[00:00:03]
OH, EXCUSE ME.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
MORNING.HI, IT'S EVERYONE THIS MORNING, AND I'D LIKE TO, UH, WELCOME YOU TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, JANUARY 7TH, IN THE NEW YEAR OF 2025.
AND AS I WOULD BEGIN THIS, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND HAPPY NEW YEAR GREETINGS TO EVERYONE, UH, BOTH PHYSICALLY PRESENT AND THOSE WHO WOULD BE VIRTUALLY JOINING US FROM OUR COUNCIL.
ALSO, IN THIS MEETING, YOU, UH, MAY ATTEND THE MEETING VIRTUALLY, UH, VIA TELEPHONIC OR, OR VIDEO CONFERENCE MEETINGS, BUT YOU WAS FIRST DIAL, EXCUSE ME, 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 6 48 9 6 1 0 9, EXCUSE ME, AND THE PASSCODE OF 9 2 9 0 5 2, AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING.
AS WE HAVE ALWAYS COMPLIED WITH, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
AND IF THERE WOULD BE A NEED FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION, SHE WOULD ONLY NEED TO CALL, HOWEVER, 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE, OUR CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5 MAKE THAT REQUEST KNOWN TO THE CITY, SECRETARY'S EFFICIENT STAFF, AND THEY WILL DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH YOUR SPECIAL REQUEST.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL, AND IF YOU HAVE ELECTRONIC DEVICES SUCH AS I HAVE, LIKE FOR YOU TO MUTE IT, OR IF IT YOU WOULD CARE TO, YOU CAN, UH, TURN IT OFF DURING THESE PROCEEDINGS.
WE HAVE A INVOCATION AND, UH, A PLEDGE AND A ROLL CALL.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK, COULD YOU GIVE US AN INVOCATION, PLEASE, SIR? YES, SIR.
LET US BOW ALL, ALWAYS IN ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT US TO, UH, THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE IN ATTENDANCE ON TODAY, AND WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US WISDOM, GUIDANCE, AND PEACE AS WELL AS WE SEEK TO, UH, PERFORM THE DUTIES THAT WE'VE BEEN CALLED TO PERFORM, UH, IN THE FURTHERANCE OF OUR CITY.
WE ASK NOW, GOD, THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR NATION.
WE ASK IT IN THE POWERFUL AND PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY, AMEN.
PLEASE JOIN US NOW IN CI IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I HAVE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR WHICH OF STANCE ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE REGULARLY IN ATTENDANCE IN THE MEETING, WE HAVE A NEW PERSONNEL OR SOME OTHER PERSONNEL HANDLING SOME, UH, DUTIES ON TO DATE.
AND FOR THE CITY SECRETARY WHO WE WOULD LIKE TO BE IN PRAYER FOR HER MOTHER WHO IS IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW IN HOUSTON.
SO THAT'S WHY SHE'S NOT PRESENT HERE WITH US ON TO DATE.
AND SHE, UH, DOES HAVE HER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT LINDSEY, WHO WOULD BE PERFORMING THOSE DUTIES AS CITY SECRETARY ON TODAY.
SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, AND WE PRAY FOR OUR CITY SECRETARY'S MOM DURING HER ILLNESS AND OVER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
WOULD YOU BE SO KIND, UH, MR. LINDSEY AS TO SET THE COURT FORTH, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.
MAYOR BARTEE, PRESENT, MAYOR POT BECKHAM.
HERE, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE.
COUNCIL COUNCILMAN MCKEN LAW HERE.
[II. PROCLAMATIONS]
WITH, UH, PROCLAMATIONS AND I DON'T HAVE ONE BEFORE ME.I THINK OUR A DI LADY WAS SAYING SOMETHING RECORDING IN PROGRESS.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT SHE SAID.
SHE WAS JUST REMINDING US OF RE REITERATING THAT, UH, WE ARE BEING RECORDED, UH, PROCLAMATIONS
[00:05:01]
AND AT THIS JUNCTURE.SO CAN WE, I DO NOT HAVE ONE BEFORE ME, SO I DON'T THINK THAT THERE ARE ANY PROCLAMATIONS TO BE DELIVERED TODAY AT THIS TIME.
SO WE WILL BEGIN WITH, UH, SPEAKERS.
[III.A.(1) Thomas Atlas Of Atlas Homes Regarding The Building Department]
THE FIRST SPEAKER WE HAVE ON THE PRINTED AGENDA IS THOMAS ATLAS OF ATLAS HOLMES REGARDING THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT.IF YOU MAY, APPROACH PLEASE, MR. ATLAS, YOU BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, SIR, AND YOU HAVE ACTUALLY FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON YOUR CONCERN.
UH, GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS ATLAS, 4 0 9 WASHINGTON IC TEXAS.
AND I AM HERE OFFICIALLY ON THE RECORD, UH, TO INFORM THIS COUNCIL MEMBER REGARDING THIS.
I KNOW YOU WANNA MOVE WITH I I'D LIKE TO MOVE, BUT I NEED YOU TO STAY CLOSE TO THAT MIC SO IT'LL PICK YOU UP AND I'LL BE HERE AS WELL.
AND I'M HERE TO INFORM THE CONDUCT OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT THAT IS UNETHICAL AND IN VIOLATION OF THE CODE, UH, CODE OF PRACTICE AND ALSO INVOLVING, UH, THREAT HARASSMENT AND, UH, UH, MANY OTHER FRAUDULENT, UH, CONDUCT THAT THEY'RE INVOLVED IN.
AND, UH, THEY, UH, TOOK MY HOME AS A HOSTAGE AND, UH, THEY THREATEN MY MASTER ELECTRICIAN FROM HOUSTON THAT, UH, MY MASTER ELECTRICIAN PULLED THE PERMIT, PULLED HIS, UH, UH, REQUIREMENT HERE OUT OF THE PORT ARTHUR.
AND MY JOB IS HANGING AND THEY DON'T COME AND INSPECT THE PROJECT.
AND, UH, WHEN THEY COME TO THE PROPERTY, THEY ARE, UH, OUT OF CONTROL, YELLING AND SCREAMING AND MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT THAT THEY ARE DOING.
AND THE LAST TIME I WAS THERE, THIS GUY, MR. PHILIP VIDI, UH, THREATENED ME TO GET OUT OF THE BUILDING, CALLED THE COP ON ME, AND HE INFORMED HIS ASSISTANCE, HIS LADY NAMED ROSA, UH, TO PULL ALL MY PERMIT OUT, OUT, CANCEL ALL MY PERMITS.
AND AS SOON AS I TOLD HIM, YOU ARE, UH, ABUSING YOUR UNIFORM AND YOUR POSITION, HE HAD FEW SECONDS TO THINK ABOUT IT.
BUT THE RESULT WAS THAT NOTHING CAME OUT OF IT.
THE JOB IS SHUT DOWN FOR TWO, TWO MONTHS.
WE CANNOT, UH, THEY ARE NOT RELEASING THE PERMIT TO THE INTERGY TO COME AND HOOK UP THE ELECTRICITY.
AND WE CANNOT FINISH THE PROJECT ONLY FOR THE OUTLETS AND BREAKER AND SWITCHES BECAUSE WE HAVE NO ELECTRICITY AND, AND THEY ARE NOT ALLOWING IT.
AND THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN TAX AUCTION IN 23, OCTOBER 23, SINCE 2023 NOVEMBER.
I HAVE PROBLEM WITH THEM UP TO THIS DAY THAT I AM IN FRONT OF YOU.
I WAS THE SCHEDULED FOR LAST MONTH MEETING AND, UH, THE CITY MANAGER CONTACTED ME AND SAID, LET'S SEE WHAT I CAN DO AND TALK TO THE, UH, UH, COUNCIL ON RECORD CANCEL HERE, CITY COUNCIL TO SEE IF THEY CAN RELEASE THE, UH, WAIVER THAT, UH, THE JOB COULD BE COMPLETED.
AND I CANCELED MY MEETING LAST MONTH.
AND UP TO TODAY, I AM NOT, I CANNOT DO ANY MORE WORK.
ANYTHING I'LL PUT INTO IT, THEY'RE GONNA BE STOLEN.
AND, UH, THE JOB IS SHUT DOWN.
AND I AM, I SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS DOLLARS ON THIS HOUSE.
I IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I CANNOT GO ANY FURTHER.
AND I CAME HERE TO ASK YOU, UH, TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER SINCE I, I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR OVER 40 PLUS YEARS, UH, WORKING IN MAJOR CITIES, HOUSTON, AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO.
I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE BUILDING CODE.
BUT, UH, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAD TO COME IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU TO PLEAD FOR RELEASING MY PERMIT TO THE ENTERGY.
IT'S GONNA TAKE THEM MONTH AND A HALF TO COME ON ELECTRICITY, EVEN GAS.
AND CITY IS HOLDING THE JOB HOSTAGE.
AND, UH, I DON'T SEE ANY SIGN.
[00:10:01]
MISREPRESENT.AND AS I'M STANDING HERE, I CALLED FOR THE INSPECTION FOR ELECTRICAL.
THEY SHOWED UP IN A PARKING LOT, YELLING AND SCREAM.
SHE CALLED THE, THE LADY'S NAME IS LISA MITCHELL.
SHE CALLED THE OFFICE YELLING AND SCREAMING AT THE OFFICE, WHY DID YOU SEND ME HERE? AND I ALREADY INSPECT THIS JOB.
AND I TOLD THEM THAT SOMEBODY NAMED MICHAEL.
AND MIKE SAID, FINISH THE BREAKER BOX AND, UH, TOWER AND BE CALLED FOR INSPECTION.
I AM SO STUPID COMING TO PORT ARTHUR AND SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY HERE.
AND I SAID, I AM TRYING TO IMPROVE THIS PLACE.
NO MATTER IF IT'S A GHETTO OR WHATEVER.
SHE SAID, YOU ARE STUPID TO COME DOWN HERE.
AND THIS IS THE CITY INSPECTOR IS TELLING ME.
AND I BOUGHT ANOTHER HOUSE IN OCTOBER AND I PUT IT ON HOLD ON 15TH STREET.
I PUT IT ON HOLD TO FIXING IT.
AND IF YOU GO TO THE HOUSE THAT I FINISHED, YOU'RE GONNA BE SHOCKED.
THE NEW, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVED.
I EMPLOYED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSES AND THE STEEL.
THEY WORKED, THEY EARNED THEIR MONEY.
THEY CLEANED THEIR ACT AND GO LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOW IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BUT NOW MY JOB IS SHUT DOWN.
I CANNOT FINISH THE KITCHEN BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THEY'RE GONNA STEAL IT.
AND EVERY DAY I'M DRIVING FROM HOUSTON TO COME DOWN HERE TO CHECK THE HOUSE.
I CANCELED THE WATER BECAUSE THERE IS NO USE FOR THE WATER BECAUSE WE CANNOT MOVE IN.
AND WHEN I GO OUT THERE AND TALK TO THIS PHILIP ARDI, HE THREATENED ME, CALLED THE COP ON ME, AND, UH, WANTS ME TO ADD OFF THE PLACE.
YOU GUYS ARE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB TO IMPROVING THIS CITY, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.
HAVE YOU EVER ASKED YOURSELF WHY, IF SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HOUSES HERE, WHY NEVER NOBODY GOES AND PULL A PERMIT? BECAUSE THEY RUN THEM OFF.
EVERYBODY COMES IN, THEY BRING MONEY, REVENUE TO THIS TOWN, BUT THEY RUN THEM OFF.
THEY ARE RUDE, IS A TOXIC, VIOLENT, UH, ENVIRONMENT DOWN THERE.
THEY DON'T TALK TO YOU NORMAL.
THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO COME UP THERE.
THEY ARE, THEY ARE SITTING IN FRONT OF THE MONITOR.
THEIR LAPTOP IS THEIR, THEIR CELL PHONE IS ON, ON THEIR LAPTOP.
AND THEY'RE CHECKING THEIR MESSAGES.
AND NOBODY'S WORKING THERE, NOBODY DOING ANYTHING.
AND WHEN YOU ASK THEM ANYTHING, EVERYBODY DISAPPEAR.
I HIRED THREE ELECTRICIAN TO COME UP THERE TO TAKE CARE OF MY JOB.
THEY SAID, WE DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH IT.
THEY DON'T WANT TO TOUCH IT BECAUSE OF THE CITY, BECAUSE OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
THEY EVEN DID, THEY DID GO THERE LAST YEAR.
PROBABLY SOME OF YOU, YOU REMEMBER ME LAST YEAR.
I CAME DOWN HERE FOR THE GARBAGE, WHICH IT WAS REMOVED.
BUT THE PEOPLE FROM BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS STAND UP AND SAYS, OH YES, THE GARBAGE IS REMOVED.
WHY? THEY JUST WANT TO SHOW OFF.
THEY DID THEIR JOB, BUT THERE WAS NO GARBAGE.
BUT RIGHT AFTER THEY'RE GONE, THEY FILED CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST ME IN MUNICIPAL COURT.
THEY STALK ME, THEY THREATEN ME FOUR OR FIVE TIMES A DAY.
THEY WERE PASSING BY FROM MY HOUSE UNTIL I STOPPED THEM.
AND I SAID, IF YOU STOP BY ONE MORE TIME, I CALL THE COP ON YOU.
THEY CALLED THEIR MANAGER, THEY LIED TO THE MANAGER.
AND UNTIL I PUT MY, UH, FOOT ON THE TABLE, SUDDENLY I NEVER SAW THEM AGAIN.
NOW, I JUST WANT, IF THE ATTORNEY OR CITY ATTORNEY IS HERE, JUST DRAFT A WAIVER.
I RELEASE THE CITY FROM ANY PROBLEM, RELEASE MY PERMIT TO THE ENERGY AND GAS COMPANY THAT I CAN HOOK UP THE HOUSE.
AND, AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I CANNOT GO THERE.
AND THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE, WHY THE HECK DID YOU PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL MY MY MASTER AND THREATEN HIM? THEY THREATEN HIM WITH HIS LICENSE.
HE SAID, I DON'T WANNA MESS WITH THE PORT ARTHUR ANYMORE.
[00:15:01]
I DON'T WANNA MESS WITH THESE PEOPLE ANYMORE.AND NOW I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE LAST MONTH, BUT, UH, CITY MANAGER SAID HE'S GONNA GET BACK TO ME.
AND THAT'S WHY I SCHEDULED MYSELF AGAIN.
IT'S THE, THE HOUSE IS WORTHLESS.
AND I'M AFRAID EVERY DAY SOMEBODY GONNA GO IN AND BREAK INTO IT AND STEAL MY AIR CONDITION, STEAL TOOLS INSIDE.
AND THE ONLY THING WHAT IS LEFT APP OUTLET SWITCHES, BUT THEY DON'T EVEN COME AND INSPECT IT AS A, AS A A BUILDER, HOMEOWNER, I HAVE A RIGHT TO CALL THE CITY FOR THE INSPECTION.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, REMARKS.
MR. ATS, UH, TO COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE.
UH, YOU, YOU MENTIONED THAT, UH, THEY COME, THEY DON'T COME WHEN YOU CALL FOR AN INSPECTION.
IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? YEAH, I CALLED THEM FOR THE INSPECTION.
AND, UH, YOU CALL FOR INSPECTION.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE, WE CAN'T RELEASE IT TO THE ENERGY AND STUFF.
THAT'S WHY THEY REQUIRE THE CITY TO FIRST APPROVE IT.
'CAUSE WE ARE THE ONE THAT ENFORCES THE CODE.
SO WE ENFORCE THE CODE ENFORCEMENTS AND THEY'RE IN LINE WITH THE STATE.
THE OTHER THING YOU SAID IS THAT YOU, UH, TALK TO THE MANAGER AND, UH, THE MANAGER HASN'T GOT BACK WITH YOU.
NORMALLY WE WOULD REFER YOU TO TALK TO THE MANAGER.
SO IF YOU TALK TO THE MANAGER, THEN YOU AND THE MANAGER HAVE ADDRESSED THE ISSUE AND THE MANAGER WILL THEN BE ABLE TO GIVE US, UH, HIS VERSION OF OUR CITY.
I WOULD SEND EMPLOYEES AND STUFF.
BUT AS A COUNCIL RIGHT NOW, WE'VE HEARD EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID IN YOUR COMPLAINT.
ALSO, I ALSO HEARD YOU SAY THE, THE CITY MANAGER SAID HE'D GET BACK WITH YOU.
SO MY ADVICE WOULD BE, UH, AFTER, AFTER THIS TIME, UH, REQUEST TO MEET WITH HIM IN PERSON.
IN PERSON SO THAT HE COULD RESOLVE THIS MATTER.
AND, UH, IF IT'S NOT RESOLVING THAT TIME, THEN I THINK YOU COME BACK BEFORE US AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO ASK MANAGER QUESTION.
BUT RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S SUDDEN YOU NEED TO GO BACK AND MEET PERSONALLY NOT ON THE PHONE.
ALL DUE RESPECT TO YOU IS, UH, I THINK MAYBE I DIDN'T EMPHASIZE, WHAT WE DISCUSSED WAS A MONTH AGO.
