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WE READY?[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
OKAY.AND I'D LIKE TO SAY GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME HERE TO THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, HERE AT 4 44 FOURTH STREET, AND YOU ARE HERE ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF CITY HALL IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
WE ARE GATHERED HERE FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING ON TODAY, MAY 6TH IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 28 25.
IN THIS MEETING, YOU MAY ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE OR TELEPHONIC, UH, MEANS HOWEVER YOU WOULD DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
YOU WOULD THEN ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 4 2 8 0 3 1 AND 5 0 6 9 AND THE PASSCODE OF 7 4 1 7 1 4, AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE AND ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL MEETING.
ALSO, IN THIS MEETING, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
IF THERE WOULD BE A NEED FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU WOULD ONLY NEED TO CONTACT THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
HOWEVER, IT MUST BE DONE 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
YOU WOULD CONTACT THEM AT AREA CODE 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5, AND THE CITY SECRETARY OF STAFF WILL DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH YOUR SPECIAL REQUEST.
WE WILL NOW BEGIN OUR MEETING, AND ALSO, IF YOU HAVE ELECTRONIC DEVICES, WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO MUTE THOSE AT THIS TIME OR TURN THEM OFF, WHICH WOULD EVER BE WITH, UH, EXCUSE ME, WOULD EVER BE, UH, COMFORTABLE FOR YOU.
WHILE YOU ARE HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WE'LL BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION FOLLOWING THE, UH, INVOCATION.
WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE A PLEDGE AND A ROLE CALL.
SO AT THIS TIME, AND I'M GONNA JUST FOLLOW MY, MY SENSES IN MY MIND, I'M GONNA CALL MR. BRO, HE'S A DEACON AT HIS CHURCH.
AND IF YOU WOULD DO BE SO KIND AS TO DO AN INVOCATION FOR US, SIR, AT THIS JUNCTURE AS WE BEGIN OUR MEETING, MAYBE BOW AHEAD.
GRACIOUS HEAVEN, AND FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS EVENING, AND WE ALWAYS THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AS CITIZENS TO COME TOGETHER.
WE ASK YOU HEAVEN AND FATHER, THAT YOU BLESS THIS MEETING.
WE ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED GUIDANCE.
WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS EACH AND EVERY PERSON HERE THAT WELL, FAIR AND THEIR WELLBEING.
AND WE JUST GIVE YOU ALL ON THE GLORY IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY TO DAY.
PLEASE JOIN US NOW IN RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU SO KINDLY FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN OUR OPENING CITY.
WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM FOR ME? MAYOR BARTEE, PRESENT, MAYOR PROTE BECKHAM, CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FEEL PRESENT? COUNCIL MEMBER ETT PRESENT.
AND AGAIN, TO EACH OF YOU, WELCOME TO OUR PROCEEDINGS ON TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN THE MEETING.
I WOULD TAKE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE AND DEVIATE FROM THE PRINTED UH, AGENDA AND CITY SECRETARY.
I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO COMMUNICATE THIS WITH YOU, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PAGES 12 AND 13 OF OUR PRINTED AGENDA.
[VIII.A.(11) P.R. No. 24313 – A Resolution Authorizing A One-Time Exception To The Ceremonial Street Renaming Policy (Requested By Mayor Bartie)]
NUMBER 11, IN THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA ON PAGE 12, THE VERY FINAL OR LAST ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 11.I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH THIS ONE.
IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A ONE-TIME EXCEPTION TO CEREMONIAL STREET NAMING POLICY.
AND THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY ME, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHURS.
MAY I GET A MOTION? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MAY I GET A SECOND, COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND, IS IT MOVED? AND SECOND, WE THAT WE WOULD, UH, APPROVE PR NUMBER 24 3 1 3.
ANY QUESTIONS? THERE AREN'T ANY, ANY QUESTIONS? WE ARE READY TO VOTE.
WE HAVE APPROVED THE PR NUMBER 24 3 13 ON PAGE 12.
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WE'LL MOVE OVER TO PAGE 13.[VIII.A.(12) P.R. No. 24314 – A Resolution Authorizing The Ceremonial Street Renaming Of West 6th Street From Denbo Avenue To Foley Avenue In Honor Of Zachary Breaux (Requested By Mayor Bartie)]
12.ITEM NUMBER 12 IS PR NUMBER 24 3 1 4.
IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CEREMONIAL STREET RENAMING OF WEST SIXTH STREET FROM DENVER AVENUE TO FOLEY AVENUE IN HONOR OF ZACHARY BRO.
AND THIS TOO HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY MAYOR BARCHI.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? MOTION? I GET A SECOND MAYOR, APPROACH HIM SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 24 3 14 AS PRESENTED.
I JUST WANNA CORRECT A TYPO IN THE RESOLUTION.
UH, DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST PAGE, IT REFERENCES, UH, MR. BRO'S YEAR OF DEATH AS 1977 AND I BELIEVE IT WAS 1997.
SO WE WE NEED TO CORRECT THAT TITLE.
ANY OTHER UNREADINESS? THERE WOULD BE NO OTHER.
ANY OTHERS? ANY OPPOSES? THE AYES HAVE IT.
SO THIS ORDER, PR NUMBER, UH, 2 4 3 14 HAS BEEN APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
MR BRO, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO SAY? UH, SO YOU OUT MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY HERE? YEAH.
AND WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH US? IF, IF POSSIBLE, IF THAT OKAY, I GOT ABOUT FOUR MINUTES.
WOULD YOU RATHER DO THAT RIGHT THERE? YOU RATHER DO THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE, THE CITY, UH, THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
UH, I HAVE A LIST OF PEOPLE, BUT FOR TIME'S SAKE I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST OMIT THAT AND WE CAN, WE CAN DO THAT AT A, AT, CAN WE DO THAT AT ANOTHER DATE OR? YES, SIR.
'CAUSE I HAVE A, UH, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S, IT'S TIME, TIME SENSITIVE TODAY, RIGHT? SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE MAYOR OF THE MAYOR PROM, THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS HAS SPONSORSHIP AND, UH, AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE THIS HONORING OF ZACHARY BROWN.
LIKE TO COME DOWN AND WE WE CAN DO THE PICTURE.
WE GOT ABOUT FIVE MINUTES HERE.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK? ANY, ANY, ANY ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH US? COMAN LEWIS? YES.
HEY, FRED, MAN, CONGRATULATIONS.
ATTORNEY WITH THE SAKE OF TIME, IT IS NOW 5 56, GETTING READY TO BE 5 57.
WE HAVE THREE PUBLIC, UH, UH, UH, NOTICES.
WELL, WELL YOU WHAT? I'M TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC, UH, UH, MEETINGS AND I LIKE, CAN WE BEGIN BEFORE SIX OR AFTER WE BEGIN? RIGHT AT SIX, RIGHT? RIGHT AT SIX.
I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT A HUNDRED TIMES OVER SIX YEARS.
BUT YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING CHANGES THOUGH.
ALL THE LAWS CHANGED, RIGHT? YEAH.
SO YOU COULD HAVE GOT A NOTICE YESTERDAY THAT IT CHANGED, THAT I COULD BEGIN.
BUT IF YOU ALL WOULD JUST BEAR WITH ME.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS IN ABOUT THREE MINUTES OR TWO AND A HALF MINUTES, WE WANT TO BEGIN OUR PUBLIC, UH, NOTED, UH, MEETING.
I'M GONNA CALL 'EM PUBLIC MEETINGS.
AND THEN WE WILL GO BACK TO THE PRINTED AGENDA.
OKAY? BUT, UH, AND BECAUSE I WANT THE TIME TO MOVE THE
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CLOCK.SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE KILOMETER BACK THERE.
MINE APPEARS 5 58, BUT THAT'S THE OFFICIAL ONE THERE.
SO ARE YOU HOLDING IT BACK? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? AM I HOLDING? WHAT? THE CLOCK.
WELL, WHILE WE DOING THIS AND I'M JUST DEVIATING FROM THE NORM AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
WE HAD, UH, ELECTION ON SATURDAY AND FOLK PARTICIPATED IN AND WE APPRECIATE JUST GO, GO, GO TO SEE ONE SECOND PLEASE.
BECAUSE YOU JUST GO TO THE SEAT FOR ONE SECOND.
ALRIGHT, AND SO WE DO HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BOUND TO BE MAYOR, BUT Y'ALL STAND, I JUST SAW ONE WALK IN ANOTHER IS HERE, BUT Y'ALL STAND, JUST STAND AND LET THE FOLK KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
YOU, YOU DIDN'T, YOU DIDN'T, YOU NOT A RACER.
WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS GOING IN, IN, IN THE RACE.
OKAY? AND, AND NO, IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ONE OF Y'ALL WANT, OKAY, SO I'M JUST DOING IT LIKE I DO IT.
DID Y'ALL GET UP HERE? Y'ALL DO IT LIKE Y'ALL WANT YOU, I SAW SOMEONE ELSE COME IN FROM THE PORT COMMISSION.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY HOW PEOPLE WIN WHEN YOU SAY THEY ACT LIKE THEY AIN'T GONNA WIN, YOU FORGOT YOU WHAT? OKAY.
ANYBODY ELSE IS RUNNING FOR ANYTHING? I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.
AND SEE, I'M DOING THAT TO KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED FOR ANOTHER MINUTE.
AND MS. MILO, AS I BEGIN TO COUNT DOWN TO 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
YOU SEE, I CAN DO THAT BACKWARDS.
YOU NEED TO LEAVE THAT IN YOUR VOICE MUSCLES.
YOU NEED TO LEAVE THAT EMBALMING FLUID ALONE.
MA'AM, YOU SAID SOMETHING MISS.
BUT THAT'S HIS PROBLEM OVER THERE.
OH, WHEN I BACK, I BACKED AWAY FROM IT.
[IV.(1) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments And To Consider The Following: Proposed Change: A Zoning Map Amendment (Z25-01) To Change From Commercial Retail (CR) To A Planned Development District (PD) For Residential & Commercial Retail Activity Legal Description: For 20.734 (Called 20.7365) Acres Of Land, Part Of Lots 5, 6, & 7, Block 10, Range "H", Port Arthur Land Company Subdivision, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas (Located Between Lake Arthur Drive And Staff Sergeant Lucian Adams Drive And P.A.L.C.O. East Of 9th Avenue) Citizens With Questions Regarding The Description Of This Property Can Contract The City Planning Department At (409) 983-8133. The Public Will Also Be Able To View The Public Hearing Via The City’s Website At www.portarthurtx.gov ]
AND WE HAVE MS. MILO HERE, AND SHE IS NOW READY TO BEGIN.IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6.03 E OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE IN CHAPTER TWO 11 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT, ALSO REFERRED TO AS A ZONING CHANGE OR REZONING FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO 20.7 ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF LOTS FIVE TO SEVEN BLOCK, 10 TRACK ONE RANGE, H PORT ARTHUR LAND COMPANY, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED SOUTH OF LAKE ARTHUR DRIVE AND NORTH OF 60TH STREET.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM COMMERCIAL RETAIL TO A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL RETAIL ACTIVITY.
A COMPLETED APPLICATION WAS FILED WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ON OR AROUND JANUARY 7TH, 2025, REQUESTING A ZONING MAP CHANGE FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROPERTY.
THE ZONING CHANGE WILL ALLOW THE PROPOSED USERS TO LEGALLY CONFORM AT SAID LOCATIONS.
PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THE PROPOSED SITES ON FEBRUARY 5TH, 2025, AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON FEBRUARY 8TH, 2025.
A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WAS HELD ON FEBRUARY 20TH, 2025, INVITING CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED THREE ZERO, RECOMMENDING THAT THE REQUEST BE APPROVED ON FEBRUARY 25TH, 2025.
THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 DASH 1 53, CALLING FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING.
THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PUBLISHED THE PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON APRIL 19TH, 2025,
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AS WELL AS PREPARED AND MAILED NOTIFICATION TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS ON OR AROUND APRIL 19TH, 2025.THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY IN A COMMERCIAL RETAIL ZONE DISTRICT, WHICH IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A LOCATION FOR LIGHT COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL ACTIVITIES.
THESE LOCATIONS ARE TYPICALLY ALONG MAJOR THOROUGH FAILS AND HIGHWAYS.
THE PROPOSED ZONING IS A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, THE DIS.
THIS DISTRICT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR INNOVATION AND PROJECTS.
IT ALLOWS FOR SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS OR MODIFY REGULATIONS TO THE BASE SONY DISTRICT, PLUS A LIST OF REQUESTED EXEMPTIONS FROM OR MODIFICATIONS TO APPLICABLE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.
THE SITE IS ADJACENT TO THE LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO THE NORTH AND WEST, THE COMMERCIAL RETAIL DISTRICT TO THE SOUTH AND HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO THE EAST.
THIS IS A CONCEPTUAL RENDERING OF THE PROPOSED PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS SOME SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT AND SHOPPING CENTERS TO THE REAR.
THIS IS AN AREA VIEW OF THE PROPERTY.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS A STREET VIEW OF THE PROPERTIES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.
IT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM UM, MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS A VIEW OF THE PROPOSED LOCATION FOR THE FUTURE PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS UNDEVELOPED LAND IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
CODE SECTIONS TWO 11.006 AND TWO 11.007.
A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES AND TIMES TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
FEBRUARY 20TH, 2025 WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, THERE WERE ZERO WRITTEN LETTERS OF OPPOSITION, NO VERBAL OPPOSITIONS AND ZERO LETTERS RETURNED.
AND MAY SIX TODAY, NO WRITTEN LETTERS OF OPPOSITIONS AND ZERO LETTERS RETURNED.
SECTION TWO 11 DASH OH OH SIX F OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE STATES THAT A CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE OR DENY THE PROPOSED MATTER BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.
IN THE EVENT THAT A PROPOSED CHANGE TO A REGULATION OR A BOUNDARY IS DENIED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, THEN THE PROPOSED CHANGE MUST BE APPROVED BY AT LEAST THREE FOURTHS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL WHO ARE QUALIFIED TO VOTE.
THEREFORE, A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPROVE THIS REQUEST.
SO THIS IS IN MY DISTRICT AND I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M GIVING OUR RESIDENTS ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT HERE.
SO IN LOOKING AT THE CONCEPTUAL RENDERING, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S 35 LOTS FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, CORRECT? UM, YES MA'AM.
SO WE'RE NOT GONNA BE DOING DUPLEXES, WE'RE NOT DOING MULTI-FAMILY, IT'S SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE, THE PART WHERE IT'S, THE SHOPPING CENTERS NOW LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE A TOTAL OF LIKE FOUR LITTLE STRIP SHOPPING CENTERS.
SO IF ANYONE, SO THIS IS, IS THIS LIGHT COMMERCIAL WHERE THIS IS, OR IS IT ALL PLANNED DEVELOPMENT? IT WOULD ALL BE A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT.
SO THE WAY IT WORKS, THEY WOULD, UM, HAVE TO WRITE AN ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
SO WHEN THE SHOPPING CENTERS GO IN, IF SOMEBODY WANTS A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR SOMETHING, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME TO THROUGH THE PLANNING AND ZONING TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANNA DO IN THE SHOPPING CENTER TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S APPROVED.
A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
SO WHAT KIND OF ENTITIES COULD GO INTO THAT SHOPPING CENTER? MAYOR PRO TEM, IF I MAY? YES.
UM, NORMALLY WHEN A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IS DRAFTED, UM, THERE ARE, UM, CERTAIN USES THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED BY RIGHT.
FOR EXAMPLE, UM, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT WOULD BE WRITTEN TO ALLOW, UM, ANY USES ASSOCIATED WITH A LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND PERHAPS, UM, ANY USES ALLOWED IN, UM, COMMERCIAL, UM, RETAIL COMMERCIAL, EXCUSE ME, WHICH WAS ALSO REFERRED TO AS LIKE COMMERCIAL.
IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE, ANY USE THAT IS ALLOWED IN A COMMERCIAL RETAIL AREA SUCH AS RESTAURANTS, UM, POSSIBLY CONVENIENCE STORES, UM, OFFICES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE WOULD BE ALLOWED BY.
UNLESS, UM, THE COMMERCIAL RETAIL ZONING DESIGNATION REQUIRES A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR A SPECIFIC USE.
SO LET ME ASK ABOUT GAME ROOMS. YES MA'AM.
IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO COME IN AND PUT A GAME ROOM
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HERE, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT GOING TO PLANNING AND ZONING, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.GAME ROOMS DO REQUIRE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT IN COMMERCIAL RETAIL ZONED AREAS.
SO WE CAN EXPECT OFFICE BUILDING, MAYBE A CONVENIENCE STORE, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD LEND ITSELF TO THAT PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE HOMES THAT ARE GONNA BE DEVELOPED IN THAT AREA, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
JUST FOR THE, FOR TRANSPARENCY AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO HELP THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND, YOU MENTIONED IF IT PASSES THE ZONING, IF IT PASSES, IT TAKES A SIMPLE MAJORITY.
NOW, IF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DENIES IT, NOW IT GOES TO THREE QUARTERS, THE COUNCIL TO, TO OVERRIDE ZONING, IT WAS ALREADY APPROVED BY THE 3, 3 4, RIGHT? YES, BUT, BUT IT WAS ALREADY APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
REPEAT THAT? IT WAS ALREADY APPROVED BY THE PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION.
JUST FOR CLARITY, OKAY? YES, SIR.
SIMPLE MAJORITY, IF THERE'S NO OPPOSITION, IF YOU, IF THEY, UH, OPPOSE IT OR PLANNING IS ON IT, IT TAKES THREE QUARTER VOTE FOR THE COUNCIL TO OVERRULE IT.
THAT'S WHAT I WANNA MAKE CLEAR.
UH, NOW YOUR ALWAYS GETS KIND OF FUZZY.
IS THERE THREE, HOW MANY MEMBERS ON THE PLANET IS ON THE BOARD? UM, FIVE.
IS IT GONNA BE THREE QUARTERS OF THE PRESENCE PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS, OR IS IT GONNA BE THREE QUARTERS OF WHO ATTENDS COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? IF, IF I MAY, UM, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ONLY VOTES TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OR DENIAL TO CITY COUNCIL.
A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE BY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION IS ALL THAT'S REQUIRED WHEN IT GETS TO CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE IT WOULD, IF, IF THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO DENY THE REQUEST, IT WOULD BE THE SUPER MAJORITY OF COUNCIL, WHICH WOULD BE SIX OUT OF THE SEVEN MEMBERS, SUPER MAJORITY.
BUT I'M MEANT FOR TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE COUNCIL, NOT YOUR, I WASN'T PICKING ON YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, MIXED USE, UH, PERMIT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE, I'M LOOKING AT THE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING YES, SIR.
SO THERE'S NO CHANCE OF THAT COMING BACK AS A MIXED USE.
UM, WELL, IN, IN THEORY, THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, UM, IS MIXED USE.
UM, BECAUSE IT, IT, IT HAS THE, UM, COMPOSITION OF SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND SOME COMMERCIAL RETAIL.
SO WE WOULD CONSIDER THAT MORE OF A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
BE THERE ANY OTHER COUNCIL, UH, OKAY.
GETTING REMARKS FROM THE, UH, CHAMBER, THE GALLERY, EXCUSE ME, ANY REMARKS FROM THE GALLERY? ANY REMARKS FROM THE GALLERY? OKAY.
WE ARE READY TO ENTERTAIN A, UH, MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER ONE.
SO MAYOR SECOND IS GONNA MOVE AND SECOND, AND WE WOULD CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER ONE OR ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? NOW WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
ANY OPPOSES PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER ONE IS NOW CLOSED.
[IV.(2) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments And To Consider The Following: Z25-02 CITY OF PORT ARTHUR – To Consider A Zoning Text Amendment To Appendix A, Section 3. Land Uses, Of The City Of Port Arthur Zoning Ordinance To Include The Following “Automobile” Related Uses As Legally Conforming Uses In The Heavy Industrial & Light Commercial Districts Tire Sales Automobile Repair – Minor Automobile Sales Automobile Repair & Sales Automobile Auction If You Cannot Attend The Meeting, You May Send A Letter To The Planning Director, City Of Port Arthur, 444 Fourth Street, Planning Department Third Floor, Port Arthur, TX 77641. If There Are Additional Questions You May Contact The Planning Department At (409) 983-8133. The Public Will Also Be Able To View The Public Hearing Via The City’s Website At www.portarthurtx.gov ]
RIGHT AHEAD, MS. MILO.THE PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6.03 E OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE IN CHAPTER TWO 11 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT OF APPENDIX A, THE ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION 3.03, THE LAND USE TABLE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CODE OF ORDINANCES, THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT, THIS ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT WILL BE CITYWIDE.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO AMEND APPENDIX A, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION 3.03, THE LAND USE TABLE TO REGULATE AND PROVIDE FOR CONDITIONS AS IT RELATES TO AUTOMOBILE RELATED USES BY INCLUDING THE IDENTIFIED USES INTO THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AND THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
A COMPLETED APPLICATION WAS FILED WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ON OR AROUND JANUARY 7TH, 2025, REQUESTING A ZONING TEXT CHANGE FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED ORDINANCE.
THE ZONING TEXT CHANGE WILL ALLOW THE PROPOSED USES TO LEGALLY CONFORM.
IT SAID LOCATIONS, PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS CITYWIDE VIA MAIL
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AND WAS INCLUDED IN THE APRIL WATER BILL CYCLE AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON JANUARY 18TH, 2025.A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WAS HELD ON APRIL 21ST, 2025, INVITING CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED FOUR TO ZERO, RECOMMENDING THAT THE REQUEST BE APPROVED ON FEBRUARY 25TH, 2025.
THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 DASH 1 54, CALLING FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING.
THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PUBLISHED A PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON APRIL 19TH, 2025.
THE FOLLOWING CLASSIFICATIONS AND OR USE TYPES ARE PROPOSED FOR INCLUSION AS A PART OF THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT.
THE RED X INDICATES WHAT THE ORDINANCE CURRENTLY REFLECTS, AND THE YELLOW X INDICATES THE PROPOSED AMENDED OR ADDITION TIRE SALES TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS AUTOMOBILE SALES AND REPAIR TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS AUTOMOBILE OPTION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AUTOMOBILE REPAIR, MINOR TO BE INCLUDED IN THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AUTOMOBILE PARTS AND SALES TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.
ACCORDING TO SECTION 2.04 D OF NON-RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS, LIGHT INDUSTRIAL IS DEFINED AS A LAND USE TYPE TO PROVIDE FOR LOCATIONS FOR SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIAL USES THAT INVOLVE AN EXTENSIVE PROCESSING, MANUFACTURING OR ASSEMBLY OF VARIOUS PRODUCTS OR EQUIPMENT.
ACCORDING TO SECTION 2.04 A OF NON-RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT, THE PURPOSE OF THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT IS TO PROVIDE LOCATION FOR LARGE SCALE INDUSTRIAL USES THAT INVOLVE EXTENSIVE PROCESSING, MANUFACTURING, OR ASSEMBLY OF LARGE PRODUCTS OR EQUIPMENT.
THIS DISTRICT IS INTENDED TO ALLOW FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE MORE INTENSE THAN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AND MAY INCLUDE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES OR THE USE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
CODE SECTIONS TWO 11.006 AND TWO 11.007.
A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES AND TIMES TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ON APRIL 21ST, 2025, THERE WERE ZERO WRITTEN OPPOSITIONS, ONE VERBAL OPPOSITION, NO LETTERS RETURNED.
AND AS OF TODAY, MAY 6TH, 2025, THERE ARE NO WRITTEN OPPOSITIONS AND NO LETTERS RETURNED.
SECTION TWO 11 DASH ZERO SIX F OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE STATES THAT A CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE OR DENY THE PROPOSED MATTER BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.
IN THE EVENT THAT A PROPOSED CHANGE TO A REGULATION OR A BOUNDARY IS DENIED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, THEN THE PROPOSED CHANGE MUST BE APPROVED BY AT LEAST THREE FOURTHS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL WHO ARE QUALIFIED TO VOTE.
THEREFORE, A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPROVE THIS REQUEST.
QUESTIONS ON THAT? UH OH, GO RIGHT AHEAD, ATTORNEY.
I JUST WANNA LET THE CITY COUNCIL KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I DID HEAR HER SAY THAT THEY WANTED TO ALLOW A HEAVY INDUSTRIAL AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS FOR THESE USES, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE NOTICE SAID THAT IT WAS LIGHT COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS, WHICH IS INCORRECT.
SO I'M GONNA ADVISE THE COUNCIL TO GO AHEAD AND PROCEED WITH ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS BECAUSE WE DID PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC AND WE CERTAINLY, THEY'VE COME OUT HERE, WE WANNA GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, BUT I'M ALSO GONNA ADVISE CITY STAFF TO REDO IT OKAY.
COUNCIL MCKEN, MS. MILO? YES, SIR.
UH, WHAT WAS THE VERBAL OPPOSITION? UM, THE PROPERTY OWNER HOME WAS MAYBE A BLOCK FROM THE RAILROAD, FROM THE OVERPASS, RIGHT OVER MEMORIAL.
UM, AND HE'S IN, HE'S CLOSE TO A COMMERCIAL GENERAL DISTRICT.
HE'S RIGHT NEXT TO A HEAVY COMMERCIAL AREA, UM, HIS PROPERTY.
SO HE WAS, HE WAS STRONGLY AGAINST IT.
UM, SO SINCE THIS IS GOING TO BE CITYWIDE, IT'S EFFECTIVELY GONNA GRANDFATHER IN ALL OF THE OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE TOWN THAT ARE DOING THIS, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.
SO WHAT KIND OF NOTICE ARE WE SENDING OUT TO THOSE BUSINESSES? SO THEY WILL BE AWARE THAT IF THEY'RE NOT DOING THESE ACTIVITIES, THAT THEY'RE NOW ALLOWED TO DO THAT BY ORDINANCE? UM, WELL, ONCE IT'S APPROVED, IT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE PAPER, BUT, UM, WE DO DO A GREAT JOB OF GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND BY LETTING THEM KNOW,
[00:30:01]
UM, WHAT HAS CHANGED.SO, LIKE THE NEW BUSINESS THAT WAS ESTABLISHED ON MEDICAL CENTER DRIVE, RIGHT THERE.
THEY'RE INCLUDED IN IT AS WELL AS THE SHOPS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 50 YEARS.
UM, THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, UM, AND I BELIEVE THEIRS IS MINOR.
UM, BUT THEY, THEY FALL UNDER A DIFFERENT ORDINANCE BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
I BELIEVE YOU'RE SPEAKING ON, UM, CALIBER COLLISION? YES, MAYBE.
BRAND NEW SHOT, UM, WITH CALIBER, I'M SORRY,
UM, WE ACTUALLY UPDATED THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO ALLOW FOR SUCH USES SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT ESTABLISHMENT.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO BE SURE OF.
ANYONE IN THE GALLERY WITH ANY COMMENTS? ANYONE IN THE GALLERY WITH COMMENTS? ANYONE IN THE GALLERY WITH COMMENTS? NO OTHER COMMENTS? UH HMM.
NO, I DIDN'T SEE YOUR HAND, SIR.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE.
UM, AUDREY IS, UH, 2224 SECOND AVENUE.
I KIND LAST TIME TO THE SONIC MEETING, SPOKE TO HER.
WE A LITTLE BIT BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THIS ISSUE RIGHT HERE.
I KIND OF LOST TIME AND, UH, I BROUGHT SOME ISSUES TO Y'ALL ABOUT, UH, UH, HEAVY, HEAVY, UH, AUTO AUTOMOBILE REPAIR.
THE QUESTION THEY'RE ASKING TO Y'ALL IS GONNA BE YOU, UH, MAYOR, MA'AM, CITY MANAGER, ARE YOU GONNA BE SATISFIED, HAVE BUSINESS OPEN FROM SEVEN O'CLOCK? NO TIME TO CLOSE, CAN BE 10, 11, DOESN'T MATTER.
ARE YOU GONNA BE CERTIFIED HAVING A BUSINESS, HAVE 18 WHEELERS RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR HOUSE, RUNNING FOR HOURS, FOR HOURS? YOU CAN'T BE OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE BECAUSE THE POLLUTION OF DIESEL EXHAUSTS AFFECTING US IN SOME KIND OF WAY, IS NOT AFFECTING Y'ALL, AFFECTING US.
AND, UH, I, I BROUGHT, I BROUGHT THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION THE LAST TIME I DID A BUNCH OF COMPLAINTS.
THE LAST TIME YOU SAID YOU WANNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, IT GOT WORSE.
YOU, YOU NEVER DID NOTHING ABOUT IT.
OKAY? ARE YOU GONNA BE CERTIFIED WITH THIS KIND KIND OF NOISE? OKAY.
BECAUSE WHEN I SPEAK I LIKE TO SPEAK WITH PRO HANDS.
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW, HOW, HOW LOUD IT IS? HOW MANY DECIBELS? I CAN'T HEAR.
WHAT, WHAT ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO BE DOING? THAT'S THE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE NEXT TO OUR HOUSE.
NO, I CAN'T HEAR ANYWAY, SO I CERTAINLY COULDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I DO NOT HEAR WHAT YOU ARE AFRAID.
SO YOU WANT ME TO READ THAT CELL PHONE TO Y'ALL SO YOU CAN PASS IT AROUND SO YOU CAN HEAR WHAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH? OKAY.
COME ON THE OTHER END SO YOU CAN GET IT.
COME, COME ON, COME ON AROUND SO YOU CAN GET IT THAT ALL THE WAY TO 10 11.
OH, NO SIR, SIR, YOU GOT ME RECORD WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SO SIR, THAT'S YOUR HOUSE NEXT TO THAT WOOD FENCE.
