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PROGRESS.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
READY.UH, HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, WE ARE GATHERED HERE AT THE COUNCIL IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT THE CITY HALL HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR A REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, BECAUSE OF EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES IN OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IT IS NOW 7:10 PM AND WE WILL BEGIN OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEGUN AT 5:30 PM HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
IN THIS MEETING, YOU MAY ATTEND THE MEETING VIA, UH, TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCE MEDIUMS, HOWEVER YOU WOULD FIRST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7, OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 7 5 3 2 4 5 8 3 0 2, AND THE PASSCODE OF 0 5 0 9 5 9, AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED OR PERMITTED TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND, UH, REACT.
ALSO, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT HERE IN THIS MEETING.
AND IF YOU HAVE A NEED FOR ANY SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE MEETING, YOU WOULD NEED TO CALL, HOWEVER, 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING, THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5, AND MAKE KNOWN YOUR, UH, WISHES FOR ACCOMMODATIONS.
AND THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS WILL BE ACTUALLY, UH, GIVEN TO YOU ACCORDING TO THE ABILITIES OF THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AND HER GREAT STAFF.
NOW, WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF YOU HAVE ELECTRONIC DEVICES SUCH AS I HAVE HERE, YOU WOULD BE, UH, YOU ARE ASKED TO SILENCE THOSE AT THIS TIME, AND WE WILL HAVE OUR INVOCATION, THE PLEDGE, AND A ROLL CALL.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU GIVE US YOUR, GIVE US THE INVOCATION, PLEASE, SIR, THAT IS IN HEAVEN.
LORD, MY REQUEST THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THE CITY'S BUSINESS, TREAT ALL THE CITIZENS FAIRLY, AND, AND GIVE THEM OUR DUE PROCESS.
ALL THESE BLESSING AND GRACES, I ASK, AND THANK YOU.
COUNCILMAN, PLEASE JOIN US IN RECIT, IN THE LEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE, 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 THE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO THE STABLISH OF QUORUM, PLEASE, MAYOR TI PRESENT, MAYOR PRO TIMM BECKHAM.
HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN OUR MEETING, HOWEVER, THERE AREN'T ANY PROCLAMATIONS.
[VIII.A.(13) P.R. No. 24259 – A Resolution Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas To Enter Into A Commercial Lease Agreement Between The City Of Port Arthur, Texas And Pleasure Luxe LLC, Previously Known As Selim Kiralp, LLC For 1.568 Acres Of Land Out Of The City Of Port Arthur Survey Abstract No. 931, Jefferson County Texas, Commonly Referred To As Pleasure Island, Building A; And A 0.2070 Acre Of Land Out Of The City Of Port Arthur Survey Abstract 931, Commonly Referred To As Pleasure Island, Building B For The Preparation, Sale And Service Of Food; Sale And Service Of Alcoholic Beverages; Hosting Of Events; Ancillary Retail Of Soft Goods And Merchandise; The Booking, Hosting And/Or Renting Of Watercraft; And Other Commercially Reasonable And Lawful Business To Celebrate Pleasure Island, Its People And Its Culture]
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE AND PULL UP FROM PAGE OR ITEM NUMBER 13 FROM PAGE 11 ON YOUR PRINTED AGENDA IN, UH, IN THE AGENDA OR ON THE AGENDA ON, UH, PAGE 11.ITEM NUMBER 13 IS PR 24 2 5 9.
IT IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO ENTER INTO A COMMERCIAL LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, AND PLEASURE LUKE, LLC, PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS RA, LLC FOR 1.6.
ACRES OF LAND OUT OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR SURVEY, ABSTRACT NUMBER 9 31 JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS PLEASURE ISLAND BUILDING A AND, UH, A IS POINT, I MEAN 0.21 ACRES OF LAND OUT OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
SURVEY ABSTRACT, UH, NUMBER 9, 3 1, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS PLEASURE ISLAND BUILDING B FOR THE PREPARATION SALE AND THE SERVICE OF FOOD, SALE AND SERVICE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, HOSTING OF EVENTS, ANCILLARY, UH, RETAIL OF SOFT GOODS AND MERCHANDISE, THE BOOKING, HOSTING AND OR RENTING OF WATERCRAFT AND OTHER
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COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE AND LAWFUL BUSINESS TO CELEBRATE PLEASURE ISLAND, ITS PEOPLE AND ITS CULTURE.MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED.
AND SECOND, THEN WE WOULD APPROVE, UH, ITEM, UH, ITEM 13 ON PAGE 11.
OR WE READY FOR QUESTION? GOT QUESTION COUNCILMAN LEWIS? OH, I'M SORRY.
THIS ISN'T A QUESTION, IT'S JUST, UM, AN UPDATE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THIS RESOLUTION IS REGARDING US MOVING FORWARD WITH BUILDINGS A AND B ON PLEASURE ISLAND, WHERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A RESTAURANT AND ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES THAT WE ARE EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD COMING, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL, TO ALLOWING US TO BE ABLE TO, UM, EFFECTIVELY NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO BRING FORWARD AND BRING THESE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY SOONER THAN LATER.
THERE IS MORE TO COME ON THE ISLAND.
AND THANK YOU TO THE DIRECTOR GEORGE DAVIS, FOR HELPING US TO MOVE THIS, UM, PROJECT FORWARD AND TO THE DEVELOPER.
MR. KLA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOU FOR Y'ALL'S DILIGENCE, AND THANK YOU MR. KLA FOR STICKING IT OUT WITH US.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? YES, MA'AM.
I WANT TO ADD TO THAT, THAT THIS IS A DREAM AND A VISION COMING TO FRUITION.
UH, SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE LONG, UH, WANTED.
UM, I RAN, UH, UH, FOR THIS POSITION AS A COUNCILMAN, UH, TO BRING, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE, UM, UM, BUSINESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR CITY.
UH, THIS HAS BEEN, UH, A LONG TIME COMING.
I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER, THE ATTORNEY, AND I WANT TO THANK, UM, OUR COUNCILWOMAN, UH, FOR THAT DISTRICT, UH, FOR GOING, UM, TO DALLAS, TEXAS, UH, AND, UH, CEMENTING, UH, THE DEAL.
UH, PORT ARTHUR IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY AND THERE ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN OUR CITY WHO DESERVE OPPORTUNITIES, UH, TO CELEBRATE, UH, AND TO HAVE ACTIVITIES OF THIS NATURE.
I WANT TO THANK THE DEVELOPER, MR. KERALA, FOR, UH, HANGING IN THERE WITH US, UH, FOR ALLOWING, UM, US TO BE THE CITY, UH, THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN, UH, TO PUT YOUR BUSINESS.
UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO A LONG AND FRUITFUL RELATIONSHIP, AND WE DO LOOK FOR GREATER THINGS TO COME AS WELL.
UH, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THIS COUNCIL AS WELL IN ITS ENTIRETY, UH, FOR HAVING THE VISION, UH, AND THE, UM, INSIGHT, UH, TO TRY TO BRING THIS DEAL, UH, TO PASS, UH, AND THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY, UH, TO GROW AND TO BE BE THE CITY THAT WE ALL WANTED TO BE.
I'D LIKE FOR THE CITY SECRETARY TO PLEASE BRING UP A POWERPOINT.
I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC MUST, MUST BE ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT THE RENDERINGS OF BUILDING A AND BILLING B WILL BE.
AND SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT BOTH THE EXTERIOR RENDERINGS AND THE INTERIOR RENDERINGS FOR THE NEW DEVELOPMENT COMING TO PLEASANT ISLAND.
I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE HAD MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND.
AND HERE ARE INTERIOR RENDERINGS.
THE CONTRACT REQUIRES THAT THE RENDERINGS AND THE ACTUAL PROGRESS ON THE PROPERTY BE REASONABLY IN THE SAME STANDARD.
SO THIS IS REALLY CLOSE TO WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.
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THAT IS THE, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH, EXCUSE ME, BEGIN BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
I LIVE AT 10 25 DAMSEL CAROLINE DRIVE IN LOUISVILLE, TEXAS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE, UH, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, ALL THE CITIZENS, EVERYBODY WORKING IN THE CITY, THE COUNCIL, UH, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
UH, I AM REALLY EXCITED TO DEVELOP THIS ON ISLAND.
UH, WE ALL HAVE BEEN COMMITTED AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A SUCCESS.
ANY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR A AYE, ANY OPPOSES AYE HAVE.
SO ITEM NUMBER PR 24 2 5 9 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
NOW, WE WILL MOVE TO OUR SPEAKERS.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, JUSTICE BELL OR, UH, HALEY FOWLER.
THIS GROUP IS, UM, MAYOR THAT I DID GET OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE YOUNG LADIES FROM LAMAR UNIVERSITY, AND THEY STATED THEY WILL COME BACK ON THE NEXT MEETING.
BUT THEY DID PROVIDE A HANDOUT THAT I'LL MAKE SURE EVERYONE GETS BEFORE WE LEAVE TODAY.
DID YOU GET THAT CITY SECRETARY? THEY, THEY ARE HERE AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE TO LEAVE.
[III.A.(2) Jake H. Johnson Jr. Regarding Peace]
NEXT WE HAVE MR. JAKE JOHNSON REGARDING PEACE.BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME, SIR.
I LIVE AT 1801 13TH STREET, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
AND I'M HERE TODAY TO CHALLENGE SENATE BILL 10, HOUSE BILL 1 11 40, UH, SEX OFFENDERS REGISTRATION.
UM, I, UM, AM HERE TO PRESENT MYSELF AS A LIVING SACRIFICE, TO BE TOTALLY HONEST WITH YOU.
UM, SENATE BILL 10 WAS CREATED IN 2025.
I WAS CONVICTED IN 1991 IN THE AUGUST OF 1991.
THE, UH, THE REASON THAT I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU, UH, MAYOR TIZ AND THE COUNCIL, UM, PASTOR, UH, IS BECAUSE I CAME HERE LAST MONTH, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, UH, COMPLAINED ABOUT BEING OSTRACIZED AND COLONIZED.
WELL, I HAD TO DO MY RESEARCH IN ORDER FOR ME TO SAY THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, I WENT BACK AND I CHECKED AND I SEEN THAT, UH, ON SENATE BILL 10, WHICH WAS INTRODUCED TO THE LEGISLATION MARCH 25TH NINE, UH, MARCH 19TH, 25TH, 25.
UH, THAT WAS A NON-REACTIVE LAW TO THE LAW THAT I WAS, UH, CONVICTED UNDER.
I WAS CONVICTED UNDER THE ONE FOURTH LAW, THE 180 LAW, AND, UH, THE NON-REACTIVE LAW.
UM, I WAS DISCHARGED FROM THIS LAW IN 2009, AND I DISCHARGED MY SENTENCE AND MY REGISTRATION IN 2009, 2016.
WHENEVER THEY PERMITTED THIS LAW OUT TO BE A PART OF THE LEGISLATION, THEY PUT ME A PART OF THIS LEGISLATION AND PUT ME BACK ON REGISTRATION ILLEGALLY.
THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED THAT THIS WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
UM, AND I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS THE REASON THAT I'VE BEEN MONITORED BECAUSE I HAVE A MONITOR IN MY BODY.
I HAVE SOMETHING IN MY BODY, A CHIP, WHICH SHOWS EVERYWHERE THAT I GO, EVERYWHERE I AM, UH, AND EVERY PLACE THAT I AM.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S THE, THE PERSON THAT'S OVER THAT, UH, PART OF THE, UH, SEX OFFENDERS REGISTRATION, UH, UH, UH, MONITORING.
BUT, UH, I FEEL AS THOUGH IT'S A CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT.
I FEEL AS THOUGH THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE SUPREME COURT SAID THAT IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE
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I WASN'T ON, UH, PAROLE OR PROBATION AT THE TIME.WHEN YOU PUT ME BACK ON THIS HERE, I HADN'T REOFFENDED.
AND I JUST WANNA BRING A BIT BEFORE MY LAWMAKERS AND SEEING IF IT'S FAIR TO, FOR ME TO BE, YOU KNOW, OSTRACIZED AND HELD BACK AND WATCHED AND MADE TO BE SOMETHING OF ONE OF THE MOST WORST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD OR IN THE AREA TO BE WATCHED.
WHILE I COULDN'T GROW AND MANIFEST MY LIFE AS A YOUNG BLACK MAN, I HAVE A LOT TO GIVE TO PORT ARTHUR, UH, THE HOMELESS SHELTER, UH, SITUATION.
I BUILT ONE OF THOSE IN DALLAS AND IT'S STILL RUNNING TODAY.
THE, UH, UH, ASSISTED LIVING HERE, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY, I'VE DONE THAT BEFORE.
UH, ALL THESE THINGS THAT I'M PUTTING BEFORE YOU TODAY IS BECAUSE MY, MY LIFE HAS BEEN HELD.
I HAVE BEEN GOING TO MY PASTOR THAT SITS ON YOUR BOARD AND CRYING AND SCREAMING BECAUSE I CAN'T GET ANYWHERE IN LIFE.
I'M A VERY EDUCATED MAN AND I DO LOVE PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
I'M FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE PRODUCTIVE.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE.
WHEN THEY CREATED THIS THING, IT RUINED MY WHOLE LIFE.
I HAD BUSINESSES, I HAD, I HAD THINGS GOING FOR MYSELF.
SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST THOUGHT THAT I'D BRING IT IN FRONT OF MY, UH, UH, LAWMAKERS AND COUNCILMEN AND, AND, AND, AND MY, UH, UH, MAYOR TO SEE WHAT I CAN GET DONE FOR MYSELF.
'CAUSE IF I DON'T SPEAK UP FOR MYSELF, THEN WHO WILL? OKAY.
MR. JOHNSON, THIS WHAT YOU SAID HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN.
YOU WANNA SIT THERE? THE FIRST THING I CAN TELL YOU TO DO, GET RID OF YOUR CELL PHONE.
BECAUSE I THOUGHT EDDIE'S FRACKING YOU.
IF YOU GET RID OF THE CELL PHONE, THEY AIN'T GONNA KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.
WHO YOU TALKING WITH? ANYTHING?
WE HAVE, UH, UH, UNLISTED HERE.
PRESENTATION BY HARRY CRAWFORD, PAULETTE CRAWFORD, AND ATTORNEY CHRIS WILSON.
UH, REGARDING DILIGENCE, OFFSHORE SERVICES, LLC.
AND IT'S BEEN REQUESTED BY MAYOR
I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE PRESENT OR THEY NO LONGER PRESENT.
SO WE WILL PASS, WE CAN PASS OVER THAT, THAT PORTION OF IT.
[III.C.(1) Staff Update On Trash And Garbage Services In The Last Six Months]
NEXT WE HAVE, UH, THE, UH, CITY MANAGER STAFF REPORTS, AND WE HAVE A STAFF UPDATE ON TRASH AND GARBAGE SERVICES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DAY.
I'M HERE JUST TO DO HOPEFULLY A BRIEF PRESENTATION REGARDING TRASH AND GARBAGE COLLECTION HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE WANT TO EXTEND OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE RESIDENTS OF PORT TER FOR THEIR CONTINUED PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING AS WE ADDRESS SERVICE CHALLENGES WITHIN THE SOLID WASTE DIVISION.
AS OUR CITY CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE STEADY GROWTH, WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ALLOCATING ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO ACCOMMODATE INCREASING DEMANDS ON OUR SOLID WASTE SERVICES.
WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIABLE WASTE SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
THIS INCLUDES MAINTAINING RELIABLE SERVICE DELIVERY, ADDRESSING EQUIPMENT AND STAFFING NEEDS, AND ADAPTING OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY'S CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS.
WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO DELIVERING RELIABLE, EFFICIENT, AND RESPONSIVE SERVICES, AND WANT TO ASSURE OUR CITIZENS THAT WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AND LASTING IMPROVEMENTS.
AS A OVERVIEW, THE SOLID WASTE DIVISION IS COMPRISED OF FOUR PRIMARY SUBDIVISIONS, WHICH IS RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE, AND THAT'S YOUR CONTAINER RIDES RESIDENTIAL REFUSE, COMMERCIAL REFUSE, WHICH IS BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE PICKUP, RESIDENTIAL RUBBISH, WHICH IS YOUR TRASH PICKUP, BULKY WASTE, DEBRIS
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AND YARD WASTE, AS WELL AS THE LANDFILL OPERATIONS.AND THIS IS THE OPERATION OF THE MUNICIPAL LANDFILL THAT'S PERMITTED RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE.
COMMERCIAL REFUSE, AND RESIDENTIAL TRASH SERVICES ARE SCHEDULED SERVICES.
THE GARBAGE AND TRASH COLLECTION SCHEDULES ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ON THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT PRESENT TRASH, WHICH IS AGAIN, RESIDENTIAL RUBBISH.
HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO AREAS PLAGUED BY ILLEGAL DUMPING, WHICH CONTINUE TO, UM, WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE RECURRING ABUSE BY VIOLATORS, MANY OF WHOM ARE NON-RESIDENTS OF PORT ARTHUR.
THE VIOLATIONS PLACE AN UNDUE BURDEN ON CITY RESOURCES.
CREWS ARE OCCASION, OCCASIONALLY PULLED OFF THEIR SCHEDULED ROUTES TO ADDRESS THESE EXCESSIVE DUMPING PROBLEMS IMPACTING NORMAL OPERATIONS.
LOCATIONS MOST FREQUENTLY REPORTED AND MONITORED FOR DUMPING VIOLATIONS INCLUDE LEWIS FOSTER DRIVE, CECIL REYNOLDS PARK, PROCTOR STREET EXTENSION, AND THE DENVER EDITION ON THE WEST SIDE FERRY ROAD, AND SOME ISOLATED AREAS WITHIN THE PORT ACRES AND EL VISTA AREA.
THE CITY'S CODE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, PORT ARTHUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND THE SOLID WASTE DIVISION WORK IN TANDEM TO MONITOR THESE SITES, INVESTIGATE VIOLATIONS AND ENFORCE APPLICABLE LAWS.
THIS EFFORT IS NOT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY, AS MOST VIOLATIONS ARE REPORTED.
ONLY AFTER DUMPING HAS OCCURRED, LEAVING FEW LEADS TO IDENTIFY THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES.
EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT DEPENDS ON TIMELY REPORTING AND IDENTIFICATION OF VIOLATORS.
THEREFORE, WE ARE, WE ASK CITIZENS TO REPORT A LEGAL DUMPING IN REAL TIME WHEN POSSIBLE, ALWAYS PRIORITIZING THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY.
THE NEXT SLIDE JUST SHOWS A FEW AREAS IN THE CITY WHERE THESE ARE ISSUES OF ILLEGAL DUMPING THAT WE DO HAVE TO EXPERIENCE.
UH, WE DO EXPERIENCE ON A NORMAL BASIS.
THE COMMERCIAL REFUSE SUBDIVISION HAS RECENTLY FALLEN BEHIND DUE TO EQUIPMENT FAILURES.
BUT AS OF SATURDAY, APRIL 5TH, 2025, THE COMMERCIAL COLLECTION IS BACK ON SCHEDULE.
AS OF YESTERDAY, APRIL 7TH, 2025, THE CITY'S GARBAGE COLLECTION, WHICH IS THE RESIDENTIAL CONTAINER SERVICE, IS ALSO BACK ON SCHEDULE.
RECENT DELAYS ARE DUE TO A COMBINATION OF EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS AND STAFFING CHALLENGES, INCLUDING INJURIES AND FATIGUE.
AS PREVIOUSLY COMMUNICATED TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THROUGH FORMER CORRESPONDENCE ISSUED ON MARCH 27TH, 2025, WHICH WAS 12 DAYS AGO, TWO MEMBERS OF OUR SOLID WASTE TEAM WERE INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY AN EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION THAT LED TO THE OVERTURNING OF A GARBAGE TRUCK.
WHILE THE INJURY SUSTAINED BY OUR STAFF WERE MINOR, BOTH EMPLOYEES WERE OUT OF WORK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WHILE RECOVERING PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, MENTALLY FROM THIS INCIDENT.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS ACCIDENT HIGHLIGHTS THE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WE FACE OPERATING OLDER HIGH MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT.
OUR STAFF REGULARLY CONTENDS WITH THESE MECHANICAL ISSUES, SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING SERVICE DELIVERY AND CONTRIBUTING TO WORKER FATIGUE AND MORE MORALE CHALLENGES, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND WEBSITE IMPROVEMENTS TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY AND KEEP RESIDENTS INFORMED.
IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE TO PROVIDE MORE CONVENIENT ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SOLID WASTE INFORMATION.
CITIZENS CAN NOW VIEW RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE AND TRASH PICKUP SCHEDULES, SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR RESIDENTIAL HOLDERS ACCESS THE CITY'S PLANNED HOLIDAY SCHEDULE FOR FO SOLID WASTE SERVICES.
IN ADDITION, THE CITY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER ACTIVELY REPORTS ANY CHANGES OR DISRUPTIONS TO THE SOLID WASTE SCHEDULE VIA THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND OFFICIAL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. THIS ENSURES TIMELY COMMUNICATION WITH RESIDENTS WHEN ADJUSTMENTS ARE NECESSARY DUE TO WEATHER EQUIPMENT OR STAFFING ISSUES.
ON THIS SLIDE, IT IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE CITY'S WEBPAGE LOOKS LIKE.
THAT HAS BEEN, UM, SET UP FOR THE SOLID WASTE DIVISION.
ON THE NEXT SCREEN, LINDSAY, IF YOU CAN DOUBLE CLICK ON THAT.
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REEL THAT OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER PUT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, THAT SHOWS THE NEW TOWS AND THE NEW GARBAGE TRUCK THAT WE DID RECEIVE IN THE SOLID WASTE DIVISION.THE SOLID WASTE DIVISION IS CURRENTLY USING SIX RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE TRUCKS TO SERVICE SEVEN ROUTES WHEN A MINIMUM MINIMUM OF SEVEN TRUCKS IS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE SCHEDULE.
THE RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE SUBDIVISION FLEET CONSISTS OF 15 GARBAGE TRUCKS.
TWO TRUCKS ARE OUT OF SERVICE DUE TO ACCIDENTS.
SIX TRUCKS ARE CURRENTLY OPERABLE AS OF YESTERDAY, AND SEVEN TRUCKS ARE CURRENTLY UNDERGOING SERVICES AND REPAIRS FOR OUR COMMERCIAL REFUSE TRUCKS.
WE HAVE CURRENTLY HAVE A TOTAL OF SEVEN, WHERE FOUR TRUCKS ARE CURRENTLY OPERABLE AS OF TODAY, AND THREE TRUCKS ARE CURRENTLY UNDERGOING SERVICES AND REPAIRS.
AND WE HAVE 12 RESIDENTIAL RUBBISH, WHICH ARE TRASH TRUCKS THAT CONSIST OF EIGHT LARGE AND SMALL FOUR SMALL TRUCKS.
