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PROGRESS.WE ARE GATHERED HERE IN THE CITY WITH THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING ON TODAY, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LARGE 2024.
YOU MAY ATTEND THIS MEETING VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE OR TELEPHONIC, UH, MEDIUMS. HOWEVER YOU MUST FIRST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9, AND YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 7 8 7 1 1 4 1 6 1 7, AND THE PASSCODE OF 1 9 7 1 1 4.
AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING.
ALSO IN THIS MEETING, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICAS WITH DI DISABILITIES ACT.
AND IF THERE IS A NEED FOR OUR PROVIDING NECESSARY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU WOULD ONLY NEED TO CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.
MAKE YOUR REQUEST KNOWN TO THE EFFICIENT STAFF IN THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, AND THEY WILL DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOU AT YOUR REQUEST.
[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
MEETING, OUR NORMAL PASSING WITH THE IFICATION, OUR PLEDGE AND THE ROLL CALL.COUNCILMAN FRANK, WOULD YOU DO AN INVOCATION FOR US? PLEASE LET US BOW.
UH, FATHER HONOR GOD, YOU SAID THAT, UH, IF YOUR PEOPLE WOULD HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY, UH, GOD, YOU WOULD HEAR THEIR CALL IN THEIR CRY.
AND SO IN DEEPEST HUMILITY THIS MORNING, FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU ASKING THAT YOU WOULD HEAR US AS WE ASK FOR WISDOM, AS WE ASK FOR PROTECTION, AS WE ASK GOD FOR YOUR MERCY, AS EVEN THE STORMS ARE APPROACHING, UH, THIS GULF COAST REGION, WE PRAY, GOD, YOUR PROTECTION OF OVER THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE INVOLVED IN IT.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE GRACE THAT YOU'VE EXTENDED TOWARD US, GOD, THIS ON THIS OCCASION.
NOW, GOD GIVE US WISDOM AS WE DELIBERATE AND MAKE DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITY.
AND ALWAYS, WE WILL GIVE YOU THE GLORY, THE PRAISE, AND THE HONOR FOR IT ALL IN THE MIGHTY AND PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY.
LET US, EXCUSE ME, RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE BLACK OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY FOR YOUR INDULGENCE.
CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH THE QUORUM? MAYOR BARCHI, PRESENT, MAYOR PROTE BECKHAM, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD COUNCIL MEMBER DE SET HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KIN LONG COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK HERE.
AGAINST EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IS ACTUALLY TAKE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE AND WE WILL NOT FOLLOW THE EXACT OPINION OF THE AGENDA, BUT WE WILL BEGIN NOW ON PAGE EIGHT OF THE AGENDA IN ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
UH, AND IT IS, UH, AN INDIVIDUAL OR A NON-CONSTANT ITEM THAT WE WILL BEGIN WITH THIS MORNING.
AND IT IS PO NUMBER WE GOOD? GO AHEAD.
[VIII.B.(5) P.O. No. 7279 – An Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Authorizing The Issuance And Sale Of City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Combination Tax And Revenue Certificates Of Obligation, Series 2024 In The Aggregate Principal Amount Not To Exceed $19,675,000; Levying A Tax In Payment Thereof; Making Other Provisions Regarding Such Certificates Of Obligation, Including Authorizing The Preparation And Distribution Of One Or More Preliminary Official Statements And Authorizing The Preparation And Distribution Of One Or More Official Statements And Matters Incident Thereto; Awarding The Sale Of The Certificates; Authorizing The Execution And Delivery Of One Or More Purchase Agreements; Authorizing Bond Insurance; Authorizing The Execution And Delivery Of A Paying Agent/Registrar Agreement; Authorizing And Confirming The Engagement Of Certain Professionals In Connection With The Issuance Of The Certificates Of Obligation; Finding And Determining That The Meeting At Which This Ordinance Is Passed Is Open To The Public As Required By Law; And Enacting Other Provisions Relating Thereto]
PO NUMBER 72, UH, 79, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.COMBINATION TAX AND REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
SHE READS 2024 IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPLE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED, UH, 107, NO, I MEAN $19,675 1119, I'M SORRY, 19,675 19 MILLION.
MY EYES ARE NOT WORKING RIGHT THIS MORNING.
THAT'S WHY I COULDN'T SEE THE PERIODS.
I WAS WONDERING WHY Y'ALL CAME FOR 19,000
OKAY, $19,675,000 LEVYING A TAX IN, UH, PAYMENT THEREOF, MAKING OTHER PROVISIONS REGARDING CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, INCLUDING AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ONE OR MORE, UH, PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ONE OR MORE OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND MATTERS, UH, INCIDENT THERE TOO.
A AWARD IN THE SALE OF THE CERTIFICATES AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF ONE OR MORE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS AUTHORIZING BOND ISSUANCE
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AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND THE DELIVERY OF PAYING OF A PAYING AGENT REGISTRAR AGREEMENT, AUTHORIZING AND CONFIRMING THE ENGAGEMENT OF CERTAIN, UH, UH, PROFESSIONALS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, FINDING A DETERMINING FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THE ORDINANCE IS PASSED IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW AND ENACTING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING THERE TO MAY.UH, WELL, WE HAVE YOU ALL, WE CAN GET IT ON THE FLOOR.
MAY I GET A MOTION? UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVE, MAY, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND, THAT WE WOULD APPROVE, UH, 72, UH, 79 AS PRESENTED.
WE NOW HAVE OUR BOND COUNCIL AND, UH, OUR BOND ACTUARY PRESENT HERE WITH US.
WOULD YOU ALL BEGIN? GOOD MORNING, HONOR, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MR. BURTON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU.
MY NAME IS ANN BERGER INTRICATE AND I SERVE THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IS YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
THE ITEM WE HAVE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY IS AS THE MAYOR, UM, STARTED WITH IT, IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION BEFORE YOU, I PUT A HANDOUT PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
IF I MAY ASK YOU TO PLEASE TURN TO SLIDE FIVE BEFORE WE ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THE TRANSACTION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
WE WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND TALK ABOUT THE RATING AGENCY PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH.
THE CITY HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN RATED BY STANDARD AND PORES.
WE WENT BACK TO THEM AGAIN FOR THE, THE PROCESS FOR THIS PARTICULAR TRANSACTION.
AND WHAT WE'VE DONE ON SLIDE THREE IS WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED SEVERAL OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE DIRECTLY COMMENTED IN IN THEIR REPORT.
THEY TALKED ABOUT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S STRONG BUDGETARY PERFORMANCE, VERY STRONG BUDGETARY FLEXIBILITY, VERY STRONG LIQUIDITY, AND A STRONG INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK.
THEY SAID THAT THE CITY HAS HISTORICALLY POSTED OPERATING SURPLUSES DUE TO CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING PRACTICES.
THEY SAID SURPLUSES ARE THE RESULT OF STRONGER THAN BUDGETED REVENUE GROWTH AND UNDER SPENDING, THEY NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH THE 2023 BUDGET, AGAIN, HAD THE USE OF RESERVES FOR CAPITAL CONTINUATION OF THE STRONG REVENUE GROWTH, PRODUCED ANOTHER SURPLUS, STRONG BUDGETARY PERFORMANCE, AND VERY STRONG RESERVES EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DESPITE DOING PAY AS YOU GO CASH FUNDED PROJECTS.
AND FINALLY, FINANCIAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT INCLUDE INVESTMENT REPORTING TO COUNCIL, A FORMAL FUND BALANCE POLICY, AND A LONG-TERM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AND A STRONG INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK.
AND WITH THIS, THE A PLUS RATING WAS ON PUT ON THESE BONDS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AS WELL AS ALL OF YOUR OUTSTANDING DEBT.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WHEN STANDARD AND POORS LOOKS AT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THEY'RE NOT JUST COMPARING YOU TO OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS.
THEY'RE COMPARING YOU TO A NATIONAL BENCHMARK.
THEY HAVE COMMITTEES AND COMMITTEES OF FIVE, AND GENERALLY AT LEAST ONE OF THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE IS FROM OUTTA STATE BECAUSE THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE RATING FOR PORT ARTHUR IS CONSISTENT TO THE CRITERIA THAT THEY HAVE IN OTHER COUNTRIES, OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND THE REASON THAT YOU HAVE THIS A PLUS RATING IS, LIKE I SAID, I TOOK THESE WORDS, THESE QUOTES, RIGHT OUT OF THE REPORT.
AND, AND THE REASON THAT YOU HAVE THIS A PLUS RATING IS BECAUSE OF THE, THE LEADERSHIP AND THE GUIDANCE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL TO YOUR STAFF, YOUR POLICIES, YOUR PRACTICES, YOUR, YOUR CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING.
AND, AND WHILE WE KNOW THAT YOU FOCUS ON THAT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT STANDARD AND POORS HIGHLIGHTED THOSE, AND THAT WHEN INVESTORS GO TO LOOK AND INVEST IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT AS WELL.
SO I REALLY COMMEND THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR POLICIES, YOUR PRACTICES, AND YOUR ACTIONS.
NEXT, MOVING ON SPECIFICALLY TO THE TRANSACTION SUMMARY AS WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, IT'S A NOT TO EXCEED 19,000,675 OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
ON SLIDE FIVE, WE HAVE THE PROPOSED FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION 24, AND IT HAS A PAR AMOUNT OF 18,000,245, WHICH YOU MAY RECALL IS LESS THAN THE NUMBER OF THE MAX THAT YOU APPROVED.
BUT IN THIS MARKET, INVESTORS ARE
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WANTING WHAT WE CALL PREMIUM BONDS.THEY WANT 'EM AT A HIGHER COUPON.
SO THAT MEANS THAT NUMBER RIGHT BELOW PREMIUM OF 1 MILLION 749 3 0 2.
SO WHEN WE CLOSE THIS, YOU'LL GET TOTAL SOURCES OF 19,000,994.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THAT, IF I MAY DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE USES, IS THE DEPOSIT TO THE PROJECT FUND.
THE ENTIRE 19,000,675 THAT YOU AUTHORIZED WILL BE ABLE TO BE DEPOSITED INTO A PROJECT FUND AND TO BE UTILIZED ON THE PROJECTS THAT YOU'VE APPROVED.
IT ALSO COVERS THE ISSUANCE COST, THE UNDERWRITER'S DISCOUNT, AND THE MUNICIPAL BOND INSURANCE.
ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WE SHOW THE PROJECTED PRINCIPLE COUPON YIELD, THE TOTAL INTEREST IN THE TOTAL DEBT SERVICE.
AND WHEN WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THE CALCULATIONS, THE TRUE INTEREST COST THAT WE HAVE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY IS A 3.85%.
ON THE NEXT PAGE, WE WANTED TO GO BACK AND COMPARE IT TO THE NUMBERS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN I WAS HERE BEFORE WHEN YOU DID THE NOTICE OF INTENT.
SO AT THAT TIME, WE THOUGHT OUR PAR WOULD BE 19,000,675, AND YOUR PROJECT FUND DEPOSIT WOULD BE $250,000 LESS, 19,000,425.
TODAY YOUR PAR AMOUNT IS 18 245, AND THE WHOLE 19,000,675 WOULD BE DEPOSITED INTO THE PROJECT FUND.
WHEN I WAS HERE, WE PROJECTED A 4.26%.
AND TODAY, ACTUALLY FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, IT'S 3 85.
AND SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE PROJECTED DEBT SERVICE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY IS ABOUT $488,000 LESS THAN THE PROJECTED DEBT SERVICE I SHOWED WHEN I WAS HERE BEFORE.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT IS I THINK, REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, AFTER OUR LAST BOND SALE AND IN WORKING WITH MS. BOSWELL, THERE HAD BEEN SOME FIRMS WHO HAD BEEN CALLING ON THE CITY AND EXPRESSING AN INTEREST.
AND SO FOR THIS PARTICULAR SYNDICATE, WE USED TWO NEW FIRMS. WE USED SEABERT, WILLIAM SHANK, AND THEN WE USED BOK.
AND, UH, CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE DONE BEFORE, THE SENIOR MANAGER, SEABERT WILLIAM SHANK, IS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN OWNED FIRM.
THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN ONE OF MY GOALS AND THE CITY'S GOALS SINCE I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU.
THEY ALSO ARE A WOMAN-OWNED FIRM, AND I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT WITH THEIR CO-MANAGER, UH, B OKAY, THE PERFORMANCE THAT THEY DID YESTERDAY FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE CALL, UH, GAME DAY.
THIS IS, WE ARE ABLE TO WATCH THE ORDERS COME IN ELECTRONICALLY, AND THESE ARE EACH OF YOUR MATURITIES AND THE BLUE SHOWS HOW MANY YOU HAD IN ORDERS, AND THEN WHERE IT'S GRAY, IT SHOWS WHERE YOU DIDN'T QUITE HAVE ENOUGH ORDERS.
SO ON THE BOTTOM PART, THE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS, THESE ARE THE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS WHO PUT IN ORDERS ON YOUR TRANSACTION DIMENSIONAL FIFTH THIRD, FIRST FINANCIAL TRUST, FRANKLIN TEMPLETON, UH, HAZER PARTNERS, SPI CAPITAL, THORNBURG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, AND WPG ADVISORS.
WHAT IS INTERESTING IS AT THE END OF THE ORDER PERIOD, THERE WAS STILL A BALANCE OF 4,390,000 THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ORDERS FOR.
THE UNDERWRITER CAME IN AND THEY ASKED IN THE 26 MATURITY AND IN THE 35 MATURITY TO RAISE THE INTEREST RATE BY TWO BASIS POINTS 0.02.
BUT IF YOU LOOK IN 27, 28, 29 3 MATURITIES, THEY SAID, WE WILL LOWER IT BY TWO BASIS POINTS.
SO WE ACTUALLY ENDED UP WITH, WITH A LOWER INTEREST RATE, BECAUSE WE CAME DOWN TWO BASIS POINTS IN THREE MATURITIES AND WENT UP TWO BASIS POINTS AND TWO MATURITIES.
BUT IF YOU LOOK FROM, UM, 36, 37, 38, 39 40, AND THEN 42, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT UNSOLD BALANCES AND THE UNDERWRITER DID NOT PROPOSE ANY CHANGE IN INTEREST RATES ON THOSE.
THEY TOOK THAT 4,000,390 AS A RISK.
AND I, I REALLY WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM AND THANK THEM BECAUSE I THINK THEY SHOWED A TREMENDOUS COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
ESSENTIALLY, THEY UNDERWROTE 24% OF THE BALANCE NOT HAVING ORDERS, BUT I THINK THEY REALLY, THEY WERE NEW TO YOUR TEAM, AND I THINK THAT THE SYNDICATE WANTED TO SHOW A TRUE COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND SO I I I, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS.
YOU HAD SIGNIFICANT INVESTOR INTEREST IN YOUR BONDS, BUT THE UNDERWRITER WAS WILLING TO UNDERWRITE OVER $4.3 MILLION
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IN UNSOLD BALANCES.SO IF THE MARKET TURNS AGAINST, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY LOSE MONEY, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS, NO MATTER WHAT, YOU WILL GET THE ENTIRE AMOUNT AT CLOSING ONCE, ONCE YOU APPROVE OR CONSIDER APPROVING THE TRANSACTION THIS MORNING, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY CAN'T SELL THOSE BONDS, YOU WILL GET THE FULL AMOUNT AT CLOSING.
AND I JUST, I FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOWED A REAL COMMITMENT TO THE CITY IN YOUR PRICING YESTERDAY BY UNDERWRITING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BONDS.
AND ACTUALLY, YOU CAME OUT OF YOUR PRICING TWO BASIS POINTS BETTER ON ONE MATURITY AFTER WE NETTED OUT THE OTHER TWO.
SO IN SUMMARY, WE WANTED TO, WE WANT TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY APPROVE THE BID FROM SEABERT WILLIAM SHANK AS THE SENIOR MANAGER AND BE OKAY AS THE CO-MANAGER.
THE TRUE INTEREST COST IS 3 85 VERSUS THE 4 26 THAT I HAD SHOWN YOU BEFORE.
SO THAT'S 41 BASIS POINTS LOWER, YOU'RE ABLE TO GET THE FULL AMOUNT AS THE PROJECT FUND DEPOSIT, AND THE TOTAL DEBT SERVICE IS ABOUT $488,000 LESS THAN WHAT I SHOWED YOU WHEN I WAS HERE.
I ALSO WANTED TO PUT IN PERSPECTIVE, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BBI, WHICH IS THE BOND BUYERS INDEX, WHICH COMES OUT EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
YESTERDAY THE BOND BUYERS INDEX WAS A 3 86, AND YOU PRICED AT A 3 85, 1 BASIS POINT LESS.
JUST TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, LAST YEAR, THE BBI WAS A 3 71 AND YOUR TICK WAS A FOUR 13.
SO YOU PRICED MUCH TIGHTER TO THE BBI, UM, A MUCH BETTER, A MUCH CLOSER INTEREST RATE.
AND JUST FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE IN MAKING THIS RECOMMENDATION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AS YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GO THROUGH THIS BOND ISSUANCE PROCESS, WE NEED TREMENDOUS HELP FROM YOUR STAFF.
WE HAVE TO DO THE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT.
WE HAVE THE RATING AGENCY PROCESS, AND THE RATING ANALYST SENT FOUR PAGES OF QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE TO DO THE DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS ON THE OFFERING DOCUMENT.
AND THEY SENT FIVE PAGES OF QUESTIONS.
IT'S A REALLY BUSY TIME FOR YOUR STAFF WITH YOUR BUDGET PROCESS AND TAX RATE SETTING, BUT THEY ALWAYS MADE TIME TO BE AVAILABLE.
THEY WERE SO PROFESSIONAL AND SO DILIGENT IN THIS PROCESS, AND THAT'S A KEY REASON WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, I BELIEVE, WITH SUCH A GREAT INTEREST RATE AND A, AND A TRANSACTION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE THANK STAFF MR. BURTON AND MS. BOSWELL AND, AND ALL OF THE OTHER TEAM MEMBERS WHO HELPED.
UM, DEREK MITCHELL WITH HOLLAND AND KNIGHT IS HERE.
YOUR BOND COUNSEL, AGAIN, HE DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS.
UM, I NOTED BEFORE THANKING SEABERT WILLIAM SHANK AND BE OKAY IN THEIR UNDERWRITING AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY.
AND THEN FINALLY, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER FOR ANY QUESTIONS, AS ALWAYS, WE ARE, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD THE HONOR TO BE A PART OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S TEAM FOR SUCH A LONG TIME AND APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR WORKING WITH US.
AND SO WITH THAT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
OKAY, WELL, WE WANT TO THANK YOU.
I DON'T SEE ANY LIGHTS COMING ON RIGHT NOW.
UM, APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.
LOOK, WITH, WITH ALL BOND ISSUES, ISSUES THERE, THERE ARE BOND COVENANT.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU VIOLATE THE BOND COVENANT? WHAT IS A PENALTY? I I THINK IT, IT, THERE'S A, A, A BROAD SPECTRUM OF VIOLATING BOND COVENANT.
SO I THINK WE WOULD NEED TO BE MORE REFINED IN THAT QUESTION TO, TO HELP ME BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT IF, IF, IF, IF A PROJECT, IF A PROJECT IS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, STREETS, SEWAGE, WATERLINES, THAT'S THE COVENANT, AND YOU TAKE MONEY OUT OF THAT FROM THOSE PROGRAMS AND LANDSCAPE, PUT IT IN LANDSCAPE, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH.
SO THAT, THAT I MAY HAVE TO DEFER TO MR. MITCHELL.
YES, COUNCILMAN, ONCE AGAIN, WHAT IS THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATING THE BOND COVENANT? IF WE TELL THE TAXPAYERS WE SIGN OFF, WE VOTE ON BONDS ISSUES FOR STREETS, A SURGE WATERLINES, THAT'S WHAT WE VOTE ON.
THAT'S WHAT WE TELL THE THE VOTERS.
THAT'S WHAT WE GONNA BE DOING.
THAT'S WHAT THE DEBT SERVICES GO
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TO.AND YOU TAKE MONEY FROM THAT AND PUT IT IN LANDSCAPING.
WHAT IS THE PENALTY? IF THERE IS A PENALTY? SO, UH, THERE'S NOT REALLY A PENALTY.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BAY LEWIS, WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU IS THE, UM, THE BOND HOLDERS EXPECT PROCEEDS TO BE USED FOR CERTAIN ITEMS, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT WE, WHEN WE DRAFT YOUR DOCUMENTS, WE, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE TALK ABOUT THE PROJECTS EXACTLY RIGHT.
NOW, AS YOU UNDERSTAND, OR YOU MAY, UH, MAY UNDERSTAND, WE TRY TO GIVE YOU AS MUCH LEEWAY AS WE CAN TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT THEY USE THE MONEY FOR, THEY HAVE SOME, SOME, SOME, SOME LEEWAY, RIGHT? UM, AND I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT SCENARIO YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT MEMORIAL BOULEVARD.
SO IS THAT IN THIS PROJECT? NO, IT'S NOT IN THIS PROJECT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT A PREVIOUS VIOLATION.
SO, SO NOT, I'M I'M GUARDING AGAINST AN ADDITIONAL VIOLATION.
THEY'VE ALREADY DONE IT IN THE PAST, SO IT'S A, POTENTIALLY, THEY MAY DO IT AGAIN.
SO, UM, THE, WHEN YOU SAY VIOL, IT, IT, IT REALLY HAS TO BE SPECIFIC, BUT, BUT I, I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
YOU'RE SAYING, I THINK THAT IF NO, I, WHAT I'M ASKING IS, YOU SAID A CERTAIN STREET, THERE'S A VIOLATION, MEMORIAL BOULEVARD.
RIGHT? AND SO YOU'RE SAYING LANDSCAPING VERSUS VERSUS INFRASTRUCTURE, RIGHT? EXCUSE ME.
UH, YOU, UH, ANSWERED THAT SOME MONTHS AGO.
SO, AND, AND, AND IF, IF NO, YOU DID NOT ANSWER IT.
WELL, MAYOR, MAYOR, POINT OF ORDER, PLEASE.
NO, BUT, BUT WAIT, IF YOU STILL HAVE POINT OF ORDER, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND, KNOW WHAT YOUR POINT OF ORDER IS, COUNCILMAN, POINT OF ORDER THAT YOU VIOLATED MY POINT.
I'M, I'M HAVING A FULL BLOWN DISCUSSION ABOUT TAX BILL'S INTEREST.
AND YOU BROUGHT AN INTERFERENCE, MAYOR, AND HE HAS NOT ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.
HE, HE COMMENTED ABOUT THE LEEWAYS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU COMMENTED ABOUT THAT FLEXIBILITY.
WELL, BUT NOW SOMETHING HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.
WE GOT PROBLEMS. WE GOT PROBLEMS ON MEMORIAL BOULEVARD.
NOW WE GOTTA COME BACK AND FIND MONEY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
ALL OF THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN BEEN DONE.
TH THIS IS AN ASSUMPTION THAT'S BEING MADE BY, BY, BY, BY MY COLLEAGUE.
AND IT IS, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR COLLEAGUE.
IT IS AN I'VE GOT ISSUES WITH MC.
UM, MAYOR, THE, THE GENTLEMAN HAS ANSWERED THE QUESTION, AND AT, AT HIS LEISURE AND AN ABILITY, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE ARE, WE'RE TAKING THIS MATTER ANY FURTHER.
WELL, I, I, OUR, OUR COUNCIL PERSON CONTINUES TO, UH, ELABORATE UPON THAT.
HOWEVER, THIS, IT IS BEEN ANSWERED, UH, THE, THE, THE, UH, GESTURES OR ARTICULATING SOME TYPE OF VIOLATION OR VIOLATION HAS OCCURRED.
SO THAT IS AN ASSUMED VIOLATION, NOT ASSUMED.
OKAY, WELL, WELL, WELL, MARY, AND AS WELL, SOME, WE GOT RECORDS AND MINUTES ADDRESSING THIS.
WELL, YOU HAVE TO APPOINT, YOU'D HAVE TO GIVE THOSE TO THE AUTHORITIES, THE PROPER AUTHORITIES.
THE, THE GENTLEMAN STATED THAT THEY GIVE CITIES A LATITUDE TO DO CERTAIN PROJECTS.
WE ANSWERED THIS SOME MONTHS AGO.
HE'S, HE'S, HE'S, UH, CAME AND I THANK YOU, MAYOR.
HE'S COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL MANY TIMES AND SAID THE SAME THING.
BUT HOWEVER, IT'S SOME TYPE OF, UH, VIOLATIONS.
UM, MY POINT OF ORDER, MAYOR, THE LATITUDE.
THE LATITUDE IS LISTEN, MAYOR.
AND WHAT WE ARE DOING, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE CAUGHT THE, WELL JUST GO AHEAD AND RECORD.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN DO THAT.
IF THE INFRASTRUCTURE CREATED THE PROBLEM, YOU CAN DO THE LANDSCAPING.
WHAT I KNOW IS WE GOING TO NEED SOMETHING LIKE THEY GONNA HAVE A DEBATE TONIGHT.
WELL, YOU JUST DEAD IN THE MIC.
BUT I JUST WANT TO, I WANT TO INSERT THAT JUST TO LIGHTEN THE ROOM BECAUSE IN WITH THIS GROUP, UH, UH, COURTESIES AND ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS, AND NOT PRACTICE AT, UH, TO THE EXTENT THAT I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD, UH, BOND COUNCIL, WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE ITEM.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PERTINENT QUESTIONS DEALING WITH THIS REPORT THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED? MY QUESTION IS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY COUNCILMAN ETT, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
COUNCILMAN ETT, COUNCILMAN, GO AHEAD.
UH, THESE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATIONS THAT, UH, WE APPROVE AND NOW WE'RE GONNA GET PLACED INTO THE FUNDS CITY MANAGED QUESTION IS FOR YOU, ARE THOSE FUNDS, UH, IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, THEY, I THINK FINANCIAL ADVISOR CLEARLY STATED IT GOES INTO A PROJECT FUND.
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YES, SIR.COUNCILMAN, THESE MONIES GO INTO A RESTRICTED ACCOUNT, A PROJECT FUND, AND THE DOLLARS IN THOSE FUNDS, UH, CAN ONLY BE UTILIZED TO FUND THE PROJECTS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED AND THE COUNCIL APPROVED IN THE NOTICE OF INTENT.
THE REASON I, THE REASON I'M ASKING, THAT'S, WE'VE DONE OUR BUDGET RIGHT NOW, AND I'M GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT WE GOT THOSE ALLOCATED FOR.
'CAUSE I KNOW THAT WE DISCUSSED THIS PRIOR TO WHEN WE, UH, INITIALLY TOLD YOU THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IT, AND NOW THAT, UH, WE'VE GOTTEN IT ALL DONE AND ALL OF THE FUNDS GONNA BE DEPOSITED IMMEDIATELY UPON THE TRANSACTION BEING COMPLETED, I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT, UH, IT WAS FOR THIS COMING YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND IF IT IS, THEN, UH, WHEN WE ADDRESS THE BUDGET LATER ON A DAY, I'LL BE ASKING ABOUT WHAT ARE THOSE PARTICULAR PROJECTS? I JUST WANT, THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER, UH, PERTINENT QUESTIONS DEALING WITH THIS PARTICULAR SIT, UH, PRESENTATION? IF NOT, WE HAVE MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR ADOPTION.
UH, WE ARE, HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? AND READINESS? NO LIGHTS READY TO VOTE.
PO NUMBER 72 79 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
AND WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT.
I TELL YOU WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IT IS.
I THINK EVERYBODY IS AWARE THAT WE ARE BASICALLY IN AN EMERGENCY TYPE SITUATION.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, I'D LIKE TO RECESS THIS MEETING NOW AT 9 58 AND WE'LL COME BACK IN SESSION AT 10 45.
UH, AT THIS TIME, WE ARE NOW RESUMING OUR MEETING.
UH, CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU REESTABLISH FOR ME, PLEASE? MAYOR BARTEE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LONG PRESENT.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY TO THE SECRETARY.
AND WE ARE NOW BEGINNING OUR MEETING AGAIN.
I WANT TO, UH, EXPLAIN THAT, UH, BEING THE ACTUAL, I GUESS, COORDINATOR OF, UH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THERE WAS A CALL THAT I NEEDED TO BE ON WITH, UH, MY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM OVER AT OUR EMERGENCY, UH, EOC, UH, OPERATION CENTER ACROSS THE STREET.
AND WE WENT OVER THERE AND WHAT WE'LL DO, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ONE AT FOUR 30, AND AT FOUR AFTER FOUR 30, I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE SOME BETTER INFORMATION.
HOWEVER, WHAT YOU CAN DO IS PRAY FOR YOUR FAMILIES OVER IN THE LOUISIANA AREA.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE SOME THINGS, UH, UH, IN SOME FORMS OF, UH, WINDS AND INCLEMENT WEATHER AT THE MOMENT.
AND IF THE STORM CHANGES COURSE, THEN EVERYTHING FOR US WILL CHANGE.
IT IS HOVERING, UH, NEAR BROWNSVILLE TO THE EAST OF BROWNSVILLE.
IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE, BUT, UH, THE, UH, METEOROLOGIST WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BELIEVES THAT IT'S GOING TO PICK UP AND AS IT PICKS UP, IT'S GOING TO MOVE IN A MORE EASTWARD, UH, DIRECTION, WHICH WOULD BE AWAY FROM US.
HOWEVER, THE STORM HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN AND IT CAN'T MOVE WESTWARD.
SO WE WANT TO JUST REMAIN CAUTIOUS AND, UH, VISION IN CASE THE STORM DOESN'T DO WHAT ALL OF THE EXPERTS THAT IT SHOULD DO.
NOW WITH THAT IN MIND, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROCLAMATIONS.
WE, UH, DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKERS.
[III.B.(1) A Presentation By Selim Kiralp Regarding Pleasure Island Projects]
WITH, UM, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY MR. EM.UH, AND I ALWAYS MISS YOUR LAST NAME UP.
SO I'M GONNA JUST SAY, MR. UH, SALEEM REGARDING, UH, PLEDGE ALLEN PROJECTS.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SO TODAY, THIS INFORMATION IS, UH, FOR BOTH THE MARINA BUILDINGS AND THE WATERPARK PROJECT, BECAUSE BOTH RFPS ARE UNDER NEGOTIATIONS AND THE TERM DETAILS ARE NOT YET SET YET.
SO I CANNOT PUBLICLY DISCLOSE THE INFORMATION.
BUT ONCE A DEAL IS, UH, AGREED ON, IT WILL COME TO THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL AND IT WILL THEN BE PUBLIC INFORMATION.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUILDINGS
[00:30:01]
INSIDE THE MARINA, I WOULD LIKE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT REQUIRE MEMBERSHIPS TO GO TO THE BUILDINGS.IT WILL SERVE FOR EVERYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO THERE.
IT WILL ALSO BE OPEN FOR EVENTS AND GATHERINGS.
SO IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTY, A BUSINESS MEETING, OR A GATHERING, AS LONG AS RESERVATIONS ARE AVAILABLE, ANYBODY WILL BE ABLE TO USE IT.
AND PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS CITY EMPLOYEES AND FIRST RESPONDERS WILL HAVE DISCOUNTED RATES FOR THOSE EVENTS.
I HAVE SENT, UH, ENGINEER DEVIN WOODS, WHO IS BORN AND RAISED IN PORT ARTHUR TO BUILDING A INSIDE THE MARINA TO MEASURE THE BUILDING AND DRAW A LAYOUT, INCLUDING ALL THE PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL FOR US, SO OUR DESIGNERS CAN START ON DESIGNING THE PROPERTY.
ALSO, PREVIOUSLY, I SAID I WILL HIRE LOCAL PEOPLE FROM PORT ARTHUR AS MUCH AS I CAN TO GIVE JOBS TO CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CITIZENS AND KEEP THE MONEY IN PORT ARTHUR.
SO I FOUND THE ENGINEER FROM PORT ARTHUR TO DO THE WORK FOR US.
I WANTED TO SEND THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN GET THINGS DONE MAYBE A WEEK, MAYBE A DAY EARLIER.
AFTER ALL, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR HAS A NEW ATTORNEY.
I AND MY LEGAL TEAM HAD CONVERSATIONS FACE-TO-FACE AND ON THE PHONE AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY TOO.
AND BOTH ATTORNEYS ALREADY STARTED EXCHANGING TERMS AND DOCUMENTS.
IT IS EVERYBODY'S GOAL THAT WE ALL WANT TO WORK TOGETHER AND GET THINGS DONE.
IT IS TRUE THAT WE HAD SOME CHALLENGES IN THE PAST, BUT WITH THE NEW CITY ATTORNEY BEING IN THE OFFICE, WE ARE OPENING A NEW PAGE AND ARE READY TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TODAY.
AND ONE LAST THING BEFORE I FINISH.
AS PER THE, UH, ATTORNEY'S RECOMMENDATION, SINCE NEGOTIATIONS ARE GO ONGOING, WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY QUESTIONS HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GIVING DETAILS UNWILLINGLY REGARDING THE, THE, UH, NEGOTIATIONS THAT ARE CONFIDENTIAL.
AS OF NOW, THIS PART IS ONLY FOR THE MEDIA SINCE THIS IS A PUBLIC MEETING.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IT HERE BECAUSE, UH, OUR COMPANY HAS BEEN RECEIVING A LOT OF CALLS, MESSAGES, AND EMAILS FROM THE MEDIA.
AS MUCH AS WE UNDERSTAND THEIR EFFORT, WE WOULD LIKE TO LET THE MEDIA KNOW THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR CURRENT COMPANY POLICIES IMPLEMENTED TWO YEARS AGO, WE HAVE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED OUR INTERVIEWS.
SO PLEASE, MEDIA, DO NOT CONTACT US UNTIL EITHER ONE OF THE RFPS HAS BEEN APPROVED AND SIGNED BY BOTH PARTIES AND BECAME PUBLIC.
ALSO, IF COUNSEL HAS ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN EITHER REACH OUT TO ME DIRECTLY OR YOU CAN ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY MANAGER TO FORWARD YOUR QUESTIONS TO US.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK FOR LISTENING.
DO HAVE SOME, UH, QUESTIONS OR REMARKS? UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES.
JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR YOUR CONTINUED INTEREST, UH, IN OUR ISLAND.
WE KNOW, UH, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AS WE WERE TRANSITIONING FROM OUR PREVIOUS CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, AND, UM, UH, THE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS AS WE WERE SEEKING TO LI LISTEN TO OUR, UH, CONSTITUENTS ABOUT, UH, THE, THE, UM, UM, THE, THE, THE USAGE OF THE BUILDINGS, UH, THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROCURING.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
I'M GRATEFUL, UH, THAT YOU ARE CONTINUING, UM, YOUR EFFORTS TO BRING ABOUT, UH, THE KIND OF DEVELOPMENT ON THE ISLAND THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR CITY.
UH, WE WANT YOU HERE, UH, WE WANT THAT DEVELOPMENT ON THE ISLAND, AND I WANT TO, UH, PUBLICLY SAY, UH, THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL OF THAT DEVELOPMENT AND ALL IT WILL BRING TO OUR CITY.
THE REASON REQUESTED THIS IS TO FIND OUT, UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE.
GET A TIMEFRAME OF WHEN WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE SOMETHING HAPPENING.
AND THE REASON BEING, BECAUSE OF THE TIMEFRAME THAT THIS HAS STARTED.
IT STARTED IN 2021 OR TWO, TWO UNTIL THIS DAY, FROM WHAT YOU JUST SAID, I STILL DIDN'T GET ANYTHING DIFFERENT OTHER THAN WHAT YOU SAID THE FIRST TIME YOU CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS.
UH, WHEN WE DOING BUSINESS, I UNDERSTAND, UH, CERTAIN THINGS BUSINESSES DO WHERE THEY DON'T DIVULGE BECAUSE OF A, THEY HAVE TO AGREE WITH CERTAIN THINGS, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT'S ONE.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO OVER THERE? WHERE YOU ARE WITH IT WHEN YOU EXPECT TO WORK? THOSE ARE THINGS
[00:35:01]
THAT ARE, ARE COMMON.THOSE ARE QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ANSWER.
AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THIS TRANSPARENCY IN, IN GOVERNMENT ALSO, WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT ALSO.
THAT REQUIREMENT IS TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT'S PROJECTED.