I DID TRY TO, UH, GET IN TOUCH WITH THE CITY MANAGER, BUT APPARENTLY EVERY TIME I STOPPED BY, WAS IN A MEETING, WAS ON THE PHONE.
WAS THIS OKAY, MS. AT, UH, I I, BUT THE TIMEFRAME I'M SAYING MR. ATLAS, THAT WAS A MONTH AGO.
MR. ATLAS, IT SEEM LIKE YOU'RE BECOMING THE BABY WITH ME.
IN FACT, I HEARD YOU SAY I TALKED TO HIM.
WHAT I SAID WAS MEET WITH HIM.
YOU SAID WHEN I COME HERE THAT HE'S IN THE MEETING OR HE'S NOT HERE.
SO WHAT I RECOMMEND, SINCE YOU COME IN BEFORE THE COUNCIL, AND I'M HEARING THIS, YOU CALL THE SECRETARY AND YOU SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO MEET WITH THE CITY MANAGER MM-HMM.
AND WHEN YOU SET THE APPOINTMENT, THEN YOU SHOULD MEET WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
INSTEAD, THE MANAGER SHOULD BE AVAILABLE.
SO NOW WE COULD ELIMINATE THE THING.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT GONNA RESOLVE ANYTHING.
IF WE BOTH, IF IT'S HOSTILITY BETWEEN YOU OR THE EMPLOYEE, BUT THE, THE ONE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THAT.
AND, UH, IF YOU MEET WITH 'EM PERSONALLY AND YOU FEEL THAT NOTHING IS HAPPENING, IF YOU COME TO US AND SAY, I MET AND I TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THIS CAME OUT OF IT, THEN I'LL BE MORE APT GETTING INVOLVED.
AND I'M QUITE SURE THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WHAT I'M HEARING, YOU TALK, BUT YOU HAVEN'T MET.
AND WHEN YOU CAME TO MEET WITH HIM, HE WAS ALWAYS IN THE MEETING OR HE WASN'T AVAILABLE.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE'RE GONNA ELIMINATE, HE'S ALWAYS IN THE MEETING AND HE'S NOT AVAILABLE.
SIMPLY SET UP AN APPOINTMENT AND THAT WAY HE SHOULD MAKE, HE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE THEN.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I KNOW THE RULE OF PROCEDURE PERFECTLY.
AND UH, UH, WHEN A PERSON SAYS, I WILL GET BACK TO YOU, IT'S MEAN.
NOT A MONTH LATER THAT I HAVE TO COME
[00:20:01]
HERE IN FRONT OF YOU AND TALK TO YOU.AND MR. HARRIS KNOWS THAT LAST MONTH I COME BACK TO MIKE, COME BACK TO MIKE.
COME BACK TO ALL THE MIC, MICROPHONE, MICROPHONE.
I CANCELED MY, I CANCELED MY APPOINTMENT AS A RESPECT TO WHAT YOU SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, TO HEAR FROM THE CITY MANAGER, MS. ATS.
BUT I NEVER HEARD MS. ATS, YOU KEEP TELLING US OVER AND OVER THE SAME THING.
AND I KEEP SAYING, I, I'VE SPOKE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO IS VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU BROUGHT BEFORE US.
I'M TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO IN ORDER TO COMBAT BEFORE THE PODIUM AND TELL ME, OKAY.
I SET AN APPOINTMENT UP WITH YOUR CITY MANAGER.
OKAY? YOUR CITY MANAGER DID NOT SHOW UP.
I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY MANAGER BECAUSE THAT'S HIS JOB.
I JUST GAVE YOU A WAY TO DO IT SO THAT WHEN YOU COME BACK TO ME, I CAN RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION.
AND I CAN HOLD SOMEBODY ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT BEING AVAILABLE.
'CAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE IT'S GOING RIGHT NOW.
THEY FUSSING YOU FUSSING STUFF.
THE, THE MANAGER SITTING HERE, THE MANAGER, HEAR WHAT WE'RE SAYING, WHAT WE HEARING.
SO HE'S GONNA RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
I RESPECT YOU AND I WILL DO THAT.
HOLD, UH, HOLD CITY, THE MANAGER.
UM, I DID, UM, SPEAK TO MR. ATLAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
THERE IS A REPORT THAT WAS BEING DRAWN UP BY THE APPROPRIATE STAFF.
UM, I DID GIVE MS. LANGFORD A DIRECTIVE.
MS. LANGFORD HAS TAKEN IT ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CITY OR TO THIS OFFICE.
AND, UM, SHE HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT AN ELECTRICIAN, A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN, SHOULD CERTIFY THE JOB.
THERE'S A DETAILED REPORT ON THE TABLE, DETAILED IN, VERY DETAILED AS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
THERE'S A REPORT, AGAIN IN VERY DETAIL.
AND I KNOW THAT MS. LANGFORD HAS COMMUNICATED BOTH MS. LANGFORD AND THE STAFF HAS COMMUNICATED WITH MR. ATLA.
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WHEN, WHEN YOU TALK TO HIM, CITY MANAGER, YOU LET HIM SEE THE REPORT AND YOU GO OVER IT WITH HIM, AND YOU LET HIM KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY'S ISSUES ARE, WHERE WE STAND, WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO IN ORDER TO MOVE HIS PROJECT.
AND I THINK MS. LANGFORD HAS, AND I WILL READ YOU AGAIN.
MS. LANGFORD HAS INFORMED THEM WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO.
WELL, WE, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S THE POINT.
I MEAN, THIS GUY HAS COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND HE HAS A CONCERN.
I, I, YOU KNOW, I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
YOU, YOU SAID MASTER ELECTRICIAN THAT YOU HAD, THAT THEY KICKED OFF THE JOB.
IS HE A CERTIFIED MASTER ELECTRICIAN? YEAH.
SO I'M HEARING SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM THE MANAGER.
MANAGER, WHEN CAN YOU MEET WITH THIS GUY? SO WE CAN JUST CUT THIS FAT MEAT OUT AND JUST SAY, I'M GONNA MEET WITH HIM.
IT'S A DEEP MEET WITH YOU TODAY.
HE'S WILLING TO MEET WITH YOU TODAY.
AND IF YOU CAN MEET WITH THEM, UH, AFTER COUNCIL MEETING TODAY AND GET ALL THIS OTHER STUFF, BECAUSE WE WANT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HOUSING TO COME INTO PORT ARTHUR.
IS YOUR ADDRESS? UH, 30 33 STREET, 12TH STREET.
BUT ALL THIS OTHER STUFF, THESE, THESE EGOS THAT YOU MAY HAVE HAD, OR THE, THE, THE STAFF MAY HAVE HAD, WE'RE GONNA GET PAST THAT BECAUSE WE WANT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HOUSE IN PORT ARTHUR.
SO TODAY WE GOT A CONFIRMATION THAT OUR MANAGER WILL MEET WITH YOU, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY SITUATION, YOU CAN CALL ME.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO YOU, I, I THANK YOU FOR BEING SO OPEN ABOUT IT.
THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE NOW, AS A CONTRACTOR, I KNOW THAT NO MASTER GONNA GO BEHIND MY JOB ANYMORE WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT IS CREATED.
WELL, THERE'S, AND I ALREADY, THE MASTER IN HOUSTON GOT PAID AND IT GONE ON THERE ITS WAY, AND IT'S OVER THE BUDGET.
BUT ACCORDING TO BUILDING CODE, THERE IS A WAIVER THAT THE CONTRACTOR CAN SIGN, RELEASE THE CITY OF ANY LIABILITY, LET IT GO.
NOW WE'VE COME TO RESOLVE, RESOLVE THAT THE CITY MANAGER SAID HE'D MEET WITH YOU TODAY BY,
[00:25:01]
BY THE END OF THE DAY ABOUT THIS.SO WE'RE GOING TO END RIGHT NOW.
NOW YOU WOULD, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT TIME WE'LL BE THROUGH COUNCIL MEETING TODAY 'CAUSE THAT THAT MIGHT NOT FIT YOU ON SCHEDULE EITHER.
BUT HE SAID SO IF, IF YOU ARE WILLING TO GO AND COME BACK SOMETIME AFTERNOON, 'CAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE IN THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO, OKAY? MM-HMM
BUT HE SAID HE'D MEET WITH YOU TODAY.
SO IF YOU ARE COMMITTED TO STAYING THERE MIGHT BE FOUR O'CLOCK.
MY PHONE NUMBER I HAVE MAYOR, I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE BUILDING OFFICIAL.
I CAN, THAT RECOMMENDATION IS BEING COMMUNICATED TO MS. LANGFORD.
IT TAKES ME ONE MINUTE TO MEET WITH MS. LANGFORD AND INSTRUCT MR. ATLAS WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO.
OKAY? SO YOU HAS TO COMPLY WITH IT.
AND THERE IS NO WAIVER FROM THE SEAT IN, IN, IN, IN ORDER FOR US TO DO THIS.
I'M GONNA RESET FOR FIVE MINUTES.
Y'ALL GO RIGHT THERE TO THE BACK, HANDLE THAT, AND THEN IN FIVE MINUTES, Y'ALL, WE, WE, WE'LL BEGIN THESE PROCEEDINGS AGAIN.
AND CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU REESTABLISH FOR ME, PLEASE? YES.
EVER PRESENT? COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEN, LAW COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT.
UH, WE ARE NOW BACK IN SESSION FROM OUR RECESS AND WE WILL PROCEED WITH THE PRINTED AGENDA.
[III.B.(1) A Presentation By The Rotary Club Of Port Arthur Regarding, A Donation To The Port Arthur Health Department For Pack N Plays, For The Infant Safe Sleep Program]
WE HAVE PRESENTATIONS, WHICH IS A PRESENTATION BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF PORT ARTHUR REGARDING THE DONATION TO THE PORT ARTHUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR PACK IN PLACE FOR THE INFANT SAFE SLEEP PROGRAM.I GUESS YOU ALL MAY APPROACH AND BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION.
I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND I'M JOINED BY OUR PAST PRESIDENT, DANA ESPINEL, OUR SECRETARY, UH, DR.
QUEEN AND OUR FOUNDATION CHAIR, UH, MR. ART THOMAS.
AND ANOTHER ROTARIAN IN THE BACK, DR.
BUT, UH, SO EVERY YEAR THE ROTARY APPLIES FOR A MATCHING GRANT TO OUR DISTRICT.
AND THAT GRANT IS, WE'RE ABLE TO USE IT TO HELP OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
AS YOU KNOW, ROTARY INTERNATIONAL IS THE LARGEST FOUNDATION IN THE WORLD.
AND HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, WHAT WE DO IS WE, UH, APPLY FOR THAT DISTRICT MATCHING GRANT.
SO OUR FOUNDATION PUTS HALF OF THE MONEY AND OUR DISTRICT PUTS HALF OF THE MONEY.
UH, WE'VE GONE THREE FOR THREE, UH, WITH MS. DANA ESPINAL FILLING OUT THAT GRANT INFORMATION 'CAUSE IT IS COMPETITIVE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE HER DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
'CAUSE SHE'S, SHE'S, SHE'S THREE FOR THREE.
EVERY TIME SHE'S SUPPLIED, WE'VE GOTTEN IT.
SO, UH, THIS YEAR, UH, AGAIN, WE WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE FAMILY NURSE, UH, PARTNERSHIP.
AND WE WANT TO DON MAKE A DONATION.
AND THE DONATION IS, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE THE CAR SEATS.
UH, THIS YEAR WE DECIDED TO DO PACK AND PLACE.
AND AS YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAD ANY KIDS, UH, A LOT OF TIMES, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED A SAFE PLACE FOR YOUR, ONCE YOUR YOUR KIDS BECOME MOBILE, YOU NEED A SAFE PLACE TO PUT 'EM IN.
AND WE FELT THAT THAT WAS A, A WORTHY, UH, COST THIS YEAR.
SO WE HAVE, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO ART THOMAS, WHO IS OUR FOUNDATION, UH, PRESIDENT.
AND HE'S GONNA MAKE THE PRESENTATION TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON OUR BEHALF.
MAYOR COUNCIL, UM, ONE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS, UM, THIS PROJECT IS GONNA AFFECT, UH, AFFECT 58, UH, PEOPLE.
THE, IT'S GONNA BE 58 PARENTS WITH, AS WELL AS 58 INFANTS UNDER THE AGE OF ONE.
SO, UM, WE WANT TO TAKE THE TIME AND DO THIS PRESENTATION IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND, AND THEIR STAFF.
AND WE WANNA SAY, UH, WANNA PRESENT YOU ALL WITH A CHECK OF $4,000.
AND WE ALSO LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR PART, FOR THE PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, WITH BROUGHT THE ROTARY, MS. MS. JUDA.
YOU ALL WANNA TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT? GO IN FRONT.
[00:30:03]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.OKAY, WE JUST WANT MAYOR AND COUNCIL, GOOD MORNING.
WE JUST WANNA SAY, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE PORT ARTHUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE ROTARY, UM, FOUNDATION AND FOR OUR ROTARY CLUB TO PARTNER WITH US, UM, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH THE CAR SEATS AND THIS YEAR WITH THE PACK AND PLACE THE PLAY YARDS.
WE DO HAVE OUR, UM, STAFF HERE THAT IS OVER THAT SAFE SLEEP INITIATIVE.
AND I WOULD, IF THEY COULD JUST TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT, UM, THESE FUNDS WILL BE FOR OUR, OUR, UM, FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY.
FIRST OFF, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.
WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT DONATION.
UM, THE PACK AND PLAYS ARE PART OF OUR INFANT SAFE SLEEP PROTOCOLS THAT WE HAVE.
WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH.
IT'S PART OF OUR COALITION WORK WITHIN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND SO BACK IN 2018 WHEN WE STARTED THE COALITION, WE REALIZED THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF PREVENTABLE INFANT DEATHS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IN FACT, THERE WERE 67% OF THE INFANT DEATHS THAT HAPPENED IN OUR COMMUNITY WERE PREVENTABLE.
AND OF THAT, TWO THIRDS OF THEM WERE RELATED TO SAFE SLEEP PRACTICES.
SO IT BECAME REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.
WE KNEW THAT, THAT WE REALLY NEEDED TO GO ABOUT DOING SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THAT.
SO WE'VE DONE A LOT OF TRAINING AND WE'RE A PART OF A LOT OF NATIONAL INITIATIVES RIGHT NOW, PART OF THE CHILD SAFETY NETWORK AND SOME DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, AND WE'RE DOING RESEARCH WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, UM, AND SPEAKING OUT ON A NATIONAL LEVEL TO HELP, UM, IMPROVE INFANT SAFE SLEEP ENVIRONMENTS.
BUT EVEN WHEN WE'RE GIVEN THAT EDUCATION, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO GIVE THE EDUCATION.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO PUT THEM IN.
AND A LOT OF PARENTS DON'T HAVE THAT.
AND SO THE PACK AND PLAY PROGRAM ALLOWS US TO GIVE THOSE OUT.
UM, WE STARTED THE PACK AND PLAY PROGRAM, I WANNA BELIEVE IT.
WE STARTED OUR SAFE SLEEP WORK IN 2018 AND THE PACK AND PLAY PROGRAM STARTED IN 2019.
AND OUR STIPENDS THAT WE WERE RECEIVING TO GET THOSE HAVE ENDED.
SO THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY BIG BLESSING FOR US.
WE APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH BECAUSE IT'S GONNA ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK.
BUT EVERY SINGLE PARENT THAT, UM, WHETHER THEY'RE GOING INTO A HOSPITAL, 'CAUSE WE'VE TRAINED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ACTUALLY TRAINED ALL THE AREA HOSPITALS AND JEFFERSON COUNTY.
UM, WE'RE ACTUALLY TRAINING SOME OF THE, UM, FACILITIES WITHIN ORANGE COUNTY, HARDIN COUNTY, AND CHAMBERS COUNTY THIS UPCOMING MARCH ON SAFE SLEEP PRACTICES AS WELL.
AND, UM, AND SO WHEN SOMEONE IDENTIFIES THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A SAFE SLEEP ENVIRONMENT, WE GO THROUGH THE EDUCATION, WE GIVE 'EM A PACK AND PLAY.
APPRECIATE IF YOU ALL WOULD JUST WAIT ONE MOMENT.
HAVE COUNCILPERSON MAY WANT TO SPEAK WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEMP.
I JUST WANNA THANK THE ROTARY CLUB AND ALSO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THIS IMPORTANT WORK AND, AND EDUCATION IS SO IMPORTANT.
I KNOW 33 YEARS AGO WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN, THINGS ABOUT SAFE SLEEP WERE VERY DIFFERENT THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
AND AS A GRANDPARENT NOW, I HAD TO RELEARN SOME THINGS BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE THINGS CHANGE.
DO THEY SLEEP ON THEIR BACK? DO THEY SLEEP ON THEIR STOMACH? DO WE SWADDLE? DO WE PUT A PILLOW? DO WE HAVE STUFFED ANIMALS IN THE CRIB? SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE SO DIFFERENT NOW, AND THEY CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AS WE LEARN NEW THINGS.
