* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. RIGHT. [00:00:01] GOOD EVENING. GOOD [I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL] EVENING. GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING, REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 23RD, 2025 AT 5:30 PM YOU CAN JOIN OUR MEETING BY TELEPHONIC AND OR VIDEO CONFERENCE BY DIALING IN AND CALLING 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9. AND AFTER DIALING THAT NUMBER, YOU CAN PUT OUR MEETING ID IN TO YOUR PHONE, WHICH IS EIGHT FOUR SIX SIX TWO FIVE TWO SEVEN SIX SEVEN EIGHT. AND THE PASSCODE WOULD BE 4 5 2 2 3 9. WE ALSO ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE AWARE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AND BY ATTENDING A MEETING YOU HAVE TO REQUEST TO JOIN 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE AND YOU WILL CALL OUR CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5. AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK EVERYONE THAT'S IN ATTENDANCE AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR PRO TEM, IF YOU WOULD, UH, TURN OFF OR MUTE YOUR MOBILE DEVICES. SO WE WON'T HAVE ANY DISRUPTIONS IN THE AUDIENCE OR ON THE DIOCESE AT THIS TIME. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR INVOCATION, OUR PLEDGE, AND THEN OUR ROLL CALL. AND WE'LL DO THAT IN THAT ORDER. I'M GONNA ASK COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM TO LEAD US IN A WORD OF PRAYER. WOULD YOU PLEASE BOW WITH ME, OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE COME TO YOU HUMBLY THIS EVENING, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR WISDOM, YOUR BLESSING, AND YOUR MERCIES ON US AS A COUNCIL, AS WE HANDLE THE BUSINESS OF THIS FINE CITY THAT YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED TO US AND THAT WE ALL LIVE IN AND ENJOY. FATHER, I ASK THAT YOU BLESS EACH OF US INDIVIDUALLY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT YOU IMPART TO US THE WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY. AND I ASK, LORD, THAT YOU BLESS EACH AND EVERY PERSON THAT'S HERE PRESENT IN THE GALLERY WITH US, AND THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING ONLINE TONIGHT. HELP US TO HAVE GOOD DISCUSSIONS. HELP US TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS AND HELP US TO EVER BE IN YOUR SERVICE. WE ASK THESE THINGS IN YOUR PRECIOUS SON'S NAME, JESUS, AMEN. AMEN. PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU ESTABLISH A QUORUM, PLEASE? MAYOR MOSES. HERE, MAYOR PRO TIM ETT. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LONG HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK HERE. YOU HAVE A COURT MAYOR. THANK YOU. UM, CITY [II. PROCLAMATIONS] SECRETARY AT THIS TIME WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION AND WE HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION FOR THE TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION. WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME THEM HERE ON TODAY. IF YOU HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE, I'M GONNA COME DOWN TO THE PODIUM AND READ, UM, THE PROCLAMATION AND UM, THEN WE CAN HAVE SOMEONE COME UP TO THE PODIUM. OKAY, THIS IS AWESOME. AND I WORE PINK AND I HAD NO IDEA OR DIDN'T REMEMBER. Y'ALL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME, BUT I'M THANKFUL THAT YOU ALL ARE HERE. BUT I WANNA PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION AT THIS TIME. IT SAYS, WHEREAS SICKLE UH, SICKLE CELL DISEASE IS A HEREDITARY BLOOD DISORDER THAT AFFECTS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE, PARTICULARLY THOSE OF AFRICAN, MEDITERRANEAN, MIDDLE EASTERN AND SOUTH ASIAN DESCENT. SCD IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE PRESENCE OF ABNORMAL HEMOGLOBIN KNOWN AS HEMOGLOBIN S, WHICH CAUSES RED BLOOD CELLS TO TAKE A CRESCENT OR SICK A SICKLE SHAPE. THESE SICKLE CELLS CAN BECOME RIGID AND STICKLY LEADING TO BLOCKAGES AND BLOOD VESSELS, SEVERE PAIN, ANEMIA OR ORGAN DAMAGE AND OTHER SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS. I THINK, IS THIS Y'ALL'S RESOLUTION? OKAY. YES MA'AM. I WANNA MAKE SURE, 'CAUSE I DID ONE ALMOST LIKE THIS. I'M THINKING I'M REPEATING MYSELF. I APOLOGIZE. UM, WHEREAS SEPTEMBER HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED NATIONALLY AS WORLD SICKLE CELL AWARENESS MONTH DEDICATED TO INCREASING PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE, SUPPORTING THOSE AFFECTED AND MOBILIZING RESOURCES TO FUTURE [00:05:01] RESEARCH AND IMPROVED CARE OUTCOMES DURING THIS MONTH, WE RECOGNIZE THE RESILIENCE AND COURAGE OF ALL INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE AS WELL AS THE LOVED ONES AND PROFESSIONALS WHO SUPPORT THEM. AND WHEREAS THE TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION INCORPORATED OF PORT ARTHUR CHAPTER, SICKLE CELL PROJECT ADVOCACY GROUPS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, RESEARCHERS, AND PATIENTS THEMSELVES HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO RAISE AWARENESS, PROMOTE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FAMILIES IMPACTED BY SICKLE CELL DISEASE. THEIR EFFORTS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN FOSTERING HOPE, PROMOTING INCLUSIVITY, AND ADVOCATING FOR SYSTEMATIC CHANGE. NOW THEREFORE, I CHARLOTTE MARIE MOSES, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR DO HEREBY AND PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER AS WORLD SICKLE CELL AWARENESS MONTH. I CALL UPON OUR RESIDENTS HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO JOIN IN THIS EFFORT TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE, ITS SYMPTOMS, COMPLICATIONS AND ONGOING NEED FOR RESEARCH AND IMPROVE TREATMENTS, UH, SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS, COPING WITH THE DAILY CHALLENGES OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE THROUGH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT OF HOPE, DIGNITY, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL PATIENTS AND FAMILIES LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE HERETO SET MY HAND AND CAUSE A SEAL OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED ON THIS 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER AND THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2025 CHARLOTTE MARIE MOSES, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. AND WE PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO THE TOP LADIES DISTINCTION AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY. UH, UM, WHEN I READ THIS, I HAD DID A SICKLE CELL AND I THOUGHT WE'D GOTTEN A LITTLE CONFUSED WITH THE SICKLE CELL PRESENTATION I DID EARLIER THIS MONTH. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AT THIS TIME. IF THERE'S A SPOKE PERSON FOR THE GROUP, YOU CAN SPEAK AT THIS TIME AND LET'S GIVE THEM A BIG HAND. THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M SANDRA CASTILE AND THESE ARE MY SISTERS AT THE OF THE TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION OF PORT ARTHUR CHAPTER. THIS INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE STARTED WITH THE WORLD TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION AT RECOGNITION OF SICKLE CELL MONTH IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ACTIVITIES AND WE'VE MADE SURE THAT PERSONS ARE AWARE. WE'RE NOT SURE WHY SICKLE CELL IS SO UNDER DESERVED OR UNDERAPPRECIATED AND KNOWN ABOUT IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT IT'S TIME THAT IT COMES OUT IN THE FOREFRONT AND WE ARE HERE TO DO THAT. SICKLE CELL IS, UM, A DISEASE THAT YOU GET AT BIRTH AND YOU CARRY IT THROUGHOUT LIFE. IT'S A VERY DEBILITATING DISEASE AND IT'S ALSO SOMETIMES A VERY LONELY DISEASE. PERSONS DO NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. YOU DON'T HEAR VERY MUCH ABOUT IT, AND IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST DISEASES IN THE WORLD. SO WHAT WE ARE WANTING TO DO IS MAKING SURE THAT NUMBER ONE, PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IT, I MEAN MORE SO, AND THAT THERE'S A, AN ADVOCACY GROUP. SOMEONE THAT THEY CAN COME AND TALK TO ABOUT THEIR ISSUES, BE IT A CAREGIVER OR SOMEONE THAT HAS THE SICKLE CELL DISEASE OR THE TRAIT. VERY IMPORTANT. AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MEDICAL HEALTH AND RESOURCES TO HELP THEM. AND SOMETIMES THE BIGGEST THING IS JUST TO LISTEN AND THEN LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU'RE THERE FOR THEM. SO WE APPRECIATE, UM, THE COUNCIL AS WELL AS OUR CITIZENS. AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO DO IS START AN INITIATIVE IF THERE IS A TIME THAT YOU HAVE A DOWNTIME, GOOGLE SICKLE CELL AND GET EDUCATED ON IT. AND THEN REACH OUT TO SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SEE IF THERE IS SOMEONE WITH SICKLE CELL AND OFFER THEM WHATEVER SERVICES THAT YOU CAN. AND SOME OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS JUST BE THERE AND LISTEN. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AGAIN FOR THE PROCLAMATION. WE APPRECIATE YOU MAYOR. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COUNSEL. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. DR. TAKE PEN. DID YOU TAKE A PICTURE WITH THEM? WITH THE MAYOR? NO, THEY DID NOT. OH, DID THEY LIKE YOU? YEAH. Y Y'ALL GIVE US A MINUTE. I DIDN'T GET A PICTURE WITH ME IN IT. I WANT A PICTURE. THANK YOU. I [00:10:11] TURN YOUR HOOKED ON MY HAIR HONOR. [III.A.(1) Cedric McLaughlin & Deric Outley Representing PALDC/BAXXAN, Regarding Park Public Partnership For The Redevelopment of Logan Park: Facility Use Agreement Approach] ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT THING OUR ON OUR AGENDA FOR TONIGHT IS PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS. AND AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR FIRST SPEAKER, MR. CEDRIC MCLAUGHLIN AND DERICH LEY, REPRESENTING P-A-L-D-C SLASH BA XX A REGARDING PARK PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF LOGAN PARK FACILITY USE AGREEMENT APPROACH. YOU WILL COME FORWARD AT THAT TIME. YOU? GOOD EVENING TO YOU ALL. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME AND UM, ADDRESS FOR ME. YES. MY NAME IS DERRICK OTLEY. DR. DEREK OTLEY. UM, AND THAT'S THE BACK SAYING, COP CAPITAL, THE P-A-L-L-D-C STANDS FOR PORT ARTHUR LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, BY THE WAY. OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. SO, UM, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY AND CITY STAFF. UH, AGAIN, I'M DR. DEREK LEY, MANAGING MEMBER OF LANIS GUIDE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS ANOTHER ENTITY. UM, I'M HERE TO PRESENT A PUBLIC PURPOSE ENHANCEMENT FOR LOGAN PARK. UM, THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A SLIDE SHOW HERE AS WELL. GOING RIGHT THERE. UM, I'M HERE NOT TO PURCHASE OR PRIVATIZE LOGAN PARK, BUT TO PURPOSE PROPOSE A PUBLIC PURPOSE PARTNERSHIP THAT PRESERVES THE COMMUNITY FUNCTION WHILE ACTIVATING A POTENTIAL AS A CULTURAL ECONOMIC DRIVER. OUR PLAN ALIGNS DIRECTLY WITH THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH CALLS FOR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION, CULTURAL DESTINATION, AND ENTERTAINMENT. ENTERTAINMENT VENUE USED USE. WE FULLY ACKNOWLEDGE RESOLUTION NUMBER 7 0 3 AND THE RECORDED DEED RESTRICTION FROM EXHIBIT A. LOGAN PARK IS PERMANENTLY DESIGNATED FOR PUBLIC USE AND CANNOT BE SOLD LEASED WITHOUT PUBLIC VOTE. OUR PLAN RESPECTS THAT MANDATE. NO LAND WILL BE SOLD, NO LEASE WILL BE EXECUTED IN PHASE ONE, OWNERSHIP AND PUBLIC ACCESS REMAIN WITH THE CITY. WE ARE PROPOSING A FACILITY USE AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH ALLOWS THE CITY TO MAINTAIN TITLE AND OVERSIGHT WHILE AUTHORIZING APPROVED IMPROVEMENTS AND PROGRAMMATIC USE IN ALIGNMENT. IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PARK'S PURPOSE. THIS APPROACH IS COMPLIANT FASTER AND TRANSPARENT. IT MIRRORS WHAT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ENVISIONS ACTIVATING PUBLIC SPACES AS CULTURAL ANCHORS FOR DOWNTOWN. THIS ENABLES ZERO, I MEAN, ENABLES CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, CONCERTS, SCHOOL USE, AND PUBLIC RENTAL. ADDITIONALLY, THIS CREATES ZERO LEGAL EXPOSURE, A POLICY DEVIATION. THE PAVILION AT LOGAN PARK WILL BE AN OPEN AIR FIXED SEATING AMPHITHEATER DESIGNED TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR AND ATTRACT REGIONAL TOURISM. WE'RE CONSIDERING A 3000 PLUS PERSON AMPHITHEATER WITH RA RATHER RESISTANT DESIGN, UH, LAWN AND VIP SEATING AREAS, COMMUNITY ACCESS FOR SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND LOCAL NONPROFITS, PUBLIC RENTALS FOR FAMILY EVENTS AND CITY SPONSORED PROGRAMMING. THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CALLS FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE DOWNTOWN NOTED NOTING A LACK OF CULTURAL VENUES AND FESTIVALS. THIS AMPHITHEATER DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THAT GAP FI FOR THE AMPLE THEATER. THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC FINANCE VENTURE. WE ARE COMMITTING PRIVATE CAPITAL AND DEVELOPMENT EXPERTISE TO BUILD ON CITY'S LAND FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT WITHOUT ASKING THE CITY FOR FUNDING OR LAND TRANSFERS. , NO GENERAL FUND EXPOSURE, NO BOND ISSUANCE, NO TAX RATE IMPACT. THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT. WE'RE NOT JUST BUILDING A VENUE, WE'RE INVERTING A LONG TERM ASSET, A LONG TERM ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL ASSET. UH, WE PLAN TO INCREASE JOBS DURING [00:15:01] CONSTRUCTION AND PERMANENT AFTER OPERATIONS. VENDOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH AND UNDERSERVED GROUPS, UPLIFTING IN CITY'S BRANDING, PRIDE AND EXTERNAL INVESTMENT APPEAL. THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HIGHLIGHTS ARTS AND CULTURES AS CRITICAL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING. LOGAN PARK IS ALREADY DESIGNATED AS THE PLANS FOR LOGAN LOGAN MUSIC PARK ENVISIONED AS A CULTURAL ANCHOR TO MAINTAIN FULL COMPLIANCE AND MAXIMIZE FUTURE OPPORTUNITY, WE PO WE PROPOSE A TWO PHASED DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY. PHASE ONE IS A FACILITIES USE AGREEMENT, WHICH IS WHAT WE DO NOW. THE AMPLE THEATER AND PLAZA COMPLIANT WITH PUBLIC USE RESTRICTIONS. AND PHASE TWO COMMERCIAL PADS, WHICH WILL COME IN THE FUTURE, MAY INCLUDE BOUTIQUES, LODGING, RETAIL, AND FOOD SERVICE, WHICH IS VODA APPEAL. VODA APPROVED LEASE PATHWAY PHASE TWO DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN VISION FOR MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, PLACEMAKING AND TOURIST ORIENTED INVESTMENTS DOWNTOWN. NEXT SLIDE. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE CITY TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER AND LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO FINALIZE THE FACILITIES USE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH WE'VE SUBMITTED. UM, ENABLE IMMEDIATE DESIGN, PERMIT PERMITTING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PREPARE LEGAL RESEARCH FOR PHASE TWO VOTER AUTHORIZATION IF DESIRED. THIS IS NOT A HANDOVER, IT'S A HANDSHAKE. A COMMUNITY FORWARD COMPLIANCE FIRST PARTNERSHIP TO HONOR LOGANS PARK LEGACY WHILE BUILDING ITS FUTURE. THIS PROJECT CHECKS THE VERY BOXES OUTLINED IN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN, CREATING CULTURAL DESTINATIONS, AND PROVIDING AN ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE THAT IS CURRENTLY MISSING. WE ARE PROUD TO STAND READY AS YOUR PRIVATE PARTNER FOR PUBLIC IMPACT AND JUST A SMALL POINTER. WE DO BELIEVE THAT SMALL WATERCRAFT SHUTTLES COULD CONNECT LOGAN PARK WITH DOWNTOWN FURTHER ADVANCE IN THE COMPREHENSIVE GOAL OF WATERPARK WATERFRONT CONNECTIVITY TO DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION. AND I DO APOLOGIZE, MY PARTNERS, WE DROVE IN FROM HOUSTON INDEPENDENTLY, THEY GOT STUCK IN THE RAIN. THEY MAY BURST THROUGH THE DOORS IN A COUPLE SECONDS, BUT I WAS THE ONLY PERSON THAT MADE IT, MADE IT. AND I CAME STRAIGHT FROM THE OFFICE AS WELL. SO, UM, PLEASE, UH, EXCUSE THEIR TARDINESS, BUT I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY. UH, YES, WE GOT LIGHTS COMING. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? YES, SIR. LIKE YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. WHAT KIND OF A TURNAROUND TIME? WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE, WHAT'S INVOLVED? WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THE CITY? UM, NOTHING FROM THE CITY. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A LOI SUBMITTED. WHAT WE'D LIKE YOU TO DO IS ENGAGE WITH THAT LOI FROM THAT IT WOULD TAKE US ABOUT, UM, 60 TO 90 DAYS TO DO SOME HIGH LEVEL PLANNING. AFTER THAT, WE'LL COME BACK, UH, MAKE A PRESENTATION TO YOU GUYS AND ACTUALLY GET THE BALL ROLLING. WHAT ABOUT TURNAROUND TIME ON IMPLEMENTATION CONSTRUCTION? CONSTRUCTION IS ALWAYS DEPENDENT ON WEATHER, RIGHT? WE, WE ANTICIPATE ANYWHERE FROM 18 TO 24 MONTHS BEFORE THAT FACILITY IS USABLE. AND AT THE SAME TIME, IT DEPENDS ON THE FINAL DESIGN. WE ARE, UM, ACTUALLY ARE PROPOSING THAT THERE'LL BE A TOWER, UM, AS WELL AS IN THE FIRST DESIGN. AND IN THAT TOWER THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEASE SUITES, UM, FOR PRIVATE EVENTS AND AT THE SAME TIME AIRBNB HOSTING STYLE FOR LEASING EVENTS. JUST OTHER THINGS TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE, UM, PARK. OKAY. YES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION ON TODAY. DO I APPRECIATE YOUR COMING ON TODAY? WHAT WAS THE IMPETUS? WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED? HOW DID ALL OF THIS COME ABOUT IN YOUR, YOUR VISION FOR THIS? INTERESTING ENOUGH, IT STARTED A FEW YEARS BACK WHEN I STARTED WITH THE INDUSTRIAL PROJECT, JUST GETTING AN UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS GOING ON IN PORT ARTHUR, UM, AND GETTING REACQUAINTED WITH THE CITY. UM, I'VE NEVER LOST HEART. I'M ACTUALLY FROM HERE, NEVER LOST, UM, TOUCH WITH WHAT'S GOING ON HERE AND OFTEN HEAR WHAT PEOPLE SAY. WE'RE GOING OUT OF TOWN TO DO THINGS. I'M FROM HOUSTON. I ACTUALLY COME GET AWAY FROM THINGS IN PORT ARTHUR SOMETIME. SO TO HAVE SOMETHING HERE WAS JUST, I'M GONNA BE HERE SOMETIME GOING FORWARD, SO WHY, WHY NOT GET INVOLVED IN THE THINGS OF THE FUTURE? SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW. HEY, THANK YOU. AND, AND, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. SO ON THE CITY SIDE, WHO HAVE YOU BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH TO COME WITH THIS VENTURE? 'CAUSE I'VE ENGAGED WITH, UM, GEORGE DAVIS AND I'VE ALSO LIGHTLY ENGAGED WITH THE CITY, UH, MANAGER AS WELL AS THE CITY ATTORNEY. OKAY. AND AND YOUR NUMBERS, I MEAN, DID YOU DO SOME TYPE OF A SURVEY OR, OR OR ANYTHING TO KIND OF GET THE NUMBERS TO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT'S GONNA BE AT THIS PARK ONCE YOU COMPLETE YOUR CONSTRUCTION PHASE? NOT TO THAT, UM, DEGREE, BUT WE HAVE SOME IDEAS OF WHAT WE BELIEVE FROM WINDOW SURVEY, WHAT WE COULD ATTRACT. BUT THAT'S GONNA BE CONTINGENT UPON YOUR PARTICIPATION TO INCLUDE, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU GUYS HAVE BILLBOARDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO. UM, BUT WE LIKE OURSELVES TO BE SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF, UM, FORT PARK. SO WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN DO SOMETHING ALONG THOSE NUMBERS. OKAY, GOOD. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION FOR YOU, WE, WE ARE, WE ARE IN THE PLANNING PHASE OR FUTURE, UH, PLANNING PHASE OF HAVING, UH, UH, A WATER PARK AND ALL TYPE OF THINGS THAT'S GONNA BE ON THAT ISLAND. MM-HMM . DID YOU KIND OF PUT THAT [00:20:01] IN YOUR MIND, UH, IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND, YOU KNOW, TO INCORPORATE THIS EVENT CENTER OR YEAH. YEAH. THAT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN CONSIDERING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, COMING BACK TO THE CITY AGAIN. I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WAS COMING. I ACTUALLY SEEN THAT THE RESTAURANT IS ACTUALLY BEING REMODELED RIGHT NOW. EXACTLY. WE TOOK A TOUR JUST THIS, UM, SATURDAY. SO YES, THAT IS INCORP, UM, INCLUDED. WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A BIGGER, UM, UM, CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE WE DO SEE, UM, THE NEED FOR SOME TYPE OF HOTELS OR SOMETHING, UM, IN THIS AREA TO SUPPORT THAT. ALSO HEARD A FEW WEEKS BACK ABOUT THE BASEBALL PARK THAT'S COMING IN. THAT'S SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO, UM, PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE THOSE ARE THINGS THAT COEXIST WITH OTHER VENUES TO PROVIDE EVENTS. UM, THAT'S A, A, A BIG DRAW. SO, AND AGAIN, THE ANCHOR IS NOT TO GET GET 'EM JUST ACROSS THE PIER, BUT, UM, REALLY TO HOPE TO HELP WITH DOWNTOWN. UM, SO WE LOOKED ACROSS THE WATER. UH, I GUESS YOU GUYS HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THIS. THERE USED TO BE A DRAWBRIDGE, UM, IN OTHER CITIES, UM, THAT I'VE BEEN AROUND THE WORLD. THEY USE SMALL WATER CRAFT AND SHARE THAT WITH THE LOCAL ECONOMIES, THE INFRASTRUCTURE. SO THAT CAN BE A DRAW TO, UM, GET INDIVIDUALS FROM DOWNTOWN TO THE WATER AND BACK AND FORTH. AND YOU DON'T NEED ANYTHING FROM THE CITY, RIGHT? WE DID. I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING OF THE CITY OUTSIDE OF HAVING A VISION AND WORKING WITH THIS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS GONNA TAKE EVERYONE'S LIFTING. BUT YEAH, WE, WE ARE HAVE COMMITTED FUNDS COMMITTED, UM, CONSTRUCTION TEAM JUST ASKING FOR YOU GUYS PERMISSION, UM, TO HAVE A CONVERSATION LEGALLY TO GET THE BALL ROLLING. AND YOU MENTIONED LOI, WHAT, WHAT DID YOU, WHAT IS THAT LETTER OF INTEREST? OKAY. A LETTER OF, YEAH, A LETTER OF INTENT WE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY INTENT TO START THIS CONVERSATION. OKAY. AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO THE POINT THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AS OPPOSED TO GOING DIRECTLY AT THE ATTORNEY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR. YEAH. OKAY. COUNCILL LEWIS, YOU HAD YOUR LIGHT ON? YES. I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT WHAT HE WAS IN THE EVENT THAT YOU ALL GONNA BE DOING SOME, SOME MOVE SOME EARTH AROUND NOT TO BRING, MOVE OUT SOME, TAKE OUT THE TOP SAW AND PUT IT SOMEWHERE AND BRING IN ADDITIONAL SOIL. I WANT THAT SOIL. OKAY. YOU MIGHT HAVE, WE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT. WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION. I, AS FAR AS, YEAH, I WANNA BUILD A BEACH RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. OKAY. ANYTHING TO BRING MORE ECONOMY, BRING TO THE ECONOMY. DR. UM, MCLAUGHLIN, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. I'M, I'M EXCITED. UM, JUST TO LEY MCLAUGHLIN IS CRIC MCG. OKAY. CEDRIC AND DEREK, YOU'RE OTLEY THAT DEREK. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING ME. YES, MAYOR. I HAVE SO, OH, I'M SORRY. THA I'LL FORGET EVERY TIME. , UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EVERFI. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, YOUR PRESENTATION WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I TELL ANYONE WHO'S READY TO BUILD ON THE ISLAND OR TO, TO HELP US EXPAND THE ISLAND, IT MAKES ME SO EXCITED. I WANT TO JUMP OUT OF MY HANDS. YOU MENTIONED THE, UM, LIKE BOX OFFICE, THAT, THAT WASN'T THE TERM THAT YOU USED, BUT THOSE TYPES, THAT TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY, WOULD THEY BE AVAILABLE FOR CORPORATE PURCHASE OR EVEN FAMILY PURCHASE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME STICKTUITIVENESS AND OWNERSHIP IN THIS PROJECT? THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. UM, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN EXPLORE. WE WOULD NOT, UM, WE WOULD, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THAT. I WOULD SAY YES, THERE IS. WE WERE LOOKING AT IT MORE OF A CONER COMMERCIAL USE, BUT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY GONNA BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES, UM, DEPENDING ON THIS, UH, FINAL DESIGN. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. YES. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. ALRIGHT, SO THE MAYOR ALWAYS GETS TO SPEAK LAST. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH MR. DR. OUTLAY. I APPRECIATE YOU. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE ACROSS THE ISLAND AND YOU ALL WORKING OUT THE DETAILS AND MAKING SURE IT'S POSSIBLE FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I APPRECIATE THE TIME. THANK YOU. BE IN TOUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. UM, WE [III.A.(2) Simeon Etta, Representing Roll With It Texas Manufacturing Company LLC, Regarding The Texas Toilet Paper Factory (Part 1 of 2)] HAVE EXACTLY FIVE MINUTES, FOUR MINUTES REMAINING BEFORE OUR, WE HAVE TO GO TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING. UM, WE HAVE MR. MS. SIMON ETTA REPRESENTING ROLL WITH IT TEXAS MANUFACTURING COMPANY. UM, WE HAVE TO START AT SIX O'CLOCK SO WE CAN, WE CAN BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION. WE MAY HAVE TO STOP YOU, BUT WE'LL LET YOU GET YOU TO COME BACK UP AND COMPLETE IT. NO, NOT AT, NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL. UM, GOOD EVENING AND GOOD. ALL YOU CAN RAISE THAT, THAT. THANK YOU. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES, SIR. I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. NAME, NAME, NAME AND ADDRESS. MY NAME IS IAN NETTA. I'M THE CFO FOR ROLL WITH THE TAXI COMPANY, TOILET PAPER. UM, I WANNA THINK ABOUT IT. GIMME THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO REPRESENT THE COMPANY ITSELF. AND I WANNA THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE. I WOULD MAKE THIS QUICK AND SHORT SO I WOULD KEEP THE TIMEFRAME. UM, WE TALK ABOUT ROSEWOOD ITSELF. IT'S AN OPERATION COMPANY THAT STARTED 2025 AT ROSEBURG, TEXAS. AND WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND AND WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND OUR CORPORATION AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD WITHIN THE AREAS [00:25:01] OF TEXAS ALL OVER THE 50 STATES ALSO. UM, I MEAN, THANK YOU. UM, A QUICK HISTORY ABOUT OUR FOUNDER, MS. BA DIANE BATIS HAS BEEN 25 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY BANKING INDUSTRY WILL RESILIENCE AND INDEPENDENCE AND MENTORING WOMEN AND ASPIRING OTHER WOMEN OPPORTUNITY AND ENTREPRENEURS LAST YEAR. WE BUILD BUSINESSES ON BOTH PROFITABLE AND PURPOSES TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND FUTURE GENERATIONS MOVING FORWARD. OVERALL, OUR MISSION STATEMENTS TO PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY, SUSTAINABLE TOILET PAPER PRODUCT THAT DEVELOP, THAT DELIVER COMFORT AND RELIABILITY WHILE SUPPORTING AND PRACTICING EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES. THIS IS JUST NOT A STATEMENT, BUT IT'S A PROMISE. EVERY DECISION WE MAKE FROM RAW MATERIALS TO PACKING IS MADE WITH PLANET AND PEOPLE IN MIND. WE JUST DON'T MANUFACTURE TOILET PAPER. WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL WE REDUCING WASTE, SUPPORTING FAMILY. THAT'S WHAT MAKE ROLL WITH IT DIFFERENT. OUR CORE VALUES IS BASED ON SU SUSTAINABILITY, INTERROGATE CUSTOMERS SERVICE, AND COMMUNITY GROWTH IS ONE OF OUR MAIN THINGS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY GROWTH. WE WANNA BE ABLE TO EXPAND TO THE COMMUNITY, BUILD AND BUILD DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES BUILD TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S ABLE TO GROW. COMMUNITY'S ALWAYS BEEN OUR FOREFRONT WHEN WE CAME TO ROLLING OUT THIS COMPANY AND BUILDING IT OVERALL. AND I HOPE THAT COULD BE DONE HERE AT PORT ARTHUR. OUR MAIN VISION IS OUR VISION, JUST ABOUT MARKET SHARES. IT'S ABOUT LEADERSHIP AND PURPOSE. WE WANNA BE THE TOP CHOICE OF TEXANS, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF OUR TOILET PAPER IS SOFT AND STRONG, BUT BECAUSE PEOPLE TRUST US AND CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR COMMUNITY FROM RESPONSIBLE SOURCING MATERIAL TO LOCAL JOBS CREATION. WE BUILD A CLEANER, GREENER TEXAN ONE ROLE AT A TIME. SO OUR GOALS AND OUR SHORT TERM GOALS, SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM GOALS. INITIALLY WE LAUNCHED OUR PRODUCTS AND PRODUCT LINES, ESTABLISHING LOCAL MANUFACTURING SUPPLY CHAINS, BUILDING BRANDS, AWARENESS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND DEVELOP ONLINE PRESENCE. OUR LONG TERM GOAL, OF COURSE, IS TO EXPAND OUR PRODUCT LINE, BECOME THE NUMBER ONE TEXAS ECO TOILET PAPER BRAND OR COURSE LAST TO BUILD COMMUNITY IMPACT. THAT'S ALWAYS OUR MAIN GOAL. WE ALWAYS SHOOT ABOUT COMMUNITY, ONE OF OUR MAIN THINGS, BUT KNOW WHAT'S GIVEN BACK TO COMMUNITY OVERALL. AND LASTLY, I WILL LEAVE, BUT JUST SHORTLY, UM, ROLL WITH IT IS LOOKING TO ALWAYS TO EXPAND THROUGHOUT THE AREA. AND IF ANYBODY HAD ANY QUESTIONS, WE HAVE OUR CONTACT INFORMATION AT THE END OF THE SLIDE. LET ME GET TO IT FASTLY ENOUGH. AND WE HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. ANYONE CAN REACH OUT TO OUR OWNER AND ALSO TO OUR YEAH. AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'RE GONNA START OUR, UM, WE, WE WANT YOU TO STAY HERE 'CAUSE THERE MAY BE SOME LIGHTS ON YOUR BUSINESS. YES. AND JUST WANNA GIVE YOU, WE DON'T WANNA MAKE YOU FEEL RUSHED. SURE, SURE. SO WE LET US START THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN IF YOU'LL HAVE A SEAT RIGHT HERE, WE'LL COME RIGHT BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU. NO PROBLEM. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. AT [IV. To Receive And Consider Public Comment(s) From All Interested Citizens With Regard To The Budget For The City Of Port Arthur And The Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2025, And Ending September 30, 2026. A Copy Of A Summary Of The Proposed Operating Budgets For The 2025-2026 Fiscal Year Is Attached Hereto And Made A Part Hereof As Exhibit "A". Citizens Shall Have The Opportunity To Provide Written And Oral Comments And To Ask Questions Concerning The Entire Budget ] THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA MOVE INTO OUR PUBLIC HEARING, A PUBLIC HEARING. 6:00 PM IS TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM ALL INTERESTED CITIZENS WITH REGARD TO THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND THE PORT ARTHUR. SECTION FOUR, A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. A COPY OF A COPY OF A SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGETS FOR THE 20 25 20 26 FISCAL YEAR IS ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART, UM, HEREOF AS EXHIBIT A. CITIZENS SHALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE WRITTEN AND ORAL COMMENTS AND TO ASK QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE ENTIRE BUDGET. I NEED A, DO I NEED A MOTION? NO. OKAY. WE'LL, UM, WE'RE IN OUR, UM, PUBLIC HEARING, SO, UM, WE HAVE ANYONE THAT'D LIKE TO SPEAK TOWARD THE BUDGET FROM THE AUDIENCE. YES. I WOULD LIKE TO, YOU CAN COME TO THE PODIUM. MS. JOANNE JOHN JONES. SIX 40 EAST 10TH STREET. YES, MA'AM. UH, QUITE THE BUDGET. I WOULD LIKE AN AUDIT, UH, FROM THE PAST MONEY THAT WAS MISAPPROPRIATED. AND REASON WHY I SAY A AUDIT, BECAUSE ON, UH, FACEBOOK AND, AND EVERYTHING, PEOPLE ARE VERY CONFUSED AND THEY TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE NOT TRUSTING THE COUNCIL OF, YOU KNOW, HANDLING THE MONEY AND EVERYTHING AND TO KEEP, KEEP, UH, TO REASSURE THEM THAT THINGS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF. I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE A AUDIT AND THEY, WHERE THEY COULD SEE WHERE THE MONEY GO SO FAR, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IT WOULD KEEP THEM FROM BEING AGGRAVATED THAT WHO GOT WHAT, WHERE EVERYTHING WENT AND ASSURE Y'ALL TO TRUST. KEEP TRUSTING Y'ALL. [00:30:01] OKAY. OH, MS. . THANK YOU. DID WE JUST COME OUT OF AN AUDIT? UM, I'M SORRY. DID THEY, THE CITY JUST HAVE AN AUDIT? CAN OUR FINANCE PERSON SPEAK TO US ABOUT THE AUDIT? WE JUST HAD AN AUDIT. YEAH. HUH? YEAH. Y'ALL DID HAVE AN AUDIT? YES, MA'AM. SHE, SHE'S DONE, THEY DO AUDITS OVER OUR BOOKS AND WE CAME BACK WITH A, SHE'LL TELL YOU, IS THERE ANY WAY THE COMMUNITY COULD, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, LOOK INTO IT. SHE'S, SHE'S RIGHT THERE. THAT'S A FINANCE PERSON. SHE'LL SPEAK TO YOU AND LET YOU KNOW. IS THERE ANY WAY, UH, COMMUNITY YOU ALL COULD LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW? YES, MA'AM. BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY DISTURBED AND THEY'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THE SITUATION AT ALL FROM WHAT THEY ARE READING AND HEARING. SO IT SHOULD COME FROM YOU ALL. SO WE COULD, UH, MS. JOANNE, I'M GONNA LET HER SPEAK RIGHT NOW. OKAY. LET HER TELL. THAT'S OKAY. LYNN, IF YOU WOULD CAN HELP US OUT, MS. COUNCIL, MAYOR MEMBERS, GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION. ALL OF THOSE ARE PUBLISHED ON THE WEBSITE ACTUALLY IN PORT ARTHUR TX.GOV. THERE'S A FINANCIAL SECTION AND WE ARE ALL CAUGHT UP ON AUDITS. THE LAST AUDIT WAS COMPLETED FOR 2024 IN JUNE ON JUNE 30TH OF THIS YEAR. AND 2025 WILL BE GETTING READY TO START AS SOON AS WE CLOSE OUT THIS MONTH. SO WE DO HAVE THE AUDITS AVAILABLE AND THEY ARE AVAILABLE PUBLICLY. I THINK SOMEBODY'S MIGHT GOING TO THAT. NO, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE TRYING TO NAVIGATE THE WAY TO THE FINANCIAL AUDITS RIGHT NOW TO SHOW YOU HOW TO GET THERE THROUGH THE WEBSITE. YOU KNOW, UH, I, I BELIEVE HER. MM-HMM. BUT IT'S, SO MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GO TO THESE TYPE OF THINGS. YEAH. AND MISS JOANNE, THAT'S WHY WHEN I HAD THE 90 DAY MEETING, WE HAD SOMEONE THERE FROM IT MM-HMM . TO ACTUALLY SHOW US HOW TO NAVIGATE OUR ENTIRE WEBSITE MM-HMM . UM, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER ONE IN JANUARY. MM-HMM . UM, NOT, WE HAD SOMEONE, LIKE I SAID, WE HAD SOMEONE FROM IT THERE JUST KIND OF DEMONSTRATING TO US HOW TO GET THROUGH THAT. COULD YOU GO A LITTLE BIT THAT, IN THAT LIKE, TO PULL OUT THE NEWSPAPER OR EITHER, UM, SOME, UH, FACEBOOK OR A LOT OF PEOPLE STAY ON THAT AND IT'S MORE FAMILIAR WITH FACEBOOK AND THINGS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I MISSED YOUR ORGANIZATION. I'M SO SORRY THAT THAT'S OKAY. I UNDERSTAND UHHUH BECAUSE I KNOW IT WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT WAS GIVEN. YES MA'AM. BUT WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE, I'M IN A BEAUTY SHOP AND WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING GOOD TO SAY. ALL THEY HAVE IS THE WORST TO SAY MM-HMM . AND I JUST DON'T THINK YOU ALL ARE THAT BAD. YOU KNOW? AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO HIDE, . OH, WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH. I'M SO GLAD WE'RE NOT. I MIGHT COME BACK ON YOU SO DON'T, DON'T. BUT WE THAT'S, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I'M DOING THE 90 DAY MEETINGS. MM-HMM. UM, MY FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE SO THAT OUR CITIZENS CAN BE AWARE OF SOME OF THE, THE SOME YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL, BUT, YOU KNOW, FOUR DEPARTMENTS, PARTNERSHIPS, UM, THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEN HOW, WHAT LIKE IT, FOR INSTANCE, OUR WEBSITE IS, IF YOU'RE NOT A WEBSITE PERSON, IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE MM-HMM . AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAD AN IT PERSON THAT'S SHOWING UP. WE'LL DO THAT EVERY TIME AT MY AGE, YOU KNOW, WE KIND LOST FOR A LOT OF THINGS. I'M, AND WE THE ONE PAY THE TAX. WE UNDERSTAND. WE UNDERSTAND. WE'RE TRYING TO BE TRANSPARENT MOVING FORWARD SO THAT YOU CAN'T TRUST US. WE HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE. WHY NOT PUT IT OUT THERE? WE DON'T. AND THAT'S WHY I HAD THE MEETING. OKAY. YES MA'AM. OKAY. LIKE I SAY, MAYBE THE, YOU NEED A BIGGER PLACE THE NEXT TIME. YES, I WILL. AND I'M GONNA DO THAT. THAT WAS BROUGHT UP AND WE'RE GONNA DO THAT. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . UM, ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK TO TOWARDS THE, UH, BUDGET FOR OKAY. SHE STARTED WALKING UP. UH, OKAY. BUT YOU CAN COME ON UP. UH, RIGHT AFTER SHE'S DONE. GLORIA SANCHEZ, 6 65 JADE AVENUE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. AH, I HAVE A QUESTION. UH, AND THE AGENDA FOR TODAY IS A 20% WATER INCREASE. THIS MONEY WAS ALREADY INCLUDED ON THE BUDGET FOR THIS, UM, YEAR. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY NOBODY TALK ABOUT THIS ONE. WHEN WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL WORKSHOP ABOUT THIS MONEY, IT'S THE MONEY THAT IS GONNA COLLECT FROM THE 20% IS INCLUDED ALREADY ON THIS PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 25 26. LYNN IS, UH, ANSWERING, SHAKING HER HEAD FROM THE AUDIENCE. SO I JUST, UH, JUST FOR THE FORMER PERSON, I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THE HARD COPIES OF THE AUDITS ARE AVAILABLE WITH THE CITY SECRETARY, NOT THE CITY LIBRARY. SO YOU CAN ALWAYS GO OVER THERE FOR THOSE. AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED. THAT IS ALWAYS INCLUDED. TAX RATES ARE ALWAYS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, UH, WHEN I, IT'S AS A PROPOSAL. OKAY. OKAY. DOES MEAN YOU ALREADY PANIC WITH THAT MONEY AND WHAT HAPPENED IS NOT APPROVE IT. IT'S PROPOSED, SHE SAID. PROPOSED. YES. YEAH. MM-HMM . BUT IT'S PROPOSED TO SPEND IT ALREADY. I GUESS [00:35:01] THAT'S MEAN. THEY ALREADY KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA PASS OR WHAT, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, UM, CS BE, UM, TRANSPARENT AND SOMETIME IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE. ANOTHER THING THAT I WANNA SAY IS I HEARD BETWEEN THIS WORKSHOP ABOUT NEXT YEAR, YOU'RE MOST LIKELY GONNA HAVE TO INCREASE TAXES AND PROPERTIES BECAUSE, UM, ACCORDING WITH THE NEW LAW STATE LAW MUCH YOU'RE MORE LIKELY YOU HAVE TO INCREASE TAXES ON IT. AND I WAS THINKING WHY DON'T START CUTTING EXPENSES. I HAVE BEEN TRIED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE NEED TO, WE, WE WISH WE CAN HAVE MONEY TO HAVE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN THE CITY, BUT SOMETIMES WE REALLY NEED TO CHOOSE WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO. AND I THINK WE NEED TO START REALLY LOOKING INTO HOW WE SPEND THE $400 MILLION A YEAR. AND THAT'S EVERYTHING THAT I WANNA SAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. CO. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT, MR. SCOTT, COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT, YOU'LL ALWAYS BE COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT TO ME. SO WE'LL COME UP AT THIS TIME. UM, RAYMOND SCOTT, 37 26 LAKE SHORE DRIVE. UM, LET'S SAY GOOD EVENING TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL, UM, ON THIS WATER RATE THAT YOU ALL HAVE BE GOING TO BE DOING, UM, WHAT IS THE DOLLAR MIGHT AMOUNT THAT EACH CITIZEN PROBABLY WOULD BE PAYING? BECAUSE WE HAVE, WE HAVE A LOT OF SENIOR CITIZENS OKAY. ON A FIXED INCOME. AND I FIND IT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF STRANGE THAT WHAT WE DOING TODAY IS HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THIS. BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN MEETING. Y'ALL HAVE WORKSHOPS, BUT EVERYBODY DON'T, CAN'T MAKE TO THE WORKSHOPS, BUT A OPEN MEETING SO CITIZENS CAN SPEAK ABOUT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE PAYING, UNDERSTANDING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE PAYING. SO THEY CAN SPEAK ON THIS. WHAT WE DOING NOW IS WE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING AND AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU ALL THE BUDGET WILL BE APPROVED AND YOU ALL WILL BE VOTING ON IT, SIR. SO IT, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT ANYTHING WE CAN DO TODAY. UH, YOU ALL CAN HEAR US, BUT THE DECISION'S ALREADY BEEN MADE. IT'S ALREADY MADE YOU ALL, ARE YOU GOING TO APPROVE THE BUDGET TODAY? SO I FEEL THAT THE CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS IN AN OPEN MEETING SO YOU COULD HAVE MORE, YOU KNOW, UH, PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS SITUATION BECAUSE IT'S SO MANY SENIOR CITIZENS, IT'S GONNA BE AN IMPACT ON THEM. AND NOBODY SAID WHAT? DOLLAR AMOUNT. WE SAID PERCENTAGE AND THIS AND THAT, BUT WHAT DOLLAR AMOUNT YEAH. COUNT. WILL, WILL, WILL, YOU KNOW, UH, THE SENIOR CITIZENS BE PAYING WHAT DOLLAR AMOUNT THE CITIZENS BE PAYING. I THINK WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S GONNA DO A PRESENTATION FOR US IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS, BUT WE HAD TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT SIX O'CLOCK. BUT HE WILL EXPLAIN, UM, TO US WHAT THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT LOOKS LIKE. HE'S GONNA PRESENT IT IN HIS PRESENTATION IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS. OKAY. SO WE WANT TO BE, SO WE, WE ARE HERE, WE ARE HERE TODAY. YES, SIR. WE ARE HERE WHEN HE COME UP. YES, SIR. FIRST TIME. AND YOU OUGHT TO BE VOTING ON IT. YES SIR. I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. OKAY? MM-HMM . SO I JUST THINK WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING TRANSPARENT, BEING TRANSPARENT IS MEAN. ALSO BRINGING THINGS IN AN OPEN MEETING EARLIER SO CITIZENS CAN PARTICIPATE AND DISCUSS WHAT TYPE OF IMPACT IT WOULD BE ON CITIZENS. YEAH. AND, AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS JUST ACTUALLY SAW IT AT THE LAST, UH, LAST BUDGET HEARING OR A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO. SO, BUT YOU ALL BEEN DISCUSS MEETING, DISCUSS. I'VE BEEN SPECIAL. I'VE BEEN WATCHING ALL THE BUDGET MEETINGS. I WATCHED ALL THE, NO, I'M SORRY. IT WAS A SPECIAL MEETING THAT WE HAD. OKAY. YEAH. WE HAD HAD TO CALL A MEETING SO THAT WE COULD SEE IT. AND IT WAS ONLY ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. TWO WEEKS AGO. OKAY. AND WE, THIS WAS THE NEXT MEETING SCHEDULED. SO WE HEARD IT IN BETWEEN THAT TIME WE GOT THAT INFORMATION. I UNDERSTAND. YOU ALL UNDERSTAND IT. YES SIR. I'M SAYING WE AS CITIZENS NEED TO HEAR AND UNDERSTAND IT. YES SIR. BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO, IT'S GONNA BE AN IMPACT ON A LOT OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. YEAH. AND I HAVE, UM, SOME LIGHTS AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT, BUT, UM, JUST A SECOND. CAN I, CAN I SPEAK ABOUT ANOTHER, OKAY. DO YOU WANNA HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? OKAY. ANOTHER THING IN THE BUDGET. YES, SIR. THAT SHOULD BE, UH, CLARIFY. YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT, UM, IN THE BUDGET, UM, TO APPROVE A MILLION DOLLARS OR SO FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, OKAY? MM-HMM . AND WE NEED A CITIZEN NEED A LITTLE MORE CLARITY OF WHAT THE MONEY GONNA BE USED FOR. WE JUST, YOU JUST GOT OVERTIME. WHAT, HOW IS IT GONNA BE USED? WHO IS IT GONNA BE GIVEN TO? YEAH. THAT'S NOT LISTED. I THINK COUNCIL, WE CAN UNDERSTAND. ETTE HANDLED IT IN THE OPEN WORKSHOP AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW ADDRESSED IT. THAT'S WHY WE DID THE WORKSHOPS LIVE SO PEOPLE COULD [00:40:01] REALLY SEE WHAT WAS BEING DISCUSSED. I, I LOOKED AT THE WORKSHOPS. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING SPECIFYING HOW ARE YOU GONNA BE USING THE MONEY? OKAY. I LOOK AT ALL THE MEETINGS. I THINK THEY GAVE US, THEY, THEY, THEY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. 'CAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS. COUNCILMAN KIN LAW ABOUT THE, UM, WHAT THE BREAKDOWN OF THE MILLION DOLLARS WAS FOR CORRECT. I HEARD THAT QUESTION, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR A ANSWER. OH, OKAY. I THINK. OKAY. YOU WANNA GO? WELL, COUNCILMAN KINLAW, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN SCOTT. OH, I'M SORRY. I'VE BEEN, YOU DID, I APOLOGIZE. MY LIGHT ON COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, GO AHEAD. I RECOGNIZE IT RIGHT AWAY. WE MISSED A STEP. WE'RE PULLING, WE'RE PULLING PEOPLE FROM THE AUDIENCE TO COME UP AND COMMENT ON SOMETHING THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS NOT PRESENTED AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET. CORRECT. I'M TALKING, I'M TALKING ABOUT TODAY. IT'S A PUB. YEAH. IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAVE, I KNOW IT'S PUBLIC. YEAH, RIGHT. WE HAD TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING, RIGHT? MM-HMM . BUT THE PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING DURING AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET AND THEN RECEIVED COMMENTS FROM THE, FROM THE, THE ATTENDING AUDIENCE. BUT IT'S, IT'S REVERSE. THAT'S ALL PART OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY MANAGER WHO'S GONNA DO THE PRESENTATION, THE OVERVIEW OF THE LETTER SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON AND, AND ADDRESS THOSE QUESTIONS THERE, WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT. BUT WE GOT THE COURT BEFORE THE HORSE. I, THAT'S THE, IN THE INTENT OF THE WORKSHOPS. I DON'T KNOW. I THINK WE KINDA, I I I UNDERSTAND, MAYOR YOU SAID THE WORKSHOPS RIGHT? WE UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE WORKSHOP MM-HMM . I'VE BEEN THERE MM-HMM . NINE YEARS. I'M JUST, THAT'S WHY I SAID COUNCIL MEMBER. SO WE UNDERSTAND THE WORKSHOPS. YES SIR. WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT NEEDED TO BE AN OPEN MEETING TO DISCUSS IT. INSTEAD OF HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING, IT'S ALL THE DECISION ALREADY BEEN MADE. WHAT GOD IS WHAT YOU HEAR FROM ME TODAY, IT'S ALREADY BEEN MADE. THE BUDGET IS GOING BE APPROVED. OKAY. REGARDLESS OF WHAT I SAY, WHAT KIND OF, WHATEVER CITIZENS COME UP AND TRY TO GIVE SOME TYPE OF IMPACT OR WHAT THEY'RE GONNA FEEL, WHAT THEY, IT'S, IT'S IRRELEVANT BECAUSE THE DECISION HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE. AND WE HAVE TO, I THINK ACCORDING TO THE LAW, WE HAVE TO HAVE A BUDGET BY OCTOBER 1ST AND THE MEETING TO GO, SOMETHING SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE OCTOBER 23RD. MAYOR, SOMETHING SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE THIS. OKAY. BECAUSE I WOULD'VE BEEN, I WOULD'VE COME TO THE OPEN MEETING AND WE'D HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THINGS LIKE THIS BECAUSE NOW I CAME TODAY BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING AND NO MATTER WHAT I SAY, BUT COUNCILMAN SCOTT, WE DID FOUR WORKSHOPS SO YOU COULD, AND, AND THE CITIZENS WERE INVITED TO THOSE WORKSHOPS TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND TELL US WHAT THOSE CONCERNS WERE. AND SOME OF US. AND SOME OF US, I UNDERSTAND, BUT FOUR, FOUR WORKSHOPS THOUGH. WORKSHOPS. YES, SIR. A OPEN MEETING. THAT'S WHAT THAT IS. THAT IS AN OPEN MEETING, A SCHEDULED MEETING, A SCHEDULED OPEN MEETING. 'CAUSE EVERYBODY CAN'T COME TO THE WORKSHOP. I MEAN, COUNSELORS, Y'ALL ARE HERE. OKAY. WE HAD FOUR AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE CALLED FOR. SO THE QUESTIONS COULD BE ANSWERED. I HAVE A LOT OF LIGHTS GOING HERE. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, YOU NEXT. OKAY. BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAD THE WORKSHOPS FOR. OKAY. THEY WERE HELD SEPTEMBER AND I ADDED TWO MORE. OKAY. I ADDED, I WE ONLY HAD ONE SEPTEMBER 11TH AND I ADDED SEPTEMBER 16TH AND SEPTEMBER 18TH. SO THE CITIZENS COULD HAVE MORE VOICE INTO THE, TO COME OUT AND HAVE IT OPEN. ONE TIME WE WERE HERE ALMOST FOUR HOURS AND THEN THE NEXT DAY WE CAME, IT WAS ALMOST TWO AND A HALF HOURS. BUT THAT WAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO VOICE THEIR CONCERN BEFORE WE GOT TO ADOPTING THE BUDGET. OKAY. AND, AND NOW WE HAVE TO ADOPT IT NOW. AND WHAT ALSO HAPPENS IS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE MEETING POSTED IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING BEFORE THE 29TH. IT HAS TO BE POSTED BY THE 24TH. I I UNDERSTAND THAT. I JUST ASKED QUESTION. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT'S WHY I ADDED THOSE TWO MILLIONS. I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. EVERYTHING YOU'RE SAYING, IT'S NOTHING NEW TO ME. YEAH. I JUST ASKED THE QUESTION. TWO, TWO QUESTION. WELL, THERE IS ONE THING NEW THAT WE HAVE TO POST EARLIER NOW. SO THAT'S DIFFERENT BY THE LAW. WE HAVE TO POST FOUR DAYS BEFORE A MEETING IS CALLED BUSINESS, NOT JUST 72 OUR BUSINESS DAYS. OKAY. SO, SO THAT CHANGED, THAT'S WHY I ADDED THE TWO MEETINGS BECAUSE WE ONLY HAD ONE SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER THE 11TH. OKAY. LET'S GET BACK TO MY QUESTIONS. YES SIR. OKAY. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE CLEAR TO KNOW THAT WE WERE TRYING TO BE TRANSPARENT AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S ON SEPTEMBER 16TH AND SEPTEMBER 18. NOBODY, NOBODY SAID YOU WASN'T TRYING TO BE TRANSPARENT. I JUST SAID. SO LET'S GET BACK TO MY QUESTION. OKAY. THIS, IS THERE GONNA BE A BREAKDOWN ON THE, THE MILLION DOLLARS THAT YOU ARE GONNA APPROVE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? YES, SIR. OKAY. THAT'LL BE A BREAKDOWN. SO I'LL BE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. YES, SIR. OKAY. SO OTHER THAN THAT, JUST A CITIZEN MAKING A COMMENT, NOT CLAIMING THAT YOU DIDN'T DO THIS WITH, IT'S THE IDEA THAT YOU ALL DID A WORK, WORK SEVERAL WORKSHOPS AND A LOT OF CITIZENS COULDN'T MAKE THE WORKSHOPS BECAUSE YOU HAVE, THEY, THEY SCHEDULED AROUND THE MORNING MEETING AND THE EVENING MEETINGS. THAT'S WHAT THEY SCHEDULED. AND WE HAD ZOOM. SO I MEAN, I THINK A COUPLE OF CITIZENS JOINED BY ZOOM AND ASKED QUESTIONS BY ZOOM. OKAY. SO WE HAD IT AVAILABLE. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO ANY, ANY OTHER, SO DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, IF ANYTHING ELSE COME UP ABOUT THE [00:45:01] BUDGET, ARE WE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT IT? UH, THE BUDGET WON'T BE ANYTHING IN THE BUDGET WON'T BE COMING UP. IT'LL JUST BE APPROVED. RIGHT. IT APPROVED. BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS HAVE AMENDMENTS GOES THROUGHOUT THAT GOES. YOU CAN ALWAYS HAVE AN AMENDMENT. I'M, I'M TALKING ABOUT CAN BE ASKED OTHER QUESTIONS? NO. THAT'LL BE APPROVED TONIGHT. YES, SIR. OKAY. OKAY. SO THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS COULD BE ASKED ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN WE GOING TO A SPECIAL MEETING, BUT IT'D HAVE TO BE HELD TOMORROW. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT ME AS A CITIZEN. I'M TALKING ABOUT CITIZENS. OH NO, THIS IS, THIS IS IT PUBLIC HEARING? IS IT OKAY, SO EVERYBODY CAN MAKE COMMENTS DURING THIS TIME, TIME, RIGHT NOW THAT'S ASKING. YES SIR. I'M SORRY. THAT'S, I'M SORRY. DO NOT FOLLOW ME. I KNOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK. YES, MA'AM. THE PART THAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS, MR. SCOTT WAS YEP, MR. YOU, YOU DID MAKE MENTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND HOW, UM, THEY WERE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY, UM, THE WATER RATE INCREASE. I WANTED TO SIMPLY SAY WE HAVE TAKEN, UH, THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. WE HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN THAT IN CONSIDERATION AND, UM, THAT THE SENIOR CITIZENS ARE ABLE TO GET A DISCOUNT ON THEIR WATER RATE. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS SIMPLY, UH, FILL OUT A PAPER, UH, A WORK, UH, A FORM. AND THAT THOSE, UM, THAT THAT, THAT, UH, RATE, UH, FROZEN FOR SENIOR CITIZENS WILL GO INTO EFFECT. SO WE HAVE TAKEN ALL OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, UH, FOR TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE. OKAY. I GOTTA STOP HERE. CITY ATTORNEY HAS HER LIGHT ON. SO CITY ATTORNEY, I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK, LET ME LET HER SPEAK FOR A MOMENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT'S QUESTIONS SO THAT I COULD HELP ASSIST IN ANSWERING IT. MM-HMM . HE'S ABLE TO SPEAK IN COMMENTS DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT ANY CITIZEN'S ALSO ABLE TO SPEAK ON AN AGENDA ITEM THAT'S POSTED? YES. SO IF HIS QUESTION WAS CAN HE SPEAK AGAIN? HE CAN. YOU MAY. THANK YOU. SO WHEN THE BUDGET COMES OUT, YOU MAY SPEAK. IT'S, THAT'S STATE LAW. THANK YOU, MA'AM. BEFORE WE GO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT. GOT THAT ANSWER. AND COUNCILMAN FRANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHARING, UM, YOUR THOUGHT AND WHAT YOU ALL DISCUSSED ABOUT THE SENIOR CITIZEN. UM, ON, ON JUST FILLING OUT A FORM SO ANY SENIOR CAN FILL OUT A FORM. WHAT'S THE PROCESS? THEY JUST FILL OUT A FORM AND THEY GET A, A, A CUT RATE. EXPLAIN IT TO EXPLAIN IT TO HIM. BECAUSE I WAS WONDERING HOW YOU, HOW YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH WHAT, HOW CAN YOU KEEP UP WITH STAFF IS HERE AND THEY'RE GONNA ANSWER YOUR QUESTION FOR YOU. YOU, MR. RHONDA STANSBERRY COMING. MR. THANK YOU. SHE DOES. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNSEL. UH, YES. ANY, UH, SENIOR THAT'S OVER THE AGE AND I, I I THINK I WANNA SAY ITS 65. 65, UH, CAN COMPLETE A, UH, FORM TO GET THAT DISCOUNT. SO HOW DO THEY GET THE FORMS TO YOU? THEY SEND 'EM IN AND WALK THEM IN. OR YOU CAN ACTUALLY, THERE'S A FORM AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR THOSE WHO CAN GO ONLINE AND GET IT. OTHERWISE, WE DO HAVE PAPER COPIES IN THE OFFICE. IF A SENIOR NEEDS US TO MAIL A COPY TO THEM, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT. SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE PRESENT. JUST FILL OUT THE FORM. THEY CAN FILL OUT THE FORM AND JUST, UH, YOU, YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE SO THAT WE CAN VERIFY THAT YOU ARE OF AGE. SO THEY HAVE TO COME HERE OR JUST GIVE YOU A COPY OF IT. THEY CAN GIVE ME A COPY OF THEIR LICENSE. THEY CAN HAVE A COPY. AND IF YOU DO IT ONLINE, OF COURSE IT GIVES YOU THE OPTION TO DOWNLOAD THE COPY OF YOUR LICENSE AND YOU CAN DO IT ONLINE. BUT IF YOU COME IN THEN WE CAN TAKE CARE OF IT THAT WAY AS WELL. UH, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS THAT DO USE THE FORM ONLINE. I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT, BUT WE DO HAVE A LOT THAT DO USE THE ONLINE FORM. SO YOU HAVE A CERTAIN SET RATE FOR, THERE'S A CERTAIN SET RATE FOR THAT. YES, SIR. MM-HMM . THANK YES. EVERY MIND. YES SIR. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I'D LIKE, SINCE THIS IS PUBLIC, I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ANYONE THAT'S NOT ON THE PROGRAM THAT'S OVER 65. IT'S ONE PER WATER BILL. IF THERE'S 65 TO COME IN AND TALK, DOWNLOAD IT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. OH, COME ON. UH, OTHER QUESTIONS? OH, I GOT, I GOT LIGHTS ON AND I GOT AUDIENCE. SO GIMME ONE SECOND. MS. SCOTT. LET ME GO. COUNCIL MEMBER ETT AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW. YES. I JUST WANNA MAKE A CLARIFICATION OF WHAT COUNCILMAN, I MEAN, FORMER COUNCILMAN SCOTT WAS SAYING HE'S CORRECT. UH, WE HAVE A, A PROPOSAL ORDINANCE COMING UP, DEALING WITH THE WATER UTILITIES AT WHICH TIME, ONCE IT COMES TO THE FLOOR AS THE CITY ATTORNEY ANNOUNCED, ANYBODY MAY COMMENT ON IT. HOWEVER, ALL OF THE WORKSHOPS WE CONDUCTED, WE NEVER DISCUSSED THIS. SO IF SOMEBODY WAS WATCHING THE WORK WORKSHOP, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE WATER RACE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PICK UP ON WHAT HE ASKED FOR. WE NEED TO FIX THAT. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE [00:50:01] WORKSHOP. WE SHOULD HAVE COVERED WATER, UTILITY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF RATE. AND THEREFORE WHEN THEY CAME HERE TODAY, THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE WAY WE DID IT, THE, THE ONLY TIME THEY COULD HAVE ACTUALLY KNOWN IT WAS GONNA BE A RAIDERS, WHEN THEY READ THE AGENDA LAST YEAR, WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE WAY WE DID IT LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR WE DONE PRESENTATIONS, UH, WE DONE PRESENTATION ON THE REGULAR MEETING, OPEN MEETING IN WHICH WE DISCUSSED AND HAD PRESENTATION OF THE POSSIBLE WATER, RACE AND Y AND EVERYTHING. SO WE NEED TO DO THAT EITHER PRIOR TO OUR WORKSHOPS OR AT LEAST DURING OUR WORKSHOPS. AND THEREFORE, IF, IF THEY COME BEFORE A PUBLIC HEARING, LIKE TODAY, THEY WOULD'VE HAVE KNOWN NOT ONLY WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING, BUT WHAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT IN THE DISCUSSION THAT WAS CONDUCTED. SO WE NEED TO TAKE THAT IN MIND. IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CONSIDER AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS NEXT TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JUST SAID COUNCILMAN MCKEN LAW. UH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND JUST TO ADDRESS, UH, FORMER COUNCILMAN, UM, UH, SCOTT, UH, OBSERVATION ON THE MILLION DOLLARS THAT WAS GOING, I DID ASK OUT OF FOUR WORKSHOPS, I DID HAVE THE FIRE CHIEF COME UP AND AS WELL AS THE DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF TO COME AND GIMME EXPLANATION ON, UM, ON THE MILLION DOLLARS OVERTIME. UH, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU SOME CLARITY OF WHERE THIS WAS GOING. ACTUAL, UH, BUDGET IN 2223, IT WAS A MILLION. IT WAS OVER A MILLION. AND THEN ACTUAL 23, 24, IT WAS 1,000,003. AND THEN THE MIN BUDGET WAS A A MILLION. SO FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, IT'S BEEN OVER A MILLION DOLLARS. BUT I DID WANT TO HAVE AND GET THE CHIEF, UH, STATEMENT ON WHY AND HOW IS DUE TO WHAT I WAS TOLD DUE TO, UH, STAFFING, UH, JOBS EQUIPMENT. AND THEY GAVE ME A DETAILED EXPLANATION ON WHY AND HOW THIS MILLION DOLLARS CAME TO FRUITION FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. SO OUT OF THE FOUR WORKSHOPS, TWO, I ASKED PERSONALLY THE QUESTIONS TO THE CHIEF AND AS WELL AS THE DEPUTY CHIEF TO GET THAT EXPLANATION. SO, UH, LIKE, LIKE MANAGEMENT OR STAFF OR DIRECTORS, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK WHERE THIS MONEY IS GOING BECAUSE I WANTED TO KNOW 'CAUSE I JUST COULDN'T SEE HOW YOU COME UP WITH A MILLION DOLLARS TO OVER TIME, YOU KNOW, LIKE THAT. SO THE EXPEDITION WAS GIVEN TO ME. RIGHT. OH, MS. SCOTT, DO YOU MIND IF MS. COUNCILOR MS. SCOTT COMES UP? OKAY. SORRY. SECOND, UH, COUNCILMAN KEN LAW. UM, YOU COULD PULL PULL THE MIC UP, MIC UP FOR ME. YEAH. I WATCHED THE MEETING AND THE CITY, THE, THE, THE, THE FIRE CHIEF SAID, NOW YOU ALL HAVE A BUDGET FOR A MILLION DOLLARS FROM LAST YEAR. THE CITY FIRE CHIEF SAID, WELL, WE ALREADY OVER $200. WE AT 1.2, HOW DO YOU GET AT 1.2 WHEN IT WASN'T APPROVED? I MEAN, HE SAID WE AT 1.2 IT IS LIKE, OKAY, YOU AT 1.2, HOW DO YOU GET TO 1.2 AND THE COUNCIL ONLY APPROVE A MILLION DOLLARS? SO ARE PEOPLE JUST GOING OVER THE WHAT'S, WHAT'S BUDGET OR WHAT? WELL, IT CAME, IT GAVE ME AN EXPLANATION AND I'M, YOU KNOW, I WAS GONNA, IT WAS SEVEN POSITIONS. UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, FIRE, FIRE, CAPTAINS, ENGINEERS, MARSHALS, AND THE ACTUAL NUMBERS WAS, UH, INSTEAD OF ONE 11, IT WAS ONE 18. SO THAT WAS THE EXPLANATION THAT WAS GIVEN ME. I WROTE, I WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN. I, I, KEN LAW, I WRITE IT DOWN. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. KEEP GOING. AND SO THAT LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF THOSE SHORTAGE OF THE POSITIONS AND FIREFIGHTERS, CAPTAINS, ENGINEERS, MARSHALS, AND A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT, UH, THEY HAD TO HIRE CAME UP WITH THAT ONE, TWO. AND I WAS INTERESTED TO KNOW AS WELL AS WHY IS IT 1,000,002? SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. COUNCILMAN KEN LAW, UHHUH, . BUT I'M NOT QUESTIONING YOU. THEY TOLD YOU MY QUESTION IS ONE THING. MY QUESTION IS, IT WAS BUDGET FOR 1 MILLION. MM-HMM . IT CAME OUT TO BE 1.2 AND IT'S OVER. IT'S OVER. RIGHT. HOW DO IT SOMEBODY GO OVER THE BUDGET 200,000 AND IT NOT COMES TO THE COUNCIL, AND THE COUNCIL APPROVE IT. IT WAS NOT APPROVED. SO YOU, YOU GOT, IF YOU HAVE A DEPARTMENT HEAD AND YOU GIVE 'EM A BUDGET MM-HMM . OKAY. MM-HMM . AND YOU GIVE 'EM THE BUDGET, THEY GOTTA STAY WITHIN THEIR BUDGET. I WOULD HOPE THEY, THEY WOULDN'T STAY, THEY WHO GAVE THE, THE AUTHORITY TO GO OVER ONE POINT, GO OVER $200,000 WITHOUT COMING TO THE COUNCIL. THAT'S MY QUESTION. [00:55:01] SO THE THING ABOUT IT, COUNCILMAN KINLAW, I'M A CITIZEN. MM-HMM . BUT I STAYED UP THERE NINE YEARS DURING BUDGET. SO I WATCH ALL THE MEETINGS. MY QUESTION IS NOT ABOUT HOW HE BROKE IT DOWN OR HE TOLD YOU ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT, MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE OR DEPARTMENTS ABLE TO GO OVER THE BUDGET WITHOUT BRINGING IT TO YOU ALL TO APPROVE IT? YES SIR. THAT'S MY QUESTION. WELL, WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GOT YOUR ANSWER, UH, BUT NO I DIDN'T, BUT IT'S OKAY. OKAY. THE PEOPLE HEARD ME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. ALRIGHT. OKAY, MS. SCOTT, SHE'S NEXT. YES, MA'AM, SHE'S NEXT. MY NAME IS DEBORA ASBERRY SCOTT. I LIVE AT 37 26 LAKE SHORE DRIVE AND I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE WATER BILL INCREASE THE FORM FOR THE PERSON SINCE OVER 65 YEARS OLD. IS THERE ANY INSIGHT OR OTHER CITIZENS WHO PAY TAXES HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR THAT'S UNDER 65 YEARS OLD OR WE JUST HAVE AN INCREASE IN A WATER BILL? WELL, WE CAN HAVE SOMEBODY ANSWER FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT. WELL, DISABLED ELIGIBLE. I'M GONNA LET YOU UNDERSTAND. UM, CAN WE GET SOMEONE FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION? THANK YOU SO MUCH. I UNDER 65, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANY OTHER PROGRAM OTHER THAN THE SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT? UH, THE ANSWER IS NO. WE BASICALLY HAVE OUR, WE RATES, THEY'RE TIERED. YOU CAN SOMEWHAT CONTROL IT BY THE AMOUNT OF WATER YOU USE. I MEAN, IF YOU, THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO USE LESS WATER. UH, AND YOU CAN, LIKE MAINTAINING TOILETS IS A VERY BIG THING. YOU CAN SPEND A LOT OF WATER THROUGH A TOILET. YOU CAN NOT LET WATER RUN WHEN IT DOESN'T NEED TO RUN. BUT THAT'S BASICALLY, IT'S JUST FOR THE SENIORS THAT WAS, THERE IS NO PROGRAM OTHER THAN THE SENIORS OTHER THAN FOR SENIORS. OKAY. JUST WANNA MAKE SURE. OKAY. AND THIS, THIS MAY NOT BE TO THE THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. IT MAY NOT BE TO THE, UH, THE INCREASE IN THE WATER, BUT DOES THE CITY HAVE A PROGRAM, I GUESS TO CHECK THE DIFFERENT LEAKS AND STUFF THAT THAT'S ACROSS THAT DOES, THERE'S SOME PROGRAM IN PLACE FOR THAT TO CHECK LEAK. I THINK WITH THE NEW METERS THAT ARE BEING INSTALLED, THAT'S GONNA HELP CHANGE A LOT OF THAT. FROM WHAT I THINK THEY'RE BEING, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE PROGRAM STARTS, BUT THAT'S GOING TO HELP THE, EVERYBODY IN THE CITY GETTING NEW. EVERYBODY IN THE CITY. EVERYBODY IN THE CITY. OKAY. THEY'RE, AND MY LAST QUESTION IS, I, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, I GUESS INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTES MONEY TO THE CITIES. IS THAT INCLUDED IN YOUR BUDGET OR IS THAT SURPLUS FUNDS THAT YOU USE? AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TO THE CITY MANAGER OR OUR FINANCE PERSON. THAT'S THE, THE REFINERY. THE INDUSTRY OVERALL, NOT ONLY IN PORT ARTHUR. I MEAN I THINK IT HAPPENS ACROSS THE STATE. THE MONEY THAT BEEN PAID AND LIVE TAXES TO THE CITY IS PART OF THE CITY'S BUDGET. PART OF PART OF BUDGET. YEAH. TO ADDRESS THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE. OKAY. UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY. OKAY. THANK YOU. NOW YOU HAVE FUNDS LIKE THE UTILITY FUNDS, WHICH ARE ENTERPRISE FUNDS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE MONIES THAT ARE BEING PRODUCED, UM, BEING PROVIDED IN LAY OF TAXES. BUT THOSE ARE ENTERPRISE, LIKE THE UTILITY FUND IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SITTING MAYOR. JUST ONE MOMENT MS. JOANNE. I GOT SOME COUNCIL MEMBER LIGHTS, SO REAL QUICK. OKAY. YOU ON THIS ANSWER? OKAY. YEAH, YEAH. YOU GOING? OKAY. ALRIGHT, LET'S GO BACK. CITY MANAGER. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD. UM, THIS IS TO OF MS. SCOTT'S QUESTION. MR. MR. SCOTT'S, MS. SCOTT, TO MR. SCOTT'S QUESTION, I THINK, UM, IT WAS THE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF, MR. MITCHELL THAT MADE A VERY, UM, GOOD ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF OVERTIME, UM, FOR THE CITY'S BUDGET WHERE HE INDICATED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT IS A NUMBER ONE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, BASED ON OUR ISO RATINGS, WE ARE RATED THE NUMBER TWO. CORRECT. UM, THE HIGHEST RATING IN THE STATE IS A NUMBER ONE RATING. AND THEN WE ARE TRYING, WE ARE WORKING TO GET TOWARDS THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS A NUMBER ONE RATING, UM, IN THE STATE. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE THE FIREFIGHTERS, YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO FIGHT FIRES, BUT AS WELL AS TO SERVE AS EMS OFFICERS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND PROVIDE OUR AMBULANCE SERVICE WITH THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY NEED AS THEY CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE WELFARE AND WELLBEING OF OUR CITIZENS. HAVING SAID THAT, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN LEVEL OF CERTIFICATION THROUGHOUT THE FIRE SERVICE, AND THAT TAKES TRAINING. THAT'S, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY DONE WITHIN THE STATE, BUT YOU KNOW, IT REQUIRES TRAVEL. [01:00:01] AS THOSE OFFICERS CONTINUE TO GO ON TRAINING, THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED BY OTHER OFFICERS AS WELL. AND SO THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE OVERTIME COMES IN, YOU KNOW, UM, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT. IT'S VERY MUCH IMPORTANT THAT THOSE OFFICERS GO OUT THERE AND OBTAIN THE TRAINING THAT THEY MAY NEED BEFORE AN INDIVIDUAL PURPOSES OF, UM, A FIREFIGHTER OR, UM, OR AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE INDIVIDUAL. UM, AND AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE THOSE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION. HOWEVER, AS THE, OUR FINANCIAL DIRECTOR CAN, CAN INFORM YOU AS WELL AND HAS STATED DURING THE BUDGET DISCUSSION WHAT YOU HAVE THAT THE, THE BUDGET ALLOWS FOR MOVING OF MONIES ALONG THE VARIOUS SIMILAR LINE ITEMS. YOU CAN MOVE MONIES, UM, WHICH YOU COULD REFER TO AS BUDGET TRANSFERS, NOT BUDGET AMENDMENTS FROM PERSONNEL TO TRAINING OR FROM PERSONNEL TO OVERTIME. SO THE BUDGET ALLOWS FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND SO IF THERE IS A SHORTFALL IN THE AMOUNT THAT IS BEING PROVIDED UNDER THE LINE ITEM OF OVERTIME, THE BUDGET ALLOWS FOR A BUDGET TRANSFER WITHOUT GOING BACK TO COUNCIL IN ORDER TO UNDERTAKE THAT EXPENDITURE. ISN'T THAT CORRECT? AND THAT IS WHAT WAS BASICALLY DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TRAINING THAT THEY NEED. YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE HAD THAT VERY SAME DISCUSSION ABOUT A YEAR AGO. AND, UM, LOUIS, UH, AT THE TIME PROVIDED THE VERY SAME EXPLANATION TO COUNCIL. I THINK ANTONIO CAME BACK THIS TIME AND PROVIDED THE VERY SAME EXPLANATION TO THE COUNCIL AS WELL, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S ALL FOR THE GOOD OF THE OVERALL COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. BUT LET'S NOT MISS THE POINT. IT'S A BUDGET TRANSFER AND IT ALLOWS THE TRANSFER WHEREVER THE SAVINGS ARE WITHOUT IT COMING BACK TO COUNCIL. SO THERE'S NO MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS? NO. IT ALLOWS FOR A BUDGET TRANSFER FROM ONE LIGHT ITEM, WHICH MAY BE PERSONNEL TO OVERTIME, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVER FAIL. SHE'S HAD HER HAND UP COUNT FOR A WHILE. UM, GO, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANTED THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT IT WAS NOT INFORMATION BEING WITHHELD REGARDING ANYTHING IN THE BUDGET OR ANY, UM, PROPOSED ITEMS, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING OUR WATER RATES. WE ARE IN LITIGATION AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE JUST COULD NOT TALK ABOUT. WE ARE ADVISED BY OUR ATTORNEY, UM, NOT TO DISCUSS THEM, UM, FROM INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. SO JUST PLEASE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DISCUSS, BUT WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO DISCUSS, WE WANT TO DISCUSS SO THAT WE CAN BE OPEN WITH THE COMMUNITY OF WHAT'S GO TO THE COMMUNITY OF WHAT'S GOING ON. YES. UH, THANK YOU FOR STATING THAT. I WAS TRYING HOW TO SEE HOW TO PUT IT. UM, BUT THERE'S A REASON WHY AND THAT WE HAVE TO RAISE WATER RATES. SO I I, WE INHERITED IT AND WE'VE GOT TO SEE IT THROUGH. UM, WE DON'T WANT TO CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO, BUT WE ARE IN LITIGATION, SERIOUS LITIGATION, AND, UM, HE'S GONNA PRESENT TO US WHAT OUR CHOICES ARE. AND SO WE ARE, WE'RE, WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. WE DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. AND HE'LL EXPLAIN OUR NEW WATER RATES AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS UP HERE. I THINK THEY'RE, NOBODY WANTS TO SAY IT, BUT, BUT WE ARE BEING SUED AND WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO RAISE WATER RATES AT THIS TIME. SO WE, I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. SO THEY HAVE IT. WE'RE GONNA HEAR THE, THE, UM, NOT SOMETHING I WOULD WANT TO COME ON COUNCIL AND HAVE TO EVEN SAY, OR, OR BEING ABLE TO SAY, BUT WE HAVE GOT, WE'VE GOT TO HANDLE WHAT WE'VE GOT TO HANDLE FOR OUR CITIZENS, FOR OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT'S AGING. IT'S OLD. IT'S THE LA WE HAVE IN BACKUPS. WE HAVE 1800 BACKUPS. YOU'VE SEEN BACKUPS AFTER BACKUPS. UM, WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THERE'S NO MONEY FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE. IT'S AN ENTERPRISE FUND. DON'T THINK, WE DON'T KNOW, BUT WE WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR PORT ARTHUR. AND PORT ARTHUR DESERVES [01:05:01] A BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE'VE GOTTA PAY FOR IT. AND SO WE, WE, WE'VE GOT TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. IT WON'T, IT'LL BE A ONE, UH, HIT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEN IT'LL BE BETTER NEXT YEAR AND THE NEXT YEAR IS COMING. BUT THAT'S, THAT'S EVERY, ALL CARDS ON THE TABLE. WE ARE, WE HAVE TO HANDLE IT THIS WAY. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. I DON'T LOOK GOOD IN ORANGE. I MEAN, I LOVE ORANGE, BUT I AIN'T GOING TO, I AIN'T, I'M NOT WEARING ORANGE AND, UM, I'M NOT WEARING ORANGE. OKAY. SO WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. I HOPE Y'ALL GET THAT WITHOUT GETTING IT. OKAY. WE ARE GOING TO, UM, COUNCILOR DOUCETTE, YOU HAVE YOUR LIGHT ON. YES, I'M GOING. I HAD MY COMMENTS TO REFER TO MRS. GAS QUESTIONS. SHE ASKED ABOUT THE INDUSTRY AND THEIR, UH, CONTRIBUTION TO OUR UTILITY WATER. AND I THINK THEY, WE GAVE THE ANSWER, TALKED ABOUT THE, IT GOES INTO OUR GENERAL FUND. WELL, THE, IN ANSWERING HER QUESTION, YES, WE RECEIVE MONEY FROM ALL INDUSTRIES AND THE THING ABOUT IT IS WE DON'T PROVIDE ANY SERVICES OTHER THAN JUST COLLECT THE MONEY. SO, UH, THEREFORE THAT IS WHAT SHOULD MAKE US PAY LESS AND BE ABLE TO DO MORE. WE SHOULD NOT COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHER CITIES BECAUSE OTHER CITIES ARE NOT GETTING THE TYPE REVENUE THAT WE GET FROM INDUSTRY. AND THAT INDUSTRY MONEY WE GET FROM THEM. WE ARE NOT, WE ARE NOT MAINTAINING THEIR PIPES. WE'RE NOT FIXING THEIR SEWAGE. THIS IS JUST GRAVY. SO WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT MONEY, CITIZENS SHOULD BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE'RE SPENDING IT ON. AND I THINK THE WAY WE'RE GONNA GET THAT IS WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO START GIVING THE INFORMATION OUT. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO START BEING ABLE, BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS QUESTIONS AS ASKED INSTEAD OF GOING OUT THIS WAY. IN ANSWER TO THAT, WE GET A LOT OF MONEY FROM INDUSTRY. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE WATER RATES, UH, I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT THAT I SAID BEFORE, BUT WHEN, I'LL WAIT TILL WE GET THERE. I'M NOT GOING TO GO FARTHER. OKAY. BUT THAT'S JUST TO ANSWER HER QUESTION, YES, WE GET MONEY FROM THEM AND NO, IT'S NOT GOING IN THE GENERAL FUND OF REVENUE. IT GOES INTO THE WATER UTILITY. 'CAUSE THAT'S THE REVENUE THAT WE COUNT FROM WATER UTILITIES. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE GETTING ALL OF THIS MONEY, BUT WE ARE NOT PROVIDING A SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE YOU FOR WHAT WE CHARGE YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. OKAY. WE, WE DO HAVE OUR ATTORNEY ON THE LINE AND ATTORNEY JOE, WE'RE GONNA ASK, AND WHEN THE ITEM COMES UP FOR THE WATER RATE, UH, THAT WE'LL CALL ON YOU AT THAT TIME. 'CAUSE IT'S JUST A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO OUR CITIZEN AND LET THEM KNOW, UM, KIND OF WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU'VE BEEN, UM, ASSISTING US WITH IN LEADING US. AND AS WE GET CLOSER TO THAT AGENDA ITEM FOR THE WATER RIGHTS. OKAY. THANK YOU. IF YOU JUST STAY TUNED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING THERE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. ANY, ANYONE ELSE SPEAKING TO THE, UM, GO AHEAD AGAIN. UH, CITY MANAGER, YOU EXPLAINED, UH, THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE GOT A GOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT. EVERYTHING. WE AS CITIZENS, WE WANT TO HAVE A GOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT. OKAY. THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR CONCERNS IS. WHEN I CAME UP HERE EARLIER, MY CONCERN WAS HOW DO MONEY BE USED BEFORE IT'S APPROVED BY A COUNCIL? HOW DO SOMEONE GO OVER BUDGET WITHOUT COMING TO COUNCIL? THAT'S WHAT MY DISCUSSION WAS NOT ABOUT. WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE DO EVERYTHING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WHOEVER SERVES THE CITY, WE DO THE BEST. BUT MY QUESTION WAS ABOUT HOW DO YOU GO $200,000 OVER THE BUDGET WITHOUT COMING TO THE COUNCIL? OKAY. THAT'S, THAT'S MY QUESTION. AND THE, THE, THE, THE, UH, THE SITUATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I'M, I I I, I KNOW THAT INDUSTRY GIVE US MONEY, BUT SO MANY CITIZENS DON'T KNOW THAT. THEY DON'T KNOW THAT WE GET, I I HAD AT THE 90 DAY MEETING TO, TO SHOW IDAS AND HOW MUCH MONEY WE GET FROM, FROM HOW MUCH MONEY THE CITY MAKES ANNUALLY FROM, OKAY, I [01:10:01] HAD IT AT THE MEETING. SO THAT WAY WE COULD KNOW MAYOR. MAYOR. YES SIR. YOU'RE BREAKING IN. AND I'M HERE. THE MIKE. YES SIR. ASK SIR. SO PLEASE GIMME, BUT JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW. NO, NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LET ME KNOW. OKAY. I'M TALKING TO CITIZENS. YES, SIR. I TALK TO CITIZEN EVERY DAY. THEY HAD NO IDEA. THEY HAVE NO IDEA THAT INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY. YOU GOT YOUNG PEOPLE IN SCHOOL TOLD ME, ASKED ME, TOLD ME WHY DOES, WHY DID INDUSTRY DON'T DO ANYTHING FOR THE CITY? THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THE CITY GETTING 30 SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS. YES. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'SS DONE. NO, I'M TALKING MA NOW I'M TALKING, MA'AM. I UNDERSTAND. BUT STOP. I'M RUNNING THE MEETING. THANK, THANK YOU. SO, AND I'M RUNNING THE MEETING. I UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND. AND I WILL CUT IN WHEN I AM READY TO, I'M NOT ARGUING WITH YOU. CAN YOU LET ME FINISH THOUGH? YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR STATEMENT. BUT THAT AGAIN, REMEMBER I'M THE CHAIRING THE MEETING. I LOOK, I WAS UP THERE TONIGHT. I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION. OKAY. AND EVERYBODY'S POSITION UP THERE. OKAY. I'M JUST SAYING, MAYOR, CAN YOU LET ME TALK? I WILL LET YOU FINISH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO I'M SAYING THAT DUE TO THE FACT THAT CITIZENS DON'T KNOW THAT INDUSTRY IS GIVING US MONEY AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ALL GRAVY. WHAT ARE WE DOING? THAT'S THE QUESTION. OVER 20 PEOPLE WAS WITH ME THE OTHER DAY AT A GATHERING. THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THE INDUSTRY WAS GIVING US MONEY. SO I'M JUST TALKING TO YOU AND THE COUNCIL MAYOR ABOUT WHAT CITIZENS ARE SAYING. MM-HMM . THAT'S IT. I UNDERSTAND YOU TELLING ME ABOUT YOU GAVE, I UNDERSTAND THAT. I DIDN'T SAY NOBODY'S NOT BEING TRANSPARENT. I'M SAYING THE CITIZENS, A LOT OF CITIZENS DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT INDUSTRY GIVE US MONEY OVER 30 MILLION. OKAY. OKAY. YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER? YOU DONE? NO, NO. I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M TALKING. OKAY. WHO ARE YOU ASKING? BECAUSE I CAN ANSWER AS WELL. I'M, I WAS, I WAS REFERRING EVERYTHING TO THE CITY MANAGER. CITY MANAGER. DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER? NO, HE DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY MADE THE STATEMENT. I WAS OKAY. I WAS LETTING THE CITY MANAGER KNOW THAT WE ALL AS CITIZENS AGREE THAT WE WANT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO BE THE BEST. WE WANT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE THE BEST. WE WANT EVERYBODY IN WORKING FOR THE CITY TO BE THE BEST. MY QUESTION WAS NOT ABOUT DISCUSSING WHO HAVING THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT. MY QUESTION WAS JUST STRICTLY ABOUT BUDGETING. NOW THAT'S ALL I WAS TALKING ABOUT. NOW YOU MADE A STATEMENT, CITY MANAGER, THAT THERE'S TIMES WHEN YOU CAN MOVE MONEY FROM ONE PLACE TO THE OTHER. NOW, IF IT'S IN THE SAME DEPARTMENT, YOU CAN MOVE IT IN THE DEPARTMENT FROM ONE. BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE MONEY FROM ONE DEPARTMENT AND PUT IN ANOTHER DEPARTMENT. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S TRUE. OKAY. I'VE BEEN THERE NINE YEARS. THAT'S TRUE. OKAY. SO YOU NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR, CLEAR THAT IF YOU MOVE ANY MONEY, YOU MOVING IT FROM THE SAME DEPARTMENT TO ANOTHER LINE ITEM. THAT'S RIGHT. SO THIS IS CLARITY, THIS IS TRANSPARENT. THIS IS CITIZENS UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE FUNCTION OF OUR CITY GOVERNMENT. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. SO, UM, OKAY. CITY MANAGEMENT, LEMME JUST ATTEMPT ONE MORE, UM, IN VERY SIMPLISTIC FORMS AGAIN. RIGHT? OKAY. OKAY. THE, WHAT I SAID, UM, WAS THAT THE $200,000 THAT'S BEEN REFERRED TO AS COUNCILMAN SCOTT RIGHTLY SAID, IT'S NOT MONIES THAT WAS TAKEN FROM ONE DEPARTMENT TO THE NEXT DEPARTMENT. IT WAS LINE ITEMS TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO WE MUST HAVE TAKEN THE MONEY FROM PERSONNEL AND PAID IT TO OVERTIME. YOU'RE RIGHT, COUNCILMAN SCOTT. IT HAS TO, IF IT IS, IF IT IS TAKEN FROM ONE DEPARTMENT TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, YOU GO TO THE COUNCIL. BUT IF IT'S A LINE ITEM TRANSFER WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, YOU DON'T NEED TO. SO YOU'RE RIGHT. BUT YOU, YOU ASSISTED ME IN PROVIDING THAT CLARITY. SO THANK YOU. AWESOME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? YES. UM, LISTEN TO ALL Y'ALL COMMENTS. UM, THE QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKING ME, HOW DO WE GET ABOUT THE WATER AND SEWAGE RATES? WE GOTTA HAVE $15 MILLION. WE HAVE TO, TO STAY AHEAD OF THE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S LAWSUIT. THE QUESTION COMES UP, HOW, WHAT HAPPENED? HOW DID WE GET INTO THIS MESS? WHY, WHY, WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST? WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST? WE WAS A CITY OF ONE. WE ANNEXED FOUR ACRES. WE ANNEXED THE BEING PASSED. WE NOW, NOW WE'VE BECOME A CITY OF THREE ON SAME BUDGET. ONE POT. THE MONEY COMING OUT OF NOW WE GOTTA SPREAD IT OUT. THREE ADDITIONS, THREE ADDITIONAL CITIES. IT GETS WORSE. CONSOLIDATED WITH LAKEVIEW, CONSOLIDATED WITH PEARL RIDGE. WE CONSOLIDATED WITH GRIFFIN PARK. THEY WERE SEW TOO. ALL OF US AT THE SAME TIME. THE STATE OF TEXAS GOT SUED IN THE EIGHTIES. AND, AND WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH IT. SO THE MORE MONEY THAT WE GOT, IT WAS A, IT WAS A, A FEDERAL MANDATE AT [01:15:01] FIRST. 75 25, WE GOT 75% GRANT OF THE, AND WE PUT UP, WE MATCHED IT WITH 25%. THE LAWSUIT STILL STANDS TODAY. AND IT'S AN UNFUNDED MANDATE. NOW, ALL THESE OTHER CITIES THAT WE TOOK IN, WE HAVE, WE'RE FIXING NOW THEY ARE BROKEN PIPES TOO. WE CITY WITH ONE BUDGET. A CITY OF ONE IS NOW A CITY OF SIX WITH ONE BUDGET, SAME BUDGET. THINK ABOUT IT. YOU TAKING CARE OF YOUR FAMILY, YOUR HOUSEHOLD, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN AROUND YOU, A GREATER, YOUR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, THEY GOT S SIX, OTHER FIVE, OTHER DIFFERENT HOUSES. NOW YOU GOT TO SHARE YOUR RESOURCES WITH THE OTHER FAMILIES. THAT'S WHERE WE AT TODAY. AND WE, AND WE GOT TO FIND $30 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS. OR WE GONNA LOSE THIS CASE IN COURT, IN IN THE COURTHOUSE. WE'RE GONNA LOSE IT. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. IT MAY COME IN, THEY MAY COME IN AND TAKE OVER THE WATER, TAKE OVER THIS AND TAX IT. BUT WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THE COURAGE. WE NEED TO STAY AHEAD OF THE CURB AND KEEP CHIPPING AWAY AT IT. OKAY. THANK Y'ALL FOR LISTENING. UM, OKAY. WE HAVE, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY, WAIT, WAIT JUST A MOMENT. MS. JOANNE, MS. UH, WE'VE, WE'VE, MS. SANCHEZ, YOU HAD THE, THAT YOU INCLUDED WITH US. ARE THEY PAYING THE SAME AMOUNT OF WATER BILL? EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING APPLIES TO THE, ALL THESE CITIES ARE CITIZENS. MM-HMM . AND, AND THE MIC, MS. JOHN IN THE MIC. WE ALL UNDER THE SAME UMBRELLA. EVERYBODY'S PAYING AND ALL THE SENIOR CITIZEN ON THE WATER INCREASE IS NOT GONNA BE INCLUDED. ALL THE OTHER CITIES I NAMED, THEY GOT YOU DO THE PROPER PAPERWORK AND THE INCREASES WOULD NOT IMPACT YOU. BUT AS FAR AS INDUSTRY, INDUSTRY, WE DON'T PROVIDE WITH THEY ARE CUSTOMERS. THEY ARE BUYING FROM US. I WAS GOING TO, TO TO WAIT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. BUT I THINK MR. JOE, 'CAUSE WE, UM, IS HE OUR ATTORNEY'S THERE? HE CAN EXPLAIN TO US. WHY DON'T WE LET HIM GO AHEAD AND EXPLAIN IT NOW BEFORE WE GO INTO THE ITEM, WE MIGHT HOLD UP THE AGENDA. OKAY. JOE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, CAN YOU, UH, I'M SORRY. MS. SANCHEZ, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU NEED TO SAY BEFORE WE GET TO THE WATER EXPLANATION? 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD WITH OUR ATTORNEY. OKAY, JOE, YOU PREPARED AND READY TO GO? AS SOON AS SHE SPEAKS. OKAY. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY SOME ITEMS BECAUSE I'M THE FIRST, ONE OF THE, WAS WATCHING ALL THE, UM, BUDGET OF WEB, I MEAN WORKSHOPS. AND I ACTUALLY ASKED A QUESTION THAT NOBODY ANSWERED TO ME. MY QUESTION WAS, HOW WE GONNA SPEND THE $18 MILLION THAT YOU, WE JUST GOT A LOAN FOR PROPOSED. NOBODY TOLD ME IT'S PROPOSED. THREE MILLIONS FOR PARKS, TWO MILLIONS FOR A STREET. NOTHING. NOBODY ANSWERED TO ME THE QUESTION. AND ANOTHER QUESTION THAT SOMEONE DIDN'T ANSWER IS WHEN SOME CONCERT ASK QUESTION, THEY SAID, I GONNA BACK WITH YOU. I GONNA FIND INFORMATION AND BRING IT TO YOU. AND THAT'S MEAN THEY JUST GIVE IT TO YOU. BUT THE CITIZEN NEVER GOT THOSE ANSWERS EITHER. THAT SOMEBODY HAS THE ANSWER FOR ME. HOW, HOW YOU GONNA PROPOSE IT TO SPEND $18 MILLION BONDS THAT WE JUST GOT IT. UM, CITY MANAGER INSIDE. 'CAUSE YOU READY TO APPROVE IT? I THINK WE HAVE THOSE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GONNA SPEND IT. YEAH. DO YOU HAVE, DO YOU HAVE A COPY? UH, WE ALL WERE GIVEN COPIES IN THE BUDGET WORKSHOP THAT DAY, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE MISSED THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS. YES. WE WERE GIVEN OUT HAND HANDOUTS IN THAT MEETING. UM, I DON'T HAVE A COPY. NO, WE DO HAVE COPIES. PAM. WE DO HAVE COPIES. WE CAN MAKE THE BILL. DO YOU HAVE COPIES AVAILABLE? AND WE MADE THOSE COPIES AVAILABLE TO COUNCIL. YES. ALREADY WE DID. AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE READY FOR EVERYBODY. THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS. PAM, IF WE COULD GET COPIES OF THE $18 MILLION AND THEN MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHAT, WHERE THAT MONEY'S BEING SPENT. SHE HAS IN THE BACK. I GOT MINE. YES, YOU HAVE YOURS. I DON'T HAVE MINE. WE'LL GET IT FOR YOU. I HAVE A COPY. CITY MANAGER HAS A COPY RIGHT HERE. CAN YOU SAID LOUD? THAT MEAN EVERYBODY CAN, CAN HAVE THE INFORMATION. NOT ONLY ME, IT'S FIVE PAGES. THE CITIZEN, THE BRING A COPY GONNA GONNA SPEND THE MONEY. I CAN, I DON'T MIND. I CAN WE CAN PUT IT OUT LOUD. WE [01:20:01] CAN READ IT. YEAH, WE CAN READ IT. I, I'LL READ IT IF SHE HANDS IT TO ME RIGHT QUICK. ALRIGHT. OKAY. SO HERE WE GO. $18 MILLION IN BONDS. THEY HAVE ENGINEERING, THE DESIGN OF JIMMY JOHNSON BOULEVARD EXTENSION $395,000. STREET REMEDIATION AND REHAB. ONGOING $3,000,100. BRIDGE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ON NINTH AVENUE OVER P RIDGE, MAINE IS $950,000. BRIDGE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. 25TH STREET. UH, OVER DRAINAGE DITCH $500,000 STREETLIGHT REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS WOODWORTH BOULEVARD STREETSCAPE PROJECT. ROGY DESIGN REDESIGN, $500,000 RENOVATIONS TO THE FORMER GATES OFFICE BUILDING, UH, NEEDS ASSESSMENT, ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, UM, CONSTRUCTION FURNITURE FIXTURES. AND THAT IS, UM, $2,000,100 RENOVATIONS TO THE FORMER SINGULAR EYE, UM, CENTER FACILITY. 15,000 SQUARE FEET, $1,250,000 RENOVATIONS TO THE ARMORY FACILITY, WHICH IS, UM, 34 51 50 SEVENTH STREET. UM, $220,000. CITY HALL BUILDING UPGRADES IS $150,000. CITY HALL, UH, BUILDING RENOVATIONS, AUDIO VISUAL FOR THIS FIFTH FLOOR IS, UH, 'CAUSE OUR MICS DON'T WORK ALL THE TIME. $230,000. UM, RENOVATION CITY HALL, UH, ELEVATORS LOCKOUT, $80,000. UM, CITY HALL ENGINEERING DESIGN UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS 250,000. UM, RE RECONSTRUCTION OF PARKS AND REC FACILITY AND A NEEDS ASSESSMENT. 1,000,200 AND $50,000 MUNICIPAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS. UM, CITYWIDE, UH, $1,000,200 IMPROVEMENTS TO SAB BEAM PASS SPRAY PAD EQUIPMENT REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT. $200,000 DRAINAGE PUMP STATIONS. MUNICIPAL COURT, UH, MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE. $5,500,000. THAT'S A TOTAL OF $18 MILLION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE THE NUMBER TWO FIRE STATION IN THE STATE, BUT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE HYDRANTS. I HAVE BEEN REPORT FOR YEARS AND YEARS, HYDRANTS LEAKING EVERYWHERE. THEY ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AND ALL THE TIME I HEARD THE SAME THING. WE WAITING FOR, UM, FOR A GRANT. DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO PUT THE HYDRANTS ON IT, BUT WE HAVE THE NUMBER TWO, UH, FORESTATION IS LIKE, WE NEED TO HELP THE NUMBER TWO, THAT THEY CAN BE ABLE TO USE A HYDRANT WHEN THEY NEED IT. AND IT'S WHAT I KEEP SAYING IT LOOK LIKE PRIORITIES ARE NOT WORKING IN HERE. ANOTHER THING THAT I WANNA SAY IS, YOU, YOU MENTIONED A LAWSUIT BECAUSE OF BACKUP. OH, WE'RE GETTING READY TO, UH, GET AN UPDATE. YOU LEMME COMMENT ON IT. MM-HMM . WE, I FEEL LIKE BECAUSE SOMEBODY WASN'T DOING THEIR JOB PROPERLY, BECAUSE I, I, I GOT A LOT OF PHONE CALLS, PEOPLE WITH THE BACKUP ON THE YARD FOR MONTHS, FOR MONTHS, NOT ONE WEEK. AND THEY TOLD ME, WE ALREADY CALLED THIS NUMBER. WE ALREADY CALLED THIS DEPARTMENT. THEY SAY THEY'RE GONNA COME. THEY DON'T COME. IF SOMEBODY'S NOT DOING THE JOB, THEY HAVE TO CALL TSC. THEY HAVE TO REPORT TO SOMEBODY ELSE BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT LISTENING IN IT. WE NEED TO PUT MORE ATTENTION IN OUR PROBLEMS. RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS TO AVOID LAWSUITS. AND BAY LEWIS, WE HAVE, WE, YOU SAY YOU NOW WE ARE SIX, NOW YOU HAVE SIX KIDS. BUT THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE SIX KIDS, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO RECEIVE FEDERAL MONEY BECAUSE YOU HAVE OVER 50,000 PEOPLE IN THE CITY. YOU DON'T HAVE SIX KIDS. MAYBE YOU DON'T QUALIFY TO GATHER THE KIND OF FEDERAL MONEY. YOU HAVE SIX KIDS. BUT THOSE KIDS PAY PROPERTY TAXES. THAT MEAN GIVING MONEY FOR THE BUDGET. DON'T SAY THAT IT'S THE SAME BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE BECAUSE IT'S NOT, WE PAY, I'M NOT FROM PORT ARTHUR, I'M FROM PORT ACRES, BUT I PAY TAXES ON IT. I PAY WATER. SEE, THAT MEAN I PUT MONEY INTO THE BUDGET. I'M, I'M JUST SIX KIDS. BUT I PAY FOR IT. OKAY. OH, RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, UH, MR. JOE, IF YOU WOULD GO AHEAD AND, UM, GIVE US AN UPDATE. THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR. THANK YOU. SURE. MADAM MAYOR. SO AS WAS MENTIONED IN SOME OF THE EARLIER DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THE CITY'S WASTEWATER SEWER WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN, UM, I AM JOE DELA PUENTE. [01:25:01] I AM A LAWYER IN AUSTIN, UH, HIRED BY THE CITY TO REPRESENT THE CITY IN A LAWSUIT, UH, THAT WAS FILED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AGAINST THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND THE, THE, THE BASIC STORY OF THAT LAWSUIT IS, UH, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FILED SUIT AGAINST THE CITY FOR HAVING, UH, SEWAGE SPILLS AND HOW IT'S WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS, WHICH TREAT THE SEWAGE AND DISCHARGE THE WATER INTO THE WATERWAYS. THEY DO ALL THOSE THINGS BY PERMITS. AND, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS, HAS ALLEGED THAT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IS NOT FOLLOWING ITS PERMITS AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. UH, FOR, FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO, WHO MAY NOT KNOW THE, THE STATE OF TEXAS DOES HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND THEY, THEY DO PROHIBIT THINGS LIKE RELEASING RAW SEWAGE, UH, IN, INTO THE STREET AND INTO THE WATERWAYS. SO WHENEVER THERE'S A BROKEN LINE, UH, THAT, THAT RELEASED RAW SEWAGE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REPORTED TO THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. SO ONE OF THE, THE STATE AGENCIES, AND THEY THEN HAVE ENFORCEMENT POWER. THEY MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEANED UP, THEY CAN ISSUE FINES AND, UH, AND THEY HAVE THE OPTION IF THEY, IF THEY WANT TO, THROUGH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF FILING SUIT. AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE IN FEBRUARY. LAWSUIT WAS FILED. AND FUNDAMENTALLY, WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS ASKING FOR THE COURT HERE IN AUSTIN, THEY GET TO FILE IN AUSTIN. WHAT THEY'RE ASKING THE COURT TO DO IS TO ISSUE AN ORDER REQUIRING COURT ARTHUR TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, TO COMPLY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. UH, THAT, THAT HAS NOT GONE TO TRIAL YET. UH, IT ISN'T GOING TO TRIAL ANYTIME SOON. IT'S SET FOR TRIAL NEXT YEAR. BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, BY THAT PROCESS, WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WANTS TO DO IS GET AN ORDER FROM THE COURT REQUIRING THE CITY TO, TO MAINTAIN ITS SYSTEM AND OPERATE IT A CERTAIN WAY. THE CITY'S OBLIGATED TO, TO MAINTAIN ITS SYSTEM AND OPERATE IT IN A CERTAIN WAY BY THOSE LAWS AND PERMITS I MENTIONED. SO THERE IS ON SOME LEVEL A QUESTION OF, WELL, WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR THE CITY TO OPERATE ITS SYSTEM? THAT'S ALWAYS A QUESTION FOR THE CITY, WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A LAWSUIT. THE CITY HAS TO OPERATE ITS SEWER SYSTEM AND THE CITIZENS DON'T WANT SEWAGE BREAKS IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR STREETS. THEY WANT THE TOILETS TO FLUSH AND FOR IT TO GO AWAY. UH, SO THAT, THAT'S ALWAYS PART OF JUST RUNNING THE CITY. AND IT TAKES MONEY TO DO THAT. YOU HAVE TO REPLACE LIONS, YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN THEM. ALL OF THOSE THINGS GO INTO THAT. BUT NOW WE HAVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKING TO TURN WHAT THE CITY'S BUSINESS IS OF RUNNING A SEW SYSTEM INTO SOMETHING THAT IS A COURT ORDER AND TO MAKE THE CITY DO IT. AND OF COURSE, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A COURT ORDER IS THAT FOLLOWS COURT ORDER AND YOU LOSE SOME CONTROL. SO IF THE CITY ENDS UP WITH A COURT ORDER IN PLACE, THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT COURT ORDER. AND IF IT DOES NOT, THEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL GO TO THE COURT AND, AND ASK THE COURT TO ENFORCE IT AND INCLUDING ENFORCING IT AGAINST, UH, AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, THE CITY COUNCIL. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE IS, THERE IS A BASELINE DUTY OF THE CITY TO ALWAYS, UH, TO RUN ITS SEWER SYSTEM AND MAINTAIN IT AS BEST IT CAN. UM, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DEFERRED IN RECENT YEARS. UH, BUT WHEN YOU LAYER ON A LAWSUIT, THEN THE CITY NEEDS TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THAT. AND THE CITY DID IN IN, IN LOOKING AT WHAT THE CITY NEEDS TO DO TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN IT SYSTEM PROPERLY. THE CITY HIRED COUN LEGAL COUNSEL ME TO HANDLE THE LAWSUIT, BUT THEY ALSO, UH, HIRED NEWGEN STRATEGIES WHO WOULD BE DOING A PRESENTATION IN A FEW MINUTES TO TELL YOU HOW YOU CAN DO THAT WITH YOUR RATES IN WAYS THAT BALANCE YOUR OBLIGATIONS AND THE THINGS YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH. EVERY RATE INCREASE IS A RATE INCREASE. IT COULD COST MONEY, BUT THERE ARE WAYS THE CITY CAN TRY TO KEEP THAT IN A BAND, A MANAGEABLE BAND. UH, AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ERIC WILL TALK ABOUT IN THAT RESPECT THAT MAKE SURE THAT IT STAYS IN THE SAME TYPE OF AFFORDABILITY, DOESN'T JUMP UP TO A NEW CATEGORY. UM, SO BALANCING THOSE THINGS IN MIND. WE ALL HAVE TO DO THINGS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR, OF OUR HEALTH, OUR HOUSE, OUR CARS. IT COSTS MONEY. WE DO THE BEST TO MANAGE OUR BUDGETS TO DO THAT, TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF THEM WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK AND, AND SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY. WE DON'T HAVE MONEY LEFT FOR OTHER THINGS. THAT'S WHAT A CITY HAS TO DO WITH THE ZERO RATES. AND THAT'S WHAT ERIC'S PRESENTATION WILL TRY TO GET YOU TO HERE. AND, AND THOSE ARE IMPORTANT, UH, IN, IN, IN DEALING WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND ULTIMATELY THE COURT AND, AND SHOWING THAT THE CITY IS DOING THE RIGHT THING. OKAY. ATTORNEY, UH, JOE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THAT UPDATE. WE'LL, UM, AS SOON AS WE GET TO, UH, NEXT GEN, THEY'LL GIVE [01:30:01] US THE PRESENTATION ON HOW WE CAME TO, UM, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAVE HERE FOR, UM, THE PRESENTATION AND WHAT, WHERE WE HAVE TO HEAD NEXT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK JOE FOR THAT PRESENTATION. THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT. 'CAUSE I WAS CONCERNED TOO, WHEN WE SAY WE CAN'T DISCUSS IT, IT'S A LOSS OF YES WE CAN. AND AN EXPLANATION IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO. THERE WASN'T NO REASON WE COULD NOT SAY THAT. SO THAT'S WHY I'M SO APPRECIATIVE FOR THAT PRESENTATION BECAUSE DID REALLY LET THE CITIZEN KNOW WHAT WE HAD TO CONSIDER AND HOW WE DERIVED AT THAT. UNLESS YOU SAY WHAT YOU SAID, PEOPLE SAYING, OH, THEY SAY LAWSUIT. IT COULD BE ANYTHING. BUT I'M GLAD YOU EXPLAINED IT THAT WAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OF COURSE. COUNCIL MEMBER YOU SAID. THANK YOU. UM, ALRIGHT. AND WE HAVE ANY, WE'RE STILL IN A PUBLIC HEARING. I'VE ALMOST LOST TRACK OF YEAH. WHERE WE ARE. WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. UM, DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE BUDGET FOR, UH, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR OR EDC? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TOWARD THE BUDGET? ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TOWARD THE BUDGET LAST TIME? ALRIGHT. THERE IS NO ONE ELSE. COUNCILMAN GISETTE. I MAKE A MOTION TO BE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SECOND. SECOND. THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND A SECOND HAS TAKEN PLACE. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT. PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. 7 0 3. [III.A.