FIVE CURRENTLY ARE OPERABLE AS OF TODAY AND SEVEN ARE UNDERGOING SERVICES AND REPAIRS.
THIS CREATES A CYCLE WHERE A FAIL TRUCK IS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER THAT MAY BE ONLY MARGINALLY FUNCTIONAL IMPACTING OPERATIONAL RELIABILITY.
TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, THE CITY MANAGERS AUTHORIZED THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO PARTNER WITH HOW OF TEXAS FOR EMERGENCY ONSITE REPAIR SERVICES.
A CONTRACTOR UNDER 25,000 HAS BEEN INITIATED, AND MECHANICS WERE DISPATCHED TO HO MILLS BEGINNING TODAY TO START ON ASSISTING WITH REPAIRS OF THESE TRUCKS.
ADDITIONALLY, A PROPOSAL TO CONTRACT WITH HOW FOR MAINTENANCE ASSISTANCE FOR A LONGER TERM WILL BE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE NEXT SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THIS COLLABORATION AIMS TO RELIEVE PRESSURE ON THE CITY'S GARAGE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL CITY MOTOR OPERATED EQUIPMENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF POLICE AND FIRE VEHICLES AND APPARATUSES.
RECOGNIZING THE URGENT NEED FOR IMPROVED MAINTENANCE CAPACITY, THE MUNICIPAL GARAGE HAS IDENTIFIED 16 QUALIFIED VENDORS TO ASSIST IN REPAIRING VARIOUS CITY EQUIPMENT WITH SOLID WASTE VEHICLES RECEIVING TOP PRIORITY DUE TO COVID-19 AND OTHER ISSUES.
SUPPLY CHAIN DIS UH, DISRUPTIONS CONTINUE TO DELAY THE PROCUREMENT OF MAJOR COMPONENTS LIKE PUMPS, TRANSMISSIONS, AND MOTORS.
WHILE SMALLER PARTS SUCH AS HOSES AND BATTERIES ARE KEPT IN INVENTORY, LARGER COMPONENTS MUST BE ORDERED AS NEEDED DUE TO EQUIPMENT DIVERSITY.
AND THIS IS JUST A LIST OF SOME OF THE VENDORS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY UTILIZING.
THE CITY CONTINUES TO CONTRACT WITH SOLID WASTE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SUPPORT LOCAL OPERATIONS.
HOWEVER, THESE SERVICES ARE NOT ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE DUE TO REGIONAL DEMAND MOBILIZATION CAN TAKE SEVERAL DAYS AS MANY VENDORS ARE ALSO CONTRACTED BY NEIGHBORING CITIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES.
OVER THE PAST 20 TO 30 YEARS, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR HAS EXPERIENCED MEASURABLE GROWTH IN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
NEWER NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS DOMINION RANCH, DOMINION COURT, LAKE ARTHUR, FAIRWAY ESTATES, AND INDIAN LAKE ESTATES REPRESENT JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE CITY'S EXPANDING RESIDENTIAL FOOTPRINT.
AS THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE DEVELOPED, THE CITY HAS ALSO EXPANDED ITS SOLID WASTE OR SERVICE AREAS TO ACCOMMODATE NEW HOUSEHOLDS.
HOWEVER, THIS INCREASED DEMAND HAS NOT KEPT PACE WITH RESOURCE ALLOCATION, INCLUDING INVESTMENT IN NEW EQUIPMENT AND HIRING ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.
AS A RESULT, EXISTING EQUIPMENT AND EMPLOYEES ARE SUBJECT TO GREATER OPERATIONAL STRAIN, LEADING TO MORE FREQUENT EQUIPMENT BREAKDOWNS AND HIGHER LEVELS OF WORKFORCE FATIGUE.
THE SOLID WASTE DIVISION RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE GROWTH.
THIS INCLUDES REVISITING SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS, INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND INSURANCE STAFF AND EQUIPMENT LEVELS, ALIGNED WITH THE CITY'S CURRENT AND PROJECTED NEEDS.
THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 DASH 4 47 ON NOVEMBER 6TH, 2024, AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH NEW GEN STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS LLC OF AUSTIN, TEXAS TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE SOLID WASTE MASTER PLAN.
THE CONTRACT WAS EXECUTED ON DECEMBER 18TH, 2024 WITH A COMPLETION DATE SET
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FOR DECEMBER 18TH OF THIS YEAR.CONSULTANTS ARE EXPECTED TO DELIVER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROXIMATELY NINE MONTHS POST EXECUTION, AND THIS WILL BE BY SEPTEMBER.
CITY STAFF HAS BEEN ENGAGED WITH NEWGEN CONSULTANTS AND COLLECTING AND SUBMITTING KEY OPERATIONAL DATA TO HELP FORMULATE ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS.
FIELD WORK WILL BEGIN ON APRIL 28TH WHEN NEW GEN STRATEGIES WILL SEND A TEAM OUT TO RIDE ALONG WITH OUR STAFF, UM, TO REVIEW ROUTE EFFICIENCY, TRAVEL DISTANCES, AND SERVICE TIMELINES.
THEIR FINDINGS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL, AND RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE MADE TO HELP GUIDE THE CITY'S LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS IN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.
THE CITY HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT AS PART OF THE CITY'S LONG-TERM STRATEGY TO IMPROVE SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS.
THERE HAS BEEN FIVE NEW PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT HAS BEEN ORDERED DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH INCLUDES TWO RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE TRUCKS, TWO TRASH TRUCKS, AND ONE COMMERCIAL REFUSE TRUCK.
THESE PURCHASES WERE AUTHORIZED BY CITY COUNCIL THROUGH RESOLUTIONS 25 DASH OH 4 7 25 0 8 4, AND 25 0 8 5, AND FUNDED THROUGH THE CITY'S CAPITAL AND ARFA ACCOUNTS, WHICH WAS OBLIGATED IN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING APPROVED BY COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 17TH, 2024 BY RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 DASH 516 TO DATE, ONE RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE TRUCK AND ONE'S TRASH TRUCK HAS BEEN DELIVERED AND PLACED INTO SERVICE.
ANOTHER RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE TRUCK AND ONE COMMERCIAL TRUCK ARE SCHEDULED FOR DELIVERY THIS MONTH, WHICH IS APRIL 25TH.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS TURNAROUND TIME IS, IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL AS TYPICAL DELIVERY WINDOWS RANGE FROM 12 TO 18 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF ORDER TO PRODUCTION TO SHIPMENT.
IN THIS CASE, THE CITY WAS FORTUNATE THE EQUIPMENT WAS ALREADY AVAILABLE AND THE VENDOR WAS WILLING TO NEGOTIATE A TIMELY SALE DUE TO THEIR LONGSTANDING PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY SOLID WASTE SUPERINTENDENT.
THE SOLID WASTE DIVISION CONTINUES TO PHASE HIGH EMPLOYEE TURNOVER DRIVEN BY A COMBINATION OF EMPLOYEE FATIGUE DEMANDING WORK SCHEDULES.
THEY NORMALLY WORK SIX DAYS A WEEK, 12 HOURS A DAY, ONGOING EQUIPMENT CHALLENGES, SAFETY CONCERNS, AND HEIGHTENED PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS.
AND LIMITED SUPPORT STAFF ARE CURRENTLY WORKING SIX DAYS, 12 HOURS PER DAY SCHEDULES, WHICH IS SUNRISE TO SUNSET TO COMPLETE ALL RESIDENTIAL ROUTES.
THIS ALIGNS WITH THE MUNICIPAL LANDFILLS OPERATIONAL WINDOW, WHICH IS PERMITTED FOR SIX DAY OPERATIONS TO ENHANCE FLEXIBILITY AND ALLOW BETTER ROUTE DISTRIBUTION.
THE CITY HAS SUBMITTED A PERMIT MODIFICATION APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS COMMISSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TCEQ TO EXTEND LANDFILL OPERATIONS TO SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK.
AND WE STILL ARE AWAITING THEIR DECISION.
IN CONCLUSION, WHILE SERVICE DISRUPTIONS HAVE CREATED INCONVENIENCE, THE CITY REMAINS COMMITTED TO DELIVERING EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE, TRANSPARENCY, PROGRESS AND LASTING REFORM.
THROUGH STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND THE STRATEGIC GUIDANCE OF OUR CONSULTANTS, WE ARE BUILDING A STRONGER SOLID WASTE DIVISION TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF PORT ARTHUR.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO INFORM CITY COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC OF OUR PROGRESS AND PROPO AND PROPOSE ITEMS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO EXPEDITE IMPROVEMENTS.
WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND WE'LL PROVIDE FURTHER UPDATES AS PROGRESS CONTINUES.
THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR AND BECKHAM.
THANK YOU, PAM, FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
IT WAS, IT WAS VERY GOOD AND IT REALLY ANSWERS A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT MY CONSTITUENTS AND DISTRICT THREE HAVE HAD ABOUT THE NEW EQUIPMENT THAT WE'VE PURCHASED AND WHEN IS IT GONNA BE PUT INTO, INTO SERVICE.
I, I DO WANNA BE REALLY CLEAR, THOUGH, TO OUR RESIDENTS AS TO REPORTING.
SO, WHEN A NEW DUMP SITE IS LOCATED, WHICH THERE WAS ONE JUST RECENTLY THAT HAPPENED IN THE LAKE ARTHUR SUBDIVISION THAT I REPORTED.
I, I WANNA BE SURE THAT WE ARE NOTIFYING THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
SO TELL ME WHAT, WHAT, UH, WHAT YOU PREFER AND WHAT, WHAT THE, WHAT THE PROTOCOL NEEDS TO BE FOR.
WHO DO WE NEED TO NOTIFY, UH, TO BE SURE THAT SOMETHING IS, YOU KNOW, IF WE NOTICE A NEW DUMP SITE, WHO DO WE NEED TO NOTIFY TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE? I WOULD URGE CITIZENS TO DEFINITELY REACH OUT TO OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT
[00:35:01]
DIVISION.UM, THEY DO IMMEDIATELY GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE AND ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AS THEY ARE BEING REPORTED.
UM, A LOT OF TIMES THEY WILL EVEN CIPHER THROUGH THE DEBRIS TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND INFORMATION ON POSSIBLY WHO MAY HAVE DUMPED THOSE ITEMS. SOMETIMES THEY'RE FORTUNATE TO FIND LIKE OLD MAIL OR EVEN BOXES OF PACKAGES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO AN ADDRESS.
UM, MR. JAMES BROWN, ALONG WITH, UM, MR. GLENN WHITE, UM, HAVE, UM, WORKED TOGETHER IN GOING TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THESE ISSUES WHEN THEY HAVE THOSE FINDINGS.
BUT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START.
SO IF, IF I GET A NOTIFICATION FROM A CITIZEN THAT THEY'VE, THEY'VE NOTICED A NEW DUMP SITE, IF I WANNA SEND AN EMAIL, I NEED TO DIRECT IT FIRST TO CODE ENFORCEMENT.
FIRST OF ALL, START OUT WITH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, PAM.
NOW LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS WITH THE PRESENTATION.
FIRST, I HEAR YOU SAY, UH, KEEP, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE COUNSELING INFORMED.
YOU WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE COUNSELING INFORMED AND IT'D BE TRANSPARENT.
I WONDER IF I HADN'T PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA TODAY, WOULD WE HAVE THIS UPDATE? SO WE YOU'RE GONNA DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT? OKAY.
AND AS I GO THROUGH YOUR PRESENTATION, OKAY.
UH, WE TALK ABOUT TRASH COLLECTION AND STATUS, OKAY? MM-HMM
IT SAYS CURRENTLY ON SCHEDULE.
WHAT SCHEDULE, A SCHEDULE MEANS, IF I LOOK AT THIS SCHEDULE AND I LIVE ON THIS AREA, IT WILL TELL ME MY TRASH WILL BE PICK UP ON THIS DAY.
THAT HASN'T HAPPENED FOR MONTHS.
BUT I HEAR A BRIEFING SAYING WE DON'T SKATE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
I TALKED ABOUT THESE SAME ISSUES THE LAST TIME I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.
I SPECIFICALLY ASK, I KNOW WE HAVE THESE ISSUES, BUT WHAT IS OUR PLAN B? OKAY.
PLAN B WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING A STAND BY CONTRACT WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT.
SO THAT WHEN WE NEED ASSISTANCE IN ANY ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES, WE COULD GET THEM WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE BID AND ALL THAT PROCESS.
WELL, WE HAVE CONSTANTLY BEEN BEHIND.
THE PROBLEM WITH BEING BEHIND IS THAT GARBAGE P GARBAGE COLLECTION.
GARBAGE COLLECTION IS NORMALLY MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
AM I CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO IF WE GO THROUGH MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, AND WHAT I'VE BEEN SEEING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS THAT MY PHONE IS BURNING UP BEHIND IS THIS MESSAGE COMING OVER THE WEBSITE SAYING PEOPLE WITH GARBAGE PICK UP ON WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAY.
WE'LL, RUNNING BEHIND ON WEDNESDAY.
SO IT'LL BE ON THURSDAY, AND THURSDAY WILL BE LATER ON THAT EVENING.
WE CAN'T KEEP TELLING PEOPLE IT'S DELAYED.
THE LAST TIME I DISCUSSED THIS ON COUNCIL AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, JUST TELL US WHAT YOU NEED.
I SAID, TELL US IF YOU NEED TRUCKS, SAY TELL US IF YOU NEED MECHANICS.
TELL US IF YOU NEED PERSONNEL.
NO ONE CAME TO THIS COUNCIL AND ASKED FOR MORE PERSONNEL.
NOBODY CAME TO THIS COUNCIL AND ASKED FOR MORE VEHICLES AND NOBODY CAME TO THIS COUNCIL AND SAYS, MORE MECHANICS, HOW MANY MECHANICS WE HAVE DOWN HERE AT THIS TIME.
I WOULD HAVE TO GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU.
I WOULD HAVE TO CONFIRM WITH IVAN MITCHELL, WHO WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THAT DIVISION.
[00:40:05]
OKAY.THE MECHANICS, DOES IT FALL UNDER PUBLIC WORKS OR THEY FALL UNDER THE TRANSPORTATION? THEY FALL UNDER, IT IS TRANSIT AND FLEET.
SO OUR GARAGE AND HANDLE THE, OUR VEHICLES.
SO, UH, BEFORE THIS MEETING IS OVER, CITY MANAGER, WOULD YOU PLEASE INFORM THIS COUNCIL ON HOW MANY MECHANICS IS AT WRITE DOWN WORKING AT THAT OPERATIONS CENTER? I KNOW WE HAD THREE THE LAST TIME I VISITED AND THEY WERE JUST GOING OFF COMPLAINING.
SO I KNEW IT WAS THE ISSUE THEN.
SO I WANT TO KNOW, I WANNA KNOW BEFORE THE MEETING, I WANT THIS COUNCIL KNOW, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING I WANNA BRING OUT TODAY BECAUSE I, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE KEEPING, WE'RE NOT GONNA KEEP DOING THIS AND I'M NOT GONNA LET NOBODY STAND UP THERE AND GIVE ME ALL OF THIS ROSES AND WHAT WE GONNA DO, AND WE DON'T DO IT.
IT'S, IT AIN'T HAPPENING NO MORE.
I'M, I'M SPEAKING NOT JUST AS A COUNCILMAN TONIGHT, I'M SPEAKING AS A CITIZEN BECAUSE MY PICKUP IS ON A THURSDAY AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S COMING AND NOBODY TELL ME WHY IS THAT WAY, AND I'M A COUNCILMAN.
I SAID THIS BEFORE, I SAID, IF WE CAN'T PICK IT UP THE WAY WE SCHEDULE IT AND TELL CITIZENS TO PICK IT UP, I SAID, WHY ARE WE CHARGING THEM? THIS HAS GOT TO STOP.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ALONG TOO LONG, TOO LONG.
I DIDN'T HEAR NONE OF THIS IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT I HEARD ALL THIS.
I'M GOING THROUGH THIS AND THIS AIN'T WHAT IT IS.
DISRUPTION OF SCHEDULE ROUTES.
I KNOW THAT'S GOT TO BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY BARELY COULD DO THE ROUTES IF THEY NOT DISRUPTED.
BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO UNDERSTAND, WE CAN'T STOP THE ROUTES.
THAT'S WHY WE CAN'T FINISH THEM.
SO WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, FINISHING THAT ROUTE, PICKING UP THE TRASH FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO PAY FOR THE SERVICE.
WE TOLD THEM IT'S ABOUT PRIORITIES.
THE TARGETED AREAS THAT FOR TRASH, THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING.
I'M QUITE SURE A LOT OF CITY HAVE THERE WHERE PEOPLE GO AND DUMP, BUT, UH, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA COMBAT THAT.
WHENEVER WE KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM, THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE A SOLUTION, NOT JUST LET THE PROBLEM WRONG.
WHAT I REALLY WAS SHOCKED AT, I GOT A CALL FROM A HOTEL, THEY WAS COMPLAINING.
THEY SAID THE, THE COMMERCIAL GARBAGE
AND I'M LIKE, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? AND I'M HEARING THIS PERSON SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP OUR PLACE CLEAN, WE PEOPLE COMING, WE GOTTA GET THIS TRASH OUT COMMERCIAL.
AND THEY TELL ME, I'VE BEEN CALLING FOR TWO DAYS.
GARBAGE AND TRASH CAN CAUSE US TO HAVE ISSUES WITH TCEQ.
THOSE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE TCEQ HAMMERING US CITIZENS HAMMERING US BECAUSE THEY PAYING US TO PICK IT UP WHEN WE SAY WE WILL PICK IT UP, BUT WE NOT PICKING IT UP.
SO COMMERCIAL BEHIND GARBAGE, BEHIND TRASH IS BEHIND.
[00:45:01]
ABOUT, I'VE BEEN CHECKING THEM OUT.SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO OUR, UH, EQUIPMENT STATUS 'CAUSE THAT'S PART OF OUR PROBLEM.
WE HAVE 15 RESIDENTIAL TRUCKS.
UH, WHAT SIDE OF SERVICE ACCIDENTS.
THAT IS LESS THAN, THAT'S ALMOST, THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 40% OF THE VEHICLES OPERATIONAL.
AND WE GOT PICK UP THE TRASH 40%.
ONGOING SERVICE REPAIR, THAT'S ALMOST 50%.
AND ONCE AGAIN, WHEN I GET THIS ANSWER ABOUT HOW MANY MECHANICS DOWN THERE, THEN WE'LL KNOW WHY THIS NUMBER IS SEVEN.
OKAY? YOU CAN'T PICK NOTHING UP WITHOUT THE TRASH.
COMMERCIAL SEVEN, ONLY FOUR, OPERATIONAL THREE FOR REPAIRS.
YOU GOT EIGHT, EIGHT LARGE, FOUR SMALL ONLY FIVE IS CURRENTLY OPERATIONAL OUT OF 12 FIVE.
AND ON ONGOING SERVICES REPAIRS.
OKAY? ONCE AGAIN, TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
WE HAVE TOO MANY VEHICLES THAT NEEDS REPAIR.
THAT'S NOT OPERATIONAL TO BE ACCEPTABLE FOR US TO HAVE THESE MANY.
THAT MEAN WE ARE NOT, WE WASN'T ON TOP OF IT TO START OFF WITH.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE NECESSARY PEOPLE DOWN THERE TO WORK ON THESE VEHICLES.
AND WHEN YOU GET TO NUMBERS LIKE THIS, THOSE MECHANICS SHOULD BE WORKING OVERTIME.
WHEN, WHEN THIS COUNCIL ASKED, TELL US WHAT YOU NEED.
IF WE NEEDED FIVE MECHANICS TO KEEP THOSE VEHICLES RUNNING, IT'S UP TO US TO PROVIDE THE FIRE MECHANICS.
AND IF WE DON'T, THEN THIS COUNCIL SHOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT PROVIDING THIS SERVICE.
THAT'S THE WAY WE SHOULD DO IT.
BUT I'M NOT, I'M NOT TAKING NO HEAT NO MORE BECAUSE I'M WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE THESE THINGS ARE PICKED UP IN A TIMELY MANNER.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA COME TO ME, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET IT.
WHAT YOU MENTIONED WAS VERY INFORMATIVE TO THE CITIZENS AND I AND COUNCIL AND I REALLY BEEN HARPING ON IT FOR A LONG TIME.
IT'S OUR INCREASE IN OUR AREA OF SERVICE, YOU KNOW, AND YOU MENTIONED DOMINION RANCH, YOU KNOW, BUT WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW, YOU KNOW, LIKE COUNCILMAN LEWIS, HE ALWAYS GO WAY BACK IN THERE, YOU KNOW, SO HE COULD COME UP WITH THESE THINGS, BUT HE ALWAYS MENTIONED IT.
GRIFFIN PARK, LAKEVIEW, PORT ACRES WAS NEVER PART OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
SO WHEN WE INCORPORATE THESE CITIES, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCORPORATING ENOUGH EQUIPMENT THAT WE COULD PROVIDE THE SERVICE.
AND THEN AS WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE DOMINION, DOMINION RANGES AND OUT OF BACK THE ROAD, ALL THESE OTHER PLACES, WE, WE ARE NOT NO LONGER, UH, UH, IN CORPORATE.
WE JUST DEVELOPING, WE HAVING MORE, BUT WE ARE NOT INCREASING RESOURCES.
WELL, HOW CAN YOU CONTINUE TO DO IT IF YOU DON'T INCREASE RESOURCES? AGREED.
BUT THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT US BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT COMING TO US FOR RESOURCES.
WELL, A LOT OF THOSE AREAS WERE INCORPORATED BACK IN, UH, WE LOOKED AT A 1930S MAP WHERE
UM, I BELIEVE WE TOOK IN SABINE PASS IN THE SIXTIES, GRIFFIN PARK IN THE SIXTIES.
SO I WOULD SAY HISTORICALLY THE CITY HAS NOT ALLOCATED RESOURCES AS WE HAVE EXPANDED.
WELL, WELL, NO, YOU GAVE ME A PRESENTATION.
I'M EXPLAINING TO YOU THAT IF WE KNOW THAT IT'S UP TO US THAT ABSOLUTE TO DO THAT.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION AND THIS PRESENTATION THAT'S COME, I'M, I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT PRESENTATION, BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE
[00:50:01]
BEFORE ME WANTING TO TALK ABOUT IT.OKAY? YOU WON'T TALK ABOUT THIS 'CAUSE I GOT IT ON THERE.
I'M GONNA SAVE THAT OTHER THING.
I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT IT NOW TOO.
OKAY? BECAUSE EVERYTHING I'M HEARING SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED YEARS AGO.
WE SHOULD NOT BE WHERE WE ARE.
AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS NOT UNACCEPTABLE.
WE EITHER GONNA PICK THIS UP OR WE GONNA STOP CHARGING.
'CAUSE IF WE DON'T, WE GONNA BE IN THE BIND.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE REVENUE.
