[00:00:02]
OKAY,[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
GOOD EVENING.WE ARE GATHERED HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF FORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, AND WE ARE AT CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF CITY HALL AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET, FOUR, OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
IT IS NOW 5:48 PM ON TODAY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 27TH, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2024.
IN THIS MEETING, YOU MAY ALSO PARTICIPATE IN, ATTEND THE MEETING VIA TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCE MEDIUMS. HOWEVER, YOU MUST FIRST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7, OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9, AND YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 6 7 9 1 5 6 6 3 6 2, AND THE PASS CODE OF 5 3 3, 4, 8 5, AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE MEETING.
ALSO IN THIS MEETING, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
AND IF THERE IS A NEED FOR US TO PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO YOU, YOU MUST FIRST CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.
MAKE YOUR WISHES KNOWN TO THE STAFF AND THEY WILL DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWERS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH YOUR REQUESTED ACCOMMODATIONS.
WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE AND ANOTHER ROLE CALL.
SO AT THIS JUNCTURE, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
DR. SMITH, SHE JUST WALKED IN.
WOULD YOU COME UP AND DO THE INVOCATION FOR US, PLEASE? YES.
BUT I ALREADY KNOW THAT SHE'S PREPARED ALREADY.
WOULD Y'ALL PLEASE STAND? LET US PRAY.
OUR FATHER AND OUR GOD, WE FIRST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS OF THIS DAY.
WE THANK YOU, GOD, FOR ALLOWING US ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE STORY OF GOD OF THIS WONDERFUL CITY.
WE THANK YOU, GOD, FOR THE CITY LEADERS, FOR THOSE WHO WORK DAILY TO TRY TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE.
WE PRAY, DEAR GOD, AND WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR THE SPIRIT OF UNITY IN THIS HOUSE.
'CAUSE WE KNOW WHERE UNITY PREVAILS.
GOD BLESS US AND KEEP US AS ONE.
NOW, WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE JOIN US IN RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INDULGENCE.
AND AGAIN, DR. SCHMIDT, THANK YOU FOR THANK DR. SCHMIDT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR OPENING UP AND INVOKING THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR ASSEMBLIES.
NOW WE'LL BEGIN THE MEETING, AND IT'S NOW 5 51.
AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE, OR WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PUBLIC HEARING IN ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE MINUTES.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, AND I'LL TAKE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE ON DOING THIS, IT'S CALLED THE ROLE FIRST MAYOR.
YES,
MAYOR BARTY, PRESENT, MAYOR PROTE BECKHAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD PRESENT.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY, MR. CITY SECRETARY.
AND AT THIS JUNCTURE, EXCUSE ME,
[II. PROCLAMATIONS]
[00:05:03]
I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS PUBLICLY HE DOESN'T WANT IT, BUT I THINK I AM COMPELLED BEING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY AND FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US.WE ARE GRACIOUS ATTORNEY JAMES BLACK.
WOULD YOU COME FORWARD PLEASE? ATTORNEY.
ON BEHALF OF THIS AUGUST BODY OF INDIVIDUALS OF WHOM I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE WITH, WE THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP, COMING IN AND PROVIDING US WITH YOUR LEGAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE AT A TIME THAT WE REALLY NEEDED IT BECAUSE OUR FORMER CITY ATTORNEY HAD RETIRED AND WE NEVER MISSED A BEAT.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUANCE WITH THE STAFF AND ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.
I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T, DIDN'T WANT ME TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT THIS WAS THE PERFECT TIME BECAUSE I NEEDED TO TALK FOR ABOUT SIX MINUTES.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, I I DON'T CAN SEE LIFE.
UH, WE WERE PUT IN A SITUATION, UH, FOR A LITTLE WHILE WITHOUT HAVING A ATTORNEY TO COME ON BOARD.
UH, YOU FILLED THAT VOID FOR US.
UM, UH, I KNOW WE HAD SOME TOUGH CONVERSATIONS, UH, BUT YOU'RE A STRONG GUY AND I'D JUST LIKE TO TELL YOU THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S BACK FOR THE TIME YOU WERE HERE.
UH, IT MEANS A LOT TO ME AND IT IT ALSO MEANS, UH, THE TESTIMONY OF YOUR CHARACTER, UH, LEGALLY YOU'RE ACE GUY.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU PERSON FOR ME AND THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
I WANNA THANK YOU PERSONALLY BECAUSE IT WAS ME THAT MADE THE PHONE CALL TO YOU ON THAT FATEFUL DAY TO ASK YOU TO, TO COME AND ASSIST US.
AND I'M JUST SO THANKFUL THAT YOU WERE GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO, TO, YOU KNOW, COME AND HELP US OUT.
YOU'VE GIVEN US WONDERFUL ADVICE.
YOU'VE, UH, HELPED US OUT OF SOME TOUGH SITUATIONS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS AND, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE.
AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU FOR A LONG TIME, AND YOU WAS OVER AT THE ISLAND.
YOU KNOW, YOU DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB FOR US AT A CRITICAL TIME AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR US.
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU COUNCILWOMAN, EVER FIELD, MR. BLACK.
WE JUST ABOUT ALMOST MAYBE KEPT OUR PROMISE OF SIX MONTHS, SO THANK YOU FOR STICKING IT OUT WITH US.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO HAVE THOSE SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS AND EVEN THANK YOU FOR YOUR SILENCE WHEN NEEDED FOR US TO HASH IT OUT.
IT SHOWS YOUR, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR EXPERIENCE.
WELL, YOU ALWAYS SHOW UP FOR PORT ARTHUR IN TIMES OF CRISIS.
YOU, WE, WE SHARED DURING, UH, THE SCHOOL BOARD AND NOW WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE CAME TOGETHER HERE FOR THE CITY.
YOU, YOU WEAR THE TITLE OF ATTORNEY, BUT YOU CARRY THE TITLE OF SERVANT AND A PUBLIC SERVANT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR CITY.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN PORT ARTHUR'S GOING TO NEED YOU TO COME,
CITY MANAGER, MR. BLACK, THANK YOU FOR THE RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU HAVE CULTIVATED WITH STAFF, YOU KNOW, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WERE LEAVING HERE A MUCH RICHER PLACE THAN YOU MET IT, AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR THAT.
AND WOULD ANY OF THE STAFF CARE YOU SAY ANYTHING? THE LEGAL STAFF.
THEY TOLD ME, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY'RE GOOD, BUT WAIT A MINUTE, WE HAVE, WELL, NOW THEY'RE COMING.
I'M JUST GONNA SAY A FEW WORDS.
IT'S TIME TO START THE MEETING.
IT'S TIME TO START THE MEETING.
[00:10:01]
Y'ALL, Y'ALL ARE LAWYERS.VERY CALM, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HIM.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU MR. BLACK, FOR YOUR MOTIVATION AND YOUR DEDICATION TO THE CITY WITHIN THIS SHORT PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS.
YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME SO MUCH AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO YOU.
AND THIS IS NOT THE LAST TIME YOU WILL SEE ME BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I'M A TALKER AND I WILL CALL YOU CONSTANTLY.
UH, MR. BLACK, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE GUIDANCE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS AND, UH, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND, UH, ALSO YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM ME,
WANNA THANK THE STAFF AND ATTORNEY? IT'S YOUR TURN.
OH, WELL, I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY.
MAYOR AND COUNSEL AND MR. BURTON AND MS. CAIO AND CO, EXCUSE ME,
UH, I APPRECIATE THE PRIVILEGE OF, OF WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU ALL.
UH, IT IS TIME FOR ME TO GET BACK TO MY OTHER JOB, BUT I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED, TRULY ENJOYED THE RELATIONSHIP, UH, RELATIONSHIPS I'VE MADE, UH, HERE AND, UH, WITH ALL OF YOU ALL AND WITH ALL OF THE STAFF AND, UH, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
WELL, WE CERTAINLY, THANK YOU.
AND YES, I THINK HE, HE DESERVE A STANDING, RACHEL.
AND MAYOR WITH, WITH ANOTHER MINUTE AND A HALF.
I'M SORRY, BUT I DON'T HAVE A MINUTE, ANOTHER MINUTE AND A HALF.
AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IN THIS, IN THIS TIME, IF, IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND, COUNCILMAN, WE ARE NOW GRACED WITH A NEW CITY ATTORNEY.
I THINK YOU ALL HAD A CHANCE TO MEET HER LAST WEEK, UH, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, BUT ON, SHE, SHE BEGAN ON THE 19TH WHAT DAY? WHAT? YES.
AND IT IS ATTORNEY ROXANNE COTRONE
AND SHE COMES IN VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE WITH MUNICIPAL LAW.
SHE HAS ALREADY HIT THE GROUND WITH INFORMATION THAT IS VIABLE, WILL HELP OUR CITY.
SO WE KNOW THAT GOD HAS GUIDED AND DIRECTED US TO THE PROPER INDIVIDUAL.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING AND, AND YOU'VE WORKED EVEN WITH ATTORNEY BLACK.
I I COULD SEE THE TRANSITION IN THE PAST WEEK ACTUALLY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I, WHEN I SAW HIM HERE MONDAY YESTERDAY, AND YOU ALL WERE TOGETHER, I WAS LIKE, OH, WOW.
STILL, YOU KNOW, IT, IT IS, IT'S REAL A TEAM.
SO IT, IT WAS JUST FOR SURE THAT ATTORNEY BLACK WASN'T JUST HERE TO GAIN SOME MONEY AND TO MAKE THE TRANSITION EASY.
[IV.(1) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments To Consider The Proposed Amendment Of The Following: Proposed Change: A Zoning Map Amendment (Z24-06) (A) To Change From Planned Development Nine “PD-9” To Include “Professional Office” As A Conforming Use Legal Description: For 1.2865 Acres Of Land Being Out Of The City Of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas. (2509 Lakeshore Drive And 2545 Lakeshore Drive)]
AND WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND MR. MALOW IS READY.AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO NOW IS ON PAGE TWO OF YOUR, UH, TYPED OR, UH, AGENDA.
WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENT TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE FOLLOWING, PROPOSED A CHANGE A ZONING MAP, AMENDMENT Z 24 DASH SIX A TO CHANGE FROM PLAN TO DEVELOPMENT NINE, PD NINE TO INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL OFFICE AS A CONFORMING USE.
THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY IS 1.3 ACRES OF LAND BEING OUT OF THE CITY OF PORT AL.
THERE, UM, JEFFERSON COUNTY ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY LOCATED AT 25 0 9 LAKE SHORE DRIVE AND 25 45 LAKE SHORE DRIVE CITIZENS WITH ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING DESCRIPTION OF THIS PROPERTY CAN CONTACT THE CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 3 3.
[00:15:01]
PUBLIC IS ALSO INVITED TO VIEW THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY HAVING NOW ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT WWW.PORTARTHURTX.GOV AT.WITH THAT BEING SAID, MS. MARLOW, YOU MAY BEGIN.
AND GOOD EVENING, HONOR ROME AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6.03 E OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE AND CHAPTER TWO 11 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER AMENDING PLAN DEVELOPMENT NINE DISTRICT, ALSO KNOWN AS PD NINE.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6.03 OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE, THE AMENDMENT WOULD ADD A LAND USE TYPE TO SECTION TWO A THREE OF THE PD, WHICH PROVIDES DISTRICT REGULATIONS FOR DOUBLE FRONTAGE LOTS LOCATED IN BLOCKS 1 61 AND 1 65 OF THE CITY'S DESIGNATED HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO AMEND PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NINE BY ADDING THE USE TYPE PROFESSIONAL OFFICE LOCAL TO SECTION TWO A THREE BY A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT.
ACCORDING TO SECTION 7.04 OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE, A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE LOCAL IS DEFINED AS AN ESTABLISHMENT FOR THE TO CONDUCT FOR THE CO CONDUCT
A COMPLETED APPLICATION WAS FILED WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ON JULY 11TH, 2024, REQUESTING A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROPERTY.
THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW FOR THE ADDITION OF THE USE TYPE PROFESSIONAL OFFICE LOCAL UNDER SECTION TWO A THREE AS A LEGALLY CONFORMING USE AT SAID LOCATION.
PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THE PROPOSED SITE ON AUGUST 1ST, 2024, AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON JULY 24TH, 2024.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 19TH, 2024, INVITING CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED THREE ZERO, RECOMMENDING THE REQUEST BE APPROVED ON JULY 30TH, 2024.
THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 DASH 8 58 CALLING FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING.
THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PUBLISHED A PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON AUGUST 10TH, 2024, AS WELL AS PREPARED AND MAILED NOTIFICATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 12TH, 2024.
THE CURRENT ZONING IS A PLAN DEVELOPMENT NINE APPROVED AS A PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING CHANGE IN 1989.
REFERENCE ORDINANCE 89 DASH 54.
THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT WAS ESTABLISHED TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE CITY'S DESIGNATED HISTORIC DISTRICT.
IT ESTABLISHED AND PROTECTS AREAS, SITES, OR STRUCTURES WITH SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL, CULTURAL, ARCHITECTURAL, OR AESTHETIC VALUE.
A HISTORIC DISTRICT CAN ALSO HELP REVITALIZE AND PRESERVE THE RESIDENTIAL, CIVIC AND BUSINESS AREAS.
THE CURRENT USE TYPES UNDER SECTION TWO A THREE OF THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT NINE DISTRICT INCLUDE A ART GALLERY, B, ANTIQUE SHOP, C, BOUTIQUE SHOP D AND RESTAURANT.
THE PROPOSED USE TYPE UNDER SECTION TWO A THREE OF THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT NINE DISTRICT WILL INCLUDE A ART GALLERY, B ANQUE SHOP, C BOUTIQUE SHOP D RESTAURANT, AND TODAY'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT E PROFESSIONAL OFFICE LOCAL.
THE SITE LOCATION IS ADJACENT TO THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT NINE DISTRICT ON THE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST.
THIS IS AN AREA VIEW OF THE PROPERTY.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS A VIEW OF THE STREET FRONTAGE AND PROPOSED LOCATION.
THIS IS ALSO, UM, BLOCK 1 61 OF THAT PLANNED, UM, DEVELOPMENT NINE.
[00:20:04]
THIS SLIDE SHOWS A VIEW DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SUBJECT PROPERTY, WHICH IS ALSO BLOCK 1 61.AND THIS IS BLOCK 1 65 FACING LAKE LAKESHORE DRIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
CODE SECTIONS TWO 11.006 AND TWO 11.007.
A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES AND TIMES TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THE PLANNING IS ZONING COMMISSION WITH ZERO WRITTEN LETTERS OF OPPOSITION, ZERO LETTERS RETURN, AND ZERO VERBAL OPPOSITION.
AND ON TODAY, AUGUST 27TH, 2024, NO WRITTEN OPPOSITION, NO VERBAL OPPOSITION.
AND SO FAR ONLY ONE LETTER RETURNED.
SECTION TWO 11 DASH OH SIX F OF THE STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE STATES THAT A CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE OR DENY THE PROPOSED MATTER BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.
THEREFORE A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPROVE THIS REQUEST.
ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, COUNCILMAN, UH, UH,
MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WE TALKED ABOUT THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT NINE BEING TO PRESERVE THE HISTORICAL DISTRICT DOWN THERE.
YOU MENTIONED ALL OF THE, UH, BUSINESS, YOU MENTIONED THE MUSEUM, THE SHOP AND ALL THOSE, THOSE ARE ALL WITHIN THE BLOCK OVER HERE.
I THINK PROBABLY ABOUT THE SIX OR 700 BLOCK ON PROCTOR.
THOSE, UH, THIS AREA THAT'S YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING IT, THAT AREA THERE IS ALL RESIDENTS.
THEY'RE ALL RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA, IN THAT BLOCK.
AND WE TALKING ABOUT PRESERVING THE HISTORY AND EVERYTHING, THEY'RE BEING ALL RESIDENT.
MOST OF THOSE HOMES WHEN THEY PEOPLE PURCHASE 'EM.
SO THEY ALWAYS REDO THEM, BUT THEY'RE BASICALLY LIKE, THEY ARE THE PARTICULAR HOUSE THAT YOU WANT TO USE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
IT'S ACTUALLY A HISTORICAL, IT REGISTERED BECAUSE I SAW THE, THE, UH, MARKER.
SO HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO US WANTING TO REDO THIS FROM A RESIDENCE TO A BUSINESS OFFICE? BECAUSE AS I STATED, THAT WHOLE BLOCK ALONG WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, A LAW, HISTORICAL HOMES AND THAT PARTICULAR ONE HAS A HISTORICAL MARKER.
SO HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT DOING THAT AN OFFICE INTO A RESIDENCE.
BECAUSE I READ THE HISTORICAL MARKER, IT REFERS TO IT BEING A RESIDENCE FOR WHAT? A BOOK OR SOMEBODY? THERE'S TWO PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHERE THEY ESTABLISHED THAT.
SO EVIDENTLY IT'S ON THE RECORDS.
SO BLOCK 1 61 AND 1 65, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE, UM, THEY DO HAVE RESIDENTS LIVING IN SOME OF THE HOMES.
THEY STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THE HISTORICAL GUIDELINES WHEN IT COMES TO UPDATING OR DOING ANY KIND OF ARCHITECTURAL WORK TO THE PROPERTY.
BUT 1 61 AND 1 65 SPECIFICALLY STATES IN THE PD NINE THAT WAS CREATED IN 1989 THAT SOME RETAIL ACTIVITY CAN TAKE PLACE IN THOSE HISTORICAL PROPERTIES, IE OR ART GALLERY, BOUTIQUE SHOP RESTAURANT.
AND WE ARE SIMPLY REQUESTING, UM, BY APPLICATION THAT UM, WE CAN, IF WE CAN ADD, UM, AN OFFICE LOCAL YEAH, THAT'S WHAT YOU ASKED.
CAN YOU ADD, BUT WHEN YOU NAMING ALL THEM POINT, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT UP THE POINT THAT THOSE WERE ALREADY ESTABLISHED WHEN WE ESTABLISHED THAT YES SIR.
THAT'S WHY THEY WERE INCLUDED.
AND THE REST OF IT WAS ALL HOMES RESIDENCES.
AND MOST OF THEM, THEY'RE ALL STILL HOMES STILL TODAY, BUT THEY JUST USE 'EM FOR SOME SPECIFIC PURPOSES AS SUCH.
LIKE I SAID, LEMME GO BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING.
ALL OF THE BUSINESSES THAT YOU NAMED WERE ESTABLISHED WHEN WE ESTABLISHED THAT PARTICULAR PLANT DEVELOPMENT.
THAT IS THE REASON WE NOW HAVE TO DO THIS.
SO MY QUESTION IS, HOW WILL THAT IMPACT ON IS HISTORICAL MARK MARKER AS A RESIDENCE? YOU
[00:25:01]
KNOW, UH, WE CAN DO THAT.AND THAT'S COMING FROM CHECKING WITH THE STATE REGISTRY.
THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
UM, EVERYTHING WILL STILL BE AS IS.
AGAIN, HE WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW CERTAIN GUIDELINES TO MAKE SURE HE PRESERVES THE, THE HISTORICAL PREVALENCE OF THE PROPERTY.
SO HE WOULD, WELL, WITH THE PROPERTY BEING WITH THE PD NINE BEING AMENDED TO ADD THE LOCAL REACH, THE LOCAL OFFICE, UM, HE WOULD STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW STANDARDS TO MAINTAIN AGAIN, THE HISTORICAL PROPERTY, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONCE, UM, A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING.
BUT HE, WE ARE JUST SIMPLY ASKING IF WE CAN ADD THE USE TYPE, UH, LOCAL OFFICE.
DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? OKAY.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU HAD SOMETHING? YEAH.
DO YOU HAVE A BACK SHOT OF THAT PROPERTY? UH, WE DO HAVE ONE.
WELL, NOT ON THIS ONE BECAUSE IT SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSED THE FRONTAGE, BUT UM, ON THE NEXT PRESENTATION WE DO HAVE A BACK SHOT OF IT.
I I, I DID GET A PHONE CALL FROM THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR.
UH, MR. DOLS, HE ONLY THING HE'S REQUESTING, HE'S NOT AGAINST IT.
THE ONLY THING HE'S REQUESTING THAT, THAT YOUR PRIVATE FENCE PUT UP.
NOW ONE OF THE THINGS, IF THIS IS A WAY OF SALVAGING THAT PROPERTY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHY I WANNA GET A BIKE SHOP BECAUSE THE TERMITES HAVE HAS ATTACKED IT.
NOW THE PERSON THAT'S INTERESTED IN IT, IF PASSES THIS HAS ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT'S NECESSARY TO RESTORE IT IN A ACCORD WITH THE HISTORICAL MARKETS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
AND, UH, SO WHEN IS THE NEXT HEARING? UM, FOR THE NEXT CASE? HMM, FOR THE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT? YEAH.
IF THERE'LL BE NO OTHER, UH, WE WOULD, UH, MOTIONS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AM I CORRECT ON THAT? CITY SECRETARY? YES.
OH, WHAT YOU HAVE, ASK THE PUBLIC, OH, EXCUSE ME.
ANYONE IN, UH, IN THE GALLERY, UH, WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, UH, OKAY.
YOU GET UP, UH, TO THE PODIUM, MA'AM, JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
DO, MY NAME IS CAROL DOS AND I LIVE 26 0 1 LAKE SHORE, RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THIS BUILDING.
SO IT AFFECTS ME TREMENDOUSLY, BUT I WANNA SAY I AM ALL FOR IT BECAUSE IT KEEPS THINGS NATURAL.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS THING, IT DIED, BUT WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT.
IT'S LIKE MY HUSBAND WANTS A FENCE.
BECAUSE THERE WILL BE PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT.
BUT I KNOW I LIVE IN THE HISTORICAL SECTION AND AS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING STRICT ABOUT IT, YOU REALLY AREN'T, I DON'T MEAN TO BE DISRESPECTFUL, BUT YOU JUST REALLY AREN'T.
AND, UH, BUT I DO WANNA KEEP IT LIKE IT IS.
AND I THINK THE PERSON THAT IS WANTING TO DO THIS WILL DO THAT.
AND IT WILL KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD NICE.
ANYONE ELSE, UH, IN THE GALLERY FROM THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT? ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? THERE'LL BE NONE.
UH, NOW COUNCILMAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE DO I MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT FIRST ONE.
MAYOR, SECOND COUNCILMAN FRANK.
AND SECOND, THEN WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC FIRST PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:16 PM UM, WE FOR COURT AND WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO, FIRST PUBLIC HEARING HAS CONCLUDED.
[IV.(2) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments And To Discuss The Following: Z24-06 (B) – To Consider Granting A Specific Use Permit For 1.2865 Acres Of Land Being Out Of The City Of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas. (2509 Lakeshore Drive And 2545 Lakeshore Drive) A Precise Drawing And Description Of This Property Will Also Be Presented At The Public Hearing And Can Be Examined In The City Planning Department, City Hall, Port Arthur, Texas If You Cannot Attend The Meeting You May Send A Letter To The Planning Director, City Of Port Arthur, 444 Fourth Street, Planning Department Third Floor, Port Arthur, Texas 77641. If There Are Additional Questions You May Contact The Planning Department At (409) 983-8133 ]
NOW WE'LL MOVE TO THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING.AND, UH, WAS I ALREADY ON IT? YEAH, I WAS ON THE PAGE.
THE, UH, IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENT AND DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING.
Z 24 DASH ZERO SIX SUBSECTION B TO CONSIDER GRANTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR 1.3 ACRES OF LAND BEING OUT OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR JEFFERSON COUNTY, PHYSICALLY LOCATED AT 25 0 9 LAKE SHORE DRIVE, AND 25 45 LAKE SHORE DRIVE.
A PRECISE DRAWING AND DESCRIPTION OF THIS PROPERTY WILL ALSO BE PRESENTED AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING, AND IT CAN BE EXAMINED IN THE CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENTS, UH, CITY HALL OFFICE.
AND, UH, FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING THIS VIRTUALLY,
[00:30:01]
IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY SEND A LETTER TO THE PLANNING DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET, UH, PLANNING DEPARTMENT.UH, IT SAYS THIRD FLOOR, BUT I HAVE TO SAY WHAT WHAT IT'S WRITTEN IN PORT ARTHUR 7 7 6 4 1.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, YOU MAY CONTACT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 3 3.
AND YOU CAN ALSO VIEW THIS, UH, PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT WWW.PORTAUTHORTX.GOV.
AND MS. MARLOW, YOU MAY PROCEED.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6.03 E OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE IN CHAPTER TWO 11 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT.
NUMBER 2 4 2 FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.2865 ACRES, 56039.94 SQUARE FEET IN THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NINE, PD NINE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6.03 OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE.
THE PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED AT 25 0 9 AND 25 45 LAKESHORE DRIVE.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS CRE REQUEST IS TO OBTAIN A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR THE OPERATION OF A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE LOCAL IN A PLAN DEVELOPMENT NINE DISTRICT PD NINE.
THE GRANTING OF THIS SUP IS CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 7 2 6 2 AMENDING PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NINE BY ADDING PROFESSIONAL OFFICE LOCAL AS A USE TYPE TO SECTION 2 8 3 OF PERMITTED USES.
ACCORDING TO SECTION 7.04 OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE PROFESSIONAL OFFICE, LOCAL IS DEFINED AS AN ESTABLISHMENT TO CONDUCT FOR THE CONDUCT OF A VARIETY OF BUSINESSES IN AN OFFICE SETTING, COMPLETELY ENCLOSED WITHIN A STRUCTURE LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 20,000 SQUARE FEET.
A COMPLETED APPLICATION WAS FILED WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ON JULY 11TH, 2024, REQUESTING A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT, A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT, SORRY FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROPERTY.
THE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT WILL ALLOW FOR THE OPERATION OF, OF A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE LOCAL UNDER SECTION 2 83 AS A LEGALLY CONFORMING USE AT SAID LOCATION.
PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THE PROPOSED SITE ON AUGUST 1ST, 2024, AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON JULY 24TH, 2024.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 19TH, 2024, INVITING CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED THREE ZERO, RECOMMENDED THE REQUEST BE APPROVED ON JULY 30TH, 2024.
THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO THREE DASH 8 5 9 CALLING FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING.
THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PUBLISHED A PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON AUGUST 10TH, 2024, AS WELL AS PREPARED AND MAILED NOTIFICATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 12TH, 2024.
THE CURRENT ZONING IS A PLAN DEVELOPMENT NINE DISTRICT, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE CITY'S DESIGNATED HISTORIC DISTRICT.
A HISTORIC DISTRICT CAN ALSO HELP REVITALIZE AND PRESERVE THE RESIDENTIAL, CIVIC, AND BUSINESS AREAS.
THE PURPOSE OF SPECIFIC USE PERMIT NUMBER 242 IS ALSO TO ALLOW FOR THE OPERATION OF A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE, LOCAL BUILDING IN THE CITY'S HISTORIC DISTRICT.
A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE LOCAL IS AN ESTABLISHMENT FOR THE CONDUCT OF A VARIETY OF BUSINESSES IN AN OFFICE SETTING, COMPLETELY ENCLOSED WITHIN A STRUCTURE LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 20,000 SQUARE FEET.
TRADITIONAL BUSINESS HOURS PROFESS FOR PROFESSIONAL OFFICES ARE FROM 9:00 AM TO 5:00 PM IN A 40 HOUR WORK WEEK.
THE SITE LOCATION IS ADJACENT TO THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT NINE DISTRICT TO THE NORTH, SOUTHEAST, AND WEST.
THIS IS AN AREA VIEW OF THE PROPERTY.
THIS IS THE, THE STREET VIEW OF THE PROPERTY OF THE PROPOSED LOCATION.
