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WE, SO WE'RE READY.WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY IN THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE AT 4 44
[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
FOURTH STREET ON TODAY, WEDNESDAY, UH, MAY 14TH, 2025.IT IS NOW 10:32 AM AND, UH, WE ARE HERE.
AND YOU MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING VIA A TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCE MEETINGS.
HOWEVER, YOU WILL NEED TO DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9, AND YOU WILL ENTER THE, UH, MEETING ID OF 8 6 2 0 7 5 7 3 8 6 5, AND THE PASSCODE OF 8 1 5 9 4 8, AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING.
ALSO, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT THIS PARTICULAR MEETING.
AND IF THERE WOULD BE A NEED FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU WOULD NEED TO CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE AT, UH, 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5, AND MAKE THOSE, UH, MAKE THAT REQUEST KNOWN TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, AND THEY WOULD DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWERS TO ASSIST YOU IN, UH, PROVIDING THE ACCOMMODATIONS.
WE WOULD BEGIN WITH THE, UH, INVOCATION, UH, PLEDGE AND OUR ROLL CALL.
LET UNDERSTAND THAT WE, WE CAN DO, LET MAYOR APPROACH HIM.
WOULD YOU DO THE INVOCATION FOR US, PLEASE? GOOD MORNING.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL AND HUMBLE TO BE IN YOUR PRESENCE THIS DAY.
LORD, BE WITH US AS WE CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY, AND WE CANVAS THE VOTES FROM OUR GENERAL ELECTION AND WE APPOINT THE NEW MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THIS NEXT YEAR.
BE WITH ALL OF US, BLESS OUR FAMILIES, AND BLESS THE FAMILIES OF THOSE THAT ARE HERE WITH US IN CHAMBERS, AND THOSE THAT MIGHT BE, MIGHT BE WATCHING OR LISTENING ONLINE.
WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
LET US SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I REPEAT THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN OUR OPENING CITY SECRETARY.
WOULD YOU PLEASE ESTABLISH THE QUORUM FOR ME? MAYOR BARTEE, PRESENT MAYOR PRO, TIM BECKHAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD COUNCIL MEMBER ETT HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KIN LAW COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, HERE.
[II. (1) P.O. No. 7333 – An Ordinance Canvassing The Returns And Declaring The Results Of The General Election, Held On May 3, 2025 For The Purpose Of Electing A Mayor In The City Of Port Arthur, Texas And Ordering A Runoff Election On June 7, 2025, Providing For The Publication Of The Election Order And Notice]
AND WE HAVE AN ITEM IN ROMAN NUMERAL TWO, WHICH IS AN ITEM REQUIRING, UH, INDIVIDUAL ACTION.IT IS AN ORDINANCE CANVASSING THE RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION HELD ON MAY 3RD, 2025 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MAYOR IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AND HONORING A RUNOFF ELECTION ON JUNE 7TH, 2025, PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE ELECTION ORDER AND NOTICE.
AND AT THIS JUNCTURE, WE HAVE THIS IN CITY SECRETARY.
SECOND VIRGINIA SAID, AND YOU MIGHT MOVE.
IT IS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY ACCEPT THE CANVASSING THAT'S BEEN CONDUCTED BY THE CITY SECRETARY AND HER OFFICE, UH, FOR THE RESULTS OF THE GENERAL REELECTION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.
CITY SECRETARY, CAN YOU CONFIRM THE DATES AND THE TIMES FOR EARLY VOTING? YES, MA'AM.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE EARLY VOTING WILL BEGIN ON TUESDAY, MAY THE 27TH AND RUN THROUGH JUNE THE THIRD.
ON THE TUESDAY WE HAVE INCLUDED MAY 31ST, UH, SATURDAY EARLY VOTING FROM EIGHT TO FIVE, AND SUNDAY JUNE THE FIRST FROM 12 TO FIVE FOR EARLY VOTING.
THE LAST TWO DAYS WILL BE 12 HOUR DAYS AT BOTH EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS ON THE SECOND AND THIRD.
AND WILL THAT BE FROM 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM YES, MA'AM.
DON'T COMM MR. FRANK, HOLD UP.
CAN YOU REITERATE THAT FOR ME JUST ONE MORE TIME? THE, THE JUNE 1ST TIMES? OH, ABSOLUTELY.
SATURDAY, JUNE, THE FIRST, THE, LET ME PULL UP.
MY ORDER OF ELECTION WILL BE FROM 8:00 AM TO 5:00 PM SUNDAY ON JUNE.
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FIRST WILL BE 12:00 PM TO 5:00 PM MONDAY, JUNE.THE SECOND WILL BE 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM TUESDAY, JUNE 3RD WILL BE 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM OKAY.