(2) Simeon Etta, Representing Roll With It Texas Manufacturing Company LLC, Regarding The Texas Toilet Paper Factory (Part 2 of 2)] WE'RE BACK TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA AND WE STOPPED MR. SIMONA. UM, AND IF I'M GONNA SEE IF ANY COUNCILS HAVE YOU WANTED TO COMPLETE YOUR, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE YOUR PRESENTATION. WE KNOW WE KINDA RAN THROUGH THAT, BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME BACK AND HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO PRESENT TO THE COUNCIL, YOU CAN COME AND AND DO THAT AT THIS TIME, THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. UM, I DON'T, I DON'T REALLY WANT TO REALLY WANNA BOTHER HER AND DEFINITELY DISRUPT YOUR MEETING. NO, I JUST WANTED TO DISCUSS, UM, AGAIN, NO, YOU'RE ON THE AGENDA, SO YOU'RE, WE'RE GOOD. YOU'RE ON THE AGENDA. I'M ON THE AGENDA, BUT WE'VE, I WE ONLY, YOU ONLY HAD LIKE THREE MINUTES, SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY, WE WANNA GIVE YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY. AND IF COUNSELORS WANT TO RESPOND, THEY'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY SO YOU'RE NOT INTERRUPTING. YOU'RE ON THE AGENDA TO SPEAK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. UM, I, I GUESS I COULD LEAVE IT, UM, OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE REGARDING TO THE BUSINESS ITSELF OR ANYTHING I DISCUSSED IN THAT BRIEF. THREE MINUTES. UM, TO GO OVER THE BUSINESS AGAIN, IT'S A ROLE WITH IT. IT'S A MANUFACTURED COMPANY HERE IN TEXAS. WE ESTABLISHED A COMPANY IN 2025 THIS YEAR OUT IN ROSENBERG, TEXAS. MM-HMM . WE'RE LOOKING TO ESTABLISH AND EXPAND OUR BUSINESS THROUGHOUT THE TEXAS AND ALL 50 STATES. UM, MAINLY THE QUESTIONS AND ANY ANSWERS I HAVE, I HAVE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER WITH THE LIGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER. REBECCA. THANK YOU. UH, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT YOUR WEBSITE WHILE YOU WERE DOING YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION AND IT'S, IT'S REALLY LOTS OF REALLY GOOD INFORMATION. I'M FAMILIAR WITH BAMBOO PRODUCTS. I HAVE A LOT OF THEM IN MY HOME. YES, MA'AM. BUT MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, ARE YOU WANTING TO EXPAND YOUR MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES AND COME TO PORT ARTHUR? YES, EXACTLY THAT. HAVE YOU LOOKED AT ANY SITES IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN? NOTHING YET IN THIS AREA. WE'VE BEEN, I'VE VISITED THE AREA A COUPLE OF TIMES. UM, I CAME DOWN JUST LEARNING ABOUT THE MEETING, SO I KIND OF SUBMITTED INFORMATION REGARDING TO NORTH AUTHOR ITSELF. UM, WE DROVE ABOUT TWO HOURS JUST TO LOOK IN THE AREA AND SEE WHAT WAREHOUSES, BUT BASICALLY WHAT WE'LL NEED TO KIND OF ESTABLISH OUR MACHINES AND DIFFERENT, UM, OKAY. ASSEMBLY AREAS. HAVE YOU, UH, CONTACTED OUR EDC? NO, I HAVE NOT. I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT. ALSO, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THAT WOULD BE YOUR NEXT STEP IS TO CONTACT OUR E-D-C-E-D-C AND WE CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION WHILE YOU'RE HERE. IF, IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT, I THINK THAT'D BE A GREAT NEXT STEP FOR YOU, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANNA BRING YOUR MANUFACTURING HERE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY OTHER LIGHTS? UH, I THINK IT'S AN AMAZING BUSINESS. I THINK, YOU KNOW, BAMBOO TOILET PAPER. COME ON NOW. IT SOUNDS SO I GUESS GONNA BE . I I KNOW I DO TOO, SO I LOVE IT. IT IS LIKE, THAT'S BETTER THAN SHARM, HUH? GUESS ALMOST. ALMOST, ALMOST. WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH THAT LEVEL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WELL, WE, UH, WELL I'M GLAD YOU'RE CONSIDERING, UM, OUR AREA. AND SO AGAIN, AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM SAID OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE WEBSITE, I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME REPRESENTATIVES HERE IN THE, IN THE ROOM. I DON'T KNOW, YOU GO TO THE BACK THERE. SOMEBODY BACK THERE THAT MAY BE ABLE TO TALK WITH YOU BRIEFLY. THERE SHE IS. SHE'S THE CEO. SO THE, SO OUR INTERIM CEO AT LEAST YOU CAN HAVE SOME WORDS AND MAYBE GET SOME CONTACT INFORMATION SO THAT YOU CAN CONTACT THEM AND SEE HOW TO COME TO PORT ARTHUR. YES, INDEED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, EVERYONE. ALRIGHT. [01:35:01] THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT WE WILL. I'M SORRY. OH, COUNCILMAN LEWIS. I'M SORRY. OH, I JUST WANTED TO TELL HIM I APPRECIATE WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO AND BRINGING IT TO PORT ARTHUR, BUT, UH, LONG AS THEY DON'T DO ANY RECYCLING, I, I'LL BE OKAY WITH IT. OKAY. [III.B.(1) A Presentation Regarding Water And Wastewater Rates By New Gen Strategies And Solutions, LLC] OKAY. WE HAVE NOW A PRESENTATION, UH, REGARDING WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES BY NEW GEN STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS LLC. SO, UM, YOU CAN COME ON UP NOW, ERIC, AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCIL, UH, THANK YOU JOE FOR THE, THE BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF OF OF WHY WE'RE HERE. MY NAME IS ERIC COLLO. I'M A PARTNER WITH NEWGEN STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS. UH, OUR FIRM, UM, HAS DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN CONDUCTING WATER AND SEWER RATE STUDIES, NOT ONLY WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT ALSO NATIONALLY. I'VE BEEN MANAGING WATER AND SEWER RATE STUDIES FOR JUST OVER 15 YEARS. UM, FIRST THING I WANNA SAY, IT WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH, WITH YOUR STAFF IN PROVIDING US THE INFORMATION IN ORDER TO CONDUCT OUR STUDY. I HAVE A, A BRIEF PRESENTATION HERE FOR YOU TONIGHT. UH, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE, THE BACKGROUND OF OUR STUDY AND OUR OBJECTIVES. UH, WHEN CONDUCTING THE STUDY, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT, UM, HOW WE DEFINE AFFORDABILITY. ONE OF THE KEY THINGS WE LOOKED AT WAS WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO KEEP YOUR RATES AFFORDABLE? AND THE FINAL THING IS, IS GETTING TO OUR RATE RECOMMENDATION, THE BASIS FOR THAT RECOMMENDATION AND THE CONDITION OF THE CITY'S UTILITY FUND. AS JOE HAD HAD MENTIONED, UM, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, UM, YOU HAD A DISCUSSION ON THE UTILITY FUND AND THE CONDITION OF FINANCIALLY, THE CONDITION OF THE FUND. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE UTILITY FUND DID NOT HAVE ANY FUNDING FOR PLANNED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THAT'S REPLACING PIPES, REPLACING METERS, FIXING EMERGENCIES, FIXING LEAKS. THE UTILITY FUND HAD ZERO FUNDING FOR THAT IN THIS 2025 FISCAL YEAR. AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE END OF THIS MONTH, ESSENTIALLY IT IS FORECASTED THAT THE UTILITY FUND WILL HAVE A OPERATING BUDGET DEFICIT OF $5.5 MILLION. THAT IS $5.5 MILLION THAT YOU HAD TO SPEND, THAT YOU DIDN'T GENERATE IN, IN, IN REVENUE. THE CAPITAL FUND DEFICIT WILL BE JUST OVER $8 MILLION. SO COMBINED SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF $13 MILLION DEFICIT AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. THE GENERAL FUND DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO FUND THESE DEFICITS. UM, AND IN GENERAL, AS, AS THE DISCUSSION HAD HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY, OUR PERSPECTIVE AS THE UTILITY FUND NEEDS TO BE ENTIRELY SELF-SUPPORTING. NO CITY TAXES SHOULD GO TO THE GENERAL FUND, OR EXCUSE ME, TO THE UTILITY FUND TO SUPPORT THE WATER AND WASTEWATER OPERATIONS. OUR STUDY IS BASED ON, ON THAT ASSUMPTION. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION IN THE UTILITY FUND, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, $7.6 MILLION HAS COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT THE YIELD UTILITY FUNDS, CAPITAL PROJECTS. BECAUSE THOSE FUNDS WERE NOT AVAILABLE IN THE UTILITY FUND, THIS MONEY WILL NOT BE REPAID. NONE OF THE RATES THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING IS GOING TO REPAY THAT $7.6 MILLION. WE ARE JUST LOOKING AT BRINGING THE UTILITY FUND CURRENT AND SUSTAINABLE. AS JOE MENTIONED, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FILED ITS LAWSUIT EARLIER THIS YEAR IN FEBRUARY. AND THAT LAWSUIT WAS AGAIN FOCUSED ON THE OPERATION, PARTICULARLY OF THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM. AND I THINK JOE PROVIDED A, A GREAT BACKGROUND OF, OF WHAT'S NEEDED THERE. SO WHAT WERE OUR OBJECTIVES? YOU ENGAGED US TO LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT YOUR WATER AND SEWER UTILITY FUNDS. WE NEED TO SPEND THE MONEY TO RUN AND REPLACE AND REHABILITATE THESE SYSTEMS. SO OUR STUDY IS BASED ON THIS FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET. IT WITH COSTS INCREASING AT, AT LEAST FROM PREVIOUS COSTS. THE MOST RECENT CPI REPORTS, WHICH IS 5.3%. IT IS A REALITY THAT YOUR COSTS ARE GOING TO BE INCREASING IN THE FUTURE. AND WE'VE ACCOUNTED FOR THAT. WE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT YOUR RATES ENABLE YOU TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE CAPITAL NEEDS OF PARTICULARLY THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM. WE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU ARE GENERATING THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. RELATIVE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S LAWSUIT I MENTIONED THE UTILITY FUND IS IN A DEFICIT. WE [01:40:01] WANT TO BRING THAT DEFICIT NOT ONLY TO ZERO, BUT TO A, A REASONABLE MINIMUM FUND BALANCE. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT RIGHT NOW. YOU, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE ZERO SAVINGS. YOU ARE, YOU HAVE NEGATIVE FUND BALANCE. WE WANNA BRING THAT UP OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. THESE RATES ALLOW YOU TO DO THAT OVER A PERIOD. WE MUST ENSURE THAT ESSENTIAL WATER USE REMAINS AFFORDABLE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. SO WE LOOKED AT THAT AS A, AS A PARTICULAR ANALYSIS WHEN MAKING THIS RECOMMENDATION. AND AGAIN, THIS IS A BALANCING ACT. THESE THINGS ARE IN COMPETITION WITH EACH OTHER AND WE TRIED TO LOOK AT IT FROM ALL SIDES. WHEN WE LOOK AT LOCAL AFFORDABILITY, WE HAVE TO DEFINE WHAT SERVICE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS CALLED IN THE INDUSTRY, ESSENTIAL OR BASIC SERVICE. THIS IS INDOOR WATER USE. THIS IS COOKING, CLEANING, BATHING, THINGS LIKE THAT. WE DEFINE THAT AS 3,500 GALLONS PER MONTH, WHICH FOR YOUR TYPICAL HOUSEHOLD SIZE IN HERE IN PORT ARTHUR IS ABOUT 43 GALLONS PER PERSON PER DAY. THAT'S ESSENTIAL WATER USE. THE INDUSTRY HAS A FRAMEWORK IN WHICH WE EVALUATE AFFORDABILITY. THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS TO THAT. THE FIRST IS CALLED THE HOUSEHOLD BURDEN INDICATOR. THAT IS WHAT PERCENT IN TERMS OF DOLLARS DOES THAT BASIC SERVICE COST AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS IN THE LOWEST 20% INCOME BRACKET? HOW MUCH ARE THESE HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING ON WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE AS A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR INCOME? THAT'S ONE OF THE THE FACTORS WE LOOKED AT. THE OTHER IS CALLED THE POVERTY PROVIDENCE INDICATOR. LOOKING AT YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE AREA, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLDS ARE AT OR BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE. AND THAT INFLUENCES OUR EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF YOUR WATER RATES ON YOUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THIS TABLE HERE SHOWS BOTH THE POVERTY PREVALENCE INDICATOR AND THE HOUSEHOLD BURDEN INDICATOR. BECAUSE OF PORT ARTHUR'S POVERTY PREVALENCE INDICATOR, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN THIS GREATER THAN 35% BOX HERE, MEANING WHATEVER RATES YOU CHARGE ARE GOING TO BE IN THE MODERATE TO HIGH BURDEN CATEGORY SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF YOUR SERVICE AREA. SO IN DOING OUR STUDY, WE WANTED TO KEEP YOU IN THAT MODERATE HIGH BURDEN AND NOT INCREASE THAT BURDEN TO THE HIGH BURDEN, WHICH IS ABOVE 10%. WE WANTED, WE WANTED, EXCUSE ME, WHICH IS ABOVE 7%. WE WANTED TO KEEP THE COST FOR THIS CLASS OF CUSTOMERS, FOR THIS GROUP OF CUSTOMERS BELOW THAT 7% TARGET. AND THEREFORE KEEPING YOU IN THIS BOTTOM BOX HERE, MODERATE TO HIGH BURDEN. THE SECOND AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABILITY METRIC WE LOOKED AT, BECAUSE WE KNOW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT, THIS IS A STATEWIDE COMPARISON. THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE DOES A WATER AND WASTEWATER RATE SURVEY EACH YEAR AND THEY PUBLISH THE SURVEY AND THAT USING THAT SURVEY, WE KNOW WHAT A TYPICAL USER PAYS ACROSS THE STATE FOR 5,000 GALLONS A MONTH OF WATER AND SEWER SERVICE. WHAT WE DO WITH OUR ANALYSIS IS COMPARE YOUR COST AT THAT LEVEL WITH THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE. WHERE DO YOU FALL? DO YOU FALL ABOVE OR BELOW THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE FOR SERVICE AT 5,000 GALLONS PER MONTH? WHICH LEADS ME TO OUR RATE RECOMMENDATION, GIVEN THE FUNDAMENTAL REALITY OF THE UTILITY FUND BEING IN A $13 MILLION DEFICIT AND A ALMOST $800,000 OPERATING DEFICIT, UM, CASHFLOW WISE. RIGHT? YOUR YOUR, YOUR CURRENT BUDGET IS GONNA BE DEFICIENT ABOUT $800,000. WHAT THIS RECOMMENDATION DOES IS GENERATE REVENUE SUFFICIENT TO MEET YOUR OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENSES. IT BRINGS THE FUND TO MEETING THOSE EXPENSES THROUGH RATES ONLY. NO SUPPORT FROM CITY TAXES, NO SUPPORT FROM OTHER OUTSIDE REVENUES. WE INCLUDE $3 MILLION PER YEAR FOR EMERGENCIES. THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU DO NOT PLAN FOR. THESE ARE WHEN PIPES BREAK IN THE STREET AND YOU HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND FIX THEM TO KEEP YOUR SYSTEM RUNNING. WE'VE INCLUDED THAT IN ADDITION TO YOUR, YOUR, UM, OPERATING BUDGET. WE WILL ELIMINATE THE OPERATING FUND BUDGET WITHIN THREE YEARS. THIS RATE INCREASE DOES NOT GET YOU A POSITIVE OPERATING FUND AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 26. IT MOVES YOU TOWARDS POSITIVE, BUT IT DOESN'T GET YOU THERE. IT WILL TAKE YOU THREE YEARS TO GET YOU THERE. AND AS A REMINDER, THAT'S THE, THE $5.5 MILLION. IT [01:45:01] TAKES YOU THREE YEARS TO RECOVER THAT DEFICIT OF $5.5 MILLION. HOWEVER, IT ELIMINATES THE CAPITAL FUND DEFICIT OF OVER $8 MILLION. YOU DO THAT WITH NEW DEBT. THIS ASSUMES YOU ISSUE NEW DEBT IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR TO SATISFY THAT $8 MILLION DEFICIT. AND YOU ALSO ISSUE $10 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL DEBT ON TOP OF THAT TO BEGIN DEMONSTRATING THE CAPITAL THAT YOU ARE MEETING THE CAPITAL NEEDS OF YOUR SYSTEM. SO WITH THAT FISCAL YEAR 2026 INCREASE OF 20%, WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS BRINGING THE OPERATING REVENUES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE SYSTEM AND WE ARE ELIMINATING THE CAPITAL DEFICIT AND WE ARE DEMONSTRATING THAT WE ARE SPENDING $10 MILLION ON THIS SYSTEM IN AN EFFORT TO ALLEVIATE THE, THE ISSUES BROUGHT UP IN THE LAWSUIT. LOOKING FORWARD, I KNOW WE'RE DISCUSSING JUST 2026. 2026 IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY WHEN IT COMES TO OPERATING AND OWNING THIS SYSTEM. WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT THERE WILL BE A MINIMUM NEED, UM, IN FISCAL YEAR 27 OF 5.7%. AGAIN, THAT'S A MINIMUM AND THAT IS SUBJECT TO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, PARTICULARLY THE LAWSUIT WITH THE STATE'S ATTORNEY THAT THAT'S STILL IN, IN FLUX AND I'M SURE JOE WILL WILL HAVE, UM, SOME BACKGROUND OF WHAT THAT MAY LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER, FROM OUR ANALYSIS, INCLUDING $10 MILLION ADDITIONAL WOULD REQUIRE THAT INCREASE NEXT YEAR. HOWEVER, TONIGHT WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT INITIAL 20%. ALL THAT DOES IS GET YOU OUT OF YOUR EXISTING DEFICIT. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE RESULTING DOLLAR IMPACT ON YOUR CUSTOMER OF THAT 20% INCREASE. THIS TOP TABLE SHOWS THE MONTHLY WATER AND SEWER BILL FOR THAT ESSENTIAL SERVICE LEVEL 3,500 GALLONS PER MONTH. CURRENTLY THAT CUSTOMER PAYS $74 PER MONTH, APPROXIMATELY $74 PER MONTH. THIS 5.6% INCREASE WAS THE RATE INCREASE THAT YOU ADOPTED EARLIER. THIS, THIS YEAR IN APRIL. THE ADDITIONAL 20% RATE INCREASE IN FISCAL YEAR 26 WOULD BE A MONTHLY IMPACT ON THAT CUSTOMER OF $14 AND 87 CENTS PER MONTH. YOU CAN SEE WITHIN THE LOCAL AFFORDABILITY EVALUATION, THIS MAINTAINS YOUR RATES FOR THIS ESSENTIAL LEVEL OF SERVICE WITHIN THAT MODERATE HIGH BURDEN CATEGORY, WHICH AGAIN, IS THE MINIMUM CATEGORY THAT YOU CAN MEET WITH ANY RATE, THE CURRENT STATEWIDE AVERAGE BILL COMPARED TO THE PORT ARTHUR BILL AT 5,000 GALLONS PER MONTH OF SERVICE, YOUR BILL IS CURRENTLY ABOUT 13% LESS FOR THAT CUSTOMER WHEN COMPARED TO THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE. UNDER THE 20% RATE INCREASE SCENARIO, WE ESTIMATE THAT YOU WOULD BE WITHIN ABOUT 1% LESS OF THAT STATEWIDE AVERAGE. THIS RATE INCREASE IN 2020 OR 2026, EXCUSE ME, ALLOWS YOU NOT ONLY TO SATISFY THE CURRENT DEFICITS IN THE SYSTEM, BUT TO BEGIN DEMONSTRATING THAT YOU WERE BUILDING IN THE CAPACITY TO FUND FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS. AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE. I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS. ALRIGHT. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW. OKAY, THANK YOU. AND YOU SAID ABOUT $14, 14 $15. GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE. I KNOW THIS IS A, THIS IS THE ONLY SLIDE ANYBODY CARES ABOUT. YES, OF COURSE, OF COURSE. SO, UH, ABOUT $14, $15 TO IMPACT TO A HOUSEHOLD. AND, AND JUST FOR CLARITY, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS COUNCIL, THIS IS A DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR THIS COUNCIL, BUT WE INHERITED THIS FROM PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT, RIGHT. IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. IT WAS A BUILDUP OVER AT LEAST NINE YEARS. RIGHT? THE YEAH. THOSE RESULTING DEFICITS HA ARE ARE BUILT UP OVER TIME. CORRECT. RIGHT, RIGHT. SO THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION AND HARD SITUATION FROM ME PERSONALLY BECAUSE I DID QUESTION YOU ABOUT SOME THINGS AND THE EXACT, UH, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES AND NOT ORANGES TO APPLES. OKAY? AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO I JUST WANTED THAT FOR THE RECORD TO BE STATED. IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. IT, IT TOOK A, A LONG TIME TO BUILD UP WHERE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION LIKE THIS AND, AND, AND BECAUSE OF THIS LAWSUIT, UH, OUR HANDS ARE TIED BASICALLY. RIGHT? AND I'M, I'M, I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE, THE SENIOR DISCOUNT. 'CAUSE I, I, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT. RIGHT? WE ARE ALSO INCREASING THE SENIOR DISCOUNT PROPORTIONAL WITH THE RATE INCREASE TO ACCOMMODATE. SO, SO THOSE CUSTOMERS, THE DISCOUNT THAT THEY RECEIVE WILL INCREASE INCREASE AS THE RATES INCREASE UNDER OUR, [01:50:01] ON OUR ANALYSIS. YES. THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU FOR SO MUCH FOR CLARIFYING THAT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE , THANK YOU. AND I MAY SAY THE SAME COMMENT FOR JOE. UH, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT YOU BEFORE TODAY. SO THE CUSTOMERS WOULD'VE KNOWN ALL HIS INFORMATION. I THINK WE'D HAVE MOVED ON FARTHER AND THAT'S SOMETHING LESSONS LEARNED ABOUT FOR COUNCIL. SO I WON'T BE AROUND, BUT NEXT YEAR WHEN WE START TALKING AND WATER UTILITIES, WE NEED TO BRING IT FORWARD. BUT LET ME BREAK THIS DOWN TO LAYMAN TERMS. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT YOU PRESENTED TODAY AND WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING FOR THE LAST THREE, FOUR YEARS. THE DIFFERENCE IS THE RISK OF BURDEN. OKAY? NO ONE EVER TALKED ABOUT RISK OF BURDEN. WHAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN, CITIZENS BEING HERE, WE NEED TO HAVE THIS AMOUNT EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS. FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. BUT YOUR RACE WAS BASED UPON THE MEDIAN INCOME OF THIS PARTICULAR CITY, NOT OTHER CITIES. OKAY? AND YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. YOU'RE TELLING US, I'M GONNA PUT Y'ALL UP AT THIS LEVEL IF YOU ALL DO THIS, AND THEN FROM THIS LEVEL, IT'S ONLY GONNA BE THIS AMOUNT. MM-HMM . SO ALTHOUGH YOU'RE PAYING 14 NOW, YOU'RE GONNA BE DOING FIVE. NOW YOU DIDN'T SHOW FY 28, BUT THAT CAUGHT MY EYES ALSO THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT, BECAUSE YOU ARE MONITORING THE RISK BURDEN YOU ALSO HAD WHEREBY WE CONTINUE, IT MAY GO INTO A HIGH, I MEAN A RISK BURDEN THAT IS HIGH AT THAT TIME, COUNCIL AND CITIZENS WOULD UNDERSTAND. WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT TRYING TO RAISE THIS RATE BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO GET INTO HIGH BURDEN. HIGH RISK BURDEN. HIGH RISK BURDEN SAYING WE ARE NOT PUTTING TOO MUCH LOAD ON OUR CITIZENS BASED ON THE AFFORDABILITY FOR THIS CITY, OKAY? AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. SO THAT'S WHY I WAS ABLE TO ACCEPT WHAT WAS PRESENTED BASED WITH YOUR STUDY. 'CAUSE THE STUDY WE HAD, NOBODY TALKED ABOUT RISK BURDEN. RISK BURDEN. TO ME, YOU INCORPORATE A SYSTEM ON HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT ON CITIZENS. OKAY? AND THAT'S WHAT CITIZENS NEED TO UNDERSTAND. YOU KNOW, AND I'VE, I TALKED ABOUT WAYS THAT MAYBE WE COULD DO SOMETHING, UH, WITH, WITH THE 20% AND UH, THAT WAY WE COULD DON'T HAVE TO GO THAT HIGH, BUT WE COULD ACHIEVE THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY. BUT AFTER YOUR EXPLANATION, I FIND OUT THAT'S DUMB. YES. BECAUSE IF WE PUT IN MONEY THIS YEAR TO REDUCE THAT 20% TO 10%, IT MAY HELP THEM. BUT THEN NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU ADD THAT 5%, THEY ACTUALLY BE GOING TO BE GETTING 15%, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT. TO ACCOMPLISH WHERE WE'RE GOING. SEE, THAT'S WHAT CITIZENS NEED TO UNDERSTAND. THAT'S LAYMAN TERMS TO LET THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THIS STUDY HAS TAKEN CARE OF HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT ON THEM. YOU'RE GIVING US A TOOL MM-HMM . TO SEE. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE RISK BURDEN BEING MODERATE. IDEAL IS LOW, BUT WHEN WE GOT THE ISSUES WE HAVE, THE IDEAL IS MODERATE. KNOWING WE GOTTA DO A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, NOT GOING HERE TO TRY TO GET TO WHERE WE WANT TO GO, BUT WE PUTTING THE BURDEN ON OUR CITIZENS. SO I THINK THAT'S THE THING THAT THE CITIZENS, UH, SHOULD GET OUT OF THIS WHETHER THEY ACCEPT IT OR NOT. BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER, YOUR PLAN AND YOUR REP RECOMMENDATION IS NOT BASED ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO. WHAT YOU GAVE US IS NOT BASED ON NO, UH, ATTORNEY GENERAL'S LAWSUIT. WHAT YOU GAVE US IS SOMETHING TO GET US BACK ON TRACK TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT CITIZENS NEED AND NOT BE INDEBTED AND LET US KNOW WE'RE NOT PUTTING IT ALL ON THEM. AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE GOT A A, A METHOD THAT IF WE DID GET THERE, THIS METHOD WOULD TELL US, HEY, YOU HIGH BACK UP AND THAT'S WHEN WE SHOULD TAKE THE [01:55:01] APPROPRIATE ACTION. SO ONCE AGAIN, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION. I ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE YOU HIT THE KEY THINGS, THE KEY POINTS THAT I'M INTERESTED IN. ONE, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PORT ARTHUR? THAT'S THE FIRST THING. THE SECOND THING IS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP IT WHAT WE SHOULD FOR OUR PEOPLE, NOT WHAT THEY DO IN THE COMPARING CITIES. OKAY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIC. OKAY. I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER EVER. AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK. THANK YOU ERIC. YOU CAN CONTINUE. I THINK THEY MAY. COUNCIL MEMBER EVER FIELD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UM, AMAZING PRESENTATION. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WHEN YOU DID SHARE THIS WITH US. UM, WEEK BE LAST WEEK OR WEEK BEFORE LAST YEAR IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT SIMPLE, KEEPING IT PLAIN FOR US. BUT I DO WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS INFORMATION WAS SHARED WITH US, UM, APPROXIMATELY AUGUST OF LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE INSTRUCTED THAT WE NEEDED TO INCREASE OUR WATER RATES APPROXIMATELY 15% AT THAT TIME. AND, UM, COUNCIL DECIDED NOT TO DO THAT. THEY VOTED NOT TO DO IT. AND THAT WOULD'VE BEEN, UM, PUTTING US A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU KNOW, FURTHER AHEAD OF THE GAME NOW BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO THAT, THEN WE HAVE THIS APPROXIMATE 20% INCREASE. I KNOW THAT SOME CITIZENS HAVE ASKED ABOUT, WELL, HOW MUCH WEIGHT IS INDUSTRY, UM, HOLDING IN THIS? AND HOW MUCH, UM, ARE THEY ABLE TO ASSIST US WITH THIS? WELL, INDUSTRY ONLY GIVES US APPROXIMATELY, UM, LIKE 30% OF THE TOTAL REVENUE. SO WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF THE BURDEN TO BEAR, TO KEEP TO, TO HELP GET US BACK ON TRACK. SO THIS IS, THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HEARD THIS. SO I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT COUNSEL IS NOW PUTTING, UM, IN PLACE THE STRATEGIES THAT WE NEED TO DO TO BE ABLE TO HELP REBUILD AND SUSTAIN OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS IS A ABSOLUTE MUST THAT WE HAVE TO DO THIS. AND SO I'M, I'M ENCOURAGING COUNSEL TO PLEASE LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. YES, THE AG IS WATCHING, BUT WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE AG WAS WATCHING OVER A YEAR AGO. SO, UM, I WANT US TO CON, I WANNA ENCOURAGE US TO STAY ON TRACK WITH THIS AND TAKE ADVICE THAT'S BEEN GIVEN TO US FROM OUR LEGAL COUNSEL. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK. I SIMPLY WANT TO DITTO EVERYTHING THAT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN EVER FEEL JUST SAID. SHE TOOK ALL OF, UM, MY COMMENTS AND, UH, SHE, UH, STATED THEM SUCCINCTLY. I, UH, DO WANT TO THANK, UH, DR. HANEY AND CALVIN MATTHEWS AND THAT ENTIRE STAFF AS WELL AS LYNN, ALL OF YOU, UH, AND, UM, THE, UM, CITY MANAGER AS WELL. UM, YOU SOUNDED THE ALARM, UH, A YEAR AGO. YOU TOLD US, UH, THAT THE CALVARY WAS NOT COMING TO SAVE US, AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE THIS STEP. AND I'M GRATEFUL TODAY THAT THE COUNCIL, UH, WHATEVER IT TAKES THAT WE NOW SEE, UH, THAT, UH, THIS IS NECESSARY THAT WE CAN PROVIDE FOR OUR CITIZENS WHAT THEY DESERVE. YOU DESERVE A CITY WHERE EXCREMENT IS NOT IN YOUR YARD. YOU DESERVE A CITY WHERE, UH, A FECES IS NOT COMING BACK, UH, UP INTO YOUR BATHTUBS. YOU DESERVE A CITY, UH, THAT MEETS THE NEEDS THAT YOU HAVE. AND SOMETIMES THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE THINGS. THOSE THINGS ARE NEEDED, THOSE THINGS ARE NECESSARY. UH, AND SO YOU CAN'T KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, UH, UM, CONTINUALLY. YOU HAVE TO BITE THE BULLET. YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE AND THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE AND THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY. AND I KNOW THAT MANY TIMES, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS IN TRANSPIRES IS THAT WE MAKE DECISIONS BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT PEOPLE AND WE CARE ABOUT SENIOR CITIZENS. WE, AND WE SHOULD, WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE LEAST OF THOSE AMONG US, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TAKEN CARE OF. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE CITY AND YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS THAT ARE TOUGH SOMETIMES THAT MIGHT NOT [02:00:01] ALLOW YOU TO SIT BACK AT THIS DAY BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL BE UPSET WITH YOU BECAUSE THEIR WATER BILLS HAVE BEEN INCREASED AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. YOU CAN'T MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, YOU CAN'T MAKE THESE DECISIONS BASED ON THAT. YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE THE DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AND HOW IT IS GOING TO AFFECT OUR CITY FOR THOSE EVEN PERHAPS, OR WHO ARE YET UNBORN. AND SO NOW THIS GENERATION, INDIVIDUALS IN OUR CITY NOW GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS INCREASE. AND THIS INCREASE IS HERE. IT'S NOT OUR DECISION TO DO THAT. WE WISH THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO DO IT, BUT IT'S MANDATED NOW NECESSARY NOW, UH, AS THE MAYOR DID SAY IT'S NECESSARY BECAUSE TO NOT DO IT MEANS THAT, UM, UM, WE, WE, WE WILL HAVE TO BEAR THE BURDENS, UH, CRIMINALLY. AND SO WE HAVE TO DO THIS. AND WE ARE, WE ARE HOPING THAT, UM, ALL WILL FAREWELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, ERIC, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION, JOE. THANK YOU. UM, BUT I WILL SAY, UM, AS I CLOSE OUT THIS, 'CAUSE I GET TO SPEAK LAST, IS THAT, UM, I COULD GO BEYOND. UM, LAST YEAR I WASN'T ON COUNCIL FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. I COULD GO WAY BACK TO 2019. UM, WHEN WE HAD A PRESENTATION, UM, RIGHT BEFORE COVID OR DURING COVID, AND THIS SAME PRESENTATION, UM, TOLD US THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT IT WAS FAILING. AND THEY, UM, RECOMMENDED THAT THROUGH A WATER STUDY WASTEWATER STUDY, THAT WE WOULD RAISE OUR RATES ON OUR CITIZENS. WE DID IT ONE TIME. I FEEL LIKE I FAILED THE CITIZENS BECAUSE ON THE TIME, AT THE TIME I WAS ON COUNCIL AND, UH, WHEN COVID CAME, WE DID NOT INCREASE THE WATER RATES. AT LEAST THREE, THREE OF THOSE, THEY, THEY HAD STATED FIVE INCREASES. WE ONLY DID ONE. AND SO I FEEL LIKE I FAILED AS A COUNCIL PERSON AT THE TIME, SITTING RIGHT HERE IN THIS SEAT THAT I FAILED THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR. BUT WHEN COVID CAME, WE COULDN'T SEE OURSELVES CHARGING, UM, OUR CITIZENS FOR, AND I THINK CITIZENS NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN. IT, IT HAS BEEN OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. AND SO YOU NEED THE, YOU WANT, WE, WE NEED TO GIVE YOU THE FULL STORY. AND I DID NOT VOTE FOR THE SECOND INCREASE BECAUSE I TOO WAS AT HOME LIKE YOU ALL WERE AT AND DURING COVID AND WE COULD NOT, UH, I COULDN'T BEAR SEEING THE BURDEN OF A RATE INCREASE DURING THAT TIME. AND SO WE DIDN'T DO IT FOR THAT WHOLE ENTIRE YEAR AND WE NEVER REALLY CAME BACK AND ADDRESSED THAT WATER INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE. SO I BLAME MYSELF AT THAT POINT. BUT I DO WANT THAT FOR THE RECORD. ERIC, THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE IT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO JUST GETTING OUR CITY TO BE BETTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I APPRECIATE YOU FLYING BACK DOING THAT PRESENTATION. WE WERE JUST HERE NOT EVEN A WEEK AGO WHEN WE ALL LEARNED THE SAME THING WITH YOU, JOE. UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TO HELP US TO, UH, UH, BEAR THE BURDEN OF, OF ALL, OF WHAT WE HAVE TO FACE AS CITIZENS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. UM, AT THIS TIME [VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 24508 - A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Contracts Between Its Third - Party Administrator (Administrative Services Only) For The City Of Port Arthur Group Medical, Dental Insurance, Basic Life, Basic Accidental Death And Dismemberment, And Excess Loss Indemnity With Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Texas, Inc. Fund No: 614 (Health Insurance Fund)] I'M GONNA MO UM, COUNSEL, I'M GONNA MOVE AN ITEM UP. WE HAVE, UM, OUR MICKEY, UM, MOSER HERE WITH THE CITY. HE NEEDS TO CA GET BACK TO DALLAS. WE'RE GONNA MOVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON PAGE SEVEN UP AND THEN WE'LL GO TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION. UH, GO TO NUMBER FOUR ON SEVEN. IT'S PR NUMBER 2 4 5 0 8. IT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED AND A CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS BETWEEN ITS THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ONLY FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR GROUP, MEDICAL, DENTAL, INSURANCE, BASIC LIFE, BASIC DENTAL, DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT AND EXCESS LOSS INDEMNITY WITH BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS INCORPORATED FUND NUMBER 6 1 4 HEALTH INSURANCE FUND. GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SECOND. I HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVEN RESOLUTION PASSES. MICKEY, YOU CAN LEAVE. THANK, THANK YOU. AT [III.B.(2) A Presentation By Mayor Pro Tem Doucet Regarding The Misappropriation Of City Funds (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Doucet)] THIS TIME, I'M GONNA GO BACK, UM, IN OUR AGENDA, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY MAYOR PRO TEM ETT REGARDING THE MISAPPROPRIATION OF CITY FUNDS, UM, REQUESTED BY MAYOR PRO TEM ETT LINDSEY. YOU GOT THAT? LET'S SEE. GOTTA BRING IT UP. DID I DO THE, I'M GOING BACK TO PRESENTATIONS. OKAY. JUST POINT TOWARD [02:05:05] I CAN FRA YOUR LIGHT IS ON. YES MA'AM. I'M SORRY. OH, OKAY. YOU GOT IT ON HIS SCREEN. IT IS OVER THERE. OKAY. THEY POPPED UP. NOW. OKAY. TODAY I'M GONNA DO THIS, UH, MIS MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS AND I'M GOING TO, UH, AIM IT TOWARDS STREET PROGRAM. BUT IT, THERE'S OTHER AREAS I COULD HAVE, UH, GAVE SO MANY EXAMPLES, BUT, UH, IF I'D DONE IT, I'D BEEN TILL TOMORROW AND THEY ONLY GOT 20 MINUTES. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WATCHING THEY WATCH. SO SOME THIS PRESENTATION IS FOR CITIZENS. I WILL MAKE SURE THAT I POST A, UH, SLIDE ON THE THING. SO YOU COULD GO BACK AND REVIEW IT. AND WHEN YOU REVIEW IT, YOU WILL THEN SEE REFERENCES. AND WHEN YOU SEE A REFERENCE, THEN YOU CAN REFER TO IT. I WANT YOU TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THESE THINGS AND YOU WILL FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF WHETHER WE ARE MISAPPROPRIATION OR NOT. OKAY. THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE A PURPOSE DEFINITION. HOW TO DETERMINE IF FUNDS ARE MISAPPROPRIATED. EXAMPLES AND ACTIONS THAT MAY BE TAKEN TO ELIMINATE MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS AND CONCLUSION. OH MAN. OKAY. THE PURPOSE IS SIMPLY TO FARM CITIZENS OF MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION OF MISAPPROPRIATION AND PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF MISAPPROPRIATION. PROVIDE INFORMATION ON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING NECESSARY ACTIONS TO CORRECT THE MISAPPROPRIATIONS AND WHAT ACTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO CITIZENS IF ACTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE STREET PROGRAM, IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND IF WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY CORRECTLY, THE FIRST THING CITIZENS MUST UNDERSTAND IS WHY WAS THE PLAN ADOPTED? IT WAS ADOPTED TO BRING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, ELIMINATE POLITICS TO ALLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BETTER RESPOND TO CITIZENS WITHIN THEIR DISTRICTS. ALLOW FOR MONEY TO BE APPROPRIATED WITH RESPECTS TO THE CITY AS OPPOSED TO POLITICS AND GOOD OLD BOY SYSTEM. ALLOW FOR BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND MONITORING. REMEMBER THOSE TWO WORDS? ACCOUNTABILITY AND MONITORING. OKAY, WHAT IS THE PLAN ADOPTED? I'M NOT GONNA READ ALL OF THIS AND I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH THAT ONE, BUT YOU COULD BRING IT UP AND YOU WILL SEE WHY THAT PLAN WAS ADOPTED AND WHAT IS THE PLAN. WE HAVE VIDEOS AND ALSO WE COULD DO IT MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS. SEE, WHEN I SAY MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS, THE FIRST THING SOMEBODY SAYS THEY TAKING MONEY. OH, HE SAID, WE STEALING MONEY. NO, MISAPPROPRIATION IT. THE DEFINITION IS THE UNAUTHORIZED OR IMPROPER USE OF SOMEONE ELSE. MONEY OR ACCESS. OFTEN FOR PERSONAL GAIN OR BENEFIT. THIS OCCURS IN VARIOUS CONTEXTS. ONE IS EMBEZZLEMENT. A PERSON ENTRUSTED WITH MANAGING FUNDS LIKE AN ACCOUNTANT OR TREASURER, USING THEM FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL GIFT. THAT'S A FORM OF MISAPPROPRIATION. THE SECOND ONE, YOU SEE ALL THOSE CAPITAL LETTERS, THAT'S THE ONE I'M GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT. THAT ONE IS FINANCIAL. FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT. IT'S DEFINED AS FUNDS ARE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OTHER THAN THE INTENDED USE. IN OTHER WORDS, MONEY IS ALLOCATED FOR THIS PURPOSE, BUT YOU'RE USING IT FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE. AND THE LAST METHOD IS THEFT. THAT'S DIRECT THEFT FOR FUNDS FROM AN ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OR AN INDIVIDUAL. SO KEEP IN MIND I'M NOT HERE SAYING SOMEBODY'S EMBEZZLING MONEY. SOMEBODY'S STEALING MONEY. 'CAUSE MOST OF THE COMMENTS I SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, MOST COMMENTS I HEAR FROM CITIZENS, THEY'RE TAKING THE MONEY. THEY PUTTING THE MONEY IN THEIR POCKET. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. THEY STEALING. NO, THEY [02:10:01] KNOW THAT MONEY IS BEING USED, BUT THEY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY WE DON'T SEE IT OUT HERE. WHY THEY NOT REFLECTING IT OUT HERE. WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY, BUT WHY WE DON'T SEE IT? WELL, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE APPROPRIATE FUNDS. I KEEP HOW TO, HOW TO DETERMINE IF FUNDS ARE MISAPPROPRIATED. THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS, YOU KNOW, BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU GOTTA MUST, YOU MUST KNOW WHAT IS THE INTENDED USE OF THE FUNDS AND WHERE YOU FIND THAT IS THE BUDGET. IF YOU WON'T KNOW WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO BE SPENDING MONEY ON, LOOK AT THE BUDGET. WE APPROVE MONEY TO BE SPENT A CERTAIN WAY. THAT'S HOW WE SUSPEND IT. YOU KNOW, UH, THE MANAGERS TALKED ABOUT US HAVING FLEXIBILITY OF TRANSFERRING. YES, WE COULD TRANSFER, BUT WE HAVE TO WATCH WHAT WE TRANSFER AND WHAT WE TRANSFERRING IT TO. BECAUSE IF WE APPROVED IT FOR THIS, THAT'S THE INTENDED USE. THAT'S WHAT WE SUSPENDED ON. NOT SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE DECIDE WE WANT DO. NO, WE SHOULD HAVE DID THAT AT THE BUDGET. OKAY. ALSO, YOU LISTED A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS. WE GET CERTIFICATE OBLIGATIONS WHENEVER WE DO THAT. WE ARE SELLING BONDS FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE. AND IF YOU'RE SELLING BONDS FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, IT'S LISTED ON THAT OBLIGATION. AND IF YOU DON'T DO IT, THEN YOU ARE VIOLATING WHAT THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION IS FOR. OKAY? ANOTHER WAY YOU COULD TELL IS BY UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWING THE STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE GOVERNING MUNICIPAL FINANCE. THEN ALSO YOU HAVE QUICK REFERENCES YOU SEE ON THAT QUICK REFERENCES, I GOT A VIDEO OF COUNCIL MEETINGS AND STUFF. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT SLIDE, THE LAST PART OF IT, IF YOU WANT TO SEE AND READ THINGS THAT WILL GIVE YOU AN INDICATION OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND WHAT WAS SAID WHEN I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED. YOU LOOK AT THAT VIDEO, THE PERSON IS EXPLAINING HOW THAT STREET'S SUPPOSED, HOW THAT STREET PLAN'S SUPPOSED TO GO. EXAMPLES. I PUT UP A COUPLE EXAMPLES. AND THESE EXAMPLES ARE STRICTLY DEALING WITH STREETS. THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES. LIKE I SAID, I'M TIME MANY, I COULDN'T GET IT, BUT I THOUGHT I'D GET SOME. ONE IS A STREET, UH, PART OF THE STREET, TWO BLOCKS. RED BIRD STREET, WHERE WE GONNA SPEND TWO, UH, $678,349. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DURING STREETS. YOU'RE TAKING THE MONEY FROM STREETS. BUT IF SOMEONE GO OVER THERE, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT THE REQUEST IS ALSO TO REPLACE A WATER LINE. THE WATER LINE IS NOT UNDERNEATH THE STREET, THEREFORE IT IS A WATER UTILITY PROJECT. THAT MONEY SHOULD BE FUNDED FOR WATER UTILITY, NOT STREETS. THEY SAY SHAPE THE DITCH. THAT'S DRAINAGE. WE COULD EITHER DO IT OR WE COULD HIRE SOMEBODY. BUT THE MONEY TO SHAPE DITCHES IS DRAINAGE. DRAINAGE HAVE THEIR OWN FUNDS. SO WHY ARE WE TAKING MONEY FROM STREET FUND TO DO DRAINAGE OR UTILITIES? ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS FIND OUT WHAT EACH FUND IS FOR. THEY CAN LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE DOING. THEN IF YOU GO AND DRIVE THAT STREET, IF YOU DRIVE ON THAT STREET, THEM TWO BLOCKS, THAT'S ONE OF THE GOOD STREETS IN THE CITY. BUT WE WANT SOMEBODY TO COME AND TEAR IT UP AND REDO IT. DON'T BELIEVE ME. GO AND SEE ANOTHER EXAMPLE. WOODWARD BOULEVARD, THE PART THAT DEALS WITH THE STREETSCAPE. IF YOU READ THE CERTIFICATE OBLIGATION, IT'S SAS DISTANCE FOR CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF STREETS AND RELATED THEIR ITEMS SUCH AS CURBS, GUTTERS, UH, STREETS. BUT WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT BEAUTIFICATION STUFF, THAT'S NOT STREETS CONSTRUCTION. NEITHER IS THIS STREET REHABILITATION. BUT PEOPLE WANNA KNOW WHY WE HAVE 'EM. FIXED STREETS. EVERYBODY TALK ABOUT, YEAH, WE FI YEAH, WE FIXED THE STREET BOAT. HOW WE FIXING? WE HAD ALL THESE [02:15:01] MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, BUT HOW WE FI DID WE PUT 'EM ALL ON THE STREETS? THOSE ARE EXAMPLES. THE LAST ONE I HAVE UP THERE, THERE WERE INDIVIDUAL PAID TO WORK AND, AND THEY WERE PAID OUT OF STREET FUND. NOW WE TALKING ABOUT SALARY OF EMPLOYEE CONTRACTORS OR WHOEVER. THE MONEY FOR STREETS IS THE CON. IT SAYS CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION. THE STREETS OR REHABILITATION. IF WE HAVE SOMEBODY THAT IS DOING WORK FOR THE CITY, WE'D HIRED THEM AS A CONTRACTOR. WE HIRED THEM AS CONSULTANTS, BUT WE APPROVED SALARIES TO PAY THEM, BUT TO PAY THEM OUTTA MONEY, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING STREETS. THAT'S NOT THE INTENDED USE. THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE EXAMPLES. BUT LIKE I SAID, YOU COULD GO ALL AROUND. THIS IS, UH, THE FINANCE PURCHASING ORDER FOR THEM TWO BLOCKS I TOLD YOU ABOUT. AND IF YOU, WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT THIS SLIDE AT YOUR HOUSE AND YOU BRING IT UP, EVERYTHING THAT'S GONNA BE HIGHLIGHTED HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT STREET. NOTHING. YOU COULD FIX THAT WATERLINE. IT WON'T INTERFERE WITH THE STREET. THE WATER LINE DOES NOT RUN UNDER THE STREET CUTTING THE DITCH. WE AIN'T GOTTA WORRY ABOUT MESSING UP THE STREET. THE GRADE ALL HAVE TIRES. THEY AIN'T GONNA TIE IT UP. WE DOING IT EVERY DAY. SO THAT'S THE PROPOSAL AND THAT THE BID, AND YOU'LL FIND OUT THE INTENDED USE OF THAT MONEY IS TO FIX STREETS, NOT WATER PROJECTS. AND THAT AND UH, WOODWORTH BOULEVARD, YOU'LL SEE SEVERAL PAGES AND SLIDES. YOU COULD GO BACK THROUGH 'EM AT YOUR HOME AND READ EACH ONE INDEPENDENTLY. SOME OF THOSE SLIDES IS GONNA REFER TO A PRESENTATION IDEA TO COUNCIL. PRIOR TO THAT PROJECT BEING APPROVED, I WASN'T A COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT I WAS ON COUNCIL WHEN WE APPROVED THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION, I KNOW WHAT WE INTENDED AND WHAT WE SAID WE WANTED TO DO WITH THE MONEY. SO I DID A PRESENTATION AND IT'S THERE ALSO. YOU WILL SEE ANOTHER PORTION DEALING WITH, WITH WORK BOULEVARD. AND I'M GONNA REFER TO A LOT OF REFERENCE. CITY, CITY ORDINANCES AND ALSO LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODES. YOU GO AND READ THOSE AND I'M GONNA SAVE YOU SOME TIME BECAUSE I KIND OF WROTE THEM WHAT THEY MEAN AND WHAT THEY SAY. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD. YOU COULD READ IT AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND IT FOR YOURSELF, OKAY? I DON'T WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO ME, I DON'T WANT YOU TO BELIEVE WHAT I'M SAYING. I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS AND YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO DECIDE FOR YOURSELF. I HEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY, WE GOTTA SUPPORT THE STAFF. WE GOTTA TAKE THEIR ADVICE. 'CAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT I TELL YOU. WHEN I GO AND READ THESE THINGS BEFORE I COME TO MEETING AND GET PREPARED TO VOTE, I KNOW WHAT IS WRITTEN. I KNOW WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO DO. AND IF YOU'RE COMING BEFORE THIS PODIUM AND YOU DON'T KNOW, I'M GONNA QUESTION IT. AND IF IT'S NOT WHAT I, WHAT I READ, I'M NOT GONNA VOTE FOR IT. I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT IT. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE AN ATTORNEY. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A COUNCIL MEMBER ABOVE ALL. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A COLLEGE GRAD TO READ AND UNDERSTAND THOSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND EAST ORDINANCE, THEY'RE NOT THAT COMPLICATED. THE ONLY PROBLEM WE HAVE WITH 'EM, WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO READ THEM TO SATISFY THEIR NEEDS AND TRY TO TELL YOU WHAT IT MEANS. NOW IT'S SIMPLE. I CAN READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS. YOU'RE GONNA FIND THAT OUT. NOW, POSSIBLE ACTIONS, OKAY? CONDUCT A FORENSIC AUDIT TO DETERMINE WHETHER FUNDS HAVE BEEN MISAPPROPRIATED. NOW, MS. JONES TALKING ABOUT AN AUDIT, THEY TALKING ABOUT THE ANNUAL AUDIT. I GUESS SHE REALLY WAS TALKING ABOUT A FORENSIC AUDIT. SHE JUST SAID NO. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FORENSIC AUDIT AND A AUDIT. A FORENSIC AUDIT IS WHEN YOU HIRE A FIRM TO COMMENT AND GO THROUGH THINGS, CERTAIN THINGS YOU IDENTIFY AND THEY WILL TELL [02:20:01] YOU WHETHER YOU ARE DOING IT RIGHT OR YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG. AND IF THE CITIZENS IN THIS CITY IS SAYING, WE PUT MONEY IN OUR POCKETS, WE AIN'T USING THE MONEY PROPERLY. WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND DO A FORENSIC AUDIT? BECAUSE OF FORENSIC AUDIT IS GOING TO TELL THE CITIZENS. WE WENT THROUGH THERE, AS YOU POINTED OUT, AND HEY, Y'ALL DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT? Y'ALL GOOD? THE CITIZENS THEN HAVE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN US MANAGING THE MONEY. BUT IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO DO THAT, YOU GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE. I'D RATHER CITIZENS KNOW WHETHER WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT OR WRONG. AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT US TO HAVE THINGS WHERE CITIZENS UNDERSTAND. BUT IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE TO FIX THINGS. AND TOO MANY PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT, WELL Y'ALL DID IT THAT WAY. THAT AIN'T THE RIGHT WAY. BUT IF THEY READ, THEY WILL FIND OUT. IT AIN'T THE WAY WE DID IT. IT'S THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN. YOU DIDN'T READ. YOU ARE THE ONE WANTING TO DO SOMETHING. AND THAT HAS THROWN US OFF COURSE. AND IF YOU READ THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODES AND THESE ORDINANCE, IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO WHEN WE ARE ON COUNCIL, THEN YOU'LL KNOW FOR YOURSELF WHO'S SAYING WHAT'S RIGHT AND WAS WRITTEN AND WHO'S JUST TALKING IN CON, OH, LET ME GO BACK. LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANY, OKAY. UH, ENSURE STAFF AND COUNCIL UNDERSTAND PROPER WAY TO CHANGE POLICY PROCEDURES, CALLS AN ORDINANCE. THAT'S ANOTHER THING. WE DO NOT JUST DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO, IT'S AGAINST THE LAW FOR US TO VIOLATE THESE THINGS. BUT OUR AUTHORITY IS THAT WE CAN CHANGE ANYTHING. ALL WE HAVE TO DO RESCIND IT ALL. WE CAN AMEND IT. BUT AS LONG AS IT IS WRITTEN, WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO VIOLATE IT. YOU KNOW, THE CITY MANAGER MADE A COMMENT THE OTHER DAY THAT FITS RIGHT INTO IT. HE SAID, THAT HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU CHANGE PEOPLE. WHEN BIDEN WAS THE PRESIDENT, HE PUT ALL THIS STUFF OUT, THEN TRUMP COME AND DID HE CHANGE IT ALL? YEAH, HE DID. BUT EVERYTHING HE CHANGED WAS BY AN EXECUTIVE ORDER. BECAUSE IF HE DOESN'T DO AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, HE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CHANGE IT BECAUSE EVERYBODY GONNA FOLLOW WHAT'S BEEN APPROVED AND, AND LAW. OKAY? SO THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE AS COUNCIL STAFF AND EVERYBODY NEED TO UNDERSTAND. WE NEED TO CHANGE IT. IF IT'S NOT GOOD, CHANGE IT. BUT DON'T JUST DO IT AND NOT FOLLOW IT. YOU'RE GONNA HEAR SOME COMMENTS DURING THIS MEETING ON SOME OF THESE ITEMS. THEY'RE GONNA REFER BACK TO ALL WHAT I'M SAYING TO TODAY. CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS AND ADOPT THE STREET PLAN. I THINK WE NEED TO DO A WORKSHOP. WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. IF COUNCIL NOT HAPPY, THIS COUNCIL NOT HAPPY. LET'S GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. LET'S DISCUSS IT. LET'S INCLUDE CITIZENS AND LET'S GET A PLAN. BUT THE PLAN WE GET WHEN WE PUT IT IN WRITING, EVERYBODY FOLLOWS IT. THERE'S NO EXCUSE TO SAY THE REASON WE HAVEN'T BEEN FOLLOWING THIS PLAN BECAUSE WE CHANGE COUNCILS OR THE COUNCIL MADE NO, NOBODY HAD THE RIGHT TO NOT FOLLOW IT UNLESS YOU CHANGED IT. SO IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH IT, WE NEED TO CHANGE IT SO THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND IT. COUNCIL MEMBERS COME AND GO. BUT STAFF IS NORMALLY HERE, IS STAFFED IS THE ONES THAT REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S WRITTEN AND LET US KNOW. WE CAN'T DO IT. 'CAUSE SOME OF US DON'T READ IT. WE THINK WE COULD DO IT 'CAUSE WE CANCEL. OH, WE NEED A FULL VOTE. NO, THAT AIN'T THE CASE. LIKE THE MAYOR SAY, YOU WON'T LOOK TOO PRETTY IN ORANGE. THE OTHER ONE THERE, WE SAY PROVIDE MEANS TO ENSURE CITIZENS CAN CHECK THE PROGRAMS. THE STAT OF FUNDING. BASICALLY WHAT I SAID IS WHAT I SAID WHEN I FIRST GOT BACK ON COUNCIL. WE NEED TO HAVE A PAGE WHERE CITIZENS CAN LOOK AT IT AND KNOW WHICH STREETS BEEN FIXED. WHICH STREETS NEED TO BE FIXED, WHICH STREETS HAVE BEEN FUNDED TO BE FIXED. THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE. THE LAST IN [02:25:01] CONCLUSION, RIGHT, THE PLAN WAS IMPLEMENTED, BUT THE EXECUTION WAS A PROBLEM. IT IT WAS EXECUTED WITH NO, IT WAS PLANNED WITH NO EXECUTION. THE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE PLAN. THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN MOSES AND COUNCILMAN KINLER AND MYSELF. WE VOTED FOR THAT PLAN. AND WHEN WE VOTED FOR THAT PLAN, EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER VOTED YES, EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER. NOT ONE VOTED AGAINST IT. THAT MEANS UNLESS SOMEBODY CHANGED IT, THAT'S WHAT IT SHOULD BE. NO EXCUSES ABOUT, WELL, SOMEBODY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT. WHO IS SOMEBODY THAT GOT THAT MUCH AUTHORITY? WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOW AND WE DO THINGS CORRECTLY. OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE STREETS PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN THE MANNER IT RUNS BEFORE THE ADOPTION OF THE CURRENT ADOPTED PLAN. OKAY? YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THE WAY WE'VE BEEN DOING BUSINESS. IT'S JUST HARD TO KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S WITH THE STREET PLAN. IF I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT AND I'M A COUNCILMAN, HOW DO, HOW DO THE CITIZENS UNDERSTAND IT? WE HAVE SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET THAT I WILL RELATE BACK TO THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE UH, UH, APPRO, THE BUDGET. REMEMBER WHAT I SAID THAT YOU'LL SEE IT AGAIN. UH, STREETS ARE TOO HIGH A PRIORITY OF OUR CITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO ALLOW STAFF TO MAKE DECISIONS ON WHICH STREETS TO BE NEEDED, THAT NEEDED TO BE FUNDED OR REPAIRED. THEY RECOMMEND TO US. BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR DISTRICT AS A WHOLE. I'M NOT GONNA TRY TO FIX A STREET NEXT TO A STREET 'CAUSE IT'S CLOSE TO THAT STREET LIKE I'VE SEEN DONE. I'M GONNA PICK THE ONES THAT ARE IN WORSE SHAPE AND I WANNA DO THEM FIRST. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IN DISTRICT FOUR, I HAVE ALWAYS SPREAD THE MONEY AROUND. IF YOU GIMME $10, I PUT TWO OVER HERE IN THIS AREA OF MY DISTRICT, TWO IN THAT AREA, TWO IN THAT AREA, AND TWO, THAT'S WHY I NEED TO DO IT. THE THE LAST COMMENT THERE IS COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS THAT MANAGE THE TAX DOLLARS. YOU CANNOT DO THAT IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT. ACCEPTING EVERY REQUEST FROM THE MANAGER AND STAFF WITHOUT HAVING DONE YOUR RESEARCH IS EQUIVALENT TO BUYING A USED CAR FROM A CAR SALESMAN THAT TOLD YOU. TRUST ME. SO IN CONCLUSION, ALL I WANT TO SAY IS THIS IS INFORMATIONAL AND HOPEFULLY WHAT WE SAID, WE GONNA READDRESS AND I WILL BE BRINGING SOME OF THESE THINGS BACK TO COUNCIL. BUT I'M ALSO GONNA BE TALKING WITH CITIZENS. I'M GONNA BE POSTING THINGS, I'M GONNA BE GIVING YOU MORE INFORMATION. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS RIGHT AND MAKE SURE WE DO WHAT IS RIGHT. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CHECK THE INFORMATION FOR YOURSELF. THAT'S ALL. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. YEAH. THANK I DO, SIR. YOU DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB. APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION AND UPDATED. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND, MALFEASANCE. MALFEASANCE, IF YOU VIOLATE A, A BOND COVENANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY CAN HANDLE YOU FOR MALFEASANCE AND HAVE YOU REMOVED FROM OFFICE. WE HAD A FORENSIC AUDIT. THEY DID A REPORT PUBLICLY. THEY FOUND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, BUT THEY WANTED TO COME BACK IN THE FUTURE AND BRING IT INTO THE CLOSED SESSION. COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED NOT TO BRING IT. THEY VOTED NOT TO, NOT TO, FOR THEM TO COME BACK BECAUSE THEY HAD THEIR REPUTATION AND EVERYTHING. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PUBLIC WELL, THEY GOT PUBLIC. A LOT OF LIGHTS GOING ON HERE. OKAY, PUBLIC, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, WHAT'S A LOT OF LIGHTS GOING? WHAT'S THAT? CITY ATTORNEY. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ANY ACCUSATIONS OR ALLEGATIONS THAT YOU'RE MAKING ARE, I'VE DISCUSSED THIS ALREADY WITH THE COUNCIL. THIS IS NOT ACCUSATIONS, MAN. I MET WITH THE, I MET WITH THE BOND COUNSELOR. I MET WITH THE CITY OF, I MET WITH THE CITY GUILTY BY A COURT OF LAW. ANY OF YOUR OPINIONS OR THOUGHT PATTERNS ARE NOT PROVEN. WE GOTTA WATCH IT. AND I CERTAINLY DON'T RECALL ANY OF THOSE ASSERTIONS OR ALLEGATIONS ANYTIME THAT I HAVE BEEN THE CITY ATTORNEY. NO, YOU WERE, I'M GONNA CAUTION YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, TO AVOID PLACING [02:30:01] YOURSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU COULD BE SUED FOR SLANDER OR LIABLE. I, I, I JUST, JUST A MINUTE. ARE YOU DONE? I HAVE ATTORNEY. THE LAST THING I WANNA SAY IS THAT ANY OF THE OPINIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER AT THIS POINT ARE NOT OPINIONS OF THE ENTIRE GOVERNING BODY AS THE GOVERNING BODY HAS NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION. OH, OKAY. OR COMMENTS I UNDER YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT. OKAY. BUT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, YOU VIOLATE A GO LOOK IT UP. YOU, YOU VIOLATE A, UH, CITY ORDINANCE, A COUNCIL ELECTED OFFICIAL VIOLATE A CITY ORDINANCE. THEY, THEY MISS, THEY, UH, VIOLATE A BOND COVENANT. I'VE STATED THIS AT THIS IN THIS COUNCIL. YOU COULD BE HANDLED FOR MALE FEA. GO LOOK IT UP. LOOK IT UP, GOOGLE IT. IT'LL TELL YOU YOU CAN BE HANDLED FROM AL FEESA. AND NO, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WHEN WE HAD THE FORENSIC AUDIT, THEY NEVER DID COME BACK. BUT THEY, WHAT THE, WHAT THOSE FORENSIC AUDITS THAT SHOULD HAVE DONE, THEY FOUND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THEY SHOULD HAVE FORWARD IT TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THEN IT WOULD'VE COME BACK COUNCIL, THE LOCAL POLICE TO GET, YOU'VE BEEN A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR A VERY LONG TIME. WHAT'S THAT? YOU'VE BEEN A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR A VERY LONG TIME. YOU'VE COME AND GONE. I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT YEAR OF WHAT FORENSIC AUDIT YOU'RE DISCUSSING, BUT I DO NOT WANT ANY OF YOUR MEMORY OR YOUR THOUGHT PROCESSES FROM YOUR PAST TO IMPACT THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL. NO, IT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL, BUT I'M ESTABLISHING THIS. WE PAID WITH TAX PAYERS MONEY FOR A FORENSIC AUDIT AND THEY FOUND PROBLEMS. WELL, THEY SHOULD HAVE FALLEN, NOT STILL COMING BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND PRESENT IT IN THE CLOSED SESSION. THEY SHOULD HAVE FORWARD IT TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YEAR THAT FORENSIC AUDIT WAS DONE, BECAUSE IT, YEAH, AND WE CAN ALL ADDRESS THAT, BUT WE DON'T WANNA PROLONG THE TIME. COUNCILOR LEWIS, ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR PRESENT? OKAY, BECAUSE THERE, THERE WAS A FORENSIC AUDIT DONE. AND WHEN I CAME ON COUNCIL IN 2015, I GOT THE REPORTS FROM THAT IN 2016. IT WAS, WE, IT WAS GIVEN TO THE COUNCIL. IF YOU GO BACK TO 2016, THERE WERE NO FINDINGS OF ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS WAS NOT ON COUNCIL WHEN WE GOT THOSE FINDINGS. SO WE COULD GO BACK AND PULL THAT. WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON THAT FORENSIC AUDIT AND HAD ZERO. I WAS A PART OF THE COUNCIL AND HAD ZERO, FINDING ZERO FOR THE CITIZEN'S SAKE, PLEASE THAT, TO TELL THE TRUTH TO THE CITIZENS MAYOR. THERE WERE NO FINDINGS. MAYOR, POINT OF ORDER, POINT OF ORDER. AND YOU I AM IN CHARGE AND YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN POINT OF ORDER. OKAY, I'M GONNA GO ON. I WAS ON THE COUNCIL. THIS PERSON, I WAS ON THE COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK. I WAS ON THE COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, LET ME SAY THAT THE SUGGESTION OF A FORENSIC AUDIT CAN ONLY BE MADE WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL, I BELIEVE BELIEVES THAT THERE HAS BEEN MALFEASANCE OR THAT THERE'S BEEN, UH, SOMETHING INAPPROPRIATE. UH, A FORENSIC AUDIT IS A DETECTIVE LIKE INVESTIGATION TRYING TO FIND THE MISAPPROPRIATION OR STEALING, LET ME JUST SAY IT LIKE IT IS. IT'S USED MS. JONES TO FIND STEALING. THAT'S WHAT A FORENSIC AUDIT DOES. AND SO IN ONE PART OF THE PRESENTATION, COUNCILMAN, UM, DEUCED SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY WE'RE STEALING MONEY. ALL OF THIS, WHEN YOU START THROWING AROUND THE WORD MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS, IT IMMEDIATELY GOES TO STEALING. IT IMMEDIATELY GOES TO THEY'RE TAKING OUR MONEY AND THEY ARE USING IT. THEY'RE PUTTING IT IN THEIR POCKETS. WHATEVER. LET ME SAY THIS. UM, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE AS A COUNCIL THAT, UH, IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T, UH, LIKE SOMETHING THAT A COUNCIL HAS DONE, IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE DECISION THAT HAS BEEN MADE, THAT IS YOUR PREROGATIVE. BUT TO TAKE IT TO A LEVEL THAT WOULD IN ANY WAY INSINUATE THAT IT IS MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS IS DELETERIOUS TO THIS COUNCIL, IT'S, IT'S HURTFUL TO THIS COUNCIL. IT'S HURTFUL TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY. AND IT DOES THEM A GREAT DISSERVICE. THIS ITEM, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT ON TODAY ABOUT MISAPPROPRIATION, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE WOODWORTH POLICY, WHEN WE LOOK AT, LOOK AT THE WOODWORTH, UH, PROJECT THAT'S BEEN DONE, WE TALK ABOUT THAT PROJECT. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DA AND LOOKED AT, IT, WAS TAKEN TO THE BOND COUNCIL AND LOOKED AT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO, WHO WHO GAVE US THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, CAME AND STOOD BEFORE US AT THAT LECTERN AND TOLD [02:35:01] US THAT, THAT THERE WAS SYMMETRY BETWEEN WHAT WE WERE DOING AND WHAT THE MONIES WERE ALLOWED TO DO. THERE'S BEEN NOTHING DONE OUT OF ORDER. AND IT'S NOT ABOUT HAVING FOUR VOTES TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO. WE BELIEVE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR THAT WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THE FUNDS AND TAKE CARE OF WATER AND TAKE CARE OF STREETS, AS WELL AS ADDING VALUE TO OUR CITY. THAT WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO OUR CITY AND THEY WALK, THEY RIDE DOWN THE STREET, THEY CAN SAY, PORT ARTHUR IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY. WE CAN DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. AND THAT WAS THE ENDEAVOR OF THE COUNCIL IN MAKING THAT DECISION. AND WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH IT OR DON'T, WHETHER YOU ARE IN ON THE SIDE THAT BELIEVES WE SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ELSE WITH IT. IT HAS BEEN DONE AND IT'S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT. AND NOTHING ILLEGAL, NOTHING, NO MISCONDUCT, NO MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS HAS HAPPENED OR TRANSPIRES. WHETHER WE AGREE WITH IT OR NOT. I'VE NOT AGREED WITH EVERYTHING THAT MY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID OR DONE, BUT I HAVE SAT HERE AND I HAVE DONE THE BEST THAT I CAN TO DO, MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE. BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALWAYS AGREE ABOUT EVERYTHING. BUT TO TAKE IT TO A LEVEL WHERE WE WOULD SAY MISAPPROPRIATION, I WOULD ASK THAT WE COME BACK AND LOOK, EVEN AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REDBIRD, I'D LIKE DR. HANEY TO COME AND EXPLAIN TO US AND EXPLAIN TO THE CITIZENS HOW IT IS NOT MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS TO GET THIS STREET FIXED. NOW THAT THE, THE MAYOR CAN ALLOW THAT OR NOT. BUT THAT, I THINK THAT'S A VALUABLE PART OF THIS, UM, OF THIS DISCUSSION. BUT THE MAYOR WILL MAKE THAT, THAT DESIGNATION. I CAN MAKE THAT DECISION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I WILL BEFORE COUNCILMAN MC KINLAW. UM, THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR. YOU KNOW, I, I I, I SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO THE 26TH MINUTE, UH, PRESENTATION ABOUT MY CAR, UH, COUNTERPART. AND I'M KIND OF LIKE, UH, DISSATISFIED WITH SOME OF THE THINGS HE SAID. BUT I WAS HERE, I WAS HERE WHEN WE DECIDED TO, UH, HIRE, UH, A COMPANY TO COME IN. A SURVEY TRUCK COST US, I THINK ABOUT $90,000 TO COME AND RIDE ALL THE STREETS THROUGH PORT ARTHUR AND GIVE A GRADE, RIGHT? BUT IF YOU LISTEN CLOSELY TO SOME OF THE WORDS THAT WAS SAID IN THIS PRESENTATION, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT I TOOK OUT IT THAT I'M GONNA PICK THE STREETS IN DISTRICT FOUR. NOW, THE WHOLE GAMUT OF THINGS ARE WHY WE DECIDED TO GO AND FIND OUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO DECIDE AND TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF IT WAS TO GET THE STREET, UH, GET THE SURVEY TRUCK TO GO THROUGH THE CITY AND SURVEY AND GIVE A GRADE ON THE STREETS BASED STEP ONE, THE CONDITION. NOW, I DON'T KNOW, WHERE DID WE GO WRONG ON THIS AND WHY IT, IT ROSE TO THIS TYPE OF, UH, ATTENTION BECAUSE EVERY STREET THAT YOU SEE IS ANNOTATED AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE DONE BASED UPON TAKING POLITICS OUT ON THE NEED OF THE STREETS. NOW, I'M NO LONGER A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER ANY, UH, ANYMORE. BUT WHEN I WAS IN DISTRICT THREE, I FOUGHT FOR THIS. AND I HAD SOME BATTLES WITH MY COUNTERPARTS SAYING THAT IT NEEDS TO BE FAIR. AND HOW DOES IT BE FAIR? WELL, WE CAME UP WITH A SURVEY TRUCK AND SPEND $90,000 TO DO THAT. OKAY, NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FORENSIC AUDIT THAT COMES WITH A COST TO THE TAXPAYER. DID WE ALL KNOW THAT? YES, WE DID. NOW YOU MEAN TO TELL ME WE'RE BATTLING HAVING TO INCREASE WATER RATES AND THEN WE ARE GONNA SAY THAT WE COULD PAY FOR A FORENSIC AUDIT. AND WHEN I CAME ON COUNCIL IN 17, THEY HAD JUST COMPLETED THAT FORENSIC AUDIT AND THEY CAME UP WITH ZERO FINDINGS. I, I, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST, I KIND OF WAS GONNA SIT BACK AND NOT SAY ANYTHING, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE UNJUSTIFIED IF I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. NOW I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE FAIR. I DIDN'T AGREE WITH IT BACK THEN WITH THE STREET PROGRAM. BUT, YOU KNOW, I WAS ASKED TO BE A TEAM PLAYER BACK THEN AND IT PASSED. NOW WHAT ARE WE SAYING DO WHEN YOU START SAYING FORENSIC AUDIT? I HAVE TO AGREE MY COUNTERPART, THAT'S A TOUGH WORD TO SAY ON ACCOUNTABILITY. WHEN YOU HAVE NO PROOF OTHER THAN NOT DOING THE STREET, WHEN YOU SAY THAT THE STREETS NEED TO BE, OR YOU SAY THAT I NEED TO PICK THE STREETS. THIS IS ALL THE CITY OF PUERTO ARTHUR. AND THIS COUNCIL DECIDES ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND WHEN WE NEED TO DO IT. [02:40:02] SO IF SOMETHING CHANGED SINCE THE TIME THAT WE INITIATED AND WE TOOK THIS IN CONSIDERATION PERCENTAGE, THE PERCENTAGE, AND I DO AGREE, IF DR. HANEY WOULD COME AT A LATER DATE AND TIME AND EXPLAIN IT AGAIN, WE SAID THAT THE PERCENTAGE BASED UPON THE NEED OF THE DISTRICTS WOULD GET THE MOST ALLOCATED FUNDS. THAT'S HOW WE DID IT. NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIST OF STREETS, NOW, DISTRICT FOUR HAS THE MOST STREETS DONE IN THE WHOLE CITY SINCE WE STARTED THIS THING. NOW, SINCE DISTRICT FOUR IS ON THE BOTTOM FORENSIC MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA PLAY THAT GAME. AND THIS COUNCIL HAS EVERY RIGHT TO CHANGE OR VOTE SOMETHING DIFFERENT ON HOW WE GONNA ADDRESS THE STREETS. IT WAS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE ON PERCENTAGE ON THE WORST STREETS IN DISTRICTS. AND THAT'S HOW WE INITIATED THAT. NOW, IF SOMETHING CHANGED, I NEED SOME MORE CLARIFICATION. I NEED THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO COME BACK AND SPEAK ABOUT IT. BUT THAT'S HOW WE INITIATED THIS PROGRAM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON. UM, MAYOR, I AM JUST A SECOND. COUNCILLOR LEWIS, YOU HAVE ONE MORE TIME. YOU CAN SPEAK ON THIS, UM, ITEM ACCORDING TO ROBERT RULES OF ORDER. SO YOU CAN SPEAK TWICE ON ANY AGENDA ITEM. YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SPEAK. THIS IS YOUR LAST TIME SPEAKING. FIRST OF ALL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, FORENSIC AUDIT FOUND FOUND EVIDENCE. OKAY, NOW LOOK FOR YOURSELF. $7 MILLION TAKEN FROM THE WATER AND SEW PROGRAM AND FOR LANDSCAPING. I MET WITH THE, THE, UH, UH, BOND COUNSELOR WITH THE CI CITY AL AND HER ASSISTANT. AND WE, WE HAD A CONFERENCE CALL. HE ADMITTED THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THAT LEGAL IS TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT FIT. HE SAID, I'M GOING TO HOLD MY NOSE IF YOU DO. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID. IT'S A VIOLATION, BUT I'M GONNA HOLD MY NOSE. $7 MILLION BOND COUNSEL INSTEAD OF THEN HE COMES HERE. AND PUBLIC ESTATE, THAT WAS NO, THERE'S NO VIOLATION IN THE BOND COUNCIL. $7 MILLION FOR LANDSCAPE. IT, IT EXPLAINS ITSELF. VIOL. OKAY. CITY MANAGER MAYOR, UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY MADE A POINT ON THE FORENSIC AUDIT. IT WAS DONE IN 2016. UM, 16 DASH 0 5 4. THAT'S THE NUMBER FOR THE EDIFICATION OF 16 DASH 0 5 4 I'M DASH 0 5 4 FOR THE EDIFICATION. THAT'S THE NUMBER S IS THAT THE RESOLUTION? THE RESOLUTION NUMBER, OKAY. FOR THE EDIFICATION OF THE PUBLIC. 