[00:00:01]
PROGRESS.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE PORT ARTHUR CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE ON THE FOURTH FLOOR AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET IN THE GREATEST CITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE WHERE YOU'RE SITUATED NOW, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.AND WE ARE GATHERED HERE FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING, OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING FOR TODAY, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2024 AT FIVE OR 40 3:00 PM WE'LL BEGIN THIS MEETING AND YOU MAY ALSO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING VIA TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCE MEDIUMS, HOWEVER YOU MUST FIRST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING, EXCUSE ME, ID OF 8 6 4 0 7 9 1 0 8 3 6 6.
DID YOU YOUR FEEDBACK? IT'S NOT THERE.
I'M GONNA READ THAT MEETING ID NUMBER AGAIN, 8 6 4 0 7 9 1 0 8 3 6 AND THE PASSCODE OF 0 1 1 2 9 8.
AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO, UH, PARTICIPATE, UH, AND UH, VIEW THE MEETING.
ALSO, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IN THIS MEETING.
AND IF THERE WOULD BE A NEED FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS THAT ARE REASONABLE, YOU WOULD ONLY CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT AREA CODE 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.
HOWEVER, IT HAS TO BE DONE 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND THE CITY SECRETARY'S STAFF WILL DO ALL WITHIN ITS POWERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH YOUR REASONABLE REQUEST.
WITH ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVING BEEN DONE, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO STAND WITH ME, IF YOU WILL, AND WE WOULD ALL JOIN IN CITING THE MODEL PRAYER.
WOULD YOU JOIN IN WITH ME AT THIS JUNCTURE, PLEASE? OUR FATHER, WHICH OUGHT IN HEAVEN HALL, BE THY NAME, THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD AND TO GIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL FOR THE HIGHNESS, THE KINGDOM FOR POWER, AND THE GLORY FOREVER.
WOULD YOU PLEASE NOW JOIN US IN RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY FOR YOUR INDULGENCE.
CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH A QUO? MAYOR TTI, PRESENT MAYOR PRO.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD PRESENT HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK HERE YOU HAVE A COURT MAYOR.
AND AGAIN, WELCOME TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING.
[II. PROCLAMATIONS]
ON THIS EVENING AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH OUR FIRST PROCLAMATION, WHICH IS FOR NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH.AND I BELIEVE, UH, YOU'LL HEAR MR. MORRIS IS SOMEONE ELSE.
WOULD IF YOU ALL WOULD COME UP, PLEASE.
AND I HAVE HERE PROCLAMATION FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, AND IT READS THUSLY.
WHEREAS THERE ARE SEVERAL THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, RECOVERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, WHETHER THEY ARE PARENTS, CHILDREN, SIBLINGS, NEIGHBORS, COWORKERS OR FRIENDS, MANY OF US ARE CLOSE TO SOMEONE WORKING TO OVERCOME MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG OR ALCOHOL ADDICTION.
IN CELEBRATION OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ON THE ROAD TO TO RECOVERY.
DURING THIS NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, WE RECOMMIT TO HELPING PREVENT AND
[00:05:01]
TREAT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, USE DISORDERS, SUPPORTING THOSE WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING AND PROVIDING PEOPLE IN RECOVERY WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO LIVE PRODUCTIVE AND HEALTHY LIVES.AND WHEREAS WHEN OUR FELLOW CITIZENS RECOVER FROM MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, OUR COMMUNITY BECOME STRONGER AND MORE RESILIENT.
FOR MANY STRUGGLING WITH UNTREATED ADDICTION, SECURING RELIABLE HOUSING AND LONG TERM EMPLOYMENT CAN EVEN BE A CHALLENGE.
RESTORING RELATIONSHIPS CAN TAKE TIME AND TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICES CAN BE EXPENSIVE AND HARD TO FIND.
THESE OBSTACLES ARE AMPLIFIED FOR MANY WITHIN PORT ARTHUR AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT MUST OFTEN TRAVEL FARTHER TO FIND CARE.
AND WHEREAS WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR RECOVERY READY WORKPLACE POLICIES ACROSS THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVE HIRING, ENABLE EMPLOYERS TO ASSIST IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS AND HELP COMPANIES RETAIN TALENT TO INCENTIVIZE NEW INNOVATIONS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO PEER RUN AND COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS LIKE THE WILLY CARTER CENTER COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE WILLY CARTER OUTREACH CENTER HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND WHEREAS THIS NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH, WE THANK PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, COUNSELORS, ADDICTION SPECIALISTS, FIRST RESPONDERS, SCIENTISTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND EVERYONE WHO WORKS TIRELESSLY TO HELP OUR FELLOW AMERICANS RECOVER FROM MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.
NOW, I THEREFORE THURMAN BILL BOCE, MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH.
HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WE OFFER STRENGTH TO OUR LOVED ONES AT EVERY STEP OF THEIR RECOVERY PROCESS.
AND WE REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO PROTECTING OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES SO ALL THE CITIZENS CAN ENJOY HELP AND HAPPINESS.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE HERE UNTO SET MY HAND AND CAUSE THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO BE A FIXED THIS 24TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2024.
AND IT IS SIGNED MAYOR THURMAN, BILL
ANYBODY YOU WANT TAKE A PICTURE.
YOU PUT Y'ALL HEAD ON IT OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
MAKE PI GOTTA MAKE MYSELF RIGHT.
YEAH, BECAUSE I'M WAY DOWN HERE.
AND YOU ALL THINK, MAN, YOU GOT, OKAY.
[00:10:01]
WE'LL PUSH YOU BACK A LITTLE BIT NOW.FIRST OF ALL, UM, EMMANUEL PRESTON, GEORGE MORRIS, WE WANT TO THANK THE, UH, MAYOR, UM, BARTEE AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR AFFORDING US THIS PROCLAMATION.
IT MEANS SO MUCH TO US, REALLY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE PEOPLE, WHEN, WHEN THEY COME FROM ADDICTION TYPES SITUATIONS, THEY DON'T FEEL THEY CAN EVER RISE TO ANYTHING.
AND WE'VE BROUGHT A, A FEW FRIENDS OF RECOVERY WITH US AND I'M GONNA ASK EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE IN SUPPORT OF RECOVERY MONTH TO STAND AT THIS TIME? ALRIGHT, SO, SO, SO IN STANDING, WE WE'RE STANDING NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL STUFF SUFFERING, SUFFERING FROM ADDICTIONS.
BECAUSE SEE, PEOPLE NEED SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO COME TO WHO IS GOING THROUGH THOSE PATHS WHO CAN PROVIDE AN INROAD FOR THEM BECAUSE TRUST IS A BIG FACTOR.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SAYING IN, IN ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WHERE IT SAYS, UH, THE THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF ONE ADDICT HELPING ANOTHER IS UNPARALLELED.
AND SO WE BECOME THE VOICES AND FACES OF RECOVERY.
YOU CAN'T PUT ON ANY TYPE OF RESUME THAT I HAVE 36, 37 YEARS AND EXPECT PEOPLE NOT TO FROWN UPON THAT BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA THAT'S PLACED ON ADDICTION, ESPECIALLY MENTAL HEALTH.
IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE'S 58.7 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ADDICTION.
SO IN OUR AREA IT'S VERY PREVALENT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING INTO PRISONS, MENTAL HEALTH,
JUMPSTART HAS PEOPLE, HAS HOUSING FOR, UH, PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND, AND MENTAL HEALTH.
AND SO WE AND THE STATE WE'RE PUTTING ON AN EVENT CALLED THE BIG TEXAS RALLY THIS SATURDAY OVER AT BARBARA JACKET PARK.
COUNCILMAN BECKHAM IS GOING TO, UH, I KNOW I'M NOT SAYING THAT RIGHT.
MAYOR PRO, TIM BECKHAM IS GONNA COME OVER AND GIVE A FEW WORDS ABOUT THAT.
SO, UH, WE, WE WE'RE GLAD WE'RE GONNA, WE, WE EXPECT TO HAVE ABOUT SIX, 700 PEOPLE OUT THERE FREE.
EVERYTHING IS FREE, FREE FOOD.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE GUY WHO'S IN, HE'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING FUNDS TO OVER 16, UH, PLUS CITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS WHO STARTED THIS IN 2014.
HE'S GONNA BE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, PHILANDO MOORE.
SO WE'RE EXCITED BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST STARTED WITH SPINS HOP IN 2014, WE, I WOULD ALWAYS TELL THEM PORT ARTHUR IS A SMALL PIECE OF LEATHER, BUT WE WELL PUT TOGETHER AS IT PERTAINS TO RECOVERY.
AND, AND THEY DIDN'T, I KNEW THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, BUT THEY GAVE US ASSIGNMENTS AND WE CAME, CAME UP WITH PICTORIALS AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, THIS YEAR, THEY FUNDED THIS PROJECT FOR US.
WILLIE CARTER, JOHNNY LING, UH, WHO'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
THE STATE GIVES US MONEY TO TRAIN, UH, RECOVERY COACHES, TO WORK WITH FOLK WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, UH, PROBLEMS. SO ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY IN RECOVERY HERE IN, IN OUR GOLDEN TRIANGLE, 'CAUSE IT'S A GOLDEN TRIANGLE EVENT.
WE JUST HAPPEN TO BE FROM PORT ARTHUR.
SO, BUT IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE.
ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY THAT'S IN RECOVERY, I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR, FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US TODAY.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU ON SATURDAY.
WANNA RECOGNIZE EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE IN SUPPORT.
WE KNOW THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU ARE GOING THROUGH STRUGGLES AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, JUST BEING IN SUPPORT OF RECOVERY.
SO MANY OF OUR FAMILIES SUFFER, SUFFER FROM THIS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL, ALL OF THE LOVE, THE CARE, THE CONCERN, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT, UH, CONTINUALLY, YOU HAVE OUR PRAYERS CONTINUALLY, UH, I, I KNOW SO MANY WHO'VE GONE THROUGH RECOVERY AND CONTINUALLY GO THROUGH RECOVERY.
AND WHAT I SAY FROM MY POSITION WHEN I'M NOT AT THE DAY IS, IS SIMPLY THIS.
WE ALL IN RECOVERY FROM SOMETHING, YES SIR.
EVERY ONE OF US IN EACH AND EVERY DAY.
BUT YOU GUYS ARE ON THE FRONT LINE OPENING UP YOUR ARMS AND YOUR LIVES, UH, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN KNOW THAT THERE IS HOPE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE COMMENTS, BUT WHAT YOU GOTTA DO IS VERY SPECIAL.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GO TO COLLEGES, GET DEGREES TO DO THE WORK THAT YOU DO, AND THEY WANT TO DO IT, BUT NOBODY CAN DO IT BETTER THAN THE PERSON WHO BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD.
[00:15:01]
SPECIAL.THAT'S WHAT MAKE YOU GUYS HAVE MORE SUCCESS THAN THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN DOWN THE ROAD TO TRY TO TELL SOMEBODY WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU WENT THROUGH IT AND IT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
YOU DECIDED TO DEDICATE PORTION OF YOUR LIFE TO CONTINUE TO HELP THOSE THAT WAS TRYING TO GET WHERE YOU HAD GOTTEN.
AND THE MORE WORK YOU ALL DO, YOU ALWAYS FIND OTHERS WHO NEED THE HELP.
YOUR WORK IS NEVER DONE, BUT YOU GUYS KNOW, DON'T NEVER WAVER.
I SEE ALL YOUR GATHERINGS, I READ ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, I FOLLOW IT.
IT'S YOUR PERSONAL TIME AND YOUR EXPERIENCES THAT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
AND I APPLAUD YOU AND EVERYBODY THAT SUPPORTS YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW, THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM.
GUYS, I, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS TYPE OF THING AFFECTS EVERYONE'S FAMILY IN SOME FASHION OF, OF LIFE, UH, I THINK IS A VERY IMPORTANT, UH, JOB THAT YOU DO.
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS LOCALLY THAT WE CAN DEPEND ON AND SEND INDIVIDUALS TO, BUT IT, IT'S A HARD ROAD AND IT'S A TESTIMONY TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TODAY THAT STOOD UP AND SAID, I GOT YOUR BACK.
I JUST WANNA SAY WE GOT YOUR BACK AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN GUYS, FOR WHAT YOU DO AND WE KNOW IT'S A HARD JOB.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD JOB.
I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THAT I PROBABLY WAS GETTING ON Y'ALL NERVES AND I SEE A FEW PEOPLE IN HERE THAT I'VE CALLED WITH, WITH DALTON AND PAUL AND MR. JOHNNY AND, AND YOU ASKING, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY? HOW DO I DO THIS? IS IT OKAY FOR ME TO GO AND PICK THEM UP? ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS THAT I'VE ASKED ON HOW TO ASSIST THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR, UM, SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS ANSWERING THE PHONE.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL ALWAYS WILLING TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS ON HOW TO DO THIS BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT.
THAT MEANS A LOT FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME.
AND I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON, BUT IT TAKES A LOT OUT OF YOU TO SAY, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP AND IT NOT BE, AND NOT PUT YOURSELF IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS BEING OPEN AND HONEST WITH ME ON WHAT IS GOOD TO DO, WHAT IS NOT GOOD TO DO, OR GIRL, YOU BETTER NOT DO THAT.
SO IT IS, UM, IT IS VERY, IT OVER WARMS AND OVERFLOWS MY HEART THAT YOU ALL ARE PUTTING PAPER TO PEN AND PROVIDING THESE SERVICES IN AN ORGANIZED FASHION, NOT JUST FOR US IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE GOLDEN TRIANGLE.
WE'RE GONNA NEED TO CONVENE OUR PUBLIC HEARING NOW AT 6:01 PM ALRIGHT, THANK Y'ALL AGAIN.
I'M, UH, SORRY, WE HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION, BUT IT'S NOW 6 0 1.
AND WHAT I HAVE TO DO IS DEVIATE FROM THE NORMAL FLOW OF THE AGENDA AND MOVE TO PAGE.
WHERE WOULD THE PUT HERE, LEMME SEE.
AT THE TOP OF THROAT ON PAGE THREE,
[IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS ]
PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS TO BEGIN AT 6:00 PM AND IT'S NOW 6:02 PM AND THIS PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO ENGAGE IN IT'S RECEIVED AND CONSIDER PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ALL, FOR ALL INTERESTED CITIZENS WITH REGARD TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR 2024 TAX YEAR, A TAX RATE OF 0.62 OR SIX THREE PER $100 VALUATION[00:20:01]
SIX 3 CENTS RATHER, UH, PER $100, EXCUSE ME.VALUATION HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS POINT OF 0.6 2 2 6 2 7 2 PER $100.
NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS 0.5 8 5 9 9 5 PER $100 VALUATION AND VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE IS 0.6 2 6 2 7 2 PER $100 VALUATION.
THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS THE TAX RATE FOR THE YEAR, FOR THE 2024, EXCUSE ME, TAX YEAR.
THAT WILL RAISE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FROM THE SAME PROPERTIES IN BOTH THE 2023 TAX YEAR AND THE 2024 TAX YEAR.
THE VOTER APPROVAL, OR VOTER APPROVAL RATE IS THE HIGHEST TAX RATE THAT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR MAY ADOPT WITHOUT HOLDING AN ELECTION TO SEEK VOTER APPROVAL OF THE TAX RATE.
THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS GREATER THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE.
THIS MEANS THAT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IS PROPOSING TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE 2024 TAX YEAR.
THE PUBLIC WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO VIEW THE TAX PUBLIC HEARING VIA THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT WWW.PORTARTHURTX.GOV.
AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO NOW IS WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WOULD THERE BE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE GALLERY, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE GALLERY? ANY ANY COMMENTS FROM THE GALLERY? YOU HAVE A COMMENT? COME? YES, SIR.
YOU'LL BEGIN, SIR, BY STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
CAN PULL ONCE YOU TALK IN THE MIC, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
I LIVE AT 32 45 NINTH STREET AND PORT ARTHUR TO TEXAS.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WHAT YOU SPEAKING ON AT THIS TIME HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT MY, WHAT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON WHICH I, THE INCREASE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT FOR THE WATER THING, FOR THE, THIS NOT THAT HEARING RIGHT NOW.
I'LL JUST COME HERE FROM TIME UNTIL THEY DO HAVE IT.
MA'AM, ARE YOU COMING ON? YES, MA'AM.
WOULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE? MY NAME IS GLORIA SANCHEZ AND I LIVE ON 6 6 2 5 J AVENUE, UH, FOR ARTHUR, TEXAS.
AND I WANNA START ASKING THE COUNCIL WHY WE DON'T, WE CANNOT LEAVE THE TAXES, UH, BY A 0.5 8 5 9 9 5.
UM, THE JEFFERSON COUNTY INCREASED THEIR PROPERTY VALUES AGAIN THIS YEAR.
AND THEN, UM, IT LOOK LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN INCREASED IN US, THE CITIZENS.
AND LIKE SOMEBODY SAID IN ANOTHER MEETING, IF THE TELEPHONE COMPANY INCREASE THE PRICE, WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING.
THE ONLY OPTION THAT WE HAVE IS CHANGE COMPANIES IF WE CAN'T AND WE CANNOT CHANGE COMPANIES WITH YOU.
AND, UM, ANOTHER THING FOR ANY IS THE COUNCIL SUPPORT.
ARTHUR WORK FOR THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEY SIGN IT AN APPLICATION AND THEY CAMPAIGN TO BE WORKING FOR US.
AND, UM, WE ARE ALREADY GONNA SPEND THIS YEAR, 383 MILLION A DOLLAR ON IT.
I THINK THAT YOU CAN LIVE WITH THAT, INCREASING
[00:25:01]
THIS TAXES ON THE CITIZENS BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTIES WENT UP AGAIN THIS YEAR.WE PAYING A LOT OF TAXES AND, YOU KNOW, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE, THE STREETS ARE TERRIBLE AFTER WE SHOULD BE PAID TO BE DRIVING THIS STREET.
UH, WE HAVE THESE REFINERIES HERE AND WE SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF BENEFITS ON IT.
