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[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
MORNING.WE ARE GATHERED HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF THE CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET.
FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING, IT IS NOW 9 36.
WE WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER.
UH, IN THIS MEETING YOU MAY ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE VIA TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCE MEDIUMS. HOWEVER YOU MUST FIRSTS 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 ID OF 8 9 2 9 8 9 4 0 9 4 5 AND THE PASSCODE OF 4 2 2 3 3 6 AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND PARTICIPATE.
ALSO, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACTS AND IF THERE WOULD NEED TO BE, UH, REQUESTS MADE FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU WOULD ONLY CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.
HOWEVER, IT MUST BE DONE 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING SO THAT THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS MAY BE AFFORDED YOU BY THE CITY SECRETARY AND HER EFFICIENT STAFF.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO SOUND TO SILENCE OR MUTE ALL OF YOUR MOBILE APPARATUS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
AND WE WILL BEGIN OUR MEETING IN OUR NORMAL FASHION WITH THE IFICATION, THE PLEDGE AND THE ROLL CALL.
UH, WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US THE IMPLICATION WITNESS, LET US BOW ALL IN ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, HOW GRATEFUL WE DAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY SERVICE FATHER, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY OF COMING TOGETHER TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF OUR CITY ON THIS DAY.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR WISDOM AND WE ASK YOU ALLOW US TO.
SO GOD BLESSING THE POWERFUL PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS, THE RISEN CHRIST JESUS.
WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN US NOW IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF 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 IN OUR OPENING CITY SECRETARY.
WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH THE QUORUM? MAYOR BARTEE, PRESENT, MAYOR PROTE BECKHAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LONG, COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK HERE.
[II. PROCLAMATIONS]
BEGIN OUR MEETING WITH PROCLAMATIONS.I'M I CORRECT ON THIS? YES, I DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE IN MY HAND.
AND THIS IS FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS WEEK.
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A GROUP HERE.
SO IF I WOULD HAVE HAVING TO HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, I KNOW THAT I WOULD BE WELL ATTENDED ON THIS MORNING.
WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE COME FORWARD? GOOD MORNING COUNSEL.
NOW I'M GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
IT SAYS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR.
WHEREAS NURSE PRACTITIONERS WEEK IS CELEBRATED FROM NOVEMBER 10TH THROUGH THE 16TH, SOUTHEAST TEXAS NURSE PRACTITIONERS ARE A VITAL PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS THE ORGANIZATION IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF FORT ARTHUR SOUTHEAST TEXAS NURSE PRACTITIONERS HAVE SERVED THROUGH VOLUNTEER EFFORTS AT SEVERAL HEALTH FAIRS, INCLUDING THE GIFT OF LIFE, MEN'S HEALTH, PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING, HOSTED BY THE PORT ARTHUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND WHEREAS THEY HAVE DONATED TO THE
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LOCAL WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S SHELTER OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS ADOPTED SCHOOL NURSES THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST TEXAS DONATING CLINIC SUPPLIES THROUGH THEIR BACK TO SCHOOL INITIATIVE AND PARTICIPATED IN THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, WALKED TO END THE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE EARNING THE TOP TEAM AWARD AND TOP WALKER AWARD.AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE OUR NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND WE ARE HONORED TO PRESENT YOU ALL WITH THIS PROCLAMATION.
NOW, THEREFORE, I THURMAN BILL BCE MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS ON THIS DAY OF NOVEMBER 6TH.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE YOU BEGINNING NOVEMBER 10TH THROUGH THE 16TH.
AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE THIS AS NURSE PRACTITIONERS WEEK HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
WE APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHY AND WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HERE AND TOO SET MY HAND AND CAUSE THE SEAL OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS SIXTH DAY OF NOVEMBER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 28 24.
AND IT IS SIGNED BY YOUR THURMAN BILL, BOY MAYOR.
AND I'M GOING TO COME DOWN AND PRESENT THIS TO YOU ALL.
I KNOW THAT ON Y'ALL WANNA GET IT FOR PICTURE MAYOR, WHICH WAY WOULD YOU LIKE US? WHAT I WANNA DO? WELL, GOOD MORNING COUNSEL.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR, EVERYBODY BACK.
WE BE RIGHT BACK IN THE SECOND.
AS NURSE PRACTITIONERS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS, WE THANK YOU.
UM, THIS IS SUCH A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE HONORED BY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
OUR MISSION IS VITAL AND SO PLEASE KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE TO SERVE.
WE ARE HERE TO TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITY IN ANY ASPECT THAT YOU NEED.
RIGHT BEFORE YOU, YOU WOULD SEE PLENTY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND THERE'S MORE OF US, BUT WE'RE OUT SERVING MANY OF THESE LADIES SERVE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND THEY HAVE CLINICS.
SO PLEASE LET US TAKE CARE OF YOU.
THAT IS OUR MISSION, THAT IS OUR GOAL, AND WE'RE HERE FOR ANYTHING THAT Y'ALL NEED IN THE CITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, SIR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND ELSEWHERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO WITHOUT OUR NURSE PRACTITIONERS.
I LOVE MY DOCTOR, BUT I LOVE HIS NURSE PRACTITIONERS TOO BECAUSE WHEN HE'S TOO BUSY, THEY ARE RIGHT THERE.
AND IT JUST MAKES IT SO, SO MUCH BETTER FOR US AS PATIENTS
SO WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S HARD, UH, AND THAT YOU JUST HAVE A SPECIAL GIFT AND A HEART FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE'RE, WE ARE HONORED TO HONOR YOU.
HOW MANY OF YOU ALL IS IT? I MEAN, THERE'S TOTAL QUITE IN, THERE'S QUITE, UM, I BELIEVE IF MS. DANETTE CORRECT ME IF I'M, IF I'M WRONG, WE BOTH SERVE ON THE BOARD.
I BELIEVE THERE'S OVER 200 OF US THAT ARE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS NURSE PRACTITIONER ASSOCIATION.
UM, WE'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONE GRADUATE EVERY DAY.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET 'EM IN.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF ASSOCIATES, A LOT OF NURSES AND PHYSICIANS IN THE AREA THAT BACK US.
SO WE ARE DEFINITELY MOVING MOUNTAINS RIGHT NOW.
YEAH, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
Y'ALL DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
Y'ALL FILLING A VOID AND LIKE THE, THE MALE PRO TEAM SAID IT'S, UH, SOMETIME YOU, THESE DOCTORS ARE BUSY.
I CAN, HEY, I CAN COME SEE YOU ALL AND SAVE ME SOME MONEY TOO.
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SO Y'ALL TAKE CARE NOW.COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND FOR THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU'VE MADE TO MEDICINE AND FOR TAKING CARE OF A COMMUNITY.
IT MEANS SO MUCH TO KNOW THAT YOU CAN FIND SOMEBODY IN YOUR TIME OF NEED WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.
AND SO WE GREATLY APPRECIATE AND WE APPLAUD YOU FOR IT.
AND WE ARE OUT THERE TO SERVE, SO MAKE SURE Y'ALL COME AND SEE US.
[III.A.(1) Fredrick Johnson II Regarding City Grass Cutting]
NEXT WE WOULD HAVE, UH, SPEAKERS AND WE HAVE A MR. FREDERICK JOHNSON II REGARDING CITY GRASS CUTTING.WHICH APPROACH? PLEASE BEGIN BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
I LIVE AT 2206 SALISBURY DRIVE.
DO I JUST START TALKING? I DON'T KNOW SIR.
DO I JUST START? I DON'T, YEAH, JUST STATE YOUR NAME.
I THOUGHT YOU FREDERICK JOHNSON NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
FREDERICK JOHNSON JUNIOR AND I LIVE AT 2206 SALISBURY DRIVE.
SO MY QUESTION IS, UH, I WANTED TO KNOW THE PROTOCOL OF, UH, THE CITY GRASS CUTTING.
UH, I TALKED TO SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE AND, UH, DURING THE CONVERSATION SHE KIND OF GOT LOST IN THE CONVERSATION AND KIND OF MISSED THE POINT.
SO I, THE FIRST QUESTION I ASKED HER WAS, WHAT WAS THE PROTOCOL? DO, DO THE CITY, UH, WORKERS JUST SEE A PATCH OF GRASS SOMEWHERE AND THEN, UH, ARE ALLOWED TO CUT IT? SO, UH, I ASKED THAT BECAUSE I I, I'VE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION ABOUT MY GRASS BEING CUT OR ANYBODY BEING ON MY PROPERTY CUTTING, CUTTING MY GRASS.
SO, UH, WHAT SHE SAID WAS THAT SOMETHING ABOUT, UH, THAT THEY GIVE A NOTICE ONCE A YEAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO THEN MY NEXT QUESTION WAS, AFTER THE GRASS IS CUT, IS THERE A NOTIFICATION THAT YOU, UH, THAT THE ACTION HAS BEEN, UH, TAKEN ON THE PROPERTY AND THAT THERE IS A CHARGE CONNECTED TO THAT ACTION? AND, UH, SHE NEVER REALLY ANSWERED THAT QUESTION, BUT, UH, WHAT I'M SAYING IS I'VE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR, UH, ANYBODY BEING ON MY PROPERTY OR ANYBODY, UH, GIVING ME A BILL FOR MY, MY LOTS BEING CUT.
SO, UH, ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY, WHICH WAS A SATURDAY, UH, I WAS GOING TO CUT MY GRASS AND THERE WAS A CITY CONTRACTED WORKER, NOT THE ACTUAL CITY.
'CAUSE THE CITY IS CLOSED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
RIGHT? SO I ASKED HER, IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONTRACTED ON SATURDAY AFTER THE CITY IS CLOSED, AND I'M A PERSON THAT WORKS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, WHEN IS MY TIME TO CUT THE GRASS AND RECTIFY MY OWN PROBLEM? RIGHT? SO NOW I'M BE TRYING TO BEAT YOU TO MY PROPERTY ON THE DAY THAT THE CITY IS CLOSED.
NOW I CAN UNDERSTAND IF YOU DO THAT, AND I'VE BEEN NOTIFIED AGAIN, THE, THE MAIN PART OF THIS IS THAT MY PROPERTY IS BEING TRESPASSED UPON AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
I NEED TO BE NOTIFIED OF, OF SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY HAS TAKEN ACTION ON MY PROPERTY.
YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? SO ANOTHER THING IS, IF, IF, UH, IF YOU ARE SENDING PEOPLE TO MY PROPERTY AND, AND I HAVE, UH, EQUIPMENT OR THINGS ON MY PROPERTY AND I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY'S ON MY PROPERTY AND I FIND OUT THAT THE CITY IS ON MY PROPERTY, TRESPASSING MY PROPERTY, WHICH IS TRESPASSING, THIS BEING ON SOMEBODY'S PROPERTY WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE, RIGHT? AM I CORRECT? SO IF SOMETHING COMES UP MISSING AND YOU ARE THE LAST PERSON ON MY PROPERTY WHO TAKES CARE OF THAT, OKAY, JUST CONTINUE.
SO NOW THAT, THAT'S JUST PART OF THE THING.
BUT MY MAIN THING IS, UH, ONCE BEFORE THEY'VE BEEN ON MY PROPERTY AND THEY CUT MY GRASS, BUT IT WAS AT A TIME THAT MY
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FATHER HAD DIED AND I WASN'T IN THE SPACE TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT.AND AT THAT TIME, MY GRASS WASN'T IN THE, UH, IN THE AREA THAT IT NEEDED TO BE CUT.
BUT THE LOT NEXT TO MINE, UH, WAS, IS ALWAYS HIGH.
SO I FIGURED THEY CUT THAT ONE.
AND SINCE THEY WERE IN THE AREA, THEY JUST CUT MY GRASS.
AND AGAIN, I WASN'T NOTIFIED OF ANY KIND OF WAY THAT THAT ACTION WAS GOING TO HAPPEN ON MY PROPERTY.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO HAPPEN IS I, I, I WOULD LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED IF SOMEBODY IS GOING TO TAKE ACTION ON MY PRIVATE PROPERTY.
AND, AND, UH, WHAT'S HAPPENING IS IT'S LIKE IF YOU WERE, UH, UP HERE AND YOU, YOU WERE PLANNED TO GO HOME AND CLEANED YOUR KITCHEN AND I FOUND OUT THAT YOUR KITCHEN IS DIRTY AND I WENT AND CLEANED YOUR KITCHEN.
YOU CAME HOME AND FOUND ME IN YOUR KITCHEN UNANNOUNCED, AND THEN I CHARGE YOU FOR CLEANING YOUR KITCHEN.
NOW LISTEN, ANOTHER PART OF THIS IS I SERVICE OTHER PEOPLE, UH, MY FAMILY CUTTING THEIR GRASS, RIGHT? AND SO I KEEP MENTIONING THAT I'VE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED.
'CAUSE I'M GONNA ASK YOU SOMETHING AFTER THIS.
UH, I'VE CUT THAT GRASS AND IT SEEMS AS IF, UH, SOMETIMES, UH, AFTER I'VE CUT THAT GRASS, THE CITY STILL SENDS THEM A NOTICE THAT THE CITY HAS CUT THAT GRASS.
SO THEN I GET A PHONE CALL TO ASK ME IF THEIR GRASS WAS CUT.
YOU UNDERSTAND? AND IT SEEMS AS IF THAT, THAT AT THEIR ADDRESS OR WHERE THEIR PROPERTY WAS CUT, THAT I CUT, WAS CUT BY ME, THE CITY SAW IT, THAT IT WAS CUT AND STILL TRIED TO CHARGE THESE PEOPLE.
YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? AND THAT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING, RIGHT? SO NOW I'M SAYING THIS, AND THIS IS THE QUESTION THAT I'M SAYING THAT IN 2017, I MOVED BACK HERE AND I'VE BEEN, UH, TAKING CARE OF MY FAMILY'S PROPERTY AND MY OWN PROPERTY SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
SO NOW IF, IF I HAVE ANY CHARGES ON MY PROPERTY FROM 2017, I WOULD ASK THAT THOSE BE TAKEN OFF MY ACCOUNT BECAUSE THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE.
AND THAT ACTION SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED.
'CAUSE I'VE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANYTHING, NOT AN ACTION ON MY, UH, PROPERTY OR A BILL THAT, THAT SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED ON MY PROPERTY.
SO WHAT'S ESSENTIALLY HAPPENED IS, UH, CITY WORKERS ARE GOING AROUND CUTTING, AND THEN THERE'S A PHANTOM CHARGE ON MY ACCOUNT IF THERE ARE ANY, UH, UH, CHARGES ON MY ACCOUNT.
'CAUSE I I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WHAT THAT, WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING, JOHN? YES, SIR.
AND I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
WHAT I'D LIKE, WE HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER, UH, FOR OPERATIONS HERE AND I, BUT SHE WOULD BE THE BEST PERSON TO BE ABLE TO SHINE SOME LIGHT ON THIS UNDERSTANDING AND WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE ANSWERS FOR YOU THAT YOU'VE ASKED.
IN YOUR PRESENTATION YOU SAY IT A LOT.
BUT I THINK THERE ARE THREE OR FOUR QUESTIONS THAT YOU POSED.
BUT, BUT THE MAIN ONE IS I, I I WOULD LIKE TO TRESPASS HIM TO STOP.
WELL, WELL, WELL WE GOING THAT'S WHAT I'M THIS, YOU SAID EVERYTHING NOW.
IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL JAMES BROWN JUST TO COME UP AND EXPLAIN THE PROCESS INVOLVED BEFORE WE ABATE OKAY.
MR. BROWN, WOULD YOU COME UP PLEASE? AND THEN WOULD YOU JUST STEP TO THE SIDE A LITTLE BIT, MR. JOHNSON? OH.
AND IF YOU, IF YOU WANT TO SIT WHILE YOU SPEAKING, YOU CAN STAND.
I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU THE OUTLINE OF THE PROCESS THAT WE UTILIZE BEFORE WE ABATE ANY NUISANCES ON ANYONE'S PROPERTY.
THE FIRST THING HAPPENS IS THROUGH OUR PATROLS, OUR INSPECTORS, PATROL AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE DAY, THE WEEK, THE MONTH, WE SEE SOMETHING THAT'S A VIOLATION.
IN THIS INSTANCE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNCULTIVATED VEGETATION, HIGH GRASS, AND WEEDS.
WE SEE IT, WE IDENTIFY THE PROPERTY AND THEN WE GO IN AND WE LOOK TO SEE IF WE HAVE ANYTHING PENDING AGAINST IT.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE HAVE VIOLATION, NOTICES ALREADY ON FILE, AND THOSE NOTICES ARE ONLY SENT OUT ONCE A YEAR BECAUSE OF THE GRASS.
IF WE SEE THAT THE GRASS NEEDS TO BE CUT AND THERE IS AN ACTIVE VIOLATION NOTICE ON FILE, WE WILL THEN MOVE FORWARD TO HAVE A CONTRACTOR TO GO OUT AND TAKE CARE OF ABATING THE NUISANCE.
BUT IF THERE IS NOT AN ACTIVE VIOLATION ON FILE, WE THEN NOTIFY THE PROPERTY OWNER BY THE LAST KNOWN POSTMARK THAT IS GIVEN TO US BY THE JEFFERSON COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
AND WE SEND THOSE NOTIFICATIONS TO THAT PERSON.
THERE IS AN ABATEMENT PERIOD THAT IS THERE.
THEY HAVE UP TO 10 DAYS TO HAVE THAT PROPERTY TAKEN CARE OF ON THE 11TH DAY OR SOMETIME AFTER THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE 11TH DAY WILL FALL ON THE WEEKEND.
WE WILL GO BACK AND REINSPECT THAT PROPERTY.
IF THAT PROPERTY IS STILL IN VIOLATION, WE'LL
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MOVE FORWARD THEN TO HIRE OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS TO GET THE PROPERTY TAKEN CARE OF AND BOUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE.ONCE THAT IS DONE, A BILL WILL THEN BE PROCESSED AND SENT TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.
IF IT IS NOT TAKEN CARE OF WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, THEN THE CITY WILL MOVE FORWARD AS FAR AS TO ASSIST LIENS ONTO THAT PROPERTY OR THAT PROPERTY OWNER FOR THE WORK THAT THE CITY HAS DONE.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD, AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, WE DO CAPTURE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THAT PROPERTY AND ALSO PLACE IN THE FILE, UM, JUST TO HAVE PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF THE ACTUAL VIOLATION.
SO BEFORE, BEFORE WE MOVE FURTHER, HAD, UH, YOU ALL HAD ANY DIALOGUE WITH MR. JOHNSON CONCERNING THIS PRIOR TO THIS MEETING THIS MORNING? I BELIEVE STAFF HAS HAD, UM, A CONVERSATION WITH MR. JOHNSON PRIOR TO TODAY'S MEETING.
I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY SPOKE TO MR. JOHNSON, UM, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT ANY SPECIFIC PROPERTY.
UM, FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, IF MR. JOHNSON, UM, WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH HIM REGARDING THE SPECIFIC PROPERTIES THAT HE IS REFERENCING TODAY.
WOULD, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT MR. JOHNSON? BECAUSE THAT, THAT WOULD BE A START IN ADDRESSING, I THINK WHAT YOUR I I HAVE SOMETHING I WANNA ADDRESS THAT HE SAID IF, OKAY.
SO, SO HE SAID THAT IF THERE'S A, UH, THERE'S SOMETHING ON A FILE, RIGHT? IF THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE FILE, THEN THEY JUST GO AND CUT IT.
HOW WOULD I KNOW THAT THAT'S ON FILE IF I'VE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED? AND THEN ON THAT PART, UH, HE, HE SAID THAT IF, UH, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT A LIEN ON MY PROPERTY, WHICH GOES TO THE PHANTOM CHARGES ON MY PROPERTY, IF I DON'T KNOW THERE ARE ANY CHARGES ON THERE TO RECTIFY MM-HMM,
YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? HE JUST SAID THAT THEY CAN TAKE A LIEN AGAINST SOMEBODY'S PROPERTY IF THE, IF THE CHARGES AREN'T RECTIFIED.
BUT HOW WOULD I RECTIFY SOMETHING THAT I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT? OKAY.
AND THAT, THAT, THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING ABOUT YOUR HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE NOT GOING SELL IT RIGHT HERE.
NOW I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IF NOT, IT'S NOT GOING BE SETTLED.
BUT I THINK WE ARE ONE STEP IN RESOLUTION RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE NOW A ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TO WHOM YOU'VE NEVER SPOKEN WITH, HAS AGREED TO FOLLOW IN THIS MEETING TO BEGIN SOME DIALOGUE WITH YOU CONCERNING YOUR, YOUR, YOUR ISSUES.
AND THIS IS HOW WE, WE ARE GOING, WE ARE GOING TO GET TO RESOLUTION, RIGHT? WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, RIGHT NOW WE COULD BE, WE, WE COULD CONTINUE TO MAYBE POINT A FINGER, BUT LET'S GET TO HOW WE WILL WE ABLE TO RESOLVE WHAT YOUR ISSUES ARE.
OKAY? UH, CAN, CAN WE AGREE THAT, UH, FROM 2017 ANY CHARGE ON MY ACCOUNT SHOULD BE, BUT MR. JOHNSON, I NEVER HAD ANY KIND, MR. JOHNSON, I SAID A LITTLE EARLIER, WE CAN'T SETTLE IT RIGHT HERE.
OKAY? SO WE CAN'T GUARANTEE YOU ANYTHING YOU'RE GOING TO ENTER INTO DIALOGUE WITH THEM.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO WORK IN AN AMICABLE MANNER WITH YOU TO RESOLVE WHAT YOUR CONCERN IS.
I MEAN, CAN YOU ACCEPT THAT? YEAH.
AND THEN, AND YOU OUGHT HAVE THE MEETING WITH, UH, MS. LANGSFORD AND MR. BROWN AND WHOMEVER ELSE SHE WANTS, YOU KNOW, SHE, SHE WOULD SAY WOULD BE THERE AND THEN I BELIEVE THAT YOU ALL WOULD BE ABLE TO COME TO RESOLVE.
IT'S GONNA BE SOME COMPROMISE NOW.
OKAY? IT'S GONNA BE SOME COMPROMISE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE RESOLUTION, OKAY? ALRIGHT.
MR. JOHNSON, YOU'RE SAYING DISTRICT FOUR? I'M THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT FOUR.
BUT YOU JUST EXPLAINED WE HAVE THAT OCCASIONALLY.
IF YOU HAD CONTACT ME, THEN I WOULD'VE WENT AND CHECKED INTO IT AND I LISTENED TO WHAT YOU SAY.
AND THE PROCEDURE, I COULD HAVE EXPLAINED THAT TO YOU.
UH, AND I'M NOT MR. JOHNSON, MR. JOHNSON UNDERSTAND.
WE LET YOU SPEAK, RIGHT? OKAY.
JUST GIVE US THE RESPECT TO LET US I GET IT.
QUICK AND WHAT THEY JUST EXPLAINED TO YOU AS THE PROCESS, WE'VE GOT THIS, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER THAT'S GOING TO MEET WITH YOU AND YOU'RE GOING TO GO OVER WHAT THEY HAVE.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT THEY FEEL IMPROBABLE, THEN THEY WILL TELL YOU ONCE YOU
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MET WITH THEM, IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH WHAT CAME ABOUT IT, YOU COULD CALL ME AND I'LL GO BACK AND LOOK INTO IT.BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIME PROPERTY WAS CUTTING BY MISTAKE.
WHEN THE OWNERS COME TO THE CITY, THEY CLEAR IT UP, THEY JUST TAKE IT OFF, OKAY? BUT YOU NEED TO GO DOWN THERE IN PERSON AND TALK WITH THEM SO THEY COULD SHOW YOU WHAT THEY HAVE, BECAUSE IT WON'T BE SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE ANSWERING THE QUESTION.
THEY GONNA PULL UP THE RECORDS FOR YOUR PROPERTY.
NOW, AFTER THAT, IF YOU'RE NOT SATISFIED, THEN YOU COULD GIMME A CALL AND I'LL GO AND CHECK AND LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAVE.
OKAY? I KNOW THE PROCESS, OKAY? THANK YOU.
HOW WOULD I HAVE KNOWN TO CONTACT YOU? THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TALKING TO YOU GUYS.
WELL, IF YOU WANNA CONTACT ME, YOU COULD LOOK AT THE CITY WEBSITE AND AND FIND OUT.
AND IF YOU ASK SOME OF YOUR NEIGHBORS SUDDENLY THEY'LL TELL YOU I LIVE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
SO I'M PRETTY WELL, I'M PRETTY EASY TO CONTACT YOU ASKING QUESTIONS.
SO LET'S MOVE ON 'CAUSE I SEE WHERE WE GOING.
HUH? UH, WE CAN, UH, ARRANGE A MEETING WITH YOU EITHER NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD SAY, AS LONG AS WE GOING TO BE HERE FOR THIS COUNCIL MEETING.
WHEN, WHEN, WHEN SHE COMES DOWN, SHE CAN TALK.
CAN, CAN SOMEONE GIVE HIM A CARD? MR. BROWN JUST PROVIDED MR. JOHNSON WITH HIS CARD.
YOU HAVE THAT CARD, MR. UH, UH, CARD MR. BROWN, MR. JOHNSON.
CALL THAT NUMBER PREFERABLY, UH, UH, TOMORROW.
OKAY? AND LET THEM KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND THAT YOU ARE CALLING ABOUT A MEETING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SET UP AND WHOMEVER ANSWERS THEY'RE GONNA PUT YOU TO THE RIGHT PERSON, OKAY? OKAY.
AND IT, IT MAY TAKE A WEEK BEFORE THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET TO YOU, BUT DON'T, DON'T, DON'T FEEL DEFEATED ANYTHING.
AND AS COUNCILMAN DE SAID, THEY SAID, GO THROUGH WHAT IT IS.
NOW WHAT I DID TELL YOU IS GOING TO BE SOME COMPROMISE.
AND I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
YOU KNOW, IT IS GOING TO BE SOME GIVE AND TAKE ON EITHER, ON BOTH SIDES IF THERE HAS BEEN A MISTAKE AS YOU ALLEGE.
IF THERE HASN'T, THEN THERE MIGHT JUST BE SOME GRACE AND MERCY THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY EXTEND TO YOU IF YOU ARE PRESENTING WHAT YOU HAVE IN THE RIGHT MANNER.
[III.A.(2) Joe Tant Of The Greater Port Arthur Chamber Of Commerce Regarding Chamber Updates]
WE HAVE, UH, EXCUSE ME, SPEAKER MR. JOE TAN OF THE, UH, GREATER PORT ARTHUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REGARDING CHAMBER UPDATES.SAY HI TO MY FRIENDS ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
Y'ALL WORKING GOOD TIMES? UH, EACH OF YOU HAS GOT A BINDER IN FRONT OF YOU.
THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT YOUR CHAMBER HAS DONE IN THE PAST 10 MONTHS.
SO WANTED TO MAKE SURE ANYONE FROM MY CITY SECRETARY, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER, ALL OF OUR COUNCIL FOLKS KNEW EXACTLY WHAT YOUR CHAMBER WAS WORKING ON.
UH, PART OF THE IDEA IS, UH, THAT WE'VE GOT, WE'VE HAD 57 EVENTS THAT HAVE EDUCATED AND OR HELPED OUR FOLKS IN PORT ARTHUR, OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, OUR MEMBERSHIP, AND THE FOLKS IN AND AROUND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
WE'VE HAD FREE BUSINESS TRAINING, LUNCH AND LEARN SEMINARS.
WE'RE CONDUCTING A FREE QUICKBOOKS TRAINING IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS TO COME.
THAT'S PART OF OUR BUSINESS TRAINING ASPECTS.
WE ESTIMATE, WE'VE TOUCHED AROUND 7,600 INDIVIDUALS IN PORT ARTHUR AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH THESE EVENTS.
THE CHAMBERS HOSTED TWO JOB FAIRS THIS YEAR.
AND COUNCILOR LEWIS, WE HAVE HAD 27 ON THE SPOT HIRING OF FOLKS IN PORT ARTHUR.
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 5TH BECAUSE OF HOW POSITIVE THAT WAS.
AND WE'LL GO OVER HERE TO LAMAR BECAUSE THEY'RE GRADUATING AND WE HOPE TO GET THOSE FOLKS HIRED ON THE SPOT.
SO, ANOTHER POSITIVE ITEM THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, WE HAVE A T LUNCHEON ON NOVEMBER 20TH.
I KNOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU LOVES THE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON IN AND AROUND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
LET'S SIT DOWN WITH MARTIN GONZALEZ, THE FIELD DIRECTOR FOR TDOT, AND LET'S HEAR WHAT HE HAS PLANNED.
ONE OF THEM'S ABOUT TO BE SHUT DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE.
I REQUESTED SOME DRONE FOOTAGE WHERE THEY STARTED,
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WHERE THEY'RE AT NOW, SO WE CAN SEE THE PROGRESS.I'VE ASKED THEM TO EXPLAIN TO US WHY ONE MINUTE THEY'RE WORKING ON A PROJECT AND MAYBE THEY'RE NOT THE NEXT DAY.
UM, ASK RON ARSENO, HEAD OF OUR TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, ALONG WITH LARRY KELLY FROM THE PORT WHO SITS ON THAT COMMITTEE TO HELP, UH, GUIDE THAT EVENT.
UM, YOUR CHAMBER HAS SIGNED AN ADDITIONAL FIVE YEAR LEASE TO BE DOWN HERE IN DOWNTOWN PORT ARTHUR.
WE'VE SIGNED A COUPLE OF LEASES NOW TO BE YOUR NEIGHBORS AND WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WE'RE 126 YEARS OLD AND WE WANNA CONTINUE TO BE A GOOD PARTNER WITH OUR CITY AND, AND STAY DOWN HERE AND BE THAT ANCHOR FOR DOWNTOWN PORT NORTH FIRM.
WE HAVE ADVOCATED FOR OVER $16 BILLION IN PROJECTS IN AND AROUND PORT ARTHUR.
WE ARE ACTIVELY ENSURING THAT WE CAN PUT OUR FOLKS TO WORK HERE IN PORT ARTHUR AND OUR SURROUNDING AREAS.
FINALLY, GOLDEN TRIANGLE DAYS 2025, MARCH 3RD AND FOURTH.
I NEED YOU TO COME TO AUSTIN WITH ME.
WE, WE DON'T ASK FOR A LOT FROM OUR CITY MONEY-WISE.
I NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION, JUST LIKE WE'VE DONE FOR MANY YEARS, HAROLD.
UH, AND, AND MR. VEY AND I, WE'VE, WE'VE GONE, WE'VE BEEN UP THERE AND WE NEED TO CONVINCE AUSTIN OF WHAT WE NEED.
WE HAVE SUBMITTED ALL THE BILLS PRIOR TO THE NOVEMBER 11TH DEADLINE.
WE KNOW TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, EDUCATION, ALL OF THOSE ARE IMPORTANT.
OUR JEWEL RIGHT BEHIND US, THE COLLEGE HAS INCREASED ENROLLMENT.
THEY'RE OUTGROWING THE BUILDINGS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING FUNDING FOR THAT.
WE NEED TO ALSO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THE EQUAL FUNDING FOR THE LAMAR SYSTEMS. WE LOVE LAMAR UNIVERSITY AND WE LOVE LIT AND WE LOVE LSEO.
BUT LET'S MAKE IT FAIR AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT MONEY IS DISPERSED AS IT SHOULD BE.
WE WANNA CONTINUE TO HELP THOSE FOLKS.
SO I CAN STAND UP HERE AND, AND GO THROUGH ALL THESE EVENTS, BUT I WANTED TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE'VE DONE.
WE HAVE DONE 46% MORE FOR OUR COMMUNITY THIS YEAR IN 10 MONTHS THAN IT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.
THAT UNDER YOUR NEW CHAMBER LEADERSHIP DIRECTION PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CITY, UM, NOT TO BEAT DOWN THE PREVIOUS CHAMBER PRESIDENT, BUT THEY DIDN'T COME BEFORE YOU.
THEY DIDN'T COME TELL YOU WHAT WAS GOING ON.
THEY DIDN'T INVITE YOU TO THESE THINGS.
I WANT YOU, AT EVERY EVENT THAT WE HAVE, MS. MARIAH IS SITTING IN OUR OFFICE OR IN OUR AUDIENCE.
WE'LL ALWAYS MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SPOT FOR YOU.
WE WANNA BE SURE THAT WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH OUR CITY AND MAKING SURE WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN A POSITIVE MANNER ON EVERYTHING THAT WE DO TO MAKE PORT ARTHUR BETTER.
AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL GIVING ME THE TWO MINUTES AND 45 SECONDS IN, OUT AND DONE.
THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THROWN AT ME? ALRIGHT.
IT ACTUALLY, IT ACTUALLY WAS FIVE MINUTES FOR SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT FOR YOU IT'S TWO AND A HALF.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, UH, I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT ABOUT THE CHAMBER SINCE I'VE COME ON COUNCIL FOR ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
YOU KNOW, WE SAY THE GREATER CHAMBER, NO, IT'S THE CITY, IT'S PORT ARTHUR CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND YOU ALL ARE A SEPARATE ENTITY.
BUT IF WE GONNA BE PARTNERS, WE SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE THE RESPECT THAT SOMEONE WOULD COME FROM THE CHAMBER BEFORE THIS COUNCIL AND TELL THE COUNCIL THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON IN THIS CITY TO BETTER OUR CITY AND TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE NEED OR MAYBE WE CAN DO TO ASSIST YOU IN SUPPORTING YOU.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU COME BEFORE THAT PODIUM IS NOT ABOUT JUST US UP HERE OR THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU.
IT'S PEOPLE WHO'S WATCHING THIS.
THEY KNOW WHAT THIS CHAMBER IS DOING.
THEY KNOW THAT THE CHAMBER IS HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
I AM SO THRILLED THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN EVER SINCE YOU'VE TAKEN OVER.
THIS IS YOUR SECOND TIME HERE.
AND, UH, COMING ONCE A QUARTER, IT LETS US KNOW THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH US.
[00:35:01]
KEEP US INFORMED AND YOU WANT TO LET US KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CITY.YOU WANT TO LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU TO BETTER OUR CITY.
AND WHEN YOU SAY TO US, YOU SAYING IT TO CITIZENS, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
LET CITIZENS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO I APPLAUD YOU FOR BEING TRULY YOUR WORD, THAT YOU WILL BE COMING BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND GIVING PERIODICAL UPDATES.
AND I SEE YOU'RE STUCK WITH IT.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY CITY AND CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE SHOULD WORK IN THE PARTNERSHIP.
WELL, COUNCILMAN ETT DIDN'T LEAVE TOO MUCH ON ME TO SAY HE COVERED EVERYTHING PRETTY GOOD.
BUT IN THE PAST, HE ALL THE CHAMBERS PARTICIPATED, UH, THROUGHOUT TODAY NOTIFYING THE LEGISLATORS SENATE, LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT'S, WHAT'S NEEDED AND WHAT THEY NEED TO LOOK AT.
UH, Y'ALL HAVE ALWAYS DONE THOSE KIND OF THINGS, BUT, UH, THE MORE COUNCILMAN DEE HAS SAID, MORE UPDATES THE QUARTERLY OR GREATER, YOU KNOW, ONCE A MONTH, WHATEVER, LET US KNOW AND LET THE CITIZEN KNOW WHAT WHAT IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING IN THE AREA.
I JUST LIKE YOU SEE THAT ON THE PAST OUT THERE.
I MEAN THAT, UM, AT 73 AT 73 AND UM, AND, AND 69 MM-HMM.
BUT YOU ALL MADE US AWARE, MADE THE PORT ARTHUR CITY COUNCIL AWARE IN THE NINETIES THAT WHAT'S GONNA BE TAKING PLACE IN THE FUTURE, FUTURE.
YOU DESIGN IT AND THEN YOU FUND IT.
SO, AND THEN, AND BY YOU ALERTING THE PUBLIC, THEY MAY THEY HAVE, THEY MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME INPUT.
JUST LIKE THE BRIDGE OVER THERE, THE OVERPASS.
AND WHEN I GOT OUT, COME OUT OF VIETNAM, THERE WAS, THERE WAS PICKET SIGNS OUT THERE PROTESTING THE MLK BRIDGE.
BUT THAT PROJECT HAD BEEN PLANNED 20, 25 YEARS BEFORE.
BUT, BUT THE COMMUNITY WAS UNAWARE.
SO WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH, WITH COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE IS TALKING ABOUT ALERTING THE COMMUNITY AS TO WHAT'S GOING TO BE TAKING PLACE IN THE FUTURE.
AND THEY CAN BE A PART OF THE PLAN, YOU KNOW, AND BE IN SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AT LEAST NOT THEY BE, THEY'LL HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS.
COUNCILMAN FRANK JOE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, MAN.
WE BUMP INTO EACH OTHER ON THE WEDNESDAY GROUPS FOR THE CONTRACTORS AND I MEAN, I'VE SEEN THAT IS JUST SO WELL ATTENDED AND SO WELL RUN.
AND TRAVIS IS THERE AND ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS THERE WHO ARE TRYING TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES OF WORK, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT ALL OF THE BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WOULD UTILIZE THAT TO A LARGER DEGREE, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN FIND WORK, UM, WITH ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING, UH, HERE IN OUR CITY.
ALSO, I WANT TO REMIND YOU AND I, THAT WE HAD BEEN IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, THOSE BUS STOPS.
UM, UH, WORK, GETTING THE CHAMBER'S INPUT ON THAT SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND GET SOME, UH, SOME OF THESE COVERS ON THESE BUS STOPS AS WE TALKED ABOUT.
AND, AND IT IS THE, THE CONTRACTOR GROUP IS OPEN TO ANY MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OR INDIVIDUAL IN PORT ARTHUR THAT WANTS TO ATTEND.
WE, WE DO RECOMMEND THAT THEY, THEY COME TO HEAR ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON ON A CONTINUAL BASIS.
AND WE HAVE A GROUP IN BEAUMONT.
WE HAVE ONE IN LAKE CHARLES, BUT THE ONE IN PORT ARTHUR IS THE ONLY ONE THAT RUN ALL 12 MONTHS.
AND SO THERE'S, UH, ALWAYS SOME GOOD INFORMATION AT THOSE MEETINGS.
WELL, THANK YOU SO KINDLY FOR ENLIGHTENING US ON YOUR FUTURE.
AND ONE, ONE THING, I I HAVE SCANNING THE BOOK WHEN YOU MENTIONED MARCH 3RD AND FOURTH, BUT I, I DON'T SEE THAT A PAGE IN THERE FOR THAT 2025, I HAVE TO SAY ONE, ONE AND 2024 IN THE 10 MONTHS THAT ARE, ARE, AND THEN A, A COUPLE THINGS IN DECEMBER THAT ARE, ARE COMING UP REALLY SOON.
BUT, UM, LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WILL BE DONE ON THE 18TH OF NOVEMBER.
AND I'LL GET THAT OUT TO EVERYBODY FOR, UH, GOLDEN TRIANGLE DAYS.
AND IF YOU WILL, UH, OUR NEW CITY ATTORNEY HAS, UH, SPOKEN, UH, IN DEPTH TO US ABOUT, UH, MOVING FORWARD WITH, UH, LEGISLATIVE, UH, LOBBYING, IF YOU WILL.
UH, AND, AND, AND SOME PROCESSES.
SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, MAYBE YOU CAN, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, COLLABORATE
[00:40:01]
WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY WHO COULD IN TURN LET US KNOW EXACTLY WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, YOU KNOW, WHO NEEDS TO BE THERE AT THE TIMES AND THOSE THINGS.AND WE CAN BEGIN TO PLACE THOSE THINGS ON OUR CALENDARS TO, UH, BE PREPARED FOR THE, UH, BIENNIUM.
UH, NEXT ONE IS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT DAY IN JANUARY, THEY, THEY GO INTO SESSION, BUT WHEN THEY GO INTO SESSION, YES, WE'D BE, WE'D BE PREPARED.
YOU ALL, YOU ALL BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.
THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR US.
NEXT WE'LL MOVE TO, UH, PRESENTATIONS AND WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY STAFF REGARDING STREET AND POTHOLE REPAIR THAT WAS REQUESTED, UH, BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW.
AND, OKAY, WELL, UH, I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.
WELL, WHAT, BUT THE, UH, MY GROUP IS ASKING THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW IS NOT PRESENT.
AND IF WE COULD JUST, I KNOW YOU ASKED THE SUPERVISOR AND EVERYBODY SUPERINTENDENT.
WELL, WE COULD JUST MAYBE DO IT AT A TIME WHEN THE COUNCIL PERSON IS GOING TO BE, UH, BE AT THE MEETING.
AND THAT MAY HAVE TO BE AT THE MEETING ON THE 19TH, RIGHT? YEAH, THE MEETING ON THE 19TH, WE CAN, UH, REPOST.
THANK YOU SO, UH, SO KINDLY FOR BEING PREPARED.
[III.B.(2) A Presentation By Mayor Bartie Regarding The Mayor’s Institute On Community Design (M.I.C.D.)]
HAVE, UH, A PRESENTATION BY THE MAYOR, AND WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS GO DOWN, UM, HERE, UH, DO YOU HAVE THE POWERPOINT PREPARED? UH, LINDSEY.WELL, FIRST, GOOD MORNING COUNT.
YOU KNOW WHAT? AND I SEE WHAT IT'S, YOU GOTTA ADD THIS THING BACK.
SO, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING, YOU HAVE TO BE, UH, YOU CAN'T SEE THE SCREEN.
NOW, NOW I SEE WHY Y'ALL HAVE IT ALL BACK HERE.
IF IT, IF IT WERE ONE BEHIND THERE, YOU'D BE THE PERSON TO SPEAK.
IT WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
SO, UH, WELL FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY GOOD MORNING TO COUNCIL AND TO, UH, UH, THOSE WHO ARE GATHERED HERE IN THE, UH, GALLERY HERE AT, UH, CITY HALL.
AND WHAT I HAVE BEFORE YOU IS A, A PRESENTATION THAT WAS ACTUALLY DONE ON, UH, I THINK IT WAS OCTOBER 24TH, WAS THE DAY THAT I PRESENTED.
AND I ACTUALLY PRESENTED AT WHAT'S CALLED THE, THE, UH, MAYORS INSTITUTE OF, UH, CITY DESIGN.
I WAS, UH, FORTUNATE ENOUGH AND BLESSED TO BE SELECTED AMONG SEVEN MAYORS FOR AROUND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THEY SELECTED SEVEN MAYORS FOR THIS, UH, PARTICULAR, UH, CLASS.
AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE, UH, ONE OF THOSE SEVEN.
AND OUR JOB, AFTER BEING SELECTED GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, WAS TO HAVE A PROJECT FROM YOUR CITY PRESENTED, AND YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO GET PROFESSIONAL INPUT FROM SEVEN OTHER PROFESSIONALS WHO DEAL AROUND THE WORLD IN CITY DESIGNS.
AND, UH, EACH MAYOR HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT.
I HAVE IN MY HAND, UH, THE ACTUAL BRIEFING BOOK FROM GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA THAT WAS ACTUALLY USED.
IT HAD THE, THE ENTIRE, UH, ITINERARY AND ALSO WITH THE LEADERSHIP TEAM.
SO WHAT I AM GOING TO DO AT THIS POINT IS TO PRESENT TO YOU THE CASE STUDY THAT I PRESENTED TO THE GROUP LAST MONTH IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA.
AND IT WOULD BEGIN WITH ACTUALLY INTRODUCING OUR CITY AS A SQUI CENTENNIAL CITY, WHICH WE KNOW WAS 125 YEARS OLD.
AND MY STATEMENT THAT I MADE THERE, THIS, THERE SAYS, AS THE CITY'S SQUI CENTEN MAYOR, I AM PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO USHER IN ANOTHER 125 YEARS OF GROWTH DEVELOPMENT AND FORWARD PROGRESS OF BUILDING ON A STORIED PASS, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO A BRIGHT FUTURE.
AND THE NEXT PAGE DEALS WITH A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS IS FOR THOSE WHO WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH OUR FAIR CITY.
[00:45:01]
AND YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOCATED IN, UH, SOUTHEAST TEXAS NEAR BEAUMONT, UH, AND IT'S CALLED THE BEAUMONT PORT ARTHUR METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA.AND THAT, UH, MSA ACTUALLY IS ACTUALLY 90 MILES EAST OF THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH IS, UH, BUT WE ARE ON THE GULF COAST AND WE ARE ACTUALLY PART OF WHAT WE ALL KNOW, THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE, WHICH INCLUDES THREE CITIES, PORT ARTHUR, BEAUMONT, AND ORANGE.
OUR POPULATION, ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU IS 56,039 INDIVIDUALS.
UH, THE ETHNICITY HAPPENS TO BE WHITE, WOULD BE 24.1%, BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN, 38% AMERICAN INDIAN, 1% ASIAN, 5.9%, HISPANIC, 31%.
AND OUR ECONOMY, UH, ACTUALLY WE HAVE, UH, UNEMPLOYMENT THAT DEALS WITH OUR MSA AND IT PUTS US AT 6.5%.
UH, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THAT NUMBER IS 4.1%.
AND, UH, WE KNOW THAT AT THE PRESENT, OUR, UH, BASIS FOR ECONOMICS IS, UH, GAS AND OIL OR THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY.
AND ALSO IT TALKS ABOUT THE CLIMATE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT WE ALREADY, ALREADY KNOW.
IF YOU COME BACK TOMORROW, IT'LL CHANGE.
IT'LL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THE DATE.
BUT IT TALKS ABOUT OUR CULTURE, WHAT OUR CULTURE IS, AND EVEN SOME, UH, UH, SALIENT, UH, ELEMENTS THAT WE DEAL WITH.
UH, WE ARE SURROUNDED BY MINIMALLY, BY ETHNIC, UH, DIVERSITY, DIVERSE, DIVERSE, WELL SURROUNDED BY MINIMAL ETHNICALLY DIVERSE CITIES, WHICH MEANS THAT THE CITIES THAT SURROUND US DO NOT HAVE THE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WE HAVE.
WE ALSO HAVE A TECHNOLOGY THAT WE DEAL WITH.
BUT WE ALSO, ONE IMPORTANT POINT IS THE DOWNTOWN HAS NOT BEEN A BUSINESS DISTRICT OR A COMMERCIAL CENTER FOR SOME TIME.
AND IT, UH, I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE WE DO HAVE AGING WATER SYSTEM, WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND IF YOU WOULD NOTE, IF THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS ACTUALLY SUFFERS FROM MAJOR FINANCIAL CHALLENGES FOR HELPING CITIES IN THIS ARENA.
NOW THE PORT ARTHUR HISTORICAL BRIEF, IT SHOWS WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED, WHOM IT WAS FOUNDED BY, AND IT SHOWS ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT, THE 77 SQUARE MILES THAT WE HAVE, AND IT'S CALLED THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WHICH IS RELATIVELY LARGE.
ALSO, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THERE, AND WE DID THAT WE ARE DECLARED THE CAJUN CAPITAL OF TEXAS.
AND THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED BY A LEGISLATIVE MANDATE.
SO THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS ACTUALLY SAID THAT POOR ARTHUR IS A, IS THE RATHER CAJUN CAPITAL OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND THE FORM, THE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT WE HAVE, WE HAVE A COUNCIL MANAGER GOVERNMENT WHERE WE HAVE A MAYOR AND TWO AT LARGE SEATS AND FOUR SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT SEATS AND STILLWELL AND HOW HE FOUNDED THE CITY IS THERE.
IT'S IMPORTANT NOW, THE PROJECT THAT WE ACTUALLY PRESENTED HAD TO DEAL WITH OR IS THE WOODWORTH PROJECT.
THE WOODWORTH PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO CREATE AN ELEMENT AND A BEAUTIFIED CORRIDOR TO THE SEA WALL AND TO THE DOWNTOWN.
THUS CATALYZING THE REVIVAL OF THE CITY'S DOWNTOWN.
THE CITY'S COMMERCIAL, UH, GROWTH AND HISTORIC AREA FOR TOURISTS, WHICH WOULD ACTUALLY INCREASE OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH.
WOOLWORTH BOULEVARD NOW IS, UH, TERMINALS AT SOUTH HIGHWAY, OR STATE HIGHWAY 69, AND WE KNOW THAT AS BEING GULF WEIGHT.
AND ONCE IT ENTERS THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY, IT FLOWS TO A SECTION OF THE STREET, WHICH IS NAMED MEMORIAL BOULEVARD.
AND IT COMES DOWN TO GOWAY, WHERE THE BOULEVARD SERVES ON, ON ONE SIDE THE MAJOR OR THE NORTH SIDE OF IT, AND IT'S MEMORIAL.
THE SOUTH SIDE ACTUALLY IS WOODWORTH BOULEVARD.
NOW THE WOODWORTH PROJECT REINVENTS AND REVITALIZES AN APPROXIMATE 12 BLOCK SECTION BEGINNING AT GOWAY.
AND, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR, UH, EAST WEST ROOTS IN OUR CITY TWO LAKE SHORE DRIVE, WHICH ABUTS THE SEA WALL AND THE HURRICANE LEVY THAT IS THERE FOR OUR PROTECTION IN THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
AND, UH, DRAINAGE DISTRICT SEVEN HANDLES THAT.
AND AT WHICH POINT ALL PARTS OF OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IS ENCOMPASSED IN THIS AREA.
NOW, PRIOR TO ENTERING THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, YOU ACTUALLY CROSS PROCTOR STREET, WHICH IS THE MAJOR
[00:50:01]
RAFFA IN THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT.AND IT ALSO PROVIDES PRIMARY ACCESS TO OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THE MO STATE COLLEGE PORT ARTHUR.
AND ALSO IT WOULD GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, THE, UH, PORT ARTHUR CITY HALL, AND EVEN THE PORT OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND THERE ARE SOME PICTURES HERE THAT WOULD NOW DEPICT WHAT I JUST GAVE YOU IN, UH, DIALOGUE.
AND THE WOOLWORTH PROJECT IS A PROJECT THAT THE PROFESSIONALS WHO WERE THERE IN ATTENDANCE COULD ACTUALLY VIEW FROM SLIDES THAT I DID HAVE.
UH, AND IT, IT, IT SHOWS WHAT PORT ARTHUR IS AND HOW IT LOOKS.
AND, UH, IT'S A VERY, WELL, IT'S AN AREA THAT HAS A VERY GREAT AMOUNT OF POTENTIAL ACCORDING TO THE ARCHITECTS OF CITY DESIGN WHO WERE PRESENT AT THIS, UH, MEETING.
NOW, IN THOSE VIEWS, WE LOOKED AT THIS PROJECT AND THE PROJECT BEING IN ONE THAT OTHER CITIES IN AMERICA CAN ACTUALLY EMBRACE AND EVEN EMULATE.
THEY CAN ACTUALLY SEE IN THEIR CITIES BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY CITY THAT HAS A DECLINING AND A DOWNTOWN AREA THAT IS NOT ECONOMICALLY SOUND OR BRINGING IN WHAT WE WOULD FEEL AND WANT AND, UH, WOULD WANT A DOWNTOWN AREA TO DO.
SO, YOU WOULD WANT THE THOROUGH FAIR THAT WOULD GET YOU TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO BE PRESENTED AS YOU ARE REALLY HEADED SOMEWHERE.
WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS IF WE WOULD COMPLETE, I MEAN JUST GO THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION, THESE, UH, PICTURES, THE CHALLENGES AND THE CONCERNS THAT FACE US BECAUSE WITH ANY PROJECT AND EVEN WITH THESE CASE MANAGEMENT, UH, OR THESE CASE STUDIES THAT WERE PRESENTED, EVERY CITY HAD CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS THAT WERE NECESSARY FOR THE CONTINUATION AND THE GROWTH OF THOSE PROJECTS.
NOW FIRST ONE IS DOWNTOWN IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF A CITY WHERE RAIL AND WATER USE ORIGINATED.
HOWEVER, OUTMIGRATION OF BUSINESS AND BUSINESSES AND THE ADVENT OF TECHNOLOGY HAVE DECREASED THE NEED FOR DOWNTOWN TRAVEL.
ALTHOUGH LOCATED APPROXIMATE, UH, TO LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR, THE LACK OF BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN DOES NOT DRAW OR CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC.
NOW, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC TO THE SEA WALL FOR WALKING AND FOR TOURIST PURPOSES, HOWEVER, THIS TRAFFIC DOES NOT PRODUCE ANY MEASURABLE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE CITY.
NOW, ALTHOUGH PORT ARTHUR HAS A STRONG PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIAL ECONOMIC BASE, THERE IS A NEED TO DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY TO PRODUCE MORE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
NOW THE PROJECT IN THE TUNE OF $14.2 MILLION IS DEPICTED AS THE CITY DIVERTING SOME MONEY AWAY FROM ITS COMMITMENT TO FIX STREETS.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE PERSON THAT I'M SPEAKING WITH.
YOU ALL KNOW WHAT WE SAID, BUT I THINK IN WHAT I'VE SAID EARLIER, LETS YOU UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THAT WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE THOROUGHFARE COMING INTO DOWNTOWN.
NOW, HAVING THAT FEELING, IT'S NOT ANYTHING NEW.
WHAT I DID LEARN FROM OTHER MAYORS WHO HAD SIMILAR TYPE PROJECTS, WHO DID SIMILAR TYPE CASE STUDIES, THEY HAVE THAT SAME TYPE OPPOSITION.
BUT WHEN YOU ARE DOING IT FOR THE GROWTH AND THE WEALTH OF YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE GOT TO MAKE THE POSITIVE MOVE OF LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE.
NOW, FUTURISTICALLY, WE KNOW THAT THE STREETS IN BROWN PORT ARTHUR ARE DEPLORABLE IN EVERY DISTRICT.
AND THERE'S NO WAY, IT'S JUST LIKE THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF NEEDED REPAIRS THROUGHOUT THIS CITY, BUT WE'VE GOT
[00:55:01]
TO TACKLE THOSE OR REALLY APPROACH THOSE ONE AT A TIME.NOW, FINDING AND FUNDING THIS AGING AND FAILING WATER SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE IS ACTUALLY RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND WE ACTUALLY ENCOUNTER PARTS OF THIS IN THIS WOODWORTH PROJECT, BUT WE'VE GOT TO PREPARE A PLAN TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE OF THIS WOODWORTH PROJECT UPON COMPLETION WHILE EVEN LIMITING STAFF EQUIPMENT AND COST.
BUT ONCE WE DO THIS GREAT JOB OF ACTUALLY TOTALLY REDEVELOPING RE GENTRIFYING WOOLWORTH BOULEVARD, WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE A MAINTENANCE PROGRAM THAT WOULD LEND ITSELF TO SUSTAINABILITY FOR THAT THOROUGHFARE.
SO IT WOULD ALWAYS BE WELCOMING TO TOURISTS, IT WOULD ALWAYS BE WELCOMING TO CITIZENS WHO TRAVEL.
AND WITH THE ADVENT OF THE VO MOTIVA PROJECT COMING TO FRUITION AND FROM 12 TO 24 MONTHS AND THE ADDITION OF THREE TO 500 INDIVIDUALS IN THIS DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR EACH DAY FOR WHATEVER THOSE WORKING HOURS WOULD BE, WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE THE THOROUGH FAIR, RIGHT? WE HAVE GOT TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES THAT NEED TO BE THERE SO THAT WHAT COUNCILMAN LEWIS ARE ALWAYS CON IS CONCERNED ABOUT SALES TAX THAT THOSE PERSONS CAN MAKE PURCHASES THAT THE SALES TAX WOULD COME BACK TO OUR CITY.
BUT ALL OF THIS Y'ALL IS CONTINGENT UPON MAKING THE ELL LOOK GOOD SO THAT FOLK COULD GET DOWN HERE SO THAT THEY CAN SPEND THEIR MONEY.
SO I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR OPPOSITION TO IT, BUT IF YOU WOULD FLIP ON THAT PAGE, YOU COULD SEE GO ONE MORE TIME.
YOU CAN SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS.
I DROVE DOWN THERE THIS MORNING AND ONCE YOU ARE ABLE TO VISUALIZE WHAT THIS WOULD BE FROM GULF WAY TO THE SEA WALL AND THE ENHANCEMENTS THAT THIS PROGRAM AT THIS PROJECT WOULD DO FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR OUR AESTHETIC APPEARANCE, EVEN FOR OUR TAX BASE, BECAUSE ONE OF THE PROFESSIONALS, AND I DIDN'T HAVE THIS, THIS IS NOT THERE, BUT AS I GAVE MY PRESENTATION, THE PROFESSIONAL JUST SIT THERE BECAUSE NEW ENGINEERS COULD DO THAT.
