANK YOU, BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR INPUT ON THIS, ON THIS SUBJECT.
[III.F.(3) A Discussion Regarding The Code Of Ordinance As It Applies To Residential Parking (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Beckcom) ]
NOW TO THE NEXT, UH, ITEM FOR DISCUSSION.IT'S NUMBER THREE OF DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCE AS IT APPLIES TO RESIDENTIAL PARKING.
AND IT'S BEEN, UH, REQUESTED BY MAYOR PROTE BECKHAM.
UH, I'M HOPING THAT, UH, THE POLICE CHIEF OR MAYBE SOMEONE FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS OR WE'VE GOT, UH, ANOTHER OFFICE THAT CAN, I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF PHONE CALLS WITH COMPLAINTS AND QUESTIONS LATELY ABOUT CAN WE PARK IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA? WHERE CAN WE PARK, WHY DID I GET A TICKET FOR BEING PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE? SO IN AN OPEN MEETING, I WOULD LIKE JUST A BRIEF EXPLANATION FOR OUR RESIDENTS AS TO WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO PARK IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME OR ANYWHERE ON, ON THEIR STREET.
UM, IN REGARDS TO, AND I, I DON'T WANT TO PROVIDE MISINFORMATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE PUBLIC FORUM, PLEASE, UM, BECAUSE I WAS NOT PREPARED TO BE THE ONE TO ADDRESS THIS TODAY.
UM, HOWEVER, THERE'S TWO ORDINANCES THAT WE LOOK AT.
THE FIRST WOULD BE THE ZONING ORDINANCE, WHICH, UM, ESTABLISHES OF COURSE, UM, WHAT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS FOR RESIDENTIAL, UM, DEVELOPMENT.
UM, THERE IS A OFF STREET PARKING REQUIREMENT AS IT RELATES TO THE ACTUAL STRUCTURE.
UM, MOST SINGLE FAMILY HOMES DO HAVE A REQUIREMENT OF TWO OFF STREET PARKING SPACES PER DWELLING UNIT.
UM, THIS IS TO PROVIDE WHAT IS CONSIDERED ADEQUATE PARKING, UM, FOR THE RESIDENTIAL HOME ITSELF.
UM, IN A LOT OF CASES, OF COURSE, FAMILIES HAVE CHILDREN, UM, WHO GET TO A CERTAIN AGE, VEHICLES ARE PURCHASED FOR THOSE CHILDREN.
SO YOU DO FIND A LOT OF, UH, PARKING ACROSS THE LAWNS AND EVEN IN FRONT OF THE HOUSES.
UM, AS A RULE OF THUMB, UM, IT'S NOT, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO, WE DO, UM, REGULATE OFF STREET PARKING.
UM, IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE PROPERTY ON A IMPROVED SURFACE, NOT ACROSS THE GRASS.
UM, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE DO, UM, I BELIEVE THE, I'M SORRY, I BELIEVE THE ZONING ORDINANCE ALSO ADDRESSES, UM, OVERNIGHT PARKING.
SO IT DOES TALK ABOUT IF YOU ARE PARKED OVERNIGHT ON THE STREET RIGHT OF WAY, THEN THAT IS AN, UM, OFFENSE THAT WE, THAT IS ENFORCEABLE.
UM, A LOT OF THE TIMES, OF COURSE, DUE TO HOURS OF OPERATION, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE NECESSARILY WITNESSED.
UM, WE DO GET CALLS ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
WE DO GO OUT, UM, TO VIEW THE ISSUE.
UM, BUT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE GET THERE, THERE'S NO INFRACTION TO ENFORCE UPON.
UM, THE, I WOULD HAVE TO REVIEW OUR, UM, ORDINANCES, UM, AS IT DEALS WITH, UH, ANY OTHER CODE, I'M SORRY, OF THE CITY THAT DEALS WITH OFF STREET PARKING.
AGAIN, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK AN ERA IN A PUBLIC FORM.
I DO KNOW THERE IS A SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE THAT, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO ADDRESSES, UM, AS WE TALK ABOUT OFF STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
BUT I'D RATHER GIVE COUNSEL A MORE THOROUGH AND THE PUBLIC A MORE THOROUGH ACCOUNT OF WHAT THOSE ORDINANCES ACTUALLY STATE AND HOW WE CAN ADDRESS AND ENFORCE THEM.
THE QUESTIONS THAT I'VE BEEN GETTING, AND AND MAYBE THE OFFICER CAN ANSWER THIS, UH, SOMEBODY, SOMEONE WAS TICKETED, THEY WERE PARKED IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE YES.
AND THEY WERE TOLD THAT THEIR CAR WAS FACING THE WRONG DIRECTION AND THAT'S WHY THEY WERE GIVEN A TICKET.
UM, I'VE GOT SOME FOLKS IN THE STONE GATE AREA THAT WANT TO PARK IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE, BUT THEIR NEIGHBOR PUTS THEIR GARBAGE CAN THERE AND
[01:50:01]
LEAVES IT THERE ALL THE TIME.AND IS PARKING ALLOWED IN THE STREET IN FRONT OF A PERSON'S PROPERTY? THAT'S, THAT'S THE BIGGEST QUESTION THAT I'VE BEEN GETTING.
NOW, THE ISSUE WITH BEING TICKETED WITH THE CAR FACING THE WRONG WAY, UM, IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PROBABLY TICKETED BY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, WHICH IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CODE OF THE ORDINANCE THAN WHAT WE DEAL WITH, UM, IN REGARDS TO, UM, NOT BEING ABLE TO PARK BECAUSE OF THE TOS.
AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE DO NEED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC, UM, EDUCATION ON BECAUSE UNDER OUR SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE, YOU'RE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BRING YOUR TOS OUT AT 7:00 AM AND HAVE THEM BACK IN BY 7:00 PM RIGHT.
UM, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACETS OF THE CODE THAT WE DO NEED TO REALLY START EDUCATION, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF WHAT A LOT OF THESE CODES, UM, ARE, UM, AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE TO ENFORCE WHAT THE, UM, REPERCUSSIONS CAN BE FOR NOT FOLLOWING THESE CODES.
UM, BUT AGAIN, WITH OFF STREET PARKING, IDEALLY, UM, YOU'RE, YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO PARK ON THE STREET.
IT'S MORE INTENDED FOR LIKE VISITORS PARKING, UM, WHERE WE TALKING ABOUT MORE OF A TEMPORARY PERIOD OF TIME, NOT FOR PERMANENT PARKING.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
UM, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH WHAT SECTION OF THE CODE EXPLICIT EXPLICITLY SPEAKS TO IT.
IF YOU COULD DO THAT FOR US, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT AND I'D, I'D BE HAPPY TO GET IT OUT TO MY CONSTITUENTS.
AND IF, IF THE OFFICER FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COULD ELABORATE ON, ON ANY OF THIS FOR US, THAT'D BE GREAT.
MR. MANAGER, I EXTINGUISH, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE ASKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW? I KNOW SHE TALKED ABOUT, UH, VARIOUS THINGS.
UM, SO I HAVE RESIDENTS THAT WANT TO PARK IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES ON THE STREET.
UH, AND I'VE HAD SEVERAL REPORT TO ME THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED TICKETS FOR BEING PARKED IN THE STREET.
UH, ONE OF THEM WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE PARKED FACING THE WRONG DIRECTION.
UM, ONE WAS TICKETED FOR PARKING OVERNIGHT.
SO IF, IF YOU COULD JUST ELABORATE ON WHAT THE, WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REQUIRES AS FAR AS PARKING ON THE STREET, HOW LONG, WHAT DIRECTION? WELL, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DON'T NECESSARILY REQUIRES WE, UH, FOLLOWING STATE LAW.
UM, YOU CANNOT PARK ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET.
YOU MUST PARK AS THE VEHICLES ARE DRIVEN, FACING THAT WAY.
UM, IF YOU TURN, IF YOU JUST PULL UP IN FRONT OF A CAR UP IN FRONT OF A RESIDENCE AND PARK, UM, JUST BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY YOU WANT TO PARK, UH, YOU'LL BE FOUND IN VIOLATION OF THAT AND, UH, YOU CAN BE CITED FOR THAT, UH, VIOLATION, UH, OF STATE LAW.
THAT'S NOT JUST CITY PORT, THAT'S STATE LAW.
YOU CAN'T PARK ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE WRONG WAY.
UH, AND WHAT ABOUT PARKING IN THE STREET OVERNIGHT? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DEALS WITH OR IS THAT STRICTLY A CITY ORDINANCE? UH, THAT WE CAN, WE CAN FORCE CITY ORDINANCE.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT ROUTINELY THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DEAL WITH.
UH, WE RECEIVE CALLS OF PEOPLE, UH, REQUESTING, UH, POLICE PRESENCE BECAUSE AS YOU ATED THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SOMEBODY PARKING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THEIR DRIVEWAY AND THEY'RE SAYING YOU CAN'T PARK RIGHT THERE.
THEY ABSOLUTELY CAN PARK THAT WAY, UH, RIGHT THERE.
UM, BECAUSE THE STREET, IF THEY'RE BLOCKING YOU OR DRIVEWAY ON YOUR SIDE, THEN THAT'S A, THAT BECOMES A POLICE ISSUE.
BUT IF THEY'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DRIVEWAY, WHICH YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, ALL WE CAN RECOMMEND IS THAT YOU, UH, LEARN TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT BETTER, UH,
IF YOU BACK IN, YOU CAN PULL OUT A LOT BETTER IF YOU KNOW YOU'RE HAVING THAT PROBLEM IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE PEOPLE ARE.
UM, AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE PARTIES AND, YOU KNOW.
YOU KNOW, FOOTBALL SEASON FIXING START UP AND PE PEOPLE GONNA BE ALL IN AND NOBODY LIKES NOBODY PARKING FRONT OF THE HOUSE GRANTED.
YOU KNOW, UH, I DON'T LIKE IT, YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST SOME THINGS WE GOTTA DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, EVERY, A LOT OF THINGS IN LIFE WE DON'T LIKE, BUT HEY, AIN'T NOTHING YOU CAN DO WITH IT.
BUT, UH, UH, IF THEY JUST PARKED IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE LONG AS, AND THEY CALL US ALL THE TIME AND WE GO OUT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING GOING ON WITH THE CAR OR THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR, IF IT'S LEGALLY PARKED, UH, WE, WE NORMALLY LEAVE IT ALONE.
ALRIGHT, WELL I'M GONNA PASS THIS ON TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ASKING AND DID PAM LEAVE? NO, MA'AM.
THANK YOU FOR, FOR ADMITTING THAT YOU NEED TO,
[01:55:01]
YOU KNOW, DELVE INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING, SEEING WHAT YOU CAN GIVE THAT I CAN PROVIDE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.COUNCILMAN MCKEN, LAW OFFICER ANTOINE, WHICH ONE YOU WANT? JUST REAL QUICK.
YOU WERE COACH, YOU WERE COACH.
UH, REAL QUICK, UH, PARKING IN THE FRONT OF YOUR YARD, IS THAT SOME TYPE OF ENFORCEABLE? YOU TALKING CITATION IN THE YARD? IN THE YARD IN THE FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE IN THE YARD? YES.
THAT, THAT'S DEFINITELY ENFORCEABLE.
UH, ON THE GRASS, ON THE GRASS IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE PARKED.
AND THAT'S NORMALLY SOMETHING THAT CODE, UH, HANDLES NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT, BUT WE CAN ADDRESS IT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TRAINING FOR COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM TO BACK UP
SHE WELCOME TO GO TO TJ PARKING LOT.
THERE'S A BIG OLD PARKING LOT UP THERE.
THAT'S WHERE MY DADDY TAUGHT ME HOW TO DRIVE AND HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO PARALLEL PARK AND BACK INTO MY PARKING SPACES.
COUNCILMAN FRANK, I JUST WANT TO SAY HELP IS ON THE WAY.
OUR NEW CITY ATTORNEY, UH, IS HERE AND IS AN EXPERT ON CODE ENFORCEMENT, HAS WRITTEN BOOKS ABOUT IT AND TRAINED ON IT.
I DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE ANY, ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY.
OKAY, NEXT WE WILL GO TO WOMAN NUMERAL FIVE, WHICH IS REPORTS OF OR ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.
