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RECORDING IN PROGRESS.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
WE ARE GATHERED HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET IN A GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ON TODAY, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2024.IT IS NOW 10:21 AM WE SHALL BEGIN THE MEETING.
YOU MAY ATTEND THE MEETING, HOWEVER, VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE OR TELEPHONIC MEDIUMS, HOWEVER YOU MUST FIRST DIAL YOU 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
YOU WILL ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 1 7 9 6 3 9 9 2 9 6, AND THE PASSCODE OF 6 0 0 4 9 8, AND YOU WILL BE, WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE UH, IN THE MEETING.
WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACTS, AND IF THERE WOULD BE A NEED FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE MEETING, YOU WOULD ONLY NEED TO CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
BUT AGAIN, HOWEVER, THAT HAS TO BE DONE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE.
AND THAT NUMBER IS 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.
AND THE CITY SECRETARY'S EFFICIENT OFFICE WILL DO ALL WITHIN ITS POWERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH YOUR REQUEST, IF YOU WILL.
NOW, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND WITH ME? WILL WE HAVE THE PRAYER AND OUR REGULAR OPENING FOR THIS MEETING? BOW WITH THE WORD OF PRAYER, PLEASE, FATHER GOD.
IT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS THAT WE APPROACH THE THRONE OF GRACE AND MERCY THIS MORNING.
DEAR GOD, THANKFUL THAT YOU ALLOWED US TO HAVE A GREAT NIGHT OF SLEEP, AND THEN YOU AWAKEN US THIS MORNING WITH ALL THE FUNCTIONING OF OUR MINDS AND OUR BODIES.
AND FOR THIS, DEAR GOD, WE ARE MIGHTY, MIGHTY GRATEFUL.
NOW, DEAR GOD, AS WE CONTINUE IN THIS PARTICULAR GATHERING, DEAR GOD, ALLOW US TO CONDUCT THIS MEETING ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL.
WE THANK YOU, FATHER FOR THE BLESSINGS OF FINANCIAL SECURITY, FISCAL STABILITY, AND WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO GUIDE US AND KEEP US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF WHAT YOU HAVE BLESSED US WITH THESE THINGS WE ASK IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
WOULD YOU NOW PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PRAISE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN OUR OPENING CITY.
SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH THE COURT? MAYOR BARTEE, PRESENT MAYOR PRO, TIM BECKHAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD COUNCIL MEMBER DEAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT.
[II. WORKSHOP ]
GATHERED HERE FOR A WORKSHOP SETTING TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024.AND I WILL YIELD TO THE CITY MANAGER WHO WILL INTRODUCE THE PARTICIPANTS IN TODAY'S MEETING.
I WILL LEAD TO OUR FINANCIAL DIRECTOR, MS. LYNN.
AND, UM, WE'VE GOT A, WE HAVE A PROPOSED PATTERN THAT WE WANT TO UNDERTAKE THIS MORNING AS WE DO HAVE CERTAIN, UM, HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AS COUNCIL WISHED, UM, TO BE PRESENT.
SO WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THE EASIEST ONES FOR US AND SO THAT WE COULD KNOCK THEM OUT AND GET THEM OUT OF HERE.
IF COUNCIL DESIRES, WOULD IT BE OKAY TO GO AHEAD AND START WITH SOME OF OUR SMALLER DEPARTMENTS? WOULD IT BE ALL RIGHT TO START WITH THE LIBRARY AND THEN TO THE CIVIC CENTER? IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT BEFORE WE GET TO THE, THE ENTERPRISE ZONES AND PUBLIC WORKS? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
PAGE 1 0 5, PAGE 1 0 5 FROM 1 0 6.
I'M GONNA CALL, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, I WOULD LIKE, UH, STEVE
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TO COME UP AS DIRECTOR OF THE LIBRARY.IT'S PAGE, PAGE 1 0 5 AND 1 0 6.
GOOD MORNING FOR THE DEBT SERVICE.
I GOT THIS BOOK THAT THEY BROUGHT ME.
IS THAT THE ONE WE'RE WORKING ON? YEAH.
WELL I WAS SAYING WHERE IT BEGINS.
NO, THE DIALOGUE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
YEAH, BUT I KNOW I WAS LOOKING FOR OUR HEAD.
OKAY, SO I'M ASSUMING I'M WAITING FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
SO WAS THE LIBRARY'S GOOD? YEAH.
NO, I MEAN, I DON'T SEE ANY LIGHTS.
I I NO WAY EVER THEN NO ONE HAS ANYTHING FOR YOU.
UH, UH, DIRECTOR, ANY HIGHLIGHTS, ANY MAJOR CHANGES FROM YOUR LAST YEAR BUDGET UNTIL THIS BUDGET THAT WE, I LOOKED AT YOUR BUDGET.
I HAVE NO CONCERN, BUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE HIGHLIGHTS THAT YOU COULD JUST BRIEFLY TELL THE COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS? UH, UH, DUE TO THE CHANGES, UH, MOST DEFINITELY.
THE, THE LIBRARY'S A A BABY BUDGET COMPARED TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND I USUALLY DOESN'T, DON'T MAKE ANY BUDGET CHANGES.
THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY CHANGES INCREASE THE SALARY.
OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S THE SAME THING AS WE ALWAYS HAD IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS.
WHAT, LET ME, SORRY, LET ME ASK, UH, YOU DO, SAID YOU DO A GREAT JOB AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE SUMMER PROGRAMS AND ALL THOSE, THOSE THINGS ARE FUNCTIONING, THOSE THINGS ARE FUNCTIONING PROFICIENTLY AND ALL WELL IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS IN THAT AREA, OF COURSE.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND SHOUT OUT TO FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.
THEY GO AHEAD AND SPONSOR A LIBRARY EVENTS DURING THE SUMMER.
SO I GO AHEAD, KEEP THE, UH, THE BUDGET DOWN FOR THE LIBRARY.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY? YES, SIR.
SO THE ONLY, UH, I WAS LOOKING AT LAST YEAR IS, COMPARED TO THIS YEAR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ONLY DUE TO INCREASE IN SALARIES.
MOST OF IT, UH, INCREASE IN SALARY I THINK WAS 130 4K.
I COULD SEE THE CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR.
HIS FUND IS ALSO IN ON PAGE 151.
MY BE PHYSICALLY, I DUNNO, I DON'T HAVE ONE.
AND WHAT WAS THAT ON, ON THIS, YOU IN THOSE, YOU HAVE ALSO THE LIBRARY SPECIAL FUND AND THE LIBRARY TRUST FUND.
MAYOR, DO YOU NEED ANYTHING? UH, AS FAR AS COUNCIL AS FOREST, THESE PROGRAMS, COUNCILMAN FRANK MADE A, A VALID POINT ABOUT THOSE SUMMER PROGRAMS THAT YOU DO TO GET OUR KIDS ENTERTAINED AND KEEP THEM ENTERTAINED AND WE WANNA DO IT, MAXIMIZE OUR LIBRARY.
BUT IS THIS SOMETHING ON YOUR WISH LIST THAT YOU CAN KIND OF TELL THE COUNCIL THAT YOU WOULD HOPE THAT YOU CAN GET? I THINK I'VE ALWAYS GOT SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL, THE COMMUNITY, UH, EVEN OTHER COLLEAGUES, DEPARTMENT HEADS, THE PIOI MEAN, UH, FOR WHAT I UNDERSTAND, UH, YOU ALL THAT'LL BE ADVOCATING THE LIBRARY.
I JUST ASK FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR SURE.
OKAY, MS. SMITH, NEXT, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO HAVE ADAM SAUNDERS COME UP WITH THE CIVIC CENTER.
WHAT PAGE WOULD THAT BE ON? ONE.
THE AIR WAS WORKING REAL, REAL WELL.
[00:10:01]
REPORTS OF BEING COLD.OH, WELL THAT'S, I GUESS BETTER THAN BEING HOT.
WHAT PAGE? IT'S, UH, SIX NINE.
UH, ADAM, I SEE THAT YOU HAVE A DECREASE.
UH, WHAT'S THAT DUE TO? I MEAN, I'M, IT'S ALWAYS GLAD TO SAVE MONEY, BUT WHAT DOES THAT DO? LIKE 25,000, SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WHAT'S GOING ON? WELL, WE HAD SOME, UH, MAJOR, UH, EXPENDITURES THAT WE WERE DOING THIS YEAR THAT, UM, WERE NOT GONNA BE NEEDED FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
UM, BUT OVERALL, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE DECREASE WAS, BUT WE JUST LOOKED AT EVERYTHING REALISTICALLY AND PRESENTED WHAT WE THOUGHT WE NEEDED.
AND TOTAL EMPLOYEES THAT YOU HAVE UNDER YOUR, YOUR DEPARTMENT, HOW MANY IS THAT? WE HAVE SIX.
I HAD DONE A REQUEST FOR, WE HAD, WELL WE HAD, LET ME CORRECT MYSELF, WE HAD SEVEN.
ONE WAS A PART-TIME WHO OPERATED THE ROSE HILL MANOR THAT SHE PASSED AWAY.
WE ARE GONNA REPLACE HER AND WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA MAKE THAT A FULL-TIME POSITION BECAUSE OF ROSE HILL WAS OPERATED BY THE FEDERATED WOMEN'S CLUB AND THEY HAVE TURNED THAT OPERATION OVER TO US.
SO ONCE RENOVATIONS ARE FINISHED, WE'LL HAVE FULL OPERATIONS OF THE BUILDING.
IT'LL START BOOKING IT AS A RENTAL FACILITY.
SO WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE SOME INCREASED EVENTS AND STUFF THERE.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'RE GONNA NEED TO MAKE THAT POSITION A FULL-TIME POSITION TO HELP COVER THOSE EVENTS.
AND ALSO THE INCREASES IN THE USE OF THE DEPARTMENT CLUB.
ALTHOUGH WE DON'T THINK WE'LL DO THAT THIS YEAR.
IT'LL, WE'LL PROBABLY WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF THE RENOVATIONS AT ROSE HILL WILL BE LONGER THAN EXPECTED.
AND ALONG WITH, UM, ALONG WITH THE CIVIC CENTER, HOW MANY OTHER, UH, BUILDINGS WE HAVE FOR RENTAL, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR, WELL, I'LL ANSWER IT TWO WAYS.
THE CIVIC CENTER OPERATES 12 BUILDINGS FOR THE CITY.
A TOTAL OF 12 OF THOSE THAT WE OPERATE AND RENT.
WE HAVE FOUR THAT WE RENT FOR THE CIVIC CENTER.
SO YOU WE'RE PRETTY MUCH RENTED YEARLY WITH THE CIVIC CENTER? THAT'S CORRECT.
IT BOOKS UP, UP PRETTY, IT BOOKS UP PRETTY FAST.
ON WEEKENDS, FRIDAY, SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS? YES.
UH, CONGRESSMAN UC? YEAH, IT ADAM, THIS CAPITAL OUTLAY.
YOU GOT 62,000, WHAT IS THAT? I, I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT, I'M SORRY.
I THINK THAT'S, UH, LET ME LOOK AT IT.
I, I THOUGHT I HAD THE BUDGET IN MY EMAILS, BUT I'VE MISPLACED IT.
UM, I KNOW WE'RE OH, THANK YOU.
SORRY, I BROUGHT, I BROUGHT MY COMPUTER TO HAVE IT AND THEN I DIDN'T HAVE IT.
WE ARE GONNA BE CHANGING THE WALL OUT BETWEEN THE, UH, THERE'S A MOVABLE WALL BETWEEN HALLS B AND C THAT IS NOT OPERATED.
AND WE'RE GONNA BE, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GONNA BE REPLACING.
WE'LL ALSO BE REPLACING SOME AC UNITS.
UH, WHAT ABOUT CONTRACTOR SERVICE? UH, THAT 80,000 RIGHT.
WHAT TYPE OF CONTRACTOR SERVICES DID YOU GET OVER THERE? I KNOW UNDER UN OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, I'M GONNA LOOK AT LYNN TO HELP ME OUT WITH THIS 'CAUSE I'M NOT SURE.
DOES THAT INCLUDE THAT 80,000?
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THE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES I HAVE IS 80,000 FOR THE YMCA, RIGHT? YEAH.THE, THE 80,000 FOR THE YMCA IS OPERATIONAL FUNDING THAT WE PROVIDE FOR THEM EACH YEAR TO KEEP THE, UH, WEST SIDE DEVELOPMENT CENTER OPERATING.
SO IT'S BROKEN OUT BY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ADVERTISING, TRAVEL AND EDUCATION COMPUTER PROGRAM.
OKAY, SO IT'S, UH, YOU DON'T HAVE A, THE LINE NUMBERS, YOU JUST, YOU JUST LUMP ALL YOURS UN WELL ON THE BACK SIDE 2 60, 1 50, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? OKAY.
YEAH, THAT'S THE TOTAL OF THESE, THESE CATEGORIES WHICH INCLUDE LIKE ELECTRICITY AND GAS.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU YOUR HONOR.
HI, HOW ARE YOU SIR? GOOD, THANK YOU.
THE, THE, UM, THE CIVIC CENTER, IS IT AN ENTERPRISE FUND? NO, IT'S NOT AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
AND SO WE DON'T, WE DON'T, UH, SEEK TO MAKE MONEY.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ITSELF.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY PROVIDES FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE, OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, WE'RE NOT AN ENTERPRISE FIND, I'LL, I'LL LET SOMEONE ELSE ANSWER THE PURPOSE OF THE CIVIC CENTER, CITY MANAGER.
IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THOSE SERVICES THAT, UM, YOU PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL NEVER MAKE MONEY.
UM, BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU HAVE A, YOU HAVE TO GIVE TO A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT MIGHT ONE DAY COST REDUCED AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
IT ALL DEPENDS, YOU KNOW, BUT THE CIVIC END IS SOMETHING THAT WILL NEVER MAKE MONEY FOR YOU.
AND, AND, AND THAT'S JUST IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHEN YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, MOST PUBLIC BUILDINGS, UNLESS THEY HAVE A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM AND IT ACTUALLY LOSE MONEY EVERY YEAR.
SO WHEN WE DO, AND I'M GONNA GO STRAIGHT TO WHAT MY, MY QUESTION I WANT TO ASK.
SO WHEN WE DO GUN SHOWS, UH, IN THE CIVIC CENTER, UM, WHEN, WELL, YOU KNOW, THE BIG THING IN PORT ARTHUR IS WE DO CLASS REUNIONS AND THOSE KINDS OF, THOSE KINDS OF EVENTS IN THE CIVIC CENTER.
AND THEN WE ARE MANDATED AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME TO PASS ON THE PRICE OF SECURITY INDIVIDUALS.
WE ARE MANDATED TO HAVE SO MANY INDIVIDUALS FOR SECURITY.
ARE THOSE MANDATES PUT ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHEN GUN SHOWS ARE BEING DONE AS WELL? THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE SECURITY ON DUTY THAT THEY PAY FOR AT THE GUN SHOW HOW MANY, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE AS MANY INDIVIDUALS.
WELL, THEY DON'T, THERE'S NO ALCOHOL AT THE GUN SHOW THEN.
THAT'S WHAT THE QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK.
THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE MANDATE FOR SECURITY.
WE REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF A HUNDRED, UH, ONE POLICE OFFICER FOR EVERY 175 PEOPLE.
IF ALCOHOL IS PRESENT OR IF CON CONSULTATION BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE FEEL THAT POLICE OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED.
SO WE CAN, WE DON'T NEED EXTRA SECURITY FOR GUNS, BUT WE NEED EXTRA SECURITY FOR ALCOHOL.
UM, I THINK WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.
UM, SO ALSO, HOW DO WE SET UP THE, HOW DO WE SET UP THE, UM, HOW DO WE SET UP THE PRICING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MANDATES THE PRICING FOR THE USE OF THE CIVIC CENTER? IS THAT A COUNCIL ISSUE? YOU HAVE SET OUR PI PRICES AND POLICIES.
SO THE GUN SHOWS THEY DON'T DO, DO THEY PAY? YES.
AND SO YOU MADE REFERENCE TO NONPROFIT EARLIER, UH, THE CITY MANAGER OR CITY MANAGER.
IT'S, IT'S LIKE A FEEDBACK UP HERE IN OUR SPEAKERS.
IF OUR SOUND MAN, IT'S A PING IN, IN THE MIC.
CAN IS HE BACK THERE? YEAH, MAYBE HE HAD TO, HE COULD TURN SOMETHING DOWN.
EVERY, EVERY TIME WE TALK WE CAN HEAR IT IN OUR SPEAKERS.
BUT, UH, THE MIC'S TURNED UP TOO HIGH.
UH, UH, DIRECTOR, SO YOU HEAR IT? YEAH, SHE TURNED IT DOWN.
UM, SO WHO MANDATES, I THINK COUNCILMAN FRANK WAS GOING, WE KIND OF ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH OR ORGANIZATIONS COME BEFORE THE CIVIC CENTER, NONPROFIT, PROFIT, WHATEVER.
WHO MAKES THE DETERMINATION? WELL, WE GONNA VALIDATE A VET YOU TO ENSURE THAT YOU'RE A NONPROFIT THAT HOSTS THE
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EVENT AT A TAXPAYER'S, UH, CENTER, LIKE THE CIVIC CENTER.WHO DETERMINES THAT? ARE YOU, ARE YOU ASKING ME HOW DO I DETERMINE IF THEY ARE CHARGED THE NON-COMMERCIAL RATE OR THE COMMERCIAL RATE OR, OR JUST FREE? DO WE EVER GIVE IT? I HAVE, I HAVE NO AUTHORITY.
I HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO ADJUST PRICING WHATSOEVER, AND I DO NOT DO IT.
THAT AUTHORITY ONLY FALLS TO THE CITY MANAGER.
YEAH, I MEAN, I, I CHARGE EVERYONE THE SAME PRICE UNLESS INSTRUCTED OTHERWISE.
IF THAT'S, IF, IS THAT YOUR, THE QUESTION? THAT'S PART OF THE QUESTION.
DO WE? SO THAT'S PART OF THE QUESTION.
WHAT'S THE OTHER, THE SECOND HALF, LIKE I SAID, NONPROFIT, HE REFERENCED NONPROFIT, THE CIVIC CENTER DON'T NEVER, WE NEVER MAKE MONEY.
SO OUR, OUR JOB AS COUNCIL TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, WAYS THAT WE COULD KIND OF STAY AFLOAT.
I ASKED YOU EARLIER, THE CIVIC CENTER STAY BOOKED ALL THE TIME, YEARLY OUT.
SO IF WE'RE NOT MAKING MONEY, YOU KNOW, I NEED TO, I'M, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
THAT'S WHAT I, YOU KNOW, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE QUESTION IS.
ARE YOU ASKING ME DO WE CHARGE A DIFFERENT AMOUNT? IS IT ANY ORGANIZATION THAT THIS PAST YEAR THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THE CIVIC CENTER FREE? AGAIN, I DON'T MAKE THAT DECISION THAT IS SOLELY UP TO THE CITY.
BUT WHO KEEPS UP WITH THAT NUMBER? I HAVE A, I CAN RUN A REPORT TO TELL YOU EVERY EVENT THAT WAS WAIVED, BUT AGAIN, I DON'T MAKE THAT DETERMINATION.
SO IT HAS BEEN THE EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN WAIVED AT THE CIVIC CENTER SINCE YOU, THERE HAVE BEEN EVENTS WHERE, AND THAT'S COMING FROM A HIGHER THAT'S CORRECT.
SPONSORSHIP OR USUALLY IT'S A SPONSORSHIP OR SPONSORSHIP, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO ASK.
I'M TRYING TO ASK YOU THE QUESTION DIRECTLY.
IF THERE'S ANY ORGANIZATION THAT'S COME TO THE CIVIC CENTER THAT'S BEEN WAIVED, YOU SAID YES, YOU SAID THAT'S BEEN WAIVED AND THEY HAVE BEEN REDUCED AS WELL.
DO WE HAVE A POLICY FOR WAIVING OR WHO GET WAIVED? DO WE HAVE A POLICY? THERE IS A POLICY AND LONG ESTABLISHED, UM, BEST PRACTICES THAT WE USE AS FAR AS THE CIVIC CENTER IS CONCERNED.
I NORMALLY CONSULT WITH THE DIRECTOR, YOU KNOW, UM, IF SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW HAVE WE, AND HE HAS A QUESTION, HOW DO YOU WANT TO TREAT THEM? AND I, I ASKED THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, HOW HAVE WE DEALT WITH THEM IN THE PAST? AND HE SAID, WELL, FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DONE, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THESE VARIOUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
SO I SAID, WELL, IF THAT'S THE BEST PRACTICE THAT WE HAVE USED, LET'S GO AHEAD WITH IT.
I, I DON'T THINK, AND THERE IS ALSO, THERE IS ALSO A POLICY THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.
DO WE HAVE A POLICY? BECAUSE IF WE HAVE A POLICY, THERE'S NO NEED FOR DECISIONS TO BE MADE.
AND IF WE GONNA LET ANYBODY HAVE IT FREE OR ORGANIZATIONAL OR SOMETHING, THEN THERE HAS TO BE ONE THAT ANYONE FALLING UNDER THAT UMBRELLA SHOULD HAVE IT.
TWO, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE DECISIONS BEING MADE ON CASE BY CASE BASIS, ESPECIALLY IF THE COUNCIL'S NOT INFORMED.
SO, UH, LET'S, LET'S TRY TO GET A COPY OF THAT POLICY, UH, RON TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND THEN, UH, GIVE IT TO PRESENT IT TO COUNCIL.
WHEN THAT IN, IN ONE OF THE COMING UP MEETINGS, PRESENT IT TO US AND LET US SEE WHAT, HOW IT'S GONNA BE GOVERNED AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE BLESSED IT.
THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, AND WE DON'T EITHER.
WE KNOW EVERYBODY GONNA BE ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD, YOU KNOW, BUT JUST WHEN THERE IS A POLICY IN PLACE, YOU STATED THE POLICY, WHEN SOMEONE COMES, MAKES A REQUEST, YOU SEND THEM TO THE CITY MANAGER.
HE HAD THE LATITUDE AND THE DISCRETION TO DO WHAT'S NECESSARY.
I DON'T THINK WE COMING OUT IN THE RED, UH, UH, IN THIS.
AND YOU DID SAY MOST OF THE TIME, IF IT'S DONE, IT'S DONE IN EXCHANGE WHERE WE ARE GIVING A SPONSORSHIP FOR WHATEVER THAT ACTIVITY IS.
WE HAVE AN ACTIVITY COMING UP.
REAL ASSUME I SENT THE INDIVIDUALS OUT TO SPEAK TO YOU.
YOU CALLED BACK TO THE CITY MANAGER, YOU SAID WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED, BUT SHOULD HAPPEN, I THINK, IN SEPTEMBER.
SO I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS.
I I DON'T SEE, I AM NOT APPRISED OF ANY, IN ANY INCIDENT WHERE SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED, WHERE SOMEONE HAS BEEN TREATED UNFAIRLY.
AND I'M JUST SAYING RIGHT NOW, WHAT, WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING SHOULDN'T BE DISCUSSED.
RIGHT HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, BUDGET, I THINK AT, AT THE MOMENT.
SEE WHAT, AND WE ARE TOTALLY OFF TOPIC.
NOW, OKAY, NOW THAT I FINISH ONCE AGAIN.
HONEY, I HADN'T RECOGNIZED YOU.
YOU WANNA TALK MORE? I NEVER STOPPED.
[00:25:03]
DO YOU WANNA SPEAK AGAIN? YES, MA'AM.ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCOME.
AS I SAID BEFORE, CITY MANAGER, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
LET COUNCIL HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE POLICY IS BECAUSE THE ULTIMATE DECISION IS VESTED IN COUNCIL.
SO IF, IF COUNCIL MEMBERS DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, THAT'S FINE.
LISTEN, IF THE REST OF US DO, SO JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PLEASE.
AND WHATEVER WE HAVE IN CASE WE'LL EMAIL IT TO ALL OF COUNCIL.
IS THAT OKAY? YEAH, THAT'D BE EMAIL YOURSELF.
SOMETHING TO LET US KNOW HOW THE CIVIC CENTER IS BEING OPERATED.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT YOU HANDLED THE, UM, UH, THE CIVIC CENTER, BUT I DO WANT TO AT SOME POINT FOR US AS A CITY COUNCIL, UH, TO LOOK AT, UM, THE, THE DIFFERENCES, UM, BY WHICH WE WILL CHARGE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR CITY OKAY.
FOR, UH, USAGE OF THE CIVIC CENTER AS OPPOSED TO OUTSIDE ENTITIES.
IF, IF I, I'LL I'LL INTERRUPT YOU, JOE.
SO I, I WANT TO, I THINK THAT AS A COUNCIL WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT, BUT ALSO I THINK THAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT MAKING SURE THAT THE SECURITY ACROSS THE BOARD RE IS THE SAME, UH, REGARDLESS OF ALCOHOL OR ANY OTHER THINGS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
SO I THINK THAT THE SECURITY OUGHT TO BE JUDGED BY THE PEOPLE AS OPPOSED, UM, BY THE PEOPLE AND BY SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AS WELL.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S, I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE'LL NEED TO LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE, UH, EVEN IN LIGHT OF, OF THE DECREASE OF MONIES THAT WE'RE USING.
UH, I DID WANNA STATE THAT, I'M TRYING TO THINK IN THROUGH MY MIND AND JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I CAN'T THINK OF ANY EVENT THAT WE GIVE A, THAT IN LIEU OF A SPONSORSHIP THAT WE GIVE A DISCOUNT OR ANYTHING THAT IS NOT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
SO THE EVENTS, I THINK ALL THE EVENTS THAT THERE IS ANY TYPE OF SPONSORSHIP OR ANY FEE EITHER WAIVED OR REDUCED, IT'S ONLY FOR EVENTS THAT ARE PORT ARTHUR EVENTS.
WELL, THAT WASN'T WHAT I WAS INFERRING.
I WAS SIMPLY, WELL, I JUST WANTED, I WASN'T MAKING THAT INFERENCE.
I JUST SUCH ON NOTE THAT THAT'S AS FAR AS, AND AGAIN, I I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I WAS TRYING TO THINK, AND ALL OF THOSE ARE PORT ARTHUR EVENTS.
WELL, THAT WASN'T THE, THAT WASN'T MY INFERENCE.
I WAS SIMPLY, BUT AGAIN, IF YOU ALL DON'T MIND, AND I UNDERSTAND WE ARE DOING A BUDGET HEARING, I'M TALKING ABOUT.
BUT THAT'S, IF WE CAN, I'M JUST WANNA KEEP US ON TASK.
I THINK WE ARE FLOATING OFF INTO OTHER AREAS.
NOW Y'ALL SPEAK, Y'ALL HAVE THAT LATITUDE, DO WHATEVER.
UH, ALONG WITH THAT INFORMATION, YOU'RE GONNA PROVIDE THE POLICY.
WOULD YOU ALSO PROVIDE THE RENTAL, UH, WHAT WE, WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, IF YOU ARE THE PERSON THAT'S THE, IT GOES WITH YOU, YOU MAKE THE DECISIONS, COULD YOU LET THE COUNCIL KNOW A, A FULL REPORT OF LAST YEAR'S, UH, RENTAL IF YOU DISCOUNT IT, IF YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S YOUR LANE.
WELL, HE'S SAYING IT'S YOUR LANE, BUT I, I DO WANNA READ THE POLICY AND ENSURE THAT IT'S YOUR LANE.
SO THAT REPORT THAT YOU ALSO GONNA PREVENT TO THE COUNCIL.
CAN YOU ALSO PROVIDE THE FEES, THE WAIVES, THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT RENTED THIS PAST YEAR, UH, UH, WITH THE CIVIC CENTER.
THE DIRECTOR HAS ALL THAT AND WE WILL PROVIDE THAT TO YOU.
THE CAPITAL THAT YOU SHOW THERE FOR THE 61,000 IS THE SECOND HALF OF ICMS BILLING FOR CIVIC CENTER ROOFTOP IC UNIT NUMBER SIX TO BE INSTALLED IN OCTOBER, IS WHAT I SHOW.
YEAH, THOSE ARE, THAT'S, YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THEN WE SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER ONE LATER ON IN THE YEAR IF IT COMES IN, IN TIME.
TWO OTHER UNITS FOR ANOTHER THIRD OF THE BUILDING.
SO IT SHOULD HAVE THREE OF THE FIVE MAJOR UNITS, UM, EXCUSE ME.
THREE OF THE SIX MAJOR UNITS SHOULD BE CHANGED OUT HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THIS FI THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
ONE IN OC, THE BIG ONE IN OCTOBER.
AND THEN WHENEVER IT COMES IN FOR TWO SMALLER ONES THAT HANDLE A THIRD OF THE BUILDING.
AND THAT WAS THE ENTRANCE I MADE AT THE BEGINNING.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE WE, IT'S BEEN EFFORT TO KEEP THE, THAT AC UNIT, RIGHT.
SO HADN'T HEARD ANYBODY SAID THEY WERE COLD IN THAT IN A LONG TIME.
[00:30:01]
WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE.TO SEGUE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TAMMY, MS. TAMMY UP HERE FOR THE HOTEL OCCUPANT OCCUPANCY TAX ONLY BECAUSE IT'S SLIGHTLY RELATED TO THE CIVIC CENTER.
AND THAT WHICH PAGE THAT IS ON PAGE ONE 50.
ON THIS PAGE GENTLEMEN, THERE ARE SOME, UM, INCORRECT COLUMNS ON THE ESTIMATED 2324.
UH, I DON'T THINK YOUR BOOK WAS UPDATED IN TIME FOR TODAY.
SO THE COLUMN, THE 2223 IS ACTUALLY 2122.
THEN THE AMENDED BUDGET 2324 IS ACTUALLY 2223, THOSE TWO COLUMNS.
I CAN, I KNOW THOSE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD IF I, IF YOU, UH, I CAN GIVE YOU THOSE FOR COMPARISON.
THE, UM, INCOME FOR 2324 WAS 1,900,000.
THE CONVENTION AND VISITOR BUREAU WAS EIGHT 30, CTAC WAS 10,000.
THE MUSEUM OF THE GULF COAST IS CONSISTENT AT THE 2 46, 3 36 FOOT HAVE ASKED FOR AN ADDITION THIS YEAR.
OTHER IS 15 POMPEI AND VILLA 19,800 WAY FINDING NINE HUNDRED AND SIXTY TWO FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY ONE NINE HUNDRED SIXTY 2,441.
THE TRANSFER TO THE CIVIC CENTER WAS 1 2100 20,000.
UM, THE TRANSFER TO CIP FOR THE VILLA, I BELIEVE WAS 300.
AND THEN THE TRANSFER TO ROSE HILL WAS 4 25.