AND SO I REALLY HAVE A HEART FOR THIS AS WELL.
THE CPS DOCKET IS SOMETHING THAT I STILL DO AS AN ATTORNEY.
SO MANY OF THOSE DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED JUST BY EDUCATION.
SO THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND I JUST APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING THIS.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER LIGHTS, BUT ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THANK YOU ALL.
THANK YOU DR. SMITH FOR ALWAYS BEING ON TOP OF EVERYTHING FOR EVEN THE BABIES AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT'S INVOLVED.
GOING TO THE CLUB FOR YOUR DONATION.
NOW WE WILL MOVE TO DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER PRESENTATIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY RIGHT NOW.
[III.F.(1) A Discussion Regarding The Duties And Responsibilities Of The City Manager, City Attorney, City Secretary And Their Staff (Requested By Councilmember Kinlaw)]
TWO OF THE PRINTED AGENDA, ROMAN NUMERAL THREE, WE HAVE PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS AGAIN, NUMBER ONE OR EIGHT.NUMBER ONE IS A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY SECRETARY AND THEIR STAFF.
AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ETT.
I MEAN, JUST, I'M SORRY, KEN LAW.
UH, I PUT THIS ON HERE, UH, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, AND THEN I HAD TO RE-PUT IT ON HERE.
UH, MY, MY CONCERN AND, AND WHAT I WANTED TO PORTRAY IS
[00:35:01]
THAT THE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE IS, IT'S LED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL AS, UH, THE CITY MANAGER TO GIVE THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.HOWEVER, I THINK THAT, UH, UH, WE'VE COME TO A POSITION WHERE THAT, UH, WE'VE STALLED, UH, THE COUNCIL'S GIVEN OUT DIRECTIVES AND WHAT WE WANT, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO COUNCIL, HOW WE WANTED TO DO IT, HOW WE WANTED SPEND THE MONEY, UH, WHAT TYPE OF PROGRAMS WE IMPLEMENT TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THE CITY.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IN LIGHT OF ALL OF THAT, UH, THIS SHOULD BE GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT TO THE CITIZENS, TO ALSO LOOK INTO IT, TO ALSO MAKE COMMENTS.
FOR MANY YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE CITY COUNCIL, WE'VE TAKEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND GIVEN OUR OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT WE THINK IS BEST FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
I HAVE SO MANY THINGS I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS TODAY, AND I'M NOT GONNA TAKE UP A LOT OF, UH, TIME.
BUT THE GENERAL FUNCTION, UH, OF THE CITY MANAGER IS TO, UH, UH, BE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF HIS STAFF, UH, GET DIRECTIVES FROM THE COUNCIL, UH, PREPARE BUDGET THAT THE COUNCIL WANTS, HAVE TO APPROVE, UH, MAKE SURE THAT IT IS, UH, PERSONNEL REOR, UH, UH, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, CODES AND ENFORCEMENT ORDINANCE.
ALL THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE CITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
UH, I THINK THAT'S, UH, IN MY OPINION, IT'S A BAD LIGHT FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO HEAR CERTAIN THINGS AND NOT, UH, FROM CITIZENS AND NOT BE TRUE.
THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION IS DONE BY THE CITY MANAGER.
MY POSITION ON THIS, WE CAN'T GIVE HIM DIRECTIVES IF WE DON'T GIVE EVALUATIONS TO HIM IN A PROPER MANNER.
UH, I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES UNDERSTAND WHY I PUT THIS ON THERE, BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO, UH, IN MY OPINION, TO MAKE A BETTER CITY, UH, BETTER COUNSEL, A BETTER, UH, UH, STAFF, AND WE WORK TOGETHER.
YOU CAN'T HAVE IT WITHOUT THE OTHER.
BUT SO, SO FAR, YOU KNOW, I FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, WE ARE, WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS.
I WANTED TO PUT THIS OPENLY ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
SO IF ANYONE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OR WANTED TO SPEAK, THEY HAVE SO, OR CAN DO SO IF NOT, THE OPPORTUNITY WAS PRESENTED BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'VE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS WHERE WE PUT IT OPENLY ON THE AGENDA THAT GOES ON WITH THE CITY SECRETARY AS WELL AS THE CITY, UH, ATTORNEY.
THEIR JOBS ARE SKETCH AND EDGE OUT ON THEIR DUTIES.
AND WHAT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CITY AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS OUR APPOINTEES INFORMATION SHOULD GO FLOW FRONT AND BACK.
WE SHOULD BE GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INFORMATION AS WELL AS FIND OUT WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON IN THE CITY.
AND IF ANYONE IS GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY, THEY SHOULD DO SO.
NO, AT NO TIME THAT AN APPOINTEE SHOULD TELL EMPLOYEES NOT TO TALK WITH CITY, UH, CITY COUNCIL, THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.
WE HAVE INVESTIGATIVE, UH, AUTHORITY TO GET INFORMATION TO GAIN TRUTH AND FACTS, WHICH WE'VE SAID, WHICH WE'VE HAD ALONE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT IN THE PAST.
AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY THIS LINE OF GOVERNMENT OPERATES.
SO IF SOMEONE IS OUT THERE TELLING YOU NOT TO TALK TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
I JUST WANT TO KINDA GIVE SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S OUT THERE.
UM, TRUTH AND LIGHT, BECAUSE SO MUCH, AND SO MANY TIMES I GET PHONE CALLS OF STAFF THAT'S WORKED FOR THE CITY OF FLORIDA, AFRAID TO TALK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, IN FEAR OF RETALIATION.
I JUST HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES UNDERSTAND AND, AND KNOW THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS TO GET THE INFORMATION AND MAKE THE CITY BETTER.
SO WITH THEIR MAYOR, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS GIVEN OPPORTUNITY.
I MAY BE THE SOLE AND LONE PERSON TO BRING THIS LIKE THIS TO GIVE LIGHT TO IT.
BUT THOSE THINGS, THOSE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, YOUR TRASH NOT GETTING PICKED UP THE STREETS, UH, SITUATIONS, UM, VACANCIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UH, EXPANSIONS, INTERIM POSITIONS, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE DEALT BY DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS BY THE CITY MANAGER, LIGHTING THROUGHOUT YOUR CITY, CRIME THROUGHOUT YOUR CITY.
THAT'S, THAT'S LED BY THE CITY MANAGER.
AND IF NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT, HEY, I CAN HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE
[00:40:01]
AND LET YOU UNDERSTAND OUR ORDINANCE AND POLICIES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.BUT UNTIL WE GET A GRASP ON THAT AND, AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS GET BETTER, WE CAN CONTINUE HAVING THE SAME THING.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR APPOINTEES.
OKAY, COUNCILMAN UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES.
I TOO BELIEVE IN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND OUR APPOINTEES ARE THE KEY PEOPLE TO US AS A COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONE WE ACTUALLY HIRE.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT WE, UH, EXPECT THEM TO DO WHAT IS REQUIRED OF THEM, NOT WHAT THEY WANT, BUT WHAT'S WRITTEN.
AND MANY TIMES I HAVE ALWAYS REFERRED TO, UH, ORDINANCES.
I'VE ALWAYS REFERRED TO, UH, LAWS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
WE ARE NOT HERE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON HOW WE FEEL.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO MAKE DECISION ON WHAT WE THINK IS BEST FOR CITIZENS IN OUR CITY.
WE ARE HERE TO SERVE CITIZENS.
AND IN ORDER TO SERVE CITIZENS, WE MUST FIRST UNDERSTAND WHAT OTHER CITIES NEED NEEDS, WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES.
AND WE REALLY DON'T HAVE TO BE A GENIUS WHEN IT COMES TO THAT BECAUSE CITIZENS ARE TELLING US WHAT'S BAD.
CITIZENS TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
AND WE AS COUNCIL NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND ONCE THE CITIZENS START REPEATING THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO, WE NEED TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HOLD SOMEBODY ACCOUNTABLE, UH, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
UH, WE GOT SUPERVISORS THAT WORKS FOR THE MANAGER AND NOT US, BUT THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
SO DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OUR APPOINTEES YES, IS VERY CRITICAL AS COUNCILMAN KEN LAW STATED.
BUT I WANT TO INCLUDE SUPERVISORS.
I THINK WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE MANAGER, THE SECRETARY, AND ALL OUR APPOINTEES, I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
BUT I NEED TO, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO SOMEHOW, AS A COUNCIL, DEMAND THAT THE SUPERVISORS BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE ALSO.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT'S ON THE GROUND.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT'S, UH, SUPPOSED TO BE DEALING WITH THE CITIZENS.
WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY DOES THE BEST TO HELP OUR CITY AND OUR CITIZENS.
THAT'S ALL I NEED TO ADD TO THAT.
ANY OTHERS? I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER LIGHTS.
ON THAT ISSUE, WHAT WE'LL DO NOW IS MOVE TO ITEM,
[III.F.(2) A Discussion Regarding Updates On The Port Arthur Coalition For The Homeless (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Beckcom)]
UH, NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE UPDATES ON THE PORT ARTHUR CORRELATION FOR THE HOMELESS.AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM AND COUNCILMAN BECKHAM.
WOULD YOU, UH, COME UP, UH, MS. NED, PLEASE AND, UH, DISSEMINATE THAT, WHICH I'VE ASKED YOU TO, UH, PASS OUT COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM.
I DO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S WRITTEN AND PREPARED IN RESPONSE TO YOUR REQUEST.
AND AS SOON AS EVERYONE GETS IT, I WILL, UH, I BEGIN.
BUT YOU CAN BEGIN IF YOU, IF YOU WISH, I, I HAVE A MOMENT TO REVIEW WHAT YOU'VE PASSED OUT, BUT I CAN, I, I CAN BEGIN WITH THIS, AND IF YOU GET A REBUTT FROM WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY, THAT'S, THAT'S FINE.
IT SAYS, IT'S, UH, JANUARY 7TH, UH, 2025.
AND IT'S AN UPDATE ON INFORMATION IN REFERENCE TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL'S ADVISORY COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS.
UH, AND IT BEGINS BY STATING THAT THE MAYOR BEING THE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THIS ADVISORY COUNCIL, HAS NOT AS OF THIS REPORTING DATE, CALLED THIS GROUP INTERCESSION FOR AN ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING BECAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES LISTED.
THE FIRST BEING UNHOUSED IN AMERICA HAS TAKEN A NEW DIRECTION DUE TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT'S OPINION IN THE GRANT PASS VERSUS JOHNSON CASE.
UH, SECONDLY, THE CRIMINAL COMPONENT NOW PRESENT IN EVERY COMMUNITY IN AMERICA IS BEING DEALT WITHIN VARIOUS WAYS.
[00:45:01]
THE MAYOR HAS SOUGHT INFORMATION AND MODELS FROM ACROSS THESE UNITED STATES THROUGH DIALOGUE WITH LEADERS OF MUNICIPALITIES OF VARIOUS SIZES ON APPROACHES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN AN EQUITABLE AND FAIR MANNER.A VERY CLEAR DIRECTIVE HAS NOT BEING OFFERED BY TEXAS.
AND THE MAYOR AWAITS THIS ANTICIPATED DIRECTIVE FROM, FROM OUR GOVERNOR, AS OTHER STATES HAVE DONE SO, THE ADMINISTRATION IN OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL CHANGE IN A FEW DAYS.
THUSLY FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO MUNICIPALITIES OR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE MAY CHANGE AS WELL.
SO, DIRECTIVES AT THE PRESENT TO ASSIST A COALITION WITH PROVIDING PERMANENT STRUCTURES FOR UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IS THE VISION THE MAYOR ACTUALLY EMBRACES.
HOWEVER, THE UNCERTAINTY OF AVAILABLE FEDERAL AS WELL AS STATE ASSISTANCE SERVES AS AN IMPEDIMENT TO MOVING THIS IDEA FORWARD.
NOW, THE MISSION AND THE TASK OF THE COALITION IS TO ASSIST WITH THE ERADICATION OF UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE.
AND I PRESENT THIS TO COUNSEL, AS A MATTER OF RECORD, IF IT MAY BE, AND TO THE COMMUNITY FROM THE MAYOR REGARDING THE REQUEST BY OUR MAYOR PRO TEMP.
GO RIGHT AHEAD AND MAYOR APPROACH TEMP.
WHILE I APPRECIATE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION, NONE OF IT PREVENTS OUR COALITION FROM MEETING NOW TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE CITY NEEDS, WHAT THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES ARE, WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED, UH, IDEAS, YOU KNOW, THAT WE CAN BOUNCE AROUND AS, AS BASICALLY A BRAINSTORM SESSION JUST TO START THE PROCESS.
THERE'S NO REASON THAT OUR COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS NEEDS TO WAIT.
WE ALL KNOW THAT IT, IT CHANGES SOMETIMES DAILY.
THE FACT THAT THERE IS A NEW ADMINISTRATION COMING ON, THE FACT THAT THERE ARE LAWS THAT HAVE CHANGED SHOULD NOT PREVENT THE COALITION THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE NOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS NOT MET FROM MEETING TO TRY TO START THE PROCESS OF WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? WHAT DO WE HAVE AVAILABLE? AND THEN WHEN WE DO GET DIRECTIVES FROM THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE'LL KNOW WHAT OF THOSE IDEAS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY COME UP WITH WOULD WORK AND THOSE THAT WE NEED TO DO AWAY WITH.
I'VE HAD SOME MEMBERS OF OUR COALITION CONTACT ME SAYING, HOW CAN WE MEET, MEET? WHEN CAN WE MEET? I'VE PROVIDED THEM A LIST OF ALL OF THE NAMES AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR EVERY MEMBER ON THAT COMMITTEE.
UH, SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE ATTEMPTED TO, UH, GET PEOPLE TOGETHER TO MEET, AND THEY'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT MEET BECAUSE THIS COMMITTEE IS THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE AND ONLY THE MAYOR CAN CALL A MEETING.
SO I WOULD LIKE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE THAT ESTABLISHED THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANYTHING IN THERE THAT GIVES THAT COMMITTEE TO ANY PARTICULAR PERSON ON COUNCIL OR TO THE MAYOR, OR GIVES ANY AUTHORITY, UH, TO ANYONE SITTING UP HERE TO BE THE ONE WHO, UM, HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH A MEETING.
NOW WE'RE GOING RIGHT BACK TO WHAT COUNCILMAN KENARD SAID EARLIER.
IN OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT, IF WE HAVE A ADVISORY COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS, AND THE MAYOR IS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF IT, IT IS JUST WHAT IT MEANS WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO ESTABLISHING AND ISSUING DIRECTIVE ON WHAT THIS COM, WHAT THIS COALITION AND GROUP OF PEOPLE WILL DO.
THAT'S NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MAYOR OR ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL, IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CITY COUNCIL.
SO I, FOR ONE, HAVE MENTIONED IT BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE THAT WE APPROVED, WE APPROVED IT WITH THE INTENTIONS THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
WHEN WE SAY ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
[00:50:01]
PUTTING PEOPLE OUT.WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT, UH, WE TALKING ABOUT A COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE TO GET TOGETHER TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CAN WE DO IN HOMELESSNESS.
UH, THESE PEOPLE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET TOGETHER, DECIDE WHAT ARE THINGS WE COULD DO, AND CHECK WITH OTHER CITIES, SEE HOW OTHER CITIES ARE ADDRESSING IT, COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.
AND THIS SOLUTION, WHEN THEY COME UP WITH, THEN THEY BRING IT BACK.
BECAUSE IF THEY NEED ANY TYPE FUNDING OR ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE, IT'LL BE HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL.
THIS COUNCIL MAKES THOSE DECISIONS.
IF WE GONNA HAVE A HOMELESS COALITION, WE NEED TO FIRST ESTABLISH, AND WE SHOULD HAVE THAT WHO'S OUR REPRESENTATIVE? WHO ON COUNCIL ALSO WORKS WITH IT.
WE NEED TO ESTABLISH WHEN WILL THEY MEET.
THEY SHOULD MEET REGULARLY, MONTHLY, OR QUARTERLY.
WHEN THEY MEET, THEY SHOULD HAVE AN AGENDA.
THEY SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD.
SOMEONE FROM THAT COMMITTEE SHOULD KEEP THE COUNCIL APPRISED OF WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS? HOW WOULD THEY NEED US TO ASSIST THEM? SO, UH, IF THIS HAS BEEN NOT, IF WE HAVE NOT BEEN MEETING BECAUSE THE MAYOR HAS BEEN CHECKING WITH THIS OR THAT, WELL THEN WE NEED TO STOP THAT.
WE NEED TO GO BACK TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE, UH, MAKEUP OF IT.
SO CITY ATTORNEY I ALONG WITH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM, I AGREE.
LET'S FIND OUT WHAT DID WE AUTHORIZE WHEN WE AUTHORIZE THE COMMITTEE? AND IF WE HAVE TO MAKE IT MORE CLEAR, THEN WE NEED TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, AMENDING IT.