UH, WE HAVE ANY, UH, REPORTS OR, UH, COMMUNITY INTEREST, UH, ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT ANY COUNCIL PERSON WOULD CARE TO MAKE.
SO WE WILL NOW MOVE TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER, UH, ROMAN NUMERAL, I THINK IT'S SIX AND UH, IT ACTUALLY HAS UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND THERE ISN'T ANY.
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA ]
WE ARE NOW AT, UH, ROMAN NUMER SEVEN, WHICH IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.IN THE CONSENT AGENDA, THERE IS, UH, CONSENT AGENDA EXTENDS TO PAGE, UH, EIGHT, I MEAN, UH, SIX, I BELIEVE.
YEAH, IT GOES THROUGH PAGE SIX, UH, 15 ITEMS. UH, TWO OF THE ITEMS HAVE ALREADY BEEN, UH, AND ACTED UPON.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.
THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT IS THE TWO THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
UM, SO MAY I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH 15, IF WE HAVE ANY THAT WOULD NEED TO BE, OR YOU WOULD WANT TO BE INDIVIDUALLY HANDLED, PLEASE GIVE ME THE ITEM NUMBER AND THE PAGE.
ANY OTHER ITEMS TO BE UH, REMOVED? THERE AREN'T ANY.
COUNCILMAN DEUCE TO APPROVE THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THE ONE ITEM.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED WITH THE EXCLUSION OF ONE ITEM.
I MEAN PAGE SIX, ITEM NUMBER 14.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? THERE AREN'T ANY.
WE DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANY LIGHTS.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO IS ALL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED NOW?
[VII.C.(14) P.R. No. 23860 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Right Of Entry For Survey And Field Investigation Agreement With Diligence Offshore Services, LLC For Temporary Access To Conduct Survey And Field Investigations That Will Help Further The Engineering Design Of The Port Arthur Offshore Wind Hub And Wind Farm Project On Pleasure Island ]
ITEM NUMBER 14 ON PAGE SIX PR NUMBER 2 3 8 6 0.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A RIGHT OF ENTRY FOR SURVEY AND FIELD INVESTIGATION AGREEMENT WITH DILIGENCE OFFSHORE, UH, LLC FOR TEMPORARY ACCESS TO CONDUCT SURVEY AND FIELD INVESTIGATIONS THAT WILL HELP FURTHER THE ENGINEERING DESIGN OF THE PORT ARTHUR OFFSHORE WIND, WIND HUB AND WIND FORM PROJECT ON PLEASURE ISLAND LEY.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KEN LUMP? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? IT IS BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 8 6 0.
UH, MAYOR PROTE BECKHAM, THANK YOU.
UM, I'VE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH INTO THE PERMITS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS TYPE OF PROJECT AND I'VE GOTTEN SOME INFORMATION FROM THE EPA
[02:00:01]
FROM THE TCEQ AND THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.UH, MY QUESTION IS, IF WE'RE GIVING THIS RIGHT OF ENTRY FOR SURVEY AND FIELD INVESTIGATION, HOW MUCH WORK IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE DONE? BECAUSE WHAT I'M GETTING FROM THESE, UH, AGENCIES IS THAT SOME OF THESE PERMITS ARE NEEDED BEFORE ANY WORK IS DONE.
LOOKS TO ME LIKE A SURVEY AND FIELD INVESTIGATION IS WORK.
AND YOU ADDRESSING THIS IN READINESS TO WHOM? WELL, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE HERE FROM THE COMPANY AND ALSO, UH, THE CITY MANAGER.
SO DO YOU KNOW, DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER AS TO WHETHER OR NOT ANY OF THOSE PERMITS ARE REQUIRED BEFORE WE ALLOW THEM ON THE PROPERTY TO DO SURVEY AND INVESTIGATIONS? WE PERMITS FROM WHO PERMITS FROM THE EPA? A HOLD, HOLD ON.
WE NOT, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO IT LIKE THAT.
NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO IT LIKE THAT.
NOW YOU ARE SEEKING SOME INFORMATION FROM THE CITY MANAGER? YES.
OKAY, LET ME DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY ATTORNEY AND HIS STAFF HAS HAD EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE MATTER.
AND UM, SO LET ME DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
MS. I SEE MS. VITAL IS THERE AS WELL.
HELLO CITY COUNCIL, THIS IS SHERRY VITO, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY, ATTORNEY.
HOW ARE YOU DOING? IN MANY DISCUSSIONS? UM, WITH MANY AGENCIES, THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION IS JUST TO ALLOW THE COMPANY TO HIRE A SURVEYOR AND DO SOME TESTING WITH THE SOIL AS THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY.
AND WE HAVE DONE A TITLE SEARCH, WE OWN THE PROPERTY AND WE COULD NOT FIND ANY AGREEMENTS WITH ANY OTHER ENTITY AT THIS TIME.
IT'S STILL ONGOING TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING OLD THAT WE COULDN'T FIND.
UM, BUT ALL THE RECORDS THAT WE HAVE SAY THAT WE DO OWN THE PROPERTY AND THEN WE ARE PERMITTING THEM TO HAVE SURVEYS OF THIS PROPERTY.
BUT DO YOU KNOW IF THEY NEED ANY OF THESE PERMITS FROM THE EPA OR FROM THE TCQ? NOT FOR THE SURFACE.
UM, THEY'RE GONNA BE HIRING A COMPANY, A LOCAL COMPANY.
TEX, IS THAT WHO YOU'RE GONNA HIRE MEETS AND BOUNDS STUDY? YEAH, IT'S JUST MEETS AND BOUNDS TO FIND OUT WHAT AREA OF THE PROPERTY THEY NEED.
AND YOU MENTIONED A SOIL STUDY.
THEY SAID THEY MAY HAVE TO DO SOME TESTING FOR EPA AND TCEQ AS WELL AND THIS IS PRIOR TO HAVING APPLIED FOR ANY PERMITS WHATSOEVER.
I'M NOT SURE THEY NEED ANY PERMITS TO HAVE A MEETS AND BOUNDS STUDY FIRST.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE MAIN THING WE'RE DOING.
THAT'S MY QUESTION YOU JUST SAID, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE LICENSES AFTER, BUT AS FAR AS THE SURVEYING AND GET THE SURFACE OF THE PROPERTIES THEY ARE INTERESTED IN, THAT'S ALL THEY'RE DOING AT THIS TIME.
AND IT'S A 12 MONTHS, THEY'LL HAVE TO COME BACK TO US IF THEY NEED IT ANY LONGER.
HAS ANYONE CONFIRMED WITH THE EPA OR TCQ OR THE US ARMY? WE CAN'T DO THAT.
ARE THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT ANY TYPES OF PERMITS NEED TO BE OBTAINED? BEFORE EVEN DOING A SURVEY, I DIDN'T RESEARCH THAT PART, BUT I DID CHECK OUR OWNERSHIP.
I DID CHECK TO SEE WHETHER WE HAD ANY AGREEMENTS WITH LIKE THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS FOR THAT PARTICULAR STRETCH OF PROPERTY AND THEY WANNA DO A SURVEY AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE PROVIDING.
THE COUNSEL'S ASKED TO APPROVE.
ALRIGHT, I MOVE TO TABLE THIS.
OKAY, WELL JUST A MINUTE ON THE TABLE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH THIS INFORMATION PRIOR TO THIS ANYWAY AND WHAT OUR ATTORNEY IS NOW TELLING US THAT ALL PERMITTING DOES NOT HAVE TO BE IN EFFECT.
UH, THE COMPANY HAS DONE DILIGENCE, HAS DONE ITS DUE DILIGENCE OF MAYOR MADAM.
UH, THEY WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER THAT.
SO, UH, AND THEY ARE ONLY WANTING TO SURVEY THE PROPERTY.
SO WHAT IS THE, UH, REASONING FOR TABLING THIS AND PROLONGING THIS, THIS, THIS PROCEDURE? WELL, OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT JUST ADMITTED THAT THEY DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.
NO, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT DIDN'T, DIDN'T ADMIT THAT, MA'AM.
THEY HAVEN'T, THEY HAVEN'T RESEARCHED IT.
NOW LET'S NOT PUT WORDS IN OUR EMPLOYEE'S MOUTH.
SHE SAID SHE HASN'T RESEARCHED IT.
WELL, YOU PROBABLY PREFERRED SHE DID ANSWER PROFESSIONALLY AND SUCCINCTLY.
ARE WE READY TO VOTE? WE HAVE ANY, ANY OTHER UNREADINESS ON THIS? I MOVED THE TABLE, MR. BLACK.
I HAVE MOVED TO TABLE IT, SIR.
SO WE HAVE UH, ON, ON THE TABLING PARLIAMENT.
TELL YOU WHAT, SHOULD I DO A SECOND? SHE, SHE MADE A MOTION TO TABLE.
IT, IT REQUIRES A SECOND IN ORDER TO GO TO THE QUESTIONS.
AND I DIDN'T HEAR A SECOND ON THAT.
SO I CAN MOVE ON MY ORIGINAL MOTION, CAN'T I?
[02:05:01]
THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.WELL, MAYOR, ARE WE STILL IN THE QUESTION PHASE OF IT OR BEFORE WE GET TO THE TABLE ASKING? NO, NO.
SHE, SHE WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION.
THAT'S WHY I'M AND SO, YEAH, BUT MAY I, MAY I JUST SAY A FEW WORDS? YES SIR.
MR. CRAWFORD WITH DILIGENCE OFFSHORE HAS ASKED THE CITY IF HE CAN HAVE PERMISSION TO ENTER THE PROPERTY TO MAKE A MEETS AND BOUNDS SURVEY OF PROPERTY THEY THINK THEY WOULD LIKE TO USE OR DETERMINE IF THEY'RE ABLE TO USE IT.
WE HAVE NOT LOOKED INTO ANY OF HIS PERMITTING.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT PERMITS HE'S REQUIRED TO HAVE.
HE'S MERELY ASKING IF HE CAN COME ONTO THE PROPERTY AND HAVE A SURVEY OF MEETS AND BOUNDS PREPARED BY HIS SURVEYOR.
UH, AND, AND WE'RE NOT THE, THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES THAT HE'S GAINING NO ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY OTHER THAN WHAT WE'VE GIVEN HIM.
WE'RE NOT SAYING WE'RE ENTERING INTO ANY KIND OF AGREEMENT WITH HIM FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S MERELY TO ALLOW HIM TO MAKE A SURVEY OF THE PROPERTY TO DETERMINE IF IT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO USE.
SO, UH, I, I SEE YOU THOUGHT THE LIGHT THAT COUNCILMAN DO SAID YOU HAVE SOMETHING.
UH, COUNCILMAN ELLO YOUR LIGHT.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YEAH, MAYOR, UH, JUST REAL QUICK, I, I KNOW THAT THE, UH, GAVE THEIR OPINION, OUR LEGAL, UH, STAFF HAS GIVEN THEIR OPINION, BUT SINCE WE HAVE THE DEVELOPER HERE, WE CAN JUST ASK HIM DIRECTLY AND JUST SAY, WELL, WHAT YOU PLAN ON DOING WITH THE SURVEY.
I MEAN, I I HOPE THAT WOULD NOT, BUT I THINK THIS IS THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU WELL, I MEAN, I MEAN, JUST OPENLY FOR RECORD.
I MEAN WE HAVE IT, BUT I MEAN JUST FOR, SINCE HE'S HERE AND I DON'T THINK WOULD BE AN ISSUE FOR HIM IF, IF THE COUNCIL ALLOW, IF I UNDERSTAND, BUT DURING, DURING, DURING THE, THE, UH, WE, WE ARE WITH A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
WE VOTED NOW AND WE, WE SO IT'S TIME I HAVE TO CARRY A VOTE ON THAT MOTION THAT, I MEAN THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.
I'M JUST TRYING TO DO WHAT I KNOW IS, IS CORRECT.
SO WHAT I WANNA DO IS CARRY A MOTION.
IF, IF THE MOTION FAILS, THEN WE MOVE TO SOMETHING ELSE.
SOUNDS LIKE ONE THE AYES HAVE IT SO IT'S ORDERED AND THAT WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.
