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[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
GOOD EVENING.GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING, UM, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 18TH, 2025 AT 4:00 PM WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER.
WE WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN JOIN OUR MEETING BY TELEPHONIC AND OR VIDEO CONFERENCE BY CALLING IN TO 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7, OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9.
YOU CAN ENTER THE PASSCODE OF 8 5 8 1 1 0 7 8 5 7 2, AND THEN ENTER, I'M SORRY, THE MEDIAN ID AND THEN THE PASSCODE IS 3 2 3 8 2 1.
WE'D ALSO LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WILL PROVIDE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THOSE PERSONS, UH, WILLING TO DO SO.
AND YOU MAY REQUEST TO DO SO 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE BY CALLING OUR CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE MUTE YOUR CELL PHONES, ALL YOUR MOBILE DEVICES.
WE'RE GOING TO ASK AND HAVE OUR INVOCATION, OUR PLEDGE, AND OUR ROLL CALL AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, IF YOU WOULD LEAD US IN PRAYER, THEN WE'LL HAVE OUR PLEDGE AND THEN OUR ROLL CALL.
LET US BOW ALL WISE AND ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR YET GIVING US ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AT LIAR.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO ASSEMBLE ON TODAY, AND WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US YOUR WISDOM, YOUR GUIDANCE, YOUR GRACE, YOUR MERCY, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE IN ADVANCE.
NOW, WE PRAY ALL OF THIS FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR CITY, OUR NATION, AND THE WORLD.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
CITY SECRETARY, IF YOU WOULD ESTABLISH A QUORUM, PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK HERE.
[II. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION) ]
AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO MOVE, UM, TO GO INTO OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.I'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I YOU HAVE A, I HAVE A, UM, A MO.
I NEED A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND.
ONE OF 'EM IS ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAS FAILED TO VACATE THE CITY'S PROPERTY, AND THE SECOND ONE IS PRIVATE COMPANY DUMP AND DREDGE ON CITY'S PROPERTY.
I'M SORRY, IS THAT ON OUR CLOSED SESSION FOR TONIGHT, HONEY? UM, I'M SORRY.
LET ME READ OUR CLOSED SESSION THAT WE HAVE.
WHAT WE ARE HANDLING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION IS SESSION IS SECTION NUMBER ONE, SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 4 PERSONNEL MATTER DELIBERATING THE APPOINTMENT DUTIES IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT.
JUDGE NUMBER TWO, SECTION 5 5 1 0 7.
ONE IS LITIGATION BRIAN JOHNSON VERSUS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JOHN DOE, AND CALVIN MATTHEWS IN HIS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY.
CIVIL ACTION NUMBER 1.25 CV 0 0 4 2 1 IN THE US DISTRICT COURT OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, BEAUMONT DIVISION, SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 1.
ETAL VERSUS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
CASE NUMBER TWO FIVE DCCV 2,000,084 AND THE 58TH DISTRICT COURT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
NUMBER FOUR, SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 1 LITIGATION, SHAWAN LAPOINTE VERSUS DAVID ALEX THOMPSON IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR.
CASE NUMBER TWO, FIVE DCCV 2 2 0 7 IN THE 58 DISTRICT COURT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
NUMBER FIVE, SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 1, LEGAL ADVICE AND SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 2, VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY, 10 25 GRANNIS AVENUE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, JEFFERSON COUNTY PROPERTY ID NUMBER 9 5 3 8 2.
AND NUMBER SIX, SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 1.
LEGAL ADVICE, FOSTER PUMP STATION.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? QUESTION.
UH, THIS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
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GOING IN FOR NUMBER FIVE FOR PROPERTY ON GRANTS? NUMBER FIVE? NUMBER FIVE, I NEED TO GIVE IT LEGAL ADVICE TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING A VACANT TRACK THAT IS OWNED AND WHETHER OR NOT THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY IS SOMETHING SUFFICIENT FOR THE COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON.WELL, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE IT LEGAL FOR LITIGATION AND THAT, SO WHY CAN'T YOU GIVE IT TO US IN AN OPEN SECTION? BECAUSE WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THE VALUE OF THE REAL PROPERTY AND THAT MAY IMPACT THIRD PARTY NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING THE PROPERTY.