WE SHOULD AMEND IT SO THAT IT REFLECT.
IT'S NOT THE MAYOR'S ADVISORY.
NOTHING IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
NOTHING IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IS THE MAYORS.
NOTHING THAT IS ESTABLISHED THE STATE.
EVERYTHING HERE IS PORT ARTHUR.
IF IT'S A GO, IF IT'S A COMMISSION, AND IF IT'S A BOARD, NOTHING IS LABELED.
THE MAYORS IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
I MEAN MANAGER, COUNCIL FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
SO THEREFORE, I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS COME BACK TOO AFTER, UH, YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK ON IT.
AND AS I STATED EARLIER, YOU COULD GET WITH THE MAYOR, BUT I KNOW THERE'S A THING THAT PREVENTS ANY GROUPS OR ANY TITLE OR ANYTHING BEING THE MAYOR, EVEN JUST THE TITLE WITHOUT SAYING THE NAME NOT SUPPOSED TO EXIST.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I I, I'VE BEEN GETTING HIT ABOUT THIS.
I THINK, UH, THIS, THIS, UH, COALITION WAS ESTABLISHED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.
AND, UH, WE WERE ASKED AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO APPOINT INDIVIDUALS TO THIS COALITION.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T THINK MY, MY APPOINTEES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AT ALL.
SO I THINK THAT'S A SITUATION.
AND AGAIN, DID WE DO HAVE A, A MANAGER COUNCIL, UH, FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE A STRONG MAYOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MEETING A LONG TIME AGO TO ESTABLISH SOME TYPE OF POLICIES, GUIDELINES, NETWORKING, GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.
IT'S MONEY'S OUT THERE, IT'S MONEY THAT THAT'S OUT THERE.
BUT WE NEED INDIVIDUALS TO STEP FORWARD AND FIGURE OUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO BEST SERVICE THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND I THINK WE KIND OF DROPPED THE BALL ON THAT.
AND IF YOU WOULD, UH, CITY ATTORNEY, UH, YEAH, GET THAT INFORMATION.
UH, I THINK THAT, UH, WE ALL HAD OUR INPUT OF WHAT WE WANTED TO DO.
WE TALKED, WE, WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF FUNDING THAT WE CAN GET.
UH, I THINK THE LAST THING THAT I REMEMBER WAS ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE NEEDS.
BUT IF YOU WOULD GET BACK WITH THIS, UH, THIS COUNCIL AND LET US KNOW, BECAUSE MY APPOINTEES ARE INTERESTED TO GET SOMETHING STARTED.
I'M SURE ALL MY COLLEAGUES, APPOINTEES AS WELL, WE HAVE TO START NOW AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.
IF WE DON'T HAVE MEETINGS, IF WE DON'T HAVE A, A BODY ESTABLISHED, WE DON'T HAVE THE GOVERNORSHIP OF THAT BODY, WE DON'T HAVE THE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT'S OUT THERE.
WE GO TO CONFERENCES ALL THE TIME.
AND ONE OF THE MAIN TOPICS THAT THEY TALK ABOUT IN THOSE CONFERENCES, THEY TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE, EVERY CITY IS FACING
[00:55:01]
THAT PROBLEM, BUT WE GOTTA BE AHEAD OF THE STICK AND MAKE ENSURE THAT THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR CONTROLS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KID, OUR, UH, APPOINTEES, UH, THEY MEET, IF THEY CAN MEET AND THEY CAN ESTABLISH A, UH, SOME TYPE OF BODY AND FIND OUT WHAT TYPE OF, UH, PROGRAMS THAT'S OUT THERE, GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, WE'LL BE AHEAD OF THE GAME.SO IF WE CAN DO THAT, AND IF YOU CAN GET THAT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE COUNCIL, I SHOULD APPRECIATE IT.
ANY OTHER, OH, SEE THE ATTORNEY, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WILL ADD THAT TO THE JANUARY 14TH, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR, UH, ADVISEMENT AND DISCUSSION.
ANY OTHER REMARKS ON THIS? IF NOT, WE'LL
[III.F.(3) A Discussion As It Pertains To The Streets Program (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]
MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.NEXT ITEM WOULD BE NUMBER THREE.
IT IS A DISCUSSION AS IT PERTAINS TO THE STREETS PROGRAM.
THIS HAS BEEN REQUEST REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ETT.
WE ESTABLISHED THIS STREETS PROGRAM PROBABLY IN 200, UM, 2017, AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
UH, I CAME A COUNCIL IN 2011, AND WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH STREETS.
AND THE PROBLEM WE HAD WITH STREETS WAS NOT THE RESPONS, IT'S NOT THE FAULT OF THE COUNCIL OR THE STAFF AT THAT TIME.
IT WAS BASICALLY, WE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY.
UH, CITIZENS WOULD ALWAYS TALK ABOUT OUR STREETS, AND WE WOULD SAY, WELL, YEAH, WE KNOW WE DON'T HAVE MONEY, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY.
AND, UH, THESE CONFERENCES I'VE ATTENDED, I, I FOUND OUT ABOUT LEVERAGING MONEY.
I FOUND OUT ABOUT CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION AND BONDS AND ALL THIS GOOD STUFF.
SO I KIND OF THREW THAT AROUND BECAUSE WE WERE ONLY PUT LIKE ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS, I MEAN A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE EDC.
AND WE WERE PUT LIKE 3 MILLION A YEAR FOR STREETS AND WASN'T DOING ANYTHING.
BUT THE MOST ALARMING PART OF THAT PLAN WAS THAT CERTAIN MEMBERS ON COUNCIL DIDN'T KNOW WHAT STREETS WERE GONNA BE FIXED.
NOBODY KNEW WHAT STREETS WAS GONNA BE FIXED, DIDN'T KNOW HOW THEY SELECTED STREETS, AND ONLY PEOPLE WERE GETTING STREET FIXED FOR THOSE WHO WERE GOOD WITH THE, UH, PEOPLE THAT WERE DECIDING AND STUFF.
SO THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO HAVE A STREET PROGRAM AND A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE STREET.
AND WE HAD AN ENGINEER AT THE TIME, CITY ENGINEER WHO KNEW THE STREETS HOW AND INFORMATION ABOUT STREETS, AND HE STARTED IT OFF.
SO HE PUT TOGETHER A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, STREET PLAN FOR US.
AND THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE PLAN.
AND WHEN THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE PLAN, IT ACTUALLY SAID, THIS IS HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD TO ADDRESS OUR STREETS.
AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS WE SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER GOT HIT WITH CULVERT AND THAT KIND OF PUT A LITTLE GL IN IT.
AND SO THE CITY AND THE STAFF AND MANAGER, YOU CAN'T REALLY HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT SINCE COVID, THE PROGRAM HAS FAILED TO BE EXECUTED PROPERLY, WHICH IS CAUSING US TO NOT AS DO AS MANY STREETS AND ABOVE ALL, NOT USE ALL OUR FUNDING THAT WE ARE ALLOCATING FOR THAT PLAN.
AND ONE THING THAT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IS IF EVERYONE, IF COUNCIL MEMBER, REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HERE THAT CAME AND WANTED TO KNOW HOW WE DO STREETS AND WHAT OUR PLANS ARE, YOU KNOW, THE COMMENTS TO THEM WAS, YOU GIVE US A LIST OF STREETS, WE GIVE IT TO THE MANAGER, THE MANAGER GIVE IT TO THE ASSISTANT MANAGER AT THE TIME, PAM, SHE CAME UP HERE, SHE GOT THE LIST AND THEN SAID THAT SHE GIVES A LIST TO, UH, THE DIRECTOR AND SHE GIVES IT TO THE PEOPLE, TO THE ENGINEER, AND THEN WE FIX STREETS.
OKAY? SO I'M GONNA DO A PRESENTATION, SO THAT'S WHY I'M NOT GONNA TALK LONG ON THIS, BUT HERE'S A DATE, FEBRUARY THE 14TH, 2017.
IF YOU WON'T KNOW WHAT PLAN WAS ADOPTED AND HOW THIS PLAN IS, VIEW THAT CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY THE 14TH, 2017.
YOU COULD GET A FOLLOW UP APRIL THE 25TH, 2017.
AND IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE, UH, PLAN ITSELF AND THE STATUS OF IT, IN WHICH THEY SAID, WHERE WE WERE WITH THE PLAN
[01:00:01]
AND WE WERE MISSING EQUIPMENT, WE NEED TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT.SO IF YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT WAS THE GLITCH AT THE TIME AND WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO TO FIX IT, YOU GO TO MARCH THE 27TH, 2018, AND THEN IN DECEMBER THE 19TH, 2019TH, YOU UH, CAN GO BACK THERE AND YOU COULD HEAR US TALK ABOUT THE STATUS AND THE CONDITIONS OF STREETS TO INCLUDE, UH, HOW WE CAME ABOUT WITH THE X-RAY TRUCK AND ALL THAT.
SO I GAVE THOSE DATES, AND IF YOU WANT THE DATES, JUST GO BACK AND CHECK THIS MEETING.
YOU COULD GET THOSE DATES THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WRITE 'EM DOWN.
AND THE LAST PART I WANNA SAY ABOUT STREET IS CERTIFICATE.
OKAY? THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS FOR $50 MILLION, IT WAS OBTAINED SOLELY TO FIX THE STREETS SOLELY FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TREE PLAN.
SO IF YOU GO TO DECEMBER THE THIRD, 2019 MEETING AND LOOK AT THE VIDEO AND THAT VIDEO IS WHEN THE COUNCIL LISTENS TO OUR FINANCIALS ADVISORS AND THE COUNCIL TELL THEM HOW MUCH WE WANT AND WHAT WE GOING TO USE THE MONEY FOR.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE JANUARY 27TH, 2020 MEETING, YOU WILL SEE THAT COUNCIL APPROVED THOSE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING AND DIRECTIVE THAT $10 MILLION A YEAR WILL BE SPENT ON STREETS TO REPAIR THOSE THAT WE SELECTED.
YOU WILL ALSO HEAR ON THAT WHEREBY WE WILL GET 10 MILLION FOR FIVE YEARS.
THE COUNCIL VOTED SIX TO ALL IN FAVOR, WHO WAS PRESIDENT? WE ONLY HAD ONE MEMBER, UH, ABSENT THAT DAY, BUT ALL SIX MEMBERS VOTED.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT MEETING, EVERY MEMBER OF COUNCIL SPOKE AND THANK AND SAID HOW GREAT IT WAS AND WHERE WE GOING TO GO AND WHAT THIS STREET'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
SO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE MEETING.
IF YOU WANT TO REALLY FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR HOW WE DOING WITH STREET PROGRAM, GO BACK AND LOOK AT THOSE MEETINGS.
AND I WILL BE PUTTING A PRESENTATION TOGETHER IN WHICH I WILL SHOW COMPARISONS TO WHEN WE ACTUALLY WAS DOING THE PROGRAM AND DOING IT AS ADOPTED AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE MONEY AND USE OF THE MONEY AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW.
AND IN ORDER FOR US TO BETTER SERVE AND ACCOMPLISH FIXING STREETS IN THIS CITY, WE MUST EXECUTE THIS PLAN.
WE MUST APPROPRIATE THE MONEY FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH WE OBTAINED IT, AND THE SELECTION AND THE STREET PLAN SHOULD BE DONE AS IT WAS APPROVED.
BECAUSE THE SOLE MISSION FOR APPROVING IT WAS THAT ONE POLITICS ARE NOT INVOLVED AND WE NEED TO FOLLOW IT.
SO WHEN I DO THE PRESENTATION, I WILL HAVE A COMPARISONS OF A STREET PROGRAM THAT WAS ADOPTED AND HOW IT WORKED, AND THAT SAME STREET PROGRAM BEING STILL IN PLACE AND HOW IT IS NOT WORKING, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA BE TO SAY IS LOST.
WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE IS FOR US AS COUNCIL PEOPLE AND AS CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WENT WRONG AND LET'S GET BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO TRY TO POINT FINGERS AND BLAME PEOPLE.
YOU CAN'T GET THINGS DONE BY POINTING FINGERS AND BLAMING PEOPLE.
YOU HAVE TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM, AND THEN WE HAVE TO GET A SOLUTION AND WE ALL NEED TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
SO THAT PRESENTATION I'M GONNA DO
[01:05:01]
IS GONNA BE NOT SO MUCH AS TO POINT FINGERS OR BLAME PEOPLE, BUT TO LET COUNCIL UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF US DOING THIS PLAN AS IT WAS ADOPTED AND AS FAR AS US GETTING FORWARD AND GETTING THE BANK THE BIGGEST BANG FOR OUR BUCKS.SO I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THE PRESENTATION IN THE COMING TIME.
I'M GATHERING INFORMATION RIGHT NOW.
I APPRECIATE, UM, THE DIALOGUE ABOUT STREETS AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS OF, UM, COUNCILMAN, UH, ETT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID HEAR HIM SAY THAT IN 2011, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PRECIPITATED, UM, THE $50 MILLION CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION WAS THAT SOME KIND OF WAY THE FINANCIAL, UM, UH, THE FINANCIAL, UH, THE FINANCIALS OF THE CITY AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, UM, DIDN'T HAVE MONEY.
AND SO I THINK WE GOTTA GO BACK AND ASK THE QUESTION FOR WHATEVER REASON, WHY DIDN'T WE HAVE MONEY AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME? WHEN AT THE PARTICULAR TIME WE HAD WEALTH, WE HAD, WE HAD TAX MONEY COMING IN, WHAT, WHAT CAUSED US NOT TO HAVE WEALTH, UH, CAUSED MONEY AT THAT TIME? SO WE TRIED TO FIX THAT PROBLEM BY GOING OUT FOR CERTIFICATES OBLIGATION, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, THAT, UM, MY COLLEAGUE HAS SAID IS THAT, UM, WE GOTTA GET BACK TO CAUSING, UH, THE STREET PROGRAM TO BE WORKING.
I THINK THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE CANNOT FIX STREETS FAST ENOUGH IN OUR CITY.
I THINK WE WILL ALL AGREE WITH THAT, THAT WE SHOULD, THAT WE ALL WANT TO GO DOWN, UM, A GREAT STREET, THAT WE ALL WANT TO GO DOWN THE STREET WHERE, UM, THE CHANCE OF, UH, WRECKING OUR VEHICLE OR OUR TIRES OR OUR FRONT END, UM, UH, IS DIMINISHED.
THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT LIKELIHOOD OF THAT IS DIMINISHED.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, FOR THE TIME THAT I'VE SAT ON THIS DAY, WE ARE ALMOST UP TO 200 STREETS REPAIRED IN OUR CITY.
AND SO I THINK IF WE WOULD FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE ASPECT OF IT, THAT STREETS ARE BEING FIXED, AND IF WE WOULD SEND OUT THAT MESSAGE AS MUCH AS INDIVIDUALS ARE SENDING OUT THE MESSAGE THAT STREETS ARE NOT BEING FIXED AGAIN, THEY, THEY ARE NOT BEING FIXED.
UH, PERHAPS, UH, AS QUICKLY AS WE WOULD LIKE, LET'S ALL REMEMBER AS WELL THAT DURING THE TIME OF COVID IT BECAME, WE RE WE HAD A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET ASPHALT IN THE MIDST OF THAT, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAUSED US TO SLOW DOWN IN THE PROCESS.
WE'VE HAD SOME SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT STREETS ARE BEING FIXED RIGHT NOW.
YOU CAN GO OUT INTO THE CITY AND SEE STREETS THAT ARE BEING FIXED RIGHT NOW.
UM, UH, WE ARE, WE, WE'VE TALKED IN THESE MEETINGS THAT, THAT WE'VE HAD ABOUT POTHOLES AND MAKING SURE, LOOKING FOR, I'VE TALKED TO, UH, MS. ROBERTS ABOUT GETTING, UH, UH, THE SUBSTANCE, THIS SUBSTANCE IN A BAG WHERE WE FIX MORE AND MORE POTHOLES.
POTHOLES NEED TO BE, WE OUGHT TO HAVE A CREW OUT RIGHT NOW FIXING POTHOLES.
AND I'M SURE THAT THERE, THAT THERE ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW IN THE COLD FIXING POTHOLES TO FIX STREETS.
BUT LET'S GET THAT MESSAGE OUT.
LET'S GET THE MESSAGE OUT THAT STREETS ARE BEING FIXED.
THE PROGRAM IS WORKING, THAT WE HAVE FIXED OVER 200 STREETS JUST FOR THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN HERE ON COUNCIL.
SO OUR STAFF IS WORKING, THE PROGRAM IS WORKING, AND THAT WE ARE DOING ALL THAT WE CAN TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM IN OUR CITY.
UH, COUNCILMAN, YOU SAID YOU HAVE SO YES, I'D LIKE JUST TO ADD THAT ONE.
IF YOU WANNA KNOW WHY WE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY.
WE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY BECAUSE OF THE SAME WAY ALL CITIES ARE DEALING WITH INFRAS INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAD SO MANY STREET WAS IN DISARRAY, AND BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE ALLOCATED TO STREET MAINTENANCE, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THAT.