IT'S, IT'S, I I'M FAMILIAR WITH IT.
IT, YEAH, HE, HE CAME IN BEFORE YEARS AGO.
HUH? SO ARE YOU GONNA BE SORRY IF I ALL THIS, I CAN'T EVEN BE OUTSIDE OF MY OWN HOUSE BECAUSE I GUESS I HAVE TO WEAR EARPLUG IN, OR NOW I CANNOT BE OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE.
I CAN'T EVEN JOIN MY OWN HOUSE.
REASON WHY ALL OF THIS ARE EXHAUST CEILING COMING FROM THOSE TRUCK.
HAZMAT OR WHAT? YOU SAID HE CAME HERE.
I MEAN, ARE YOU GONNA BE CERTIFIED WITH ALL
[00:35:01]
THAT? I BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM TO YOU THE LAST TIME.YOU NEVER KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT.
I KNOW SOMETIMES YOU TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO DO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WITH THE, WITH THE MATTER.
BUT THE MATTER, THE MATTER AFTER BRINGING TO YOU GOT WORSE.
WERE YOU THE ONE PERSON IN OPPOSITION THAT SPOKE AT THE PLANNING IN HIS ZONE? OF COURSE.
NOW YOU SAY THERE ARE OTHER NEIGHBORS THERE TOO? MY NEIGHBOR, THE LAST TIME THEY, THEY SHOWED UP TO THE SUMMIT PLANNING, BUT I THINK WHAT GOT CANCELED, SO THEY WORKING RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE TO TAKE OFF TODAY SO I CAN SPEAK FOR THEM.
NO, BUT TELL THEM, YOU SEE IF IT'S THAT IMPORTANT MM-HMM
SOMEBODY ELSE OUGHT TO COME WITH YOU.
I MEAN, I'M JUST, I'M JUST SAYING SURE.
WHAT I THINK WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE FOR YOU AT THIS POINT.
AM I CORRECT TO SAY APPROVAL? RIGHT? OKAY.
I'M SURE THAT YOUR NEIGHBORS RECEIVED THE COMMUNICATION LIKE YOU DID IN THE MAIL.
AND YOU RESPONDED RIGHT CLOSER TO THE MIC, MA'AM? HE CAME CLOSER TO THE MIC.
UH, PROBABLY I, I'M NOT SURE WELL MM-HMM
YOU RECEIVED THE LETTER ABOUT THE HEARING? MM-HMM
BUT OKAY, YOUR NEIGHBORS RECEIVED THE LETTER ABOUT THE HEARING, RIGHT? MM-HMM
THEN THEY DID NOT, THEY DID NOT RECEIVE NOTHING.
I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE BLOCK BECAUSE I ASKED QUESTION MY NEIGHBORS.
DO YOU SEE RECEIVE THIS RIGHT HERE? OKAY, HOLD ON.
SOMETIMES YOU OVERTALK YOURSELF.
MS. MILO, HOW MANY LETTERS DID YOU ALL SEND THERE? MS. MILO? THANK YOU.
NOTIFICATION OF THIS SPECIFIC, UM, REQUEST WAS ACTUALLY SENT THROUGH THE WATER BILLS BECAUSE IT HAD A CITYWIDE IMPACT.
THERE WAS NOT NOTICE THAT WAS SENT.
WE DIDN'T FOLLOW THE NORMAL 200 FOOT RADIUS REQUIREMENT.
WE ACTUALLY SENT NOTIFICATION THROUGH THE WATER BILL BECAUSE IT AFFECTED THE ENTIRE CITY.
THE AREA IN WHICH THIS GENTLEMAN IS SPEAKING OF IS ALREADY ZONED AS HEAVY INDUSTRIAL.
THAT ZONING HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1989.
THIS IS NOT A A, A ZONING CHANGE, UM, THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY THE CITY OR ONE THAT IS BEING REQUESTED SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT AREA.
WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED TODAY IS TO ADD ADDITIONAL USES, WHICH WERE, WHICH ARE AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOPS.
THE USE AND ACTIVITY OF HEAVY, UM, HEAVY EQUIPMENT SUCH AS THE DUMP TRUCKS.
18 WHEELERS IN THAT AREA IS A PERMITTED USE BY RIGHT.
WHAT YEAR DID YOU GET YOUR HOUSE? 98.
OKAY, WHAT ELSE YOU GOT? OKAY.
I, I FOLLOWED THE APPROPRIATE CHANNEL AND COMMAND, UH, MAKE A SEVERAL COMPLAINT TO THE COURTHOUSE.
UH, I WENT TO INSPECTORS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE FUMES DIESEL FUMES.
OKAY? IT'S NOT AFFECTING Y'ALL.
SO SHE SAY THAT, UH, WHAT YOU TOLD ME THE LAST TIME THAT I HAD TO COME HERE AND BRING THIS TO Y'ALL.
IF, UH, IF NOTHING'S GONNA BE, YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
LIKE YOU, LIKE YOU PROMISED THE LAST TIME YOU DO SOMETHING, YOU NEVER DID NOTHING ABOUT IT.
I THINK THE, I'M GONNA KEEP, CONTINUE CLIMBING THE LADDER ALL THE WAY TO THE STATE.
WHATEVER IT HAS TO GO TO DEAL WITH THIS MATTER TO FIND SOMETHING, WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY TIRED TO, TO THIS PROBLEM.
AND THAT'S TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE.
BUT, BUT ONE THING, AND THE OTHERS HAS SOMETHING TO SAY IS THAT WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE HALL, IT WAS ALREADY ZONED WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WITH THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
OKAY? AND, UH, THAT WAS BY CHOICE THAT YOU MADE THAT PURCHASE.
AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THE INCONVENIENCES AND, AND THE UNCOMFORTABLE, UH, ATMOSPHERE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
BUT IT'S BY CHOICE BECAUSE IT WAS ZONED FOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND COMMERCIAL WHENEVER YOU MADE THAT PURCHASE.
AND, UH, I'M, I'M SORRY THAT YOU'RE HAVING TO EXPERIENCE THAT.
OKAY? BUT AS FAR AS THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED, ALL OF THE LEGALITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THIS, I BELIEVE THAT WE
[00:40:01]
HAVE GONE THROUGH EVERY PROPER STEP THAT THE LAW REQUIRES THE CITY TO GO THROUGH FOR THIS.OKAY? NOW, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS ALLOW COUNCILMAN LEWIS AND COUNCILMAN KEN LAW AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE MAYBE THEY WANNA MAKE A REMARK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY SAID.
LET ME ASK YOU ONE QUESTION VERY QUICK.
WHAT'S THE DECIBEL LEVEL RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS? WHAT'S THE WHAT NOW? DECIBEL LEVELS.
WHAT'S THE DEDUCTIBLE LEVEL RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS? YOU, YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD, OH, THE CHIEF, THE CHIEF HAVE TO ANSWER THAT TO YOU.
I MEAN, NOT THAT YOU DON'T KNOW, I'M GONNA ANSWER, BUT, BUT OKAY.
ARE YOU GONNA ASK THE QUESTION AND GIMME THE ANSWER? SLOW DOWN.
COME AND TELL US ABOUT THE DEDUCTIBLE LEVELS.
SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO SAY THAT WE, WE, WE, WE DIDN'T LISTEN TO YOU.
YOU GUYS MIND IF I TALK TO HIM IN THE BACK OUTSIDE OF, OKAY, HE SAID THE DECIBEL LEVELS FOR THE CITY.
LIKE A RESEARCH FOR, I WANNA SPEAK TO DON'T ANSWER THAT THOUGH.
WHEN YOU SPEAK TO CHIEF, SAY SOMETHING TO HIM, CHIEF, I SAY YA UP.
I APPRECIATE I'VE BEEN TO THAT AREA AND I KNOW WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
I JUST WANT SAY TO YOU, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE GONNA TAKE HIM OUT AND GO SPEAK TO HIM, BUT I WANT TO AS WELL BE SURE THAT HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL THE POLICE WHEN THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND TRANSPIRING AND THAT HE WOULD RECEIVE A QUICK RESPONSE TO THAT WHILE IT IS GOING ON.
SO THAT, SO THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE NOT CREATING THIS NOISE.
10, 11, 12 1 2 IN THE MORNING.
SO BECAUSE THAT IS A VIOLATION, AND WE DO HAVE CODE ENFORCEMENT THAT I, I BELIEVE STANDS ON HIS SIDE.
SO I WANT TO BE SURE THAT HE CAN GET SOMEONE, I THINK HE'S ALREADY REPORTED THIS.
UH, SHE WAS SAYING THAT THEY WENT OUT THERE BUT DIDN'T HAVE AN APPARATUS THAT COULD IN ANY WAY MEASURE, UH, THE AMOUNT OF NOISE THAT WAS GOING ON GOING ON AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU ALL CARRY AN APPARATUS SUCH AS THAT IN YOUR CAR OR YOUR VEHICLE, BUT YOU PERHAPS SHOULD, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S SOME SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THAT, IN THAT MANNER.
HE DOES LIVE NEXT TO, UH, THE PLACE, UH, THAT'S BEEN CREATING ALL THIS NOISE.
HE PURCHASED IT THERE, BUT HE DOES HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE QUIET FOR HIS FAMILY AND QUIET FOR HIS CHILDREN PAST A CERTAIN TIME.
AND, AND HE HAS CALLED AND WE'VE RESPONDED AND THERE WAS A CITATION INVOLVED.
HOWEVER, THE WAY THAT AREA ZONE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, DUMP TRUCKS, I THINK THEY'RE ALLOWED TO OPERATE AT THAT LOCATION.
THANK YOU, CHIEF COUNCILMAN LEWIS.
UH, YOU, YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE A FEW YEARS AGO COMPLAINING ABOUT, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW ABOUT THE, THE KNOWLEDGE LEVEL.
SO YOU AND I THOUGHT, WELL, IT WAS ZONED PROPERLY, BUT THEN THE STAFF WENT OUT THERE TO TRY TO REGULATE THE HOURS THAT THEY WAS, WAS WORKING.
AND I THOUGHT THEY WAS IN COMPLIANCE SINCE I, WE HADN'T HEARD ANYMORE FROM YOU.
UH, THEY COULD CONTINUE WORKING LATE.
THE LAST TIME THAT I CALLED THE COPS, UH, I HAVE KIND OF MISTREAT, BUT THE, UH, BUT THE DISPATCHER, I ALREADY BRIEFED THIS TO THE SHIFT.
I HAVE MIS BUT THE DISPATCHER ON SOME KIND WAY.
OKAY? NOW LET ME SHOW YOU THIS.
OKAY? I'VE BEEN LIVING THE AREA FOR, FOR QUITE A BIT AFTER SIX.
THE BUSINESS USED TO BE CLOSED AT SIX O'CLOCK EVERY DAY.
OKAY? THAT'S HOW IT USED TO BE.
THE CITY ALREADY ANSWER BEFORE SIX O'CLOCK SERIES ORDINANCES OF PER USED TO BE 65 DECIBEL BEFORE.
SO YOU MOVE THAT TO FROM 65 TO 150 DECIBELS IN TEXAS.
THAT'S 85 DECIBELS AFTER 85 DECIBELS.
YOU OKAY? I I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
WE HAVE A REGULATION ON, ON ON THOSE THINGS.
OKAY? SO WHEN THE, THE HIGH NOISE EVER, WHEN THE NOISE GET HIGH, LET CALL CALL THE POLICE, OKAY? BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU, YOU MAY WANT TO, YOU'RE RAISING A FAMILY, YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER GETTING OUT OF THAT HIGH NOISE AREA BECAUSE HIGH NOISE, RAILROAD TRACKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT CREATE CERTAIN DISEASES, OKAY? YOU DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.
WHY DON'T GIVE YOU THEN THE SATISFACTION TO MOVE OUTTA MY HOUSE? WELL, LET ME SHARE SOMETHING ELSE WITH YOU.
NOW, THIS HAS BEEN REGULATED ZONE SINCE 89.
NOW NOT, NOT CRITICIZING, BUT QUESTION TO YOU IS I WANNA BE ANY CUT WAY.
YOU, YOU MOVED THEM TO THAT, THAT COMMERCIAL AREA.
[00:45:01]
YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT? BUT THE NOISE, WE REGULATE NOISE.OKAY? SO GET WITH THE CH THAT THAT GETS OUTTA HAND AGAIN AND YOU HEAR IT CALL THE POLICE.
AND THE REASON WHY I'M HERE, IT IS OUTTA HAND BECAUSE YOU SAY YOU WANTED SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE.
YOU NEVER, LEMME GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
UM, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT REGULATE, WILL NOT SPEND ANY MORE MONEY ON APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT HAS HIGH NOISE.
IT, IT MAKES IT CAUSE ITS CERTAIN ILLNESS.
A $15 MILLION TAX CREDIT WAS DENIED FOR LEWIS MAN REMODELING BECAUSE OF THE NOISE.
THEY WANNA MOVE, CREATE ILLNESS.
MY AIR QUALIFIER, WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT, ABOUT IT, ABOUT A DIESEL EXHAUSTION THAT WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE I WILL TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT.
I, WE BROUGHT THIS MATTER TODAY ABOUT IT.
THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO KEEP RUNNING THOSE, UH, DUMP TRUCK RUNNING FOR HOURS NEXT TO OUR HOUSES.
THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.
I MEAN, I TALKED TO THEM ALREADY.
THEY ALREADY WENT TO LOOK AT IT.
IT, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AND UH, I READ THIS MATTER TO YOU.
BUT ANYWAY, THAT BUSINESS USED TO BE CLOSE TO SIX O'CLOCK BEFORE NOW THERE IS NO TIME FOR THEM TO CLOSE BECAUSE THE CITY ALREADY ANSWERS AFFECT US, US ON SOME COUNTY WAY IT BENEFIT THE BUSINESS, BUT AFFECT THE NEIGHBOR AFFECTING US.
AND YOU DON'T NEVER LOOK AT IT INTO THAT, THAT BUSINESS USED TO BE CLOSE TO SIX O'CLOCK BEFORE, NOT 10, NOT, NOT EIGHT, NOT 11, NOT 12, NOT ONE.
COUNCILMAN KEN LAW, I HAVE TWO THINGS FOR YOU.
UH, I, I REMEMBER YOU, UH, I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR, YOU CAME AND SPOKE BEFORE THE COUNCIL, BUT THE THING THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO TELL YOU BECAUSE OF HOW IT ZONED, THEY'RE ABLE TO OPERATE.
NOW MY CONCERN IS YOU HAD TWO VALID POINTS WHEN YOU CAME UP BEFORE THE PODIUM.
YOU STATED THAT IT MAY BE FUMES.
WE HAVE OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD WANT THEM TO LOOK INTO AS FAR AS IF SOME TYPE OF VIOLATION.
YOU ALSO STATED ABOUT, UH, HOURS OF OPERATION.
UH, I THINK THAT WHEN YOU CAME BEFORE THEY WAS TOLD TO YOU THAT THE HOURS OF OPERATION, UH, THAT THEY WOULD BE CLOSED AT A CERTAIN TIME BECAUSE SOMEBODY WENT OUT THERE AND CHECKED ABOUT THE HOURS OF OPERATION.
NOW, UH, AS FAR AS BEING ZONED, THAT'S NOTHING THAT THIS COUNCIL CAN ACTUALLY DO ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT HANDCUFFS THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY'RE LEGALLY ABLE TO OPERATE A BUSINESS IN THAT AREA THAT YOU LIVE IN.
I SAW, I JUST SHOWED THE MAYOR, THE TWO 18 WHEELER TRUCKS RIGHT THERE BY YOUR, IS THAT YOUR WOODING FI FENCE ALONG THE WALL? I, I SAW THAT.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION GONNA BECOME, HOW ARE YOU, ME MEASURING, UH, DECIBELS, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY ABLE TO OPERATE? IS IT FUME WHEN THE FUMES ARE OUT THERE, CONTACT, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT OR SOMETHING TO GET THAT INFORMATION? I'M SURE THAT THE CHIEF, HE'S WAITING TO TALK TO YOU IN THE BACK, BUT THIS COUNCIL IS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
BUT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IT TIES A HAND BEING IN, IN, UH, A RULES SINCE 1989.
I GIVE YOU VIDEOS TO INSPECTORS.
BUT I GOT VIDEOS OF YOU HAVE TO CALL SOMEONE THAT CAN ACTUALLY, I SPEAK WITH PROOF, OKAY? YOU HAVE TO GIVE THAT TO SOMEONE THAT CAN ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE CODE VIOLATION THAT'S GONNA BE POLICING OR THAT'S GONNA BE CODE ENFORCEMENT.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP WANTING TO HELP YOU OUT, BUT IT TIES OUR HAND UP WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO OPERATE IN YOUR AREA, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
OKAY, MAN, THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I HAVE TO Y'ALL BEFORE I GO, THE BUSINESS USED TO BE CLOSED AT SIX O'CLOCK.
IT THEY OPEN SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
OH, THERE, OH, THERE WERE SEVEN DAYS TOO.
SO OUR SUNDAYS, BELIEVE ME, THEY'RE ROUGH.
SUNDAYS WHEN YOU ARE IN CHARGE, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT WITH THE NOISE.
YOU THINK THAT IS THAT RIGHT? ON SUNDAY? THE ONLY DAYS OFF THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE OFF BECAUSE WE WORK.
OF COURSE NOT, IT'S NOT AFFECTING Y'ALL.
NOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS, AGAIN, I THINK EVERYONE HAS EXPRESSED THEIR FEELINGS TO YOU.
UH, WE'RE SORRY THAT YOU WERE HAVING TO EXPERIENCE THIS.
CHIEF IS GONNA TALK WITH YOU AND, UH, MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE THOSE CALLS.
THAT SOMETHING MORE, UH, UH, I GUESS NEIGHBORLY FRIENDLY WOULD HAPPEN FOR HIM, UH, IN THIS SITUATION.
UH, I'LL, I'LL GET SOMEONE TO GO DOWN THAT STRIP AND TALK TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND SEE IF THEY COULD WORK WITH THIS GENTLEMAN HERE.
UH, 'CAUSE I THINK HE SAID IT STARTS LIKE AT FOUR IN THE MORNING.
THEY START WORKING AT FOUR IN THE MORNING.
SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THEY CAN DO TO WORK IT OUT.
OKAY? BUT IT IS ZONED, LIKE MS. LANGFORD SAID, FOUR
[00:50:01]
TRUCKS.ALRIGHT, MS. MARLOW, WOULD THERE BE ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS, UH, NUMBER TWO, UH, PUBLIC HEARING? YES, SIR.
THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM EITHER, EITHER THE GALLERY OR FROM THE, UH, COUNCIL HERE.
I'M GOING TO DECLARE PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO OR MAYBE I CAN GET A MOTION FOR IT, BUT BECAUSE IT'S SO MAYOR COUNCIL MCKEN LAW, UH, A SECOND.
THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO IS NOW CLOSED.
[IV.(3) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments And To Consider The Following: Z25-03 FAHEEM HUSSAIN KHUWAJA – To Consider Granting A Specific Use Permit For 0.4854 Acres Of Land Consisting Of All Of Lots 18-20 And Part Of Lots 21-24, Block 24, Rosemont Park Addition, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas (3645 And 3635 39th Street) A Precise Drawing And Description Of This Property Will Also Be Presented At The Public Hearing And Can Be Examined In The City Planning Department, City Hall, Port Arthur, Texas. If You Cannot Attend The Meeting, You May Send A Letter To The Planning Director, City Of Port Arthur, 444 Fourth Street, Planning Department Third Floor, Port Arthur, TX 77641. If There Are Additional Questions You May Contact The Planning Department At (409) 983-8133. The Public Will Also Be Able To View The Public Hearing Via The City’s Website At www.portarthurtx.gov ]
WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER THREE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6.03 E OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE.IN CHAPTER TWO 11 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR APPROXIMATELY 0.49.
ONE ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF LOTS 18 TO 20, BLOCK 24 AND LOT 21 THROUGH 24.
TRACKED ONE BLOCK, 24 ROSEMONT EDITION, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 36 45 AND 36 35 30 NINTH STREET.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO CONSIDER THE GRANTING OF A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF RETAIL LOCAL A SHOPPING CENTER.
A COMPLETED APPLICATION WAS FILED WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ON OR AROUND FEBRUARY 3RD, 2025, REQUESTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROPERTY.
THE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT WILL ALLOW THE PROPOSED USES TO LEGALLY CONFORM ITS SET LOCATIONS.
PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THE PROPOSED SITES ON MONDAY, MARCH 3RD, 2025, AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON MARCH 1ST, 2025.
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WAS HELD ON MARCH 17TH, 2025, INVITING CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED TWO TO ONE, RECOMMENDING THAT THE REQUEST BE APPROVED ON FEBRUARY 25TH, 2025.
THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 DASH 15 EIGHT, CALLING FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING.
THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PUBLISHED A PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON APRIL 19TH, TWO TH 2025, AS WELL AS PREPARED AND MAILED NOTIFICATIONS TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS ON OR AROUND APRIL 29TH, 2025.
THE CURRENT ZONING IS A PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
THIS DISTRICT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR INNOVATION IN PROJECTS.
IT ALLOWS FOR SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS OR MODIFIED REGULATIONS TO THE BASE ZONING DISTRICT, PLUS A LIST OF REQUESTED EXEMPTIONS FROM OR MODIFICATIONS TO APPLICABLE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.
THE PROPOSED ZONING IS A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT.
THE PURPOSE OF THE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT IS TO ALLOW A, A DESIGNATED USE AT A DESIGNATED LOCATION AND APPROVAL FOR A SPECIFIC USE THAT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE MORE INTENSE OR TO HAVE A POTENTIALLY GREATER IMPACT THAN A USE PERMITTED BY RIGHT WITHIN THE SAME ZONING DISTRICT.
ACCORDING TO THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT 14 ORDINANCE, ALL USES IN THE COMMERCIAL RETAIL DISTRICT ARE BY SPECIFIC U SPECIFIC USE PERMIT ONLY.
THE SITE IS ADJACENT TO THE MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDE DISTRICT TO THE SOUTH.
THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT 14 DISTRICT TO THE NORTHEAST AND WEST.
THIS IS A CONCEPTUAL RENDERING OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT.
THIS IS AN AREA VIEW OF THE PROPERTY.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS A STREET VIEW OF THE PROPERTIES IN QUESTION.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS UNDEVELOPED LAND.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS A VIEW OF THE PROPERTIES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION DIRECTLY ACROSS 39TH STREET AND THE INTERSECTION OF 39TH STREET AND NINTH AVENUE.
[00:55:04]
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 2 1 1 0.006 AND 2 1 1 0.007.A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES AND TIMES TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING, THERE WERE ZERO LETTERS OF OPPOSITION, NO VERBAL OPPOSITIONS AND ZERO LETTERS RETURNED.
AND ON TODAY, MAY 6TH, 2025 AT THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WERE NO WRITTEN LETTERS OF OPPOSITION.
AND SO FAR, ONE LETTER RETURNED, SECTION TWO 11 DASH OH SIX F OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE STATES THAT A CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE OR DENY THE PROPOSED MATTER BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.
IN THE EVENT THAT A PROPOSED CHANGE TO A REGULATION OR A BOUNDARY IS DENIED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, THEN THE PROPOSED CHANGE MUST BE APPROVED BY AT LEAST THREE FOURTHS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL WHO ARE QUALIFIED TO VOTE.
THEREFORE, A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPROVE THIS REQUEST.
ANY QUESTIONS, COUNSEL? OKAY, UH, MAYOR, I APPROACH IN.
SO, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS IN MY DISTRICT, SO I WANNA BE SURE THAT I'M GIVING GOOD INFORMATION TO MY RESIDENTS.
UM, WHERE THIS IS LOCATED IS PRIMARILY COMMERCIAL.
SO THE HOMES THAT ARE ON EIGHTH AVENUE, SEVENTH AVENUE, AND THEN FURTHER UP 39TH STREET, THEY'RE NOT WITHIN THAT 200 FOOT RADIUS.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING THEM GOOD INFORMATION.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT PART OF THE BUILDING IS ALREADY DESIGNATED AS A, A PROPOSED WAS, BUT THEN THE OTHER HALF OF THE BUILDING COULD BE WHAT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED.
UM, I'M NOT SURE BECAUSE IT'S A, A STRIP CENTER FOR LEASE.
SO I'M NOT, I HADN'T ANY, I HADN'T HEARD ABOUT ANY WAS AT ALL.
WELL, THIS RENDERING THAT IS PART OF YOUR PACKET, IT SHOWS THAT ONE HOUSE, ONE HALF OF IT IS A PROPOSED BUSINESS WAS 3000 SQUARE FEET, AND THEN THE OTHER HALF IS PROPOSED BUSINESS 3000 SQUARE FEET.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WHAT KINDS OF BUSINESSES CAN GO INTO THIS PROPERTY.
WELL, YOU'LL BE CORRECT AND I BELIEVE THE, UM, DR.
IT, UM, HE IS THE REPRESENTATIVE ON THIS PROJECT, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, FOR HIM TO COMMENT ON IT.
DR. HANEY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT PROPOSED BUSINESSES ARE GONNA GO IN HERE OR ARE WE WAITING FOR THE OWNER TO LEASE OUT SPACE? THAT SPACE IS FOR LEASE.
SO IF, WHATEVER IT'S GONNA BE IN THE FUTURE, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE TO DO A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT SPACE.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO BE SURE OF, BECAUSE AGAIN, GAME ROOMS WE DON'T WANT THEM.
SO IF THEY'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ANOTHER SPECIFIC USE PERMIT.
SO WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESSES COULD BE PUT IN THERE WITHOUT HAVING TO COME FOR A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT? ANYTHING OR NOTHING? COUNCIL MEMBER BECK, IF I MAY, I KNOW ANY YOUTH THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED NORMALLY IN NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AS THAT'S HOW THE PD IS ACTUALLY SPELLED OUT.
UM, AND SO AGAIN, CONVENIENCE STORE WASH THAT IS CORRECT.
KIND OF THINGS? THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, INSURANCE OFFICES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY FIND THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE, UM, A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
THOSE WOULD BE ALLOWED BY RIGHT.
BUT ANYTHING BEYOND THAT, THEY WOULD NEED TO GO TO PLANNING AND ZONING FOR A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT.
UH, MS. MILO, UH, I SAW THAT THE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED TWO TO ONE.
UH, ARE WE HAVING A PROBLEM GETTING ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, YOU KNOW, ALL FIVE WHEN THEY MEET TO MAKE THE DECISION IF THEY'RE GONNA APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE? AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
IF, IF, IF YOU'RE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THAT? I DON'T THINK WE'RE HAVING AN ISSUE.
UM, THERE, UM, HONESTLY, THE COMMISSIONER, I JUST, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL ANY NAMES, BUT IF YOU NO, I WOULDN'T.
THAT'S OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE AGENDA.
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO JUST SAY THAT.
JUST A TOTAL, BUT IT'S ON HERE ON THE PRESENTATION.
AND NUMBER TWO, HOW MANY LETTERS ACTUALLY WENT OUT? UH, DID YOU SAY THAT OR DID I MISS THAT? UM, LET ME PULL THE REPORT FOR YOU.
AND IT'S, UH, 200 FEET, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
IT'S WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS.
SO, UH, WE HAVE RIGHT, YOU HAVE TO PULL UP THE REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION MEETING.
18 LETTERS WERE SUBMITTED, WERE DISTRIBUTED AND ONE RETURN, RIGHT? JUST THAT ONE YOU HAVE? YES.
WELL OTHER LIKE COUNCILMAN FRANK, YOUR LIKE WAS, OKAY.
AND WOULD THERE BE ANY OTHER REMARKS IN THE GALLERY? ANY REMARKS FROM THE GALLERY?
[01:00:01]
ANY REMARKS FROM THE GALLERY? AND NO OTHER REMARKS FROM THE COUNCIL HERE WE CAN NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER THREE AT 6:47 PM COUNCILMAN? SO MOVE MAYOR.SECOND MAYOR, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND WE WOULD, UH, NOW CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER THREE AT 6:48 PM THANK YOU.
NOW WE WILL RETURN TO THE REGULAR, UH, IT IS AGENDA.
AND ON THE REGULAR AGENDA WE'LL GO BACK.
I BELIEVE PAGE, UH, I WANT BE SURE.
IS THAT GOING TO BE PAGE ONE? AND ON PAGE ONE, WE HAVE SPEAKERS AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH DO DO I HEAR SOMETHING? Y'ALL HEAR SOMETHING? FEEDBACK.
YOU HAVE FEEDBACK ON ONE OF YOU ALL? I DON'T KNOW.
CAN YOU ALL MUTE SOMETHING? SOMEBODY? IT IS A FEEDBACK.
AND, AND IT COULD BE THIS MUFFLED SOUND YOU GETTING.
WE COULD BE PICKING UP SOMETHING.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
WE COULD BE PICKING UP SOMETHING.
[III.A.(1) Christopher Bates Regarding Voting In Port Arthur ]
WE HAVE, UH, THIS FIRST SPEAKER WOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE.CHRISTOPHER BATES REGARDING VOTING IN PORT ARTHUR, WOULD YOU PLEASE APPROACH, PLEASE? OUCH.
YOU BEGIN BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND YOU PROCEED.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER BATES.
I RESIDE AT 39 20 GREENWAY POINT DRIVE.
I AM A PROUD CITIZEN OF THIS GREAT CITY THAT I LOVE DEARLY, AND I COME BEFORE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF TODAY TO ADDRESS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, THE NEED FOR A VOTING CONSISTENCY IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AS YOU KNOW, AN ELECTION WAS HELD THIS PAST SATURDAY.
