OKAY. RECORDING IN PROGRESS. GOOD AFTERNOON, AND WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL
[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL]
[00:00:13]
EXECUTIVE MEETING. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY THE 10TH, 2026 AT 4:00 PM. YOU MAY JOIN US AT THIS TIME BY TELEPHONIC AND OR VIDEO CONFERENCE. AND YOU CAN DO SO BY CALLING TWO NUMBERS. THE FIRST NUMBER IS 877853524 7 OR 8 887880099. WHEN YOU CALL THAT NUMBER, PLEASE ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 89586324778 AND THE PASSCODE OF 162185. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN JOIN OUR MEETINGS WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT. YOU HAVE TO DO SO BY CALLING 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE TO OUR CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 409 9838115 AND REQUEST HER TO ALLOW YOU TO TO JOIN IN OUR MEETINGS. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE MUTE THEIR CELL PHONE DEVICES OR ANY MOBILE DEVICES. WE WILL HAVE OUR INVOCATION, OUR PLEDGE, AND OUR ROLL CALL. WE'RE GOING TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER HAVERFIELD.SHE WILL LEAD US IN PRAYER, AND WE HAVE OUR PLEDGE AND OUR ROLL CALL. PLEASE BOW. FATHER GOD, I THANK YOU FOR TODAY. I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE. I ASK THAT YOU WILL PLEASE GIVE US PATIENCE WITH EACH OTHER, WITH OURSELVES, AND HAVE OUR WORDS TO HONOR YOU, BLESS US, BLESS US INDEED GOD, TO DO THIS WORK OF THE CITY. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AMEN. 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. THANK YOU. MAYOR. MAYOR MOSES HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. LEWIS, COUNCIL MEMBER. HAMILTON. EVER FEEL PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. BECKHAM. COUNCIL MEMBER. KINLAW. COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK. HERE YOU HAVE A QUORUM. MAYOR.
[II. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)]
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. CITY SECRETARY. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO OUR CLOSED MEETING EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH HANDLING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. NUMBER ONE, SECTION 5510711 LITIGATION NINE OF PHELAN VERSUS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CALLS NUMBER 25 DCV2233. AND THE 172ND DISTRICT COURT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS. NUMBER TWO, SECTION 551071. LEGAL ADVICE CONTRACT FOR THE STUDY DESIGN, PERMIT CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A SECTION OR SALE OF THE CITY LANDFILL THAT WILL RECEIVE WASTE THAT IS NOT PERMITTED UNDER THE CURRENT CITY LANDFILL PERMIT REQUESTED BY COUNCILMEMBER FRANK. NUMBER THREE. SECTION 551071 LEGAL ADVICE AND SECTION 551072 PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY FIRE STATION NUMBER TWO AND 735 FREEMAN AVENUE J J JCAT NUMBER 95654. NUMBER FOUR SECTION 551071. LEGAL ADVICE. MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS. SECTION NUMBER FIVE. SECTION 551071 LEGAL ADVICE LOGAN PARK. NUMBER SIX. SECTION 551071 LEGAL ADVICE. REQUEST FOR LETTER OF SUPPORT TO APPLY FOR THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM AND THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY BROWNSVILLE PROGRAM FOR THE 900 ACRES ON PLEASURE ISLAND LEASED TO DILIGENCE OFFSHORE SERVICES, LLC, ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE DATA CENTER PREMISES REQUESTED BY COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND NUMBER SEVEN, SECTION 551071 LEGAL ADVICE DUMPING ON 900 ACRES AT PLEASURE ISLAND REQUEST BY COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOTION. AND SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER. MAYOR PRO TEM.YES. ITEM NUMBER FOUR, LEGAL ADVICE ON MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS. WHAT IS THAT ABOUT THAT WE GO IN CLOSE. I'M GOING TO BE PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE ON AN ORDINANCE THAT I'M GOING TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, AND ALSO PROVIDING YOU SOME LEGAL ADVICE ON THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE NONEXISTENCE OF SOME ORDINANCES. LET ME SAY THIS ON RECORDS. ADVICE FROM THE CITY
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ATTORNEY SHOULD BE, IF WE'RE GOING TO GO IN CLOSED SESSION, IT SHOULD BE STRICTLY ABOUT LEGAL MATTERS. ANY ADVICE? YOU COULD PRESENT IT TO US. YOU COULD LET US KNOW. BUT JUST TALKING ABOUT MINIMUM STANDARDS. DO A PRESENTATION SO CITIZENS CAN KNOW. LEGAL ADVICE IS SUPPOSED TO BE LEGAL. PRESENT THINGS TO US. UNLESS IT'S INVOLVING A LEGAL MATTER WHERE THERE'S SOME POSSIBILITY OF LITIGATION OR SOMETHING COULD BE DONE UP HERE. AND IT'S SPECIFICALLY STATES. IN 551, WE DO NOT DISCUSS THINGS IN CLOSED SESSION SIMPLY BECAUSE THE ATTORNEY IS PRESENT. AND UNLESS IT'S SOMETHING THAT PREVENTS CITIZENS FROM KNOWING, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT WITH MINIMUM STANDARDS, I QUESTION WHY WE SHOULD GO DOWN IT IN THERE. YOU CAN SPEAK UP HERE. YOU COULD DO PRESENTATIONS TO US UP HERE. SO IF THIS A LEGAL MATTER. I'LL HAVE TO SEE. BUT I KEEP QUESTIONING THIS LEGAL ADVICE FROM ATTORNEY. ON THINGS THAT WE END UP TALKING ABOUT THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE DONE HERE IN THE OPEN. AND TRANSPARENT.BECAUSE IF IT'S MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS, THAT'S SOMETHING CITIZENS SHOULD BE.
KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. WE DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN CLOSED SESSION. THE OTHER ONE IS LOGAN PARK. ALSO, DO WE HAVE ANY TYPE OF LITIGATION PERTAINING TO LOGAN PARK? I'M GOING TO BE PROVIDING YOU LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING TITLE TO LOGAN PARK. OKAY. THAT ONE. GOOD. SO NUMBER NUMBER FOUR I'D LIKE A VOTE ON THAT ONE MAYOR OKAY OKAY. YES. WE'RE GOING TO VOTE I GUESS, ON THE REMAINDER. GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON ALL THOSE THAT ARE APPROVED. AND THEN WE'LL COME UP AND PULL NUMBER FOUR FOR A VOTE. OKAY. SO ALL IN FAVOR OF THE ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE SAY I, I OKAY. SO THOSE ARE APPROVED AT THIS TIME. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A VOTE ON THE NUMBER FIVE FOR SECTION 551.
LEGAL ADVICE MINIMUM PROPERTY PROPERTY STANDARDS AT THIS TIME. SO ALL IN FAVOR? OH, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOUR LIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER FAIL. OH, YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. WHEN THE CITY ATTORNEY PLACES AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA AND STATES IT IS FOR LEGAL ADVICE, THEN I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE US TO TRUST THE JUDGMENT OF OUR ATTORNEY THAT SHE CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS WHAT LEGAL ADVICE MEANS, SO THAT WE CAN HEAR WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY IN CLOSED SESSION, IN THE EVENT THAT IT DOES NOT END UP TO WHAT COUNCIL DEEMS AS LEGAL ADVICE, THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. BUT IT'S PURPOSEFUL THAT IT WAS PLACED ON HERE FOR LEGAL ADVICE FOR OUR ATTORNEY. AND SHE'S THE ONLY ONE UP HERE WITH A JD, SO THAT'S THE ONE THAT CAN HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT LEGAL ADVICE MEANS AND THE INFORMATION THAT SHE WANTS TO GIVE US TO HELP US MAKE WISE DECISIONS. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO PLEASE NOT REMOVE THIS ITEM FROM THE AGENDA FOR OUR DISCUSSION. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A VOTE FOR US TO GO IN AND REVIEW IT. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE IT HERE. MINIMUM. WE CAN VOTE TO GO INTO THE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH THIS ITEM. COMMENT ON IT. MAYOR. NUMBER FOUR, YES, YOU HAVE YOUR LIGHT ON. YES.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE ANOTHER. WEARS OF ALL, THE CITY ATTORNEY JOB IS TO GIVE LEGAL ADVICE.
HOPEFULLY IT'S ALWAYS THE RIGHT ONE, BUT WE'RE NOT ELECTED TO DO ANYTHING THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYS OR ANYBODY ELSE. IT DOESN'T MEAN BECAUSE YOU HAVE LAW AGREED THAT YOU'RE CORRECT.
THE INTERPRETATION OF 551. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A LAW DEGREE TO UNDERSTAND IT. AND IF COUNCIL MEMBERS FEEL THAT WHATEVER STAFF OR THE CITY ATTORNEY TELL US, THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO, THAT'S FINE. I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THAT. BUT UNDERSTAND IF THAT WAS THE CASE,
[00:10:06]
WHY WOULD THEY ELECT A COUNCIL? WHY WOULD YOU NEED A COUNCIL IF YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO ANYTHING, SOMEBODY SAYS, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO JUST GO TO A VOTE. AND RIGHT NOW. SO ALL IN FAVOR OF GOING IN ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR, SECTION 551071 LEGAL ADVICE, MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS, PLEASE SAY I, I. ARE THERE ANY NOS? NO. HOW MANY NOS HAVE TWO. NOS FIVE. THE AYES HAVE IT. WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND HEAR THE MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS. AT THIS TIME. WE'RE GOING TO ADJOURN AND WE'LL RECONVENE AFTER EXECUTIVE NO NO NO NO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.CITY SECRETARY, IF YOU WOULD. ARE WE READY TO GET BACK ON? YES, MA'AM. WE ARE. OKAY. MAYOR MOSES, MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE. WAIT, I DIDN'T SAY I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY BECAUSE I WAS WAITING FOR TO HEAR RECORDING IN PROGRESS. AM I SUPPOSED TO HEAR THAT? NO, MA'AM. WE JUST PAUSE.
IT WAS READY TO GO. OKAY. WE'RE READY. OKAY. IF YOU'LL ESTABLISH A QUORUM, PLEASE. I'M GOING TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM FIRST, AND THEN I'LL CLOSE IT OUT. YES, MA'AM. MAYOR MOSES HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. LEWIS. COUNCIL MEMBER. HAMILTON. EVER PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER. BECKHAM I SEE HER. I DON'T SEE COUNCIL MEMBER. KINLAW HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK, YOU HAVE A QUORUM. MAYOR. THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE AN MOTION COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THIS TIME. COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW, IF YOU WOULD READ THAT MOTION. YES, MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ENTER INTO A FULL AND FINAL RELEASE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT.
IN THE CASE OF PHELAN VERSUS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. CAUSE NUMBER TWO FIVE DCC 2233 IN THE 172ND DISTRICT COURT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS. SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND AT THIS TIME. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE MOTION PASSES. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO GET A MOTION FOR CLOSING OUT EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND A MOTION. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. WE'RE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION A
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.