THE OTHER THING THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS, UH, SENDING A MESSAGE OUT THAT IS NOT A NEGATIVE MESSAGE.
IT'S A UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THIS CITY.
[01:10:01]
UH, WELL, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, IF WE DONE 200, THE ADOPTED PLAN SAYS THAT THE CITY DOES STREET AND CONTRACTORS DOES STREET.SO IF WE HAD CONTRACTORS IN HERE WORKING ALONG WITH OUR CITY, IF WE DONE 200, THEN WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE DONE 400 STREETS.
SO, NO, THE PLAN IS NOT WORKING.
DON'T SAY IT'S WORKING UNLESS WE KNOW THE PLAN.
THE OTHER THING IS, AS I STATED BEFORE, I WAS UN CANCELED.
I KNOW WHAT THE ADOPTED PLAN WAS.
THAT'S WHY I GAVE THESE DATES FOR PEOPLE TO GO BACK AND READ, TO FIND OUT WHAT OUR PLAN IS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE BEING SATISFIED WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY, BUT WE ALL, WE TALKING ABOUT STRATEGIC PLANS, EVERYTHING WE WANT, WE PAYING PEOPLE TO GIVE A STRATEGIC PLAN, DO A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THIS PLAN.
THIS STREET PROGRAM WAS DONE BY OUR CITY ENGINEER.
AND THE PLAN CALLS FOR CONTRACTORS AND CITY TO BE WORKING AT THE SAME TIME SIMULTANEOUSLY TO FIX STREETS.
SO IF ONE IS IMPRESSED WITH 200 STREETS UP TO NOW, IF YOU REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE PLAN, IF WE HAVE WORKED THE PLAN, WE WOULD'VE NOT ONLY HAVE 'EM IN THERE, BUT THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT $10 MILLION A YEAR AND WE ARE NOT SPENDING IT.
AND CITIZENS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE STREETS $10 MILLION A YEAR.
I TELL YOU WHAT, I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, BUT I BET YOU IF YOU GIVE ME $10 MILLION AT THE END OF THE YEAR, I'LL BE DONE.
SPENT THAT $10 MILLION ON STREETS IN THIS CITY.
BUT IF YOU GONNA USE IT, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO USE THE MONEY.
YOU CAN'T RELY ON JUST THE CITY TO DO IT.
THE PLAN DID NOT RELY ON JUST THE CITY.
WE'VE HAD TWO CONTRACTORS WORKING AT A TIME, AND I'M NOT GONNA CONTINUE ON THIS.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA DO MY PRESENTATION.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ABOUT THAT.
UH, THE PRESENTATION WILL SHOW HOW THE PLAN WORKED WHEN WE DID IT, AND HOW THE, AND WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW.
SO I GUESS I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO A DEBATE.
I'LL JUST DO THE PRESENTATION WHERE WHEN I PUT UP THE INFORMATION, THE INFORMATION IS NOT DEBATABLE, BUT I WILL SHOW HOW WE WERE WORKING AND WHAT WE DID WHEN WE HAD THE STREET PLAN ADOPTED WORKING.
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU GOT CONTRACTORS AND CITY WORKING AS OPPOSED TO WHEN THE ONLY CITY IS WORKING.
SO I'LL WAIT TO DO THE PRESENTATION.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL HAVE A DEBATE ON WHETHER THIS PLAN, WHETHER WE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OR NOT, WE COULD DO BETTER.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT.
AND IT'S NOT BEING NEGATIVE, IT'S BEING FACTUAL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT CITIZENS ARE TELLING ME.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER LIGHTS ON THIS DISCUSSION, ADAM.
[III.F.(4) A Discussion On Actions For Obtaining Warrants (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]
TO NUMBER, UH, FOUR.IT IS A DISCUSSION ON ACTIONS FOR OBTAINING WARRANTS.
AND THIS TOO HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ETT.
I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA, MAYOR, BECAUSE, UH, WE HAD TO OBTAIN A WARRANT FOR, UH, TO ENTER PREMISES.
THEY SAID, WE GONNA GET THE WARRANT, WE HAVE TO GET IT WRITTEN UP.
AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER, IT'S NOTHING.
TWO WEEKS LATER I CALL AGAIN, THEY SAY, OKAY, WE GONNA GET THE WARRANT DONE AND WE'LL GET IT OVER THERE.
THEN ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THAT, I GOT A CALL ABOUT THE WARRANT.
THE WARRANT WAS NOT FILLED OUT CORRECTLY.
THEY HAD INFORMATION ON THE WARRANT THAT THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE DID NOT WANT TO SIGN A WARRANT BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS WRITTEN ON IT.
AND WHAT I GOT OUT OF THAT DISCUSSION, CITY MANAGER, WAS THAT THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE IS WILLING TO PROVIDE TRAINING.
JUST A MINUTE, JUST A MINUTE BEFORE
[01:15:01]
I WAS GONNA SAY ATTORNEY, AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WARRANT AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT HE'S SAYING.NOW, IS IT LEGAL FOR US TO DISCUSS WHAT, WHAT THIS THIS APPEARS TO BE A, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUE AND THE ISSUANCE OF WARRANTS AND PROBABLE CAUSES AND THINGS OF LIKE THAT.
SO YOU JUST SAID SOMETHING THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD DO IN OPEN SESSION IS BEING RECORDED OR SOMETHING, OR SOMETHING THAT, THAT, BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO BE A LEGAL ISSUE, COUNCILMAN, THAT MAY BE, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN GIVE US DIRECTIVES ON, BUT IN A CLOSED SESSION, WELL, WE, WE BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT CONVERSATIONS WITH SOMEONE DEALING WITH A LEGAL MATTER AND THE ISSUERS OF A WARRANT.
I, I DON'T KNOW, I'M, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH DISCUSSING IT OPENLY, BUT I WANT YOUR LEGAL ADVICE ON IT.
BEFORE I I SAID YOU ASK THE CITY MANAGER NO PROBLEM, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, IS THIS SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE DOING IN THE OPEN OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD DO IN A CLOSED SESSION? I'M JUST ASKING YOUR ATTORNEY ON THAT.
MAYOR, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT AND YOUR POINT, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD COUNCIL MEMBER ETT SAY ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED.
IF HE GOES INTO DISCUSSION REGARDING A SPECIFIC CASE THAT'S UNDER PROSECUTION, THEN I'LL ASK HIM TO STOP.
BACK TO THE BACK TO, UH, MY COMMENT TO CITY MANAGER.
UH, I'VE TALKED WITH THE, UH, MUNICIPAL JUDGE AND HE SAID HE'D BE WILLING TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO ANY DEPARTMENT OR PERSONNEL WHO MAY, IN THE LINE OF THEIR DUTIES NEED TO OBTAIN A WARRANT.
HE WILL BE GLAD TO PUT, PROVIDE TRAINING TO ALL OF THEM SO THAT THEY WILL KNOW HOW TO CORRECTLY DO THE WARRANT.
SO WHEN THEY BRING IT TO HIS OFFICE, HE DOES NOT HAVE TO SEND IT BACK.
SO BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE IN THE CONVERSATION WITH HIM, I THINK IT WOULD BE PRETTY WELL IF YOU COULD, UH, GET SOME TYPE OF TIME WHERE WE COULD GET THE, UH, CITY, I MEAN THE, THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE.
'CAUSE HE IS WILLING TO DO IT.
AND SOME PEOPLE THINK IT'S THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
TO GET A WARRANT, WE GO THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL CODE, THE, THE, THE POLICE OFFICERS, THEY KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
BUT WE HAVE, UH, ENFORCEMENT CODE PEOPLE.
SO, UH, IF YOU COULD JUST TALK WITH THIS, UH, MUNICIPAL JUDGE, I THINK IT COULD BE WORKED OUT WHEREBY WE COULD GET PEOPLE TO KNOW HOW TO CORRECTLY FILL IT OUT SO THAT WHEN IT'S FILLED OUT, UH, HE'LL, HE'LL SIGN OFF ON IT AND IT WON'T TAKE BUT A COUPLE DAYS TO DO A WARRANT.
UM, YOU'RE CORRECTING WHAT YOU SAID.
UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I HAVE DISCUSSED IT, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY HAVE ALREADY PROVIDED THE TRAINING TO HER STAFF TO DEVELOP THOSE WARRANTS AS WELL.
YOU WANT TO CHIME IN CITY ATTORNEY AS TO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH YOUR LEGAL STAFF TO DRAFT THE WARRANT.
I I'M REFERRING TO A PARTICULAR CASE RIGHT NOW WHERE WE NEEDED A WARRANT TO DEAL WITH, UM, A CERTAIN MATTER IN THE PORTICOS AREA AS WELL.
IF YOU CAN JUST SHED SOME LIGHT ON THAT.
WELL, WELL, BUT THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE WARRANT WHEREBY THEY COULD HAVE JUST WENT TO THE MINISTER OF COURT YES.
IT'S NOT NOTHING THAT THIS, THAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS TASKED WITH.
WARRANTS ARE OBTAINED FROM, FROM THE COURT.
ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS KNOW HOW TO FILL OUT THE FORM CORRECTLY AND THEY SUBMIT IT DIRECTLY TO THE COURT.
AND THAT'S, SO IT'S JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE THEY DID.
AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO FILL IT OUT.
'CAUSE THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT CITY ATTORNEY BECAUSE SEE, THAT'S BEEN OUR PROBLEM.
CITY MANAGER, WHEN I ASKED COEN FOR, THEY SAID, WE WAITING FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, CITY ATTORNEYS.
WELL, IT'S NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
SO I ACTUALLY FOUND OUT IT'S NOT THEIRS.
THEY COULD GO AND DO A REQUEST FOR A WARRANT AND THE WARRANT WILL BE SIGNED BY THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE.
AND SO WHAT THE JUDGE IS SAYING IS, I RECEIVED A WARRANT, BUT IT WASN'T INCORRECT.
AND IF THEY WANT, I WILL PROVIDE TRAINING.
AND ALL MY ASKING IS THAT WE GET PEOPLE TRAINED SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE CITY ATTORNEY.
YOU GO TO THE MEN OF THE COURT, FILL OUT THE APPLICATION FOR A WARRANT, THE JUDGE ASSIGN IT, AND YOU HAVE YOUR WARRANT.
THAT'S WHAT THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE IS TELLING ME.
[01:20:01]
THANK YOU.ANY OTHER, NO OTHER DISCUSSION ON IT.
[III.F.(5) A Discussion And Possible Action To Create City Council Committees To Quarterly Meet With Each Appointed Official Individually To Support Them In Accomplishing The City’s Goals And Objectives (Requested By Councilmember Hamilton Everfield)]
WOULD BE A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CREATE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES TO QUARTERLY MEET WITH EACH APPOINTED OFFICIAL INDIVIDUALLY TO SUPPORT THEM IN ACCOMPLISHING THE CITY'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, AND I AM ASKING FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD EXPEDITIOUSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN CONSTANT AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH OUR, WITH OUR APPOINTEES.
KINLAW HIT ON IT EARLIER ABOUT WHAT THOSE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES WERE.
IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE MISSING THE MARK WHEN IT COMES TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OURSELVES AND OUR STAFF.
SO I'M ASKING THAT WE USE THESE COMMITTEES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THE CITY MORE EFFECTIVELY ACCOMPLISH, UM, THE GOALS THAT WE SET IN LINE FOR US TO, TO MEET.
WE HEAR THINGS FROM CITIZENS, OUR APPOINTEES HERE.
NOT THINGS, I'M SORRY, ISSUES, CONCERNS FROM OUR CITIZENS AND US BEING IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION, UM, WITH THEM AND SEEING HOW WE CAN HELP MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD WOULD BE MOST EFFECTIVE.
THIS, AGAIN, IS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, UM, THIS IS NOT A BASHING, YOU KNOW, SESSION ON OUR STAFF, BUT A SESSION FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE DO WE STAND AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF HAVE WE MET X, Y, Z GOAL IN A SPECIFIC TIMELINE THAT WE'VE SET.
THIS IS BEYOND JUST EVALUATIONS.
WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL A TIME FOR EVALUATIONS TO SAY, OH, THIS WASN'T RIGHT.
WE NEED TO HAVE MEASURES OF, WE NEED TO HAVE CHECKPOINT MEASURES ALONG THE WAY.
THOSE CHECKPOINT MEASURES ALONG THE WAY WILL HELP US BE EFFECTIVE AT OUR WORK AND HELP OUR APPOINTEES BE EFFECTIVE AT THEIR WORK.
MY SUGGESTION IS THAT WE DO THIS, UM, ONCE A QUARTER, ONCE A QUARTER, AND THE INTENT IS FOR THREE OF US, WHICH THERE MAY BE SOME OVERLAP, THREE OF US, UM, MEET WITH THAT APPOINTEE AND THOSE THAT COMMITTEE REPORTS BACK TO THE FULL COUNCIL SO THAT WE'RE ALL IN SYNC WITH EACH OTHER.
IT'S JUST NOT THOSE THREE INDIVIDUALS GIVING INSTRUCTION.
THIS IS NOT US GIVE THOSE THREE INDIVIDUALS GIVING INSTRUCTION TO THAT SPECIFIC APPOINTEE.
IT IS THAT COMMITTEE SHARING THOSE DISCUSSIONS BACK WITH OUR FULL BOARD AND THEN TOGETHER AS A FULL BOARD, WE CAN OFFER CLARITY OF DIRECTION TO OUR APPOINTEES.
SOMETIMES IT IS JUST FRANKLY EMBARRASSING OF HOW WE COMMUNICATE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO HELP IMPLEMENT THIS AS A STRATEGY TO HELP US BE MORE EFFECTIVE AT HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AND HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH OUR APPOINTEES.
UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, HAMILTON EVER FIELD? YOU'RE RIGHT ON POINT.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE KINDA ALL OVER THE PLACE AND, AND, AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, WE AT THE NEW BEGINNING OF A NEW FISCAL YEAR AND, AND WE ARE EXPECTING CHANGES.
BUT IF WE CONTINUE DOING THE SAME THING AND NOT DOING, UH, WHAT WE SAY, UH, COLLECTIVELY, WE, WE, WE ARE NOT MAKING ANY PROGRESS.
SO I FEEL WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THIS ON HERE.
UH, UH, DIALOGUE WITH OUR APPOINTEES AND, AND, AND, AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING BECAUSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE THE EYES AND EARS FOR THIS COUNCIL.
WE CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME.
SO WE, WE ENTRUST THOSE, UH, APPOINTEES AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO BE OUT THERE GIVING US BRINGING BACK INFORMATION.
UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU BOUGHT TODAY.
[01:25:01]
UH, WE, WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT IF WE EXPECT SOMETHING TO BE CHANGED.SO RIGHT NOW, UH, THIS IS A PRIME OPPORTUNITY TO GET THOSE THINGS, UH, CHANGED AND, AND, AND, AND LOOK FOR THOSE, UH, UH, DIFFERENT APPROACHES THAT WE MAY HAVE.
AND IT JUST TAKES THIS, UH, COUNCIL TO DO THAT.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA.
I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL RECOMMENDATION.
IN FACT, ANYONE KNOWS THAT IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK, IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO.
IT MORE THAN JUST ONCE A YEAR GIVES THAT INDIVIDUAL AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING WRONG, THAT THEY NEED TO GO BACK AND CHECK AND GIVE 'EM A CHANCE, UH, RATHER THAN WAITING AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
BUT THEN AGAIN, WHEN YOU'RE EVALUATING SOMEBODY, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS ALWAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING THEIR JOB.
AND IF WE ARE EVALUATING THEM, WE MUST STEADY COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.
AND WHEN WE SEE THINGS, WE SHOULDN'T WAIT TILL ONCE A QUARTER OR ONCE A MONTH.
WE SHOULD BE TELLING 'EM ABOUT IT IN A WAY.
BUT WHEN WE SAY THIS COMMITTEE, I LOVE THE IDEA WE DID IT ONCE AGAIN, IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW COUNCILWOMAN HAMILTON, WE HAVE DONE IT.
I THINK IT'S WORKED FINE, BUT I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO REVERSE WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, UH, IN THE SENSE THAT INSTEAD OF THREE PEOPLE TALKING WITH THEM AND COMING BACK TO THE COUNCIL, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS THE COUNCIL TALK FIRST AND THEN HAVE OUR THREE PEOPLE MEET WITH THE PERSON.
BECAUSE DOWN THE PERSON KNOWS IT'S NOT AN INDIVIDUAL THING BECAUSE THERE'S MORE THAN ONE COUNCIL PERSON.
AND THE INDIVIDUAL ALSO UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE WHOLE COUNCIL IS AWARE OF WHAT IS BEING SAID.
UH, THE WAY WE HAD IT BEFORE, I DIDN'T LIKE THAT BECAUSE WE HAD THREE PEOPLE TALKING TO AND THE APPOINTEE ABOUT THE JOB AND EVERYTHING.
BUT YOU COME BACK AND TELL ME WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT, THAT MAY NOT BE WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN, THAT THAT MAY NOT BE WHAT I CONSIDER, UH, UH, UH, A WEAKNESS.
