[00:00:01]
ALL RIGHT.[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA CALL OUR CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER AT THIS TIME ON TUESDAY, JULY 29TH AT 5:30 PM WE ARE GOING TO HOLD OUR CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING.THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AT THIS TIME.
UM, WE CAN, YOU CAN JOIN US BY TELECON TELEPHONIC OR BY VIDEO CONFERENCE, AND YOU CAN DO THAT BY CALLING 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7, OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
YOU CAN ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 8 6 4 9 7 4 AND THE PASS CODE OF 9 6 1 9 2 9.
ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WILL PROVIDE FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS ATTENDING, UH, COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND YOU MAY DO SO BY CALLING 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE TO OUR CITY SECRETARY.
AND YOU CAN DO THAT BY DIALLING 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO TURN OFF AND MUTE EVERYBODY, IF YOU DON'T MIND MUTING YOUR CELL PHONES FOR ME.
WE DON'T WANNA HAVE ANY DISRUPTIONS IN THE, UM, ON THE DIOCESE OR IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND WE ARE GOING TO NOW HAVE OUR INVOCATION, WHICH WILL BE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM, OUR PLEDGE AND OUR ROLL CALL TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM.
WOULD YOU JOIN ME IN PRAYER? FATHER GOD, WE COME TO YOU TONIGHT HUMBLY, SEEKING YOUR FAVOR, SEEKING YOUR WISDOM, AND YOUR GUIDANCE AS WE SEEK TO LEAD THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL.
FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT, AND ESPECIALLY OUR NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR CHARLOTTE MOSES.
FATHER, HELP US TO ALWAYS LOOK TO YOU BEFORE WE MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITY.
I ASK THAT YOU BLESS EACH FAMILY THAT'S REPRESENTED HERE, UH, ON COUNCIL AND ALSO HERE IN OUR AUDIENCE, AND THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING ONLINE.
JUST BE WITH US AND HELP US TO ALWAYS LOOK TO YOU FOR, FOR GUIDANCE AND WISDOM AND MERCY.
AND WE THANK YOU, MOST OF ALL, FOR YOUR SON JESUS, AND WHAT HE DID FOR US ON THE CROSS.
AT THIS TIME, OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH HIS STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INVIS WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FALL.
CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU ESTABLISH A QUORUM FOR ME? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM.
FRANK, YOU HAVE A QUORUM, MA'AM.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA PROCEED THROUGH OUR, OUR AGENDA.
WE HAVE A PRETTY LENGTHY AGENDA, SO TONIGHT, IF YOU WOULD JUST BEAR WITH US, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET THROUGH IT AS PROFESSIONALLY, AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE PROCLAMATIONS, WE HAVE NONE, UM, PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS.
AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE SPEAKERS.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER ON THE AGENDA IS MICHAEL SPERLING OF THE ASTRONOMICAL RACE, REGARDING HISTORICAL TRUTH.
MR. UM, SPERLING, IF YOU'RE HERE, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES BY WHICH YOU CAN SPEAK MR. SPERLING.
MR. SPERLING, I'M GONNA CALL FOR YOU ONE MORE TIME.
[III.A.(2) Mark Bernard Regarding The Trill City Car Show]
MR. MARK BERNARD, REGARDING THE TRILL CITY CAR SHOW.UM, MR. MARK BERNARD, IF YOU WOULD GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU CAN PROCEED WITH YOUR PRESENTA, YOUR, UM, SPEAKING, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
I'M ON, UH, MAKE SURE YOUR MIC IS ON MARK.
I RESIDE AT 1712 DUFF DRIVE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
AND, UM, I'M HERE TO, UM, ASK THE PERMISSION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, WE WANTING TO HAVE A CAR SHOW ACROSS P ISLAND.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS HERE IS TO BRING OUR COMMUNITY, OUR TO TOGETHER AND TO RE REUNITE THE, UM, CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR WITH PLEDGE ISLAND.
IT'S SUCH A NICE ISLAND, AND GEORGE DOES A, WELL, GEORGE DOES A REAL GOOD JOB AT
[00:05:01]
MAINTAINING THE PARKS OUT THERE, AND WE COULDN'T HAVE PICKED A BETTER AREA TO TRY TO HAVE THIS EVENT.THIS EVENT WE WANT, WE WANTING TO HAVE IT ANNUALLY, AND WE WANTING TO PUT ON THIS, THIS FIRST ONE.
AND WE'RE WANTING TO HAVE LOCAL VENDORS TO, UM, BE ABLE TO FEED OUR, UM, FOLKS THAT'S TRAVELING FOR AND NEAR.
UH, WE PLAN TO HAVE FOLKS THAT COME TO PORT ARTHUR FROM ALL THE WAY FROM NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA, UM, SAN ANTONIO, AUSTIN, DALLAS, AND, UM, HOUSTON.
SO IT'S NOT JUST A, UM, A CAR SHOW.
IT WOULD BE A MOTORCYCLES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO PUT THIS ON AS ON A LARGE SCALE.
AND, UM, WE'RE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE, UM, TAKE US IN CONSIDERATION TO TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE, UM, TO REINTRODUCE THEM TO THE LEDGER ISLAND.
AND I KNOW OUR ISLAND HAVEN'T BEEN, UM, HAVING SUCH CAR SHOWS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE IN QUITE A SOME TIME.
SO WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU GUYS PLEASE, UM, CONSIDER US IN WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO BRING TO PORT ARTHUR AT THIS GIVEN TIME.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, I HAVE HIS LIGHT ON.
YEAH, SO WHAT, WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM THE COUNCIL? WELL, ACTUALLY, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT I NEED FROM THE COUNCIL IS JUST TO, UM, YES OR NO SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, HAVE THIS COURT SHOW ACROSS THE ISLAND.
WE'VE ALREADY MADE PREPARATION.
WE'VE ALREADY PAID FOR THE INSURANCE, WE'VE GOTTEN WITH THE CITY SECRETARY, AND WE'VE ALREADY DID THE LOGISTICS FOR THAT.
AND, UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST WAITING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, HEAR YOU GUYS ANSWER ON THIS HERE MATTER.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GET INVOLVED WITH THAT.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU GOT GOT A PROCESS IN PLACE.
WE GOT A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW HAS A, UM, A QUESTION.
THEN WE CAN ASK THE CITY MANAGER.
UH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, UH, CITY MANAGER.
DO YOU MIND IF I ASK GEORGE TO COME ON UP? 'CAUSE HEY, GEORGE, LEMME PUT YOU ON THE HOT SEAT, MAN.
I'VE BEEN TO SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT YOU'VE HAD IN PLEASURE ISLAND, GEORGE.
I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT, UH, YOU'RE BEHIND IT.
BUT LISTEN, WITH A PROJECT OR WITH AN EVENT LIKE THIS, THAT WHEN THE PUBLIC COMES BEFORE COUNCIL WANTING TO USE OUR FACILITIES OR GROUNDS, HOW DOES IT ACTUALLY WORK LEGALLY? SO WE CAN, YOU KNOW WHAT, SO WE DO HAVE A, A CONCESSIONARY AGREEMENT IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS ON THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA.
SO BASICALLY, AND I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WHAT YOU WERE BASICALLY ASKED, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.
IT'S JUST, UM, THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN, UM, MR. BERNARD, THE FOUNDATION AND THEN THE CITY, IT SPELLS IT OUT IN AGREEMENT, THE DUTIES FOR BOTH PARTIES.
AND BASICALLY WHAT HE'S ASKING OF US IS NOTHING THEY HAVE EVERYTHING SET UP ON, ON THEMSELVES.
THEY JUST NEED THE, THE GREEN LIGHT IN THE, IN THE PARK, BASICALLY.
SO AS LONG AS YOU HAVE IT SPELLED OUT AND, AND INSURANCE COVERAGE TO PROTECT THE CITY'S AND YEAH.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS ON THE, THE VENT HOLDER'S POSITION.
I MEAN, CITY MAN, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING? UH, OKAY.
AND, AND WE DID BRING THIS BEFORE, UH, THE PLEASURE ISLAND, UH, COMMITTEE AS WELL.
THEY WERE IN FAVOR ALSO BECAUSE THEY WERE, THEY WERE SAYING THAT IT'S GOOD FOR THE ISLAND AS WELL.
UM, WE HAVE, UM, TWO MORE SPEAKERS.
I KNOW THAT THE CITY MANAGERS REQUESTED.
I'M GONNA TRY TO GET THROUGH THE SPEAKERS REALLY QUICKLY.
[III.A.(3) Lowra Harrison Regarding Water Billing]
UH, SHE'S COMING TO REGARDING WATER BILLING.I AM LAURA HARRISON, AND I LIVE AT 5 0 1 17TH STREET IN PORT ARTHUR HERE.
I'M COMING BEFORE YOU IN TERMS OF WATER BILLING, UM, AND TAPS, I KNOW THAT'S, IT'S CONFUSING TO ME.
SO ON AUGUST, I'M SORRY, AUGUST 16TH, 2023, I ORDERED, UH, FOR MY SIX 10 ELIAS PROPERTY WHERE I HAVE A HORSE, ONLY A HORSE, UH, TAPS TO BE PUT IN.
AND THOSE TAPS TOOK A BIT TO PUT IN.
UH, BUT THEY EVENTUALLY PUT THOSE TAPS IN.
UM, WE, THERE'S NO ONE THAT LIVE ON THIS PROPERTY, BUT A HORSE, A COUPLE OF HORSES.
SO, AND THE, WE DON'T USE THAT WATER FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
IT'S ACTUALLY VERY LITTLE USAGE OF IT.
SO I TOLD MY HUSBAND, 'CAUSE WE GET THE WATER ALREADY TO
[00:10:01]
BRING FOR THE HORSE, UM, AND WE, I TOLD HIM, JUST TURN IT OFF FOR NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING GOING ON ON THE SITE, SO WE REALLY DON'T NEED THAT WATER ON.I DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WASN'T COATED CORRECTLY.
AND I UNDERSTOOD THAT LATER THAT IT WAS NOT COATED CORRECTLY.
AND SO A CREDIT WAS DUE MEAN BECAUSE IT WASN'T ENC CODED CORRECTLY.
BUT I ONLY CAN GET A, UM, CREDIT BACK FOR SIX MONTHS.
BUT THAT'S AT THE EXPENSE OF ME AS THE CITIZEN.
IT WASN'T MY ERA OF, UH, HAVING IT NOT COATED CORRECTLY AND ME HAVING TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT, UM, I DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.
AND I DIDN'T NOTICE THIS UNTIL I GOT THE BILL AND SEEN THE BILL FOR OVER $200.
AND I DON'T HAVE ANY WATER GOING THROUGH THIS, THIS METER.
SO I MADE A BUNCH OF PHONE CALLS OF, OF COURSE I'VE SPOKEN TO, UM, I, RHONDA, I CAN'T SAY HER LAST NAME.
AND CLAUDIA, UH, I'VE EVEN TRIED CALL CITY MANAGING.
AND SO I LEFT MESSAGES AND HE GOT BACK TO ME TODAY.
AND I'VE SPOKEN TO MY COUNCILMAN IN TERMS OF IT, AND HE GOT THEM TO CALL ME.
'CAUSE WE NEVER UNDERSTOOD ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.
SO AN ORDINANCE I UNDERSTAND WAS MADE THAT YOU CAN ONLY CREDIT BACK FOR SIX MONTHS AND IT IS NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD THE JUSTIFYING OF THESE CHARGES WHILE WE'RE PAYING EVEN THIS EXTRA MONEY FOR SOMETHING WE ARE NOT USING.
SO HERE'S MY, THIS IS WHAT I NEED FROM COUNCIL AND THAT'S THE NEXT QUESTION.
I NEED A CREDIT, I NEED TO BE CREDITED FOR SOMETHING I HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY IN AND THAT HAPPENED TO US, AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SEE A 200 AND SOME DOLLARS BILL FOR SOMETHING I'M NOT USING.
AND I, I TOLD THEM TO TURN IT OFF WHEN I SEEN RHONDA IN MAY AND THEY DIDN'T TURN IT OFF.
SO I'M SEEING BILLING IT AGAIN.
AND SO NOW I GET CLAUDIA CALLING ME, I SAID, I TOLD YOU GUYS TO TURN IT OFF, JUST TERMINATED FOR NOW UNTIL WE GET THIS THING SETTLED.
SO I NEED THIS THING SETTLED WITH YOU GUYS BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE WAS MADE HERE.
THEY CAN'T GO BY ANYTHING BUT WHAT YOU HAVE IN ORDINANCE.
SO I DISAGREE WITH ME HAVING TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT AND I DIDN'T ORDER.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF LIGHTS, GUYS, AND WE'LL BE MINDFUL THAT WE DO HAVE TO GO TO, UH, OUR PUBLIC HEARING BY SIX.
BUT COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, ARE YOU PAYING FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN WATER, ELECTRICITY? I'M TALK, I'M TALKING ABOUT DEALING WITH THE CITY.
THE, YOU HAVE A, YOU HAVE A WATER METER THERE.
YOU, YOU JUST, IT IS NOT, NO, THERE'S NO ONE ELSE USING IT OR NOTHING ELSE, JUST WATER.
ALL YOU SHOULD BE GETTING IS, IS JUST A WATER BILL.
AND THEY FIX THAT PART, BUT THE CREDITS ARE NOT THERE.
I GOT VERY LITTLE CREDITS TO IT.
COUNCILLOR MCKINLEY, UH, CITY MAYOR, DO YOU MIND IF I ASK YOUR SUPERVISOR TO COME ON UP AND ANSWER A COUPLE QUESTIONS? SURE.
UH, CITY, UM, SO RHONDA, OKAY, RHONDA, IF YOU COULD COME ON UP FOR US AND GIVE US SOME INSIGHT.
I'M SORRY TO KEEP EVERYBODY ON A, ON A TIME BASIS.
WE JUST GOT A LOT TO DO IN A SHORT TIME TO DO IT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M GONNA LOSE A QUORUM.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, IF YOU LEAVE, I'M GONNA LOSE A QUORUM.
UH, CLAUDIA DID SPEAK WITH MS. HARRISON, UH, FIRST, AND THEN I SPOKE WITH HER THE SAME DAY.
UM, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT SHE'S CORRECT.
SHE WAS CONFUSED, UH, AS TO WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE.
MS. HARRISON APPLIED FOR SERVICE BACK IN MARCH OF 2023.
UH, WHEN SHE CAME IN, SHE APPLIED FOR A WATER AND SEWER TAP, AND THE SERVICES THAT SHE APPLIED FOR WERE GIVEN TO HER ACCORDINGLY.
SO SHE WAS BILLED FOR THESE SERVICES EVERY MONTH UNTIL WE TERMINATED SERVICES BECAUSE OF NON-PAID.
UH, AND THAT TOOK PLACE IN MARCH, UH, 12TH OF THIS YEAR.
MS. HARRISON CAME IN PROBABLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER AND STATED THAT WE WERE, UH, MIS BILLING HER AND THAT WE CODED HER ACCOUNT INCORRECTLY.
SO SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD ANIMALS ON THE PROPERTY, AND I SAID, WELL, WHAT YOU NEEDED WOULD'VE
[00:15:01]
BEEN AN IRRIGATION METER.AND SHE SAID, HOW? WELL, I, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
AND I SAID, WELL, HOW WOULD WE KNOW THAT? WE DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU COME IN AND YOU APPLY FOR CERTAIN SERVICES, WHICH SHE DID A WATER AND A SEWER TAP IS RIGHT HERE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE SERVICES THAT YOU APPLIED FOR.
BUT HAD SHE MADE IT KNOWN, AND I DON'T KNOW THE CONVERSATION SHE HAD WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, BUT HAD SHE MADE IT KNOWN THAT SHE WAS ONLY WATERING ANIMALS, THEN THEY WOULD'VE SAID, WELL, YOU JUST NEED AN IRRIGATION METER.
SO I'M SURE THAT THAT DIDN'T TAKE PLACE BECAUSE MS. HARRISON SIGNED A APPLICATION FOR WATER AND SEWER TAP.
SO THAT'S WHY WE GAVE HER THOSE SERVICES.
BUT ONCE SHE NOTED THAT SHE WAS NOT, YOU KNOW, USING THE SEWER, WE GAVE HER SIX MONTHS OF CREDIT, WHICH IS ACCORDING TO ORDINANCE.
AND WHEN SHE CAME IN AND NOTIFIED US THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH BILLING, THAT IS WHAT THE ORDINANCE STATES IS THAT WE CAN GO BACK AND WE CAN LOOK AT HER ACCOUNT AND GIVE HER CREDIT FOR SIX MONTHS.
BUT WE ARE NOT BOUND TO GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF HER SERVICES.
SHE APPLIED FOR THESE SERVICES.
SO, I MEAN, THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO DO AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED.
THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT TO US.
SO, MS. MS. HARRISON, OUR, OUR, OUR OUR HANDS ARE KIND OF TIED BASED UPON OUR POLICIES.
UH, YOU APPLIED FOR THAT PARTICULAR SERVICES, UH, IN 2023 TO, UH, AND IT WAS TURNED OFF.
WELL, IT WAS CHANGED IN MARCH, 2025.
SO, UH, DID THEY ACTUALLY CREDIT YOU TO SIX MONTHS THAT THE POLICY, OUR CITY POLICY IS GOVERNED BY? DID THEY ACTUALLY CREDIT YOU THAT AMOUNT? THEY ACTUALLY DID.
AND I HAVE A RECEIPT FOR MY TAPS IN AUGUST, 2023.
AUGUST SPECIFICALLY 16TH, 2023 IS WHEN I ORDER THESE TAPS AND WHEN THEY PUT THEM IN, IT'S DIFFERENT, BUT TO KNOW WHAT TO ASK FOR, I DON'T KNOW.
I CAN ONLY TELL YOU WHAT I NEED.
NOW, IF THERE'S A CODE ON SOMETHING, HOW WOULD I KNOW ABOUT ANY CODES? I DON'T.
SO I'M STILL HAVING TO PAY FOR THE ERROR THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME OR THEM.
I HAVE, UH, ONE MORE LIGHT AND THEN WE'RE GONNA SEE IF MAYBE WE CAN HAVE THE MANAGER AND, UH, THE STAFF, UM, KINDA WORK TOGETHER TO, TO GET SOME RESOLVE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? YES.
RIGHT? WHAT DID, WHAT? UH, WELL, THERE THEY GAVE ME CREDIT ON THE SEWAGE FOR SIX MONTHS.
SEE, AND THIS, I, I HAVE THE TABLET.
THEY GAVE ME CREDIT AND IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET EVERYTHING DONE.
BUT SEE THE MANAGER, IS THIS A, IS THIS A POLICY OR THIS ORDINANCE? IT'S THE OR HUH? IT'S THE ORDINANCE.
BECAUSE REMEMBER COUNCIL COUNCILMAN LEWIS, WHENEVER WE HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO OTHER ACCOUNTS, LIKE COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS, THEY'VE GOTTA BE BROUGHT BACK.
THEY HAVE TO COME TO THE COUNCIL.
ANYTHING APART FROM, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M RECOMMEND THAT WE LOOK, TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THIS.
WELL, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE IF WE WANT TO, WE COULD BRING IT TO THE COUNCIL.
LET THE COUNCIL MAKE THAT DECISION, RIGHT? YEAH.
WELL, WE COULD PUT IT ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
MAKE TO MAKE DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT? OKAY.
I MEAN, DOES THE COUNCIL WANT TO DO OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. LAURA, MS. HARRISON, WE'RE GOING TO, UM, COUNSEL AND WITH THE MANAGER, WE'LL GET A, A RESOLVE AND, AND I APPRECIATE IT WITH THE, WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND, AND WE'LL GET SOMETHING.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
YOU THANK THIS TIME AT THIS TIME.
[III.A.(4) Coach Bradford Coleman Jr. Of The Port Arthur Jr Bees Regarding Assistants From The City And The Community]
BRADFORD, IF YOU'LL COME ON UP, YOU HAVE GIVE YOU FIVE MINUTES, UM, TO PRESENT WHAT YOUR, UM, FROM THE COUNCIL, IF YOU'LL LIST YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE.MY NAME IS BRADFORD COLEMAN JR.
EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY CALLED ME COACH BRAD.
I RESIDE AT 2221 FOURTH STREET.
UM, ON BEHALF OF MY JUNIOR B'S ORGANIZATION, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY TO HELP US, UH, BUY NEW EQUIPMENT FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, ESPECIALLY, UH, FOOTBALL HELMETS THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED.
UH, TWO YEARS AGO WE GOT A LITTLE GRANT FROM USA FOOTBALL.
IT WAS $700 ENOUGH TO BUY A FEW HELMETS, BUT WE STILL DESPERATELY NEED IT.
[00:20:01]
HAS ALREADY BEEN, UM, RECOGNIZED TO GO TO NATIONALS, UH, IN, UH, DECEMBER TO NORTH CAROLINA.SO WE ALSO SEEKING SPONSORSHIP TO HELP US GET THEM THERE AND EQUIPMENT THAT THEY WOULD NEED EAT.
UH, MR. COLEMAN, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, UM, TO EXPRESS THE NEEDS FOR THE JUNIOR BEES, UH, FOOTBALL TEAM AND CHEERLEADERS.
AND, UH, YOU AND I MET, AND I'M GLAD WE HAD A DISCUSSION.
I ASKED YOU, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO'S WATCHING.
UM, WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION, THERE MAY BE SOMEBODY EVEN HERE THAT WILL HELP, UM, THE NEED OF THE, UH, FOOTBALL TEAM.
UM, AND SO I REALLY THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD TO, UM, REQUESTING, UH, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT CAN TAKE PLACE FROM THAT, THE CITY.
I DON'T KNOW WHEREBY THE CITY WOULD HAVE ANY FUNDS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT OTHER THAN CDBG.
AND I THINK YOU MISSED A DEADLINE ON THAT.
AND SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU DID COME FORTH TO KIND OF PRESENT YOUR CASE FOR YOUR VIRGINIA BEACH TEAM.
YOU NEVER KNOW IF COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE WILLING OR, UM, THOSE LISTENING OR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, BUT, UM, YOU MADE YOUR PRESENTATION AND WE ARE DEFINITELY TAKING IT, UM, PERSONAL, IN OUR OWN PERSONAL WAY TO HELP SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP PERSONALLY.
ALSO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT, UH, I HAVE BEEN COACHING IN THE ORGANIZATION FOR LILLY FOOTBALL FOR 40 YEARS, AND MOST OF THAT WITH IS THIS ORGANIZATION.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR EX-MEMBERS, OUR EX JUNIOR B PLAYERS, OUR POLICE OFFICER IN THIS CITY, FIREMENS, UH, THAT ARE COACHES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
SO WE'LL PUT A LOT IN THIS COMMUNITY WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TAUGHT THROUGH THE YEARS, THOUSANDS OF KIDS THAT CAME THROUGH OUR ORGANIZATION.
AND ALL WE ASK FOR IS MORE HELP TO KEEP THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE FOR OUR KIDS IN THIS COMMUNITY TO KEEP GROWING.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, YOU HAVE, UH, YOUR LIGHT ON? YEAH.
WHAT KIND OF MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? UH, WE ARE TRYING TO BUY AT LEAST 80 HELMETS AND WE BUY THEM DIRECTLY FROM RYDALE AT DELL PRICE, WHICH IS ABOUT $14,000 FOR 80 HELMETS.
I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME, BUT I'LL SEE
I'M GONNA, I'M GOING FOLLOW UP ON THE PHONE CALL.
YOU CALLED ME UP A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
I'M GONNA FOLLOW UP ON THAT, OKAY? YES, SIR.
AND TRY TO GET, BUT MEANWHILE, ARE YOU GONNA APPLY FOR OUR CDBG APPLICATION? KENNY, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN WHAT? HE SAID HE MISSED A DEADLINE.
I, I FILED A YEAR BEFORE LA LAST YEAR AND, UH, I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO GET ANY FUNDS, SO I FORGOT ABOUT IT THIS YEAR, BUT I WILL BE FILING NEXT YEAR.
WHAT I MENTIONED TO YOU, MR. OKAY.
THAT'S ALL I'M GONNA SAY DO TOO.
WHAT YOU NEED AND TAKES SOMETHING LESS.
WELL, I HAVE OPPORTUNITY AND YOU MISSED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY BY NOT BEING IN, IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE DIDN'T QUALIFY AND THAT LEFT, THAT'S LEFT MONEY ON THE TABLE.
YEAH, I'M SORRY, I MISSED THAT.
UH, I ALSO LIKE TO MENTION ABOUT MY DANCE TEAM CALLED THE HONEYBEES.
THEY HAVE WON THE, UH, REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, UH, 10 YEARS IN A ROW.
BEEN TO NATIONAL TO FLORIDA NINE TIME AND ONE YEAR WE FLEW 'EM TO COLORADO FOR A REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
SO THIS YEAR THEY SLATED TO GO TO NORTH CAROLINA FOR NATIONALS.
AND WE'RE HOPING THAT OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CITY, CAN BACK US UP WITH THAT ADVENTURE LAST YEAR WHERE OUR TEAM GOT A OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO NATIONAL FOR FOOTBALL AND WE COULD NOT RAISE THE FUNDS TO GO TO FLORIDA, PLAY A TEAM FROM, UH, NORTH CAROLINA.
BUT HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR WE'LL GET THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN THE CITY TO HELP US DO MORE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR KIDS, TO GIVE THEM THE POSITIVE PART THAT WE DEFINITELY DESERVE TO LET THEM SEE.
MR. BRADFORD, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, FOR COMING BEFORE US.
WE HAVE A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE THAT I'M SURE HAVE INTEREST AND PEOPLE, CONSTITUENTS, THAT WOULD DEFINITELY HELPING YOU PUT IT OVER THE AIRWAYS THAT YOU NEED THE HELP.
SO PRAYERFULLY, YOU'LL GET AND MEET YOUR BUDGET.
IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WE DO AT OUR ORGANIZATION, PLEASE TAKE A CHANCE, TAKE A TIME AND LOOK AT OUR PORT ARTHUR, THE JUNIOR BS FACEBOOK PAGE.
IT TELLS YOU EVERYTHING WE DO WITH KIDS BESIDES FOOTBALL.
AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO ME.
AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO PULL UP COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU WOULD JUST TURN TO OUR PRESENTATIONS.
UH, WE HAVE ABOUT, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME? WE, I KNOW WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR, FOUR MINUTES.
LET'S SEE HOW WE CAN DO THIS BEFORE WE GET TO
[00:25:01]
THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS.UH, ON PAGE NUMBER TWO, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION.
CITY MANAGER STAFF REPORTS A PRESENTATION BY THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, LINDA BOSWELL.
YOU'LL COME UP AT THIS TIME AND, UH, WE WE'RE MOVING KIND OF QUICKLY.
UM, ALL, WE CAN'T GO BEFORE SIX MM-HMM
SO I CAN'T, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA JUMP OVER.
UM, IF THOSE WERE IN THE AUDIENCE, GO WITH US TO, UM, PAGE NUMBER THREE.
WE CAN'T START THEM FOR ANOTHER THREE MINUTES, BUT WE ARE ON SCHEDULE AND ON TAP FOR THOSE, IF YOU'LL WAIT WITH US FOR JUST A MOMENT, WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THEN WE'LL, UM, CALL UP LYNN, UM, RIGHT AFTER THAT.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THOSE THAT WERE MADE ON THE, UM, ON THIS AFTERNOON.
IT IS 6:00 PM UH, WE HAVE OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.
[IV.(1) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments And To Consider The Following: Proposed Change: A Zoning Map Amendment (Z24-10) To Establish A Planned Development "PD" District For The Proposed Development Of A Multi-Purpose Event Center. The Subject Property Is Currently Zoned As Medium Density Residential (MF). The Proposed "PD" Designation Would Allow For The Construction And Operation Of A Facility Designed To Host Community Events, Cultural Programs, And Recreational Activities Site Location: 8520 Wilson Avenue (North Of Wilson Avenue Between F.M. Highway 365 And Hall Street) Legal Description: 2.892 Acre Of Land, Lot 23, Tracts 6 & 7, And Part Of Lot 11, Tract 6, Peek Addition, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas Citizens With Questions Regarding The Description Of This Property Can Contact The City Planning Department At (409) 983-8133. The Public Will Also Be Able To View The Public Hearing Via The City's Website At www.portarthurtx.gov]
A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENTS AND TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PROPOSED, CHANGE A ZONING MAP, AMENDMENT Z 24 DASH 10 TO ESTABLISH A PLAN DEVELOPMENT PD DISTRICT FOR THE PUR FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTIPURPOSE EVENT CENTER.THE PROP, THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY ZONED AS A MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL MF.
INITIALS, THE PROPOSED PD DESIGNATED DESIGNATION WOULD ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A FACILITY DESIGN TO HOST COMMUNITY EVENTS, CULTURAL PROGRAMS, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
THE SITE LOCATION IS 85 20 WILSON AVENUE, NORTH OF WILSON AVENUE, BETWEEN FM HIGHWAY 365 AND HALL STREET.
THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION IS 2.892 ACRES OF LAND LOT 23, TRACK SIX AND SEVEN, AND PART OF LOT 11, TRACK SIX PEAK EDITION.
PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
AT THIS TIME OUR PRESENTATION.
UH, CITY COUNCIL, CITY, UH, MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY.
UH, THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER A ZONE CHANGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2.861 ACRE OF LAND CONSISTING OF LOTS, 23 TRACKS SIX AND SEVEN, AND THE SOUTH TWO, 210 FEET OF
[00:30:01]
THE EAST OF 100 AND, UH, 50 FEET OF LOT 11 IN TRACK SIX PEAK PEAK EDITION, CITY OF FORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.AS YOU SAID, THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 85 20 WILSON AVENUE.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS RE I HAVE TO DO THIS.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OR AN OPERATION OF A MULTIPURPOSE CENTER.
A COMPLETE APPLICATION WAS FILED WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ON OR AROUND SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024, REQUESTING A ZONING CHANGE FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROPERTY.
THE ZONE CHANGE WILL ALLOW THE PROPOSED USES TO LEGALLY CONFORM AT SAID LOCATIONS.
PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED OUT TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THE PRO PROPOSED LIGHT SITE ON FRIDAY, APRIL 18TH, 2025, AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON APRIL 19TH, 2025.
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WAS HELD ON MAY 5TH, 2025, INVITING CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED THREE TO ZERO RECOMMENDING THAT THE REQUEST BE APPROVED.
UH, WE DID, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WE DID HOLD TWO, UH, COMMUNITY MEETINGS ABOUT THIS.
THAT'S WHY IF YOU SEE WE, IT CAME IN AROUND IN 24 AND WE JUST GETTING TO IT TODAY BECAUSE THEY HAD TWO MEETINGS.
UH, THE COMMUNITY, THE FIRST MEETING, THEY HAD A LITTLE, UH, PROBLEMS BETWEEN EVERYONE AND THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON.
BUT THE SECOND MEETING, IT CLEARED EVERYTHING UP AND SO, UH, EVERYBODY WAS PRETTY MUCH HAPPY AT THE END OF THOSE MEETINGS.
ON MAY 6TH, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION 25 DASH 180, CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON JULY 11TH, 2025, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION 25 DASH TWO 80 AMENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 DASH 180, AND THE ORIGINAL DATE DUE TO AN ERROR IN PUBLICATION CALLING FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING.
THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PUBLISHED A PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON JULY 12TH, 2025, AS WELL AS PREPARED AND MAILED NOTIFICATIONS TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS ON OR AROUND JULY 8TH, 2025.
THE CURRENT ZONING IS MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
THE MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT IS INTENDED TO PROMOTE A VARIETY OF SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ON SMALLER LOTS AND LOW DENSITY DISTRICTS IN A DENSE DE DEVELOPMENT PATTERN.
THE PROPOSED ZONING IS A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
THIS DISTRICT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR INNOVATION IN PROJECTS.
THE, THE SITE LOCATION LOCATION IS ADJACENT TO MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS TO THE EAST AND WEST MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 23 TO THE NORTH AND PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 16 AND MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO THE SOUTH.
THIS IS AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROPERTY.
THIS IS A CONCEPTUAL RENDERING OF THE PROPERTY.
THIS IS ANOTHER RENDERING OF THE PROPERTY.
AND THIS SIDE SLIDE SLIDE SHOWS A STREET VIEW OF THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.
THIS SIDE SHOWS A STREET VIEW OF THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.
AND THIS FINAL SLIDE SHOWS A VIEW OF THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
CODE SECTIONS TWO 11.006 AND TWO 11.007.
A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES, TIMES TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
OR MAY 5TH, 2025 AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING.
THERE WERE ONE, THERE WAS ONE WRITTEN OPPOSITION, NO VERBAL OPPOSITIONS AND NO LETTERS RETURNED ON JULY 29TH, 2025.
IT'S CITY COUNCIL, WHICH IS TODAY.
SO FAR WE HAVE RECEIVED NO WRITTEN OPPOSITION AND NO LETTERS RETURNED.
ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBERS? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS? OKAY.
UM, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? OKAY.
WE CAN CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'RE GONNA GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
Y'ALL BETTER TELL ME, I'M SORRY.
[00:35:01]
MOTION.A MOTION THAT WE, UH, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6 0 6.
I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[IV.(2) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments And To Consider The Following: Z25-02 CITY OF PORT ARTHUR – To Consider A Zoning Text Amendment To Appendix A, Section 3. Land Uses, Of The City Of Port Arthur Zoning Ordinance To Include The Following "Automobile" Related Uses As Legally Conforming Uses In The Heavy Industrial & Light Industrial Districts Tire Sales Automobile Repair – Minor Automobile Sales Automobile Repair & Sales Automobile Auction If You Cannot Attend The Meeting, You May Send A Letter To The Planning Director, City Of Port Arthur, 444 Fourth Street, Planning Department Third Floor, Port Arthur, TX 77641. If There Are Additional Questions You May Contact The Planning Department At (409) 983-8133 The Public Will Also Be Able To View The Public Hearing Via The City’s Website At www.portarthurtx.gov PURPOSE OF SECOND HEARING: This Second Public Hearing Is Necessary Because A Previous Publication Of The Notice For This Item Contained Inaccuracies. This Corrected Notice Is Being Published To Ensure Proper Notification To All Interested Parties]
WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING.UH, THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR ZONING TAX AMENDMENT OF APPENDIX A OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION 3.03 OF THE LAND USE TABLE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT WILL BE THE ZONING TAX AMENDMENT WILL BE CITYWIDE.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO AMEND APPENDIX A SECTION 3.303 TO REGULATE AND PROVIDE FOR CONDITIONS AS IT RELATES TO AUTOMOBILE RELATED USES BY INCLUDING THE IDENTIFIED USES INTO, INTO THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AND THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
A COMPLETE APPLICATION WAS FILED WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ON OR AROUND JANUARY 7TH, 2025, REQUESTING A ZONING TEXT CHANGE.
FURTHER ABOVE MENTIONED ORDINANCE.
THE ZONING TEXT CHANGE WILL ALLOW THE PROPOSED USES TO LEGALLY CONFORM AT SAID LOCATIONS.
PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS CITYWIDE VIA MAIL AND WAS INCLUDED IN THE APRIL WATER BILL CYCLE AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON JANUARY 18TH, 2025.
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WAS HELD ON APRIL 21ST, 2025, INVITING CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED ZERO FOUR TO ZERO RECOMMENDING THAT THE REQUEST BE APPROVED ON FEBRUARY 25TH, 2025.
THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 DASH SEVEN ZERO CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PUBLISHED A PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON APRIL 19TH, 2025 AND DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE PUBLIC NOTICE, RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 DASH 2 87 WAS APPROVED ON JULY 1ST, 2025 TO RESCHEDULE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR TODAY, JULY 29TH, 2025.
THE FOLLOWING CLASSIFICATIONS OR USE TYPES ARE PROPOSED FOR INCLUSION AS A PART OF THE ZONING TAX AMENDMENT.
THE RED X INDICATES THAT THE ORDINANCE CURRENTLY REFLECTS WHAT THE, WHAT THE ORDINANCE CURRENTLY REFLECTS.
AND THE YELLOW INDICATES THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT ADDITIONS TIRE SALES TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LIGHT, INDUSTRIAL AND HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.
AUTOMOBILE SALES AND REPAIR TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS AUTOMOBILE AUCTION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS AUTOMOBILE REPAIR, MINOR TO BE INCLUDED IN THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS AND AUTOMOBILE PARTS AND CELLS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.
ACCORDING TO SECTION 2.04 D OF THE NON-RESIDENTIAL D ZONING DISTRICTS.
LIGHT INDUSTRIAL IS DEFINED AS A LAND USE TYPE TO PROVIDE FOR LOCATIONS ON SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIAL USES THAT INVOLVE EXTENSIVE PROCESSINGS MANUFACTURINGS OR ASSEMBLY OF VARIOUS PRODUCTS OR EQUIPMENT.
ACCORDING TO SECTION 2.04 A OF NON-RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS, THE PURPOSE OF THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT IS TO PROVIDE LOCATIONS FOR LARGE SCALE INDUSTRIAL USES THAT INVOLVE EXTENSIVE PROCESSING MANUFACTURINGS OR ASSEMBLY OF LARGE PRODUCTS OR EQUIPMENT.
THIS DISTRICT IS INTENDED TO ALLOW FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE MORE INTENSE THAN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS AND MAY INCLUDE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES OR THE USE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIAL.
THE ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS LOCAL GO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS TWO 11.006 AND TWO 11.007.
A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON APRIL 21ST, 2025 AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
WE RECEIVED NO WRITTEN OPPOSITION, ONE VERBAL OPPOSITION, AND NO LETTERS RETURNED.
AND TODAY AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, JULY 29TH, 2025, WE HAVE SO FAR RECEIVED NO WRITTEN OPPOSITION AND NO LETTERS RETURNED.
ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBERS? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS PROPOSED PUBLIC HEARING.
I HAVE ONE CITY COUNCIL, YOU CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
UH, MS. MS. ULA, YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE PODIUM.
YOU CAN'T SPEAK FROM THE AUDIENCE.
YOU CAN STAND UP AND COME TO THE PODIUM.
[00:40:01]
CENTER STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.THE ONLY COMMENT I HAD ABOUT THE PRESENTATION, AND IT'S NOT JUST HIS, BUT MS. DO IT LOOKS LIKE A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION.
GIMME YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS COUNCIL PEOPLE.
BUT YOU BELIEVE ME, THAT'S OKAY.
BUT I'VE BEEN TO COUNCIL MEETING, BUT I HAVE NEVER SPOKEN.
BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS, IF WE GONNA BE IN THE MEETINGS, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND IT.
I KNOW MS. FAYE, MS. ER GIMME YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS IN THE MIC.
AND THEN YOUR ADDRESS, A LONG LIFE RESIDENT OF FOR ARTHUR TEXAS AND ADDRESS.
AND EIGHT 19 EAST 10TH STREET.
BUT I, I DO WANT TO BE HONEST AND UPFRONT WITH IT BECAUSE I AM INTERESTED IN PORT ARTHUR.
AND I, I'M JUST WANTING TO HEAR AND UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I DO HAVE A HEARING.
BUT, AND THAT'S BEEN SINCE I WAS A CHILD, BUT I'VE GONE TO BUSINESS MEETINGS BEFORE.
HE DID A JOB OF A VERY GOOD JOB, I THINK, OF THE PRESENTATION, BUT I COULDN'T HEAR IT.
SO THEREFORE I CAN'T GIVE A QUESTION OR ANSWER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, EACH PERSON THAT COMES TO CITY HALL AND, AND TAKE PART WITH THIS, THAT WE DO GET THE INFORMATION.
ALL OF THIS IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT'S, IT'S REALLY NOT SOMETHING, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN ADDRESS WITH YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY OR HOWEVER I NEED TO DO THAT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OPPOSITION? SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU COULD NOT HEAR THE PRESENTATION? I CANNOT.
I COULD HEAR PEOPLE TALKING, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, EVEN YOU ALL BUT THE SPEAKERS OR SOMETHING IS NOT ADEQUATE ENOUGH.
WE CAN TAKE ACTIVE ROLE IN THAT.
UM, ANYONE ELSE FROM THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? ANYONE ELSE FROM THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY, AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE COMMENTS AND THEN I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION FOR COUNCILMAN MCIN LAW.
HAD A QUESTION, MAYOR? NO, UH, MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE ARE YOU THROUGH MAYOR? YEAH, WE'RE GONNA MM-HMM.
UH, MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT SIX 13.
AND SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? THE AYES HAVE IT.
AND THE MOTION THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
THIS IS THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING, I THINK.
I THOUGHT WE HAD THREE, OUR FINAL
[IV.(3) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments And To Consider The Following: Proposed Change: A Zoning Map Amendment (Z25-06) To Grant A Specific Use Permit (SUP) For The Operation Of An "Automobile Sales And/Or Repair Shop" Within A Commercial Retail (CR) Zoned District In The City Of Port Arthur Site Location: 1801 Woodworth Boulevard (South Of Woodworth Boulevard Between 17th Street And 18th Street) Legal Description: 0.324 Acre Of Land, Lots 11 & 12, Block 327, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas Citizens With Questions Regarding The Description Of This Property Can Contact The City Planning Department At (409) 983-8133. The Public Will Also Be Able To View The Public Hearing Via The City's Website At www.portarthurtx.gov]
PUBLIC HEARING FOR TONIGHT AND AT THIS TIME.MAYOR, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR APPROXIMATELY 0.3 24 ACRE OF LAND CONSISTING OF LOTS 11 AND LOTS 12 OF BLOCK 3 27 CITY, PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON AT 1801 WOODWORK BOULEVARD.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO ALLOW THE OPERATION OF AN AUTOMOBILE SALES AND REPAIR IN A COMMERCIAL RETAIL DISTRICT.
A COMPLETE APPLICATION WAS FILED WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ON OR AROUND MAY 23RD, 2025, REQUESTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT ON THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROPERTY.
THE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT WILL ALLOW THE PROPOSED USES TO LEGALLY CONFORM AT FED LOCATIONS.
PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THE PROPOSED SITE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 12TH, 2025, AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON JUNE 14TH, 2025.
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WAS HELD ON JULY 7TH, 2025, INVITING CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST.
A PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED FOUR TO ZERO, RECOMMENDING THAT THE REQUEST BE APPROVED ON JULY 1ST, 2025.
THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 DASH 2 82, CALLING FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING.
THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PUBLISHED THE PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON JULY 12TH, 2025, AS WELL AS PREPARED AND MAILED NOTIFICATIONS TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS ON OR AROUND JULY 8TH, 2025.
THE CURRENT ZONING IS COMMERCIAL RETAIL.
THE PUR PURPOSE OF COMMERCIAL RETAIL DISTRICT IS TO PROVIDE A LOCATION FOR LIGHT COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL ACTIVITIES.
THESE LOCATIONS ARE TYPICALLY ALONG MAJOR THOROUGHFARES
[00:45:01]
AND HIGHWAYS.THE PROPOSED ZONING IS SPECIFIC USE PERMIT.
THE PURPOSE OF THE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT IS TO ALLOW A DESIGNATED USE AT A DESIGNATED LOCATION AND APPROVAL FOR A SPECIFIC USE THAT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE MORE INTENSE OR TO HAVE POTENTIALLY GREATER IMPACT THAN A USE PERMIT BY RIGHT WITHIN THE SAME ZONING DISTRICT.
THE SITE LOCATION IS ADJACENT TO COMMERCIAL RETAIL DISTRICTS TO THE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST.
THIS IS AN AREA VIEW OF THE PROPERTY.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS A STREET VIEW OF THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.
AND THIS SLIDE SHOWS A VIEW OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION TWO 11.006 AND TWO 11.007.
A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
JULY 7TH, 2025, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING.
THERE WERE NO WRITTEN COMMENTS, OPPOSITIONS, NO VERBAL OPPOSITIONS, AND NO LETTERS RETURNED.
AND JULY 29TH FOR TODAY'S C UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WERE NO WRITTEN OPPOSITIONS AND NO LETTERS RETURNED.
ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBERS? DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY LIGHTS? OKAY.
I WILL PROPOSE TO THE AUDIENCE YOU HAVE ANY, UM, COMMENTS ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS PUBLIC HEARING? ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS LAST TIME? WE HAVE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS PUBLIC HEARING? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THIS PER PUBLIC HEARING.
I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WE HAVE NO QUESTIONS.
THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
MADAM, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS AT THIS TIME.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE SINCE OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE OVER, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO YES.
WE'RE GONNA GO BACKWARD AND WE'RE GOING
[III.C.(1) A Presentation By The Director Of Finance Lynda Boswell, ICMA-CM, And Financial Advisor, Senior Managing Director Of Hilltop Securities, Inc. Ms. Ann Burger Entrekin Regarding The Combination Tax And Revenue Certificates Of Obligation]
TO GO BACK TO PRESENTATIONS.AND UNDER THE CITY MANAGER STAFF REPORTS, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION NUMBER ONE.
IS THAT CORRECT? AM I ON TASK? OKAY.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE TO YOU OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, MS. BERGER KIN.
SHE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL AND WE WORK VERY COLLABORATIVELY ON THE PRESENTATION SHE'S GOING TO MAKE ON THIS REVENUE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION.
HONORABLE MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS MR. BURDEN.
AS MS. BOSWELL SAID, I'M ANN BERGER.
I'M WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING PORT ARTHUR AS YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
THE ITEM THAT I'M HERE FOR THIS EVENING IS TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, UM, BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GET INTO THE BOND SALE, ONE OF THE VERY IMPORTANT STEPS THAT WE TAKE IN THIS PROCESS IS TO GET THE BONDS RATED.
YOUR BONDS ARE RATED BY STANDARD AND POORS AND I, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS BECAUSE THEY ARE REQUIRED FROM A REGULATORY PERSPECTIVE TO LOOK AT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
NOT, NOT JUST COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS, BUT COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND OTHER ENTITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS CONSISTENCY IN THE RATING PROCESS.
AND CONGRATULATIONS, THE CITY, UH, YOU KEPT YOUR SAME RATING AND A PLUS WITH A STABLE OUTLOOK.
AND THIS PROCESS, BECAUSE OF THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT THAT THE RATING AGENCIES ARE IN, IT IS FAR MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND STRINGENT THAN IT'S BEEN IN THE PAST.
UH, THEY SEND A LIST OF QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE.
THEY ALSO HAVE A LIST OF MATERIALS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE.
AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND MS. BOSWELL FOR ALL OF THE PREPARATION AND THE WORK.
AND MR. BURTON WAS ALSO A PART OF THAT PHONE CALL AS WELL.
AND, UH, IT JUST, I THOUGHT IT WENT EXTREMELY WELL.
ON THIS PARTICULAR PAGE, WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED A COUPLE OF THE PHRASES THAT WERE IN THE
[00:50:01]
REPORT.THEY TALK ABOUT STRONGER THAN BUDGETED REVENUE GROWTH AND UNDERSPENDING.
THEY TALKED ABOUT YOUR FUND BALANCE, WHICH THEY CONSIDER VERY STRONG, AND THAT IS WELL ABOVE THE CITY'S POLICY.
THEY TALK ABOUT YOU AND THAT YOU EXPECT BETTER THAN BREAK EVEN OPERATING RESULTS IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THEY THINK THAT YOUR DEBT BURDEN WILL REMAIN MANAGEABLE GIVEN THE CITY'S GROWING TAX BASE.
THEY TALK ABOUT A HISTORY OF BETTER THAN BREAK EVEN RESULTS BEFORE CAPITAL SPENDING.
AND THEN THEY TALK ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES AND THEY SAY THAT, UH, YOU HAVE A LONG-TERM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
YOU HAVE A FORMAL FUND BALANCE POLICY OF KEEPING AT LEAST 60 DAYS.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'D REALLY LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY.
MANY OF THESE POLICIES I KNOW START AT THE GOVERNING BODY LEVEL, AND YOU'VE GOT A TREMENDOUS STAFF THAT WORKS VERY DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE POLICIES ARE ADHERED TO.
AND THOSE ARE WHAT ARE KEEPING THE CITY'S RATING THE SAME.
YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS PROCESS DOES CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND I'VE TOLD MS. BOSWELL THAT AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT I CAN MAYBE BE HELPFUL FROM A STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVE OR LOOKING FORWARD PERSPECTIVE, I'M VERY HAPPY TO DO THAT MOVING FORWARD.
THE SPECIFIC ITEM THAT WE'RE HERE FOR THIS EVENING ARE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AND THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED, UM, A NOT TO EXCEED $18 MILLION.
SO THE BID THAT WE HAVE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING, THE P AMOUNT IS 17,000,675.
BUT IF YOU LOOK ON THE RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THAT THEIR COUPONS 5% ALL THE WAY DOWN, BUT THE YIELDS ARE LOWER.
WE'RE IN AN ENVIRONMENT TODAY WHERE INVESTORS WANT A PREMIUM BOND.
SO IF YOU LOOK OVER ON THE UPPER LEFT, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S ABOUT A $658,000 PREMIUM.
SO YOUR TOTAL SOURCES ARE 18,333,000.
WHAT THIS ALLOWS US TO DO IS TO PUT THE ENTIRE $18 MILLION INTO YOUR PROJECT CONSTRUCTION FUND AND THEN WE SHOW THE COST OF ISSUANCE, UNDERWRITERS DISCOUNT, AND MUNICIPAL BOND INSURANCE PREMIUM.
THE BID THAT WE HAVE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING IS AN INTEREST RATE OF 4.63% BY COMPARISON.
IF WE GO BACK AND WE LOOK AT WHAT WE WERE SHARING WITH YOUR STAFF BACK IN JUNE, AT THAT TIME, WE THOUGHT THAT THE PARAMOUNT WOULD BE 18 MILLION.
THAT, THAT YOU WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO PUT 17,738,000 INTO YOUR PROJECT FUND.
WE WERE PROJECTING A 4.84% INTEREST RATE AND TOTAL DEBT SERVICE IS SHOWN BELOW.
WELL, THE BID THAT WE HAVE FOR YOU THIS EVENING IS 17,675,000 IN PAR WITH THE WHOLE 18 MILLION IN THE PROJECT FUND AT AN INTEREST RATE OF 4.63.
AND SO WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE ARE MUCH STRONGER IN THE BID THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU THAN WE HAVE BEEN PROJECTING.
THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT WITH MUNICIPAL BONDS, IT IS STANDARD TO HAVE WHAT WE CALL A 10 YEAR CALL.
AND THAT MEANS YOU CAN PAY THE BONDS OFF IN 10 YEARS AT YOUR SOLE DISCRETION.
IN PART, ALL, UM, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE THE FULL ABILITY TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A NINE YEAR CALL ON THESE BONDS.
AND IF YOU CALL 'EM ON THAT CALL DATE, THEN THERE'S NO EXTRA COST.
SO WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AS WELL BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT STRUCTURING TRANSACTIONS FOR YOU, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN EMBED A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY AND NOT HAVE IT COST YOU MORE.
SO WHAT WE HAVE ON THIS PAGE IS CALLED GAME DAY.
IT'S, IT'S A ELECTRONIC ORDER SYSTEM AND THE BLUE LINES SHOW ALL THE MATURITIES THAT YOU HAVE FROM 2026 ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE FINAL YEAR.
WE HAVE A, OUR FIRST PRINCIPAL PAYMENT IS A LARGER PAYMENT IN ORDER TO MANAGE YOUR TAX RATE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAD ORDERS IN EVERY SINGLE YEAR EXCEPT, AND I WILL TELL YOU, YOU CAN SEE THE 36, 37 AND 38.
I'D LIKE TO REALLY COMMEND THE UNDERWRITERS BECAUSE THEY UNDERWROTE THOSE BONDS AND THEY HELD TO THE COUPONS AND YIELDS.
THE OTHER THING IS, WHEN WE ORIGINALLY LOOKED AT THIS, AT THE END OF THE ORDER PERIOD, THERE WERE NO ORDERS IN 39 TO 42.
AND THE UNDERWRITER IS SEABERT SHANK ALONG WITH PNC.
AND WE WERE VERY PLEASED BECAUSE THEY BROUGHT TO US GOING OUT AND TALKING TO POTENTIAL INVESTORS AN OPTION TO CHANGE THE COUPON, TO CHANGE THE YIELD.
SO IT ACTUALLY WAS SLIGHTLY BETTER FOR THE CITY AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GARNER AN ORDER DOING SO.
SO THEY WORKED REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY COULD
[00:55:01]
BRING A, A TRANSACTION LIKE THIS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION.YOUR INVESTORS ARE 16TH AMENDMENT FIFTH, THIRD BANK, EVERCORE PARTNERS, CL KING, WPG ADVISORS, HRBF AND SPRING MOUNTAIN CAPITAL.
THOSE ARE THE FIRMS AND INVESTORS THAT TURNED IN ORDERS FOR YOUR BONDS.
AND AS I NOTED, THE UNDERWRITERS UNDERWROTE APPROXIMATELY 13 MILLION, I'M SORRY, 13% OF THE BOND ISSUE REFLECTING 2.3 MILLION.
IN SUMMARY, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY APPROVE AND AWARD THE BID TO SEABERT WILLIAMS SHANK AS SENIOR MANAGER AND PNC AS A CO-MANAGER.
THE ACTUAL INTEREST RATE IS 21 BASIS POINTS LESS THAN WHAT WE HAD PROJECTED AT A 4.63.
THE PROJECT FUND DEPOSIT IS THE ENTIRE $18 MILLION AND THE DEBT SERVICES IS LESS.
UM, MY NEXT SENTENCE IS, I, I PUT IN HERE THAT WE WANNA EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO ALL YOUR STAFF, MR. BURTON, MS. BOSWELL, MS. CONTR AND, AND ALL THE OTHERS WHO HELPED IN THIS IS A VERY BUSY TIME.
AND IN PARTICULAR ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE RATING AGENCIES REALLY COMPLIMENTED THE CITY ON WAS THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE GOTTEN COMPLETELY CAUGHT UP IN ALL OF YOUR AUDITS AND THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT WAS.
SO IN THE MIDST OF GETTING ALL THE AUDITS COMPLETED, BUDGET, SO MANY THINGS GOING ON, YOUR STAFF HAS JUST BEEN AMAZING TO WORK WITH.
THEY ARE SO RESPONSIVE, UH, THE WAY THAT THEY WORKED WITH THE RATING AGENCY PROCESS, THE DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS.
AND WE JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE ALL THEY DO TO HELP US IN BRINGING A BID LIKE THIS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UM, DEREK MITCHELL, YOUR BOND COUNCIL COULD NOT BE HERE THIS EVENING, BUT OF COURSE HE DID A VERY WONDERFUL JOB AS PART OF THE PROCESS.
AGAIN, I REALLY THINK THE UNDERWRITERS, THEY BROUGHT IDEAS, THEY WORKED THIS AND I THINK THAT'S VERY HELPFUL FOR THE CITY.
AND THEN FINALLY, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO ANY QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION AND OUR FIRM'S APPRECIATION.
WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR FOR MANY YEARS AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL AND APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE HAS HIS LIGHT ON, HAS A QUESTION, ANN? YES SIR.
YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION IS TALKING ABOUT GETTING ON THE, UH, FAIR POWER TO REDUCE THE RATES IF THEY REDUCE THE RATES.
UH, I AND I THINK IT'S WHAT THIS MONTH OR YES, AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT'S UM, I THINK IT'S NEXT, IT'S NEXT WEEK.
WHAT, UM, THE, THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT THE FED IS THE FED FUNDS RATE AND THAT'S ON THE VERY, VERY FRONT END OF THE YIELD CURVE.
THAT'S VERY, VERY, VERY SHORT TERM.
YOU'VE GOT THE BACK END OF THE YIELD CURVE AND THERE'S NOT ALWAYS A CORRELATION.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT'S VERY INTERESTING, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU, IF YOU'VE REALLY FOCUSED ON IT, BUT REALLY IN 22 AND 23 WE HAD ALMOST A FLAT CURVE.
THEY CALLED IT A YIELD CURVE, BUT IT WAS ALMOST FLAT.
YOUR INTEREST RATES ON THE FRONT END WERE ALMOST AS HIGH AS THEY WERE ON THE BACK END.
WHAT HAS HA HAPPENED, COUNCILMAN DO SET, IS WE HAD A WEEK AND A HALF AGO THE VERY FIRST TIME WE'RE THE FIRST YIELD IN THE FIRST YEAR.
AND THE YIELD IN THE 30 YEAR WE'RE 210 BASIS POINTS APART THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN A YIELD CURVE LIKE THAT IN A VERY LONG TIME.
SO WHILE THE FRONT END OF THE YIELD CURVE HAS COME DOWN, WE'VE SEEN THE BACK END REMAIN RELATIVELY LEVEL OR IN A COUPLE OF INSTANCES EVEN GO UP A LITTLE BIT.
THE BACK END OF THE YIELD CURVE IS WHAT INVESTORS REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT MAY HAPPEN WITH INFLATION.
SO, SO BASICALLY THIS IS PRETTY GOOD NO MATTER IF IT, IF IT DECREASES BECAUSE WHATEVER THE DECREASE IS IS NOT GONNA BE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO HOLD US UP TO GETTING THIS DONE.
SO WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAYING THAT AFTER ALL WHAT YOU SAID, YES SIR.
AND THE, I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT REASON WHY WE NEGOTIATED A NINE YEAR CALL INSTEAD OF A 10 YEAR CALL.
IF INTEREST RATES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS START COMING DOWN, IT'S GONNA PUT THE POSITION, THE CITY, IN A POTENTIAL POSITION TO MAYBE REFUND OR REFINANCE THESE BONDS FOR DEBT SERVICE SAVINGS.
IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, WE DID THAT MANY YEARS UP UNTIL THE INTEREST RATES WENT UP SO MUCH.
BUT WE, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THAT AND LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES.
OKAY WITH THAT, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN ANN.
[VIII.B.(5) P.O. No. 7350 – An Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Authorizing The Issuance And Sale Of City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Combination Tax And Revenue Certificates Of Obligation, Series 2025 In The Aggregate Principal Amount Not To Exceed $18,000,000.00; Levying A Tax In Payment Thereof; Making Other Provisions Regarding Such Certificates Of Obligation, Including Authorizing The Preparation And Distribution Of One Or More Preliminary Official Statements And Authorizing The Preparation And Distribution Of One Or More Official Statements And Matters Incident Thereto; Awarding The Sale Of The Certificates; Authorizing The Execution And Delivery Of One Or More Purchase Agreements; Authorizing Bond Insurance; Authorizing The Execution And Delivery Of A Paying Agent/Registrar Agreement; Authorizing And Confirming The Engagement Of Certain Professionals In Connection With The Issuance Of The Certificates Of Obligation; Finding And Determining That The Meeting At Which This Ordinance Is Passed Is Open To The Public As Required By Law; And Enacting Other Provisions Relating Thereto]
TIME WE'RE GONNA BRING UP, UM, THE COMPANION,[01:00:01]
UH, NON-CONSENT, UM, ITEM SO THAT WE CAN GO MOVE ON AND VOTE ON THAT.IT'S GONNA BE PAGE 14 AND IT'S NUMBER FIVE, PAGE 14.
SO PO NUMBER 7 3 5 OH IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE IN SALE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
COMBINATION TAX AND REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION SERIES 2025 AND THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $18 MILLION, LEVYING A TAX IN PAYMENT THEREOF, MAKING OTHER PROVISIONS REGARDING SUCH CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION, INCLUDING AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ONE OR MORE PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ONE OR MORE OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND MATTERS, UH, INCIDENT THERETO AWARDING THE SALE OF THE CERTIFICATES, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF ONE OR MORE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS, AUTHORIZING BOND INSURANCE AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A PAIN AGENT REGISTRAR AGREEMENT.
AUTHORIZING AND CONFIRMING THE ENGAGEMENT OF CERTAIN PROFESSIONALS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS ORDINANCE IS PASSED IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW AND ENACTING OF THE PROVISIONS RELATING THERE TO.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED.
I HAVE GOT A SECOND AND A MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER ETT QUESTIONS? YES, I READ THE BACKGROUND.
WE HAD ACTUALLY THE, THE FORM OF THE CERTIFICATE OBLIGATION AND EVERYTHING AND THE AMOUNT WE JUST LEFT BLANK, WHICH WE KNOW 18 MILLION.
AND WE ALSO LISTED THE, THE THINGS WE WANTED TO DO WITH THE MONEY.
BUT WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT IT, LAST PRESENTATION WE HAD, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE REQUESTED THAT WE HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF THE MONEY IN EACH AREA SO THAT WHEN WE APPROVE THE CERTIFICATE, WE KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IS GONNA GO WITH EACH AREA.
'CAUSE WE HAVE, UH, STREET SIDEWALL CONSTRUCTION, WE HAVE BUILDINGS AND WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE'VE GOT AS THE PURPOSE FOR THE BONDS.
DID WE DO THAT? DO YOU HAVE AN ITEMIZATION? DID WE DO THAT AT THIS TIME? LYNN, COULD YOU HELP US OUT OR WHOMEVER YOU DEEM NECESSARY.
THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER I WILL CALL UP, UH, MS. PAMELA LANGFORD.
SHE AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE DIFFERENT AREAS, BUT THESE AREN'T SET IN STONE BECAUSE WE HADN'T PASSED OUR BUDGET AND YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE CAPITAL.
AND THEN WHEN WE GET CLOSER TO THAT, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND DELINEATE DELINEATE AT THAT TIME.
WHAT I'M VOTING FOR NOW IS $14 MILLION CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS.
AND I ALSO READ THE CERTIFICATE BASED AND WHAT WE GONNA DO WITH THE MONEY WE ARE GONNA BE USING IT FOR.
WHEN IT FIRST CAME IN THE LAST TIME, FOR US TO HAVE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING IN EACH CATEGORY.
TO WHEN WE GOT, WHEN THIS CAME TO US.
SEE, WHEN I APPROVE 18 MILLION AND YOU SAVE 5 MILLION FOR STREET, 5 MILLION FOR BUILDINGS AND RESERVATIONS AND ALL OF THE AREAS, HOW MUCH? YEAH.
SO THAT IS WHERE THE MONEY SHOULD BE BE SPENT AND THAT'S HOW CERTIFICATE OBLIGATION WORKS.
SO FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS EVENING'S MEETING, I DON'T KNOW, ARE WE PREPARED TO OKAY.
WE'RE PREPARED TO, UH, PROVIDE THE IDEAS OF WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SPEND IT FOR.
HOWEVER, THAT CAN ALWAYS CHANGE DURING THE BUDGET MEETINGS IF YOU GUYS SO CHOOSE.
UH, PAM LANGFORD, OUR ASSISTANT CITY, CITY MANAGER.
UM, WE HAVE, UM, DRAFTED A PROPOSED, UM, BUDGET FOR THOSE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION THAT WE ARE WAITING TO PRESENT TO THE CITY MANAGER.
UM, HOWEVER, UM, THAT DRAFT PROPOSAL DOES CONSIST OF IMPROVEMENTS TO CITY FACILITIES, ACTUAL, UM, BUILDING STRUCTURES.
[01:05:01]
THEM I KNOW THE CITY MANAGER HAS SPOKEN TO COUNCIL ABOUT, UM, WHICH IS THE GATES BUILDING LOCATED ON GATES BOULEVARD, UM, THE ST.MARY'S SITE, UM, THE SINGULAR BUILDING ON 39TH STREET AND THE CITY'S ARMORY.
UM, THERE ARE ALSO, UM, PROPOSED PROJECTS WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, WHICH ARE PARK IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL AS, UM, THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND LAND ACQUISITION FOR THE RECREATION FACILITY THAT'S CURRENTLY ON NINTH AVENUE.
UM, OTHER PROPOSED PROJECTS WOULD BE THE, UM, DRAINAGE PUMP SYSTEM ON THE GOLF COURSE, UM, THAT'S NEEDING TO BE CONSTRUCTED.
UM, AND THERE ARE SOME IMPROVEMENTS, UM, THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR CITY HALL, WHICH INCLUDES, UM, IMPROVEMENTS ACTUALLY TO THE AUDIO VISUAL SETUP IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED, BUT WE DO HAVE A LIST TO PROVIDE TO THE MANAGER TO PROVIDE TO COUNSEL UPON HIS, SO LET ME COUNSEL.
THE, SO THE, WE HAVE TO, THE WAY THAT THIS IS WORKING LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE TO GET THE BONDS APPROVED BEFORE THEY'RE ASSIGNED.
IS THAT, IS THAT I SEE LYNN SHAKING IN HER HEAD.
THAT'S, THAT'S I WANTED CLARITY FOR THE, FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND AGAIN, THE PROPOSED PROJECTS, THE CITY MANAGER WILL BE BROUGHT, BRING FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
SO THE DOLLARS WILL BE AVAILABLE.
AND, BUT WE JUST NEED TO WORK ON THE PROJECTS WHERE THE COUNCIL CAN DIRECT THAT THAT IS CORRECT.
THE REASON NOT ASK THIS QUESTION.
WHEN CITIES GO IN FOR CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS, THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT THE MONEY FOR.
WHEN WE SELL THE BONDS MM-HMM
WHOEVER BUY THE BONDS, THEY READING THIS FARM ON WHAT WE WANNA SPEND THE MONEY ON.
THAT'S WHAT THEY BUY THE BONDS FOR.
THAT'S WHAT WE SUSPEND THE MONEY ON.
A BUDGET, WHEN YOU TELL ME WE GOT $18 MILLION AND IN THE BUDGET WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THESE PROJECTS AND WE GOT ALL THESE THINGS, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
ALL YOU'RE TELLING ME NOW IS WE'VE GOT EIGHT, WE WENT AND GOT $18 MILLION YES, SIR.
TO NOW JUST FUND THINGS FOR PROJECTS THAT FIT UNDER THE CATEGORIES THAT WERE LISTED.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS, ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT YOU MENTIONED, THOSE PLUS SUM ARE GOING TO STILL BE THINGS WE BUDGETED FOR.
AND WHEN YOU PRESENTED IT, WE KNOW, BUT WHEN YOU SAY, I WANT TO SELL MM-HMM
THEN WHEN WE GET $18 MILLION, THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD SPEND IT ON.
A BUDGET YOU HAVE TO DO AND YOU HAVE TO LIVE BY.
BUT WHEN WE APPROVE GETTING ADDITIONAL MONEY AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M NOT, I'M NOT IN THAT.
I'M NOT FAR APPROVING GETTING ANY MONEY THAT A BLANK CHECK.
IF, IF I'M GONNA APPROVE CERTIFICATE OBLIGATIONS, I WANNA KNOW WHY ARE WE GONNA SELL THESE BONDS? WHY ARE WE GONNA TAKE THIS DEBT? I'M NOT GOING TO GET THE MONEY AND LET SOMEBODY DECIDE HOW WE GONNA DO IT.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT HOW CI CERTIFICATE OBLIGATION WORKS.
THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND ABOUT CERTIFICATE OBLIGATION.
THIS IS NOT NOTHING I'M BRINGING UP.
NOW, THIS IS THE POINT I BROUGHT UP WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT GOING FOR THESE CERTIFICATE OBLIGATIONS.
SO SINCE THE LAST TIME WE HAD THIS MEETING, I KNOW HOW MUCH WE WANT, AND I KNEW WHAT THE CATEGORIES WERE.
I ASKED DEFINE HOW MUCH WE GONNA PUT IN EACH CATEGORY.
BUT THE WAY I'M HEARING IT, I'M GONNA APPROVE IT.
WE GOING TO GET $18 MILLION AND NOW IT'S GONE IN THE, IN THE GENERAL FUND.
AND WE GOING TO BE DOING PROJECTS THAT WE GOING TO DO BECAUSE WE GOING TO FUND A WHOLE BUNCH OF PROJECTS MORE THAN $18 MILLION.
I JUST DON'T BELIEVE IN CERTIFICATE OBLIGATIONS.
'CAUSE NORMALLY WHEN CITY CELL CERTIFICATES OBLIGATION, THEY HAVE SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
AND IN, IN SOME CASES YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE PURPOSE.
WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT PURPOSES WE WANT TO SELL.
WELL, THIS IS WHAT THE PURPOSE WE WANT FOR, BUT IF WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE SHOULD KNOW HOW MUCH WE GETTING TO PUT INTO STREETS,
[01:10:01]
HOW MUCH WE GETTING IN HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MONITOR THE SPENDING OF THE MONEY AND ENSURE THAT THE MONEY IS SPENT THE, THE PROPER WEIGHT.AND WE DO HAVE THE PROPOSED AMOUNTS FOR EACH CATEGORY.
WHEN I INITIALLY ASKED, I CAN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION BEFORE THE END OF COUNCIL MEETING.
I JUST HAVE TO GO AND OBTAIN IT.
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE IT.
MY QUESTION WAS, DO WE HAVE IT? WE DO.
CITY MANAGER HAS HIS LIGHT ON.
YEAH, IT'S, IT'S, SHE DOES HAVE IT.
BUT AGAIN, THE MONEY IS SPENT IS MEANT FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
IT'S MEANT FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS.
UH, BASED ON AS COUNCILMAN SKIN, UM, TO SAY, AS YOU INDICATED ON IT, IS BASED FOR THE CAPITAL.
I CAN PROVIDE A FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, UNDER THE SPECIFIC CATEGORIES THAT LISTED.
I CAN PROVIDE THE, THE AMOUNTS FOR EACH CATEGORY.
AND I WANNA SAY, AND THE REASON I SAY IT, 'CAUSE SEE YOU TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT EVEN IF YOU PUT IT IN CAPITAL, EVEN WHEN YOU DO YOUR CAPITAL, YOU HAVE TO BREAK IT DOWN WHERE THE FUNDING SOURCE IS.
AND AT THE BOTTOM IS WHERE YOU GOING SAY TALENT CERTIFICATE OBLIGATION.
ANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND STUFF.
THAT'S ALL I WAS ASKING IF YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME THAT.
YEAH, BECAUSE THAT WAS LIKE 15 MINUTES.
UH, IT WASN'T ATTACHED TO OUR, IT WASN'T IN THE BACKGROUND.
BUT I, I CAN PROVIDE IT BEFORE THE END OF THIS MEETING.
YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WELCOME.
DO YOU HAVE A LIGHT ON? WELL, UH, UH, I, THAT WAS THE THING.
I DO REMEMBER HIM BRINGING IT UP MONTHS AGO.
WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COS AND ACTUALLY WHERE THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THROUGH THE CITY.
SO DO WE WANT TO JUST HOLD OFF ON THIS BEFORE APPROV? OR HOW DO YOU WANT TO, WHAT'S THE PLAY? SHE HAS A, SHE HAS A, I CAN PROVIDED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING.
WE'RE GONNA GO BACK NOW TO PAGE TWO.
[III.C.(2) An Update By Interim Fire Chief Robert Havens And Interim Deputy Fire Chief Antonio Mitchell Regarding The City Fire Stations]
NUMBER TWO, AN UPDATE BY OUR INTERIM FIRE CHIEF ROBERT HAVENS AND, UH, INTERIM DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF ANTONIO MITCHELL REGARDING THE FIRE CITY FIRE STATIONS.ANTONIO, YOU OKAY? GOOD AFTERNOON.
HOW Y'ALL DOING? SO, UM, SOME ISSUES ARE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AND UH, THIS FIRST DOCUMENT YOU SEE, UM, EVERY ISSUE WAS PUT ON THE DOCUMENT.
AND WE HAVE A PLAN FOR A 30 DAY PLAN, A 90 DAY PLAN.
AND ALSO WE HAVE A PLAN FOR SUCCESSION OF GETTING EVERYTHING CLEANED UP.
SO IF YOU JUST SCROLL THROUGH THAT MR. LENS, THAT'D BE GREAT.
UM, JUST KIND OF SHOWING THE STRATEGIES WE HAVE TO GET THESE, UM, ISSUES ADDRESSED AND ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN THIS BUDGET YEAR AND ALSO WITHIN THE FIRST 90 DAYS.
SO WE HAVE NO, Y'ALL DON'T HAVE IT.
I CAN MAKE THAT AVAILABLE IF YOU NEED IT.
I CAN MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO YOU GUYS.
LIKE I SAID, THIS IS JUST THE OVERALL PLAN AND GOAL FOR THE 30 DAYS, 90 DAYS.
AND ANYTHING THAT WE COULD TACKLE AFTER THAT, JUST KIND OF GIVE Y'ALL AN OVERVIEW OF IT.
YEAH, I'M GONNA GO, I'M, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH IT AS WELL.
SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE ARE WORKING ON NOW CURRENTLY.
THE, JUST GOTTA GO BACK TO IT.
SO I'LL, I'LL, I'LL START WITH THE FIRST FIRE STATION, UH, STATION NUMBER ONE.
UM, SOME OF THE ISSUES LIKE THE CONCRETE, WE HAVE GOT THAT TAKEN CARE OF.
WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A BID.
OUR, OUR QUOTE OUT FOR THAT AS WELL.
UM, WE DO HAVE A, THE PEST CONTROL, THE, UH, TERMITE DAMAGE.
WE ALREADY HAVE A QUOTE FOR THAT.
WE ACTUALLY, UH, IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THAT SCHEDULED, UM, THE FAR AS THE ROOF, THE CEILING ACCESS AND THE ROOF, THE DAMAGE.
AND, UH, WE HAD THE COMPANY COME OUT ON, UH, JULY 14TH TO LOOK AT IT.
UM, IT WASN'T SO MUCH OF THE DAMAGE OF THE ROOF, BUT MORE OR LESS THE JUST WEAR AND TEAR ON THE ROOF THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE ADDRESSED AS WELL.
UM, THAT WAS FOR STATION ONE, STATION TWO.
OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF, UH, GETTING THAT DONE TO HAVE A BUILD A NEW STATION IN THE WEST SIDE.
UH, STATION THREE ACTUALLY BEING REBUILT RIGHT NOW IS CURRENTLY WE SPEAK, UH, STATION FOUR ONLY MAJOR ISSUE WE HAD AT STATION FOUR, UH, WAS JUST, UM, UH, ONE OF OUR BOAT DOCKER, ADDING ON TO THE BOAT, UH, ACCESS FOR THAT TO HOUSE A BOAT.
UM, AND ALSO THE GENERATOR IS ALSO, UM, ORDERED FOR THAT STATION AS WELL.
UH, STATION FIVE, WE HAD SOME, UH, FLOOR ISSUES.
COMPANY CAME OUT TODAY, GAVE US BIDS.
UM, OUR TEAM AS WELL AS PURCHASING, WORKING ON THAT.
UH, WE SHOULD HAVE THAT WRAPPED UP AND DONE, UH, IN PLACE HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.
[01:15:04]
UH, ALSO THE FENCE.THAT WAS ONE OF THE KIND OF A LOW HANGING, UH, ITEM, SO WE ARE GONNA ADDRESS THAT AS WELL.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE PLAN ON GETTING DONE WITHIN THE FIRST 90 DAYS.
MORE OF A 90 DAY ISSUE THAN THE 30 DAYS.
UH, STATION SIX WAS PROBABLY THE STATION, I'M SORRY, STATION SIX WAS PROBABLY THE MOST ELABORATE.
UH, WE DID HAVE A MOLD REMEDIATION COMPANY COME OUT.
UH, HONESTY, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL.
THEY'RE WORKING ON THE, THE MOLD SIDE OF IT.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE SOMEBODY COME OUT TOMORROW AND, UH, TEST THE MOLD AS WELL AS WE HAVE A, THE, THE PROBLEM WE THINK IS THE STATION IS SO COLD CAUSING MOISTURE INSIDE AND IT'S COMBATING WITH THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES CAUSING MOISTURE AND IT'S JUST NOT BEING PULLED OUT BY THE HVAC SYSTEM.
SO WE DO HAVE PLANS TO PUT AN INLINE, UH, DEHUMIDIFIER IN THAT STATION.
UH, WE SHOULD HAVE THAT DONE IN AS WELL.
UM, THE FIRE ALARM AND THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM FOR THAT PO HAS ALREADY WENT OUT FOR EVERY ONE HOUR STATION WITH THE FIRE ALARM OR SPRINKLER SYSTEM TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
UH, STATION EIGHT, THE CONCRETE IN THE BACK OF STATION EIGHT, UH, ON THE, YOU CAN SEE IT, THIS WAS TAKEN BEFORE.
UH, I KIND OF, YOU CAN'T SEE IT, BUT ON THE, KIND OF ON THE BACK OF IT, THE BOTTOM PICTURE, THERE'S A KIND OF A CRATER IN THERE THAT HAS BEEN REDONE.
UH, THAT CONCRETE WAS REDONE, UM, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY THE, THE 29TH, I'M SORRY, THE 25TH, UM, JULY.
UM, ALSO THE ROOF LEAKS AND TERMITE DAMAGE WAS ALSO ADDRESSED.
THEY DID NOT SEE ANY TERMITE DAMAGE, UM, AT THAT STATION.
SO WE DIDN'T SEE THE NEED TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT.
UH, THE LIGHTING AND OTHER ISSUES AT THAT STATION.
DOES ALL THINGS WE PLAN ON ADDRESSING WITHIN THE 90 DAYS AS WELL.
I KNOW COUNCIL HAD, UH, A FEW CONCERNS ABOUT OUR INSURANCE AND HOW THEY WORK.
UH, WE DID CONTACT OUR INSURANCE.
UM, I TALKED TO HIM ON JULY THE 18TH.
WE'RE ALL GONNA HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF ALL OUR STATIONS.
UH, THE LAST TIME THAT WAS DONE IN 2023.
WE'RE GONNA REDO THAT IN 2025.
A LOT OF THE ISSUES WE HAD, A LOT OF THE THINGS WE ADDRESSED WITH HIM, UH, WAS BASICALLY WEAR AND TEAR STUFF THAT MAY NOT BE COVERED OR HE, HE DIDN'T BELIEVE TO BE COVERED UNDER THE, HE DIDN'T BELIEVE TO BE COVERED UNDER OUR INSURANCE.
MOST OF IT WAS JUST WEAR AND TEAR.
BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE THEM COME OUT AND LOOK AT THE STATIONS AND, UH, FINALIZE AND MAKE SURE THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN, WE CAN ADDRESS OUTSIDE OF OUR INSURANCE.
UM, LIKE I SAID, THE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS AND THE FIREARM ALARM SYSTEMS, ALL OF THAT'S BEEN REDONE.
PO WENT IN TODAY ARE, WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING THE PO IN FOR, UH, ALL OF THAT WORK TODAY.
I DON'T HAVE THE GRAND TOTAL FOR EACH ONE OF THE STATIONS, BUT THAT SHOULD BE PUT IN TOMORROW AND GET THAT SCHEDULED.
UH, CENTRAL FIRE STATION, WE JUST REDONE SOME AC WORK.
UH, WE HAVE FIVE UNITS CURRENTLY.
TWO UNITS ARE DOWN, ONE IN THE FRONT, ONE IN THE BACK.
UM, IT'S ABOUT 10,000 WORTH OF WORK.
WE ACTUALLY GETTING THAT SCHEDULED AS WELL.
UH, THE DOOR ACCESS, UH, CURRENTLY WE, UH, MH UM, MHC DATA.
THEY DID THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THEY'RE WORKING ON STATION THREE, WE HAVE TALKED TO THEM.
UM, WE'RE GONNA REPLACE EVERY DOOR AT OUR STATIONS TO HAVE THAT ACCESS CONTROL FOR EACH STATION.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY WORKING ON, WE'RE JUST WAITING ON HIM TO RETURN THE QUOTE FOR THAT.
UM, SOME OF THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WAS, UM, IDENTIFIED IN THE REPORT YOU'LL SEE, UH, WAS LIKE CABINET REPLACEMENT AT STATION ONE, UH, BAYER HEAT, BATER BAY HEATER DOORS, UH, AND SOME FENCE REPAIRS.
THOSE ARE ALL PROJECTED FOR THE 90 DAY OUTLOOK.
UM, SOME OF THE 90 DAY OUTLOOKS WE HAVE, WE WILL BE ADDRESS THEM EARLIER 'CAUSE WE'RE GETTING STUFF TAKEN CARE OF FASTER THAN, UH, WE ORIGINALLY PLANNED.
UM, I'M OPEN FOR QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
UH, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW HAS HIS LIGHT ON MY COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
AND THE REASON I ASKED YOU GUYS TO DO THIS REPORT, UH, CHIEF, IS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I REALLY HAVE A CONCERN THAT WE HAVE MOLD AND, AND, AND, AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING IN OUR STATION, CONCRETE ROOF, SEALS, WINDOWSILLS, AND I JUST DIDN'T COMPUTE TO ME WHY WE COULD NOT FILE A LOT OF THOSE THINGS ON INSURANCE.
AND IF YOU HAVE A 30, 60, 90 DAY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO GET THOSE THINGS CORRECT.
YOU KNOW, AS PUTTING OUR FIREFIGHTERS IN JEOPARDY, I THINK WITH SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN EASILY FIX AND FILE ON INSURANCE BECAUSE THE CITY, WE PAY A LOT ON INSURANCE TO PROVIDE THAT FOR OUR, UH, CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES.
SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, FOR ME PERSONALLY, IF YOU WOULD GIVE THE 30, 60, 90 DAY PROJECTION TO EACH COUNCIL MEMBER SO WE CAN HAVE AN IDEA.
BECAUSE IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FILING SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER, BUT I THINK IT WAS LIKE 300 SOMETHING THOUSAND THAT CHIEF PRESENTED AS A TOTAL THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE FIRE, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, STATIONS, UH, THAT HE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL.
BUT I THINK A LOT OF THOSE THINGS BASED UPON WHAT HE REPORTED ON A MEETING, A MEETING OR TWO AGO, THAT WE CAN FILE ON INSURANCE AND WE CAN GET THOSE THINGS TAKEN CARE OF WHERE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
SO, SO IF YOU, IF YOU CAN DO THAT FOR, FOR ME PERSONALLY AND THE COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE CLAIMED OR WHAT YOU,
[01:20:01]
BUT AT THE TIME OF THE PRESENTATION, NONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WERE CLAIMED ON INSURANCE, BUT WE PAY INSURANCE SO THAT WE CAN CLAIM SOME OF THOSE THINGS.SO NOW THE PREMIUM MAY GO UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT HOWEVER, BUT THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THOSE THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON, WHY PAY INSURANCE AND NOT GET IT FIXED.
UM, A LOT OF THOSE ISSUES AND CONCERNS WASN'T BROUGHT TO US UNTIL THAT TIME.
SO WE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH OUR INSURANCE.
WE'RE WORKING WITH HR TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.
WE HAVE ANOTHER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM.
UM, I ECHO AND AGREE WITH EVERYTHING COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW SAID, UH, SINCE I BROUGHT THIS UP FOR DISCUSSION SEVERAL MEETINGS AGO, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS FOLLOWING THROUGH AND GIVING US SOME DETAILS ON, UH, WHAT HAS BEEN DONE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE QUICKLY AND THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED OVER TIME.
JUST THANKS FOR DOING THAT FOR US, PROBLEM.
UM, PLEASE EMAIL THIS EVENING THE REPORT TO ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THE REPORT THAT YOU SHOWED BEFORE.
I SEE THE VIA EMAIL I HAD THAT SENT OUT THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING.
DEPUTY CHIEF, WE APPRECIATE THAT.
AT THIS TIME WE HAVE, UM, ITEM D UH, EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION AND RECOGNITION.
UM, ALPHABET E CORRESPONDENCE.
[III.F.(1) To Discuss And Take Possible Action Regarding The Council Appointee Committee Implementation Process (Requested By Councilmember Hamilton Everfield)]
DISCUSSIONS.WE HAVE DISCUSSION NUMBER ONE TO DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE COUNCIL APPOINTEE COMMITTEE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS.
AND THIS IS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FEEL COUNCIL MEMBER EVER FEEL.
I WILL HOLD THIS ITEM AS WE MENTIONED DURING LAST MEETING, THAT WE WILL WAIT UNTIL WE FINISH OUR EVALUATION PROCESS AND I'LL RESPECT THAT REQUEST AND, UM, REMOVE THIS ITEM AND WE'LL PUT IT BACK ON THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILOR MERRIFIELD.
AND SO WE'LL MOVE IT UNTIL YOUR REQUESTED TIME ONCE WE COMPLETE THE PROCESS OF OUR CURRENT EVALUATIONS THAT WE'RE, UM, COMPLETING AT THIS TIME.
[III.F.(2) To Discuss And Take Possible Action Regarding The State Of Texas Special Session Beginning July 21, 2025, Requesting To Create A City Of Port Arthur State Legislative Agenda To Advocate For And Against Bills That May Affect The City Of Port Arthur Residents (Requested By Councilmember Hamilton Everfield)]
NEXT DISCUSSION, NUMBER TWO IS TO DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE STATE OF TEXAS SPECIAL SESSION BEGINNING, UH, JULY 21ST, 2025 RE REQUESTING TO CREATE A, A CITY OF PORT ARTHUR STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO ADVOCATE FOR AND AGAINST BILLS THAT MAY AFFECT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR RESIDENTS AGAIN REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD.OF COURSE, THE DATE IS ALREADY PASSED, WHICH MEANS THAT THE SPECIAL SESSION HAS ALREADY BEGUN FOR THE, UM, 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
MY REQUEST IS FOR US TO, UM, EXTEND PR TWO FOUR DASH 4 8 5, WHICH IS THE PREVIOUS CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, UM, AGENDA, LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
AND I'M MAKING THAT REQUEST BECAUSE ALTHOUGH WE ARE IN SPECIAL SESSION, ANY ITEM CAN BE BROUGHT BACK DURING THIS SPECIAL SESSION, EVEN THOUGH THEY AREN'T ON THE, UM, EVEN THOUGH THEY AREN'T ON THE AGENDA.
SO WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT WHEN, IF A LEGISLATOR DECIDES TO BRING UP A BILL, ANY LAWMAKER CAN TECHNICALLY FILE OTHER BILLS OTHER THAN WHAT'S CURRENTLY LISTED ON THE GOVERNOR'S, UM, LIST THAT HE'S ALREADY CALLED.
SO I'M REQUESTING THAT WE CONFIRM THAT THE ITEMS THAT WE ALL AGREED ARE IMPORTANT TO US DURING THE REGULAR 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS THAT WE MAKE SURE WE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO.
MAKE SURE THOSE SAME ITEMS ARE NOT ATTACHED TO ANY OTHER, UM, ITEMS THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION.
JUST KNOW THAT ANY ITEM THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE GENERAL SESSION CAN STILL BE BROUGHT UP IN THE SPECIAL SESSION IF IT'S BROUGHT UP BY A LAWMAKER.
AND THE GOVERNOR DECIDES TO ADD IT TO HIS LIST OF ORIGINAL ITEMS CALLED FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION.
I JUST DON'T WANT US TO BE BLINDSIDED BY ANYTHING.
UM, THE 89TH SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS ONLY 30 DAYS UNLESS HE CALLS FOR A SECOND SPECIAL SESSION.
SO WE EXPECT THAT THIS PROCESS WILL BE OVER ON AUGUST 21ST, 2025.
SO AT THIS TIME, YOU'RE, UM, ASKING US TO EXTEND PR, WHICH, WHAT'S THE RESOLUTION NUMBER AND IS IT IN THIS AGENDA? IT IS PR 2 4 4 8 5 24 4 8 5.
THAT'S THE ORIGINAL, UM, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THAT WE ADOPTED.
WELL, UM, WE WILL, I THINK WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS, UH,
[01:25:01]
MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR DISCUSSIONS, OUR LAST DISCUSSION, AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'LL JUST VOTE FOR IT ACCORDING TO WHEN WE GET TO THE, UM, CONSENT AGENDA, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU.IS, IS THERE ANY ACTION OR WAS SHE ASKING US TO DO ON P PR NUMBER 2 4 4 85 TONIGHT? IT'S LISTED UNDER DISCUSSION, BUT IT'S ALSO TO TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION SO YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD IN TAKING ACTION AT THIS TIME.
IT'S, IT, IT IS, COURT ACTION IS FORCED TO EXTEND THAT RESOLUTION.
RIGHT, BUT THE RESOLUTION IS IN ALREADY ON THIS AGENDA FOR US TO APPROVE AT SOME TIME WHEN WE GET TO THE NON-CONSENT.
CAN YOU PUT IT ON FOR NEXT TIME OR DO WE NEED TO APPROVE IT? JUST CALL FOR IT HAS TO BE ON THE AGENDA.
IT WOULD BE TOO, IT'LL BE TOO LATE IF WE WAIT TILL NEXT MEETING.
CITY ATTORNEY, WE NEED CONDUCTION GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
I NEED SOME CLARITY BECAUSE I DON'T SEE IF THE ITEM IS NOT ON THE AGENDA, HOW CAN WE TAKE THAT SLIDE? SHE LISTED THE ITEM AS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE SPECIAL SESSION TO REQUEST THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO ADVOCATE.
YOU'D JUST BE REAFFIRMING THE LAST RESOLUTION.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T GET THE RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA, BUT YOU CAN STILL TAKE ACTION TO, TO REAFFIRM IT BASED ON HOW IT'S LISTED IN THE AGENDA RIGHT NOW.
AND WHERE'S THE, THE LANGUAGE WHICH YOU HAVE SOME LANGUAGE THEN THAT BY WHICH WE CAN DO THAT.
I'LL PREPARE THAT FOR YOU SHORTLY IF YOU'LL GIMME JUST A COUPLE MINUTES.
SO I'LL COME BACK TO IT ONCE YOU GIVE ME THE LANGUAGE, WE'LL GET IT DONE.
I ASSUMING IT'S THE CORRECT LANGUAGE THAT'S WANTED FOR COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON ATFIELD? YES, MA'AM.
WELL, IF WELL BEFORE THE NIGHT IS OVER, SINCE YOU HAVE POSSIBLE ACTION, THEN WE CAN TAKE ACTION.
[III.F.(3) A Discussion Regarding Emergency Medical And Ambulance Services And Action To Schedule A Workshop Regarding The Same Services. (Requested By Councilmember Kinlaw)]
DISCUSSION, A DISCUSSION REGARDING EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND AMBULANCE SERVICES AND, AND ACTION TO SCHEDULE A WORKSHOP REGARDING THE SAME SERVICE.AND THIS IS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW.
UH, I HAVE A COUPLE CONCERNS I'D LIKE TO ASK, UH, THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS STAFF TO CLARIFY.
UH, BUT YOU KNOW, I ASKED, UH, I'VE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THE PERCENTAGES OF WHAT THE SERVICES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE WITH THE AMBULANCE SERVICES AND I GO BACK ALL THE WAY UNTIL, UH, JUNE 1ST.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THAT OR YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS BECAUSE THE LAST TIME YOU REPORTED ABOUT, UH, AMBULANCE SERVICE, HOW LONG AGO WAS THAT? UM, I KNOW I DID ONE, UH, PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL.
AND I'M LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGE AND, AND, AND THIS WAS, UH, PROVIDED TO ALL THE COHORTS HERE.
WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 93% IN JUNE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 93% IN JUNE, UH, JULY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 93% IN, IN, IN AUGUST.
I'M GOING BACK THE LAST SIX MONTHS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, NINE 30, UH, 24, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 93%.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 93% AND 11, UH, 2024.
AND THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 12 30, 31, 20 24.
SO THE DIRECTOR FROM THE COUNCIL, THE REASON WHY WE HAD GOT TO THE POSITION, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER, UH, YOU KNOW, CALLING AND HAVING THE PREVIOUS, UH, SERVICE THAT WE'VE HAD, HAD SOME SITUATIONS.
AND THAT WAS THE COUNCIL DECISION.
THE COUNCIL DECIDED THAT, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER, THAT ONE POSITION DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH THE COUNCIL AND SAID THEY WEREN'T GONNA BE MAKING ANY MONEY.
AND THE COUNCIL, UH, DIRECTIVE WAS THAT IF WE GO WITH THIS ONE AND THEY'RE ABLE TO HANDLE THE JOB, WHY WOULD WE GO TO TWO DEDICATED UNITS? THEY WASN'T DEDICATING ANYTHING TO THE CITY.
AND NOW I'M TAKING THIS PERSONAL BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION I'VE EXPRESSED TO BOTH OF YOU GUYS, THE TWO SITUATIONS WHEN THEY TOLD ME WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY AMBULANCE TO HELP YOU GUYS OUT, AND I TOLD YOU GUYS TO, SIR, YOU PROBABLY HEARD IT A HUNDRED TIMES, I'M NOT GONNA STOP BECAUSE IT SCARED ME AND IT WAS BOTH MY BEST FRIEND AND A GUY THAT I WAS FISHING WITH.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WHY WOULD WE WANT TO GO OUT AND MESS SOMETHING UP IS NOT BROKEN.
AND WHO GAVE THE DIRECTIVE? IT WASN'T A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE.
BEING SICK AND I COME BACK AND THEN I'M HEARING THAT THE RFQ HAS BEEN PRESENTED FOR WHAT REASON? IF THE SERVICE IS BEING PROVIDED FOR THE CITIZEN.
IF THEY'RE ABLE, AND I JUST READ OUT THE NUMBERS, WE HAD A SERVICE PRIOR TO THAT.
WAS IT EVEN MEETING THOSE NUMBERS? SO TELL ME PERSONALLY, BECAUSE I PUT IT ON HERE, I'M THE ONE
[01:30:01]
BOUGHT IT TWO YEARS AGO THAT NOBODY WAS WATCHING THE CAT.THAT WE FOUND OUT LATER THAT WE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THAT TYPE OF SERVICE THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE CITIZENS.
SO AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE ONE, THE DIRECTIVE, BECAUSE THE COUNCIL TOOK IT ON.
THE COUNCIL SAID, LOOK, WE GONNA TAKE IT ON.
WE MADE THE DECISION, IF THIS PERSON IS DOING THE JOB, WE GONNA CONTINUE.
AND IF THEY'RE PROVEN US DIFFERENTLY, I DON'T CARE WHO IT IS, I'M NOT GONNA USE YOU.
BUT NOBODY CAN DEDICATE UNITS LIKE THE CURRENT SITUATION SERVICES WE HAVE NOW.
SO I WANNA KNOW, I GOT A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO, BUT I'M GONNA GIVE YOU OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
SO, SO I'LL ADDRESS THE FIRST QUESTION.
UM, THE, THE DATA YOU'RE SPEAKING OF THAT, THAT'S NOT OUR DATA.
THAT DATA DOES NOT BELONG TO OUR PSAP.
UM, THAT DATA IS, UH, THE CURRENT EMS PROVIDER'S DATA.
SO I CAN'T ATTEST TO THAT DATA BEING TRUE, ACCURATE OR NOT.
I DON'T, I CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE, BUT CHIEF, WHERE'S YOUR DATA AT? OH, SO I, I, SO WHY HAVEN'T YOU PROVIDED YOUR DATA TO THE COUNCIL SO WE CAN MAKE EDUCATED AND QUALIFIED DECISION PRIOR TO GOING OFF RFP OR RFQ? YES, SIR.
SO THE PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM WITH THE DATA IS WE'RE IN A, IT IS AN IMPERFECT SITUATION BECAUSE WE'RE THE PSAP, WE OWN THE PSAP.
AND I SAY US MEAN THE CITY OWNS THE PSAP MM-HMM
WE GET THAT CALL, THEN WE ROLL THE CALL TO C SO OUR DATA MAY NOT BE TRANSPARENT AND THEIR DATA AS WELL, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET THE CALL ORIGINALLY FROM THE PSAP CHIEF.
WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS, NOT WITH YOU, BUT THIS TYPE OF SERVICES THAT WE WANTED TO ENSURE OUR CITIZENS AND PORT ARTHUR GETTING ABSOLUTELY.
WE'VE BEEN THIS COUNCIL, WE ARE WELL AWARE OF HOW THAT WORKS.
BUT I'M SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE NEVER HAD ANYONE TO COME IN, IN 17, 15 YEARS TO GIVE DEDICATED UNITS IN PORT ARTHUR.
SO NOW WE AT A POINT, NOW WE GOING OUT FOR R-F-Q-R-F-P TO SAY, WELL LOOK FOR WHAT REASON.
SO THE COUNCIL EXPRESSED ABOUT THE BAD ISSUES WE HAD WITH THE PREVIOUS, UH, YES.
SO MY THING IS TO NOT HAVE THAT DONE.
AGAIN, THE MOST FAIR AND EQUITABLE WAY.
WE HADN'T HAD ONE IN 15 YEARS.
TWO SERVICES, 15 OR 17 YEARS WE'RE, WE'RE NOT.
SO I'M SAYING WHERE IS THE DIRECTIVES COMING FROM? HOLD ON, MAYOR, THIS IS SO PASSIONATE TO ME THAT, YOU KNOW, I ALLOW, I I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR DATA.
I'M NOT GONNA PRESSURE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO BRING DATA.
BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA GO OUT FOR R-F-Q-R-P AND YOU HADN'T PRESENTED SINCE MAY AND PRIOR TO THAT, IT HADN'T BEEN SINCE LAST YEAR.
SO WHERE'S THE DATA? BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING AND WHAT COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE BEEN DOING? WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE DATA.
I WANNA KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING.
I WANNA KNOW WHAT'S THE RESPONSE TIME.
I WANNA KNOW HOW MANY LEVELS, ZEROS, I WANNA KNOW HOW, WHAT'S YOUR PERCENTAGE? I WANNA KNOW HOW MANY NUMBER OF CALLS NOBODY'S PRESENTED THAT, OTHER THAN WHAT YOU SAID THAT IN MAY NOW I'M SAYING NOW, IF IT'S NOT BROKEN, WHY ARE WE TRYING TO FIX SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BROKE? MM-HMM
SO, LIKE I SAID, THE COUNCIL WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE ISSUES WE HAVE THE LAST YES.
SO WHY WOULD WE NOT DO IT APPROPRIATE THIS TIME AND GOING FORWARD TO NOT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES BROUGHT AS HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
SO THE MINDSET IS, IS TO GET THE BEST FOR THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
SO WE NEED TO EVALUATE THAT CONTINUOUSLY.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAID A WORKSHOP WE'VE HADN'T HAD THE WORKSHOP.
LET'S HAVE A WORKSHOP WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
EMS, THE NEW RE RECONSTRUCTION OF HOW YOU WANT TO DO IT.
WE DON'T, WE HADN'T HAD THAT YET.
BUT HOW, IF IT'S NOT BROKEN, WHY WE TRYING NOW TO GO OUT AND TRY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BROKEN AND I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND IT.
I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, BUT I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
LIKE I SAID, I UNDERSTAND THE PASSION.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU 10 MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT IT.
I THINK I HAVE ANOTHER LIGHT ON.
UM, AND EVERY COUNCILMAN WILL HAVE THE SAME DUE, UM, RESPECT, UM, TO ADDRESS, UM, THE, UM, DEPUTY CHIEF.
SO AT THIS TIME, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW.
WE DO HAVE YOUR, AND WE'VE HEARD YOU.
SO WE WILL GO WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE.
UH, WE ALL KNOW THAT ON DISCUSSIONS, WE HAVE 10 MINUTES A PIECE.
I, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING COUNCILMAN KING WAS SAYING.
MY QUESTION IS, WHEN WE GET TO THINGS LIKE THIS AND STAFF START MAKING DECISIONS, I'M, I'M WONDERING WHY STAFF DON'T COME TO COUNCIL AND GET COUNCILS FEEL ABOUT IT.
BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AMBULANCE SERVICE, WE HAD ISSUES FOR A LONG TIME WITH ONE.
WE GOT ONE IN THAT PROVIDED MORE AMBULANCE.
SO IF THERE IS AN ISSUE, IT SHOULD BE APPRISED.
SIR, I MADE A COMMENT WHEN SOMEONE MENTIONED
[01:35:01]
ABOUT A SECOND AMBULANCE SERVICE.I'M LIKE THIS, IF YOU NEED ONE, SHOW ME THE DATA.
AND BEFORE WE GET TO THE POINT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONVINCE ME THAT YOU HAVE SAT DOWN WITH THE PERSON WHO IN CHARGE OF THAT SERVICE MM-HMM
AND WENT OVER WHAT IS LACKING.
SEE, BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT REALIZE SOMETHING IS LACKING UNLESS YOU TELL THEM.
BUT IF YOU TELL THEM AND THEY DON'T FIX THAT, THEN THERE'S A PROBLEM.
AND WHENEVER THOSE ISSUES OCCUR, NOW IT'S TIME TO BRING TO THE COUNCIL, THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING.
THIS IS WHAT WE'VE DONE TO TRY TO RESOLVE IT.
WE CAN'T RESOLVE IT, COUNSEL, THIS IS OUR RECOMMENDATION AND HOW WE FEEL ABOUT IT.
BUT TO START, LIKE COUNCIL MCKEN LAW SAID, FIXING SOMETHING THAT AIN'T BROKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S BECAUSE TWO, TWO COMPANIES, THAT'S THE PROBLEM WE HAD WHEN MM-HMM
WHEN A KN BECAUSE YOU DIVIDE ONE INTO ONE AREA, THEY DON'T WANT STAY THERE.
NOW, IF THAT'S A PROBLEM WITH THIS SERVICE, NOW WHEN IT COMES TO US SHOULD BE, THIS IS THE PROBLEM, COUNSEL.
WE REACHED OUT TO THEM, WE'VE TALKED TO THEM, THEY HAVE FAILED TO RESPONDED, THEY HAVE FAILED TO RESPOND.
AND THEREFORE I DON'T THINK THEY CAN HANDLE IT AND THE SERVICE TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS.
AND WE PROBABLY NEED TO GET SOME OTHER, ANOTHER SERVICE IN OR GET THEM OUT.
BUT JUST TAKE IT UPON THEMSELF.
I DON'T BELIEVE IN BREAKING ANYTHING THAT'S FIXING ANYTHING THAT'S NOT BROKE.
AND IF YOU CAN'T TRY TO FIX IT BEFORE IT COMES TO US, THEN WE GOT A REASON TO BE UPSET.
LET, SO CAN, CAN I REDUCE THAT? HIS LIGHT IS OFF.
I'M GOING TO, UH, KIND OF GO BACK BECAUSE I HAVE SOME, UH, A FEW MORE LIGHTS.
IN RETROSPECT, I'M ACTUALLY FAIRLY NEW.
BUT I'M GONNA GO BACK TO WHEN WE WERE ON COUNCIL, UM, GOSH, BACK IN PROBABLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEAR, UH, PROBABLY 20 20, 20 21.
BUT I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA SAY BASICALLY, UH, WE SAID AT THE TIME BACK THEN THAT WE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT.
UM, TO BE FAIR, UM, TWO, THIS IS JUST POP UP NOW.
I HAVE NOT BEEN, I'VE NOT TALKED WITH, SPOKEN WITH ANYONE, BUT JUST FROM LISTENING IN, WE SAID THAT IN ORDER TO BE FAIR TO THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR, I THINK COUNCILOR LEWIS HAD BROUGHT THIS UP AS WELL, THAT WE NEEDED TO GO OUT AND, UH, AND KEEP THE PROCESS FAIR BY GOING OUT.
AND I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING OUT.
HE'S, I HEARD YOU SAY RFQ, UM, AND NOBODY'S TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT, BUT I'M, I'M JUST GONNA SAY JUST FROM LISTENING HERE, THAT WE WOULD ALWAYS KEEP IT, UM, WHERE THE PROCESS WOULD BE FAIR BY US SEEING AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND INTERVALS THAT, UM, THAT IT WOULD GO OUT FORBID THE, THE, THE, UH, AMBULANCE SERVICE SO THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE WHAT WE HAD PRIOR TO WHICH WE NOT MONOPOLIZATION.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE, THAT'S WHAT I'VE, I'VE, THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE TIME.
NOW, UH, NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT CHANGED IN TWO, I'VE BEEN GONE FOR TWO YEARS, SO I'M JUST HEARING THIS.
BUT AT THE TIME, WE THOUGHT WE WANTED TO, I THINK COUNCILMAN LEWIS SAID THAT IF I REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION, THAT WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE, UH, JUST ONE AMBULANCE SERVICE AND THAT WE NEEDED TO OPEN IT UP FOR OTHERS AT, PER, AT PERIODIC TIMES.
MAY, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING I'VE CHANGED, UH, IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I WAS GONE, BUT I JUST REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT'S TAKEN PLACE.
UM, BUT, BUT, BUT CAN SOMEBODY, UH, KIND OF BRIEFLY BRING ME UP? THERE'S SEVEN 10.
I'M TRYING TO KEEP OUR MEETINGS, UH, TO A MAXIMUM.
I THINK LET CITY MANAGER YEAH, LET, LET ME HELP, BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING, WE ARE MAKING GUMBO WITH THIS THING.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE GUMBO WITH IT BECAUSE YOU'RE MAKING A STEW.
THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE AND DISTINCT.
THIS IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR.
THE COUNCIL REQUESTED THAT WE MAKE A PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL ON THE ORDINANCE.
ON THE INCONSISTENCIES IN THE ORDINANCE IN ME.
AND HAVING DONE THAT, WE MADE ALL THE NECESSARY CORRECTIONS CITY ATTORNEY THAT WAS PRESENTED, AND WE MET, IT WAS NOT DONE IN A VACUUM BECAUSE WE MET ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE
[01:40:01]
SURE THAT THOSE INCONSISTENCIES WERE BEING IRONED OUT IN FAVOR OF THE CITY AND THE CITIZENS.AND THE CITY HAS CONTROL OF THE ORDINANCE.
SO WE MADE THOSE CHANGES THAT WAS NECESSARY AT THAT TIME, A DISCUSSION WAS HELD.
UM, WELL AT THAT TIME, WHILST WE DID THAT, WE ALSO, BEFORE THAT, I THINK I SHOULD HAVE PULLED UP THE ORDINANCE.
WE EXTENDED THE CONTRACT UNTIL NOVEMBER FOR THE PRESENT CARRIER THAT IS CITY AMBULANCE.
WE EXTENDED THAT CONTRACT AS WELL, BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE EXPIRED IN NOVEMBER.
NO, BASED ON, I'M SORRY, NOVEMBER OF WHAT? THIS YEAR.
SO IT WOULD'VE EXPIRED IN 24TH.
AND WE UNTIL WHEN TO NOVEMBER THE 30TH TO THE, OF NOVEMBER? NO, THIS YEAR.
SO IN, IN MOVING AHEAD, IN, IN ACHIEVING THAT, WE STATED THAT WE WERE GOING BACK TO LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE, AS I EARLIER INDICATED, AND WE WORKED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE TO DO THAT.
AND WE FIRST BROUGHT IT TO COUNCIL TO BE APPROVED, AND WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT.
IN DOING THAT, WE DIDN'T FROM THE COUNCIL, THAT IN ORDER TO MOVE AHEAD, BECAUSE IT'S ONLY, IT WOULD BE COUNCIL'S DECISION, AGAIN, WHETHER YOU WANT TO APPROVE IT, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE CHANGES THAT WE HAVE MADE WITH THE ORDINANCE, THERE WOULD BE A NEED FOR, TO GO OUT FOR A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
SO WHAT WE DID, WE DRAFTED THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS NECESSARY.
AGAIN, GOING TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE, UM, THERE, THERE ARE NO HI, HI.
THE LANGUAGE THAT WE NEED AND SEND IT OUT.
SO THAT IS WHAT WE DID IN ORDER TO SECURE WHOEVER THE BIDS OR THE VENDORS ARE, COULD GO OUT THERE AND PUT THEIR HEART IN THE RING FOR IT.
I DON'T THINK IT BUYS ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, FROM, FROM, FROM DOING THAT.
NOW, IF COUNCIL WANTS TO MAINTAIN EXCLUSIVELY THEIR SATISFIED WITH THE, WITH THE SERVICE THAT THE CURRENT VENDOR PROVIDES, THAT'S COUNCIL'S DECISION.
BECAUSE COUNCIL CAN ALSO VOTE UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE IF THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S A COUNCIL'S DECISION TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WHEN IT COMES BACK TO YOU, THANK YOU, MARK, YOU KNOW, AS A, AS, AS, AS A BODY TO DO THAT.
BUT AGAIN, WE ARE PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FROM AN OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT, AND WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS AS IT'S REQUIRED BY THE PROCUREMENT OF A PROCUREMENT MANUAL TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS BEING DONE PROPERLY.
LIKE I HAVE ANOTHER LIGHT ON, I HAVE ANOTHER LIGHT.
I'M HEARING GOING TO ONE, ONE SERVICE.
THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL PROPOSING.
THAT'S WHAT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR.
SO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T TAKE A STANCE ON HAVING ONE OR TWO.
THAT WAS, THEY'RE JUST GOING OUT, THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB.
AND THIS RFQ WAS NOT BROUGHT TO YOU GUYS OR WAS NOT DONE BECAUSE WE HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH C NO, NO, NO.
UM, YEAH, IT IT IS NOT AN ADVERSARIAL ON MY END.
SO ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE? AM I HAPPY COUNCILOR MC, KEN LAW.
THAT'S, THAT'S NEITHER HERE OR THERE FOR HIM AT THIS TIME? LET ME, HE THAT'S PERSONAL.
WHETHER HE LIKE, I MEAN, WHETHER HE LIKES THE SERVICE NO, BECAUSE HE HAS TO.
SO I HAVE TO ASK YOU, WELL, LET'S UNDERSTAND.
HE'S THE PERSON TO SEE, BUT HE DOESN'T MATTER.
AND THAT'S MY QUESTION, MY QUESTION TO YOU, DO YOU, NO, MAYOR, WE CAN'T, YOU CAN'T CENSOR OR PUT US IN A BOX.
I'M SAYING TO HIM, HE'S THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT, NOT, HE'S THE ONE THAT'S DOING THE REPORT.
WE WILL HAVE A PERSON A QUESTION'S.
WE'RE GOING, MAYOR, WE'RE GONNA MAYOR, HAVE OUR DISCUSSION.
THOSE THAT HAVE THEIR POINT OF ORDER.
MY POINT OF ORDER THAT I'M TRYING TO MAKE THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING, HE'S THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT.
HE'S THE ONE THAT'S DOING THE RFQ OR RFP.
I CAN'T ASK ANYONE ELSE OTHER THAN HIM ON THE CITY SIDE IF HE'S HAPPY OR NOT.
MOVE FORWARD WITH THE QUESTION AS MY QUESTION.
ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE CURRENT SERVICES THAT WE ARE PROVIDING WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR? BECAUSE BEFORE 15 YEARS NOBODY CARED BEFORE.
SO, PRIOR TO, SO I'VE BEEN IN THIS ROLE FOR A YEAR, UM, I WORK WELL WITH CITY, UM, CALL 'EM ALL TIME.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DON'T HAVE ISSUES WITH IT, OR THERE'S THINGS THAT WE CAN DO BETTER ABSOLUTELY.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE NOT PUTTING THIS OUT TO, TO SEEK ANOTHER COMPANY.
AND THE ONLY FAIR TO OPEN IT UP, THEN YOU GUYS CAN PICK WHAT'S BEST.
WE'RE GONNA BRING THE DATA TO YOU.
[01:45:01]
YES.I'VE NEVER CALLED 9 1 1 IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO SAY, YEAH, NATE TO IT.
AND THE DATA THAT I HAVE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE DATA I HAVE DIFFERS FROM THEIRS ONLY BECAUSE IT'S A MISUNDERSTANDING IN WHAT THE WAY THE P EP WORKS.
IT'S NOT ANYBODY DOING ANYTHING WRONG.
IT'S NOT ANYTHING IN THE FAIR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
NOR WAS THIS BROUGHT TO FOR THOSE REASONS.
IT IS ONLY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ONLY PROPER THAT WE PROVIDE.
IF THEY'RE THE BEST, THEY'RE GONNA WIN OUT EVERY TIME.
AND I TALKED TO MR. ANDRE ABOUT THAT.
IF THEY'RE, IF THEY'RE THE BEST COMPANY, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, WE SHOULD HAVE BE SORT OF OUR CITIZENS THAT, HEY, LOOK, WE'VE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND THIS IS WHY IT'S NOTHING NEFARIOUS.
NOT THAT I DON'T LIKE 'EM OR ANYTHING.
IT WAS NEVER BROUGHT FOR THAT REASON.
NOR ARE WE IN A POSITION TO SAY WE WANT ONE OR TWO COMPANIES.
I JUST WANNA BRING THE DATA FOR THE RFQ, THE BEST ONE, AND COUNCIL CAN PICK THAT.
BUT TO SIMPLY ASK ME HAVE, AM I HAPPY WITH 'EM? YEAH, I'M HAPPY WITH IT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH 'EM BECAUSE I, I'M ABLE TO TALK TO HIM AND COMMUNICATE WITH HIM.
UM, AND I THINK, UH, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, BEFORE IT'S, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVER FEEL COUNSEL, THE MANAGER SAID, IS THIS CONTRACT ENDING? YES.
SO WE'RE GOING FOR RF QS, JUST TO BE FAIR TO THE PUBLIC TO SHOW ABSOLUTELY.
THATAM, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO, UH, KEEP ONE SERVICE, BUT OPENING IT UP YES.
SO THAT OTHERS CAN PARTICIPATE.
AND IF THEY WIN THE BID BY THE BID PROCESS OR THE QUALIFICATION PROCESS, THEN THE COUNCIL MAKES THAT DECISION.
WE'RE JUST GONNA BRING YOU THAT, JUST PREPARE THAT FOR YOU.
I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER EVER FEEL.
MY, I AM IN FAVOR OF US GOING OUT FOR RF QS IN, UH, PRIOR TO NOVEMBER PRIOR, BEFORE THE CONTRACT EXPIRES BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT AND A FAIR THING TO DO FOR PROCUREMENT.
AND WE HAVE HEARD SEVERAL TIMES, IF IT'S NOT BROKE, WHY FIX IT? WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BROKEN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE, WE, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE CORRECT DATA THAT WE NEED TO EVEN COMPARE TO WHAT'S BEING PROVIDED TO US, UM, FROM CITY AMBULANCE.
I DID ASK THAT QUESTION BACK MAY 20TH WHEN WE HAD THIS PRESENTATION, IS TO CONFIRM WHAT OUR DATA SAYS SO THAT WE HAVE THAT BASELINE TO COMPARE, TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THE COMPANY, WHETHER IT'S CITY AMBULANCE OR COMPANY A, B, C, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO IT IS, BUT WE GET TO SET THE STANDARDS OF WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING FOR OUR CITIZENS AND THEN ASKING THEM TO PROVIDE A SERVICE TO US MINUS THE, OF COURSE, THE STATE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE SHOULD BE THE ONES SETTING THE STANDARDS.
SO I'M ASKING THAT WITH THE, UM, THE PSAP TIME THAT DEPUTY CHIEF JUST TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE TIME EXTENDED FOR, UM, 60 TO 80 MINUTE SECONDS FOR THE ROLLOUT TIME.
I'M ASKING THAT WE GET A HANDLE ON THAT AND GET, TAKE CONTROL OF THAT SO THAT WE DO HAVE THE CORRECT DATA TO BE ABLE TO SAY WHETHER ANY ORGANIZATION IS MEETING OUR NEEDS OR NOT.
SO, UM, I'M OPEN FOR THE WORKSHOP, HOWEVER, WE KEEP DISCUSSING THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER.
IF WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS SOMETHING IN THE WORKSHOP, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN BE OF SUPPORT TO THE FD TO GET THE CORRECT DATA THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE, YOU HAD YOUR LIGHT ON AGAIN? I'M, YEAH.
I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THINGS THEY NEED TO READ.
PROCUREMENT TELLS US WE NEED TO GO OUT FOR RFQ.
PROCUREMENT DON'T TELL US WHEN TO GO OUT.
THE OTHER THING IS, I SEEN TWO AMBULANCE SERVICE OPERATING IN THIS CITY AND ALL I SAW WAS CONFUSION BECAUSE DON'T ONE, DON'T, WON'T HAVE THIS PART OF THE CITY.
THE OTHER ONE DON'T HAVE THE OTHER PART OF THE SYSTEM.
THIS ONE'S SUPPOSED TO RESPOND.
SO NOW THIS ONE GOTTA GO AND DO WHAT THAT ONE DO.
WHEN ACADIAN CAME HERE, WE HAD THREE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN TWO OF THEM LEFT.
SO I'VE NEVER SEEN TWO OPERATE IN THE CITY OUTSIDE FIRST THING.
BUT OUR CITIZENS' HEALTH IS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED WITH.
WHETHER IT'S ONE, TWO, OR THREE.
AS LONG AS THEY'RE DOING THE JOB, THAT'S WHAT WE OWE.
AND WHEN THEY CAN'T DO THE JOB, THEN IT'S UP TO US TO BRING SOMEBODY ELSE IN TO DO THE JOB.
SO WHEN WE SAY, IF IT'S NOT BROKE, WE DON'T NEED TO FIX IT.
SIMPLY WHAT HE'S SAYING, WE DON'T NEED TWO AMBULANCE SERVICE IN HERE WITH ANIMOSITY.
[01:50:02]
NO PROCUREMENT SYSTEM SAYS WE GOT TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE.AND BECAUSE WE ALLOW ONLY ONE TO SERVE, WE'RE NOT MAKE, WE'RE NOT MAKING IT EXCLUSIVE.
THE ONLY TIME IT'S EXCLUSIVE, THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE A CONTRACT.
SAY WE WON'T LET NOBODY ELSE IN HERE.
BUT WHY LET SOMEBODY IN THERE, SOMEBODY IN THE JOB.
OKAY, SO WE JUST BEEN GONE AROUND IN CIRCLES.
THAT'S, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
I, I AM ADVOCATING FOR TWO SERVICES.
IF YOU WANNA BE, IF YOU WANT JUST ONE SERVICE, YOU NEED TO GO TO FRANCHISE.
NOW I NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH THIS AMBULANCE IS PAYING FOR THE PERMIT TO OPERATE.
I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S, UH, YEAH, SO YEAH.
SO IT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA, COUNCILOR LEWIS? NO.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS THAT RELEVANT INFORMATION.
ATTORNEY GENERAL APPROVED JUST FOR PORT ARTHUR $50,000.
NOW WHAT ARE THEY PAYING? WE NEED TWO SERVICES.
AND THIS THING ABOUT IF YOU WANNA GO TO ONE SERVICE, YOU NEED TO GO TO A FRANCHISE.
AND I BROUGHT THAT UP WHEN THEY HAD FIVE AND SIX OF'EM AND EVERY SIX MONTHS HE WAS FILLING HIS PLACE UP.
SO I SAID, IF I TOLD THE ATTORNEYS, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO ONE SERVICE, COME WITH A FRANCHISE, NONE OF 'EM WANT TO DEAL WITH A FRANCHISE.
BUT THE THING ABOUT IT, WHEN THEY, THEY KEEP DROPPING OFF.
DROPPING OFF, AND I WITNESSED PHONY, UH, RESPONSE I PHONE RESPONSES.
IF, IF THEY, WELL, WHAT I DID WAS, UH, ONCE I DISCOVERED HOW MUCH MONEY THEY WAS MAKING, THAT'S WHEN I PUT IT IN AN OR, UH, HAD AN ORDINANCE DRAFT UP WHAT THE PERMITS GO FROM $35 TO 50,000 A YEAR.
AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL APPROVED IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERFIELD HAS OUR HAND UP, BUT I REALLY, I THINK THE TWO THINGS WE HAVE ON THIS AGENDA IS TO GET A WORKSHOP ACTION ON A WORKSHOP WE'VE GOTTEN KIND OF OFF THE PATH.
AND OF THAT, I WANNA HANDLE THE WORKSHOP.
Y'ALL LIKE FOR ME TO PROMOTE THAT? NO, SIR.
WE'LL, UH, THAT'LL HAVE TO COME FROM A COUNCIL AS AN ACTION ITEM TO HOLD THE WORKSHOP.
AND SO WE NEED TO VOTE ON, WE NEED TO MAKE AN ACTION ITEM.
IF YOU GUYS HAVE AN ACTION ITEM FOR THAT.
UH, I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, YOU HAD YOUR LIGHT ON, BUT PRIOR TO THAT, I THINK THE MAIN THING, IF WE GO BACK TO IT, IS THE CONTRACT IS EXPIRING AND THE RFQ IS REQUIRED TO GO IF THE CONTRACT IS EXPIRING, IN ALL FAIRNESS TO CITIZENS.
AM I CORRECT THAT CONTRACT IS EXPIRING ON CLARITY? I'M ASKING FOR CLARITY BEFORE WE GO.
THE CONTRACT EXPIRES IN NOVEMBER.
AND SO GOING OUT, WE, WE STILL HAVE TIME TO COME BACK AND DECIDE COUNSEL, WHETHER WE WANT AFTER THE WORKSHOP, WHETHER WE WANT TO GO OUT FOR BID JUST FOR CLARITY FOR THE CITIZENS, OR NOT GO OUT FOR BID.
UM, OR IT'S ALREADY GONE OUT FOR BID FOR PROCUREMENT.
IT'S ALREADY GONE OUT FOR BID.
THAT STAFF'S DECISIONS BASED UPON THE CONTRACT EXPIRING.
SO SOMETHING WITH, LET ME JUST MAKE SURE I'M MAKING SURE THE AUDIENCE AND EVERYONE IS CLEAR.
THE CONTRACT IS EXPIRING FOR CITY AMBULANCE.
WE, IN FAIRNESS TO THE CITIZENS ARE ASKING OR HAVE, HAVE REQUESTED THAT YOU GUYS AS STAFF HAVE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.
THERE'S A TIMEFRAME TO PUT A REQUEST IN.
AND NOBODY OUGHT TO MISS IT BECAUSE THEY NEED TO GET THOSE REQUESTS IN.
IN THE MEANTIME, THIS COUNCIL IS GONNA HAVE A VOTE TO HAVE A WORKSHOP AND BE BROUGHT UP TO DATE.
AND THEN WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU GUYS.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE RFQ IS ALREADY OUT.
I ADVISE ANY AMBULANCE SERVICE THAT WANTS TO BID TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME SO THEY DON'T MISS THE DEADLINE.
LET'S GO WITH THE MOTION FOR, UM, SO WE'LL HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL FOR A WORKSHOP.
I'M, I'M BRINGING THE, UH, THE LANGUAGE UP MYSELF.
SO I'M ASKING FOR A MOTION FOR APPROVAL FOR A WORKSHOP ON THE AMBULANCE SERVICES, UH, IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED.
WE ARE GOING, UH, ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, MAYOR, UH, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE A DATE.
SO WE JUST CAN'T OPENLY SAY, UH, WORKSHOP.
SO I WOULD WELL, HOW LONG BEFORE? LET ME PULL THE COUNCIL.
THIS, UM, TO BETWEEN TODAY AND TOMORROW.
TOMORROW LET PULL THE COUNCIL TOMORROW.
TO SEE WHAT DATES ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU ALL AND THEN WE SHOULD HAVE IT IN THE NEXT 10.
AND WE, MAYBE WE COULD DO IT BECAUSE WE ARE CALLING FOR A SPECIAL MEETING FOR, WHAT WAS IT AGAIN, LYNN? THURSDAY, NEXT THURSDAY.
IS THAT OKAY? A SPECIAL MEETING NEXT THURSDAY? YEAH, WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING TO LOOK AT OUR TAX RATE.
SO MAYBE WE CAN DO THE WORKSHOP AT THE SAME TIME.
WE'LL, THE WORKSHOP, WOULD THAT BE OKAY? YES.
SO ARE WE VOTING? WE GOTTA VOTE, RIGHT? OKAY.
[01:55:01]
THE AYES HAVE IT.WE'LL HAVE A WORKSHOP WITHIN THE NEXT 10 DAYS.
OKAY, WE HAVE ANY, UM, ITEM FIVE REPORTS, ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, UM, TO ADDRESS ANY ITEMS THAT YOU WANT TO, UM, HAVE RECOGNIZED AT THIS TIME.
UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO OUR CONSENT.
[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]
CONSENT AGENDA, AGENDA, AGENDA.COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS YOU'D LIKE TO WITHHOLD FROM THIS CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE SPEAK NOW.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON PAGE EIGHT.
OKAY, NO OTHER ITEMS ARE ASKING TO BE WITHHELD OTHER THAN ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA AT THIS TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS CONSENT AGENDA? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
THE AYE THE AYES HAVE IT ANY? NO.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR REGULAR, UM, INDIVIDUAL ACTION NON-CONSENT AGENDA AT THIS.
I'M SORRY, LET'S GO BACK TO NUMBER FOUR.
I'M SORRY, I'M TRYING TO MOVE TOO FAST.
[VII.C.(4) P.R. No. 24425 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Accept The Close-Out Documents Submitted By Florida Floats, Inc., DBA Bellingham Marine Of Jacksonville, Florida, And To Approve The Release Of Retainage In The Amount Of $59,872.50 For The Completion Of The Pleasure Island Marina Rehabilitation Project; Funding Is Available In Account Number 307-00-000-2050-00-00-000]
2 4 4 2 5 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT THE CLOSEOUT DOCUMENT SUBMITTED BY FLORIDA FLOATS INCORPORATED DBA BELLING BELLINGHAM, UH, MARINE OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.AND TO APPROVE THE RELEASE OF RETAINAGE AND THE AMOUNT OF 59,000 872 50.
FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE PLEASURE ISLAND MARINA REHABILITATION PROJECT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE ON ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 0 0 0 0 2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED.
I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER.
FRANK, ANY DISCUSSIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM? YES.
UM, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE, THE SUPPORT FOR THIS, I JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WAS ADEQUATE ENOUGH FOR US TO SAY, YEAH, WE'RE DONE.
AND SO I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE ORIGINAL SCOPE OF WORK FOR THIS PROJECT.
UM, WELL LET ME START BY SAYING THIS.
SO ON THE CONTRACTOR CERTIFICATE AND RELEASE, UH, WHERE DID I SEE THAT? NO, I'M SORRY.
ON THE CERTIFICATE OF SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION, IT SAYS DESCRIPTION OF WORK, REPLACE AND REPAIR CONCRETE FLOATING DOCKS.
WELL, I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR THIS PROJECT BACK FROM, I THINK IT WAS DECEMBER OF 2023.
AND THIS WAS BASED ON AN 18 PAGE REPORT FROM ARSENAL WILSON AND COLE.
AND SO I'M SEEING GENERAL REPAIRS LETTERS A THROUGH L, ALUMINUM DOCKS, B, C, AND D.
CONCRETE DOCKS, E, F, G, AND H.
THERE'S NUMBER ONE ITEMS A THROUGH G NUMBER TWO, ITEMS A AND B, THE BREAKWATER DOCK ITEMS A THROUGH E.
BUT THEN WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT JUST SAYS REPAIR OF THE CONCRETE DOCKS.
AND I SAW PICTURES THAT WERE TAKEN TODAY OF SOME THINGS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE SCOPE OF WORK.
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME MORE EVIDENCE THAT THESE REPAIRS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN MADE ACCORDING TO THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT WE APPROVED IN DECEMBER OF 2023 BASED ON THE REPORT AND THE INSPECTION FROM A WC.
COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, I SEE.
UM, YEAH, I JUST WANNA GIVE CLARITY.
UM, SHE IS CORRECT IF YOU DO GO OVER THERE AND LOOK AT THE, UM, DOCKS THAT THEY WERE, UM, INITIALLY SUPPOSED TO DO REPAIR TO THE SCOPE OF WORK WAS DONE, UM, ON A CHANGE ORDER BACK IN MARCH OF 24, WHICH IS RESOLUTION 24 DASH 1 69.
AND WHEN WE, WE VALUE ENGINEERED THAT, UM, IT WAS BASICALLY TO GET BACK IN THE PRICE RANGE OF WHAT WE WERE DOING.
SO SINCE THEN IN JU ON JULY 7TH OF 24, THE MARINA TOOK A HIT FROM HURRICANE BARREL DECEMBER 28TH.
THERE WAS A E OF THREE TORNADO.
UM, IN JANUARY 21ST OF 25, THAT WAS A SNOW STORM.
SO THE REASON I'M BRINGING ATTENTION TO ALL THREE OF THOSE, UH,
[02:00:01]
ACTS OF NATURE, IF THE SCOPE OF WORK WAS DONE IN MARCH OF UM, 24, IT WAS NO WAY THAT WE CAN GO BACK AND GET THEM TO DO ANYTHING IN ADDITION TO THAT UNLESS WE DO A CHANGE ORDER.SO I DID SPEAK, THERE WAS TWO INCIDENTS I GOT WITH HR TO SEE IF THERE WAS INSURANCE.
PRIOR TO US EVEN DOING THIS, THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE INSURANCE.
SO WE COULDN'T FILE ANY CLAIMS ON ANY OF THE THREE ACTS OF NATURE.
AND THEN THE SECOND THING WAS, UM, THE GUY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY COST ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO GO BACK AND REPAIR EVERYTHING THAT WAS DONE, UM, DUE TO THE DAMAGE OF THESE STORMS. OKAY.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE, EVERYTHING WAS GOOD UNTIL DAMAGE TO STORM DAMAGE THE PROPERTY AND WE HAVE INSURANCE COVER AND THEY TELLING US WE CAN'T FIX IT.
NO, WE DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE.
I SAID WHEN I GOT WITH HR AND WE GOT WITH TML, THERE WAS NEVER ANY INSURANCE FROM THE FIRST TIME THEY INSTALLED THE, UH, DOCKS IN THE MARINA.
DID WE DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THAT? SO IN THE FUTURE? YES, SIR.
AFTER, AFTER WE FINISHED IT, WE DID THE INSURER.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? WELL, SO IT, THAT STILL JUST BEGS THE QUESTION.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF REPAIRS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE THAT WE, THAT THEY'RE, THEY JUST WEREN'T DONE.
AND SO WE'RE PAYING FOR REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE THAT HAVE NOW BEEN DAMAGED.
AGAIN, I'M JUST, I THINK THIS DOESN'T COMPUTE.
SO WE, YOU'RE, THIS IS A RE A RELEASE FOR RETAINAGE THAT WE OWE THIS COMPANY.
SO THIS MONEY THAT WE OWE BACK TO THEM YES, MA'AM.
FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT WORK.
THE COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT.
NOW, THIS PART OF THE PROJECT, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, CAN'T BE COVERED BY INSURANCE BECAUSE OF THE THREE STORM.
NOW, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS MOVING FORWARD, YES.
AS I WAS EXPLAINING TO MR. DEUCE SAID AFTER WE FINISHED THIS PROJECT, I THINK IT WAS MIGHT HAVE BEEN MARCH 31ST OF 25.
I IMMEDIATELY GOT WITH HR BECAUSE WE HAD THIS PROBLEM.
UM, CITY ATTORNEY, YOU HAVE YOUR LIGHT ON OR NO,
WHAT, WHAT KIND OF PHOTOS WE, THAT YOU HAVE THAT, THAT GUARANTEE OR IT SHOWS THAT THE REPAIRS HADN'T BEEN DONE.
WHERE, WHERE DO THOSE PHOTOS COME FROM? I HAVE PHOTOS FROM, I HAVE PHOTOS FROM SOME OF THE BOAT OWNERS.
FROM THE MARINA AND SOME OF THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN MARINERS COVE.
THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT ARE NOT REPAIRED.
I THINK WE HAVE THE COUNCILWOMAN BECKER IS MAKING AN IMPORTANT POINT HERE, BUT HERE'S IT, HERE'S WHERE, WHERE WE ARE.
THE QUESTION TO YOU, GEORGE, WAS THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT WAS UNDER THIS PRESENT CONTRACT? YES, SIR.
IS THE, MY SECOND QUESTION IS, IS THERE ADDITIONAL WORK TO BE DONE? THERE IS, THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL SCOPE OF WORK THAT CAN BE DONE.
BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO ORDER SHOULD BE NO, THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, UH, MY QUESTION NOW IS HAVE YOU AND EMBARKED ON DETERMINING, UH, ENGAGING PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DEVELOP A SCOPE OF WORK AND GO THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS INDICATING THAT THAT DAMAGE WAS DONE BY A SERIES OF NATURAL EVENTS.
EMBARKED ON THAT PROCESS WITH, WITH THE ENGINEER? YES.
SO, BUT IS IT DOCUMENTED? YES.
SO WHEN WE NEED TO SEPARATE THE TWO AND WE NEED TO COME, WELL, WE, YOU NEED TO INFORM COUNCIL, AND I GUESS THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO INFORM COUNCIL HERE IT IS THAT I'VE COMPLETED MY SCOPE OF WORK, BUT I NEED TO COME BACK.
I'M GOING TO COME BACK WITH DAMAGES THAT WILL EXCEED AND I'M JUST THROWING UP A NUMBER THERE.
YEAH, I CAN, I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION.
'CAUSE DAYS WE, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE DAMAGES THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER IS TALKING ABOUT.
SEE, EVEN IF WE'RE CLOSING THIS ONE, WE NEED TO IMMEDIATELY ACT UPON IT AND MOVE OKAY.
UH, UM, I THINK IT MIGHT REQUIRE, UH, UH, THE, THE, THE CITY ATTORNEYS MAR MAYOR, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S QUESTION, WAS THERE, WAS THERE A CITY ENGINEER THAT REVIEWED THIS? YEAH.
AND SHE COULD PUT HER LIGHT ON TO SPEAK.
UH, SO I CAN RECOGNIZE HER, PLEASE.
MY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS MAYOR, THAT, UM, AS WILSON AND COLE WAS THE ONE WHO, UM, REVIEWED
[02:05:01]
THE CORRECT.SO COULD WE, WELL, FOOD AND NECESSARY PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
COULD WE GO AHEAD AND GET THAT DONE AGAIN, PROCURED PROPERLY.
SO MANAGER, ARE YOU DONE TO HIT YOUR TURN YOUR LIGHT OFF, PLEASE.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA VOTE ON.
THE QUESTION FROM COUNCILMAN BECKHAM WAS THAT THE SCOPE OF THE WORK WAS NOT DONE.
AND WHAT I'M HEARING FROM GEORGE IS THAT THE WORK WAS ACTUALLY DONE, BUT FROM THE TIME IT WAS DONE, THEY HAD DISASTERS OR SOMETHING THAT MESSED UP THE WORK.
HOWEVER THAT WORK WAS DONE PER THAT CONTRACT.
THAT'S WHAT I WANNA MAKE SURE.
WELL THERE'S DONE, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, THE TABLE.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND DISCUSSION.
SO WE'RE STILL IN DISCUSSION? WE'RE STILL IN DISCUSSION.
I, I STILL HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION THOUGH, BECAUSE IF THIS HURRICANE BARREL WAS LAST JULY, IT WAS JULY OF 2024, THEN YOU JUST SAID THAT THIS WORK WAS COMPLETED IN MARCH OR APRIL OF 2025.
SO WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN JULY AND APRIL? I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
WE HAD THREE DIFFERENT ACTS OF NATURE TO GO THROUGH THAT MARINA WITHIN THE YEAR SCOPE OF WORK.
THEY WORKED FROM MARCH 31ST TO MARCH 31ST.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE WORK THAT WAS DONE FROM MARCH TO JULY 7TH, THAT BARREL MESSED UP.
IT BASICALLY UNDID SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY PERFORMED.
AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IN DECEMBER 28TH, WE MADE THE NEWS WHEN THE TORNADO CAME THROUGH.
WHATEVER WORK WAS DONE FROM MARCH TO DECEMBER, IT TORE UP SOME MORE STUFF.
SO THE WORK WAS ACTUALLY PERFORMED.
IT'S JUST THAT EACH TIME SOMETHING HAPPENED TO MR. DOCKS UP AGAIN.
AND SO YOU SAID THAT ARSENAL WILSON AND COLE HAVE BEEN BACK OUT THERE SINCE? YES, MA'AM.
WE, WE ACTUALLY WALKED THE JOB, UM, AT THE END.
'CAUSE THEY HAVE TO SIGN OFF ON THE, UH, CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION.
WHICH IS IN THIS, IN THE PACKET.
BUT, BUT HAVE THEY ISSUED ANOTHER REPORT SAYING, OKAY, YES, THEY DID THE WORK, BUT HERE'S THE OTHER DAMAGE THAT HAPPENED THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS? YES.
YEAH, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
WE'RE GONNA, AT THIS TIME TAKE A VOTE.
I'M GONNA MOVE ON TO OUR, UH, NON-CONSENT AGENDA.
AND I'M GOING TO DO THE FIRST THING WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVERFI HAMILTON ASKED US TO DO ON BRINGING UP, UH, PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO EXTEND IT OR TO REAFFIRM PROPOSED RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 4 85 TO ADVOCATE FOR AND AGAINST THE CI UM, CITY'S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND THE FIRST CALLED 89TH LEGIS TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SPECIAL SESSION.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? CAN I GET A MOTION? OKAY, WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AT THIS TIME, THE MOTION TO REAFFIRM THE RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 4 85 HAS BEEN PASSED.
[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 24316 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute An Agreement With The Solco Group, LLC For Engineering For Transit And Equipment Planning Service Projects, In An Amount Not To Exceed $104,606.25; Funding Is Available In Transit Other Contractual Services Account 401-70-500-5470-00-60-000 In An Amount Of $78,454.69 And Fleets Professional Services Account 001-13-037-5420-00-70-000 In An Amount Of $26,151.56]
THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ITEM NUMBER ONE.NUMBERS MOVE, UM, ITEM NUMBER, UH, PROPOSED RESOLUTION NUMBER 2 4 3 1 6 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SO-CALLED GROUP LLC FOR ENGINEERING, FOR TRANSIT AND EQUIPMENT PLANNING SERVICE PROJECTS, AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $104,000 $606 AND 25 CENTS.
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE TRANSIT OF THE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES ACCOUNT.
4 0 1 DASH SEVEN ZERO DASH 500 DASH 5 4 7 0 DASH SIX ZERO IN AN AMOUNT OF $78,454 AND 69 CENTS.
AND FLEETS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ACCOUNT 0 0 1 DASH THREE DASH 0 3 7 5 4 2 0 7 0 0 IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,151 AND 56 CENTS.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED.
I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AT THIS TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTION? I HAVE NO QUESTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE HAS A QUESTION.
WHY DO WE HAVE A A ON CALL? THIS, THIS IS FOR A CONTRACT FOR ON CALL.
[02:10:01]
I SEE IN HERE THE LIST OF THINGS WE WANT THEM TO DO.STRATEGIC PLANNING, POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT GRANT WRITING, FUNDING ASSIST, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC OUTREACH, REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND DOCUMENTATION TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND TRANSIT REGULATIONS.
A LOT OF THESE THINGS I'M READING.
THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE A, A DIRECTOR DOWN HERE THAT WE, THAT THAT, THAT HAS TO BE IN CHARGE OF THIS AND OVERSEE THIS.
BUT YET, NO, WE'RE GONNA GET SOMEBODY ON A ON CALL SO THAT ANYTIME ONE OF THESE, THEY NEED SOMETHING AND ONE OF THESE, THEY JUST CHOOSE THEM.
AND THEN MY SECOND THING IS, LET'S PULL OUT ONE THAT YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITHOUT.
I'M TRYING TO SEE WHICH ONE OF THESE I COULD USE AS AN EXAMPLE SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND, UH, GRANT WRITING AND FUNDING ASSISTANCE.
JUST THAT ITSELF, YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN WE SENT OUT A RQ FOR GRANT WRITING, YOU KNOW, WE GET PEOPLE BIDDING ON IT AND STUFF, SO THEN WE GET A CHANCE TO SEE WHO GOING TO GIVE US THE WORK FOR THE LEASE PRICE.
I, I JUST DON'T, ALL THESE ONCALL, I DON'T BELIEVE IN ONCALL BECAUSE ONCALL TO ME IS SAYING WE ARE NOT GONNA USE THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO OBTAIN THESE THINGS.
WE JUST GONNA HAVE SOMEBODY THAT WHEN WE WANT SOMETHING, WE JUST CALL THEM AND GIVE IT TO THEM.
WELL, WHEN WE DO THAT, THE PERSON THAT WE GIVE IT TO, THEY UNDERSTAND NOW THEY'RE NOT BEING CON COMPARED TO WITH NO PRICE THAT THEY GIVE US.
BECAUSE THEY GOT, THEY GOT THE CONTRACT.
OH, IVAN, I CAN SPEAK ON SOME OF THOSE ITEMS. OKAY.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR MY VOICE? YES, IVAN, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
UM, GO RIGHT ON AHEAD AND SPEAK.
SO, UH, PARTICULAR I, I CAN SPEAK ON GRANT WRITING AND I CAN SAY ON GRANT WRITING, USUALLY WHEN THE, I'M SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY ON TRANSIT GRANTS, WE ARE USUALLY GIVEN ABOUT 60 TO 90 DAYS TO WRITE A TRANSIT GRANT.
ONCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT, UH, ISSUES THE GRANT, UM, WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GO OUT IN A PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO PROCURE SOMEBODY TO WRITE THE GRANT FOR US IN ENOUGH TIME TO MEET THOSE GRANT DEADLINES.
SO THAT'S WHY, UM, I'M KEEPING SOMEBODY ON CALL WHEN THESE GRANTS POP UP.
AND IF THEY'RE GIVEN TO ME, UM, WE CAN IMMEDIATELY START REVIEWING THEM, ADDRESSING THEM, AND PUT TOGETHER THE STRONGEST GRANT POSSIBLE TO HOPEFULLY WIN THIS MONEY FOR THE CITY.
AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO FOR THE, FOR THE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
UM, AS FOR THE OTHER ITEMS ON THE LIST, UH, THOSE ARE ALSO REGULATORY THINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE, UM, WE ARE, WE JUST WENT THROUGH OUR AL AUDIT, UM, IN OF JUNE OF THIS YEAR.
AND AS A RESULT OF THE AUDIT, WE WERE ASKED TO UPDATE SOME OF OUR, UH, REGULATORY DOCUMENTS THAT THEY REQUIRE US TO KEEP.
SO, UH, I NEED HELP DOING THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I CAN WORK OF COURSE WITH THE PERSON TO DO IT, YOU KNOW, I AM A REVIEWER IN DOING THAT, BUT, UH, IT'S JUST ME.
I, I CAN'T DO ALL THAT BY MYSELF, WHICH IS WHY I HAVE SOMEBODY ON CALL.
UM, WHEN WE SIT DOWN, WE DISCUSS IT AND WE AGREE ON WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO.
I JUST DON'T SAY, GO AHEAD AND, UH, DO WHATEVER GUYS, AND YOU KNOW, I'LL PAY YOU WHATEVER PRICE.
NO, WE SIT DOWN, WE DISCUSS ALL THESE TASKS IN LENGTH, WE AGREE UPON HOW IT'S GONNA GO, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, UH, THEY WILL THEN GO AHEAD AND DO THE WORK OR PROJECT FOR ME.
JUST ONE QUESTION, IVAN, YOU MENTIONED GRANT WRITING AND YOU TOLD ME WHAT'S THAT TIMEFRAME? YOU SAY THEY, THEY SEND GRANTS DOWN FOR, YOU HAVE TO RE REPLY IN SIX 90 W THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT YOU, SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHEN THEY ISSUED, WHEN THEY PUT UP GRANTS YEAH.
THAT THEY NORMALLY GO 30 TO NINE DAYS.
MOST OF THE GRANTS THAT THE CITY, I MEAN THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ISSUE, THEY GOT A TIMEFRAME IN WHICH YOU CAN APPLY WHEN IT HAS TO BE ALL IN AND, AND, UH, 30 TO 90 DAYS.
MOST TIME I SAW IS, IS LONGER PERIODS OF TIME.
SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE'S 30 TO 90 DAYS ARE ALL OF THE GRANTS? UH, I'VE, SO, SO THE, THE, THE, THE, THE COMPETITIVE GRANTS, I'M TALKING ABOUT COMPETITIVE GRANTS THAT WE APPLY FOR.
SO YEAH, SO LIKE THE LOW NO GRANTS, WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND BEING AWARDED A LOT OF THOSE GRANTS, UM, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER OF HOW LONG THEY PUT THOSE GRANTS OUT FOR, BUT THEY'RE DEFINITELY WITHIN A 90 DAY PERIOD, ONCE THEY ADVERTISE, IT'S CALLED THE NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY.
ONCE THAT NOF COMES OUT, YOU HAVE A SET AMOUNT OF TIME.
[02:15:01]
IT'S DEFINITELY NOT MORE THAN 90 DAYS.I THINK THE LAST ONE WAS ONLY 60 DAYS.
SO YEAH, THERE ARE TIME RESTRAINTS THAT THEY GIVE YOU TO PUT TOGETHER YOUR GRANT, WHICH IS WHY WHEN IT COMES OUT, YOU WANT TO JUMP ON IT IMMEDIATELY, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT PUTTING SOMETHING TOGETHER THE LAST MINUTE.
UH, IVAN, UH, MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION BECAUSE I, I HAD A CONCERN LAST YEAR ABOUT GRANT WRITING THE PROCESS, AND I THINK WE HAD HIRED A GRANT WRITER.
THAT WAS MY WHOLE CONCERN ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IN A EXPEDIENT, UH, MANNER, UH, HIRING A GRANT WRITER.
AND I, I THINK THAT THE CITY MANAGER MADE A, A COMMENT OR TWO SAYING THAT WE HIRED A GRANT WRITER.
SO I HOPE THAT YOU DON'T FEEL THAT YOU'RE ALONE IN THIS PROCESS BECAUSE IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF HIRING A GRANT WRITER.
SO IT CAN ALLEVIATE SOME OF THIS PRESSURE OFF DIRECTORS AND, AND SUPERVISORS, UH, ON CALL.
I DO HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT ON-CALL, THE ON-CALL THING.
I THINK WE SHOULD USE AS NEEDED.
I MEAN, THE SAME REQUIREMENTS IS GONNA BE IF WE DO R-F-Q-R-P, BUT PUTTING SOMETHING, OR, UH, RETAINAGE FOR ONCALL, I MEAN, WE MAY NOT USE THAT PERSON FOR WHATEVER REASON.
AND YOU TALKED ABOUT REGULATORY DOCUMENTATION THAT YOU NEED TO GET FOR THESE GRANTS.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT YOU HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME THAN WITH COMPETITIVE GRANTS, UH, THAT YOU APPLIED FOR IT IN 30 TO 90 DAYS.
IF SOMETHING CHANGED, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD YOU LETTING THIS COUNCIL KNOW, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A LOT LONGER THAN THAT BECAUSE I GO TO THOSE GRANT WRITING COURSES THAT THEY HAVE IN AUSTIN OR THE TML AND NLC TO FIND OUT WHAT IS SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN QUALIFY AS A CITY, UH, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, MUNICIPALITY THAT WE CAN QUALIFY.
SO IF YOU CAN HELP ME ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS, I WOULD ASK.
YEAH, SO, SO I'LL, I'LL, I'LL TOUCH AGAIN ON THE, ON THE TIMEFRAME.
SO I MEAN, THERE, THERE'S ALL TYPES OF GRANTS OUT THERE.
UM, THERE'S, THERE'S GRANTS FROM THE, UH, TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
THERE'S EPA GRANTS, THERE'S HOUSING GRANTS.
UM, THOSE AREN'T THE GRANTS I'M SPEAKING OF.
PERHAPS THOSE DO HAVE LONGER PERIODS.
PERHAPS SOME OF THOSE GRANTS HAVE, UM, THEY'RE OPEN BY, I MEAN, OPEN SOME, SOME OF THEM ARE ROLLING GRANTS WHERE, WHERE EVERY UH, THREE MONTHS THEY ACCEPT NEW APPLICATIONS.
I'M SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY ON THE FTA THOUGH, LET ME SAY MORE OF THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANTS.
MOST OF THOSE GRANTS THAT I GO FOR HAVE A VERY SHORT PERIOD FROM THE TIME THEY ISSUED AN NOF TO WHEN YOU CAN APPLY FOR IT.
SO YES, PERHAPS THERE ARE OTHER ONES THAT ARE, UM, LONGER, BUT THOSE AREN'T THE ONES I'M REFERRING TO.
UM, AS FOR THE CITY'S GRANT AUDIT, YOU ARE CORRECT.
THERE IS A LADY THAT THE CITY HIRED.
WE TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, BUT THE SPECIFIC GRANT ASSISTANCE I WOULD BE GETTING FROM THIS ON-CALL SERVICE, UH, AND SPECIFICALLY FOR, UM, SOME OF THE GRANTS I WRITE, THEY ASK FOR A LOT OF ENGINEERING SLASH TECHNICAL INFORMATION.
SO, UM, THEY WANT YOU TO PULL DIFFERENT DATA.
UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ASKING YOU FOR, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL NUMBERS FOR THE STUDIO PORT ARTHUR.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S TECHNICAL, UM, THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS IT TO PULL IT FOR YOU TO PUT IT TOGETHER AND HELP YOU PUT IT INTO YOUR GRANT PACKAGE.
SO A LOT OF THE MORE TECHNICAL ITEMS WITHIN THE GRANT, BUT I DO STILL PARTICIPATE IN THE GRANT WRITING PROCESS WITH THEM.
BUT THOSE TECHNICAL ITEMS, A LOT OF THAT I DON'T, I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND.
UM, IT'S ABOVE WHAT I'VE, YOU KNOW WHAT I UNDERSTAND.
SO I NEED SOMEBODY TO HELP ME, WHICH IS WHAT THEY HELPED ME WITH.
UM, I THINK YOU HAD ONE MORE COMMENT.
I DON'T, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS.
IF YOU COULD ASK AGAIN, I'LL, I'LL ANSWER IT.
UM, I THINK THE CITY MANAGER'S LIGHT WAS ON.
DO I NEED TO AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK.
HE IS, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK.
UH, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS, UH, FROM THE PARTICULAR STANDPOINT, UH, FOR THE REASON THAT WAS GIVEN.
UM, RF QS ARE USED WHEN THERE IS SPECIFICITY, UH, OF WHAT WILL BE NEEDED, WHAT WILL BE UTILIZED.
WE JUST HEARD, UM, WE JUST HEARD, UH, IVAN, UH, SAY, UH, THAT HE NEEDS THAT TECHNICAL SUPPORT, UH, FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THIS MISSION.
SO, UM, I, I THINK THAT IT'S, UH, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE GO AHEAD AND WE GIVE HIM THE TOOLS THAT HE NEEDS.
IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, WE, UH, WENT TO, UH, THE SYSTEM OF GETTING, UH, RF AN RFQ LIST PUT TOGETHER.
UH, WE WENT THROUGH ALL OF THAT.
WE'VE APPROVED EVERY INDIVIDUAL ON THE RFQ LIST.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THEM, WE'VE GOTTEN THEIR CREDENTIALS.
UH, AND SO, UH, TO HAVE IT AND TO NOT UTILIZE IT AND TO, AND TO CAUSE THE, THE PROCESS TO BE LONGER THAN
[02:20:01]
IT NEEDS TO BE WOULD BE A TRAVESTY ON OUR PART.COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD? YES.
[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 24436 – A Resolution Authorizing The Execution Of Two One-Year Contracts With Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. And Modern Concrete & Materials Of Beaumont, Texas, To Purchase Concrete Building Materials For The Public Works Streets Division With A Projected Budgetary Impact Of $500,000.00. Budgeted Funds Are Available In The Street Maintenance Account, 001-21-053-5316-00-70-000 ($200,000.00), And The Capital Improvement Fund Streets Program Account, 307-21-053-5316-00-70-000, Various Projects ($300,000.00) ($150,000.00 For FY25 And $350,000.00 For FY26, Pending FY26 Budget Approval)]
WE ARE ON TO OUR NEXT NON-CONSENT ITEM.A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED AND EXECUTION OF TWO ONE YEAR CERTIFICATES WITH MARTIN.
WITH MARTIN MARIETTA MATERIALS INCORPORATED IN MODERN CONCRETE AND MATERIALS.
BEAUMONT, TEXAS TO PURCHASE CONCRETE BUILDING MATERIALS FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS STREETS DIVISION WITH THE PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $500,000.
BUDGETED FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE STREET.
MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT, 0 0 1 DASH 21 DASH 0 5 3 5 3 6 0 7 0 0 0 $200,000.
AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND STREETS PROGRAM ACCOUNT 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH 0 5 3 5 3 16 0 7 0.
VARIOUS PROJECTS $300,000, $150,000 FOR FY 25 AND AND 300 HUNDRED $50,000 FOR FY 26 PENDING.
WE GOT A, UH, I HAVE A MOTION FIRST.
OOH, I HAVE A, A MOTION HAS BEEN APPROVED AND A SECOND.
MAY I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THE COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE? YES.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, UH, MAKE THIS STATEMENT AND I'LL COME BACK TO COUNSEL WHEN I GET THE INFORMATION.
BUT YOU HAVE TWO ACCOUNTS HERE, UH, WITH THE C AND IT'S COMING OUT OF, UH, THE STREET MAINTENANCE.
THAT'S WHAT WE PUT MONEY IN FOR, TO DO STREET MAINTENANCE.
BUT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND BECAUSE THAT MONEY THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF STREETS.
I MENTIONED IT BEFORE AND HERE WE SEE IT COMING AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S, WE SHOULD BE GETTING MONEY OUTTA STREETS MAINTENANCE 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE PUT MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR.
WHEN WE GO TO THE STREET CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, WE PUT MONEY IN THERE FOR CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION AND STREETS AND RELATED ITEMS AND STREET MAINTENANCE.
THE GENERAL FUND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, WE FUND THAT FROM THE MONEY WE PUT IN IT FOR THAT REASON, FOR CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION.
UH, VOTE ON THE, ON THE MOTION PLEASE.
[VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 24439 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Apply To The U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development For A Community Development Block Grant For $1,006,766.00 And A Home Investment Partnership (HOME) Grant In The Amount Of $321,504.70; And Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The City Of Port Arthur's 2025 Consolidated Annual Plan. The Consolidated Plan Will Be Submitted To The U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development]
TO THE NEXT PR NUMBER 2 4 4 3 9.A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A CITY MANAGER TO APPLY TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FOR $1,000,006 $766 AND A HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP HOME GRANT AND THE AMOUNT OF $321,504 AND 70 CENTS.
AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S 2025 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PLAN.
THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MOTION A SECOND? I HAVE A MO UH, I HAVE A, I HAVE AN APPROVAL IN A SECOND.
ALL IN QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? WOO.
[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 24441 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 3 To The Atlanta Waterline Improvement Project With Global Drilling Inc. Of Winnie, Texas, Increasing The Contract Amount By $79,510.00 To The New Total Contract Amount Of $2,801,050.00 With Extended Contract Time Of 45 Days To A New Total Contract Time Of 405 Days; Funds Are Available In Capital Improvement Projects Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000, Project No. WS-0019 CON, Contingent Upon The Approval Of Budget Amendment In Proposed Ordinance No. 7351]
NEXT PR NUMBER 2 4 4 4 1.A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER THREE TO THE ATLANTA WATERLINE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WITH A GLOBAL DRILLING INCORPORATED OF WINNING TEXAS, INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $79,510 TO THE NEW TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $2,000,801 AND 50 $50 WITH EXTENDED CONTRACT TIME OF 45
[02:25:01]
DAYS TO A NEW TOTAL CONTRACT TIME OF 405 DAYS.FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
UM, CON CON CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT AND PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 7 3 5 1.
CAN I GET A MOTION FOR, UH, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? DON MOVE A SECOND.
ANY QUESTIONS? THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS.
THERE ARE NO ANY NOS MOTION HAS, UH, RESOLUTION HAS PASSED.
[VIII.A.(5) P.R. No. 24442 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A One-Year Contract With Signal Security Of SETX Of Port Arthur, Texas For Security Guard Services For City Hall And The Annex For The Total Projected Budgetary Impact Of $124,000.00 ($20,666.66 For FY25 And $103,333.34 For FY26, Subject To Budget Approval). Funding Is Available In The Facilities Maintenance Other Contractual Service Account, 001-21-059-5470-00-70-000]
PR NUMBER 2 4 4 4 2 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A ONE YEAR CONTRACT WITH SIGNAL SECURITY OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS, OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR SECURITY GUARD SERVICES FOR CITY HALL AND THE ANNEX FOR THE TOTAL PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF $124,000 20666.64 FY 25 AND $103,333 AND 34 CENTS FOR FY 26.SUBJECT TO BUDGET APPROVAL FUNDS IS AVAILABLE IN THE FACILITIES MAINTENANCE OF THE CONTRACTUAL SERVICE ACCOUNT.
0 0 1 2 1 0 5 9 5 4 7 0 7 0 0.
AND SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS REAL QUICK? MAYOR? OKAY.
CAN COUNCIL, CAN LAW, UH, I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU MAY KNOW THIS, BUT WHY, WHY ARE WE DOING TWO BUDGET YEARS TO TAKING THAT, THAT MONEY OUTTA TWO BUDGET YEARS? I WAS LOOKING AT THE BACKGROUND.
UM, THE REASON IS BECAUSE THE CONTRACT'S GOING TO START ONCE WE AWARD PROBABLY IN AUGUST.
SO IT'S TWO MONTHS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, THEN OCTOBER STARTS THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
THANKS FOR THE CLARITY CLIFF AT THIS TIME.
THE MOTION, THE RESOLUTION PASSES.
LET'S GO TO OUR LAST, OH, A COUPLE MORE.
[VIII.A.(6) P.R. No. 24443 – A Resolution Rescinding Resolution No. 25-141 As It Pertains To The Contracts For Road Building Materials; Ratifying The Purchase Of Road Building Materials In The Projected Amount Of $292,260.08; And Authorizing The City Manager To Execute New Contracts With Texas Materials, Vulcan Construction Materials, Kat Excavation And Construction, Martin Marietta Materials, And Modern Concrete & Materials For Road Building Materials For The Public Works Streets Division And The Engineering Department For The Projected Amount Of $2,900,000.00. Funding Is Available In The Streets Maintenance Account, 001-21-053-5316-00-70-000 ($275,000.00), And The Capital Improvement Fund Streets Program Account, 307-21-053-8517-00-10-000 ($2,425,000.00), For Various Projects]
PR NUMBER 2 4 4 4 3 A RESOLUTION, RESCINDED RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO FIVE DASH 1 41.AS IT PERTAINS TO THE CONTRACTS FOR ROAD BUILDING MATERIALS, RATIFYING THE PURCHASE OF ROAD BUILDING MATERIALS IN THE PROJECTED PROJECTED AMOUNT OF $292,260 AND 8 CENTS IN AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE NEW CONTRACTS WITH TEXAS MATERIALS, BA AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, CAT EVACUATION AND CONSTRUCTION, MARTIN MARIETTA MATERIALS AND MODERN CONCRETE AND MATERIALS ROAD BUILDING MATERIALS FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS STREETS DIVISION AND THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT FOR THE PROJECTED AMOUNT OF $2,900,000.
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE STREETS.
MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT, 0 0 1 DASH 21 DASH FIVE THREE DASH FIVE THREE SIXTEEN SEVEN ZERO TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY $5,000.
AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS, UH, STREETS PROGRAM ACCOUNT 3 0 7 1 5 3 8 5 0 0 FOR $2,425,000 FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND.
ANY QUESTIONS? UH, MAYOR, JUST UM, ON THIS ONE WE HAD A COUPLE OF TIE BEDS, SO WE NEED TO UH, PULL FOR THOSE.
WHO, WHO WANNA DO IT? YOU, YOU HAVE TO COME DOWN.
WELL I'M GONNA READ THIS OFF TO THE MIC AND THEN I COME OKAY.
SO WE HAVE TWO ITEMS THAT WE HAD TIES ON.
SO THE FIRST ITEM WAS ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS THE SIX 10 BASE.
UH, WE HAD A LINE FOR THE, UH, WHERE THEY PICK IT UP AT THE PLANT.
SO WE HAD TWO COMPANIES TIED AT $52.
AND THOSE TWO COMPANIES IS TEXAS MATERIALS AND VULCAN.
SO ONE WOULD BE THE PRIMARY THAT WE PULLED AND THE SECOND ONE WOULD BE THE SECONDARY VENDOR.
THE OTHER ITEM THAT WAS TIED IS ITEM NUMBER NINE, THE CEMENT STABILIZED SAND.
SO THIS WAS ACTUALLY A TIE FOR SECOND.
UM, SO THIS IS BETWEEN MARTIN MARIETTA AND TEXAS MATERIAL.
SO THE WAY WE'RE GONNA DO THIS ONE IS WHOEVER WE PULL WILL BE SECOND AND THEN THE OTHER PERSON WILL BE THIRD.
SO WE'LL JUST HAVE A THIRD ON THAT ONE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DOUCETTE IS GONNA COME.
TIM ETT IS GONNA COME DOWN AND PULL.
SINCE I'M READING, SOMEBODY CAN PULL.
SO ON THIS ONE WE'RE GONNA PULL FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR, THE SIX 10 BASE
[02:30:01]
LIMESTONE BETWEEN TEXAS MATERIALS AND BULKING.ALRIGHT, DID YOU OH, WE DIDN'T, WE PUT, WE DOING THE PULL.
SO THE PRIMARY VENDOR WOULD BE TEXAS MATERIALS.
AND SO THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO PULL ON IS, UH, FOR THE ITEM NUMBER NINE, CEMENT STABILIZED SAND.
LIKE I SAY, THIS WILL BE FOR THE, UM, SECONDARY AND THIRD VENDOR.
UH, IT'D BE BETWEEN MARTIN MARIETTA MATERIALS AND TEXAS MATERIALS.
THE SECOND BIDDER WOULD BE MARTIN MARIETTA MATERIALS.
SO THE THIRD PERSON WILL BE TEXAS MATERIALS.
AND EVERYBODY ELSE WAS AWARDED A COURT ORDER.
AND WE'VE ALREADY PASSED THE RESOLUTION.
[VIII.A.(7) P.R. No. 24447 – A Resolution Ratifying The City Manager's Decision To Authorize Ratification Of The Emergency Removal Of Clogging From Primary Clarifier A At The Main Wastewater Treatment Plant By Empower Industrial Solutions, LLC Of Houston, Texas In The Total Amount Of $30,000.00; Funding In CIP Account No. 405-40-000-8516-00-00-000 Is Contingent Upon The Approval Of The Budget Amendment In Proposed Ordinance No. 7351]
THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PR NUMBER 2 4 4 4 7 A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER'S DECISION TO AUTHORIZE RATIFICATION OF THE EMERGENCY REMOVAL OF CLOGGING FROM PRIMARY CLARIFIER A AT THE MAIN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT BY EMPOWER INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.AND THEIR TOTAL AMOUNT OF $30,000 FUNDING.
AND CIP ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 5 DASH 4 0 0 8 5 16 0 0 0 0 IS CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT AND PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 7 3 5 1 MOTION FOR APPROVAL MOVED.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSIONS, ALTHOUGH ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE.
ANY NOYES? OKAY, THE MOTION PASSES.
RESOLUTION 2 4 4 4 7 HAS PASSED.
[VIII.A.(8) P.R. No. 24458 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing A Member Or Members To The Port Arthur Police Chief Advisory Committee (Requested By Mayor Moses)]
NUMBER 2 4 4 5 8 A RESOLUTION, APPOINTING AND OR REAPPOINTING A MEMBER OF MEMBERS TO THE PORT ARTHUR POLICE CHIEF ADVISORY COMMITTEE.MR. REQUESTED BY MAYOR MOSES GOT A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
UM, ANY DISCUSSIONS? THE NAME THAT I'M INSERTING HERE IS MARY SPARKS.
WE ARE GOING TO NOW MOVE TO ITEMS REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION.
OUR NON-CONSENT ORDINANCES, UM, PO
[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7335 – An Ordinance Amending Appendix A – Zoning, Code Of Ordinances, City Of Port Arthur, Texas, To Allow Automobile-Related Uses In Light Industrial (LI) And Heavy Industrial (HI) Zoning Districts (Violation Of Any Provision Of This Ordinance Shall Be Guilty Of A Misdemeanor And Shall Be Punished By A Fine Not Exceeding $2,000.00, As Provided In Chapter 1, Section 1-13 Of The Code Of Ordinances, And Each Day Which Violation Is Permitted To Exist Shall Constitute A Separate And Distinct Offense.); And Providing For Publication In The Official Newspaper Of The City Of Port Arthur And Effective Immediately After Publication Date. Z25-02 City Of Port Arthur]
NUMBER 7 3 3 5, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING APPENDIX, A ZONING, UH, CODE OF ORDINANCE, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO ALLOW AUTOMOBILE RELATED USES AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL LI AND HEAVY INDUSTRIAL HI ZONING DISTRICT'S.VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE GUILT OF A MISDEMEANOR AND SHALL BE PUNISHED BY A FINE NOT TO EXCEEDING $2,000 AS PROVIDED IN CHARTER.
IN CHAPTER ONE, SECTION ONE THROUGH 13 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE AND EACH DAY, WHICH VIOLATION IS PERMITTED TO EXIST, SHALL CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT OFFENSE AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION AND THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUBLICATION DATE Z TWO FIVE DASH ZERO TWO.
CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND I NEED A SECOND.
OKAY, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY.
ANY DISCUSSIONS? HAVE NO DISCUSSION.
THE AYES HAVEN'T ANY NOS NO, NO.
WILL MOVE THE MO THE, UH, ORDINANCE PASSES.
WE'RE GONNA GO TO ORDINANCE, UH, ITEM
[VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7347 – An Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas Authorizing The Suspension Of The Effective Date For An Additional Ninety (90) Days Beyond The Effective Date Proposed By Texas Gas Service Company, A Division Of One Gas, Inc. In Connection With Its Statement Of Intent To Increase Gas Rates, Filed On June 30, 2025; Authorizing The Hiring Of Lawyers And Rate Experts; Authorizing The City's Participation To The Full Extent Permitted By Law At The Railroad Commission Of Texas; Requiring Reimbursement Of Municipal Rate Case Expenses; Finding That The Meeting Complies With The Open Meetings Act; Making Other Findings And Provisions Related To The Subject; And Declaring An Effective Date]
TWO PO NUMBER 7 3 4 7.AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE SUSPENSION OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 90 DAYS BEYOND THE EFFECTIVE DATE PROPOSED BY TEXAS GAS SERVICE COMPANY, A DIVISION OF ONE GAS INCORPORATED IN CONNECTION WITH ITS STATEMENT OF INTENT TO INCREASE GAS RATES FILLED ON JUNE 30TH, 2025.
AUTHORIZING THE HIRING OF LAWYERS AND RATE EXPERTS AUTHORIZING THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS, REQUIRING REIMBURSEMENT
[02:35:01]
OF MUNICIPAL RATE CASE EXPENSES, FINDING THAT THE MEETING COMPLIES WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? IT'S ALL MOVED.
ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
THAT THE RESOLUTION OR I'M SORRY, THE ORDINANCE PASSES.
[VIII.B.(3) P.O. No. 7348 – An Ordinance Amending Appendix A – Zoning, Code Of Ordinances, City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Granting Specific Use Permit No. 244 (SUP #244) For The Operation Of A Pre-Owned Automobile Sales Lot On Property Located At 1801 Woodworth Boulevard, Described As Lots 11 And 12, Block 327, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas (Violation Of Any Provision Of This Ordinance Shall Be Guilty Of A Misdemeanor And Shall Be Punished By A Fine Not Exceeding $2,000.00, As Provided In Chapter 1, Section 1-13 Of The Code Of Ordinances, And Each Day Which Violation Is Permitted To Exist Shall Constitute A Separate And Distinct Offense.); And Providing For Publication In The Official Newspaper Of The City Of Port Arthur And Effective Immediately After Publication Date. Z25-06 Affordable Auto Enterprises]
PO NUMBER 7 3 4 8 IN ORDINANCE AMENDING APPENDIX A ZONING CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, GRANTING SPECIFIC USE PERMIT NUMBER 2 4 4 SUP NUMBER 2 44 FOR THE OPERATION OF A PRE-OWNED AUTOMOBILE SALES LOT ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1801 WOODWORTH BOULEVARD, DESCRIBED AS LOTS 11 AND 12 BLOCK 3 27 PORT ARTHUR JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND SHALL BE PUNISHED BY A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $2,000 AS PROVIDED IN CHAPTER ONE.
SECTION ONE THROUGH 13 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES AND EACH DAY, WHICH VIOLATIONS PERMITTED TO EXIST, SHALL CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT OFFENSE AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUBLICATION DATE Z TWO FIVE DASH ZERO SIX.
AFFORDABLE AUTO, UH, EX UH, ENTERPRISES.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
MOTION THE ORDINANCE PASSES PO
[VIII.B.(4) P.O. No. 7349 – An Ordinance Amending Appendix A – Zoning, Code Of Ordinances, City Of Port Arthur, Texas, To Rezone A 2.892-Acre Tract Of Land Located At 8520 Wilson Avenue, Legally Described As Lot 23, Tracts 6 & 7, And Part Of Lot 11, Tract 6, Peek Addition, Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas, From Medium Density Residential (MDR) To Planned Development District – 45 (PD-45) To Allow For The Development And Operation Of A Multi-Purpose Event Center (Violation Of Any Provision Of This Ordinance Shall Be Guilty Of A Misdemeanor And Shall Be Punished By A Fine Not Exceeding $2,000.00, As Provided In Chapter 1, Section 1-13 Of The Code Of Ordinances, And Each Day Which Violation Is Permitted To Exist Shall Constitute A Separate And Distinct Offense.); And Providing For Publication In The Official Newspaper Of The City Of Port Arthur And Effective Immediately After Publication Date. Z24-10 Melecio F. Ceja]
NUMBER 7 3 4 9.AN ORDINANCE AMENDING APPENDIX, A ZONING CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO REZONE A 2.892 ACRE OF TRACT OF LAND LOCATED AT 85 20 WILSON AVENUE, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT 23, TRACK SIX AND SEVEN, AND PART OF LOT 11, TRACK SIX PEAK EDITION.
PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS FROM MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL MDR TO PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT DASH 45 PD DASH 45 TO ALLOW FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF A MULTIPURPOSE EVENT CENTER.
VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND SHALL BE PUNISHED BY A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $2,000 AS PROVIDED IN CHAPTER ONE.
SECTION ONE THROUGH 13 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES AND EACH DAY, WHICH VIOLATIONS PERMITTED TO EXIST, SHALL CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT OFFENSE I'M PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
AND EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUBLICATION DATE Z 24 DASH 10.
NOW GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THE MOTION? UM, WE'RE ASKING FOR A VOTE.
WE HAVE TWO MORE AND WE ARE ALMOST THERE.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE.
YOU SO GRACIOUSLY DID THAT EARLIER.
[VIII.B.(6) P.O. No. 7351 – An Appropriation Ordinance Amending The City Of Port Arthur Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2024 And Ending September 30, 2025, Increasing The General Fund (001) By $109,510.00 And Transferring That Amount Thereby Increasing Water And Sewer Capital Fund (405) By $109,510.00]
SIX, PO NUMBER 7 3 5 1.AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
INCREASING THE GENERAL FUND 0 0 1 BY $109,510 AND TRANSFERRING THAT AMOUNT, THEREBY INCREASING WATER AND SEWER CAPITAL FUND.
CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED.
ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY NOS? OKAY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY NOS.
THE MOTION PASSES AND, UH, THE ORDINANCE PASSES.
[VIII.B.(7) P.O. No. 7352 – An Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Adding Chapter 14, Article XXIV, Sections 14-700, 14-701, 14-702, 14-703, And 14-704 Of The Code Of Ordinances, Creating The Fire Chief Advisory Committee, Establishing Its Duties, Powers, And Administration. (Requested By Councilmember Frank)]
TO PO NUMBER 7 3 5 2.AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS ADDING CHAPTER 14, ARTICLE 15.
IS THAT RIGHT? SECTION 14 DASH 714 DASH 7 0 1.
14 DASH 7 0 3 AND 14 DASH 7 0 4 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES CREATING THE FIRE CHIEF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHING ITS DUTIES, POWERS, AND ADMISSION ADMINISTRATION REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
[02:40:01]
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY.ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY NOS? THE MOTION PASSES.
THE ORDINANCE, UM, HAS BEEN PASSED.
THIS IS OUR LAST ORDINANCE AND IT'S PO NUMBER 7 3 5 4
[VIII.B.(8) P.O. No. 7354 – An Ordinance Providing For The Conduct Of A Special Election On November 4, 2025 To Submit A Proposition To The Voters As To The Following: Authorizing The City Of Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation To Use The Sales And Use Tax Imposed Under Chapter 504 Of The Texas Local Government Code, Including Any Amount Previously Authorized And Collected For The Following Specific Category Of Projects That Qualify Under Chapter 505 Of The Texas Local Government Code And Are Projects Related To: (1) Recreational Or Community Facilities; (2) Affordable Housing; (3) Water Supply Facilities And Water Conservation Programs; (4) New Or Expanded Business Enterprises That Create Or Retain Primary Jobs; (5) Sports Venue And Related Infrastructure; And (6) To Undertake Any Maintenance And Operating Costs Of A Facility When Legally Allowed And Conduct Said Election In Accordance With Chapter 271 Of The Texas Election Code, And Providing For The Publication Of The Election Notice (Requested By Mayor Moses And Councilmember Lewis)]
IN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE CON THE CONDUCT OF A SPECIAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 TO SUBMIT A PROPOSITION TO THE VOTERS AS TO THE FOLLOWING, AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO USE THE SALES AND USE TAX IMPOSE UNDER CHAPTER 5 0 4 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, INCLUDING ANY AMOUNT PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED AND COLLECTED FOR THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC CATEGORY OF PROJECTS THAT QUALIFY UNDER CHAPTER 5 0 5 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND OUR PROJECTS RELATED TO NUMBER ONE, RECREATIONAL OR COMMUNITY FACILITIES.NUMBER TWO, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
NUMBER THREE, WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES AND WATER, UH, CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. NUMBER FOUR, NEW OR EXPANDED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES THAT CREATE OR RETAIN PRIMARY JOBS.
NUMBER FIVE, SPORTS VENUE AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND NUMBER SIX, TO UNDERTAKE ANY MAINTENANCE AND OPERATING COSTS OF A FACILITY WHEN LEGALLY ALLOWED AND CONDUCT SAID ELECTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 2 7, 1 OF THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE ELECTION NOTICE.
AND THIS IS REQUESTED BY MAYOR MOSES AND COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED.
THIS HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY.
SECOND, UM, WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSIONS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS? UH, WE'RE OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
THIS HAS TO BE PRE-CLEARED TO GO ON THE BALLOT.
THERE WAS A NEW BILL THAT WAS PASSED, UM, THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL HAVE TO REVIEW BEFORE IT GOES ON THE BALLOT.
WE WILL CERTAINLY SEND THAT TO FOR THE NOVEMBER.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO ASK BECAUSE WHAT IS, WHAT IS THIS ON FOR US TO VOTE? MM-HMM
THIS IS, THIS IS THE EXACT ABSTRACT OF 5 0 4.
5 0 4 IS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
SO WHY DOES COUNCIL HAS TO APPROVE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE? NO, NO, THIS NOT NO.
THIS IS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THAT YOU HAVE HERE IS A TYPE A CHAPTER 5 0 4, LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
YOU WANT THAT TYPE A TO BE ABLE TO DO TYPE B PROJECTS, CORRECT? YES.
THAT'S WHAT 5 0 4 SAYS RIGHT HERE.
CHAPTER 5 0 5 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CITY ATTORNEY.
AND WELL, I, I PRINTED OUT A COPY 'CAUSE I FIGURED I'LL HAVE TO DO THIS.
5 0 4 SPECIFICALLY SAYS, UH, TYPE A CAN DO ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE IN THIS, IN THIS HARDINESS.
THAT'S WHAT THE TYPE A CAN DO, ALL OF THEM.
AND IF WE GONNA DO A PROP, A PROPOSITION TO PUT ON A BALLOT, THE PROPOSITION MUST HAVE AN ESTIMATED COST AND WE MUST LIST THE PROJECT OR TYPES OR CATEGORY OF PROJECTS WE MUST HAVE ON THEIR SO THAT THE CITIZENS CAN CLEARLY DISCERN A COST AND AN IMPACT.
ON LAST ON, ON OUR LAST OPPORTUNITY OF A CLOSED SESSION.
NOT THIS TIME, BUT THE LAST TIME WE WERE IN CLOSED SESSION AND AS WE WERE IN CLOSED SESSION, COUNCILMAN LEWIS.
UH, AND, AND, UH, THE REST OF US, WE GOT A, A,
[02:45:01]
I WANNA SAY A BRILLIANT LESSON BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT A TYPE A AND A TYPE B, UM, UH, UM, HYBRID THAT WE WANT TO INITIATE IN OUR CITY FOR SO LONG.UH, WE HAVE RESISTED THE TYPE BEDC THAT WOULD ALLOW US, WE KNOW THAT A TYPE A CAN DO ALL OF THESE PROJECTS, BUT TO ALLEVIATE HAVING TO WAIT, UH, FOR A PARTICULAR TIME OF THE YEAR TO GO BEFORE THE PUBLIC, WE WERE ASKING THAT WE WOULD NOW DO THIS SO THAT AT, AT ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD AVAIL ITSELF, THE EDC WOULD NOW HAVE ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOL BELT TO CAUSE ECONOMIC, UH, GROWTH OR TO BE SPURRED IN OUR CITY.
WHEN WE LOOK AT, UH, OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE AN E, D, C, UM, AND NEEDLING HAS AN ED, C, BUT WHY DOES NEEDLING HAVE A DOWNTOWN? AND WE DON'T THE ANSWER BECAUSE THEY HAVE A TYPE B, EDC AND WE DO NOT.
A TYPE BEDC IS THE TYPE OF EDC THAT PUTS ANOTHER TOOL IN THE BELT THAT ALLOWS GROWTH FOR OUR CITY.
IN A TYPE A, UH, IN A TYPE A, ED, A TYPE A, UH, EDC, YOU CAN DO ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS, BUT EVERY SINGULAR TIME YOU HAVE TO COME BACK AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR A PARTICULAR TIME OF THE YEAR TO ASK THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY.
IS IT, IS IT APPROVED BY YOU TO DO THAT? THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, BY HAVING A HYBRID, WHICH WE ARE ASKING FOR WITH THIS, UH, WITH THIS RESOLUTION, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO ALLOW THE EDC TO DO THE PROJECTS THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO DO.
AND THAT, UH, THAT IS MY WHOLE PURPOSE OF A PROPOSITION.
WHEN A PROPOSITION GOES BEFORE THE CITIZENS, IT MUST BE CLEAR AND DETAIL ON EXACTLY WHAT THE CITIZENS, WHAT YOU WANT THE CITIZENS TO APPROVE WHAT YOU HAVE JUST DESCRIBED.
A HYBRID IS NORMALLY REFERRED TO AS A A B TYPE CORPORATION BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN OPERATE WITH B OR YOU CAN DO IT.
OR IF YOU WANT TO SEE, USE THE TERM HYBRID, IT'S OKAY.
BUT THE FACT IS, IF YOU PUT IT ON A PROPOSITION, YOU HAVE TO LET THE CITIZENS KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE ASKING THEM TO DO.
WHAT I'VE READ IN HERE IS WHAT 5 0 4 SAYS EXACTLY WORD FOR WORD.
THIS, THIS MENTION NOTHING TO CITIZENS THAT WE ARE ASKING YOU ALL TO CHANGE THE TYPE OF CORPORATION WE HAVE.
WE'RE NOT CHANGING, WE'RE NOT CHANGING.
THAT, BUT, BUT, BUT UNDERSTAND.
MR. DUC SAID, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
YOU WEREN'T IN THE MEETING, RIGHT? COUNCILMAN FRANK? AND SO YOU WEREN'T IN THE MEETING.
WELL, MAYOR, YOU CALLED ON WHO YOU UM, RIGHT NOW.
COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK HAD HIS LIGHT ON.
I WAS STILL TALKING THEN YOU WERE DONE.
WERE YOU STILL TALKING? 'CAUSE I THINK LET HIM FINISH TALKING AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.
ALRIGHT, LET ME MAKE THIS STATEMENT.
SO WE ARE NOT DISSOLVING, THAT'S WHY THE, THE A, THAT'S WHY WHAT WE'RE SEEKING TO DO IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE TO, TO CREATE A B, WE WOULD HAVE TO COMPLETELY DISSOLVE THE A, THE A, THE A.
AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.
SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE DOING IT IN THE MANNER AND FASHION IN IN WHICH WE WANT TO DO IT.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO CREATE A WHOLE NEW BOARD WHERE WE WOULD HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THAT BOARD.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO CREATE, DISSOLVE THE WHOLE, UH, THE WHOLE EDC BOARD THE WAY WE DID AND CREATE ANOTHER BOARD.
IF WE HAD GONE TO A B, WE WOULD'VE HAD TO DO THAT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEKING TO DO THAT.
WHY SECOND? I HAVE MY COUNCIL MEMBER DO THAT.
BECAUSE IN THAT PRESENTATION IT WAS THOROUGHLY BROKEN DOWN TO US.
I THINK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE IN THERE.
IT WAS THOROUGHLY BROKEN DOWN TO US THAT WE COULD DO.
'CAUSE I WAS ADVOCATING FOR THE BALLOT LANGUAGE FOR HOUSING.
UM, UM, AND THAT'S WHAT I HAD, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE COULD DO THE HOUSING COMPONENT.
BUT AS USUAL AS IN THE PAST WITH THE, WITH AN ED, OUR EDC, WE'VE HAD TO GO TO THE VOTERS TO, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE SET UP AS AN A, WE'VE HAD TO GO
[02:50:01]
TO THE VOTERS TO DO B PROJECTS.AND SO WE WENT TO THE VOTERS WITH HOUSING AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT THE 35 HOMES BUILT THAT ARE BUILT NOW.
SO WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO JUST, UH, NOT VOTE.
WE, WE'VE HAD TO VOTE TO BE ABLE TO DO B PROJECTS.
SO RATHER THAN DOING JUST HOUSING, AS COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS BROUGHT TO US, UM, HYBRID, HE HAD THE, THE, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY SO ELOQUENTLY DESCRIBED TO US IN CITY IN THE, UH, UM, IN OUR CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION IS THAT WE COULD DO MORE THAN ONE B PROJECT.
AND SO WE WILL LISTEN THOROUGHLY TO HER AND, AND, AND, AND THE PRESENTATION UNDER THE LAW THAT WE COULD DO MORE THAN JUST HOUSING.
SO THAT'S HOW ALL THESE OTHER PROJECTS HAVE COME TO BEING, UH, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, UM, SAYING THAT HE HAD, UM, OTHER THINGS HE WANTED TO DO AND WE COULD DO A HYBRID AND BECOME A B, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO GO NOT BECOME A B, BUT TO DO HYBRID PRO, UH, THOSE B PROJECTS WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE, UM, TO DO THIS.
SO WE TOOK THE BALLOT LANGUAGE FROM OUR PREVIOUS EDC, UM, MANAGER AT, UH, AT THAT TIME FROM YEARS AGO FROM FLOYD, PULLED THE BALLOT LANGUAGE AND EDITED THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, UH, BECAUSE IT PASSED THEN WE FIGURED IT'LL WORK RIGHT NOW.
SO WE PULLED THAT BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT GAVE US THE RIGHT TO BUILD THOSE HOMES OVER ON FIFTH, SIXTH AND SEVENTH STREET, 35 HOMES.
UM, AND, AND, AND JUST USE THE SAME BALLOT LANGUAGE.
SO WE REVIEWED WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST, SO THAT'S HOW WE GOT THIS BALLOT LANGUAGE SO THAT WE WOULDN'T BE BEHIND THE BALL.
BUT WE'LL BE AHEAD OF THE GAME GETTING READY FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
SO THAT'S, UM, THAT'S JUST ADDING ONTO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK HAS SAID AND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE, BECAUSE I THINK YOU STEPPED OUT AND STAYED GONE THE, THE ENTIRE PRESENTATION.
SO, UM, FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE, YOU CAN SPEAK NOW.
I HAVE SOMETHING TO, OH, OH, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOUR HAND.
I HAVE TO REMEMBER TO LOOK UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EVERFI, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SPEAK NOW.
I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE AND HAVE ON RECORD WHAT THIS TYPE OF ORDINANCE WOULD ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO DO UNDER, UH, UNDER CHAPTER 5 0 5 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SO THAT THE CITIZEN CITIZENS CAN BE AWARE OF WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE CONTINUOUSLY ASKED US FOR RECREATIONAL OR COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
CITIZENS HAVE CONTINUOUSLY ASKED FOR THAT.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES, AND WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. THEY MAY NOT KNOW THE DETAILS OF WHAT A WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM IS, BUT THEY'VE CONTINUOUSLY ASKED US FOR ASSISTANCE WITH WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, NEW AND EXPANDED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE THAT CREATE AND RETAIN PRIMARY JOBS, SPORTS BEING USED IN RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO UNDERTAKE ANY MAINTENANCE AND OPERATING COSTS OF A FACILITY WHEN LEGALLY ALLOWED.
SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT CITIZENS HAVE CONTINUOUSLY ASKED US FOR.
AND THIS TYPE OF ORDINANCE WILL ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE THINGS I JUST LISTED WITHOUT HAVING TO WAIT FOR A BALLOT INITIATIVE IN NOVEMBER OF THAT YEAR.
ADDITIONALLY, COSTING US MONEY WITH HAVING TO PUT A NEW PROPOSITION ON A BALLOT EACH TIME WE WANT TO DO A B PROJECT.
SO WE'RE SAVING MONEY, ANSWERING THE CALL OF WHAT CITIZENS HAVE ASKED US TO DO AND BEING ABLE TO DO THIS WITH THIS TYPE OF A, UM, EDC OFFERING, THE POWER.
THANK YOU COUNCILOR MEMBER PHIL.
AND WE CAN GO TO ONCE AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER JUST THAT FINISHES.
ONCE AGAIN, 5 0 4 ALLOWS A MUNICIPALITY WITH THE TYPE A TO DO TYPE B PROJECTS UNDER 5 0 5 WITH A ORDINANCE LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO DO.
NOW THAT ORDINANCE SAYS THAT YOU MUST LIST A PROJECT OR THE CATEGORY IN A COST.
SEE, THAT'S THE WHOLE THING THAT WE ARE MISSING IN THIS.
AND I'M GONNA SAY IT ON RECORDS AND THIS ABOUT COST, EVEN WITH THE TYPE A THAT YOU GET ASKED TO PROVE.
WE CAN ACTUALLY APPROVE AN ORDINANCE WHERE WE COULD DO TYPE B PROJECTS, BUT WE MUST INCLUDE A COST AND THE IMPACT
[02:55:01]
OF THAT.OKAY? THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE.
WE'RE GONNA CALL FOR THE VOTE.
AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO, UM, CLOSE FOR, UM, ADJOURN.
WE ARE ASKING FOR A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT.
SECOND, UM, ANY DISCUSSIONS? UM, MAY THE, UH, MAY THE AYES, UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOTE? PLEASE VOTE NOW.
THE AYES HAVE IT AND OUR MEETING IS ADJOURNED.