NOT ONLY THE TRAFFIC, NOT ONLY THE CONTAMINATIONS.
THE OTHER CITY DOESN'T HAVE, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD PAY THE LOWER TAXES ON IT AND VERY LOWER ON THE WATER RATE EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT THE WATER AT THIS TIME.
BUT I JUST, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, I WISH, UH, YOU CONSIDER TO DON'T ADOPT THE NEW 6.602, I'M SORRY, 1 6 2 6 2 7 2 AND LEAVE IT LIKE IT WAS AT 0 1 5 8 5 9 9 5.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE GALLERY OR FROM, UH, ONLINE? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE DEAR? THERE WOULD BE NO COMMENTS THERE.
UH, AT, AT THIS JUNCTURE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY SECRETARY, I'D BE PREPARED TO MOVE THROUGH PAGE EIGHT AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF, UH, APPROVING THE PROPOSED TAX RATE.
IF, UH, IF I MAY, OKAY, ON PAGE EIGHT, IF YOU WOULD FOLLOW, YOU NEED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MAYOR, NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
OKAY, NOW I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN THE MOTION.
COUNCILMAN DEUCE, HAVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE, SIR.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW SECOND MAYOR.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I BELIEVE IT'S NOW 6 0 9 WOULD BE CLOSED.
PUBLIC HEARING DISCLOSURE, SIR.
NOW WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO NOW IS, UH, ONE MOVE
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7254 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Sale Of A 1.417 Acre Tract Of City-Owned Vacant Land, Identified As Parcel No. 268047 (Tract 7B), Located At Port Plaza Drive And Medical Center Boulevard, And Further Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Special Warranty Deed For The Conveyance]
TO PAGE EIGHT.ON PAGE EIGHT, WHAT I HAVE IS A, UH, AND THIS IS AN ITEM AND, AND IT'S SEVERAL ITEMS ON PAGE EIGHT.
AND THERE ARE SIX DIFFERENT ITEMS. AND CONSIDER SECRETARY, IF I WHAT HAPPENED TO GO A MONTH, PLEASE CORRECT ME ON, ON WHATEVER I'M, I DON'T DO.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT BECAUSE THIS, IT IS YOUR JOB TO TELL ME TO DO IT RIGHT.
AND I, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT AT ALL.
SO NOW WHAT WE'LL DO NOW IS WE'LL MOVE TO THE ORDINANCE, THE VERY FIRST ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS US TO DO WHAT WE ARE HERE TO, UH, DOING ON TODAY.
THIS IS ORDINANCE, UH, PO NUMBER 72 54.
IT IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF 1.4 ACRES OF TRACT OF LAND, UH, OWNED VACANT LAND AND MUCH OF TRACT OF CITY OWNED VACANT LAND IDENTIFIED AS PARCEL NUMBER 2 6 8 0 4 7, TRACK SEVEN B LOCATED AT THE PORT PLAZA DRIVE AND MEDICAL CENTER BOULEVARD.
AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED FOR A CONVEYANCE.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KINLOCK.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK, THANK YOU.
IS MOVED IN SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 72 54 AS PRESENTED.
WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS? YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT.
SO PO NUMBER 72 54 IS APPROVED AS READ.
[VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7266 – An Appropriation Ordinance Adopting A Budget For The Ensuing Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2024 And Ending September 30, 2025, In Accordance With Section 7, Article XII Of The Charter Of The City Of Port Arthur]
WOULD GO NOW TO PO 7 2 6 6.THIS IS AN APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION SEVEN, ARTICLE 12 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PORT AUTHOR.
NOW IN THIS, IN THIS, UH, PROPOSED ORDINANCE, UH, I GET A MOTION COUNCILMAN FRANK TO PLACE HIS MOTION PLACES ON THE FLOOR.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KINLOCK SECOND.
OKAY, IT'S BEEN NOW MOTIONED AND PLACED ON THE FLOOR, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 7 2 6 6.
NOW, QUICK, WE HAVE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS UNDER COUNCILMAN ETT? YES.
SOON WE BE TALKING ABOUT THE TAX.
[00:30:01]
WHAT WE WENT TO THE TAX.THIS IS, UH, ALL OF THE NON-CONSENT.
WE SHOULD WENT TO THE TAXES FOUR AND FIVE ON OUR THINGS.
THE ORDER THAT WE HAVE THE ORDINANCES IN OR THE ORDER IT HAS TO BE ADOPTED BY.
YOU HAVE TO DO IT IN THIS STRICT ORDER.
SO MY NEXT QUESTION WOULD BE IF WE GONNA DO IT IN THAT ORDER, RIGHT? YES.
THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET.
THE BUDGET HAS TO BE ADOPTED BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE.
COUNCILWOMAN, UH, OR HAMILTON, UH, EVER FIELD.
ALRIGHT, SO I WAS HOPING THAT WE HAD PULL YOU MIKE DOWN PLEASE.
I WAS HOPING THAT WE HAD OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION PRIOR TO, UH, VOTE ON THIS, BUT NOW IS THE TIME TO ASK MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET.
SO, ALRIGHT, LET ME PULL UP THESE NOTES.
ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A QUESTION.
I HAVE A CITY MANAGER AND MOST OF MY QUESTIONS ON THIS LIST ARE REGARDING OUR UTIL WATER UTILITIES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, PROGRAM.
AND THE QUESTION IS, CAN THE GENERAL FUND PAY CASH FOR THE UTILITIES CAPITAL PROGRAM OR THE UTILITY PIPE BURSTING CREW, CREW, THE SECOND UTILITY PIPE BURSTING CREW, OR, UM, THE INFLATION RATE THAT'S BEING EXPECTED AT 4.7 WHEN WE'RE ONLY DOING AN INCREASE OF THREE? SO MY QUESTION IS, CAN THE GENERAL FUND PAY THE CASH TO SUPPORT THESE NEEDS? COUNCILWOMAN, IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION, WE, I DID PASS OUT A MEMO WITH AN ATTACHED EMAIL THAT WAS ADDRESSED THIS MORNING TO OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
AND I THINK THE FOUR POINTS LISTED IN THE EMAIL QUITE CLEARLY EX UM, UM, PROVIDES AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND IF I, IF YOU MAY, MAY, IF I WISH, IF YOU WISH ME THAT I COULD READ IT OUT.
UM, IN SUMMARY, THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN YOU AND ANNE, AND I'M PLEASED TO SEE THE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION BELOW.
TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CURRENT REVENUES ARE NOT SUFFICIENT, A RICH STUDY MUST BE UNDERTAKEN TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE.
LET ME GO BEFORE THAT, THE PARAGRAPH BEFORE THAT, TO FUND THIS UTILITY SYSTEM, CAPITAL PROJECT, THE MOST FISCALLY PRUDENT, AND I THINK LYNN STATED THAT VERY CLEARLY IN HER PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL, THE MOST FISCALLY PRUDENT MANNER WOULD BE TO HAVE SUFFICIENT ANNUAL WATER AND WASTEWATER REVENUES TO PAY THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE THAT IS REQUIRED TO DO THAT.
TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CURRENT REVENUES ARE NOT SUFFICIENT, A RICH STUDY COULD BE UNDERTAKING, WHICH HAS BEEN DONE ALREADY.
IT'S ABOUT, UM, MORE THAN FIVE YEARS OLD TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON RATE ADJUSTMENTS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO UNDERTAKE THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE UTILITY SYSTEM'S REVENUES ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE.
ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO INCREASE THE CITY'S DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE.
AGAIN, WE'LL HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE THAT'S BEING APPLIED.
UM, THE THIRD ONE, TO UTILIZE ANY POTENTIAL FUND BALANCE TO FUND THESE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE ENTIRETY COULD CREATE A RATE CHALLENGE, COULD CREATE RATING CHALLENGES AND IMPACT THE CITY RATING.
AND I THINK WE SPOKE ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY AS WELL IN, UM, THE DISCUSSION THAT ENSUED, UM, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CITY COULD WAIT UNTIL FEBRUARY 15TH, 2025 TO GET BOND PROCEEDS THAT COULD BE STRUCTURED TO HAVE A FIRST PAYMENT IN FISCAL YEAR 2026, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE CITY MORE TIME TO REVIEW THESE ALTERNATIVES.
SO THOSE ARE THE ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED TO YOU AT THIS POINT AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED.
EVEN WITH US WAITING UNTIL FEBRUARY 15, 15TH, 2025, WE STILL DO NOT, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY, WE STILL WILL NOT HAVE THE FUNDS THAT WE NEED FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES WITHOUT HAVING TO PULL FROM OUR, OUR GENERAL FUND.
RIGHT NOW, FROM, FROM THE PRESENTATION PROVIDED YESTERDAY, OUR COMPTROLLER STATED THAT WE HAD ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, UM, LEEWAY THAT DID NOT INCLUDE ANY EMERGENCY COVERAGE, AM I? AND THAT'S CORRECT.
[00:35:01]
UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? YES.WELL, THAT PUTS US IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
SO I'M ASKING WHAT IS OUR, WHAT IS OUR PLAN B ACCORDING TO THIS, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE, WE DON'T, WE CAN'T AFFORD PLAN A.
SO I'M ASKING WHAT IS OUR, WHAT IS OUR PLAN OF ACTION? DON'T HAVE, IF THERE'S A, IF THERE IS A PROPOSAL BY COUNCIL, ANY OF THE AND IS COUNCIL, WHICH AT THIS POINT TO MAKE ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.
OBVIOUSLY WE DO HAVE TO ADAPT THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, UM, AT THIS POINT TODAY, UM, THE BUDGET CAN ALSO BE AMENDED, YOU KNOW, UM, LATER ON.
UM, BUT THAT WOULD DEFINITELY IMPACT, YOU KNOW, THE REVENUES THAT, UM, TO BE DERIVED, UM, FOR FUNDING THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
ALSO, THERE WAS THIS SUGGESTION ON THE FLOOR YESTERDAY AS TO LOOKING AT THE FUNDING, THE, UM, SALES TAX FROM THE EDC IN ORDER TO FUND THAT.
BUT THAT IS A PROCESS IN ITSELF THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
UM, WHICH, UM, WOULD REQUIRE, WOULD REQUIRE SOME SORT OF BALLOT INITIATIVE.
SO IT DOESN'T PROVIDE US WITH IMMEDIATE RELIEF OR A SOLUTION TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, I, AGAIN, I WOULD JUST REITERATE THAT ONE OF THE IMMEDIATE RELIEFS AND THE MOST PRUDENT THING THAT WE COULD CONSIDER AT THIS POINT, UM, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH LATE IN THE GAME THAT BUT ACTION COULD FOLLOW UP AND WE COULD FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT WITH AN AMENDMENT IN OCTOBER, IS TO MAKE A PROPOSITION OR PRESENTATION, UM, OR SUGGESTION BY ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL AS TO WHAT THAT AMENDMENT WOULD BE IF YOU DO INTEND TO ACCOMMODATE A RATE INCREASE AT THIS POINT.
UH, WE DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW UP AND FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE WHEN THIS IS DONE, YOU KNOW, BUT THE, THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN, COME BACK.
I WILL, I THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN FOR US TO DO THAT'LL WITH SUGGESTIONS IN THE FORM OF A PRESENTATION WITH REFERRALS SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
BUT THE DECISIONS THAT WE'VE MADE, I CAN'T HELP BUT TO THINK THAT WE ARE ASSUMING THE SAME POSITION AS, UM, THAT PREVIOUS COUNCILS HAVE THAT BROUGHT US TO THIS SITUATION, OUR CURRENT WATER SITUATION.
WELL, I, I'M READY TO, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VOTE.
WELL, WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL.
I MEAN, COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, THAT'S, I APPRECIATE YOUR, IT'S YOUR VIEW ON IT, BUT, UM, THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, KNOW THEIR TAKE ON IT AS WELL.
NO, I WASN'T CALLING FOR A VOTE.
I WAS JUST SAYING I'M, I'M READY.
SO, SO I CAN SEE WITH MY COMMENT, I'M SORRY.
UH, CONSTABLE FRANK, UH, MAYOR, BEFORE I BEGIN IN, CAN I HAVE HEAR FROM MR. SCOTT WHO CAME TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THE BUDGET? CAN HE COME AND ADDRESS THIS? HE WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS MOTION, ON THIS, ON THIS, ON THIS MOTION NOW, RIGHT? HE'S, HE'S, HE WANTED TO, I MEAN, AS LONG AS IT'S, IF IF IT'S YOU MAKE IT PERTAINING TO THIS IS GOOD, RIGHT? IT'S PERTAINING TO THIS SO HE CAN COME.
I'M GONNA RESTATE MY NAME AGAIN.
I LIVE AT 32 45 NINTH STREET IN PORT ARTHUR.
UM, I'M JUST SAYING THAT I WAS LOOKING AT THE NEWS, I'M, I'VE BEEN WATCHING HOW EVERYTHING BEEN GOING WITH THE CITY AND THEY TALKING ABOUT THE REVENUE HERE AND THERE AND JUST SO HAPPENED THE LADY THAT SPOKE NOT TOO LONG AGO ON TV WAS KIND OF, I'M GONNA JUST KIND OF BACKDOOR WHAT SHE SAID AS WELL.
UM, THAT THE CITY PULLED OUT THE, YOU KNOW, IT IS, THE REVENUE THAT'S GENERATED HERE IS IS ABOVE MORE THAN ANY OTHER PLACE I EVER LIVED IN.
I USED TO LIVE IN VIRGINIA, I USED TO BE IN THE MILITARY.
[00:40:01]
DO WHAT THEY DO IN ORDER TO MAKE THINGS EASY FOR EVERYONE THAT LIVES IN THAT CITY.EVERYBODY PUT THEY HAND IN BASKET.
AND I KNOW THE CITY CAN'T GO TO THE PLANTS ALL THE TIME WHEN THEY NEED SOMETHING, BUT THE REVENUE THAT'S GENERATED THERE PORT OUT, IT SHOULDN'T LOOK LIKE IT.
DO YOU KNOW, I LEFT PORT OUT YEARS AGO.
I CAME BACK HERE IN 2013 AND I KNOW THE HURRICANES DID A LOT OF DEVASTATION HERE AND THIS AND THAT.
BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING FROM OTHER PLACES.
LIKE WHEN I LIVED UP NORTH, UM, THE CITY OF DC WAS HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THEIR STREETS.
AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE ONES HERE BAD, THE CITY, THE CAP NATION CAPITAL HAD BAD STREETS.
AND WHAT THEY DID WAS, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU MAY BE ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE I DON'T WORK, I'M NOT ON THE COUNCIL OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.
BUT THEY, THEY WAS ABLE TO GET MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT THAT WAS COMING INTO WORK TO PAY MONEY ON CERTAIN THINGS.
LIKE THEY HAD METERS, WHICH WE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT CLEARLY NOW BECAUSE A LOT OF THE REFINERIES, THEY GOT KIND OF SMART AND GOT THE BUSES COMING HERE, TAKING THESE GUYS TO THE JOB INSTEAD OF THEM DRIVING THEMSELVES TO THE JOB, WHICH CUT BACK ON A WHOLE LOT OF TRAFFIC AND OTHER STUFF.
BUT THE REVENUE NEEDS TO COME FROM WHAT'S GENERATED HERE.
EVEN THOUGH THESE PEOPLE DON'T LIVE IN PORT ARTHUR, THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THE DAMAGE THAT'S DONE TO OUR STREETS.
I USED TO DO, I USED TO BE A PIPE LEADER.
I USED TO DO INTER STRUCTURAL WORK WHEN I WAS IN VIRGINIA.
SO I LOOK, EVERY TIME I SEE SOMETHING GOING ON IN PORT ARTHUR, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING AND SEEING HOW THEY DOING.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CONSULTANTS THERE TO SEE AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING THE JOB PROPERLY.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH THEY'RE GETTING PAID FOR, BUT I CAN TELL YOU FROM LOOKING AT SOME OF THE STREETS THAT I'VE BEEN GOING DOWN AFTER THEY FINISH 'EM, ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AFTER THEY DONE THE STREETS STARTING TO CRACK ALREADY AND I TALKED TO COUNCILMAN LEWIS, HE GOES TO MY CHURCH, ME AND HIM TALKED ON SEVERAL TIMES AND I WAS TELLING HIM, HEY LOOK, THEY GOT THIS BASE ASPHALT.
THE BIGGER THE ROCK, THE HARDER THE BASE FOR THE TYPE OF WEATHER WE HAVE HERE WITH ALL THE RAIN WE GET ALL THE TIME.
WE NEED SOMETHING OF HARDER BASE ASPHALT ON THE BOTTOM FIRST AND THIS AND THAT.
I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO ALL THAT, BUT IT'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP THE CITY, YOU KNOW, GET ITS LOOK BACK.
'CAUSE I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, MY CITY LOOK TERRIBLE AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE NASTY OR ANYTHING, BUT LIKE THE LADY SAID EARLIER, THE REVENUE NEEDS TO COME FROM WHAT THE, WHAT GENERATED HERE.
YOU KNOW, THESE PLANTS, THEY MAKING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
I USED TO WORK FOR ZACHARY SO I KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THEY MAKE AND I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, SAYING THAT THE MONEY GOTTA GO TO JUST ONE PERSON.
YOU KNOW, THAT MONEY GETS SPREAD OUT TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND THAT WHATNOT.
BUT THE CITY NEEDS SOMEONE TO GO TO THESE, TO THESE PLANT PEOPLE AND SAY, HEY LOOK, IF Y'ALL GONNA LIVE HERE, Y'ALL GOTTA HELP US OUT EVEN THOUGH Y'ALL NOT HERE.
'CAUSE ALL THE MONEY THAT'S GENERATED HERE, GOING TO GROVES, GOING TO NEEDLING, GOING TO BEAUMONT, NOT MUCH, MUCH OF THAT MONEY IS NOT STAYING HERE IN PORT OCTA.