SO AS THIS RELATES TO THE CIVIC CENTER, WHICH IS I BELIEVE WHY, UM, UH, I WAS ASKED TO COME UP, WE DO TRANSFER 120,000 TO THE CIVIC CENTER EVERY YEAR.
IT JUST GOES FROM THE HOTEL TAX DIRECTLY TO THE CIVIC CENTER.
AND THEN I ALSO, OUT OF MY BUDGET PAY A $500 PER MONTH, UH, FEE FOR, UH, WEB, UM, INTERNET USE, THE INTERNET USAGE, THE FEE, UH, WE USE THE CIVIC CENTER PHONES AND INTERNET, BUT THE 123,000 IS AN AUTOMATED TRANSFER.
AND THAT'S BOTH FOR REASONS THAT IT HOUSES THE VISITOR CENTER AND THAT IT DOES, UH, PRODUCE SOME HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS.
THAT'S THE REASON OF THE TRANSFER.
KYLE MCKINLEY, YOU HAD SOMETHING? YEAH.
SO AGAIN, YOU SAID THE 500 MONTHLIES FOR INTERNET AND PHONE SERVICES? YES.
AND THEN THE TRANSFER OF 120 K TO THE CIVIC CENTER IS PRIMARILY, IT IS A LEGAL USE OF THE HOTEL TAX FUNDS TO TRANSFER SOME TO A CONVENTION CENTER OR A CIVIC CENTER.
[00:35:01]
THAT IT PRODUCE, UH, IT DOES DO, UH, CONVENTIONS.OUR CIVIC CENTER DOES NOT DO VERY MANY CONVENTIONS PER SE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE OFFICIAL VISITOR CENTER.
SO THAT IS ANOTHER, UH, REASON YOU CAN EXPEND MONEY IS THAT WE'RE HOUSED THE VISITOR CENTER'S HOUSED THERE.
SO IT'S FOR BOTH REASONS THAT IT DOES PRODUCE SOME HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS AND THE VISITOR CENTER'S HOUSED IN THE BUILDING.
SO IT USED TO BE 100,000 TRANSFERRED AND WE UPPED THAT TO ONE 20, UM, I BELIEVE AFTER THE CIVIC CENTER WAS REMODELED.
AND DIRECTOR, YOU, UH, WELL, CITY MANAGER, DO YOU MIND IF WE GET A COPY OF THE CORRECTIVE COPY, UH, FOR OUR PURPOSES TO PUT IN OUR, UH, LEDGER? CAN WE GET A COPY OF THAT? YES.
I'LL, I DON'T, I'LL YES, I'LL DO THAT.
THE, THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE HAVE ONE LINE ITEM FOR TRANSFERS OR ONE LINE ITEM, AND IT'S THE DETAILS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE MANUAL.
THIS IS ONE OF THE RARE BUDGETS THAT ARE ACTUALLY DONE MANUALLY BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SPLITS ARE DIRECTLY IN OUR GENERAL LEDGER.
SO I'LL HAVE TO, I'LL WORK WITH TAMMY AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE AMOUNTS ARE CORRECT.
I MEAN, NOT ONLY CORRECT THAT THE COUNCIL GET A COPY OF IT.
UH, WE STILL PUT MONEY INTO THE MUSEUM.
UM, THE ARTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR UP A MAXIMUM OF 15% OF THE HOTEL TAX IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
UM, WHEN I FIRST CAME, WE WERE FUNDING APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF THE MUSEUM OF THE GULF COAST.
AND THEN WHEN LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, UH, PULLED OUT OF THE MUSEUM, THAT IS WHEN, UH, WE, THE CITY COUNCIL DID APPROVE AN INCREASE TO THE BUDGET.
THIS YEAR THEY DID COME TO MR. BURTON AND THEY ASKED FOR AN ADDITIONAL $50,000 TO FUND A NEW CURATOR POSITION.
SO THEY DID COME AND MEET WITH MR. BURTON ABOUT AN INCREASE THIS YEAR.
SO LAMAR PULLED OUT OF THE MUSEUM? YES, SIR.
SO WE DON'T CONTROL THE MUSEUM.
WHO CONTROLLED THE MUSEUM THEN? THE PORT ARTHUR HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS THE, UH, GOVERNING ORGANIZATION OF THE MUSEUM OF THE GULF COAST.
SO YOU SEE WE GOT THE HISTORICAL, UH, UH, GOVERNING IT.
BUT THEN WE ARE PUTTING TAX PAYER MONEY INTO IT.
WHY, WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? I KNOW WHEN WE WERE PARTNERSHIP WHERE WE WERE PUT IN SO MUCH, UH, LAMONT STATE COLLEGE WOULD PUT IN SO MUCH AND WE WOULD HELP FUND HELP FUND THEM.
AND THEN THERE WERE POSITIONS OVER THERE AND ALL OF THIS STUFF WAS BEING PRESENTED TO US AT WHICH TIME WE SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, WE DON'T FUND IT.
'CAUSE WE DON'T CONTROL IT PUMPING.
THOSE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE CONTROL, WE USE TAXPAYERS MONEY FOR, BUT THE MUSEUM DON'T, DOESN'T FALL UNDER OUR CONTROL.
AND YOU SAID WE ASK 50, THEY'RE ASKING 50,000 MORE TO FUND A NEW POSITION.
BUT WE DON'T, WE DON'T CONTROL IT.
I MEAN, WE DON'T, WHY SHOULD WE FUND THE POSITION WITH TAXPAYERS DOLLARS IF WE DON'T CONTROL IT? BECAUSE THEY, THEY GET DONATIONS.
I MEAN, THEY GET, THEY, THEY GET MONEY.
I MEAN, I, I PAY, I'M A MEMBER.
THEIR BUDGET, UM, THEY DO PRESENT THEIR BUDGET TO MR. BURTON EVERY YEAR, UM, BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE TO, UH, REQUEST THESE FUNDS.
SO THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PUTS IN APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THEIR BUDGET.
SO THAT COMES FROM THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
IT USED TO BE, I BELIEVE, 40, 25, 25 BETWEEN LAMAR AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
UM, IT DID INCREASE, LIKE I SAID, WHEN LAMAR PULLED OUT THE ARTS, REGARDLESS OF THEM BEING MANAGED BY THE CITY, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR HOTEL TAX BY THE STATE OF TEXAS, FOR INSTANCE, MURALS, THAT TYPE OF THING, BY ORGANIZATIONS, IF IT, IF IT INCREASES TOURISM, IF IT ANSWERS THE TWO QUESTIONS THAT IT DOES INCREASE TOURISM AND DOES INCREASE HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS, THEN THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR HOTEL TAX.
IT IS ONE OF THE ONLY FUNDS, I BELIEVE, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS CAN GET CITY ARE ELIGIBLE.
I SHOULDN'T SAY CAN, THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CITY FUNDS.
BUT ULTIMATELY IT IS YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL THEN WHO HAS TO, UH, APPROVE THOSE FUNDS OR LOOK AT THOSE FUNDS.
BUT YES, THE ARTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO MAXIMUM 15%, AND THIS AMOUNT IS 14%
[00:40:01]
OF THE 2.1 MILLION.SO, BUT THAT TOTALLY IS UP TO THIS COUNCIL.
AND WHEN YOU SEE, AND I THINK TAMMY SAID IT WELL, WHEN YOU SEE CITY FUNDS, IT'S HOT TAX.
HOT TAX THAT THE HOTELS PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS COMING TO OUR CITY, THEY PAY TAXES.
AND IT IS AN EXPENDITURE THAT YOU COULD USE FOR THE, UM, FOR, FOR THE MUSEUM OF THE GOLF COURSE.
BECAUSE THE MUSEUM OF THE GOLF COURSE IS SEEN AS ONE OF THOSE ENTITIES THAT ADDS TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE, NOT ONLY OF THE VISITORS, BUT OF THE RESIDENTS, THE CHILDREN WHO ARE HERE.
THE, THE MUSEUM OF THE GOLF COURSE IS BUILDING A VERY LARGE, UM, UM, UM, ASSET AS FAR AS THE, THE ARTIFACTS ARE CONCERNED.
AND THEY NEED A CURATOR TO DOCUMENT THOSE THINGS AND, AND TO GET THEM, THEY'RE EVEN TALKING ABOUT EXPANSION BECAUSE THEY'RE BURSTING AT THEIR SEAMS WHERE THEY ARE NOW WITH ARTIFACTS IN THE MUSEUM.
AND PEOPLE COME FROM AS FAR AS EUROPE TO VISIT THE MUSEUM OF THE GOLF COURSE.
AND IT ADDS TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE, NOT ONLY FOR THE VISITORS, BUT FOR THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
SO, UM, IT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT USING HOP TAX MONEY.
BUT WE STAY VERY CLOSELY TO STATE GUIDELINES AS WE DO THOSE THINGS.
AND MIGHT, MIGHT, MIGHT I ADD CERTAINLY.
SO WHILE WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS, UH, THE, THE MUSEUM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE OR WHOMEVER RECEIVED THE, THE LAST, UH, MAIL OUT LAST WEEK WITH, UH, I THINK BOZO CHAVIS OR SOMEBODY AT THE FRONT, MR. MANUEL'S, UH, PICTURE GOING BE, UH, DISPLAYED OF THE JOHNNY COLE, UH, CULTURE IN, IN, IN A FEW WEEKS.
AND NOW, BUT IF WE ARE SUPPLYING THEM WITH, WITH, WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE GAINING FROM SALES TAX FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO COME HERE AND VISIT THAT FACILITY.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE ABLE TO RE GENTRIFY, REDEVELOP DOWNTOWN IN THE FUTURE.
THAT IS ANOTHER ANCHOR BESIDES MOTIVA IN THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR FOR DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURISTIC THINGS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD WANT TO BE REAL COGNIZANT OF THE VALUE, AS YOU JUST SAID, THAT IT PLACES UPON, UH, THE VALUE OF LIFE, YOU KNOW, QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO, UH, HAVE DEDICATED FOR THAT.
I BELIEVE WE GOT A BETTER RETURN ON THAT, UH, THAN WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY PUTTING INTO IT.
SO, UH, I, BECAUSE THE REGIONAL APPROACH OF IT, AND IT, IT WAS SOMETHING, I CAN'T RECALL IT 'CAUSE IT'S IN MY HOUSE, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING I READ FROM TOM'S MESSAGE THAT MAKES ME THINK WHAT I'M THINKING RIGHT NOW IN THIS LAST, UH, ARTICLE.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T, A HANDOUT THAT COMES OUT, DID YOU SEE IT? A NEWSLETTER? A NEWSLETTER COMES OUT QUARTERLY? YES.
I, I RECEIVED IT LAST WEEK AND JUST, UH, WHEN I READ, I READ SOMETHING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, HIS A MESSAGE IN THERE AND IT, IT ALLUDES TO ALL OF THAT, THAT WE, UH, ON SOMETHING GREAT.
IT TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY, BUT BASICALLY THAT'S WHAT IT IS OF HOW IT BEGAN, WHAT THEY ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH TO, UH, GET IT FUNDED.
GOING BACK TO MR. GEORGE DELE DAYS HERE TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.
AND, UH, I THINK WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB WITH THAT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ME? I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE ANY LIGHTS.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
IS, AND THAT IS TO MOVE UP FOR PLEASURE ISLAND DIRECTOR DAVIS.
THAT'S WHY I JUST CAME PAGE, BECAUSE YEAH.
[00:45:30]
COUNCIL.LET'S, LET'S, LET'S DO LIKE A LITTLE FIVE MINUTE, WE COULD DO 10 MINUTE BREAK.
CITY SECRETARY, WILL YOU REESTABLISH PLEASE? YOU? MAYOR BARTEE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD COUNCIL MEMBER ETT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY, UH, WE WILL RESUME.
UM, UH, MR. GEORGE DAVIS, YOU HAD TO LEAVE.
SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE HEALTH.
AND, UH, DIRECTOR SMITH HAS TWO BUDGETS.
SO IT'S IN ON PAGE 88 AND ALSO ON PAGE ONE 60.
JUST, JUST, JUST, JUST ONE SECOND.
UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THIS CORRECTLY ON, ON OUR, OUR VIRTUAL, UH, COMPOST COUNCIL PERSON WHO WAS VIRTUAL.
I NOTICED THAT BEFORE, BUT I'M NOT, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE ON COUNSEL, UH, MAYOR APPROACH HIM, BUT WE CANNOT, UH, ACTUALLY SEE YOU.
CAN YOU, MY UNDERSTANDING THAT I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE MY VIDEO ON UNLESS WE ARE VOTING ON SOMETHING.
UH, DIRECTOR, CAN YOU TURN THAT MIC ON FOR THIS? OKAY.
ANY QUESTIONS? DIRECTOR? YOU SAID 88 AND ONE 60.
IS THAT, AM I RIGHT? ONE 60? MY NUMBER 1, 1 60.
IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE DETAILS, START ON PAGE 91.
HEALTH, A SPECIAL FOR HEALTH SPECIAL.
WELL, UH, DIRECTOR, I JUST START OFF, UH, YOU GLAD THAT WE ARE IN OUR NEW BUILDING.
I KNOW IT COMES WITH SOME, UH, TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.
SO, UH, ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE BUDGET THAT YOU CAN, UH, KIND OF LET THE COUNCIL KNOWS FROM YOUR OPINION SO WE CAN HIGHLIGHT THIS? MM-HMM.
SO I, I DO HAVE, UM, THE EMPLOYEE HEALTH SERVICE CLINIC AND THEN JUST THE REGULAR HEALTH FUND.
AND OF COURSE SOME OF OUR, UM, OUR BUDGET ITEMS DID GO UP BECAUSE OF THE TRANSITION, LIKE IN THE, UM, MAINTENANCE, OUR, UM, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, THE OTHER CONTRACTUAL, BECAUSE OF, UM, THE JANITORIAL, UM, BEING HIGHER ELECTRICITY, UM, IS HIGHER.
AND SO THOSE WERE THE MAIN THINGS.
I THINK WE DO, YOU KNOW, WITH THE INCREASE WITH THE SPACE THAT YOU HAVE DIRECTOR, UH, DO YOU ANTICIPATE IN HIRING SOME MORE, UH, STAFF? NOT AT THIS POINT.
[00:50:01]
I WANNA THINK 58 EMPLOYEES.45 OF THOSE ARE GRANT FUNDED EMPLOYEES.
AND 13 ARE ACTUAL CITY EMPLOYEES.
WELL, ALL OF THEM ARE CITY EMPLOYEES, BUT THE CITY PAYS FOR, YOU KNOW, SALARIES INFRINGED FOR 13 OF, OF THOSE STAFF.
AND SOME OF THE, UM, ACTUAL GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS WILL END IN FISCAL 25, NOT FISCAL 20.
AND WE ANTICIPATE GETTING THOSE, UH, EMPLOYEES BACK HIRED ON WITH THE GRANT.
SO, UH, SOME OF THOSE GRANTS WERE TERMED GRANTS.
SOME OF THOSE GRANTS WERE COVID, UM, GRANTS.
AND SO THEY WERE EXTENDED, UM, LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR.
AND THEN BECAUSE THERE WERE, UM, THERE WERE STILL FUNDS LEFT, UM, IT GOT EXTENDED TO 25.
AND SO UNLESS THOSE GRANTS ARE RENEWED, AND WE ARE TOLD RIGHT NOW THAT THEY WILL NOT BE RENEWED, THOSE EMPLOYEES WILL NOT BE, UM, WORKING.
SO WHAT IS THE, WHAT'S GONNA BE THE CONTINUOUSLY PLAN IF IT'S NOT, I WANT TO HEAR BOTH SIDES.
SO THE CONTINGENCY PLAN AND THE MAJORITY, LET ME JUST START.
THE MAJORITY OF THESE, UM, THE EMPLOYEES WERE NURSES WHO STARTED OFF VOLUNTEERING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DURING THE COVID, DURING COVID.
AND, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE GRANT FUNDS TO ACTUALLY HIRE THOSE STAFF.
WE STILL HAVE THREE NURSING STAFF THAT'S ACTUALLY DOING COVID VACCINES AFTER THE PANDEMIC WAS DECLARED OVER.
BECAUSE NOW WE ONLY CAN PROVIDE COVID VACCINES TO THE UNINSURED.
WE ARE NOT AS BUSY AS WE WERE INITIALLY WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THE COVID VACCINES TO EVERYBODY.
AND SO THE CONTINGENCY PLAN IS TO UTILIZE THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE NOW.
WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT THAT WAS AWARDED TO US IN, UM, 23.
WE HAVE A NURSE THAT IS EMPLOYED WITH THAT GRANT.
AND THAT GRANT IS, UM, HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO, UM, 2027.
AND SO THE IDEA IS TO CONTINUE, YOU KNOW, USING THAT NURSE TO PROVIDE THOSE, UM, THAT SERVICE.
RIGHT NOW SHE IS ASSISTING IN IMMUNIZATIONS, JUST IN BASIC IMMUNIZATIONS, BUT WE WILL UTILIZE HER TO CONTINUE THE SERVICES.
THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMING IN NOW FOR COVID VACCINES ARE VERY FEW.
THAT MAY INCREASE, BUT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE, UM, WHO ARE REQUESTING COVID VACCINES ARE INSURED, THE MEDICARE AGE GROUP, THEY ARE HAVING TO GO TO THE LOCAL PHARMACIES.
SO WE DO HAVE A PLAN TO CONTINUE THE SERVICE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA, WE ARE NOT GONNA ELIMINATE THE SERVICE.
WE JUST WON'T HAVE THAT STAFF TO DO IT.
JUST NOW I MIGHT ADD THEY REFUSE SERVICE TO THE MAYOR.
UM, I'M STILL OFFENDED FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES.
LIKE, UH, DR. SMITH TOLD ME NOT TO EVEN COME BECAUSE I HAD INSURANCE.
OH, FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES? YEAH.
SHE REFUSED TO SERVICE OFF PROPERTY.
FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES.
THIS IS FOR THE CITY FINANCE DIRECTOR.
THE REVENUE IS THREE, 3,025,000 OR 26,000 YOU COULD SAY.
AND THE TOTAL EXPEN EXPENDITURES IS 3,122,000.
WHAT THE, UH, THE, UH, EXPENDITURES ARE EXCEEDING WHAT THE OH, WHAT, WHAT THE REVENUE IS.
I DO IT, IT, I DON'T HAVE IT LOOKS LIKE THE EXPENDITURES
[00:55:01]
ARE EXCEEDING THE REVENUE, CORRECT? MM-HMM.IN THE PAST WE HAVEN'T HAD A TRANSFER.
I'M MISSING A TRANSFER LINE ITEM OF 97,000 FROM GENERAL FUND.
AND THAT WOULD BE THE MATCHING THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE FOR THE FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE.
NEEDS TO, NEEDED TO INCLUDE A TRANSFER OF 97,000 FROM GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS OUR MATCHING.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
SO YOU NEED TO MAKE A NOTE OF THAT.
AND BEFORE YOU RUN IT, BRING IT BACK.
IT NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED SO THAT WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE TAKING 97,000 OUT THE GENERAL FUND TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER REVENUE TO COVER THESE EXPENDITURES.
IT IS A TRANSFER FROM GENERAL FUND.
THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE ON THAT ONE.
LET ME ASK A QUESTION, BECAUSE YOU DID MAKE NOTE THAT WE'RE GONNA BE LOSING SOME FUNDING FROM, UM, FROM SOME GRANTS.
DO ALL OF THAT AND EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE TAKEN CARE OF? WE'RE NOT LOSING THE MAJOR.
I MEAN, WE ARE, SOME OF OUR GRANTS ARE RENEWED EVERY YEAR, REGARDLESS.
IMMUNIZATIONS, WIC, NURSE, FAMILY PARTNERSHIP, TB, A LOT OF THOSE, THOSE ARE ALL, WE'VE NOT EVER HAD A BREAK IN THOSE GRANTS BEING RENEWED.
SO ALL OF THE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, THAT WILL COM THAT WILL CONTINUE.
ONLY THE COVID GRANT THAT WE WILL POSSIBLY LOSE.
WHAT Y'ALL HAVE TO OBJECT AND IT'S GONNA CHANGE THE GENERAL FUND NUMBER AS WELL, RIGHT? NO, IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE GENERAL FUND NUMBERS.
NO, I JUST DIDN'T INCLUDE THAT PARTICULAR LINE ITEM IN THIS FUND.
IT'S ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE GENERAL FUND.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE TRANSIT AND EQUIPMENT SERVICES.
WHAT? THEY HAVE A TAIL TRANSIT FUND.
OH, 1 39 IS, IS THAT, IS THAT ONE? THAT'S NOT 1 39 ON THAT PAGE THERE.
WHICH 1 41 THE EQUIPMENT SERVICES PARK? NO, IS PAGE 1 0 1 1.
HE'S IN CHARGE OF THE GARAGE AND THEN ALSO IN THE TRANSIT PIECE.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE BOTH 1 0 1 AND THEN PAGE 1 41, 1 0 1, AND 1 41.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS SO YOU'RE GONNA START AT 1 0 1 FIRST? YES, PLEASE.
UH, WE READY? WE READY? MR. MITCH? YEAH, SO ANY, I GUESS ANY QUESTIONS, UM, YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE FOR ME? YEAH.
I KNOW WE, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST WE'VE BEEN HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME WITH PARTS AND KEEPING EQUIPMENT ON THE ROADS.
UM, I'M LOOKING AT YOUR BUDGET.
I DON'T SEE A INCREASE OF, UM, OF, UM, EMPLOYEES AS FAR AS IN THE GARAGE DEPARTMENT.
UH, PARTS THAT WE KNOW THAT MOST OF, A LOT OF THOSE TRUCKS ARE GONNA NEED AND THEY'RE GONNA BREAK DOWN,
[01:00:01]
UH, FOR THE PAST, IN THE PAST, I'VE TALKED WITH MY COHORTS BEFORE ABOUT HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT WE KEEP THOSE TRUCKS ON THE ROAD.IE 24 HOUR GARAGE, THAT WAS MY THING ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.
IF WE CAN RUN A 24 HOUR GARAGE AND HAVE MECHANICS WORK THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT AS WELL.
SO WHAT IS GONNA BE THE CONTINUENCY PLAN, SINCE WE HADN'T, YOU KNOW, DECIDED NOT TO ORDER MORE PARTS, RUN A 24 HOUR GARAGE, HIRE MORE EMPLOYEES, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TO ENSURE THAT THAT CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR, THAT THEY HAVE THESE TRUCKS, ESSENTIAL TYPE TRUCKS ON THE ROAD? WHAT WERE YOU, WHAT'S THE PLAN? YEAH, SO TWO THINGS.
UM, IN TERMS OF EMPLOYEES, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A, UM, WE'RE LOOKING TO HIRE A SMALL ENGINE MECHANIC.
A SMALL MECHANIC WORKS ON, UM, ZERO TURNS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WE'RE LOOKING TO GET SOMEBODY ON BOARD SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP LIKE ALL OF OUR ZERO TURNS THE CITY HAS FOR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS UP AND RUNNING.
SO THAT, THAT WAS, THAT'S ON THE BUDGET.
HOPEFULLY IT'S APPROVED AND WE CAN GET THAT PERSON A STATION AND THEY'LL BE SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON THAT.
THAT'S THEIR FOCUS IS TO KEEP THESE ZERO TURNS UP AND RUNNING.
UH, IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO ORDER PARTS, WE ACTUALLY ASKED, UM, WE'RE LOOKING TO HIRE A TEMP ON, UM, TO HANDLE PARTS.
SO THIS TEMP WILL ASSIST THE EXISTING STAFF WITH PROCURING PARTS.
CAN BE, IT CAN, IT COULD TAKE SOMETIMES HALF A DAY JUST TO FIND A PART.
SO WE'RE LOOKING TO GET SOMEBODY ON WHO CAN BE ON THE PHONE, WHO CAN WORK WITH, UM, THE DIFFERENT VENDORS WHO CAN BE ON THE INTERNET, WHO CAN ORDER STUFF TO HOPEFULLY FIND STUFF WHEN IT'S HARD TO FIND.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF HOPING TO GET PARTS, HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE ON BOARD WHO CAN REALLY DIG INTO IT AND GET THESE THINGS ORDERED.
AND POTENTIALLY EVEN WE NOW SOMETIMES HAVE TO JUST GO TO HOUSTON, GRAB IT AND GET IT BACK HERE.
SO, UM, THAT'S IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL STAFF, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THOSE TWO ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO ASSIST WITH FIXING ITEMS, SMALL ENGINE REPAIRS, AND SOMEBODY TO ASSIST ON THE PARDON, WHICH INCLUDES A LOT OF LOOKING AND PAPERWORK ALSO TO PROCURE THINGS.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR LARGE VEHICLE MECHANICS? YEAH, WHY DON'T, WHY DON'T WE JUST, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
WE CONTINUE JUST PUTTING BAND AIDS ON IT.
WE KNOW THAT WE, OUR PROBLEM IS KEEPING THE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.
BUT WE KNOW THAT THE LARGE VEHICLES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PREVENTING US FROM DOING OUR JOB AND GETTING THE PHONE CALLS, YOU KNOW, FROM THE MAYOR ON DOWN.
SO WHY DON'T WE TRY TO GET IN FRONT OF THE BALL A LITTLE BIT, HIRE MORE LARGE VEHICLE MECHANICS.
SO WHY DON'T WE DO THE SAME CONCEPT? IT WORKS.
SO, I MEAN, THIS IS THE TIME TO ASK FOR THOSE THINGS THAT YOU NEED AND, AND ASSURE, I DON'T THINK NO COUNCIL MEMBER WILL BE OBJECTIVE TO THAT BECAUSE THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE TELLING THE CITIZENS WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE, WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY DOING THAT.
SO, I MEAN, SO YOU AND I HAD THEM TOUGH TALKS AND YOU HAVE A PLAN, BUT I, I WANNA KNOW NOW, WHY DON'T WE JUST INCLUDE THIS IN THE BUDGET SO THE COUNCIL COULD SAY, HEY, WE GOT A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE AND WE MAKE THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS.
SO, SO I, I HAVE A DRAFT PER SE AND I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT IT TO COUNCIL IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE, UM, IF AMANDA LETS ME, I'LL BRING IT BACK.
I'LL HAVE IT WITHIN A DAY OR TWO WITH ALL THE NUMBERS AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO.
IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU GUYS WANT TO SEE, I HAVE NO PROBLEM BRINGING THAT TO YOU GUYS.
SO I'LL MAKE A NOTE TO GET THAT TO THEM.
UM, WE'VE GOT A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR WHEN WE ARE DOING THE BUDGET IN TERMS OF ROTATING OUT OF EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES THAT HAS BEEN LONG PART OF THE STOCK.
UM, WHERE YOU SIT WITH THE OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS, EXPLAIN TO THE COUNSELOR HOW THAT WORKS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING FUNDS ON, UM, WE PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THOSE OUT OF THE FLEET.
YOU KNOW, AND I EVEN ASSIST US ASSIST ALL DEPARTMENTS.
SO WHAT WE DO, UM, WE DO NOT REINVEST IN VEHICLES.
I ALWAYS GIVE THE EXAMPLE OF A TRUCK THAT WAS WORTH $24,000.
WE SPENT $94,000 IN JUST REPAIRING THE SAME TRUCK WHERE WE COULD HAVE BOUGHT THREE MORE TRUCKS.
BUT WE HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE RIGHT NOW WHERE WE ROTATE THOSE EQUIPMENT.
YOU LOOK AT THEM WITH THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENT AND WE COME UP WITH A LIST.
I'M, I'M, I'M SAYING THIS TO SAY THIS, THAT HELPS, YOU KNOW, IN, UM, REDUCING THE COST AND MAKING SURE THAT, UM, THE FLEET
[01:05:01]
THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE IS, UM, IS, IS PRACTICALLY NEW.YOU KNOW, ALSO WE HAVE A, UM, A RENTAL, WE HAVE A RENTAL SYSTEM THAT WE OPERATE WITH ENTERPRISE, WHICH HAS BEEN WORKING VERY GOOD.
SO, UM, A LOT OF THE EQUIPMENT WHERE WITH, UM, WITH TRUCKS, YOU WILL NO LONGER SEE THE CT PURCHASE IN THOSE.
BUT WE WILL TAKE, WE HAVE THOSE UNDER CONTRACT WITH, UM, ENTERPRISE.
AND IT ALSO BECAUSE ENTERPRISE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING THE PMS ON THOSE AS WELL, SO THAT THE, THE, THE STOCK THAT'S ALWAYS AT THE, UM, THE GARAGE, IT REDUCES THE STOCK GOING TO THE GARAGE.
SO THOSE TWO THINGS OF BEST PRACTICES WOULD HELP QUITE A BIT.
WELL, WELL, WELL, MANAGER, I AGREE WITH YOU.
I'M GLAD THAT WE, WE, WE CHOOSE TO DO ENTERPRISE.
IT GIVES US A DIFFERENT OPTION.
UH, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE, JUST LIKE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WHY DON'T WE ADDRESS THE 24 HOUR GARAGE DEPARTMENT MAINTENANCE.
WE KNOW WE STILL HAVE THOSE TRUCKS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT ARE NOT PART OF ENTERPRISE, BUT THOSE ARE THE ONES ESSENTIAL TO THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED IN THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE ONES WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND CONTRACT SOMEBODY TO COME AND, AND PLAY CLEANUP.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR.
I THINK THAT IF WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN HOUSE AND EQUIPMENT FIRST, WE WOULDN'T HAVE A NEED TO GO OUT AND DO CONTRACTS AND ALL THAT STUFF.
AND I'M GONNA LAY IT BACK IN YOUR HAND.
I MEAN, WE MAYBE NEED TO CONSIDER LIKE LARGE VEHICLE MECHANICS.
I'VE TALKED WITH THE DIRECTOR HERE NUMEROUS TIMES ALONG WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT, HEY, HOW CAN WE CONTINUE HANDLING OUR TRUCKS ON THE ROAD IF THEY'RE NOT ON THE ROAD, THEY'RE NOT HELPING US.
IF WE GOTTA WAIT ON PARTS THREE MONTHS, IT'S NOT HELPING US.
SO WE NEED TO THINK OUT OF THE BOX AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY, UH, TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM.
YOU, YOU, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
UM, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IN, UM, ATTRACTING AND RETAINING THOSE HEAVY DUTY MECHANICS IS WE TRY TO PAY THEM.
WE CAN NEVER COMPETE WITH THE PRIVATE MARKET AND WE TRY TO PAY THEM OUT OF GRID AS MUCH AS WE CAN, YOU KNOW, BUT AS SOON AS THEY GET A DOLLAR ELSEWHERE, THEY LEAVE AND THEY GO
UM, WE ARE GONNA WORK ON IT NOW.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT TO SEE HOW MUCH WE COULD DO, HOW, UM, I MEAN HOW MUCH WE COULD PAY THESE PEOPLE, BUT YEAH, WE, WE WILL, WE'LL WORK ON IT NOW.
