* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] RECORDING IN PROGRESS. THAT'S WHAT I WAS WAITING ON. [I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL] OKAY. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. WE ARE GATHERED HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF THE CITY HALL IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, JANUARY 28TH, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2025. THIS MEETING MAY BE ATTENDED VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE OR TELEPHONIC MEDIUMS. HOWEVER, YOU MUST FIRST DIAL THE MEETING ID OF 8 6 4 7 7 8 9 4. YOU DON'T DIAL IT. I'M SORRY. YOU REPLACE THE MEETING ID OF 8 6 4 7 7 8 9 4 6 5 8, AND THE PASSCODE OF 8 8 7 4 5 5 WHEN YOU DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9, AND YOU WILL BE, UH, ALLOWED AND PERMITTED TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN, UH, THE MEETING. WE'RE ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IN OUR MEETING. AND IF YOU HAVE NEED FOR ANY SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU WOULD ONLY NEED TO CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE. HOWEVER, IT HAS TO BE DONE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5, AND THEIR STAFF WOULD DO ALL WITHIN ITS POWERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH YOUR REQUEST. WITH ALL OF THIS BEING SAID, LET US STAND FOR THE INVOCATION, THE PLEDGE, AND THE ROLL CALL. COUNCILMAN, UH, FRANK, YOU INVOCATION, PLEASE LET US BOW ALL WISE IN ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, GOOD MORNING, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE TO BE FOUND YET AGAIN IN YOUR PRESENCE AS WE BOW BEFORE YOU. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR GIVING US YET AGAIN ANOTHER DAY. AND SO AS WE COME ON TODAY, WE ASK FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS, THOSE THINGS WE'VE SAID, DONE AND THOUGHT THAT HAVE BEEN CONTRARY TO YOUR WORD, YOUR WILL AND YOUR WAY. AND THEN WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING AND FOR YOUR GUIDANCE FOR OUR CITY, FOR OUR NATION, FOR OUR WORLD. WE PRAY NOW, GOD, THAT OUR OUR, UH, MEETING TODAY, UH, WOULD BE GUIDED BY YOUR WISDOM AND BY YOUR DISCERNMENT. HELP US EACH AND EVERY DAY IS OUR PRAYER. IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE NOW JOIN US IN SAY OF RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU SO KINDLY FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN OUR OPENING CITY SECRETARY. WOULD YOU PLEASE BE SO KIND AS YOU ESTABLISH A COURT? MAYOR TI PRESENT MAYOR PRO, TIM BECKHAM. HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER. COUNCIL MEMBER ETT HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT. YOU HAVE A CO MAYOR. THANK YOU SO KINDLY. [II. PROCLAMATIONS] WE WILL BEGIN WITH PROCLAMATIONS AND THERE IS A PROCLAMATION IN HAND HERE. I AM NOT SURE IF, IF MS. E VITA IS PRESENT OR IS SOMEONE HERE TO RECEIVE THIS FOR MS. TNO? NO ONE'S HERE. OKAY. WELL, THEY STOOD UP. COME ON. OKAY. WE WORE HER OUT YESTERDAY. SO SHE'S KIND OF UNDER THE WEATHER. YES, AGREED. OKAY. AND THIS PROCLAMATION READS, UH, AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, I AM PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE ETA TEAL, WHEREAS SHE IS A 1978 GRADUATE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL. TEAL FURTHERED HER EDUCATION AT LAMAR UNIVERSITY WHERE SHE OBTAINED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN GRAPHIC DESIGN. AND WHEREAS AIDA'S HEART ART RATHER, EXCUSE ME, IS A UNIQUE BLEND OF COLLAGE AND VISUAL ART, A REFLECTION OF HER LIFE, FAMILY, AND HER BLACK AMERICAN CHILDHOOD MEMORIES IN PORT ARTHUR. HER DISTINCTIVE STYLE, WHICH FINDS BEAUTY IN THE [00:05:01] ORDINARY, IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE USE OF RICH PATTERNED HAND PAINTED PAPERS AND FOUND OR FOUND OBJECTS CREATING A CONTEMPORARY FOLK ART STYLE. AND WHEREAS SHE HAS CURATED POPULAR COLLAGE PAINTINGS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY, CAPTIVATING THE HARMONIOUS SCENES OF BLACK AMERICANS, HER WORK HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS QUILTING WITH PAPER, THE INFLUENCE OF 20TH CENTURY MODERNIST LIKE ROME, BEARDEN, ELIZABETH CATLETT, WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, AND OTHERS WHO ARE THE BEST IN THE INDUSTRY. AVITA IS KNOWN FOR INCORPORATING VINTAGE BUTTONS IN INHERITED FROM HER GRANDMOTHER IN MOST OF HER PIECES. AND WHEREAS WE EAGERLY ANTICIPATE THE SOLO EXHIBITION OF EITA THAT WAS ACTUALLY SCHEDULED ON JANUARY 18TH, 2025 TO UNTIL MARCH 8TH, 2025 AT THE DISHMAN ART MUSEUM, LAMAR UNIVERSITY, BEAUMONT, TEXAS TITLED, PEACE OF MY HEART. THIS EVENT WILL SHOWCASE NEW WORKS, INCLUDING THE SIX FOOT BY EIGHT FOOT COLLAGE PAINTING SUMMERTIME AND LIVING IS EASY, AND THE SECOND TITLED SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE HOLLYWOOD THEATER. AND WHEREAS WE APPRECIATE THE ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR HOMETOWN DAUGHTER VERA, AND WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT HER WITH A PROCLAMATION AND A KEY TO THE CITY. NOW. THEREFORE, I THURMAN BILL BCE MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, DO HEREBY HONOR ETA TIANO IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND I ASK ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING HER IN WITNESS WHEREOF. I HAVE HERE UNTRUE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF FORT ARTHUR TO BE AFFIXED THIS 28TH DAY OF JANUARY IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2023. AND IT IS SIGNED THURMAN BILL BCI. MAY OH, I'M SORRY. I DID ALRIGHT. YOU GOTTA BE READING THIS. YOU'LL SEE THIS LOOKS LIKE A THREE. OKAY. IT IS 2025. BUT YEAH, AND NO, I'M A MANUSCRIPT PERSON AND I READ WHAT I SEE TRAINED FOR THAT. YOU WANT TO SEE IT. YOU'LL SEE IT. IT LOOKS LIKE A THREE BECAUSE A LINE IS GOING THROUGH IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND I'M GONNA BRING IT DOWN TO YOU ALL, AND I, I THINK SHE'S UNABLE TO BE HERE. RIGHT. UH, MAYOR COUNCIL, I SPOKE WITH MS. TIANO THIS MORNING AS WELL AS HER PUBLICIST, MS. ARCHIE, AND THEY WANTED ME TO CONVEY THEIR REGRETS TO THE COUNCIL FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO BE PRESENT THIS MORNING. MS. TIANO, UNFORTUNATELY, IS ILL AND WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT TODAY, BUT SHE, UH, WAS CERTAINLY, UH, DISAPPOINTED IN HAVING TO DISAPPOINT THE MARIAN COUNSELOR NOT BEING PRESENT TO RECEIVE HER PROCLAMATION. UH, AS WAS MENTIONED, UH, MS. TIANO IS A VERY PROUD GRADUATE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1978. SO, UH, AS A CLASSMATE, I'M VERY PLEASED TO BE ONE OF THE PEOPLE TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION FOR HER, UH, MS AU OF COURSE, AS THE ARTIST HAS BEEN, UH, REPRESENTED AROUND THE WORLD IN THE PRESENTATION OF HER WORKS. AND WE'RE SO VERY PLEASED THAT ALSO AS AN LU GRADUATE, THAT HER WORK IS ON DISPLAY AT THE DISHMAN GALLERY, IT AT LAMAR UNIVERSITY HERE IN BEAUMONT. BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL. LAST NIGHT AT THE RECEPTION AT THE MUSEUM, SHE WAS TELLING US DENZEL WASHINGTON HAS SEVEN OF HER PIECES. SAMUEL JACKSON HAS HER PIECES. BILL CLINTON, UH, IN 2024, SHE WAS AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ART IN HOUSTON, HER EXHIBIT. SO, UM, SHE HAD BEEN A CHEF FOR MANY YEARS AND IN [00:10:01] 2021, I BELIEVE IS KIND OF WHEN ALL OF THIS JUST REALLY TOOK OFF AND SHE WAS ABLE TO BECOME A TOTALLY FULL-TIME ARTIST. SO, UM, SHE SAID, LET, SHE SAID, LET HER DREAM, YOU KNOW, SHE WANTED TO SHARE THAT DREAMS DO COME TRUE, SO, AND REALLY INCREDIBLE ART. SO PLEASE GO TO THE DISHMAN AND YES, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SHE ACTUALLY, WE HOSTED HER AT THE LIBRARY ALONG WITH, UM, THE TOURIST BUREAU ASSISTED US. SO I WAS EXCITED. WE WERE EXCITED TO HAVE HER IN THE HOUSE AT THE LIBRARY, AND IF HER CLASSMATE WILL ALLOW US, I WOULD LOVE TO PUT THIS ON DISPLAY FOR A SEASON IN THE, UM, FOYER IN THE 4K. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. YOU GONNA RECEIVE IT? DR. ? YES. OKAY. YES. NO, SHE'S RANDY PAGE, SO SHE'S PROBABLY FIVE YEARS OLDER THAN ME. YEAH, THAT'S GORGEOUS. MY 20 SO YEARS. . COME ON, TAMMY. YES. THE BEAUTY OF PARTNERSHIP. OKAY. AWESOME. AWESOME. THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR. DID ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING? ANY QUESTIONS? YES, I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING. UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, SAY HOW VERY PROUD WE ARE OF AVITA TIANO AND DURING, UH, THE TIME THAT SHE WAS IN SCHOOL, I WAS A SENIOR, UH, AND SHE WAS COMING UP, UH, RIGHT BEHIND US, BUT I WANTED TO JUST REALLY SAY, UH, THAT DURING, I KNOW WE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE MIGHTY LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL AND WHICH CLASS IS THE BEST. UH, I KNOW I'M GONNA GET, I'M GONNA GET THAT, I'M GONNA GET THAT. LET ME, LET ME JUST, I KNOW THAT I'M GONNA GET THAT. BUT LET ME SAY THAT PORT ARTHUR, UH, LINCOLN WAS A REALLY SPECIAL PLACE IN THE SEVENTIES, AND I'M JUST GOING TO ENGULF ALL OF THAT, UH, BECAUSE, UH, AVITA WAS A PART OF OUR, UM, UH, OUR DRAMA AND OUR FORENSICS AND ALL OF THAT. MR. MAYS WAS THERE, UH, DURING THAT TIME, AND VETO WAS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF, UH, NOTARY, UH, NOTABLE INDIVIDUALS, UM, YOU KNOW, DURING THAT TIME WHO WERE COMING AND, AND SHARING. AND SO, UH, MS. PICKETT, UH, WAS THERE, UH, GUIDING US AND LEADING US AND, AND SO MANY, AND SO SHE IS, SHE IS A, A, A PERSON WHO COMES OUT OF THAT EXPERIENCE DURING THAT TIME. AND SO, YVETTE, I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO HER, IF SHE'S LISTENING, UH, GET WELL FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT WE'RE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU BECAUSE YOU CARRY THAT TORCH AND YOU, UH, EMBODY, UH, ALL OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT, WHAT WE WERE, UH, BROUGHT UP TO BE AND TO DO. AND SO I'M SO VERY TOUCHED AND MOVED ABOUT HER. I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT LAST NIGHT. I DON'T KNOW HOW I MISSED THAT. UM, AND I'M SO SORRY THAT I WASN'T IN ATTENDANCE BECAUSE ANYBODY WHO HAS RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM THE GUGGENHEIM, UH, YOU WANT TO KNOW THEM, AND YOU WANT TO TRULY, TRULY, TRULY, UH, CELEBRATE THEM. SO, UH, WE, WE ARE SO BLESSED IN PORT ARTHUR TO HAVE SO MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SO MANY GIFTS, TALENTS, AND ABILITIES. WE'RE SO PROUD. YES. THANK YOU. I THINK WE NEED TO CAMPAIGN FOR HER TO BE PLACED IN THE MUSEUM OF THE GULF COAST. SHE'S DESERVING OF THAT AWARD. LET'S WORK ON THAT. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO SPEAKERS. AND THE FIRST SPEAKER WE HAVE IS [00:15:01] DR. BOBBY LOPEZ OF THE, UH, BOB HOPE SCHOOL REGARDING WATER, UH, SERVICE DR. DR. LOPEZ, MAYOR. OKAY. DR. LOPEZ HAS REMOVED HIS ITEM FROM THE AGENDA. HIS CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. OKAY, THANK YOU. [III.B.(1) A Presentation By J.D. Appling Of The Professional Football Capital Of The World Regarding The June 6, 2025 Event To Highlight Pro Ball Players] WE'LL NOW MOVE TO PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE NUMBER ONE, A PRESENTATION BY JD APPLING OF THE, UH, PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD REGARDING THE JUNE 6TH, 2025 EVENT TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, PRO BALL PLAYERS YOUR APPROACH, PLEASE. ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE. MAY I GET SOMETHING TO HER TO GIVE OUT TO YOU ALL, UH, AFTER I MAKE MY PRESENTATION? AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I THINK THAT Y'ALL HAVE A, AN ITEM IN FRONT OF YOU THERE, UH, THAT THE YOUNG MAN DID SO WELL IN GETTING IT TO YOU ALL. UH, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO, AND I, I KNOW I ONLY HAVE 20 MINUTES, SO LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT. MY BOARD AND PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE WITH ME, INCLUDING THE, THE MAYOR, FORMER MAYOR BEAUMONT, TEXAS, UH, ROBIN MUTAN IS HERE. RIGHT. PLEASE LOOK AT THIS YOUNG LADIES AND GENTLEMEN RIGHT HERE, PLEASE. AND THIS IS A CLIP THAT WAS DONE BY CVS IN 1971 AT THE 1971 NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF UNITED STATES MAYORS, THE LEADERS OF THE NATION'S MAJOR CITIES PUBLICIZE THEIR EFFORTS TOWARD SOLVING SUCH URBAN PROBLEMS. I AM, HOWEVER, THE, THE TINY TOWN OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS CAPTURED THE MOST DETENTION FROM THE NEWS MEDIA WHEN ITS MAYOR MADE THIS SURPRISING ANNOUNCEMENT. WHEREAS THE 16 PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS TURNED OUT BY HIGH SCHOOLS OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS CONSTITUTE TWICE THE AMOUNT ANY OTHER CITY CAN CLAIM. NOW. THEREFORE, I KEN RITTER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, DO HEREBY OFFICIALS AS POLLUTION, TAXES, TRANSPORTATION. AT THE 1971 NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF UNITED STATES MAYORS, THE LEADERS OF THE NATION'S MAJOR CITIES PUBLICIZED THEIR EFFORTS TOWARD SOLVING SUCH URBAN PROBLEMS AS POLLUTION, TAXES, TRANSPORTATION AND CRIME. HOWEVER, THE TINY TOWN OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS CAPTURED THE MOST ATTENTION FROM THE NEWS MEDIA WHEN ITS MAYOR MADE THIS. AND AGAIN, THIS WAS MADE IN 1971 AT THE 1971 NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF UNITED STATES MAYORS, THE LEADERS OF THE NATION'S MAJOR CITIES PUBLICIZE THEIR EFFORTS TOWARD SOLVING SUCH URBAN PROBLEMS AS POLLUTION, TAXES, TRANSPORTATION AND CRIME. HOWEVER, THE TINY TOWN OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS CAPTURED THE MOST ATTENTION FROM THE NEWS MEDIA WOULD. ITS MAYOR MADE THIS [00:20:01] SURPRISING ANNOUNCEMENT, WHEREAS THE 16 PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS TURNED OUT BY HIGH SCHOOLS OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS CONSTITUTE TWICE THE AMOUNT ANY OTHER CITY CAN CLAIM. NOW. THEREFORE, I KEN RITTER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, DO HEREBY OFFICIALLY PROCLAIM BEAUMONT, TEXAS, THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. OKAY? WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHAT Y'ALL NEED TO KNOW IS HOW DOES IT BENEFIT PUT OFF? HOW DOES IT BENEFIT EACH OF Y'ALL DISTRICT? BUT THE MAIN THING WE HAVE HERE IS THIS, THE CALLING CARD FOR US IS ONE STATEMENT THAT HE MADE THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. HE SAID, BO TEXAS. BUT I'VE EXPANDED IT. WE'VE EXPANDED IT TO BE THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE, INCLUDING PORT ARTHUR, INCLUDING ORANGE, EVERY CITY WITHIN IT. WE ARE ALL THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION. THE ENTIRE SECTION ARE THE WHOLE CITY. WE ARE THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. I'M GLAD SHE HAS. PORT ARTHUR IS NOT THE 13 SUPER BOWL RINGS THAT ARE HERE THAT WILL GET NATIONAL MEDIA CONSISTENTLY, MAYBE ONE TIME. IT'S NOT THE 22 RINGS THAT ARE IN THE TRIANGLE THAT WILL GET NATIONAL RECOGNITION, BUT IT'S THE FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. AND THAT BY ITSELF REALLY CAN'T CARRY A WHOLE WEIGHT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TOURISM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH MEANS THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS AND PUT WITH THIS AND PUT WITH THIS AND PUT WITH THIS, AND WE'RE GONNA INVITE IN ESPN, WE'RE GONNA INVITE IN CBS SPORTS. WE'RE GONNA INVITE IN ALL SPORTS MEDIA. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE HAD FOOTBALL CAMPS. I THINK JOE, JOE WASHINGTON PROBABLY HAD 10 15, I THINK JEWELRY. HARRYS HAD SOME, THERE'S SOME IN BEAUMONT JERRY BALL. HOW LONG DID THEY LAST? THEY LAST FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD, THEN THEY KIND OF DIE OFF. WHY? THERE'S NO CONSISTENCY, THERE'S NO COOPERATION, NO ORGANIZATION JUST HANDLING ALL OF THEM. SO I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT OUR FOUNDATION AND OUR MUSEUM IS ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN CONSISTENTLY DONE BECAUSE OF PEOPLE GET OLDER. JOE WASHINGTON GETS OLDER, HE DON'T WANNA COME BACK EVERY YEAR. AND THEN WE FORGET TO HONOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THOSE CAMPS. FORGET ABOUT 'EM. THIS IS A WAY THAT WE CAN DO IT. I ALSO SUBMIT TO YOU THAT WHEN WE DO THIS, GENTLEMEN, WE CAN INVITE IN THE WORLD EVERY YEAR. RIGHT NOW IS THE FIRST WEEKEND IN JUNE. WE CAN DO IT EVERY SINGLE YEAR. AND THAT'S GONNA HIGHLIGHT NOT ONLY BEAUMONT, BUT THAT'S GONNA HIGHLIGHT PORT ARTHUR. THAT'S GONNA HIGHLIGHT ORANGE. EVERY CITY WITHIN THE TRIANGLE. I UNDERSTAND Y'ALL ALSO HAVE A FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN. AND I WAS TELLING I THINK SISTER PAMELA LANKFORD AND DR. THIGPEN THAT THIS PLAYS RIGHT INTO YOUR FIVE YEAR PLAN. ALSO, WHEN THE EVENT HAPPENS IN JUNE, WHY SHOULDN'T Y'ALL ANNOUNCE YOUR FIVE YEAR PLAN TO THE PUBLIC? MAYBE YOU ALREADY HAVE DONE IT, BUT THIS IS A GRAND OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AGAIN. OKAY? AGAIN, THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD IS THE CALLING CARD TO PUT UNDER THAT THE SUPER BOWL RINGS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. ONE THING WE COMING HERE, WE WOULD ROLL THROUGH THE PARK HERE. THE TRACKS LADY WHO AT PRAIRIE VIEW, UH, HER PARK, JACK, BARBARA, JACK, RIGHT? THOSE THINGS CAN BE ALSO UNDERLAID UNDER THE SAME HERE BECAUSE HERE, THIS GUY HERE, BUBBA, ARE YOU AWARE THAT UH, BUBBA TIRE, HE THE TRAINER IN NEEDLING, HE'S IN NFLA LADY IS A TRAINER. SHERRY WILLIAMS IS A TRAINER, OR IN FACT SHE'S IN, SHE'S FROM FOREST PARK HIGH SCHOOL, BUT SHE IS THE FIRST LADY TO BE ON CERTAIN COMMITTEES IN THE NFL. WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS HERE THAT WE CAN USE TO MAKE THIS A GREAT EVENT. IF YOU TURN YOUR PAGES TO THE ITINERARY, IF I MAY, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LEMME DO ONE THING. ARE YOU ALL AWARE THAT THE NFL DID 45 GRANTS LAST YEAR? DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY CAME TO PUT ARTHUR ORANGE? PROBABLY NONE. THOSE GRANTS HAVE TO BE DONE THROUGH A CURRENT PLAYER OR NFL LEGEND. AND WHEN WE SET UP THE ORGANIZATION, WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO, TO NOT CONTROL, BUT BE ABLE TO MONITOR THOSE GRANTS. MORE GRANTS THAT [00:25:01] CAN BE USED TO BENEFIT OUR YOUTH, THAT CAN BE USED TO BENEFIT OUR PEOPLE AND BENEFIT OUR CITY. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GONNA BRING TO THE TABLE. THIS ORGANIZATION, THE NFA IS A STRONG, STRONG PROPONENT OF COMMUNITY. A STRONG PROPONENT OF YOUTH, BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE HERE. Y'ALL MIGHT KNOW OF SOME THINGS I DON'T KNOW, BUT GRANTS ARE NOT BEING GOTTEN. THEY HAVE TO BE DONE THROUGH NFL LEGENDS AND NFL PLAYERS WHO ARE EXISTING RIGHT NOW. SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT TURN TO THE ITINERARY THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. FOR JUNE THE FIFTH, WE DEEMED THAT THE FIRST ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS, UH, FOOTBALL, UH, OF THE YEAR, EACH YEAR ANNUALLY IS PAGE FIVE. DO I HAVE IT THERE? I DON'T HAVE ONE. I BELIEVE MR. HARRIS PUT IT WITH YOUR AGENDA. HE CLIPPED IT TO YOUR AGENDA. OKAY. IT'S ON THE, IT'S IN THE SAME PACKET WITH THIS FRONT. HIT IT RIGHT HERE ON THE SCREEN ALSO. YOU CAN SEE IT. ALRIGHT. THIS IS OUR EVENT. AS YOU SEE, WE HAVE TWO EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR PORT ARTHUR. THE THIRD NIGHT EVENT, WHICH IS GONNA BE THE MEDIA AND THE SUPER BOWL RING EVENT. RED CARPET OUT FRONT. WE, WE SHOWCASE OUR SUPER BOWL RINGS. WE SHOWCASE PORT ARTHUR. IT'S GONNA BE AT THE BOWERS AUDITORIUM, IS WHERE WE HAVE IT SIT RIGHT NOW. THE GOLF TOURNAMENT IS GONNA BE ON SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BAYS OF HARS, UH, GOLF AT IN PORT ARTHUR. AND WE ARE GONNA HIGHLIGHT PORT ARTHUR, WHICH WILL CENTER UP FRONT THE SUPER BOWL RING RECIPIENTS. WE HAVE FRONT ROW SEATS AT THE GALA, AS YOU SEE ON A SATURDAY NIGHT IN BEAUMONT. AND YES, LEMME JUST, UH, I'M UP FRONT. THE MUSEUM WILL BE IN BEAUMONT. AND THE REASON WE'LL BE IN BEAUMONT BECAUSE OF THIS, WHAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH, BUT Y'ALL ALSO HAVE THIS, I THINK THAT CAME WITH YOUR, WITH YOUR PACKET. WE WILL FINANCE AND PUT THESE IN EVERY CITY WHERE A PRO BALL PLAYER IS FROM EVERYONE AT A LOCATION THAT WOULD BE DECIDED BY THE CITY AND THE FOUNDATION. NOW, I SUGGEST THAT IN OCK, A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE IT WOULD BE THE COST. THE COSTAL MUSEUM. THIS WAY ALL THE PRO BALL PLAYERS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN A FIRST CLASS MANNER, WHETHER IT'S PORT ARTHUR, WHETHER IT'S ORANGE OR WHETHER IT IS CITY. I'M SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER THAT ARE FROM CITY. SO THEN WE WANT TO INCLUDE EVERYBODY GOING BACK TO THE CONSISTENCY. THIS EVENT THAT WAS UP THERE A MINUTE AGO AGO, THIS EVENT WILL ANNUALLY BE ABLE TO BRING IN ESPN, IT WILL ANNUALLY BE ABLE TO BRING IN SPORT NET NETWORK. IN FACT, WE'VE GOT AN ESPN WRITER THAT'S COMING IN ALREADY FOR THE FIRST EVENT. SO WE ARE, WANT TO MAKE IT WHAT'S IN IT FOR PORT ARTHUR? LET'S GO BACK TO THAT NOTORIETY REVENUE, WHICH IS THE KEY. THE CITY OF MARIN ATTRIBUTED THAT. AND ALL OF Y'ALL CAN DRIVING THE REVENUE FOR THE CITY, BRINGING IN PERSONNEL FOR THE CITY PERSONALITIES, EVEN Y'ALL'S PROGRAM, THE 55 STRATEGIC PLAN PROGRAM. IMAGINE HAVING IT NEXT YEAR DURING THE JUNE 1ST EVENT TO HIGHLIGHT IT. YOU GONNA ALREADY HAVE PEOPLE HERE. YOU, YOU ALREADY HAVE JOE WASHINGTON HERE. YOU ALWAYS HAVE, UH, AND HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TODAY. LEO HO. HE COULDN'T GET OUT SCHOOL. HE IS GONNA BE HERE 'CAUSE HE'S ON BOARD. JERRY BIDEN'S ON BOARD. JERRY LEVI IS ON BOARD. WE MADE CONTACT WITH ALL OF THOSE PERSONS ALREADY. AND SO THEY ARE ABLE, THEY ARE READY TO JUMP ON BOARD BECAUSE THEY SEE AND THEY KNOW THE BENEFIT IT IS TO THE WHOLE TRIANGLE. SO AGAIN, THE LEADING QUESTION IS WHAT'S IN IT FOR PUT OFFICE REVENUE. WE CAN GO DOWN THE LIST BECAUSE WE ALL ARE PART OF THE SAME COMMUNITY. ONE THING THAT MS UH, LANGFORD SAID THAT WHEN SHE SAW THE VIDEO, SHE SAID, OH, I SEE WHY NOW Y'ALL HIGHLIGHTING BEAUMONT. BUT SHE SAID, PUT ON TO GET A LITTLE P****D OFF. I SAID, OH, I SEE. BECAUSE WHY YOU TALKING ABOUT BEAUMONT? ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS DEEMED IN 1971 AS THE FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. BUT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THERE ARE REAL MORE ATHLETES THAN PORT ARTHUR. I THINK OVERALL, HEY, BULL FOR LESS RIDE THE COATTAIL OF THAT, THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY DEEMED TO BE IMPORTER. [00:30:01] LET'S RIDE THAT COATTAIL ON INTO MAKING REVENUE. LET'S RIDE THAT COATTAIL. AND I'M JUST THINKING MY HOLY GHOST IMAGINATION. IF Y'ALL DO A THEME PARK OUT HERE, WATER PARK, AND THEN MY HOLY GHOST, I'M GONNA DIGRESS FOR A MINUTE. Y'ALL DO A GAMBLING CASINO. I'VE BEEN USING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING, WHAT HAPPEN. BUT WHEN YOU PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER, YOU HAVE A GREAT TOURISM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PEACE THAT HEIGHTENS AKA THAT HEIGHTENS THE ATHLETES. WE HAVE A GOD-GIVEN ASSET THAT YOU ALL ARE NOT USING NOW, THAT WE ARE NOT USING NOW BECAUSE THEY PLAY BALL FOR X NUMBER OF YEARS, THEN THEY LEAVE, THEY DO A FEW CAMPS FOR A FEW YEARS AND THEY GET TIRED. THERE'S NO CONSISTENCY. THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE THE FUTURE. THAT'S WHAT WE OFFER THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. SHE HANDED Y'ALL SOMETHING TOWARD THE END AS TO WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR FROM YOU ALL IN THAT LETTER. AND I MIGHT READ IT IF I MAY, AND I JUST READ THIS IF I MAY. AND THIS IS FOR MR. RUN BURTON, THE THE CITY MANAGER, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, CITY MANAGER BURTON AND COUNCIL. THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WILL BE A DIAMOND SPONSOR FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD WEEKEND. YOUR INVESTMENT IS A GREAT FIRST STEP. WE ANTICIPATE THIS EVENT WILL CONSISTENTLY GENERATE MORE REVENUE AND NATIONAL ATTENTION THAN ANY OTHER TRIANGLE WEEKEND EVENT FOOTBALL HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CENTERPIECE OF SPORTS IN PORT ARTHUR AND THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE. THE TIME IS NOW TO UTILIZE OUR GOD-GIVEN AND GREATEST ASSETS, OUR ATHLETES TO BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT ALL THE GRANTS, ALL THE REVENUE WILL, WILL, UH, HELP THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THE CITY OF BEAUMONT HAS SHOWN WITH A $40,000 TOWER SPONSOR LEVEL INVESTMENT AND WE THANK THEM FOR THAT. THEY REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF IT. ADDED TO THAT, WE HAVE, UH, BEEN GRANTED A $14,000 GRANT FROM JEFF COUNTY, UH, WITH THE, UH, IS IT HOT HOTEL TAX FROM THAT? SO WE'VE GOT THAT. SO WE ARE WORKING, WE ARE TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER A BUDGET THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS THING POP. IN FACT, THE COLORS FOR THE WEEKEND ARE BLACK AND GOLD. SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THE GRANTS ARE THOSE ON, THOSE ARE SCHEDULED FOR ADVERTISING OF 50 YARDS, 50 MILES OR OR GREATER OUT FROM THE BAY AREA. AND WE HAVE HALF OF IT FOR OUR WEB WEBSITE. WE NEED THAT. WE ARE ASKING THE CITY FOR ARTHUR FOR AN INVESTMENT OF $25,000 FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. JUNE 5TH THROUGH EIGHTH. IN THAT 25,000, THERE'S A $2,000 IN KIND. AND THAT IS TO THE ABOUT WHERE THE BOWERS FACILITY. I'VE ASSEMBLED A VERY CAPABLE EVENT MANAGEMENT TEAM. WE HAVE FOUR MONTHS TO GO, WHICH ISN'T ENOUGH TIME. 