OKAY? HOW CAN IT, HOW CAN IT IMPACT ON THIRD PERSON NEGOTIATIONS? WHEN WE USE A RELATIVE, WE DON'T NEGOTIATE WITH PEOPLE OF IES, WE USE RELATIVES.
AT THIS POINT, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS VOTE TO EITHER GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE ARE, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR DISCUSSION, COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCETTE, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM ETT, BUT AT THIS TIME, UM, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A VOTE TO GO IN AND INCLUDE ALL SIX ITEMS. MAYOR
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO READ THEM TO US.
MY QUESTION IS, WE DON'T NEGOTIATE WITH THIRD PARTIES.
MY QUESTION IS, IS WE USE RELATIVES.
WHY ARE WE GOING TO ENC CLOSE SESSION TO DISCUSS VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY AND MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM? IT IS THE, THE DECISION OF THE BODY WHETHER THEY WANT TO HEAR, UM, THIS ENCLOSED SESSION OR NOT.
THAT'S WHY WE TOOK A MOTION AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS SO THE BODY CAN DECIDE WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
MAYOR, THIS IS QUESTIONING RIGHT NOW.
WELL, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION AND WE'VE HEARD YOUR QUESTION, BUT IT IS THE, IT IS THE DECISION OF THIS BODY WHETHER WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THIS ITEM.
THEN I APPEAL TO THE, I HAVE AN APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL.
I I'M NOT GONNA DATE WITH YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL.
THIS IS A QUESTION PERIOD OF QUESTION BEFORE ABOVE, I'M ASKING THE CITY ATTORNEY, WHY ARE WE GOING TO THE CLOSE SESSION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, SHE, OKAY, SEE THE ATTORNEY YOU WANT TO ANSWER, SAY THE ATTORNEY, SHE DID ANSWER AND, AND I GET HER ANSWER.
AND IF I ASK HER NEXT WAY WHEN SHE'S STILL ANSWERING, THEN YOU CAN GO ON THERE.
OKAY, BUT DON'T TELL ME OFF WHY SHE TELL ME THAT YOU COULDN'T GO TO A VOTE BEFORE.
CITY, WE DON'T VOTING QUESTION BEFORE VOTES.
MAYOR, UH, PRO TEM, I CAN'T GO TO, I CAN ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR DIS DISCUSSION AND I DID THAT AND SHE ANSWERED, AND IF YOU DO HAVE ANY FURTHER, UM, UH, ANSWER FOR MAYOR PRO, AN ATTORNEY, I'VE MADE IT CLEAR TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT I'M GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER 5 5 1 0 7 1 AND SECTION 5 5 1 0.072 REGARDING THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY.
IF DELIBERATIONS IN THE OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE CITY NEGOTIATIONS WITH A THIRD PERSON.
OKAY, NOW WE'VE, SHE'S ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
NOW WE CAN TAKE A VOTE WHETHER WE WANT.
WE'VE HAD THE DISCUSSION, MAYOR, I HAVEN'T, I SHE GAVE ME AN ANSWER, BUT I HAVE AN ANSWER.
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU KEEP CUT CUTTING ME OFF LIKE THIS.
THE QUESTION IS, SHE GAVE ME AN ANSWER, BUT THE ANSWER YOU GAVE YOU RIGHT, SHE TELLING ME BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE IMPACT ON FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS WITH A THIRD PARTY AND WE DON'T DO NEGOTIATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO REAL ESTATE.
SO I WANT HER TO TELL ME WHY WE CAN'T DISCUSS THIS SINCE WE DON'T USE REALTORS.
NOW, IF SHE GIVES ME THE ANSWER, THEN WE CAN MOVE ON.
YOU DON'T DETERMINE, I'M SORRY.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA DETERMINE WHEN WE MOVE ON.
YOU, YOU DON'T DETERMINE THAT.
I WILL HEAR YOU AND I WILL MOVE ON FOR THE FACT OF TIME TO GO ON.
I LIKE, I'D LIKE TO APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL.
THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO APPEAL, OKAY? I LIKE TO APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL AND LET THE COUNCIL UNDERSTAND.
I ASKED THE QUESTION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.