SEVERAL POSITIONS INCLUDING THE MAYOR, PORT COMMISSIONERS, P-A-I-S-D SCHOOL BOARD.
TRUSTEES, UM, P-A-I-S-D BOND ELECTION WERE HELD.
BUT I'LL FIRST WANT TO THANK THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN CONDUCTING THIS ELECTION.
HOWEVER, MANY CITIZENS, INCLUDING MYSELF, BELIEVE THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO CONSISTENCY IN OUR VOTING PROCESS.
THE JEFFERSON COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE SHOULD CONDUCT ALL CITY ELECTIONS.
THERE ARE CERTAIN LOGISTICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE LIMITATIONS THAT THE CITY FACES WHEN MANAGING ELECTIONS.
LIMITATIONS THAT THE COUNTY IS BETTER EQUIPPED TO HANDLE.
IN ADDITION TO ADDRESSING THESE LIMITATIONS, USING THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WOULD HELP STANDARDIZE IMPORTANT VOTING DETAILS LIKE TIMES, DATES, AND LOCATIONS, WHICH WOULD GREATLY REDUCE VOTER CONFUSION.
THE NUMBER ONE VOTING LOCATIONS FOR THE MAY 3RD ELECTION.
ONE OF THE VOTING SITES WAS HERE AT THE CITY HALL ON THE FIFTH FLOOR.
TRADITIONALLY, VOTERS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO CASTING THEIR BALLOTS AT THE SUB COURTHOUSE ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
A LOCATION THAT IS MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR ELDERLY AND SPECIAL NEEDS VOTERS.
ALSO, SEVERAL PEOPLE WENT TO THE SUB COURTHOUSE EXPECTING TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO VOTING THERE.
NUMBER TWO, EARLY VOTING DAYS AND HOURS.
UM, THE ELECTION CYCLE DID NOT INCLUDE A FULL WEEKEND OF EARLY VOTING.
UM, THAT'S A, A MISSED OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE MANY WORKING PEOPLE RELY ON THE WEEKEND TO ACCESS VOTE.
ADDITIONALLY, POLLS CLOSED AT 6:00 PM ON THE LAST DAY OF EARLY VOTING, BUT VOTERS WERE ACCUSTOMED TO A 7:00 PM CLOSING TIME.
I PERSONALLY STAYED 30 MINUTES AFTER THE POLLS CLOSED AND OBSERVED AROUND 50 PEOPLE ARRIVE EXPECTING TO VOTE ONLY TO FIND THAT VOTING HAD ENDED.
NEXT ELECTION DAY, VOTING RESTRICTIONS ON ELECTION DAY VOTERS WERE REQUIRED TO VOTE IN THEIR DESIGNATED PRECINCTS.
WHEN THE COUNTY CLERK RUNS THE ELECTION, VOTERS CAN VOTE AT ANY POLLING LOCATION, WHICH IS FAR MORE CONVENIENT.
ON SATURDAY, DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAD TO BE REDIRECTED AND I PERSONALLY WITNESSED AT LEAST 10 INDIVIDUALS LEAVE THE LIBRARY JUST BEFORE CLOSING, TRYING TO MAKE IT TO ANOTHER POLLING LOCATION.
AND I DOUBT THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT ON TIME TO VOTE.
AND LASTLY, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE USER-FRIENDLY AND TRANSPARENT ELECTION WEBSITE MAINTAINED BY THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.
THIS WEBSITE ALLOWS RESIDENTS TO EASILY NAVIGATE AND TRACK ELECTION RESULTS, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF PUBLIC TRUST IN OUR ELECTIONS.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I RESPECTFULLY
[01:05:01]
ASK THE CITY BUDGET THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO HAVE COUNTY CLERK ADMINISTER OUR ELECTIONS MOVING FORWARD.THE NEXT MUNICIPAL ELECTION IN MAY, 2026 WILL INCLUDE SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT RACES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE PAST THERE WERE SOME MAPPING ISSUES, CHALLENGES FOR THE COUNTY CLERK TO CONDUCT THAT ELECTION, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.
THERE IS TIME TO MEET, THERE IS TIME TO BUDGET, THERE IS TIME TO COORDINATE.
SO LET'S USE THAT TIME WISELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL CITIZENS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND MAY Y'ALL HAVE A BLESSED EVENING.
UH, YOU HAVE, UH, HAVE THE LIGHTS ON HERE, CONSTABLE, UH, FRANK? NO.
THANK YOU, CONSTABLE BATES FOR BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE IT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN THIS ELECTION.
SAME EXACT THING, BUT THAT ELECTION, I BELIEVE WAS RUN BY THE COUNTY CLERK.
SO THOSE IRREGULARITIES HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S, IT'S OUR COUNTY CLERK OR OUR CITY SECRETARY.
BUT I HAVE MET WITH OUR COUNTY CLERK TO BE SURE THAT THE ISSUES WITH OUR VOTING MAPS HAVE BEEN FIXED SO THAT SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO RUN OUR NEXT ELECTION IF WE CAN BUDGET FOR IT.
UM, BUT THESE SAME THINGS HAPPEN ALMOST EVERY ELECTION.
I REMEMBER BEING AT THE LIBRARY AND PEOPLE WERE COMING TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY WHERE THEY HAD TO GO TO THEIR PRECINCT AND THE LIBRARY WAS NOT THEIR PRECINCT.
AND THEY WERE GIVEN INCORRECT INFORMATION INSIDE THE LIBRARY BY THE POLL WORKERS AS TO WHERE TO GO.
SO I HAD PEOPLE LEAVING THE LIBRARY, GOING OUT TO PORT ACRES ELEMENTARY, AND THEN COMING BACK AND SAYING, NO, I'M REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE VOTING AT THE LIBRARY.
SO YOU'VE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
I MEAN, WE REALLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS TO MAKE IT CLEARER TO OUR VOTERS, UH, AND TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT ABOUT THE HOURS.
UM, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT CHANGES EVERY TIME WE HAVE A WEEK OF EARLY VOTING.
WE'VE GOT THESE LAST TWO DAYS, WE'RE GONNA VOTE UNTIL 6:00 PM OR WE'RE GONNA VOTE TILL 7:00 PM IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S NOT ALWAYS CONSISTENT, AND I THINK PEOPLE NEED CONSISTENCY WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, AND WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT WE GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE IT IS AN ISSUE THAT WE REALLY DO NEED TO, WE NEED TO DO BETTER.
CONSTABLE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
CITY ATTORNEY, UH, HAVE THOSE ISSUES THAT TO HAVE THE COUNTY CONDUCT THE ELECTION, HAVE THOSE ISSUES BEEN RESOLVED? YOU KNOW, OF I RECALL COUNCIL FUNDED OR VOTED I WAS NOT ON COUNCIL, VOTED TO HAVE THE SYSTEM UPGRADED TO BE COMPATIBLE TO WHAT THE COUNTY WANTED TO DO.
HAVE THOSE ISSUES BEEN? UH, CL HAVE CITY SECRETARY? MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT.
WHEN WE HAD OUR RECENT REDISTRICTING, AS CONSTABLE BATES STATED, IT IS NOW NOT AN ISSUE FOR THE COUNTY CLERK TO BE ABLE TO RUN OUR ELECTIONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WITH THE COUNTY HANDLING THE ELECTION, IT'S MUCH CHEAPER.
OH, IT'S NOT, IT USED TO BE IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE NOW.
UM, BECAUSE THERE USED TO BE 50% WHEN THEY WOULD CONDUCT THE ELECTIONS, IT'D BE 50%.
I WOULD F**K THE COST OF WHAT THE CITY IS DOING ELECTIONS.
BUT ANYWAY, WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS, WE NEED TO RESOLVE IT BECAUSE, AND WHICH IT IS DIFFICULT ENOUGH TO GET PEOPLE TO GO VOTE, BUT WHEN THEY GO THROUGH THE POLLS AND HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEY MAY GO HOME.
SO THE, THE WAY IT'S SET UP NOW, WE NEED TO SOLVE THE ISSUES, WHATEVER IT TAKE, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S INCREASING APATHY AND WE DON'T NEED THAT.
WE NEED TO MAKE IT AS CONVENIENT OR AS WHERE THEY CAN VOTE WHEREVER THEY GO, WHATEVER IT TAKE.
IF IT'S, IF IT TAKE ADJUSTING THE BUDGET OR WHATEVER IT TAKES, UH, A WORKING HOUR DIFFERENCES OUT WITH THE COUNTY, WE NEED TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE LOSE A LOT OF, A LOT OF VOTES WHEN THEY GO TO THE POLLS AND THEY GOTTA GO SOMEWHERE ELSE'S ALREADY LATE, JUST GETTING OFF OF WORK.
AND THEN EXTENDED HOURS IS CONDUCIVE TOO.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED THE COUNTY, WE CAN EXTEND THE HOURS AND STUFF, AND THEN WE CAN VOTE IN.
BUT WHATEVER IT TAKE, WE NEED TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM SO WE CAN REDUCE APATHY.
COUNCILWOMAN EVER FEEL COUNCILWOMAN EVER? CAN YOU HEAR ME? WHAT COUNCILWOMAN EVER FEEL? HER HAND IS UP? UH, DON'T THINK, BUT I DON'T THINK, OH, SHE'S ON MUTE.
[01:10:01]
YOU MUTED OUT COUNCILWOMAN IT SHOWING OUR SCREEN TO MUTED.UH, CAN HE UNMUTE? CAN, CAN, CAN YOU, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OKAY.
COUNCILMAN, WHENEVER CAN YOU OH, OH, HOLD COUNCILMAN? UH, ETT.
COUNCILMAN
BUT I WASN'T SURE WHO YOU CALLED ON.
YOU DID YOU? NO, I THOUGHT YOUR YOUR HAND WAS UP.
SO, THANK YOU CONSTABLE BATES FOR SHARING, BRINGING THIS INFORMATION FORWARD.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I OFFER SOME CLARITY TO THE CITIZENS REGARDING WHY THE CITY ELECTIONS ARE DONE DIFFERENT FROM THE, THE COUNTY, AND IT IS ACCORDING TO THE STATE ELECTION CODE.
SO ALTHOUGH WE WILL WANT TO HAVE OPEN POLLING DURING EARLY VOTING AND ON ELECTION DAY, THE STATE REQUIRES EVERY MUNICIPALITY TO HAVE, UM, REQUIRES THE MUNICIPALITY TO HAVE PRECINCT RESTRICTED POLLS FOR ELECTION DAY.
NOW, IT IS ACCORDING TO WHAT THE COUNCIL DECIDES ON THOSE TIMES, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE SOME LEEWAY.
AND SO WE DO NEED TO OFFER THAT CONSISTENCY, ESPECIALLY FOR, UM, OUR WORKING POPULATION SO THAT WE ARE NOT DISENFRANCHISING VOTERS TO COME OUT TO VOTE.
SO FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION THOUGH, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, THE RUNOFF ELECTION THAT WILL BE COMING UP, UM, FOR JUNE 7TH, THAT JUNE 7TH DATE IS SET BY THE STATE.
SO THE CITY DOES NOT CHOOSE WHAT DATE THAT RUNOFF ELECTION WILL BE.
NOW THE TIMES THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNING BODY, WHICH IS THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND SO A REQUEST HAS BEEN MADE FOR US TO HAVE THAT EIGHT TO FIVE DURING, UM, THE FIRST FOUR DAYS TO HAVE A SATURDAY VOTING AVAILABLE FROM SEVEN TO SEVEN IN THE LAST TWO DAYS TO BE AVAILABLE FROM SEVEN TO SEVEN, WHICH HAS BEEN OUR NORM.
SO WE DO NEED TO OFFER THAT CONSISTENCY.
I THINK WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT POSSIBLY HAVING THE, THE COUNTY TO RUN OUR ELECTIONS, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S ACCORDING TO WHAT THE GOVERNING BODY CHOOSES TO DO.
BUT THERE ARE SOME RESTRICTIONS THAT WE HAVE WHEN A CITY RUNS THEIR OWN ELECTION THAT ARE NOT BECAUSE THE COUNCIL DIDN'T WANT TO, OR THE CITY SECRETARY DIDN'T WANT TO.
IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE GOVERNED BY THE, THE STATE OF TEXAS ELECTION CODE, MA'AM.
LEMME COME COMMENT BEFORE SECRETARY.
REPEAT THAT, COUNCILMAN? I SAID CAN I COMMENT BEFORE THE SECRETARY? YES.
IN REFERENCE TO ALL OF THE, ALL THE, UH, QUESTIONS THAT CONSTABLE BASE HAD, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO THE ELECTION, I, UH, AS WAS SAY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN RUN THE ELECTIONS.
AND WHAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT, UH, THAT COUNCILWOMAN, UH, EDWARD FIELD SAID THERE ARE SOME, UH, GUIDANCE, UH, WE LOST HIM.
HE MAY HAVE TOUCHED SOMETHING.
HE WAS BENT, HIS HAND WAS GOING DOWN.
COUNCILMAN DE SAID, I SAW HE MADE A MOTION TO, TO, AND HE COULD HAVE TOUCHED A, UH, A WRONG BUTTON.
UH, AND HE MAY BE TRYING TO GET BACK TO US.
COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN? WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T SEE YOU.
SO YOUR, YOUR, UH, YOUR, YOUR VIDEO IS OFF.
SO, SO WE LOST YOU FOR A MINUTE.
JUST STOP TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN THE CITY SECRETARY BRINGS US THE INFORMATION FOR OUR COMBINATION, WE JUST NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
AND WE NEED TO ALSO PROVIDE INPUT SUCH AS THE WEEKEND.
[01:15:02]
DATE, THEN WE SHOULD LET HER KNOW TO PUT IT IN THERE, RIGHT? UH, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE, UH, VOTING PLACES, YOU KNOW, YES, THEY SAY THE STATE SAYS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A, UH, PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE IN A PRECINCT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IT PERTAINING TO THE LOCAL.BUT THE QUESTION WOULD BE, DO WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE IN ANY PRECINCT? AND DO WE HAVE MORE VOTING PLACES NOW, DO WE HAVE, UH, PEOPLE VOTING IN PRECINCTS? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, EVERYBODY NOT VOTING IN THE PRECINCT, YOU KNOW, AND IT, AND, AND THAT, AND THAT, UH, THAT LAW BY THE STATE IS PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT PRECINCTS, MAYBE ON THE COUNTY OR, OR, OR THE, UH, STATE LEVEL.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A MUNICIPALITY, WE CAN'T PUT, AND NEITHER WILL THE COUNTY PUT A, A VOTE IN PLACE IN EVERY PRECINCT.
OKAY? SO WE KNOW THAT THAT DOESN'T PERTAIN TO US.
SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DECIDE IS WHERE DO WE WANT INDIVIDUALS TO VOTE AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY ACROSS TOWN AND ALL AROUND TOWN IN ORDER TO VOTE, MAKE IT AS CONVENIENT AS POSSIBLE.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
UH, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A WORKSHOP ON.
AND WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE LISTEN TO WHAT THE CITY, UH, SECRETARY HAS TO SAY WHEN CON, UH, CONDUCTING THE ELECTION.
THEN WE NEED TO ALSO PROVIDE THE GUIDANCE AND THE DIRECTIVE SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE VOTERS, UH, HAVE A CONVENIENT WAY OF GOING TO VOTE, AND THAT WE CAN ENHANCE AND, UH, WANT PEOPLE TO GO VOTE, AS OPPOSED TO PEOPLE GETTING DISCOURAGED BY VOTING AND GOING TO THE WRONG PLACE.
AND WHEN PEOPLE GO TO THE WRONG PLACE, WE JUST HAVE TO PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON, UH, ADVERTISING, OR SHALL I SAY, UH, GET THE WORD OUT TO WHERE THEY SHOULD VOTE.
THERE'S THINGS WE CAN DO, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED, WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED THEM BEFORE.
SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THEM IN A WORKSHOP.
AND WHEN WE FINISH THE WORKSHOP, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED, WE COULD FIX THOSE THINGS, AND THEN WE CAN DIRECT THE SECRETARY TO CARRY IT OUT.
AND THEREFORE, WE SHOULD HAVE A BETTER CONNECTION.
AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE AS MUCH CONFUSION ON WHERE PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE, UH, RIGHT NOW, THIS RUNOFF, YOU KNOW, WE JUST COULD LOOK AT SOME OF THESE THINGS AND SEE CAN WE MAKE BETTER? BUT RIGHT NOW, THERE'S THINGS THAT NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
SO I RECOMMEND WE DO A WORKSHOP, UH, LATER AFTER THIS, UH, RUNOFF TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT COUNCIL, COUNCIL FACE MENTIONED.
AND RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE PRESSING THING IS THAT, ONE, WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHERE TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION.
NOW, THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR THE CITY SECRETARY AND MAYOR, I'M GONNA ASK A QUESTION.
THEN WHEN SHE ANSWER IT, THEN I'LL BE THROUGH.
SO, SO MY QUESTION TO THE CITY SECRETARY IS, SINCE THIS IS A, A MAYORAL RACE, AND IT'S ONLY THE MAYOR RACE IS CITYWIDE, HAVE, DO WE NEED TO VOTE IN PRECINCTS OR CAN WE JUST DESIGNATE VOTING PLACES IN THE DISTRICTS THAT WILL BE CONVENIENT TO VOTERS WITHIN THE DISTRICT? BECAUSE WITH A MAYORAL RACE IS THE CITYWIDE, SO THEREFORE THEY'RE NOT VOTING IN PRECINCTS.
SO, UH, THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO TEST, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK, MAYOR, YOU MAY WE DO PRECINCT.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN
I, THERE WAS, UM, ONE OTHER POINT THAT I FORGOT TO MAKE, BUT I CAN, I CAN WAIT MY, MY TURN IF I NEED TO.
THERE WERE, UM, WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE, THE PRECINCTS EARLIER, IT IS ELECTION CODE 43.007 THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT SO ANYONE COULD READ IT IF THEY'D LIKE TO.
AND THAT'S WHAT PROVIDES THE INFORMATION WITH PRECINCT, UH, REGARDING PRECINCT BASED VOTING.
[01:20:03]
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED REGARDING THE DATES AND THE TIMES OF OUR, OF THE OPPORTUNITIES TO VOTE, THERE'S WHAT'S CALLED THE BRACKET.AND SO IN THIS LAST ELECTION, THE BRACKET, LET ME MAKE SURE I'M GETTING THE DATES RIGHT, LOOKING AT MY CALENDAR, IT WAS APRIL 22ND THROUGH THE 28TH, I BELIEVE.
AND IN THAT BRACKET, IT INCLUDED A SATURDAY AND A SUNDAY.
HOWEVER, IF THE DATE AND TIME NEXT TO THE LOCATION IS NOT LISTED, THEN THAT IS NOT A DATE INCLUDED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO VOTE.
SO AGAIN, THOSE ARE RULES THAT THOSE ARE NOT RULES THAT WE MAKE UP.
THOSE ARE RULES THAT THE STATE ELECTION CODE ADDRESSES.
SO, UM, IF ANYBODY HAS ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, I'M MORE THAN SURE THE CHIEF SECRETARY DOESN'T MIND ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS.
I DON'T MIND ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING TRANSPARENT AND OFTEN AND OFFERING CLARITY ON WHAT RULES ARE SET BY WHO, WHETHER THAT'S FROM THE STATE OR FROM THE CITY.
MAY I SPEAK, MA'AM? THANK YOU, MA'AM.
AND WE TAKE YOUR HAND DOWN OR CLICK.
UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I STILL HAVE A QUO HERE.
I WANT TO SAY THAT I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH MAYOR PRO, TIM BECKHAM AND CONSTABLE BATES.
THERE ARE SEVERAL RESTRICTIONS FOR CITIES THAT ARE NOT WITH THE COUNTY.
AND TO A CERTAIN POINT, THERE USED TO BE A REQUIREMENT FOR US TO HAVE TWO 12 HOUR DAYS.
EARLY, UH, VOTING FOR ELECTION LAW UNDER SECTION 83 0 0 2 IS DEFINED AS SUCH.
EARLY VOTING BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE SHALL BE CONDUCTED EACH WEEKDAY OF THE VOTING PERIOD.
THAT IS NOT A LEGAL STATE HOLIDAY OR PERIOD FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST NINE HOURS WE MET THAT I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH HAVING SOME SORT OF LATE HOURS.
SO WE ADDED THE LAST TWO DAYS TILL 6:00 PM.
UM, AND THEN SECOND OF ALL, I AM GOVERNED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
HOWEVER, THE AUTHORITY ORDERING THE ELECTION IS MY COUNCIL AND I SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL.
YOU CAN CERTAINLY MAKE ANY AMENDMENTS TO ELECTION LAW WITHIN ELECTION LAW THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN YOUR CITY.
UM, ANOTHER THING ABOUT THE POLLING LOCATION, UH, CONSTABLE, UH, THERE IS A PART OF ELECTION LAW THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR MAIN EARLY VOTING LOCATION HAS TO BE IN THE BUILDING THAT THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY CLERK OR CITY SECRETARY IS CONTAINED IN.
UM, THAT IS WHY WE TRY TO KEEP IT HERE.
AND WE'VE HAD IT IN DIFFERENT PLACES AT CITY HALL AND WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO MOVE IT, UM, FROM THIS BUILDING.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT FALLS UNDER ELECTION LAW.
NOW, THE COUNCIL CERTAINLY, AS I SAID, CAN PUT ANYTHING THAT THEY DEEM WOULD MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT OR MORE AMENABLE TO THE VOTERS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE WEEKEND VOTING.
UM, IF IT'S NOT DONE AT A COUNCIL MEETING.
AND I WILL SAY OVER THE YEARS WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 2008, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THAT THE COUNCIL WANTED WEEKEND VOTING.
THERE HAS BEEN TIMES THEY DID NOT, AND IT'S BEEN A REAL CONVERSATION.
SO, UM, ACTUALLY WE HAVE NOT HAD WEEKEND VOTING IN A WHILE.
BUT HOWEVER, CONSTABLE BATES SUBMITTED THE PROPER PAPERWORK THAT GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD A SUNDAY ONTO THIS EARLY VOTING.
AS FAR AS VOTE CENTERS, I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE VOTE CENTERS.
IT IS SIMPLY NOT SOMETHING THAT ANY MUNICIPALITY CAN DO.
SO THAT IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF WHAT CONSTABLES BATES WAS SAYING, THAT WE ARE MORE RESTRICTED.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAME UP THE OTHER DAY IN CONVERSATION.
I LOOKED IT UP AGAIN FOR THE RUNOFF.
SOMEONE, UH, HEARD THAT THAT WASN'T THE CASE ANYMORE.
I IMMEDIATELY STARTED LOOKING AT IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER TO RUN AN
[01:25:01]
ELECTION AS SUCH.AS FAR AS OUR POLLING LOCATIONS, WE USED TO HAVE NINE POLLING LOCATIONS.
UM, IT'S CALLED CONSOLIDATED PRECINCTS.
WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE CENTRALLY LOCATED OUR POLLING LOCATIONS WITH THE PRECINCTS THAT VOTE AT THAT POLLING LOCATION.
HOWEVER, I DO STILL SEE THE ISSUE OF PEOPLE COMING AND TO THE WRONG PLACE AND THEN NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE RIGHT PLACE.
UM, I DO KNOW THAT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND, UM, WE POST THE ORDER AND NOTICE OF ELECTION WHEN YOU PASS THE ORDINANCE.
IT HAS THE POLLING LOCATION AND WHAT PRECINCTS VOTE WHERE, UM, MR. HARRIS TAKES CARE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE LIBERTY OF HAVING OUR OWN WEBSITE LIKE THE COUNTY.
HOWEVER, HE HAS THE LINK TO THE COUNTY WHERE YOU CAN UTILIZE ANYTHING THAT, ANY INFORMATION YOU MIGHT WOULD NEED TO GET FROM THEM.
HE ALSO PUTS IT IN OUR CITY CALENDAR.
EACH DAY IS LISTED THE POLLING LOCATIONS, WHAT TIMES, AND, UM, WE PUBLISH IN THE NEWSPAPER.
ELECTION LAW REQUIRES THAT WE PUBLISH ONCE WE ACTUALLY PUBLISH IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWS, WHICH IS A THREE TIMES A WEEK.
WE DO IT BEFORE EARLY VOTING, AND WE DO IT THE WEEK BEFORE ELECTION DAY.
I WILL SAY THAT IT IS THE GOAL OF MY STAFF AND I THAT WE, WE CONSIDER IT THE REPORT CARD.
HOW MANY PEOPLE TURN OUT TO VOTE THIS YEAR? WE HAD 12.2% OUTSIDE OF A, OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THAT WE WOULD HOLD AT THE SAME TIME.
THAT IS OUR HIGHEST THAT WE'VE EVER HAD.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT'S STILL A LOW VOTER TURNOUT COMPARED TO 29,000 REGISTERED VOTERS.
HOWEVER, WHEN WE STARTED DOING THE ELECTION, IT, OUR TURNOUT WAS AN AVERAGE OF 4%, AND IT'S GROWN EACH YEAR SINCE THEN.
THIS BEING ALL THE RECORDS BROKEN AS FAR AS TURNOUT FOR THE CITY WHEN WE WEREN'T INVOLVED IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
UM, THERE IS NO PROFESSIONAL THAT DOES NOT REALIZE IF YOU'RE AN ACTUAL PROFESSIONAL THAT DOES NOT REALIZE THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS THAT CAN BE MADE CONTINUOUSLY.
AND WE ARE CERTAINLY WILLING TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE THE WORK THAT WE DO, AND IT'S A LOT, IS WHAT WE DO FOR ONE VOTER OR 10,000 VOTERS.
I BELIEVE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN THROUGH A FEW ELECTIONS WITH US, AND WE SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL.
HOWEVER, I HAVE TO PRESENT TO YOU WHAT THE SECRETARY OF STATES PUT SETS FORTH IN ELECTION LAW, AND I'M CERTAINLY MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO WHAT I CAN TO INCREASE OUR VOTER TURNOUT EVEN MORE.
SO, JUST FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, SHERRY, UH, UH, I DID SIGN, UM, THAT PETITION SO WE CAN DO IT ON THAT SUNDAY.
SO WE HAVE NOTHING THAT'S PROHIBITED US FROM VOTING ON A WEEKEND SATURDAYS, BECAUSE, UM, NO, SIR.
THE, UM, SO THAT'S THE DIRECTION YOU NEED TO GET FROM COUNCIL WHEN WE DO HAVE AN ELECTION.
AS, AS YOU PASS THE ORDINANCE.
FOR THE CALLING, THE RUNOFF, YOU CAN SET TIMES, YOU CAN SET WEEKENDS, YOU CAN DRAFT IT ANY WAY YOU WOULD LIKE.
I ALREADY HAVE A REQUEST OKAY.
AND I INTEND TO PUT THAT IN THE ORDER FOR YOUR APPROVAL FOR MERITAL, UH, ELECTION.
ANY OTHERS? ANY OTHERS? WELL, THANK YOU COUNCIL.
[III.A.(2) Kaala Jacobs Regarding Voting Irregularities ]
HAVE OUR NEXT SPEAKER, UH, MS. KAYLA, UH, JACOBS, REGARDING VOTING, UH, IRREGULARITIES.TO BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
MY NAME IS KAYLA JACOBS AND I RESIDE AT 79 30 GOLF HILL DRIVE HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
UM, SO COMING UP BEHIND MY BROTHER CONSTABLE BATES, I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR MUCH OF WHAT HE SAID, BUT I WANT TO ADD, I WANNA SUPPLEMENT AND COMPLIMENT SOME OF THE POINTS THAT HE MADE.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA START OFF ALSO BY SAYING WE DO APPRECIATE ALL THE FEEDBACK, UM, AND THE DISCUSSION THAT'S TAKEN PLACE THUS FAR.
[01:30:01]
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.UM, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THE MATTERS OF WHICH I'M SPEAKING.
AFTER HAVING SPENT NEARLY A DECADE LIVING AWAY IN THE HOUSTON METRO AREA, I RELOCATED BACK HOME AND MADE IT MY PERSONAL MISSION TO SHOW MY PEERS THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE A DESIRABLE QUALITY OF LIFE AND A DESIRABLE STANDARD OF LIVING IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
I PERSONALLY KNOW THAT BRINGING FORTH THIS LARGE SCALE CHANGE IN MINDSET IS ONLY ATTAINABLE BY THE INCREASED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OF CURRENT RESIDENTS.
AND THE RECENT ELECTION HAD THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF BEING A POLL WORKER FOR A CAMPAIGN.
I SERVED AS A POLL WORKER FOR FIVE OF THE SIX DAYS OF EARLY VOTING, ONLY EXCLUDING THE SUNDAY.
AND I WORKED AT THE CITY HALL ON THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING AND SPENT AN AVERAGE OF SEVEN HOURS PER DAY ENGAGING WITH CITIZENS OUT AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, I WORKED AT THE OLD DOWLING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UM, IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 10 HOURS ON ELECTION DAY.
UM, SO THE TWO THINGS THAT I WOULD WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ARE SOME OBSERVATIONS, UM, THAT I NOTED.
SO THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR TEAMS HAD TO LEARN ABOUT, UH, SEVERAL OF THE RULES, GUIDELINES, AND RESTRICTIONS OF POLL WORKING AND THE BOUNDARIES FROM CURRENT ELECTED OFFICIALS, FROM THE ELECTION OFFICIALS, AND ON THE FLY BY WORD OF MOUTH EACH DAY AT THE POLLING LOCATIONS.
THE BOUNDARIES WERE NOT CLEARLY MARKED AT THE LIBRARY UNTIL THE FINAL DAY OF EARLY VOTING.