AND THEN OF COURSE, ELECTION DAY WILL BE SATURDAY THE SEVENTH FROM 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM ARE THOSE, WHEN WILL THOSE BE ON THE WEBSITE IN THE WEBPAGE? UH, WE ARE, MR. HARRIS HAS CREATED A SEPARATE ELECTION PAGE UNDER, UH, CITY GOVERNMENT.
UH, I THINK HE CAN PULL IT UP HERE.
WE WERE JUST WAITING PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, WE WILL PUT ALL OF THIS ON THERE.
IT'S GOT A CALENDAR AND EVERYTHING, SO WE TRIED TO TAKE EVERYTHING THAT THE COUNSELOR RECOMMENDED AND MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND POSSIBLY GET OUT BETTER TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, WE, WE KIND OF THREW AROUND THE IDEA OF CHANGING THE LOCATION.
IS, IS THAT SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT DOING? IS THAT SOMETHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING IN THE FUTURE? I KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE, UM, ALL OF THE, THE, UM, TRAFFIC THAT WE WILL, SO IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING FROM SEC, THE CITY SECRETARY.
RIGHT? WE HAVE TO GET WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
THERE, THERE IS, UM, I, WE ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON THE ORDINANCE.
I BELIEVE MAYOR PRO TEM BECKHAM HAS SPOKEN WITH ABOUT THAT WITH ME.
THERE'S SOME THINGS WE'RE GONNA IMPLEMENT THAT THE CITY CAN ENFORCE, REASONABLY ENFORCE ALONG WITH ELECTION LAW REGARDING OUR POLLING LOCATIONS AND ALL OF THAT.
AND CERTAINLY THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT'LL BE COMING UP SHORTLY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.
BECAUSE MY DEAR LINDSEY BROKE THIS AGAIN.
UM, MY REQUEST WOULD BE TO PLEASE, UM, I'M DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTING, UPDATING, UPDATING RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES REGARDING OUR ELECTIONS, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT WE WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE LEGISLATION, UM, SET THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS OVER BECAUSE THERE IS A PROPOSED BILL RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW MUNICIPALITIES TO EVEN HOLD ELECTIONS IN MAY.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT, UM, PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HEARS.
SO I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE HAVING DISCUSSIONS, BUT WE DO NEED TO, UM, READ THAT BILL AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALIGNED WITH WHAT THE STATE WILL HAVE US TO, TO DO MOVING FORWARD.
I WILL RELY ON THE EXPERTISE OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND STAY IN TOUCH WITH WHAT'S GOING ON BEFORE WE BRING IT BACK.
WITH, WITH THAT IN MIND, UH, CITY ATTORNEY, DO YOU KNOW, UH, IF THIS IS GOING TO COME BEFORE COMMITTEE OR HAS IT ALREADY BEEN BEFORE COMMITTEE? IT'S READY FOR A FLOOR VOTE.
DO YOU KNOW THE STATUS OF IT? THAT, THAT THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION IT IS MOVING FASTER.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT IT'LL PROBABLY PASS.
NO, I WAS GONNA SAY WE MAY HAVE STOP VERY, AS YOU KNOW, BEFORE A COMMITTEE, WE CAN GO AND TESTIFY IN FAVOR OF ALLOWING MUNICIPALITIES TO DO IT BECAUSE WE DO IT.
BUT IF WE'VE ALREADY PASSED THAT STAGE, THEN LET ME SEE.
NOT THE NEXT MEETING HEARING IS.
BUT THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS IS GONNA BE VERY, VERY, VERY FAST PACED AS YOU KNOW, WHAT THE LEGISLATURE.
AND SO I WILL DEFINITELY, UM, ASK THAT ANYONE BE AVAILABLE TO BE ABLE TO GO AND TESTIFY.
UH, AND LET ME LOOK IT UP REAL QUICK AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN ANSWER IN JUST A FEW MINUTES ON WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW.
AS OF YESTERDAY, IT HADN'T MADE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE YET.
THIS IS, BUT THINGS HAPPENED THIS MORNING AND MAYBE THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.
SO, BUT AS OF YESTERDAY, LIKE FIVE O'CLOCK ISH, IT HADN'T MADE IT OUT COMMITTEE YET.
WELL, DID IT OUT ONE FILE, NOT THE OTHER SIDE.
YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THEY CHANGE IT, I DON'T SEE WHERE THAT'S A BIG DEAL HERE.
I DON'T SEE WHY WE GETTING THE CONCERN ABOUT A BILL OF THAT MAGNITUDE, WHETHER THE STATE DECLARE US TO MAKE DUE ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER OR, OR, OR MAY.