OKAY? SO IT'S NOT ABOUT GIVING ME ALL THESE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IS WHAT OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT WE GOING TO HAVE AND THE SOLUTION.
OUR MEANING IS THAT TRAGEDY TO BE PICKED UP EVERY OTHER WEEK.
WE SAID YOU TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR RESOURCES.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE NO RESOURCES, YOU NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE YOU GOTTA GO.
WHAT WE GOTTA GET, GET 'EM IN.
NOW THESE TRUCKS WE ORDER, I DON'T CARE ABOUT THOSE.
'CAUSE UNTIL THEY HERE, I CAN'T USE THEM.
I NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT I'M GONNA DO.
WE ALREADY AUTHORIZED 250,000.
IF WE AIN'T USING IT ALL WE NEED TO START USING.
AND IF WE NEED MORE, WE NEED TO COME TO ASK MORE.
BUT ONE THING WE NEED TO DO AFTER TODAY, START MONDAY, WE NEED TO START PICKING THIS UP.
THE WAY WE GOT THESE SCHEDULED, WHEN, WHEN YOU SAY IT, THEY COULD GO TO THE WEBSITE AND FIND OUT STARTING MONDAY.
THEY SHOULD, WE SHOULD BE DOING IT.
IF WE'RE NOT DOING IT, THEN IT'S COMING BACK ON, ON THE AGENDA.
OKAY? BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME I'M GONNA BE ASKING WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO, TO FIX THIS IN THE MEANTIME, WHILE WE WASTING WAITING FOR NEW TRUCKS.
WHAT ARE WE DOING WHILE WE WAIT? WAITING IS NO LONGER AN ISSUE.
AND THE LAST THING THAT WE HAVE THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT I FOUND REALLY CONCERNING TO ME IS STAFFING.
OKAY? HIGH, HIGH EMPLOYEE TURNOVER.
OKAY? WHAT WE NEED TO DO THERE NEED TO FIND OUT WHY THAT IS.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ALL HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO PROPERLY ADDRESS IT.
BECAUSE THE ONES WE GOT OUT THERE NOW, THEY GONNA BE LIVING TOMORROW IF WE DON'T FIX IT.
WE RUNNING THEM, WE RUNNING, WE ALREADY BEHIND.
WE TRYING TO DO, WE WORKING THEM SIX, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
BUT THE, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE'RE SETTING OURSELF UP FOR ACCIDENTS OR, OR, OR, OR FAILURE AND PEOPLE WANTING TO QUIT.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO PROBABLY LOOK AT CONTRACTING SOMEBODY BRING IN SOME EXTRA TRUCKS TO DO THIS.
I ALWAYS SAY UP HERE, I DON'T TELL Y'ALL HOW TO DO IT, BUT I KNOW IT COULD BE DONE.
AND IF, AND THAT'S WHY I'M VERY PERSISTENT ON FIXING THIS.
I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU HOW TO FIX IT BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY WAYS WE CAN FIX IT AND THEY PAY YOU OFF FOR THAT.
AND I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU HOW TO DO YOUR JOB, BUT WE GONNA DO IT.
LIKE YOU SAY WE OWE TO THE CITIZEN, UH, THE HEEN UH, PUBLIC EXPECTATION AND WELL, I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.
OKAY? BUT I'M GONNA SAY THIS IN CLOSING.
I'M GONNA SAY IT FOR THE LAST TIME.
WHATEVER YOU ALL NEED, YOU ALL NEED TO HAVE A PLAN AND Y'ALL NEED TO PRESENT IT TO THIS COUNCIL AND YOU OUGHT TO PUT THE BALL IN THE COUNCIL'S HANDS.
SO WHEN WE START TAKING THESE CALLS, WE KNOW IT'S OUR FAULT 'CAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT.
OKAY? OR WE BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO THE CITIZEN WHY WE CAN'T DO IT.
OKAY? UH, SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT GOING, GOING FORWARD.
OKAY? YOU ALL NEED TO HAVE IT.
AND I DON'T NEED TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR YOU ALL TO COME AND GIVE US UPDATES ON STATUS AND EQUIPMENT.
WE'D RATHER HEAR BAD NEWS WHEN IT HAPPENS.
SO WE COULD FIX IT THAN WAIT TILL IT GET AS FAR AS
[00:55:01]
IT IS NOW, AND THEN YOU COME IN AND ASK US TO FIX IT.WHAT I EXPECT AFTER THIS MEETING IS YOU ALL GET TOGETHER, YOU FIND OUT WHAT YOU ALL NEED TO DO, YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU NEED TO COUNSEL TO DO, AND I THINK YOU ALL NEED TO COME BACK TO US AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
BUT A LOT OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL GET 'EM.
YOU ALREADY GOT PEOPLE SET UP TO START FIXING THESE VEHICLES.
GET 'EM OVER THERE, GET 'EM FIXED, GET 'EM ON ROUTE.
PERSONNEL IS A BIG THING WITH ME.
YOU CAN'T HAVE 14 TRUCKS AND ONLY 28 PEOPLE.
'CAUSE YOU PUT TWO ON A TRUCK.
IF I GOT 14 TRUCKS, I GOT 28 PEOPLE.
WHAT DOES, SOMEBODY GETS SICK.
YOU FIRE SOMEBODY, YOU TRUCK, YOU GOTTA HAVE A PLAN B.
IF I WHAT HAPPENED THE DAY? I DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CAN I PUT IN THAT TRUCK FOR THAT TRUCK TO ROLL? IF THAT TRUCK BREAK DOWN HOW THEN I'M GONNA REPLACE THAT TRUCK.
'CAUSE I'M GONNA HAVE SOMETHING ROLLING THAT DAY.
WHERE YOU ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING THAT DON'T HAVE AN EXCUSE.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THIS WILL TAKE CARE OF MY DISCUSSION, PORTION OF THIS AGENDA.
UNLESS ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WANTED TO COMMENT ON THAT ITEM WHEN IT GET, WHEN WE GET TO IT.
UH, BUT I WON'T MAYOR, OKAY? UH, THAT'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT.
BUT RIGHT NOW, IF SOMEBODY WANT TALK ABOUT THE DISCUSSION THAT I HAD OR ELSE THIS, WE COULD JUST KILL IT ALL WAY.
UM, PAM, THANK, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, I'M GLAD TO BE BACK IN THE FIGHT.
UH, I'VE BEEN OUT FOR A WHILE, SO, UM, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I REALLY, REALLY, UH, GET A LOT OF PHONE CALLS ABOUT.
AND I SHARED THIS WITH, UH, DR.
UH, BUT WE ARE, WE GET OURSELF IN THIS SITUATION LIKE TWO OR THREE TIMES A YEAR.
THIS PRESENTATION WAS AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION, PAM.
UH, ACTUALLY, I THINK THE LAST PERSON THAT I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA WAS IVAN TO COME AND SPEAK FOR COUNCIL AND GIVE HIS UPDATES OF WHAT HE RECOMMENDED THAT COUNCIL, UH, COULD DO TO HELP OUT WITH THE SITUATION.
AND LAST YEAR AFTER GETTING A MULTITUDE OF CALLS, UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE MYSELF, WHO WENT OUT THERE AND KIND OF, YOU KNOW, SEEN WHAT WAS GOING ON TO OUR SURPRISE, WE GOT A LOT GOING ON.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GETTING TO YOUR LEVEL MM-HMM
BUT THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND ARE SAYING SOME DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND WHAT YOU SAID TODAY, AND IT'S KIND OF DISHEARTENED BECAUSE THE COUNCILMAN STATED THAT, UH, PEOPLE PAY FOR A SERVICE THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING.
AND IT'S JUST NOT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS OR TO CITIZENS, IT'S TO EVERYONE IN THE CITY THAT WE SEE THOSE ALERTS THAT GOES OUT AND SAYS, WELL, WE ARE A DAY BEHIND, WE ARE TWO DAYS BEHIND WHATEVER TO HAVE 15 TRUCKS.
AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS, YOU KNOW, AT ALL TIMES, WE SHOULD HAVE TWO TRUCKS IN RESERVE BECAUSE OF SOME THINGS THAT MAY HAPPEN THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANTICIPATE.
UH, BUT I'M GONNA GIVE YOU SOME POINTERS THAT I GAVE OUT LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE.
WE, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT PARTS ON HAND.
YOU SAID IT IN YOUR PRESENTATION.
SO WE KNOW THAT IT'S IMPORTANT AND WE KNOW THAT, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SITUATIONS WITH THEM.
WHY DON'T WE ORDER MORE PARTS? BECAUSE IT TAKES SO LONG TO GET THOSE PARTS ONE OR TWO ON HAND.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE MAINTENANCE ASPECT OF IT.
THE PMCS, I HAD A DIRECTOR COME BEFORE US.
I CHALLENGED HIM TO BRING THE PMCS TO THE COUNCIL AND SHOW US THAT THOSE UNITS HAVE BEEN SERVICES.
THIS IS A YEAR LATER, I STILL HADN'T GOT 'EM.
WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE WE GET THE PHONE CALLS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE TRASH AND GARBAGE COLLECTION, HOTELS.
I GOT THE SAME PHONE CALL FROM THE PERSON AT THE HOTEL.
HE PAYS FOR A SERVICE SO MANY TIMES A WEEK AND HE'S NOT GETTING, GETTING WHAT HE PAYS FOR.
SO WHAT I TELL HIM AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, HE SAID, I'M IN ON IT TOO BECAUSE I'M NOT TRYING TO FIX IT.
BUT WE ACTUALLY, WE ARE PAM, I'M, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A THING THAT I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WHY DON'T WE, WE, WE SUGGESTED THREE YEARS AGO GOING TO A 24 HOUR MAINTENANCE, UH, UH, SHOP, GIVE THE ONES THAT'S WORKING ON THE LATER HOURS.
HEY, WE NEED CERTAIN VEHICLES TO BE UP AND RUNNING AND PREPARE FOR THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN ENCOUNTER.
WE, WE SUGGESTED THAT HEY, RUN 24 HOURS.
[01:00:01]
SOMEBODY WORKING ON TRUCKS AND VEHICLES THAT WE KNOW WE ARE GONNA NEED BECAUSE WE HAVE TO.THE ONE THING THAT THE COUNSELOR HAS TO DO IS PROVIDE A SERVICE TO THE THE CITIZEN.
WE WOULDN'T GET THE PHONE CALLS, YOU WOULDN'T GET THEM FROM US, AND IT'LL WORK PERFECTLY.
UH, UM, JUST TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DUMP SITES.
WE KNEW ABOUT THESE DUMP SITES SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL SIX, SEVEN YEARS.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THE DUMP SITES? WE HAVE POLICE OFFICERS, WE GOT, WE PAY FOR CAMERAS.
THIS COUNCIL HAS NEVER SAID WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN, LET'S CATCH WE, WE EVEN INCREASE THE PENALTY AND FINE IF WE CATCH YOU DUMPING IN PORT ARTHUR.
BUT IF I ASK FOR A REPORT RIGHT NOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE WE CAUGHT RIGHT NOW? CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME HOW MANY PEOPLE WE CAUGHT DUMPING OTHER THAN TELLING ME, WE KNOW IT'S A DUMP SITE, IT'S A RECURRING DUMP SITE, BUT TELL ME RIGHT NOW HOW MANY WE, WE'VE GAVE THAT LEVY TO AND SAID WE GONNA BUST.
WHAT IS $2,003,000? SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I BELIEVE 2000.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE KEEP GOING IN THIS FIGHT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OF.
THE COUNCIL HAS NEVER SAID NOT TO GO OUT AND GET WHAT YOU NEED.
I'M NOT SAYING GIVING YOU A GREEN LIGHT
WELL, THANK YOU, UH, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT THE COUNCIL HAS NEVER SAID NO.
WE'RE SAYING WHAT DO YOU NEED AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET IT FOR YOU, BECAUSE THIS IS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET THAT GARBAGE AND TRASH COLLECTION HOTEL COMMERCIAL.
BECAUSE IF WE ARE PAYING FOR A SERVICE, ABSOLUTELY.
AND THEY'RE, THE SAME THING HAPPENS TO COUNCILMAN KEN LAW'S HOUSE.
THEY'RE NOT PICKING IT UP ON THE DAY THAT THEY, AND I KNOW THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING.
SO BACK AGAIN, WE ARE, WE ARE AT THE SAME DECISION.
THE PRESENTATION WAS EXCELLENT, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU OR MR. IVAN GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH IT AGAIN.
NOW I HEAR THAT YOU, YOU'RE GONNA HIRE CONTRACTORS.
UM, THEY'RE HERE TODAY THOUGH, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET, UH, TWO TRUCKS BACK ONLINE.
I HAD DON'T HAVE A FULL REPORT.
UM, OF COURSE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE, BUT, UM, WE SHOULD HAVE A NUMBER TOMORROW ON EXACTLY HOW MANY TRUCKS THEY WERE ABLE TO REPAIR.
UM, I DO KNOW THAT ONE VEHICLE, ONE TRUCK PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WAS REPAIRED DID FALL BACK OFFLINE.
UM, AGAIN, BUT WE ARE WORKING AND, AND I I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP BECAUSE I DID WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE DO HAVE OUR CONTRACTOR TO PULL IN SUPPORT SERVICES, UM, TO HELP WITH, UM, GARBAGE AND TRASH COLLECTION.
UM, BUT AGAIN, SOMETIMES IT DOES TAKE DAYS TO MOBILIZE THOSE CONTRACTORS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THE ONLY CITY THAT'S EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE, EVEN IF WE DON'T WANNA BELIEVE IT, UM, WITH THE, UM, COMPANY, HOW, UM, THEY NORMALLY, UM, THAT'S NORMALLY THE TRUCKS THAT WE PURCHASE.
SO WE DID GO INTO A CONTRACT UNDER $25,000 TO GET THEIR MECHANICS TO COME OUT TO HELP WITH THOSE REPAIRS.
UM, TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THE 15 TRUCKS BACK ON WHERE WE HAVE A RESERVE.
UM, WE WILL BE BRINGING A MORE LONGER TERM CONTRACT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ALSO HAVE A, A STANDING CONTRACT WITH HOW, SO WE DON'T KEEP EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES AND COMING UP WITH THE SAME EXCUSES OF WHY, AT LEAST WITH THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE ARE HAVING THESE TYPES OF FAILURES.
THE PURPOSE OF THE MASTER PLAN IS TO IDENTIFY, AGAIN, AS COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE BROUGHT UP THE SERVICE AREAS, YOU KNOW, PORT ARTHUR AS A WHOLE, AN AREA HAS INCREASED DENSITY, HAS INCREASED OUR, UM, RESOURCES HAVE NOT.
AND SO THE PURPOSE OF THAT MASTER PLAN IS IDENTIFYING THOSE AREAS.
SO WHEN WE COME BACK AND WE DO ASK COUNCIL, WE WANT TO HIRE 10 MORE PEOPLE THAT'S QUANTIFIED IN DATA THAT 10 MORE PEOPLE ARE NEEDED.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO HIRE 10 PEOPLE WHERE HALF OF THEM ARE SITTING AROUND BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE BRING THIS INFORMATION AND WE MAKE THIS REQUEST, IT IS QUANTIFIABLE IN DATA.
UM, WE ARE ALSO, UM, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, IT'S ALSO WORKING WITH THE EVERGREEN GROUP, UM, TO STUDY OUR WAGE AND COMPENSATION PLAN.
SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THE MUNICIPAL GARAGE AND HIRING MECHANICS, IS THAT IT'S MORE LUCRATIVE TO WORK ON, YOU KNOW, IN A, A PRIVATE SECTOR VERSUS COMING TO THE MUNICIPAL, UM, SIDE, ESPECIALLY
[01:05:01]
THOSE WHO HAVE THE SKILLSET TO WORK ON HEAVY EQUIPMENT, NOT DOMESTIC VEHICLES, BUT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HEAVY ENGINES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AND BRING, WANT TO BRING BACK THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL THAT IT MAKES SENSE.
WE HAVE THE DATA TO SUPPORT IT.
SO WHEN WE ASK FOR THESE BIG TICKET ITEMS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE JUST KIND OF DOING BASE LISTS, BUT IT IS SUPPORTED BY THE DATA.
I'M, I'M NOT GONNA LABOR THIS, BUT YOU, YOU KIND OF GOT MY UNDERSTANDING.
I THINK THAT ABSOLUTELY THE ONE THING THAT YOU SAID WE SHOULD NEVER TAKE OFF, TAKE A, A TRUCK OFF A ROUTE TO GO TO, UH, PICK UP A A A DUMP SITE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S, THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF LATER.
THAT AND IF, YOU KNOW, IN THE MILITARY, THAT WAS MY JOB.
I'M GONNA BE OUT, I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN.
IF YOU NEED ANY HELP, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY TO PICK MY BRAIN.
I THINK WE ARE IN THIS FIGHT TOGETHER, BUT IF WE KEEP ON THIS ROUTE NOT TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE, IT'S GONNA JUST KEEP SNOWBALLING.
IT'S GONNA GET BAD, IT'S GONNA GET WORSE.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BE OUTTA CONTROL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE GONNA DO.
BUT THE 24 HOUR, UM, UH, MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE, I THINK THAT WOULD WORK.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO A HIRING FAIR.
NOW WE, YOU SAID THREE PEOPLE NOW ARE DOWN YOU, THREE PEOPLE DOWN IN, UH, NO, I'LL GET THAT INFORMATION FROM YOU.
GONNA GET THAT INFORMATION, INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE IT'S ACCURATE.
MA'AM, WE ARE HERE TO HELP OUT.
THANK YOU MS. LANGFORD FOR YOUR AMAZING PRESENTATION.
I AM FIRST GOING TO ADDRESS THE, THE WEBSITE SO THAT THE CITIZENS CAN BE CLEAR ON HOW TO FIND THE INFORMATION THAT YOU MENTIONED.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, BEING ABLE TO SEE THE SOLID WASTE SCHEDULE.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S SOLID WASTE WHEN, AND I I DID IT MYSELF JUST SO I CAN FIND, SO I CAN OFFER SOME CLARITY.
WHEN I SEARCHED GARBAGE, IT'S BROUGHT UP ADDENDUMS. OKAY.
WHEN I SEARCHED TRASH, IT BROUGHT UP THOSE SAME THINGS IN THE ORDINANCES AND THAT ISN'T WHAT THE CITIZENS ARE LOOKING FOR.
SO ALTHOUGH WE KNOW THAT IT'S CALLED SOLID WASTE, UM, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS PULLED THE, THE TRASH COLLECTION STATUS IS PULLED UP WHEN SOLID WASTE IS SEARCHED.
BUT IF WE COULD HAVE A HYPERLINK ATTACHED TO TRASH AND ATTACHED TO GARBAGE, I THINK THAT WILL HELP OUR PROCESS A LOT EASIER AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY PROVIDING THOSE UPDATES.
RIGHT NOW IT HAS THE MARCH 10TH, UM, AS THE LAST WEEK'S, SO WE'RE WELL BEYOND THAT.
SO, AND I KNOW THAT STAFF IS PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION ON A DAILY BASIS.
SO I'M ASKING THAT WE ARE CONSISTENT AT PROVIDING, IF WE'RE NOT, LEMME SAY THIS FIRST, IF IT ISN'T BEING PROVIDED TO OUR IT DEPARTMENT, PLEASE HAVE IT JUST AUTOMATICALLY ABSOLUTELY SENT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.
THIS IS THE TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC THAT WILL DECREASE THE PHONE CALLS THAT WE RECEIVE.
UM, THE NEXT THING ON THE SIGNS THAT SAY NO DUMPING YES HERE AND THE 25 THOU, I MAY BE WRONG, BUT I THINK IT SAYS $25,000, UM, FEE OR COULD BE UP TO THE $25,000 FEE.
AND IT HAS, I MEMORIZED THIS NUMBER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL WHEN I CALLED MY DADDY.
THAT IS THE PORT ARTHUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO THE PORT ARTHUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, I'M SURE IS INUNDATED WITH THOSE CALLS.
BUT WE GOTTA HAVE SOME TYPE OF PROCESS SO THAT THE INFORMATION ISN'T LOST IN THE SAUCE BECAUSE IT'S GOING FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CODE ENFORCEMENT TO SOLID WASTE TO, YOU KNOW, ON DOWN THE LINE.
UM, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULDN'T, YOU KNOW, RECEIVE THOSE CALLS, BUT WE DO HAVE TO FIND A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY IN ORDER TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.
AND IT ALSO SAYS UNDER SURVEILLANCE, WELL, WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THOSE PLACES DON'T HAVE CAMERAS, BUT I'M ASKING THAT WE DO.
WE HAVE INSTALLED CAMERAS THAT HAVE BEEN STOLEN AND DAMAGED, BUT WE DO INSTALL THEM.
SO, UM, HOWEVER WE FIGURED THAT PART OUT, I KNOW THAT COULD, YOU KNOW, HELP US.
UM, THE, THE NEXT PART IS, THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS LOW HANGING FRUIT.
UM, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY, WHILE YOU SAID THE NAME OF THE COMPANY IS NEWGEN? NEWGEN STRATEGIES.
THAT'S WHO'S DOING THE MASTER PLAN.
SO WHILE NEWGEN IS IN THEIR PROCESS MM-HMM
AS THEY SEE OPPORTUNITIES, ARE WE ABLE TO RECEIVE
[01:10:01]
REPORTS OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THESE THINGS ALONG THE WAY? SO WE'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS MM-HMMBUT WE'RE HERE NOW, RIGHT? YEAH.
SO WHERE WE ARE FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT NEW GEN STRATEGIES FINDS, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO JUST SEND 'EM TO US AS THEY FIND THEM? BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, AND YES, WE ARE WAITING FOR THEIR REPORT, BUT AGAIN, WHEN WE DRIVE DOWN THESE STREETS, WE SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR OWN HOUSE AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT LIKE YESTERDAY.
SO WHEN, UM, SO THAT'S ONE QUESTION THEN.
CAN WE HIRE TEMPORARY STAFF TO FILL IN THOSE GAPS WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR OUR REPORT FROM NEWGEN STRATEGIES? I, I KNOW THAT IT, YOU KNOW, IS MORE DIFFICULT TO HIRE SOMEONE THAT WORKS ON THE LARGE EQUIPMENT.
AND, BUT AGAIN, LIKE THE, THE TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE HURT, THAT'S, YOU GOTTA DEAL WITH IT, RIGHT? YES.
AND SO THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE TIME THAT THEY NEED.
BUT IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HIRE TEMPORARY STAFF IN ORDER TO FILL IN, YOU KNOW, THOSE, THOSE GAPS? UM, THE VIDEOS, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, NOT JUST WITH TRASH BUTS, NOW THEY HAVE THE FLOOR.
I'M GONNA SAY IT ONE MORE TIME.
CAN WE PLEASE HAVE VIDEOS ON OUR WEBSITE, JUST QUICK YOUTUBE STYLE VIDEOS TO GIVE CITIZENS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY NEED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MUNI CODE TO READ THE ORDINANCES.