AND THE, THE, THE MANAGER IS CORRECT THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES.
THE HEAVY, HEAVY DUTY MECHANICS.
I MEAN, THIS IS A INDUSTRY AREA, SO TO, TO GET THEM TO WORK FOR THE CITY.
UM, WE RECRUIT, WE CALL PEOPLE, KNOW PEOPLE.
UM, IT'S JUST A CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA NOT STOP DOING IT, BUT IT'S JUST A VERY HARD CHALLENGE TO GET THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO COME AND WORK FOR THE CITY.
COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE.
I TOLD YOU YOU OKAY WITH TRANSIT, BUT I FORGOT YOU GOT THE OPERATION CENTER TOO.
OH NO, YOU DON'T GET AWAY FROM THAT ONE.
UH, EQUIPMENT SERVICES, YOU KNOW, WE GOT LIKE ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE TYPE THINGS IN A BUDGET, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? EQUIPMENT SERVICE, WHAT ARE YOU YEAH.
PUTTING A 1.5 MILLION IN FOR? SO, UH, A MAJORITY OF IT ARE THE SALARIES.
WE HAVE, UM, 17 EMPLOYEES, PLUS WE HAVE, UH, TEMPS THAT WE KEEP, UM, DEPENDING ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO THE MAJORITY OF THE BUDGET, EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU TALKING TRANSIT NOW OR ARE YOU TALKING OPERATIONS CENTER? I'M SPEAKING OF THE, THE, THE, THE OPERATIONS, THE GARAGE O MILLS.
WERE YOU ASKING FOR A TRICK? WERE YOU ASKING JUST A LINE ITEM? I WAS ASKING ONLY ABOUT, ABOUT THAT LINE ITEM.
I WASN'T LOOKING FOR THE TOTAL.
I SAW THE TOTAL ON, UH, YOU HAVE, WELL YOU, UH, TOTAL EXPENDITURE.
SO YOU TALKING ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT AND EVERYTHING? YEAH.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR EXPENSES ARE FOR SALARY.
THE OTHER COMES FROM VARIOUS, UM, JUST TO KEEP THINGS RUNNING, ELECTRICITY, BILLS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S THE OTHER HIGH PERCENTAGE OF IT.
UH, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER LIGHTS ON THIS ISSUE.
I, I GUESS WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE.
ARE WE GOOD WITH, WITH TRANSIT AS WELL? I, I'M, GO, GO AHEAD.
UM, THE, THE COUNCILWOMAN, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM HAS TO BE SEEN, UH, ON THE VIDEO,
[01:10:01]
UH, PURSUANT OF, UM, THE OPEN, THE VIDEO CONFERENCING ACT AND THE MEETINGS ACT.SHE'S SUPPOSED TO BE SEEN CITY ATTORNEY.
SO YOUR, YOUR, UH, YOUR, UH, YOUR, UH, INTERPRETATION OF THAT AT THIS MOMENT.
ACCORDING TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 1 2 7.
MAYOR PROTE, WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING, YOU HAVE TO BE VISIBLE AND YOUR VOICE AUDIBLE TO EACH OTHER, PARTICIPANT IN THE MEETING.
SO YOU HAVEN'T SPOKEN, SPOKEN YET, SO YOU'LL BE FINE.
TRANSIT? I THINK, SO WE DONE WITH TRANSIT? OH, NOT TRANSIT, BUT JUST OH, OH, OKAY.
WHAT PAGE WAS THE OTHER ONE YOU SAID? 1 49.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE I GOT THE 9 1 41.
YEAH, I HAD ALREADY, I HAD IT JABBED UP.
I WAS THINKING 1 39 ON THIS OTHER ONE.
ANY, UH, DISCUSSION ON THAT? WELL, I GUESS I, I WILL SAY YOU WILL SEE A LOT ON MY BUDGET FOR TRANSIT FOR VARIOUS, UH, CAPITAL PROJECTS.
UM, WE'VE RECEIVED SEVERAL GRANTS, UM, AND WE CAN WAIT TO SPEND THEM, BUT THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME OF THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS.
SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHY YOU SEE SUCH A LARGE NUMBER THIS YEAR COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEARS FOR CAPITAL COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
UM, DIRECTOR, WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF? YEAH, I THINK THAT THE COUNCIL DIRECTOR TO THE MANAGER ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, UH, WE, WE, WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE, UH, STATIONS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO WAIT TO CATCH THE CITY BUS OR WHATEVER, BUT MY CONCERN THAT THEY ARE SITTING OUT IN THE ELEMENTS WITH NOTHING, AND WE SAID AT ONE TIME, TWO, MAYBE THREE YEARS AGO, UH, MAYOR, THAT WE WERE GONNA KIND OF BUDGET ONCE A YEAR BECAUSE YOU, YOU CAME AND YOU SPOKE AND, AND SAID HOW EXPENSES, HOW EXPENSIVE IT WAS TO BUILD THOSE WIND RATED, HURRICANE RATED.
AND YOU, WE, WE CAME DIRECTIVE THAT WE PROBABLY WANT TO DO, PUT IN A BUDGET ONE A YEAR SO WE CAN START GETTING PEOPLE OUTTA THE ELEMENTS.
BECAUSE SOME THINGS HAPPEN AND THEY HAVE TO, SOMETIMES BUSES ARE LATE AND THEY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, SIT OUT THERE EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT, YOU KNOW, BEAUMONT IS, IS DOING IT.
OTHER MAJOR CITIES IS DOING IT.
WHY HAVEN'T WE PUT IN A BUDGET THAT AT LEAST ONE OR TWO THAT WE CAN START BUILDING? AND I KNOW WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOME PROBLEMS. OTHER CITIES HAVE PROBLEMS WITH HOMELESSNESS, YOU KNOW, CAMPING OUT, GETTING IT DIRTY.
BUT THAT'S THE JOB OF TRANSIT.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE DOING THAT DAILY.
THAT CAN BE A JOB TO CLEAN IT OUT OR ENSURE THAT, UH, THAT IT'S CLEAN FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY DO UTILIZING THAT.
SO WHY HAVEN'T WE PUT THIS IN THE BUDGET TO GET OUR PEOPLE OUT OF THE ELEMENTS? AND I SPOKE WITH YOU ABOUT IT.
THAT'S HOW I GOT, YOU SAID ABOUT 10 TO 14,000.
SO THERE, THERE, THERE IS MONEY.
UM, IT'S UNDER, IT'S UNDER A LINE ITEM CALLED BUS STOPS.
SO THERE IS FUNDS TO DO ONE FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON THE DESIGN, SO WE'RE HAVING TO PAY FOR THE DESIGN OF IT.
'CAUSE IT HAS TO BE HURRICANE RATED.
UM, WE'RE HAVING TO, WE BUDGET THE MONEY FOR THE INSTALLATION FOR IT, AND WE HAVE BUDGETED MONEY FOR THE, UH, PURCHASE OF THAT SHELTER.
SO THERE IS MONEY IN THAT LINE ITEM THAT ONCE, UM, EVERYTHING'S APPROVED.
WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE EVERYTHING WRAPPED UP BY THE END OF THIS MONTH IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL.
AND THEN AS SOON AS THE BUDGET YEAR HITS, WE CAN POTENTIALLY START ISSUING DIFFERENT PURCHASE ORDERS.
MAY, MAY, MAY, MAY I SUGGEST SOMETHING.
COUNCIL, WHILE WE WERE SPEAKING ON THAT, UH, I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I VIEWED SOME SOMETHING DURING THE INCLEMENT, WHETHER LAST WEEK.
AND THAT, I CALL IT THE TRANSFER STATION, NOT BY THE LIBRARY.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE, UH, WHEN I MEAN THEY HAVE TO TRANSFER, WHETHER IT IS, YOU KNOW, SNORING WRITING OR WHATEVER.
AND, UH, THAT, THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
AND THEN MAYBE IN FRONT OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE I'VE, I, I'VE NOTICED SOME PEOPLE STANDING THERE AND I, I'VE SEEN SOME OTHERS ON, ON THE, IN, YOU KNOW, I CAN CALL IT IN TOWN ALL THE PROPERTY DOWN THIS WAY.
[01:15:01]
THAT'S, UH, ELEMENTS BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT AT THE BUS STOP AT, AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE TRYING TO, IF IT'S RAINING AND THEY'RE STANDING INSIDE AND THE BUS DRIVER OVER TO SEE 'EM OUT THERE AND THEY CAN PASS THEM ON, YOU KNOW, UH, SO IF, BECAUSE THOSE ARE, AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU ALL KNOW WHERE YOUR BIGGER VOLUME OF, OF FOLK WOULD BE? I, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULDN'T TRY TO, BUT I JUST SUGGEST THAT BECAUSE I SAW I PASSED.THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE LOCATION IS AT THE LIBRARY.
IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE LARGER 'CAUSE OF THE LARGE SPACE.
WHICH IS WHY IT'S TAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME FOR DESIGN.
UM, BUT ONCE WE HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER, IT, IT SHOULD HAPPEN.
AND YOU, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
HUH? THERE'S ONE OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
IT'S, IT'S ONE, IT IT, IT DEPENDS ON WHICH DIRECTION YOU'RE GOING.
IT, IT'S, IT'S, NO, IT'S NOT COVERED THOUGH.
IT'S, I DON'T THINK IT'S COVERED.
IT'S, IT IS, IT'S JUST A BENCH, A SINK, A BENCH.
UM, WITH, AND YOU SAID THE A HUNDRED OVER A HUNDRED K UH, REQUEST IS FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS SOME OF THOSE? SO WHAT, SO SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE, UM, EXCUSE ME, JUST FROM MOMENT, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT PAGE 2 0 4 ALSO HAS THE DETAILS OF THAT A LITTLE BIT.
THAT'S OUR CAPITAL PART OF OUR CAPITAL BOOK.
AND THAT MIGHT HELP A LITTLE BIT AND WE CAN FLESH THAT OUT MORE SPECIFICALLY IF THE COUNCIL SO DESIRES YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.
SO IF THERE'S ANY SPECIFIC ONES YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE NOW YEAH.
WE, WE, WE GOTTA UNDERSTANDING.
I CITY MANAGER, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
WE, WE, WE JUST WANT TO ENSURE THE CITIZENS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.
WE WANT TO GET THEM OUT OF THE ELEMENTS.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT THESE NICE PRETTY ELECTRIC BUSES.
UH, BUT YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY'RE LATE OR, YOU KNOW, WE JUST GET 'EM OUTTA THE ELEMENT.
I THINK I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR STATEMENT WHEN HE STATED THAT, UH, THAT HUB STATE, WHAT WE CALL IT A HUB.
SO THANK YOU DIRECTOR ON THAT AND, UH, PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION.
ANY OTHERS? I DON'T SEE ANY LIGHTS.
UH, ANYTHING ELSE? CITY MANAGER, THE NEXT ONE WE'LL GO TO IS PARKS AND REC.
WHAT PAGE WOULD SHE BE ON? GOOD MORNING.
I DO, I'LL ALSO DIRECT YOU TO THE CAPITAL PORTION ALSO.
AND LET ME TELL YOU THAT PAGE, THAT PAGE IS 2 0 3 FOR THE CAPITAL PORTION OF PARKS AND REC ON ONE PAGE.
THE SAME 2 0 3 FOR THE CAPITAL PORTION OF PARKS AND REC SO THAT THEY CAN TRACK TOGETHER.
MAY I SAY ONE THING BEFORE YOU BEGIN? OF COURSE.
UH, I WAS OUT, UH, SUNDAY AT THE PARK, UH, EL VISTA.
SO YOU GONNA BE GETTING SOME CALLS, BUT I DID TELL 'EM CORRECTLY AND I TOLD ME THEY WAS SAYING, WE NEED A, WE NEED A PAVILION.
I SAID, WELL, YOU FIRST NEED TO SPEAK WITH MS. ALPO.
I SAID, MR. ALPO IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST 'CAUSE THEY WANT DO A PETITION AND ALL.
I SAID, NO, THAT'S NOT NECESSARY.
I SAID, Y'ALL MIGHT BE ABOUT TWO YEARS OFF BEFORE YOU CAN EVER GET IT.
SEE, THIS IS GOVERNMENT AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS AND I, I, I THINK I ANSWERED THEM ALMOST CORRECTLY.
SO IF THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS, BUT YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT THEY GONNA BE COMING.
IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY, THEY HAVEN'T.
BUT I'M QUITE SURE THAT WILL BE BECAUSE THAT THERE WAS ABOUT THREE, IT WAS A LOT.
[01:20:02]
PLUS PEOPLE OUT THERE WHEN I WENT.AND THEY SAY THE CAR WAS LARGER BEFORE I HAD VERY, AND I MIGHT ADD FOR THE POLICE AND, AND FIRE PROTECTION.
AND I WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU ON THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT THAT'S OUT THERE.
AND THOSE KIDS WE GOT THE CITY GOT HIS MONEY'S WORTH SUNDAY IF NOBODY ONE EVER GOES BACK OUT THERE AND PLAY AGAIN.
WE WERE GLAD IT, IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.
THEY HAD A GOOD TIME BETWEEN US AND THE CIVIC CENTER U UTILIZING THEIR BUILDING TOGETHER.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MAYOR, DIRECTOR.
UH, I'M JUST SO GLAD THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR PARKS.
I MEAN, I'M LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS.
I'M SO, YOU KNOW THAT 25 MILL IN 2026, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT ON YOUR, UH, 2 0 2, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
UH, THAT LOOKS A, THAT LOOKS GOOD.
UH, AT LEAST WE'RE DOING SOMETHING.
WE'RE MAKING MOVEMENT, UM, IN OUR PARKS BECAUSE OUR KIDS DESERVE PARKS, QUALITY PARKS TO PLAY IN.
UH, MY CONCERN AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, UPKEEP OF THOSE PARKS, YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GONNA GET INTO BUDGET.
I WANNA SEE WHAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GONNA EMPLOY MORE SUMMERTIME HELP, THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO CUT GRASS HERE IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
IT RAINS A LOT, GRASS GROW A LOT.
BUT IT'S OUR JOB TO MAINTAIN THOSE PARKS.
YOU'VE BEEN DOING AN EXCELLENT GILLUM CIRCLE IS A MONSTER FOR Y'ALL, BUT Y'ALL, YOU GUYS BEEN ON TOP OF IT, SO I'M VERY THANK YOU.
SO TELL ME, WHAT'S THE PLAN? UH, HOW ARE WE GONNA ADDRESS, WE KNOW IT'S GRASS GONNA GROW.
WE KNOW IT'S, OUR JOB IS, IT'S NOT ANYBODY ELSE'S JOB.
IT'S OUR JOB TO MAINTAIN THESE PARKS.
WHAT'S GONNA BE THE PLAN OF ACTION COME NEXT BUDGET? AND IF THIS BUDGET IS APPROVED, WELL, WE'RE GONNA PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION TO MAINTENANCE EACH YEAR.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING SO, UM, SOME OF OUR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN, I'M GONNA SAY COMPROMISED A LITTLE DUE TO THE WEATHER.
SO, UM, LIKE YOU CAN GO TO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ONE THAT WAS IN DISCUSSION ON AT LINCOLN PARK.
YOU CAN GO TO THAT PLAYGROUND SYSTEM AND YOU CAN PUT YOUR HAND OVER.
AND IT IS, IT'S NO DIRT, IT'S NO ANYTHING BUT THE ELEMENTS FROM WHAT'S IN THE AIR IS HOW WE PUT IT.
IT HAS DE COLORED AND JUST MADE IT LOOK LIKE THAT THE PARK ISN'T.
SO WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN LOOKING INTO SOME DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR PAINTING EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS WE'RE LOOKING INTO A DIFFERENT SCHEDULE TO TRY TO SEE HOW WE CAN CUT MORE OFTEN.
SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS WE'VE BEEN TRYING DIFFERENT SCHEDULES OF HOW WE CAN CUT THE GRASS TO CUT THE DIFFERENT AREAS MORE OFTEN.
BUT WE'RE ALSO PUTTING MORE FOCUS THIS YEAR INTO, ACCORDING TO THE MASTER PLAN, WE'RE GONNA BE STRICTLY GUIDED BY OUR MASTER PLAN AND LOOKING AT THOSE PARKS, HOW THEY'RE RATED.
AND WE'RE GONNA BE DOING A LOT OF REPAIR, A LOT OF REPLACEMENT, A LOT OF SAFETY.
'CAUSE THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN.
THIS BUDGET YEAR IS THE SAFETY OF THEM.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT, AND AS FAR AS HIRING PEOPLE, UM, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK INTO HIRING A LITTLE BIT MORE STAFF FOR THE SUMMER TO KIND OF HELP OUT, HELP US OUT WITH THE TRASH PICKUP THAT WE HAVE KIND OF PICKED UP, AS WELL AS WITH OUR SUMMER HELP WITH OUR SUMMER WORKERS.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING INTO MAYBE TRYING TO INCREASE THEIR PAY A DOLLAR BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE STILL GETTING PAID MINIMUM WAGE, SOME OF OUR POSITIONS.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO UP THAT PAY AS WELL AS HIRING SOME DURING THE, SOME, YOU KNOW, DURING OUR SUMMER PROGRAM IS MORE YOUTH.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME OLDER ADULTS THAT WANT TO TEMPORARY FOR THE SUMMER AND HELP WITH SOME OF THESE OTHER IDEAS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
ANY OTHER, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER LIGHTS.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ON THE, UH, PROJECTS.
UH, FOR THE WHAT PAGE? SORRY? CAPITAL.
OKAY, LET'S GO TO YOUR CAPITAL ON 2 0 2.
YOU KNOW, WE GOT, UH, PARK IMPROVEMENT AND REPLACEMENT AND REHAB.
THEN WHEN I GO DOWN FOR THE FUNDING
[01:25:01]
OF IT FOR THIS YEAR, 2 MILLION IS ON CERTIFICATE IN BONDS.SO THAT, SO THAT BASICALLY WE, WE, WE JUST GOT SOMETHING THERE.
WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ON OUR OWN OUTTA GENERAL FUND COUNCIL MEMBER.
THAT'S WHAT WE INTEND TO DO FOR 2025.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT IS ON THE 2025.
THAT'S WHAT WE INTEND TO DO BECAUSE THE MASTER PLAN SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO EXPEND IN ORDER TO GET ALL OF OUR PARKS UP TO PAR.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY WE PUT IT HERE FOR 2025.
IS THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, RIGHT? RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT IT AND YOU GOT THE, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND BALANCE AND TRANSFER IN, WE GOT 974,000, ABOUT NINE 75,000 WE TRANSFERRING IN AND COMING FROM, UH, CAPITAL.
WHAT, HOW MUCH MONEY YOU GOT IN? YEAH.
PART OF THIS IS SOME OF THE FUND BALANCE FROM GENERAL FUND.
HOWEVER, IF YOU NOTICE THERE, I ALSO PUT RESTRICTED, THEY HAVE SOME GRANTS THAT HAD NOT BEEN EXPENDED THAT ARE RESTRICTED FOR SPECIFIC USE FOR PARKS AND REC.
AND THAT MONEY IS BEING MOVED HERE SO THAT SHE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET THOSE PROJECTS DONE THAT WERE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED TO PARKS IN REC.
SO THAT'S WHY I PUT DOWN RESTRICTED.
BUT THIS IS WHY WE'RE DOING THE BUDGET AND I ASKED THE QUESTION, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT WE GONNA DO WITH IT AND HOW MUCH MONEY IT IS.
THIS IS THE BUDGET, HOW MUCH MONEY, WHAT WE GONNA DO.
I SEE IT WRITTEN DOWN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN WE SAY FUNDING SOURCE.
THAT'S THE THING THAT I REALLY FOCUS ON WHEN WE SAY WE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, I WANT TO SEE WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM, KNOWING THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE.
SO WHEN THESE THINGS COME BEFORE US, I KNOW WE APPROVE THIS MONEY FOR THAT PURPOSE.
AND WHEN I SEE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND BALANCE, AND I'M LIKE, PARK AND RECREATION GOT A FUND BALANCE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
SO YOU EXPLAIN THAT VERY WELL.
OKAY, WE GOT SOME, UH, GRANTS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THAT WE HAVE AN EXPENDED WELL WE HAD THEM GRANTS, UH, THAT WE DID NOT EXPEND IT.
ONE, WHAT GRANTS, HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? OKAY.
SO IF YOU TELL ME YOU'RE GONNA PUT THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THIS BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, THEN I'M GONNA KNOW THAT'S, YOU GOT THAT MONEY IN THE BUDGET.
BUT, BUT IF YOU HAVE THE GRANTS AND YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT IS, I DON'T KNOW.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO GET WHEN I GO TO THE BUDGET.
WHEN I LOOK IN THE BUDGET BUDGET, I'M SUPPOSED TO SEE HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE FOR THIS.
I'LL PUT IN THERE THE PRIOR YEAR RESTRICTED AND THE PRIOR YEAR MONEY AS LINE ITEMS IN HERE SO THAT IT'LL BE CLEARER FOR YOU.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
YOU, WE, WE WE'RE FIXING SOMETHING WE HAD OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
YOU GOT ALL THE ANSWERS, LYNN? JUST PUT 'EM IN HERE.
AND BECAUSE THEN I WON'T HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER, LIKE, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I DON'T THINK THEY ARE.
WHICH ONE? UM, NO, NOT THE OH, I FOUR FOUR PARK.
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GO FOR IT.
AND WHAT, WHAT PAGE DO THEY BE ON? UH, YEAH, MAYOR, I IT MAYOR GIVE US, GIVE US A QUICK MINUTE.
GIVE, WHAT'S THAT PAGE? JUST 7 7 47 47.
47 AND I IT IS ON WHAT PAGE? UH, 47.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I ALREADY, WHEN YOU SAID FAR SEVEN NO,
[01:30:01]
YOU, YOU WERE ASKING SOMETHING ELSE.MAYOR, UH, THAT, THAT WAS INCORRECT.
LYNN, REAL QUICK, CAN YOU DIRECT US TO THE PARKS, UH, ACTUAL NUMBERS? WE WENT TO TWO.
OH, WE WENT TO THE CAPITAL, BUT WHAT WAS THE NUMBER? IT WAS THE 97 OR PARKS 97.
GIVE, GIVE US A MINUTE, MAYOR.
JUST IF YOU DON'T MIND, JUST ONE MINUTE, MS. FATE.
IT'S 96 PAGE 96, PAGE SIX OF NINE, SEVEN.
Y'ALL, Y'ALL SEE WHAT YOU NEED? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
ONE IS PARKED AND ONE IS RECREATION.
THEY, THEY WERE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
TRYING TO SEE WHAT YOU WERE ALLUDING TO.
I, I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT YOU WERE ALLUDING.
WE, NO, I, I WAS BACK WITH THE, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, DONALD.
AND IF YOU GO TO THE, YOU SEE IT'S A PARK AND RECREATION.
THEN AT THE BOTTOM IS WHERE THE FUNDING SOURCE.
SO ANYTHING THEY HAVE ON TOP FOR THE PROJECT.
THEN AT THE BOTTOM, THEY ALWAYS TELL US WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM.
SO THAT'S HOW WE'LL KNOW WHERE THE MONEY COMING FROM.
AND SHE SAYS HERE, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND BALANCE AND TRANSFER IN AND IT'S 95.
SO WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS, OKAY, WHAT WE TRANSFERRING IN, WHERE IT'S COMING FROM.
BUT SHE EXPLAINED THAT WHEN SHE SAID THEY HAD SOME GRANTS THAT THEY HAD NOT USED AND THAT WAS ADDITIONAL, BUT I HAD NO IDEA ON HOW MUCH IT IS OR NOTHING.
SO IT IS JUST TRYING TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION FOR CLARIFICATION.
AND SO, AND, AND AS WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE SAYING WAS, IS THAT WE'VE NOT IDENTIFIED HOW WE'RE GONNA SPEND THAT MONEY.
SO, SO CITY MANAGER, WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO USE UTILIZE, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT MONEY POINTING TOWARD SOME PROJECTS AND THE UTILIZATION OF IT BECAUSE THERE'S NO SENSE IN HAVING MONEY AND THEN NOT UTILIZING THAT MONEY FOR, FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY.
WELL, UH, WELL, NOT THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, ON THE SAME NOTES AS A COUNCIL, WHEN WE GET THINGS COMING BEFORE US DURING THE YEAR, AFTER THIS BUDGET, UH, THEY SAY THEY GONNA DO THIS ON THIS PARTICULAR PARK.
THEN WE KNOW WE PUT MONEY IN IT FOR THAT PARK.
BUT IF WE DON'T DESIGNATE WHAT WE GONNA SPEND IT ON, WE JUST PUT IT IN THERE.
THEN THEY JUST PUT IT ON THE PARK THAT THEY WANT.
BUT WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD BE APPROVING WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO FOR EACH PART.
UH, NOW WITH I, IT, I JUST HAD THE PAGE 47.
BUT I WAS, I HAD TWO PAGES OF MY FINGERS.
WE'RE READ AND MIGHT, MIGHT, MIGHT, BEFORE SHE BEGINS, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH, UH, EXCUSE ME.
CITY MANAGER AND, AND, AND, UH, UH, MS. MS, UH, LINDA, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.
I KNOW WE HAVE STAFF AND IT'S, IT IS 12 NOW FOLK CAN NORMALLY GO TO LUNCH.
THIS IS WHAT IT IS, YOU KNOW, NOW, UNLESS WE JUST HAVE TO WORK AND GO THROUGH IT, WE NEED TO TAKE A BREAK FOR LUNCH AND THEN COME BACK BECAUSE IF IT IS JUST IMPOSED IT UPON PEOPLE, I, I'M GOOD.
THEN WE'LL TAKE AN HOUR AND WE'LL COME BACK.
HOW IS, HOW, HOW IS THAT WITH EVERYBODY? I MEAN, IS THERE, YOU KNOW, OR YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE, YOU GOTTA BEAT YOU AT ONE O'CLOCK OR TWO O'CLOCK AND NOT THIS, I, I WOULD LIKE TO EAT.
MA'AM, I YOU NO, I, I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.
I'M OPEN, LIKE, YEAH, I'M OPEN.
WELL, NO, MAYOR, THE MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, YEAH, WELL, BUT I'M GONNA SAY SINCE SHE'S UP YOU OVER WITH HER.
WHAT YOU WANNA DO, MAYOR, YOU SAID SHE, YOU HUNGRY.
SO YOU ALREADY AT YOUR STANDING.
WE READY? UH, ANY QUESTIONS Y'ALL? YEAH.
UH, DIRECTOR, ANY, UM, THANK YOU MAYOR.
UH, ANY MAJOR, UH, SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, UH, THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, I SEE THAT WE HAVE AN INCREASE.
[01:35:01]
SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE MAJOR CHANGES THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET IN YOUR DEPARTMENT? PROBABLY THE BIGGEST INCREASES THAT $400,000 OF IT IS THE MOVEMENT OF THE ERP SYSTEM FROM THE CAPITAL, WHAT WAS THE NAME OF IT? DIRECTOR, THE ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING SYSTEM.THE, THE NEW FINANCE, HR, THE NEW TYLER SYSTEM.
IT IS MOVING FROM CAPITAL TO OPERATIONS.
DI DIRECTOR ARE YOU? SO THAT'S $400,000.
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THAT NEW TYLER SYSTEM? AM I IT? NO, YOU, THE REASON, THIS IS WHERE YOU GET YOUR AX, YOUR WIS, YOU, YOU'RE A WISK HERE WITH THE COUNCIL.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE KIND OF GET THE BUZZ IN THE AIR SOMETIMES ABOUT CHANGING AND WHEN WE CHANGE SYSTEMS. SO I'M GONNA BE REAL DIRECT WITH YOU.
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THIS NEW SYSTEM THAT WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON? THAT'S REALLY NOT A QUESTION FOR ME TO ANSWER.
THAT'S GONNA VARY FROM DEPARTMENT TO DEPARTMENT.
AND EVEN WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS, IT COULD VARY BY THE DIVISION.
SO IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH OF IT THEY'RE IMPLEMENTING.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PAIN IS THE IMPLEMENTING OF IT, SOME OF IT, THE PAIN IS CHANGING TO DOING THINGS A DIFFERENT WAY.
OR FINDING OUT THAT MAYBE SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE DONE THAT NOW REALLY DOES NEED TO BE DONE.
THAT MAYBE IN THE PAST YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO A, B, C, YOU CAN DO AB AND SKIP TO D AND NOW YOU HAVE TO DO A, B, C, D.
BUT THAT'S GOING TO VARY FROM THE DEPARTMENTS.
UH, SECOND, UH, THE TYLER SYSTEM, UH, HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT OR PAY THEM TO DO THE UPKEEP OF OUR YEARLY MAINTENANCE? THAT'S THE $400,000.
UH, WHAT ABOUT SUPPORT SYSTEM? IS THAT ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT 400 K? YES.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT ALSO INCLUDES SOME MUNICIPAL COURT SYSTEM, UM, ALSO.
I JUST LIKE, LIKE ASK A QUESTION.
IT'S ALMOST IN LINE OF WHAT COUNCILMAN KENMORE JUST SAID.
LIKE THE SYSTEM THAT, THAT'S IN THE WATER.
UH, YEAH, THAT'S, I THINK THAT ONE, THAT ONE GETS MORE, UH, UH, UH, REQUESTS FOR, UH, SOME FORM OF, UH, STREAMLINED.
I CAN'T, I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF IT.
MY VOCABULARY IS NOT EXTENSIVE ENOUGH TO, UH, ACTUALLY SAY IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE WHAT PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT IT.
UH, HOW CAN WE CORRECT THAT ONE? AGAIN, THAT'S GONNA GO BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT AND HOW THE DEPARTMENT IS USING THE SYSTEM.
I KNOW UTILITY BILLING, THEY WENT LIVE ON THE SYSTEM, BUT THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO WORK OUT SOME OF THE GLITCHES.
IF YOU WANT TO CALL EM GLITCHES.
THAT, THAT'S, THAT, THAT EXCLUDES YOU BECAUSE THEY HAVE A, IT'S IT IS FOR THEM OR IT IS NOT AI OR JUST IT RELATED OR ANYTHING.
IT'S MORE OPERATIONAL, HOW THEY'RE DOING THINGS, HOW THINGS ARE.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING CITY MANAGER NEEDS.
HOW CAN IT STOP AND WE CAN MOVE ON.
THAT'S SOMETHING CITY MANAGER NEEDS TO DEAL WITH WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS THEN, RIGHT? NO, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED A NEW SYSTEM AND THE DEPARTMENTS NEED TIME TO GET THINGS COMPLETELY IMPLEMENTED AND TO, AND TO GET, UM, MORE EDUCATED ON HOW THE NEW SYSTEMS WORK AND TO GET USED TO THE CHANGES AND HOW THINGS ARE BEING DONE.
