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PROGRESS.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL ]
EVENING.IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2025, WE ARE GATHERED HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF FORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEGUN AT 5:30 PM WE WERE STILL DEALING WITH SOME ISSUES IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, THEREFORE, IT IS NOW 6:04 PM AND WE WOULD BEGIN THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING.
YOU MAY ATTEND THE MEETING VIA, UH, TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCE MEETINGS, HOWEVER, YOU MUST FIRST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 9 9 3 9 5 3 3 5 0 9, AND THE PASSCODE OF 4 6 4 7 3 5, AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE MEETING AND PARTICIPATE.
WE ARE ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
AT AND IN AND DURING THIS MEETING, IF THERE WOULD BE A NEED FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU WOULD ONLY NEED TO CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.
HOWEVER, IT MUST BE DONE PRIOR 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING SO THAT THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS CAN BE AND WILL BE AFFORDED YOU BY THE EFFICIENT STAFF OF OUR CITY SECRETARIES OR IN OUR CITY SECRETARIES OFFICE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR NORMAL AND REGULAR OPENING, OPENING WITH THE INVOCATION PLEDGE AND THE ROLL CALL.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK, WOULD YOU GIVE US THE INVOCATION, PLEASE? YES, SIR.
WOULD YOU BOW ALL WISE, AN ETERNAL, ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN YOUR PRESENCE AS WE COME TOGETHER ON TONIGHT? FATHER, WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER.
WE ARE REMEMBERING THOSE WHO ARE IN LOS ANGELES, AND WE PRAY EVEN NOW THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH THEM AND THAT YOU WOULD WATCH OVER THEM AND PROVIDE EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED.
AND THEN FATHER, FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WE PRAY FOR EVERY, UH, CITIZEN, AND WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD COVER US WITH YOUR PROTECTIVE CARE.
WE, WE KNOW THAT IT COMES FROM YOU.
AND SO FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD JUST GUIDE US AND LEAD US THIS WE ASK.
WOULD YOU JOIN US NOW PLEASE? IN, UH, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN OUR OPENING CITY.
SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH A QUO? MAYOR BARTEE, PRESENT MAYOR PRO.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY ON PROCLAMATIONS.
I DON'T HAVE A PROCLAMATION SET BEFORE ME HERE, SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY ON ANY.
[III.A.(1) Sharon DeJohn Regarding Sewer Problem ]
WE HAVE MS. UH, SHARON DEJO, WHO WOULD BE A SPEAKER, UH, PROVIDING OF REGARDING RATHER SEWER PROBLEMS. PLEASE STEP UP, PLEASE.MS. DEJAN, YOU WILL STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
MY NAME IS SHARON DEJO AND MY ADDRESS IS 61 33 WILLOW AVENUE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, 7 7 6 4 0.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY NEIGHBORS TO BRING ATTENTION TO A CRITICAL AND ONGOING SEWER ISSUE THAT HAS AFFECTED OUR HOME SINCE THE STREET HAS WAS REDONE AND PAVED OVER THREE YEARS AGO.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM SINCE THE STREET WAS RE UH, REDONE MY TOILET FREQUENTLY WILL NOT FLUSH AND OFTEN MAKES LOUD BANGING SOUNDS.
THERE HAVE BEEN PERIODS SOMETIME DAYS OR EVEN WEEKS WHERE FLUSHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED ORANGE COLORED FILE SMELLING WATER RISING IN MY TOILET WHEN THE TOILET WATER EVENTUALLY DRAINS.
IT FLOODS MY BATHROOM FLOOR, WHICH SMELLS TERRIBLE AND CAUSE BLACKENING AROUND THE SEAL AROUND THE TOILET.
MY BATHTUB ALSO FILLS WITH WASTE WATER DURING THESE EVENTS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE WA UH, WASHOUT OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT OUTSIDE, BECOMES SURROUNDED BY TOILET TISSUE.
THESE CONDITIONS ARE UNSANITARY CAUSING SEVERE
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INCONVENIENCE AND HEALTH RISK TO ME AND MY FAMILY.THE TOILET NEEDS REPLACEMENT MOLD HAS DEVELOPED IN THE BATHROOM WHILE DO, UH, WALLS, WALLS DUE TO RECURRING FLOODING CAUSING PERSISTENT ODOR, POTENTIAL STRUCTURE DAMAGE.
I SUSPECT THAT THE PRESSURE CAUSED BY THIS ISSUE HAS DAMAGED A PIPE ON THE SIDE OF MY HOUSE, WHICH REQUIRED A PLUMBER'S INTERVENTION.
THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTATIVE.
PROPER MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN DURING THE STREET RECONSTRUCTION.
INSTEAD, A POORLY EXECUTED PROJECT HAS LEFT ME WITH NOT ONLY A DAMAGED STREET, BUT ALSO SEVERE CONSEQUENCES FOR MY HOME AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
COMMUNITY IMPACT THIS, UH, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
SEVERAL NEIGHBORS ON MY STREET ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE STREET RECONSTRUCTION LACK PROPER OVERSIGHT AND EXPERTISE, LEAVING RESIDENTS WITH ONGOING CHALLENGES.
I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE THE QUALITY OF WORK PERFORMED DURING THE STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE SWOOP OF ISSUES AFFECTING MULTIPLE RESIDENTS OF THE STREET.
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR HOMEOWNERS INCLUDING REPAIRS.
DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE.
ENSURE THAT FA UH, FUTURE PROJECTS ARE SUPERVISED BY PROFESSIONALS WHO, WHO UNDERSTANDS THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF OR TO AVOID SIMILAR IN, UH, ISSUES.
MY CLOSING STATEMENT, NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE IN CONDITIONS LIKE THESE.
I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THESE ISSUES FOR OVER THREE YEARS AND IT HAS TAKEN A PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND FINANCIAL TOLL ON MY HOUSEHOLD.
I'M ASKING FOR YOUR URGENT ATTENTION AND RESOLUTION TO RESTORE SAFETY, SANITATION, AND PEACE OF MIND TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
MS. UH, MS. DIJO, UH, I'M TRYING TO SEE IF THERE WOULD BE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL HERE.
MS. DIJON, WE'RE SO SORRY THAT YOU'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS AND ESPECIALLY FOR SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
WHAT, WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE COURSE OF THIS TIME? HAVE YOU TALKED TO OUR CITY MANAGER? HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH ANYONE? UH, ALONG THE WAY YES.
UH, I HAD, UH, BEEN DEALING WITH MR. FLOYD RALEIGH AND A YOUNG, ANOTHER GENTLEMAN THAT HAS BEEN TRYING TO HELP US WITH THAT.
THEY EVEN BROUGHT OUT THE CAMERAS, UH, TO, TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, BUT IT STILL WAS ONGOING.
THEY, THEY WOULD SEND PEOPLE BACK OUT TO FLUSH THE SYSTEM OUT, BUT IT WOULD ONLY LAST MAYBE A FEW DAYS.
IT'S NOT ONLY WHEN IT RAINS, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THE PROBLEM WHEN IT'S NOT RAINING, YOU CAN TRY TO FORCE FLUSH, BUT IT WON'T EVEN FORCE FLUSH.
I HAVE ACTUALLY TAKEN IT AND, SORRY, WHAT I'M FIXING TO SAY, PUT GLOVES ON TO ACTUALLY DIG OUT FECES AND, AND TISSUE AND STUFF TO GET IT OUT MY BATHROOM AND ME AND MY LITTLE NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR.
WE BOTH BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS AND FIGHTING WITH THIS AND UH, IT'S JUST BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM.
THIS HAS HAD BEEN GOING ON BEFORE THE STREET WAS EVEN CLOSED BECAUSE I WAS, UH, CALLING BEFORE THAT, BEFORE THEY CLOSED THAT STREET.
I KEPT TELLING THEM WHEN THEY, WHEN WE FLUSH, EVERYTHING WOULD GO INTO THE, UH, DITCHES, BUT THAT CREW JUST, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST LIKE A FIGHTING BATTLE WITH THEM AND IT THAT, AND SO I'VE BEEN FIGHTING WITH THAT EVER SINCE BEFORE THEY CLOSED IT, BEFORE THEY EVEN SEALED THAT STREET BECAUSE I KNEW IF THEY SEALED THE STREET IT WAS GONNA BE, UH, UH, SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY FINANCIALLY TO RE BUST THAT STREET OPEN.
WE APPRECIATE THE STREET, BUT IT'S CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH, WITH US ON THE STREET BECAUSE OUR SEWER IS NOT FLUSHING.
IT'S NOT FLUSHING AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO RAIN.
THAT THAT, THAT IT IS JUST ONGOING.
MR. CALVIN, DO WE HAVE ANY, CAN YOU COME TO US AND SHARE WITH US WHAT MIGHT BE THE ISSUES HERE AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO RECTIFY THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE? SO WE IFT THE, THE MAIN SEWER MAIN ON THAT ROAD.
UH, IT'S CLEAR WE'VE TVD HER LATERAL.
WHAT WE FOUND, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THREE YEARS AGO ON THE ROAD, UH, THE TWO HOUSES, HER, HER HOUSE AND THE ADJACENT NEIGHBOR ARE CONNECTED TO A SINGLE FOUR INCH, UH, LONG LATERAL, WHICH CROSSES THE STREET.
AND WHEN IT COMES ON HER SIDE OF THE STREET, THERE'S A, THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE TIES INTO IT.
IF YOU GO STRAIGHT, IT TIES INTO HER, I ASSUME WASHING MACHINE IN HER GARAGE.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER PIPE THAT RUNS OVER AROUND THE HOUSE AND I THINK IT PICKS UP PROBABLY THE TOILETS IN THE, UH, KITCHEN.
WE'RE GONNA REPLACE THE FOUR INCH PIPE ACROSS THE ROAD WITH A SIX INCH SEWER, WHICH IS ADEQUATELY SIZED TO HANDLE THE LOAD AND REDO THE TIE IN.
SO THEY ALL TIE IN DIRECTLY TO A SIX INCH SEWER.
WHEN I TALKED TO DARRYL THIS MORNING OR THIS AFTERNOON, ACTUALLY, THEY MOBILIZED THE EQUIPMENT PIPE AND THEY HAVE LOCATES.
AS SOON AS WE GET THE LOCATES, HE'S GOT READY TO GO TO WORK TO REPLACE THE PIPE.
UH, I DO KNOW THAT THAT WAS A KIND OF A WEIRD
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ROAD JOB.THEY, THEY CONCRETED A ROAD, THEY HAD DEEP DITCHES, THEN THEY PUT DRAINAGE PIPES IN THE DITCHES BACKFILL IT.
BUT I, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GOT TO THIS.
I MEAN, WE DO HAVE PROBABLY SEVERAL HUNDRED OF THESE THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHERE THERE'S MULTIPLE HOUSES ON SINGLE PIPES.
SOMETIMES IT'S A PROBLEM, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY IT IS ON SOME AND NOT ON OTHERS.
HOW LONG ARE WE ANTICIPATING THIS? PROBABLY TWO TO THREE DAYS FOR BEING TO PIPE BURST IT.
I MEAN, UH, IF, IF LOCATES GETS THERE, WE HAVE TO CALL REGULAR LOCATES ON THIS.
SO IT'S, THEY HAVE 48 HOURS, SO THEY CALLED I THINK THIS MORNING AND, BUT THEY SHOULD BE THERE BY IN THE MORNING.
WE'RE JUST NOT ALLOWED TO DIG UNTIL THEY PAINT THIS.
MS. PADO, COULD YOU LET US KNOW BY THE END OF THE WEEK IF YOU KNOW, IF UM, IF WE, IF WE'VE DONE THIS AND, AND YOU CAN CALL YOUR COUNSELOR? WELL, I CAN UPDATE THE CITY MANAGER WHERE WE'RE AT.
WHAT IS TODAY? TUESDAY? YEAH, SORRY.
AND HE'LL SEND AN EMAIL OUT TO US TO LET US KNOW.
OKAY, I'LL, I'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH WHERE WE ARE.
I'LL GO BY THERE TOMORROW AND SEE AND THEN, UH, ONCE THEY START, IT SHOULDN'T TAKE LONG.
COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? YEAH, UH, CV JUST WHILE YOU'RE UP HERE, YOU'RE SAYING IT'S TWO TO THREE DAYS TO LOCATE, OR IS THAT TOMORROW? OR IS THAT TWO TO THREE DAYS TO DO THE JOB? I THINK THEY CALLED TODAY.
THEY MAY HAVE CALLED YESTERDAY, BUT I THINK THEY CALLED EARLY THIS MORNING AND GENERALLY WITHIN A DAY THEY, THEY LOCATE.
SO AS SOON AS THEY LOCATE HE, HE, HE'S ALREADY MOBILIZED THE EQUIPMENT.
SO MS. DIJO, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? UH, GETTING SOME INFORMATION BACK FROM THE CITY MANAGER ALONG WITH THE COUNCIL? WE'RE GONNA GET AN UPDATE WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT REMEDY THAT WE CAN, UH, GIVE US THIS WEEK TO TRY TO GET THAT LINE FIXED FOR YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBOR? ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? I'M OKAY WITH IT.
THE ONLY THING THAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS, HOLD UP.
CAN YOU GIVE HER THE MIC PLEASE? OH, I'M SORRY.
UH, ONLY THING THAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS THAT, UM, LIKE HE SAID, HE DOESN'T KNOW.
HE, YOU KNOW, HE JUST, HE HASN'T BEEN HERE THAT LONG, BUT I KNOW THAT AREA, THAT'S MY, WHERE I'VE BEEN AT, WHERE I RAISED MY CHILDREN AT WHEN I CAME BACK FROM, UH, TRAVELING WITH THE MILITARY WITH MY HUSBAND.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS I WASN'T TIED INTO ANYBODY.
AND THE REASON WHY I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT IS BECAUSE WHEN WE HAD THAT VERY BAD STORM THAT PULLED THE TREES OUT OF THE GROUND AND ALL OF THAT, OKAY, MY NEIGHBOR NEXT TO ME, THAT, THAT IS TIED IN, SHE'S, UM, HER, THEY, REID BUILT HER HOME.
AND WHEN THEY WERE REBUILDING HER HOME, I ALWAYS MAKE SURE I GO OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AND THEY WERE TRYING TO TIE MY LINE INTO HERS.
THEN I SAID, DO NOT TIE MY LINE INTO HER BECAUSE, UH, I'M, I'M NOT TIED IN WHAT I DID AT THAT TIME.
THE CITY COUNCILMAN THAT WAS THERE, THEN IT WAS COUNCILMAN BEARD, I THINK THAT'S WHAT HIS NAME.
AND HE CALLED THE CITY INSPECTOR OUT.
THE CITY INSPECTOR CAME OUT AND THEY STEADY KEPT TRYING TO DO IT AND HE SAID THEY ARE NOT TIED IN, DON'T TIE HER HOME INTO HERS.
AND THEY DID STILL TRY TO DO IT.
AND THEY GAVE HIM A TWIN, A TWO, A $2,000 FINE.
SO I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS OR ANYTHING EVER AT THIS HOUSE, UH, UNTIL AFTER THAT STREET WAS DONE.
WELL, AND I WAS ALREADY TELLING THEM BEFORE THE STREET WAS CLOSED UP.
THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE, WELL, HE'S THE DIRECTOR RIGHT NOW, SO, UH, NOW, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SAYING INCREASING THE FOUR INCH TO A SIX INCH.
SO LET'S GIVE HIM OPPORTUNITY IF YOU OKAY WITH THAT THIS WEEK.
UH, AND I'M SORRY THAT YOU'RE HAVING THE BACKUP THAT YOU'RE HAVING IN YOUR HOUSE, BUT LET'S GIVE HIM OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY AND THEN, AND RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY THIS WEEK AND WE WILL GET BACK WITH YOU.
UH, COUNCILMAN EVERFI, SHE'S ON VIDEO.
UM, MS. DEJON, I AGAIN APOLOGIZE THAT YOU'VE HAD THESE EXPERIENCES, BUT THIS COMMENT IN QUESTION IS FOR MR. CALVIN.
I REALIZE THAT MS. DIJON AND HER FAMILY ARE NOT THE ONLY FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY SUFFERING FROM THIS.
I EXPERIENCED IT JUST LAST WEEK AND A CREW HAD TO COME OUT.
SO PLEASE TELL US WHAT IS IT, HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOU TO BE ABLE TO RECTIFY THESE SITUATIONS THAT MS. DEJAN AND OTHER FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY ARE HAVING? QUICK, IN A MORE EXPEDITED FASHION? I MEAN, OVERALL WE NEED TO START SEWER REHAB REPLACEMENT CONTRACTS, BUT THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY FUNDED.
SO IF YOU REALLY WANNA FIX CITY, YOU HAVE TO START REPLACING SEWERS.
I I MEAN, WE JUST CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE EQUIPMENT WE HAVE.
I, I I, WITHOUT MASSIVE SEWER REPLACEMENTS, ESPECIALLY THE OLDER, OUR AREAS OF THE CITY WILL HAVE PROBLEMS.
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WE, WE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM LAST WEEK AT THE LIBRARY.IT'S AN OLD CLAY PIPE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, HAVING PROBLEMS. SO WE WERE, WE WERE ABLE TO GET AN EMERGENCY MEMO AND, AND CLEAN IT UP.
SO THE, IT JUST, WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE NOT REPLACING PIPES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED, WE HAVE TO FIX PIPES WHEN THEY FAIL.
UH, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO ASK, SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS, AND I WANNA BE SURE I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY, YOU SAID THAT THE WAY THAT WE, THE ANSWER MAYBE WHAT COUNCILMAN EVER FAILED SAID, THE WAY THAT WE CAN DO THIS IS YOU, DID YOU SAY SEWER REPLACEMENT? CORRECT.
WE HAVE, DID I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY? WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT'S READY TO BID.
IT'S CALLED CITYWIDE NUMBER TWO CITY, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CITYWIDE SEWER REPLACEMENT.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE KNOWN SINCE YOU PROBABLY ARRIVED.
AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN AN LONG ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
AND, UH, MAR GU SIX YEARS, I'M GONNA ADVISE WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE THE SCOPE.
SO, UH, I BEEN, I I I RECEIVED TOTAL UNDERSTANDING WITH ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.
YES, KEVIN, I, I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID AND I, AND I LISTENED TO MS. DE JOHN.
I JUST THINK THAT WHAT WE REALLY HAVE TO CONCENTRATE ON IS THOSE THAT DO HAVE THE PROBLEM, UH, WHEN WE GO OUT THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DETERMINE WHETHER IT'S OURS OR THEIRS.
LIKE YOU SAID, YOU WASN'T HERE, I WASN'T THERE CANCELED.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT IT'S NOT OUR SIDE.
YES, WE GOT TO REPLACE SURGERY, BUT HER INSTANCE AND HER SITUATION IS NOT NOTHING THAT WE DOING FOR EVERYBODY WHERE WE NEED TO REPLACE IT, BUT THOSE THAT, UH, CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD AND STUFF TO THE RESIDENTS, WE JUST MAKE SURE WE HAVE TO DO IT.
YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD THAT YOU WERE ON TOP OF IT, UH, WHEN, UH, WE DISCUSSED IT EARLIER AND ALL, BUT WE JUST HAVE TO ESTABLISH PRIORITY.
I GUESS THAT'S THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR.
THAT WHEN IT'S SURGE INVOLVED INTO THE PEOPLE HOME, WE KIND OF PUT THAT AT THE TOP.
AND I THINK WHEN WE DO THAT, WE'D BE OKAY.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK, UM, CITY ATTORNEY.
I AM GOING TO TAKE UNDER ADVISEMENT OF WHAT YOU DID SAY TO, UM, THE MAYOR, BUT I AM GOING TO SAY AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, UH, THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS TO REVISIT, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD PIPE BURSTING CREWS TO OUR CITY.
WE PASSED ON THAT, UH, WHEN WE, UH, DID NOT, UM, VOTE, UH, TO, UM, INCREASE THE, THE MONIES, UH, FOR OUR BUDGET.
BUT WE, WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO, WE WERE ASSURED THAT WE WOULD USE MONEY FROM THE FUND BALANCE OR FROM THE GENERAL FUND OR WHEREVER.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT OUR, UH, FINANCE PERSON DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR THAT, BUT I THINK WE SEE THE DIRE NEED IN WHICH OUR CITIZENS ARE, UH, IN THIS PARTICULAR TIME, WE'VE RECEIVED THESE KINDS OF, UM, NOTICES FROM SO MANY PEOPLE, UH, ACROSS, UH, THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF OUR CITY.
AND TO LEAVE OUR PEOPLE IN THIS KIND OF HEALTH ENVIRONMENT AND CHALLENGE I IS, IS A DERELICTION OF OUR DUTY AS A COUNCIL.
AND SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, CITY MANAGER, BRING TO US WHATEVER IT IS WE NEED TO DO FINANCIALLY TO GET THAT EXTRA PIPE BURSTING CREW, UM, UH, UTILIZED AND PUT IN PLACE EVEN NOW.
ANY OTHER? I DON'T SEE ANOTHER LIGHTS.
MS. UH, DEON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
AND, UH, I, I REALLY WOULD HOPE AND PRAY THAT WHAT, UH, MR. MATTHEWS AND HIS STAFF WOULD BEGIN DOING IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS WOULD, UH, TOTALLY ERADICATE YOUR PERSONAL PROBLEM AND, AND YOUR NEIGHBORS IN, IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT HOWEVER EVER WE DID SAY, AND HE DID SAY IT, WE HAVE A CITYWIDE SITUATION HERE, AND NOW IT'S BEING EXACERBATED ALL OVER THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
SO WE DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK YOU, MAYBE YOU JUST PICKED OUT TO BE PICKED ON ON THIS, IN THIS, IN AT THIS TIME, BUT TRUST ME, IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING GOOD IS GONNA COME OUT OF IT.
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OKAY.I DON'T, DON'T THINK THAT PULL THE MIC FOR YOU.
I DON'T THINK THAT, AND, UH, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT I, I DON'T THINK THAT I DON'T GO THAT WAY.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING THE ATTENTION TO THAT.
EVEN THOUGH, UH, TO THE DAY I WAS YESTERDAY, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE TAKING CARE OF IT, BUT I STILL WANTED TO COME IN AND MAKE SURE OF RECORD THAT YOU HAVE IT ON RECORD, THAT WE HAVE IT.
AND I'VE BEEN TAKING PICTURES OF EVERYTHING, UH, WITH THE TISSUE ALL ON THE GROUND.
UH, I HAVE PICTURES INSIDE THE HOUSE, THE THING MAKING NOISE, AND IT, I HAVE SO MANY PICTURES AND, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT WHERE IT IS KNOWN AND IT'S ON RECORD THAT YOU KNOW, OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVING.
AND SO THAT THE, NOT ONLY JUST 'CAUSE THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF IT, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT IS TAKEN CARE OF, NOT JUST FOR MYSELF, BUT ALSO FOR MY NEIGHBORS, BECAUSE THIS IS SOIL AND THIS IS WHY WAY BACK IN HISTORY, THEY CAME UP WITH THE SOIL TO TRY TO STOP PEOPLE FROM GETTING SICK.
AND THAT, THAT'S, THIS IS WHEN PEOPLE REALLY ACTUALLY CAN GET SICK.
BECAUSE IF YOU IN YOUR HOUSE, YOU DON'T WANNA LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE AND YOU SMELLING SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR YOU TRYING TO TAKE A SHOWER AND STUFF COMING UP IN YOUR, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE LIKE THAT? THAT'S DANGEROUS.
AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS.
I'M A PREVENTIVE PERSON AND I'VE HAD A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH.
BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I DO NOT WANT NO PROBLEM WITH MY HEALTH BECAUSE OF A SEWER PROBLEM.
SO THAT, THAT IS MY WHOLE BIG THING.
WE HAVE CHILDREN ON THAT STREET.
THE LADY NEXT DOOR TO ME, YOUNG LADY THAT'S, THAT'S RENTING NEXT DOOR, SHE'S BUYING ALL TYPE OF BOTTLED WATER BECAUSE SHE SAYS SHE'S SCARED FOR HER KIDS TO BRUSH THEIR TEETH, SHE SAID, AND SHE, THE SMELL AND STUFF IS SO STRONG.
I EVEN HAD GOT TO THE POINT, I WAS SO TIRED OF IT.
I WENT TO A HOTEL INSTEAD FOR TWO DAYS.
I JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE BEING BOTHERED FOR THE HOLIDAY.
I DIDN'T EVEN LET MY CHILDREN COME HOME BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT MY NEW LITTLE GRANDCHILDREN, ALL MY GRANDCHILDREN THERE, ALL MY TWO KIDS THERE.
I SAID, DON'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT IT.
AND SO I COULDN'T FLUSH THE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE WHOLE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.