[00:35:03]
THIS IS A VIEW OF THE PROPERTY'S AJA ADJACENT AND TO THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY.UM, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, I KNOW YOU DID MENTION WANTING TO SEE A PICTURE OF THE REAR.
SO THAT'S THE REAR IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
CODE SECTIONS TWO 11.00 6 2, 11 0.07.
A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES AND TIMES TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THE PLANNING IS ZONING, COMMISSION WRITTEN OPPOSITION, ZERO VERBAL OPPOSITION, ZERO LETTERS, RETURN ZERO.
CITY COUNCIL WRITTEN OPPOSITION, ZERO VERBAL OPPOSITION.
SO FAR, NONE AND LETTERS RETURNED.
ONE SECTION TWO 11 DASH OH SIX F OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE STATES THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE OR DENY THE PROPOSED MATTER BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.
THEREFORE, A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPROVE, APPROVE THIS REQUEST.
ANY QUESTIONS? UH, COUNCILMAN FRANKLIN, YOUR, LIKE FOUR YEARS AGO? OKAY, SO YOU'VE BEEN ON
I DON'T REALLY HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I HAVE A COMMENT.
I JUST WANNA SPEAK OUT ON BEHALF OF THE, UH, THE COMPANY THAT'S GONNA BE DOING BUSINESS IN THIS LOCATION.
UH, IT'S ACTUALLY A COMPANY THAT I USED TO WORK FOR IN MY CAPACITY AS A LAWYER AND AS A CONSULTANT.
AND I KNOW THE TYPE OF WORK THAT THEY DO IS NOT GONNA BE A WHOLE BUNCH OF TRAFFIC IN AND OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I WANNA ASSURE COUNSEL AND, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, UH, THEY'RE A VERY SMALL ORGANIZATION.
UH, MOST OF THEIR BUSINESS IS DONE OFFSITE.
THEY DO CONSULTING WORK IN, UH, VARIOUS PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND SO MOST OF THEIR WORK IS DONE AT THE LOCATION WHERE THEIR CLIENTS ARE LOCATED.
SO IT'S VERY RARE THAT THEY HAVE ANYONE OTHER THAN THEIR VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, IT WILL BE IN AND OUT OF THEIR LOCATION.
SO IF ANYBODY'S CONCERNED ABOUT, OH MY GOSH, THERE'S GONNA BE SO MUCH TRAFFIC IN AND OUT, IT'S NOT GONNA BE THAT WAY.
IT'S A VERY, VERY SMALL ORGANIZATION AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THEM TO, TO HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.
WELL, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I'VE, UH, SPOKEN WITH THE PRINCIPAL IN THIS ORGANIZATION.
UH, I, WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OTHER LAND, UH, MATTER OF FACT, RIGHT HERE, ALMOST ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW, UH, YOU KNOW, TO BUILD, UH, UH, AN OFFICE AND HE DECIDED ON A SMALLER, UH, PIECE OF PROPERTY, WELL, A SMALLER BUILDING.
AND, UH, I WAS EXCITED WHEN HE, WHEN I WAS INFORMED OF THIS.
SO, UH, I BELIEVE, UH, THAT, THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY'RE GONNA BE GOOD NEIGHBORS AND, UH, WE COULDN'T PROVE THE FENCE, UH, FOR SEPARATION.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHICH SIDE THAT'S GOING TO BE ON, BUT, UH, YOU, YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD TAKE THAT INFORMATION TO THEM, UH, WITH THAT REQUEST.
MS. MA, THAT'S THE ONLY, THAT'S THE ONLY CONCERN THAT I HAVE.
'CAUSE IT, IT'S NOT A PART OF, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT WRITTEN IN HERE, BUT CAN WE, UH, OR HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE GET IT INCLUDED? WELL, I DO KNOW WITHIN A SPECIFIC USE PER, PER WITHIN THE PD NINE WHEN I WAS REVIEWING IT, UM, NUMBER FOUR, IT SAYS PER SPECIFIC USE PERMIT CONDITIONS MAY INCLUDE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING ONE HOURS OF OPERATION, TWO FENCING, THREE SIGNAGE, AND FOUR LANDSCAPING.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED FOR SURE.
THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY CONCERN THAT, THAT, THAT I HAVE AS LONG.
AND, AND I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD REJECT THAT.
UH, IF NOT PUBLIC, WE HAVE ANY, UH, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY.
THAT LETS US KNOW THAT AT 6 26 I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION.
COUNCILOR KIMMEL MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6 26.
COUNCILMAN FRANK, SECOND MAYOR, IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND WE WILL CLOSE THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:26 PM UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
SO THAT IS APPROVED TO ADJOURN.
WELL, UH, ADJOIN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
NOW WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS, AGAIN, TAKE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE AND MOVE OUT OF THE SEQUENCE AND GO TO PAGE SEVEN, IF YOU WILL.
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7262 – An Ordinance Amending The Zoning Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur By Adding A Use Type To Section 2(3) Of Permitted Uses To Allow The Land Use Of A "Professional Office" On 1.286-Acres Of Land Consisting Of Tract 2 Of Lots 9 And 10, Block 165, City Of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas And Tracts 1 & 2 Of Lots 7 And 8, Block 165, City Of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas (Violation Of Any Provision Of This Ordinance Shall Be Guilty Of A Misdemeanor And Shall Be Punished By A Fine Not Exceeding $2,000.00, As Provided In Chapter 1, Section 1-13 Of The Code Of Ordinances, And Each Day Which Violation Is Permitted To Exist Shall Constitute A Separate And Distinct Offense.); And Providing For Publication In The Official Newspaper Of The City Of Port Arthur And Effective Immediately After Publication Date]
SEVEN, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT ALL THOSE ITEMS, UH, IN A NON-CONSENT AND, AND BRING THIS, UH, ITEMS UP AT THIS JUNCTURE.AND THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE ITEM NUMBER ONE ON PAGE
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SEVEN.IT IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING, UH, ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BY ADDING A USE TYPE TO SECTION TWO SUBSECTION THREE OF PERMITTED USES TO ALLOW THE LAND USE OF A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE ON 1.3 ACRES OF LAND, UH, CONSISTING OF TRACK TWO OF LOTS, NINE AND 10 BLOCK 1 65, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS, AND TRACKS ONE AND TWO OF LOTS, SEVEN AND EIGHT BLOCK 1 65, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
NOW VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND SHALL BE PUNISHED BY A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $2,000 AS PROVIDED IN CHAPTER ONE, SECTION ONE DASH 13 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
AND EACH DAY, WHICH VIOLATION IS PERMITTED TO EXIST, SHALL CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT OFFENSE AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE CITY OF PORT NEWSPAPER, I'M SORRY, OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, AND EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUBLICATION DATE.
AND WITH THAT, MAY I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KEN? OH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOUR LIKE GOING.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE.
ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION? ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T SEE ANY LIGHTS.
SO IT IS APPROVED PO NUMBER 62.
72 62, EXCUSE ME, IS APPROVED AS READ.
NOW LET'S MOVE TO Z 24 DASH OH SIX EIGHT OH.
I, I'VE MISSED, UH, SAYING THAT.
YEAH, I SEE IT NOW, MY BROTHER.
YEAH, I WAS THINKING THAT WAS A HEADING FOR THE OTHER ONE.
[VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7263 – An Ordinance Amending The Zoning Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur By Granting Specific Use Permit No. 242 To Allow The Land Use Of A "Professional Office" On 1.286-Acres Of Land Consisting Of Tract 2 Of Lots 9 And 10, Block 165, City Of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas And Tracts 1 & 2 Of Lots 7 And 8, Block 165, City Of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas (Violation Of Any Provision Of This Ordinance Shall Be Guilty Of A Misdemeanor And Shall Be Punished By A Fine Not Exceeding $2,000.00, As Provided In Chapter 1, Section 1-13 Of The Code Of Ordinances, And Each Day Which Violation Is Permitted To Exist Shall Constitute A Separate And Distinct Offense.); And Providing For Publication In The Official Newspaper Of The City Of Port Arthur And Effective Immediately After Publication Date]
PO NUMBER 72 63, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BY GRANT, UH, GRANTING SPECIFIC USE PERMIT NUMBER 2 4 2 TO ALLOW THE LAND USE OF A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE ON 1.3 ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF TRACKS TWO OF LOTS, NINE AND 10 BLOCK 1 65, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS, AND TRACKS ONE AND TWO OF LOT SEVEN AND EIGHT BLOCK 1 65, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR JEFFERSON COUNTY TEXAS.VIOLATION AGAIN OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND SHALL BE PUNISHED BY FINE, NOT EXCEEDING $2,000.
AND PROVIDED IN CHAPTER ONE, SECTION ONE DASH 13 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES AND EACH DAY, WHICH VIOLATION IS PERMITTED TO EXIST, SHALL CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT OFFENSE AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION IN THE NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUBLICATION DATE.
AND MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YEAH.
A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, PROPOSAL THIS NUMBER 7 2 6 3.
AND MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILWOMAN? EVER FEEL SECOND? IT HAS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE, EXCUSE ME.
UH, ORDER THE 72 63 AS PRESENTED.
ANY OPPOSES? THE AYES HAVE IT.
SO IT IS ORDERED, UH, APPEALS NUMBER 72 63 IS APPROVED AS READ.
IF YOU FLIP THE PAGE TO PAGE EIGHT, PO
[VIII.B.(3) P.O. No. 7271 – An Ordinance Rescinding Ordinance No. 24-15 In Its Entirety, Relating To The Sale Of Public Park Land Approved By The Qualified Voters Of Port Arthur, Located At 2749 Lakeshore Drive, Commonly Known As Hughen Park]
NUMBER 72 71 AN OR AN ORDINANCE RESCINDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 24 DASH 15 IN ITS ENTIRETY RELATING TO THE SALE OF PUBLIC LAND APPROVED BY THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF PORT ARTHUR, LOCATED AT 27 49 LAKE SHORE DRIVE, COMMONLY KNOWN AS HU PARK.MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MOVE MAYOR A SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 72 71 AS PRESENTED.
I SO CUSTOMER LOOKING AT THAT, BUT I CAN'T
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NO, NO QUESTIONS.WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR, A.
ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT? PO NUMBER 72 71 IS APPROVED AS READ AND NOW
[VIII.B.(4) P.O. No. 7272 – An Ordinance Rescinding Ordinance No. 24-17 In Its Entirety, Relating To The Sale Of Public Park Land Approved By The Qualified Voters Of Port Arthur, Located At 2201 Lakeshore Drive, Commonly Known As Civic Park]
PO NUMBER 72 72 AN ORDINANCE, RESCINDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 24 17 IN ITS ENTIRETY, UH, RELATING TO THE SALE OF PUBLIC LAND, PUBLIC PARK LAND, UH, APPROVED BY THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF PORT ARTHUR, LOCATED AT 2201 LAKE SHORE DRIVE, COMMONLY KNOWN AS CIVIC PARK.MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MAYOR PRO TEM.
AND MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? SECOND.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE, EXCUSE ME, PO NUMBER 72.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO PO NUMBER 72 72 IS APPROVED AS READ NOW WE WILL GO BACK TO, I BELIEVE IT IS PAGE ONE.
YEAH, PAGE ONE OF OUR PRINTED AGENDA, AND WE WILL, UH, PROCLAMATIONS.
BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY.
WE HAVE THE FIRST SPEAKER IS KEVIN ROACH, REGARDING UNFAIR PRACTICES OF COOPERATION BY CITY DEPARTMENTS.
AND, UH, GARBAGE PICKUP IS MR. KEVIN ROACH IN THE HOUSE YOU APPROACH MR. KEVIN ROACH.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO PRESENTATIONS.
[III.B.(1) A Presentation By Karan Korpal Of Korpal Golden Investments Regarding The Golden Chick Project]
HAVE A PRESENTATION BY KAREN CORPORAL AND CORPORAL GOLDEN INVESTMENTS REGARDING THE GOLDEN CHICK PROJECT.WOULD YOU ALL APPROACH, PLEASE? GOOD EVENING, GENTLEMEN.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE PODIUM, YOU CAN SEE IT SAYS THAT YOU'RE GONNA STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, EACH OF YOU FOR THE RECORD.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS RAJ AL.
OH, YOUR, YOUR, YEAH, YOUR, YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
UH, UM, WELL, FIRST OFF, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, WE JUST WANNA PRESENT THE, UH, A GOLDEN CHICK PROJECT THAT WE HAVE GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
IT'S A, UH, MULTI RETAIL PROJECT.
WE WE'RE BRINGING IS A GOLDEN CHICK PROJECT.
UH, WE OPENED UP OUR FIRST ONE IN ORANGE.
WE TRIED TO OPEN ONE UP IN 2019 IN, UH, PORT ARTHUR.
AND, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE COULDN'T MAKE A DEAL ON OUR LAND.
WE WENT TO ORANGE, WE BUILT ONE IN ORANGE, AND NOW WE'RE JUST BUILDING ONE.
WE JUST BUILT ONE IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS OFF OF CONCORD ROAD.
AND, UH, WE OPENED UP ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO.
WE WANTED TO BRING THE SAME PROJECT OVER HERE TO PORT ARTHUR THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
BUT THIS TIME WE'RE BRINGING TWO CONCEPTS.
IT'S A GOLDEN CHICK PROJECT, AND IT'S A, UM, AN ICE CREAM SANDWICH GOURMET TYPE DEAL.
UM, SO THIS IS WHAT THE OUTSIDE LOOKS LIKE.
AND, UH, HERE, HERE, GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HAVING US.
UM, JUST TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GOLDEN CHICK, UM, I ACTUALLY COME FROM POPEYE'S MYSELF OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE.
AND GOLDEN CHICK IS THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK.
THAT'S JUST THE UPSCALE OF, UH, FINE DINING, OF FAST FOOD DINING.
SO, ONE OF OUR GOALS, TO BE HONEST, WHICH IS THAT WE'RE HERE TO BRING GOOD SERVICE AND SHUT DOWN PEOPLE LIKE POPEYE'S.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT GIVING YOU GOOD SERVICE.
YOU KNOW, SOME HEALTHY FOOD TOO, GOT LIKE ROASTED CHICKEN FOR THOSE THAT DON'T EAT FRIED.
WE HAVE FRESH CHICKEN, SALADS, AND A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ON THE MENU.
THIS IS A BUILDING THAT WE BUILT IN BEAUMONT.
UH, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT CHEAPLY MADE WITH IT'S ALL, ALL MASONRY AND STONE AND BRICK.
UH, THIS IS AN ACTUAL PHOTO FROM THE ONE ON BEAUMONT.
WE DIDN'T STEAL THIS OFF OF GOOGLE.
UH, THIS IS, WE CARRY THAT FORWARD FROM THE INSIDE, UH, INSIDE FINISHING WITH THE COPPER CEILING TILES.
UH, VERY EXPENSIVE BUILD OUTS.
AND WE, WE JUST, YOU KNOW, LOVE TO PUT THE MONEY IN AND BRING THE CITY SOMETHING NICE, SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.
OKAY? AND ONE THING, WE KNOW THAT IN THE, UH, RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, YOUR GOOGLE RATINGS ARE IMPORTANT.
[00:50:01]
SO IF YOU LOOK AT OUR GOOGLE RATINGS AT BOTH OUR STORES, OUR ORANGE AND OUR, UH, PORT ARTHUR, I MEAN ORANGE, AND OUR BEAUMONT LOCATION, BOTH OUR GOOGLE RATINGS ARE OVER FOUR POINTS.AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE COMPETITORS KFC AND POPEYE'S, AS YOU CAN SEE, SO WE STRIVE ON GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW PEOPLE ARE REALLY PARTICULAR ABOUT WHERE YOU SPEND YOUR DOLLAR AT AND THE PEOPLE GONNA RESPECT YOUR DOLLAR.
SO TRUST ME, THAT'S WHAT WE EMPHASIZE HERE.
AND WE'RE GONNA BE ALSO CREATING NEW JOBS FOR, UM, PORT PUERTO ARTHUR RESIDENTS NEW JOBS, AND, UH, ROOM FOR DEVELOPMENT TO GROW WITH US BECAUSE WE HAVE EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO THE WHOLE TRIANGLE.
UH, WE ONLY, UH, AT OUR, UH, BEAUMONT AND ORANGE LOCATION THERE, CLOSE TO THE MIC.
AT OUR BEAUMONT AND ORANGE LOCATION, WE HIRED ABOUT 25 PEOPLE EACH WITH THE VOLUME THAT WE EXPECT FROM, UH, PORT ARTHUR.
WE EXPECT TO HIRE AT LEAST 35 PORT ARTHUR, UH, EMPLOYEES HERE.
AND ALSO LIKE OUR, UH, BEAUMONT LOCATION, WE JUST CELEBRATED SIX MONTHS OF, UH, BEING OPEN AND ALL THE TEAM, WE RETAINED MAJORITY OF THE CREW MEMBERS THERE.
AND AS YOU LOOK, THAT'S A SNAPSHOT OF OUR TEAM AFTER THEY COMPLETED SIX MONTHS.
WE ALSO GET INVOLVED A LOT INTO, UH, COMMUNITIES, UM, GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, REACHING OUT TO THE SCHOOLS MENTOR PROGRAMS. LIKE AT OUR BEAUMONT LOCATION RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE, UH, FROM, UH, BOYS TO YOUNG MEN PROGRAM THAT WE'RE DOING EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT.
SO WE'RE REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS GETTING ACTIVE INTO THE SCHOOLS.
THAT WAS THE BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE THERE WITH THE FRENCH ALUMNI.
WE'VE ALSO PARTNERED UP WITH THE 4 0 9 SLINGSHOT RIDERS.
THEY'RE ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE DOING A LOT OF THINGS FOR THE KIDS AT OUR BEAUMONT LOCATION FOR THIS LOCATION, WE, UH, PROJECT ABOUT $2 MILLION IN SALES ANNUALLY.
UM, IF YOU, OVER A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS, THAT'S ABOUT 1.5 MILLION SALES TAX DOLLARS FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
UM, I CAN JUST KIND OF SHARE WITH YOU, ORANGE CURRENTLY DOES OVER A MILLION.
AND, UH, OUR BEAUMONT LOCATION DID A MILLION JUST IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS.
WE ACTUALLY HAD THE HIGHEST, UH, FIRST WEEK AND FIRST MONTH OPENING IN GOLDEN CHICK HISTORY.
SO, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH OUR PORTHA LOCATION, WE BELIEVE WE CAN BEAT THAT SIGNIFICANTLY.
AND THAT'S WHY WE THINK WE CAN DO THE $2 MILLION IN SALES TAX DOLLARS.
UM, AT, AT THIS LOCATION, UH, OUR, THE NEW ICE CREAM SHOP THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO, IT'S, IT'S MORE OF A JUST A GOURMET, FRESHLY BAKED COOKIES WITH GOURMET ICE CREAMS. UH, YOU CAN GET THE COOKIE BY ITSELF, YOU CAN GET THE ICE CREAM OR YOU CAN GET AN ICE CREAM SANDWICH.
UH, ON THIS LOCATION WE PROJECT ABOUT 400,000 IN SALES AND ABOUT 330,000 IN SALES TAX, DOLLAR PER DOLLAR.
FOR THE, UH, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WE ONLY EXPECT TO HIRE SIX PEOPLE.
IT'S ONLY ABOUT SIX PEOPLE AT THIS LOCATION.
SO 41 TOTAL BETWEEN THE GOLDEN CHICK AND THIS SHOP.
AND THEN PROPERTY TAXES, IF I JUST HAD TO GUESS COMPARED TO HOW MUCH WE WERE SPENDING, IT'S ABOUT A $2.2 MILLION PROJECT.
UH, WE EXPECT PROBABLY PAY ABOUT 30,000 A YEAR ON THE SALES TAX, UH, FOR THE, UH, PROPERTY TAX, FOR THAT PROPERTY.
AND CURRENTLY IT'S A VACANT PIECE OF LAND, SO THERE'S NO NOTHING THERE RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE GONNA BUILD THAT UP, UH, FOR THE PROPERTY TAX.
I DUNNO, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA ASK.
SO THE REASON WE PICKED PORT ARTHUR WAS, UH, WE'VE BEEN TRYING THIS FOR A WHILE.
OUR DAD'S FIRST JOB IN AMERICA WAS IN PORT ARTHUR.
WE, UH, HE CAME HERE IN 1986 AND UM, AT, HE WAS WORKING AT A GAS STATION ON GULF WAY DRIVE.
AND, UH, WE, HE'S ALWAYS SAID, MAN, I REALLY WANT YOU GUYS TO DO SOMETHING IN PORT ARTHUR.
THAT WAS THE FIRST PLACE WHERE HE MADE HIS PAYCHECK AND, UH, AND BUILT HIS BUSINESS TODAY FROM THAT.
AND THEN JUST FOR THE RECORD, THAT'S A PICTURE OF MY DAD IN THE STORE.
I THINK THIS WAS OFF OF, OFF OF GULF WAY IN THE QUEEN.
THERE'S A LITTLE STORE RIGHT THERE.
AND ALSO FOR THE RECORD, HE DOES NOT HAVE THAT HAIR ANYMORE.
SO IF YOU GUYS SEE HIM AROUND, THAT'S, YEAH.
UH, SINCE SOME OF OUR PAST VENTURES, WE DID THE, UH, WE PURCHASED A FEED STORE OVER THE INVITER.
WE, UH, TOOK THAT BUILDING AND REVAMPED IT TO NOW MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THIS.
WE EVEN GOT A BEAUTIFICATION AWARD FROM THE CITY OF VIDDER FOR THE WORK THAT WE PUT INTO.
UH, AND THEN THIS IS ACTUALLY A GAS STATION WE DID.
IT WAS A PASSION PROJECT OF OUR FAMILY.
IT WAS A GOWAY DRIVE IN BLUE BONNET, AND UH, YOU GUYS CAN SEE HOW IT LOOKED BEFORE.
AND, UH, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW.
WE DID THIS LAST YEAR, SO WE'RE NOT, UH, UNFAMILIAR WITH PORT ARTHUR.
WE'VE DONE BUSINESS IN PORT ARTHUR.
UM, AND SO, YEAH, BUT WHAT WE'RE HERE ARE, WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY IS IT ASKED TO BE, UH, PUT BACK ON THE EDC AGENDA, UH, TO GIVE, BE BROUGHT BACK.
SO I THINK THE NEXT MEETING IS, UM, THE FIRST WEEK
[00:55:01]
OF SEPTEMBER.IT'S, IT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING HERE WITH, WITH OUR PROJECTS.
WE HAVE TWO BUSINESSES ON OUR SITE.
AND IF YOU GUYS NEED REFERENCES, WE'VE ALREADY DONE A COUPLE OF, UH, EDC PROJECTS IN ORANGE.
ONE WAS A GOLDEN CHICK, ONE IS A SHOPPING CENTER.
AND, UH, I BROUGHT HIM, I ASKED HIS PERMISSION, I SAID, HEY, CAN WE GIVE YOUR, UH, UH, YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER OUT IF IN CASE YOU GUYS NEED REFERENCES, IT'S JAY TRAHAN FROM THE CITY OF ORANGE.
AND HE WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO.
SO COUNCILMAN FRANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION ON TODAY.
UH, I USED TO LOVE FRIED CHICKEN.
I NEED SOME BAKED CHICKEN
SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT HAVING YOU.
YOU HAVE A HISTORY HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
LET ME ASK THE QUESTION, UM, WHERE IS THE LAND GOING TO BE LOCATED? WHERE IS THE LAND? SO THIS IS LOCATED, UH, WHERE THE OLD WELLS FARGO BUILDING USED TO BE.
SO IT'S OFF OF HIGHWAY 365 AND CENTRAL MALL.
IT WENT VACANT ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.
UH, DEVELOPER TRIED TO PURCHASE IT.
WE, UH, AND UH, BUT THE DEVELOPER COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.
HE, HE WAS ABOUT ACTUALLY FORECLOSED ON.
WE CAME IN AND WE SAID, WE TALKED TO HIM, MADE A DEAL, PURCHASED IT, UM, EXTREMELY HIGH PRICE AT THE TIME, BUT WE ACTUALLY SOLD THE CORNER PIECE TO, UH, RAO'S BAKERY.
SO RAO'S BAKERY'S TRYING TO COME IN.
AND THEN, UH, WE'RE PUTTING A GOLDEN CHICK AND THEN A 14,000 SQUARE FOOT SHOPPING CENTER AT THE BACK.
AND THEN WE, I BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA DO THE SHOPPING CENTER NEXT YEAR, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE GOLDEN CHICK AND BRINGING RAYOS OVER.
AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, APPROACHING THE EDC AND REESTABLISHING YOUR APPOINTMENT.
HAVE YOU TALKED TO MR. STOKES THERE AND, AND TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THAT? YES.
I'M GLAD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND I LIKE POPEYE'S TOO.
NOW I'M GONNA LET YOU KNOW STRAIGHT UP NOW
NORMALLY, UH, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE BUSINESSES LIKE YOU COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND TELL US, YOU KNOW, THE INSIGHT OF WHAT THEY'RE PLANNING ON DOING.
BUT ON A SERIOUS TIP, YOU SAID YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS PROJECT ABOUT FIVE YEARS OR SO.
SO WHAT'S PREVENTING YOU FROM DOING THIS PROJECT IN PORT ARTHUR? I MEAN, IS IT THAT YOU'RE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT, UH, YOUR ENDEAVORS WITH AND GO BACK TO THE EDC? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR PLAN? YEAH.
SO WE ASKED THE EDC TO GO, UM, SAY, HEY, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA GO BACK TO THE BOARD.
THEY ASKED SAY, HEY, PLEASE PRESENT TO, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT GETTING REAPPOINTED BACK ON THE BOARD, UH, FOR THE EDC.
BUT YEAH, WE, WE HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR FIVE YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN IN TALKS WITH THE EDC FOR FIVE YEARS.
SO WERE YOU DENIED SOME TYPE OF WELL, I, I MEAN, WHAT'S GOING ON? 'CAUSE I'M TRYING TO READ BETWEEN WHAT'S, WHAT ARE YOU ASKING AT THIS POINT? SO, SO AT THIS POINT I BELIEVE THAT, UM, I'M NOT TOO FAMILIAR HOW THE EDC BOARD WORKS, BUT I FEEL LIKE THEY, ONE OF YOU GUYS HAVE TO GO BACK AND GET US APPOINTED
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE OH, I SEE.
WE ALREADY WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND GOT REJECTED.
SO NOW WE WANT TO GO BACK NOW.
I UNDERSTAND NOW BECAUSE NORMALLY YOU, WHEN YOU COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND TELL US YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR GOALS, YOUR PLANS, AND NOW YOU WANT TO GET BACK ON THERE BECAUSE OF BEING DENIED BEFORE FROM THE EDC.
JUST 'CAUSE YOU GOT DENIED BY A PROJECT.
IT'S PROBABLY THE PROJECT YOU HAD.
THIS IS A NEW PROJECT YOU COME IN WITH.
NOW ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO THERE, FILL OUT YOUR APPLICATION.
'CAUSE WHAT I'M LOOKING AT, YOU HAVE, I DON'T SEE NO PROBLEM.
THAT'S THE STEP THAT YOU NEED TO TAKE.
THAT'S WHAT OUR EDC MISSION IS TO BRING IN NEW OR EXPAND BUSINESS.
IT'S A LOT OF, IT'S A LOT OF JOB.
I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GONNA PUT THE PLACE AT.
I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA PAY SOME TAXES THERE,
SO, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT EVEN RUNNING THE NUMBERS, I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR VALUE.
SO YOU JUST NEED TO START YOUR PROCESS AND IF THE PROCESS DON'T WORK, THEN I THINK WE ARE THE ONES YOU NEED TO TALK TO BECAUSE WE LISTEN TO WHAT YOU GOT NOW.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN TOWN, SO, AWESOME.