THE CITY ATTORNEY GAVE ME AN ANSWER, BUT THE ANSWER SHE GAVE ME DID NOT REFLECT WHAT WE DO IN OUR CITY WHEN IT COMES TO REAL ESTATE AND DETERMINING VALUE.
WE HAVE A REALTOR THAT DOES IT FOR US AND A REALTOR REFER TO US.
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WE DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH DEALING WITH A THIRD PARTY, YOU KNOW? NOW I ASKED HER TO GIVE ME THE REPLY TO THAT AND THE MAYOR DIDN'T WANT TO ANSWER AND SPEAK AND MOVE ON.SO ALL I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS ASK THE COUNCIL DIRECTS THE CITY ATTORNEY TO JUST ANSWER THAT NEXT PART OF THE QUESTION THAT I ASKED HER.
SO I WANT HER TO TELL YOU THAT IMPACT.
OKAY? THE COUNCIL IS ASKING THAT WE TAKE A VOTE.
THAT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL IS ASKING, OKAY? YES.
YOU GUYS, THAT'S ALRIGHT GUYS.
CAN I GET A ROLL CALL VOTE, UH, QUICKLY IF WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN THIS DISCUSSION? YES.
YOU'RE NOT VOTING ON DISCUSSION.
YOU VOTE ON MY APPEAL AND MY APPEAL IS THAT WE'LL VOTE ALLOWED.
YOU GOT THE APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL.
LET'S HAVE THE ROLL CALL VOTE.
OKAY, WHAT'S THE QUESTION? WHAT'S HIS QUESTION? IS THAT HE WANTS HER YES.
HE WANT, YES, HE'S APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL.
SO SHE, SO TO HAVE IT DOWNSTAIRS,
HE'S ASKING FOR CLARITY FOR THE RECORD, FOR RECORD PURPOSES.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS ASKING FOR.
IF HE'D ASK, MAYBE WE'LL UNDERSTAND BETTER, OKAY.
MAYOR PRO TEM, WHAT ARE YOU ASKING US TO DO? YES, WHAT I'M ASKING THE COUNCILORS DO IS TO ALLOW ME TO GET THE ANSWER FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY.
ALL I WANT TO KNOW FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY IS WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT GOING, TALKING ABOUT LAND VALUE OR LISA SALE? SHE ANSWERED THAT QUESTION IN BOTH SESSION WHEN WE DON'T EVEN NEGOTIATE, SHE ANSWERED ANYBODY.
SO WE DON'T NEGOTIATE THE CAN IMPACT ON FUTURE NEGOTIATING FOR A THIRD PARTY BECAUSE WE USE A RELATIVE AND THE RELATIVE GIVES US WHO IS GOING TO BE, THAT'S WHY I ASKED THAT QUESTION.
NOW, SHE GAVE ME FATHER TO ANSWER WHEN SHE SAID THAT SHE READ WHAT IT SAID, THE 5 0 7 2.
SO MY QUESTION WAS, SINCE 5 0 7 2 DON'T PERTAIN TO US BECAUSE WE DON'T NEGOTIATE.
SO THERE HAS NO FUTURE IMPACT ON THE THIRD QUARTER.
SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DISCUSS LAND VALUE AND, AND, AND, UH, THE SALE OR LEASE OF LAND IN OPEN SESSION.
WHY CAN'T WE? SHE TOLD, AND ONCE SHE GAVE ME THE ANSWERS, IT IS ON RECORD.
I'M, I'M SATISFIED WITH IT, MARY.
SHE ANSWERED YOU CITY ATTORNEY.
I WILL REPEAT MY ANSWER TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ACTUALLY MAY ELECT TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT ANY TIME DURING THE MEETING IN ORDER TO DISCUSS ANY MATTERS THAT ARE ACTUALLY LISTED ON THE AGENDA WHEN THEY'RE AUTHORIZED TO DO SO BY CHAPTER 5 5, 1 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
AND THE TWO SECTIONS, UM, THAT ACTUALLY PERTAIN INVOLVE 5 5 1 0 7 1, WHICH IS WHERE I'M GONNA GIVE YOU SOME LEGAL ADVICE ON, ON WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
I'M ALSO GOING TO BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY AND I WANNA BE VERY SPECIFIC WITH THE LANGUAGE.