SO I'M SAYING WHY SHOULD THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE TO SUCCUMB TO THE WATER BILL AND ALL THESE OTHER UTIL I AIN'T SAYING ALL THEM BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE I USED TO LIVE, THE WATER BILL DID GO UP, THEY DID NOTIFY US AND LET US KNOW WHY THEY WAS GOING UP AND IT WAS OKAY.
AND I'M NOT SAYING TAKING AWAY FROM WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, BUT THERE HAS TO BE A MORE DRASTIC THING DONE HERE BECAUSE THESE STREETS ARE TERRIBLE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? THEY, THEY START ON ONE STREET AND THEN FOR SOME REASON THEY'LL STOP RIGHT HERE.
AND IT'S LIKE, WHY YOU DIDN'T KEEP GOING? I DONE SEEN THEM REPAIR SOME OF THE STREETS THAT DIDN'T EVEN NEED A REPAIR.
AND I UNDERSTAND THEY TRYING TO SHOW WHOMEVER THEY WORKED FOR THAT THEY GETTING WORK DONE, BUT THEY GOT SOME STREETS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED.
BUT MY WHOLE GETUP IS THIS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW Y'ALL DEAL WITH THE REFINERY PEOPLE OR WHATNOT, BUT A LOT OF THE STUFF NEED TO COME FROM THE PEOPLE THAT'S TAKING THE MONEY AWAY FROM HERE THAT'S BEING MADE HERE.
'CAUSE THERE'S TOO MUCH MONEY THAT'S GENERATED.
THE TAX BASE HERE IS HIGH FOR A CITY AND, AND LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, I USED TO LIVE, LIKE I SAID, IN AREAS WHERE $10 WAS MINIMUM WAGE BECAUSE THE, THE REVENUE, THE WAGES WAS SO HIGH, THE MONEY THAT WAS GENERATED IN THAT AREA SO HIGH AT THAT, IN THAT, THAT LOCATION THAT THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.
BUT I'M JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT SOMEHOW SOMEBODY IN THIS BETWEEN YOU GUYS NOT, LIKE I SAID, I CAN CONSULT BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I DID ALL THE WORK THAT I SEEN NEED TO BE DONE.
LIKE I SAID, I TALKED TO BAY LOUIS ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT IT NEEDS TO COME FROM OTHER PLACES OTHER THAN THIS.
JUST THE CITIZENS OF THE CITIES BEING AS THOUGH WE HAVING SO MUCH MONEY COMING FROM THESE PLANTS AND THEY CON CONSTANTLY BUILDING NEW THINGS HERE AND AIN'T NOBODY WORRIED ABOUT HOW THE CITY LOOKS.
THEY GO TO WORK, THEY GO RIGHT BACK OUT, COME IN, GO BACK OUT.
WE NEED TO GET SOME KIND OF FORMULATION TO WHERE WE CAN GET SOME OF THE MONEY BACK FROM THE ONES THAT'S MAKING IT HERE AND TAKING IT BACK TO WHERE THEY LIVE.
NOW MAYOR, I WANTED HIM TO COME BECAUSE HE IS THE VOICE OF OUR CITIZENS AND HE MAKES A VALID, A VERY VALID POINT.
AND THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TALKED
[00:45:01]
ABOUT FROM THIS DAY CONTINUALLY ABOUT WHY DOES PORT ARTHUR LOOK THE WAY IT LOOKS WITH ALL OF THE INDUSTRY THAT WE HAVE AROUND IT.AS A COUNCIL, WE HAVE TRIED TO COME UP WITH SITU, COME UP WITH PLANS, UH, TO AFFECT THAT THE IDA AGREEMENTS, UH, THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE, UH, TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT THE PROPER AMOUNT OF TAXES ARE BEING GOTTEN OR OBTAINED FROM, UM, FROM OUR PLANTS.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT IS AN UPDATE TO WHAT'S CALLED A COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN.
THAT WHEN A PLANT OR WHEN A COMPANY COMES INTO OUR AREA, THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND TO DONATE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND BE A COMMUNITY PARTNER FOR OUR YOUTH, FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR RECREATIONAL PARKS, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
IT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT, BUT THAT DOES NOT HELP US FOR TODAY.
WHERE WE ARE, ALL OF THAT IS FUTURISTIC AND WE'RE PUTTING THOSE THINGS IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE TO THE POINT IN THE PLACE WHERE, UM, BAYTOWN IS WHERE AN EXXON WOULD GIVE THEM $64 MILLION TO INVEST INTO THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND TRANSPIRING IN OTHER COMMUNITIES WHERE THESE PLANTS THAT ARE IN PORT ARTHUR WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A MORE VIABLE PARTNER WITH US IN, IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP US TODAY BECAUSE WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS WE NEED PIPE BURSTING IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE RAW SEWAGE IS BACKING UP IN THE HOMES OF OUR CITIZENS.
WE NEED, UM, WE NEED, UH, THE MONEY NOW TO DO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND TO GO FORWARD.
SO YES, THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN FUTURISTICALLY, BUT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS BUDGET RIGHT NOW, WE ARE GOING TO GO BACKWARDS.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO FORWARD.
IT'S ALL PIE IN THE SKY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO, UM, IN THE FUTURE.
BUT WHEN YOUR CHILDREN NEED FOOD, THEY NEED FOOD NOW AT YOUR HOUSE AND WHEN THE CITY NEEDS RESOURCES, I SEE YOU MS. JONES, BUT I CAN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT.
YES, WHEN WE, WHEN WE UH, SEE, UH, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CITY AND OUR STREETS AND EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING, THERE ARE MAJOR NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED NOW.
AND I'M GOING TO IMPLORE AND I'M ON THE VERGE OF MAKING AMENDMENT RIGHT NOW TO THIS BUDGET TO APPROVE, UH, THAT THE 7% INCREASE WITH THE 8.5% BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER OPTIONS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO JUST, IT'S NOT GOING TO JUST, MY MOTHER SAID YOU CAN'T GET BLOOD OUT OF A TURNIP.
AND IF WE DON'T GO FORWARD, IF WE DON'T DO THIS, THAT WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR EMERGENCIES.
YESTERDAY WE HAD AN EMERGENCY.
WELL, WATER WAS SPEWING IN THE AIR, SPEWING IN THE AIR, AND WE, BUT IF WHEN EMERGENCIES WILL HAPPEN, WE WON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO FIX THE EMERGENCIES.
AND ANYONE WHO WILL TELL YOU TODAY FROM THIS DAY IS THAT IS NOT, IS ROLLING THE DICE.
THEY'RE ROLLING THE DICE AND HOPING THAT NOTHING SIGNIFICANT HAPPENS.
BUT WE ALL KNOW MURPHY'S LAW SAY WHAT, WHAT MURPHY'S LAW.
IF IT, IF IT GOING TO HAPPEN, IT'S GET, IF ANYTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN, IT WILL HAPPEN.
AND SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? I'M TALKING TO US ON THIS DAY AS TONIGHT.
THE CITY NEEDS THIS, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, ETT.
OKAY, I'M NOT GOING TO TELL LANGUAGES I NORMALLY, I THINK WE'VE HAD A LOT TO SAY, BUT I'M GONNA JUST ADDRESS THE THING.
FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THIS EMERGENCY WHEN IT'S TIME TO DO THE BUDGET.
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE, OKAY? UH, FOR STAFF AND MANAGERS TO ASK US WHAT DO WE COME UP WITH? WE'RE TIME TO DO THE BUDGET.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE LONG BEFORE NOW.
OKAY, WE WERE BROUGHT A REQUEST FOR A RAISE.
WE SAID BASICALLY WHAT I HEARD TWO CITIZENS SAY TODAY,
[00:50:01]
THERE ARE THINGS WE NEED, BUT WHY SHOULD IT BE ON THE BACK OF CITIZENS ONLY? SO WHAT THE COUNCIL SAID WHEN THIS FIRST WAS BROUGHT TO US IN THE FIRST WORKSHOP TO THIS MANAGER AND THE STAFF, WHAT WE SAID WAS GO BACK, TAKE A LET LOOK AT THINGS WE CAN DO SO THAT WHEN WE DO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, WE KNOW THAT IT'LL BALANCE IT.I MADE THE STATEMENT, LET'S SEE WHAT THE CITY'S GONNA BRING TO THE TABLE SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS DONE AND THEN WE'LL ASK THE CITIZENS TO HELP US.
BUT FROM THE FIRST DAY IT CAME TO US UNTIL THIS DAY, IT HAS ONLY BEEN ONE THING DUE TO RATE OR WE WON'T HAVE MONEY, IT'S GOING TO BE EMERGENCY, WE WON'T HAVE MONEY TO DO THIS AND TO DO THAT, WELL WE CAN.
THE MANAGER JUST SAYS SOMETHING, HE SAYS, WE CAN APPROVE THE BUDGET AND THEN WE CAN MOVE ON AND WE COULD STILL WORK ON THIS AND WE STILL COULD GET THINGS DONE.
JUST LIKE THE PIPE BURSTING CREW, IF WE DON'T FUND IT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T GO OUT AND SEEK FUNDS AND DO IT.
SO IF WE DON'T DO IT, DON'T MAKE IT SEEM LIKE THE WORLD IS GOING TO END.
BUT THE QUESTION THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY IS ALL WE THE CITY GOING TO HELP WITH OBTAINING THIS.
ARE WE GOING TO PUT IT ALL ON THE BACK OF THE CITIZENS? IF STAFF WOULD'VE BROUGHT ME WHAT THE INCREASE IS WITH HOW MUCH CHEMICALS WENT IN FROM LAST YEAR, HOW MUCH MORE WATER WE WILL HAVE TO BUY THIS YEAR? COUNCILMAN DID SAID JUST TO DO BUSINESS FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR.
I THINK CITIZENS SHOULD PAY THAT.
CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE AN INCREASE TO PAY THAT.
BUT IF YOU TELL ME YOU WANT THIS PERCENTAGE BECAUSE YOU WANT THEM TO PAY FOR WHAT THE COST YOU TO DO IT MORE, PLUS I WANT YOU TO PAY FOR WHAT WE NEGLECTED TO DO FOR 20 OR 30 YEARS.
WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO DO THAT.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE IT A CONTINUOUS THING AND NOT AROUND BUDGET TIME.
WHEN WE COME UP HERE AND SAY RAISE THE RATE, THIS SHOULD BE AN ONGOING DAILY OPERATION, 365 DAYS A DAY.
BUT BECAUSE IT'S BUDGET, WE WANNA MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IF WE DON'T DO IT, THE WORLD WILL COME TO HIM.
SO, YOU KNOW, UH, WE CAN DISCUSS IT AND I DON'T WANNA BE THE DEAD HORSE TO DEATH, BUT LAST YEAR I VOTED AGAINST THE RAISE BECAUSE WE HAD A RAISE THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND WE SHOULD HAVE TRIED TO BALANCE THAT AND WORK ON IT.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS APPROVED BY THAT COUNCIL, BY THE COUNCIL I WAS ON IT WAS THAT IF WE GIVE YOU THIS RAISE, IT WOULD GOING TO ENABLE US TO HAVE A SECOND PIPE BURSTING CREW.
SO THE RAISE WAS APPROVED, BUT I DON'T SEE A SECOND PIPE BURSTING CREW.
SO YOU'RE TELLING ME NOW GIVE YOU A 7.5 AND WE GOING TO HAVE THE CREW AND IF YOU DON'T GIVE IT, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HAVE A CREW.
WELL, WE GAVE IT, WE GAVE IT ONE LAST YEAR AND DIDN'T GET THE CREW.
SO I LISTENED TO STAFF, I FOLLOW STAFF, BUT LIKE I SAID, THE DOOR HAS BEEN OPENED FROM DAY ONE WITH ME.
I HAVE NEVER CLOSED MY MIND THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE A RATE INCREASE.
BUT I ALWAYS FELT THE RATE INCREASE SHOULD BE PROPORTIONAL TO WHAT IT COSTS FOR US TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE AS OPPOSED FOR WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE AND MAKE UP FOR WHAT PAST COUNCILS AND PEOPLE HAVE NOT DONE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
THAT'S WHAT THE MAYOR SAID AT ONE OF THE WORKSHOP AND THAT WAS SAID BY COUNCIL KENDALL AND WE HAD COUNCIL MEMBER WAS SAYING ALL THE TIME, BRING US SOMETHING THAT'S A COMPROMISE.
THE MAYOR PUTS IT SIMPLY, HE SAYS, COME UP WITH A CREATIVE IDEA THAT'S LEGAL.
SO WE NEVER SAID NO TO A TAX RATE, A RATE INQUIRY.
WE SAID NO, IF YOU GONNA PUT IT ALL ON A CITIZEN BACK.
[00:55:01]
SO DON'T BE TRYING TO SAY, LET'S SAY WHAT WAS SAID, WHAT IT'S ABOUT.I BELIEVE CITIZENS SHOULD PAY WHAT IS REQUIRED.
SO IF IT COSTS US 2% MORE TO PAY FOR WATER AND CHEMICALS AND WHAT IT TAKES TO GIVE THEM WATER THAN I THINK CITIZENS SHOULD PAY 2%.
BUT IF YOU TELL ME THEY SHOULD PAY FOR WHAT WE FAILED TO DO IN THE PAST, NO, IT'S UP TO US TO FIND A WAY.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO SIT UP HERE AND SAY WHAT WE DO, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE HAVE DONE WITH MONEY, IT'S FAR LESS IMPORTANT THAN THIS BECAUSE IF THIS IS SO BAD, WHY WERE WE DOING THE OTHER THINGS AND NOT DOING THIS WITH THAT MONEY? DON'T MISINTERPRET WHAT IS BEING SAID TO PRESENT WHAT THE STAFF AND MANAGER HAD EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BRING A COMPROMISE AND A AND AN ALTERNATIVE TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
AND AS FOR THE VOTING, LET MAKE, LET, LEMME JUST SAY THIS AND I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS AND CITY ATTORNEY, I'M GONNA SAY IT.
SO YOU CAN EITHER SAY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS VOTE, THIS BUDGET, THERE CANNOT BE NO AMENDMENT.
THERE CAN BE NO DISCUSSION IN REFERENCE TO A 7% INCREASE FOR RESIDENTS IN 8.5 FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL.
WE CANNOT DISCUSS NOT A VOTE ON ANY RESOLUTION OR MOTION THAT WILL APPROVE A 7.5%.
AND THE REASON BEING, BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN VOTED DOWN BY COUNCIL.
AND IN ORDER FOR US TO BRING THAT ITEM BACK BEFORE THIS BODY TO CONSIDER, IT MUST BE PLACED ON AGENDA BY A PERSON ON THE PREVAILING SITE.
AND IF THAT ITEM IS NOT ON THIS AGENDA TODAY, IT SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED OR VOTED ON.
SO ANYTHING WE GONNA DISCUSS ABOUT RACE OTHER THAN THOSE I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT WHAT WE FED NO TO, UNLESS SOMEBODY HAD IT ON THIS AGENDA AND I READ THE AGENDA, IT'S NOT ON THERE.
THOSE TWO OPTIONS IS OFF THE BOARD FOR A DISCUSSION.
AM I RIGHT OR WRONG? GENERALLY SPEAKING, I WOULD AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE, THE BUDGET IS ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT AND THE BUDGET THAT IS PRESENTED MUST AS DEFINITELY AS POSSIBLE LIST ALL OF THE PROJECTS FOR WHICH THE EXPENDITURES ARE SET UP AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS GONNA BE NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THAT PROJECT.
THERE IS NO WATER RATE INCREASE ON THE AGENDA AND ANY AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET WOULD REQUIRE THAT THE BUDGET SHOW DEFINITELY IS POSSIBLE HOW THAT MONEY'S GOING TO BE USED.
SO I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT THE PREVAILING PARTY AS WELL.
IN TERMS OF RULES OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, THERE IS NO WATER RATE INCREASE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THIS IS SOLELY ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE APPROVAL OF THE EXPENDITURES, BUT I'LL ALSO AGREE WITH THE CITY MANAGER STATEMENT EARLIER THAT IT CAN BE BROUGHT IN THE FUTURE.
WITH THIS GOVERNING BODY AS THE RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.
SO YOUR RULING IS EXACTLY MY POINT.
SO WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THIS AGENDA.
I HAVE THE BUDGET THAT, THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A DISCUSSION POINT REGARDING THAT.
WAIT, I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE ANYBODY.
THE, UH, SEE, SEE THE ATTORNEY WAS SPEAKING NOW EVERYBODY COULD SPEAK.
YOU COULD SAY WHAT YOU WANT NOW.
THE BUDGET IS ON THE AGENDA AND THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED RELATED TO THE BUDGET.
SO WHAT IS EXPENDED OR NOT EXPENDED AS BEST AS POSSIBLE AS LISTED IN THE BUDGET IS OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
NOW AT THIS TIME TESTIMONY WE HAVE, UH, OUR WATER CONSERVATOR
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
UH, LAST YEAR THERE WAS A DISCUSSION OF ADDING A SECOND PIPE BURSTING CREW.
BUT IF YOU GO BACK THROUGH THE PROCEDURE WE WENT THROUGH,
[01:00:01]
WE HAD PROBABLY INITIALLY LIKE A 15% RATE INCREASE.WE ENDED UP WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL AND WE REDUCED THAT TO A 7% RATE INCREASE.
AND BY GOING TO A 7% RATE INCREASE, UH, THINGS SUCH AS SECOND PIPE BURSTING CREWS WERE REMOVED, THE EQUIPMENT WAS REMOVED, UH, FACTOR TRUCKS WERE REMOVED, THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS REMOVED.
SO, UH, THOUGH IT WAS DISCUSSED, IT NEVER MADE IT TO THE FINAL BUDGET.
UH, AS FAR AS ALTERNATIVES IN VARIOUS OF OUR PRESENTATIONS, WE HAVE BROKE THE 7.5% DOWN INTO THREE PRIMARY ITEMS. UH, WE HAD AN ITEM FOR THE SECOND PIPE BURSTING CREW AND A PERCENTAGE, UH, WE HAD, UH, AN ITEM FOR INFLATION.