THEY COULD JUST SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO YOU AND DRAW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
HE HAS DRAW, HE DID DRAW THAT BOULEVARD, BUT HE SHOWED ALSO TOTAL RE-GENTRIFICATION OF THE BOULEVARD WHERE BUSINESSES ALONG WITH WHAT IS THERE NOW, COULD ACTUALLY BE PLACED ALONG WOOLWORTH BOULEVARD FOR PERSONS ENTERING PROCTOR STREET BUSINESSES.
THAT WOULD BE LUCRATIVE BUSINESSES.
BUSINESSES THAT ENTREPRENEURS FOLK WHO ARE CITIZENS HERE IN THE PORT ARTHUR CAN HAVE A BUSINESS THERE ON WOOLWORTH BOULEVARD.
ALSO, THE POSSIBILITY, AND IT SHOWS HERE FROM A PARK HUB TO, WE CAN EVEN DO MEDIUM DENSITY HOUSING, DUPLEX TYPE HOUSES, UH, TOWNHOUSES, SMALL APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
I SHOWED THEM THE APARTMENTS THAT WE HAVE ON LAKESHORE HERE.
WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY YOU ALL OF HAVING THOSE SAME TYPE HOUSES ALL DOWN WOOLWORTH BOULEVARD.
ONCE WE COMPLETE THIS STREET, WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE, THERE IS PROPERTY THERE THAT'S VACANT, MAYBE SOME WAY THE EDC CAN WORK WITH SOME INDIVIDUALS TO GET THESE THINGS DONE.
WE'VE GOT TO WORK AS A CITY, AS I, YOU KNOW, DO THIS PRESENTATION.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALWAYS FIGHT AND ARGUE AND SAY, WHO'S NOT RIGHT? AND THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
IF WE WOULD SPEND FIVE MINUTES OF TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER, WE COULD CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THE CITY OF FORT ARTHUR.
WE COULD MAKE OUR FUTURE GREAT AND YOU ALL, IT'S LEFT TO US.
[01:00:02]
BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE THE MAYOR AND ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY.AND I WOULD WANNA SAY TO THOSE, IF YOU ARE SELECTED IN THESE PROGRAMS THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN, THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ME TO BE INVOLVED IN THEM FEDERALLY.
THEY PAY YOUR TRANSPORTATION, THEY PAY YOU LOING.
THEY EVEN PAY A PER DIEM TO YOU BECAUSE THEY WANT YOU THERE.
AND SO I WAS ABLE, AND GOD BLESSED ME TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE VETTING.
AND OUT OF 19,000 MAYORS IN AMERICA, I WAS SOLD THROUGH ONE OF SEVEN.
NOW THAT MIGHT NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO Y'ALL, BUT THEN YOU'RE NOT THERMO BOY EITHER.
IT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME WHERE I THANK GOD THAT HE HAS ENDOWED ME WITH WHAT IS NEEDED WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE MAKING THESE TYPE DECISIONS.
AND TO EVEN TAKE IT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, YOU CAN, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE INTERNET'S RIGHT THERE.
SO I MAY DO THESE NUMBERS WRONG, BUT WHEN I SAY WRONG, I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PAGE I NEED TO GO TO.
BUT THIS BOOK HAS ALL OF THE MAYORS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM SINCE 1986.
AND THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 1200 MAYORS, AGAIN, OUT OF 19,000 MAYORS WHO'VE BEEN AFFORDED THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THE KNOWLEDGE AND ALL THAT'S NECESSARY TO HAVE THEIR CITIES TO GROW.
SO I'M IN AN ELITE GROUP RIGHT NOW OF WHAT'S CALLED THE ALUMNI OF MICD, AND IT ACTUALLY PUTS ME IN PLACE FOR OTHER PERKS, IF YOU WILL, WITH MICD, WITH THE FELLOWSHIP OF MAYORS.
SOMETHING THAT I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF.
BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF IT IF YOU'RE NOT ONE OF THESE MAYORS.
SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT DESPITE EVERYTHING THAT COULD BE GOING ON, THAT DOES GO ON ALL OF THE SINS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, GOD IS BLESSING ME TO DO WHAT I NEED TO DO TO REPRESENT OUR CITY.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS COUNCIL MEMBER DEETH? YES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, MAYOR.
UM, I SAY IT HAD A LOT OF GOOD POINTS.
I MEAN, EVERYTHING YOU SAID, I, I CONCUR WITH A HUNDRED PERCENT EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID I AGREE WITH A HUNDRED PERCENT.
JUST AS FEW THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AS LEADERS, A LOT OF TIME WE HAVE IDEAS AND HOW WE SEE THINGS AND THAT'S OUR VISION.
BUT AS LEADERS SOMETIMES WE MUST ALSO REMEMBER THAT IF WE LEAD IN A LOT OF TIME, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES AND PRIORITIES SOMETIME CAN CHANGE WHAT WE SEE AS INDIVIDUALS.
WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
AND I THINK THAT MOST THAT WE NEED TO DO IS BE ABLE TO RESPECT ONE ANOTHER'S OPINION.
THIS PROJECT ON WOODWARD BOULEVARD YOU'VE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
ANYONE WHO LOOK AT IT WE'LL SAY IT'S BEAUTIFUL, IT'S GOT TO BE A PLUS FOR THE CITY.
IF THEY SAY THAT THAT WON'T BRING SOMETHING TO THE CITY, YOU GOTTA BE AN IDIOT.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IT'S NOT ABOUT IT BEING BEAUTIFUL, IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
WHAT IS OUR PRIORITIES? 'CAUSE OUR PRIORITIES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED FOR SERVING CITIZENS.
AND SOMETIME WHEN YOU SAY SOMEBODY IS OPPOSING, THAT'S WHERE THE POINT OF VIEWS COME IN DIFFERENT, BUT LIKE YOU SAID, WE GOTTA MOVE ON AFTER THAT.
BUT OUR PRIORITIES SHOULD BE WHAT DRIVES THIS COUNCIL.
THIS COUNCIL SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT ON WHAT'S OUR PRIORITIES.
AND WE, AND OUR PRIORITIES ARE SET BY WHAT WE SAY AND HOW WE FEEL INDIVIDUALLY.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE EXPRESS OUR INDIVIDUAL THOUGHTS.
BUT WHEN YOU SAY STREETS, THAT IS A PRIORITY IN THIS CITY.
AND THE PRIORITY IS TO FIX AS MANY STREETS IN OUR CITY THAT CITIZENS CAN DRIVE ON WITHOUT TEARING THEIR CARS UP.
SO HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH THAT? THAT'S WHERE SOMETIME WE HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, BUT THIS SOCIETY IS SET UP WHERE A MAJORITY RULE.
[01:05:01]
TO DO AS INDIVIDUALS IS UNDERSTAND THAT ONCE THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE, WHAT DO WE LIKE OR DON'T LIKE? IT IS WHAT IT IS.SO AS FAR AS THAT WOODWORTH BOULEVARD PROJECT IS, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
I NEVER DOUBTED THAT FROM DAY ONE, JUST THAT I WOULD'VE PUT THE MONEY ENDURING MORE STREETS AROUND THE CITY.
BUT WHEN IT GOES, I'LL BE PROUD OF IT.
BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT I THINK OUR PRIORITY IS.
SO MY PRIORITY IS NOT MAKING IT BEAUTIFUL.
MY PRIORITY IS WHAT CITIZENS WANT AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK FOR AS A COUNCIL.
YOU KNOW, UH, THE PRESENTATION AND EVERYTHING WAS GREAT, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE HEARD.
BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, ALTHOUGH SOMEONE DOESN'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PUT THAT MONEY INTO THAT, AS OPPOSED TO DOING MORE STREETS IN THIS CITY, DOESN'T MEAN THAT SOMEBODY SAID THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE PROUD OF IT.
AND I'M QUITE SURE ANYBODY FROM ANY OTHER CITY SEE THAT THEY GOING BE, WOW, I'D LIKE TO GET SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN MY CITY.
BUT IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY MORE STREETS THAT THEY HAVE THAT THEY NEED TO PUT THE MONEY IN.
SO DON'T FEEL AS THOUGH SOMEONE THINK THAT THAT'S NOT A WORTHY PROJECT OR THAT'S NOT A PROJECT THAT WILL GET THE ATTENTION OF OTHER CITIES AND STUFF.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS IT A PRIORITY? I THINK IT WOULD EVEN BE MORE FITTING IF WE HAD DOWNTOWN SORT OF MOVING BEFORE WE INVESTED THAT MUCH MONEY.
NOW I JUST EXPECT IT TO BE DONE AND WHEN IT GET DONE, IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY AND I HOPE WE MAINTAIN IT.
BUT THAT'S NO NEED TO BEAT THIS ONE TO DEATH.
IT'S NOT WHAT I WANTED, NOT WHAT I AGREED TO, BUT IT'S A DONE DEAL.
THE MAJORITY HAS SPOKEN, I MOVE FORWARD.
BUT THAT'S A GOOD PRESENTATION AND THAT'S A GOOD PROJECT WELL TAKEN, SIR.
YEAH, MAYOR, APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND I'M NOT GONNA RE REPEAT WHAT HE SAID.
COUNCILMAN UC SAID, BUT THE ATTRACTION FOR MOTIVA THAT WAS A SELF IS MOTIVA'S ATTRACTED TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA, NOT BECAUSE OF MO WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE BOULEVARD.
MOTIVA WAS ATTRACTED TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I INITIATED TAX ABATEMENT FOR THAT AREA NOW, NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT, THAT HISTORICAL TAX CREDITS, THEY'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ALL OF THAT, ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO NOW WHY ARE THEY MOVING OUT OF THE PLANT INTO THE, THE CITY, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA BECAUSE OF THE INCENTIVES.
BUT IT WAS A MANDATE PUT ON THEM.
YOU GO ALL OF THOSE LITTLE CABINETS AND LITTLE TRAILERS AND THINGS THAT ADMINISTRATIVE PEOPLE WAS WORKING OUT OF IN THE PLANT IS UNSAFE.
THEY HAD A DA, A DEADLINE PUT ON.
THEY HAVE TO PUT THOSE PEOPLE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
SO THEY DECIDED TO NOT BUILD INTO THE PLANT BECAUSE IF THEY BUILD A, A BECAUSE OF THE COST, BUT THEY WILL BE KILLING, UH, FUTURE, UH, EXPANSION AREAS.
SO THEY, THEY COME OUT OF THAT, MOVE ALL THE PEOPLE OUT WHEN THOSE TRAILS INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO MEET THE MANDATE FROM THE, FROM THE, FROM THE, UH, SAFETY DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, EPA, THAT'S UNSAFE.
ONE EXPLOSION OR WIPE 'EM ALL OUT AND LIVING IN TRAILERS.
SO DON'T, DON'T, I APPRECIATE THE WOODWORTH BOULEVARD PROJECT, BUT IT'S NOT, WAS WAS NOT ONE OF MY PRIORITIES.
$14 MILLION TAKEN OUTTA THE STREET PROGRAM.
IT WAS NOT A PRIORITY OF MINE.
AND WE, I'VE BEEN BEAT UP EVERY DAY OVER THAT.
PEOPLE GOT THREE WAYS TO GET HOME THE STIR FAIR.
EAST, WEST, UH, AVENUE, THEY IN BAD SHAPE BLOWING TIES EVERY DAY.
MY WIFE BLEW A TIRE ON, THANK GOD SHE HAD RUN FLAT, BUT IT DESTROYED THE RIM.
A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE TIRE AND A NEW RIM.
A THOUSAND BUCKS COME OUTTA MY POCKET.
THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH.
BUT MY MOTIVA PROJECT IS A SELF-STARTING PROJECT, NOT WHAT'S BEING DONE.
EVERYBODY LOVES IT, YOU KNOW, SAID GOOD.
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING, BUT IT'S AHEAD OF ITS TIME.
WE NEED TO FIX THE THREE ROUTES, THE THREE TRAVELING ROUTES FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO
[01:10:01]
THEIR HOUSE WITHOUT BLOWING TIRES, BLOWING AXLES, AND POTHOLES DO NOT LAST.WE NEED TO RECONSTRUCT THE AVENUES AND GET WITH THE COUNTY, BRING ALL OF THE AVENUES UP TO COUNTY STANDARDS.
THAT'S A QUICK AND CHEAP WAY TO GET IT DONE.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR PROJECT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.
NOW THE WHOLE CITY IS FULLY AWARE.
OKAY, OUR NEXT ITEM IS THE CITY MANAGER'S STAFF.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE AREN'T ANY REPORTS FOR THAT.
UH, THERE IS NO PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS OF, UH, COMMUNITY INJURIES? COUNCILMAN DUC SAID.
ANY, ANY ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST? WE DON'T HAVE ANY FOR THAT.
[VI.(1) P.R. No. 23980 – A Resolution Casting Votes For The Board Of Directors Of The Jefferson Central Appraisal District For The 2025 And 2025-2027 Term]
HAVE ONE ITEM FOR UNFINISHED BUSINESS.UH, IT IS, AND, AND THAT IS ROMAN NUMERAL SIX, UH, IS, UH, ITEM ONE P 2 3 9 8 0.
UH, A RESOLUTION CASTING VOTES FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY APPRAISED THE DISTRICT FOR THE 2025 AND 2025 THROUGH 2027.
MAY I GET A MOTION TO GET IT ON THE FLOOR? COUNCILMAN ETT.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK SECOND.
AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE QUESTION ON THIS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT CITY SET CITY TAKE IS THERE.
UH, AND I THINK I DID TELL YOU ALL LAST TIME I WOULD GET THE INFORMATION ON THIS.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE WOULD PUT ALL OF OUR VOTES TO BEHIND OUR CANDIDATE.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE OTHER PERSON, UH, WHO IS RUNNING THEIR, HER ENTITY, PUT ALL HER, ALL OF THEIR VOTES TO SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS SPLIT THEIR VOTES BETWEEN THE TWO.
AND I, I'M NOT SURE AS, UH, BUT I BELIEVE THE, UH, DRAINAGE DISTRICT IS GOING TO GO WITH OUR CANDIDATE AND WHAT WE WOULD END UP DOING IF WE JUST SPLIT 'EM ALL UP, WE MAY END UP WITH, WITH A POSSIBILITY OF NOT HAVING ANY REPRESENTATION AT ALL FROM SOUTH COUNTY.
SO, UH, I WOULD, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE WOULD DO, UH, NEXT COUNCILMAN MARKS, UH, UH, UH, ON THIS QUESTION.
ANY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? WE WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
SO IT IS, UH, APPROVED AND HAS TO BE COUNCILMAN MARKS CITY SECRETARY.
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]
READY TO DO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THE CONSENT AGENDA.OH, UH, WE HAVE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AND THE, UH, INFORMATION ON THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN AFFORDED THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REVIEW.
AND, UH, IF THERE WOULD BE ANY ITEMS THAT THE COUNCIL PERSON WOULD WANT WITHDRAWN FOR US TO HANDLE INDIVIDUALLY, WOULD YOU STATE THE, UH, PAGE NUMBER AND THE ITEM OR COUNCILMAN ETT? MAY ITEM THREE ON FOUR.
ITEM NUMBER THREE ON, OH, IT'S AT THE BOTTOM.
ANY OTHERS? DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHERS? IF NOT, MAY I GET A MOTION? UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS TO APPROVE.
MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, MAY I APPROACH YOU SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND, THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTION ON ANY QUESTIONS READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES AS HAVE IT? SO THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THOSE, UH, STATED ITEMS ARE APPROVED.
[VII.C.(3) P.R. No. 23959 – A Resolution Approving A Technical Assistance Agreement Between The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation And The National Council For Community Development, Inc. DBA Grow America, For The Period Of November 30, 2024, Through November 29, 2025, In An Amount Not To Exceed $72,000.00; Funds Available In EDC Account Number 120-80-625-5420-00-00-000 (Professional Services)]
WE WILL, UH, LOOK AT WOULD BE NUMBER, UH, ITEM NUMBER THREE ON PAGE FOUR.IT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION, AND THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE COOPERATED DBA GROW AMERICA FOR THE PERIOD OF NOVEMBER 30TH, 2024
[01:15:02]
THROUGH NOVEMBER 29TH, 2025 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $72,000.FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN A DC ACCOUNT.
NUMBER ONE 20 DASH 8 6 2 5 5 4 2 0 0 0 0 IN A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE ACCOUNT.
MAKING GET A MOTION, UH, FOR APPROVAL.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 9.
ARE WE READY FOR QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN ETT? YES.
MAYOR, WHEN I, UH, READ THROUGH THE BACKGROUND FOR THIS, THE CONTRACT AND AGREEMENT, AT, AT ONE POINT IT SAYS THAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR IMPROVEMENT FOR THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AND, UH, NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
OH, WE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT, RIGHT? NO, NO, SIR.
OKAY, THEN I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT I, THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE, SIR.
ANY OTHER UN READINESS READY TO VOTE ON MAYOR? NOPE.
UM, MR. WHAT WAS THE QUESTION? I HAVE A QUESTION.
NO, UH, THE QUESTION WAS, DID IN THE CONTRACT, YOU, YOU READ VARIOUS THINGS.
LIKE IN THE MEMO IT TELLS YOU WHAT THEY WANT US TO APPROVE.
AND THEN YOU GO TO THE CONTRACT.
BUT ONE OF THE STATEMENTS SAID THAT, UH, THEY REQUEST US TO APPROVE THE, UH, AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE NATIONAL THING.
SO HE SAID IT WOULD JUST, THAT'S JUST A TYPO.
AS LONG AS THE CITY IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT AGREEMENT.
SO WE, SO HE SAID WE ARE NOT PART OF IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE? UH, SIR, I'M SORRY SIR.
FORGIVE ME FOR JUST, UH, INTERRUPTING.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AND I'M, UH, DEPUTY MILLER MAY HAVE MORE, UH, ENLIGHTENMENT ON THIS, THAT TRADITIONALLY THE CITY HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE OVERALL FUNDING.
AND I THINK THAT MAY HAVE LED TO THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU'RE SEEING THERE.
UH, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, SEPARATING FROM THAT HISTORY, THE CITY'S NOT INVOLVED.
SO I'M GONNA ASK HER TO CLARIFY.
'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA GIVE YOU OH, NO, NO.
WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE, YOU DON'T NEED ANY MORE EXPLANATION.
IN THE PAST, IF WE WAS CONTRIBUTING AND WE WERE PART FINE, IF WE ARE NO CONTRIBUTING AND WE ARE NOT PART OF IT, THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION NO MORE.
BUT EVIDENTLY WE HAD THE SAME STATEMENT WHERE IT WAS THE CITY EDC.
AND SO I'M HEARING THAT NO, IT'S ONLY ED, C AND IN DC AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A REASON FOR THE CITY TO CONTINUE.
IF THERE IS A REASON IT DOES REMAIN WITH THE CITY AND THE EDC AND NDC.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE, UH, THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL DOES, UH, PROVIDE TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR US FOR VARIOUS PROGRAMS. ONE OF 'EM IS THE GROW AMERICA FUND.
UM, AND WE CALL IT THE GROW PORT ARTHUR FUND, WHERE THE CITY AND THE EDC CONTRIBUTES TO THAT MATCHING FUNDS.
SO THAT IS WHY THE CITY IS PART OF IT, BECAUSE THEY MANAGE IT FOR BOTH PARTIES.
AND THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT WE WILL BE CONTINUING ON WITH.
UH, AND I'LL, I THINK I'LL GET A CHANCE TO EXPAND UPON THAT IN JUST A SECOND.
SO, SO THAT EXPLAINS THE LANGUAGE, SIR.
WELL, THEN THAT GOES TO MY NEXT QUESTION.
YOU'RE TELLING ME HOW MUCH THE CON THE CONTRACT IS, BUT WHAT'S OUR SHARE? WE, IF WE CONTRIBUTING, I'M NOT GONNA APPROVE IT UNLESS I KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE'LL PUT IT IN IT.
IF AND WHEN THERE ARE ANY PROJECTS APPROVED, ANY LOANS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY REVOLVING LOANS.
UM, AT THIS TIME WE DON'T HAVE ANY.
UM, BUT THE PROGRAM STILL STANDS IN PLACE.
IT, IT, IT WOULD JUST BE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE EDC AND THE CITY TO FUND THAT LOAN.
IF ONE DOES COME UP, CRYSTAL, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE NDC.
IF YOU, IF YOU DO THE CONTRACT WITH NDC, THEN GROW AMERICA, AS I'M UNDERSTANDING IS PART OF IT.
SO IN THAT PART OF IT IS WHEN THE CITY MAY BE INVOLVED, AND THEREFORE WE ALSO CONTRIBUTE.
BUT THIS CONTRACT FOR 72 IS NOT ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR THING.
IT'S JUST THAT YOU HAVE THEM TO CONTINUE
[01:20:02]
BEING AN ADVISORY.SO THAT MEAN WE ARE NOT IN THAT NOW.
THAT'S WHAT MY POINT TO, OF BRINGING THIS QUESTION BEFORE US, ANYTIME THE CITY IS INVOLVED WITH ANY CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT AND WE SPEND $1, WE MUST KNOW WHAT IS OUR SHARE.
AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WHEN YOU DEALING WITH THE NATIONAL COUNCIL, WE NOT INVOLVED IN THAT UNLESS IT BECOMES A DV UH, UH, GROW AMERICA ISSUE, AT WHICH TIME IT WILL THEN COME FROM YOU TO US AND ASK US DID WE WANT TO BE IN IT AND THEN THAT CONTRACT TO BE FOR THAT PARTICULAR EVENT.
OTHER THAN THAT, WE ARE NOT IN NO CONTRACT WITH YOU ALL.
AM I CORRECT? THAT'S THE POINT THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CLEAR.
THE ONLY THING THAT WE ARE PROVING HERE IS YOUR AGREEMENT WITH THEM, NOT US.
YOU, YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
THIS IS NOT A, THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE, SO IF YOU APPROVE IT, IT'S APPROVED.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING? MAY I APPROACH IT? YES, I DO.
SO THIS IS A RENEWAL WITH THIS COMPANY, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.
AND, UH, HAVE, HAVE WE ONLY HAD THEM FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR? JUST ONE YEAR? OR IS THIS A MULTI-YEAR? NO, UH, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN PROVIDING SERVICES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FOR AT LEAST A DECADE.
UM, BEING THAT THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR ON COUNCIL, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT, WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR US, UH, IN READING THE LANGUAGE OF THE CONTRACT, I WOULD LIKE JUST SOME EXAMPLES.
JUST GIMME ONE OR TWO EXAMPLES OF THE KIND OF WORK THAT THEY DID FOR US LAST YEAR AND, YOU KNOW, WHY DO WE KEEP RENEWING OUR CONTRACT WITH THEM? CERTAINLY.
UH, AND MADAM MAYOR PRO TEM, IF YOU HAD ASKED THIS QUESTION A YEAR AGO, UH, I WOULD'VE BEEN DUMBFOUNDED 'CAUSE I WOULD'VE BEEN PRETTY MUCH THINKING THE SAME THING.
WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR THIS? UH, SO I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK TO THE PREVIOUS NINE YEARS, UM, AND I'M GONNA SPEAK TO THIS YEAR AND THEN GOING THIS, THE, THE PAST FISCAL YEAR AND THEN GOING FORWARD, UH, THEY HAVE TRADITIONALLY PROVIDED THE SERVICE OF PROVIDING, UH, NEUTRAL EVALUATION OF OUR INCENTIVE PACKAGES, UH, PRIOR TO THEM GETTING TO THE BOARD AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY TO YOU, UH, WITH NO SKIN IN THE GAME.
IT'S NOT MY OPINION OF THE, THE PROJECT, IT'S NOT THE BOARD'S OPINION.
THEY JUST SORT OF LIKE, I'LL DATE MYSELF.
SORT OF LIKE DRAGNET, JUST THE FACTS.
NOW, WHAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED THIS YEAR, MA'AM, IS WE'VE MET WITH THEM FOUR TIMES.
WE REALIZE THAT WE HAVE BEEN UNDER UTILIZING THEIR SERVICES FOR WHAT WE PAY THEM FOR.
AND THAT'S A PART OF THE FOUR TIMES THAT WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THEM.
UH, ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'LL BE PARTNERING WITH THEM THAT, UH, COINCIDENTALLY I FOUND OUT, UH, THE OTHER DAY IS NEAR AND DEAR TO YOUR HEART, IS GETTING BUSINESSES INTO OUR VACANT FACILITIES.
UH, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A PROGRAM THROUGH CDFA, WHICH THEY ARE A-C-D-F-A PROVIDER THAT CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND GETTING THEM INTO OUR BRICK AND MORTAR FACILITIES.
UH, AND WE WILL BE SEEKING, UH, GRANT ASSISTANCE TO REHABILITATE THOSE FACILITIES.
ADDITIONALLY, THEY WILL BE ASSISTING US.
OF COURSE, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE GROW PORT ARTHUR FUND.
THAT IS A FUND THAT HAS NOT BEEN TAPPED INTO OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS FOR VARIOUS SUNDRY REASONS, WHICH ARE FRANKLY UNIMPORTANT GOING TO THE GOING FORWARD.
BUT ON THE SAKE OF OUR, UH, FUTURE BUSINESSES, THAT FUND ALLOWS US TO TAP INTO TYPE B ASSISTANCE WITHOUT US BECAUSE WE AREN'T.
SO WE CAN PROVIDE ASSISTANCE THROUGH THAT FUNDING FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ALLOW THEM TO DO SOME THINGS THAT OTHERWISE ALONE WE COULDN'T FUND WITHOUT GOING TO THE VOTERS.
THEY ACTUALLY, WHEN WE STARTED MEETING WITH THEM AND CHECKING OFF THE MENU THAT WE COULD HAVE BEEN USING ALL OF THESE YEARS, WELL, THEY ASKED FOR AN INCREASE TO 70 5K AND I DENIED THAT.
I SAID, YOU KNOW, LET ME SEE THE VALUE IN THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT GOING FORWARD.
[01:25:01]
CAN, ALL THE BOARD COUNCIL CAN THEN CONSIDER THAT.BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE INCREASING THE U THE USAGE AT THE SAME FEE THAT WE'VE BEEN PAYING.
AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO, I'LL STEP ON A LIMB, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE, YOU AND THE REST OF COUNCIL WILL BE VERY HAPPY WITH THAT UTILIZATION IN TERMS OF WHAT IT CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY, SMALL BUSINESSES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? YES.
UH, THAT, THAT COMPANY THAT THEY HAVE A CONSULTING COMPANY, THEY, THEY DO ALL KINDS OF WORK.
THAT'S THAT, THAT GOT APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSALS.
THEY VET ALL THESE COMPANIES AND THEY ALSO CAN, HAS OFFERED THE SERVICE TO THE CITY AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM THAT EDC GOT DOWN WITH THAT COMPANY THAT DO ALL THE VETTING.
AND WE, WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT, YOU KNOW, ON, ON FUTURE COMPANIES THAT WE NEED TO BE VETTING BECAUSE BEFORE WE GET INTO ANY, ANY KIND OF BUSINESS OR AGREEMENTS WITH THEM, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL, AND NOW THAT THAT'S MONEY WELL SPENT.
I WAS LOOKING AT, AS YOU WERE ANSWERING THAT QUESTION ABOUT SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WERE PROVIDED, UM, AND I WAS LOOKING, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT TALKED ABOUT WAS EQUITY FOR HOUSING, UM, THAT IS NEEDED AND NECESSARY.
ONE OF THE, UM, PROJECTS THAT WAS, UM, BEGUN ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS AGO, UH, WAS A DEVELOPMENT, UM, ON 39TH STREET.
UH, AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE ISSUES AS TO WHY THAT HAS NOT COME TO FRUITION IS BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY, UH, KEEPING THE PRICE OF THOSE HOUSES IN A, IN A, IN A MEDIUM RANGE.
WOULD THIS, WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD FALL IN THAT PURVIEW? UM, YOU, YOU SEE ME SMILING, SIR? BECAUSE SHORT ANSWER IS YES.
AND IF I'M THINKING ABOUT THE PROJECT THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF, UH, WE WILL BE HAVING THOSE FOLKS SIT DOWN WITH GROW AMERICA.
I TEND TO GET 'EM CONFUSED WITH GROW PART ARTHUR, BECAUSE THAT'S THE FUN WE, WE, WE DEPEND UPON THEM FOR THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES, WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A MECHANISM WITH BUILT IN, WITHIN GROW AMERICA ON THAT MENU THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT WE CAN UTILIZE ON THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME PROJECT.