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE ADMINISTRATIVE, BUT CITY MANAGER WITH THAT.
WHAT WITH THEY, THERE'S A PLAN TO GET THAT RIGHT? ISN'T THERE? THEY CONTINUE TO WORK.
THE PLAN SIMPLY PUT IS THAT YOU HAD NALINE YOU HAVE INFORMATION IN AVALON, YOU HAD TO DUMP IT INTO TYLER.
AND THAT'S JUST THE LAYMAN'S LANGUAGE.
WHEN YOU DUMP IT IN, YOU KNOW, OR YOU TRANSFERRED OVER FROM ONE TO THE NEXT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS, IT WAS AN OLD SYSTEM.
THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT DID NOT GO THROUGH OR FELL OUTSIDE.
SO YOU'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO PICK THEM UP AND MANUALLY BRING THEM TO THE ATTENTION OF THE NEW SOFTWARE PROVIDER AND SEE HOW YOU CAN FIX IT, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER THAT THERE COULD BE COMPLETE INTEGRATION.
IS THAT A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT? COMPLETE INTEGRATION OF THOSE SYSTEMS. BUT AS YOU MOVE ALONG, THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CROP UP AND POP UP AND THEN YOU CONTINUE TO WORK ON THEM AS THEY CONTINUE TO POP UP AND CROP UP, YOU KNOW, UNTIL YOU, UNTIL YOU UM, MASTER THE SYSTEM.
AND THEY, AND THEY ARE, THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON AND STILL ADDRESSING ISSUES AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND PLANNING, PLANNING SESSIONS.
LIKE THAT'S LIKE COBALT AND FOUR TRAIN THEY CAN COMMUNICATE OR SO MUCH.
THAT'S ALL COB AND FOUR TRAIN YOU SHOWING YOUR AGE.
[01:40:01]
WAS ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO.YOU KNOW, MY GOD SYSTEM COBOL, THE SYSTEM WASN'T MAN, THE TRANSFER WASN'T SEAMLESS.
LIKE EVERY SYSTEM, IT WASN'T SEAMLESS.
SO THEY'RE WORKING ON IT, MAN.
LIKE I REALLY KNEW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
I JUST REMEMBER THE TERMS. YEAH, I MEAN BASICALLY WE'RE EXPERIENCING POLITICAL GROWING PAINS BUSINESS.
I JUST REMEMBER THE TERMS, YOU KNOW, MY, MY FRIENDS WERE ENGINEERS AND ALL THAT STUFF.
NO, I SIMPLY WANTED TO, I SIMPLY, HE, HE REALLY TOOK WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
UH, AS FAR AS THE WATER DEPARTMENT, YOU GOTTA PUT THE, I'VE TRIED TO PAY THE WATER BILL AND YOU TRY TO PUT IT IN, YOU GOTTA PUT IT IN THE CART AND MOVE IT FROM THE CART AND THEN PAY IT AND IT'S, IT JUST DOESN'T MOVE, UM, FLUIDLY.
I CAN SAY THAT, THAT PART, BUT OKAY.
WE PAYING ALMOST A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS JUST FOR THEM TO TRAIN AND UPKEEP THIS SYSTEM A YEAR.
WELL, IT'S FOR THE USE OF THE SYSTEM.
SO WE JUST PAYING THAT TO USE THE SYSTEM.
WELL, IT'S TO USE THE SYSTEM, THE STORING OF THE DATA.
REMEMBER WE, WE ARE USING A, A HOSTED SYSTEM.
SO IT'S NOT, IT'S THE, IT'S FOR THE PROGRAMS, IT'S FOR THE STORAGE, IT'S FOR SUPPORT, IT'S FOR UPGRADES, IT'S FOR THE MAINTENANCE.
SO I GUESS I, I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS I, I'VE LISTENED TO WHAT EVERYONE SAID.
WE GOING TO HAVE GLITCHES, THINGS GOING TO POP UP.
I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS ON DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, SOME DEPARTMENTS ARE WANTING TO GO FROM A, B, D, AND WITH THIS SYSTEM YOU HAVE TO GO A, B, C, D.
SO WE, NO, WE NEED TO START THAT.
IF WE NEED A, B, C, D, THEN WHAT DEPARTMENT IS NOT DOING A, B, C, D NEED TO START DOING A, B, C, D.
WE DIDN'T CHANGE OVER THE SYSTEM TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO ADJUST TO THEIR OWN PAY.
WE HAVE TO GET THE TRAINING, WE HAVE TO GET IT DONE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEAR DEPARTMENTS, UH UH, NO WE SHOULDN'T NOT ON A SYSTEM.
IF THE SYSTEM IS HERE FOR THE CITY, EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY IS SUPPOSED TO COME IN LINE AND IT SHOULDN'T TAKE FOREVER.
SO IT'S A LOT OF MONEY AND WE SHOULD NOT DO IT ON OUR TIME.
MAYBE WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT MORE TRAINING SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, WE STILL HAVE TO RUN THE CITY.
SO MAYBE WE NEED TO TRAIN ON THE WEEKEND, BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME RESOLUTION TO GET EVERYBODY ON BOARD AND GET THIS SYSTEM RUNNING.
NOW I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE GLITCHES.
LIKE THE MAN JUST SAID, YEAH, THEY GONNA HAVE GLITCH.
I DON'T CARE WHAT SYSTEM WE HAVE, BUT THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE ROLLING.
ALL DEPARTMENTS SHOULD BE GOING.
SO IF A DEPARTMENT IS BEHIND, THEN WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER NECESSARY TO GET THAT DEPARTMENT THE TIME TO TRAIN THE, THE, THE TIME TO GET ON BOARD, THE TIME TO MAKE THIS THING WORK.
WE CAN'T INTEGRATE IT AT OUR OWN PACE.
UH, WE PAYING THE MONEY, WE TALKING ABOUT THE MONEY MANAGER, MANAGER.
AT WHAT POINT ARE THEY ALL WITH FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THIS SYSTEM? IF THEY HAVING PROBLEMS, WHAT PROBLEMS ARE YOU HAVING? WELL, WE NEED, WE NEED MORE TRAINING.
OKAY, THEN YOU NEED TO COME IN ON THE WEEKEND AND WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT IN COMING ONLINE.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE TO PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO PUT US ONLINE AND WE SHOULD BE COMING ONLINE AS FAST AS WE CAN AND NOT AT OUR OWN PACE.
YOU KNOW, AND, AND I THINK WE SHOULD NOT HAVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE ARE HAVING AT THIS POINT IN TIME SINCE THE TIME WE IMPLEMENTED THIS SYSTEM.
AND, UH, EVERY DEPARTMENT OUGHT TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT A, IF YOU LIKE IT, IF YOU WANT TO, I LIKE THIS PART OF IT, I'M GONNA USE THIS PART.
THE, THE CITY HAS ADOPTED AND YOU'RE GONNA, AND
[01:45:01]
YOU'RE GONNA DO IT.NOW YOU TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO TO HELP YOU DO IT.
TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO TO BRING YOU ONLINE FAST.
AND COUNCILMAN, IF I CAN SAY THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE, ALL OF THEM HAVE REALLY BEEN WORKING DILIGENT TO BRING THE SYSTEM ONLINE AND TO HAVE THINGS GO AS WELL AS THEY HAVE.
IN FACT, SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS ARE JUST COMING ONLINE, FOR INSTANCE, LAST WEEK, WHAT WE CALL EPL, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH ALL PERMITS AND INSPECTION.
THEY ACTUALLY JUST WENT LIVE LAST WEEK.
SO THEY'RE STILL WORKING OUT SOME THINGS.
REMEMBER THIS WAS A FIVE YEAR PROJECT.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY COMING TO THE END OF THAT FIVE YEAR.
AND THEN THE ENTERPRISE ASSET MANAGEMENT, WHICH INVOLVED MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.
JUST WENT LIVE, WHAT, THREE WEEKS AGO I THINK IT WAS.
SO SOME OF, SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS ARE ACTUALLY JUST COMING LIVE.
SO WE JUST, WE JUST BROUGHT THE LAST DEPARTMENT LIVE LAST WEEK.
I MEAN I WAS ON CANCEL WHEN WE WENT TO THIS SYSTEM.
I UNDERSTOOD THAT WE WERE, AND THAT WE NOT BRING, I UNDERSTOOD WE WASN'T GONNA BRING 'EM ALL ONLINE.
WE STARTED WITH THIS DEPARTMENT, THEN WE GOING TO THAT DEPARTMENT AND WE KEEP BRINGING 'EM ALIVE.
AND IT'S LIKE YOU SAY FIVE YEARS, BUT WE GETTING TO THE POINT NOW WHERE WE SHOULD BE PRETTY MUCH ONLINE FOR UTILITY BUILDINGS.
THAT'S, THEY NO, THEY'RE THE MOST COMPLICATED.
I DON'T THINK THEY'VE EVEN BEEN LIED SIX MONTHS YET.
NO, I THOUGHT WE, WE START, WE DID FIND WE HAD TO DO FINANCE FIRST BECAUSE OKAY.
THAT'S KIND OF THE BACKBONE OF EVERYTHING.
AND WE DID WHILE DOING FI WELL, WE DID FINANCE THEN HR, A MUNICIPAL COURT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THAT.
AND THEN WE WENT TO UTILITY BUILDING.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO, WE, WE COULDN'T DO UTILITY BUILDING UNTIL WE PUT THE FINANCE PART IN PLACE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS FINANCE AND I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA GO TO UTILITY BECAUSE THAT WAS GONNA BE THE MOST COMPLICATED.
WE, WE, WE DID, BUT IT, IT TOOK ABOUT
EVERYBODY SAY WE ROLLING THIS ROLE.
IT TOOK LIKE A YEAR AND A HALF TO, TO GET FINANCED.
AND SO THAT MEAN WE GOT ABOUT 12 MORE MONTHS WE CALL TO ARGUING ABOUT WATER BILLS.
BUT EVERYBODY THAT'S LISTENING IS GETTING, THEY'RE WORKING ON IT.
SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY REALLY HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN, THEY HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN LIVE, I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN, I IT HASN'T BEEN A YEAR YET.
AND THAT'S JUST, WE ONLY HAVE $40 IN THIS MONTH.
SO EVERYBODY WHO'S UH, LISTENING IN YOUR, IN A PARTICIPATORY WAY, THEY ARE WORKING ON IT.
I TOLD YOU I WAS GONNA TALK WITH 'EM.
I MEAN THEY, THEY ACTUALLY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, Y'ALL HAVE TRAINING SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK.
SO THEY'VE BEEN, THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING, IIII WILL TELL YOU THAT UTILITY BILLING, AND THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION BECAUSE I'M THE ONE THAT WAS PULLING HAIR AND I'M MUCH GRAY NOW.
UM, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, UTILITY BILLING AND MUNICIPAL COURT WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE EXPECTED OF THEM TO GET THEIR SYSTEMS UP AND RUNNING.
I CAN'T, I APPLAUD, I CAN'T FAULT ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN DONE BY YOUTUBE.
JUST THINGS HAVE JUST COME UP THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WERE GOING YEAH.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU FIND OUT, WHEN YOU FIND OUT THINGS LIKE YOU GOT DATA THAT YOU CAN'T RELATE SINCE YOU'RE TALKING PROT TREND AND COBALT AND ALL THAT KIND STUFF.
THAT'S WHAT I, I WAS, YOU CHECK THE WORD OUT MY MOUTH WHEN YOU FIND OUT YOU HAVE RECORDS AND THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T RELATE BACK TO ANYTHING ELSE.
AND THEN YOU GOTTA FIGURE IT OUT.
SO THINGS CAME UP THAT TIME TOOK THE WORDS OUT MY MOUTH.
SO, OH, WELL AND JUST REAL QUICK, UH, JUST TRANSPARENCY.
SO WE WE'RE IN OUR FIFTH YEAR WITH THIS NEW SYSTEM YES.
THAT WE HADN'T MASTERED AT THIS TIME YET.
AND WE ARE STILL TRYING TO GET THESE WELL, NO, LET'S, LET'S DON'T, LET'S DON'T SAY THAT.
THE ONLY THING THAT WE ARE IN YEAR FOUR OR FIVE OF IS FINANCE.
BECAUSE REMEMBER IT IS BEEN A STAGGERED IMPLEMENTATION.
AGAIN, UTILITY BILLING IS JUST FINISHED.
YOU KNOW, SO IT, THE PROJECT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR FIVE YEARS, BUT UTILITY BILLING HAS ONLY BEEN A YEAR.
AND I CAN RECALL WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, I WAS GETTING PERMIT, UNDERSTAND.
PERMIT AN INSPECTION HAS BEEN THREE DAYS, FIVE YEARS.
THAT'S WHAT I, THAT WAS THE QUESTION.
'CAUSE I KNEW WHEN WE STARTED, IT'S BEEN FIVE AND IT SAID FIVE YEARS.
BUT THE WAY YOU EXPLAINED IT, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
[01:50:01]
IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T IMPLEMENT EVERYBODY AT ONE TIME.SO WE LOOKING AT, FROM THE TIME WE BRING THEM ONLINE FIVE YEARS BEFORE, THEY SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY MADE.
WELL, FROM THE DAY WE STARTED TO THE END OF FIVE YEARS, ALL SITES ARE LIVE.
LIVE DOES NOT MEAN ALL THE GLITCHES HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT.
LIVE REALLY MEANS WE ARE FINDING THE GLITCHES.
SO FINANCE WAS LIKE 15, 16 MONTHS AND HR WAS IN THERE SOMEWHERE.
SO IT WAS A, IT WAS A STAGGER.
SO IT WAS, IT WAS A YEAR AND A HALF BEFORE WE EVEN STARTED BRINGING OTHER ONES ON BOARD BECAUSE YOU HAD TO GET YOUR FINANCES IN PLACE.
ANY OTHER, LIKE ANY OTHERS? I DON'T.
I DON'T, UH, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHERS.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADJOIN FOR LUNCH.
UH, WELL WE WANNA THANK YOU MS. FA.
AND LOOK, LET, LET, LET, LET, LET'S UH, GO TO LUNCH AND WE'LL COME BACK AT 1 45.
THAT'LL GIVE YOU TIME TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO AND UH, GET BACK AND THEN WE CAN WORK, UH, UH, THE AFTERNOON.
ALRIGHT, CITY SECRETARY, WE'RE READY? YES, SIR.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO, UH, WE HAVE RECONVENED.
AND NOW I BELIEVE, UH, MS. LYNN, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A FIRE.
IF WE COULD HAVE FIRE AND THEN AFTER THAT PLEASURE ISLAND, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
DO THEY HAVE A TAB? I DON'T THINK SO.
AND THEN PAGE 77, WHAT IS IT? 1 95 FOR THE CAPITAL FOR FIRE.
THAT OKAY, FIRST OF ALL, CHIEF, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OVERTIME.
HOW DO YOU REQUEST A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OVERTIME? 1 MILLION.
SO, UM, WE HAVE RIGHT AT 112 SWORN FIREFIGHTERS IN THE DEPARTMENT.
UH, SOME OF THOSE ARE ASSIGNED TO, UM, UM, ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES.
MOST OF THEM ARE ASSIGNED TO, UH, SUPPRESSION ACTIVITIES.
UH, WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN AT A MINIMUM EVERY DAY AROUND THE CLOCK, UH, AT OUR CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS, UH, 27 MEN AROUND THE CLOCK.
SO WHENEVER WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE OFF ON VACATION, WHENEVER WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE OFF SICK, UH, LONG-TERM INJURY, THAT'S WHENEVER THE OVERTIME STARTS COMING INTO PLAY.
UH, IN THE PAST YEARS PAST, I COULD IDENTIFY, USE SPECIFIC YEARS WHERE WE HAD A UPTICK IN OVERTIME THAT WAS USUALLY DISASTER RELATED.
[01:55:01]
YEAR WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT.UH, HOWEVER, MOVING FORWARD, I MEAN, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE ACCOUNTS THAT WE TRY TO MANAGE AS BEST WE CAN.
I MEAN, WE, WE TAKE A VERY FIRM LOOK AT EVERY HOUR THAT, UH, IS BURNED.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE NUMBER WE CAME UP WITH.
WELL, I TELL YOU CHIEF, $1 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU, YOU HAVE A X NUMBER OF PERSONNEL AND POSITIONS THAT WE, THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND THOSE POSITIONS, IF YOU FIND YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE, THEN YOU CAN ALWAYS JUSTIFY AT IT.
BUT WHEN YOU GET THOSE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, IT'S UP TO YOU TO MANAGE THE TIME.
AND ANYTIME THERE'S A DISASTER, THEN WE GONNA GET REIMBURSED FOR MONEY AND STUFF.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE SPEND THAT MONEY AND WE DO THAT.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUSTIFY THAT.
YOU NEED TO JUSTIFY WHEN YOU GET OVERTIME, YOU KNOW, UH, A MILLION DOLLARS.
I MEAN, YOU, THAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT'S, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY IN THE PAST IT'S BEEN WHAT, 500, 600,000? WELL, THAT'S WHAT'S BUDGETED.
BUT IT ALWAYS CAME IN OVER THAT.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, WHEN IT COMES IN OVER THERE, WE KNOW WHY.
WE KNOW WHY, OR YOU BRING IT TO US AND THEN WE APPROVE IT.
BUT WHEN WE PUTTING THIS KIND OF MONEY IN THERE ON, IF WE HAVE, WE COULD BE USING THAT MONEY IN OTHER PLACES IN THE CITY.
IT IS JUST TOO MUCH MONEY FOR OVERTIME.
AND, UH, LIKE I SAID, YOU HAVE A, YOU HAVE PERSONNEL AND THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL TO START MANAGING AND WORK YOUR PERSONNEL.
BUT OVERTIME IS NOT GOING TO BE SO THAT WE CAN NOT UNDERSTAND THE MANAGEMENT.
THEN SOMEBODY CAN'T MAKE IT SOMEBODY OFF.
OKAY, WE GONNA PAY YOU OVERTIME.
IF YOU GOT TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN JUSTIFY OVERTIME, THAT'S WHY WE AMEND THE AMEND BUDGETS.
AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S DEALING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, THAT MEAN ANYTIME YOU COMING TO THIS COUNCIL AND YOU SAYS, HEY, WE DONE RAN OUTTA OLD TIME MONEY AND THIS IS WHY WE NEED MORE, THEN THIS IS EASY FOR US TO GO IN THE FUND BALANCE.
SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU THIS.
BUT TO GIVE IT UPFRONT, I DON'T SEE THAT THAT'S, THAT THAT IS THE COUNCIL'S DECISION TO MAKE.
WELL IF I, I MEAN, I, I MADE A REQUEST.
WHAT, AND I JUST CHIEF, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS KNOW IS OUR, IS OUR DECISION.
WE DON'T NEED TO BE TOLD THAT.
WHAT I'M ASKING NOW IS JUSTIFICATION.
AND WHAT I HEARD RIGHT, WAS WELL, WE GET INSTANCES FOR THIS.
AND I'M SAYING AT 112 PEOPLE, IF WE GIVE YOU $500,000 FOR OVERTIME AND YOU MANAGE OVER THERE, IF YOU DID HAVE TO GO OVER $500,000, IF YOU CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL, THEN I'M QUITE SURE IT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM WITH US GIVING YOU MONEY.
BUT TO GIVE YOU A A MILLION RIGHT OFF THE TOP, WE CAN TAKE THAT 500,000 AND USE IT FOR SOME, FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
SO I'M NOT, I'M NOT, UH, SUPPOSED BECAUSE IN THE PAST WHEN I FIRST CAME ON, THAT WAS HOW IT WAS.
POLICE HAD 1.2, FIRE HAD 1.2 WHEN WE CUT IT BACK DOWN.
IT ALWAYS CAME IN AS BUDGETED.
SO ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW WE JUMP BACK UP.
OKAY, MR. DEUCE THAT, BUT CHIEF I WANT ASK YOU A QUESTION THEN I'LL GET TO YOU GET OFF ON THIS.
ACTUAL EXPENDITURE ON THE SAME, UH, ITEM IN 2021 OR 2122 WAS 950,004 NINE $9.
THAT'S ACTUAL RIGHT? THAT'S ROUNDED OFF TO A MILLION THAT BASICALLY YES.
NOW, THE NEXT YEAR YOU ACTUALLY WENT OVER 1,000,070 2000, RIGHT? YES SIR.
NOW AT THIS POINT, THIS YEAR WE'VE GOT 30 MORE DAYS, BUT YOU HAD 769,500
[02:00:01]
RIGHT NOW.AM I CORRECT? IT'S THE ACTUAL FIGURE.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE WERE BUDGETED, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
AND YOU ACTUALLY, UH, BUDGET THAT, THAT'S WHAT YOU BUDGETED FOR.
UH, WHAT'S THE ACTUAL COST? DO YOU HAVE IT NOW? UH, WHAT ACTUALLY WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH IT, AS OF TODAY, THE ACTUAL IS $1.2 MILLION.
SO RIGHT NOW WE HAD 1.2 MILLION ALREADY TODAY.
I'M SAYING MS. DEUCE SAYING, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU ARE OUT OF THE RANGE.
YOU SEE, IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT YOU GOING A MILLION DOLLARS THESE OTHER PREVIOUS YEARS, YOU KNOW THE PERSONNEL, YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I WOULDN'T ENTRUST YOU, I'M JUST, EVERYBODY'S SPEAKING THEIR OPINIONS.
SO I WOULD ENTRUST YOU THAT YOU ARE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY AND YOU ARE ASKING FOR ACTUALLY LESS THAN WHAT WE'VE ALREADY SPENT THIS YEAR, THIS THIS BUDGET YEAR.
BECAUSE YOU TELL ME 1.2, RIGHT? OKAY.
SO YOU STILL, YOU KNOW, $200,000 SHORT.
SO YOU GOING TO TIGHTEN YOUR BELT UP BECAUSE THIS TIME ALL YOU WOULD GET WOULD BE A MILLION IF THIS IS APPROVED.
BUT I'M, I'M LOOKING AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND IF WE BUDGETED 769,000, I DON'T THINK NOW EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN OPINION.
IT, IT IS WISE, BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP COMING BACK TO THE COUNCILMAN COUNCIL MEETINGS LAST TOO LONG ANYWAY NOW.
SO YOU GOTTA KEEP COMING BACK UP HERE TO ASK FOR $20,000 AND THEN YOU HAVE TO COME BACK AND ASK FOR $50,000.
YOU GOTTA COME BACK AND ASK FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND BECAUSE YOU TRYING TO GET TO THE MILLION PLUS.
I'M JUST SAYING WHAT I'M SAYING.
I, I, I PERSONALLY, BUT I'M NOT, I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL ACTUARY, SO I CAN'T, ALL I CAN DO IS LOOK AT THE NUMBERS BASED ON WHAT I AM ACTUALLY VIEWING AND USED MY, UH, ACCOUNTING 2 0 1 AND 2 0 3 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON A COLLEGIATE LEVEL.
UH, AND APPLY IT TO MY THOUGHT PROCESSES.
AND JUST TRY NOT TO GO OVER THAT 1 MILLION.
COUNCILMAN KINLOCK? UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.
WHAT, HOW MANY ACTUALLY, UH, FIREFIGHTERS ARE YOU ALLOCATED TO HAVING YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT WE'RE NOT FILLING TO PROVIDE THIS OVERTIME? THAT'S MY FIRST CONCERN.
UH, FIRST HANG, WE ARE CURRENTLY ALLOCATED FOR 112.
ONE 12 AND WE HAVE 1 0 8 AND NO, WE HAVE, UH, I THINK WE HAVE 111 RIGHT NOW.
WE, UM, WE'RE WAITING ON A, UH, PROB PROBATIONARY ON A FIREFIGHTER EXAM TO FILL THAT LAST POSITION.
SO WE PRETTY MUCH, AND THEN WE'RE ASKING FOR A COUPLE MORE POSITIONS.
UM, SO HOW MANY ACTUAL POSITIONS YOU'RE ASKING FOR MORE IS THAT FOUR POSITION? UH, WE'RE WE'RE ASKING FOUR.
IT IS TWO CAPTAINS AND, UH, TWO ENGINEERS.
SO BASICALLY, ARE YOU TO HAVE THOSE TWO CAPTAINS AND TWO ENGINEERS, ARE YOU RECLASSING SOME POSITIONS? IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NO, YOU'RE NOT RECLASSING.
SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE, WHAT'S CRE LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
WHAT'S CREATING SO MUCH OVER TIME IN THE DEPARTMENT? MAYBE I'LL GET TO THAT PART AND THEN WE CAN GO BACK.
WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF THOSE TWO CAPTAIN POSITIONS.
AND THOSE TWO ENGINEER POSITIONS IS THAT IT'S THERE TO TRY TO LEVEL OUT THE, UM, THE MANPOWER ACROSS ALL THREE SHIFTS AND SUPPRESSION SO THAT WE CAN BETTER COVER, UH, OVER TIME.
AND I, I'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNCIL BEFORE YOU, YOU'RE GONNA SEE MORE AND MORE MANPOWER REQUESTS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE TOWARD SOME GOALS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AS FAR AS EXPANDING OUR LEVEL OF, UH, EMS SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE.
AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT ADDING ADDITIONAL FIRE COVERAGE AS WE DEVELOP THE, THE NORTHERN PART OF, UH, THE CITY.
SO THOSE, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE TWO THINGS.
I MEAN, IT ALL COSTS MONEY AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BELIEVE ME, I, I, I, I, I DO.
UM, I CAN REMEMBER BACK IN 1997, A FIRE TRUCK COST $250,000 AND THAT WAS TOP OF THE LINE CADILLAC.
OKAY, NOW WE'RE GETTING THAT SAME TRUCK AND IT'S COSTING US 1.3, $1.4 MILLION.
WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE HIRED, TRAINED SEASONED IN ORDER TO PUT THEM ON THOSE VEHICLES WHEN WE GET THAT NEW STATION BUILT.
[02:05:01]
THAT IS THE GOAL THAT WE'RE WORKING FORWARD, UH, TRYING TO PUSH AND YOU'LL, YOU'LL SEE THOSE REQUESTS AND UH, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON DEVELOPING A MASTER PLAN ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.AND AS SOON AS WE GET IT DONE, UH, WE'LL BE SHARING IT WITH THE COUNCIL.
AND LASTLY, UH, I, I DO AGREE WITH YOU.
YOU KIND OF EDUCATED ME A LITTLE BIT AND, UH, TODAY ABOUT ORDERING TRUCKS AT TODAY'S PRICES VERSUS YES.
YOU KNOW, ONCE WE, WE ALREADY KNOW WE'RE GONNA BUILD A NEW STATION, WE ALREADY KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE.
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT, RIGHT? BUT STAND IN, IN FRONT OF THE BALL ENSURING THAT WE CAN LOCK IN THE DAY'S PRICES ON THESE TRUCKS, THESE ONE POINT TWOS, THESE $1.3 MILLION TRUCKS THAT WE NEED, THAT WE HAVE TO ORDER.
SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT WE ARE THINKING IN THE FUTURE TO DO THAT.
SO MY ONLY THING IS JUST IF WE CAN CAPITALIZE, I HAVE TO CO AGREE WITH MY COHORT THAT WE CAN, UH, KIND OF GET A BETTER, AS THE MAYOR SAID, TIGHTEN YOUR BELT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS OVERTIME, BECAUSE GUESS WHAT, IF WE CAN HIRE PERSONNEL AND PAY THIS PERSON, IT'LL BE A LOT CHEAPER, UH, TO WORK AND PROVIDE THE COVERAGE THAT YOU SP GUYS SPOKE OF ABOUT FOR THE CITIZENS THAT WE NEED.
WE KNOW WE NEED, AND BY REGULATION, BY ORDINANCE.
SO, UH, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S WORK ON THAT.
UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S ENSURE THAT WE, WE DO WHAT EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HIRE PEOPLE THAT TO, TO KIND OF GET THEM THAT OVERTIME EARNINGS DOWN.
CHIEF, UH, I CAN APPRECIATE YOUR COMING, UH, AND GIVING US AN ACTUAL, UH, LOOK AT WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM THAT PARTICULAR STANDPOINT OF WHAT THE OVERTIME NEEDS ARE.
I CAN, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT, THAT REAL WORLD VANTAGE POINT, UH, BECAUSE IT DOES, IT'S COSTING MORE, BUT I WOULD RATHER KNOW ON THE FRONT END WHAT IT COSTS MORE THAN TO, UM, THAN TO, YOU KNOW, JUST CONTINUE TO NITPICK AT IT, GIVE, YOU KNOW, ALL, ALL, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST IN, IN, IN A SPORADIC WAY.
SO I THANK YOU FOR, FOR JUST SAYING, HEY, THIS IS WHAT IT IS AND THEN THE NUMBERS, UH, BEAR IT OUT BECAUSE IT'S WHAT IT'S BEEN.
WE'RE AT $1.2 MILLION ALREADY.
SO I WOULD RATHER HAVE A REAL WORLD VIEW OF WHAT IT ACTUALLY COSTS IN REALITY THAN THAN YOU TO COME AND ASK FOR $500,000 AND LET US BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO HAVING THE KIND OF ORGANIZATION, YOU KNOW, WORLD CLASS ORGANIZATION THAT WE DESIRE TO HAVE.
WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING AT WHAT THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING.
NOT TOO LONG AGO YOU BROUGHT US A REGULATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GETTING INSPECTED AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
OF COURSE, WE DO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BUDGETARY, UH, CONSIDERATIONS, BUT I CAN APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US A REAL WORLD VIEW AND, AND WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO ADJUST ACCORDINGLY FROM THE PARTICULAR STANDPOINT OF GETTING MORE EMPLOYEES THAT WILL HELP US TO CONTROL THE OVERTIME.
BUT I CAN'T APPRECIATE A REAL WORLD VIEW ABOUT IT.
FIRST ALL NOT ABOUT, IT'S NOT NITPICKY AND AS FAR PREVIOUS NUMBERS AND OVERTIME YOU CAN HAVE A HIGHER NUMBER.
BUT THERE MAY BE A REASON OR EVENT THAT HAPPENED WHERE INDIVIDUALS WERE REQUIRED AT WHICH TIME IT WAS JUSTIFIED OVER TIME.
OKAY? SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT WAS SPENT LAST YEAR, THEN YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND ASK, YOU KNOW, WHAT EVENT HAPPENED, WHAT DID WE DO? SO IN TWO, THERE'S, THERE'S CHIEF, I DON'T, I DON'T NEED TO REPLY.
UH, WE NEED TO JUST UNDERSTAND THAT IT MAY SAY NINE, UH, 900 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED WHERE THEY HAD TO COME OUT.