'CAUSE ONCE THEY DECLARE THAT'S WHEN THE ELECTION'S GOING TO BE, THAT'S WHEN WE HOLD 'EM.
SO I DON'T SEE WHAT THAT'S IMPACT ON US.
WE DON'T HAVE TO REPEAL ANY ORDINANCES BECAUSE IF THEY DEALING WITH IT NOW, BY THE TIME WE WE HOLD ANOTHER ELECTION, THAT LAW WILL EITHER BE PASSED OR NOT PASSED.
SO ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS ABIDE BY IT.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT IF WE CHANGE THE ORDINANCE, LIKE NEXT MEETING OH.
OR IF WE CHANGE THE RESOLUTION NEXT MEETING.
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WAS MY REQUEST.THAT WASN'T, THAT WASN'T DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, OF COURSE, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING UNTIL AFTER THE RUNOFF ON THE SEVENTH.
WELL, THE, SO RIGHT JUNE 7TH RIGHT NOW.
SO I JUST DIDN'T WANT US TO, I WANTED US TO BE AWARE AND TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT.
SO EVEN IF WE DID RIGHT AFTER THE RUNOFF ON, ON JUNE 7TH, WE STILL WOULDN'T KNOW.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE AT THAT TIME.
WELL, WE'LL WAIT TILL THE APPROPRIATE TIME AND I'LL, I'M SORRY.
IN ALL FAIRNESS, THAT'S NOT THE ONLY BILL THAT COULD IMPACT ELECTIONS.
THERE'S ANOTHER BILL THAT, UH, IS MAKING ITS WAY VERY FAST AS WELL THAT WOULD PREEMPT CITIES FROM IMPLEMENTING ANY ELECTION ORDINANCES.
SO THERE'S LOTS OF BILLS BEING MOVED AND WE JUST GOTTA KEEP TRACK OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
ANY OTHER UN READINESS ON THIS? IF NOT, WE ARE READY TO, UH, VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THE CANVASING, IF I MAY.
MAYOR, REGARDING THE MOVING THE ELECTIONS TO MAY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BILLS THAT IT COMPACT IN ELECTIONS.
IT DID, IT WAS A SENATE BILL AS 1209.
IT DID PASS THROUGH THE SENATE AND IT HAS MADE ITS WAY TO THE HOUSE AND IT'S IN THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE ON THE HOUSE.
AND SO IT COULD MOVE QUICKLY AND BE PUT ON THE INTENT CALENDAR, BUT IT'S ALL ALREADY GONE THROUGH ONE SIDE OF, OF, OF THE BUILDING.
SO IT'S CLEAR THE SENATE AND IT'S ON, IT'S IN THE HOUSE.
AND 28 58 COULD HAVE US NOT HOLD ELECTIONS AT ALL.
HAVE I RUN OUR OWN ELECTIONS? WAIT A MINUTE, MARY BILL 28.
BILL 28 58 WOULD HAVE US TO NOT BE ABLE TO HOLD THE CITY, HOLD OUR OWN ELECTIONS AT ALL.
UH, ALL THESE BILLS WHEN THEY GET PASSED, IF WE GOT AN ELECTION SCHEDULE, IT'S NOT GONNA STOP OUR ELECTIONS, BUT IT'LL IT IMPACT ON ANY FUTURE.
RIGHT NOW WE JUST HAVE ONE ELECTION AFTER THIS ELECTION.
OUR NEXT ELECTION IS GONNA BE NEXT YEAR.
AND ALL OF THIS WILL BE EITHER PASSED OR NOT PASSED.
SO I GUESS ONCE WE GET THE WORD, WHETHER IT PASSED NOW, THEN IT COULD BE A DISCUSSION.
I THINK RIGHT NOW WE, WE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHETHER IT'S GONNA BE YES OR NO.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE JUST WITH THE INCOME, THE, AND IF IT GOES TO MAY, THAT'S WHEN WE DO OUR ELECTIONS ANYWAY.
ALL IN FAVOR? A ANY OPPOSES AYES HAVE.
SO THE CANVASING IS NOW ACCEPTED AND PART OF THE, UH, RECORD HERE IN THE CITY OF FORT ARTHUR.
NOW, UH, I BELIEVE THAT IS THE ONLY WELL, NOW WE HAVE A SWEARING IN.
WE HAVE PROPOSED RESOLUTION 2 4 2 9 4.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T, YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT, I SPEAK IN SPANISH AND I WAS THINKING THAT OF THAT WHOLE MY, YEAH.