SO YOU SAY YOU WANT TO DO BUSINESS, AND I UNDERSTAND THE PRIVACY PORTION OF IT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ANSWER TO CITIZEN CITIZENS.
CITIZENS ASK US QUESTIONS, WE RESPOND TO IT.
WHEN CITIZENS START ASKING US ABOUT THIS PROJECT THAT WAS GIVEN TO US OVER A YEAR AGO, AND THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON, WE NEED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF, UH, CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND A DIRECTOR OF PLEASURE ISLAND THAT'S UNDERSTAND.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT ALL COMES BACK BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
AND NOT ONLY US, BUT CITIZENS, CITIZENS NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO, UH, I DON'T SEE TOO MUCH I'VE GOTTEN OUT OF YOUR APPEARING HERE BASED ON THE QUESTION WE ASKED, LIKE, WHAT TIMEFRAME ARE YOU LOOKING AT WHERE YOU ARE? YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU MENTION ABOUT YOUR, THE PREVIOUS ATTORNEY AND, UH, WITH THE NEW ATTORNEY, IT ALL SOUND GOOD, BUT IT'S NOT SAYING NOTHING.
AND I DO THINK THAT YOU CAN GIVE US SOME INFORMATION WITHOUT BREACHING YOUR COMPANY POLICY LIKE THAT.
WHEN YOU COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT'S JUST NOT US.
IT'S THE CITIZENS AND YOUR COMPANY WANNA DO BUSINESS HERE.
THEY DO BUSINESS WITH CITIZENS.
UNDERSTANDING TRANSPARENCY IS A BIG DEAL.
AND, AND WITH THIS PROJECT, YOU MAY NOT FEEL SO, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM VERY TRANSPARENT WHEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
NOW, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HEARING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THOSE BUILDINGS, FIRST TIME THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN UPFRONT.
WHY ARE WE GONNA PURCHASE THE BUILDING? WHAT YOU GONNA DO WITH THE BUILDINGS? SO REALLY, I DON'T SEE WHETHER WE GOT ANYTHING BEFORE YOU, I'LL PUT IT BACK ON AGENDA TO DISCUSS WITH COUNCIL, BUT THERE'S MORE INFORMATION THAT WE COULD GET WITHOUT YOU DIVULGING ANYTHING THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE YOUR PROJECT OR WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
SO BOTH RFPS THAT WERE SENT, UH, FOR THE LAND AND, UH, THE TWO BUILDINGS INSIDE THE MARINA WERE REQUESTING, UH, WHAT'S GONNA BE INSIDE THOSE BUILDINGS AND ON THE LAND.
SO ALL THE PROPOSALS THAT OUR COMPANY HAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY, AND, UH, I ASSUME THEY SHOULD BE, UH, PUBLIC, UH, IN YOUR CITY RECORDS AS WELL, HAD ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AND WHAT'S GONNA BE INSIDE THOSE BUILDINGS AND WHAT IT'S GONNA BE SERVING.
SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE, UH, YOU CAN SEE OUR PROPOSAL, IT ONLY HAS ONE OR TWO CONFIDENTIAL PAGES THAT'S REGARDING OUR FINANCIALS, ET BUT OTHER THAN THAT, ALL THE PLANS, CONCEPTUAL PICTURES, IDEAS, THEY'RE ALL IN PROPOSALS.
OTHER THAN THAT, UH, UH, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE RFP, UH, UH, BEING YEAR 22, I APPROACHED TO THE CITY WITH THESE IDEAS TWO YEARS BEFORE THAT.
AND, UH, AFTER THE RFP WAS AWARDED, THE FIRST ONE FOR THE LAND, UH, WE WAITED FOR A CONTRACT, A DRAFT CONTRACT.
WE DIDN'T GET IT FOR MONTHS, MAYBE YEARS.
SO WE WENT A STEP FORWARD AND PREPARED OUR DRAFTS, SENT IT TO THE CITY, AND WE HAVE GOT NO RESPONSE BY THEN.
THE FIRST CONTRACT WE GOT FROM THE CITY WAS THIS YEAR, END OF FEBRUARY.
AND THE CITY ATTORNEY CHANGED BEGINNING OF MARCH, AND THE CITY HAD AN INTERIM, UH, ATTORNEY DURING THAT TIME.
SO NOW THE CITY HAS A NEW ATTORNEY AND WE'RE STILL HERE READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DISCUSSIONS.
SO, UH, RIGHT NOW YOU FEEL CONFIDENT WITH THE NEW ATTORNEY AND FROM YOUR CONVERSATION WITH HER AND YOUR ATTORNEY, YOU FEEL THAT NOW WE COULD SEE SOME MOVEMENT OVER THERE? WE JUST STARTED WORKING A LITTLE WHILE AGO AFTER, UH, SHE, AFTER SHE STARTED HER NEW POSITION HERE, WE WANTED TO GIVE HER A LITTLE TIME, MAYBE A COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR HER TO GET USED TO, UH, IN HER, UH, GET USED TO HER NEW OFFICE AND SHE CALLED US AND MY ATTORNEYS AND SHE HAD GOOD DISCUSSIONS AND I'M FEELING MORE CONFIDENT NOW.
THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID,
[00:40:01]
IT'S TRANSPARENCY AND I THINK, UH, WE KNOW WE DON'T WANT KNOW YOUR FINANCIALS AND NOTHING LIKE THAT, BUT WHERE YOU ARE, THE PROGRESS OF IT.THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, THAT THIS COUNCIL, WHEN I SAY COUNCIL, IT'S ALL OF US UP HERE AND CITIZENS KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE, HOW WE PROGRESS AND, AND, UH, EVERYTHING.
SO WHAT I'LL BE LOOKING FOR FROM NOW ON IS THE, UH, US MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, I EXPECT US TO START RECEIVING SOME CONTRACTS AND, UH, IT'D BE GOOD IF YOU GIVE US THE UPDATE ONCE YOU GET ROLLING AND STUFF SO THAT CITIZENS COULD HEAR IT.
THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE.
I HAVE SOME GOOD QUESTIONS, UH, UH, FROM MY COLLEAGUE, BUT MY, MY THING IS THIS, I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD SOME SITUATIONS PRIOR ATTORNEY, BUT YOU KNOW, THE CITIZENS HAVE BEEN CALLING ALL OF US UP HERE, AND, UM, THEY WANNA KNOW WHEN WE'RE GONNA START.
I MEAN, IF IT'S A HELL, IT IS SOMETHING THAT THAT'S ON OUR SIDE THAT WE HAVE CONTROLLED OF, WE WE NEED TO RECTIFY THAT.
BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING ON YOUR SIDE, WE NEED TO FIND OUT AND GET THESE UPDATES BECAUSE I, I, I DID HEAR YOUR STATEMENT THAT YOU, YOU'D RATHER NOT GIVE THE INFORMATION OUT BECAUSE OF COURSE, YOU GOT PEOPLE OUT THERE MAY WANT TO RUN WITH A PROJECT LIKE THIS.
IT'S A MAGNIFICENT ISLAND THAT WE HAVE, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT.
BUT WE CAN'T CONTINUE NOT UPDATING COUNSEL OR THIS AUGUST BODY ABOUT PROGRESSION THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AT PLEASURE ISLAND BECAUSE WE ALL TOOK HITS BEHIND THIS BECAUSE WE SAID IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN YEARS AGO.
I'M JUST, I'M TALKING FRANKLY ABOUT IT.
SO WHAT TYPE OF TIMELINE THAT WE'RE YOU, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TALKING SINCE ROXANNE HAS BEEN HERE, WE NEED TO GET A TIMELINE.
AND I, I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE SAID IT EARLIER, WE, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND ALL THE OTHER STUFF, LOGISTICS, BUT WITH THIS PROJECT HERE THAT'S CURRENTLY, UM, GOING ON, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE? WE CAN START SEEING THINGS HAPPENING ON THE ISLAND? THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW.
AND IF SOMEONE CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION BASED UPON IF WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING SIGNED FROM, UH, OVERLOOKED BY CITY ATTORNEY, OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO PROVIDE OR IS SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO GIVE TO THE CITY? WE NEED TO KNOW THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE IF WE GET THAT INFORMATION THIS AUGUST BODY CAN MAKE SOME MOVES ON THAT.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE REALLY PUTTING ALL CARDS IN ON, MAKING SURE IT HAPPENS.
SO IF SOMEONE CAN GIMME SOME UPDATE ON THAT CITY ATTORNEY.
SO I HAVE MET, UH, YOUR ATTORNEY, JARED, MR. KING, AS I CALL HIM.
UH, MR. KING IS, WAS VERY MUCH A PLEASURE TO MEET HIM.
WE SPOKE ON SATURDAY AND WE ALSO SPOKE ON MONDAY.
SO MR. KING DOES HAVE A DRAFT OF A LEASE AGREEMENT THAT WAS SET BY THE PREVIOUS CITY ATTORNEY IN FEBRUARY, AND HE HAS COMMITTED TO ME THAT HE WILL PROVIDE A RED LINE DRAFT OF THAT LEASE AGREEMENT TO ME BY THE, BY THIS FRIDAY.
AND SO I WILL LOOK AT THAT RED LINE AGREEMENT, AND CHANCES ARE THERE'S GONNA BE SOME DEAL POINTS THAT THIS COUNCIL'S GONNA HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON.
WHEN I SPOKE TO, UH, MR. KING, I SAID, IN MY EXPERIENCE, UM, WE SHOULD HAVE THESE DOCUMENTS, THESE GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS COMPLETELY APPROVED AND READY TO START IN TWO MONTHS.
NOW, IT COULD TAKE SHORTER, IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE NEGOTIATIONS, AND IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY COUNCIL'S WILLING TO HAVE SPECIAL MEETINGS TO PASS THINGS.
UM, BUT I'M LOOKING AT A TWO MONTH FRAME.
UM, THERE IS GOING TO BE A BUILD OUT PERIOD THAT THE DEVELOPER WILL NEED, UH, BEFORE THE, THE PROJECT EVEN OPENS UP, RIGHT? SO THE BUILD OUT PERIOD, UM, I'M NOT SURE YOU'RE WILLING FOR ME TO SAY THAT YET, BUT I, WHAT I EXPECT AS A CITY ATTORNEY IS WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND LISTEN TO WHAT THE, THE DEAL POINTS THE DEVELOPER HAS AND BRING THEM BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH IS AUTHORIZED UNDER 5 5 1 0.087 DELIBERATIONS REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES OR NEGOTIATIONS.
AND WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND TELL YOU WHAT THOSE DEAL POINTS ARE.
YOU'LL GIVE DIRECTION TO US AND HOW TO RESPOND.
SO IF YOU'RE WILLING TO HAVE SPECIAL MEETINGS, THAT COULD HAPPEN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
BUT AT THIS POINT, AS A CITY ATTORNEY, I AM WAITING FOR MR. KING TO GIVE ME THE RED LINE OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT THAT WAS SENT TO THEM, AND HE'S COMMITTED TO DO THAT BY THIS FRIDAY.
WELL, MR. KING, ARE YOU ABLE TO DO THAT OR BY THIS MR. KING, I MEAN, WHO IS MR. KING? ATTORNEY.
SO IS YOUR THE, IS THE ATTORNEY WILLING TO DO THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT AS A CITY BY THIS FRIDAY SO WE CAN KEEP THIS, THIS BALL ROLLING? YES, SIR.
AND, UH, ALSO BESIDES THAT, I'VE UH, HEARD THAT
[00:45:01]
THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXCHANGING SOME OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONTRACT WITH THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY.SO FRIDAY IS THE LATEST, WHAT I HEARD FROM MR. KING.
OKAY, WELL, AS LONG AS WE GET IT ON RECORD THEN, AND, UH, AS, AS, UH, CITY ATTORNEY SAID, UH, THEY'RE PLANNING ON FINISHING IT WITHIN TWO MONTHS.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN EVER FEEL, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU MR. CELINE FOR COMING TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION.
AND I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED THAT YOU ARE STILL, YOU AND YOUR INVESTORS, YOUR ENTIRE TEAM ARE STILL WILLING TO, UM, TO WORK WITH US.
SO PLEASE SEND THAT INFORMATION TO THEM AS WELL TO SAY WE ARE OPEN, OUR HEARTS ARE OPEN, AND WE ARE WILLING TO, UM, CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AND APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS.
I JUST ALSO WANTED TO REMIND MY COWORKERS AND THE CITIZENS THAT A PART OF THIS DELAY WAS INDEED ON US AS WELL.
SO IT IS NOT ONLY FROM THE CHANGES IN OUR ATTORNEYS, NOT ONLY FROM, UM, CONTRACTUAL TYPE DELAYS, BUT SOME OF THE DELAYS WERE US GOING OUT FOR ANOTHER RFP AFTER IT WAS THE CONTRACT HAD ALREADY WON THE BID, THEN WE ALLOWED ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THE CURRENT, UM, ORGANIZATION THAT WAS IN THE BUILDING TO MANAGE WHATEVER THEIR PROCESS WAS GOING TO BE FOR A MOVE OUT.
SO WE HAVE OFFERED A LOT OF GRACE TO THE PREVIOUS ORGANIZATION, MR. CELINE HAS OFFERED, AND HIS TEAM HAS OFFERED A LOT OF GRACE TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WITH WANTING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH US.
SO THANK GOD WE'RE OVER THAT LAST HURDLE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO US BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE MOST PROFESSIONAL MANNER AS POSSIBLE.
AND WHAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS SHARED IS RIGHT ON POINT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THOSE RED LINE ITEMS SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD.
BUT I JUST DON'T, UM, WANT THE INTENT OF WHAT YOU SAID IS HAPPENING.
YOU SAID THIS, YOU SAID THAT, AND IT HASN'T YET.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE DIVULGED, BUT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AND ALSO THANK YOU TO THE PLEASURE ISLAND BOARD AND THE DIRECTOR THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALSO HELPING TO MOVE THESE THINGS FORWARD.
SO AGAIN, FOR THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, IT'S BETTER TO ASK THAN JUST TO ASSUME, BUT JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE INDEED MOVING FORWARD AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.
THIS QUESTION IS FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY, THE RED LINE AGREEMENT THAT YOU INTEND TO GET BACK ON FRIDAY, THAT'S JUST FOR THE LEASE OF THE TWO BUILDINGS, IS THAT CORRECT? THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
THE ONLY, THE ONLY AGREEMENT THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED, DEVELOPER HAS RECEIVED IS A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR BUILDING A AND BUILDING B.
AND THEN THAT'S, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THAT'S THE PROJECT THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN WORKING ON.
AND SO THAT'S THE RED LINE AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE GETTING BACK FOR A AND B, IT'S NOT THE WATERPARK.
AND THEN, THAT WAS MY QUESTION.
AS MUCH AS YOU CAN REVEAL WITHOUT VIOLATING CONFIDENTIALITY AT THIS POINT, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE AGREEMENT FOR THE LAND ACQUISITION FOR THE WATER PARK? SO WHEN I SPOKE TO THE ATTORNEY, THE SOLE CONVERSATION WAS RELATED TO BUILDING A AND BUILDING B, AND THEY MADE IT, HE MADE IT CLEAR TO ME THEY WANNA DO BUILDING A AND B FIRST, AND THEN THEY'LL TALK ABOUT THE WATERPARK.
WELL, THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN, I KNOW THIS PREDATES YOU, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF NEGOTIATION AND DOCUMENTS BEING PASSED BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THE ACQUISITION OF THE LAND.
SO DO YOU NOT HAVE THE STATUS OF, OF THAT THAT WE CAN GIVE TO THE PUBLIC? ALL I HAVE IS WHAT MR. KING SPOKE TO ME ABOUT ON SATURDAY.
AND, AND ON MONDAY THERE ARE SOME DEAL POINTS INVOLVING BUILDING A AND BUILDING B THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NEED TO DISCUSS AND DECIDE UPON, BUT THEY HAD NOT SPOKEN TO ME AT ALL ABOUT THE WATERPARK.
SO I'M GONNA LET, UM, THE DEVELOPER SAY WHAT HE'S WILLING TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
WELL, LET ME, LET ME JUST CONTINUE MY CONVERSATION WITH YOU JUST FOR ONE MORE POINT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE TIMELINE OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED FROM TWO, THREE YEARS AGO TO SEE WHERE THOSE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE GONE AND WHERE THEY HAVE STOPPED.
UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, FRANK LEWIS.
[00:50:01]
LEWIS.COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU LIKE THIS NAME? YES.
UH, COUPLE STICKING POINTS FOR ME.
WHAT WILL MAKE OR BREAK THE DEAL? I NEED TO KNOW THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF LAND THAT YOU WANT TO PURCHASE, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF LAND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DEVELOP, AND WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT THE WETLAND SITUATION? SO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF LAND IS, UH, JUST SHORT OF 36 ACRES AND IT'S, UH, PHASED.
UH, UH, IT'S A PHASE DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE HAVE THE DRAWINGS AND PLANS FOR THE FIRST THREE PHASES RIGHT NOW.
UH, THAT COVERS ABOUT, BESIDES THE, UH, WETLAND THAT COVERS MORE THAN, UH, HALF THE LAND.
AND THERE'S, I WOULD SAY MAYBE MORE THAN 70% OF THE LAND, UH, AFTER THE WETLAND.
UH, ONE OF THE, THE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T FIGURE OUT YET WITH THE PREVIOUS CITY ATTORNEY WAS THE WETLAND ISSUE.
AND, UH, DURING THAT TIME, THIS IS ALSO GOING TO ANSWER, UH, COUNCIL WOMAN'S, UH, BECKHAM'S QUESTION AS WELL, BECAUSE THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, HAS CHANGED AND THERE WAS AN INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY.
WE THOUGHT IT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER TO PUSH THE TWO BUILDINGS AND HOLD ONTO THE, UH, LAND BECAUSE IT'S A MUCH BIGGER DEAL.
AND THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS TO BE DISCUSSED ON THAT.
SO WE THOUGHT, WELL, WHY DON'T WE FOCUS ON THIS, PUSH THIS FASTER, GET IT DONE UNTIL WE GET A NEW CITY ATTORNEY AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE LAND.
THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING THE TWO BUILDINGS BECAUSE IT'S A MUCH SMALLER PROJECT.
WE SAID, LET'S GET THIS DONE WHILE WE'RE WORKING ON THE BIGGER PROJECT.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU HAVE WORKED OUT ON THE MITIGATION SIDE OF THINGS? COULD YOU REPEAT IT PLEASE? MITIGATION, IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE OUT X AMOUNT OF WETLAND, YOU HAVE TO PRODUCE, YOU HAVE TO.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME, UH, STUDIES BY THE ENGINEERS AND, UH, ALSO CORE OF ENGINEERS OFFICE.
AND, UH, THERE'S SOME STUDIES THAT CITI HAS DONE AS WELL.
UH, THE, THE DESIGNS I SHOWED AT THE COUNCIL BEFORE WITH THE RENDERINGS, THERE WERE SEVERAL VIDEOS THAT I SHOWED.
IT WAS, IT'S TO BUILD AROUND THE WETLANDS UNTIL WE, WE FIX THE WETLAND ISSUES.
SO I WOULD SAY PROBABLY THIRD OF THE LAND IS WETLANDS.
ONE THIRD OF THE LAND IS WETLANDS, AND THE DESIGNS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS BUILDING AROUND THE WETLANDS.
AND MITIGATION WAS ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE DISCUSSED.
AS PER THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY, WE GOT, UH, SOME COSTS, UH, FOR MITIGATING THE WETLAND BEFORE.
AND THOSE ARE STILL THINGS THAT MY TEAM AND C WITH CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY HAVE TO SIT DOWN AGAIN AND KEEP WORKING ON.
WE, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FIX THESE, UH, ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS PREVIOUSLY, BUT LIKE I SAID, WE'RE OPENING A NEW PAGE AND WE'RE HOPING TO DISCUSS WITH THE CITY OF ABOUT THOSE I NEED FOR YOU TO VISIT WITH JOE A WITH A WC.
HE'S FAMILIAR WITH A LOT OF WETLAND DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND HE, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I'M WORKING ON FOR THE ISLAND OR A PUBLIC BEACH.
AND HE SAID THERE IS A POOL OF WETLANDS WITHIN JEFFERSON COUNTY, AND AS LONG AS YOU GOT ENOUGH IN THAT POOL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO MITIGATE.
SO FIND OUT IF THAT'S REGULATION OR CHANGE, OR IF THAT STILL EXISTS.
I'LL, I'LL NOTE THAT, SIR, IT MAY SPEED THINGS UP, YOU KNOW, JOE? NO, SIR.
UH, HE WORKED FOR A WC HADN'T MISSED ANY MEALS, YOU KNOW.
I JUST, UH, I THOUGHT WHEN WE WERE SPEAKING EARLIER, WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT BOTH PROJECTS.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE WERE ONLY ADDRESSING THE BUILDINGS, BUT NOW THAT I UNDERSTAND IT, BOTH PROJECTS.
OKAY, LET'S, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
CITY ATTORNEY AND, AND I'M, I'M WITH THAT.
YOU NEED TO GET ABREAST OF WHAT AND WHERE WE ARE WITH THE, UH, WATER PARK.
BECAUSE THAT IS THE PROJECT, THAT'S THE BIG PROJECT OVER THERE, IMPACTING.
NOW THAT'S THE ONE THAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN BRIEFED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO IS THE WATER PARK, THE, UH, BUILDINGS.
AND THAT WASN'T A BIG DEAL, BUT, UH, THE WATER PARK IS THE ONE I'M INTERESTED IN BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY HAD ADVERTISED FOR THE SALE OF THE LAND.
AND MR. HOW YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME, KUP KUP, MR. KUP
[00:55:02]
ACTUALLY WAS THE ONE THAT WAS AWARDED IT.AND THAT'S MY CONCERN BECAUSE FROM THE TIMEFRAME THAT, UH, HE WAS AWARDED IT, WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING DONE WITH THAT SALE OF THAT LAND.
SO WHAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO DO IS FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE, WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND WE NEED TO CLOSE THAT DEAL BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT ALL'S GONNA START FROM.
SO LET'S PUT SOME EMPHASIS ON THAT ONE AND LET'S, LET'S COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND LET US KNOW WHERE THAT STANDS.
AND MR.
AND ACCORDING TO WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN BERFIELD DID IT, UH, STATED, UH, WE HAVE TAKE, WE HAVE GOT TO TAKE SOME OF THE BLAME IN THE, THE, UH, MOVEMENT OF THIS ENTIRE CONCEPT AS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
OKAY? AND SO WE CAN'T BLAME YOU FOR THE, UH, SLOW FOR GOVERNMENTAL BUREAUCRATIC MOVEMENT OF THIS PROJECT.
HOWEVER, AS MY COLLEAGUES ARE STATING THEIR, THEIR, THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL, UH, FEELINGS AT THE MOMENT, IT'S TIME.
AND WE HAVE A NEW CITY ATTORNEY WHO IS, UH, IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING KNOWLEDGEABLE.
HOWEVER, I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID THAT WE WERE ALL LISTENING, WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.
THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS PHASES.
SO THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT, IT IS HAPPENS TO BE AS ACCORDING TO YOUR ORGANIZATION, THE ACQUISITION OF THOSE BUILDINGS.
AND THE SECOND PHASE, I WOULD BELIEVE WOULD BE, AND MAYBE YOU CAN DIVULGE THIS, THE SECOND PHASE WOULD BE THE CLOSING ON THE PROPERTY.
AND YOU'VE GIVEN THE COUNCIL, UH, UH, THE INFORMATION, BECAUSE NOW WE UNDERSTAND THE FIRST PHASE, AND WE ARE ABOUT TO GET TO THE END.
NEXT FRIDAY, YOU WILL HAVE IN YOUR HANDS, AND WITHIN TWO MONTHS, WE WILL HAVE THAT PART COMPLETED.
AM I CORRECT? A CITY ATTORNEY? HOPEFULLY.
AND THAT, THAT'S ALL DEPENDENT ON NEGOTIATIONS, RIGHT? BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE DEVELOPERS AND FOLLOWING IT.
SO WE LOOKING AT MAYBE 60 DAYS, UH, NOVEMBER, MIDDLE PART OF NOVEMBER, WE CAN BEGIN MAYBE AT THAT JUNCTURE, UH, THE LEGAL, UH, SURE.
UH, RAMIFICATIONS OF THE, IT COULD BE SOONER THAN THAT FOR THE SECOND PHASE, WHICH WOULD BE THE ACQUISI, UH, UH, ACQUIRING AND CLOSE YOU, YOU KNOW, ENCLOSING ON THE ACTUAL PROPERTY.
AND THEN WE COULD GET TO PHASE THREE FOR, UH, A MATTER OF ALMOST GETTING READY FOR SOME PRE-CONSTRUCTION AND PRE-DEVELOPMENT, UH, INFORMATION FOR THE WATER PARK BY THE FIRST PART OF 2025.
I MEAN, I'M JUST SITTING HERE IN MY MIND THINKING ABOUT A TIME, UH, A TIMEFRAME AND HOW SOME THINGS COULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
UH, IF, MAY I SAY, UH, ONE MORE THING.
WHEN WE SAY PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO, IF WE'RE TALKING ONLY ABOUT THE LAND, THE 36 ACRES, UH, ON THE ISLAND, THE PHASE ONE IN THAT SITUATION IS GOING TO BE THE WATER PARK, AND THE PHASE TWO WAS HOTEL, AND PHASE THREE IS THE, UH, ADDITIONAL RESTAURANTS, ET CETERA.
BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, RIGHT NOW WE'RE PUSHING THE TWO BUILDINGS BECAUSE IT'S MUCH EASIER, FASTER, UH, NOT TOO MANY, NOT AS MANY THINGS AS THE LAND TO DISCUSS.
SO WE WOULDN'T BE WRONG IF YOU CALL IT PHASE ONE, BUT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONLY THE LAND, PHASE ONE IS GOING TO BE THE WATERPARK.
AND, UH, DON, I DON'T WANT, I DON'T WANT TO CLOUD THE WATER UP ANYMORE.
UH, LAST THING, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I JUST WANTED TO SAY IT ONE MORE TIME.
WE JUST OPENED A NEW PAGE, AND I'VE BEEN HERE SO MANY TIMES.
MY ATTORNEYS, MY LEGAL TEAM HAVE BEEN HERE.
OUR ASSISTANCE HAS HAVE BEEN HERE SEVERAL TIMES TOO.
WE ARE STILL LOOKING FORWARD TO WORK WITH THE CITY.
AND I SEE THAT CITY IS WILLING TO DO BUSINESS WITH US, SO HOPEFULLY WE'RE GONNA GET IT DONE.
I MEAN, AND I THINK THE CITY ANTICIPATES, UH, WORKING WITH YOU FOR THE CREATION OF THIS GREAT, GREAT, UH, CONCEPT ON THE ISLAND.
I SIMPLY WANTED TO ADD THIS AS WELL.
UM, I THINK IN MY HEARING OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANNA MAKE US APPRISED OF IS THAT, UH, IT WAS SAID THAT WE CAN EXPEDITE THE PROCESS BY MAKING OURSELVES AVAILABLE AS WELL.
AND SO IF THE CITY MANAGER WILL KEEP US APPRISED OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AND MOVING, THAT WE WOULD MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO SPECIAL MEETINGS OR DOING WHATEVER NECESSARY TO GET THIS ACROSS THE GOLD LINE.
AND I THINK EVERYONE AGREES WITH THAT, OR COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES, BRIEFLY, UH, WHEN YOU GET YOUR
[01:00:01]
PROJECT STARTED, YOU HAVE, IF YOU HAVE TO MOVE ANY A DATE, I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE DATE, OKAY? OKAY, SIR? YES, SIR.WE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CITY MANAGER, UH, PRESENTATIONS.
[III.F.(1) A Discussion Regarding The Current Status Of The Repairs To Rosehill Manor And The Timeline For Projected Completion (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Beckcom)]
TO PAGE TWO OF RO NUMERAL THREE, UH, DISCUSSIONS.WE HAVE, UH, THE FIRST DISCUSSION IS DISCUSSION, UH, REGARDING THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE REPAIRS TO ROLL HERE MANNER AND THE TIMETABLE FOR PROJECTED COMPLETION.
AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY MAYOR PRO TIM BECKHAM, AND I BELIEVE I SEE THE, I WOULD ALMOST SAY THE PROPRIETOR, BUT THE, UH, ONSITE MANAGER OF, UH, OF, OF, OF ROSE HILL.
UH, THE REASON I REQUESTED THIS IS DURING OUR LAST BUDGET WORKSHOP, THERE WAS, UM, SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BUDGET AS IT AS IT APPLIES TO, UM, AS IT APPLIES TO ROSE HILL.
AND AT THAT TIME, IT WASN'T THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR US TO DISCUSS THE, THE ACTUAL REPAIRS AND THE TIMELINE.
SO THAT'S WHY I PUT THIS DISCUSSION ON FOR TODAY.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE.
UNDERSTANDABLE AND, AND INFORMATIVE.
I WANTED TO INTRODUCE, UH, APPEAR WITH ME AS DON LAISH WITH LAISH ARCHITECTURAL GROUP.
AND HE IS THE ONE THAT'S BEEN, UM, MOVING EVERYTHING FORWARD FOR THE CITY, UH, AS FAR AS, UH, PLANNING AND OVERSIGHT AND ALL OF THAT.
SO I WANNA START OUT WITH, UH, THE RESTORATION AND TO MENTION THAT ALL THE FUNDS SO FAR THAT HAVE BEEN SPENT ON THIS HAS BEEN THROUGH THE HOTEL ITY TAX IS THE FUNDING THAT WE'VE BEEN USING.
UH, ONE OF THE ISSUES, UH, WE FACE IS THE HISTORICAL DESIGNATION OF THIS BUILDING.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE ARE, UH, CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO AND GET PERMISSION, UH, FROM THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD, WHICH DOES SLOW THINGS DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
AND FRANKLY, THAT'S THE EXPERTISE THAT DON HAS.
AND DON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE PROCESS? SURE.
THE, UH, THE PROCESS, UM, IS ALWAYS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS.
THEY HAVE TO BE ACCURATE TO THE EXISTING BUILDING.
THEY HAVE TO BE THE SAME MATERIALS THAT WERE USED IN THE ORIGINAL BUILDING.
AND, UH, THERE'S VERY LITTLE, UM, THERE'S VERY LITTLE THAT THEY ALLOW US TO THROW AWAY.
SO MANY TIMES WE'RE TAKING THINGS DOWN AND PUTTING THEM BACK TOGETHER.
UH, FOR INSTANCE, UH, I'M SURE YOU ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH POMPE VILLA.
THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE BUILDING WAS TAKEN OFF, AND WE WERE, WE PUT THOSE BACK ON.
SO, UM, THERE'S SEVERAL RULES THAT THEY HAVE, UH, FOR THOSE, THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING, THEY HAVE LOTS OF RULES FOR THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, BUT, UH, THEY GIVE US LOTS OF LEADWAY FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, UM, THERE.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ALONG WITH THEM, UH, ALSO WORKING THROUGH, UH, THE TEXAS, UH, HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRUST.
UH, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL ONE YEAR AT GETTING A GRANT TO DO SOME ROOFING WORK AND SOME FLASHING WORK ON THE BUILDING THERE.
UH, NOW AT THIS, AT THIS POINT, I ACTUALLY SIT ON THE BOARD OF THE TEXAS HISTORICAL PRESERVATION TRUST.
SO I TRY TO KEEP, UM, ADAM UP TO DATE ON WHEN THOSE GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE, AND, UH, WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO WITH THOSE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PROGRAM, IF YOU GET A $15,000 GRANT, YOU'RE ONE OF THE MAJOR, UH, RECEIVERS IN THAT GRANT PROGRAM.
UH, AND WE DON'T NEED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
WE NEED A LOT MORE MONEY THAN THAT, UH, TO KEEP, UH, KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH ROSE HILL.
I CAN TELL YOU ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE ON ROSE HILL UP TO THIS POINT HAVE ALL BEEN DONE BY SOME OF THE MOST SKILLED CRAFTSMEN IN TEXAS AS FAR AS HISTORIC PRESERVATION GOES.
THEY'VE BEEN DONE WITH VERY GOOD MATERIALS.
WE'VE HAD VERY GOOD LUCK OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE LASTING, BUT WE STARTED ON THIS PROJECT ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO.
YEAH, 19, ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO.
AND WE JUST GOT, YOU KNOW, THE FRONT WHERE IT'S ALMOST PRESENTABLE.
THIS NEXT PHASE, WE'LL GET THE REST OF THE COLUMNS DONE.
UH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING TO BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANNA BRING THEIR BRIDES AND THEIR GRADUATES AND TAKE PICTURES ON THE FRONT STEPS.
[01:05:01]
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO THAT POINT.AND THE ULTIMATE, THE ULTIMATE END TO THE WHOLE PROJECT IS WE GET IT TO WHERE WE GOT THE DEPARTMENT CLUB.
YOU ALL SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FOR A COUPLE YEARS, THAT THING.
UM, I THINK ADAM CAN, CAN FILL YOU IN BETTER, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THEY HAVE VERY MANY OPEN DATES.
IT GETS RENTED A LOT, SO, SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME ON THAT PARTICULAR HISTORIC BUILDING.
I WAS GONNA GO THROUGH THE PHASES THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED SO FAR.
SO FAR WE'VE DONE PHASES ONE, TWO, AND THREE.
PHASE ONE WAS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
IT WAS COMPLETED IN 2018, THE RENOVATION AND REPLACEMENT OF SIX WINDOWS.
AND THERE WAS SOME WORK ON THE DOWNSPOUTS AND GUTTERS AS WELL, IS WHAT WE DID ON THAT ONE.
HERE'S, UH, NOT A VERY GOOD PICTURE, BUT HERE'S SOME PICTURES OF THE WINDOW AND LIKE ONE OF THE INTERIOR DOORS THAT WERE DONE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT WAS, THIS IS THE WAY IT ORIGINALLY LOOKED WHEN THE HOUSE WAS BUILT.
PHASE, WELL, SORRY, I THINK I WENT PHASE TWO.
PHASE TWO WAS JUST OVER 300,000.
UH, THE MAJOR WORK WAS COMPLETED IN 2021, BUT DUE TO SOME PAINTING ISSUES THAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH, IT WASN'T ACTUALLY ACCEPTED BY US UNTIL 2022.
THIS WAS, UH, EXTERIOR WORK, MAINLY ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
IT WAS PAINTING REPAIR OF SOME WINDOWS, SOME COLUMNS AND CAPITALS AND, UH, REPAIR THE PORTIER.
UM, AND THAT WAS BASICALLY THE BOTTOM FRONT THREE SIDES OF THE BUILDING IS WHAT THAT WAS.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WAS A FAIRLY GOOD GAP BETWEEN THE FIRST PHASE AND THE SECOND PHASE.
AND THE MAIN REASON FOR THAT IS THERE WAS FUNDING WHEN WE FIRST GOT THIS BUILDING, OUR CIVIC CENTER DEPARTMENT GOT IT.
THERE WAS REALLY NOT MUCH FUNDING AVAILABLE.
UM, IT EVENTUALLY BECAME, UH, ABOUT $85,000 A YEAR FROM THE HOTEL TAX WAS DEDICATED TO, UH, THE MAINTENANCE OF REPAIR AND RESTORATION, WHICH AS DON CAN ATTEST, YOU CAN'T FIND IT, IT MANY CONTRACTORS TO DO MUCH WORK FOR 85,000.
SO WHAT WE DID IS WE WERE GIVEN ACCESS TO THAT MONEY OVER NUMEROUS FISCAL YEARS.
WE KIND OF POOLED IT TOGETHER AND THEN CAME UP WITH THIS PHASE TWO AND THAT FUNDING, WE PRESENTED IT AND THE FUNDING WAS APPROVED.
SO THAT'S THE REASON FOR THAT GAP RIGHT THERE.
YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE THESE PICTURES THAT WELL, SO I HAVE 'EM IN YOUR PACKET TOWARDS THE BACK.
IT'S JUST SHOWING SOME OF THE WORK DONE.
UM, WE STRIPPED THE PAINT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BARE WOOD AND THERE WAS LAYERS OF PAINT OVER 20 LAYERS OF PAINT ON THAT BUILDING.
YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHY NOW, I'M SORRY.