'CAUSE WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING IN PLACE WITH YOUR INVESTMENT, WE CAN MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN. WE, WITH YOUR CONFIRMATION, WE WILL IMMEDIATELY GENERATE A VERY POSITIVE, UH, PRESS RELEASE THAT THE CITY PUT UP IS A PART OF THE WHOLE DYNAMICS OF WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. THEN THE FUNDS WILL COME AS SOON AS AFTER THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO ORGANIZE THE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH ALL OF THE DIGNITARIES HERE TO SAY THAT WE'VE GOT THIS GOING. WE'RE WORKING QUARTER FINAL GOAL. AND THAT GOAL IS THAT JUNE THE FIFTH WEEKEND. WE APPRECIATE YOU, WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME HERE. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE? YES, SIR. JUST A MINUTE. SURE. COUNCILMAN, UH, ETT? YES. GOOD. PRESENT STATE. THANK YOU. YOU'RE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC. YOU KEPT ME AWAKE ALL DAY. , YOU KNOW, REALLY. AND AND YOU BRING UP A POINT THAT I THINK A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS HAVE FOLLOWED AND KNOW ABOUT THAT BEING A LOT OF ATHLETE FROM THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE. NOT ONLY EXCELLING IN COLLEGE, BUT ALSO PROFESSIONAL LEVEL. YOU KNOW, AND I LISTENED TO YOUR PRESENTATION. UH, I THINK WHAT YOU ALL DOING IS GOING IS A GREAT THING. I THINK [00:35:01] IT'S SOMETHING LIKE WE HAVE HERE WITH OUR GULF COAST MUSEUM. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WANNA DO AT BEAUMONT, BUT YOU WANT TO EXPAND IT TO INCLUDE THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE AWARENESS. IT'S NOT JUST A BEAUMONT THING. THAT'S RIGHT. BUT IT'S IN BEAUMONT. THAT'S RIGHT. AND THAT'S THE END OF THE DAY. AND UH, INCLUSION IS ALWAYS GOOD, BUT IT'S CENTERED AROUND ATHLETES. AND THE ATHLETES ARE THE ONES I GOTTA HEAR. THEY COULD YOU HEAR ABOUT THAT? UH, THE ATHLETES ARE THE ONES THAT GOT MONEY. YOU KNOW, I THINK THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORING IN A ROOM AND, UH, TALKING TO THEM BECAUSE THEY WRITE IT OFF. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM, THEY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY THAT THEY PUT INTO COMMUNITIES. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ATHLETES AND FROM PORT ARTHUR AND FROM OMAR FROM THE ISLAND AREA, A LOT OF TIME THEY, THEY'RE INVOLVED IN PROGRAMS IN THE CITY FOR WHICH THEY PLAYED THE SPORTS. THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT I THINK YOU SHOULD REACH OUT AT. THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO COULD WRITE IT OFF. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT GOING TO BENEFIT FROM IT. YOU'RE DOING IT FOR THEM. YOU, YOU, UH, YOU'RE PROMOTING THEM. YOU'RE PROMOTING THE CITY FROM WHERE THEY CAME FROM. SO I THINK I LOOKED AT YOU FROM, THAT'S THE ONLY PART THAT I'VE, I DIDN'T HEAR THAT. I FEEL THIS COULD BE PRETTY MUCH A SUCCESS, BUT THIS THING PROBABLY COULD BE FUNDED THROUGH ATHLETES BECAUSE THEY GOT SO MANY OF 'EM FROM THIS AREA. I'M TALKING ABOUT AREAS AND I'M QUITE SURE ATHLETES' A LITTLE CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER THAN WE ARE AS RESIDENTS AND CITIZENRY, YOU KNOW, ATHLETES, IF YOU FROM BEAUMONT AND I'M FROM PORT ARTHUR, IF THEY OUT IN THE, IF THEY'RE IN A PROFESSIONAL, THEY SAY HOMIE, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY, THEY RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER. YOU KNOW? BUT I HEARD THAT THAT'S A SUPER PITCH. I LIKE TO SEE THAT PITCH AND SEE RESULTS OF IT WHEN IT'S SHOT TO THE, UH, ATHLETES, YOU KNOW? BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I, I COMMEND YOU ON WHAT YOU ALL DOING AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL GET IT DONE AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DE SAID I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE. PULL THE MIC UP, PLEASE. THERE YOU GO. UH, COUNCILMAN DE SAID, I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THAT. AND THAT IS, IT IS NOT JUST FOR THE ATHLETES. IF YOU NOTICE IN MY PRESENTATION I SAID THAT WE ARE TAKING ATHLETES AND WHAT THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED AND WE ARE GONNA TAKE THAT AND USE THAT TO BETTER THE CITY. FAR TOO LONG ATHLETES HAVE SAID, OKAY, I'M GONNA DO THIS. AND THIS IS FOR ME, WE'RE TRYING TO ERASE AND ELIMINATE THE SELFISHNESS ATHLETES. YES, THEY COULD FUND IT, BUT IT'S UP TO US AS CITIZENS, AS CITIES. AND THAT'S WHY BEAUMONT JUMPED IN BECAUSE THEY REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS. YES, WE GONNA ASK THEM, WE'VE TALKED TO THEM ALREADY. THEY'RE COMING ON BOARD, BUT A LOT OF THEM ARE, AND I THINK THE WORD WE USE IN THE STREET IS HAW. THEY'VE TRIED TO DO THINGS IN THE PAST AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN IT. THEY'RE NOT TRAINED TRAINED MANAGERS. THEY'RE NOT TRAINED PEOPLE TO PUT THINGS INTO MOTION. THEY PUT MONEY OUT AND THE MONEY HAS NOT GONE ANYWHERE. WHAT WE ARE DOING IS GIVING THEM A PLATFORM. YOU ARE A PLATFORM TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE FEW DOLLARS, PUT HERE AND COMBINE 'EM WITH OTHER DOLLARS AND MAKE THEM WORK. WHERE WE TAKE AN ATHLETIC, HOW CAN I SAY IT? THE WORD ATHLETIC AND TAKING THAT AND ALLOWING THAT TO UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITY. SO AGAIN, SIR, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S BROADER AND BIGGER THAN JUST ATHLETES GOT TO CONTRIBUTE. CITIES MUST CONTRIBUTE. I WAS IN BIRMINGHAM FOR 30 YEARS. DICK ARRINGTON, THE MAYOR OF THE FIRST BLACK MAYOR OF BIRMINGHAM. WE DID THE SAME THING OVER THERE. AND, AND I WAS, AND THERE WAS NOT, I'M GONE NOW, BUT IN THE, THEIR CITY HALL WE GOT PICTURES OF PEOPLE, OF CITY LEADERS. WHETHER IT'S CIVIL RIGHTS OR WHETHER IT'S ECONOMIC RIGHTS. THE CITY HAS TO DO IT FIRST. 'CAUSE THEY LIVE IN THE CITY. OKAY. OH, COUNCILOR MCIN LAW. HEY, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I THINK YOUR PRESENTATION IS VERY DETAILED AND I, I REALLY WAS, YOU KNOW, ENTHUSED BY THE INFORMATION YOU WAS PROVIDING. BUT WHEN YOU GO BACK AND YOU TALK ABOUT BEAUMONT AND YOU WANT TO PORT ARTHUR, YOU KNOW, YOU WENT BACK AND YOU SAID, HOW WILL IT BENEFIT PORT ARTHUR? YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE DOING THOSE THINGS. WE, WE HAVE SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIPS, WE HAVE COLLEGE, UH, PLAYERS THAT ARE EXHIBITING THE, THE MUSEUM ALREADY CURRENTLY THAT HAVE A, A, A BASIS WHERE THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GO IN THERE AND [00:40:01] VISIT THOSE INDIVIDUALS. BUT THEN YOU SAID THAT IT WOULD CR CREATE REVENUE FOR PORT ARTHUR, AND I CAN'T SEE HOW AT THIS POINT IT WOULD CREATE REVENUE BECAUSE THIS IS A STARTUP PROGRAM THAT YOU WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. YOU TALK ABOUT, UH, THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE, PORT ARTHUR, BEAUMONT ORANGE. BUT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU KNOW, I GOTTA THINK ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE. MM-HMM . YOU KNOW, UH, LET, AND YOU MADE THE, YOU MADE THE REFERENCE EARLIER. PORT ARTHUR HAS THE MOST SUPER BOWL RINGS PER CAPITAL IN THE UNITED STATES, RIGHT HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, 1314 SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIPS. OKAY. RIGHT, RIGHT HERE IN PORT ARTHUR. MM-HMM . IT'S NOT BEAUMONT. MM-HMM . IT'S PORT ARTHUR. RIGHT. SO WHEN I SEE, I HEAR YOU SAYING, AND YOU GIVE 'EM A SPIEL ABOUT BEAUMONT AND, AND, AND, AND CREATING REVENUE WITH ALL THE THREE CITIES OR ALL THE ENTITIES THAT'S GONNA PARTICIPATE. I'M, I'M KIND OF FINDING IT HARD. HOW WOULD IT REALLY BENEFIT PORT ARTHUR AT THIS STAGE IN TIME? OKAY. WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, UNLESS WE GIVE THE MONEY OR UNLESS WE BECOME A, A SPONSOR, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS WE HAVE TO TAKE AND, YOU KNOW, WE GIVE DIRECTIONS TO OUR, OUR CITY MANAGER WHAT PROGRAMS THAT WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT. MM-HMM . I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. IS IT ONLY JUST FOR, UH, NFL PLAYERS THAT PLAYED IN NFL OR IS IT FOR THE NFL PLAYERS THAT MADE IT TO THE SUPER BOWL OR? I DIDN'T GET A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THAT. OKAY. YOU NEVER, YOU NEVER GAVE A DISTINCTION IF IT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, BILL BARTEE PLAYED FOR THE DALLAS COWBOY ONE YEAR. IS HE ELIGIBLE PART OF THAT, THAT JOB? YES, HE IS. SO HE'S, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ANYONE THAT EVER PLAYED PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL, PROFESS NAMED BE THE NFL. UH, Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT YOUNG MAN HERE NAMED, IS IT NARCISSIST? NARCISSIST? HE'S IN THE CANADIAN HALL OF FAME. OH, DAWN ES AND HE IS FROM HERE. HE'S GONNA BE INCLUDED BECAUSE IT'S PROFESSIONAL. AND I HIGHLIGHTED THE LADY WHO IS A TRAINER. YEAH. SHE'S AN ASSET. WE WANT TO HAVE HER AND SPEAK. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, JUST FOR A REAL QUICK SIDEBAR, DAMIEN WEST COME IN AND CHRONICLE HIS HISTORY, HIS STORY, THE THING HE DID THAT WERE WRONG TO HELP YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR CHILDREN, OUR CHILDREN, AS TO WHAT NOT TO DO. NOW, TO, TO, TO CURVE BACK, IF I MAY, TO YOU SAID ABOUT WHAT'S THE BENEFIT OF PORT ARTHUR WHEN IT COMES TO THE TAX WRAP IN REVENUE. HAVING THE 13 OR 14 SUPER BOWL RING IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO BRING ESPN HERE. HAVING THE 13 OR 14 RINGS IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO BRING CBS NEWS HERE. THE, THE FOOTBALL CAP OF THE WORLD EVENT IS STRONG ENOUGH WHEN YOU COUPLE IT WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE HERE. I USE AN EXAMPLE, AND I TALKED TO, I THINK MR. NEIL AT THE MUSEUM. I WENT TO VISIT HIM FIRST WHEN I FIRST MOVED BACK FROM ALABAMA. I'M FROM HERE ORIGINALLY, AND I WAS TELLING HIM THAT TOURISM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SAYS THAT THIS, THIS, WE HAVE A MUSEUM TOUR. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM OR NEW YORK, WHO'VE NEVER SEEN A REFINERY, WHO NEVER SEEN ONE OF THE BIG ARTS? AND I'M TRYING TO SHOW YOU THE REVENUE GENERATION OPPORTUNITY THERE WHEN IT COMES TO THE FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD OPPORTUNITY OF DOING THAT ANNUALLY AND BRINGING IN PEOPLE OF NOTORIETY. AND I HOPE, I HOPE THAT I, I ANSWERED, UH, YOUR QUESTION. WE, WE, WE, WE'LL TALK OFFLINE IF THAT'S OKAY. I'M SORRY. WE'LL TALK OFFLINE IF THAT'S OKAY. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. OKAY. THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NO PROBLEM. I WANNA ANSWER EVERY QUESTION THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE, UH, TO ASSIST YOU TO MAKE A, A CALCULATOR AND A GOOD, UH, ANSWER. OKAY. COUNCILMAN FRANK. ALRIGHT, OF COURSE. UM, WE HAVE TALKED, UH, IN FULL DISCLOSURE, UH, I WAS IN THE MEETING WITH, UM, UM, UH, BOBBY LEOPOLD. YES. WHO IS, UM, A 19, UH, SEVENTIES GRADUATE. UH, WE PLAYED FOOTBALL TOGETHER AT LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT, UH, I'M IN, I'M IN COMPLETE, UH, AGREEMENT WITH YOU ABOUT THE ASPECTS OF BRINGING IN, UM, REVENUE, UH, THAT WILL HELP ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. UH, I SEE, UH, THE GOOD FAITH EFFORT THAT YOU'VE PUT IN, UH, HERE TO HAVE, UM, A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, UH, WITH PORT ARTHUR. AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, DOES BENEFIT AND BLESS BOTH COMMUNITIES, UH, FOR SO LONG. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I WENT TO CHURCH IN BEAUMONT, LIVED IN PORT ARTHUR, UM, AND HAVE GREAT FRIENDS, UH, IN BEAUMONT AS WELL. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT RIVALRY HAD THAT ALWAYS THAT RIVALRY THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE. I MEAN, WE WOULD PACK OUT THE STADIUM WHEN [00:45:01] LINCOLN PLAYED HEBERT OR, YOU KNOW, CHARLTON POLLARD. THOSE WERE, THOSE RIVALRIES WERE IN THE SEVENTIES AS WELL. SO, UM, YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU'RE GONNA GET THAT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THERE COMES A TIME WHERE WE HAVE TO, UM, PULL TOGETHER. YES. UH, AND I THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO DO THAT. UM, MAYBE, UM, WE CAN ROTATE THE YEARS WHERE WE WILL HAVE THE EVENT IN BO, YOU KNOW, VERY GOOD POINT. WE'LL HAVE THE GOLF POINT, WE'LL HAVE THE, THE GOLF HERE IN PORT ARTHUR THIS YEAR. THEN YOU GET THE GOLF, WE GET THE ABSOLUTELY. THE MAJOR EVENT. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WOULD HELP TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON REVENUE AND INCREASING THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX WHERE INDIVIDUALS WILL COME IN AND STAY IN THE CITY. YES. WHERE THE MAJOR EVENT IS GOING TO BE DONE. BUT I, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ENDEAVOR. I LOOK FORWARD TO EXPERIENCING IT. SO, UH, AND IT'LL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY OF REVENUE SHARING AS WELL. SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT, AND AS I MAY MAYOR, MAY I RESPOND, AND HE MAY MAKE A GREAT POINT. IF WE BROADEN OUR HORIZONS AND LOOK PAST THE TUNNEL VISION, WE CAN SEE WHERE DOWN THE LINE, MOVING TO TWO, TWO, UH, TWO HOTEL SCENARIO. YOU GOT GREAT HOTELS OUT HERE ON JIMMY JOHNSON BOULEVARD THAT ARE RIGHT NEXT TO THE GOLF VENUE. WHY NOT HAVE TWO HOTELS AND HAVE A BUS TRANSPORT BETWEEN TWO HOTELS? YOU GOT AN EVENT GOING ON HERE AND YOU GOT SEVEN GOING ON HERE TOO. THERE'S MORE THAN 10 PEOPLE IN THE TRIANGLE. WE CAN PACK OUT BOTH PLACES IF WE HAVE TO, IF WE BRING IN ENOUGH STAR POWER AND OUR GOAL NEXT YEAR TO BRING IN JIMMY JOHNSON AND I MADE CONTACT WITH HIS PEOPLE, CAN'T DO IT THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, BUT NEXT YEAR MY PLAN IS TO BRING IN JIMMY JOHNSON TO BE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER. SO AGAIN, GOING BACK TO YES, THINKING ABOUT THE FIRST ONE, BUT KNOWING THAT THERE'D BE SECOND, THE THIRD ONE, THE FOURTH ONE, THE 10TH ONE, AND THE 20TH ONE, JUST LET THE SUPER BOWL GAME. SO AGAIN, COUNCIL PEOPLE, COUNCILPERSONS MEN AND WOMEN, I ASK YOU TO THINK BROADLY ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY, NOT JUST THE FIRST TIME, BUT HOW WE CAN PRODUCE THIS AND EXPAND THIS AS WE DO GOING FORWARD. OKAY. THERE ANY OTHER, UH, COMMENTS OR, WELL, WE THANK YOU MR. APPLICANT FOR YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU Y'ALL SOON PLEASE. OKAY. THANK YOU SO KINDLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHT, [III.B.(2) A Presentation By Staff, A Status Update Of The Water And Wastewater Infrastructure] WE'LL MOVE NOW TO OUR NEXT ITEM IS A STAFF, UH, PRESENTATION BY STAFF, A STATUS UPDATE OF THE, UH, WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. EXCUSE ME. WHAT DO WE DIRECT THIS TO? BRING HIM TO DO THAT. I GOT YOU. SO THE, UH, JANUARY 21, SNOW, SNOW STORM OR FREEZE THAT WE HAD IT, I GUESS THE MAIN IMPACT FOR EVERYONE WAS WE WENT INTO A BOIL WATER NOTICE. SO JUST WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WE DID. UH, THE BOIL WATER NOTICE WAS CAUSED BY, UH, HIGH TURBIDITY COMING OUT OF THE WATER PLANT DURING THE FREEZE. THIS WAS PRIMARILY THE RESULT OF SOME VALVES THAT FAILED, THAT ALLOW BLOWDOWN OF THE SLUDGE THAT'S MADE DURING THE PROCESS, WHICH IS THE, THE BROWN COLOR IN THE WATER. SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY REMOVE IT. AND WE WENT ABOVE 1.0 TURBIDITY, WHICH BY TCEQ RULES AUTOMATICALLY REQUIRES A WALL WATER NOTICE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UH, IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET THE TURBIDITY BACK DOWN. WE DID BRING IN A CONTRACTOR. IT COST US ABOUT $2,800, [00:50:01] $2,900 TO HAVE THE VALVES FIXED. AND WE RETURNED THE PLANT BACK TO, UH, PROPER OPERATION. WE THEN SAMPLED THE FCI, UH, THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND WERE ABLE TO LIFT THE BALL, WATER NOTICE, UH, EVERYWHERE EXCEPT SABINE PASS. AND, UH, S WE ALL, SO I'LL GO OVER THAT NEXT. THE SABINE PASS BALL WATER NOTICE WAS CONTINUED BECAUSE OF LOW PRESSURE. WE HAVE SEVERAL PIPE BREAKS. WE STILL HAVE LOW PRESSURE THERE. WE'RE RUNNING ABOUT EIGHT 19 PSI 1819 PSI, THE 16 INCH WATER LINE THAT THERE'S TWO LINES THAT RUN DOWN HIGHWAY 87 ON THE CITY SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. THE HDP LINE PULLED OUT OF THE FITTINGS. WE THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF THE COLD WEATHER OR THE HTP SHRUNK. UH, WE REPAIRED THE LINE ON THE CITY SIDE, UH, AND WE ALSO HAD A 12 INCH WATERLINE AROUND THE STAND PIPE IN SABINE PASS THAT FELL. WE REPAIRED THAT COST WAS ABOUT $20,000 TO REPAIR THOSE TWO PIPES. WE CONTINUED TO HAVE LOW PRESSURE. WE HAVE, WE SPENT THE WEEKEND, WE HAD CREWS ALL OVER LOOKING FOR LEAKS. WE KNOW WE HAVE A LEAK. WE'VE REPLAY REPAIRED LEAKS, UH, SEVERAL LEAKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UH, WE STILL HAVE A LEAK. WE THINK IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. WE HAVE CREWS THERE. NOW. WE HAD TO GET A WC OUT TO DO SURVEYING TO LOCATE VALVES THAT HAVE BEEN BURIED OVER THE YEARS BY ITS ROAD BASED MATERIAL. I DON'T KNOW, ALL UNDER THE BRIDGE. WE ARE HOPING TO GET THAT BACK IN LINE. UH, WE ALSO HAD SOME PROBLEMS AT THE PORT ACRES WASTEWATER PLANT. WE HAD A SIX INCH WATER LINE THAT BROKE IN THE TREAT, UH, WASTEWATER PLANT. IT WAS FIXED BY IN HOUSE STAFF. AND, UH, THE 24 INCH WATER LINE THAT GOES UNDERNEATH THE SHIP CHANNEL AT MLK BRIDGE ALSO PULLED APART, UH, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO PRESSURE PROBLEMS IN THE CITY AND ON PLEASURE ISLAND, BUT THAT, THAT WAS FIXED DURING THE PERIOD OF THE WALL WATER NOTICE CAUSED BY HIGH TURBIDITY. SO AT THIS MOMENT, SABINE PASS IS STILL UNDER WALL WATER NOTICE. SO BASICALLY FOR RESIDENTS THAT MAY BE LISTENING TO BALL WATER NOTICE, YOU CAN STILL USE ANY WATER FOR BATHING AND WASHING HANDS. IT'S JUST, UH, IF YOU'RE GONNA DRINK IT, UH, YOU NEED TO BOIL IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PUBLIC, THE THINGS THAT'S LISTED. I THINK IT'S TWO MINUTES. I DON'T REMEMBER. SO THAT'S THE STATUS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTION? UM, COUNCIL, OH, I'M SORRY, SIR. I'M SORRY. I APOLOGIZE. I WANT TO CALL ON YOU. YES, SIR. OKAY. COUNCILMAN FRANK. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I KNOW THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE, UM, RUPTURED LINES. WE'D BEEN IN COMMUNICATION ALL WEEK. CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ABOUT THAT AS WELL, OR IS THAT A PART OF AN ANOTHER PRESENTATION? BUT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT NOW. THE RUPTURED LINES THAT CAUSED US TO GO INTO THE, TO CONTINUE THE BOIL WATER, THE 24 INCH LINE IS A RUPTURED LINE. IT PULLED APART RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BRIDGE. THE 16 INCH OR 12 INCH LINE. IT'S A 12 INCH PVC LINE THAT GOES TO A 16 INCH HCDP LINE. 'CAUSE OF THE THICKNESS OF A PIPE TO KEEP THE SAME ID IT PULLED APART. THAT'S THE SABINE WAS THE INITIAL SABINE BASS PROBLEM WE FOUND. UH, AND THEN WE FOUND A TWO INCH LEAK ON, UH, FIRST AVENUE THAT WE REPAIRED. LET'S SEE, THERE'S A, THE PIPELINE AROUND THE STANDPIPE THAT WAS, THAT WAS PREVENTING THE WATER GOING SOUTH IN SABINE PASS THAT'S BEEN REPAIRED. WE'RE ADDING ANOTHER VALVE AT THE TANK SO WE CAN ISOLATE. THERE'S A, ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF ACROSS THE MARSH THAT WE CAN'T ISOLATE. WE'RE GONNA ISOLATE IT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY TO TEST IF IT CHANGES, IF THERE'S A LEAK OUT IN THE MARSH, WE'VE WALKED IT, BUT WE CAN'T, IT'S JUST UNDERWATER. SO IT'S HARD TO TELL IF IT'S LEAKING WHEN IT'S UNDERWATER UNDER GRASS AND WATER. OKAY. SO YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT, FIND THAT LEAK. YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT BUBBLING UP BEFORE WE, OR SPEWING OUT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? WE, WE BASICALLY HAVE ISOLATED THAT THERE'S TWO PROBLEMS IN SABINE PASS. THERE'S A PROBLEM IN THE CLOSE TO THE INTERCOSTAL CANAL. WE'RE LOSING ABOUT 40 PSI, UH, BETWEEN THE GULF PUMP STATION AND SEMPRA. AND THEN FROM THAT [00:55:01] POINT DOWN TO THE TOWER, WE'RE LOSING ABOUT 20 PSI, WHICH IS VERY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE LOSS. AND THAT'S WHAT'S PREVENTING THE TOWER FROM COMING UP IT. WHEN, IF, WHEN YOU FIND, WHEN YOU FIND THAT LEAK THAT'S IN THE MARSH RIGHT THERE, HOW ARE YOU GONNA FIX IT? HOW ARE YOU GONNA GET TO IT? WELL, IT'S ACCORDING TO WHERE EXACTLY WHERE IT IS. WE MAY HAVE TO BRING IN PALLETS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TRUCK MATS. THE CRANE MATS. WE MAY HAVE TO BUILD A TEMPORARY ROAD TO IT. AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE EXTRA COSTS, EXTRA EXPENSES TO DO THAT. SO THAT'S, YES, WE MAY REACH OUT TO SOME OF OUR INDUSTRIAL FRIENDS TO HELP IF IT'S CLOSE TO ONE OF THEIR WORK SITES. WE'RE IN COMMUNICATION WITH, YOU KNOW, THE BECHTEL AND THE OTHERS. IS BECHTEL STILL CUT OFF? UH, THE WHOLE, YEAH. ALL THE INDUSTRIES BASICALLY OFF THE CONCRETE PLANT DOWN ON FIRST AVENUE DOESN'T GET WATER. BECHTEL'S OFF. UH, UH, GOLDEN. THANK YOU. GOLDEN BASS IS OFF. I MEAN, THERE'S JUST, THERE'S VERY LOW WATER PRESSURE THERE. I MEAN, IT'S THE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT I WAS TALKING TO THE FIRE CHIEF, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE HAVING TO BRING IN A TANKER TRUCK SO THEY HAVE WATER. IT'S, IT'S A SERIOUS, SO IT'S A DIRE SITUATION. IT'S A DIRE SITUATION. I MEAN, WE'VE ISOLATED AND RULED OUT, BUT WE HAVEN'T FOUND IT. WHERE THEY'RE AT RIGHT NOW IS AT THE BASE OF THE BRIDGE AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S, THEY'VE GOT TO IT. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME OF THE, THERE'S ANOTHER SET OF VALVES THAT ARE UNDERWATER THAT THEY'RE WORKING TO GET TO. AND SO THE, WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE ACCESSIBLE TODAY. SO HAS THE WATER. SO, AND I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A CLEAR PICTURE. SO IS THE WATER GOING UP IN THE TANK OR NOT? IS IT GOING UP SLOWLY? IT'S, OR IT, THIS MORNING IT WAS AT 44 FEET. IT SHOULD BE AT ABOUT A A HUNDRED FEET, 120 FEET, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SHOULD BE AT 120 FEET, BUT ONLY 44. THE NORMAL ENTRY TO THE TANK IS AT A HUNDRED FEET. OKAY. THE PIPE COMES IN, GOES UP TO A HUNDRED FEET. AND THAT, SO IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN A A HUNDRED FEET OF PRESSURE, WHICH IS, I DON'T KNOW, 25 BSI MM-HMM . YOU, YOU HAVE TO FILL THE TANK FROM THE BYPASS LINE, WHICH ALSO FEEDS THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE CITY. OKAY. AND, UH, SO THEREFORE, A WHILE WE, WE, WE WEREN'T GETTING, WE UNTIL WE FIXED THAT PIPE. WE, WE COULDN'T FEED THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE CITY OR GET ANY RESERVE IN THE TANK. I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S SO LOW. IT'S NOT A, SO I GUESS WHEN, I GUESS WHEN THE CITY FATHERS OR WHOEVER DESIGNED IT DID IT, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL OF THE FORESIGHT TO PUT IN TWO LINES. THERE IS TWO LINES, SIR. THERE'S A, THERE, THERE'S A 12 AND A 16 THAT, THAT LEAVES THE PUMP STATION. WHEN, WHEN CHENE DID THE IMPROVEMENTS, THEY ADDED A LINE. SO THERE ORIGINALLY WAS A 12 INCH LINE, THEY ADDED A 16 INCH LINE. THEN WHEN SEMPRA RELOCATED THE ROAD TO UNIFY THEIR SITE, THEY CAN BIND THE TWO LINES AROUND SEMPRA INTO A NEW 30 INCH LINE. AND THEN IT SPLITS BACK INTO THE TWO LINES. AND THEY RUN, SOMETIMES THEY'RE TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD OUT IN THAT COW PASTURE. SOMETIMES THEY'RE CLOSE TO THE ROAD. WE STILL HAVE BUNCH AFTER THE, HMM, GO AHEAD. WE STILL HAVE A LOT AFTER THE STAND HAVE, UH, AC LINE. OKAY. AND THEN AS YOU, THERE WAS A HURRICANE A WHILE BACK THAT BLEWS TELEPHONE POLES OVER. SO ONE OF THOSE LINES IS A VERY OLD AC LINE ASBESTOS CEMENT LINE. OH, OKAY. AND WHAT I LEARNED OVER THE WEEKEND WAS DURING THE HURRICANE, THEY BLEW OVER THE TELEPHONE POLES AND BROKE SOME OF THAT. SO PIECES OF IT WERE REPLACED WITH PVC. SO IT'S A KIND OF A HODGEPODGE OF AC AND PVC. AND WE DON'T HAVE GOOD RECORDS OF WHERE THAT WAS DONE. WE JUST KNOW IT WAS DONE. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT WAS DONE BY CONTRACTOR IN HOUSE. I JUST, ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN TOLD ME IT WAS DONE. UH, BUT THE OTHER LINE WAS PUT IN BY, UH, SIM UH, CHENE IS, IT'S A, IT IS A NEW LINE, BUT IT'S KIND OF OUT IN THE MARSH WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO GET RIGHT AWAY ALONG THE ROAD. IT'S VERY HARD TO ACCESS. WE DON'T, THERE'S AREAS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO ACCESS IT. SO I DID GET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO SWIM THE, THE, THE GUY VOLUNTEERED AND HE SWAM THE DITCH AND GOT OVER TO CHECK A VALVE LAST YEAR. SO I THANKED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR HELP. AND I GUESS, I GUESS, I GUESS IN MY MIND, YEAH, I'VE WORKED IN REFINERIES. I'VE, I'VE, I'VE DONE THIS FOR A WHILE. SO I WAS JUST THINKING LIKE WHEN YOU GET READY TO REPAIR A LINE, YOU, YOU PLACE THOSE TWO LINES. YOU CAN VALVE ONE [01:00:01] OUT WHILE YOU WORK ON THE OTHER. SO I'M SAYING, IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THERE ARE TWO LINES, WHY HAVEN'T WE BEEN ABLE TO ST BLOCK ONE AND USE THE OTHER AS A, WE WE HAVE TRIED, BUT THAT WE LOSE WATER. I MEAN, WE'RE, THERE'S, WE HAVE BLOCKED THEM AND WE LOSE PRESSURE AND WA WE OVER PRESSURE THE PUMP STATION ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. SO THEY'RE BOTH, I THINK THEY BOTH HAVE LEAKS AND TOGETHER THEY'RE GIVING US, WE CAN'T ISOLATE ONE ALONE. WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO THAT POINT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU MA'AM. I MEAN, OKAY, AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO PUT FLOW METERS IN 'EM, BUT THAT'S A VERY LARGE JOB. THEN YOU COULD MEASURE THE FLOW IN SECTIONS AND YOU'D BE ABLE TO ISOLATE IT. THAT'S A PROJECT THAT'S NOT WRITTEN DOWN YET, BUT IT'S A PROJECT THAT WE NEED TO DO. BUT IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, SO IT'S DOWN THE ROAD AWAY. SO I, IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, WELL THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU ALL, UH, DISSEMINATED HERE HA'S GOING TO DO THAT PRESENTATION FOR RON. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. SORRY. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THE WAR UTILITIES BUDGET AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE PRESENTATION HAS FEW OBJECTIVES. ONE, TWO, UPDATE YOU ON THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE DEPARTMENT AFTER THE FIRST, UH, QUARTER OF THE YEAR. TO RECAP THE ACTIONS THAT COUNCIL TOOK SINCE, UH, THE BEGINNING OF THIS BUDGET YEAR AND THE DISCUSSION OF THE BUDGET IN SEPTEMBER TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, UH, SOME NEW PROJECTS THAT POPPED UP ON US THIS YEAR THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO, UH, HANDLE AND RECAP ALSO ALL THE FUNDING WE DISCUSSED BEFORE AND ALL THE PROJECTS THAT ARE, UH, NEEDED AS PER THE REQUEST OF, UH, SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO WE, STARTING WITH THE 2024 BUDGET THAT WAS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL, THE BUDGET INCLUDED $8 MILLION, UH, OF CAPITAL PROJECTS. ALL THAT FUNDING HAS BEEN, UH, PROVIDED EXCEPT FOR THE $500,000 THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, UH, GRANT FUNDING FOR FIRE HYDRANTS. SO ALL THESE PROJECTS THAT YOU CAN SEE ON 2024 LIST FROM LIFT STATIONS TO SEWER COLLECTION SYSTEM IN SABBE PASS TO INSIDE CITY LIMITS TO THE ATLANTA LINE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED OR ARE UNDERDESIGNED OR UN UNDER CONSTRUCTION. UH, THE ONLY ITEM THAT IS SPENDING THE MOST IS THE SABINE PASS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO UTILIZE ARPA FUNDING LAST YEAR IN ORDER TO MAKE THE REPAIRS THAT WERE NEEDED. AND THIS MONEY IS BEING USED TO DESIGN, UH, MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE REHAB AT THAT FACILITY. BUT ALL THESE 2024, UH, UH, PROJECTS LISTED IN THIS BUDGET AS CAPITAL, UH, ARE EITHER UNDERWAY OR HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. WHEN WE STARTED WORKING ON THE 2025, UH, BUDGET, WHAT WE PROPOSED FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FIVE YEAR PROGRAM WAS A $30 MILLION A YEAR, UH, IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. AND SOME OF THE IMPORTANT PROJECTS ON THAT LIST IS THE, UH, DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM REHAB, WHICH IS WATERLINE, UH, REPLACEMENT AND, UH, REHABILITATION. WE HAD $8.8 MILLION IN THAT BUDGET YEAR, WHICH IS THIS YEAR FOR THAT, UH, WATERLINE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME LINES THAT ARE CRITICAL, WE NEED TO START THE DESIGN PHASE ON. AND PART OF THAT MONEY WAS GONNA BE USED IN ORDER TO INSTALL SOME LEAK DETECTION EQUIPMENT ON THE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, SABINE PASS AND THE LINES THAT GO OUT THERE. AND THE STRUGGLE WE ARE HAVING TODAY, UH, WITH FINDING THOSE LEAKS, UH, ON THE MAIN INTERCEPT MAIN DISTRIBUTION LINES LIKE THE 36 INCH, UH, MAIN LINE FROM THE PLANT. SO WE WERE GONNA DO THAT AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT BUDGET WAS NOT APPROVED BY COUNCIL BECAUSE IN ORDER TO GET THEM FUNDING TO COMPLETE THESE PROJECTS, WE REQUIRED A RATE INCREASE. SO THE ONLY APPROVED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET WE HAVE FOR THIS YEAR IS 1,000,040 $5,000. AND IF YOU SEE IT'S LISTED ON NON-DESIGNATED, UH, [01:05:01] BECAUSE WE MAINLY KEPT IT FOR EMERGENCIES THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE BASED ON THE AGE AND THE DETERIORATED WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. SO FOR THE 2025, WE ARE ONLY WORKING OF 1,000,040 $5,000 CAPITAL BUDGET. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TO TAKE OUT FROM THIS BUDGET WAS THE PIPE BURSTING CREW THAT WE WERE PLANNING ON DOING AS SECOND CREW WITH EQUIPMENT AND STAFF. SO WE COULDN'T, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT AS WELL. SO ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WERE LISTED IN 25 ARE ON CURRENTLY ON HOLD. WHEN THE DISCUSSION FOR THE 2025 BUDGET YEAR STARTED, UH, WE, WE DISCUSSED SEVERAL RATE INCREASES THAT WERE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL. UH, WE STARTED IN SEPTEMBER BECAUSE WE WERE HOPING THE RATE INCREASE WILL GO INTO EFFECT IN OCTO ON OCTOBER 1ST, SO WE CAN FUND THE ENTIRE BUDGET YEAR. AND THOSE RATE INCREASES WERE, UH, VOTED DOWN FOR, UH, DIFFERENT TIMES. SO BASED ON THE CURRENT REVENUE AND THE CURRENT, UH, EXPENDITURES FOR OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, WE ARE LOOKING AT A PROJECTED DEFICIT IN THE UTILITIES FUND OF $3 MILLION. SO BY THE END OF THE BUDGET YEAR, BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE ONGOING TODAY, OUR REVENUE IS ABOUT 1.8 MILLION LOWER THAN EXPECTED OR BUDGETED. AND THE EXPENDITURES ARE HIGHER. SO THIS THAN $3 MILLION DON'T ACTUALLY INCLUDE ANY EMERGENCIES WE CAN HAVE FROM NOW TILL THE END OF THE YEAR. 'CAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE MILLION, 45,000 HAS ALREADY BEEN EXPANDED. SO ANY ADDITIONAL EMERGENCIES WE HAVE WILL ADD TO THE DEFICIT OF THE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE TWO PROJECTS THAT, UH, WE WERE ABLE, WELL, ONE OF THEM WE ARE ABLE TO COMPLETE BECAUSE IT IS A-T-C-E-Q MANDATED PROJECT IN SABINE PASS, WHICH INCLUDES SPENDING $500,000 ON WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, PIPING, MANHOLES AND SERVICE LINES. WE WERE ABLE TO FUND THAT THROUGH SOME OF THE ARPAS INTEREST REVENUE. AND THAT PROJECT IS ACTUALLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION TODAY. THAT WAS DESIGNED IN-HOUSE AND THROUGH MY COMPANY. THE OTHER PROJECT WILL BE THE HIGHWAY 365 FORCE MAIN THAT WE WILL DISCUSS FURTHER DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION BEFORE WE BRING IT BACK UP HERE FOR THE 25, UH, BUDGET YEARS. SO FAR, WE HAD SPENT $697,000 ON EMERGENCY WORK ITEMS THAT CITY CREWS DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO OR THE EQUIPMENT TO COMPLETE. AND THAT VARIES FROM BREAKERS AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT TO WATERLINE FAILURES, TO WASTEWATER, UH, PIPING FAILURES. AS FAR AS THE CUSTOMER CALLS THAT THE CITY STAFF HAS, UH, RESPONDED TO SO FAR, AS OF OCTOBER 1ST UP TO JANUARY 23RD, WE RESPONDED TO 678, UH, WATER SERVICE CALLS, 1,506 SEWER SERVICE CALLS AND 24,604 SERVICE WORK ORDERS. ON THE WATER BILLING SIDE, YOU SEE THE WATER SERVICE CALLS BEING LOWER THAN THE SEWER SERVICE CALLS BECAUSE THAT'S SEASONAL. THESE NUMBERS WILL FLIP DURING THE SUMMER TO WHERE WE WILL BE RESPONDING TO MORE WATER AND LESS SEWER SERVICE CALLS. ONE OF THE NEW PROJECTS THAT POPPED UP ON US, UH, THIS YEAR, ACTUALLY THREE WEEKS AGO, THERE ARE TWO 10 INCH WATER LINES THAT GO UNDER THE SHIP CHANNEL THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE DREDGING THAT IS TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE 1.5 YEARS TO DESIGN AND RELOCATE THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES INVOLVED WITH IT WILL PAY HALF OF THAT COST. SO THE CITY'S SHARE OF THAT COST IS GONNA BE $7.5 MILLION. THAT IS FUNDING TODAY IS NOT AVAILABLE IN CAPITAL OR IN THE, UH, UTILITIES RESERVE FUND. SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DISCUSS FURTHER SOON TO DETERMINE HOW WE'RE GONNA FUND IT. THE OTHER [01:10:01] VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT IS THE 36 INCH WATER LINE THAT GOES DOWN, UH, SAVANNAH. IT'S ABOUT 9,300 FEET. UH, THIS BUDGET HERE, THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT, UH, DID NOT GO INTO EFFECT INCLUDED THE DESIGN PHASE OF THIS WATER LINE. THIS IS THE WATER LINE THAT IF IT GOES DOWN, THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY WILL GO DOWN. AND WE WERE PLANNING ON STARTING THE, UH, DESIGN PHASE ON IT. THE TOTAL COST OF THAT PROJECT WAS ESTIMATED AT 19 MILLION LAST YEAR. TODAY IT'S AT AN ESTIMATE OF APPROXIMATELY 23 MILLION. CURRENTLY, WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO START THE DESIGN EITHER, AND IT'S A PROJECT THAT IS VERY WELL NEEDED. WE WENT THROUGH THESE, UH, DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN DETAIL PREVIOUSLY. SO I JUST, UH, SUMMARIZED THEM IN ONE, UH, PAGE. AND BASICALLY WE HAVE SANITARY SEWER LIFT STATION REHABS AS PRIORITY ONE AND TWO. PRIORITY ONE. BASICALLY, THESE STATIONS ARE DANGEROUS TO WALK INTO. THEY'RE FALLING APART. THE REINFORCED CONCRETE IS, UH, DETERIORATED TO THE REBAR, UH, PUMPS AND PIPING AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, UH, HAVE BEEN PATCHED FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. AND THEN WE HAVE PRIORITY TOO THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO WAIT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE WE HAVE START ON IT. WE HAVE SEWER PIPE REPLACEMENT, WE HAVE WATERLINE REPLACEMENT, WE HAVE WATER TOWER REHAB, THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, GULF STATION PROJECTS, WASTEWATER TREATMENT, PLANT PROJECTS, FIRE HU AND REPLACEMENT PROJECTS. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF $924 MILLION OF WORK THAT IS NEEDED. 106 MILLION OF IT IS PRIORITY ONE. HOW MUCH? 106 MILLION IS PRIORITY ONE ITEMS THAT WE SHOULD NO LONGER WAIT TO DO. WE ALSO HAVE SOME ESTIMATED COST ON FUTURE EXPANSIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH ALL THE INDUSTRY ABOUT 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA IMPACT THEM THE MOST. AND THAT'S ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 258 MILLION. SO OVERALL WE GOT ABOUT $1.2 BILLION WITH A B OF WORK THAT IS NEEDED TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THIS IS A PRESENTATION WE'VE GIVEN BEFORE WITH ALL THE DETAILS, ALL THE NAMES AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNCIL, UH, A FEW MONTHS AGO. THE FUNDING SOURCES, THE FIRST THING WE ARE ALWAYS GOING AFTER IS GRANT FUNDING AND GRANT APPLICATIONS. WE HAVE APPLIED SINCE 23 TILL TODAY FOR $206 MILLION WORTH OF GRANT FUNDING THAT WAS NOT APPROVED. CURRENTLY WE HAVE, UH, THREE GRANTS THAT WE APPLIED FOR. 20 MILLION IS FOR SEW PIPE REPLACEMENT, 20 MILLION IS FOR LIFT STATION REHABILITATION AND 4.8 MILLION IS FOR THE LEAD AND COPPER PROGRAM. THESE ARE STILL PENDING, WE DON'T HAVE ANSWERS TO YET. WE WILL BE REAPPLYING FOR THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, UH, FOR THE WATERLINE REPLACEMENT PROJECTS FOR $190 MILLION. BUT PLEASE KEEP ON YOUR MINDS THAT ANYTHING WE APPLY FOR TO THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD'S NOT FREE MONEY. IT'S NOT A GRANT. IT'S FUNDING THAT HAVE TO BE PAID BACK. USUALLY IT'S AT A LOWER INTEREST RATE, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO PAY IT BACK. SOME OF IT CAN BE FORGIVEN. LIKE THE PROJECT WE DID AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN AT 72 MILLION, WE WERE ABLE TO GET $5 MILLION OF THAT FUNDING FORGIVEN. BUT THIS IS FUNDING WE HAVE TO PAY BACK, WHICH MEANS WE SHOULD BE HA WE SHOULD HAVE THE FINANCES TO PAY IT IF WE RECEIVE THAT FUNDING. WE'VE SPOKE ABOUT THE METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. THAT BID PACKAGE IS COMPLETED. UH, IT'S AT THE FI AT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR REVIEW. AND ONCE THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE COMPLETE THIS PROJECT, THIS REVIEW, IT'LL BE ADVERTISED AND UH, BIDS WILL BE RECEIVED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF ADVERTISEMENT. AND THE OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING, OF COURSE, WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. WHEN WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS, UH, BEFORE, WE GAVE YOU A FEW OPTIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT THE RATE INCREASES WILL HAVE TO BE IN ORDER TO FUND 50, 40, 30 20 OR $10 MILLION. THOSE INCREASES DO NOT INCLUDE OPERATIONAL [01:15:01] INCREASES DO NOT INCLUDE INFLATION, ADDITIONAL INFLATION COSTS. AND THEY ARE BASED ON A $37 MILLION, UH, REVENUE PROJECTION FROM LAST YEAR. SO IN SUMMARY, THE 25 UTILITIES BUDGET DOES NOT HAVE ANY FUNDING THIS YEAR TO PERFORM ANY MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WE'VE PLANNED. SOME OF WHICH ARE ALREADY DESIGNED, SOME OF WHICH ARE EVEN BID READY TO BE AWARDED. NONE OF THAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THIS BUDGET YEAR. THE PROJECTION IS $3 MILLION DEFICIT THAT THE CITY WILL HAVE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF REVENUE TO PAY IT, WHETHER IT'S GENERAL FUND OR OTHER METHODS THE COUNCIL WOULD CHOOSE TO, UH, USE. AS OF JANUARY 25, UH, WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT $300,000 LEFT FOR EMERGENCIES. SO, AND SOME OF THAT 300,000 ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED TO SOME PROJECTS. SO MOST LIKELY FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL THROUGH SEPTEMBER, ANY EMERGENCIES WE HAVE WILL HAVE TO BE PAID FOR FROM THE GENERAL FUND. UH, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CONSENT ORDER WILL ALSO IS ALSO EXPECTED TO, UH, SHOW UP THIS YEAR. WE WILL KNOW WHAT THEIR PLAN IS FOR US, WHAT THEY WANT US TO SPEND, HOW MUCH A YEAR ON THE WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE AS PER THE FINANCE DIRECTOR. THROUGH DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD WITH HER LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK, THE GENERAL FUND CANNOT SUBSIDIZE THE UTILITIES FUND AND ANY FUNDING THAT THE GENERAL FUND GIVES THE UTILITIES FUNDS TODAY, THE UTILITIES FUND DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY IT BACK IN. IN SUMMARY, UH, WE'VE BEEN INTO A SIMILAR SITUATION BEFORE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE DO THIS. UH, WE'VE HAD A TIMEFRAME FROM 2008 TO 2018 TO WHERE RATE INCREASES DIDN'T TAKE PLACE. REDUCTION IN READY TO SERVE FEE HAPPENED AND THE UTILITIES FUND SUSTAINED AND WAS ABLE TO EXIST DURING THAT ERA. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW IS NUMBER ONE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS 15 YEARS OLDER. IT'S CALLED COLLAPSING FASTER. IT'S DETERIORATING FASTER. NUMBER TWO, AS PER FINANCE, THE GENERAL FUND CANNOT PAY FOR UTILITIES, UH, FUNDING AT THIS TIME LIKE IT DID AND SPEND $54 MILLION BEFORE IT WAS ABLE TO AT THAT TIME. IT CAN DO IT TODAY AS PER THE A DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. AND THIRDLY, WHAT IS ACTUALLY FLOATING OVER US RIGHT NOW IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S DECISION THAT IS GONNA IMPACT OUR FINANCES TREMENDOUSLY WHEN THEY DECIDE WHAT DO WE NEED TO SPEND EVERY YEAR UNTIL THE WASTEWATER ISSUES ARE RESOLVED. WE TRY TO DO IT OUR WAY AND SHOW THEM A GOOD PATH FORWARD. BUT WE COULDN'T UNFORTUNATELY. AND NOW WE, WE MOST LIKELY HAVE TO DO IT, UH, THEIR WAY WHEN THIS, UH, DECISION COMES DOWN AND ATTORNEY GENERAL CARES ABOUT ONLY ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. OKAY. UH, MAYOR, I BECK. THANK YOU MAYOR. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT A PROJECT AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT FITS INTO THE LISTED PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, BUT I'VE GOTTEN SOME, UH, SOME CALLS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT THIS. A FEW MONTHS AGO WE HAD A CONTRACTOR THAT CAME AROUND AND WAS LOOKING AT THE METERS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE'S HOMES AND THEY WERE DIGGING A HOLE BEHIND IT OR IN FRONT OF IT OR SOMETHING AND LOOKING AT THE, AT THE PIPING AND THEN THEY WERE PUTTING FLAGS AT CERTAIN HOMES. UM, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH REPLACING LEAD PIPE. UM, AND SO I'VE HAD PEOPLE ASK, UH, HAS THIS BEEN DONE? CAN I FILL THIS HOLE IN THAT'S IN, IN MY YARD. SO CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THAT? YES MA'AM. THIS WAS A FEDERALLY MANDATED PROJECT TO WHERE WE CONDUCT A SURVEY FOR THE LEAD AND COPPER PIPING AT THE METERS ON BOTH SIDES, CITY SIDE AND THE CUSTOMER SIDE. THE 24 BUDGET HAD $500,000 IN IT TO DO THAT. AND WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE 4,000 TO 5,000 METERS, UH, APPROXIMATELY. AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO INVEST ANY MORE CITY MONEY [01:20:01] 'CAUSE WE APPLIED FOR A GRANT WITH THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO COMPLETE THIS JOB. AND UH, HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THAT FUNDING. BUT AS A PLAN B, WE ALSO PUT THAT AS PART OF THE METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. SO WE CAN FINISH THAT SURVEY AS MANDATED BY THE TCAQ AND THE EPA. SO, UH, WE DIDN'T FILL THESE HOLES UP YET BECAUSE WE ARE COMING RIGHT BEHIND THESE PEOPLE AND REPLACING THE METERS. AND HOPEFULLY THIS PROJECT WILL START IN ABOUT TWO MONTHS. AND WE DIDN'T WANNA EXPEND THE MONEY THAT, ESPECIALLY ON THE TIGHT BUDGET WE HAVE THIS YEAR. BUT UH, THEY DON'T HAVE TO FILL THEM UP. WE'RE GONNA GO OUT THERE, REPLACE THE METERS, THEIR METER BOXES IN PUSH CONDITION. WE CAN REPLACE IT AS WELL AND DO ALL THE DRESS UP. OKAY, THANK YOU. YEAH, IF THEY WANT TO FILL IT UP AGAIN, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BECAUSE WE ARE FIXING TO DO THAT. OKAY, WELL MY YARD PEOPLE ALREADY FILLED MINE IN, SO , THANKS. NO PROBLEM. UH, COUNCILMAN ETT? YES, NOT TOMAY. THAT BRIEFING YOU GAVE US WAS BASICALLY WHAT WE HAVE GOTTEN PRIOR TO THE BUDGET. OKAY. UM, DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE HAD OVER THIS. IT ALL COMES BACK TO HOW WE CONVEY AND WHAT WE SAY. I'VE HEARD CITIZENS TELL ME THAT THEY RECEIVE CALLS. I MEAN THEY MADE CALLS TO HAVE WAR UTIL THINGS AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE TOLD THEM, WELL WE DON'T HAVE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO DO THIS. WE DON'T HAVE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO DO THAT. I'VE HEARD PEOPLE TELL ME THAT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL MADE COMMENTS ABOUT NOT HAVING MONEY TO DO THESE WATER PROJECTS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T APPROVE A WATER RATE. I HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT 2008, 2018, NO WATER RATES. I WAS ON CANCER MOST OF THAT TIME. I'M VERY AWARE OF IT. YOU TALK ABOUT THE, UH, WATER UTILITIES BEING IND DEBT TO THE, UH, GENERAL FUND FOR 54,000. THAT'S THE SAME THING PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHEN I CAME ON COUNCIL. THAT'S WHY WE GOT THAT ALL TAKEN OUT BECAUSE THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS THE WATER UTILITIES OWE THE GENERAL FUND. THE GENERAL FUND IS THE MONEY WE HAVE TO OPERATE IN THIS CITY. WATER UTILITIES IS A FUND. WE DON'T FUND IT. THE DRILL FUND, WHAT WE DO IS WE ESTABLISH FEES SO THAT IT CAN BETTER FUND ITSELF. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SELF-FUNDED, BUT YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. THAT'S WHY SOMETIME MONEY WILL COME FROM GENERAL FUND TO FUND WALL UTILITIES BECAUSE WHEN IT BECOMES PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, THAT IS WHAT THE MONEY IS FOR. AND YOU'LL FIND THAT IT'S COMMON. THAT PHRASE OF YOU CAN'T FUND WATER UTILITIES FROM GENERAL FUND. NOW DON'T SAY YOU CAN'T. YOU SEE, I THINK THAT'S THE PROBLEM THAT THE CITIZENS ARE HAVING AND THE WAY WE CONVEY AND THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE. AND I BELIEVE IN SAYING IT LIKE IT IS. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS WATER RATE FROM THE FIRST TIME IT WAS PRESENTED TO THIS COUNCIL. YOU TALKING ABOUT ALL THE NUMBER OF TIME IT FAILED, EACH TIME IT FELL. WE SAID THE SAME THING. THE FIRST TIME WE SAID LET'S GET SOMETHING MORE COMPATIBLE AND NOT, LET'S PUT IT ALL ON THE CITIZENS BACK. WE SAID BRING US BACK SOMETHING WE GOING TO DO ON OUR SIDE OF THE HOUSE TO FUND OR TO DO THESE PROJECTS. TELL US WHAT WE GOING TO DO AND THEN WE'LL LOOK AT A RATE INCREASE. NO ONE NEVER SAID WE'RE GONNA HAVE A RATE INCREASE. THE STAFF HAVE FAILED TO THIS DAY TO BRING US ANYTHING IN THE WAY OF, WELL WE CAN'T DO 30 MILLION, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO. WE'LL, LIKE TO DO THIS, IT'LL COST THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN [01:25:01] DONE AND BROUGHT BACK TO US DURING THE BUDGET TIME. 'CAUSE IF THAT WAS DONE, WE'D HAVE PASSED A RATE INCREASE. BUT EACH TIME YOU ALL CAME BACK TO US, YOU CAME BACK WITH THE SAME THING GIVING US ALL THESE NUMBERS. WHAT WE CAN'T DO, WHAT YOU SAID, YOU DIDN'T BRING BACK NOTHING THAT SAYS, WELL WE GOING TO ELIMINATE THESE AND WE WANT TO DO THESE. WE WENT OUT AND TALKED TO OUR ENERGIES AND TRIED TO GET THEM TO HELP THIS OR THAT OR WITH THIS OR THAT. NEVER ONCE HAD THIS COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL. EVERY TIME YOU OR ANYBODY HAVE GOTTEN BEFORE THAT PODIUM AND TALKED ABOUT WATER RACE, YOU ALL KEEP TELLING US WHAT WAS DONE IN THE PAST, WHAT CAN BE DONE. YOU TELL US, GIVE US A RATE. LAST YEAR YOU GOT A RATE, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A A, A PIPE BURST CREW INCLUDED IN THAT. IT DID NOT HAPPEN. BUT THIS YEAR IT'S LIKE IT'S A CRIME 'CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ONE AND WE DIDN'T GIVE YOU THE RATES. YOU KNOW, IT JUST GET TO THE POINT THAT THESE BRIEFINGS, THEY'RE THE SAME THING. THEY'VE BEEN THE SAME BRIEFING FOR FIVE YEARS. BUT THESE BEEFING NEVER GOES BACK TO SAY OTHER WAY OF FUNDING. SEE MY PROBLEM WITH THE STAFF AND MANAGEMENT UP AT THIS POINT THAT YOU ALL HAVEN'T REALLY BOUGHT US ALTERNATIVES. YOU ALL HAVE EVERY TIME TOLD US YOU CAN'T DO IT, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO DO NOTHING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GIVE THIS RAISE. YOU ALL NEVER CAME TO US AND SAY, OKAY, YOU CAN'T GIMME SEVEN, CAN YOU GIMME 4%? CAN YOU GIMME 3% SO THAT WE COULD DO SOMETHING? NO, YOU ALL NEVER BROUGHT THAT. IT HAS NOT BEEN PRESENTED TO THIS COUNCIL. YOU SAY 30 MILLION THE COUNCIL AGREED TO. WE AGREED TO 30 MILLION. AND IF YOU GO BACK TO THE ACTUAL MEETING, IT WAS SLATED. I SAID IT SOMETIME WE MAY BE NOT BE ABLE TO DO 30, BUT SOMETIME WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO MORE THAN 30 DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF FUNDING WE GET. SO DON'T ZERO IN ON THE 30, LET'S ZERO IN ON WHAT WE COULD BE DONE. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS STAFF TO COME TO THIS COUNCIL WITH SOMETHING. SAY, GIVE US A 3%. WE NEED SOMETHING. GIVE US A 4%. NO, THAT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE. EVERYBODY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. IT'S ALL ABOUT CITIZENS. CITIZENS AND THIS, I'M GONNA SAY LAST CITIZENS SAYS WE DON'T MIND GETTING RATE INCREASES, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR WHAT THE CITY HAVE FAILED TO DO OVER THE YEARS. AND THAT'S FAIR. THAT'S WHY I SAID NO ONE CAME BACK WITH A RATE INCREASE. YOUR RATE INCREASE FOR THIS YEAR, RECOMMENDED THAT YOU, YOU YOU STICK TO THIS THING YOU KEEP PUTTING IN OUR FAITH. BUT IN 2024, WHICH WAS LAST YEAR, UH, WE GAVE A 7%. WE APPROVED A 7% RAISE. AND WHOEVER YOU GOT FOR TO DO THE STUDY, THEY RECOMMENDED 3.6. SO ACTUALLY WE, LAST YEAR YOU DONE ALMOST TWICE AS MUCH. OKAY? IN 2021, WE HAD A 23% INCREASE FOR WATER. AND WE HAD SEVEN, UH, 12% INCREASE FOR SEWER. SO IT WAS RUNNING GREATER THAN WATER. SO THESE INCREASES WE GET IS FOR SURGE WATER. WE NEVER SAID WE WON'T DO AN INCREASE, BUT WE HAVE NOT SAID WE GOING TO ALLOW CITIZENS TO TAKE ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY. THAT WAS MY STANCE. AND I, AND I'M QUITE SURE MOST OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE NEVER [01:30:02] SAID NO. WHEN YOU LOOK UP THERE AND SAY FAIL, BUT YOU NEED TO REMEMBER WE DIDN'T, IT, THE MEASURE DIDN'T FAIL. YOU ALL FAILED TO BRING SOMETHING TO US THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SAY YES AND THEN GO BACK TO OUR CITIZENS AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT. BONDS COS I SAW SOMETHING UP THERE DEALING WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION, THE SCALE AND STUFF. YOU MAY, IF WE GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION, BRING OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR BEFORE US AND LET HER AND LET US EXPLAIN TO HER WHAT WE WANT, WHAT WE WANT TO TRY TO DO. HOW CAN WE DONE IT? THAT'S HOW WE DONE THIS 50 MILLION CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION FOR STREETS WHEN WE COULDN'T FUND STREETS. THAT'S HOW WE DID STREETS. AND WHEN YOU COME BEFORE US, REMEMBER SOME OF US ARE, LISTEN, SOME OF US ARE LISTENING TO WHAT YOU SAY AND SOME OF US GONNA GO DO THE RESEARCH. BUT THIS SEAT I'M SITTING IN, I GOT, I GOTTA BALANCE THIS. I GOTTA BALANCE TO SUPPORT YOU AND I GOTTA ALSO REPRESENT CITIZENS. AND WHEN YOU FIRST CAME WITH THE RATE, I WAS WILLING TO SUPPORT YOU, BUT THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS, YOU HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHING OR WORKED WITH US, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO OPPOSED IT TO TRY TO GET US TO BE ABLE TO HELP YOU. AND AT THE SAME TIME, OUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW THAT WE REALLY FOUGHT FOR THEM AND WE REALLY HEAR THEM. AND WE ARE NOT GONNA SAY WHAT YOU WANT US TO SAY OR WHAT WE WANT SAY. WE'RE GONNA SAY WHAT THEY WANT US TO SAY BECAUSE WE REPRESENT THEM. WE CAN'T HAVE THIS ONE WAY AND THIS THIS HAS TURNED CITIZENS INTO THIS THING. THE GENERAL AND DON'T SAY, DON'T SAY, DON'T SAY THIS. THE GENERAL FUND CANNOT FUND ANYTHING OUTTA UTILITY. THAT IS NOT A TRUE STATEMENT. MAY I RESPOND? NO, NO, NO, NO. THAT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT A TRUE STATEMENT. YOU CAN FUND THINGS FROM THE GENERAL FUND. OKAY. SO THAT'S THAT, THAT, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT THE CASE. WE CAN, OKAY. UH, THE LAST THING, THE WATER METERS, YOU SAID THAT, UH, THE ATTORNEY HAD THE, THE A BID OR SOMETHING. THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID. THE BID PACKAGE IS READY AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS REVIEWING IT. IT IS IN THE CITY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR REVIEW BEFORE WE PUT IT OUT FOR BIDS RIGHT NOW. YES SIR. YOU SURE? JEFF? ARE WE SURE? YES SIR, WE ARE SURE. I UNDERSTAND. IT WAS DROPPED OFF LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON. OH, OKAY. . AND IT WAS DROPPED OFF AT ONE OF MY STAFF MEMBERS. I'M WAS UNINFORMED ABOUT IT, BUT I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE IT A PRIORITY AND WE'LL SET UP POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DEPARTMENTS TO BE ABLE TO ASSIGN THINGS TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT FOR REVIEW. SO IF WE CAN TRACK WHO HAS THINGS, ALL I GOTTA SAY IS IF YOU, IF STAFF WANT MY SUPPORT IN THIS, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TAKE IN CONSIDERATION WHAT I AND SOME OTHERS SAID FROM DAY ONE BEFORE WE DISCUSSED THIS AND BRING US SOMETHING IN THAT FASHION. AND I'LL BE GLAD TO SUPPORT YOU, FORGIVE ME THE SAME REPORTS AND, AND TELLING CITIZENS WHAT I'M HEARING THEY BEING TOLD. THAT'D BE NO GO FOR ME FOREVER. MR. MAYOR, WE READY? OKAY, COUNCILMAN, [III.F.