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GOOD AFTERNOON.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
AFTERNOON.OOH, LET'S SEE, UH, CITY, UH, SECRETARY, ARE WE READY? YES, SIR.
WE ARE GATHERED HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET, AND WE ARE ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF CITY HALL.
AND WE ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN OUR SPECIAL EXECUTIVE, UH, COUNCIL MEETING, UH, TODAY, MARCH 18TH, 2025, AT, UH, 4:09 PM AND IN THE CITY.
AND AT THIS PARTICULAR MEETING, WE, UH, OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND PARTICIPATE VIA TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCE MEETINGS.
ALL YOU MUST DO IS FIRST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7, OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING ID FOR THIS PARTICULAR MEETING, 8 4 0 4 5 1 5 1 9 8 5, AND THE PASSCODE OF 3 9 0 8 1 6.
AND YOU WILL BE PERMITTED TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND ALLOW TO PARTICIPATE.
WE ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT THIS MEETING.
IF YOU HAVE NEED FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU WOULD ONLY YOU ARE REQUIRED TO CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5, AND THE CITY SECRETARY AND HER, OUR EFFICIENT STAFF WILL DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR REASONABLE REQUEST.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL BEGIN OUR MEETING.
WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU WOULD TURN OFF YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICES IF YOU HAVE THOSE WITH YOU AT THE MEETING, AND, UH, PUT THEM ON VIBRATE ALSO.
UM, WE WOULD BEGIN OUR MEETING WITH THE INVOCATION, AND FOLLOWING THAT, WE WILL HAVE THE PLEDGE AND THE ROLL CALL.
COUNCILMAN, UH, FRANK, WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US THE INVOCATION, SIR, LET US BOW ALL WISE IN ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, THIS AFTERNOON WE COME BEFORE YOU, UH, YOUR PRESENCE THANKING YOU FOR GIVING US YET AGAIN ANOTHER DAY.
AS WE COME INTO COUNCIL CHAMBERS TODAY.
FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOUR SPIRIT MIGHT ABOUND, THAT YOU MIGHT GIVE US WISDOM AND COUNSEL THAT YOU MIGHT GIVE US EVEN THE PEACE THAT, UH, COMES FROM YOUR PRECIOUS HOLY SPIRIT AND THAT FATHER, WE MIGHT MAKE DECISIONS THAT WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITIZENS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ASK IT ALL NOW, IN THE POWERFUL AND PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY, AMEN.
LET US NOW RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN OUR OPENING CITY SECRETARY.
WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS YOU ESTABLISH A QUORUM FOR ME? MAYOR TI PRESENT, MAYOR PRO.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD COUNCIL MEMBER ETT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT.
[II. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)]
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS NOW.PROCESS NOW OF GOING INTO OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF, UH, SECTION 5 5 1 0.101 OF CHAPTER 5 51 OF THE OPEN MEETINGS LAWS OF THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS, UH, AND THE GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH WAS FORMERLY ARTICLE 62 52 DASH 17, SECTION TWO, SUBSECTION EIGHT.
PRIOR TO GOING INTO THE MEETING, I BEING THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THIS AUGUST BODY, I AM REQUIRED TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IN THE CLOSED MEETING, EXCUSE ME, OR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT WILL NOW BE HELD PURSUANT TO THE, UH, FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 5 5, 1 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
IN THAT MEETING, WE WERE ACTUALLY DEAL WITH SECTION 5 5, 1 POINT, UH, 0 7 1 FOR LITIGATION AND OR LEGAL ADVICE, WE WOULD DEAL WITH SECTION 5 5 1 0.072.
WE DEAL WITH FIVE, UH, SECTION 5 5 1 0.073
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NEGOTIATING, UH, CONTRACTS FOR PROSPECTIVE GIFTS TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.WE DEAL WITH SECTION 5 5 1 0.074 FOR PERSONNEL OR WITH PERSONNEL MATTERS, SECTION 5 5 1 0.076 TO DEAL WITH SECURITY, UH, PERSONNEL OR THOSE DEVICES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
AND SECTION 5 5 1 0.087 DELIBERATIONS REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES.
AND IN THE CLOSED MEETING, BE THERE ANY ACTION FROM ITEMS THAT ARE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING, WE RETURN TO OUR OR TO THE, TO THE UH, CHAMBERS AND IN OPEN SESSION WE WILL VOTE ON THOSE ITEMS THAT ACTUALLY REQUIRE SOME FORMS OF ACTION.
BE THERE, UH, NOT ANYMORE PREREQUISITES.
WE WILL NOW RETIRE TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE FOURTH FLOOR TO BEGIN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 4:14 PM TODAY.
YOU WANNA READ OUT THE ITEM AGENDA ITEMS BY WHICH WE'RE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOUR.
KNOW THAT PAGE TWO, SIR, JUST EXCUSE ME.
PLEASE IGNORE THAT STATEMENT TO RECESS AND OR THANK YOU ATTORNEY IN THE CLOSED MEETING.