NOW WE'LL GO NOW TO PAGE, UH, EIGHT, I THINK IT IS
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 23829 – A Resolution Ratifying The City Manager's Decision To Authorize The Emergency Repair Of 12" Gravity Sewer In Sabine Pass, For The Total Not To Exceed Amount Of $147,260.00 From Water Utilities Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000, Project No. WS0006-CON Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of A Budget Amendment Via Adoption Of Proposed Ordinance No. 7261 ]
SEVEN, EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME.UH, IT STARTS SEVEN IN THE NON-CONSENT, UH, AGENDA.
AND WE HAVE FIRST NUMBER, ITEM NUMBER ONE ON PAGE SEVEN PR UH, 23 8 29.
IT IS A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER'S DECISION TO AUTHORIZE THE EMERGENCY REPAIR OF 12 INCH, UH, GRAVITY SEWER IN SAB BEAM PASS FOR THE TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $147,260 FROM WATER UTILITIES.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH 4 0 0 8 5 6 0 0 0 0.
THIS IS PROJECT NUMBER WS 0 0 0 6 CON IS UH, CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL EVER OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT VIA ADOPTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE, UH, 72 61.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? IT'S MOVED IN SECOND, AND WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 8 29.
WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? YOU WANT ANY QUESTIONS? READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 23830 – A Resolution Ratifying The City Manager's Decision To Authorize The Emergency Repair To The 12-Inch Sanitary Sewer Main On 36th Street And The 15-Inch Sanitary Sewer On 3rd Avenue, For The Total Not To Exceed Amount Of $177,260.00 From Water Utilities Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000, Project No. WS0016-CON, Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of A Budget Amendment Via Adoption Of Proposed Ordinance No. 7261 ]
WE WILL MOVE TO PR NUMBER 23 8 3 0.IT IS A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER'S DECISION TO AUTHORIZE THE EMERGENCY REPAIR OF THE 12 INCH SANITARY SEWER MAIN ON 36TH STREET AND THE 15 INCH SANITARY SEWER ON THIRD AVENUE FOR THE TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $177,260 FROM WATER UTILITIES.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH 4 0 0 8 5 16 0 0 0 0 0.
AND THIS TOO IS CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT VIA ADOPTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE, UH, 72 61.
UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MOVED.
MAY A SECOND, COUNCILMAN FRANK.
AND WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 8 3 0 AS PRESENTED.
ANY QUESTION? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES? THE AYES HAVE IT SO IT IS APPROVED.
[VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 23832 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Interlocal Agreement Between The City Of Port Arthur And Drainage District 7 (DD7) For The Improvement Of The Existing Interurban Drainage Ditch Designated As B2-A Row Along Rice Farm Road For The Amount Of $896,488.18. Funds Are Available From The Streets Account 307-21-053-8515-00-10-000 And Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of A Budget Amendment Via Adoption Of Proposed Ordinance No. 7261. Project No. DR1P10 ]
PR NUMBER 23 8 32.A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
[02:10:01]
TO ENTER INTO AN INTERNAL LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CT OF PORT ARTHUR AND DRAINAGE DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN, DD SEVEN FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE EXISTING INTERURBAN DRAINAGE DITCH DIS, UH, DESIGNATED AS B TWO DASH EIGHT ROW ALONG RICE FARM ROAD FOR THE AMOUNT OF $896,488 AND 18 CENTS.FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE STREET, I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, FROM THE STREETS ACCOUNT.
3 0 7 DASH 21 5 3 8 5 5 0 0 0.
AND THIS, TOO IS, IS CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT.
UH, PROPOSED ORDINANCES, UH, NUMBER 72 61.
AND PROJECT, UH, NUMBER DR ONE P 10.
AND MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, LEWIS MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MAY I GET A SECOND COUNCILWOMAN? UH, EVER FIELD SECOND IS MOVED.
AND SECOND, THEN WE WOULD APPROVE P NUMBER 23.
8 32 AS PRESENTED, WE ARE READY FOR QUESTIONING.
THIS, THIS PROJECT IS ONE THAT IS BADLY NEEDED, UH, THAT PROJECT.
THERE AIN'T NO DOUBT IN MY MIND.
WHENEVER WE DO THAT PROJECT, THAT AREA IS GOING TO BE CLEAR TO RUN.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO.
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN A DRAINAGE PROJECT WITH MONEY ALLOCATED FOR STREET RECONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION? THE MONEY FOR STREETS IS FOR STREET CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION.
YOU ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING IN REFERENCE TO A STREET IS RUNNING ALONG THE STREET.
SO, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT PEOPLE WANT STREET.
SO YOU JUST HAVE TO TELL ME WHY WE TAKING THIS MONEY FROM STREETS.
WELL, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE, UH, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE ALL THE MONEY GOES IN THE CITY, YOU KNOW, BUT PART OF THIS PROJECT RUNS UNDER JIMMY JOHNSON BOULEVARD.
SO I I THOUGHT IT WAS APPLICABLE TO STREETS.
NOW IN THE BUDGET AMENDMENT, THEY'RE GONNA CHANGE THE MONEY FUNDING TO THE DRAINAGE PROJECT.
OKAY, LET'S, LET'S LOOK AT THIS LIKE THIS.
WHEN ARE WE GONNA START ON THIS PROJECT?
WE'LL PROBABLY GO TO BID IN SEPTEMBER AND WE'LL, I HAVE A CONTRACTOR IN BO ON, ON BOARD IN OCTOBER WHEN THE NEW BUDGET IT GETS ADOPTED, GO.
SO IF WE GOING TO HAVE THE CONTRACTOR ON BOARD, RIGHT? CITY MANAGER, WHY ARE WE NOT TAKING THIS MONEY OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE? BECAUSE THIS IS, AND IT, THIS IS A MAJOR, AND, AND I I SUPPORT IT A HUNDRED PERCENT.
BUT SEE, THIS, THIS THING ABOUT STREET.
WE'RE NOT GONNA KEEP TAKING MONEY OUTTA STREETS.
AND, UH, IF WE GOING TO DO IT, WHY, WHY DON'T WE DO IT? IF WE KNOW WE GONNA FUND IT IN NEXT YEAR BALANCE.
LET'S JUST APPROVE IT AND RUN WITH IT.
AND IF YOU NEED TO DO A DESIGN OR YOU HAVE TO PAY ANY MONEY, LET'S GO INTO THE FUND BALANCE BECAUSE WE KNOW WE GOING TO ALLOCATE THE FUNDS IN THE NEXT YEAR BUDGET.
AND THAT'S, IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT SCENARIOS TO THIS.
REMEMBER AT ONE POINT IN TIME WE SPOKE ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE STREET PROGRAM IS DIVVIED UP INTO FOUR DISTRICTS, INTO FOUR DISTRICT.
RIGHT? DOESN'T THE DISTRICT, THE, THAT'S BECKHAM'S
[02:15:01]
DISTRICT, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THAT DISTRICT HAS A CHOICE AS WELL BASED ON HOW THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION IS WORDED TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
WE HAVE NOT INFRINGED A LAW OR, OR, OR, OR INFRINGED THE, THE, THE LETTER OR, OR THE SPIRIT OF THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
SO I THINK SHE WOULD HAVE THAT CHOICE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
WHEN WE APPROVE MONEY AROUND HERE, WE DON'T APPROVE IT BY DISTRICTS.
OKAY? WE APPROVE THIS MONEY, THIS MONEY IS FOR STREET RECONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION.
OKAY? NOW, IF, IF A CITY, IF A, IF A DISTRICT COUNCILMAN WANTS TO TAKE MONEY FROM THEIR PORTION OF THE MONEY TO FIX THE STREETS IN THEY DISTRICT.
NOW I DON'T HAVE NO SAY ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT'S GONNA BE DONE AFTER WE DI THE MONEY OUT AND THEY FIND OUT HOW MUCH MONEY THEY HAVE.
OKAY? AND WE'RE GONNA DO IT THAT WAY.
BUT I COULD TELL YOU, I DON'T THINK A DISTRICT COUNCILMAN IS GOING TO TAKE MONEY FROM STREETS TO DO A DRAINAGE PROJECT WHEN THE PROJECT COULD BE DONE.
SEE? AND ALSO, WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING NO MONEY RIGHT NOW ANYWAY.
WE HAVEN'T DIVVIED UP, WE HAVEN'T DIVVIED UP THIS MONEY.
YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THE OTHER PROJECT.
I SAID SOMEBODY ELSE GONNA DECIDE THAT ONE.
BUT NOW I KNOW THIS IS NOT DEALING WITH STREET CONSTRUCTION OR RECONSTRUCTION, THEREFORE, NOBODY, NOT EVEN THIS COUNCIL AS A WHOLE SHOULD MOVE THAT MONEY OR MISAPPROPRIATE THAT MONEY.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT AIN'T ABOUT, I THINK THIS COUNCILMAN DID.
NO, NO, THIS IS A COUNCIL THING.
THE STREET MONEY IS APPROVED FOR CONSTRUCTION RECONSTRUCTION, THE STREETS.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GOING WITH THIS.
AND THE KILLING PART ABOUT IT.
THIS IS A, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT I SUPPORT 150% SO MUCH THAT I GO INTO THE FUND BALANCE TO GET IT STARTED SO THAT IT DON'T BE DELAYED, BUT TAKE MONEY FROM STREET AS A NO-NO.
SEE, THAT'S THE PROBLEM I HAVE, CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL, IS THAT WHEN WE GET A RESOLUTION THAT COUNTS TO US AND, AND SOMEONE IS MAKING A DECISION TO TAKE MONEY OUTTA STREETS WITHOUT THIS COUNCIL APPROVAL, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
I, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO FUND IT.
AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS COME HERE LATELY.
FUNDING ONE POINT MILLION, 1.3 MILLION FOR THIS, FOR THAT, THAT WASN'T MORE IMPORTANT IN THIS PROJECT.
BUT I DON'T, I DON'T MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AND I, I COULD CARE LESS.
BUT WHEN SOMEONE STARTS TAKING MONEY FROM STREETS, I HAVE A PROBLEM THERE BECAUSE THAT PART OF THAT MONEY, IT'S GONNA GO TO MY DISTRICT AND I'M NOT, AND I'M NOT BUY, I'M NOT BUYING IT.
NO STAFF, CITY MANAGER IS GONNA MAKE A DECISION THAT TAKES MONEY FROM MY DISTRICT TO FIX STREETS, TO DO NO DRAINAGE.
PROJECT DRAINAGE IS NOT PART OF STREETS.
AT SOME POINT IN TIME, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET ON BOARD BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE IS FAIR.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT APPROPRIATING MONEY HERE.
COUNCILMAN FRANK? I AGREE WITH MR. DOUCETTE ON THIS ISSUE, UH, FROM THE PARTICULAR STANDPOINT THAT, UM, WE NEED TO, UM, UH, CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, ABOUT STREETS AND WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE THAT MONEY COMES FROM AND HOW IT IS USED.
BUT, UH, EVEN AS I'M SAYING THAT, I, I DO LOOK AT THE PROJECT AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO ALWAYS, ALWAYS, UH, UNDERSTAND THAT STREETS ARE JOB ONE, BUT, UM, BUT THAT, THAT THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS, UH, AND WHERE WE ARE AND HOW WE APPROACH THEM, UM, HAVE TO GO FORWARD.
SO, MR. CITY MANAGER, UM, IF WE COULD LOOK AT TAKING IT OUTTA FUND BALANCE, UM, YOU KNOW, GETTING IT DONE IN THAT MANNER,
[02:20:01]
UH, WOULD BE SOMETHING I THINK THAT MIGHT BE AMENABLE, UH, TO ALL OF US.IF YOU CAN TELL ME WHY IT CAN'T BE DONE LIKE THAT, MAYBE YOU CAN SHED SOME MORE LIGHT ON IT AND OR SOMETHING OF THAT MAGNITUDE WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM.
OR IF IT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN FUND BALANCE, THEN I WOULD BE, UM, RESOLUTE TO VOTE FOR THIS STILL.
BUT IF WE, BUT CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE WE CAN APPROPRIATE THAT MONEY FROM THE FUND BALANCE, IF THAT IS AT ALL POSSIBLE? GO, GO AHEAD CITY MA'AM.