THAT'S WHY NOW ALL OF OUR FUTURE WORK, LIKE THIS PROJECT THAT WE HAVE UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHY THEY COST SO MUCH MONEY BECAUSE IT TAKES WEEKS AND WEEKS TO JUST REMOVE THE PAINT OFF THE BUILDING SO WE CAN GET BACK TO A FOUNDATION.
NOW, THE GOOD THING IS, IN MOST OF THE, THE INSTANCES ON THAT BUILDING, WHEN WE GOT DOWN TO THE, TO THE RARE, TO THE BARE WOOD, WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF ROTTED WOOD, BUT WE'RE GETTING READY IN THE NEXT TWO PHASES TO TACKLE A COUPLE AREAS THAT WE KNOW.
WE HAVE SOME ROTTED WOOD, AND ANOTHER BIG CHALLENGE IS THE TOP OF THE CAPITALS.
THERE'S A PICTURE ON, UH, COMING UP, UH, THERE'S A PICTURE IN THERE WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE TOP OF THE CAPITOL, AND IT WAS REDONE, BUT THEY HAD TO GET IN THOSE LITTLE GROOVES AND EVERYTHING.
IT WAS COMPLETED IN JULY OF 22, MAINLY REPLACEMENT OF THE SECOND LEVEL RAILINGS AND REPAIRS TO THE SECOND LEVEL DECK SLASH PORCH AREA.
AND THAT SURFACE, YEAH, THE ROOF, IT WAS CALLED THE ROOF.
IT'S THE SEC, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE PART THAT, THAT, IT'S LIKE THE DECK OF THE SECOND ONE.
SO IT'S CALLED THE ROOF, BUT THAT'S, AND OH, THERE WE GO.
AND THERE'S SOME PICTURES OF THE, UH, THAT RAILING THAT WE REPLACED.
SOME OF THIS WAS DAMAGED FROM HURRICANE LAURA AND DELTA.
WE DID GET SOME FUNDING FROM INSURANCE.
IT WASN'T A LOT, IT WAS ABOUT 25,000 I THINK IT WAS.
BUT WE DID GET SOME REIMBURSEMENT FROM THAT.
UH, THE CURRENT PHASE WE'RE IN
[01:10:01]
IS PHASE FOUR.SORRY, I'M GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF.
UM, THE PROJECTED COST OF THAT IS 425,000.
THIS PHASE IS GONNA BE, IT'S IN THE BIDDING STAGE, AND WE'VE ALREADY PAID THE ARCHITECTURAL FEES OUT OF THIS, UH, FISCAL YEAR 24.
THE REST OF THE FUNDING WILL BE SPENT OUT OF FISCAL 25.
THIS IS BASICALLY SIMILAR TO PHASE TWO, EXCEPT IT'S GONNA BE ON THE SECOND LEVEL.
YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S A GAP IN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE FINISHED TWO, UH, WE FINISHED THREE IN 22, AND NOW WE'RE IN THE BIDDING PHASES OF 24.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT FOR THE FIRST THREE PHASES, WE WERE FIGURING OUT HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAD, UH, KIND OF PULLING IT TOGETHER, COMING UP WITH A PLAN THAT DON AND I FELT LIKE WOULD MATCH THE FUNDING AVAILABLE AND PRESENTING IT.
WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A BIG PLAN TO THE FUTURE.
WE HAD DONE, HE HAD DONE A STUDY SHOWING WHAT THE OVERALL COST WOULD BE, BUT WE HADN'T REALLY BROKEN THAT DOWN INTO, OKAY, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS? SO WE PUT A PAUSE ON THE, ON THIS TO FOCUS ON THAT, WHERE WE WERE FOCUSING DO WHAT PHASE FOUR WAS GONNA BE, AND GETTING THAT COST PROJECTION IN FOR THE BUDGET FOR 24.
AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, REEVALUATING THAT BECAUSE THE FIRST STUDY WAS DONE, I THINK IN 2016 OR 17, AND REEVALUATING PRICES AND WHAT STILL NEEDED TO BE DONE AND WHAT NEW STUFF CAME UP.
AND, UM, I'LL SHOW YOU THOSE IN THESE FUTURE ONES IS WHERE WE PRESENTED THAT.
UH, WHERE WE NOW HAVE A PLAN FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS FOR THE RESTORATION.
SO THE FUTURE PHASES WE HAVE IS, AGAIN, IS GONNA BE PHASES FIVE THROUGH SEVEN.
PHASE FIVE IS PROJECTED TO BE AT 420,000.
UH, WE PROJECT THIS TO BE EXTERIOR WORK MAINLY ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE BUILDING, WHICH IS THE SIDE THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY TACKLED.
UM, AND WE ANTICIPATE THIS TO BE OUR FINAL EXTERIOR, UH, WORK.
AND IT'S GONNA BE PAINTING SOME LEVELING AND FOUNDATION WORK, SIDING, REPAIR DOOR AND WINDOW REPAIR AND PORCH REPAIR.
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE GETTING INTO THE PARTS WHERE THE BUILDING HAS DETERIORATED QUITE A BIT ON THE OUTSIDE.
AND WE, WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME MAJOR SIDING WORK THAT WE'LL HAVE TO DO, RIGHT? RIGHT.
UH, WE'RE ALSO, UH, NEED TO ATTACK OUR ACCESSIBILITY TO THE FACILITY, UH, WHICH IS AN OLD WOODEN RAMP THAT'S IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE PROPOSING AN A NEW ALUMINUM TYPE RAMP, UH, TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
WHEN YOU ADD ON TO THESE OLD HOMES, THEY PREFER TO YOU TO, TO DO IT USING MATERIALS THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE THEY WERE THERE ORIGINALLY.
AND, UH, AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S A PART OF THAT, THAT THAT TOO.
ADAM ISN'T TOOTING HIS OWN HORN, BUT IN LOOKING AT THIS, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE GET SOME MONEY COMING BACK TO US FROM THE MONEY THAT WE'VE SPENT.
SO SOME OF THE THINGS HERE HAVE TO DO WITH TOURISM.
THEY HAVE TO DO WITH RENTAL OF THE BUILDING.
THEY HAVE TO DO WITH BEING, UM, MULTIFACETED.
SO OTHER THINGS CAN HAPPEN ON THE GROUNDS.
UH, SO, SO IT'S NOT JUST ONLY THE BUILDING.
IT'S MAINLY, UH, INTERIOR WORK.
ON THE FIRST FLOOR, YOU CAN SEE A LIST OF ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE TACKLING ON THAT.
UH, PHASE SEVEN IS PROJECTED TO BE THE LAST PHASE OF 430,000, BASICALLY TACKLING THE SAME, SIMILAR THINGS ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
I PUT IN HERE A POSSIBLE PHASE EIGHT.
DON AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE WE STARTED THIS, UH, PROJECT THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE, WE MAY HAVE TO GO BACK AND REWORK ON SOME OF THE STUFF WE'VE ALREADY DONE.
THERE ALSO MIGHT BE SOME ITEMS EITHER WE MISSED OR THAT JUST NEED TO BE TOUCHED UP.
SO THERE COULD BE A FINAL PHASE.
ALTHOUGH IF WE DID DO THIS FINAL PHASE, IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T IMPACT THE USAGE OF THE BUILDING.
IT PROBABLY COULD BE TOUCH UP TYPE WORK THAT WE WOULD BE DOING.
UH, TOTAL COST OF RESTORATION, SO FAR WE'VE SPENT JUST OVER 616,000.
PROJECTED AMOUNT TO BE SPENT IS OVER 1.5 MILLION.
THIS IS JUST A PROJECTION SO FAR.
[01:15:01]
EACH OF THESE PHASES HAVE TAKEN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF TO COMPLETE, AND THAT'S FROM THE TIME THAT DON STARTS PLANNING WHAT THE PROJECT IS ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION COMES IN AND BLESSES WHAT WE'VE DONE AND GIVEN US THAT THEY'VE ACCEPTED THIS WORK THAT WE'VE DONE.UH, WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE BIDDING STAGES OF FOUR, AND THEN WE HAVE THREE POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL PHASES.
UM, TWO OF THEM ARE EXTERIOR WORK, AND THEN THE INTERIOR WORK, UH, WOULD PROBABLY TAKE ANOTHER THREE YEARS, TWO TO THREE YEARS ON EACH ONE OF THOSE.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF WAYS TO GO BEFORE THE BUILDING IS COMPLETELY FINISHED.
SOME OF THE THINGS TO, UH, NOTE THAT I WANT MAKE SURE YOU GUYS ARE AWARE OF IS THE BUILDING ITSELF.
SO THE BUILDING IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND UP UNTIL RECENTLY WAS OPERATED BY THE FEDERATED WOMEN'S CLUB.
THEY OWNED ALL THE, UH, ALL THE ITEMS INSIDE.
THEY OWNED ALL THE CONTENTS AND THEY HAD ALL RIGHTS TO BOOK THE BUILDING FOR EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES.
THEIR CLUB NUMBERS HAVE GOTTEN QUITE SMALL, AND THEY, AT THE END OF, UH, SPRING, EARLY SUMMER, THEY PETITIONED US TO ACTUALLY JUST TAKE OVER EVERYTHING AND DONATED ALL THEIR CONTENTS TO US AND GAVE UP THEIR RIGHTS TO BOOK THE BUILDING.
TO THIS TIME, THE BUILDING, UH, WE HAVEN'T BOOKED ANY EVENTS THERE.
WE'RE HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS INSIDE ON THE AC UNITS, ESPECIALLY ON THE SECOND FLOOR WITH THE DUCKS AND AC UNIT TO KEEPING IT COOL AND HEATED, WHICH HAS BEEN A PROBLEM.
WE ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE PLASTER CEILING INSIDE.
WE'VE HAD PLASTER COLLAPSED IN THE LIVING ROOM, IN THE DINING ROOM.
UH, WE HAD ONE JUST, I WAS THERE FRIDAY.
ANOTHER ONE COLLAPSED IN, I GUESS YOU'D CALL IT THE SITTING ROOM OR THE SECOND DINING ROOM.
AND THEN THERE'S THREATS OF COLLAPSING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE BUILDING.
SO FOR THOSE REASONS AND THE FACT THAT THE FURNITURE IS NOT IDEAL, IT'S NOT HISTORIC, UM, AND NOT REALLY SET UP FOR THE TYPES OF EVENTS WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THERE AT THIS TIME, WE ARE NOT BOOKING EVENTS AT THE BUILDING, SO I WANTED YOU GUYS TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
I, THE, THE AIR CONDITIONING, THE PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ARE CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS WITH PLASTER COLLAPSE AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
WHEN WE CAN'T HOLD TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY DOWN INSIDE THE HOUSE.
IT'S BASICALLY AN UNINSULATED HOME, UH, FROM, FROM THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS.
SO THOSE THINGS FAILING CAUSE OR CAUSE AND EFFECT, UH, THING FOR THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING.
ALSO WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE REPAIRED THOSE PARTS OF THE CEILING THAT DID COLLAPSE.
AND THAT'S JUST NOT PART OF THE RESTORATION.
THAT'S JUST PART OF WHAT COMES OUTTA MY BUDGET FOR MAINTENANCE OF A BUILDING.
I DID ALSO WANNA SHOW YOU THAT I DID GIVE YOU GUYS A BREAKDOWN OF EACH OF THE REMAINING THREE PHASES, WHICH IS, UH, FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN.
AND THAT PRETTY MUCH WRAPS UP MY PRESENTATION.
UH, ASKING MARKS FOR COUNCILMAN FRANK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION TO YOU, AND MAYBE IT'S A QUESTION FOR LYNN, OUR FINANCIAL PERSON.
ARE WE USING THE TEXAS HISTORIC PRESERVATION TAX CREDITS ON THIS, ON, ON THIS, UH, ON THIS PROJECT? NO, SIR.
WE ARE NOT USING ANY TEXAS, TEXAS PRESERVATION, UH, PROJECTS.
THE WAY THAT YOU USE IT FOR THE CITY, I DON'T BELIEVE IT QUALIFIES.
SO WE ARE, BUT YOU ARE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS ADOPTED A TEXAS PRESERVATION HISTORIC ACT THAT ALLOWS 25% OF THE TAX CREDITS, AND THEN THERE'S A FEDERAL TAX CREDIT AS WELL OF 20%, WHICH GIVES A TOTAL OF 45% FOR THE REHABILITATION OF PROJECTS, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
PROVIDED THEY MEET THEIR CRITERIA FOR USE.
AND WHY DON'T, WHY WOULDN'T WE MEET THE CRITERIA? I WISH I COULD EXPOUND UPON IT FOR YOU, BUT I'M NOT A TAX CREDIT EXPERT.
UM, WHEN WE HAVE APPROACHED THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO GET A PROPOSAL FROM THEM TO GO THROUGH THIS, EACH TIME THAT, THAT YOU AND I TALKED WITH THEM, UM, THEY SAID THAT THE PROJECT, THE WAY THAT YOU USE THE PROJECT, WOULD NOT QUALIFY.
SO IT, IT'S WONDERFUL IF THERE'S A PERSON OUT THERE THAT CAN SHOW US HOW TO MAKE IT QUALIFY, THAT, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
BUT I THINK THAT YOU'D NEED TO HIRE A EXPERT IN, IN THAT PARTICULAR FIELD.
[01:20:01]
ATTORNEY, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN FIND OUT WHY WE ARE NOT ABLE TO USE, UH, THESE TAX CREDITS TO HELP US IN THIS PARTICULAR ENDEAVOR? YES, SIR.I WILL WORK WITH SOMEONE FROM FINANCE IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT, IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETIMES WORDING ARE SEMANTICS AND THERE MIGHT BE AN ALTERNATE USE THAT STILL MEETS THE USE THAT WE WANT, THAT MAKES IT ELIGIBLE IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE DOLLAR THAT WE HAVE.
UH, MAY I APPROACH HIM? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
THIS IS A LOT MORE DETAILED THAN I EXPECTED, SO I APPRECIATE THIS.
I'VE GOTTEN LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MANNER AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND THIS, THIS IS GOING TO MORE THAN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT I'VE RECEIVED, BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.
UM, I REALLY LIKE, UH, UH, MR. LAISH, WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT RECAPTURING SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE FUNDS BY THE USE OF THE BUILDING.
UM, BUT I WANNA KNOW, UH, I I'M ASSUMING THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO USE FUNDING FROM THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FOR THESE OTHER PHASES, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND, AND THAT'S BEEN, I I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS TOO, AND I'M SORRY IF I'M INTERRUPTING YOU, BUT NO, NO, NO.
OUR LIMITATIONS ON TIMELINE HAS BEEN FUNDING.
THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN OUR LIMITATIONS.
BUT YEAH, WE ARE, THE PLAN IS TO CONTINUE TO USE HOTEL TAX IF APPROVED.
AND, AND DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTION, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BE THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX? THE, THE COST OF RESTORATION? WELL, THE 1.6 MILLION, LET ME GET BACK TO THAT.
THAT'S THE PLAN IS TO USE ALL HOTEL TAX FOR THAT.
SO YES MA'AM, WE'RE HOPING THAT THE ENTIRE AMOUNT IS GONNA BE FUNDED BY THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
UM, AND THEN I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
SINCE WE ARE MAKING THE BUILDING A DA COMPLIANT, UH, IS THERE ANY RESOURCES THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR OTHERWISE THAT WE COULD GET SOME FUNDING FOR THAT, THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF? NO, MA'AM.
I'M NOT AWARE OF, UH, AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR GRANT FUNDING FOR ACCESSIBILITY.
UH, CITY ATTORNEY, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD LOOK INTO AS WELL? IF THERE COULD BE ANY FUNDING FOR MAKING THE BUILDING A DA COMPLIANT? SURE.
I, IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE REALLY BENEFICIAL FOR A GRANT PERSON.
DO WE HAVE A GRANT PERSON IN THE CITY MANAGEMENT SIDE THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO LOOK INTO THAT
UM, OR A NEW GRANT, UM, PERSON THAT IS IN-HOUSE, WE COULD HAVE THEM TO WORK WITH ADAM AND MR. LAISH.
AND OUR FIRM IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO ASSIST ANY OF YOUR GRANT PEOPLE TO, TO HELP THEM GET OFF THE GROUND, GET RUNNING, GET THE RIGHT INFORMATION.
AND MR. LAISH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE ON THIS.
UM, EVERY, EVERYTHING THAT, THAT YOU'RE DOING IS JUST, UH, IT'S REMARKABLE.
THIS, THIS BUILDING IS GONNA BE RESTORED PROBABLY BETTER THAN IT EVER WAS WHEN IT WAS FIRST BUILT.
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR HELP.
IT'S COME A LONG WAY SINCE WE FIRST DECIDED TO, UH, REPAIR THAT.
FIRST IT WAS JUST DUE THE REPAIRS TO KEEP IT, THE STRUCTURE SOUND.
AND NOW WE WENT FROM REPAIRING IT TO RESTORING IT TO THE HISTORICAL REQUIREMENTS.
AND THE QUESTION WAS ASKED ABOUT HISTORICAL TAX CREDIT.
IF WE HAVE, IF WE ARE FOLLOWING THE REQUIREMENTS TO RESTORE IT TO ORIGINAL, THEN IT SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR TAX CREDIT.
AND IF WE CANNOT GET TAX CREDIT, WHY ARE WE SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY TO RESTORE IT TO HIS ORIGINAL? IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S MIND BOGGLING.
SO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY ARE WE SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY TO RESTORE IT TO ITS ORIGINAL IF WE CAN'T GET TAX CREDITS? THE ONLY ANSWER I CAN GIVE ON THAT IS THAT IF WE DO DECIDE TO RESTORE IT OR REPAIR IT BECAUSE OF ITS HISTORICAL DESIGNATION, WE'RE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW, UM, THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION'S, STATE LAW.
STATE LAW, THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT.
SO IF WE'RE GONNA REPAIR IT, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THOSE HISTORIC, UH, DESIGNATED LAWS BECAUSE OF THE, BECAUSE IT'S DE 'CAUSE IT'S GOT HISTORICAL DESIGNATIONS.
IT'S AN ANTIQUITY AND, AND, UH, NATIONAL, NATIONAL, NATIONAL HISTORIC STATE.
[01:25:01]
SO THAT'S THE REASONS FOR THAT.THE, THE DECISION ON RESTORING IT WOULD BE UP TO, I'M ASSUMING YOU GUYS, UM, BUT IF WE DO DECIDE TO RESTORE IT, WE DO HAVE TO FOLLOW THESE RULES.
ALL WE YOU'RE SAYING, AND LOT OF THINGS, I'M ASKING A SIMPLE QUESTION.
I'M SIMPLY SAYING IF WE HAVE TO SPEND ALL OF THIS MONEY TO RESTORE IT TO, FOR IT TO BE IN LINE WITH THE HISTORICAL STATUS, THEN IT SHOULD QUALIFY US FOR HISTORICAL TAX CREDIT.
NOW THAT, THAT, I HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF IT DEALING WITH THE EDC BUILDING.
WE RESTORED THAT WITH STAR GRASS.
AND THE REQUIREMENTS WAS THAT WE DO IT AND WE DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU TELLING US WE DOING WITH ROSE HILL, BUT WE GOT MILLIONS IN HISTORICAL TAX CREDIT BECAUSE WE DID THAT.
AND WHEN I LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS, YOU, YOU SAID THAT THE, THE 1.5 MILLION IS FOR WHAT NOW? UH, FOR THE LAST PHASE IS FOR THE TOTAL, FOR THE LAST PHASES.
SO AFTER LAST PHASES COMPARED TO WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE, THAT'S TWO POINT, THAT'S OVER $2 MILLION.
SO WE GOING TO SPEND OVER $2 MILLION TO RESTORE OR REPAIR, LET'S SAY REPAIR.
BECAUSE, 'CAUSE IF WE DON'T GET THE TAX CREDITS, THAT'S ALL WE DOING.
WE COULD HAVE BROUGHT UP THAT HOUSE TO LOOK LIKE THAT, BUT PROBABLY LESS THAN THAT.
I'M JUST NOT, I'M NOT FOLLOWING WHY WE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THIS EXPENSE AND WE ARE NOT GONNA BENEFIT FROM IT.
SO THOSE QUESTIONS I'M ASKING, I'M NOT GETTING ANY ANSWER.
I THINK, I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU ALL TO CHECK ON THAT.
LET ME, LET ME ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
UM, THE LATE FLOYD BAPTISTE AND I WORKED ON THAT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
I THINK B LOUIS COULD REMEMBER THAT.
UM, AND ONE TIME WE EVEN SPOKE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF LEVERAGING CDBG FUNDING FOR THAT.
BUT WHEN WE DID THE CALCULATIONS, IT DID NOT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, ROSE HILL COULD NOT HAVE PROVIDED OR GENERATED ENOUGH JOBS ECONOMICALLY TO SUSTAIN THE HISTORIC TAX CREDITS.
AND THAT'S WAS WHAT WAS THE SETBACK.
UM, AND SEE THAT ROSE HILL WAS A, A, UM, A DWELLING, AN INDIVIDUAL DWELLING.
AND, UM, AT ONE OF THE, IT WAS BEING MANAGED BY THE FEDERATED GUILD OF LITTLE LADIES AT THE TIME, IT REALLY DID NOT QUALIFY.
YOU KNOW, IT DID NOT FEDERATION OF WOMEN, WELL, WHATEVER IT WAS, YOU KNOW, BUT UNLIKE THE, THE BUILDING, WHEN MR. BAR DID IT IN THE, AS PART OF THE TAX TRADE THAT WAS GENERATED, HE SHOWED THAT WE COULD HAVE RENTED OUT SEVERAL PLACES IN THE BUILDING THAT COULD GENERATE INCOME FOR THE EDC.
AND THAT'S WHAT MADE IT OVER THE LINE, YOU KNOW, AT THE TIME.
SO THAT IS WHAT WILL, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
AND WHAT I'M HEARING IN THE PRESENTATION IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO FIND WAYS FOR IT TO GENERATE FUNDS TOURISM, BUT, AND SO WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO, WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IS HAND THE BUILDING OVER TO A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
WELL, THAT WAS THE, THE NEXT THING TO DO.
I'M GLAD WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
IF WE GONNA GO FOR IT, ALL YOU DO IS, IS FORM A NONPROFIT, SAME AS YOU DID OVER HERE.
THEY FORMED A NONPROFIT, THE NONPROFITS IS THE ONE DO THE APPLICATION.
AND IN THE AGREEMENT IS ONLY FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF YEARS.
AND AFTER THOSE AMOUNT OF YEARS, THE NONPROFIT NO LONGER HAS IT.
THEY TURN IT OVER BACK TO THE CITY.
BUT THERE'S A WAY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
AND MY CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS THAT IF WE ARE GONNA SPEND MONEY FOR, TO RESTORE THAT BUILDING, TO MEET THE HISTORICAL REQUIREMENTS, THEN WE NEED TO GO THAT EXTRA YARD AND FIND OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE TAX CREDIT.
[01:30:01]
GONNA BE A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE CAN GET INTO THIS.AND AS FAR AS FORMING A A A 5 0 1 3 C TO DO THAT, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'D JUST LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO LOOK INTO THAT AND, AND CITY MANAGER, I'D LIKE FOR US TO COME BACK AND, AND TALK ABOUT THIS AND HOW WE GONNA PROCEED BECAUSE WE, WE CAN'T SPEND MONEY TO RESTORE THIS THING, AND WE CAN'T CAPTURE THE TAXES THAT ARE GIVEN FOR THEM.
AND I CAN SEE RIGHT NOW, WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO ANSWER OR TO RESOLVE ANYTHING, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, WE NEED, Y'ALL NEED TO CHECK INTO.
AND YOU ALL NEED TO COME BACK TO US AND ANSWER, BECAUSE WHEN YOU COME BACK TO THE ISSUE, ANSWER A LOT OF OUR QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD SO FAR.
BUT IF WE GONNA SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY, WE NEED TO GET RECAPTURE IT BECAUSE THAT IS OUT THERE.
EVEN IF WE HAVE TO FORM ANOTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION LIKE WE DID THAT, THAT'S SIMPLE.
THAT'S JUST FILLING OUT APPLICATION AND SENDING IT TO THE STATE.
SO LET'S, LET'S SEE HOW WE DONE IT OVER THERE AND LET'S TAKE, TAKE A LOOK AT DONE IT OVER HERE, YOU KNOW, AND JUST, JUST TELL US THAT THAT'S ALL.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE NOT, WE JUST, I I THINK WE ALL EXPRESS OUR QUESTIONS.
I THINK YOU ALL GOT A GOOD IDEA, BUT YOU ALL NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND YOU ALL NEED TO COME BACK TO US AND EXPLAIN TO US HOW WE'RE GONNA PROCEED.
UH, COUNCIL COUNCILMAN KENMORE, UH, THANK YOU.
AND, AND LISTENING TO YOU, UH, UH, YOUR PRESENTATION, UH, SOMETHING POPPED UP IN MY HEAD.
SO YOU, YOU STATED EARLIER, UH, WHEN YOU WERE ASKED TO FIND OUT IF WE CAN QUANTIFY FOR THOSE, UH, TEXAS HISTORICAL TAX CREDIT, YOU WERE TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE USE THAT WE'RE USING IT, IT WOULD NOT QUALIFY.
SO, YOU KNOW, I I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE DESIGNATED SOME TYPE OF SPECIFIC USE OF THAT BUILDING YET.
SO, UH, IF YOU CAN FIND OUT THE GUIDELINES FOR ME AND, AND, AND ALONG WITH THE COUNCIL, THAT WHAT WOULD BENEFIT US OR WHAT CAN WE USE TO ENSURE THAT WE GET THOSE HISTORICAL TAX CREDIT.
ONE, I WOULD BE WANTING TO ENTERTAIN THAT AS WELL.
UH, NUMBER TWO, UH, THE TOTAL COST IS 1.5.
IT IT, YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE REHABBING AND RESTORING THIS BUILDING AND WE ARE NOT GETTING SOME TYPE OF REVENUE BACK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A CONCERN FOR ME FOR TAXPAYERS' MONEY.
IT'S BEEN AROUND FOREVER AND EVER.
IT'S A MAGNIFICENT, IT'S RIGHT OFF THE WATER.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN USE YEARS TO COME.
HOWEVER, I DO HAVE TO DEGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF USE, WHAT TYPE OF TAX CREDITS WE CAN GET WITH THAT FUNDING, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE CAN GET MONIES AND THE MONIES OUT THERE.
BUT IF WE ARE GONNA RESTORE IT AND THEY'RE REQUIRING US TO RESTORE IT IN A CERTAIN TYPE OF CAPACITY, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT IF WE ARE DOING THAT, WE SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE ELIGIBLE FOR IT.
AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.
SO IF YOU CAN GET THAT INFORMATION BACK TO ME AND THE COUNCIL, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
AS FAR AS WHAT KIND OF USE CAN WE USE TO GET THAT BUILDING BASED UPON TAX HYSTERICAL CREDITS.
AND IF WE COULD DO THAT, WE NEED TO ACT FAST ON THAT.
BUT I DO THINK THAT THOSE TYPE OF NONPROFITS IS SO EASY TO FORMULATE THAT WE CAN GET PEOPLE ON BOARD TO DO THOSE THINGS.
WE JUST NEED TO KNOW THE PARAMETERS, JUST LIKE THEY'RE GIVING YOU PARAMETERS TO GET IT RE REHABBED AND RESTORED.
WE JUST NEED THE PARAMETERS KNOW HOW WE CAN USE THIS BUILDING.
SO IF YOU CAN GET THAT FOR ME, I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, ADAM AND MR. LAISH.
I GREW UP, I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOUR PARENTS TOOK YOU THERE TO TAKE PICTURES, YOU KNOW, IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
SO IT DEFINITELY HOLDS WEIGHT FOR HISTORIC AS A HISTORIC PROPERTY IN OUR CITY.
HOWEVER, I AM ASKED, AND ALSO, UM, APOLOGIES TO THE FEDERATION OF WOMEN FEDERATION.
IT'S A FEDERATED WOMEN'S CLUB'S CLUB.
FEDERATED, FEDERATED WOMEN'S CLUB.
UM, I DON'T WANT ANY WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION TO BE DEMISE BY US NOT HONORING RESPECT TO THEIR NAME.
SO I AM ASKING THAT WE PLEASE, IN THE FUTURE FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE DO ALLOW IN THE EVENT THAT WE DO HAVE AN ORGANIZATION COME IN TO RUN THE BUILDING AGAIN, THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING IN OUR CONTRACTS THAT WILL REQUIRE SHARED UPKEEP OF THE BUILDING.
SO WE DON'T GET THIS FAR INTO THE DOOMS OF THE DESTRUCTION, LITERALLY
[01:35:01]
OF THE BUILDING.AND ALSO THAT IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT ALTHOUGH THIS ORGANIZATION DID, I'M ASSUMING, PROVIDE INCLUSIVITY, I'M ASKING THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, OR WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE IN MAKING SURE THE ORGANIZATION IS WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY PROVIDING A CIVIC DUTY TO THE COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST FOR THEIR MEMBERS.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS
WE HAD THE DISCUSSION BEFORE YOU REMEMBER CONVENTIONS AND BUS VISITORS BUREAU WAS ALL, WE HAD A BIG LONG DISCUSSION ON HOW TO APPROACH.
WE COULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH WITH THIS, COULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE FORMULA, WAS I JUST FOUND OUT WHAT HAPPENED.
WHAT I OFFERED UP THEN FROM GET A 1 0 8 LOAN THROUGH THE CDBG PROGRAM, CITY MANAGER, THAT'S WHAT CITY MANAGER'S TALKING ABOUT THROUGH THE CDBG PROGRAM AT THAT TIME, CONVENTIONS AND VISITORS BUREAU, IT'S ALL TIED INTO THE, UH, TOURIST THING.
CONVENTIONS AND VISITORS BUREAU HAD A MILLION DOLLARS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY GOT NOW.
THEY MAY HAVE MORE NOW, THE SERVICE THAT IT WAS A, IT WAS A TWO, A $2 MILLION COST AT THAT TIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS TODAY.
WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN THE $2 MILLION ON THE 1 0 8 LOAN SERVICE, THE DEBT FROM THE CDBG MONIES.
MEANWHILE WORKING ON WHAT THE CITY MANAGER WAS TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S WHAT MOST OF YOU ALL SAID.
YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
I, Y'ALL, I CAN UNDERSTAND NOW, Y'ALL DIDN'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE, BUT WHAT I DID WHEN, WHEN Y'ALL TOLD ME YOU MENTIONED IT AND SHE MENTIONED IT, AND, AND I MANAGER AT THE TIME, I THINK I STARTED WITH, WITH THE PREVIOUS MANAGER SINCE THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT.
I WENT OVER TO FLOYD BATIS AT THE EDC BOARD AND I ASKED HIM, DID HE STILL HAVE THAT CONSULTING FIRM THAT THEY PAY, GOT ON RETAINED? HE SAID, YES.
I DIDN'T TELL HIM WHAT I WANTED.
I CALLED THE CONSULTING FIRM AND ASKED HIM ABOUT FORMULATING THAT 1 0 8 LOAN AND PROCESSING IT AND GETTING IT WHERE YOU ALL COULD, WE COULD GET THAT MONEY.
AND THEY, THEY SAID, YES, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO.
THEN I WENT BACK TO, WENT TO FLORIDA BATES.
BUT WHAT A, WHAT I FOUND OUT JUST NOW, WHAT TRIPPED IT UP, THE PROJECT WOULD NOT GENERATE ENOUGH MONEY TO SERVICE THE DEBT.
THAT WAS, THAT'S WHAT A PLAN GOT.
THAT'S WHERE THE FORMULA GOT CHANGED.
IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO, TO DO THAT.
AND NONPROFIT THING CAME UP TOO.
BUT WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN SERVICE AND DEBT UNTIL AT SUCH TIME THE FACILITY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE OVER FUNDING AND DEBT AND PHASE OUT, PHASE OUT THE CONVENTIONS OF THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX.
THE HOTEL, THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX WAS LEFT OUT.
AND WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE CITY MANAGER, I WAS DOWNSTAIRS, I CAME BACK UP THAT WHEN THE FLORIDA LOOKED AT IT, EDC LOOKED AT IT.
THEY WANTED IT TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND LET ITS SERVICE THE DEBT.
NOW, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LOT CHEAPER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT IT WOULD COST TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT NOW, BUT YOU ALL TOLD ME BACK THEN IT WAS, IT WAS $2 MILLION.
HOW MUCH? JUST UNDER 3 MILLION.
ABOUT THE SAME ABOUT WHERE WE ARE ON THIS PROJECTION AS WELL.
BUT IT'S STILL A DOABLE THING, A DOABLE FORMULA TO GET IT DONE THROUGH THE CDBG PROGRAM, LEVERAGING THAT AND ONE OH WAIT LOAN AND THE DEBT COULD BE SERVICED FOR THE TIME BEING UNTIL YOU CREATE YOUR NONPROFIT COULD BE SERVICED OUT TO HOTEL MOTEL TAX.
THAT IS A, A LEGAL FUNCTION OF IT.
AND WE WON'T BE STRUNG OUT FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS AT, WE GET ALL THE MONEY WE NEED AND COUNTER INFLATION, GET THE MONEY WE NEED NOW AND GET IT DONE.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
OKAY, WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.
[III.F.(2) A Discussion Regarding An Update On Status Of Stonegate Drainage Project (Jimmy Johnson, Golfhill And Oakmont Construction Sites) (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Beckcom)]
UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A DISCUSSION REGARDING AN UPDATE ON STATUS ON OF, UH, STONEGATE[01:40:01]
DRAINAGE PROJECT JIMMY JOHNSON, GARFIELD AND OAKMONT CONSTRUCTION SITES.AND THIS HAS BEEN ALSO REQUESTED BY, UH, MAYOR PRO JIM BECKHAM.
UH, FOR ANYBODY THAT EITHER TRAVELS THROUGH DISTRICT THREE OR LIVES IN DISTRICT THREE, WE'RE ALL REAL FAMILIAR WITH WHAT'S GOING ON UP IN DOWN JIMMY JOHNSON BOULEVARD.
UH, AND I'VE GOTTEN LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN'S IT GONNA COME UP? GULF HILL, WHEN'S IT GOING UP? OAKMONT, WHEN'S IT GONNA BE FINISHED? YOU KNOW, EVERY KIND OF QUESTION YOU CAN IMAGINE I'M GETTING.
SO I WANTED TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA SO THAT WE COULD GET ACCURATE INFORMATION OUT TO THE CITY, UH, ESPECIALLY RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT THREE, SO THAT WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON, UH, WHEN WE CAN EXPECT CERTAIN THINGS TO HAPPEN.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THIS PRESENTATION TOGETHER FOR US.
UM, YES, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON.
UM, I WAS JUST GONNA KIND OF BRIEFLY GO OVER SOME OF THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE AND, UM, SOME OF THE FUTURE, UH, SCHEDULING ITEMS WE CAN TALK THROUGH.
BUT, UH, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST IN THIS.
I TOO, AM GETTING A LOT OF CALLS OUT THERE, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE RAIN.
UH, IF THERE'S ONE THING I CAN REPORT, IT'S BEEN RAINING AND SO IT'S BEEN HAMPERING OUR PROGRESS A LOT.
BUT, UH, LEMME JUST GO THROUGH THIS REAL, IF I CAN MAKE THIS ONE.
UM, THIS IS BASICALLY AN OUTLINE OF THE OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT.
YOU CAN SEE THE GOLF COURSES, AND IT'S HARD TO READ, BUT MOST OF OUR WORK HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR ALONG JIMMY JOHNSON.
WE ALSO HAVE WORK TO BE ACCOMPLISHED ON THE NINTH AVENUE SIDE, BUT WE HADN'T STARTED OVER THERE.
BUT JIMMY JOHNSON, WE'VE DEVELOPED THE OUTFALL CANAL, WHICH GOES INTO POND FOUR, WHICH IS KIND OF IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE, UH, SCHEMATIC RIGHT THERE.
UM, THIS, UH, SLIDE BASICALLY INDICATES KIND OF IN MARCH WHAT WE WERE DOING.
UM, MARCH 14TH, THE CONTRACTOR MOBILIZED, MOVED HIS MATS OUT THERE.
AND, UM, OF COURSE, YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURE OF ALL THE GOLF BALLS THAT ARE IN THE PONDS THAT WE'RE, UH, EXCAVATING RIGHT NOW.
I THINK HE FOUND SOME OF MINE
AND ALSO ON THIS SLIDE, UM, THE MONTH OF MARCH, WE HAD TWO RAIN DAYS THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO WORK.