SO IF WE HAD THOSE VIDEOS TO DESCRIBE TO THEM WHAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRASH AND GARBAGE IS, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HAD A SITUATION ABOUT THIS, UH, WEEK BEFORE LAST? IF YOU CUT YOUR TREES, WE WILL PICK 'EM UP.
IF A CONTRACTOR CUTS YOUR TREES, THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DUMPING THEM.
SIMPLE THINGS LIKE THAT MAY BE ABLE TO HELP, UM, OUR CITIZENS NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS PROCESS A LITTLE MORE EFFECTIVELY.
THE, LET'S SEE, FOR THE MECHANICS MM-HMM
WHILE WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO HIRE THOSE MECHANICS, ARE WE ABLE TO HAVE OUR TRUCKS TOWED TO A PLACE THAT CAN ACTUALLY FIX THEM? THAT ISN'T GONNA TAKE TWO MONTHS? THAT COULD TAKE TWO WEEKS.
MAYBE WE HAVE ACTUALLY CONTRACTED WITH, UM, AGAIN, HOW OF TEXAS TO COME IN AND HELP WITH THOSE REPAIRS OF THOSE TRUCKS.
SO WE ARE WORKING THE MANUFACTURING.
DO THEY THOUGH? OH YEAH, DEFINITELY.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE SPECIALIZED IN THAT, IN THOSE, THAT ACTUAL EQUIPMENT, WHICH ACTUALLY GIVES THEM MORE OF AN ADVANTAGE IN PERFORMING THOSE REPAIRS BECAUSE IT'S THEIR EQUIPMENT.
UM, AND NOTHING, LEMME NOT INTERRUPT, BUT IT'S SIMILAR TO LIKE TOYOTA.
IF YOU HAVE A TOYOTA VEHICLE, YOU SEND IT TOYOTA, WHERE THE SPECIALIST, SO TOYOTA.
WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH HOW, BECAUSE THAT IS THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT THAT IS SPECIALIZE IN, IN NOT ONLY THAT, WE HAVE BROUGHT IN 15 MORE VENDORS THAT SPECIALIZES IN HEAVY EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE ADDED SINCE THE LAST TIME WE HAVE HAD THE DISCUSSION.
SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THOSE AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, ON THE QUESTION OF THE REPORT, THE CONSULTANTS WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK.
AND WHAT I'M GOING TO, WHAT I'VE ASKED THEM TO DO IS TO PROVIDE ME WITH ENOUGH DATA SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN PREPARING FOR THE NEW BUDGET.
HOWEVER, IF ANYTHING APPEARS TO BE PRETTY URGENT IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS, I WILL BRING IT TO COUNCIL SO THAT COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THIS IS A COMMITMENT THAT IS NECESSARY AT THIS POINT, WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO IMPLEMENT IT, WHETHER IT'S NEW EQUIPMENT OR STAFF.
SO I'M NOT WAITING FOR UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER TO IMPLEMENT THE ENTIRE REPORT.
I'LL BRING IT LONG BEFORE THAT TO COUNCIL.
BUT THEY WILL BE HERE ON MONDAY AND THEY'LL BE DRIVING THE ROUTES BECAUSE THE ROUTES, SOME OF THESE ROUTES HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 20 YEARS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR, UM, HEARING ME OUT.
AND AGAIN, JUST AS THE OTHER COUNSELOR SAID, PLEASE, LET'S NOT WAIT FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS IF Y'ALL NEED SOMETHING.
SO PLEASE DON'T, DON'T HESITATE.
AND I KNOW SOMETIMES OUR BARK SOUNDS BAD, BUT WE GOTTA GET IT DONE.
[01:15:01]
A BRIEF COMMENT.I APPRECIATE YOU ARE ABLE TO HOLD YOUR OWN.
YOU, YOU DON'T WALK UP THERE AND WITHOUT ANY DEPTH.
YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR JOB, YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND YOU RESPOND VERY WELL.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND I NOTICED THAT ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER STAFF.
I'M LOOKING AT A COUPLE OF 'EM BACK THERE.
HUMAN RESOURCE, UH, UH, PARK AND RECREATION.
AND THESE GUYS UP HERE, THEY ASK SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS, BUT Y'ALL DON'T, YOU DON'T BACK DOWN.
YOU GOT YOUR SUPPORTING DOCUMENT AND THAT'S GREAT.
Y'ALL MAKE THE CITY MANAGER LOOK GOOD.
YOU, YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE THING ALMOST LIKE PEOPLE AT THE MEETING, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY, I WASN'T GONNA SAY ANYTHING, BUT I THINK I WANT TO SAY THIS.
UH, AND, AND IT'S ONLY BECAUSE I'VE HEARD MY COLLEAGUES HERE SAY, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING THAT THE CITIZEN EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, THE LATE, UH, PICKUP FOR YOUR GARBAGE.
ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AGO, I EXPERIENCED THE MOST DISHEARTENING THING THAT I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED.
MY SIX YEARS BEING THE MAYOR ON A GARBAGE PICKUP WHERE THEY PICKED UP EVERYBODY'S GARBAGE ON THE STREET BY MINE.
I DON'T, I DON'T EVER HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF GARBAGE IN MY CAN, BUT, AND, AND IT WAS WHEN THIS HIGH WIND WAS UP AND MINE WAS DOWN.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHO THE CONTRACTORS ARE YOU BRINGING INTO THE MANAGER AND NOT BECAUSE I'M THE MAYOR, BUT WHEN THAT HAPPENED TO ME, THAT LET ME REALIZE THAT ANY CITIZEN WHOSE GARBAGE HAD BEEN OUT FOR THREE DAYS OR TWO DAYS, ACTUALLY BECAUSE MY GARBAGE GOES OUT LIKE TONIGHT.
THERE'S LITTLE GUY THAT'S PUTTING MY GARBAGE OUT ABOUT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PICKED UP IN THE MORNING.
OKAY? 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM MAYOR.
NO, BUT, BUT HE, HE PUTS IT OUT.
HE PUTS IT OUT ON THE NIGHT BEFORE.
AND, YOU KNOW, FOR A GOOD WHILE, WE HAD IT PICKED UP EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SOMETIMES WE'VE EXPERIENCED WHEN THEY GET THERE FRIDAY, BUT NEVER HAD IT EVER BLOWN DOWN.
WELL, EVIDENTLY, UH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS, IT WASN'T ENOUGH IN THERE.
BUT WHEN MINE BLEW DOWN, LIKE I CALLED THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT IT.
WELL, IT, IT WAS VERY UPSETTING BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN OUT THERE A COUPLE OF DAYS AND I GUESS IT BLEW DOWN THAT NIGHT.
BUT WHEN I WENT UPSTAIRS AND I LOOKED OUT, I COULD SEE ALL THE OTHER CANS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE STREET HAD BEEN DUMPED AND E EMPTY AND MINE WAS DOWN.
BUT I COULD STILL SEE TWO OR THREE WHITE BAGS, GARBAGE BAGS I HAD IN THERE, WHICH MEANT THAT THE PERSONS WHO ARE WORKING, IF THEY WOULD HAVE ENOUGH RESPECT FOR THEIR JOBS.
'CAUSE MAYBE WE, Y'ALL NOT PAYING 'EM ENOUGH, OR MAYBE Y'ALL NOT TREATING THEM RIGHT.
SO MAYBE THEY CAN'T BUY GROCERIES, THEY CAN'T PAY A CAR NOTE, THEY CAN'T PAY MARCUS, THEY CAN'T, UH, SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE GETTING THE CHECKS.
BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T STOP THAT TRUCK, BECAUSE I GREW UP WITH THE GUYS FROM MY CHURCH AND MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY RUNNING BEHIND THE TRUCK, DUMPING THE CANS IN THE TRUCK, JUMPING BACK ON THE TRUCK, ROLLING AND RIDING TO THE NEXT THING.
SO LOOK, YOU KNOW, AUTOMATION IN THIS NEW TIME HAS HELPED US A WHOLE LOT.
SO YOU HAVE ONE MAN ON THE TRUCK AND IF A CITIZEN'S CAN, HAS BLOWN DOWN, AND I DON'T WANT TO CALL OUT ANY DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE WHAT I WAS THINKING AT THE TIME THAT I EXPERIENCED THAT.
BUT IF YOU JUST DON'T THINK YOU MAKE ENOUGH MONEY, IF YOU CAN'T JUST STOP THE TRUCK FOR A SECOND.
NOT PICK IT UP BECAUSE THAT'S THE MAYOR'S GARBAGE.
NO, PICK IT UP BECAUSE THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT IS PAYING EVERY MONTH SO I CAN GET PAID IF IT MAKES ME LATE ON MY ROUTE.
LIKE I TOLD MR. JOHNSON, DO YOU READ YOUR PHONE? HAVE YOUR PHONE.
'CAUSE I KNOW THEY HAVE TELEPHONES.
I'VE SEEN THEM DRIVING IN TRUCKS ON THE PHONES AND TAKE A PICTURE AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT I HAD TO STOP AND DO.
SO WHEN THE SUPERVISOR ASKED THE QUESTION AS TO WHY WERE YOU 10 OR 15 OR 20 MINUTES LATE, WELL, HEY MAN, I STOPPED THREE TIMES.
I HAD TO DISMOUNT THE TRUCK, GO AROUND THE TRUCK, STAND THE CAN UP, GET BACK IN THE TRUCK AND OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT.
BUT THAT'S SHOWING AN EMPLOYEE THAT CARES.
AND I KNOW MY TENURE IS ABOUT TO END IN THIS CITY, BUT I'VE STOOD UP FOR THE EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
I'M TALKING ABOUT FROM THE HIGHS OF Y'ALL
[01:20:01]
TO THE LOWEST OF Y'ALL.BUT I'M NOT SAYING YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PICK UP MY GARBAGE BECAUSE OF THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO AS MAYOR.
'CAUSE THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR ME AND HAD THAT CONFIDENCE IN ME.
BUT BECAUSE I'M A CITIZEN OF PORT ARTHUR AND I HAVE ONE OF THOSE GREEN TO US THAT I NEED A NEW ONE.
BEEN ASKING Y'ALL PUBLICLY FOR THREE YEARS FOR A NEW ONE BECAUSE THE TOP IS ONE SCREW ON IT AND NEVER GOT THAT.
YOU UNDERSTAND? I, I, Y'ALL, I'M TELLING THE PEOPLE THAT'S LOOKING.
I HAVE ASKED WHAT MY ADDRESS FOR A NEW TOTAL.
SO EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING FOLK UP HERE EXPERIENCE THE SAME.
NOW THE VERY LAST THING BROTHER DO SAID, AND EVEN CITY MANAGER, 'CAUSE YOU ALL BROUGHT THIS UP FOR SIX YEARS, THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SIX YEARS.
CITY MANAGER, WE HAVE NOT CHAMPIONED THIS PROBLEM.
NOW I WOULD OPEN THE NEXT SIX MAN, Y'ALL COULDA COME UP WITH A GOOD, GOOD, UH, SOLUTION OUT OF 15 TRUCKS.
NOW THAT'S THE MOST DISHEARTENING INFORMATION THAT I SEE IN THIS, THIS GOOD REPORT.
OUT OF 15 TRUCKS, ONLY SIX OPERATE AT TIMES OUT OF 15 TRUCKS OUT OF 15 TRUCKS.
CITY MANAGER, IF WE CAN'T FIND 15 CERTIFIED, UH, WHAT DO THEY CALL 'EM? OPERATORS, UH, YEAH.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO BE SURE SO THAT CITIZENS ARE, KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING ALL THAT'S HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE ON SCHEDULE.
LIKE YOU SAID, WE, WE ACHIEVED AND ARRIVED THERE TODAY, BUT NOW HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHERE WE ARE TODAY? I MEAN, I'M GONNA BE GONE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE HERE WITH THIS.
AND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS TO BE SURE THAT YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING, CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODY, BUT YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT WOULD ACTUALLY SHOW A GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT DEAL OF IMPROVEMENT.
AND IT'S AN EXPONENTIAL TYPE OF IMPROVEMENT THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO WITH OUR, UH, PUBLIC WORKS.
I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO DO.
I'M NOT THE, I'M NOT THE BRAIN BEHIND THAT, BUT I KNOW WE'VE GOTTA FIND SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO HANDLE THAT.
MS. JOANNE, I SEE YOU KEEP RAISING YOUR HAND.
MS. JOHN JONES, SIX 40 EAST 10TH STREET.
I WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF WHAT SHE WAS SAYING.
I WAS, I'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH TO, TO REMEMBER WHEN, UH, THEY THROW THOSE 20 GALLON CANS AND RAN BEHIND IT AND JUMPED ON THE, UH, TRUCK AND IT WAS THE, THE PORT ARTHUR WAS CLEAN MUCH CLEANER THAN WHAT IT IS NOW IN THE LAST SIX YEARS.
IT IS EMBARRASSING FOR SOMEONE TO COME FROM OUT OF TOWN AND PASS THROUGH THE STREETS OF VISIT THE CRASH.
I WANT TO ASK, COULD THE CITIZENS, YOU HAVE A CODE WHERE THE CITIZENS, WHEN THEY CLEAN THE HOUSES OUT, WHEN THEY LEAVING THE HOUSE, WHEN THEY THROW ALL THE TRASH IN THE DITCH INSIDE THE ROAD, YOU KNOW, JUST THROW IT OUT THERE.
AND IT, IT'S LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL IT LIVING IN, BUT I DON'T FEEL GOOD WHEN I LEAVE MY HOUSE AND I GET ON THE, UH, ROAD AND TRASH IS ALL IN THE, UH, HALF IN THE STREET, HALF IN THE DITCH AND SITTING IN FRONT OF A HOUSE.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHEN I GO PAY THE TAX AND LOOK AT THE BILL, WHAT I'M PAYING FOR, WHERE I'M LIVING AT, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS, IT'S, IT'S RIDICULOUS.
IF THE HOUSEHOLD IS NOT RESPONSIBLE, YOU SHOULD HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE TO PUTTING THAT TRASH IN GARBAGE CANS.
SO YOU HAVE ONE PERSON ON THAT TRUCK, AT LEAST THEY COULD PICK UP THE STUFFING BAGS.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET DOWN WITH A RAKE AND, AND, AND RAKE, RAKE IT UP.
THEN YOU GOT, UH, ROTARIES IN THAT TRASH RUNNING ACROSS THE STREET WHERE THE CAR RAN ACROSS, HE LAYING ON THE STREET.
IT'S REALLY DISGUSTING OF A, OF, OF A PORT ARTHUR ITSELF.
AND UNTIL YOU TO LIVE IN AND PAY TAX AND PAY YOUR BILLS EVERY, EVERY MONTH, WHICH I'VE CONSTANTLY GOT UP HERE AND ARGUE ABOUT WATER BILL
[01:25:01]
TAX AND EVERYTHING ELSE.I MEAN, I CAN'T LIVE LIKE THAT.
I, I I I'M NOT RICH, BUT I WANT TO LIVE CLEAN.
AND, UH, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S JUST PITIFUL.
IT'S SAD THAT WE DON'T HAVE MORE UP HERE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT I'M SAYING.
AND I MEAN, EVEN, YOU KNOW, THIS, EVEN FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO SEE THIS, THIS IS A DISGRACE TO SEE GROWNUPS RESPONSIBLE.
YOU ALL ARE RESPONSIBLE TO LIVE LIKE THIS.
AND, AND, AND ANOTHER THING, UH, ABOUT YOUR, YOUR, UH, MECHANICS.
EVERYBODY SAY THEY A MECHANIC AIN'T A MECHANIC.
SO, AND YOUR TRUCKS, THEY DON'T WANNA WORK BECAUSE YOUR TRUCKS IS, IS IS, UH, IT'S NOT SAFE.
YOU DON'T HOLD 'EM RESPONSIBLE AT ALL.
SEE, THEY STOP AT TWO O'CLOCK OR ONE O'CLOCK AND MAYBE GO HOME OR WHATEVER, BUT THEY COULD WASH THEM TRUCKS OUT UNTIL THEY, YOU KNOW, SO THE ROTARIES WON'T GET IN THEIR TRUCKS AND BITE THE, THE WIRES AND THINGS.
AND YOU MIGHT WOULD HAVE SOME RUNNING TRUCKS AND PEOPLE GET, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AND YOU WORKERS GOTTA GET UP ON THERE THE NEXT DAY AND, AND, AND HALF OF THE STUFF NOT WORKING IN THE TRUCK.
THEY BRING IT IN BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA WORK THE REST OF THE DAY.
SO YOU ALL NEED TO HOLD THESE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE.
IF YOU HAVE TO PAY, IF YOU CAN GET 'EM RESPONSIBLE, I DON'T MIND PAYING THEM A LITTLE MORE.
'CAUSE THERE'S HELL OUT HERE WORKING FOR NOTHING.
OH, JUST TO FIGURE BACK ON HER COMMENT, THOSE ARE NOT RODENTS EATEN NO WIRE OR THOSE ARE XMAS
UM, I THINK THEY, THE, THE CONCERNS OF THE COUNCIL AS WELL NOTED.
WE WILL COME BACK IN 90 DAYS TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE AGAIN AS TO WHERE WE ARE.
AND COUNCILMAN, YOU SAID THIS, THIS INCLUDED YOUR DISCUSSION AS WELL, RIGHT? OKAY.
[III.F.(2) A Discussion Regarding A Reimbursement To Councilmember Hamilton Everfield For Travel To The Dallas-Fort Worth Area To Meet With Investor Selim Kilap To Conduct Economic Development Negotiations, Regarding Pleasure Island Buildings A & B (Requested By Councilmember Frank)]
CAN GO TO ITEM, UH, OR NUMBER TWO UNDER, UH, SECTION, UH, UH, WRONG NUMER THREE, A DISCUSSION REGARDING A REIMBURSEMENT TO COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD FOR TRAVEL TO THE DALLAS FOR WORTH AREA TO MEET WITH INVESTORS,AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, FRANK COURT, COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK.
UM, YES, I WAS NOT ASKED BY, UH, COUNCIL, UH, WOMAN HAMILTON, UH, TO PUT THIS ON THE, UM, AGENDA AND TO TALK ABOUT THE DISCUSSION, UH, CONCERNING WHETHER OR NOT SHE COULD BE, UH, REIMBURSED.
I THINK WE ARE ALL, UH, OR WE SHOULD ALL, UH, BE VERY HAPPY, UH, CONCERNING, UH, WHAT WAS VOTED ON, UH, EARLIER, UH, FOR, UH, THE RESOLUTION OF THE CONTRACT, UH, BETWEEN, UH, MR. CARLA AND, UH, THE CITY, UM, BRINGING, UM, THE KIND OF, UM, UH, THE KIND OF FACILITY TO PLEASURE ISLAND.
I THINK WE ALL SHOULD BE, UH, EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE SHOULD ALL BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT THIS DISCUSSION IS MORE ABOUT, UM, A CHANGE OF MINDSET AND A CHANGE OF CULTURE, UM, FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL.
AND I'M NOT IN ANY WAY SUGGESTING THAT WE HAVE AN OPEN CHECKBOOK.
I'M WELL AWARE OF THE FIDUCIARY CONCERNS, UH, THAT WE HAVE HERE IN A CITY WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO WORK ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRUCKS, UH, AND SALARIES AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES, UH, HAVE, UM, UM, UH, HEALTH INSURANCE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE DO TO OPERATE OUR CITY.
BUT I THINK THAT WHAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS, OR WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE IS RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT, UM, THE TRIP, UH, TO, UH, DALLAS, UH, WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE ATTORNEY, UH, AND A COUNCIL MEMBER,
[01:30:01]
UH, HAS REAPED A HARVEST FOR US, UH, REAPED A SUCCESS FOR US, REAPED A WIN FOR US.I THINK IT, IT, IT, IT, IT BODES WELL FOR US TO CONSIDER THAT, UM, THAT, THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE.
UM, WE HAD TO VOTE TO SEND, UM, OUR ATTORNEY AND OUR CITY MANAGER TO DALLAS TO WORK ON THE CONTRACT.
I, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY THAT WAS NECESSARY FOR US TO DO THAT.
IF WE'RE GONNA OPERATE OUR CITY AS A BUSINESS, IF WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON BRINGING DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS TO OUR CITY, IT'S TIME FOR US TO MOVE INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.
AND DOING THAT MEANS THAT THOSE KINDS OF TRIPS MIGHT BE NECESSARY IN THE FUTURE.
AND SO I THINK THAT IT WOULD BODE WELL FOR US.
IT WOULD, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR US TO EVEN NOW CONSIDER REIMBURSING COUNCILWOMAN, UH, UM, UH, COUNCILWOMAN EVER FEEL.
UM, I WANTED TO BE SURE I RESPECT MY FRIEND, UH, RES, UH, COUNCILWOMAN EVER FEEL FOR GOING TO DALLAS.
SHE CHOSE TO GO WITH HER OWN MONEY BECAUSE SHE KNOWS THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT FINANCES IN THE CITY.
WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, BUT IT IS JUST SIMPLY THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.
AND SO SHE TOOK HER OWN RESOURCES, SHE TOOK HER OWN MONEY TO GO AND DO THAT.
THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, I HOPE, AGAIN, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO BRING BUSINESS TO OUR CITY, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO BRING DEVELOPERS TO OUR CITY, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BRING THAT INTO OUR CITY BECAUSE IT BRINGS TAX, UH, DOLLARS TO OUR CITY.
IT BRINGS HOTEL AND OCCUPANCY TAX MONEY TO OUR CITY.
IT BRINGS DEVELOPMENT INTO OUR CITY.
IT BRINGS RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, UM, TO ENJOY THEMSELVES.
IT CHANGES THE DYNAMIC AND THE ENTIRETY OF OUR WHOLE CITY FROM JUST BEING A CITY WHERE PLANTS ARE TO MOVING US INTO A RECREATIONAL DESTINATION CITY.
UH, SO I, I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS SO THAT WE CAN CONSIDER THAT WHEN WE'RE DOING THAT.
BUT I THINK A GREAT PLACE TO BE WOULD BE TO BE ABLE TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FIRST AND FOREMOST OF REIMBURSING HER FOR GOING ON THAT TRIP AND DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB OF LITERALLY BRINGING HOME THE BACON.
AND SO, UH, OUR CITY IS GOING TO, UH, BE BETTER.
UH, HOTEL DOC TAX DOLLARS ARE COMING.
SHOULDN'T SHE BE REIMBURSED FOR, UH, UH, FOR THAT TRIP? I THINK SHE SHOULD BE OKAY.
COUNCILMAN FRANK, UH, ON DISCUSSION.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MINDSET AND CULTURE.
I SAY WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING IN HERE IN THE CITY, I THINK ONE THING THAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS PUT FIRST IS THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE FOR MONEY.
OKAY? FIRST OF ALL, THE MINDSET AND CULTURE.