WE DO HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, YOU KNOW, UM, IF THAT'S THE WISH OF THE COUNCIL, LET'S GO IN THAT DIRECTION, OKAY? UH, ON THAT BEFORE THE OTHERS WOULD SPEAK.
UH, WOULD WE BE PROPER? IS IT PROPER AT THIS TIME? I DON'T KNOW.
FINANCE, ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTORS HERE, WE WOULD AMEND THIS SO WE CAN MOVE WITH IT.
CAN WE AMEND IT? AMEND THE, THE MOTION AND SAY THAT INSTEAD OF THE MONEY COMING FROM THE STREETS, IT WOULD COME FROM THE FUND BALANCE? WE COULD ALWAYS DO THAT.
I, I MEAN, CAN WE DO THAT NOW AND WE CAN NO, NO, WE CAN'T.
WE, WE, WE CAN, WE CAN MOVE WITH THAT.
WHY CAN NO, NO, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T DO THAT.
I WOULD THINK YOU COULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO AMEND THE MOTION WOULDN'T.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, WE COULD JUST AMEND THE MOTION AND SAY TAKE THE MONEY FROM THE FUND.
I KNOW THEY GOT SOME MONEY IN THE FUND BALANCE.
RIGHT? THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT THAT.
SO WE JUST, WE CAN, WE CAN JUST DO THAT AND MOVE ON.
NO, NO, BUT, BUT I'M JUST NO, I'M JUST SAYING.
IF WHAT I'M ASKING, CAN WE DO THAT? OKAY, LET ME, BUT NO, AND, AND THEN WAIT A MINUTE.
CAN WE DO THAT, SIR? I DO NOT SEE WHY YOU CANNOT OBJECT.
NOW WHO MADE THE MOTION? YOU DID? NO, THAT JUST BEEN SO LONG AGO.
I THOUGHT I HAD ALREADY READ THIS.
NO, NO, THAT, AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT THE QUESTION.
THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, AND SECOND.
I KNOW Y'ALL THINK I'M SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME, BUT I AIN'T I KNOW I HAVE A COMMENT.
THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
IT WAS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD.
SO WOULD YOU ACCEPT JUST A MINUTE, A SUBSIDIARY? YES.
SO, BUT YES ON THAT, I'M JUST TRYING TO EXPEDITE, WOULD YOU ACCEPT THAT? NO SUBSIDIARY MOTION.
AND I'M GONNA CALL FOR, AND THEN YOU GONNA TALK, OKAY? YES, SIR.
DON'T, DO YOU ACCEPT THAT? YES, SIR.
SO WE HAVE A SUBSIDIARY MOTION WITH I DID I CALL IT THAT? NO.
OR AMENDMENT TO THAT ORIGINAL MOTION OF REMOVING THE FUNDS.
NO, YOU'RE NOT DOING, YOU'RE WORKING.
AM I DOING IT RIGHT? NO, YOU'RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT.
I'M ASKING PROFESSIONALS WHO IN THAT FIELD, NOT THAT YOU ARE NOT, BUT THEY ARE LEGAL PROFESSIONALS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M, I UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING.
AND YOU WERE HAVE AN UNREADINESS, AND THEN WHEN I CALL FOR THE QUESTION ON IT, THAT'S, YOU'RE GOING TO TALK.
WELL, THE FIRST OF ALL, OKAY, THIS IS A MAIN MOTION.
YOU CAN'T DO THIS SUBSIDIARY MOTION UNTIL EVERYBODY HAS SPOKEN ON THE MAIN MOTION.
THEN ONCE YOU HAVE NO QUESTIONS ON THE MAIN MOTION, OKAY? BUT STOP, STOP TEACHING.
YOU DON'T WANT ME TO TALK? GO AHEAD.
SO THEN LET'S JUST GO AHEAD AND TALK.
NOW YOU WITH THIS AMENDMENT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND YOU CAN'T AMEND IT TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE.
FOR THE REASON BEING, THIS IS A RESOLUTION.
IF YOU WANT TO AMEND ANYTHING, YOU CAN AMEND THE PROPOSE ORDINANCE THAT FUND THIS MONEY.
SIR, SIR, SIR, CAN YOU, CAN YOU ACCEPT SOMETHING ATTORNEY THAT WE PUT, WAIT A MINUTE, NOW, ATTORNEYS THAT WE PAY, WE GONNA START PAYING HIM.
THEY SAY WE CAN DO WHAT YOU SAID WE CAN'T DO.
EVERYBODY UP HERE CAN ALMOST AGREE TO THIS.
YOU JUST DON'T WANT THIS PROJECT OR WHAT? AND MAYBE I'M WRONG FOR SAYING IT LIKE THAT.
EVIDENTLY YOU JUST DON'T WANT THE PROJECT.
NO, I'M TRYING TO, YOU SAID NO, LEMME EXPLAIN IT.
LEMME TELL YOU, LEMME TELL YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, OKAY? BECAUSE IF YOU LISTEN, WE STILL COULD GET THIS DONE, BUT WE GONNA DO IT PROPERLY, OKAY? YOU CAN'T AMEND I TOOK YOUR SUGGESTION, SIR.
BECAUSE MY SUGGESTION WAS TELLING YOU THIS RESOLUTION.
WE COULD GO TO THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND YOU COULD AMEND THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IN WHICH YOU WILL THEN BE PLACING THE MONEY FOR THIS FUNDING FROM THE PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
[02:25:01]
NOW, THE ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW SAYS THE MONEY IS COMING FROM STREETS, OKAY? AND WE GONNA TAKE THAT OUT.YOU GOTTA DO, OKAY, YOU NOT MIXING THIS.
SO LET'S GET FINANCE DIRECTOR, PLEASE.
UH, SOMEBODY THINK SOMEBODY UP HERE THAT CAN NO, NO.
I'M, I'M GONNA RUN THE MEETING.
HE DON'T, HE DOESN'T CALL YOU UP.
IF I WANT YOU, I'M GONNA CALL YOU UP.
I'M DEALING WITH THE ATTORNEYS RIGHT NOW TO SEE IF PROCEDURALLY WE COULD DO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WE SUGGESTED.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, SIR.
OKAY? AND THEY TOLD US ALREADY THAT WE CAN COUNCILMAN NO, THEY DIDN'T SAY IT.
I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ME EITHER, MAYOR, EITHER.
ALL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FALL, ALMOST EIGHT O'CLOCK.
YOU CAN AMEND ME TO YOU CAN AMEND A RESOLUTION ORDINANCE.
YOU CAN TAKE ACT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ORDINANCE, RIGHT? THE ALL OF THESE ARE CONTINUOUS.
NOW, NOW WE, UH, MAYOR APPROACH THEM.
NOW YOU NEED TO TABLE, SO WE HAVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE ALSO.
I'M NOT LOOKING DEAD, BUT IT, IT'S LATER.
IT, IT, ALL OF THESE RESOLUTIONS ARE CONTINUING HIS INTENT.
THAT MAN DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE TALKING ABOUT.
SO GO, RIGHT, JUST TALKING TO MICHAEL, HE SAYING SOMEBODY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I'M LISTENING TO YOU, BUT I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
I'VE ALREADY SAID WHAT I, BUT THAT, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
ALL THOSE ITEMS ARE CONTINGENT UPON THE ORDINANCE.
WHAT DOES THE ORDINANCE SAY? I CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? WELL, LET'S MAKE MAYOR, MAYOR, WHAT DO YOU WE ALREADY S ORDINANCE MAYOR, WE RESCINDED THE ORDINANCE TALKING.
THE ORDINANCE SAID THE MONEY'S COMING FROM STREET FUND UNLESS WE GETTING READY TO VOTE ON IT.
BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT WHATEVER WE TALKED ABOUT.
THE MONEY SUPPOSED TO BE COMING FROM THE FUND BALANCE.
WHAT ELSE YOU WANT? COUNCIL, MAYOR, MAYOR, IF IT'S COMING FROM THE FUND, BALANCE OUR ORDINANCE THAT WE GONNA BRING THE MONEY TO THIS ACCOUNT MUST STATE, WHERE'S THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? THE ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW READS IS COMING FROM THE STREET FUND.
AM I CORRECT? AND WE GOING TO CHANGE THIS, SIR, BUT, BUT YOU GOTTA CHANGE THE ORDINANCE FIRST AND THEN YOU DO THE RESOLUTION, MAN.
THAT'S ALL THE RESOLUTION SAID.
RESOLUTIONS ARE ALL PREPARED TO BE CONTINGENT UPON THE PASSAGE OF THE RE OF THE ORDINANCE INTENT.
WHEN YOU GET TO ORDINANCES AFTER YOUR RESOLUTION.
MM-HMM,
YOU CAN AMEND THIS RESOLUTION, RIGHT? THEN WHEN YOU GET TO THE ORDINANCES, YOU'LL NEED TO AMEND THAT ORDINANCE.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT A PROCEDURE COULD BE.
AND YOU ALL HAVE, HAVE AGREED TO THAT'S WHAT WE GONNA DO.
OKAY? SO NOW WE GOING TO VOTE THE AMENDMENT, MAKE THE AMENDMENT ON.
THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE NOT GETTING THE MONEY FROM THE STREETS ACCOUNT OR THE STREETS FUND, BUT GETTING THE MONEY FROM WHAT, WHAT THAT FUND'S CALLED ME.
I KNOW UTAH FUND COME, COME FUND BALANCE.
YEAH, HE GOT ME ALL DISCOMBOBULATED.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I MIGHT ASK FOR TIES AND OFFERING NOW.
THE MO DID YOU, DID YOU THE, WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUT THE CHURCH TIDES.
SOME, SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RESOLUTION IN THE FIRST PLACE.
EXCUSE ME, MA'AM, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
WE WANT, SO MY QUESTION IS FOR MR. CANELLA, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M NOT CONFUSING APPLES AND ORANGES HERE, BUT THIS PARTICULAR DRAINAGE PROJECT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE, THE TOWN HOMES AND THE DRAINAGE THAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP, CORRECT? WELL, NO, IT, IT'S, IT'S IMPLEMENTED TO IMPROVE THE DRAINAGE FOR THE TOWN HOMES.
BUT IS THIS, IS THIS WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY TO? WELL, WE DISCUSSED THAT WITH HIM, BUT NO, THERE WAS NO AGREEMENT FOR HIM TO CONTRIBUTE.
THI THIS DITCH, IT STARTS OUT, IT GOES UNDER JIMMY JOHNSON.
IT'S PART RIGHT? DD SEVEN DITCH.
SO, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW CAN ELABORATE.
WE MET WITH THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT BACK IN SEPTEMBER.
WE THOUGHT IT'D BE A GOOD PROJECT TO TAKE TACKLE AS, AS TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
DD SEVEN HAS SOME VERY GOOD CONCRETE CREWS.
WE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THOSE CREWS.
THE CITY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE MATERIALS.
WE THINK IT'S A GREAT PROJECT.
IT WILL ALLEVIATE FLOODING UP RICE FARM ROAD UP INTO ALL THE WAY TO TWIN CITY HIGHWAY.
RIGHT? SO, LIKE I SAID, IT'S A GOOD PROJECT.
HOW WE FUND IT IS UP TO THE COUNCIL.
I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE MY, MY QUESTION REALLY IS, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT DEVELOPER HAS DONE EVERYTHING THAT HE, THAT HE DID AGREE TO DO AS FAR AS IMPROVING DRAINAGE AROUND THE PROPERTY.
HE, THE DITCHES BEHIND THE HOMES THAT'S BEEN COMPLETED.
[02:30:01]
OF HIS IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.HIS SUBDIVISIONS BEEN, UH, UH, APPROVED AND, OKAY.
MAYOR, THE CITY SECRETARY WAS REACHING FOR YOU.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, THE CITY SECRETARY WAS, HUH? WHAT, WHAT ABOUT MAYOR? I JUST WANTED TO RECALL, UM, THAT YOUR ORIGINAL MOTION TO PUT IT ON THE FLOOR WAS SUBMITTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON AIRFIELD.
HOWEVER, THEY RESCINDED THE MOTION TO PUT IT ON THE FLOOR.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN OUR MOTION.
SO NOW IT IS LIKE A WHOLE NEW MOTION.