YOU GOT A PROBLEM THERE, THEN YOU COME BACK HERE.
[01:00:01]
THANK YOU, MAYOR.UM, IF I UNDERSTOOD YOU RIGHT, YOU SAID THAT YOU SOLD THE CORNER OF THE PROPERTY TO REOS BAKERY? YES.
HAS THAT, HAS THAT SALE BEEN CLOSED? THAT SALE HAS BEEN CLOSED.
AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE IN THE PERMITTING STAGE.
SO THEY'RE ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF, OF WANTING TO BUILD THEIR SHOP AND MOVE FROM THEIR CURRENT LOCATION, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.
THEY'RE MOVING FROM THE NEEDLE INSIDE, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
IF YOU NOTICE THAT LITTLE DRIVE THROUGH UHHUH.
AND THEN THEY'RE PUTTING IT ON, UH, ON THIS SIDE, WHICH IS THE PORT.
UM, SO YOU, I THINK I UNDERSTOOD YOU TO SAY THAT YOUR, YOUR FIRST CONCERN IS TO, TO BUILD THE GOLDEN CHICK.
THE ICE CREAM SHOP WILL COME NEXT, AND THEN THE SHOPPING CENTER IS GONNA BE THE LAST PROJECT.
TELL ME ABOUT THE SHOPPING CENTER.
IT'D BE LIKE A 14,000 SQUARE FOOT SHOPPING CENTER.
UM, IS IT LIKE A STOREFRONT WITH, WITH MULTIPLE LOCATIONS? YES.
UM, AMPLE AMOUNT OF PARKING WE HAVE, WE ALREADY HAVE A FEW BUSINESSES LINED UP.
UM, I KNOW OUR FAMILY'S IN THE SUBWAY BUSINESS, SO WE ALREADY HAVE, WE'RE ALREADY MOVING OUR SUBWAY THERE.
AND HOW IS THIS THE SHOPPING CENTER GONNA BE SITUATED? WILL IT, WILL IT FACE 365 OR WILL IT FACE CENTRAL MALL DRIVE? IT'S GONNA FACE 365 WITH, UH, BASICALLY GONNA HAVE AN EASEMENT, TWO EASEMENTS FROM CENTRAL MALL AND THEN ONE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT NEXT TO ARBY'S.
SO IT'S GONNA BE TWO PAT SITES, TWO BUILDINGS UP FRONT IN THE BACK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WANTING TO DO BUSINESS HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
AND I, I CALL 'EM CRUNCHIES, BUT I LIKE THE CRUST FROM THE POPEYE'S CHICKEN.
SO I'M JUST SAYING, I'M JUST SAYING, UM, SELFISHLY I WOULD ASK FOR YOU TO HAVE COLLARD GREENS AS A SIDE
I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE GO BACK AND SEE MR. STOKES AT, UM, EDC.
AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET ARE OUR NEIGHBORS ON ONE SIDE FROM TWO SEPARATE CITIES, WHICH I'M NOT DISCOURAGING HIRING THERE TWO.
BUT I WOULD ASK THAT YOU BE VERY, VERY SPECIFIC WHEN YOU ARE HIRING BECAUSE YOU'RE COMING TO, UM, ASK FOR SPECIFIC SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO, UM, SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.
JUST DON'T COME AND SAY THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO TO ASK FOR SUPPORT.
SO I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
UM, THE OTHER SIDE IS, UM, WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS IT THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR? SO EVEN WHEN YOU DO GO BACK TO EDC, WHAT IS YOUR ASK? WE'RE JUST BASED ASKING FOR BLESSING AND SUPPORT.
WE CAME HERE TO PRESENT WITH YOU GUYS.
UM, WE, WE ALREADY DID GET DENIED ONCE AND, UH, WE WEREN'T THERE TO PRESENT THE PROJECT, SO NOW AT LEAST WE, UH, BUT YOU WERE DENIED FOR SUPPORT? YES.
SO THIS IS OUR SECOND TIME GOING BACK, SO WE'RE GONNA GO BACK, REAPPLY, UH, AND UH, AND THEN GO FROM THERE.
BUT I DON'T THINK THEY REALLY KNEW WHAT WE WERE BRINGING TO THE TABLE.
WELL, SINCE THEN, SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
SO NOW YOU MAY SEE SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS? UH, THE ORANGE, TEXAS.
YOU SAID YOU WENT TO THE ORANGE, TEXAS EDC.
WE, WE, WE WHAT DID THEY HELP YOU ALL WITH? UH, INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEY HELPED US WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHAT DID, WHEN YOU WERE APPLIED THE EDC HERE BEFORE, WHAT DID YOU REQUEST WITH BASICALLY JUST INFRASTRUCTURE.
YEAH, I THINK IT WAS CONCRETE.
HOW LONG AGO? HOW LONG AGO THIS WAS? THIS WAS TWO MONTHS AGO.
WHAT'S TOO LONG AGO? UH, TWO MONTHS AGO.
LAST MONTH OR ABOUT? IT WAS, UH, EITHER JULY OR AUGUST MEETING.
UH, WHAT ARE YOUR, WHAT ARE YOUR PAY SCALE? WHAT'S, WHAT RANGE OF YOUR PAY SCALES? WE GO, UM, OUR GENERAL MANAGERS MAKE ANYWHERE BETWEEN, UH, 55 TO 75,000.
AND THEN WE USUALLY START OUR EMPLOYEES AT NINE TO 12 BETWEEN, DEPENDING ON THEIR EXPERIENCE.
IF THEY'RE LIKE A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, WE HIRE A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT BOTH LOCATIONS.
UH, ORANGE AND BEAUMONT, WE START 'EM OFF AT NINE.
AND, UM, ONCE THEY START PICKING UP, THEN WE GO 10, 12, 11, 12.
BUT IF YOU'RE ALREADY COMING FROM POPEYE'S, KFC, WE LOVE THAT.
BUT YOU KNOW SOMETHING, I USED TO, I USED TO SELL THE BEST CHICKEN WINGS IN PORT ARTHUR.
WELL, THEY WAS 45 CENTS A POUND THEN.
AND A HALF A SPRING WAS A HALF OF SPRING WAS, UH, 69 CENTS A POUND.
BUT THIS WORLD'S DIFFERENCE NOW.
BUT I'M, I START, I USED TO SELL THE WHOLE WINGS.
I STARTED THE WINGS, THE WHOLE WING IN PORT ARTHUR.
[01:05:01]
THE SONG.BUT ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.
UH, WE CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE.
WE'LL, WE'LL, UH, WELL, THEY'RE GONNA REVIEW THE BOARD GOING IS GONNA BE LOOKING AT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AND I'M KIND OF CURIOUS AS TO WHY DID IT WELL GO, GO SEE A BOTTOM AGAIN HERE.
UH, YOU GOT ABOUT THREE MINUTES ON MY, SO I'M GONNA TALK FOR THREE MINUTES.
BUT, UH, ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE, UH, WITH ALL THREE OF YOU, YOU CAME HERE, YOU DIDN'T BRING ANY CHICKEN.
IT WOULDN'T FIT, IT WOULDN'T FIT THE MANILA FOLDER, SIR.
IT WOULDN'T FIT THE MANILA FOLDER.
SO LOOK, LOOK AT, TAKE A PICTURE OF EACH ONE OF US WHEN WE GO TO YOUR RESTAURANT.
WE LISTEN TO YOU AT OUR DINNER HOUR.
AND BECAUSE, AND BECAUSE HOMEBOY, I WAS AT FRENCHY'S SATURDAY.
YOU KNOW, THEY HAD ME A CAMPER SPECIAL.
I USED TO BUY 'EM BACK IN THE SEVENTIES.
I JUST WANTED THE MESS WITH YOU SAID YOU TALK ABOUT POPEYE'S.
I WAS AT FRENCHIES IN THIRD WARD.
I RUN THE POPEYE'S ON SCOTT STREET RIGHT ACROSS FROM YOU.
WE USED TO LIVE ON SOPHOMORE LIVE.
WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND, UH, I THINK YOU, YOU PRIZE THE COUNCIL OF WHAT, WHAT YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH.
I JUST WANNA MAKE YOU ALL AWARE, THERE'S AT LEAST TWO, YOU BRING A COUPLE OF BROWN BAGS AND THE MAYOR AND, AND DONALD FRANKLIN THE END.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT PLUG IN FATHER
BUT WE THANK YOU ALL AND, AND, UH, WE PRAY GOD'S BLESSINGS ON YOU AND HOPEFULLY WHEN YOU GO BACK THANK YOU.
YOU CAN GET DIFFERENT RESULTS.
BUT NOW THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN APPRISED MM-HMM.
[III.B.(2) A Presentation By Hope Resource Center Regarding Services Provided To The Greater Port Arthur Community (Requested By Councilmember Hamilton Everfield)]
MOVE TO OUR NEXT, UH, PRESENTATION.IT'S A PRESENTATION BY HOPE RESOURCE CENTER REGARDING SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE GREATER PORT ARTHUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EVER FIELD.
MY ADDRESS IS 26 20 STATEN LANE IN PORTAGES.
UM, I DO HAVE SOME FOLDERS IF MY LOVELY ASSISTANT CAN PASS THIS OUT.
I DIDN'T BRING CHICKEN EITHER.
IF I'D HAVE KNOWN, I WOULD'VE NEXT TIME.
UM, I AM, UM, SO GRATEFUL FOR Y'ALL GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY JUST TO PRESENT WHO, WHO WE ARE AND WHY WE WANNA COME TO PORT ARTHUR.
UH, HOPE WOMEN'S RESOURCE CLINIC HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 26 YEARS.
WE ACTUALLY STARTED IN A CLOSET IN A CHURCH IN KUNTZ.
SERVED A HUNDRED WOMEN THAT FIRST YEAR.
WE'RE NOW IN A 6,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING IN BEAUMONT.
UM, AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A 4,000 SQUARE FOOT PARENTING CENTER BEHIND THAT PROPERTY.
IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THAT, WE HAD A MOBILE UNIT THAT WE STARTED BRINGING DOWN TO PORT ARTHUR, UH, PARKED IT AT THE LIBRARY.
UH, WHAT WE WERE SEEING IS THAT WE WERE SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE FROM THE PORT ARTHUR AREA THAT WE WERE HAVING TO TURN THEM AWAY.
WHAT WE DO IS WE SERVE WOMEN WHO FIND THEMSELVES PREGNANT AND NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.
UM, SO WE HELP THEM NOT ONLY TO CHOOSE TO KEEP THAT PREGNANCY, BUT THEN TO SERVE THEM UNTIL THAT BABY TURNS.
ONE WITH MATERIAL ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES.
SO WE HATED TURNING ANYONE AWAY, UH, IN PORT ARTHUR AND THE MOBILE MANAGER AND I WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION.
WHAT WE DIDN'T REALIZE IS THAT GOD WAS EAVESDROPPING ON THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE SAID WE COULD PROBABLY HAVE A BRICK AND MORTAR IN PORT ARTHUR.
AND TWO YEARS LATER, I MET A MAN WHO INTRODUCED ME TO ALICE KEITH, UH, WHO IT WAS THE BRIDE OF DR. FRANK KEITH, WHO OWNED THE, UM, EYE DOCTOR'S OFFICE RIGHT OFF OF NINTH AVENUE ON PROFESSIONAL DRIVE.
HE SAID, MY MOM DOESN'T SELL ANYTHING.
SHE'S 105 AND SHE HOARDS IT ALL.
I SAID, WELL, GOD TOLD US WE'RE GONNA MOVE HERE AND WE'RE GONNA MOVE INTO THAT BUILDING.
AND SHE DID, SHE DID SELL IT TO US.
AND, UM, WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO, IT'S ABOUT A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING.
WE WOULD LIKE TO OPEN AND PROVIDE PREGNANCY TESTING, ULTRASOUNDS, STD TESTING AND TREATMENT
[01:10:01]
TO BOTH WOMEN AND MEN BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE TWO TO MAKE A BABY.AND, UM, AND THEN ALSO THE PARENTING AND MATERIAL ASSISTANCE THAT WE WILL ALSO HAVE IN THAT BUILDING.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN IN TALKS WITH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT, UM, MEDICAL ENTITIES AS WELL TO POSSIBLY PROVIDE PRENATAL CARE FOR THOSE MOMS. ALL OF IT, FREE AT NO COST TO ANYONE.
WE'RE SUPPORTED BY PRIVATE GRANTS AND, UM, JUST INDIVIDUAL DONORS, CHURCH MINISTRIES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO WE WANT TO, UM, BRING THAT TO PORT ARTHUR.
UH, WE DO OWN THE BUILDING ALREADY.
UH, WE GOT A $50,000 GRANT TO ABATE IT AND REMEDIATE IT SO IT'S READY TO GO.
WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF FUNDRAISERS.
UM, AN INDIVIDUAL DID A FUNDRAISER FOR US, RAISED ABOUT $8,000.
WE HAD A FUNDRAISER LAST WEEK, RAISED ANOTHER 10,000 TO HELP MOVE FORWARD.
WE, I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T FILL A 20 MINUTE, WELL, I COULD FILL 20 MINUTES, BUT Y'ALL REALLY DON'T WANNA HEAR ME.
UH, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT DOING, UM, IN THE BEAUMONT AREA IS TO OPEN A HOMELESS SHELTER FOR PREGNANT WOMEN.
THERE'S REALLY NOT A SAFE PLACE FOR WOMEN WITH CHILDREN ALREADY.
UM, I ALREADY HAVE BIG DREAMS TO DO THE SAME THING.
THERE'S A BUILDING RIGHT ACROSS FROM DR.
KEITH'S BUILDING, WHICH IS ACTUALLY, I GUESS NOW OUR BUILDING.
UH, AND I KEEP, I KEEP LOOKING AT IT AND THINKING THAT WOULD MAKE A GREAT LOCATION FOR, UH, FOR A HOMELESS SHELTER FOR THE WOMEN AS WELL.
AND SO WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS, I NEED TO TELL YOU WHAT I WANT FROM YOU.
UM, HERE'S WHAT I WANT FROM YOU.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, IF YOU'RE A PRAYING PERSON, I WANT YOU PRAYING FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO BECAUSE WE COULDN'T DO IT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE LORD LEADING US.
SECONDLY, UH, I NEED ALL THE INFLUENCE YOU HAVE.
IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY THAT I NEED TO GET IN FRONT OF AND TALK TO, PLEASE, UH, TELL ME.
I'LL WRITE IT THEIR NAME DOWN.
WE COULD GO TO GOLDEN CHICK IF IT OPENS IN TIME.
SO IF YOU KNOW MONEY PEOPLE, PLEASE INTRODUCE ME TO THEM BECAUSE LIKE WHAT I SAID IS, WE DO ALL OF THIS FOR FREE.
UM, WE, THAT LOCATION REALLY WAS HANDPICKED.
THERE ARE THREE BUS STOPS RIGHT AT OUR LOCATION.
UM, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN BEAUMONT IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE PORT ARTHUR AREA THAT WANNA COME TO RECEIVE ALL OF OUR SERVICES AND THEY CAN'T GET THERE.
WE, WE DO PAY FOR LYFTS WHEN WE CAN, OR UBERS.
AND WE WANT OUR RESOURCES TO GO DIRECTLY TO, UM, TO OUR PATIENTS AND TO OUR CLIENTS.
SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE I SHOULD BE ASKING FOR, PLEASE TELL ME THAT TOO, BECAUSE I JUST WANNA SEE THIS HAPPEN.
UM, I'M VERY EXCITED TO, TO BE IN PORT ARTHUR.
UH, I FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS A FORGOTTEN PLACE THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK THAT, THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE, UM, DESERVE TO BE SERVED.
AND WE, WE WANT TO SERVE IN PORT ARTHUR, UM, DESPERATELY WANT TO SERVE THE WOMEN AND MEN OF PORT ARTHUR AND THE CHILDREN.
QUESTIONS OR JUST THROW ME ALL THE NAMES OF PEOPLE I'M SUPPOSED TO TALK TO AFTER THIS AND I'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE.
UH, AND I'M GONNA SHOW, I GUESS EVERYBODY CAN'T HEAR ME.
OUR SYSTEM IS REALLY ACTING UP.
WE'RE GONNA NEED SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THIS, SO, OKAY.
I CAN'T PUT IT ON, ON, ON LINDSEY.
UH, OH, Y'ALL LIGHTS WENT OUT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR THIS AGAIN.
I WAS AT THE FUNDRAISER LAST WEEK AT LIFE CHURCH AND IT WAS, IT WAS AMAZING.
I WAS JUST SO EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE VISION AND THE WAY THE LORD HAS WORKED AND PUT ALL OF THIS TOGETHER.
UM, I WANNA THROW A NAME OUT THERE FOR YOU.
AND SHE'S HERE IN THE GALLERY, DR. JUDITH SMITH, IF YOU HAVEN'T MET HER YET.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO PARTNER TOGETHER.
I WANTED TO BE SURE THAT YOU WERE PARTNERING WITH, WITH DR. SMITH AND OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WHICH IS IN MY DISTRICT ON NINTH AVENUE
QUITE A WAYS FROM WHERE YOUR PROPERTY IS LOCATED.
BUT, UM, THAT'S GONNA BE A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP.
AND THE VISION THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE FUTURE, I THINK IS JUST AMAZING.
AND I'M, I'M BEHIND YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP, I'M HAPPY TO DO SO.
HAVE YOU SOUGHT ANY STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDS? WELL, UM, WE HAVE APPLIED FOR THE, UH, BLOCK GRANT IN, IN BEAUMONT.
WE'VE NOT SOUGHT ANY FUNDS FROM THIS AREA YET.
UH, IT'S A LITTLE TOUCHY WITH FEDERAL MONEY.
UH, A LOT OF OUR DONORS DON'T REALLY WANT US TO GET INVOLVED WITH FEDERAL MONEY.
'CAUSE A LOT OF STRINGS COME ATTACHED.
AND BECAUSE WE ARE FAITH-BASED IN PRO-LIFE, SOMETIMES
[01:15:01]
WE'RE AT ODDS.DOESN'T MEAN WE WON'T, UH, IT'S JUST NOT WHAT WE'VE DONE UP UNTIL NOW.
WELL, I'M LISTENING TO WHAT YOU SAID AND WHAT YOU SAYING YOU DO DOESN'T NECESSARILY DEAL WITH ALL PRO-LIFE.
AND NORMALLY WHEN YOU'RE SERVING PEOPLE WHO ARE, UH, INDENTS AND SOMETHING, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE ALL TYPES OF GRANT AND MONEY'S AVAILABLE.
I, AND I AGREE THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE AT ODDS, BUT SOMETIMES THEY ARE.
UM, BUT AGAIN, I'M NOT AGAINST IT AT ALL.
UM, I WOULD JUST NEED THE RIGHT AVENUES TO PURSUE THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT WAYS TO GET THE MONEY AND THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO GET THAT MONEY FROM THEM.
AND I THINK YOU NEED, PROBABLY NEED TO START LOOKING AT, UH, NON-PROFIT STATUS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS OFFERED WITH STATE GRANTS.
PROBABLY TALK TO SOMEBODY WHO HANDLE GRANTS AND FIND OUT, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH YOU GOT PRO-LIFE, EV, EVERYBODY'S NOT GETTING MONEY BASED ON WHETHER THEY SUPPORT PRO-LIFE OR NOT.
AND WHAT YOU SERVE WITH CITIZENS.
SO THE PART THAT YOU DO, MAYBE YOU NEED TO CHECK INTO IT, BUT I IT'S A LOT OF STUFF YOU'RE SAYING.
I THINK THERE'S MONEY OUT THERE.
UH, COUNCIL, WELL COUNCILOR, WHOEVER FIELD.
THANK YOU MS. JEANETTE FOR COMING AND FOR LENORA, MS. LENORA FOR COMING AS WELL.
UM, MS. JEANETTE AND I MET ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SERVING THE HEART OF PORT ARTHUR, THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE SHE WAS.
I WAS AT A UGK CONCERT UNDER THE PAVILION, AND SHE HAD THE TRAILER PARKED ACROSS THE STREET JUST OFFERING SERVICES AND OFFERING HOPE, WHICH IS THE NAME OF THE FACILITY.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE INTENT IS NOT TO TRY TO STEER ANYONE IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION, BUT THE INTENT IS TO OFFER HOPE.
AND TOO OFTEN IN OUR COMMUNITY, FOR MEN AND WOMEN, THEY FEEL DEPRESSED, FEEL REJECTED, AND FEEL THAT THEY DO NOT BELONG BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST HOPE.
AND THIS IS A PLACE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO COME TO SAY, THESE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
THIS IS A SUPPORT THAT YOU, UM, CAN RECEIVE.
IT'S SO MUCH TO THE POINT TO WHERE EV SOMETIMES I DON'T, AND THOSE ARE GOOD DAYS, BUT MOST OF THE TIME WE RECEIVE A TEXT MESSAGE.
IF YOU SIGN UP FOR THE TEXT STREAM FOR PSALMS 1 39, AND THAT IS RIGHT NOW, STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND PRAY BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS COME IN WHO HAS FELT HOPELESS.
AND SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THEIR SITUATION IS, BUT WE ARE ASKING GOD TO GIVE THEM HOPE.
SO MY PURPOSE FOR ASKING MS. JEANETTE TO COME IS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING HOPE.
AND IF YOUR ISSUE ISN'T WHAT, UM, IS OFFERED AT THE HOPE CENTER, THEN YOU DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE REFERRED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
ONE PERSON THAT I WANT TO REFER YOU TO IS ACTUALLY SITTING RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
AND HER NAME IS MS. PAT AND SHE RUNS THE HOMELESS SHELTER HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
SO THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO COME TO YOU FOR OTHER SERVICES YES.
SO, UM, NOT TO PASS, WE, I WANNA BE CLEAR AND TRY TO HELP US NOT TO PASS JUDGMENT ON PEOPLE FOR WHETHER THEY WANT OR DO NOT WANT TO, UM, TO BEAR A CHILD.
BUT WE DO WANT TO OFFER THEM HOPE.
AND, UM, I WOULD ASK THAT THE CITY MANAGER GET WITH MS. JEANETTE SO THAT WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT FUNDING COULD BE AVAILABLE THROUGH SOME OF THE GRANTS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE AND SHARE WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IF ANYONE IN THE SOUND OF MY VOICE WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THIS ENDEAVOR, PLEASE SEE MS. JEANETTE.
AND IT IS THE, UM, RESOURCE HOPE CENTER.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE POINT THAT YOU MADE THAT, UM, WE ARE PRO-LIFE, BUT IF, IF A WOMAN COMES TO US AND CHOOSES TO END THEIR PREGNANCY, WE ARE STILL THERE FOR THEM.
THEY CAN STILL COME TO US BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION AND RECEIVE MINISTRY FROM US AFTER THE FACT.
WE ARE, WE'RE ALL ABOUT THE WHOLE PERSON.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN MS. JEANETTE, THANK YOU FOR, FOR COMING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I AM INTERESTED IN, UH, YOU'RE A FAITH, UH, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION.
SO MY, MY QUESTION IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN? THAT TRANSITION THAT
[01:20:01]
WE ARE GONNA MERGE SOME OF THOSE, UH, UH, CLINICS THAT YOU OFFER? MM-HMM.CAN YOU JUST BRIEFLY TELL ME HOW WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE MARRIAGE WORK? SURE.
WE ALREADY DO THAT IN BEAUMONT.
SO WE KNOW HOW THIS IS GONNA GO.
BASICALLY, ANYONE THAT, UH, WE CANNOT TREAT, WE CAN ONLY TREAT FOR CERTAIN STDS.
SO IF THEY TEST POSITIVE, WE HAVE A DIRECT REFERRAL TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN THEY, THEY SEEK THE HELP THERE.
UM, AT A REDUCED COST USUALLY.
'CAUSE THAT'S, UM, HOW WE WORK.
WE, UH, ALSO WORK WITH SUPPLIES.
UM, THERE, UH, BEAUMONT IS ABLE TO OFFER US, UM, SOME OF THE TESTING SUPPLIES THAT WE HAVE.
WE CAN SHARE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
UM, INFORMATION, UH, WE, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE BEAUMONT HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN, IN THAT IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS, IF UM, IF OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT A CERTAIN PROTOCOL, WE CAN CONTACT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND GET THEIR BACKING TOO.
WE WORK VERY CLOSE WITH NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP AS WELL.
UM, CARLA QUIGLEY, WE'RE PROBABLY THEIR NUMBER ONE REFERRAL IS, IS OUR, OUR CLIENTS TO THE NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP.
WELL, I THINK IT'S NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
I THANK YOU, UH, FOR PROVIDING THAT AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND FINDING WAYS THAT WE CAN TREAT THAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY.
UM, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'M EXCITED, UM, TO HAVE YOU BEFORE US ON TODAY.
MIKE HADN'T, UM, I'M, I'M, I'M SURE YOU KNOW MIKE.
AND HE AND I ARE GREAT FRIENDS.
BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME, AND HE HAS SHARED WITH ME ABOUT THE MINISTRY YOU GUYS DO TO MEN.
DURING THE, DURING THIS, DURING THIS.
AND SO THAT'S THE PART THAT I'M PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT, THAT OPPORTUNITY TO MINISTRY, UH, MINISTER TO MEN WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THAT.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY, YOU KNOW, BY THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
THAT OPPORTUNITY TO MINISTER TO THOSE MEN IN THESE SITUATIONS.
'CAUSE IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
WE, UM, IN THIS PAST YEAR, WE'VE HAD OVER 3000 VISITS TO THE HOPE CLINIC.
600 OF THOSE WERE FROM MEN AS PARTNERS TO THE WOMEN AND, UH, FATHERS TO THE BABIES.
UM, WE'RE VERY, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR MEN'S MINISTRY ARM OF WHAT WE DO BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, IT TAKES TWO TO MAKE A BABY.
AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN TODAY'S SOCIETY IS THAT MEN DO NOT HAVE MEN, UM, POURING INTO THEM.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S AN AMAZING THING TO SEE.
UH, AND WE, WE INTEND TO HAVE THAT IN PORT ARTHUR AS WELL.
WE'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF THAT.
AND NOW COUNCILMAN, THAT WAS IT.
JUST ONE OTHER, ONE OTHER, UH, STATISTIC.
JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST DEATH INFANT DEATH RATES, IMMORTALITY DEATH RATES, NOT JUST IN TEXAS, BUT IN THE NATION.
SO WE NEED TO NOT IGNORE THIS ISSUE.
SO PEOPLE ARE SEARCHING FOR HELP.
AND OUR, JUST TO PUT IT OUT THERE, OUR COMMUNITY IS FILLED WITH BLACK AND BROWN CITIZENS.
SO THAT MEANS THAT THESE ARE BLACK AND BROWN BABIES AND THEY'RE MOTHERS WHO ARE NOT RECEIVING THE CARE YES.
AND SO I'M ASKING FOR US TO STEP UP AND SPEAK OUT ON THIS ISSUE SO THAT WE CAN, UM, SUPPORT THESE FAMILIES.
AND THAT, THAT'S INCREDIBLY ACCURATE.
UM, WHAT HAPPENS IS THE WOMEN DON'T SEEK ANY KIND OF PRENATAL CARE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD EVEN THE INITIAL, UM, PREGNANCY TESTS THAT GETS THEM ON MEDICAID.
YOU CAN RECEIVE PRE PREGNANCY MEDICAID UP UNTIL THE BABY TURNS.
UH, WELL, IT'S SIX MONTHS, BUT I BELIEVE THEY'RE MOVING IT TO ONE YEAR.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE, UH, QUALIFIED AND TRAINED TO HELP THE WOMEN ONCE THEY GET THAT POSITIVE TEST TO GET ON MEDICAID AND THEN RECEIVE THE CARE RIGHT HERE.