AND, UH, I WOULD JUST ADD THAT, UH, IT'S PROBABLY WORTHWHILE THAT ONCE THE DUST SETTLED AND WE SETTLE THAT MENU THAT I BE INVITED BACK TO PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE DETAIL OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE UTILIZING.
AND SO YOU CAN KIND OF CONNECT THE DOTS A LITTLE BIT BETTER COME WHEN YOU'RE READY.
WELL, CAN'T COME WITHOUT AN INVITATION.
UH, ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YES.
UH, NBC THAT I GOT WHEN, WHEN THEY WAS, THEY, THEY HELPED OUT.
THEY STEPPED IN, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WITH THE, UH, ROSE HILL PROJECT STAFF AT THE TIME DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE BOND.
THEY, THEY STEPPED IN, SHOWED WHERE THEY COULD, COULD HAVE GOTTEN A 1 0 8 LOAN, TEN ONE OH EIGHT LOAN AND PAID.
AND, AND, AND THE, THE BONDS COULD HAVE BEEN PAID FOR FROM THE, UH, HOTEL MOTEL TAX, WHICH IS PERFECTLY LEGAL.
AND THAT TIME THEY HAD A MILLION DOLLARS.
BUT SOMEBODY DECIDED FROM THE CITY SIDE THAT IT WAS NOT PROFITABLE.
SO THE CIVIC CENTER IS NOT PROFITABLE.
THESE ARE ATTRACTIONS, BUT THAT THE PROGRAM WAS KILLED 10 YEARS AGO, EIGHT TO 10 YEARS AGO, COULD HAVE BEEN RE COMPLETELY REMODELED.
BUT, YOU KNOW, KEEP THAT PROGRAM WELL.
LIKE I SAY, WE, WE, WE DEPLOY THEM TO PRESENT THE FACTS.
FRANKLY, IT'S WHAT WE DO WITH THE FACTS BEYOND THAT, UH, WE CONTROLLED, BUT THANK YOU, SIR.
ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCILMAN FRANK? NO, SIR.
ANYTHING ELSE? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO PR NUMBER 23 9 5 9, EXCUSE ME, AS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VII.C.(8) P.R. No. 23983 – A Resolution Amending Resolution 24-307 Increasing The Authorized Repair Cost Of $72,386.99 By $32,763.82 To Repair The Axles, Brakes, And Final Drives On The Landfill's 826K Compactor By Mustang CAT Of Beaumont, Texas, Through Sourcewell Contract No. 032119-CAT For A Total Of $105,150.81. Funds Are Available In The Public Works Department Landfill Division – Equipment Maintenance Account Number 403-50-320-5318-00-00- 000]
WE HAVE ON PAGE FIVE, ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS A RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION 24 DASH 3 0 7, INCREASING THE AUTHORIZED REPAIR COST OF $72,386 99 CENTS BY $32,763 82 CENTS TO REPAIR THE AXLES, BRAKES, AND FINAL DRIVES ON THE LANDFILL'S.8 26 K COMPACTOR BY MUSTANG CAT OF, UH, BEAUMONT, TEXAS THROUGH A SOURCE WEAR CONTRACT
[01:30:01]
NUMBER ZERO TWO, EXCUSE ME.0 3 2 1 1 9 CAT CAT FOR A TOTAL OF OF $105,150 AND 81 CENTS.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, LANDFILL DIVISION.
EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 3 DASH 5 3 2 5 3 8 0 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVE.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? OH, HE'S GOING.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR 23 9 8 3 AS, UH, PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? UH, COUNCILMAN ETT? YES.
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY, MS. ROBERTS? I'M WELL, THANK YOU.
I PULLED THIS, I PULLED THIS PARTICULAR ITEM BECAUSE WHEN I WAS GOING OVER THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION, I, I DIDN'T HAVE SOME OF THE INFORMATION I REALLY WANTED TO ASK BECAUSE THE FIRST THING I WANT TO BRING OUT IS THE FACT THAT WHEN I WENT BACK AND READ RESOLUTION 24 3 0 7, WHICH WAS THE FIRST RESOLUTION THAT APPROVED THE 72,000 AND SOME DOLLARS, AND I, AND I READ IT, IT SAYS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR LANDFILL OPERATES ON THE CONDITIONS DETERMINED BY PERMIT AND STATE REGULATION AGENCIES.
THE, UH, 826 K COM COMPACTOR IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE LANDFILL TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION.
SO RIGHT OFF THE BAT, IT GOT MY ATTENTION ON HOW IMPORTANT THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IS.
SO AFTER I FINISHED READING THAT RESOLUTION, I WANT TO KNOW WHY IT WAS SUCH A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO FIX THIS PARTICULAR JOB BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
SO I HAD TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WAS THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED WHEN WE APPROVED THE 72,000 BECAUSE WE ARE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL 30 SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND THAT'S VERY UNUSUAL FOR SOMEBODY TO GIVE US A QUOTE AND DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER QUOTE THAT'S ALMOST 50%, 40% INCREASE.
SO THAT'S WHY I STARTED LOOKING INTO THIS.
AND WHAT I FOUND WHEN I LOOKED INTO IT, MS. ROBERTS, THE ESTIMATE THAT THEY GAVE US IN JUNE MM-HMM.
NOW THE, THE ESTIMATE THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY IS THE ONE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO JUSTIFY THEM, US AMENDING IT FOR THIS ADDITIONAL 30 SOME THOUSAND.
SO I HAD TO LOOK AT THOSE TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT IS SO SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT IN THESE.
SO WHAT IT END UP BEING, IT ACTUALLY IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW IS WE SAY UNDER PARTS FOR UH, CMCR RECONDITION, FRONT AXLE BRAKE DIFFERENTIAL AND FRONT FINAL DRIVE.
THE ONE IN JUNE, WHEN THEY FIRST GAVE OUR ESTIMATE, IT SAID THAT, UH, THE COST ESTIMATE WAS 12,000 AND SOMETHING.
BUT THIS ONE HERE, THE COST ESTIMATE FOR THE SAME THING IS UH, THREE 31,000.
SO IT'S ALMOST THREE TIMES AS MUCH.
AND UH, THE NEXT ITEM ON THAT LIST IS THE C-M-F-C-M-C-R RECONDITION REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL AND FINAL REAR FINAL DRIVE.
THE FIRST ONE THEY HAD IT AS 12,000 TO 400.
SO THOSE WERE THE TWO SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT I SAW.
SO THEN THAT BRINGS ME TO LOOK FOR THE, THE PARTS.
THEY'RE TELLING ME THAT THEY'VE DETERMINED THAT WE NEEDED MORE PARTS IN ORDER TO
[01:35:01]
FIX THIS.BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING SAYING THE PARTS AND OR NOTHING.
SO DID THEY ACTUALLY GIVE US A LIST OF THESE PARTS AND HOW MUCH IT'S GONNA RUN OR THEY JUST DONE US ANOTHER ESTIMATE AND SENT IT BACK TO US? THE LADDER.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA HAVE WITH THAT.
WE DO A LOT OF OUR EQUIPMENT WITH THEM AND SINCE 2011 I FOUND THAT THAT'S THE TYPE OF INFORMATION WE GET FROM MUSTANG, MUSTANG CAT.
I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF THEM BECAUSE OF THIS, BUT WHEN WE GET SOMETHING, WE NEED DOCUMENTATION, WE HAVE STAFF, WE NEED TO CHECK WHAT PEOPLE TELL US THEY CHARGING US FOR.
WE DON'T JUST SAY OKAY AND SEND MONEY.
SO IF SOMEONE SAYS WE GOING TO HAVE ADDITIONAL PARTS, WE SHOULD HAVE A LIST OF THOSE PARTS THAT YOU SAY YOU NOW NEED.
BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE TWO ESTIMATES, THE FIRST ESTIMATE IN JUNE, THEY SAYING THAT THEY'RE GOING DO THIS, YOU KNOW, IT SAYS WE GOING TO, UH, RECONDITION.
SO EVIDENTLY THEY WERE SO TO UP THEY COULDN'T RECONDITION.
RECONDITION THEM, YOU KNOW, AND EVERYTHING.
SO IF THAT WAS THE CASE MM-HMM.
I JUST WOULD'VE LIKED TO SEE THE LIST OF PARTS, THESE PARTS, UH, AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
SO I COULD SEE THAT THEY ACTUALLY JUST GIVEN THAT.
AND I NOTICED THAT THE, UH, LABOR STAYED BASICALLY THE SAME.
YOU KNOW, BUT NOW THAT IT IS ALL SETTLED ON WHAT MY CONCERN WAS, JUST THE PARTS, NOW WE'RE GONNA GET TO THE BIG PART THAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED WHILE PULLING.
THIS FIRST ESTIMATE WAS DONE IN JUNE.
I WAS JUST TOLD HOW VITAL THIS EQUIPMENT WAS FOR THE OPERATION.
SO IF THEY GAVE US THIS ESTIMATE IN JUNE, THEN WHY WE GETTING THE REQUEST TO GET THIS THING FIXED IN NOVEMBER? THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION.
SO MUSTANG CAT HAS THE EQUIPMENT AND SO UPON INVESTIGATION THEY NOTED THAT ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE NEEDED OR THESE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS THAT WE, THAT YOU JUST DISCUSSED WERE NEEDED.
FORTUNATELY WE DO HAVE, UH, ADDITIONAL COMPACTORS AT THE, AT THE LANDFILL THAT WILL ASSIST WITH COMPLIANCE.
WE COULD RENT ONE ANYWAY IF WE MM-HMM.
IT'S JUST THAT WHENEVER I REVIEW MATERIAL AND I SEE SUCH A LONG SPAN MM-HMM.
I WANT TO KNOW WHY IT'S TAKEN US SO LONG TO GET THIS BACK WORKING.
THAT'S SO ANYTIME I SEE FROM JUNE TO NOVEMBER MM-HMM.
WE GOT THE MONEY, THEY WANT TO FIX IT, GET IT FIXED.
LET'S SEE IF WE COULD GET SOMEBODY ELSE TO FIX IT.
THIS JUST FOR OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS'.
WHAT A THINK FOR TRANSPORTATION.
WAIT, WHAT IS SAY, LET ME BELIEVE NOT JUST TO MOVE THIS MACHINE TO THEIR, TO THEM.
THEY IN BEAUMONT TO LOAD THIS WHAT IT BULLDOZER? COMPACTOR.
TO LOAD IT, TO BRING IT TO BEAUMONT.
SO I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE RENTAL, IF WE RENTED ONE OF THESE MM-HMM.
I MEAN THESE TRUCKS THAT CAN, WE COULD GET IT ON THERE.
LIKE BRING LIKE A LARGE TRAILER TYPE TRUCK.
YOU KNOW, UH, UH, THE RENTAL PLACE, THERE'S
[01:40:01]
A RENT ONE.WE, WE LOAD IT AND WE TAKE IT TO THEM AND DROP IT OFF TO THEM.
I THINK WE COULD DO THAT FOR LESS THAN $5,000.
BUT I'M NOT GONNA SAY THIS UNTIL IT IS JUST FOR YOU TO CHECK AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BRING IT TO THE COUNCIL.
BUT YOU CAN LET ME KNOW THE NOW MY LAST QUESTION AND WE GONNA MOVE ON FROM THIS.
THEY CHARGED US $1,407 TO WASH IT.
I KNOW WE HAVE A PRESSURE WASHER AT THE LANDFILL.
I KNOW WE HAVE BULLDOZERS AT THE LANDFILL.
SO WE COULD PULL THIS COMPACTOR TO AN AREA WHERE THE POWER WASHER IS AND WE COULD WASH IT OURSELVES.
LET'S NOT SEND IT TO THEM DIRTY AND LET THEM CHARGE US THIS MONEY.
HAVE OUR PEOPLE TO WASH IT BEFORE WE SEND IT.
'CAUSE WE DO WASH THE EQUIPMENT AND WE HAVE A POWER WASHER.
SO IF WE CAN CLEAN OUR EQUIPMENT FOR USE AND EVERYTHING, IF WE GONNA SEND IT, WE SHOULD CLEAN IT.
THERE MAY BE, THERE MAY STILL BE A SMALL CHARGE LIKE FOR THE UNDERCARRIAGE.
FOR CLEANING THE UNDERCARRIAGE, WE HAVE THE WASHER.
WE HAVE THE PEOPLE, IF WE GOT TO RAISE A LITTLE BIT, GET ONE NO BULLDOZER LIFT IT SO THEY COULD GET UNDER IT REAL CLEAN $1,407 WE COULD DO BETTER.
NOW IF YOU, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT'S ALSO INVOLVED WITH THIS, YOU COULD LET ME KNOW.
'CAUSE A LOT OF THINGS I SAY THEY HEAR THIS, BUT THEY ALSO NEED TO KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT I, I DID NOT KNOW THAT I GOT TOLD.
I LIKE FOR THEM TO BE INFORMED TOO.
SO IF IT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN'T AVOID THIS, THIS COST, THEN I'LL ADVISE YOU TO BRING IT BACK SO THAT I CAN KNOW.
ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE THE WAY IT WAS REQUIRED.
SEE, BECAUSE IT MAY BE SOMETHING THEY REQUIRE.
I'M JUST GOING BY THE BASIS OF WHAT I'M READING, THEY SAY WASH.
IF THEY SAY CHARGE ME 1000 FOR WASH.
AND WE WILL ATTEMPT TO WASH IT, WE WILL ATTEMPT TO CLEAN IT.
UM, BUT I WILL ENSURE THAT THAT STAFF IS NOT PUT IN DANGER IN TRYING TO LIFT ANY EQUIPMENT.
THAT'S IN ORDER IN ORDER TO WASH IT.
WHEN, WHEN MUSTANG CAT HAS DEFINITELY HAS THE EQUIPMENT I I I TO DO SO I WOULD TOO.
I MEAN I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT SIR.
I KNOW YOU GOT ABOVE THOSE OUT THERE.
YOU GET HEAVY CHANGE AND LIFT THAT AND SECURE IT.
AND I HOPE SOMEBODY AIN'T GONNA TRY TO WASH IT UNDERNEATH THAT THING, BUT IT COULD BE CLEANED.
YOU KNOW, SO I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD DO IT, MS. ROBBINS, I'M SAYING THAT FOR $1,400, I WANT YOU TO TELL ME WE CAN'T DO IT AND WHY WE CAN'T DO IT.
AND I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO TELL ME WHY WE GONNA PAY THEM $500 TO COME PICK IT UP THOUSAND 5,005.
THIS IS MY WIFE BIRTHDAY AND I'M TRYING TO GET THIS BEAT DOWN.
SO I HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MRS. ETT SO I COULD, SO I COULD GO TAKE HER TO DINNER.
SO I'M TRYING TO GOOD CHOICE
I'M TRYING, I'M TRYING TO GET, TRYING TO GET THESE QUESTIONS I NEED ANSWERED.
I'M TRYING TO GET 'EM ANSWERED AND MOVE ON FAST.
BUT I APOLOGIZE BUT I'M NOT, I'M NOT SAYING Y'ALL DON'T DO IT, BUT I THINK I NEED A BETTER EXPLANATION.
ANY OTHERS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE PR NUMBER 23 9 83 IS APPROVED.
[VII.C.(11) P.R. No. 23986 – A Resolution Approving An Economic Development Performance Agreement Between The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation And Texas Deserts, LLC, DBA Rao's Bakery And Coffee In An Amount Not To Exceed $431,477.51; Funds Available In EDC Account No. 120-80-625-5478-00-00-000 (Development)]
HAVE ITEM NUMBER 11 PR NUMBER 23 9 86.UH, RESOLUTION APPROVING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND TEXAS DESSERTS.
L-L-C-D-B-A RAILS BAKERY AND COFFEE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $431,477
[01:45:04]
AND 51 FUNDS AVAILABLE IN EDC ACCOUNT NUMBER ONE 20 DASH 8 6 2 5 5 4 7 8 0 0 0 0 0.AND THIS IS THE DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS? MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, MAYOR APPROACH HIM SECOND IT.
MOVE SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PERR NUMBER 2 3 9 86 AS PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES.
WHO'S GONNA ANSWER THAT ONE? ARE YOU THE NEW AM I'M I'M THE BUSINESS ATTRACTION, RETENTION AND EXPANSION MANAGER FOR THE PA EDC.
I DIDN'T REMEMBER 'CAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU SINCE.
MY QUESTION IS RAS BAKERY WHO OWNED THE PROPERTY AT 3403 65, WHO OWNS IT? WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY? THE PROPERTY WAS SPLIT INTO THREE DIFFERENT PLATS.
SO THE PLAT THAT RES IS GOING TO BE GOING TO, THEY OWN THAT PROPERTY.
THE OTHER TWO PLATS ARE OWNED BY TWO OTHER COMPANIES.
THE THE, I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS CONFUSION BECAUSE THEY ALL HAD THE SAME ADDRESS.
THEY HAVE SINCE BEEN GIVEN DIFFERENT ADDRESSES.
LET, LET, LET, LET ME, LET ME EXPLAIN SOMETHING, OKAY? YES SIR.
YOU COULD HAVE THREE ADDRESS ON ONE TRACK OF LAND OR ONE PROPERTY AN ADDRESS.
YOU CAN HAVE SUITE ONE, SUITE TWO, SUITE THREE.
BUT WHEN YOU GO TO THE COUNTY, THAT ADDRESS IS UNDER ONE OWNER.
SO MY QUESTION IS, IF I GO TO THE COUNTY WHO IS THE OWNER OF 3403 65? TO MY KNOWLEDGE IT WOULD BE TEXAS DESSERTS.
BUT I CAN ASK MY COLLEAGUE TO COME UP HERE AND SEE IF SHE HAS DIFFERENT INFORMATION.
THIS ONE HERE IS REALLY GOING TO BE INTERESTING.
WE HAVE VERIFIED, UM, AT ONE POINT IT WAS OWNED BY THE SAME OWNER.
THAT OWNER HAS SPLIT INTO THREE DIFFERENT PLOTS AND IT HAD, THE SALE HAS BEEN FINALIZED AND TEXAS DESSERTS DOES OWN 3,400.
UM, THE NEXT ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA IS NOW A DIFFERENT ADDRESS.
WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT CONTRACT SO IT CAN REFLECT THE CORRECT ADDRESS.
AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE GOING TO FIX THE NEXT ONE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE ME TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES WITH ONE ADDRESS THAT WON'T FLY, BUT WE'LL GET TO THAT ONE LATER.
IN FACT, LEMME PULL IT UP HERE.
AND WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AND WHAT WE ARE GIVING THEM MONEY FOR.
SO SINCE THEY HAVE PURCHASED PROPERTY, THEY ACTUALLY, UH, ACQUIRED IT.
OKAY? THE NEXT THING IT SAYS IN HERE IS WE'RE GONNA GIVE THEM AN INCENTIVE FOR A JOB.
OKAY? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT ONE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE WHEN I READ THE CONTRACT, THE CONTRACT STATES THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 12 EMPLOYEES.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO INCREASE ANY MORE.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA CREATE ANY MORE NEW POSITIONS.
OKAY? SO IF THEY'RE NOT GONNA CREATE NEW POSITIONS, WHY ARE WE GIVING THEM MONEY IN THE INCENTIVE BASED ON HOW MUCH PAYROLL THEY'RE GONNA BRING WITH THE, WITH THE RELOCATION? CURRENTLY THEY HAVE MORE THAN 12 EMPLOYEES.
THOSE 12 EMPLOYEES ARE INTENDED TO BE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS.
IT SAYS THAT THEY WILL CREATE AN ADDITIONAL 12 FULL-TIME JOBS.
ARE YOU, ARE YOU SURE WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS IN THERE? BECAUSE LET'S GO TO PERSONNEL.
[01:50:01]
HE SAID.THEY WILL NOT CREATE NEW POSITIONS.
I BELIEVE WHAT YOU ARE PROBABLY REFERRING TO IS THAT DUE TO THE FACT THAT NOBODY IN ANY BUSINESS CAN PREDICT, OKAY, LET ME READ THIS FOR VERBATIM, PLEASE.
UNDER THE CON, UNDER PERFORMANCE OBLIGATION, IT STATES NEW JOBS.
THE COMPANY IS NOT OBLIGATED TO CREATE ANY NEW FULL-TIME JOB IN ACCORDANCE WITH DISAGREEMENT.
BUT IN INTENDS TO CREATE, EMPLOY AND MAINTAIN 12 NEW FULL-TIME JOBS IN THE CHANGE FOR THE PBC INSENSITIVE AS PROVIDED IN ARTICLE FIVE.
THIS DOESN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT PORT ARTHUR.
THIS DOESN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT NEW JOBS BECAUSE IT CLEARLY STATES WE'RE NOT GONNA CREATE NEW JOBS.
SO EITHER THIS IS WRONG OR I'M INTERPRETING IT WRONG AND I'M, I MEAN THAT ONE THERE DON'T SEEM TOO DIFFICULT TO READ.
THE WAY THAT IT IS, IN THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD BE IN THE CONTRACT.
AND IF WE HAVE TO MAKE A WORD AMENDMENT, I'M NOT, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
BUT WHAT IS INTENDED BY THEM, BY THE CONTRACT SAYING THAT THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED IS THAT NO COMPANY CAN GUARANTEE WHERE THEIR EMPLOYEE BASE IS GOING TO COME FROM.
THEIR EXPRESS INTENT IS TO BE ABLE TO EMPLOY PORT ARTHUR RESIDENCE.
SHOULD THEY EMPLOY THOSE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS AND THEN THEY SHOW THAT OBLIGATION HAS BEEN FULFILLED, THEN THEY WILL QUALIFY FOR THAT EXTRA BONUS INCENTIVE.
SO IF WE NEED TO CHANGE WORD AND WE'LL GET TO THAT.
BUT WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED TO ME, I SIR, DON'T NEED TO SEE FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS.
OKAY? WHEN WE SAY JOBS AND WE'VE GIVEN AN INCENTIVE DURING THE TIME I WAS THERE, AND IF IT'S CHANGED, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO SHOW ME WHERE IT'S WRITTEN THAT WE CHANGED.
THAT HAS BEEN CHANGED OVER THERE.
BUT THAT JOB INCENTIVE IS BASED ON PORT ARTHUR CORRECT.
IF THEY, IT AIN'T ABOUT THEM GUARANTEEING OR NOT.
IF YOU DON'T GET IT, YOU DON'T GET THE INCENTIVE.
SO YES, IT'S, THEY GOT TO HAVE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENCE.
IN ORDER TO GET THE INCENTIVE.
WELL THERE'S NO QUESTION BETWEEN THAT COMPANY AND BETWEEN US, THE, THE ONLY REASON IT'S WRITTEN LIKE THAT IS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE IT DEFINED THAT IT IS A PROVISIONAL INCENTIVE.
WELL, THE REASON I'M QUESTIONING IS 'CAUSE WHEN WE DO CONTRACTS, YES SIR.
IT IS NOT ABOUT INTERPRETATION.
THEY SHOULD BE WHERE THEY ARE UNDERSTOOD BY NOT ONLY THE TWO PARTIES, BUT ANYBODY THAT READS THEM.
OKAY, I'M UP HERE TO WANT TO APPROVE THIS THAT YOU'RE BRINGING.
BUT THIS HAPPENED TO BE SOMETHING I UNDERSTAND.
I JUST WANT TO CLEAR CLARIFICATION BECAUSE WHAT I'M READING, RIGHT, IT SAYS SOMETHING FULL-TIME JOB.
AND I'VE DONE, WE'VE DEALT WITH THESE TYPE BEFORE.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RELOCATION, MOST BUSINESSES WHEN THEY FALL IN THIS CATEGORY AS WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS EXPANDING, YOU STILL HAVE THE SAME BUSINESS.
WHEN THEY EXPAND AND WE GIVE AN INCENTIVE, THEN THE INCENTIVE IS BASED ON HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU GONNA NOW BRING EMPLOY THAT'S GOING TO BE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS.
HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU GOING TO NOW EMPLOY? THAT'S GONNA BE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS.
IF YOU GOT PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS WORKING FOR YOU NOW IN THE OTHER CITY.
'CAUSE THAT'S MOST TIME YOU SEE THIS JR I WE DEALT WITH THIS ONE BEFORE.
THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE WORKING, YOU CAN'T COME HERE AND WANT US TO GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR THEM.
SO IN THE CONTRACT, IF YOU WANT A JOB INCENTIVE, YOU MUST STATE HOW MANY NEW POSITIONS
[01:55:01]
THAT THIS MOVE WILL CREATE AND THAT YOU GOING TO HIRE THESE PEOPLE AND THEY GONNA BE, IF IT GONNA CREATE 10 POSITIONS, YOU MAY SAY, WE WILL GUARANTEE TO HIRE FOUR, FOUR PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS.THEN YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT LEVEL THEY GONNA BE HIRED.
AND THAT'S HOW YOU CALCULATE HOW MUCH MONEY THAT WE GOING TO EXPECT THEM TO BE PUTTING IN PAYROLL SO WE COULD FOLLOW IT UP.
SO ALL I'M SAYING IS THE JOB IS NOT CLEAR IN HERE.
AND I JUST WANT CLARIFICATION BEFORE I VOTE ON THIS.
AND IT'S DEALING WITH THE JOB, THE LAND.
YOU, YOU TOLD ME THEY OWN THE LAND.
I'M FINE WITH THAT NOW, ONE OWNER, BUT I DON'T WANT THEM TO GET A JOB INCENTIVE UNLESS WHEN THEY COME TO PORT ARTHUR, THEY GOING TO ADD THESE POSITIONS.
IF THEY GOT PEOPLE WORKING FOR THEM IN PORT ARTHUR RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE NOT GONNA USE THAT PAYROLL.
'CAUSE IF YOU STAY WHERE YOU AT, YOU STILL GOTTA PAY THOSE PEOPLE.
YOU GET THE INCENTIVE IF YOU CREATE NEW JOBS.
IF WE GOING TO GIVE A MISS COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE, UH, IN THE INTEREST OF YOU GETTING TO YOUR LOVELY BRIDE SOONER AS OPPOSED TO LATER, IF VERY SIMPLE, ONCE AGAIN, YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, WE'RE SIMPLY MISSING A LINE.
AND MS. ROXANNE, PLEASE HELP ME TO GET THE LANGUAGE, UH, CORRECTLY.
NOTHING'S CHANGED, SIR, FROM THE TIME THAT THAT YOU WERE ACTIVELY INVOLVED, IT SHOULD SAY VERIFIED CITY OF PORT ARTHUR VERIFIED RESIDENCE.
IF WE CANNOT VERIFY THEM THAT THEIR PORT ARTHUR RESIDENCE ON THAT PAYROLL, THEN THE INCENTIVE SIMPLY DOESN'T KICK IN.
WE'RE MISSING THAT PHRASE AND I COMMIT TO YOU THAT WE'LL ADD THAT AND AMEND THE DOCUMENT.
NO, NO, I, THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY NOT WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.
WHAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED WITH IS IN THE CONTRACT HOW MANY POSITIONS THAT'S GONNA BE NEW.
AND FROM WHAT THEY'RE TELLING ME, MR. STOKES, THEY'RE TELLING ME THEY'RE NOT GONNA CREATE ANY NEW POSITIONS.
THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU KEEP LOOKING.
LET ME, YOU WANT ME TO READ IT AGAIN? I DO.
I AM FAMILIAR WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS SOME CONFUSION WITH THAT PARTICULAR LANGUAGE.
THEY HAVE 12 NEW JOBS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE CREATING.
IT STATES IT ON THE FIRST PAGE.
THE ONLY REASON IT WAS WRITTEN, THE WAY THAT IT WAS IN THAT SECONDARY SPOT THAT YOU WERE READING FROM IS BECAUSE WE WANTED THEM TO HAVE THAT PROVISIONAL OPTION.
IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FULFILL THE 12 IN PORT ARTHUR EMPLOYEES, THEN THAT VOIDS OUT THE REST OF THAT CONTRACT FOR THOSE PROVISION FOR THAT PROVISIONAL INCENTIVE.
THE FIRST PAGE, IT STATES THAT THEY WILL BE ADDING 12 NEW FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
OKAY, SO CAN WE, HOW DO WE PROCEED FROM HERE? YOU'RE TELLING ME THE WORDING, OKAY.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE WORDING, BUT, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING NOW WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS NOT WHAT I'VE BEEN READING.