AT THIS, AT THIS, AT THIS JUNCTURE.
AND IF I READ THIS, UH, ATTORNEY, HOW MAY I SAY IT PROPERLY THAT IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE STREET FUNDS, BUT WOULD BE, UH, THE FUND BALANCE FUND AVAILABLE IN THE FUND BALANCE.
THAT'S WHAT A RESOLUTION, RIGHT? THAT'S THE FIRST, THAT'S THE INTENT.
SO NOW WE ARE BACK TO SQUARE ONE.
WE HAVE A PR NUMBER 23 8 32 WITH, UH, NEW WORDING, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO INTRODUCE YOU AN INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND DRAINAGE DISTRICT SEVEN, DD SEVEN FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE EXISTING INTERURBAN DRAINAGE DITCH DESIGNATED AS B TWO DASH A ROW ALONG RICE FARM ROAD FOR THE AMOUNT OF $896,488 AND 88 CENTS AND 18 CENTS, I'M SORRY, FUNDS ARE A AVAIL AVAILABLE FROM THE FUND BALANCE.
AND THAT WOULD CHANGE THIS ACCOUNT NUMBER AS WELL, RIGHT? YES.
SO I DON'T HAVE AN ACCOUNT NUMBER, BUT IN THE FUND BALANCE, UH, WE WOULD, WE WOULD GET AN ACCOUNT NUMBER IF YOU ALL WOULD BE OKAY WITH THAT.
NOT HAVING THE NUMBER AT THE MOMENT.
AND IS CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT VIA THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE 72 61.
THE PROJECT NUMBER REMAINS THE SAME.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING PROJECT NUMBER DR ONE P ONE ZERO.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN LEWIS MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MAY I GET A SECOND COUNCILWOMAN AIRFIELD? SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23.
WE ARE NOW READY FOR QUESTION.
NO QUESTION BECAUSE THE ALL LIGHTS BEEN ON, READY TO VOTE.
SO PR NUMBER THREE, I MEAN 2 38 32 IS APPROVED AS RED.
[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 23847 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With Global Emergency Services, LLC Of Beaumont, Texas, For Trash Collection. Funding Is Available In The ARPA Revenue Loss – Garbage Collection Support Account, ARP010- GRE-RNT, For The Maximum Amount Of $153,000.00. The Remaining $347,000.00 Is Available In The Solid Waste Trash Collection Other Contractual Services Account, 403-50-305-5470-00- 00-000. The Total Not-To-Exceed Amount Is $500,000.00. Funding Is Contingent Upon Pending Budget Amendment PO 7261 ]
PR NUMBER 2 38 47A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH GLOBAL EMERGENCY SERVICES.
LLC OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR TRASH COLLECTION FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE ARPA REVENUE LOSS GARBAGE COLLECTION SUPPORT ACCOUNT, WHICH IS, UH, A RP 0 1 0, UH, GRE DASH RNT FOR THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF $153,000.
THE REMAINING $347,000 IS AVAILABLE IN THE SOLID WASTE TRASH COLLECTION OF A CONTRACTUAL SERVICE ACCOUNT, WHICH IS ACCOUNT NUMBER FOUR, UH, ZERO THREE DASH 5 0 3 0 5 DASH 5 4 7 0 DASH 0 0 0 0.
AND THE TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT IS $500,000.
FUNDING IS CONTINGENT UPON THE PENDING BUDGET AMENDMENT, UH, PO NUMBER 72 61.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR, UH, APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN ETT? SO, MOTION, MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, UH, MAYOR PRO SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDARY WOULD APPROVE PER NUMBER 20, I MEAN 23 8 47.
WE READY FOR QUESTIONING QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES.
UM, I WANT TO APPROVE THIS, UM, BUT I WANT TO BRING TO, UH, THE FLOOR AND TALK ABOUT TRASH COLLECTIONS.
UM, UH, WE'VE HAD SOME CHALLENGES, UH, TO SAY THE LEAST.
WE'VE HAD STORMS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AND TRANSPIRED, BUT THERE IS, THERE'S A, THERE'S A DIFFICULTY IN OUR CITY WHEN IT COMES TO PICKING UP TRASH.
I THINK WE'VE EXPERIENCED IT FROM THE WEST SIDE ALL THE WAY TO LAKE, TO LAKEVIEW AND, UH, TO DISTRICT THREE MM-HMM.
SO I WANT TO SAY TO THE CITY MANAGER, I WANT TO APPROVE THIS BECAUSE
[02:35:01]
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OUR CITY, WE HAD IT IN PROBLEMS IN PORT ACRES AS WELL.UH, THEY WENT OUT THERE, UH, AND GOT, WE GOT 'EM OUT THERE TO PICK THAT UP.
AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER, AND PUT BEFORE YOU, UH, AND GET AND RECEIVE SOME KIND OF, SOME KIND OF, UM, ASSURANCE THAT WE ARE NOT SIMPLY PUTTING A BANDAID ON A SITUATION THAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING CONTINUALLY OVER AND OVER.
WE'RE THROWING MONEY AT A PROBLEM WHEN THE PROBLEM IS DEEPER THAN JUST SPENDING MONEY.
UM, MAY I ASK MS. ROBERTS TO COME FORWARD? MS. ROBERTS? UM, COUNCILMAN FRANK, YOU ARE DEFINITELY CORRECT.
UM, THIS IS PLAN B THAT WE ARE MOVING TO A FEW MEETINGS AGO.
THE, THE, THE MATTER CAME UP AND WE SPOKE AS TO ABOUT, AS TO HOW ARE WE GOING TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE HAD WITH, AS MORE SPECIFICALLY, SO OUR TRASH PICKUP.
UM, MS. ROBERTS AS OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, HAVE PROVIDED US WITH A VERY DETAILED MEMO, WHICH I SHARED WITH COUNCIL PRIOR TO WE MEETING TODAY, AS TO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING OR THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE FACED WITH THE LAST FEW, UM, UM, WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD THROUGH THE CITY, AND HOW THAT HAS IMPACTED OUR TRASH PICKUP.
AND NOT ONLY THE, THE THE WEATHER, BUT ALSO WITH, UM, THE NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE HAD THAT WERE SICK AND, UM, THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT OF THEIR NORMAL ROUTE TO ADDRESS THE NORMAL ROUTE.
BUT GOING FORWARD, WE HAVE NOT REALLY ADDRESSED THE REAL, WE HAVE ADDRESSED THE SYMPTOMS OF TRASH PICKUP IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, BUT WE HAVE NOT DELVED INTO IT TO ADDRESS THE REAL REASONS.
OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN DEVELOPMENT MUSHROOMED IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
WHEN I CAME HERE 18 YEARS AGO, UM, STONE, UM, UM, UM, UM, AT THE BACK OF THE AIRPORT OUT THERE, UM, WAS THE DOMINION COURT.
AND DOMINION RANCH NEVER EXISTED AT THAT TIME.
I CAME INTO NINTH AVENUE STATION.
THEY WERE JUST BUILDING NINTH AVENUE STATION.
AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ROUTES AND YOU LOOK AT THE RESOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO TRAFFIC AND TRASH AND GARBAGE PICKUP FOR CITY, IT HAS NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESOURCES EQUALS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE.
AND SO, WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW, AND WHAT I'VE INSTRUCTED THE, THE, THE, THE, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO DO, AND SHE'S GETTING ASSISTANCE FROM OUR PROCUREMENT MANAGER, IS TO GET AN RFP OUT THERE, A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WHERE WE CAN BRING IN SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE HAD WITH TRASH PICKUP OVER THE YEARS, AND TO LOOK AT THE RESOURCES THAT WE CONTINUE BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO THROW THE SAME AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO BUDGET THE SAME AMOUNT OF RESOURCES.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESOURCES EQUATE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE, EVEN WITH THE PERSONNEL THAT WE CONTINUE TO ASSIGN TO GET THE JOB DONE.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO THAT, WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE AT THE BACK.
AND WHEN THE SMALL CHALLENGES COME TO US, LIKE THE LAST STORM WE FROM, UM, THAT WE HAD, IT TAKES US TWO WEEKS AND THREE WEEKS AT THE BACK FURTHER AND FURTHER AGAIN.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO OUR TRASH PICKUP.
WHILST WE DO THAT, WE ARE CONTINUING TO UTILIZE THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE HAD THROUGH APA AND OTHER, UH, OTHER FUNDED, UM, MECHANISMS TO ADDRESS OUR CURRENT SITUATION.
BUT WHAT I WILL BE COMING BACK TO COUNCIL WITH IS A PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR AN RFP TO ADDRESS OUR LONG TERM NEEDS AND CHALLENGES IN THE CITY OF POFA SO THAT IT SOLVES IT ONCE AND FOR ALL.
UM, COUNCILMAN FRANK, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? YEAH.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS CITY MANAGER IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HIRE A, A, UM, A COMPANY TO COME IN AND TO LOOK AT AND EVALUATE, UM, THE WAY THAT WE PICK UP GARBAGE, AND THEN BRING PERHAPS, UM, SOME, SOME, UH, SOME GUIDELINES, SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
RECOMMENDATIONS, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, LIKE GOING TO SIX DAY TRASH PICKUP, MAYBE DOING 12 HOUR DAYS AND SHIFTS, WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY WOULD RECOMMEND TO HANDLE, UM, THE, THE INFLUX AND GROWTH OF WHAT THE TRASH IS IN THE CITY.
[02:40:01]
ABSOLUTELY.UM, UM, WE WILL ALSO LOOK AT WHETHER IN TERMS OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE, THE AS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, AGAIN, WE HAVE NEVER INCREASED THE, THE FLEET THAT WE HAVE.
AND SO THE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE FLEET IS MUCH GREATER RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU ARE, YOU CONTINUALLY ADDRESS AN EXPANDING DEVELOPED AREA.
SO THE SAME EFFECT IS HAVING ON THE PERSONNEL THAT WE HAVE PRESENTLY, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT INCREASED THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF STAFF, YOU KNOW, THE SAME EFFECT IT'S HAVING ON STAFF.
IT'S HAVING THAT SAME EFFECT, THE WEAR AND TEAR EFFECT ON THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE.
AND SO WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT IT.
WE'VE, AND, AND WE ARE TAKING A HOLISTIC APPROACH AT IT THIS TIME.
WE ARE, WE ARE LOOKING AT, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE PRICING AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T ADDRESS ONLY THE SYMPTOMS, BUT WE ADDRESS THE REAL REASONS AS TO WHY WE ARE HAVING THAT PROBLEM AND HOW DO WE GET THE RESOURCES TO IT TO ADDRESS IT ONCE AND FOR ALL AND PUT IT TO BED.
SO, BUT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, WE CAN LOOK AT HAVING THIS REOCCUR.
UM, THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS WE HAVE INCREMENTALLY BUDGETED OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO FOR NEW EQUIPMENT.
EVEN IN THIS NEW BUDGET THAT WE ARE GOING TO PROPOSE TO YOU, WE DO PROPOSE NEW EQUIPMENT.
SO AGAIN, THE WEAR AND TEAR THAT'S TAKING A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON THE OLD EQUIPMENT.
REMEMBER A LOT OF THE EQUIPMENT, THOSE OF US WHO ARE STILL THERE, IS EQUIPMENT THAT WAS RE UM, UM, REPAIRED SINCE HARVEY AND THEN WE HAVE DONE AWAY GRADUALLY OVER THE YEARS.
WE, WE, WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, WE, WE HAVE BEEN VERY CREATIVE WHEN MR. ROBINSON WAS THERE IN FI IN FINANCING, YOU KNOW, WHEN ANDY WAS THERE, THOSE OF US WHO, WHO WERE THERE WHEN ANDY WAS THERE AS OUR FINANCIAL DIRECTOR, WE WERE VERY CREATIVE WITH THE FINANCING THAT WE DID FOR NEW EQUIPMENT.
A LOT OF THE OLD EQUIPMENT WE HAVE DONE AWAY WITH GRADUALLY AND THE NEW EQUIPMENT.
BUT WE ARE SEEING THE SAME EFFECT ON THE NEW EQUIPMENT THAT WE ARE HAVING.
SO WE NEED, IT IS TIME THAT WE TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND NOW IS THE TIME THAT WE TAKE THAT DIFFERENT APPROACH.
