[I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL] [00:00:04] THANK YOU. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING FOR TUESDAY, MARCH THE 10TH, 2026 AT 5:30 P.M. YOU MAY JOIN US BY TELEPHONIC AND BY VIDEO CONFERENCE. YOU MAY DO SO BY CALLING 877853524 7 OR 8 887880099. YOU CAN ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 87087984023, AND YOU MAY ENTER THE PASSCODE OF 357806 TO JOIN US, EITHER BY TELEPHONE OR VIDEO CONFERENCE. ALSO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. WE DO. YOU CAN DO SO BY CALLING OUR CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE TO RESERVE A PLACE. AND YOU CAN DO THAT BY CALLING (409) 983-8115. AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE MUTE OR YOUR CELL PHONE OR MOBILE DEVICES. WE WILL HAVE OUR INVOCATION, OUR PLEDGE, AND OUR ROLL CALL. AND I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM TO LEAD US IN OUR INVOCATION. WHAT? EVERYONE BOW WITH ME, PLEASE. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TONIGHT HUMBLY BEFORE YOUR THRONE, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY THAT IS FREE, THAT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO DO THE BUSINESS OF THIS CITY THAT YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED TO US. FATHER, HELP US TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR THE CITY, TO LEAD IT BOLDLY INTO THE FUTURE. FATHER, PROTECT EVERYONE WHO'S HERE TONIGHT. BLESS EACH FAMILY THAT'S REPRESENTED AND LEAD US ALL SAFELY HOME THIS EVENING. WHEN WE CONCLUDE WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. 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, WILL YOU DO ROLL? CALL FOR ME, PLEASE. MAYOR MOSES HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. LEWIS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER, HAMILTON AIRFIELD. COUNCIL MEMBER. BECKHAM HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. KINLAW HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK. PRESENT. YOU HAVE A QUORUM, MAYOR. THANK YOU. CITY SECRETARY. AT THIS TIME. AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NO PROCLAMATIONS. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO PETITIONS AND [III.A.(1) Diane Guidry Regarding Funding From EDC] COMMUNICATIONS. I HAVE SPEAKERS UNDER SPEAKERS. WE HAVE DIANE GUIDRY REGARDING FUNDING FROM THE EDC. IF YOU'LL COME AT THIS TIME AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. MAKE SURE THAT MIC IS ON. TOUCH YOUR TOUCH. IT'S NOT A. BAD. SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ON NOW. OH, IT'S ON NOW. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DIANE GUIDRY. MY HOME ADDRESS IS 2204 BAYOU DRIVE HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. 77640. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU GUYS TODAY, AND MY CONCERN AND ONLY CONCERN IS EDC FUNDING. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE OWNED THIS PLACE. IT WOULD BE NINE YEARS, THANK GOD THIS MAY THAT WE'VE BEEN ON THE CORNER OF PROCTOR AND SHREVEPORT AND WE'VE HAD A GREAT TIME, AND WE HAVE BEEN THE ONLY EATERY DOWN HERE FOR THOSE YEARS. RECENTLY, WE HAVE A FOOD TRUCK THAT WE WORK ON, WHICH IS A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM US, AND IT WAS GOOD TO TO SEE SOMEONE ELSE DOWN THERE FEEDING THE COMMUNITY. BUT WE'VE APPLIED TO EDC TWICE WITHIN NINE YEARS FOR EDITH'S PLACE, AND WE'VE BEEN DENIED BOTH TIMES. AND I NEVER REALLY GOT A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING WHY. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T QUALIFY. THEY SENT US A LETTER. AND I THINK ONE OTHER TIME THEY SAID IT WAS A BLEMISH ON ONE OF OUR CREDIT REPORTS OR WHATEVER. BUT I DO CLEARLY REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE APPLIED, WE BOTH WAS IN MID SEVEN HUNDREDS AND WE WERE IN GOOD STANDINGS, AND I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN IF WE WERE APPROVED, THAT WE COULDN'T AFFORD THE MONTHLY NOTE, WHICH WAS VERY DISTURBING TO ME TO TELL ME THAT. AND I ASKED HOW MUCH WAS [00:05:03] THE MONTHLY NOTE AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE OVER $900 FOR $10,000, A $900 NOTE. SO I NEVER WENT BACK TO DEAL WITH THAT, BECAUSE IT WAS VERY DISHEARTENING TO SAY THAT WE HIRED A STAFF THAT HAD NO INCOME, AND THEY WERE NOT TAXPAYERS IN THIS CITY FOR NINE YEARS. MY STAFF MEMBERS AND I AND MY HUSBAND HAVE BEEN TAXPAYERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY ASSISTANCE FROM EDC DEALING WITH DEALING WITH THIS PLACE. AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN YOU SEE EDITH'S PLACE, YOU SEE A SOUL FOOD RESTAURANT. THAT'S NOT ALL THAT EDITH'S PLACE, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE TO THIS CITY. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT GET OFF THE BUS THAT HAVE NOWHERE TO GO, AND WE HOUSE THEM. THEY COME IN AND THEY SIT AND WE FEED THEM FOR FREE. A LOT OF THEM HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF PRISON WITH ONLY THE MONEY THAT THEY HAD TO BE RELEASED, AND WE TAKE CARE OF THEM WHEN THEY COME IN. WE'VE EVEN HAD A YOUNG LADY THAT ONE OF MY STAFF MEMBERS BROUGHT HOME AND LET HER SPEND THE NIGHT AT HER HOUSE DURING THE WINTER, BECAUSE HER BUS DIDN'T SHOW UP TO BRING HER TO NEW ORLEANS, SO WE HOUSED HER. I HAVE MY SENIORS WHO I LOVE DEARLY THAT COME IN, AND I WATCH THEM ORDER FOOD AFTER FOOD AFTER FOOD IN ONE SERVING UNTIL I ASKED WHY. AND THEY SAY TO ME, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO LAST ME THE END OF THE MONTH SO I CAN AFFORD THE ONE TIME $30 OVERDRAFT FEE, AND THEY'RE ORDERING 5 OR 6 MEALS FROM MY RESTAURANT, SO I DON'T EVEN HARDLY CHARGE THEM FOR THAT. SO WE DON'T JUST PROVIDE SOUL FOOD, WE PROVIDE CARE FOR PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY MY SENIORS. I HAVE A HEART FOR THEM. THEY COME IN, THEY LOOK AT THE MIRROR ON MY WALL, AND THEY GIVE ME HISTORY ABOUT THIS CITY BECAUSE I'M NOT FROM HERE TO SEE SOMEONE 80 AND 90 YEARS OLD TALK ABOUT THE GOOD TIMES THEY HAD ON PROCTOR. AND RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE TUMBLEWEED. THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON AND EDC SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP MY HUSBAND AND I WITH THIS RESTAURANT. AND SO THIS LAST PROPOSAL THAT THEY HAD ON THE BALLOT, NOVEMBER 4TH, I VOTED FOR THAT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO HELP NOT ONLY TYPE A, BUT TYPE B. THEN WHEN I WENT TO EDC, I WAS TOLD WE DIDN'T QUALIFY. SO I ASKED WHY DIDN'T WE QUALIFY? SO I YOU KNOW, I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF AND THOSE WHO KNOW ME KNOW I'M GOING TO RESEARCH WHY YOU TELL ME. NO. THEY SAID IT'S FOR PARK RECREATION AND FACILITIES, SPORTS VENUES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONSERVATION. BUT THE LAST BULLET POINT SAID BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION PROJECTS. I WANTED AN EXPLANATION ON THAT ONE BULLET POINT AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT. I'M TOLD THAT WE DON'T FIT IN TO GET GRANT MONEY, BUT WE CAN APPLY FOR A LOAN. I'M NOT APPLYING FOR A LOAN. WHEN I SEE OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY STEADY, GETTING GRANT MONEY AND THEIR DOORS DON'T EVEN OPEN. THEY'VE GOTTEN MONEY FROM EDC AND HAVEN'T SERVED ONE PERSON IN THIS COMMUNITY, OR THEY'VE GOTTEN MONEY FROM EDC. AS SOON AS THE DOORS OPEN, IT CLOSED. I'VE BEEN THERE NINE YEARS COME MAY 17TH, AND EDC HAVEN'T OFFERED ME ANYTHING FOR EDITH'S PLACE. NOT ONE. BUT EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND, THEY'RE OPENING SOMETHING ELSE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE. WHETHER THEY'RE PAYING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, WHATEVER. IT'S NOT A LOAN. SO WHY SHOULD MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE TO APPLY FOR A LOAN AND HAVE AN INTEREST RATE AND PAY IT BACK WHEN WE'VE HELD OUR OWN ON THIS CORNER FOR NINE YEARS, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO BE THERE FOR NINE PLUS MORE YEARS? WE LOVE DOWNTOWN. WE LOVE THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. WE LOVE THE COMMUNITY. PEOPLE COME AND PATRONIZE US. BUT MY FEELINGS ARE HURT THAT EDC IS ONLY 2 OR 3 BLOCKS FROM ME, AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME NO, I NEED AN EXPLANATION FROM SOMEBODY. WHY? OKAY, I UNDERSTAND, I GOT LIGHTS GOING. WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER DOUCET. HI, DIANE. GOOD EVENING. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS AMUSING AND INTERESTING WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THEY CAN'T GET MONEY FROM EDC. THIS PROPOSITION THAT HAS. YOU HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO GRANTS AND WE BE ABLE TO NEED TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES? WELL, EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN OFF AND ON EDC, EDC HAS ALWAYS OFFERED TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES. THAT'S SOMETHING SOME PEOPLE NEVER UNDERSTOOD. IT HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES. THE PROBLEM WITH IT IS WITH EDC IS THEY HAVE THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF THE HOUSE [00:10:04] WHERE THEY DON'T DEAL WITH, THEY'RE IN THE OFFICE, THEY PAY A COMPANY TO DO FINANCIALS, AND THAT COMPANY IS JUST LIKE BANKS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THEY ONLY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION BACK TO THE EDC. BUT THAT RECOMMENDATION IS WHETHER IT'S A RISK OR NOT. AND SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND SOME OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED IS PROBABLY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE INTO IT. SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ASKING WHY YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DENIED, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT FINANCIAL, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY. YOU COULD GET WITH COUNCILMAN, WE COULD ACTUALLY SEE. BUT A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS FINANCIALS. YOU MENTIONING. AND I KNOW THAT NDC DOES IT FOR THEM. AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE PLACE TO START TALKING ABOUT FINANCIALS. AND IF YOU GOT THE REQUIREMENTS I'LL BE GLAD. I MEAN, YOU STILL THERE IN MY DISTRICT. I'D BE GLAD TO LOOK INTO IT. I MEAN, I, I SERVED ON IT, BUT THE MONEY JUST GIVEN OUT LIKE SOME PEOPLE THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. AND YOU'RE APPLYING AND IT'S TELLING YOU THAT. I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO GO BACK TO EDC AND LOOK INTO IT. BUT I SERVED ON IT, SO I KNOW WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO. WE ASKED FOR $10,000. WE DIDN'T ASK FOR 50. WE DIDN'T ASK FOR 60. WE DIDN'T ASK FOR SIX FIGURES. WE SIMPLY BOTH TIMES ASKED FOR $10,000. AND IF AND DON'T GET ME WRONG, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. AND THEY DO HAVE A CRITERIA. THAT'S RIGHT. AND WE DID MEET THE CRITERIA. OKAY. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. I WILL BE GLAD TO LOOK INTO IT. BUT WHETHER IT'S 5000 OR 50,000, THERE'S A PROCEDURE AND THERE'S A PROCESS AND I'LL I'LL LOOK INTO IT FOR YOU, OKAY. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY HAVE CRITERIA TO GO BY AND IN D.C. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT I WOULD WANT TO CALL ANYBODY UP HERE AND START TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT I'M HEARING. IT'S GOING TO GO INTO FINANCIALS, BUT I'LL BE GLAD TO DO IT. AND IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THAT, I'LL BE GLAD TO COME BACK AND ADDRESS IT WITH COUNCIL AND THE DIRECTOR OVER THERE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY HAD THE CRITERIA AND STUFF. BUT A LOT OF TIMES WE WE GET KIND OF CONFUSED AND STUFF, AND A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE HAVE WENT OVER THERE AND BEEN TOLD, WE CAN'T HELP YOU. THEY COME BEFORE US, WE SEND THEM BACK TO TALK WITH THE DIRECTOR. SOME OF THEM GET HELP, SOME OF THEM DON'T GET HELP. SO BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY BE ADDRESSED DOWN THERE AND FIND OUT EXACTLY, EXACTLY WHY. AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS A PLACE BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BECAUSE YOU GOT DIRECTOR HERE, BUT I DON'T I DON'T THINK THIS IS A TIME WHEN WE GET INTO CERTAIN FINANCIAL THINGS TO DO THAT, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED IT, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE SCORES AND STUFF AND ALL THAT, BUT IT'S BASED ON A RECOMMENDATION. AND IF THEY WERE SENT THROUGH THERE, BUT I COULD I COULD CHECK INTO IT. I APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM. I COULD CHECK INTO IT. AND WHATEVER I FIND, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT I FEEL THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING OR THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING THEIR PROCEDURES, AND I'LL BE MORE THAN GLAD TO BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DIRECTOR. AND IF THE DIRECTOR IN TURN DOESN'T SEE THAT, THEN I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ADDRESS THIS SITUATION WITH COUNCIL. BUT IT'D BE PERTAINING TO HOW WE DO BUSINESS OVER THERE AS OPPOSED TO AN INDIVIDUAL. OKAY, BECAUSE IT'LL HELP EVERYBODY WHO COMES IN THAT MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM YOU HAVE IF THERE'S A PROBLEM. WELL, THAT WAS ON THE GRANT SIDE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WAS ON COUNCIL WHEN MR. BATISTE WAS. SO WHEN HE CAME BEFORE COUNCIL AND ASKED TO START A MICRO LOAN PROGRAM, DO YOU GUYS REMEMBER THAT? OKAY, SO WHEN I MET WITH MR. BATISTE AND THEY DID NOT APPROVE ME FOR THE GRANT MONEY, HE SAID TO ME, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER A MICRO LOAN PROGRAM. THAT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP YOU. YOU GUYS APPROVED THAT PROGRAM? THEY DENIED ME AGAIN FOR THE MICRO LOAN. WELL, LIKE I SAID, I WE I COULD LOOK INTO IT. BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE MICRO LOAN AND WHEN YOU CAME, I WAS A MEMBER OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION. YES. PARTICULARLY THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I SAID, YOU KNOW, I'D BE GLAD TO DISCUSS IT, BUT I WAS ON COUNCIL FOR THAT, SO I KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT. OKAY. BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT WE COULD DO IT. I GET ALL YOUR INFORMATION. I'LL GO BACK AND CHECK INTO IT. OKAY. THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM FOR ME. THE INFORMATION IS JUST THE KNOWLEDGE OF ME KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. SO I DON'T I [00:15:01] DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK. BUT I AM GRATEFUL THAT YOU WOULD OFFER TO TAKE THE TIME TO GO BACK AND LOOK. SO AGAIN, THIS NEW THING THAT WAS ON THE BALLOT THAT I VOTED FOR, IT DID NOT BENEFIT US BASED ON WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME BY EDC. WELL, WE STILL DON'T QUALIFY. SO BASICALLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS PLACE CAN QUALIFY FOR FUNDING FROM EDC. OKAY? AND IT'S NOT A LOAN BECAUSE I WILL NOT WILL NOT APPLY FOR A LOAN. LIKE I TOLD YOU, I'M NOT DOING IT. I COULD GIVE YOU THOSE ANSWERS. OKAY, VERY SPECIFIC ANSWERS. AND WHEN I GIVE THEM TO YOU BEFORE I GIVE THEM TO YOU, I WILL GO BACK AND TALK WITH THE DIRECTOR. PERSONALLY, I CAN TALK TO MISS CRYSTAL. YES. RIGHT NOW, THE DIRECTOR, I WOULD I WOULD TALK PERSONALLY TO GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING. SO. AND IF I GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION, IF NOT PREPARED, THEN WE CAN ALSO HAVE THE DIRECTOR HERE. AND IF WE GOTTA GO THROUGH IT, WE'LL GO THROUGH IT THAT WAY. I SPOKE WITH HER ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. BUT THE DIRECTOR, I SPOKE WITH MISS CRYSTAL AND MISS CRYSTAL TOLD ME SHE WAS VERY APOLOGETIC AND SHE SAID THAT WE DID NOT QUALIFY, THAT I CAN APPLY FOR A LOAN. SO THAT'S WHAT MADE ME DECIDE TO COME HERE BEFORE COUNCIL. LIKE I SAID, I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO INQUIRE. OKAY. I'LL INQUIRE SINCE YOU IN MY DISTRICT AND YES, SIR, AND I'M THE COUNCIL MEMBER, I'LL BE GLAD. I'LL BE VERY SPECIFIC AND I'LL ADDRESS IT. IN FACT, I WILL GET YOU BEFORE I GO, SO I GET EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT ANSWERED. SO I GET THE EXACT ANSWERS. I APPRECIATE THEM, AND IF THAT'S NOT SATISFYING AND YOU CAN ALWAYS COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND WE'LL HAVE THE DIRECTOR COME BACK, AT LEAST SHE'LL KNOW SPECIFIC WHAT SHE NEED TO ADDRESS WITH THE COUNCIL, SO WE'LL GO RIGHT THROUGH IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE SEVERAL OTHER LIGHTS, BUT I WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH YOURSELF AND CRYSTAL AND THE EDC ATTORNEY, AND ALSO OUR ATTORNEY TO INTERPRET THE MEANING OF THE THE LAST REFERENDUM THAT DID PASS. YES, MA'AM. BECAUSE I THINK IT TAKES US DETAILING THAT AND IRONING OUT THAT LAST STEP ABOUT BUSINESS BEING CREATED THAT CAUSES US TO HAVE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN PORT ARTHUR OR ECONOMICS TO THAT BUSINESS. SO I THINK THAT JUST A CONVERSATION WITH ALL OF US, IRONING OUT WHAT THAT IS INTERPRETED WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. BUT I DO HAVE SEVERAL OTHER LIGHTS. OKAY. SO I HAVE COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER FRANK AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS IN THAT ORDER. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MISS DIANE, I SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS. FOR NINE YEARS. YOU'VE BEEN A A PILLAR IN THAT AREA ON PROCTOR. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FOOD AND THE SERVICE THAT I GET WHEN I GO THERE. SO WHEN I DECIDED TO VOTE FOR THAT PARTICULAR ITEM AND BRING IT BEFORE COUNCIL, I SUPPORTED IT BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER TAKE A CHANCE ON PEOPLE FROM PORT ARTHUR THAN PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT FROM PORT ARTHUR. SO THAT'S MY LOGIC IN MAKING SOME OF THOSE CHANGES AND GOING FROM HAVING BOTH PARTIES WITH A TYPE A AND TYPE B, SO I SUPPORT THAT, BUT I DO, AND I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW WHY AND HOW. WHEN WE ARE, WHEN APPLICANTS APPLY, WHAT IS THE DETERMINING FACTORS OF WHY AND HOW THEY EITHER GET A LOAN OR A GRANT? THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HEARING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, BUT I DO WOULD LIKE JUST LIKE THE MAYOR HAS STATED EARLIER, WE'D LIKE TO BE IN THE MEETING ON THE AT THE TABLE AND FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN APPLICANTS APPLY, WHAT ARE THE CRITERIAS THAT PUSH THEM EITHER TO A LOAN OR TO A GRANT? OKAY. AND I HEAR YOU SAY $10,000 WITH THAT TYPE OF NOTE, SOMETHING IS NOT JIVING. I MEAN, BECAUSE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL PAY YOUR NOTE OUT. AND IN 11 MONTHS, TEN MONTHS AT $900, YOU KNOW, I'M A MATH GUY, SO THAT'S MY THING. BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO HELP SOMEONE, I THINK WE CAN FIND A BETTER SOLUTION. SO WITHOUT ME HAVING ALL THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, I WANT TO KIND OF RESERVE MY COMMENT, OKAY, ON ON THE NOTE ASPECT OF IT, BUT I AM AND I TRULY AM GOING TO GET WITH MY APPOINTEE AS WELL. AND I DO WANT TO BE AT THE TABLE LIKE SUGGESTED BY MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE, FINDING THE INFORMATION OF WHAT WOULD PUT YOU IN THAT CATEGORY, EITHER ALONE OR GRANT BASED UPON BEING A PORT ARTHUR BASED RESTAURANT. OKAY. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK. THANK YOU MAYOR. I SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS HERE IN OUR CITY. AND AS ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WAS A SUPPORTER OF. A TYPE B EDC AND BRINGING THAT [00:20:02] TO PASS AND THEN SUPPORTING THE PASSAGE OF IT ALONG WITH THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GET TO THE CORE ROOT OF WHY THIS THIS TYPE OF SITUATION EXISTS. I APPRECIATE TREMENDOUSLY WHAT WHAT THE MAYOR AND WHAT COUNCILMAN DOUCET HAVE ULTIMATELY SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO FOR YOU IN GOING TO GET THAT ANSWER. BUT I WANT TO TAKE THAT A STEP FURTHER. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND FOR US IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE A WORKSHOP WITH THE EDC TO BRING THE ATTORNEY, TO BRING THE DIRECTOR, THE INTERIM DIRECTOR AND THE COUNCIL TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN BE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THE FULL INTENT OF THE PASSAGE OF WHAT THE PROPOSITION WAS AND GIVE DIRECTION TO THE EDC FROM THE STANDPOINT OF BEING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE OVER THE GOVERNANCE OF EDC, THE EDC, WE APPOINT INDIVIDUALS THERE AND WE ASK THEM TO DO EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN. WE DON'T TRY TO RUN ROUGHSHOD OVER THEM OR TO TWIST THEIR ARMS TO DO PROJECTS. BUT I THINK AS THOUGH AS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE EDC, THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY EMBRACE THE VISION AND THE INTENT OF WHAT THE PROPOSITION IS, AND THAT IS TO BE AN INCUBATOR FOR SMALL BUSINESS HERE IN OUR CITY, NOT TO JUST BE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE JUST THROWING MONEY OUT WILLY NILLY. THAT IS NOT THE INTENT. BUT WHEN SOMEONE SUCH AS YOURSELF, WHO HAS THE KIND OF BUSINESS THAT HAS SHOWN THAT IT IS VIABLE BUSINESS, THAT SHOWS THAT IT HAS, IT'S HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT AND IMPERATIVE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HOLD UP YOUR ARMS AND TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE THE INPUT THAT YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND ALL OF THAT COMES ALONG WITH YOU MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO I WOULD SAY TO US AS A COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE A WORKSHOP AND THAT IT BE ALL THIS INFORMATION BE PRESENTED TO ALL OF US, THAT WE CAN HEAR IT TOGETHER. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. FRANK, WILL YOU GET YOUR HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD EVENING. WHEN I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH AND I INITIATED GRANTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. SMALL BUSINESSES DO NOT NEED ANOTHER LOAN. NO, THEY DON'T NEED A LOAN. AND I PUSHED IT AND I TALKED ABOUT IT REGULARLY AND EXPLAINED IT ON TO GET PEOPLE TO GO TO THE POLLS AND VOTE FOR IT. WE GOT A FOR A PORTION AND A FOR B, BUT WHEN I GOT A PROBLEM WITH WHY IS EDC APPLYING FOR A FOUR YEAR OLD SITUATION? AND SO THEY HAVE. SO YOU'LL TELL THEM WHAT I'M HEARING. THEY'LL SOME WELL LET'S SEE. THEY NEED TO SIT DOWN AND DO AND SET THE CRITERIA FOR THE 4B5 YEARS IN BUSINESS OR MINIMUM FIVE YEARS I DON'T WANT. NO. AND I INSISTED ON THAT NOT TO GIVE GRANTS TO START UP BUSINESS. IF YOU'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FIVE YEARS OR GREATER, YOU'LL QUALIFY FOR A GRANT. OKAY. NOW THE PROBLEM IS WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME. WHEN I HEARD THEY'RE STILL APPLYING FOR A, THEY HAVE NOT SIT DOWN AND SET THE CRITERIA FOR FOUR B AND THE WORKSHOP WILL BE IN LINE FOR THAT. WE NEED TO GET THAT DONE. YES, SIR. BECAUSE IT MAKES YEAH. YOU KNOW IT'S FRUSTRATING. IT MAKES. NO. AND I HAD I WANTED THE LANGUAGE PUT ON THE BALLOT MUCH MORE CLEARLY. YEAH. BECAUSE BUT YOU KNOW THE LANGUAGE I LOST THAT BATTLE ON THE LANGUAGE. BUT AS LONG AS IT WAS CLEAR THAT SMALL BUSINESSES WILL BE GETTING GRANTS UNDER THE FOUR B PORTION, IT'S A HYBRID PROGRAM, OKAY? IT'S A HYBRID. DONALD FRANK WAS THE ONE THAT CAME UP WITH IT, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, LET'S DO IT. I DIDN'T WANT TO DO AWAY WITH 4B4, I WANT TO I WANT TO WANT THE HYBRID FOUR B. YOU FALL YOUR GRANT $10,000 FALLS UNDER THE FOUR B SECTION. THE EDC BOARD NEEDS TO GET THEIR HEAD. WELL, I WANT TO SAY THAT THEY NEED TO GET THEIR HEAD TOGETHER. YES, SIR. OKAY. YES, SIR. AND SET THE CRITERIA FOR FOUR B AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO WORK ALONG WITH THE WORKSHOP. THAT WAY EVERYBODY WILL LEAVE THE ROOM WITH THE SAME UNDERSTANDING. YES, SIR. OKAY. CAN I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION BEFORE I'M DONE ABOUT THAT? WHEN I MET WITH THEM ON ANOTHER PROJECT FOR A FOOD PARK THAT WE WERE INTERESTED IN, THAT WAS GOING FORWARD UNTIL THE LANDOWNER KEPT CHANGING THE PRICE ON IT. I ASKED EDC THEY [00:25:05] WERE GOING TO GIVE ME 40% INFRASTRUCTURE. I ASKED THEM WHY WOULD THEY WRITE THE CHECK TO ME IF EDC IS GOING TO GIVE US MONEY? WE NEED TO HAVE A BUDGET AND WE NEED TO SAY PLUMBING IS X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, ELECTRICITY IS X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS. I DIDN'T I DIDN'T CARE THAT THE CHECK BE WRITTEN TO ME. AND THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE TOO MANY CHECKS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN TO TOO MANY PEOPLE, AND THEY WALKED AWAY WITH TOO MUCH MONEY FROM TAXPAYERS. SO IF I COME TO EDC WITH A PROPOSAL AND IT'S BEEN APPROVED BY ENGINEERS AND THE BOARD AND EVERYBODY AND MY, MY LINE ITEMS SAY CERTAIN TYPE OF WORK AND CERTAIN AMOUNT, THOSE CHECKS SHOULD BE WRITTEN TO THOSE COMPANIES. IT SHOULDN'T BE WRITTEN TO DIANE AND TOMMY GUIDRY. BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IF THOSE NUMBERS ARE ARE FLUFFED OR SOMETHING THEN THEN I'M POCKETING MONEY OFF OF THIS COMMUNITY. WE'RE A SMALL COMMUNITY. EVERY DIME THAT WE SPEND IN TAXES COUNT. SO I WAS TOLD BY EDC, WE HAVE TO WRITE THE CHECK TO YOU BECAUSE THE CONTRACT IS WITH YOU, THEN THAT'S FINE, BUT YOU NEED TO PUT MY NAME ALONGSIDE THE NAME OF THESE OTHER ENTITIES. SO IF I'M GOING OVER TO COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND I'M SPENDING $20,000 ON EQUIPMENT, THEN DIANE AND TOMMY GUIDRY, ALONG WITH COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, NOT JUST DIANE GUIDRY, BECAUSE I CAN GIVE YOU A BID FROM COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, BUT THEN GO TO JOE BLOW AND BUY HIS FOR 7500. BUT YOU JUST GAVE ME A CHECK FOR 20,000. I'M NOT HERE TO RIP OFF MY CITY. I JUST WANT HELP ON THIS CORNER TO TO BRING MORE LIFE ON THIS CORNER, TO BRING MORE LIFE DOWNTOWN. AND IF EDC IS THE ENTITY THAT CAN DO THAT, THEN THEY NEED TO DO THAT. WE GOT YOU. WE UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO BE HONORED. WE'RE GOING TO GET A WORKSHOP PLAN AND GET SOME UNDERSTANDING. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT. NEXT [III.A.(2) David Jones Regarding City Attorney Disrespecting Employees] WE HAVE MR. DAVID JONES REGARDING CITY ATTORNEY DISRESPECTING EMPLOYEES. OH, HE'S NOT HERE. OKAY. NO, MR. JONES. OKAY. NUMBER THREE, WANDA BIDEN, REGARDING MOVING [III.A.(3) Wanda Bodden Regarding Moving The Port Arthur Beautification Commission Forward With Upcoming Projects (Part 1 of 2)] THE PORT ARTHUR BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION FORWARD WITH UPCOMING PROJECTS. YES. GOOD TO SEE YOU. IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. MY NAME IS. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OH, YEAH. WE GOT YOU. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES. OKAY. MY NAME IS WANDA BARTON. I LIVE AT 7385 CROWN MEADOWS DRIVE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. SEVEN SEVEN, 642. AND I JUST WANT TO READ OFF MY NOTES SO I CAN STAY ON TASK. AND IF IT GOES OUT, I WROTE IT, SO I ALREADY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR MOSES AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AS THE NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF PORT ARTHUR BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION, I'M HERE TO INFORM EVERYONE THAT OUR COMMISSION IS WILL BE VISIBLE AND VOCAL MOVING FORWARD. I THINK WE'VE BEEN IN THE SHADOWS FOR TOO LONG. FIRST, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE COMMISSION HAS RECEIVED A GOLD AFFILIATE AWARD FROM THE TEXAS BEAUTIFUL PROJECT, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING OUR CITY'S GOLD STATUS. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK EVERY CITIZEN WHO CONTRIBUTED FUNDS THROUGH THE WATER DEPARTMENT THAT THOSE DONATIONS ARE VITAL ADDITIONS TO OUR BUDGET AND MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. NOW WE NEED TO ADDRESS WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO ADVANCE THIS COMMISSION WITH URGENCY, CRITICAL THINKING AND LESS RESISTANCE FROM THOSE IN AUTHORITY. PORT ARTHUR HAS A MUST CATCH UP ON INCENTIVE INCENTIVES THAT WE HAVE BEEN STALLED OR NEGLECTED FOR FAR TOO LONG. DO YOU REALLY WANT THE BEST FOR US, OR ARE THOSE JUST EMPTY WORDS? WILL YOU HELP BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT WORKS TOGETHER TO MAKE PORT ARTHUR A SAFE, CLEAN, AND BEAUTIFUL CITY ONE THAT NOT ONLY APPEALS TO CURRENT RESIDENTS BUT IS ATTRACTIVE ENOUGH TO WELCOME NEW FAMILIES AND MAKE PORT ARTHUR THEIR HOME. WHAT WILL THE TURNAROUND FOR OUR CITY? WHAT WILL BE THE TURNAROUND FOR OUR CITY? WHERE PROPERLY WHICH PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD OFF? BLOCK BY BLOCK, PARCEL BY PARCEL TO LARGE INDUSTRIES AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES? WE CLAIM TO WANT OUR YOUTH TO RETURN, BUT HOW CAN THEY WHEN WE ARE, WHEN THERE ARE NO HOMES OR PROPERTIES AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE? THESE. THIS BRINGS ME TO A CRUCIAL QUESTION. WHAT EXACTLY DOES THE CITY EXPECT US TO BEAUTIFY? A BROKEN SYSTEM, A COMMUNITY THAT HAS SETTLED FOR JUST ENOUGH? THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH. YOU WANT TO DO TOO MUCH? LET'S START SMALL. IS THIS TRULY THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE THAT ONCE STOOD AS A THRIVING GATEWAY TO PROSPERITY? IT FEELS AS THOUGH WE ARE NOW SUBMERGED IN A SYSTEM AND A MINDSET THAT HAS GRADUALLY LOADED US INTO [00:30:08] COMPLACENCY. I AM CALLING ON OUR CITY TO AWAKEN AND RECLAIM THE VIBRANCY THAT ONCE DEFINED US. I WILL SOON FORWARD A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR CITYWIDE CLEANUP AND LANDSCAPING THAT SERVES ALL OF PORT ARTHUR, NOT JUST SELECTED AREAS. THE PROJECT WILL RUN WELL OVER THE ALLOTTED BUDGET WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO WORK WITH. WE ALSO HAVE AN UPCOMING COMMUNITY PLAN EXCHANGE, INTENDED NOT ONLY TO BE SHARING PLANTS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR PLANTS, BUT TO BE CONNECTED WITH NEIGHBORS. WE SERVE IN A WELCOMING, FUN ATMOSPHERE. THIS IS A COMMUNITY PLANT EXCHANGE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE EXCHANGING PLANTS AMONG EACH OTHER, BUT ALSO IT'S GOING TO BE A GATHERING IN THAT WHAT THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION PLANS TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE DRIVE PEOPLE DOWNTOWN PORT ARTHUR, GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN PORT ARTHUR, LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND EACH OTHER'S COMMUNITY AND OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE WITH THE ASIANS AND THE THE VIETNAMESE ASIAN COMMUNITY, WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO ALL MEET TOGETHER AND KNOW ABOUT EACH OTHER'S CULTURE. WE LIVE NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER. THAT'S OUR NEIGHBORS. SO WE'RE MAKING THIS THIS PLANT EXCHANGE, ONE THAT'S IN A FUN ENVIRONMENT. I DON'T WANT YOU TO LOSE THE IDEA THAT WE JUST WANT TO GO DOWNTOWN AND HAVE FUN, WHICH WE WILL, BUT WE STILL WILL EXCHANGE PLANTS AND GET COMMUNICATION ON HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE PLANTS WE WANT TO MOVE THAT FORWARD TO. WELL, MAYBE THE PLANTS THAT THEY GATHER, THEY CAN PLANT THEM IN THEIR FRONT YARD AND LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD WE CAN DO LIKE ROCK THE BLOCK TYPE THING WHERE THE COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORS WOULD BLOCKS WOULD HAVE LIKE A CONTEST TO SEE WHICH COMMUNITY LOOKS BEST. IT'S MY SINCERE HOPE IS THAT MOVING FORWARD, THE CITY GOVERNMENT WILL WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE PROJECTS OUR COMMISSION PROPOSES. I URGE YOU TO THOROUGHLY REVIEW EACH INITIATIVE BEFORE MAKING A DECISION, AND TO FULLY EXPLORE ITS POTENTIAL, RATHER THAN DISMISSING IT OUTRIGHT. WITH CONTINUED COLLABORATION AND THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION, WE CAN TRULY TRANSFORM PORT ARTHUR TOGETHER. I'D ALSO LIKE TO STATE AT THIS TIME THAT MISS CHANDRA ALPOUGH, THAT'S OVER THE PORT ARTHUR PARKS AND RECREATION HAS WALKED ALONGSIDE OF COMMANDER FOR THE HELP THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN US IN ASSISTANCE. WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS SEEN EYE TO EYE, BUT WE ARE ADULTS AND WE CAN COME TO A VIABLE CONCLUSION WHERE EVERYBODY IS HAPPY. SO MY WHOLE DEAL IS PORT ARTHUR. THAT I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE KNOWN WAS ALWAYS A VIBRANT PLACE. WE HIT A ROUGH PATCH, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO STAY IN THIS COMPLACENCY THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN NOW. WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE EVERYTHING LIKE IT WAS. WE HAVE TO HAVE CRITICAL THINKERS BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT WORKING. IT'S NOT MAKING THE KIDS WANT TO COME BACK BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PROPERTY FOR THEM TO BUY, TO COME BACK AND ESTABLISH HOME AND BE VIABLE TAXPAYERS THAT ARE HELPED THIS CITY MOVE FORWARD. WE WANT THEM TO COME BACK, BUT WHAT DO WE HAVE TO OFFER? WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER DOWNTOWN, BUT WHAT DO WE HAVE TO OFFER? WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO LOOK LIKE FOR TO MAKE THEM COME? IT HAS TO LOOK LIKE AS VIBRANT AS FUN THAT WE ARE COMMUNITY MINDED. HAVE YOU EVER, EVER HEARD OF WHAT A EUNUCH WAS IN THE BIBLE? A EUNUCH IS A GOOD LOOKING MAN THAT'S BEEN CASTRATED, AND HE'S PLACED OVER THE HAREM TO WATCH THE WOMEN FOR THE KING. HE LOOKS GOOD, BUT HE'S NOT PRODUCTIVE AND HE DOESN'T FUNCTION. I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE SAID ABOUT OUR CITY. AND WITH THAT, I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE OF LIGHTS ON. OKAY. OH, LORD. 6:00 0604 I'M SO SORRY. YOU STAY. STAY THERE OR HAVE A SEAT. WE GOTTA GET ON WITH OUR PUBLIC HEARING. IT'S AFTER SIX. I'M SORRY. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. [IV.(1) A Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Receiving Public Comments And To Discuss The Following: Proposed Change: A Zoning Map Amendment (Z25-07) To Change From Commercial General (CG) To A Light Industrial District (LI) For The Development Of An RV Park. Legal Description: 9.59 Acres Of Land, Lots 15 And 27, Peek Addition, City Of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas (Property Is Located At 105 Highway 365) | JCAD Parcel #82206 & #82225) Citizens With Questions Regarding The Description Of This Property Can Contract The City Planning Department At (409) 983-8133. The Public Will Also Be Able To View The Public Hearing Via The City's Website At www.portarthurb<.gov] THIS TIME WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING AND TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING PROPOSED CHANGE OF CITY ZONING MAP AMENDMENT Z 2507 TO CHANGE FROM COMMERCIAL GENERAL CG TO A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT L1 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN RV PARK. LEGAL DESCRIPTION 9.59 ACRES OF LAND LOTS 15 AND 27 PEAK EDITION, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 105 HIGHWAY THREE, 65 JCT. PARCEL NUMBER 82206 AND NUMBER 82225. CITIZENS WITH QUESTIONS REGARDING THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS PROPERTY CAN CONTACT. CONTACT THE CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT AT 409 9838133. THE PUBLIC WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO VIEW THE PUBLIC HEARING VIA THE CITY'S WEBSITE. AT THIS TIME. MR. BATON THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMAN, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER AND I'M NOT A EUNUCH, SO DON'T. THE [00:35:13] GLAD TO KNOW THE CITY COUNCIL IS. OKAY. WELL, THE LITTLE COMEDY SHOW THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY 9.59 ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF LOTS FIVE AND 27 PEAK EDITION, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 105 HIGHWAY 6365. THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM COMMERCIAL GENERAL TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARK. A COMPLETED APPLICATION WAS FILED WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ON OR AROUND SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2025, REQUESTING A ZONING MAP CHANGE FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROPERTY. THE ZONING CHANGE WILL ALLOW THE PROPOSED TO BE LEGALLY CONFORMED AT SAID LOCATIONS. A COMMUNITY MEETING WAS HELD ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED SITE AND THE PROPOSED ZONE CHANGE. ALTHOUGH NOT REQUIRED BY LAW, 42 PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY TO INFORM THEM OF THE COMMUNITY MEETING AND TO INVITE FEEDBACK ON THE RV PARK ZONE CHANGE. NO RESIDENTS ATTENDED THE MEETING. HOWEVER, SEVERAL NEARBY PROPERTY OWNERS CONTACTED STAFF BY PHONE TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE ZONE CHANGE. TWO PROPERTY OWNERS INDICATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE. THEY WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND DID WANT TO EXPRESS OPPOSITION FOR THE ZONE CHANGE. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE CAN ONLY OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE RECOGNIZE PROTESTS FROM ZONING CHANGE FOR ZONING CHANGE IS THE PROTEST WAS MADE FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED LETTERS. PUBLIC NOTICES WERE MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THE PROPOSED SITE ON OCTOBER 8TH, 2025, AND PUBLISHED IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON OCTOBER 15TH, 2025. A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WAS HELD ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2025, INVITING CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST. THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED 5 TO 0, RECOMMENDING THAT THE REQUEST BE DENIED. ON JANUARY 27TH, 2026, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 26, DASH 027, CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING FOR TODAY, MARCH 10TH, 2026 AT 6 P.M. THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE PUBLISHED A PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PORT ARTHUR NEWSPAPER ON FEBRUARY 4TH, 2026, AND PREPARED AND MAILED NOTIFICATIONS TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FOOT RADIUS OF THE SUBJECT SITE ON OR AROUND JANUARY 27TH, 2026. THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY A GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. THIS DISTRICT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN AREA FOR USES THAT REQUIRE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION. BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE EQUIPMENT, AMOUNT OF TYPE OF TRAFFIC, AND OTHER INTENSE ACTIVITIES. THE PROPOSED ZONING IS THE LIGHT OF THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT. IT PROVIDE FOR LOCATIONS FOR SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIAL USES THAT INVOLVE EXTENSIVE PROCESSING, MANUFACTURING, OR ASSEMBLY OF LARGE PRODUCTS OR EQUIPMENT. THE SITE LOCATION IS ADJACENT TO MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO THE SOUTH AND EAST, AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT TO THE NORTH AND COMMERCIAL DISTRICT TO THE EAST. THIS IS AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROPERTY. THIS SLIDE SHOWS A VIEW OF THE PROPOSED LOCATION FOR THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS UNDEVELOPED LAND. IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 211 .06 AND 211 .07. A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES AND TIMES TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2025 FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION. WE RECEIVED NO WRITTEN OPPOSITION, NO VERBAL OPPOSITION, AND 24 LETTERS WERE RETURNED FOR TODAY'S MEETING. CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WE RECEIVED NO WRITTEN OPPOSITION AND 17 LETTERS WERE RETURNED. THIS SLIDE REFERS TO APPENDIX A, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE, SECTION 6.0 [00:40:05] 3F1 OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ZONING ORDINANCE STATES THAT A CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE OR DENY THE PROPOSED MATTER BY SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE, IN THE EVENT THAT A PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE REGULATION OR BOUNDARY IS DENIED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, THEN THE PROPOSED CHANGE MUST BE APPROVED BY AT LEAST THREE FOURTHS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL WHO ARE QUALIFIED TO VOTE. THEREFORE, A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPROVE THIS REQUEST. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM. THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRESENTATION BEFORE I SPEAK ON THE ACTUAL ISSUE. SO WHEN LETTERS ARE RETURNED, DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE HAVE A BAD ADDRESS FOR THAT PARTICULAR PERSON? WELL, I WAS GOING THROUGH A COUPLE OF THEM AND SOME PEOPLE OWN THE PROPERTY, BUT THEY WERE DECEASED AND SOME PEOPLE, THEY JUST DIDN'T RESIDE AT THAT LOCATION ANYMORE OR WHATEVER. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY THE POST OFFICE SENT IT BACK, BUT APPARENTLY THEY COULDN'T DELIVER THE LETTER. OKAY, BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF LETTERS TO GET RETURNED. 24 IN 1 BATCH AND 17 IN ANOTHER BATCH. SO YES. OKAY, SO I'VE GOT I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED TO DENY THIS UNANIMOUSLY. I'VE GOT SOME SERIOUS ISSUES ABOUT GOING FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT BECAUSE, NUMBER ONE, THERE'S ALREADY AN RV PARK RIGHT THERE. THE TRAFFIC ON THIS PARTICULAR STRETCH OF 365 IS, IS PRETTY DENSE. I THINK THIS WOULD JUST ADD TO THAT TRAFFIC PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, NUMBER OF YEARS AGO THE THE, THE HIGHWAY RIGHT THERE WAS WIDENED JUST TO PROVIDE FOR MORE TRAFFIC FLOW. BUT IT'S STILL IT'S STILL PRETTY CONGESTED AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY. AND IT'S NOT JUST A DISTRICT FOUR ISSUE. IT'S IT'S PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THIS AREA THAT USE THAT STRETCH OF 365 TO GET TO WEST PORT ARTHUR ROAD TO GO ALL THE WAY OUT TO FANNETT. SO I THINK IT WOULD JUST ADD TO THE EXISTING TRAFFIC ISSUES THAT WE HAVE. SO, OKAY. YES, I HAVE A COMMENT TO YOU, LARRY. I THINK SOMETIME WE GO A LITTLE EXTRA AND SOMETIME WE NEED TO LET CITIZENS KNOW WHEN WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR THOSE LETTERS YOU SENT OUT. I KNOW THE AREA, IF YOU SEND OUT TO RESIDENTS WITHIN 200M, OR PROBABLY YOU AIN'T GOING TO HAVE NOBODY OUT THERE BECAUSE THERE'S NO RESIDENTS. SO THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE FOR ALL THAT. BUT I'M GLAD THE PEOPLE WHO DID SPEAK UP ARE PEOPLE WITHIN THAT VICINITY. AND IT GOES BACK TO THE FACT THAT WHEN WE ALLOW RV PARK IN THE AREA LIKE THAT, THAT ALREADY HAS ONE, AND WE HAVE A MAIN THOROUGHFARE THERE, IT CAN'T GET CONGESTED. NOW WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT EXPANSION GOING ON HIGHWAY 365 AND WEST PORT ARTHUR ROAD AND 7382, ALL THROUGHOUT CITY IS REAL HEAVY, YOU KNOW, AND MOST OF THEM YOU'LL FIND OUT WANT TO DO A RV PARK? AND IT'S MAINLY FOR CONTRACTOR WORKERS, YOU KNOW, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOSE, THEY WORK DURING THE WEEK AND GO HOME ON WEEKENDS. SO I'M GLAD THAT THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO DENY IT. AND OF COURSE, THAT BEING SAID, IF WE WANTED TO APPROVE IT, WE'D HAVE TO HAVE THREE FOURTHS OF VOTE ANYWAY 75% AS OPPOSED TO A SIMPLE MAJORITY. YES, SIR. BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD WHY SO MANY LETTERS WERE RETURNED. AND SO IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE YOU ALL CHOSE TO SEND THE LETTER OUT. IT WASN'T REQUIRED BECAUSE THE STATE ONLY REQUIRE 200M, AND IF YOU DID THAT, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE SENT NO LETTERS OUT. OKAY, SO I'M GLAD YOU ALL ARE STILL GOING A LITTLE EXTRA EFFORT. I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL LISTENED TO THE CITIZENS WHO COME BEFORE YOU. ALL OF THAT MEETING, AND I'M. AND I WANT TO PRAISE THE COMMISSION, FOR AT LEAST HERE IN OUR CITIZENS, IN MAKING A DECISION BASED ON WHAT CITIZENS ARE SAYING, AND ALSO BECAUSE A LOT OF TIME, SOMETIMES CITIZENS WISHES DON'T GET APPLIED. THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE NO. BUT IN SOME CASES LIKE THIS, I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I DON'T HAVE ANY LIGHTS OR HAVE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU CAN COME ON UP, SIR. SORRY. WAIT, I GOT WAIT. I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T SEE YOUR HAND. OKAY, SIR, IF YOU WOULD COME ON UP TO THE FRONT. STATE YOUR NAME AND [00:45:02] ADDRESS, PLEASE. DUSTIN, ARUNDEL AND 412. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU. AND SO YOU NEED TO SPEAK INTO THE MIC. THE ADDRESS IS 412 HIGHWAY 365. YES. WE OWN THE PROPERTY ADJACENT TO HIM. SO I GUESS MY BIGGEST CONCERN WAS HE'S THEY'RE TRYING TO REZONE IT FROM HEAVY COMMERCIAL TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL. AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE RV PARK AS A HEAVY COMMERCIAL. SO WHY WOULD WE NEED LIGHT INDUSTRIAL TO GET A RV PARK THERE? WELL WHAT IT IS ZONED TODAY, RV PARK WOULDN'T GO THERE. AND LIGHT COMMERCIAL WAS THE NEXT STEP UP THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR RV PARK. SO LIKE SO IT'S ZONED AS THE SAME AS OUR PROPERTY AS IT IS RIGHT NOW. HE GOT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. HE'S THE EXPERT. YES. THE WHEN YOU HAD YOUR RV PARK PUT THERE, IT WAS UNDER A DIFFERENT ZONING ORDINANCE. WE HAVE A NEW ORDINANCE THAT WAS APPROVED AND STARTED IN 2023. AND SO NOW IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME. OKAY. AND AS FAR AS NOT ANSWERING THE THE LETTERS AND STUFF, WE NEVER RECEIVED ONE THAT I KNOW OF. AND THE SIGN THAT IS IN FRONT OF THE PROPERTY RIGHT NOW SAYS THAT THIS MEETING WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE UNTIL MARCH 24TH AT 10 A.M. SO I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS. WE SAID, WHAT THE WHAT? THERE'S A SIGN, A SIGN AT THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY. LIKE A NOTICE SIGN. I DON'T I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE CITY SIGN OR NOT. CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WE WE DO. I'M SORRY. WE DO PUT OUT SIGNS AND I. I WASN'T AWARE THAT THE SIGN SAID MARCH 24TH OR I THOUGHT IT SAID MARCH 10TH BECAUSE I DIDN'T PUT OUT THE SIGN. BUT I'M SURE THAT WE SHOULD LOOK INTO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT, YOU KNOW, PROPERLY, MAKE SURE THE TIME WE AND I THINK THEY JUST WENT OUT AND CHANGED THE, THE, THE SIGN, THE, THE DATE. SO I THOUGHT IT WAS OKAY, BUT APPARENTLY IT'S NOT. SO WE'RE CHECKING TO MAKE SURE IT'S OKAY. WE DO PUT OUT SIGNS IN CASE WE DON'T. PEOPLE DON'T GET LETTERS. WE MAKE SURE WE PUT OUT A SIGN THERE SO THAT PEOPLE WILL BE AWARE OF THE COMING, UPCOMING MEETING. THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE IT. THAT WAS MY QUESTIONS. HOW WAS YOUR QUESTIONS? OKAY. I HAVE SOMEONE ELSE THAT HAD QUESTIONS BEHIND YOU. OKAY. YOU CAN COME ON UP NOW. YES, MA'AM. SO MY NAME IS RICHARD LONG. I JUST BOUGHT A PIECE OF PROPERTY HERE IN PORT ARTHUR OVER ON BLEDSOE. THAT'S NOT MY DISTRICT. BUT WHAT I NEED TO LET YOU KNOW IS I AM FROM A VERY TOURIST INDUSTRY AREA. I'M FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, AND I'M FROM MYRTLE BEACH. WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND IS, IS IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND DEVELOP AND YOU WANT BUSINESSES TO COME AND DEVELOP, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THEM PUT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT JUST THE WATER AND SEWER, BUT THE ROADWAYS TO GET IN AND OUT OF THOSE PROJECTS. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO WIND UP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WE'VE GOT BACK IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH ROAD TO HANDLE ALL THE TRAFFIC WE GOT. AND I GREW UP IN MYRTLE BEACH, LITERALLY SUMMERTIME, SEPTEMBER. IT WAS LIKE SOMEBODY CUT OFF THE LIGHTS AND YOU COULD DRIVE ANYWHERE YOU WANTED TO WITH NO PROBLEM. AND THEN WHEN EASTER ROLLED AROUND, ONE OF THE HOTTEST TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, AND AS PEOPLE RETIRED AND MOVED TO MYRTLE BEACH, THEY GOT THERE AND THEY BUILT HOUSES. AND RIGHT NOW THEY GOT I THINK IT'S 3000 HOUSES GOING IN A LITTLE OVER 900 ACRES OF LAND WITH ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN THERE. AND THIS IS IN JUST A SMALL SPOT, AND THAT'S THE ONE THEY'RE BUILDING TODAY. BUT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE HAVE THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO WIND UP WITH. IF YOU DON'T ADDRESS THAT ISSUE OF THEM PUTTING IN ACCESS LANES TO THE PROPERTY AND LANES GETTING OUT OF THE PROPERTY. SO JUST LIKE THIS PROPERTY ON 365, IF YOU PUT AN RV PARK THERE AND YOU SAID YOU'VE ALREADY WIDENED THE ROAD ONCE, MAYBE YOU NEED TO LOOK AT HAVING THIS PROPERTY OWNER OR DEVELOPER PUT IN ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION LANES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROADS OR, YOU KNOW, COMING IN AND GOING OUT OF THAT PARK. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, YOU'RE GOING TO WIND UP WITH A BIG [00:50:02] PROBLEM, JUST LIKE WE HAVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. AND I WILL SAY, YOUR CITY IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY. I CAME BECAUSE I WAS PART OF BECHTEL, THE LNG PLANT OUT HERE, WORKING THERE. I LIVED IN NEW ORLEANS FOR NINE YEARS AFTER KATRINA, AND WHEN I ROLLED INTO HERE AND WENT TO WORK, I HAD A WEEKEND OFF. I COME AND TRAVELED AROUND TO SEE WHAT WAS HERE, AND I CALLED CINDY BACK HOME AND I SAID, THIS PLACE REMINDS ME OF NEW ORLEANS WHEN I WENT INTO NEW ORLEANS. BUT THEY'VE ALREADY CLEANED IT UP BECAUSE WHEN I WENT INTO NEW ORLEANS, I WENT IN 2009. THAT WAS FOUR YEARS LATER, AND IT STILL LOOKED LIKE THE HURRICANE HAD JUST HIT. I MEAN, IT WAS A DISASTER THANKS TO MAYOR MITCH LANDRIEU, WHO WENT IN AND GOT A LOT OF IT CLEANED UP AND GOT THE BALL ROLLING ON A LOT OF STUFF. BUT JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU COVER THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF GETTING IN AND OUT OF THESE PLACES, AND YOU'RE DOING A BEAUTIFUL JOB WITH WHAT I SEE GOING ON NOW. JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU GUYS FOR LEADING THE CITY AND HEADED THAT WAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK TO THIS? I SAW MR. CHUCK VINCENT BACK IN THE BACK BEFORE HOLLAND. SO YOU. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL TOOK ME A LITTLE LONGER TO GET UP HERE. I GOT A NEW FRIEND CALLED ARTHUR THAT'S TAGGING ALONG WITH ME THESE DAYS. MY ADDRESS IS 2366 62ND STREET OUT OF PORT ACRES. NONE OF THOSE WHERE THIS IS GOING IN DOESN'T BACK UP TO MY PROPERTY. BUT I SURE HOPE Y'ALL TAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF PLANNING AND ZONING DOES AND DENY IT. OUR CITY HAS GONE THROUGH A LOT OF GROWING, BUT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE CAN'T KEEP UP WITH IT. THEY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A RV PARK IN. IT'S GOING TO GO IN IF THE PLANS STILL GO THROUGH WHERE THE WATER TOWER IS ON THAT SIDE, THAT'S GOING TO BE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF TRAFFIC RIGHT THERE. I DON'T FEEL WE NEED ANOTHER TRAFFIC JAM THERE. WE DISCUSSED AT A COMMUNITY MEETING LAST NIGHT WITH THE POLICE CHIEF ABOUT ALL THE TRAFFIC, ALL THE CARS ALREADY GOING THROUGH ELVIS AND ALL THAT THROUGH THERE, THE TRUCKS, THE DUMP TRUCKS, 18 WHEELERS GOING IN THERE WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T GO IN THERE. WE HAVE TRAFFIC CONGESTION. WE DON'T NEED WE DON'T WANT IT. DO WE NEED MORE GROWTH? I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE ANY MORE GROWTH UNTIL WE FIX THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S IN THAT AREA RIGHT NOW IS STALLED. THERE'S AN UPGRADE GOING ON. IT CAN'T HANDLE WHAT IT ALREADY HAS. AND THE THE PROJECT TO FINISH IT IS STALLED RIGHT NOW. SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND PUT MORE STUFF, MORE BURDEN ON IT, ON THE WATER AND THE SEWER, MORE TRAFFIC. WE KNOW WHAT COMES WITH THE REST OF THAT STUFF. CAN YOU GUARANTEE ME THAT LATER ON THESE RV PARKS TEN YEARS FROM NOW ARE NOT GOING TO TURN INTO MOBILE HOME PARKS, AS THE COUNCIL PUT ANY OF THAT INTO PLAY, SO THAT WHEN THESE WHEN THESE PROJECTS ARE FINISHED AND LEAVE OUR CITY, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THESE LOTS? WHERE ARE THE PLANS FOR THAT IN THE FUTURE? I SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST IN MY IN PORT ACRES. THEY TURNED INTO MOBILE HOME LOTS, SO I DON'T FEEL THE COUNCIL OUGHT TO APPROVE THIS. WE OUGHT TO DENY IT. TURN IT DOWN. LET'S GET ON WITH FIXING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE OTHER THINGS WE HAVE BEFORE WE KEEP BRINGING IN MORE BUSINESSES TO PORT ARTHUR. AND IT'S BEATING US UP. WE CAN'T DRIVE OVER THE ROADS WE HAVE NOW. LAST WEEK THERE WAS THREE WRECKS ON 365 RIGHT THERE. WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE. WE DON'T NEED THE TRAFFIC THAT'S GOING THROUGH. IT'S GOING TO BRING A BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THAT PARK, BECAUSE IN THE AFTERNOONS, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL GO THROUGH THERE, BUT I GO THROUGH THERE JUST TO GET HOME AND IT'S BAD. I FEEL SORRY FOR THE KIDS PLAYING IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IS GOING TO BE DIVERTED. THAT'S ALL I GOT. BUT I CERTAINLY HOPE Y'ALL DENY THIS AND GO WITH WHAT PLANNING AND ZONING WANTS TO DO. THANK THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HOFER. HELLO. HOLLAND HOFER, 3710. DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR, DRIVE ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT OTHER RESIDENTS HAVE ALREADY SAID. YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIVE WITHIN 200FT OF THERE. AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE ZONING CHANGE AND PROPOSED RV PARK WOULD AFFECT ME AND A LOT MORE RESIDENTS THAN JUST THE ONES IN THE IMMEDIATE ADJACENT AREA. AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, THERE'S VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THAT HIGHWAY EVERY DAY. IT'S CROWDED ENOUGH. IT'S ALREADY VERY DANGEROUS. I GO FISHING AND I PULL OUT OF LUCK IN THE BUCKET, AND YOU HAVE TO CUT ACROSS THAT HIGHWAY AND GO LEFT. I'M A VERY GOOD DRIVER. YOU LITERALLY TAKE. YOU RISK YOUR LIFE GOING ACROSS THAT HIGHWAY EVERY DAY. UNTIL WE GET THAT MAINTAINED AND GET SOME MORE PATROL OUT THERE, OR FIGURE OUT A WAY TO LESSEN THE TRAFFIC. THERE'S NO ROOM FOR ANY MORE DEVELOPMENT ON THAT ROAD AT ALL. THERE'S ALREADY TOO MANY CARS. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COUNCIL. ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? OKAY. AT THIS [00:55:04] TIME, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE OUR PUBLIC HEARING. AND IT IS 625. I NEED A MOTION. I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 625 SECOND. OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYES HAVE IT ANY. I'M SORRY. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE [VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7389 — An Ordinance Amending Appendix A -Zoning, Of The Code Of Ordinances Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, By Granting A Zoning Map Amendment For Approximately 9.59 Acres Of Land Consisting Of Lots 15 & 27, Peek Addition, City Of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas, From Commercial General (CG) To Light Industrial To Allow Recreational Vehicle Park Development; (Violation Of Any Provision Of This Ordinance Shall Be Guilty Of A Misdemeanor And Shall Be Punished By A Fine Not Exceeding $2,000, As Provided In Chapter 1, Section 1-13 Of The Code Of Ordinances And Each Day Which Violation Is Permitted To Exist Shall Constitute A Separate And Distinct Offense); And Providing For Publication In The Official Newspaper Of The City Of Port Arthur And Effective Immediately After Publication Date.] IT. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. LET'S NOW MOVE OVER GUYS, TO PAGE EIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO PULL THE ORDINANCE UP FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING SO THAT WE CAN VOTE ON IT. IT'S GOING TO BE PAGE EIGHT NUMBER ITEM ITEM B UNDER ITEMS REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION. IT'S AN ORDINANCE NONCONSENT PO NUMBER 7389. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING APPENDIX A ZONING OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, BY GRANTING A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY 9.59 ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF LOTS 15 AND 27 PIKE ADDITION, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS. FROM COMMERCIAL GENERAL C.G. TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL TO ALLOW RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARK DEVELOPMENT. VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND SHALL BE PUNISHED BY A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $2,000 AS PROVIDED IN CHAPTER ONE. SECTION ONE DASH 13 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, AND EACH DAY WHICH VIOLATION IS PERMITTED TO EXIST, SHALL CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT OFFENSE, AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUBLICATION DATE. MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND, SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY I, I. WE HAVE ONE I YEAH, LET ME DO A ROLL CALL. VOTE. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. I THINK YOU WERE. I DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE. OKAY, LET ME DO A ROLL CALL. VOTE, PLEASE. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM. THAT'S WHY I LOOKED AT YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCET. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. KINLAW. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. LOUIS. NO. MAYOR. MOSES. NO. THE MEASURE FAILS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE OVER NOW, BACK TO WHERE [III.A.(3) Wanda Bodden Regarding Moving The Port Arthur Beautification Commission Forward With Upcoming Projects (Part 2 of 2)] WE CUT OFF WITH MISS BARTON, WHO WAS GIVING HER PRESENTATION. I HAD A COUPLE OF LIGHTS ON THAT PRESENTATION ON BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE, AND THE LIGHTS WERE COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK AND THEN MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCET. NOPE. YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT. I'M SORRY. I'M TRYING TO FOLLOW HIS BOTTOM UP. YEAH, I HAVE COUNCILMEMBER FRANK, COUNCILMEMBER DOUCET, AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER BECKHAM. ALL RIGHT. PASTOR BADEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ACCEPTING THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE. YOU'VE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. AND ALSO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR VISION OF MOVING US PAST AND BEYOND THE STATUS QUO. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE RECOMMENDATION OR THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU ARE MAKING. AND SO WE JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. YES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. YOU'RE WELCOME. YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT ABOUT THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION. THAT'S BEEN ONE THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN SINCE THE FIRST TIME I GOT ON COUNCIL, BECAUSE WE HAVE IT, BUT IT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS NOTHING THAT EVER WAS NOTICEABLE FOR CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT THIS COMMITTEE COMMISSION IS DOING SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, BUT WHAT YOU SAID IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR IT TO MOVE THE CITY AND ALSO CITIZENS, CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT IF THEY OWN IT, WE DO DO SOMETHING AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE DO. BUT THE KEY TO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS YOU GOT THIS PLAN. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT TO COUNCIL OR, WELL, TO THE MANAGER PROJECTS THAT YOU ALL WANT TO DO IN THAT COMING YEAR, AND LET'S FUND THEM. OKAY. YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BUDGET YOU ALL GET, IT'S IT'S NOMINAL. I MEAN, THAT BUDGET CAN'T REALLY GET NOTHING ACCOMPLISHED. BUT THE WAY TO DO IT IS SELECT THE PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO. GO TO THE MAN AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT THE COMMITTEE WANTS TO DO TO OUR CITY IN NEXT YEAR. AND THIS IS WHAT THE ESTIMATED COST IS, AND THAT SHOULD COME TO THE COUNCIL. AND THAT'S WHEN COUNCIL. COUNCIL WILL SUPPORT THAT COMMITTEE DOING WHAT THEY SHOULD DO AND PROVIDE YOU FUNDING. YOU KNOW, LET'S PUT THE MONEY IN THERE FOR YOU TO DO WHAT YOU SAY. BECAUSE THE [01:00:06] NEXT YEAR, IF YOU'VE DONE THAT, YOU COME BACK AND SAY, THE MONEY WE GOT LAST YEAR, THIS IS WHAT WE DONE. WE'RE ASKING FOR MONEY TO DO THIS NOW. WE HAVE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE COMMITTEE, NOT ONLY HAVING A PLAN BUT EXECUTING IT AND THE MONEY THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO IT. WE COULD SEE IT OUT THERE. NOBODY HAVE TO TELL US. SO YOU GOT THE RIGHT IDEA, BUT LET'S GO FOR FUNDING, BECAUSE THAT BUDGET YOU'RE GETTING AIN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE AN IMPACT OUT HERE IN THIS CITY THAT PEOPLE CAN SAY YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING. EXACTLY, BUT WE CAN FUND IT. AND THAT'S WHEN YOU FIND OUT IF WE'RE SUPPORTING IT OR NOT. OKAY. UNDERSTAND I WANT TO THANK YOU. AND MAYOR. COUNCILMAN. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN. FRANK, WE HAVE A FEW MORE LIGHTS ON. I'M SORRY. SO LET'S SEE COUNCILMEMBER BECKHAM AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE. AND I WONDERED IF AND IF YOU HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THIS AS A COMMITTEE, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST IT. DOING SOMETHING AT CENTRAL MALL, NOW THAT THEY'VE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE REVAMPED NEW OWNERSHIP. I REACHED OUT TO PARKING LOTS. BEAUTIFUL. THEY'RE DOING SOME STUFF INSIDE. I THINK IT'D BE GREAT IF Y'ALL COULD DO EITHER SOMETHING ON YOUR OWN OR PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THE EVENTS THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE. THEY'VE GOT THE MARKET AND CRAFT FAIR AND STUFF LIKE THAT, WHERE YOU COULD MAYBE DO THE PLAN EXCHANGE OR WHATEVER. SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT, THAT YOU'VE REACHED OUT TO THEM. I THINK IT'D BE A GOOD THING FOR Y'ALL TO DO SOMETHING THERE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW. YEAH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. THE ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WHEN WE GO TO THESE DIFFERENT CONFERENCES, WE SEE A LOT OF THE CITIES GET AWARDS ON BEAUTIFICATION. AND I'VE BEEN A BIG ADVOCATE OF WHAT WE CAN DO AND HOW WE CAN DO IT BETTER IN PORT ARTHUR. WHEN I FIRST CAME ON THE BUDGET THAT YOU GUYS HAD WAS REAL SMALL. I MEAN, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. BUT SINCE THEN, THIS COUNCIL OR SOME OF THE MEMBERS THAT'S ON THIS COUNCIL DECIDED TO INCREASE THE BUDGET. BUT I DO WANT TO AGREE WITH MAYOR PRO TEM COME UP WITH A BUDGET OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS THE UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR PRESENTED TO COUNCIL, GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THOSE THINGS, AND THEN COUNCIL MAKES THE DECISION. YOU'RE TALKING WITH THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. AND I THINK WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER ABOUT COMING IN AND RUNNING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN DO OTHER THINGS AND JUST PLANT PLANTS, WE CAN DO A LOT MORE. AND WHEN YOU GO TO THOSE CONFERENCES, YOU'RE GOING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SOME OF THOSE SMALL CITIES ARE DOING TO GET THESE AWARDS. BUT I DO WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON WHAT YOU'VE DONE SINCE YOU BECAME PRESIDENT. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM WANTING TO DO WITH PORT ARTHUR, BEAUTIFY PORT ARTHUR IN EVERY ASPECT, AND YOU CAN COORDINATE WITH SOME OF THE VENDORS AND SOME OF THE INDUSTRY. WE HAVE SOME OF THE THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT WE HAVE. YOU CAN DO THAT, BUT WE JUST GOT TO TAP INTO SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN PORT ARTHUR. THANK YOU. I WOULD LOVE Y'ALL TO RECOMMEND SOME IF IT GOES AFTER THIS MEETING. BUT I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN LEWIS THAT'S BEEN ON ME SINCE HE APPOINTED ME. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU BROUGHT UP CONSISTENTLY WAS US HAVING A PLAN AND A BUDGET. I'VE BEEN TALKING TO DEREK HOLLAND ABOUT THE THOROUGHFARES AND THE PLACES THAT I DID WANT TO PLANT, SO WE CAN GET SOME SOLID NUMBERS AND THE TYPE OF PLANTS. OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE MAIN THOROUGHFARES, SO WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING REALLY HIGH WHERE PEOPLE CAN'T SEE TRAFFIC OR WHATEVER. AND THE TYPES OF PLANTS THAT ARE CONDUCIVE TO GROWTH PROBABLY YEAR ROUND IN OUR AREA, BUT STILL PRETTY, YOU KNOW, HARDY PLANTS. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS TO, TO THE COUNCILMAN, WHEN YOU DO APPOINT SOMEBODY TO BE ON BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION, MAKE SURE THAT WORKERS MAKE SURE THEY ATTEND MEETINGS, AND YOU CAN DO THAT BY GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THEM. MR. LEWIS GETS IN TOUCH WITH ME ALL THE TIME, JUST LIKE WHEN IT'S MEETING. DO YOU HAVE NUMBERS? AND I DO, BUT LIKE I SAID, I WANT TO CARRY THIS, THIS COMMISSION INTO A MORE VISIBLE, MORE VOCAL COMMITTEE BECAUSE EVEN BEFORE I GOT ON, IT WAS LIKE ALMOST NON-EXISTENT. I COULD SEE SOME WORK, BUT I'M NOT THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT LIKE COMMISSIONER KINLAW, I MEAN, COUNCILMAN KINLAW SAID, YOU SEE IT HAPPEN IN EVERYBODY ELSE'S CITY, AND YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. IT CAN HAPPEN HERE. IT CAN ABSOLUTELY HAPPEN HERE. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT WHEN YOU SEE THESE THINGS IN OTHER CITIES, ARE FORWARD THINKING PEOPLE, CRITICAL THINKERS, PEOPLE THAT THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, PEOPLE THAT ARE SECURING GRANTS FOR WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. AND SO WE CAN'T JUST BE GOING TO TO THESE [01:05:01] CONFERENCES AND COME BACK AND NOT REPORTING BACK OR NOT IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAN WORK IN THIS AREA. SO WHEN YOU DO APPROVE OR APPOINT SOMEBODY TO WORK WITH, BEAUTIFICATION IS PERTINENT THAT YOU GET WORKERS, NOT PEOPLE, LIKE I SAID, NOT EUNUCHS, THAT PEOPLE JUST WANT TO COME. I MEAN, IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE AN ASSISTANT TREASURER, WE DON'T HAVE ASSISTANT SECRETARY. I MEAN, THAT'S OFFICES THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED. BUT SOMETIMES WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A QUORUM TO HAVE A MEETING. AND I'VE REACHED OUT AND I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO HAVE A QUORUM TO VOTE, TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD. SO I ALSO PROPOSE THAT IF THEY MISS SO MANY MEETINGS THAT THEY'RE OFF BECAUSE THEY'RE CLEARLY SHOWING US THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE ACCOUNTABLE. I EXPECT YOU ALL TO BE HERE WHEN I COME. AND THAT'S A NO. THAT'S ACCOUNTABILITY. I EXPECT YOU TO WORK MY DISTRICT. I EXPECT YOU TO DO WHAT YOU SAID YOU WAS GOING TO DO WHEN YOU RAISED YOUR HAND UP. I EXPECT THAT, AND YOU SHOULD EXPECT THAT FROM THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION. THAT WHAT YOU ASKED US TO DO, THAT WE ABSOLUTELY DO IT. I'M NOT AFRAID OF BEING CONFRONTED. I'M NOT AFRAID OF CONFLICT. WE CAN SIT DOWN AND WE CAN TALK IT OUT UNTIL WE GET TO A REASONABLE COURSE OF GETTING THINGS DONE, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE THE TABLE UNTIL WE HAVE A WHAT CONCRETE ACTION TO TAKE PLACE. WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO FUSS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING CONCRETE THAT WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU. YOUR HARD WORK. WHEN YOU WERE FOUND, I ASKED YOU HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAD ON HAND AND YOU TOLD ME AND I SAID, LOOK, BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. DO COUNCILMAN DOUCET HIT THE NAIL ON HIS BUDGET PLAN? AND I ALSO SAID I GAVE YOU A TASK. THE LANDSCAPE, ALL OF THE ALL OF THE INTERSECTIONS AND ALL THE THOMAS BOULEVARD ALL THE WAY TO MLK. BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE MONEY AND PLANNING. SO PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR AND PUT PUT IT IN THE BUDGET WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED. EXACTLY. AND BY THE WAY, I'M STILL WAITING FOR YOU TO GIVE ME A NAME FOR THAT VACANCY. THAT'S GOING TO WORK. I JUST HAVE TO. SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO WORK. I WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU, MAYOR MOSES. I GOT TO LOOK AT THE MASTER PLAN FOR THIS CITY. MY NEXT QUESTION IS WITH THE COUNCIL IS GREEN SPACES. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF GREEN SPACES IN PORT ARTHUR THAT CAN BE BEAUTIFIED. NOT ONLY SHOULD WE BE PLANNING AND KEEPING THE CITY CLEAN, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HAVE REFLECTION PONDS. WE CAN DO GARDENS IN OTHER PLACES WHERE THERE'S A FOOD DESERT THAT THE KIDS FROM THE AREA SCHOOLS CAN TAKE CARE OF. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE ELDERLY PEOPLE THAT TAKE CARE OF IT. THAT COULD BE A PROJECT FOR THEM. THAT COULD BE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS FOR THEM, JUST LIKE THEY WORK ALONGSIDE US WHEN IT'S FALL. SWEET. THEY CAN WORK CONSISTENTLY. START A MAINTENANCE CREW WITH THE SCHOOLS. THERE'S THERE'S GARDENING PROGRAMS THAT SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS, AND WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO BE A COMMUNITY AND CONNECT WITH EVERYBODY AND IMPLEMENT WHAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE. WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYBODY OUT. WE WANT EVERYBODY CONNECT. THAT'S WHY WHEN I SENT FORTH THE COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE PLAN EXCHANGE, YOU'LL SEE THAT IT'S IN SPANISH AND IT'S IN VIETNAMESE, BECAUSE THAT'S THE KIND OF COMMUNITY WE LIVE IN. WE WANT EVERYBODY INCLUDED. SO IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS BESIDES WHAT COUNCILMAN DOUCET AND COUNCILMAN LEWIS, LIKE I SAID, I'M WORKING ALONG WITH DEREK, DEREK HOLLAND WITH THE PLANTS. AND BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE THERE, BUT THERE'S AN ENTRYWAY TO VISTA AND AS AN ENTRYWAY TO VISTA VILLAGE, THERE'S PLACES WE CAN DO IT. ALSO ON HOUSTON AVENUE AND GULF WAY, THAT OVERPASS AND UNDERPASS, I MEAN, THERE'S MILES ON EACH SIDE THAT PLANTS CAN BE PLANTED IN, AND THERE'S A BIG OLD SIGN THAT THEY'VE ALREADY PAINTED SAID, WELCOME TO NEDERLAND. RIGHT. THEY HAVE IT IN ENGLISH AND THEY HAVE IT IN DUTCH. AND SO WE COULD DO THE SAME THING WHEN PEOPLE COMING IN TO PORT ARTHUR THAT THEY SEE THIS SIGN. IT'S WELCOMING. I MEAN, IT'S SO MUCH THAT I WANT TO DO SO MUCH. I'VE TALKED TO COUNCILMAN LEWIS ABOUT AND HE'S LIKE NUMBERS, NUMBERS, NUMBERS. WELL, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE THINGS HAVE TO GO TO A BID TO WITH THE PLANS. SO BUT WITH JUST AS THEY STATED, PUT IT IN A BUDGET FOR US. AND I'VE BEEN THANKFUL EVERYBODY GETS TO TALK WITH THE MAYOR LAST AND IF AT ALL, BUT I DO. I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU. FALL ASLEEP WAS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO GO AROUND AND AND SEE HOW EVERYBODY WAS CLEANING AND BE A PART OF THAT [01:10:01] CLEANING PROJECT. SO I WAS THANKFUL TO DO THAT AND THAT, BUT THAT WHAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER FOR THE CITY, THERE IS AN EXISTING PLAN. YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT PLAN SO YOU GUYS CAN WORK WITH IT AND HAVE SOMETHING AS A MAP, A ROAD MAP TO, TO MOVE FORWARD. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD AGAIN, IF I MY APPOINTEES ARE NOT SHOWING UP, AS I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE LAST YEAR, LET ME KNOW. I WILL GET THEM REPLACED QUICKLY. AND YES, YOU DID SO. AND I THINK THEY'RE SHOWING UP. ONE OF THEM IS SHOWING UP FOR SURE. OKAY, BUT I'M LOOKING. I'LL LOOK FOR SOMEONE ELSE. OKAY, I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE REST OF THE COMMISSION THAT WORKS WITH ME. I CAN'T DO THIS BY MYSELF. YES, THAT IS ALWAYS TO A VOTE. YOU KNOW, WE GO OVER THINGS. SO I THANK THANK GOD FOR THEM. OKAY. SO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING I APPRECIATE IT. [III.B.(1) A Presentation by Councilmember Tiffany L. Hamilton Everfield Regarding The Proposed Congressional Legislation To Increase Semi-Truck Size And Weights On Our Nation's Highways Through The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill] ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO PRESENTATIONS UNDER B. WE HAVE NUMBER ONE A PRESENTATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY L HAMILTON AIRFIELD REGARDING THE PROPOSED CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION TO INCREASE SEMI TRUCK SIZE AND WEIGHTS ON OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS THROUGH THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION BILL. COUNCIL MEMBER EVER FEEL. SHE'S NOT THERE? OR IS THE PERSON NAMED CHRISTIE ON ZOOM? SOMEBODY NAMED CHRISTIE. NOBODY'S ON ZOOM. OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. PRESENT PRESENTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS CONTINUED. WE [III.B.(2) A Presentation by Councilmember Willie Bae Lewis, Jr. Regarding Navigational Servitude — Dredging Navigational Waterways By The Corps Of Engineers And the Placement Of Spoils] HAVE NUMBER TWO, A PRESENTATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE LEWIS JR REGARDING NAVIGATIONAL SERVITUDE, DREDGING, NAVIGATIONAL WATERWAYS BY THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE PLACEMENT OF SPOILS. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. YES, THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'M READING FROM DR. VOLUME 380 PG 246. IN 19 IN 1933 19 1931 1931 THE HOUSE THE STATE OF TEXAS PASSED A HOUSE BILL, 819 MAY THE 18TH, 1931. THEY PASSED IT TWO YEARS LATER. TWO YEARS LATER, OCTOBER 16TH, 1933, THEY ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT TO DEEPEN AND WIDEN THE CANAL WITH THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL THIS STUFF BECAUSE IT READS LIKE A RESUME, OKAY. IN TO WHAT HAPPENED WAS WHEN THEY. AFTER THEY ENTERED INTO THEY PASSED THE HOUSE BILL PATENT, THE HOUSE BILL 819 PATENT THE ISLAND TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. THAT'S A PATENT YOU WANT TO DO. YOU WANT TO DO BUSINESS ON PLEASURE ISLAND? YOU GOT TO COME THROUGH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. THAT'S A THAT'S A PATENT. YOU CAN'T. THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT. OKAY, MAYOR. MAY THE 18TH HOUSE BILL 819, PASSED IN 1933. THEY ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO DEEPEN AND WIDEN THAT CANAL AND AND ALSO THREE OTHER LANDOWNERS. NOW, THIS IS WHAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT. PAY ATTENTION. ONCE THEY ENTERED INTO THE AGREEMENT, IT IS HEREBY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED THAT THIS PERMIT IS TO TERMINATE AT SUCH TIME AS THE LAND INVOLVED IS TO BE IMPROVED. SO WHEN WE PASSED THAT IN MAY, WHEN WE PASSED THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO VACATE, WE PASSED IT AND BUT THEY STARTED IN JUNE, A MONTH OR TWO LATER, A MONTH LATER, THEY JUST START POLLUTING AND POLLUTING AND POLLUTING. NOW, I'M GOING TO SAY THE REST OF MY COMMENTS FOR. 24, EIGHT, 20, PAGE SEVEN. OKAY. HE'S DONE. OH, OKAY. NUMBER THREE, WE WILL NOW HAVE A [III.B.(3) A Presentation on the 3-1-1 Reporting System and the "MyCivic 311 App"] PRESENTATION ON 311 REPORTING SYSTEM AND THE MY CIVIC 311 APP. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. [01:15:12] EVERYONE. SEE THE SCREEN. MY NAME IS OSCAR EVANS. I'M THE IT APPLICATION SUPERVISOR FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND WE WERE TASKED WITH, AT THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR 311 REPORTING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVE AND USEFUL. AND SO I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU A FEW FEW SLIDES HERE. MY TEAM CONSISTS OF MISS KAREN JARMAN. SHE'S RECENTLY REMARRIED, MARRIED, AND MISS TIANA JOHNSON, WHO'S OUR WEBSITE DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER. AND I'M THE SUPERVISOR. THEY'RE THE TEAM THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS APP WAS UP AND USABLE FOR CITIZENS, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WAS HELD ACCOUNTABLE WITH THE CITY. THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN CITIZENS MADE REQUESTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON IN THE CITY, THAT WE WERE RESPONDING TO THEM IN A TIMELY FASHION. SO OUR TASK WAS TO REVIEW THE SYSTEM. WE REVIEWED THE SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS UP AND CONFIGURED THE WAY IT NEEDED TO BE, MEETING WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THE END USERS OR THE EMPLOYEES WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR SEEING TO THE DIFFERENT REQUESTS WERE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THEM, MAKING SURE THE WORKFLOWS WERE CORRECT TO MAKE SURE THE SYSTEM WAS CONFIGURED PROPERLY. AND THEN WE ALSO CONFIGURED THE MOBILE APP, WHICH WAS NOT UP AND RUNNING AT THAT TIME. AND THEN WE ALSO HAD A TRAINING FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR STAFF ON HOW TO RESPOND TO THE CITIZENS REQUEST VIA THE DASHBOARD THAT THEY LOOK AT. AND I WILL NOT SHOW THAT OUT HERE IN THIS SETTING. SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION IS FOR ME TO JUST TO GIVE A REPORT HOW TO REPORT A CONCERN VIA THE CITY'S WEBSITE, AS WELL AS HOW TO REPORT A CONCERN VIA THE MY CIVIC 311 APP. SO I WILL TALK ABOUT THIS. I'M GOING TO PULL UP THE APP HERE IN JUST A SECOND, BUT THE PREREQUISITE IS TO JUST SIMPLY DOWNLOAD THE MOBILE APP IN EITHER THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE FOR ANDROID OR THE APP STORE FOR IPHONES, OR AS THE CODE PHONE, AS DOCTOR THIGPEN AFFECTIONATELY CALLED US IPHONE USERS. AND. AND HERE'S SOME SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE NON-EMERGENCY REPORTING THAT YOU CAN REPORT ON. JUST A FEW OF THEM. I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE ACTUAL APP AND SHOW YOU HOW HOW THAT ACTUALLY WORKS. YOU CAN SEE WE'LL SEE THAT IN JUST A SECOND. AND SO I'LL TALK ABOUT THE 311 APP REAL QUICK HERE. LET ME SEE IF I CAN PULL IT UP ON MY PHONE. I'LL TAKE IT OUT OF THIS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. HERE. THERE YOU GO. OF COURSE. OKAY. SO HERE'S MY APP ON MY PHONE. AND I'M GOING TO KIND OF SHOW YOU A LITTLE DEMONSTRATION OF HOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE THE APP. YOU WANT TO DOWNLOAD THE MY CIVIC 311 APP. AS IT SAID, WHEN YOU FIRST OPEN IT UP, WHEN YOU FIRST REGISTER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS ONE TIME. YOU HAVE TO SEARCH FOR OUR CITY, CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. I'M JUST GOING TO TYPE PART OF THAT IN THERE. AND MINE'S COME UP THIS WAY, BUT I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY LET ME SWITCH TO CITY. I DID THAT, LET'S SEE. AND WHEN YOU GET THE [01:20:03] CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, IT COMES UP TO THE WEBSITE. AND THEN WHEN YOU SEE THERE'S A LITTLE