THE MINDSET AND CULTURE IS NOT NEEDED BECAUSE THIS CITY HAS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN WHICH WE OPERATE.
SOME INDIVIDUALS BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT ABOUT THE PROCEDURE IS WHAT WE THINK OR HOW WE WANT TO OPERATE.
NOW, THIS PARTICULAR TRIP FOR THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY COST THE TAXPAYERS $1,709 TO FLY.
VERSUS IF THEY WERE DROVE, I MEAN, DRIVEN, IT WOULD COST $300 AND 48 CENTS TRAVEL.
NOW, I WOULDN'T, AND I DIDN'T VOTE FOR APPRO THAT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU NEGOTIATE AND YOU DO BUSINESS, I'VE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL FOR GOING ON OVER EIGHT YEARS, RIGHT? AT EIGHT YEARS,
[01:35:02]
ANY TYPE PROJECT OR DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN THIS CITY.BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT, SOME PEOPLE SAY YOU GOTTA CHANGE THE MINDSET.
SO SOMETIMES SOME THINGS ARE WORTH FIGHTING, SOME THINGS OR NOT.
SO I SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GONNA SIT HERE.
SO IT WAS VOTED AND APPROVED, OKAY? BUT WHEN WE NEGOTIATE IN THIS CITY, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, THIS CITY COUNCIL NEVER NEGOTIATE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS DO NOT NEGOTIATE.
THE REASON WE DON'T NEGOTIATE, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THAT.
THAT'S WHY WE DON'T NEGO, THAT'S WHY WE DON'T GET INVOLVED WITH NEGOTIATIONS.
SO WE DO A RESOLUTION WHERE WE AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY TO NEGOTIATE, AND THEY GO AND FIND OUT WHAT SOMEBODY WANT, WHAT, TELL 'EM WHAT WE OFFER.
THEN THEY COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND COUNCIL MAKE DECISIONS.
SO WHY COUNCIL MEMBERS GETTING INVOLVED? I FOUND THAT THOROUGHLY OUT.
LIKE I SAID, THE MAJORITY RULE, AND I'LL, AND I'LL GO WITH IT, BUT WHEN WE READ THE RESOLUTION, THE RESOLUTION WAS READ BY COUNCILWOMAN EVER FIELD.
AND THAT WAS A DISCUSSION PRIOR TO THAT TO UNDERSTAND IT WAS GONNA BE THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY.
AND SHE READ THE RESOLUTION AND SHE READ IT, AND IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT HER EXPENSE WILL NOT BE CHARGED TO THE CITY.
SO EVERYBODY THAT VOTED FOR THAT RESOLUTION AND IT PASSED, VOTED UNDERSTANDING THAT HER EXPENSE WAS GOING TO BE ON HER.
SHE AND EVERYBODY THAT VOTED ON HER, I DIDN'T EVEN VOTE FOR THAT.
BUT THE FACT IS, WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE VOTING FOR.
NOW, HOW, LIKE YOU, LIKE YOU SAY, UH, SHE DID NOT ASK FOR THIS TO BE COMING BACK ON HERE.
THAT'S WHY I'M SURPRISED THAT WE GONNA VOTE NOW.
WELL, WE VOTE ON THE ISSUE WHETHER YOU VOTED FOR AGAINST, BUT WE VOTE ON THE ISSUE WITH EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDING, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT COMES BACK, WELL, WE WANT TO NOW SPEND THE MONEY.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA BE ADDRESSING AND DOING A PRESENTATION ON FINANCES IN THIS CITY.
BECAUSE ONE THING I WILL SAY, THIS CULTURE IS GONNA CHANGE THIS CULTURE ABOUT, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE CAN INVEST, WE COULD DO THIS, WE COULD DO THAT, OR WE GONNA SPEND MONEY.
SO WHEN YOU WANT TO SPEND $1,709 TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT THAT CAN EASILY BEEN HAVE DONE WITH A TELECONFERENCE CALL, OR IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER, DO IT BY ZOOM.
SO IF YOU DON'T WANT DO IT BY ZOOM AND YOU CAN'T DO IT BY TELEPHONE CALL WHILE YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY AND PAY FOR IT, THAT'S THE CULTURE.
THE CULTURE SHOULD BE, IF YOU WOULDN'T SPEND YOUR MONEY, DON'T SPEND THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY.
THAT'S THE CULTURE WE NEED TO HAVE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD BE HEED ON THAT.
AND CITIZENS SHOULD BE AWARE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN THE CITY, HOW WE SPENDING MONEY.
AND IT SHOULD NOT BE BASED ON, I THINK, I FEEL IT SHOULD BE BASED ON WHAT CITIZENS WOULD THINK.
AND IF YOU THINK THE MAJORITY OF THE CITIZENS IN PORT ARTHUR TAXES WOULD'VE VOTED TO SPEND $1,709 FOR THIS TRIP WHEN THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY TELECONFERENCE OR ZOOM.
IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER, DO ZOOM.
THAT'S HOW MOST COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS NOW.
NOBODY'S TRAVELING FOR SOMETHING OF THAT MAGNITUDE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, 'CAUSE WHEN I HEAR THE MINDSET AND CULTURE, I BELIEVE THE SAME THING.
BUT I BELIEVE IT'S FOR, FOR THE OPPOSITE REASON.
WE NEED TO SET THE EXAMPLE WITH
[01:40:01]
HOW WE SPENDING MONEY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE APPROVE THE BUDGET, WHEN WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A DEFICIT.THAT MEAN THAT WE SHOULD BE TAKING A LOOK AT HOW WE SAVE MONEY INSTEAD OF HOW WE SPEND MONEY.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS, I APPRECIATE THAT.
I WAS ASKED, I WAS TOLD THAT I'M GOING TO GO AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND THAT'S, YEAH, SHE TOLD, SHE, SHE WHISPERED THAT TO ME.
BUT ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS, THE COUNCILMAN, YOU DECIDED TO MENTION THE SACRIFICE AND WHATEVER YOU RECALL, THE PREVIOUS, ONE OF THE PREVIOUS MAYORS WAS ALWAYS BRAGGING ABOUT MUDD'S WITH, WITH THE INDUSTRY IN IT AND, AND HOW MUCH THEY WAS CAPTIONING ALL THESE YEAR WINDFALL OF TAXES AND EVERYTHING.
WELL, I GOT IN MY VEHICLE AT MY OWN EXPENSE.
I DROVE TO THOSE CITIES AND SAT DOWN WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND I FOUND OUT IT WAS ALL A LIE.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY INDUSTRY IN THERE.
SO NOW YOU TALK ABOUT APPRECIATING, AND I WISH I APPRECIATED WHAT SHE DID.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
BUT WE GOT WHAT'S REALLY SHOULD BE APPRECIATED.
WE GOT TWO VETERANS SETTING UP HERE SERVING, WE HAVE TWO MILITARY VETERAN, RETIRED, RETIREE OH THREE, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU IN THE, WELL, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE GOT THREE.
WE GOT THREE, THREE MILITARY VETERANS.
BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT TWO OF THEM DON'T CHARGE THE TAXPAYERS OR ANYTHING.
THEY UP HERE, THEY'RE SERVING BECAUSE THEY WANT SERVE AND, AND BETTER OUR COMMUNITY, THEY'LL SERVING HERE.
WELL, WE ALL, I GET PAID, YOU KNOW? WELL, I DON'T CALL IT PAY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LONG WAY FROM WHAT I USED TO MAKE
WE GET A STIPEND, OKAY? BUT THESE TWO VETERANS SERVE FREE OF CHARGE AND THEY DO EXCELLENT JOB.
WE DON'T ALL AGREE, BUT THEY, THEY, THEY, HEY, THAT'S, THAT'S A PART OF THE DEMOCRACY, OKAY? BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THEM AND, BUT THANK THA I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING, BRINGING UP THE ISSUE ABOUT, ABOUT HER AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
THERE'S THREE VETERANS THAT SERVE AND DON'T CHARGE THE TAX BILLS A DIME.
OKAY? UH, COUNCILMAN BECK, THANK YOU.
UM, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE SAID, AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT HE SAID.
UM, BUT I, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT ONE OTHER THING.
I DON'T WANT US TO SET A PRECEDENT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO SOLICIT BUSINESS, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO.
IF, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THEY NEED TO COME HERE.
AND WHILE I APPRECIATE WHAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, IN DALLAS AND WE GOT THE CONTRACT DONE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL FINE AND GOOD, BUT I DON'T WANT US TO SET A PRECEDENT THAT NOW WE'RE GONNA GO START SOLICITING BUSINESS AND SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DO SO.
IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO BUSINESS IN PORT ARTHUR, THEN THEY NEED TO COME HERE, SHOW US A GOOD FAITH EFFORT THAT THEY WANT TO DO BUSINESS HERE.
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT GONNA GO TO SAUDI ARABIA AND, AND, AND TRY TO COURT ANOTHER OIL COMPANY TO COME HERE.
I DON'T WANT US TO SET A PRECEDENT TO DO THAT.
OKAY? IF DISCUSSION, ADAM, GO AHEAD.
TELL FRANK LAST MY LAST STATEMENT.
THAT IS NOT WHAT I AM, THAT IS NOT WHAT I'M CONDONING, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING.
MR. KOP HAD BEEN HERE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
SO THE NECESSITY FOR US GOING TO DALLAS WAS CREATED BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN COMING HERE FOR TWO YEARS AND HAD BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE DEAL DONE.
UM, BECAUSE OF OTHER EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THOSE TWO BUILDINGS.
UM, THE, WITH THE, UH, SURVEY ON THE LAND FOR THE WATERPARK, THERE WAS SOME EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT KEPT THE DEAL FROM BEING DONE.
AND SO THERE WAS SOME FRUSTRATION ON HIS PART.
UH, AND SO WE WERE, WE WERE IN A POSITION WHERE WE WERE GOING TO LOSE THE DEAL, WHERE THE DEAL WAS NOT GOING TO GET DONE BECAUSE HE WAS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AFTER TWO YEARS.
AND SO, I AM NOT IN ANY WAY SUGGESTING THAT WE GO OUT AND SOLICIT BUSINESS, BUT I AM SUGGESTING, AND I AM SAYING THAT IN, IN LIGHT OF, UM, WHAT WAS NEEDED ON THIS
[01:45:01]
OCCASION, WHAT WAS NEEDED TO BRING THIS HOME, WHO WOULD, WHO WOULD NOT IN ANY WAY EXCHANGE $1,738 FOR $25 MILLION, WHO WOULD NOT EXCHANGE 1,768 UH, DOLLARS FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF 600,000 PEOPLE COMING TO PORT ARTHUR OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR WHO WOULD NOT TRADE $1,768 FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING THE LARGEST WATER PARK BETWEEN BATON ROUGE AND HOUSTON, TEXAS? BECAUSE HAD WE NOT DONE THAT DEAL WITH THE A AND B BUSINESS, WE WOULD'VE THROWN THE POSSIBILITY OF ALL OF THAT OUT OF THE WINDOW.THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT CHANGING A CULTURE.
BECAUSE, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT CHANGED THE CULTURE, THAT'S WHY NOTHING HAS EVER HAPPENED ON THAT ISLAND, BECAUSE WE DON'T LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE VISION, BECAUSE WE DON'T DREAM, BECAUSE WE DON'T, BECAUSE WE WANNA STAY WITHIN OUR BOX AND BE IMPORTANT IN OUR OWN EYES, RATHER THAN SEEING, YES, WE DO LIVE IN A TIME WHERE INDIVIDUALS ARE DOING, UM, VIDEO CONFERENCE CALLS, BUT RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE BUSINESS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FLYING TO MEET INDIVIDUALS TO DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO BRING THEIR BUSINESS AND THEIR, THEIR, TO BRING, UH, SUCCESS TO THEIR BUSINESS AND TO BRING COMPANIES TO THEIR AREA.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO CHANGE WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CULTURE, BUT I'M GONNA STAY ON SUBJECT AS OF TODAY.
BUT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER AS A COUNCIL DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND WHERE WE ARE NOW WILL NOT GET US WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO GO AS A CITY.
IF WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE WANT TO GROW PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO THE DEGREE WE WANT TO GROW IT, THAT'S GOING TO BE A BLESSING AND A BENEFIT TO OUR CITIZENS.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THAT THE, THE CERTAINLY CITY MANAGER AND I ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF FUNDING AND THE GOOD USE OF PUBLIC DOLLARS.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE WERE AT THE AIRPORT TOGETHER AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
UM, WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION AND WE IMMEDIATELY FLEW BACK.
THERE WAS NO FANCY MEALS, THERE WERE NO FANCY HOTEL ROOMS. THERE WAS THERE TO GO BUSINESS AND BACK.
I KNOW THAT MR. BURTON AND I LANDED, I THINK AT 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT AT THE AIRPORT.
BUT COUNCIL MEMBER AIRFIELD DIDN'T LAND AT HER DESTINATION UNTIL LIKE TWO OR THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
WE APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO BRING THINGS TO PORT ARTHUR.
AND IF IT WAS UP TO ME, I WOULDN'T BE AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AT THE AIRPORT.
AND YOU'VE GOT A GREAT WORLD CLASS ACT COMING TO PORT ARTHUR ON PLEASURE ISLAND.
OKAY? UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS AND COUNCILMAN LEWIS SAID YOU BOTH, YOU ALL BOTH HAVE SPOKEN, UH, COUNCILMAN EVER FIELD HAM, UH, HAMILTON OVERFIELD.
I'M NOT GONNA RECOGNIZE YOU BECAUSE WE'RE DISCUSSING YOU.
UH, I'LL GET TO THE GALLERY IN A MINUTE.
IN, IN, UH, AN EFFORT TO, I THINK BE FAIR AND HONEST AND, BUT WHAT COUNCILMAN FRANK IS REQUESTING, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S NOT A REQUEST THAT'S BEEN MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN EVER FIELDS TO, UH, REIMBURSE HER FOR IT.
I THINK COUNCILMAN FRANK IS JUST SAYING IT WOULD BE A GOOD EFFORT OR EFFORT OF, UH, GOOD FAITH ON OUR PART AS A COUNCIL TO REIMBURSE HER BECAUSE OF THE, UH, POSITIVE NATURE OF THE, THE, UH, THE TRIP.
UH, I HEAR COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGEVITY HERE, AND THAT, THAT THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S VOLUMES OF EXPERIENCE THAT YOU, YOU'LL TAKE FOR GRANTED.
[01:50:01]
VOLUMES OF EXPERIENCE ACTUALLY SHOULD LEAD YOU TO BE MORE AMENABLE AND AMENABLE TO CHANGE IN ACTIONS AND CHANGE IN THE WAY BUSINESS IS DONE BECAUSE OF YOUR EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE AND THE ASTUTENESS THAT YOU HAVE IN A PARTICULAR, UH, FIELD OF ENDEAVOR, WHICH IS GOVERNMENT HERE, THEN WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE NOTHING BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE NOTHING.OKAY? I CAN HEAR MY COLLEAGUES TALK ABOUT HAVING SOMEONE TO COME TO YOU, BUT THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN INDIVIDUAL TO COME TO YOU IS IF THEY'VE GONE SEVERAL OTHER PLACES AND FOUND OUT THAT MAYBE YOU HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.
THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONTEMPLATE OR CONSIDER BRINGING THEIR BUSINESS TO IS BECAUSE OF YOUR INDULGING THEM IN THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF COMING TO YOU.
THE ONLY WAY THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN IS YOU'VE GOT TO GO TO THEM.
NOW, WHAT YOU ALL DID DIDN'T EVEN HAPPEN LIKE THAT.
WHAT I JUST EXPLAINED, THAT IT HAPPENED MORE LIKE WHAT COUNCILMAN FRANK SAID.
IT HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
WE WERE AT A POINT WHERE MAYBE THIS DEAL WOULD NOT GO THROUGH.
IT WAS IMPERATIVE FOR US TO GO THERE TO FIND OUT, HEY MAN, ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS? IF NOT, WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN TO LOOK FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE, WITH THE PROPERTIES.
I SAY ALL THIS TO SAY, I DON'T WANT US TO GET LOST IN TRADITION.
THAT BASICALLY HAS NOT BEEN THE BEST DECISION FOR THE GROWTH OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
YOU KNOW, IF OUR TRADITION WOULD HAVE US TO HAVE EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT AND NEED HERE, THEN WE CAN SAY WE CAN CONTINUE THAT TRADITION.
BUT OUR TRADITION CAUSE FOR SOME CHANGES TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN OUR ACTIONS AS WE PURSUE BETTERMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS CITIZENS IN THE CITY OF FORT ARTHUR WOULD BE VEHEMENTLY AGAINST PAYING FOR TRAVEL FOR A COUNCIL PERSON AND, AND, AND ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM TO GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AND DELIVER A MESSAGE OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS BEING A PLACE FOR CONSIDERATION TO COME AND DO BUSINESS.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN, UH, UH, UH, BEEN HERE ON THIS SIX YEAR TERM, I'M ABOUT TO GO.
BUT I WOULD HATE FOR YOU TO BE IN THE SAME MINDSET AS I LEAVE, THAT YOU WIN WHEN I ARRIVE.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S LIKE, UH, AND I'VE GOT TO SAY IT, IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYORS ASSOCIATION, IT'S $10,000 A YEAR DUES, BUT THE CITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE HUNDREDS TO $200,000 WORTH OF GRANTS.
'CAUSE YOU MAYOR IS A PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION.
NOW, LOOK UP HERE, AND IT WAS EVEN DIFFERENT THEN WHEN YOU CAN GET A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO VOTE TO SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE YOUR MAYOR TO BE A PART OF THIS GREAT GROUP OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYORS IN THE STATE, IN, IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DEPRIVE YOURSELVES OF BEING ABLE TO BE CONSIDERED AND HAVING WHAT YOU BASICALLY NEED TO EVEN RECEIVE THESE GRANTS, SIMPLY BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS.
SO THE WAY THAT WE DO BUSINESS IS TO LOSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EQUALING MILLIONS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE WE CAN'T CHANGE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I WOULD JUST WANT US TO CONSIDER, OR TO RECONSIDER OUR POSITIONING ON THIS.
AND I WOULD HUMBLY ASK IF IT'S ANY CONSIDERATION TO REIMBURSE OUR COUNCIL PERSON FOR WHAT SHE'S DONE FOR THE BETTERMENT AND THE GOOD OF THIS COMMUNITY, THAT WE WOULD HAVE ENOUGH GOD IN OUR HEARTS AND NOT SO MUCH A SELF IN OUR WAY,
[01:55:01]
THAT WE COULD DO THAT.AND WE CAN MOVE ON BECAUSE IT'S 9 0 5.
OKAY? YOU WANT TO TALK? COME RIGHT ON.
RAYMOND SCOTT, 37 26 LAKE SHORE DRIVE.
I'VE SIT HERE NIGHT AND LISTEN TO EVERYBODY TALK AND GIVE THEIR OPINIONS AND HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THINGS.
UH, I HEAR, UH, SOME PEOPLE, SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT FOR THE COUNCIL.
MEMBERS ARE NOT FOR SOME PEOPLE ARE FOR, UH, REIMBURSING COUNCILMAN HAMILTON.
THE WHOLE THING THAT I I GOT OUT OF IT WAS THAT COUNCILMAN HAMILTON SAID THAT SHE WOULD DO IT WITHOUT BEING REIMBURSED.
HE'S TRYING TO SAY THAT IT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO HER.
NOW, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW I FEEL, HOW EVERYBODY FEEL IT HAS TO DO ABOUT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO SAY, UH, UH, YOU, WE GOTTA CHANGE, YES, IT'S NO, IT'S NO PROBLEM IN CHANGING, BUT IT'S A PROBLEM WHEN YOU GO BEYOND POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND WHEN ONE PERSON STARTED OFF KNOWING WHAT THE SITUATION WAS, WHEN YOU VOLUNTEER TO DO SOMETHING, YOU VOLUNTEER YOUR RESOURCES AND YOUR TIME.
I UNDERSTAND COUNCILMAN FRANK SAYING YES, IT SHOULD HELP REIMBURSE HER.
BUT ANOTHER THING ABOUT IT, COUNCILMAN FRANK, IS THIS, THAT YOU SPENDING, UH, TAX TAXPAYERS DOLLARS, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A STEWARD OF THE CITIZENS IN EVERY MEAN TAXPAYER DOLLARS, MAKING SURE THAT CITIZENS BENEFIT.
MAKE SURE THAT CITIZENS' MONEY IS TAKEN CARE OF.
SO IT'S NOT AN ARGUMENT ABOUT MONEY, IT'S AN DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT WAS IN PLACE.
YOU ALL DECIDED TO SEND THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY.
THAT'S WHO THIS, THAT'S WHO THE COUNSELORS DECIDE TO SEND.
SO IF YOU DECIDE TO SEND THEM, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO GET THE BIG DOLLARS THAT YOU SENT THEM TO REPRESENT YOU, TO GET.
SO YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO NEED A COUNCIL PERSON TO PARTICIPATE AND NEGOTIATE, BECAUSE AGAIN, SHE GOTTA COME BACK AND VOTE ON IT.
SO YOU GOT A COUNCIL PERSON GOING TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT, AND YOU SENT TWO OTHER PEOPLE, A LAWYER AND A CITY, CITY MANAGER.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A BIG DEAL TO DO WITH MAKING SURE THIS CONTRACT IS DONE.
IF THEY WOULD'VE CAME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND SAID, WELL, WE STILL HAVE ISSUES.
MAYBE WE NEED SOME MORE, ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER, ANOTHER VOICE, THEN THEY WOULD'VE BROUGHT IT BACK, AND THEN THE COUNCIL WOULD'VE VOTED ON, HEY, LET'S DO THIS.
LET'S SEND SOMEBODY AND PAY FOR IT.
WELL, THIS IS NOT ABOUT A TRADITION, UH, UH, A CULTURE.
UH, WE DON'T WANT NOTHING TO HAPPEN ON PLEASURE ISLAND.
THIS IS NOT, I SEE EVERYBODY UP THERE WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ON PLEASURE ISLAND.
COUNCILMAN FRANKIE TALKING ABOUT THE BIG BUCKS.
I HEARD THE BIG BUCKS NINE YEARS ON COUNCIL, AND PEOPLE BROUGHT DIFFERENT PROPOSALS TO, TO PLEASURE ALL HAY THE FIRST TIME.
COUNCILMAN FRANK, THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT A LONG TIME, BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT $25 MILLION ON PLEASURE ISLAND YET.
HOPEFULLY, I PRAY WE DO, BUT THIS IS ABOUT THE PROCEDURES THAT'S IN PLACE, THE PROCESS IN PLACE.
COUNCILMAN HAMILTON SAID, I WILL GO AND I'LL PAY MY OWN FUNDS.
COUNCILMAN FRANK PUT IT ON HERE.