SO THAT'S WHEN I JUST GOT, THAT WAS IT.
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE WHAT HE'S DOING AND I'LL, I'LL SEE HOW IT GO.
UH, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY, EXCUSE ME, PRESENTATIONS, UH, CITY MANAGER STAFF OR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION OR, BUT I, EXCUSE ME,
[III.D. Employee Recognition]
THERE IS ONE EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION.UH, WITH, UH, ON TODAY, UH, THE ARTHUR STILLWELL AWARD WAS PRESENTED AT THE, UH, GREATER PORT ARTHUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND, UH, THIS AWARD IS PRESENTED TO SOMEONE WHO EXHIBITS THE VISION AND THE DEDICATION OF ARTHUR E STILLWELL, WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
AND TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE DO HAVE THE 2025 RECIPIENT HERE IN OUR AUDIENCE, IN THE PERSON OF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PORT ARTHUR VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU, MS. TAMMY KATU AND MS. CANON, WOULD YOU COME UP PLEASE WITH YOUR AWARD IF YOU HAVE IT? AND I LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS AWARD.
IT IS AN, AN APPRECIATED, UH, I GUESS GESTURE, IF YOU WILL, OF ALL OF YOUR WORK AND YOUR TEAM'S WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN PROMOTING PORT ARTHUR GLOBALLY.
YOUR EFFORTS HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR COUNTY HAVE ACTUALLY RESULTED IN OUR CITY RECEIVING NUMEROUS, UH, RECOGNITIONS AND EVEN BEING PROCLAIMED WHAT? AND I ASKED FOR THE, UH, UH, THE ENT OF, OF THAT OUGHT TO BE PLACED DOWNSTAIRS, UH, THE CAJUN CAPITAL, TEXAS.
AND THAT WAS WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE.
SO WE KNOW THAT THE AUTHOR STILLWELL AWARD, AND I THINK I TOLD YOU THIS TODAY, IT WAS A LONG OVERDUE, THANK YOU FOR YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
SO THIS COUNCIL APPLAUDS YOU FOR DOING THAT, AND YOU ARE BASICALLY A EMPLOYEE.
SO THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO DO IT RIGHT HERE.
AND WE THANK AND DID TODAY IN MY SPEECH, I DID THANK, UH, CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER BECAUSE Y'ALL ALLOW US TO DO OUR JOB.
AND, UH, MY BOARD OF DIRECTORS LED BY JUDGE FLOYD ALLOWS US TO DO OUR JOB AND HELPS US.
IT WAS IN MY SPEECH, AND I GOT A LITTLE LOST IN MY SPEECH AND I LEFT OUT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.
I WORK WITH SOME GREAT DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT, YOU KNOW, WAY FINDING, BUT ALL SORTS OF PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON PARKS, PLEASURE ISLAND.
UM, I'VE NEVER HAD A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY MANAGER, WITH THE COUNCIL, UM,
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MAYOR AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.UM, SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL ALLOWING ME TO DO OUR JOB.
WOULD COUNCIL HAVE ANY, ANY REMARKS FOR, HOLD ON, HOLD ON A MINUTE.
UH, I THINK OUR PIO WANTS TO TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU OR WITH YOUR AWARD THERE.
NOW THAT WOULD BE THE EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION.
[III.F.(1) A Discussion Regarding Ordinance No. 22-17 On The Port Arthur Coalition For The Homeless Advisory Board (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Beckcom, And Councilmembers Doucet And Kinlaw)]
WE'LL MOVE NOW TO PAGE TWO UNDER DISCUSSIONS, UH, IN ITEM NUMBER ROMAN NUMERAL THREE.AND WE HAVE, UH, ITEM NUMBER ONE, EXCUSE ME, IN DISCUSSIONS.
AND THERE'S A DISCUSSION REGARDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 22 DASH 17 ON THE OF, IT WAS ON THE PORT ARTHUR COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS ADVISORY BOARD.
THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY MAYOR APPROACH HIM BECKHAM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ETT AND KEN LAW, AND WE MAY PROCEED.
UH, EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE IN FRONT OF THEM NOW, UH, A COPY OF ORDINANCE 2217, UH, WITH THE EXHIBIT A ATTACHED TO IT, WHICH DESCRIBES THE PORT ARTHUR COALITION FOR HOMELESS ADVISORY BOARD AS JUST ANOTHER TYPICAL, UH, COMMITTEE LIKE WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
UM, MOST IMPORTANTLY, UH, UNDER THE POWERS IN SECTION 14.702, THE PORT ARTHUR COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS ADVISORY BOARD SHALL MEET ONE TIME PER MONTH.
SINCE THE BOARD IS ADVISORY NATURE, A QUORUM OF MEMBERS IS NOT REQUIRED TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.
THE BOARD WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAKE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING ITS ACTIVITIES AND EFFORTS TO HELP REDUCE HOMELESSNESS IN PORT ARTHUR.
SO WE SHOULD ALSO HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU A LISTING OF ALL OF THE APPOINTEES AND THEIR, UH, THEIR NAMES AND THEIR TERM EXPIRATION DATES.
I WILL NEED TO ASK THOUGH, FOR, UH, DR.
ELLI, I THINK WE HAVE AN INCORRECT EMAIL ADDRESS FOR HER.
SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW OR CITY SECRETARY, IF Y'ALL COULD REACH OUT TO HER TO, TO GET HER CORRECT EMAIL ADDRESS, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
I'LL, UH, TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE EITHER HAS ALREADY BEEN A MEETING SCHEDULED AND A MEETING HAS BEEN HELD, OR THERE IS ONE UPCOMING.
UH, SO WE SHOULD BE GETTING THIS BACK ON TRACK, AS IT SHOULD BE PER THE ORDINANCE 22 DASH 17.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THE MEETING'S BEEN HELD.
UH, I'VE, I'VE HEARD THAT THEY HAD ONE OR IT'S ONE SCHEDULED.
CAN WE GET SOME VALIDATION ON THAT? YES, SIR.
I'LL GET WITH THE MAYOR'S SECRETARY.
CITY SECRETARY, WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER ON THAT? CITY SECRETARY? I COULD, I DIDN'T.
I'LL GET WITH, UH, MS. CHRISTINE TOMORROW AND FIND THAT OUT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER? OKAY, I DO HAVE, I DO HAVE ONE MORE THING.
SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COMMITTEE CAN SET THEIR OWN MEETINGS AT THEIR OWN SCHEDULE, AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE MAYOR OR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OR ANYBODY ELSE.
IS THAT CORRECT? CITY ATTORNEY? THAT IS CORRECT.
THE BOARD WILL SET THEIR OWN SCHEDULE.
I DO BELIEVE THAT BACK ON OCTOBER 24TH, 2023, THE CITY MANAGER DID STATE IN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING THAT THEY HAD ASKED CHRISTIE TO BE A LIAISON TO ASSIST.
UM, BUT THE BOARD IS AN ADVISORY BOARD AND NO QUM IS NEEDED TO ACTUALLY CONDUCT ITS MEETING.
UM, SO THEY CAN COLLECTIVELY GET TOGETHER.
IT'S COMMON THOUGH THAT WE HAVE A CITY STAFF THAT ASSISTS THEM SO THAT THE BURDEN'S NOT PLACED ON ANY ONE PARTICULAR BOARD MEMBER.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
AND AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, AND, UH, THE MEETINGS THAT I THINK THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY ALLUDING TO COUNCILWOMAN IS, IS A MEETING THAT SOMEONE DECIDED AS ANOTHER PERSON.
AND I WOULD, UH, JUST CONFIDENTLY SAY THOSE FOLKS ARE HAVING THOSE MEETINGS, UH, BASICALLY ON YOUR URGING.
AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S, I THINK IT'S BLATANTLY DISRESPECTFUL FROM YOU AND MAYBE EVEN OTHERS.
UH, HISTORICALLY, I KNOW HOW THIS COMMITTEE HAS ACTUALLY OPERATED.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM AND I HAVE NOT TRIED TO BE A GESTAPO OR SOME CZAR IN, UH, THE FORMATION OF THIS COMMITTEE OR EVEN WHEN THE COMMITTEE WOULD MEET.
HOWEVER, EVERYTHING NEEDS SOME FORM OF LEADERSHIP, IF YOU WILL, AND, UH, BEING THE PERSON WAY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE, UH, I BROUGHT THE IDEA, UH, FROM HAVING MET WITH OTHER MAYORS IN OTHER CITIES THAT DEALT WITH HOMELESSNESS THAT DEAL TO DEAL WITH HOMELESSNESS.
SO THAT'S WHY WE HAD EVEN GOTTEN TO THIS IN, UH, WHATEVER YEAR THIS WAS.
[00:30:01]
SIGNED THIS BACK IN, UH, 22 I THINK IT IS, OR, YEAH.UH, THIS ORDINANCE CAME UP, CAME ABOUT, AND, UH, UH, UH, I, I, I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU ARE SAYING IT, BUT I THINK IT'S JUST BLATANT DISRESPECT FOR THE MAYOR LEADERSHIP THAT'S HERE, EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN HAVE WHATEVER SUBJECTIVE OPINIONS YOU MAY WANT TO HAVE FOR THE MAYOR.
UH, I DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY.
I JUST TAKE IT AS PERSONS WHO DON'T WANT TO RESPECT THIS OFFICE.
AND WHAT HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN PRACTICED FROM THIS OFFICE, I DID, UH, DELIVER TO YOU ON LAST MEETING, THE REASONS THAT I WOULD SAY WE HAD NOT OFFICIALLY MET, BECAUSE THE CHARGE THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS COMMITTEE WOULD HAVE, UH, HASN'T TOTALLY BEEN DEFINED BY OUR STATE OR EVEN OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND WE ARE GETTING READY TO GO INTO A FEDERAL CHANGE, LEADERSHIP CHANGE WHERE ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS WOULD ACTUALLY COME INTO PLAY.
HOWEVER, AGAIN, UH, MAYOR PRO TE, SINCE YOU HAVE SUCH A GREAT CONCERN AND THE MAYOR HAS BEEN THE OFFICIAL, OR THE PERSON WHO WAS HANDLING THIS, UH, AND WITH THE EDUCATIONAL LEVEL THAT, UH, YOU DO HAVE, UH, YOU NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS NECESSARY TO CONTACT WHOMEVER HAD BEEN HANDLING IT, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ME OR A PERSON OF YOUR, YOUR, YOUR EDUCATIONAL STATUS.
YOU NEVER THOUGHT FOR ONE MOMENT THAT YOU COULD CALL ME AND MAYBE WE COULD INTELLIGENTLY DISCUSS THIS, RIGHT? I'M ASKING YOU.
NO, I DIDN'T BECAUSE WHEN MY APPOINTEES TOLD ME THAT YOU TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS YOUR COMMITTEE AND THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SET A MEETING, THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO, OKAY.
THAT WAS, THAT IS THE GIST OF WHAT A CONVERSATION THAT I PROBABLY HAD WITH YOUR APPOINTEE WHEN HE DID SOMETHING FROM YOUR BEHEST OF CALLING THE MEETING WITHOUT EVEN INFORMING ME.
I DIDN'T CALL A MEETING MY APPOINTEE TRIED TO CALL A MEETING.
NO, YOUR APPOINT I'M NOT ARGUING.
IF YOU CAN UNDERSTAND, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE COMMANDED A LANGUAGE, SO YOU KNOW WHAT I JUST SAID ON YOUR BEHEST, THAT MEANS THAT YOU URGED HIM TO DO IT.
AND I ALSO KNOW YOU URGED THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DO IS OTHER MEETING.
ALL I'M SAYING, MA'AM, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK ME AT THIS JUNCTION, AT THIS BODY SIZE THE NIGHT THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS SUPPOSED TO HANDLE IT.
BUT UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AS INTELLIGENT HUMANS AND INTELLIGENT BEINGS RESPECTING EACH OTHER, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THESE TYPE PROBLEMS HERE.
NOW, I FORGIVE YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE EVER DONE, AND I KNOW YOU'VE DONE SOME THINGS THAT SOME FOLK MIGHT THINK ARE UNFORGIVABLE HERE, BUT WAIT A MINUTE, POINT OF POINT.
ORDER, STOP THAT POINT OF STOP MOVING SOMETHING ELSE.
I'M THROUGH WITH THE CONVERSATION.