SO I THINK IF WE DO WHAT YOU SAID, BUT WE MEET FIRST AS A COUNCIL AND DISCUSS WHAT EACH APPOINTEE IS DOING AT THAT TIME, OR IF THEY NEED ANY TYPE OF IMPROVEMENT, THEN ONCE WE COME TO A CONSENSUS AMONG COUNCIL MEMBERS ON WHAT REALLY NEED TO BE SAID, AND I THINK THOSE THREE COMMITTEE PEOPLE CAN THEN BRING IT TO THAT APPOINTEE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY.
BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT, UH, THREE PEOPLE TALKING TO A PERSON ABOUT EVALUATION, AND I DON'T HAVE MY INPUT ON WHAT IS BEING SAID, BUT I'M THE ONE GONNA EVALUATE 'EM AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
THEY NEED TO KNOW BASICALLY WHAT I FEEL TOO.
IF WE CAN JUST FLIP THAT PORTION WHEREBY WE, WE DO IT WITH THE COUNCIL FIRST, THEN THE THREE PEOPLE DEAL WITH THEM BECAUSE I DON'T SEE WHERE WE GOING TO GAIN ANYTHING BY THREE PEOPLE DOING IT.
AND THEN COMING BACK TO THE COUNCIL, YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE REST OF THE COUNCIL FEEDBACK ON WHAT THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PERSON GOT OUT OF THE, UH, EVALUATION.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE DO.
AND IF WE DON'T DO IT THAT WAY, THEN I'M NOT FOUR, THREE PEOPLE TALKING TO AN APPOINTEE THAT I'M GONNA EVALUATE.
AND THAT APPOINTEE FEELING THAT THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA BE, UH, UNDERLINING ON MY EVALUATION.
I WANT TO BE AT LEAST PROVIDE THE INPUT PRIOR TO SO THAT THEY GET AN IDEA.
SO WHEN I MENTION IT, WHEN I EVALUATE 'EM, IT IS NOT NOTHING NEW AND NOTHING STRANGE.
SO THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR YOUR FEEDBACK ON.
COUNCILWOMAN HAM BERFIELD PLEASE.
MAYOR, IS THAT OKAY? YES, MA'AM.
UM, MR. DOUCETTE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR POINT OF CLARITY.
IT IS, UM, THAT WHAT YOU DESCRIBED IS MY INTENT AS A COUNCIL.
THE COMMITTEE MEMBER'S INTENT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THAT, UM, LET ME NOT SAY THAT FULL OF COUNSELORS, NOT A DIRECT LINE OF COMMUN COMMUNICATION, BUT IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR ONE OF THEM, FOR THE THREE OF US TO TALK TO ONE OF THEM AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
AND THEN THAT COMMITTEE IS COMING BACK TO COUNCIL AS A WHOLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT COUNCIL HAS SAID THAT WE WANTED THE DIRECTION FOR OUR APPOINTEES TO, TO GO IN IS BEING MET.
IT'S JUST THAT CONSTANT COMMUNICATION.
I AM, AND MAYBE WE'RE DESCRIBING IT DIFFERENT, BUT I AM IN AGREEANCE WITH WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED.
[01:30:01]
DESCRIBING IT DIFFERENTLY, BUT YES, SIR.I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
THE, THE, THE MAIN POINT IS THAT WE AS A COUNCIL DISCUSS OUR PARENTEES.
AND THEN WE'D HAVE THREE PEOPLE TO MEET WITH.
WE ON THE SAME SHEET? YEAH, WE ON THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC.
NOW WOULDN'T THAT BE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? EXCUSE ME.
[V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST (LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF TWO (2) MINUTES PER COUNCILMEMBER) ]
ROMAN NUMERAL FIVE, ROMAN NUMERAL FIVE AS REPORTS OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY HAVE.AT THIS TIME, I DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT IT IS BASICALLY IN THE FORM OF, UH, CONDOLENCES.
UH, FIRST WE, I WOULD WANT TO OFFER CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF MS. UH, F ROBERTS.
OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS IN THE, UH, PASSING OF A FATHER, MR. LEE ROY, UH, ROBERTS.
HIS SERVICES WERE HELD ON JANUARY 4TH, THIS PAST SATURDAY AT MOUNT PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH IN LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA.
AND, UH, SO WE DO SEND OUR CONDOLENCES TO MS. ROBERTS AND HER FAMILY.
AND THEN SECONDLY, WE WOULD SEND CONDOLENCES TO COUNCILMAN HAMILTON EVER FIELD AND THE HAMILTON FAMILY IN THE PASSING OF HER GRANDMOTHER, UH, AND ALSO HER FATHER, WHO IS A RETALIATED, MR. TERRY HAMILTON.
AND THIS IS HIS MOTHER, MRS. ROSA, MAY HAMILTON, HER SERVICES HELD ON THIS PAST SATURDAY AT THE, UH, THOMAS BOULEVARD CHURCH OF CHRIST HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
SO AGAIN, FOR YOUR FAMILY, UH, COUNCILWOMAN THE, UH, COUNCIL AND THE CITY EXTENDS, UH, CONDOLENCES ON THE LOSS OF MRS. ROSA.
AND I'D LIKE TO ALSO SHARE, UH, SOME INFORMATION WITH COUNSEL FROM THE JEFFERSON COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
WE DID, UH, CAST OUR BALLOTS FOR OUR, UH, INDIVIDUAL WHOM WE HAD SELECTED MR. KEN MARKS.
AND I AM REPORTING NOW THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6.03, SUBSECTION K OF THE PROPERTY TAX CODE, IT HAS BEEN DECLARED THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN, I MEAN, WELL, MR. MARKS FORMER COUNCILMAN MARKS HAS BEEN ELECTED TO SERVE ON THE, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT FOR THE 2025 AND 2025 AND 2020 THROUGH 2027.
UH, TERMS OF OFFICE, HE IS ELECTED ALONG WITH MR. TIM FUNCHES, MR. EUGENE LANDRY, UH, MS. LAUREN WILLIAMS, MASON, AND MR. UH, ROBERT T AND I THINK THERE WERE TWO OTHERS WHO ARE REMAINING ON THE COUNCIL.
UH, I MEAN ON, ON THE COUNCIL, THE, UH, DISTRICT APPRAISAL BOARD, UH, WHO WILL SERVE ALONG WITH, UH, APPRAISAL DISTRICT, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, KENNETH MARKS.
SO I WANT TO REPORT THAT TO THE COUNCIL, THAT HE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING HIS APPOINTMENT.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE HOW THOSE VOTES CAME OUT, I HAVE THE, UH, A COPY OF THE HERE AND YOU CAN DO THAT.
AND, UH, THAT'S HERE ON, UH, HOW THE NUMBER OF VOTES CAME OUT FOR THAT.
ANYONE ELSE WITH ANY, UH, INFORMATION TO SHARE? I DON'T SEE ANY LIGHTS ON.
SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO, UH, UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
[VI. (1) P.R. No. 24088 – A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Authorizing 4 Film Co.’s Use Of City Property In Connection With The Production Of A Motion Picture, Notwithstanding The Company’s Failure To Obtain A Filming Permit Prior To Commencement Of Filming; And Providing An Effective Date (Requested By Councilmember Hamilton Everfield)]
UH, UNFINISHED BUSINESS, ROMAN NUMERAL SIX.AND IN THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS SECTION WE HAVE P UH, OKAY.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING COUNCILWOMAN? JUST GO, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
YOU HAVE TO GET ON THE FLOOR FIRST, RIGHT? OH, OH, OH, IT'S ON THIS? YES SIR.
I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I JUST FINISHED.
I JUST RECOGNIZED SAW YOUR LIGHT.
ON THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS, IT IS, UH, PR NUMBER 2 40 88.
IT IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AUTHORIZING FOUR FILM COMPANIES, THE USE OF, EXCUSE ME, CITY PROPERTY IN, UH, CONNECTION WITH THE PRODUCTION OF A MOTION PICTURE.
NOT WITHSTANDING THE COMPANY'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A FILMING PERMIT PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF FILMING AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCILWOMAN HAMILTON EVER FIELD.
SO WE WOULD WANT THAT WE HAVE A MOTION AGAIN TO THIS EFFECT OF COUNCILWOMAN OF, UH, MAYOR PRO TE OH, I'M ASSUMING, I'M SORRY.
[01:35:01]
OKAY.IT REMOVED A SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, UM, APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION.
NOW WE ARE READY FOR DISCUSSION.
I'M ASKING FOR THIS ITEM TO BE, UM, REMOVED BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUALS DID NOT SUBMIT THE APPLICATION.
AND I ALSO WANT TO DISCUSS, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, UM, NOW UNLESS THE CITY ATTORNEY DOES, UM, IS ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH THE ORDINANCE, WHEN INDIVIDUALS DO NOT FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OF OUR ORDINANCES, THE ORDINANCES SHOULD INCLUDE WHAT RAMIFICATIONS COME WITH NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH ON WHAT WE, ON OUR LAW.
AND THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT DO THAT.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE, NOT JUST WITH THIS, BUT OVERALL THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH ON WHAT WE SAY GOES AND WHEN IT DOESN'T, X, Y, Z, YOU KNOW, HAPPENS.
SO I'M ASKING FOR US TO FOLLOW THROUGH, UM, TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT.
BUT MY REQUEST IS TO HAVE THE ITEM TO BE REMOVED.
CITY ATTORNEY, WE, SHE'S ASKING FOR MOVE ON THIS MOTION THAT WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR.
SO WITH THAT, WE CAN, UH, HAVE A MOTION FOR REMOVAL.
YOU SECOND COUNCILMAN KEN LAW SECOND FOR REMOVAL OF THIS ITEM.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? WE'LL HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT.
AND THAT WOULD ACTUALLY KILL THE DISCUSSION ON THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]
MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.UH, HISTORICALLY, IF THERE'S ONLY ONE ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY VOTE ON, EVERYONE HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN INFORMATION ON IT.
SO LOOKING FOR A MOTION, UH, COUNCILWOMAN VILLE FOR THE, MAY I GET A SECOND? MAYOR PRO KIM.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND IS AS IT IS PRESENTED ALL WELL, ANY QUESTIONS ON IT? NONE.
AS A, THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE, UH, NON-CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-CONSENT AGENDA ON PAGE FOUR.
IS JUST TO MAKE SURE FOR THE PR NUMBER 2 4 0 4 7 MM-HMM
I KNOW IF YOU LOOK AT IT FACT, BUT IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FLIP PAGES.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY ITEM THAT WE HAD.
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 23977 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase Approximately 1.066 Acre Portion Of Land, More Or Less, Located Near 2950 W. Highway 365, From 295OPARV Holdings, LLC, Of Austin, Texas, For The Estimated Fair Market Value Amount Not To Exceed $26,575.00, To Be Used As Part Of The Port Acres Drainage Improvement Project. Funding Available In Drainage System Account No. 307-21-055-8515-00-10-000. Project No. DR1P03A]
OKAY, NOW WE ARE AT P NUMBER TWO.AND THAT, UH, RESOLUTION IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE APPROXIMATELY 1.06 ACRES OF LAND, UH, PORTION OF LAND, RATHER, MORE OR LESS LOCATED NEAR 29 50 WEST HIGHWAY 365 FROM, UH, 29 50 PR PARV.
UH, I GUESS THAT R I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE RV FOR THE ACRONYM HOLDINGS IS.
UH, LLC OF AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR THE ESTIMATED FAIR MARKET VALUE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $26,575 TO BE USED AS PART OF THE PORT ACRES DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS, UH, IN DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH ZERO FIVE DASH 8 5 15 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 0 0 0.
AND THIS IS PROJECT NUMBER D ONE P ZERO THREE A MAY MOTION FOR APPROVAL, MOVE SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PER NUMBER 23 9 7 7.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? ANY QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR.
A, UH, ANY OPPOSES OR PR NUMBER 23 9 7 7 IS APPROVED AS READ.
[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 24018 – A Resolution Approving The Sole Renewal Of The Pre-Employment Workforce Training Agreement Between The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation And Lamar State College Port Arthur For The Training Of Port Arthur Residents As Class A & B Commercial Drivers In An Amount Not To Exceed $120,000.00; Funds Available In PAEDC FY 24-25 Account No. 120-80-625-5475- 00-00-000 (Job Training Programs)]
NEXT WE HAVE PR NUMBER 2 41 8 AND IT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVED IN THE SOLE RENEWAL[01:40:01]
OF THE PREEMPLOYMENT WORKFORCE TRAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND LAMAR STATE COLLEGE PORT ARTHUR FOR THE TRAINING OF PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS AS CLASS A AND B COMMERCIAL DRIVERS IN ACCOUNT NUMBER NOT TO EXCEED IN, IN AN AMOUNT RATHER, EXCUSE ME, NOT TO EXCEED $120,000.FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN P-A-E-D-C, UH, FY 24 25.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 2 8 6 2 5 5 4 7 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.
AND IT'S TITLED JOB TRAINING PROGRAM.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SECOND IS BEEN MOVED.
THERE WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 4 0 1 8.
WE ARE READY FOR QUESTIONS ON THIS THERE ON ANY LIGHTS? NO QUESTIONS.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO PRR NUMBER 2 4 0 1 8 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
MOVING QUICKLY TO PAGE NUMBER FIVE.
[VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 24019 – A Resolution Approving A Training Agreement Between The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation And Lamar State College Port Arthur For Tuition Reimbursement For Ten (10) Port Arthur Resident High School Graduates Attending A 2-Year Associate Degree Program Not To Exceed $90,000.00; Funds Available In PAEDC FY 24-25 Account No. 120-80-625-5475-00-00- 000 (Job Training Programs) ]
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS PRN NUMBER 2 4 0 1 9.IT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A TRAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND LAMAR STATE COLLEGE PORT AUTHOR FOR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT FOR 10 PORT ARTHUR RESIDENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES ATTENDING A TWO YEAR ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM NOT TO EXCEED $90,000.
THOSE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN P-A-E-D-C, UH, FY 24 25.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 2 0 DASH EIGHT ZERO DASH 6 2 5 DASH 5 4 7 5 0 0 DASH 0 0 0.
AND IT'S TITLED JOB TRAINING PROGRAM.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? SO MOVED.
AND WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 4 0 1 9 AS PRESENTED, WE'RE READY FOR QUESTIONS UNDER THE QUESTIONS.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT.
SO PRR NUMBER 2 40 19 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 24023 – A Resolution Authorizing The Purchase Of Two (2) 2025 Elgin Whirlwind 1 Pure Vacuum Street Sweepers With Front Bumper Chain Suspended Magnet For The Drainage Division From Kinloch Equipment And Supply Of Pasadena, Texas, Through The Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Contract Number 093021-ELG For The Not-To-Exceed Amount Of $915,830.00. Funds Are Available In The FY24-25 Capital Reserve Fund Account, Account Number 625- 21-000-8522-00-00-000]
NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS PRR NUMBER 2 40 23.IT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF 2 20 25 ELDEN WHIRLWIND.
ONE PURE VACUUM STREET SWEEPERS FROM FRONT, FRONT BUMPER CHAIN SUSPENDED MAGNET, OR EXCUSE ME, THAT'S WIDTH, I'M SORRY, THAT'S WIDTH.
FRONT BUMPER CHAIN SUSPENDED MAGNET FOR THE DRAINAGE DIVISION FROM KEN LOCK EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY OF PASADENA, TEXAS THROUGH THE SOURCE WHERE COOPERATIVE PURCHASING CONTRACT NUMBER 0 9 3 0 2 1 ELG FOR THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $915,830 FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE FY 24 25 RESERVE FUND ACCOUNT.
THIS IS ACCOUNT NUMBER 6 2 5 DASH 21 DASH 0 80 85 22 DASH 0 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVED COUNCILMAN KINLOCK? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 20 40 23 AS PRESENTED.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO ME? UH, WE HAVE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND.
I KNOW EVERY YEAR WE PLACE MONEY INTO THE CAPITAL TO IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THAT YEAR.
SO ALL OF THE MONEY IS PLACED IN THERE FOR THAT YEAR.
[01:45:01]
MONEY? WE ARE GETTING FROM A RESERVE? YOU ARE ASKING THIS OF THE, UH, IT'S, I THOUGHT YOU WERE THROUGH.I JUST WANT SOMEBODY TO ANSWER.
UH, YEAH, I WAS WAITING FOR, UH, SHE CAN COME UP.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING TODAY OF WHY WE CALL IT THAT THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND IS FOR OUR EQUIPMENT AND OUR VEHICLES.
AND THAT'S THE EXPENDITURE ITEM THAT WE'VE BEEN SPENDING OUT OF.
IT MAY JUST BE THE NAME AND I'M HAPPY TO CHANGE THE NAME TO MAKE IT MORE CLEAR.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CALL IT THE CAPITAL RESERVE, BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY A SEPARATE FUND SPECIFIC TO EQUIPMENT AND OUR VEHICLES, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF OUR BUDGET.
AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT THINGS OUT.