UM, IN APRIL, WE STARTED EXCAVATING THE OUTFALL POND OFF OF JIMMY JOHNSON.
UM, AND WE KNEW THERE WAS THREE PIPELINES IN THIS CORRIDOR.
AND SO ONE OF THEM ENDED UP BEING ABOUT TWO FOOT, OR ACTUALLY IT WAS ABOUT A FOOT LOWER THAN WE THOUGHT.
SO WE ENDED UP HAVING TO ADJUST THE GRADES ON OUR DITCH TO GO UNDERNEATH THESE PIPELINES.
YOU COULD SEE THE BOX CULVERT ON APRIL 12TH.
WE'RE LAYING THESE OUTFALL BOXES UNDER THE PIPELINE.
AND LIKE I SAID, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN TWO FOOT OF CLEARANCE, WE HAD TO GO ANOTHER FOOT DEEPER ON THESE BOXES.
UM, ALSO, THERE'S A PICTURE HERE ON APRIL 29TH, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT THIS DITCH IN AND THE RAIN HIT, WHICH IMPACTED KIND OF THE COMPLETION OF THAT DITCH.
UM, MAY 24TH, WE FINISHED THAT OUTFALL DITCH, WHICH WAS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN RES, WE'D BEEN GETTING A LOT OF RAIN IN MAY.
WE ACTUALLY HAD EXPERIENCED SEVEN DAYS OF RAINOUTS IN MAY.
AND MY PRIMARILY, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PICTURES OF THIS, BUT WE WERE LAYING THE BOXES DOWN JIMMY JOHNSON.
SO THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAFFIC IMPACTS ALONG THERE DURING THIS TIME, AND IT WAS A MESS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE TRIED TO DO THE BEST WE COULD WITH UNLOADING THOSE BOXES.
STORING 'EM IN THE MEDIAN WAS TENUOUS, BUT WE GOT IT DONE.
AND SO THEY'RE ALL IN THE GROUND NOW.
THE NEXT PHASE ON JIMMY JOHNSON WILL BE TO PAVE THE STREET.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN START THAT SOON.
IN AUGUST, WE GOT A LITTLE BIT DRIER WEATHER AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET BACK ON THE PONDS AND START EXCAVATING THOSE DOWN.
WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE ANTICIPATING REMOVING ABOUT 70,000 YARDS OF DIRT FROM ALL THE PONDS IN THE WHOLE PROJECT, WHICH WILL, WILL BE IN, YOU KNOW, 70,000 YARDS WORTH OF STORAGE FOR STORM WATER.
AND THAT'S GOING RELATIVELY WELL RIGHT NOW.
WHILE WELL, UNTIL THE HURRICANE OR HAPPENS YEAH.
[01:45:01]
GOING DOWN GULF HILL AND OAKMONT.AND OF COURSE, AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, WE'VE UNCOVERED TWO OR THREE, UH, UTILITY CONFLICTS, UM, TWO AT AND TS AND A GAS LINE.
AND SO WE, WE'VE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION OF, OF TRYING TO BUILD A CONFLICT BOX AROUND THESE UTILITIES.
UM, THE GAS COMPANY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOWER THEIR LINES.
THEY DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE BOX.
SO THAT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A DELAY GOING DOWN OAKMONT AND GULF HILL.
UM, HOPING WE CAN GET THAT RESOLVED IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO.
AND THEN ON THE LAST PAGE IS JUST A SUMMARY OF, UH, THE PROJECT AS OF AUGUST 31ST.
WE ARE, WE'VE USED 31% OF OUR TIME ON THE PROJECT.
THERE'S 700 CALENDAR DAYS AND WE'VE BILLED, OR THEY HAVE THE CONTRACTORS BILLED 5.7 MILLION OUTTA 18.6.
SO WE'RE ROUGHLY IN BALANCE AS FAR AS WHAT WORK WE'VE PERFORMED VERSUS THE TIME WE'VE SPENT.
SO, AND, AND THEN LIKE I SAID, THERE'S BEEN 30 DAYS OF, UH, RAIN DELAYS TOTAL ON THE PROJECT SO FAR.
UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF MY BABIES BEFORE, UH, GETTING IN THIS, UH, AT LARGE SEAT, UH, PRIOR TO AMER PRO, TIM COMING ON BOARD, UH, WE WANTED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES WITH DRAINAGE.
AND I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT WE'RE GETTING UPDATE AND WE ARE HERE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE I THINK THIS WAS A PROJECT, WHAT, TWO OR THREE YEARS OUT PRIOR TO GETTING TO THIS POINT NOW? MM-HMM.
SO WITH THE INCREASED PIPE SIZE THAT WE DID, I THINK WE CHANGED THEM FROM 20, 24 INCHES.
24 TO, SO HOW WOULD IT TIE IN WITH THIS NEW PROJECT? I KNOW WE HADN'T TALKED ABOUT IT IN A LONG TIME, BUT I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THE, THE PUBLIC AND DISTRICT THREE, UH, CAN, UH, CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY BACK THEN INCREASING THE SIZE.
I MEAN, THIS IS WHAT FEMA'S GAVE US THE MONEY FOR, WAS TO ALLEVIATE FLOODING IN THOSE HOUSES DURING A HUNDRED YEAR STORM EVENT, WHICH IS ROUGHLY, I THINK 18 INCHES AND 24 HOURS.
DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT, BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RAIN.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I DID WANT TO, YOU KNOW, AS THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT ALWAYS TELLS US, YOU KNOW, ALL BETS ARE OFF IF WE GET ANOTHER HARVEY.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS A HUNDRED YEAR STORM, 18 INCHES IN 24 HOURS IS SIGNIFICANT.
AND THIS WATER SHOULD GET TO THE PUMPS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OWNS AND MAINTAINS TWO PUMP STATIONS AT THE END OF BOTH OF THESE PONDS.
AND, UH, THE WATER WILL GET OUT, PUMPED OUT A LOT MORE, A LOT MORE EFFICIENTLY NOW.
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL KEEP THE WATER OUT EVERYONE'S HOUSES.
UM, WE STILL HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE STREETS FLOODING.
WE'RE GONNA RAISE JIMMY JOHNSON SIX INCHES, WHICH IS NOT A LOT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME OF THE WATER OFF OF JIMMY JOHNSON.
AND, UH, BUT ALL THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS BACK IN THERE, UH, AS WE'VE ALL EXPERIENCED ARE, UH, WERE BUILT LOW, YOU KNOW.
WELL, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED YOU TO SAY IT.
I WANT YOU TO TOOT YOUR HAND, MAN.
I MEAN, WE, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND IT CAUSED THE CITY HEARTBREAKS, UH, JIMMY JOHNSON AND NINTH AVENUE.
SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED YOU TO SAY TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT THERE.
UH, WE ARE DOING, UH, THIS COHORT, I SPEAK WITH, UH, MAYOR BRO PROTE ALL THE TIME ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN DO IN THIS AREA.
AND IT'S, IT IS, IT'S AT THE POINT NOW THAT YOU COULD SEE THE LIGHT.
YOU COULD SEE THE LIGHT IN THAT AREA.
AND WE'RE GONNA ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE DRAINAGE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'VE HAD THAT'S FLOODING THOSE HOUSES OUT.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S $18 MILLION.
WE WERE FORTUNATE TO GET THIS FEMA MONEY ALONG WITH THE JOBS IN PORT ACRES AND EL VISTA.
UM, AND, AND LIKE I SAID, THE, THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT HAS BEEN, THEY'VE GOT ANOTHER ROUND OF FUNDING.
THEY'RE GONNA UPDATE THE PUMP STATION ON SHREVEPORT FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
SO THIS IS AN ONGOING EFFORT THAT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO ADDRESS.
WE'VE GOT A RICE FARM ROAD PROJECT COMING UP.
WE'RE GONNA DO THIS NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND START WORKING ON IT.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE, AND WE JUST GOTTA HAVE THE TIME AND THE WEATHER TO GET TO 'EM, YOU KNOW.
WELL, I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE TRACKING.
I, I MET WITH YOU A COUPLE OF TIMES ON THE SITE, BRIGHTSTAR AND, UH, AND, UH, GC.
[01:50:01]
BECAUSE WE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALIBI DAYS ARE BUILT IN MM-HMM.AND WE DON'T WANT IT TO COME ON THE BACKSIDE BASED UPON THE RAIN AND OTHER ELEMENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT IF WE HAVE SOMEONE ON THE CITY SIDE TO ENSURE THAT WHEN IT IS SUNNY, WHEN IT IS 90 DEGREES, WHEN THEY CAN WORK, THEY OUT THERE WORKING.
BUT SEEMS TO ME THEY'VE BEEN WORKING A LOT TRYING TO GET THINGS RESOLVED.
UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, ETT? NO, GO AHEAD.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS ABOUT THESE RAINY DAYS.
OUR CONTRACTS ARE FOR CALENDAR DAYS.
SO IF THEY'RE, IF IT'S RAINING AND THEY CAN'T WORK, UH, WHY ARE WE GIVING THEM DAYS, ADDITIONAL DAYS WHEN THAT'S HIS JOB? IF IT'S NOT RAINING AND THE WEATHER IS GOOD ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, THAT'S A CALENDAR DAY.
AND THAT'S WHAT, AND THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS IN THE CONTRACT.
WE DON'T TELL THEM WHEN TO WORK AND WHEN NOT TO WORK, BUT WHEN THEY COME TO US TALK ABOUT WILL IT RAIN AND THEN WE SAY, OH YEAH, OKAY.
AND OUR CONTRACT DOES NOT TALK ABOUT RAINY DAYS.
WHEN THEY BID THESE CONTRACTS, THEY SUPPOSED TO INCORPORATE THE TIMEFRAME.
WELL IF WE IT RAINS, YOU KNOW, WE MAY HAVE THIS, SO WE GONNA DO THIS PROJECT IN THIS AMOUNT OF TIME.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE LOOKING AT THIS MONTH AND SAY WE GONNA GIVE HIM CREDIT AND I'LL USE A MONTH PARTICULAR MM-HMM.
THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT MM-HMM.
BUT IF HE HAS TO WORK WEEKENDS, HE HAVE TO PAY HIS EMPLOYEES PROBABLY OVERTIME.
SO HE RATHER NOT WORK ON WEEKENDS AND TELL US, WELL, IT RAINED, WE COULDN'T WORK.
WELL WHAT DOES THE CONTRACT SAY? CALENDAR DAYS.
SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS A CITY, WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE REST OF THAT MONTH.
AND IF WE SEE IT'S WEEKEND DAYS THAT THEY CAN WORK AND THEY'RE NOT WORKING, WHY SHOULD WE GIVE HIM RAINY DAYS? WELL, UH, IT'S A CONTRACTUAL ISSUE.
COUNCILMAN DE SAID, I, UH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WEREN'T ON COUNCIL BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 22, WE TRIED TO BID THESE JOBS OUT AND THERE WAS A, AN EFFORT TO REVIEW THE CONTRACTS WITH AN OUTSIDE LAW FIRM.
AND UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A FEMA PROJECT.
THERE WAS FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, IT IS FAIRLY UNCOMMON TO DO WHAT WE CALL CALENDAR DAY CONTRACTS.
WHAT WE NORMALLY DO IS A WORKING DAY CONTRACT.
AND I DO BELIEVE THERE'S PROVISIONS IN THIS CONTRACT TO ALLOW FOR RAIN DAYS.
I'LL, I'LL DOUBLE CHECK THAT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S THE WAY THE CONTRACT IS WRITTEN.
THEN I, WELL, I'M GONNA GO CHECK IT TOO.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CHANGED THE WAY WE'RE DOING CONTRACTS.
'CAUSE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL SINCE 2011 AND ALL OUR CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN BASICALLY THE SAME WHEN WE DO CONTRACTS AND ALL OUR CONTRACTS ALWAYS SAID CALENDAR DAYS.
I'M NOT GOING TO, I'M NOT GOING TO GO BACK AND FORTH IN DEBATE.
BUT IF IT WERE CHANGED, THEN I WANNA KNOW WHEN, WHEN THE COUNCIL CHANGES BECAUSE IT IS NOT TO OUR BENEFIT TO, TO GIVE JOBS OUT AND LET PEOPLE WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO WORK AND NOT GET IT DONE.
WE PAYING, THEY'RE NOT GIVING US NO BREAK WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH THE MONEY.
SO I WILL GO BACK AND CHECK OUR CONTRACT AND IF THIS IS NOT THE CASE
[01:55:02]
IN IT, THEN I'LL BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL.WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T CONTROL THE WORK.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE WHEN CITIZENS PASS BY AND SAYS THEY'RE NOT WORKING WELL, I TELL THEM WE DON'T CONTROL THEM.
WE DON'T TELL THEM WHEN TO WORK AND WHEN NOT TO WORK.
AND I SAID THEY HAVE X AMOUNT OF DAYS TO COMPLETE THIS CONTRACT, AND IF IT'S NOT DONE IN THAT TIMEFRAME, THEN WE PUN WE PENALIZE THEM, THEY START PAYING US.
SEE, THAT'S WHEN CONTRACT IS GONNA START WORKING ON THESE DAYS WHEN THE WEATHER IS NIGHT.
SO IF THIS CONTRACT THAT WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT DID NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY CALENDAR DAYS MM-HMM.
THEY GOTTA UNDERSTAND YOU GOING TO HAVE RAINY DAYS.
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S, I I HEAR YOU.
I'M GONNA DO, I'M GONNA GO BACK AND CHECK THIS CONTRACT.
AND IF IT'S NOT CALENDAR DAYS, THEN THE COUNCIL GONNA HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS BECAUSE I KNOW ALL OUR CONTRACTS IN THE PAST MM-HMM.
SO IF IT GOT CHANGE, THEN WE NEED TO GO BACK AS A COUNCIL AND ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE THAT HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT YES.
ON HOW PEOPLE WORK IN THIS CITY.
SO I, I'M NOT GONNA, I'M NOT GONNA, I'M GONNA DO THE HOMEWORK, THEN I'LL BRING IT BACK.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS CITY, MA, CITY MANAGER.
MY PHONE IS RINGING OFF THE HOOK THAT PEOPLE ARE UPSET ABOUT THE 19TH STREET PROJECT.
WHEN IS THAT GOING TO GO TO CONTRACT AND WHAT'S THE HOLD UP ON THE DRAINAGE PROJECT? POINT OF ORDER? YEAH.
UH, JUST A MINUTE IF WE DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO A POINT OF ORDER, COUNCILMAN, CAN WE DISCUSS THAT ANOTHER TIME? MR. NOW WE HAVE WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO SPEAK ABOUT.
I'M NOT PUTTING IT ON HIS MIND BECAUSE, OKAY.
IT WILL BE ON THE NEXT, UH, NEXT CONTRACT.
ON THE NEXT MEETING, I NEED THE DATE.
I JUST, I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND SOME FOLLOW UP BASED ON WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.
UH, I WANT TO COMMEND THE CONTRACTOR, AND I WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS BACK TO THE CONTRACTOR FROM ME AS DISTRICT THREE COUNCIL PERSON AND THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT THREE.
THESE GUYS ARE WORKING ON WEEKENDS.
THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE WORKED EVERY DAY THAT THEY'VE MISSED BECAUSE OF RAIN.
THEY HAVE WORKED, I DRIVE JIMMY JOHNSON BOULEVARD MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK BECAUSE I WANNA PUT MY EYES ON IT.
AND I SAW THEM WORKING SUNDAY.
I SAW THEM WORKING ON LABOR DAY.
SO WE'RE NOT GIVING THEM, WE'RE NOT GIVING THEM ANYTHING.
THEY ARE, THEY'RE GIVING BACK TO US WHEN THEY RAIN OUT.
THEY ARE WORKING AND I SEE IT.
SO I WANT YOU TO COMMEND THE CONTRACTOR ON, ON BEHALF OF ME AND THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT THREE FOR THEM DOING THAT.
BUT I DO HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
UM, BACK SOMETIME LAST SUMMER, I THINK IT WAS, IT WAS RIGHT AFTER I GOT ON COUNCIL, WE HAD A TOWN HALL MEETING AND WE HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF CITIZENS THERE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CONTRACTOR SAID IS THAT WHEN THEY GET READY TO GO UP OAKMONT AND THEY GET READY TO GO UP GOLF HILL, THEY WERE GONNA GIVE NOTICE TO THE RESIDENTS.
SO DO YOU KNOW IF THEY'RE STILL PLANNING TO DO THAT AND HOW THEY INTEND? OH, WE CAN DO THAT.
I'M, I'M THINKING IT'S WITHIN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE WEEKS, WE'LL PROBABLY START ON THOSE STREETS AND I, WE WILL NOTIFY, WE'LL NOTIFY THE RESIDENTS.
AND I KNOW THIS IS GONNA CAUSE SOME ISSUES BECAUSE SPECIFICALLY ON GOLF HILL, THERE'S ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT.
SO IT'S GONNA BE A TREACHEROUS, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'LL WORK WITH THE CITIZENS THERE TO MAKE SURE THEY ALWAYS HAVE A PATH.
I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE THAT THEY'RE MADE AWARE OF WHEN IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF GOLF HILL.
UM, I'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE ASKING THAT WERE AT THAT TOWN HALL MEETING AND, AND THEY SAID, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYTHING IN OUR MAILBOXES YET.
WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
SO PLEASE DO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOTIFIED.
UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE ONCE AGAIN, I JUST WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR I DIDN'T SAY NOBODY WAS NOT WORKING ON WEEKENDS.
[02:00:01]
THE ONLY WAY WE COULD DETERMINE IF IT'S PAST THAT TIME IS IF THEY CAN'T MEET THE CONTRACT DATE.AND EVEN DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME WHEN WE HAD CALENDAR DAYS, NORMALLY YOU WOULD COME NEAR THE END WHEN YOU CAN'T MEET IT AND YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T MEET IT, YOU COME AND REQUEST AND THEN THE COUNCIL WOULD CONSIDER IT.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I DIDN'T SAY NOBODY WASN'T WORKING.
I WAS JUST SAYING HOW WE GOING TO DETERMINE THAT IN THE WAY TO DETERMINE IT, IS THEY GIVE US A TIMEFRAME AND WHEN THE TIMEFRAME COUNT, THEN WE, UH, DETERMINE IT.
AND COUNCILMAN THOSE RAIN DAYS.
THE 30 RAIN DAYS ARE A REQUEST FROM THE CONTRACTOR.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU'RE REQUESTING FOR RAINY DAYS, BUT YOU HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO WHERE YOU'RE GETTING CLOSE TO YOUR DEADLINE DEADLINE.
SO, SO THIS IS, THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
HOW CAN YOU REQUEST A RAINY DAY? BUT YET YOUR PROJECT IS NOT SCHEDULED TO BE FINISHED UNTIL NEXT YEAR.
WE, WE, WE MAY BE FINISHED ON TIME.
YOU KNOW, I, I I'M, THESE ARE JUST REQUESTS.
THEY, WE DOCUMENT, EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME.
WE DOCUMENT EXCUSE, EXCUSE ME.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE TO SOMETHING ELSE.
UM, YES, UM, COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM, UM, WITH THE MEETING THAT WE HAD, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY MEETING, OH, UM, I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH JOHN JUST RECENTLY.
UM, WE NEED TO PUT THE UPDATES ON OUR WEBSITE SO THE CITIZENS WOULD KNOW AS WELL.
SO, UM, WE WILL ATTEMPT TO DO THAT BECAUSE I THINK WE PROMISED THAT AT THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
YEAH, I THINK, I THINK WE DID.
BUT I, I BELIEVE THE CONTRACTOR ALSO SAID THAT THEY WERE GONNA TRY TO PUT NOTICE IN THEIR MAILBOXES.
AND, UM, BECAUSE I'M, I'M NOT ONLY GETTING, YOU NOT ONLY MENTIONED IT, BUT I GOT A CALL FROM COUNCILMAN ETT THIS WEEK.
SO WE NEED TO UM, WE NEED TO DO THAT.
FOLLOW, JUST FOLLOW UP ON THAT, YOU KNOW.
SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, YOU KNOW, EXCUSE ME.
1, 1, 1, UH, CONSIDERATION WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS, UH, ON, AND JIMMY JOHNSON, PRIOR TO THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIKE A BOULEVARD, THAT LITTLE CENTER PART.
IS THERE ANY WAY, BECAUSE I'VE HAD SOME FOLK WHO HAVE BUSINESSES ON THAT AREA, IN THAT AREA, THAT THAT COULD BE ELIMINATED AND IT WOULD JUST BE A A A I JUST WANT NO, I JUST WANTED TO, THEY SEE, I'M NOT GONNA BE LIKE SOMEBODY ELSE AND BRING UP SOMETHING ON ANOTHER STREET THAT'S ON THAT STREET.
SO I JUST FOR SIMPLICITY AND TO MAKE IT AS TRUTHFUL AND AS SIMPLE AND AS EMPHATIC AS POSSIBLE, THAT IS GOING TO BE DEALT WITH.
AND, AND THEY WON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHAT THEY DEALT WITH PRICE.
I THOUGHT IT LOOKED AESTHETICALLY IT WOULD LOOK GOOD, BUT FUNCTIONALLY THEY HAVE, THEY ARE THERE.
AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE THAT, THAT OTHER PROJECT GOING ACROSS THE STREET WHERE THE HOUSES ARE AND THAT MIGHT CAUSE TRAFFIC TO FLOW IN A BETTER, BETTER MANNER, UH, LIKE THAT.
SO I JUST ASKING THAT, BUT ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT GROWTH BRINGS ON DISCOMFORT.
GROWTH BRINGS ON SOME OTHER MATTERS THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER.
WE ARE GROWING THAT AREA IS GROWING, THAT AREA IS ACTUALLY NOW BEING CONSTRUCTED IN THE PROPER WAY.
UH, THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME SEEING THOSE DITCHES, AND I WAS WONDERING HOW THEY WERE GONNA PULL CONCRETE.
AND I, I WANTED TO REALLY JUST WATCH, NOT BE IN THE MIRROR, JUST BEING A PERSON WHO'S NOT MECHANICAL.
AND TO SEE THIS TYPE OF WORK GOING ON AND TO SEE HOW IT FUNCTIONS.
I'VE SEEN THEM GO DOWN THE STREETS AND PUT THOSE BIG DRAIN DEALS IN THERE.
BUT, UH, WHAT I SAW ON, ON THE DITCH WORK AND THE PICTURES HERE, I MEAN, THEY HAD TO BE COMMENDED AS, AS WE APPROACH MC, THAT THE, I I NOTICED THEM WORKING EVEN LATE BECAUSE IT WAS DARK ONE NIGHT AND I WAS BRINGING MY GRANDSON HOME AND THEY WERE WORKING WITH SOME HEAVY EQUIPMENT, BUT THEY HAD SOME LIGHTS ON IT, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T DANGEROUS.
AND I THINK THIS WAS LIKE ON A, COULD HAVE BEEN A FRIDAY.
BUT, BUT THEY WERE ACTUALLY WORKING, SO THEY'D DONE THAT.
AND WHENEVER THEY GO, GARFIELD, AS YOU SAID, IS UH, UH, ALMOST LIKE A DEAD END.
PROBABLY WHEN THEY GET TO OAKMONT, IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE THAT SOME OF THE WELL THAT'S ONE STREET WE CAN ONLY TRAVEL DOWN YEAH.
TRAFFIC BECAUSE, BECAUSE THEY CLOSED OFF THAT OTHER SIDE.
TRAFFIC TRAFFIC IS GONNA HAVE TO SLOW DOWN ON OAKMONT.
'CAUSE PEOPLE USE THAT AS A THOROUGHFARE, RIGHT.
WE GOTTA THAT AND, AND THEY'LL JUST BE KIND OF LITTLE DISAPPOINTED FOR A FEW MONTHS.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENTS, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE COMMENDED FOR THAT.
AND, UH, I'M, I'M ASSUMING MOST OF THE COUNCIL KNOWS THAT TEO JUANITAS IS GONNA BE MOVING
[02:05:01]
FROM THAT LOCATION, SO, UH RIGHT.SO THAT, THAT'S GONNA CUT DOWN ON SOME, BUT HOPEFULLY SOMEONE HAS, HOPEFULLY SOMEONE ELSE WILL GET THAT BUILDING.
AND THEY WOULD HAVE JUST THIS, UH, IF, IF SOMEONE HAS BUSINESS BUSINESSES THERE LISTENING IN SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES, WE HAVE, IF THERE'S GONNA BE A PROPERTY THAT HAS PROVED THAT YOU WILL BE SOMEWHERE OUR CITIZENS WANT TO GO HAVE A, A BRAND NEW BRAND NEW STREET FOR THE FUTURE TENANT.
SO THAT, THAT, THAT'S GOING TO WORK PERFECTLY.
FOR, UH, SALES TAX, UH, CITY MANAGER.
ANYBODY, I MEAN, THEY CAN MOVE THERE.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN EVER FEEL YOU HAD SOMETHING THAT WAS GOOD MARKETING? MR. JOHN
AND WORK WITH OUR PIO CITY MANAGER FOR THAT TYPE OF ADVERTISEMENT.
WELL, AND IF A COUNCIL WILL LET ME BUILD JIMMY JOHNSON EXTENSION, WELL THEN WE'LL GET MORE BUSINESSES OVER THERE TOO.
WE JUST, WE JUST HAVEN'T PUT IT IN.
PUT IT HOW FRANK SAID, WE HAVEN'T THROWN IT IN THE GUMBO YET, BUT THE POT IS THERE.
I JUST DON'T WANT US TO TAKE LIGHTLY ALL OF THE, UM, GOOD THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE GOING ON AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE ARE MAKING.
WE MUST DO A BETTER JOB AT ADVERTISING WHAT THEY ARE.
AND THE PROCESSES THAT WE'RE TAKING TO, TO GET THERE.
SO IT'S NOT ACCORDING TO OUR TIMELINE.
SOMETIMES GOD WILLING, WE WILL NOT HAVE THAT DISTRACTION, YOU KNOW, EXTRA DISTRACTION FROM STORMS COMING.
BUT THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THINGS THAT WILL COME.
BUT WE ARE DOING SOME AMAZING THINGS AND DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY.
[III.F.(3) A Discussion Regarding Appointing A City Delegation To The Texas Legislature In Austin (Requested By Councilmembers Kinlaw And Frank)]
NOW WE'LL MOVE TO THIS THIRD ITEM, WHICH IS A DISCUSSION REGARDING APPOINTING A CITY DELEGATION TO THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IN AUSTIN.AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, KEN LAW AND FRANK.
ALRIGHT, MAYOR, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
UM, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW AND I, UH, HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSION, UM, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT AS WELL.
AND THEN WE'VE HAD DIALOGUE WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY AS WELL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, AS, UM, AS THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO REPRESENT THE ENTIRETY OF THE CITY, UM, AT, AS AT LARGE, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS WRESTLED WITH HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, AND IT, IT, IT, IT IS IN CONVERSATIONS FROM BEAUTY SHOPS TO BARBER SHOPS.
IT'S BEEN ACROSS THIS DEUS AND THE QUESTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITH A CITY WITH FIVE, UH, PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, UH, NEW LNGS AND ALL THAT HAPPENS AND TRANSPIRES.
WHY DOES PORT ARTHUR LOOK THE WAY THAT IT LOOKS? THAT QUESTION IS RESOUNDING.
THAT QUESTION HAS CONTINUALLY GONE FORTH, AND IT HAS BEEN ONE THAT HAS BEEN PERPETUATED ACROSS GENERATION AFTER GENERATION, AFTER GENERATION.
UM, WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO CHAMPIONS THE CAUSES HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE, UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SEA WALL, WE KNOW THAT THAT PROJECT BEGAN IN THE 19 CITIES BECAUSE WE HAD SOMEONE WHO WAS ADVOCATING FOR US, MR. JACK BROOKS.
AND SO THEY BEGAN THAT PROJECT OF PUTTING THAT SEA WALL IN TO PREVENT A FLOODING, UH, THAT WE ARE PRONE TO HAVE HERE, UH, IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND SO, ALONG THAT LINES, WE'VE TALKED, AND WE BELIEVE, UH, AS COUNCILMAN KINLAW AND I HAVE TALKED IN, IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND, UH, WITH OUR ATTORNEY, THAT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IF WE WENT AS A CONTINGENCY, UH, TO TALK TO, UH, SPEAKER DADE FELAND, TO TALK TO, UM, UH, TO BRANDON, UH, OUR, UH, REPRESENTATIVES, TO TALK TO SENATOR NICHOLS, TO TALK TO THOSE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE HERE.
UH, THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS, UH, THAT WE THINK WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR OUR AREA.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, WE DESPERATELY NEED, AND I'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR IT SINCE I CAME ON COUNCIL, IS THE COMPLETION.
UH, AND THE, THE RENOVATION AND RES RESTORATION OF HIGHWAY 87, UH, HERE IN THE CITY OF, UH, PORT ARTHUR OR, UH, MORE ESPECIALLY SABINE PASS.
IT IS ONE WAY IN, ONE WAY OUT.
UH, THERE IS A SCHOOL THERE, THERE ARE REFINERIES THERE.
AND WE ARE ONE CATASTROPHE AWAY FROM SOMETHING, UH,
[02:10:01]
CATASTROPHIC, UH, HAPPENING, UH, TO, UH, THOSE CITIZENS AND HAPPENING, UH, HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.UH, AND SO THERE'S NO REASON WHY IF WE ARE THE CITY, UH, THAT OILS THE WORLD, ENERGY, CAPITAL, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL US, 600,000 BARRELS OF OIL FROM ONE REFINERY HERE IN MOTIVA, BASF TOTAL, ALL OF THE REFINERIES THAT ARE HERE.
UH, THERE HAS TO BE SOME, SOME, SOME, SOME SITUATIONS THAT ARE RECTIFIED THAT OUR CITY, UH, THAT OUR STATE, UH, LEGISLATURE HAS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PEOPLE OF PORT ARTHUR AND THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR AND PORT ARTHUR IS IMPORTANT, NOT JUST TO TEXAS, WHO HAS THE NINTH LARGEST ECONOMY, UH, IN THE WORLD, BUT IMPORTANT TO NATIONAL SECURITY AS WELL.
AND SO WE WANT TO GO AND MAKE THAT POINT BY BRINGING A CONTINGENT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL BY BRINGING OUR SUPERINTENDENT, BY BRINGING OUR COMMISSIONERS, BY BRINGING INDIVIDUALS, LET ME SAY, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE PORT ARTHUR DAY AND WHERE ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS GO ON A, UM, ON A, ON A BASIS, UH, TO GO.
BUT THAT IS BASICALLY A DOG AND PONY SHOW.
UH, IT'S BASICALLY A TIME WHERE WE JUST GO FOR PHOTO OPS AND WE ACT AS THOUGH WE'RE GETTING SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED.
WE NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH OUR SPEAKER, WE NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES, UH, AND, AND LET THEM WITH SOME ITEMS THAT WE CAN BRING FORTH TO THEM FOR CONSIDERATION AND SAY TO THEM, WE NEED A CHAMPION.
UH, WE NEED SOME CHAMPIONS WHO WILL HELP US WITH THESE ISSUES OF NATIONAL SECURITY, UH, IMPORTANCE.
SO, UH, I WANTED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH US ON TODAY AND TO SET ASIDE, UH, A TIME WHERE WE CAN GET THAT, UH, GOING AND WHERE WE CAN GO, UH, AS A CONTINGENCY OF STAKEHOLDERS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO SIT DOWN WITH THOSE OFFICIALS.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, DR.
UM, THANK YOU, UH, UH, PASTOR FRANK TO HAVING THIS DISCUSSION IN, IN SPEAKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND, UH, CITY ATTORNEY.
UH, IT'S IMPERATIVE, UH, UH, IT'S IMPERATIVE TO BE AT, BE AT THE TABLE.
I KNOW THE MAYOR HAVE SAID THAT A LOT OF TIMES, BEING AT THE TABLE AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S BEING TALKED TO THE TABLE, HAVING A PLATE OF FOOD AT THE TABLE, UH, UNDERSTANDING ALL THOSE, UH, PARTS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, P-A-I-S-D-D SEVEN, THE PORT OF PORT ARTHUR COMMISSIONER'S COURT, UH, THE PORT ARTHUR CITY COUNCIL, UH, THE NAVIGATION, UH, COMMISSIONERS AND HAVING THESE INDIVIDUALS GO TO, UH, THE STATE REPS, THE STATE SENATORS, AND, AND, AND OF COURSE THE SPEAKER DAVE FEELING AND TELL THEM WHAT WE NEED.
COME UP WITH A PLAN AND SOLUTION THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS GIVEN US, OR WAS GIVEN ME SOME CLEAR, UH, UNDERSTANDING AND INSTRUCTIONS.
IF YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH THE BIG BOYS, YOU NEED TO BE TALKING WITH THEM FACE TO FACE.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I, I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL WILL ENTERTAIN AND, AND BRING BACK AND KIND OF, UH, THINK ABOUT.
UH, WE NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE TALKING WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS JUST NOT ON ONE DAY A, UH, A GOLDEN TRIANGLE DAY.
WE NEED TO TELL THEM WHAT WE WANT.
THEY GOT ALL THE MUSCLE, THEY GOT ALL THE MONEY, BUT WE HAVE A BIG PEN IN THIS AREA, AND THEY KNOW THAT.
SO HOPEFULLY, UH, COLLEAGUES COUNSEL THAT WE WOULD TAKE IN CONSIDERATION AND, AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OF.
WE HAVE THE BIG PEN HERE LOCALLY, AND WE JUST NEED TO EXPRESS TO THEM SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE JUST NOT GOING THERE WITHOUT A PLAN, UH, GOING UP THERE WITH A PLAN, HAVE, UH, DESIGNATED INDIVIDUALS AND MEET WITH THEM AND LET THEM SEE US FACE TO FACE.
NOW, IF YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME NO, TELL ME FACE TO FACE THAT YOU'RE GONNA SAY NO, BUT IT'S HARD.
IT'S KIND OF HARD TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE'RE RINGING A BELL HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, AND IF WE WANT SOMETHING TO CHANGE, IF WE WANT THINGS TO GET BETTER, WE CANNOT DO THE SAME OLD THING AND EXPECT THE SAME RESULT.
SO HOPEFULLY THIS COUNCIL, MY COLLEAGUES, WE WOULD TAKE IN CONSIDERATION AND TALKING WITH OTHER ENTITIES THAT WE NEED TO START SENDING PEOPLE UP TO THE STATE AND LETTING THEM KNOW SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, SOME OF THESE, UH, UH, INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE IN PORT ARTHUR, UH, THAT WE WANT.
SO HOPEFULLY, UH, THIS IS JUST A DISCUSSION, UH, REGARDING, UH, HAVING SOME TYPE OF, UM, CORRELATION DELEGATION TO GO UP THERE AND SPEAK WITH SOME OF THE GUYS THAT ACTUALLY MAKE THE DECISION.
I DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, MAYOR.
YES, I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH WHAT COUNCILMAN FRANK AND COUNCILMAN KING LAW HAS SAYS.
[02:15:02]
OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS WHO REPRESENT US IN OUR DISTRICT, THEY HAVE THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY ON THAT LEVEL AS WE HAVE ON OUR LEVEL.AND, UH, WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS FIRST DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF ASSISTANCE OR WHAT TYPE OF THINGS WE NEED TO HAVE DONE OR WHAT WE WANT DONE HERE IN OUR CITY.
ONCE WE'VE DONE THAT, THEN WE SHOULD INVITE THEM DOWN HERE.
AND, UH, THEY, THEY WILL COME, YOU KNOW, THEY WILL PUT US ON THE CALENDAR.
WE NOT ONLY CAN TALK TO 'EM, BUT WE COULD SHOW 'EM AND THEN HAVE THEM TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT HOW CAN WE GET SOME ASSISTANCE OR WHAT CAN BE DONE.
AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES ALSO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE COMMITTEE CHAIRMANS.
THESE COMMITTEE CHAIRMANS ARE THE ONES THAT MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND SENATE BEFORE THE WHOLE HOUSE OR THE SENATE.
SO I AGREE WITH THAT, BUT I JUST FEEL WE NEED TO FIRST DETERMINE WHAT DO WE NEED THEM TO HELP US WITH, AND TO GET THEM DOWN HERE TO SHOW THEM WHAT WE NEED WHILE WE ARE ASKING FOR IT.
AND THEN HAVE THEM TO GO BACK AND REPRESENT US AND GIVE US SOME FEEDBACK.