[III.F.(2) A Discussion And Possible Action On The Ordinance Definitions Of “Routine Items” And “Nonroutine Items” For Items To Be Placed On The City Council Agenda(s). (Requested By Councilmember Frank)]
NOW.IT IS A DISCUSSION THERE AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON AN OR ON THE ORDINANCE, UH, DEFINITIONS OF ROUTINE ITEMS AND NON-ROUTINE ITEMS FOR ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA OR AGENDAS.
AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK.
UM, IN, IN OUR, IN OUR DISCUSSIONS, UM, BEFORE, UM, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE, UH, OUR COLLEAGUE, UM, DID NOTE THAT THERE WAS, UM, UH, UH, QUITE THAT THERE WERE QUITE A FEW ITEMS THAT WERE UNDER NON-CONSENT.
UH, AND THAT, UM, UH, THOSE ITEMS, UH, MIGHT BE BETTER, UH, UM, MIGHT BE BETTER DISCUSSED AND OBJECTIVELY LOOKED AT, UH, BY PLACING THEM, UH, UNDER THE NON-CONSENT, UM, UNDER THE NON-CONSENT HEADING ON OUR AGENDAS.
UH, AFTER THAT DISCUSSION, UM, STAFF, UH, WENT, UH, THE OTHER WAY.
AND IN OUR LAST MEETING WE ONLY HAD ONE ITEM, UH, THAT WAS UNDER, UH, NON-CONSENT.
AND SO I, I THINK THAT, UH, WE NEED TO TRY TO, UH, REACH, UM, A HAPPY MEDIUM, UH, AT LEAST, UH, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE.
AND SO I THINK ONE GREAT WAY THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT, UH, AS A COUNCIL, UH, IS THAT WE MIGHT, UH, GIVE SOME DEFINITIONS OF ITEMS THAT ARE ROUTINE AND NON-ROUTINE AND THAT WE MIGHT USE AS A, UM, UH, AS A, AS AN INDICATOR OF WHAT WILL BE PLACED UNDER, UH, NON-CONSENT, UH, BY HAVING,
[00:35:01]
UH, A MONETARY AMOUNT, UH, PLACED UPON THOSE ITEMS. AND SO IT, LET'S JUST SAY FOR THE SAKE OF CONVERSATION, IF AN ITEM IS LESS THAN $100,000, IT MIGHT BE PLACED ON NON-CONSENT.AND IF IT IS OF A ROUTINE NATURE, IT'D BE PLACED UNDER NON-CONSENT.
IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T MATTER IT WHAT IS PLACED UNDER NON-CONSENT BECAUSE ALL, UH, COUNCILMEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO PULL WHATEVER ITEM IT IS ANYWAY.
BUT IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY.
AS WE WERE LOOKING ON LAST WEEK, UM, UM, UH, THERE WERE A BUNCH OF ITEMS THAT THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION ON, UH, AT ALL.
AND WE JUST AUTOMATICALLY, UH, PASSED THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE, THEY WERE PRETTY ROUTINE.
SO I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO CHANGE OUR ORDINANCE, UH, OR ADD TO OUR ORDINANCE, UM, THOSE INDICATORS OF, UH, A ROUTINE NATURE AND THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE, UM, LESS THAN $100,000.
COUNCILMAN DUCEY? YES, I, I AGREE THAT LAST WEEK, UH, THE AGENDA WENT FROM ONE EXTREME TO THE OTHER.
I EVEN QUESTIONED THE MAYOR ABOUT WHY DID IT GO THAT WAY? I SERVED ON COUNCIL THREE DIFFERENT TIMES.
SO THAT MEAN I SERVED WITH A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE EACH TIME I SERVED THERE WAS A DIFFERENT GROUP OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, THIS ORDINANCE HAS BEEN IN PLACE AND I THINK THE ORDINANCE IS CENTERED AROUND MORE SO TRANSPARENCY, BECAUSE IF IT'S $50,000 OR LESS, THEN THOSE ARE THINGS THAT NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL.
BUT WHEN WE START APPROVING THINGS MORE THAN $50,000, THE REASON, UH, THOSE THINGS WERE PROBABLY WRITTEN.
I DIDN'T WRITE THAT ORDINANCE, BUT I SERVED WITH SEVERAL COUNSEL.
AND WHEN I SEE IT, I, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THEY COME WITH THESE 50,000 OR 50,000 MORE.
I THINK, I THINK THEY REALLY DONE IT SO THAT WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT ITEMS THAT'S GONNA BE MORE THAN 50,000, WE MUST READ THEM.
IF WE READ THEM, UH, CITIZENS, CITIZENS GET TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE FIX TO VOTE ON AND HOW MUCH MONEY IS INVOLVED IN WHAT WE GOING TO VOTE ON.
SO REALLY THAT'S THE ONLY THING I COULD GET OUT OF THIS IS TRANSPARENCY.
BECAUSE IF WE HAVE ALL OF THE ITEMS UNDER CONSENT AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT 'EM, THERE AREN'T READ.
AND WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT, LIKE, FOR AN EXAMPLE, AN ITEM FOR 200 AND SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS NEED TO UNDERSTAND, UH, THAT WE ARE DOING THAT, UH, CHANGING IT FROM 50,000 TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
UH, IF THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL CHOOSE TO DO, THEN THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
I WON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTION, BUT I JUST DON'T SEE US CHANGING ORDINANCES WHEN WE HAVEN'T APPLIED THE ORDINANCE.
I THINK IF WE APPLIED THE ORDINANCE THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN, THEN WHAT HAPPENED LAST MEETING WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE I, I ASKED THE MAYOR, I SAID, WERE YOU IN THE AGENDA REVIEW? THEY GOT ABOUT EIGHT ITEMS ON THERE THAT WAS LESS THAN $50,000.
SO THERE WAS NO NEED FOR US TO READ ALL OF THOSE.
IF WE FOLLOWING THE ORDINANCE, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN OVER THERE AND WE COULD HAVE WENT.
'CAUSE ACTUALLY IT WASN'T NO QUESTIONS ABOUT 'EM EITHER.
SO IF WE HAD JUST FOLLOWED THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, THOSE WOULD'VE BEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE AND THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN READ.
SO THAT'S ALL I, AND WHEN I BRING THESE THINGS UP, IT'S NOT MY OPINION, IT'S NOT OUR FIELD.
BUT LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN SERVING ON COUNCIL THREE DIFFERENT TIMES.
A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVERY TIME WE SERVE, WE CAN'T CHANGE THINGS JUST 'CAUSE WE WANT TO DO BIT DIFFERENT.
WE TRY TO SEE, BECAUSE SOME THINGS WE NEED TO CHANGE, TIME CHANGE.
BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE GOING TO INSTITUTE A CHANGE, THAT WE DON'T MESS WITH THE INTENT.
ARE WE CHANGING? 'CAUSE IT'S A NECESSARY CHANGE.
SO RIGHT NOW, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, WE JUST ENTERTAINING WHETHER IT SHOULD BE 50,000 OR A HUNDRED THOUSAND IF I'M CORRECT.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES, SIR.
YOU KNOW, SO ONCE AGAIN, I'M GONNA LEAVE IT UP TO, UH, YOU COUNCILMAN FRANK.
AND UH, TO TELL YOU TRUTH IS NOT GONNA BE A BIG DEAL TO ME.
BUT I'M JUST ASKING, DO WE REALLY NEED TO CHANGE IT FROM 50 TO A HUNDRED? I MEAN, I LIKE TO,
[00:40:02]
I THINK AGAIN, I THINK AGAIN, IT ALLOWS US SOME LATITUDE ABOUT WHAT IT IT, AND IT GIVES US A DIRECTIVE OF WHAT ITEMS WILL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, WE'RE GONNA ALWAYS HAVE A FEW MORE ITEMS THAT ARE GONNA BE MORE THAN $50,000.AND YOU KNOW, AND I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID, TIMES DO CHANGE.
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T GET A COKE AND A, UH, YOU KNOW, A HONEY BUN NOW, YOU KNOW, FOR FIVE HOURS.
I HAVE PULLED SOME INFORMATION FOR THE COUNCIL 'CAUSE I THOUGHT THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED.
UM, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHART PIE CHART UP ABOVE, WE PULLED AGENDA ITEMS FROM JUNE 18TH, 2024 THROUGH DECEMBER 17TH, 2024.
AND AT, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT FIND IT INTERESTING THAT ALMOST 59%, ALMOST 60% OF THE ITEMS ARE ABOVE 50,000.
AND IF YOU TURN TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE YEAH, NO THANKS.
THAT THOSE SAME 154 AGENDA ITEMS YEAH, YOU SEE A LITTLE BETTER.
AND SO THERE ARE SOME NUMBERS THAT TRAVEL AROUND.
I WANNA MENTION THOSE NUMBERS.
25,000, 50,000 AND A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
AND LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT THEY ARE.
25,000 IS ACTUALLY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU GIVE THE AUTHORITY TO THE CITY MANAGER TO ACTUALLY EXPEND WITHOUT HAVING TO COME TO COUNCIL FOR PERMISSION.
THE 50,000 IS THE GENERAL RULE ON WHAT'S CONSIDERED ROUTINE AND NOT ROUTINE.
RIGHT? LESS THAN 50 IS ROUTINE, NOT MORE THAN 50, NOT ROUTINE.
BUT OF COURSE TIME IS GETTING MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE AND THE PRICES ARE RISING.
SO YOU'RE ACTUALLY GONNA SEE A LOT MORE THINGS COME TO YOU IF YOU STICK WITH THE 50,000, I WANNA MENTION TO YOU A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
THERE IS SOME STATE LEGISLATION RIGHT NOW THAT HAS BEEN FILED ON MUNICIPAL PROCUREMENT, UH, ON WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO OUT FOR COMPETITIVE BIDDING.
UH, FOR YEARS AND DECADES IT WAS AT 25,000, ANY MORE THAN 25,000 AND YOU HAD TO PROFESSIONALLY MUNICIPALLY PROCURE AND THEN IT'S GONE UP TO 50,000.
WELL, THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS NOW TRYING TO MOVE THAT TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
SO YOU ARE DEFINITELY IN THE TIMES OF WHERE THINGS ARE EVOLVING AND THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL TAKE DIRECTION ON, ON AN ORDINANCE IF ANY NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
AND WE'LL BE BROUGHT BACK TO YOUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT ON THESE DISCUSSION.
LET ME MAKE THIS COMMENT BEFORE WE GO SO THAT WE CAN SAVE TIME.
WHEN WE COME BACK, WE GONNA, WE GONNA HAVE THE RESOLUTION FOR A HUNDRED, RIGHT? SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO DISCUSSION AT THAT TIME.
IT WILL ACTUALLY BE AN AMENDED ORDINANCE THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
YOU DO A HUNDRED AS A ROUTINE AND HONOR ROUTINE, IF THAT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL DESIRES.
WELL, WE COULD DECIDE ON THAT.
'CAUSE HE HAD THIS FOR ACTION TONIGHT.
SO WE ACTUALLY CAN VOTE RIGHT NOW WITHOUT ANOTHER RESOLUTION QUESTION.
IT'LL ACTUALLY BE AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND, SIR.
SO YOU COULD ACTUALLY GIVE ME TAKE ACTION TO GIVE DIRECTION.
THAT'S WHAT HE'LL HAVE TO MAKE, MAKE A MOTION TONIGHT.
AND THAT WAY YOU JUST DO THE AUDIT.
DO YOU RECOMMEND ATTORNEY? DO YOU RECOMMEND THAT ATTORNEY? I MEAN, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT? YEAH, I, I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT HE'S SAYING.
HOLD, HOLD UP BEFORE COUNCILMAN MCIN LAW HAS THANK YOU, MAYOR AND, AND MY COLLEAGUE, UH, DOUCETTE.
I MEAN, IS THAT WHAT WE WANNA DO TO PUSH IT UP TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND BECAUSE OF THE, THE AGENDA OR, I MEAN, TELL, GIMME SOME, UH, GIMME SOME BACKGROUND OF WHY WE NEED TO DO THAT NOW OR WHY IT'S SO IMPERATIVE WHEN THE LEGISLATION IS GONNA BE CHANGING PRETTY SOON.
HOPEFULLY, AND IT MAY REFLECT THAT.
SO JUST, YOU KNOW, FROM YOUR, WHY WOULD WE WANT TO DO THAT DOWN A HUNDRED K? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I, I DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE TO 50, BUT BASED ON, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK'S DISCUSSION AND THE INFORMATION THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS PROVIDED, THEN I DON'T SEE NO NEED TO OPPOSE IT.
SO, NO, MINE IS LEAVING, BUT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT BASED ON THE INFORMATION SHE JUST SAID.