BUT IF YOU SAY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN RESERVE, WE DON'T HAVE RESERVES.
WE, WE APPROVE MONEY WHEN WE DO A BUDGET FOR THAT.
SO YOU, SO WE GOING TO, WE NEED TO GET THAT TERM.
I'LL JUST STRAIGHT SO WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, I KNOW WHAT I'M READING, OKAY? YES.
AND I, I'LL SPEAK TO CITY MANAGER JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT HE'S OKAY WITH JUST CHANGING THE TITLE OF THAT BECAUSE THAT, THAT DOES SEEM CONFUSING.
ALRIGHTY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS MATTER? AND THEN WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES? SO PER NUMBER 20 20 42 40 23 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(5) P.R. No. 24044 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With PA Associated Contractors, LLC Of Port Arthur, Texas For Construction Manager/Superintendent Services For Port Arthur Transit's (PAT) And Fleet’s Upcoming Construction Projects In An Amount Not To Exceed $39,000.00 Funding Is Available In FY24-25 Account No. CAP.OCO 401-70-530-8525-00-60- 000 In An Amount Of $25,350.00 And FY24-25 Equipment Services Capital Account No. 307-13-037-8525-00-10-000 In An Amount Of $13,650.00]
ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS PR NUMBER 2 40 44 IS THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH PA ASSOCIATED CONTRACTORS, LLC OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, SUPERINTENDENT SERVICES FOR PORT ARTHUR TRANSITS AND FLEETS.UPCOMING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $39,000.
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN FY 24 25.
ACCOUNT NUMBER CAPITAL OR CAP OH C 4 0 1 7 0 5 3 8 5 2 5 0 6 0 0 IN AN AMOUNT OF $25,350 AND FY 24 25 EQUIPMENT SERVICES CAPITAL ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 3 3 7 DASH 8 5 2 5 0 0 DASH 0 0 0 IN AN AMOUNT OF $13,650.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL COUNSEL? OH, GOOD ENOUGH.
IT IS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PRE PR NUMBER 2 40 44.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSERS? AYES HAVE IT.
SO WE ARE NOW APPROVED PR NUMBER 2 40 44.
[VIII.A.(6) P.R. No. 24061 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Municipal Water Supply Contract With The Lower Neches Valley Authority]
NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER SIX, WHICH IS PR NUMBER 2 40 61.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT WITH THE LOWER NATURE'S VALLEY AUTHORITY.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN ETT? SO I GET A SECOND, UH, MAYOR PROTE SECOND ISN'T MOVED IN SECOND, THEN WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 40 61 AS APPROVED.
WE ARE READY TO, UH, FOR VOTING.
WELL, ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS MATTER? NO QUESTIONS.
YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A.
SO APPEAR NUMBER 2 40 61 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(7) P.R. No. 24063 – A Resolution Authorizing The Purchase One (1) Dual Purpose Acela Monterra High-Water/Wildland Firefighting Apparatus For The Fire Department From Acela Truck Company Of Bozeman, Montana In Partnership With West-Mark Through JCB Sourcewell Contract Number 032824-CER Pricing In The Amount Of $400,716.12; Funding Available In FY24-25 Capital Improvement Account Number 625-19-047-8523-00-10-000 ]
NUMBER SEVEN PRO NUMBER 2 40 63 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE.[01:50:01]
PURPOSE AC HIGH WATER, WILD OR WIND LAND FIREFIGHTING APPARATUS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM IS, IS AULA TRUCK COMPANY OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WEST MARK THROUGH JCB SOURCE.WELL CONTRACT NUMBER 0 3 2 8 2 4 DASH CER PRICING IN THE AMOUNT OF $400,716 AND 12 CENTS FUNDING AVAILABLE IN FY 24 25.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT NUMBER 6 2 5 DASH ONE NINE DASH 0 4 7 DASH 8 5 2 3 DASH 0 0 0 0 0.
I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KINLOCK.
SO MAYOR, I A SECOND COUNCILMAN FRANK SECOND IS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.
IT WOULD APPROVE 2 40 63 AS PRESENTED QUESTIONS.
IS THAT ONE OF THOSE, UH, THOSE TRUCKS THAT YOU DO WITH HIGH WATER RESCUE? YES.
AND WHAT ELSE, WHAT TYPE OF AMENITIES ARE YOU GONNA HAVE ON THE TRUCK? SAY, SAY AGAIN? WHAT TYPE OF AMENITIES DO YOU GONNA HAVE? I READ THE BACKGROUND.
WE'RE PURCHASING AS A, UH, A DUAL PURPOSE APPARATUS.
UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SKID PUMP YEAH.
SO THAT WHENEVER WE HAVE, UH, A DISASTER, SOMETHING WE NEEDED TO USE IT TO MOVE PEOPLE, WE COULD REMOVE THE PUMP, DRIVE THE TRUCK OUT, OUT FROM UNDERNEATH IT, AND THEN USE IT TO MOVE PEOPLE, UM, DURING, UM, MARCH FIRE SEASON.
YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE THE PUMP MOUNTED IN IT SO THAT THEN WE'D BE ABLE TO USE IT ON THE ISLAND IN NUMBER TWOS DISTRICT DOWN AT, UH, SABINE PASS OR OUT PORT ACRES.
UM, JUST A COMPLIMENT TALKING ABOUT THE WATER RESCUE.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID AN AMAZING JOB A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO LOOKING FOR CITIZENS AND THANK GOD THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE WATER, UM, ON PLEASURE ISLAND.
BUT THEY ARE OUT THERE AND THEY ARE, I CALL IT SCUBA DIVING CHIEF.
I'M SORRY IF THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT THING, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE.
IT LOOKED LIKE THE, THE MAN WAS SCUBA DIVING, LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE.
SO WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
A ANY OPPOSES AS AVERAGE? SO PR NUMBER 2 40 63 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(8) P.R. No. 24085 – A Resolution Authorizing The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation To Adopt The Incentive Policies Including The Impact Incentive Policy, Bedrock Incentive Policy, Career Creation Incentive Policy, And Investment Edge Incentive Policy, As Presented To The City Council, In Support Of Capital Investment, Infrastructure Development, And Job Creation In Port Arthur ]
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, WE HAVE PRR NUMBER 2 40 85.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION TO ADOPT THE INCENTIVE POLICIES, INCLUDING THE IMPACT INCENTIVE POLICY, BEDROCK INCENTIVE POLICY, CAREER CREATION, INCENTIVE POLICY AND INVESTMENT EDGE INCENTIVE POLICY AS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON SUPPORT OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT INFRASTRUCTURE, DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION IN THE CITY OF PORT.
I GET A, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
MAY I GET A SECOND COUNCILWOMAN EVER FIELD SECOND MOVE AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 40 85 AS PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? YES.
I, I READ ALL THE BACKGROUND ON THE POLICY AND I SEE THE POLICIES ALL WITHIN, UH, LOW GO AND 5 0 4.
I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION UNDER INCENTIVE AND READING WHAT THE, WHAT THE BASIS OF THE POLICY WAS.
IT DOESN'T SEEM TO INCLUDE ANYTHING ON HOW YOU GOING TO DETERMINE THE INCENTIVE.
YOU KNOW, YOU ALL USE THE MATRIX, RIGHT? BASED ON TAX REVENUE, NUMBER OF
[01:55:01]
JOBS AND ALL THIS STUFF, RIGHT? YES SIR.WE DO AN IMPACT ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE WHAT OUR ANTICIPATED ROI WOULD BE.
SO, UH, THAT'S AN, THAT WOULD OCCUR EVERY TIME I DIDN'T YES, SIR.
'CAUSE I JUST LOOKED AT IT AS IT BEING ONE OF THE THINGS Y'ALL ALL HAD AS OPPOSED TO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE EDUCATION AND ALL THE JOB TRAINING, ALL THAT.
BUT THEN THE IMPACT ANALYSIS APPLIED TO A LOT OF THE CONTRACTS THAT YOU DO, RIGHT? IT APPLIES TO EVERYONE THAT IS INCENTIVE, INCENTIVE BASED.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
HAVE IT? SO, UH, WE HAVE APPROVED PR NUMBER 20, UH, 2 40 85.
[VIII.A.(9) P.R. No. 24086 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Environmental Improvements, Inc., Of Humble, Texas, For The Repair Of The Port Acres Wastewater Treatment Plant Clarifier 403 Drive Unit And Rake Arms, With A Total Projected Budgetary Impact Of $49,500.00; Funding Is Available In Water Utility Account No. 410-40-225-5318-00-00-000, Equipment Maintenance ]
HAVE ITEM NUMBER NINE, PR NUMBER 2 40 86 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS INCORPORATED OF HUMBLE TEXAS FOR THE REPAIR OF THE PORT ACRES WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, UH, CLARIFIER 4 0 3 UNIT DRIVE AS YOU DRIVE UNIT, I'M SORRY.AND, UH, RAKE ARMS WITH A TOTAL PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $49,500.
AND WALL UTILITY ACCOUNT NUMBER FOR ONE ZERO DASH FOUR ZERO DASH 2 2 5 DASH 5 3 1 8 0 0 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? UH, MAYOR PRO TEM.
SO MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SECOND IF IT MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 40 86 AS PRESENTED.
ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY QUESTIONS HERE? WE ARE READY TO VOTE.
SO P NUMBER 2 40 86 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(10) P.R. No. 24089 – A Resolution Approving The Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur And The Health And Human Services Commission, WIC Division, To Provide Funds For Fiscal Years 2026 Through 2030 (October 1, 2025, Through September 30, 2030), In An Amount Not To Exceed $9,008,026.00. With No City Match Required ]
WOULD WOULD'VE ITEM NUMBER 10 PR NUMBER 2 40 89.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION WIC DIVISION TO PROVIDE, UH, FUNDS FOR A FISCAL YEAR 2026 THROUGH 2030.
THAT WOULD BE OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2030 IN AN, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED.
I THINK IT'S $9,008,026 WITH NO CITY MATCH REQUIRED.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN? UH, KINLOCK.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PER NUMBER 2 40 89 AS PRESENTED.
HONOR ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS MATTER? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
ANY OPPOSES? THE AYES HAVE IT.
SO IT IS APPROVED PR NUMBER 2 40 89 AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(11) P.R. No. 24093 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase A Mueller Tapping Drill Machine From Core & Main Of Beaumont, Texas With A Total Projected Budgetary Impact Of $39,434.94; Funding Is Available In Water Utility Account No. 405- 40-000-8522-00-00-000, Equipment]
WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 11 PR NUMBER 2 40 93.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE A A MUELLER TAPPING DRILL MACHINE FROM CORE AND MAINE OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS WITH A TOTAL PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $39,434 AND 94 CENTS.
AND FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN WATER UTILITY ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH FOUR ZERO DASH 0 0 0 8 5 2 2 0 0 0 0 DASH 0 0 0 EQUIPMENT.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PER NUMBER 2 40 93 AS PRESENTED.
WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION AND THE LIGHTS, NO QUESTIONS.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO IT IS ORDERED THAT WE WOULD HAVE APPROVED PR NUMBER 2 40 93 AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(12) P.R. No. 24094 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Grant A Utility Easement To Entergy Texas, Inc. For The Construction, Reconstruction, Improvement, Repair, Operation, Inspection, Patrol, Replacement, And Maintenance Of Electric Power And Communication Facilities On A Ten (10)-Foot-Wide Portion Of Land Situated In The City's Right-Of-Way Along Jimmy Johnson Boulevard In Connection With The Golf Hill Villas Development Project]
NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 12, PER NUMBER 2 40 94.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO GRANT A UTILITY EASEMENT TO ENTERGY,
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TEXAS INCORPORATED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION RECONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENT REPAIR OPERATION INSPECTION, PATROL REPLACEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRIC POWER AND COMMUNICATION FACILITIES ON A 10 FOOT WIDE PORTION OF LAND SITUATED IN THE CITY'S RIGHT OF WAY ALONG JIMMY JOHNSON BOULEVARD IN CONNECTION WITH THE GAR P VILLAS DEVELOPMENT.MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? UH, SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN EVER? FIELD SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND WE WILL APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 40 94.
QUESTION COUNCILMAN FRANK? UH, I, I WAS THINKING, AND I'M JUST ASKING THIS FOR INFORMATION.
UM, WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING WITH GULF STATES AND WITH ALL, UH, COMPANIES, UH, TO PROVIDE EASEMENTS FOR THEM WITHOUT ANY, UM, REMUNERATION.
IT'S PART OF OUR FRANCHISE AGREEMENT BY WHICH WE GRANT THEM THE EASEMENTS AND WE'LL OBTAIN THE FRANCHISE FEES IN CONNECTION THEREOF.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
SO THAT WE HAVE NOW APPROVED PR NUMBER 2 40 94 AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(13) P.R. No. 24095 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur And W And W Construction Of Port Arthur, Texas For The Installation Of Sidewalks With A Projected Budgetary Amount Of $200,000.00. Funding Is Available In The Public Work Street Maintenance – City Streets, Account No. 307-21-053-8517-00-10-000]
HAVE ITEM NUMBER 13, PR NUMBER 2 40 95.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND W AND W CONSTRUCTION OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SIDEWALKS WITH A PROJECTED BUDGETARY AMOUNT OF $200,000 FUNDING IS AVAILABLE AND THE PUBLIC WORK STREET MAINTENANCE CITY STREETS ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH 5 3 8 5 7 0 0 MAG.
UH, WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 49 5 AS PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? UH, MAYOR PRO? YES.
UM, CITY MANAGER, IS THIS KIND OF AN AS NEEDED THING OR IS THERE A LIST OF SIDEWALKS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE ONGOING THAT ARE GONNA BE PART OF THIS REPAIR? IT'S AS NEEDED AS WELL AS WE TEND TO FOCUS ON, WE ARE UNDER COURT ORDER AS WELL FOR SIDEWALKS IN THE CITY.
WE TEND TO FOCUS ON AREAS OF PUBLIC INTEREST, CLOSE TO SCHOOLS, CLOSE TO PARKS, AND THOSE AREAS WHERE WE NEED THOSE HANDICAP RAMPS AS WELL.
SO WE FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT UH, AFTER WE'VE GOT THOSE PRIORITIES, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO DO, UM, ARE, ARE WE ABLE TO LET THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE KNOW ABOUT OTHER AREAS OF CONCERN? YES.
BECAUSE GRIFFIN PARK, I GET COMPLAINTS OUT THERE ALL THE TIME.
WE'LL, SO WE CAN, WE CAN GIVE YOU A LIST OF NEIGHBORHOODS OR STREETS WHERE WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE SIDEWALKS.
AND WE WILL WORK WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
UH, COUNCILMAN ETT? OKAY, THAT BRINGS ABOUT THE COMMENT NOW FOR CLARIFICATION.
I UNDERSTAND IN THIS THAT THIS, THE SIDEWALKS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROPERTY OWNERS AND ANY DAMAGE TO US A SIDEWALK.
THE RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY DOES NOT LIES WITH THE CITY, IT LIES WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER.
SO WE SHOULD BE DOING SIDEWALKS THAT ARE PUBLIC USE, PUBLIC PLACES, NOT RESIDENTIALS.
SO WE NEED CLARIFICATION ON WHAT YOU SAID.
I THINK I PROVIDED YOU, I I THINK I, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT, IT'S $200,000.
I THINK I PROVIDED THE CLARIFICATION.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PRIORITY, THE PRIORITIES, PARKS AND OTHER AREAS OF PUBLIC INTEREST WHERE THOSE HANDICAPPED RAMPS AND THOSE SIDEWALKS ARE NEEDED, THAT'S OUR FIRST PRIORITY.
AND ANYTHING REMAINING, WE CONCENTRATE ON OTHER AREAS.
AND AS YOU RIGHTLY SAID, THE SIDEWALKS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN FRONT
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OF THEM.AND THEN WE DO INFORM THE PROPERTY OWNERS AS WELL AS WELL THAT THOSE ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY.
WELL THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I MADE CLARIFICATION.
'CAUSE WHAT THE COUNCIL, UH, UH, AND AND THE CLARIFY YEAH.
WAS SAID IF WE HAVE OTHER REQUESTS, THEN I BRING 'EM TO YOU AND YOU DO IT.
WHEN IT WITH DEALING WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY, IT IS THAT IS OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY.
IT IS, IT IS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY.
UH, COUNCILMAN EVER FIELD, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, YESTERDAY THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THAT WAS, UH, INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN ON MAIN AVENUE AND ON THE PORT ARTHUR SIDE OF COURSE.
AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PRIME OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT PUBLIC AREAS OF INTEREST WHERE SIDEWALKS ARE NEEDED.
AND I KNOW THAT MAINE IS NOT, UM, THE ONLY STREET IN THE CITY, BUT IT IS A STREET THAT IS, HAS HIGH TRAFFIC BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES OVER THERE.
SO PLEASE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, UM, THE, THE TRAFFIC ISSUES, THE VOLUME OF RESIDENTS IN THE AREAS AFTER YOU, YOU KNOW, AS A POINT OF INTEREST AFTER THE LIST THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED, PLEASE.