THEY HAVE MORE THRUST WITH THESE, UH, COMMITTEE CHAIRMANS AND THEY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP, AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE UP THERE FOR US.
BUT WE NEED TO GET THEM DOWN HERE TO VISIT US AND TO HAVE THEM TO UNDERSTAND OUR NEEDS JUST AS WE DO WITH CITIZENS.
SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO GET THEM DOWN HERE AND WE GET THEM ON A ONE-ON-ONE, AND LET THEM GO BACK AND FIGHT THE BATTLES, AND ALSO LET US KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR US.
MY, MY ONLY QUESTION IS WHEN DID IT CHANGE? WE'VE ALWAYS GONE TO THE LEGISLATORS PORT OFFICER.
THEY BROUGHT PROJECTS AND SIT DOWN AND VISITED OFFICE, OFFICE FACE TO FACE WITH, WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVE THAT HAS, WHEN DID THAT CHANGE? WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR, THAT'S THE, OUR GOAL.
AND OF ALL, BEEN OUR GOAL FOR ALL THESE YEARS, BRING PROJECTS TO WIDENING THE COMPLETION, THE WIDENING OF NINTH AVENUE.
WHERE'S THE FUNDING FOR THAT? AND ALL THESE OTHER PROJECTS THAT YOU ALL NAMED.
THAT'S, THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN OUR OBJECTIVE.
THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF IT, UH, PULLED OUT TODAY AND THAT, AND THEY BROADENED IT.
IT USED TO BE JUST TO BE PULLED OUT THE TODAY, BUT IT BECAME THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DAY.
BUT, BUT OUR OBJECTIVE IS STILL THE SAME.
LET'S, LET'S SET ASIDE THE SCHEDULE DATES THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE, OR THOSE THAT'S GOING TO ATTEND IT, SET ASIDE DATES THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GO IN AND TALK TO OUR LEGISLATORS.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE BUMPING HEADS WITH ANYBODY ELSE'S SCHEDULE, BUT THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN OUR OBJECTIVE.
AND I DON'T SEE WHAT HAS CHANGED.
I KNOW I'VE BEEN, I HADN'T BEEN ON COUNCIL IN A WHILE, BUT THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED.
AND HOW ABOUT WE START WITH OUR WATER? SO WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON FOR WHAT WE NEED, BUT WITH KEEPING THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING IN PRIORITIZING WHAT DO WE NEED FOR LIFE OR DEATH? WE NEED WATER.
SO IF WE'RE GONNA START WITH A PROJECT, JUST A SUGGESTION.
I'M NOT THE BE ALL END ALL, BUT JUST A SUGGESTION THAT WE START WITH OUR WATER.
AND ONE, ALSO EDUCATING OUR CITIZENS FROM THE DIFFERENCES WITH POTABLE WATER, UNDERGROUND WATER, STORM, STORM WATER, SEWAGE, WATER, ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WATER NEEDS COME FROM DIFFERENT PLACES ARE USED FOR DIFFERENT THINGS AND CAN ACTUALLY BE FUND DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUNDING.
SOME OF US WALK THE HALLS OF THE CAPITOL OFTEN.
WE DON'T WAIT FOR GOLDEN TRIANGLE DAYS TO GET THERE.
SO ONLY A PART OF OUR WORK IS HERE ON THIS DIOCESE.
MOST OF OUR WORK IS OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING WITH CREATING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
AND IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO CREATE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT WE CAN GET THINGS DONE.
WHEN IT COMES TO BEING AT THE TABLE, I KNOW MAYOR OFTEN SAYS, YOU, YOU GOTTA HAVE A PLATE AT THE TABLE.
IT'S NOT JUST ENOUGH TO BE INVITED INTO THE ROOM, BUT TO BE A DECISION MAKER WITH THE SEAT AT THE TABLE.
SO THIS IS JUST RAISING THE RED FLAG AGAIN, FOR SUPPORT FROM, FROM MY COHORTS, FOR EACH OTHER TO BE ABLE TO
[02:20:02]
ATTEND CERTAIN WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES SO THAT YOU CAN CREATE THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND YOU CAN HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS TO BE ABLE TO RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY, I'M HERE AND THIS IS WHAT WE NEED.THIS IS WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US, NOT ONLY FOR FINDING INFORMATION TO BRING BACK HOME, BUT AGAIN, MOST DECISIONS ARE MADE ON RELATIONSHIPS.
I'M WILLING TO VOLUNTEER FOR YOUR COMMITTEE.
I WILL HELP YOU WALK THOSE HALLS.
THANK, I WILL HELP YOU HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
YEAH, MAYOR, I'M VERY, I'M, I'M, I'M VERY HAPPY AND EXCITED THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
UM, BECAUSE NOT TOO LONG AGO YOU VOTED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC PLAN.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A KEY DOCUMENT THAT YOU WILL BE USING IN ORDER TO TAKE A PROGRAM, NOT A PROJECT APPROACH, NOT A PROJECT APPROACH, A PROGRAM APPROACH.
AS THE COUNCIL CONTINUES TO IDENTIFY THE CITY PRIORITIES, YOU WOULD HAVE IT IN A DOCUMENT THAT WILL BE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T SAY WE CANNOT CHEW GUM AND WALK AT THE SAME TIME.
WE NEED TO GO THERE AND ESTABLISH THE RELATIONSHIPS, YOU KNOW, AS, UM, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE AND ECHOED BY COUNCILMAN KINLER AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL STATED.
BUT THERE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WITH HIS STRATEGIC PLAN AS WE MOVE AHEAD, COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY NEXT MONTH TO WORK WITH THE CONSULTANTS THAT WE HAVE TO LIST WHAT THEIR, WHAT THE COUNCIL'S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES ARE.
AND THEN THE STAFF WILL TAKE IT FROM THERE AND RUN WITH IT FOR YOU SO THAT WE COULD PUT THAT STRATEGIC PLAN TOGETHER AND USE IT AS A POLICY DOCUMENT WHEREVER WE GO TO, WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO WASHINGTON DC OR WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO THE STATE CAPITAL TO PRESENT OUR PROGRAM, OUR PROGRAM AS THE ENERGY CITY OF THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, TO BOTH STATE AND TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED, YOU KNOW, UM, I WILL WORK WITH COUNCIL WITH THE REST OF STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT DOCUMENT GOING.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK OR KIM, YOU ALL HAVE SOME MORE? OH, JUST A FOLLOW UP.
I JUST SIMPLY WANTED TO SAY, UM, I JUST SIMPLY WANTED TO SAY THAT THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND, UH, THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT, UH, TO THE COUNCIL ALONG WITH THIS ENDEAVOR, UH, IS ALL, UH, IN THE MIX OF TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS THAT, THAT WE WANT TO, UH, IN OUR CITY AND, AND CAUSING OUR CITY, UM, TO LOOK LIKE, UM, THE, THE CITY THAT WE WANTED TO BE.
YES, WE HAVE PUT FORTH THOSE PROJECTS AND WE BROUGHT FORTH PROJECTS BEFORE, BUT I THINK THIS IS A MORE CONCERTED EFFORT, A MORE DIRECT APPROACH TO ACCOMPLISHING THAT.
UM, JUST TO KIND OF TELL MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S NOT THAT WE NEVER STOPPED DOING IT.
WELL, NOBODY'S EVER SAID WE STOPPED DOING IT, BUT WE NEED TO PUT MORE EMPHASIS AND, AND, AND BEEFING IT UP THAT WE ARE TALKING WITH THESE LAWMAKERS AND, AND LET THEM KNOW PERSONALLY, UH, THIS IS WHAT PORT ARTHUR, UH, WANTS.
I THINK, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVER FIELD STATED EARLY, YOU KNOW, HER WILLINGNESS TO WANT TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE, HER WILLINGNESS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE, THE BIGGER PICTURE OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO, WE NEED TO BE AT THAT TABLE TALKING WITH THEM, JUST NOT ON PORT ARTHUR DAY OR GO, GO GOLDEN TRIANGLE DAY.
AND IN EVERY CHANCE WE HAVE THE AVAIL, A AVAILABILITY OF THESE, THESE LAWMAKERS.
WE NEED TO BE OUT THERE TELLING THEM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR PLAN.
SHE STATED EARLIER, WATER NEEDS.
IF WE WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON WATER, IF WE WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON WHATEVER IT IS, WE COME AS A COLLECTIVE, AS A UNIFIED BODY GOING UP TO AUSTIN AND SAYING, LOOK, TELL US WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR PORT ARTHUR.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO.
NOT SAYING THAT WE'VE NEVER STOPPED DOING IT, AND IT'S CONTINUED DOING IT.
WE JUST WANNA BEEF THIS PLAN UP.
WELL, UH, I'D LIKE TO END THE CITY ATTORNEY.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING I JUST SAY, JUST RECOGNIZE YES, SIR.
THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING ME.
I, I, AS YOUR CITY ATTORNEY, UM, YOU CERTAINLY KNOW THAT MY BACKGROUND, I WORKED FOR A TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE AS A LEGISLATIVE AID, AND I ALSO WORKED AS A LAW CLERK FOR A US CONGRESSMAN AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE.
SO, CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE LEGISLATION IS DEFINITELY A BIG PART OF MY BACKGROUND.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA POINT OUT, AND AND I SAY THIS TO GIVE MYSELF SOME CREDIBILITY IN WHAT I'M SUGGESTING TO YOU, THERE
[02:25:01]
ARE DIFFERENT METHODS, RIGHT? DIFFERENT APPROACHES BY WHICH YOU TRY TO EDUCATE YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN HIGHER OFFICE ON THE NEEDS THAT YOU HAVE.AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH TRIANGLE DAYS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF YOU WHO GET TOGETHER, AND MANY OF YOU WILL WALK THE HALLS AND YOU'RE EACH WALKING YOUR HALLS FOR YOUR OWN ORGANIZATION'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
AND IT'S USUALLY A BIG PICTURE, TIME TAKING, AND IT'S A LOT OF HANDSHAKING.
UM, THERE ARE OTHER METHODS BY WHICH YOU COULD JUST WALK THE HALLS COLD CALLING AND TRY TO GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS.
BUT YET THERE'S EVEN A MORE SOPHISTICATED METHOD.
IF YOU SEE THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE BUILT THE ALL THOSE EXTENSIONS UNDERGROUND, AND THERE ARE BIG NICE CONFERENCE ROOMS NEXT TO COMMITTEE MEETING ROOMS, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY RENT ONE OF THOSE CONFERENCE ROOMS THROUGH YOUR STATE SENATOR OR YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ENTIRE DAY.
AND YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN AGENDA ABOUT WHICH STATE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS OR ASSISTANT DIRECTORS THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE COME TO YOU IN THAT CONFERENCE ROOM.
AND YOU SCHEDULE 'EM OUT LIKE AN HOUR INCREMENTS.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU THINK THAT YOU WANT SOME CONNECTIVITY OR TRAILS FROM TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, THEY WILL SEND A VERY HIGH RANKING DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR BECAUSE IT'S DURING THE TEXAS LEGISLATOR TIME, THEY WILL SEND SOMEONE VERY HIGH RANKING TO COME MEET WITH YOU.
AND, AND WHEN THEY MEET WITH YOU, IF THEY HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ENTIRE AREA, LIKE THE COUNCIL, THE COUNTY, THE PORT, THE CHAMBER, THE EDC, THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT, THE PORT, RIGHT? AND WE'RE ALL TOGETHER ASKING FOR THE SAME THING, AND UNITY, THAT CARRIES SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT MANY OF THOSE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS DO IN THOSE MEETINGS IS THEY WILL GIVE YOU HEADS UP INFORMATION ON WHAT GRANTS ARE COMING DOWN THE PIPE FOR THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY GIVEN THEM A PLAN OF WHAT YOU WANNA DO AND HOW YOU WANNA DO IT, THE LIKELIHOOD OF YOU GETTING THAT FUNDING WILL BE HIGHER.
SO, DIFFERENT METHODS BY WHICH YOU'VE USED IN THE PAST, OTHER PEOPLE, OTHER CITIES HIRE LOBBYISTS.
UM, BUT THOSE LOBBYISTS AREN'T JUST YOUR ONE CLIENT, RIGHT? OTHER LOBBYISTS HAVE OTHER CLIENTS.
AND SO I GUESS A LOBBYIST IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE.
BUT HAVING WORKED FOR BOTH CONGRESS AND THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, IT IS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE GROUND AND, AND THE DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY GOING TO THE CAPITOL.
THE LAST THING I WANNA SAY IS THAT HAVING WORKED THERE, THE MAYOR OF EACH CITY IS TREATED GOLDEN.
AND SO IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT THE MAYOR BE A PART OF, OF THAT COMMITTEE BECAUSE THEY BOW TO MAYORS UP THERE.
UM, SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE AWARE OF THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR NEEDS.
AND, UH, I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FRANK AND, AND KEN LAW FOR BRINGING THIS UP EVEN, UH, AS, AS I ACTUALLY, UH, LISTENED TO THE DISCUSSION FROM EACH AND THE INPUT FROM EACH INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL PERSON HERE, UH, AND AS I ALMOST, I WOULD SAY, UH, IN PREPARATION OF EXITING FROM COUNCIL IN NINE MONTHS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE COUNCIL TO ACTUALLY EMBRACE MY ENTIRE FIVE OR SIX YEARS HERE.
AND EVEN AS, AS, AS MY FINAL YEAR AND THE EMBRACE IS ACTUALLY OCCURRING, OR I FEEL ACCOMPLISHED WITH THIS BECAUSE THIS GROWS THE CITY.
UH, LAST YEAR COUNCIL, UH, CITY MANAGER AND I, ONCE WE, UH, ACTUALLY THROUGH VOTE AND RECEIVED A NEW STATE REPRESENTATIVE, WE FORMULATED A LIST, IF YOU RECALL, HAD A MEETING WITH THE STATE REP UP AS TO WHAT PORT ARTHUR ACTUALLY NEEDED.
HE THEN, HE THEN DID IT WITH EACH CITY THAT'S INVOLVED WITH I THINK IT'S DISTRICT, UH, OR LEGISLATE, UH, TEXAS DISTRICT 22, I BELIEVE, BECAUSE I THINK SOME ARE POOR NATURES OR NEEDLE OR SOMETHING IS A PART OF THAT.
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, ACTUALLY PROVIDE ALMOST A BLUEPRINT THAT HE COULD ACTUALLY USE AND WORK FROM HOWEVER HE HAD WORKED THERE BEFORE.
SO AS, AS, AS YOU ARE CITY ATTORNEY, HE KNEW WHAT THE APPROACH WOULD BE.
[02:30:01]
IN THE CAPITAL IS THE, THE, UH, MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN BEING SURE THAT YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL WITH WHAT WE ARE DOING.UH, I UNDERSTAND THE FACT OF INVITING THEM TO OUR LOCATION, HOWEVER, DURING THE SESSIONS, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO COME TO US.
WE HAVE TO GO TO THEM AND EMPLOY WHAT, UH, UH, BUT OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAD SUGGESTED SETTING UP A TIME RENTING THE FACILITY, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE GOVERNMENTAL, UH, CONFINES OF OUR CAPITAL IN, IN, IN THE TUNNELS AND HAVING THOSE PERSONS COME TO US ON LAST YEAR, DURING THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DAYS, WE DID HAVE SOME THINGS SET UP FOR US.
WE DID MEET COUNCILWOMAN AIRFIELD WITH, UH, A STATE SENATOR, UH, AND, AND A COUPLE OTHERS WITH MATH.
MATTHEWS, UH, WAS WAS THERE ABOUT OUR WATER BECAUSE HE WAS THE PROFESSIONAL IN THE MEETING, IF YOU RECALL.
AND, UH, SOMEONE ALLUDED TO THIS RELATIONSHIPS AS WE WALKED DOWN THE HALLS, WHEN A STATE SENATOR CAN RECOGNIZE YOU AND SPEAK TO YOU, AND THE CITY MANAGER SAID, MAYOR, THEY ACTUALLY KNOW YOU BECAUSE THEY STOPPED TO SPEAK TO YOU WHEN SENATOR ROYCE WEST WAS COMING OUTTA ONE MEETING.
BUT ROY DIDN'T BOULA
SENATOR MILES WAS IN ANOTHER AREA.
I HAD JUST BEEN IN A PLACE, A MEETING WITH HIM IN HOUSTON AND IN BEAUMONT.
AS SOON AS HE STARTED CITY MANAGER AND I WALKING, HE STOPPED AND SAID, MANAGER SAID, MAN, THEY REALLY KNOW YOU.
OKAY? THIS ACTUALLY GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, MAN, WE NEED YOU TO SUPPORT PORT ARTHUR IN A CERTAIN EFFORT.
THESE ARE THE THINGS I THINK THAT YOU ALL HAVE BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL IN AN OPEN FORUM.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT SOMEONE IS WASTING FUNDS.
IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT SOMEONE IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
WE'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, HOW GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS THE WAY IT FUNCTIONS.
IT'S NOT THE WAY EVERY CITIZEN WOULD UNDERSTAND, NOT THE CITIZENS CANNOT UNDERSTAND IT IF THEY ARE NOT IN GOVERNMENT, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO KNOW THE INTRICACIES OF THE FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT.
AND SOMETIMES WHAT WE END UP DOING IS JUST DESTROYING THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE COULD HAVE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT OPEN-MINDED ENOUGH TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL ASKING OR SUGGESTING.
NOW, NOW, GOD HAS BLESSED US, NOT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE A FANTASTIC CITY ATTORNEY PRIOR, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO ATTRACT A VERY ASTUTE CITY ATTORNEY WITH SOME VARIED EXPERIENCES AND EVEN SOME RELATIONSHIPS THAT I THINK WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR CITY MOVING FORWARD.
SO I, I JUST TAKE THE TIME TO SAY ALL OF THIS, TO SAY THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE WE SHOULD ATTEMPT AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY, AS WE SAID ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE THIS MORNING, IT SHOULD BE DONE WITH ALL SPEED, BECAUSE IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN BY ANY COMES IN JANUARY, AM I CORRECT? CORRECT, MAYOR, BUT THEY START FILING BILLS IN OCTOBER, RIGHT? SO IN JUST A, JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS, YOU'RE GONNA START TO SEE THE BILL FILINGS AND WHAT THE TOPICS ARE GONNA BE, AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE THERE.
NOT ONLY WHAT WE WANT IN PORT ARTHUR, WE NEED TO BE APPRISED OF BILLS THAT AFFECT MUNICIPALITIES.
WE NEED TO BE APPRISED OF BILLS THAT HAVE ANY TYPE OF IMPACT ON OUR WAY OF LIFE.
IF YOU RECALL, JUST LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A BILL THAT DEALT WITH THE EXTRA, UH, TERRITORIAL JURISDICTIONS FOR CITIES THAT WAS FILED BY AN INDIVIDUAL FROM A, AN AREA WHERE ETJ DIDN'T MATTER.
WELL, IN OUR AREA, BECAUSE OF WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED AS FAR AS OUR TAX BASE, ETJ IS VERY IMPORTANT, OKAY? BUT IF YOU ARE NOT, AGAIN, THIS IS WHY I LIKE TO
[02:35:01]
USE IT.IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE ROOM AND SOMEONE SAYS IT, IF YOU ARE NOT IN THERE WHEN THEY'RE SERVING THE MEAL, GETTING YOU A PLATE, YOU WILL BECOME A PART OF THE MENU.
THERE'S GOING TO BE SERVED TO SOMEONE ELSE.
SO AGAIN, I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR THAT.
AND, UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU HAD SOMETHING ELSE.
SO YOU LIKE THIS BACK ON? YEAH, JUST BRIEFLY, SOMEONE MENTION THE WATERS.
YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA CHECK ON OUR WATER RIGHTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE SOME CITIES LIKE HOUSTON AND WHAT HAVE YOU, THAT'S, IT COULD BE THREATENING TO US, YOU KNOW, TO WHAT THE LEGISLATORS DO.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY, UH, I'LL NEVER FORGET, UH, I WAS WITH SOME NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR CIRO WALKED UP TO HIM AND SAID, HEY, WILLIE BAY, HOW THINGS ARE GOING IN PO ARTHUR? HE SAID, MAN, THAT GUY ACTUALLY KNOWS YOU.
I SAID, YEAH, IT'S ON MY NAME TAG.
OKAY, WELL THAT WASN'T MY CASE, SIR, BUT ANYWAY, OKAY, I COULD DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE WE CAN ALL READ, BUT MINE, UH, UNFORTUNATELY TO YOU, MINE DIDN'T OCCUR THAT WAY.
ALRIGHT? NOW, WHAT I LIKE TO DO AT THIS JUNCTURE, WE ARE HERE FOR ALMOST LIKE A REVIVAL.
I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE US, UH, RECESS FOR LUNCH IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM HERE.
NOW IN THE RECESS ATTORNEY, WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS THAT WE WOULD DO EXECUTIVE SESSION WHEN WE RECESS FOR LUNCH COUNT PERSON, WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU THERE.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO EAT DOUCETTE, YOU DON'T EAT, I'LL TAKE YOUR PLATE TO SOME HOMELESS PEOPLE.
UH, BUT WE, WE ARE GOING TO GO IN THERE AND WHILE WE ARE WHERE WE EATING A DINING, WE CAN HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE REASON WHY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A WORKSHOP, AND SO WE CAN RETURN AT TWO O'CLOCK AND HOPEFULLY WITHIN THAT HOUR WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE SOME OF US, WE HAVE ANOTHER EMERGENCY, UH, OPERATIONS CENTER MEETING AT FOUR, ABOUT FOUR AT FOUR O'CLOCK, AND WE'VE GOT TO GO TO THAT.
OKAY? SO LET'S, UH, SEE IF WE CAN DO THAT.
IT'S NOW 1 0 2 AND WE'LL RETURN AT TWO O'CLOCK.
MAYOR, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, YOU NEED TO READ YOUR EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS INTO THE RECORD BEFORE WE LEAVE, OKAY? WITH THAT BEING SAID, AND THANK YOU, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO HAVE GREAT PEOPLE AROUND YOU.
AND SO I HAVE A GREAT, UH, GROUP THAT WE CALL SAM, AND I HAVE, SAM IS RIGHT THERE.
UH, THE CITY SECRETARY, THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND THE CITY MANAGER.
AND IF YOU MESS UP WITH THEM, YOU MESS YOUR WHOLE, YOUR WHOLE SYSTEM UP.
AND IN AS SOON AS I FIND THE PAGE, UH,
[IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION) ]
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION DURING THIS, UH, LUNCH RECESS IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, ACCORDING TO THE, UH, REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION FIVE FIVE POINT, THE 5 5 1 0.10, ONE OF THE CHAPTER OF 5 5 1 OPEN MEETINGS LAWS, THE STATE OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FARMING ARTICLE 62 52 DASH 17, SECTION TWO SUBSECTION A.PRIOR TO GOING INTO THE MEETING, I AM COMPELLED TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT WE ARE RETIRING TOO.
WE WILL HAVE SECTION 5 5 1 OH OH.
IF, IF, IF YOU, IF YOU ALL JUST HOLDING DOWN ON THE COUNCILMAN, UH, I'M GLAD SOMEBODY ELSE CAME HERE LIKE ME.
5 5 1 0.07, ONE OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING, UH, UH, MEETINGS ACT, UH, TO MEET WITH THE ATTORNEY TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE ON A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY TO THE CITY COUNCIL UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT RELATING TO ONE.
WE HAVE, UH, CITY OWNED, UH, FACILITY LOCATED AT 34 51 50 SEVENTH STREET IN FORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, ALSO B THE REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT FUND, AND THEN C HOMELESSNESS, AND THE CITY OF GRANTS PASS, OREGON VERSUS JOHNSON AND THE US SUPREME COURT, UH, NUMBER 23 DASH 1 75 IN THE YEAR 2023.
AND, UH, DE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON PLEASURE ITEMS. IF ANY OF THESE ITEMS WOULD WARRANT, UH, ACTION, WE WOULD RETURN AND ACTUALLY ACT UPON THEM WHEN WE WOULD COME BACK TO THE OPEN SESSION.
[02:40:01]
UH, RETIRE TO THE CONFERENCE AREA RIGHT AT YOUR RECEPTION AREA FOR OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.WE, WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY AND WE GOT, WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER IN THE BUILDING.
OUR CITY ATTORNEY, I MEAN CITY, UH, SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS A REESTABLISHED.
MAYOR BARTEE PRESENT, MAYOR PROTE BECKHAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD COUNCIL MEMBER ETT HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, YOU HAVE A QUORUM MAYOR.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY, UH, AT THIS JUNCTURE, UH, WE'RE READY.
I BELIEVE YOU GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AS SOON AS I GET TO THE RIGHT PAGE.
YEAH, I CAN BEGIN ON, ON PAGE THREE.
DO WE HAVE ANY REPORTS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST? I WANTED TO ASK, UH, COUNCIL FOR THAT.
ANY REPORTS OF, UH, ON HUMAN, UH, NONE OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS? OKAY, IF NOT THIS TIME, WE'LL MOVED DOWN AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA ]
SO WE REMOVE A ROMAN NUMER SEVEN CONSENT AGENDA AND THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE ITEMS THAT'S BASICALLY OF ROUTINE IN NATURE.AND IF THERE WOULD BE ITEMS THAT, AND THAT'S FROM PAGE THREE THROUGH PAGE, UH, THE TOP PORTION OF PAGE SIX.
SO IF THERE ARE ITEMS YOU WOULD WANT IT TO BE HANDLED INDIVIDUALLY, WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST TELL ME THE PAGE NUMBER AND THE A COUNCILMAN ETT ITEM TWO ON FOUR.
ITEMS THREE AND FOUR ON PAGE FOUR, ITEMS THREE AND FOUR.
AND ITEM 13 ON PAGE SIX AND 13 ON SIX.
I DIDN'T, I ACTUALLY THINK IT'S ALREADY BEEN PULLED.
UH, AT THIS JUNCTION, I'M READY TO, UH, ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF ITEMS, UH, 2, 3, 4, 5, UH, NINE, 10, AND 13.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN? UH, KINLAW.
SO MOVE MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN? UH, LEWIS.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND, AND WE WOULD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THE ITEMS, UH, AFTER STATED.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED
[VII.C.(2) P.R. No. 23885 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Accept A Donation From The Cheniere Foundation To Support The Pleasure Island Engineering And Design For A Visitor’s Center In The Amount Of $50,000.00]
NOW FOR THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA ON PAGE FOUR.ITEM NUMBER TWO IS, EXCUSE ME, PR 23 8 8 5 IS THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT THE DONATION FROM THE, UH, CHANE FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT THE PLEASURE ISLAND ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FOR A VISITOR CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN LEWIS MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MAY I GET A SECOND COUNCILMAN? EVER FIELD SECOND IT MOVING SECONDARY.
WE APPROVED PR NUMBER 23 8 8 5 EVERY READY FOR QUESTION.
I KNOW WE GET DONATIONS FROM, UH, REFINERIES, UH, AND MOST OF THE TIME WHEN WE LOOK AT THE, UH, BACKGROUND IS ALWAYS STATES THEY'RE DONATING.
FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE WE ARE REQUESTING THESE DONATIONS, ARE WE NOT CITY MANAGERS? I THINK IN THIS INSTANCE, UM, SHANIA CALLED, UM, THE DIRECTOR AND SAID THEY WERE PUTTING TOGETHER THE
[02:45:01]
LIST OF DONATIONS AND, UM, ASK, ASK FOR OUR INPUT.SO YOU TELL ME SHANIE CALLED THE, THE DIRECTOR OF PUB, UM, PLEASURE ISLAND.
YOU KNOW, WELL, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, UH, WE'D LIKE TO KNOW BECAUSE IF I READ THE BACKGROUND, THAT'S WHAT ALL THE INDUSTRIES ALWAYS SAY, THAT THEY, THEY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY THAT THEY PUT INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEY'RE ASSISTING COMMUNITIES IN THEIR NEEDS.
SO IF WE'RE GONNA REQUEST THEM TO, UH, HELP US IN ANYTHING, THEN WE'D LIKE TO KNOW IN ADVANCE THEN SOMEBODY SAYING, YES, WE WANT THIS OR WE WANT THAT.
'CAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS ASK THEM TO DO SOMETHING.
LET, LET'S MAKE IT A MORE, OKAY.
WELL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, WE READY TO VOTE ON IN FAVOR? AYE.
HAVE IT? SO IT IS ALL APPROVED.
PR NUMBER 23 8 8 5 S PRESENTED.
[VII.C.(3) P.R. No. 23886 – A Resolution Calling For A Public Hearing To Consider A Specific Use Permit For 2.760 Acres Of Land Being Out Of Ravello Land, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas. (4997 North Twin City Highway Suite #170)]
THREE, P NUMBER 23 8 8 6.THIS IS A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR 2.8 ACRES OF LAND BEING OUT OF, UH, VOL REVELO LAND, PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS, UH, MORE SPECIFICALLY, 49 97 NORTH CITY HIGHWAY, SUITE ONE 70, AND IT IS LABELED AS Z 24 DASH SEVEN INVEST INCORPORATED.
SPECIFIC USE PERMIT NUMBER 2 4 3.
MAY I GET A RES, I MEAN, EXCUSE ME.
OKAY, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN EVER FIELD IT IS MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 88 6 AS PRESENTED.
I I THINK THIS QUESTION COULD BE ANSWERED BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY, BUT MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY WHEN WE HAVE A, A NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING FOR A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT OR A ZONING CHANGE, LETTERS ARE SENT OUT TO THE, A SPECIFIC AREA AROUND WHERE THIS IS GOING TO OCCUR.
AND SINCE THIS IS IN A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT, MY QUESTION IS, ARE THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE GONNA BE AROUND THIS PROPOSED GAMING SITE GONNA BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS? YEAH, PLEASE.
IF YOU CAN ANSWER, THAT'D BE FINE TOO.
WELL, CITY SECRETARY'S GOING ASSIST.
YEAH, I WENT TO SCHOOL FOR PLANNING.
UH, NOTICES ARE SENT OUT TO EVERY PROPERTY OWNER WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE PROPERTY AREA ERROR.
SO IF BUSINESSES ARE WITHIN THAT 200 FOOT RADIUS, THEY WILL RECEIVE A, OR THEY SHOULD RECEIVE A, A NOTICE.
SO IT GOES TO THE PROPERTY OWNER, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE BUSINESS THAT IS RENTED? NO, IT GOES TO THE PROPERTY.
IT GOES TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.
WELL THEN MY NEXT QUESTION WOULD BE, DO YOU KNOW IF THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE THEN REQUIRED TO NOTIFY THE BUSINESS THAT'S OPERATING IN THEIR BUILDING OF WHAT'S TO COME? THAT'S UP TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.
WE, WE DON'T, UH, REGULATE THAT.
AND THERE'S NO NOTICE THAT'S SENT TO THE BUSINESS ITSELF, THE, THE BUSINESS ADDRESS.
SO THAT MAYBE THE TENANT WOULD HAVE NOTICED? NO, JUST THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
THAT'S WHAT THE, UH, CITY OKAY.
THAT'S WHAT THE STATE LAW ALLOWS.
AND WE DO PUBLISH IT IN THE, IN THE NEWSPAPER.
WELL THAT, THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION FOR BOTH ITEMS. NUMBER THREE AND FOUR.
I HAVE THE SAME QUESTION FOR NUMBER FOUR, MAYOR.
ARE WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR A AYE.
WE APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 8 8 6 AS
[VII.C.(4) P.R. No. 23887 – A Resolution Calling For A Public Hearing To Consider A Specific Use Permit For 0.4993 Acre Of Land Being Out Of Port Arthur Land Company, Jefferson County, Texas. (3949 North Twin City Highway)]
PRESENTED.NEXT, WE HAVE PR NUMBER 23 8 8 7 A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR, UH, 0.5, UH, ACRES OF LAND, UH, BEING OUT OF THE PORT OR THE LAND, THE COMPANY, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS, OR SPECIFICALLY 39 49 NORTH TWIN CITY HIGHWAY, WHICH IS Z 24 DASH ZERO EIGHT, UH, DEWEY.
BILL OIL COMPANY, UH, SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO NUMBER TWO? FOUR.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO, MOVE MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN ETT? SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE P NUMBER 23 8 8 7 AS PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTION AND COUNCIL, UH, UH, MAYOR PROTE, YOU SAID YOUR QUESTION FOR WAS ANSWERED? YES, IT WAS ANSWERED.
IT WAS ANSWERED BY, UH, THE RESPONSE TO NUMBER THREE.
WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INDULGENCE,
[02:50:01]
UH, WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.SO WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 8 8 7 AS PRESENTED.
[VII.C.(5) P.R. No. 23891 – A Resolution Authorizing A Contract With Joseph P. Sanders As The City Prosecutor; Funding Available In Law Department Account No. 001-05-013-5424-00-10-000 (Contract Prosecutor)]
WE MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE, UH, PR NUMBER 23 8 9 1.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONTRACT WITH JOSEPH P. SANDERS AS THE CITY PROSECUTOR FUNDING AVAILABLE IN LAW DEPARTMENT ACCOUNT NUMBER 0 0 1 5 3 5 4 0 0 AND HE WOULD BE A CONTRACT PROSECUTOR.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND COUNCILMAN? UH, KEN SECONDARY, IS IT MOVED AND SECONDARY? WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 8 9 1 AS PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES.
UH, ARE WE GONNA FILL THAT POSITION? WONDERFUL QUESTION.
IN MY THIRD WEEK, I HAVE BEEN ASSESSING OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND, UM, THEIR BIG PLANS FOR PROSECUTOR.
UM, IT'S GONNA NOT ONLY BE INCLUSIVE OF OBVIOUSLY PROSECUTING TRAFFIC OFFENSES, BUT CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS AND OTHER THINGS IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO BRING BACK TO YOU FOR APPROVAL.
SO WE WILL FILL THAT POSITION IN DUE TIME.
AT THIS POINT, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO STAY AFLOAT.
I DID ACTUALLY GO TO MUNICIPAL COURT AND OBSERVED, UH, ATTORNEY SAUNDERS.
UH, WHILE PROSECUTING VERY PROFESSIONAL, I'M VERY, UH, VERY, UH, HANDS-ON AND, UH, VERY EXPERIENCED.
SO I THINK HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB TO KEEP US AFLOAT.
HOPEFULLY HE CAN KEEP US AFLOAT UNTIL I CAN BUILD THE PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH FOR A FULL-TIME PROSECUTOR.
WELL, YOU ANSWERED THE QUESTION.
MY CONCERN WAS THAT, UH, WE NOT CONTRACT SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING AND WE HAVE A PERSON HERE ON STAFFS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE, HE DID AT AS PART OF THE OFFICE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER WE FILL THAT POSITION, THEN THAT PERSON WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT, RIGHT? CORRECT.
HOWEVER, I THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEED FOR A FULL-TIME PROSECUTOR.
WHEN MR. SAUNDERS WAS ACTUALLY PROSECUTING, HE WAS ALSO DOING HALF-TIME PROSECUTION AND THE OTHER PART-TIME, HE WAS DOING LEGAL WORK IN THE, IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
I THINK THAT BASED ON WHAT YOU HAVE INSTRUCTED ME AS YOUR PRIORITIES, THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEED FOR A FULL-TIME PROSECUTOR SOMETIME WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.
AND, UH, THAT, THAT'S TO INCLUDE THESE, THE OTHER ATTORNEYS WE HAVE.
WELL, THAT POSITION WILL BE AN OPEN POSITION THAT PEOPLE CAN APPLY FOR.
THEN WHEN WE GET TO THAT ONE, I'LL ASK THIS.
FOR RIGHT NOW, WE NEED A PROSECUTOR, SO I'M GOOD.
ANY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS MATTER? THERE AREN'T ANY READY TO VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYE HAVE.
SO WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 8 9 1 AS PRESENTED.
[VII.C.(9) P.R. No. 23895 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With FarrWest Environmental Supply, LLC Of Schertz, Texas To Lease, Calibrate And Maintain Fire Department Hazardous Materials Monitoring And Detection Equipment And Entry Suits, Through BuyBoard Cooperative Purchase Contract 603-20 In The Annual Amount Of $66,987.61; Funding Available In Account No. 001-19-047-5318-00-30-000 Pending FY25 Appropriation]
HAVE PR ON PAGE FIVE, PR NUMBER OR ITEM NUMBER NINE, PR NUMBER 23 8 9 5.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH FAR WEST ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPLY LLC OF CHURCH TEXAS.