AND ALSO THE RATIONALE BEHIND IT, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT AND, AND THANK YOU COLLEAGUE, UH, JUST MY THING THAT WE CAN HAVE BETTER CONTROL IF WE KEEP IT AT 50 50 K RIGHT NOW, EVEN THOUGH IT GOES ON THE AGENDA A CERTAIN WAY BELOW AND ABOVE THAT.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST TO HAVE A TIGHTER RING ON WHAT WE SPENDING, HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING, ENSURING THAT IT COMES BEFORE THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, FRANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, FRANK.
WE CAN PULL ANY ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA THAT IF WE HAVE
[00:45:01]
REALLY CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO AND WHY IT'S THE SPENDING THE WAY IT IS.SO, UH, BUT TO HAVE A TIGHTER RING ON, I THINK WE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T JUST LEAVE IT AT 50 K RIGHT NOW AT THIS POINT.
I'M, I'M GONNA TAKE WHAT YOU SAID.
WHAT I WAS HAVING MY GREAT CONVERSATION, I THINK WE'VE REALLY GOTTEN TOTALLY OFF.
OR WHAT, BUT IF IT DISCUSSION, SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT AN ITEM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GONE FROM NOW TO, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT DOING A MOTION FOR, YOU'VE GIVEN US A MYSTERY ON IT, I THINK, BUT IT WAS HERE FOR A DISCUSSION ITEM AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT COUNCILOR DUC SAID IS SAYING, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT EACH PERSON IS SAYING, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY WHAT I THINK YOU SAID AS I SIT AND LISTEN SUBJECTIVELY, I THINK WE'VE GONE A LITTLE FURTHER THAN WHAT MAYBE THE DISCUSSION IS ON THIS, UH, AS, AS IT'S ACTUALLY ON THE AGENDA.
AND TO FURTHER CLARIFY, I THINK THE AGENDA, ADAM, IS HERE BECAUSE OF HOW THE AGENDA WAS SET UP AT THE LAST MEETING.
UH, MY BEING THE MAYOR ALL THESE YEARS, I HAD NEVER HAD ONE LIKE THAT.
HOWEVER, IT DID FLOW IN A CERTAIN, IN, IN A PROPER WAY.
AND I'VE SEEN US WITHDRAW AN ITEM FOR $50.
OKAY? SO I KNOW IF WE PUT TOO MANY ITEMS ON THERE AT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, THEY'RE GONNA STILL GET WITHDRAWN BECAUSE, SO I I, UNLESS I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS IN THE WRONG WAY OR I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING IT AT ALL, WHAT I BELIEVE THE, THE, THE DISCUSSION IS BECAUSE OF HOW IT WAS HANDLED LAST WEEK, WHICH I WOULD ASCRIBE TO WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO ME BY YOU BEING MY ATTORNEY AND OUR CITY SECRETARY AS YOU ALL PREPARED, THE, UH, AGENDA REVIEW, YOU KNOW, FOR THE MAYOR SO I COULD GO OVER WHATEVER IT IS WE GOING TO DISCUSS.
AND I SAW IT AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD, IT, IT WOULD HANDLE PROPERLY.
NOW I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY'S POINTS ON IT, BUT WHAT IT DID WAS ALLOWED US TO INDIVIDUALLY DISCUSS EACH ITEM THAT WAS ON FOR THAT NIGHT.
THE WAIT, IT NORMALLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE IT FROM CONSENT TO NON-CONSENT.
AND, AND WHEN WE, WE HAVE THE, UH, DISCRETION TO WITHDRAW IT, TO DISCUSS IT INDIVIDUALLY, MAYOR.
SO IT WAS ALL JUST DONE INDIVIDUALLY.
MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UM, CHANGE THE ORDINANCE TO DEFINE ROUTINE AND NON-ROUTINE, UM, BY, UH, THE ADDITION OF 100,000, UH, UH, DOLLARS, UM, ON OUR ORDINANCE AND THAT WE WOULD DIRECT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DO SO.
AND SECOND, THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE, UH, MOTION, UH, AS STATED BY COUNCILMAN FRANKLIN.
READY FOR QUESTION? THERE ARE ANY, ANY QUESTIONS READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
I THINK WE HAVE TWO NAYS AND THREE OR FOUR AYES.
SO IT WOULD BE APPROVED CITY SECRETARY.
[V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST (LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF TWO (2) MINUTES PER COUNCILMEMBER)]
WERE MOVED TO, UH, NORMAL NUMERAL FIVE, WHICH DEALS WITH REPORTS OF, OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.AND ALSO I DO HAVE, UH, UH, SOMETHING TO REPORT, UH, FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON COMMUNITY INTEREST.
THAT WOULD BE THAT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TODAY WAS ACTUALLY RECOGNIZED BY THE, UH, GREATER PORT ARTHUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, UH, FOR 2025, BEING A 70 PLUS YEAR MEMBER IN THE CHAMBER HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND ALSO WE'D LIKE TO THANK MR. JOE TENT, THE, UH, PRESIDENT, CEO AND, UH, HIS BOARD AND THE ENTIRE STAFF OVER AT THE, UH, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THIS GREAT RECOGNITION FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
COUNCILMAN FRANK? OH NO, IT WAS, OH, OKAY.
ANY, ANY OTHER COUNCILPERSON? IF THERE BE NONE, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO, UH, THE CONSENT
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]
AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING.CONSENT AGENDA IS FROM PAGE THREE.
UH, I THINK, YEAH, THAT'S ALL IT IS.
UH, PAGE THREE THROUGH, UH, FOUR.
AND, AND THEN WE WILL START ON NON-CON CONSENT.
SO WE HAVE TWO ITEMS FOR, UH, CONSENT.
MAY I GET A MOTION? COUNCILMAN ETT.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN
AND SECOND, THEN WE WOULD APPROVE
[00:50:01]
THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.UH, WE READY FOR QUESTION? QUESTION.
AND YOU WOULD WANT THOSE? PULL.
AND BECAUSE I, I WAS TAKING A MOTION OF IT.
UH, IS THIS COUNCILMAN UC? SO, UH, THESE TWO WOULD BE REMOVED.
SO A MOTION FOR THIS ONE? THIS ONE ITEM? UH, UH, WHICH IS C IF I'M, UH, YEAH.
[VII.A.(A1) Councilmember Thomas Kinlaw: National League Of Cities City Summit Tampa, Florida November 12 – 16, 2024 $3,542.70 ]
ON PAGE THREE, UH, A ONE WITH COUNCILMAN THOMAS.KEN LAWS, UH, NATIONAL EAGLE CITY, UH, SUMMIT TAMPA, FLORIDA.
MAY I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVE.
MAY I GET A SECOND, UH, COUNCILWOMAN EVER FIELD? THANK YOU.
IT IS MOVED AND SECONDARY WITH APPROVED, UH, A ONE AS PRESENTED.
WE'RE READY NOW, UH, FOR QUESTION.
WHY, WHY ARE WE PUTTING THIS ONE ON HERE? THEY, THESE ARE PRE-APPROVED.
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT? UH, GOOD QUESTION.
THEY'RE PRE-APPROVED, BUT HOWEVER, UH, WITH MY PARTICULAR TRAVEL, YOU SEE THAT IT'S 35.
UM, THEY CHARGED ME FOR AN EXTRA DAY.
UH, I'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH, UH, CHRISTIE AND THE, AND, UH, THE HOTEL FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE 17TH.
SO THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT.
UH, BUT, UH, EITHER WAY THAT MONEY WILL BE RETURNED BACK TO, UH, UH, THE CITY.
OKAY? BUT, UH, WE DID TALK WITH THE MANAGEMENT, BUT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE ACCOUNTING PROCESS BECAUSE IT, UH, IT CLOSED OUT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? READY? VOTE.
ALL ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES? I SAID OKAY.
[VII.A.(A2) Councilmember Donald Frank: National League Of Cities City Summit Tampa, Florida November 12 – 16, 2024 $3,213.90 ]
UH, FOR COUNCIL MEMBER.BUT I, I STILL, I DIDN'T CALL 'EM BOTH OUT, SO THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY I'M GOING THROUGH IT.
I WAS HOPING WE GET THE SAME RESULT.
OKAY, SO NATIONAL LEGAL CITIES, UH, FOR CITY SUMMIT IN TAMPA, FLORIDA AND HIS PAYOUT BEING 3002 13 NINE MAKE IT A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
MOVE THE SECOND EVERY WOULD APPROVE A TWO AS PRESENTED HERE ON THE PRESENT AGENDA.
READY? IF QUESTION UNDER QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
NOW WHEN WE GO TO PAGE FOUR, PAGE FOUR FOR
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 24058 – A Resolution Informing The City Council And The Citizens Of Port Arthur, Texas, Of The Submission Of The Texas Opioid Settlement Subdivision Participation And Release Form Pursuant To The Kroger Texas Settlement Agreement And Full Release Of All Claims ]
THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA BEGINNING AT A AND NUMBER ONE ARE ITEM ONE BEING PR NUMBER 2 4 0 5 8 A RESOLUTION INFORMING THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR TEXAS OF THE SUBMISSION OF THE TEXAS OPIOID SETTLEMENT, UH, SUBDIVISION PARTICIPATION AND RELEASE FORM PURSUANT TO THE KROGER, TEXAS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND FULL RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS. MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KINLAW? SO MAYOR, MAY I GET A, A SECOND COUNCILOR, FRANK, IT HAS BEEN, IT'S BEEN MOVED.AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE RESOLUTION 2 40 58.
ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION? COUNCILWOMAN BECKER? YES, I HAVE A QUESTION AND I'M NOT SURE WHO CAN ANSWER THIS, BUT IN LOOKING AT SECTION FIVE, IT STATES THAT ALL PHONES RECEIVED THROUGH THE SETTLEMENT SHALL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR OPIOID RELATED PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND INITIATIVES CONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND ANY APPLICABLE LAWS OR REGULATIONS.
SO MY QUESTION IS, DO WE HAVE THESE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, UH, ESTABLISHED AND IN EFFECT RIGHT NOW? OR DO WE NEED TO ESTABLISH THESE PROGRAMS? WE ARE, I'M WORKING WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND I'M LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF WORKING WITH GULF COAST, UM, HEALTH SERVICES TO SEE WHETHER WE COULD AND AS WELL AS OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHETHER WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING.
YEAH, SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE COLLECTING.
WE HAVE SOME FUNDS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECEIVED, SO WE ARE PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER.
OKAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY READINESS THERE? ANY WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY PROPOSALS, AYES AB ORDERED PER OR NUMBER 2 40 58 WE IS APPROVED AS RED.
[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 24092 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With Impact Promotional Services, LLC DBA Got You Covered Work Wear & Uniforms Of Fort Worth, Texas, Pursuant To BuyBoard Contract No. 670-22, For The Procurement Of Fire Department Uniforms With A Projected Budgetary Impact Not To Exceed $65,000.00; Funding Is Available In Fire Department Uniforms Account No. 001-19-047-5251-00-30-000]
TWO, WHICH IS PR NUMBER 2 40 92.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH IMPACT PROMOTIONAL SERVICES L-L-C-D-B-A.
GOT YOU COVERED WORK, WEAR AND UNIFORMS OF FOR FORT TEXAS PURSUANT TO BY BOARD
[00:55:01]
CONTRACT NUMBER SIX 70 DASH 22 FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF FIVE DEPARTMENT UNIFORMS WITH A PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT NOT TO EXCEED $65,000.FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE FIVE DEPARTMENT UNIFORMS. ACCOUNT NUMBER 0 0 1 DASH NINE DASH 0 4 7 DASH 5 2 5 1 DASH 0 3 0 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVE OF COUNCILMAN DEUCE? MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, BECKHAM SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 40 92 AS PRESENTED.
WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION ON ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A.
SO IS APPROVED PR NUMBER 2 40 92 AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 24101 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Letter Of Engagement With Pattillo, Brown And Hill, LLP, As Independent Auditor For The City Of Port Arthur With A Projected Budgetary Impact Of $120,000.00 For The Year Ending September 30, 2024. Finance Department FY24-25 Account For Professional Services #001-07-015-5420-00-10-000]
NUMBER THREE, PR NUMBER 2 4 1, 0 1.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT WITH UH, PATILLO BROWN AND HILL LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WITH A PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $120,000 FOR THE YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
FINANCE DEPARTMENT FISCAL YEAR 24, 25.