YOU EXPLAINED TO ME, YOU SAID IT IS DIFFERENT.
THERE'S ONE HERE AND ONE HERE.
SO WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO? YOU WANT TO PUT THESE THINGS THE RIGHT WAY AND BRING IT TO US OR YOU WANT TRY TO AMEND IT TODAY? I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO AMEND IT TODAY.
THEN I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THEN, UH, CAN WE, UH, JUST, JUST, JUST A SECOND, MR. DOUCETTE, LET'S GET THE CITY ATTORNEY INVOLVED IN THIS.
UH, I UNDERSTAND HER QUINCE AND WANTING TO AMEND SO WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.
BUT, UH, ARE WE, UH, IN THE PARAMETERS, THE ARTHUR OF WHAT WE CAN DO? UH, MAYOR THE PRINT, ARTHUR EDC ACTUALLY HAS THEIR OWN ATTORNEY THAT DRAFTED THESE DOCUMENTS AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THEY CONTACT THEIR ATTORNEY WHO DRAFTED THESE DOCUMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DOCUMENT REFLECTS WHAT THEY NEGOTIATED.
THE RESOLUTION PREPARED AND SENT TO THE CITY, MENTIONS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PORT AUTHOR RESIDENCE, BUT THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT DRAFTED BY THE EDC ATTORNEY DOES NOT MANDATE THEY BE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENCE.
UM, SO HE IS, HE IS ACCURATE ON THAT.
[02:00:01]
THAN HAPPY TO HELP THE EDC, BUT I WANTED CLARIFIED THAT THE EDC HAS THEIR OWN ATTORNEY AND I DON'T WANNA STEP ON THEIR ATTORNEY'S RESPONSIBILITIES, OBLIGATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL ISSUES WITH THEIR CLIENT.I WAS THINKING FOR A TIME SAKE IF, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE TO ADD THAT AS AN AMENDMENT TO WHAT WAS WAS PRESENTED TO US NOW.
AND, UH, BECAUSE I KNOW AS YOU SAID ON THE ORIGINAL AND AS YOU'VE BEEN STATING ON THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT, THAT IS A PROVISION I I I BELIEVE IN THAT ORIGINAL DOCUMENT.
NOW, IT'S NOT STATED SPECIFICALLY ON TODAY.
SO IS THERE, AND WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT, IS THERE A PROPER WAY PROPERLY THAT WE CAN AMEND WHAT WE HAVE TO TODAY AND CONTINUE TO CARRY THE, YOU KNOW, UH, MAYBE EVEN THE VOTE ON IT? TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WHEN YOU GO TO VOTE, YOU CAN STATE THAT IT IS APPROVED WITH THE AMENDMENT OF X, Y, Z IN THE CONTRACT CONTINGENT, CONTINGENT UPON SUBJECT TO HOWEVER YOU WANT TO, HOWEVER, THAT NEEDS TO BE STATED.
AND THEN YOU CAN PROCEED IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, NO, HOLD ON.
YOU, YOU'VE GIVEN US AN OPTION.
NOW IF, CAN WE ACCEPT THAT OPTION ATTORNEY AND MOVE ON? WELL, IT ALSO DEPENDS ON WHAT THE EDC BOARD INTENDED WHEN THEY APPROVED THE AGREEMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE EDC BOARD INTENDED THEM TO BE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENCE OR IF THEY ACTUALLY APPROVED THE AGREEMENT AS IS.
THEY THEY INTENDED IT WAS EXACTLY AS I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT THE INTENT IS TO HIRE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS.
IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO, THEN THEY DON'T GET THAT PROVISIONAL INCENTIVE.
THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THE BOARD.
BUT IF, IF, IF, I MEAN, AND IT IS SORT OF LIKE THE, THE, THE WORDING WITH NORMAL, WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE STAFF HERE, PART OF YOU UNDERSTAND, BUT THE IDA, UH, AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE WITH INDUSTRY, UH, WE HAVE CERTAIN INCENTIVES OR IN PLACE IN, IN THEIR, IN THEIR ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.
AND IF THEY DON'T REACH THOSE, UH, SPECIFIC OR STATED, UH, GOALS OR NUMBERS, THEN WHATEVER THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE GOTTEN OR THEY COULD GET AS THE INCENTIVE THAT'S REMOVED BECAUSE THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, ATTAINED, UH, OBTAINED, UH, NUMBER HASN'T BEEN, UH, ACHIEVED.
SO, UH, I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE IF IT'S POSSIBLE FOR US TO ADD WHAT YOU, WHAT WHAT YOU SAID ON THE ONSET THAT COULD BE ADDED IF THAT'S PROPER.
AND WE, WELL, I DON'T KNOW, I FORGOT THIS A MINUTE NOW SINCE WHO, WHO, UH, MADE THE MOTION ON IT, BUT ACCEPT THAT AND WE, AND WE, AND WE COULD, UH, MOVE ON.
WELL, FIRST WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THEN I, I'M IN FAVOR OF WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYS.
THEY NEED TO TAKE THIS BACK AND THEY NEED TO BRING IT TO US IN THE FORM THAT WE READ IT AND WE UNDERSTAND IT AND WE APPROVE IT.
IF IT WAS JUST THAT SIMPLE AS SAYING, OKAY, THEN JUST, WE ARE GONNA DO THIS WITH THE INTENT.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED AN INTENT NOW.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE A CLAR A CLEAR CLARIFICATION.
UH, YOU ALL MEET ONCE A MONTH, SO I HAVE A CONCERN AND YOU SAID THAT IT'S PORT ARTHUR, AS LONG AS PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS IS GOING TO HAVE TO GET THE JOB, THEN WE CAN AMEND IT.
LIKE YOU SAY, BY SIMPLY SAYING WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE JOBS WILL BE PORT ARTHUR AND IF THEY GET THEM, WE, UH, THEY GET THE INCENTIVE.
IF THEY DON'T GET THEM, NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IF THEY DON'T MEET IT EACH TIME, IF SOMEBODY QUIT AND THEY DON'T DO THE PAYROLL, THEY STILL DON'T GET IT.
I, I KNOW EDC, BUT I'VE ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN WE DO CONTRACT WITH PEOPLE, THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WANT.
'CAUSE THEY TALKING WHAT I SEE HERE THAT I DON'T WANT, I DON'T WANT THEM TO GET CREDIT FOR A PORT ARTHUR RESIDENT THAT IS NOW WORKING FOR THEM.
THAT'S WHAT I DIDN'T SEE IN HERE BECAUSE ALL THE LANGUAGE, ALL THE LANGUAGE IT POINTS TO, IF I GOT FIVE PEOPLE WORKING RIGHT NOW FROM PORT ARTHUR, THAT GOES TO MY WAY.
YOU SEE, BECAUSE THEY SAID I'M NOT CREATING NEW POSITIONS, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T SHIFT PEOPLE.
THAT'S SOMETHING I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS CONTRACT.
I DONE SEEN TOO MANY TIMES WE LET CONTRACTS GO
[02:05:02]
AND THEN WHEN WE GET TO THIS POINT NOW WHERE WE HAVE TO, WELL WE NEED TO AMEND IT NOW.NO, WE SHOULD HAVE CHANGED IT BEFORE WE APPROVED IT BECAUSE IT'S CREATED A PROBLEM FOR US.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT YOU DO NOT GET CREDIT FOR A PORT ARTHUR RESIDENT THAT IS CURRENTLY WORKING FOR YOU.
THAT IS NOT GONNA COUNT TOWARD THIS PAYROLL.
I FULLY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID ON TODAY, AND I I APPRECIATE OUR ATTORNEY, UM, EXTENDING THE PROFESSIONAL, UH, COURTESY TO THE ATTORNEY WHO IS AT, UM, THE EDC.
I ALSO APPRECIATE, UM, UM, COUNCILMAN, UH, DSET, UH, SHARING WHAT THE, THE COMPLETE DESIRE OF THIS COUNCIL IS AS WE WORK IN CONCERT WITH THE EDC.
BUT I I, I AM ALWAYS CONCERNED, UH, WITH US, UM, DOING THINGS RIGHT, BUT ALSO WITH DOING THINGS IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT CREATE SITUATIONS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRYING TO DO BUS BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
UH, WHEN BUSINESSES ARE TRYING TO DO BUSINESS WITH US, WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO DO IT IN AN EXPEDITIOUS MANNER.
UH, AND SO, UM, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BEHOOVE US, IF POSSIBLE ON TODAY TO APPROVE THIS WITH THE CAVEAT THAT IT WOULD BE EXTENDED BACK TO, UM, THE EDC FOR THEM TO MAKE, UM, THE CHANGES, UH, SO THAT WE CAN GO ON WITH THIS AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.
WELL, YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS MENTIONING ABOUT ANYTIME WE'RE DEALING WITH THEM, THEY DON'T MEET, BUT ONCE A MONTH.
IT'S NOT LIKE US TWICE, WE CAN'T, YOU BRING IT BACK IN TWO WEEKS, THAT'S TO COME.
I'M VERY COGNIZANT OF STOPPING IT AND BRINGING IT BACK.
IT AIN'T COMING BACK IN TWO WEEKS.
IT MIGHT COME BACK IN SIX WEEKS NOW BECAUSE OF WHEN THEY MEET.
LET'S DO, BECAUSE THEY JUST MET.
YOU KNOW? SO I WANT TO GET IT DONE, BUT WHAT I DON'T WANT, I DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO TRY TO TAKE CREDIT FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GOING.
SO IF, WELL, I THINK, I THINK YOU, I THINK, AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND I THINK THAT YOU'VE BEEN EXPLICIT.
I THINK THAT YOU'VE BEEN, YOU'VE IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE, YOU'VE BEEN EXPLICIT ABOUT WHAT THE WILL AND DESIRE OF THIS COUNCIL AND I'M SURE THE WILL AND DESIRE OF THE EDC AND ALL OF US, UH, IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBER TODAY WANTS TO HAPPEN OR TRANSPIRE.
SO, UM, I WOULD MAKE THE AMENDMENT AND LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION, UH, THAT SAYS THAT, THAT THE, UM, THE ADDITION OF THE NEW 15 EMPLOYEES, BE SURE THAT BE ADDED TO THE CONTRACT TO ENSURE THAT THEY, THAT IT WOULD BE THAT, THAT THEY ADDRESS THAT IN THE CONTRACT.
ADDRESS THAT IN THE, UH, BEFORE THEY DO A FINAL CONTRACT.
YOU CAN ALSO ADD THAT THE CONTRACT BE SENT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR FINAL REVIEW.
BEFORE THE I, BEFORE THEY SIGN, AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOUR INTENT WE WILL HAVE APPROVED OR WAS IF THAT'S THE MAJORITY'S SAKE.
AND THEN ONCE ALL THAT HAPPENS, ACTION CAN.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOUR LIGHT IS ON.
YES, UH, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING'S BEEN SAID AND CONTINGENT UPON, WE CAN APPROVE THE CONTINGENT UPON LANG CHANGING.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT, WHEN YOU ALL COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE, REVIEW THOSE, REVIEW THE LANGUAGE, MAKE CERTAIN THAT THERE'S NO AMBIGUOUS LANGUAGE IS THAT'S IN THERE, THAT'S GONNA CREATE A DISCUSSION.
IT IS OPEN FOR THEIR INTERPRETATION.
SO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THERE'S NO AMBIGUITY IN THESE AGREEMENTS.
SO I WOULD, I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND THAT THE WAREHOUSES AND THE RESOLUTION OF THE HISTORICAL INFORMATION THAT YOU HAD REGARDING THE TRANSACTION OF THE ADDRESSES BE INCLUSIVE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNEW ENOUGH TIME BEFORE TODAY, BUT ANY HISTORICAL INFORMATION THAT EXPLAINS THE AGREEMENT IN THE WAREHOUSES OF THE RESOLUTION WOULD BE HELPFUL SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THESE TRANSACTIONS IN THE COUNCIL MEETING.
THE ANSWERS ARE PROVIDED IN ADVANCE.
ALL IN FAVOR? A I THOUGHT WE NEEDED AN AMENDMENT.
MAYOR, MA'AM, WE AREN'T WE MAKING A MOTION TO I MADE THE AMENDMENT WHAT? I DIDN'T GET A SECOND.
I MADE THE AMENDMENT A SECOND.
[02:10:01]
SURE THAT TEXAS DESSERTS IS REGISTERED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE.AS HAVE, WE WILL APPROVE PER NUMBER 23 9 86 WITH THE STATED UH, CHANGES.
YOU TALKED ABOUT, SIR, AM I CORRECT? YES.
NOW I GUESS YOU ALL WOULD JUST STAY IN PLEASE.
[VII.C.(12) P.R. No. 23987 – A Resolution Approving An Economic Development Performance Agreement Between The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation And Korpal Golden Investments LLC For An Amount Not To Exceed $140,120.00; Funds Available In EDC Account No. 120-80-625-5478-00-00-000 (Development)]
NEXT WE HAVE PR NUMBER 23 9 87.IT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PORT OF ECONOMIC, UH, COOPERATION AND CORPORAL GOLDEN INVESTMENTS LLC FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $140,120, EXCUSE ME.
FUNDS AVAILABLE IN EDC ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 2 0, UH, 8 6 2 5 5 4 7 8 0 0 0, WHICH IS THE DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN LEWIS SECOND IS REMOVED TO SECONDARY WITH APPROVE PR 23 9 8 8 AS PRESENTED.
UH, WE READY FOR QUESTION? UH, COUNCILMAN ETT? COME FRANK, TURN YOUR LIGHT OFF PLEASE.
SINCE WE'VE DISCUSSED MOST OF THIS, THIS HAS BEEN CLARIFIED.
SO THE ONLY THING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO HERE IS APPROVE IT WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT THE ADDRESS BE CORRECTED.
AM I CORRECT? YOU ARE CORRECT.
SO I AM, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 2 3 9 8 7 WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT THE ADDRESS OF THE BUSINESS BE CHANGED TO 33 80 FM 365, 33 80 FM 365.
MOVE TO SECOND THAT WE WOULD ALSO MAKE THAT ADDITION TO THAT ORIGINAL, UH, MOTION.
WE READY? WE STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? ANY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
SO IT IS APPROVED PER NUMBER 23 9 87 AS PRESENTED WITH THE NECESSARY ADDITIONS.
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 23989 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With Allco, LLC Of Beaumont, Texas, For The El Vista Drainage Pump Station Improvement Project With A Projected Budgetary Impact Of $1,987,807.00. Funding Is Available In The Drainage Pump Stations Program Account, $24,089.00 From FEMA Harvey Fund (147-07-015-8515-00-40-000) And $1,963,718.00 From Capital Improvement Fund (307-21-055-8515-00-10-000, Project Number DR1P07-CON) Contingent Upon Approval Of Budget Amendment Via Adoption Of Proposed Ordinance 7291]
NOW WE WILL GO OVER TO PAGE SEVEN, UH, ROMAN NUMERAL EIGHT, WHICH UH, WOULD BE THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA AT P NUMBER 23 9 8 9.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH ALL CO LLC OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE EL VISTA DRAINAGE PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WITH THE PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $1,987,807.
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE DRAINAGE PUMP STATIONS, UH, PROGRAM ACCOUNT, UH, $24,089 FROM UH, FEMA, UH, FEMA HARVEY FUND, WHICH, UH, ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 4 7 DASH 7 0 5 DASH 85 15 0 0 0 AND $1,963,718 FROM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH 5 5 8 5 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH ZERO ZERO PROJECT NUMBER D ONE P ZERO SEVEN DASH AND THIS IS CONTINGENT, HOWEVER, UPON APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT VIA ADOPTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE 7 21, WHICH WE WILL COME TO AT THE END OF THIS MEETING.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL WITH THE CONTINGENCY OF COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, MAYOR PROM SECOND.
AND WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 9 8 9 AS PRESENTED, WE ARE READY FOR COURSELY.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
AND THE OPPOSERS AYES HAVE, SO P NUMBER 23 9 8 9 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 23992 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With NewGen Strategies And Solutions, LLC Of Austin, Texas, To Develop A Solid Waste Master Plan. Funding Of $208,070.00 Is Available In The Solid Waste Administration's Professional Services Account, 403-50-300-5420-00-00-000, Contingent Upon Approval Of Budget Amendment Via Adoption Of Proposed Ordinance 7291]
NEXT WE HAVE ON PAGE EIGHT PR NUMBER 23 9 9 2.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH NEW GEN STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS LLC OF AUSTIN, TEXAS TO DEVELOP A SOLID WASTE MASTER PLAN.
FUNDING OF $208,070 IS AVAILABLE
[02:15:01]
IN THE SOLID WASTE ADMINISTRATION'S PROFESSIONAL SERVICE ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 3 DASH 5 0 3 0 5 4 2 0 0 0 AND THIS IS CONTINGENT UPON APPROVAL AS WELL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT VIA THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE, UH, 72 91.COUNCILMAN LEWIS, MAY I GET A SECOND COUNCILWOMAN HAMILTON EVER FEEL HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 9 9 2 AS PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? THERE ARE ANY LIKE NO QUESTIONS READY TO, UH, VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY, ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE PR NUMBER 23 9 9 2 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 23993 – A Resolution Authorizing Payment Of Annual Service Fee For Tyler Municipal Court System To Tyler Technologies In The Amount Of $78,571.97. Funds Available In Municipal Court Technology Fund Account No. 104-03-009-5450-00-10-000 Contingent On Budget Amendment PO 7291]
NEXT WE HAVE PR NUMBER 23 9 9 3.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF ANNUAL SERVICE FEE FOR A TYLER MUNICIPAL COURT SYSTEM TO TYLER TECHNOLOGIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $78,571 AND 97 CENTS FUNDS AVAILABLE IN MUNICIPAL COURT TECHNOLOGY AND FUND ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 0 4 3 0 9 5 4 5 0 0 0 AND THIS TWO IS CONTING UPON BUDGET AMENDMENT PO NUMBER 72 91.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, MAYOR PRO IS MOVED AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PERA NUMBER 23 9 9 3 AS APPROVED.
WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY OPPOSES? AYE.
AS HAVE SO THIS HONOR, WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 9 9 3 AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 23994 – A Resolution Casting Votes For The Board Of Directors Of The Orange County Appraisal District For The 2025 And 2025-2027 Term]
WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR PR NUMBER 23 9 9 4.IT IS A RESOLUTION CASTING VOTES FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ORANGE COUNTY APPRAISER DISTRICT FOR THE 2025 AND 2025 THROUGH 2027 TERM.
AND I'D LIKE TO ADD THE NAME THAT WE BROUGHT THAT I'VE HAD SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, MR. WAYNE SPARROW, HAVE, WE'VE NEVER BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE WHAT, MANY MORE VOTES THAN WE.
SO IT'S ALMOST WHOMEVER WE WOULD, UH, NOMINATE WOULD HAVE A REALLY SLIM LIKELIHOOD OF BEING ACCEPTED BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE A SMALL MINUTE NUMBER OF VOTES IN THIS, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT, THAT QUESTION, BUT MAY I GET A, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? MAKING A SECOND, UH, COUNCILWOMAN EVER FIELD SECOND HAS BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND, THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PRO NUMBER 2 3 9 9 4 WITH THE NAME OF WAYNE SPARROW AS BEING OUR, UH, NOMINEE.
ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION? NO QUESTION IS READY TO VOTE.
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7289 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Retirement Of Police Canine "Reyna" And Transferring The Ownership Of The Canine To The Personal Care Of Officer Tiffany Williams]
NOW WE'LL MOVE TO ORDINANCE.THIS, WE HAVE THE FIRST ORDINANCE, PO NUMBER 72 89, AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE RETIREMENT OF POLICE K NINE RAINER, AND TRANSFERRING THE OWNERSHIP OF THE CANINE TO THE PERSONNEL PERSONAL CARE OF OFFICER TIFFANY WILLIAMS. MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? MAYOR PRO THEM SECOND.
IT IS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE THE ORDINANCE PO NUMBER SEVEN AND 2 89.
UH, WE READY FOR QUESTIONING? THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7290 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Retirement Of Police Canine "Spok" And Transferring The Ownership Of The Canine To The Personal Care Of Officer Chad Morrison]
WE HAVE PO NUMBER 72 90 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE RETIREMENT OF POLICE K NINE SPOT AND TRANSFERRING THE OWNERSHIP OF THE K NINE TO THE PERSONAL CARE OF OFFICER CHAD MORRISON.MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? MAY I GET A SECOND? MAYOR? I APPROVE THEM.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, APPROVE OR ORDER IN 72 90 AS PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTIONING ON ANY QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO IT IS APPROVED PO NUMBER 72 90 AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.B.(3) P.O. No. 7291 – An Appropriation Ordinance Amending The City Of Port Arthur Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2024 And Ending September 30, 2025, Increasing Solid Waste Fund By $108,070.00, Capital Improvement Fund By $1,963,718.00, FEMAHarvey Fund By $24,089.00 And Municipal Court Technology Fund By $78,572.00]
NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS PO NUMBER 72 91.IT'S AN APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE, MEN IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
INCREASING SOLID WASTE FUND BY $108,070 CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND BY $1,963,718 OF FEMA HARVEY, UH, FUND BY $24,089.
[02:20:02]
AND THE MUNICIPAL COURT TECHNOLOGY FUND TO BUY $78,572.MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVE I GET A SECOND COUNCILWOMAN.
EVER FEEL OKAY? SOME KINDA WAY.
NOW, UH, WE, IT IS BEEN MOVED A SECOND.
UH, WE READY FOR A QUESTION? THERE ONLY ANY QUESTIONS READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A A ANY OPPOSERS? AYES HAVE IT.
SO, PO NUMBER 72 91 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)]
US TO PAGE NINE OF THE PRINTED, UH, AGENDA.AND AT THIS JUNCTURE WE WOULD BE AT ROMAN NUMERAL NINE.
WE ARE PREPARED NOW FOR THE CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND WE MUST BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 5 5 1 0.101 OF THE, OF CHAPTER 5 5, 1 OF THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH WAS FORMERLY, UH, ARTICLE 62 52 DASH ONE SEVEN, SECTION TWO SUBSECTION A.
AND PRIOR TO GOING INTO THE, THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, I, BEING THE PRESIDE OF THIS GROUP, I MUST MAKE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT.
WE WILL COVER SECTION 5 5 1 0.07, ONE OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT TO MEET, UM, TO MEET WITH THE ATTORNEY TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE ON A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY TO THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BOARD OF TEXAS CONFLICTS WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
AND RELATING TO THAT WOULD BE RELATING TO FIRST, FIRST ITEM WOULD BE PLEASURE ISLAND BUILDINGS A AND THE B.
THE SECOND, UH, ITEM WOULD BE HOMELESSNESS AND THE CITY OF BRANCH PASS, OREGON VERSUS JOHNSON, A US SUPREME COURT NUMBER 23 DASH 1 75 IN 2023, REQUESTED BY MAYOR PROM BECKHAM.
THIRDLY, WE WILL, UH, ADDRESS PAYMENTS AND FEES AND OTHER CAUSED BY CREDIT CARD OR ELECTRONIC MEANS.
NEXT, WE WILL ADDRESS TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ZONES.
AND WE WERE ALSO, UH, UH, DISCUSSED OWNER, CITY OWNED FACILITY LOCATED AT 35 57, UH, 50, 35 51, I'M SORRY, 57TH STREET HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN ON PAGE 10, WE WOULD CONTINUE, WE WOULD LOOK AT LEGAL ISSUES RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
ALSO, WE WOULD LOOK AT LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO A GRIEVANCE AND AN APPEAL FILED BY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHURS POLICE ASSOCIATION TO CHALLENGE, UH, THE, UH, INCREMENT WEATHER PAY POLICY, UH, RELATING TO HURRICANE TROPICAL STORM BARREL AND THE VACATION AND HOLIDAY PAY AND SICK LEAVE POLICY OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE WERE ALSO LOOKING AT LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE, TO A GRIEVANCE AND AN APPEAL FILED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS, THE LOCAL 3 9 7 TO CHALLENGE THE INCLEMENT WEATHER AND PAID POLICY RELATING TO HURRICANE, UH, TROPICAL STORM BARREL.
THEN WE WILL COVER SECTION 5 5, 1 POINT, UH, 0 8 7 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
AND THERE WE WOULD DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH WOULD BE, AGAIN, PLEASURE ISLAND BUILDINGS, A AND B, THE USE OF THE LANDFILL AND EXPANSION OF THE LANDFILL, AND ALSO THE WIND TURBINE LEASE ON THE PLEASURE ISLAND.
THEN WE WILL COVER SECTION 5 5 1 0.074 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
WE WILL DISCUSS THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND EVALUATIONS OF ATTORNEY CITY, ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER, CITY SECRETARY, AND MUNICIPAL COURT, MR. MEMBER CUSTODY BY COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW WITH ANY OF THESE ITEMS THAT I HAVE JUST AFTER MENTIONED CALL FOR ANY ACTION.
THAT ACTION WILL BE TAKEN HERE IN OPEN SESSION WHEN WE RETURN FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, AT THIS JUNCTION.
COUNCILMAN ETT? YES, MAYOR, I, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, TABLE, UH, ITEM NUMBER THREE ON PAGE 10, UH, TO A DISCUSSION OF PERSONNEL, THE DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITY, EVALUATION OF CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER, CITY SECRETARY, AND MINUTES COURT JUDGE REQUESTS BY COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
I'D LIKE TO TABLE THAT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING SO THAT HE'S PRESENT.
AND SECOND THAT WE WILL TABLE THIS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? ALL IN FAVOR? A.
[02:25:01]
OPPOSES? OKAY.THAT ACTION NUMBER THREE WILL BE REMOVED FROM DISCUSSIONS IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ANYTHING ELSE? I DON'T SEE ANY LIGHTS OF.
WHAT WE WOULD DO NOW IS RETIRE DOWNSTAIRS TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM.
AND AGAIN, IF THERE WOULD BE ACTION THAT WOULD BE NEEDED, OUR ATTORNEY WILL SO GRACELY PREPARE US TO COME BACK AND TAKE ACTION ON THOSE ITEMS IN OPEN SESSION.
LET'S RETIRED TO THE FOURTH FLOOR.
UM, CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE? MAYOR MARTIN.
COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, CITY, THE CITY ATTORNEY HASN'T GOTTEN IN YET.
HM? DID YOU SEE THE CITY ATTORNEY AT THE CITY MANAGER? WELL, YOU, WE ALL WEREN'T IN EITHER DOWNSTAIRS.
BEFORE WE ADJO THE, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION, WILL WE HAVE ANY ITEMS WITH ACTION ON THEM THAT WE WOULD NEED MOTIONS HERE IN OPEN SESSION? YES, MAYOR.
AND THE FIRST, I BELIEVE THE CITY COUNCIL HAS A MOTION TO MAKE ON THE PAYMENT OF FEES AND OTHER COSTS BY CREDIT CARD OR ELECTRONIC MEANS THAT, OKAY.
YOU'RE ABOUT APPROACH HIM, PLEASE.
I MAKE A MOTION TO INSTRUCT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT A CITY ORDINANCE THAT AUTHORIZES THE CITY TO CHARGE AND COLLECT A REIMBURSEMENT FEE FOR PROCESSING ANY PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD OR OTHER ELECTRONIC MEANS.
AND BRING SAID ORDINANCE BACK TO CITY COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE MOTION STATED BY OUR CITY, EXCUSE ME, BY MAYOR
ARE WE READY FOR, UH, QUESTION? ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE THE MOTION IS APPROVED AS STATED.
WOULD THAT BE ANOTHER CITY ATTORNEY? YES, YOUR HONOR.
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S LOOKING FOR A MOTION ON THE EXTENSION OF THE LEASE ALLOWED FOR THE CITY OWNED FACILITY LOCATED AT 34 51 57 STREET IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ROB BALLISTICS REQUEST TO EXTEND THERE.
TIME TO VACATE THE PREFERENCES AT 34 57.
34 51 50 SEVENTH STREET, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FROM OCTOBER THE 31ST, 2024 TO NOVEMBER THE 15TH, 2024 AT 5:00 PM A SECOND.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS? CUT YOUR MIC ON.
I WAS GOING TO THE NEXT ONE, BUT, OKAY.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO THE MOTION TO AS PRESENTED BY COUNCILMAN ETT IS APPROVED.
WILL THAT BE ANOTHER? YES, GO AHEAD.