BECAUSE IF WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND WE ARE GETTING THE SAME RESULT, INSANITY.
SO WE, WE NEED TO STUDY IT RIGHT NOW.
THE LAST THING I WANNA SAY IS, IS THAT SINCE WE UNDERSTAND THAT, LET'S BE PROACTIVE AND DO IT ON THE FRONT END AS OPPOSED TO GETTING BEHIND.
LET'S BE PROACTIVE INSTEAD OF REACTIVE.
AND SO LET'S DO IT ON THE FRONT END.
AND WE WILL, IT, IT, IT, IT'S THIS, IT'S NOT ONLY A DISCUSSION.
I JUST SPOKE TO THE PURCHASING MANAGER THIS, THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT IT AND ASK HIM, I WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW IT BECAUSE AS SOON AS THE NEW CITY ATTORNEY COMES, WE'D LIKE TO GET IT OUT THERE AND GET THE BALL ROLLING WITH THIS, YOU KNOW.
YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? YES, SIR.
UM, JUST TO ADD TO WHAT MR. BURTON SAID, THE, THE RFP HAS BEEN ADVERTISED.
UHM, NOT SURE, UM, WHO CAN ANSWER THIS AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER IT, BUT I'M LOOKING AT THE MEMO THAT WAS GIVEN TO US BEFORE, UH, THE MEETING TODAY.
AT THE VERY END, IT TALKS ABOUT THE CURRENT PICKUP LOCATIONS.
I JUST WONDER IF, IF YOU CAN GIVE ME ANYTHING THAT I CAN TAKE BACK TO MY DISTRICT AS TO WHEN THEY CAN EXPECT PICKUP.
WE'VE GOT PEOPLE IN PAIR RIDGE THAT HAVE HAD PILES FOR MONTHS.
THERE'S SOME, I I MEAN, THEY NEED HELP.
THEY WANNA KNOW WHEN THE CALVARY'S COMING.
SO DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN YOU MIGHT MAKE IT NORTH TO DISTRICT THREE? I CAN PROVIDE A RESPONSE TO YOU TOMORROW WHEN I HAVE MORE INFORMATION, BUT I'M NOT PREPARED WITH THAT BEYOND THE CURRENT PICKUP LOCATION THAT'S IN THIS MEMORANDUM.
WHICH, LET, LET ME HELP WITH THAT.
UM, UM, COUNCIL MAYOR PRO, UM, WHILST WE WERE IN PUERTO ACRES, ALL THE ASSETS WERE ALLOCATED AT THAT TIME TO PUERTO ACRES.
I MADE THE DECISION THAT WHILST WE ARE CONTINUING TO ADDRESS THE PORT ACRES AREA, WE REMOVE TWO OF THE ASSETS AND WE DO THE S STONEGATE AREA.
SO WE ARE NOW CONCENTRATING ON DISTRICT TWO.
UM, UM, AND, AND THE GRIFFIN PARK AREA AS WELL, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING SOME CALLS BECAUSE I, I JUST FELT IT WAS FEAR THAT WE SHARED THE RESOURCES AT THE TIME, YOU KNOW, AND SO I MADE THAT CALL TO REMOVE TWO OF THE ASSETS FROM THE, AND, BUT
[02:45:01]
THE, RIGHT NOW, MYSELF AND THE ASSISTANT, UM, CITY MANAGER FOR OPERATIONS ON FRIDAY, WE DROVE THROUGH THE PORTICOS AREA.WE DROVE THROUGH THE WEST SIDE.
UM, WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON DISTRICT TWO RIGHT NOW.
ANY UPDATES THAT YOU CAN GIVE US, WE'LL PASS ON.
WELL, AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO AS WELL, WE WOULD WANT TO MS. ROBERTS MAKE A NOTE OF THAT.
LET US PUT THE UPDATES IF WE CAN PUT THEM ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD HELP WITH THE CUSTOMERS.
UH, MAY I APPROACH, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, CITY MANAGER? YOU MAY HAVE THE CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT, UH, THE TRAVEL TIME.
SO WHEN YOU GET A LOAD, YOU GO ALL THE, THEY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE, TO THE, UH, THE LANDFILL, RIGHT? AND, AND, AND DUMP IT.
AND THEN TURN AROUND AND COME BACK.
IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY WITHOUT HAVING TO STACK STUFF UP LIKE WE DID DURING THE STORM, THAT WE COULD CUT THAT TIME IN HALF, FOR EXAMPLE, DISCONNECTED TRAIL AND LET SOMEBODY ELSE TAKE IT AND GET THAT ONE BACK ON THE JOB THAT, THAT TRAVEL TIME FROM POINT A TO POINT B TO, TO THE LANDFILL? UH, I THINK WE CAN GET A, IF WE CAN GET THOSE CONSULTANTS LOOK AT CENTRALIZED IN SOMETHING WITHOUT HAVING TO STACK STUFF UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE WE DID IN THE EMERGENCY STORM.
WE, WE ARE OPEN, WE ARE OPEN TO ANYTHING THAT THE CONSULTANTS, YEAH.
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, DOUCETTE.
I READ THE, UH, BACKGROUND FOR THIS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAID PLAN B ACCORDING TO WHAT I READ.
IT STATED THAT, UH, WITH THIS CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE, IF WE CONTACTED THEM, THEY WOULD HAVE IT, WHAT? WITHIN THE NEXT DAY, OR I THINK IT'S TWO DAYS, 48 HOURS IF REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE GET THEM IN 48 HOURS, THEN WE NEVER GET BEHIND BECAUSE THEY'LL COME AND THEY'LL HELP US.
YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAD HERE THAT WAS FROM WEEKS BEHIND.
NOW MY NEXT QUESTION IS, UH, THEY'RE IN HOUSTON RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE WAITING FOR THEM TO GET BACK AND ARE WE GONNA PUT 'EM BACK IN THE CITY WHEN THEY GET BACK? YES.
THAT'S THE OTHER THING I READ.
SO, IN ANSWER TO COUNCIL, UH, WOMAN BECKHAM'S QUESTION, WELL, MALE PRO TIM BECKHAM IS WHEN THEY GET HERE, THEN WE GONNA GET CLOSER TO GETTING BACK ON TRACK BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE THEM.
THAT'S EXPECTATION, YOU SEE? SO THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO EMPHASIZE, AND THAT'S WHAT CITIZENS NEED TO KNOW, IS THAT WE ARE NOT GONNA TRY TO CATCH UP NOW ON OUR OWN.
FROM WHAT I READ FOR THIS PLAN B IS THAT AS SOON AS THEY COME IN, IN TWO DAYS FROM NOW, WHEN THEY FINISH UP IN HOUSTON, THEN WE'RE GONNA PUT 'EM BACK IN THE CITY.
NOW WE GOING TO KEEP THEM IN THE CITY UNTIL WE COULD GET BACK ON TRACK.
NOW IS IS, IS THAT WHAT I'M? YES.
AND WE KEEP A, A CONTRACT LIKE THIS ALWAYS.
THEN WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
GET SOMEBODY HERE AND LET'S KEEP ROLLING.
COUNCILMAN, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, EVER FIELD.
UM, CITY MANAGER ANN AND DIRECTOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION.
I WOULD STILL ASK, AS WE TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, TO EDUCATE OUR CITIZENS ON THE ONE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRASH AND GARBAGE.
WHAT DAYS? REMINDING THEM THAT THEIR TRASH DAYS ARE DIFFERENT THAN THEIR GARBAGE DAYS.
AND ADVISING THEM OF THE CURRENT ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE, UM, BIG ON MAKE, GIVING ACCESS TO THE TECH USING OUR TECHNOLOGY FOR ACCESS.
PLACE A QR CODE IN THE WATER BILLS, JUST A SUGGESTION AND GIVING THAT LINK TO THE ORDINANCE SO THEY CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT IS BEING REQUIRED AND WHAT IS BEING ASKED OF THEM.
I WILL ASK AGAIN FOR US TO REVIEW THAT ORDINANCE AND TO UPDATE IT, EVEN IF IT'S TO THE POINT OF MAKING IT SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE OF IF YOU CUT TREES, WE WILL PICK IT UP.
IF YOU HAVE A CONTRACTOR TO COME AND CUT TREES, THAT IS NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PICK IT UP.
[02:50:01]
THE LIMBS, THE, THE TREE LIMBS DO NOT GO IN THE DITCH.UM, SIMPLE, SIMPLE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH THE CITIZENS ON SO THAT WE ARE NOT OBSTRUCTING THE DRAINS, WHICH INCREASES FLOODING AND IT LOOKS HORRIBLE.
IT DOES, ATTRACTS RODENTS, ALL THE ET CETERA.
SO AGAIN, BE, UH, MORE DILIGENT IN HOW WE ARE GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE CITIZENS.
WHAT INFORMATION IS BEING SHARED WITH THEM AND FOLLOWING THROUGH AND SUPPORTING CODE ENFORCEMENT.
WHEN WE DO HAVE CONTRACTORS FROM LUMBERTON, BRIDGE CITY, GROVES, OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY, TO COME AND DROP TRASH IN OUR CITY.
I, I LITER A MAN TOLD ME ON 25TH AND TWIN CITY HIGHWAY, I ASKED, ARE YOU FROM HERE? HOW COULD YOU LEAVE THIS HERE? CLEARLY YOU NOT FROM HERE.
AND HE SAID, OH, NO, I'M FROM LUMBERTON.
I SAID, WOULD YOU DO THIS AT YOUR HOUSE? HE SAID, NO.
SO WE KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE HAVE TO BE DILIGENT IN MAKING SURE WE FOLLOW THROUGH SO THEY DON'T COME BACK HERE WITH THAT FOOLISHNESS.
UM, UH, I'VE BEEN PREACHING THIS TO YOU, CONTACTING YOU ABOUT WHAT OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN HAVE A, MAKE UP A PLAN, UH, TO ASSIST, UH, PUBLIC WORKS OR WHAT WE CAN DO, HOW WE CAN DO IT, WHEN WE CAN DO IT.
I THINK ONE OF THE FACTORS IS, IS ENSURING THAT YOU GET THE INFORMATION TO THE MANAGER AND HE, WE GET IT OUT TO, UH, THE PUBLIC BECAUSE FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS, THAT'S THE CAUSE I'VE BEEN GETTING TRASH PICKUP, GARBAGE PICKUP, WHEN IT'S GONNA HAPPEN, WHEN IT'S GONNA BE ON A STEADY ROTATION, WHY DO I, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING AND IT'S NOT, UH, ON A SCHEDULE.
I MEAN, I THINK, UH, THE CITIZENS PAY FOR IT.
AND IF WE GOTTA SPEND MONEY AND, AND TO DO THESE THINGS, WE MUST DO THOSE THINGS BECAUSE THE CITIZENS PAY FOR A SERVICE THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING AT THE TIME THAT THEY PAY FOR.
SO CONTINUE COMING UP WITH THESE PLANS.
PLAN B DIRECTOR, UH, JUST MAKE SURE THAT WHEN, UH, YOU COME UP WITH THESE PLANS THAT WE CAN INFORM THE CITIZENS IN OUR DISTRICTS OR THE CITY AT LARGE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THEM WAITING.
JUST GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION.
AND I THINK ONCE YOU GIVE THEM THAT INFORMATION, IT'S, IT'S SMOOTHED OVER A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
JUST NOT GIVING THAT INFORMATION AT ALL.
AND THEN WHEN THEY'RE MAKING THESE CALLS AND NOT GETTING RETURN CALLS, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT TO THE CITIZENS.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS PLAN B, UH, AND LET'S CONTINUE FIGHTING IN THIS FIGHT.
WE JUST TAKING, I THINK DO SAID, SAID, JUST TAKE A LITTLE BITES OFF THE LITTLE APPLE.
WE JUST TAKE A LITTLE BITES AND AT THE TIME, AND, AND AT SOME POINT WE'RE GONNA EAT THE WHOLE APPLE.
SO CONTINUE DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND ONE LAST THING I I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD IS THAT, UH, WHAT EVERYONE, WHAT I'M GATHERING FROM ALL THE REMARKS FROM MY, UH, COLLEAGUES HERE IS DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.
NOW, AND I, I KNOW THAT, THAT, THAT, UH, NO, NO PUN INTENDED AGAINST OUR INTERIM ATTORNEY, BUT WE HAVE AN INCOMING ATTORNEY WHO IS, IS, IS MAYBE, UH, A, AN AUTHORITY, BLESS YOU, IS AN AUTHORITY ON CODE ENFORCEMENTS AND, AND THE CODES.
SO MAYBE, UH, ONE OF, ONE OF YOUR FIRST THINGS COULD BE TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION OF A CODE, UH, OF, OF TRASH, TRASH PICKUP.
AND ONCE WE WOULD GET ON SCHEDULE, AND THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DISSEMINATE THAT TO THE CITIZENRY AND, AND THEY WOULD BE SURE TO BEGIN TO, UH, ADHERE TO IT.
BUT IF, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE'VE NEVER GIVEN IT TO 'EM AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVING IN A REAL OR ROBUST WAY, AND THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BEGIN ON.
AND ALSO, UH, MS. ROBERTS AND, AND THE CITY MANAGER AS I READ THIS ADDENDUM, UH, UH, THAT, THAT YOU ALL PASSED OUT, I GUESS I WOULD CALL IT TO THIS, FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR US TO GET THE RIGHT NUMBER OF, UH, VEHICLES, BUT ONCE I READ THAT, THAT LETS ME KNOW WHY WE SEE TRASH, YOU KNOW, JUST TURN FROM GREEN TO BROWN OR GOLD.
IT'S, IT'S ALMOST TO ALL A WHOLE NEW SET OF COLORS AND A GRASS GROWING UP IN BETWEEN WHERE THE TRASH IS.
YOU KNOW, CERTAIN AREAS THAT I TRAVEL ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.
I KNOW I'VE NOTICED IT, I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT IT, AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES IN OUR CITY, BUT AGAIN, WE AREN'T LIKE ANY OTHER CITY.
I WAS IN HOUSTON AND I SAW TWO OF THE TRUCKS THAT I KNOW HAVE BEEN HERE, THOSE, THOSE
[02:55:01]
TRASH TRUCKS.SO THEY, AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THEY'RE WORKING IN HOUSTON.
I SAW THEM NOW, I DON'T KNOW THE PERSONNEL, BUT THE TRUCKS AND THE, UH, NAMES ON THE TRUCKS.
BUT WHAT I'VE SEEN HERE BEFORE, BUT I THINK WE CAN SUPPORT THIS.
SO I KNOW I CAN BECAUSE WE, THE CITIZENS WANT SOMETHING.
AND LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY, I RECEIVE ALL TYPES OF CALLS AND I, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME I GET, WHEN I WALK OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER AND HE DOES WHAT HE CAN TO CORRECT IT, BUT I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A GENTLEMAN WHO SAID, MAYOR, I'M NOT COMPLAINING, BUT I WANT JUST TO MAKE A STATEMENT.
AND HE SAID, I PAY X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS EVERY MONTH FOR TRASH PICKUP.
HE SAID, YET I HAD, I'VE HAD TRASH IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE FOR TWO MONTHS.
AND I, I THINK THAT IS IN, UH, IT MIGHT BE IN DISTRICT TWO 'CAUSE HIS HOME IS ON LAKESIDE, I BELIEVE.
AND HE WASN'T RAISING CAIN LIKE SOME FOLK, AND, BUT HE WAS SAYING HE, EXCUSE ME, DOESN'T MIND PAYING THE FEES, HE JUST WANTS THE SERVICE.
AND I HAD TO TELL HIM, I SAID, MAN, I'VE, I'VE RECEIVED CALLS ALL THE TIME, BUT I'VE NEVER RECEIVED A COMPLAINT THAT WAS DELIVERED SO NICELY.
AND IT ACTUALLY MADE ME FEEL AS THOUGH, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT DOING WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING BECAUSE I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT IT OR MAYBE WHAT WE ARE DOING.
AND I WENT OVER AND EVEN TOLD, UH, THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THAT.
SO ALL OF OUR CITIZENS ARE NOT JUST BEING JUST, UH, INDIGNANT.
I THEY ARE, THEY'RE NOT BEING CONCERNED BECAUSE THEY ARE PAID.
NOW, SOME MAYBE DON'T EVEN PAY OR THEY, THEY REFUSE TO PAY AND THEY WANT THE SERVICE, BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO SERVICE EVERYONE IN, IN, IN OUR CITY.
SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU OUGHT ARE TRYING TO, OR GETTING READY TO DO.
AND, UH, I GUESS NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
WE CAN CALL FOR THE VOTE ON THIS.
ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT, BUT YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THE STIPULATIONS ARE AND PLEASE CARRY THAT OUT.
NOW, UH, THAT WAS RESOLUTION NUMBER, UH, 23 8 47, I BELIEVE, RIGHT? UH, NOW, YEAH, I THINK I'M AT THE RIGHT ONE.
[VIII.A.(5) P.R. No. 23849 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Letter Of Engagement With Pattillo, Brown And Hill, LLP, As Independent Auditor For The City Of Port Arthur With A Projected Budgetary Impact Of $120,000.00 For The Year Ending September 30, 2023. Finance Department Account #001-07-015-5420-00-10- 000 Pending Budget Amendment PO 7261]
TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 8 49.UH, THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE, UH, CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT WITH PATILLO BROWN AND HILL LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WITH A PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $120,000 FOR THE YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.
FINANCE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNT NUMBER 0 0 2 0 0.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS PENDING THE BUDGET.
UH, AMENDMENT ON PO NUMBER 72 61.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE THE, UH, AFTER STATED, UH, RESOLUTION.
ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION? ANY QUESTION? YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO PR NUMBER 23 8 4 9 WILL BE APPROVED AS
[VIII.A.(6) P.R. No. 23857 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing Members To The Port Arthur Coalition For Homeless Advisory Board (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Beckcom And Councilmember Hamilton Everfield)]
PRESENTED.NEXT, WE HAVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 8 5 7 RESOLUTION, APPOINT AND OR REAPPOINTED MEMBERS TO THE, UH, PORT ARTHUR COALITION FOR HOMELESS ADVISORY BOARD.
THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY MAYOR PROTE BECKHAM AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HAMILTON EVER FIELD MAY, UH, GET A MOTION.
WELL, WE HAVE NAMES FOR, FOR THAT.
WE HAVE IT ALL IN THE MOTION? YES.
YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE NAMES ALREADY? CITY SECRETARY? NO, SIR.
I DON'T, I BELIEVE THEY'RE GONNA MAKE THEIR OWN APPOINTMENTS.
AND YOU SAID YOU YOU'RE GONNA SAVE THEM FOR WE JUST NEED TO GET IT ON THE FLOOR, MAYOR, AND THEY'LL ANNOUNCE THEIR APPOINTMENTS, PLEASE.
HE SAID YOU AT I PA SO MOVED TO GET IT ON THE FLOOR.
SO WE READY FOR THE DISCUSSION PARTY? I CAN MENTION MY NAMES, RIGHT? WE, WE GOT IT ON FLOOR.
UM, MY FIRST APPOINTEE IS MS. PAT HENDERSON AND SHE'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
SHE SERVES AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE PORT ARTHUR, UM, PORT CITIES RESCUE MISSION, WHICH IS OUR HOMELESS SHELTER HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
SHE HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER TO THIS, UH, COMMITTEE, AND
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I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP.MS. PAT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
MY SECOND APPOINTEE WILL BE OUR NEXT MEETING.
MAY I APPROACH PATRICIA HENDERSON AND I WILL EMAIL YOU THE INFORMATION, UH, MS. SHERRY.
MAY I APPROACH HIM? I HAVE TWO APPOINTEES, DR.
ROSALYN, QUEEN AND JOSEPH GUILLORY.
WE READY? OKAY, WE READY FOR THOSE NAMES? UH, LEMME THROW MY NAMES IN.
COUNCILMAN KINLOCK, RIGHT? YEAH.
NINA STALEY AND CATHERINE RICHARDS.
WELL, I CAN, UH, SAY MY, I'VE SPOKEN WITH 'EM, BUT MELANIE NED AND KEITH RICHARDS ON.
ANY OTHERS? YOU HAVE ANY COUNCIL? YOU DON'T HAVE ANY? OKAY, WE'RE READY.
UM, I CALL QUESTIONS RIGHT ON THIS.
ANY DISCUSSIONS? IF NOT, WE CAN VOTE ON THIS.
[VIII.A.(7) P.R. No. 23861 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing A Member Or Members To The Beautification Commission (Requested By Councilmember Lewis)]
NEXT WE HAVE PER NUMBER SEVEN.ITEM NUMBER SEVEN PR NUMBER 2 3 861 IS A RESOLUTION, APPOINTED AND OR REAPPOINTED A MEMBER.
OUR MEMBERS OF THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION.
AND THIS IS REQUESTED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? YES.
UH, BUT LEMME GET A SECOND FOR YOU.
NOW GO AHEAD AND GIVE HER NAME.
UH, MS. CASHIER HAS BEEN RINGING MY PHONE AND COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TRASH PICKUP AND TRASH IN THE DITCHES AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
SHE, SHE CALLED AND COMPLAINED SO MANY TIMES.
I SAID, YOU KNOW SOMETHING, I GOT JUST A PLACE FOR YOU.
I GOT JUST A PLACE FOR YOU BY MAN.
THAT'S THE ONLY ONE FOR BRIEF.
WE ARE READY FOR, UH, APPROVAL.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT.
SO IT IS APPROVED WITH THE NAME, UH, PRESENTED BY COUNCILMAN LEWIS.
AND THE NEXT ITEM HAS ALREADY BEEN, UH, UH, ACTIVE ON, WE'LL MOVE NOW TO ORDINANCES.
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7259 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Sale Of Surplus Furniture & Minor Equipment Through Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc & Technology Equipment Through Global Asset, LLC]
WE HAVE, UH, AN ORDINANCE, UH, NUMBER 72, UH, AN ORDINANCE NUMBER 72 59.IT'S AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SURPLUS FURNITURE AND MINOR EQUIPMENT, UH, THROUGH BA THROUGH RENEE BATES AUCTIONEERS, UH, INCORPORATED AND TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT THROUGH GLOBAL ASSET LLC MAKING A MOTION FOR APPROVE OF COUNCILMAN DEUCE.
SECOND, WE WOULD APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 72 59 AS PRESENTED.
WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON IT THERE? HONOR ANY? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES? AYE.
[VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7260 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Sale Of Two CityOwned Vacant Residential Tracts Of Land Located At 932 Welford Avenue And 1445 West 8th Street And Further Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Special Warranty Deed For The Conveyance]
PO NUMBER 72 60.IT IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZED IN THE SALE OF TWO CITY OWNED VACANT RESIDENTIAL TRACKS OF LAND LOCATED AT 9 32 WELLFORD AVENUE AND 1445 WEST EIGHTH STREET AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED FOR THE CONVENIENCE.
MAY I GET, EXCUSE ME? A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS? IS IT MOVED? AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 72 60 AS PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES.
UH, DID WE THESE ARE FOR PREM CODE VALERO.
WHAT DO THEY WANT THE LAND FOR? WHERE IS THIS, WHERE IS THIS PROPERTY? CUT YOUR MIC ON.
WELL, UH, THESE TWO LAND ARE LOCATED NEAR THEIR, UM, REFINERY TOWARDS, UH, I BELIEVE IT'S 82 OR 87.
THEY'RE GONNA USE IT AS A BUFFER ZONE.
THEY HAVE A BUNCH OF VACANT LOTS THAT THEY'VE ALREADY PURCHASED A WHILE BACK OVER THERE.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION BECAUSE THAT'S THE TWO BLOCKS FROM 82
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FROM YEAH.GOWAY DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO SEVENTH STREET.
SUPPOSED TO BE EVENTUALLY JUST MM-HMM.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE IT AS THE BUFFER ZONE.
SO ARE WE GONNA PUT THAT IN THE, IN THE DEED? WE CAN'T, I GUESS THAT WOULD BE WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO, RIGHT? CITY MANAGER.
WELL, REMEMBER THE, THE A ZONE NOW I THINK IS SINGLE FAMILY THAT IS THE MOST RESTRICTIVE.