(1) A Discussion Regarding Funding The City's Water Infrastructure Needs (Requested By Council member Frank)] UH, FRANK. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I HAVE AN ITEM, UH, FOR DISCUSSION, UH, REGARDING FUNDING CITY WASH, UH, CITY WATER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. AND SO I'M GOING TO KIND OF, IF IT, IF IT'S OKAY, MAYOR, INCORPORATE THAT INTO THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME LINE, UM, THAT WE ARE. SO IT'LL HELP US EXPEDITE SOME TIME. UH, WHENEVER THERE'S A CAR WRECK, UH, AT A, AT AN INTERSECTION OR SOMEWHERE, UM, THEY GET ALL THE WITNESSES TOGETHER AND THEY ASK THE QUESTION [01:35:01] WHAT HAPPENED? AND INVARIABLY, WHEN TWO PEOPLE SEE THE SAME THING, THE SAME WRECK, THEY COME TO A POINT IN A PLACE WHERE THEY DON'T SEE THE SAME THING. UH, ONE WILL SAY IT WAS A BLUE CAR, THE OTHER WILL SAY IT'S A RED CAR. THE OTHER ONE WILL SAY, HE DID THE WRONG TURN OR HE DID THE RIGHT TURN. OR, BUT THEY WILL NEVER, EVER SEE IT. UH, THE SAME WAY. I, I APPRECIATE WHAT COUNCILMAN DUC SAID, HAS SAID, UH, AND, AND THE, THE, THE, THE PERSPECTIVE FROM WHICH HE SEES. BUT I CAN NOT STATE MORE VEHEMENTLY, MORE DIRECTLY THAT I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH HIS ANALYSIS AND WHAT HE HAS SAID TODAY. I DO NOT IN ANY WAY, UM, BLAME THE STAFF. I BLAME THE COUNCIL. I BELIEVE AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME THAT THE COUNCIL IS PRACTICING GOVERNMENTAL MALPRACTICE. I SAT HERE AND HEARD INDIVIDUALS COME TO THE PODIUM AND TALK ABOUT FECES AND SEWER AND TOILET PAPER RUNNING IN THEIR YARD. THAT IS A HEALTH HAZARD. THAT IS, THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND. IT'S MAKING PEOPLE SICK. HAD A WOMAN COME AND SAY SHE COULDN'T, SHE HAD TO GO TO A HOTEL FOR TWO DAYS BECAUSE OF THE STENCH AND STAIN. ONE OF OUR BELOVED CITIZENS WHO'S TAKING CARE OF HIS WIFE, WHO IS SUFFERING. UH, HE HAD SEWER WATER ALL IN HIS HOUSE. WHEN I FIRST SAT IN THIS SEAT, MR. HAMILTON CAME AND TALKED ABOUT SEWER RUNNING IN HIS YARD. WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS. I'M NOT TRYING TO BE CRITICAL OF COUNSEL, BUT I HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT THE CRITICALITY OF THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE FACING. THE REASON WHY I'M PLACING THE BLAME, THE, THE GUT, THE HAR HOOVER SAID THE GUT, THE BUCK STOPS HERE. IT DOESN'T STOP WITH COUNCIL, IT STOPS WITH US. AND IF MY FELLOW COUNCILMAN HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE INCREASE AT THE PERCENTAGE THAT, THAT THE STAFF BROUGHT AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, THEY COULD HAVE AMENDED THE MOTION AND SAID, WE DON'T WANT 7%, BUT WE'LL GIVE YOU 3% AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME. BUT NOTHING WAS SAID. AND THE 7% WAS VOTED DOWN AFTER WE HAD TAKEN CARE OF CITIZEN, SENIOR CITIZENS AFTER WE HAD RAISED THE WATER RATE ON, ON, UH, ON BIG BUSINESS AND REFINERIES AND CORPORATIONS AFTER WE HAD GIVEN INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND GET A REDUCED WATER RATE. BUT YET WE HAVE TAKEN A, A, A A A STANCE WHERE LIKE OSTRICHES, WE ARE PUTTING OUR HEADS IN THE SAND AND WE TELL COUNCIL, WE TOLD STAFF, GO BACK. FIND US A WAY TO DO IT. DO SOMETHING. THERE'S NO MAGIC WAND. LOOK AT ME TODAY. AS I TELL US, AS A CITY, AS I TELL US AS A STAFF, AS I TELL US AS A COUNCIL, THE CALVARY IS NOT COMING EVEN RIGHT NOW. I GOT WORD TODAY THAT FEDERAL FUNDING, UH, IS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SUSPENDING ALL PAYMENTS OF REIMBURSEMENTS. SO ALL OF THE MONIES THAT WE SPENT, WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON TO COME BACK AND REIMBURSE US ON PROJECTS. IT AIN'T HAPPENING. WE'VE GOTTEN A, WE'VE HAD AN EXECUTIVE ORDER. THAT COMMUNITY BENEFITS HAVE BEEN STOPPED. THE CALVARY IS NOT COMING. AND THESE SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE ARE FACING, YES, THEY'RE GOING TO HAPPEN. COUNCILMAN DUC SAID, SAYS, AND I APPRECIATE IT, COUNCILMAN DUC SAID, YES, WE CAN TAKE MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. WE CAN. 'CAUSE THAT WAS THE IDEA THAT WE SAID, WELL, IT'S TIME TO START TAKING IT OUT. BUT LET ME WOR LET ME, LET ME GIVE YOU A WARNING TODAY. TAKE IT OUT THE GENERAL FUND NOW. BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY THE PIPER LATER. TAKE THE MONEY OUT THE GENERAL FUND RIGHT NOW TO TAKE CARE OF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS. AND ALL THAT'S HAPPENING WITHOUT TRYING TO PASS AND INCREASE ON TO THE PEOPLE OF PORT ARTHUR AND ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS. THAT LADY THAT STOOD BEFORE US, SHE WOULD'VE GLADLY PAID $5 MORE ON HER WATER BILL EVERY MONTH TO HAVE HER SITUATION FIXED BECAUSE IT COST HER MORE WITH ONE, UH, ONE HOTEL STAY THAN IT WOULD'VE COST HER WATER BILL TO GO UP FOR ONE YEAR. ARE WE JUST GONNA LET IT, ARE WE GONNA JUST ACT LIKE THIS IS NOT HAPPENING? WE, WE [01:40:01] ARE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THE REPORT. WE ARE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THESE SITUATIONS ARE HAPPENING. WE DON'T HAVE WATER GOING OUT TO SABINE PADS. WE CUTTING OFF AND COMPANIES CAN'T GROW. THEY'RE COMING. BECHTEL IS CUT OFF. ALL OF THE COMPANIES ARE CUT OFF. WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? THIS IS THE COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITY. AND YOU, WE CAN NOD OUR HEAD AND SMILE AND BOB AND WEAVE AND WE GOING TO ACT LIKE $54 MILLION OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE OVER A TIME PERIOD WAS LIKE JUST TAKING MONEY OUTTA YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT. WELL, LEMME TELL YOU ABOUT THE FRANK HOUSEHOLD AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU ABOUT YOUR HOUSEHOLD TOO. 'CAUSE NOBODY HERE IS LIVING OUTTA YOUR SAVINGS. IF YOU ARE, YOU GOT A PROBLEM. IF YOU ARE LIVING OUTTA YOUR SAVINGS, YOU GOT A PROBLEM. AND IF PORT ARTHUR'S GOING TO LIVE OUT OF THEIR SAVINGS, ARE WE CRAZY OR PLAYING CRAZY? YOU CAN'T DO IT. IT'S GOING TO LOWER OUR BOND RATING. IT'S GOING TO AFFECT EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF THIS CITY. AND EVENTUALLY THAT WELL IS GOING TO RUN DRY. I UNDERSTAND IT. I GET IT. I PAY FOR EGGS, I PAY FOR GASOLINE. I UNDERSTAND NOBODY WANTS TO PAY MORE. I GET IT. BUT THE SAME INDIVIDUALS WHERE WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO SAID, I'M LISTENING TO THE CITIZENS, I'M LISTENING TO THEM TOO, TELLING ME THAT THEY GOT X INCREMENT IN THEIR YARD. THEY GOT EXCREMENTS IN THEIR BATHTUBS THAT THEY GOT, THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH SITUATIONS WHERE THEY CAN'T GET WATER, WHERE THEY GOT LEAKS IN THEIR YARD. LISTEN AT THAT. CAN WE LISTEN AT THAT TOO? CAN WE LISTEN AT THAT AS WELL? CAN WE? WE CANNOT STAND. I, I, LISTEN, I'M NOT TRYING TO GET EXCITED, BUT I'M TELLING YOU I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE OUR CITIZENS DESERVE MORE AND WE GOTTA TELL 'EM THE TRUTH. WE GOTTA STOP TAKING POLITICIZED POSITIONS AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF PORT ARTHUR. THAT'S WHAT WE GOTTA DO. STOP BEING SO DOGMATIC. STOP BEING SO, SO MILITARISTIC. STOP BEING SO ENTRENCHED IN WHAT YOU THINK, WHAT YOU BELIEVE AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR PEOPLE. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE EASE THE CALVARY PORT ARTHUR, LOOK AT ME. THE CALVARY'S NOT COMING. WE HAVE TO INVEST IN OURSELVES. WE HAVE TO INVEST IN OURSELVES. YOU CAN'T ALWAYS EXPECT SOMEBODY TO COME BAIL YOU OUT. YOU GOTTA DO IT FOR YOURSELF. IF, IF I MAY RESPOND TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS, MAYOR, LET'S SAY IT AS IT IS BECAUSE WE SHOULD THE CITIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON. ABSOLUTELY. COUNCIL CAN CHOOSE TO FUND ANYTHING THEY WANT FROM THE GENERAL FUND AS PER THE FINANCE DIRECTOR. NO, THAT'S NOT CORRECT. BUT I'LL LET THE FINANCE DIRECTOR ADDRESS THAT COMMENT. STAFF DID EVERYTHING THEY KNOW OF THEY KNOW HOW TO DO TO RESOLVE THIS CRISIS. THE ORIGINAL DISCUSSION WITH FINANCE WAS, IT IS NEEDED TO DO A RATE INCREASE AT 10%. WE KNEW AS A UTILITIES THAT IS TOO HIGH TO ACCEPT BY COUNCIL OR THE CITIZENS. SO THE FIRST RATE INCREASE WE PROPOSED WAS 8.5%. AFTER DISCUSSION, IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT 8.5% IS NOT AN NUMBER. COUNCIL POINT. YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA BE RUDE. HOLD ON, STOP BEING RUDE. OKAY? NO, WAIT A MINUTE. YOU STOP BEING RUDE. LEMME STATE MY POINT OF ALL MAYOR, BUT I DIDN'T, LEMME ME STATE THE POINT OF WATER THEN YOU RULE, BUT THEN I RECOGNIZE YOU. THAT'S WHY I SAY POINT OF ALL YOU SUPPOSED TO. OKAY? I REC POINT OF ORDER. I'M SUPPOSED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS. POINT OF ORDER. YOU ARE TOO. POINT OF ORDER. OKAY, YOU WERE SPEAKING SIR. POINT OF ORDER. OKAY? AND I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE YOUR POINT OF ORDER, OKAY? PLEASE DO DON'T DON'T RUSH ME. NOW. COME ON. THAT'S NOT, THAT'S I RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER. DO YOUR JOB THEN BACK AND FORTH. DO YOUR JOB. I JUST SAID POINT OF ORDER. OKAY, WELL I RECOGNIZE MY POINT. WILL YOU ALLOW ME TO, YOU'VE BEEN TALKING. DO IT. LET'S TAKE A BREAK. YEAH, THAT'S MY JOB. WE GONNA TAKE A BREAK? YEP, WE SHOULD. OKAY. UH, CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO REESTABLISHED PLEASE? MAYOR BARTEE. PRESENT MAYOR PRO. TIM BECKHAM. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD COUNCIL [01:45:01] MEMBER DOUCETTE. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT. YOU HAVE A QUORUM. MAYOR. THANK YOU SO KINDLY. OKAY, WE ARE RECONVENED. AND, UH, DR. TOMAN, WOULD YOU RETURN TO THE PODIUM THERE? UH, WHEN WE, UH, DID RECESS, YOU WERE SPEAKING, I SAID A POINT OF WATER WHEN WENT IN THE RECESS. OKAY, SO YOU HAVE A POINT OF HONOR. WHAT'S YOUR POINT OF HONOR, SIR? MY POINT OF HONOR IS THAT WE'VE HEARD DR. TO MAY GIVE A PRESENTATION THAT WE HEARD MANY TIMES BEFORE. HE ASKED WERE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I SPOKE COUNCILMAN FRANK SPOKE. AND WHEN WE FINISH SPEAKING, WE HAVE WASTED A LOT OF TIME ON THIS THAT WE'VE HEARD BEFORE. SO MY POINT OF ORDER IS THAT WE MOVE TO THE NEXT AGENDA SINCE THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL. OKAY? THANK YOU. THAT'S WELL TAKEN. DOCTOR, GET BACK TO THE STAND PLEASE. POINT OF ORDER. OKAY? NO, DOC, WOULD YOU PLEASE RETURN? OKAY. I HAVE LISTENED TO YOUR POINT OF ORDER, SIR. CITY, CITY ATTORNEY, SIR. OKAY, YOU, YOU ASK YOUR MAMA OR ANYBODY? NO, NO. I MEAN, REALLY? COME ON, MAN. OKAY. NO MAYOR. OKAY, WELL, COME ON. COME ON. THE POINT OF ORDER IS I WANT TO APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL. SAY THAT NO CITY ATTORNEY, NO, YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE NOW, THIS IS DISRESPECTFUL AND FORGIVE ME FOR EVEN PLAYING A DOZEN FOR A SECOND, BUT THEN NO, YOU JUST, YOU BROUGHT THE HOOD OUT OF ME. YOU DON'T, NO. WAIT A MINUTE. NO, WAIT A MINUTE. STOP THE HOOD. DON'T COME IN OUR MEETING. TRY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS. STOP YOU JUST LIKE A LITTLE KID WITH A BALL. NO, YOU DON'T. AS LONG YOU TALK FOR ABOUT 12 MINUTES. YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND PARLIAMENT PROCEDURE. NO, I DO UNDERSTAND. BUT YOU WON'T SIT. NO, I UNDERSTAND IT. NO, I UNDERSTAND IT. YOU ONCE, ONCE YOU MAKE THE RULING, WANNA BE A GESTAPO? LOOK MAN, WE BOTH CAN'T TALK AT ONE TIME. ONCE I MAKE A RULING, YOU MAKE A RULING. I RESPECT THAT. THAT'S FOR PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES. I DON'T ACCEPT YOUR RULING. SO NOW I WILL APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL. I WILL ASK THAT THE COUNCIL VOTE TO EITHER MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM OR CONTINUE WITH THIS ONE. THAT'S MY REQUEST. OKAY? THAT'S YOUR REQUEST. I'M GONNA HONOR THAT. BE QUIET. BE QUIET. I'M GONNA HONOR THAT. COUNSEL. THERE WE GO. OKAY, COUNSEL, DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY OBJECTION WITH CONTINUING THIS, UH, DISCUSSION? MAYOR, MAYOR, CAN I ASK THIS QUESTION? LET ME ASK THE QUESTION. MR. DO DOCTOR DR. TOMAN, ARE YOU THROUGH WITH YOUR PRESENTATION? IF YOU ARE THROUGH WITH YOUR PRESENTATION, WE CAN POSSIBLY MOVE ON. UH, IF YOU'RE THROUGH WITH IT. WE'VE HEARD YOUR NUMBERS BEFORE. NOTHING YET. NOTHING MORE TO BE ADDED. IF YOU ARE, IF YOU'RE THROUGH WITH YOUR PRESENTATION, UH, WE CAN MOVE ON AT THIS POINT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS LIKE THIS. COUNCILMAN, IT'S UP TO YOU ALL. IF YOU WANT ME TO RESPOND BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME ACCUSATIONS MADE AGAINST STAFF FAILING TO DO THEIR JOB. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT, I DON'T HAVE TO. THAT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN FRANK, YOUR LIGHT IS ON. YES, MAYOR. NO, I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD GO ON. I DID INCORPORATE MY DISCUSSION WITH THIS DISCUSSION. AND IF WE DO GO ON, I WILL RAISE IT UP AGAIN IN MY, IN IN THE NEXT POINT OF THE MEETING. SO I WOULD ASK RESPECTFULLY THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE. I THINK WE NEED TO HEAR FROM OUR FINANCE A DIRECTOR BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME SITUATIONS, UH, THERE WERE SOME STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE ABOUT, UH, THE FUND BALANCE AND WHAT WE CAN, THE, THE GENERAL FUND AND WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO WITH THAT. BUT, EXCUSE ME, BUT THIS, THIS IS IN THE SAME DISCUSSION. SEE? SO YOU, YOU'RE NOT JUST A MINUTE. YOU ALL UNDERSTAND IF YOU ARE NOT, IF YOU ALL AGREE TO JUST CEASE DISCUSSION, WE DON'T NEED TO HEAR FROM LYNN. WHAT LYNN IS GONNA SPEAK ON NO, IS WHAT WAS IT IS IMPERATIVE. I'M TOTALLY DIFFERENT. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HEAR. OKAY. SO WE CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION. YES, THAT'S THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE. YES. SO, OKAY, AM I CORRECT SENATORS? THE VOTE IS EITHER YES OR NO. EACH COUNCIL MEMBER NOW VOTE. LET'S WHETHER THEY WANT GO. OKAY, CALL, ROLL CALL. BE QUIET. ROLL CALL, VOTE PLEASE. MAYOR, DON'T TELL ME, OKAY, BUT NO MAKE EXCUSE. NO, YOU, YOU WRONG. YOU WRONG MAN. YOU ARE WRONG, MR. DO MA AND YOU, I HAVE DOES THIS AND YOU WANT TO COME AND COMMANDEER. OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON. YOU DON'T PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES. I'M SAYING WE GONNA CALL THE ROLL CALL. DON'T, DON'T DISRESPECT ME LIKE THAT. OKAY? I HAVE NOT DONE THIS. BUT IF YOU, I KNOW I'M DOING, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SMILING. JUST THAT I AM FED. IT IS SIMPLE. IF I MAKE A POINT OF ORDER, YOU RECOGNIZE IT. IF I DON'T AGREE WITH IT, I APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL. EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WILL VOTE YES OR NO. IT IS NOT A DISCUSSION, IT'S A VOTE. THAT IS PART OF MINIMUM PROCEDURE. WE NEED TO, TO CONDUCT THIS MEETING PROPERLY. YOU DO NOT DO WHAT YOU WANT. YOU PRESIDE OVER IT ACCORDING TO THE PROCEDURES. NOW LET'S DO THAT AND WE WON'T HAVE ALL OF THIS DISRESPECTFUL CALL FOR, OKAY? THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE THE [01:50:01] FIRST TIME. OKAY, MR. EZ, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIMELY AND CONSIDERING INSTRUCTIONS CITY SECRETARY, MAYOR, BEFORE, BEFORE, BEFORE MAY. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, MARY, IF YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR AND SO ON THAT'S IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO TALK ON THIS TOPIC AS WELL. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. YES. YES, YES. I MEAN, THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF JUST SEE, YOU KNOW, STOPPING THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE SPENT TOO MUCH TIME ON IT. WE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON A LOT OF THINGS. OKAY? UH, WHAT WE GONNA VOTE ON WHETHER TO CONTINUE? YEAH. MAYOR, I FORGOT MAN. MAYOR, SO MUCH, SO MUCH HAPPENING UP HERE. GO AHEAD, MAYOR PRO. TIM BECKHAM, THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS A QUESTION. SO ACTUALLY I, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT. THE FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THAT THE TEXAS LEGISLATOR LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION PASSED, BILL, THAT WILL ALLOW ANY CITIZEN TO MAKE A POINT OR A DISCUSSION INVOLVING ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA. SO IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, THEY NEED TO BE ALLOWED TO DO SO. SO I UNDERSTAND IF OR WANTING TO MOVE ON PAST DR. TOME, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO ALLOW ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE TO SPEAK THAT'S REQUIRED BY STATE LAW. THANK YOU. AND THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE IS, AS ADULTS, WE ALL MUST FOLLOW THE RULES OF DECORUM AND WE PLEASE, UM, ASK THAT YOU DO. SO. YEAH, I I HAVE A POINT. MAYOR QUESTION. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. OKAY. IN RESPONSE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, WE'VE BEEN CALLED FOR THE VOTE. WE HAVE A CALL FOR THE VOTE. WE HAVE A CALL. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE SAYS THAT WHEN THERE'S A CALL FOR THE VOTE, DISCUSSION CEASES AND THE VOTE IS TAKEN. AND THERE'S ALSO A POINT WHEN YOU CAN QUESTION. SO BEFORE THE VOTE, TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS VOTE, MR. DO SAID, SAID, SO YOU WANT ME TO DO IT RIGHT? THAT YOU JUST SC WITH ME? NO, WHEN I CALLED FOR THE QUESTION, YOU GOING TO, YOU, YOU GOING TO, YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT. I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. WELL, I I'M GOING SPEAK BECAUSE, BUT NO, BUT YOU TOLD ME TO FOLLOW PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES, SO I'M GONNA FOLLOW THAT NOW. CITY SECRETARY, WE'RE GONNA CALL FOR THE VOTE. JUST A MOMENT. ARE WE THE CITY ATTORNEY SPOKE. MAYOR, LEMME TELL YOU, WHEN YOU, WHEN THE CITY ATTORNEY SPOKE, WE DID NOT DO A VOTE. SO IF WE FOLLOWED IT RIGHT WHEN WE CALLED FOR THE VOTE, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A ROLL CALL VOTE. WE ALLOWED THE CITY SECRETARY TO MAKE A POINT. SHE MADE A POINT. AND THE POINT SHE MADE, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT SHE SAID, AND THAT SHOULD BE CLARIFIED. POINT OF ORDER. SHOW ME IN YOUR BOOK THAT YOU CAN DO AND SAY WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, PLEASE. JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT IT RIGHT THERE. FIND IT. NO, WE GONNA TAKE TIME. YOU FIND THAT MAYOR, MAYOR, SIR MAYOR, IF NOT, WE ARE GOING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VOTE. AM I CORRECT ATTORNEY? YOU SAID YOU SAID WE ARE GONNA FOLLOW, FOLLOW WHAT'S GOING ON NOW, MY, MY, MY COLLEAGUE HERE, MR. DOUCETTE IS PROLONGING THIS FOR WHATEVER, AND I DON'T KNOW IN HAVING A LONG DISSERTATION AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. BUT IF HE JUST SCOLD ME AND TOLD ME ABOUT FOLLOWING THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES, I WANNA DO WHAT YOU JUST SAID, MR. DOUCETTE. NO, YOU DON'T. YES I DO. OKAY. SO YOU'RE BEING DISRESPECTFUL, BEING NOW? NO, I'M NOT BEING, BEING DISRESPECTFUL. OKAY. WELL, I TOLD YOU YOU GOT A JOB TO DO. YOU NEED TO, AND YOU WON'T LET ME DO MY JOB. IF I IF MY JOB IS BEING PERFORMED AND YOU DON'T LIKE IT, THEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, YOU. SEE, THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID THAT EVERY PERSON HAS A RIGHT TO, THAT'S ON THE ISSUE THAT WE ARE VOTING FOR AS CITY ATTORNEY. OKAY? THIS IS A PRESENTATION. WHEN WE DO PRESENTATION, THEN PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, NO. SO WE ARE CALLING FOR A VOTE TO SEE IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE. AM I CORRECT THAT THEY PUT RIGHT. THAT WAS MY LAST INSTRUCTION. WHO? SOMEBODY, EVERYBODY ASKING THE QUESTION. WHY DID YOU LET THE CITY ATTORNEY SPEAK THEN? MAYOR, WHAT? WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU SPEAKING ABOUT MR. JU? WELL, THE CITY ATTORNEY MADE A COMMENT THAT A AUDIENCE THAT CAN SPEAK AUDIENCE CAN'T SPEAK ON A PRESENTATION. IT'S ITEMS THAT WE VOTE ON THAT EVERY ANYONE, SHE SAID SHE SAID SOMETHING WRONG. YES, SHE RIGHT NOW WE SHOULD NOT HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE AUDIENCE SPEAKING ON PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE ANYTHING WE VOTE ON THEN WE COULD GET ANYONE TO COMMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE PRIOR TO THE VOTE. BUT PRESENTATION, WE'VE NEVER HAD PEOPLE TO COME FROM THE AUDIENCE AND SPEAK ON PEOPLE WHEN THEY'VE DONE PRESENTATIONS. I DON'T IT IS A PRESENTATION. IT IS A PRESENTATION. BUT MR. DEUCE, I COMBINED MINE WITH THIS ONE. SO IT'S NOT JUST PRESENTATIONS, IT'S DISCUSSIONS AS WELL. SAY [01:55:01] AGAIN. NOW I COMBINED MY DISCUSSION WITH THIS PRE AGAIN. I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE GOING TO, UH, DISCUSS YOURS IN THE DISCUSSION. I'M SAYING IF WE DON'T, IF WE WOULD STOP IT NOW, I WOULD JUST BRING IT UP IN THE DISCUSSION. SO I'M SAYING I'VE COMBINED THEM. LET'S GO WHATEVER. WE'LL BE ALL DAY WITH THIS AND WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE ALL DAY. WE'LL BE WHATEVER. LET'S GO. IT'S GONNA BE ALL DAY. MAYOR PRO TIM BECKHAM? YES? YES. TO MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM, NO. OR NO, WE CAN JUST CONTINUE. NO, I THOUGHT WE WERE VOTING. WE ARE VOTING. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER ETT. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. KEN LONG? YES. MAYOR BARTEE? YES. MOTION IS TO CONTINUE WITH THE, THIS ITEM. OKAY. NOW, AT THIS TIME, UH, I THINK YOU, YOU SAID, YOU SAID YOU HAD OTHER, SOME OTHER REMARKS. DR. TOMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOUR REMARK. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS RARE FOR ME, BUT I NEED TO TELL YOU WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT. THE ENTERPRISE FUND, SPECIFICALLY THE FINANCIAL STATE OF THE WATER AND SEWER. I HAD TO WRITE THIS OUT SO I WOULDN'T GET VERY EMOTIONAL BECAUSE LITERALLY IT DOES KEEP ME UP. THE DECISIONS MADE FOR ENTERPRISE, SPECIFICALLY WATER AND SEWER AND WATER AND SEWER AND CAPITAL ARE LITERALLY BEING DRIVEN INTO THE GROUND FINANCIALLY. IN OTHER WORDS, FUNCTIONALLY BANKRUPT. I DO NOT FORESEE ANY RECOVERY IN THIS WITHOUT A RATE INCREASE. THIS IS A BUSINESS. YOUR COSTS ARE GOING UP AND THERE'S NO PLANNED INVESTMENTS TO MAKE THIS ANY BETTER. EACH DELAY RAISES THE COST OF REPAIRS BY AT LEAST 25% THE NEXT YEAR. THEREFORE, THE BURDEN IS ON THOSE WHO WILL USE WATER AND SEWER IN THE FUTURE OF WHAT WATER AND SERVICE SEWER SERVICES COST TODAY. THE LEGACY IS FOR ANY FUTURE RESIDENT IS TO BURDEN THAT FUTURE GENERATION BECAUSE SMALL INCREMENTAL INCREASES TODAY ARE NOT BEING DONE. THE BUDGET WAS ADOPTED AND IT WAS ALREADY NOT SUSTAINABLE AND IT SEEMED LIKE NO ONE WANTED TO HEAR FROM ME. PLEASE HEAR ME. NOW, THIS IS NOT ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL OR HOW THIS MAKES YOU LOOK. IT'S ABOUT SOUND FINANCIAL DECISIONS BASED ON FACTS AND ACCEPTED PRACTICES. FOR A BUSINESS DIVISION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS ENTERPRISE OR WATER AND SEWER, THERE'S AN ENTIRELY SEPARATE SECTION ON ENTERPRISE IN OUR AUDIT. AND THAT'S ACCOUNTED FOR THERE. IT DOES NOT FOLLOW THE SAME GOVERNMENTAL AUDIT REQUIREMENTS AS ANY OTHER FUND BECAUSE IT IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND. ENTERPRISE IS MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH BUSINESS AUDITS. WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE ENTERPRISE CHARGES FOR GOODS AND SERVICES AND NEED TO MAKE ENOUGH TO FUND FUTURE INVESTMENTS TO KEEP THAT BUSINESS IN THE BLACK UTILITY RATES AND ENTERPRISE FUND USER FEES SHALL BE SET AT LEVEL SUFFICIENT TO COVER OPERATING EXPENSES AND MEET DE DEBIT DEBT OBLIGATIONS. THAT'S FROM COLLEEN FORT WORTH. ENTERPRISE FUNDS PROVIDE DIRECT DELIVERABLES TO CUSTOMERS WHO RECEIVE GOODS AND SERVICES. I COULD GO ON. I USUALLY, WHEN WE'RE DISCUSSING ENTERPRISE, I'VE ALWAYS USED A SET CPI ONE TIME DURING THE YEAR. THE CPI FOR WATER AND SEWER MAINTENANCE IS 5.6% AND WE DID ZEROS. SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS JUST MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX TODAY, 5.6% DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE CAPITAL. I HEAR YOU WHEN YOU SAY WE CAN USE GENERAL FUND, I'M LETTING YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE THE CASH FLOW AND GENERAL FUND TO DO THIS. IF I CONTINUE TO USE GENERAL FUND, AND I SPOKE WITH A FINANCIAL ADVISOR YESTERDAY BECAUSE I ASKED HER ABOUT THE BUDGET AND OUR FUTURE OF WATER AND SEWER CAPITAL. I SAID, THIS IS WHAT WE BUDGETED. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FOR BONDS. AND SHE INFORMED ME THAT, YES, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE 24.5 MILLION FOR BONDS IN 24 IF YOU RAISED YOUR RATES. I SAID, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE? AND SHE SAID, NO. THESE WERE PREDICATED ON THE FACT THAT RATES WERE GOING TO BE USED TO FUND THOSE BONDS. THEN YOU'RE GOING TO ASK ME, WE CAN USE GENERAL FUND. I PRESENTED THAT [02:00:01] TO OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR YESTERDAY AS WELL. YES, YOU ARE CORRECT. YOU CAN USE GENERAL FUND DEFINITELY AT THE RISK. NO, NO, NO. LET ME REPHRASE. NOT AT THE RISK, AT THE DETRIMENT OF LOSING AND DEGRADING OUR BOND RATING BECAUSE GENERAL FUND IS NOT DESIGNED TO FUND ENTERPRISE. ENTERPRISE IS A BUSINESS SEPARATE ON ITS OWN. THAT'S WHY IN THE AUDIT, IT TELLS YOU ALL THE TIME WHAT ITS CASH FLOW IS. IT DOESN'T ASK YOU ABOUT CASH FLOW FOR THE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS. IT ASKS TO DO CASH FLOW FOR WATER AND SEWER AND OUR ENTERPRISE. AND THOSE HAVE BEEN GOING INTO THE NEGATIVE. I HAVE SAID MY PEACE, I KNOW I'M PROBABLY STILL NOT GONNA SLEEP AT NIGHT. UH, THIS IS WHAT KEEPS ME UP. THE MOST PRUDENT THING FOR ME IS TO JUST ADVISE. AND THAT IS AT THE MINIMUM ALWAYS THE CPI FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS. IF YOU WANT ANYTHING MORE, IT WOULD, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE RATES GO UP EVEN MORE. OKAY. JUST, JUST, JUST JUST A MINUTE. SOMEONE MAY, MAY, OF COURSE. UH, UH, COULD CONGRESS MCKEN YOU? YEAH. YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TOUGH AND HARD QUESTIONS. SO BASICALLY YOU'RE TELLING US WE'RE BROKE WITHOUT EVEN DOING THE RATE INCREASE. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM SAYING. THAT IS CORRECT. AND I, AND I DIDN'T SEE THIS UNTIL ALL THE AUDITS WERE COMING THROUGH AND GETTING COMPLETED. AND WHEN I SAW THE LAST AUDIT, I WAS MORTIFIED. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT'S NEWS TO ME WHAT YOU STATED THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE HONEST ABOUT IT. UH, WHEN WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS, THOSE THINGS ARE THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. AND I'M GLAD THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE HONESTLY BRUTAL ABOUT IT. THAT WE ARE BROKE IF WE DON'T DO A RATE INCREASE NOW, I JUST DON'T WANT THE, THE CITIZENS, THE PUBLIC TO, TO BE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING. MM-HMM . THAT'S GONNA BENEFIT. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. AND THAT'S NOT EXACTLY, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING EITHER AT ALL. YEAH. AND, AND I DON'T FEEL YOU'RE SAYING THAT AS WELL. NO. BUT TO GIVE US THE BRUTAL HONEST TRUTH ABOUT WHERE WE AT FINANCIALLY, OBVIOUSLY IT'S GONNA AFFECT OUR, OUR RATING. I MEAN, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY AROUND THAT. NO. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO MANAGE THE MONIES. WE HAVE TO MANAGE THE PROJECTS. MM-HMM . WE HAVE TO MANAGE ALL THOSE THINGS. AND THIS COUNCIL, WE ARE JUST OVERSEERS OF THE FINANCIAL, WE HAVE A MANAGEMENT TEAM THAT'S SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. MM-HMM . IT JUST DIDN'T START YESTERDAY, LAST MONTH. IT DIDN'T START, IT STARTED A LONG TIME AGO. BAD BUSINESS. AGREED. MM-HMM . AND THIS COUNSELOR HAS PUT IN A SITUATION THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION, A PAST, PAST PRACTICE OF WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST. AND IF WE DON'T DO IT, IT'S GOING TO CRIPPLE THE CITY CONSTRUCTION. THIS, THIS DIRECTOR OF FINANCE WALKED INTO THIS. I VERY RECENTLY. I REMEMBER. I REMEMBER. BUT, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S A HARD BURDEN THAT WE HAVE TO, IT IS, I'M SORRY. MM-HMM. AND THIS COUNCIL IS THE ONES THAT'S SITTING MAKING THE FINAL DECISION ON WHAT WE MUST DO IN THE NEXT 25, 30 YEARS OF, UH, RATE INCREASES. BUT I JUST WANTED THAT TO BE KNOWN THAT COUNCIL NOW HAVE A BIG BURDEN TO BEAR ABOUT THIS RATE INCREASE. THANK YOU. THAT IS CORRECT. THANK YOU. OKAY. JUST A MINUTE. COUNCILMAN ETT? YES, SIR. OKAY. WHEN WE DONE THE BUDGET, YOU SAID AT THE TABLE, OKAY. AND I LISTENED TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID. YES. AND I COULD REALLY UNDERSTAND, IDENTIFY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. 'CAUSE ALL THIS REALLY TELL US WHAT WE REALLY HAVE, WHAT WE TRULY HAVE. SO IF YOU HAD SPOKE THEN, THEN YOU WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN THAT. OR YOU COULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING THAT WAS INCORRECT. BUT NOW THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN YOUR HANDS ON THE NUMBERS YES. AND STUFF. OKAY. AND IT'S KEEPING YOU TO UP AT NIGHT. IT IS, I SWEAR. OKAY. WELL FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU HEARD ME SPEAK FROM THE DAY YOU SAT AT THAT TABLE, I'VE ALWAYS SAID I'M NOT AGAINST THE GREASE. BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT IN THE MANNER THAT ALL OF THE WEIGHT DOES NOT FALL ON THE CITIZENS. WHAT YOU SAID TODAY IS THE FIRST THING THAT I HAVE HEARD OTHER THAN A 7%. SEE, BUT YOU DIDN'T TELL US WE NEED A 7%. WHAT YOU JUST SAID, BASED ON MY KNOWLEDGE OF FINANCES, I SEE AS A MINIMUM YOU DOING A 5.6. [02:05:04] SO I'M NOT LISTENING TO STAFF. I'M LISTENING TO THE FINANCE DIRECTOR ALSO. AND WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS WHAT I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR, FOR ALL THIS TIME. WHAT IS THE MINIMUM WE CAN DO NOW AND THEN WE KEEP LOOKING INTO IT. BECAUSE IF WE DO THE MINIMUM NOW WE COULD GET SOMETHING DONE AND WE COULD KEEP MOVING AS TIME GOES. WE LOOK FOR OTHER SOURCES. THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING FROM THE BEGINNING. I HAVEN'T BACKED OFF THAT ONE BIT. 5.6 IS LESS THAN TRYING TO SHOVE SEVEN DOWN MY THROAT. THE SEVEN WAS FOR CAPITAL. YEAH. BUT, BUT 5.6 IS SIMPLY MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS. WHAT I'M SAYING IS YES, IF WE'D HAVE DONE A 5.6 MM-HMM . IS BETTER THAN NO RACE. AGREED. THAT'S MY POINT THAT I'VE BEEN MAKING. LET'S DO WHAT WE GOTTA DO, AND LET'S GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND LET'S, LET'S START LOOKING FOR THINGS. OKAY, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, BUT FROM DAY ONE, WE TALKED ABOUT LET'S NEGOTIATED. THIS IS A GOOD UNDERSTANDING. 5.6, ALL THESE THINGS I'M HEARING, WE GOTTA DO THIS. WE GOTTA, WE MAY NOT DO 'EM ALL, BUT IF WE RAISED IT 5.6, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING. WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING. AND THAT WAS MY WHOLE CONTENTION BECAUSE IF I, IF WE APPROVED A 25% RAISE TODAY, THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE ARE STILL GOING TO BE HERE FOR YEARS TO COME. AGREED. I MAY NOT BE AROUND WHEN YOU GET TO THE END. IF WE RAISE THE 25% IN THE PAST, WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING IT. THE PLAN SAYS WE DO EVERYTHING EVERY YEAR. CITIZENS UNDERSTAND. WE RAISE IT EVERY YEAR, BUT LET'S RAISE IT IN A MAN. AND SO CITIZENS UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO DO IT NOT FOR WHAT WE FAILED TO DO IN THE PAST, BUT JUST TO KEEP THINGS GOING FOR THE FUTURE AND KEEP MOVING THIS ELEPHANT THAT WE GOT. WE GOTTA EAT AT A BITE AT A TIME. WE CAN'T EAT THIS ELEPHANT HOLE, YOU KNOW? SO THE 5.6 IS THE FIRST TIME I'M HEARING, AND NOT ONLY BUT HEARING FROM YOU GET READY TO GET MY ATTENDANCE. SO WHEN I GO BACK AND TALK TO CITIZENS, I CAN EXPLAIN TO CITIZENS AND YOU CAN, YOU KNOW THAT. YES. AND YOU CAN RELATE TO LIMITS FROM CPI. SO I'M JUST GOING OFF OF THAT. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. MM-HMM . BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT GOES UP EVERY YEAR. YEP. SEE, EVERY YEAR WE KNOW THAT. SO WHEN WE TELL THEM, YOU PAYING THIS, YOU PAYING THIS. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU PAY AT THE GAS POINT. THAT'S WHAT YOU PAY AT THE GROCERY STORES. AND LET'S WORK THE OTHER PART. THANK YOU COUNCIL. FRANK. I, I, I WANT MR. VITOR TO COME UP, BUT LET ME SAY THIS. I AM NOT GOING TO ALLOW US TO DRESS UP A PIG. AND, AND BY THAT I MEAN 5.6, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING, WE CAN SAY SO VERY QUICKLY THAT WE WOULD'VE ACCEPTED THE 5.6. WE NEED THE SEVEN. THE, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, FROM WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE TODAY, IF WE DON'T GO TO SEVEN, IF WE GO, IF WE GO TO FIVE, ALL WE'RE DOING IS JUST STICKING OUR THUMB IN THE D**E TO STOP, TO TRY TO STOP BLEEDING. BUT WE ARE NOT DOING CAPITAL PROJECTS. WE'RE NOT BRINGING ON THE PIPE BURSTING CREW. WE ARE NOT GOING FORWARD. WE NEED TO GO FORWARD TO KEEP FROM GOING FURTHER BACK. WE'RE NOT IN A PLACE OF STASIS. WE'RE NOT STAYING WHERE WE ARE. WE ARE GOING BACKWARDS AT 5.6. MR. MR. D SAID, WE GO BACKWARDS. WE DON'T STOP AND STAY WHERE WE ARE. WE'RE IN A, WE'RE NOT AT A POINT OF STASIS WHERE WE JUST, YOU KNOW, HOLD WHAT WE HAVE. WE, WE ARE GOING BACKWARDS AT 5.67, ALLOWS US TO GO FORWARD TO KEEP TOILET PAPER OUT OF PEOPLE'S YARDS, TO KEEP SEWER FROM GOING IN PEOPLE'S BATHTUBS. THAT'S WHAT SEVEN DOES. BECAUSE IT CALLS FOR $5 MORE, BETWEEN FIVE AND $7 MORE ON A WATER BILL. I WANT TO BE CLEAR TODAY, I CAME FOR THIS TODAY SO THAT WE WOULD BE CLEAR, SO THAT WE WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT AT SEVEN WE ARE ABLE TO GO FORWARD TO PUT PIPE BURSTING CREWS AND TO DO SOME STRUCTURAL WORK ON OUR FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE. AT FIVE, ALL WE DO IS STICK OUR THUMB IN [02:10:01] THE D**E AND PRAY. BUT AT SEVEN, WE'RE ABLE TO BE, UH, UH, WE ARE, WE'RE ABLE TO BE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING FORWARD. WE'RE NOT BEING REGRESSIVE, WE'RE GOING FORWARD. SO, AND LEMME SAY THIS TODAY, I WANT TO BE CLEAR, ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS AND WHO WERE ON THAT SIDE THAT DID NOT VOTE FOR THE INCREASE, I WAS ON THAT SIDE, AND OTHERS WHO WERE ON THAT SIDE CANNOT BRING THE ISSUE FORWARD. I WOULD LOVE TO BE THE PERSON TO SAY, COME ON, LET'S VOTE ON THIS AGAIN. BUT BECAUSE I WAS IN THE NEGATIVE OF THE VOTE, THE VOTE, THE FAILING PART, I CAN'T BRING IT BACK. OTHERS WAS OF CAN'T, CAN'T BRING IT BACK. THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO VOTED AGAINST IT BEFORE WILL HAVE TO BE THE ONES TO RECOGNIZE THE CRITICALITY OF THE SITUATION. TO RECOGNIZE WHAT OUR, OUR, OUR CITY, UH, FINANCE PERSON HAS SAID AND, AND, AND RESPOND TO THE CRITICALITY OF THE SITUATION. SO IT'S NECESSARY. I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY, OH, MR. . YES. UH, POINT OF ORDER. HE'S SPOKEN TO THE ISSUE TWICE. I HAVE TWICE. CAN WE HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY? PLEASE? I PRAY THAT HE WOULD I PRAY I POINT OF ORDER. I PRAY THAT HE WOULD ACQUIESCE AND ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO SPEAK. NOW, I'VE SPOKEN TWICE. HE'S SPOKEN TWICE. I PRAY THAT WE WOULD ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO SPEAK. WOULD, WOULD YOU DO THAT, MR. ETT? YES, MA'AM. YOU WILL. OKAY. OKAY. YEAH. OKAY. NOW, WE, UH, THE, UH, FINANCE DIRECTOR HAS SPOKEN. UH, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, DR. OR ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO THIS DISCUSSION? BECAUSE I MEAN, WE HAVE SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT FIRST I WANNA GET TO STAFF. I WOULD LIKE TO DO SO, COUNSEL, JUST BECAUSE STAFF WAS INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION. PLEASE BE AWARE, WE DID BRING THIS TO YOU ALL SEVERAL TIMES. WE EVEN BROKE DOWN THAT PERCENTAGE. WHAT WILL GO TO CIP, WHAT WILL GO TO CPI, WHAT WILL GO TO THE PIPE BURSTING CREW PERCENTAGE WISE? I PERSONALLY STOOD HERE AND REQUESTED SOME DIRECTION BASED ON ALL THE INFO. WE GOT YOU. BUT WE DIDN'T GET DIRECTION. SO PLEASE DON'T, DON'T PUT STAFF IN A POSITION TO WHERE IT IS THEIR FAULT, BECAUSE TRULY IT IS NOT THEIR, UH, FAULT. AND WHAT LYNN JUST SPOKE IS VERY SERIOUS. UH, AND THE PERCENTAGE SHE'S SPEAKING ABOUT, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WE'RE GONNA BE IN $3 MILLION. NEGATIVE 5.6% WILL GENERATE A LITTLE BIT OVER 2.4 MILLION. SO THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GONNA TAKE US OUT OF THE NEGATIVE END OF YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE STARTING FIVE MONTHS IN THE BUDGET HERE. SO I CAN'T EVEN SAY WE'RE GONNA DO 5.6% OVER THE 37 MILLION. SO THAT IS GONNA HURT. AND PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ALSO KNOW, AND THE CITIZENS NEED TO KNOW THAT THAT RATE INCREASE WILL INCLUDE ZERO CAPITAL PROJECTS, NO SILVER REHAB, NO WATER LINE REPLACEMENT, NO EVEN DESIGN FOR THE UPCOMING YEARS. SO IT, IT'S A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE. I DON'T WANT TO BE IN YOUR SHOES MAKING IT, BUT PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WILL MAY GET US OUT OF THE NEGATIVE, BUT WE'RE FIVE MONTHS BEHIND BECAUSE BY THE TIME THIS SITS IN, IT'S GONNA BE TWO MONTHS FROM TODAY. THANK Y'ALL. OKAY. UH, NOW I THINK THERE ARE MEMBERS IN THE, UH, FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, REVEREND VETO, I BELIEVE, UH, HAS THE REMARKS ABOUT THE BEING PASSED, UH, WATER SITUATION. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCIL. MR. STATE THE NAME AND, AND MARK VITOR, PORT DIRECTOR SABINE PASSPORT AUTHORITY. AND WE'RE CHANGING THE NAME TO THE PORT OF SABINE PASS. UH, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT, THAT, UH, HAS BEEN CONSTANT IS THE LACK OF WATER PRESSURE. AND DUE TO THE LEAKS, I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT, BEEN IN CONTACT WITH REVEREND FRANK, AS WELL AS, UH, DENEEN BECKHAM AND, UH, TO, TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. IT CONTINUES TO HAVE ISSUES RELATED TO, UH, LEAKAGE. WE TOO HAVE DEVELOPED A MASTER PLAN AND WE BOUGHT 40 ACRES ON MECHANIC STREET. AND I APPRECIATE THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE, WITH THE FOUR PIERS AS WELL AS THE MECHANIC STREET SOUTH FIRST AVENUE. BUT ON MECHANIC STREET, WE'VE SOUGHT, WE'RE TO BRING IN DEVELOPERS AND WE HAVE DEVELOPERS THAT WE HAVE NO HOUSING IN SABINE PASS. AND WE WANT TO BUILD MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL, UH, BUILDINGS, AS WELL AS RESTAURANTS, UH, ON MECHANIC STREET TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO LIVE THERE AND [02:15:01] SURVIVE. AND SO, UH, BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE'VE ASKED ABOUT, UH, HOW MANY HOUSES WE COULD BUILD OR HOW MUCH MULTIFAMILY WE COULD BUILD. THEY SAID YOU COULD BUILD MAYBE TWO TO THREE HOUSES. AND WE ASKED WHY? BECAUSE THERE'S NO WATER. NO WATER. SO WE CANNOT EXPAND OR IMPLEMENT OUR MASTER PLAN TO BRING HOUSING TO SABINE PASS OR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF WATER, BECAUSE NO PRESSURE, BECAUSE OF LEAKS. THE BOTTOM LINE, I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE YOU SUPPLY, UH, WATER TO CHENE ACROSS IN LOUISIANA, BUT THE CITIZENS OF SABINE PASS, WHO WERE ANNEXED MANY YEARS AGO, DON'T HAVE THE WATER BECAUSE THEIR HOUSES ARE RAISED 16, 14 TO 16 FEET AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE WATER PRESSURE TO BE ABLE TO FLUSH THEIR TOILETS OR TO BE ABLE TO GET THE WATER THEY NEED TO DO THE THINGS THEY NEED. WE SUPPLY WATER TO SHRIMP BOATS AS WELL AS OTHER BOATS. PORT CITY PARTNERS SUPPLIES WATER TO SHIPS. IN OUR MASTER PLAN. WE'RE SEEKING TO, TO, UH, TO BUILD THREE L AND G LABORERS WITH TEXDOT OR WITH FEDERAL APPRO. I MEAN, WITH STATE APPROPRIATIONS MONEY, ONE OF THE THING TO BE ABLE TO DO FUELING, THERE'RE GOING TO BE 4,500 SHIPS, UH, ON THE SABINE NATURE SHIP CHANNEL BY 2027. THEY TAKE MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF, OF FUEL AND WE PLAN TO SUPPLY THAT TO THEM. BUT WHAT THEY ALSO NEED IS WATER SHIPS NEED WATER. IT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO SELL WATER TO INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR SOME OF YOUR EXPENSE. UH, THE THING, THE THING THAT, UH, THE THING THAT I I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO IS PLEASE DO WHATEVER'S NEEDED TO HELP THE CITIZENS OF SABINE PASS YOU ALL, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE RED. I'VE ONLY BEEN THERE TWO YEARS. THEY FEEL LIKE RED REDHEADED STEPCHILDREN IN SABINE PASS. I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT A PART OF PORT ARTHUR YET. THEY ARE. AND I KNOW YOU DON'T FEEL THAT WAY, BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU, PLEASE HELP US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE WATER PRESSURE. WE NEED THE WATER TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND AND DEVELOP SABINE PASS WHERE WE CAN HAVE MORE COMMERCIAL, BRINGING MORE REVENUE TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND, UH, IT WOULD, IT WOULD BE GREAT. I'D GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT TO DO WHATEVER'S NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO, TO BE ABLE TO GET THE MONEY NEEDED TO FI FIX THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED. THANK YOU. OKAY. JUST A MINUTE. UH, JUST, JUST A MINUTE. YES SIR. COUNCILMAN ETT. MARK? YES, SIR. OUTSTANDING. I, I REALLY LIKE YOUR PRESENTATION. WELL, YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS TELL ME THIS HERE. YOU UNDERSTAND OUR POSITION, YOU SAT THROUGH IT TODAY. YOU SAT THROUGH ALL OUR DISCUSSIONS. YES, SIR. AND YOU KNOW THE PROBLEMS WE HAVING YES SIR. HOW CAN YOU ALL HELP THOSE? HOW CAN I HELP THE NO, NOT YOU, THE PORT. HOW CAN THE PORT HELP? YEAH. YOU KNOW, YOU WORK FOR 'EM. I MEAN, YOU TELLING US I'M THE PORT DIRECTOR, SIR. WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING INTO, WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING TO A PROJECT TO, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE DRILL WATER. WELL, BUT THE PROBLEM IS YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE THIS BRACKISH WATER GOING DOWN TO ABOUT 15 FEET. AND WE'RE ALSO, I'VE GOT A PROJECT LOOKING INTO, TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TAKE SALT WATER, TURN IT INTO FRESH WATER. I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING I'M LOOKING INTO AS A PROJECT. OKAY. YEAH. BUT THE QUESTION MARK IS HOW CAN A PORT HELP US TO FIX WHAT WE HAVE NOW? WELL, THAT'S A GREAT, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. WE'RE GOING TO THE, TO THE SENATE AND TO THE, UH, HOUSE TO CHANGE OUR ENABLING ACT, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY WAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT SINCE WE BUY WATER OR SINCE WE'RE PART OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE GONNA GO IN COMPETITION WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO PRODUCE WATER? THAT I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, THING THAT WE SHOULD, SHOULD DO, BUT WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT IS IF IT'S SOMETHING IN OUR ENABLING ACT THAT WILL ALLOW US TO, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGH SEMPRA AND THROUGH GOLDEN PASS. WE NEED TO BE THINKING IN TERMS OF HOW THESE PROJECTS CAN HELP WITH THIS ISSUE AS WELL. WELL, YOU KNOW, MARK, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING. AND, AND I'VE TALKED WITH THE, I MENTIONED IT TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT GOING TO INDUSTRY AND STUFF. OKAY. ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT, UH, WE PROVIDE WATER TO. BUT, AND WE'LL, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL DO. LET, LET ME TELL YOU ONE OTHER THING THAT YOU MAY NOT BE THINKING ABOUT. IF ONE OAK COMES IN, THAT'S ANOTHER INDUSTRIAL FACILITY THAT'S [02:20:01] GONNA NEED WATER, I'M AWARE OF ANOTHER LNG FACILITY, SOUTH OF MY, MY PROPERTY, AS WELL AS ANOTHER POTENTIAL, UH, PLANT THAT'S GONNA NEED WATER. SABINE PASS IS A GOLD MINE FROM A STANDPOINT OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT. BUT THEY'RE NEED, THEY NEED WATER. MARK. YES, SIR. I STATED, I'VE TALKED WITH THE MANAGER, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT IS GOING TO THESE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND BEING ABLE TO LAY IT OUT ON WHAT'S WE NEED AND HOW WE GOING AND HOW THEY CAN HELP US. ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. BUT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THEM BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WANNA DO TO THEM. BUT YOU WORK WITH THE PORT AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE SEEN THE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD GRASP ON IT. YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE IN HAVING A, AN ALTERNATIVE. BUT I'M SAYING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, GOING TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE AND TALKING ABOUT THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING YOU RIGHT NOW. MY ENABLING ACT DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO GO IN COMPETITION WITH A MUNICIPALITY TO PRODUCE WATER OR SEWER. NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PRODUCING IT. I'M TALKING ABOUT HELPING US. YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO WAY YOU ALL COULD DO THAT. OH, SIR. I WILL BE GLAD TO HELP IN WHATEVER WAY, BECAUSE I NEED WATER. I NEED WATER FOR, FOR, FOR DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIFAMILY. AND I'VE GOT A GENTLEMAN HERE THAT'S READY TO INVEST MR. PENA'S, READY TO INVEST, PUT IN RESTAURANTS AND OTHER THINGS AND HOTEL. BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT WATER. MAY MAY, MAY, MAY I SAY THIS? YES, SIR. BEFORE YOU SPEAK, CITY MANAGER, IF YOU WILL, UH, CITY MANAGER AND I TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO. UM, IT HAS TO COME TO FRUITION. IT'S ON THE BOARD. I HAVE ABOUT ANOTHER FOUR MONTHS. I'M GONNA TRY TO WORK ON IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION CHANGED, AND SO THE GOVERNMENT IS CHANGING FROM THE TOP TO, UH, TO US ALL THE WAY DOWN TO STATE, UH, AND LOCALITIES, UH, UH, OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, ALONG WITH THE CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER, IS TO ACTUALLY CONSTRUCT AN ENTIRE WATER SYSTEM, IF YOU WILL, FOR PADS. YES, SIR. SO, LIKE WE HAVE THE, THE, UH, WATER, OUR, OUR, WHAT DO WE CALL IT? OUR WATER SYSTEM ON, ON, ON ON 73. UH, UH, WHAT THE WA THE, THE, THE, THE ENTIRE WATER, UH, TREATMENT, WATER TREATMENT PLANT. EXCUSE ME. I WAS, I WAS LOST FOR THAT. I'M NOT, I'M NOT A MECHANICAL OKAY. WATER TREATMENT PLANT. WE WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL OF GROWTH EXACTLY. THAT SABINE PASS HAS IN THE FUTURE. RIGHT. IN THE FUTURE OF PORT ARTHUR. AND WITH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ITEMS, UH, UH, POSSIBILITIES, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE POSSIBILITY, UH, OF HAVING WATER FOR INDUSTRY AS WELL AS FOR PRIVATE CITIZENS AND CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES THAT MAY, I, I THINK THAT'S A GRAND IDEA, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE OUGHT TO LOOK INTO. YEAH. WE WANNA THINK IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN SELL IT TO SHIPS AND MAKE IT A, SOMETHING PROFITABLE TO PAY FOR ITSELF. YEAH. WELL, IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT AT, AT THIS POINT, IT'S, IT'S AN IDEA, YOU KNOW, AND IT, IT'S AN IDEA THAT IT, CITY MANAGER AND I TALKED ABOUT, HOWEVER, WE HAVEN'T, THIS IS, I THINK THIS IS MY FIRST TIME EVEN SPEAKING ON IT OPENLY OR WHERE IT WOULD EVEN BE ON RECORD FOR ANYTHING. BUT THAT CONSIDERATION FOR WATER TREATMENT PLANT SOLELY FOR SABINE PASSED. YES, SIR. BECAUSE OF THE INDUSTRY THAT'S THERE, AND EVEN THE POTENTIAL GROWTH OF THE POPULATION OUT THERE. AND THE, AND THE PORT AUTHORITY HAS BONDING CAPACITY, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE, LEGALLY WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO, TO BE, IT HAS TO, IT HAS TO COMPLY WITH OUR, WITH THE WATER CODE OR THE, UH, ENABLING ACT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. SO, WELL, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MR. CITY, MAN, I DON'T KNOW. WE COULD BEGIN THE, THE, THE, UH, INITIAL PROCESS OF LOOKING INTO, HOWEVER, AS WE DO THAT, UH, I KNOW THAT CITIZENS OUT THERE WHO CAN'T GET WATER TO SHOWER, WHO CAN'T GET WATER TO FLUSH THEIR COMMODES. RIGHT. YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO, UH, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE SITUATIONS. AND WHAT I BELIEVE, AGAIN, AND A LOT OF TIMES, NO ONE WANTS TO FACE THIS ONE. THE INFRASTRUCTURE ALL OVER THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IS JUST ABOUT A HUNDRED YEARS OLD. SOME OF IT IS OVER 100 YEARS OLD. YES, SIR. MOST OF IT IS FROM 70 TO 80 YEARS. AND IT HAS, WELL, THE, UH, [02:25:01] CALVIN IS HERE FOR SEWER. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DO TOTAL SEWER REPLACEMENT. I'M TALKING ABOUT TOTAL SEWER REPLACEMENT. WE HAVE TO DO ALMOST, WE ARE AT A POINT TO WHERE FOR FRESH WATER, THERE ARE A LOT OF AREAS THAT HAVE GOTTEN, UH, NEW FRESH WATER, UH, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. BUT, BUT OVERALL, ALL OVER THE ENTIRE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THESE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN. THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT HAVE THIS DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF NOW. BUT THE REASON IS US, UNTIL WE RAISE THE FUNDS AND THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE, UH, BROUGHT IN THROUGH A RATE INCREASE. OKAY. FOR, FOR ALL WHO USE THE WATER. SO THAT'S, THAT'S CITIZENS, BUSINESSES, WHOMEVER, AND EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE. AND I WOULD AGREE, BECAUSE I VOTED FOR THE 7% OR WHATEVER IT WAS, 7.2 OR WHATEVER THAT WAS, BECAUSE THAT WOULD GIVE US WHAT WE NEED FUTURISTICALLY IN PORT ARTHUR TO JUST BEGIN TO ADDRESS. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS REPORT, ALMOST $1.2 BILLION BY 2030, I BELIEVE IT IS, UH, IT WOULD, IS GOING TO BE NEEDED. AND IF WE CONTINUE TO WAIT, IF WE DON'T PUT SOME, SOMEONE UNDER CONTRACT ON THIS NOW, AND WE BEGIN TO DO THE CONTRACTS, I GUESS ATTORNEY IN 2028, THESE PRICES WOULD'VE GONE UP. MAYOR, I THOUGHT THERE'S ONE OTHER ITEM THAT I, WE HAD A LEAK AT THE PORT AND BROUGHT IN SOME PEOPLE, AND AGAIN, I CANNOT CONFIRM THIS, BUT THIS IS WHAT I WAS TOLD, WAS THAT THERE'S WATER COMING FROM WEST PORT, THE WEST PORT ARTHUR ROAD AREA TO SABINE PASS. AND I WAS TOLD, AND AGAIN, I, I JUST WANNA MAKE YOU AWARE BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND VERIFIED WHETHER IT'S TRUE OR NOT, THAT THERE WAS WATER LINES THAT WERE LINED WITH ASBESTOS. AND THAT'S A CONCERN. THERE HAVE BEEN CITIZENS WHO'VE ALSO, WHO'VE TALKED ABOUT SPEAKING TO PLAINTIFF ATTORNEYS TO LOOK INTO THIS. AND SO WE HAVE CANCER IN SABINE PASS. AND IF THESE LINES, AND AGAIN, AGAIN, I'M SAYING THIS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR NEEDS TO LOOK AT, IF THOSE LINES ARE OR LINED WITH ASBESTOS, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE, THAT NEEDS TO BE VERIFIED BECAUSE IT COULD BE IN YOUR BEST INTEREST TO CHECK IT OUT. WELL, IF, AND IF, IF, IF THAT IS THE CASE, OUR, UH, ADMINISTRATION ACTUALLY HERE THO THOSE WHO ARE, UH, DEALING WITH THE WATER SITUATION HERE WOULD KNOW. AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, TCEQ AND UH, UH, YEP. YEAH. THEY, THEY WOULD ALL BE AWARE OF THAT. UH, VARIANCE I WOULD CALL IT, I DON'T WANT TO SAY IS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, 30 OR 40 YEARS AGO, IT WAS LEGAL TO DO, TO USE THAT TYPE OF PIPING. BUT AGAIN, THERE HAVE BEEN PROGRAMS I KNOW SINCE I'VE BEEN MAYOR BEFORE I WAS MAYOR, TO CHANGE ALL OF THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, DEFICIENCIES. YEAH. SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE, WE HAVE TO WORK ON, AND THAT IS WHY FOR THIS, BECAUSE IT'S THE PAGE I WAS LOOKING FOR. THERE'S ONE POINT, UH, 1 BILLION, ONE 83 MILLION. SO IT'S JUST LIKE $1.2 BILLION OF, OF ESTIMATED COSTS TO DO WHAT'S NEEDED. AND I WISH WE WOULD ALL TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE, REMOVE POLITICS FROM THIS, REMOVE OUR PERSONAL IDIOSYNCRASIES FROM THIS, AND DO JUST DO WHAT'S RIGHT. CITY MANAGER. I ALMOST FORGOT MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT. , UM, MAYO, THERE ARE TWO THINGS, UM, COUNCILMAN DO SAID, ALLUDED TO THE FACT OF DISCUSSION WITH, UM, INDUSTRY. YES. WE HAVE ALREADY BEGAN THAT IN DISCUSSION PROCESS. LAST YEAR WE HAD TWO MEETINGS AT THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES CENTER WHERE WE CALLED ALL INDUSTRY TOGETHER. AND WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THE FUTURE EXPANSIONS THAT WOULD BE TAKING PLACE IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS. RIGHT. AND WE DID THAT IN AN EFFORT TO PLAN AHEAD FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS AS TO THE WATER NEEDS. AND A LOT OF THE [02:30:01] MAJOR REFINERIES WERE THERE WITH US IN INCLUDING CHENE. AND, UM, WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOOK AS WELL TO LOOK AT IT. CALVIN AND ALL HIS STAFF WAS THERE, THE ENGINEERING STAFF. AND SO WHAT WE DID, WE ASKED THEM TO INFORM US AS TO WHAT IS IT THAT THEY HAVE ON THE DRAWING BOOKS FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO COMPLETELY DISCLOSE IT TO US, BUT JUST TELL US WHAT IT IS THAT YOU HAVE THERE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO, WE CAN COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO PLAN FOR IT THROUGH OUR, THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD. AND WE DID THAT WHEN THE LEGISLATURE HAD A $33 BILLION, UM, A, UM, EXCESS ON THE BOOKS THAT WE COULD HAVE. I WOULD HAVE ASKED COUNCIL FOR PERMISSION TO DISCUSS IT WITH DAVID FILLON, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AT THE TIME, WHICH WE CAN CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION. BUT WE HAVE A DOCUMENT ALREADY THAT STAFF AND MYSELF ARE WORKING ON IN ORDER TO DO THAT. AS, AS LYNN SAID HERE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KEEP US UP AT NIGHT IS CASH FLOW. THE PUBLIC MISUNDERSTAND, THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT TAKING PLACE IN PORT AFRICA. RIGHT. AND THE CITY, WE ARE FUNDING $70 MILLION WORTH OF FEMA PROJECTS. THE MONEY'S APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT THE MONEY'S NOT HERE. IT'LL TAKE US ABOUT TWO YEARS TO DRAW DOWN THAT MONEY. RIGHT. WHILST WE ARE DOING THAT, WE ARE CONTINUING TO PAY CONTRACTORS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. AND IF THE, IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAKES GOOD AT WHAT THEY PROMISE, FEMA IS GOING TO BE SHUT DOWN FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. HEART IS GOING TO BE SHUT DOWN FOR THE NEXT HOW MANY YEARS AND WILL NOT BE RECEIVING A DIME. SO WE BETTER BE PRUDENT IN WHAT WE'RE DOING IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET WATER TO THE CITIZENS AT LEAST, WHICH IS FIRST AND FOREMOST OUR PRIORITY. YES, SIR. BECAUSE IT'LL, IT WILL KEEP US UP AT NIGHT WHEN IT MEANS THAT WE ARE NOT GET, AS WE CONTINUE TO PAY OFF THE CONTRACTORS, WE ARE NOT GETTING THAT CASH FLOW BACK IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, CITY MANAGER. LET THE SABINE PASSPORT AUTHORITY KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP. BUT COUNSEL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU. JUST A MINUTE. UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK. UM, I'M GONNA JUST SAY MARK, 'CAUSE, UH, WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR YEARS, RIGHT. BUT HAVE WE EVER TALKED ABOUT, OR HAS THERE BEEN A DIALOGUE BETWEEN INDUSTRY? YOU WORKED FOR BASF FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. I DID. HAS THERE EVER BEEN A CONVERSATION THAT'S BEEN HAD ABOUT A DESALINATION PLANT, OR, NO, NOT TO MY, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. COMING TOGETHER. WE GOT WATER. IT'S JUST SALT WATER. RIGHT. AND SO I TELL YOU, I'M NOT SURE IF THE SABINE PASSPORT AUTHORITY WILL EVER GRANT ANOTHER TAX ABATEMENT AGAIN, BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT, THAT ARE NEEDED THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS. AND, UH, AND SO LET ME, I'LL JUST LEAVE IT THERE. OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. OKAY. THEY DON'T ANYMORE. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE, UH, WOULD HAVE ANY REMARKS FROM THE, UH, GALLERY? OKAY. COUNCIL, REFLECT YOUR LIFE. YOU ON NO. YOU, YOU DO, SIR. YEP. OH, WELL, COME ON. YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE. HOW YOU DOING, COUNSEL? MY NAME IS MICHAEL PENA. AND, UM, I'M JUST TRYING TO EMPHASIZE WHAT MARK JUST EXPLAINED TO YOU GUYS. AND JUST WAIT, MR. PEN, YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, AND THEN START. SO LET'S FOR THE RECORD, MICHAEL PENA. AND MY MAIN OFFICE IS 33 0 8 MEDICAL TRIANGLE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. AND WHAT ELSE? THAT'S IT. WELL, I'M JUST TRYING TO EMPHASIZE EXACTLY WHAT MARK WAS SAYING. I UNDERSTAND. WHAT, WHAT I'M TRYING TO BRING TO THE TABLE IS, IS, IS GONNA HELP BENEFIT SABINE PASS. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE WATER PROBLEM THAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN PORT ARTHUR IS MAJOR. I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN TO YOU GUYS THAT THIS YEAR, THIS, THIS QUARTER, THE BEGINNING OF THIS, THIS, THIS YEAR WAS I WAS TRYING TO GET THIS PROJECT OFF THE GROUND IN SABINE PASS. UM, I WANTED TO DEVELOP ABOUT A 70 UNIT HOTEL AND ALSO ABOUT A 75 PERMANENT HOUSING INCIDENT BEING PASSED WITH A RESTAURANT AND A BAR. ESTIMATED VALUE CONSTRUCTION'S ABOUT $15 MILLION THAT I WAS READY TO GO. AND IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 25 TO $30 MILLION TAXABLE DOLLARS THAT YOU GUYS CAN TAX ON. AND I'VE ALREADY GOT APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD OF SABINE PASS TO GET THESE PROJECTS GOING. I OWN ABOUT 18 ACRES IN SABINE PASS AND FIXING TO PURCHASE ABOUT ANOTHER 10. THIS IS ALL, YOU CAN VERIFY ALL THIS. YOU COULD, JAKE HAD MY NAME AND YOU COULD SEE EVERYTHING THAT I OWN OUT THERE AND, AND PLUS EVERYTHING ELSE THAT I OWN ALL OVER THE PLACE. SO I JUST, UH, WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT TBE PASS IS, IS, IS A, IT IS A GOLD MINE, AND I WANT TO GET THE BALL ROLLING [02:35:01] INE PASS WITH THE PROJECTS THAT I HAVE. I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND, YOU KNOW, THANK GOD THAT I'M READY TO PULL THE TRIGGER. WE HAVEN'T WENT THROUGH THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETING WITH PORT ARTHUR YET, JUST BECAUSE OF CODE CHANGE. AND I'M NOT SURE IF, YOU KNOW IF SABINE PASSED AGAIN TO GET WATER OR NOT. UH, THIS, THIS PROBLEM WAS PRESENTED TO ME, UM, LATE LAST YEAR AND KIND OF POSTPONED ON, UH, ON EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEEDED TO DO. SO WE ALREADY HAVE 3D RENDERINGS. WE HAVE IDEAS OF WHAT WE'RE WANTING TO DO, AND THE BOARD HAS ALREADY PRE, UH, APPROVED IT. AND, AND, AND SABINE PASSED. SO THAT WAS, THAT'S MY PRESENTATION JUST TO KIND OF LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I'M READY TO INVEST 16, 15, $16 MILLION. IS SABINE PASSED TO, UH, GET SABINE PASSED OFF THE GROUND? AND BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED. THERE'S, THERE'S ALL THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING OUT THERE, THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE. THERE'S A, THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. AND I WANT TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST MAJOR DEVELOPERS TO GO OUT THERE AND MAKE A HUGE IMPACT. AND, UH, I'M READY TO GO. AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I COULD POTENTIALLY DO WITH THE BOARD OF SABINE PASS, I'M READY TO DO THAT. IF I HAVE TO WRITE GRANTS MYSELF OR, YOU KNOW, GO KNOCKING ON DOORS OR THESE BIG COMPANIES, WHICH I HAVE MAJOR CONNECTIONS WITH MY OTHER COMPANIES THAT I HAVE, UM, I CAN, I CAN DO THAT AS WELL. SO WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THAT IS MY PRESENTATION TO YOU GUYS. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO KINDLY. THANK YOU, BUDDY. OKAY. WILL THERE BE ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, WE COULD END THE, UH, DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION. UH, AND WE'LL ACTUALLY RETURN TO THE PRINTED AGENDA. AND THERE ISN'T ANY, UH, MANAGER, STAFF OR, UH, EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION. AND THIS WAS A DISCUSSION THAT WE JUST, UH, CONDUCTED SO THAT, THAT HAD BEEN SATISFIED. UH, EXCUSE ME. WE NOW HAVE, UH, COUNCILMAN, YOU GOTTA GET YOUR LIGHT ON. OH, OKAY. UH, WE'LL [V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST (LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF TWO (2) MINUTES PER COUNCILMEMBER) ] MOVE TO, UH, ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS. AND WE HAVE, UH, I THINK MS. FLO ROBERTS, SHE'S GONNA BE ON, UH, ZOOM. NO, SHE'S HERE. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON. UM, YES. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE, UM, THAT WE HAVE, UH, CHANGES TO THE, THE, UH, GARBAGE PICKUP SCHEDULE, UM, THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE, UH, STONE, UH, EXCUSE ME, THE ICE AND SNOWSTORM OF LAST WEEK. SO OUR TEMPORARY, UH, SCHEDULE CHANGE, JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE TODAY, UM, WE ARE PICKING UP THURSDAY'S ROUTES TOMORROW. UH, WE ARE PICKING UP MONDAY'S ROUTES THURSDAY, TUESDAY'S ROUTES FRIDAY, WEDNESDAY'S ROUTES, AND SATURDAY THURSDAY'S ROUTES. NEXT MONDAY, WE WILL BE, UH, PICKING BACK ON SCHEDULE WHERE WE ARE PICKING UP MONDAY'S ROUTES AGAIN. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. MR. ROBERTS. IS THERE ANY WAY, UH, I, I, AND I'M, UH, MISS TOUCHY LEARNED, OR WHY, IF I SEE IT, I CAN, IF, IF THIS CAN BE PLACED ON THE, UH, CITY WEBSITE AND, AND IT MAY ALREADY BE THERE. I'M, I'M, UH, IT'S ALREADY ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. AND, UM, MS. CHERYL, UH, ACTUALLY REFRESHES. YEP. CAN YOU ALL DO THIS? THE CITY MANAGER WITH, TO OUR, UH, TELEVISION STATIONS, BECAUSE THEY MAKE REMARKS, NOT THAT THEY'RE DOING IT. AND TO BE INDIGNANT AS TO WHEN CAN, CAN THAT INFORMATION BE SENT TO THEM AND MAYBE THEY CAN EVEN, UH, UH, SHOW IT, UH, THE, THE LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS, WE SEND IT OUT. OKAY. OKAY. UH, UH, BECAUSE CITIZENS, I HEARD MINE, SO MY, MY DAY IS FRIDAY. UH, BECAUSE YOU SAID WEDNESDAY, BUT EVERYBODY DOESN'T DO IT THAT WAY. I WAS JUST LISTENING TO SEE WHEN YOU SAY WEDNESDAY, 'CAUSE TOMORROW IS MY REGULAR DAY, AND THERE WAS SOME FOLK MAKING SOME, UH, REMARKS AND, AND, AND SOME OF THEM, UH, UH, TO BE DISTASTEFUL. BUT WE KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING WHAT ALL THAT YOU POSSIBLY CAN, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. GO RIGHT AHEAD. UH, HI. CHERYL GIBBS, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. UM, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU, MAYOR, THAT EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE. EVERY SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, PLATFORM, WEBSITE, EMAIL ADDRESSES, IT HAS GONE TO 151 RECIPIENTS JUST FROM THE EMAIL, UH, CAMPAIGN. BUT EVERYTHING IS PUT ON [02:40:01] THE WEBSITE, USUALLY FIRST. THEN FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND X, WHICH IS FORMERLY TWITTER. UM, AND THEN 151 EMAILS ARE SENT OUT TO CHANNEL 12, CHANNEL SIX, FIVE. OKAY. SO THEY, THEY RECEIVED GOOD ANGEL SAMUEL. AND I JUST WANT IT TO BE PUBLIC AND MY RECORD, SCOTT, WE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WHO'S ON A MEDIA BROADCAST GETS A COPY OF THE SCHEDULES. EVERYTHING THAT YOU GET, THEY GET BECAUSE IT'S SENT OUT TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND WELL OVER A HUNDRED CITY EMPLOYEES. WELL, WE THANK YOU. I, AND I KNOW PERSONALLY, I THANK YOU ALL BECAUSE WE GET, I GET A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS. IT'S A LOT. I KNOW, UH, AND TIMES, MOST OF THE TIME I REFER 'EM TO YOU OR I REFER THEM TO THE WEBSITE AGAIN. BUT SINCE WE ARE ADDRESSING IT TODAY, SIR, AND I KNOW YES, SIR. I SAW SOMETHING YESTERDAY. WHEN, WHEN IS MONDAY'S PICK UP? SINCE THEY'RE PICKING UP ON MONDAY. MM-HMM . AND I SAW THEM PICKING UP MY DAY Y YESTERDAY, WEDNESDAY. YEAH. THE 27TH WAS ANNOUNCED IN ALL THE AREA THAT WOULD BE COVERED. THE 28TH WAS POSTED LAST NIGHT TO SHOW EVERYTHING THAT'S COVERED FOR, UH, THURSDAY'S ROUTES, WHICH IS FOUR ACRES, VETA, SABINE PASS, PLEASURE. ALL. YEAH. ALL OF THAT WAS POSTED AND LISTED. YEAH. BECAUSE ALL, I MEAN, ALL THEY DO IS, AND, AND TO CITIZENS AND COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL TAKE A PICTURE OF SOMETHING WITH SOME GARBAGE FROM 10 YEARS AGO. MM-HMM . PUT IT OUT LIKE ALL THE GARBAGE IN PORT ARTHUR, BECAUSE I SAW THAT ONE PICTURE ON FACEBOOK. MM-HMM . UH, AND IF THOSE FOLK HAD THAT MUCH DEER IN THE SNOWSTORM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, HOW THEY COULD HAVE ACCUMULATED THAT MUCH GARBAGE. THAT GARBAGE. AND IT WAS SNOWING. RIGHT. UH, OKAY. YES. SO, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE. BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL, MS. ROBERTS. UH, SHELL, MICHELLE, WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. AND YOUR STAFFS. YES. YOU KNOW, AND, AND, UH, AND TRY TO KEEP IT. AND ON MONDAY, WHICH WOULD BE LIKE FEBRUARY THE SECOND OR THIRD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I BELIEVE. RIGHT. WE WILL BE BACK, UH, TO NORMAL PRAY. GOD, WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, WEATHER, UH, OCCURRENCE OR ANYTHING. ANY, ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. WE'LL BE BACK. OKAY. THAT'S GOOD. ANYTHING ELSE, MS. ROBERTS? NO. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. IF YOU COULD JUST LET CONTINUE TO, TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW, UM, VIA YOUR COMMENTS FROM FACEBOOK, UM, AND ALL THE OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, AVENUES. OKAY. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. MR. DUC. YOU HAVE YOUR, LIKE, YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR YEAH, I WOULD COMMENT. UH, I ASKED, UH, SHE ABOUT THIS COMMUNICATION 'CAUSE I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS. PEOPLE ASKED ABOUT IT AND I FOUND OUT THAT WE SENT 'EM OUT TO THE NEWS STATIONS BECAUSE SHE TOLD ME IT GOES OUT TO THE NEWS STATION. AND SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY, YOU KNOW HOW THEY DO, THEY PUBLISH WHAT THEY WANT. I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THE MANAGER OR SOMEONE IN THE UPPER MANAGEMENT TO CALL AND TALK TO THE MANAGERS OF THE DIFFERENT STATIONS, RADIOS, I MEAN, UH, NEWS STATIONS TO HAVE THEM TO WORK WITH US ON THINGS THAT IMPACT ON THE CITY AS A WHOLE. YOU KNOW, WE, UH, WE DON'T WANT FREE ADVERTISING. WE WANT THEM TO BE OUR FORM OF COMMUNICATION, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT, UH, ARE VERY IMPACTING. AND IF WE ASK THAT THEY PUT IT OUT, THEN I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE PUT OUT, 'CAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK THEY COULD'VE HAD ON THE NEWS ANYWAY. THEY SAID, JUST GO TO THE CITY WEBSITE AND YOU'LL SEE THE ACTUAL SCHEDULES. BUT EVERYBODY LISTENING TO NEWS KNOW IF YOU INTERESTED IN GARBAGE FOR PORT ARTHUR, GO TO THEIR WEBSITE. THEY GOT IT SCHEDULED, THAT BEEN REVISED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. JUST SHORT. BUT WE NEED IT ON THE NEWS. SO THAT DECISION OF IT NOT APPEARING ON THE NEWS BECAUSE WE SENT IT IN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE DECISION AT THE LOWER ECHELON. WE NEED SOMEBODY TO COMMUNICATE TO THE UPPER ECHELON ON WHAT WE ACTUALLY ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE SO THAT WE WILL GET THAT INFORMATION OUT THE NEXT TIME SOMEBODY SEND IT TO THEM. OKAY. THAT'S WELL TAKEN. COUNCILMAN, UH, AT THIS TIME, COUNSEL, WOULD THERE BE ANY, UH, OTHER REPORTS OF THAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? MAYOR OF COMMUNITY INTEREST? COUNCILMAN FRANK. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE WOODROW WILSON EARLY COLLEGE, UH, HIGH SCHOOL, UH, THIS MORNING. I HAD THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY OF SPEAKING TO THE DAD'S CLUB, UH, THERE THIS MORNING. AND I WAS GIVEN SOME VERY PERTINENT INFORMATION [02:45:01] ABOUT HOW, UH, THAT SCHOOL IS FUNCTIONING. THEY HAD 100% OF THEIR KIDS, UH, GRADUATE, UH, I'M SORRY, PASS THE ENGLISH, THE HISTORY, UH, AND THE ALGEBRA TESTS, UH, THERE AT THAT SCHOOL. UM, AND, AND, UH, SO THAT IS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. SO I WANT TO THANK, UH, PRINCIPAL BATIS AND HER STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. AND I WANTED TO JUST GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT TODAY. OKAY. THAT'S GOOD. ANYONE ELSE? IF THERE ISN'T ANY OTHER, UH, ITEMS WE NOW MOVE TO, UH, BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ANY, UH, UNFINISHED BUSINESS. COMAN, ETT. OH. [VII. CONSENT AGENDA] OH, OKAY. SO NOW WE'RE READY TO MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THAT IS FROM PAGE THREE THROUGH PAGE SIX, I BELIEVE IT IS, UH, ROMAN NUMERAL SEVEN. AND IN THE CONSENT AGENDA, THESE ARE ITEMS THAT BASICALLY SOMETIMES YOU LIKE TO SEND A ROUTINE NATURE AND, UH, INFORMATION HAS BEEN SUPPLIED ARE PROVIDED, WHETHER FOR COUNCIL OR TWO COUNCIL CONCERNING EACH ITEM ON, ON THIS. IF NOT, IF THERE WOULD BE ANY ITEM THAT YOU WOULD WANT WITHDRAWN AND ACTED UPON INDIVIDUALLY, PLEASE GIMME THE PAGE AND THE ITEM NUMBER. COUNCILMAN ETT? YES, MAYOR. UH, ITEM ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON PAGE SEVEN. PAGE OKAY. FOUR. OKAY. YOU SAID ON FOUR FOUR ON PAGE SEVEN, NOT SEVEN. 4 0 4. 4 0 4. GOTTA BE 4 0 4 4 OH, THIS, THE, THIS THE DATE. OKAY. OH, YOU'RE DOING CONSENT? YEAH. YEAH. OH, OKAY. NO, I DON'T HAVE NO CONSENT. OH, OKAY. ALRIGHT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UH, ANY, ANY, ANY ITEMS? OKAY. IF NOT, MAY I GET A MOTION? COUNCILMAN DEUCE. SO MOVED. MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, MAYOR PRO. SECOND IT. MOVE SECOND, THEN WE WOULD, EXCUSE ME. APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION UNDER THE QUESTION? YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A. ANY OPPOSES AS SO IT IS APPROVED? UH, [VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 23995 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase One (1) 2025 Case 580SN Backhoe With An Enclosed Cab For The Public Works Streets Division From Associated Supply Company, Inc Of Beaumont, Texas, Through The BuyBoard Cooperative Purchasing Program, Contract No. 685-22, With A Total Budgetary Impact Amount Of $138,913.50. Funding Is Available In The Capital Reserve Fund, Public Works Streets Account No. 625-21- 053-8522-00-00-000] NOW WE'LL GO TO PAGE SIX AND WE WOULD BEGIN THE NON-CONSENT, UH, AGENDA AND, UH, BEGIN WITH ITEM NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS PR, EXCUSE ME, ONE SECOND. PR 23 9 9 5. IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE 1 20 25 CASE, UH, FIVE 80 SN BACKHOE WITH AN ENCLOSED CAB FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS STREETS DIVISION FROM ASSOCIATED SUPPLY COMPANY, INCORPORATED OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, UH, THROUGH THE, UH, BUYBOARD COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM. CONTRACT NUMBER 6 85 DASH 22 WITH A TOTAL BUDGETARY IMPACT AMOUNT OF $138,913 AND 50 CENTS. EXCUSE ME, FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND, PUBLIC WORKS. UH, STREET ACCOUNT NUMBER 6 25 DASH 21 5 3 8 5 2 0 0 0. MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KINLOCK. SO MOVE HERE. MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND. IT IS IN MOVED AND SECOND. AND WE WOULD, UH, APPROVE PR NUMBER 23 9 9 5 AS PRESENTED. WE READY FOR QUESTIONING? ANY QUESTIONS? YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSES? AYE. AVERAGE. SO PR PR 23 9 9 5 IS APPROVED [VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 23996 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase One (1) 2025 Case SV211E Padfoot Roller Compactor For The Public Works Streets Division From Associated Supply Company, Inc. Of Beaumont, Texas, Through The BuyBoard Cooperative Purchasing Program, Contract No. 685-22, With A Total Budgetary Impact Amount Of $165,305.50. Funding Is Available In The Capital Reserve Fund, Public Works Streets Equipment Account No, 625-21- 053-8522-00-00-000] AS READ ITEM NUMBER TWO P NUMBER 23 9 9 6. IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE 1 20 25 CASE SV TWO 11 E PAD, FOOT ROLLER COMPACTOR FROM THE PUBLIC, I MEAN FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS STREETS DIVISION FROM ASSOCIATED SUPPLY, UH, COMPANY INCORPORATED UP BAUMONT, TEXAS THROUGH THE BIBLE COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM. CONTRACT NUMBER 6 85 DASH 22 WITH A TOTAL BUDGETARY AMOUNT OF $165,305 AND 50 CENTS FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND. PUBLIC WORKS STREET EQUIPMENT ACCOUNT NUMBER 6 2 5 DASH 21 DASH 5 3 8 5 2 2 0 0 0. MAKE A MOTION FOR [02:50:01] APPROVAL OF MAYOR PRO TEMP. MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN ETT SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. EVERY WOULD APPROVE PR R 23 9 9 6 AS APPROVED. UH, ANY QUESTIONS NOW WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT. SO PR 23 9 9 6 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. NEXT [VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 24107 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With Marsh Waterproofing, Inc. Of Vidor, Texas For Phase IV Repair And Renovation To Rose Hill Manor In The Total Amount Of $375,000.00. Funds Are Available In Rosehill Renovations From The CIP Account #307-15-043-8512-00-10-000 Project BU 0014-CON] WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER THREE, PR NUMBER 2 4 1 7. IT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH MARSH WATERPROOFING INCORPORATED OF VITAL TEXAS FOR THE PHASE FOUR REPAIR AND RENOVATION. TWO ROSE HILL MANOR IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $375,000. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN ROSE HILL RENOVATIONS FROM THE CIP ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 15 DASH FOUR THREE DASH 8 5 2 0 0. AND THIS IS PROJECT BBU 0 0 1 4 DASH CAR. I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. COUNCILMAN KEN LAW. SO MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK IS MOVED. AND SECOND. AND WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 24 1 0 7. WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION. THE ONLY QUESTION IS READY TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSES AYES EVIDENCE OF PR NUMBER 24 1 0 7 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. NEXT [VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 24108 – A Resolution Ratifying The City Manager's Decision To Authorize Emergency Repair Of The Gulf Pump Station, For The Total Not To Exceed Amount Of $129,984.12; Funds In Account No. 410-40-210-5318-00-00-000, Equipment Maintenance, Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of The Budget Amendment In Proposed Ordinance No. 7308] WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR PR NUMBER 24 1 0 8. IT IS A RESOLUTION RATIFYING, EXCUSE ME, THE CITY MANAGER'S DECISION TO AUTHORIZE EMERGENCY REPAIR OF THE GULF PUL STATION FOR THE TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $129,984 AND 12 CENTS BONDS. AND ACCOUNT NUMBER FOUR 10 DASH 4 2 10 DASH 53 18 DASH 0 0 0 EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE. AND IF THIS IS HOWEVER CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 73 0 8, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MAY I APPROACH HIM? SO MAY I GET A, A SECOND COUNCILMAN ETT SECOND IF IT MOVED SECOND, IF WE WOULD APPROVE PR 20, UH, 4 1 0 8. UH, WE ARE READY FOR A QUESTION. COUNCILMAN ETT? YES, WE'RE READY. OH, HE GOT CALVIN. OKAY. WHOEVER, CALVIN, IS THIS A STANDBY GENERATOR? THERE WERE SEVERAL PROBLEMS THERE. THE, THE BULK OF THE COST WAS A STANDBY, A RENTED STANDBY GENERATOR WHILE WE WERE REPAIRING THE EXISTING GENERATOR. JUST SO YOU KNOW, THIS PUMP STATION IS WHAT PROVIDES ALL THE WATER TO STEAM PASS. IF YOU LOSE THIS PUMP STATION, THERE'S NO WATER TO BEAM PASS. AND, UH, THE, THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS WITH ENTERGY COUPLED WITH GENERATOR PROBLEMS. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE RELATED. I MEAN, ENTERGY WILL NEVER COME FORWARD AND TELL YOU THAT THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THAT PROBLEM. UH, AND THEN WHEN WE STARTED WORKING ON THE GENERATOR, WE WERE READY TO START THE GENERATOR. WE FOUND OUT THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS, HAD ABOUT 150 GALLONS OF WATER IN IT. SO WE HAD TO PATCH THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE GENERATOR SETS ON THE FUEL TANK. IT'S OUT IN THE OPEN BASICALLY. UH, AND THEN WE HAD TO HAVE JORDAN STEVENSON COME AND FILTER THE DIESEL TO GET THE WATER OUT. AND THEN IN THE PROCESS WE HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE FILTERS IN THE GENERATOR. SO IT JUST TOOK TIME. OKAY. CALVIN, IS THAT A, IS THAT A STAND BY GENERATOR? YES. WELL, WE WERE REPAIRING THE STANDBY GENERATOR AND THERE IS A RE RENTED GENERATOR IN IT. SO IT'S A, IT'S, YES, IT'S STANDBY GENERATOR PLUS A RENTED STANDBY GENERATOR. I READ THE BACKGROUND. I'M TALKING ABOUT OUR GENERATOR. YES. FROM THE PROBLEM THAT STARTED. 'CAUSE WHEN I READ THE BACKGROUND, THE BACKGROUND SAYS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH ENERGY AND THE GENERATOR DID NOT SWITCH OVER. RIGHT. THE REASON I ASKED, WAS IT A, WAS IT A STANDBY GENERATOR? BECAUSE IF A STANDBY GENERATOR, THEN THAT NORMALLY DEALING WITH THE TRANSFER SWITCH, WE ALSO, THAT TRANSFER FOR THE TRANSFER SWITCH THAT WE MANUALLY AT THE MOMENT, WE MANUALLY, WE'VE BEEN MANUALLY TRANSFERRING THAT SWITCH FOR THE LAST, WELL, SINCE I CAME IN NOVEMBER OF 21. [02:55:01] OKAY. SO THAT PROBABLY WE DON'T, WE NEED AN AUTOMATIC TRANSFER SWITCH THERE AND WE'RE WORKING TO GET IT REPLAY FIXED, BUT OKAY. WELL THAT'S SUCCESSFUL. THAT'S WHY I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE I, A STANDBY GENERATOR WORKS FROM LOSS OF POWER RIGHT? TO GO TO GAS POWER IS DONE BY TRANSFER SWITCH. CORRECT. SO IF IT DOESN'T SWITCH OVER, THEN THE TRANSFER SWITCH THE PROBLEM. OKAY, THEN THAT'S THE FIRST QUESTION. THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE, WHEN I LOOKED THROUGH THE BACKGROUND, I SAW SO MANY PASS DUE INVOICES SENT FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. AND THE REASON I WENT THROUGH IT REAL CAREFULLY, BECAUSE IT SAYS WE RATIFYING, UH, THE DECISION. SO I WENT BACK TO SEE WHY WE WAS RATIFYING. SO THIS HAPPENED IN MARCH OF 2024? CORRECT. AND WHEN I WENT THROUGH THE BACKGROUND, WE HAD INVOICE STATEMENTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, PROBABLY ABOUT EIGHT, UH, PAST DUE STATEMENTS IN THIS. AND UH, SO ACTUALLY WHAT WE ARE PAYING HERE, DOES IT INCLUDE THESE INVOICES? IT SHOULD BE EVERYTHING TO CLOSE THE JOB. OKAY. THIS CLOSES THE JOB, BUT THE JOB BEEN COMPLETED SINCE APRIL. UM, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE. IT, IT TOOK A VERY LONG TIME TO WELL COMPLETE THE JOB. MAY I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME. I DON'T HAVE THE, I DON'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER OF THE DAY THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY FINISHED. I DON'T EITHER, BUT I DID GO BY INVOICES. OKAY. OKAY. THE INVOICE THAT THEY HAD WAS FOR IT, UH, APRIL 25TH. DECEMBER FINISHED NOVEMBER. NOVEMBER. OKAY. SO WE, THE, THE PROJECT WAS FINISHED IN NOVEMBER AT THE, TOWARDS THE END OF NOVEMBER. OKAY. AND, AND THESE, UH, PAST DUE STATEMENTS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN BY WHAT I READ, WAS DEALING WITH, UH, WHEN THEY BROUGHT IN A TEMPORARY YES, UH, GENERATOR THAT WE HAD THEM TO BRING E-E-S-I-E-S-I ELECTRICAL SPECIALTIES. SO THEY BROUGHT IN GENERATOR, THEY SUBSTITUTED, TOOK IT OUT. RIGHT. AND THAT CAME OUT, THEY STARTED INVOICING AS IN APRIL. CORRECT. BUT WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T PAY. THEY JUST KEEP PUTTING, UH, SENDING US AN INVOICE BACK. AND THE FACT THEN ON THE 16TH OF JULY, WHEN THEY SENT IT BACK, THEY HAD A HANDWRITTEN NOTE THAT SAID BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, UH, THAT THEY NEED, THEY REALLY NEED PAYMENTS FOR JULY AND AUGUST. SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY DO THEY HAVE TO SEND THOSE MANY PAST DUE STATEMENTS TO US IN ORDER FOR US TO PAY? WE, WE USUALLY, WHEN WE HAVE THE EMERGENCY MEMO, WE UH, WE UH, SPEAKING TO THE MIC PLEASE. SORRY. SO YOU COULD BE ON THE RECORD. JUST, JUST, UH, SO WHEN WE HAVE THE EMERGENCY MEMO, WE DRAFT THAT ONE AND UH, HAVE A CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE THAT AND SEND A COPY TO COUNCIL MEMBER. BUT WE DON'T HAVE ABILITY TO PAY UP TO THAT AMOUNT. SO EVERYTHING HAVE TO GET YOUR, UH, APPROVAL THEN WE PAY THE FULL AMOUNT AFTER THAT. SO THAT'S WHY THE INVOICE BEING DUE LIKE THIS WAY. OKAY. AND WE'VE BEEN, UH, IN CONTACT WITH VENDOR TO TELL THEM THE, THE SITUATION WE HAVE TO GET THE COUNCIL APPROVAL TO DO ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN THAT EMERGENCY MEMO. OKAY. SOMETHING LIKE THIS. WE JUST HAVE TO DO BETTER. OKAY. BECAUSE WHAT WE DID ESSENTIALLY IS WE GAVE AN EMERGENCY APPROVAL, THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN IT. 'CAUSE WE NEED IT DONE. SO WE TOLD 'EM TO COME AND DO THE WORK. OKAY? SO THIS COMPANY CAME IN AND THEY SAY, OKAY THEN BEFORE WE COULD FIX THIS ONE, WE GOT TO GIVE YOU A RENTAL BECAUSE WE HAD TO STAY RUNNING IT. SO THAT'S WHAT THEY DECIDED. AND FROM WHAT I READ IN THE BACKGROUND, IT WAS A RENTAL WHEREBY WE PAID FOR SETUP AND A RENTAL ALSO, THEY WERE GONNA CHARGE US AN ADDITIONAL COST WHEN THEY CAME AND GOT THEIRS BACK. AND ALSO TO TAKE IT, WELL THEY DONE ALL OF THAT. NOW THEY'RE THROUGH WITH THAT. BUT THEY KEEP SENDING US AN INVOICE PAST DUE PAST DUE. WHY COULDN'T WE BRING IT TO COUNCIL, GET THAT PART APPROVED AND PAY THEM. WHY DO THEY HAVE TO KEEP SENDING THESE STATEMENTS, CHANGE THE PROCEDURE? WE CAN CHANGE THE NAME, CAN WORK WITH AND [03:00:01] CHANGE THE P PROCEDURE. COME. YEAH. YEAH. TALK TO MCAL. IT'S, IT IS THE PROCEDURE. SO WE COULD WORK WITH RON AND SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH A BETTER PROCEDURE. OKAY. IT IS AN, IT IS AN ISSUE. I MEAN, OKAY, MY POINT IS I'VE HEARD THIS COUNCIL TALK ABOUT PAYING OUT BILLS ON TIME AND THEN I SEE THIS, SO WHAT I'M HEARING NOW, THIS ONE IS OCCURRING BECAUSE OF PROCEDURES. IT'S HOW MUCH WE CAN, CAN PAY IF OKAY, THE PROCEDURE HAS BEEN TO COME TO COUNCIL WHEN IT'S FINISHED, WE'VE NEVER COME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROJECT. WELL, SO MAYBE WE CAN, I DON'T WELL I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I'VE MADE COMMENTS ABOUT COMING TO US AT THE END AND DOING THINGS IN THE MIDDLE. I'VE BEEN AGAINST THAT FROM DAY, IF YOU NEED COUNCIL, YOU COME TO COUNCIL. I'VE SAID THAT MANY TIMES AND EVERYBODY KEEP, WELL WE DON'T WANNA BE RUNNING THE COUNCIL. WELL THAT'S WHY WE HOLD COUNCIL MEETING EVERY TWO WEEKS TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS. BUT WE DONE TALKED ABOUT PAST DUE AND NOT PAYING OUR BILLS ON TIME. WE SAID IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE. AND HERE WE GO AGAIN. SO IF IT'S A PROCESS WE NEED TO CHANGE, UH, YOU NEED TO GET WITH THE MANAGER AND UH, I'LL PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA WHERE MAYBE COUNCIL CAN ISSUE DIRECTORS SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT LIKE ONCE A MONTH, IF WE GOT ANY PAST DUES, START BRINGING THEM TO COUNCIL, WE GONNA INSTITUTE SOMETHING TO START GETTING WHAT WE WANT DONE. DONE. BUT THIS IS A NO-NO. OKAY, THEN THINGS HAPPEN I HEAR. SO WE CAN FIX IT, NO PROBLEM. OKAY. WE'LL JUST HAVE TO FIX IT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? I. ANY OPPOSES? SO PR NUMBER 24 1 0 8 IS [VIII.A.(5) P.R. No. 24114 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 2 To The Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur And Elite Contractors And Equipment, LTD, Of Kirbyville, Texas, For The Sabine Pass Mechanic Street And South 1st Avenue Reconstruction Project, For Remobilization, Extra Dirt, Installation Of Guard Rails, Thereby Increasing The Contract Amount By $201,570.00 To The New Total Contract Amount Of $2,743,629.00 And The Addition Of One Hundred Twenty (120) Calendar Days. Funding Is Available In The Capital Improvement Street Account No. 307-21-053-8517-00-10-000. Project No. ST1P90.CON] APPROVED. NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER FIVE, PR NUMBER 24 1 14 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER TWO TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND ELITE CONTRACTORS, EQUIPMENT, LTB OF UH, KIRBYVILLE, TEXAS FOR THE SABINE PASS MECHANIC STREET AND SOUTH FIRST AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT FOR RE MOBILIZATION, EXTRA DIRT INSTALLATION OF GUARDRAILS, THEREBY INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $201,570 TO THE NEW CONTRACT, EXCUSE ME, AMOUNT OF $2,743,629. AND THE ADDITION OF 120 CALENDAR DAYS FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT STREET ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH FIVE EIGHT DASH 8 5 1 7 0 0 0 0 0. AND THIS IS PROJECT T ONE P NINE ZERO. DO CON, MAY I GET MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN? UH, KEN LAW. I GET A SECOND. COUNCILMAN FRANK. THANK IT. REMOVED. AND SECOND. AND WE APPROVE P NUMBER 24 1 14. WE'RE READY FOR QUESTIONING. YEAH MA'AM. UH, COUNCILMAN ETT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. DECLARE. THANK YOU. OKAY. CAN, CAN'T TELL YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, QUESTION, UH, WHO'S GONNA ANSWER THE QUESTION? YOU? YES. 120 DAYS. YOU KNOW, ANYTIME I SEE CHANGE ORDERS AND I LOOK FOR THESE DAYS OF EXTENSIONS AND AMOUNT THAT IS BEING PAID, TELL ME ONE, I WAS LOOKING IN THE BACKGROUND, MAYBE I OVERLOOKED IT. SO WHY WE EXTENDED 120 DAYS? BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN WE DO THESE CONTRACTS, WE HAVE ALIBI DAYS OR BUILT IN PROJECTS, CONTRACTS, UH, FOR WEATHER, WHATEVER, ANYTHING. BUT WHEN WE DO THIS, WE ARE GIVING COMPANIES LEVERAGE AGAINST THE CITY AND I DON'T LIKE IT. SO IF SOMEBODY HAD EXPLAINED TO ME WHY ARE WE DOING 120 DAYS AND, AND NOT HOLDING IT TO THE STANDARD OF THE CONTRACT THAT WE SIGNED WITH THEM. YES SIR. UH, THIS IS, I GOT INVOLVED WITH THIS PROJECT WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED AND NOW I'M MORE INVOLVED BECAUSE I'M COVERING UP FOR JOHN. CAN I TELL, UH, WHILE, UH, PERFORMING THE CONTRACT, UH, THE CONTRACTOR WAS DIGGING A DITCH AND SOME OIL, UH, CAME UP TO THE SURFACE. AND BECAUSE THIS IS, UH, TEXT DO RELATED PROJECT TEXT DOT PUT A STOP WORK ORDER ON THE PROJECT UNTIL WE DETERMINE WHERE IS THE OIL COMING FROM, WHO OWNS [03:05:01] THE OIL, WHO'S GONNA REMEDIATE THE OIL. AND THAT PROCESS TOOK ABOUT SIX MONTHS. UH, WE HAD TO EVEN SPEND SOME MONEY ON REMEDIATION FOR A COMPANY, UH, PHOENIX ENVIRONMENTAL TO GO OUT THERE AND TAKE THE DIRT THAT SUPPOSEDLY WAS CONTAMINATED. WE HAD TO HIRE A COMPANY TO DO ALL THE TESTING ON THE WATER AND THE SOIL ITSELF. AND GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH TEXT, THERE'S CERTAIN PROCEDURES AND, UH, STEPS WE HAD TO FOLLOW. WE JUST GOT OUT OF THAT SIX MONTHS PERIOD. SO, AND NOW THE CONTRACTOR IS GONNA GET BACK TO WORK. WELL, AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT THE THING IS THAT WHY SIGN A CONTRACT WHEN WE HAVE SITUATIONS? I, I UNDERSTAND JOHN IS NO LONGER HERE. WELL, THE SITUATION DIDN'T COME UP TILL CONSTRUCTION WAS ONGOING. THIS PROJECT IS ALMOST COMPLETED. AND WHEN THE CONTRACTOR WAS PERFORMING THE WORK IS WHEN THAT SITUATION ARRIVED. OKAY? BUT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE SIGN A CONTRACT, WE BUILD IN ALIBI DAYS, WE, WE CAN'T PENALIZE A COMPANY NOW BECAUSE WE'VE GIVEN AN EXTENSION OF 120 DAYS. IF ANYTHING WENT BEYOND THAT, WE CAN'T DO IT. SO I, MY CONCERN IS THIS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE THESE TYPE OF CONTRACTS, UH, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, SOMEONE IS SUPPOSED TO BE OUT THERE EXPECTING, UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEY'RE AT, BRINGING BACK TO THE COUNCIL, NOT SEEING THIS AT TODAY'S DATE, 120 DAYS WITH THE EXTENSION PERIOD OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD DO BETTER ON THAT. IT RAISED MY ATTENTION WHEN I READ IT LAST NIGHT. UM, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT HOW DOES THAT BENEFIT THE CITY? IT'S A WHOLE, WHEN WE HAVE A CONTRACT SIGNED, AGREED UPON AND WE GIVE AN EXTENSION. I MEAN OUR CONTRACTS HAVE LANGUAGE IN THEM THAT, UH, ALLOWS FOR SO MANY SAY RAIN DAYS FOR EXAMPLE. YEAH. TO NO ADDITIONAL TIME OR CORRECT. BUT SOMETHING THAT IS SO UNKNOWN, LIKE WE, WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW THIS OIL IS GONNA COME UP ON US OR A FILM OF OIL OR WHAT'S WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OIL AND ALL THE TESTING THAT HAD WAS DONE PROVED IT DIFFERENTLY BUT COULDN'T. SO IT WASN'T OILED AT ALL? IT WASN'T ALL WE COULDN'T NO SIR. WE, WE COULDN'T PREDICT THAT THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN OKAY. TO SAY IF YOU DIG SOMETHING UP THAT NEEDS REMEDIATION, WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU 10 DAYS. WE COULDN'T DO THAT. AND, AND THIS STICK TOOK LONGER BECAUSE IT'S A TAX FUNDED PROJECT WHICH REQUIRED GOING THROUGH THEIR PROCEDURE TO TAKE THAT STOP WORK ORDER OFF. SO IT'S A STOP LOSS AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME. ONCE THEY CAME ACROSS THE, THEY IMMEDIATELY PUT A STOP WORK ORDER ON THE JOB. ALRIGHT, WELL I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW, UH, DIRECTOR. YES SIR. WE ARE WATCHING THIS. COUNCIL IS WATCHING ANY TYPE OF EXTENSIONS, ADDITIONAL DAYS FUNDING. UH, I'M GLAD FOR YOUR EXP YOU KNOW, EXPLAIN EXPLAINING IT TO ME. BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE DOING THIS PROCESS. YES SIR. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCILMAN ETT? YES. OKAY, WE GOT THE, UH, EXTENSION DOWN. I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE OIL. OKAY. WE FOUND, OR OR WE HAD TO DO THE ORAL REMEDIATION. WHERE DID IT COME FROM? WHO RESPONSIBLE FOR IT WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED? TEXTILE PUT A STOP WORK ORDER ON THE PROJECT ASSUMING IT IS OIL. OKAY. AND THEY WOULDN'T ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM WITHOUT TESTING AND DOING ALL THE WORK WE HAD TO DO. AND THE TESTING THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF PIPELINES IN THAT AREA THAT ARE ABANDONED THAT NOBODY CLAIMS. ALSO BEING THAT CLOSE TO THE GULF, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A SOURCE. SO WE COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE SOURCE. OUR OBJECTIVE WAS TO MINIMIZE OUR COST, ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM SO WE CAN COMPLETE THIS PROJECT THAT'S MAINLY FUNDED BY TDOT. OKAY. AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH A COST UNDER $50,000. WHICH OKAY MATT THINK, OKAY, MY QUESTION WAS BASICALLY IN LINE WITH WHO OR WAS IT? SO NOW THAT WE SAY WE COULDN'T IDENTIFY, SO THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE. WE CAN'T PUT THAT RESPONSIBILITY ON THOSE PEOPLE. NOW I GO TO MY NEXT QUESTION IS, OKAY WITH THIS GRANT, WAS THERE A MATCHING? YEAH, I'M SORRY. WAS IT A MATCHING YES. THAT THE CITY HAD A MATCH ON THAT PROJECT. OKAY. OKAY. WE HAD A MATCH ON THAT FUND. OKAY. SO CORRECT. CONSIDERING THESE INCREASES, HOW IS THIS FINAL AMOUNT IN RESPECT TO THE PART THAT WE ACTUALLY RECEIVE FOR THE GRANT? MM-HMM . OKAY. SEE, BECAUSE WE TALKING ABOUT 2000002.7 SOMETHING MILLION. OKAY. FOR THIS PROJECT. BUT WE HAD TO PAY MONEY. MM-HMM HOW MUCH DID [03:10:01] WE PAY? WHAT WAS OUR MATCH? FOUR MATCH. I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER WITH ME. COUNSELING YOU DON'T HAVE IT. BUT AT THE SAME TOKEN, WE GET MORE MONEY HERE. SO MY CONCERN IS WE ONLY RECEIVE X AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THIS GRANT TO START OFF WITH. SO PART OF THE ACTUAL TOTAL AMOUNT WE PAY, WE PAID THAT. SO WHATEVER THAT MATCH WAS, THAT WAS OUR MONEY. SO ANY INCREASES FROM THIS POINT ON IS STRICTLY OUTTA OUR POCKET BECAUSE THEY WON'T RAISE THE GRAND ANYMORE WHEN THEY TELL US THIS IS WHAT YOU GETTING ON THIS AMOUNT. THAT'S IT. SO ALL COSTS AFTER THAT IS ON US. SO IT'LL BE ACTUALLY HOW MUCH WAS OUR MATCH PLUS THIS X AMOUNT OF MONEY. SEE? SO THE QUESTION I'M ASKING WERE SUMS THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR WHEN I LOOK AT THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION IS, UH, THE GRANDEST THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY CITY PORTION WAS THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY WE GONNA INCREASE THIS COST. THE INCREASE OF THE COST WILL COME FROM WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA BEND THE BUDGET, THE INCREASING COSTS CAN COME FROM AND AND WE GOING TO THE RESERVES. OKAY. OKAY. SO THAT'S PLUS WHAT IT WAS INITIALLY. ALL RIGHT. AND KNOW, SO I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT. OKAY. YOU KNOW, UH, AS THE 2.7 MILLION IS NOT WHAT WE ACTUALLY PAYING, BUT HOW MUCH IS THIS COSTING US? WE, BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS ONE 30 TO GO INTO THE RESERVES. OKAY. CORRECT. I MEAN I JUST THIS PROJECT, BUT THE OTHER PART WAS THIS PROJECT RECENTLY AFTER JOHN LEFT, I'LL PROVIDE THAT INFO TO UH, MR. BUR AND HE PROVIDED TO YOU. OKAY. BUT MY COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS THE SAME. BASICALLY WHEN I ASK QUESTIONS IS TO BRING TO STAFF ATTENTION THAT WHEN YOU GIMME BACKGROUND INFORMATION, THESE ARE THINGS I'M LOOKING FOR. IF YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU'RE GOING TO, THIS PROJECT IS INCREASING, IT'S A GRANT FUND, THEN IF IT'S INCLUDED IN BACKGROUND INFORMATION, THE CITY PORTION OF IT WAS 250,000. NOW WE INCREASE TO 150,000 BY WHICH BRINGING OUR SUM UP TO 5,000. AND THEN WE GOING TO ASK THAT YOU FUND 130 SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. WHEN I READ THE BACKGROUND, I COME TO THE MEETING, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. SO JUST POINTING OUT INFORMATION THAT I NEED IN ORDER TO PREPARE TO COME AND JUST SAY YET FOR YOUR C WE WILL IMPROVE ON THAT COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I BE SAYING. MOST WELCOME. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. UH, CITY MANAGER. YEP. UM, WITH REFERENCE TO THE POINT THAT UM, K OMI, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT FOR, AND THE CITY OFTU AND I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THAT, NOT WITH THIS PROJECT BUT FOR FUTURE PROJECTS WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT IN ANY CONTRACT THAT WE DO, THERE'S GOING TO BE A RE A THREE MONTH REPORTING PERIOD IN THOSE CONTRACTS. SO WHEN YOU HAVE LONG DELAYS LIKE THIS FOR SIX MONTHS, AT LEAST FOR REASONS OF TRANSPARENCY, WE WILL KEEP THE COUNSELOR ABREAST AS TO WHERE WE ARE WITH THOSE PROJECTS. SO WHEN THOSE CHANGES COME, YOU KNOW, IS THE COUNCIL WILL NOT BE BLINDSIDED BY THE FACT, YOU KNOW, SO THAT POINT IS WELL TAKEN. WE WILL MAKE THOSE CHANGES IN NEW CONTRACTS THAT WE ARE DOING. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU CITY MAYOR, WE READY TO VOTE RIGHT NOW? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT. SO PR NUMBER 24 1 14 IS APPROVED. YEAH. AND MAYOR, WE ARE GOING MAKE SURE THAT IS GOING TO BE IN THE BID. WE WILL DISCUSS IT WITH THE UM, PURCHASING MANAGER. WE WANT IT TO BE PART OF THE BID PROCESS AS WELL. OKAY. OKAY. [VIII.A.(6) P.R. No. 24121 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Vortex Services LLC, For The Rehabilitation Of The Lewis Drive Lift Station Through BuyBoard Contract No. 731-24 In The Total Amount Of $106,440.01; Funds Are Available In Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000, Project No. WS0021, Wastewater Lift Stations] NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER SIX, WHICH IS PR NUMBER 2 2 41 21. IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTRANCE A CONTRACT WITH VORTEX SERVICES LLC, EXCUSE ME, FOR THE RE REHABILITATION OF THE LEWIS DRIVE LIFT STATION THROUGH BY BOARD CONTRACT NUMBER 7 31 DASH 24 IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $106,440. AND ONE 1 CENT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH 4 0 0 0 8 5 16 0 0 0 0 0. PROJECT NUMBER WS 0 0 2 1 [03:15:01] WASTE WATER LIFT STATION. MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE P NUMBER 20, I MEAN 2 41 21 AS APPROVED. READY FOR QUESTION ON IN THE QUESTION. YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR. AND THE OPPOSES. SO PR NUMBER 2 41 21 IS APPROVED AS [VIII.A.(7) P.R. No. 24126 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Terminate The Contract With Gulf Express Construction LLC Of Groves, Texas, For The Repair Of The Pier And Gazebo At 800 Lakefront Drive (Boat Launch)] PRESENTED. NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN P NUMBER 2 41 26 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT WITH GULF EXPRESS CONSTRUCTION LLC OF GROVES, TEXAS FOR THE REPAIR OF THE PIER AND GAZEBO AT 800. UH, LAKEFRONT DRIVE THE BOAT LAUNCH. UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN ETT? SO MOVED. MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, MAY I APPROACH HIM SECOND? IS IT MOVE AND SECOND? EVERY WOULD APPROVE P NUMBER 2 41 26. WE READY FOR QUESTION? COUNCILMAN ETT? YES. ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, WHEN I TOOK A LOOK AT, TAKE A LOOK AT IT, THEY CAME BACK AND THEY WANTED TO BASICALLY SAY THAT THEY FORGOT SOMETHING IN THERE AND THAT THEY HAD TO DO IT, IT GONNA COST MORE THAN WHAT THEIR BID WAS AND THEY WANTED TO YEAH, THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE IS THAT WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE BIDS, WHEN HE SUBMITTED THE BID, PART OF THE BID PROCESS IS WHERE WE WANTED TO, WE THEN WHEN WE THEN GO INTO NEGOTIATION FOR A CONTRACT. SO EVIDENTLY WHEN HE WAS AWARDED THE BID OR THE COMPANY WAS AWARDED THE BID, SHALL I SAY THEY CAME IN AND WE SIGNED THE CONTRACT FOR THEM TO DO IT? NO, WHENEVER THE GUY CAME IN, UM, OKAY THAT WAS A ISSUE BECAUSE THE UM, WHOEVER TYPED UP THEIR BID DIDN'T PUT IN LIKE ALL OF THE SCREWS FROM THE ENTIRE, UM, PIER AND GAZEBO. AND THAT WOULD'VE BEEN LIKE A EXTRA $74,000. SO ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT THE REASON WE DIDN'T HAVE, WE REJECTED THIS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE BID? I MEAN WHAT WE SENT, OH, LEMME CORRECT THAT STATEMENT. OKAY. WHAT HAPPENED JUST PROFESSIONALLY, IT'S NOT A BID, IT WAS A QUOTE THAT HE HAD GOT FROM THEM. SO WHEN THEY ALL TURNED IN THE QUOTES ON THEIR OWN PAPER, IT WASN'T ON MY BID TYPE DOCUMENT, IT WAS THEIR QUOTE. SO THE WAY HE SET UP THE QUOTE, HE HAD THOSE SCREWS, BUT IT WAS ON A DIFFERENT SHEET. SO WHEN GEORGE LOOKED AT IT, BECAUSE THE WAY HE ITEMIZED IT, IT WAS KIND OF OFF TO ON ANOTHER PAGE LIKE IT, IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT IT WAS INCLUDED WITH THAT PART. SO IT WAS JUST A MISUNDERSTANDING WHEN IT WAS ANALYZED BY US. SO HE PUT IT ON THERE. IT IS JUST, IT WASN'T STATED CLEARLY. OKAY. SO ONCE WE SENT THE PRICE INTO HIM, WE SENT THE CONTRACT TO HIM, HE SAID THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT PRICE. AND HE SHOWED WHERE HE INCLUDED THAT. SO, AND OF COURSE WE TOLD HIM WE COULDN'T INCREASE THAT 'CAUSE WE DO IT. SO WE WOULD JUST TERMINATE AND REBID IT. OKAY. BECAUSE THAT LED ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION. IF WE TERMINATE THAT BID, WE HAD THE NEXT PERSON. NO, WE WERE BIDING IT. OKAY. SO WHY, WHY WERE WE, WHY ARE WE REBIDDING IT? WELL ONE 'CAUSE THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT UP LAST TIME ABOUT PULLED OUT THE VENDOR. SO I WANTED TO BID IT TO GIVE, PULLED OUT THE VENDORS A CHANCE ON IT. SO THAT'S, THAT WAS THE RATIONALE BEHIND IT. WELL I'M LOOKING AT THE THING. YOU GOT, UH, TWO OTHER, IN FACT THAT'S WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT'S NOT A PORT ARTHUR VENDOR, THE OTHER TWO THAT SUBMITTED BIDS. NO, I UNDERSTAND. BUT LAST TIME WE HAD THIS MEETING WHEN WE SAID, AND YOU KNOW, WE MADE A BIG THING ABOUT IT, SO I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO GIVE OTHER PORT ARTHUR PEOPLE OPPORTUNITY ON THIS. UM, AND PLUS I WANTED TO BID IT AND MAKE IT CLEAR, UM, THE SPECS VERY CLEAR ON WHAT WE WANT. INSTEAD OF SENDING THREE PEOPLE LIKE WE DID LAST TIME AND THEY ALL GAVE THEIR OWN LITTLE QUOTES, I WAS GONNA PUT ACTUAL BID TOGETHER JUST TO MAKE IT CLEANER THIS TIME SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN. OKAY THEN. BUT I MEAN, IF YOU WANNA GIVE IT TO NEXT PERSON, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE AGAINST IT, BUT I JUST THOUGHT THAT'D BE CLEANER TO DO. NO, WELL, LIKE I SAID, CLIFF, DON'T GET ME WRONG, I, WHEN I SEE BIDS AND PROCESS, I'M GOING BY WHAT I READ AND HOW WE DO BUSINESS. OKAY. SO MY QUESTIONS ARE [03:20:01] IN LINE WITH THAT. OKAY. RIGHT. SO I KNOW THAT IF WE REJECT THE BID, WE GO TO THE NEXT BIDDER AND STUFF LIKE THAT. OKAY. SO, UH, WHEN YOU SAY YOU WANNA GIVE MORE PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS A CHANCE, THEN I LOOK AT THE BID SHEET, THE MATRIX THAT I, THAT I RECEIVED AND THE OTHER TWO ARE FROM PORT ARTHUR. SO RIGHT. I'M BEING FLIPPED. SO BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO TELL ME IS THAT THE BID WASN'T EXACTLY CLEAR, RIGHT? WELL IT'S ACTUALLY, THAT'S WHAT I MAKE. IT WAS ACTUALLY QUOTES 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, AND JUST SO WE KNOW WHEN WE, WHEN WE CONTACT SOMEBODY AND THEY TURN IT IN ON THEIR LITTLE PRICE, LIKE I SAY I WANT THIS AND THEY TURN IT ON THEIR LITTLE PAPER, THAT'S THEM SUBMITTING A QUOTE. UM, OFFICIAL BID IS WHEN I HAVE TO ADVERTISE AND DO THE BID PACKAGE AND ALL THAT. SO THIS WAS ACTUALLY A QUOTE, IT WASN'T A BID, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS, THE CONFUSION ON WHAT THEY TURNED IN GOT CONFUSED. OKAY. SO, SO EVERYBODY ELSE HAD QUOTES ALSO? CORRECT. OKAY. OKAY. UH, MAY I APPROACH YOU? THANK YOU. WELL THAT, THAT BRINGS UP A QUESTION FOR ME THEN. UM, IF THIS WAS DONE BY QUOTES, ARE WE NOW GONNA GO OUT AND DO A FORMAL BID PROCESS INSTEAD OF GETTING QUOTES? I AM BECAUSE BECAUSE THE REASON THIS LAST TIME I DID, I DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT 'CAUSE IT WAS LIKE 26,000, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE NUMBER WAS. IT, IT WAS THING, BUT GENERALLY BY LAW YOU HAVE TO BID ANYTHING ONCE IT'S OVER 50. I KNOW THE OTHER TWO ARE LIKE 48, BUT JUST IN CASE THERE'S SOME LITTLE THING THEY BRING UP, IT MIGHT JUMP IT OVER 50. SO I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND BID IT. OKAY. AND SO THE, THE MISCOMMUNICATION ABOUT THE, WHAT WAS IT, HARDWARE THAT THEY NEEDED THAT WAS NEEDED? THE SCREWS. THE SCREWS, YEAH. OKAY. SO YOU'RE GONNA INCLUDE THAT AS A, A NECESSARY IN THE BID SO THAT THERE'S NOT THIS MISCOMMUNICATION. CORRECT. IT'S GONNA BE AN ACTUAL ITEMIZED SPEC. OKAY, GOOD. YEAH. YEAH. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCILMAN KEN LAW. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND DID I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY, YOU SAID IT WAS $74,000 WORTH OF SCREWS. DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY? I MEAN, THAT WAS THE THING THAT WAS LEFT OFF. $74,000 WORTH OF SCREWS? WELL, IN INCLUDING LABORERS. WELL, OKAY MAN, IT AIN'T THAT MUCH SCREWS. OKAY MAN. ALRIGHT MAN. LABOR, I, I WAS LISTENING AND I WAS, YEAH, I GAVE UH, COUNCILMAN ETT AND, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM BECKHAM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SAID THAT THAT KIND LIKE, I MEAN I, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT TYPE OF SCREWS THAT IS. SO THANK YOU LABEL, INCLUDE THE WHOLE PROJECT AND, AND CLIFF, YOU KNOW WHY WE HAVE YOU UP THERE. SO THE, YOU SAYING THE MOST LOGICAL THING TO DO AS A CITY, IF WE HAVE SOME TYPE OF DISPARITY LIKE THAT, JUST GO AHEAD AND REBID THE WHOLE THING AND ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT RIGHT. ALRIGHT. IS THAT WHAT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS THIS ONE IS A MULTITUDE OF REASONS. IF, IF THIS WOULD'VE BEEN 37,000, THE NEXT PERSON WAS 35, I PROBABLY WOULD SAY LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE, LET'S ROLL WITH IT. BUT BECAUSE THE NEXT ONE IS AROUND 48 AND IF THERE IS SOME ISSUE, YOU KNOW, OR EVEN IF THEY HAVE TO DO A CHANGE OR IT BECOMES AN ISSUE. 'CAUSE NOW IT'S GOING OVER 20, I MEAN GOING OVER 50,000, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPENED, OH, WE GOTTA ADD THIS. 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW, IT'S ROT WOODS, SOME WE DIDN'T EVEN SEE SOMEWHERE OR WHATEVER. SO WHEN IT GETS THAT CLOSE. I LIKE TO BID IT. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU CLIFF. THANK YOU MARY. OKAY, THANK YOU ALL. WE READY TO VOTE THEN, RIGHT? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSES? AYE. ORDERED. UH, I FORGOT WHICH ONE IT WAS. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, PR NUMBER 24 1 26 IS APPROVED AS [VIII.A.(8) P.R. No. 24134 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase One (1) 2026 Mack Terrapro 64R Commercial Truck For The Solid Waste – Commercial Division From Bruckner Truck Sales Of San Antonio, Texas, Through The H-GAC Cooperative Purchasing Program For The Amount Of $391,568.00. Funding Is Available Through The Solid Waste Container Service Motor Vehicles Account, Account Number 403-50-315-8523-00-00-000] READ. NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, UH, PR NUMBER 24 1 34. IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE 1 20 26 MAC TERRA. YEAH. TERRAPRO 64 AURA COMMERCIAL TRUCK FOR THE SOLID WASTES COMMERCIAL DIVISION FROM BRUCKNER TRUCK SALES OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS THROUGH THE H-G-A-G-G-A-C COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM FOR THE AMOUNT OF $391,568. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SOLID WASTE CONTAINER, UH, SERVICE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCOUNT. UH, NUMBER 4 0 3 DASH 5 0 3 1 5 DASH 8 5 3 0 0 0 0 0. I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. COUNCILMAN DEUCE. SO MOVED. I GET A SECOND. COUNCILMAN KEN LAW. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. NO, WE WOULD APPROVE PR R 24 1 34 AS UH, PRESENTED. ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY QUESTIONS? YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR. AYE AND OPPOSE THIS AYE. SO PR 24 1 34 IS APPROVED AS READ [VIII.A.(9) P.R. No. 24135 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase One (1) 2026 Mack Granite 64B Trash Truck With Palfinger M13A80 For The Solid Waste – Trash Division From Vanguard Truck Center Of Houston, Texas, Through The TIPS Cooperative Purchasing Program For $333,489.05. Funding Is Available In The Solid Waste Trash Collection Motor Vehicles Account, Account Number 403-50-305-8523-00-00-000] [03:25:01] NOW. ITEM NUMBER NINE PR NUMBER 24 1 35 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE 1 20 26 MAC GRANITE 64 B TRASH TRUCK WITH PAUL FINGER M 13 8 80 FOR THE SOLID WASTE. UH, WE HAVE A SOLID WASTE TRA DIVISION FROM VANGUARD TRUCK CENTER OF HOUSTON, TEXAS THROUGH THE TIPS COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM FOR $333,489 AND 5 CENTS. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE SOLID WASTE TRASH COLLECTION MOTOR VEHICLES ACCOUNT. ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 3 DASH FIVE ZERO DASH 3 0 5 8 5 2 3 DASH 0 0 0 DASH 0 0 0. MAKING A MOTION FOR APPROVAL COUNCILMAN KENMORE. SO MOVE HERE, MAKING A SECOND COUNCILMAN FRANK. SECOND. IT IS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER. UH, THIS, THIS WAS 24, UH, 13 AS I MEAN, I'M SORRY, 2 4 1 35. UH, AS PRESENTED, WE ARE READY TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, ANY OPPOSES AYE HAVE. SO PR NUMBER 24 1 35 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. [VIII.A.(10) P.R. No. 24136 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase One (1) 2025 Mack LR Garbage Truck With Heil 28 YD DP Python For The Solid Waste – Garbage Division From Vanguard Truck Center Of Houston, Texas, Through The TIPS Cooperative Purchasing Program For $399,972.89. Funding Is Available In The Solid Waste Residential Collection Motor Vehicles Account, Account Number 403-50-310-8523-00-00-000] NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 10 P NUMBER 24, 1 36 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE 1 20 25 MACK LR GARBAGE TRUCK WITH HEEL 28 YDDP PYTHON FOR THE SOLID WASTE GARBAGE DIVISION FROM VANGUARD TRUCK CENTER OF HOUSTON, TEXAS THROUGH THE TIPS COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM FOR $399,972 AND 89 CENTS FURTHER THAN IS AVAILABLE IN THE SOLID WASTE RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION MOTOR VEHICLES ACCOUNT. ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 3 DASH FIVE ZERO DASH THREE 10 DASH 85 23 DASH 0 0 0 0 I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MCKEN. I'LL MOVE MAYOR, I GET A SECOND COUNCIL, BUT FRANK THANK MOVED. AND SECOND THAT PR NUMBER 24 1 36 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION UNDER THE QUESTION IS READY FOR VOTING? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSES AYES AVERAGE. SO PR NUMBER 24 1 36 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. [VIII.A.(11) P.R. No. 24138 – A Resolution Authorizing The Contract Extension For The Bridge Repair Project With Woolpert, Inc. Of Houston, Texas, There Is No Funding Impact For The Contract Extension] NEXT ITEM NUMBER 11 PR NUMBER 24 1 38 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR THE BRIDGE REPAIR PROJECT WITH WOOL PER INCORPORATED OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. THERE IS NO FUNDING IMPACT FOR THIS CONTRACT EXTENSION. I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN ETT. SO MOVED. I GET A SECOND MAYOR PRO TE SECOND. IT IS BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. AND WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 2 41 38 AS PRESENTED. WE READY A QUESTION DURING THE QUESTION READY TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR A, ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE. SO P NUMBER 24 1 38 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. [VIII.A.(12) P.R. No. 24140 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 1 To The Procter Street Extension Elevated Storage Tank Rehabilitation Project With M.K. Painting, Inc. Of Wyandotte, Michigan, Increasing The Contract Amount By $135,000.00 To The New Total Contract Amount Of $804,000.00 With Extended Contract Time Of 232 Days; Funding In Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000, Project No. WS0004-CON. Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of The Budget Amendment In Proposed Ordinance No. 7308] NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 12 PR NUMBER 24 1 4 0 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE THROUGH THE PROCTOR STREET EXTENSION ELEVATED STORAGE TANK REHABILITATION PROJECT WITH MK PAINTING INCORPORATED OF WAYNE DOT. WAYNE DO, UH, MICHIGAN, UH, INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY 135,000 TO THE NEW CON TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF 804,000 WITH EXTENDED CONTRACT TIME OF 232 DAYS FUNDING AND ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH 4 0 8 5 16 0 0 0. AND THIS IS PROJECT NUMBER WS 0 0 0 4. AND THIS TO IS CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT AS PROPOSED IN ORDINANCE 73 0 8. MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED. MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KINLOCK. SECOND MAYOR. UH, WE ARE, UH, READY FOR QUESTION, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, BECKHAM? YEAH, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND UH, I I THINK MAYBE THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN ANSWER THESE. UM, WITHOUT GOING INTO ANY INFORMATION THAT WE MAY HAVE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ABOUT [03:30:01] THIS MATTER, DO YOU, DO YOU BELIEVE OR DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION TO, TO MAKE YOU THINK THAT THIS COMPANY CAN ACTUALLY FINISH THIS JOB? I WOULD RELY ON THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER'S OPINION REGARDING THE EVALUATION OF THIS VENDOR. THEY WERE SELECTED AND RECOMMENDED FROM THEM ORIGINALLY. SO I'D NEED TO RELY ON THAT OPINION. OKAY. AND THAT'S SCHOMBERG AND POLK, IS THAT CORRECT OR NO? UH, I BELIEVE IT'S, YEAH. MITCH SCHOMBERG AND POLK? YES, SIR. OKAY. AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS THE 230 DAYS, UH, CONTRACT EXTENSION, IS THAT AN ADDITIONAL 232 DAYS OR IS THAT WHAT THE CONTRACT IS GOING TO BE WITH WHAT THEY'VE REQUESTED? I'LL LET YOUR PROJECT MANAGER ANSWER THAT QUESTION. AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THE PROJECT STARTED A LONG TIME AGO RIGHT. AND DID NOT GET COMPLETED IN THE TIMEFRAME. AND BY THE TIME IT CAME TO OUR OFFICE FOR REVIEW, AND A RESOLUTION HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU FOR COUNSEL'S APPROVAL HAS EXTENDED THE TIMEFRAME. SO LET ME LET THEM EXPLAIN HOW LONG THEY THINK IT'S GONNA TAKE IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THIS PROJECT WITH THE NEW METHOD THEY'VE COME UP WITH. OKAY. I I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. I CAN GET IT AND GET BACK TO YOU, BUT IT, THIS IS THE TIME THAT JOHN BIRD, I MEAN THESE ARE THE NUMBERS THEY PREPARED. I I ASSUMED THAT AT, AT THE CLOSED SESSION THING, IT WAS A DONE DEAL. SO, SO IT'S, IT'S A 232 DAY EXTENSION FROM THE ORIGINAL LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT. IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SIX MONTHS. SO I WOULD THINK IT PROBABLY IS OKAY. I MEAN WE'RE, WE'RE BEYOND THE CONTRACT TIME. RIGHT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. REMEMBER IT SHOULD HAVE STARTED IN FEBRUARY AND IT SHOULD HAVE ENDED IN NOVEMBER. MM-HMM . YEAH. RIGHT. YES. I MEAN IT'S, IT'S A VERY, THIS TANK HAS BEEN OFF FOR A LONG TIME. RIGHT. WE NEED IT BACK IN SERVICE. OKAY. THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. BUT IF YOU READ, IF YOU, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD. MAYOR PROAM, IF YOU ACTUALLY READ EXHIBIT A, THE REVISED CONTRACT TIME PER THIS CHANGE ORDER IS 412 CALENDAR DAYS. SO THAT'D BE 412 CALENDAR DAYS FROM THE ORIGINAL DATE OF THE CONTRACT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY, WE ARE READY TO VOTE NOW. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSES OPER? UH, NUMBER 2 41 40. I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING. YEP. IS [VIII.A.(13) P.R. No. 24143 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With Allco, LLC Of Beaumont, Texas For The Highway 365 Sanitary Sewer Force Main Replacement Project With A Projected Budgetary Impact Of $2,709,931.50. Funding In Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000, Project No. WS0012-CON. Highway 365 Force Main, Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of The Budget Amendment In Proposed Ordinance No. 7308 (Part 1 of 2)] APPROVED. THAT'S READ. NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 13, PR NUMBER 2 2 4 1 43. IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH ALCO LLC OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE HIGHWAY 365 SANITARY SEWER FORCE MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT WITH A PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $2,709,931 AND 50 CENTS. FUNDING IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH FOUR ZERO DASH 0 0 85 16 0 0 0 0. AND THIS IS PROJECT NUMBER WS 0 0 1 2 DASH CON HIGHWAY 365. FOREST MAIN IN THIS TOO. IT IS CONTINUED UPON THE APPROVAL OF, UH, ORDINANCE NUMBER 73 0 8. I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. COUNCILMAN ETT. SO MAKE IT A SECOND. MAYOR PODIUM, SECOND MAYOR. IT'S BEEN MOVED. IT'S BEEN MOVED A SECOND. WE ARE READY FOR QUESTION. GO RIGHT AHEAD. UH, CITY ATTORNEY. THANK YOU MAYOR. THE CITY ATTORNEY REQUEST THAT PR NUMBER 2 4 1 4 3, WHICH IS THIS AGENDA ITEM AS WELL AS P NUMBER 7, 3 1 0 BE WITHHELD UNTIL AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION. OKAY. UH, AND WE ON, AND THAT'S THE ONE WE JUST DID. UH, WHO YOU, YOU WITHDRAW YOUR MOTION. YOU GOOD WITH THAT? SO THERE'S TWO AGENDA ITEMS. IT'S PR NUMBER IT 2, 4 1 4 3. YEAH. AND THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE JUST PUT UP? YES SIR. YEAH. OKAY. SO THE OTHER ONE IS PO BEFORE WHO MADE THE MOTIONS BECAUSE YOU WANT IT HELD UNTIL AFTER WE GO TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, RIGHT? RIGHT. YES SIR. I'D LIKE TO UPHOLD YOU ALL GOOD WITH THAT? YES. OKAY, SO I WITHDRAW. OKAY, GOOD. THAT'S, I'LL WITHDRAW MY PREVIOUS MOTION. THANK YOU. TO BRING IT TO THE FLOOR. OKAY. AND WE ARE GOOD AND WE'LL, WE'LL HANDLE IT. UH, OKAY, YOU, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? OH, NOW WE HAVE ONE MORE AN NOW, UH, NO I DON'T DO, WE DON'T. THERE'S 7 73 10. WE NEED TO DO THAT ONE, RIGHT, BECAUSE I'M SORRY, SARAH. YEAH, YOU WANT THAT ONE TOO? I WANT 70. IT'S PR NUMBER TWO. 4 1 4 3 BECAUSE WE HAVE 73 0 8 AND SEVEN. NO, 73 0 8 IS WITHHELD. I'M SORRY. 73 10 [03:35:01] CAN BE DISCUSSED AT NEXT CAN. YEAH, RIGHT NOW. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. WE, BECAUSE WE CAN, WE DON'T MEET THE WHOLE THAT 1 73 10. THAT'S WHAT, NO, YOU CAN PROCEED WITH 73, 10. YOU WANT TO? YES, SIR. OKAY. OKAY. SO BOTH OF THEM NO, NO. NOW YOU CALLED THE WRONG NUMBER THEN ON ME. OKAY. OR MAYBE I HEARD 'EM INCORRECTLY. WE CAN GO WITH 73 0 8 NOW THEN. NO. SO N 73 10. YES. YOU BLUE. 73 10 RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING. . THAT'S WHAT I SAID FROM THE START. I MEAN THAT'S WHAT I WAS WELL I COULD HAVE SAID ANY ONE OF THEM NUMBERS. COME SIT HERE AND SAY THESE NUMBERS . Y'ALL KNOW WHAT I MEANT. OKAY. [VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7310 – An Ordinance Amending Section 2-31 Of The Code Of Ordinances Governing The Distinction Between Routine And Nonroutine Agenda Items By Amending Subsection (D)(2) And (D)(3) To Change The Demarcation Between Routine Items And Nonroutine Items From $50,000.00 To $100,000.00] SO NOW THE ONE THAT I CAN ACT ON RIGHT NOW. RIGHT? THANK YOU. SOMEBODY WANNA READ IT? READ IT FOR ME. UH, READ IT FOR ME. BOY. PROPOSAL, ORDINANCE NUMBER SEVEN, PROPOSAL ORDINANCE NUMBER 7 7 3 1 0. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION TWO DASH 31 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE GOVERNING THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN ROUTINE AND NON-ROUTINE AGENDA ITEMS BY AMEND SECTION ONE, SUBSECTION D TWO AND D THREE TO CHANGE THE DEMARCATION BETWEEN ROUTINE ITEMS AND NON-ROUTINE ITEMS FROM $50,000 TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT, UH, MR. DUCEY? COUNCILMAN ETT? UH, MAY I GET A MOTION? SO MOVED. MAY I GET A SECOND? SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO 73. ONE ZERO. OKAY, . OKAY. UH, WE READY FOR QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS. READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSES? AYE. A. SO PO NUMBER 73 1 0 OH, IT WAS LOOKING ALL, ALL LOOKING ALIKE IS APPROVED AS, AS PRESENTED [IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION) ] NOW WE WILL, UH, GO INTO THE CLOSED, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION AND, UH, WE WILL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 5 5 1 0.101 OF CHAPTER 5 5 1 OH METERS LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, FORMALLY ARTICLE 65 52 DASH 17, SECTION TWO, SUBSECTION EIGHT, THAT PRIOR GOING INTO THE MEETING, I BEING, UH, THE PRESIDER OF THIS SESSION MUST MAKE THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT THAT IN, IN THE CLOSED SESSION, UH, MEETING, UH, WE WILL BE BA WILL BE PURSUANT TO THE FOLLOWING CHAPTER 5 5 1 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, UH, ARTICLES. AND WE WERE IN THAT SECTION, EXCUSE ME, WE WERE, WE WERE COVER OF SECTION 5 5, 1 POINT, UH, 0 7 1 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND TO MEET WITH OUR ATTORNEYS, SEEK LEGAL ADVICE ON A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY SHOULD THE CITY COUNCIL UNDER THE, UH, I MAKE SURE I STAY A QUORUM. OKAY. UN UNDER THE TEXAS, UH, DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICT CONFLICTS WITH THE, UH, OPEN TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT, UH, RELATING TO WHAT WE WOULD DISCUSS A HOMELAND SECURITY DATA REGARDING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, OFF SYSTEM BRIDGES, UH, PRIORITY LEVELS ONE AND TWO, UH, DISCUSSED B GROUND LEASE BY DILIGENCE. OFFSHORE SERVICES LLC FROM THE CITY FOR CERTAIN TRACT CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 13 POINT 79 ACRES, UH, 600 ACRES AND 1300, UH, 1360 0.5 ACRES. AGAIN, THERE WERE 1300.5 ACRES, UH, LOCATED ON PLEDGE ISLAND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY GENERATION FACILITY, UH, SEA HIGHWAY 365 MAIN FOREST AND LIFT STATION IMPROVEMENTS, UH, UH, COLLECTIVE WORK AND THAT'S WHY WE NEEDED TO HOLD THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH THE PORT, UH, AUTHOR, POLICE, UH, ASSOCIATION, UH, AND E IMPACT FEES. THEN WE WOULD MOVE TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.089 DELIBERATIONS REGARDING SECURITY DEVICES OR SECURITY AUDITS. AND AGAIN, THIS IS HOMELAND, UH, SECURITY DATA REGARDING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. OFF SYSTEM BRIDGES PRIOR PRIORITY LEVELS ONE AND TWO AND SECTION 5 5 1 0.074 DEALING WITH PERSONNEL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND EVALUATIONS OF CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER AND CITY SECRETARY. THIS IS BEEN REQUESTED BY MAYOR BCE AND I WILL NOW MOVE FORWARD TO ADJOIN, NOT AJOUR, EXCUSE ME. RECESS. I SAW ADJOURN AND WANTED TO RECESS AND, UH, [03:40:01] TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND IF THERE WOULD BE A NEED FOR, AND THERE WILL BE, UH, ACTION ON AN ITEM THAT'LL BE DISCUSSED. WE WOULD RETURN TO THE CHAMBERS AND MAKE OR HAVE THE VOTES ON THOSE ITEMS HERE IN OPEN SESSION. SO WE ARE NOW, UH, RECESSED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THANK YOU SO KINDLY. OKAY. UH, WE READY FOR THE SECRETARY? YES, SIR. WANNA REESTABLISH PRESENT? OH, HEY MAN, OUR SECURITY AWAKE BACK THERE. NO, YOU, NO, YOU DOING WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SAY? AMEN. I, WE APPRECIATE YOU. I'M MESSING WITH YOU. MAYOR BARTY. PRESIDENT. MAYOR PROTE BECKHAM. HERE. COUNCILMAN LEWIS. COUNCIL MEMBER AFIELD. COUNCIL MEMBER ETT. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK HERE. YOU HAVE A CORPSMAN. OKAY. UH, CITY, UH, ATTORNEY. I HAVE SOMETHING I WANNA READ HERE. UH, AND I BELIEVE ON PAGE 7, 8, 9. OKAY, [VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7308 – An Appropriation Ordinance Amending The City Of Port Arthur Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2024 And Ending September 30, 2025, Increasing General Fund (001) By $3,265,000.00 And Transferring That Amount Thereby Increasing Water And Sewer Capital Fund (405) By $3,135,000.00 And Water And Sewer Fund (410) By $130,000.00 ] THE CITY ATTORNEY'S GONNA REQUEST ACTION ON PO NUMBER 7 3 0 8. OKAY? OKAY. YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT ON FIRST. EXCUSE ME. THAT'S RIGHT. KEEP ME TOGETHER. 7 3 0 UH, ZERO IS AN APPROPRIATION HONOR. MR. AMEND. THANK YOU. CITY ATTORNEY AMENDING, UH, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING, UH, OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. INCREASE IN GENERAL FUND, UH, 0 0 1 BY $3,265,000 AND TRANSFERRING THAT AMOUNT, THEREBY INCREASING WATER AND SEW CAPITAL FUND FUEL 4 0 5 BY $3,135,000 AND WATER SEWER FUND FOR 10 BY $130,000. NOW GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN DEUCE. SO WHO MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW. SECOND MAYOR. UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED. SECOND THAT WE WOULD, UH, APPROVE PO NUMBER 7 3 0 8. WE READY FOR QUESTION? DURING ANY QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT. SO IT IS APPROVED PO NUMBER 73 0 8 AS PRESENTED. OKAY. [VIII.A.(13) P.R. No. 24143 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With Allco, LLC Of Beaumont, Texas For The Highway 365 Sanitary Sewer Force Main Replacement Project With A Projected Budgetary Impact Of $2,709,931.50. Funding In Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000, Project No. WS0012-CON. Highway 365 Force Main, Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of The Budget Amendment In Proposed Ordinance No. 7308 (Part 2 of 2)] NOW THE CITY ATTORNEY REQUESTS THAT YOU GO TO PAGE EIGHT AND IT'S ON THE CON NON-CONSENT ITEM NUMBER 13. YOU'LL KNOW IT AS PR NUMBER 2 4 1 4 3. OKAY. P PR NUMBER, UH, 2 4 1 4 3 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH ALCO LLC OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE HIGHWAY 365 SANITARY SEWER, UH, FORCE MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT WITH A BUDGETARY UH, IMPACT OF $2,709,931 AND 50 CENTS. FUNDING IS IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH 4 0 8 5 16 0 0 0 0 0. AND THIS IS PROJECT NUMBER WS 0 0 1 2 DASH CONN AND IT'S THE HIGHWAY 365 4 MAIN AND A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN FRANK. SO MOVED. UH, SECOND MAYOR PROTI SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 24 1 4 3 AS APPROVED. WE ARE READY FOR QUESTION. NO QUESTIONS. READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSES? AYE HAVE IT SO IT IS AUDIT PR NUMBER 2 4 1 4 3 IS APPROVED AS READ AND THEY'VE ALREADY TRANSFERRED YOUR MONEY CALVIN, AND THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T NEED TO SAY THAT AGAIN. ALRIGHT. UH, WOULD THAT BE ANYTHING ELSE, CITY ATTORNEY? NO, YOUR HONOR. YOU'RE WORKING US SO HARD TODAY. THAT'S IT, YOUR HONOR. OKAY. THANK YOU SO KINDLY TO EACH OF YOU. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING? OKAY. I HAVE ONE OTHER THING THAT I'D LIKE TO SAY. I FORGOT TO SAY IT DURING, UH, THE, THE, THE EARLIER PART OF THE MEETING AND WE HAVE ONE OF OUR, I THINK I CAN SAY THIS HERE. WE HAVE ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ISN'T HERE NOW. HE HAPPENS TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL IN HOUSTON AND HIS FAMILY WOULD SEEK AND HE IS ASKING FOR PRAYERS FROM US AND FROM THE CITY AND THOSE WHO ARE HERE. AND THAT WOULD BE COUNCILMAN WILLIE BAY LEWIS. SO PLEASE PRAY FOR HIM DURING THIS PERIOD OF ILLNESS FOR FULL RECOVERY AND EVEN RETURN TO THE DEALS HERE [03:45:01] AT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I AM GOING TO DECLARE THIS AUGUST BODY ADJOIN AT 3:26 PM TODAY ON JANUARY 27TH, 2025. AM I CORRECT? I DIDN'T SAY 23 THAT TIME. I KNOW I'M KILLING DEUCE, THAT'S WHY I'M NOT LOOKING AT IT. I KEEP TALKING. I'M BAPTIST. GIVE MY CROSS. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.