UH, YES, MAYOR, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S LOOKING FOR THE APPROVAL TO HIRE OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR ISSUES RELATED TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, AS WELL AS GRIEVANCES FILED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS LISTED ON THE NOVEMBER 6TH, 2024 AGENDA ITEMS F THROUGH H.
UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AN ENGAGEMENT LETTER WITH LYNN LAW, PLLC, TO LEGALLY TO LEGALLY REPRESENT THE CITY IN, UH, NEGOTIATIONS, MEDIATION, AND POSSIBLE ARBITRATION FOR POLICE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT GRIEVANCES FILED BY THE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER PAY RELATING TO HURRICANE, UH, TROPICAL STORM BARREL, VACATION, HOLIDAY PAY, AND SICK LEAVE, AND A GRIEVANCE FILED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 3 9 7 FOR INCLEMENT
[02:30:01]
WEATHER PAY RELATING TO, UH, TROPICAL STORM BARREL.AND SECOND, THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE MOTION THAT'S BEEN AS STATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
FRANK, WE ARE READY FOR QUESTION UNDER THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? A AYE, ANY OPPOSES? AYE.
HAVE IT SO IT IS APPROVED THE MOTION AS STATED AND READ BY COUNCIL MEMBER, FRANK, WILL THERE BE ANOTHER, UH, CITY ATTORNEY? NO, MA'AM, THERE ISN'T.
UH, WE NEED FOR THE, FOR THE COMPANY WITH THE WIND TURBINES AND GET WITH THE STAFF AND THE CITY ATTORNEY ON DRAFTING OF BELIEFS.
WAS THAT, UH, WE, I THOUGHT WE DISCUSSED IT IN ANOTHER MANNER.
WE, WE DISCUSSED IT IN ANOTHER MANNER, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, FOR THE, UH, OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT TO DEAL WITH THE, I THINK THAT'S ECOLOGIC ECOLOGY OR WHATEVER ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE ON THE ISLAND FROM, UH, THE, UH, LEASE OF THE LAND TO, UH, THE COMPANY.
SO THAT'S GOING, THAT'S THE FIRST STEP THAT WE'RE GONNA MOVE.
AM I CORRECT? UH, AND, AND ONCE THAT IS DONE, THEN WE WILL BEGIN.
YOU WILL HAVE ALL THE TENANTS THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO INCLUDE IN A LEASE FOR THE PROPERTY.
I BELIEVE THE CITY MANAGER'S GONNA BE WORKING ON DUE DILIGENCE AND VETTING OF THE PROJECT AND ITS VIABILITY IN OUR CITY FOR GROWTH AND PROMOTION OF OUR, OKAY.
SO, SO COUNCILMAN, SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GATHERING INFORMATION, UH, THROUGH OUR OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT, DEALING WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS FROM, UH, RIGHT.
THE LEASING OF THE LAND FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECTS.
SO WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION, ANYTHING WITH THAT.
WITH THAT ALL BEING SAID, COUNCIL? YEAH.
WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, UH, WOULD THERE BE ANYTHING ELSE SINCE SECRETARY COMING OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? NO, SIR.
YOU HAVE A WORKSHOP AFTER THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADJOURN EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.
YOU'RE JUST BACK FOR WE CAN GO THE WORKSHOP.
[X. WORKSHOP]
THIS TIME, I SEE, UH, ATTORNEY KENARD IS HERE.I DON'T KNOW IF CITY ATTORNEY WANTED TO SPEAK FIRST BEFORE SHE WOULD COME, BUT WHAT WE WOULD DO IS AT 2:54 PM WE WILL BEGIN THE WORKSHOP WITH OUR, UH, ATTORNEY.
WELL, KAREN KENARD IS A VERY DISTINGUISHED ATTORNEY.
UM, I CERTAINLY HAVE KNOWN HER MANY YEARS AGO WHEN SHE WAS A CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IT'S AN, IT'S AN HONOR TO SEE HER AND TO BE WITH HER.
SHE IS CURRENTLY WITH GREENBERG AND TOG, I THINK IS HOW YOU SAY IT.
AND SHE HAS WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR NUMEROUS YEARS AND HAS CERTAINLY HELPED OUR CITY MOVE LEGISLATION FORWARD TO PROTECT US.
SO I'D ASK KAREN TO PLEASE COME UP AND, AND THE CITY COUNCIL IS INTERESTED IN MOVING FORWARD WITH CREATING A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND SETTING ITS PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING 89 TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND THE HUNDRED 19TH US CONGRESS.
AND SO I THINK MS. KENARD HAS A CONTRACT TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO THE CITY.
AND SO WE'D LOVE TO SEE WHAT SHE CAN DO FOR US AND, AND FOR YOU TO ARTICULATE WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR HER TO DO FOR YOU.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UH, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY.
UH, IT IS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU HERE AGAIN.
UH, I THINK WE WERE TOGETHER ALMOST, UH, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO LAST OCTOBER, UH, WHERE I WAS HERE TO TALK TO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UH, LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS OF LAST YEAR.
AND I DO SAY SESSIONS BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD, UH, OUR REGULAR LEG LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN 2023.
AND THEN WE HAD THREE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, UH, THAT WENT UNTIL OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR.
AND SO, UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO TRY TO, UH, UH, TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, THIS PERIOD OF WHAT WE CALL THE INTERIM LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT STARTED HERE, UH, IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, 2024.
AND THEN TRY TO PREVIEW SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT, UH, WE THINK ARE GONNA HAPPEN DURING THE 2025, UH, REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
UH, I WILL SAY THAT, UH, OUR FIRM, GREENBERG TROIK, UH, REPRESENTS YOU AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
WE DON'T, UH, REPRESENT YOU AT THE FEDERAL, UH, CONGRESS, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THAT IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES.
UH, GREENBERG TROIK, UH, AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, IS A LARGE INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM.
WE HAVE OVER 2,800 LAWYERS AND ABOUT, UH, 48, UH, OFFICES AROUND THE WORLD.
UH, WE HAVE THREE OFFICES HERE, UH, IN TEXAS, UH, HOUSTON, DALLAS, AND AUSTIN.
[02:35:01]
PRESENCE IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL IN WASHINGTON DC.AND SO, UH, I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, I WANNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M THE FACE THAT YOU GENERALLY SEE, BUT WE HAVE A VERY, UH, ROBUST TEAM OF ATTORNEYS IN OUR AUSTIN OFFICE WHO, UH, HELPED ME DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN THE REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY.
UH, AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I GOT A LITTLE SICK DURING, UH, LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE THAT TEAM OF LAWYERS, UH, HELPING ME, UH, THE HEAD OF OUR GOVERNMENT LAW AND POLICY PRACTICE, BOTH IN TEXAS AND IN WASHINGTON DC UH, DEMETRIUS MCDANIEL, UH, UH, SHAREHOLDER, UH, VICE PRESIDENT OF OUR FIRM, UH, UH, ELIZABETH, UH, HATLEY, ANOTHER SHAREHOLDER, UH, IN OUR FIRM.
AND SERGIO EVAAS, UH, AN ASSOCIATE IN OUR FIRM.
SO THOSE FOUR ARE PART OF THE GLP TEAM HERE IN TEXAS AND HELP REPRESENT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
UH, I'D LIKE TO START WITH TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, SOME OF THE INTERIM LEGISLATIVE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN MONITORING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN OF INTEREST TO THE CITY.
AND SO, UM, DURING THIS INTERIM, WE'VE BEEN MONITORING THESE ISSUES FOR YOU.
SO DURING THE INTERIM PERIOD, LIKE I SAID, WHICH STARTED IN JANUARY, BOTH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHO, UH, PRESIDES OVER THE TEXAS SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE TEXAS HOUSE WHO PRESIDES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, UH, THEY ISSUE INTERIM LEGISLATIVE CHARGES.
AND THESE CHARGES ARE TO THE COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE COMMITTEES, UH, TO LOOK AT CERTAIN ISSUES, UH, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT TURN INTO LEGISLATION DURING NEXT YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND SO, I'LL START WITH THE SENATE.
SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE CHARGES THAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN MONITORING IN THE SENATE INCLUDE, UH, THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, UH, AND, UH, THEY'VE BEEN MONITORING, UH, SENATE BILL 28 AND SJR 2 75.
UH, SENATE BILL 28 WAS THE BIG WATER FUND BILL FROM LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
UH, THAT BILL, UH, PRINCIPALLY WAS THE BIG BILL THAT PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS THAT WOULD CREATE NEW WATER SOURCES FOR THE STATE, UH, SPECIFICALLY SENATE BILL, UH, 28, AND THE SJR 75, WHICH WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, CREATE THESE DEDICATED FUNDS IN THE STATE'S TREASURY TO FUND, UH, WATER, UH, PROJECTS LIKE DES DELINEATION PROJECTS, AQUIFER STORAGE PROJECTS, AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT, LIKE I SAID, THAT ARE CREATING NEW WATER SOURCES FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW TEXAS HAS SOMEWHAT OF A WATER, UH, SCHWART ANOTHER CRITICAL PART OF THAT BILL, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
THERE WAS ANOTHER SMALLER FUND UNDER SENATE BILL 28 THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO CITIES LIKE PORT ARTHUR.
IT'S CALLED THE TEXAS WATER FUND.
AND UNDER THAT PROVISION OF SENATE BILL 28, IT CREATED A, ANOTHER FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY THAT FUNDS WATER PROJECTS, WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS UNDER 150,000 POPULATION.
SO THOSE ARE, UH, THAT'S FUNDING, UH, THAT IS ADMINISTERED BY THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, THAT RURAL COMMUNITIES AND SMALL POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS ARE ELIGIBLE TO SEEK FUNDING.
NOW, OF COURSE, THERE ARE CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT YOU HAVE TO MEET FOR, FOR THOSE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, BUT THAT'S A DEDICATED FUND FOR THOSE SMALLER AND RURAL AREAS.
SO, UM, JUST BEEN MO THE, THE COMMITTEE WAS JUST MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN MONITORING ANY HEARINGS ON THAT.
THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE WAS ALSO MONITORING THE BROADBAND LEGISLATION.
AND AS YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST TWO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, UH, THE STATE HAS BEEN PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO THE EXPANSION OF BROADBAND, BOTH IN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND SMALLER COMMUNITIES OF THE STATE, LIKE PORT ARTHUR TRYING TO ROLL OUT HIGH SPEED BROADBAND AND UNDERSERVED AREAS OF THE STATE.
AND THERE ARE ALL TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING INTO AREAS LIKE PORT ARTHUR AND OTHER AREAS IN THE STATE WHERE THOSE TYPES OF COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY, VERY NEEDED.
AND THE THIRD, UH, UH, ISSUE THAT THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN LOOKING AT DURING THE INTERIM IS THE ISSUE OF CONTINUING
[02:40:01]
TO CUT PROPERTY TAXES.AND SO, AS WE KNOW, THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO THE HEARTS OF CITIES.
AND SO SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS JUST BEEN, YOU KNOW, HEARING ABOUT THAT MORE SO FROM THE ISSUE, THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, MORE SO FROM THE ISSUE OF, UH, SCHOOL PROPERTY TAXES.
BUT ANYTIME YOU MESS WITH THE PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM THAT MAY IMPACT CITIES, THE NEXT COMMITTEE THAT PROPERTY TAX IMPACTS CITIES MORE IS THE SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE.
AND THAT PARTICULAR COMMITTEE HAS BEEN STUDYING AND THEY WANT A REPORT ON SENATE BILL TWO FROM 2019.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, SENATE BILL TWO IS THE REVENUE CAP BILL.
AND SO, UM, THEY ARE POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT MAYBE LOWERING THAT THREE AND A HALF PERCENT CAP DOWN A LITTLE MORE.
WE HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT THE LOWERING OF THE CAP MIGHT BE IF THEY'RE GONNA GO TO TWO AND A HALF FOR TWO.
BUT THAT'S THE COMMITTEE IN WHICH WE, YOU KNOW, IN 2019, THAT THE CAP WAS LOWER TO 3.5%.
AND SO WE'VE JUST BEEN MONITORING THAT TO SEE WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
AND THAT WOULD DEFINITELY COME AT OUR, THE SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE.
ADDITIONALLY, DURING THE INTERIM, THE SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE HAS BEEN CONSIDERING, UH, ETJ LEGISLATION.
IF YOU WILL RECALL LAST SESSION, THERE WERE SEVERAL BILLS THAT WE WORKED VERY, VERY HARD ON FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR RELATED TO ETJ.
MANY OF THEM WOULD'VE HAD A VERY, VERY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON YOUR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS.
THE ONE BILL THAT PASSED SENATE BILL 2038, WE WERE ABLE, WORKING WITH OTHER CITIES, LET ME JUST BE VERY CLEAR, WORKING WITH THE, SPECIFICALLY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AND THE CITY OF ORANGE, WE WERE ABLE TO GET AN, UH, AN AMENDMENT PUT INTO THAT BILL THAT SAYS THAT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS, THAT CONTAINED AREAS IN THE ETJ THAT WERE SUBJECT TO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS OR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS, WERE NOT SUBJECT TO THAT LEGISLATION.
AND, UH, I, I, I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY CANNOT IMPRESS UPON YOU THE COLLABORATION WITH THOSE TWO CITIES.
SO I WILL SAY TO YOU, AGAIN, CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THOSE CITIES BECAUSE THOSE BILLS AND ISSUES RELATED TO ETJ REGULATION OR ETJ ISSUES WILL PROBABLY BE BACK IN 2025.
AND, UM, I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE, THE CITY ATTORNEY FROM, UH, BEAUMONT, THE CITY ATTORNEY FROM ORANGE.
UH, THE LOBBYISTS FOR THE CITY OF, UH, OF, OF BEAUMONT, UH, CITY OF ORANGE DIDN'T HAVE A LOBBYIST, BUT THEIR CITY MANAGER, WONDERFUL.
THEY WERE JUST, THEY, THEY WERE JUST AMAZING TO WORK WITH.
AND, AND I WILL SAY IT WAS, UH, YOUR NEIGHBORS, UH, HAVING THAT COLLABORATION WAS VERY, VERY HELPFUL IN WORKING ON THOSE BILLS.
THIS WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT PASSED, BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL OF THEM.
AND, UH, BEING ABLE TO GET THAT AMENDMENT WAS CRITICAL, UH, BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THOSE AGREEMENTS ARE TO THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF YOUR CITY.
SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THAT.
UH, INTERIM COMMITTEE, UH, THE NEXT, UH, COMMITTEE WE'VE BEEN MONITORING IN THE CITY IS SENATE WATER AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL AFFAIRS.
AND AGAIN, THAT PARTICULAR COMMITTEE IS JUST, UH, LOOKING AT ISSUES RELATED TO WATER SYSTEM RELIABILITY.
UH, SPECIFICALLY THEY'RE, THEY, THEY ARE EVALUATING WATER SYSTEMS IN TEXAS AND, AND SPECIFICALLY, UH, UH, LOCAL WATER SYSTEMS TO SEE HOW THEY CAN BETTER EQUIP THOSE SYSTEMS TO OPERATE, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC.
AND THEY'RE ALSO MONITORING SENATE BILL 28, WHICH IS THE, YOU KNOW, THE FUND THAT THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD IS OVERSEEING.
'CAUSE IT'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TRY TO CREATE NEW, UH, UH, WATER SOURCES FOR THE STATE.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UH, IN THE SENATE MONITORING SENATE STATE AFFAIRS, WHICH HAS TWO CHARGES IN THERE THAT JUST IMPACT CITIES.
AND I THINK SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT, UH, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN SPECIFICALLY, THERE'S A CHARGE IN THERE RELATED TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT.
UH, AND AS YOU MAY PROBABLY, ESPECIALLY POLICE CHIEF, UH, THEY PROBABLY GET LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS.
AND ANYTIME YOU START TINKERING WITH THAT, THAT CAN HAVE SOME FINANCIAL IMPACTS, UH, ON THE CITY.
SO JUST MONITORING ANY KIND OF CHANGES THAT MAY BE PROPOSED TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT.
[02:45:01]
AND THEN THEY HAVE A CHARGE ALSO, WHICH, WHICH, WHICH I THINK MAY BE GOOD FOR CITIES, IS, UH, ADDRESSING, HELPING, UH, COMMUNITIES ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.UH, DON'T KNOW WHAT MIGHT BE COMING FROM THAT, BUT THE CHARGE BASICALLY IS SAYING, LOOKING AT WHAT ARE BEST PRACTICES TO HELP ADDRESS THE, THE, THE, THE STATE'S HOMELESSNESS ISSUE.
SO THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD FOR ALL CITIES THAT MAY COME FROM THAT, UH, REVIEW IN, IN THE SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
AND SO, UH, WE'RE HOPEFUL ABOUT THAT ONE.
SO TURNING TO THE HOUSE AND THE INTERIM COMMITTEES THAT WE'RE MONITORING FOR THE CITY AND THE HOUSE, UH, UH, THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE AND LIVE LIVESTOCK COMMITTEE HAS, UH, IS MONITORING TWO BILLS THAT PASSED DURING THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION HOUSE BILL 1715, WHICH RELATES TO, UH, CERTAIN CITY REQUIREMENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS AND HOUSE BILL 2308, ALSO RELATING TO NUISANCE ACTIONS RELATED TO AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS.
THESE TWO BILLS BASICALLY GO TO IN 2023, UH, I JUST NEED TO REMIND YOU, THERE ARE A LOT OF BILLS RELATING TO PREEMPTING CITY'S AUTHORITY TO REGULATE.
THESE ARE JUST TWO SMALL ONES.
WE ALL, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT LATER ABOUT THE BIG 1 21 27.
UH, THESE BILLS BASICALLY PREEMPTED CITY'S ABILITY TO REGULATE AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS IN THE CITY'S JURISDICTION.
AND SO THIS COMMITTEE'S JUST, JUST MONITORING HOW THAT'S GOING.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S DOING ANYTHING RELATED TO AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS, SO THEY'RE JUST KIND OF MONITORING HOW THAT'S GOING.
AND THEN, UH, THE HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IS, IS LOOKING AT THE ISSUE OF NON-LETHAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DEVICES THAT ARE BEING USED.
UH, THINGS LIKE, UH, BEANBAG DEVICES, UH, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I THINK A LOT OF THOSE CAME UP DURING 2020.
THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF NON-LETHAL DEVICES THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS USING.
AND SO THEY'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THOSE AND WHETHER OR NOT THOSE ARE SOMETHING THAT MAYBE LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE USING MORE OFTEN OR MAYBE NOT.
SO JUST KIND OF MONITORING THAT.
AND, UH, THEY'RE ALSO, UM, OH, THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY OTHER THING.
SO, UM, NOW MOVING TO HOUSE LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, THEY ARE, UH, MONITORING, UH, SENATE BILL 9 29, WHICH IS A BILL FROM 2013 THAT RELATED TO DOWN ZONING.
AND DOWN ZONING IS LITERALLY A, A PRACTICE WHERE YOU HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY, IT HAS THIS CURRENT ZONING, AND THEN YOU SAY YOU CAN NO LONGER HAVE THE, THE USE THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE ON THAT PROPERTY ANYMORE.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A, IT'S A HIGHER ZONING, AND THEN YOU SAY YOU CAN NO LONGER DO THAT ON THAT PROPERTY.
SO THEY'RE JUST MONITORING HOW THAT'S GOING.
AND THEN THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT, UH, SENATE BILL 2038.
WHAT CAN HAPPEN NOW, NOT IN PORT ARTHUR.
IF SOMEONE'S IN A CITY'S ETJ, THEY CAN PETITION THE CITY TO HAVE THEMSELF RELEASED FROM THAT ETJ.
AND THAT HAS HAPPENED QUITE A BIT, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA WHERE I LIVE IN AUSTIN.
UH, IT IS THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF LAND HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE ETJ UP IN THE METROPLEX AUSTIN AREA UNDER, UH, SENATE BILL 2038.
UM, AND SO THEY'RE JUST MONITORING HOW THAT IS GOING AROUND THE STATE.
AND THEN, UH, HOUSE LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IS ALSO, THEY'RE LOOKING AT, UH, FACTORS THAT ARE AFFECTING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
SO THAT MAY BE SOMETHING GOOD TOO.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, THE STATE, LOTS OF, UH, STATES ARE KIND OF IN AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS WITH THE, THE COST OF HOUSING, OF PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO AFFORD BOTH HOME OWNERSHIP AND, UH, RENTAL HOUSING.
AND SO THEY'RE JUST MONITORING WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT ARE AFFECTING HOUSING, UH, OR IMPACTING THE COST OF HOUSING.
SO, UH, THAT, THAT STUDY MAY, UH, MAY, UH, UNCOVER SOME BENEFICIAL THINGS FOR, FOR CITIES TO LOOK AT.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, UH, THIS YEAR.
THOSE STUDIES, UH, THOSE CHARGES CAME OUT, UH, MID-JANUARY.
THEY'VE HAD HEARINGS, FEBRUARY HEARINGS ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL PROBABLY, UH, LAST, THE END OF LAST MONTH, OCTOBER.
WE SHOULD START TO SEE COMMITTEE HEARINGS FROM THOSE INTERIM CHARGES IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.
THE, THE, THE COMMITTEE REPORTS FROM THOSE CHARGES WILL GO ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL WHEN THE SESSION STARTS.
SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UNDER THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION, OUR LEGISLATURE MEETS EVERY OTHER YEAR AND
[02:50:01]
ODD NUMBERED YEARS FOR 140 DAYS.SO THIS COMING 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL START ON JANUARY 14TH, AND IT WILL END SIGNING DIE WILL BE JUNE 2ND, 2025.
BILL FILING, HOWEVER, UH, UNDER THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION STARTS NOVEMBER 14TH, I'M SORRY, NOVEMBER 12TH, THE 11TH IS A HOLIDAY.
IT GETS, IT STARTS 60 DAYS BEFORE THIS SESSION STARTS.
NEXT TUESDAY, UH, I HAVE HEARD, UH, OR ROOM, THE ROOM MILL HAS IT, THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WHICH IS THE, THE, THE ARM OF THE LEGISLATURE THAT DRAFTS ALL BILLS CURRENTLY HAS 20,000 BILLS.
SO THAT'S JUST INCREDIBLE TO ME TO THINK ABOUT
THAT'S A, THAT'S A LOT OF READING FOR ME AND MY COWORKERS TO DO, BECAUSE WE READ EVERY BILL THAT'S FILED TO SIFT THROUGH THINGS THAT MIGHT IMPACT YOU.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, IT, IT, IT'S JUST DAUNTING TO THINK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO SPEND JUST A COUPLE MINUTES TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE, WHAT, WHAT WE CALL LIKE HIGH LEVEL ISSUES THAT WE THINK WE'LL BE THERE IN 2025 THAT WILL BE OF INTEREST TO THE CITY.
AND I THINK THE BIGGEST ONE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE ISSUE OF PREEMPTION.
AND AS I TALKED TO YOU THIS TIME LAST YEAR, IT'S GONNA BE AGAIN, UH, UH, THE DEATH STAR BILL PREEMPTION, UH, HOUSE BILL 2127.
UH, IF YOU WILL RECALL, IT CREATED THIS NEW, UH, THEORY OF WHAT THEY CALL FEEL PREEMPTION.
IT WAS, IT'S NEW TO THE STATE, UH, AS A HOME RULE CITY.
UH, THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION BASICALLY PROVIDES THAT, UH, IN ORDER TO PREEMPT A HOME RULE CITY, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE A SPEC.
YOU HAVE TO DO IT WITH UNMISTAKABLE CLARITY.
AND UNDER PROVISION OF HOUSE BILL 2127, IT JUST BASICALLY SAID THAT IF THE STATE HAD REGULATED IN AN AREA OR IN THAT FIELD, YOU WERE PREEMPTED.
AND THEN IT LISTED ALL THESE DIFFERENT SUBJECT MATTER AREAS THAT IF THE STATE HAD SAID ANYTHING IN THAT FIELD, THEN THE CITY WAS PREEMPTED.
AND THAT WAS A NEW THEORY THAT KIND OF RAN CONTRARY TO WHAT THE STATE CONSTITUTION SAID.
AND SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, FILED A LAWSUIT, UH, UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, CHALLENGING THAT BILL IN, IN UNDER, UH, STATE LAW.
IF YOU'RE GONNA CHALLENGE LEGISLATION, YOU HAVE TO FILE THAT LAWSUIT IN, IN, IN STATE COURT IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
UH, A TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE HEARD THAT LAWSUIT AND RULED THAT THE BILL WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL UNDER THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.
UH, IT WAS APPEALED, BUT THEN NOTHING HAS HAPPENED SINCE.
AND SO WE'RE JUST KIND OF IN LIMBO.
IT'S BEEN RULED ON CONSTITUTION AND NOTHING ELSE HAS HAPPENED.
BUT, UH, THERE'S, THERE'S A, THERE'S A BELIEF THAT IT MIGHT COME BACK.
AND IF IT COMES BACK, WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITH, WITH, WITH, WITH STATE LEGISLATION IS THAT IT CAN COME BACK WITH A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO AMEND THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.
SO WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL HAPPEN, BUT, UH, IT, IT, IT IS, IT IS PROBABLY AT THE TOP OF OUR RADAR FOR WHAT WE WILL BE MONITORING, UH, UH, SOMETHING THAT WOULD JUST PREEMPT ALL HOME RULE AUTHORITY OR CHANGE THE HOME RULE AUTHORITY UNDER THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.
UH, WE ALSO, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE REASON WE WERE HIRED TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WAS TO PROTECT YOUR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS.
THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU TOLD US IN 2019, THE FIRST YEAR WE WERE HIRED.
SO THAT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, IS TO LOOK FOR LEGISLATION THAT WOULD IMPAIR OR, UH, UNDO THOSE AGREEMENTS SO THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUR PRIORITY FOR YOU TO HELP PROTECT THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THE CITY.
AND SO, UH, THAT IS ALWAYS THERE.
SO ANYTHING RELATED TO THE ETJ, UH, ETJ RELEASES, ETJ, REG REGULATIONS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT SEEMS TO IMPAIR OR IMPACT THOSE AGREEMENTS IS ALWAYS HIGH ON OUR LIST OF PRIORITIES FOR YOU GUYS.
AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, NOT TO BE SELFISH, BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS BILLS, UH, RELATED TO
[02:55:01]
USING PUBLIC MONEY TO HIRE PEOPLE LIKE OUR LAW FIRM, UH, TO HIRE LOBBYISTS.AND SO THOSE FIELDS STARTED IN ABOUT 2013.
THE FIRST TIME THEY GOT TO THE FLOOR WAS 2015.
SO WE THINK THAT, UH, UH, LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROHIBIT, UH, UH, PUBLIC ENTITIES FROM HIRING LOBBYISTS WILL PROBABLY BE BACK AGAIN IN 2025.
WE DON'T TAKE A POSITION ON THOSE BILLS.
UM, WE, WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD DO THAT, BUT WE DO MONITOR THEM BEFORE YOU, BECAUSE YOU DO HIRE US, AND WE WILL JUST LET YOU KNOW IT IS OUT THERE AND YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU LIKE AS OUR BOSSES AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED.
BUT WE DON'T TAKE ANY POSITION ON THAT LEGISLATION.
UH, ALSO AS, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, ANYTHING RELATED TO REVENUE CAPS, WE WILL MONITOR THAT FOR YOU BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND HOW THAT HAS BEGAN TO IMPACT, UH, CITIES, UH, THE 3.5% REVENUE CAP AND, AND, AND HANDICAP THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE CORE BASIC SERVICES FOR YOUR CITIZENS.
UH, ALSO LOOKING AT, UH, 2025, UH, THERE'LL PROBABLY BE ADDITIONAL, UH, WE THOUGHT THAT WHEN, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY STOPPED CITIES FROM ANNEXING THAT THAT ISSUE WAS PUT TO BED, BUT EVERY SESSION, THERE STILL SEEMS TO BE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY DID AWAY WITH UNILATERAL ANNEXATION, BUT THERE STILL SEEMS TO BE BILLS THAT CONTINUE TO COME BACK, ESPECIALLY DEALING WITH DIS ANNEXATION.
SO, UH, WE'LL JUST WATCH THOSE.
YOU GUYS DON'T DO A LOT OF THAT, BUT WE DO JUST WATCH IT AND LET YOU KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE THINK MIGHT IMPACT YOU.
THERE WAS A BIT, THERE WAS A DIS ANNEXATION BILL LAST SESSION THAT WE TALKED TO YOUR CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT, UH, QUITE A BIT, BUT DIDN'T REALLY IMPACT YOU.