ACCOUNT FOR A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ACCOUNT NUMBER 0 0 1 DASH ZERO SEVEN DASH 0 1 5 DASH FIVE TWO, I MEAN, EXCUSE ME.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KINLOCK? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND.
IF THE MOVED AND SECOND THEN WE WOULD APPROVE P NUMBER 20.
WE ARE READY FOR QUESTION THE, ARE THE QUESTIONS READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO ORDERED PR NUMBER 2 41 0 1 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 24102 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Accept And Appropriate The Fiscal Year 2025 Project Safe Neighborhood Block Grant Program (PSN) Funding In The Amount Of $91,000.00, In Fund 107 Pending Approval Of Budget Amendment P.O. 7306]
WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS P NUMBER 2 41 0 2.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM PSN FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $91,000 IN FUND 1 0 7 PENDING APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT PO O 73, UH, ZERO SIX.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILWOMAN EVER FILL? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 41 0 2 AS PRESENTED.
THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS, YOU'RE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES? THE AYES HAVE IT.
SO IT IS APPROVED PR NUMBER 2 41 0 2 AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(5) P.R. No. 24104 – A Resolution Adopting A Policy In Compliance With S.B. 1893 To Prohibit The Installation And Require The Removal Of TikTok Or Other Covered Applications On Devices Owned Or Leased By The City Of Port Arthur ]
PR NUMBER 2 41 0 4.IT IS A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A POLICY IN COMPLIANCE WITH SENATE BILL 1893 TO PROHIBIT THE INSTALLATION AND REQUIRE THE REMOVAL OF TIKTOK OR OTHER COVERED APPLICATIONS ON DEVICES OWNED OR LEASED BY THE CITY OF PORT AUTHOR.
MAY I GET A, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KINLOCK SECOND MAYOR, IT IS MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PRE NUMBER 2 4 1 0 4 AS PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS.
WE READY TO, UH, VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO PR NUMBER 2 4 1 0 4 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7302 – An Ordinance Amending The City Of Port Arthur, Texas Code Of Ordinances By Adding Chapter 22, Article XIII Short Term Rentals, Section 22-670 Through 22-674 To Require Short Term Rentals To Register And Obtain A City Permit To Operate; Setting Minimum Standards Of Conduct To Operate; Requiring Short Term Rentals To Pay Hotel Occupancy Taxes To The City; Providing A Penalty For A Violation; Providing A Savings And Severability Clause; And Providing An Effective Date ]
IN THE NON-CONSENT, UH, AGENDAIT IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ADDING CHAPTER 22.
ARTICLE 13, SHORT TERM RENTALS SECTION 22 DASH SIX 70 THROUGH 22 DASH 6 74 TO REQUIRE SHORT TERM RENTALS TO REGISTER AND OBTAIN A CITY PERMIT TO OPERATE SETTING MINIMUM STANDARDS OF CONDUCT TO OPERATE, REQUIRING SHORT TERM RENTALS TO PAY HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES TO THE CITY OF
[01:00:01]
PORT ARTHUR, PROVIDING A PENALTY FOR A VIOLATION, PROVIDING A SAVINGS AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN BECKHAM? MAY I GET A, A SECOND COUNCILMAN KINLOCK SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AT PO NUMBER 73 0 2 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
UM, SO I, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
ONE IS, UM, IS THERE A PLAN IN PLACE FOR THOSE PLACES THAT FLY UNDER THE RADAR, SO TO SPEAK, AND THEY'RE NOT LISTED ON VRBO OR AIRBNB OR STAY APARTMENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THOSE EXIST IN THE CITY.
THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM, IF YOU MAY ALLOW ME AND MAYOR, I'D LIKE FOR TAMMY, OUR DIRECTOR OF CVB, TO COME UP AND GIVE US A PRESENTATION ON SOME SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND THEN WE'LL ALSO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO TALK ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ORDINANCE.
AND THEN IF PERHAPS YOUR QUESTIONS AREN'T ANSWERED BY THAT, I CAN DO SO.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
WHICH ONE DO I USE THAT, UM, WE HAVE BEEN MONITORING OVER THE YEARS THE NUMBER OF SHORT TERM RENTALS IN THE CITY.
SO FOUR YEARS AGO WE HAD 17, UM, THAT WERE ON THE DIFFERENT PLATFORMS. IN 2023 WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 50.
THAT NUMBER HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY.
AND IN NOVEMBER, JUST FROM AIRBNB AND VRBO, UM, I WAS ABLE TO TRACK 95.
THAT WAS JUST FROM THOSE TWO PLATFORMS. SO THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PLATFORMS. SO MORE THAN LIKELY WE'RE IN THE A HUNDRED PLUS RANGE.
UM, SO THIS SLIDE, AND I BELIEVE THE CITY, UM, ATTORNEY DID HAVE IT FOR Y'ALL IN UM, EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THIS JUST KIND OF GOES OVER THOSE THAT, UM, HOW MANY WE CURRENTLY DO HAVE, WE HAVE A 7% LOCAL HOTEL TAX IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THE WAY AIRBNB, VRBO, UM, THOSE TYPE OF PLATFORMS, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO COLLECT STATE HOTEL TAX.
THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO COLLECT THE LOCAL HOTEL TAX.
THE CITY MUST, UM, PASS THE ORDINANCE TO DO SO.
THERE ARE SOME COST INVOLVED OF COLLECTIONS AND EVERYTHING.
SO UNTIL YOU GET TO A CERTAIN NUMBER, UM, OF THEM IN YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO DECIDE IF IT'S VIABLE TO REALLY PURSUE THIS.
UM, WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY APPROACHING ME, UM, WHEN SHE CAME AND ASKING ME ABOUT IT, THAT WAS WHEN I WENT BACK AND RECOUNTED.
AND WE DO THINK IT'S A VIABLE PROPOSITION THAT WE COULD MAKE MONEY.
THE RANGE OF PROPERTIES ARE SINGLE, UH, UH, TO DEFINE A SHORT TERM RENTAL FOR THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE CITY COUNCIL'S AWARE OF IT.
IT COULD BE A WHOLE ENTIRE HOUSE, A ROOM IN A HOUSE, IT COULD BE A GARAGE APARTMENT, IT COULD BE A, UM, A RENTAL UNIT BEHIND THE PROPERTY ON THE DWELLING AND ACCESSORY BUILDING IS HOW IT'S DEFINED.
AND I BELIEVE YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL'S BEEN GIVING THOSE, THAT THAT DEFINITION.
BUT THAT'S WHAT A SHORT TERM RENTAL IS TYPICALLY LEASED FOR LESS THAN 30 DAYS.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.
AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S NOT MONITORED, UM, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
SO WE HAVE SINGLE ROOM DWELLINGS, CONDOMINIUMS, APARTMENTS, STUDIOS, TOWN HOMES, OTHER RENTAL UNITS THAT DIDN'T FALL INTO THOSE CATEGORIES.
SO WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM $38 FOR A ROOM IN SOMEONE'S HOME UP TO $717, WHICH IS ONE OF THE HOMES ON A COUPLE OF THE HOMES ON PLEASURE ISLAND THAT ARE MORE FISHING TYPE, UH, RENTALS.
SO, AND I JUST GAVE SOME DIFFERENT EXAMPLES OF THIS IS A SINGLE ROOM.
THERE'S CURRENTLY 14 OF THOSE LISTED ON THOSE TWO PLATFORMS, AND THOSE GO FOR 38 TO 95 PER NIGHT.
NOW A $38 NIGHT WOULD BRING $2 AND 2 CENTS IS THE 7% OCCUPANCY TAX FOR THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU GET TO A BIG TOTAL OF ALL THIS, THE NUMBER CERTAINLY RISES CONDOS.
WE HAVE APARTMENT STUDIOS AND TOWN HOMES.
UH, THERE'S EIGHT, BUT WE DO HAVE A HOTEL THAT'S LISTING SOME OF THEIR ROOMS ON THAT AS WELL.
RENTAL UNITS, WE EVEN HAVE A BOAT.
SO THE ONES THAT DIDN'T FALL INTO OTHER CATEGORIES, IN MY OPINION, WE HAD 17.
THOSE RANGE FROM 90 TO 1 42 A NIGHT.
AND THEN WE HAVE ENTIRE HOMES AND THOSE RANGE FROM $50
[01:05:01]
TO $717 PER NIGHT.SO HAVING SAID THAT, WHEN YOU DO THE CALCULATIONS, OUR CITY RUNS ABOUT A 70% OCCUPANCY NOW ON MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, THAT'S MUCH HIGHER, USUALLY 90 TO A HUNDRED, BUT WE CAN SLIDE OFF SOME UH, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY.
IF YOU TAKE ALL OF THESE, THESE 95 THAT I WAS ABLE TO TRACK BACK IN NOVEMBER AND YOU ESTIMATE A 70% OCCUPANCY TAX ON WHAT THOSE RENTALS ARE, WE WOULD AVERAGE ABOUT $200,000 IN OCCUPANCY TAX FOR THE CITY, WHICH WOULD BE 7%.
NOW, SOME OF THOSE ARE RENTING THE 30 DAYS AND MORE.
I'M SURE THERE'S NO WAY FOR ME TO KNOW THAT.
AND IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, 31 DAYS AND MORE IS YOU'RE EXEMPT FROM LOCAL HOTEL TAX.
NOW WE CAN CERTAINLY, THAT CAN BE WRITTEN INTO THE, OR, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL PART OF THE ORDINANCE.
SO WE COULD, IF WE ESTIMATED 50% WERE STAYING LONGER THAN 30 DAYS AND THEY DID NOT HAVE TO PAY THAT, WE WOULD STILL BE COLLECTING OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN HOTEL, ADDITIONAL HOTEL TAX.
SO IN MY OPINION AND IN MY GOING THROUGH THE NUMBERS, I WAS ABLE TO SAY LEGITIMATELY A HUNDRED TO $200,000 IN ADDITIONAL HOTEL TAX.
I THINK THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW THE NUMBER OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO I BELIEVE IT'S JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND POSSIBLE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A VIABLE SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE CITY, I BELIEVE.
AND I BELIEVE THE CITY ATTORNEY WHEN SHE APPROACHED ME ABOUT THIS TO ASK ME WHAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY, I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT MR. BURTON, THAT IT IS A VIABLE SOURCE AND THERE'S OTHER REVENUE STREAMS INVOLVED IN THIS AS WELL.
THERE ARE ALSO SOME EXPENSES, BUT, AND I BELIEVE PAM LANGFORD IS GOING TO COVER THAT PART OF IT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
UM, AGAIN, CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER AND HOPEFULLY APPROVE THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE 7 3 0 2, ESTABLISHING SHORT TERM RENTALS HERE WITHIN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
UPON APPROVE OF THIS ORDINANCE, STAFF THEN WOULD MOVE FORWARD IN DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO ENSURE THE EFFECTIVE ROLLOUT AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDINANCE.
THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WOULD INCLUDE SUCH ITEMS SUCH AS OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.
WE WOULD BEGIN BY INFORMING PROPERTY OWNERS, REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE NEW REQUIREMENTS AND WORKSHOPS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, MAILING SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS AND LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS.
WE ALSO WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO A REGISTRATION SYSTEM, UM, ESTABLISHING AN ONLINE PORTAL FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO REGISTER THEIR SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES, PAY FEES AND APPLY FOR PERMITS, ENSURING AN EFFICIENT AND USER FRIENDLY PROCESS.
WE WOULD LOOK AT ENGAGEMENT WITH THOSE ONLINE PLATFORMS THAT MS. TAMMY JUST SPOKE OF SUCH AS AIRBNB AND VRBO.
UM, WE WOULD CONTACT THE MAJOR SHORT TERM RENTAL PLATFORMS, UM, TO EXPLORE AGREEMENTS FOR LOCAL HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, UM, COLLECTION AND REMITTANCE.
THIS STEP WOULD SIMPLIFY TAX COMPLIANCE FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND IMPROVE REVENUE COLLECTION FOR THE CITY.
WE ALSO WOULD LOOK AT THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS DEVELOPING A SYSTEM FOR MONITORING COMPLIANCE, ADDRESSING COMPLAINTS AND ISSUING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS IF THESE OWNERS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S ORDINANCE.
THERE WILL ALSO NEED TO BE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION INVOLVING RELEVANT CITY DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS CODE ENFORCEMENT PLANNING AND ZONING TO ENSURE THAT THESE SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE GOING IN AREAS THAT ARE PROPERLY ZONED FOR THEM.