AND WE ALSO RECEIVED AN EMAIL FALSELY ACCUSING CAMPAIGN MEMBERS AND COLD, UH, AND POLL WORKERS OF DISCOURAGING AND DETERRING VOTERS IN A CITY WHERE THE VOTER TURNOUT IS CONSISTENTLY AND RELIABLY LOW.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE ELATED TO LEARN THAT THE PARKING LOT IS FULL OF VOTERS AND POLL WORKERS.
BUT INSTEAD, WE RECEIVED A REPRIMAND VIA EMAIL BASED ON UNFOUNDED AND UNCONFIRMED COMPLAINTS.
ELECTION OFFICIALS DID THEIR VERY BEST, UM, TO PROVIDE DIRECTION TO US EVEN WHEN THEY WEREN'T SURE.
WE APPRECIATE THEIR HARD WORK AND SUPPORT FOR THE DURATION OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
THE SECOND TOPIC THAT I WANT TO COVER IS THE VOTER CONFUSION.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A NEED TO ESTABLISH AND CIRCULATE VOTING GUIDELINES FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DIFFERENT, UH, IN A DIFFERENT CITY FROM THEIR ASSIGNED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UM, THERE WERE SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE WHO RESIDED IN GROVES BUT WERE ZONED TO P-A-I-S-D AND VICE VERSA, WERE CONFUSED AT THE POLLS AND EVEN THE ELECTION.
UM, OFFICIALS HAD TROUBLE GIVING THEM DIRECTION ON WHAT TO DO AND WHERE TO VOTE.
AND ALSO THERE IS AN OVERALL LACK OF CONSISTENCY IN WHAT PEOPLE ARE USED TO IN TERMS OF TIMES AND LOCATIONS FROM PREVIOUS LOCATION, UM, UM, EXCUSE ME, FROM PREVIOUS LOCAL ELECTIONS.
AND WHAT TRANSPIRED OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS HAS LED TO EXPONENTIAL CONFUSION.
ADDITIONALLY, THE LANGUAGE OR THE LACK THEREOF, IDENTIFYING AN INCEPTION OF SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH AND SUNDAY IN SUNDAY, APRIL 27TH FROM THE EARLY VOTING DATES, WAS A SOURCE OF MUCH CONFUSION AND INCONVENIENCE.
AND I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE LANGUAGE READ THAT EARLY VOTING WAS APRIL 22ND THROUGH APRIL 29TH.
THERE WAS NO PARENTHETICAL, THERE WAS NO EXCEPTION NOTED.
SO THAT'S WHAT LED TO MANY BELIEVING THAT THEY COULD SHOW UP TO THE POLLS ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS.
OUR ORGANIZATION, STATE OF THE TRAIL WORKED OVER TIME TRYING TO CIRCUMVENT SOME OF THE ANTICIPATED CONFUSION BY CREATING RESOURCES TO INFORM CITIZENS IN ADVANCE.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT NEARLY THE REACH OF THE CITY WHEN IT COMES TO MATTERS SUCH AS THESE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON RECORD, UM, VERY RESPECTFULLY SAYING THAT, UM, THE WATER BILL NOTICES ARE INSUFFICIENT AND INEFFECTIVE, AND OUR CITY WEBSITE IS NOT VERY USER-FRIENDLY, ESPECIALLY NOT FOR MATTERS SUCH AS THESE, IT IS 2025.
AND I'M SURE THAT WE CAN FIND A MORE RELEVANT AND MORE UP-TO-DATE MEANS OF ISSUING PRESSING NOTICES TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT CITY.
WE FOUND OURSELVES AT THE POLLS REDIRECTING VOTERS FOR THE FULL EXTENT OF THE ELECTION DAY, AND IT WAS VERY DISCOURAGING.
AT 6:30 PM ON SATURDAY MAY 3RD, I ENCOUNTERED TWO ELDERLY WOMEN, ONE OF WHICH WAS THE MOTHER AND THE OTHER WHO WAS THE DAUGHTER.
THEY ARRIVED AT THE LIBRARY, WHICH WAS UNKNOWINGLY THEIR INCORRECT POLLING LOCATION.
A FEW OTHERS, AND I SCRAMBLED TO ASSIST THEM, AND I PULLED UP THE CITY PRECINCT INTERACTIVE MAP AND WE WERE ABLE TO DIRECT THEM TO THEIR ACTUAL POLLING LOCATIONS.
BY THAT TIME THOUGH, THEY HAD A LITTLE LESS THAN 30 MINUTES TO LEAVE THE PUBLIC LIBRARY TRAVEL ACROSS TOWN TO TERRA ELEMENTARY AND THEN BACK HERE TO CITY HALL TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS ALL BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSED AT 7:00 PM THIS, AGAIN, WAS INCREDIBLY DISCOURAGING, UM, AND I WITNESSED IT FIRSTHAND.
SATURDAY, MAY 3RD ILLUSTRATED POOR COMMUNICATION,
[01:35:01]
LACK OF, UM, LACK OF TIMELINESS AND COMMUNICATION, AND A GENERAL LACK OF CONSIDERATION FOR THE EVERYDAY WORKING 18-YEAR-OLD PLUS PORT ARTHUR'S LIVING IN THE YEAR 2025.THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IS NOT POOR, BUT OUR CITY IS POOR.
AND VOTER MORALE IS POOR IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND POOR IN OPTICS.
AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN IN DEPLOYING ALL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO FRANCHISE OUR VOTERS, AND EASE ACCESS TO THE POLLS FOR ALL PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT CITY.
IT'S MY SINCERE HOPE THAT HEARING THE TESTIMONIES OF MYSELF AND CONSTABLE BATES, AS WELL AS OUR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE ARE BRINGING FORTH WILL AID THE CITY OF, OF PORT ARTHUR IN HAVING A MORE, UM, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, FRIENDLY, LESS VOTER CONFUSION AND MORE VOTER CONFIDENCE IN ALL FUTURE ELECTIONS.
THE CITY AND THE CITIZENS DESERVE MORE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE, BASICALLY WHAT I LIKE TO SEE WHEN YOU GET READY TO DO YOUR BUDGET, UH, WE NEED TO RE-IMPLEMENT VOTERS' EDUCATION.
AND IN THE OFF SEASON WHEN THERE'S NO ELECTIONS GOING ON, WE USED TO COULD BORROW THE VOTING MACHINES FROM THE COUNTY, BORROW THOSE VOTING MACHINES, AND WE NEED TO PUT THOSE VOTING MACHINES WITH SOMEBODY TO WORK WITH, TO WORK 'EM, TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THAT WHEN THEY ACTUALLY, AND PUT 'EM IN THE GROCERY STORES WHERE PEOPLE, WHERE PEOPLE GO AND SHOP AND CONGREGATE, PUT THE VOTING MACHINES AT THE, UH, IN THE GROCERY STORES, AS MANY AS THAT WILL, WILL GO ALONG WITH A HELP WITH VOTERS EDUCATION, PUT A WORKER THERE AS PEOPLE COME IN THAT'S NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE VOTING MACHINE, THEY CAN EDUCATE 'EM RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT.
AND SO WHEN IT DOES COME TO ELECTION DAY, THEY'LL FEEL COM THEY'LL FEEL STRONGLY AND BE MORE WILLING TO GO AND VOTE BECAUSE THEY'RE NO LONGER AFRAID OF THE CHANGES IN THE MACHINES.
WE USED TO DO THIS, WE USED TO BORROW MACHINES, AND I'M COMFORTABLE THAT'S STILL THERE.
IF NOT, WELL, LET'S BUY SOME, BUY SOME MACHINES.
LET'S BUY SOME AND PUT 'EM IN THE STORES.
UH, MAY I APPROACH HIM? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU MS. JACOBS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID.
JUST LIKE WHEN CONSTABLE BATES WAS, WAS UP HERE TALKING.
SO MANY OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID, I EXPERIENCED MYSELF AS A VOTER, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINED TO ME ABOUT SOME OF THE SAME THINGS.
BUT I WANT TO, I WANNA TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED AT THE LIBRARY.
UM, BECAUSE I EXPERIENCED THIS MYSELF WHEN I WENT TO VOTE.
THE WAY THAT THE CANDIDATES ARE SETTING UP, WHEN YOU PULL INTO THE LIBRARY, THERE'S, THERE'S ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC IN AND THERE'S PARKING ON THE SIDEWALK, AND THERE SHOULD BE A LANE OF PARKING NEXT TO THAT.
BUT THIS YEAR, THE CANDIDATES HAD MOVED SO FAR UP THAT YOU COULDN'T PARK IN THAT, THAT OTHER LANE OF PARKING, ALL OF THE CANOPIES WERE SET UP IN THAT SECOND ROW OF PARKING.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE COULDN'T FIND A PLACE TO PARK.
SO THEY LEFT AND THEY DIDN'T VOTE.
SOME OF THEM DIDN'T COME BACK.
I SAW IT MYSELF WHEN I WENT TO VOTE.
THEY WERE SO CLOSE TO THE LANE OF TRAFFIC NEXT TO THE LANE WHERE YOU COULD PARK NEXT TO THE SIDEWALK THAT YOU ALMOST COULDN'T DRIVE THROUGH.
SO I MYSELF COMPLAINED TO THE CITY SECRETARY WHEN I WITNESSED IT MYSELF, BUT THEN I HAD SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT I, I COULDN'T FIND A PLACE TO PARK.
SO THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS AT, SPECIFICALLY AT THE LIBRARY, BECAUSE THERE REALLY ISN'T A LOT OF ROOM FOR PEOPLE TO PARK IF WE'VE GOT CANDIDATES PARKED ON THE BACK ROW AND ON THE THIRD ROW, AND THEN THEIR CANOPIES ARE SET UP ON THE SECOND ROW, AND THE ONLY PLACE TO PARK IS RIGHT AT THE SIDEWALK, AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, FOUR OR FIVE HANDICAP SPOTS FOR OUR VOTERS THAT NEED TO BE THERE OR TO VOTE FROM THEIR CAR, THAT'S A, THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT WE REALLY DO NEED TO ADDRESS.
SO I THINK THE EMAIL THAT WENT OUT FROM THE CITY SECRETARY EMANATED FROM ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE WERE GETTING ABOUT, I WENT TO VOTE AT THE LIBRARY AND I COULDN'T FIND A PLACE TO PARK MM-HMM
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO WORK ON, BUT I, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE, THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE AND WHAT YOU'VE ADDRESSED THAT, THAT WE DO NEED TO WORK ON SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR ALL OF OUR VOTERS ACROSS THE CITY.
AND MAYOR PRO, TIM, IF I MAY, UM, I WOULD SUGGEST, AND THAT KIND OF GOES BACK TO THE LACK OF GUIDELINES THAT WE'RE GIVEN.
I TRULY BELIEVE, 'CAUSE SEVERAL OF THE CAMPAIGNS ARE SITTING IN THIS ROOM MM-HMM
HAVE WE BEEN TOLD CANOPIES SHOULD NOT BE SET UP IN THE FIRST LANE OF PARKING.
SO, UM, AND THEN ALSO I WOULD CHALLENGE THAT BY, BY OFFERING THIS POINT OF VIEW THAT WE WANT, WE WANT VOTER ENGAGEMENT.
[01:40:01]
THERE'S NO ASSURANCE OF HAVING A PARKING SPACE CLOSE TO THE DOOR.WE WANT, ACTUALLY, I PREFER IF THERE WERE NO PARKING SPACES, BECAUSE THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY REACHING RECORD NUMBERS OF VOTERS AND THEY ARE COMING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.
SO THOUGH I DO UNDERSTAND THE INCONVENIENCE THAT THAT CAUSES, CALLING IT A DETERRENT FOR VOTERS, I THINK IS A STRETCH.
AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN ACCUSTOMED TO THE LOW TURNOUT AND THE, THE CONVENIENCE THAT THAT HAS OFFERED OVER THE YEARS.
BUT THAT IS NOT, UM, THAT'S NOT AN ASSURANCE WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU APPROACH THE POLES TO HAVE A PARKING SPACE TWO FEET FROM THE DOOR.
SO, I, I RESPECTFULLY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, BUT I ALSO DISAGREE.
UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, FRANK, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
I THINK THERE HAS TO BE SOME OVERSIGHT AND THEY HAVE TO BE SOME CHANGES THAT ARE MADE, UH, DURING, UH, THE OPPORTUNITIES OF VOTING.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE EVER CONSIDERED MOVING, UH, THE VOTING SITE FROM THE LIBRARY TO PERHAPS DURING THAT, UH, TIME TO THE BOB BOWERS.
IT WOULD AFFORD US MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARKING.
IT WOULD ALLOW US, UM, A MORE READILY, UH, ACCESSIBLE, UH, WAY TO GET INTO, UM, INTO, UH, INTO THE VOTING PLACE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO DIDN'T WANT TO INTERACT.
UH, THEY COULD JUST GO IN QUIETLY AND GO IN AND VOTE.
UM, AND SO I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A CONSIDERATION THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO UNDERTAKE, IS TO MOVE OUR VOTING LOCATION TO THE BOB BOWERS.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? YEAH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUGGESTION.
THAT GIVE YOU MORE SPACE AND EVERYTHING.
BUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST THAT THE WORKERS, THAT THE WORKERS AND THE POLL WORKERS AND, AND THE WORKERS THAT WERE IN WORKING INSIDE PARK ON THE, ON THE, ON THE, THE WEST SIDE OF, OF THE BUILDING, MOVED EVERYBODY TO THE WEST SIDE OR TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
NOW, I KNOW I GREW UP IN THE COUNTRY.
NOW MOST OF Y'ALL HAVE STUDY ADDRESSES, BUT THE WEST SIDE IS THE, TOWARD THE CIVIC CENTER.
SO MOVE EVERYBODY BACK THERE AND HAVE ALL THE POLL WORKERS BE BACK, NOT THE WORKERS, BUT PARK THEIR VEHICLES BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING ENOUGH PARKING IN THE FRONT, AND PLUS THEY GOT OTHER CLASSES GOING ON, THINGS GOING ON.
THAT'S PEOPLE THAT COME AND GO, THEY GOT LANGUAGE, THEY BE TEACHING LANGUAGE CLASSES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT IT JUST, THAT ONE MOVE MOVED THOSE VEHICLES TO THE, THAT FOR THE FOUR WORKERS AND MOVE THEM ON, ON THE WEST SIDE OF, OF THE BUILDING.
THAT'LL, THAT'LL BE A TREMENDOUS HELP.
AND IT'S NOT A, IT'S A RAIDERS.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A, IT'S A RAIDERS A DISTANCE FROM IT.
SO MAYOR, DON'T BE CROSSING THAT LINE ANYMORE.
I AM JUMPING OUT OF MY SKIN WITH THE EXCITEMENT THAT THIS IS EVEN A PROBLEM.
THAT WE HAVE HAD MORE VOTER ENGAGEMENT AND MORE ACTIVITY, AND NO DISRESPECT TO ANY OF MY ELDERS, BUT TO HAVE ENGAGEMENT FROM OUR YOUNGER POPULATION IS EXTREMELY EXCITING FOR ME.
AND I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL ARE SPEAKING UP ABOUT THE CONCERNS AND THE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU SEE WE CAN ADDRESS.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REMAIN ENGAGED AND TO CONTINUE TO SHARE YOUR CONCERNS AND SUGGESTIONS.
WE HAVE TO PUT PEN TO PAPER NOW TO MAKE IT OUR REALITY.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO A MUCH BETTER JOB AT.
AND I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CITY SECRETARY DID STATE THAT ANY, UM, REPUTABLE PROFESSIONAL WILL ACKNOWLEDGE ROOM FOR OPPORTUNITY, WHICH WOULD MEAN ROOM FOR GROWTH.
SO I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE, UM, THE ENGAGEMENT.
AND I DO, UM, KNOW FOR A FACT THAT FOR OUR RUNOFF ELECTION, SOME OF THE ISSUES WILL BE ADDRESSED.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT WE, UM, HAVE SENATE BILLS 1209 AND 5 0 6 THAT ARE ADDRESSING ELECTIONS.
AND WE DO NEED TO KNOW AFTER THIS, UH, LEGISLATION IS OVER IN JUNE.
[01:45:01]
I WANT TO SAY THE LAST DAY, MAYBE JUNE 2ND, BUT I DO KNOW IT'S COMING UP AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE.AND WE WILL KNOW WHAT RESTRICTIONS REMAIN, WHAT RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED, AND HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN SETTING RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES IN PLACE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO BRING THESE ISSUES UP AGAIN.
THERE WILL BE, UM, RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES IN PLACE TO PREVENT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING ARE, ARE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO ADDRESS RIGHT NOW.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU, UM, AGAIN, CONSTABLE BATES, AND THANK YOU AGAIN, MS. KAYLA JACOBS FOR, UM, YOUR VOICE AND FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UM, SEE, ANY OTHERS? UH, WE WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN, MS. JACOBS AND, AND, AND COUNCIL, UH, FOR YOUR INPUT.
AND I BELIEVE THAT, UH, COUNCIL HAS, AND, AND THE CITY SECRETARY, WHO, EXCUSE ME, ACTUALLY HANDLES OR MANAGES THE, UH, ELECTION PROCESS FOR THE CITY OF FORT ARTHUR.
YOUR INPUT IS WELL TAKEN, AND, UH, AND WE HAVE A RUNOFF IN A MINUTE.
AND, UH, SOME OF THESE THINGS MAY BE IMPLEMENTED THAT WE HAVE THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE GONNA BE IN THE RUNOFF RIGHT NOW, UH, TO KNOW THAT THE PARKING AT THE CIVIC CENTER, JUST FOR SUGGESTION, UH, SAKE, THAT WHAT COUNCILMAN LEWIS JUST STATED WOULD BE GOOD IF, AS YOU ALL ARE OUT THERE DOING YOUR CAMPAIGNING, AND YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT TO DO IT, BE COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT SOME FOLK ARE COMING TO TRY TO PARK.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SPACES, IT'S GOING TO, THERE'S GONNA BE TWO OF YOU NOW, SO IT WOULDN'T BE A WHOLE LOT OF SPACE TAKEN UP.
BUT YOUR WORKERS WOULD UNDERSTAND THE PARKING SITUATION.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE, IF WE WOULD'VE TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE OR A RESOLUTION STATING THAT FOLK WHO ARE WORKING WITH PARK, BUT WE CAN JUST VOLUNTARILY ASK YOU TO PARK ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE LIBRARY SIMPLY FOR WHERE I COME FROM IS AT THE BACK.
SO IF YOU JUST, YOU KNOW, NOT IN THE FRONT WHERE EVERYTHING IS, JUST PARK AROUND THE BACK, THERE'S AMPLE PARKING FOR YOU AND YOUR WORKERS, AND I KNOW THAT THE TENT STRUCTURES ARE OUT THERE TO KEEP YOU FROM THE ELEMENTS AND FOR COMFORT.
AND THAT YOU WOULD, BOTH OF YOU, I MEAN BOTH OF YOU HERE, TAKE ONE ROW OF THAT.
NOW, UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, OKAY.
I MEAN, I'VE CAMPAIGNED, WE ALL HAVE CAMPAIGNED OUT THERE BEFORE.
SO IF YOU WOULD TAKE THAT, THE FRONT ROW AND ONE OF Y'ALL GET THREE SPOTS ON THIS, YOU KNOW, RIGHT HERE AND THREE SPOTS RIGHT THERE, YOU AIN'T GONNA HAVE NO MORE PEOPLE THAN THAT.
NOW, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE 10 OR 12 PARKING SPOTS WITH A, A, A CIRCUS TENT.
YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST, JUST HAVE A CANVAS THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE, UH, UH, SIZABLE.
AND I WOULD SAY SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT TAKE UP, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MEASURE IT, BUT MAYBE MORE THAN THREE DIFFERENT PARKING SPOTS.
AND THAT WAY YOU WON'T HAVE ANY INNUENDOS.
YOU WON'T HAVE ANY PHONE CALLS.
NO ONE WOULD HAVE TO COME AND SAY WHETHER IT IS THIS IS CREDIBLE OR NOT CREDIBLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE CONDUCTED YOURSELVES IN A REAL GOOD MANNER.
AND I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M HOPING THAT THIS WOULD EVEN GO FURTHER AS I THINK SHE SAID IT.
AND, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN PHI SAID IT.
WE MAY HAVE SOME LAWS CHANGING WITH HOW ELECTIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED STATEWIDE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
SO THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT'S GOING TO PREEMPT MAYBE EVERYTHING THAT WE WILL BE, WE'VE EVEN DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW.
BUT ON THE, THE TIMES, I BELIEVE WITH THIS NEW, WITH, WITH THE, UH, RUNOFF, THERE IS CITY SECRETARY, AND LEMME KNOW IF I'M CORRECT, THERE'S A SATURDAY INCLUDED IN THERE.
AM I CORRECT NOW, THERE IS NO SUNDAY VOTING.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD HAS ALREADY PUT IN A REQUEST TO ADD A SATURDAY AND TWO 12 HOUR DAYS.
NOW WITH THAT, AND, AND, AND I, I'M JUST, I JUST WANT US TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE COUNTY.
IS THERE A SUNDAY ELECTION, A SUNDAY VOTING? THEY HAVE A RUNOFF THERE TOO.
WILL THEY HAVE SUNDAY VOTING, IF ANYBODY KNOW FOR SURE IN, WITH, WITH THE COUNTY OFFICE, COUNTY, UH, ELECTION IN BEAUMONT? YES, SIR.
CAN WE OR WE TOO EARLY TO EVEN INCLUDE SUNDAY IN OUR, NO, SIR.
WE CAN MIRROR EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING ON YOUR WEEKEND VOTING.
THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I, I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE WOULD DO THAT AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE.
[01:50:01]
WE CANNOT DO BY RULE OF LAW, WE CANNOT CHANGE THE PRECINCT VOTING ON ELECTION DAY.WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE CAN'T CHANGE THAT.
OKAY? SO I WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S NOT THAT, UH, OUR CITY SECRETARY, IT JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO GO AND VOTE.
UH, SHE DIDN'T WANT YOU TO GO AND VOTE AT ANY PRECINCT.
YOU HAVE TO GO AND FIND YOURS.
SO THAT IS, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO OCCUR THAT WAY.
SO YOU ALL, BOTH WOULD BE REAL, REAL PRUDENT IN TRYING TO GET ALL OF YOUR VOTERS OUT DURING WHATEVER THOSE DAYS ARE.
AND ON ELECTION DAY, BECAUSE ELECTION DAY, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THEIR HOME PRECINCT.
OKAY? SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT WHAT WE CAN DO IS WHAT, WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO INCLUDE ELECT SUNDAY THAT THEY HAVE SUNDAY TO THE POLLS AND SOME OTHER THINGS, UH, FROM THE PS TO THE POLLS OR WHATEVER.
ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT GOES ON IN BEAUMONT.
SO THEY CAN'T SAY THAT WE ARE PRACTICING IRREGULARITIES IN PORT ARTHUR.
I WANT TO THANK THE CITY SECRETARY FOR EXPLAINING THAT POSITION.
THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR COMING FORTH AND INTELLIGENTLY PRESENTING TO THIS BODY YOUR CONCERNS.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THOSE BEFORE JUNE THE SEVENTH, AND IF THE STATE ALLOWS US EVEN FURTHER THAN THAT.
BUT IF NOT, YOU KNOW, AFTER JUNE 7TH, IT'LL BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT WOULD, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD'VE TO BEGIN THAT HERE TOO.
THANK YOU, MS. JACOBS, YOU WANT TO SPEAK? UH, MS. UH, JONES? MS. JONES JONES, 6 41.
MS. JONES, MS. JONES, SIX 40 EAST, 10TH STREET, I, EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I HADN'T HEARD YOU SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE HANDICAP IN THE ELDERLY.
I HAVE SEEN, UM, UH, SOMEONE COME TO THE CAR AT THE CITY COURTHOUSE AND WITH THAT PERSON IN THE CAR AND HELP THEM VOTE.
UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY, WHAT THEY USE THE MACHINE OR WHATEVER, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ABOUT THE HANDICAP CENTER YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS.
SHE, SHE AIN'T GONNA ADDRESS IT AS THE CITY SECRETARY OF ADDRESS.
YES, MS. JONES, WE HAVE CURBSIDE PARKING.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS FURTHER MANDATED THINGS THAT WE DO DO ON THAT.
WE DO BRING THE MACHINE OUT TO YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET OUT YOUR CAR IF YOU HAVE A WHOLE FAMILY THAT COMES TOGETHER AND ONLY ONE PERSON IS QUALIFIED FOR CURBSIDE VOTING, THE WHOLE FAMILY IS TREATED THE SAME WAY.
THERE WERE SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE POSTINGS THAT ARE, THAT WERE OUT FOR CURBSIDE THIS YEAR THAT WERE TOO SMALL.
WE DID REALIZE THAT, BUT THAT'S FORM SEVEN DASH 14 THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS WE HAVE TO PUT UP.
SO WE PUT THE NUMBER FOR THE JUDGE IN LARGER PRINT AT DIFFERENT PLACES TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE READ THAT.
BUT YES, MA'AM, WE ARE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO COME OUT.
I THINK THAT'S, UH, VERY IMPORTANT AND WOULD HELP.
OH, I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN, LET'S GO RIGHT AHEAD.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU, ALL THAT FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND EVERYTHING.
AND, AND YOUNG LADY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS.
YOU KNOW, WE COUNCIL, UH, WELCOME, CONSTRUCTIVE, UH, CRITICISM.
AND, UH, AND FROM YOUR BROTHER, THAT'S, THAT'S HE'S YOUR BROTHER, RIGHT? CONSTABLE BATES.
WELL, YOU, YOU TAUGHT HIM WELL, AND HE DOES.
HE DID, HE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB.
[III.B.(1) A Presentation By Councilmember Hamilton Everfield Regarding Celebrating Our Progress One Victory At A Time]
MOVE TO OUR NEXT, UH, ORDER OF BUSINESS, UH, UNDER PRESENTATION.WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, UH, UM, EVER FIELD REGARDING CELEBRATING OUR PROGRESS, ONE VICTORY AT A TIME.
UM, LINDSEY, DO YOU HAVE THE SCREEN UP FOR EVERYONE TO SEE? I THINK YEP.
KNOW WHO HE'S DOING, MAYOR, HE RESPONDED.
CAN YOU LET ME KNOW WHEN IT'S UP? I DON'T SEE IT ON MY SCREEN.
[01:55:06]
LEMME KNOWS UP.UM, THANK YOU FOR, WELL, IT, IT WENT AWAY.
I'LL JUST USE IT FOR MY PHONE.
HOPEFULLY THE AUDIENCE CAN, CAN SEE.
SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION WAS TO JUST WHAT IT SAYS, CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESS ONE VICTORY AT A TIME.
WE HAVE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO ADDRESS WITHIN THE CITY, BUT I ALSO WANT TO JUST RE UM, JUST A SHORT REMINDER FOR COUNSELORS, BUT ALSO, UM, NOTICE TO THE CITY THAT WE DO HAVE SOME GOOD THINGS GOING ON AND SOME GOOD THINGS THAT ARE, THAT WILL CONTINUE OVER TIME.
SO THE INTENT THAT I WANT TO OFFER IS NOT JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS TODAY, BUT TO HAVE THIS TO BE A CONTINUING, UM, PRE TYPE OF PRESENTATION THAT'S DONE SO THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE WHAT GOOD IS GOING ON IN THE GREAT CITY OF KARICA.
LIKE THE MAYOR SAYS, OUR ARGUS CITY.
SO THE FIRST PART IS THE, UM, THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ANIMAL SHELTER FOR SOME YEARS, AND NOW WE'RE AT THE LENS.
IF YOU CAN JUST MOVE THE SCREEN AGAIN, I CAN'T SEE IT, BUT IF YOU CAN JUST MOVE THE SCREEN AS, OKAY, GOOD.
THE ANIMAL SHELTER, UM, THAT WILL PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
IT HAS BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY MOVING FORWARD.
THERE'S ACTUALLY AN ITEM OFF THE AGENDA FOR IT TODAY THAT MAY NEED SOME CLARIFICATION OF AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT OUR ANIMAL SHELTER IS IN PLAY AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER.
EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THIS SEPTEMBER.
SO, UM, JUST STAY TUNED FOR MORE TO COME ON THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT.
THE NEXT THING IS THE, UM, THE GARBAGE ISSUES.
SO WE HAVE A NEW GARBAGE TRUCK THAT WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH.
AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, MS. LINDSEY, WE CAN MOVE TO THAT PICTURE JUST SHOWING THE, THE GARBAGE TRUCK.
SO, CITIZENS, WE HAD HEARD THE CONCERNS, COUNCIL HAS APPROVED FUNDING, UM, OVER THE LAST FEW MEETINGS, MORE AND MORE, NOT ONLY FOR GARBAGE TRUCKS, BUT FOR DUMP TRUCKS.
IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MORE EFFECTIVELY AND MORE EFFICIENTLY SERVE THE CITY OF CORD ARTHUR.
SO WHEN YOU SEE THIS NEW EQUIPMENT, UM, ON THE STREETS, THEN JUST KNOW THAT IT IS GOOD.
UM, GOOD FOR YOUR DOLLARS, GOOD USE OF YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
GOOD USE FOR YOUR DOLLARS, UM, THAT ARE WORKING FOR US.
AND THE NEXT IS THE NEW TO THE NEW CODERS HAVE ARRIVED AND THEY'RE ALREADY BEING DISPERSED.
AND THESE TOLLERS FIRST WILL GO TO THOSE WHO MAY REQUEST FOR NEW TOLLERS, THOSE TOLLERS WHO THAT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED.
AND THEN, UM, AFTER THAT WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH NEW REQUEST.