AND NOT HAVING TO GO ALL THE WAY TO GALVESTON OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S TOO HARD.
AND AS, AS, AS I LISTEN, THEY'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED MY CONCERN OF YOU BEING IN, UH, SOME COLLABORATIVE, UH, MODE OR METHOD WITH, UH, DR. SMITH AND, UH, AND THE, UH, PORT ARTHUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND YOU ALL HAVE SAID THAT, THAT YOU ARE SO, YES, I AM.
BECAUSE THERE ARE, THERE, THERE'S THE DEMOGRAPHIC IN OUR POPULATION THAT HAS TO HAVE YOUR SERVICES.
AND SOMETIMES MAYBE THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN'T SERVICE EACH ONE OF THEM.
[01:25:01]
OF THOSE WHO NEED THOSE SERVICES.SO WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL THAT.
UH, I'M SURE THAT, UH, WHATEVER WE CAN DO AS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CITY MANAGER AND EVEN OUR CITY ATTORNEY SHOULD KEEP US LEGALLY IN LINE AND CITY MANAGER CAN FIND WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN ASSIST YOU WITH TO BE SURE THAT YOU ALL THANK YOU ARE, UH, YOU, YOU ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU'RE SETTING OUT TO DO.
[III.B.(3) A Presentation Regarding Expanding The City’s Inhouse Street Program For Avenues (Requested By Councilmember Lewis)]
A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE CITY'S IN-HOUSE STREET PROGRAM FOR AVENUES.AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN UH LEWIS.
UH, ONE OF THE SOUTH, SOUTH OF 73.
LET'S, FOR EXAMPLE, DISTRICT ONE, DISTRICT TWO, CITY MANAGER, EXCUSE HIMSELF, UH, STREETS, THAT, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE, UH, UH, MS. MS. ROBERTS.
WOULD YOU COME FORWARD? OR, OR, OR MAYBE MAYBE HE WAS SENDING, SENDING, UH, NO.
I KNOW WE HAD A DISCUSSION ON THIS.
IN DISTRICT ONE, DISTRICT TWO, AND IT BASICALLY SOUTH OF 73, JUST FOR COMPARISONS, THERE ARE THREE WAYS YOU CAN GET, GET TO YOUR ADDRESS.
THREE WAYS, THOROUGHFARE AND THE EAST WEST AVENUES.
NOW, THE THOROUGHFARES, THAT IS A HIGH PRIORITY.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO RECONSTRUCT THOSE AVENUE, THOSE STREETS, THE THOROUGHFARE RECONSTRUCT THEM, BUT IT'S, A LOT OF ENGINEERING WORK IS GOING ON WITH THE THOROUGHFARES.
SO WATER, SOIL LINE, IT'S A SLOW PROCESS.
BUT WHAT'S NOT A SLOW PROCESS? IT'S NOT SO MUCH DO WE NEED ENGINEERING ON THE AVENUES.
WHAT WE CAN DO IS BRING THE AVENUES UP TO COUNTY, COUNTY STANDARDS.
YOU GO IN THERE, CHIP SEAL IT, YOU KNOW, APPLY TO GRAVEL AND CHIP SEAL.
THAT'S A CHEAP WAY OF DOING IT.
BUT THAT'LL GIVE US A THREE TO FIVE YEAR AND THAT, AND THAT'LL GIVE, GIVE THE CITIZEN 2D DECENT WAYS TO GET, TO GET, GET TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE, THE EAST, WEST AVENUE, I MEAN, YEAH.
NOW WE CAN DO THIS STUFF IN-HOUSE CITY, MAN, WHAT I WANT, I'M LOOKING AT THIS EXPANDING THE CITY MANAGER'S PROJECTS IN-HOUSE, WHICH SAVES A LOT OF, HE SAVES A LOT OF MONEY DOING IT IN-HOUSE.
THAT'LL GET US TO THREE TO FIVE YEARS.
THEN WE REVIEW THAT AND ONCE WE CAN, MEANWHILE WE CONTINUE WITH OUR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE THOROUGHFARE.
BUT THE AVENUES, AFTER THREE TO FIVE YEARS, HAVE CITIZENS HAVE A COUPLE OF DECENT WAYS TO GET, GET TO THEIR HOUSE WITHOUT, WITHOUT HAVING TO GO DOWN THEM OLD RAGGEDY POTHOLES AND STUFF ON THE AVENUES.
I'VE TALKED WITH THE COUNTY I TALKED WITH, I'VE TALKED WITH COUNCILMAN SENATE.
I MEAN, HIS COMMISSION, SYNAGOGUE, HIS ROAD, HIS BRIDGE AND ROAD CREWS ARE GOING TO BE COMPLETED.
THEY GOING TO HAVE ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO.
THEY CAN HELP US OUT WITH THE AVENUES.
THE SUPERVISOR WON'T SAY LIST OF AVENUES SO HE CAN GO AND LOOK AT IT AND, AND COME AND SEE WHAT THEY CAN COMMIT TO.
BUT YOU NOTICE MOST LITTLE, LITTLE COUNTRY TOWNS, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT INCORPORATED, BUT THEY HAVE GOOD STREETS BECAUSE THE COUNTY TAKES CARE OF THEM AND IT BRINGS THEM UP TO COUNTY STANDARDS.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR, THE CITY MANAGER.
AND I NEED, I NEED YOUR HELP ON THIS, YOUR CONSIDERATION AND SEE HOW WE CAN APPROACH THIS.
OKAY? BECAUSE THREE AND THE THREE GET DURING THE AVENUES.
THAT'S THE QUICKEST THING WE CAN DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, WATER AND SEWER LINES.
IF YOU, IF YOU RECONSTRUCT A, A, A MAIN, A MAIN THOROUGHFARE WA AND YOU FIND OUT LATER THAT YOU DON'T DO YOUR ENGINEER, YOU FIND OUT THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, YOU GOT A WATER LINE BAG OR SEWER LINE, YOU HAVE TO STOP THE PROJECT.
NOW YOU GOT TO LET OTHER CONTRACTS FOR WATER AND SEWAGE THAT CONTINUES.
BUT I NEED FOR US TO CHIP SEAL AND OUR AVENUES IN THREE TO FIVE YEARS AFTER WE REVIEW IT, THE ONE AND WHAT I'M LOOKING, AND WE CAN IMPLEMENT ANOTHER PROGRAM AFTER THREE TO FIVE YEARS, WE CAN IMPLEMENT ANOTHER PROGRAM.
THE STREETS, I MEAN THE AVENUES THAT DO NOT HAVE HOUSES ON IT, CLOSE THEM AND
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GIVE THEM BACK TO THE CITY AND GIVE THEM BACK TO THE RESIDENCE.IN ADDITION TO THAT, IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT'S A REQUIREMENT THAT THE, THE PROPERTY OWNERS PAY FOR THE CUPBOARDS AND WILL CLOSE THE DITCHES.
AND WE'LL GET THAT, THAT UPKEEP AND, AND MAINTAINING THE OPEN, OPEN DITCHES WILL GO AWAY.
THAT'S A THREE TO FIVE YEAR PLAN THAT'S WORKABLE BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING THE ENGINEERING OUT OF, OUT OF THE AVENUES.
AND IF YOU HAVE TO GO IN THERE, REPLACE A WATER AND SEWER LINE, YOU'RE NOT TEARING UP A A PERFECTLY GOOD STREET.
YOU'RE TEARING UP A, BASICALLY A SHIP SEAL AND OVERLAY.
AND WE CAN GIVE OUR CITIZEN A REASONABLE STREETS TO GET HOME EAST, WEST AVENUE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU COMPLETE DISTRICT ONE, THEN MOVE TO DISTRICT TWO.
IT'S IN BAD SHAPE, REALLY BAD SHAPE.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE SKIPPING AROUND COMPLETE DISTRICT ONE AVENUE, THEN GO TO DISTRICT TWO, THEN GO TO DISTRICT THREE, THEN DISTRICT FOUR.
NOT ALL THAT HOPPING AND SKIPPING AROUND.
WE WANT TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON, ON THE, ON THAT AVENUE, ON THE RECON, NOT RECONSTRUCTING THE AVENUE.
WANT TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON GETTING OUR CITIZEN ON 2D DIS UH, TWO, UH, DECENT AVENUES TO GET HOME.
AND I'M GOING TO NEED YOUR INPUT ON THAT.
AND, UH, GET ME A LIST OF, OF THE AVENUES SO I CAN GIVE HIM A COMMISSION SYNAGOGUE SO HIS SUPERVISOR CAN DECIDE WHICH AVENUES HE GOING TO DO.
WE THEM, WE'LL BUY THE MATERIAL.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ALL WE NEED IS, UH, IN A GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT.
YOU GO WEST OF HOUSTON AVENUE, THAT, THAT WAS UNDER THE, UH, SPECIAL PROGRAM, YEARS OF URBAN RENEWAL.
THEY CLOSED AVENUES THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANY HOUSES ON IT.
SO I'M SAYING THE SAME, UH, URBAN RENEWAL APPROACH WITH THE AVENUES.
COUNCILMAN LOU HAS BEEN CLOSING AVENUE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.
WELL, EVERYTHING HE SAID, I, FIRST OF ALL, WATER LINES DON'T RUN JUST ON AVENUES.
YOU KNOW, AVENUES IN THE CITY SUPPOSED TO BE RUNNING FROM NORTH AND SOUTH.
THE OTHER THING IS, UH, I'LL DETERMINE THE STREETS AND AVENUE WAS BEST IN DISTRICT FOUR BASED ON THE PROGRAM WE'VE ALREADY HAD.
I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT LATER ON WHEN WE GET TO THE TOPIC OF STREETS AND OUR BUDGET.
BUT WE NEED TO, WE HAD A PROGRAM THAT WORKED FOR HIM.
WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT OUR DISTRICTS.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO ALONG WITH ANY PROJECTS THAT MAY WORK GOOD OR A COUNCILMAN WANTS TO DO IN THEIR DISTRICT.
BUT I'M GONNA ANSWER TO PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT AND I'M GONNA SELECT THE STREETS.
THAT'S HOW THE PROGRAM IS WRITTEN.
UH, THE COUNTY I'VE BEEN HERE IN THE COUNTY CAN HELP US SINCE 2011 WHEN I FIRST CAME ON COUNCIL.
UH, WE BUY THE MATERIAL, THEY DO THE WORK, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, I SEEN TIME WHEN WE GET INTO THE MUTUAL AGREEMENT, BUT WE END UP PAYING OVERTIME FOR WORKERS.
SO I THINK THOSE THINGS, UH, NEED TO BE BROUGHT AND DISCUSSED AND NOT AN IDEA AND ALL THE FACTS ASSOCIATED WITH 'EM.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT COUNCIL MAKING A DECISION TO CLOSE STREETS AND STUFF.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIVE ON STREETS OR PEOPLE TAKE CERTAIN STREETS TO GET TO AND FROM AROUND THE CITY.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE TO ADDRESS ON A LEVEL WHERE WE HAVE CITIZENS' INPUT BEFORE WE EVER START DECIDING TO GO TO, UH, CLOSE STREETS.
SO CITY MAN, BEFORE WE, UH, START ACTING ON ANYTHING OR GETTING INTO IT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SUDDENT COUNCIL DISCUSSED, COUNCIL GRIEVANCE, COUNCIL PASSED.
WE ALL GOT WAYS OF DOING BUSINESS, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STREETS.
THE PROGRAM AS THEY STAND NOW,
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I DECIDE THAT IN DISTRICT FOUR AND THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WON'T DO THEIRS.I, I DON'T HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA DO THE PROGRAM AND I'LL AND I'LL DEAL WITH FOUR.
OKAY? UH, ANYTHING ELSE ON YOU ON THIS? YES.
ANNOUNCEMENT LEWIS, GO RIGHT HERE.
THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE IS TOO SLOW.
RECONSTRUCTING IT IS SLOW BECAUSE YOU GOT ENGINEERING INVOLVED IN IT.
YOU GOTTA REPAIR THE, THE SEWER LINES AND THE WATER LINES, AND THEN YOU CONSTRUCT THE STREET.
AND MY PHONE IS BEING BLOWN UP DAY TO DAY.
I GO TO HEB, UM, PEOPLE GETTING ON ME ABOUT THE BAD STREETS.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO RECONSTRUCT THE THOROUGH FAIR.
AND WE NEED TO GET AS QUICKLY AS THE CITY MANAGER.
YOU NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, EXPANDING YOUR IN-HOUSE PROGRAM BECAUSE YOU SAVE MONEY WHEN YOU DO IT IN-HOUSE.
YOU SAVE MONEY AND THAT'S, AND YOU, THAT WAY YOU CAN DO MORE AND YOU CAN PAY OVERTIME.
AND IF YOU CAN'T FIND ENOUGH, UH, A STREET OF PEOPLE TO WORK, TO WORK THE OVERTIME, EX EXTEND IT TO THE OTHER, OTHER, UH, DEPARTMENTS.
YOU KNOW, THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OPERATE, OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT AND EVERYTHING, BUT THEY CAN ALSO DIRECT TRAFFIC AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
BUT WE NEED, WE NEED TO GET THOSE AVENUES DONE AND WE CAN DO QUITE A FEW OF 'EM IN A YEAR, A YEAR'S TIME IN-HOUSE.
IT WILL MAKE A GREAT DIFFERENCE.
AND YOU GOT AVENUES THAT PEOPLE DON'T EVEN LIVE ON.
DON'T EVEN TRAVEL THE STREETS IS SO, THE AVENUES SO RAGGEDY, THEY DON'T EVEN TRAVEL TO AVENUES.
DO SAY ONCE AGAIN WE'VE BEEN DOING IN-HOUSE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THAT.
AND IF IT'S NOT FAST ENOUGH, THEN WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WAYS TO INCREASE IT OF WHAT WE GOING TO DO WITH IT.
BUT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN-HOUSE, THE, THE, UH, PROGRAM FROM THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED AND ALL WAS ALWAYS IN-HOUSE.
MOST OF THE STREETS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE CITY HAVE BEEN DONE IN-HOUSE AND NOT BY CONTRACTORS.
AND UH, IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT WAYS, SOME OF THE WAYS I'M, I'M LOOKING AT IS GETTING MORE CONTRACTORS IN AND, AND GETTING THE ONES THAT WE NEED TO CONTRACT, CONTRACT OUT.
THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB WITH THEIR SIDE OF IT.
THEY, THEY COULD GET A STREET DONE PRETTY QUICK.
BUT I'M NOT PLEASED WITH, UH, THE OTHER SIDE.
I'M NOT PLEASED WITH THE TIMEFRAME IT TAKES.
SO IF WE GONNA, UH, UH, GET MORE DONE, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.
WE DOING IN-HOUSE, IN-HOUSE IS MOVE FAST.
SO WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE DOING AND HOW TO DO IT.
BUT WE DON'T NEED TO REINVENT NO WHEELS OR CHANGE WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO DO.
YOU KNOW? SO WE BEEN DOING IN-HOUSE, I JUST, THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT STATEMENT.
'CAUSE MOST OF THE STREETS ARE IN-HOUSE THAT WE, THAT WE'VE DONE.
AND I'VE, AND I DRIVE AROUND AND WE GONNA JUMP AROUND.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GONNA BUY, UH, THE STREET CREWS GONE INTO ONE DISTRICT AND STAYING IN THAT DISTRICT TILL THEY FINISHED THEM.
NOW WHAT, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING HAS BEEN FINE.
THEY WORK IN ONE DISTRICT FOR A WHILE, THEN THEY MOVE TO ANOTHER DISTRICT FOR A WHILE, THEN THEY MOVE TO ANOTHER DISTRICT.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING BUSINESS.
IT ALLOWS CITIZENS IN ALL OF THE DISTRICT EVENTUALLY TO HAVE SOME WORK BEING DONE.
YOU KNOW, SETTING THEM IN ONE.
NOW IT'S NOT BY CONVENIENCE ABOUT WHAT'S WORKING.
EVERYBODY SHOULD GET SOME OF THE STREETS DONE IN A YEAR'S TIME WITH THAT.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE GOD, LEWIS, CITY MANAGER AND YOU DON'T DISAGREE WITH ME.
WE CAN DO MORE STREETS NOW, COUNCILMAN UC SAID DISTRICT FOUR, I'M NOT PICKING AND CHOOSING STREETS IN DISTRICT.
WELL, ALL I'M SAYING, LET'S CONCENTRATE OUR EFFORTS, COMPLETE THE AVENUE, MOVE TO DISTRICT TWO, COMPLETE THE AVENUES, AND MEANWHILE WE STILL RECONSTRUCTING THE THIRD FAILS.
WE ARE NOT GONNA ABANDON THAT.
THAT'S A HIGH PRIORITY, BUT WE CAN HAVE SOME DECENT AVENUES VERY QUICKLY.
CITY MANAGER, YOU CAN GET IT DONE.
SO WE NEED YOUR INPUT ON IT AND LET BRING IT BEFORE COUNCIL.
IF YOU NEED SOME MORE EQUIPMENT AND WHAT HAVE YOU, WE'LL BUY IT.
WE, WE STILL HAVE NOT APPROVED, WE HAVE NOT APPROVED THE BUDGET.
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I GO TO HEB ONE PERSON TALKING TO ME.I LOOK UP, I GOT A WHOLE LINE OF PEOPLE I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING I'M GONNA HAVE A BREAK.
THEY WANT, THEY GOT PROBLEMS. WHEN YOU GONNA FIX MY STREET? WHEN YOU GONNA DO THIS? I'M FLOODING.
I GOT SEWAGE BACKING UP IN MY ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. BUT THE STREET IS THE BIG ISSUE.
BUT WE CAN GIVE 'EM SOME DECENT, THEY GOT THREE WAYS TO GET TO THE HOUSES,
CITY MANAGER, I GOT CONFIDENCE IN YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE.
UH, IS THAT ALL YOU NEEDED TO DISCUSS COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES.
OKAY, WE'LL MOVE NOW TO, UH, LEMME SEE.
[III.F.(1) A Discussion Regarding The Pleasure Island Water Park Project (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]
TO, UH, ITEM ONE F UH, AND THAT WOULD BE, UH, WE HAVE A ONE F AND UH, A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE, UH, PLEASURE ISLAND WATER PARK PROJECT.AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN ETT.
WHAT'S THE STATUS ON THAT? WHO, WHO, WHO, WHO DO YOU, ANYBODY WHO CAN ANSWER IT.
UH, GOD FOR THE PLEDGE ISLAND, CAN, UH, ANYBODY? YES SIR.
CURRENTLY, UM, AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEVELOPER, I THINK ON FRIDAY, HIS ATTORNEYS ARE SUPPOSED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR NEW CITY ATTORNEYS SO THEY COULD CONTINUE THE NEGOTIATION.
WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU BASICALLY IS A TIMELINE ALL THE WAY BACK FROM JANUARY WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS PROJECT.
ALL THE WAY UNTIL, UM, I WANNA SAY MAYBE FEBRUARY OF THIS, UM, YEAR, WHENEVER THEY RECEIVED THE DRAFT CONTRACT, THEY RECEIVED THE DRAFT CONTRACT WHEN GEORGE? FEBRUARY, FEBRUARY, FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR? YES, SIR.
SO, UH, SO IT'S, UH, FROM THE FEBRUARY, OKAY, THAT'S A DRAFT.
OKAY? IT'S A DRAFT FOR THOSE BUILDINGS.
I AM TALKING ABOUT THE WATER PARK.
YEAH, SHE SAID, UH, UH, IS THAT ON FEBRUARY? IS IS THAT THE ONE, THE DRAFT LEASE FOR THE, FOR THE BUILDINGS? NO, SIR.
WELL, WHY WE DON'T, WE ARE NOT.
WELL, WHAT'S LEASE OTHER THAN THE BUILDINGS? WELL, NO, EXCUSE ME.
IT IS A DRAFT CONTRACT THAT WAS SENT IN FEBRUARY, FORGIVE ME ON THE, ON THE, THE TERM LEASE, BUT IT'S CONTRACT.
A DRAFT CONTRACT FOR WHAT? TO PURCHASE THE 35 ACRES.
SO WE SENT A DRAFT CONTRACT IN FEBRUARY 24.
AND WE HAVEN'T, THIS IS FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND.
WHY NOT? WELL, THE DEVELOPER'S ATTORNEY SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE, AND WHICH I PUT ON HERE AS WELL.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE STATUS OF THE CITY ATTORNEY HERE IN PORT ARTHUR BECAUSE WHEN OUR FORMER CITY ATTORNEY, UM, RETIRED IN MARCH, THEY WANTED TO DEAL WITH THE ACTUAL CITY ATTORNEY VERSUS THE INTERIM.
UH, WE NEED TO ENTER A CONTRACT OR WE NEED TO CANCEL IT AND GET OUT OF IT.
OKAY? THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT, I STARTED HEARING ABOUT THIS PROJECT IN 2023.
OKAY, WE ARE NOW ALMOST THROUGH WITH 2024.
AND UH, EACH TIME SOMETHING CAME UP, THEY TALKED ABOUT A COMPLICATION.
UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THIS OFFICE, THAT OFFICE, WHENEVER SOMEONE COMES TO US WITH THE PROJECT AND THEY SAYS, I HAVE FUNDING, I HAVE INVESTORS, I'M READY TO DO THIS.
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LEAVE THERE, WE START, WE START ENTERING INTO AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS AND WE START MOVING EVERY NOW AND THEN WE GOING TO HIT A SNAG.BUT THIS IS NOT A SNAG, OKAY? THIS IS NOT A SNAG.
SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING SHOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPENING.
THAT ATTORNEY STUFF, WHETHER IT'S A INTERIM OR A REGULAR ATTORNEY, IT SHOULD HAVE NO BEARING ON A DEVELOPER CONTRACT.
EITHER THEY AGREE WITH WHAT OUR ATTORNEY IS SAYING OR THEY DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT OUR ATTORNEY SAYS AND ANYTHING OUR ATTORNEY SAYS, IT'S GONNA BE BASED ON WHAT THE COUNCIL SAYS.
'CAUSE THE ATTORNEY DOESN'T MAKE THE DECISION.
AND IF A DEVELOPER FEEL THAT WE, THEY'RE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH ANY STAFF MEMBER IN THIS CITY HOLDING UP THEIR DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH, THEY COME BEFORE US AND THEN WE IN TURN TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTIONS.
BUT THIS SHOULDN'T BE THIS PERIOD OF TIME AND NOTHING HAPPENS.
SO THE NEXT QUESTION, I THINK WE ESTABLISHED THAT ONE.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS, WHAT ABOUT THE LEASE FOR THOSE BUILDINGS? IS THAT DONE? NO, SIR.
THEN WE DENIED THE LEASE OF THE YACHT CLUB BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER WANTED TO LEASE THE BUILDINGS.
SO ONCE WE DENIED THAT AND WE PASSED A RESOLUTION SAYING WE GOING TO LEASE IT TO THEM, TO HIM, WHY DIDN'T IT HAPPEN? WHY DID HE ASK US TO APPROVE LEASING TO HIM? AND HE DOESN'T DO IT.
THE YACHT CLUB IS STILL IN THE BUILDING.
SIR, HOLD ON, GEORGE, WAIT A MINUTE.
IF THE YACHT CLUB IS STILL IN THE BUILDING, I SAW A LETTER THAT CAME TO THE COUNCIL THAT SAID THAT THEY WERE GIVEN A, A DATE TO BE OUT.
SO IF THEY NOT OUT, I HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT.
I I OKAY, SO WHEN THEY GET OUT, WE GONNA GET A LEASE AGREEMENT SIGNED ONCE THEY GET OUT? YES.
THE YACHT CLUB HAS NOT VACATED, THE COUNCIL EXTENDED THE PERIOD FOR THE YACHT CLUB TO REMAIN THERE.
THE DATE HASN'T EXPIRED US YET.
OKAY THEN WE GOOD WITH THAT ONE.
THAT ANSWER MY QUESTION, BUT LET'S GO BACK TO THE WATERPARK.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT MISS A BEAT BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER HAS ENGAGED, UM, SOME CONTRACTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT HE DOES HIS DUE DILIGENCE.
YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS THE YACHT CLUB MOVES OUT, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, HE WOULD GET HIS DUCKS IN A ROW TO DO THE NECESSARY REFURBISHING AND RENOVATION THAT'S REQUIRED.
THAT ANSWERED MY QUESTION ABOUT THE, THE BUILDING, BUT I'M STILL TALKING ABOUT THE PROJECT.
I'M TALKING TO WATERPARK WHEN YOU TOLD ME THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT WE EXTENDED THE LEASE, OKAY, THEN I'M GOOD WITH THAT ONE.
BUT I'M NOT GOOD WITH THE, WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE PROJECT FOR TWO YEARS AND NOTHING.
THAT'S WHAT I'M NOT GOOD ABOUT.
AND EVERY TIME WE ASK A QUESTION, THE DEVELOPERS TALK TO THIS PERSON, THIS PERSON KNOW ABOUT IT, THIS COUNCILMAN KNOW ABOUT IT, THAT COUNCILMAN KNOW ABOUT IT.
WE DON'T MAKE DECISION BASED ON INDIVIDUAL.
WE MADE DECISION BASED ON WHAT COME BEFORE US.
SO WHAT CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND I WASN'T ON IT, WAS APPROVAL TO SELL LAND AND DEVELOP A WATER PARK.
WELL, I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, I CAME ON, I'VE BEEN SETTING AND I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING IT AND IT'S BEEN, I'VE BEEN ON A YEAR AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
THAT'S WHY I PUT IT ON THERE BECAUSE AT SOME POINT IN TIME, EITHER THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO WORK OR IS NOT.
WE TALK ABOUT, UH, ATTORNEYS, YOU KNOW, I'M KINDA SKEPTICAL BECAUSE WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT AN ATTORNEY, EVERY TIME I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT WAS STUCK IN THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
IT'S STUCK IN THERE FOR A REASON.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY.
IF THEY GO IN THERE WITH EVERYTHING THEY NEED, IT WOULDN'T BE STUCK IN THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THE DEVELOPER I'VE BEEN ON HERE
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A YEAR.HE, HE, HE'S COME ONE TIME AND I THINK ALL HE SAID WAS NO.
WHEN HE WAS ASKED OF A QUESTION.
I, I DON'T CARE WHO UPDATE US, I HAVE AN OBLIGATION, BUT WE NEED TO BE UPDATED BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET THE PROJECT GOING BECAUSE THIS WAS SOME KIND OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS DEVELOPER WHEN WE STARTED THE PROJECT AND EVERYTHING.
AND, AND SO WE DON'T NEED NOTHING TO DRAG AND NOT DO.
SO GIVE WITH THE DEVELOPER WE LIKE TO HAVE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN UPDATE NO, THAT'S FINE.
AND I WANT IT DONE SO THAT NOT ONLY DO I GET A UPDATE, BUT CITIZENS GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE PROJECT BECAUSE WE TOLD THE CITIZENS WE GONNA HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL WATER PARK.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HIRED AND WE GONNA MAKE ALL OF THIS MONEY TWO YEARS AGO.
SO NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT BRING US DATE.
PUT US BACK WHERE WE SHOULD BE SO WE COULD FOLLOW IT AND KNOW WHETHER IT'S GOING GOOD OR NOT.
THIS QUESTION'S FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEIR DATE TO BE OUT IS AUGUST 29TH, WHICH IS FRIDAY.
AND THAT THE BUILDING ITSELF IS EMPTY AND THEY'VE ALREADY TURNED THAT BUILDING BACK OVER TO THE CITY.
THEY'RE STILL CLEARING OUT THE BOAT SHED.
IS THAT TRUE? NO, THAT'S CORRECT.
I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH GEORGE BEFORE AND THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT.