UM, WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT FINANCING AND PUBLIC SAFETY TO ENSURE SEAMLESS INTEGRATION OF THE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS INTO EXISTING CITY OPERATIONS.
AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO LOOK AT EVALUATION METRICS, WHICH IS SETTING BENCHMARKS AND TIMELINES TO MONITOR THE ORDINANCES EFFECTIVENESS, INCLUDING METRICS FOR COMPLIANCE RATES, REVENUE COLLECTION AND COMMUNITY SATISFACTION STAFF IS PROPOSING A TARGET DATE OF MAY 1ST OF THIS YEAR TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE ORDINANCE.
THIS TIMELINE WOULD ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO DEVELOP THE NECESSARY SYSTEMS PUBLIC CONDUCT PUBLIC OUTREACH AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE READINESS.
APPROVE OF THIS ORDINANCE WILL SUPPORT THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO REGULATE SHORT-TERM RENTALS, ENSURING THEY ALIGN WITH THE COMMUNITY STANDARDS AND CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
UH, COUNCILMAN ETT HAS SOMETHING.
[01:10:02]
WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE OUT.NOW, LISTEN TO YOUR IMPLEMENT, UH, IMPLEMENTATION AND STUFF, BUT COLLECTION.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOKED AT TAMMY'S YES, SIR.
PORTION OF IT, SHE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLE 200 AND THEN PROBABLY A HUNDRED, UH, COLLECTIONS.
SO BASICALLY WHAT I GET BY THAT IS PROBABLY 50% OF WHAT WE GET IS GOING TO GO TO SOMEBODY TO COLLECT.
THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE IS THE COLLECTION AGENCY.
ARE THEY JUST GOING TO DO LIKE MOST TIME JUST REQUEST THAT INFORMATION FROM THEM AND WHATEVER THEY SUBMIT, THAT'S WHAT THEY GO TO? BECAUSE I GO TO THE REAL WORLD WITH HOT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, THE TAXES THAT WE CHARGE HOTELS.
I STILL THINK, I STILL DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S ACCURATE.
I THINK IT'S LIKE A BARBER BECAUSE CUTS ONE HAIR TO CLAIM FOR IRS INCOME AND THE OTHER HAIR, THE OTHER HEAD IS FOR HIM.
BECAUSE NOBODY IS THERE TO ENSURE THAT EVERY HEAD HE CUT IS COMING.
SO I LOOK AT SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE AND IN ORDER TO REALLY GAIN FROM IT, BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT, I'M WONDERING HOW MUCH, HOW MANY PEOPLE WE GOING TO DEDICATE TO THIS.
I'M TALKING STAFF IMPLEMENTING THIS.
I'M TALKING SOMEBODY GOING, NOW THAT I REALLY HEAR AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS IS ABOUT NOW I REALLY BELIEVE IS THAT WORTH US OUR TIME AT THE END OF THE DAY? YOU KNOW, BECAUSE AT FIRST IT KIND OF SEEMED PRETTY LOGICAL THAT WE GET SOME MONEY AND, AND SOMETHING BETTER THAN THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU TELL ME I GOTTA PAY FOR SOMEBODY TO COLLECT IT, NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM ON IT.
'CAUSE I'M TALKING 50% AND THEN MY 50%, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I'M GETTING 50% OR WHETHER I'M BEING SCAMMED BY WHOEVER IT IS REPORTING.
LIKE I SAID, NOBODY'S HERE THIS WEEK, BUT SOMEBODY THERE.
AND IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY UH, DOING THAT POLICING THAT, THEN IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT WHAT IT IS.
SO YOU ALL GOTTA REALLY GET ME TO FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT US GOING THIS ROUTE AND MAKING SOMETHING THAT IS WORTH THE TIME AND EFFORT.
I MAY HAVE NOT BEEN EXTREMELY, UM, I MAY HAVE KIND OF NOT EXPLAINED IT QUITE RIGHT.
SO 200,000 IS MY ESTIMATE OF, OF THE HIGHER END.
UM, AND IT COULD GO UP AS WE AS MORE AIRBNBS, AS MORE SHORT TERM RENTALS COME ON.
THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND THAT I MENTIONED IS IF 50% OF THE PROPERTIES ARE LETTING PEOPLE STAY 31 DAYS OR MORE.
BECAUSE THEN LIKE FOR INSTANCE, IF I CHECKED INTO ONE AND STAYED 31 DAYS AND THEN ASKED TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE HOTEL TAX, SO THAT WOULD BE THAT I REALLY FEEL THE NUMBER IS CLOSER.
SO I WAS TRYING TO GIVE YOU A VERY LOW END AND I WAS TRYING TO GIVE YOU WHAT PROBABLY IS MORE THAN LIKELY.
BUT BECAUSE I DON'T, BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO CALCULATE HOW MANY PEOPLE STAY 30 DAYS OR MORE.
NOW, YESTERDAY PAM AND I RUN, WE'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL CITIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY DOING THIS, BUT YESTERDAY PAM AND I WERE ON A CALL WITH LEAGUE CITY WHO JUST WENT THROUGH THIS AND AIRBNB AND VRBO IF THE CITY DOES AGREEMENTS WITH THOSE PLATFORMS, AND THOSE ARE TWO SPECIFIC ONES, THEY WILL DO THE COLLECTIONS FOR THE CITY AND THERE IS NO FEE.
THEY GIVE THE FUNDS TO THE CITY EVERY 90 DAYS AND SO THEY COLLECT IT.
THE ONLY NEGATIVE IS IT WOULD NOT BE BY ADDRESS.
SO, AND CONFIRM IF I'M CORRECT, THEY WOULD GIVE YOU AN AMOUNT, LET'S SAY $20,000 AND THAT'S YOUR QUARTERLY HOTEL TAX FROM WHOEVER'S ON AIRBNB.
UM, THEY ARE ALSO USING, UM, AND NOT TO MENTION JUST A LEAGUE CITY, BUT SOME OTHER CITIES ARE ALSO USING A COMPANY CALLED RENTAL SCAPE.
AND THEY ARE THE, UH, THEY'RE A PLATFORM THAT TRACKS THE NUMBER AND MAKES SURE THEY ARE ALL IN COMPLIANCE AND THERE'S NOT ANYONE FLYING UNDER THE RADAR AS WHAT, AS WHAT YOU ASKED.
SO THIS COMPANY CALLED RENTAL SCAPE IS DOING THAT.
I DO NOT KNOW ALL THE PARTICULARS BECAUSE THIS REALLY WAS JUST A CONVERSATION YESTERDAY ABOUT THAT.
BUT THEY ARE THE ONES KIND OF CATCHING THAT.
[01:15:01]
THE FEES, I THINK SOME OF THE MAJOR FEES, YOU KNOW, AND I'LL LET PAM TALK ABOUT THE FEES THAT THE CITY EMPLOYEES WOULD, IT WOULD TAKE FOR A CITY EMPLOYEE.BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A COUPLE OF THE PLATFORMS WOULD DO THE COLLECTIONS, UM, FOR YOU.
NOW WE CURRENTLY USE A COMPANY CALLED AVENUE FOR HOTEL TAX, UM, AND THERE IT'S NOT A HUGE FEE FOR WHAT THEY DO.
UM, BUT THEY, UM, SO THERE'S DIFFERENT AVENUES THE CITY CAN GO ONCE THE ORDINANCE IS PASSED.
BUT LET ME LET PAM TALK ABOUT THE COST INVOLVED IN THE OTHER PORTION.
WELL, WELL, WELL I'M NOT TOO CONCERNED WITH THE DETAIL.
IT'S JUST IN GENERAL BECAUSE THESE QUESTIONS I'M GONNA ASK IT, IT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M LOOKING AT THE WHOLE SYSTEM YOU PRESENTED TO ME AND, AND, AND I SEE YOU SAY MONEY, BUT THE OVERHEAD AND WHAT IT ENTAILS, I'M NOT GETTING THE TRUE PICTURE TO SAY THAT IS WORTH THE MONEY AND THE HEADACHE MAYOR MAY ADDRESS.
COUNCIL MEMBER GISETTE, LET ME MAKE A DISTINCTION.
SO THE CITY CAN, CAN CHARGE AN APPLICATION FEE TO ISSUE A PERMIT TO OPERATE A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
AND THAT FEE IS THE ADMINISTRATION COST TO RUN THE PROGRAM.
IN ADDITION TO THAT PERMIT APPLICATION FEE, YOU COLLECT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
SO YOU GET TWO SOURCES OF REVENUE IN THIS PROGRAM, NOT JUST ONE.
WELL, IS IT APPLICATION OR PERMIT FEE? UH, ROXANNE IT'S BOTH.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A PERMIT FEE OR AN APPLICATION FEE? IT'S AN APPLICATION TO GET A PERMIT.
AN APPLICATION TO GET A PERMIT.
SO IF THEY GET THE PERMIT TO, TO, TO DO THIS, ONCE THEY GET THE PERMIT, THEN THEY OPERATING, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO ONCE THEY START OPERATING, WE'D BACK TO WHAT TO WHAT I'M QUESTIONING AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS HOW DO WE COLLECT IT WITHOUT HAVING SOME OTHER AGENCY THAT'S GONNA BE CONTRACTED TO DO THAT? YOU KNOW, I, I'VE RENT THEIR AIRBNBS AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT, IF YOU GO TO AIRBNB, THEY'RE GONNA INCLUDE THE TAXES OR LOCAL TAXES.
ALL YOUR TAXES GONNA BE INCLUDED IN YOUR RENTAL.
SO YOU DON'T NEED NOBODY TO REALLY ATTRACT THAT.
I MEAN THEY TRACKING IT, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT'S NOT ON THIS SCALE WHERE THEY ACTUALLY BOOKING THINGS WHERE THEY INCLUDING ALL YOUR FEES AND SHOWING TAXES AND STUFF.
WE TALKING ABOUT THE MOM AND THE POP FOLKS THAT, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
SO YOU HAVE THREE OPTIONS WITH THAT.
THE FIRST OPTION IS IT SOUNDS LIKE VRBO OR AIRBNB MIGHT WANNA DO THAT FOR FREE.
BUT THAT DOESN'T CAPTURE EVERYBODY.
SO THE SECOND OPTION IS THE ACTUAL PERMITTING APPLICATION.
PEOPLE ON CITY STAFF HAVE TO BE, UH, POLICING THE EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY.
THE THIRD OPTION IS THERE ARE SOME BUSINESSES, LIKE YOU SAID, RENTAL SCAPE THAT ACTUALLY SEARCH FOR THAT STUFF TO CATCH WHO'S NOT REPORTING.
UM, IT IS NOT A PERFECT SCIENCE, BUT IT IS REVENUE THAT THE CITY IS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THAT IT'S CURRENTLY NOT RECEIVING.
AND THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE CITY COUNCIL WAS AWARE OF IT AND TO MAKE A DECISION ON HOW TO PROCEED.
YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS ABOUT REVENUE 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE, UH, DEPEND ON IN ORDER TO OPERATE.
BUT I JUST DON'T WANT US TO GET INTO, UH, UH, MAKING $5 AND IT COSTING US $10 WORTH OF PROBLEMS OR ISSUES WHEN WE SHOULD BE DEVOTING THAT TIME TO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
BUT, UH, I'M, I'M NOT GOING TO ELABORATE 'CAUSE ALL YOU'RE ASKING HERE IS FOR THE APPROVAL OF IT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO STICK WITH IT AT ANY TIME.
IF WE FIND OUT ANY AIN'T WORD NO, WE CAN ALWAYS GO BACK AND REPEAL IT.
I JUST WANT TO GET A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT I'M FITTING TO VOTE ON IT.
AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED THESE QUESTIONS.
UH, PAM, YOU SAID YOU HAD SOMETHING ELSE? NO, SIR.
UH, COUNCILOR REBECCA, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? YES, I STILL HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THOSE THAT ARE FLYING UNDER THE RADAR.
AND AND HERE'S WHAT I MEAN BY THAT.
UM, AND I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.
THERE WAS A HOUSE DOWN THE STREET FROM ME MM-HMM
AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF HOMES IN GRIFFIN PARK YES.
WHERE WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE BOARDING HOUSES, THEY'RE RENTING OUT ROOMS. THERE'S WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE STAYING, YOU KNOW, IN A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S 15, 20 CARS OUT IN FRONT OF A PARTICULAR HOME IN GRIFFIN PARK, AND I'VE LOOKED THEM UP ON ALL OF THESE RENTAL PLATFORMS AND THEY ARE NOT THERE.