AND, UH, TO COVER INCREASED THOUGH THE PI IS, UH, 4.7, WE KEPT IT AT, UH, 1.87.
IT'S SHARP, BUT IT DOES GIVE US SOME MONEY TO PLAY WITH.
AND THE REMAINDER OF THE SEVEN AND A HALF WAS JUST CAPITAL PROJECTS.
WE TYPICALLY SPEND FROM 500,000 TO 70 MILLION ON CAPITAL PROJECTS.
A PROJECT, NOT VERY MANY AT 70 MILLION.
SO THAT NUMBER IS VERY FLEXIBLE.
IT'S JUST HOW FAST YOU WANT TO EAT THIS ELEPHANT OF BAD PIPES AND BAD SEWER LINES AND BAD PUMP STATIONS.
UH, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL PUMP STATION NEEDED IN STONEGATE.
IT CAN BE DELAYED, BUT IT'S GOING TO CAUSE PROBLEMS. UH, IT'S JUST HOW FAST COUNCIL WANTS TO EAT THE ELEPHANT.
WE HAD SUGGESTED 30 MILLION, WE THEN CUT IT TO 25 MILLION.
IT COULD BE CUT TO 15 MILLION, IT COULD BE CUT TO 10 MILLION.
IT'S THE SPEED AT WHICH WE EAT THE ELEPHANT.
AND I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING OLD SO I WANT TO EAT THE ELEPHANT QUICK.
BUT
HEY, I AM OLDER THAN YOU, I THINK
SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
I'M, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE.
YEAH, YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, MAN, THIS, THIS HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME FOR US.
UH, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T LIKE IT.
I, I'VE TALKED WITH MY COHORTS BEFORE ABOUT, UH, I DON'T LIKE THESE EMERGENCY TYPE SITUATIONS.
WHEN IT'S BUDGET TIME, WE SHOULD PLAN FOR THESE TYPES OF EVENTS.
WE SHOULD KNOW THAT WE GOT PUMPS.
LIKE ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU, YOU NAME, WE WE KNOW IF WE USE 'EM, THEY'RE GONNA FAIL AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
SO, UH, THE PIPE BURSTING CREW, THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO THAT WAS BROUGHT TO US.
THE VTA TRUCKS, I ASKED ABOUT THOSE.
HOW MANY DO WE HAVE? YOU KNOW, AND WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE, UH, PAST MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD IN COUNCIL.
A LOT OF THOSE THINGS THAT STAFF AND MANAGEMENT IS BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL.
WE ASK QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE NEED? HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THE CITIZENS? AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO COUNCIL.
I DON'T KNOW WHY IT FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT I SUPPORTED IT LAST TIME.
BUT WE AT THIS POINT, AGAIN, BUDGET TIME, EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET OUT OF THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS? OKAY, LET, LET ME EXPLAIN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
THERE WAS A VERY RECENT ONE ON GULF WAY.
WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A VERY LARGE HOLE UNDER GULF WAY.
THIS IS NOT A PLANNED SITUATION.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN, WE HAVE PLANS FOR PUMP STATIONS.
WE'RE CURRENTLY DESIGNING TWO, WE'RE WE'RE BIDDING THEM.
UH, THERE'S ONE ON THIRD AVENUE THAT HANDLES THE SIX 36TH STREET.
I THINK SEVERAL OF Y'ALL HAVE BEEN ON 36TH WHEN IT HAD PROBLEMS. IT'S, IT'S ALL TIED INTO THAT.
BUT THERE'S A MAIN SEWER THAT CROSSES GULF WAY, I DON'T KNOW, DOWN PAST PARKER'S.
AND IT'S A, UH, 42 INCH CLAY LINE WHEN THEY WIDENED THE HIGHWAY.
WHAT, HOWEVER MANY DECADES AGO, THE GULF WAY, THEY CHANGED A SECTION OF PIPE FROM CLAY TO DUCTILE IRON.
IT'S NOT ON ANY DRAWINGS, NOBODY KNEW IT.
THE DUCTILE IRON CORRODED AWAY AND THE TOP IT DISAPPEARED.
IT SUCKED IN DUMP TRUCK LOADS WORTH OF DIRT.
WE HAD TO BRING ALCO ON IN AN EMERGENCY.
UH, THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT CLOSED THE LANE ON THE NORTH SIDE.
WE REMOVED 30, 40 FEET OF, OF LANE ONE.
THE REASON IT WENT TO DUCTILE IRON WAS THE STORM SEWER WAS SO CLOSE TO THE CLAY.
SO WE HAD TO PUT A NEW SECTION OF DUCTILE IRON IN AND CLOSE IT BACK UP.
[01:05:01]
ARE UNPLANNED EMERGENCIES.I MEAN, WE DON'T PLAN FOR THE MAIN SWITCH GEAR.
AND MAYBE YOU MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT I WAS SAYING.
I I'M NOT SAYING IT WAS PLANNED EMERGENCY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN PLAN EMERGENCY.
I MEAN, SO I'M TELLING YOU THAT LAST BUDGET YEAR, THE SAME, SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU SAID EARLIER WAS SAID LAST YEAR AROUND THIS TIME.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT PUTS THE COUNTS AT A DIFFICULT POSITION.
WE'RE TRYING TO CORRECT THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED 30, 20, 30 YEARS AGO.
AND IT PUTS DISCOUNTS AT A DIFFICULT, BECAUSE WHO WANTS TO PAY MORE ON WATER BILLS OR WHATEVER, TAXES.
BUT IT'S A, IT'S BIGGER THAN THE COUNCIL.
WE HAVE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITIZENS AT ALL TIMES.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT PHONE CALLS AS, AS JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE HAS GOTTEN THE PHONE CALLS.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? HOW ARE WE GONNA DO IT? WHEN ARE WE GONNA DO IT? SO I I I'M JUST SAYING, I I'VE READ YOUR, YOUR MEMO AND SOME OF THE, THE INCREASES WHAT IT IS.
SO I, I DID ASK ON LAST MEETING OR TWO MEETINGS AGO, BRING SOMETHING BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
IT'S STAFF'S JOB MANAGEMENT JOB TO BRING SOMETHING BACK TO THE COUNCIL THAT WE CAN AGREE UPON THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS BALANCE.
I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BRING BACK, SIR.
YOU WANT ME TO LIKE, WELL, THIS IS WHAT I, YOU, I'M NOT SUBJECT, I'M NOT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT.
IT'S SOME, IT'S MANAGEMENT'S JOB AND YOUR JOB TO, TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL LIVE WITH.
SO, I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE A, YOU'RE NOT CLEAR ABOUT IT.
LOOK AT THE, THE LAST TWO MEETINGS.
I MEAN, I SEE THAT YOU'RE KIND OF LOOKING IN THE SPACE, BUT I MEAN, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE LAST TWO MEETINGS THAT WE ASKED THIS COUNT.
WE ASKED STAFF, WE ASKED YOU GUYS TO COME BACK WITH SOMETHING.
WE LEFT THE THREE MEETINGS AGO.
WE, WE WERE CONFIDENT THAT 7.5 AND, AND SOME VARIABLES ON THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE.
WELL, WE NOT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S ACCEPTABLE.
UH, I'M JUST SAYING THAT IT'S, IT PUTS US AT A DIFFICULT SITUATION AT THIS POINT.
I KNOW THAT CITIZENS NEED TO HAVE SERVICES DONE.
UH, JUST, JUST WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN.
UM, TRYING TO THINK WHO SPOKE LAST COUNCILWOMAN EVER.
PHIL, I, OKAY, COUNCILMAN FRANK.
I'M GONNA, I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO, I'M GONNA SAY THIS YESTERDAY, OUR FINANCIAL DIRECTOR CAME BEFORE US AS WE WERE DELIBERATING AND TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
AND STAFF SAID TO US, THEY SAID TO US ON YESTERDAY, THEY'VE BEEN SAYING TO US FOR THE LAST THREE MEETINGS WE'VE BEEN IN, THAT THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN, THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN.
I DON'T HAVE A TREE WITH MONEY IN MY BACKYARD.
WE, WE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET AND, AND WITH THIS, WITH THIS, WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, WE'VE GIVEN OUR SENIOR CITIZENS A DECREASE ON THEIR WATER BILL IN THIS BUDGET.
IF WE WOULD APPROVE THE 7.5, SENIOR CITIZENS WOULD GET A DECREASE ON THEIR WATER BILL.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID.
SO SENIOR CITIZENS, WE GET A DECREASE ON THEIR WATER BILL.
BUT THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS, IS THAT IF WE DON'T VOTE FOR AN INCREASE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND, WHICH WAS BEING DONE FOR 30 YEARS AT THE DEFICIT OF $54 MILLION.
I'M GONNA SAY IT UNTIL MY HAIR TURNS BLACK AND WHITE AGAIN.
BECAUSE YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUE IS.
THAT IS MALPRACTICE FOR A CITY TO LIVE OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND TO, AND TO CAUSE THE BOND RATING TO GO DOWN IS THAT WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO IS TO LOSE OUR BOND RATING.
WE HAVE TO GIVE THE CITIZENS THE WHOLE PICTURE SO THAT THEY CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS AT STAKE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO DECIDE AS A, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT SOME, THERE ARE GOING TO BE TIMES WHERE YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A DECISION THAT'S NOT GONNA BE POPULAR.
EVERYBODY'S NOT GONNA LIKE IT.
BUT IF THE FACTS SAY IT, IF THE FACTS SHOW YOU
[01:10:01]
IT IS WHAT IT IS, THEN YOU GOTTA DO WHAT? AND ALL THE, ALL THE SHAKING OF HEADS, ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE GO BACK AND FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE IT.AND THEN WHEN THE WORST HAPPENS, WHEN THE WORST HAPPENS, THEN WE GONNA ALL BE LOOKING CUCKOO FOR COCOA PUFFS.
UH, COUNCILMAN
IT BAFFLES ME THAT OUR FY 24 25 BUDGET IS LESS THAN THE 2324 AND WE HAVE AN INCREASED CPI AN INCREASE IN INFLATION.
THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL FOR AN INCREASE IN INFLATION.
AND WE HAVE A LESS EXPENSIVE BUDGET.
WHERE ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GET THE MONEY FROM? IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
AND TO SAY THAT STAFF HAS NOT BROUGHT US IDEAS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR MONTHS, MONTHS, NOT JUST LAST MONTH OR MONTH BEFORE LAST.
WE'VE BEEN GIVEN PRESENTATIONS NOT ONLY ABOUT WATER UTILITIES, BUT OTHER, UM, PUBLIC SERVICE, PUBLIC UTILITIES SUCH AS STREETS AND DIFFERENT OTHER THINGS THAT WE USE ON A DAILY BA SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE ON A DAILY BASIS.
WE HAVE CONTINUOUSLY RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM STAFF AND THEY ARE ALMOST AT THE PODIUM BEGGING US, WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO? TELL US WHAT YOU WANT US TO DO.
HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE HAVE TO SPEND IN ORDER TO DO WHAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO DO? SO THESE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUS.
THE INTENT IS NOT TO SAY THAT IT IS JUST CITIZENS OUR RESPONSIBILITY, BUT I AM SAYING THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO GET TO THE NEXT STEP, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.
SO WHAT WE GONNA DO ABOUT IT? THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.
AND WE MUST, WE MUST DO SOMETHING TO GIVE OURSELVES SOME CUSHION.
YES, WE'RE IN HURRICANE VALLEY, BUT FEBRUARY IS COMING TOO.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HAD FREEZES? THIS IS NOT SCARED TAXES.
THIS IS JUST THE TRUTH OF OUR EXPERIENCES HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
YESTERDAY, OUR CONTROLLER SAID THAT ANYTHING ABOVE THE ONE AND A HALF MILLION WILL DRASTICALLY STRESS OUR BUDGET.
THE OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY ON DISCUSSION ITEMS. THERE IS A POSTING FOR US TO DISCUSS THESE THINGS.
SO IT MAY NOT BE ON THE ITEM REQUESTING AN AMENDMENT REGARDING AN INCREASE IN WATER RATE OR ANY OF OF THAT DISCUSSION, BUT WE DO HAVE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR IT TO BE DISCUSSED.
BUT IT SEEMS AS IF THAT DISCUSSION MAY BE NULL AND VOID IF WE CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH OF GOING POS FIRST.
WHAT, HOW DO WE HANDLE THAT? THE BUDGET THAT'S PRESENTED TONIGHT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH CHAPTER 1 0 2 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
WHICH APPROPRIATELY LIST EVERY PROJECT AND EXPENDITURE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR TO 20 FOR 20 25, 20 24, 24, 24, 25.
YOU AM NOT SURE WHAT YEAR I AM 24 5.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
UM, THERE CAN BE NO VOTE ON THE WATER TAX RATE.
WHETHER IT'S INCREASED OR DECREASED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT CANNOT BE DISCUSSED.
BUT ANYTHING INVOLVING THE BUDGET AND WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET OR NOT IN THE BUDGET IS OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
I THOUGHT IT WAS SAID THAT IT WASN'T OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
IT IS ANYTHING ON THE RELATING TO WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET OR NOT IN THE BUDGET IS OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CLARITY COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE IS RIGHT THOUGH WE CANNOT MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO ADJUST THE WATER RATE BECAUSE IT'S NOT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT PART.
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMMENT ABOUT DISCUSSION.
SO THANK YOU FOR CLARIFICATION.
UH, COUNCILMAN D SAID, OKAY, NOTHING.
THIS WATER, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.
[01:15:01]
BEFORE I VOTE ON IT.ONE IS, THESE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS THAT WE MADE TO THIS BUDGET, WERE THEY MADE.
BECAUSE NORMALLY WHEN WE DO THAT, WE NORMALLY GET A FINAL PRODUCT.
SO WHEN WE GO BACK THROUGH IT, WE CAN SEE ALL THESE CHANGES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN DONE.
SO I NEED REASSURANCE THAT WHAT WE AGREE THAT WILL BE CHANGED AND HOW WE GOING TO DO IT WILL BE DONE.
I NEED ASSURANCE THAT WHEN I SAY YES, THAT MEAN WHEN WE SAID THAT WE GONNA GO BACK AND CHANGE THIS NUMBER AND WE GO BACK AND CHANGE THAT NUMBER.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE'VE DONE THAT.
SO I NEED SOMEBODY TO ASSURE ME THAT WHAT WE SAID, ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS CORRECTED COPY, THAT THOSE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.
I JUST NEED ASSURANCE THAT, THAT, BECAUSE I'M NOT TOO CONCERNED BECAUSE WE COULD ALWAYS GO BACK TO VIDEO.
'CAUSE VIDEO WILL ALWAYS TELL US WHAT WAS AGREED AND WHAT'S, IT'S JUST THAT MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE 'EM ALL THIS THAT NEEDS SOMEBODY TELL ME THAT WHAT WE SAID WE DONE.
AND ONCE THE INITIAL ONE COME OUT, WE'LL GO BACK TO THE VIDEO IT SAY EXACTLY IF SOMETHING WAS COMPLETED.
SO I KNOW HOW TO VERIFY, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE I VOTE, THAT WE HAVE LEAST INITIATED AND UNDERSTAND THOSE AMENDMENTS OR THOSE CHANGES OR THAT INPUT OR CORRECTIONS THAT WE MADE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS DURING THE BUDGET WERE MADE.
LINDA BOSWELL, YOUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, YOUR ORIGINAL AS WE HAD BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE BUDGET WAS PRESENTED TO YOU IN SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2024.
AND IN THAT PARTICULAR BUDGET, THE INITIAL COST OF THE ENTERPRISE WA FOR THE TOTAL OF THE ENTERPRISE TO INCLUDE WATER, SEWER, AND SOLID WASTE AND PLEASURE ISLAND WAS 117 MILLION.
WITH WHAT YOU HAD ASKED US TO NOT DO OR TO TAKE OUT IT IS NOW 82 MILLION.
SO WE DID TAKE ALL OF THOSE OUT.
ALL THE THINGS THAT THE COUNCIL HAD SAID, TAKE OUT, CHANGE, MOVE, OR DO, ARE ALL REFLECTED IN THE APPROPRIATION THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, OKAY.
CITY MANAGER, I TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE OVERTIME FOR THE FIRE.
WHAT WAS THE RESULT OF THAT? IS THAT A CHANGE THAT THE COUNCIL IS IN CONCURRENCE WITH? OKAY, THEN LET ME PRESENT IT.
I WAITED TILL WE HEARD THE PRESENTATION FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON OVERTIME.
I INITIALLY QUESTIONED THE, THE $1 MILLION OVERTIME FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, AT THAT TIME.
AND I ASKED FOR JUSTIFICATION.
SO SOME OF THE JUSTIFICATION I, I HEARD, AND THE IF CHIEF WANTED TO COME IN, HE COULD COME IN, UH, WAS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS THAT COME UP.
WELL, THOSE ARE TAKEN CARE OF BY OUR FUND BALANCE AND ALSO BY, UH, AID FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL, UH, DEPARTMENTS.
THE OTHER THING THAT WERE MENTIONED TO ME WAS WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GONNA BE SENDING FOR ETMS, UH, EEMT TRAINING, UH, 12 PEOPLE.
AND I ASKED HOW MUCH THIS APPROXIMATE COST IS GONNA BE.
SO, UH, ANYTHING ELSE THAT, THAT YOU COULD THINK OF? CHIEF, THE 12,000 I WAS TALKING ABOUT, UH, COUNCILMAN HOW MUCH THAT, THAT WAS THE COST OF THE TRAINING ITSELF.
SO THE BACKFILL, WHILE THESE PEOPLE ARE IN CLASS OR WHILE THEY'RE DOING CLINICALS, THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THAT OVERTIME IS COMING FROM.
SO HOW LONG IS THIS CHIEF? SO THE PARAMEDIC PROGRAM RUNS, UH, THREE COLLEGE SEMESTERS.
SO THEY, THEY, THEY GET IN, THEY GET INTO LIKE THE FALL SEMESTER.