WE HAD A HURRICANE, UH, WELL, I MEAN A TORNADO.
SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT OCCURRED AND WHEN THINGS NORMALLY OCCURRED AND WE IT GET SOME HELP WITH, UH, FILLING THAT IN.
AND THESE, AND THESE ARE MONITORED, OKAY? THESE ARE THINGS THAT ATTRACT WHEN THEY'LL GET PAID THE MONEY FOR, UH, COMING OUT FOR EVENTS.
SO WHEN YOU SEE THE ACTUALS, THAT'S WHAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVING.
YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY HAVING JUST THE, UH, NORMAL WORK, THE NORMAL WORK HOURS AND STUFF, OKAY? IT IS NOT THE QUESTION OF NOT WANTING TO PUT MONEY INTO IT OR THE QUESTIONS I'M SAYING YOU KEEP RUNNING BACK TO COUNCIL.
NO, YOU DON'T KEEP RUNNING BACK TO COUNCIL.
BUT WHEN WE SET UP HERE AND WE GO THROUGH THIS BUDGET, IT'S JUSTIFICATION AND WE TALK ABOUT MOVING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE CAN MOVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT THAT'S WHEN WE DISCUSS PERSONNEL AND WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL.
[02:10:01]
WE INCORPORATE THE MONEY.AND IF WE DON'T INCORPORATE THE MONEY, THEN WE HAVE TO REALIZE WE'VE BEEN OPERATING FOR THESE NUMBER OF YEARS WITH THESE NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
AND WHAT IS THE COST? I MEAN, HOW DO WE HAVE TO MANAGE PEOPLE? WE COULD, WE COULD JUST SCHEDULE OVERTIME.
YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE JUST LOVE OVERTIME? OH, THEY LOVE IT.
BUT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT'S WHAT CITIZENS ARE LISTENING.
ARE WE REALLY JUSTIFYING THE MONEY WE ARE PUTTING IN? YOU KNOW, SOME SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T NEED TORE COMING BACK.
BUT IF YOU HAVE TO MANAGE MONEY, IT IS A PROVEN FACT.
IF A PERSON HAVE TO MANAGE MONEY, THEY WILL MANAGE MONEY.
YOU GIVE A PERSON A LOT OF MONEY, THEY GONNA SPEND A LOT OF MONEY.
SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE ADDED AMOUNT, THE ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASK, ASK TO VIOLATE SERVICE TO CITIZENS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S WHAT I BE TALKING ABOUT.
I'M NOT GONNA RUBBER STAMP NOTHING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I UNDERSTAND MONIES.
AND WHEN WE APPROVE MONIES, YOU ALL SHOULD MANAGE THE MON YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE MONEY TO MANAGE, NOT TO DO AS WE PLEASE OR HAVE MONEY.
SO IN CASE IT'S NOT, IN CASE IT'S JUSTIFIED.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR MAYOR.
I'M NOT TRYING TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH ANYONE ABOUT WHAT THEIR OPINION IS ON THE COUNCIL.
AND I'M NOT SAYING WHAT I'M SAYING TO TRY TO, I DIDN'T SAY WHAT I SAID, TO TRY TO, IN ANY WAY INSINUATE THAT A VIEW OR A COUNCILMAN'S VANTAGE POINT WAS, WAS, WAS OUT OF LINE.
I WAS SIMPLY SAYING I WAS TAKING THE INFORMATION THAT THE CHIEF GAVE US, AND HE SAID THAT THE OVERTIME WAS DUE NOT TO ANYTHING THAT WAS EXTRANEOUS, NOT ANYTHING THAT WAS OUT OF LINE.
IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF A HURRICANE, IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT.
HE SAID HE WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS STAFFED APPROPRIATELY SO THAT WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENED HERE IN THE CITY, SOMEONE'S HOUSE WAS ON FIRE, SOME EMERGENCY HAPPENED IN THE CITY, THAT HE HAD A FULL, UH, A FULL CADRE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD COME AND ANSWER THAT, UH, ANSWER THAT EMERGENCY.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT, CHIEF? YES, SIR.
ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU SAID? YES, SIR.
SO I WASN'T TALKING IF, IF ANYTHING, IF WE HAVE A HURRICANE, IF SOMETHING A, A TORNADO LIKE WE DID HAVE SURE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT BASICS AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS ALLUDING TO.
AND HE WAS SAYING THAT THAT'S WHAT HE NEEDED FOR THE BASICS.
AND I WAS SIMPLY SAYING TO US ON TODAY, I APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT HE GAVE US AN HONEST LOOK AT WHAT WE NEEDED FOR THE BASICS.
JUST LET YOU YEAH, MAYOR, IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU CALL ON ME AND I HAVE THE FLOW, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU AND ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER WILL ALLOW ME TO COMPLETE SAYING WHAT I'M SAYING.
LET'S GO, LET'S GO TO BUILDING MAINTENANCE.
MAY LEMME, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO MAYOR.
UM, AS THE FIRE, THE AK FIRE CHIEF INDICATED, WE TRYING TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
WE HAVE TWO FIRE STATIONS ON THE BOOKS THAT HAVE PRESENT, BEEN PRESENTLY BEEN FUNDED FOR ACRES AND ON THE WEST SIDE, $15 MILLION A PIECE.
THERE IS A DIRE NEED RIGHT NOW FOR A FIRE STATION ON THE NORTH PART OF TOWN.
WE HAVE HAD DEVELOPMENT FOR 20 YEARS AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN TO ACCOMMODATE THAT DEVELOPMENT.
IT MEANS THAT IF WE DO NOT CONTINUE TO PLAN FOR THOSE DEVELOPMENTS AND WE CANNOT RESPOND IN TIME, THE INSURANCE RATE FOR THE CITY, FOR THE CITIZENS ARE GOING TO GO UP.
SO YOU'RE TRYING TO, IF YOU, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO SAVE PETER TO, TO GET PAUL, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT.
[02:15:01]
OKAY.BECAUSE IF THE RESPONSE TIME FROM THE WEST SIDE OR, OR FROM NINTH AVENUE OR, OR IS, IS MUCH LONGER TO SERVICE THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THERE.
NUMBER TWO, YOU DO NOT WANT TO COMPROMISE YOUR ISO RATING.
YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
YOU'RE TRYING TO GET TO A ONE LIKE EVERY GOOD CITY.
OKAY? AND THREE COUNCIL HAVE SPOKEN TIME AND AGAIN, AS TO HOW WE ADDRESS THE EMS NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS.
AND THAT IS THE MODEL THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.
WE HAVE DEPENDED ON OTHER AMBULANCE SERVICES, BROTHER KINLAW, YOU KNOW, THAT TO PROVIDE THE ASSISTANCE WE NEED AND WE ARE JUST NOT SATISFIED WITH IT.
SO WE ARE PLANNING FOR US TO GET THERE AND I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO EAT THAT ELEPHANT ONE BITE AT A TIME, ONE BITE AT A TIME.
BECAUSE AS THE CHIEF INDICATED, WE HAVE PERSONNEL IN THIS BUDGET THAT HE'S GOING TO REQUEST FUNDING FOR.
SO I WANT COUNCIL TO TAKE THE ENTIRE VIEW OF ALL WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
AND THAT IS WHERE SOME OF THAT OLD TIME MONEY'S GOING.
THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO HAPPEN IS WHEN THE ISO REPORT COMES IN A YEAR TIME, THEY DON'T GRADE US TO A SEVEN.
AND I'M NOT JUST PUTTING FEAR OUT THERE, BUT I, I WOULD NOT LIKE TO BE DOWNGRADED TO AN EIGHT OR SEVEN.
WE AT A NINE, WE WANT TO GET TO A 10 AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE, APART FROM THE CHALLENGES OF FIRE HYDRANTS THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE HAVE THE MANPOWER IN PLACE, WE ARE ABLE TO RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS SAID YOU YES,
'CAUSE I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION AND I'LL ASK IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT WE GOING TO JUST GO DOWN WHAT WE HAD.
JUST TELL ME WHAT THE GAME, HOW WE GONNA DO IT.
AND I, AND I'M GONNA GO AND I'M GONNA GO ALONG WITH IT.
JUST TELL ME HOW WE GONNA DO IT.
YOU KNOW, ARE WE GONNA ASK OUR QUESTIONS AND THEN AFTER WE THROUGH, THEN WE MOVE ON TO ANOTHER COUNCILMAN AND ASK OUR QUESTIONS.
AND THEN IF SOMEBODY GOTTA COMMENT, WE ENERGIZED, JUST TELL ME HOW WE'RE GONNA DO IT.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I'M BECOMING FRUSTRATED BECAUSE WHEN I'M TALKING, I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS PARTIC PARTICULAR ITEM.
AND THEN, SO HOW ARE WE GONNA DO IT, MAYOR? JUST JUST LET ME KNOW.
AND, AND, AND OFFICER SINCE HERE TO COUNCILMAN, EVERYONE'S SPOKEN ABOUT THE ITEM, BASICALLY THE, THE BASIC, UH, UH, THE, THE, THE, UH, CONCEPT OF OVERTIME.
OVERTIME, RIGHT? AND AND THEY WOULD, AND THEY WOULD, AND THE MANAGER WAS ONLY SPEAKING ABOUT IF WE ARE NOT PREPARED IN A CERTAIN WAY, EVEN WITH THROUGH, THROUGH THIS ONE LINE ITEM HERE THAT COULD AFFECT THAT ACRONYM WITH IT.
THAT I, NO, HE WOULD, SO EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING.
THEIR, THEIR, THEIR POINT OF REFERENCE MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FROM YOURS, BUT, BUT THE GENERAL, OKAY, MA'AM, UH, THEME IS STILL THERE.
ALRIGHT, THEN I, I'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.
BUILDING MAINTENANCE, UH, 434,000.
WAS THAT IN THE, UH, WAS THAT IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT? DO I FIND IT? WHERE DO I FIND THAT ONE CHIEF? SO SOME OF THAT IS IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
UH, HOWEVER, UH, WE HAVE EIGHT STATIONS OUT THERE THAT ARE CONSTANTLY NEED TO BE UPKEPT.
MOST OF THE STATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN SERVICE RIGHT NOW ARE OVER 20 YEARS OLD.
UH, NEW ROOFS CONSTANTLY HAVING TO DO CONCRETE WORK.
THE, AND IT, AND IT JUST, IT, AND IT DOUBLES, IT TRIPLES, IT QUADRUPLES.
UM, THE, THE OTHER PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING TO BE VERY BLUNT IS WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTRACTORS.
WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING CONTRACTORS TO COME IN AND ACTUALLY BID ON THESE PROJECTS AND THEN CARRY 'EM OUT.
THE REASON I ASK YOU, CHIEF, I ASK YOU, WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE GONNA SPEND FOR THE 400, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING AT THE PREVIOUS 1 45 FOR THIS YEAR, 1 69, 2 51, 2 14, AND WE ALMOST DOUBLE IT.
SO ALL I'M ASKING IS, OKAY, IF YOU ASKING FOR ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE, WE KEEP COMING EVIDENT.
YOU'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU ARE ASKING.
SO I'M JUST ASKING CHIEF, WHAT IS IT YOU'RE GOING TO DO? WE GOT A WATERPROOF NUMBER ONE.
THAT'S THE WORK STATION ON, UH, WOODWORTH.
WE GOT THE SAME THING WITH, UH, STATION
[02:20:01]
EIGHT OUT IN, UH, STONEGATE.UH, WE HAVE, UH, REPAIRS THAT NEED, OR ONGOING REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN TO, UH, STATION SIX, WHICH IS RIGHT THERE AT NINTH AVENUE IN 73.
UM, AND THEN JUST THE GENERAL UPKEEP OF ALL THE OTHER STATIONS.
WHAT, WHAT'S, OKAY, WHAT HAPPENED THERE? WE KEEP RUNNING OUTTA MONEY.
THE, THE, I MEAN, AND I, I'M NOT TRYING TO THROW ANYBODY UNDER THE BUS BY ANY MEANS COUNCILMAN, BUT LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, WE CAME IN WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS VERY GOOD NUMBERS.
AND THEN SOMEWHERE IN THE PROCESS OUR BUDGET GOT SLASHED.
AND WE, WE, WE OUTSPEND OUR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE BUDGET EVERY YEAR.
I MEAN, IT'S THE, THEY'RE BIG.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE BIG MACHINES AND THEY COST A LOT OF MONEY TO, TO STAY ON THE ROAD AND TO KEEP 'EM ON THE ROAD.
SO, UH, HOW DID YOU GET THAT MONEY THEN? IF YOU OVERSPENT? IF WE DIDN'T AMEND IT, WE HAD TO ROB, WE HAD TO ROB PETER, PAY PAUL.
IN SOME CASES, WE SHIFTED MONEY FROM WHAT ACCOUNT AND DID WITHOUT, SO THAT WE COULD, UH, UH, PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.
IN OTHER CASES, WE HAD TO COME BACK AND ASK FOR A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AROUND TO.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE SEEN A LOT OF ROBIN PETER, PAY PAUL.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO BUDGETS FOR.
WE TRY TO GET 'EM AS BEST AS WE CAN.
UH, I GOT ONE MORE TRAVEL TRAVELING EDUCATION JUMPED.
WHAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH IT? SO, PART OF THIS EMS CONVERSATION, WE KEEP HAVING, OKAY, WE ARE, UM, WE ARE PAYING FOR MEMBERS OF OUR DEPARTMENT TO GO TO COLLEGE TO EARN THEIR ADVANCED EMT AND THEIR PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATIONS.
SO THEY CAN COME BACK AND, UH, PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES, UH, TO OUR CITIZENS.
UH, THAT'S ALSO WHERE SOME OF THAT OVERTIME IS GOING IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THOSE GUYS TO DO THEIR CLINICALS OR BACKFILL WHILE THEY'RE GONE DOING THEIR TRAINING.
SO HOW MANY, HOW MANY, UH, PEOPLE ARE WE SENDING? WE'RE THE, THE PLAN RIGHT NOW IS SIX A YEAR.
SAY AGAIN NOW? SIX A SEMESTER.
IT TAKES A SEMESTER TO GO FROM, UH, HOW MANY PEOPLE CHIEF? 12.
12 AT ONE TIME? NO, SIX IN THE SPRING.
CONTRACTORS CONTRACTED CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASED A A LOT.
UM, SO WITH THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE IMPLEMENTED THIS PAST YEAR WAS A-N-F-P-A 1851, UH, MEDICAL PHYSICAL FOR OUR MEMBERS, UH, TO THE TUNE OF AROUND 60.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME.
IT, IT'S RIGHT AT, IT'S ALMOST RIGHT AT $60,000.
AND, UH, SO THAT'S ONE REASON WHY THAT'S BUMPED UP.
UH, WE ALSO HAD SOME, UM, UH, ANYTIME WE DO ANY DRUG TESTING, ANYTIME WE GIVE A PROMOTIONAL EXAM, ANYTIME WE HIRE SOMEBODY AND THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH, UH, THE NEW HIRE, PHYSICAL PROCESS, PSYCHOLOGICAL, UH, PROFILING PROCESS, UH, SCREENING, ALL THAT COMES OUTTA THAT FUND.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S AN ONGOING REOCCURRING COST TO THE DEPARTMENT.
EVERY TIME WE LOSE SOMEBODY, MONEY'S GOTTA COME OUT OF, OUT OF THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO HIRE SOMEBODY.
YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ON WHAT THAT COST WOULD COST IS BALLPARK PER PERSON? YEAH.
I WOULD SAY IT PROBABLY COST US A, JUST IN, UM, UM, CONTRACTUAL OR SERVICES.
PROBABLY ABOUT A THOUSAND, MAYBE $2,000 PER PERSON.
UH, ON MAKE THE ROOM LIGHT, I SEE Y'ALL GETTING, UH, 279,000.
[02:25:01]
I DON'T THINK THIS GONNA WORK OUT, MAYOR.Y'ALL WANNA DO THE NEXT ONE? YEAH.
BILL MADE ME LOSE MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
I MEAN, THIS IS THE TIME THAT WE, UH, I, I'VE TALKED WITH, UH, CHIEF YU BEFORE, UH, WE TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE KNOW WHAT'S IN THE MEDIA ABOUT, UH, FIREFIGHTERS, UH, HAVING TO FILE CLAIMS AND ALL THAT.
I KNEW THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF PUSHING THERE TWO SETS OF, AND I'VE TALKED WITH MANAGER ABOUT IT BEFORE.
WE HAVE 111 EMPLOYEES, 108 FIREFIGHTERS.
UH, HAVING TWO SETS OF BUNKER GEAR.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE GOT THE STATE OF ART TYPE OF SYSTEM THAT, UH, YOU GUYS, WE WERE PRIVILEGED TO GO AND VISIT THE FIRE STATIONS.
SO, IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WHAT ARE WE PLANNING ON DOING IN IMPLEMENTING, IN THE BUDGET? SO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT THE PLAN IS RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON A FIVE YEAR ROTATIONAL CYCLE.
SO IF, AND SOME OF OUR GUYS ARE PRETTY HARD ON THEIR GEAR, YOU KNOW, IT'S KINDA LIKE, UH, WELL, YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE.
YOU KNOW, THE GUYS THAT WEREN'T IN THE FIELD, THEY DIDN'T TEAR STUFF UP.
SO THE, UM, THE GOAL IS FOR WHEN A SET OF BUNKER GEAR MEETS ITS FIVE YEAR LIFE, OR FIVE YEAR MARK.
FIRST, FIRST THING I NEED TO EDUCATE YOU ON IS THAT THE LIFESPAN OF ANY GEAR CANNOT EXCEED 10 YEARS.
ALL OF OUR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, IT TIMES OUT, UH, IN 10 YEARS, EVEN, EVEN MINE.
UH, SO AT THE FIVE YEAR MARK, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS WE WANT TO TAKE THAT GEAR THAT IS STILL IN SERVICEABLE CONDITION, HAVE IT PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED, STORE IT, REPLACE IT WITH NEW GEAR.
SO THEN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THAT GEAR THAT, UH, FIREFIGHTER SMITH'S IS WEARING WHILE IT'S BEEN OFF TO BE REPAIRED OR WHAT HAVE YOU, WE'VE GOT A FUNCTIONAL SET OF GEAR FOR HIM TO UTILIZE.
THAT ANSWERED MY QUESTION, MAYOR.
ANY, ANY OTHERS? ANY, I DON'T SEE ANY, ANY LIGHTS, SO WE'RE GOOD.
AND, AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, BEING IN, IN, UH, FIRST RESPONDER, UH, UH, MO WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
Y'ALL DOING A GOOD JOB AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, BEING WITH YOU ALL ON, UH, SEPTEMBER 11TH.
IF WE COULD DO PLEASURE ISLAND, NEXT ISLAND.
PAGE 1 35 AND ALSO PAGE 180 8.
[02:30:06]
YOU READY? YES.SO GIVE ARE, LET'S SEE, ARE WE GOING BACK TO, LEMME SEE.
Y'ALL SITTING ON 1 35? WE GOT 1 35.
WHERE, WHERE'S THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ITEMIZED? IT IS JUST, YOU JUST GOT IT JUST TOTALED WITH THE MASTER PLAN FOR PLEDGE ISLAND.
IS THAT HOW YOU'RE READING THAT? NO, 180 EVERYTHING ON 180 8 ABOVE IT TOO.
UH, I KNOW WE GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.
UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CITIZENS AND, AND TO THE CITY.
UH, THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLEASURE.
ALLEN, I KNOW YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU BROUGHT FORTH SOME, UH, UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROJECTS.
JUST, UH, REAL BRIEFLY, IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE US THE HIGHLIGHTS, UH, FOR MY OPINION AND MY COHORTS.
JUST GIVE US SOME QUICK HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE WITH THE ISLAND.
UH, WE SEE THE BUDGET IS GOING UP.
THAT'S, I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, ONE OF THE THINGS BUDGET IS GOING UP.
UH, BUT JUST KIND OF GIVE US SOME HIGHLIGHTS, UH, IF YOU WILL, JUST TO EXPLAIN TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S KIND OF, UM, LIKE THE OTHER DAY, I THINK THAT WAS LAST MONDAY THAT WE BROUGHT THE CITY ATTORNEY OVER THERE TO, UM, TAKE A TOUR THE ISLAND AND UPDATE HER AS WELL.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS, OF COURSE IS THE LAND SALE THAT, UM, COUNCILMAN DEUCE ALLUDED TO AT THE LAST MEETING.
SO I PUT IN MY, UM, BUDGET THAT WE'RE GET THE MILLION DOLLAR LAND SALE OFF OF THE 35 ACRES.
SO THAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
UM, ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, THERE'S A, UH, DOCK REHAB.
UM, THERE'S A BOARDWALK THAT BASICALLY LOOPS AROUND FROM BEHIND THE CONDOS ALL THE WAY AROUND TO THE RV PARK.
AND IT NEEDS, UM, SOME, A GOOD AMOUNT OF REPAIR.
I KNOW IF COUNCILMAN LEWIS WAS HERE, HE'D BRING IT UP 'CAUSE HE WALKS BACK THERE.
UM, THE PHOTO OP PROJECT, WE DID HAVE THE, UH, GRANT FROM SHANIE.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE STAGE WITH THE CIVIL ENGINEERS BECAUSE THE WAY THAT IT'S SITTING ON THE, UH, PROPERTY, WE HAD TO GET SOME ENGINEERING DONE.
SO THAT KIND OF HELD US UP A LITTLE BIT.
BUT WE ARE IN A, A GOOD STAGE RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE ALMOST WRAPPING IT UP, GO OUT FOR BID SO WE CAN GET THAT DONE.
AND UH, THE MARINA REHAB THAT WAS APPROVED, UM, PREVIOUSLY, BUT DUE TO THE STORM, UH, WHAT WAS IT ON THE EIGHTH, I THINK OF LAST MONTH, WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE, UM, INSURANCE COMPANY TO SEE IF THERE CAN BE SOMETHING DONE BECAUSE OF COURSE THE FIRST SCOPE OF WORK DIDN'T HAVE ALL THOSE DAMAGES IN IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, ME, HR, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THAT WITH THE, UM, INSURANCE COMPANY.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S BASICALLY THOSE.
AND AS THE LAST ONE IS THE MASTER PLAN, WE'RE GONNA GO OUT FOR A MASTER PLAN FOR THE, UH, ENTIRE PLEASURE ISLAND THIS YEAR.
UH, WELL, DIRECTOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY FUTURE, UH, UH, INTEREST IN HIRING SOMEONE ELSE, BE OUT THERE WITH ALL THE DEVELOPMENT AND ALL THE PROJECTS? WHO'S GONNA OVERS, I KNOW YOU'RE ONE OF THE ONES THAT'S GONNA OVERSEE SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS, BUT WHO'S GONNA HELP YOU WITH ALL OF THEM DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE OUT THERE? ARE YOU ANTICIPATING HIRING SOMEONE ELSE TO COME OUT THERE AND HELP WITH THAT? I THINK WE KIND OF TALKED, UH, PREVIOUSLY ABOUT THAT RV PARK ISSUE AS WELL.
UM, AND THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S GONNA HAVE TO PICK UP.
AND I DID SPEAK WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
WE PROBABLY WILL TRY TO GET ONE MORE PERSON, UM, TO HELP UPKEEP THE GROUNDS 'CAUSE THAT'S MORE MAINTENANCE ON THE GROUND AND THEN THAT'LL FREE UP, UM, ONE OF MY GUYS TO ACTUALLY BE THE FACILITY SUPERVISOR THAT HE SHOULD BE AS OPPOSED TO BEING THE GROUNDSKEEPER WITH THE REST OF THE GUYS.
COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES, I'M HAVING A PROBLEM READING THIS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN ON PAGE 180 8.
I NEED A LITTLE HELP WITH THAT ONE.
IT SAYS TO, FOR YOUR EXPENDITURE, YOU GOT, UH, THE BUILDING FOUR 13, RIGHT? AND DOCK REHABILITATION THREE 20 AND YOU'RE GONNA DO A, YOU BUDGETING FOR A PHOTO OUT FOR 479 400 $80,000.
AND, AND A UH, MARINA REHABILITATION IS GONNA COST ONE.
WELL, YOU'RE PROJECTING 1,382,900,
[02:35:01]
CORRECT? YES SIR.AND THAT THEN WE HAVE THE PLEASURE ISLAND.
WHAT IS OTHER CAPITAL OUTLAY? I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO YOU NUMBER SAY HIS PLEASURE ISLAND AND TOTAL, THEN IT GOES TO 25 95 AND THEN IT GOES TO A TOTAL OF 33,000,740.
WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE? IT LOOKS LIKE I WENT DELETE HAPPY
YEAH, FOR REAL
BE IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE MISSING SOME INFORMATION THAT'LL HELP YOU.
IT'S, IT'S, IT IS GOING UP THERE ABOUT 4,000 MM-HMM.
THE PAGE ACTUALLY DIDN'T PRINT AND I CAN, IF IT SO PLEASES, I CAN PRINT THIS VERY QUICKLY FOR YOUR REVIEW.
I DO HAVE THE PLEASURE ISLAND RESTROOMS DOCK REHABILITATION.
THIS IS COMING FROM THE PLEASURE ISLAND RESTRICTED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS AND PRIOR YEAR GRANTS.
THE ACTUAL TOTAL IS 2,595,683 FOR ALL OF HIS CAPITAL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25.
AND IT IS AGAIN, THE REVENUE RESTRICTED AND BALANCE FUND BALANCE FROM THIS PARTICULAR FUND IN BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THE FUNDS FOR THE CAPITAL AS 2 MILLION 595 683.
IF, IF IT PLEASES YOU, ALLOW ME TO GET THIS PRINTED OUT AND GIVE IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW.
WHAT'S THAT TO, WHAT'S THAT 33 MILLION? THAT'S ABOUT TO SAY.
THAT 33 MILLION IS LOOKS, NOW I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK OUT OF TURN.
LET ME GO AHEAD AND GET YOU EXACTLY WHERE, WHERE THAT 33 MILLION IS.
SO I CAN LET YOU KNOW WHERE THAT NUMBER IS COMING FROM.
YEAH, IT'S COMING FROM, THERE'S SOLID WASTE.
THERE'S THE 33 MILLION IS THE TOTAL OF THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS CAPITAL SINCE IT'S PART OF AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
IT IS, IT IS NOT PLEASURE ISLAND PLEASURE ISLANDS ONLY 2,000,595.
OKAY, WELL WHY DID WE PUT THOSE NUMBERS ON THERE? THIS IS WHERE I WENT DELETE HAPPY.
SO ALLOW ME TO AT LEAST PRINT YOU OUT THAT PLEASURE ISLAND PAGE FOR CAPITAL.
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF, IF THE PLEASURE ISLAND WHEN IT'S 25 9 5 6 8 3, THEN THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE TO ME.
IT'S JUST THAT WHEN I STARTED SEEING 33 MILLION THAT DIDN'T ADD UP.
BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PRINT ANYTHING IF YOU JUST GONNA PRINT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA, UH, DEAL WITH THE 25, 23, WHATEVER IT IS.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO GO TO IS GO BACK TO 1 35 AND LET'S LOOK AT THE FUND BALANCE.
AND RESTRICTED FUND BALANCE IS, UH, WELL DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUND BALANCE IS 'CAUSE BOTH OF 'EM IS ADDED TOGETHER, RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.
THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY ADDED TOGETHER IF IT SO PLEASES.
WOULD YOU LIKE ON THE REVENUE FOR ME TO SEPARATE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ACTUAL FUND BALANCE AND AND THE RESTRICTED UNDER THE REVENUE? YES, PLEASE DO.
BECAUSE I'LL, BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT FUND BALANCE IS.
WELL TOGETHER IT SHOULD COME OUT TO 34 16 SHE SAID.
BUT, UH, I WANNA KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT IS FUND BALANCE.
'CAUSE THAT'S SAYING WHAT HE HAD REMAINING.
I DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER FOR YOU.
BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE NEXT ITERATION SEPARATES THE TWO R.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR PLEASURE HONOR.
[02:40:01]
OKAY.UH, I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY FOR A PLEASURE HONOR.
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND, AND, UH, CONTINUE ON WITH THE ENTERPRISE FUND WITH WATER WASTEWATER UTILITIES.
UH, WATER, WASTE WATER AND SEWER.
YOU SAID A WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT, IS THAT THE ONE THAT'S GONNA BE ON ONE 11 AND MORE? ONE 13.
THE NARRATIVE STARTS AT ONE 13.
THE ACTUAL NUMBERS START AT PAGE ONE 15.
STARTED WHEN YOU GOT SOMETHING ELSE.
YOU SEE AN ATTORNEY, YOU ALLOW YOU.
SO DO YOU WANT TO DO THE PRESENTATION FIRST OR YOU WANT TO DO QUESTIONS FIRST OR, YEAH, WE, YEAH.
WELL I GUESS MAYBE WE CAN GO WITH THAT FIRST BECAUSE SHE HAD TO WALK OUT SO WE YEAH, A WHOLE BUNCH.
UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, LAST TIME WE PRESENTED TO YOU OUR, UH, PLAN AND VISION FOR THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
COUNCILMAN ETT REQUESTED WE PREPARE SOMETHING TO INFORM THE CITIZENS OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE.
WHAT ARE WE PLANNING ON DOING AND HOW IS THIS GONNA BE FUNDED? SO THIS PRESENTATION IS GONNA SUMMARIZE THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED SO FAR.
THE WORK THAT IS IN THE PLANNING AND DESIGN PHASE, THE TOTAL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED TO ACTUALLY BRING THE SYSTEM UP TO PAR AND THE DIFFERENT SOURCES OF FUNDING.
SO FIRST WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE WAR WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS BEEN REHABILITATED AND COMPLETED, OR IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO START WITH.
ADMINISTRATION IN THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS HAD TO MAKE SOME MAJOR CHANGES IN ORDER TO STREAMLINE THE OPERATION AND MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE EFFECTIVE.
SO THE DEPARTMENT, UH, HIRED SEVERAL CONSULTANTS TO HELP WITH THE OPERATIONS WITH DESIGN OF SOME OF THESE PROJECTS AS WELL AS THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.
WE ALSO CURRENTLY HAVE A UTILITIES DIRECTOR THAT HAS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING LICENSE.
WE ALSO HIRED AN ENGINEERING MANAGER, UTILITY ENGINEER MANAGER WITH A PE AS WELL AS A CLASS A WASTEWATER, UH, LICENSE.
WE HIRED ALSO A UTILITY ENGINEER THAT'S GONNA OVERSEE SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION THAT IS TAKING PLACE AND DO ALL THE FIELD VISITS AND INVESTIGATION.