UM, AND THAT'S SOME INFORMATION I'M SURE THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN HELP US TO, TO GATHER WITH WHERE THOSE ACCIDENTS ARE HAPPENING.
AND WE EVEN TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE BUS STOPS.
AS YOU SEE IVAN IS WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY ON THE BUS STOPS IN VARIOUS AREAS AND PUTTING IN BENCHES AND STUFF.
WE WANT TO KNOW THAT WHERE WE HAVE OUR RESIDENTS TAKING THE BUSES, THE SIDEWALKS ARE IMPROVED IN THOSE AREAS AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, SO WE, WHILE IVAN IS INVESTING THE FEDERAL RESOURCES, WE TRY TO INVEST CITY RESOURCES AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THOSE ARE ACCESSIBLE.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO OPRR NUMBER 2 40 95 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(14) P.R. No. 24096 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur And W And W Construction Of Port Arthur, Texas For The Utility Cut Repairs With A Projected Budgetary Amount Of $100,000.00. Funding Is Available In The Water Utilities Water Distribution Street Maintenance Account No. 410-40-215-5316-00-00-000 ]
HAVE ITEM NUMBER 14 PRR NUMBER 2 40 96.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY MANAGER TO EX MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND WNW CONSTRUCTION OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR THE UTILITY CUT REPAIRS WITH A PROJECTED BUDGETARY AMOUNT OF $100,000 FUNDING IS AVAILABLE.
AND THE WATER UTILITIES, UH, DISTRIBUTION STREET MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 1 0 DASH FOUR ZERO DASH TWO 15 DASH 5 3 1 6 DASH 0 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN DUCEY? SO MOVED.
COUNCILMAN KEN SECOND IS MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 49 6 AS PRESENTED, WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO PR NUMBER 2 40 96 IS, UH, APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(15) P.R. No. 24097 – A Resolution Approving Water And Sewer Adjustments To Certain Utility Accounts Due To Leaks And/Or Equipment Malfunction]
ITEM NUMBER 15 PR NUMBER 2 40 97.IT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING WATER AND SEW ADJUSTMENTS TO CERTAIN UTILITY ACCOUNTS DUE TO LEAKS AND OR EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION.
UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN ETT? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KIER SECOND MAYOR IS REMOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 40 97 AS UH, PRESENTED.
SO PR NUMBER 2 40 97 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(16) P.R. No. 24099 – A Resolution Approving A Travel Budget For Travel Related To The City Of Port Arthur Legislative Priorities In The Amount Of $75,000.00. Funding Available In Account No. 001-01- 001-5440-00-10-00]
WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 16 PR NUMBER 2 40 99.IT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVED IN THE TRAVEL BUDGET FOR THE TRAVEL RELATED TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,000 FOR AN AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 0 0 1 1 0 1 5 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL IN A SECOND? AND MR. MOVED IN SECOND AND WE'LL APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 40 99 AS PRESENTED.
ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM?
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YES.WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF US COMMUNICATING WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES, I UM, I CAN'T GET BEHIND A BUDGET OF $75,000 FOR TRAVEL.
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS FOR US TO TALK WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES.
WE ALL GOT A LIST I THINK AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING OF HOW TO CONTACT THEM BY PHONE.
UH, THERE'S ALWAYS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO ZOOM MEETINGS AND WE CAN SAVE THE TAXPAYERS THIS MONEY BY DOING IT IN A LITTLE BIT MORE ECONOMICAL WAY.
OKAY, ANY OTHER, UH, QUESTIONS ON THIS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? EXCUSE ME.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR UH, ADDRESS PLEASE.
MY NAME IS GLORIA SANCHEZ AND I'M LEAVING 6 6 2 5 JADE AVENUE.
AND I WILL LIKE SOME CLARIFICATION ON IT BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE $50,000 ON THE BUDGET FOR CONS FOR TRAVEL AND WE ADD IN ANOTHER 75,000.
IS THIS ABOUT THIS THAT MEAN IT'S GONNA BE 125,000 FOR NINE MONTHS FOR TRAVEL FOR CONS.
THIS INFORMATION, I WANNA SEE IF THAT IS CORRECT.
IT, IT'S FOR DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT REASONS BUT THAT TOTAL AMOUNT, THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR POWER, THIS IS CORRECT.
WELL I REALLY THINK THAT IS TOO MUCH MONEY TO BE PUT ON THIS BECAUSE WE NEED UM, MONEY TO BE SAVED BUT PUT IT IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
WE NEED A LOT OF MONEY FOR DIFFERENT PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE HERE LOCALLY.
LIKE TO BE PUT THIS KIND OF MONEY JUST FOR TRAVEL.
AND I UNDERSTAND I HAVE BEEN WATCHING MEETINGS FOR MORE THAN 19 YEARS AND ALL THE TIME THE EXCUSES IS THE SAME.
WE HAVE FACEBOOK, WE HAVE UM, ZOOM, WE HAVE VIDEO CONFERENCE.
YOU WANNA SEE SOMEBODY FACE, YOU CAN DO IT BY THAT AND SAVE MONEY AND PUT THE MONEY, WHATEVER WE NEED IT TO BE SPENT BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEM WHEN I CALL TO REPORT A WATER LEAK AND THEY TELL ME THAT IS NO MONEY AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS.
BUT HOW IS POSSIBLE THAT WE SPEND A QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR IN BUDGET FOR EMPLOYEES AND NOW $125 JUST TO TRAVEL? I THINK YOU NEED TO SEE YOUR PRIORITIES FIRST AND TRY TO AVOID THIS.
OKAY, ANY OTHERS? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
CHALLENGE CHALLENGES THOSE HOURS HAVE THAT, UH, UH, ITEM IS APPROVED.
UH, AND IT IS, UH, ITEM NUMBER 16, PR NUMBER 2 49 9 APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7303 – An Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Rescinding And Repealing Chapter 78, Article II, Division 5, Sections 78-188 Through 78-192 Of The Code Of Ordinances, Relating To The COVID-19 Health And Safety Policy And Other Related Sections ]
HAVE ITEM NUMBER ONE UNDER B, SECTION B OF ORDINANCES.IT IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, RESCINDING AND REPEALING CHAPTER 78, ARTICLE TWO, DIVISION FIVE, SECTION 78 DASH 180 8 THROUGH 78 DASH 92 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATING TO THE COVID-19 HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY AND OTHER RELATED SECTIONS MAKING A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
COUNCILMAN FRANK, IT HAS BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 73.
SO PO NUMBER 73 0 3 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7304 – An Ordinance Of The City Council Of Port Arthur, Texas, Authorizing Participation With Other Entergy Service Area Cities In Matters Concerning Entergy Texas, Inc., At The Public Utility Commission Of Texas And The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission In 2025]
NEXT WE HAVE THE NEXT ORDINANCE.UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO, PO NUMBER 73.
IT IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF PORT ARTHUR TEXAS AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION WITH OTHER ENTER, UH, ENERGY SERVICE AREA CITIES IN MATTERS CONCERNING ENTERGY TEXAS INCORPORATED AT THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF TEXAS AND THE FEDERAL ENERGY, UH, REGULATORY COMMISSION IN 2025.
SO MOVE I GET THE SECOND, UH, MAYOR
WE READY FOR QUESTION THERE? ANY QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO PO NUMBER 73 0 4 IS APPROVED AS READ.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO PAGE NUMBER EIGHT AND ON PAGE EIGHT,
[IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION) ]
THIS IS OUR MOVING FROM THIS OPEN SESSION TO OUR CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION.AND AS WE GO INTO THIS CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION, ACCORDING TO, UH, SECTION 5 5 1 0.101 OF CHAPTER 5 5, 1 OF THE OPEN
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MEETINGS LAWS AND THE OF THE, UH, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH WAS FORMALLY ARTICLE 62 52 DASH 17, SECTION TWO SUBSECTION A.PRIOR TO GOING INTO THE MEETING, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON ME TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IN THE CLOSED SESSION SESSION, EXCUSE ME.
UH, SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, UH, TO MEET WITH THE, UH, WITH OUR ATTORNEY TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE ON A MATTER ON MATTERS WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY TO THE CITY COUNCIL UNDER THE TEXAS, UH, DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND IT CONFLICT IS IN REGARD TO WHAT WE WILL DISCUSS AND IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT BEFORE WE GO INTO THESE MEETINGS.
UH, FIRST, UH, WOULD BE THE FIRST ITEM A, WHICH IS AN OPTION TO LEASE AND ACCESS LICENSE AGREEMENT, OPERATING AGREEMENT AND GROUND LEASE AGREEMENT WITH DILIGENCE OFFSHORE LLC FOR A WIND POWER, SOLAR POWER, AND RELATED FACILITIES ON APPROXIMATELY 2000 ACRES OF LAND AND ALITY.
AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY MAYOR BARCHI.
ALSO ON ITEM NUMBER B, THE WATER UTILITIES ACCOUNT NUMBER 0 0 9 0, UH, 4 8 8 AND 0 0 0 9 0 4 9 0 AT A TRACE APARTMENTS LOCATED AT 40 23 65 IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
ALSO ITEM C, KIRK THOMAS AND KT TRUCKING AND CATTLE LLC VERSUS CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND ROSA ROBERTS IN HER OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
AND IT'S THE STYLING OF THAT CASE.
AND THIS IS A SILVER ACTION NUMBER.
ALSO IN DISCLOSED SECTION, UH, SESSION WHETHER THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER SECTION OF 5 5 1 0.087 TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS.
UH, AND THIS WOULD BE AN OPTION TO LEASE AND ACCESS A LEASE AGREEMENT, OPERATING AGREEMENT AND GROUND LEASE AGREEMENT WITH DILIGENCE OFFSHORE, UH, SERVICES LLC FOR A WIND POWER, SOLAR POWER AND RELATED FACILITY ON APPROXIMATELY 2000 ACRES OF LAND ON PLEASURE ISLAND.
AND THIS TOO HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY MAYOR BARCE AND ALSO UNDER THAT SECTION WE WOULD DISCUSS, UH, CORAN CLEAN ENERGY LLC AND THEIR MOVEMENT HERE IN THE CITY OF FORT ARTHUR.
IF ANY OF THESE ITEMS WOULD HAVE ACTION, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD NECESSITATE A VOTE, WE'LL RETURN TO THE, UH, CHAMBERS HERE AND AN OPEN SESSION, CONDUCT THE VOTES ON THOSE MATTERS THAT IN CLOSED SESSION WE WOULD DECIDE THAT ACTION WOULD NECESSARILY NEED TO BE TAKEN.
SO AT THIS TIME, AT 1158, UH, WE WERE NOW, UH, RECESSED TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE FOURTH FLOOR TO BEGIN OUR, UH, CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND THEN WE WILL RETURN AT SOME LATER TIME ON THIS AFTERNOON.
AND CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU REESTABLISH THE QUORUM FOR ME PLEASE? YES.
MAYOR BARTEE OR PRESENT? MAYOR TIM BECKHAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD PRESENT.
KINDLY, UH, CITY ATTORNEY, WE HAVE ANY ACTION ITEMS COMING OUT OF THE, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION? YES, MAYOR, IF YOU'LL GIVE, UH, THE COUNCIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN ACTION ITEM ON WATER UTILITY ACCOUNT NUMBERS 0 0 0 9 0 4 8 8
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AND 0 0 0 9 0 4 9 0 OUTTA AVERY TRACE APARTMENTS IN 4 0 2 0 HIGHWAY 365, PORT ARTHUR.OKAY, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THAT, UH, EFFECT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN UH, EVER FIELD.
THIS MOTION IS TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO WAIVE A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $188,286 AND 62 CENTS FOR WATER UTILITY COMMERCIAL ACCOUNT NUMBERS 1 3 7 4 8 3 DASH 0 0 0 9 0 4 8 8 AND 1 3 7 4 8 3 9 0 4 9 0 ASSIGNED TO AVERY TRACE APARTMENTS LOCATED AT 40 20 HIGHWAY 365 PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS DUE TO WATER LEAKS DOCUMENTED BY THE CUSTOMER FROM DECEMBER, 2022 THROUGH JUNE, 2023.
THIS MOTION IS CONTINGENT UPON THE CUSTOMER FULLY COMPLYING WITH ONE AN AGREED TWO 12 MONTH PAYMENT PLAN AND THE AMOUNT OF $382,495 AND 10 CENTS FOR CHARGES THAT ACCRUED FROM OCTOBER 22ND, 2022 THROUGH DECEMBER 30TH, 2024.
AND TO PAYMENT OF CURRENT MONTHLY WATER CHARGES ON SAID ACCOUNTS FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
UH, MAY I GET A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION? UH, SECOND IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND THAT THE MOTION HAS BEEN READ BY COUNCILWOMAN EVER FEEL WOULD BE APPROVED.
WE HAVE COMMENTS FIRST, MA'AM, GO AHEAD.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS A VERY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN PUT IN REGARDING THIS, UM, COMMERCIAL ACCOUNT AND WAIVING THE AMOUNT THAT WE'VE DECIDED UPON TODAY.
IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT AVERY TRACE AND THE OWNERS OF AVERY TRACE RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU PAY YOUR BILLS.
IT IS IMMORAL FOR YOU TO HAVE COLLECTED MONEY FROM OUR RESIDENTS FOR WATER PAYMENTS, FOR THEIR USAGE IN ADDITION TO ADMINISTRATIVE FEES, AND YOU NOT PAY YOUR WATER BILL.
YOU HAVE PUT US IN A SITUATION TO WHETHER WE WAIVE THIS AMOUNT OR PUT A LOCK ON THE METERS, WHICH NOW MEANS THAT RESIDENTS THAT HAVE PAID THEIR WATER BILL TO YOU WOULD NOT HAVE WATER SERVICE.
IT IS WRONG AND IT IS UNFAIR, AND THAT'S STEALING.
AND WE WILL NOT STAND FOR YOU TO STEAL FROM OUR RESIDENTS.
SO PLEASE COMPLY WITH THIS PAYMENT PLAN.
YOU'VE BEEN OFFERED A PAYMENT PLAN BEFORE AND YOU DEFAULTED.
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO COMPLY WITH THIS PAYMENT PLAN OR YOU WILL BE LOCKED AND WE WILL BE CONTACTING HUD TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THIS PAYMENT PLAN BECAUSE WE CANNOT STAND FOR BUSINESSES TO TREAT OUR RESIDENTS THIS WAY.
THESE CUSTOMERS, THESE RESIDENTS, HAVE PAID THEIR WATER UTILITY BILL TO AVERY TRACE AND AVERY TRACE DID NOT PAY THEIR FEE TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
IT IS WRONG AND IT IS DISGRACEFUL, AND I'M ENCOURAGING YOU TO PLEASE STAND UP AND BE THE BUSINESS THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH OFFERING A SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS.
MAYOR, CAN WE PLEASE CALL FOR A VOTE? HOLD UP.
UH, YOU KNOW, I, I TAKE A STRONG STANCE AS WELL ON THIS.
UH, IT'S, THIS IS PUTTING ME IN A SITUATION.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 200, 300 UNITS THAT'S OUT THERE THAT, UH, THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR THAT ACTUALLY PAID THEIR WATER BILL, I'M TOTALLY UPSET ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TODAY TO ENSURE THAT THEIR WATER WILL STILL STAY ON.
BUT AVERY TRACE, I DO CONCUR WITH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN EVER FEEL THAT THIS IS YOUR LAST AND FINAL WARNING, UH, TO PAY YOUR BILL ON TIME AND TO CONTINUE THIS PAYMENT PLAN AND DO NOT MAKE A MISS A PAYMENT.
I'M TOTALLY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS, BUT MY HANDS ARE TIED BECAUSE THE CITIZEN SUPPORT AUTHOR THAT LIVES IN THOSE APARTMENT COMPLEX ARE DOING EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AS TO PAY THEIR WATER BILL.
SO MAYOR, I JUST WANNA PUT THIS ON THE RECORD THAT
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I, I, MY HANDS ARE TIED, BUT IT'S NOT AT THE FAULT OF THE CITIZENS THAT, OF PORT ARTHUR THAT LIVE IN ABRY TRACE.WE ARE READY TO VOTE ON THIS ISSUE.
ANY OPPOSES THE, UH, ISSUE PASSES, UH, AND WE WILL COMPLY WITH THIS, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THE REMARKS, UH, THAT YOU ALL HAVE MADE, UH, WILL RESONATE WITH THE OWNERS OF THOSE, THOSE, UH, COMPLEXES.
DO WE HAVE ANOTHER, UH, ATTORNEYS? IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? UH, NO.
I HAVE DIRECTION ON THE OTHER AGENDA ITEMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, THERE WOULD BE NO OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THIS, UH, BODY.
I WILL NOW DECLARE THE BODY DECLARE TO JOIN, AND WE WILL HAVE A MEETING AGAIN, OR NEXT TUESDAY.
I BELIEVE IT WAS A FIVE 30 MEETING, AM I CORRECT? YES.
ON, UH, NEXT TUESDAY, THE, UH, 14TH.