THEY GO THROUGH SPRING SEMESTER AND THEY FINISH UP IN THE NEXT FALL SEMESTER.
SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE, SO, AND WE'RE PUTTING SIX IN EACH TIME.
WHY, WHY SO MANY AT IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME? WHY SO MANY? BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S A LOT OF OVERTIME.
WHY SO MANY? THERE'S A DRASTIC NEED FOR US TO UPGRADE OUR EMS SERVICE IN THIS TOWN.
[01:20:01]
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE TOWARD IS WE'RE PLANNING AT SOME POINT IN TIME TO COME TO Y'ALL AND ASK FOR US TO DEVELOP OUR OWN FIRE BASED EMS SYSTEM.AND WITH THAT, IT'S JUST LIKE I WAS TALKING ABOUT, UH, POWER MORE FIREFIGHTERS BEFORE YOU BUILD A FIREHOUSE.
YOU GOTTA HAVE THE, THE PEOPLE TRAINED BEFORE YOU CAN PUT 'EM IN AN AMBULANCE.
WELL, YOU KNOW, MY THING CHIEF IS THOSE TYPE THINGS THAT WE START TALKING ABOUT A BUDGET.
AND WE'VE BEEN SCREAMING AND HOLLERING AND EVERYBODY'S FIGHTING HERE.
AND I TELL EVERYBODY I'M NOT HERE TO FIGHT A BUDGET THAT'S PRESENTED TO IT.
BUT I'M HERE TO LOOK AT PRIOR BUDGETS BECAUSE PRIOR BUDGET TELLS US WHAT IT ACTUALLY COST TO OPERATE OR MAINTAIN THE CITY FOR THAT PREVIOUS TWO YEARS.
WE USE TWO, MOST PEOPLE USE ONE, WE USE TWO.
AND WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS TAKE THAT NUMBER AND THEN GO FROM THERE.
SO WHEN I ASK YOU ABOUT THIS AND WE GOT A BUDGET LIKE THIS AND YOU ASKING SO MUCH FOR OVERTIME, I GOTTA TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
CAN THIS BE RATIONAL RATIONALE WHEREBY YOU DON'T NEED ALL OF THIS MONEY NOW.
I'D RATHER GIVE YOU THE MONEY IN INCREMENTS SO THAT IT DOESN'T REQUIRE SO MUCH BECAUSE UH, WHEN THESE PEOPLE FINISH THIS, WE OUGHT TO IMPLEMENT WHAT YOU TELLING ME AND WHAT YOU TELLING ME YOU HAVE TO BRING BEFORE US IS GONNA TELL US ALL THAT'S GONNA BE REQUIRED.
THE OTHER THING IS, WHEN WE PAY FOR THIS AND THEY BECOME QUALIFIED ACCORDING TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAIN AGREEMENTS, THEY GONNA BE PAID EXTRA MONEY IF THEY HAVE THE QUALIFICATION.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER FUNDING WE HAVE HERE.
AND IF WE GET THEM ALL QUALIFIED, WELL, NOT ALL 'CAUSE IT'S, YOU SAID 3 CENTS.
BUT IF SAY SIX OF 'EM GOT QUALIFIED, THEY GOT IT.
THEY GETTING THE EXTRA PAY NOW.
BUT WE HAVEN'T IMPLEMENTED THE PLAN.
SO IT'S IT'S MONEY BEING SPENT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, $1 MILLION.
AND THAT'S WHY I SAID I WAITED TILL I DEALT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE BOTH OF YOU DEPARTMENTS ARE CIVIL SERVICE AND BOTH OF YOU DEPARTMENTS.
WHEN I LOOK AT YOUR, UH, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, BASICALLY IN LINE WITH, WITH, UH, WHAT EACH OF THEM DO.
AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE POLICE AND THEY HAVE 169 I THINK POSITIONS, BUT THEY'RE MISSING LIKE 13.
THOSE THAT ARE MISSING ARE MOSTLY THE ONES THAT ARE DEALING WITH PATROL.
SO THAT'S WHERE THE RUBBER MEET THE ROAD.
SO HE HAS TO MAKE UP FOR THOSE WHERE THE RUBBER MEET THE ROAD AND HE HAS 169, YOU HAVE 116 ROUTES, BUT ALL 'EM NOT YOUR FIREFIGHTERS OR EQUIVALENT TO HIS PAROLES.
SO YOU'RE NOT MISSING A WHOLE BUNCH OF FIREFIGHTERS.
SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME WE GOTTA TRY TO LOOK AT WHAT WE WANT OUR PEOPLE TO DO AND TRY TO MANAGE THAT WAY.
A MILLION DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR OVERTIME.
IF I'M SHORT ONE POSITION AS OF NOW.
AND THAT'S WHY I JUST HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A MILLION DOLLARS RIGHT NOW.
AND THIS IS HISTORICALLY WHAT HAPPENS, UH, EVERY YEAR WE WIND UP WITH AT LEAST ONE OR TWO, SOMETIMES THREE OR MORE, UH, PEOPLE WITH LONG-TERM WORKERS' COMP CLAIMS, THEY'LL, THEY'LL HAVE A INJURY IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND IT TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS, IF NOT AN ENTIRE YEAR FOR THEM TO COME BACK TO WORK.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TWO GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN OFF, UM, FOR ABOUT A HALF A YEAR AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT COME BACK TO WORK YET THAT ARE, UM, FIGHTING CANCER.
UM, WE HAVE OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPEN THAT WE HAVE TO COVER.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOWN FOUR POSITIONS.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THOSE FILLED.
THE POLICE CHIEF WILL BACK ME UP ON THIS.
UH, IT'S A LENGTHY PROCESS GOING THROUGH THE HIRING PROCESS TO GET SOMEBODY ON.
IT MAY BE SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE WE GET THOSE, THOSE POSITIONS FILLED AND GET THEM ON THE FLOOR.
AND THEN ONCE WE GET 'EM IN THE HOUSE, WE GOTTA MAKE SURE WE TRAIN 'EM THROUGH OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR TRAINING PROGRAM.
SO AT ALL THAT TIME THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S
[01:25:01]
OVERTIME THAT'S BEING CREATED.YOU KNOW WHAT CHIEF? THANK YOU.
IF YOU HAD GIVEN ME AS MUCH AS THAT AT THE FIRST DATE, RIGHT, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BE ASKING THIS QUESTION TODAY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK I'M JUST AGAINST THAT.
IF YOU COULD STAND UP THERE AND GIVE ME A REASONABLE, A REASONABLE EXPLANATION THAT I CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND WHETHER I AGREE WITH IT OR NOT.
BUT IF IT MAKES SENSE, THEN I ACCEPT IT.
BUT THAT'S A LOT MORE THAN WHAT YOU TOLD ME.
I SAID YOU WAS DOWN ONE POSITION.
WHAT YOU JUST EXPLAINED TO ME, I'M ONE AN ASSIGNMENT, BUT I GOT FOUR PEOPLE NOW THAT CAN'T EVEN WORK.
I GOT PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T WORKED FOR TIME.
I GOT MORE POSITIONS WHERE PEOPLE NOT WORKING HERE COUNCILMAN THAN I HAVE ON MY ROSTER.
I'M FULL WHAT YOU LOOK AT, BUT I'M NOT WHEN IT WORK CHIEF.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
I JUST HOPE YOU KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEXT TIME YOU HAVE TO SEND 12.
WHEN WE GOT APPROVED THIS, TRY TO SEE, TRY TO STRETCH OUT AS MAX AS YOU CAN.
IT'S FOR SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS, YOU KNOW? 'CAUSE ONCE YOU GET YOUR PLAN AND WE, WE APPROVE YOUR PLAN FOR EMS AND EXPANDABILITY, THEN WE GONNA APPROVE FOR YOU TO GET THE PEOPLE TRAINED TO DO THAT.
YOU'RE GETTING A STEP AHEAD OF IT, SO I'M ALL FOR IT.
BUT THAT'S A BETTER EXPLANATION THAN I GOT WHEN WE DONE YOUR, DURING THE BIRTH, DURING THE BUDGET.
THAT'S MY LAST QUESTION ABOUT THE BUDGET.
I THINK I'M GOOD WITH THE BUDGET.
NOW, UH, CITY SECRETARY, WE WERE ON QUESTIONS, UH, AND WE READY, BUT BEFORE WE GET A VOTE ON THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, ARE WE READY? UM, COUNCILMAN KINLAW? YES, SIR.
YOU HAVE A MOTION THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE? YES, SIR.
WE READY? UH, CITY ATTORNEY? UH, WE GOOD.
I MOVE THAT THE CITY OF PUERTO ARTHUR RATIFIED THAT THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTS IN THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 25, AS IT WOULD RAISE MORE REVENUE FOR THE PROPERTY TAX IN THE LAST YEAR BUDGET BY THE AMOUNT OF 1,794,627 OR 7.34%.
AND THE AMOUNT OF 339,959 IS THE TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM THE NEW PROPERTY TAX ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL THIS YEAR.
MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND.
UH, AND WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK FOR IS A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS, UH, MOTION ON THE SECOND MOTION.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE, WE WILL GO YES, SIR.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD.
THIS IS FOR THE PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREASE.
THIS MOTION HAS TO BE THE TOTAL, RIGHT? THE TOTAL BUDGET? NO, NO, THIS IS FOR THE INCREASE.
IT'S THE MOTION THAT COUNCILMAN KEN LAW JUST MADE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY RAISE, UH, UH, I MEAN THE, THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, UH, THAT, THAT BEEN REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE PRESENTED? YES.
THERE'S ONLY, SO YOUR VOTE FOR THE RECORD IS YES, AND MINE IS AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD? YES.
PUT SOME LIGHT IN THE ROOM BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE WAS VOTING NO.
BEFORE KENNY UNDERSTOOD WHAT THEY WERE VOTING FOR, RIGHT? YES.
YOU STILL HAVE THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON THE FLOOR.
OKAY, NOW WE WILL VOTE ON, AS SHE SAID, PROPOSED ORDINANCE ORDINANCE 72 66.
I'M GONNA READ IT AGAIN SINCE IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
72 66, WHICH IS AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR.
BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025 IN A ACCORD WITH SECTION SEVEN, ARTICLE 12 OF THE, UH, CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PORT AUTHOR.
SO WE ARE PREPARED NOW, UH, ROLL CALL AS WELL.
[01:30:01]
YES, SIR.ON ON, ON THE BUDGET TO THE SECRETARY MAYOR PRO TIM BECKHAM.
JUST 'CAUSE I WANT THE CITIZENS TO GET THEY CHECKS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD.
COULD YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIC? I, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HAVE MY, MY THAT'S OKAY.
I'M WAITING FOR Y'ALL TO KILL THE WATER PEOPLE THAT MONEY SO WE COULD GO AHEAD AND WE IT.
THAT'S WELL, WHY CAN'T, WE CAN'T DO THAT RIGHT ATTORNEY? IT'S GOING DOWN ANYWAY.
WE CAN'T, BUT, BUT I, AND I WANNA KNOW BEFORE I CAST THIS VOTE, BUT I JUST WANNA BE EVERY WELL Y'ALL ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL WANT.
I KNOW, BUT, BUT NOT, I, I'M, I'M IN VOTING, IN THE VOTING PROCESS.
NOT IN VOTING IN, IN, IN THE VOTING PROCESS.
YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T NO, NO INTEREST.
AM I ABSTAINED? THAT MEAN I'M SCARED TO VOTE.
MAN, Y'ALL, I Y'ALL TOOK ALL THAT TIME.
I SO MAYOR, FOR THE RECORD, YOUR VOTE IS WHAT? YES, MA'AM.
MAY I ASK A QUESTION? PLEASE? NO, I WANTED TO SAY NO, I TO TELL HER NO, NO.
I'M TRYING TO KEEP THE ROOM LIKE Y'ALL TOO SERIOUS.
THIS, THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND IT IS EXTREMELY AGGRAVATING, EXTREMELY AGGRAVATED.
AND I'M, I'M, I, I TOOK TIME AND SILENCE TO PRAY SO THAT I CAN HOLD MY TONGUE.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, US NOT HAVING A WATER UTILITIES CAP FUNDED WATER UTILITY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS DISASTROUS.
YEAH, IT IS ABSOLUTELY DISASTROUS.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S TAKEN IF, IF YOU WILL.
AND ALSO IN THIS, NOW, WHAT WE CAN DO, UH, WE CAN, WE HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER THE FIRST, AM I CORRECT A CI A CITY ATTORNEY? BECAUSE YOU HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST TO DO WHAT, SIR? RIGHT.
BUT I MEAN, TO ACTUALLY APPROVE THE BUDGET, IF BY CHANCE WE CAN, UH, UH, LOBBY YOU JUST APPROVE THE BUDGETS, SIR.
YEAH, I, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I MEAN, BUT TO ADD FOR IN AN ADDITION ON ADDENDUM OR TO THE BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN GET SOMETHING IN.
WE HAVE UNTIL THE FIRST TO DO THAT, CAN'T WE? IF, IF WE POSTED SOMETHING TOMORROW FOR A MEETING, I'M, I'M, I'M JUST ASKING FOR SOME PROCEDURES ON THIS.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE AUTHORITY TO POST AN AGENDA ITEM WITH 72 HOUR ADVANCE NOTICE TO AMEND ANY FUTURE BUDGETS.
AND THEN, AND, AND HAVE, AND HAVE ANOTHER MEETING BEFORE THE FIRST WHATEVER IT IS.
IT, I MEAN, THAT COULD HAPPEN.
AND COUNCIL PERSONS NOW COUNCIL PERSONS, LET'S NOT BE OBSTINATE ON SOMETHING.
WE MADE A DECISION TONIGHT THAT WILL AFFECT US, TRUST ME, WILL AFFECT THE, UH, A PLUS BOND RATING AND IT WILL, I AFFECT THIS DEPARTMENT AND WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO.
NOW, THE SAME CITIZENS WHO ARE SITTING OUT THERE NOW THAT DON'T WANT SEWER BACKING UP IN THEIR YARDS, OR EVEN, GOD FORBID, IN THEIR HOMES, IF THIS ENTIRE SYSTEM ANTIQUATED 100 YEARS OLD IN SOME PLACES, 90 YEARS OLD IN OTHER PLACES, CLAY PIPE, NO PIPES.
WHEN THAT OCCURS, AND WE ARE CHARGED WITH REPAIRING.
ANOTHER THOUGHT FOR US IS, I AM CORRECT IF TCEQ COMES HERE BECAUSE WE AS THE FIDUCIARY, UH, FOLK, THAT'S THE BEST WORD FOR IT IN THIS CITY, FOR THESE CITIZENS,
[01:35:02]
FOR THIS GOVERNANCE, FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF THIS CITY.AND SOMEONE HAS THOSE PEOPLE TO COME HERE BECAUSE WE FAILED TO FUND WHAT WAS NEEDED TO CORRECT A PROBLEM.
NOW I'M SAYING IT FOR THE RECORD AGAIN.
WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT IT WOULD TAKE IN 2024 SOME $400 MILLION NOW OKAY.
WE KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE HERE WHEN WE'VE WAITED FOR CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTIVE MATTERS, HOW THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE INCREASED WHEN WE DECIDE THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO SOME WORK.
Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING IT ON THE BACKS OF THE CITIZENS.
YOU PUTTING IT ON THE BACKS OF SOME CITIZENS WHO HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN BORN YET.
BUT YOU CAN POINT OF ALL, LOOK, I'M JUST MAKING A STATEMENT AS YOU DID, SIR.
NO, I DIDN'T MA TO BE SURE THAT YOU, AND WE'LL VOTE A CERTAIN WAY.
I, I, I I WANT YOU TO SAY WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY, BUT NOW YOU ARE DISCUSSING THIS.
THERE'S NO NEED FOR YOU TO DISCUSS IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S RECESS THIS MEETING.
NO, THAT'S OVER FIVE MINUTES, EVERYBODY.
I KNOW HOW TO MAKE EVERYBODY STOP TALKING.
I CAN MAKE IT STOP TILL MAY COME ON.
NOBODY'S GOING TO TAKE THIS SEAT.
WE ARE TAKING A BREAK RIGHT NOW.
WHAT? DO YOU WANT ME TO DO THAT TOO? COME OVER, MAN.
[01:40:58]
DIDN'T MAKE ANY.WE CAN RETURN FROM THE LITTLE RECESS.
MAYOR BARTEE, PRESENT MAYOR PRO, TIM BECKHAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD PRESENT.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO RETURN TO PAGE EIGHT.
[VIII.B.(3) P.O. No. 7267 – An Appropriation Ordinance Approving And Adopting A Budget For The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation For The Ensuing Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2024 And Ending September 30, 2025 In Accordance With Section 12.03 Of The Bylaws Of The Corporation]
GOING TO NOW MOVE TO NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS PO NUMBER SIX.IT IS AN APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, SECTION FOUR, A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025 IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 12 0, 12 0.03 OF THE BYLAWS OF THE COOPERATION.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVE MAYOR, I GET A SECOND.
SECOND MAYOR, IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE, UH, PO NUMBER 72 67.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? COUNCILMAN ETT? YES.
HOW YOU DOING MR. STOKES? GOOD EVENING, SIR.
I HAVE A QUESTION IN REFERENCE TO YOUR ESTIMATED, UH, EXPENDITURES FOR YOUR BUDGET.
[01:45:01]
I LOOK BACK AT THE 21, 22 AND 22 AND 23 AND NOTICE ABOUT WHAT THE EXPENDITURE WAS ALSO FOLLOWED.UH, THE ACTIVITIES OF THE EDC THIS PAST YEAR WITH REVENUES, YOU KNOW, UH, WE HAD PEOPLE COMING BEFORE US SEVERAL TIMES WANTING INCENTIVE.
NOW THAT'S WHAT WE, THE EDC DOES, UM, ESTABLISH NEW BUSINESS, EXPAND NEW BUSINESS, CREATE JOB AND JOB TRAINING.