AND WE DON'T INTEND TO CHANGE IT, THE ZONING.
SO IT MEANS THAT IT CAN'T DO ANYTHING BUT BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE, WHICH HAS CREATED BUFFER ZONE RIGHT NOW.
SO, SO THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT.
BUT YEAH, WE WILL LEAVE IT AS RESTRICTIVE AS POSSIBLE WITH THE ZONING.
WELL THAT'S MY, THAT'S MY THEY COULD BUILD IT.
SO THEY CAN, THEY CAN'T BUILD IT.
YOU GOOD COUNCILMAN DOUCE? NO, I JUST WANT TO, NO, I ASKED THE QUESTION.
IF WE, ARE WE GONNA HAVE THAT INCORPORATED IN THE DEED? OKAY.
HOLD ATTORNEY HAS SOMETHING MR. DOUCETTE.
I, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THESE LOTS HAVE BEEN SOLD.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SOLD TO RO OR PRIM CORPS, UH, IN THE PAST, AND THEY'RE ALL IN A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AREA.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S EVER BEEN A RESTRICTION BEYOND THAT.
THEY'RE IN, AS, AS THE MANAGER SAID, IF ANY WERE TO BUILD ONE, WERE TO BUILD ON IT, IT COULD ONLY BE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
I UNDERSTAND THEY DO NOT INTEND TO BUILD HOUSES ON IT, BUT THERE IS NO RESTRICTION KEEPING THEM FROM USING IT ACCORDING TO THE ZONING.
YOU, YOU KNOW, MY, MY ONLY POINT I'M MAKING IS THAT WE, WE SAY THAT THEY INTEND, THEY INTEND IS ALL WE EVER HEAR IS THEY INTEND.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO ENSURE WE GET THE RESIDE RESULT IS INCORPORATED IN WHAT WE SELL NOW.
WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING IS ONE THING, BUT I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT WE DO NOW.
SO THAT IS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE SELL PROPERTY, ESPECIALLY TO INDUSTRY THAT WE PUT IN THERE.
EXACTLY WHAT BOTH PARTIES ARE AGREEING THAT IT BE AND IT REMAIN.
YOU KNOW, UH, EVERY TIME I HEAR THAT WORD INTENT, WE OUGHT TO KNOW WE PUTTING OURSELF IN A POSITION THAT ONCE WE SELL THE PROPERTY, IF IT'S NOT IN WRITING, THEY OWN THE PROPERTY.
THEY DO WHATEVER THEY WANT AS LONG AS THEY'RE DOING IT AS IT IS ZONED.
AND WE GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
SO THAT'S THE POINT I'M MAKING.
SO LET'S, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, ENSURING THAT THAT SINGLE FAMILY OKAY.
AND, AND, AND ON ON THE ACCOUNTS WHEN DO, AND WE CAN GO INTO THE VOTE BECAUSE THEY CAN ONLY DO WHAT'S WHAT IT'S FOR, RIGHT? YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
SO THEY INTEND TO BUILD A, BUILD A PLANT MANAGER, A NICE HOME BACK THERE ON THE WEST SIDE.
IF A NEIGHBOR WOULD BUY, I WANT 'EM TO BUILD IT.
IF A NEIGHBOR WERE BUYING THE LOT, THEY WOULD RECEIVE IT UNDER THE SAME TERMS. UNDER THE SAME, RIGHT? YEAH.
AND, AND WE'VE BEEN SELLING, I KNOW MY FIVE YEARS HERE, IT'S BEEN, IT IS BEEN IN, IN THE PROCESS AND THEY HAVEN'T TRIED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE, BUT THEY, WE TAKE IT OFF.
WELL, IT'S ALL BACK ON THE TAX ROLL BECAUSE SOMETIMES THIS PROPERTY IS JUST OUR PROPERTY AND WE ARE MAINTAINING IT.
THEY'RE GONNA MAINTAIN THE, UH, GRASS OR THE LAWN.
THEY GONNA MAINTAIN ALL OF THAT.
AND WE GONNA REALLY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PICKING UP TRASH OR EVEN PICKING UP GARBAGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING ON THAT.
AND IF THEY DO DECIDE TO CONSTRUCT AN EDIFICE, IT HAS TO BE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
THEY COME BACK AND ASK OR ANY, ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCILMAN KIMER? YEAH.
I MEAN, WOULD IT HURT CITY ATTORNEY TO OVERKILL? I MEAN, TO PUT THAT WITHIN A DEED RESTRICTION, WOULD IT HURT JUST TO, IIII KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHERE HE'S GOING AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S THE MOST RESTRICTIVE SINGLE FAMILY.
BUT I'M SAYING TO PUT IT IN THERE TO ENSURE THAT IT, YOU KNOW, ON THE DE RESTRICTION TO SAY, HEY, IT CAN ONLY BE, AND WOULD IT HURT TO EVEN PUT IT ON OR TO CALL OVERKILL ON IT? I MEAN, TO BENEFIT THE CITY, NOT IF THE BUYER WOULD, WOULD TAKE IT UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT IF SHE NEVER, IF WE COULD DO THAT, WOULD IT HURT TO OVERKILL AT CLOSE AT CLOSING? YOU CAN REQUEST THAT WE, WE COULD SUGGEST THAT.
YOU COULD SUGGEST THAT AT CLOSING, I THINK.
AND THAT WOULD, THAT COULD BE INCLUDED INTO THAT, UH, DOCUMENT OKAY.
NO, BY THAT TIME YOU'LL BE ON, UH, IT'LL BE AFTER THE 19TH
I THINK THE MANAGER HAD A, OKAY.
ARE YOU, WE CAN SUGGEST IT AT THE CLOSING OF THIS TRANSACTION, BUT IT WAS, IT WAS AGREED WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTION IN IT.
IS IT GOING TO BE CONTINGENT UPON THAT OR HOW? BECAUSE IF, IF IT'S NOT CONTINGENT UPON THAT, IT
[03:10:01]
MEANS THAT THE PROPERTY COMES BACK TO US AND FOR US TO CUT IT IN ETERNITY.DO YOU WANT TO CUT IT IN ETERNITY OR YOU WANT TO SELL IT TO THEM AS YOU SOLD IT TO THEM BEFORE? OKAY.
COUNCILMAN DUCEY WANTS TO CLARIFY SOMETHING.
OKAY? WHEN I, WHEN I MAKE THE COMMENTS, IF, IF THIS BALL IS ROLLING DOWN THE STREET, I'M NOT HERE TO TRY TO STOP THE BALL.
WHAT I WANNA MAKE SURE IS THAT WHEN WE START DOING BUSINESS IN THE FUTURE, WE START PUTTING THINGS INTO PROTECT OUR INTEREST.
SO IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOT THE PAPERWORK DONE AND YOU GO INTO A CLOSING, NOW LET'S, LET'S SELL THE LAND AND LET'S GO IN AND PUT IT ON TAX ROLL.
BUT IN THE FUTURE, LET'S NOT LEAVE OURSELVES INTO SOMETHING WHERE WE SELL AND THEN SOMEBODY DECIDE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
AND WE CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT OUR INTERESTS AND MAKE SURE WHAT WE WANT IS DONE.
START PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT.
I'M NOT TRYING TO STOP THIS ONE THAT, THIS ROAD, BUT WE NEED TO START MOVING FORWARD.
SO, AND YOU ALL, UH, HE'S PART OF YOUR GOOD STAFF AND YOU'RE GONNA BE THERE.
YOU'VE GOT THE UNOFFICIAL DIRECTIVE FROM THE COUNCIL GOING FORWARD.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER READINESS? I SAY LIKE, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO THAT ORDINANCE IS APPROVED.
[VIII.B.(3) P.O. No. 7261 – An Appropriation Ordinance Amending The City Of Port Arthur Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2023 And Ending September 30, 2024, Increasing The Water & Sewer Capital Project By $324,520.00, The Capital Improvement By $896,489.00, The Capital Reserve Fund By $247,552.00, The Solid Waste Fund By $347,000.00 And The General Fund By $120,000.00]
NEXT WE HAVE, UH, ORDINANCE NUMBER 72 61.IT IS AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING, UH, OCTOBER 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
INCREASING THE WATER AND SEWER CAPITAL PROJECT BY $324,520.
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, BY, YEAH, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BY $896,489.
THE CAPITAL, UH, RESERVE FUND BY $247,552.
THE SOLID WASTE FUND BY $347,000.
AND THE GENERAL FUND BY $120,000.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF, UH, MAYOR PRO? MAYOR, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR'S BACK? MAYBE SHE CAN TELL US IF WE NEED THIS ORDINANCE NEEDS TO BE AMENDED.
BECAUSE THAT, THIS WAS, I WAS WONDERING WHEN I WAS READING IT, I, BUT I DIDN'T SEE STREETS OVER HERE, SO I DIDN'T SAY THAT.
WE WANT TO CATCH IT SO WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE SLIDE STREETS WAS GONNA BE THE THING THAT WAS GONNA MAKE CHARLES SAID JUMP OUTTA HIS STAND.
WELL, THE THING, THE THING IS THOUGH, THAT'S GONNA BE ON THE OTHER ONE.
TODAY OF A SECOND MAYOR, WE NEED TO GET IT ON THE FLOOR.
I THINK ASK SECOND MAYOR APPROACH.
SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE, UH, PO PO NUMBER 72 61.
WE READY UP FOR QUESTION? QUESTION.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING BEFORE WITH A MINUTE.
THE FIRST TIME GOING BACK AND GOT THE RESOLUTION, THIS ORDINANCE STATES THAT THE FUNDING FOR THIS IS GOING TO COME OUT OF THE 3 0 7.
BUT, UH, LYNN, YOU WASN'T HERE, BUT WHAT, WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DONE, THEY AMEND THE RESOLUTION.
SO THEREFORE WE MUST AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO REFLECT THE FUND BECAUSE IT'S COMING OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE.
WELL, THE 3 0 7 CAPITAL, SHE'S PUT IT IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THE 3 0 7 FUND HAS BOTH STREETS AND DRAINAGE.
I DIDN'T SPECIFY IN YOUR AMENDMENT WHICH PARTICULAR LINE ITEM, AND SOMETIMES I DO THAT ON PURPOSE.
SO IT WOULD NOT AFFECT THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT.
SO BASICALLY THIS ONE HERE, THIS 3 0 7 ACTUALLY IS DRAINAGE, IT'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR STREETS AND DRAINAGE.
AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IS CLARIFIED THAT ON THE RESOLUTION YOU WANNA MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY COMING OUT OF THE LINE ITEM FOR DRAINAGE.
INSTEAD OF THE LINE ITEM FOR STREETS.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE, THE OTHER, WE, WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED TO TAKE SOME MONEY OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE.
SO YOU SAID YOU GOT SOME MORE MONEY FOR A STREET, MAN.
Y'ALL READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? OH, EXCUSE ME, COUNCILWOMAN, EVER.
YOUR LIGHT IS, I JUST WANNA GIVE YOU KUDOS.
ANY OPPOSES HAVING? SO WE APPROVE THE BUDGET AMENDMENT, UH, UH, ORDINANCE.
[VIII.B.(4) P.O. No. 7264 – An Ordinance Approving A Collective Bargaining Agreement Between The City Of Port Arthur And The International Association Of Fire Fighters Local 397 (IAFF 397); Effective October 1, 2024 Through September 30, 2027]
OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE FINAL ORDINANCE.IT'S PO NUMBER, UH, 72 64 AND AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND
[03:15:01]
THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS.AND THIS WILL BE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER THE FIRST 2024 THROUGH OC SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE ORDINANCE.
UH, 72 64 AS PRESENTED OR ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? NONE.
SO THIS ORDERED, THE ORDINANCE 72 64 IS APPROVED AS READ.
UH, AS FAR AS WHAT I HAVE IN THE PRINTED FORM FOR AN AGENDA, WE HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
AND AT THIS TIME, COUNCILMAN FRANK, SECOND, IT'S REMOVED.
AND SECOND, THAT WE WOULD ADJOIN THIS, UH, MEETING THIS AUGUST BODY.
AND, UH, ANYBODY Y'ALL LEAVING BEFORE I EVEN SAYS OH, IT'S OVER.