I HAD A DISCUSSION BEFORE GEORGE AND BEFORE LUNCH AND THE DISCUSSION WAS ABOUT DEVELOPING A GAME PLAN FOR THURSDAY WHEN THEY MOVE OUT, HAVE SOME CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS TO HOW DO WE PROCEED IN TAKING CHARGE OF THE BUILDING LEGALLY.
WASN'T THAT THAT DISCUSSION WE HAD AT 12 O'CLOCK TODAY? YES, SIR.
AND THEY, SO THEY'VE ALREADY TURNED THE BUILDING OVER TO THE CITY? I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT.
HAVE THEY TURNED THE BUILDING OVER TO THE CITY? WELL, NOT IN THE, NO MATTER THAT HE'S SPEAKING.
'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE ANY OF THAT STUFF.
IT'S ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THERE'S BEEN, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE CONTRACTORS OR ENGINEERS THAT HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE BUILDING DOING THINGS.
WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT? UM, ARE THEY CITY EMPLOYEES? ARE THEY EMPLOYED BY NO, WHENEVER, WHENEVER THE DEVELOPER, WHENEVER WE SENT THAT EMAIL, I TOLD THEM TO CEASE THAT.
'CAUSE IT WAS A, A ENGINEER THAT WAS DRAWING UP PLANS, AN ENGINEER HIRED BY WHOM? I ASSUME THE DEVELOPER.
OKAY, SO IT WASN'T CITY EMPLOYEES THAT WERE GOING INTO NO.
OH, COUNCILMAN EVER FEEL, THANK YOU MA'AM.
THANK YOU GEORGE, FOR PROVIDING THIS, UM, WATERPARK DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE AND FOR ALSO STAYING IN CONTACT WITH, UH, THE DEVELOPER AND WITH ME REGARDING, UM, THE QUESTIONS WE'RE RESPONDING TO THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ISLAND.
UM, I DO WANT TO MAKE CLEAR TO THE CITIZENS THAT YES, THIS PROJECT IS STILL UNDERWAY.
WE HAVE OFFERED 90 DAY PLUS GRACE TO THE PORT ARTHUR YACHT CLUB TO REMOVE THEIR ITEMS FROM NOT ONLY THE, THE BUILDING THAT WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT NOW AND THE, UM, BOAT SHED, THE SHED.
UM, THAT GRACE THAT WE HAVE OFFERED OTHER ENTITIES HAS SLOWED OUR TIMELINE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE ARE PLANNING ON THE ISLAND.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH A MILLIONS OF DOLLAR CONTRACT, WHEN WE DON'T SHOW DUE DILIGENCE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ONE SMALL PIECE OF IT AS A BUSINESS OWNER, SOMETIMES YOU MAY START FEELING A LITTLE SHAKY OF HOW SERIOUS IS THIS ENTITY US, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, HOW SERIOUS ARE THEY WITH MOVING FORWARD AND PARTNERING WITH US TO MAKE THIS DEVELOPMENT SUCCESSFUL? SO AGAIN, I DO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.
WE HAVE HAD SOME HICCUPS, BUT AFTER THURSDAY, 5:00 PM AGAIN, I'M NOT THE ATTORNEY, BUT IT WOULD BE MY REQUEST
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TO SHUT DOWN WHATEVER IS GOING ON THAT'S NOT MOVING US FORWARD OR THAT'S HINDERING US FROM BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT AND YOUR TIME THAT YOU GIVE TO THIS PROJECT.
I KNOW YOU HAVE OTHER PROJECTS GOING ON AS WELL, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT IN THIS.
GO AHEAD, MR. YEAH, THAT WAS MEDITATION.
I WANT TO THANK, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT AND IMPERATIVE THAT WE DO GET UPDATES.
BUT I, I WISH THAT OUR, I WISH THAT OUR, UM, CONSTITUENTS WERE APPRISED OF THIS TIMELINE SO THAT THEY COULD TRULY SEE, UH, THAT IT'S, IT'S NOT, UM, THE DEVELOPER WHO IS, WHO HAS BEEN HOLDING UP, UH, THE PROJECT.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SITUATIONS AND SOME CIRCUMSTANCES.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT HAPPENED AND TRANSPIRED THAT KIND OF PUT A SNAFU IN THE PROJECT WAS THE FACT OF THE APPRAISAL THAT WHEN THE APPRAISAL CAME BACK, A PART OF IT WAS WETLAND AND THAT APPRAISAL NEEDED TO BE UPDATED.
THAT WAS THE FIRST, UM, BARRIER THAT WE CROSSED AFTER THAT.
AND THEN OF COURSE, AS WE WERE TRYING TO, AS A COUNCIL BE SENSITIVE TO THE, UH, THE, THE CONSTITUENTS WHO WERE IN, UH, THE YACHT CLUB AND, AND ALL THAT THEY WERE DOING, WE HAD THAT SITUATION AND THAT HAS, THAT'S DONE SOME THINGS.
AND THEN THE COUNCIL WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING FROM ONE ATTORNEY TO THE OTHER.
I I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE WISE FOR US, UH, ALWAYS TO PRACTICE PATIENCE IN THE MIDST OF ALL THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH A DEVELOPER WHO IS NOT ASKING ANYTHING OF US.
AS LONG AS IT TAKES THAT PROCESS THAT THAT ISLAND IS JUST SITTING THERE AND IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE DORMANT FOR YEARS AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED, NOTHING HAS TRANSPIRED, AND NOW WE SIT ON THE PRECIPICE OF DOING SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY AND EXCITING.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO EXHIBIT AS MUCH PATIENCE AS WE NEED TO, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A NEW ATTORNEY WHO IS HERE, WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF, UH, P THREE, UH, PROJECTS, UH, PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS, UH, WORKING ALONG THESE LINES OF HELPING DEVELOPERS BRING THIS TYPE OF PROJECT TO PORT ARTHUR.
DON'T START PRACTICING IMPATIENCE.
DON'T START TALKING ABOUT HURRYING AND, AND, AND ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT, UM, GIVE THAT KIND OF MINDSET THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
I BELIEVE WITH EVERYTHING IN ME, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT'S GOING TO TRANSPIRE AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOMETHING WONDERFUL AND GREAT IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, THE DEVELOPER WANTED TO BUY 35 ACRES, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
12 ACRES, 12 OF THOSE ACRES IS WETLANDS, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
THAT ISSUE, HAS THAT BEEN RESOLVED? NO, BECAUSE NO CONTRACT HAS BEEN SIGNED.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT, WHAT THE INTENT OF IT IS THOUGH.
SO WE, WE TOOK A TRIP TO GALVESTON, TO THE CO ENGINEER.
AND THEY SAID THAT IN THE, IN THE PLANS, AS LONG AS HE BUILT AROUND IT, THAT HE CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND THE DEVELOPERS ALREADY STATED THAT HE DON'T MIND SECTIONING OFF.
SO HE WOULD BUILD AROUND IT AND THE REVENUE FROM THIS PROJECT MITIGATE THAT, UM, WETLAND AREA HIMSELF.
LET'S UNDER, LET'S UNDERSTAND, MITIGATE YOU.
HE'S GOING TO WANTS, WANTS TO BE AROUND IT, THEN HE'S LATER GOING TO SOMETHING GONNA BE SET ASIDE MITIGATION.
SO, SO THE, IF YOU GOT WETLANDS, YOU RIGHT.
SO BEFORE YOU GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD.
WELL, WHO'S ON FIRST? YOU, YOU GO FIRST.
BUT ANYWAY, KEN, I'VE HEARD THEY WANTED THE, THE 12 ACRES TAKEN OUT OF THE COST OR LOWER THE COST.
THAT'S WHAT I HEARD THE LAST TIME WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION.
INITIALLY IT WAS ASKED IF WE SHOULD GO BACK, REAPPRAISE IT AS HE STATED, REAPPRAISE IT MINUS THE WETLAND.
BUT THE DEVELOPER SAID THAT IT'S TOO RISKY
[02:00:01]
BECAUSE IF IT GOES BACK OUT, WE'LL HAVE TO DO THIS PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN.AND THEN IF SOMEBODY BEATS HIM OUT ON IT, THEN HE LOSES IT.
I DON'T WANNA MESS YOUR TRAIN OF THOUGHT THOUGH.
LOOK, ALL, ALL I'M INTERESTED IN IS TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD.
LAST TIME I SAT IN A ROOM WITH THIS DEVELOPER AND HE SAID WE WERE WAITING ON A CONTRACT, WHICH WAS SITTING IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR TWO, FOR TWO MONTHS.
AND, AND THEN I, THEN I HEARD THAT THEY OUTSOURCED THE CONTRACT.
WHOEVER HEARD OF THAT, IT IS A SIMPLE CONTRACT, BUT WHERE IS THE WELL CITY ATTORNEY, THAT'S YOUR JOB.
FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CONTRACT AND FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN LEGALLY DO, UH, ABOUT THAT WETLAND.
CAN WE REDUCE THE COSTS AND ALLOW THIS PROJECT TO GO FORWARD? IT SEEMED TO BE A STALL.
I MEAN, IT WAS NOT, IT WAS NOT THAT CLEAR ABOUT THE WETLAND, BUT NOW WE GOT A WETLAND PROBLEM ABOUT OUT OF THE 35 ACRES OR 12 ACRES IS WETLANDS.
IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH REDUCING THE COST OF DOING SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, MITIGATION THAT MEAN TO ME THAT MEANS YOU GOING TO REPLACE IT.
NOW AT, IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, AND YOU CAN GET WITH, UH, JOE ON THIS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, THEY HAD A POOL OF WETLANDS.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO MITIGATE ANY, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT STILL EXISTS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO MITIGATE WETLANDS BECAUSE THEY GOT A POOL OF WETLANDS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
NOW IS THAT, IS THAT STILL EXISTS? WE ACTUALLY TOOK A, A VISIT TO ONE, I BELIEVE IT WAS PAST EAST CHAMBERS SCHOOL.
SO IT'S LIKE A TITLE AND THEN IT'S ANOTHER ONE.
SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE SPECIFIC ONE THAT'S FOR ALITY.
SO WE NEED TO KNOW WHICH ONE IS THIS.
WE KNOW WHICH ONE IS WE, WE DID A WETLAND DELINEATION REPORT.
SO WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ABOUT THIS ONE? WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT? YEAH, WHAT IS IT? THE, THE, THE MAN SAID THAT HE WOULD PURCHASE IT AT IS AND BUILD AROUND IT AND THEN TAKE CARE OF IT HIMSELF.
OH, HE, HE AGREED TO THAT? YES SIR.
WHY DID HE SAY THAT? I DID
YOU WAS ASKING ME WHO WAS ON FIRST, WHAT'S ON SECOND MAN,
UH, MR. UH, MR. DAVIS, YOU ASKED I CAN IN A MINUTE.
UM, MAYOR, UM, THE LAST DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD WITH THE DEVELOPER SOMETIME IN DECEMBER, MR. BLACK AND MYSELF AND UM, STAFF, UM, THE DEVELOPER BROUGHT HIS ATTORNEYS TO TOWN AND, UM, HE TOOK VERY COPIOUS NOTES AS TO WHAT WAS REQUIRED BY THE CITY.
AND, UM, HE WAS GOING BACK TO MAKE SURE THAT HE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH HIS ATTORNEYS AND THEN TO GET BACK WITH US.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE DEVELOPER DID INDICATE TO US THAT HE WAS PREPARED TO MAKE ALMOST AN IMMEDIATE START ON THE SECOND PROJECT BECAUSE IT WAS A MUCH SMALLER PROJECT.
AND, UM, HE FORESEE US AS LONG AS HE COULD HAVE DONE THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT WAS NECESSARY FOR THE TWO BUILDINGS, HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN THAT OFF THE GROUND.
AND, UM, SO PART OF WHAT YOU, UM, I THINK COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM WAS REFERRING TO ABOUT, UM, INDIVIDUALS, YOU KNOW, BEING OUT THERE, I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT HE WAS TRYING TO, BUT FOR SOME REASON THAT WAS CAUSING SOME PROBLEM THERE.
SO WE TOLD HIM, LISTEN, UH, IT'S JUST A FEW DAYS, A FEW WEEKS, YOU KNOW, YOU STAY OFF THE PROPERTY IF THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE SOME SORT OF DISPLEASURE OR WHATEVER.
AND IN A FEW DAY, WEEKS TIME, YOU COME BACK AND DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE THAT'S NECESSARY.
YOU KNOW, DON'T UPSET THE, THE NEIGHBORS RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, LET'S SLEEP IN DOGS LIE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A-A-A-A-A-A TIME TO, AND A COMMITMENT FROM THE YACHT CLUB AS SOON AS THEY'VE GIVEN UP THE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, LET'S, UM, WE WILL PROCEED WITH THAT.
I THINK THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AT THE TIME.
SO HOPEFULLY IN A FEW DAYS, UM, WE SHOULD SEE SOME TRACTION AND WE SHOULD BE BACK ON TRACK.
I'VE DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY ALREADY AND, UM, TAKING THAT UP AS AN UP, AS A PRIORITY, YOU KNOW.
ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU.
UM, MY SEVENTH DAY OF WORK WAS TODAY AND I WANNA THANK THE PLEASURE ISLAND DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR FOR HIS TWO AND A HALF HOUR TOUR OF A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL AREA.
I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT OUR OFFICE, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE LAW DEPARTMENT CAN DO TO ASSIST WITH THESE ENDEAVORS.
[02:05:01]
SO, UM, IT IS ON MY TOP PRIORITY LIST AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR GIVING ME A WEEK TO BE ABLE TO, TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES.I WILL GATHER THE INFORMATION WITH YOUR LAW DEPARTMENT AND WE'LL BEGIN WORKING ON IT AS SOON AS, AS, AS TOMORROW MORNING.
ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, WELL I THINK THAT'S IT.
[III.F.(2) A Discussion Regarding Steps For Beautification Of The City (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]
WE HAVE, UH, NUMBER TWO, A DISCUSSION REGARDING STEPS FOR BEAUTIFICATION OF THE CITY.AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ETT.
YOU KNOW, I'VE SAT AROUND AND I'VE WATCHED US TAKE STEPS TO BEAUTIFY THE CITY FROM THE GATEWAY DOWNTOWN TO THE SIGNS WELCOMING PEOPLE TO THE CITY.
BUT I'VE BEEN, I WAS RIDING AROUND LAST WEEK BEFORE LAST, AND WHAT I SAW, I DECIDE TO PUT THIS ON THE, UH, AGENDA STEPS TO BEAUTIFY THE CITY.
MOST CITIES, YOU KNOW, THE KEY TO BEAUTIFICATION OF A CITY IS THAT CITIZENS AND CITY DO WHAT THEY CAN TO ENSURE THAT WE FOLLOW ORDINANCE THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED LONG, PROBABLY BEFORE US, AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING NOW AND PROBABLY BEFORE A LOT OF THE CITIZENS THAT, UH, IT AFFECTS THAT WERE EVEN BORN.
BUT THOSE ORDINANCE WAS ESTABLISHED IN ORDER SO THAT A CITY, UH, APPEAR A CERTAIN WAY TO VISITORS AND PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN IT.
AS I RODE AROUND, I SAW SOME THINGS THAT JUST JUMPED OUT THAT I SAW NO REASON FOR ME TO SEE THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUMPS OUT IS IN SOME PLACES I SAW WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY CUT A WHOLE TREE, CUT A TREE DOWN, AND I SAW THE TREE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
I RODE AROUND, I SAW PLACES WHERE EVIDENTLY SOMEBODY WAS EVICTED FROM A HOUSE OR SOMEBODY WENT AND CLEANED THE HOUSE.
BUT ALL OF THE BELONGINGS WAS TAKEN OUT AT ONE TIME, PLACED ON SIDE THE ROAD, OKAY? NOTHING BAGGED OR NOTHING JUST PLACED ON SIDE THE ROAD.
I PASSED IN SOME AREAS, I LOOKED AT THE GRASS AND IT WAS WAY BEYOND WHAT OUR ORDINANCE SAYS.
I'M TALKING NOT TWO WEEKS OR THREE.
YOU COULD TELL IT'S PROBABLY A MONTH PAST WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO BE CUT.
SOMEBODY MAY BE PASSING A CHAIR, FELL OFF, THE TRUCK IS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, IT'S STILL THERE.
WE HAVE TRUCKS GOING BACK AND FORWARD TO THE LANDFILL.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT CAN KEEP THE CITY BEAUTIFUL.
BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THESE ORDINANCE MUST BE ENFORCED.
WHEN I RIDE AROUND AND I SEE A VIOLATION, ANY ONE OF THESE NATURES THAT I JUST MENTIONED, I EXPECT THAT WE HAVE HAD A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ADDRESS THAT.
AND IF WE ARE ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES, THEY WON'T BE UP THERE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
NOW, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT GOING TO OUR CITIZENS AND SAY, HEY, THAT'S A CODE VIOLATION.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS GO TO THE CITIZENS AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT THE VIOLATION IS AND GIVING THEM AMPLE ENOUGH TIME TO CORRECT THE VIOLATION.
AND YOU WRITE IT DOWN AND YOU GO BACK AND CHECK AFTER THAT TIME.
AND IF THEY HAVE NOT DONE IT, THEN WE CITE THEM.
WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE CONDUCT BUSINESS PROPERLY? 'CAUSE WHEN WE DON'T, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.
WE GO PICK UP THIS TREE, NOW WE'VE GOTTA FILL THIS TRUCK UP.
THIS TREE GONNA TAKE A LOT OF THE TRUCK, WE GONNA GO TO THE LANDFILL.
[02:10:01]
HAVE TO FALL BEHIND ON A ROUTE.WE PUTTING A TREE IN THE LANDFILL AND WE PAYING THE COST SO THE LANDFILL NOT MAKING THE MONEY.
SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE JUST HAVE TO JUST UNDERSTAND HOW BUSINESSES DONE.
THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS IS CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ENFORCE THESE ORDINANCE, EVERYTHING YOU SEE, THAT'S A VIOLATION.
YOU COME BACK, IT'S NOT CORRECTED.
WE HAVE STEPS THAT WE SHOULD TAKE IF SOMEBODY VIOLATE THESE ORDINANCES.
THE LAST PHASE, OH YEAH, WRONG.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG FOR US TO HAPPEN.
WE, THE CITY, WE SET THE ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE AN ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND A PROCEDURE THAT WE FOLLOW.
AND IT SHOULDN'T TAKE FOREVER TO GET THIS DONE IS GETTING RIDICULOUS.
NOW, I TALKED ABOUT CITIZENS AND I TALKED ABOUT US.
THE OTHER RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE IS TO PICK IT UP IN A TIMELY MANNER.
NOT BECAUSE THE CITIZEN PUT IT OUT THERE, IT'S OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY PUT IT OUT THERE AND WE NOT PICKING IT UP.
A LOT OF WHAT I SAW IS A RESULT OF WHEN WE FELL BEHIND, UH, CITY MANAGER.
I ASKED A QUESTION AT THE END OF JULY ABOUT A CONTRACTOR COMING IN AND HELPING WITH THIS TRASH.
AND I ASKED THAT QUESTION BECAUSE AT THAT TIME WE HAD APPROVED ADDITIONAL MONIES.
SO WE CANNOT, WE CANNOT GET THIS TRASH UP UNLESS WE GET A CONTRACT IN THIS CITY.
AND HE STAYS HERE UNTIL WE HAVE GOTTEN, WHEREBY WHEN WE ARE THROUGH PICKING UP TRASH IN ONE AREA, WE COULD BE BACK THERE IN TWO WEEKS.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE, WE HAVE REDUCED THE TWO MONTHS, BUT I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW FAR WE ARE BEHIND.
THE TRASH IN MY COMMUNITY WHERE I LIVE, WE GOT OURS PICKED UP ON JULY THE 17TH.
THAT WAS TWO MONTHS AFTER IT WAS PUT OUT.
SO WE PICKED IT UP ON JULY THE 17TH.
WE ARE NOW PAST AUGUST THE 17TH, WHICH MEAN WE ARE NOW IN MY COMMUNITY.
TRASH WE HAVE OUT THERE HAS BEEN OUT THERE FOR OVER A MONTH.
AND IF THAT'S THE CASE IN MY COMMUNITY, IT'S THE CASE ALL OVER THE CITY.
SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, GET A CONTRACTOR IN HERE TO ASSIST OUR PEOPLE, AND HE STAYS HERE UNTIL WE HAVE GOTTEN TO WHEREBY WHEN HE LEAVES, OUR PEOPLE CAN BE BACK IN THAT LOCATION TWO WEEKS LATER.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO STAY LONGER THAN TWO WEEKS AND WE STAY LONGER.
TWO WEEKS MORE TRASH IS GATHERED, IT'S GONNA TAKE LONGER TO PICK IT UP.
I'M NOT VERY SMART AND I AIN'T DIVIDED BUB IN THE LAMP, BUT I FIGURED THAT OUT.
I JUST SAID A LOT OF THINGS AND I'M NOT EVEN GONNA ELABORATE ON IT ANYMORE.
I THINK EVERYBODY GOT THE PICTURE OF WHAT I MEANT AND WHAT I'M SAYING, CITY MANAGER, IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU RUN THE STAFF, WE HIRE YOU TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
THIS CITY NEEDS TO GET CLEANED UP.
I'M NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT THIS AGAIN IN 30 DAYS.
I'LL DO A RIDE AROUND AGAIN, IF IT LOOKS THE WAY I IT LOOKS NOW, I'M GONNA PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA.
BUT MAYBE I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THINGS TO, TO, TO, TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE WE JUST INCOMPETENT.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THINGS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AND WHEN IT BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, NEED TO REACT.
SO THESE ARE THINGS I THINK IF YOU ALL TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT I'VE SAID, YOU'RE GONNA FIND OUT THAT WHAT I SAID IS ALL FACTUAL
[02:15:02]
AND, UH, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.AND I'M NOT GONNA TELL NOBODY HOW TO DO THEIR JOB.
BUT IF I HAVE, IF IT LOOKS THE WAY IT LOOK 30 DAYS FROM NOW, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE A TALK.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THAT ONE MAYOR.
OH, YES, I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN.
DE SAID ONE OF THE THINGS, CITY ATTORNEY AND WHAT AND WHAT HE SAID THAT I SAID A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
YOU NEED TO TAKE THE SHACKLES OFF OF THE, THE CODING FORCES.
THEY'VE BEEN SHACKLES FROM, FROM THEM, KEEPING THEM FROM DOING THEIR JOB.
SO YOU NEED TO UNSHACKLE 'EM SO THEY CAN GO DO THEIR JOB.
FORTUNATELY, OUR NEW CITY ATTORNEY ACTUALLY WROTE BOOKS ON CODE ENFORCEMENT.
WE GOT HOPE AND OUR, UM, CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT AND OUR, UM, TRASH AND GARBAGE DEPARTMENT.
YES, WE HAVE BEEN UNDERSTAFFED.
YES, WE HAVE HAD SOME EQUIPMENT THAT'S DOWN, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO DO IN ORDER TO BETTER COMMUNICATE WITH CITIZENS ON WHAT IS YOUR, WHAT'S YOUR TRASH PICKUP DAY AND WHAT'S YOUR GARBAGE PICKUP DAY? RECOGNIZE THOSE ARE ACTUALLY TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BAGGED? WHAT IS THE LENGTH OF THE WOOD OR THE TREES? IF YOU CUT YOUR TREES, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING IT OUT TO THE ROAD.
IF A CONTRACTOR CUTS YOUR TREES, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING IT TO THE LANDFILL.
AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH CREATING DOCUMENTS OR SLIPS THAT WE CAN PUT INTO THE WATER BILL SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THAT INFORMATION IS OR CREATE, EVEN TALKED ABOUT CREATING YOUTUBE VIDEOS SO THAT THE, OUR CUSTOMERS, THE RESIDENTS WILL KNOW WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE.
SO IT IS DEFINITELY A WORK IN PROGRESS.
YES, WE ARE BEHIND, BUT WE DO HAVE HOPE.
AND PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS NOT RIDING AROUND, SUCKING UP THE AIR IN THE TRUCKS.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY BOOTS ON THE GROUND, AND THEY ACTUALLY KNOCK ON THE PERSON, THE RESIDENT'S DOOR TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHY WHAT YOU DID WAS WRONG OR WHY YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS HERE.
RECOGNIZE AND EDUCATING THEM ON WHY THEY ARE GETTING A, A TICKET TO TRY TO HELP THEM NOT DO THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE ATTORNEY FOR BEING HERE, AND I KNOW THAT WE WILL HAVE SOME PROGRESS.
AND I KNOW THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS LOOKING FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH HOLDING THE CITIZENS THAT ARE NOT COMPLIANT WITH OUR ORDINANCE.
HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE, BUT ALSO EDUCATING THEM ON WHAT THE CORRECT WAY IS TO, TO PUT OUT THEIR, THEIR GARBAGE IN THEIR TRASH.
AND WHATEVER ADDITIONAL SUPPORT CITY MANAGER THEY CAN RECEIVE, UM, WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.
LET ME ASK A QUESTION BEFORE I'M LET, LET ME ASK A QUESTION BEFORE I TENDER MY REMARKS.
HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE IN CODE ENFORCEMENT? THAT'S TWO, BUT I MEAN, HOW MANY ARE IN, IN TOTAL? GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
I'M DARLENE THOMAS PIERRE, CO COMPLIANCE MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
WE HAVE, UH, SIX ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSPECTORS AND TWO DEMOLITION INSPECTORS.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S IT.
THAT'S ALL I, THAT'S ALL I, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW MANY WE HAD IN TOTAL.
PORT ARTHUR IS AN EXPANSIVE CITY.
IT'S A BIG, IT'S A LOT OF AREA AND A LOT OF, UM, A LOT OF PROPERTY AND, AND EIGHT PEOPLE FOR, FOR THE TOTAL OF THAT AREA.
SEEMS LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY SHORT IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
IF WE ARE HAVING THE KIND OF EXPECTATIONS THAT WE, UH, THAT WE WANT.
I KNOW WE ARE IN BUDGETS AND I KNOW, I KNOW WE ARE LOOKING FOR MONEY AND ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
THE OTHER THING THAT, AS I WAS LISTENING TO, I THINK, UM, WE NEED TO HAVE,
[02:20:01]
UH, WE NEED TO HAVE A CODE ENFORCEMENT MONTH.UH, IF IN SEPTEMBER, JUST, JUST SAY, JUST THINKING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, IT WOULD BE A GREAT THING IF WE HAD TWO PRESENTATIONS, UM, IN THE COUPLE OF MEETINGS THAT ARE COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER, LETTING INDIVIDUALS KNOW VIA A PRESENTATION EXACTLY WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT PUT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, HOW LONG THE LOGS HAVE TO BE CUT.
JUST PUTTING THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE, DOING PRESENTATIONS FOR THE TWO MEETINGS THAT ARE COMING UP.
AND THEN HAVE A CODE ENFORCEMENT MONTH WHERE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING WOULD GIVE THOSE WARNINGS THAT COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE GAVE IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, SAY, FOR 30 DAYS.
OR JUST REALLY JUST PROMOTE THAT IT'S CODE ENFORCEMENT MONTH.
YOU WON'T GET A, YOU WON'T GET A CITATION, YOU'LL JUST GET YOUR WARNING DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.
BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, NOW YOU'VE BEEN WARNED, WE'VE DONE ALL OUR DUE DILIGENCE OF INFORMING YOU WHAT CAN BE BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHAT CANNOT, AND THAT IF WE HAVE TO MOVE IT, YOU WILL BE BILLED FOR THAT MOVE AND MOVING THAT DEBRIS.
WE WILL SEND YOU A BILL FOR IT.
SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF PROACTIVE STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE TO MAKE OUR CITY LOOK BETTER.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO PUT THE TIME, THE EFFORT, AND THE DILIGENCE INTO IT.