WE HAVE A COMPLIANCE MANAGER THAT STRICTLY CONCENTRATES ON EPA AND TCEQ RULES TO MAKE SURE THE CITY IS IN COMPLIANCE AS WELL AS THE INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES THAT HAVE TO ABIDE BY THESE RULES AND ARE UNDER THE CITY'S JURISDICTION.
ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS WE IMPLEMENTED IS A FATS OIL AND GREASE PROGRAM CALLED FOG, WHICH CONTROLS THE AMOUNT OF GREASE THE RESTAURANTS ARE ALLOWED TO DISCHARGE INTO THE SYSTEM, WHICH IS ZERO.
SO ALL THESE RESTAURANTS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE GREASE STRAPS THAT ARE MONITORED REGULARLY, INSPECTED REGULARLY, AND THAT IS DONE BY THE TWO INSPECTORS
[02:45:01]
THAT WORK UNDER THE COMPLIANCE, UH, MANAGER.THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND COLLECTION SYSTEM OPERATIONAL CHANGES FIRST AT WASTEWATER TREATMENT.
CURRENTLY, FOR THE THREE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS THAT WE OPERATE, WE HAVE FOUR A LICENSED TCEQ OPERATORS.
SO THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY.
AND HAVING THESE LICENSES ARE, IS VERY ESSENTIAL TO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY, TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AND TO KEEP THESE PLANS, UH, IN COMPLIANCE.
WE ALSO ESTABLISHED A LABORATORY WITH A FULL-TIME LABORATORY ANALYST THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO ALL THE TESTING THAT WE NEED TO DO IN-HOUSE TO MONITOR MORE CLOSELY AND STAY IN COMPLIANCE.
WE ALSO CREATED STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES.
IT'S NO LONGER SHOOTING FROM THE HIP.
IF A HAPPENS, YOU GO TO SOPA AND IT GIVES YOU ALL THE STEPS AND PROCEDURES THAT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW TO ADDRESS ITEM A.
WE ALSO CREATED SOPS FOR REPORTING, UH, OVERFLOWS SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS.
WE REORGANIZED THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT RECORD KEEPING AND FILING SYSTEM.
IF YOU GO THROUGH THE HISTORY OF THE TCQ INSPECTIONS, A LOT OF THESE MINOR VIOLATIONS WE HAD RELATED TO PAPERWORK KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO WE REHABBED THAT SYSTEM AND PROVIDED A WELL STRUCTURED WAY OF DOING IT.
AS FAR AS THE COLLECTION SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE WASTEWATER PIPING, WE CREATED AN IN-HOUSE PIPE BURSTING CREW THAT WAS, UH, FUNDED THROUGH THE INDUSTRY WHERE THEY DONATED OVER A MILLION DOLLARS TO ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS NEEDED.
WE ALSO PURCHASED A CAMERA TRUCK THAT WILL ALLOW US TO INVESTIGATE ISSUES AND DETERMINE LOCATIONS OF CAVITIES AND FAILURES AND BE MORE EFFICIENT IN REPAIRING THEM.
THIS WAS ALSO PART OF THE MILLION DOLLAR DONATION BY THE INDUSTRY AND WE RESTRUCTURED THE SOPS FOR REPORTING DISCHARGES AS WELL.
AS FAR AS SANITARY SEWER LIFT STATIONS OUT OF THE 57 LIFT STATIONS, 16 OF THEM EXPERIENCED SOME FORM OF REHABILITATION OR ANOTHER IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
AND THESE LIFT STATIONS VARY FROM 46TH STREET, UH, PIONEER PARK, LIFT STATION, NORTH PLANT LIFT STATION, AND BUSINESS PARK LIFT STATION UPGRADE.
UNTIL YOU GO AND VISIT SOME OF THESE LIFT STATIONS, YOU CAN IMAGINE THE CONDITION THEY ARE IN FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.
THEY WERE ONLY PATCHED, NEVER REPLACING PIPING MOTORS, PUMPS, UH, CONTROL PANELS.
SO THIS TYPE OF WORK WAS VERY, VERY NEEDED AND WE WERE VERY AGGRESSIVE IN GETTING 16 OUT OF THE 57 REPAIRED.
AND THE NEXT SLIDE WILL SHOW YOU THE LOCATIONS THROUGH THE YELLOW PINS OF THE LIFT STATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED ALREADY.
AS FAR AS CITYWIDE SEWER PIPE COLLECTION SYSTEM REPLACEMENT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
THE IN-HOUSE PIPE BURSTING CREW TO BE CONSERVATIVE ON AVERAGE REPLACED ABOUT 1500 FEET PER MONTH STARTING IN 2020.
WE HAVE LAKESIDE SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT THAT WAS ALSO COMPLETED IN 23.
THE NINTH AVENUE SEWER LINE WAS A NEW PIPE INSTALLATION TO ELIMINATE THE LIFT STATION BEHIND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE NEW HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON NINTH AVENUE.
UH, THAT WAS ALSO COMPLETED IN, UH, 23.
WE HAVE CITYWIDE SEWER PIPE BURSTING CONTRACT, ONE AT A $1.8 MILLION VALUE THAT WAS COMPLETED IN 24, REPLACED ABOUT 17,000 LINEAR FEET OF SEWER PIPE OF DIFFERENT SIZES.
WE HAVE THE EL VISTA FORCE MAIN REPLACEMENT PHASE ONE PROJECT WAS ALSO COMPLETED IN 24 2 $0.3 MILLION AND APPROXIMATELY 8,200 LINEAR FEET OF FORCE MAIN.
THIS FORCE MAIN PHASE ONE WAS IN DIRE NEED OF REPLACEMENT.
IT WAS CAUSING A LOT OF SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS THAT THIS PROJECT ELIMINATED.
WE ALSO REPLACED ABOUT 4,000 LINEAR FEET OF DIFFERENT SANITARY SEWER PIPING ON EMERGENCY MEMOS.
THESE ARE CAVITIES THAT TOOK PLACE, MANHOLES THAT COLLAPSED THAT WERE PREVENTING
[02:50:01]
A LARGE NUMBER OF CITIZENS FROM BEING ABLE TO USE THEIR, UH, TOILETS.IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE SPENT ABOUT $1.5 MILLION.
BETWEEN 21 AND 24, WE'VE REPLACED 15,000 LINEAR FEET.
AND IN SABINE PASS WE ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE WITH THE TCEQ PROGRAM BY 4,000 FEET AND THREE MANHOLES.
SO WE ARE BEATING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TCEQ AND SABINE PASS.
THIS IS A MAP THAT SHOWS YOU IN YELLOW ALL THE SANITARY SEWER PIPE THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE CITY OR ARE ALREADY, UH, PVC.
THIS IS AS FAR AS WE COULD TRACK IT.
SO ANYTHING THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED SINCE THEN, ANYTHING THAT'S ALREADY PVC OR PLASTIC BECAUSE OF NEW INSTALLATION AND ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
AND THE NEXT SLIDE WILL SHOW YOU THE SAME THING FOR SABINE PASS.
THE YELLOW PIPING, UH, WILL SHOW YOU WHAT HAS BEEN REPLACED.
THE MOST IMPORTANT SECTION WAS AT HIGHWAY 87.
ALL THE DATA WE HAD FOR THAT PIPE WAS A 10 INCH EXISTING SANITARY SEWER LINE.
WHEN WE WENT OUT TO CONSTRUCTION, WE DETERMINED THAT THERE'S ONLY A SIX INCH STEEL PIPE CORRUGATED ON THE INSIDE TOWARD THE OPENING WAS ONLY ABOUT THREE INCHES.
AND THAT LINE SERVED THE SCHOOL, THE HOTEL, AND ALL THESE HOUSES ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY.
SO THAT WAS A BIG, BIG FINDING THAT RESOLVED A LOT OF THE SANITARY SEWER PROBLEMS. SO THANK YOU MAYOR.
WAS THAT DUE TO THE CONTRACTOR INSTALLING THAT PIPE OR HOW DID WE NOT, HOW DID WE NOT KNOW? IT WENT FROM 10 INCH TO SIX INCH WITH THREE INCH.
HOW, HOW DO WE NOT KNOW THAT BACK THEN? I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MISSED AS A CITY OR WE DIDN'T DO OUR PROPER, UH, INSPECTION ON THE PIPE SIZE BECAUSE THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE FROM THAT COMMUNITY THAT'S OUT THERE.
AS, AS, AS YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN SABINE PASS WAS NOT UNDER THE CITY'S JU JURISDICTION.
IT HAD ITS OWN, UH, ENTITY THAT MAINTAINED THEIR WATER AND WASTEWATER.
AND THE CITY INHERITED THAT SYSTEM WITH NO RECORDS, WITH NO RECORDS, NO DATA, AND WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS IT HAD.
SO, UH, LATER ON WE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A 10 INCH, ABOUT 15 FEET FROM THIS ONE THAT HAD TWO MANHOLES AND THEY WERE ALL COVERED, FILLED WITH DIRT AND COULDN'T EVEN BE FOUND.
SO IT'S AN INHERITANCE ISSUE AND NOT ONE OF THE GOOD ONES.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PROJECT WE ARE, UH, THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION TODAY IS THE MAIN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND THE FORCE MAIN FROM THE MAIN LIFT STATION TO THE PLANT.
THIS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT RECEIVED NUMEROUS TCEQ VIOLATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THAT DATE, AS FAR BACK AS 2009 THAT WERE NOT ADDRESSED.
THIS PROJECT IS FINALLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THE CITIZENS OF BO ARTHUR ARE SPENDING $73.6 MILLION TO BRING THIS PLANT UP TO PAR.
AND THE FORCE MAIN IS GONNA COST APPROXIMATELY $5.6 MILLION.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE MAIN LIFT STATION REHABBED THE FORCE MAIN FROM THE LIFT STATION TO THE PLANT REPLACED AND THE PLANT REHABBED.
SO BY THE END OF 2026, THIS PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED AND THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM ON PROCTOR STREET EXTENSION WILL BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.
THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS YOU THESE THREE COMPONENTS.
THE MAIN OUTFALL LIFT STATION, THE 42 INCH FORCE MAIN, WHICH IS ABOUT 4,200 LINEAR FEET AND THE MAIN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
THIS SLIDE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO COUNCILMAN KINLAW BECAUSE HE ALWAYS WANTS THESE PROJECTS TO STAY ON SCHEDULE REGARDLESS OF THE RAIN EVENTS WE HAD AND THE DELAYS AND THE CHANGES WE HAD TO DO.
THIS PROJECT CURRENTLY IS AT 56.77% COMPLETION.
AS PER THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE, WE SHOULD BE AT 47%.
SO CURRENTLY WE ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, WHICH IS VERY GOOD NEWS FOR ALL OF US.
AND THAT IS AS OF AUGUST THIS YEAR AND, AND FEW PICTURES, UH, OF THE PLANT.
[02:55:03]
AND WE ARE DISCOVERING A LOT OF THINGS ON THIS PROJECT THAT NO RECORDS OFF TO.BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN, UH, MAJOR ENOUGH FOR US NOT TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT SO FAR.
THE NEXT UH, MOST IMPORTANT PLAN TO US IS THE PORT ACRES WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN 2011, THAT, UH, PLANT, UH, EXPERIENCED A NEW AERATION, UH, BASIN IMPROVEMENT.
AN AEROBIC AERATION BASIN, $2.6 MILLION IN 2015.
WE HAD MORE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CENTRIFUGE IN TWO 15, UH, 2017.
WE ALSO HAD SOME MORE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DIGESTER, UH, INFLUE LIFT STATION REHABILITATION PROJECT IN 23 AT ABOUT $600,000.
NEW SLUDGE RETURN PUMPS IN 2019 AT 400,000, CLARIFY REHABILITATION AT 300,000 IN 23 AND CLEANED THE LIFT STATION.
WELL REPLACED INLET VALVES AND REBUILD IN INFLUENT PUMPS AS WELL.
THE PORT ACRES WASTE BOARD TREATMENT, PLANT IMPROVEMENTS, UH, THAT IS UNDERWAY NOW AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
AT $1.3 MILLION COST WILL CONSTRUCT A NEW BYPASS HEADER PIPING AND VALVES.
UH, CURRENTLY IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AT THE PLANT, WE CANNOT BYPASS IT AND IT CAUSES A MAJOR SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW THAT WILL NOT MAKE US LOOK MUCH BETTER IN FRONT OF THE STATE RIGHT NOW.
THE LAST, UH, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IS THE SABINE PASS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
WE REHABILITATED THE CLARIFIER IN 22 FOR 237,000.
UH, IN 23 WE COMPLETED, UH, PHASE ONE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT INCLUDED THE CLEANING SLUDGE AND GRID SLIP, PRAC BLOWERS, AERATION SYSTEM, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AND SABINE PASSED WASTEWATER FEMA PLANT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PHASE TWO, WE ARE ESTIMATING IT TO BE $350,000.
WE WERE THE DRY BEDS, THE SIDEWALK AND SAFETY HANDRAILS.
AND THAT SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN JULY 25 ON THE WATER LINE.
UH, ELEVATOR STORAGE TANKS AND WATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENTS.
THE MAJORITY OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT TOOK PLACE, UH, ON THE WATER SIDE WERE FUNDED BY, UH, CHENE AT ABOUT $140 MILLION WHEN IT CAME TO PIPING STORAGE TANKS.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THAT PROJECT, IT REHABILITATED THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
SO IT BECAME ABLE TO PROCESS 40 MILLION GALLONS A DAY OF WATER.
'CAUSE CURRENTLY WE PROCESS BETWEEN 20 AND 22 MILLION.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF CAPACITY AVAILABLE FOR, UH, FUTURE GROWTH.
AND SO I DON'T HAVE TO LIST, UH, ALL OF THESE PROJECTS.
WE JUST GO, LIKE THE ATLANTA WAR LINE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW.
COUNCIL APPROVED PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO EARLIER THIS YEAR.
UH, THE 36 INCH WAR LINE COATING PROJECT IS TAKING PLACE ALSO RIGHT NOW.
AND ON THE ELEVATED STORAGE TANKS, WE HAVE RAILROAD AND THOMAS COMPLETED IN 24 AT $919,000 DALLAS AVENUE, UH, COMPLETED IN 24 AT 207,000.
AND THE PROCTOR, UH, EXTENSION ELEVATED STORAGE TANK IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $669,000.
WE'RE TRYING TO CHIP ON THESE PLANTS, ONE ON THESE TANKS, ONE AT A TIME, TWO AT A TIME.
UH, BASED ON THE BUDGETS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE, THE PROJECTS AND WATER AND WASTEWATER THAT ARE DESIGNED ARE UNDERST STUDY.
CURRENTLY ON THE LIFT STATION SIDE, WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY DESIGNED OR UNDERSTUDY THAT COST APPROXIMATELY $7.8 MILLION TO DESIGN AND BUILD PART OF THESE LIFT STATIONS.
WE HAVE APPLIED FOR A EPA COMMUNITY, UH, CHANGE GRANT.
UH, WE ARE WAITING ON THE RESULTS OF THIS APPLICATION AND COUNCIL HAD APPROVED US TO APPLY FOR THESE GRANTS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE GRANT HAS A $20 MILLION VALUE, BUT THE APPLICATION IS AT 18 MILLION BECAUSE THERE'S $2 MILLION OF PROCESSING FEES THROUGH THE COMPANY THAT'S, UH, WORKING WITH US ON THESE GRAINS.
[03:00:02]
COME ON, ON THE SEWER PIPE REPLACEMENT.UH, WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT ARE COMPLETED OR UNDER DESIGN AND THEIR VALUE IS $13.9 MILLION.
AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO WITH THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE READY TO GO AND UNDER DESIGN WILL BE COMPLETED IN FEW MONTHS, IS TO HAVE A LOT OF SHOVEL READY TYPE PROJECTS.
'CAUSE A LOT OF THESE GRANTS WHEN THEY COME OUT, THEY REQUIRE SHOVEL READY PROJECTS.
SO WITHIN 30 DAYS WE CAN PUT THEM OUT FOR BIDS.
SO WE WILL QUALIFY BETTER FOR THESE GRANTS.
AND SAME THING ON THE SEWER PIPE REPLACEMENT.
WE HAVE $18.7 MILLION WORTH OF GRANT APPLICATIONS TO COVER THE COST OF THESE, UH, PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDER DESIGN OR UNDERST STUDY ON THE WAR LINE.
UH, PROJECTS WE HAVE PHASE ONE, TWO, AND THREE OF THE 56 WATER LINES AND THE ELVIS TWO INCH WATERLINE REPLACEMENT.
ALL THESE ARE READY TO GO PENDING FUNDING.
IF WE LOOK AT THE ENTIRE WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE SANITARY SEWER LIFT STATIONS, WE HAVE ABOUT $57 MILLION WORTH OF WORK THAT IS NEEDED ON THE SEWER PIPE REPLACEMENT.
WE HAVE $265 MILLION WORTH OF WORK THAT IS NEEDED ON THE WARD LINE REPLACEMENT.
$497 MILLION WORTH OF WORK THAT IS NEEDED.
WATER TOWERS 9.9 MILLION WORTH OF WORK THAT IS NEEDED ON THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND THE GULF PUMP STATION PROJECT.
$16.5 MILLION WORTH OF WORK THAT IS NEEDED ON THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT PROJECT 33.7 MILLION ON THE FIRE HYDRANT REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
WE HAVE $15.4 MILLION WORTH OF WORK.
SO WE HAVE $895,564,843 IN TODAY'S COST OF WORK THAT IS NEEDED TO BRING THE ENTIRE WATER AND WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM UP TO PAR.
IF WE INCLUDE THAT EXPANSIONS OF WATER LINES, UH, ADDING, UH, ELEVATED STORAGE TANKS AND ITEMS THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR FUTURE GROWTH, THAT NUMBER IS $1.177 BILLION THAT IS NEEDED TO BE SPENT IN ORDER TO BRING THE SYSTEM UP TO ITS ABILITY TO SERVE MORE, UH, DEVELOPMENT.
SO HOW ARE WE GONNA FUND ALL THESE PROJECTS? WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? WE GOTTA START SOMEWHERE.
I KNOW GRANTS ARE OUR NUMBER ONE CHOICE TO FUNDING THESE PROJECTS.
UH, SOMETIMES THEY HAVE MATCHES 90% TO 10 OR 75 25.
SO ANYTIME WE KNOW OF ANY GRANT THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE, WE ARE PURSUING IT WHETHER THROUGH US OR WHETHER THROUGH THE ENTITIES THE CITY IS HIRING TO PURSUE THESE GRANTS.
THIS YEAR FOR EXAMPLE, WE APPLIED FOR $7 MILLION FOR LIFT STATIONS.
THAT WAS NOT APPROVED FOR FIRE HYDRANTS, 2.34 MILLION.
IT WAS NOT APPROVED, UH, FOR A FIRE HYDRANT STUDY THAT IS STILL UNDER REVIEW.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE 20 MILLION FOR LIFT STATIONS AND 20 MILLION FOR SANITARY SEWER PIPING.
THAT IS STILL PENDING AND UH, WE DON'T HAVE THE RESULTS FOR THAT YET, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIND GRANTS THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR.
THE, THE CHALLENGE WITH THE GRANTS IS WE ARE BUDGETING FOR 25.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THESE GRANTS ARE GONNA COME IN OR NOT.
SO WE CAN ACTUALLY INSERT THEM IN THE BUDGET.
BUT WHEN WE GET THEM, WE CAN MAKE THE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS TO THE NEXT BUDGET HERE TO DETERMINE, UH, HOW WE IMPLEMENT AND HOW WE INCLUDE THEM IN THE TOTAL NUMBERS.
ANOTHER GOOD SOURCE OF UH, FUNDING IS THE TEXAS WARD DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
IN 2024, WE APPLIED FOR 200 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS I THINK, OF TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FUNDING.
NOT ONE OF THESE PROJECTS GOT APPROVED, ALTHOUGH WE BROKE THEM DOWN INTO DIFFERENT PROJECTS SO THAT WE INCREASE OUR CHANCES OF, UH, RANKING.
WE WILL BE REAPPLYING FOR THESE SAME GRANTS FOR THE TEXAS WAR
[03:05:01]
DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR 2025.AND WE LIKE THE TEXAS WAR DEVELOPMENT BOARD 'CAUSE THEIR INTEREST RATE, UH, IS LOW.
WE HAVE, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOME OF THESE LOANS FORGIVEN.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT PROJECT IS A TEXAS WAR DEVELOPMENT BOARD FUNDED PROJECT.
AND WE WERE FORGIVEN 4 MILLION OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS WE GOT, WHICH IS LIKE 47 MILLION LINDSAY'S UH, REMOTE NEEDS BARRIERS, UH, FUNDING SOURCES, UH, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT VERY CLOSELY TODAY IS THE WATER METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
YOU ARE AWARE OF, UH, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE, IT GIVES YOU AN ESTIMATE OF THE YEARLY REVENUE WE WERE.
SO WE ARE SAYING, OKAY, WE REPLACE ALL THESE METERS, WE ESTIMATE THE REVENUE GONNA GO UP BY 10% BASED ON THAT 10%.
AND IF WE PAY THESE METERS WITHIN 20 YEARS, WE WILL STILL GET $2.68 MILLION A YEAR IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE JUST FROM THE 10%.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PORT POINT TO MAKE HERE, THIS TABLE WAS GENERATED BASED ON THE METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM COST OF $14 MILLION FROM THE CHANGES WE MADE AND BRINGING THE CONTROL OF MANAGING THIS PROJECT TO THE DEPARTMENT VERSUS A THIRD PARTY.
SO FAR WE FOUND ABOUT $4 MILLION IN SAVINGS BASED ON THE NUMBERS WE ARE RECEIVING ON THIS, UH, METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
SO THAT MEANS WE'RE GONNA GENERATE MORE MONEY AND THAT MEANS WE'LL HAVE MORE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
IT'S NOT HIS BARRY, I'M POINTING TO THE WRONG PLACE.
SORRY LINDSAY, FOR ACCUSING YOU FALSELY HERE.
ANOTHER GOOD, UH, FUNDING SOURCE IS GONNA BE THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION DEBT RELEASE.
WE HAVE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS WE PAY ON EVERY YEAR.
SO IN 2029 WE START SEEING A DROP IN THE AMOUNTS OF FUNDING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AVAILABLE IN THE BUDGET TO PAY THESE LOANS.
SO THE MORE WE FREE OF THIS PAYMENT THAT WE HAVE TODAY, THE MORE OF THAT FUNDING CAN BE USED IN ORDER TO GET MORE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS TO DO THE REPAIRS WE NEED TO DO.
AND OF COURSE, THE TOPIC THAT IS HARD FOR ANY OF US TO TALK ABOUT IS THE, UH, RATE INCREASES.
THE CITY HIRED A COMPANY CALLED, UH, WILDEN THAT DID A FIVE YEAR PROJECTION ON WHAT RATE INCREASES WE NEED.
UH, AND THIS TABLE COMPARES WHAT WE DID VERSUS WHAT THEY PROPOSED.
BUT PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RATES THEY'RE PROPOSING HERE ARE NOT BASED ON GETTING THE SYSTEM FIXED IN THE NEXT 30 YEARS AND SPENDING SAY 30 MILLION A YEAR LIKE WE ARE PROPOSING.
SO THEY ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE.
USING THOSE RATE INCREASES TODAY WILL NOT ACHIEVE THE GOALS WE WANT TO ACHIEVE AND FIX THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IN A TIMELY MANNER, WHICH I CONSIDER 30 YEARS TO BE A TIMELY MANNER.
NEXT IS SOMETHING THAT ALSO COUNCIL RECOMMENDED WE LOOK INTO AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE GONNA TIGHTEN THAT BELT.
SO THESE ARE ITEMS THAT WE ARE PROUD OF, UH, TELLING YOU ABOUT BECAUSE THEY ARE HELPING THE DEPARTMENT TREMENDOUSLY JUST ON WATER LEAKS THAT WERE REPAIRED.
WE HAVE SEEN APPROXIMATELY 4 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY PER DAY REDUCTION IN WATER USAGE IN DOLLARS THAT TRANSLATE TO $575,000 A YEAR.
THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE COST OF THE WATER, THE CHEMICALS THAT WE USE, THE ELECTRICITY AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
WE ARE ALSO REDUCING THE POSITIONS WE WERE REQUESTING IN THE BUDGET BY SIX POSITIONS.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF IN-HOUSE, UH, ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.
THE SAVINGS ON THAT IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS IS ABOUT $711,000.
AND WE HAVE A LIST OF SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.
THE IN-HOUSE PIPE BURSTING CREW IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS SAVED ABOUT $3.6 MILLION.
'CAUSE THEY'RE DOING THE WORK AT ABOUT 50% OF THE CONTRACTING COST.
[03:10:01]
AND THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT EQUIPMENT, DEPRECIATION, FUEL, ALL THE ITEMS THAT THEY USE TO OPERATE THAT CREW.UH, ALSO WE DID AN A, UH, IN-HOUSE, A MI REPLACEMENT OF ABOUT 10,000 EARTHS THAT SAVED THE CITY ABOUT $200,000.
AND THIS IS RHONDA'S TEAM THAT WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THOSE EARTHS THAT WERE MALFUNCTIONING AND WE PROJECTING TO SAVE $4 MILLION BY MANAGING THIS WATER METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM IN HOUSE.
I THINK THAT NUMBER'S GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, BUT WE'RE BEING VERY CONSERVATIVE RIGHT NOW.
SO THE BEST WAY TO ACTUALLY FUND THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE NEEDING TO BE COMPLETED IS A COMBINATION OF ALL THESE SOURCES, WHETHER IT'S GRANTS, THE METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, THE DEBT RELEASE, THE SAVINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO ACHIEVE EVERY DAY.
AND, AND A COMBINATION OF THESE ITEM, THESE ITEMS WILL DETERMINE WHAT THESE FUTURE RATE INCREASES SHOULD BE BASED ON WHAT COUNCIL DECIDES WANNA DO IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH MONEY THEY WANNA SPEND EVERY YEAR ON CAPITAL.
SO, AND OUR GOAL IS TO MINIMIZE THE RATE INCREASE ON THE CITIZENS.
AND OUR ANSWER TO THAT IS A COMBINATION.
JUST FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE METER PROGRAM REPLACEMENT PROJECT IS SUCCESSFUL AND IT DOES PROVIDE THE REVENUE NEEDED OR PROJECTED NEXT YEAR'S RATE INCREASE WILL NOT EVEN BE CLOSE TO THIS YEAR'S RATE INCREASE.
SO, AND THAT WOULD BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL TO US.
SO FOR THE 2025, UH, BUDGET YEAR, WE PROPOSING AN 8.5%, UH, WATER IN SEWER RATE INCREASE.
AND IF YOU COMPARE THAT TO VOLUME, UH, A HOUSEHOLD OF ONE PERSON IS NOT USING MORE THAN 3000 GALLONS A MONTH.
SO THEIR BILL WOULD BE $4 AND 65 CENTS HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY'RE PAYING TODAY.
IF YOU'RE AT AROUND 6,000 GALLONS, WHICH IS A FAMILY OF THREE, YOUR BILL IS GONNA BE ABOUT $7 AND 72 CENTS HIGHER THAN WHAT IT IS TODAY.
AND, UH, THE UH, SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT THAT COUNCILMAN LEWIS PUSHED FOR AND EVERYBODY AT THIS COUNCIL HAVE SUPPORTED IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN OUR BUDGETARY NUMBERS.
AND IT'LL SAVE OUR SENIOR CITIZENS $6 AND 25 CENTS PER MONTH.
SO THIS 8.5% THE WAY IT IS, UH, BROKEN DOWN, 5.2% OF IT IS GONNA BE TO BORROW $30 MILLION FOR THE CAPITAL PROGRAM.
1.3% OF IT IS GONNA FUND THE NEW PIPE BURSTING CREW THAT COUNCIL, UH, REQUESTED WE ADD TO OUR BUDGET AND THAT INCLUDES EMPLOYEES AND EQUIPMENT.
AND 2% IS GONNA COVER ALL THIS INFLATION.
WE ARE HAVING THE INCREASE IN CHEMICAL COSTS, ELECTRICITY COSTS, THE 3% INCREASE FOR EMPLOYEES AND THAT'S TIGHT.
THAT'S VERY, VERY, VERY TIGHT.
AND UH, WE'RE GONNA TRY OUR BEST TO LIVE WITHIN THAT AND NOT GO OVER BUDGET.
THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF IS PROJECTING A 4.5%, UH, INFLATION IN 25.
THE PROJECTS WE ARE PROPOSING TO DO IN THE 2025 CAPITAL, UH, PROGRAM TOTAL TO A $30 MILLION.
WE HAVE $2 MILLION IN ELEVATED STORAGE TANKS, 3.7 MILLION IN FORCE MAIN REPLACEMENTS, 2 MILLION IN LIFT STATION, RE UH, REHABILITATION WASTEWATER TREATMENT, PLANT CONSTRUCTION, 1.5 MILLION.
COLLECTION SYSTEM REHAB, 3 MILLION ON SANITARY SEWER PIPE AND MANHOLES.
SABINE PASS IS 500,000 FOR SANITARY SEWER.
THE LEAD AND COPPER INVENTORY AT 700 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM REHAB, WHICH IS WATERLINE REPLACEMENT VALVES AND HYDRANTS, SORRY NOT HYDRANTS, UH, IS 8.85 MILLION.
THE FIRE HYDRANT CITYWIDE IS 500,000.
UH, EQUIPMENT PIPE BURSTING, THAT KIND OF STUFF IS 1.25 MILLION.
THE WAR PURIFICATION PLANT IS A MILLION.
MAINLY ELECTRICAL WORK AND THE WAR SHORE REPLACEMENT IN STREET PROJECTS.
AND THIS LAST ITEM IS SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY
[03:15:01]
NEED TO START DOING BECAUSE, LIKE YOU ALL REQUESTED LAST TIME, UH, IF WE ARE REPLACING A STREET, THERE'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER IT THAT'S WATER AND WASTEWATER.WE DON'T WANNA REPLACE A STREET.
AND THEN 30 DAYS LATER WE HAVE A WAR LINE BLOW UP AND THEN WE HAVE TO FIX THE STREET.
SO WE ARE COORDINATING WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND, UH, ENGINEERING TO MAKE SURE WHATEVER PROJECTS THEY HAVE, WE CAN REPLACE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THAT WAS THE ESTIMATE FROM THE PROJECTS THEY HAVE ON THEIR BOOKS FOR 2025.
IN CONCLUSION, THESE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR OWN THIS WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
OUR JOB IS TO MAINTAIN IT FOR THEM, MAKE SURE IT'S FUNCTIONING EVERY DAY, MAKE SURE IT PROVIDES THEM UNINTERRUPTED SERVICES, BUT THEY OWN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS VITAL FOR THE ECONOMIC WELLBEING OF THE CITY AND FOR FUTURE GROWTH.