SO, AGAIN, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE HAVE, BUT WE DO HAVE EXCESS AVAILABLE FOR NEW HOLDERS.
AND THIS WOULD ALSO MEAN THAT I JUST WANT TO, I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO HELP KEEP OUR CITY, UM, HELP KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN AND BE EFFECTIVE AND PICK UP THE TRASH IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE, PUT IT IN THIS BRAND NEW CODER OR THE CODER THAT YOU'RE ALREADY USING.
BUT AGAIN, GOOD USE OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK.
THEN THE NEXT SLIDE, MR. LINDSEY, THE TRASH COLLECTION.
WE OFTEN SEE, UM, PILES OF DEBRIS AND TRASH GARBAGE ALL OF AROUND THE CITY.
BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, THIS IS ACTUALLY A PICTURE OF A COMPLAINT THAT I MADE IN ON, ON LEWIS FOSTER DRIVE, AND THE TRASH WAS PICKED UP.
AND THEN THE NEXT DAY I GOT A CALL AND SAID, I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE TRASH FROM LOUIS FOSTER.
YOU SAID SOMEONE CAME TO PICK IT UP, BUT THEY DIDN'T.
WELL, THE NEXT DAY SOMEONE DROPPED OFF MORE TRASH.
SO JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE IN MOTION.
WE ARE HEARING YOU, WE ARE LISTENING AND ARE BEING
[02:00:01]
PROACTIVE WITH PICKING UP TRASH AND DEBRIS AND DEBRIS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.BUT WE'RE NOW, UM, WE, WE ARE PICKING IT UP, BUT NOW BEING MORE EFFECTIVE WITH OUR LITIGATION PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THESE PROPERTY OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR HAVING THEIR, THEIR, UM, VACANT LOTS FIXED SO THAT TRASH CANNOT BE DROPPED OFF, MAKING OUR COMMUNITY LOOK WORSE.
AND A JEWEL ON PLEASURE ISLAND.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO, UM, NOT LET IT BE HIGHLIGHTED AGAIN OF THE RESTAURANT AND THE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE THAT'S BEING ERECTED ON PLEASURE ISLAND.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE, OF THE PICTURES OF WHAT THIS RESTAURANT AND EVENT CENTER WILL LOOK LIKE.
CONTRARY TO SOME BELIEF THAT THIS WILL JUST BE A NIGHTCLUB, WE MADE AN EXTRA EFFORT TO PUT IN THE CONTRACT THAT THIS WILL NOT BE, UM, A PLACE FOR THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY.
THIS WILL BE A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT, AND IT WILL BE SOMETHING FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY.
THESE ARE, AND JUST TO SHOW HOW SERIOUS, UM, WE ARE IN MOVING THIS PROJECT FORWARD, THESE ARE, UH, PICTURES OF THE FLOATING DONUTS THAT WILL ALSO BE OUT ON PLEASURE ISLAND.
AND THE NAME OF THE WATER SPORTS, UM, COMPANY THAT WILL BE THERE IS CALLED PLEASURE EXTREME.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS WILL BE DELIVERED SOON AND BEFORE SUMMERS IN WILL BE ABLE TO BE FLOATING ON THE LAKE WITH, WITH, UM, WITH GOOD SNACKS AND GOOD DRINKS.
UM, SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT US TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS OUR OPPORTUNITIES AS EFFECTIVELY AND, UM, EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT I DO NOT EVER WANT TO, UM, DEMISE OUR CELEBRATING.
SO LET'S CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE THE SUCCESSES THAT WE HAVE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THEM ONE VICTORY AT A TIME.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE OTHER COUNSELORS TO OFFER SOME CELEBRATION AS WELL.
AND IT IN TURN MAY ENCOURAGE US.
SOMETIMES WE CAN ALSO FEEL DEFLATED BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO.
AND SO, UM, MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO, TO ADDRESS, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME VICTORIES AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION, COUNCILWOMAN.
OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE, UH, WE'LL MOVE TO DISCUSSIONS ACTUALLY ON PAGE.
I WANTED TO CELEBRATE, OH, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
I WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT, UH, I WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, HAMILTON EVER FIELD, UH, HAS SUGGESTED TO US.
I KNOW THAT, UM, THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO AND THERE ARE SO MANY SITUATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE, UH, UH, PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO IN THE RUNNING OF A CITY AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF A CITY.
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT AND IMPERATIVE THAT WE DO TAKE TIME TO CELEBRATE THOSE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING GOOD IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I WOULD PLEASE ASK, AS INDIVIDUALS ARE HERE IN THE CHAMBER AND THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING, UH, VIA, UM, VIA THIS, UM, THIS COUNCIL MEETING, UH, AND THIS, UH, THIS VIDEO THAT YOU WOULD SHARE, AND YOU WOULD, UH, BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT THOSE POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE MANY TIMES THAT WE GET, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, AS, UH, IT HAS BEEN SAID, WE DO TAKE, UH, TO HEART, UH, THE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.
WE NEED THAT BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY AREAS THAT WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER IN.
BUT WE ARE MOVING AND WE ARE DOING, UM, POSITIVE THINGS TO TRY AND MOVE.
OUR CITY STREETS ARE BEING FIXED.
THE PROJECT IS BEING DONE, UH, ON WOODWORTH BOULEVARD.
THINGS ARE HAPPENING ON THE ISLAND.
THERE ARE, THE ANIMAL SHELTER IS BEING BUILT.
THERE ARE SOME POSITIVE THINGS TO DO IN OUR CITY.
WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE OUR CITY AND MOVE IT AWAY FROM JUST, UH, BEING PIGEONHOLED AS AN INDUSTRIAL CITY.
WE ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THE OUTLOOK OF OUR CITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE DID NOT MENTION IS, IS THAT THE WATERPARK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT,
[02:05:01]
THE CONSTRUCTION OF ON PLEASURE ISLAND WILL BE THE LARGEST WATERPARK BETWEEN BATON ROUGE AND HOUSTON.AND THAT IT WILL, UH, THAT IT IS LOOKING, THE PROJECTION IS 600,000 INDIVIDUALS COMING TO THAT WATERPARK, UH, PER YEAR.
600,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED A HOTEL ROOM, WHO NEED A RESTAURANT, WHO WILL NEED OTHER FACILITIES.
UM, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE, UH, GOING TO BE PICKING UP AS WELL BECAUSE THE EDC IS TALKING ABOUT A SMALL BUSINESS, UM, UH, A SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS HAVING JOBS, INDIVIDUALS DOING THINGS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO START A, A BUSINESS AND INDIVIDUALS WILL BE BROUGHT INTO OUR CITY, UH, TO SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS AND NOT ONLY SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS, BUT SUPPORT YOUR FAMILIES, SUPPORT OUR CHURCHES, AND SUPPORT OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CELEBRATE.
WE ARE ON THE MOVE, THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND TRANSPIRING.
UM, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE STAFF WHO ASSISTED WITH THIS PRESENTATION, BUT ALSO TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT OFTEN ACKNOWLEDGED.
AND THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE PICKING UP THE TRASH, WHO ARE DELIVERING THE CODERS, WHO ARE, UM, FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE RECEIVED.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR SHOWING UP.
AND, UM, I KNOW THAT YOU GET PAID FOR A JOB, BUT I STILL WANT TO OFFER YOU APPRECIATION AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHOW UP BECAUSE THIS IS TRULY A FULL TEAM EFFORT AND, UM, FOR THE JOB CREATION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK WAS TALKING ABOUT.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT JOB CREATION OVER THE NEXT, UM, WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS TO COME.
SO THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR US.
AND SO THANK Y'ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE.
COUNCILMAN FRANKIE SAID ONE MORE THING THAT I WANTED TO MAKE MENTION OF.
WE DO NOT REALIZE THAT WE HAVE SOME CHALLENGES CONCERNING TRASH PICKUP AND ALL OF THAT.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION IS THAT THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND DUMPING TRASH, UH, IN OUR CITY.
AND I WANT TO MAKE AWARE, MAKE US AWARE OF THAT.
AND IF YOU SEE INDIVIDUALS DOING THAT, TAKE DOWN LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS, TAKE DOWN ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN TO IDENTIFY THE TRUCK AND TO IDENTIFY THE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE IT STRESSES OUT OUR, UM, IT STRESSES OUT OUR COMMUNITY.
IT TAKES AWAY FROM, UH, OUR COMMUNITIES, UH, LOOKING BETTER, LOOKING CLEAN, BUT INDIVIDUALS ARE BRINGING, UM, ARE BRINGING THEIR MATERIALS AND DUMPING THEM IN OUR, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SO, AS A COLLECTIVE, WE NEED TO BE ON THE LOOK FOR THAT SO WE CAN STOP THAT.
AND THEN OTHER TIMES THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO, IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY'RE DOING HOME RENOVATIONS.
WE DON'T PICK UP THAT TRASH WHEN HOMES ARE BEING RENOVATED.
THEY, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DOING THOSE RENOVATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THAT MATERIAL, UH, TO THE LANDFILL THEMSELVES.
AND THEY TAKE THOSE THINGS OUT WHEN THEY, UH, TAKE A HOUSE AND THEY STRIP IT OUT, AND THEY THROW THAT THERE, AND THAT MATERIAL STAYS THERE FOR ELONGATED PERIODS OF TIME.
THE PERSON WHO IS, UH, DOING THAT HOME REMEDIATION OR WHATEVER IS HAPPENING THERE, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING THAT.
AND SO THAT KEEPS TRASH IN OUR COMMUNITY AND KEEPS IT LOOKING, UH, UH, AS AN EYESORE.
SO WE NEED TO BE AWARE THAT WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER AND WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING OUR PART TO DO IT.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT THEY'RE WERE BEING DUMPED ON IS THE SURROUNDING CITIES.
YOU NOTICE THAT THE HOME HOMELESS POPULATION INCREASES WHAT IS HAPPENING? THE SURROUNDING CITIES, UH, PICKING UP THEIR, THEIR HOMELESS PEOPLE.
IF THEY NEED HEALTHCARE, THEY'LL BRING 'EM OVER TO, UH, THE MEDICAL CENTER AND THEY DROP 'EM THERE.
SO WHEN THE MEDICAL CENTER TREATS THEM, BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT WOULD TREAT THEM WHEN THE MEDICAL CENTER TREAT THEM, THEN THEY LET 'EM OUT THE FRONT DOOR.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE ALL OUR HOMELESS KEEP INCREASING.
AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT MY CHURCH MEMBER THAT WORKS WITH, SHE WORKED WITH THE HOMELESS PEOPLE.
SHE FOUND OUT WHEN THEY WAS DOWN THERE AT, UH, WINE GARDEN DOOR PLACE, THEY WERE QUESTIONING THESE PEOPLE.
[02:10:01]
YOU FROM? I'M FROM NILAND.WHERE ARE YOU FROM? I'M FROM PORT NATIONS.
WHY ARE YOU HERE? THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DROPPED US OFF AND GAVE ME $50 AND TOLD ME, DON'T COME BACK.
THAT'S WHY WE, OUR HOMELESS POPULATION IS GROWING.
THAT'S THE SURROUNDING PEOPLE.
YOU DON'T FIND ANY, I MEAN, APARTMENTS, YOU DON'T FIND ANY IN POT NATIONS, NEEDLING.
BUT PORT ALTO ACCOMMODATES THEM.
BUT WE DON'T, THAT'S WHY WE OVER OUR LIMIT.
IF WE'RE GONNA DO ANY MORE LOW INCOME APARTMENTS, WE HAVE TO SIGN A WAIVER IN ORDER TO GET TO, TO GET MORE.
BUT WE DON'T, WE ARE NOT GONNA BE DOING ANYMORE.
BUT ANYWAY, THOSE ARE SOME OF OUR PROBLEMS. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL ARE LISTENING TO US AND WE APPRECIATE THE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.
MR. MR. JOHN, MR. JOHN'S SIX 40 EAST 10TH STREET, UH, I'VE ENJOYED HEARING ALL THIS, THAT IT'S GONNA BE IMPROVEMENT AND PRAYING THAT IT WILL BE IMPROVEMENT, BUT I WILL NOT LET GO FOR THE THINGS THAT I SEE.
MY CITY WORKERS, WHEN THEY, UH, FIX THE PIPE AREA, THEY LEAVE THE HONEYCOMB SITTING THERE.
AND ALSO THE, WHAT? YOU BLOCK THE STREETS OFF.
THEY'LL LAND IN THE STREETS AND IN THE DITCHES FOR WEEKS AND AT A TIME.
THEY DO NOT CLEAN UP BEHIND THEIR SELF.
THEY DO NOT, WHEREVER THEY DUG, THEY JUST, THEY DO NOT, YOU KNOW, DRESS IT TO WHERE IT'S AT AND IT CAN BE DONE BETTER.
AND, UH, I, I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT, BUT IF I DON'T SAY IT, IT CAN'T BE CORRECTED.
AND THESE HAR CONES AND THESE, YOU KNOW, IT'S BLOCKING THE STREET.
I MEAN, THE WORK, YOUR WORK IS NOT DONE IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED THESE THINGS UP AND MOVED ON.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, GO AHEAD.
JUST, JUST BRIEFLY, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK WAS TALKING ABOUT THE, THE WATER PARK.
WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE WATER PARK, WE, I HEAR A COMMENT ABOUT THE WATER PARK.
FIRST THING COME OUT THERE, THEY SAY, WELL, MAN, THE MOSQUITO'S GOING TO EAT YOU UP.
IT'S GOING TO BE AN INDOOR PARK.
I SAID, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OUTSIDE.
IT'S GOING TO BE AN INDOOR WATER PARK.
AND THAT'S THE BIG ATTRACTION.
UH, WE'LL MOVE, EXCUSE ME TO OUR NEXT, UH,
[III.F.(1) A Discussion Regarding The 89th Texas Legislative Session (Requested By Councilmember Hamilton Everfield)]
ITEM, WHICH IS, UH, ON PAGE TWO, UH, UNDER ROMAN NUMER THREE.UH, NUMBER ONE, THE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE 89TH, UH, TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING, FORTUNATELY COUNCIL DID RECEIVE AN UPDATE OF THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND THOSE ITEMS THAT COULD DIRECTLY AFFECT US, AND WE, UM, RECEIVED THAT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION.
BUT THERE WERE SOME THAT I WANT TO ASK THE, UM, CITIZENS TO PLEASE, PLEASE SUPPORT US ON.
AND WHEN I'M ASKING FOR SUPPORT, I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO CONTACT OUR TEXAS OFFICIALS.
SO THAT WILL BE YOUR TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE, YOUR TEXAS SENATOR, YOUR, UM, CONGRESSMAN, AND THEIR CHIEF OF STAFF IN THEIR OFFICE, OR THEIR POLICY LEGISLATURES IN THEIR OFFICE.
AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR YOU ALL.
UM, NOT ON THE SCREEN HERE, BUT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING THAT INFORMATION, JUST PLEASE LET US KNOW.
SO THERE ARE SOME BILLS THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD TRULY AFFECT US.
ONE WOULD BE SB SEVEN, THAT SENATE BILL SEVEN, AND THAT IS DEALING WITH THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT.
SO WE WANT AND NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
THESE ARE THE TYPES OF BILLS THAT CAN HELP SUPPORT US.
SO IT'S NOT CALLING OUR LEGISLATURES TO SAY WHAT'S WRONG, BUT TO CALL THEM TO ASK FOR THEIR SUPPORT TO PLEASE VOTE YES ON THESE BILLS AND MENTION OUR NAME.
I'M TIFFANY HAMILTON, EVER FIELD FROM THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
I AM CALLING TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR SB SEVEN SENATE BILL SEVEN.
WE NEED SUPPORT FOR OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
SIMPLE AS THAT, WHETHER IT IS AN EMAIL OR A PHONE CALL.
BUT THE MORE AND MORE WE CALL, THE MORE EMAILS WE SEND, THE MORE OUR VOICE IS HEARD.
AND WE WANT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S NAME ON THEIR BRAINS WHEN THEY WAKE UP IN THE MORNING THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND WHEN THEY GO TO BED AT NIGHT, BECAUSE WE TRULY NEED THEIR SUPPORT.
[02:15:01]
TYPES OF LEGISLATION SUCH AS HOUSE BILL, UM, 24 94, THAT'S STILL WITH DE ANNEXATION AND THE POTENTIAL OF US LOSING TAX DOLLARS FROM THE REFINERIES.WE DO NOT WANT THOSE TYPES OF BILLS TO PASS.
SO IT'S THE SAME CONCEPT, YOUR NAME, WHERE YOU FROM AND YOUR SUPPORT OR BEING POOR OR AGAINST THOSE TYPES OF BILLS.
SO, AGAIN, I WON'T GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE LIST, BUT WE DO THE CITY OF PARK.
ARTHUR DOES HAVE A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, AND I MYSELF KNOCKED ON DOORS AND WALK THE HALLS IN OUR STATE CAPITOL, MAKE PHONE CALLS, SEND EMAILS, AND OTHER COUNSELORS MAY BE DOING THE SAME THING AS WELL.
BUT I'M EXTENDING THIS REQUEST TO THE CITIZENS TO PLEASE, PLEASE, UM, HELP US REACH TO OUR TEXAS LEGISLATURES SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE SUPPORT WE NEED TO EITHER BEFORE CERTAIN BILLS THAT WILL SUPPORT US OR CALL IN, UM, AGAINST CERTAIN BILLS THAT WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT US.
IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS, THEN UM, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US TO, TO LET US KNOW AND WE CAN GIVE YOU DIRECTION SPECIFICALLY ON HOW YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SUPPORT US.
THESE BILLS MOVE EXTREMELY FAST.
MAYOR MENTIONED IT EARLIER, ONE, TODAY, IT COULD BE ONE THING, AND THE NEXT DAY IT CHANGES.
SO WE HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF IT.
WE CANNOT SLEEP ON THIS AND THEN ALLOW A BILL, A SENATE BILL OR A HOUSE BILL TO NEGATIVELY AFFECT US.
AND WE SAY WE DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU, MA'AM, FOR THE TIME.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON.
UH, WE'LL NOW MOVE TO, UH, ITEMS OF, UH, AND REPORTS OF, UH, COMMUNITY INTEREST.
IF THERE WOULD BE ANY ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST THAT ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD'VE CARE TO SPEAK ON AT THIS MOMENT, YOU MAY DO SO.
AT THIS TIME, I DON'T SEE ANY LIGHT, SO I WOULD GATHER THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT AT THIS TIME.
[VI.(1) P.R. No. 24285 – A Resolution Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas To Authorize The Mayor To Enter Into A Ground Lease Agreement Between The City Of Port Arthur, Texas And Diligence Offshore Services LLC For Approximately 2,274 Acres Of City-Owned Land On Or Near Pleasure Island For The Development, Construction, And Operation Of Wind And Solar Energy Facilities, A Substation, Data Center, Offshore Energy Hub And Other Necessary Appurtenant Facilities ]
NUMER, UH, SIX, I BELIEVE IT IS YES.UH, WITH UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND, UH, UNFINISHED BUSINESS WOULD BE, UH, PR NUMBER 2 4 2 85 AS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A GROUND LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AND DILIGENCE OFFSHORE SERVICES LLC FOR APPROXIMATELY 200, I MEAN 2,274 ACRES OF LAND ON, UH, CITY OWNED LAND ON OR NEAR PLEASURE ISLAND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES.
UH, A SUBSTATION DATA, UH, CENTER, UH, OFFSHORE ENERGY HUB AND OTHER NECESSARY APP TENANT, UH, FACILITIES.
UH, AND ON THIS MATTER, CITY ATTORNEY, TELL ME IF I, I INCORRECT ON THIS.
WE DISCUSSED THE MATTER AND WE DID, WE REACHED THE RESOLVE IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH, UH, THE ATTORNEY TO, UH, CONSULT WITH DILIGENCE ATTORNEY WITH THE, UH, SPECIFIC, UH, I WOULD SAY TENANTS AND, UH, THAT, THAT WE WERE, UH, TRYING TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON WITH, WITH A ANCY DATE FOR, FOR THAT AGREEMENT.
DO I NEED TO, TO SAY THAT PUBLICLY NOW? OR HOW, HOW WE WANT TO HANDLE THAT? NO, SIR.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS GIVEN YOUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL AND YOUR CITY ATTORNEY DIRECTION ON HOW YOU WISH TO PROCEED IN THE LEASE NEGOTIATIONS.
AND YOU HAVE GIVEN US EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS THAT WE WILL RELAY.
AND SO I, I KNOW THERE ARE MEMBERS FROM, FROM
AND, AND HE WILL, HE WILL IN TURN YES, INFORM HIS CLIENT.
PURNELL IS OUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL, AND CHRIS WILSON IS FAMILIAR WITH WHO SHE IS, AND THEY WILL BE COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTIONS.
AND, AND THOSE, IT WILL BE DONE IN A VERY TIMELY MANNER, UH, HOPEFULLY WITHIN, UH, ANOTHER DAY, UH, NEXT BUSINESS DAY, UH, THEY SHOULD GET A TOUCH WITH, WITH MR. WILSON, WITH WHAT WE DISCUSSED WITH THE TIMEFRAME THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT I COULD SAY I PERSONALLY SUGGESTED WITH SOME SPECIFICATIONS ON THAT.
AND, UH, YOU SHOULD HEAR, HEAR FROM THEM WITHIN 24 HOURS PROBABLY ON THAT.
[02:20:01]
YES SIR.ARE WE GOING TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON ANYTHING? NO, SIR.
GO RIGHT AHEAD BECAUSE MY COMMENTS IS WHAT WE NEED TO CITY ATTORNEY.
IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED, WHAT WE NEED, I NEED FOR YOU, WHAT I NEED FOR YOU TO DO IS IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED BY THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, I NEED FOR YOU TO DRAW UP A RESOLUTION WHERE COUNCIL WILL TAKE OVER THE NEGOTIATION.
AND TO CONTINUE DOWN THIS ROAD AGAIN, IS NOT GOING TO WORK COUNCIL.
BUT LET, LET, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S, UH, JUST A MINUTE.
YOU CANNOT HOLD A DEVELOPER FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY DIDN'T COMMIT.
YOU CAN'T HOLD A DEVELOPER FOR PROMOTION, DIDN'T YOU? YOU, YOU'RE GETTING A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER.
WELL, MAYBE YOU MIGHT BE SAYING SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY SHOULD NOT SAY.
OH, WELL, YOU SAID SOMETHING BUT IT TOTALLY WASN'T WELL, THAT'S JUST, I THINK I'VE GIVEN YOU ALL WHAT, UH, I SHOULD SAY ABOUT IT.
AND PLEASE DISREGARD, LIKE TO TELL YOU IN COURT, UH, JURY STRIKE THOSE STATEMENTS HE JUST MADE, PLEASE.
NOW, MAYOR, IF YOU COULD JUST HAVE A MOTION TO TABLE THAT RESOLUTION UNTIL THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
AND SECOND THAT THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE TABLED UNTIL MAY 20TH.
MEETING, UH, READY FOR QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
NEXT WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA,
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]
THE BEGINNING ON PAGE FIVE.THE CONSENT AGENDA IS FROM PAGE FIVE THROUGH, UH, LEMME SEE THAT.
NO, I CONSENT FROM PAGE FIVE THROUGH PAGE, PAGE, UH, NINE, I BELIEVE IT IS.
AND THESE ARE ITEMS OF, UH, BASICALLY ROUTINE IN NATURE AND THE BACKGROUND HAS BEEN GIVEN.
AND IF YOU, YOU HAVE AN ITEM YOU WANT WITHDRAWN, PLEASE GIVE ME THE PAGE NUMBER AND THE ITEM NUMBER.
UH, I'M GOING TO PULL A TABLE.
SO YOU WANT TO WITHDRAW IT? YEAH, I NEED TO WITHDRAW IT, YEAH.
BECAUSE, UH, THE STAFF, THE STAFF DOCUMENT, IT WON'T BE ANY ACTION ON IT RIGHT NOW.
WE JUST, WE WE CALL IT UP INDIVIDUALLY.
WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU WHAT YOU WANNA DO.
COUNCILMAN DO THAT? I HAVE, WE HAVE TO SEE YOU HOLD UP.
WHAT'S ON THERE? SO I CAN YOU, NO.
WHICH, WHICH ITEM? WHICH ITEM ON EIGHT? I I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
ITEM NUMBER 11, RIGHT ON PAGE EIGHT.
YOU AND, AND ITEM NUMBER 24, 2 8 7.
YOU KNOW, YOU MAY HAVE THE FIRST ONE.
THE FIRST ONE THAT, THAT THEY SEND OUT DOESN'T HAVE ANY.
SO I SEE WHY YOU CAN'T, I'LL, I'LL, I HAVE ONE LIKE IN MY OFFICE.
I KNOW, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.
AND I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER LIGHTS.
LOOK, READY TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF ITEMS. UH, A ONE, UH, ITEM SIX AND ITEM 11.
AND SECOND, WE, UH, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THE, UH, ATED ITEMS. WE'RE READY FOR QUESTIONING, NO QUESTIONS WHETHER TO VOTE.
SO THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
NOW FOR THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE WITHDRAWN, WE HAVE, UH, ITEM A ONE.
[VII.(A1) Mayor: Texas Department Of Emergency Management Transportation $746.00 Lodging $1,633.78 Meals $338.00 Conference Registration Fee $300.00 Total Estimated Cost Of Trip $3,017.78 Fort Worth, Texas May 26 – 30, 2025]
SAYS MAYOR TEXAS, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC OF, UH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.UH, AND THIS IS FOR A CONFERENCE.
AND A TOTAL AMOUNT FOR THE CONFERENCE, UH, FOR THE MAYOR WOULD BE
[02:25:01]
$3,017 AND 78 CENTS.UM, AT THIS CONFERENCE IS MAY 26TH THROUGH, UH, MAY 30TH, 2025.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCIL KINLOCK, MAY I GET A, GET A SECOND, COUNCILMAN FRANK.
AND SECOND, THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THIS ITEM.
UH, MS. WHITLEY INFORMED ME WHAT THIS, THIS WAS, THIS WAS THE INTENT FOR THE NEWCOMING MAYOR SINCE NO.
I KNOW WHAT NO, NO, WAIT A MINUTE.
BUT SINCE, SINCE YOU'RE SAYING THAT IF IS FOR THE MAYOR, IF ONE OF THESE OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAD BEEN ELECTED, THEY WOULD BE THE MAYOR THAT WOULD ATTEND.
BUT AS IT AS IT STANDS, I'M THE CITY MAYOR.
SO THAT'S WHY WE DID NOT HAVE MY NAME OR ANY NAME THERE BECAUSE WE COULD NOT FORESEE IF THERE WOULD BE A MAYOR OR IF I WOULD STILL BE THE MAYOR.
NOW, SINCE THE REASON I'M ASKING TO PULL IT, BECAUSE THE SECURITY MANAGER IS SENDING THE CO THE MAN, THE COORDINATOR, AND THEY ALL GOING TO THIS CONFERENCE, OKAY? SO THERE IS NO NEED THE MAYOR APPROACH HIM, THE FUTURE MALE APPROACH HIM.
HE, HE COULDN'T, HE COULDN'T MAKE IT.
AND THE EXISTING MALE APPROACH HIM COULDN'T MAKE IT.
SO I I I, I CHECKED WITH THEM BEFORE I WAS GONNA RECOMMEND PULLING IT.
OKAY, WELL, WE JUST VOTE AGAINST IT.
AND YOU WERE MIS YOU MISCONSTRUED AN EXPLANATION THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU.
WELL, I'M NOT ARGUING WITH YOU.
I, YOU SAID WHAT YOU SAID, I'M TELLING YOU WHAT I'M SAYING.
THIS MEETING, AND THIS IS FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S LISTENING, WHO'S IN, IN, IN HERE.
THE MEETING GIVES THE MAYOR TRAINING IN CASE OF AND EMERGENCY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
NOW, AT THIS POINT, WE DID NOT ELECT THE MAYOR ON SATURDAY PASS.
WHEN THIS MEETING BEGINS ON THE EIGHTH, UH, ON THE, UH, 26TH OF MAY, I'M STILL THE MAYOR FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.
THREE OF THOSE YEARS, WE HAD HURRICANES ON JUNE THE FIRST.
OKAY, NOW YOU CAN VOTE FOR ME NOT TO GO.
IT'S JUST THAT, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT HE'S SAYING.
WHO'S GOING? EVERYBODY NEEDS TO GO BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY SITUATION AFFECTS EVERYONE.
BUT I KNOW HERE IN PORT ARTHUR, WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
BUT THAT IS WHY IT WAS ON THERE.
AND MY NAME WAS NOT ATTACHED TO IT, COUNCILMAN, BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW IF I WOULD BE THE MAYOR OR IF I WOULD NOT BE THE MAYOR.
AND IT HAS PROVEN THAT I AM NOT, I AM, I AM STILL THE MAYOR.
AND AT THE TIME THAT HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS, I WILL BE THE MAYOR.
AND FOR ABOUT 14 DAYS IN HURRICANE SEASON, I WOULD BE THE MAYOR UNTIL THE NEW MAYOR IS ACTUALLY SWORN IN.
NOW, I WOULD PRAY GOD, NOTHING HAPPENS.
OKAY? BUT IF SOMETHING DOES, I'D WANNA BE PREPARED, KNOWLEDGEABLE OF WHAT NEEDS TO TRANSPIRE IF THIS DOES OCCUR.
BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND THIS PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, AND I'M GONNA LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD THAT THERE WASN'T A NAME ON THERE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT EVEN IF YOU ARE OUR 14 DAYS, WE STILL HAVE THE COORDINATOR THAT'S GOING THERE.