SO THE CITY COUNCIL IS AUTHORIZED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0.072 WHEN IT'S GONNA DELIBERATE THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE VALUE OF THIS REAL PROPERTY.
IF THE DELIBERATIONS AND OPEN MEETING WILL HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE CITY, THE POSITION OF THE CITY IN NEGOTIATING WITH A THIRD PARTY, THERE MAY BE MULTIPLE PARTIES INVOLVING THIS PARTICULAR REAL PROPERTY.
SO I'M ASKING NOT FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO NEGOTIATE, BUT IF IT HAS A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE NEGOTIATIONS OF THE CITY MM-HMM.
THEN WE CAN GO ONTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AT THIS POINT, THE CITY ATTORNEY WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE TAKE A VOTE ON, UH, MAYOR PRO TEMS APPEAL, AND THEN IF YOU DESIRE TO TAKE ACTION, I'M GOING TO DO EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ON THE REMAINING ITEMS, INCLUDING THAT ITEM.
WE NO NEED TAKING A VOTE NOW BECAUSE SHE GAVE ME THE ANSWER I WANTED TO HEAR.
THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR ME TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MAYOR, SO DON'T NEED TO TAKE A VOTE BECAUSE WHAT SHE SAID, SHE CONFIRMED, SHE GAVE ME AN ANSWER TO WHAT I ASKED YOU, AND THAT'S ALL I WANT.
AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA GO AND VOTE.
WE'RE IN DISCUSSION, SO WE'RE GONNA NOW VOTE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND, UM, ONE MORE QUESTION, MAYOR.
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NUMBER SIX.UH, UNDER NUMBER SIX, UNDER THE, THE CLOSED DOORS, UH, WHAT WAS THE SIXTH ITEM THERE? SIX.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT A PUMP STATION AND CLOSED STATION.
THERE ARE LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVING THE FOSTER PUMP STATION THAT ARE NECESSARY TO DISCUSS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
WE'LL NOW GO INTO OUR CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION.
OH, LET THE RECORD NOTE THAT THERE IS A NO VOTE.
UM, FORM COUNCIL MEMBER, I MEAN MEMBER, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM ETT.
IT'S OPTIONAL THAT WHAT WE DO THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW.
AND IF YOU SAY NO, WE UNDERSTAND, WE'RE GOOD.
LET THE RECORD STATE WE HAVE TWO NOS.
WE'LL MOVE NOW TO GO INTO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 4:16 PM GOOD EVENING.
WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION WHERE WE HAVE TWO MOTIONS COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
KINLAW WILL READ, AND THEN ONE COUNCIL MEMBER EVER FEEL, UM, WILL READ AS WELL AT THIS TIME.
UH, THE FIRST MOTION WOULD BE, UH, MAYOR, I MOVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL REAPPOINT ANTON L FREEMAN AS MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE FOR THE TWO YEAR PERIOD, EFFECTIVE DATE, DECEMBER 1ST, 2025.
PURSUANT TO THE TERMS PRESENT IN THE EXHIBIT A TO PR NUMBER 2, 4, 6, 3, 3 SECOND MOTION.
AND A SECOND WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSIONS.
ORDINANCE PASSES, UM, I'M SORRY, RESOLUTION FOR MR. UH, ATTORNEY FREEMAN TO BE, UM, HIRED AND CONTINUE.
EMPLOYMENT MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
NEXT, WE HAVE ANOTHER MOTION THAT IS COMING FROM COUNCILWOMAN TIFFANY.
EVER FEEL MAYOR I MOTION FOR 10 25 GRANNIS AVENUE.
I MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY TO LIST A CITY OWNED VACANT TRACK OF LAND KNOWN AS 10 25 GRANNIS AVENUE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS FOR SALE WITH A LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER.
PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 2, 5 3 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, WE NEED A MOTION.
AND SECOND THAT, UM, WE WILL FOLLOW WHAT, UM, TIFFANY AFIELD HAS READ.
I'M SORRY, I GOTTA GET ME BACK HERE.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER AFIELD HAS, UH, STATED ABOUT HIRING A REALTOR, A BROKER FIRM TO, UH, SELL PROPERTY AT 10 25 GRANNIS.
ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION IS APPROVED.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
EXECUTIVE SESSION IS CLOSED AT 5:32 PM.