IF I WAS SITTING IN HER SEAT AND THIS, SHE'S NOT ME, I WOULD'VE JUST SAID, HEY, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU VOLUNTEER TO DO SOMETHING, YOU VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME AND YOUR RESOURCES.
WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT WE DISCUSSING, WHAT WE ARGUING ABOUT.
WE NOT ARGUING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NOT BEING FAIR, NOT CONSIDERING WHAT SHE DID.
WE NOT, WE NOT ARGUING, SHOULDN'T BE ARGUING ABOUT WHAT SHE DID.
WE UNDERSTAND SHE DID A GOOD DEED, BUT SHE SAID, WHAT? I'LL PAY FOR IT.
NOW, WE DON'T USUALLY PAY PEOPLE TO DO COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DO THAT TYPE OF THING, BUT IF THE COUNCIL WOULD'VE DECIDED TO PAY FOR IT BEFORE IT HAPPENED, THEN IT WOULDN'T BE NO PROBLEM AMONG THE COUNCIL.
BUT THE COUNCIL DIDN'T AGREE TO PAY FOR THAT.
[02:00:01]
MAN.EVERYBODY WANT THINGS TO HAPPEN ON THE ISLAND.
EVERYBODY WANT THINGS TO HAPPEN POSITIVE, BUT WE CAN'T KEEP ARGUING ABOUT THE CULTURE HERE.
I KNOW EVERYBODY MINDSET SHOULD BE ABOUT CHANGES.
IF YOU GOTTA MAKE A CHANGE TO MAKE SOMETHING POSITIVE HAPPEN, IT'S OKAY.
BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT MAKING SOMETHING POSITIVE HAPPEN.
IT'S ABOUT A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT WE DON'T USE TO PAY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DO THIS.
AND SHE CHOSE TO DO IT AND PAY OUR OWN WAY.
CITY ATTORNEY SAID, WE WENT THERE AND WE DID OUR BUSINESS, AND WE CAME RIGHT BACK.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO, AND THANK GOD THEY DID IT, AND THEY GOT THE, THEY GOT THE, UH, DEAL DONE.
BUT THAT'S WHO YOU ALL SITTING AS A COUNCIL TO DO IT.
YOU DIDN'T AGREE TO HAVE ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER TO GO, WE CAN'T GET ANY SUCCESSIONS LIKE THIS, MAN.
LOOKING AT YOU ALL LOOKING AT YOU, COUNCILMAN FRANK.
I KNOW YOU, I KNOW YOUR PASSION.
I FEEL I DO, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST THE PASSION.
IT'S ABOUT JUST AS TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.
AND WE ARE NOT COMPARING $1,700 TO A MILLION DOLLARS, $2 MILLION.
WE JUST TALKING ABOUT, HEY, WHAT WAS DECIDED BEFORE SHE WENT BY THE COUNCIL? AND LET'S STAY WITH THAT.
I'M NOT HERE TO, I CAN'T VOTE, BUT I'M JUST STATING MY OPINION AS A CITIZEN.
WE ARE GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES ABOUT THE WRONG THING.
THAT'S IT, IT'S THE WRONG THING.
THE WHOLE COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, I RESPECT WHAT Y'ALL SAID, BUT IT'S JUST A PROCESS AND WHAT SHE SAID, AND IT'S TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.
I'M NOT GOING TO RUN ABOUT TAX BILLS DOLLARS, COUNCILMAN FRANK, BECAUSE THERE'D BE TIMES WHEN WE MAY NEED TO USE MORE MONEY, BUT LET'S DO IT IN THE PROCESS THAT EVERYBODY AGREEABLE TO IT BEFORE IT EVEN OCCURRED.
DON'T JUST BRING IT HERE NOW TO VOTE ON IT.
I, I KNOW YOU DIDN'T OPPOSE COUNCIL KNOW YOU THAT YOU GOT FOUR VOTES.
I DON'T THINK YOU DID THAT CONSEQUENCE, FRANK.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT FOUR VOTES, MAYBE MORE THAN YOU KNOW.
BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT VOTES, JUST ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN PUT IN PLACE, POLICY, PROCEDURES, WHAT WAS STATED AND HIGHER.
UH, WELL, WE HAVE THREE OTHER LICENSE.
IT'S NOT AN ITEM FOR ACTION MATTER FOR VOTE.
UH, IT WASN'T POLITIC FOR VOTE.
I'M GONNA CEASE DISCUSSION AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA OKAY.
[V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST (LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF TWO (2) MINUTES PER COUNCILMEMBER)]
IS, UH, WE, DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS OF, UH, COMMUNITY ENTRIES? ANY, ANY EYE OF THE COMMUNITY ENTRIES? OKAY.YES, I WAS ASKED TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT, UM, CONCERNING SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CITY.
UM, MANY INDIVIDUALS IN OUR CITY KNOW THAT THERE IS A CONSIDERATION FOR A BOND ISSUE, UH, THAT IS COMING UP IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UM, I KNOW, UM, UM, THAT, UH, THE TALK HAS BEEN GOING AROUND TOWN AND I HAVE SIMPLY BEEN ASKED TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT IT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL IDEA IF THE CITIZENS OF OUR, UM, BELOVED CITY WOULD ATTEND SOME OF THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS TO GET INFORMATION CONCERNING THAT PROPOSED, UH, BOND ISSUE, UH, FOR, UM, THE STADIUM AND FOR A MIDDLE SCHOOL TO BE BUILT IN OUR CITY.
UH, AND SO, UH, I'M SIMPLY MAKING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.
I'M ASKING THAT ALL CITIZENS WOULD, UH, SEEK TO MAKE A TOWN HALL MEETING, UM, TO RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION, UH, AND MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION CONCERNING THAT VOTE.
I AM REMINDING CITIZENS THAT EARLY VOTING BEGINS
[02:05:01]
TUESDAY, APRIL 22ND.THAT'S AN APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS EARLY VOTING FOR OUR MAYORAL ELECTION BEGINS APRIL 22ND, 2025, AND THE POLLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 8:00 AM TO 5:00 PM IF YOU, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, CITY SECRETARY, PLEASE CORRECT ME.
THE O EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS WILL BE HERE AT CITY HALL AND AT THE PORT ARTHUR PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SO THOSE TWO LOCATIONS FROM 8:00 AM TO 5:00 PM EARLY VOTING BEGINS APRIL 22ND, AND ALSO APRIL 26TH AT 9:00 AM THERE WILL BE A CIVIL SERVICE EXAM FOR FIREFIGHTERS.
IF YOU WILL GO TO EVENTS ON THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S WEBSITE, YOU'LL SEE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
PLEASE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW OUR WEBSITE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU ALL AWARE OF THOSE TWO ISSUES.
WE HAVE A FIREFIGHTERS CIVIL SERVICE EXAM COMING UP APRIL 26TH, AND EARLY VOTING BEGINS APRIL 22ND.
AND WE WOULD NOW MOVE TO, WE DON'T HAVE ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS TO MOVE THROUGH TO
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA ]
THE CONSENT AGENDA.NOW ON THE CONSENT CONSENT AGENDA, WE WOULD ACTUALLY BEGIN ON PAGE THREE THROUGH PAGE, UH, SEVENTH.
YEAH, PAGE THREE THROUGH PAGE SEVEN.
AND THERE ARE ITEMS HERE ON THE, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT COUNCILPERSONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN, UH, INFORMATION PRIOR TO THE MEETING ON THE, ON EACH OF THESE ITEMS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE TWO ITEMS ON THIS CONSENT AGENDA THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, PULL OR HAVE WITHDRAWN TOTALLY.
AND WE WILL DISCUSS THESE AT ANOTHER TIME.
ON PAGE SIX, PR NUMBER 24, 2 32.
AND ITEM NUMBER SIX ON SIX, PR NUMBER 24, 2 33.
WE, UH, WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THOSE REMOVED.
UH, FROM THE AGENDA AT THIS TIME, UH, CITY ATTORNEY, UH, DID YOU CARE TO SPEAK ON THAT OR, YES, THAT'S CORRECT, SIR.
WE RECEIVE NOTICE FROM THE EDCS, MR. STOKES ASKING FOR THOSE ITEMS TO BE REMOVED.
SO IF YOU'LL REMOVE THOSE WILL COME BACK TO THE MET LATER DATE.
WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THOSE ITEMS, UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, UH, YEAH, I'LL DO THAT.
BEFORE I DO THE MOTION, UH, WHAT ITEMS SOMEONE WOULD WANT, UH, A CONSIDERATION, SINGLE OR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? GIMME THE ITEM NUMBER AND PAGE BY THE PAGE AND THE NUMBER, PLEASE? YES.
AND ITEM NUMBER EIGHT THERE ON PAGE SIX ON PAGE SIX, ITEM EIGHT.
IF THERE WOULD BE NO OTHERS, UH, I'D LIKE TO GET A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA FROM PAGE THREE, PAGES THREE THROUGH SEVEN WITH THE EXCLUSION OF ITEM, UH, A FOUR ON PAGE FOUR, ITEM, UH, TWO ON PAGE FIVE, AND ITEM EIGHT ON PAGE SIX.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? YES.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? OH, HE'S GONE.
I GOT A SECOND FROM, UH, YEAH, I GOT, YEAH, I GOT 30 SECONDS.
UH, UH, IN THE MOVE TO SECOND THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THE APPLE STATED, UH, ARE WE READY? UH, FOR QUESTION, THE QUESTION, READY TO VOTE? I SAY I GOT A CALL.
ALL, UH, UH, COURT OF ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
UH, ANY OPPOSES AS HAVE IT? SO THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THE ITEM THAT WE ARE GOING TO HANDLE, UH, INDIVIDUALLY.
[VII.A.(A4) Councilmember Willie “Bae” Lewis: Golden Triangle Days Austin, TX March 3 – 5, 2025 $897.57]
UH, WE HAVE ITEM A FOUR, WHICH IS COUNCILMAN WILLIE BAY LEWIS GOLDEN TRIANGLE DAYS, AUSTIN, TEXAS, MARCH 3RD THROUGH FIFTH IN THE AMOUNT OF $897 AND 57 6.MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL FOR COUNCILMAN YOUR LAW? SO MOVED.
MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SECOND.
[02:10:01]
UH, ITEM NUMBER A FOUR.COUNCILMAN LEWIS? YEAH, IT, IT LOOKS LIKE ALL OF YOU ALL OVERSPENT AND I SPENT VERY LITTLE.
OH, HE PROBABLY STAYED AT THE MOTEL SIX.
THIS STILL OPEN? I GOT HIM BACK.
I WOULD DO, YEAH, HE PUT HIMSELF UP FOR THAT
YOU GOT ANY OTHER QUESTION? BUT ANYWAY, ANYWAY, THAT'S WHEN I, IT WAS PREPAID BY, BY MS. WHITLEY.
IT WAS ALL PREPAID AND I ENDED, ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL.
SO THAT'S WHY IT LOOKS LIKE Y'ALL OVERSPENT.
I, WELL, I KNEW THAT, BUT OH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT? IT HAPPENED.
I HAVE TO PAY YOU BACK FOR WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER.
ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVING? SO, UH, ITEM A FOUR IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VII.C.(2) P.R. No. 24229 – A Resolution Authorizing The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation To Utilize Pre-Employment Workforce Training Funds To Implement A Youth Employment Program In An Amount Not To Exceed $96,000.00; Funds Available In PAEDC Account No. 120-80-625-5440-00-00-000]
FIVE, ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, PR NUMBER 24 229.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION TO UTILIZE PRE-EMPLOYMENT WORKFORCE TRAINING FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT A YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $96,000 FUNDS AVAILABLE IN P-A-E-D-C.
ACCOUNT NUMBER ONE 20 DASH 8 6 2 5 54 40 0 0 0 0 MIGHT GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN LEWIS MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
COUNCILMAN BECKHAM SECOND, IT HAS BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND, AND WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 24 2 29 AS APPROVED.
UH, WE READY FOR QUESTION, QUESTION.
OKAY, MR. STOKES, UH, I KNOW WE, I KNOW YOU HAVE FUNDS FOR PRE PRE-EMPLOYMENT WORKFORCE TRAINING FUNDS.
OKAY? BUT THE PROBLEM THAT I KIND OF GOT CONFUSED ON, I NEEDED YOU TO CLARIFY WHEN I STARTED READING WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM AND WHEN YOU TALKS ABOUT IT, AND I READ ALL OF IT, YOU SAY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL SINGING, YOU TALK ABOUT CTE, THAT'S HIGH SCHOOL MM-HMM
AND THEN WHEN I READ WHAT YOU WAS BASING IT ON, YOU HAD AS REFERENCE FOR THAT LOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 5 0 1 0.163, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
DID YOU READ 5 0 1 0.163? I HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, SIR.
YOU READ B ONE TWO AND C? YES, SIR.
SO DO YOU THINK THAT SAYS YOU CAN PUT MONEY ON YOUTH OR, UH, SENIORS AND IN FACT, I, AT THE MEETING LAST NIGHT, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EVEN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, BUT I'M GONNA SAY THAT ANYTHING IN HERE, EVEN REMOTELY TALKS ABOUT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND, AND, AND STUDENTS.
UH, CITY COUNCIL, UH, JUST TO BE, UH, MAKE SURE THAT I WAS UN UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY.
I, UH, THIS MORNING, UH, SOUGHT, UH, AGAIN FROM THE PC'S ATTORNEY, UH, YOU ALL KNOW ATTORNEY CHARLES ZACK, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS UNDERSTANDING WHAT JURISDICTION, WHAT APPROVALS WE HAD.
AND ONCE AGAIN, HE REPEATED, AND I CERTAIN I HAVE COPIES OF THIS, YOU CAN, I CAN PROVIDE IT TO YOU THAT THE GOVERNING CODE FOR OUR PROGRAM, WHICH IS IN ITS NINTH YEAR, UH, BY THE WAY, UH, THE THIRD YEAR FOR UNDER HIS, UH, UH, TWO
UH, I CAN CERTAINLY READ ALL OF THAT CITATION TO YOU.
UH, BUT I HAVE NO REASON TO GO AGAINST, UH, OR THANK AGAINST THE ADVICE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM OUR COUNSEL
[02:15:01]
IN TERMS OF THE GOVERNING, UH, CODE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, WHICH LIKE I MENTIONED, IS IN ITS NINTH YEAR, UH, HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL FOR THOSE NINE YEARS AND THREE OF THOSE YEARS, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH ATTORNEY Z, MRS. MRS. STOKES DON'T SAY YOU'RE SAYING IT'S BEEN APPROVED OF THIS ACCOUNT FOR NINE YEARS.YOU TALKING ABOUT THE, THE EMPLOYMENT TRAINING.
I SAT ON THE, I SAT ON THE EEC BOARD, OKAY.
DURING ALL OF THIS TRAINING, AND I KNOW ABOUT THE TRAINING THAT THEY PROVIDE, OKAY? IT IS TWO TYPE TRAINING THAT IS COVERED IN 1 0 0 5, 0 1, 1 0.3, THE TRAINING IN A ONE, I MEAN B ONE, IT SAYS A CORPORATION MAY SPEND REVENUE RECEIVES UNDER THIS SUBTITLE FOR DRIVE TRAINING THAT CONSISTS OF ONE, PROVIDING JOB RELATED LIFE SKILLS SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE AN UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT.
I REMEMBER WHEN THE EDC WAS DOING THE LIFE SKILLS, IT WAS FOR PEOPLE WHO WAS UNEMPLOYED AND THEY WERE GIVING THEM, AND THEY PAID A CONTRACTOR TO TEACH LIFE SKILLS BECAUSE THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE UNDER 5 0 1 1 63.
OKAY? NUMBER TWO SAYS, ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME? OKAY, NUMBER TWO SAYS, PROVIDING JOB TRAINING SKILLS SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE AND UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT.
HOW IS A STUDENT GOING TO GO THROUGH TRAINING AND OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT IN THE IN SCHOOL? THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THE A DC COUNCIL.
SAID, COUNCIL SAID, I, I HAVE TO, I HAVE TO JUST ASK YOU SOMETHING QUESTION.
I'M LISTEN YOU, BECAUSE YOU ASKED BE FOLLOWING.
YOU READ THAT SECOND, THAT SECOND THING YOU JUST READ AGAIN.
THE SECOND ONE SAYS, PROVIDING JOB TRAINING SKILLS SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE AN EMPLOYED INDIVID AN UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT.
OKAY? NOW, IT DIDN'T SAY THE AGE OF THE UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL, NEITHER DID IT STIPULATE THE EDUCATIONAL STATUS OF THE UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL.
SO YOU SAID NO POINT OF ORDER.
AND WHEN I FINISH, GO AHEAD AHEAD.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN SPEAK ANY TIME YOU WANT.
ONCE AGAIN, AS STUDENTS, THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR US, FOR YOU TO CHECK ON IS THAT THE EDC, THE TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL CLEARLY OPPOSES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE GRIEVANCE AND, AND, AND DEALINGS WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE HIGH SCHOOLS AND ALSO, UH, COLLEGES OR WHATEVER.
OKAY? BUT IF YOU READ CC SAYS A CORPORATION TO WHICH THE SECTION APPLIES MAY CONTRACT WITH ANY PERSON TO PROVIDE THE JOB TRAINING AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS CHAPTER.
THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO GET LAMAR UNIVERSITY, I MEAN, LAMAR STATE COLLEGE TO DO, UH, THE BUS, THE LICENSE.
WE COULD DO THE NURSING PROGRAM.
ANY SKILL THAT IS IN DEMAND, THE CORPORATION CAN SEE IT.
OKAY? BUT I HAVE A SERIOUS CONCERN WHEN THE TYPE A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION START TAKING MONEY TO PROVIDE DRY JOB TRAINING OR LIFE SKILLS AND DIVERT IT TOWARD SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU START BY CTCT IS, IT'S THE, THE SKILLS THAT THEY PROVIDE IN HIGH SCHOOL, OKAY? ONCE THEY LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL, IF THEY WANT TO GET TRAINING, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS COME TO THE EDC.
IF THEY GRADUATE AND SAY, HEY, Y'ALL GOT ANY TRAINING, OR I'VE HAD THIS TYPE TRAINING, I'D LIKE
[02:20:01]
TO HAVE MORE TRAINING, CAN I GET ENROLLED? SURE.BUT THE WAY I READ ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AND THE BACKGROUND, YOU'RE DEALING WITH HIGH SCHOOL HERE AND STUDENTS, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT A TYPE A CORPORATION IS SET UP TO DO OR DESIGN.
NOW YOU SAY YOUR ATTORNEY DID IT.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, UH, I SAT ON A PROGRAM AND YOU TALKING NINE YEARS, THAT STATEMENT, YOU GOTTA BE CAREFUL.
I'VE BEEN ON EDC, WE'VE NEVER DONE NOTHING WITH STUDENTS LIKE WHAT YOU HAVE OUTLINED IN THE BACKGROUND.
OKAY? THAT PROGRAM, THAT YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, YOU SAY WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR NOW, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVEN'T, YOU'VE BEEN DOING PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRAINING.
THAT'S WHAT THE EDC HAS BEEN DOING, THIS THING WORKING WITH HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S WHY YOU ASKING US TO LET YOU TRANSFER MONEY FROM THE PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRAINING FUND TO ESTABLISH MONEY FOR THIS TRAINING.
SO DON'T STAND AND TELL ME, SIR, THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR NINE YEARS.
AND IF YOU DID, YOU'D HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT.
OKAY? SO YOU WANT TO TRANSFER MONEY FROM WHAT YOU GOT FOR JOB TRAINING AND YOU WANT TO EMPLOY IT WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, UH, CITY ATTORNEY.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA ASK THAT YOU ALSO CHECK ON OUR BEHALF, BECAUSE I I'M NOT IN FAVOR UNTIL WE GET A DONE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO OVER HERE.
WE OVERSEE THAT CORPORATION WHEN THEY COME TO FINDING FOLLOWING 5 0 4 AND 5 0 1, THEY'RE WRITTEN, YOU KNOW? YES, SIR.
YEAH, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THIS.
NO, AND YOU DID A GREAT JOB READING THE STATUTE.
UM, SO I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD STATE THAT THE FUNDS ARE ALLOWABLE FOR TYPE A, UM, LEGALLY ALLOWABLE.
UH, PROVIDED THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING THE JOB TRAINING SKILLS AND IT'S AN UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL AND IT'S TO PROVIDE THEM, UH, JOB TRAINING FOR THE FUTURE.
IT NEVER, EVER DID SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE AGE AS LONG AS IT WAS AN UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL.
IF YOU HAVE POLICY DECISIONS THAT YOU DON'T WANNA SPEND THE MONEY TOWARDS THAT, THAT'S DIFFERENT.
BUT LEGALLY IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALLOWABLE.
WHAT I'LL DO IS, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
I COULD BRING YOU HOLD, HOLD, HOLD ON.
COUNCILMAN DO I'M JUST, NO, SIR.
NOW YOU, I, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T RE JUST A MINUTE.
NOW I'M GOING TELL THE MEETING.
BUT YOU SEE, YOU CALL THE PORT OF ALL ME WHEN I'M TALKING.
YOU DIDN'T ASK ME TO ASK ME TO LET HER TALK.
SO NOW I'M JUST GOING TO GET READY TO CORRECT YOU.
'CAUSE NOW SHE GOT THE FLOOR BECAUSE I DID NOT DENY HER THAT, THAT DON'T MEAN THAT IT COMES RIGHT BACK TO YOU.
I HAVE TO RECOGNIZE YOU THERE.
HAVE SOME OTHER LIGHTS ON WITH TIME IS WELL SPENT.
I GOTTA GET TO THE OTHER PEOPLE.
UM, WE'RE, UH, UNIQUE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AS EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WE HAVE MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UH, WITHIN THE BORDERS OF OUR CITY.
BUT I WANNA BE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT LEAVING OUT A VERY LARGE POPULATION OF STUDENTS, AND THAT'S OUR HOMESCHOOL POPULATION.
SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE OLDEST AND THE LARGEST HOMESCHOOL CO-OP THAT'S ACTUALLY HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.
IT'S LOCATED IN DISTRICT THREE.
UH, THEY ARE AT RIDGEWOOD CHURCH AND THEY'RE CALLED LIGHTHOUSE HOMESCHOOL SUPPORT.
THEY'RE LOCATED AT 29 20 LAKE ARTHUR DRIVE, AND THEIR PHONE NUMBER IS FOUR OH NINE SEVEN TWO NINE 6,000.
NOW, THERE'S KIDS IN THAT CO-OP PROGRAM FROM ALL OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS, BUT THERE'S A NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN THAT THAT RESIDE IN PORT ARTHUR THAT PARTICIPATE IN THAT CO-OP.
SO I WANNA BE SURE THAT WE'RE REACHING OUT TO, TO THAT HOMESCHOOL CO-OP BECAUSE THEY CAN PLUG YOU INTO OTHER CO-OPS AROUND THE AREA, UH, THAT ARE SERVICING PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS.
AND WE GRADUATE QUESTION KIDS FROM HOMESCHOOL EVERY SEMESTER.