I, I WOULD NEED TO COVER EACH ONE OF THOSE ITEMS. I WAS TAKING A SHORTCUT SINCE IT WAS ALL ON THE SAME PAGE TODAY AND READING THAT, THINKING THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO SAVE MY VOICE.
HOWEVER, I CAN'T DO THAT ACCORDING TO MY ATTORNEY.
SO IN THE CLOSED MEETING IN SECTION 5 5 1 0.07, ONE OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, UH, HAD TO MEET WITH THE ATTORNEY TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE ON A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY SHOULD THE CITY COUNCIL UNDER TEXAS, UH, DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OR OF THE STATE BOARD OF TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICT WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT RELATING TO THE MATTERS.
UH, THE GROUND LEASE BY DILIGENCE OFFSHORE SERVICES LLC FROM THE CITY OF, UH, FOUR CERTAIN TRACKS, UH, CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 13.8 ACRES, 900 ACRES AND 1,361 ACRES LOCATED ON PLEASURE ISLAND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, AND OPERATION OF WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY GENERATION FACILITIES.
ALSO, WE WILL DISCUSS INTER ENERGY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENT.
WE'LL ALSO DISCUSS, UH, PROJECT, UH, LABRADOR, LABRADOR AND WE WILL, UH, DISCUSS THE STATE OF TEXAS VERSUS CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
CAUSE NUMBER D ONE GN DASH 25 DASH ZERO DASH 1 2 8 5 IN THE 201ST DISTRICT COURT IN TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
WE'LL ALSO, UH, DEAL WITH MATTERS DEALING WITH PLEASURE ISLAND BUILDINGS A AND B, THEN UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0.087 TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS.
THE GROUND LEASE BY DILIGENCE.
BUT FIRST ONE A WOULD BE THE GROUND LEASE BY DILIGENCE OFFSHORE SERVICES LLC FROM THE CITY, CERTAIN TRACKS CONTAINED IN APPROXIMATELY 13.8 ACRES, 900 ACRES, 13, UH, 161 ACRES, ALL LOCATED ON PLEASURE ISLAND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, AND OPERATION OF WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY GENERATION, UH, FACILITIES.
AND AGAIN, ENTER THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENT.
AND AGAIN, IF THOSE ITEMS WOULD'VE ACTION COMING OUT OF THE CLOSED SESSION, THE ACTION ITEMS WILL BE, UH, DISCUSSED ONCE WE RETURN TO THE CHAMBERS.
I'VE ALWAYS HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT WITH THE MAYOR.
JUST, UH, WHAT WE JUST DID WHEN, UH, WE ARE REQUIRED TO READ THIS SECTION AND THEN WE SAY THE CLOSED MEETING OF EXECUTIVE SECTION WILL BE HELD IN PURSUANT TO THE FOLLOWING SECTION OF CHAPTER 5 5 1 TEXAS GOVERNMENTAL CODE.
THEN WE SHOULD GO TO ACTUALLY THE SECTIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS.
THERE'S NO NEED TO ANNOUNCE ALL OF THESE OTHER SECTIONS, SO I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT OUR AGENDA PLEASE AND JUST ELIMINATE THAT FIRST SECTION WHERE ALL OF THE SECTIONS ARE ELIMINATED AND JUST RE READ THE REQUIRED SECTION AND THEN WE IDENTIFY THOSE SECTIONS THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY GONNA DISCUSS IN
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CLOSED SESSION.I WILL DISCUSS WITH THE CITY SECRETARY AND THE CITY MANAGER, SIR.
ALRIGHT, NOW, UH, WE ARE RETURNING FROM OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND UH, CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU REESTABLISH THE QUORUM FOR ME PLEASE? YES, SIR.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT.
AND IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, CITY ATTORNEY IS THERE OR WERE THERE ANY ITEMS WITH ACTIONS THAT WE NEED TO UH, DISCUSS HERE IN OPEN SESSION? THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE CITY ATTORNEY SEEKS ACTION ON PROJECT LABRADOR.
MR. UH, MAYOR SIR? SIR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON PROJECT LABRADOR.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN A LETTER STATING THAT THE CITY AGREES TO ALLOW JEFFERSON COUNTY TO PROCEED TO ESTABLISH AND CREATE A TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE FOR A NEW INDUSTRIAL FACILITY KNOWN AS PROJECT LABRADOR.
AND THAT PROJECT LABRADOR MUST NEGOTIATE WITH THE CITY FOR ANY POSSIBLE CITY TAX ABATEMENT IN SAID ZONE.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE MOTION AS AFTER STATED, UH, BY COUNCILMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER.
FRANK, UH, WE READY FOR A QUESTION THERE? ANY QUESTIONS? UH, READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
OKAY, I WAS GONNA SAY PROJECT
HAVE IT SO IT IS APPROVED THAT THE MOTION PASSES WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE COUNCIL.
WOULD THERE BE ANY OTHER, UH, MATTERS CITY ATTORNEY? NO.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO AT THIS JUNCTURE THEN TO, UH, ADJOIN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT BEGAN AT FOUR 14.
4 0 4 AND, UH, EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON.
AND, UH, IF THERE WILL NOT BE ANY OBJECTIONS, THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED.