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OUR MEETING HAS BEEN[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
CALLED TO ORDER THIS MORNING.GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO CITY COUNCIL MEETING, OUR REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, JULY 15TH, 2025 AT 9:30 AM YOU MAY JOIN OUR MEETING BY TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCE.
A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AT THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER OF FIFTH FLOOR AT CITY HALL AT 4 4 4 FOURTH STREET IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
THE PUBLIC MAY PARTICIPATE IN OUR MEETING BY JOINING OUR DIALING, ONE OF THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS, 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7, OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
YOU MAY ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 6 5 5 7 4 0 AND THE PASSCODE OF 4 6 8 8 6 4.
WE WANT TO ALWAYS BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WILL PROVIDE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS ATTENDING OUR MEETING.
BUT TO BETTER SERVE YOU, YOU HAVE TO CALL WITHIN 24 HOURS, AND YOU HAVE TO DIAL THE NUMBER FOR OUR CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, WHICH IS AT THE NUMBER IS 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE OUR INVOCATION, OUR PLEDGE, AND OUR ROLL CALL.
I'M ASKING COUNCILOR MCKEN LAW IF HE WILL LEAD US IN PRAYER, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
WILL YOU STAND IN BY WITH ME? I, WE HAVE ANY FATHER, ONCE AGAIN, WE COME TO YULEE IN PRAYER.
WE ASK YOU TO CONTINUE BLESSING THIS GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THE CITIZENS, STAFF, THE ADMINISTRATION.
WE ALSO ASK YOU ASK FOR A SPECIAL, UH, BLESSING FOR CURVY, UH, CITY AND CURD, UH, COUNTY.
WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THEIR FAMILIES AND ALL THE NEEDS THAT THEY MAY GET WITH OUR HOLY SPIRIT.
WE ASK ALL THESE BLESSING YOUR SON JESUS NAME, I PRAY, WE PRAY, AMEN.
LEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LITURGY AND JUSTICE STRONG.
LINDSEY, WOULD YOU ESTABLISH, I'M SORRY, LINDSEY, WOULD YOU ESTABLISH A, UH, QUORUM, PLEASE? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON NEVILLE.
AT THIS TIME, IF YOU DON'T MIND MUTING ALL OF YOUR CELL PHONES, UH, MOBILE DEVICES AT THIS TIME.
AS WE GO THROUGH OUR AGENDA, WE HAVE NO, UM, PROCLAMATIONS, WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS, AND WE
[III.B.(1) A Presentation By Faddi’s Development Group Regarding An Adams Park Development]
HAVE PRESENTATIONS.WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH THE PRESENTATION BY FATTYS DEVELOPMENT GROUP REGARDING ADAMS PARK DEVELOPMENT.
IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE, AND PROCEED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND WHERE DO I SEE, OH, IS IT, IT'S GONNA BE OVER HERE.
I, UM, MY NAME IS CODY GUIDRY.
UM, ADDRESS IS, UH, 3,300 JIMMY JOHN JIMMY JOHNSON BOULEVARD, SUITE 200 AND PORT ARTHUR PROCEED.
GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE PORT ARTHUR CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
MY NAME IS CODY GIRI, AND I'M PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF FATTY REEF AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS SPORTS.
TODAY WE'RE EXCITED TO PRESENT OUR PROPOSAL FOR DEVELOPING DILUTION ADAMS SPORTS COMPLEX THROUGH A, UM, A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ALIGNING WITH THE CITY'S PREVIOUSLY APPROVED MASTER PLAN AS OF JULY, 2024, WHICH WAS PRESENTED BY THE BUR CONSULTANTS.
YOU CAN REACH US AT THE ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER LISTED ON THIS PRESENTATION, UM, HERE FOR ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS.
SO, ON BEHALF OF, UM, ON BEHALF OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS SPORTS, WE'RE PROPOSING A, A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO BRING THE SERGEANT LUCIAN ADAMS SPORTS COMPLEX MASTER PLAN TO LIFE.
IN THE SHORT TERM, WE'RE REQUESTING A LEASE FOR TWO OF THE EIGHT EXISTING FIELDS TO GENERATE NEAR TERM REVENUE WITH MINIMAL CITY INVESTMENT.
LONG TERM, THIS, THIS COULD EVOLVE, WOULD EVOLVE INTO A FULL PPP IN ORDER TO BUILD OUT THE MASTER PLAN.
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ARE TO RESTORE THESE UNDERUTILIZED FIELDS, PROVIDE BETTER RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITIES, UH, OUR COMMUNITIES, YOUTH, AND DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH RIGHT HERE IN PORT ARTHUR.AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS OVERVIEW, THE MASTER PLAN FOR ADAMS PARK HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED AND OUTLINES A COMPREHENSIVE VISION FOR THIS SITE.
OUR PROPOSAL DIRECTLY SUPPORTS AND BUILDS UPON THIS PLAN, ENSURING WE STAY ALIGNED WITH THE CITY'S LONG-TERM GOALS FOR RECREATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OF MANY SPORTS, MULTIPLE SPORTS.
THIS ISN'T STARTING FROM SCRATCH.
IT'S ABOUT EXECUTING THE CITY'S VISION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE CURRENT STATE OF THE FIELDS DOESN'T REFLECT THIS POTENTIAL.
CURRENTLY, THE FIELDS ARE LARGELY UNPLAYABLE, IN SOME CASES UNSAFE.
AND WHILE FIELDS ONE AND TWO ARE BEING MAINTAINED TO THE BEST OF THE PARKS, DEPARTMENT'S ABILITIES, UH, SPECIALIZED UPKEEP TAILORED TO BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL IS ESSENTIAL TO HOST ORGANIZED EVENTS ON THE SCALE WE AIM TO BRING TO THE CITY.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE SOME REPAIRS OF FENCING AND LIGHTINGS, UM, THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO, UH, TAKE CARE OF.
THESE FIELDS HAVE A A TON OF POTENTIAL, UH, IN THEIR CURRENT STATE, THOUGH THEY'RE NOT EFFECTIVELY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE COMMITTED TO THESE IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS.
THE PROPOSED IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS TO, LET'S REFER TO THEM AS FIELDS ONE AND TWO, UM, ARE TO MAKE THESE FIELDS TOURNAMENT READY.
WE'LL HANDLE GRADING AND LEVELING.
AM I TOO CLOSE TO THE MIC? IS THAT, IS AUDIO OKAY? OH, WE'RE GOOD.
I FEEL LIKE IT MIGHT BE POPPING TO MAKE THESE FIELDS TOURNAMENT READY.
WE WILL HANDLE GRADING AND LEVELING BOTH FIELDS.
IMPORT THE RIGHT INFIELD MIX OR DIRT, UH, REPAIR AND ENHANCE THE LIGHTING, INSTALL PITCHERS, MOUNDS, AND BULLPEN AREAS, REPAIR, FENCING, FENCING AND GATES, AND MAINTAIN THE GROUNDS THROUGHOUT THE LEASED AREA.
ALL OF THIS WILL BE DONE AT WITH VERY MINIMAL COST TO THE CITY, WITH A TIMELINE OF THREE TO FOUR MONTHS TO GET THINGS UP AND RUNNING.
WE'RE INVESTING OUR RESOURCES BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THIS PROJECT'S IMPACT FOR PORT ARTHUR.
THESE CHANGES WON'T JUST FIX THE FIELD.
THEY'LL BRING REAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS STARTING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, STARTING AS EARLY AS OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR, 2025, WE WILL BE ABLE TO HOST PRACTICES AND WEEKEND TOURNAMENTS ON THESE FIELDS, DRAWING OVER 2000 VISITORS FROM ACROSS TEXAS AND BEYOND.
WITH THE FULL BUILD OUT OF THE MASTER PLAN, THAT NUMBER JUMPS TO NEARLY OVER 100,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY.
UH, CONSISTENT WITH THE REPORT THE CONSULTANTS ISSUED LAST YEAR, THIS INFLUX MEANS MORE TRAFFIC TO THE LOCAL RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, HOTELS, BOOSTING SALES TAX, AND HOTEL REVENUES FOR THE CITY, PUTTING MANY MONEY BACK INTO PORT ARTHUR'S ECONOMY.
AND THERE ARE EVEN MORE BENEFITS BEYOND THE DOLLAR.
BY PARTNERING WITH US, THE CITY CAN TA CAN KEEP TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOCUSED ON CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE STREETS, LIGHTS, ET CETERA.
WHILE WE HANDLE THESE FIELD UPGRADES, WE'RE PART, WE'RE ALSO PARTNERED WITH ATHLETES SPORTS ASSOCIATION, THE LOCAL 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT, SERVING OVER 200 KIDS IN THE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL, UH, PROGRAMS OF OUR COMMUNITY ALREADY, OF WHICH WOULD BE IMMEDIATE CUSTOMERS FOR THESE FIELDS.
ATHLETE SPORTS TRAINING IS ALSO KNOWN FOR GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS, MAKING ANNUAL DONATIONS TO LOCAL, LOCAL LITTLE LEAGUES.
UH, PORT ARTHUR BEING ONE, FOR EXAMPLE.
ATHLETE SPORTS ASSOCIATION ALSO HAS STRONG CONNECTIONS WITH BOTH LOCAL AND NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS, DIRECTORS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
THIS WILL HELP MARKET AND FILL THESE FIELDS WITH TOURNAMENTS AND PRACTICES RIGHT AWAY, ENSURING QUICK UTILIZATION AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LONG-TERM VISION BUILDING TO THE MASTER PLAN.
THROUGH THIS PPP, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 30 TO $50 MILLION INVESTMENT TO FULLY REALIZE THE SERGEANT LUCIAN ADAMS PARK MASTER PLAN.
THIS INCLUDES HIGH QUALITY TURF FIELDS, INDOOR FACILITIES FOR SPORTS LIKE VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL, PICKLEBALL, AND MORE, PLUS, MULTI-USE FIELDS FOR SOCCER, FOOTBALL, AND EVEN CRICKETS IN THE PLANS.
ONCE THE SHORT TERM LEASE IS IN PLACE, WE'LL MOVE STRAIGHT INTO PLANNING AND NEGOTIATING THE FULL PPP TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, EVERYTHING TIES BACK TO THE APPROVED MASTER PLAN, CREATING A WORLD CLASS COMPLEX FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
IN SUMMARY, THIS PARTNERSHIP IS A WIN FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, AND ITS TAXPAYERS, THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND COMPANIES LIKE SOUTHEAST TEXAS SPORTS WHO ARE WILLING AND READY TO INVEST IN THE CITY OF
[00:10:01]
PORT ARTHUR.IN CLOSING, THIS PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES AN ACTIONABLE PATH TO FULFILL THE MASTER PLAN.
IT REVITALIZES AN UNDERUTILIZED ASSET THAT EXPANDS OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH, ATTRACTS VISITORS TO FUEL ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND LETS TAXPAYER FUNDS ADDRESS URGENT INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION TODAY.
WE'RE EAGER TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO TURN THIS DREAM INTO A REALITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, WORKING WITH YOU ALL FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AT THIS TIME, I, COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM.
THANK YOU, CODY, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, THIS IS, I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO COUNCIL FOR, IN MY OPINION, FOR THE CITY AND FOR OUR CITIZENS IN A LONG TIME.
UM, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU AND FATTY HAVE PUT TOGETHER.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO BE COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE A CLOSED FACILITY.
UH, WE DISCUSSED IN PRIOR MEETINGS THAT THERE'S A WAY FOR CITIZENS TO ACTUALLY USE, UH, THE, THE FACILITIES ONCE THE, THE, THE BIG PICTURE HAS BEEN REALIZED.
SO CAN YOU GO INTO A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL ABOUT HOW Y'ALL ENVISION THAT HAPPENING FOR CITIZENS? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
UM, SO THE, UH, THE VISION FOR THIS, UH, FACILITY IS, IS THAT IT IS FOR THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? UM, OBVIOUSLY WHEN WITH AN INVESTMENT OF 30 TO $50 MILLION, LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, THERE WILL NEED TO BE SOME, UH, UH, CONTROLLED ACCESS AND SCHEDULING AND COORDINATION OF THE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE, UH, UH, MINI SPORTS HAPPENING AND MANY TEAMS WANTED TO USE THE FACILITY, UH, WE WILL OFFER AN ABILITY FOR THEM TO SCHEDULE TIME AND USE AT THE FACILITY, WHICH IS A BENEFIT IN THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SHOW UP FOR A PRACTICE, THE FIELD IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE.
SO WE ARE PREPARED TO HANDLE ALL THE SCHEDULING, COORDINATION OF THE MULTI-SPORT, MULTIPLE SPORTS AND USES, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO USE IT.
AND WHAT I, THE OTHER THING THAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT IT IS THAT IT'S GONNA SET ITSELF APART FROM THE FACILITY THAT'S IN BEAUMONT.
UM, AND I THINK EVERYBODY THAT HAS KIDS AND GRANDKIDS IN SPORTS, THEY'VE BEEN TO THAT FACILITY, AND WE ALL KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE IT DRAWS, AND IT'S NOT JUST FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, BUT PEOPLE COME FROM OUT OF STATE.
SO OUR CITY IS GONNA BENEFIT IN SO MANY WAYS FROM THIS, AND THIS IS JUST, IT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT Y'ALL ARE TAKING THE, THE MASTER PLAN AND KIND OF USING THAT AS THE JUMP OFF SPOT.
UM, AND I'M BEHIND THIS A HUNDRED PERCENT, NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S IN MY DISTRICT
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR VISION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS PRESENTATION.
UH, IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME DREAM, UM, OF, UM, MANY IN OUR CITY.
UM, FRIEND OF MINE, UH, FRANK NEAL, UH, WAS VERY ACTIVE IN BRINGING SOFTBALL TO BEAUMONT, AND IT WAS ALWAYS HIS DREAM, UH, TO DO THE SAME THING HERE, UH, IN PORT ARTHUR.
UH, BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT HIS DREAM, UH, HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF LIVING ON THE CONCERN THAT I DO HAVE.
AND THE QUESTION THAT I WOULD ASK IS IN LINE WITH COUNCIL, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM'S QUESTION, AND THAT IS THE UTILIZATION OF, UM, YOUTH GROUPS AS OPPOSED TO, UH, THE TOURNAMENT GROUPS.
AND YOU DID, UH, IN ESSENCE SPECIFY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD HAVE ACCESS, UH, TO IT.
UM, IT, THE, THE ACCESS THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD HAVE TO IT, WOULD IT BE PAID ACCESS? WOULD IT BE ACCESS THAT IS COMMENSURATE WITH WHAT, UM, OUTSIDE GROUPS WOULD BE CHARGED? OR WOULD THAT BE A DIFFERENT CHARGE? CAN YOU GIVE US ANY KIND OF INSIGHT INTO, INTO THAT, THAT ASPECT OF IT? BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS FOR PROFIT, IT IS A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, SO IT IS FOR PROFIT.
CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE INSIGHT INTO THAT? YES, SIR.
UM, WELL, AND OF COURSE, YEAH, WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE TALKING OF INVESTING, OF COURSE WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO, UH, RETURN THAT MONEY, UM, TO THE INVESTORS, RIGHT? UH, BUT THE, SO THE GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, TOURNAMENTS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE SELECT BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL ORGANIZATIONS WANTING TO RENT THE FACILITIES, THEY WOULD BE PAYING FOR THE FACILITIES.
BUT WE'RE ALSO PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR THINGS LIKE, I KNOW, UH, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THEY, UH, CLASS REUNIONS, THEY WANNA DO, UH, HAVE A SOFTBALL GAME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
OR THERE ARE OTHER, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THINGS IN THE, THAT THE COMMUNITY COULD USE THE FIELDS FOR THAT WE'D BE WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM AND MAYBE, UH, UH, FOR FREE, I GUESS TO SAY IT, I DON'T CAME UP WITH THE RIGHT WORDS, BUT, UH, TO OPEN THE FACILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE USES.
SO WE'RE PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO FIGURE OUT, UH, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
I, HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THE, UH, FACILITY IS USABLE AND
[00:15:01]
AVAILABLE, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC, AND IT'S, UH, A FEASIBLE FOR THEM TO DO, UH, BUT ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, RETURN THE INVESTMENT TO OUR INVESTORS, UM, THROUGH THE, YOU KNOW, UH, CHARGING THROUGH AGAIN, TOURNAMENTS AND, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.AND, AND THAT'S, WE UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE YOU DID SAY IT'S A WIN-WIN WIN, SO EVERYONE WINS.
UH, AND SO WE JUST WANTED SOME INSIGHT IN THAT.
THAT'S WHERE MOST CITIES YOU'LL FIND IS OPERATING.
SOMEBODY HAS BUILT IT AND WORK IT, OR THE CITY CONTRACTS SOMEBODY TO MANAGE IT EITHER WAY, YOU KNOW, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT'S TO OUR ADV IS THAT TO AN ADVANTAGE TO US, THE FACT THAT YOU ALL GOING TO DO ALL OF THE FUNDING.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HERE THAT WE GET OUT OF THIS IS ACTUALLY IN AGREEMENT.
YOU KNOW, WHEREBY IT'S SPELLED OUT EXACTLY HOW IT'S GONNA WORK.
SO THERE'LL BE NO QUESTIONS, OR I THOUGHT IT WAS, OR YOU SAID THIS OR SAID THAT, BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT YOU ALL WANT TO GET THESE THOUGHT ABOUT.
I MEAN, THESE FIELDS UP AND RUNNING SOON WITHOUT PLAN.
BUT I'VE SEEN SO MANY PLANS HERE IN THIS CITY, AND WE PAY, WE GET 'EM, BUT THEY GO ON THE SHELF.
SO I LIKE THE IDEA OF ALWAYS CREATING A PARTNERSHIP IN CASES LIKE THIS FOR A SIMPLE REASON THAT PEOPLE ARE READY TO INVEST AND READY TO DO THINGS, AND WE COULD GET IT DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
AND THE CHERRY ON THE CAKE IS WE OWN OUR PROPERTY, WE CONTAIN OUR PROPERTY.
IF THE, UH, VENTURE GO BAD, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE LOSE, WE GOT THE FIELDS THAT ARE FIXED ANYWAY, SO WE JUST PICK UP AND RUN WITH THE BALL, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO FIX, FIX THE FIELDS.
OKAY? SO THOSE ARE THE MAIN THING THAT I'M HAPPY ABOUT, THE FACT THAT WE CAN RETAIN OUR, UH, FIELDS, OUR LAND AND THE OWNERSHIP OF IT, AND ALLOW YOU ALL TO COME IN AND, UH, PROVIDE THAT TYPE SERVICE.
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED ASSET, UM, THROUGH THIS FOR THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, THE MAIN THING IS ALWAYS WE OWN IT.
IF IT DOESN'T GO THE WAY WE WANT IT TO GO, IT'S A LEASE.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE LEASE SHOULD BE ONE THAT IS RENEWABLE AND DONE.
THAT'S HOW WE DEAL WITH THIS GOLF COURSE.
WE GET, WE HAVE SOMEBODY TO MANAGE AND RUN THE GOLF COURSE.
I THINK WE NEED TO GET INTO MORE THINGS, BUT HOPEFULLY WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT COME TO US AND WANT TO DO THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I THINK THAT, UH, A LOT OF MY COHORTS HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED WHAT THE THOUGHTS, UH, ABOUT THE PPP.
I REALLY THINK THAT'S WHAT LARGER CITIES ARE GOING TO.
UH, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION BEING TAXPAYERS AND AS A CITY TAXPAYER, UH, PAID PART, NOW YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND SOME ACCOMMODATIONS FOR TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
I, I REALLY TOTALLY WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
NOW, IF YOU OUTSIDE THE CITY WANT TO HOST A TOURNAMENT AND THEY SCHEDULE THROUGH YOU GUYS, THAT'S TOTALLY HOW YOU GUYS SHOULD BE MAKING YOUR FUNDING ON GETTING YOUR, REPAYING YOUR INVESTORS BACK.
BUT TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY THAT ARE FROM PORT ARTHUR, UH, I THINK YOU SAID THE WORD FREE.
UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD WANT TO HAPPEN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TAXPAYER FUNDED PARK.
WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN THAT WE WERE GONNA DO.
THE PARKS, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE AT WITH THE PLAN, UH, BUT WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON THE, ON THE DESIGNS, UH, AND THE MASTER PLAN OF THE PARKS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE AT WITH IT.
UH, BUT FOR YOU TO COME IN AND WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP THIS, THIS COMMUNITY, UH, I FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREEN LIGHT FOR ME.
UH, IT GIVES ME, UM, UH, ASPIRATION TO SEE WHERE WE GOING IN THE FUTURE WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WITH THIS COMMUNITY, WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT REDEVELOPING, UH, THAT AREA.
UH, UH, ALSO, WHAT WOULD YOU BE ASKING FOR THE CITY TO DO OTHER THAN A LEASE AGREEMENT? ANY OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE? WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU ASKING THE CITY TO DO? TO BE IN THE, YOU KNOW, TO BE BLACK AND WHITE WITH IT? YES, SIR.
SO, UM, AND IT'S, IT'S, AS THE PRESENTATION BREAKS IT DOWN, I THINK, UH, WE, WE KINDA HAVE IT INTO TWO PHASES INITIALLY, FOR NOW, AND THIS MAY BECOME A MULTI-PHASE BUILD OUT, UH, WHICH I THINK WAS DISCUSSED BACK IN JULY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VERY LARGE COMPLEX, SO WE'LL WORK WITH THE CITY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE BUILD, BUILD THIS OUT IN PHASES.
[00:20:01]
UM, THING THAT WE WOULD, UH, ASK TO DO IS TO BEGIN, UH, RE THE FIELDS ONE AND TWO, UM, WHICH ARE, UM, DOES THIS HAVE A LASER? MAYBE NOT.BUT THE KIND OF UPPER RIGHT, THERE'S FIVE FIELDS AND THERE, THERE'S TWO TO THE LEFT.
THE, THOSE ARE EXISTING AND THEY'RE IN, UM, THE BEST SHAPE, LET'S SAY, OF WHAT'S THERE.
SO, UM, WE CAN COME IN AND, UM, MAKE SOME REPAIRS ON THOSE AND GET THEM PLAYABLE, LET'S SAY WITHIN THREE TO FOUR MONTHS.
UM, WHAT WE'D BE ASKING FOR THE CITY THERE WOULD BE, I'LL SAY LITTLE TO NOTHING.
I THINK MAYBE THE ROAD COMING IN HAS SOME POTS IN IT, THE THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO ASK THE CITY FOR SOME SUPPORT WITH.
BUT ESSENTIALLY IT'S VERY, VERY MINIMAL TO GET THOSE TWO UP AND RUNNING.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S THIS FALL WE'RE BRINGING IN, YOU KNOW, ECONOMIC, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, INPUT INTO THE CITY THROUGH THOSE TWO FIELDS.
UH, WITH VERY MINIMAL TO NO INPUT FROM THE CITY.
AS FOR THE LONGER TERM LARGER PLANS, UH, WE'LL WORK WITH THE CITY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF WHAT, WHAT WE MIGHT BE ASKING FOR HELP WITH TO GET THERE.
IT'S A LARGE COMPLEX, THERE'S A LOT OF UTILITY OUT THERE.
AND SO WE'D LOOK FORWARD TO FIGURING THAT OUT.
BUT I DON'T HAVE THOSE DETAILS IRONED OUT YET.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HOPE TO DO IF THE CITY'S, UH, WANTING TO MOVE FORWARD.
WELL JUST MAKE SURE WE GET THOSE DETAILS AND WE BOTH CAN NEGOTIATE.
BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, UH, THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WHEN WE STARTED FOCUSING ON THAT AREA, THAT I KNEW WHAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WAS GOING TO BE, HOW, HOW MUCH LAND WOULD ACTUALLY LOOSEN OUT.
HOW MUCH, HOW LARGE IS THAT AREA? I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE ORDER OF 45 ACRES.
HOW MANY IS 40? 45? I WANNA SAY I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I'M NOT POSITIVE, BUT IT'S, THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT SELLING OFF SOME OF THAT, UH, CO VENTURE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
ANYBODY TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT? UH, NO SIR.
I, I'LL GET WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, FRANK ABOUT IT AGAIN.
HE'LL BRING, LET HIM BRING ME UP TO SPEED ON THAT.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT IN THE FUTURE.
UM, TO, UM, ADDRESS COUNCILMAN KING LAWS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PLAN, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE PLAN LAST CO YEAR BEFORE MS. ALPER.
WHEN WAS THAT? HOW LONG AGO WAS THAT? JULY 24.
SO THERE IS A PLAN IN PLACE THAT WE'RE WORKING, AND IT WAS ADOPTED IN 2024, UM, BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
DOES THE COUNCIL, IS THE COUNCIL AT THIS POINT DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPER AND, UM, COME BACK TO YOU WITH SOME SORT OF PROPOSAL? YES.
SO, UM, IS THERE, DO WE NEED A MOTION OR NO? NO.
SO WHAT I WILL DO, I WILL MEET WITH THE DEVELOPER AND, UM, WE WILL HAMMER ALL THE DETAILS AND, UM, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU WITH A DOCUMENT.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING, UM, UM, BEFORE US WITH THIS PRESENTATION.
IT TAKES PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO REALLY DO A LOT IN YOUR CITY THAT, UM, YOU CAN'T GET DONE.
SO WE JUST THANK YOU GUYS FOR CONSIDERING INVESTING IN PORT ARTHUR TO HELP US HAVE A VIABLE, UH, PARK FOR OUR CHILDREN AND A PLACE FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY TO GO.
[III.B.(2) A Presentation By Audit Supervisor Cameron Aaron Of Pattillo, Brown & Hill, LLP Regarding The 2024 Audit]
A PRESENTATION, UH, BY THE AUDIT SUPERVISOR, CAMERON AARON OF PATI BROWN AND HILL, LLP, REGARDING THE 2024 AUDIT.MR. PATILLO, JUST FOR THE RECORD, IF YOU, UH, DON'T MIND, GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.
AARON, I'M WITH PATELLA BROWN AND HILL A, UH, SUPERVISOR AT THE FIRM.
I ACTUALLY LIVE IN HARKER HEIGHTS.
UM, UH, BUT WE'RE, UH, THE FIRM IS BASED OUTTA WACO.
UH, I'VE BEEN WITH THEM SINCE 2016, SO RIGHT OUTTA COLLEGE.
AND I'M ACTUALLY, UH, REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
I'VE BEEN, UM, ON THIS AUDIT, UH, ROLE FOR EACH YEAR, UH, SINCE WE, UH, Y'ALL SELECTED US.
AND IT'LL BE MY F THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR TO ACTUALLY GET TO PRESENT IT TO YOU.
SO, UH, PUTTING IN ALL THE HARD WORK,
[00:25:01]
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAND IT OFF.AND WE WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
UH, SO JUST AN INTRODUCTION AND, UH, WOULD LIKE TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE AUDIT, THE RESULTS, SOME FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS, AND, UH, GIVE US SOME TIME FOR GENERAL DISCUSSION.
UH, THE PURPOSE OF AN AUDIT, OUR AUDIT OBJECTIVES, OUR SCOPE AUDITS PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GAS, GAS AND GAAS, GAS AND GAS.
UH, THEY'RE ACTUALLY, UH, SPELLED OUT IN OUR OPINION LETTER, UH OH, AND YOU SHOULD HAVE THREE DELIVERABLES HERE.
THE BIG ONE IS THE AUDIT REPORT.
IT'S GOT OUR OPINION LETTER IN IT.
THERE'S A SEPARATE AUDIT, UH, SINGLE AUDIT REPORT, AND THEN A COMMUNICATION LETTER.
I'D LIKE TO START WITH THE, UH, THE BIG ONE.
SO ON PAGE, UH, PAGE ONE OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, UH, UH, THE VERY FIRST PARAGRAPH OF OUR OPINION, UH, WE'VE AUDITED THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES, THE BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES, DISCREETLY PRESENTED COMPONENT UNIT, AND EACH MAJOR FUND.
AND THE AGGREGATE REMAINING FUND FOR THE CITY AS OF YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
AND IN THE SECOND, UH, PARAGRAPH, IT SAYS, IN OUR OPINION, THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PRESENT FAIRLY IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS.
SO, THAT'S A CLEAN OPINION, THAT'S AN UNMODIFIED OPINION, UM, THAT WE BELIEVE IT IS MATERIALLY CORRECT, AND IT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE FOR THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FINANCE TEAM AND THE, THE, THE CITY FOR HAVING A CLEAN AUDIT, AUDIT OPINION, UM, AUDIT PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GAS AND GAAS.
UH, THERE'S A SECTION IN THE, IN THE OPINION LETTER, UH, RESPONSIBILITIES.
UH, WELL, IT GIVES OUR, A BASIS FOR OUR OPINIONS AND LAYS OUT MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES, UH, FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GAP, GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.
UM, THE GAP IS BASICALLY THE RULES THAT FINANCE HAS TO GO BY, UH, ISSUED, UM, THAT THEY HAVE TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE RULES AND GUIDELINES.
AND THEN US AS AUDITORS, WE COME IN AND WE PROVIDE AN AUDIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH, UH, GAAS GAS.
UM, BUT ON TOP OF THAT, THERE'S GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS IS BASICALLY ANOTHER LEVEL ON TOP OF THAT GAS, UH, WHICH SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOME FURTHER WORK, UH, DURING OUR PLANNING.
WE'RE COMING IN, WE'RE ASSESSING CONTROLS, WE'RE WALKING THROUGH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
AND SO THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS, THERE'S A SEPARATE LETTER IN OUR, UH, IN OUR REPORT THAT WOULD, UH, BASICALLY EXPLAIN WHAT WE FOUND, IF WE FOUND ANY ISSUES, ANY MATERIAL WEAKNESSES, CONTROL DEFICIENCIES, AND POINT THOSE OUT TO YOU.
UM, BUT WE NORMALLY ASSESS THOSE CONTROLS AND HELPING, UH, FORM A BASIS FOR, UH, DESIGNING OUR AUDIT PROCEDURES.
UM, WE'RE ACTUALLY COMING IN, WE'RE ASSESSING RISKS ALL IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
'CAUSE WE ONLY HAVE A SHORT WINDOW THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLETE THE, THE AUDIT.
SO WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT, OKAY, WHAT AREAS ARE COMPLEX? WHAT AREAS, UH, ARE KIND OF, AND HAVE A LOW INHERENT RISK OF FRAUD OR MISSTATEMENT, LIKE MAYBE PETTY CASH, UH, COULD BE WRONG, 50 BUCKS, BUT IT'S 50 BUCKS.
IF WE'RE TRYING TO AUDIT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
WE'RE GONNA STICK TO THINGS LIKE CASH, CONFIRM CASH BALANCES WITH THE BANK.
UH, WE'RE GONNA FOCUS ON CONFIRMING PROPERTY TAXES, STUFF LIKE THAT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
UH, SO THE INDEPENDENT, UH, AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS AN UNMODIFIED OPINION.
UH, MANAGEMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THE INFORMATION, THE UNDERLYING DOCUMENTATION OF THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AND WE ARE HERE TO EX AND EXPRESS AN OPINION ON THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
UH, AND THEN IN THE SINGLE AUDIT REPORT, WHICH IS THE SLIGHTLY LESS, UH, SMALLER ONE THERE IS, WHEN A, A CITY OR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UH, SPENDS MORE THAN $750,000 IN FEDERAL AWARDS, UH, THERE TRIGGERS, UH, A DUPLICATE AUDIT ON TOP OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AND WE ACTUALLY CALL IT A SINGLE AUDIT, UM, WHICH IS A BIT OF A MISNOMER.
UH, BUT WE'RE COMING IN AND WE'RE TEST DOING MORE AUDITS OVER SPECIFIC GRANTS AND
[00:30:01]
CONTRACTS, UM, ON TOP OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.AND ON PAGE, UH, STARTS ON PAGE SIX, SIX, AND SEVEN.
AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE SEVEN, THERE'S A SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS.
SO THE CITY HAD 30 POINT, UH, SIX 8 MILLION IN FEDERAL AWARDS EXPENDED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, 2024.
UH, THE PRIOR YEAR, IT WAS 19.8, AND THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, IT WAS 11.
SO Y'ALL HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS GOING ON, AND I KNOW, UH, WE WERE REALLY TRYING TO HIT THIS MEET DEADLINES FOR JUNE, GETTING, UH, THE AUDIT DONE BY JUNE 30 TO MAKE GRANTING AGENCIES HAPPY.
UH, SO WE SHOULD BE IN A GOOD SPOT.
AND MOVING FORWARD, UH, IN 2024, WE, WE AUDITED THE ARPA, UH, FUNDING, UH, WHICH I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS EITHER FINISHED OR ABOUT TO BE FINISHED GOING FORWARD.
AND, UH, TEXAS, UH, THE CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND WITH TWDB AND HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM.
SO LAST YEAR, EVERY, UH, TWO YEARS, WE, IF IT'S MORE THAN $750,000, WE HAVE TO, TO TEST IT AGAIN, EV EVERY, WELL, I GUESS IT'D BE EVERY THIRD YEAR.
UH, SO SOME OF THESE, YOU MIGHT NOTICE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BIG MONEY, BIG CHUNKS OF MONEY, MORE THAN $750,000.
BUT WE EITHER TESTED IT IN THE YEAR BEFORE OR THE YEAR BEFORE THAT AND DECIDED IT'S KIND OF A, A LOW RISK THING.
SO WE HAVE TO ASSESS, UH, RISK OVER SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND THEIR CALCULATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING BY, UH, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAS TO BE TESTED TO MAKE SURE WE MEET OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS WELL AS THE CITY.
UH, AND THEN ON PAGE, THERE'S A, A VERY NICE RUNDOWN WHEN WE ISSUE THESE SINGLE AUDITS.
UH, IT'S A SCHEDULED FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS, AND IT STARTS ON PAGE 10.
AND IT, WE ACTUALLY DID ONE, UH, FOR, THERE'S A SEPARATE PROGRAM FOR STATE AWARDS AS WELL.
UM, BUT IT'LL SHOW ON PAGE 10.
WE GAVE AN UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THE, ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
UM, THERE WERE, THERE WAS A MATERIAL WEAKNESS THAT WE THOUGHT, UH, BASICALLY ONES THAT HAVE ROLLED OVER FROM THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, AND I'LL GET TO, TO WHAT THAT ONE WAS HERE IN A SECOND.
BUT THERE WERE NO OTHER CONTROLLED DEFICIENCIES, UH, OR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AND THEN ON THE FEDERAL AND STATE AWARDS, UH, WE'RE GIVEN AN UNMODIFIED OPINION AS WHERE, AS THERE AS WELL CLEAN OPINION.
AND FOR THOSE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT WE TESTED, WE DID NOT FIND ANY DEFICIENCIES OR MATERIAL WEAKNESSES OF NON-COMPLIANCE.
UH, BUT THE MATERIAL, UH, WHAT WE CONSIDERED THE MATERIAL WEAKNESS, THERE'S A, UH, SCHEDULE, FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 12.
AND THEN THE CONDITION, UH, IN THE SECOND PARAGRAPH THAT THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED, UH, CONTAINED, UH, MATERIAL AREAS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AND CORRECTED DURING THE AUDIT.
SO THESE WERE FIXED, UM, UH, SPECIFIC ISSUES RELATED TO CUTOFF OF EXPENDITURES, EXPENSES, UH, SOME BALANCE SHEET RECONCILIATION, UM, UH, GETTING OUR BANK RECS, GETTING BANK RECS DONE, RECONCILED IN A TIMELY MANNER.
BUT THIS IS SOME STUFF THAT, UH, WE'RE ALL AWARE OF, UM, TURNOVER.
UM, I KNOW THINGS HAVE BEEN IMPROVING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, UH, CERTAINLY SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE.
UH, I KNOW LINDA HAS, AND HER FINANCE TEAM HAS PUT IN A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND GETTING THIS STUFF CORRECTED.
AND I KIND OF EXPECT THIS TO, TO, UH, BE REMOVED GOING FORWARD FOR, FOR NEXT YEAR.
UH, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH STUFF LIKE FINANCIAL, UH, TURNOVER, AS WELL AS THE COMPLEXITY OF THOSE GRANTS, THOSE CONTRACTS THAT Y'ALL HAVE.
IT'S, IT'S A, IT WOULD BE A LOT FOR ANY CITY.
UM, UH, THE COMPLEXITY OF IT IS JUST HARD TO, I GET WHY, UH, THE IT'S THERE.
UM, BUT HAVING, UH, MORE PEOPLE COME IN AND PUT TOGETHER THOSE RECONCILIATIONS.
AND WE'RE JUST NOW GETTING CAUGHT UP ON THE, ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, UH, THE AUDIT REPORTS TOO.
UM, SO THIS, WE EXPECT THIS TO GO, UH, TO GO AWAY IN THE FUTURE.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO TOUCH ON, UH, SOME FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WATER AND SEWER FUND.
[00:35:01]
ACTUALLY ON PAGE, OOPS, PAGE 19.THIS, YOU KNOW, FLUCTUATING, UH, EQUITY VERSUS CASH FLOW ISSUES.
IN 2023, THERE WAS A DECREASE IN NET POSITION, UH, WHICH WAS UNRESTRICTED OF 7.5.
AND IN 2024 THAT THAT INCREASED NET POSITION INCREASED.
UH, THAT'S YOUR EQUITY, HOW MUCH YOU'VE GOT LEFT.
UH, BASICALLY YOUR CASH MINUS YOUR ANY LIABILITIES, UH, EQUALS YOUR, YOUR EQUITY.
UM, BUT ALSO, UH, BASICALLY IF YOU'LL OPEN TO NI PAGE 19, YOU GOT SOME CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE RESTRICTED CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS IN THE WATER SEWER FUND.
UH, THAT'S THE MONEY THAT'S RESTRICTED, THAT'S SITTING THERE IS SPECIFIC TO, FOR, UH, CAPITAL PROJECTS GOING FORWARD.
AND SO RIGHT AT THE END OF THE YEAR THAT CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENCE WAS ACTUALLY ZERO BECAUSE THERE'S A MOVEMENT OF MONEY YOU'RE ACTUALLY KIND OF BORROWING FROM OTHER FUNDS, UH, THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, SO IT'S DEFINITELY GOOD WHEN YOU HAVE ONGOING PROJECTS.
UH, THE NUMBER OF GRANTS IS TO GET THAT MONEY SPENT, GET IT RECONCILED IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND THEN GET THAT REPORTED TO THE GRANTING AGENCIES.
'CAUSE THE FASTER THAT TURNAROUND IS, THE QUICKER YOU'RE GONNA GET THAT MONEY BACK.
AND THAT'S KIND OF THE SAME, UH, ISSUE WE SAW, UH, IN THE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS, WHICH WAS ON PAGE 16.
UH, GENERAL FUND HAD, UH, 79 MILLION IN REVENUE, AND THEN ONLY 71 MILLION IN, IN EXPENDITURES.
UM, BUT THEN FOR OTHER REASONS, LIKE THE HAZARD MITIGATION, UH, GRANT, AND THERE'S MULTIPLE GRANTS SPREAD ACROSS.
SO IT'S NOT JUST LIKE THIS ONE.
THE, THAT WAITING ON THE GRANTING AGENCY TO REIMBURSE AND GET THOSE, UH, ALL THE REQUIREMENTS MET AND GET THAT MONEY BACK CAUSES, UM, TO, TO PULL FROM MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND JUST AS A BORROW UNTIL THAT MONEY COMES IN.
AND SO THERE'S A, THERE WAS A BIG TRANSFER OUT TO THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUND, UH, FOR 16 MILLION.
BUT IF THAT WASN'T THERE, AND I THINK IF THERE WASN'T, UH, SO MUCH BORROWING, UH, RIGHT NOW THAT THAT ENDING FUND BALANCE COULD HAVE WENT UP.
UH, BUT IT DID GO DOWN THIS YEAR ABOUT 4.6 MILLION, BUT YOU'RE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE.
UH, OUR NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE FOR 2024.
GENERALLY, WE'RE GONNA, UH, LOOK AT HOW HEALTHY WE ARE GOING FORWARD.
THE, UH, YOU GOT ABOUT FOUR MONTHS OF EX UH, EQUITY LEFT TO MEET THE NEXT YEAR'S EXPENDITURES.
SO IT IS, UH, THE GENERAL RANGE IS BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, TWO, FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS.
SO YOU'RE RIGHT IN THAT SWEET SPOT.
SO YOU'RE, YOU ARE IN GOOD POSITION.
IT WAS 4.9 AND 2022, IT WAS 5.9 MONTHS.
SO IT IS, UH, GOING DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
UH, IF Y'ALL HAD ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, I THINK SHE DID MENTION, UH, SOME OF Y'ALL MAY HAVE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT CASH VERSUS EQUITY.
UH, I TRIED TO TOUCH ON IT 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO BUDGET GOING FORWARD AND FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH CASH IS THERE.
BUT GENERALLY, WHAT'S IN IN EQUITY OR FUND BALANCE IS THE NET BETWEEN CASH AND YOUR LIABILITIES.
AND SO LIKE YOUR, UH, I'LL PULL UP THE GENERAL FUND.
SO ON PAGE 13, THERE WAS 7.5 MILLION IN CASH.
THERE'S SOME RECEIVABLES, BUT NOT ALL THAT RECEIVABLES IS EXPECTED TO BE RECEIVED WITHIN 60 DAYS, WHICH IS WHY THERE'S A BIG, UH, UNAVAILABLE REVENUE FOR LIKE PROPERTY TAXES.
THERE'S A BIG REV RECEIVABLE FOR PROPERTY TAXES.
BUT EVERYTHING IN THAT 2 MILLION, UH, IS EXPECTED TO BE MORE KIND OF LONG TERM.
UH, WE CAN'T RECORD IT AS, AS REVENUE THIS YEAR, JUST 'CAUSE IT'S NOT GONNA BE COLLECTED WITHIN A LOT OF TIME.
AND THEN ALSO THERE'S SOME ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, UH, THAT STUFF'S GONNA BE PAID OUT RIGHT AFTER YEAR END.
UM, SAME FOR, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF, UH, THERE'S A LONG TERM INTER FUND LOAN, WHICH IS I THINK HAS BEEN THERE FOR A FEW YEARS TOO.
SO THAT'S KIND OF, UH, PULLS ON ON THE EQUITY AND FUTURE, UH, PROJECTIONS, UH, THINGS TO, THINGS TO CONSIDER.
UH, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IF Y'ALL HAD ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, UH,
[00:40:01]
FEEL FREE TO ASK AWAY OR I'M, I'M ALSO ALWAYS AVAILABLE.LYNN, UH, PAUL LAU IS A PARTNER WHO'S, UH, Y'ALL SEEN, UH, BEFORE MULTIPLE TIMES.
UM, I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ETTE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I'M GLAD WE FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH, UH, OUR ARTIST.
YOU KNOW, UH, JUST BEING, JUST MISSING ONE IS SOMETHING, BUT WHEN YOU GET TWO, THREE BEHIND YOU REALLY, YOU REALLY WANT YOUR FUNCTIONING.
SO A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS RESULTS OF THAT AND KNOWING WHAT WE ARE IS THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD AND UNDERSTAND BUDGETING.
COUPLE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO TELL ME.
YOU MENTIONED, AND YOU HAVE WRITTEN UNMODIFIED, EXPLAIN UNMODIFIED 'CAUSE THEY LIKE GREAT TO ME.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY UNMODIFIED.
UH, SO OUR CATEGORIES IN OUR, FOR OUR AUDIT OPINION, IT'S UNMODIFIED, MODIFIED, UH, ADVERSE OR DISCLAIM.
SO AN UNMODIFIED, WE USED TO CALL IT UNQUALIFIED, BUT IT CONFUSED PEOPLE SAYING WE'RE GIVEN, I'M GETTING, I'M HERE AS A CPA GIVEN AN UNQUALIFIED OPINION.
SO WE'RE WE'RE SAYING, YES, IT'S MATERIAL, IT'S MATERIALLY CORRECT AND IT'S, UH, FREE OF ANY MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT.
AND I HAVE NOTHING TO MODIFY THAT OPINION ABOUT.
NOTHING, NO IFS AND BUTS ABOUT IT.
UM, THE NEXT LEVEL DOWN, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, IS MATERIALLY FREE OF MISSTATEMENTS EXCEPT FOR, UH, UM, MAYBE EXCEPT FOR CASH OR EXCEPT FOR, UM, CAPITAL ASSETS, SOMETHING MATERIAL WOULD BE, UH, BUT I WOULD MODIFY MY OPINION IN THAT RESPECT.
UM, SO, AND OBVIOUSLY AN ADVERSE OPINION IS WE'RE SAYING WHAT IT'S JUST WRONG.
OR A DISCLAIMER WOULD SAY, I CAN'T GET THE, UH, I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR A MILLION FILES FROM FINANCE AND WELL, THEY'RE NOT GIVING ME ANYTHING, SO I CAN'T, I JUST CAN'T GIVE AN OPINION, WOULD BE A DISCLAIMER.
UH, ANOTHER ONE IS PROPERTY TAX.
UH, WHAT IS THE ISSUE WITH PROPERTY TAX? UH, SO FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SO, UH, THE WAY THAT THE, UH, GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS, THEY'RE NOT ON A LONG-TERM, UH, UH, BASIS.
LIKE SAY YOUR, UH, ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE ACTUALLY, UM, OR ON A FULL TERM BASIS, YOU LOOK AT THE FUNDS, YOUR CAPITAL ASSETS ARE THERE, LONG TERM DEBT IS THERE.
BUT IN THE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS, UM, LIKE YOUR GENERAL FUND, YOUR DEBT SERVICE FUND, YOU BUDGET FOR THOSE THINGS AND YOU BUDGET FOR 'EM YEARLY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT MORE OF SHORT TERM, UH, PICTURE AND SHORT TERM PICTURE HERE, UH, COMPARING THE PRIOR YEARS AND THEN GOING FORWARD.
SO WHEN ANYTHING, YOU MIGHT HAVE A RECEIVABLE ON THE BOOKS, UH, BUT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT COLLECTED WITHIN 60 DAYS, UM, IT'S GONNA BE, WE'RE GONNA, IT, WE'RE GONNA SHOW THAT AS REVENUE IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR.
AND SO FOR A LOT OF, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, UM, THEY COLLECT A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY UPFRONT, BUT THEN THERE'S A RE MUCH SMALLER RECEIVABLE, UM, ON THE BOOKS TO BE COLLECTED IN THE FUTURE.
PEOPLE JUST MISS THEIR PROPERTY TAXES OR WHATEVER.
UM, SO IN TERMS OF LIKE, LET ME SEE, THERE'S 4.7 IN TAXES, BUT YOU COLLECTED 16 MILLION IN TAXES.
AND SO I DON'T THINK WE SAW ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT.
IT'S JUST, UH, WE PUT THE RECEIVABLE ON THERE AND THEN THE UNAVAILABLE REVENUE.
IT'S JUST, WE'RE JUST SAYING IT'S SOMETHING THAT WASN'T COLLECTED IN THE NEAR TERM TO BE SHOWN AS REVENUE IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
AND IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE PAYERS OF THE, THE, THE TAXPAYERS.
UH, SO THERE WAS NOTHING SEEMS TO BE WRONG WITH HOW IT IS.
WE JUST AS AN EXPLANATION OF HOW IT'S PULLING, UM, THINGS IN THE FINANCIALS AND PULLING DOWN EQUITY IN CERTAIN AREAS, AND IT COULD CHANGE GOING FORWARD.
IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE POP THE POPULATION.
THE REASON I ASKED, THE REASON I ASKED THAT, BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT IN, IN THE WAY YOU EXPLAIN IT AND IT ALL GO, IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO THE FACT THAT WE PROBABLY SHOULD BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN GETTING THE DELINQUENT TAXES.
[00:45:01]
YOUR EXPLANATION CORRECTLY, THOSE TAXES ARE STILL COUNTED IT RECEIVABLE, BUT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THEM.UH, IT, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANY, FROM JUDGING FROM OTHER CITIES OR COUNTIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS I'VE, THAT I'VE AUDITED.
I DON'T THINK CI, THE CI CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IS, IS, UH, IN ANY DIFFERENT KIND OF POSITION COMPARED TO THOSE.
AND THE LAST THING I'LL JUST TOUCH ON IS THE TERMINOLOGY THAT YOU KEEP TALKING AND YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT GAP, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, SOME, FOR SOME REASON, AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE LEARNED ABOUT MUNICIPAL FINANCING MM-HMM
UH, WE SO FAR AT THE BOTTOM THAT A LOT OF TIME PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU START ABOUT THE, UH, THE GENERAL ACCEPTABLE ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOR GOVERNMENT, IT'S, IT, IT'S AT THE TOP, BUT IT PERTAINS TO ALL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
EVERYONE IS SUPPOSED TO ACCOUNT FOR EVERY PENNY YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME REASON, SOME THINK, WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOW THAT'S FOR THEM NOW,
AND THAT'S HOW WE KEEP UP WITH MONEY AND IDENTIFY MONEY, AND WE MUST USE AND WORK WITH THIS MONEY IN THE SAME WAY THAT IS ACCEPTED, NOT OUR WAY.
WE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
WHEN SOMEBODY ACCOUNTING FOR MONEY, YOU KNOW, YOU EITHER FIND GAP, BUT YOU FIND YOURSELF IN TROUBLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I'M GLAD THAT WE'VE GOT CAUGHT UP WITH OUR ARTISTS.
I FEEL A LOT COMFORTABLE ABOUT DURING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, KNOWING THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE AND KNOW WHERE WE STAND.
UM, THE TERM AUDIT EVOKES FEAR PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY.
SO, UH, BUT, BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING, UH, AND SHARING WITH US, UH, AS I THANK COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION OF CLARITY ABOUT UNMODIFIED.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, AND THE BEST, UH, AUDIT THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY, UH, EXPECT.
I WANT TO THANK LYNN, OF COURSE, AND THE STAFF, UH, CITY MANAGER AND ALL THOSE WHO'VE, UH, WORKED SO HARD, UH, TO CATCH US UP.
UM, AND TO BRING US TO THIS POINT AND PLACE, UH, WHERE WE CAN SAY TO THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR, UH, THAT WE ARE HANDLING ALL OF OUR FIDUCIARY CONCERNS, UH, THAT WE ARE MEETING, UH, ALL OF THE EXPECTATIONS THAT THEY HAVE OF US, UH, TO WATCH OVER THOSE FUNDS.
AND I WANT TO CONTINUALLY, UM, SAY TO LYNN, UH, CONTINUE TO DO THAT GOOD WORK THAT BRINGS US THE DATA THAT HELPS US TO MAKE THE DECISIONS, UH, AND LEAD US IN THE DIRECTIONS IN WHICH WE NEED TO GO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
NOW, I, I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER LIGHTS.
CITY MANAGERS STAFF REPORTS, WE HAVE NONE.
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION, WE HAVE NONE.
[III.F.(1) A Discussion Regarding The Short-Term Rental Ordinance Implementation (Requested By Councilmember Hamilton Everfield)]
COMMUNICATIONS.ITEM THREE, UNDER DISCUSSIONS, WE HAVE THE FIRST DISCUSSION REGARDING THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE IMPLEMENTATION.
AND THIS IS, UM, REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVERFI AND WILL ALLOW HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT HER DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME.
UM, A COUPLE OF, WELL, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I THINK WE STARTED THIS CONVERSATION AT THE BEGINNING OF, WELL, I'M SORRY, AT THE END OF 2024 REGARDING OUR SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE IMPLEMENTATION.
AND SO I'M ASKING FOR A FOLLOW UP TO, UM, THAT REQUEST THAT WE MADE BACK THEN TO KNOW HOW ARE WE TAXING THOSE ENTITIES? THIS I'M, UM, CITY MANAGER.
YES, MAYOR, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR, UM, OPERATIONS WILL GIVE US A PRESENTATION THAT FALLS UNDER THE PORTFOLIO OF THE, UM, PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE PLACED IT.
SO PAM WILL GIVE US A THANK YOU, AN OVERVIEW AS THE WAY SHE'S, THANK YOU ALL.
UM, IN REGARDS TO OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL, UM, ORDINANCE, AS YOU STATED, COUNCILWOMAN EVER FEEL, UM, IT WAS APPROVED, I BELIEVE DECEMBER, UM, OR JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.
UM, STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING TO DEVELOP AN IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS AS IT RELATES TO THE ORDINANCE.
WE'VE REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS,
[00:50:02]
UM, WHO HELP WITH IDENTIFICATION MONITORING, UM, ALSO WITH, UM, CAPTURING PERMITS AS WELL AS CODE VIOLATIONS FOR THESE THINGS.UM, WE'VE IDENTIFIED ONE VENDOR, UM, GRANICUS, WHICH IS A VENDOR OF THE CITY, UM, TO HELP AID US IN THIS PROCESS.
UM, THE ANNUAL COST FOR THEIR SERVICES IS APPROXIMATELY $30,000.
AND SO WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR THAT EXPENDITURE TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER WITH GETTING THIS IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS GOING.
MAYOR, WILL WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THAT BEFORE OCTOBER TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE, WE CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING? YES, MA'AM.
WE CAN DEFINITELY PROVIDE COUNSEL, UM, WITH BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON GRANES AND WHAT SERVICES THEY WILL BE PROVIDING TO THE CITY AS IT RELATES TO SHORT TERM RENTALS.
AND IT, IT'S, IT, IT'S KIND OF A PART OF THE PROCESS ONCE WE GET STARTED IN IT, BECAUSE THIS HAS ALREADY COME UP NOW THAT THE, THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT WE'RE KIND OF ZONING IN ON THIS AND WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING TO, YOU KNOW, CAPTURE THAT INCOME AND YES, MA'AM.
UH, YOU KNOW, POLICE PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST RENTING OUT THEIR HOUSES WILLY-NILLY.
UM, AS THIS IS PUT INTO PLACE AND AS RESIDENTS START TO SEE, OH, THIS LOOKS LIKE A SHORT TERM RENTAL ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME.
IS THERE GONNA BE A PROCESS IN PLACE WHERE THEY CAN REPORT IT? YES, MA'AM.
THAT ALSO WOULD GO THROUGH THIS, UM, GRANITE CLOUD SOFTWARE.
SO THERE IS A MODULE, UM, THAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO, UM, WHERE IT'S A 24 7, A 24 HOUR, SEVEN DAY A WEEK HOTLINE.
UM, THAT WHEN YOU SEE THESE VIOLATIONS OR EVEN CONCERNS THAT YOU CAN CONTACT THE HOTLINE TO REPORT THESE VIOLATIONS.
AND THEN THE HOTLINE WILL, WILL HAVE SOME KIND OF CONNECTION TO THE APPROPRIATE CITY DEPARTMENTS TO DISPERSE INFORMATION? YES, MA'AM.
UM, IT WOULD BE THE CITY'S PERMITTING DEPARTMENT, UM, WHO WOULD TAKE IN THESE CALLS AND GO OUT AND DO THE INVESTIGATION AND SO FORTH.
WHAT ABOUT THE AIRBNB? YES, SIR.
UH, HOW WOULD THAT WORK WITH TAXING? BECAUSE, WHICH, OH, I'M SORRY.
BECAUSE THEY, WHEN YOU, UH, APPLY FOR THOSE, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY INCLUDE ALL COSTS FOR RENTAL TO INCLUDE TAXES AND STUFF.
SO, UH, WILL PEOPLE WHO HAVE AIRBNB RENTAL, HOW WOULD WE GO GO ABOUT FINDING OUT WHO IN OUR CITY HAVE, HAVE WE LOOKED INTO THAT? YES, SIR.
UM, THAT GOES WITH THIS, UM, THESE MODULES THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT WITH GRANITE.
'CAUSE THEY ACTUALLY ASSIST US WITH DOING IDENTIFICATION OF THE DIFFERENT, UM, THE DIFFERENT WEBSITES LIKE AIRBNB, VRBO, AND A LOT OF THE OTHERS THAT ARE OUT THERE WHERE A LOT OF THESE ADVERTISEMENTS ARE DONE.
UM, THEY HELP US TO GO IN, IDENTIFY WHERE THESE PROPERTIES ARE WITHIN THE CITY.
UM, THERE IS A PROCESS THROUGH AIRBNB WHERE THEY WILL ACTUALLY CAPTURE THE TAXES FOR YOU.
AND, UM, BASICALLY CUT A CHECK TO THE CITY FOR THAT MM-HMM
BUT GRANITE IS HELPS US TO IDENTIFY WHICH ONE OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS ARE ACTUALLY PAYING THEIR TAXES.
CITY MANAGER, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER HAS BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH MS. TAMMY FROM THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU TO DEVELOP THE DATABASE THAT IS REQUIRED AND THEN TO, UM, RELAY THAT TO, UM, THE STAFF IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WHERE IT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED ALREADY.
UM, THERE IT IS A VERY COLLABORATIVE AND COORDINATED EFFORT THAT WE ARE TAKING TO DO IT, YOU KNOW.
UM, SO WE ARE VERY MUCH ON THE, WE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE INTEND TO ACHIEVE AND HOW FAST WE ARE GOING WITH THIS.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
MS. TAMMY HAS BEEN A BIG HELP.
UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UM, YOU KNOW, DID NOT WASTE ANY TIME IN MAKING SURE THAT THE ORDINANCE WAS CREATED AND WE GOT IT ON THE BOOKS.
SO PAM TAKEN IT AND SHE HAS RUN WITH IT YES.
AND WE ARE MOVING AS FAST AS WE COULD WITH IT FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN DOING THAT, AND THANK YOU MS. TAMMY.
THANK YOU MS. TAMMY FOR YOUR EFFORTS AS WELL.
AND MS. TAMMY, UM, DID INFORM ME YESTERDAY THAT SHE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP ASSUME SOME OF THE COST, UM, ASSOCIATED WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH, UM, THE GRANITE SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE CITY.
BECAUSE THAT'S OF COURSE THAT COULD BE, UM, IT'S CAPTURED YEAH.
[00:55:01]
CITY WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE AT THE COST OF THAT.COUNCIL MEMBER EVER FEEL, ARE WE, 1, 1, 1 OTHER THING IN THIS PLANNING, WILL WE ALSO HAVE AN EDUCATION PIECE SO THAT THE CITIZENS WILL ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS WHEN THEY ARE LEASING A ROOM OR THEIR HOME? WE WANNA BE CLEAR ON WHAT THOSE LAWS WOULD BE SO THAT THEY AREN'T, I DON'T WANT US TO BE SO HEAVY ON A VIOLATION IF WE HAVEN'T PROPERLY EDUCATED.
UM, WE WANT TO WORK WITH MS. TIANA JOHNSON IN OUR IT DEPARTMENT, UM, TO DEVELOP A WEB PAGE, UM, DEDICATED TO SHORT TERM RENTALS THAT NOT ONLY, UM, PROVIDE OUR ORDINANCE FOR THEM, BUT JUST KIND OF EXPLAIN IN LAYMAN'S TERMS. OKAY.
UM, WHAT A SHORT TERM RENTAL IS, WHAT OUR GUIDELINES ARE IN TERMS OF REGISTRATION, UM, WHAT VIOLATIONS COULD OCCUR.
UM, SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR IT DEPARTMENT TO GET THAT INFORMATION POSTED.
I HAVE ANOTHER, UM, COUNCILMAN REBECCA.
I JUST, I WANNA TOUCH ON ONE THING THAT YOU SAID BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT EVERYBODY'S CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING, AND I'M SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I OWN SOME SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTY.
AND THE, WHAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE RBO AND AIRBNB, BASICALLY CUTTING A CHECK TO THE CITY.
THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS TO SET IT UP THAT WAY.
THERE'S, THERE'S AN OPTION WHEN THEY SET UP THEIR ACCOUNT ON AIRBNB AND OUR VR VRBO AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT THAT PLATFORM TO, NUMBER ONE, COLLECT THE TAX TO COLLECT THE TAXES, AND NUMBER TWO, PAY IT OUT.
SO I DON'T TRUST THOSE PLATFORMS. SO ON MY PROPERTY I SAY, YES, I WANT YOU TO COLLECT IT FOR ME, BUT I'M GONNA PAY IT.
SO THEY SEND THE MONEY TO ME AS THE PROPERTY OWNER, AND THEN EVERY QUARTER I GOTTA CUT THAT CHECK, YOU KNOW, ONE TO THE CITY WHERE THE PROPERTY IS AND ONE TO THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS TO SET UP ON THEIR END AND YES, MA'AM.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN MAKE THAT A REQUIREMENT WITHIN THE CITY THAT WHEN YOU SET UP YOUR ACCOUNT, YOU SHALL CLICK THAT BOX THAT SAYS THAT THEY'LL COLLECT IT AND SEND IT.
I I, THAT MAY BE A LEGAL ISSUE THAT WE WOULD NEED TO CHECK OUT TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE THAT A REQUIREMENT OF OUR SHORT TERM RENTALS OF OWNERS.
THEY COLLECT IT, THEY SEND IT IN, THE PROPERTY OWNER DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE THAT, THAT, WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THAT, THAT MA'AM THAT'S A PROPERTY OWNER THING AND NOT AN AUTOMATIC THING UNLESS THEY SET IT UP THAT WAY.
OH, HEY, COUNCIL MEMBER ETT, I'M LIKE, COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING TO SAY, DIDN'T IT GET CONFUS ME? I GOTTA GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
IF A OWNER PAYS IT, IT IS LIKE, TO ME IT WOULD BE LIKE, DID YOU RENT IT TWO TIMES OR DID YOU RENT IT THREE TIMES? IT IS LIKE, UH, UH, IT'S LIKE PUTTING A FOX IN CHARGE OF THE HEN HOUSE.
I MEAN, IF, IF WE LET IT GOES THROUGH THE, THE, UH, AIRBNB AND THEN IF WE PUT IT IN THERE, THEN EVERY TIME THEY DO A RENTAL, THEN WE KNOW WE GOING TO GET THE TAXES.
BUT IF WE LEAVE IT UP TO A OWNER, THEN THE, AN THE OWNER HAVE A CHOICE TO DETERMINE WHETHER I'M GONNA TURN THESE TAXES IN.
I THINK WE SHOULD GO WITH THE AIRBNB AND THE COMPANIES THAT ARE DOING THE RENTAL AND HAVE THEM TO TAKE IT OUT OF THERE AND SEND US THE CHECK.
SO I LIKE FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT GOING THAT ROUTE TO MAKING SURE WE DON'T LEAVE IT UP TO AN INDIVIDUAL TO, UH, PAY US OUR TAXES.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, IF WE DON'T CHECK WITH THE, THE PEOPLE, THEN WE GONNA FIND OUT WE, WE WON'T, WE WON'T HAVE ANY WAY OF VERIFYING HOW MANY TAXES WE'LL DO OR HOW MANY TIMES IT'S BEEN RENTED.
BECAUSE AS AN OWNER YOU USE IT AND, AND YOU LET PEOPLE USE IT WHERE YOU DON'T CHARGE, YOU KNOW, BUT WHEN THAT'S HAMMERED BY THE OWNERS, THEN IT'S NOT RENTED.
BUT IF YOU GO THROUGH THE AIRBNB, WE GONNA GET THE TAXES AND WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA GET THE TAXES.
I THINK IT'S LIKE BEING A BARBER, YOU KNOW, YOU CUT ONE HEAD FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
ONE FEDERAL FOR GOVERNMENT, TWO FOR ME.
SO LET'S, WE WERE, WE WERE MOST CERTAINLY, LET'S TAKE, LOOK AT BOTH, LET BOTH METHODS AND, AND BRING US BACK SOMETHING THAT PRETTY SOLID ON BOTH METHODS.
WITH INFORMATION OTHER THAN OUR OPINIONS
[01:00:01]
NOW WITH THOUGHTS.WE'LL WORK WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT TO CHECK INTO THE LEGALITY, UM, THROUGH THE GRANITE SOFTWARE.
THERE'S ALSO A TAX COLLECTION MODULE, UM, THAT WE WILL LOOK INTO AS WELL TO ENSURE THAT IF WE DON'T CAPTURE IT ON ONE END, THERE'S A BACKUP TO STILL ALLOW US TO CAPTURE THOSE TAXES.
I APPRECIATE THAT PRESENTATION.
AT THIS, CAN I HAVE A QUESTION JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU ALLOW ME TO CLARIFY SOMETHING? JUST ONE SECOND.
I HAVEN'T FOUND LATELY THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE RENT ROOMS FROM THEIR OWN HOUSES.
DOES MEAN IF WE PAY TAXES NOW, SHOULD THIS NEW OBLIGATION IS GONNA ALLOW US TO RENT THOSE ROOMS FROM OUR HOUSES OR IT'S NOT GONNA BE ALLOWED, I'M SORRY.
UNDER OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE, UM, THERE IS, SHE'S GONNA GO INTO THE SHORT TERM, EVEN THOUGH I DO A LEASE FOR A ROOM FOR A YEAR CONTRACT TO RENT A ROOM ON MY HOUSE, SHE'S, IT'S GONNA GO UNDER THE SHORT TERM.
LAURA, IF IT'S BASED ON THE DEFINITION OF SHORT TERM.
UM, SO IF IT, I HAVE TO, IF YOU ALLOW ME TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
IF YOU'LL LET HER ANSWER THE QUESTION, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
WE FIRST DEFINE WHAT A SHORT TERM RENTAL IS.
UM, THERE IS A REGISTRATION PROCESS, SO YOU WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO JUST DECIDE I WANNA RENT A ROOM.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO REGISTER THROUGH THE CITY AS A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
UM, WE WOULD GIVE YOU THE RULES GOVERNING THAT.
UM, RATHER YOU CAN RENT, YOU KNOW, A, UM, ROOM OUT IN THE HOME FOR SIX DAYS OR SIX MONTHS.
WE WOULD PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT INFORMATION OF WHAT A SHORT, WHAT CON CONSTITUTES A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THAT THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER OUR ZONING ORDINANCE WOULD BE CONSIDERED A VIOLATION THAT, UM, THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO NOW CHANGE THE ZONING ON THE PROPERTIES.
WHO IS NOW RENTING ROOMS TO A SINGLE RESIDENT HOME? NO, MA'AM.
UM, OUR ZONING ORDINANCE ACTUALLY HAS A USE TYPE FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS.
WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO ENSURE WITH THESE PROPERTIES AS WE IDENTIFY THEM WHO'S IN COMPLIANCE AND WHO IS NOT.
UM, OUR NEXT DISCUSSION AND WE'RE DONE WITH THIS DISCUSSION.
[III.F.(2) A Discussion Regarding The Creation Of A Fire Department Advisory Board (Requested By Councilmember Frank)]
NEXT DISCUSSION IS REGARDING THE CREATION OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISORY BOARD, AND THIS IS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK.UM, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF MEETING WITH THE PORT ARTHUR, UM, UH, PORT ARTHUR FIREFIGHTERS, UM, PAC COMMITTEE.
UH, I, I NOT ONLY HAD THAT, THAT OPPORTUNITY AND THAT PRIVILEGE, BUT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL, UH, HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO TALK, UM, ABOUT THEM, UH, AND ABOUT SOME OF THEIR, UM, SOME OF THEIR NEEDS, UH, SOME OF THE, UH, UH, CONCERNS, UH, THAT THEY HAD AS WELL.
UH, I THANK CHIEF FOR COMING, UH, AND, UH, SHARING WITH US, UH, THOSE CONCERNS.
MUCH OF THEIR CONCERNS, UH, WERE NOT, UH, FINANCIAL, UH, MUCH.
MANY OF THEIR CONCERNS AS THEY SHARED THEM WITH ME, WERE ABOUT THE STATIONS THEMSELVES, UH, THE PLACES WHERE THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME, UH, UH, AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES.
UH, WE DO KNOW, UH, THAT, UH, THE CHIEF DID, UH, SHARE WITH US, UH, ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT THEY HAD ABOUT MOLD BEING IN, UH, ONE OF THE FIREHOUSES.
UH, AND THAT WE DO HAVE, UH, SOME, UM, SOME OLDER FIREHOUSES.
SO, UM, WE'RE, WE ARE, WE'RE, UM, WE'RE ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES.
WE'VE GOT PLANS, UH, TO BUILD THE NEW FIREHOUSE OUT IN PORT ACRES, UH, LOOKING AT REPLACING THE FIREHOUSE ON THE WEST SIDE OF PORT ARTHUR.
SO WE ARE ADDRESSING THOSE CONCERNS.
BUT I THOUGHT OUT OF THAT, UH, CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD, AND I SUGGESTED TO THEM, AND THEY, UH, AGREED AS WELL THAT THE FORMULATION OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISORY BOARD, THE KIND THAT WE HAVE WITH, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, MIGHT BE, UH, GO A LONG WAY OF US STAYING IN CONTACT, UH, WITH THEM, UH, GIVING THEM, UH, GIVING US SOME, UM, CONTACT WITH THEM FROM OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES, UH, UH, A LOT OF, UH, INTERACTION WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
[01:05:01]
WE MIGHT CONSIDER AS A COUNCIL, UH, HAVING APPOINTEES TO FORMULATE THIS ADVISORY COUNCIL WITH THEM, UH, LIKE WE DO WITH THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE LIKE WE DO WITH THE, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE OTHER AREAS, UH, OF OUR CITY AS WELL.UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, FRANK, THANK YOU.
WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE WHO HAS HIS LIGHT ON.
I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE.
THE ONLY CONCERN I WOULD HAVE WITH THAT IS THAT IF WE HAVE ONE, THEN IT MUST BE IN THE BLESS CAPACITY, LIKE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHEREBY IT'S A LIAISON BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND FIRE DEPARTMENT AS OPPOSED TO A COMMITTEE GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE OPERATION OR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE THING.
YOU KNOW, I, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE FIREFIGHTERS WON'T, DON'T GO TO THE COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, AS LONG AS THAT'S UNDERSTOOD, BUT I AGREE.
YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HAVE A LIAISON THAT'S, UH, LIKE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AS LONG AS WE DO THE SAME THING, WE GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, WHAT ARE WE GONNA PUT AS THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CLEAR TO IDENTIFY THAT COMMITTEES, I MEAN, THAT ADVISORY BOARD LANE, LIKE WE DID WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR SOME, SOME MAY THINK THE, UH, ADVISORY BOARD IS TO, UH, WORK OR ENTERTAIN FIRE DEPARTMENT ISSUE, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS.
IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT.
IT'S JUST A LIAISON BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND, AND I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE WHEN WE DONE ONE SHOULD HAVE DONE THE OTHER 'CAUSE THEY BOTH DEALING WITH OUR PUBLIC SERVICE CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, AND WE NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF CITIZENS INVOLVEMENT TO SAY WHETHER OUR SERVICE IS GOOD OR NOT, AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT'S OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, COUNCILMAN.
COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE? UM, CITY MANAGER.
UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL AND ETT AND COUNCILOR FRANK, UM, FOR LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR SUCH AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS BEING COMMUNITY BASED.
UM, LET ME INFORM YOU THAT BASED ON THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS LAST DONE BY THE, UM, THE FIRE CHIEF OUT HERE, I DID MEET WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, I DID MEET WITH THE PARK COMMITTEE AND ON THE CONCERNS THAT WERE LISTED, AND WE HAVE ADDRESSED THAT, WE HAVE ADDRESSED THOSE MOVING ON.
UM, AND WHAT I DID AS WELL, THERE IS A COMMITTEE, SOME SORT OF SAFETY COMMITTEE THAT'S IN PLACE THAT, UM, EMANATES FROM THAT COMMITTEE.
AND, UM, THEY MEET EVERY MONTH.
AND SO WHAT I DID, I OPENED THE LINE OF COMMUNICATION AND ASK THEM IF THERE ARE ANY CONCERNS THAT YOU FIND OUT THERE, PLEASE SEND IT TO ME AS WELL, BECAUSE I WAS LEFT OUT OF THE COMMUNICATION.
SO ALL THE ASSISTANT, UM, UM, UM, CITY MANAGERS SO THAT WE CAN ACT UPON THOSE.
SO I THINK WE WOULD GET THE CITY, THE FIRE CHIEF AND MYSELF OR THE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF, WE WOULD HAVE A DIALOGUE, AND THERE'S COMMUNICATION COMING THROUGH.
AND I THINK THAT WAS THE, UM, THAT WAS THE MAIN STUMBLING BLOCK.
SO I THINK WE HAVE THAT ESTABLISHED.
WE HAVE A VERY GOOD, I SPOKE TO CHIEF DENS ABOUT IT.
WE HAVE A VERY GOOD, UM, IDEA AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO AND, UM, HOW WE CAN RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES.
BUT I'M, I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED IT WOULD BE SPECIFICALLY FOR FIRE COMMUNITY RELATIONS, YOU KNOW, AND NOT TO INTERFERE WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE FIRE DEPART.
AND YES, AND I, I MADE THAT VERY CLEAR TO THE, THE, THE, THE, THE MEMBERS OF THE FIRE UNION.
I'VE GOT AN OPEN DOOR POLICY, YOU CAN SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH VIVIAN AT ANY TIME TO COME TO ME, YOU KNOW, AND SO WE CAN NIP THINGS IN THE BUD, YOU KNOW, BEFORE IT HAS TO COME TO THAT LEVEL.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME TO THE LEVEL OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, UH, EVER FAIL? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, I CAN DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS TYPE OF INITIATIVE.
I WOULD ASK THAT NEXT MEETING IF IT'S NOT, UH, TOO SOON.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN ACTION ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT.
BUT I'M ALSO ASKING THAT WE REVIEWED THE PURPOSE AND THE BYLAWS OF THE COMMITTEES THAT WE DO HAVE, AND MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE ARE CREATING THIS ONE, THAT WE MODERNIZE SOME OF THE, THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THESE COMMITTEES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE CLEAR THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, ARE CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE ASKING OF THEM.
[01:10:01]
ON IT.I THINK IT'S A, A WONDERFUL IDEA AND JUST OFFERING MORE EFFORT FOR US, HAVING THAT CONSTANT OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UH, COUNCILMAN MCKINLEY? UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.
JUST, JUST, I'M SORRY I HAD TO STEP OUT FOR A SECOND, BUT, UH, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DEFICIENCIES THAT, UH, THE FIRE CHIEF TALKED ABOUT LAST MEETING, OR TWO MEETINGS AGO, UH, THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET BACK WITH US BECAUSE I KNOW YOU SAID THAT MEETING BEFORE, YOU'RE GONNA GET BACK WITH THE COUNSEL IN 30 DAYS.
ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT I INQUIRE ABOUT THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY BE, UH, CHARGED OFF ON INSURANCE.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS OR, OR DID I MISS SOMETHING WHEN I WALKED BACK IN? NO, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A, A, A COMMUNITY BASED COMMITTEE TO BE SET UP ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
BUT YOU STILL PLAN ON COMING BACK WITH THE DEFICIENCIES THAT THE FIRE DEPART.
WE ALREADY HAVE A PLAN TO DO THIS AND THEN, BUT NO, YOU SAID YOU'RE GONNA COME BACK.
WE WILL, I WILL DEFINITELY COMING BACK IN 30 DAYS, I WILL DEFINITELY DO THAT.
AND WE ALREADY HAVE A PLAN THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF TO DO THAT AND WE'LL REPORT ON THAT.
[III.F.(3) A Discussion Regarding Developing A Hybrid Program With The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation, Pertaining To Incentives For Housing And Small Businesses (Requested By Councilmember Lewis)]
DISCUSSION, WHICH IS A DISCUSSION REGARDING DEVELOPING A HYBRID PROGRAM WITH THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PERTAINING TO INCENTIVES FOR HOUSING AND SMALL BUSINESSES.AND THIS IS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? YES.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? YES, I, I'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSION WITH THE LEGACY AND WHEN THIS PROGRAM FOR HOUSING ENDED, THEY HAD OVER 100 QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WAS WAITING FOR HOMES.
SO THE, THE PROGRAM COUNCIL DIDN'T CATCH IT IN TIME TO, TO REIMPLEMENT IT OR, OR DISCONTINUE.
SO THE STATE ENDED UP KEEPING THE MONEY, BUT OKAY, WHAT I'M LOOKING AT THE HOUSING IN, IN THE OWN HISTORICAL AREA TO BE RE REIMPLEMENTED AND ALSO AN INCENTIVE FOR SMALL BUSINESS.
SO I SCHEDULED MEETINGS WITH THE, WITH THE CEO ON GETTING THIS ON THE BALLOT, UH, BEFORE FOR NOVEMBER THAT IT HAS TO BE ON THE, IT HAS TO BE IN THE HANDS OF, UH, THE COUNTY IN AUGUST, EARLY PART OF AUGUST.
BUT IN MEETING WITH THE CEO, HE CAME UP WITH, HE MENTIONED ABOUT A HYBRID PROGRAM, A HYBRID B, AND THE BOARDS WITH THE EXISTING BOARD NO CHANGES, BUT IT'S A, IT'S A THIRD PHASE A HYBRID.
B, IMPLEMENTING A HYBRID B WILL GIVE INSTEAD OF GOING AFTER THESE, UH, REINSTATING THE HOUSING, PUTTING THAT ON THE BALLOT AND INCENTIVE FOR THE, UH, THE SMALL BUSINESS JUST TO PUT HYBRID BILL ON IT.
IF THAT PASSES, THEN YOU CAN DO THESE OTHER THINGS.
YOU UNDERNEATH THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND SPEND MONEY ON REFERENDUMS ANYMORE.
YOU CAN GO WITH THE HYBRID B AND THE BOARD CAN MAKE A DECISION.
BUT ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO IMPLEMENT, WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, ONE FOR THE DAY MEETING, ONE FOR THE NIGHT MEETING.
SO WE CAN LET, LET THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT IT IS WE, WE ARE TRYING TO DO OR ABOUT TO DO IT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO FROM ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT WE PURSUE THIS, UH, UH, WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE LIGHTS.
AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO, UM, SEEING IF WE COULD, UM, ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT HOUSING, NOW WE COULD ATTENDANCE TO HOUSING, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO THE CITY.
THE FIRST THING THEY WANNA SAY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
OKAY, WE TALKING ABOUT HYBRID, WE TALKING ABOUT TAXPAYERS MONEY.
JUST LIKE ARTISTS, WHAT WE DO, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING, THE MONEY THAT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR GETS FOR HOUSING COMES FROM HUD, IT COMES FROM THE GRANT.
OKAY? UH, SO WE GET THAT MONEY TO PROVIDE AND HELP PEOPLE TO OBTAIN A AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
THEY ALSO HAD DONE THE SAME THING TO HELP WITH DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM WHEN THE EDC DID IT.
I ALSO BEEN FOLLOWING THE ONE HERE SINCE WE CREATED IT.
AND WHAT I FIND IS WE ALWAYS HAVE A LIST OF PEOPLE, BUT WHEN IT'S TIME TO QUALIFY THE PEOPLE, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE
[01:15:01]
THE PROBLEM.WE GOT MONEY, WE ALWAYS HAVE MONEY, BUT IN ORDER TO GET IT, YOU MUST QUALIFY.
SO YOUR FINANCING AND ALL OF THIS STUFF IS THE SAME AS IF YOU WENT AND BOUGHT ONE.
SO WITH LEGACY AND WITH OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT, OUR MAIN PROBLEM IS GETTING SOMEONE WHO CAN MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GET THE FUNDING FOR THE HOUSING.
YOU KNOW, SO WE COULD OFFER INCENTIVE.
WE DOES THAT WITH, UH, HELP WITH CLOSING COSTS AND ALSO WE WILL GIVE THEM LAND IF THEY DON'T HAVE IT.
'CAUSE WE HAVE LAND OR THEY COULD PURCHASE LAND.
WE GOT HELP WITH DOWN PAYMENT.
THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS THAT PEOPLE MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENT FOR FINANCING.
UH, UH, IT'S, IT'S NO GIVEN, UH, AS FOR SMALL BUSINESS, IT'S ALWAYS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HAVE INCENTIVES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I KEEP HEARING THAT.
I'VE BEEN ON THAT CORPORATION FOR OVER TWO YEARS.
THEY FUND AND HAVE INCENTIVE FOR SMALL BUSINESS, BUT ONCE AGAIN, WHERE IS IT? SOUTH? HE WASN'T HERE WHEN WE STARTED, SO HE THAT ALL
ALRIGHT, SO, SO YOU GET A PASS.
BUT, BUT, UH, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO.
SMALL BUSINESS, THEY COULD GET MONEY INCENTIVE FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEY MUST QUALIFY.
SO IT WAS LIKE ALL THE TAX MONEY AND THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE GOT, IT'S OUT THERE, BUT PEOPLE HAVE TO MEET REQUIREMENTS AS OPPOSED TO JUST GIVING IT.
AND THAT'S WHY I SAY WE WANT TO CREATE A PROBLEM.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE SO WE HAVE MONEY.
AND I'LL COME BACK TO YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
UM, AND THEN I'LL COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, AND THEN I'LL SPEAK.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF YOUR, UH, YOUR DISCUSSION HERE TODAY.
AND I HAVE BEEN IN FULL SUPPORT OF, UM, AND I THINK BY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TODAY, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A HYBRID OF A TYPE A AND A TYPE BEDC.
UH, I'VE BEEN A FULL PROPONENT OF THAT, UH, FOR THE ENTIRETY OF MY TIME ON COUNCIL.
UM, BECAUSE IT AFFORDS US THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO, UH, DO THE KINDS OF PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UH, THE MAYOR AND I WERE TOGETHER.
UH, AND I DON'T THINK THAT SHE WOULD MIND US HAVING ME SHARING THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT DOING A LAND BANK.
UH, IN OUR, IN, YOU KNOW, UH, HERE IN THE CITY AS WELL.
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PROMOTE THOSE KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES, UM, TO BUILD HOMES AND TO PUT ROOFTOPS IN OUR CITY IF WE'RE GOING TO DRAW, UH, THAT KIND OF, UM, UM, UM, BUSINESS, UH, IN OUR CITY.
AND SO THAT'LL HAVE A BE A DISCUSSION FOR ANOTHER DAY.
BUT EVERY PROJECT THAT AFFORDS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO, UH, WHAT WE NEED TO DO, IT'S ANOTHER TOOL FOR US, UH, TO USE FOR OUR CITY.
THERE WAS LEGISLATION PASSED IN THE 88TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN 2023 THAT ALLOWED CITIES WHO ARE TYPE A TO STAY TAKE THE POSITION OF BEING TYPE A WITH B POWER.
THEY DIDN'T, UM, I, I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING OF, OF BEING A HYBRID IN THE STATUTE.
IT WASN'T DESCRIBED AS A HYBRID, BUT IT DOES OFFER THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO UPTAKE THE PROJECTS AND NOT HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS EACH TIME.
HOWEVER, WE WOULD HAVE TO STATE THESE ARE OUR OBJECTIVES THAT WE ARE WORKING TO REACH AND ALL OF THEM ARE INCLUDED AT THAT ONE TIME WHEN YOU BRING, UM, THAT INITIATIVE TO THE VOTERS.
SO IT WILL HELP SAVE TIME AND GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT LOSE BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT BALLOT INITIATIVE, UH, TO COME UP.
[01:20:01]
I AM IN FAVOR OF WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING MR. LEWIS, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT WE OFFER THE CITY ATTORNEY THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A FURTHER EXPLANATION OF THE STATUTE WHEN WE DISCUSS THIS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.AND THEN IF WE DECIDE TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH A MOTION, WE CAN DO THAT THEN.
BUT I THINK IT WILL BE, UM, PRUDENT FOR US TO GET THE DETAILS, UM, FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO READ THE STATUTE TO GET A VERY CLEAR UNDERSTANDING.
YOU WANNA COMMENT AGAIN? LET'S TALK ABOUT QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS.
WHEN THE PROGRAM ABRUPTLY ENDED, E UH, THE COUNCIL AND EDC FAILED TO, TO CATCH IT IN TIME AND EXTENDED, YOU GOT OVER 100 QUALIFIED FAMILIES FOR HOMES.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN BANKING AND EVERYTHING.
THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THEY, THEY ONE OVER 100 QUALIFIED PEOPLE WAS WAITING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIVIDE STRETCH BACK.
HUH? THAT'S WHAT SHE, WELL, JUST, JUST A MINUTE.
I'M, WE'RE GONNA LET COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS TALK AND THEN WE WILL, I'M NOT, PUT THE LIGHTS ON AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT TIME.
I'M GOING BY LEGACY HAS A QUALIFIED LIST OF PEOPLE THAT'S WA WAS WAITING FOR 100 WAS QUALIFIED, WAS WAITING FOR HOME.
I I UNDERSTAND COUNCILLOR LEWIS.
UM, LET ME SAY, UM, IN REGARDS TO THIS, AND I'LL CALL ON THE LIGHT THAT JUST CAME ON.
UM, WE DID HAVE, UH, LEGACY DID HAVE, UM, APPLICANTS IN THE POOL.
UM, I THINK THEY WERE TRYING TO GET MY MEASURE ON THE BALLOT IN MAY, UH, WHEREBY WE COULD GET THAT DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO THOSE CLIENTS.
THIS IS, THAT'S WHAT LEGACY LEFT MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR OR THAT WAS LEFT WHEN THE PROGRAM ENDED.
THEY HAD 2, 2 3 YEAR TERMS THAT THE MONEY, UH, THAT WAS ALLOCATED.
SO THOSE DOLLARS ARE IN EDCS BUDGET.
SO WHEN THE EDC DIRECTOR CAME OVER TO PUT THE MEASURE ON THE BALLOT, THE LANGUAGE WAS NOT CORRECT.
SIMPLY JUST HAVING TO LOOK BACK AT SIMPLE FIX WOULD'VE BEEN JUST GO BACK TO THE BALLOT LANGUAGE.
WHEN WE DID THE PROPOSITION TWO YEARS, SIX YEARS PRIOR TO THAT, IF THEY JUST PULL THE PREVIOUS, UM, EDCS DIRECTOR BALLOT LANGUAGE, WE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO AND GET THAT ON THE BALLOT.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT, UM, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, WE DO NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE WITH, UM, THOSE CITIZENS THAT HAVE APPLIED WITH E WITH DOWN PAYMENT.
IT'S UP TO THE SUM OF ABOUT $30,000 PER APPLICANT COMING FROM EDC AND FROM THE CITY.
SO THAT WOULD MAKE THEIR HOME BUYING.
AS WE'VE DONE THE OTHER 35 HOMES AND A SIMPLE PROCESS, ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS PULL THE, LET PASS LANGUAGE, GO THROUGH THE PASS LANGUAGE, EDIT THAT, PASS LANGUAGE, UPDATE IT, AND THEN PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT.
SO WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE THINGS WHEN WE TALK, UM, DOWNSTAIRS IN, IN, UM, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION AND FIND THE BEST WAY FORWARD IN ALLOWING THESE APPLICANTS THAT ARE ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR THE DOLLARS.
'CAUSE SHE HAS A LIST OF QUALIFIED PEOPLE SPANNING FROM THAT END.
AND WE CAN MAKE THIS A SIMPLE PROCESS BY WHICH WE CAN GET THIS ON THE BALLOT, EITHER BY A HYBRID AS THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL EXPLAIN TO US, OR EITHER BY WAY OF JUST PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.
EITHER WAY, THE CITIZENS WIN AND THERE'S MONEY AVAILABLE FOR US TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT OF BUILDING HOMES.
WE JUST NEED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AFTER WE COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE, DO YOU STILL NEED TO SPEAK? YES, I AGREE A HUNDRED PERCENT.
'CAUSE THAT IS THE WAY IT'S DONE.
YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT A B, THAT'S ONE WHERE YOU, A TYPE A DO A TYPE B.
IF YOU'RE A TYPE A, YOU COULD DO B, JUST PUT IT ON IT, UH, BALLOT, GET IT APPROVED.
IT'S ALL ABOUT PLANNING AND WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING, PLAN IT, PUT IT ON THE BUT IN THE BALLOT, GET, GET IT APPROVED.
UH, AND, AND THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION IS IF WE DISCUSS IT, IT'S AN OPEN SESSION.
WELL, I THINK THE DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE IS ONLY ABOUT HYBRID AND GIVING US AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT HYBRID IS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, I, I'LL JUST SAY A DISCUSSION ON A DEFINITION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD NOT BE, UH, HERE IT IS NOW.
SO, AND ONCE AGAIN, THIS ITEM HERE IS FOR, UH, DISCUSSION ANYWAY, SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY ACTION.
WE CAN WORK ON THIS NEXT TIME AROUND AND BRING IT IN IF YOU ALL WANT TO DO IT, BUT WHATEVER IT IS ONLY FOR A DISCUSSION, IT'S NOT FOR ACTION.
SO IF WE BRING IT BACK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, WE CAN BRING IT BACK AS AN ITEM TO ACT ON SO WE CAN GET MOVING WITH THE BALLOT.
[01:25:01]
OH, WE CAN DO THAT.WE TALKING ABOUT THE TARGET AREA.
WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH YOU.
ALL WE ARE BACK ON TRACK, NO PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS MORNING, REPORTS AND ITEMS.
[V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST (LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF TWO (2) MINUTES PER COUNCILMEMBER)]
UH, IF WE HAVE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO, UM, HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON ANY CONGRATULATORY OR CONDOLENCES OR AT THIS TIME, YOU MAY SPEAK FOR TWO MINUTES AND GIVE THAT, UM, IF YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING, COUNCIL MEMBER EVERFI.THIS IS FOR A SPONSORED EVENT, A CITY SPONSORED EVENT FOR THE, BY THE PORT ARTHUR PUBLIC LIBRARY.
AND IT'S FOR SCIENCE HEROES ADVENTURES OF MISSING COLORS.
IT'S TODAY, JULY 15TH FROM 2:00 PM TO 4:00 PM THE NOTICE SAYS, JOIN THE SCIENCE HEROES ON OUR MISSION TO TURN SCIENCE INTO AN ADVENTURE THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIMENTS AND FUN, INTERACTIVE STORIES.
WE GET THE KIDS EXCITED ABOUT THE SCIENCE THAT'S ALL AROUND US.
WE CELEBRATE THE SCIENTISTS WHO COLOR OUR WORLD WITH ART.
SO PLEASE, UM, IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE, BRING YOUR CHILDREN TO THE PORT ARTHUR PUBLIC LIBRARY TODAY FROM 2:00 PM TO 4:00 PM FOR A SCIENCE HEROES PROGRAM.
YEAH, MAYOR, IT APPEARS THAT GOOD NEWS COMES INTO, UM, IN WAVES WHEN IT COMES.
THE, THE, THE, UM, LINA HAS JUST INFORMED ME THAT OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR HAS, UM, STATED THAT STANDARD AND PAUSE HAS REAFFIRMED OUR A PLUS WRITTEN.
WE GOT A CLEAN FINANCIAL REPORT THIS MORNING AND THEN STANDARD AND PORTS HAS REAFFIRMED US A PLUS.
AND THANK YOU, YOUR STAFF FOR THAT HARD WORK.
THANK YOU MANAGER FOR THAT REPORT.
ALSO, I THINK THE FUNERAL SERVICES FOR, UM, KELLY MOORE IS GONNA BE HELD ON THE 20TH, UH, ON SUNDAY THE 20TH IN ORANGE, TEXAS.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THAT SOMEWHERE, BUT WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THAT MINDFUL AND, UH, KEEP HER FAMILY IN PRAYER AND MAKING SURE THAT WE, AS WE SUPPORT AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE SERVICES AND BEING ATTENDANCE.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE NOW ON UNDER, UM, UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]
NUMBER SEVEN, OUR CONSENT AGENDA, COUNCIL MEMBERS.UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO WITHHOLD AT THIS MOMENT, YOU MAY DO SO AND WE WILL, UH, NOTE, DULY NOTE THEM, AND THEN MOVE ON.
SPEAK NOW AND FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S KEEP ROLLING.
WE HAVE NO COUNT, NO ITEMS BEING WITHHELD AT THIS.
WHICH, WHICH ITEM IS IT QUICKLY? IT'S, UH, ITEM NUMBER FIVE ON PAGE FOUR.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE ON PAGE FOUR.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA HOLD THAT ONE AND WE'RE GOING TO VOTE.
SO AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK.
IT HAS BEEN SECOND BY ACCOUNT, UH, MOVED AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE AT THIS TIME.
ALL IN ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[VII.C.(5) P.R. No. 24421 – A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Authorizing The Adjustment Of Certain Water Utility Accounts Pursuant To Sections 110-97, 110-98, And 110-99 Of The City Of Port Arthur Code Of Ordinances]
THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM NUMBER FIVE ON PAGE NUMBER FOUR, PR NUMBER 2 4 4 2, 1.A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF COUNCIL, OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE ADJUSTMENT OF CERTAIN WATER UTILITIES ACCOUNTS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 1 1 0 DASH 9 7 1 1 0 DASH NINE EIGHT AND 1 1 0 DASH NINE NINE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
UM, MAY I ENTERTAIN A MOTION? SO MOVED.
THIS HAS BEEN MOTION AND SECONDED.
HOMICIDE, LIKE I SAID, I'M GONNA BE BRIEF.
UM, YES AND, UH, THIS HAS COME UP BEFORE IN OTHER COUNCIL MEETINGS, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF WHAT KIND OF PLANS WE HAVE IN PLACE TO MONITOR OUR ACCOUNTS SO THAT WHEN WE SEE THAT A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER OR A COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER ALL OF A SUDDEN HAS THIS MASSIVE WATER BILL, OR THERE'S A BIG JUMP IN CONSUMPTION, WHAT PLANS ARE IN PLACE BY THE CITY TO MONITOR THAT SO THAT WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, KEEP GETTING INTO SITUATIONS WHERE WE'RE HAVING TO ADJUST WATER BILLS OF, OF SUCH GREAT AMOUNTS? YES.
UH, NORMALLY THAT, THAT IS USUALLY CAUGHT IN THE BILLING PROCESS.
UH, NORMALLY WHEN YOUR METER IS RED AND THE CONSUMPTION APPEARS TO BE HIGHER THAN NORMAL, IT'S EASIER TO DETECT THAT ON A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY THAN IT IS ON SOME COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
UH, BUT IF WE SUSPECT A LEAK, WE DO SEND OUT A TECHNICIAN AND IF THE TECHNICIAN NOTICES A LEAK, THEY WILL NOTIFY THE, UH, HOMEOWNER THAT THERE'S A LEAK.
[01:30:01]
AND THAT'S USUALLY DONE BY DOOR TAG AND ASKING THEM, UH, TO CONTACT THE OFFICE.WHEN THEY DO, UH, CONTACT THE OFFICE, WE DO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS OF, UH, WHAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE.
UH, THEY HAVE SO MANY DAYS TO REPAIR THEIR LEAK AND ONCE THAT LEAK IS REPAIRED, THEN THEY CAN FILL OUT A LEAK ADJUSTMENT FORM ALONG WITH THE RECEIPT, UH, SAYING THAT THEY DID REPAIR THE LEAK AND THEN, UH, WE WILL ADJUST THE BILL.
UH, SOMETIMES IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW LONG YOU LEAKED.
WE MAY NOT ADJUST IT RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE WE WANNA BE SURE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY REPAIRED.
AND WE DO HAVE INSTANCES WHERE A CUSTOMER WILL COME IN, APPLY FOR A LEAK, AND THEN, UH, THEY HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO HAPPEN.
SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS JUST KIND OF GIVE IT SOME TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S REPAIRED.
BUT NORMALLY, UM, MOST OF THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S EASY TO DETECT.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE.
UH, IF A COMMERCIAL COMPANY DOES HAVE A LEAK, WE MAY NOT SEE IT IN THE BILLING, BUT THEY DO NEED TO NOTIFY US THAT THEY HAD A LEAK.
ONCE THEY DO THAT, WE NOTATE THE ACCOUNT AND WE LET THEM KNOW THAT ONCE THAT LEAK IS REPAIRED, WE DO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS GOING FORWARD.
AND AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON HOW LONG THEY LEAKED.
WE MAY NOT ADJUST THAT BILL RIGHT AWAY.
THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT AGAIN, FOR OUR, OUR RESIDENCY AND FOR OUR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS.
ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW, ARE YOU MS. COUNCILOR BECKHAM OR ARE YOU COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW.
UH, JUST REAL QUICK, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH YOU ABOUT THE LEAKS.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS.
AND ACTUALLY RON AND I, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE LAST TWO YEARS ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER.
UH, CONFERENCE TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO, DOUCETTE, MYSELF AND, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANK, TALKED WITH SOME INDIVIDUALS AT, UH, VENDORS ABOUT THE BEST THING NEXT TO SLICED BREAD.
BUT BEING IN THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS WEATHER AND HUMIDITY AND ALWAYS WET, YOU KNOW, IT CAUSES PROBLEMS. SO RON JUST SHARED SOMETHING WITH ME AND I WOULD ASK IF THE CITY MANAGER WOULD SHARE WITH EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, SOME HOPE IN THE NEAR FUTURE OF WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THESE TYPE OF TRANSMITTERS.
RON? YEAH, COUNCILMAN COMES CITY MANAGER.
UM, JUST YESTERDAY, I, I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT IT UP, COUNCILMAN KINLER.
UM, JUST YESTERDAY I SPOKE WITH COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE AGAIN ABOUT THE MEETUP PART OF IT.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT, UM, CALVIN AND YOUR TEAM, UM, UM, MS. RHONDA IS WORKING HARD ON TO MAKE SURE THAT THROUGH THE NEW METER PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS GOING TO PROVIDE US WITH SOME SORT OF MORE REVENUE, UH, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT THERE WILL BE FEWER LEAKS AS WELL.
WE HAVE ALREADY DONE, WE ARE CHANGED TRANSMITTERS THIS TIME.
IT'S A COMPLETE JOB OF REPLACING ALL THE METERS AT THE RESIDENTIAL LEVEL.
SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE A CLEANER FORM OF, WELL, LESS LEAKS IN THE CITY AS WELL AS A, A MORE GENERATED REVENUE FOR US FOR THE CITY.
DOUCETTE BROUGHT IT UP YESTERDAY AND COUNCILMAN, UM, KINLER YOU'RE BRINGING IT UP TO TODAY.
SO I THINK THAT'S FOR THE EDIFICATION OF THE PUBLIC.
UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE INDUSTRY, EVERYBODY THAT'S IN WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION, YOU HAVE AN UPDATE YOUR INVENTORY.
WHO ALL IS BUYING FROM, UH, WATER FROM US AND WHO'S NOT? UM, I MEAN, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHERE ALL OUR METERS ARE AND WHO'S BUYING WATER AND WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE BUYING WATER? AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE BEING BILLED PROPERLY.
NOW THAT HAPPENED, THAT HAPPENED WITH THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY.
THAT HAPPENED WITH, WITH OLD ENERGY, WE, AND WE LOST $2 MILLION.
THAT'S ON THE, ON THE ENERGY SIDE.
BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING PAID FOR ALL CONNECTIONS.