UH, I JUST, JUST MY, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE GOING OUT AND SOMEBODY ELSE IS GONNA BE COMING IN, UH, I'M SURE THAT THEY CAN HANDLE THE JOB, YOU KNOW, UNTIL WE DO ELECT A MAYOR.
SO, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING I, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T APPROVE, BUT JUST BASED UPON THE AMOUNT AND, AND BEING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY, SO I, I'M SURE THAT, UH, WHOEVER CHIEF SENDS OR, UH, DEPUTY CHIEF HOUSTON GOES, THEY CAN GET THE MESSAGE AND, AND RELAY THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED BACK TO STAFF TO ENSURE THAT, UH, WE ARE PREPARED.
UH, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS AND KINLAW.
UM, AND, AND ANOTHER THING, I WAS NOT EVER INFORMED THAT THIS WAS EVEN AN OPTION FOR ME TO GO, HAD SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT THIS TRIP WAS UPCOMING, THAT, UH, AS MAYOR PRO TEM, I, I SHOULD, I SHOULD GO ACTUALLY AT, AT THE, THE DATES OF THIS.
I BELIEVE THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE WILL HAVE TAKEN OVER AS MAYOR PRO TEM, BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED THAT THIS WAS EVEN AN OPTION.
I'VE GOT A PRIOR COMMITMENT THAT I CANNOT MOVE DURING THESE DATES, BUT HAD I KNOWN A MONTH AGO THAT THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY, I COULD HAVE CLEARED MY SCHEDULE.
UM, I THINK WE'VE GOT FOLKS FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE GOING, WE'VE GOT OUR DI, OUR DIRECTOR OF, UH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES GOING.
UH, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD PAY FOR OUR CURRENT MAYOR TO GO TO
[02:30:01]
ANYONE ELSE.OKAY? AND, UH, I, I'VE GIVEN AN, AN EXPLANATION, BUT BEFORE I, BEFORE WE TAKE THE VOTE, I ALREADY KNOW HOW THE VOTE IS GOING.
I JUST WANNA SAY THIS, THAT AGAIN.
DO YOU WANNA TALK? WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
NO, WELL, I'M MAKING A COMMENT BEFORE YOU ALL VOTE.
AND THE, THE, THE COMMENT THAT IS DURING THE QUESTION PERIOD, I UNDERSTAND WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T HELP BUT TAKE IT AS A PERSONAL THING BECAUSE IT'S BEEN DONE SO MANY TIMES BEFORE.
OKAY? BUT EVEN, EVEN AS I EXIT BEING THE MAYOR, YOU KNOW, IT, WHATEVER YOU COULD DO TO TRY TO BELITTLE, UH, DEMEAN AND JUST TOTALLY DISENGAGE ME FROM BEING YOUR MAYOR.
BUT WHAT I'M, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND, THEY GOT TWO PERSONS IN THERE.
ONE OF Y'ALL WILL END UP BEING THE MAYOR IN ABOUT ANOTHER MONTH OR SO.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU ALL COULD FIND OUT SOMETHING TO DO THAT WOULD BRING THIS COUNCIL INTO BEING MORE, UH, CONGRUENT, IF THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD.
AND BECAUSE I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING WHERE COUNCIL MEMBERS GO ON FACEBOOK.
NOW, THEY ALL TALKED ON FACEBOOK.
I KNOW I'VE BEEN HAVING AN OPEN DOOR FOR SIX YEARS.
ALL YOU DO IS COME AND CALL ME AND ASK ME, OKAY, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS THIS? OR WHY IS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED? I WOULD HOPE, I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE OF YOU WOULD WIN THAT YOU COULD GET THAT SPIRIT OUT OF THESE FOLK WHO ARE UPHILL.
'CAUSE IT'S NOT A SPIRIT OF TOGETHERNESS, IT'S NOT A SPIRIT THAT'S GOING TO MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD.
YOU COULD TELL ABOUT THIS VOTE THAT'S GETTING READY TO HAPPEN.
YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MOST UNPLEASANT DECISIONS THAT, THAT, AND SEE, THAT'S WHY HE'S NOT GONNA EVER BE THE MAYOR GOING OUT THE DOOR.
OKAY? BUT WHAT YOU HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL DO PERSONAL TYPE THINGS, MAKE DECISIONS AND HIDE BEHIND SOME FACADE OF IT BEING A RULE.
ALL I'M TELLING YOU IS AT THESE MEETINGS, WHOMEVER YOUR MAYOR IS, HELL, YOU COULD GO NEXT YEAR AND DIE THE NEXT DAY.
YOU UNDERSTAND? THAT COULD HAPPEN.
BUT WHOMEVER YOUR MAYOR IS, YOUR MAYOR IS IN ATTENDANCE AT THOSE TYPE MEETINGS.
SO THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO JUST SAY TO YOU ALL TO WHOMEVER WANTS TO LISTEN.
IF YOU DON'T WISH TO LISTEN, YOU GO, I'M STILL SAYING IT.
AND WHEN IT'S RIGHT, IT'S RIGHT.
IF IT'S WRONG, IT'S JUST WRONG.
IT'S FOR YOUR COMMUNITY TO BE SURE THAT WHOMEVER YOU HAVE HERE SHOULD KNOW THAT SOMETHING HAPPENS.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I WANT YOU TO COME BACK TO THIS NIGHT TO NIGHT.
EVERYBODY ELSE VOTING AGAINST IT.
HELLO? OH, YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, SIR? HO, HO.
THEY GOT SOME MONEY IN THE GALLERY.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, I REALIZE THIS IS THE END OF THE TERM.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING UP NEXT TERM THAT REALLY NEED THIS TRAINING.
I'M VERY UPSET AT THE LAST COUPLE STORMS WE'VE BEEN HERE, IN MY OPINION, SIR, YOU HAVE BEEN UNAVAILABLE.
THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE GIVEN US UPDATES.
WE'VE HAD TO GO TO, I'VE REACHED OUT TO YOU PERSONALLY FOR THE LAST STORM.
I TRIED TO ON FACEBOOK AND ON THE CITY ISSUED CELL PHONE.
AND I WANT PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO HELP US WITH THE STORM.
AND I WANT SOMEONE WHO'S GONNA BE TRAINED FOR THE FUTURE, NOT JUST THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
OKAY, WELL, I'M VERY SORRY IF YOU SAID YOU REACHED OUT TO ME ON FACEBOOK AND I DIDN'T ANSWER.
UH, I'M, UH, I I MEAN, THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.
I DIDN'T UPDATE, I DIDN'T SEE ANY UPDATES AT ALL FROM YOU, SIR.
SIR, I DIDN'T SEE ANY UPDATES AT ALL ABOUT THE STORMS. UH, THE LAST SEVERAL STORMS, THERE'S MAYBE BEEN ONE OR TWO UPDATES FROM YOU.
THERE'S BEEN OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE REALLY KEPT US IN THE LOOP AND IT'S DANGEROUS.
WE NEED, I DON'T KNOW WHICH THUMB YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO STAND UP FOR MYSELF AND EVERY TIME THERE'S BEEN ONE, I'VE BEEN MORE THAN OPEN.
I'VE BEEN ON FACEBOOK FOR, UH, UH, INSTAGRAM AND ALL THOSE OTHER PLACES WITH INFORMATION I KNOW I'VE DONE.
NOW, MAYBE YOU ARE NOT MY FRIEND, I GOT 5,000 OF, BUT MAYBE YOU COULDN'T GET 'EM.
AND I'M SORRY THAT YOU DID IT, BUT
[02:35:01]
I COULD JUST AS YOU CAN SAY IT, AND I APOLOGIZE IF I DIDN'T DO IT TO YOU.TELL YOU WHAT, IT WASN'T DONE PERSONALLY.
YOU KNOW, I JUST DIDN'T WANT YOU TO HAVE IT.
MAYBE THERE WAS SOMEWHERE IN AI THAT WE JUST, JUST COULDN'T CONNECT.
BUT I KNOW THAT I'VE MADE MYSELF AVAILABLE AND I AM ALWAYS AVAILABLE.
EVEN WHEN I LEAVE, I'M GONNA BE AVAILABLE.
I WAS AVAILABLE BEFORE I EVEN GOT HERE.
OKAY? SO I CAN'T LET YOU JUST TELL ME THAT.
AND I, I'M NOT ARGUING THAT, BUT I, I'M JUST STANDING UP FOR MYSELF.
THAT'S MY EXPERIENCE ON THAT, SIR.
THAT'S, AND AND, AND I'M VERY SORRY.
I'M VERY SORRY THAT YOU EXPERIENCED THAT FROM ME.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I DO GO RIGHT IN.
I HAVE PERSONALLY LED DISASTER TEAMS OVER THE LAST, UM, FEW YEARS.
AND IT STARTED HEAVILY WITH HOSTING A SHELTER BACK IN 2017 FOR A YEAR.
AND IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT CITY OFFICIALS ARE TRAINED AND EDUCATED ON HOW TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A NATURAL DISASTER, A FIRE, JUST EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERIOD, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE WOULDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT WE NEED TO PLAN FOR.
BUT THESE TEEM IS THE TYPE OF CONFERENCE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR CITY OFFICIALS TO PARTICIPATE IN.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STAFF TO PARTICIPATE, BUT THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STAFF IS NOT THE FINAL DECISION MAKER.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE, NOT JUST FOR MAYOR, MY POSITION IS THAT ALL OF COUNCIL SHOULD BE PARTICIPATING IN TEEM THE SAME WAY THAT WE'VE APPROVED, UM, TML CONFERENCES AND NLC CONFERENCES.
THE INFORMATION, THE TRAINING, ACTIVE TRAINING THAT TAKES PLACE AT A
I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF COUNCIL TO ATTEMPT TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE TYPES OF WORKSHOPS BECAUSE WE ARE THAT FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
SO PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
DID YOU SAY A COMMENT? YOU, HUH? YEAH.
NO, I JUST LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE COMMENT.
UH, NOT THE, UH, AMERICAN NATIONAL TEAM MC MAYOR, BECAUSE THEY SAY EVACUATION.
FROM MY EXPERIENCE, I'VE BEEN THROUGH TWO EVACUATIONS IN THE CITY.
WHEN THEY SAY EVACUATION COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NORMALLY GONE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
THAT'S WHY THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED, YEAH, WELL, YOU MIGHT SAY, BUT, BUT WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED IS THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER AND THEIR, THEY GO WITH THEIR FAMILIES WITH EVACUATION.
THE MAYOR STATES, BECAUSE THE MAYOR'S GOING TO BE AN APPROVE AUTHORITY AND HE MAKES A DECISION.
AND, AND IT WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EMERGING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM.
AND THEY ALL, FROM EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
EVERYONE IN THERE HAS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
AND THE MAYOR IS THE ONE THAT THEY FOUND DECISIONS.
SO BASICALLY EVERYBODY IN THE CITY, THAT'S WHY IT TAKES REHEARSALS.
AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE SHOULD BE REHEARSING AND HE SHOULD START REHEARSING.
SO WHEN THE NEW MAYOR COME ON THE WAY, THAT'S WHAT THE NEW MAYOR HAS TO DO.
AND THEN HE SHOULD START SOME, SOME, UH, PRACTICE.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE DONE.
BUT WE SHOULD DO, WE SHOULDN'T DO TRAILS WITH THOSE KEY PEOPLE THAT'S GOING TO BE THERE AND HAVE TO DO THIS COUNCIL MUSIC AND THAT FAMILY IS GONE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY, MARY.
YOU DID SAY ONE THING AND BY, BY LAW THE MAYOR IS THE PERSON WHO IS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY DURING THESE EMERGENCY TYPE SITUATIONS.
THAT'S WHY YOU GO TO THE TRAINEE.
[02:40:01]
I KNOW THAT A NEW PERSON COMES IN, I COULD SHARE WITH THEM IF THEY WOULD WANT TO LISTEN AS TO WHAT I'VE LEARNED, OR THEY WOULD LEARN IT BY EXPERIENCE IF THEY WOULD'VE TO EXPERIENCE SUCH A THING.BUT TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE, JUST TO DENY THE PERSON WHO SITS HERE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND BE PREPARED IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN BEFORE THE EXIT COMES, THAT
MAYBE I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT'S IN FAVOR OF IT.
I'M SORRY THAT THE VOTE WAS EVEN CALLED FOR.
WELL, I'M CALLING FOR THE VOTE.
UH, YOU WANTED, YOU KNOW, SHE CAN DO A ROLL CALL.
I KNOW HOW IT'S GOING, BUT GO AHEAD.
COUNCIL MEMBER ETT? NO COUNCIL MEMBER.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD? YES.
[VII.(6) P.R. No. 24287 – A Resolution Acknowledging The Receipt Of The Third Distribution From The Opioid Abatement Trust Fund And Authorizing The Establishment Of An Opioid Review Board]
UH, THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.I MEAN, UH, PAGE SEVEN, ITEM NUMBER SIX.
I DON'T HAVE, OKAY, WELL YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE BAD ONES.
IT'S GONNA BE THE SECOND ONE FROM THE BOTTOM SEC.
THE SECOND ONE FROM THE BOTTOM SEC.
I'M GETTING READY TO CALL IT OUT.
THE SECOND ONE FROM THE BOTTOM.
IT IS A RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING THE RECEIPT OF, UH, THE THIRD DISTRIBUTION FROM THE OPIOID ABATEMENT TRUST FUND AND AUTHORIZING THE ESTABL ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OPIOID, UH, REVIEW BOARD.
UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? UH, COUNCIL MCIN LAW.
SO COUNCILMAN FRANK AND SECOND.
OKAY, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.
EXCUSE ME, THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER, UH, 24 2 87.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? WHO? I FORGOT I DIDN'T WRITE THAT.
UM, THE FIRST QUESTION I HAVE IS I WANT JUST CONFIRM THIS IS THE THIRD DISTRIBUTION.
AM I CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
IF THIS IS THE THIRD DISTRIBUTION, AND I READ WHAT WE SAID IN THE RESOLUTION.
THE RESOLUTION SAYS THAT THE, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL OFN PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, FOLLOWED BY THE OPIATE ABUSE AND SEEK TO ENSURE THAT FUNDS RECEIVED ARE UTILIZED IN TRANSPARENT, STRATEGIC, AND IMPACTFUL MANNER.
NOW, WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE FIRST TWO DISTRIBUTIONS? YOU HAVE THAT CITY MANAGER COUNCILMAN? I BELIEVE THAT THE FUNDING IS STILL AVAILABLE.
THERE AREN'T ANY PROGRAMS, UM, THAT I AM AWARE OF WHERE WE HAVE UTILIZED THOSE DISTRIBUTIONS THUS FAR.
THEN NOW I'LL GO BACK TO THE REST OF THIS RESOLUTION.
YOU'RE ASKING NOW FOR US TO APPROVE THE CITY MANAGER CREATING A BOARD, CORRECT? YES.
THEN WHEN WE CREATED THE WHOLE WAR, THEN WHEN WE GOT THE FIRST ONE, WHY DIDN'T WE CREATE THE VOTE? WE COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT, WE COULD HAVE BEEN SPENDING MONEY.
WHY DID WE NOT KNOW WE HAD THE MONEY? AND WE TALKING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, SOME COUNCIL MEMBER, I WANT TO KNOW WHY WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS MONEY AND WE'VE DONE TOOK TWO DISTRIBUTIONS AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO FULFILL THE OBLIGATION WE HAVE, GET IN THE FUNDING.
THIS IS THE LAST, THIS IS THE LAST DISTRIBUTION.
WHY WASN'T COUNCIL TOLD THAT WE HAD THAT MONEY? WHY DID WE
[02:45:01]
GETTING THIS BOY? AND THEN WE COULD HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SPENDING MONEY.YOU BEEN SITTING ON TWO DISTRIBUTIONS.
I WANT TO KNOW WHY DID THIS COME TO, I THINK THOSE ARE MAYOR, OR MAY I SPEAK? I THINK THOSE ARE EXCELLENT QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ETT AND I WILL SIT WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO FIND OUT THE ANSWERS.
I RECOMMEND THAT THIS ITEM BE TABLED AND WE WILL BE BRINGING IT BACK TO YOU.
OKAY? THAT, THAT'S ALL I CAN WILLING EITHER, THAT WON'T BE MY, OKAY.
TELL THE FA I'LL MAKE THE MOTION GO RIGHT IN.
I MADE THE MOTION THAT WE TABLE ITEM NUMBER, RESOLUTION NUMBER 2 4 2 8 7.
YOU JUST MOVE THE SECONDARY WITH TABLE ITEM NUMBER, UH, SIX.
UH, READY FOR QUESTION? I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK AT BEFORE WE BRING THIS BACK, BUT MY CONCERN IS THERE'S NOT A TIMELINE IN THIS RESOLUTION FOR WHEN THE OPIOID REVIEW BOARD WILL BE ESTABLISHED.
THERE'S SOME GUIDELINES FOR WHO'S GONNA BE ON IT.
THE CITY MANAGER'S RESPONSIBLE FOR APPOINTING, BUT THERE'S NO TIMELINE.
SO I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER INSERTING SOME TIMELINES WITHIN 30 DAYS, WITHIN 60 DAYS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST HANGING OUT THERE AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY MOVEMENT ON IT.
OKAY? ANY OTHER UNREADINESS ON THIS? I DO, MA'AM.
IF, UM, CITY MANAGER, IS MS. JUDAS IN THE ROOM? NO.
I WANTED TO, IF, IF SOMEONE FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS, IS AVAILABLE TO SPEAK ON THIS.
IF NOT, THEN I CAN JUST WAIT UNTIL WE BRING IT BACK.
AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD IS, ARE WE WITHIN THE TIMELINE? THIS, THIS, THIS TIMELINE TO CREATE THIS BOARD IS NOT MANDATORY PRIOR TO MAY 20TH.
I HOPE THE ANSWER TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION, COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT FROM ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE BACKGROUND THAT I'M READING, THEY, THEY BEEN GIVEN A DISTRIBUTION AND IT WAS I THINK IN 2020.
SO THIS IS THE THIRD DISTRIBUTION AND THEY'RE NOW DIFFERENT.
BUT, UH, WHICH COMMENT? THAT COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR
WE ALSO NEED TO INCLUDE WHEN WE BRING IT BACK, UH, MAKE SURE THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT SAYS WITH COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
BECAUSE ANY BOARD THAT IS SANCTIONED BY THE CITY MUST BE APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
SO THEY SHOULD HAVE ALL OF THIS STUFF THAT THEY HAVE HERE HAVE ALL LAID OUT SO WE CAN REVIEW IT AND APPROVE IT, BUT WE APPROVE IT.
ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, IS APPROVED IN THIS TABLE.
[VII.(11) P.R. No. 24308 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager And City Attorney To Purchase A 0.0057 Acre (248 SF ROW) Portion Of Land Located At The Intersection Of Procter Street And Woodworth Boulevard (Part Of Tract 9A, Replat Of Block 511, Model Addition No. 2, City Of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas) For Traffic Signal Installation For The Amount Of $900.00. Funds Are Available In The Capital Project Account No. 307-21-049-8511-00-10-000. Project No. CE0008]
NEXT ON PAGE, UH, EIGHT, ITEM NUMBER 11, BUREAU NUMBER 24, 3 0 8 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING, EXCUSE ME, THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY TO PURCHASE A A OH, OKAY.POINT ZERO ZERO FIVE SEVEN ACRE ACRES.
YEAH, PURCHASE A AND I GUESS THAT'S 0.0057.
UH, ACRE OF 2 48 SF, UH, ROAD PORTION OF LAND LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF OF PROCTOR STREET AND WOODWORTH BOULEVARD, PART OF TRACK NINE.
A UH, REPLANT OF BLOCK FIVE 11.
UH, MODEL EDITION NUMBER TWO, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS FOR TRAFFIC.
UH, SIGNAL INSTALLATION FOR THE AMOUNT OF $900 FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL PROJECT.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH 0 4 9 DASH 85 11 DASH ZERO ZERO.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW? SO MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK, MOVE TO SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE
[02:50:01]
PER NUMBER 24 3 0 8 AS UH STATED.WE READY FOR QUESTION THAT WHAT YOU YES, MAYOR, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS THAT ACCOUNT NUMBER? I I'VE GOT A LIST OF ACCOUNT NUMBERS FROM THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, UH, WITH ALL OF THE ACCOUNTS AND PROJECTS AND CAPITAL.
I DIDN'T FIND THAT, THAT NUMBER IN THAT DESK.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THAT LYNN BOX NUMBER, WHERE IS IT COMING FROM? THIS GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
LYNN BOSWELL, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE.
THAT PARTICULAR ACCOUNT NUMBER IS FOR THE LAND SALE OF LAND BECAUSE IT IS SALE OF LAND IN RELATION TO THE ACTUAL TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE.
I HAVE TO CATEGORIZE IT AS SALE OF LAND.
I CAN'T STICK IT INTO TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE.
NO, THIS ACCOUNT, THAT IS CORRECT.
WHERE IS THE ACCOUNT FOR THE ACCOUNT? THIS ACCOUNT FOR THE ACCOUNT IS FOR THE SALE OF PURCHASE OF LAND.
OKAY, SO NOW WHAT'S THIS ACCOUNT? WHERE DID YOU TAKE THIS MONEY FROM? TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE.
SO WE'VE TAKEN MONEY FROM FED MAINTENANCE OFF PURCHASE OF LIGHT.
AS PART OF THE TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE BY MAINTENANCE.
THE PURPOSE IS SPECIFIC FOR TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE AND THE SIGNALING THAT IS THERE.
A FINANCIAL DIRECTION JUST TO, FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS PURCHASE OF LAND.
NOT, I DON'T CARE WHAT WE DO WITH THE PROPERTY.
DO WE PURCHASE LAND FROM DEPARTMENT BUDGET? IS THAT RIGHT OF WAY OR LAND? IT WOULD, IT'S TO DEVELOP THE RIGHT OF WAY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
THERE'S NO SENSE THING AS RIGHT OF WAY WE PURCHASING THE LAND, WE'LL PURCHASE THAT PORTION OF THAT LAND FROM WHOMEVER OWNED IT.
YOU KNOW, I, THAT'S WHY I ASKED THESE MINUTES OF, I'M JUST, I JUST HAD IT WITH US TAKING MONEY AND SPENDING MONEY.
THIS, THIS IS JUST ME FOR EVERYTHING I'VE LEARNED ABOUT MUNICIPAL FINANCE.
THIS SEEMS LIKE WE GOT
I DON'T CARE WHAT WE PURCHASE IT FOR.
WE USE THE SAME PROCEDURE AND IT COMES FROM A CERTAIN FUND, BUT WE HAVE TAKE MONEY FROM THE OFFICE TO PURCHASE MONEY.
THE LINE ITEM IS ACTUALLY FOR TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE AND IT DOESN'T MOVE THE FUND, IT JUST MOVES THE LINE ITEM TO GO FROM MAINTENANCE TO THIS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO DO THAT.
AND I'M REQUIRED TO PUT IT IN AS PURCHASE OF LAND BECAUSE OF ITS CATEGORY.
I I TELL YOU AND I TELL YOU WHAT I MEAN, WE GONNA GO AROUND.
SO YOU TELLING ME THAT? NO, BUT YOU NEED TO EXPLAIN TO ME IS HOW CAN YOU USE MONEY THAT THE COUNCIL HAS ALLOCATED THE, THE DEPARTMENT TO PURCHASE LAND? NOW WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE.
WE NORMALLY PURCHASE LAND MORE FUNDS.
THE MONEY THAT WE APPROVED FOR TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE AS A COUNCIL.
I KNOW WHEN I APPROVED IT, I DIDN'T APPROVE IT FOR YOU TO PURCHASE PROPERTY WITH IT.
AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR THESE NUMBERS AND THAT'S WHY I TOLD YOU THAT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DOING IT.
WILL THIS COUNCIL APPROVES MONEY AND IF WE APPROVE MONEY FOR TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE, WE DIDN'T GIVE YOU MONEY TO PURCHASE PROPERTY AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO TO MOVE.
WE NEED TO PERMIT, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU GET MARRIED AGAINST WANT.
[02:55:01]
THAT I GET TO THIS POINT, I'M NOT GONNA HOLD UP THIS MEETING.THIS IS TWO ELEMENTARY, WE DO NOT PUT MONEY AND BUDGETS ON THE LINE ITEMS TO PURCHASE PROPERTY AND THIS WE SHOULD NOT BE VOTED.
AND SIR, WE ARE JUST SIR, WE ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT $900 RIGHT? TO TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE.
I THOUGHT I THOUGHT IT WAS 9 MILLION.
SO IT'S JUST TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE AND ALSO THE PURCHASE THOSE LANDS IF WE HAVE TO DO RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.
ALRIGHT, READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR, MAYOR.
SOMEBODY ELSE WANNA TALK? WELL, GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR, UM, EXPLANATION.
AND I, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN ABOUT FUNDING BEING TAKEN FROM ONE ACCOUNT TO ANOTHER, BUT I FEEL THAT WE'RE BEING A BIT AGGRESSIVE ABOUT HOW WE ADDRESS, UM, OUR STAFF WITH THESE TYPES OF QUESTIONS.
SO MS. LYNN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR, UM, FOR YOUR EXPLANATION.
AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE, IS THIS CONSIDERED JUST COMMON PRACTICE FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR OR FROM YOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE? IS THIS YOU FOLLOWING SOME TYPE OF FINANCIAL, UH, CODE AND THEN TO CITY ATTORNEY? I'M, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S $900 BUT THE LEGALITIES OF IT, I'M SURE YOU'VE REVIEWED THIS AND IT IS NOT ILLEGAL FOR US TO APPROVE THIS IS, I THINK THAT WOULD REQUIRE FOR ME TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN OPINION AS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ETT.
AND I HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT AND THEN WHAT, BUT MY OTHER QUESTION WAS TO MS. LYNN, I WAS WAITING FOR HER TO, THE QUESTION THAT I WAS ASKING WAS TO MS. LYNN ACTUALLY.
SO I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER, IT'S ALMOST GONNA BE THREE DECADES NOW.
I'M ACTUALLY FOLLOWING YOUR PORT ARTHUR CHARTER.
I'M ALSO FOLLOWING YOUR STATE LAW AND I'M ALSO FOLLOWING PRACTICE.
THE LINE ITEMS MAY CHANGE BECAUSE WE PUT IN ESTIMATES THE INTENT IS FOR THE TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE.
SO WHATEVER IS PUT INTO LAND, THAT AMOUNT IS NOT GOING TO BE FOR THE TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE.
WE DID NOT KNOW AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET YEAR THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO THIS.
NOW THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY, BECAUSE IT DOES NOT CHANGE FUNDS, IT DOES NOT CHANGE APPROPRIATION AND IT ALSO DOES NOT CHANGE THE PURPOSE, WHICH IS TRAFFIC, MAINTENANCE AND SIGNALING.
THANK YOU MR. OKAY, YOU HERE? YES SIR.
ARE YOU, ARE YOU HERE, MA'AM? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
CAN I, CAN I ASK YOU PLEASE? YEAH, GO READY, GO AHEAD.
FIRST OF ALL, COUNCIL HAMILTON, I DON'T, I DON'T EVEN BE TOLD HOW TO JUST BECAUSE I'M FRUSTRATED WITH STAFF.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE FRUSTRATED, BUT I THINK THAT WE
CAN BOTH OF Y'ALL HEAR ME? NO.
DON'T, DON'T, DON'T, DON'T, DON'T WALK ON HIM, OKAY? WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
WELL DON'T TALK WHILE HE TALK.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO SIGN LANGUAGE THE BEST I CAN DO.
OKAY? OKAY, MAYOR, YOU GO AHEAD AND SPEAK.
I'M NOT IN THE MOOD FOR JOKING RIGHT NOW, BUT I AIN'T JOKING.
MY COMMENT IS, YOU KNOW IT IS NOT ABOUT $900, IT'S ABOUT HOW WE APPROPRIATE MONEY.
AND I SEEN A LOT OF COUNSEL SAYING IT IS NOT THIS OR IT'S NOT THAT.
BUT WE NEED TO FOLLOW WHAT WE APPROVE AND ABUT SEE.
AND IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND FINANCE.
YOU SEE, NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO LOOK AT AND LEAVE THESE FINANCE ORDINANCE AND STUFF, BUT YET NOW YOU WANT TO SAY IT IS
[03:00:01]
NOT ENOUGH MONEY.IF IT IS $500 AND WE SPEND IT IN PROPERTY, THAT'S MISAPPROPRIATE MONEY.
AND IF I YOU THE LIST, I CAN DO A PRESENTATION THE NEXT TIME.
COUNCIL AND COUNCILMAN QUESTION THE FINANCE QUESTIONS I ASKED.
I COULD DO A PRESENTATION ON THIS APPROPRIATION THEN YOU MAYOR, WE'RE OUTSIDE THE AGENDA.
I HAVE MAYOR, CAN WE, UH, POINT OF ORDER? CAN WE JUST CALL? OKAY.
COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN, LET, LET'S LET NOT MAYOR.
COUNCILMAN? YEAH, I THINK I AGREE WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY.
WE ARE, WE'RE GOING OUTTA SCOPE OF WHETHER THAT WE ARE IS, SO WE JUST CALL FOR VOTE AT THIS TIME.
OKAY? SO WHAT WE'LL DO, WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
OKAY, WE ARE SOUND AYE SO BAD APPEARS THAT THAT'S APPROVED.