I HOPE I PRONOUNCED IT CORRECTLY.
TO, UH, LEASE CALIBRATE AND MAINTAIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MONITORING AND DETECTION EQUIPMENT AND ENTRY SUITS THROUGH BY BOARD COOPERATIVE PURCHASE CONTRACT 6 0 3 DASH TWO ZERO IN THE ANNUAL AMOUNT OF $66,987 AND 61 CENTS.
FUNDING AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 0 0 1 9 4 7 5 3 8 0 3 0.
AND THIS IS, UH, PENDING, UH, FISCAL YEAR 25.
UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? UH, COUNCILMAN KINLOCK.
IT'S BEEN MOVED SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE P NUMBER 23 8 9 5.
YEAH, THAT IS THE RIGHT ONE, RIGHT? YEAH.
ISN'T IT? YEAH, THERE'S SO MANY OF Y'ALL.
UH, WE'RE READY FOR A COURSE IN COUNCILMAN DFI.
THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, SAY WE TALKING ABOUT, UH, 2025 FUNDING.
OKAY, WE GOT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO APPROVE THIS CONTRACT FOR THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING IF WE HAVEN'T APPROVED THE 2025, UH, BUDGET.
[02:55:01]
HOW WE GET IT HERE.AND THE FUNDING IS NOT, IT SAYS PENDING.
SO THAT, I MEAN THAT, THAT, THAT'S THE TERM NEEDED EVEN.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A, YOU KNOW, EVEN PENDING IS PENDING PHYSICAL YEAR 25.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS NOT APPROVED.
AND SO IF THAT, IF THAT ITEM, IF THAT BUDGET OR THAT ITEM DOESN'T GET APPROVED, THEN THAT, THAT NULLIFIES THIS, AM I CORRECT CONCERN? YEAH, I MEAN IT'S, IT'S JUST PROCEDURAL.
IT'S NOT ANYTHING BECAUSE WHAT WOULD BE BAD IF THEY DID NOT HAVE THIS LAST PHRASE IN THERE? THAT'S WHAT I THINK I COULD BE TOTALLY WRONG.
BUT IF PENDING FISCAL YEAR 25 APPROPRIATIONS, APPROPRIATIONS, THAT MEANS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE SET ASIDE.
AM I CORRECT? A CITY ATTORNEY? WE AM.
I, I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE IF I'M UNDERSTANDING.
I THINK THIS IS AN ATTEMPT BY STAFF TO BE PROACTIVE AND PENDING THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET.
THEY CAN IMMEDIATELY START ACTING.
YEAH, WE, WE ALSO HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS NO ITEM WILL PLACED ON THE AGENDA UNLESS THE FUNDING IS APPROVED.
WHAT'S THAT ORDINANCE? WE GOT IT ON.
MAYOR, WILL YOU PLEASE LET ME FINISH? NO, I'M JUST ASKING.
NO, NO, I SAY AN OUS NUMBER, MAN.
WE'LL, WE'LL, THERE'S NO ON THAT.
NO, I WITHDRAW THAT STATEMENT.
DON'T TRY ME, OKAY? DON'T TRY MY PATIENCE.
NO, I'M, I'M GONNA WORK WITH YOU.
YOU SAID YOU I COULD GET THE ORDERS.
IF IT'S A ORDINANCE MAYOR YEAH.
ALL OF THIS BICKERING AND BACK AND FORTH.
LET'S JUST GO, OKAY, BUT I'M NOT BICKERING.
LET'S, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S CLARIFY THIS.
HE MADE A STATEMENT I WOULD ASK YOU, LET'S JUST CONDUCT BUSINESS.
IF YOU SAID THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE, I SAY WHAT'S THE, WELL, LET'S CONDUCT BUSINESS, PLEASE.
IF IT IS AN ORDINANCE AND IF YOU WOULD ALLOW THE ATTORNEY TO LOOK AND SEE THAT, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I'M, THAT'S WHAT I ASKED.
LET'S, LET'S START, YEAH, LET'S, LET'S DO THAT.
LOOK AT SECTION 31, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
UH, BUT UNDER BUDGETED, IF YOU, IF YOU LOOK UNDER BUDGETING, IT STATES NO AGENDA ITEMS. ACTUALLY, IT SAYS WE SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA REQUIRING FUNDING IF IT HAD NOT BEEN APPROPRIATED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND IF SO, WE SHOULD HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO OUR CURRENT BUDGET WHERE WE PUT THE MONEY IN THERE.
OKAY? NOW THAT MEAN WE AMEND THIS BUDGET RIGHT NOW AND PUT THE MONEY IN THERE FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
BUT 2025 IS NOT A FUNDING FOR NOW.
NOW I'M NOT, I'M NOT HERE TO DEBATE AND I'M NOT HERE TO SAY THAT, BUT I GET TIRED OF READING THESE ORDINANCES.
AND WHEN I SAY IT IS LIKE, NO, YOU KNOW, WE GOT THE FINANCE DIRECTOR HERE AT SOME POINT IN TIME, THE STAFF AND, AND, AND OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD READ.
IF I'M READING IT, THEN EVERYBODY ELSE SHOULD READ IT.
SO DON'T COME AT ME BECAUSE I'M QUESTIONING WHAT IS WRITTEN.
I WANNA KNOW WHEN YOU STATE MADE THE STATEMENT, I WANT TO HEAR WHAT IT IS BECAUSE THE REASON WHY THAT MEANS THAT THE STAFF THAT THE, UH, AGENDA REVIEW WITH ME IS NOT GIVING ME THE RIGHT INFORMATION.
YOU TOOK IT PERSONAL AND EVERYBODY ELSE TOOK IT AND TOTALLY MISCONSTRUED WHAT I SAID.
OKAY? IF THAT IS THE CASE, THE STAFF HAS TO BE BETTER PRESENTING TO THE MAYOR AT THE TIME OF, UH, OKAY.
AGENDA REVIEW, THINGS THAT SHOULDN'T BE ON ACCORDING TO THE STATEMENT THAT YOU'RE MAKING.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW.
WELL, I, WELL, LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I TALKED ABOUT ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA.
UH, NOT BEING IN THE BUDGET OR THERE'S NOT A A, RIGHT? THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE MADE THE STATEMENT THAT WE HAD AN ORDINANCE TO SUPPORT WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.
NO, I, WELL, I SAID, WELL, I DON'T RECALL.
WE DON'T NEED TO, WELL, THAT CARRIED A LOT OF WEIGHT.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, THE BUDGET WHEN IT COMES TO PLACING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, IT CLEARLY STATES NO ITEM SHOULD BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA
[03:00:01]
FOR FUNDING UNLESS THAT ITEM HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED IN THAT YEAR'S BUDGET OR AN AMENDMENT OR A A ORDINANCE, I'M SORRY, EXCUSE ME.AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET IN WHICH THE MONEY IS PLACED INTO THE BUDGET FOR THAT ITEM.
OKAY? NOW THAT'S WHAT IT READ.
SEE NOW WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT PHYSICAL YEAR 25 BEING SOMETHING THAT WE FIXING TO APPROVE A FUNDING FOR, WE CAN'T APPROVE THE FUNDING FOR THAT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T EVEN APPROVED THAT BUDGET.
SO YOU WANT THIS WITHDRAWN, TONY, REMOVE YES.
UNLESS SOMEONE, WELL COME ON SAY THAT.
CAN WE GO TO SOMETHING? WELL, I HAD TO EXPLAIN IT THOUGH.
I MEAN, I DIDN'T WANT TO JUST MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE SOMETHING WITHOUT MAYOR.
CAN I SAY SOMETHING? CAN I SAY SOMETHING? GO AHEAD AND SAY MATT.
UM, I MEAN THIS IS A VERY EASY ONE.
WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR HERE.
LET'S JUST COME FOR A SIMPLE EXPLANATION.
CAN YOU, LOU, WE JUST GIVE THE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I MEAN, THOSE THINGS HAS TO GO THROUGH THE FINANCIAL AND WHILST SHE'S COMING, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE APPROVED ITEMS IN THE PAST.
WE ARE FUNDING, HALF OF THE FUNDING IS IN THIS YEAR BUDGET AND HALF OF THE FUNDING WILL BE IN THE FUTURE BUDGET.
I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SAYING, LYNN, JUST GIVE US AN EXPLANATION AND WE'LL BE GOOD WITH IT.
WHATEVER DIRECTION WE'VE GOTTA GO IN.
OBVIOUSLY I WOULD NOT SIGN THIS IF THERE WAS NOT MONEY IN THERE.
AND I BELIEVE MY SIGNATURE DOES SAY PENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 25.
I HEAR COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE THAT AT THIS TIME I DON'T SEE IT AS AN OBLIGATION OF THE FUNDS BECAUSE THE FISCAL YEAR 25 APPROPRIATION HAS NOT BEEN DONE.
UH, THE REASON FOR DOING THIS AHEAD OF TIME, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S, IS IT FOR CONTRACT AHEAD OF TIME OR YOU NEED TO ORDER SOMETHING AHEAD OF TIME? WE PAY ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
AND THE QUARTERLY ISN'T DUE UNTIL OCTOBER ONE, IS THAT CORRECT? NO, IT'S JUST A, IT'S A MATTER OF EXPEDIENCY AND IF IT, THE, UH, IF THE THE BUDGET IS NOT APPROVED, THIS IS NOT GOING TO GET PAID.
AND I'M, I WILL DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ON YOUR POINT.
I I UNDERSTAND AND I SEE YOUR POINT.
NO, WE HAVE YOU FOUND IT? YES, I DID.
I CLEARLY SEE IT WRITTEN IN THERE.
READ IT VERBATIM, THEN I WILL READ IT VERBATIM.
THIS IS, I'M GOING TO SAY EXACTLY WHERE THIS IS AT, WHERE I HAVE FOUND IT.
REQUEST TO DRAFT ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS.
DO YOU MIND MY READING FROM HERE? OKAY.
IT IS UNDER E NO ITEM CAN BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR ACTION THAT OBLIGATES FUNDS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN SPECIFICALLY BUDGETED OR FUNDING WILL BE PROPOSED BY A BUDGET AMENDMENT AT THE COUNCIL MEETING OR REQUESTS, PROPOSALS, OR BIDS FOR GOODS OR SERVICES THAT ARE NOT ESTIMATED TO BE WITHIN THE BUDGET.
IF AN EXPENDITURE FOR GOODS OR SERVICES IS BEING REQUESTED, MONIES NEED TO HAVE BEEN BUDGETED AND AUTHORIZED FOR THE SPECIFIC TYPE OF PURCHASE, THEN A DECISION CAN BE MADE BY THE CITY COUNCIL AS TO THE BEST PROCEDURE AS TO OBTAIN GOODS OR SERVICES.
NOW, NOW, NOW IT'S GONNA BE BASED ON INTERPRETATION.
AM I CORRECT ATTORNEY? THAT IS CORRECT.
WELL, IN TURN, IT, IT IS, IS GOING TO BE FROM WHAT I HEARD, YEAH.
SCHOOLS OF SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT IN INTERPRETING LAW.
I THINK THE REASON WHY I'LL ARGUE ABOUT THIS IS 'CAUSE YOU HONOR, YOU BOTH ARE, RIGHT? UM, THERE'S ONE SCHOOL OF LAW THAT REQUIRES INTERPRETING LAW, LITERALLY, WHICH IS A WAY THAT COUNCILS MEMBER DEUCE DOES.
HE LITERALLY TAKES THE BLACK AND WHITE TEXT.
HE DOESN'T THINK ABOUT INTENT, IT'S JUST THE TEXT.
AND SO I AGREE WITH WHAT HE SAID IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, NOT APPROPRIATING, EVEN THOUGH THE WORD PENDING'S ON THERE, I THINK THE FULL COMPLIANCE WOULD BE NOT TO DO IT UNTIL THE MONEY'S THERE.
HOWEVER, IF YOU THINK AS AN INTENTIONAL LIST, LIKE WHAT WAS THE INTENT OF THE LAW, RIGHT? UM, I DON'T THINK IT PROHIBITS CITIES FROM NECESSARILY BEING PROACTIVE PROVIDED THAT THERE IS LANGUAGE THAT CODIFIES WHEN THE ACTION WILL TAKE PLACE.
AND SO IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHICH SCHOOL OF THOUGHT YOU'RE WANTING TO INTERPRET.
WHETHER IT'S THE LITERALIST INTERPRETATION, IF YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY HAVE IT OR SPEND IT UNTIL IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN APPROPRIATED AND APPROVED ON THE BUDGET LINE ITEM VERSUS THE INTENTIONAL LIST.
[03:05:01]
HAVE TO SPEND THE, YOU CAN'T SPEND THE MONEY YET, BUT IF YOU QUANTIFY IT THAT IT CAN BE SPENT IF APPROVED, THEN THAT WOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH.SO WHICH WAY DO YOU GO WITH, I ALWAYS WANNA GO WITH THE SAFEST WAY.
I THINK THE INTENTIONAL COULD PROBABLY BE THE BETTER WAY TO GO.
BUT IF THE CITY STAFF HAS GOT ISSUES BY WHICH EMERGENCY HEALTH SAFETY ISSUES MAY BE STOPPED, BE, YOU KNOW, FOR LACK OF PAYMENT, THEN I CAN SEE WHY THE INTENTION PART MIGHT BE GOOD.
RIGHT? UM, SO TWO DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS.
PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE DONE IN OPEN SESSION, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OPERATIONS GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY'VE HAD IT ON THIS AGENDA AND ASK ME IN AN OPEN SESSION THEN WE STILL, ANY QUESTIONS? AND TO, UH, COUNCILMAN ETT AND, UH, TO OUR CHIEF, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
I HATE TO SAY IT IN OPEN SESSION, BUT I HAVE PEOPLE STOPPING ME.
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO SAY THAT THEY DON'T GET PAID ON TIME, 45, 50, 60 DAYS OUT WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PAY IN 30 DAYS.
NOW, HE SAID, I REMEMBER, UH, UH, WE'VE HAD THIS TO COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, BEFORE YOU ALL, I KNOW YOU ALL CAN IF YOU RECALL IT, BECAUSE IT'S SOME EQUIPMENT THAT I LEARNED ABOUT AT, UH, AT THE FIRE STATION BY YOUR HOUSE, AND THEY WERE SHOWING THAT EQUIPMENT AND THEY WERE SAYING THEY HAD TO HAVE PROPER PLACE TO STORE IT BECAUSE EVEN IF WE, BECAUSE THEY COULD CONTAMINATE THE ENTIRE STATION HOUSE, OKAY? AND THAT EQUIPMENT REALLY HAD TO BE, THAT'S ALL I WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT.
ONCE I READ THAT AND SAW WHAT IT WAS FOR, THAT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE NOW, COUNCILMAN WITH THE INTENT.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION, OKAY? OKAY.
I'M GONNA LET YOU TALK, OKAY? OKAY.
BUT THE, THE, MY POSITION IS WITH INTENT, BRO.
OKAY, BUT NO, YOU KNOW, MY, YOU SEE, WE HAVE BASIC ACCEPTABLE ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES BY WHICH ALL GOVERNMENT ENERGY IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE.
WHEN I'M REVIEWING THESE AGENDAS, I'M LOOKING AT THEM FOR WHERE I CAN FOLLOW AND UNDERSTAND OUR ACCOUNTABILITY OF MONIES.
OKAY? SO WHEN YOU ALL ASK, I'VE, I'VE TAKEN THE TIME TO READ ALL THESE THINGS, THAT'S HOW I COME OUT WITH IT.
UNLESS IT'S AN EMERGENCY OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, I THINK WE SHOULD STAY WITH THE BASIC PRINCIPLES.
NOT ONLY YOU WORKING, BUT WHEN I'M APPROVING, I KNOW WHEN I'M APPROVING AND I KNOW THE MONEY IS THERE BECAUSE I'VE ASKED ABOUT MONEY BEFORE AND CAN'T GET AN ANSWER.
SO IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY, I UNDERSTAND IT.
THE BASIC ACCOUNTING ACCEPTABLE PRINCIPLE ALLOW US TO DO THAT FOR EMERGENCIES.
BUT IF IT'S NOT EMERGENCY, JUST DOING BUSINESS LIKE THAT, I'M NOT FOR IT.
NOW, WE ARE NOT GONNA SHUT THAT DOWN BECAUSE IF I READ THIS CORRECTLY FROM, UH, MY NOTES AND EVERYTHING, THIS CONTRACT IS FIRED IN AUGUST.
SO HERE WE ARE IN SEPTEMBER AND WE'RE BRINGING IT UP.
ALL THESE THINGS DON'T, DON'T ADD UP WHEN I'M, WHEN I'M DOING AN AGENDA REVIEW FOR ME TO COME TO THIS MEETING, THE FIRST QUESTION I'M SAYING, WHY IS IT COMING TO ME IN SEPTEMBER? AND IT EXPIRED IN AUGUST.
I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO ME IN JULY.
SO THERE'S A REASON I GOT THESE QUESTIONS AND IT'S THE REASON I MAKE THESE POINTS AND THESE ISSUES, YOU ALL NEED TO GET ON TOP OF IT AND GET IT TO US IN A REASONABLE LENGTH OF TIME.
AND IF IT'S EMERGENCY, WE'LL UNDERSTAND IT.
I'M NEVER GOING TO CROSS THIS LINE.
I UNDERSTAND EMERGENCY, BUT JUST DURING BUSINESS CASUALLY, I'M NOT FOR THAT ANYMORE.
SO AUGUST THE, THE 11TH IS CONTRACTS ENDING SEPTEMBER.
SO WE DON'T HAVE, SO WE HAVE TO PAY HIM AND THAT'S WHY WE WANNA PAY 'EM NOW, BUT WE WANT WANNA PAY EM.
ACTUALLY, WHEN WE APPROVE THE BUDGET, THAT'S WHEN WE GOING TO GIVE THE MONEY.
YOU SEE? SO IN OTHER WORDS, NOW WE DONE GOT THE WHOLE PITCH NOW.
I'M GOING ON AND VOTE TO APPROVE IT, BUT IN THE FUTURE, BRING IT TO US BECAUSE IF IT EXPIRED, WE COULD AMENDED THE BUDGET.
THIS CURRENT YEAR BUDGET, WE COULD AMENDED THAT BUDGET AND PUT THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO THIS BUDGET TO FUND A NEW RENEWAL CONTRACT.
[03:10:01]
NEED, OKAY, THANK YOU.WHAT WE DID HAVE AND WHAT I, UH, I'M, I'M GONNA JUST SAY FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE HAD AN ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSITION, SO I WOULD ASSUME THAT MAY BE THE DELAY, SIR.
ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE SO WE APPROVE.
DID Y'ALL NEED IT? I JUST NOTICED.
I JUST LOOKED DOWN AND SAW IT.
I WAS JUST, WE WERE WELL, AND THE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE, COUNCILMAN DEE SAID HAS, IS VALIDITY.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST? THERE WERE COUNCIL MEMBERS BRINGING UP ISSUES, HAVING A LONG, DRAWN OUT DISCUSSION, INCREASING THE LENGTH OF THE COUNCIL MEETING AND THE CITY MANAGER ASK THEM, TELL THE CITY MANAGER THIS IS WHAT I WANT DONE.
THE CITY MANAGER SAY, WHERE AM I GONNA GET THE MONEY? AND THEY WILL SAY, GO FIND THE MONEY.
SO WE, WE AMENDED THE ORDINANCE, THE RESOLUTION A POLICY.
YOU CANNOT BRING UP ANYTHING UNLESS YOU HAVE A FUNDING SOURCE.
[VII.C.(10) P.R. No. 23896 – A Resolution Ratifying The City Manager's Decision For The Emergency Repairs To 36-Inch Force Main At The Main Outfall Lift Station By Allco, LLC For The Total Budgetary Impact Of $51,999.26, Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000, Project No. WS0007-CON]
WELL TAKEN NEXT ON PAGE FIVE, PRO NUMBER 2, 3 8, 9 6.IT IS A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER'S DECISION FOR THE EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO 36 INCH FORCE MAIN AT THE MAIN OUT, OUT FALL LIFT STATION BY ALCO, LLC FOR THE TOTAL BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $51,999 AND 26 CENTS.
AND THAT THO THOSE MINUS ARE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH FOUR ZERO DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 8 5 1 16 0 0 0.
UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? UH, COUNCILMAN MCKEN LAW.
UH, MAYOR PROTI THE SECOND I, OKAY.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND, THEN WE WOULD APPROVE, UH, PR NUMBER 23 8 9 6.
YOU READY FOR QUESTION? COUNCILMAN ETT? ALRIGHT, THIS IS FOR, THE QUESTION IS RELATED TO MAYOR'S COMMENT.
EARLIER, I READ ALL THE BACKGROUND IN THIS ONE.
AND THIS WAS AN EMERGENCY, UH, REQUEST IN MAY.
AND, UH, I READ THE BACKGROUND, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
THE WORK, UH, THE WORK WAS DONE.
PROBABLY IT WAS COMPLETED IN ABOUT THREE DAYS, SO, RIGHT.
I THINK, I THINK WE REQUESTED IT.
AND, UH, YOUR REQUESTS WERE MADE LIKE THE SEVENTH AND I THINK THEY COMPLETED IT THE 14TH OF MAY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
SO MY QUESTION IS, IF THEY COMPLETED ON THE 14TH OF MAY, WH WHY ARE WE JUST PAYING THEM
SO THE PAPERWORK TOOK A WHILE TO GET IT ALL IN.
I MEAN, WE, WE DON'T HOLD ONTO THEIR MONEY.
TRUST ME, WITH ALCO, YOU GET REMINDED DAILY.
BUT IT'S JUST WHAT WE GOT ALL THE PAPERWORK IN AND WE PROCESSED IT.
IT PROBABLY COULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LITTLE BIT QUICKER.
MY POINT IS, 'CAUSE I'M FINNA GO BACK.
I SAW WHAT IT WAS, UH, STAMPED RECEIVED, AND THEY RECEIVED IN MAY.
YOU KNOW, THEN WE, WE SNAPPED THEM, IT FELL THROUGH OUR CRACKS.
I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS TO GET QUESTIONED.
SEE NOW THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR.
ONE, IT FELL THROUGH THE CRACK TWO, IT COULD HAVE BEEN PROCESSED FASTER.
MY COMMENT NOW IS WE NEED TO PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFORT IN MAKING SURE WE PAY THESE THINGS IN A TIMELY MANNER.
WELL, UP TO THE VALUE OF THE EMERGENCY MEMO, THEY'RE PAID SO THERE'S NO OUTSTANDING MONEY TO THE CONTRACTOR.
WE'RE JUST RATIFYING THE PAYMENT THAT WAS MADE UNDER THEIR EMERGENCY NUMBER.
WE JUST, LET'S JUST TRY TO DO THIS QUICKER.
I GOT WHY, WHY, WHY ARE WE SPEAKING ABOUT THIS? IT, UH, MS. LYNN, IS THERE ANY QUESTION? WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED? MS. LYNN? OKAY.
YEAH, NO, THAT IS SOMETHING SINCE WE JUST, OH, WE'RE STILL ON QUESTION AND, AND PAYING ABOUT THIS.
YOU KNOW, LET, MAYBE THEY COULD WAIT TWO OR THREE MONTHS FOR THE ASK, BUT THEY MIGHT HAVE JOHN Q. SMITH.
YOU KNOW JOHN Q. SMITH, WHO'S ONE OF THE SMALLER BUSINESS, HE DOESN'T HAVE THE, THE, THE WHEREWITHAL THAT THEY HAVE OVER THERE, YOU KNOW, AND THEY'LL, NO, WAIT A MINUTE, THEY'LL STILL, THEY, THEY ARE TELLING ME, AND I'M MORE THAN SURE SOME OF Y'ALL DONE GOT THE SAME STORY
[03:15:01]
THAT, HEY MAN, WHAT Y'ALL DOING IN PORT ARTHUR? I, I GOT INVOICE, MAN.IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE GOT TO DO, PLEASE BEGIN TO TRY TO DO TO THE BIG GUYS AS WELL AS THE SMALL GUYS TO PAY THEM ON TIME.
BECAUSE YOU SEE, WE JUST FINISHED SOMETHING THAT'S BIBLICAL.
WHETHER YOU WANNA BELIEVE IT OR NOT, Y'ALL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, SOMEONE MAY OWE YOU.
YOU UNDERSTAND, Y'ALL KNOW WHAT WE DECIDED NOW HERE.
THESE PEOPLE DIDN'T COME DO US ANYTHING.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA, YOU GOT, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA DO BETTER.
I'M JUST SAYING, I HAVE BEEN HEARING THIS FOR A WHILE AND IT, IT'S, IT'S TIME MS. LYNN, YOU ARE HERE.
AND IF IT'S, IF, IF IT'S MR. WILLIAMS, I DON'T, I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE PROCESS.
'CAUSE I DON'T MIKE OR MANAGE NOTHING.
I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.
I, BUT I KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY TO US AND, BUT HE, HE JUST SAID, NOW Y'ALL ALREADY KNOW HOW COUNCILMAN DEW SAID IS HE GONNA LOOK AT EVERYTHING NOW? HE SAID HE SAW IT STAMPED IN MAY.
YOU UNDERSTAND? I DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT IT LIKE THAT.
SO AT STAMP THEY RECEIVED MM-HMM,
OKAY, WELL IF YOU, YOU KNOW, HEY MAN, IF I AM BOMB YOU TONIGHT IN SOME PLACES, I WANT MY MONEY TONIGHT AND I SHOW WANT IT BY FRIDAY BEFORE IT GOES IN THE GROUND.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT'S WHAT I DO.
AND, AND, AND US YOU AIN'T GOING TO WHERE YOU SUPPOSED TO GO.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? I DIDN'T MAKE THE ROOM LIGHT ANY OPPOSES.
ALRIGHT, WE APPROVE, UH, PR NUMBER 23 8 9 6 AS READ.
[VII.C.(13) P.R. No. 23901 – A Resolution Approving Water And Sewer Adjustments To Certain Utility Accounts Due To Leaks And/Or Equipment Malfunction]
WE HAVE ONE ITEM, ITEM 13 PR NUMBER 23 9 0 1.IT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING WATER AND SEWER ADJUSTMENT TO CERTAIN UTILITY UTILITY ACCOUNTS DUE TO LEAKS AND OR EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? MOTION APPROVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND COUNCILWOMAN EVER? FIELD SECOND.
MAY I HAVE QUESTIONS? COUNCILWOMAN? UH, UH, BECKHAM.
UH, AND I THINK I UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS THAT DO NOT, AND THEY WANT SOME EXPLANATION ABOUT THIS.
SO LET ME TELL YOU THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME TO ME THAT I WANT YOU GUYS TO ANSWER.
OKAY? THIS MONEY HAS NOT BEEN COLLECTED FROM THESE CITIZENS, CORRECT? WE'RE NOT GIVING MONEY BACK.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE GIVING THEM A CREDIT ON THEIR BILL FOR THESE LEAKS OR UNEXPLAINED SPIKE.
THE CUSTOMER HAS PAID FOR THE LEAK, UH, AND THEY DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A BALANCE.
AND SO THIS IS REIMBURSING THEM FOR THEIR PORTION OF THE LEAK.
SO THESE, THESE AMOUNTS HAVE ALL BEEN PAID BY THESE EIGHT DIFFERENT CUSTOMERS, CORRECT? YES.
UM, MY SECOND QUESTION IS HOW, HOW DO WE GO LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE A LEAK THAT IS SO SUBSTANTIAL THAT WE HAVE A $38,000 BILL? YES.
UH, THIS WAS A LEAK FOR TWO MONTHS.
THIS WAS A EMPTY LOCATION AND I JUST THINK THAT IT JUST, NOBODY NOTICED THAT THEY WERE LEAKING UNTIL THE CUSTOMER RECEIVED THE BILL.
HOWEVER, THIS PARTICULAR CUSTOMER WAS NOT OPERATING AT THAT LOCATION.
AND THEN I THINK WHEN HE GOT THE BILLS WENT OVER, THEN HE SAW THAT HE DID, UH, HAVE A MASSIVE LEAK OVER THERE.
AND, AND ARE THESE LEAKS THAT ARE ON THE CITY SIDE OF THINGS OR THESE LEAKS? NO, THIS IS THE CUSTOMER LEAKS.
SO ALL THIS WATER'S GOING THROUGH THE METER.
AND THEN MY, THE, THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE IS, WHAT IS AN UNEXPLAINED SPIKE? AN UNEXPLAINED SPIKE, UH, IS WHEN WE JUST SIMPLY CANNOT PINPOINT WHY THE BILL WAS SO HIGH.
UH, THE CUSTOMER COULD NOT GIVE US ANY INFORMATION ON WHY, IF THEY HAD A LEAK, ANYTHING.
BUT BY THE TIME WE SENT TECHNICIANS OUT, WE COULDN'T DETECT A LEAK OR ANYTHING.
UH, WE ALSO CHECKED THE EQUIPMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT A MALFUNCTION THERE AND THERE WAS NO EQUIPMENT ISSUES.
SO IT JUST COMES DOWN TO THE CUSTOMER COULDN'T TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.
THEY HAD AN EXTREMELY HIGH BILL, AND SINCE THE CONSUMPTION RETURNED BACK TO NORMAL AFTER THIS P PERIOD OF TIME, THEN WE WERE ABLE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT AND GIVE THEM AN ADJUSTMENT BASED ON THEIR QUALIFICATIONS.
SO COULD THAT BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS KIND OF A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM WHEN A LOT OF US WERE GETTING BILLS THAT JUST WERE ABSOLUTELY INCORRECT? IT'S A POSSIBILITY, BUT WE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT WOULD TELL US THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.
SO, SO EVERY NOW AND THEN WE DO GET THESE UNEXPLAINED SPIKES.
SOMETIMES IT COULD BE, UH, THAT THE EQUIPMENT JUST DECIDED TO SPIKE UP, ESPECIALLY IF WE'VE CHANGED OUT EQUIPMENT.
SOMETIMES, UH, MAYBE A, A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER IT'LL JUST GIVE A QUICK SPIN AND IT'LL SPIKE THE BILL.
UH, SO WE DO KNOW THAT THAT HAPPENS, BUT I'M NOT
[03:20:01]
SURE IF THAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE BECAUSE THIS WAS LIKE THREE MONTHS OF A HOT BILL.THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DIRECTED AT ME.
THAT'S WHY YOU, OH, WELL MAYBE CALVIN CAN TAKE CARE OF IT.
COULD YOU, FOR, FOR PUBLIC, FOR THE PUBLIC INFORMATION, HOW CAN THEY DETECT A LEAK? UH, NORMALLY WE REALLY DON'T LIKE THE CUSTOMER TO GO TO THE METER BOX, BUT IF THEY OPEN THE METER BOX, THERE'S A DIAL, WHICH IS A LEAK INDICATOR.
UH, AND THEN IT'LL SPIN AND IT'LL LET YOU KNOW THAT MAYBE YOU HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON AT THE PROPERTY.
ESPECIALLY IF EVERYTHING'S OFF ON THE INSIDE.
UH, SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT THE CASE THOUGH.
UH, BECAUSE IF IT'S A LEAKY TOILET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEN THAT METER MAY NOT BE SPINNING AT THE TIME THAT YOU GO AND CHECK IT.
UH, A LOT OF THE TIMES THESE LEAKS HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN A TOILET IS RUNNING.
IF SOMEONE'S GOTTEN UP AND THEN THEY DIDN'T KIND OF LIFT THAT HANDLE, THEN IT'LL JUST RUN, RUN, RUN.
AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THOUGH, MOST OF THE HIGHEST BILLS THAT WE HAVE COME FROM LEAK, UH, LEAKS FROM TOILETS.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE TO RESORT.
RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 9 0 1 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 23888 – A Resolution Casting Votes For The Region 16 Director Of The Texas Municipal League (TML) Board Of Directors For A Two-Year Term]
NOW WE'LL MOVE DOWN UP TO, UH, MOVE DOWN TO ROMAN NUMERAL EIGHT.UH, AND THIS IS THE, THE, UH, NON-CONSENT AGENDA.
WE'LL BEGIN, UH, WITH THE RESOLUTIONS.
IT IS A RESOLUTION CAST IN VOTES FOR THE REGION 16 DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE TML BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR A TWO YEAR TERM.
DID THEY SEND THE NAME? UH, CITY SECRETARY.
I, I KNOW MAYOR SPEARS WAS OUR PERSON.
I DON'T, I'M NOT SURE IF HE, IF THEY HAD SOMEONE ELSE OR IF THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE.
OH, IT WAS THREE AND WE NEED TO SELECT ONE OR WE JUST VOTE FOR THREE.
WE JUST, WE JUST VOTED FOR THREE, UH, MEMBER THREE POSITIONS ON THE BOARD FROM OUR, UH, REGION.
YOU TALKING ABOUT LARRY SPEAR? YEAH.
LARRY, I KNOW HE WAS THE DIRECTOR FOR US.
YOU SAID THERE'S TWO OTHERS THAT GO, GO ALONG WITH HIM.
AS LONG AS HE'S ON THERE, I'M GOOD.
COUNCILMAN KINLOCK SECOND MAYOR.
OH, YOU, YOU HAVE THEIR NAMES? I'M TRYING TO, BUT I DON'T.
I REMEMBER THEY HAVE PICTURES ON THE INFORMATION THAT THEY SENT TO US, BUT I DIDN'T REMEMBER THEIR NAMES.
THAT WAS JUST, I DIDN'T EVEN LOOK, I'M SORRY THE INFORMATION WAS SENT TO YOU, BUT YES MA'AM.
I'M TRYING TO PULL THAT UP RIGHT NOW TOO.
THERE'S MAYOR PRO TEM CINDY BIRCHFIELD FROM DTA DE DETA.
UM, ANOTHER CANDIDATE IS MAYOR STEVEN CROWELL FROM HEMP HILL.
AND THE THIRD CANDIDATE IS MAYOR DANNY LEE FROM CLEVELAND.
SO SPEARS, MAYBE SPEARS STEPPING DOWN THERE.
HE'S ALL WELL, YEAH, I'M GOOD.
SO YOU'LL SELECT ONE OUT OF THE THREE TO CAST YOUR VOTE.
YOU HAVE TO SELECT ONE FROM THE THREE BOAT.
WHO'S THAT FIRST NAME? HE SAID CINDY BIRCHFIELD.
I REMEMBER HIM FEELING, YEAH, I REMEMBER THAT.
UM, EVER FEEL YOU HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE ON ANY ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS? I MEAN, I'LL FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR GUYS KNOWLEDGE BASE ON THESE CANDIDATES IF YOU WOULD SPEAK OPENLY ABOUT THEM.
I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY EXPERIENCE, BUT I REMEMBER INTERACTIONS WITH THEM THROUGH THE NATIONAL BLACK, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS WORKSHOPS THAT HAVE GONE TO OVER THE YEARS.
THAT WOULD'VE BEEN MY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM.
SO SOMEONE WANT TO TAKE A LEAD AND IT'S NOT NEGATIVELY ON THE THIRD PERSON.
I JUST, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
YOU WANNA TAKE THEM TO SOMEBODY THERE? THE FIRST NAME.
WHAT YOU GOT? DO I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SELECT THE FIRST NAME ON THERE TO SET HER WHOEVER THE NAME IS? YEAH, MR KNOW, SECOND.
[03:25:01]
TTA, RIGHT? YES, SIR.WOULD BE AS A CHOICE FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
WELL, I WOULD ADD THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
SO WE THANK YOU ATTORNEY PEPPER.
[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 23897 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing Member(s) To The Zoning Board Of Adjustment]
THAT OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE P NUMBER 23 8 9 7 A RESOLUTION APPOINTED AND OR REAPPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS.I KNOW, UH, THAT I HAD, HAD I GIVEN, I HAD GIVEN YOU THE NAME.
IS THAT THE SAME ONE FROM MS. WASHINGTON? UM, WHO, WHO DID I TALK WITH? PAM? I DIDN'T GIVE BECAUSE I THINK ALL OF YOU HAD YOU GOTTEN YOURS BUT THROUGH THAT NO, THAT'S WHAT I, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD TALK WITH HER.
I THINK THE REST OF YOU, OTHERS Y'ALL HAD ALREADY SENT Y'ALL NAMES IN, RIGHT? WELL, I SAW THE LIST.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL
UM, THE CONVERSATION WE HAD, UM, YOU STATED THAT YOU WANTED TO REAPPOINT ALICE WASHINGTON.