BUT WE DID HAVE QUITE A FEW CONVERSATIONS WITH HER ABOUT IT.
AND THEN FINALLY, UM, BILLS RELATED TO ZONING AND LAND USE, UH, BILLS RELATED TO SUBDIVISION AND PLATING AUTHORITY.
THOSE HAVE BEEN A BIG ISSUE THE LAST TWO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.
AND SO THOSE, THOSE TYPES OF, UH, BILLS THAT AFFECT OR IMPACT YOUR REGULATORY AUTHORITIES, BILLS RELATED TO CODE ENFORCEMENT, THE LAST THREE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, THOSE TYPES OF BILLS HAVE ALSO RISEN UP QUITE A BIT.
AND SO, UH, WE THINK THAT THOSE WILL PROBABLY ALSO BE BACK IN 2025.
SO, WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO TRY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY.
SO I AM OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ON OTHER TOPICS OR OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT FOR THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN 2025.
THANK YOU, ATTORNEY OFFICER COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOUR LIGHT IS ON.
YOU MENTIONED, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT.
THAT'S, THAT'S A, THAT'S A, UH, SUBJECT OF AN INTERIM COMMITTEE STUDY.
WHAT, REPEAT THAT? YES, THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF AN INTERIM COMMITTEE STUDY.
AN INDIVIDUAL STUDY, AN INTERIM COMMITTEE.
THE SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE IS STUDYING OKAY.
ISSUES RELATED TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT.
WELL, IT, I'M HEARING THAT THE LAW HAS CHANGED ON, SAY, EXAMPLE.
I WANTED TO LOOK UP YOUR BACKGROUND OR SO ACCESS YOUR, YOUR BACKGROUND FROM CRIMINAL, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OR WHATEVER YOU'VE BEEN CONVICTED OF, ANYTHING.
UH, WHAT I'M HEARING THAT THE PUBLIC, THERE'S A LAW, A NEW LAW THAT'S BLOCKING THAT THE PUBLIC CANNOT HAVE ACCESS TO EVERYTHING.
BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT STILL HAVE ACCESS, BUT THE PUBLIC CANNOT HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
WELL, I MAY, I MAY HAVE TO RELY ON THE CHIEF.
WELL, THERE, THERE, I LEMME JUST SAY, I KNOW THAT THERE'S VERY LITTLE INFORMATION YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE ABOUT SOMEBODY'S, SOMEBODY'S CRIMINAL BACKGROUND.
I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THEY CALL, THERE'S A FIRST SHEET YOU CAN HAVE, LIKE IF THEY WERE CHARGED WITH SOMETHING.
I MEAN, I MEAN, YOU CAN HAVE SOME BASIC INFORMATION, BUT THEN THERE'S OTHER INFORMATION THAT'S PROTECTED UNDER THE ACT.
CURRENTLY, I DON'T THINK IT'S NEW.
I, I THINK THAT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE LAW FOR, FOR QUITE A WHILE.
I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S, YOU KNOW, AGE, DATE OF CONVICTION, BUT THEN THERE'S, THERE'S OTHER DEEPER TYPES OF INFORMATION I DON'T THINK YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE.
OR I KNOW THEY MADE A CHANGE BACK IN, UM, I WANNA SAY MAYBE 2021.
SO IF SOMEBODY WAS, WAS CHARGED WITH, IF SOMEBODY WAS CHARGED WITH SOMETHING AND THAT CHARGE NEVER WENT FORWARD TO PROSECUTION.
THERE WAS SOMETHING WHEREBY MAYBE THAT WAS, THAT WAS NO LONGER
[03:00:01]
ON THE PERSON'S RECORD, SO IT WAS ONLY A CHARGE.ONLY IF IT WAS THEN A CONVICTION.
MY MEMORY'S MAYBE FAILING ME RIGHT NOW, BUT, BUT THERE'S SOME BASIC INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC INFORMATION STANDPOINT THAT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO GET.
NOW WHAT ABOUT, WHAT ABOUT THE ETJ? IS THAT, THAT'S JUST WITH JUST DISCUSSING THIS? OR HAVE ANYBODY TRIED TO PROPOSE A BILL OR ANYTHING? AGAIN, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION, BUT HOW FAR HAVE THAT GOTTEN? WELL, OTHER THAN SENATE BILL 2038 FROM LAST SESSION, IT IS JUST DISCUSSION AND THEY'RE JUST MONITORING IT.
WHAT'S THE, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYTHING'S GONNA COME BACK.
2038 WAS ADOPTED LAST SESSION, AND THERE IS AN EXEMPTION FOR YOU GUYS IN THAT.
SO RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST DISCUSSION.
I DON'T, THEY'RE MONITORING IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYTHING ELSE IS GONNA BE FILED.
SO THAT COULD HURT US IF YOU YES, SIR.
IT COULD REALLY, THAT COULD REALLY, WHEW.
WE GOT ENOUGH PROBLEM WITH MONEY NOW,
UH, THAT'S THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO.
CONTINUE THE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS, CONTINUE TO GET RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS, CONTINUE TO TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS.
BUT I, I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING, THE RELATIONSHIPS YOU'VE BUILT WITH YOUR COMPANIES HELPS YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING.
WELL, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, IN, IN, IN THE, UH, IN LIEU OF TAX, UH, WE HAVE A PLANT IN, IN ARMY, BUT WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE, WE'VE BEEN SUED A NUMBER OF TIMES.
WE HAVE A PLANT, UH, A POWER PLANT.
SO WE'VE BEEN SUED A BUNCH OF TIMES OVER IT.
IT IS IN OUR ETG, BUT I WAS, BUT WHAT HAP WE GOT TIRED OF FIGHTING LAWSUITS, SO WE WENT AHEAD AND, AND ASKED THEM.
BUT, UH, WHAT, I GOT TO READ THAT BILL.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA READ THAT BILL.
YOU SHOULD READ IT IN IT ENTIRETY.
I, I STARTED READING, BUT I'M ABOUT TO READ IT IN IT ENTIRETY.
YOU SHOULD READ THE ONES THAT DIDN'T PASS.
HOW ARE YOU? I'M GOOD, THANK YOU.
WE'VE BEEN KIND OF HAVING SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR ATTORNEY AND TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN HAVE, UM, MORE LEGISLATIVE IMPACT AS A, UH, AS A BODY.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT HAS, UM, CAUSED YOU TO COME AND VISIT US YET AGAIN.
BUT AS WE'RE STRATEGIZING AND TALKING ABOUT, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT AROSE, THAT AROSE, I'M SORRY, THAT AROSE WAS, UM, ABOUT DO WE LEGISLATIVELY, UH, GO ABOUT, UH, GETTING HELP WITH THE APPLICATION FROM THE TEXAS WATER FUND? I MEAN, DO WE FROM THAT PARTICULAR STANDPOINT MEET WITH LEGISLATURES OR GO AND HAVE THESE KINDS OF MEETINGS SO THAT WE CAN GET ON THE LIST? IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IN OUR APPLICATIONS, UM, OUR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT FOR ALL, FOR, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, WE'RE NOT ZESTY ENOUGH, UH, TO, TO CAUSE AND CREATE SITUATIONS WHERE WE GET APPROPRIATED THESE MONIES.
AND SO HOW DO WE LEGISLATIVELY APPROACH THAT SO THAT WE CAN GET THESE MONIES SENT IN OUR DIRECTION AND BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE IN A, OBTAINING THESE FUNDS? SO THERE'S SOME CRITERIA IN FOR THE, FOR THE, FOR THE NEW FUND, FOR, THERE'S SOME CRITERIA FOR, I I THINK IT SAYS SOMETHING LIKE, FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL YOUR STATE AND FEDERAL PERMITS FOR A SPECIFIC PROJECT.
SO YOU'VE GOT THESE SPECIFIC PROJECTS, ALL YOUR PERMITS IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WATER LOSS PROGRAM IN PLACE.
I, I DON'T, I ASSUME YOU, YOU HAVE A CONSULTING ENGINEER YOU'RE WORKING WITH? WE DO.
I MEAN, WE CAN MAYBE SET UP MEETINGS FOR YOU.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO YOUR LEGISLATOR IS GONNA HELP, BUT IF YOU HAVE, IF YOU'VE MET THE CRITERIA, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE STAFF AT THE, AT THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO GIVE YOU SOME TIPS ON HOW TO, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD THINK THAT YOUR ENGINEERS, IF THEY'VE WORKED OVER, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T DONE THAT WORK, BUT IF YOUR, YOUR ENGINEERS, IF THEY'RE ENGINEERS THAT HAVE WORKED OVER THERE BEFORE, THEY WOULD PROBABLY KNOW WHAT THE TIPS ARE FOR PRESENT, PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD, UM, I GUESS MORE THAN MAYBE YOUR LEGISLATORS.
[03:05:01]
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO MEET WITH YOUR LEGISLATORS.IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THOSE VERY, VERY SOLID RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR, UH, LEGISLATORS.
UM, UH, WHICH, WHICH COULD HELP.
BUT, UH, I WOULD JUST THINK THAT MAKING SURE THAT YOU'VE MET THE CRITERIA, UH, UNDER THE STATUTE FOR THAT, ESPECIALLY THAT NEW FUND.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHICH FUND YOU'RE APPLYING FOR.
THERE, THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT FUNDS THAT THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD OVERSEAS, NOT JUST THE NEW ONE I TALKED ABOUT.
SO WITHOUT KNOWING WHICH FUND YOU'RE APPLYING FOR AND NOT BEING IN THAT BUSINESS, UH, ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR ENGINEERS SHOULD BE THE BETTER GUY THAN MYSELF FOR, FOR THAT.
LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION AS WELL WHILE I, WHILE I'M HERE, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THE, UH, ETJ.
AND, AND YOU SAID THAT THAT'S GOING TO COME BACK AGAIN PERHAPS IN 20 I'M READING MY CRYSTAL BALL
IT'S, IT'S NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE.
I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.
IF, IF THERE WAS SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO PREVENT A, A PREEMPTIVE STRIKE FROM THE, TO, TO KEEP THEM FROM GOING, UH, YOU KNOW, COMING BACK IN THAT REGARD AND, AND PUTTING IN DANGER, UH, OUR, OUR, OUR AGREEMENTS.
LEMME JUST SAY THOSE BILLS ARE NOT AIMED AT YOU.
THEY'RE AIMED AT OTHER, THEY'RE AIMED AT OTHER JURISDICTIONS NOT DOWN HERE THAT ARE DOING THINGS THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING.
YOU JUST GET CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE EXEMPTIONS.
THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN KEEP DOING IS BEING A GOOD CITIZEN WITH YOUR COMPANIES.
CONTINUE OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM ABOUT ISSUES THAT MAY BE GOING ON THAT I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CONTINUING TO, YOU KNOW, TALK TO YOUR, TO, TO YOUR CITY NEIGHBORS, THE, THE THREE I MENTIONED, MAYBE OTHERS WHO HAVE THOSE AGREEMENTS IN THIS REGION.
BUT I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR, THOSE BILLS ARE NOT AIMED AT YOU.
YOU'RE JUST THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE OF THEM.
UH, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO IS JUST CONTINUE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS AND CITIZENS WITH THOSE COMPANIES IN WHICH YOU HAVE THOSE AGREEMENTS WITH.
THE PRINT, WELL, YOU WANT, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE,
WHEN, WHEN THE, THE LOCAL INDUSTRY PURCHASE, UH, GOODS AND SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT TO DO EXPANSION, DO, DO THEY HAVE A SALES TAX EXEMPTION OR SOMETHING WITH THE STATE? OR DO THEY PAY THE SALES TAX TO, TO THE, TO, I'M, I'M NOT SURE WHO, WHO, WHO ARE YOU, WHO ARE YOU? I'M TALKING ABOUT THE, WELL, WE, IN OUR, IN OUR OIL INDUSTRY, WE GOT, WE GOT OUR INDUSTRY IN OUR, IN OUR, IN OUR, WITHIN OUR, IN, IN LIEU OF, UH, I WILL, I WILL.
ETJ IS, I'M SAYING WE GOT A BUNCH OF CONTRACTS.
WITH, WITH, WITH ALL THE OIL INDUSTRIES.
THEY DO A LOT OF PURCHASING, THEY DO A LOT OF EXPANSION, BUT THAT WE DON'T GET THE SALES TAX UNLESS THEY BUY SOMETHING FROM, FROM, FROM, FROM WITHIN THE CITY.
WE GET WE'LL GET THE SALES TAX, BUT, WELL, THE, AND LET ME JUST SAY MY, I MY QUESTION IS SAY I'M TRYING, IF, IF SOMEBODY PURCHASES SOMETHING IN YOUR CITY, THIS IS JUST GENERAL LAW THAT I'M JUST TRYING TO YEAH.
WELL, IF SOME, IF IT'S IN YOUR CITY AND SOMEBODY PURCHASES SOMETHING HERE, THAT'S WHERE THE CITY'S SALES TAX APPLIES.
LET'S SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, ONE OF THE LOCAL OIL INDUSTRY ON THE L SAY IN THE L AND G, THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY PURCHASED SOMETHING IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT THEY USE IT HERE IN PORT ARTHUR'S, BUT SAN ANTONIO GETS THE SALES TAX IF THEY PAY SALES TAX.
THAT'S THE WAY THE STATE LAW IS SET UP.
I, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT, UH, MY QUESTION IS, BUT I, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT WAYS OF, OF LOOKING AT THE WAYS OF, FOR THE COMPANY, GET THE COMPANIES TO, YOU KNOW, UNDER, UNDER THE, UNDER THE, UH, THE SALES, THE USE TAX.
IF THEY, IF WHEREVER THEY USE IT, THAT'S THE CITY GETS THE TAIL STACKS.
BUT WE'VE GOT THAT ALREADY INSIDE THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, IF, IF, UH, A COMPANY IS, IS BUILDING SOMETHING, GIMME, LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
UH, WE, WE GRANTED A A, A COMPANY, UH, ENTERPRISE TANK FARM, AN ABATEMENT.
SO THEY PUT THEIR PROCUREMENT OFFICE INSIDE OF PORT ARTHUR, BUT IF, IF THEY'D HAVE LEFT IT OUTSIDE THE STATE, SOMEONE, A STATE, WHEREVER THEY PURCHASED IT, THE MATERIAL TO BUILD THOSE TANKS, THEY WOULD'VE GOTTEN THE SALES TAX, LET'S SAY THE BUILDING MATERIAL.
THEY WOULD'VE PURCHASED IT IN BEAUMONT, BEAUMONT WOULD'VE GOT THE SALES
[03:10:01]
TAX.BUT, BUT WE MOVED THE PRO, THEY MOVED THE PROCUREMENT OFFICE INSIDE THE CITY OF, UH, PORT ARTHUR.
NOW, IN THE, LET'S LOOK IN OUR EEJ, THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF CAPTURING SALES TAXES THAT THE OIL INDUSTRY, UH, FROM THEIR PURCHASES AROUND THE STATE, AND, AND THEY, UM, THEY'RE USING, UH, IN PORT ARTHUR, EXPANDING IN PORT ARTHUR.
IS THERE A WAY FOR WE COULD LEGISLATE, WELL, WE GET THE SALES TAX.
WHO GETS THE SALES TAX? UH, LET ME SEE HOW I CAN, THE ISSUE OF, I APPROACHED, I APPROACHED, UH, JOE DETEL ABOUT IT, AND JOE DETEL, HE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE IT UP BECAUSE HE SAID SAN ANTONIO, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE, LIKE VALERO HOME OFFICE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND HE SAID, WELL, THE IDEA ABOUT SAN ANTONIO GOT SEVEN, SEVEN REPRESENTATIVES THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT HERE TO OVERCOME SAID IT'D BE DIFFICULT TO, TO DO IT.
BUT, UH, EMMA, GO AHEAD WITH YOUR COMMENTS.
THE SALES TAX SOURCING ISSUE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN, SHALL I SAY, FRAUGHT WITH DANGER
SO I I WOULD NOT MAYBE RECOMMEND THAT THAT BE AN ISSUE THAT THE CITY NO, I'M JUST TAKE ON YEAH, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU, BUT THEY, MY POINT IS THEY PAY SALES TAX ANYWAY.
THEY PAY SALES TAX, THEY DO PAY SALES.
IF THEY EXPANDED, THEY EXPANDED IN PO ARTHUR.
UH, AND IF WE, IF THAT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HAD BEEN IN PLACE, WE WOULD'VE CAPTURED $600,000.
AND THAT CAME FROM THE CORPORATE OFFICE.
THEY, THEY SHOWED, THEY SHOWED ME HOW MUCH THEY PAID IN SALES TAX THAT WE WOULD'VE GOTTEN, IF WE'D HAVE HAD SOMETHING IN PLACE LIKE A USE TAX, WE WOULD'VE GOT THAT $600,000 IN SALES TAX.
HI, MS. KENARD, HOW YOU DOING? I'M GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU? JUST A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.
HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CHANGES, UH, UPDATE TO, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 1 43 OR OTHER CIVIL SERVICE LEGISLATION? NO, THAT'S NOT GENERALLY ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN TOUCHED LATELY.
MOST OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS DEAL WITH, UH, WORKERS' COMP ISSUES, UH, UH, AND THOSE TYPES OF BENEFITS.
BUT NOTHING RELATED TO 1 43 OR MEET AND CONFER.
NONE OF THOSE ISSUES HAVE REALLY BEEN TOUCHED.
IS IT OKAY, UH, COUNCIL, UH, EVERFI? SHE'S ON? YES.
UM, I DON'T WANNA REHASH THE INFORMATION THAT I SENT IN THE EMAIL, BUT I DO WANT TO PUT ON PUBLIC RECORD IF THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE FOR YOU ALL TO CONTINUE TO HELP US BY LOBBYING.
YOU SAID IT WASN'T SOMETHING, IT WASN'T A POSITION THAT YOU ALL TAKE BECAUSE IT'S, IT'LL BE KIND OF LIKE TOOTING YOUR OWN HORN, BUT IS IT A POSITION THAT YOU CAN TAKE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY TO SAY, WE ARE REQUESTING THIS BECAUSE WE NEED THE TYPE OF SUPPORT THAT, UM, YOUR FIRM OR ANY OTHER FIRM THAT WE HIRE TO LOBBY FOR US.
WE NEED THAT TYPE OF ASSISTANCE.
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THAT? WELL, BEFORE, UH, THE CITY DID NOT HAVE A POSITION ON THAT.
AND SO IF THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE A POSITION ON A MATTER, WE DON'T TAKE A POSITION ON IT.
SO IF THE CITY ADOPTS THAT POSITION FORMALLY ADOPTS THE POSITION, WE WILL TAKE A POSITION ON IT.
I WILL MAKE THAT REQUEST FOR US TO FORMALLY, UH, TAKE A POSITION ON THAT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE YOU ALL SUPPORT.
UM, SOME OF THE OTHER, LET ME OPEN MY EMAIL, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE LISTED.
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO BE VERY SPECIFIC IN THE THINGS THAT MATTER TO US, OR IS IT JUST WELL, THE CITY CAN ADOPT A FORMAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, SO THAT WOULD HAVE SPECIFIC ISSUES IN IT.
WE REPRESENT SEVERAL CITIES, AND SOME OF THOSE CITIES HAVE A FORMAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.
SO IF YOU SAY SUPPORT CHANGES TO CHAPTER 1 43 SECTION, WHATEVER, AND A BILL LIKE THAT COMES UP,
[03:15:01]
WE WOULD GO PUT A CARD IN FOR THAT.SO IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU ADOPT A FORMAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE FOR DISCUSSION, BUT WE DECIDED TO HOLD THAT DISCUSSION FOR UNTIL THIS WORKSHOP.
SO I AM ASKING THAT WE ACTUALLY ADOPT A FORMAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM SO THAT THE CERTAIN ISSUES THAT SPECIFICALLY, UM, DEAL WITH US, SUCH AS THE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION FOR PORT ARTHUR BEING, HAS TO TALK ABOUT, ABOUT THAT OFTEN.
WE KNOW THAT THE, UM, YOU ALREADY MENTIONED THE ETJ ISSUE.
SO I'M, I'M SURE THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT OUR, OUR CITY ATTORNEY COULD HELP US, UM, COULD GUIDE US IN.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING VERY, THAT WE ARE BEING VERY SPECIFIC IN WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR SUPPORT IN.
SO THAT WHEN YOU ALL GO TO LOBBY FOR US, YOU ARE VERY SPECIFIC AND MAKING THAT STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF FOOT, ARTHUR, MS. UM, CONTRA, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH HOW TO DO? OR DO WE NEED TO BE ASKING HOW TO DO THAT TO MS. KENARD? I CERTAINLY KNOW HOW TO CREATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY AND PRESENT THEM AND HAVE YOU ADOPT THEM.
UM, MS. KENARD HAS MENTIONED SO MANY TOPICS IN HER PRESENTATION TODAY THAT ARE IMPORTANT TOPICS TO OVERALL GENERAL CITIES, AND NOT JUST GENERAL LAW CITIES, BUT IN PARTICULAR HOME RULE CITIES LIKE WE ARE.
UM, THERE'S A GENERAL THEME OF TAKING AWAY CITY AUTHORITY BY THE STATE, RIGHT? THAT'S CALLED THE STRAIGHT PREEMPTION.
WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BILLS FILED THAT ATTACK OUR ZONING.
WE CERTAINLY KNOW THAT WE'VE HIRED MS. CANARDS LAW FIRM TO PROTECT US FROM LOSING OUR IDAS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CERTAINLY WOULD WANNA KEEP.
I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE COUNCIL, MS. CANARD, IS THERE ARE SOME VERY SPECIFIC PROJECTS IN THE CITY THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, AND THEY WOULD PROBABLY LIKE TO HAVE SPECIAL MEETINGS WITH CERTAIN AGENCY DIRECTORS, UH, HOSTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVE, UH, WHERE THEY COULD PROMOTE THOSE PROJECTS.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, SABINE SABINE, THE HIGHWAY TO SABINE PASS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS A VERY STRONG INTEREST AMONG OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND SO THEY PROBABLY WANNA TALK TO SOMEBODY FROM TXDOT AND OTHERS AT A HIGH RANKING LEVEL, AT THE ACTUAL STATE CAPITAL TO TELL THEM WHAT THEIR CONCERNS AND INTERESTS ARE AND WHAT THEIR HOPES ARE IN TERMS OF FIXING THINGS.
UM, THEY HAVE STRONG INTEREST IN OUR, IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE'LL HAVE TO GET MORE INFORMATION.
THIS IS MY GOING INTO MY THIRD MONTH, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE APPLIED FOR NUMEROUS WATER INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS AND WE'RE NOT GETTING THEM.
IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST CITIES IN TEXAS THAT HAS GREAT ASSET.
AND UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF OUR WATER LINES ARE MADE OF CLAY.
AND SO WE NEED HELP GETTING THOSE REPLACED.
AND WE'RE NOT GETTING THESE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS.
SO I THINK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE WANTING TO SERVE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN LOBBYING AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
AND THEY WANNA DO THAT BY MEETING WITH SPECIFIC AGENCIES THAT CAN HELP THEIR CAUSE.
AND THEY'RE ALSO WANTING TO DO THAT BY TESTIFYING AT COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON BILLS THAT THEY FEEL, UM, IMPACT THEM.
SO THEY WANNA BE MORE INTERACTIVE WITH YOU AND WITH THE LEGISLATURE.
I JUST WANNA KIND OF SEPARATE TESTIFYING AT THE LEGISLATURE ON A BILL AND APPLYING FOR A GRANT.
THERE'S NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF OUR WORK APPLYING FOR A GRANT.
I'M WANNA TRY TO SEPARATE THOSE SCOPES OF WORK.
I MEAN, YEAH, IF THERE IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING IN YOUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AND A BILL COMES UP, UH, I JUST WANNA KIND OF SHOW YOU HOW WE DO THIS WITH OTHER CITIES THAT WE REPRESENT.
SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN YOUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AND SAY A BILL COMES UP, SAY, ON THE ETJ BILLS, WE WOULD CONTACT YOU, WE WOULD GIVE YOU THE DATE OF THE BILL, THE LOCATION YOU'D COME DOWN, WE'D HELP YOU GET SIGNED UP, YOU WOULD TESTIFY ON THE BILL.
SO WE, WE DO THAT ALL THE TIME.
THAT'S, THAT IS JUST NO ISSUE WHATSOEVER.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE, WE, WE, WE ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST DON'T DO
[03:20:01]
GRANT.WE, THAT'S JUST NOT, THAT'S JUST NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF OUR SERVICES.
I DON'T, I DON'T THINK, WELL, I KNOW FROM MY POSITION, I WASN'T ASKING ABOUT THE, UM, IF YOUR FIRM DID THAT, BUT I WANT TO HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW YOU ADVOCATE FOR US.
SO THE PROCESS THAT YOU JUST WENT THROUGH, YOU WILL FOLLOW THE DEAL, YOU KNOW THAT EJS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU.
SO YOU WILL CALL US, LET US KNOW WHAT THE DATE AND TIME IS.
YOU SHOW UP, YOU HELP US TO SIGN UP.
BUT FROM THERE, HOW DO YOU HELP US TO ADVOCATE? I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP YOU.
WE'LL TALK TO, LIKE, SAY IF IT'S THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, WE WILL SAY, SO CHIEF, TELL ME HOW MANY CALLS HAVE YOU RECEIVED ON THIS ISSUE? SO THERE WAS A GAME ROOM BILL.
AND SO HE, WE WOULD SAY, HOW MANY CALLS DO HAVE YOU RECEIVED ON THIS? WE WOULD HELP THE CHIEF IN WRITING TALKING POINTS, HELP HIM DRAFT A TESTIMONY FOR YOU ABOUT THE GAME ROOM BILL.
SO WHEN YOU GOT THERE TO TESTIFY, YOU WOULD HAVE SOME TALKING POINTS THAT WE WOULD WORK WITH THE CHIEF WITH, OR IF IT'S THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, SO THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THE TALKING POINTS THAT WERE SPECIFIC TO THE ISSUE YOU WERE FACING IN THE CITY.
THAT, THAT OFFERS A LOT MORE CLARITY.
AND, AND IF I MAY NOW JUST EXPLAIN, I, I KNOW YOU DON'T DO GRANTS.
MS. KENARD, I'M SORRY IF I WASN'T CLEAR.
WHAT I WAS SAYING WAS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT WATER INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS THAT CREATED FUNDS.
AND THOSE FUNDS ARE ADMINISTRATED BY PARTICULAR STATE AGENCIES, RIGHT? CORRECT.
AND THOSE STATE AGENCIES HAVE MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS THAT OVERSEE THE GRANT APPLICATIONS AND THE CRITERIA.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT YOUR FIRM COULD ASSIST US IN IDENTIFYING WHO WE NEED TO MEET WITH AND SCHEDULE THAT MEETING SO THAT WE CAN GO UP THERE YEAH.
AND ADVOCATE OUR POSITIONS AS WELL.
WE, WE CAN, WE CAN, WE CAN LIKE SAY AT THE WATER DE DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
THIS IS WHO YOU NEED TO GO MEET.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE ASKING US TO.
HELP YOU WITH THOSE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW THE NAMES AND THE CONTEXT OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN, WHICH IS A VERY VIABLE ASSET.
UM, WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET AND WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY WE'RE NOT GETTING IT.
SO WE WANNA GO MEET WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN CHARGE AND SAY, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON? WHY CAN'T WE GET THIS? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? HERE'S OUR STORY.
SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET YOU TO GIVE US SOME NAMES THAT CONNECTS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE NAMES AND CONNECTS ARE TO ASK FOR YET, BUT WE'RE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING WE CAN GET FROM YOU.
WE, BUT I, I WILL SAY THAT WE WILL ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, AND YOU WILL ALL ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE CONNECTING WITH WHOEVER YOUR CONSULTANT IS AS WELL, BECAUSE WE THINK THAT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
ANYONE ELSE? YOU YES, UH, FRANK.
SO IF YOU'LL SEND US, UH, SOME DATES THAT YOU'D LIKE TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE ORDER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, WE WILL MAKE SOME CALLS AND TRY TO SET UP A MEETING FOR YOU.
SO WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOLDEN TRIANGLE DAYS, UM, IS WHAT THEY CALL 'EM.
WE KNOW THAT MOST CITIES HAVE THEIR OWN DAY MM-HMM.