[01:20:01]
THESE ARE THE ONES I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT ARE FLYING UNDER THE RADAR.SO THEY ARE SOMEHOW, THEY'RE GETTING THE WORD OUT PROBABLY JUST BY WORD OF MOUTH WITH ALL THE CONTRACTORS THAT WE HAVE COMING IN HERE.
UM, OR, OR THEY'RE CONTACTING COMPANIES DIRECTLY.
UM, AND THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ON ANY OF THESE PLATFORMS WHERE WE CAN CAPTURE THEM.
SO I'M WONDERING IF THIS, IS IT CALLED RENTAL RENTAL SCAPE? YES, MA'AM.
ARE, ARE THEY ABLE TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE, THAT THESE OTHER PLATFORMS CAN'T DO? I MEAN, HOW, HOW WOULD WE BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THOSE BOARDING HOUSES THAT ARE NOT ON ONE OF THE RENTAL PLATFORMS? UM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, UM, OF COURSE AIRBNB AND VRBO, UM, OR PLATFORMS THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS REGISTER FOR TO ADVERTISE THEIR PROPERTY MM-HMM
UM, WITH RENTAL SCAPE, THEY TAKE MORE OF AN APPROACH OF JUST KIND OF RESEARCHING ALL OF THE PLATFORMS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW, UM, IF THEY GO AS FAR AS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, I ACTUALLY WAS HAVING A DISCUSSION WITH TAMMY BECAUSE I DO SEE A LOT OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE POSTED EVEN ON FACEBOOK.
UM, BUT THEY DO THE RESEARCH IN TRYING TO CAPTURE THE ADDRESSES OF ALL OF THESE PROPERTIES BASED ON ALL OF THIS DATA THAT THEY COLLECT ON WHO'S ACTUALLY OPERATING A SHORT TERM RENTAL WITHIN THE CITY.
UM, AGAIN, JUST KIND OF GOING BACK, UM, TO THE IMPLEMENTATION, WHEN I SPEAK ABOUT INTER DEPARTMENTAL, UM, DEPARTMENTAL, UM, COLLABORATION, CODE ENFORCEMENT GETS A LOT OF THOSE CALLS MM-HMM
UM, IN REGARDS TO SHORT TERM RENTALS AND BOARDING HOUSES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT ARE OPERATING.
SO WE WOULD USE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO CAPTURE THAT DATA WHERE WE HAVE BOOTS TO THE GROUND.
UM, THE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE NOW IS WHERE WE DO ADDRESS IT IN OUR ZONING ORDINANCE.
WE DO NOT HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT PROVIDES THE REGULATIONS AND THE VIOLATIONS AND THAT SUCH OF THING, UM, THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GO OFF OF.
SO WHEN CODE ENFORCEMENT GOES OUT THERE TO ADDRESS THOSE MATTERS, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING THAT'S BUILT INTO OUR ORDINANCES RIGHT NOW THAT THEY CAN REALLY BE EFFECTIVE IN, UM, COMPLIANCE OR ENFORCEMENT TO THEM.
SO THE PURPOSE OF APPROVING THE ORDINANCE DOES PUT THAT PARAMETER IN PLACE WHERE THERE IS THOSE REGULATIONS IN THE COMPLIANCE.
UM, IN TERMS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, OF COURSE, UM, AS TAMMY STATED, WE SPOKE WITH LEAGUE CITY AND OTHER CITIES AND WE WOULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT TO SEE HOW WE CAN STREAMLINE IT TO MAKE IT MORE OF A COST EFFECTIVE PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF PORT OCTA.
BUT WE WOULD USE WHATEVER TOOLS WE HAVE IN THE TOOLBOX ORDER TO TRY TO CAPTURE ALL OF THOSE PROPERTIES THAT ARE OUT THERE, INCLUDING IN, YOU KNOW, UM, INTERNAL RESOURCES.
WELL THEN THAT, THAT KIND OF LED ME TO ANOTHER QUESTION IS THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS, AND I, I THINK THIS WOULD BE MORE OF A QUESTION FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, THE PROVISION THAT TALKS ABOUT THE MAX MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF.
SO IF THIS ORDINANCE IS IN PLACE AND WE HAVE A COMPLAINT THAT COMES IN, LIKE FROM THE BIG HOUSE IN GRIFFIN PARK THAT I DESCRIBED, AND WE DETERMINE, UH, JUST BY OBSERVATION, WE CAN TELL THIS IS A BOARDING HOUSE, PEOPLE ARE LIVING HERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT REGISTERED.
IS THAT GONNA FALL UNDER THE ENFORCEMENT IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING TO CAPTURE THAT OR NO? IT DEPENDS.
IT MAY
OF COURSE, IT'S ALL EVIDENCE BASED AND FACTUAL BASED.
UM, BUT IT IS ANOTHER TOOL LIKE THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER PURPORTED.
SO IT IS A TOOL THAT CAN BE USED IN THE REGULATION OF THESE OF THESE PLACES.
WHEREAS WE DON'T HAVE ONE NOW THE OTHER THING I I WANTED TO NOTE WAS THEIR CVB DIRECTOR SAID SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.
THE NUMBER OF SHORT TERM RENTALS DOUBLED MM-HMM
SOMETHING'S HAPPENING AND IF YOU WAIT TOO MUCH LONGER TO BEYOND THE REGULATION OR INFORMED ENFORCEMENT, YOU'RE GONNA BE PLAYING CATCH UP.
SO I THINK THAT NOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT IN ONE YEAR THERE'S A DOUBLING OF THE AMOUNT THAT YOU SHOULD GET ON BOARD, FOLLOW THROUGH HOW THE OTHER CITIES ARE COLLECTING AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A HANDLE ON THE SUBJECT MATTER.
TO ADD TO THIS, WHAT WE SEE AS THE HOTEL INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, IF YOU LOOK OFF JIMMY JOHNSON OUT THERE AT THE BACK OF THE HOSPITAL, A LOT OF THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE BEING PUT UP ARE NOT LABELED AS HOTELS ANYMORE.
AND THEY BENEFIT IN SOME WAY BY USING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY CREATIVE IN GOING AFTER THEM AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES TO THE CITY, YOU KNOW, AND THOSE, THOSE INSTITUTIONS CONTINUE TO EV YOU KNOW, THE TAXES THAT THEY NEED TO PAY TO THE CITY.
[01:25:01]
UM, NO OTHER, NO OTHER, UH, UNREADINESS ON THIS.WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? UH, OH.
I AM, UM, YES, I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS.
HOWEVER, I WOULD ASK THAT WE ALSO CONSIDER THE TRAILERS THAT COME INTO THE CITY THAT ALSO OFTEN ARE USED FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS.
SO THESE ARE NOT JUST SINGLE FAMILY HOMES OR MULTIFAMILY HOMES.
A LOT OF TIMES TRAILERS ARE ALSO USED FOR THE SAME, UM, FOR THE SAME NEED.
SO WHEN WE ARE DOING OUR COMMUNITY POLICING OF THIS EFFORT, CITY MANAGER, PLEASE HAVE STAFF ALSO LOOK IN THOSE DIRECTIONS AS WELL.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO OUR RV PARK ORDINANCE.
SO THAT'S MAYBE THE NEXT PROJECT THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.
EVERY, SO, UH, PO NUMBER 73 0 2 IS APPROVED.
[VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7305 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 62 (Offenses), Article II (Weapons And Incendiary Items), Section 62-62 (Carrying Or Discharging Weapons On City Property) And Section 62-63 (Weapons) Of The Code Of Ordinances Of The City Of Port Arthur]
WE HAVE PO NUMBER 73 0 5.IT'S AMENDING CHAPTER 62 OFFENSES, ARTICLE TWO, WEAPONS AND, UH, INS, CARY ITEMS, UH, SECTION 62 DASH 62 CARRYING OR DISCHARGING WEAPONS ON CITY PROPERTY AND SECTION 62 DASH 63 WEAPONS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT AUTHOR.
SO MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK.
AND WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 73 0 5 AS PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? COUNCILMAN BECKHAM? YES, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
I THINK, UH, PROBABLY CHIEF DURSO COULD ANSWER THESE.
UH, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, UM, I'VE HAD SOME CITIZENS REACH OUT TO ME ABOUT, UH, HEARING THE GUNFIRE FROM THE TRAINING FACILITY.
AND I'M ALL FOR WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING OUT THERE.
DON'T, DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT I WONDER IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S A WAY TO ALERT THE PUBLIC THAT WE'VE GOT TRAINING GOING ON, OR THESE ARE THE HOURS THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE HEARING GUNFIRE SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST PUT THEM AT EASE THAT WHAT THEY'RE HEARING IS LEGITIMATE AND THEY DON'T NEED TO CALL 9 1 1.
YES, WE'VE UH, TALKED ABOUT THAT AND DISCUSSED IT AND WE'RE TRYING TO PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE AGENDA LAST NIGHT FOR THE PLEASURE ISLAND MEETING.
UH, BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE THEM AWARE ALSO.
I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHICH GROUP WE NEED TO SEND ALERTS TO.
WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING AT THAT.
AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS, UM, LET'S SEE.
THIS WOULD ALLOW AUTHORIZATION FOR A PERSON BEING ACCOMPANIED BY A PORT ARTHUR POLICE OFFICER AT THE NEW FIREARMS TRAINING FACILITY.
UM, HOW, HOW DO CITIZENS GO ABOUT THAT? IF THEY WANT TO GO OUT THERE TO THE FACILITY? WHO DO THEY CONTACT? WE HAVEN'T PUT THAT IN PLACE YET.
WE WANTED TO SEE IF IT WAS GOING TO BE APPROVED BY YOU GUYS BEFORE WE STARTED GETTING EVERYBODY HYPED UP ABOUT IT.
UM, BUT BASICALLY THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO CON WE'RE GONNA SET A PARTICULAR DAY WHERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE PEOPLE CONTACT THE RANGE MASTER AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT.
UM, BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO GET THE PEOPLE ON PLEASURE ISLAND INVOLVED BECAUSE BEFORE WE STARTED THE PROJECT, WE WENT TO THE BOARD AND TELL 'EM WHAT WE WERE DOING AND THEY AGREED THAT IT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.
SO WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEM COME OUT AND TRAIN WITH US OR WATCH US TRAIN AND MAYBE SHOOT THEIR GUN FROM TIME TO TIME.
OKAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES? I THANK YOU MA'AM.
UH, APPROVED PO NUMBER 7 3 0 5.
[VIII.B.(3) P.O. No. 7306 – An Appropriation Ordinance Amending The City Of Port Arthur Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2024 And Ending September 30, 2025, Increasing Special Police Fund (107) By $91,000.00 And Increasing Health Grant Fund (101) By $4,000.00 ]
HAVE ITEM NUMBER THREE, PO NUMBER 73 0 6.IT IS AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF PORT AUTHOR BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
INCREASING SPECIAL POLICE FUND 1 0 7 BY $91,000 AND INCREASING HEALTH GRANT FUND 1 0 1 BY $4,000.
MAY I GET A SECOND COUNCILMAN? EVER FIELD SECOND.
[01:30:01]
IT'S BEEN MOVED.EVERY WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 73 0 6 AS PRESENTED.
I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT, WHERE AM MISSED THE 4,000? I I I LOOKED AT THE RESOLUTIONS.
OKAY, SHE'S COMING TO EXPLAIN THIS EVENING.
MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE 4,000 WAS A DONATION THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK.
YEAH, THEY GOT A CASH DONATION, BUT THERE WASN'T APPROPRIATION TO SPEND IT.
DID WE HAVE THIS ON? IT WAS A PRESENTATION WHEN THEY PRESENTED THE 4,000.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE BUDGET, IT HAD BE SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA TO LET ME KNOW THAT LAST WEEK.
AND WE GOTTA PUT IT DOWN IN THE FUND SO I UNDERSTAND.
BUT THAT'S WHY I'M, I'M ASKING THE QUESTION 'CAUSE JUST LET ME KNOW.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY WERE GONNA DO A DONATION LAST WEEK ELSE.
WELL, WHENEVER THEY, WHENEVER IT DOESN'T MATTER.
IF IT'S ON THE AGENDA, THEN LET ME KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM.
OKAY, Y'ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT.
SO THIS AUDIT, THAT PO NUMBER 73 0 6 IS APPROVED AS READ.
WITH THAT, UH, HAPPENING, THERE WOULD BE NO OTHER PRINTED OR WRITTEN AGENDA ITEM TO COME BEFORE THIS AUGUST BODY.
I WOULD NOW DECLARE THIS GROUP ADJOIN.