WELL IF YOU HAVE AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT, THEN YOU SHOULD BE BILLED EVERY MONTH, UH, FOR WHETHER IT'S THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM THAT'S READING YOUR METER OR WHETHER WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND READ IT MANUALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF METERS THAT OUR METER TECHNICIANS HAVE TO GO OUT AND READ MANUALLY.
IF IT'S AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT, IF IT'S AN INACTIVE ACCOUNT, THEN WE ARE ABLE TO SEE IF A COMPANY IS USING WATER.
IF WE HAVE A TRANSMITTER THAT'S ATTACHED TO THAT METER.
UH, SO IF YOU'RE USING WATER AND YOU DON'T HAVE AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT, WE CAN SEE THAT.
AND SO WHAT WE DO IS WE WILL LOCK THAT METER, UH, BECAUSE OF, I MEAN YOU'RE USING IT ILLEGALLY TECHNICALLY BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT.
[01:35:01]
WHO HAS ACTIVE ACCOUNTS AND WHO DOES NOT HAVE AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT AND NEEDS TO COME IN AND APPLY FOR SERVICE.UH, BUT ALL, ALL CUSTOMERS ARE BILLED IF YOU HAVE AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT.
BUT ON THAT, ON THAT, ON THAT ELECTRICAL SIDE, WE LOST TO $2 MILLION MM-HMM
BUT I WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE 350,000.
NOT TO SAY THAT THERE'S NOT SOME LOSS OUT THERE, THERE IS SOME LOSS AND UH, WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS WE HAVE OUR GUYS ON THE GROUND, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT DISCOVER THIS.
IF THERE'S ANY LOSS, THEN THEY'RE ABLE TO COME BACK AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A METER OUT HERE.
YOU KNOW, DO WE HAVE AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT FOR IT? OUR METER TECHNICIANS ARE VERY GOOD ABOUT BRINGING THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION BACK, UH, INTO THE OFFICE.
THEY'RE VERY VALUABLE AT DOING THAT.
BOOTS ON THE GROUND MEANS A WHOLE LOT WHEN IT COMES TO MISSING METERS.
THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT BILLING FOR, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ALLOW US TO, UH, BE ABLE TO CORRECT THOSE ISSUES.
JUST BRIEFLY, I JUST WANT TO CREDIT COUNCILMAN ETT AND COUNCILMAN SCOTT, I'M GONNA CAPTURE THAT 350.
UM, METERS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE WITH US FOR A WHILE.
'CAUSE WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL, WE WERE AT A CONFERENCE IN TML AND WE TALKED TO SIMONS ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED WITH METERS AND WE HAD SOME INDIVIDUALS, CITY MANAGER WHO CAME AND BROUGHT FORTH A PROJECT FOR US AND PUT METERS OUT HERE AND THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW WE COULD GET FUNDING AND THEY WOULD PROVIDE MONEY FOR US.
WOULD THAT ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE, THAT WE CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH.
I SEE MR. HANEY POP DOC POPPED UP LIKE A COURT ON, ON THE FISH POND.
AND SINCE THE CITY MANAGER, COUNCILMAN FRANK, IF YOU'RE DONE, THE CITY MANAGER HAD HIS LIGHT ON.
SO COUNCILOR
YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO SPEAK DR. HANEY.
I'M NOT GETTING MYSELF IN TROUBLE.
GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS METER PROJECT FOR A FEW MONTHS TO THE POINT TO WHERE WE EVEN INSTALLED METERS IN ON THE, IN THE SYSTEM.
WE'VE BEEN TESTING THEM AND WE ARE FIXING TO BID THIS PROJECT.
WE DON'T NEED SOMEBODY TO FUND IT.
UH, LYNN HAD INFORMED US THAT WE CAN GET OUR OWN FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT, WHICH WILL SAVES US MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THE PROJECT IS ALREADY ADVERTISED AND WE SHOULD BE RECEIVING BIDS ON IT IN AUGUST SOMETIME, AND WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
SO WE ARE, WE ARE, WE ARE ALMOST THERE ON THIS METER.
AND THIS PROJECT IS GONNA REPLACE THE METERS AND THE TRANSMITTERS.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A BRAND NEW SYSTEM, NO MORE MECHANICAL METERS.
SO THESE METERS CAN LEAD TO THE DROP.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO CAPTURE, UH, AT LEAST 10 TO 15% OF THE LOSS.
COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DU SAID, YEAH, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL KEEP SAYING THINGS AND IT TRIGGERS IT.
YOU KNOW, WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THESE NEW METERS.
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO EMPHASIZE ALSO WHEN WE BRING THESE NEW METERS AND 'CAUSE I'M CITIZENS, WE NEED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHEN THEM METERS COME IN, IT'S GOING TO FLIP BE A FLIPPABLE COIN.
BECAUSE IF THEY METER IS NOT REGISTERING ALL OF THE WATER THAT'S GONE THROUGH IT, WHEN YOU GET THE NEW METER AND IT REGISTERED THE WATER, THIS WATER BILL, IT USED TO BE $35, IT'LL BE BECOMES $70 BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY RETRO.
SO WHEN WE GET READY TO DO THAT AND WE INFORM CITIZENS, WE NEED TO LET CITIZENS KNOW THAT WE PUT INTO THESE NEW METERS.
SO YOU MAY GET A DIFFERENCE IN COSTS, BUT IT MAY NOT BE THE WAY YOU EXPECT BECAUSE THESE WERE ACTUALLY WHEREBY THE ONE YOU HAD PERHAPS WAS NOT REGISTERING ALL OF THE WATER THAT COMES THROUGH.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PREPARED FOR THESE NEW METERS BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD PART OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
BUT IT'S GONNA DO THE OPPOSITE FOR THOSE MEETINGS.
WHO DO I HAVE? COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW.
I, I JUST HOPE THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN DEUCE DIDN'T SCARE THE CITIZENS OUT THERE TODAY, UH, WITH THAT STATEMENT, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, BUT WE REALLY HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH OURSELF.
YOU SAID 10 TO 15% THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GAIN BACK AND, AND HAVE PEOPLE ACCOUNT AND COMMERCIALLY HAVE ACCOUNTS THAT WE ACT ACCURATELY HAVE,
[01:40:01]
UH, UH, BUILD THEM.UH, I JUST HOPE THAT THESE NEW METERS, YOU KNOW, ARE COMING INTO PLAY DO THAT ONLY, ONLY THING THAT I CAN THINK ABOUT IS KEEPING 'EM IN THE GROUND.
THAT MAY BE NOT THE BEST SOLUTION FOR, AND I DON'T KNOW, KNOW WHAT, NO OTHER WAY TO JUST ASK THAT QUESTION.
UH, BECAUSE OF GROUND MOVING, BECAUSE BEING SO WET BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS THAT WE, WE HAVE WITH, UM, THE TRANS, UH, TRANS, WHAT IS IT? TRANSMITTERS.
SO THOSE THINGS ARE THE THINGS THAT I HOPE THAT WE CAN ACCOUNT FOR.
UH, I JUST, WE LOSE SO MUCH MONEY IN WATER AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR BEST RESOURCES, ONE OF OUR BEST RESOURCES IN THIS AREA.
SO DOC, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GONNA DO IT, UH, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, CITY MANAGE WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, BUT WE, WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES LIKE THAT.
THE 10 15% COMES FROM METER ACCURACY.
WE TOOK METERS OUT, TESTED THEM FOR ACCURACY.
THEY'RE READING BETWEEN 85 AND 90%.
SO THAT'S WHERE THE ESTIMATE CAME FROM.
AND EVERY METER IN THE GROUND IS GONNA BE PULLED OUT AND REPLACED.
SO WE MIGHT EVEN FIND METERS THERE THAT DON'T HAVE AN ACCOUNT THAT ARE GONNA BE FOUND.
SO IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE AN INTENSIVE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE CITY STAFF THAT'S GONNA BE MONITORING THIS CONTRACTOR ON A DAILY BASIS.
HOW, HOW MANY ACCOUNTS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 19,000 ACCOUNTS IN THE CITY.
ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? YES.
UH, THIS QUESTION, WHO, WHO HANDLES THE CALIBRATION? WHO ARE WE? WE REPAIRING THEM IN HOUSE, CALIBRATING 'EM IN HOUSE? OR ARE WE OUTSOURCING IT? THE LARGE METERS ARE THE METERS WE USUALLY NEED TO CALIBRATE AND THEY SHOULD BE CALIBRATED EVERY TWO YEARS.
AND IT IS OUTSOURCED IN-HOUSE? NO SIR.
NOW ONE OTHER THING, COUNCILMAN DEUCE BROUGHT IT UP THE METERS YOU CAN, THERE HAVE SOME OPTION IN THESE METERS WHEN THEY FAIL, THEY CAN FAIL HIGH OR THEY FAIL LOW.
SO IF YOU GOT AN OPTION, LET 'EM FAIL HIGH.
YOU CAN CREDIT IT BACK TO THE CITIZENS.
WE MAY NOT DISCOVER IT, BUT YOU MAY NOT DISCOVER IT IN TIME.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE EXPLANATION.
WE APPRECIATE IT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE.
WE WILL, ARE WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 24378 – A Resolution Awarding A Bid And Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With Pavecon Ltd, Of Houston, Texas, Through BuyBoard Cooperative Contract Number 700-23 For Rehabilitation Of 13th Street, Extending From Sabine Avenue To Neches Avenue, At Either End Of 13th Street. For An Amount Not To Exceed $406,888.63. Funds Are Available In Capital Improvements Project Account 307-21-053-8517-00-10-000]
OVER NOW TO OUR NON-CONSENT AGENDA, UM, UH, WHICH IS INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, UH, REQUIRING UH, INDIVIDUAL ACTION.WE'RE GONNA GO TO UM, SECTION EIGHT NUMBER ONE, PR NUMBER 2 4 3 7 8, A RESOLUTION, AWARDING A BID AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE PVAC CON LTD OF HOUSTON, TEXAS THROUGH BIBLE COOPERATIVE CONTRACT NUMBER 700 DASH 23 FOR REHABILITATION OF 13TH STREET EXTENDING FROM SABINE AVENUE TO NAUS AVENUE AT EITHER END OF 13TH STREET FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 406,008 88.63.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH OH FIVE THREE DASH 8 5 7 DASH ZERO ZERO.
I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL PLEASE.
SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE AND SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCIN LAW.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 24424 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 1 To The Contract With James W. Turner Construction, Ltd Of Tomball, Texas, To Utilize $9,080.32 From The Project’s Contingency Fund To Cover Adjustments To Individual Home Reconstruction Costs (i.e., Demolition And Rebuilding), Resulting In A Decrease To The Original Contract Amount From $774,760.00 To A New Total Contract Amount Of $763,840.32; And Further Authorizing The Acceptance Of Close-Out Documents And The Approval Of Final Payment In The Amount Of $38,192.10 For The Completion Of Four (4) Homes. Funding Is Provided From CDBG Account No. 105-13-033-5470-00-40-000, Project Numbers CD5118 And CD23115]
NEXT UM, RELU, I'M SORRY, RESOLUTION IS PR NUMBER 2 4 4 2 4 AND IT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED AND CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE TO THE CONTRACT WITH JAMES W. TURNER CONSTRUCTION, LTD OF TOMBALL, TEXAS TO UTILIZE $9,080 AND 32 CENTS FROM THE PROJECT'S CONTINGENCY FUND TO COVER ADJUSTMENTS TO INDIVIDUAL HOME CON RECONSTRUCTION COSTS IE DEMOLITION AND REBUILDING, RESULTING IN A DECREASE TO THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT FROM 774,007 $60 TO A NEW TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $763,840 AND 32 CENTS.AND FURTHER AUTHORIZED THE ACCEPTANCE OF CLOSEOUT DOCUMENTS AND THE APPROVAL OF FINAL PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF TH $38,192 AND 10 CENTS FOR THE COMPLETION OF FOUR HOMES.
FUNDING IS PROVIDED FROM THE CDBG ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 0 5 13 DASH 0 3 3 DASH 5 4 7 0 4 0 0.
PROJECT NUMBER CD 5 108 AND CD 2 3 115.
[01:45:01]
MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MOVE SECOND.MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE AND SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEN LAW.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION PASSES.
[IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)]
AT THIS TIME WE WILL GO, UH, INTO OUR CLOSED MEETING.UH, WE WANT TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 5 5 1 0.101 OF CHAPTER 5 5 1 OPEN MEETINGS LAW OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FORMERLY ARTICLE NUMBER 6 2 5 2 DASH 17 SECTION TWO A.
PRIOR TO GOING TO THE CLOSED MEETING, THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE CITY SHOULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT A CLOSED MEETING.
OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL NOW BE HELD PURSUANT TO THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 5 5 1 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 5 51 DASH OH SEVEN ONE LITIGATION AND LEGAL ADVICE 5 51 0 7 2 LAND 5 5 1 0 7 3 NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS FOR PROSPECTIVE GIFTS TO THE CITY.
5 5 1 0 7 4 PERSONNEL 5 5 1 0 7 6.
SECURITY PERSONNEL OR DEVICES 5 5 1 0 8 7 DELIBERATIONS REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
OUR CLOSED MEETING FOR TODAY WILL HAND THOSE SECTION 5 5 1 0 8 7 TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS, NUMBER ONE UNDER EIGHT PROJECT LABRADOR.
WE'LL CONTINUE WITH, UM, THE SAME.
KURT THOMAS VERSUS CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND FLO ROBERTS.
CIVIL ACTION NUMBER 1 2 3 DASH CV DASH 2 82 IN THE US EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, BEDA GRANT C NATION, UH, SABINE NA NAVIGATION, DISTRICT D PROJECT CAROL CANAL, E TYPE A AND TYPE B, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SALES TAX, F, LEGAL IMPACT OF THE CITY BOARD, APPOINTMENTS, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND THEN ITEM NUMBER THREE, SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 4.
UNDER PERSONNEL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITY ATTORNEY REQUESTED BY MAYOR PRO TEM ETT, AND B, THE EVALUATION PROCESS FOR CITY COUNCIL APPOINTEES.
THE CITY MANAGER, CITY SECRETARY AND CITY ATTORNEY REQUESTED BY MAYOR MOSES.
AT THIS TIME WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SECTION.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, ARE WE READY TO GO BACK? ARE WE BACK? ARE WE LOCKED, LINDSAY? YES, WE'RE READY.
WE ARE READY FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN OUR MEETING.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.