WE'VE GOT A BIG GROUP OF PROBABLY OVER A HUNDRED KIDS THAT ARE GONNA GRADUATE IN MAY FROM THE HOMESCHOOL PROGRAMS AROUND THE AREA.
SO LET'S, LET'S NOT LEAVE THEM OUT.
COUNCILMAN HAMILTON? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I JUST WANT TO, FOR THE, UH, FOR THE RECORD THAT THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, YOUTH EMPLOYMENT, UM, PROGRAM.
AM I SAYING I'M, I'M SO TIRED.
THE YEP PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2019.
[02:25:02]
SO THIS ISN'T A NEW PROGRAM AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS PROGRAM.WE'VE HAD SEVERAL STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXCELLED OUT OF THIS PROGRAM, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT TODAY WE WILL CONTINUE THAT LEGACY AND EVEN IMPROVE ON IT AND HAVE IT TO GROW YEAR AFTER YEAR.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
BUT I WANT TO GO A LITTLE BIT FARTHER THAN, UH, MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL, UH, WOMAN HAMILTON.
I AM A 1975 GRADUATE OF LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, THE FIRST JOB THAT I EVER HAD WAS WORKING IN THE PORT ARTHUR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, UH, BACK IN 19, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE 1974.
UH, AND I WAS WORKING AT THE ROCK ISLAND BAPTIST CHURCH, MR. ARTHUR GUIDRY, WHO WAS A COUNCIL PERSON HERE, UH, IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
UM, I WORKED FOR HIM AND I WORKED FOR THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM THEN.
SO OUR CITY HAS A LONG TRADITION OF EMPLOYING THE YOUTH OF PORT ARTHUR, UH, TO DO WORK AND TO GIVE TRAINING.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE, UH, UH, A VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY LONG TIME.
SO IT IS A, IT IS A, A FOUNDED TRADITION AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE CARRYING THAT ON.
NOW I, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON, ON THIS MATTER AS WELL.
NOW, THE FIRST, UH, UH, POINT, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, AM I CORRECT THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR NINE YEARS? AM I CORRECT? TO MY UNDERSTANDING? BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, JUST LET ME JUST CORRECT.
I'M GONNA JUST DEAL WITH MY WATCH.
IN THE FIRST SUMMER, 27 STUDENTS COULDN'T HAVE BEEN WORKING WITHOUT THE PC'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVING THE, THE PROJECT AND THEN SENDING IT ON TO YOU FOR APPROVAL.
LAST SUMMER, 19 STUDENTS, GAINFULLY, EMPLOYEE, HEAD OF HR, APPROACHED ME THIS MORNING.
WELL, I'M TRYING, I'M GONNA BE PRESENTING TONIGHT AT CITY COUNCIL.
SO I CAN SAY THAT FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS ON MY WATCH, THE PROGRAM HAS GONE ON, HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND HAS BROUGHT OUR YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY PERHAPS WOULD NOT OTHER HAVE OTHERWISE HAVE.
I WON'T SPEAK TO THE OTHER SIX 'CAUSE I WASN'T HERE.
SO, BUT WHAT I'M, I'M GATHERING THAT ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN GIVEN HERE, WE'VE DONE IT WRONG FOR NINE YEARS ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION, APPARENTLY.
OKAY? SO WE'VE DONE IT WRONG FOR NINE YEARS.
NEXT THING IS, IF EVEN IF WE'VE DONE IT WRONG, HAS THIS PROGRAM NOT ENHANCED, UH, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIOECONOMICALLY, UH, UNDERPRIVILEGED STUDENTS WHO ARE IN PORT ARTHUR? WE HAVE A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT HAS, UH, UH, UH, I DON'T KNOW, I'M JUST DOING A GUESSTIMATION NOW, BUT ALMOST 80% OF THE STUDENTS ARE, UH, ARE CONSIDERED TO BE UNDERPRIVILEGED.
I KNOW WHEN I TAUGHT EVERYBODY HAD TEACHERS TO GET FREE LUNCH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS SOCIOECONOMIC, UH, UH, SCALE OR FACTOR, WHATEVER IT IS, Y'ALL WANT A SCHOOL BOARD, RIGHT? YEAH.
OUR STATUS WAS SO ON IF BASICALLY LOW FREE.
UH, SO, SO WE'VE HAD, WE, WE, WE'VE GOT THAT.
SO THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO KNOW.
WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? BECAUSE THIS IS A PROGRAM WE HAVE TO DO NOW IF WE CAN'T GET THE MONEY FROM, FOR THOSE NINE YEARS, IF I, IF I'M RECALLING, CORRECT ME, IT'S CITY MANAGER.
EVERY YEAR WE'VE HAD SOMETHING TO COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL TO APPROVE THESE PROGRAMS EVERY OTHER YEAR.
SOMETHING I, I CAN RECALL THESE SIX YEARS, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD A RESOLUTION LIKE THIS FOR SUMMER, FOR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT.
IT'S SOMETHING EVERY YEAR, YEAR SOMETHING COMES, SOMETHING HAPPENS.
NOW, OUT OF ALL THESE YEARS, AND MR. DUCEY, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT OUTTA ALL THESE YEARS, YOU BENEFIT.
YOU JUST NOT THINKING I WE BE DOING IT WRONG.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT.
WHAT I'M SAYING AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THIS COUNCIL, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE NO OTHER ATTORNEY.
I DON'T KNOW, CAN WE KEEP THE MEETING GOING WHEN THE ATTORNEY EXCUSES HERSELF, CITY SECRETARY? UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THERE.
AND THAT'S, I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE FROM MY STAFF IN HERE.
WHERE WE, I MEAN, IF FOR TIME, FOR TIME PURPOSES, I WANT TO KEEP GOING.
I JUST DON'T WANT IT TO SAY I SAID IT.
AND THEN, BECAUSE YEAH, BECAUSE WHAT I'M GETTING READY TO ASK IS A LEGAL
[02:30:01]
QUESTION.AND SO I DON'T MIND, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE BEEN HERE ALL DAY, SO, SO, BUT THIS, THIS, THIS IS, BUT THIS IS THE POINT.
I COULD DO LIKE, UH, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE SENATOR NAME OF THEM?
BUT, UH, WHAT WE HAVE IS, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, AGAIN, BECAUSE AS I LISTENED TO, MR. DE SAID, AS HE DESCRIBED WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE LAW THAT HE WAS USING TO, TO SUPPORT HIS POSITION.
NOW, WHEN HE DESCRIBED WHOM COULD BE ASSISTED, IT NEVER STIPULATED AN AGE REQUIREMENT.
THE ONLY CHARACTERISTIC IT, IT HAD IN ITS REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WAS THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE UNEMPLOYED.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY NOW IF YOU EMPLOY A STUDENT WHO ALREADY HAS A JOB AT MCDONALD'S, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET 'EM A SECOND JOB, WHICH I DON'T MIND THAT 'CAUSE I HAD TWO OR THREE JOBS.
OKAY? BUT IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE MAY BE IN VIOLATION BECAUSE WE GOT A KID WHO WORKS AT MCDONALD'S AND WHO'S COME GOTTEN THIS OTHER JOB.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S, THAT'S A TECHNICALITY.
BUT FROM WHAT I CAN UNDERSTAND NOW, AND, AND AS WE WERE TO INTERPRET THE VALIDITY OF IF WE ARE DOING IT CORRECTLY THAT THEY HAD TO BE UNEMPLOYED BECAUSE OF THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT, THEIR EMPLOYMENT DURING THE SUMMER OR WITH THE MONIES USED UNDER THIS PROGRAM, THOSE MONIES WOULD ACTUALLY DELIVER TO THOSE KIDS SKILLS THAT WOULD ENHANCE THEIR EMPLOYABILITY OR THE PROBABILITY OF THEM BEING EMPLOYED.
WHICH ACTUALLY MEANS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TEACH THEM SOMETHING DURING THOSE SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS THAT YOU GOING TO HAVE THEM THERE.
THAT WOULD MAKE THEM ATTRACTIVE TO AN EMPLOYER AT SOME LATER TIME IN THEIR LIVES.
SO I THINK WE HAVE COMPLIED WITH THAT PART OF THE RULE.
NOW, MR. JUEL MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH ME AND HE HAS THAT, YOU KNOW, HE HAS, HE HAS THAT, THAT, THAT OPTION.
NOW, ATTORNEY, WHAT I WAS ASKING IS WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? WE NEED THIS PROGRAM.
IF, IF WE CAN'T GET THE MONEY FOR THIS PROGRAM FROM WHERE WE'VE BEEN GETTING IT FROM, WHERE CAN WE GET IT FROM SO WE CAN HAVE THE PRO, WE NEED THE PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY STANDS UP AND SAYS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN POOR ARTHUR, WHAT HAS APPLICATION SO WE CAN JUST TAKE THIS MONEY FROM THE TAXPAYER'S, MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND PUT $96,000 IN THIS SO WE COULD HAVE THE PRO SUMMER PROGRAM.
I JUST WANT DAMN SUMMER PROGRAM.
COUNCILMAN DE SAID WE HAVE THE MONEY, WE HAVE THE YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
I MEAN, HE GONNA HAVE THE PROGRAMED.
IF I GOTTA GO COLLECT SOME MONEY ON THE CALL, WE HAVE THE FUNDING.
I AM, I'M NOT ABOVE THAT FUNDING SOURCE THAT, THAT WE'VE HAD EVERY YEAR.
SO WE, WE WE GOING TO GET THE 96 GRAND.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE.
RIGHT? WE HAVE THE FUNDING AND HOW MANY, YOU SAY YOU GOT 22 APPLICATIONS? YES SIR.
OKAY, SO AT $96,000 WILL TAKE CARE OF THOSE 22 KIDS? YES SIR.
I GOT A LITTLE COUSIN I'M SEND TO YOU TOMORROW.
NO, BECAUSE SOMEBODY GO LOOK AT THIS AND TELL ME THAT.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU ALL, IF YOU READ YOUR BACKGROUND INFORMATION, YOU WANT TO KIND OF MAKE IT SEEM LIKE A THING.
BUT I COULD TELL FROM THE DISCUSSION YOU AIN'T BEEN READING THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION BECAUSE WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BEING GONE ON.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HE'S PUT IN THE BACKGROUND AND REQUESTING, THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT IN INITIATING IT'S IN THE BOOK.
IT IS IN THE PROGRAM, YOU SAID, BUT HE INITIATING SOMETHING NEW.
IF YOU READ ALL OF THE BACKGROUND, IF YOU READ EVERYTHING IN IT, THIS IS NOT WHAT THEY BEEN DOING.
THIS IS SOMETHING YOU NOW HE WANTS TO DO.
NOW WHAT HE'S TALKED ABOUT, WE'VE BEEN DOING EVERY SUMMER, THAT'S A SUMMER HIRE.
THAT'S A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE.
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THAT, WHAT I READ IS NEW.
[02:35:01]
AND GO OVER THERE 'CAUSE IT'S LATE.I'M GONNA GO BACK AND BRIGHT AND WE CAN ALWAYS BRING THESE THINGS BACK 'CAUSE WE'RE GETTING TIRED OF PEOPLE COMING WITH THE BRIGHT IDEA.
THIS DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE IN HERE, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT MR.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THIS PROGRAM THAT HE'S PROPOSING NOW IS SOMETHING HE'S JUST STARTING AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF IT.
BUT WHAT I HEARD FROM MAYOR IS BEEN, WE BEEN DOING IT FOR NINE YEARS AND WAIT, WELL, IF YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR NINE YEARS, YOU'D HAVE HAD THE FUNDING ALREADY IN THERE WHEN YOU DID YOUR BUDGET.
BUT I'M DONE WITH THIS BECAUSE LIKE YOU ALL SAY THAT, I'M GONNA TAKE IT OUT.
I'LL BRING THIS BACK, BUT WHEN I BRING IT BACK, I'M GONNA HAVE THE INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL UNDERSTAND.
WE AIN'T BEEN DOING IT FOR NO NINE YEARS.
OKAY, WE READY? WE, WE, WE ON QUESTION ON THAT.
MAYOR, CAN I CAN JUST GO RIGHT HERE.
I MEAN, WE FEEL ON QUESTION CLARITY.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE WERE.
SO I I DO, I DO UNDERSTAND, I I TRULY DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT IT BEING A, A NEW, UH, TYPE OF OF OR UPDATED TYPE OF PROGRAM.
THIS IS THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.
THE BACKGROUND SPECIFICALLY STATES THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH REAL WORLD LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT EXTEND BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.
IT ALLOWS THEM TO APPLY WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED ACADEMICALLY AND A PROFESSIONAL SETTING, FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS.
OPEN TO PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL IN 2025, OR INCOMING SENIORS GRADUATING IN 2026.
THE PROGRAM AIMS TO HELP PARTICIPANTS ENHANCE THEIR SKILLS AND GAIN EXPERIENCE IN A BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT RELATED TO THEIR STUDIES.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY.
UH, COUNCIL, BUT COUNCILMAN LEWIS, THAT IS OUR FIRST TOPIC.
EVEN IF THAT INFORMATION WASN'T CORRECT, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY.
I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE WE GET THESE SELF-HELP PROGRAMS LIKE THE CEDAR PROGRAM, FOR EXAMPLE MM-HMM
WHERE WE GET OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THEM YOUTH GET INTO THESE PROGRAMS, UH, GET INTO LIFE SKILLS AND, AND BE PRODUCTIVE AND THEY CAN LATER HAVE SOME, HAVE SOME MARKETABLE SKILLS WHEN THEY COME OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL WITH IT.
I WANNA GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE HOW A PROGRAM LIKE THIS HAS HELPED SOMEBODY IN THE CEDAR, A PROGRAM, THIS PERSON COME IN AND SEE THE PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEY, WHEN THE PROGRAM ENDED, THEY KEPT HIM AND HE WENT ON TO OTHER POSITIONS AND HE WENT ON TO OTHER POSITIONS AND HE, HE ENDED UP IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
HARVEY ROBINSON CAME IN INTO, INTO THE WORKFORCE WITH A PROGRAM, THESE HELP PROGRAM.
SO THERE MAY BE SOME GRAY AREAS SOMETIME, BUT WE JUST GOT TO GO DO THE GREATER GOOD.
HMM? WE HAVE SUBPOENA THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW.
I, I DID READ THE BA BACKGROUND IN THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, BUT TWO THINGS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SIGNATURE BLOCK, YOU SEE THE ATTORNEY OF THE P-A-E-D-C AND THEN ALSO THE QUESTION WAS ASKED TO OUR ATTORNEYS, WILL WE BE ABLE TO DO THIS BASED UPON INFORMATION THAT'S PROVIDED BY COUNCILMAN ETT, WHICH IS, UH, 5 0 1 1 6 3? AND SHE STATED SAYING, YES, BUT WHAT GOT ME WAS THESE ARE 22 STUDENTS OR RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN DO IT, WHY ARE WE, I MEAN, WHAT'S THE THING THAT'S HOLDING IT UP? EVEN IF IT'S A NEW PROGRAM, WHY ARE WE SAYING OR WHY THE CONCERN IS BEING SAID THAT, UH, BECAUSE BEING NEW WE SHOULD NOT APPROVE OR SOMETHING SHOULD BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
MY THING IS, IF IT'S GONNA BENEFIT STUDENTS, RESIDENTS, OR, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW WE LABEL THESE INDIVIDUALS, IT'S GIVING THEM A EDGE AND A BENEFIT TO BE SUCCESSFUL COMING OUTTA THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
SO TELL ME, I'M MISSING, AM I MISSING SOMETHING? EVEN IF IT'S NEW, WHY WOULD WE SUPPORT RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AT 20? WHAT DID I READ? $20, 22, 20 SOMETHING.
18 TO 2018 TO $28 AN HOUR TO GIVE THEM AN EDGE AND, AND, AND TEACH THEM OR GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
I MEAN, WHAT'S THE, YOU KNOW, WE SPENDING 38 MINUTES ON THIS TRYING TO DECIDE ON IF WE WANT TO SUPPORT RESIDENTS OF PORT ARTHUR.
NOW WE DISCOVER, DISCOVERED THAT IT'S RESIDENTS OR SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY OR SOMEBODY AT THE AGE OF 18 OR A SENIOR
[02:40:01]
OR POSSIBLY GONNA BE A JUNIOR, UH, SENIOR NEXT YEAR.SO TELL ME, I'M MISSING, AM I MISSING SOMETHING? I MEAN, CAN YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR ME? CAN NO, UH, THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM IS THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.
CERTAINLY YOU WOULD EXPECT THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO REVIEW, REFINE, UPDATE, AND MAKE SURE THE PROGRAM IS VALID AND CURRENT FOR 2025 AND WHAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE TO BE FACED WITH FOR THE COMING YEARS.
UH, I'LL TAKE THE HIT THE BUCK STOPS WITH ME IF SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER I HAVE LED YOU ALL TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING, QUOTE UNQUOTE BRAND NEW.
OUR INTENTION WAS TO CONVEY THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THE PROGRAM IS UP TO SNUFF AND BENEFICIAL FOR THE LONG TERM OF OUR STUDENTS.
IT IS WHAT, IN TERMS OF ITS UMBRELLA, ITS INTENT, ITS REACH THAT HASN'T CHANGED.
WELL, MAYOR, I'VE GOTTEN SOME GOOD ADVICE FROM, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN OUTREACH, BUT BEYOND THAT, IT'S THE SAME AS WHAT YOU'VE DONE, AT LEAST IN THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.
AND SO, UH, PR NUMBER 24 2 2 9 BEFORE YOU GO, UH, I, THIS PERSON PROBABLY NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION TO THIS POINT, BUT I DO WANT EVERYONE TO SEE, PUT THE FACE WITH THE NAME.
THIS IS OUR WORKFORCE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, MR. SEAN RANGER.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE YOU ALL SEE HIM FACE TO FACE.
YEAH,
[VII.C.(8) P.R. No. 24239 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With The Solco Group, LLC Of Port Arthur, Texas For Engineering And Design Services For The City Of Port Arthur's Phase II Roadway Reconstruction And Drainage Repairs At 101 H.O. Mills Boulevard In The Amount Of $74,039.88; Funding Is Available In Account No. 307-21-049-8512-00-10-000, Project BU0010, STRING – CON]
UH, AND ITEM NUMBER EIGHT ON SIX PR NUMBER 24 2 39 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE, SO CODE GROUP, LLC OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S PHASE TWO, ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION AND DRAINAGE REPAIRS AT, UH, 1 0 1 O MILLS BOULEVARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $74,039 AND 88 CENTS.FUNDING IS AVAILABLE AND ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH 0 4 9 DASH 85 12 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 0 0 0, WHICH WOULD BE PROJECT BU 0 0 1 0 AND IT'S STRING CON.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVE OF COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
OKAY, WE WAS REMOVED THE SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE, UH, ADAM NUMBER EIGHT.
ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION? COUNCILMAN DEUCE? OH, THAT'S YOUR HONOR.
I MEAN, YEAH, THAT'S NUMBER EIGHT.
I, I WANT, YEAH, I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE ACCOUNT NUMBER.
WHAT'S IT ACCOUNT NUMBER, WHAT LINE ITEM IS THAT IN THE BUDGET? IT'S THE CAPITAL.
YEAH, IT'S THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
WE GOT ALL KIND OF CAPITAL IN THERE.
IF, I MEAN WE GOT CAPITAL, WE GOT ALL KIND OF COUNSELING CAPITAL.
WHICH ONE? THIS IS UNDER THE GARAGE PORTION AND IT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
TWO IVAN'S DEPARTMENT FOR THE GARAGE WITH A THREE.
OKAY, SO 3 0 7 IS THE CAPITAL, RIGHT? 21 WORKS.
OKAY, NOW I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR THE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR.
I, I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG NOW TO GIVE ME A LIST THAT WHEN I'M CHECKING THESE AGENDAS I CAN LOOK AT THE NUMBER AND I COULD GO TO THE LINE ITEM.
SO I'VE ASKED THAT INFORMATION FROM YOU FOR SO MANY TIMES NOW.
SO I'M GONNA ASK YOU WHILE YOU STAND, I MEAN WHEN I ASK THE CITY MANAGER WHILE YOU STAND THERE, CITY MANAGER, WHY IS IT AS A COUNCILMAN, I HAVE TO ASK FOR INFORMATION FROM STAFF THESE MANY TIME
[02:45:01]
AND CAN I GET IT? I'LL SEE TO YOU THAT YOU GET IT.BUT THAT WAS MY QUESTION FOR THAT PROJECT.
HONOR EVERY, EVERY READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
HAVE SOLE PR NUMBER 24 2 39 IS APPROVED AS READ, WE, I'LL MOVE
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 24113 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 6 For The Main Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project With ALLCO, LLC Of Beaumont, Texas, For An Increased Cost Of $805,251.12 To Include Additional Upstream Bypass Pumping, Resulting In A New Total Contract Amount Of $69,764,107.55, And Extending The Contract Time By 180 Days Due To The Reconfigured Bypass Pumping; Funding From CIP Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000, Project No. WS0023, Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of The Budget Amendment In Proposed Ordinance No. 7324]
OVER TO PAGE EIGHT TO THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA.WE WILL BEGIN WITH, UH, LEMME SEE.
AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH, UH, UH, EXCUSE ME, ADAM, NUMBER ONE AND THE RESOLUTIONS OF NON-CONSENT AND IT IS, UH, P NUMBER 24 1 13.
IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER SIX FOR THE MAIN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WITH ALCO LLC OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR INCREASE FOR AN INCREASED COST OF $805,251 AND 12 CENTS TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL UPSTREAM BYPASS PUMPING ARE RESULTING IN A NEW TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $69,764,107 AND 55 CENTS, AND EXTENDING THE CONTRACT TIME BY 180 DAYS DUE TO THE RECONFIGURED BYPASS PUMPING FUNDING FROM, UH, CIP ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH 4 0 0 0 85 16 0 0 0 0 0.
AND IT IS PROJECT NUMBER WS 0 0 2 3 AND IT IS, UH, CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 73 24.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.
I GET A SECOND COUNCILOR MCKEN LAW SECOND MAYOR, IT IS MOVED.
AND SECOND, AND WE WOULD APPROVE AS THIS RESOLUTION.
ARE WE READY FOR QUESTION? OKAY.
ALL IN FAVOR A AYE, ANY OPPOSES? AYE.
HAVING SO IT IS, UH, APPROVED.
[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 24202 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Contracts With Mid County Land Co., Vulcan Construction Materials, Martin Marietta Materials, Texas Materials, Modern Concrete & Materials, And Brauntex Materials For Road Building Materials For The Public Works Streets Division For The Not-ToExceed Amount Of $1,500,000.00. Funding Is Available In The Streets Maintenance Account, 001-21-053-5316-00-70-000 ($275,000.00), And The Capital Improvement Fund Streets Program Account, 307-21-053-8517-00-10-000 ($1,225,000.00), Various Projects]
TWO P NUMBER 24, 2 0 TO RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED TO CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACTING MIDCOUNTY LAND, VULCAN CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.MARTIN MARIETTA MET MATERIALS, TEXAS MATERIALS, MARTIN TRIC AND MATERIALS, AND, UH, HAS TEX MATERIALS FOR ROAD BUILDING MATERIALS FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS STREETS DIVISION.
FOR THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF 1,500,000 FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE STREETS MAN.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 0 0 1 2 1 5 0 5 3 DASH 53 16 0 7 0 0 0 270 5,000.
AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, EXCUSE ME, FUND STREET PROGRAM ACCOUNT 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH 5 3 85 7 0 0 1,225,000 VARIOUS PROJECTS MAKING A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF MAYOR POT.
MAKE IT THE SECOND COMAN LEWIS SECOND IF MOVE THE SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE THE PR.
UH, WE READY FOR QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A, ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE PR NUMBER 24 22 0 2 IS APPROVED AS READ.
[VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 24203 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Contracts With Martin Asphalt Company Of Houston, Texas, And Cleveland Asphalt Products, Inc. Of Shepherd, Texas, To Provide Asphalt, Oil, And Emulsions To The City Of Port Arthur For The Not-To-Exceed Amount Of $700,000.00. Funding Is Available In The Streets Maintenance Account, 001-21-053-5316-00-70-000 ($200,000.00), And The Capital Improvement Fund Streets Program Account, 307-21-053-8517-00-10-000, Various Projects ($500,000.00)]
24 2 0 3 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS WITH MARTIN ASPHALT COMPANY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND CLEVELAND ASPHALT PRODUCTS INCORPORATED OF SHEPHERD, TEXAS TO PROVIDE ASPHALT OIL AND IMMERSION TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $700,000 FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE STREETS MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT 0 0 1 5 3 53 16 7 0 0 0 IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,000.AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND STREETS PROGRAM ACCOUNT, UH, 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH FIVE THREE DASH 8 5 7 DASH 0 0 0 0 VARIOUS PROJECTS AND THAT WOULD BE $500,000.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN DOUCE? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SECOND IT MOVE.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE P IN NUMBER, UH, 24 2 0 3 AS AS, UH, PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR A QUESTION? NO QUESTIONS.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSES? AYE HAVE IT SO THAT, UH, PROPOSAL, UH, RESOLUTION, EXCUSE ME, IS APPROVED.
NEXT WE HAVE RESOLUTION NUMBER,
[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 24213 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 1 To The Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur And Daniels Building & Construction, Inc. Of Beaumont, Texas, For The Removal Of The Generator Installation In The Operations Center Renovation Project Decreasing The Total Contract Amount By $251,871.00 To A New Contract Amount Of $1,182,677.00; Account Number 307-21-049-8512-00-10-000, Project Number BU0001-CON]
ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON PAGE NINE PRO NUMBER 24 2 13.IT IS THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE
[02:50:01]
TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR DANIELS BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE GENERATOR INSTALLATION IN THE OPERATIONS CENTER RENOVATION PROJECT, DECREASING THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $251,871 TO A NEW CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $1,182,677.ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 21 DASH 4 9 85 12 0 0 0.
THIS IS PROJECT NUMBER BU 0 0 0 1 DASH CONN.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KLOCK? SO MOVED.
MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND.
AND WITH APPROVE PR NUMBER 24 2 13 AS PRESENTED, WE ARE READY FOR QUESTION.
SO PR NUMBER 24 2 13 IS APPROVED.
[VIII.A.(5) P.R. No. 24215 – A Resolution Authorizing Deductive Change Order No. 3 To The Contract With Allco LLC, Of Beaumont, Texas Decreasing The Total Contract Amount By $9,178.00, And Accepting The Project Closeout Documents For The Driveway Entrance Construction And Drainage Repairs At 101 H.O. Mills Boulevard, Establishing A Final Contract Amount Of $544,440.00, And Authorizing The Release Of Retainage In The Amount Of $27,222.00; Funds Available In Account 307-00-000-2050-00-00-000]
HAVE ITEM NUMBER FIVE, PR NUMBER 24 2 15.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING DEDUCTIVE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER THREE, TWO.
THE CONTRACT WITH ALL COURT, LLC, BEAUMONT TEXAS DECREASING THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT BY 9,000.
NO, YEAH, THAT IS, THAT'S A SMALL NUMBER.
AND, UH, ACCEPTING THE PROJECT CLOSEOUT, UH, DOCUMENTS FOR THE DRIVEWAY.
INTEREST CONSTRUCTION AND DRAINAGE REPAIRS AT 1 0 1 O MILLS BOULEVARD, ESTABLISHING A FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $544,440 AND AUTHORIZING THE RELEASE OF RETAINAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,222.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 0 0 0 2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVE.
MAY I GET SECOND? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SECOND MOVE.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 24 15 AS PRESENTED.
QUESTION UNDER THE QUESTION, WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT.
UH, PR NUMBER 24 2 15 AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(6) P.R. No. 24227 – A Resolution Authorizing The Purchase Of Two (2) 2025 Western Star 47X 15-Yard Dump Trucks For The Public Works – Drainage Division (Drainage) From Lonestar Freightliner Group, LLC Of Grapevine, Texas, Through The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) Cooperative Purchasing Program For $356,210.00. Funds Are Available In The Capital Reserve Fund Account, Account Number 625-21-055-8523-00-00-000]
PR NUMBER 24 2 2 7.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF 2 20 25 WESTERN STORE.
47 X 15 YARD DUMP TRUCKS FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DRAINAGE DIVISION, DRAINAGE, UH, FROM LONE STAR, UH, FREIGHTLINER GROUP, LLC OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS THROUGH THE INTERLOCAL PURCHASING SYSTEM.
TIPS, A COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM FOR $356,210.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND ACCOUNT.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 6 25 DASH 21 5 8 5 2 3 0 0 0.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS SECOND HAS BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND, WE WOULD APPROVE P NUMBER 24.
WE READY FOR A QUESTION? ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES? QUICK QUESTION.
OKAY, AFTER OUR EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT SOLID WASTE TODAY, CAN YOU GIVE US AN APPROXIMATE TIMEFRAME? CITIZENS WILL SEE THIS ON THE AGENDA AND SAY, WELL, YOU JUST ORDERED TWO TRUCKS.
SO WHAT'S THE APPROXIMATE TIMEFRAME THAT YOU THINK THEY MAY BE DELIVERED? I, I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE, STEVE, IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA, THAT'S WHAT THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT, OKAY.
YOU KNOW, OKAY, THEY'RE NOT HERE.
DUMP TRUCKS FOR THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT.
WE GOT THE ISSUES WITH THAT TOO.
BUT IF, IF WE COULD PUT SOMETHING ON THE WEBSITE, THAT'S A, THAT'S A WIN.
SO I WANT TO USE THOSE TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOW OUR, OUR PROGRESS.
NEXT ITEM NUMBER SIX, P NUMBER 24.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF THAT'S THE SAME ONE.
Y'ALL WAIT TILL Y'ALL GET YOU, IT'LL HELP.
[VIII.A.(7) P.R. No. 24242 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase One (1) 150kW Generator With Platform And Security Fencing For The Operations Center From Energy Systems Of Houston, Texas, Through The Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Program With A Budgetary Impact Of $116,395.00. Funds Are Available In The Public Works Administration Buildings Capital Improvement Fund Account Number 307-21-049-8512-00-10-000, BU0001-CON]
PER ON NUMBER 24.A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE ONE.
UH, 150 K UH, KILOWATTS, I GUESS.
YEAH, WITH A PLATFORM AND SECURITY FENCING FOR THE OPERATION CENTER FROM ENERGY SYSTEMS OF HOUSTON, TEXAS
[02:55:01]
THROUGH THE SOURCE WELL COOPERATIVE PURCHASING, UH, PROGRAM WITH A BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $116,395.FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH FOUR NINE DASH 85 2 0 0.
AND UH, BU 0 0 0 1 CON WOULD BE THE PROJECT NUMBER.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KEN? OH, SO MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SECOND AND MOVE THE SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 22.
WE READY FOR QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[VIII.A.(8) P.R. No. 24244 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With Greenscapes Six, LLC. Of Liberty, Texas For Bus Stop Construction At Various Locations In The City Of Port Arthur, Texas In The Amount Not To Exceed $199,175.50. Funding Is Available In Account 401-70-530-8525-00-60-000. Project TR11316 CAP.OCO]
10.ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, WE HAVE PER NUMBER 24.
AND IT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH GREEN SPACE SIX LLC OF LIBERTY, TEXAS FOR THE BUS STOP CONSTRUCTION AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS.
LOCATIONS, EXCUSE ME, IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $199,175 AND 50 CENTS.
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT 4 0 1 7 5 3 0 8 5 2 5.
THIS IS PROJECT NUMBER TR 1 1 3 1 16 CAP.
OC, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN FRANK? SO MOVED.
I GET A SECOND COUNCILMAN LAW.
SECOND WE MOVE THE SECONDARY, WE WOULD APPROVE, UH, APPEAR NUMBER 24 2 4 4 AS PRESENTED.
YOU READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? THERE WAS NO INFORMATION ON THAT QUESTION ON IT.
UH, I I WONDER THERE WAS NO, I I'LL LOOK MAYOR REAL YOU GONNA ASK YOUR QUESTION? GO AHEAD.
UM, I I'M, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, YOU MIND IF I HAVEN'T COME UP? SURE, SURE, SURE.
I, I NOTICED THAT, THAT THERE WAS NO LOCATIONS ON THERE.
IS THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU KIND BRIEFLY JUST TELL THE COUNCIL, BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU DID IT.
YEAH, I REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT THIS FIVE YEARS AGO.
ABOUT, AND I THINK YOU STATED THAT, UH, IT HAD TO BE, UH, HURRICANE WIN AID TYPE BUILDINGS OR, OR BUS STOPS.
AND WE HAD TO, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD NOW THAT WE FINALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOME NEW ONES.
UH, YOU GO TO OTHER CITIES, YOU SEE THEM, BUT, UH, YOU AND I HAD A DISCUSSION PERSONALLY ABOUT IT AND YOU AND I KIND OF DEFER TO WHAT YOU TOLD ME ABOUT HOW IT HAD TO BE WHEN RATED AND ALL THAT OTHER GOOD STUFF.
CAN YOU KIND OF BRIEFLY TELL COUNCIL, SO THESE, THESE AREN'T SHELTERS, THESE ARE THE BUS STOP.
WHAT'S BREAK IT DOWN? A DA SO BUS STOP.
AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
SO THIS IS THE SIDEWALKS TO GET TO THE BUS STOPS THE PAD.
UM, A CURB RAMP, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WHEN SOMEBODY IS STANDING THERE, THEY'RE NOT STANDING IN THE GRASS.
UM, THEY HAVE A SAFE LOCATION TO WAIT FOR THE BUS STOP.
SO THAT'S WHAT THIS PROJECT HERE IS.
90, PROBABLY 5% OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING THIS CONCRETE WORK.
UM, KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE DID ON PROCTOR STREET, RIGHT? IF YOU GOT DOWN PROCTOR STREET, EVERY BUS STOP HAS BEEN FIXED.
UH, THIS ROUND IS STARTING FROM, UM, PROCTOR AND STADIUM.
I THINK AS FAR AS, UM, THE HEB UP OFF OF 365, I THINK WE'RE GOING ALL THE WAY UP ABOUT 25 BUS STOPS.
WELL JUST KEEP IN YOUR MIND, IF YOU DON'T MIND WHAT WE DISCUSSED A COUPLE YEARS AGO ABOUT THOSE BUS STOPS THAT WE PROBABLY WOULD HOPE TO GET SOME UPGRADES EVEN IF WE HAVE TO DO ONE OR TWO A YEAR.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? EVEN IF WE JUST BUDGET FOR, WE REALLY KNOCKED OUT THE STOP AT, UM, A NEW SHELTER AT THE, UH, THE LIBRARY.
SO THAT WAS OUR FIRST I GUESS ATTEMPT.
WE INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY IN THAT.
I DIDN'T GET TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
I FORGOT ABOUT NOT SEEING ANY INFO, UH, BACKGROUND, BUT JUST FOR CLARITY.
THESE 25 STOPS WILL BE SIMILAR TO, I DON'T WANNA MISSPEAK, BUT WILL THEY BE SIMILAR TO WHAT'S AT THE LIBRARY CURRENTLY? NO.
SO THESE ARE NOT, THESE ARE NOT SHELTERS.
UM, IN THE LONG RUN, WE PROBABLY WILL INSTALL SOME BENCHES AT THESE LOCATIONS, BUT THEY'RE NOT SHELTERS.
[03:00:01]
CONCRETE WORK.LIKE RIGHT NOW YOU MIGHT SEE PEOPLE STANDING AT A BUS SIDE OUTSIDE ON THE GRASS, ON THE PORCH, BUT THEY'RE ON THE GRASS.
SO THIS IS TO PUT A SOLID PATH THERE.
UM, HOPEFULLY SOMETHING TO THE NEAR STREET AND THE CURBS TO MAKE IT SAFER AND TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE IF YOU MIGHT HAVE A DISABILITY.
SO, UM, PLEASE FORGIVE ME, BUT THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY MY LANE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, BUT HOW IS THAT TOTAL A DA COMPLIANT IF YOU CAN'T GET ON IT WITH A CHAIR? IT, IT, IT, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A WALKABLE PATH THAT HAS A PAD THAT MEETS CERTAIN SPECIFICATIONS.
SO LIKE, SAY IF YOU HAVE IN A WHEELCHAIR, IT'S BIG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE WHEELCHAIR.
IT'S BIG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE SOMEBODY MIGHT, MAY HAVE A WALKER.
THERE'S CERTAIN STANDARDS WHEN WE BUILD IT THAT MEET, UM, IT'S A BOOK AND SO THEY HAVE TO DESIGN IT TO MEET THOSE STANDARDS THAT MEET THE A DA.
BUT WE STILL ARE IMPROVING 'CAUSE WE CAN'T STOP HERE.
WE WHAT DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? ARE WE STILL, ARE WE DOING MORE IN THE FUTURE? YES.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE UM, GOLF WAY DRIVE UNDER DESIGN.
WE HAVE ANOTHER SET UNDER DESIGN.
WE'RE DOING THEM IN SETS OF 25.
IT'S JUST EASIER ON US TO DO IT THAT WAY FOR US DOING EVERYTHING AT ONCE, IT WOULD BE TOO CHAOTIC.
SO YEAH, WE HAVE A SET, WE'RE TRYING TO DO THREE TO FOUR SETS A YEAR.
UM, IF WE HAVE THE TIME AND MANPOWER TO DO IT.
UM, AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, CAN YOU PLEASE EMAIL THE, THE CITY MANAGER THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO THIS SO WE CAN READ IT AND MM-HMM
ALSO INCLUDE A, A TIMELINE AS TO WHEN WE MAY ACTUALLY HAVE SHELTERED STOP, UM, SHELTERS AT THE BUS STOPS.
I THINK HE SAID HE GOTTA GO THREE EIGHT WING RATED.
YEAH, I CAN, I CAN EMAIL THE BACK.
ANY OPPOSES? I COUNCILMAN DUC SAID YOU GOING TO HANDLE THIS? YEAH.
[VIII.A.(9) P.R. No. 24246 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 2 To The Procter Street Extension Elevated Storage Tank Rehabilitation Project With M.K. Painting, Inc. Of Wyandotte, Michigan, Increasing The Contract Amount By $8,700.00 To The New Total Contract Amount Of $812,700.00 With Extended Contract Time Of 4 Days; Funding In CIP 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. 7324]
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGERS TO EXECUTE A CHANGE ORDER NUMBER TWO TO THE PRODUCT STREET EXTENSION, ELEVATED TANK REHABILITATION PROJECT WITH MK PAINTINGS INC.OF WIN OUTTA MICHIGAN INCREASING THEIR CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $8,700 TO THE NEW TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF 8,812,000 MILLION.
NO, THAT'S 812,700 WITH EXTENDED CONTRACT TIME OF FOUR DAYS FUNDING IN THE CIP ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH 4 0 8 5 16 0 0 0 0 0.
PROJECT NUMBER WS 0 0 0 4 CON IS CONTINUED UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
[VIII.A.(10) P.R. No. 24248 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With Kinloch Equipment & Supply, Inc. Of Pasadena, Texas Through BuyBoard Contract No. 676-22, For The Purchase Of A 2100i Vactor Truck, For A Projected Budgetary Impact Of $496,313.00, With An Annual “Mile After Mile” Service Fee Of $12,000.00 For Five Years, Subject To City Council’s Annual Appropriation, To Be Used For Lift Station And Sanitary Sewer Main Cleaning And Maintenance; Funding In Capital Improvement (CIP) Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000, Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of The Budget Amendment In Proposed Ordinance No. 7324]
2 4 2 4 8.A RELU AUTHORIZED CITY MAN TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH KEN LOCK EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY INC.
OF PASADENA, TEXAS THROUGH THE BY BOARD CONTRACT NUMBER 6 7 6 DASH 22 FOR THE PUR PURCHASE OF A 2020 100 I VACUUMED THE TRUCK.
A PROJECT, A PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $496,313 WITH AN ANNUAL MILE AFTER MILE SERVICE FEE OF $12,000 FOR FIVE YEARS, SUBJECT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS TO BE USED FOR THE LIFT STATION AND SANITARY SEWAGE, MAIN CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE FUNDING AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 DASH 85 16 0 0 0 0 0 DISCONTINUED UPON APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT AND THE PROPOSED ALL NUMBER.
ALL IN FA DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
ALL OPPOSED THE MOTION PASSED PR NUMBER
[VIII.A.(11) P.R. No. 24253 – A Resolution Ratifying The City Manager's Decision To Authorize The Emergency Cleaning Of The 18-Inch Sewer Line On Highway 365 By Chief Solutions, Inc. Of Houston, Texas In The Total Not To Exceed Amount Of $25,032.00. Funding In Water System Maintenance Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000 Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of The Budget Amendment In Proposed Ordinance No. 7324]
2 4 2 5 3.A RESOLUTION RIGHT OF FINDING CITY MANAGER'S DECISION TO AUTHORIZE THE EMERGENCY CLEANING OF THE 18 INCH SOIL LINE ON HIGHWAY 365 BY CHIEF SOLUTIONS INCORPORATION OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND THE TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $25,032 FUNDING IN THE WATER SYSTEM MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT.
4 0 5 DASH FOUR ZERO DASH 0 8 5 16
[03:05:03]
DASH ZERO ZERO DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 0 0 0.ITS CONTINGENT ON APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT AND THE PROPOSAL ORDINANCE NUMBER 7 3 2 4.
[VIII.A.(12) P.R. No. 24258 – A Resolution Rescheduling April 22, 2025 Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting To April 21, 2025]
PR NUMBER 24 2 5 8.THE APRIL 22ND, 2025 REGULAR SCHEDULE COUNCIL MEETING TO APRIL THE 21ST 2025.
AND SECOND, MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU WANT TO RESCHEDULE THAT BECAUSE THE 22ND IS THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING AND THE SECRETARY OFFICE WILL BE, UH, STRUNG OUT.
SO THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE MEETING TO MONDAY, WHICH IS THE 21ST.
OKAY, NOW WE GO TO PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7324 – 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 Contingency (001) By $1,347,297.00 And Transferring That Amount Thereby Increasing Water And Sewer Capital Fund (405) By $1,347,297.00]
PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 7 3 2 4.AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING ONE OCTOBER, 2024, ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
INCREASE IN GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY BY BY $1,347,297 AND TRANSFERRING THAT AMOUNT, THEREBY INCREASING THE WATER AND SEWAGE CAPITAL FUND.
4 0 5 5 $1,347,297 HAVE A MOTION.
[VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7325 – An Ordinance Declaring An Intent To Reimburse The City Of Port Arthur For Certain Funds Expended In Connection With The City's Funding Of Equipment And Improvements To The City's Water Meter System From Proceeds Of Certain Notes To Be Issued By The City Within One Year]
ORDINANCE NUMBER 7 3 2 5.AN ORDINANCE DECLARING AN INTENT TO REIMBURSE THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR THE CERTAIN FUNDS EXTENDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CITY'S FUNDING OF THE EQUIPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT TO THE CITY'S WATER.
MEET A SYSTEM FROM PROCEEDS OF CERTAIN NOTES TO BE ISSUED TO WITHIN THE CITY WITHIN ONE YEAR.
UH, IS IS THAT THE ONE WHERE WE GOING TO UH, PAY THE GENERAL FUND BACK? YES.
THIS IS THE ONE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PAY THE GENERAL FUND BACK.
WHY DID WE DO THAT? WE DID THAT BECAUSE WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE LEASING FOR THE VECTOR TRUCK, SO THIS IS RELATED TO THE PURCHASE OF THE VECTOR TRUCK, I SAW THAT AMOUNT, IT WAS OVER HALF A MILLION AND WHEN I SAW THE LEASING AGREEMENT, IT WOULD SAVE US $200,000 IF WE GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE IT OUTRIGHT RATHER THAN DO THE LEASE.
THAT WAS THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO GO THIS WAY.
WE STILL HAVE A YEAR AND I KNEW THAT THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT WERE LOOKING, WAS LOOKING AT A WATER METER PROGRAM.
SO I SPOKE WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, HILLTOP SECURITIES, AND HAD ASKED THEM ABOUT THIS.
AND UH, THIS CAN BE EASILY INCORPORATED WITH IF WE HAVE THAT WATER METER PROGRAM WITHIN THAT YEAR.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE, WE GOING TO GET INTO THAT.
THE WATER, UTILITIES, WATER AND SEW FUND.
SO THIS IS SPECIFIC TO, THAT'S WHY IT WAS WRITTEN WHERE IT IS IN CONNECTION WITH THE METER PROGRAM ONLY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT CAN BE AFFORDED.
WE CAN'T AFFORD A METER PROGRAM.
ONCE YOU GET EVERYTHING DONE, IF WE DECIDE TO GO AHEAD AND GO FORWARD WITH A LOAN OR BOND OR THE NOTE, THE SAVINGS FROM THAT IS ACTUALLY WHAT'S GOING TO PAY IT.
THE INCREASED RATE WILL NOT PAY FOR THE BOND, BUT THE IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE WATER METER PROGRAM WOULD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
WITH, UH, CITY ATTORNEY THERE BE ANY MORE BUSINESS COME BEFORE THIS BODY? NO, SIR.
YOU ALL THIS AUGUST BODY? YEAH.
UH, SO WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO, WE'LL DECLARE THIS MEETING DULY, UH, ADJOIN.
AND REMEMBER NEXT MEETING ON THE 21ST ON THAT MONDAY AT NINE 30 ON THE 21ST, NOT THE 22ND NOW.
[03:10:01]
HUH? YEP.