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 24166 – A Resolution Authorizing One (1) Year Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur And (14) Vendors: (1) DMJ Landscaping Of Port Arthur, Texas @ $.0031 Per Square Foot; (2) BST Solutions Of Port Arthur, Texas @ $.0031 Per Square Foot And $75.00 Per Acre; (3) K & D Affordable Lawn Service Of Port Arthur, Texas @ $.0032 Per Square Foot And $80.00 Per Acre; (4) Mayon Lawn Service Of Port Arthur, Texas @ $.0033 Per Square Foot And $80.00 Per Acre; (5) MS Service Of Port Arthur, Texas @ $.0033 Per Square Foot; (6) SETX Lawn & Maintenance Of Beaumont, Texas @ $.00339 Per Square Foot; (7) B & N Mowers LLC Of Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0034 Per Square Foot And $80.00 Per Acre; (8) Signature Lawn Service Of Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0034 Per Square Foot; (9) No Problem Services Of Beaumont, Texas @ $0.0034 Per Square Foot; (10) Israel Lopez Lawn Of Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0035 Per Square Foot; (11) Valencia Lawn Care Of Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0035 Per Square Foot; (12) JL Landscaping Of Port Arthur , Texas @ $0.0035 Per Square Foot; (13) All In One Lawn Services Of Bridge City, Texas @ $0.0035 Per Square Foot; And (14) Frank's Trucking Of Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0039 Per Square Foot For Grass Mowing Services Of Privately-Owned And City-Owned Vacant And Developed Lots In An Area Of The City Designated As Area A, With An Annual Projected Budgetary Impact Of $100,000.00. Funds Are Available In General Fund Account Number 001-13-039 5470-00-50-000 (Other Contractual Service) ]
NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO UH, ITEM NUMBER S EIGHT.UH, THIS IS FOR THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA AND UH, COUNCIL, UH, UH, OF MAYOR PRO.
DID YOU READ THAT FIRST ONE? GO RIGHT.
PR NUMBER 2 4 1 6 6 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ONE.
YOUR CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND 14 VENDORS.
1D MJ LANDSCAPING OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
TWO BST SOLUTIONS OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT AND $75 PER ACRE.
THREE K AND D AFFORDABLE LAWN SERVICE OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT AND $80 PER ACRE.
FOUR MAYON LAWN SERVICE OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT AND $80 PER ACRE.
NUMBER FIVE, MS. SERVICE OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT 0.0033 PER DOLLARS PER SQUARE FOOT.
SIX SOUTHEAST TEXAS LAWN AND MAINTENANCE OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
SEVEN BNN MOWERS LLC OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT AND $80 PER ACRE.
NUMBER EIGHT SIGNATURE LAWN SERVICE OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
SERVICES OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
10 ISRAEL L LOPEZ, LAWN OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
11 VALENCIA LAWN CARE OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
12 JL LANDSCAPING OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
SERVICES OF BRIDGE CITY, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT AND 14 FRANK'S TRUCKING OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR GRASS MOWING SERVICES OF PRIVATELY OWNED AND CITY OWNED, VACANT AND DEVELOPED LOTS IN AN AREA OF THE CITY DESIGNATED AS AREA A WITH AN ANNUAL PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $100,000.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN GENERAL FUND ACCOUNT NUMBER 0 0 1 DASH THREE DASH 3 9 5 4 7 0 5 0 0 OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICE.
THANK AND THE UH, MAYOR PRO APPROACH HIM.
UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK FOR APPROVAL.
I GET THIS, I'M GONNA CALL YOU.
YOU OKAY? YOU'RE READY? OKAY, SIR.
UH, NOW WE'RE READY FOR QUESTIONING NOW.
WELL NO QUESTION BUT WE GOTTA PULL FOR THE ORDER 'CAUSE WE HAD TIE BEARDS.
YOU GOTTA, WE HAVE TO PULL FOR THE ORDER 'CAUSE WE HAVE TIE BIDS.
I FORGOT ABOUT ALL DID THAT IN A WHILE.
YOU GONNA BRING IT UP HERE? I GOTTA COME GET IT.
ALRIGHT, SO OUR FIRST TIE IN IT'S UH, BETWEEN TWO BIDDERS, DMJ LANDSCAPING OF PORT ARTHUR AND BST LAND, UH, BST SOLUTIONS OF PORT ARTHUR.
OH JUST ONE THEY WAS STICKING TO THE CUP.
ALRIGHT, SO THAT'LL BE NUMBER ONE IN THAT ROTATION AND DMJB NUMBER TWO.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO,
[03:05:01]
NOW WE HAVE THREE THAT'S TIED AT 0.0034, BUT TWO OF 'EM ARE PULLED OUT THE VENDOR.SO IT IS ONLY GONNA BE BETWEEN THOSE TWO.
IT'S A BEAUMONT TO BE THE THIRD ONE.
IT'S GONNA BE BEING IN SOLUTIONS AND SIGNATURE.
UH, YOU TO GET UP AND DO SOMETHING, UH, AS AS AS B AS B-N-N-B-I-N BOARD.
I HAD SKIPPED UH, THE ONES THAT WAS TIED AT 0.0033, THERE ARE TWO OF THEM.
MAYON, LAWN SERVICE AND MS SERVICE.
SO RECEIPT, YEAH, FOR REAL PRACTICE,
OKAY, NOW WE HAVE UH, WE HAVE FOUR TIED AT 0.0035, BUT THREE OF THE VENDORS ARE FROM PORT ARTHUR.
SO THE ONE FROM BRIDGE CITY WILL BE NUMBER FOUR.
SO WE'RE GONNA DO THOSE THREE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE UM, ISRAEL, LOPEZ LAWN, VALENCIA, LAWN CARE, AND JL LANDSCAPING.
HERE'S ISRAEL, LOPEZ, VALENCIA AND JL.
OH YEAH, BUT I BACK MY RIGHT HAND.
UH, IS THAT UH, UL VL LANDSCAPING JAIL? JAIL.
AT CARVER SCHOOL, GET TO PUT A LINE ACROSS THE TOP OF, YEAH.
AND ISRAEL LOPEZ LAWN SERVICE.
ALL RIGHT, SO VALENCIA WILL BE THREE.
AND NOW WE WILL BEGIN THOSE WERE PER SQUARE FOOT, UH, BIDS.
NOW WE ARE GONNA DO THE ONES THAT ARE PER ACRE AND WE HAVE UH, THREE FOR THAT.
THAT, THAT WILL BE BEING N MOORES, K AND D, AFFORDABLE LAWN AND MAYON LAWN SERVICE, ALL OF PORT ARTHUR, K AND D.
ONE, ONE GOING BE IS THE FIRST ONE.
AND THE SECOND ONE WOULD BE, UH, MAY ON LAWN SERVICE.
AND SO I CAN TAKE IT FOR THE VOTE NOW, RIGHT? YES.
[03:10:01]
OKAY.SO YOU'VE ALREADY SAID, IT'S ACTUALLY STATED WE HAD A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND UH, NOW WE'VE GOT A PRECAUTION ON INTERNET.
UH, MAYBE HE SHOULD JUST READ THE ORDER SO YOU CAN HAVE IT FOR RECORD WHICH ORDER THEY IN SINCE THE MAYOR PULLED, YOU KNOW.
ALRIGHT, SO FOR AREA A, THE PER SQUARE FOOT, THE ORDER WOULD BE BST SOLUTIONS, UH, PORT ARTHUR, DMJ, LANDSCAPING, THE PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'D BE K AND D, AFFORDABLE LAWN SERVICE, PORT ARTHUR, THEN MS. SERVICE, PORT ARTHUR, THEN MAYON LAWN SERVICE, PORT ARTHUR, THEN C TEX LAWN AND MAINTENANCE IN BEAUMONT.
THEN IT'LL BE BN MORRIS, PORT ARTHUR.
THEN SIGNATURE LAWN SERVICE OF PORT ARTHUR, THEN NO PROBLEM SERVICES OF BEAUMONT, THEN JL LANDSCAPING OF PORT ARTHUR, THEN ISRAEL LOPEZ, LAWN OF PORT ARTHUR, THEN VALENCIA LAWN CARE OF PORT ARTHUR.
FRANK'S TRUCKING OF PORT ARTHUR AND THAT'S FOR THE PER SQUARE FOOT AND FOR AREA A THE PER ACRE IT'LL BE BST SOLUTIONS OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN BNN MOORES OF PORT ARTHUR, THEN MAIN LAWN SERVICE OF ARTHUR, THEN IT'LL BE K AND D, AFFORDABLE LAWN SERVICE SUPPORT.
ARTHUR AND THE OTHER TWO ARE NOT AWARDED.
WE ALL IN FAVOR A ANY OPPOSES? OKAY, Y'ALL GOOD? OKAY.
[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 24167 – A Resolution Authorizing One (1) Year Contracts Between The City Of Port Arthur And Twenty-Four (24) Vendors: (1) All In One Lawn Services, Bridge City, Texas @ $0.0034 Per Square Foot; (2) B & N Mowers, LLC, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0037 Per Square Foot; (3) BST Solutions, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0031 Per Square Foot; (4) DMJ Landscaping, Port Arthur, Texas@ $0.0034 Per Square Foot; (5) D Oliver Lawn Care, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0035 Per Square Foot; (6) Eduardo T.O. Landscaping, Groves, Texas @ $0.0034 Per Square Foot; (7) Frank's Trucking, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0039 Per Square Foot; (8) G & G Gray, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0034 Per Square Foot; (9) Gonzalez Lawn Care, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0034 Per Square Foot; (10) Israel Construction, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0034 Per Square Foot; (11) Israel Lopez Lawn Service, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0035 Per Square Foot; (12) JL Landscaping, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0034 Per Square Foot; (13) JM Lawn Service, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0034 Per Square Foot; (14) K & D Affordable Lawn Service, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0034 Per Square Foot; (15) Lloyd Mitchell, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0039 Per Square Foot; (16) Marsh Transports, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0035 Per Square Foot; (17) M S Service, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0033 Per Square Foot; (18) Mayon Lawn Service, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0034 Per Square Foot; (19) No Problem Services, Beaumont, Texas @ $0.0034 Per Square Foot;(20) SETX Lawn & Maintenance, Beaumont, Texas @ $0.00339 Per Square Foot; (21) Signature Lawn Service, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0034 Per Square Foot; (22) Smith's Remodeling, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0036 Per Square Foot; (23) SMO Unlimited, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0033 Per Square Foot, And (24) Valencia Lawn Care, Port Arthur, Texas @ $0.0035 Per Square Foot. For Grass Mowing Services Of Privately Owned And City-Owned Vacant & Developed Lots In Areas Of The City Designated As Areas B-E, With An Annual Projected Budgetary Impact Of $500,000.00. Funds Are Available In General Fund Account Number 001-13-039-5470-00-50-000 (Other Contractual Service) Contingent Upon Annual Appropriation ]
UH, MAYOR OF PRO TEMP.YOU'RE GONNA BE SO KIND JUST TO HELP ME AGAIN.
PR NUMBER 2 4 1 6 7 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ONE EAR CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND 24 VENDORS ONE ALL IN ONE LAWN SERVICES BRIDGE CITY, TEXAS AT 0.0034 PER SQUARE FOOT TWO BNN MOWERS LLC PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
THREE BST SOLUTIONS, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
FOUR DMJ LANDSCAPING PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
FIVE D OLIVER LAWN CARE PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0.04 PER SQUARE FOOT.
SIX EDUARDO LANDSCAPING GROVES, TEXAS AT $0 SQUARE FOOT.
SEVEN FRANK'S TRUCKING PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
EIGHT G AND G GRAY PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
NINE GONZALEZ LAW, LAWN AND CARE PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
10 ISRAEL CONSTRUCTION, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
11 ISRAEL LOPEZ LAWN SERVICE PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
12 JL LANDSCAPING PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
13 JM LAWN SERVICE PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
14 K AND D AFFORDABLE LAWN SERVICE.
PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
15 LLOYD MITCHELL, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
16 MARSH TRANSPORTS PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 THREE $5 PER SQUARE FOOT.
17 MS. SERVICE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
19 NO PROBLEM SERVICES, BEAUMONT TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
20 SETX LAWN AND MAINTENANCE, BEAUMONT, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
22 SMITHS REMODELING, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT.
23 SMO UNLIMITED PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT PORT 0 0 3 $3 PER SQUARE FOOT AND 24 VALENCIA LAWN CARE PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AT $0 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR GRASS MOWING SERVICES OF PRIVATELY OWNED AND CITY OWNED, VACANT AND DEVELOPED LOTS IN AREA OF THE CITY DESIGNATED AS AREAS B THROUGH E WITH AN ANNUAL PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $500,000.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN GENERAL FUND ACCOUNT NUMBER 0 0 1 DASH 3 3 9 5 4 7 0 0 DASH FIVE ZERO DASH 0 0 0.
OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICE CONTINGENT UPON ANNUAL APPROPRIATION.
[03:15:01]
MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? COUNCILMAN KEN? SO MOVE MAYOR.COUNCILMAN LEWIS? OKAY, WE MOVE A SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 24 1 6 7 AS AS APP UH, PRESENTED WITH THE UH, SELECTIONS THAT WE ARE GETTING READY TO DO NOW, UH, THAT WE'LL BE READY FOR QUESTIONING.
ALRIGHT, SO NOW WE'RE DOING AREAS B THROUGH E.
UM, THESE WILL ONLY BE PER SQUARE FOOT.
UM, OUR FIRST TIE IS AT 0.0033.
IT'S MS. SERVICE OF PORT ARTHUR AND ESMO UNLIMITED OF PORT ARTHUR.
THAT WAS OH, THAT WAS JUST ONE.
SO NOW WE HAVE A BUNCH, A BUNCH TIED AT 0.0034.
UH, WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH THE PORT ARTHUR ONE SINCE THEY GET FIRST DIBS, THERE ARE NINE THAT'S TIED AT 0.0034 FROM PORT ARTHUR.
OKAY, I'M JUST USING MY RIGHT HAND MAN, SO, OKAY.
THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT I DID THE SECOND ONE, RIGHT? AND THE SECOND ONE IS LOOK LIKE, UH, MAYON LAWN SERVICE.
AND I GET YOU ARE GONNA BE PULLING 8 0 8 OF 'EM ALL, OKAY? OH, OKAY.
OKAY, NEXT WE WOULD'VE ISRAEL CONSTRUCTION.
AND THIS ONE IS GONZALEZ LONG LAWN CARE.
[03:20:22]
YEAH, I THINK SO.THAT'S PRETTY CITY MY, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
YEAH, SO, 'CAUSE WE WANNA START OFF WITH ONE.
WE THOUGHT TO DO IT, WE GOT IT STRAIGHT DOWN.
ONE HAD THE WRONG ADDRESS AND WE GOT IT STRAIGHT.
THERE WAS ONE THAT WE FORGOT TO STICK IN THERE FROM THE PREVIOUS.
YEAH, FROM THE PORT ARTHUR ONE.
I MEAN Y'ALL COULD JUST GAVE ME A, MIGHT HAVE GAVE HIM A
[03:25:01]
SPOT.MAYOR LAWN SERVICE NUMBER FOUR.
NUMBER TWO, ISRAEL CONSTRUCTION NUMBER THREE IS, OKAY.
THIS ONE YOU FORGOT, HUH? PDMJ LANDSCAPING.
NEXT ONE WOULD BE, UH, NO PROBLEM SERVICES.
NO, THAT SHOULDN'T BE IN THERE.
NO, THAT SHOULDN'T BE IN THERE.
OH, HE MUST ACCIDENTALLY DROPPED THAT ONE IN THERE.
UH, JM LAWN SERVICE, I'LL PULL UP.
UH, SIGNATURE OF LAWN SERVICE.
UH, EDUARDO'S SEVENTIES LANDSCAPE.
PUT TO THE SIDE WITH NO PROBLEM 'CAUSE HE'S OUTTA GROVES.
OH, THAT'S DMJ, UH, LANDSCAPE.
DON'T GET, OKAY, WE GOT ANOTHER ES.
OKAY, SO NOW IT'S GOING THE THREE.
NOW WE'RE GONNA DO THE, UM, THREE FROM OUTTA THE CITY.
SO THE THREE OUTTA THE CITY IS ALL IN ONE FROM GROVES.
I MEAN BRIDGE CITY, I'M SORRY, BUT ALL IN ONE DID NO PROBLEM FROM BEAUMONT AND THEN EL WALDO FROM GROVES.
WHAT DOES SOMEBODY OUT WITH THEM MAN? OKAY.
OH, UH, UH, ALL IN ONE NARCAN.
AND THE LAST ONE IS, UH, EDUARDO.
UH, SO NOW WE HAVE, WE HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4 THAT'S TIED AT 0.0035.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS MARSH TRANSPORT OF PORT ARTHUR.
ISRAEL LOPEZ, LINE OF PORT ARTHUR D. OLIVER OF PORT ARTHUR AND VALENCIA
[03:30:01]
LAWN CARE OF PORT ARTHUR.HOW MANY I GOTTA TAKE OUTTA THIS THREE.
UH, MARSH TRANSPORTS THAT, THAT'S RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, SO THE LAST ONE IS TIED AT 0.0039.
SO THE TWO ARE FRANK'S TRUCKING AND LLOYD MITCHELL.
BOTH ARE PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS IS ONE.
ALRIGHT, LET'S SEE, UH, FRANK'S TRUCKING.
ALRIGHT, I, I I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CORRECT THIS.
UM, I THINK WE HAVE TOO MANY HANDS IN HERE.
SO I, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK AND DO THESE TIED AT NINE AGAIN, BUT I'M GONNA DO IT, I SAID MAKE SURE THAT, UM, SO WE GONNA GO BACK 'CAUSE WE MISS A PERSON AGAIN.
SO TOO MANY HANDS? WELL, THE, THE ONES THAT WAS TIED AT THE, THE NINE THAT WAS TIED FOR PORT ARTHUR.
SO I, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH IT AND, AND DO IT MYSELF JUST TO MAKE SURE THING.
SO THE FIRST PERSON IS GONZALES THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN HERE.
THE NEXT ONE IS JM LAWN SERVICE.
THE NEXT ONE IS JL LANDSCAPING.
NEXT ONE IS DMJ AND THE NEXT ONE IS ISRAEL CONSTRUCTION.
ALRIGHT, IT'S ALL UP MISS TIME.
YEAH, I, I MADE SURE ON THIS ONE, JUST MY HANDS.
HOW MANY I GOTTA TAKE? IT'S JUST ALL ME.
THAT'S THE THIRD ONE, RIGHT? YES.
[03:35:01]
SERVICES, GONZALES LAWN CARE OR JM LAWN SERVICES? UH, UH, DMJ LANDSCAPING, UH, LORD MITCHELL, UH, JAIL LANDSCAPING.THAT'S ALL OF 'EM, RIGHT? YEAH.
AND, UH, YOU WANNA GIVE 'EM THE ORDER YOU WANT? YEAH, I'M GONNA READ IT OFF FOR THE RECORD.
FOR THE RECORD FOR GROUP B, SO NUMBER ONE WOULD BE BST SOLUTIONS OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'LL BE ESMO UNLIMITED OF PORT ARTHUR, THEN IT'LL BE MS SERVICE OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT WOULD BE C TEX LAWN AND MAINTENANCE OF BEAUMONT.
THEN OUR NEXT WOULD BE ISRAEL CONSTRUCTION OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'D BE G AND G GRAY OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'D BE MAYON LAWN SERVICE OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'D BE K AND D, AFFORDABLE LAWN SERVICE OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'D BE GONZALEZ LAWN CARE OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'D BE JM LAWN SERVICE OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'D BE DMJ LANDSCAPING OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'LL BE J JL LANDSCAPING OF PORT ARTHUR, AND THEN IT'D BE SIGNATURE LAWN CARE OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'LL BE NO PROBLEM SERVICES OF BEAUMONT.
THEN IT'LL BE ALL IN ONE LAWN.
SERVICES OF BRIDGE CITY, AND THEN IT'LL BE EDUARDO TO LANDSCAPING OF GROVES.
THEN IT'LL BE D OLIVER LAWN CARE OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN MARSH TRANSPORT SUPPORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'LL BE VALENCIA LAWN CARE OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'D BE ISRAEL LOPEZ LAWN SERVICE OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'LL BE SMITH'S REMODELING OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'D BE BEN B AND N MORRIS OF PORT ARTHUR.
THEN IT'D BE FRANK'S TRUCKING OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND THE FINAL ONE WOULD BE LLOYD MITCHELL OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND WITH ALL OF THOSE, THAT'S THE ORDER OF IT.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR, ANY THE OPPOSES AS HAVE.
SO WE HAVE APPROVED THE BREAK ORDER FOR PR NUMBER 24 OR 1 6 7.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR POT.
[VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 24189 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With Act Pipe & Supply Of Beaumont, Texas, Coburn Supply Company Of New Caney, Texas, And Core & Main Of Beaumont, Texas For The Purchase Of Repair Clamps For The Water Utilities Department, With An Annual Projected Budgetary Impact Of $254,388.64. Funding Is Available In Account Nos. ($50,000.00) 410-40-215-5315-00-00-000 (Water System Maintenance), & ($204,388.64) 410-40-220-5313-00-00-000, (Sewer System Maintenance) ]
GO TO PAGE 11.ITEM NUMBER THREE, IT SAYS, P NUMBER 24 180 9 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH ACT PIPE AND SUPPLY OF BEAUMONT TEXAS.
COBURN, UH, SUPPLY COMPANY OF NEW KANEY, TEXAS AND CORE AND MAINE OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE PURCHASE OF REPAIR CLAMPS FOR THE WATER UTILITIES DEPARTMENT WITH AN ANNUAL PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $254,388 64 CENTS.
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE AND ACCOUNT NUMBERS, UH, AS 50,000 IN NUMBER, UH, ACCOUNT NUMBER FOUR 10 DASH 40 DASH TWO 15 DASH 53 15 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 0 0 0 0.
AND THE WATER SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT.
AND THAT, THAT THAT'S 50,000 AND, UH, $204,388.
AND ACCOUNT NUMBER FOUR 10 DASH 40 DASH TWO 20 DASH 53 13 DASH 0 0 0 0.
AND THAT WOULD BE IN THE SEWER SYSTEM MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT.
UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, I GET A SECOND.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS, IT'LL MOVE THE SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 24 180 9 AS PRESENTED.
ALL IN FAVOR? WE'RE READY FOR QUESTIONS.
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NONE WILL.
ALL IN FAVOR? I MEAN IN VOTED.
ANY OPPOSES AYES P 24 180 9 IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 24270 – A Resolution Approving An Economic Development Performance Agreement Between The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation And CGLR Properties, LLC In An Amount Not To Exceed $400,000.00; Funds Available In EDC Account No. 120-80-625-5478-00-00-000]
NUMBER FOUR PR NUMBER 24 2 70.IT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND CGLR PROPERTIES LLC IN AN AMOUNT NOT
[03:40:01]
TO EXCEED $400,000.ACCOUNT NUMBER ONE 20 DASH EIGHT ZERO DASH 6 2 5 DASH 5 4 7 8 0 0 0 0.
COUNCILOR MCKEN LAW MOVE MAYOR.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PRO NUMBER 24 2 7 AS PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTIONS OR COUNCILMAN? OH, OR SOMEONE HAS A HAND UP? NO, NO BACK.
OKAY, WELL YOU POINTED TO, TO ME.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE UH, NO, THE FOLK OUR, OUR PEOPLE UP THERE.
SO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
MR. STOKES, UH, THIS PROJECT HERE, THIS IS THE OLD WHITE HAVEN? YES SIR.
LOCATION? UH, IT IS NOW ZONE COMMERCIAL.
IT IS, IT WAS AN OLD TOURIST BUILDING OR HOUSING, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTIAL.
WHAT IS THE VALUE WHEN THAT, WHEN THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE, WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE THE VALUE OF IT YOU HAVE IN TERMS OF BASED ON ITS IMPROVEMENTS? WELL, LET ME, LET ME CLEAR THE RECORD A LITTLE BIT.
THIS WAS AN OLD RESIDENTIAL AREA.
NOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ZONE COMMERCIAL.
I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE CHANGING OF THE ZONING.
BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A, A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS, CORRECT.
I FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THE HISTORICAL THING, BUT, AND THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN MONEY FROM THEM.
BUT SINCE THIS IS GONNA BE AN ECONOMIC, THIS IS GONNA BE A, A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, OFFICE BUILDING.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT AM I CORRECT THAT? YES SIR.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $400,000.
AND, UH, A TOTAL AMOUNT IS GOING TO BE EXPENDED IS GONNA BE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING AN OLD ABOUT TO BUILD THE OLD RUNDOWN BUILDING ABOUT TO LOSE IF WE, BECAUSE TO THE TERMITES NOW IT'S GONNA BE ON THE TAX ROLL AND THE CITY'S GONNA BE MAKING, MAKING MONEY OFF OF IT.
IN ADDITION TO ASSISTING US IN JUMP STARTING OUR REVITALIZATION EFFORTS, REPEAT THAT IN.
YOU ARE ENTIRELY CORRECT IN YOUR ASSESSMENT.
AND I WOULD JUST ADD IN ADDITION TO THAT JUMP STARTING OUR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION EFFORTS.
THAT ALL, ALL THAT STUFF CONTRIBUTED.
AND I KIND OF HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT AT FIRST AND I MORE, I LOOKED INTO IT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS, IT WAS MORE, I THOUGHT IT WAS Y'ALL WAS GONNA BE DOING IT FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES.
IT'S FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCING SOME JOBS ALSO.
AND PUTTING IT BACK ON THE TAX ROLL.
ANY OTHER UN READ, READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 24282 – A Resolution Authorizing Deductive Change Order No. 2 To The Contract With Delk Construction, Inc. Of Nederland, Texas Decreasing The Total Contract Amount By $2,715.93, And Accepting The Project Closeout Documents For The Transit Storage Building Construction At 325 Dallas Avenue, Establishing A Final Contract Amount Of $188,284.07, And Authorizing The Release Of Retainage In The Amount Of $9,265.00; Funds Available In Account 401-00-000-2050-00-00-000, The Remaining Balance Owed Of $2,984.07 Is Available In Account 401-70-530-8512-00-60-000, Project, TR2035B.CAP.BUI]
WE HAVE PI THINK IT'S ITEM NUMBER FIVE, UH, PR NUMBER 24 2 82.IT'S THE REVOLUTION AUTHORIZED AND DEDUCTIVE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER TWO TO THE CONTRACT WITH DELK CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED OF NEEDLE IN TEXAS, DECREASING THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $2,715 AND 93 CENTS.
AND ACCEPTING THE PROJECT CLOSEOUT DOCUMENTS FOR THE TRANSIT STORAGE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AT THREE $25, UH, AVENUE, ESTABLISHING A FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $188,284 AND 7 CENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE RELEASE OF RETAINAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,265.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN AN IN ACCOUNT, UH, NUMBER FOUR ONE DASH 0 20 50 0 0 0 0.
THE REMAINING BALANCE OWE OF $2,984 AND 7 CENTS IS AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 1 DASH 7 5 30 DASH 85 12 DASH 0 6 0 0 0 PROJECT TR 2035 B CAP UII
[03:45:01]
GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN FRANKLIN.MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? ANY QUESTIONS? WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO IT IS PASSED AND COMPLETED.
[VIII.A.(6) P.R. No. 24296 – A Resolution Ratifying The City Manager's Decision To Authorize The Emergency Repair Of The Sewer Overflows Identified In Cause No. D-1-GN-25-001285; The State Of Texas’s Original Petition And Application For Temporary And Permanent Injunction By Global Drilling, Inc. Of Winnie, Texas, In The Amount $193,550.00, And The Emergency Cleaning By Chief Solutions, Inc. Of Houston, Texas In The Amount Of $27,930.00, For A Combined Total Not To Exceed Amount Of $221,480.00; Funding In CIP Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000 Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of The Budget Amendment In Proposed Ordinance No. 7331 ]
NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER SIX PRO NUMBER 24 2 96.IT IS A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER'S DECISION TO AUTHORIZE THE EMERGENCY REPAIR OF THE SEWER OVERFLOWS IDENTIFIED IN CAUSE NUMBER D ONE GN 25 DASH 0 12 85, THE STATE OF TEXAS, UH, ORIGINAL PETITION AND THE APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY AND THE PERMANENT INJUNCTION BY GLOBAL DRILLING INCORPORATED OF, UH, WINNIE, TEXAS IN THE AMOUNT OF $193,550.
AND THE EMERGENCY CLEANING BY, UH, THAT CHIEF, UH, SOLUTIONS IN COOPERATED OF HOUSTON, TEXAS IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,930 FOR A COMBINED TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $221,480 FUNDING IN, UH, CIP ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH FOUR ZERO DASH 85 16 0 0.
AND, AND THIS IT'S CONTINGENT I HAVE ON THE APPROVAL OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN, UH, PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 73 13.
COUNCILMAN LEWIS, MAY I GET A SECOND? UH, COUNCILMAN ETT? CAN YOU HEAR ME SECOND? OKAY.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW I, HOW YOU ALL MAKE SURE YOU ALL WON.
UH, WE READY FOR QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR A AYE, ANY OPPOSES AS THAT? SO IT IS APPROVED, THAT'S GOING TO PAGE 12, ITEM
[VIII.A.(7) P.R. No. 24297 – A Resolution Awarding A Bid And Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With SETEX Corp. Of Beaumont, Texas, For Laying The Culvert Under Jimmy Johnson Boulevard Of The Rice Farm Road Drainage Improvement Project: Phase 1 For The Amount Of $745,752.00. Funds Are Available In The Capital Improvement Account No. 307-21-053-8517-00-10-000. Project No. DR1P10]
NUMBER SEVEN.IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED AWARDING BROTHER THE, UH, A BID AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGERS TO ANSWER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH, UH, A SOUTH TEXAS, UH, CORPORATION OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR A LAND THAT VERT UNDER JIMMY JOHNSON BOULEVARD, UH, OF THE, UH, RICE FARM ROAD DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, PHASE ONE FOR THE AMOUNT OF $745,752.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT.
NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH 3 8 0 0 0.
AND IT IS PROJECT NUMBER DR ONE P 10.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN MCKEN LAW MAYOR, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN FRANK? SECOND MOVED.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 24 2 9 7 AS PRESENTED.
WE'RE READY TO, UH, FOR QUESTION? NO QUESTIONS.
WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? QUESTION.
OH NO, I DIDN'T SEE YOUR HAND.
I HAVE, I LOOK AT THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
I WANT TO KNOW WHY ARE WE, WHY ARE THE TREES PLANTING TREES, 16 TREES IN THAT CONTRACT TO DO THAT? OKAY, THIS PROJECT IS BEING DONE AS AN EFFORT BETWEEN DD SEVEN AND THE CITY OF BO ARTHUR.
AND IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT, THE CHURCH HAD TO PROVIDE AN EASEMENT FOR THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO CONSTRUCT IT AND WIDEN THE DITCH BEHIND THE CHURCH.
AND ONE OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS WAS WE PLANT THE TREES AND THAT WAS PART OF THE DEAL THAT WAS MADE.
WE GET THE PROPERTY, WE GET THE CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT, AND THEN WE DO THE TREES AND IMPROVE THE DRIVEWAY.
OKAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? THE IN WE ARE READY TO VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? A AYE, ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE IT.
WE WOULD BE, NOW, I THINK IT'S NUMBER NINE.
THAT'S WHY I, THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING Y'ALL, SO I WAS ASKING Y'ALL, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING Y'ALL.
[VIII.A.(8) P.R. No. 24304 – A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 1 To The Contract With Construction Zone Of Southeast Texas For The Construction Of The Animal Services Center Building, Increasing The Contract Amount By $426,585.34 To A New Total Of $7,791,585.34, And Extending The Contract Time By 214 Days; Funding Available In Capital Improvement Project/Building Account No. 307-13-041-8512-00-10-000; BU0008 Pending Approval Of Budget Amendment PO 7331 ]
NUMBER EIGHT, PR NUMBER 23 24 3 0 4.IT'S A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF,
[03:50:01]
UH, COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CHANGE, UH, TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE TO THE, UH, CONTRACT WITH, UH, CONSTRUCTION ZONE OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ANIMAL ANIMAL SHELTER CENTER BUILDING, INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY SIX THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND THIRTY FOUR CENTS TO A NEW TOTAL OF, UH, SEVEN MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND THIRTY FOUR.AND EXTENDING THE CONTRACT TIME BY 214 DAYS.
FUNDING AVAILABLE IN CAPITAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT BUILDING ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH THREE DASH 4 1 8 5 12.
AND HOWEVER, THIS IS A PENDING APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT, UH, PO 73 3 1.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN LEWIS MOTION? OKAY, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN, UH, COUNCILWOMAN EVER FIELD? THANK.
AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE, UH, PO NUMBER 24.
UH, WE READY FOR QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? NO.
RIGHT QUESTION? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
TALK TO ME SOMEBODY, TALK TO ME ARCHITECT HERE.
WE COULDN'T, WE COULDN'T HEAR YOU.
DARLENE THOMAS PIERRE, CO COMPLIANCE MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR PAUL BARNETT.
UH, HE'S OUR ARCHITECT FROM PEGAL.
AND THEN WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION ZONE HERE.
SO WHAT ARE YOUR QUESTIONS? UM, WE'RE INCREASING THE CONTRACT BY $426,585 AND 34 CENTS.
AND YOUR, AND THE RATIONALE BEHIND THAT IS THIS LIST OF WEATHER DAYS.
IS THAT INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS IN TOTALITY? WELL, I'M READING DOCUMENTED INCLEMENT WEATHER EVENTS.
I MEAN THE WORD DAYS INVOLVED IN THAT, BUT IT'S MORE THAN JUST, WELL, COME TALK TO ME.
I'M JOHN POLK WITH THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE.
IT'S MORE THAN JUST WEATHER DAYS.
IT'S THE UNDERGROUND FOUNDATION WE DISCOVERED, UH, FROM ST.
MARY'S OLD HOSPITAL THAT HAS DELAYED THIS PROJECT.
AND MOST OF THIS COST IS INVOLVED IN WHAT WE, UH, HAS COST US TODAY DUE TO THAT.
HOW MUCH DID WE, LYNN, HOW MUCH DID WE HAVE IN CONTINGENCY FOR THIS PROJECT? I, I CAN ANSWER THAT IF YOU LIKE.
I'M SORRY IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
AND, UM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER MIGHT WANNA CORRECT ME THE ORIGINAL, I WANT TO SAY THAT THE ORIGINAL WAS ACTUALLY 9 MILLION AND IT GOT REDUCED TO THE 7 MILLION.
IS THIS I'M TRYING, I DON'T WANNA MAKE THIS MISTAKE OF MIXING A COUPLE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE ACTUALLY DECREASED IT AND NOW THAT WE'VE INCREASED THAT.
WELL, THE ACTUAL, UM, PROJECT TOTAL, THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WAS ALLOCATED TO THE PROJECT WAS 9.6 MILLION.
THE, UM, CONSTRUCTION COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT WAS THE 7 MILLION.
AND SO, AND SO WHAT YOU'RE LITERALLY SAYING IS THAT THE, THE, THE, THE, THE ADDED TIME BECAUSE YOU HAD TO TAKE THE OLD FOUNDATION OUT AND DIG IT UP AND REMOVE IT.
AND NOW WHAT? SO WELL, WHEN ARE WE TALKING ABOUT COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT? WHEN, UH, WHEN, WHAT ARE WE SHOOTING FOR? END OF OCTOBER IS OUR LATEST SCHEDULE.
UH, DARLENE, UH, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
WE KNEW THAT THE PYLONS WERE THERE FOR, I MEAN, PER YOU, WHEN I WAS INQUIRING ABOUT NO, WE DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE WE STARTED.
WHEN I INQUIRED WHEN THEY WEREN'T WORKING AND I HAD PHOTOS AND I WAS THERE, YOU GUYS PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW ME.
UH, WELL SOME OF YOU GUYS, BECAUSE
[03:55:01]
I WAS THERE ALMOST EVERY DAY VISITING THE SITE.AND I RECOGNIZE YOU SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TESTIFY HOW OFTEN I WOULD COME TO THE SITE AND, AND SEE THAT IT WAS NO WORK BEING DONE.
NOW I DID INQUIRE TO YOU, DARLENE ABOUT RAINY DAYS AND IT WAS IN, IN AND PUT IT INTO THE CONTRACT.
SO THAT LED ME TO TALK WITH THE MANAGER, ALONG WITH THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS ABOUT WHY WASN'T THEY THERE WORKING ON SUNDAY DAYS AS WE SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT THIS PREVIOUSLY.
WE HAD, FOR PART OF THE TIME, WE WERE WAITING ON THE ENGINEERS TO RECONFIGURE HOW THE FOUNDATION WOULD BE, UM, HANDLED BECAUSE OF, ONCE WE TOOK THE CONCRETE OUT AND HOWEVER MUCH THEY WERE TAKING OUT, WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT ANOTHER WAY, UM, TO RECONFIGURE THE FOUNDATION.
AND SO THAT WAS ANOTHER WAITING PERIOD BECAUSE THE ENGINEER HAD TO REDESIGN THE FOUNDATION.
AND SO THAT WAS ALSO A, A TIME LOSS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GRAY AREA FOR ME BECAUSE I WAS GOING BY THE SITE.
I WAS THERE, I WAS THERE ALMOST EVERY DAY.
I WOULD LET THIS, UH, CITY MANAGER RON BURTON KNOW THAT NOT BODY WAS OUT THERE WORKING.
UH, JUST THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS OUT THERE, UH, UH, IN THE TRAILER.
AND HE KNEW EXACTLY, THIS IS NOT TIM, BUT YEAH, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TIM, RIGHT? MM-HMM
I WOULD GO OUT THERE AND ASK HIM THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WHY NOBODY OUT THERE WORKING WHEN IT'S SUNNY DAYS? AND UH, HE BASICALLY AT ONE POINT TOLD ME THAT, UH, HE WAS WAITING ON THE NEW ENGINE NEARING DESIGN, BUT THE POLLS WAS STILL IN THE GROUND.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE BEEN DOING SOMETHING AT THAT TIME THEY HAD BEEN EXCAVATED.
I'M JUST, THEY, I'M, I'M, WELL, I'M TRYING TO, I'M TELL YOU BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A YEAR, OKAY.
SO, UM, EVEN AFTER THEY, THEY HAD TO, THE, THE ENGINEER HAD TO TELL THEM WHAT TO EXCAVATE AND WHAT TO LEAVE AND THEN HOW TO RECONFIGURE THE FOUNDATION.
SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY DO OVERNIGHT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY DO OVER HOW TO DO IT.
SO THIS IS A PROCESS THAT I WAS GOING BY.
THIS WAS WEEKS I WAS GOING BY THERE.
YOU KNOW, NOBODY GAVE COUNSEL ANY UPDATES ABOUT IT UNTIL I STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY NOBODY WAS OVER THERE.
SO I'M NOT SAYING IT'S OVERNIGHT THING.
I JUST WANTED TO BE KEPT AND INFORMED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOBODY WAS OUT THERE WORKING.
NOBODY CAN GIVE ME INFORMATION ABOUT WHY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD TO GO AND RECONFIGURE THE, THE, THE PLOT OR THE, THE FOUNDATION.
I WAS ASKING QUESTIONS LIKE THAT.
AND THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS THERE WAS TRYING TO ANSWER MY QUESTION UNTIL HE CONTACTED SOMEONE AT CITY HALL AND THEY CONTACT ME.
SO DON'T, DON'T GET, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A OVERNIGHT THING.
I'M JUST TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE TIME LAPSE.
YOU ASK THE QUESTION, I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE TIME LAPSE.
SO I GO THERE EVERY WEEK, RIGHT? I MEET WITH TIM EVERY MONDAY, SO I'M THERE EVERY WEEK AS WELL.
AND WE DID PRESENT SOME PHOTOGRAPHS AND THERE WAS SOME UNDERGROUND WORK THAT WAS BEING DONE.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE THAT, BUT IT IS THINGS BEING DONE.
I, I MEET WITH THEM, I CALL THEM EVERY WEEK TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT'S NEXT.
AND THEY SEND ME A THREE WEEK, UM, UH, LOOK AHEAD SO WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND WE DID COME AND BRING THE, UH, THE UPDATES.
UM, AND SO NOW WE'RE MOVING, YOU KNOW, AT A GREAT CLIP.
EVERYTHING IS MOVING REALLY WELL.
I KNOW WE'RE WAITING ON ENTERGY FOR SOME STUFF, BUT WE ARE, SOMEBODY'S WORKING EVERY DAY.
I'M JUST SURPRISED ABOUT THE INCLEMENT WEATHER, WEATHER EVENTS THAT, THAT'S BEEN DOCUMENTED.
SO, UH, UH, PER, I'M GONNA ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY IF YOU CAN ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO GET A CONTRACT, COPY THIS CONTRACT.
BECAUSE MY THING IS THIS, YOU KNOW, WHEN I AGREE YOU AGREE.
WE SIGNED AS A CONTRACT, YOU KNOW, AND COMING AT, YOU KNOW, THIS STAGE IN THE GAME AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OCTOBER.
YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU CAN FINISH, YOU KNOW, I, I GOT SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS AND I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IF I DIDN'T GO OUT THERE AND DECE FOR MYSELF, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE THE POINT OF CONTACT TO MAKING SURE THAT YOU SIGNED UP.
AND MEET WITH TIM EVERY MONDAY.
SO I TAKE PICTURES EVERY MONDAY.
SO YOU DID, YOU DID GET CONTACT BY THE CITY MANAGER THAT I WAS OFTEN COINED OVER THERE TO THE SITE.
YOU CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT.
BUT I DO FOR RECORD, I WOULD LIKE TO GET A CON UH, GET THE COPY OF THE CONTRACT AND ENSURE THAT MY COHORTS GET IT TO, SO WHAT WE, YOU KNOW, AND BASICALLY WE'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE GONNA HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CONTRACTS THAT THEY STATE.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU GUYS FOR SO LONG SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL AND YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS POLLENS, I UNDERSTAND.
BUT, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT STAGE, WE KNEW WHAT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, BUILDING ST.
MARY'S WAS WHEN WE GOT INTO THE CONTRACT AND NOBODY THOUGHT TO SAY, WELL MAYBE PILONS UNDERGROUND OR NOBODY TESTS FOR THAT.
THE SAME THING THEY FOUND AT YOU.
AND, AND I SPOKE ABOUT THAT THOUGH.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE TALKED ABOUT, BECAUSE WE DID, WHEN WE DID THAT AT THE 19TH STREET SITE, WE GOT HAMMER 19TH STREET ABOUT SPENDING MONEY TO TEST THE UNDERGROUND.
[04:00:01]
SO WE DIDN'T DO IT THIS TIME BECAUSE WE GOT, BUT WE'RE DOING IT THE LAST TIME.SO WE'RE, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
OKAY? AND I'M ON THE SAME TEAM WITH YOU, RIGHT? I INTEND THAT THE CITY WILL GET THE, THE, THE VALUE, THE BEST VALUE FOR ITS TAX DOLLARS.
SO WE ARE GONNA BE SURE THAT WE GET, TRUST ME, YOU CAN ASK THESE GUYS.
I GIVE THEM TROUBLE 'CAUSE THEY, WHEN THEY COME TO BRING ME SOMETHING, THEY GOTTA SHOW ME PROOF.
BUT YOU KNOW, AM I RIGHT OR WRONG? WE, I GIVE THEM HECK
'CAUSE I HAD CONCERNS ABOUT 19 STREETS IN THE POLLS, 10 FOOT WALLS MM-HMM
UH, JUST ENSURE THAT, BUT I DO HAVE CONCERNS AND I DID WANT TO VOICE MY MIND.
MAY, MAY I ASK SOMETHING PLEASE? JUST, JUST, JUST A MINUTE.
NO, THE COUNCILMAN HAD SOMETHING YOU WANT.
MY, MY MY UH, QUESTION IS, UH, NO, NO, NO, NO.
I WAS ACTUALLY, OH, YOU SAID I'M SORRY.
I WAS RECOGNIZING COUNCILMAN DEUCE.
MINE IS ALSO WITH THE, UH, IN INDIVIDUALS HAD DEFAULT CONTINGENCY, HOW MUCH WAS THE CONTINGENCY? $300,000.
IF IT'S 300, IT IS UH, INCREASE ASKING FOR HOW MUCH? UH, FOUR.
OKAY, SO LEMME TALK WITH THE FINANCE DIRECTOR PLEASE.
LYNN BOSWELL HERE, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE UP.
YOU LET THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, FINANCE DIRECTOR UP? YES.
WE APPROVED A CONTRACT BY CONSTRUCTION.
HOW MUCH? IT WAS 7 MILLION SOMETHING.
IF I READ THE BACKGROUND CORRECTLY, IT WAS 7 MILLION AND SOMETHING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE REST WAS FOR FURNITURE AND THE THINGS THAT DON'T GO IN IT, RIGHT? YES SIR.
SO IF WE APPROVE 7 MILLION AND WHATEVER IT WAS FOR
THIS IS ACTUALLY BEING, SO THIS IS ACTUALLY BEING TAKEN FROM THE RESERVE FROM THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT.
THESE RESERVE CAPITAL ACCOUNTS.
THIS IS GONNA END A LOT OF THIS.
WE APPROVE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WHEN WE APPROVE THE BUDGET.
WE APPROVE MONEY FOR EVERY PROJECT THAT WE ARE FUNDING FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
AND WE PUT THE MONEY INTO THE BUDGET.
SO HOW WE HAVE THESE RESERVES.
IF I KNOW THAT THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE MONEY THAT IS GOING TO BE SPENT, I DO NOT HAVE IT APPROPRIATED UNLESS I'M DIRECTED TO DO SO, WHICH IS WHY I'M ABLE TO TAKE FROM A RESERVE AND WHICH IS WHY I WOULD HAVE TO DO AN AMENDMENT BECAUSE YOU ALL ONLY APPROPRIATED A CERTAIN AMOUNT FOR THE DESIGNATED PROJECTS.
IF IT GOES OVER THE AMOUNT, I HAVE ENOUGH CASH IN THIS PARTICULAR ITEM BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL RESTRICTED FOR THE PURPOSES OF CAPITAL ITEMS ONLY.
AND NOT 100% OF ALL OF THAT MONEY IS APPROPRIATED, NOR WOULD IT BE NECESSARILY RIGHT TO DO SO.
WELL IF I READ 1 0 2, 1 0 2 SAYS THAT WE PUT MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO COVER THE ITEMS THAT WE GET.
NOW IF WE PUTTING MONEY IN THERE AND WE KNOW WE NOT GOING TO SPEND IT, THAT'S WHAT ARE WE, DO WE, WE WE PUT MONEY AT THE POT JUST TO SPEND NO SIR.
IT STAYS INTO YOUR, IT STAYS IN
[04:05:01]
A FUND BALANCE RESERVE OR YOUR CASH BALANCE RESERVE IN THAT FUND.IT DOESN'T MOVE FROM ANOTHER FUND BECAUSE IT ONLY STAYS IN THAT FUND.
NOW WHEN, WHEN MONEY COMES OUT THAT FUND THEN SHOULDN'T COUNCIL APPROVE IF IT'S GOING TO BE REALLOCATED OR IF IT'S GOING TO BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE OR OTHER THAN WHAT WE APPROVED IT.
WHICH IS WHY THERE IS A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT IS TIED TO THIS.
WELL, FOR THIS ONE HERE, WE HAVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
I DON'T SEE ONE AMENDMENT FOR THIS ONE.
I SEE IT FOR THE, FOR THE SEW FOR ANOTHER ONE.
YOU JUST TAKE THAT OUT OF THE, UH, 9 MILLION FROM WHAT THE, UH, ASSISTANT CITY AND EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS $9 MILLION ORIGINALLY AND 700 AND SOME THAT WAS APPROVED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION.
SO IF WE APPROVED MONEY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, THAT MONEY IS FOR CONSTRUCTION.
IF WE NEED MORE THAN THAT MONEY, THEN WE HAVE TO NOW IDENTIFY WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM, IF THE REST OF THE MONEY GONNA COME FROM THAT PARTICULAR FUND LIKE YOU TELLING US, RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.
WHAT WHAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU COME UP HERE IS THAT THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM THE MONEY THAT WE HAD, THAT YOU ALL ALLOCATED FOR FURNITURE AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF.
WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE IT FROM THAT TO CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE THE WAY WE DOING IT, WE JUST KEEP DOING IT.
WE JUST KEEP PUTTING MONEY IN A POT AND SPENDING IT.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO US, WE ARE NOT GETTING NOTHING BUT THIS A BILL.
AND THEN WHEN I ASK THE QUESTIONS, IT'S ALWAYS A REVER A RESERVE, A RESERVE BOND BALANCE.
I'M SAYING HOW CAN WE HAVE A FUND BALANCE WHEN WE DO A BUDGET AND THEY TELL US WE WILL PLACE MONEY INTO THE BUDGET FOR THE PROJECTS AND IT DOESN'T TELL US TO HAVE NO EXTRA MONEY.
THEY SAY DELI MADE COST AND IF WE SHOULD SURPASS THAT, THEN WE SHOULD BE AMENDED.
ALL THIS RESERVE AND STUFF, YOU KNOW, WE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE MONEY LIKE THAT WHERE WE JUST SPENT OUT OF A POT.
I I'M GONNA JUST, I GET BACK ON THIS ONE.
HEY, WHAT Y'ALL WANT ME TO DO NOW? CARRY THE MOTION.
S**T, YOU COULD NEVER PENALIZE IT.
Y Y'ALL, Y'ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT NOW HE WOULDN'T GIMME ME $3,000 IF YOU UNDERSTAND, BUT THIS AIN'T NO, Y'ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? YEAH.
Y'ALL ABOUT Y'ALL BUSINESS, MAN.
AND LOOK, JUST FINISH THE PLACE, OKAY? PLEASE.
THAT'S ALL I WANT Y'ALL TO DO, MAN.
WHAT HE SAYING? OKAY, WHAT'S NEXT MAN? WHAT DID HE SAYING? I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.
I I IT'S IN PAST, WE THROUGH WITH IT.
NUMBER NINE, HUH? YEAH, WE, YEAH MAN.
MAYOR BE WHAT YOU ABOUT? YOU NEVER RECOGNIZE HIM BLACK? THERE'S A LIGHT ON DOWN THERE TOO.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO SET THE SCOPE OF THE WORK THAT'S, I DON'T KNOW, MAN.
YOU DONE SEND 'EM OUT THE DOOR.
THE THING PASSED AND WE UNTIL ANOTHER, UH, SOMETHING ELSE.
SHOULDA THEY, THEM PEOPLE GOT STEEL FRAMES UP THERE NOW.
THEY DON'T DO THAT FOUNDATION, BUT, BUT, BUT BABE, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU.
THEY HAD TO DIG ALL THAT STUFF OUT.
[VIII.A.(9) P.R. No. 24305 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 2 To The Atlanta Waterline Improvement Project With Global Drilling Inc. Of Winnie, Texas, Increasing The Contract Amount By $109,900.00 To A New Total Contract Amount Of $2,721,540.00 And Extending The Contract Time By 90 Days To A New Total Contract Time Of 360 Days; Funds Are Available In Capital Improvement Projects Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00 000, Project No. WS-0019 CON, Contingent Upon The Approval Of Budget Amendment In Proposed Ordinance No. 7331 ]
IF THAT'S WHAT WE GOING ON NOW.A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EX NO, THIS, LET'S SEE, THIS P NUMBER 24, 3 0 5.
IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER
[04:10:01]
TWO IN THE, UH, ATLANTA WATERLINE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WITH GLOBAL DRILLING INCORPORATED OF WINNIE, TEXAS INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $109,900 TO A NEW TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF, UH, $2,721,540 AND EXTENDING THE CONTRACT TIME BY 90 DAYS TO A NEW TOTAL CONTRACT.FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN CAPITAL OR IMPROVEMENT OF PROJECTS.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH 4 0 0 DASH 85 16 DASH 0 0 0 0.
THIS IS PROJECT NUMBER WS 0 0 1 9.
UH, CON, UH, CONTINGENT UPON APPROVE, HOWEVER OF A BUDGET, UH, UH, PROPOSAL ORDINANCE NUMBER 73 31.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL, UH, OF MAYOR PRO? TIM, MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN LEWIS? SECOND.
IF WE MOVE THE SECOND, WE WOULD APPROVE, UH, PO NUMBER 24 3 0 5.
UH, AS PRESENTED, WE'RE READY FOR QUESTION.
[VIII.A.(10) P.R. No. 24307 – A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With Ardurra Group, LLC For Disaster Recovery Grant Management And Administration Services In An Amount Not To Exceed $1.8 Million With Funding Available In ARPA Interest Account No. 169-07-015-5492-00-40-000]
NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 10.IT'S A RESOLUTION, UH, PR NUMBER, EXCUSE ME, 24 3 0 7.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH A DUAL GROUP LLC FOR DISASTER RECOVERY GRANT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1.8 MILLION WITH FUNDING AVAILABLE IN A OUR, UH, OR, UH, INTEREST ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 6 9 DASH ZERO SEVEN DASH 0 1 5 DASH 54 92 4 0 0:00 AM I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
AND SECOND, IF WE WOULD APPROVE P NUMBER 24 3 0 7.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? GO AHEAD, SIR.
YES, THE QUESTION NEED CLARIFICATION ON THIS.
IF THIS IS A CONTRACT THAT THIS IS A, IF, IF WE HAVE A DISASTER THAT THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY DID WHEN WE INITIALLY, UH, DONE CONTACT WITH 'EM.
AND THAT IS FOR THE, UH, DISASTER RECOVERY GRANT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICE OR IF THIS IS A CONTRACT, CONTINUE THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT, THIS CONTRACT IS TO CONTINUE THE PREVIOUS CONTRACTS, THE VARIOUS CONTRACTS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE DURO, UM, THE HMGP 4 0 4 GRANTS, UM, WITH THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS BEING THREE OF THE MAJOR ONES, BUT I'M SORRY MR. TUFARO WAS IN THE AUDIENCE.
IT DOES ALLOW AURA TO ALSO ASSIST US SHOULD WE HAVE ANOTHER DISASTER, UM, TO TAKE PLACE.
THEY CAN ASSIST US WITH, UM, SEEKING AND RECAPTURING FUNDS.
A AND THAT IS AT THE, AT THE COUNCIL'S DISCRETION.
IT, UH, FUNDING, RIGHT? YES SIR.
NORMALLY, NORMALLY THEY DO WORK, DOESN'T THEY COME FROM THE GRANT AND IF IT'S UH, DEALING WITH DISASTER, DON'T THERE, UH, MONEY COME OUT THE, UM, ADMINISTRATION PORTION OF GRANT? YES, SIR.
UM, SOMETIMES WHEN WE RECEIVE GRANTS WE DO UM, WRITE IN OR ALLOCATE FUNDING OUT OF THAT GRANT FOR, UM, ADMINISTRATION.
UM, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE HAD A SEVERELY TIGHT BUDGET WITH THE 4 0 4 UM, DRAINAGE PROJECTS, UM, WHERE WE DECIDED TO UTILIZE ARPA FUNDING TO HELP WITH THE GRANT ADMINISTRATION.
AND THE OTHER QUESTION, PAM, IS WE GOING WITH THIS A RP? YES SIR.
YOU KNOW THAT THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT I WAS SPEAKING OF EARLIER.
ABOUT, ABOUT HAVING MONEY? YES SIR.
I MEAN WE USE AN INTEGRATE LIKE IT IS IN THE BUDGET TO BEAND THOSE PURPOSE.
THIS IS ABOUT THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME I'M SEEING SOMETHING THAT REAL FUNDED OUT OF INTEREST FROM THIS A RRP, YOU KNOW, WE GOT IT IN 2021.
I DON'T KNOW WHY, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S STILL AROUND, BUT I GUESS IT WAS AROUND BECAUSE
[04:15:01]
AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET ALL OF THE FUNDING SPENT.UM, WE DO HAVE A DEADLINE OF DECEMBER OF 2026 TO HAVE ALL PROJECTS COMPLETED AND ALL FUNDING DOLLARS SPENT OUT OF A RPA.
YEAH, WELL WE, WE HAVING THAT PROBLEM PAM, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN CHANGING AND AMENING THIS THING FROM WHAT WE ORIGINALLY DECIDED AS SOON AS WE GOT GRANT 2 21.
YES MA WE HAVE $26.5 MILLION YES.
AND EVER SINCE THEN, HAS IT HAVE BEEN CHANGING IT TO DO THIS, TO DO THAT, BUT ALL THE TIME THE MONEY SET HAS GONE INTEREST AND STUFF.
AND AT THIS POINT WE ARE HELD TO THE PROJECTS THAT WE DO HAVE ON THE BOOK THAT WE HAVE DESIGNATED UNDER ARPA.
UM, THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF COUNCIL APPROVING THE, UM, FINAL RESOLUTION IN DECEMBER OF 2024.
WE ARE HELD TO THOSE PROJECTS, THEREFORE WE WILL NOT BE ABLE, UM, UNDER THAT PROJECT TO BRING BACK ANY MORE CHANGES.
UM, PRETTY MUCH WHAT IS DESIGNATED IS HOW WE HAVE TO SPEND IT AT THIS POINT.
WELL I JUST SAY IT IS A LOT OF WHAT WE SPENDING ON IS WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WE APPROVE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS COUNCIL? K AND PAM, YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
YOU SAID EVERY, ALL THE FUNDING AND, AND PROJECTS NEED TO BE COMPLETED BY 2026 SO THAT IS CORRECT.
OKAY, WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ALRIGHT, NEXT THING NUMBER 11.
[VIII.A.(13) P.R. No. 24320 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing A Member Or Members To The Beautification Commission (Requested By Councilmember Lewis)]
13, RESOLUTION APPOINTED UH, PR NUMBER 24 3 20 RESOLUTION APPOINTED ANDRE APPOINTED A MEMBER MEMBERS TO THE BEAUT BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN LEWIS.YOU HAD A NAME? CITY SECRETARY.
AND UH, MAY I GET A MOTION, UH, APPROVAL ON THAT PLEASE? SO MOVED.
AND MS. WANDA BARDEN BE PLACED ON THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE BY COUNCILMAN LEWIS.
YOU READY? ANY QUESTIONS? READY TO VOTE.
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7331 – An Appropriation Ordinance Amending The City Of Port Arthur Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2024 And Ending September 30, 2025, Increasing General Fund (001) By $331,380.00, And Transferring That Amount Thereby Increasing Water And Sewer Capital Fund (405) By $331,380.00 And The Capital Fund (307) By $426,586.00 ]
PO NUMBER 73 31 IS AN APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 AND ENDING IN SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.INCREASING GENERAL FUND 0 0 1 BY $331,380 AND TRANSFERRING THAT AMOUNT, THEREBY INCREASING WATER AND SOIL CAPITAL FUND 4 0 5 BY $331,380 AND THE CAPITAL FUND 3 0 7 BY $426,586.
NOW GET MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF MAYOR PRO TEMP.
SO MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILMAN LEWIS SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 73 31.
READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
HAVE IT SO IT IS APPROVED AND AT THIS JUNCTURE WE HAVE COMPLETED THE PRINTED AGENDA THAT HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR TONIGHT, UH, MAY 6TH.
YEAH, BABY GOD AND ALL OF HIS DISCIPLES.
UH, SO I WILL NOW DECLARE THIS MEETING, UH, ADJOURNED.