UM, AND I, AND THE CITY HAS ROUTINELY PARTICIPATED IN THAT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIAL DAYS FOR JUST US TO BE ABLE TO MEET WITH THOSE STATE AGENCIES THAT ARE SEPARATE APART.
DO YOU, DO YOU HAVE THOSE DAYS ALREADY? NOT YET.
BUT WE WILL CERTAINLY THANK YOU FOR THAT DIRECTION AND WE WILL, WE'LL WORK ON THAT.
'CAUSE IF THE, THE EARLIER YOU CAN GET ME THOSE DAYS, THE BETTER.
'CAUSE I USUALLY DON'T PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
BUT THE EARLIER YOU CAN GET ME THOSE DAYS, THE BETTER.
AND SOME OF THE CITIES THAT I'VE REPRESENTED AROUND TEXAS, THEY'RE SO POOR, THEY CAN'T AFFORD SOMEONE AS GREAT AS YOU.
AND SO THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, GIVE IN THEIR OWN LITTLE CARS AND DRIVE UP THERE, BUT THEIR OWN STATE LEGISLATURE, UM, WHETHER IT BE ON THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE SIDE, WOULD SCHEDULE ONE OF THOSE SIDE ROOMS BY THE COMMITTEES.
SO THAT'S WHERE THE CITY REPRESENTATIVES WOULD MEET STATE AGENCIES.
BUT THE EARLIER YOU CAN GET ME THAT DATE, THE THE BETTER FOR, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, DURING THAT TIME IT GETS, THOSE GET TAKEN UP REALLY QUICKLY.
BUT WHAT I THINK I HEARD YOU ADVISING IS THAT WE SHOULD ADOPT A LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY LIST.
DE AND THEN DETERMINE WHAT PROJECTS WE WANNA GO AND TALK ABOUT IN AUSTIN WITH OUR LEGISLATORS DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND THEN ONCE WE'VE GOT THOSE IDENTIFIED, YOU CAN HELP US SET UP THOSE MEETING DEFINITELY DAYS.
[03:25:01]
WHEN YOU SAID SOONER THAN LATER, WOULD THAT NEED TO BE BEFORE NOVEMBER 12TH? NO, THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST BILL FILING.I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT, UH, FOR YOUR, UM, I THINK IT'S, WHAT IS IT CALLED? YOUR, UM, WHEN YOUR AREA HAS THEIR DAY BECAUSE, UH, THAT'S DURING OKAY.
MAYOR, MAYOR TON, DO YOU HAVE THAT DATE? AND THAT'S WHEN THE SESSION HAS REALLY GOTTEN GOING.
I BELIEVE IT'S MARCH 3RD AND FOURTH.
MARCH 4TH AND FIFTH, SOMETHING THAT THIRD AND FOURTH.
IT'S A MONDAY IS WHAT HE ALLUDED TO THIS MORNING.
AND I WAS JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE THE SESSION HAS REALLY GOTTEN GOING, THEIR COMMITTEE HEARINGS, UM, MEMBERS GET REALLY, REALLY BUSY DURING THAT TIME.
UH, UH, AGENCY HEADS ARE TESTIFYING, ESPECIALLY ON APPROPRIATION.
SO IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT SOMETIMES DURING THOSE TIMES TO PULL PEOPLE AWAY.
SO THE EARLIER WE CAN GET ON SOMEBODY, UH, LIKE A A A STAFFER'S CALENDAR, THE BETTER.
BUT NO, IN MARCH, ESPECIALLY MARCH.
AND, UH, WELL, I, I, I WANNA GO BEFORE THEN.
UH, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
HOWEVER, AS I LISTENED TO YOU, I HEARD SOME DATES, UH, YOU SAID, WELL, I KNOW THE 12TH, NEXT TUESDAY.
IT'S ABOUT 20,000 THERE AT THE, UH, DR.
DRAFTER CLEARING HOUSE RIGHT NOW.
SO TO SPEAK, UH, PREPARED IT SO YOU WOULD NOT HAVE OUR ATTORNEY, YOU, YOU MIGHT AGREE WITH ME, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON BILLS THAT WOULD DIRECTLY AFFECT US UNTIL PROBABLY MAYBE ABOUT DECEMBER 1ST OR SOMETIME OF THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ALL WOULD HAVE YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD KNOW, OKAY, YOU NEED TO GET BACK WITH, UH, UH, ATTORNEY ROXANNE, BECAUSE THIS BILL, WELL, IF, IF IT'S A E TJ THING IN 89, LET ME TELL YOU, LET ME TELL YOU OUR PROCESS.
SO WE HAVE, UM, TWO PEOPLE WHO HELP US, UH, WITH, WE SEND, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY MANAGER, UH, EVERY WEEK, UH, A TRACKING FILE AND AN UPDATE REPORT ON BILL'S FILE THAT WE THINK IMPACT YOU.
AND SO WE SEND THAT TO YOU AND WE ASK THAT YOU TELL US DO THESE REALLY IMPACT YOU OR NOT? YEAH, WE THINK THEY DO, BUT WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU READ THEM.
AND YOU HAVE TO TELL US GENERALLY ETJ, WE CAN, THOSE ARE GOOD.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF BILLS THOUGH.
SO WE SEND YOU THOSE TWO THINGS GENERALLY ON FRIDAY, THURSDAY OR FRIDAY.
IT JUST DEPENDS IN THE BEGINNING, WE SEND THEM THURSDAY, BUT AS MORE AND MORE BILLS GET FILED, WE SEND THEM ON FRIDAY A TRACKING FILE AND A UPDATE REPORT ON KIND OF WHAT'S GONE ON THAT WEEK.
SO IF WE DON'T HEAR ANYTHING BACK FROM YOU, WE, WE ASSUME THAT THEY DON'T ATTORNEY, UH, EXCUSE ME, MOVING FORWARD AGAIN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE, AND SOMETIMES YOU'RE DOING JUST THING DIFFERENTLY.
WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD NEED A TRACKING INDIVIDUAL IN YOUR OFFICE DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, OR MAYBE BEGINNING ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO WHO ONLY DOES WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY SEND IT TO HER? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, EACH OF US COULD PROBABLY GET IT, WE MAY NOT TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE READING OR EVEN ALL THE RAMIFICATIONS THAT WOULD BE INVOLVED, BUT IF IN YOUR OFFICE YOU HAD AN INDIVIDUAL WHO I, LIKE YOU SAID, THE TRACKING PERSON, I LIKE THAT TERM, BUT THEY WOULD BE A PERSON WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO TRACK WHAT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BE THAT WOULD AFFECT PORT ARTHUR.
EITHER WAY, YOU KNOW, IN, IN A POSITIVE MANNER, EVEN EVEN A NEGATIVE MANNER.
AND OUT OF WHAT YOU ALL SAID, THEN WE WOULD HAVE SOMEONE WHO WOULD ALERT YOU THAT THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ALL NEED TO BE ON BEFORE JANUARY 14TH, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE CAN LET MISS MISS KENARD KNOW THAT FOLLOWING, UH, BETWEEN THE 14TH, UH, OF, OF JANUARY, BECAUSE SOME OF 'EM GO, THEY GO TO SUBCOMMITTEES AND EVEN BEFORE THEY GET TO THE FOURTH, SOME OF 'EM MAY NOT EVEN MAKE IT.
MOST OF THEM, THEY DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF SUBCOMMITTEES.
UH, THEY, THEY USUALLY GET, UH, THEY DON'T START GETTING REFERRED UNTIL LATER IN THE PROCESS, BUT IN, IN THE BEGINNING THEY JUST GET FILED.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE WOULD BEGIN A PROCESS, UM, WE WILL COME UP, THE LAW DEPARTMENT WILL COME UP WITH THE PROCESS BY WHICH TO RESPOND TO MS. CONARD'S INFORMATION COMING IN.
I THINK WHAT'S ALSO GONNA BE REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, KAREN, IF YOU CAN HELP EXPLAIN THIS TO, TO THE COUNCIL, THINGS MOVE EXTREMELY FAST ONCE THE LEGISLATURE GETS MOVING AND THERE'S NO TIME TO SCHEDULE A 72 HOUR ADVANCE NOTICE PUBLIC MEETING TO APPROVE TRAVEL, TO GET SOMEWHERE TO, TO TESTIFY.
YOU USUALLY GET LIKE LESS THAN A COUPLE OF HOURS NOTICE THAT YOU'VE GOTTA BE IN AUSTIN TO TESTIFY
[03:30:01]
AGAINST OR FOR SOMETHING.AND LET ME JUST SAY HOW WE, WHAT WE DID WAS IF I WOULD CALL THE CITY ATTORNEY OR THE CITY MANAGER, AND MARY, AS YOU KNOW AS WELL, I KNOW YEAH.
YOU WOULD WRITE A CALLED ME, YOU WOULD WRITE A LETTER.
SOMETIMES YOU WOULD WRITE A LETTER A LOT OF TIMES YEAH.
BUT, UH, YEAH, THINGS MOVE, THINGS START TO MOVE VERY FAST.
UM, THE CHIEF CAME UP A COUPLE TIMES ON, ON, ON CERTAIN THINGS, BUT UM, YEAH.
THINGS, THINGS MOVE VERY, VERY FAST OVER THERE.
BUT OUR, OUR POINT OF CONTACT WAS THE CITY ATTORNEY OR THE CITY MANAGER.
AND, AND THAT'S WHY I WANT US TO MAYBE MOVE EVEN ON A LARGE, WELL, ON THE LARGEST, I REMEMBER, I THINK IT WAS THE LAST, LAST, UH, UH, ISSUE THAT WE DEALT WITH.
YOU CALLED ON THE PAPER ON WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY, I THINK I PREPARED A LETTER ON THAT, THAT THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
GOT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT IT, WE EMAILED IT TO YOU.
YOU WERE ABLE TO GO INTO COMMITTEE WITH IT, I BELIEVE ON THAT FRIDAY.
AND I, I DON'T KNOW, SOME THINGS HAPPENED, LIKE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF LEAD TIME, BUT IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO UNTIL THE 3RD OF MARCH FOR GOLDEN TRIANGLE DAYS, TWO MONTHS WILL HAVE PASSED.
THE SESSION HAS GONE ON AND A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS AND BILLS AND UH, UH, UH, INTERACTIONS WILL HAVE GONE ON THAT WOULD AFFECT MUNICIPALITIES IN SOME SHAPE, FORM, OR FASHION.
AND WE MAY JUST NEED THIS INDIVIDUAL WHO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT TRYING TO GROW YOUR STAFF OR WHATEVER, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE VERY METHODICAL AND HOW YOU LIKE TO DO THINGS.
AND THAT MIGHT BE THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE LIKE YESTERDAY.
SO THEY CAN START TUESDAY, UH, WITH BEING PREPARED FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD.
BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO STRIKE AND STRIKE IN A POSITIVE MANNER, AND I DON'T MEAN THAT IN A NEGATIVE SENSE FOR STRIKE, POSITIVELY FOR POSITIVE RESULTS, IS BEING THE EARLY, YOU KNOW, THE EARLY BIRD SO TO SPEAK.
AND, UH, THE RELATIONSHIPS, AS SHE SAID, WE TALKED ABOUT THE WATER, I BELIEVE IT IS.
AND, UH, YOUR BEING ABLE TO GET WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ON THE STATE LEVEL DEAL WITH THAT.
AND THEN YOU, YOU KNOW, SET UP THE INTRODUCTIONS WHERE MM-HMM.
I KNOW BECAUSE SOME OF THINGS IT'S SOME, SOMETIMES IT'S LESS THAN 20 THAN 72 HOURS.
BUT I CAN RECALL HISTORICALLY IN PORT ARTHUR, AND I'M JUST GOING WAY BACK LIKE BAY DOES, WHEN MR. DELE, GEORGE DEREL WAS CITY MANAGER HERE WAY BACK IN THE DAY, I THINK BERNIE SALAD WAS MET WHEN SOME THINGS LIKE THAT HAD TO HAPPEN.
THE CITY, I DON'T KNOW IF WE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S DONE THAT WAY, BUT IT'S SOMETHING SIMILAR CAN HAPPEN.
THE CITY MANAGER COULD SEND ANYONE ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE CAUSES IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IMMEDIATELY, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT COMING TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL OR ANYTHING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE FOLK WEREN'T GOING THERE TO, TO, TO, TO WASTE SOMETHING.
SO, I DON'T KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, IF WE NEED TO HAVE THIS AGAIN OR HOW THEY COULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CALL THE CITY ATTORNEY AND SAY, YOU KNOW, ATTORNEY THIS, THIS COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY, THEY BOOSTED UP AND IT, IT, IT, IT'S GONE WITH SPEED AND I NEED SOMEONE TOMORROW MORNING AT NINE Y YOU KNOW.
WELL, WHATEVER PERSON I, I WOULD I, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, GO AHEAD.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WHEN WE, WE DRAFT UP OUR LEGISLATIVE, UH, PROGRAM YEAH.
THAT WE ALSO PERHAPS, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR TRAVEL TO AND FROM FOR IMMEDIATE LEGISLATIVE PURPOSES.
UM, I CAN ALSO SEE THAT EACH ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS MIGHT INDIVIDUALLY HAVE YOUR OWN TOPICS THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND YOU WANNA TESTIFY ABOUT.
AND IF YOU CAN SHARE THAT WITH ME, THEN I WILL MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE WE TELL YOU GOTTA, CAN YOU GO, UM, BUT KEEP YOUR CALENDARS AS OPEN AS POSSIBLE.
YOU CAN DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THINGS MOVE EXTREMELY FAST MARCH AND APRIL.
AND FOR SURE JANUARY AND FEBRUARY IS, UH, YOU KNOW, REALLY AFTER THE 14TH, THINGS ARE GOING TO BE, IT'S MORE STRATEGIC IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND IT ENDS UP IN A GANG FIGHT
YOU KNOW, AND, AND, UH, WE WOULD WANT TO BE PREPARED TO BE THERE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO ENHANCE WHATEVER POSITION WE ARE ASKING YOU TO TAKE.
OR EVEN OUR LEGISLATORS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND, UH, OR THOSE WHO COULD, WHO WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE ON VOTING.
[03:35:01]
AND, YOU KNOW, GETS TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE, THEN YOU WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE'VE DONE ALL THAT WE COULD DO TO BE SURE THAT IT HAPPENS.SO YOUR ONE THING I HAVEN'T SAID RIGHT NOW IS THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW IS JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU'VE TOUCHED YOUR MEMBERS BEFORE THE SESSION STARTS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN ALWAYS DO, IS MAKE SURE YOU'VE TOUCHED THEM.
ONCE YOU'VE ADOPTED YOUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM HERE, MAKE SURE YOU'VE GONE DOWN, SAT AND TALKED WITH THEM ABOUT IT BEFORE THEY GET TO AUSTIN.
YOU DON'T WANT, THE FIRST TIME THEY HEAR ABOUT IT IS WHEN YOU'RE IN AUSTIN OR WHEN WE GO BY TO SEE THEM IN AUSTIN.
THAT'S, THAT'S CRITICAL THAT THEY HEAR ABOUT IT WHILE THEY'RE HERE.
THEY HAVE MUCH MORE TIME TO SPEND WITH YOU HERE THAN THEY HAVE WHEN THEY GET TO AUSTIN.
SO I I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT.
UH, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THEY GET THERE.
UH, THEY ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE THEIR CONSTITUENTS HERE IN THE DISTRICT.
SO I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT BEFORE YOU, BEFORE THEY GET BACK THERE, UH, IN JANUARY.
WELL, UH, I GUESS WE ARE TRYING TO REALLY BE PROACTIVE.
UH, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BE DOING THIS IN THE PAST, BUT RIGHT NOW, THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, HAVING YOU HERE BECAUSE WE, YOU KNOW, WE NORMALLY GET YOU TO COME AT THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION YES.
BUT NOW WE ARE, WE, WE ARE TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE.
AND, AND BE ON THE FRONT END OF IT.
AND, AND, AND EVERYONE UP HERE HAS, I THINK SOME, UH, PART THAT THEY COULD PLAY YEAH.
IN, IN BEING SURE THAT LEGISLATION, AS YOU SAID, THAT THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT OR EVEN LEGISLATION FOR SURE.
THAT MAYOR, WE WOULD HAVE SOME SAY IN MAYOR PRO TEM AND I ACTUALLY SAT IN A CLASS INVOLVING UPCOMING LEGISLATION, AND THERE IS A LINK BY WHICH TML ACCEPTS, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO TESTIFY ON SUBJECT, SUB SUBJECT MATTERS.
I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR PERAM IS REGISTERED.
I'M HOPING THAT EACH OF MY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE, I THINK I SENT SOME EMAILS OUT TO THEM.
DID YOU ALL RECEIVE AN EMAIL FOR THAT? LIKE THAT? I, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL ASKING IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO, UH, TESTIFY BEFORE COMMITTEES.
SO TML DOES THAT, WHICH IS GREAT.
UH, CERTAIN WE CERTAINLY WANNA DO IT FOR OURSELVES AS WELL.
WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM.
BUT ALL THOSE THINGS ARE, ARE JUST, UH, MEASURES I BELIEVE THAT WE COULD TAKE MM-HMM.
SO THAT, THAT THAT'S, THAT'S THE BASIC THING THAT I, I WOULD, UH, WANNA BE SURE THAT WE, WE, WE ARE ADDRESSING.
SO I, WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND MS. CANARD, YOU'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE ADOPT A LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM YES.
WE SHARE THAT PROGRAM WITH YOU.
WE ADOPT THE BUDGET, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE IMMEDIATE TRAVEL OF ANY OF OUR MAYOR OR COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THAT THE LAW DEPARTMENT CREATE A STRATEGY BY WHICH WE'RE GONNA BE TRACKING BILLS IMPORTANT, SPECIFIC TO PORT ARTHUR.
QUEEN, DID YOU, SHE SAID THAT THE CITY SECRETARY JUST INFORMED ME THAT YOU WANTED TO SPEAK, AND WE ARE IN A WORKSHOP, SO WE HAVE NO PROBLEM.
MR.
I THINK HE'S GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION OR MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE BEEN PRESENTING.
UH, I WAS JUST BASICALLY BRINGING SOME START YOU SAYING GOT STARTED BY GIVING YOUR NAME.
I LIVE AT 9 24 SOUTH WIND, UH, IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
UH, I HAVE A LITTLE EXPERTISE IN, IN LOBBYING AS WELL.
UH, SO I WAS, I WAS GONNA LET THE COUNCIL KNOW, AND YOU MADE MR. MAYOR THAT YOU COULD CONTACT BOTH OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES, UH, AND ASK THEM THAT THEY ASSIGNED AN AID, UH, TO JESS PORT ARTHUR AFTER YOU CREATE YOUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
UH, THEN ONCE THAT AGENDA, WHICH ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS ARE NEEDING, WANTING, UH, ALSO YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAP INTO THE DIRECT APPROPRIATION FUNDS, UH, FROM EACH ONE OF THOSE MEMBERS.
UH, WITH THAT, UH, THEY'LL SEND YOU THOSE UPDATES, ALL THE ABOVE.
UH, AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT GIVES YOU A BETTER UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE BILLS, UH, HAVE SIX
[03:40:01]
OR SEVEN THINGS ATTACHED TO 'EM.SO THOSE AIDS CAN TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE THAT PIECE THAT YOU NEED, UH, AND HOW, UH, TO INTERACT.
ANY, ANY RESPONSE TO, TO WHAT HE'S SAYING.
AND THAT HAPPENS, UH, PROCEDURALLY, RIGHT? AM I CORRECT? YES, SIR.
THAT'S WHAT I, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
GO COUNCIL OR COUNCILMAN BECKHAM.
YEAH, LEMME JUST ADD SOMETHING TO THAT.
UM, I'VE GOT THE PHONE NUMBER FOR DAD PHELAN'S ASSISTANT THAT DOES EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, SO I'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT WANTS IT.
IS THAT BLAKE? NOT BLAKE CALLED BLAKE? NO, NO, NO.
HE'S WITH, UH, HE'S WITH RANDY WEBER.
BUT IT'S A NEW GUY, BRANDON OR SOMETHING.
HE, HE'S BEEN, HE'S BEEN TO SOME PORT ARTHUR FUNCTIONS, I BELIEVE.
BUT HE WORKS, WORKS FOR, UH, FOR THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT PORT ARTHUR HAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT STRONG VOTING BASE THAT HAS ASSISTED, UM, IN THE ELECTION OR THE APPOINTMENT OF OFFICIALS.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE COMMUNICATE THAT, UM, TO MS. CANARD AND THAT SHE HAS FULL AWARENESS OF OUR SUPPORT BASE AND WHOM WE'VE HELPED.
BUT MAYOR POT JUST SAID SHE, SHE HAS, SHE HAS, UH, NETWORKING POSSIBILITIES AND ABILITIES WITH THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
AND HOPEFULLY IN JANUARY ON THE 14TH, HE COULD BE, UH, REELECTED AS A SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
UH, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER ADVANTAGE FOR US.
I THINK SEVERAL OF US, OTHERS HERE MAY HAVE SOME, UH, CONNECTIONS WITH, UH, I THINK STATE REPRESENTATIVE, UH, UH, MANUEL CHRISTIAN.
FOR THIS, THIS DISTRICT, THIS, I THINK IT'S, IS SHE 22? IS IT? YEAH.
AND THAT, THAT'S THAT, BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS REDRAWN, HE RECEIVED MORE SUPPORT.
ARTHUR, AND THEN, UH, I FORGOT WHO WAS IN BEAUMONT.
WHO WAS, WHO WAS, WHO WAS THE THEY FIELD? HE'S, OKAY.
I JUST TOOK HIS TERRITORY AWAY.
BUT THE SPEAKER HAS THE, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE OTHER AREA.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR STATE SENTENCES, UH, UH, SENATOR CREIGHTON AND, AND SENATOR NICHOLS.
AND, UH, IN ANY, ANY, ANY OF THOSE, UH, THAT WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE SOME, UH, FORM OF, UH, COMMUNICATION WITH, UH, I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO GET, GET SOME RESULTS, YOU KNOW, TO GET A CALL BACK AND, AND A CONVERSATION WITH, WITH THEM.
AND EACH COUNCIL PERSON, IF YOU HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH ANY OF THEIR, UH, STAFF, YOU OR ANYONE THAT'S CONNECTED WITH ANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND EVEN OTHERS, UH, BECAUSE JUST AN EXAMPLE, I BROUGHT THE CITY MANAGER IN WITH ME TO SENATOR ROYS WEST.
AND, UH, SENATOR MILES, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE IN, UH, AUSTIN AND I EVEN MET, I THINK A SENATOR, UH, ECKHART.
UH, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE MADE SOME GOOD CONNECTIONS AND WE WANNA KEEP THOSE UP, BUT I DON'T WANT US TO JUST GO AND THEY SEE US IN MARCH AFTER THEY'VE HAD THOSE FIGHTS FOR THOSE, YOU KNOW, 60 DAYS.
AND THEN HERE WE COME, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND THAT'S OKAY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, MOST OF IT'S GONNA BE FESTIVE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU GO, BUT DURING THOSE FESTIVITIES, A LOT OF DIALOGUE GOES ON, YOU KNOW, BUT IF THEY HAVE DEALT WITH ANY ONE OF US OR EACH OF US IN SOME SHAPE, SOME WAY AND COMMITTED, OR EVEN ON A ZOOM OR SOMETHING, IT GIVES THEM SOME CONNECTION WITH OUR CITY.
AND, AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE YOU WORKED AT, YOU KNOW, MY TENURE HERE, YOU WORKED WITH US TO BE SURE THAT WE WOULD HAVE THAT.
SO WITH THIS, UH, I GUESS NEW PROGRESSIVE IDEA THAT OUR NEW CITY ATTORNEY WANTS TO, UH, IMPLEMENT, I SUPPORT IT.
YOU KNOW, NOT THAT WE HAD TO HAVE A VOTE OR ANYTHING, BUT I SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I, I THINK I CAN, UH, UNDERSTAND WHAT THE, THE END RESULTS WOULD BE, MS. KENARD.
IN MAY OR MAY I, MS. CONARD, WHAT OTHER, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS, I MEAN, YOU'RE AN EXPERT IN, IN LEGISLATION IN AUSTIN.
UM, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN RECOMMEND US TO DO TO ASSIST OURSELVES IN AUSTIN?
[03:45:03]
NOT RIGHT NOW.I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE A PROGRAM THAT'S, THAT'S THE BEST THING THAT CAN HELP US REPRESENT YOU.
BY HAVING A WRITTEN PROGRAM THAT, UH, EXPRESSES THE COUNCIL'S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, UH, THAT WE CAN, THAT CAN GUIDE US AND HOW WE, UH, EVALUATE THE BILLS AND HOW WE MAKE CONTACT WITH YOUR DELEGATION, THAT'S, THAT'S A REALLY STRONG, UH, THING THAT WILL HELP GUIDE OUR ACTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
SO JUST TO SUM UP, MAYOR, MAYOR, JUST TO SUM UP MAYOR.
I AM, UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU MS. CANARD FOR COMING.
AND THANK YOU, UM, MS. CONTRA FOR SCHEDULING.
I AM ASKING THAT WE PLEASE BE EXPEDITIOUS IN OUR ACTIONS ON CREATING THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, EVEN TO THE POINT OF WHERE WE HAVE THIS ON OUR NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA TO BE ABLE TO PASS RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THAT AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
LIKE YESTERDAY, SOMETIME THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES TO WHERE WE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL AT EIGHT O'CLOCK AT NIGHT TO SAY, CAN YOU BE HERE TOMORROW MORNING AT EIGHT O'CLOCK? SO WE NEED TO BE EXTREMELY EXPEDIENT IN OUR EFFORTS SO THAT WE CAN BE READY AND PREPARED, UH, READ UP, PRAYED UP SO WE CAN TELL OUR OWN STORY AND NOT CONTINUE TO, UM, JUST BE SITTING ON, NOT, NOT THAT WE'VE JUST BEEN SITTING ON THE SIDELINE, BUT WE DON'T NEED ANYBODY TO, NO ONE ELSE CAN SPEAK FOR US, AS STRONG AS WE CAN SPEAK FOR OURSELVES.
SO I'M ASKING THAT WE EDUCATE OURSELVES, BE READ UP SO THAT WE CAN BE WELL PREPARED TO PRESENT US IN THE MOST, UM, PROFESSIONAL AND PASSIONATE MANNER.
AND ANYONE ELSE? WELL, UH, ATTORNEY, MAYBE WE HAVE ENGAGED YOU TO, UH, OUR LIMIT AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE REACHED SOME RESOLVE GREAT.
AS TO HOW WE WILL APPROACH IT.
I LOOK, WE APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE, WE APPRECIATE THAT.
I LOOK FORWARD WORKING WITH YOU GUYS AGAIN.
WE THANK ANY CLOSING REMARKS, ATTORNEY.
JUST TO SUM UP, MAYOR, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE GONNA DEVELOP THIS LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AND CERTAINLY HAVE IT ON THE NEXT AGENDA AS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON THE EVER FIELD.
UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE SHARE THAT LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM WITH MS. KENARD.
WE ALSO WANT THE COUNCIL TO HAVE A BUDGET FOR IMMEDIATE TRANSPORTATION TO AUSTIN IF NECESSARY.
UM, THE LAW DEPARTMENT WILL COME UP WITH A STRATEGY ON HOW WE WILL BE TRACKING THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVE AND HOW IT PERTAINS TO PORT AUTHORS NEEDS.
UM, WE CERTAINLY, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH ONE OF YOU ARE REGISTERED WITH TML JUST TO TESTIFY AND GET NOTICE FROM THEM.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE, CHECK WITH YOU AND THEN WITH EACH ONE OF YOU, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT PARTICULAR SUBJECT MATTERS YOU HAVE A STRONG, PASSIONATE FOR AS WELL.
UH, AND WE CERTAINLY WILL GET CONTACTS FROM YOU ON WHO YOU HAVE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH.
AND WE WILL MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT MS. CANARD, SO THAT CAN ASSIST YOU IN YOUR EFFORTS.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
IT WAS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU, MS. KENARD, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME.
IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
WE ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE FOR YOU TO BE.
ALL RIGHT, CITY SECRETARY, WOULD THERE BE ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE AUGUST BODY? SIR, IF THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY OTHER BUSINESS, I WOULD LIKE IF JUNCTION DECLARE THIS MEETING ADJOURNED AND CLOSED AT 4:11 PM TODAY ON NOVEMBER 6TH, 2024.
THANK YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS YOU.