SO, MS. CITY MANAGER, UH, MS. CATIO? YES.
MAY I, I THINK YES, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
SO AFTER MY TWO AND A HALF HOUR VISIT OF PLEASURE ISLAND, THE NEXT STOP WAS MEETING WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS CODE ENFORCEMENT CODE COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT TEAM.
AND IT WAS A VERY, UH, GOOD MEETING START OF A VERY PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP.
I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU HIRED ME AND YOU'LL START TO SEE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, THREE MEETINGS AGO, COUNCILMAN ETTE, UM, THE COUNCIL APPROVED ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR TRASH PICKUP.
I DID SPEAK ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT, AND WE ARE BACK IN PORT ACRES ON MONDAY.
SO WE HAVE DONE THE ENTIRE CITY.
SO WE ARE GOING TO START BACK THE NORMAL ROUTE ON MONDAY BECAUSE WE WERE IN STONEGATE YESTERDAY AND TODAY THEY WOULD'VE COMPLETED STONEGATE TODAY.
AND THEN WE BEGIN THE ROUTE BACK, THE NORMAL ROUTE ON MONDAY FROM PORT ACRES.
AND THAT IS WITH THE NEW CONTRACTOR THAT WE HAVE AND WITH ALL THE FIVE TRUCKS FROM THE CITY.
SO YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A MARKED IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PUT THE TIMELINE OUT THERE FOR THE CONTRACTOR THAT, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A MARKED IMPROVEMENT, THOUGH.
YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN THE TRASH PICKUP, UM, IN THE CITY.
UM, AS THE CITY ATTORNEY INDICATED, YOU KNOW, WE MET THIS MORNING WITH THE CODE COMPLIANCE INDIVIDUALS AND THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT AND THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN PLACE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PICK THE LOW HANGING FRUIT AS FAR AS CODE ENFORCEMENT CODE COMPLIANCE IS CONCERNED.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS TRASH GRASS AND JUNK VEHICLES.
THOSE ARE THE THREE MAIN THING.
AND DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS, THOSE ARE LOW HANGING FRUITS THAT WHEN WE SPEAK WITH WITH STAFF, WE'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT STAFF AND, AND NOT ONLY STAFF, BUT THE, THE, THE, UM, THE COURT IS WITH US, THE PROSECUTOR IS WITH US, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION IN GETTING IT DONE.
YOU KNOW, THAT WAS OUR MAIN FOCUS THIS MORNING, YOU KNOW, AND SO I THINK WE HAVE A PLAN, WE HAVE A PLAN HERE TO GET IT DONE, BUT AS FAR AS THE TRASH PICKUP IS CONCERNED, WE SHOULD BE BACK ON SCHEDULE.
THE REASON I, THE REASON I SAID IT, IT IS NOT SOMETHING I DIDN'T, I'M NOT POINTING FINGERS, BUT I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M SAYING WHAT'S THERE AND I WANT CITIZENS TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT TO SEE.
ALTHOUGH THEY BACK IN PORT ACRES, I'M NOT INTERESTED IN 'CAUSE THEY BACK IN PORT ACRES.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT THEM BEING BACK IN PORT ACRES IN TWO WEEKS AFTER.
THEY THERE BECAUSE OUR TRASH PICKUP IS SCHEDULED FOR ONE DAY.
SO WHEN THEY DO IT, SO IF THEY'RE IN PORT AGUS TODAY AND THEY PICK UP THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, IF THEY'RE NOT IN POAS, THAT'S WHEN EVERYTHING START COMING DOWN.
SO THE REASON FOR MY PUTTING IT ON HERE IS ONE, TO LET THEM UNDERSTAND WE ARE WORKING TO GET BACK TO THE TWO WEEKS.
[02:25:01]
THE TWO WEEKS ARE NOT THERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU SAY WE BACK IN THERE NOW, THEY GOING TO THINK WE GOING TO BE BACK THERE IN TWO WEEKS FROM THERE.AND IF WE GOT CONTRACTORS IN HERE, WE GOTTA KEEP THE CONTRACTORS TILL WHEN WE DO LEAVE PORT ACRES, WE GONNA BE BACK IN POD ACRES IN TWO WEEKS.
SO I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND WE GOT THE CONTRACTOR IN AND WHEN YOU CLOSING THIS WINDOW, MM-HMM.
AND IF WE DON'T LET CITIZENS UNDERSTAND THIS WINDOW'S NOT CLOSED, THEY GONNA BE EXPECTING US TO BE BACK IN TWO WEEKS.
AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN WHEN I KNOW IT WON'T HAPPEN.
SO THAT'S THE PART THAT I, THAT'S WHY IT'S ON HERE.
UH, TALKING ABOUT THE TRASH AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY, OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE BACK THERE EVERY OTHER WEEK.
THAT'S WHY I ASK YOU ABOUT THE STATUS OF THEM AND YOU GAVE IT.
BUT I KNOW WE WORKING THAT WAY, BUT WE GOTTA MAKE SURE CITIZENS UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE AND NOT LOOK FOR EXPECTATIONS THAT WE CAN'T PRODUCE.
RIGHT NOW, WE MAY BE THERE, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'D BE BACK IN TWO WEEKS.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, WE HAVE TO START GETTING BACK TO TWO WEEKS.
ONE OF, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AS WELL, ONE OF, PART OF THE CRITICAL DISCUSSION IS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION, AS YOU INDICATED.
AND EDUCATION, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE DEVELOPED NOT, I THINK WE HAVE DEVELOPED A BAD HABIT IN THE CITY WHERE RESIDENTS, AS YOU INDICATED, CUT A TREE OR, OR OR CONTRACTOR WOULD CUT A TREE AND HE HOLDS THE ENTIRE TREE, YOU KNOW, TO THE CURB FOR THE CITY TO TAKE AWAY.
WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK ON THE EDUCATION PIECE WHERE WE REACH OUT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND EDUCATE THEM THAT IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND THE CONTRACTOR'S RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE THAT TREE AWAY IF IT'S NOT BUNDLED AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUNDLED.
YOU KNOW, SO EDUCATION, EVEN BEFORE WE LOOK AT THE COMPLIANCE WE NEED TO GET, WE, WE WILL BE GETTING BACK ON THE EDUCATION PART OF IT WHERE WE CONTINUE TO INFORM RESIDENTS, THIS IS HOW THINGS HAVE TO BE DONE.
ANOTHER PART OF IT IS, WHICH IS PRETTY SIMPLE, YOU KNOW, THERE IS AN ORDINANCE WHICH INDICATES THAT YOUR TOTAL, WHEN YOU TAKE IT OUT, IT COMES OUT AT SEVEN O'CLOCK AND IT SHOULD BE BACK IN AT SEVEN O'CLOCK, YOU KNOW? MM-HMM.
BUT AGAIN, THERE IS A DISJOINTED APPROACH.
ONLY THE, THE, THE INDIVIDUAL WHO'S IN THE TRASH DEPARTMENT HAS THAT AUTHORITY.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF BROADENING THAT AUTHORITY TO CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE FEW OF THEM, THERE'S ONLY ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN OF THEM AS TO WHO CAN ENFORCE THOSE RULES AS WELL.
BECAUSE IN SOME AREAS THOSE RULES HAVE JUST GONE AWRY.
PEOPLE JUST LEAVE THE TUTORS OUT, YOU KNOW, 24 7.
BUT AGAIN, WE NEED TO INFORM OUR RESIDENTS THAT THERE ARE ORDINANCES, THAT THERE ARE RULES THAT WHATEVER THEY DO CONTRIBUTES TO HOW OUR CITY LOOKS OR HOW WE DO NOT WANT OUR CITY TO LOOK.
YOU KNOW? SO I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE AN EARNEST EFFORT AND MYSELF AND THE CITY ATTORNEY WHEN, AND, AND, AND TOP STAFF WAS IN A DISCUSSION THIS MORNING, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO LONG BEFORE WE ENGAGE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE REST OF STAFF.
COUNCIL, WELL, MAYOR, THANK YOU, UH, MR. CITY MANAGER, YOU SAID THAT THE ENTIRE CITY HAS BEEN PICKED UP? WELL, I BEG TO DIFFER WITH YOU BECAUSE MY STREET IN DISTRICT THREE HAS STILL NOT BEEN PICKED UP SINCE JULY.
SO UNLESS THEY CAME DOWN MY STREET AFTER THREE O'CLOCK THIS AFTERNOON WHEN I LEFT MY HOUSE TO COME DOWN HERE, THAT PILE OR THOSE PILES RATHER ARE STILL SITTING THERE.
NO, THE PILE NEXT TO YOUR HOUSE WAS PICKED UP YESTERDAY.
AND LET ME MAKE ANOTHER COMMENT.
UM, LAST WEEK THAT TRASH TRUCK WENT DOWN MY STREET, DIDN'T PICK UP ANYTHING, BUT WENT ACROSS THE STREET TO THE APARTMENTS AND STARTED PICKING UP THE OVERFLOW FROM THEIR DUMPSTERS.
IS THE CITY RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE APARTMENT COMPLEXES? COMMERCIAL SERVICE THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED THAT'S QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE RESIDENTIAL SERVICE.
IT'S A COMMERCIAL SERVICE THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED TO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX.
IS BUT IS THAT THROUGH THE CITY? YES, IT IS.
YEAH, THEY PAY FOR THAT I FOUND ON A MONTH, MONTHLY.
I JUST FOUND IT STRANGE THAT THEY CAME DOWN BROWSES
[02:30:01]
AND PASSED UP THOSE PILES AND WENT ACROSS THE STREET AND STARTED PICKING UP FROM THE DUMPSTERS.WE, BECAUSE THEY, THE, UM, APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE TREATED AS BUSINESSES AND THEY PAY FOR THAT ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
THEY DO ALL COUNCIL HAVE A FEEL? OH, I'M SORRY.
I WOULD ASK THAT IN THIS EDUCATION THAT WE ALSO INCLUDE EDUCATION FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE MATERIALS AS WELL, AND TO AT SOME POINT POSSIBLY INCLUDE A RECYCLING PROGRAM.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS OVER PROBABLY THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO, BUT, UM, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO TRULY PAY ATTENTION TO SEE HOW WE CAN, UM, ADEQUATELY IMPLEMENT A RECYCLING PROGRAM, BUT ALSO THE HA THE HAZARDOUS WASTE SO THAT IT IS NOT CUMBERSOME ON OUR STAFF WHEN THE HAZARDOUS WASTE DOES GET TO THE LANDFILL AND WE CAN'T LEAVE IT THERE OR CAN'T BE DISPOSED THERE.
WE HAVE HAD PROGRAMS IN THE PAST WHERE WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGION.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION FOR BOB, UM, WHERE WE HAVE, UM, COLLECTED HAZARDOUS WASTE.
UM, WE HAVE FOUND GRANTS THAT COULD ACT, THAT HAVE ASSISTED US.
AND FROM LAST YEAR TO DO THAT, I THINK WE, WE, WE WILL GET BACK ON THAT AS WELL TO SEE HOW WE COULD WORK WITH, BECAUSE I THINK WE DID IT TWICE A YEAR AT THE, UM, AT THE CIVIC CENTER, BOB, UH, WE DID A TIRE COLLECTION.
I THINK NOW WE'VE GOT THE TIRE PART OF IT UNDER CONTROL.
YOU KNOW, YOU DO NOT SEE AS MANY, ONCE UPON A TIME THE CITY OF PORT AFA WAS THE DUMPING GROUND FOR TIRES, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT BEING A BITTED RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A VERY EFFECTIVE PROGRAM IN PLACE FOR THE TIRE PART OF IT.
UM, THANKS TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND OTHER STUFF THAT WE HAVE GOT ON IT, YOU KNOW, BUT THE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL PART OF IT, YES, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT, THAT I'M ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE PAINT WHEN SOMEONE'S DOING CONSTRUCTION AT THEIR HOUSE WHEN AEROSOL CANS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS PROPERLY DISPOSED OF.
SO AGAIN, JUST INCLUDING THAT AS A PART OF EDUCATION.
AND THEN YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN, THERE'S A WAY FOR THE DEPARTMENTS TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER OR TAG TEAM ON BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE A WARNING OR A CITATION.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT NO DEPARTMENT IS OVERFLOWING ANOTHER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON WHATEVER MAY BE A VIOLATION ACCORDING TO THEIR DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR DEPARTMENT TO HANDLE.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S WORKING OUT IN THE BACKGROUND.
IT'S JUST A THOUGHT THAT CAME TO MIND WHEN YOU MENTIONED FOUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TO BE ABLE TO, TO HOLD A RESIDENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY MAY NOT KNOW ALL OF THE DETAILS OR THE ORDINANCE UP FOR.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK MENTIONED ABOUT ISSUING A WARNING TO VIOLATORS.
I THINK THAT WHEN THEY ISSUE A CITATION, IT, I THINK IT HAS A 10 DAY WARNING ON IT.
IS, AM I CORRECT? I'M NOT, I'M NOT TOO SURE.
YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE WE, WHAT WE CALL THE POLICING PART OF CODE ENFORCEMENT AND DO A COMPLIANCE PATHWAY.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND PRIDE.
I THINK IT WAS COUNCILWOMAN, UM, UM, UM, UM, BECKHAM QUITE SOME TIME AGO WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE BROKEN WINDOW SYNDROME THAT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU GET TO THE BROKEN WINDOW SYNDROME.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EDUCATE OUR RESIDENTS THAT BY THE TIME YOU GET TO THAT, IT'S JUST DOWNHILL.
YOU KNOW? AND WE WANT TO AVOID THAT CASCADING EFFECT, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE BUILD PRIDE IN OUR CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, AND WE ENCOURAGE THEM BY PROVIDING THEM WITH THE RELEVANT EDUCATION AND INFORMATION THAT IS NEEDED FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND YOU CAN ONLY DO IT THROUGH EDUCATION.
I'M, I'M TIRED OF SAYING YOU CANNOT BE POOR, NASTY.
THERE'S NO REASON YOU HAVE TO BE POOR AND NASTY.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN BE POOR AND HAVE PRIDE IN THE SMALL HOUSE THAT YOU LIVE IN BECAUSE IT'S WELL PAINTED.
THE GRASS IS CUT, THERE ARE TWO FLOWER POTS AT THE FRONT AND A CHILD SITTING ON A BENCH.
YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHAT CREATES THE AMERICAN IDEAL, YOU KNOW? BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO EDUCATE OUR PEOPLE,
[02:35:01]
YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME, EVEN IF YOU ARE A RENTER, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE PRIDE IN THE PROPERTY THAT YOU ARE RENTING, YOU KNOW, SO THERE IS A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT WILL BE THE MESSAGE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEND TO OUR RESIDENTS.LET US STICK PRIDE, WHETHER IT'S A JINGLE WE HAVE TO PUT OUT THERE, WHETHER IT'S A YOUTUBE VIDEO WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUT THERE, WE LET US STICK PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM IN POFA.
IT'S NOT, WE CAN DO IT AND WE CAN DO IT WELL IF WE PUT OUR MINDS TO IT.
THE MANAGER, UH, THAT WAS MENTIONED, UH, ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL, UH, PICKUP AND FOR THE APARTMENTS.
DID YOU ALL EVER COMPLETE THAT AUDIT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S PAYING WHAT THEY SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING ON THOSE COMMERCIAL, UM, DUMPSTERS AND WHAT HAVE YOU? WELL, LOOK, I REMEMBER ONE TIME YOU HAD TO SIGN A PERSON TO THAT, BUT THAT GUY RETIRED.
BUT DID, DID HE EVER COMPLETE THAT PROJECT? YES, YES.
AND, AND WHAT LET ME, I THINK I SHARED WITH COUNCIL ALREADY, I DO HAVE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OUT THAT IS LOOKING AT THE GARBAGE AND TRASH PICKUP.
NOT ONLY COMMERCIAL, BUT RESIDENTIAL FRAUD.
THE CITY, BECAUSE WHAT YOU'VE HAD OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD THE SAME ROUTES IN PORT ARTHUR, SAME GARBAGE ROUTES WITH THE SAME EQUIPMENT ASSIGNED TO THOSE GARBAGE ROUTES WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF PEOPLE DOING IT.
AND WE HAVE NOT FACTORED IN ANYTHING FOR DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION ON THE GROWTH OF THE CITY THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.
WHEN I CAME HERE 18 YEARS AGO, DOMINION COURT AND DOMINION PARK NEVER EXISTED.
AND DOMINION PARK, YOU HAVE HUNDREDS OF HOUSES THERE RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE EVER TAKEN THAT INTO CONSIDERATION IN PRO FOR SERVICE DELIVERY.
SO THE SAME FIVE TRUCKS YOU HAVE RUNNING THE ROADS, ALL WE CONTINUE TO DO IS EXPAND THE, THE MAP FOR THE ROUTES AND THINKING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SAME INDIVIDUAL, ONLY IF HE'S A ROBOT, HE OR SHE'S A ROBOT, CAN DO THE SAME ROUTES, YOU KNOW, OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
SO WHAT I'VE DONE, I'VE, I'VE WORKED, I'M WORKING WITH THE, UM, THE PURCHASING MANAGER AND WE HAVE SENT OUT AN RFQ TO TAKE A VERY HOLISTIC LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE DOING, YOU KNOW, AND FOR THEM TO, THEY MAKE, GIVE, PROVIDE US WITH A VERY COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT AS TO WHERE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH IT IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR, UM, TRASH AND, AND, AND, AND GARBAGE PICKUP IN ORDER FOR US TO GET, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BEAUTY THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR AND PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICE TOO, TO OUR RESIDENTS.
BECAUSE I THINK THE RESIDENTS NEED IT BECAUSE THEY PAY FOR IT, THEY DESERVE IT.
IF THAT'S THE LAST THING WE SHOULD DO, IF WE, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE DO IN PORT ARTHUR, IS TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH ON TIME, TRASH AND GARBAGE PICKUP AND WATER.
IF WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE, WE SHOULD AT LEAST PROVIDE THAT TO THEM.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, SEE THE MANAGE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT DOMINICAN RANCH BACK THERE, RICE FARM ROAD BACK UP IN THERE.
THAT'S A BIG, NEWER EXPANSION, HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE PAST 10 YEARS ALSO, THAT WAS NOT THERE.
NINTH AVENUE AVENUE WASN'T THERE.
NINTH AVENUE CAME INTO, UM, A FEW YEARS AGO IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.
ALL THESE THINGS CAME IN A FEW, A FEW YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, AND LOOK, WE CONTINUING TO EXPAND ON JIMMY JOHNSON, YOU KNOW, AND EVEN EE EVEN ON 95TH STREET, WHEN I CAME HERE, THERE WAS NO DEVELOPMENT ON 95TH STREET OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, AT THE BACK OF BEST BUY, THAT WAS ALL FOREST AT THE TIME.
THERE WAS NO APARTMENT COMPLEXES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAD NOT INVESTED IN SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES VALUED AT $300,000 IN THERE, YOU KNOW.
BUT WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE.
YOU KNOW, WE NEVER INVESTED IN IT, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT IT THOUGH.
MORE LIKE, NO MORE, ANY MORE, UH, COMMENTS ON THIS? WE'LL MOVE TO,
[III.F.(3) A Discussion Regarding Ordinances Against Camping In Public Places Within The City Of Port Arthur (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Beckcom And Councilmember Kinlaw)]
UH, NUMBER THREE.IT IS A DISCUSSION REGARDING AL ASSIST AGAINST CAMPING AND PUBLIC PLACES WITHIN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY MAYOR PRO, TIM BECKHAM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, KEN LAW.
AND I HAVE A, WE'LL BEGIN, UH, WE WANNA BEGIN WITH, WITH, WITH THE, UH, GUEST THERE.
[02:40:02]
UH, IS THAT YOUR PLEASURE, MAYOR? THE CITIZEN HAD REQUESTED TO SPEAK.YOU, YOU WANT TO, WHAT YOU ALL WANT TO HEAR FIRST YOU GO.
UH, MAYOR, CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU, MAYOR, UH, MYSELF AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW HAD A DISCUSSION WITH, UH, OUR NEW CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH PEOPLE CAMPING IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY.
AND I DID SOME RESEARCH TO SEE, UH, WHAT ORDINANCE WE, WHAT ORDINANCES WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE.
AND THERE'S TWO, UH, ONE OF THEM CON, UH, CONCERNS CAMPING OVERNIGHT IN CITY PARKS.
AND THE OTHER ONE CONCERNS CAMPING AT SEA RIM STATE PARK.
UM, AND SO WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO IN LIGHT OF A NEW SUPREME COURT CASE THAT'S COME DOWN, UH, THAT ALLOWS MUNICIPALITIES TO PUT SOME OTHER THINGS IN PLACE TO PREVENT CAMPING IN PUBLIC PLACES.
AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH, UH, WITH THE ISSUE THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WITH HOMELESSNESS.
UH, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT, UH, WE DO.
UM, AND, AND MEETING WITH SOME OF THE HOMELESSNESS, UH, THAT'S GOING AROUND THE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT'S IN OUR CITY.
UH, IT'S GETTING MORE AND MORE, UH, HARD TO DEAL WITH THESE TYPE OF SITUATIONS.
SO I DID, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR PRO TIM, MEET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S GETTING BAD.
UH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY ALONG WITH, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, TO TALK WITH SOME OF THESE HOMELESS, UH, INDIVIDUALS.
MOST OF THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT FROM PORT ARTHUR THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
UH, I SEE SOME OF THE REPRESENTATIVES HERE IN THE GALLERY THAT DEAL WITH THESE HOMELESS, UH, INDIVIDUALS ON A DAILY BASIS, BUT IT'S BECOMING A MAJOR PROBLEM.
DEALING WITH THEM, CONTACTING OWNERS OF PROPERTIES TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN, UH, BETTER ASSIST THEM FINDING THE, THE APPROPRIATE, UH, FACILITIES FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.
UH, I WAS TALKING WITH, UH, MY COHORT HERE OF COUNCILMAN FRANK.
A LOT OF THE ONES THAT ARE HERE DON'T REALLY WANT TO ABIDE BY SOME OF THE RULES.
WHEN YOU'RE REFERRED TO A CERTAIN FACILITY, IT'S GETTING BAD, AND IF WE DON'T ADDRESS THESE PROBLEM NOW, IT'S GONNA CATCH US.
SO JUST, UH, IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO TALK WITH SOME OF THE HOMELESS, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT'S IN OUR, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, TALK WITH THEM.
THEY'RE GONNA TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT, WHAT THEY'RE GONNA NEED, AND WHAT THEY'RE GONNA COMPLY TO, WHAT THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO DO IT.
BUT AS A CITY AND AS A LEADER, AND AS PART OF LEADERSHIP, UH, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT, UH, WE JUST DON'T LET THIS GO BY.
UM, IF THE COUNCIL IS WILLING TO DO MORE, I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR, WE WE'RE GONNA BE APPROVING SOME OF THE APPOINTEES THAT WE HAVE LATER ON IN THE AGENDA, BUT I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, THAT WE WE'RE TAKING A PROACTIVE, UH, MEASURE IN ADDRESSING SOME OF THIS HOMELESSNESS PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE AT, AT PORT ARTHUR.
UH, MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST ADD TO THAT ONE MORE THING.
YOU WANNA BRING UP, UH, I HAVE MS. FAITH BOLD AND CITY SECRETARY'S GOING TO ASSIST YOU.
SHE'S GONNA GET THE MIC OUT FOR YOU.
WHILE SHE'S DOING THAT, IF I COULD JUST ADD ONE OTHER COMMENT.
MAYOR, MA'AM, IF I COULD ADD ONE OTHER COMMENT WHILE SHE'S DOING THAT, PLEASE.
UH, I JUST WANNA EXPLAIN TO THE CITIZENS WHAT OUR PROCESS IS NOW AS FAR AS WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE'VE, WE'VE TRIED TO DO TO, TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF CAMPING.
UM, IT'S A MULTI-STEP PROCESS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO START WITH WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY? IS IT CITY PROPERTY? IS IT PRIVATE PROPERTY? IS IT A DD SEVEN EASEMENT? THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF HOOPS WE HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH TO FIGURE OUT WHO, WHO DOES THIS PROPERTY BELONG TO? THEN WHEN, AND IF WE FIND OUT WHO THAT PROPERTY BELONGS TO, WE'VE GOTTA FIND THAT PERSON THAT OWNS THE PROPERTY.
SOMETIME WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A, A REAL ESTATE AGENT OR A BROKER.
UH, YOU KNOW, FIRST PLACE I START IS THE JEFFERSON COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO SEE.
AND SOMETIMES THOSE RECORDS ARE NOT ACCURATE.
SO WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHO THE OWNER IS BEFORE WE CAN GET LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVED TO DO A TRESPASS WARNING.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THESE PEOPLE MOVE TO PLACES THAT, THAT THEY CAN BE AND GET THEM OUTTA PLACES THAT, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE IN.
MY NAME IS FAITH BOLE, AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU'VE ALLOTTED ME.
UM, EXCUSE ME, I'D LIKE TO START YOUR, YOUR ADDRESS, ALSO.
[02:45:01]
MY ADDRESS.I'M ADDRESSING THE HOMELESS SITUATION.
OH, MY PHYSICAL ADDRESS,
I LIVE AT 37 20 TESS STREET IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS.
IN 1985, MY TWO CHILDREN, JAMIE AND JASON, AGES 12 AND EIGHT, MYSELF AND MY LITTLE SILKY TERRIER, PRINCE MAX VON STANOFF, THE FIRST BECAME HOMELESS.
DUE TO NO FAULT OF OUR OWN, MY EX-HUSBAND DECIDED THAT HIS FUTURE IN THE MILITARY DID NOT INCLUDE A WIFE AND KIDS.
10 YEARS AFTER OUR WEDDING
I WAS UNABLE TO CARE FOR MY CHILDREN, AND I WAS LEFT PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN.
UH, CHURCH PEOPLE TOOK US IN AND, UH, KEPT US UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO WALK AGAIN, WHICH I GREATLY APPRECIATED.
AND THEN, UM, MY, AFTER MANY WEEKS OF, OF RIGOROUS THERAPY, I WAS ABLE TO WALK.
I DID, UM, REGAIN THE USE OF MY LEGS IN TIME TO LOSE MY TRUCK
BUT I GOT AN APARTMENT BECAUSE THE LORD INTERVENED, AND WE WERE BUMPED TO THE TOP OF A SIX MONTH WAITING LIST, AND WE WERE AFFORDED AN APARTMENT ACROSS FROM FITZSIMMONS ARMY MEDICAL CENTER.
UM, EVEN THOUGH MY HOMELESS STATUS WAS, UH, SHORTENED BY THE GRACE OF GOD, AND NOT EVERY STORY ENDS THIS WAY, MY HEART BREAKS FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL OUT THERE.
AND I, IT HAS BEEN MY LIFE ENDEAVOR TO TRY TO HELP SOLVE THE SITUATION.
NOW, I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT AN IMMEDIATE ANSWER, BUT THERE ARE, UH, PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE VERY USEFUL.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, ONE IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA CALLED BOXVILLE, UM, IS A PREFAB HOUSING MANUFACTURING PRODUCTION LINE WHERE THEY BUILD ALL THE HOUSES IN, IN SHOP, IN HOUSE
UM, THESE HOUSES ARE ABOUT, WELL, THEY START AT 361 SQUARE FEET, WHICH YOU WOULDN'T THINK IS VERY BIG, BUT WHEN YOU SEE THIS, YOU CAN GO ON YOUTUBE AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THE BOX BOWL VIDEOS.
THEY HAVE MULTI, I I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY THEY HAVE ON THERE, BUT I HAVE BEEN SO, UM, ENTRANCED BY THIS PRODUCT THAT IT SEEMS LIKE A PRACTICAL AND INEXPENSIVE SOLUTION TO A LOT OF THE HOUSING PROBLEMS AND ISSUES.