16 16 0 5 4. OKAY. OKAY. SO THAT'S THE FORENSIC AUDIT THAT WE CAN AT SOME POINT, UM, IF WE NEED TO BRING IT BACK UP AND SEE WHAT CHARGES OR FINDINGS, I'M SURE THAT WE CAN BRING THAT BACK UP SO THE PUBLIC CAN BE REMINDED THAT THERE WAS NO ARREST, THERE WERE NO, NO ISSUES, NO CRIMINAL FINDINGS AT ALL. SO WE, WE WILL BRING THAT BACK AT SOME TIME SO THE COUNCIL CAN KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPENT ON THAT FORENSIC AUDIT AND WHAT THOSE FINDINGS BROUGHT ABOUT IN 2016. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO UH, I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE HAS THIS LIGHT ON. OKAY. SORRY. OKAY. OH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVER. PHIL, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T LOOK UP. YES, I'M THE ONE DONE A PRESENTATION AND I WAS VERY CLEAR WHEN THE COUNCIL MEMBER STARTED TALKING ABOUT SAYING THAT WE SAVED FORENSIC AUDIT. YOU SAYING YOU STEALING MONEY. THAT'S WHY I GAVE A DEFINITION BEFORE I STARTED THE PRESENTATION. AND THAT'S WHY I SAY ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT, THIS IS THE DEFINITION. THIS IS THE DEFINITION. I DIDN'T SAY SOMEBODY STEAL MONEY. I DIDN'T SAY NOBODY WAS EMBEZZLING MONEY. I WAS VERY CLEAR. I SAID MISAPPROPRIATION AND I SAID IT MEANT USING MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT, A PURPOSE THAT IT WASN'T INTENDED TO. I GAVE EXAMPLE WHETHER THEY AGREE OR NOW WE LIKE COUNCILMAN FRANK SAYS, WE GOING TO AGREE, BUT IT WAS MINE. AND I DON'T, I DON'T TELL YOU WHAT I THINK OR THIS COUNCILMAN SAYS. WHEN I PRESENT SOMETHING, I PUT FACTS UP. I TELL YOU, GO READ IT. EVERYBODY WON'T TALK. BUT THEY AIN'T TELLING YOU TO GO READ NOTHING WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THIS TRUCK, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE S UNDERSTAND X-RAYING TRUCKS, ANY DECISION YOU MAKE GOT NOTHING TO DO OR DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO VIOLATE WHAT IS ADOPTED. AND THAT WAS MY POINT WHEN I COVERED [02:45:01] THAT. WE ADOPT THE PROGRAM. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT, JUST GO PUT IT ON AGENDA, BRING IT TO COUNCIL. AND IF ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTE FOR IT, THEN WE CHANGE IT. I'M ADDRESSING ISSUES. THAT IS NOT DEBATABLE. THIS COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO ANYTHING THAT IT WON'T WITHOUT MAKING IT IN WRITING. SO I DON'T KNOW WHY WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER FORENSIC AUDIT TO TELL YOU TRUTH, A FORENSIC AUDIT, YOU COULD HAVE DONE IT LAST YEAR. IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T DO IT IF SOMETHING COME UP THIS YEAR 'CAUSE SOMEBODY DIDN'T FIND SOMETHING ONE TIME, DON'T TRY TO USE THAT AS A RATIONALE TO SAY WE GOOD. 'CAUSE THEY DONE IT LAST TIME SO IT DIDN'T GO. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I HOPE CITIZENS ARE LISTENING TO OUR COMMENTS AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT ARE COMMENTS TO WORRY ABOUT. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION, BUT WHERE THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO SEE, BECAUSE EVERYTHING I'M HEARING IS WHAT WE SAY. EVERYTHING I'M TELLING YOU IS IN BLACK AND WHITE, EVERYTHING. WHEN I TELL YOU THAT THAT STREET DOING A PIPE THAT IS NOT UNDER THE STREET IS A WATER UTIL. AND IF DR. HANNEY OR ANYBODY COME UP HERE AND SAY THAT A, A WATERLINE IN AN EASEMENT IS UNDERNEATH THE STREET, WE GONNA GO OVER THERE AND LOOK AT THAT STREET. 'CAUSE WE GONNA FIND OUT THAT AIN'T THE CASE. SO IF THAT WATERLINE IS NOT UNDER THAT STREET, YOU SHOULD BE TAKING STREET MONEY TO FIX THAT WATERLINE. THAT'S MISAPPROPRIATION. I DIDN'T SAY THEY STOLE MONEY. I SAID THEY MISAPPROPRIATED BECAUSE THEY USED THE MONEY FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN IT WAS INTENDED. SO I'M NOT PLAYING THE POLITICS. OKAY, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MC, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE ANOTHER. UM, YOU MENTIONED THAT WE VOTED FOR A PLAN AND UM, YOU DIDN'T CITE THAT IN YOUR PRESENTATION. SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE RESOLUTION WHEREBY WE VOTED FOR A PLAN AND WE ADOPTED A STREETS PLAN. SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT RESOLUTION THAT WAS WHEN IT WAS AND UH, 'CAUSE I DON'T RECALL EVER VOTING FOR A PLAN. WE DID NOT GET A STREETS PLAN. LEMME GO BACK. I WAS ON COUNCIL. WE DIDN'T GET STREETS MONEY UNTIL NOVEMBER OF 20. THAT'S WHEN THE BOND WAS PASSED WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 2020. MM-HMM . SO IN NOVEMBER OF 2020 IS WHEN WHEN WE PASSED THE BOND ISSUE. AND WE GOT THE $10 MILLION A YEAR FOR FIVE. FOR FIVE YEARS. RIGHT. AND SO IN THAT TIME, COUNCIL MEMBERS MET AND I MET AS AN AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER WITH INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE TIME THAT WE WERE BROUGHT A MAP. YOU GUYS HAVE BROUGHT A MAP. DISTRICT ONE, DISTRICT TWO, DISTRICT THREE, DISTRICT FOUR. I WENT TO EACH MEETING AND EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER, AND THIS IS FOR CLARITY'S SAKE, EVERY MEETING I SET IN THERE WAS, THERE WAS NEVER A WRITTEN RESOLUTION THAT WE ADOPTED AND VOTED ON, ON HOW THIS PROCESS WOULD TAKE PLACE. OKAY? RIGHT. WHEN WE WERE SITTING IN THOSE MEETINGS, WHEN I WAS SITTING IN THE MEETINGS, COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE PRESENTED A PLAN BY WHICH THE STREETS WERE DONE OR SELECTED OR TO, TO BE SELECTED. AND THEY HAD A PROJECTED NUMBER OF STREETS. AND YOU WERE IN THAT MEETING. I SET IN ON THE MEETING BEING AT LARGE SO I COULD BE AWARE OF WHAT STREETS WERE BEING SELECTED. SO AT THAT TIME, THAT WENT ON THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS OF STREET SELECTING UNTIL 2022. WHEN AS COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW STATED, WE THEN THOUGHT WE NEED TO TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF THIS. AND THEN WE PAID FOR THIS MACHINE THAT WOULD X-RAY MACHINE, UH, X-RAY EVERY STREET IN PORT ARTHUR AND DETERMINE THE CLASSIFICATION OF THAT STREET, WHETHER IT WAS A REHAB RECONSTRUCTION OR A, UM, RESURFACE. AND THAT THEN GAVE US DATA BY WHICH WE COULD SELECT STREETS. EXACTLY. SO FROM, UM, I'VE BEEN OFF FOR TWO YEARS. IF YOU GUYS ADAPT, ADOPTED A PLAN FROM 23 TO 25. I'M NOT AWARE OF IT. OKAY. BUT IN 2020, I JUST NEED THE RESOLUTION. I GOT THE INFORMATION RIGHT HERE. MA'AM. WHAT'S THE RESOLUTION? IT IT IS ON ONE OF THE THINGS, IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE VIDEO, UH, DATED MARCH THE 17TH, 2018, THAT'S WHEN THE CITIZENS WAS GOING TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT, THAT'S WHEN THEY YOU SAID, DID YOU SAY TWO 18? LISTEN TO WHAT I'M SAYING. YEAH, I JUST WANNA REPEAT. I DIDN'T. IT'S MARCH THE 17TH, 2018. IT'S A VIDEO OF THE COUNCIL MEETING AT WHICH THE PUBLIC WORK DIRECTOR CAME BEFORE COUNCIL [02:50:01] AND PRESENTED THE PLAN. AND YOU GOING TO HEAR HIM SAY THE PLAN ADOPTED BY COUNCIL. AND IF YOU GO TO RESOLUTION, IF YOU GO TO RESOLUTION 20 0 0 0 8. SO THAT'S IN 2020. THAT'S BEFORE I LEFT CAPTAIN. THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID. IT, IT WOULD TELL YOU IN THAT RESOLUTION HOW THE MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO BE DIVIDED. OKAY. OKAY. AND IF YOU GO AND READ THAT, THAT'S WHY I GAVE IT TO THE CITIZENS. THEY GOING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO BE DIVIDED. OKAY. I'M GLAD YOU SHARED THAT. SO THAT GIVES US A WELL THAT IF WE VOTED ON THAT, THEN WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. WE WANNA BRING IT BACK. THAT'S WHY I GAVE IT, THAT'S WHY I GAVE IT TO THE SEVEN IN 2018. WE HAD NO MONEY. NO, NO. SEE, BUT ANYWAY, BECAUSE THE, THE TRUCK I WAS ON THE COUNCIL, WHEN WE GOT THE TRUCK, THE TRUCK HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ADOPTIVE PROGRAM. ALL THE TRUCK WAS TO GO AND X-RAY TO FIND OUT THE CONDITIONS OF EAST STREET TO GIVE IT TO US. BUT AT NO TIME DID GETTING THE TRUCK TO X-RAY STREETS COME BACK AND TELL US WE GONNA CHANGE THE PLAN. I'M GONNA ASK THAT WE PULLED RESOLUTION 20 0 0 8 FOR THE RECORD FOR TONIGHT. AND SO WE CAN SEE THAT RESOLUTION. SOMEBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GRAB THAT FOR US SO WE CAN SEE WHAT THAT PLAN ADOPTION IS TO PULL IT UP. NO, NO, NO. WE'RE GONNA ASK CITY SECRETARY IF YOU COULD GET THAT FOR US RIGHT QUICK. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THEN MARCH 17TH, UM, VIDEO OF 2018. RIGHT. VIDEO. WE WANNA SEE THE VIDEO. 'CAUSE WE WANT, I WANT THE CITIZENS TO SEE THIS. OKAY. OKAY. COUNCILMAN KINLAW. NO, MAYOR, YOU, YOU HIT ON IT. UH, I I THINK THAT, UH, I REALLY WANNA KNOW WHAT ADOPTION AND IF YOU COULD PULL THAT INFORMATION, CITY SECRETARY TO GET THAT INFORMATION TO COUNCIL. UM, BUT IT STILL, EVEN WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT STILL HAS A PERIMETER OF WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM. YOU HAD TO TAKE IN CONSIDERATION A PERCENTAGE. THAT'S HOW THE MONEY WAS DIVIDED. MM-HMM . I MEAN, DO WE ALL UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THE MONEY HAD TO BE DIVIDED SOME WAY AND THE WAY THAT IT WAS DIVIDED BECAUSE OF DISTRICT FOUR HAD THE LARGER LAND MASS AREA WITH THE MOST STREETS TO BE DONE. YOU TOOK THAT MONEY AND HE WAS, THAT DISTRICT WAS GIVEN THE MOST MONEY AT THAT TIME. IT'S THE SAME THING. I'M SAYING DISTRICT THREE WAS AT THE BOTTOM BECAUSE THE CONDITIONS OF THE STREETS WERE A LOT MORE BETTER IN DISTRICT THREE. SO FOR THOSE MANY YEARS, DISTRICT THREE WAS AT THE BOTTOM. SO MAYOR, IF, IF WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION YEAH. SO THEY CAN PULL THAT. I THINK THAT THAT'S AT LATER DATE CLEAR IT. WE CAN CLEAR IT UP. UHHUH, WE CLEAR IT UP. OKAY, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO, UM, WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON THAT DATA, THE INFORMATION, OH, I'M SORRY. YES SIR. YOU HAVE A COMMENT. OKAY. OKAY. AGAIN, I WAS ON COUNCIL WHEN THIS STREET WAS ADOPTED. PROJECT WAS ADOPTED. OKAY. EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT KEEPING THE POLITICS OUT. THAT'S WHY IT WAS DONE. FIRST OF ALL, COUNCILMAN KINLAW, HE WAS A DISTRICT COUNCILMAN. OKAY? AND THE DISTRICT COUNCILMEN WERE TOLD THAT WE MEET WITH THE STAFF. THE STAFF WOULD EXPLAIN TO US, WHAT WAS THE WORD? STREETS AND THE STAFF AND THE COUNCIL PEOPLE, THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS WHAT STREETS WOULD GO FIRST. THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO. THAT NOW COUNCILMAN KEN LAW IS THE AT LAW'S PERSON NOW, BUT AT THAT TIME HE WAS A DISTRICT COUNCILMAN AND NOBODY DID ANYTHING IN DISTRICT THREE UNLESS THEY CAME THROUGH COUNCILMAN KEN LAW. IT WAS MAYOR, UH, MAYOR, UH, MOSES. YOU WAS A AT LARGE POSITION. MM-HMM . YOU SAID TO S SWAGGO THAT YOU WOULD GO IN WITH THAT DISTRICT COUNCILMAN AND STAFF? I DID. OKAY. AND SIT. SO NO. AT LARGE PERSON WAS MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT STREETS TO BE FIXED IN A DISTRICT. I WAS GOING FOR INFORMATION. YES, I KNOW. I SAID YOU WENT FOR INFORMATION. YES SIR. THAT'S WHAT YOU EXPLAINED. THAT'S RIGHT. SO WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT COULD GO IN WITH A DISTRICT COUNCILMAN TO SIT TO FIND INFORMATION. YES SIR. OKAY. THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO IN ORDER TO KEEP THE POLITICS OUT. THIS PROGRAM PROGRAM WAS ADOPTED AND WAS SAID WE GOING USE $10 MILLION A YEAR. THAT'S WHAT IT WAS SAID. NOW TO TAKE THE POLITICS OUT, COUNCILMAN KID LAW, YOU KNOW, THE POLITICS [02:55:01] WASN'T IN THERE AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THE STAFF AND THAT DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU WAS A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, DECIDED SIT DOWN AND DECIDED WHAT STREETS WAS WORSE. AND YOU DECIDED WHAT THE STAFF, WHAT STREETS YOU WANTED TO DO. YOU THE DISTRICT COUNCILMAN. OKAY. THAT'S THE WAY I WAS A DISTRICT COUNCILMAN. SO LIKE THIS PROJECT, THIS PROGRAM WAS SET UP TO TAKE THE POLITICS OFF SOMEHOW IT'S THROWN TO THE SIDE AND IT'S EASY TO GET POLITICS OUT. 'CAUSE COUNCIL PEOPLE CAN START PICKING WHAT STREET THEY WANT TO GET DONE. SO LIKE I SAID, IT WAS A GOOD, IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM, BUT IT WASN'T FOLLOWED. IT WAS A GOOD PROGRAM. IT WASN'T FOLLOWED. COUNCIL SCOTT FRANK, YOU SPOKE ABOUT, UH, UH, THE MONEY DONE ON MEMORIAL. YOU SPOKE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN PEOPLE DID IT. YES, YOU DID DO IT. THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T RUN UP HERE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHY I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. YOU HAD THE FOUR VOTES. OKAY. THE THING ABOUT IT, COUNCILMAN FRANK, IT SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT JUST COUNCILMAN MAKING THE DECISION. I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE. THE CITIZEN, A LOT OF CITIZENS WENT FOR IT. A LOT OF SYSTEMS WEREN'T FOR IT, BUT IT WAS DONE ANYWAY. WHY? IT WAS DONE ANYWAY. BECAUSE YOU HAD TO VOTE. NOW YOU TALKING ABOUT YES, YOU THE DECISION BAY WITH THE COUNCIL, YOU GO PUT $14 MILLION MEMORIAL, YOU TURN LEFT, YOU TURN RIGHT, ALL THE STREETS RAGGEDY. YEAH. YOU GONNA BE PROUD OF DOING MEMORIAL BECAUSE YOUR NAME ON IT, WELL LOOK AT THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE. YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT, YOU CAN GO LEFT ALL THE WAY BACK TO STILLWELL. YOU CAN GO RIGHT, UH, LEFT ALL THE WAY BACK TO, UH, IF YOU LEAVE IT FOR DOWNTOWN, YOU CAN GO LEFT ALL THE WAY BACK TO STAWELL. YOU CAN GO RIGHT ALL THE WAY BACK TO, UH, STADIUM ROAD. EVERY STREET NEED FIXED. YOU GOING TO PUT $14 MILLION ON ONE STREET, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SPENDING $10 MILLION A YEAR. I WAS HERE WHEN THE OBLIGATIONS CERTIFICATE WAS HERE. THE INTENT, OUR INTENT WAS TO FIX STREETS. NOW. YES, NEW COUNCIL, YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU WANT. HEY, IT WAS ALREADY, IT IS ALREADY SET THERE TO DO, TO KEEP THE POLITICS OUT. $14 MILLION ON ONE STREET. IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF, I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE, CONSTABLE FRANK. IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF CITIZENS. AIN'T HAPPY ABOUT THAT WHEN WE COULDN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW WHY COUNCILMAN FRANK? YOU HAD TO FOUR VOTES. YOU HAD TO FOUR VOTES. AND IT'S TOO MANY STREETS. CONSTABLE KEN LAW, HE'S TALKING ABOUT. WELL, YOU KNOW, CONST DEUCE HAD MORE STREETS. YEAH. DISTRICT ONE AND DISTRICT FOUR HAD MORE WORSE STREETS THAN DISTRICT THREE. THAT'S WHY THE MONEY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GONE TO THESE AREAS TO FIX THESE STREETS BECAUSE THERE'S MORE STREETS, BAD STREETS. DISTRICT ONE AND DISTRICT FOUR. YOU SAID YOU A TEAM PLAYER. YEAH. YOU, YOU SAID YOU'RE A TEAM PLAYER, BUT THE WHOLE COUNSELOR SUPPORTED THAT. YOU WASN'T AGREEABLE WITH SOME OF IT, BUT YOU COULDN'T BE. YOU GOT OUTVOTED. SO, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S JUST, YOU KNOW, I SIT HERE, MAN, AND I, I LISTEN TO THIS STUFF AND IT IS, I I'M NOT JUST A CITIZEN. I KEEP TELLING Y'ALL I WAS ON HERE FOR NINE YEARS. COUNCILMAN FRANK AND THE WHOLE COUNCIL, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING SAY NEVER, NEVER BE AFRAID TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WELLBEING OF A PERSON, AN ANIMAL IS AT STAKE. SOCIETY. PUNISHMENTS ARE SMALL COMPARED TO THE ONES WE INFLICT ON OUR OWN SOULS. WHEN WE LOOKED THE OTHER WAY, I REFUSED TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY BECAUSE I WAS HERE WHEN THIS WAS DONE. AND THE INTENT WAS TO FIX STREETS AND NOTHING ELSE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE. I'M SORRY. I HAVE TWO LIGHTS. COUNCILMAN KINLAW. THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE SAID DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I SAID. MY, MY MY STATEMENT WAS THAT ONE IN FOREIGN AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR MARTIN LUTHER KING SPEECH AND, AND OUR OPPORTUNITY. WELL, BUT DON'T, DON'T BE SAYING I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING AND I TOLD YOU WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEN LAW HAS THE FLOOR DON LET SPEAK. I WAS ON THE COUNCIL. I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU SAID. AND I GUESS YOU, THE PERCENTAGE I WAS HEARING THE INTENT WAS TO THE LARGER DISTRICTS WITH THE MOST DAMAGED STREETS WERE GIVEN THE MOST PERCENTAGE OF THE FUNDS. I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER WAY TO SAY WHAT I JUST SAID. AND YOU STATED, YOU CAME BACK UP AND STATED THE SAME THING. I WAS ASKED TO BE A TEAM. I'M NOT GONNA NEVER SHY AWAY FROM WHAT I WAS ASKED TO BE. I DIDN'T LIKE IT, BUT I VOTED WITH IT BECAUSE IT WAS A GREATER NEED JUST FROM NOT FOR DISTRICT THREE IS FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND YOU WERE ON THERE. SO DON'T SINGLE, DON'T TRY TO LISTEN. [03:00:01] WE WERE TEAM PLAYERS BACK THEN. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF PORT ARTHUR. $50 MILLION ON STREETS NEVER BEEN DONE. I WAS PART OF THAT. YOU WERE PART OF THAT. CORRECT. OKAY. MM-HMM . SO DON'T BEAT UP HERE TRYING TO TAG AND, AND MAKE POINTS ABOUT CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER SAID THAT I WANNA PICK STREETS AND YOU DIDN'T MENTION HIS NAME. I DON'T KNOW. COUNCIL MEMBER AT ALL. NOW, FIRST OF ALL, I, WE'LL I CAN SHARE IT WITH YOU AND WE CAN REVIEW THE TAPE. OKAY. NOW, SECOND OF ALL MM-HMM . I'M NOT A PUBLIC WORK DEGREE OR HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE. AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. MOSES SAID ON THE, ON THE MEETING WHEN, WHEN I MET WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND WE DECIDED ON WHAT STREETS IN DISTRICT THREE AT THE TIME. AND THE REASON THEY CAME UP THE SELECTION IS BECAUSE OF THEIR EXPERTISE ON WHICH STREETS NEEDED TO BE DONE. NOT JUST COUNCILMAN KINLAW, BECAUSE I KNOW LESS ABOUT THAT. SO GUESS WHAT? ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF AND THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, I SELECT STREETS BASED UPON THE FUNDING THAT I HAD, THE LIMITED FUNDING. THAT'S HOW IT WENT. SO, SO DON'T TAG WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING AND YOU WERE IN THE PROCESS. YOU KNOW WHAT COUNCIL, I'M GONNA WAIT. YOU WERE IN THE PROCESS. WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT A MINUTE. RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA HEAR COUNCILMAN KINLAW WHEN YOU FINISH. OKAY? THEN YOU FINISH AND THEN COUNCILMAN SCOTT WILL SPEAK. ARE YOU DONE COUNCILMAN KENON? WELL, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT WAS THE PROCESS AND THAT WAS THE PROCESS THAT WE TOOK IN HAND BECAUSE AT NO TIME IN THE HISTORY OF PORT ARTHUR, $50 MILLION WAS DEDICATED FOR STREETS. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO COUNCIL MEMBER. SO COUNCIL MCIN LAW. WHAT, WHO SAID WE'RE NOT GONNA COUNCIL MS. SCOTT, WE'RE NOT GONNA GO BACK AND FORTH. NO, NO, I'M NOT, I'M NOT TRYING TO GO BACK. WE, WE NEED TO, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY ONE THING. COUNCILMAN KEN LAW, UH, IF YOU AND I ARE SAYING THE SAME THING MR. SCOTT. IT OKAY, MR. SCOTT. OKAY, WE'RE DONE WITH THAT. OKAY. I APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING. YEAH, I'M GONNA GO TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER, FRANK. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. HAVE A SEAT. THANK YOU. YEAH. COUNCIL FRANK, I JUST WANNA SAY FOR THE RECORD, THERE'S ONLY ONE STREET IN PORT ARTHUR THAT HAS THE FRANK NAME ON IT AND IT'S NOT MY NAME. SO, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S IN THE BUSINESS PARK AND IT'S NAMED FOR A FRANK WHO WAS A PART OF THE EDC. SO I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULDN'T PUT MY NAME ON MEMORIAL BOULEVARD. OKAY. AND SAY NO, LEMME FINISH. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. I, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULD SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULD SAY IT'S MY NAME. MY STREET. YEAH. WITH MY NAME. OKAY. WITH MY NAME ON IT? YES YOU DID. YOU JUST SAID IT. LISTEN, LEMME FINISH PLEASE. I'M GONNA LET YOU FINISH. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK FINISH, BUT WE GONNA MOVE ON. THE OTHER ASPECT OF IT. THE OTHER ASPECT, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE IT GO BACK AND FORTH. THE OTHER ASPECT OF IT'S MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND YOU CAN FINISH YOUR STATEMENT AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO FINISH THIS AGENDA. I WILL. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO SAY WAS, IS THAT I DID NOT HAVE THE FOUR VOTES. IT WAS NOT BEING LED BY ME, IT WAS THE CITIZEN, IT WAS THE COUNCIL WHO HAD FOUR VOTES. I DID NOT HAVE FOUR VOTES. SO I SIMPLY WANT TO SAY THAT AS MR. SCOTT HAS COME TO THE LECTERN AND TRIED TO SAY WHATEVER. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UM, THE RESOLUTION THAT WE HAVE, AND IT CAN MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO ALL CITIZENS, BUT THIS SAYS WHEREAS THE CITY ENGINEER AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR PRESENTED A PLAN FOR THE 2020 REMEDIATION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF CITY STREETS IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN. A PLAN FOR THE 2020, IT DIDN'T SAY A PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION OF THE, UH, OF THE STREETS PLAN REMEDIATION. IT SAYS FOR THE 2020 REMEDIATION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF STREET CITY STREETS IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. SO IT WAS A PLAN FOR THAT YEAR. IT WAS NOT A PLAN TO GO ON AND ON FOR US TO GO THROUGH WITH A CONTINUOUS PLAN. SO THAT'S THE FIRST SENTENCE IN HERE. AND IF YOU READ THE REST OF IT AND DOESN'T STATE THAT THIS IS A PLAN FOR US TO MOVE, UH, ON TO THIS. AND IT WAS, UH, ADOPTED BY, UH, BY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I DON'T THINK I HAVE IT. OH, BART, I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE. MAYOR PRO, TEM DOUCETTE, SCOTT JONES, KEN LAW AND MOSES IN 2020. IT WAS A PLAN FOR THE 2020. IT DID NOT GO BEYOND THAT. WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON. THEY CAN, WE'LL MAKE THIS AVAILABLE TO YOU GUYS. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THE VIDEO CLIP. THE VIDEO. BUT THIS IS FOR 2020. THE VIDEO IS SIMPLE FOR THE VIDEO. ALL WE HAVE TO DO JUST GO RIGHT TO THE WEBSITE. OKAY. THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THAT NOW. OH, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THAT. BUT IN THE MEANTIME WE'VE GOTTA MOVE ON. THAT'S 'CAUSE WE HAVE A PRESENT MINUTE. BUT THAT IS, I UNDERSTAND. BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON. WE HAVE [III.C.(1) A Presentation By Water Utilities Regarding The Water Meter Project] A PRESENTATION BY THE WATER UTILITIES REGARDING THE WATER MEDIA PROJECT. WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU. [03:05:04] UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UH, WE'RE FINALIZING THE SELECTION AND THE RECOMMENDATION WE EXPECT TO COME TO COUNCIL, UH, NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. IT'S THE RESOLUTION IS IN THE PROCESS. SO I, THERE, I'M KINDA LIMITED TO WHAT I CAN TALK ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S NOT PUBLIC, BUT WE HAD SEVEN BIDDERS FOR THE NEW METER PROJECT. UH, WE, UH, PLAN TO AWARD IT NEXT COUNCIL. UH, I THINK THAT IT'S PROBABLY WITH, UH, THE LAW DEPARTMENT, THE, UH, SELECTED VENDOR IS, UH, WE EXPECT TO SAVE BETWEEN THREE AND $4 MILLION FROM THE RFP THAT WAS CANCELED. WE, UH, WILL BE REPLACING ALL THE METERS AND THE A MI SYSTEM WITHIN THE CITY. SO WE WILL HAVE GOOD READINGS. WE WILL GET RID OF A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON FAILED READINGS AND HAVING TO ESTIMATE. OKAY. WHICH CAUSES A LOT OF ISSUES WITH ADJUSTMENTS. UH, ONE OF THE, I THINK THE THINGS THAT WILL HELP THE CUSTOMERS THE MOST IS THERE WILL BE AVAILABLE A CUSTOMER PORTAL WHERE YOU CAN, UH, WE HAVEN'T WORKED OUT THE EXACT DETAILS, WHETHER IT'LL PROBABLY BE WHERE YOU LOG INTO AN ACCOUNT AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE YOUR CURRENT WATER. IF YOU SET THE SYSTEM UP, IT'LL NOTIFY YOU IF YOU HAVE A CONTINUOUS FLOW, A KAA LEAK, LIKE A LEAKING TOILET, IT WOULD NOTIFY YOU THAT YOU HAVE CONTINUOUS FLOW AND YOU NEED TO INVESTIGATE IT, WHICH WILL GO A LONG WAYS TO HELP. UH, LEAKING TOILET CAN BE 1400 GALLONS A MONTH. IT'S CAN BE QUITE A BIG HIT ON, ON YOUR BILL. UH, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT YOUR CURRENT USAGE TO KNOW IF YOU'RE LIKE CREEPING UP MORE THE, IT'LL HAVE OTHER ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS AVAILABLE THAT WE'LL COME TO COUNCIL WITH ONCE WE MAKE THE SELECTION. SO, UH, OR MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, COME TO, TO Y'ALL FOR AWARD. SO THE GOAL IS TO BE HERE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING FOR AWARD, ASSUMING WE GET THROUGH THE LEGAL REVIEWS AND ALL OF THAT. SO WE'RE, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH LYNN. SHE'S, SHE'S GETTING THE FUNDING ALL AVAILABLE FOR IT, WHICH WILL BE PAID FOR OUT OF THE, THE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS. OKAY. THAT'S, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S THE PRESENTATION. OKAY. I, I DON'T WANNA SAY TOO MUCH 'CAUSE IT'S NOT PUBLIC YET. OKAY. WELL, WE'LL, APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT COMPANY, WE'RE GONNA MOVE [III.F.(1) A Discussion Regarding The City's Lack Of Transparency (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Doucet)] RIGHT ALONG TO A DISCUSSION AND NUMBER ONE, A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CITY'S LACK OF TRANSPARENCY REQUESTED BY MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE. OKAY, WE GOT SO MUCH TO DO WHEN WE EVEN STARTED, SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE LONG. I'M GONNA GO RIGHT TO THE POINT WITH TRANSPARENCY. WE HAVE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE CITY THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW, AND I'M A COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, WE DISCUSS THINGS AND THINGS COME BEFORE US. WE HAVE, UH, THINGS THAT APPEAR ON THE AGENDA. THE, THE FIRST TIME I KNOW ABOUT IT IS WHEN IT'S ON THE AGENDA. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE COULD DISCUSS IN AN OPEN MEETING. AND WHEN WE ARE DISCUSSING THESE THINGS, CITIZENS GOING TO HEAR. THEY'RE GOING TO HEAR WHAT WE, WHAT WE GOING DO, WHAT'S COMING UP. BUT AS IT STANDS, IT COMES TO US AND WE SUPPOSED TO VOTE. AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT COME BEFORE US IS BEING DISCUSSED BEFORE IT GETS UP HERE. BECAUSE THE ONLY REASON SOMETHING OF THAT MAGNITUDE COULD COME TO US IN THAT TYPE FASHION, SOMEONE HAS TO BE SAYING, LET'S DO IT. YOU KNOW, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE SHOULD ALL TAKE PRIDE IN MAKING SURE THAT WHAT WE DISCUSS AND WE MAKE EVERYTHING WE DO TRANSPARENT. YOU KNOW, I'VE QUESTIONED THINGS MYSELF ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DISCUSS DOWNSTAIRS, BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT WE WANT TO DISCUSS, AND I LOOK AT THE OPEN MEDIA ACT, I DON'T SEE WHERE THEY MARRY TOGETHER. BUT LIKE EVERYBODY TALK ABOUT JUST MONEY, THAT WAS THE OTHER THING I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT WITH FORENSIC AUDIT. THEY LOOK INTO THAT TYPE STUFF TOO, OKAY? BECAUSE WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WHAT WE DISCUSS DOWN THERE IS ALLOWED. WHEN I, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER ASK, WHY ARE WE GOING TO DISCUSS THIS DOWNSTAIRS? AND A COUNCIL MEMBER TELL ME? WELL, THE CITY ATTORNEY WANTS TO TALK, TALK ABOUT IT DOWNSTAIRS. AND THEN WHEN I TURN TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, SAME QUESTION. WHY ARE WE GONNA DOWNSTAIRS? THE CITY ATTORNEY TELLS ME, WELL, COUNCIL HAS REQUESTED [03:10:01] THAT I DO AN INTERPRETATION OF SOMETHING. AND YOU KNOW, I WANT EVERY CITIZEN WHO HEAR OR OR VIEW THIS MEETING, GO AND READ TEXT, THE LOCAL COMMENT. 5 51. JUST READ IT YOURSELF AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE'S VERY FEW THINGS WE COULD DISCUSS DOWNSTAIRS. AND WHEN IT COMES TO LAND, SELL, UH, LEASE PURCHASE CONVEY, WE COULD DISCUSS ALL OF THAT UPSTAIRS. AND THE REASON WE CAN, BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CONFLICT WITH A POSSIBLE THIRD PERSON PARTY. NEVER COULD WE USE A REALTOR. SO WHEN WE GET IT, IT'S ALREADY DECIDED WHO'S GONNA GET IT. 'CAUSE THE LAW TELL US, GONNA GET IT TO IT GOES TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. BUT WE ARE NOT NEGOTIATING NO COST OR NOTHING WITH NOBODY. WE GETTING BEDS. SO ANYTIME WE TALK ABOUT SALE, UH, OR CONVEY OR ANYTHING DEALING WITH PROPERTY, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DISCUSS IT UP HERE. WE HAVE THIS, UH, LAND THAT WE ARE GONNA BE HAVE TO, TO SUBMIT ON PLEASURE ISLAND BECAUSE OF THE WIDENING OF THE NATURES THING. I DON'T SEE WHERE ANYTHING THERE WHERE CITIZENS CAN'T KNOW THAT WE IN THE PROCESS AND WE GONNA LOSE THAT PROPERTY AND THAT PROPERTY'S GONNA GO IN THERE. WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK PRICE. WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT MONEY, BUT WE COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAY TRANSPARENCY. I COULD GO ON, I HAD OTHER THINGS TO TALK ABOUT, BUT WITH TIME TONIGHT, I THINK EVERYBODY GET THIS. WHAT I WANT TO SAY, I'M A COUNCIL MEMBER AND I'M SEEING THINGS COME BEFORE COUNCIL THAT I DIDN'T KNOW. AND SO IF IT AIN'T TRANSPARENT TO ME, I KNOW IT AIN'T TRANSPARENT TO CITIZENS. THAT'S ALL. MAYOR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT DISCUSSION HAS BEEN REMOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER EVERFI. SHE'LL BRING YOU BACK AT A LATER DATE. UM, AT THIS TIME WE HAVE ALREADY DONE OUR PUBLIC HEARING. [V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST (LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF TWO (2) MINUTES PER COUNCILMEMBER)] UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO REPORTS AND IF COUNSELS, IF YOU HAVE ANY, I, UM, I'M SORRY. UM, WOULD LIKE TO GIVE RECOMMENDATION ON, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM THE PORT ARTHUR NEWS. UM, AND WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON THAT AWARD, UM, UH, AS THE BEST COUNCIL MEMBER. SO, HELLO. WE JUST SAY THANK YOU, HELLO TO YOU FOR THAT. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. IF COUNSEL, IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS OR ANYTHING, WE CAN MOVE ON. WE DON'T HAVE ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS. THERE'S NO UN UN UNFINISHED BUSINESS. WE'RE [VII. CONSENT AGENDA ] GONNA MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO WITHHOLD? WOULD YOU PLEASE NOW, UM, SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS AND PUT, UM, LET'S PUT 'EM OUT PUBLICLY SO WE CAN, UH, GO AND TELL ME WHAT PAGE AND WHAT NUMBER YOU ARE WANTING TO WITHHOLD. IF NOT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT, UM, UH, TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA YOU'D LIKE TO WITHHOLD, PLEASE DO SO AT THIS TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE, YOUR LIGHT IS ON. YES. MAYOR ITEM TWO ON PAGE FOUR. OKAY. THREE ON FIVE AND SEVEN ON SIX MIRROR. OKAY. ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? I HAVE NO OTHER LIGHTS. ONE ON ONE ON FOUR. WHAT? ONE ON FOUR SEVEN. OKAY. AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF ITEM ONE AND TWO ON PAGE FOUR. ITEM THREE ON PAGE FIVE. AND ITEM SEVEN ON PAGE NUMBER SIX. IT'S BEEN MOVED. SECOND AND PROPERLY SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE CONSENT AGENDA PASSES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME. WE'RE GOING TO, UM, THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA. AGENDA HAS PASSED [VII.C.(1) P.R. No. 24390 - A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Accept Closeout Documents Submitted By Greenscapes, Inc. Of Liberty, Texas, For Port Arthur Transit's Bus Stops Reconstruction Project And Authorizing The City Manager To Release The Retainage In The Amount Of $9,958.78; Funds Available In Account 401-00000-2050-00- 000 Project TRI 1316 CAP.OCO] AT THIS TIME. WE'RE GOING TO, UH, HANDLE THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THIS TIME. WE'RE GONNA START WITH COUNT. UM, ON PAGE FOUR, COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK HAS PULLED PR NUMBER 2 4 3 9 0. IT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED AND CITY MANAGER EXCEPT CLOSEOUT DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY GREEN SCAPES INCORPORATED OF LIBERTY, TEXAS FOR THE PORT ARTHUR TRANSIT BUS STOPS RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO RELEASE THE RETAINAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,958 AND 78 CENTS. FUNDS AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 4 0 1 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 2 5 0 0 0 0. [03:15:04] PROJECT TR 1 13 1 16 CZE, UH, UM, ZERO C ZERO AND MOTION FOR APPROVAL MOVE. IT'S BEEN MOVED. CAN I GET A SECOND? SECOND. IT'S BEEN SECOND. THE QUESTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER, FRANK, YOU WANNA PUT YOUR LIGHT ON? COUNCILOR FRANK MIKE, CITY MANAGER. UM, THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED OUT OF OUR BOOKLET SAYS THAT THERE WERE, UH, 24 BUS STOPS. ALL OF THOSE BUS STOPS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. BLEEDING, UH, THOSE ARE BASICALLY BUS PADS WITH CHAIR WITH THE BENCHES ON THEM THOUGH. YEAH. ALL 20 THAT ARE COVERING IT. YEAH. ALL 24 WERE COMPLETED? YES. AND DO THEY ALL MEET A DA COMPLIANCE? YES. THE, UH, ENGINEERS REQUIRED TO DESIGN THEM TO MEET A DA. YES. AND HOW MANY MORE BUS STOPS DO WE NEED, UM, TO DO SO THAT, TO BE SURE THAT, UH, THE REMAINDER OF THEM MEET A DAA COMPLIANCE. UM, SO I'M GONNA DO SOME ROUNDING. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT 450 BUS STOPS CITYWIDE. UM, WE'VE COMPLETED, AS OF NOW, I'M GONNA SAY CLOSE TO A HUNDRED. SO WE HAVE ABOUT 350 MORE TO DO. UM, WE'RE DOING THEM IN SETS. SO WE HAVE A SET THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA BID OUT. I'M TRYING TO DO IT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. UM, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET THE FINAL ENGINEERING DONE ON THEM, BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH IT. SO WE STILL HAVE QUITE A LOT TO DO, BUT I, I BUDGET MONEY EVERY YEAR FOR IT. SO IT'S, IT'S JUST A PROCESS THAT WE JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH OVER TIME. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES. OKAY. WE HAVE NO OTHER LIGHTS. ALL IN FAVOR? A AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. [VII.C.(2) P.R. No. 24482 - A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Professional Engineering Services Agreement Between The City Of Port Arthur And Soutex Surveyors 8i Engineering, Inc., (Soutex) Of Port Arthur, Texas, For The Construction Management And Surveying Of The Rice Farm Road Drainage Improvement Project For The Amount Of $27,100.00. Funding Is Subject To The Approval Of The FY25-26 Budget. Drainage Account Number 30721-055-8515-00-10-000. Project No. DRIP10.CON] WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM NUMBER TWO. PR NUMBER 2 4 4 8 2. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED AND CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND SOUTH TECH SURVEYORS AND ENGINEERING, INCORPORATED SOUTH TEXAS OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND SURVEYING OF THE RICE FARM ROAD. DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR THE AMOUNT OF $27,100. FUNDING IS SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE FY 25 26 BUDGET. DRAINAGE ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 21 5 5 8 5 15 0 0 0 0. PROJECT NUMBER DRIP 10. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? I MOVE. IT'S BEEN MOTIONED. AND SECOND, UH, QUESTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE? YES. CITY MANAGER. I READ THE RESO, UH, THE RESOLUTION AND IT SAID THAT WE ARE REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR, TO HIRE THEM TO DO THE, THE MANAGEMENT AND SURVEYING, CORRECT? YES. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, THE MANAGEMENT AND SURVEY, THAT'S WHAT THE RESOLUTION SAID, HUH? YES. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND SURVEYING AND SURVEY. OKAY. WHEN I GO BACK TO THE RESOLUTION AND READ IT, WE ALREADY HAD THE SURVEY DONE. WE ALREADY PAID FOR THE SURVEY. WE DONE THE SURVEY WHEN WE, WHEN WE APPROVED THE ACTUAL DESIGN AND SURVEYING. AND THAT WAS PAID, I THINK 127,000 OR SOMETHING. SO WE PAID THAT ALREADY. YOU READY? YEAH. YEAH. ASK MAYOR. COUNSEL. YES. THIS PROJECT, LIKE YOU ALL KNOW, IS A JOINT VENTURE WITH DD SEVEN. THE DD SEVEN IS DOING ALL THE CHANNEL WORK AND THE CITY IS DOING ALL THE PIPING AND CULVERTS UNDER THE NINTH AVENUE. AND WHEN THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETED, WE NEED ASBUILT DRAWINGS. SINCE THE WE, WE ARE KEEPING RECORDS OF ALL THE STUFF WE NEED TO GPS EVERYTHING. WE NEED TO GET ELEVATIONS. SO WHEN THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED, WE NEED THEM TO GO BACK AND PREPARE THE AS-BUILT DRAWINGS, WHICH REQUIRE SURVEYING TO DO THAT. OKAY? I'M NOT THROUGH, I STILL GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT. OKAY. WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH DD SEVEN AND AS STATED IN THE RESOLUTION, IT SAYS DD SEVEN IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION WORK BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE. I ALSO KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. THEIR DITCHES AND CANALS, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO SEMEN. SO IF THEY GOING TO DO THIS PROJECT, AND THIS IS AN AGREEMENT, ALL WE GOTTA DO IS FURNISH [03:20:01] THE MATERIAL. SO WHY DO WE HAVE TO PAY? HOW MUCH WAS THIS, UH, THIS 20? WHY DO WE HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMEBODY TO MANAGE IT WHEN THAT'S GONNA BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A D SEVEN? I KNOW WE ARE NOT GONNA GO OVER THERE AND TRY TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO BECAUSE THE AGREEMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WHEREBY THEY WERE GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND WE GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THE MATERIAL. IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT THE AGREEMENT SAYS? THIS PROJECT, LIKE I SAID, IS A JOINT VENTURE. THERE'S DD SEVEN THAT'S DOING THE DITCHES AND THE CITY BID, THE REST OF THE PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDES PIPING, UH, BOXES UNDER NINTH AVENUE, CREATING LANES, WHICH IS BEING DONE BY A CONTRACTOR, NOT DD SEVEN. OKAY. AND THEY WILL BE MANAGING THAT CONTRACTOR, BUT ALSO WHEN THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE, THEY WILL BE SURVEYING THE DITCH FOR AS-BUILTS AS WELL. I'M, I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT. IT'S GONNA BE THE ROAD AND STUFF. 'CAUSE I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE DITCH PORTION. ALL I NEEDED TO KNOW WAS THAT WHILE WERE DOING THE ADDITIONAL WORK, THERE'S ADDITIONAL WORK. OKAY. THANK THAT. THE APPROVE. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. SAY AYE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. WE'RE [VII.C.(3) P.R. No. 24494 - A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Amend The Original Professional Services Agreement Resolution 23515, Between The City Of Port Arthur And Fittz And Shipman, Inc., Of Port Arthur, Texas, For Construction Phase Services Associated With The Mechanic Street And South 1st Avenue Roadway Reconstruction Project In Sabine Pass, Texas, For The Amount Of $60,000.00. Funds Are Available In The Street Account No. 307-21053-8517-00-10-000. Project No. ST1P90.ENG] GONNA MOVE TO PAGE NUMBER FIVE. NUMBER THREE, ER NUMBER 2, 4 4 9 4. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED AND CITY MANAGER TO AMEND THE ORIGINAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT. RESOLUTION 2 3 5 1 5 BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND FITZ AND SHIPMENT INCORPORATED OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MECHANIC STREET AND SOUTH FIRST AVENUE ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN SABINE PASS, TEXAS FOR THE AMOUNT OF $60,000 FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE STREET. ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 21 5 3 8 5 7 10. PROJECT NUMBER T ONE P NINE G. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO SECOND, I GOT A MOTION. AND A SECOND QUESTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE? YES. WHO'S MANAGING THIS PROJECT? ALL, EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING. I MIGHT ASK THAT THE, WE'RE AWAKE NOW. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. ONCE AGAIN. UH, WHO'S MANAGING THIS PROJECT? JOHN, GO AHEAD. AT, AT THE TIME IT WAS FITZ AND SHIPMAN. THIS WAS A TDOT FUNDED PROJECT DOWN IN SABINE PASS WHERE WE WERE PAVING THIS ROAD. OKAY. JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO'S MANAGING, WHO WAS MANAGING THE PROJECT? FITZ AND SHIPMENT WAS. OKAY, SO THEY, THEY WERE THE CONTRACT MANAGER. OKAY. MY NEXT QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH WAS THE GRANT THROUGH ALL THIS INFORMATION THAT I WAS GIVEN? I DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE MONEY WAS. HOW MUCH MONEY WAS THE GRANT? , YOU'RE GONNA TAX MY MEMORY, BUT I I WANNA SAY IT WAS ABOUT 1.8 MILLION. THE WHOLE TOP PROJECT? YES. OKAY. 1.8 MILLION MM-HMM . UH, DID WE HAVE TO PAY ANY MATCHING? YES. WE HAD A, A 10 TO 20% MATCH. I, I CAN'T REMEMBER IT RIGHT, RIGHT OFF HAND. OKAY. THE REASON I'M ASKING THE QUESTION IS WE TALKING ABOUT GETTING AN INCREASE. I WANNA KNOW IF WE GET IT $6,000. IS IT PART, ARE THAT MONEY GONNA BE COVERED BY THE GRANT OR ARE WE GONNA HAVE TO PUT MONEY IN? ORIGINALLY? COUNCILMAN, I THOUGHT THAT TXDOT WOULD COVER THESE COSTS, BUT THE REASON THIS WAS CAUSED BY, UH, A PIPELINE RUPTURE IN THE DITCH. AND SO WE HAD TO GET TCEQ INVOLVED. WE HAD TO REMEDIATE SOME OF THE SOILS. THERE WAS A LOT OF ADDITIONAL WORK THAT WE AT THE, AS THE CITY ENDED UP PERFORMING AND TXDOT DIDN'T, WASN'T GONNA REIMBURSE US FOR THAT. OKAY. SO THEY DIDN'T REVERSE THAT'S WHY COUNT IT HAD TO COME OUT OF OURS. YES. SEE THAT'S COME, I ASKED HOW MUCH IT WAS THE GRANT. I WANT TO KNOW IF WE EXCEEDED THE GRANT. HOW MUCH? OKAY, SO THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION. THANK YOU, JOHN. YEAH. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY NO'S? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. [VII.C.(7) P.R. No. 24515 - A Resolution Ratifying The City Manager's Emergency Execution Of Change Order No. 1 For The Rice Farm Road Drainage Improvement Project-Phase I From SETEX Construction Corp. Of Beaumont, Texas, For The Installation Of A 12" Insta- Valve On A Main Water Line For The Amount Of $33,162.55. Funds Are Available In The Capital Improvement Account No. 307-21-053-8517-00-10-000. Project No. DR1P10] MOVE TO NUMBER SEVEN ON PAGE NUMBER SIX OF OUR CONSENT AGENDA. IT'S PR NUMBER 2 4 5 1 5 A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER'S EMERGENCY EXECUTION OF CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE FOR THE RICE FORM ROAD DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT. FA UH, PROJECT PHASE ONE FROM SOUTH, UH, SETX CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION OF BEAUMONT, [03:25:01] TEXAS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A 12 INCH INSTA VALVE ON A MAIN WATERLINE FOR THE AMOUNT OF $33,162 AND 55 CENTS. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT. NUMBER 3 0 7 2 1 0 5 3 DASH 8 5 7 0 0 DASH ZERO ZERO. PROJECT NUMBER DR ONE P ONE ZERO. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOTIONED. AND SECOND, UM, QUESTIONS. COUNCILOR MEMBER ETT? YES. OH, I LOOKED AT THE BACKGROUND AND SEE WHAT WE HAD THE, UH, LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO US FOR THE, UH, REQUEST THAT WAS DATED SEVEN JULY. SO I WANT TO KNOW WHY ARE WE HAVING TO RATIFY THIS, UH, CHANGE ORDER? IT WAS AN EMERGENCY. SO THEREFORE IF YOU RECEIVE THIS IN JULY 7TH JULY, WE HAD, WE HAD NUMEROUS COUNCIL MEETINGS SINCE THEN. SO WHY DIDN'T WE GET IT BEFORE? I MEAN, SOMEBODY'S SITTING AROUND ON IT. WHAT'S UP? I, I'D LIKE TO DISTRIBUTE SOMETHING WE CAN, OKAY? MM-HMM . MM-HMM . WHICH, WHICH, WHICH, UH, UH, HOLD UP. LET ME LET JUST SAY THIS. OKAY. RIGHT NOW I JUST, I JUST WANT TO KNOW MY QUESTION IS, I DON'T NEED, MY QUESTION IS SIMPLY WHY ARE WE GETTING A REQUEST TO APPROVE RATIFICATION? THIS WAS AN EMERGENCY, IT WAS DONE IN JULY, AND I'M ASKING WHY ARE WE JUST GETTING IT AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER? GO AHEAD COUNCIL. I'M SORRY. COUNCIL BERG. GO AHEAD, MS. DR. HANEY. BECAUSE WHEN WE GOT THIS IN JULY, WE HAD A CERTAIN LOCATION WE WERE INSTALLED TRYING TO INSTALL THIS VALVE AT. AND THE REASON WE'RE INSTALLING THIS VALVE IS WE ARE TRYING TO MINIMIZE THE WATER OUTAGES IN THE AREA WHILE WE ISOLATE THE LINE TO REPLACE THE SECTION UNDER THAT DITCH. THAT DD SEVEN IS DEEPENING AND WIDENING. SO WE KNOW THERE'S A VALVE OUT THERE ON RICE FARM ROAD UNDER THE DRIVEWAY THAT WAS RECENTLY INSTALLED FOR THE TOWNHOUSES. THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY TWO EXISTING EMPLOYEES AND ONE PREVIOUS EMPLOYEE. WE DON'T WANNA BREAK THAT DRIVEWAY, WE DON'T WANNA GO TAKE A CHANCE ON IT. SO WE DECIDED TO INSTALL THAT VALVE TO ISOLATE THAT AREA. AND UNTIL LAST WEEK, WE WERE STILL HAVING ISSUES ISOLATING THAT AREA WITHOUT CUTTING THE APARTMENTS OFF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE TOWNHOUSES. AND WE FIGURED OUT LAST WEEK HOW TO DO IT BY LOCATING SOME OTHER VALVES THAT ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT DITCH. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING THIS TO Y'ALL BECAUSE WE RECENTLY DISCOVERED HOW TO DO IT. WE WERE GONNA TRY AND MAKE SURE WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER INSERTER VALVE IN ORDER TO ISOLATE THE AREA. AND WE BELIEVE WE DON'T AT THIS TIME. SO WE'RE GONNA GET THE CONTRACTOR OUT THERE SOON TO ISOLATE AND TAKE THAT SECTION OUT AND SEE HOW IT GOES. NO OTHER QUESTIONS. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE A AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. AT [VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 24446 - A Resolution Nominating A Member And / Or Members To The Board Of Directors Of The Jefferson Central Appraisal District For The 2026-2029 Term ] THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO OUR, UH, ITEMS REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION. WE'LL GO TO OUR, UH, NON-CONSENT AGENDA. WE'RE GONNA START WITH NUMBER ONE. IT'S PR NUMBER 2 4 4 4 6 A RESOLUTION, NOMINATING A MEMBER AND OR MEMBERS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE JEFFERSON CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT FOR THE 20 26 20 29 TERM. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBERS? WE SENT MEMOS OUT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS GOT THAT. SO ARE WE GOOD WITH THAT? AND WE'RE JUST GONNA WAIT. OKAY. UM, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. [VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 24485 - A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Soutex Surveyors & Engineers Of Port Arthur, Texas, To Provide Drawings And Specifications For The Extension Of Jimmy Johnson Boulevard From The Medical Center Of Southeast Texas To Park Central Boulevard Near FM-365, For The Not-To- Exceed Amount Of $395,000.00. Funds Are Available In The Street Improvement Account No. 307-21-053-8517-00-10-000. Project No. ST4001] WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. ITEMS. REQUIREMENT INDIVIDUAL ACTION, AGAIN, ARE NON-CONSENT. NUMBER TWO, PR NUMBER 2 4 4 8 5 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH SOUTH TEXAS SURVEYORS ENGINEERS OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS TO PROVIDE DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE EXTENSION OF JIMMY JOHNSON BOULEVARD FROM THE MEDICAL CENTER OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS TO PARK CENTRAL BOULEVARD NEAR FM 365 [03:30:01] FOR THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $395,000. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE STREET IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH 21 DASH 0 5 3 8 5 7 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH ZERO. PROJECT NUMBER T 4 0 0 1. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? I'M SO MOVED. IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS QUESTION? YES, I HAVE TWO LIGHTS. UH, COUNCILOR BECKHAM. THANK YOU. UM, I THINK THE CITY MANAGER CAN PROBABLY CLEAR THIS UP FOR US, BUT THERE'S BEEN SOME MISINFORMATION GOING AROUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT WHO ACTUALLY OWNS THIS PROPERTY THAT'S ABOUT TO BE TURNED INTO A ROAD EXTENSION. UM, IT'S, IT'S BEEN, UH, ALLUDED TO THAT THIS IS PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT WE'RE NOW DEVELOPING AT OUR OWN EXPENSE. SO CAN YOU SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE ACTUAL OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROPERTY THAT'S GOING TO BE TURNED INTO THIS ROAD EXTENSION SO WE CAN CLEAR THAT UP AND BE TRANSPARENT. EXCUSE NUMBER 2 4 5 1 2 2 4 4 8 5. NUMBER TWO, THE RESOLUTION TO, UM, EXTEND, UH, YOUR LIGHT. I'M SORRY. YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE THE ORDINANCE PRESENT HERE. UM, UM, UH, ANTHONY, COULD YOU COME TO THE PODIUM RIGHT NOW? MAYOR, IF YOU, IF YOU KNOW THAT THE, THIS ITEM WAS ON THE AGENDA SOMETIME AGO, A FEW YEARS AGO OR A YEAR OR SO AGO. UM, AND ALL WE ARE DOING AT THIS POINT IS WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DESIGNING OF THE, UM, STREET HERE. THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN SPOKEN ABOUT FOR YEARS RIGHT NOW FROM JIMMY JOHNSON TO UM, 365. THERE IS ABOUT 500 ACRES, 500 TO 550 ACRES INVOLVED IN THERE, WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL OF, UM, PROVIDING CONSIDERABLE, UM, TAXES FOR THE CITY OF POFA. IF THIS PROPERTY IS RESUME, IF ALL OF IT IS RESOLVED AND UM, WE CAN LOOK AT, UM, UM, IT BEING OF A BENEFIT TO THE CITY, UM, AS A WHOLE, BOTH IN TERMS OF PROPERTY TAXES AND UM, SALES TAX. GO AHEAD ANTHONY. OKAY. UM, WE'RE GONNA, ANTHONY? YES. MAYOR AND COUNCIL? YES. ANTHONY LAJA? YES. UH, 37 37 DOCTORS DRIVE, UM, WITH CELLEX. MM-HMM. UH, WE ARE REPRESENTING THE OWNER, WHICH IS MARK VERNON. HE IS HERE WITH US TODAY AND CONFIRMED THAT HE IS THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AND IS STILL IN, UH, FAVOR OF NEG, UH, DONATING THIS, UH, PORTION OF THE, HIS PROPERTY FOR THE EXTENSION OF JIMMY JOHNSON, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY SEVEN ACRES. OH, DON DONATING. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT WE NEEDED TO KNOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, EXCUSE ME. SHE SAID MARCUS BACK THERE? YES. UH, MR. BURN IS HERE. OKAY. I HAVE A FEW MORE LIKES. THANK YOU COUNCILOR BECKHAM, YOU'RE DONE. UH, YES. I JUST WANTED IT TO BE VERY CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT THAT THIS PROPERTY IS BEING DONATED FOR THIS PROJECT AND THAT WE ARE NOT IMPROVING SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY. THAT IT'S ACTUALLY BEING DONATED TO THE CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE. YES. IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT SOMEBODY'S DONATING PROPERTY. THIS MONEY THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DURING THIS STREET INN IS COMING OUT THE CAL IMPROVEMENT STREET FUND. THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TO RECONSTRUCTION OR REHABILITATION OF STREETS, NOT NEW STREETS. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OWNER OWNING THIS PROPERTY. THE OWNER OWN IT. HOW IS THAT PROPERTY ZONED PRESENT? YOUR QUESTION IS WHAT? SAY IT AGAIN. HOW IS IT ZONED? THE PROPERTY NOW IS AGRICULTURAL. YES. THE CHEAPEST PROPERTY YOU CAN GET. NOW, IF WE PUT A ROAD IN THERE MORE THAN LIGHTLY, IT COULD BE PUT NOW FOR COMMERCIAL. OKAY. IT COULD BE SOLD AS COMMERCIAL. WE DIDN'T HAVE PUT A ROAD IN THERE. OKAY. SO NOW THE PROPERTY COULD GO UP. SO YOU DON'T THINK THE OWNER AIN'T HAPPY TO LET YOU HAVE THE LAND TO PUT THE STREET IN AND THE COST IS GONNA COST US TO PUT THE STREET IN. LET ME TAKE IT A STEP FARTHER. OKAY. WHEN WE DO STREETS IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND WHEN THEY DO STREETS IN MOST CITIES, WHEN YOU TALKING ABOUT DOING THE STREET, WHERE IS UNDEVELOPED PROPERTY IS NORMALLY DONE BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S GOING TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTY. AND WHEN THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTY DECIDES I'M GOING TO HAVE A DEVELOPMENT [03:35:01] HERE, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE CITY TO DO SOMETHING, THE DEVELOPER SUBMITS TO THE CITY A REQUEST FOR AN INCENTIVE. AND WHAT WE HAVE AS A POLICY, WE CAN PROVIDE WHAT IS CALLED A DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT. IN THAT CASE, IF HE WANTS TO DEVELOPER THAT AREA, HE'S GONNA SUBMIT TO THE CITY HIS PROJECT OR HIS DEVELOPMENT. AND WITH THAT PLAN, WHAT WE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LOOK AT HOW MUCH THIS DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO COST, IS GONNA TELL US HOW MUCH TAXES THIS DEVELOPMENT IS GONNA GENERATE TO FOR US. AND IF WE GET THOSE NUMBERS, THEN WE SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE INCENTIVE. WHAT THE INCENTIVE SAYS. THE INCENTIVE SAYS WE WILL PAY YOU 30% OF ALL YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE. WHAT I MEAN SURGE STREETS, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. WE GOING TO GIVE YOU 30% OF WHAT THE ACTUAL COSTS ARE TO YOU. AND WHEN YOU PUT YOUR STREET IN, YOU GOING TO NEED IT TO US. SO NOW WE GET TO PAY 30% OF THAT STREET AND WE GOING TO NOW SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT AND TAX REVENUE. EVERYBODY TALK ABOUT, OH, IT'S GONNA GENERATE THIS AMOUNT OF TAX. HOW YOU GOING, HOW YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TAXES IS GONNA GENERATE. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GONNA BE BUILT THERE. WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO BUSINESS LIKE THAT. IT CAME BEFORE US ONE TIME AND I LOOKED AT THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION, CITY MANAGER, WASN'T IT OVER A YEAR AGO I LOOKED AT THIS INFORMATION. THIS IS THE SAME INFORMATION THAT WE WERE PRESENTED WHEN WE DISAPPROVED IT THE FIRST TIME. THIS SAME INFORMATION. SO IF WE DISAPPROVE A RESOLUTION, IT'S DEAD. UNLESS SOMEBODY SAYS WE WANT YOU TO RECONSIDER IT. IF YOU ARE ON A WINNING TEAM, YOU COULD DO IT ANYTIME. IF YOU'RE NOT, THEN AFTER 90 DAYS ANYBODY CAN DO IT. BUT THIS IS NOT ASKING US TO RECONSIDER IT. THIS IS BRINGING THIS TO US LIKE THIS A NEW THING. THIS IS ALREADY BEEN DISAPPROVED. THIS SAME PROJECT JUST THE WAY IT IS. WHAT'S DISAPPROVED BY COUNCIL. SO THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO IT AGAIN, WE NEED TO BRING IT BACK FOR RECONSIDERATION. SO WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT IT'S GOING TO HELP DEVELOPMENT, WE DON'T GO PUT STREET IN NO MAN LAND. IF WE NOT GONNA KNOW, WE ARE NOT GONNA GET NO MONEY IN RETURN. IT SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT. SEE, BECAUSE THIS PROJECT STARTED OUT TELLING US WE WON'T PUT THE STREET IN. THEN WHEN WE THEN WHEN THEY FOUND OUT YOU CAN'T PUT THE STREET IN IF YOU DON'T OWN THE PROPERTY, THEN THE NEXT WEEK CAME BACK, OH, THE OWNERS WILL DONATE THE PROPERTY. I TOLD HIM THEN YEAH, HE DONATED 'CAUSE IT'S ADVANTAGEOUS TO HIM AND HIS PROPERTY. BUT WE ARE NOT GETTING ANYTHING IN WRITING THAT HE COULD DO SOMETHING IF WE PUT THAT STREET IN WITHOUT ANY TYPE GUARANTEE THAT THAT PROPERTY GONNA BE DEVELOPED. THEY DON'T HAVE TO EVER DO ANYTHING OUT THERE. WE JUST PUT A STREET OUT THERE, WE OWN A PROPERTY, WE PUT A STREET AND ALL WE DO IS DRIVE ON THE STREET. BUT THAT'S NO DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IF HE DOESN'T SELL, THAT'S IT. SO ALL I'M SAYING IS WE GOT POLICIES IN ON HOW WE DO THIS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET TO THE POINT WHEREBY WE DON'T WANT DO THIS THE WAY WE DO ALL DEVELOPMENT PLAN DEVELOPMENTS. Y'ALL TRYING TO TELL ME THAT WE GONNA PUT THE STREET IN 'CAUSE THEY GAVE THE LAND AND WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THAT PROPERTY. YOU SAYING THAT, BUT WHAT DOES IT SAY? IT SAYS WE SHOULD BE GOING INTO A DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT THAT WAY WE GONNA GET THIS STREET AND WE'RE GONNA GET ALL OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT AIN'T GONNA COST US BUT 30% OF THE TOTAL COST. BUT THAT'S WHAT THE DEVELOPER HAS TO PAY IN ORDER TO DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY. NOT PORT ARTHUR. WELL THAT'S ANY CITY. WE HAVE A FEW MORE LIGHTS, YOU KNOW, SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, [03:40:01] I DON'T SEE WHY THIS IS ON THE AGENDA. OKAY. BECAUSE IT WAS DISAPPROVED. OKAY. MAY I SPEAK MAYOR? YES SIR. YOU CAN. YOU CAN SPEAK, BUT I HAVE A FEW MORE COUNCIL LIGHTS. UH, ANTHONY, JUST A SECOND. OH SURE. GO AHEAD. COUNCIL MEMBER, MEMBER LEWIS. AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK. YEAH, I, WHEN THIS CAME UP BEFORE, BUT THE, THE DEVELOPER WE ALWAYS PARTICIPATE WHEN I'M HAVE TO REINSTATE WHAT COUNCILMAN DE SAID. PRETTY WELL COVERED EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, BUT THE WHY ARE WE SPECULATING WITH TAXPAYER'S MONEY. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, YOUR LIGHT IS ON. YES. UM, I GUESS I, I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M ALWAYS THE ONE, UM, THE MINDSET AND THE MENTALITY SOMETIMES IS THE SAME MINDSET AND MENTALITY THAT KEPT PLEASURE ISLAND UNDEVELOPED FOR SO MANY YEARS BECAUSE WE DON'T SEE FORWARD BECAUSE WE, WE LOOK AT THINGS AND WE DON'T SEE THE POSSIBILITIES THAT CAN EXIST. THE GENTLEMAN OWNS THAT LAND. HE HAS AN AGRICULTURAL DESIGNATION. HE GETS A, HE GETS A BREAK ON HIS TAXES FOR IT ANYWAY. HE, HE GETS, HE GETS, HE GETS A TAX, HE GETS A TAX BREAK ON AN AGRICULTURAL. I MEAN, IF HE'S AN ASTUTE BUSINESSMAN, HE'S GETTING A TAX BREAK. BUT WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES FOR US IN PORT ARTHUR TO, TO HAVE THAT DEVELOPED AND TO PUT THAT OUT, THAT ROAD THERE, TO PUT THOSE STREETS OUT THERE AND THEN HAVE A SUBDIVISION IN OUR CITY THAT WILL BRING MORE TAXES TO OUR CITY. IT'S CALLED BEING VISIONARY. IT'S CALLED LOOKING AT WHAT IS NOT THERE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF WHAT CAN EXIST. AND WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN PORT ARTHUR IN SO VERY LONG. WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN STAGNANT. AND SOMETIMES IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WE WANT TO STAY STAGNANT. BUT I BELIEVE, AND I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME DECISIONS THAT WILL BE, UH, BENEFICIAL FOR, UM, FOR, FOR THE FUTURE. SOMEONE SAID THAT THE, THE TRUE TEST OF A A, A GENERATION OR TWO TEST OF A PEOPLE IS THAT THEY PLANT TREES THAT THEY KNOW THEY'LL NEVER EAT FROM. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUTTING STREETS THERE. UM, AND UH, YOU KNOW, AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME I MIGHT NOT EVER SEE A HOUSE BUILT THERE, BUT SOMEBODY AT SOME POINT WILL SEE THOSE STREETS AND BUILD HOMES THERE THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. UM, CITY MANAGER. YEAH, MAYOR SOMETIME. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UM, SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER, 2021, MR. PATEL, THROUGH MR. LEG PROVIDED US WITH YES. WITH ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THAT VERY SAME PROPERTY. 'CAUSE MR. PATEL WAS ONE OF THE INTERESTED, UM, INDIVIDUALS IN PURCHASING OF THAT, THE PURCHASE OF THAT PROPERTY. IS THAT CORRECT, ANTHONY? THAT'S CORRECT, YES, SIR. OKAY. MR. PATEL THROUGH FLOYD BATISTE AT THE TIME, ME, HE SO REST IN PEACE PROVIDED US WITH AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS THAT SHOWS THAT THE CITY WOULD BENEFIT ABOUT 79, 70 $9 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX IF THE PROPERTY WAS TO BE DEVELOPED THAT TIME, ACCORDING TO A PLAN WHERE YOU HAD HOTELS, YOU HAD A SUBDIVISION, AND YOU HAD, UM, OTHER, UM, POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA. AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT, AT THE DIMINISHING COSTS OF, OF PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND AS THE LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO INFORM US OF THE GLOOM AND DOOM THAT IS TO COME, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT WE THINK AHEAD WITH A CERTAIN LEVEL OF VISION IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR MUCH NEEDED REVENUE FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS PROVIDES FOR US AT THIS TIME. YES. AND OPPORTUNITY FOR SALES TAX IN THE AMOUNT OF SOME 51 SOUTH, $51 MILLION OVER 20 YEARS. WE NEED TO HAVE A VISION AS TO WHERE THIS CITY IS GOING AND NOT BOW OUR HEADS AS OSTRICH IN THE SAND AND NOT THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF PORT ARTHUR. OKAY. ANTHONY, YOU HAD, UM, YOU HAD TO, UM, YOU WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT. YES, MA'AM. YES. UH, UH, THERE'S 200, JUST A LITTLE OVER 274 ACRES. AND ONCE THE LAND WAS PURCHASED, IT WAS CLEARED BY THE LANDOWNER. UH, YOU EXPANDING OVER $200,000 TO CLEAR IT AND PREP IT TO GET IT IN A CONDITION TO WHERE IT [03:45:01] WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CITY TO CONSIDER THAT AREA FOR DEVELOPMENT. HE DID TURN IN A, AN AGREEMENT TO WORK WITH THE CITY ON GETTING THIS ACCOMPLISHED AND I HAVE SUBMITTED SOME CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS THAT SHOWS THE ROADS THAT HE'S PLANNING ON PUTTING IN ONCE THIS STREET IS, IS PLACED IN THERE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CITY TO, UH, UH, ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THE, UH, FOLKS THAT ARE CALLING FOR HIM TO PUT BUILDINGS IN THERE AND START DEVELOPING THOSE AREAS. BUT HE'S WILLING TO SPEND HIS OWN MONEY TO PUT THE OTHER STREETS IN THAT WILL CONNECT TO THIS BOULEVARD. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UM, AND THAT LAND VALUE OF SEVEN ACRES IS OVER A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. YES, SIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SURE. UM, UM, AT THIS TIME WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL, I HAVE ONE QUESTION. COUNCIL, DOUCETTE. OH, I'M SORRY. TIFF, YOU HAVE TIFF. GO AHEAD PLEASE. IF YOU GO AHEAD. I, SINCE EVERYONE ALREADY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE, ASKING FOR A ROLL CALL. VOTE ROLL. OKAY, WE CAN DO THAT. SHE DIDN'T MAKE THE MOTION. SO YOU MAKE, ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION FOR THAT? NO, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A ROLL CALL. VOTE PLEASE. POINT OF ORDER. SHE DID NOT MAKE THE MOTION FOR THE ITEM COUNTER FLOOR. SHE CANNOT CALL FOR A VOTE. THE ITEM. OKAY. WELL I JUST, SHE DID NOT MAKE THE MOTION TO BRING OUT TO THE MAYOR. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY TO CALL FOR THE VOTE, MAY WE PLEASE HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE. OKAY. OKAY. WHEN I CALL FOR THE VOTE, THAT'S GOOD. I'LL DO THAT. THANK YOU, LORD. OKAY. OKAY. RIGHT QUICK. I WANT TO GO HOME. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT, UH, I MEAN, I'M SORRY COUNCIL, UM, AND FROM THE AUDIENCE BROTHER, MR. SCOTT HAS A QUESTION. OKAY. AND THEN WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO A VOTE. WE'LL DO A, UH, ROLL CALL, VOTE AGAIN. WE'VE, UM, I'VE HEARD, UH, CONVERSATIONS AND THIS TIME, UH, I HEARD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS IS WHY, UH, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ON PLEASURE ISLAND. WE WAS ON COUNCIL, WE TRIED A LOT OF THINGS IN DOING PLEASURE ISLANDS. WHEN PEOPLE COME WITH THE MONEY, THEN SOMETHING WILL BE DONE. WE GOT PEOPLE SAYING THEY GONNA BRING 8,000, 6,000 PEOPLE TO THE ISLAND. IT AIN'T HAPPENED YET. SO THIS SITUATION IS NOT ABOUT, UH, NOT DOING ANYTHING. THE THING ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION, THE CITY MANAGER, HE SAID, YOU KNOW, DREAM THE, DREAM THE DREAM, YES, WE WANNA DREAM THE DREAMS, BUT YOU'RE USING TAXPAYERS MONEY AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS PUTTING A CART BEFORE THE HORSE. OKAY? BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT HAVE A BIG DREAM, THERE ARE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES PUT IN PLACE THAT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW. NOW, THIS SAME SITUATION WE HAD, UM, UM, A A A, A BUSINESS PERSON PUT UP A HOTEL AND ANOTHER BUSINESS RIGHT NEXT TO IT. UH, LAVERNE, WHAT? HE PUT A, A HOTEL AND EVERYTHING THERE AND HE BUILT A STREET AND HE PAID FOR IT. WHEN WE GOING TO HAVE BUSINESSES PUT THERE, CITY MANAGER, LET THE BUSINESS BE PUT THERE FIRST. WE ALL HAVE BIG DREAMS, BUT WE NOT USING OUR OWN BANK ACCOUNT. MM-HMM . WE NOT USING OUR OWN BANK ACCOUNT. WE, THIS, THIS PERSON PUT UP A HOTEL. COUNCILMAN LEWIS MAY AWARE OF IT. COUNCILMAN AWARE OF IT AND HE PUT A STREET AND PAID FOR IT AND GAVE IT TO US. AND THE HOTEL STANDING, THE OTHER BUSINESS STANDING. THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S THE PROCESS IN PLACE. YOU DO, YOU, YOU FIND A DEVELOPER, YOU FIND A PERSON, THEY'RE GONNA PUT SOMETHING IN THERE, GET THAT DONE FIRST, THEN YOU GO TO NEGOTIATING. LIKE COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SAID, YOU PUTTING A CARD BEFORE THE HEARTS, YOU HAVE TO USE TAXPAYER'S MONEY AS A GOOD STEWARD. WE ALL GOT BIG DREAMS, COUNCILMAN. WE ALL GOT DREAMS. IT'S NOT ABOUT OUR DREAMS, IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE WE FOLLOW THE PROCESSES IN PLACE TO MAKE THESE DREAMS COME TRUE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY SALES TAXES SHOWING THAT WE GOING TO GET IT NOW. IT'S A DREAM. MM-HMM . OKAY. NO, WE NOT DEALING WITH TAXPAYERS MONEY ON THE DREAM. KEEP THE PROCESS IN PLACE. USE IT. DON'T PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE. NONE OF THE OTHER BUSINESS PEOPLE DOING THAT. OKAY. YOU AWARE? UH, CITY MANAGER, THE GUY THAT BUILT THE HOTEL OUT THERE, CITY MANAGER. YOU AWARE OF HIM? YOU BUILT A HOTEL, ANOTHER BUSINESS AND BUILT THE STREET AND TURNED THE STREET OVER TO US. THAT'S THE WAY YOU DO IT. THAT'S THE WAY WE DO DEAL WITH BUSINESSES. WE, THAT'S THE WAY WE DEAL WITH IT. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A, UM, CALL [03:50:01] FOR THE ROLL CALL. VOTE MAYOR AT THIS TIME. MAYOR. MAYOR. WE GOT MAYOR. WE MAYOR POINT I I ASK, I'M THE ONE THAT ASKS QUESTIONS FOR THIS. I, NO ONE HAD QUESTIONS UNTIL I NO, NO, NO SIR. I HAD FIVE LIGHTS ON THIS. YES. YES SIR. WE, BECAUSE I HAVE FIVE LIGHTS. YEAH. ONCE I SPOKE THEN LIGHTS STARTED FLYING ON. OKAY. I JUST HAVE THIS, I JUST HAVE ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY AND I DON'T SEE NO REASON I SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. IT'S NOT GONNA BE LONG, SIR, BUT IT'S IN RESPONSE TO WHAT WAS SAYING SAID, SAY, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU HAVE TWO TIMES TO SPEAK ON ANY GIVEN, UH, RESOLUTION. I ONLY SPOKE AND YOU'VE ALREADY, NO SIR. NO SIR. WHEN DID I, THAT'S NOT THE CASE. DID I TAKE TWICE MAYOR? AS FAR AS I CAN TELL YOU SPOKEN TWICE WHEN I'VE ONLY SPOKE ONE TIME. I WAS THE ONE QUESTIONING HIM WHEN YOU STOPPED AND THEN YOU QUESTIONED. NO, I DID NOT. I'M NOT GONNA DEBATE THAT. BASICALLY WE HAVE A MOTION POINT. THE BOARD. MAYOR, I'VE ONLY SPOKE ONE TIME ON THIS ISSUE. OKAY. I'M GONNA ROLL WITH YOUR, I'M GONNA GO WITH YOUR POINT. THANK YOU. YOUR SECOND POINT. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. OKAY, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO A VOTE. OKAY. I JUST WANNA POINT OUT WHAT I SAID IN MY PRESENTATION IS A PRIME EXAMPLE HERE WE HEAR, I BELIEVE WE GOTTA GO, WE GOTTA THINK OUT OF THE BOX. AND ONCE AGAIN, EVERYTHING I SAID IS IN BLACK AND WHITE. IT'S POLICY, IT'S PROCEDURE, IT'S HOW WE SUPPOSED TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS CITY. THE CITY MANAGER GAVE US THIS LARGE NUMBER OF HOW MUCH TAXES. THAT WAS A PLAN THAT A DEVELOPER BROUGHT TO US. AND 'CAUSE HE COULD NOT GET THE STREET DONE, HE DECIDED HE WASN'T GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT BUY THE PROPERTY UNLESS WE PUT THE STREET IN. BUT WE CAN'T PUT THE STREET IN 'CAUSE HE DIDN'T OWN THE PROPERTY. HE HAD A DEVELOPMENT, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE NO PROPERTY. HE DIDN'T DO IT. SO BECAUSE HE DIDN'T DO IT, THE MANAGER IS SAYING HOW MUCH WE GONNA MAKE? THAT'S F**K, WE SHOULDN'T DO THAT. THAT IS NOT THE CASE. WHAT ARE WE GONNA GET NOW IF WE PUT THAT STREET IN? WHAT DEVELOPMENT? DON'T, DON'T, DON'T SAY. OKAY. WE'RE GONNA, LET'S JUST BE REAL AND DO BUSINESS. OKAY. UM, CITY SECRETARY, DO A ROLL CALL. VOTE PLEASE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM? YES. MAYOR PRO. TIMM DOUCETTE? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? NO. MAYOR MOSES? YES. MEASURE PASSES MAYOR. THANK YOU. [VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 24495 - A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Accept Close Out Documents Submitted By Elite Contractors 8i Equipment, Ltd, Of Kirbyville, Texas, And Approve The Release Of Retainage In The Amount Of $136,274.25 For The Sabine Pass Mechanic Street And South 1st Avenue Roadway Reconstruction Project. Funding Is Available In The Street Account No. 307-00-0002050-00-00-000. Project No. ST1P90.CON] WE ARE GONNA MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER THREE. PR NUMBER 2 4 4 9 5 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT CLOSEOUT DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY ELITE CONTRACTORS AND EQUIPMENT LTD OF KIRBYVILLE, TEXAS AND APPROVE THE RELEASE OF RETAINAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $136,274 AND 25 CENTS FOR THE SABINE PASS. MECHANIC STREET AND SOUTH. DID WE DO THAT ALREADY? AND SOUTH FIRST STREET. ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE STREET. ACCOUNT NUMBER 3 0 7 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 0 0. PROJECT NUMBER STP NINE ZERO CO. DID WE, DID I DO THIS? OH, MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SO MOVED. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. THE ANY NOSE? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. [VIII.A.(5) P.R. No. 24510 - A Resolution Awarding A Bid And Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With Brystar Contracting, Inc., Of Beaumont, Texas, For The 9th Avenue Pavement Improvement Project Most Westward Lane From Jimmy Johnson Boulevard To Lake Arthur Drive For The Amount Of $1,065,472.00. Funding Available In The Streets Account No. 148-21-053-8517-0010-000 Project No. ST5023.CON] WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO NUMBER FIVE. PR NUMBER 2 4 5 1 0 A RESOLUTION. AWARDING A BID AND AUTHORIZING A CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH B BRIGHTSTAR CONTRACTING INCORPORATED OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THE NINTH AVENUE PAVEMENT PRO IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. MOST WESTWARD LANE FROM JIMMY JOHNSON BOULEVARD TO LAKE ARTHUR DRIVE FOR THE AMOUNT OF $1,000,065 $472 FUNDING AVAILABLE IN THE STREETS. ACCOUNT NUMBER 1 4 8 DASH 21 DASH 0 5 3 DASH 8 5 7 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH ZERO. PROJECT NUMBER ST 5 0 2 3 CO. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND, IT IS BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT MO UH, RESOLUTION PASSES. LET'S [VIII.A.(6) P.R. No. 24512 - A Resolution Confirming The Appointments Of Mary Ann Reid And Cal Rutherford As Members Of The Civil Service Commission Of The City Of Port Arthur ] GO TO, UH, PR NUMBER 2 4 5 1 2 A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENTS OF MARYANNE REED AND CAL [03:55:01] RUTHERFORD AS MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT. RESOLUTION PASSES PR [VIII.A.(7) P.R. No. 24530 - A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Renew A Professional Services Agreement With Golden Triangle Consulting Engineers To Provide Professional Engineering And Consulting Services In A Lump Sum Monthly Amount Not To Exceed Sixteen Thousand And No/100 Dollars ($16,000.00) And Shall Not Exceed One Hundred And Ninety-Two Thousand And No/100 Dollars ($192,000.00) Per Year. Funding Is Subject To Approval Of FY25-26 Budget. Water Utilities Account No. 410-40-200-5420- 00-00-000, Professional Services] NUMBER SEVEN, PR NUMBER 2 4 5 3 0. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN A CITY MANAGER TO RENEW A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH GOLDEN TRIANGLE CONSULTING ENGINEERS TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING SERVICES IN A LUMP SUM MONTHLY AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $16,000 AND SHALL NOT EXCEED $192,000. UM, PER YEAR. FUNDING IS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF FY 25 26. BUDGET WATER UTILITIES ACCOUNT NUMBER FOUR ONE OH DASH FOUR ZERO DASH 200 DASH 5 4 2 0 0 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH ZERO ZERO. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND. I GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS? UH, OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE? YES. I LOOKED OVER THE INFORMATION IN THE BACKGROUND FOR WHAT MS. DR. HANEY HAS DONE AND ALSO TO SUPPORT RENEWING THIS CONTRACT. BEFORE I GET TO SEEING THIS, I WON'T LET EVERYBODY KNOW. I'VE BEEN KNOWING MR. HANNEY SINCE PROBABLY 95. SO WE GO WAY BACK. SO THIS AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH ME KNOWING HIM. THIS IS ABOUT TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS AND I LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WAS IN THE BACKGROUND. IT'S DESIGNED OF THE CITYWIDE SURGE REHABILITATION PROJECT AND APPROXIMATELY SAVINGS. OKAY. AND GO ON THE LIST. SO IT IS A LONG NIGHT. I'M NOT GONNA GO DOWN ALL THESE THINGS, BUT ESSENTIALLY THESE ARE THE THING. IF WE HAVE SOMEBODY WORKING FOR US, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE PEOPLE WORKING FOR US WHO IS NOT GOING TO LOOK AT TRYING TO SAVE, NOT THE CITY MONEY. SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY. THAT'S WHY WE PAY THEM. WE PAY THEM TO DO THAT. SO YOU PAY 'EM TO DO THAT, THEN YOU COME BACK AND SAY, BECAUSE THEY DOING THEY JOB, WE NEED TO GIVE THEM A JOB. SO WHY DO I THINK IT'S A CONSULTANT? UNLESS I MISS SOMETHING. HERE IT IS A CONSULTANT. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR FIVE, OVER FIVE YEARS. WE HAVE A WATER UTILITIES DIRECTOR. I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE, THE WATER UTILITY DIRECTOR SINCE HE GOT HERE. I'VE CALLED HIM ON NUMEROUS TIMES. WEEKEND WE DAY. I HAVE YET ONE TIME TO HAVE TO NOT CALL HIM OR HE NOT PROVIDE SERVICE AND RESPONSE. HE HAS RESPONDED IN A MANNER MOST OF THE TIME HE ACTUALLY GO OUT THERE AND LOOK AT IT HIMSELF. SO I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN HIM BEING A DIRECTOR OF WATER UTILITIES. AND THAT'S WHAT WE PAY HIM FOR. SO WHY EVERY YEAR WE RENEW A CONTRACT FOR A CONSULTANT. YOU KNOW, NOW THE WATER UTILITY DIRECTOR, YOU KNOW, HE'S, HE'S PUTTING REQUESTS. I WOULD REQUEST IT TOO. IF SOMEBODY GONNA GIMME SOMEBODY TO HELP ME DO MY JOB. IT AIN'T LIKE I'M, IF I DON'T GET IT, I CAN'T DO IT. BUT I THINK AT SOME POINT IN TIME WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES WE GOT, WE NEED TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE SPENDING THE MONEY. NOW WE JUST TALK ABOUT RAISING THE RATES FOR, FOR CITIZENS ON THEIR WATER RATES. WELL, THAT SALARY GONNA COME OUTTA THERE. AND DR. HANEY HAS BEEN AROUND A WHILE AND HE KIND OF KNOW HOW TO GET THINGS DONE. BUT MOST OF THE TIME I'VE EVER HEARD REMARKS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS PERTAINING TO DR. HANNEY IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW. HE IS GOOD, BUT THEY SAY WHEN I CALL HIM, HE GETS IT DONE. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY IS COUNCIL MEMBER CALLING A CONSULTANT WHEN WE HAVE DIRECTORS? OKAY, SO IF WE HIRE SOMEBODY FOR CONSULTANT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO HIRE A PERSON TO DO, TO CONSULT, THAT'S TELL US HOW TO FIX THIS. WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE. WE WANT TO HIRE YOU TO HELP US TO FIX THIS. AND WHEN WE HIRED HIM, WE DIDN'T HAVE [04:00:01] ENGINEERS AND HE WAS REAL HELPFUL. HE, I MEAN, HE WOULD GO ALL OVER THE PLACE. HE DONE STREETS, DONE WALL UTILITY. BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE HAVE A WATER UTILITIES DIRECTOR, ENGINEER, WE JUST HIRED AN ENGINEER TO BE IN CHARGE OF ALL OUR ENGINEERING. SO WE PAYING PEOPLE TO DO THESE JOBS. WHY DO WE HAVE TO PAY A CONSULTANT WHO ONLY IS REQUIRED TO WORK FOUR HOURS A DAY, $16,000 A MONTH, $192,000 A YEAR? I SAID IT WHEN I FIRST TALKED ABOUT THIS. I SAID, I, I HAVE ALL CONFIDENCE IN DR. HANNEY. I KNOW HIM PERSONALLY. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD. AND IF ANYBODY DON'T KNOW, I'M THE ONE THAT SPOKE VERY HIGHLY TO GET HIM HERE TO HELP US. THAT'S HOW MUCH I THINK ABOUT IT. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO DRAW A LINE ON WHO WE HIRE. IF WE GONNA SPEND $192,000, LET'S GET AN ENGINEER THAT WE COULD HAVE HERE EIGHT HOURS A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK. I'VE ALWAYS SAID WE NEED ENGINEERS. I'VE ALWAYS SAID EVEN TO DR. TOMAY, IF YOU LOVE US SO MUCH AND WANT TO HELP US TAKE THE JOB, WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF I WAS IN HIS SHOES, IF YOU GONNA PAY ME ALL THIS MONEY, BUT ALL I'M REALLY HAVE TO BE OBLIGATED TO FOR FOUR HOURS, I WON'T WANNA WORK FOR YOU. I'D RATHER DO THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. AND THAT'S JUST WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING. EVERY YEAR WE GO BACK AND DO THE SAME THING WITH THIS CONTRACT. A CONSULTANT SUPPOSED TO COME IN AND FIX IT AND I'M NOT GONNA HOLD IT. 'CAUSE THIS LADY, WE ALL GOTTA GO. LAST THING I'M GONNA SAY ABOUT IT IS WHEN WE HIRED HIM, WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH WATER METERS. WE HAVE PROBLEMS FOR SEW PIPES, WE HAVE PROBLEMS FOR WATER LINES, WE HAVE PROBLEMS FOR WATER METERS. WE HAVE PROBLEMS FOR STREETS. AFTER FIVE YEARS, WE STILL GOT THOSE PROBLEMS. AND I DON'T WANT NOBODY TELL ABOUT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GIVE A RAISE. NO, THAT AIN'T THE CAUSE. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT A CONSULTANT IS NOT DIRECTING PERSONNEL AND EMPLOYEES. THAT'S OUR EMPLOYEES AND DIRECTOR'S RESPONSIBILITY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. BUT THAT'S WHY I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF RENEWING THE CONTRACT BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, EITHER YOU BE A CONSULTANT OR YOU BE AN EMPLOYEE. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. COUNCIL MEMBER EVER. YOUR LIGHTS ON . YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, DR. HANEY, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH THE CITY. I'M SURE, UM, MR. CALVIN AND THE REST OF THE TEAM APPRECIATES YOUR WORK. ALTHOUGH YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO OFFER FOUR HOURS A DAY, WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE ON CALL ALMOST 24 HOURS A DAY AND SOMETIMES ON WEEKENDS FOR US. AND YES, WE MAY STILL HAVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. HOWEVER, SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST BECAUSE WE DID NOT LISTEN TO THE CONSULTANTS THAT WE WERE PAYING. AND DR. HANEY IS ONE OF THOSE THAT HAS ADVISED US OF SEVERAL ISSUES OVER THE YEARS THAT COUNSEL HAS NOT FOLLOWED THROUGH ON HIS RECOMMENDATIONS. HE IS THE ENGINEER AND HE IS THAT SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE FOR US. SO I WOULD ASK FOR US TO PLEASE RENEW DR. HANEY'S CONTRACT AND MOVE FORWARD AS WE HAVE BEEN WITH, UM, WITH HIS SKILLSET. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? OH, YES. UH, I'VE LISTENED TO, UH, THE COM THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ROYAL FILL OF POSITIONS. FIRST OF ALL, THERE IS NO POSITION. THERE HAS BEEN A POSITION THAT'S FUNDED THAT HE COULD FILL. AND I VERIFIED THAT THROUGH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND, UH, THAT POSITION, THAT WAS NO POSITION FOR TO BE PROMOTED IN. NOW THE REASON YOU HAVE, AFTER THE LAST CONTRACT, I'M, LET ME SAY THIS, UM, COUNCIL HAS TO GIVE THE CITY MANAGER THE TOOLS THAT HE NEED TO GET THE JOB DONE. NOW I CAN GO TO DR. [04:05:01] HANNEY AND I'M, AND, AND I'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF BYPASSING CITY MANAGER. I CAN GO TO DR. HANNEY AND GET THINGS EXPEDITED. SO WHEN HE GOES TO ME CALLING CITY MANAGER, CITY MANAGER, GOT TO FIND HIM OR RELAY INFORMATION TO HIM, I GO STRAIGHT TO DR. HANEY TO GIVE, LET HIM KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT I WANT DONE. NOW WHEN HE, WHEN WHEN THE CITY MANAGER HOLD HIS STAFF MEETING, THEN DR. HANEY BRINGS THAT INFORMATION TO THE CITY MANAGER. HE DON'T HAVE TO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRACK IT ALL DOWN. YOU BRING IT TO THE CITY MANAGER, CITY MANAGER, SAY YES OR NO. 'CAUSE HE'S NOT GONNA BYPASS THE CITY MANAGER. YES, I MAY GO TO A STAFF PERSON TO TRY TO AND REQUEST STUFF TO BE DONE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE RELEASED THROUGH THE CITY MANAGERS. IT'S GONNA BE RELEASED FOR TRANSPARENCY. I HEAR A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THAT AND I'M, AND I'M ALL FOR IT. BUT THIS REPORT, I WENT TO DR. HANEY AFTER THE LAST CONTRACT AND I SAID, IT SEEMS TO BE SOME PROBLEM WITH WHAT, JUST WHAT IT IS YOU ARE DOING FOR THE CITY. I KNOW YOU AN ASSET. WHAT IS IT YOU DOING FOR THE CITY? I SAID, YOUR MISTAKE WAS CREATED THE ARGUMENT OR CREATED THE DEBATE. YOU ARE NOT PRESENTING WHAT IT IS YOU DO. SO NOW WE HAVE WHAT HE DOES AND, AND I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE AGAINST OKAY, GIVING THE CITY MANAGER TOOLS THAT HE NEED UNTIL A DECISION IS MADE BY THE CITY MANAGER THAT I'M GOING TO CREATE A POSITION. THERE IS NO POSITION. I'M GONNA CREATE A POSITION FOR THAT. AT, I WENT TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, CHECKED TO SEE IF THE, AND TALKED WITH THE TWO ASSISTANT MANAGER, TALKED WITH THE CITY. THAT, THAT, THAT WAS, AND THAT WAS BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT IF YOU WANT A JOB, YOU OUGHT TO, YOU OUGHT TO TAKE IT. IT HAS NEVER BEEN A JOB. IT WAS NAMED, BUT IT WASN'T, IT HAS NEVER BEEN FUNDED. IT HADN'T BEEN FUNDED IN A LONG TIME. THE ONLY THING THAT I KEPT PUSHING FOR TO ADDITIONAL OR TOOLS FOR THE CITY MANAGERS TO GET HIS JOB DONE, TO FILL THE PUBLIC SERVICE JOB, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT AND IT'S A, AND IT'S A LINCHPIN TO WHAT WE DO. OH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. SO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WHAT THE CITY OF TOOLS, THE CITY MANAGER NEEDS, YOU KNOW, WITHIN REASON. AND I THINK IT'S, IT IS VERY UNREASONABLE. AND HE, HE'S A TREMENDOUS HELP TO THE DIRECTOR OF THAT DEPARTMENT. YES, THE DIRECTOR OF THAT DEPARTMENT HAS, HAS CERTAIN SKILLS, BUT HE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE SKILLS THAT HE NEEDS. BUT HE'S, HE GOT, HE'S FOCUSES ON THINGS, BUT HE CAN DELEGATE THAT TO DR. HANNEY AND GET IT DONE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN LEWIS. COUNCILOR MCKEN LAW. OH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, IF YOU, IF YOU RECALL, UH, SOME OF YOU GUYS THAT WERE ON, UH, COUNCIL LAST YEAR THAT I DID PULL THIS ITEM AND I SPOKE HEAVILY. WE HAD SOME GREAT DEBATE ABOUT ACTUALLY HOW, UH, THE BENEFIT OF DR. HANEY, UH, WAS TO THE CITY. AND, UH, LOOKING AT ALL THE PROJECTS WE'VE HAD IN THIS LAST YEAR, ALL THE STREETS WE'VE, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER AS A COUNCIL. UH, CITY MANAGER, IF YOU, YOU KNOW, AND COUNCIL, IF YOU DON'T MIND, MAYOR, I WOULD ASK, UH, DR. HANEY TO COME UP AND IF YOU WOULD BRIEFLY SPEAK ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE TO SAVE THE CITY MONEY, SOME OF THE PROJECTS YOU, YOU, WE COULD HAVE OUTSOURCED. THAT ONE PROJECT COULD HAVE COST 192. COME ON DR. HANEY, IF YOU WOULD, THOUSAND DOLLARS AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST LET US KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND HOW YOU'RE DOING IT AND, AND, AND WHAT'S TO COME IN THE FUTURE. UH, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, JUST EXPLAIN TO ME AND MY COHORTS, UH, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY REAL QUICK. I'VE ALWAYS SAID I LOVE THE CITY AND I DO. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. IT'S NOT ABOUT INDIVIDUALS, IT'S ABOUT THE CITY ITSELF. AND WHEN COUNCILMAN DOUCETTE SAYS IT'S PART OF OUR DUTIES AS A COMPANY TO DO THE WORK WE'RE DOING. SO IT SHOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED SAVINGS. IT'S ACTUALLY NOT AS PER MY EXISTING CONTRACT. I'M SUPPOSED TO DESIGN $150,000 WORTH OF ENGINEERING WORK. WE EXCEEDED THE MILLION DOLLARS IN DESIGN BECAUSE I TOOK OVER ALL THE STREETS PROJECTS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED BY A CONSULTANT AT THE COST OF $680,000. I TRAINED STAFF, I WORKED WITH STAFF AND I PUT MY SEAL, MY INSURANCE, AND MY COMPANY NAME ON APPROXIMATELY $12 MILLION WORTH OF STREET WORK. SO I ALWAYS GO BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY NO MATTER WHAT IT IS BECAUSE I LOVE THE CITY. WHEN THEY COME DOWN TO ME AND SAY, WE GOTTA OPEN, PUT AN OPENING IN THE WALL AND LEGAL NEEDS SOME ENGINEER'S OPINION, I GO DOWNSTAIRS. I TELL THE CONTRACTOR WHAT TO DO, GIVE HIM A SKETCH IF I HAVE TO. WHEN THE ISLAND NEEDS THE BATHROOMS REHABILITATED AND THERE IS NO MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING OR ANY DRAWINGS ON THEM THAT THEY NEED, I STEP UP AND DO THEM. I PAID MY MECHANICAL ENGINEER OUTTA MY OWN POCKET TO DO [04:10:01] THAT PROJECT. SO I DO CALL, GO BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY AND I ALWAYS WILL. I DID IT THE LAST FEW YEARS. I'M GONNA DO IT THIS TIME AGAIN. AND ANYTIME THE CITY MANAGER HAS ANY POSITION HE NEEDS ME TO BE IN, I STEP IN. I DON'T ARGUE, I DON'T SAY I WANT MORE MONEY. I DON'T ASK FOR ANYTHING EXTRA OVER THIS CONTRACT. I STEP IN AND DO IT. AND THAT'S WHAT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE CITY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. UM, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY NOS? NO, THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. [VIII.A.(8) P.R. No. 24538 - A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing A Member Or Members To The Port Arthur Police Chief Advisory Committee (Requested By Councilmembers Frank, Everfield And Beckcom)] WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO NUMBER EIGHT, PR NUMBER 2 4 5 3 8 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING AND A REAPPOINTING. A MEMBER OR MEMBERS TO THE PORT ARTHUR POLICE CHIEF ADVISORY COMMITTEE REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, FRANK EVERFI AND BECKHAM, CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS OR YOU'D LIKE TO PUT YOUR NAMES OUT? YOU CAN. IF NOT, YOU CAN JUST TURN YOUR NAMES INTO, UH, THE CITY SECRETARY. THEY'RE ALREADY THERE. ALRIGHT. UM, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT. ANY NOS. MOTION PASSES. RESOLUTION PASSES. I'M SORRY [VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7356 - An Appropriation Ordinance Adopting A Budget For The Ensuing Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2025, And Ending September 30, 2026, In Accordance With Section 7, Article XII Of The Charter Of The City Of Port Arthur (Part 1 of 2)] IT'S A LITTLE LONG. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM B, WHICH IS ORDINANCES AND NON-CONSENT. WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO PO NUMBER 7 3 5 6. AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION SEVEN ARTICLE, UH, 12 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE ORDINANCE PASSES [VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7357 - An Appropriation Ordinance Approving And Adopting A Budget For The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation For The Ensuing Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2025, And Ending September 30, 2026, In Accordance With Section 12.03 Of The Bylaws Of The Corporation (Part 1 of 2)] NUMBER TWO, PO NUMBER 7 3 5 7. AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. SECTION FOUR, A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 12.03 OF THE BYLAWS OF THE CORPORATION. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND. IT'S GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? YES. ALL IN GOT A QUESTION. I'M SORRY. WHAT IS THE TOTAL BUDGET? UH, TOTAL BUDGET. UM, IT'S ONLY FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD. YEAH. YEAH. LYNN, IF YOU COULD GIVE US THE, THAT'S THE EDC. OH, THIS EDC. THIS IS EDCS BUDGET. THAT'S EDC. YEAH, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S YOU HAVE IT. OH, OKAY. SHE GOT IT. THANK YOU LYNN. YEAH, SHE GOT IT. SHE CAN. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE EDC IS 7,824,998. AND I BELIEVE I SPELLED THAT OUT IN THE ORDINANCE. MM-HMM . OKAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SEVEN WHAT? $7,000,824 DOLLARS. AND, UH, EIGHT, UH, $824,998. OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY MORE QUESTIONS? IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. UM, ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE ORDINANCE PASSES [VIII.B.(3) P.O. No. 7358 - An Ordinance Adopting A Tax Rate For The Tax Year 2025 (Fiscal Year October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026) (Part 1 of 2)] PO NUMBER 7 3 5 8. AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A TAX RATE FOR THE TAX YEAR 2025 FISCAL YEAR. OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MOVE TO APPROVAL. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT. ANY NOS? I'M SORRY. I'M GETTING CONFUSED, BUT ANYWAY. Y'ALL GOT IT. UM, SO MOTION, UM, MOTION THE ORDINANCE PASSES. [VIII.B.(4) P.O. No. 7359 - An Ordinance Approving The 2025 Tax Roll For The Use And Support Of The Municipal Government Of The City Of Port Arthur; And Providing For The Interest And Sinking Fund And Apportioning Each Levy For A Specific Purpose ] LET'S GO TO PO NUMBER 7 3 5 9 AND ORDINANCE APPROVING THE 2025 TAX ROLL FOR THE USE. AND SUPPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, AND PROVIDING FOR THE INTEREST IN SINKING FUND AND APPROPRIATE APP APPORTIONING EACH LEVY FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. OH, WE DON'T HAVE A SECOND. CAN I GET A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE IS GOING TO BE GOING INTO THE ENTRANCE AND SINKING FUND AND FOR HOW, FOR HOW MANY YEARS? UH, [04:15:06] GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. THE INTEREST OF SEEKING FUND VARIES EVERY YEAR, DEPENDING ON THE ASSESSED VALUE AND THE AMOUNT OF OUR TAX DEBT OBLIGATION THAT HAS BEEN VOTED ON BY THE VOTERS. SO HOW MUCH IS IT GOING INTO THIS INTEREST? SO THIS ONE, I BELIEVE I PUT DOWN JUST OVER $11 MILLION. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. EXCUSE ME. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT. I'M SORRY. WHAT HAPPENED? I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT. MAYOR. UM HUH? MR. DIRECTOR THAT WE NEEDED A ROLL CALL. VOTE ON 7 3 5 8. OH MY GOODNESS. OKAY, LET'S, IF WE CAN PICK IT BACK UP AGAIN. LET'S GO BACK. CAN WE VOTE ON THIS ONE AND FINISH THIS? YES, MA'AM. ONE. AND GO BACK. SORRY. YES, MA'AM. DID WE FINISH, DID WE FINISH THE VOTE ON THIS ONE? NO. ALL, ALL, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT ON PO NUMBER SEVEN. 3 5 9. ORDINANCE PASSES. LET'S [VIII.B.(3) P.O. No. 7358 - An Ordinance Adopting A Tax Rate For The Tax Year 2025 (Fiscal Year October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026) (Part 2 of 2)] GO BACK TO 7 3 5 8. WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE AND WE'RE GONNA READ MOTION. OKAY. LET'S GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. MOTION FOR APPROVAL. IT'S BEEN MOVED MAYOR, I'M SORRY. OH, I'M SORRY. PO NUMBER 7 3 5 8. WE ARE REDOING PO NUMBER 7 3 5 8. AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A TAX RATE FOR THE TAX YEAR 2025 FISCAL YEAR. OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL, MAYOR? THANK YOU. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, WE ARE GONNA DO A ROLL CALL. ANY QUESTIONS? YES, I DO. FOR THE RECORD, HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH IS GONNA BE THE, THE TAX RATE? THE NEW TAX RATE? HOW MUCH IS IT? IT'S FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD. I THINK IT'S 62 CENTS. I KNOW WHAT IT IS. THE TAX RATE IS GOING TO BE LESS THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR. I BELIEVE IT'S 0.6 1 5 2 7 4. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. UM, CITY SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL DO A ROLL CALL. VOTE. COUNCILOR BECKHAM? YES. MAYOR PRO TEM ETT TAX? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON AIRFIELD? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? YES. MAYOR MOSES? YES. TAX RATE PASSES. OKAY. WHAT'S GOTTA BE A ROLL CALL. DOES THE BUDGET, UH, ROLL CALL. VOTE. I'M SORRY. CITY SECRETARY JUDGE. I DON'T KNOW. NO, IT DOES NOT. OKAY, THANK YOU. LET'S [VIII.B.(5) P.O. No. 7367 - An Ordinance Establishing A Classification And Pay Plan For The Employees Of The City Of Port Arthur Pursuant To Section 78-141 [Classification And Pay Plan] Of Division 4 [Wage And Salary Administration] Of Article II [Personnel Policy] Of Chapter 78 [Personnel] Of The City Of Port Arthur Code Of Ordinances] MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER, UH, PAGE NUMBER NINE. NUMBER FIVE PO NUMBER AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A CLASSIFICATION AND PAY PLAN FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVEN EIGHT DASH 1 41. CLASSIFICATION AND PAY PLAN OF DIVISION FOUR, WAGE AND SALARY ADMINISTRATION OF ARTICLE TWO. PERSONNEL POLICY OF CHAPTER 78. PERSONNEL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CODE OF ORDINANCES. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. UM, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE ORDINANCE PASSES. [VIII.B.(6) P.O. No. 7370 - An Ordinance Amending Chapter 110 (Utilities), Article II (Water), Division 3 (Service Charges And Billing), Sections 110-91 (Rate Schedule) And 110-92 (Consumers Outside City Not Having Special Contracts) Of The Code Of Ordinances Of The City Of Port Arthur, As It Pertains To 20% Rate Increase For Residential Water And Wastewater/Sewer Rates, And 20% Rate Increase For Commercial And Industrial Customers Water And Wastewater/Sewer Rates, And Providing For Publication ] WE'RE GONNA GO TO OUR LAST PO NUMBER 7 3 7 0. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER ONE 10. UTILITIES ARTICLE TWO, WATER DIVISION THREE SERVICE CHARGES AND BILLING SECTIONS. ONE ONE TEN ONE ONE TEN DASH 91 RATE SCHEDULE AND ONE 10 DASH 92 CONSUMERS OUTSIDE, UH, CITY NOT HAVING SPECIAL CONTRACTS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AS IT PERTAINS TO A 20% RATE INCREASE FOR RESIDENTIAL WATER AND WASTEWATER SEWER RATES, AND 20% RATE INCREASE FOR COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS. WATER AND WASTEWATER SEWER RATES, AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? IT'S BEEN MOVED. I GOT A I NEED A SECOND. SECOND. I'VE GOT A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? CITY ATTORNEY. I'M SORRY IT'S NOT INVOLVING THIS ITEM. IF YOU CAN COME BACK TO ME WHEN THIS ITEM IS DONE, PLEASE. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE ORDINANCE PASSES BEFORE WE ADJOURN. THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS HER LIGHT ON. I MEAN, YES. MAYOR. A RECORD VOTE WAS [04:20:01] NOT ONLY RECALLED REQUIRED FOR THE TAX RATE, IT'S ALSO REQUIRED FOR THE BUDGET, THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET. SO IF WE COULD GO BACK. ALL RIGHT. APOLOGIES. MAYOR, WE DID THE TAX RATE. LET'S GO BACK TO THE BUDGET. LET'S GO BACK. 7, 5, 6, 7 3. [VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7356 - An Appropriation Ordinance Adopting A Budget For The Ensuing Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2025, And Ending September 30, 2026, In Accordance With Section 7, Article XII Of The Charter Of The City Of Port Arthur (Part 2 of 2)] ORDINANCE PO NUMBER 7 3 5 6. AND APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION SEVEN, ARTICLE 12 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MOTION FOR APPROVAL. CAN I GET A SECOND? WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. UH, WHAT IS THE TOTAL BUDGET? THE TOTAL BUDGET SHOULD BE 403 MILLION. I DON'T HAVE IT MEMORIZED. SORRY. IT'S OKAY. TAKE YOUR TIME. I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT. I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE. MM-HMM . IT'S 408,713,936. ALRIGHT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. ALL. OH, ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM? YES. MAYOR . NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? YES. MAYOR MOSES? YES. MAYOR PASSES. MAYOR. OKAY. THEN WE HAVE A MOTION. THE ORDINANCE PASSES. AT THIS TIME, WE GOING TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING. DO WE NEED TO DO THE EDC? SEE, I CAN. WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO? THE EDC BUDGET. THE SAME WAY. ATTORNEY. OH, WE HAVE TO DO REDO 7, 3, 5, 7 WITH A, WE REALLY NEED TO KNOW THIS BEFORE WE GET STARTED. I WOULD LIKE TO, WE REALLY NEED TO KNOW THIS EVERY TIME. YOU GOTTA DO IT. THIS, THIS, THIS HAS TO BE SOMEBODY'S RESPONSIBILITY. OKAY. LET'S GO BACK TO THE EDCS BUDGET. UM, UM, UM, ORDINANCE, [VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7357 - An Appropriation Ordinance Approving And Adopting A Budget For The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation For The Ensuing Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2025, And Ending September 30, 2026, In Accordance With Section 12.03 Of The Bylaws Of The Corporation (Part 2 of 2)] YES. PO NUMBER 7 3 5 7. AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCES APPROVING AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. SECTION FOUR, A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 12.03 OF THE BYLAWS OF THE CORPORATION. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND. I GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN? I'M SORRY. ROLL CALL VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM. YES. MAYOR PRO. TEM ETT? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON EVER FIELD? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW? UH, YES. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS? YES. MAYOR MOSES? YES. MAYOR PASSES. MAYOR. AWESOME. AND MOTION. MOTION PASSES. THE ORDINANCE PASSES. MOTION. I MAKE A MOTION AT THE MEETING. AND ADJOIN. I NEED A SECOND. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. MEETING IS OVER AT TEN NINE FIFTY SIX. OH. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.