IF WE CANNOT PROVIDE WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES TO AN ENTITY THAT WANNA COME SAY TO THE EDC, THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME.
IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO BUILD A $10 MILLION APARTMENT COMPLEX AND WE DON'T HAVE THE WATER AND WASTEWATER TO PROVIDE THEM SERVICES, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BUILD.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, FUNCTIONING WITH THE CAPACITY IT NEEDS TO HAVE.
AND BASED ON HAVING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, PROPERTY VALUES WILL GO UP BECAUSE YOU HAVE FUNCTIONING WATER AND WASTEWATER.
HUNDREDS OF CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE TODAY.
THEY DON'T HAVE FUNCTIONING WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES BECAUSE THEY'VE WENT YEARS AND YEARS WITHOUT DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND THEIR MAINTENANCE AND THEIR REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
IT IS IN THE CITY'S BEST, IN THE CITIZEN'S BEST INTEREST TO INVEST IN THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
IF WE HAVE ECONOMIC GROWTH, WE HAVE MORE PROPERTY TAXES GENERATED, MORE SALES TAXES GENERATED, AND LESS OF THAT BURDEN WILL HAVE TO BE PUT ON THE CITIZENS.
IT'LL ALSO, AGAIN, INCREASE OR MAINTAIN YOUR PROPERTY VALUE.
NOBODY'S GONNA BUY YOUR HOUSE IF YOU CANNOT FLUSH YOUR COMMODE.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'LL PROVIDE UNINTERRUPTED SERVICES, WATER AND WASTEWATER TO OUR CITIZENS, WHICH IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
AND IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, WE WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
THERE ARE ANY, ANY, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
SO THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS UH, RATE INCREASE GONNA COME TO THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL? YES.
PRIOR TO THE BUDGET TO BE PUBLISHED? OKAY THEN SO HOW DO WE HANDLE THIS PORTION HERE BY THIS RATE INCREASE? YOU ARE ASKING THIS NOW.
THE THE TIMELINE IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS RATE INCREASE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST BY LAW, WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE IT IN THE NEWSPAPER TWO WEEKS IN A ROW.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION NEXT.
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 10TH.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE STILL HAVE TIME TO PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA, BUT WE ARE ON A TIME CRUNCH TO BE, 'CAUSE IF WE DON'T MAKE IT EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, WE ARE LOSING $280,000 FOR THAT MONTH IN REVENUE.
WE DON'T HAVE NO, BECAUSE WE DON'T PUBLISH IT.
I AM NOT AWARE OF THE NEWSPAPER DEADLINES YET, BUT WE'D HAVE TO PUBLISH IN THE NEWSPAPER, I BELIEVE FOR THAT HIPAA HEARING.
BUT IS IT OKAY IF WE GET IT READY TOMORROW BECAUSE WE DO IT JANUARY TOMORROW? YEAH.
BUT YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING IF IT HASN'T BEEN PUBLISHED.
RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT THERE FOR TWO WEEKS.
[03:20:01]
IT.I BELIEVE THE PUBLICATION IS NOT FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLICATION IS ABOUT THE RATE INCREASE WILL BE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST.
WE HAVE TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC TWO WEEKS IN A ROW AS, AS PER THE PREVIOUS CITY ATTORNEY.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M HEARING IT AND I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE STATUTE TO MAKE SURE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT IF WE HAVE TO PUBLISH SOMETHING, IT'S NOT GONNA BE HEARD AT THE NEXT AGENDA.
YEAH, BECAUSE THE LAST, THE LAST, THE LAST MEETING WE HAD, WE TALKING, UH, THE CREW ELIMINATING POSITIONS.
SO WE GET A, WE GET A PRESENTATION ALL ABOUT 8.5.
UM, DIRECTORS, UM, JUST ONE THING, ONE CAVEAT.
YOU, YOU, YOU GUYS KIND OF KNOW HOW I AM ABOUT THE, I'M LOOKING FOR THAT PAGE HERE.
UH, THAT SUPPORT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.
I MEAN, WHERE WE AT? WHAT, WHAT NUMBER, WHAT PAGE WAS THAT WHEN WE TALKED TO WHEN YOU GUYS HAD GRANT OPPORTUNITIES? POSSIBLE IF 25, 25, 24 25.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE APPLY FOR GRANTS AND WE ALL KNOW THAT I'VE TALKED WITH, UM, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS ABOUT THAT.
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE DOING? WHY ARE WE NOT GETTING IT? YOU SEPARATED THEM TO GET A BETTER CHANCE TO, UH, TO, UH, WIN OR BE AWARDED HOWEVER WE WE'RE NOT GETTING THEM.
SO, YOU KNOW, CONTINGENCY PLANS THAT WE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH, DOC, UH, CALVIN, ABOUT WHAT WE CAN MAINTAIN OR LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER, BITE ON IT A LITTLE BIT.
I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT, AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE MANAGER ABOUT HAVING A GRANT WRITER ON BOARD SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT THIS PROCESS THAT SOME OTHER CITIES ARE, ARE GETTING THESE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND WE'RE NOT, I MEAN, WE ARE DOING, WE, WE GOT THE DEMOGRAPHICS, WE GOT THE, WE GOT THE NUMBERS AND I BELIEVE IN NUMBERS.
NUMBERS SPEAKS FOR THEMSELVES.
I ALSO BELIEVE WHAT THE MAYORS TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY ABOUT BEING AT THE TABLE AND, AND WHEN THE DECISIONS BE MADE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA THAT HADN'T BEEN KEPT UP, LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER, UH, 2012, 2019.
WE HAVE NO RECORDS PRIOR TO THAT.
SO HOW DO WE COMBAT THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION OR APPLY FOR GRANTS AND GOING IN AND GOT OUR FINGERS CROSSED AND THEN WE SEE DENIED.
NOT APPROVED, NOT APPROVED, NOT APPROVED.
YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE POSSIBLY DO AT THIS DIS JUNCTION BECAUSE THIS IS THE BUDGET OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO NOW TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE AT THE TABLE, UH, AND HOPEFULLY GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOME OF THIS MONEY.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S COMPETITIVE.
WHAT CAN WE DO? COUNCILMAN? MY OPINION, WE NEVER GIVE UP.
EVERY GRANT WE FIND, WE KEEP APPLYING.
WE SEE IF WE MADE ANY MISTAKES IN THAT PROCESS.
WE FIXED THEM, WE APPLY AGAIN.
I MEAN WE DID GET $47 MILLION FROM THE TEXAS WORLD DEVELOPMENT BOARD, FOR EXAMPLE.
THINK WE'RE NOT GETTING APPROVED HERE.
AND, AND THAT COULD BE WHY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LIKE, THEY ALREADY GOT THEIR SHARE TWO YEARS AGO.
SO, BUT THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO IS KEEP TRYING, KEEP TRYING.
THERE ARE TWO, THERE'S SOME GRANTS, EXCUSE ME, THERE ARE SOME GRANTS COMING UP AND, UH, TRAILER, IT'S A COMPANY THAT WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH.
THEY'VE IDENTIFIED SOME GRANTS THAT ARE ABOUT TO COME OUT.
IT'S LEFTOVER FEMA MONEY THAT EITHER THE STATE HAS TO SPEND OR SEND BACK.
SO THE ENTITY THAT'S PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, C-B-D-G-C.
IS, UH, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I GET THE LETTERS MIXED UP IS, UH, THEY HAVEN'T COME UP WITH THE RULES YET, BUT THEY'VE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY'RE COMING OUT.
SO WE'RE TRACKING THAT THEY HAVE TO BE BROKEN UP BETWEEN ONE AND 3 MILLION THEY HAVEN'T SAID, WELL, THEY'LL HAVE TO BE MATCHING GRANTS OR NOT, BUT WE'RE PREPARED.
I MEAN, JUST ON THE WATER LINES THAT WE HAVE, WE CAN, THEY HAVE TO BE SHOVEL READY.
WE HAVE QUITE A FEW PROJECTS THAT ARE SHOVEL READY.
WE CAN BID 'EM WITHIN 30 DAYS.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING TO BE READY IS GRANT, A LOT OF THE GRANTS ARE COMING OUT.
THEY WANT TO AWARD IT QUICKLY, SO YOU HAVE TO SHOW 'EM THE PLANS AND SPECS.
SO WE HAVE, WE'RE DEVELOPING THOSE.
WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE IN IN HOUSE READY TO GO.
[03:25:03]
AND I DO THINK THAT THE 47,000 IMPACTED US.I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THOSE NUMBERS TOO.
THE BILLION AND THE MILLION, UH, HAS IMPACTED US WITH TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
THE POLITICS ARE HOPEFULLY BY NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE ELIGIBLE IN THEIR MINDS.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES, SIR.
UM, THE PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS 8.5%.
I THINK WE HAD TALKED ABOUT 7.5%.
HOW DID WE GET THE EXTRA PERCENTAGE? OKAY, THE 7.5.
THE 7.5 IS BASICALLY THE 30 MILLION CONSTRUCTION BONDS AND THE ONE, UH, THE PIPE BURSTING CREW TO BUY THE EQUIPMENT AND ADD ADDITIONAL STAFF.
AND, AND IN THE DISCUSSION LAST TIME, IT KIND OF GOT OVERSIGHT THAT THERE'S INFLATION AND SALARY INCREASES, WHICH IS BASICALLY INFLATION.
SO, UH, COST OF CHEMICALS HAVE GONE UP.
ELECTRICITY, EVERYTHING YOU BUY AT HOME HAS GONE UP FOR US ALSO.
AND THE, THE PROPOSAL LAST TIME WAS ACTUALLY 10%.
AND THE 7.5% CAME INTO THE DISCUSSION AS WELL AS NEGOTIABLE.
WE, WE ARE JUST TRYING TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
NO, I JUST, I JUST WANT THE EXPLANATION OF IT.
I JUST WANT FOR OUR, FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE WATCHING, WHO ARE WATCHING THIS, WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN AS COUNCIL PERSONS, I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN GETTING, UM, MESSAGES AND INBOXES AND ALL OF THAT, UM, SHARING WITH US THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT AN INCREASE.
UM, AND SO I JUST WANNA FULLY UNDERSTAND ALL THE VARIABLES OF IT.
SO EXPLAIN ON PAGE 34, COUNSEL, IF YOU GO TO PAGE 34, IT HAS THAT BREAKDOWN.
SO EXPLAIN C CAN YOU GO IN A LITTLE BIT MORE INTRICATE DETAIL ON HOW THE, UM, THE, UM, THE SAVINGS IS, UM, GOING TO BE ADDED INTO FOR THE SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT? OR, OR THAT, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR US? BECAUSE YOU SAID THAT WAS INCLUSIVE, RIGHT? CORRECT.
IT, IT'S PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET ON THE REVENUE.
IT'S BEEN DEDUCTED FOR THE $6 25 CENTS, UH, ON AN ESTIMATED NUMBER OF SENIOR CITIZENS WE HAVE.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE AN APPLICATION TO FILL OUT TO QUALIFY AND IT'LL BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
AND IT'S ONE PER HOUSEHOLD, 65 AND ABOVE.
SO LIKE IF YOU AND YOUR WIFE ARE 65 OR ABOVE, IT'S, YOU KNOW, ONE METER, ONE DISCOUNT.
AND BASED ON INITIAL PROJECTIONS, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO MORE NEXT YEAR AS WELL FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.
BUT IT WILL HAVE TO BE, IT WILL HAVE TO BE APPLIED FOR YES.
YOU, YOU'LL HAVE TO COME IN AND, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY PROVE YOU'RE OVER 65 AND THIS METER'S IN YOUR NAME, THE OTHER CITIES DO IT.
WE'VE KIND OF RESEARCHING THAT IN COMING UP WITH THE APPLICATION AND HOW THEY DO IT.
IT WON'T BE AUTOMATIC 'CAUSE WE DON'T ACTUALLY NECESSARILY KNOW OFFICIALLY.
YOU GOT YEAH, COUNCIL DO THAT.
WHEN YOU SU UH, SUBMITTING THE PAPERWORK FOR THE GRANTS, DO THEY, UH, INQUIRE ABOUT REVENUE THE CITY RECEIVES WHEN YOU'RE DOING THOSE GRANTS? I DUNNO.
OUR PART WITH THE GRANT APPLICATION IS THE TECHNICAL PART.
SO $20 MILLION IS AVAILABLE, LET'S SAY FOR SANITARY SEWER LIFT STATIONS.
SO WE GATHER ALL THAT INFORMATION FOR THE COMPANY, PUTTING TOGETHER THE GRANT THAT INCLUDES WHAT IS READY TO BE BUILT, WHAT IS UNDER DESIGN, WHEN WILL IT BE READY, WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED COST WE PROVIDE THEM ALL THE DATA WE HAVE, IF WE HAVE FLOW DATAS, LOCATIONS, GIS, AND THEN THEY PUT THAT GRANT TOGETHER.
SO DIFFERENT GRANTS ARE GONNA REQUIRE DIFFERENT INFORMATION.
AND I'M SURE SOME OF THEM WILL REQUIRE WHAT IS THE CITY'S REVENUE AT? AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IS WE LOOKED AT LIKE AN INDUSTRIAL CITY.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY WHOLE POINT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION.
'CAUSE I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW THE, THE ANSWER.
'CAUSE I COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED CITIES PUTTING IN FOR GRANTS.
AND THEN, UH, WHOEVER LOOKING AT DON'T, DON'T LOOK AT THE RESOURCES AND AVAILABLE REVENUE TO THESE CITIES AGAIN BEFORE THEY DETERMINE WHO THEY WANT TO GIVE TO.
IT'S SOMETHING LIKE, IT'S FOR THE NEEDY, NOT THE GREEDY.
[03:30:01]
SO THAT'S WHY I ASKED THAT QUESTION.THE OTHER THING IS, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO GO FOR GRANTS BECAUSE THESE THINGS WE NEED.
BUT WHAT DO WE DO IN ORDER TO START TRYING TO FIX THESE THINGS AND NOT WAIT FOR GRANTS? UH, WAIT TILL WE GET FUNDED.
BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS MAJOR ISSUE WITH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
SO IT AIN'T NOTHING JUST COMMON TO PORT ARTHUR.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE HAVE TO START DOING SOMETHING EACH YEAR, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO START FUNDING IT.
OKAY, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, WE HAVE TO START MOVING A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME.
WE GOTTA START BITING THIS ELEPHANT AT A TIME.
WE JUST CAN'T CONTINUE TO, TO, TO SAY WE WAITING ON A GRANT OR WE GOING TO TRY TO GET FUNDING OR WE HAVE TO FIND FUNDING.
WE KEEP SAYING WE GOING TO DO THIS, BUT AS WE SAYING WE'RE GONNA DO THIS, OUR PROBLEM IS MAGNIFYING.
OUR PROBLEM IS NOT GETTING BETTER WITH TIME.
SO WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT ALL THESE THINGS, WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE, YES, FUNDING IS ONE THING, BUT WHAT ABOUT HOW WE GONNA APPROACH IT? ARE WE GONNA START DOING IT JUST LIKE WATER LINES, YOU SELECTED SOME WATER LINES TO BE DONE AND FRONT THEM.
THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE.
IF WE'D HAVE BEEN DOING THIS LIKE 10 YEARS AGO, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ALL THESE WATER LINES TODAY.
IF WE'D START DOING STREETS BACK THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE ALL THIS TODAY.
SO WE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE WENT WRONG AND PROBABLY WHERE MOST PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WENT WRONG, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A JUST A PROBLEM HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
SO IT'S PROBABLY WAS A LOT OF CITIES THAT TOOK THE APPROACH, LIKE, THEY AIN'T GONNA GET BETTER OR WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, SO WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, WE CAN'T DO IT.
SO IT JUST GOT TO WHERE NOW IT'S ALL THROUGH THE NATION.
SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE NEED ALSO TO START LOOKING AT HOW DO WE JUST CHOP THIS UP? WE NEED TO START DOING SOMETHING.
UH, THIS BUDGET HERE HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO US, BUT IN THE FUTURE WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP OURSELVES.
THAT'S HOW WE TIGHTEN UP FOR OUR BELT.
AND WHEN I START TALKING ABOUT BUDGET, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL THIS GOOD TO HAVE STUFF, LEAVE IT ALONE, LET'S GO TO OUR NEEDS.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THIS.
BUT WHEN HE'S TALKED ABOUT GRANTS, THAT GRANT, I HEAR GRANT, GRANT, GRANT, GRANT, GRANT, GRANT, GRANT, GRANT, GRANT, GRANT.
AND I'M LOOKING AT OUR REVENUE AND STUFF WE GET IN THIS CITY AND I'M SAYING, WELL, IF SOMEBODY LOOKING AT THAT AND THEY GONNA GIVE THIS GRANT, WHAT ARE OUR CHANCES OF GETTING A GRANT? THEN I HEAR, WE DIDN'T GET IT, THEN MY IDEAS START POPPING UP.
SO COUNCILMAN, YOU'RE A HUNDRED PERCENT CORRECT.
AND LAST PRESENTATION, WE PROVIDED YOU ALL A TIMELINE.
IF WE NEED TO FIX THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IN 20 YEARS, 30 YEARS, 40 YEARS, 50 YEARS, OR 90 YEARS, THE RATE WE ARE MOVING ON TODAY IS 90 YEAR RATE.
AND I THOUGHT WE GOT SOME KIND OF CONSENT AGREEMENT THAT THE 30 YEAR MARK WOULD BE A GOOD TIMELINE NOT TO BURDEN OUR CITIZENS WITH TOO MUCH RATE INCREASES AND GET THE SYSTEM UP TO PAR.
AND THAT'S WHY WE PROPOSE IN THIS BUDGET A 5.2% INCREASE THAT WILL DIRECTLY TARGET INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO THAT $890 MILLION NEXT YEAR WILL BECOME 890 MILLION MINUS 30 MILLION.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE GONNA BE APPLYING FOR GRANTS.
LIKE THE TWO GRANTS WE HAVE OUT NOW, ONE IS 18,000,001 IS 18.7 MILLION.
SO IF WE GET THAT GRANT NEXT YEAR, THAT MEANS IN 2026, I DON'T NEED TO BORROW 30 MILLION, I ONLY NEED TO BORROW 12 MILLION, WHICH WILL REDUCE MY RATE INCREASE.
AND THEN I SUBSIDIZE SOME OF THAT 30 MILLION FROM THAT GRANT.
IF I GET BOTH GRANTS, THEN NEXT YEAR I DON'T HAVE TO BORROW 30 MILLION, I HAVE TO BORROW 12 THE YEAR AFTER I HAVE TO ONLY BORROW 11.4 MILLION.
SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP PURSUING THIS GRANT FUNDING.
BUT LIKE YOU SAID, WHEN THEY LOOK AT OUR STATUS, OUR REVENUE, OUR PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT COMES INTO CONSIDERATION.
ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT NOT BE ON PAPER VERSUS A CITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY OF THAT.
BUT THE PLAN IS TO START WITH THIS BUDGET YEAR AT 30 MILLION AND THEN SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR.
NEXT YEAR WE MIGHT GET 2.68 MILLION FROM THE METER PROGRAM.
AND THEN I DON'T HAVE TO BORROW ANY MONEY.
I DON'T HAVE TO DO INCREASE TO BORROW 30 MILLION
[03:35:01]
BECAUSE THAT SUBSIDIZES IT.SO WE HAVE TO TAKE IT YEAR BY YEAR, BUT WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.
WE ARE PROPOSING WE START IN 25.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, I AGREE WITH THAT.
AND THAT'S THE KIND I SAID THE LAST, UH, MEETING WE HAD WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE 7.5, AND YOU REALLY LAID OUT TO US WHY YOU'RE GONNA DO IT.
I REALLY DID UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE GONNA START DOING IT, THAT'S, WE GOTTA START SOMEWHERE.
AND, UH, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL WERE GOING TO DO WITH THE PIPE VERSUS SEE, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT'S GONNA BE TO US, AND I KNOW WHAT IT CAN DO.
SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T MIND ANSWERING TO MY CONSTITUENTS ABOUT AN INCREASE, YOU KNOW, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M QUITE SURE A LOT OF 'EM HEARD THE MEETING AND, AND SOME OF THE COMMENTS I'VE HAD HAVE BEEN IN REFERENCE TO THAT.
YOU KNOW, I'M PLANNING ON, UH, ADDRESSING IT TO MY CONSTITUENT.
BUT THE THING ABOUT IT IS I NEED TO BE TO A POINT WHEREBY WE ARE PRETTY MUCH SPEAKING IN THE SAME LINGO AND UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T SAY ONE THING IN THIS MEETING AND THEN WHEN WE COME BACK TO THE NEXT WEEK, I HEAR ANOTHER NUMBER BECAUSE NOW IT'S MAKING IT HARD FOR ME TO COMMUNICATE BECAUSE I'M COMMUNICATING WITH THIS FROM THAT, FROM THE LAST TIME I GOT IT AND NOW I'M COMING TO A MEETING AND NOW I GOTTA GO BACK AND IT'S NOT WHAT I SAID NOW.
OKAY, SO AM I SAYING WHAT, WHAT WE TALKING ABOUT? AM I JUST COMING UP WITH SOMETHING EVERY TIME I TALK? I DON'T WANNA BE IN THAT POSITION.
CAN I, CARLOS, CAN I SAY SOMETHING JUST IN, IN, IN TERMS OF INCOME, I KNOW THAT ON A COUPLE OF THE GRANTS, I THINK THESE EPA GRANTS WERE ONE OF THEM.
THERE ARE CERTAIN TICK BOXES ON THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES FOR INCOME AND STUFF, AND WE HAVE TO GO IN AND SELECT PROJECTS THAT ARE IN, I FORGOT WHAT THEY CALL IT.
YOU CAN HELP ME FOUND THE DEMOGRAPHIC AREAS THAT THAT BOX GETS CHECKED.
SO DEREK HAS HELPED US WITH THE GIS TO SHOW US, OKAY, THESE BOXES ARE CHECKED HERE.
SO THEN WE GO IN AND WE FIND PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THAT GEOGRAPHIC AREA.
SO IT HELPS US ON OUR PROPOSAL.
SO THERE IS SOME CORRELATION BETWEEN INCOME AND FAMILY STATUS AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF WITHIN IT.
LET ME, I MEAN, SEE THIS THEN, UM, I AM THINKING MAYOR YEARS AGO, AND COUNCILMAN KLOW, YOU TOUCHED ON IT, AND COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE TOUCHED ON IT YEARS AGO.
PORT ARTHUR MAYBE HAD A, A GODFATHER OR SOMEONE WHO WAS VERY MUCH INFLUENTIAL AT THE STATE LEVEL AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, OR GODFATHERS.
I HEARD OF JACK BROOKS AND ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT COULDN'T MAKE A PHONE CALL ON BEHALF OF THE CITY TODAY.
WE NEED TO PILOT THAT OURSELVES, BUT WE NEED THE INFORMATION AS DR.
HENEY AND CALVIN HAS PRESENTED THERE, SO THAT WE COULD GO TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THEN WE CAN GO TO WASHINGTON WHEN THAT CALL IS MADE FOR US TO BE PRESENT AT THE TABLE TO PRESENT THAT INFORMATION.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE AS COUNCIL DU SAID, STATED, YOU CAN APPLY FOR THE GRANT, BUT IF THEY DON'T PUT A NAME AND A FACE WITH IT, YOU KNOW, OR IF THEY DON'T HEAR FROM YOU INDIVIDUALLY OR HEAR FROM, UM, NICHOLS OR WHOEVER REPRESENTS US AROUND HERE, YOU KNOW, AND WE DO NOT HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES IT VERY MUCH DIFFICULT FOR US TO MAKE ANY HEADWAY, YOU KNOW? SO I, I'VE GOT TO BEGIN THINKING, WE'VE GOT TO BEGIN THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND BEGIN CULTIVATING AND NURTURING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
YOU KNOW, UM, JACK BROOKS IS DEAD.
ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO HAD BROUGHT HOME THE FAT AND THE MU AND WHATEVER IT WAS THAT THEY BROUGHT HOME, IF THEY EVER BROUGHT IT HOME, ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE DEAD.
SO WE GOTTA THINK DIFFERENTLY NOW AS TO HOW WE GOING TO BRING IT HOME, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE ARE JUST HEARING FROM A BODY OF SEVEN, YOU KNOW? BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP OUTSIDE OF THAT BODY OF SEVEN, IT MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO, FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
BUT I'M PREPARED TO DO THAT, THOUGH.
I'M PREPARED TO DO IT WITH THE COUNCIL.
YOU HAVE TWO OR THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE STUDY THE DOCUMENT AND IT'S NEEDED FOR US TO GO OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO HAVE A DISCUSSION, AN INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS A CERTAIN MEMBER OF STAFF NOW THAT I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH, AND WHEN I WANT SOMETHING FROM
[03:40:01]
THE BEST FRIEND TO THE SOMEBODY.THEY WERE THE BEST FRIEND AND I, AND, AND WE GET WHAT WE WANT.
IT GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CAPITOL.
WHEN I SHARE IT WITH HIM, I CALL HIM ON THE WEEKEND.
I SAY, DON'T FORGET WHEN YOU ARE OUT THERE, TALK TO YOUR WIFE SO THAT YOUR WIFE TALKS TO MR. NICHOLS'S WIFE.
AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET THINGS DONE.
COUNCILMAN FRANK, CITY MANAGER.
AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO, AND EVEN IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, IS THAT WE HAVE TO SELL PORT ARTHUR FROM THE PARTICULAR STANDPOINT OF THE FACT THAT WE OIL THE WORLD FROM THE PARTICULAR STANDPOINT, THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THESE LNGS THAT ARE HERE.
AND IT IS, IT IS, IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR NATION THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE WATER TO THE MOTIVA'S, TO THE LNGS, TO THE SEMPRAS, TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
AND SO WE NEED THAT SUPPORT IN ORDER TO PRODUCE THE KINDS OF OUTCOMES IN OUR NATION THAT, THAT WE NEED.
THAT'S THE MINDSET AND THE MENTALITY THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AS WE'RE GOING FOR THIS KIND OF FUNDING.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK.
UM, ARE WE COMPLETE WITH, WITH, WITH, WITH THIS GROUP? WHAT, WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE LEFT? WE, YEAH, WE GOT SOME MORE.
NO, I, NO, I'M IN FAVOR OF THE BREAK.
I JUST WANT KNOW WHAT WE HAVE WHEN WE CAME, WHEN WE COME BACK.
SO WE, WE, WE, WE ARE THROUGH.
I DON'T WANNA LEAVE AND JUST COME BACK TO HIM.
I'M DONE WITH, THAT'S THE TIME I MADE THE MOST.
WELL, LET, LET US, LET US, UH, SECOND.
MAYOR, WE, WE, WE'LL TAKE A, A, A 10 MINUTE BREAK.
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN RIGHT TO STAND UP.
WELL, IT, THIS THE TIME I REALLY WANTED TO SAY, I JUST SAID 4 52 TO BE, UH, POLITICALLY CORRECT.
WE, UH, PREPARED FOR THE NEXT, THE NEXT ONE THAT WE HAVE.
AND THE LAST ONE FOR TODAY IS GOING TO BE THE SOLID WASTE OR LANDFILL THAT IS THE LAST OF OUR ENTERPRISE.
THE BUDGET PIECE IS ON PAGE 1 25.
THE CAPITAL PIECE IS ON PAGE 2 0 6 1 25.
THAT'S THE ONE I GOT HERE, RIGHT? YEAH, THAT'S WITH THE TAB.
PAGE 1 25 AND 2 0 6 FOR CAPITAL 2 26.
I'M ALRIGHT, MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION.
GO RIGHT AHEAD BEFORE WE, UH, GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE WATER.
THEY SAID IN THE LAST WORKSHOP THAT THE WATER INCREASE, MAYBE IT'S GONNA BE LIKE $7.
IF WE PAY A HUNDRED ON THE BILL, UH, WE GONNA END PAYING SEVEN MORE WITH THE INCREASE.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, WE PAY IN DIFFERENT LINES, THE WATER, WE PAY SOME AMOUNT AND THE SEWER, WE PAY ANOTHER AMOUNT.
I WANT SIMILAR AMOUNT, BUT WE TAKE TWO DIFFERENT ONES.
IF THEY GOING INCREASE 7% AND OR WHATEVER, IS THEY GONNA BE THE INCREASE, EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT EVEN PAYING ON THE CREEK.
IT IS GONNA BE ON THE SEWER AND ON THE WATER.
OR, LET'S SEE, THE 7% OR 8% OR WHATEVER GONNA BE THE PERCENT.
IT'S GONNA DIVIDE BETWEEN TWO OF THEM.
HAYNE IS GOING TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER, I BELIEVE.
IS THAT MIKE ON, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH.
IF YOU ARE USING 6,000 GALLONS A MONTH, YOUR TOTAL INCREASE WILL BE $7 AND 72 CENTS ON THE BILL.
AND THAT IS THE INCREASE ON THE WATER AND THE WASTEWATER AS WELL AS THE READY TO SERVE FEE, BUT NOT FOR BOTH.
[03:45:01]
EVERYTHING.THE TOTAL, THE TOTAL WOULD BE ONE, YOU KNOW, ONE $7 62 CENTS INCREASE.
BUT IT WOULD HANDLE BOTH OF THOSE.
RIGHT NOW WHEN ONE OF MY BILLS, BECAUSE I HAVE DIFFERENT BILLS, UH, IT'S $0 USAGE, ZERO, NONE.
AND I STILL PAYING MORE THAN $45 A MONTH, EVEN THOUGH THEY NO COLLECT TRASH FOR ME.
JUST BECAUSE I HAVE AN ACCOUNT WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THEY CHARGE ME THIS KIND OF MONEY ON IT.
UM, THEY TOLD ME BEFORE IT IS BECAUSE JUST I HAVE AN OPEN ACCOUNT WITH THEM, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T RECEIVE ANY SERVICE AT ALL.
I'M GONNA JUST INCREASE $7 MORE TO THIS BILL, OR I GONNA HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WATER, SEWER AND TAXES BECAUSE THE TAXES ARE GONNA BE UP TOO.
EVERY ACCOUNT HAS A READY TO SERVE FEE AND THE INCREASE WILL ONLY BE ON THE READY TO SERVE FEE.
SO IT'LL BE 8.5% INCREASE ON THE READY TO SERVE FEE.
THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE ON USAGE BECAUSE THE USAGE IS ZERO.
AND THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING.
ANY QUESTIONS ON PAGE 1 25? OKAY.
UH, ALRIGHT, UH, MANAGER, UH, EXCUSE ME, DIRECTOR.
UH, JUST, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT, WE SEE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN YOUR BUDGET.