BUT THAT IS THE ONLY NAME THAT I HAVE RECEIVED THUS FAR.
WHEN DID THEY SEND IT TO US? OH, ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
IT WAS SENT VIA, EMAILED ON AUGUST 23RD AND THEN AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER THE FOURTH.
UH, ASSISTANT, UH, CITY MANAGER.
CAN I GET THAT NAME TO YOU PRIOR TO NEXT MEETING, SIR? I'M SORRY.
I'M JUST OVERWHELMED WITH THE APPOINTMENT.
WELL, WELL, WE CAN, WE CAN ACT ON, ON THE ONE NAME.
WE ACT ON, UH, ALICE WASHINGTON.
I MEAN TO AGAIN ON THE 27TH, I THINK.
WE'LL PLACE IT BACK ON THE AGENDA.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BECAUSE WE GOT, UH, OKAY.
WELL, I, I ALREADY HAD A MOTION.
[VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 23903 – A Resolution Appointing A Chairman Of The Board Of Directors To The Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone TIRZ #1 Board, Effective January 1, 2025, To Serve A One Year Term]
WE HAVE PR NUMBER 23,000 9 0 3 A RESOLUTION APPOINTED A CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE DOWNTOWN, UH, TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE.THIRD NUMBER ONE BOARD EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2025 TO SERVE A ONE YEAR TERM.
OR WE NEED TO HAVE THE NAME INSERTED.
I'M ON THE NATIONAL CITY SECRETARY.
BEFORE I GO FURTHER OR OR RECOGNIZE YOU ABOUT IT, I, OKAY.
ALRIGHT, MAYOR, UH, THANK YOU.
UH, WITH THE COUNCIL'S BLESSING, I'VE BEEN THE TURS FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AS CHAIRMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE, UH, SERVING AS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TURS, NUMBER ONE BOARD CHAIRMAN.
AT THIS TIME, IF ANY OTHER RESERVATION, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THE SERVICE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
UH, COUNCILMAN CAN LAW TO THAT POSITION.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE WITH SOME CONTINUITY OVER THERE.
SO I, UH, I RECOMMEND WE APPOINT HIM.
UH, SO I'M LOOKING FOR, WE GOT A MOTION, RIGHT? SECOND? YES.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD, OUR APPOINTEE WOULD BE FOR CHAIR WOULD BE COUNCILMAN KINLAW.
HAVE YOU, WERE YOU AGAINST THAT? NO.
UH, I THOUGHT I WAS AT THE LAST PAGE.
[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 23906 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing Members To The Port Arthur Coalition For Homeless Advisory Board (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Beckcom)]
23 9 0 6 A RESOLUTION APPOINT IN REAPPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE PORT ARTHUR COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS BOARD.AND THIS IS, UH, COUNCILMAN BECKHAM.
AND YOU HAVE A NAME? UH, FOR WELL, I, I'VE ALREADY GIVEN MY NAME.
SO WE'VE GOT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE STILL NEEDS TO APPOINT TWO.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD STILL NEEDS TO APPOINT ONE.
Y Y'ALL, Y'ALL HAVE Y'ALL NAMES I'LL THEM BACK THERE.
IN FACT, I'LL GET THEM BEFORE THE NEXT WEEK.
I WILL PROVIDE IT WHEN I'M READY.
I APPOINTED THE ONE AND I'M WAITING ON CONFIRMATION FROM THE OTHER.
SO RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY, ANY NAMES FOR THE DATE.
YEAH, WE'LL PUT PUT THAT BACK.
CAN WE, CAN WE PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING? YEAH.
OKAY, SO NO NEED FOR A MOTION ON THAT THEN? RIGHT.
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7273 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 110 (Utilities), Article II (Water), Division 3 (Service Charges And Billing), Sections 110-91 (Rate Schedule) Of The Code Of Ordinances Of The City Of Port Arthur, As It Pertains To Discount Benefiting Senior Citizens Residential Customers (Requested By Councilmember Lewis)]
NUMBER 72 73, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER ONE 10 UTILITIES ARTICLE TWO, WATER DIVISION THREE SERVICE CHARGES AND BILLING SECTIONS ONE 10 DASH 91 RATE SCHEDULE OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AS IT PERTAINS TO DISCOUNT, BENEFITING[03:30:01]
SENIOR CITIZENS, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN LEWIS.UH, MAKING A MOTION, UH, COUNCILWOMAN EVER FIELD.
IF MOVE TO SECOND, IF WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 72 73 AS PRESENTED.
READY FOR QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES.
I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO COME UP AND, UH, EXPLAIN EXACTLY TO THE, TO THE LISTENING AUDIENCE AS TO WHAT IS TAKING PLACE HERE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, IF THIS IS APPROVED EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, OUR SENIOR CITIZENS OF 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER WILL HAVE TO APPLY FOR THIS DISCOUNT.
IT'LL BE A FLAT FEE OF $6 AND 25 CENTS, UH, REDUCTION IN THEIR REGULAR WATER BILL.
AND THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE TO ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY NO SIR.
THE APPLI WITH THE APPLICATION, THEY HAVE TO SHOW PROOF OF RESIDENCY AND, UH, THAT THEY LIVE AT THAT ADDRESS.
UH, THEY OWN IT OR THEY RENT IT.
THEY JUST HAVE TO PROVIDE PROOF IN THEIR NAME AND THE BILL GOTTA BE IN THEIR NAME AND THEY CAN ONLY HAVE JUST ONE.
AND THEY HAVE TO RE REAPPLY EVERY FOUR YEARS.
EVERY, SOMEBODY SAID EVERY FOUR YEARS THEY HAVE TO REAPPLY FOR THE, FOR THE DISCOUNT EVERY FOUR YEARS.
DOES ANYTHING ELSE THAT, THAT THE CITIZENS NEED TO KNOW? THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION PERTINENT TO THE SUBJECT.
DID YOU DO THE, WHEN THERE'S AN, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.
WHEN THEY MAKE AN APPLICATION, ONCE THE APPLICATION IS REVIEWED AND APPROVED, THE DISCOUNT DOES NOT BECOME APPLICABLE UNTIL THE NEXT BILLING CYCLE.
NOW ONE OTHER QUESTION, UNREADINESS, BUT I'M CHAIRING THE MEETING, THAT'S WHY I ASKED YOU TO COME UP.
HOW DIFFICULT IS THIS GOING TO BE STAFF WISE? ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE TO BRING IN A, A TEMPORARY PERSON BECAUSE YOU KNOW, SOMEONE IS GONNA HAVE TO BE IT'S A LOT OF FOLK.
MOST OF THE FOLK IN PORT ARTHUR ARE OVER.
I'M ALMOST DONE THAT ONE TWICE.
BUT, UH, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WHAT WE GOING TO HAVE IS AN INFLUX OF INDIVIDUALS.
YOUR STAFF IS ALREADY INUNDATED WITH, UH, UH, UH, TRYING TO HANDLE, YOU KNOW, PERSONS AND, AND, AND, AND THEN PEOPLE ALWAYS WANNA TALK ABOUT, AND I JUST PUT EVERYTHING OUT THERE OR, YOU KNOW, UH, CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
NOW WE ARE PUTTING ANOTHER, UH, UH, BURDEN ON YOU, SO TO SPEAK BECAUSE THAT'S, THIS IS A WHOLE NEW TASK.
YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF I WAS YOU, I WOULD QUIT.
THIS IS A, THIS IS APPLICABLE IF YOU'RE THE AGE 65.
BUT, BUT, BUT, BUT, AND I'M JUST SAYING IT, MAYBE IT'D BE HUMOROUS, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO GET ALL THESE FOLK, THIS IS GONNA HAVE TO BE PRINTED, WRITTEN WHERE IT COULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE.
AND THEN THEY ARE GOING TO COME IN GROVES LINING UP TO GET THIS DISCOUNT.
WHY, AND YOU'VE TO HAVE STAFF.
I'M, I'M JUST, I'M ASKING HER BECAUSE SHE'S THE SUPERVISOR BACK THERE.
SEE, WHEN THEY STARTED CALLING OR THEY COME WALK UP TO MY OFFICE? YES.
I CALL, I'M GONNA HAVE TO CALL YOU.
SO I'M, I WANNA KNOW NOW, JUST NOT, NOT TO PUT YOU ON SPOT, BUT TELL THE CITY MANAGER WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO NEED TO IMPLEMENT THIS GREAT IDEA.
OH, YOU HAD ME WORD IT FOR A MINUTE.
MAYOR, SIR, YOU HAD ME WORD FOR A MINUTE THERE.
YOU GONNA BE THE FIRST ONE IN LINE, MAYOR, I ADMIT.
ARE WE GONNA HAVE AN EXEMPTION FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS? OKAY.
WHO OWNS PROPERTY? YOU CAN PAY HIM MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK NOW.
DID I SAY THAT? I'M TRYING TO KEEP THE ROOM LIGHT.
YES, MA, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT WE ARE INUNDATED, UH, BECAUSE OF SO MANY ISSUES.
UH, HOWEVER, UH, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS, UH, EVEN WITH TEMPORARY HELP, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THIS DONE.
UM, BECAUSE MY STAFF IS OVEREXTENDED, UH, I THINK WE HAVE THE ROOM TO BE ABLE TO ADD SOME TEMPORARY STAFF, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN ASSIST IN GETTING THIS DONE.
WHAT, WHAT DAY? ONCE WE, BECAUSE I THINK I KNOW WE GONNA GET READY TO VOTE FOR IT.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE, WHAT WOULD BE THE DATE? WE SHOULD HAVE THE APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE? OCTOBER ONE.
[03:35:01]
AS THEY COME IN TO APPLY YEAH.AS THEY COME IN TO APPLY, THEN THE DISCOUNT SHOULD APPLY TO THE NEXT BILL CYCLE.
AND BECAUSE A LOT OF THE FOLK WHO ARE 65 AND OLDER, YES.
MANY OF THEM MAY NOT BE AS COMPUTER LITERATE AS SOME OTHERS.
SO MANY OF THEM ARE GOING TO WANT DO PAPER APPLICATIONS.
THE REALITY, WHAT WE DEALING WITH AND THEY'RE GONNA WANT TO COME HERE OR THEY'RE GONNA SEND THEIR GRANDCHILD OR SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, LIKE MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO FILL OUT MY BLANK.
YOU KNOW, AND THEY GOING TO, TO COMPLETE WHAT THEY NEED.
SO I JUST, I JUST WANT US TO, TO BE REAL WITH WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH AND ANTICIPATE WHAT IT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY ENCOMPASS.
AND I, I WAS, I WAS GLAD YOU STAYED IN HERE.
THAT'S WHY I'M SORRY I WASN'T, YOU KNOW, BEING DISRESPECTFUL.
I'M LIKE, NO, YOU COME UP HERE TOO
THEY, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TECHNICAL PART.
HOW LONG IS GONNA TAKE THE PROCESS TO, UH, SEE SOMEONE KNOW A DAY, A WEEK, A MONTH? OKAY.
HOW LONG GONNA TAKE, ACTUALLY, OKAY, NOW I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST TAKE THE LIBERTY TO TRY TO ANSWER YOU IF, IF THE ATTORNEY SAID IT IS PROBABLY GONNA BE A TWO OR THREE STEP PRO PROCESS, BECAUSE ONCE THE PERSON COMPLETES THE APPLICATION, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO VERIFY IT.
AM I CORRECT? YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO VERIFY, AND IT MAY TAKE FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS TO VERIFY IF YOU GET 50 APPLICANTS IN ONE DAY.
SO I WOULD SAY, AND SOMEBODY JUST HELP ME IF I'M WRONG.
IF THEY COME IN BETWEEN THE FIRST AND THE 15TH, THEY MAY BE VERIFIED BY NOVEMBER 1ST.
THE, THE, THE ACTUAL DIS DISCOUNT WOULDN'T SHOW UNTIL DECEMBER 1ST BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GIVE THEM THE DISCOUNT OR PUT THEM IN ON, ON THE LIST FOR THE DISCOUNT UNTIL VERIFICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED OR COMPLETED.
AM I CORRECT? ATTORNEY? SO WE MAY BE LOOKING AT 30 DAYS.
I, I WOULD SAY NOW IF IT HAPPENS IN THE TIME SOONER, IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD.
BUT IF THEY COME ON THE FIRST, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR APPLICATIONS DONE BY THE END OF THE MONTH AND MAYBE THE FOLLOWING BILLING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT DAY Y'ALL BILLING.
I'M JUST SAYING FIRST, BUT WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, IF, IF THEY COME IN AND THEY HAVE TO REALLY WAIT FOR THEIR CYCLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE SAME DAY FOR EVERYBODY OR NO, IT'S NOT.
SO AGAIN, WHAT, WHAT THE APPLICANT IS GOING TO HAVE TO KNOW, UH, MS. SANCHEZ IS THAT THEY, IF, IF THEY ARE VERIFIED AND APPROVED, THAT THE, ACCORDING TO OUR ATTORNEY, THE DISCOUNT WON'T BECOME EFFECTIVE UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MONTH.
BUT I WOULD SAY IF ANYONE WANTS TO KNOW TO BE SAFE 30 DAYS.
ONE OF THE QUALIFICATIONS HAS TO DO WITH THE INCOME, OR IT DOESN'T MATTER OF YOUR INCOME.
INCOME, YOU QUALIFY BECAUSE YOU ARE 65.
YOU COULD, YOU COULD BE A MILLIONAIRE IF YOU OVER 65, YOU GONNA GET A BREAK.
CORRECT? I, I'M NOT QUALIFIED YET, BUT I YOU Y'ALL GOT NO, YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND GOT A MILLION Y'ALL, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE YOU OVER 65.
SO YOU MUST BE ASKING FOR A FRIEND
ANY, ANYONE ELSE? YEAH, ANYONE ELSE? ONLINE? OKAY.
WE ARE READY TO VOTE ALL THAT.
ON VERIFICATION, FIRST OF ALL, THEY HAVE TO COME IN WITH THE APPLICATION.
YOU GOTTA TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PERSON IS THE ONE THAT IS REGISTERED FOR THAT RESIDENT.
AND THAT PERSON HAS TO PROVIDE IDENTIFICATION.
GIVEN THOSE THREE THINGS, WHY CAN'T THEY BE APPROVED IN? WELL, I MEAN THEY'RE GONNA BE COLLECTED AT THE FRONT COUNTER.
SO ONCE THEY COLLECT, THEY REVIEW AND SEE IF THIS PERSON ACTUALLY QUALIFIES, THEN THEY WILL BRING THEM TO, I GUESS ME, YOU, YOU'RE THE ONE
AND THEN I WILL APPROVE THEM AND THEN THEY'LL GO INTO THE SYSTEM.
BUT IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW MANY WE HAVE THAT NEED TO BE PROCESSED.
I MEAN, BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THE LOGICAL APPROACH TO THIS BECAUSE AT FIRST I HEARD YOU ALL, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE INITIATING THIS, THAT IT HAD TO BE THE PERSON WHO THE BILL IS IN THEIR YES.
[03:40:01]
SO IF I COME TO YOU WITH AN APPLICATION MM-HMM.AND I PRESENT TO YOU, MY NAME IS HAROLD DE SAID, I LIVE AT THIS ADDRESS AND I'M 65 YEARS OLD.
SO IF I PROVE TO YOU, SO WHAT A DRIVER'S LICENSE IT TELLS YOU ABOUT ME, TELL YOU HOW OLD I AM.
AND YOU GOT IN YOUR COMPUTER THAT I'M THE PERSON THAT THAT MEETING IS REGISTERED TO.
WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO IT AT THAT TIME.
WE MAY BE ABLE TO, IT'S, IT'S, IT IT IS.
BECAUSE IF I COME TO YOU WITH A QUESTION RIGHT, THE FIRST THING YOU'RE GONNA DO IS OPEN MY ACCOUNT.
SO WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO IT AT THAT TIME.
HOPEFULLY WE'RE NOT TOO INUNDATED LIKE THE MAYOR IS SAYING.
AND WE GET TOO MANY AND WE MAY HAVE TO, ESPECIALLY DEPENDING ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
WELL, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT LIKE I SAID, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT MM-HMM.
IT'S, IT'S JUST GONNA BE THE VOLUME IS, IS WHAT I'M THINKING.
UH, SEE, COUNCIL LEWIS, YOU HAD ALREADY SPOKEN COUNCILWOMAN, UH, YEAH, THAT'S, I JUST WANNA SAY AS REVENUES INCREASE IN THE FUTURE, THAT'S A POTENTIAL, SOME OTHER THINGS THAT CAN, CAN BENEFIT THE SENIOR CITIZEN.
I, THAT'S ALL I'M GONNA SAY ABOUT THE CITY MANAGER.
JUST FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, I AM, UM, I'M IN FAVOR OF TAKING CARE OF OUR SENIORS OF 65 AND OVER.
HOWEVER, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS OF WHAT BUDGET IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FOR THE $6 AND 25 CENTS YES.
FOR THE $6 AND 25 CENTS TIMES, HOW MANY BASED ON THE, AND SO LET ME LET JUST GIVE, AND THEN YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, GIVE ME YOUR, YOUR SUMMARY IF YOU DON'T MIND.
SO, UM, HOW MANY OF THOSE RESIDENTS ARE CURRENTLY SENIORS? HAVE WE ALSO TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION HOW MANY WILL BECOME, UM, OWNERS, EVEN IF THEY AREN'T RIGHT NOW? IT COULD BE IN A SPOUSE'S NAME THAT HADN'T TURNED 65 YET, BUT IF THEIR SPOUSE IS 65 NOW THE WATER BILL'S GONNA BE IN THEIR NAME OR IF IT'S IN A CHILD'S NAME.
HAVE WE TAKEN THOSE, UM, THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION? AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHAT IS THE, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGET BUDGETARY IMPACT.
OH, THE OTHER THING IS WHEN IT COMES TO US SERVING OUR CITIZENS, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO ALSO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THOSE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.
NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE, UM, 65.
SO PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
AND THEN HOW ARE WE GOING TO RECOUP THE FUNDS? THE DECREASE, I, MR. LEWIS JUST MENTIONED IT WAS ABOUT $50,000.
AND DO WE HAVE A PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHART OR SOMETHING THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING A CRITICAL PATH CHART THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM ACTUALLY IS SUSTAINABLE AND CAN HAVE SIMPLE WORKFLOW, SOMETHING THAT'S WRITTEN.
WE, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 17,300 DOMESTIC, UH, RESIDENTIAL METERS CURRENTLY, BASED ON THE STATISTICAL DATA THAT WAS AVAILABLE ONLINE, WE'RE ESTIMATING ABOUT 5,000 OF THEM MIGHT BE REGISTERED TO SENIOR CITIZENS.
SO IF THAT IS THE CASE, THE TOTAL REVENUE, UH, REDUCTION WILL BE $31,250.
UH, AND THIS IS LIKE COUNCILMAN LEWIS SAID, WE ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
SO WE SEE HOW WELL IT WORKS, WHETHER OF HOW DO WE DO THE APPLICATION, WHAT IMPROVEMENTS WE NEED TO MAKE TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT AND MOVE FASTER.
AND WE WILL BE IMPROVING ON THAT ON A DAILY UH, BASIS.
AS FAR AS, UH, CITIZENS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR DOES HAVE A PROGRAM TO WHERE YOU CAN COME IN AND PUT YOUR BILL ON A PAYMENT PLAN.
AND I BELIEVE THE PAYMENT PLAN CAN GO UP TO 12 MONTHS.
SO WE, WE ARE HELPING CITIZENS WHO SUDDENLY EXPERIENCE A FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY.
AND BECAUSE THE WATER DEPARTMENT IS A DEPARTMENT THAT'S AN ENTERPRISE FUND, HOW ARE WE GOING TO RECOUP THAT MONEY?
[03:45:01]
DO WE HAVE A PLAN? THE, THE PROJECTED REVENUE FOR THIS, UH, COMING BUDGET HERE IS APPROXIMATELY 41.5, $41.8 MILLION.SO THE $31,250 OF REDUCTION IN REVENUE IS A VERY MINUTE NUMBER THAT, UH, WE ARE GONNA RECOVER FROM THE METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM THAT WE ARE DOING, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM ALL THE SAVINGS THAT WE ARE, UH, DOING THROUGH OPERATIONAL CHANGES FROM THE WATER LEAKS WE ARE FIXING.
SO IT'LL BE A VERY SMALL NUMBER TO RECOVER VERY QUICKLY.
THE, THE CONCERN ISN'T THE AMOUNT OF NUMBER, THE CONCERN IS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PLAN.
THAT'S WHAT I WANNA PUT OUT THERE, IS THAT WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE SO THAT IT DOESN'T, WE NOT, WE DON'T WANNA GIVE THE IMPRESSION OF CHAOS BECAUSE THERE WERE 25 PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CREATE OUR OWN NARRATIVE.
25 PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE, TWO OF THEM ANGRY, ONE OF 'EM CALLS THE MEDIA AND OH MY GOODNESS, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IS DOING THIS PROGRAM THAT THEY CAN'T MANAGE.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PLAN, WE PUT IT OUT THERE, AND THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE PROVIDING THE RESOURCES THAT YOU ALL NEED IN ORDER TO CARRY IT THROUGH.
I MEAN, STAFF WILL BE TRAINED TO HANDLE THIS PROPERLY.
IF WE HAVE A SLOW DAY WHERE THAT, UH, VERIFICATION CAN HAPPEN AT THE WINDOW, IT'LL HAPPEN AT THE WINDOW.
IF WE HAVE A LINE OF 20 PEOPLE WAITING TO PAY THEIR BILLS AND ADDRESS OTHER ISSUES, THEN THE APPLICATION WILL BE TAKEN TO THE BACK AND THEN STAFF MEMBERS IN THE BACK WILL BE DOING THE VERIFICATIONS.
'CAUSE THEY MIGHT HAVE TO GET ON JCAD, FOR EXAMPLE, TO VERIFY THE ADDRESS AND THE PERSON THAT THE HOUSE IS LISTED UNDER.
AND, AND RENTERS WILL HAVE TO BRING THEIR RENTAL CONTRACTS WITH THEM FOR US TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE AN AGREEMENT.
SO JUST SINCE WE'RE TALKING TO THE PUBLIC, IF WHEN, WHEN THEY ISSUE THE BILLS, WE GET VERY CROWDED.
SO IF YOU SHOW UP WITH YOUR BILL TO PAY YOUR BILL, THERE COULD BE A LINE OUT THE DOOR AND YOU PROBABLY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET PROCESSED THAT DAY ON A THING.
BUT IF YOU COME ON A DAY WHEN THERE'S NO ONE THERE, WHICH IS NOT, WHEN THE BILLS ARE BEING PAID, IT'S MUCH MORE REALISTIC THAT THE PROCESSING WILL GO QUICKER.
SO IT, IT KIND OF COMES DOWN TO WHEN YOU SHOW UP, YOU KNOW, MOST OF OUR CITIZENS KNOW WHEN IT'S VERY CROWDED BECAUSE THEY COME THERE TO PAY THE BILL AND THEY SEE THE LINE OUT, THE DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW, THEY SEE THE LINE UNDER THE BREEZEWAY.
THAT'S NOT A GOOD DAY TO THINK YOU'RE GONNA GET IT PROCESSED IN ONE DAY.
I APPRECIATE THAT EXPLANATION.
AND JUST ALSO REMINDER, THIS WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE AS WELL.
WE CAN MAKE IT AVAILABLE ONLINE.
YES, WE CAN MAKE IT AVAILABLE ONLINE.
MY QUESTION, UH, ABOUT IT BEING AVAILABLE ONLINE, DO YOU KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHERE ON THE WEBSITE IT'S GONNA BE POSTED? I'VE ALREADY HAD SOME PEOPLE ASK ABOUT IT.
UH, SO IT PROBABLY WILL BE LOCATED UNDER WATER UTILITIES.
UH, PROBABLY SOMEWHERE IN THAT AREA WHERE YOU WOULD PAY YOUR BILL.
USUALLY THERE'S A, UH, THERE'S AN OPTION TO GO AND COMPLETE THAT APPLICATION.
UH, PROBABLY THE SAME WAY IT IS FOR THE LEAK ADJUSTMENTS.
SO ALL OF OUR FORMS ARE USUALLY LOCATED IN THE SAME PLACE UNDER THE WATER UTILITIES, UH, TAB.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS? IT'S NOT THERE YET.
SO IF THEY GO LOOK TODAY, THEY'RE NOT GONNA FIND IT, BUT WE'LL GET IT POSTED.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT, UH, DAILY, DAILY WE ARE TURNING IN, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE TURNING IN WATER LEAKS.
THAT'S GOING TO, IT IS GOING TO OFFSET ALL THIS.
AND YOU KNOW, WE, IT IS GOING TO, WE, I, I GOT THREE OF 'EM.
SO THAT'S GONNA BE CONSTANT SAVINGS ON CHEMICALS.
ANYONE ELSE? I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER LIGHTS.
WE WILL, UH, APPROVE PO NUMBER 72 73 AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7276 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Sale Of Surplus Furniture, & Minor Equipment By A Public Online Auction Through Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc & Technology Equipment Through Global Asset, LLC]
HAVE PO NUMBER 72 76.IT IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SURPLUS FURNITURE AND, UH, MINOR EQUIPMENT BY A PUBLIC AUCTION ONLINE AUCTION BY PUBLIC ONLINE AUCTION, EXCUSE ME, THROUGH, UH, RENEE BATES AUCTIONEERS INCORPORATED IN TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT THROUGH GLOBAL ASSET LLC.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILOR KINLOCK? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILOR MC, UH, UH, DUCEY SECOND.
MOVE IN SECOND AND WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 72.
ANY EXCUSE? I DIDN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANY LIKE, I'M SORRY.
[VIII.B.(3) P.O. No. 7277 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Sale Of A 2.023-Acre Strip Of Land, Part Of Blocks 26 Through 30, Port Arthur Heights Addition, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas And Further Authorize The City Manager To Execute A Special Warranty Deed For The Conveyance]
PO NUMBER 72 77.IT IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZED IN THE SALE OF, UH, TWO ACRES
[03:50:01]
OF LAND OF STRIP, TWO ACRES AND TWO ACRES, STRIP OF LAND, PORT OF BLOCKS, BLOCKS 26 AND 30 PORT ARTHUR HEIGHTS EDITION, PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.AND FURTHER AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED FOR THE CONVEYANCE.
I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE.
MIGHT GET A SECOND MAYOR PRO SECOND, IT HAS BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND, THAT WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 72 77 AS PRESENTED.
ANY QUESTIONS OR QUESTIONS READY FOR VOTING? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO WE APPROVE PO NUMBER 72 77.
[VIII.B.(4) P.O. No. 7278 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 110 (Utilities), Article II (Water), Division 3 (Service Charges And Billing), Sections 110-91 (Rate Schedule) And 110-92 (Consumers Outside City Not Having Special Contracts) Of The Code Of Ordinances Of The City Of Port Arthur, As It Pertains To Rates For Residential, Commercial And Industrial Customers, And Providing For Publication]
HAVE PO NUMBER 72 78 AND ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER ONE 10 UTILITIES ARTICLE TWO, WATER DIVISION THREE SERVICE CHARGES AND BILLING SECTIONS ONE 10 UH, DASH 91 RATE, UH, SCHEDULE AND ONE TEN NINE DASH NINE TWO COMES, UH, SUMERS OUTSIDE CITY NOT HAVING SPECIAL CONTRACTS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AS IT PERTAINS TO RATES AND RE RATES FOR RATHER RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION.MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCIL MINEFIELD, IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND, WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? YES.
THESE, THESE RATES? YES, THESE RATES HERE IS FOR PEOPLE IN THE ETJ.
THE RACE, WHAT THE RATE? IT, IT IMPACTS EVERYONE INSIDE.
IT IMPACTS EVERYONE INSIDE CITY LIMIT AND OUTSIDE CITY LIMIT.
AND UH, WHAT'S THAT RATE? SORRY, THE RATE IT'S 8.5% INCREASE 8.5.
UM, ON THIS ONE, WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS DURING THE BUDGET, IT WAS US, THE COUNCIL PRETTY MUCH LISTENED TO WHAT THE NEEDS WERE AND WE SAID SEVEN POINT, UH, FIVE.
OKAY? SO WE GETTING THIS BACK NOW FOR US TO PROVE WITH 8.5.
ALSO IN THAT DISCUSSION WE HAD, IT WAS SAID TO COUNCIL THAT WE, THAT YOU WOULD ELIMINATE SIX UH, ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS, NOT THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.
BUT UH, WHEN WE FIRST SPOKE ABOUT THE RATE INCREASE, THE PROPOSED NUMBER WAS 10%.
AND AT THE TIME THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT BEST CAN WE DO? AND 7.5 WAS, UH, ACTUALLY DISCUSSED THE 8.5% AS IS IS A VERY, VERY TIGHT BUDGET.
'CAUSE 5.2% OF IT IS GONNA FUND THE $30 MILLION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS.
1.3% OF IT IS GONNA FUND THE NEW PIPE BURSTING CREW AND 2% OF IT IS GONNA FUND ALL THE ADDITIONAL COST FOR RAISES FOR EMPLOYEES, INSURANCE COST INFLATION ON MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, FUEL AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AND WE DID HAVE, UH, POSITIONS THAT WERE REQUESTED IN THE 25 BUDGET THAT WE DID ELIMINATE.
SO THOSE POSITIONS ARE NO LONGER IN THE BUDGET.
OKAY? ONCE AGAIN, WHEN THE WATER UTILITIES, WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS THROUGH THE BUDGET, OKAY, THE LAST THING THAT WE DISCUSSED, AND IT'S ON A VIDEO, WHEN I SPECIFICALLY SAID, LET ME UNDERSTAND, WE'RE GOING TO GET A PIPE BURSTING CREW AND HIS EQUIPMENT, YOU'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE SIX POSITIONS, OKAY? AND 7.5.
AND WE SAT HERE AND WHAT WAS SAID WAS, YEAH, THEN WE ADDED A, A STIPULATION BEFORE WE EVEN AGREE TO THIS, WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT THE NUMBERS WERE LIKE.
THE NEXT TIME WE MET WITH YOU ALL IS WHEN YOU REALLY EXPLAINED TO US EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD ASKED.
AND THAT'S WHEN YOU FIRST SAID THE 8.25.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE SAID THAT'S NOT WHAT WE AGREED TO.
NOW THE PERSONNEL, YOU'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE SIX POSITIONS.
I WENT THROUGH THE PERSONNEL SCHEDULE FOR WATER UTILITIES AND FOR SOME REASON I SEE IF THIS SCHEDULE IS RIGHT AND THAT'S HOW
[03:55:01]
COME I REALLY WANT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS.I LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE AND YOU ACTUALLY DONE AWAY WITH 14 POSITIONS AND ADDING 17 POSITIONS, WHICH COME UP TO A PLUS THREE.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE, THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE FOR, UH, THOSE THAT ARE AMENDED AND THE, AND THE AUTHORIZED CHANGES, THAT'S THE CHANGES YOU ARE REQUESTING.
OKAY? YOU HAVE A SIX IN THERE, BRING YOU A TOTAL OF 129 INCREASE FOR THIS YEAR.
THAT'S THE KINDA, MAYBE I NEED TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I SEE HERE FOR THE PROPOSED 24 25 SCHEDULE.
SO INSTEAD OF ELIMINATING POSITION IN THE END YOU'RE GONNA BE ADDING POSITIONS.
MAY I, SO YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ALL SPEAK, I LISTEN REAL CAREFULLY AND WHEN WE TALK AND MAKE DECISIONS AND EVERYTHING COME BACK, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT.
BUT THEN WHEN I LOOK IT'S NOT, AND SOMETIME IT MAY BE 'CAUSE I'D BE MISUNDERSTANDING OR I DIDN'T GET SOMETHING RIGHT.
BUT RIGHT NOW WHEN I LOOK AT THE PERSONNEL SCHEDULE, THIS COLUMN AUTHORIZED CHANGES SAYS PLUS 17 MINUS 14.
SO THAT MEAN YOU ELIMINATING FOUR OR CHANGING FOUR AND YOU ADDING IN 17, WHICH GIVE YOU A PLUS THREE.
SO IF YOU GOT A PLUS THREE IN THIS COLUMN WHERE I SEE A SIX, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE GOT THAT.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.
WHO DURING THE ADDING OR MAYBE I'M MISSED SOMETIMES.
SO Y'ALL COULD TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
NOW IF THIS SCHEDULE IS WRONG, TELL ME IT'S WRONG.
IF IT'S RIGHT AND IT IS OTHER THAN WHAT I JUST READ, JUST EXPLAIN TO ME THAT I'M, THAT I'M NOT READING IT RIGHT.
UH, FIRST LET ME ADDRESS THE PERCENTAGE REAL QUICK.
THE 7.5% THAT WAS PROPOSED AT THAT UH, MEETING WAS A NUMBER THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT, BUT IT DIDN'T INCLUDE WHAT DO WE ACTUALLY NEED TO DO ALL THE PROGRAMS THE COUNCIL WANTED TO DO, THE 2% FOR INCREASES.
THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN TOUCH THAT 'CAUSE IT'S ON THE EDGE.
THE 1.3% FOR THE PIPE BURSTING CREW AND EQUIPMENT, THAT'S SOMETHING IS SAVING US A LOT OF MONEY.
SO IF WE ARE TO GO TO THE 7.5%, THE $30 MILLION WORTH OF WORK THAT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO DO, WE'LL NEED TO BE 25 MILLION.
SO IF THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO DROP THE RATE, WE WILL HAVE TO DROP HOW MUCH WORK WE WANNA DO IN 25.
AND WE HAVE A LIST OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO UH, REVIEW AND FIGURE OUT WHAT CAN BE DELETED.
IN OUR OPINION, NOTHING CAN BE DELETED, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO DELETE 5 MILLION AS FAR AS THE POSITIONS WE WERE PROPOSING TO HAVE SIX MORE POSITIONS THAN WHAT YOU ARE SEEING ON YOUR SCHEDULE.
SO THESE SIX POSITIONS WERE REMOVED FROM THAT BUDGET AND NOT INCLUDED CORRECT.
SO, OKAY, SO THE ADDITIONS AND SUBTRACTIONS, WE STARTED, WE WENT TO THE, WE, WE DOWNLOADED THE PERSONNEL ROSTER, COMPARED THAT TO THE WHAT'S IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT'S POSITIONS, APPROVED POSITIONS FOR 24.
THERE, THERE WERE SOME CHANGES THAT DIDN'T GET CODIFIED IN THE NUMBERS.
SO WE, WE, WE'VE MADE IT MATCH.
THERE'S 122 POSITIONS AT THE END OF 24 THIS FISCAL YEAR.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S 122 APPROVED POSITIONS AND WE GOT EVERYTHING WHERE IT WORKS OUT CORRECTLY TO THE 1 22.
AND THEN WE ADDED THE, THE PIPE BURSTING AND THERE'S ONE OTHER POSITION IN THERE OTHER THAN PIPE BURSTING.
AND IT'S A CUSTOMER REP SERVICE REP.
THAT'S THE ONLY ADDITIONAL POSITION THAT'S NOT PIPE BURSTING.
IT'S TO WORK WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE BOTH IN THE DOWNSTAIRS AND THE ANNEX AND WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ANSWER THE PHONES FOR DISPATCH TO, TO TRY TO IMPROVE OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THAT WHEN WE TALKING AND WE, WE SAY THINGS, THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND IT TO BE.
AND THEN WHEN I GO, I CHECK SIR THINGS AND IT AND IT DOESN'T EQUATE THEN THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING BECAUSE WHEN WE TALKING ABOUT PHYSICIANS NOW AND THIS RATE INCREASE, OKAY,
[04:00:01]
I THINK IT WAS VERY CLEAR FROM COUNCILS AND YOU COULD LOOK AT THE VIDEO.I THINK WE WAS VERY CLEAR WHEN WE SAID THE PIPE BURSTING CREW AND ALL EQUIPMENT ELIMINATING SIX POSITION AND THE SENIOR CITIZENS DISCOUNT AND 7.5, THEN WE MET AGAIN.
SO MY THING IS, IF YOU ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT WE SAID AND YOU ALL GOING TO BE DIFFERENT, THEN WE NEED TO KNOW THAT SO THAT WE CAN NOW SAY WHETHER WE ARE GONNA ACCEPT OR REJECT.
THAT'S BECAUSE RIGHT NOW CAN I SAY SOMETHING SIR? SURE, SURE, GO AHEAD.
SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU WANTED TO TAKE THE 1 22 TO ONE 16? I'D LIKE TO SAY ONE THING.
20 YEARS AGO THIS CITY HAD 325 MILES OF WATER LINES.
IT HAS OVER 500 MILES NOW AND IT HAS THE SAME STAFFING.
I TALKED TO MY MANAGER FOR DISTRIBUTION AND COLLECTION AND THE STAFFING.
IT'S JUST LIKE, EXCUSE ME FOR POINTING RON.
IT'S JUST LIKE RON SAYS ABOUT GARBAGE ROUTES.
YOU'VE ADDED HOUSES, YOU'VE ADDED STREETS AND YOU HAVEN'T ADDED TRUCKS AND STAFF.
YOU'RE DOING THE SAME THING WITH WATER.
OKAY? WE NEED PEOPLE, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS OVERTIME, I, THERE'S OTHER REASONS AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, BUT IT'S CALVIN.
SO I I'M NOT EVEN QUESTIONING HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU HAVE HERE.
I'M GOING BY WHAT YOU ALL SAID TO US.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS 120 PEOPLE.
YOU SAID Y'ALL SAID WE GOING TO ELIMINATE SIX, SIX POSITION.
WE DIDN'T DISCOUNTS DID NOT ASK YOU ALL TO WE, WE MEANT PROPOSED POSITIONS DURING THAT DISCUSSION AND AND AT NO TIME DID ANYBODY ON MY SIDE OF THE FENCE MEAN EXISTING POSITIONS.
I CAN GO GET YOU THE LIST AND I'D BE HAPPY TO CALVIN.
IT COULD BE A MISCOMMUNICATIONS.
BUT SEE I'M WILLING TO, TO UNDERSTAND IF IT'S MISCOMMUNICATION.
BUT I'M SAYING WHAT WAS SAID, IT WASN'T PROPOSED POSITION.
IT WAS SAID TO THE COUNCIL, ELIMINATE SIX POSITIONS THAT WERE ADMIN, NOT PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.
NOW IF IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, OKAY THEN, BUT YOU ALL MISCOMMUNICATED.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS WHAT YOU ALL SAID TO US, NOT WHAT WE SAID, WE DIDN'T TELL YOU TO ELIMINATE NOBODY.
SO WHEN I JUST QUESTIONED WHAT WAS SAID TO ME, THIS COUNCIL DIDN'T SAY WE ELIMINATE NOBODY.
BUT ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT WE WERE SAID THIS WAS GONNA HAPPEN, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
SO I'LL ADMIT IF WE SAID SOMETHING FINE, BUT IF YOU CHECK THE VIDEO, YOU ALL THE ONES SAID ABOUT PEOPLE, WE NEVER INCLUDED THAT IN OUR DISCUSSION ON WHAT WE WANTED.
WE NEVER SAID ELIMINATE NOT ONE POSITION.
WHEN WE, WHEN WE SAID THE 10% WE WASN'T FOR IS WHEN YOU ALL SAID WHAT YOU ALL GOING TO DO AND WHAT I JUST SAID IS WHAT YOU ALL SAID.
AND IF YOU DON'T, WE COULD PLAY THE VIDEO.
COUNCILMAN LEMME SAY SOMETHING.
IT MIGHT BE A, LEMME SAY SOMETHING COUNCILMAN SAID, YOU'RE CORRECT.
I MADE THE STATEMENT THAT WE WOULD ELIMINATE AND LET ME CLARIFY SIX POSITIONS, THE SIX PROPOSED POSITIONS, I DID NOT USE THE WORD PROPOSED, BUT THOSE WERE THE SIX PROPOSED POSITIONS.
WOULD'VE, THAT WOULD'VE EVEN ADDED MORE COST TO WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR.
SO I SAID WE WOULD WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND ELIMINATE THOSE SIX POSITIONS, WHICH I MEANT PROPOSED POSITIONS THAT WOULD'VE ADDED MUCH MORE COST TO WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR.
IT WOULD'VE ADDED COST TO THE BUDGET THAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR.
SO I SAID WE COULD DO AWAY WITH THOSE AND WORK WITH THE POST THERE THAT WE HAVE AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
NOW THAT STILL DOESN'T NEGATE THE FACT THAT AS YOU'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, THE 7.5% THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR WOULD SUPPORT A $30 MILLION CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION, 25, 20 $5 MILLION CERTIFICATE.
BUT WE WOULD, WE COULD NOT GET TO 30.
AND THE TARGET IS $30 MILLION THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF THE PROJECT LEASE THAT YOU SUBMITTED AT THE TIME.
[04:05:02]
ISN'T THAT RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.THE 7.5 CANNOT SUPPORT THE 30 MILLION AND THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, IF WE EXCLUDE CUSTOMER SERVICE, HAVE SIX ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS THAT INCLUDES THE DIRECTOR.
THESE ARE THE ONLY ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS WE HAVE.
SO WE, IT, IT'S A MISCOMMUNICATION FOR SURE, BUT IF WE ELIMINATE THE SIX EXISTING POSITIONS, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE PEOPLE.
WHAT ABOUT THIS SCHEDULE IS, I MEAN, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH THAT? IS THIS THE ONE Y'ALL GONNA GIVE US TO APPROVE WHEN YOU GIVE US THE BUDGET? THIS SCHEDULE, THE PERSONNEL SCHEDULE? YEAH, WE WANT TO GO FOR THAT.
IT'S IN THERE, BUT THE PERSONNEL SCHEDULE IS IN THERE.
BUT WE GOT TO GO THROUGH THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT REQUESTED MORE MEMBERS OF STAFF THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH.
SO, ALRIGHT, SO THAT THAT ANSWER MY QUESTION? YES.
SO BASICALLY RON, YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT DON'T GO BY THIS RIGHT NOW.
NO, NO, DON'T GO BY THIS RIGHT NOW.
OKAY, THEN THAT CLEAR UP THAT MATTER.
UH, GUYS, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE UP HERE HAS BEEN GETTING THE PHONE CALLS, TEXTS ABOUT DENYING AND, AND, AND WHAT WE'VE SAID AND, YOU KNOW, KNOW AT NO, NO FASHION THAT I WAS GONNA DO 10% AND I, I TALKED WITH THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THAT.
BUT YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SAID ON THIS LAST, UH, UH, BUDGET PROPOSAL ABOUT ELIMINATING THE JOBS, I'M GLAD THAT THE CITY MANAGER, 'CAUSE I WAS GONNA GET ON YOU GUYS ABOUT THAT.
I WROTE IT DOWN, I GOT INTO MY NOTES.
AND UM, TO BE A PLUS THREE, I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT WE NEED SUPPORTING STAFF TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT 8.5 AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE TALKED ABOUT 7.5 BECAUSE I WASN'T BREAKING ON 10%.
UH, MY COHORT COUNCILMAN FRANK, YOU KNOW, UH, WE TALK, WE TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS WANNA DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE, THE CITIZENS AS FAR AS INCREASE.
I HAD MORE CITIZENS SAY THEY DON'T WANT IT.
UH, INCREASE OUT OF FOUR OUTTA SEVEN YEARS WE MADE INCREASES AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WERE GOING FOR A TARGET AREA, MEANING, UH, 30 MIL VERSUS 25.
BUT YOU GUYS CAME UP THERE, YOU TALK ABOUT GRAND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY GET TO HELP OFF, UH, OFFSET THE COST.
SO RIGHT NOW YOU KIND OF GOT ME IN A GRAY AREA BECAUSE OF NOW BASICALLY READING IN THE BACKGROUND AND, AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET.
YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE TRYING TO GET TO A 30 MILLION.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT, WE TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT NOW I'M IN A GRAY AREA RIGHT NOW GUYS, BECAUSE THIS IS VERY, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE HARD DECISIONS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TO MAKE.
THAT'S NOT, PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE A POPULAR DECISION IN MAKING THIS, BUT WE HAVE TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC AND THE CITIZENS THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT BY THE MONIES THAT WE WE GET OR POTENTIALLY GONNA GET.
NOW IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADMIN, I, I LIKE TO KNOW THOSE TYPE OF JOBS THAT, YOU KNOW, PROPOSED JOBS THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE ON THIS NEW BUDGET THAT YOU WOULD HOPE TO HELP US OUT.
BUT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SIX POSITION PIPE PERSON, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED.
WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING TWO CREWS, WE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CUTTING TIME DOWN AND WORK TIME AND MATERIALS.
BUT YOU GUYS HAVE ME IN A GRAY AREA NOW BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TODAY AND, AND READING THE BACKGROUND, UH, ON TODAY'S, UH, AGENDA.
ALRIGHT, COUNCILMAN, LIKE WE DISCUSSED IN TWO PRIOR PRESENTATIONS, WE HAVE $895 MILLION WORTH OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WE PRESENT IT TO ALL DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES IN TERMS OF HOW MANY YEARS DO WE WANNA GO TO GET IT FIXED.
AND I THINK THE 30 YEAR MARK IS A MARK THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY FELT COMFORTABLE WITH, WHICH IS THE 30 MILLION A YEAR.
AND THAT'S WHY 30 YEARS Y'ALL, WE TALKED ABOUT THE 7.5, THE 7.5% AND WE ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE 30 MILLION A YEAR.
SO IF THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO DO 25 MILLION A YEAR AND BRING THE RATE INCREASE TO 7.5, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ALL HAVE TO DECIDE ON.
IF YOU WANNA KEEP THE 30 MILLION A YEAR AND THEN GO TO THE 8.5, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ALL HAVE TO DECIDE.
BUT WE COULDN'T BRING BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER TO MEET BOTH REQUIREMENTS THAT WE NEED TO DO.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ALL ARE GONNA HAVE TO DECIDE ON.
SECONDLY, WE ALSO SPOKE ABOUT WE GONNA START WITH THIS, THIS YEAR TO BE ABLE TO PUSH THIS PROGRAM FORWARD AND THEN WE GONNA TRY TO GET ANY KIND OF FUNDING FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE THAT WE CAN FIND TO BE ABLE TO FUND FUTURE YEARS TO REDUCE THAT RATE INCREASE AND STILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT 30 MILLION A YEAR TO GET WHERE WE
[04:10:01]
NEED TO BE.SO WE'RE NOT GONNA STOP GOING AFTER GRANTS, AFTER TEXAS WAR DEVELOPMENT BOARD WHERE THE INTERSTATE CAN BE TWO, 2.5%.
WE ARE GONNA PURSUE ALL THESE ITEMS WE'RE GONNA PURSUE THE METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM THAT ALSO IS GONNA GENERATE ENOUGH FUNDING TO REDUCE FUTURE RATE INCREASES.
BUT IT'S A DECISION THE COUNCIL HAVE TO MAKE.
IF YOU ALL DON'T WANNA DO THE 30 MILLION, YOU'D RATHER HAVE 7.5 AND 25.
YOU ALL TELL US WHICH DIRECTION YOU WANNA GO, AND IT, IT'S, IT'S UP TO YOU.
ALL WE CAN DO IS PROPOSE TO YOU, BUT WE COULDN'T BRING THE 30 MILLION TO THE TABLE WITH THE 7.5.
IT, IT DOESN'T WORK MATHEMATICALLY AND FINANCE, UH, AGREED TO THAT.
UH, SEE, COUNCILMAN NEVER FIELD, I HAVE A, I HAVE A, EXCUSE ME.
JUST, JUST, CAN YOU HOLD ON SECOND? OKAY.
UM, WHEN WE'RE, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'M, I'M READY FOR US TO VOTE ON THIS.
HOWEVER, IF WE DO, EITHER WAY, I'M ASKING FOR CLARITY FOR CITIZENS THAT JUST HEARD THE PASSING OF THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE OF A DECREASE FOR OUR 65 AND OLDER CITIZEN, UH, WELL PROPERTY OWNERS.
AND NOW WE'RE PROPOSING THE INCREASE, UH, TRULY I WANT US TO GET TO THAT 30 MILLION.
SO I'M IN FAVOR OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO, TO GET THAT MONEY SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY OFFER ADEQUATE AND EFFICIENT WATER SERVICES.
BUT PLEASE EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT BALANCE THAT HAPPENS WITH THE DECREASE FOR, FOR THE 65 PLUS AND THE INCREASE THAT WE ARE PROPOSING, WELL, THAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
SO OUR CITIZENS THAT ARE SENIOR CITIZENS LIVING AT A HOME BY THEMSELVES, OR WHAT A SECOND PERSON, THEIR CONSUMPTION IS ABOUT 3000 GALLONS A MONTH.
AND AT 3000 GALLONS A MONTH AT 8.5% RATE INCREASE, THE BILL WILL GO UP BY $4 AND 65 CENTS.
SO IT'LL GO UP LESS WITH A LESSER AMOUNT THAN THE $6.25 YOU'RE GONNA GET AS A BREAK.
SO JUST FOR CLARITY, THEY WILL STILL HAVE AN INCREASE.
IT'S JUST GOING TO BE, UH, $4 AND SOME CHANGE.
AT 3000 GALLONS, THEY'LL STILL PAY, UH, LESS AT $6,000 IS WHEN THEY PAY A DOLLAR MORE, PAY MORE.
SO IT'S ACTUALLY, MR. CALVIN, CAN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE PLEASE, SIR.
THE SIX TWENTY FIVE IS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE INCREASED READY TO SERVE FEE.
READY TO SERVE FEE IS WHAT YOU PAY TO HAVE A METER.
IF YOU USE ZERO WATER, YOU PAY THE READY TO SERVE FEE AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A METER THERE.
SO WITH, WITH THE RATE INCREASE, ACTUALLY WITHOUT THE RATE INCREASE, EITHER WAY, YOU'LL STILL PAY A LITTLE BIT FOR THE READY TO SERVE FEE.
IT'S A DISCOUNT ON THE READY TO SERVE FEE DISCOUNT.
THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THAT CLARITY.
AND IT, IT IS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL BUDGET.
HOWEVER, THIS INCREASE WILL GET US CLOSER TO THAT 30 MILLION THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO EFFICIENTLY OFFER WATER SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
WE WILL, OR MORE EFFICIENTLY, LET'S SAY IT LIKE THAT, WE WILL START CHIPPING ON THAT BIG ELEPHANT ONE PIECE AT A TIME TO GET TO THAT 890 MILLION TO WHERE EVERYTHING IS FIXED, WHICH IS THE, IT'S A 30 YEAR PROGRAM, BUT WE ARE PRIORITIZING THE WATER LINES, THE SEWER LINES, THE ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE DONE UPFRONT.
AND JUST FOR THOSE WONDERING WHERE THAT INFORMATION IS COMING FROM, MEETING BEFORE LAST, DR.
TOME AND MR. CALVIN ACTUALLY PROVIDED A, A PRESENTATION REGARDING ALL OF THOSE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AND WHAT THE COST WOULD BE.
AND SO TODAY IT'S, WE ARE BEING PROPOSED WITH A SOLUTION ON HOW TO CHIP AWAY AT THE BUDGET FOR THOSE NECESSARY THINGS WE NEED IN ORDER TO OFFER THAT EFFICIENT WATER SERVICE.
AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL HOW MUCH THEY WANNA SPEND.
SO YOU'LL GIVE US THE DIRECTIVE AND WE WILL, WE VOTE FOR IT AND WE HAVE TO GO FOR IT.
SO WHATEVER YOU GIVE US, WHATEVER YOU GIVE US, WE WILL INVEST IT IN PIPES AND PUMPS AND OTHER PIECES OF EQUIPMENT.
AND BY THE WAY, WE JUST LEARNED THERE'S ANOTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITY COMING.
I SPOKE WITH RON, WE'RE GONNA START PURSUING IT.
SO THERE ARE $20 MILLION GRANTS AGAIN FROM THE EPA.
SO YES, I MEAN, WE ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING GRANTS AND, AND LOW INTEREST LOANS.
ANYTHING WE CAN THAT, THAT HELPS THE CITIZENS.
[04:15:01]
OKAY.ONE, ONE OTHER, ONE OTHER STATEMENT THAT I HAD, MAYOR IS THE VERY LAST THING I PROMISED.
I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE, UH, PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHART SO THAT WE CAN EFFECTIVELY TRACK WITH YOU ALL WHERE WE ARE AT WHAT STATE OF THE PROJECT.
I'M SURE THAT WILL BETTER HELP US TO EXPLAIN AND UNDERSTAND, UM, WHERE WE ARE.
EVEN WITH UPCOMING COST, WE CAN DEFINITELY CREATE A PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE THAT TRACKS ALL THE PROJECTS TO SHOW INITIAL COST PERCENTAGE COMPLETE, UH, PAYMENT TO DATE, AS WELL AS PROJECT BALANCE.
WE CAN DEFINITELY PROVIDE THAT TO OUR CITIZENS.
BUT NOW, AND, AND WITH THAT PROJECT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, I MEAN CITY MANAGER, THEY SHOULD BE GIVING US A REPORT ANYWAY.
SO WE MEAN THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL SHOULD GET ON A WEEKLY BASIS IF POSSIBLE, WITH A PROJECT LIKE THIS.
AND, AND THAT, THAT, THAT ELIMINATE A LOT OF THINGS.
I'M GLAD YOU'VE SAID THAT, BUT I WAS THINKING THAT.
SO ON MY WAY OUT, I WANT TO IMPLEMENT, SO THE NEXT PERSON WANTS TO DEAL WITH IT.
YOU KNOW, GETTING A A REPORT WOULD BE REAL WELL, AND THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A NOTEBOOK, YOU COULD SAVE THEM ON THAT AND, YOU KNOW, BUT A WRITTEN REPORT THAT SHOWS WHAT WAS THE CONFERENCE, ESPECIALLY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS I COULD DO WHEN YOU TEACH SCHOOL, I JUST CAN'T COME IN AND TEACH YOU SOMETHING.
I GOTTA SAY WHAT I'M GOING TO TEACH YOU, YOU PUT, TELL YOU ALL OF THE, OF THE TEAKS I'M GOING TO USE, I MIGHT NOT DO NONE OF THEM, THAT'S GOOD.
BUT IF THEY COME ON ME, THE SUPERINTENDENT IS GONNA SHOW WHAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING.
DOCTOR TOLD ME TO INCLUDE CRITICAL PATH.
AND, AND THEN YOU COURSE SHE GOING, COME COUNCILMAN FRANK.
WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY MIGHT NOT MAKE ME POPULAR, BUT LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION ON TONIGHT.
SO, SO I DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE
THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING MY QUESTION.
SO WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING 7.5%, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ACROSS THE BOARD? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL? EVERYTHING? COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL.
WHY AREN'T, WHY AREN'T COMMERCIAL COMPANIES PAYING MORE FOR THEIR WATER THAN RESIDENTIAL? THEY ARE, THERE'S DIFFERENT TIERS BASED ON USAGE FROM ZERO TO 10,000, 10,001 TO 50,000 AND MORE THAN 50,000.
WHY CAN'T WE JUST TAKE AWAY ALL OF THAT 10 TO TOP TO FIVE TO TO THE 10 TO 10 TO 15 AND JUST MAKE A, GIVE A RAISE THERE THAT WOULD OFFSET THE 7.5% AND THEN EVERYBODY WOULD JUST BE PAID, JUST PAY THE SAME THING.
AND THEN THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD GET US TO THE 8.5% RESIDENTIAL.
THE COMMERCIAL INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE CARRYING THE LOAD OF THAT, AND THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO IT FOR OUR CITIZENS.
AND DID THAT TARGET 30 MILLION GETTING THAT TARGET? 30 MILLION.
IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T, UH, LOOKED AT, BUT I BELIEVE WHEN ALL THESE TIERS WERE SET WITH THESE RATES, THEY TOOK ALL THAT INTO ACCOUNT, YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL VERSUS RESIDENTIAL.
WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT NO, BE FLAT COMMERCIAL.
I THINK WE CAN GO TO A FLAT COMMERCIAL RATE AND THEN THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THE STUFF THAT WE HAVE TO DO FROM THAT PARTICULAR STANDPOINT.
SO WHAT, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DEFINE AS COMMERCIAL? LIKE ANYBODY SHOP, ANYBODY WHO AIN'T RESIDENTIAL DONUT SHOP IS COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL.
INDUSTRIAL IN OR INDUSTRIAL? INDUSTRIAL OR INDUSTRIAL.
INDUSTRIAL, RIGHT? INDUSTRIAL, INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL.
BECAUSE SEE, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE ARE GOING TO AUSTIN, THE KIND OF TALK TO THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING WATER TO ALL OF THESE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE DOING ALL OF THIS STUFF.
SO AT THE, AT THE, AT THE, YOU KNOW, AT THE OFFSET WE CAN, WE CAN ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.
WE CAN SET THAT RATE SO THAT ULTIMATELY WE CAN GET THE THINGS DONE THAT WE NEED TO GET DONE.
THE, THE INDUSTRIAL, UH, ENTITIES ARE PAYING OUTSIDE CITY LIMIT RATES EXCEPT FOR CHENE DUE TO THE MONEY THEY SPENT TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM AND THE CONTRACT THAT THE CITY DID WITH THEM AT THAT TIME.
THEY DON'T SAY NO, SORRY, SO CITY GO.
THEY DON'T SAY NO, THIS IS OPERATIONAL AND NOT LEGAL.
BUT FROM THE LEGAL PERSPECTIVE IN DRAFTING ORDINANCES, I HAVE SEEN CITIES HAVE VARYING RATES BETWEEN OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS AND INSIDE CITY LIMITS.
THEY ALSO HAVE VARYING RATES FOR THE COST TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE FOR RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, BOTH FOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS.
THESE ANALYSIS COME INTO PLAY WHEN YOU HIRE THE CONSULTANT TO DO A WATER RATE STUDY.
SO BASED THIS, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS BASED ON A WATER RATE STUDY THAT WAS DONE RECENTLY OR MANY YEARS AGO.
[04:20:01]
A WATER RATE STUDY IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DONE AT LEAST ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS.A STUDY WAS DONE, I BELIEVE, IN 2019 BY DEN THAT PROPOSED THE NEXT FIVE YEARS BUDGET.
BUT THEY DIDN'T, IT WASN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT WE NEED TO ACTUALLY SPEND, THEY NEVER LOOKED AT THE TOTAL, TOTAL AMOUNT OF WORK NEEDED.
SO THAT'S THE OTHER THING THE WATER RATE CONSULTANT IS SUPPOSED TO DO, IS LISTEN TO THE ENGINEERS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROPOSED FUTURE PROJECTS ARE NEEDED TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO BE INCLUSIVE.
AND THAT WATER RATE STUDY, SO YOUR WATER RATES IS ONLY GONNA BE AS GOOD AS YOUR WATER RATE STUDY AND THE DATA PUT INTO THE PARAMETERS TO ANALYZE IT.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE GOING AND GETTING THE, A SONOGRAM DONE AND YOUR SONOGRAMS ONLY GONNA BE AS GOOD AS YOUR TECH WAS TO, TO FIND AND CATCH IT.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WATER RATE STUDY LOOK LIKE, BUT THAT'S A CRITICAL ELEMENT.
AND IF IT'S, IF IT'S COMING UP ON THE FIFTH YEAR, THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE LOOKING AT TO STUDY AGAIN.
YOUR I'M, I'M GONNA LET THE, THE, UH, CITIZENS SPEAK AND THEN WHAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS, UH, LIKE WE DO IN CONGRESS AND THE SENATE, WE'RE GONNA SUSPEND, OR EVEN IN COURT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUSPEND, UH, UH, SUSPEND THE, UH, A DIALOGUE BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT WE HAVE AND WE HAVE ANOTHER MATTER WE NEED TO DISCUSS AND THE CITY MANAGER AND THE STAFF THAT I, WE NEED TO BE SOMEWHERE ELSE IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES.
SO WE, WE GOING TO HAVE TO JUST, I'M NOT BEING, UH, UGLY, BUT COME COMING ON MS. SANCHEZ.
HOW ABOUT LISTEN TO THE FIRST WORKSHOP, GUESS WAS ON THE WATER ISSUES.
AND, UH, MR. HONEY AND MR. BIN PRESENT A GRAPHIC AND ALL THAT INFORMATION ON IT.
AND ON THIS ONE OF THESE GRAPHIC, THEY SAID IF THEY WANNA WASTE 50 MILLION A YEAR, THEY HAVE INCREASE 8.7% AND THEY RECOMMEND 30 MILLIONS A YEAR FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
BUT THE PERCENT OR THE INCREASED RATE ON THIS LINE IS 5.2%.
THE INFORMATION THAT THEY GIVE US AT THAT TIME WAS NOT CORRECT BECAUSE NOW TO BE ABLE TO GATHER THE 2030 MILLIONS THEY NEED THE 8.5% AND A HOLDING WITH THIS GRAPH AND 8.7%, THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO COLLECT 50 MILLIONS A YEAR.
AND ACTUALLY THEY SAID THIS PROJECT IS GONNA END IN 2054.
THIS INFORMATION, THEY GIVE IT TO YOU, THEY GIVE IT TO US.
AND WHEN WE SEE THE FIRST TIME, THEY START, START TALKING ABOUT, LIKE I SAID, I NEED TO FIND OUT WHY THEY WENT FOR 5.2 TO 8.5 TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT THE SAME 30 MILLIONS A YEAR.
THE PRESENTATION WE PROVIDED COUNSEL TWICE AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT CHART THAT MRS. SANCHEZ IS BRINGING UP.
WE STRICTLY STATE THAT THIS RATE INCREASE THAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS ONLY FOR CAPITAL, CAPITAL PROJECTS AND CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY ADDITIONAL SPENDING LIKE THE 1.2% FOR THE, UH, SORRY, THE PIPE BURSTING 1.3% FOR THE PIPE BURSTING CREW AND THE 2% FOR OPERATIONS AND INFLATION.
SO THAT NUMBER DIDN'T CHANGE, BUT WE SAID IT MULTIPLE TIMES THAT IT DID NOT.
IT'S ONLY PURELY FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS HOW MUCH WE WANNA SPEND ON CAPITAL PROJECTS.
IS THAT OKAY FOR YOU MS. SANCHEZ? ANOTHER THING IS, LAST TIME THE DAY YOU INCREASED THE WATER ON US WAS BECAUSE AGAIN, MR. HAN AND CAR SAID THEY GONNA START REPLACING ALL THESE LINE BY 73.
IF NOT, THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN AT ATROPHY OVER THERE.
I THINK ONE OF YOU JUST BOUGHT IT IN FAVOR JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO AVOID THAT.
BUT THEY DIDN'T START TO DO WORK ON REPLACING ANY LINES AT ALL.
THAT MEAN WHY THEY INCREASED THE WATER AND THEY DIDN'T START TO WORK ON IT.
IF EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THIS PIPE IS VERY OLD, WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE
IF IT GOES DOWN, IT IS GONNA HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITHOUT WATER.
AND WE HAVE SEVERAL LEAKS ON IT ALREADY.
AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT LINE STARTED, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO ONLY DO PHASE ONE, BUT COUNCIL DID APPROVE PHASE ONE AND TWO.
SO THAT LINE WE SPOKE ABOUT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION TODAY.
WE'RE ALSO PUTTING 10,000 FEET.
UH, CITY MANAGER, I WANNA LET YOU KNOW I'M AGAINST THIS WATERWAY.
YOU NEED TO FIND THE MONEY IN DIFFERENT WAY AND NO HONEST CITIZENS FOR THIS ANYMORE.
MS. SANCHEZ, YOUR, YOUR REMARK ARE WELL TAKEN.
CITY MANAGER, THIS MATTER, CITY ATTORNEY, YOU
[04:25:01]
TELL ME IF I'M CORRECT ON THIS.THIS MATTER IS OF SUCH GREAT MAGNITUDE.
UH, I KNOW I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR WITH IT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT EVERYBODY IN, IN THAT, UH, IN GET CONSCIOUS EVEN READY TO VOTE ON IT JUST TO NOT JUST TO VOTE IT DOWN.
CAN WE JUST TABLE THIS AND, AND OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE DONE TODAY? YEAH, WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TODAY BECAUSE THE MATTER HAS TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER FOR US TO MEET THE DEADLINE FOR THE BUDGET.
YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET HAS TO BE APPROVED.
COUNCIL, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ORDINANCE DOES DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN RATES FOR INSIDE CITY LIMIT AND OUTSIDE CITY LIMIT.
AND IT ALSO DIFFERENTIATES BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL THROUGH THE VOLUMES THAT YOU CONSUME THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES AND GONNA USE MORE WATER THAN THE RESIDENTIAL DO.
AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S THREE TIERS FOR THOSE RATES.
SO IN A WAY, WE DO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, INDUSTRIAL, WHICH IS OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS.
SO WELL, WE, WE, WE, WE, WE, WE NEED TO VOTE.
IT'S GONNA BE QUICK AND SHORT.
THERE'S ONLY A STATEMENT I HERE.
THE, THE 8.5 IS THE, IS FOR 30 MILLION.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S 7.5 WOULD BE 25 POINT SOMETHING MILLION.
DURING THIS DISCUSSION WE HAD IS ON VIDEO, WE WERE TOLD THAT WHAT IS OUR TARGET OUT? AND WE SAID OUR TARGET IS 50.
IT WAS UNDERSTOOD IN THE DISCUSSION THAT WE MAY DO MORE THAN 30 IN A YEAR DEPENDING ON FUNDING, OR WE MAY NOT DO 30 IN A YEAR.
SO THAT'S WHY WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS 7.5, WE GONNA DO 25.5.
BUT THEN WE HEARD A LOT OF THINGS TODAY, WE COULD GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, ONE ABOUT POSSIBLY HAVING COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL, DIFFERENT RATES AND STUFF.
THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK PRETTY INTERESTING AND I THINK, UH, THEY'LL HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE COULD DO IN THE NEXT BUDGET, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S 7.5 OR 8.5.
SO YOU KNOW, WE CAN AMEND IT WITH A 7.5 OR WE COULD VOTE THE 8.5.
BUT IF WE JUST GONNA VOTE IT WITHOUT AN AMENDMENT, THEN YOU KNOW, I REQUEST A ROLL CALL.
UH, ONE, ONE QUICK COMMENT PLEASE, TOO.
UH, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS MATTER LAST TIME, I BELIEVE I MADE THE STATEMENT THAT THE CONSENSUS SEEMS TO BE AROUND THE 30 MILLION AND THAT'S WHY WE CAME BACK WITH THE 30 MILLION.
SO IF YOU ALL WANNA CHANGE THAT, LIKE I SAID, IT'S A COUNCIL'S DECISION.
SO Y'ALL LET US KNOW WHICH WAY YOU WANT TO GO.
JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE SEVEN AND A QUARTER DID NOT INCLUDE THE PIPE BURSTING CREW OR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.
IS THAT WHAT YOU, WHAT IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE ARE NOT GONNA GET RID OF THE ADDITIONAL PIPE BURSTING CREW, OR WE CANNOT GET RID OF THE 2% FOR INFLATION AND RAISES.
SO IF WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN THE 20 TO 25 MILLION, THE ONLY THING WE CAN REDUCE IS THE PROPOSED CAPITAL PROJECTS.
IT GOES FROM 30 TO 25, BUT PROJECT WILL FUNCTION MUCH BETTER WITH THE 8%, 8.8 0.5% WOULD BE 30000008.5% FOR THE FUTURE GOING FORWARD, WE SHOULD BE GOOD.
LET ME, LET ME MAKE A SUGGESTION.
IF WE GO WITH 8.5%, YOU THEN YOU COUNCIL GIVES THE STIPULATION THAT YOU DON'T COME BACK UNLESS YOU DO THIS.
THE, THE, THE RATE STUDY AGAIN THIS YEAR, THIS YEAR, THIS YEAR.
YOU DON'T COME BACK FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET UNTIL YOU DO A RATE STUDY AND YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE VOLUMES AND INDUSTRY.
THAT'S, YOU TAKE THAT SO THAT YOU DO NOT BALANCE THE UTILITIES ACCOUNT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE RESIDENTS.
ITS SHEER BURDEN OF IT AFTER THIS BUDGET.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT? MY REQUEST IS THAT WE NOT WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
TO AMEND IT, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I'M NO, NO, NO.
I'M, I'M SAYING THAT IF WE GO WITH THE 8.5% THAT YOU DO NOT COME BACK UNTIL YOU PROVIDE NEXT YEAR.
YOU, YOU, YOU DO NOT BALANCE YOUR UTILITIES BUDGET BASED ON WHAT CURRENTLY EXISTS.
BUT YOU DO THE RATE STUDY AND YOU LOOK FOR THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT YOU NEED BASED ON INDUSTRY, LET INDUSTRY CARRY FEAR, BURDEN OF IT.
[04:30:01]
OKAY.AND THAT WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT THING FOR, FOR AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
IT'LL BE GOOD HAVE AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT 10 TO 15 YEARS.
AND BY THEN WE KNOW WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RULING IS GONNA BE.
SO IT'S GONNA HELP US DECIDE WHAT, WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN.
YOU WOULD THROUGH COUNCIL? YES.
UM, I, I WAS THINKING AS I'M THINKING, WE DID HAVE A RATE STUDY THAT WAS DONE IN 2019.
IT'S DUE NOW LET'S GIVE THEM THAT MANDATE UNDER THE RATE STUDY.
SINCE WE ARE SO CLOSE, BUT YES.
STILL, UM, I, I'M READY TO VOTE.
I DON'T SEE ANY, ANY OTHER LIGHT TURN.
TURN YOUR LIGHT, YOUR LIGHT ON NO LIGHTS.
SIR, I'M JUST ASKING, ARE YOU VOTING ON THE EIGHT? YOU TALKING TO MIKE? WE HAVE THE RE THE, THE, THE RATE, THE RATE INCREASE YOU HAVE IN THE ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW IS 8.5%.
SO YOU ARE JUST ASKING WHETHER YOU WANNA VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE.
I'M JUST, SORRY, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE VOTING FOR.
OKAY, LET ME, CAN I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION? COME ON, JUST ONE MORE QUESTION.
BUT I WANT TO, I WANNA MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
OKAY? I'M, SO IF WE, WE MAKE THE VOTE NOW, WE DO THE STUDY, WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR TO DO THE INDUSTRIAL INCREASE THAT BASED UPON WHAT WE FIND IN THE, IN THE, IN THE WATER STUDY FISCAL YEAR OR CALENDAR YEAR, WE CAN CHANGE RATES ANYTIME.
COUNCIL CAN CHANGE THE RATES ANYTIME THEY WANT.
SO ANYTIME YOU, YOU CHANGE A WATER RATE INSIDE CITY, CUSTOMERS CANNOT PROTEST THE RATE.
BUT OUTSIDE CITY CUSTOMERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTEST THE RATE.
SO SINCE YOUR INDUSTRY IS PRETTY MUCH ON THE OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS, UM, WHO, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTEST THE RATE IF THEY CHOOSE.
BUT YOU CAN CHANGE THE RATE BASED ON YOUR OPERATIONAL NEEDS.
WE READY TO VOTE THEN? WE'RE TAKING A ROLL CALL.
IT COULD BE, NO, IT COULD BE A BOYS' VOTE.
RON, WHAT WERE YOU SAYING? COME ON, MAYOR PRO PROTE BECKHAM.
OKAY, RON, WHAT WERE YOU SAYING? OKAY, NOW LET'S MOVE TO THE NEXT, NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS AND THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT, UH, WE SCHEDULE ANOTHER WORKSHOP ON THE 17TH AT 10 O'CLOCK ON, ON THE SECOND.
IS IT MOVE AND SECOND THAT THE WORKSHOP THAT SHOULD BE TAKING PLACE NOW WE TAKE PLACE ON NEXT TUESDAY MORNING AT 10:00 AM ON THE 17TH OF SEPTEMBER.
AND, AND, UM, LET ME JUST INFORM THE COUNCIL THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE A BUDGET FOR THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION BY THE 17TH ON THE RATE TO BE PROPOSED.
ON THE 17TH, YEAH, WE COULD DO IT.
AND WE'LL BE, THAT'LL BE A GOOD DAY.
IT'S GONNA BE NEXT TUESDAY, TOMORROW, RIGHT? YES.
UH, AND EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS BECAUSE WE WON'T, WE DON'T HAVE TIME.
AND TIME HAS BEEN, UH, WELL SPENT.
ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE SO THIS AUDIT, UH, ALSO, UH, MAKE A MOTION.