THOSE ARE THE, THOSE ARE THE MISSIONS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TYPE A WHAT YOUR CORPORATION, YOU ADDED APPROXIMATELY 2 MILLION AND THE 2 MILLION.
WHY IS THAT SUCH AN INCREASE? ARE YOU ASKING IN TERMS OF INCREASE TO THE OVERALL BUDGET? YES.
OVERALL, UH, WE WENT INTO THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR WITH AN $8.8 MILLION BUDGET.
WHAT WAS SUBMITTED TO OUR BOARD WAS A $300,000 REDUCTION IN THAT TO 8.5 MILLION.
ADDING THE 1 MILLION FOR THE PARKS PROJECT IS WHAT BRINGS THE NUMBER TO WHAT YOU HAVE IN, IN FRONT OF YOU.
SO, UH, THE, THE BUDGET IS BALANCED AND ALSO REDUCED FROM WHAT WE WENT INTO THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
IT IS, IT IS REDUCED FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
WE WENT INTO THIS FISCAL YEAR WITH A $8.8 MILLION BUDGET AS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
WHAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED THIS YEAR IS $8.5 MILLION.
PLUS THE 1 MILLION FOR THE PARKS PROJECT.
WHICH IS WHAT IS IN, IN FRONT OF YOU NOW.
YOUR PERSONNEL, WHAT'S LAST YEAR? IT'S POSTED THIS YEAR.
YOUR PERSONNEL, UH, LAST YEAR WE WENT INTO A PER WITH A PERSONNEL SCHEDULE.
IN FACT, THAT WAS THE NUMBER WHEN YOU WERE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
AND THE GOAL IS TO GET US BACK UP TO FULL STAFF AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
THEN I HAVE, UH, ONE, ONE OTHER QUESTION.
I, I NOTICED THE BOARD ONLY APPROVED THEIR BUDGET YESTERDAY.
ANY REASON WHY THAT WAS THE CASE? I'M SORRY? THE BOARD APPROVED THAT BUDGET YESTERDAY? YES, SIR.
AND IT WAS SUBMITTED TO US BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HAVING IT, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING IT FOR A LONG TIME.
SO WAS IT GIVEN TO US WITHOUT APPROVAL OR WHAT? UH, SIR, I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU.
I HAVE NOT SUBMITTED ANYTHING TO YOU BECAUSE I CAN'T DO THAT UNTIL THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES IT.
AND AS YOU JUST ARTICULATED, THAT WAS LAST EVENING.
UH, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN DRAFTS, UH, WORK PRODUCT THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO YOU, BUT AN IMPROVED BUDGET THAT THEY DIDN'T, ONE DIDN'T EXIST UNTIL LAST EVENING.
OKAY, MRS. STOKES, I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT.
SO IT IS APPROVED PR NUMBER 72 67 AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.B.(4) P.O. No. 7268 – An Ordinance Adopting A Tax Rate For The Tax Year 2024 (Fiscal Year October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025)]
PO NUMBER 72 68, AN ORDINANCES ADOPTING A TAX RATE FOR THE, UH, TAX YEAR 2024 FISCAL YEAR, OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, UH, 2025.AND, UH, AS BEFORE I INTRODUCED THIS, UH, THIS, UH, THIS MOTION.
I WAS READING AND THINKING ONLY TOO MANY TIMES.
TOO MUCH, UH, CONFUSION GOING ON.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO GET A MOTION FOR WHAT I READ.
NOW, UH, NOW WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS, ON, UH, THIS PROPOSED MOTION? OKAY.
COUNCILMAN MCKINLEY, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE, UH, A MOTION, A SECOND MOTION YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE.
WE, WE READY? CITY ATTORNEY? YES, SIR.
I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF THE TAX RATE OF 0.6 2 6 2 7 2, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 6.873267% INCREASE OF THE TAX RATE.
[01:50:01]
AT A SECOND.AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT THE SECOND MOTION OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREASE.
WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD? YES.
THAT IS APPROVED NOW TO VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION, UH, TO ADOPT A PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 72 68.
AND WE'VE ALREADY HAD THE QUESTION READY TO VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? WELL, WE NEED TO DO I NEED A ROLL CALL? I'M SORRY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD? YES.
NOW YOU ALL, WE CAN GO BACK TO THE NATURAL OR NORMAL FLOW OF OUR PRINTED AGENDA.
AND THAT WOULD RETURN US TO CREATE, I'M SORRY, MAYOR.
WE NEED TO, UH, TOP ADOPT THE TAX
[VIII.B.(5) P.O. No. 7269 – An Ordinance Approving The 2024 Tax Roll For The Use And Support Of The Municipal Government Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas; And Providing For The Interest And Sinking Fund And Apportioning Each Levy For A Specific Purpose]
ROLL.I WAS, I WAS REALLY THINKING
I, THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER SECTION.
MY, I WAS REALLY TRYING TO GET THERE.
WE HAVE NOW, UH, 7 2 6 9 AN ORDINANCE.
THAT'S WHEN APPROVING THE 2024 TAX ROLL FOR THE USE AND SUPPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
AND PROVIDING FOR THE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND AND, UH, APPORTIONING, UH, EACH, UH, LEVEE FOR A SPECIFIC, UH, PURPOSE.
I GET A, UH, A MOTION, UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE MOVE.
I GET A SECOND, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 72 69 AS PRESENTED.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS? THE HONOR, WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[VIII.B.(6) P.O. No. 7282 – An Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas Denying The Statement Of Intent Of Texas Gas Service Company, A Division Of One Gas, Inc. To Increase Rates In The In Corporated Areas Of The Central-Gulf Service Area; Requiring Reimbursement Of Municipal Rate Case Expenses; Finding That The Meeting Complies With The Open Meetings Act; And Declaring An Effective Date For This Ordinance]
WE ARE FILING NUMBER SIX ON PAGE EIGHT, UH, PO NUMBER 72 82.IT IS AN ORDERS OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS DENYING THE STATEMENT OF INTENT OF TEXAS GAS SERVICE COMPANY, A DIVISION OF ONE GAS INCORPORATED TO INCREASE RATES IN THE, UH, IN, IN THE INCORPORATED, UH, IN THE INCORPORATED, I'M SORRY, AREAS OF THE, UH, CENTRAL GULF SERVICE AREA REQUIRING REIMBURSEMENT OF MUNICIPAL RATE CASE EXPENSES, FINDING THAT THE MEETING COMPLIES WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THIS ORDINANCE.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SECOND MAYOR, IT'S MOVE SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 72 82 AS PRESENTED IN THE QUESTIONS.
HONOR THE QUESTION IS READY TO VOTE.
UH, IN THE PROPOSALS, AYE HAVE, SO IT IS AUDIT AND APPROVED, NOW WE CAN GO BACK TO THE NORMAL FLOW OF OUR, UH, AGENDA.
AND I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW WE WOULD BE AT SPEAKERS.
AND WHAT I'VE BEEN INFORMED IS THAT MR. PRINCE OF THE FAMILY HEIRLOOM PRIVATE FOUNDATION, UH, HAS REQUESTED TO BE MOVED TO ANOTHER MEETING.
[III.A.(2) Joan Jones Regarding The Pay Scale Of Water Bills]
JONES, UH, REGARDING THE, UH, PAY SCALE OF, UH, WATER BILLS.MS. JOANN, YOU CAN APPROACH AND THEN YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
I'M GONNA TRY TO MAKE IT SHORT AS POSSIBLE 'CAUSE I KNOW WE ARE READY TO GO HOME.
YOU MADE A STATEMENT ON FACEBOOK, UH, UH, THAT YOU VOTED THREE TIMES FOR THE WATER TO GO UP SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE PIPES AND WATER GOING BACK UP IN THE, IN PEOPLE HOUSES SEWER, GOING BACK IN THE PEOPLE HOUSES.
WHAT, WHAT? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
BEFORE YOU ALSO VOTED FOR RECORD, UH, BEAUTIFICATION TOO.
TOOK MONEY FROM THAT, UH, FROM STREETS FOR BEAUTIFICATION.
YOU ALSO VOTED, UH, FOR, TO TAKE MONEY FROM STREETS FOR BEAUTIFICATION.
DON'T YOU THINK? BEAUTIFIC I MEAN STREETS AND, AND, AND SUR WILL COME BEFORE BEAUTIFICATION.
[01:55:04]
AM I, DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? GO RIGHT.YOU LOOKING AT, UH, PREACHER MICHAEL? YES, MA'AM.
THE MONEY THAT IS BEING USED FOR THE WOODROW FOR THE WOODWORTH PROJECT.
THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT POT OF MONEY.
THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT MONEY.
THAT MONEY COULD NOT BE, THAT MONEY CANNOT BE USED FOR THE PIPE BURSTING.
THAT'S A WHOLE, THAT'S A, THOSE ARE SEPARATE FUNDS.
SO WHEN I MADE THAT VOTE FOR WOODWORTH BOULEVARD, IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE MONIES FOR PIPE BURSTING.
AND THE MONIES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WATER AND SEWER, WE CAN'T USE THAT MONEY ON WOODWORTH BOULEVARD FOR WATER AND SEWER.
IT'S A, IT'S A SEPARATE, IT'S A SEPARATE MONEY.
SO IT HAS, IT DOES NOT AFFECT THAT AT ALL.
BUT IF THAT MONEY WOULD'VE STILL BEEN THERE AND DUE TO THE PIPE BUSTING, YOU COULD HAVE, I MEAN, DUE TO ALL THE, THE SITUATION OF ALL THE PIPES AND THINGS BUSTING AND YOU NEED MORE MONEY, LOOKED LIKE WE COULD HAVE, UH, WENT, YOU KNOW, HAD THAT WENT BACK IN SOME, INTO SOME OF THAT MONEY IF IT WAS THERE, BECAUSE THAT BEAUTIFICATION COULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL WE GOT THROUGH WITH THE STREETS AND EVERYTHING.
MY CONTENTION, MS. JONES, MS. JONES, MY CONTENTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN, AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AS LONG AS I'M A, A COUNCILMAN, THAT WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME.
AND SO MY, SO I I FELT AS THOUGH WE COULD DO THE BEAUTIFICATION OR WE COULD DO THE WOODWARD WOODWORTH BOULEVARD PROJECT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE WE WERE ERADICATING THE SEWER PROBLEM AT THE SAME TIME.
SO THAT'S WHY I MADE THOSE FOLKS I FOLLOW, SIR, THAT MONEY DOES NOT TAKE ANY MONEY.
BUT I FELT LIKE THAT WAS, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT WAS JUST OUT OF SOURCE TO, UH, GO TO BEAUTIFICATION.
AND YOU ALREADY STARTED ON PIPES AND DRAINAGE AND ALL THAT.
YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT YOU WAS GONNA RUN INTO WHEN YOU GOT READY TO DO THAT WAS BAD MANAGEMENT AS FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED.
I APPRECIATE YOUR OPINION, MA'AM.
AND, UH, BACK DOWN TO, UH, THE CITY MANAGER, YOU ASKED, I REMEMBER THAT YOU ASKING FOR, UH, A RAISE FOR WATER, FOR WATER AND WE ALL, WE TRIED TO, CITIZENS TRIED TO SAY NO.
AND, BUT FINALLY YOU GOT AROUND AND YOU MOVED DOWN.
YOU MOVED DOWN FURTHER AND YOU, YOU GOT THE MONEY, BUT YOU MOVED DOWN FURTHER AFTER YOU GOT THE MONEY, YOU MOVED FURTHER THAT TO O TO TO CHARGES FOR SERVICE, WHICH IS 25 TO CUT OFF AND 25 TO TURN OFF, AND $5 LATE FEE.
CAN YOU REMEMBER THAT ON THE BILL? ON MY BILL? IT'S $25 TO TURN OFF THE, UH, WATER AND $25 TO TURN IT BACK ON.
SO THAT FIVE YOU ACCESS FOR PLUS THE $50 YOU, YOU ALSO ADDED TO SERVICE CHARGE YOU OVER.
I MEAN, WE, I CAN'T, I CAN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE YOU ASK FOR ONE THING AND THEN YOU'RE DOUBLE CHARGING ME ON SOMETHING ELSE.
CAN YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? MA'AM? I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA AS TO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THE STATEMENT THAT YOU'RE MAKING.
IT IS ALL ABOUT WATER BILL SERVICE.
I CANNOT, CANNOT COMPREHEND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I HAVE NO ADDRESS FOR WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND I'VE TALKED TO OTHER CITIZENS AND IT'S THE SAME THING.
AND IT'S ON THE BACK OF YOUR WA MY WATER BILL.
$25 TO TURN IT OFF AND $25 TO TURN IT ON.
IF IT'S, IF IT IS CUT OFF, IF THERE IS THE CHARGE, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHARGE BEFORE I BECAME CITY MANAGER.
AS I, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE, I DUNNO.
IF YOU'RE DELINQUENT ON YOUR BILL, EXCUSE ME, THERE'S A CHARGE.
IF YOU'RE DELINQUENT ON YOUR BILL AND THE WATER, THERE'S A SHUTOFF NOTICE ISSUED AND YOUR WATER'S TURNED OFF DUE TO DELINQUENCY.
AND THEN ONCE YOU COME AND CLEAR IT UP, THERE'S A CHARGE TO TURN IT BACK ON.
IT, IT, IT COSTS US MONEY TO SEND PEOPLE OUT AND CLOSE A, YOU KNOW, TURN.
WE HAVE TO PHYSICALLY GO THERE, TURN OFF THE METER, AND PHYSICALLY GO THERE AND TURN IT
[02:00:01]
ON.SO THERE'S A CHARGE AND IT'S 25 FOR EACH TIME.
IT, BUT HOLD ON THAT, I MEAN, HOW LONG THAT HAS BEEN IN, I, I MEAN, I, I DON'T, I'VE NEVER HAD MY WATER TURNED OFF.
SO I MEAN,
I CAN CHECK INTO IT YEARS NOW.
SO I HAVE, I NEVER INSTITUTED A TURN OFF, A TURN ON A TWO AND A HALF OR QUARTERLY.
ANY CHARGE? WELL, AS A CITIZENS, I'M HERE BRINGING IT TO YOU.
OKAY, WELL THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
UH, NEW VETERAN WITH THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AND I, I CAME DOWN TO ONE THING, YOU KNOW, IT BROUGHT ME BACK TO MY HISTORY WHEN, UH, DURING THE TIME WHEN SLAVERY WAS THERE, THE MASTER, YOU KNOW, READ THINGS TO HIM.
AND THEN WHEN THEY GOT FURTHER, THEY COULDN'T, THEY COULDN'T READ.
SO HE READ WHAT HE WANTED TO 'EM WHEN THEY, AND LATER ON HE FOUND OUT, HE TOLD 'EM WHAT HE WANTED FROM THE BOOK AND OKAY.
AND IT'S LIKE I'M TELLING YOU IS, UH, WHAT I'M SAYING, YOU KNOW, IT BROUGHT ME BACK TO HISTORY IN, IN, AND SLAVERY.
WHEN THE MASTER READ THE BOOK TO HIM, THEY DIDN'T, THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO READ.
SO HE USED, THEY DID WHATEVER HE SAID.
SO AFTER THEY LEARNED HOW TO READ, OKAY, IT CAME DOWN TO NUMBERS.
SO WHEN IT GOT DOWN TO NUMBERS, THEY, THEY COULDN'T, THEY COULDN'T COUNT.
SO HE USED NUMBERS ON THEM, WHICH HIS PENCIL WHIPPED THEM.
AND THAT'S WHAT I SEE WHAT YOU DID WITH US, WITH THE PENCIL.
YOU KNOW, YOU ASKED US FOR A RAISE AND THEN YOU TURN AROUND AND WENT UP ON SERVICE.
LIKE, WE CAN'T UNDERSTAND NUMBERS OR READ.
SO I SAY CON UH, CITY MANAGER, YOU NEED TO, I MEAN, YOU NEED TO CHECK YOURSELF 'CAUSE YOU DOUBLE DIPPING US.
LIKE YOU SAY, MOST OF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE WATER CUT OFF, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF THEM.
AND THEN I DON'T GET 30 DAYS BEFORE.
I DON'T GET 30, 30 DAYS BEFORE, UH, MY WATER, UH, NOTICE THE FOUND DATE FOR MY WATER TO BE CUT OFF.
SO I, MATTER OF FACT, I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
MY BEAUTY SHOP, UH, WAS MONDAY AND THEY TURNED MY WATER OFF ON THE MONDAY.
MY DAUGHTER SENT THE MONEY THROUGH LINE AND WE COULDN'T, UH, SEND THE MONEY THROUGH LINE.
WE TRIED TO CALL ALL DAY TO TELL THEM THAT THE WATER WAS CEMENT ONLINE AND WE COULDN'T GET IN AT ALL.
SO THAT DON'T, DO NOT ALLOW ME TO CHANCE TO CATCH UP MY BILL 'CAUSE YOU DIDN'T CHARGE ME TWO, TWO OR THREE TIMES.
AND AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE, UM, THE DISCOUNT YOU GET GIVEN THE SENIOR CITIZENS.
I GOT THREE OR FOUR, UH, GRANDKIDS WHEN THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR BILL THAT DISCOUNT THAT YOU THINK YOU ARE GIVING ME, I GOTTA HELP THEM OR I CAN'T MOVE THEM ALL IN MY HOUSE.
OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE, UH, I THINK IT'S KELLY ANDERSON REGARDING, UH, NUISANCE PROPERTY.
UH, WE'LL NOW MOVE TO PAGE, UH, TWO I THINK IT IS.
AND, UH, WE'LL BE AT DISCUSSIONS.
WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE STATUS UPDATE ON THE ANIMAL SHELTER PROJECT AND CON CONSTRUCTION ZONE REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN KINLOCK.
UH, IF, IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL AND THE, AND THE MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, PULL THIS ITEM.
UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, EMPLOYEES ARE AT TRAINING.
I THINK THEY'RE TRAINER AT THIS POINT.
SO I WOULD, UH, ASK THE CITY MANAGER.