UH, CAN YOU TELL US SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND WHY? UH, THAT WOULD BE SO, AND, UH, YEAH, ABOUT THREE.
YEAH, JUST ANY, UH, HIGHLIGHTS WOULD YOU CARE TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL? UH, THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF THE BUDGET? WHAT IS IT ABOUT? ABOUT THREE MILL.
UM, I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE LOOKING AT PAGE 1 25? YES.
SO SOME OF THE INCREASES THAT YOU MAY SEE IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
AS YOU KNOW, YOU ALL APPROVED.
UM, UM, UH, WE, WE ADVERTISE, NOT APPROVED, BUT WE ADVERTISED, UH, FOR PROPOSALS REQUEST.
WE DID A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
THOSE PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AND THEY'RE UNDERGOING, UH, REVIEW.
UH, WE'LL HAVE THOSE OR THAT CONSULTANT IDENTIFIED AND BACK TO YOU, UH, PROBABLY TOWARD THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR, SOMEWHERE ALONG THAT CUSP.
UM, AND SO IT'LL TAKE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THERE ABOUT NINE MONTHS THAT ARE SPECIFIED WITHIN THAT RFP FOR THAT CONSULTANT TO COMPLETE THEIR, THEIR, THEIR EVALUATION AND TO DEVELOP, TO DEVELOP THE PLAN.
SO THAT STILL LEAVES US WITH AT LEAST THREE MONTHS WITHIN, UH, NEXT FISCAL YEAR TO BEGIN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PLAN, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, THERE WERE FUNDS, ADDITIONAL FUNDS REQUESTED, UH, FOR A TIRE CUTTER.
AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, WE HAVE A LOT OF TIRES THAT ARE BEING DUMPED THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YEAH.
UM, BECAUSE OF THAT, WE, WE NEED A HEAVY, A HEAVY DUTY TIRE CUTTER TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH, WITH THAT EFFORT OF, OF, UH, CUTTING UP THESE TIRES AND DISCARDING OF THEM.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, A COMPANY THAT ONCE WE CUT UP THESE TIRES, ONCE WE SHRED THE TIRES, WE HAVE A COMPANY THAT WILL COME OUT AND, AND, UH, REMOVE THE TIRES AND DISCARD OF THEM ELSEWHERE.
AND SO IT'S ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THOSE FUNDS.
UM, WE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED A GRANT THAT GRANT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, SO WE HAVE TO MAIN MAINTAIN THOSE FUNDS TO TRANSPORT THOSE, JUST THOSE SHREDDED TIRES ELSEWHERE.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE, UM, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE, UH, THE DUMPSTERS, UH, AVAILABLE FOR OUR COMMERCIAL, UH, SERVICES.
[03:50:01]
BASICALLY IT.THE REMAINDER OF THE INCREASES THAT YOU SEE ARE BASED ON A 4%, UH, INFLATION.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR.
UH, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR LANDFILL OPERATIONS.
UH, YOU KNOW, ENTERPRISE FUND, WE ALL KNOW THAT.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY TRYING TO MAKE MONEY AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN? I KNOW THAT WE, WE, THE, THE, THE, THE GOAL OF THE LANDFILL WAS TO HAVE A WATERLINE, UH, RAN TO IT.
SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, MAKING SOMETHING, DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT, UH, PROVIDING SERVICE TO OUR STAFF THAT'S OUT THERE.
UH, JUST KIND OF TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR LANDFILL OPERATIONS AND THEN, UH, I'LL DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUES.
UM, SO YOU ARE CORRECT IN THE, THE INSTALLATION OF THE WATERLINE.
SO WATERLINE HAS BEEN INSTALLED UP TO THE RIGHT OF WAY AT THE LANDFILL.
UM, JUST RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT, UH, THE FLUSHING FOR THAT, THAT WATER LINE HAS BEEN COMPLETE.
THEY PASSED THE TESTING WITH TCEQ.
UH, SO AT THIS POINT IT IS CONNECTING THAT WATER LINE FROM THE, THAT END POINT TO THE BUILDINGS.
UM, IN ADDITION, I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THE REST OF YOUR QUESTION? UM, JUST LANDFILL OPERATIONS.
UH, I KNEW THAT WE WERE LOOKING TO GET A MAT, SOME TYPE OF, UH, MAT THAT, THAT WAS THERE A SCALE MAT, UH, AT THE LANDFILL.
UH, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT, THAT I'M RECAPPING.
I'VE, I'VE TALKED WITH THE MANAGER ABOUT IT.
UH, I'M GLAD TO SEE WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THOSE, UH, WITH TRASH BEING ON, ON THE HIGHWAY.
YOU GOT THE BIG NETS, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS VERY GOOD.
WE'VE ALSO, YEAH, WE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH TDOT.
UM, THEY WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL, UH, IN, IN WORKING WITH US.
SO WE HAVE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE NOTICED, WE HAVE DELINEATORS WHENEVER YOU'RE EXITING THE LANDFILL.
UM, OUR STREETS DIVISION, UH, WIDEN THE SHOULDER TO ALLOW TRUCKS, UH, EXITING THE LANDFILL TO, TO TRAVERSE ALONG THAT SHOULDER FOR A, A GOOD DISTANCE TO TRY TO HELP, UH, REMOVE SOME OF THAT DIRT AND DEBRIS FROM THE TRUCKS BEFORE ENTERING ONTO THE HIGHWAY.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, I KID WOULD DEMAND IT, BUT I WAS KINDA ON HIM ABOUT THAT TRASH BIN ON THE HIGHWAY.
SO I HAVE TO GIVE HIM KUDOS ABOUT THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD THAT YOU OVER, GIVEN AN OVERVIEW OF YOUR HIGHLIGHTS.
UH, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENSURE THE PUBLIC, HOW WE SPENDING THE MONEY.
I THINK THAT WAS WELL WORTH THE SPEND.
UH, BUT THAT SCALE, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SCALE YOU WERE, THE SCALE THAT WE WERE GONNA DO SO WE CAN START GETTING LARGER CONTRACTS.
YOU KNOW, HELP ME OUT DOC, ON THIS ONE.
COUNCILMAN, UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, A PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT DETERMINED THAT INSTEAD OF CHARGING FOR THE WASTE COMING TO THE LANDFILL PER CUBIC YARD, THEY WANTED TO CHARGE PER TON.
AND THAT'S WHEN THE SCALE WAS PURCHASED, INSTALLED.
AND WHEN I GOT INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, AND I RAN SOME NUMBERS, WE DETERMINED WE ARE GONNA BE LOSING ABOUT 20 TO 30% OF OUR REVENUE IF WE CHARGED BY THE TON INSTEAD OF CUBIC YARD.
I MEAN, WE GOTTA PUT THIS OUT FOR CLARITY.
SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE INITIAL INTENDED PURPOSE OF THAT SCALE IS NOT TO THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST.
SO WE NEED TO FIND A PURPOSE FOR IT.
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO WEIGH, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THEY ARE LOADING OR OFFLOADING.
SO WE'RE GONNA INTRODUCE A RATE FOR THAT SCALE, FOR THAT PURPOSE ONLY, BUT WE HAVE TO PUT THIS OUT.
WHOEVER CAME UP WITH THAT IDEA WAS WRONG, SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN CHANGED.
AND ONCE THAT BUILDING HAS WATER AND WE JUST PASSED THAT FLUSHING AND TCQ TESTING LAST WEEK, SO WE ARE GONNA INSTALL THE WATER THERE, MOVE STAFF TO IT, THEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO USE THAT SCALE.
UH, I, I, I HAVE TO ADMIT I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED, UM, UH, OF THE $1.2 MILLION INCREASE, UH, AT THE LANDFILL.
AND THE REASON WHY DR. HANEY AND UM, DIRECTOR IS BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT THE, THE, THE, THE, THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD FOR DIRT WOULD HAVE IMPACTED, UH, THE PRODUCTION JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN IT HAS.
I SEE THAT WE ONLY HAD $227,910 IN OUR, UH, FUND BALANCE AND RESERVE.
I THOUGHT THAT THAT US HAVING THAT AGREEMENT WITH THE DIRT WOULD'VE SAVED US A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT.
CAN YOU TELL US WHY NOT? WHY IT HAS NOT, THE DIRT OPERATION STARTED, NOT THIS BUDGET HERE,
[03:55:01]
BUT THE PREVIOUS BUDGET HERE.SO A LOT OF THAT FUNDING WENT, OR THE REVENUE WENT INTO THAT, UH, BUDGET.
SO THAT'S PROBABLY, WE ARE NOT SEEING A LOT OF REVENUE FOR THIS BUDGET HERE FROM THE DIRT.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE DIRT, WE WERE BUYING $600,000 A YEAR IN DIRT TO USE FOR COVER AND THAT WENT DOWN TO PROBABLY LESS THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND JUST TO MOVE STUFF AROUND.
SO FOR THE NEXT 20 PLUS YEARS, WE'RE GONNA BE SAVING HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ON DIRT PURCHASE.
AND, AND YOU ALL APPROVED A VERY, VERY GOOD ORDINANCE FOR US WHEN WE CHANGE THE RATE FOR LARGER VOLUMES TO $3 PER CUBIC YARD FOR THAT DIRT.
LIKE TODAY WE RECEIVED WORD THAT, UH, GOLDEN PASS IS GONNA BE SENDING US 125,000 CUBIC YARDS OF DIRT STARTING IN THE MORNING.
THAT'S $375,000 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WILL BE IN THIS 2025 BUDGET THAT WE DIDN'T ACCOUNT FOR.
AND WE MIGHT HAVE MORE COMING BECAUSE BECHTEL IS NOT DONE MOVING.
I'M LOOKING AT THIS ONE ON PAGE 1 31.
YOU'RE GONNA HELP ME ON THAT ONE AGAIN.
WE GOT, UH, THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOUR, 4.4 MILLION YOU CAN SAY.
HUH? WHAT DID I SEE FOR LANDFILL? NO RESIDENTIAL.
THE, THE LANDFILL ON, UH, 1 25 MM-HMM.
WE ARE LOOKING AT 2.5 MILLION FOR REVENUE.
AND THEN WHEN I GO TO 1 31, IT'S GOING TO COST US 4.4 MIL.
AND I'M SORRY, YOU WENT TO WHERE? 1 31 UHHUH
WHAT OF EXPENDITURES? YEAH, TOTAL OF EXPENDITURES.
MORE THAN 1.3 UNDER LANDFILL OPERATION, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
IS, IS THAT LISTED UNDER LANDFILL OPERATION CAPITAL 1.3? UH, THAT WOULD WHICH ONE? YOU WHICH WHICH ONE YOU WANT ME? YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ON THAT ONE PAGE WHERE YOU SAID IT WAS 4 MILLION.
AND THEN OKAY, ON 1 25 UNDER REVENUE.
WE SAID WE GETTING 2.5 AND THEN FOR THE UH, MUNICIPAL LANDFILL CONTRACT, WE'RE GONNA GET AN ADDITIONAL TWO 90.
SO LET'S JUST SAY 2.8 MILLION.
SO THAT'S THE REVENUE WE ARE GONNA GET FOR LANDFILL.
AND THEN WE, WE, WE FIGURING IT GONNA COST US 4.4 MILLION TO OPERATE.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT A TWO POINT SOME MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.
IF I'M READING THIS CORRECT, THAT'S COME, I SAID I NEED SOME HELP.
WHAT Y'ALL USING THAT CALCULATOR FOR? I JUST TELL THEM THAT'S PAM.
JUST FOLLOW LAW WENT TO LINCOLN.
HUH? YOU COULD DO IT LIKE THAT? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
I COULD, I HAD THAT IN MY HEAD.
COUNCILMAN UC? DO YOU MIND IF I SURE, SURE.
TOME REMINDED ME IT DOES NOT, THIS WHAT YOU SEE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE $1 MILLION THAT WE'LL RECEIVE FOR THE GAS TO ENERGY PROJECT.
WE HAVE THAT, THAT PROJECT COMING ON BOARD.
YOU GOTTA GET WITH HER BECAUSE WHEN
[04:00:01]
SHE GIVE US PROJECTED MM-HMM.SO THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING AT.
SO IF YOU GOT ANOTHER MILLION THAT YOU DON'T SEE IT LISTED HERE, YOU GOTTA LET HER KNOW.
'CAUSE SHE HAD LISTED UNDER YOUR PROJECTED REVENUE FROM OTHER SOURCES SO THAT, THAT'LL GET YOU UP TO 3.8.
THEN THERE'S 2 MILLION WHETHER TWO AND THEN NOW 2 MILLION.
NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING BACK TO WHERE IT IS.
UM, IN FACT YOU GOT MORE REVENUE THAN YOU GOT OPERATING COSTS IF YOU GOT 2 MILLION.
'CAUSE THEN YOU'D HAVE A TOTAL OF UH, 4.8 MILLION AND YOU ONLY EXPENDITURE IN 4.4.
SO YOU END UP HAVING LIKE 400,000 OVER.
SO I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT IT, BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA FALL SHORT.
SO, OKAY, SO WHERE THE 2 MILLION YOU GOTTA GET WITH HER, SHE'S GOTTA PUT THE 2 MILLION IN HERE SO THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS, AT LEAST WE GOT A POSITIVE LOOK FOR THE FUTURE.
I MEAN, NOT THAT WE CAN, BUT THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS.
SO WE GOTTA DO, WE GOTTA GET TOGETHER ON THAT ONE.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S AN ADJUSTMENT, BUT I WILL GET WITH UH, MS. ROBERTS TO ENSURE THAT THE REVENUE STREAM IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.
YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST PUT IT WHERE WE COULD SEE IT AND KNOW WHAT IT IS AS OPPOSED TO UH, LOOKING LIKE WE ARE GOING TO BE OPERA.
I MEAN WE JUST TWO POINT SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
AND BEFORE I LEAVE THE LANDFILL, SINCE WE BROUGHT THE LANDFILL WITH THE UH, REVENUE WE HAVE GOT TO COLLECT FROM THE LANDFILL.
UH, WE MENTIONED THE, UH, SCALES.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK SCALES AS BIG AS US GETTING MONEY FOR WHAT WE PUT IN THE LANDFILL.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GOT TO STOP PICKING UP TREES.
WE HAVE GOT TO STOP PICKING UP.
UH, WHEN SOMEONE THROWS SOMEONE OUT OF A EVICTION BY, THEY PUT EVERYTHING TO THE ROAD.
WHEN WE PICK THAT UP, WE PICKING IT UP.
MORE THAN LIKELY THE TRUCK AIN'T GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE THE ROUTE 'CAUSE THEY GOING TO HAVE TO GO EMPTY.
BUT WHEN THEY GO TO THE LANDFILL, NOW WE PUTTING SOMETHING IN THE CELL AND WE SPENDING GAS AND TIME PUTTING IT IN THE CELL, FILLING THE CELL UP WHEN WE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING THE MONEY FOR IT.
WE LOSING A LOT OF MONEY IN LANDFILL BECAUSE WE ARE BRINGING STUFF AND PUTTING IT IN THERE THAT OTHER, THAT PEOPLE SHOULD PAY FOR IT.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE TO GET THAT TO WHERE WE COULD OPERATE.
THE LANDFILL COULD MAKE MONEY, BUT EVERYTHING THAT GOES IN IT, PEOPLE GOTTA PAY FOR IT.
WHAT WE BRING THAT CITIZENS AND WE TELL 'EM WHAT WE'RE GONNA PICK UP EVERY TWO WEEKS.
BUT YOU, HOW CAN WE GET CITIZENS TO KNOW? NO, NO.
WELL YOU SEE NO WHAT YOU SAID.
YEAH, BUT HERE'S THE DO THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
WHEN, WHEN THE TRASH TRUCK PASSED AND SAY FOR INSTANCE SOMEBODY GOT A TREE OUT, THEY SOMEBODY, UH, SOMEBODY CUT A TREE AND WE KNOW MOST RESIDENTS AIN'T CUTTING NO TREES.
THERE'S SOME CONTRACT CUT THE TREE, PUT IT TO THE ROW.
WELL WHEN OUR TRASH TRUCK PASS AND HE SEES THIS TREE, HE SHOULD WRITE THAT ADDRESS DOWN.
CODE ENFORCEMENT GO IN AND EXPLAIN TO THEM, WE DON'T PICK THIS UP.
YOU GOT 72 HOURS TO EITHER HAVE IT TAKEN UP AND IF WE HAVE TO TAKE IT, THEN WE GOING TO BUILD YOU ON YOUR WATER BILL.
NOW IF WE GO AND PICK IT UP, AT LEAST WE GETTING PAID TO PUT IT IN THE LANDFILL, THE LANDFILL'S GONNA MAKE MONEY.
BUT ALL THIS TIME WE PICKING THIS STUFF UP, WE ARE LOSING REVENUE.
AND NOT ONLY TREES NOT, I'VE SEEN PEOPLE TEAR DOWN THE HOUSE AND PUT IT DOWN.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, WELL IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ALL THIS RENOVATION AND STUFF, WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO PICK THAT STUFF UP.
SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME, AND I'M TALKING LANDFILL AND THE REASON I'M TALKING LANDFILL, 'CAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING I I RECOGNIZED YEARS AGO WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE LANDFILL WASN'T MAKING MONEY.
I JUST COULDN'T IMAGINE THE LANDFILL NOT MAKING MONEY.
[04:05:01]
I COULDN'T.BUT THEN WHEN I SEE WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE TAKE THERE THAT WE ACTUALLY FILLING THIS CELL UP.
'CAUSE ONCE THAT CELL GETS FILLED, GUESS WHAT? WE GOTTA, WE GOTTA GET ANOTHER ONE AND THAT'S GONNA COST.
SO WE PUTTING STUFF IN, FILLING IT UP AND WE ARE NOT GETTING THE MONEY THAT WE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING IN ORDER FOR IT TO OPERATE.
THAT LANDFILL CAN MAKE MONEY IF WHAT WE PUT IN IT.
PEOPLE WHO SUPPOSED TO PAY, PAY AND WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO PUT IN, WE PUT IN.
SO THAT'S THE COMBINATION TO THE ANSWER.
YOUR QUESTION IS, IT'S SIMPLE.
WHEN HE'S THERE, HE KNOWS WHAT WE SHOULD PICK UP AND IF IT'S SOMETHING HE SHOULD PICK UP, HE SHOULD NOTIFY CODE ENFORCEMENT.
GO AND EXPLAIN TO THE CITIZEN WHAT IT IS.
GIVE THEM TIME ENOUGH TO CORRECT IT.
AND IF THEY DON'T CORRECT IT, WE NOT GONNA LEAVE IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
BUT WHEN WE SEND THE TRUCK OUT THERE AND WE GO DUMP IT, WE KNOW WE GOING TO GET PAID.
AND THAT'S HOW WE MAKE THE REVENUE.
THAT'S HOW WE STOP LOSING AND START GAINING REVENUE.
YOU UM, WE MAY BE COMING BACK TO YOU FOR AN ORDINANCE CHANGE.
I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT.
WELL, WELL, WELL YOU SEE, THAT'S ONE THING ABOUT OUR CITIZENS.
WE DON'T NEED TO BE CITING THEM.
AND THAT'S HOW WE EDUCATE THOSE WHO DO, WHO WHO, WHO DON'T FOLLOW IT BY GOING OUT AND LETTING THEM KNOW IT'S AGAINST IT AND YOU HAVE TO DO THIS OR THAT AND, AND ALLOWING THEM TIME TO DO IT.
BECAUSE ONCE YOU START ENFORCING WHAT IT IS, IT, IT WON'T TAKE LONG FOR THE WORD TO GET AROUND.
PEOPLE WILL START UNDERSTANDING, HEY, I JUST CAN'T GO TA I CAN'T GET SOMEBODY TO COME AND REMODEL MY HOUSE AND THEY GONNA THROW EVERYTHING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
MORE THAN LIKELY THE CONTRACTOR DOESN'T CHARGE YOU TO HAUL IT OFF.
SO WE JUST GOTTA WORK TOGETHER.
AND I AGREE WITH YOU ON THE EDUCATION PART.
BUT YOU HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY TO GO OUT AND EXPLAIN IT TO OUR RESIDENTS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AFTER 72 HOURS, WE GO GET IT.
WE DON'T WANT IT SITTING ON OUR STREETS.
WE GO GET IT, BUT THEY'RE GONNA PAY US.
UH, COUNCILMAN KENMORE, UH, MAYOR, I DEFER TO, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK.
I'LL SPEAK OUT THERE IF THAT'S OKAY.
NO, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MENTION WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ON TUESDAY NIGHT.
AND THEN, UH, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE PICKING THAT UP AND YOU'RE GONNA BE STARTING TO BE BILLED ABOUT THAT.
SO WE WOULD DO THAT FOR A MONTH AND THEN START ENFORCING IT.
COUNSEL, IF I, IF I CAN, UM, JUST FOR CLARITY, WE CURRENTLY DO COLLECT GREEN WASTE BY ORDINANCE.
SO WE WOULD NEED TO AMEND THE CITY'S ORDINANCE, UM, IN REGARDS TO NO LONGER DOING THAT TYPE OF COLLECTION.
BUT MOST CERTAINLY CODE ENFORCEMENT AS THEY DO NOW, WOULD WORK WITH SOLID WASTE IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT.
ONCE WE MAKE THAT ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, WHAT DID YOU CALL IT? GREENWAY? GREEN WASTE.
AND THAT TYPE OF DEBRIS WE DO COLLECT BY ORDINANCE.
BUT DON'T WE HAVE, WE TALK ABOUT, UM, HOW YOU HAVE TO CUT IT.
HOW YOU HAVE TO CUT IT THOUGH.
UM, IT CAN'T EXCEED FOUR FEET.
AND, UM, DIAMETER, BUT WE DO COLLECT IT.
CURRENTLY BY ORDINANCE, THE WHOLE TREE.
BUT IF YOU CUT DOWN THE ENTIRE TREE AND YOU CUT IT IN SECTIONS, THE UM, ORDINANCE DICTATES, DICTATES, EXCUSE ME, CURRENTLY THAT WE DO COLLECT IT.
SO WE WOULD NEED TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE.
GREEN DOESN ORDINANCE ALSO STATE THAT WHATEVER YOU PUT OUT ON ANY GIVEN DAY THAT WE PICK UP, YOU'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO HAVE SO MUCH THAT WILL FIT IN WHAT, HOW THEY DESCRIBE, I FORGOT HOW THEY DESCRIBE IT, BUT TRYING TO FIND ALONG THOSE SAME LINE.
THAT'S HOW THE TREE CAN'T COME TO THE ROAD BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT GOVERN HOW MUCH YOU COULD PUT OUT ON ANY GIVEN DAY THAT WE PICK UP.
SO I DON'T CARE IF YOU, YOU CAN'T PUT SO MUCH
[04:10:01]
OUT YES.DON'T, THE ORDINANCE SAYS THAT.
WE DON'T NEED TO, WE DON'T NEED TO AMEND, BUT YOU NEED TO PICK THE ONE THAT WE NEED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM ABOUT.
YOU, YOU DON'T GET NO FREE RIDE ON THAT ONE.
BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO FIND IT.
I CAN'T, I'M, I'M GONNA START OFF LIKE THIS.
I, I THINK, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK IS ONTO SOMETHING THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT MONTH THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TUESDAY, THAT'S GONNA BE THE TIME.
PAM, YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR ME.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK IS ONTO SOMETHING.
YOU KNOW, WE GONNA START EDUCATING YOU.
ONCE WE START EDUCATING, WE GIVE IT OUT THERE.
WE PUT IT OUT THERE ON, ON MEDIA AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO CONTINUE DOING THAT, THEN I THINK THE NEXT STEP IT'S ON YOU.
I THINK COUNCILMAN FRANK IS ONTO SOMETHING BECAUSE WE CAN EDUCATE, BUT MY YEP.
YOU WANT SOMETHING? I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, YEAH, CITY MANAGER, YOU KNOW WHAT WE CAN, IF WE, IF WE DID THAT, LIKE IF WE CHOSE NOVEMBER OR WHATEVER MONTH OR WHATEVER MONTH YEAH.
OR HAVE MEETINGS IN ABOUT THREE OR FOUR AREAS OF TOWN DURING THAT MONTH WITH THE STAFF PRESENT, YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO WANT TO ASK THE QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE ABLE TO ASK THEM AND OF COURSE HAVE SECURITY THERE AND, UH, EXPLAIN, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE AND WHEN ACTUAL ENFORCEMENT IS GOING TO BEGIN.
EXCUSE ME, I JUST NO, YOU, YOU ON, I PUT THAT WHILE I'M WRITING IT DOWN.
I, I THINK THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE DID ON THE WEST SIDE.
UM, WHEN WE STARTED, UM, IN THE NEW EDITION, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, WE'RE SLIGHTLY GETTING OFF TOPIC.
WELL
ALRIGHT, WE GONNA, WE GONNA PULL IT? WE'RE GONNA RE IT BACK IN.
UH, CITY ATTORNEY REELING US BACK IN.
GOT ALL WE, WE GOT EXCITED FOR A LITTLE BIT.
UH, I, YOU KNOW, I KNOW AND MANAGER, MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION FOR ME.
UH, THE FLEET, OUR GARBAGE TRUCKS, IS THAT RUN THROUGH ENTERPRISE? THE, SO WE, WE, WE FINANCE BUT I DON'T SEE IT ON THE BUDGET.
ENTERPRISE ENTER THE, THE PROGRAM.
AND THE REASON I'M BRINGING IT UP, I DON'T SEE, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S ON HERE, UH, DIRECTOR, LET ME KNOW WHERE THE TRUCKS, I MEAN, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN HAVING SITUATIONS WITH OUR TRUCKS, GARBAGE TRUCKS, UH, KEEPING THEM ON PARTS.
SO WHERE WOULD THAT ACTUALLY RESIDE IN THIS, I'M LOOKING AT 1 25 AND 1 31 AND THEN I LOOKED AT YOUR CAPITAL.
I LOOKED AT YOUR CAPITAL TOOL.
SO, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET ME KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT PROV, YOU KNOW, THINKING ADVANCE.
WOULD THAT BE WE REQUESTED? OH, NO, NO.
WELL, I'M GLAD YOU IN DEFENSE OF THAT DIRECTOR.
WELL, I'M GONNA GET ON THE MANAGER THEN.
I, I WANT TO KNOW WHERE WE AT WITH THESE GARBAGE TRUCKS.
NOW HE ANSWERED MY FIRST QUESTION LOOKING MY SHEET.
SO IF IT'S NOT THAT AND WE ARE PAYING FOR THESE TRUCKS, WHY WE DON'T TWO POTENTIAL SPOTS.
IT COULD BE UNDER TEMPORARY SERVICES.
SO IF YOU WOULD LOOK AT PAGE 2, 0 9.
THOSE ARE WHAT I WOULD CALL WHEEL EQUIPMENT.
IF YOU LOOK, I BELIEVE IT'S MID KIND OF MIDWAY.
IT STARTS WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRANSIT.
THERE IS A PETERBILT, A GARBAGE TRUCK.
YOU SAID BILL AND A COMMERCIAL.
DID I OH, TWO 10 YOU SAID 2 0 9.
2 0 9 WAS THE BEGINNING OF THAT.
AND THEN TWO 10 CONTINUES THAT AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF.
SO IS THAT ONE TRUCK OR IS IT ONE EACH.
RESIDENTIAL TRASH AND COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION.
IT SAYS THAT, YEAH, GARBAGE TRUCKS AND, UH, RESIDENTIAL COLLECTING.
NOW DON'T, DON'T DON'T, DON'T, DON'T GET THE, DON'T PUT THE MAN DIRECTOR OUT THERE.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO SOMETHING EACH YEAR WITH THOSE TRUCKS.
WE KNOW WITH THE PROBLEMS WE'VE HAD.
NOT HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET BACK ON SCHEDULE.
SO THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THAT.
[04:15:01]
UH, I DON'T SEE ANY MORE LIGHTS.ANYTHING ELSE? UH, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UH, COUNCILMAN ETT, DID YOU WANT ME TO SEND YOU I, I I WAS TRYING.
I CAN, I WAS TRYING TO FIND THE, THE ORDINANCE, UH, THAT REFERENCED THE SIZE OF THE THE, THE TREES.
DID YOU WANT ME TO SEND THAT TO YOU? OH, I GOT IT.
THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY I SAID WE AIN'T GOING TREES.
WE, WE, WE JUST HAVE, UM, HR, UM, STREETS DEVELOPMENT, SERVICE DEVELOPMENT, SERVICE DEVELOPMENT, SERVICE RESOURCE.
CAN WE, IS IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO IT NEXT WEEK? 15TH MONDAY? LIKE WE DOING WELL TODAY TUESDAY, BUT IT'S LIKE MONDAY THE MEET.
WE HAVE A MEETING ON THE 10TH.
RIGHT? WE GOT A MEETING ON THE 10TH.
CAN WE DO IT ON A MEETING DAY? THAT'S A DAY MEETING.
YOU WANNA DO IT ON YOU? OH, IF YOU WANNA DO IT ON THE 15TH, WE JUST DO IT.
UH, MAYOR PROTE, ARE YOU STILL THERE? ALRIGHT, PAM? YES, I'M HERE.
YOU GOING TO DO IT ON THE DATE OF THE MEETING? YEAH, THEY HAVE THE MEETING AND WE WOULD JUST COMPLETE EVERYTHING ON THAT DAY BECAUSE IT IT'S A DAY MEETING.
AM I CORRECT? AFTER, AFTER THE MEETING, HUH? YEAH.
IT'S ONLY TWO, TWO OR THREE MORE, RIGHT? YES.
SO AT THE END OF THE MEETING YEAH, YEAH.
THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD CAUSE US TO BE SURE THAT WE END THE MEETING, UH, EXPEDITIOUSLY.
AND THEN, UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UH, TO, TO THIS.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT TUESDAY, THAT'S TUESDAY THE 10TH, RIGHT? YES.
BUT YOU, I PROBABLY MEETING TODAY.
YOU DON'T NEED TO CALL IN ANY DEPARTMENTS OUT SERIOUS.
WE JUST, WE JUST PASSED BY TOO SERIOUS.
WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO TELL US OR WE GOOD? OKAY.
WELL WE, WE, WE, UH, ARE GLAD FOR YOUR, UH, YOU GET BAPTISMS IN THIS.
SO YOUR BAPTISM IN, IN THE PORT ARTHUR BUDGET, UH, PROCEEDING.
WE, WE ARE, SAY I MOVE TO, I MOVE FOR ADJOURNMENT SECOND.
AND WE WOULD'VE JOINED THIS AUGUST BODY ON THIS DAY AT 4:36 PM AND WE, I THINK WE BEGAN THIS MORNING AT ABOUT 10, 12 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I TOLD YOU MAN, I SAID AUGUST BODY.