I WAS EVEN THINKING, WELL, THEY, THEY COST, UH, THE, UH, CONSA CAA COST $60,000.
THERE ARE HOMES THAT ARE CHEAPER.
EXCUSE ME, HE HAS A WATER OR SOMETHING FOR YOU IF YOU NEED IT.
WHILE THEY HAVE, UM, THESE BOX HOMES, THEY CAN MAKE DIFFERENT MODULES.
THEY CAN, YOU CAN STACK THEM, YOU CAN ADD THEM TO ANOTHER ONE.
[02:50:01]
YOU CAN MAKE THESE MODULES AS BIG AS YOU WANT, OR AS SMALL AS YOU WANT.UM, THEY COME COMPLETELY BUILT WITH WASHER, DRYER, STOVE, AND REFRIGERATOR, AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ADD A BED, A COUCH AND TOILET PAPER, AND YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.
THEY CAN BE ERECTED ON YOUR LOT.
HAVING SEEN THIS AND MEETING WITH JEANETTE WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE, UM, SITUATION FOR UNWED MOTHERS, THIS HAS ALSO BEEN A DREAM, A LIFELONG DREAM OF MINE IS TO HAVE, UM, A PLACE WHERE UNWED MOTHERS COULD GO TO GET THE, FIND THE HELP, THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED, AND TO HELP OTHERS AS WELL IN THE PROCESS.
BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WIDESPREAD.
HOMELESSNESS KNOWS NO AGE, NO SEX, NO BOUNDS, NO COLOR.
AND IT'S EVERYONE THAT IS TOUCHED BY THIS.
MY IDEA, AND I'M, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T REALLY HAD A LOT OF TIME TO PREPARE FOR THIS, BECAUSE I SAW THIS ON THE NEWS LAST NIGHT AND I SAID, I GOTTA GO
UM, I THOUGHT THAT IF YOU WERE TO GIVE A PERSON A THREE MONTH LEG UP, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A HANDOUT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT A LEG UP WHERE THEY HAVE AN ADDRESS, THEY HAVE A PLACE TO LAY THEIR HEAD.
THEY CAN TAKE A BATH, THEY CAN WASH THEIR CLOTHES, THEY CAN COOK A MEAL AND NOT JUST EAT SCRAPS OUT OF A GARBAGE CAN OR AN APPLE AT A SHELTER WITH A CUP OF COFFEE.
BY THE WAY, I'VE HAD MANY OF THEM
BUT YOU NEED MORE THAN THAT, AND YOUR CHILDREN NEED MORE THAN THAT.
THERE ARE CHILDREN OUT THERE THAT ARE HOMELESS AS WELL.
THESE LITTLE AFFORDABLE HOMES MAKE SUCH SO MUCH SENSE THAT I JUST CAN'T SEE TEXAS NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS.
AND I CAN'T SEE JEFFERSON COUNTY NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS, BECAUSE IT WOULD PROVIDE SO MUCH FOR SO MANY.
AND YOU COULD GIVE THEM A THREE MONTH HELP.
AND, BUT WITH THAT, THREE MONTHS WOULD COME WITH STIPULATIONS.
YOU HAVE TO BE LOOK ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR WORK.
THERE'S NO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL INVOLVED OR ALLOWED IN THE PROPERTIES.
THERE'S, UM, UH, IF YOU NEED A JOB, YOU CAN HELP, HAVE HELP FINDING ONE.
IF YOU NEED A GED, YOU CAN GET ENROLLED IN A GED COURSE.
WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THE, UM, TOOLS THAT YOU NEED TO PROVIDE YOURSELF WITH A WAY TO GET UP THE LADDER ON YOUR OWN, WHERE YOU'RE NOT DEPENDENT ON OTHER PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.
SO THAT'S WHY I SAY IT'S A LEG UP, NOT A HANDOUT.
AND AT THE END OF THE THREE MONTH TERM, THEY WOULD HAVE TO, OF COURSE, UH, THEY'RE COMING IN.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO SIGN A THREE MONTH LEASE THAT WOULD, THEY WOULD ABIDE BY THESE RULES, OR IT WOULD BE CAUSE FOR EVICTION.
AND, BUT YOU'RE GIVING THEM TRAINING.
YOU'RE TEACHING THEM HOW TO BALANCE A CHECKBOOK, HOW TO APPLY FOR A JOB, HOW TO DRESS FOR THAT JOB, BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY HAS THOSE TOOLS.
THEY CAN GO OUT AND LOOK FOR WORK IN A T-SHIRT AND JEANS, BUT THAT MAY NOT GET THEM THE JOB.
SO PROVIDING THEM WITH THE CLOTHING, THE TOOLS, THE EDUCATION, AND THE LEG UP THAT THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF THE HOLE THAT THEY'RE IN, I THINK IS A VERY, UH, GREAT PROPOSAL.
AND, UH, MY MINISTRY, WARM HANDS, WARM HEARTS OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS IS BEHIND THIS 100%.
WE'RE WILLING TO HELP AND DO WHAT WE CAN.
WE ALSO MAKE HATS AND SCARVES AND MITTENS FOR THE HOMELESS AND DISTRIBUTE THEM DURING THE COLD SEASON.
I ALSO HAVE MATERIAL THAT WAS DONATED.
[02:55:01]
QUILTS AND HAVE HELP IN MAKING QUILTS AND HATS AND SCARVES AND MITTENS,MS. FAITH, UH, COUNCILMAN KLOW HAS A REMARK FOR THANK YOU.
UH, AND, AND, AND THAT'S A MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION.
ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED, UH, WE, WE HAVE A FACILITY THAT OFFERED THOSE THINGS.
UH, UH, HOMELESSNESS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, THE SERVICE THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING AND ALL THE NETWORK, UH, THAT YOU HAVE.
UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO TAKE A STRONG STANCE.
SO THIS COUNCIL HAS SOME, UH, MAJOR DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, UNTIL THEN, I MEAN, WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS TYPE OF STANCE AND FIND WAYS AND SOLUTIONS.
SO I'M ASKING COUNSEL TO HAVE AN OPEN MIND, UH, AND OPEN EARS TO WHAT WE CAN DO IMMEDIATELY.
I KNOW THAT THE MAYORS IS, UH, IS, IS SPEARHEADING, UH, SOME OF THESE IDEAS THAT WE ARE GONNA COME UP WITH AS A CITY COUNCIL.
BUT, UH, MANY OF THE THINGS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, WE HAVE A FACILITY THAT'S LOCAL THAT'S ACTUALLY ADDRESSING THOSE, UH, SITUATIONS.
AND OF COURSE, UH, IT, IT TAKES, UH, MONEY JUST TO BE BLUNTLY WITH YOU.
IT TAKES RESOURCES TO GET THOSE THINGS DONE.
SO THERE'S ALSO CROWDFUNDING AND FUNDRAISERS.
WELL, AT THE TIME, WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT NOW.
YES, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE IMMEDIATE SITUATION IS DIRE, RIGHT? THERE YOU GO.
IT'S DI SO THAT DOES HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT I JUST WANTED TO OFFER SOME SUGGESTIONS OUT THERE FOR TRACK LONG-TERM BENEFITS AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS.
WE THANK YOU SO KINDLY FOR, UH, CITY SECRETARY.
SHE, SHE'S, UH, WE THANK YOU, UH, MS. FATE FOR, FOR, FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE ON THIS.
I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AGAIN, THE FACILITY THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR THAT OFFERS THOSE SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS IS PORT CITIES RESCUE MISSION.
AGAIN, THE NAME OF THE FACILITY IS PORT CITIES RESCUE MISSION.
SO ANYONE LISTENING RIGHT NOW WHO KNOWS SOMEONE IN NEED OF THIS SERVICE, PLEASE ASK THEM TO, UM, GO TO PORT CITY'S RESCUE MISSION.
THE ADDRESS AGAIN, MS. PAT, WHAT'S THE ADDRESS? OFFICE OF 5 35 ATLANTA, 5 35 ATLANTA IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, 5 35 ATLANTA PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
UH, MAYOR
THANK YOU, MA'AM, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
WE, WE APPRECIATE THE, THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE, HAVE BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT'S LIKE, GIVES YOU, UH, INCREDIBLE INSIGHT TO WHAT THAT COMMUNITY NEEDS.
I'M FAMILIAR WITH WARM HANDS, WARM HEARTS.
I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL, UH, WORK THAT, THAT YOU AND YOUR, YOUR MINISTRY TEAM HAVE DONE IN THAT REGARD.
UM, AND I LOOKED UP THE BOX ABLE, UH, WEBSITE AND THAT, THAT'S AMAZING.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD REALLY BE, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK INTO FOR THE FUTURE, NOT SOMETHING WE COULD DO NOW BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, TIME AND MONEY, UH, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, CITY ATTORNEY, UH, SINCE THE MEETING THAT WE HAD, UH, YOU AND I AND COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW, HAVE YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY AS FAR AS ORDINANCES THAT MIGHT HELP US IN THE, IN THE SHORT TERM? THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
UH, HOMELESSNESS IS OBVIOUSLY, IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE, AND THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT JUST RECENTLY RENDERED AN OPINION IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR THAT GAVE SOME GUIDANCE ON SOME ISSUES REGARDING THE PUNISHMENT OF HOMELESSNESS AND SLEEPING IN PUBLIC PLACES.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS BE ABLE TO, UH, ADVISE THE CITY COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE SESSION ON WHAT THAT SUPREME COURT DECISION IS, AND THEN GIVE YOU A MENU OF OPTIONS ON HOW YOU WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO PROCEED AS YOUR CITY ATTORNEY.
AND SO I WILL MAKE THAT PART OF OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDA AT OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WE THANK, THANK YOU, UH, CITY ATTORNEY FOR THAT.
AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO SAY TO MISS FAITH, AND I THINK SOME OTHERS HERE WHO ARE REMAINING IN THE GALLERY, UH, WHO ACTUALLY DEAL.
WE, WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING FOR, UH, THE HOMELESS SITUATION.
UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST ALLUDED TO, UH, UH, GRANT'S PASS, WELL, I CALL IT GRANT'S PASS, UH, VERSUS JOHNSON, THAT DECISION, UH, THAT THE SUPREME COURT
[03:00:01]
HANDED DOWN THAT I KNOW WOULD HAVE, UH, ALL AROUND AMERICA, HOMELESS IS A PROBLEM.YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, NOW IN OUR STATE, WHEN WE LOOK AT IT FROM A STATE, UH, PERSPECTIVE, OR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, I THINK I I DISCUSSED THIS WITH, WITH SOME OTHERS.
UH, THEY, UH, HAVE BEEN, UH, HANDED DOWN, UH, I GUESS FROM THEIR, WELL, FROM THEIR GOVERNOR.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CALL IT LIKE EXECUTIVE ORDER THE WAY WE HAVE IT IN TEXAS, OR, BUT IT'S BEEN HANDED DOWN FROM THE GOVERNOR.
AND EACH, UH, MUNICIPALITY AND CITY IN, UH, CALIFORNIA CAN ENFORCE WHAT THE FEDERAL LAW IS AT THEIR OWN DISCRETION.
UH, MY MY BIG CONCERN IS WHEN THIS IS GOING TO OCCUR IN TEXAS, AND IF WE WILL BE GOING ONLY BE GIVEN THOSE SAME OPPORTUNITIES, IF WE ARE NOT, THEN WE ARE GOING TO NEED SOME PLACES FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE NOT BASICALLY PORT ARTHURS, BUT THEY ARE HUMANS.
AND, UH, WE BECOME, UH, SOME CUSTODIANS, IF YOU WILL, BEING IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN MUNICIPALITIES OF INDIVIDUALS AND SITUATIONS SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS.
WHAT, UH, I WOULD PROPOSE FOR OUR CITY.
WELL, BEFORE I WOULD EVEN SAY THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH A, UH, GROUP OF MAYORS NATIONALLY.
WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN, WE ARE BEING LED BY, UH, MAYOR FRANCIS, UH, UH, BASS IN, UH, LOS ANGELES, KAREN BASS, EXCUSE ME.
THAT'S WHY I WAS MESSING, OKAY.
AND WE'VE MET, UH, ELECTRONICALLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS SINCE THE DECISION IN, IN JUNE BY THE SUPREME COURT.
WE ARE AGAIN COMPELLED BECAUSE WE ARE CUSTODIANS OF HUMAN LIFE IN HIS LEADERSHIP POSITIONS TO COME UP WITH AN ANSWER.
WE DID, UH, MAYOR PROTE, UH, WORK WITH OUR PREVIOUS CITY ATTORNEY OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD, I, I BELIEVE ON, UH, A REAL LARGE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT ON NINTH AVENUE.
UH, IT WAS A PROCESS BECAUSE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
WE LEARNED THAT, UH, THE JUDGE AND, AND THEN THE CO UH, COVID CAME ALONG AND IT STOPPED A LOT OF THE, YOU KNOW, WELL, NO, THERE WERE NO COURT HEARINGS AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN DIDN'T HAPPEN, OR COULD NOT HAPPEN BECAUSE OF COVID.
WELL, AS SOON AS THE COVID, UH, HAD PASSED, WHICH WAS ABOUT A YEAR, SO THAT'S WHY WE WERE LOOKING AT ABOUT A TWO YEAR PERIOD, ALMOST GOING INTO THREE YEARS, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE COURT INJUNCTION, IF I'M SAYING IT CORRECTLY, UH, TO HAVE THOSE, UH, INDIVIDUALS REMOVED FROM THAT.
I LEARNED THINGS THAT I AM BEING, UH, EVEN MORE, BECOMING MORE APPRISED OF.
NOW, WHEN WE DISPERSED THAT ENCAMPMENT, WE HAD NO FIXED FACILITY.
I THINK I HAD TALKED WITH YOU ALL AT, AT, AT, UH, PORT CITIES, PORT CITIES, AND, AND, AND IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE, BUT WE HAD SPOKEN.
BUT THEN WE FOUND OUT AGAIN, THE BEHAVIORAL ASPECT OF HOMELESSNESS.
I FOUND OUT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL, UH, COMPONENT THAT'S INVOLVED IN HOMELESSNESS, AND MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS, THEY HAVE NO DESIRE TO FOLLOW RULES.
I REMEMBER YOU, MS. HENDERSON, YOU TOLD ME PERSONALLY OF SOMETHING WHO CAME, BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WANT TO JUST GO IN THE BED, OKAY, YOU CAN'T LIE IN THE BED AND SMOKE, BUT NO SMOKING BUILDING PERIOD.
AND THEN YOU ARE LYING DOWN SMOKING.
YOU KNOW, YOU PUTTING EVERYBODY AT RISK IN THE FACILITY, SO YOU HAVE TO EXPEL THAT PERSON.
BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS PERSON'S MENTAL CAPACITY, YOU KNOW? AND YEAH.
AND THEN HOW THEY'VE BEEN BEHAVING FOR THE PAST YEARS OUTDOORS WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RULES.
WE, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT VARIABLE IN THAT EQUATION, THEN YOU
[03:05:01]
END UP WITH FOLK WHO JUST MAY BE, UH, DRUG ADDICTED.YOU KNOW, THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE SEVERAL, SEVERAL REASONS.
BUT I BEGAN TO FIND OUT ALL OF THIS WHEN WE DID THIS ATTORNEY AND, AND, AND, AND THE OTHERS.
SO THAT GAVE ME THE DESIRE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING IN, IN, IN THE PAST MONTHS, LEARNING WHAT CITIES ARE DOING NOW IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, HOUSTON AND AUSTIN, HAVE, THEY HAVE MORE OF A, UH, HOMELESS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE POPULATION'S A LARGER.
AND SO THEY ARE SETTING UP SOME MODELS AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE ALL GOING, WE'LL BE GOING TO TML IN A FEW WEEKS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE, UH, FOLK IN THE, UH, AREA WHERE ALL OF THE DISPLAYS AND EVERYTHING IS, UH, WHO WOULD HAVE THESE HOMES THAT ARE WHAT MISS FATE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
UH, LITTLE, LITTLE BOX TYPE HOMES.
BUT, AND, AND THAT YOU COULD HAVE PLACE AROUND THE CITY, OR YOU HAVE FACILITIES AS COUNCILMAN KEN LAW SAID MONIES WOULD BE INVOLVED.
NOW, THERE WOULD BE SOME FORMS OF COMPENSATION FOR MUNICIPALITIES THAT TAKE ON WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT AND SEEING AS A HUMAN SERVICE SITUATION OF PROVIDING SHELTER.
THAT'S THE WORD FOR INDIVIDUALS.
SO AS, UH, THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY HAS SAID, AND I'M SAYING ALL THIS, 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK THAT WE ARE HERE AND WE WANT TO JUST PUT SOME RULES OUT AND NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THE PERSONS WHO WILL HAVE TO ABIDE BY WHATEVER THESE RULES ARE GOING TO BE.
NOW, THE SUPREME COURT HAS SAID, LIVING OUTDOORS IS AGAINST THE LAW, UNHOUSED THE INDIVIDUALS OF BREAKING THE LAW.
NOW, WE KNOW THIS, WE HAVE THE FOURTH, THE, THE, THE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN.
NOW, THAT'S WHY I, AGAIN, HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH MAYOR BASS AND THAT GROUP, BUT THERE ARE SOME SITUATIONS THAT WE HAVE LOCALLY THAT I BELIEVE WE SHOULD CONSIDER THAT WOULD HELP THE SITUATION WITH THE HOMELESSNESS AND THE ENCAMPMENTS AROUND THE CITY.
NOW, WHAT WE CAN'T DO IS IF THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES, SAY THAT I DON'T WANT IT BY MY HOUSE, WE GOTTA BE CAREFUL WITH THAT ONE.
IF THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES FOR A FACILITY TO ASSIST WITH HOMELESSNESS, PROVIDING ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT SHE SPOKE OF, VETERANS AND EVERYONE ELSE, DRUG ADDICTED INDIVIDUALS, AND EVERYONE ELSE HAVING WHAT IS NEEDED, WHAT WE CAN'T DO AS HUMAN BEINGS, IT'S TO SAY THAT WE DON'T WANT IT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO I PRAY THAT WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY COMES BEFORE US TO ASSIST THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE THE SITUATION OF HOMELESSNESS, WE WOULD BE AMENABLE OR AMENABLE.
I THINK THAT'S HOW YOU SAY IT, AND BE CHRISTIAN ENOUGH BECAUSE I AM A CHRISTIAN, BUT WHATEVER RELIGIOUS, UH, DID TO YOU, YOU, YOU DEAL WITH, I KNOW HELPING PEOPLE HAS TO BE A PART OF IT.
SO I WANT TO SAY THAT, AND I TOOK THE TIME TO SAY IT, BECAUSE FOR THE NEXT NINE MONTHS, I'LL BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH THE HOMELESS SITUATION.
THIS IS WHY AFTER SOME URGING, WE WANT TO PUT BACK OUT THE HOMELESS COALITION THAT I ACTUALLY BEGAN IN 19, IN 2022.
[03:10:01]
SAY 1922, IN 2022, I BELIEVE IT WAS.BUT WE ARE GOING TO GET THAT GROUP TO BEGIN TO WORK WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T JUST TACKLE EVERYTHING AT ONE TIME, BUT WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS, AND I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR CARING ENOUGH.
I MEAN, I THANK GOD I'M NOT A HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL.
I GOT A LOT OF STORIES I COULD TELL, BUT I CAN'T TELL THAT ONE.
BUT MY HEART GOES OUT TO ANY INDIVIDUAL WHEN I LEAVE HERE.
I WOULD HAVE TO GO AND BE UNDER A TREE OR ON THE GROUND.
SO WE GOTTA BE CAREFUL WHEN WE MAKE THE DECISION THAT IT'S NOT GONNA BE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE OUR GRANDCHILDREN WILL END UP.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE OUR CHILDREN WILL END UP AND THE WAY IT'S GOING, YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHERE YOU WILL END UP.
WAIT, I'M GONNA HAVE SOMEONE TO COME GET A MICROPHONE FOR HER.
WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS NONE OF US KNOW WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD HAPPEN TO ME.
SO BY NO CH CHOICE OF MY OWN, AND I'M SURE THAT MANY OF THEM OUT THERE HAVE NOT CHOSEN THAT LIFE.
I KNOW THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE, THROUGH ADDICTION OR ALCOHOL, HAVE CHOSEN THAT OVER LIVING IN A, IN THEIR HOME AND WORKING A JOB.
I KNOW IT'S A HARD SITUATION TO GET OUT OF THAT TOO, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DOWN THOSE ROADS AS WELL.
SO I'VE, UM, I'VE LIVED ON THAT, ON THAT TRACK, AND I PRAISE GOD FOR MY GETTING OUT OF THOSE SITUATIONS BECAUSE I HAD A VERY STRONG CHRISTIAN UPBRINGING, BUT MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVE NOT HAD THE KIND OF UPBRINGING THAT I HAVE, AND IT WAS MY MOTHER'S PRAYERS THAT BROUGHT ME BACK.
AND SO MANY OF 'EM OUT THERE DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO EVEN PRAY FOR THEM.
AND SO IT'S LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A GOD THAT WE HAVE TO ANSWER TO.
WHAT DID I DO FOR, YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT WAS THE QUESTION THAT JESUS ASKED WHEN THEY, A THEY APPROACHED HIM AND THEY SAID, RABBI.
AND HE SAID, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU? WHEN THE BLIND MAN APPROACHED HIM AND HE SAID, RABBI JESUS SAID, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU THAT NEEDS TO BE OUR MANTRA? BECAUSE WE DON'T LIVE ON THIS EARTH UNTO OURSELVES.
YOU ARE MY BROTHER, YOU ARE MY SISTER, AND I LOVE YOU.
AND IT IS MY JOB TO SEE TO YOUR WELLBEING AS WELL AS THEIRS.
ANYTHING, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THANK YOU.
CITY SECRETARY AGAIN? YES, SIR.
WE'LL MOVE TO, UH, THINK IT'S ON, WELL, NEXT PAGE WAS TO BE PAGE THREE.
UH, WE'VE ALREADY DONE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS OR REPORTS OF ANY, UH, COMMUNITY INTEREST.
[03:15:01]
OKAY, GO AHEAD.WELL, THOSE TWO, SHE, SHE'S GONE.
YEAH, SHE, YEAH, SHE, SHE LEFT OUT.
HA, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU ALL COMPLETED IN, UH, PRINCE HALL.
YOU GOT THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF THAT MUD.
Y'ALL REPAIRED THOSE SIDEWALKS AND YOU KNOW, YOU DID IT PRETTY EFFICIENT AND PRETTY QUICK.
THEY CAN NOW, THEY CAN GO FROM ONE SIDE OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEX, THE KIDS AND, AND THE TENANT CAN GO ONE SIDE OF THE COMPLEX, THE OTHER WITHOUT WAITING IN ALL THE MUD.
WE HAD TO CUT THE, YOU HAD TO CUT THE SIDEWALKS OUT IN ORDER TO GET THE, THE, UH, PROPER WORK DONE ON THE SEWER, THINGS THAT WAS NECESSARY.
BUT I APPRECIATE Y'ALL WHAT Y'ALL DID.
UH, SMITH, I'D LIKE TO THANK HER CITY MANAGER.
UH, SHE'S WORKING WITH ME ON THE, WITH THE TENANTS THAT'S GOT COMPLAINTS IN PRINCE HALL AND LEWIS MANOR.
SHE GOES OUT AND VERIFY THE INFORMATION.
THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT MOLD AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
SOS ODES, SEWAGE BACKING UP IN THE APARTMENT, BUT SHE GOES OUT AND VERIFY WHAT I WANTED, APPRECIATE WHAT SHE'S DOING.
SHE'S WRITING 'EM UP, CCING A COPY, GIVE 'EM A COPY TO THE MANAGERS AND SENDING A COPY TO HOOD SO EVERYBODY WILL KNOW WHAT'S GOING.
THAT'S THE WAY WE GOING TO HANDLE IT.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T GO IN THERE AND MAKE 'EM DO THINGS, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY DOCUMENT STUFF.
AND HOOD IS PAYING THE BILLS OVER THERE AND LET HOOD THOUGH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE DR. SMITH AND THOSE TWO GENTLEMEN OVER THERE.
AND THAT THERE, ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? OKAY, LET'S MOVE TO, UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY ITEM THAT WE HAVE LEFT.
ON PAGE FOUR, UH, WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THERE ARE ITEMS THERE.
UH, BASICALLY SOME OF, WE ALL ARE ROUTINE, NATURE AND ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, NATURE, UH, COUNCIL HAS BEEN GIVEN INFORMATION ON THEM BEFORE, PRIOR TO COMING.
AND WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS, IF THERE WOULD BE, I WOULD JUST LOVE SEE YOUR LIGHTS THIS TIME, BECAUSE I, I CAN'T READ IT FROM HERE.
UH, AND LET ME KNOW THE, UH, PAGE AND THE NUMBER.
OH, WHERE IT GO? FIVE PAGE FIVE.
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]
APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A ONE.AND ON PAGE FIVE AND, UH, EIGHT ON PAGE SIX.
MAY I GET A SECOND COUNCIL? OH, OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? I LOST THE THING.
UH, JUST JUST A MOMENT BEFORE WE DO THE MOTION.
OH, WHAT, WHAT PAGE IS THAT? UH, SIX.
I, I HAD IT ON THERE AND I WAS GOING FAST AND DIDN'T DO IT.
WHAT? SEE, NOW WE, WE, WE WANT TO REMOVE IT.
WE JUST WANTED THE, THE REPRESENTATIVE.
BC WE JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON IT.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO, WE'LL WITHDRAW IT AND, AND LET IT GO BACK BY ITSELF BECAUSE WE GOING TO JUST BECAUSE WE WILL PASSED IT OR HE'S GONNA GIVE US SOMETHING TO, TO BEG.
PARDON? WE'RE WITHHOLDING IT FOR INDIVIDUAL ACTION.
THAT'S WHAT I SAY, SO WE'LL JUST PULL THAT AS WELL.
SO, UH, NOW A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A ONE FOUR AND EIGHT.
REMOVE THE SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE
[03:20:01]
THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A ONE, FOUR AND EIGHT.WE READY FOR QUESTION ON ANY OF YOU HAVE A QUESTION? COUNCILMAN FRANK? NO, SIR.
UH, WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
AYES HAVE IT SO IT IS APPROVED.
[VII.(A1) Mayor Thurman Bartie: National League of Cities (Approved Conference) Additional Executive Education Sessions NBC-LEO Tampa, Florida November 10 - 17, 2024 $1,327.03]
GO BACK.MAYOR THURMAN BROUGHT YOU NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES APPROVED CONFERENCE, ADDITIONAL EDUCATION, UH, EXECUTIVE EDUCATION SESSIONS WITH, UH, N-B-C-V-O TAMPA IN TAMPA, FLORIDA, NOVEMBER 10TH THROUGH 17TH.
AND FOR THE AMOUNT OF $1,327 AND 3 CENTS, I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
COUNCILMAN FRANK, SECOND IF MOVED AND SECOND WILL BE APPROVED.
UH, WE READY FOR QUESTION? COUNCILMAN? UH, ETT? WE ALL READY BACKGROUND? UH, WOULD YOU PLEASE HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE? JUST A ROLL CALL.
I'M JUST REQUESTING A ROLL CALL.
UH, BUT WE'LL, DO WE READY FOR QUESTIONS? THAT, THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION WE HAVE.
WE READY TO VOTE? HE WANTS TO HAVE A ROLL CALL.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS.
UH, THE CONFERENCE ITSELF IS FROM NOVEMBER 13TH THROUGH THE 16TH, BUT I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A PRE-CONFERENCE FROM NOVEMBER 11TH AND 12TH.