I'LL GET WITH HIM AND PUT IT ON ANOTHER DATE AND TIME WHERE WE CAN DISCUSS IT.
[III.F.(2) A Discussion Regarding An Update On Status Of The 19th Street Drainage Project (Requested By Councilmember Lewis)]
NEXT WE MOVE TO ITEM TWO, A DISCUSSION, UH, REGARDING AN UPDATE ON THE STANDARD OF THE 19TH STREET DRAINAGE PROJECT.THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS MAYOR.
SO MAYBE WE CAN PASS THIS ONE UP AND I'D STILL LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION, MAYOR.
[02:05:01]
YEAH, I'D STILL LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.YOU DON'T WANT TALK ABOUT
I MEAN, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, HE HAD SOME QUESTIONS HE WANTED TO ASK.
UH, INITIALLY WE'VE GONE THROUGH SOME, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE WHOLE, UM, FLOODING ISSUE ON THE 19TH STREET, UH, PROJECT.
WE STARTED THIS, UM, FOUR YEARS AGO.
UH, AND, UM, WE PUT $2 MILLION THAT WE'D GOTTEN FROM, UH, FROM ARPA.
UH, ARE WE, WHERE ARE WE WITH THIS CITY MANAGER? I WOULD LIKED THE CITY ENGINEER TO HAVE BEEN THERE TONIGHT, BUT I THINK JOHNNY'S SICK AS WELL.
UM, THE $2 MILLION IS, UM, STILL APPROPRIATED FOR THE PROJECT.
UM, I KNOW JOHN HAS GOTTEN THROUGH THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FEES OF IT.
UM, I WILL ASK HIM FOR, UM, A REPORT OF THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION.
YEAH, LET'S LET, LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS ABSOLUTELY.
WITH THAT, UH, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WE MOVE TO NUMBER THREE IS A DISCUSSION REGARDING SECURITY AT THE PLEASURE ISLAND MARINA.
THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, BECKHAM.
UM, AT THE PLEASURE OF COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THIS, UH, THIS IS ACTUALLY GONNA COME BACK AS A PRESENTATION.
CITY SECRETARY, IF YOU COULD MAKE A NOTE OF THAT, UH, ON THE OCTOBER 22ND, UH, AGENDA.
AND YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN THAT WITH THE CITY SECRETARY.
RIGHT? SO WE GOOD, MR. MAYOR, MR. PORT, MR. CANELLO JUST CAME IN.
MS. CANELLO, YOU, UH, YOU COME BACK.
WE WERE, UH, DISCUSSING SOMETHING ON, ON, ON THE 19TH STREET DRAINAGE PROJECT.
UM, I WAS WATCHING YOU IN MY OFFICE.
I'M SORRY I MISSED THE, THE ITEM.
BUT, UM, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD AN ENGINEERING CONSULTANT DO THE, UH, PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THIS 19TH STREET PROJECT.
AND, UM, THEY'VE SUBMITTED THAT TO US ALONG WITH, UH, A PROPOSAL TO DO THE WORK.
UM, I'M READY TO GO TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT.
I SUBMITTED A RESOLUTION, NOT TO YOU, BUT TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA ON JULY 19TH, RIGHT.
I DON'T WANNA NAME THE NAME OF THIS FIRM AT THIS POINT BECAUSE, UH, PROCUREMENT IS STILL GOING THROUGH AN EVALUATION, I BELIEVE, OF THEIR PROPOSAL.
BUT I'M READY TO GO TO WORK AS SOON AS WE CAN GET IT ON THE AGENDA.
COUNCILMAN, DO YOU THINK? GO AHEAD.
YOU GOT EVERYTHING DONE AND STUFF AND YOU SAY YOU'RE GONNA GET ON THE AGENDA.
IS THERE A PROBLEM THAT WE CAN'T GET IT ON THE AGENDA? IS IT READY JOHN, FOR US AGAIN? YEAH.
UM, IT WAS PR NUMBER 2 3 8 4 6.
AND UM, LIKE I SAID, WE'VE DONE THE ENGINEERING SOLICITATIONS, UHHUH,
I'VE JUST GOTTA GET IT ON THE AGENDA.
TWO, WAITING ON CLIFF'S OFFICE TO DO IT.
UH, I, THAT'S WHERE I BELIEVE IT'S AT.
UM, LIKE I SAID, YOU SAID PROCUREMENT.
THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING THAT QUESTION.
LET ME LOOK INTO, LET ME LOOK INTO IT.
OH, OH, YOU SAID, WHAT IS THE PR NUMBER? IT WAS 23 8 4 6.
I'VE GOT A COPY OF IT RIGHT HERE.
NO, WE JUST WANT TO CITY MANAGER.
YOU CAN SAY YOU'RE GONNA LOOK INTO IT, YOU KNOW? YES.
IF, IF THEY GOT THE INFORMATION THEY PUT IN THE, IN THE SYSTEM, THEN IT SHOULD COME TO US SO WE CAN APPROVE IT SO WE GET THE WORK GOING.
AND, AND, AND SO IF I COULD JUST ADD TO THIS A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, UM, I WAS LISTENING TO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, AND A LOT OF TIMES MONEY GETS BUDGETED IN THESE, BUT WE, WE GOTTA MAKE THIS STUFF HAPPEN FASTER.
AND I'M, I'M COMMITTED TO USING THIS FIRM AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING, WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS FOR EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS ON THIS PROJECT.
AND LIKE I SAID, UH, A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, IT'S OUR OWN PROCESSES THAT HOLD THINGS UP, JOHN.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO LISTEN, I KNOW.
I KNOW THE CITY MANAGER CAN TELL I'M
[02:10:01]
FRUSTRATED.IS THAT GOOD? UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? WANT TO CONTINUE, SIR? ALRIGHT, I'LL CALL HIM BACK.
I'M ON THE WRONG PAGE, MAYOR, I HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT.
CITY MANAGER, IS THERE A PLAN OF ACTION TO HELP STREAMLINE THESE PROCESSES SO THAT WE'RE NOT CONTINUOUSLY BEING IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION? I WILL TAKE CARE OF THE MATTER AND I WILL REPORT TO COUNCIL.
WE HAVE NUMBER FOUR ON DISCUSSION.
THE DISCUSSION REGARDING AN UPDATED WATER UTILITY BUDGET AND THE EXPECTED IMPACT OF UNFUNDED PROJECTS AS REQUESTED BY COUNCILWOMAN HAMILTON EVER FIELD.
I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT ANYMORE.
[V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST (LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF TWO (2) MINUTES PER COUNCILMEMBER)]
UH, NOW WE WILL MOVE NOW TO ROMAN NUMERAL FIVE.IF THERE WOULD BE ANY ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST FROM ANY COUNCILPERSONS, ANY ITEMS OF, UH, COMMUNITY ENTRANCE? I DO HAVE ONE.
I JUST WANNA REMIND PEOPLE ABOUT THE NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH CELEBRATION.
THAT'S GONNA BE AT THE BARBARA JACKET PARK ON SATURDAY, THE 28TH OF SEPTEMBER.
I BELIEVE IT'S FROM 10 UNTIL TWO.
UH, AND, UH, THAT'S WHAT THE PROCLAMATION WAS EARLIER TODAY.
SO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO COME OUT AND CELEBRATE NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH WITH US ON SATURDAY.
AND ALSO ON THAT, UH, MAYOR PO I APPRECIATE YOUR STEPPING UP AND DOING THAT FOR ME.
I THANK YOU FOR, UH, SATURDAY.
ANY, ANY OTHER, UH, COMMUNITY INTEREST ITEMS? IF NOT, WE CAN
[VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS]
GO TO PAGE FOUR.WE HAVE AN UNFINISHED BUSINESS ITEM, UH, PR 2 3 9 0 6.
IT IS A RESOLUTION APPOINTED AND OR REAPPOINTED MEMBERS TO THE PORT ARTHUR COALITION FOR HOMELESS ADVISORY BOARD THAT'S REQUESTED BY MAYOR PROTE BECKER.
I THINK WE STILL, UH, NEED TWO APPOINTMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ETT AND ONE APPOINTMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD.
HE HAS, HE HAS A, A SINCE COUNCILMAN ETT DOES.
UH UH, NOW I GET A MOTION ON THAT ON THE, UH, APPOINTMENT, UH, COUNSEL.
MAY I GET A SECOND? SECOND? OKAY.
AND WITH THE NAMES, UH, CITY SECRETARY, ARE YOU READY? YES, SIR.
YOU DON'T WANNA GIVE HIS NUMBER OVER HIS NAME? NO.
YEAH, I'LL, I'LL CONTACT YOU FOR THIS.
YEAH, SHE GET THE PHONE, THE PHONE NUMBER.
YOU, YOU HAVE ONE? HIS NAME IS MARK MARTIN SENIOR.
AND DID YOU, YOU HAVE ONE, UH, MAYOR TIM, APPROACH THEM? NO, I'VE ALREADY APPOINTED MINE.
THAT GIVES US A FULL SLATE OF, OF MEMBERS ON THAT BOARD.
AND, UH, JUST A POINT OF INFORMATION ON THAT, UH, CHRISTIE IS WORKING ON, BUT SHE WAS WAITING, WE WERE WAITING FOR THE DATE.
SO SHE'LL GET WITH YOU, UH, SHERRY, 'CAUSE SHE'S WORKING ON A DATE THAT I'M TRYING TO MEET WITH THEM.
I THINK IT'S ON THE 14TH OF OCTOBER.
SO WE WERE TRYING TO BE SURE THAT WE HAD, HAD EVERYBODY IN PLACE.
UH, SO ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, AYE.
ANY OPPOSES AS ADV AS ALL THEY ARE DULY, UH, APPOINTED TO THE, UH, HOMELESS COALITION.
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA ]
WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.AND THE CONSENT AGENDA BEGINS ON PAGE FIVE.
AND IT, LEMME SEE IT GOES THIS DO PAGE SIX.
I WAS GETTING READY TO FLIP ALL THESE THINGS.
UH, ON PAGE FIVE, WRITE ON ONE PAGE SIX OF, UH, WITH THE
[02:15:01]
UH, PULLED OR WITHDRAWN? LET ME KNOW THE ITEM NUMBER IN THE PAGE.COUNCILMAN FRANK? UH, NUMBER FIVE.
AND THAT'S IT ON, THAT'S, THAT'S THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA WE HAVE ANY OTHERS? NOT, WE ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF A ONE ON FIVE AND NUMBER FIVE ON SIX.
MAY I GET A MOTION, UH, FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KINLOCK? MOVE? MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN SECOND IT MOVE TO SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? NO QUESTIONS.
WHETHER THE VOTE ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES? AS HAVE, SO IT IS APPROVED NOW
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 23913 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing A Member Or Members To The Port Arthur Police Chief Advisory Committee (Requested By Councilmember Hamilton Everfield)]
FOR THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. UH, ON PAGE FIVE, ITEM A ONE, MS. MAYOR THURMAN, BART TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE CONFERENCE APP APPROVED CONFERENCES, TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BLACK CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MEMBERSHIP DUE FOR THE MEETING IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, OCTOBER 9TH THROUGH 11TH 2024 AT THE AMOUNT OF $125.MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? UH, COUNCILMAN KINLOCK.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK SECOND HAS BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THIS.
WE READY TO QUESTION COUNCILMAN ETT? YES.
I QUESTION WHETHER WE CAN, UH, USE, UH, TAXPAYERS DOLLARS TO PAY MEMBERSHIP IN DUES, UH, TO PAY MEMBERSHIP IN DUES TO PAY MEMBERSHIP OR DUES TO ANY TYPE ORGANIZATIONS.
DON'T WE DO THAT? WE PAY THIS.
THIS IS, UH, AN, AN AUXILIARY OF TML.
SO IT'S ALL THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
UH, IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S A SEPARATE ENTITY.
AM I CORRECT? IS THAT, IS THAT PART OF LIKE THE QUESTION YOU, WHEN YOU, THE QUESTION OF MEMBERSHIP AND DO WELL, WELL, WELL, IT DOESN'T MATTER EVEN IF IT WAS TML OR NLC WHEN IN TIME THE MEMBERSHIP FEES OR DUES FOR AN INDIVIDUAL.
UNLESS IT'S A REQUIREMENT IN ORDER FOR THAT JOB THAT YOU HOLD OR IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE, IT'S REQUIRED WHEN YOU ARE ELECTED.
WELL, AND MAYBE IN THAT QUESTION, I WOULD GUESS NOT, BUT YOU ALL WOULD.
IT WOULD BE FOR ME, I AM AN AFRICAN AMERICAN.
THIS IS FOR BLACK CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT IS AN AUXILIARY OF TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
YOU CHOOSE NOT TO BE OR ANYONE ELSE CHOOSES NOT TO BE.
I CHOOSE TO BE A MEMBER AND I REPRESENT THIS CITY AND IT IS, IT IS RIGHT.
AND DUTIFUL FOR THE CITY TO PAY THE MEMBERSHIP IN THE ORGANIZATION.
WELL THAT'S WHERE WE DIFFER ON THAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT I, THAT'S WHY I PULLED IT, YOU KNOW.
WELL LET'S JUST VOTE ON IT AND IF IT DOESN'T GO, I DON'T BILL A NUMBER.
IF IT PASSES, WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND A WHOLE BUNCH OF TIME.
UH, BUT DID YOU CHECK ON THAT OR YOU WANT MORE TIME? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUC, I, I'M VERY MAYOR.
MAY I SPEAK? YES MA'AM, GO AHEAD.
UM, THE USE OF ANY PUBLIC DOLLAR, THE USE OF ANY PUBLIC FUND MUST BE USED TO SERVE A PUBLIC PURPOSE.
SO WHAT'S A PUBLIC PURPOSE? A PUBLIC PURPOSE IS A DECISION THAT THE GOVERNING BODY MAKES.
THE CITY COUNCIL MAKES DECISIONS ON WHAT PUBLIC PURPOSES ARE AND THE TESTS BY WHICH THEY DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IT IS A PUBLIC PURPOSE IS WHETHER OR NOT, ONE, IT IS BENEFICIAL TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE CITY.
AND NUMBER TWO, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND SO IF YOU'RE ASKING WHETHER OR NOT MEMBERSHIP DUES CAN BE PAID, I WOULD SAY THAT THIS GOVERNING BODY AS A UNIT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE USE OF THE PUBLIC FUND SERVES A PUBLIC PURPOSE BY BEING BENEFICIAL TO THE HABITANTS AND DIRECTLY RELATED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
[02:20:01]
ANOTHER UNREADINESS? NO.WE, UH, YOU WANT, YOU'D LIKE TO GET A ROLL CALL VOTE.
UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, YOU WANT TO YOU MAYOR
I'LL GIVE YOU A DONATION BECAUSE I THINK YOU SHOULD BE A PART OF THIS.
I'M GONNA SELL SOME POPCORN BALLS IN FRONT OF THE CITY HALL TO TELL 'EM THAT MAYOR HAS TO GO.
I'M A BLACK MAYOR IN A BLACK CITY WITH BLACK CITY COUNCIL PERSONS AND ONE CAUCASIAN WHO THINKS THAT THIS IS NOT IMPORTANT.
THIS ATTORNEY JUST TOLD YOU, HEY, THIS IS NOT ANYTHING ILLEGAL.
I HAVE FRIENDS, PEOPLE LOOKING AND LISTENING ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
ALL THESE BLACK PEOPLE UP HERE WHO ARE ASHAMED OF BEING AFRICAN AMERICAN, WHO ARE JUST PLAIN STUPID, POINT OF POINT OF ALL THE MAYOR POINT MY NOTHING.
MAN, YOU MAYOR, DON'T NO, YOU, HEY MAN.
LOOK, MAYOR, IT IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO BE THE MAYOR OF THIS CITY UP HERE WITH THESE EMPS POINT OF ALL MAYOR.
NO, YOU KNOW, DON'T, DON'T TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW WHAT, DON'T TALK ABOUT US LIKE THAT.
YOU SAY, I DON'T WHAT YOU WANNA SAY.
MAAM, PLEASE LET GIVE AND I'LL AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO LEAVE.
AND IF YOU WANNA LEAVE KEN, LEAVE, I DO NOT CARE.
AND IT IS MAYOR MEMBERS ABOUT REMIND YOU RULES AT THE CORNER.
NOW WE CAN GO TO THE REST OF THE MEETING.
WE CAN GO TO THE REST OF THE MEETING, PLEASE.
LET'S GET, WE CAN GO THE REST OF THE MEETING.
SAY MAN, I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.
SOMEBODY START PRAYING OR SOMETHING OR POUR WATER ON ME.
TIRED OF BEING UP HERE WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SOME NIM COM BOOTS.
THAT'S WHAT I NUMBER, THAT'S WHAT I, AND FEEL ABOUT YOUR MAYOR.
CAN WE GET BACK PLEASE? WE CERTAINLY CAN.
I DONE SAY IT I WANTED TO SAY.
WHEN I WANTED TO SAY IT LIKE I WANTED TO SAY IT TO WHOM I WANTED TO SAY IT TOO.
LAST TIME, THE ONLY, MY LAST TIME YOU LOCKED ME UP AND I'M IN JAIL.
THIS WILL BE MY LAST TIME, MA'AM.
LET'S, OKAY, WELL Y'ALL STRAIGHT OUT, DON'T BE TAKING NO THREATS TO ME.
OKAY, WELL LET'S GO TO NUMBER, DON'T MAKE NO THREATS TO ME.
LET'S STAY FOCUSED FOR DOING THAT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL RILED ME UP AND I'M SUPPOSED TO SIT UP HERE.
I, GOD DIDN'T MAKE ME LIKE THAT AND I'M GLAD HE DIDN'T.
DON'T BE ACTING LIKE WHAT I'M SAYING AND WHAT I'M DOING.
I SHOULDN'T, I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.
NUMBER 5 23 9 29 OF RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER'S DECISION TO APPROVE THE ENGAGEMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL TRASH COLLECTION CONTRACTOR, AFTERMATH, DISASTER RECOVERY INCORPORATED OF PROSPER TEXAS WITH A NOT TO EXCEED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $54,424.