[II.(2) P.R. No. 24294 – A Resolution Documenting That Pursuant To The Amendment Of Section 9 Of Article II Of The City Charter Approved At The May 2, 1992 City Election In The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, District 4 Councilmember Shall Serve As Mayor Pro Tem And Shall Act As Mayor During The Absence Or Disability Of The Mayor And Shall Serve As Mayor Pro Tem Until May 2026]
UH, PR NUMBER 2 4 2 9 4.A RESOLUTION, UH, DOCUMENT IN THE, UH, THAT PURSUANT TO THE AMENDMENT OF SECTION NINE OF ARTICLE TWO OF THE CITY CHARTER APPROVED AT THE MAY 2ND, 1992 CITY ELECTION IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, DISTRICT FOUR COUNCIL MEMBER SHALL SERVE AS MAYOR PROM AND SHALL ACT AS MAYOR DURING THE ABSENCE OR DISABILITY OF THE MAYOR, AND SHALL SERVE AS MAYOR PROM UNTIL MAY, 2026.
AND THAT PERSON WOULD BE IN THE, IN THE PERSON OF, UH, COUNCILMAN ETT.
AND, UH, WHAT I'D LIKE TO GET IS THE MOTION TO ACCEPT PR NUMBER 24 2 9 4.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, UH, VILLE, PLEASE.
AND, UH, MAYOR PROTI SECOND HAS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PR NUMBER 24 2 9 4 AS PRESENTED.
WE READY FOR QUESTION? THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS? WE READY FOR APPROVAL? ALL IN FAVOR? A, ANY, UH, DISAPPROVALS? THERE AREN'T ANY SO THEREFORE, OR APPROVE, UH, PR R NUMBER 24 2 9 4 AS READ.
[III. SWEARING IN OF MAYOR PRO TEM]
TO PAGE TWO.THE ACTION WAS SWEARING IN OF, UH, OUR NEW MAYOR PRO ETT, AND I THINK THE CITY SECRETARY COMES UP TO DO THAT.
AM I CORRECT? YOU WANNA GO DOWN? UH, YOU WANT ME TO? I CAN DO, SHE COULD
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COME UP HERE.NOW YOU SAY HE'S KIND OF YOUNG.
YOU DON'T WANT TO WALK DOWN THE STAIRS.
IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, I HAROLD DOUCETTE, SENIOR I HAROLD DOUCETTE.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM? YES.
SOLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I'LL DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR PRO TEM OF MAYOR PROTE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND ONE TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE AND ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
SENIOR I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM.
DO SOLEMN SOLEMNLY SWEAR AFFIRM THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID, THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID.
OFFERED PROMISE TO PAY, OFFERED PROMISE TO PAY, CONTRIBUTED OR PROMISE TO CONTRIBUTE, CONTRIBUTED OR CON OR PROMISE TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE? ANY MONEY.
A THING OF VALUE, OF PROMISE OR PROMISE.
ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT OR PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT FOR THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE FOR THE GIVEN OR WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE AT THE ELECTION AT WHICH I WAS ELECTED OR AS A REWARD TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT OR CONFIRMATION? WHAT DID YOU SAY,
I SECURE MY APPOINTMENT OR CONFIRMATION, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
BEFORE WE WOULD ALLOW THE MAYOR PROM PRESENT, UH, THE NEWLY APPOINTED MAYOR PROM TO SPEAK, OUR FORMER MAYOR PROM IS HERE, AND I'D LIKE FOR HER TO HAVE A, A WORD BEFORE WE ALLOW THE INCOMING, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM TO SPEAK.
UH, IT'S BEEN MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE THIS PAST YEAR TO SERVE AS MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND I'VE, UH, HAPPILY PASSED THE TORCH TO MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE, OUR NEW MAYOR PRO TEM.
APPROACH HIM, FORMER MAYOR, APPROACH HIM.
NOW OUR, UH, NEWLY APPOINTED, UH, MAYOR PORT, HE SIGNING HIS DOCUMENTS TO MAKE IT ALL OFFICIAL.
WELL, ALL I'M GONNA SAY IS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT JUST ROTATES.
IT GOES FROM SEAT TO C I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW I, I CAN SERVE ON COUNCIL EIGHT YEARS AND BE MAYOR PRO TIM FOR THREE.
SO THIS KIND OF GETTING TO BE A ROUTINE IN MY CASE,
AND THERE ARE NOW BEING NO OTHER OR ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT IS ON THE PRINTED AGENDA.
WE THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE ON TODAY AND IT'S NOW 10:51 AM ON THIS WEDNESDAY, MAY 14TH, 2025.
AND I WILL NOW DECLARE THIS AUGUST BODY ADJOURNED.
AND I THINK WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE 20TH, UH, CITY SECRETARY.
IS THAT, THAT'S THE A 9, 9 30 METER? MM-HMM