AND IS THAT THE ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVE EDUCATION SESSIONS THAT YOU HAVE LISTED HERE? MM-HMM,
AND, AND YOU, YOU, YOU'RE ACTUALLY REGISTERED FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL SESSIONS? WELL, THAT'S WHAT THIS, THIS AMOUNT WOULD REGISTERED ME IN THOSE SESSIONS.
THEY, THEY, UH, AND FURTHER, I THINK YOU SAW IT IN THE NOTES.
THEY HAVEN'T LISTED 'EM ALL YET.
THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO IT AFTER THE FOLLOWING THE 13TH.
AND I DON'T, I I HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN EMAIL.
CHRIS HAD GOTTEN ONE YET, WHAT THOSE CLASSES ARE.
UH, I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT'S SCHEDULED TO GO ON COUNCIL BESIDES YOU? I DON'T KNOW.
CHRISTIE, WOULD I, I DON'T, I DON'T REALLY KNOW.
CAN I ASK WHO, WHO ELSE IS GOING? MA'AM, CAN I ASK WHO ELSE IS GOING? YOU, YOU MEAN TO THE CONFERENCE OR YOU MEAN YES TO THIS SESSIONS OF THESE, UH, TO THE CONFERENCE.
TO THE CONFERENCE ITSELF? YEAH.
MY, MY PLANS ARE TO GO TO THE CONFERENCE AND IS THERE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP FOR THE ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVE EDUCATION SESSIONS? OH, YEAH.
YOU HAD A QUESTION ABOUT WHO ELSE IS GOING IN TO TAMPA? YES, I'M GOING.
SO NO, WELL, WELL, WHY I WOULDN'T BE ON HERE.
YEAH, THAT, THAT'S MY THOUGHT TOO.
COUNCILMAN, UH, FRANK, UH, I, IS IT JUST, JUST FOR THE SPECIAL CITY SECRETARY? I, I NEED CLARITY BECAUSE I, I'M GOING AND I'M NOT ON HERE.
SO WITH YOUR PERMISSION, MAYOR, THIS IS ONE OF YOUR, UH, PRE-APPROVED CONFERENCES THAT, THAT ANY COUNCIL MEMBER CAN ATTEND.
SO THE APPROVAL TO GO TO THE CONFERENCE IS NOT REQUIRED ON THE AGENDA.
BUT HOWEVER, IT WAS MANDATED THAT ANY EXTRA EDUCATION, ANY EXTRA THINGS OUTSIDE OF THE ACTUAL CONFERENCE OH, WOULD COME BEFORE YOU FOR PRE-APPROVAL? YES, SIR.
IF NOT, WE ARE READY FOR THE VOTE CLARIFICATION, SIR.
SO THIS, WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON IS NOT TO APPROVE IT.
IF IT'S PRE-APPROVED, THE, WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON IS TO PAY FOR THE EXTRA SESSIONS.
LET'S MAKE THAT CLEAR, YOU KNOW.
I THINK EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD THAT.
RIGHT? WELL, OKAY, LET'S VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD? YES.
UH, LET'S MOVE TO NUMBER FOUR, BUT BEFORE I GO TO NUMBER FOUR, I WANT TO JUST SAY SOMETHING, UH, THE BIGOTRY AND JEALOUSY AND DIS DIS DISCONTENT THAT, UH, A SALES IN THIS ROOM HAS A STENCH.
THAT THIS CITY IS NOT GOING TO PROGRESS BECAUSE OF THAT.
YOU NOT HEARD THURMAN CE? I'M ONLY GOING TO TRY TO LEARN SOME THINGS TO BE
[03:25:01]
A, EVEN AN EVEN BETTER MAYOR, BUT BECAUSE OF THOSE THINGS I JUST DESCRIBED, PORT ARTHUR IS NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD PLACE.THIS SHOWS OPENLY WHAT THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL DO FOR THIS CITY.
SO EVERYBODY THAT'S WATCHING THIS FOLK WHO WILL LOOK AT IT LATER ON, I WANT YOU TO BE REAL, REAL COGNIZANT OF WHO YOU SEND UP HERE TO DO WHAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE FOR YOUR CITY.
I'M ALREADY, YOU KNOW, AFTER FIVE YEARS OF GOING ON SIX YEARS, I'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO IT.
BUT I'M LETTING YOU KNOW WHAT GOES ON AND HOW YOUR CITY IS REPRESENTED.
THE, THE MINDSET OF INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU SIN TO REPRESENT YOU TO BE AGAINST EDUCATION.
WHAT WOULD YOU HOLLER FOR? BECAUSE YOU GETTING OUTTA HAND.
NO, I'M NOT GETTING OUTTA HAND.
WELL, THEN LET ME, WELL, DON'T, DON'T EVER SAY THAT, MAYOR.
I'M NOT GOING NO, I'LL JUST EXPRESS WHAT I SAID, BUT, BUT DON'T SAY I'M GETTING OUTTA YOU'RE OUTTA HAND CALLING US BIGOTS.
YOU GONNA ACKNOWLEDGE ME? YEAH.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE MOST PAULA THING TO, FOR YOU TO DO AS A MAYOR BECAUSE WE VOTED AND WE DIDN'T VOTE WHAT YOU WANTED TO ATTACK US AND GO THROUGH THAT SPEECH.
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU WHY I VOTED NO.
I VOTED NO, BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, YOU ONLY MAKING A REQUEST.
YOU ALWAYS TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU BRING.
YOU'VE BEEN TRAVELING FOR, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG TILL EVERYTHING AND ALL, AND YOU HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.
OUR WATER BILLS ARE STILL MESSED UP.
OUR SURGES STILL BY, WE ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH GARBAGE.
ALL OUR PROBLEMS HERE IN THIS CITY WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS.
SO OF ALL THE TRAVELING YOU'VE BEEN DOING SINCE THE LAST YEAR I'VE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL HAS NOT FIXED NONE OF THE THINGS THAT I JUST NAMED ARE THE THINGS THAT THE CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.
THIS COUNCIL IS THIS TRAVEL IS PRE-APPROVED FOR GO TO THAT CONFERENCE, BUT YOU WANT TO ATTEND SOME OTHER EXTRA SECTION, WHICH IS NOT APPROVED.
THIS COUNCIL SAYS, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO AUTHORIZE THE EXTRA SECTIONS FOR YOU, BUT YOUR CONFERENCE IS ALREADY APPROVED AND YOU'RE GONNA TRY TO DEMEAN US IN THAT FASHION.
AND I THINK YOU NEED TO READ MORE OF AND LISTEN WHAT, WHAT CITIZENS SAYING ABOUT THE TRAVEL.
THAT WAS NO NEED FOR US TO, FOR YOU TO DO THAT TO THIS COUNCIL.
BECAUSE YOU GOING TO THE CONFERENCE.
IT'S JUST THAT WE WON'T ALLOW YOU TO ADD THESE EXTRA SESSIONS THAT YOU WORK CONSTANTLY DOING.
AND YOU DO THAT LIKE WILL A LITTLE KID THAT'S CONDESCENDING, DISRESPECTFUL, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH US OR NOT, THAT'S OKAY.
BUT TO SPEAKERS IN THAT MANNER.
YOU WORRIED ABOUT THIS? COUNSEL AN APOLOGY.
MAYOR, YOU JUST, I MEAN, YOU JUST, I MEAN, OKAY.
UH, MAY I APPROACH HIM? GO AHEAD.
I AGREE WITH WHAT MR. DOUCETTE SAID, BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN OUR THOUGHT PROCESSES WHEN WE VOTE THE WAY THAT WE DO.
AND MY THOUGHT PROCESSES WERE THAT YOU TERM OUT AS MAYOR IN MAY OF 2025.
AND IF THERE ARE EXECUTIVE EDUCATION SESSIONS THAT ANYBODY NEEDS TO GO TO, IT NEEDS TO BE SOMEBODY WITH SOME LONGEVITY ON COUNCIL FOR, FOR MR. KEN LAW TO GO, MR. LEWIS TO GO, UH,
[03:30:02]
MR. FRANKS, IF HE'S GOING, SOMEBODY WHO'S GONNA BE HERE BEYOND THE NEXT, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT IS OR NOT.NO, BUT JUSTWELL, YOU DID NOT WIN THE PETITION.
GET IT BACK ON THE BALLOT FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO RUN ORDER.
WHEN WE VOTED, THE DISCUSSION WAS OVER.
I THOUGHT, I'M NOT, YOU NEED TO MOVE ON.
WHEN WE VOTED THE DISCUSS DISCUSSION WAS OVER.
I POINT OF ORDER, I'M HAVE A POINT OF ORDER AND I'M ASKING FOR MY POINT TO BE RECOGNIZED.
WE VOTE ON IT AND MOVE FORWARD.
ON THE POINT OF ORDER IS THAT WE ARE NOT DISCUSSING ANYTHING THAT'S ON THE AGENDA.
THAT MEANS THE MEASURE WAS OVER THE SESSION AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
MAYOR, CAN WE PLEASE HAVE A VOTE ON MY POINT? WAIT A MINUTE.
YOUR POINT WASN'T FIRST COUNCILWOMAN.
YOU WILL YOU DO A POINT? MY POINT WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED.
WHAT'S, WHAT'S YOUR POINT? UH, MY POINT IS THAT THIS DISCUSSION IS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
OKAY, NOW WE, THAT THAT'S, THAT'S VALID.
YOU DON'T, A POINT OF ORDER DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ON THE AGENDA.
MY POINT IS TO END THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE VOTED AND WE NEED TO MOVE ON.
SO CAN WE PLEASE VOTE ON MY POINT? NO, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT THE MAYOR TO TELL ME YES.
MAYOR OR NO, I'M NOT THE MAYOR.
I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER AND I'M SAYING THERE IS A REQUEST FOR A POINT ALREADY ON THE FLOOR.
SIR, SHE CAN WE PLEASE HAVE SOME CLARITY? CITY ATTORNEY, YOU THE, THE CITY ATTORNEY.
BOY, I TELL YOU, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND NO POINT OF WHAT YOU WANT TO TRY TO SAY SOMETHING MAYOR, MAYBE PLEASE CALL HIM THE CITY ATTORNEY BECAUSE IT'S NOT, GIVE SOME CLARITY SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
DO WHAT Y'ALL WANNA DO, MAYOR, CAN WE PLEASE HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD? IT'S, IT'S OUT TOTAL OUTTA CONTROL.
WHAT EVERYBODY, ANY Y'ALL WANNA DANCE OR DO ANYTHING? MAYOR, MAN, I'M THROUGH WITH THIS.
FOR THE RECORD, CITY ATTORNEY, WILL YOU PLEASE ADVISE US ON THE PROPER WAY TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION? SO A MOTION WAS MADE AND THERE WAS A SECOND AND THERE WAS A VOTE.
SO IT CLOSES THE ITEM UNLESS THERE'S A REQUEST TO PLACE THE ITEM BACK ON FOR RECONSIDERATION.
MAYOR, CAN WE, MAY WE PLEASE MOVE FORWARD TO NUMBER EIGHT, PLEASE.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS HAD HIS LIGHT ON.
MR. LEWIS, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT? OH, NOT ANYMORE.
YOU SAY YES, HE SAID NOT ANYMORE.
LOOK, LOOK, MY, MY COMMENT IS BRIEFLY IN, IN, IN THE SESSION THAT I'M GOING TO N-B-N-B-C LEO.
SO I'M GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT.
WHAT'S GOING ON? I DON'T NEED TO STAY EXTRA.
WHY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GET ALL YOUR ANSWERS FROM THE SESSION WITHIN THE SESSION.
[VII.(4) P.R. No. 23878 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Of Port Arthur To Support The Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission – Metropolitan Planning Organization's (SETRPC-MPO) Recommendation To Redesignate And Expand Its Planning Area And Jurisdictional Boundaries To Include Jasper County, Texas. No City Funds Are Impacted By This Proposed Resolution ]
IS PR 23 8 7 8.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO SUPPORT THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
METROPOLITAN PLANNING, UH, ORGANIZATIONS, UH, RECOMMENDATION TO RE-DESIGNATE AND EXPAND ITS PLANNING AREA AND JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES TO INCLUDE JASPER COUNTY, TEXAS.
NO CITY FUNDS ARE IMPACTED BY THIS PROPOSED RESOLUTION.
AND WE HAVE GENTLEMEN, THIS STATE'S YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
I LIVE IN BEAUMONT 1129 SUN MEADOW, AND I WORK FOR THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION AND MARION COUNCIL.
I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UH, WE DRAFTED THIS, UH, RESOLUTION BECAUSE BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021, JASPER COUNTY WAS ADDED TO THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
FOR MANY YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN JUST JEFFERSON, ORANGE AND HARDIN COUNTY.
NOW JASPER COUNTY IS PART OF OUR REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2021 IS ASSIMILATING THEM INTO ALL OF OUR PLANS AND PROGRAMS THAT WE WORK ON AT THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
THE LARGEST ONE THAT I DIRECT AND PROVIDE STAFF SUPPORT TO IS OUR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
[03:35:01]
PROCESS.SO IN ORDER FOR US TO INCORPORATE THEM INTO THAT ONGOING PROCESS, BECAUSE OF THE RULES AND GUIDELINES OF THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING RULES, WE HAVE TO HAVE A RESOLUTION ADOPTED TO SUPPORT THE INCORPORATION OF JASPER COUNTY INTO OUR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROCESS.
BY HAVING THE 14 VOTING MEMBERS OF OUR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING COMMITTEE ADOPT A RESOLUTION LIKE THIS.
I'VE ALREADY HAD THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, THE CITY OF PORT CHES, THE CITY OF GROVES, JEFFERSON COUNTY, UH, NE THE CITY OF NILAND WILL ADOPT, WILL PUT IT ON THEIR AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION IN TWO WEEKS.
BUT BASICALLY WHAT IT DOES, IT JUST MAKES THEM PART OF OUR ONGOING PLANNING PROCESS.
OTHER WORDS, WE BROUGHT THEM INTO ALL THESE PROGRAMS, AND ONE THING, IT'S DONE.
JASPER COUNTY HAS 33,000 PEOPLE.
SO WHEN THEY BECAME PART OF THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION, IT ADDED SOME MORE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OR INDIVIDUALS ARE A PART OF ANY KIND OF FUNDING FORMULAS FOR WHATEVER THE FORMULA IS.
SO WE'RE JUST ASKING, IT'S, IT, IT'S THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO MOVE OUR PROCESS ALONG AND TO MOVE THEM INTO OUR, UH, REGIONAL, UH, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROCESS.
AND IF I COULD JUST TAKE ONE OTHER MINUTE, HOW, HOW, HOW, HOW THIS IMPACTS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
OUR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROCESS.
EVERY FIVE YEARS WE HAVE TO DEVELOP WHAT WE CALL A METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR OUR REGION.
SO DURING THAT PROCESS, WE ALWAYS HAVE A CALL FOR PROJECTS.
OVER THE YEARS, EVERY FIVE YEARS, WE'VE ALWAYS JUST GOTTEN PROJECTS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS ON OUR MAIN STREETS, HIGHWAYS AND INTERSTATES.
THIS LAST CALL, LAST YEAR, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WAS PROACTIVE.
YOUR CAPITAL PROJECTS ENGINEER JOHN COUNTY TELL SUBMITTED A PROJECT FOR FUTURE FUNDING ON NINTH AVENUE FROM 36TH STREET TO EVERGREEN.
THAT'S THE BOTTLENECK OF THAT MAJOR PROJECT FROM 73 TO 36TH.
SO THAT PROJECT WAS SUBMITTED, IT WAS SCORED, IT RANKED, AND IT'S INCLUDED IN OUR NEW LONG RANGE PLAN FOR FUTURE FUNDING FOR THAT PART OF NINTH AVENUE.
Y'ALL WERE THE ONLY CITY OVER THE YEARS THAT'S BEEN PROACTIVE, THAT SUBMITTED A PROJECT.
ANY CITY THAT SUBMITS A PROJECT HAS TO PUT UP THE LOCAL MATCH.
BUT THAT PROJECT IS IN THE NEW LONG RANGE PLAN FOR OUR REGION.
AND IN THE FUTURE, FUNDING WILL BE ALLOCATED TO MAKE THAT IMPROVEMENT.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE 25 YEARS AGO WHEN THAT OTHER PART OF IT WAS DONE.
SO THIS REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROCESS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
UH, EITHER YOUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR OR JOHN ARE ALWAYS PARTICIPATING REP REPRESENT THE CITY ON OUR TWO COMMITTEES PERTAINING TO OUR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROGRAM.
SO ANYWAY, AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU FOR AGREEING TO LET THEM SUBMIT THAT PROJECT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD CITIES OR EVEN THE COUNTY SUBMIT PROJECTS BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO COME UP WITH 20% OF, IF OUR PRO, THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THAT IMPROVEMENT WAS ABOUT LAST YEAR WAS ABOUT $14 MILLION.
NOW INFLATION IS PROBABLY UP TO, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH, BUT THE ISSUE WILL BE IN THE FUTURE, THAT FEDERAL, 80% OF THAT IN THE PART THAT THE CITY AGREED TO PUT UP, IT CAN MOVE AHEAD IN THE FUTURE.
SO YOU'RE TO BE COMMENDED FOR BEING PROACTIVE TO LET YOUR STAFF SUBMIT THAT PROJECT ON YOUR BEHALF BECAUSE MONEY DOESN'T COME AROUND FOR THESE HIGHWAY PROJECTS THAT OFTEN.
SO IT'S GONNA TAKE A FEW YEARS FOR THAT MONEY TO BE THERE, BUT THAT PROJECT'S INTO PLAN.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT.
UH, ON THIS, UH, YOU TALKING, I NEED TO GET A MOTION, UH, CONFLICT.
I MAKE A MOTION, MAYOR THAT WE, UH, YES.
ACCEPT PR NUMBER, UH, 2 3 8 7 8.
COUNSEL, UH, LEWIS, YOU SECOND? YES.
WE MOVED THE MONEY TO OPEN UP NINTH AVENUE ALL THE WAY TO, TO JIMMY JOHNSON, YOU KNOW, BUT WE HAD NOT BOUGHT ALL THE RIGHT OF WAY.
WE GOT ALL THE RIGHT OF AWAYS NOW, SO IT'S RIGHT IN LINE.
IT'S GONNA BE A WHILE THOUGH, BUT IT'S IN THE PLAN.
WE, ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR I GUESS WE'VE DONE THE DISCUSSION ON IT.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
AYES HAVE IT, UH, APPEAR ON NUMBER 23.
[VII.(8) P.R. No. 23884 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Vitol Biomethane Or Its Subsidiary For The Property Lease And Development Of A Project To Convert Landfill Gas Into Energy ]
NEXT WE HAVE NUMBER EIGHT, PR NUMBER 2 3 8 84.[03:40:01]
IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THAT'S VITAL BOWEL OR METHANE OR IT'S SUBSIDIARY FOR THE PROPERTY LEASE AND, AND DEVELOPMENT OF A PROJECT TO CONVERT LANDFILL GAS INTO ENERGY.AND SECOND THAT, UH, WE APPROVED P NUMBER 23 8 8 4.
AS WE READ UP FOR QUESTION, COUNCILMAN FRANK MAYOR, I KNOW THE HOUR IS LONG SPENT, BUT I WANTED TO BE SURE, UH, THAT WE HAD THIS POOL SO THAT WE CAN SHARE, UH, WITH OUR CITIZENS, UH, SOME HARD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE BY OUR STAFF AND A DYNAMIC OUTCOME.
SO I'M GONNA ASK DR. HANEY TO COME AND REALLY EXPLAIN THE DYNAMICS OF THIS PROJECT.
UM, IT'S BEEN AN ELONGATED PROCESS, BUT, UH, IT'S GONNA HAVE SOME VERY BENEFICIAL, UH, RAMIFICATIONS FOR IT.
SO I WANT US TO HEAR THIS ON TONIGHT.
BEFORE WE GO ON, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOUR PERSISTENCE ON THIS MATTER IS FINALLY GONNA PAY OFF, IS WHAT IT APPEARS TO LIKE.
UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR OVER A YEAR.
UH, THIS PROJECT WENT OUT FOR REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS TWICE IN ORDER TO GET TO THIS POINT.
AND WE'VE BEEN NEGOTIATING THIS AGREEMENT FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS NOW.
TO GET TO THE RESULTS WE GOT TO.
AND JUST BRIEFLY, WHAT THIS CONTRACT WILL DO FOR THE CITY.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS GONNA BE, UH, ZERO COST TO THE CITY.
NO MONEY COMES OUT OF THE CITIZENS OR THE COFFERS OF THE CITY.
NUMBER TWO, IT'S GONNA ELIMINATE THE NEAR FUTURE NEED BY THE CITY BASED ON REGULATIONS TO ACTUALLY CAPTURE THAT METHANE INSTEAD OF LETTING IT JUST GO UP IN THE AIR, WHICH IS GONNA BE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN COST TO THE CITY IF THE CITY NEEDS TO DO THAT.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE REVENUE THAT WE ARE PROJECTING TO RECEIVE FROM THIS PROJECT IS GONNA BALANCE THE SOLID WASTE FUND AND PROVIDE FUNDING IN THE FUTURE.
IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL TRUCKS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO PICK UP GARBAGE DUE TO OUR EXPANSIONS.
UH, IN BRIEF, ONCE THE CONTRACT IS SIGNED BETWEEN THE CITY AND VITAL, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE IMMEDIATELY A $2 MILLION CHECK.
EVEN IF THEY WALK OFF THE SIDE 30 DAYS LATER, THE OTHER MILLION DOLLARS WILL BE REFUNDED THROUGH OUR REVENUE OR OUR SHARE OF THE REVENUE.
OUR, UH, PERCENTAGE FROM THE GROSS REVENUE IS 12.5%.
SO ONCE PRODUCTION STARTS, 7.5% OF THAT 12.5 WILL GO TOWARDS PAYING THAT, UH, MILLION DOLLARS BASED ON THE ESTIMATED REVENUE AND PRODUCTION.
THIS SHOULD BE PAID WITHIN SEVEN MONTHS.
SO THE FIRST YEAR, EVEN AFTER PAYING THAT MILLION DOLLARS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GENERATE REVENUE.
THE 12.5%, UH, OF THE GROSS REVENUE WILL ALSO INCREASE EVERY FIVE YEARS BY 2.5% BASED ON OR CONTINGENT ON US INCREASING THE VOLUME OF WASTE BY 2.5% WITHIN THE FIVE YEARS.
AND IT'LL CAP AT THE 20% MARK.
THE REASON WE NEGOTIATED THE DEAL, LIKE WE DID ON THE $2 MILLION UPFRONT, WAS WE ARE TRYING TO STABILIZE THIS FUND, MAKE IT FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT WITHOUT HAVING TO INCREASE RATES OR MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF RATES WE WILL HAVE TO INCREASE.
SO THE FIRST MILLION DOLLAR WILL DEFINITELY STABILIZE THIS FUND THIS YEAR, WHICH IS ALREADY BALANCED.
THE NEXT $2 MILLION WILL STABILIZE THE FUND NEXT YEAR, AND TWO YEARS FROM NOW, THE PRODUCTION WILL BE THERE.
AND THAT REVENUE OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS WILL MAKE THIS FUND VERY SOLID FINANCIALLY.
SO I BELIEVE IT'S A REALLY GOOD, UH, DEAL FOR THE CITY AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
AND STAFF WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS GEL, UH, GEORGIA, THE LANDFILL, UH, THE COMMITTEE THAT EVALUATED ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SUBMITTED RF QS.
AND WE ARE VERY GLAD THIS IS AT THIS POINT TODAY.
OKAY, MR. MR. ROBERTS, YOU ANSWER DITTO
WE ALREADY HAVE, UH, THEREFORE, YES, THANK YOU ALL.
WE READY TO VOTE? YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? YEAH.
[03:45:01]
MANAGER.WHAT THAT TUB LINE GONNA COST ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS.
WE'RE GONNA EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE LANDFILL.
IT'S ALREADY IN THE BUDGET REQUEST.
ANY OPPOSES? AYES HAVE SO ORDERED.
2 3 8 8 4 IS, UH, APPROVED AS READ
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 23875 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing Members To The Port Arthur Coalition For Homeless Advisory Board (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Beckcom And Councilmembers Kinlaw And Lewis)]
NOW WE HAVE ONE ITEM, UH, FOR NON-CONSENT THAT WE DIDN'T, THAT, UH, UH, HELD A, UH, A RESOLUTION MS. P TO, UH, 38 75.IT'S A RESOLUTION APPOINTING AND OR REAPPOINTED MEMBERS TO THE PORT ARTHUR COALITION FOR HOMELESS ADVISORY BOARD.
THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY MAYOR PROTE BECKER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, KEN LAW AND LEWIS.
UH, HAD YOU ALL GIVEN THE NAMES ALREADY? YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE THE NAME CITY SECRETARY.
I, THERE ARE TWO NAMES IN THE, UH, RESOLUTION.
ONE IS CLIFTON BATISTE AND LADONNA ANDERSON.
IS THAT YOURS? THEY WERE ON THERE.
THEY, THEY WERE ALREADY YOUNG LADY.
WHAT'S THE NAME, SIR? WE CAN ALWAYS ADD IT NOW.
SHE'S THE ONE THAT CAME UP WITH THE NAME FOR ME.
YEAH, SHE, SHE CAME UP WITH A, AN IDEAL PERSON TO FIT RIGHT.
THE PERSON THAT SHE NOMINATED.
THESE ARE THE TWO NAMES ON THE RESOLUTION, MAYBE? YEAH.
WAS IT HARRISON? BECAUSE I SHE WAS THE FIRST NAME ON, ON IN YOUR BOOK.
SEE THAT ONE? THAT WELL, WELL, YOU GOT IT.
SO WE THAT, WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THE NAMES WE WERE VOTING ON AS WELL.
WHAT WAS THE OTHER NAME? I HAD LADONNA ANDERSON.
AND WHAT, WHICH, UH, WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER APPOINTED CLIFTON BATISTE? UH, I HAD IT DOWN.
THAT IT, YEAH, HE ALREADY APPOINTED IT.
I HAD IT DOWN FOR COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS'S APPOINTMENT.
HE SAID CLIFTON BAPTISTE MADONNA.
AND DID THEY HAVE NOTHING? AND THE, THE YOUNG LADY HE MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'LL ADD THAT AS WELL.
WHO? I DIDN'T, THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T HEAR IT.
SO HOW MANY, HOW MANY PEOPLE WE VOTING ON? IT DOESN'T MATTER.
I MEAN, I'M JUST WANTING TO BE SURE.
BUT THAT'S ONE FOR DISTRICT ONE.
HUH? HE HAD ALREADY APPOINTED HIS ON JULY 30TH.
COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW APPOINTED CATHERINE RICHARD AND DR.
NINA GALE ELLI ON JULY THE 30TH.
THIS IS NOT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW.
COUNCIL, THEY'RE OH, SO THEY'RE BOTH FOR YOU THEN.
COUNCIL? UH, BATIS IS YOURS, SUSAN.
WAIT, UH, JUST A CITY SECRETARY.
UH, UM, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK HAS ONE.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.
DID YOU GET ANY NAMES FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DEUCE? NO, I DID NOT.
HAVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE APPOINTED TO THE, UH, COMMITTEE.
NOW I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL OF THE PRINTED, UH, AGENDA FOR THE EVENING.
AND WE CAN NOW RETIRE OR GET MOTION.
WE DID THE ORDINANCES ALREADY.
THE ORDINANCES IS ANOTHER ONE ON HERE.
OH YEAH, WE DID ALL FOUR ORDINANCES.
Y'ALL WANT ME TO DO 'EM AGAIN? NO, NO, SIR.
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YOU.AND WE WOULD'VE JOINED THIS S BODY OF INDIVIDUALS.