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE A RP REVENUE LOSS GARBAGE COLLECTION SUPPORT ACCOUNT, WHICH IS A RP ONE, I MEAN 0 1 0 DASH GRE DASH RANT.
UH, MOTION FOR APPROVAL FOR THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS? WHO WANT A QUESTION? YES, I DID.
HELLO? UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, UH, THE STATE OF OUR, UM, UH, GARBAGE COLLECTION, UM, UM, DEPARTMENT AS OF TODAY.
LET ME, UM, I SPOKE TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER MS. ROBERTS, MS. ROBERTS IS UM, OUT OFP POCKET AT THIS TIME.
UM, BUT I DID HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT AS FROM THIS AFTERNOON AND WE, UH, BACK IN PUERTO RICO AS FROM TODAY, YOU KNOW, SO WE ARE BACK ON OUR ROUTES.
YOU KNOW, WE COMPLETED THE STONEGATE AREA
[02:25:01]
YESTERDAY.AND THEN WE ARE BACK IN PORTUS.
SO WE'VE GOT A PRETTY FIRM HANDLE ON IT RIGHT NOW.
A PRETTY FIRM HANDLE ON THE TWO CONTRACTORS THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT IN THUS FAR AND WITH THE, UM, WITH THE CREW OF, OF TRUCKS THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SO AT THIS, AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT AND AT THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTURE AS A CITY, WE ARE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR ROUTES AND PICK UP THE TRASH FOR OUR CITY WITHOUT ANY HELP.
BECAUSE WHAT WE WERE DOING, REMEMBER WE HAD THESE TWO STORMS, THESE TWO SMALL STORMS AND WHAT WE WERE DOING, WE WERE, WE WERE PLAYING CATCH UP WITH THE TWO SMALL STORMS THAT WE HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, AND THAT HAS PUT US BEHIND FOR SOME TIME AND WE WERE PLAYING CATCH UP FOR QUITE SOME TIME WITH THOSE TWO SMALL STORMS. BUT COUNCIL APPROVED ALMOST A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR US.
THE FIRST CONTRACTOR THAT CAME IN WAS SHORT BY ONE TRUCK.
SO I MADE THE DECISION TO BRING IN ANOTHER CONTRACTOR FROM DALLAS WITH TWO OTHER TRUCKS IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CATCH UP SINCE THE FUNDING WAS AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
AND THIS $54,424, THIS IS NOT RATIFYING THE THEIR PAYMENT, THIS IS FOR FUTURE.
NO, THAT IS RATIFYING THEIR PAYMENT BECAUSE I GOT THEM ON AS SOON AS THEY GOT HERE.
THAT WHICH WHICH IS RATIFYING, YES, THIS IS RATIFYING, WHICH ALREADY THE AMOUNT OF UM, UM, $554,000 WAS ALREADY BUDGETED FOR THAT.
THAT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL ASKED.
AND THAT'S WHERE THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM.
THAT'S WHERE THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM.
WELL AT THE SAME TIME, WHILST WE ARE DOING THAT, I THINK CLIFF, WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS THAT'S IN AND WE ARE REVIEWING IT FOR THE, OUR GARBAGE AND TRASH SYSTEM.
YOU KNOW, AS I INDICATED TO COUNCIL AT LAST FEW MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, OUR AREAS IN THE CITY THAT WE CONTINUE TO SERVICE HAVE EXPANDED OVER THE YEARS YES.
BUT WE HAVE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AT ONE PARTICULAR JUNCTURE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, PURCHASING THREE NEW TRUCKS.
THEN THERE'S PROVISIONS IN THE NEW BUDGET FOR THAT AS WELL.
THERE IS, YES, THERE IS THAT, THAT DIDN'T GO AWAY, UM, BECAUSE IT WASN'T PART OF THE UTILITIES.
UM, BUT YES, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT AND WE ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT REVIEWING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM OF GARBAGE AND TRASH PICKUP THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO MAKE SURE IF WE NEED MORE RESOURCES TO REQUEST THOSE RESOURCES FROM THE COUNCIL.
OKAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO IT IS PASSED, UH, RESOLUTION 23 9.
NOW WE'LL MOVE NOW TO THE CONSENT.
I MEAN NON-CONSENT AGENDA STILL ON PAGE SIX AT THE BOTTOMS PR NUMBER 23 9 13 FOR RESOLUTION APPOINTED AND OR REAPPOINTED A MEMBER OR MEMBERS TO THE, UH, PORT ARTHUR POLICE CHIEF ADVISORY COMMITTEE REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, UH, EVER FIELD.
AND ON THAT CITY SECRETARY, DID I GIVE YOU, I GAVE YOU THE NAMES ALREADY.
TWO PERSONS I BELIEVE? YES SIR.
I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT I HAD MY LIST.
I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME, BUT YOU WANTED TO REAPPOINT YOUR CURRENT YEAH, THEY WERE ALREADY ON THERE.
I MEAN, BECAUSE THEY BOTH HAVE EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO SERVE.
SO COUNCILWOMAN UH, BECKHAM, DO YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE SOME ONE? YES, I'D LIKE TO REAPPOINT CHUCK VINCENT? YES, MA'AM.
AND MS. RILEY HAS REQUESTED TO STEP DOWN AND IN HER PLACE I'D LIKE TO APPOINT ROBERT REED.
AND I'LL EMAIL YOU THEIR PHONE NUMBERS.
COUNCILMAN FRANK, YOU HAVE SOMEONE? NO, SIR.
COUNCILOR
JUST SO THAT ALL COUNSELORS KNOW IN DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR, THE APPOINTMENTS WILL EXPIRE ON SEPTEMBER 27TH.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, PLEASE UM, TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION TO HAVE YOUR APPOINTMENTS FOR OUR NEXT, UM, READY FOR OUR NEXT MEETING AS THE CURRENT ONES WILL BE EXPIRED PRIOR TO OUR NEXT OCTOBER MEETING.
[02:30:01]
MY APPOINTMENTS ARE AGAIN, MS. DOLORES PRINCE AND MR. CLAY ROY.ARE THERE ANY OTHER, YOU, YOU BRING MY HOLD? I JUST HAVE A BRIEF COMMENT.
IF, IF WE COULD MAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS EFFECTIVE AFTER SEPTEMBER THE 27TH, CAN WE DO THAT CITY ATTORNEY? CAN WE DO THAT? YEAH, BECAUSE THEY ALL TURN OUT ON THAT SAME DATE.
IF THERE BE ANY NO OTHERS, WE ARE READY TO VOTE.
HAVE IT SO IT IS APPROVED ON PAGE SEVEN NOW.
[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 23920 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Commercial Refuse Disposal Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur, Texas And Beckett & Beckett, Inc. Of Orange, Texas For The Purpose Of Disposing Of Refuse At The City's Sanitary Landfill]
PRR NUMBER 23 9 20.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A COMMERCIAL, UH, REFUSE UH, DISPOSAL CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AND BECKETT AND BECKETT INCORPORATED OF ORANGE, TEXAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISPOSING OF REFUSE, UH, UH, REFUSE AT THE UH, CITY'S SANITARY LANDFILL.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN ETT? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, MAYOR PRO TIM.
AND SECOND, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? ARE ANY QUESTIONS WHETHER VOTE ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO WE IS AUDIT PP NUMBER 23 9 20 IS APPROVED AS READ.
[VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 23921 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Commercial Refuse Disposal Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur, Texas And Gulf Waste CES Of Lake Charles, Louisiana For The Purpose Of Disposing Of Refuse At The City's Sanitary Landfill]
HAVE PR NUMBER 23 9 21.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A COMMERCIAL FU UH, REFUGE DISPOSAL CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND, UH, GULF WASTE CES OF LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA FOR THE PURPOSE OF, UH, DISPOSING OF REFUGE AT THE CITY'S SANITARY LANDFILL.
UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 9 21 AS READ, WE ARE READY FOR VOTING.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE FIRST? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
ANY OPPOSES? THE AYES HAVE IT SO IT IS ORDERED.
[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 23922 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Contracts Between Its Third Party Administrator (Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Texas, Inc.) For The City Of Port Arthur's Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO And Prescription Drug Plan For Its Medicare Eligible Retirees And/Or Medicare Eligible Dependent(s), And Authorizing The City Manager To Execute All Documents. Fund No: 614-11-025-5127-00-00-00 (Health Insurance Fund)]
HAVE PR NUMBER 23 9 22.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS BETWEEN IT'S THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR, BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS, INCORPORATED FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S BLUE CROSS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, PPO AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN FOR ITS MEDICARE ELIGIBLE RETIREES AND OR MEDICARE ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS.
FUND NUMBER SIX 14 DASH 11 DASH 2 5 5 12 7 0 0.
I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILWOMAN EVERFI MOVE.
I GET A, UH, A SECOND MAYOR PROTEST SECOND.
SO THAT WE WOULD, IF WE WOULD APPROVE PR 23 9 22 IS READ.
WE READY FOR QUESTION THERE? ANY QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A.
ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT SO IT IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(5) P.R. No. 23923 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Contracts Between Its Third-Party Administrator (Administrative Services Only) For The City Of Port Arthur Group Medical, Dental Insurance, Basic Life, Basic Accidental Death And Dismemberment, And Excess Loss Indemnity With Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Texas, Inc. Fund No: 614 (Health Insurance)]
HAVE PR NUMBER, THAT'S NUMBER FIVE.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS BETWEEN ITS THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ONLY FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR GROUP.
MEDICAL, DENTAL, INSURANCE, BASIC LIFE, BASIC ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT AND EXCESS LOSS INDEMNITY WITH BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS INCORPORATED FUND NUMBER SIX 14 HEALTH INSURANCE.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN ETT? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 9 23 AS PRESENTED.
WE'RE READY FOR A QUESTION UNDER THE QUESTIONS.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO THIS PR IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(6) P.R. No. 23927 – A Resolution Rescheduling The October 8, 2024 Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting (Requested By Mayor Bartie)]
SIX, PR NUMBER 23 9 27.IT'S A RESOLUTION RESCHEDULING THE OCTOBER 8TH, 2024.
REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING.
AND IT'S NOT ON HERE, BUT IT WOULD BE SCHEDULED RESCHEDULED TILL, UH, OCTOBER THE SEVENTH.
AM I CORRECT? CITY SECRETARY? YES.
THAT WOULD BE THE DATE THAT WE WOULD RESCHEDULE IT.
IT SEVENTH OCTOBER THE SEVENTH? YEAH.
AND IT WOULD, WOULD IT BE A MORNING?
[02:35:01]
A 9:00 AM MEETING? A 10:00 AM MEETING? YES SIR.IT WOULD BE SCHEDULED FOR 9:30 AM 9:30 AM OKAY.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS, UH, COUNCIL EVER FIELD.
MAYOR
WE READY FOR QUESTION? I HAVE A QUESTION.
WHY ARE WE RESCHEDULING THIS MEETING? WHY I, WHY ARE WE RESCHEDULING THIS? OKAY.
TML BEGINS ON THE EIGHTH AND THAT IS WHY I SUGGESTED IT BECAUSE WE WOULD BE NEED, WE WOULD NEED TO GO TO TML AND WE MAY END UP BEING HERE THE ENTIRE DAY.
SO, UH, I THOUGHT TML BEGAN ON THE NINTH.
OKAY, WELL THE TRAVEL DATE IS THE DAY BEFORE THE ACTUAL MEETING.
AND WHY DO WE NEED TO TRAVEL THE DAY BEFORE? BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL T-R-A-V-E-L MOVEMENT FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER.
AND THAT IS WHY WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ALL OF THIS TIME MA'AM.
AND WHAT TIME DOES IT START ON THE NINTH? THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DAY OF TRAVEL MA'AM.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT PROBABLY STARTS ABOUT 1230 AT ONE.
WE HAVE HAD THIS SCHEDULE FOR OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS SINCE JANUARY.
AND THIS MEETING HAS BEEN ON MY CALENDAR SINCE JANUARY.
AND BECAUSE I STILL WORK FULL TIME, I PLAN MY SCHEDULE AROUND OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS.
WE ALSO KNEW WHEN THE TML SEMINAR WAS GONNA BE.
SO WHY DID WE NOT TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE SCHEDULED THIS MEETING IN OCTOBER? I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT, UH, PICKING UP ON IT AS QUICKLY AS MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR IDIOSYNCRASIES WITH PLANNING.
IT'S MY CAREER CALENDAR MAYOR PRO.
AND AS IT'S SCHEDULED NOW, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING ON OCTOBER THE SEVENTH.
AND I CERTAINLY YOU CAN ATTEND, UH, FROM, UH, THE AI IF YOU WILL.
I WILL ACTUALLY BE OUT OF STATE ON OCTOBER 7TH.
AND ACCORDING TO THE LAWS AND THE RULES REGARDING APPEARANCES AT A COUNCIL MEETING BY ZOOM, YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE JURISDICTIONAL TERRITORY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
I WILL NOT BE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THAT CORRECT? AND I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND.
I WAS IN SOME OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND I ATTENDED THE MEETINGS.
I'LL HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK YOUR HONOR.
IF I ATTEND FROM OUTTA STATE, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS COUNCILWOMAN, UH, EVER FIELD? UM, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE EXHIBIT HALL STARTS AT EIGHT.
IT DOES LAST UNTIL FIVE, BUT THE FIRST OPENING SESSION BEGINS AT 10 30.
AND AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STILL HERE AND IT'S ALMOST EIGHT 30.
ANY OTHER CALL FOR THE VOTE? COUNCIL SIR.
OKAY, WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
THAT AYES AB TO HIS ORDERED THE MEETING IS RESCHEDULED FOR THAT DAY AND SHE WOULD CHECK ON THAT FOR YOU.
SO YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, UH, MAYOR PRO IF YOU ARE IN DIDDY OR DIDDY.
[VIII.A.(7) P.R. No. 23931 – A Resolution Nominating A Member And/Or Members To The Board Of Directors Of The Jefferson Central Appraisal District For The 2025 And 2025-2027 Term]
NEXT WE'LL GO TO, UH, PO PR NUMBER 23 9 31.IT IS A RESOLUTION NOMINATING A MEMBER OR NOMINATING THE MEMBER AND OR MEMBERS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE JEFFERSON CENTRAL APPRAISER DISTRICT FOR THE 2025 AND 2025 THROUGH 27 TERM.
AND OUR CITY SECRETARY, UH, YOU MET WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVE MARX AND HE ENLIGHTENED US ON HOW WE WOULD DO THIS.
OUR REPRESENTATIVE RIGHT NOW IS, UH, KENNETH MARKS YOU.
THE COUNCIL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOMINATE UP TO FIVE PEOPLE.
DID WE HAVE, UH, ANY OTHERS YOU WANT TO NOMINATE BESIDE MR. MARKS? BESIDES MR. MARKS? ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS BESIDE MR. MARKS? OKAY.
WITH THAT, I'M MAKING FOR A MOTION NOW FOR COUNCILMAN FRANK AND MR. MARKS TO BE OUR, UH, NOMINEE, UM, A MOTION.
I HAVE A, I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION ABOUT IT.
WE CAN, UM, YES, I'M IN FAVOR OF, OF NOMINATING, UH, MR. MARKS, BUT ON A LATER DATE WE CAN ADD MORE PEOPLE TO IT.
NO, IT WOULD'VE TO BE ADDED TONIGHT.
[02:40:02]
THEY JUST NOW CONTACTED THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND MYSELF AND MM-HMM.I BELIEVE THEY NEED THE NOTIFICATION, THE NOMINATIONS ON THE 14TH.
SO WE COULD POSSIBLY PUT IT ON THE SEVENTH.
AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE ARE CHOOSING OUT OF THAT FIVE, IT'S JUST THAT WE'RE NOMINATING ALL FIVE.
HOW IS IT SELECTED? YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOMINATING NOW YOU ARE, UH, ALLOWED TO NOMINATE FIVE PEOPLE AND THEN THE VOTE THAT YOU CAST FOR THE NOMINEES COMES LATER.
THIS IS JUST THE NOMINATION I GOT.
YEAH, I RAN THIS CONFERENCE FRONT.
I NOMINATED MR. OKAY, WE READY? YEAH.
WELL, I, WE'VE ALREADY MADE THE NOMINATION.
WE NEED A ALL IN FAVOR? NO SIR.
I THOUGHT I HAD THE SECOND WHO MADE THE NOMINATION? OKAY.
I THOUGHT I HAD THE SECOND TOO.
WHO MADE THEM NOMINATION? WHO? OKAY.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, BUT ASKING WHO? YOU SCARED ME.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? I WAS HAVING TO, IT IS, UH, APPROVED AND NEXT WE HAVE
[VIII.A.(8) P.R. No. 23932 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing] Member(s) To The Zoning Board Of Adjustment]
PR NUMBER 23 9 32, A RESOLUTIONARY APPOINTED AND A REAPPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.I HAVE NOT, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NAMES.
HOWEVER, AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING YOU DID REAPPOINT ALICE WASHINGTON.
THAT'S THE ONLY ONE, RIGHT? I HAVE A NAME.
GO GO RIGHT IN TOM MCDONALD AND I'LL EMAIL YOU HIS CONTACT INFORMATION.
YOU COULD REAPPOINT MY NOMINEE AND IF THEY DON'T SERVE, I'LL, I'LL GET YOU ANOTHER NAME.
AND YOU HAVE ONE, UH, MS. EVER? YES SIR.
MR. CHRIS LOPEZ ON THE BACK OF THERE.
WE HAVE THE NAMES, THE, YOU, YOU HAD ONE TO COUNCILMAN FRANK.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE, YOU HAVE THE NAMES.
OKAY, WE READY TO VOTE ON THOSE NAMES? ALL IN FAVOR.
ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE A RESULT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOW DULY APPOINTED TO THAT BOARD? UH, I HAVE NO OTHER PRINTED INFORMATION ON MY, ON MY AGENDA.
I'M GOING DECLARE THIS MEETING DULY CLOSED.