HORN UP HERE, IT SAYS REPORTING ISSUE. AND ON THE REPORTING ISSUE YOU CAN SEE THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS, THE THINGS THAT WERE GIVEN TO US FROM THE DIFFERENT THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS THAT A PERSON WOULD REPORT ON AS IT RELATES TO THINGS IN OUR CITY. THIS IS THIS IS THE APP THAT I'M WORKING WITH RIGHT NOW. YOU SEE, THERE'S AN ANIMAL COMPLAINT, THERE'S COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, DIFFERENT THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I'M GOING TO JUST LIKE PRESS ONE. NOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY REPORT ON THIS ANONYMOUSLY OR YOU CAN ACTUALLY PUT YOUR NAME IN THERE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE PERSONS TO REGISTER WITH THE APP BECAUSE THAT WAY IF YOU PUT A COMPLAINT IN, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO FOLLOW AS THE EMPLOYEES OR UPDATING AND WORKING ON YOUR COMPLAINT AS YOU AS ON YOUR APPS, ON YOUR COMPLAINTS THAT YOU'VE PUT IN. AND THEN THAT WAY YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING AS THEY ARE, THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. I'M GOING TO JUST MAYBE PUT MY NAME IN. WE'VE BEEN ACTUALLY DOING SOME TESTS ON THE SYSTEM, AND I'M. I'M GOING TO SAVE AND CONTINUE. I'M GOING TO PUT IN I HAVE AN ADDRESS. IT'S JUST SEARCHING ON MY LOCATION. I'M GOING TO JUST CHECK THAT I'M GOING TO HIT NEXT. YOU CAN ACTUALLY ON THIS APP YOU CAN PUT IN SOME NOTES THINGS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO REPORT ON CONCERNING IT. I'M JUST GOING TO PUT TEST IN HERE. BUT WHATEVER YOUR DESCRIPTION IS THAT YOU NEED TO PUT IN THERE, YOU CAN DO THAT. YOU CAN ACTUALLY IF YOU ARE ON SITE AND YOU WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE, YOU CAN USE YOUR PHONE TO TAKE A PICTURE OR YOU CAN CHOOSE A PICTURE. AND THEN IF YOU HAVE IT ON YOUR PHONE, YOU GET BACK HOME. YOU CAN ACTUALLY CHOOSE CHOOSE THE PICTURE AND UPLOAD IT LIKE YOU DO ON A NORMAL APP. NOW, IF I SUBMIT THIS ANONYMOUSLY, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING AS THE TICKET IS BEING WORKED ON, BUT YOU WANT TO SUBMIT WITH YOUR NAME AND WHEN YOU SUBMIT IT. I'M NOT SIGNED IN, SO LET ME SIGN IN. LET ME GET MY EMAIL. JUST VERIFY ME. AND THAT'S A TWO FACTOR TO HELP YOU OUT. PROTECT YOUR. OKAY. AND SO YOU SEE AT THE END OF IT YOU DO GET A A THING ASKING FOR. YOU CAN PUT A MIRROR. YOU CAN YOU CAN GO TO YOUR MY REPORT, YOU CAN FINISH OR YOU CAN GET A NEW REPORT IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO REPORT ON. NOW I'M GOING TO CLICK ON THE REPORT BUTTON. BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REPORT BUTTON, YOU CAN SEE YOU CAN VIEW THE THE COMPLAINTS THAT YOU HAVE. MAYBE YOU HAVE PUT IN AND IT'LL AND THIS IS THE WAY THAT YOU CAN KIND OF TELL WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING WITH THEM. I'M GOING TO CLICK ON MY REPORT. BUT I HAVE A LOT ON HERE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TESTING WITH THE WITH THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING HERE WITH THEM. SO I JUST PUT IN THAT ONE. IT'S OPEN. YOU CAN GO BACK. AND WHEN THE WHEN THE DEPARTMENT GETS THAT THEY WILL UPDATE IT. THEY'LL CREATE A, THE SYSTEM WILL CREATE A WORK ORDER. IT'LL GO TO THE PERSON WHO IS WHO'S ASSIGNED TO DO THAT. AND THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO RESPOND. NOW THIS IS THIS IS THE APP. I CAN LOOK AT THE WEBSITE. I CAN SHOW YOU THAT IF YOU WANT TO SEE THAT AS WELL, LET ME GET INTO THAT. IF YOU CAN SEE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, ON THE MAIN PAGE, THERE'S A YOU IF YOU GO DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT, THERE ARE SOME BUTTONS HERE ON THE SIDE TO THE RIGHT. IT'S JUST GOING KIND OF SLOW BECAUSE I'M REMOTED INTO THAT OTHER COMPUTER OVER HERE. BUT YOU SEE THESE TABS AND IT SAYS REPORT A CONCERN. AND WHEN YOU CLICK ON THAT, THAT TAKES YOU TO OUR INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM, BUT IT'S AN INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. AND SO YOU CAN SEE THE VARIOUS THE THREE TYPES OF CONCERNS THAT ARE ON THE TOP. NOW THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT WERE PUT IN HERE JUST AT THE BEGINNING WHEN WE FIRST STARTED. WE PUT THE SYSTEM TOGETHER. THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHERS. SO ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT YOU SAW ARE THE DIFFERENT CONCERNS THAT YOU MAY HAVE IS UNDER THE ONE THAT SAYS CREATE A NEW REQUEST. AND IF YOU GO TO CREATE A NEW REQUEST, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS OR THINGS TO COME TO REPORT CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE THE SAME THAT I HAD ON ON THE APP THAT I WAS JUST SHARING WITH YOU. AND YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS [01:25:05] JUST AS WE WERE DOING. IF THERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE DITCH REGRADING, YOU CAN PUT PUT AN ADDRESS IN THERE. IN CASE FAIL. SELECT IT, IT'LL PUT IT IN. YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER REQUESTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THERE THAT I'VE DONE ON THAT. I'M JUST GOING TO CANCEL MY REQUEST RIGHT NOW. BUT YOU CAN JUST CONTINUE TO PUT CONTINUES TO FILE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF PUTTING THE COMPLAINT IN THE NOT A COMPLAINT. I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT, YOU SEE THAT'S WRONG AND A CONCERN THAT YOU HAVE THAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY, AND THEN IT WILL BE IT'LL GIVE YOU A NUMBER. YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET THAT NUMBER. AND AS I SAID, YOU WANT TO YOU WANT TO SIGN IN AS A PERSON, AS YOURSELF SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BE ABLE TO IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING WITH THE REQUEST THAT YOU PUT IN, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THAT THOSE ARE THE THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I JUST NEED TO SHOW IN TERMS OF THE APP. I WAS JUST ASKED TO DO THAT. AND THIS IS MY PRESENTATION FOR THIS TIME. THANK YOU. OSCAR, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF LIGHTS AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE. COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM. YES. THANK YOU. SO I HAVE MY REQUEST THAT I'VE MADE PULLED UP ON MY LAPTOP. OKAY. BECAUSE I'VE, I'VE BEEN USING THIS SYSTEM SINCE I FIRST PUT IT IN BEFORE ALL THE OTHER BELLS AND WHISTLES WERE DONE. AND WHEN THE NEW SYSTEM CAME ALONG, MY OLD REQUEST WENT AWAY. SO I PUT THOSE SAME REQUESTS INTO THE NEW SYSTEM, AND I HAD AN EMAIL FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT THE OTHER DAY TO LET ME TO ASK ME TO GO IN AND LOOK AT MY REQUEST TO SEE IF I COULD SEE THE COMMENTS. WELL, I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING WHEN I OPEN UP MY REQUEST AND I OPEN UP COMMENTS, THERE'S NOTHING THERE. SO I EMAILED CODE ENFORCEMENT BACK AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S BUGS IN THE SYSTEM, BUT I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO BE AWARE OF ALL THE BUGS THAT I'M SEEING AND THAT SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS ARE SEEING. SO I WENT BACK IN AND LOOKED AT IT AND STILL COULDN'T SEE THE COMMENTS, AND SHE SAID, WELL, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO WORK OUT THE BUGS. WELL, I KNOW THAT ONE OF THESE HAS BEEN COMPLETED BECAUSE I GOT AN EMAIL THROUGH THE SYSTEM THAT SAID THAT THIS ONE HAD BEEN COMPLETED, AND THE HOMEOWNER THAT I MADE THE REQUEST FOR SAID THAT IT HAD BEEN COMPLETED, BUT IT'S STILL SHOWING UP HERE SAYING THAT IT'S OPEN AND THAT IT'S 21 DAYS OLD. AND THEN THE OTHER ONES THAT I MADE AROUND THE SAME TIME ARE STILL OPEN. NOW, WHEN I OPEN UP THE APP, I HAVE NO REPORTS. SO THE APP AND THE WEB PAGE DON'T. THEY DON'T COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER, SO YOU CAN'T SEE THE SAME THING THAT YOU SEE. IF YOU DO IT ON THE WEB PAGE THAT YOU SEE ON THE APP. OKAY. AND THEN I'VE, I'VE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH SOME CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO USE THE APP, AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT IT'S NOT WORKING FOR THEM. SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A USER ISSUE OR IF IT'S IF THEY'VE GOT AN ANDROID OR AN IPHONE AND MAYBE IT'S NOT COMPATIBLE. I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THAT THE APP IS JUST NOT WORKING. AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF MINE IS. LET'S SEE. WELL, THIS IS THE ONE THAT'S COMPLETED. IT WAS A CONCRETE CURB REPAIR ON PLEASANT HILL COURT. SO WHEN A CITIZEN TURNS IN A REQUEST THAT'S SPECIFIC, DOES IT AUTOMATICALLY GO TO THAT DEPARTMENT? WOULD THIS HAVE GONE TO STREETS OR PUBLIC WORKS AND SOMEBODY IN THAT DEPARTMENT WOULD SEE IT POP UP AND THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING WITH IT? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO THERE'S THERE'S A WORKFLOW FOR EACH. IT ACTUALLY GOES INTO THEIR SYSTEM AND THEY CAN ASSIGN IT TO THE CREW OR THE PERSON THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ASSIGNED TO IT. IF IT WAS A STREET CURB REPAIR, I'M PRETTY SURE. WELL, I SEE THEY GO TO PUBLIC WORKS AND THEN THEY PULL IT UP, AND THEN THEY ASSIGN THE REQUEST TO THE PERSON, THE DEPARTMENT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO GO OUT AND RESPOND TO IT, AND THEY UPDATE IT AS THEY ARE GETTING THE INFORMATION FROM THE PERSON WHO'S OUT THERE DOING IT. OKAY. AND THEN THAT WAS MY MY NEXT POINT IS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT BEING DONE BECAUSE NOTHING WAS POSTED ON THE SYSTEM, BUT THE HOMEOWNER CONTACTED ME AND SAID, HEY, THERE'S SOME CITY TRUCKS OUT HERE, AND THEY'RE WORKING ON MY ON MY CURB, OKAY? BUT I DIDN'T GET ANYTHING THROUGH THE SYSTEM. THAT SAID, IT'S BEEN ASSIGNED, A CREW HAS GONE OUT, IT'S BEEN COMPLETED, AND IT STILL SHOWS THAT IT'S OPEN. OKAY. WE CAN LOOK AT THAT. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS, I KNOW ONE OF THE LAST COUNCIL MEETINGS, I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THIS QUESTION, WILL THERE BE A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW PEOPLE HERE 311 AND THEY THINK, OH, I'M GOING TO CALL 311 FROM MY PHONE. BUT WHEN YOU CALL 311, THAT CONNECTS YOU TO THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL PLANNING [01:30:04] COMMISSION, WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS, OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE CITY THAT DO NOT USE COMPUTERS. THEY DO NOT USE SMARTPHONES AND APPS. A LOT OF THEM HAVE LANDLINES, AND THEY NEED A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL THAT THEY CAN DO THE SAME THING, NOT THE PHONE NUMBER TO PUBLIC WORKS, NOT THE PHONE NUMBER TO ANIMAL CONTROL, BUT A311 TYPE NUMBER THAT THEY CAN CALL THAT WILL TAKE THEM TO A SYSTEM WHERE THEY CAN REPORT. I'VE GOTTEN TONS OF COMPLAINTS ALONG THOSE LINES. I DON'T USE A COMPUTER, I DON'T USE AN APP. I WANT TO CALL A NUMBER AND GET THIS DONE. SO WHAT'S THE STATUS ON HAVING A DEDICATED NUMBER THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY CALL? WELL I COULD I'LL ASK THAT FIRST. FIRST I'LL ANSWER. THAT IS WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS THIS SYSTEM THAT'S IN THE COMPUTER, THE TECHNICAL PART OF IT. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CONVERSATION ABOUT A PHONE NUMBER, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME SOLUTIONS BECAUSE WE DID HEAR YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT AT THE AT THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING, AND WE ARE LOOKING TO A SOLUTION FOR THAT TO, TO ADDRESS THAT. DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN THAT MIGHT HAPPEN. I DON'T I WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE GET SOME PROOF OF CONCEPTS AND MEET WITH SOME CERTAIN VENDORS TO SEE WHAT'S ACTUALLY AVAILABLE AND WHAT WE COULD ACTUALLY DO TO TRY TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE, A NUMBER WHERE THAT'S MEASURABLE AND THAT THEY COULD CALL AND AND CALL IN. I HAVE AN 80 YEAR OLD MOTHER. AND SO I KNOW. RIGHT. YEAH. BUT BUT OUR TASK WAS TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE THE WEBSITE, THE 311 SYSTEM IN TERMS OF THE WEBSITE AND APP WERE I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT A PHONE NUMBER TO YOU SAID THAT AT THE MEETING. OKAY. I WAS TASKED WITH THAT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW. HEY, THANK YOU. MAYOR. THEN THE CITY MANAGER. OKAY. MY COLLEAGUE HAS ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I DID HAVE WRITTEN DOWN, BUT ON THIS, MY CIVIC 311. NOW, ONCE YOU GET THE GENERATED REPORT BY THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN, HOW LONG BEFORE YOU DISSEMINATE IT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND HOW LONG DO THEY HAVE TO REPLY? OR WHO'S REPLYING BACK WITH A SITUATION OR COMPLAINT? THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION. IT'S IT'S IMMEDIATE. IT GOES INTO THE SYSTEM, INTO THE THE SYSTEM, THE SR SYSTEM. AND THEY SEE IT IMMEDIATELY. THEY HAVE A, YOU KNOW, THEY COME IN THE MORNING, THEY'RE GOING THROUGH A NEW PROCESS OF LEARNING HOW TO PULL A CERTAIN DASHBOARD UP TO TO BE ABLE TO MONITOR, TO SEE WHAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN COMING IN EVERY DAY. AND SO IN THE MORNING WHEN THEY COME IN, THEY COULD SEE. BUT IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU ENTERED IN, YOU SHOULD GET AN EMAIL RESPONSE BACK FROM THE SYSTEM SAYING, WE RECEIVED YOUR REQUEST. IT HAS BEEN ENTERED IN. AND THEN THAT NEXT DAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT IT FROM THAT POINT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. SO THAT'S THE DISCONNECT I'M TALKING ABOUT. OKAY, I HAVE A LOT OF YOUNGER CITIZENS TELL ME THAT THEY WERE REPORTING, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT IT GETS NOTIFICATION THAT WE RECEIVED IT. BUT THE PROBLEM IS AND THE DISCONNECT IS WHEN IT GETS TO THAT DEPARTMENT WHEREVER IT GOES. GETTING BACK TO THAT CITIZEN, THAT'S THE CAUSE THAT I GET ALL THE TIME ABOUT. IT'S NOT WORKING OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THIS BETTER? SO IF SOMEONE CAN CONCENTRATE ON THAT PART THAT ONCE THE SYSTEM RECEIVES IT AND IT GOES TO THAT WHATEVER DEPARTMENT IT GOES TO, WHATEVER COMPLAINT. HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE FOR THAT DEPARTMENT OR AREA TO COME COMPLY WITH THE REQUEST? THAT'S THE THE BREAK THAT I'M THINKING THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON. YEAH IT'S THERE. BUT I MEAN, THAT'S THE TASK. I'M GONNA LET THE CITY MANAGER ANSWER THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S REALLY WHAT DRIVES THE ENGINE. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO YES. CITY MANAGER. YES. IT'S YOU'RE RIGHT. YEAH. SO WHAT WE DID THROUGH OSCAR AND THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, WE IDENTIFIED STAFF AND WE HAVE HAD TWO TRAINING SESSIONS. OSCAR. YES, SIR. FOR THE PERSONS IN THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, WHETHER IT'S UTILITIES, PUBLIC WORKS, CODE ENFORCEMENT, ANIMAL CONTROL DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE TASKED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS. SO WE HAVE THAT IN PLACE AND WE HAVE TRAINING IN PLACE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS. THAT WAS DONE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. OSCAR. YES, SIR. YEAH. SO BUT IT HAS TO BE A CONTINUOUS PROCESS AS WE CONTINUE TO FIGURE OUT THE BUGS IN THE SYSTEM. AS COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM INDICATED, AND WE CONTINUE TO TRAIN AND RETRAIN AND AS WELL HAVE BACKUPS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, BECAUSE THERE ARE DAYS WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO BE SICK, YOU'RE GOING TO BE OUT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE FOR VACATION AND THAT SORT OF THING. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS CONTINUITY IN TERMS OF SERVICE, YOU KNOW, AS THE REQUEST, AS THE REQUEST CONTINUALLY COME IN [01:35:05] FROM FROM THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE. SO THAT'S THAT'S THE ASPECT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW. COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM SPOKE ABOUT THE FREE ONE ONE SYSTEM WITH THE PHONE ON THE 24TH OF FEBRUARY. I THINK IT WAS WHEN WE HAD THAT MEETING. AND YES, WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE ADOPTED, AS OSCAR INDICATED, IT'S NOT THE SAME SYSTEM AS EXISTS IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT OR OR ORANGE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WAS A DIFFERENT APPLICATION AT THE TIME. TYLER MUNIS HAS SINCE MOVED AWAY FROM THAT SYSTEM. IT'S NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, SO WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS THAT COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM SPOKE ABOUT. AS FAR AS OUR ELDERLY CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED, WHEN SHE DID STATE THAT ON THE 24TH OF OF FEBRUARY, WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING OUT THE KINKS. NOW THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN OVER THAT, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE NEXT STEP POSSIBLE AS TO HOW WE ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR MOST OF THE PERSONS WHO DO NOT HAVE AN IPHONE OR WHO STILL DO HAVE THEIR LANDLINES, BECAUSE THERE IS A NEED FOR THAT SERVICE AS WELL. SO IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS AND WE CAN ASSURE YOU HOPEFULLY THE NEXT 30 DAYS, AS THIS IS THE BIG ROLLOUT OF IT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK OUT THE KINKS IN IT, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF ALL OUR CITIZENS. OKAY, CAN I JUST SAY SOMETHING ELSE TO IN TERMS OF THREE ONE, ONE CALL SYSTEM THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THIS IS? THERE'S A311 CALL SYSTEM WHICH THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, ONLY TWO CITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT REALLY HAS 311 CALL AND THAT'S THAT'S BEAUMONT AND HOUSTON, RIGHT. THAT'S IT. OKAY. AT&T IS DISCONTINUING THAT, DISCONTINUING THAT, THAT TYPE OF SERVICE BECAUSE OF THE THE RISE OF CELLULAR PROVIDERS. I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. I WORKED AS A DISPATCHER FOR THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR 12 YEARS, AND YOU CAN CALL 911 IN PORT ARTHUR. AND WE WOULD GET THE CALLS IN BEAUMONT BECAUSE DEPENDING ON WHAT TOWER YOU HIT, AND THEN WE WOULD TRANSFER THE CALL BACK TO PORT ARTHUR. SO THE THEY THEY WERE GETTING AT&T COULD NOT GUARANTEE A311 SYSTEM. WITH THE RISE OF CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY, MORE PEOPLE USING CELL PHONES AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. SO AS I THINK AS OF EARLY 25, IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE IT BY THEN, YOU COULDN'T GET IT. IT'S A NINE MONTH PROCESS TO TRY TO GET IT. THE FCC REGULATES IT. IT'S JUST LIKE YOU JUST CAN'T SAY, GIVE ME A311 AND THEN THEY GIVE IT TO YOU. IT'S A LONG PROCESS. SO THIS WAS THE QUICKEST WAY THAT WE COULD GET MY THREE. THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED MY THREE. MY CIVIC 311311. BECAUSE WE COULD NOT GET A DESIGNATED PHONE LINE. BECAUSE WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT. IT'S 2025. WE'RE IT WAS EVERYBODY BEFORE 2025 AND NOT AFTER 2025. AND THE THE THE ISSUE AND THE QUESTION WAS GOING TO COME UP. AND BECAUSE WE WERE PUSHING FOR MARCH 2ND AS A ROLLOUT, I MAY HAVE PUSHED ASKING STAFF TO GET THIS DONE SO THAT WE COULD GET OUR CITIZENS SOME RELIEF IN BEING ABLE TO REPORT THINGS TAKING PLACE. AND SO I KNOW WE KNOW ALL THE BUGS ARE NOT WORKED OUT. WE KNOW IT'S ONLY BEEN ROLLED OUT A WEEK. WE STARTED MARCH 2ND ACTUALLY ONE WEEK. AND SO WE WE'VE GOT A LOT TO WORK THROUGH. BUT MY MAIN CONCERN AS OUR IT DIRECTOR SAID I CAN BUILD IT, BUT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE EMPLOYEES MANAGER TO BE ABLE TO TO ACTUALLY TRAIN AND WORK IT EFFICIENTLY IN THIS TIME FRAME? AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON. AND I ASKED THE MANAGER IF WE COULD HAVE DESIGNATED EMPLOYEES IN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND A BACKUP PERSON SO THAT IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO WILLY ANYBODY OUT THERE AND NOBODY SAY, I GOT IT. THERE'S NO PERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT TABLE THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING THAT CALL AND WORKING THAT, WORKING THE PROCESS THROUGH, AND THAT HE BE GIVEN A LIST OF NAMES OF WHO TRAINED AND WHO NOT ONLY WHO TRAINED FOR THAT DEPARTMENT, BUT HE CAN SEE THAT THAT CALL WENT TO SO AND SO OR THAT EMAIL WENT TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS AND WE COULD DESIGNATE WHO IS RESPONDING FOR RESPONDING TO THAT. THAT'S GOING TO BE THE KEY TO IT. IF WE DON'T GET THE THE THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE WORKING, YOU CAN BUILD IT ALL DAY LONG, AS PASTOR BIDEN SAID. BUT IF YOU DON'T, WE DON'T WORK IT. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE. SO WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO BE EFFECTIVE WITH THIS. I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO WORK GIVEN TIME. I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE IT ABOUT 30 DAYS. AND AFTER THAT POINT, IF WE DON'T SEE THIS THING WORKING, WE GOT TO HOLD SOMEBODY RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HELP OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE SOME RELIEF, AND IT'S GOING TO HELP US AND BRING US, IN THE 21ST CENTURY WITH WHAT PORT ARTHUR OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO. AND I'M THANKFUL FOR [01:40:02] BEAUMONT, THANKFUL FOR HOUSTON. BUT WE'RE PORT ARTHUR, AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO REPORT IN A SYSTEM OR IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE ARE RESPONSIVE, NOT HIDING AWAY FROM PHONE CALLS, NOT HIDING BEHIND A DESK AND NOT ANSWERING OR RESPONDING. WE WANT TO BE RESPONSIVE AND WE WANT TO MAKE THIS THING WORK. SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER. SO ALL OF THESE NOTES AND CALLS YOU'RE GETTING, PLEASE SHARE THEM COUNCIL MEMBERS, SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT AND FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE WHERE WE'RE NOT CONNECTING AND MAKING THIS HAPPEN. WE ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WORKS FOR OUR CITY, AND THE EMPLOYEES ARE ON BOARD THE CITY MANAGERS, THEY WERE IN THE MEETING MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THEM SHOWED UP WHO NEED TO BE THERE. AND AND IF YOU DO HAVE THOSE CONCERNS, PLEASE SHARE THEM. SO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'RE TESTING EVERY DAY AND AS WE USED TO SAY IN THE OLD SONG OF THE CHURCH, PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH ME, ALL CITY MANAGER HAS REALLY TRIED TO EXECUTE IT AND GET IT DONE EFFICIENTLY, BUT WE HAVE WORK TO DO AND WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE. YEAH. ALRIGHT. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT AS COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM SAID, OSCAR. YES, EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF THE PHONE LINE AS WELL, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF THOSE CITIZENS WHO CONTINUALLY USE THE PHONE, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY ONES, YOU KNOW, WHO CONTINUALLY USE THE PHONE LINES, YOU KNOW, AND DEPEND ON THE PHONE LINE. WE ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING SOMETHING. AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW SOMETHING TOMORROW. OKAY. THANK YOU. I SAW A COUPLE OF HANDS UP. OKAY. HOLLAND. HELLO AGAIN. HOLLAND HOFER 3710. DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUNIOR DRIVE. I JUST LOOKED SOME INFORMATION UP AS YOU WERE SPEAKING. DALLAS AND AUSTIN BOTH HAVE A THREE ON ONE PHONE SYSTEM THAT YOU CAN CALL IN. IT'S NOT JUST HOUSTON BEAUMONT. I CAN KEEP LOOKING, BUT I HAVE A FEELING THAT THE MORE, THE MORE I RESEARCH THIS. JUST ABOUT EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THE UNITED STATES HAS AN ACTIVE PHONE SYSTEM THAT YOU CAN CALL IN FOR. I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON THIS BECAUSE HONESTLY, I'M EMBARRASSED. I PROMOTED SOMETHING FOR THE CITY THAT ISN'T WORKING. I BROADCAST THIS FOR Y'ALL ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA LIKE IT WAS THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD. AND I EVEN BUILT A MUCH BETTER GRAPHIC THAN THE ONE YOU HAD OUT THERE SHOWING PEOPLE HOW TO USE THE SYSTEM. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IT. NOT ONLY IS THE SYSTEM NOT WORKING, IT WAS NEVER FULLY TESTED. I WAS IN A COMMUNITY MEETING LAST NIGHT LISTENING TO A DOZEN OR SO CITIZENS AND THEIR CONCERNS. NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM WAS COMFORTABLE USING THIS NEW SYSTEM OR HAD ANY SUCCESS WITH IT. ON TOP OF THAT, THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS IN PORT ARTHUR THAT WILL BE USING THE SYSTEM ARE SENIORS. SENIORS DON'T PUT APPS ON THEIR PHONE. WE KNOW THIS. THEY USE PHONE NUMBERS AND CALL PEOPLE. WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS GOING TO BE A THREE ON ONE ONE PHONE SYSTEM, AND IT IS NOT. AS CITIZENS, WE FEEL DUPED. I SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO THE WEB BASED SYSTEM ONLINE OVER SIX MONTHS AGO FOR A VERY IMPORTANT MATTER FOR MY NEIGHBOR, A SENIOR THAT WASN'T ABLE TO DO IT FOR THEMSELVES AND IT WAS NEVER ADDRESSED IN RESPONSE TO ME, MY NEIGHBOR, OR THE REPORTING SITE. ZIP. ZERO. ZILCH. NOTHING. WHEN THERE'S NO RESPONDING ON THE BACK END OF THIS REQUEST, THE SYSTEMS ARE USELESS. YOU'RE PUTTING ON A FRONT FOR THE CITIZENS, AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT. THEY EXPECTED A FULLY WORKING THREE ON ONE PHONE SYSTEM, AND WHAT YOU DELIVERED IS A BROKEN APP. LET'S NOT WRAP A RED BOW AROUND THINGS AND MAKE IT LOOK ALL PRETTY WHEN THERE'S ACTUALLY NO PRESENT INSIDE THE BOX. THAT'S WHAT'S BEING DONE TO THE CITIZENS. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HOLLY. COME ON. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY UP. CHUCK. YOU HAVE TO IF YOU'RE COMING. COME ON UP. CAN'T JUMP UP THAT FAST, OKAY? AND CHUCK BENSON, TWO, THREE, SIX SIX. 62ND STREET, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS A COUPLE QUESTIONS. ONE, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THIS SYSTEM COST US. THE OTHER CONCERN I HAVE IS I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE THAT MUCH BETTER THAN THE OLD SYSTEM WE HAD, BECAUSE LAST MONTH AND THE MONTH BEFORE THAT, I WENT ONLINE, REPORTED SOME STUFF IN MY DISTRICT, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING BACK EMAIL, PHONE CALL, ANYTHING. SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE OLD SYSTEM WHERE ALL THE COMPLAINTS ARE? ARE THEY GOING TO GO BACK AND FOLLOW UP ON, OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO DROP IT AND PICK UP WITH THE NEW SYSTEM THAT EVIDENTLY HAS A LOT OF BUGS IN IT? I'M CONCERNED THAT ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE I HEARD THE SAME THING YEARS AGO WHEN WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO GO TO THE NEW SMART WATER METERS. WE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE SMART WATER METERS, AND THEN THEY BLAMED IT ON THE SOFTWARE FOR THE SMART WATER METERS AND BUGS IN IT. BE PATIENT. WE'RE GOING TO GET IT WORKING NOW. WE'RE ALREADY BACK DOWN TO NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET NEW SMART WATER METERS. IT'S GOING TO BE BETTER THAN THE OLD SMART WATER METERS. I'M CONCERNED AT THIS 311 SYSTEM IS GOING TO FALL BY THE SAME WAYSIDE. SO WHAT GUARANTEE DO WE HAVE? LIKE I SAID THE THE REPORTS I USED THE NEW SYSTEM. I WAS AT THE SAME MEETING LAST NIGHT. IT WAS A MAJOR CONCERN ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT ROOM, ABOUT THE SYSTEM AND HOW [01:45:04] IT DIDN'T WORK. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, MISS BECKHAM. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DON'T USE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM. THEY CAN'T. THEY DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO DO IT, AND I HOPE IT WORKS. BUT THE WAY IT'S GOING RIGHT NOW, I DON'T I DON'T SEE IT COMING TO FRUITION. I'M LIKE, HOLLAND, YOU TOLD US THAT YOU'RE MEETING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A PHONE SYSTEM. I DID NOT, I DID NOT, THAT'S WHAT I HEARD THAT DAY. BUT ANYWAY, ANYWAY, IT'D BE NICE IF WE HAD A PHONE SYSTEM FOR IT. AND I'VE DONE THE RESEARCH TO THERE. THERE'S CITIES AROUND THAT HAVE IT. I DON'T SEE WHY WE WON'T HAVE IT. BUT MY MAIN CONCERN IS WHAT? WHAT'S THE DOLLAR FIGURE ON THIS? WHAT'S IT COSTING US TO IMPLEMENT THIS SYSTEM RIGHT NOW AND TO GO BACK AND WORK OUT ALL THE BUGS ON IT WASN'T CHEAP, I DON'T THINK. LET ME KNOW. ACTUALLY. WE USE SOMETHING WE ALREADY HAD IN OUR SYSTEM CALLED TYLER, SO IT DIDN'T COST US ANYTHING. SO ANYWAY, LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT THING. OH, I'M SORRY, WHO DID? YEAH. REGINALD TRAYNOR, 3514 12TH STREET. I WASN'T GOING TO GET UP HERE, BUT IT HURTED ME TONIGHT TO. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE 311 BECAUSE I'VE HAD A FEW CUSTOMERS COME ON THE SHOW AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT. IT'S GOOD. IF IT WORKS, HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET IT TOGETHER FOR THE CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO APPRECIATE IT? WE DON'T WANT TO JUST KNOCK NOTHING DOWN WITHOUT GIVING IT A FULL TRY. YOU KNOW I'M FOR IT. BUT THE SENIORS THAT CALL ME DAILY, WE DON'T HAVE TO GET THEM INTO A CLASSROOM, I GUESS, AND TEACH THEM HOW TO USE IT. YOU KNOW, JUST CAN'T GIVE THEM ANYTHING AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT. I'M OLD SCHOOL. MY GRANDSON TAUGHT ME HOW TO USE A COMPUTER, AND I AIN'T THAT OLD, YOU KNOW? SO I KNOW MY SENIOR CITIZENS GOING TO NEED SOME SUPPORT AND HELP WITH IT. BUT I'M LIKE, MR. VINCENT, HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST US? HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST THE TAXPAYERS FOR IT? DO WE REALLY NEED IT? I UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO GO INTO ANOTHER CENTURY, BUT WE NEED TO DO SOME HOMEWORK ON IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, OUR TYLER SYSTEM, WE WERE ABOUT TO BUY SOMETHING THROUGH MY CIVIC, MY CIVIC PLUS, BUT WE FOUND OUR IT DIRECTOR DID FIND THAT WE HAD IT ALREADY IN OUR TYLER SYSTEM THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY USING. SO THE SYSTEM HASN'T COST US ANYTHING. WE'RE USING WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. SO WE SAVED ABOUT 20. I THINK IT WAS $26,000 TO GO TO MY CIVIC THREE PLUS TO UTILIZE THEM. SO WE USED WHAT WE HAD AND THEY MADE IT WORK, SO IT DIDN'T COST US ANYTHING. SO WE'RE IN A TRIAL BASIS. WE TAKE ALL OF THE COMMENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THEM. WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO WORK THROUGH IT, MAKE IT WORK. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. YEAH. LET'S REMIND EVERYONE THOUGH THAT MY 311 DOES NOT REPLACE THE 983 8100 THAT WE HAVE, THOUGH IT DOESN'T. THIS LINE IS STILL AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY. THE LINE DID NOT GO AWAY. IT'S AVAILABLE TO THE SENIOR CITIZENS AND EVERYONE UNTIL WE ADD MORE ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO THE TO THE YES TO MY CIVIC PLUS. SO 983 8100 IS STILL AVAILABLE WHERE YOU MAKE YOUR CALLS AND THE CALLS IS BEING DIRECTED TO THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED. THAT HASN'T GONE AWAY. YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL THERE. IT'S STILL THERE. THAT IS IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING OUT, TO WHAT WE ARE DOING, TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH AS WE CONTINUE TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE, AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE MORE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THE CITIZENS. SO IT'S IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE. WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE HAS NOT GONE AWAY. WE HAVE NOT TAKEN THAT AWAY. I THINK I THINK WE'RE [III.F.(1) A Discussion And To take Possible Action Regarding Appointees' Evaluations (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Doucet)] WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. ALL RIGHT. AMEN. UNDER THE UNDER DISCUSSIONS, NUMBER ONE, WE NEED WE HAVE A DISCUSSION AND TO TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPOINTEES EVALUATIONS REQUESTED BY MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. MAYOR. GOOD. THE EVALUATIONS. WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY. WHAT THEY DO LAST MONTH, FEBRUARY. TWO. YOU'RE ASKING FOR. NO. WHO WHO ARE ASKING? I DON'T KNOW IF I KNEW WHO TO CALL. I'LL CALL HIM UP HERE. I GOT THE QUESTION. THE ITEM ON THERE, AND THEY KNEW IT. OKAY. WHERE'S THE HR DIRECTOR? [01:50:01] GIVE ME HR, SOMEBODY FROM HR. THEY SHOULD. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR US. SO LET THEM COME UP AND ANSWER THE QUESTION, OKAY. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ORCHESTRA. OKAY. HELLO. COUNCIL OKAY. LAST YEAR WE WAS JUMPED THROUGH THE HOOPS YEAR BEFORE. JUMP TO THE HOOPS. IT'S A SIMPLE PROCESS. WE HAVE THREE FOUR APPOINTEES. WE'RE REALLY THREE THAT ARE DUE EVALUATIONS. LAST YEAR IT WAS A BIG DISCUSSION. ONE WELL WE CAN'T DO THE EVALUATION UNTIL WE GET A THIRD PARTY. OKAY. THE YEAR BEFORE THEN WE DID THAT EVALUATIONS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A THIRD PARTY. SO LAST YEAR WE AGREED. WE DON'T NEED A THIRD PARTY. WE NEED TO DO AWAY WITH THAT AND JUST DO THE EVALUATIONS. THE EVALUATIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN FEBRUARY. OKAY, SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE FINALLY GOT THEM DONE, BUT WASN'T FEBRUARY. BUT THEY'LL DO NOW. MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH DOING THIS EVALUATION PERIOD, WE HAD COMMENTS SUCH AS WE NEEDED TO DO THE EVALUATION BECAUSE IN APPOINTEES CONTRACT THEY DO THE EVALUATION AND DEPENDING ON RAISES OR THIS OR THAT. SO IT'S HR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET EVALUATIONS TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. IN A TIME FRAME FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO DO THE EVALUATION IN A TIMELY MANNER. IF IT'S ALL OF THIS I'M HEARING IS EVOLVING AROUND IT, THEN WHILE WE HAVE IT, I WAITED LAST MONTH TO HEAR SOMETHING, DIDN'T HEAR NOTHING. OKAY, SO WHERE ARE WE IN RESPECT TO EVALUATIONS? SO THAT'S THE FIRST QUESTION. THE SECOND QUESTION IS WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET A RESOLUTION TO ELIMINATE THE THIRD PARTY? BECAUSE ALL WE'RE DOING IS SPENDING TAXPAYERS MONEY. AND THAT'S PROVEN FOR UMPTY UMP YEARS. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN HANDLED BY HR. ONE YEAR PUT A THIRD PARTY, THE NEXT YEAR YOU DON'T USE IT. THEN THE LAST YEAR WE CAUGHT UP BECAUSE WE HAD TO, BUT WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE IT, GO BACK TO DOING IT WHERE IT WON'T. BECAUSE EVEN WHEN YOU USE A THIRD PARTY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOSE EVALUATION GO RIGHT BACK DOWN TO HR. SO WHY WOULD WE PAYING SOMEBODY? I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT CAME ABOUT, BUT I THOUGHT WE FIXED IT. SO WE NEED A RESOLUTION. UNLESS SOMEONE CAN SAY THAT'S NOT WHAT COUNCIL HAD A CONSENSUS ON. BUT WE NEED A RESOLUTION TO ELIMINATE THIRD PARTY. AND THE QUESTION IS WHEN ARE WE GOING TO RECEIVE EVALUATIONS FOR OUR APPOINTEES? YEAH. OKAY. RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD DEPEND ON THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AGAIN, YOU DO HAVE THAT PROVISION. IT STILL EXISTS. AND UNTIL THAT IS REMOVED, THEN OF COURSE, YOU HAVE THE PROCESS THAT YOU'VE BEEN UTILIZING. AND I CAN SAY THAT I HAVE NOT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN DIRECTION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, BUT I'VE NOT BEEN GIVEN ANY DIRECTION TO PREPARE A RESOLUTION TO REMOVE THAT PROVISION. GENERALLY, THE COUNCIL HAS DECIDED WHEN IT WOULD LIKE TO DO THE EVALUATIONS, AND IF THE CITY COUNCIL SO DIRECTS, HR IS PREPARED TO HANDLE THE PROCESS. IF THAT IS THE DESIRE OF THE COUNCIL. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER FIRST, FIRST OF ALL. I'VE BEEN OFF AND ON SINCE 2011. YES, SIR. AND PROBABLY EVERY CITY IN THE UNITED STATES WHEN IT COMES TO EVALUATION, COUNCIL MEMBERS DON'T SAY COMPLIMENT BECAUSE THAT'S A COUNCIL MEMBERS DON'T KEEP UP WITH THAT. IS AN HR FUNCTION OKAY. WHEN THEY GET TO THE POINT THAT WE HAVE TO START DOING THAT, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT HR DEPARTMENT, OKAY. AND IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED NOTHING FROM THE COUNCIL, THE LAST MEETING WE'RE IN, WHEN WE DISCUSSED THESE, IT WAS CLEARLY [01:55:07] DISCUSSED AMONG COUNCIL, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE OF US JUMPING THROUGH THE HOOPS TO GET THIS EVALUATIONS DONE. OKAY. AND I, I WAS IN THE MEETING UNLESS I MISSED SOMETHING. YOU KNOW, IT'S CLEAR. AND AS FAR AS US DIRECTING IT, YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. NOT WHEN I CAME ON COUNCIL THROUGHOUT MY TIME ON COUNCIL, WHEN YOU WERE THE HR DIRECTOR, YOU BROUGHT US THE EVALUATION PACKETS AND TOLD US IT'S TIME TO EVALUATE. THAT WAS CORRECT. OKAY. AND THAT'S WHY. AND THAT'S WHY WE CAN'T DO EVALUATIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER. BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEING BROUGHT TO US IN A TIMELY MANNER FOR US TO DO IT APPROPRIATELY. OKAY, SO WITH THE POSSIBLE ACTION HERE. I'M TALKING ABOUT DO MAYBE COUNCIL NEED TO ISSUE A DIRECTIVE TO HR THAT HR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING THESE EVALUATIONS TO COUNCIL IN A TIMELY MANNER? YOU THINK WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH THIS? WE DON'T KEEP THE RECORDS. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. SO ONCE AGAIN, EVALUATIONS FROM FEBRUARY, FEBRUARY AND PASSED. AND I'M QUITE SURE IF I DON'T SAY NOTHING. THEY'LL PROBABLY GO UNTIL AN APPOINTEE SAY, WELL, I DIDN'T GET EVALUATED OR I DIDN'T GET MY PROMOTION BECAUSE EVALUATION. AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION, IF YOU TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH AN APPOINTEE AND THEY SAY, WELL, I SUPPOSED TO BE EVALUATED ANNUALLY. Y'ALL DIDN'T EVALUATE ME. I'VE BEEN IN THAT POSITION. AND LIKE I'M SAYING, THIS NEED TO BE CORRECTED. THIS IS THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. EVERY YEAR. IT'S GOT TO BE A RAT RACE FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DO EVALUATIONS IF THEIR PROMOTION, IF THEIR JOBS DEPEND ON EVALUATIONS, THEN THEY SHOULD BE DONE. IF WE'RE GOING TO SET UP HERE AND THAT IS ONE REQUIREMENT FOR US, THEN WE SHOULD DO IT SHOULD BE NO EXCUSE. OKAY. SO FOR SOME REASON I DON'T SEE WHERE COUNCIL SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THIS. AND IT'S HR FUNCTION. AND WHEN SOMEBODY CAN TELL ME IT'S NOT YOUR IT'S NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IN HR, THEN I'LL HAVE TO CHANGE MY LINE OF THINKING AND I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND SAY, WOW, ALL THESE TIMES WE'VE BEEN DOING IT WRONG, OKAY? BUT RIGHT NOW, CONTRACTS. AND THAT'S SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S A BIG DEAL WITH PROMOTION AND STUFF UP. I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT ALL THE CONTRACTS, BECAUSE IF PROMOTIONS ARE ATTACHED TO EVALUATIONS, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING WE GOT TO DO. IF WE DON'T DO THE EVALUATION, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO PROMOTE? ARE WE GOING TO BE LIKE LAST TIME WE WE GOTTA DO THE EVALUATIONS BECAUSE WE GOTTA PAY. YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING? THAT WAS LAST YEAR. WE'RE RIGHT BACK HERE THIS YEAR. CITY MANAGER. HOW CAN WE GET THESE EVALUATIONS TO US? ONE OF THEM IS YOURS. YES, I, I THINK YOU CAN GET THEM BY DOCTOR. THE THING WAS WAS VERY CLEAR ON THIS. I DON'T THINK THE COUNCIL HAS TAKEN A DECISION AS YET. AND CITY ATTORNEY TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO RESEND THE ORDINANCE OR THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED IN PREVIOUS YEARS, WHICH DETERMINED THAT YOU NEEDED A THIRD PARTY TO PARTAKE IN EVALUATION. NOW, YOU FIRST GOT TO TAKE THAT STEP. NUMBER TWO, THERE ARE VARIOUS EVALUATIONS BECAUSE NOT ALL THE THREE APPOINTEES ARE APPOINTED AT THE SAME TIME. I THINK I CAN REMEMBER FROM THE LAST TIME THAT WE DID THE EVALUATION, WE WERE ONLY DOING AN EVALUATION. WE'RE DOING THE EVALUATION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY AS WELL FOR THE SIX MONTHS PERIOD. REMEMBER, THAT'S WHAT WE DID AND WE WERE LATE WITH IT. WE WERE ALSO DOING THE ANNUAL EVALUATION FOR THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY SECRETARY AT THAT TIME. SO SEEING THAT THE TIME HAS ELAPSED FOR THE ONE YEAR [02:00:03] EVALUATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY, THERE ARE A FEW DECISIONS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS TO MAKE. AND I THINK THOSE ARE PRETTY SIMPLE. YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION OR NOT, YOU KNOW, TO DIRECT THE HR DEPARTMENT. LISTEN, NOW, WE NO LONGER WANT TO HAVE A THIRD PARTY OR WE CHOOSE TO KEEP THE THIRD PARTY. LET ME DIRECT YOU AS STAFF TO GO BACK, AND WE WILL HAVE A RESOLUTION ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA TO DO THAT, TO RESEND IT, AND THEN WE PROCEED. OKAY, AM I WRONG? OKAY. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I MEAN, I'M ASKING FOR GUIDANCE. WELL, YOU KNOW, I PUT IT UP FOR DISCUSSION AND ONE. WE WERE IN THE MEETING, WE TALKED ABOUT RESCINDING IT. BUT AS ALWAYS, WE SAY THINGS AND NOTHING HAPPENS. OKAY. SO IF WE NEED TO DO THAT, THAT'S FINE. I DON'T MIND AS FAR AS EVALUATIONS, OKAY. IF WE DID A SIX MONTHS EVALUATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY AND EVERYBODY ELSE WAS A YEAR, THAT MEANS COME FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, IT'S A YEAR ON EVERYBODY TO INCLUDE THE CITY ATTORNEY. AND THAT WAS ONE WAY TO GET US ALL BACK ON TRACK. OKAY. THE OTHER THING IS WE DO NOT HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS EVALUATION AND THE PROCESS IN A CLOSED SESSION, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A GROUP. SO THE PROCESS CAN BE DISCUSSED AND OUR DECISIONS CAN BE MADE. AND THAT'S WHY I PUT POSSIBLE ACTION. SO IF IT WAS ALL THIS CONFUSING, NOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND CAME FEBRUARY, EVERY APPOINTEE HAD ONE YEAR WITHOUT BEING EVALUATED. OKAY. TWO THE THIRD PARTY THAT WOULD USE THOSE TWO YEARS WAS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY BECAUSE ALL OF THE CONCERNS THAT BROUGHT IT ABOUT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY DO IT, THEY COMPILE IT, THEY DO THE SAME THING THAT WAS BEING DONE PREVIOUSLY AND GIVE IT TO HR. SO IT'S GOING RIGHT BACK INTO THE SAME THING. SO THE QUESTION ONE IS, DO WE WANT TO GET A THIRD PARTY. WHERE WE GOING TO TAKE TAXPAYERS MONEY TO COME AND DO SOMETHING THAT THE END RESULT IS GOING TO GO WHERE IT ALWAYS HAS GONE AND HAD AND BEEN GONE FOR YEARS AND ELIMINATES A DELAY IN THE PROCESS. OKAY. AND OF COURSE, ARE WE GOING TO MEET OUR DEADLINE WITH EVALUATING PEOPLE EVERY YEAR, NOT TALKING ABOUT WHO DIDN'T CALL, WHO DIDN'T ONE YEAR. SO WHAT WE DID IN FEBRUARY FOR SIX MONTHS IS IMMATERIAL. I KNOW THAT ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN A YEAR SINCE WE EVALUATED THEM. SO I MEAN, THE MAYOR, MANAGER, EVERYBODY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU CAME UP TO THE PODIUM AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE COUNCIL. SO WE GOT POSSIBLE ACTION. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, I THINK I HAVE A COUPLE OF CITY ATTORNEY HAS AND THEN I DO TOO. CITY ATTORNEY. GO AHEAD. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC WERE AWARE OF THE ORDINANCE, ITS ORDINANCE, SECTION NUMBER 78, DASH 103, AND IT TALKS ABOUT PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF APPOINTED POSITIONS SHALL BE FACILITATED BY A THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR AT THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL. SO ALL WE HAVE TO DO AT THIS POINT IS JUST GET DIRECTION THAT YOU'D LIKE TO HIRE EITHER THIRD PARTY OR CHANGE THE ORDINANCE AND WE'LL PROCEED. OKAY. AND LET ME SAY BUT IT WE WERE, I BELIEVE, EVALUATED IN SEPTEMBER AND I HAVE 58,000 BOSSES. SO I THINK I'M EVALUATED ON A DAILY BASIS AND WELCOME IT BECAUSE IT'S GOOD INPUT. OKAY. WHEN I CAME ON BOARD, I THINK WE HAD AN EVALUATION PROCESS THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO BRING TO COMPLETION. AND SO I WAS TASKED WITH THE COMPLETING THAT, HELPING TO COMPLETE THAT PROCESS, EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T EVALUATING ANY APPOINTEES. AND SO THE COUNCIL ASKED ME TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THAT PROCESS I INHERITED COMING ON BOARD AS MAYOR, THE TRYING TO BRING TO CLOSURE THE EVALUATION PROCESS FROM FROM 2025 TO BRING IT TO CLOSURE. AND WE ENDED THAT PROCESS. AT THE TIME WE WERE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS, THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS IN PLACE, AND I ASKED THAT WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND WE CAN DO TWO THINGS. WE CAN AMEND THAT ORDINANCE. AND THE COUNCIL DECIDED NOT TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE, BUT TO GET A THIRD PARTY AND TO ALLOW ME THE OPPORTUNITY. ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AGREED TO GET A [02:05:01] THIRD PARTY. WE GOT A THIRD PARTY. THEY COMPLETED THE PROCESS THAT WAS STARTED BY THIS PREVIOUS COUNCIL THAT I CAME ON BOARD WITH, AND WE COMPLETED THE PROCESS OF THOSE EVALUATIONS IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, I THINK, WHICH INCLUDED THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR CITY SECRETARY. WE REVIEWED IT WITH EVERYBODY. THE PROCESS WAS HANDLED WITH PROFESSIONALISM. THE EVALUATIONS WERE BROUGHT BACK BECAUSE BECAUSE OF WHAT THE ORDINANCE STATED, THAT IT HAD TO BE DONE WITH A THIRD PARTY THAT HAD BEEN PUT IN PLACE IN THAT ORDINANCE, PUT IN PLACE 2020 2ND NOVEMBER. NO. NOVEMBER 30TH, 2021, 2021. THAT IS WHAT THE ORDINANCE. SO I ASKED, DO WE WANT TO AMEND THIS ORDINANCE BEFORE WE GO FORWARD, OR WHAT WOULD THE COUNCIL LIKE TO DO? AND THE COUNCIL CHOSE NOT TO AMEND THAT ORDINANCE THAT WAS IN PLACE. THAT GIVES US DIRECTION AS TO HOW TO HANDLE THOSE EVALUATIONS. WE BROUGHT THE PROCESS TO COMPLETION. WE REVIEWED THOSE EVALUATIONS WITH ALL OF THOSE EMPLOYEES. NOW, IF THERE IS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I DON'T KNOW OF A PROCESS BY WHICH THAT IS IN PLACE THAT WILL GIVE DIRECTION TO THE COUNCIL OTHER THAN WHEN YOU REVERT FROM AN HR STANDPOINT. WHEN I WAS IN HR, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CHANGED, BUT YOU ARE NOW EVALUATING PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR ANNIVERSARY DATES, AND SO EVERYBODY DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME ANNIVERSARY DATE. BRONZE ANNIVERSARY DATE, I THINK, IF NOT MISTAKEN, IS IN NOVEMBER AND THEN THEN CITY ATTORNEY'S ANNIVERSARY DATE IS IN AUGUST AND THEN THE CITY SECRETARY'S ANNIVERSARY DATE IS IN OCTOBER. SO THEY ALL HAVE ANNIVERSARY. THE PERSONNEL POLICY DOES NOT ADDRESS APPOINTED POSITIONS AND HOW OR GIVE DIRECTION AS TO HOW WE EVALUATE COLLECTIVELY. UNLESS YOU GUYS CHANGE SOMETHING IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I WAS OFF, BUT IT REVERTS BACK TO THE PERSONNEL POLICY AND WE ARE GOVERNED BY THE POLICY, WHICH SAYS EVERYBODY'S EVALUATED BASED UPON THEIR ANNIVERSARY DATES, UNLESS THE POLICY IS CHANGED, IF THE POLICY HAS CHANGED, THEN WE NEED THE COUNCIL NEEDS DIRECTION ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO. WE COMPLETED THE PROCESS FOR 2025. WE'RE IN 2026. EVERYBODY HAS ANNIVERSARY DATES FOR 2026. NOW, HOW WE HANDLE THAT? WE NEED TO DEVELOP A PROCESS BY WHICH WE NEED TO HANDLE THOSE. BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE FOLLOWING THE ORDINANCE THAT IS IN PLACE SINCE 2021. BY USING A THIRD PARTY, WE CAN DEFINITELY GO IN AND AMEND THAT ORDINANCE, CHANGE THAT ORDINANCE. I ASKED THE QUESTION TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL. I THINK EVERYBODY REMEMBERS THAT. WHAT WE WANT TO DO IN THIS PROCESS, DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE THAT ORDINANCE? AND THEY DID NOT. IT WAS NOT BROUGHT UP THAT WE WANT TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE. WE WANT TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS. WE HIRE A THIRD PARTY. SHE DID A PROFESSIONAL JOB FOR US AND GOT HIM ALL SUBMITTED AND AND DISCREETLY HANDED HIM TO EACH ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REVIEW THE NUMBERS, BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAD ALREADY STARTED THE PROCESS ALREADY. YOU HAD DONE THE EVALUATING. IT WAS A TABULATION THAT NEEDED TO COME THROUGH THE THIRD PARTY. IF I'M NOT, IF I'M CORRECT AND WE COMPLETED IT, WE'RE DONE WITH THAT. NOW WE NEED TO DEVELOP A PROCESS BY WHICH WE CAN GO FORWARD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING WAS WRITTEN OR YOU GUYS WROTE A PROCESS FOR THAT. LET ME JUST. COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW HAS HIS LIGHT ON. COUNCILMEMBER. THANK THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MAYOR. WELL, ALBERT, I'VE BEEN ASKING THIS QUESTION FOR A WHILE, EVEN WHEN YOU WERE IN HR AS WELL. BUT WE OWE THIS TO OUR APPOINTEES TO EVALUATE THEM. AND THE WAY THAT WE GOT OFFSET IS BECAUSE AT ONE TIME, WE DIDN'T EVALUATE FOR TWO YEARS. AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT, I REALLY DON'T. SO. SINCE I BECAME ON COUNCIL, I EVALUATED SOMEONE THAT I'VE ONLY HAD TWO MONTHS OF, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT 2017, TWO MONTHS. AND I WAS ASKED TO EVALUATE. AND THAT WAS THE PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S NO PROCESS. SO THE ANNIVERSARY DATES THAT THEY HAVE IS BECAUSE OF THE COUNCIL, AND WE WASN'T EVALUATING THEM PROPERLY WHEN WE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE EVALUATIONS. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE AS YOU RECALL, IT WAS TWO YEARS BEFORE WE WERE EVALUATED AT ONE TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL. AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT. AND IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT CORRECTLY, IT'S NO SET TIME ON EVALUATION. WE SHOULD HAVE GOT IT IN FEBRUARY. WE SHOULD EVALUATE OUR APPOINTEES. WE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THEIR SWOT ANALYSIS FROM ALL OF THEM, YOU KNOW, AND MEET WITH THEM AND FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO BETTER INCLUDING THE WHOLE GAMUT OF THINGS. BUT AT THIS TIME, I WOULDN'T BE IN FAVOR OF HAVING SOMEONE TABULATE FOR THE COUNCIL ANYMORE WITH TAXPAYER MONEY. I WOULDN'T BE IN SUPPORT OF THAT ANYMORE BECAUSE WE CAN DO THAT. HR CAN DO THAT. THANK YOU. AND THE REASON WHY WE DID [02:10:01] THAT, BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF HARD. YOU'RE PUTTING EMPLOYEES EVALUATE GETTING THE TABULATION OF THE MANAGER THAT THEY WORK FOR. THAT'S WHY WE WENT THERE. BUT WE CAN DO THAT AS COUNCIL TABULATE, GET ALL OUR SCENARIOS AND PUT THEM IN AN ORDER BASED UPON BEING SECLUDED AND TABULATE THE NUMBER, JUST LIKE WHEN WE GET OUR SHEETS FOR ALL OUR APPOINTEES. I DO MY OWN TABULATION. EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER DO THEIR OWN TABULATION. ALL YOU'RE DOING IS COMPILING THE TABULATIONS AND GETTING THE SAME SET OF NUMBERS THAT WE WE DID ANYWAY. SO BUT TO GO OUT AND PAY SOMEONE A COUPLE OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO DO TABULATION, I WON'T SUPPORT THAT AGAIN. AND I'M JUST SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NO SET TIME OR RECORD FOR EVALUATION, BECAUSE IF WE WOULD HAVE IF IT WAS THOSE TWO YEARS THAT I WAS BRINGING UP TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT EVALUATION, THAT WE DIDN'T DO EVALUATION, IT WAS ON DEAF EARS. NOW I HAVE THE DATES AND TIME NOW. JUST DON'T WE DON'T WE JUST SHOULD JUST DO BETTER. COUNCIL SHOULD JUST DO BETTER. NOW IF WE'RE GOING TO EVALUATE, WE NEED TO GIVE DIRECTIVE TO OUR MANAGER, OUR APPOINTEES THAT ON FEBRUARY EVERY YEAR IS IT EVALUATION. AND AT ONE TIME I WAS TOLD BECAUSE OF COUNCIL CHANGING THAT PERSON WOULDN'T BE FAIR TO EVALUATE SOMEBODY FOR THREE MONTHS. HELL. BUT THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME THAT OPTION. WHEN I FIRST CAME ON, WE HAD TO EVALUATE WHEN A NEW ELECTED COUNCIL BASED UPON THE THREE MONTHS THAT THEY WORK WITH THAT PERSON THAT WAS TOLD TO ME. THAT'S RIGHT. I'M JUST BEING HONEST WITH YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER EVERSFIELD HAS A HAND UP. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THANK YOU. CAN'T HEAR ME? YES. OKAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT TABULATION. INTEGRATED TABULATIONS CAN BE DONE BY EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, WHICH MOST OF US DO THAT ANYWAY. BUT THERE'S MORE THAN JUST TABULATION OF THE NUMBERS THAT ARE ON THE EVALUATIONS. THE SUMMARIES MATTER A LOT, OFFERING AN EXPLANATION TO OUR STAFF AS TO FURTHER DESCRIBE WHAT OUR CONCERNS ARE OR WHAT OUR CELEBRATIONS ARE. SO UNLESS WE USE SOME TYPE OF. AI SYSTEM TO COLLABORATE, ALL SEVEN OF THE COUNCILORS WRITTEN PART OF THE EVALUATION TO OFFER THEM A SUMMARY OF THAT SECTION OF THE EVALUATION, THEN I WOULD NOT SAY THAT WE JUST NEED TO. ALL WE'RE DOING IS TABULATING THE NUMBERS, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ALL WE'RE DOING. BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT'S FAIR FOR OUR NEW CITY MANAGER AS AN EXAMPLE, TO HAVE HIS EVALUATION BE COMPLETED BY HIS STAFF. THAT'S THAT'S BACKWARDS. AND THOSE WOULD BE CONSIDERED HIS NOT CONSIDERED. THEY ARE HIS SUBORDINATES. SO I AM DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF THE THIRD PARTY, UNLESS WE ARE ABLE TO USE SOME TYPE OF AI SYSTEM OR SOME TYPE OF PROGRAM. I'M NOT SAYING IT HAS TO BE AI, BUT SOME TYPE OF OF PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO COLLABORATE. ALL SEVEN COUNCILORS WRITTEN SECTIONS IN THE EVALUATIONS TO TO OFFER A FAIR AND JUST EVALUATION TO THEM. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU MAYOR. OKAY. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCILMEMBER. MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE. YES, IN REFERENCE TO YOUR COMMENTS, MAYOR, IN THE MEETING, WE WERE NOT GIVEN A CHOICE OF ELECTING TO GET A THIRD PARTY OR NOT IN THE MEETING, THE THE CITY ATTORNEY AND COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM BROUGHT UP THE POINT THAT THESE EVALUATIONS NEED TO BE DONE BY A THIRD PARTY, BASED ON THE ORDINANCE THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST READ. OKAY, THAT'S WHEN THE COUNCIL DECIDED, YES, WE'LL DO THE THIRD PARTY BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE WAS IN PLACE AND WE COULDN'T WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE THIRD PARTY BECAUSE WE CAN'T CHANGE THE ORDINANCE WHEN WE'RE DOING THE EVALUATION. SO I THINK, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, COUNCILMAN FRANK AND AND HE MADE THE COMMENT, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE COULD ADDRESS IT AFTERWARD, WHICH IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME. IF YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE OR AMEND THE ORDINANCE, YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO DO IT. YOU CAN'T DO IT IN ORDER TO CREATE EFFECT. OKAY. AND AS FAR AS. APPOINTEES, WE EVALUATE [02:15:03] THEM. YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY WE NEED TO GET WITH THEM AND TELL THEM HOW THEY'RE DOING AND SAY, I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW I'M DOING. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LOOK AT THAT EVALUATION SHEET. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EVALUATION SHEET, THAT'S WHAT YOU'D BE CONCERNED WITH AS AN APPOINTEE. BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? WHEN I EVALUATE YOU, I CAN'T EVALUATE YOU OTHER THAN THE ITEMS ON THAT SHEET. SO ANYTHING ELSE I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING IS IMMATERIAL, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THAT. IT'S NOT ON THAT SHEET. AND THAT SHEET IS CENTERED AROUND THE DUTIES AND PERFORMANCE OF YOUR POSITION. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO IT ONE YEAR. IT SHOULD BE ANNUAL. THE KEY TO IT IS WE DON'T DO IT. AND THAT'S MY POINT OF PUTTING IT ON HERE. MY POINT IS NOT TO DICTATE WHEN AND WHERE, BUT TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS AND HOLD SOMEBODY ACCOUNTABLE TO ENSURE THAT IT WORKS AND NOT HAVE A BUNCH OF EXCUSES. OKAY, OKAY. SO AS WE STAND WITH EVALUATIONS AND WE SAY IT SHOULD BE NO TIME FRAME, THAT'S RIDICULOUS. IF IT'S ANNUAL, THAT MEAN YOU GOT ONE YEAR TO DO IT? SO HOW CAN WE DICTATE WHEN. I'VE NEVER HEARD SOMETHING SO WELL WE WE DECIDE WHAT TIME IT IS. NO WE DON'T. IF IT'S ONE YEAR, ONE YEAR MEAN EVALUATION. SO HOW DO WE HAVE AN OPTION? YOU SEE, I'M HEARING ALL THESE THINGS AND ALL I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR WAS TO BRING ALL OF THIS STUFF OUT SO THAT WE COULD ENSURE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD. AND THERE'S A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING ON HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK. THAT'S WHY IT WAS LISTED AS POSSIBLE ACTION. IT COULD BE IN THE FORM OF A MOTION. IT COULD BE IN THE FORM OF A DIRECTIVE. BUT WE NEED TO DECIDE HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THESE AND WE NEED TO DO THEM. THAT'S THAT WAS MY WHOLE POINT OF THIS. SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR THE DISCUSSION TO BE CENTERED AROUND IS HOW DO WE GET THIS STRAIGHT? AND THE THIRD PARTY, LIKE COUNCILMAN KINLAW SAID. I'VE NEVER SEEN IT DONE BUT TWO TIMES. AND THE BAD PART ABOUT IT IS WE PAY FOR SOMEBODY TO DO IT. THEN WE CAME BACK THE NEXT EVALUATION PERIOD, DONE EVALUATION, AND WENT BACK TO THE PREVIOUS PROCESS WITHOUT A THIRD PARTY. AND ALL THE EVALUATION WAS DONE WITH NO COMPLAINTS. AND THEN WE COME BACK AROUND AND WE NEED TO DO IT AGAIN LIKE WE DID IT THE LAST TIME. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE TWO TIMES I'VE BEEN ON HERE, YOU SAY, OH, WE CAN'T DO IT LIKE THAT. WE GOTTA HAVE A THIRD PARTY. WE DIDN'T HAVE A THIRD PARTY LAST TIME. IT WASN'T A PROBLEM. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS STRAIGHT. AND HR FOR WHOEVER HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SOMEBODY SEEING WHAT? THE CITY MANAGER COMING. HEY, HR, HAVE A CONFIDENTIALITY. AND THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF RECORDS KEPT DOWN THERE WITH INTENSE EVERYBODY. NOBODY IS SACRED. BUT THAT'S THE PLACE THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE KEPT BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE A WHAT? CONFIDENTIAL. YOU ONLY NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW. AND WE'RE NOT GIVING YOU ANY INFORMATION. AND EVERYBODY DOWN THERE, THEY COULD LOOK THEY COULD GO IN THERE AND OPEN IT AT ANY TIME BECAUSE THEY WORK THERE. NOBODY'S GOING TO STOP THEM. SO IT'S THERE. WE HAVE TO TRUST THE SYSTEM AND NOT PAY MONEY FROM TAXPAYERS TO LOOK OVER SYSTEM. SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? OKAY, I HAVE SOME OTHER LIGHTS. YES. THANK YOU. JUST SAY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, THIS IS YOUR SECOND TIME. OH I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER FRANK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAYOR. I WANT TO JUST GET SOME INFORMATION STRAIGHT. FIRST OF ALL, INDIVIDUALS CANNOT GO AND LOOK AT IT. I DON'T I DON'T THINK SO. NO YOU CAN'T. YEAH. YEAH, I DON'T I DON'T THINK ANYBODY CAN JUST GO AND LOOK AT THESE APPOINTEES. THEY'RE LOOK AT THEIR FILES AT ANY TIME OR LOOK THAT THAT CAN'T HAPPEN. BUT I THINK I DO CONCUR WITH WHAT COUNCILWOMAN EVER FEEL SAID THE LAST TWO TIMES THAT WE DID HIRE A THIRD PARTY, YOU BEING ONE DOCTOR THIGPEN AND THEN ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL THIS LAST TIME, IT WAS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO ENSURE AS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THAT WE WERE KEEPING [02:20:04] THE PROCESS PURE, THAT WE WERE ALLOWING OUR APPOINTEES TO BE TO BE EVALUATED AND THEN NOT HAVE AND HAVE AS FEW EYES ON THE PROCESS. AND BY THAT I DO MEAN THE OTHER COUNCIL PERSON'S RATINGS AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT'S A PERSONAL THING. WHAT EVERY WHAT EVERY COUNCIL PERSON FEELS ABOUT AN APPOINTEE IS BETWEEN THAT COUNCIL PERSON AND THAT APPOINTEE. AND SO TO HAVE AS FEW EYES ON THAT AS NECESSARY IS WHAT WE WERE SEEKING TO DO. AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT DOING WE ARE LOOKING AT BEING GREAT STEWARDS OF OF OUR CITY'S OR RESOURCES AND MONIES. BUT I THINK KEEPING THE PROCESS PURE IS IMPORTANT AS WELL. AND SO THAT'S SIMPLY WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO. AND I DO THINK THAT THAT DOES KEEP THE PURE THE PROCESS AS PURE AS POSSIBLE. SO THAT'S WHAT WE WERE SEEKING TO DO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER AIRFIELD, THANK YOU. MAYOR. YES, COUNCILMEMBER FRANK, I WON'T REPEAT ALL OF WHAT HE SAID. I JUST WANTED TO OFFER CLARITY THAT WHEN DOCTOR THIGPEN DID PREVIOUSLY DO THE EVALUATIONS, HE WAS A THIRD PARTY. SO I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. WHEN IT WAS STATED THAT THE PROCESS WENT BACK TO WHAT IT IS NOW, AT THAT TIME WHEN DOCTOR THIGPEN PERFORMED THE PROCESS, HE WAS A THIRD PARTY. YEAH, YEAH HE WAS. WE CALLED YOU OUT OF DOCTOR. I REMEMBER IN 2021. THAT'S WHAT ESTABLISHED THE POLICY. THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE THAT WE FOLLOW NOW WAS BACK FROM 2021, RIGHT BEFORE I GOT OFF THAT WE USED A THIRD PARTY. AND YOU EVALUATED AS A YOU WERE NOT HIRED BY THE CITY AT THAT TIME. THE PERSON THAT DID THE EVALUATIONS THAT THE COUNCIL ENTRUSTED ME TO BE ABLE TO FIND SOMEONE WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, BUT AN HR PERSON. AND WHEN WE COMPLETED THE EVALUATION, BUT AT THE TIME AS A CORRECTION, AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN, THAT I DID BRING UP HOW THE COUNCIL WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD IN THAT PROCESS. DO WE WANT TO USE THE THIRD PARTY, AS THE ORDINANCE SAYS, OR AMEND THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS THAT WERE THAT WAS OUR CHOICES. AND I DID ASK THAT QUESTION. AND THE COUNCIL CONCURRED TO MOVE FORWARD AND THE PROCESS UNDER THE ORDINANCE. AND I ASKED THAT AND I HAVE THE DAY, DATE AND TIME DOWNSTAIRS THAT IT TOOK PLACE. AND SO, ANYWAY, I'M NOT GOING TO PROLONG WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. COUNCIL MEMBER IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON, WHAT WHAT IS YOUR ACTION? OH I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. RAYMOND SCOTT, 3726 LAKESHORE DRIVE. I SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION TODAY. I KNOW THE COUNCIL CHANGED A DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY COME UP WITH DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT RESOLUTIONS, DIFFERENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. BUT THE WHOLE TIME I WAS ON COUNCIL FOR NINE YEARS, WE HAD THIS PROCESS IN PLACE THAT THE, THAT THE, THAT THE COUNCIL PEOPLE WERE COMMITTED TO DO THE EVALUATIONS. NOW I HEARD COUNCILMAN FRANK SAID, KEEPING IT IN PURITY AND AND WHATSOEVER HE MEAN BY THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE SOMEONE ELSE IN A POSITION, A THIRD PARTY AND THINGS CAN STILL GET OUT, THINGS CAN STILL GET OUT. THE THINGS ABOUT THIS, THIS POSITION THAT YOU ALL IN, THE COUNCIL HAS TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY, THE MORAL VALUES, VALUE VALUABLES AND THE GOOD INTENTIONS OF DOING THE RIGHT THING BY MAKING THESE DECISIONS, THE EVALUATIONS OF THE OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY APPOINT. THAT WAS, THAT'S THAT'S PUT IN IN THE COUNCIL HEART OR UNDERSTANDING THAT, HEY, YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN THESE THINGS TO EVALUATE PEOPLE. AND WHEN YOU EVALUATE THESE PEOPLE, IT GOES RIGHT BACK TO HUMAN RESOURCES. DOCTOR THIGPEN WAS IN HUMAN RESOURCES A LONG TIME. HE'S IN NOW. HE WAS. YOU SAY HE WAS A THIRD PARTY. HE'S HE'S NOT A THIRD PARTY NOW. HE'S IN HUMAN RESOURCES. HE KNOWS WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO GO ON, HOW THINGS ARE PRIVATE AND SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN OUT TO ANYBODY AT ALL WHEN THEY EVALUATE, EVALUATE IT. HE UNDERSTAND THIS. NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING TAXPAYERS MONEY AGAIN FOR A THIRD PARTY AS COUNCILMAN KINLAW WAS SPEAKING ABOUT. AS LONG AS YOU KEEP THESE EVALUATIONS ON THE ANNIVERSARY AT A PERIOD OF TIME, THEN EACH [02:25:08] INDIVIDUAL WILL BE EVALUATED IN A YEAR, A YEARLY BASIS. COUNCILMAN DOUCET SPOKE ABOUT THAT. BUT TO TAKE AWAY THE POSITION OF A CITY COUNCIL PERSON AND DON'T THINK THAT THEY CAN DO THE RIGHT THING BY EVALUATING PEOPLE WHEN THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT ALL THE TIME, THEN THAT PERSON SHOULDN'T BE A CITY COUNCILMAN. I HEARD THE CITY MANAGER WAS SAYING HE WANTED TO GET SOME DIRECTIVES FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY. HOW HOW IS SHE GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME DIRECTIVES? THIS IS NOT ANYTHING LEGAL WHATSOEVER BECAUSE THEY EVALUATE HER TO. SO SHE READ THE ORDINANCE WHICH EVERYBODY UP THERE HAS DISCUSSED THE ORDINANCE. THE BOTTOM LINE IS DOES COUNCIL WANT TO CONTINUE THIS THIRD PARTY OR THEY VOTE THE ORDINANCE DOWN AND KEEP IT WHERE IT IS, WHERE YOU MAINTAIN INTEGRITY OF COUNCIL MEMBERS MORAL VALUES AND MAKE SURE THAT THE DIRECTION YOU WERE DOING BEFORE THE THIRD PARTY REMAINS AND EVALUATIONS GO STRAIGHT TO HUMAN RESOURCES. THAT HUMAN RESOURCE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO EVERYONE THAT WORKS FOR THIS CITY, AND THAT HUMAN RESOURCE SHOULD KEEP THAT GOING THE CORRECT WAY. IT'S A RESOLUTION, OKAY? YOU EITHER VOTE TO KEEP THAT OR YOU DON'T. BUT AGAIN, YOU'RE LOSING TAXPAYERS MONEY FOR A THIRD PARTY. IT'S NOT NECESSARY. COUNCILMAN KINLAW, YOU'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL LONG ENOUGH. COUNCILMAN DOUCET BEEN ON COUNCIL LONG ENOUGH. WE'VE DONE THIS. COUNCIL HAVE DONE THIS AND DONE IT IN A WAY WHERE YOU MAINTAIN INTEGRITY AND MORAL VALUES. NOTHING CAME OUT OF IT. SO I JUST ADVISE ME, BEING A CITIZEN, I KNOW OTHER CITIZENS. WE GOT A LOT OF MONEY FLOATING AROUND IN PORT ARTHUR, A WHOLE LOT OF GRAVY MONEY. AND WE PUT MONEY HERE, WE PUT MONEY THERE, PUT MONEY HERE FOR WHAT? WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT ALL THE GRAVY MONEY BECAUSE YOU ALL COME UP WITH AN IDEA. DOCTOR THIGPEN IS IN HUMAN RESOURCES. WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE IN HUMAN RESOURCES. IF ANYTHING GET OUT, THEN THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THAT'S JUST AS SIMPLE, AS SIMPLE AS YOU CAN DO IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NO POSSIBLE ACTION, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO NUMBER TWO, A SECOND DISCUSSION. MAYOR PRO TEM. YES, I PUT IT ON THERE. I THINK ONE THING THAT STILL NEED TO BE A DIRECTIVE, AND I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL VOTE EITHER TO CONTINUE WITH THE THIRD PARTY OR NOT HAVE THE THIRD PARTY. AND I THINK THE THE THING WITH THE YEAR. I THINK WE SHOULD ADD, I NEED TO MAKE THIS MOTION FIRST, GET IT OUT OF THE WAY, BECAUSE WE CAN'T COUNCIL TO VOTE SO WE CAN GET IT DONE TONIGHT. OKAY. THE FIRST MOTION I HAVE IS THAT. COUNCIL VOTE TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE USING A THIRD PARTY DURING THE THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS, THE EVALUATION PROCESS OF OUR APPOINTEES. GIVE ME A CALL VOTE, PLEASE. WAIT. I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER. OKAY. POINT OF ORDER. I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THE MOTION THAT HE'S MAKING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS DISCUSSED WAS WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY MANAGER WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE IN THAT PROCESS AS WELL. THE THE THE CITY MANAGER'S EVALUATION, WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE TOTALITY OF YOUR MOTION WHEN THE MOTION IS THAT WE. APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE A THIRD PARTY BEING INVOLVED IN THE EVALUATION OF OUR APPOINTEES. A YES, A YES SHOULD BE. WE WANT A THIRD PARTY OR NO. SIMPLY NO. AND WE CAN RESOLVE THAT TONIGHT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE USING TAXPAYER MONEY FOR A THIRD PARTY, OR ARE WE GOING TO GO BACK TO WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY IS ON HR FOR THE INTEGRITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF ALL RECORDS THAT ARE KEPT IN THE HR, LIKE IN MOST BUSINESSES? SO THAT'S MY MOTION. WELL HOLD ON, I'M SORRY. JUST FOR A SECOND, MAYOR PRO TEM, WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE, SO WE HAVE TO BRING IT UP IN THE ORDINANCE TO [02:30:01] AMEND THE ORDINANCE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO DO. WE HAVE A CURRENT ORDINANCE IN PLACE. SO DO WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT MOTION IN RELATION TO AMENDING THE ORDINANCE SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE ANY? I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT I'M DOING NOW IS JUST GETTING A A VOTE OF WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO DO. SO IF COUNCIL SAYS WE'RE NOT GOING TO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE THIRD PARTY, THEN WE'LL THEN RESCIND THAT MOTION. BUT THAT'LL HAVE TO BE BROUGHT BACK BEFORE US TO RESCIND IT. YEAH. OKAY. SO I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT SENDING IT. I JUST WANT TO GET CLARITY OKAY. GO AHEAD. YES. THE COUNCIL CAN GIVE ME DIRECTION ON DRAFTING AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS A SPECIFIC THING. OKAY. BUT YOU WILL NEED THE ORDINANCE TO TRUMP THE ORDINANCE. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. OKAY, THEN WE HAVE A MOTION. YOU HAVE A WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. WE NEED A SECOND. SECOND. OKAY. YOU KNOW WHICH IS WHICH. NO. FOR THE YES OR NOS. WE'RE GOING TO I'M GOING TO HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE I KNOW, BUT DO ALL COUNCIL WILL UNDERSTAND. LET'S SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME. OKAY. IS THE MOTION FOR DISAPPROVAL. NO, NO IT'S NOT. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE MOTION IS WHETHER COUNCIL CHOOSE TO HAVE A THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN THE EVALUATION PROCESS OF OUR APPOINTEES. A YES MEAN YOU WANT THAT THIRD PARTY TO CONTINUE A NO SAYING NO. WE'LL HAVE THE HR HANDLE IT. OKAY. SO THAT'S THE VOTE OKAY. HAVE WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR. WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS. CITY SECRETARY OF YOU'LL DO A ROLL CALL. VOTE FOR ME. YES, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM. NO. MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. HAMILTON. EVERSFIELD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. KINLAW. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. LOUIS. NO. MAYOR. MOSES. YES. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THE MEASURE FAILED. OKAY. IT FAILS, FAILED. IT FAILED. DISAPPROVE. RIGHT. OKAY. NO, IT DID NOT FAIL. IT PASSED. NO, IT FAILED. PASSED NOT TO APPROVE A THIRD PARTY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A Y'ALL ONE. RIGHT. OKAY. RIGHT. WE GOT IT. OKAY. YEAH I APOLOGIZE, THAT WAS MY MISTAKE. YEAH. THE WAY SHE SAID IT, I WAS LIKE, NO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS ALL HAVE A THIRD PARTY ANYMORE, OKAY? RIGHT. THERE WE GO. SHE'LL BRING THE ORDINANCE BACK. [III.F.(2) A Discussion Regarding The Development of Pleasure Island (Requested By Mayor Pro Tem Doucet)] THERE YOU GO. ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO. NUMBER TWO, A DISCUSSION. OH, DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER PART TO THIS? YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO DO WELL. THE OTHER ONE, I THINK I DON'T REALLY NEED A VOTE. WE JUST HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT'S THE YEAR? WHAT'S THE YEAR, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T EITHER THEIR ANNIVERSARY DATES OR. OKAY. I DON'T THINK WE CAN DO A VOTE ON THAT. NO, I WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT. BUT ALL WE NEED TO DO, WE NEED TO HAVE A DATE THAT'S GOING TO BE A YEAR. WHAT WE WE I THINK YOU ALSO HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE. THERE'S ALSO CONTRACTS IN PLACE THAT STATE WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE. SO WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CONTRACTS. ALL RIGHT. YOU'LL BRING THAT BACK TO US. WE'LL DO THAT. YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT'S THE KICKER. IF YOU GO BACK TO THE CONTRACT AND WE LET A CONTRACT BE, AND AN ANNUAL BILL, AN ANNUAL DAY, INSTEAD OF US WORRYING ABOUT WHEN WE DO IT AND ALL THAT, LET'S GO WITH CONTRACT DATES. AND THAT WAY WE CAN'T GO WRONG. AND THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT, RIGHT? OH, I KNOW IT IS. ALL RIGHT. BUT WE GO WITH CONTRACT DATES. ALRIGHTY. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO NUMBER TWO, A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLEASURE ISLAND REQUESTED BY MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE. YES, THIS ONE IS REAL QUICK. I KNOW THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS GOT A GOOD ANSWER TO THIS, AND GETTING THE IDENTIFICATION AND EVERYTHING DONE WITH THE PLEASURE ISLAND, BUT I'M JUST CONCERNED WITH UNTIL WE COULD GET A CHARTER, A COMMITTEE TOGETHER TO GET THIS CLARIFICATION. WE KEEP GETTING THINGS DONE, THINGS WE'RE DOING ON AN ISLAND. AND I FEEL AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU KNOW, WHO'S MAKING THE DECISIONS, WHO IS MAKING THE DECISIONS. BECAUSE FOR YEARS. I'VE SAT ON COUNCIL EVERY TIME THE PLEASURE ISLANDS HAD SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO ON THE ISLAND, WHETHER IT WAS INVOLVEMENT OF THE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, ALONG WITH THE DIRECTOR AND THE CITY MANAGER, IT ALWAYS CAME TO COUNCIL AND WAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL BECAUSE THE PLEASURE ISLAND COMMISSION IS NOT A DEPARTMENT. PLEASURE ISLAND IS NOT A DEPARTMENT. IT'S NOT. SO [02:35:09] WE CAN'T HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT DEPARTMENT HAVING DECISIONS MADE WITHOUT GETTING APPROVAL. AND SINCE IT'S A SEPARATE ENTITY, THAT MEANS THAT WHEN THEY WANT TO DO THINGS, SOMEONE SHOULD COME BEFORE US AND PRESENT IT TO US. NOT ONLY WILL WE KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT THE CITIZENS WILL, YOU SEE? AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS. BUT WE GET MORE THINGS HAPPENING ON THAT ISLAND THAT REQUIRES FUNDING, THAT I GET IN THE FORM OF A RESOLUTION. SO WHY CAN'T SOMEONE, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING MONEY ON THAT ISLAND, WHY ISN'T IT COMING BEFORE COUNCIL, AT WHICH TIME CITIZENS ARE GOING TO HEAR BEFORE THIS FUNDING IS APPROVED? YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S NOT A GOOD YOU COME UP HERE AND READ A RESOLUTION. NOW, YOU WANT ME TO VOTE YES OR NO? BUT IT'S FOR THE GOOD. BUT GOLLY, YOU KNOW, WE IF YOU CAME BEFORE US AND DONE A PRESENTATION AND WE SAID WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND NO MONEY ON THAT, WE JUST SAVED A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT. OKAY. SO I THINK WE NEED TO AT LEAST GET SOME TYPE OF CHAIN OF COMMAND HERE UNTIL WE GET THIS BACK TO WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. CITY MANAGER. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NEED TO BE CAUGHT WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE ISLAND BECAUSE SOMEBODY DECIDING, OH, WE GOING TO DO THIS? THAT ISLAND IS NOT A DEPARTMENT. WE, THIS COUNCIL HAS THE LAST SAY WITH THE ISLAND. SO AT LEAST GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WE WANT TO DO THAT ON THAT ISLAND OR WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT ON IT. AND SO UNTIL WE GET THAT, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO. CITY MANAGER, JUST KEEP US IN THIS LOOP. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. OKAY. OH, WHO? OH, THE MANAGER IS LIGHT ON. OH, I'M SORRY, CITY ATTORNEY. YES. I'M SORRY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD THAT OUR CITY CHARTER, WHICH WAS VOTED BY THE VOTERS ON NOVEMBER 17TH OF 2020, SAYS THAT THE GOVERNANCE OF THE LANDS OWNED BY THE CITY IN AND UNDER SABINE LAKE AND THOSE LANDS OWNED BY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, COMMONLY KNOWN AS PLEASURE ISLAND, INCLUDING ANY SUCH LANDS HEREAFTER ACQUIRED OR ADDED THERETO, SHALL BE A SUBCOMPONENT OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE CITY MANAGER, AND THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL, BY ORDINANCE, PROVIDE FOR THE PLEASURE ISLAND DEPARTMENT. THE CITY MANAGER WILL EXERCISE DISCRETION AND CONTROL OVER IT IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS. SO THE VOTERS MADE IT VERY CLEAR IN NOVEMBER 17TH, 2020 BY MAJORITY VOTE ON THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A PLEASURE ISLAND DEPARTMENT AND THAT THE CITY MANAGER WOULD EXERCISE CONTROL OVER IT. OKAY, THERE CAN BE A CITY CHARTER CHANGE, BUT THE VOTERS WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE IT. OKAY. LET ME LET ME COMMENT A SECOND. OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO CITIZENS? OKAY. I'LL GO, I'LL GO, I'LL GO. SCOTT HAD HIS HAND UP. AND THEN IF MR. VINCENT, IF YOU MAKE YOUR WAY TOWARD THE FRONT. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO, WE'RE TRYING TO. RAYMOND SCOTT, 37, 26 LAKESHORE DRIVE. CITY ATTORNEY. YOU JUST READ THE LAW, THE ORDINANCE WHICH WE UNDERSTAND, THE ORDINANCE TO GIVE THE CITY MANAGER CONTROL. BUT THE CITY MANAGER REPORTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL, OKAY. THE CITY MANAGER REPORTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL. SO YOU READ THE ORDINANCE. WE ARE WE ALL RIGHT WITH THE ORDINANCE? BUT THE THING ABOUT WHAT COUNCILMAN DOUCET WAS TALKING ABOUT, IT GOES BACK TO CITY ATTORNEY. WHAT THE CITIZENS HERE IN THIS CITY WANT. WE WANT TRANSPARENCY. WE WANT TO BE PART OF DECISION MAKING. SO YOU HAVE TO ALLOW US TO GET THESE THINGS BEFOREHAND BEFORE YOU VOTE ON IT. LET US SEE HIM AND LET US SAY SOMETHING, OKAY? THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. ALL ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. TRANSPARENCY. OKAY. ARE YOU GOING TO BE TRANSPARENT? WHY ISN'T THE CITIZENS AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON BEFORE THE COUNCIL VOTE ON IT? THAT'S ALL HE WAS SPEAKING OF. YOU CAN READ US THE LAW AND ORDERS. I KNOW THE ORDINANCE JUST JUST AS WELL, NINE YEARS UP THERE. SO. WELL, THE CHARTER THEN. I KNOW THE CHARTER TOO. SO I'M JUST SAYING WE UNDERSTAND AND I'M NOT GOING TO GET IN A DEBATE WITH YOU. I'M JUST SAYING WE AS A CITY, AS CITIZENS, YOU ALL [02:40:01] SAY, Y'ALL GOING TO BE OUR VOICE. THE CITY MANAGER WILL REPORT TO THE COUNCIL. ALL I'M SAYING AS A CITIZEN IS BE TRANSPARENT, BRING IT TO THE COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL SHARE WITH US. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. SHARE IT WITH THE CITIZENS SO WE CAN SAY, OH, WE LIKE THAT. OH WE DON'T. BUT IF YOU DON'T BRING IT TO US AND NOT BEING TRANSPARENT, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE SAYING, WHAT ARE YOU HIDING? I'VE BEEN IN THAT SEAT BEFORE FOR NINE YEARS. I'M JUST TELLING YOU, I'M A CITIZEN. I'M TELLING YOU WHAT CITIZENS ARE SAYING. I'M TELLING YOU HOW THEY FEEL. THIS IS WHAT CITIZENS ARE SAYING. BE TRANSPARENT. VOTE FOR ME. I'M GOING TO BE YOUR VOICE. THEN WHEN YOU GET IN THE SEAT, YOU SAY, I KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU. I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO. NO, THAT'S NOT IT. HERE ARE THE PEOPLE, HERE THE PEOPLE. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. THANK YOU. MR. VINCENT. THANK YOU. OKAY, I AGREE WITH YOU. IT'S BROUGHT UP AND I GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THAT I AGREE WITH. MR. SCOTT SAID THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON THAT ISLAND. WE DON'T FIND OUT UNTIL AFTER THE DECISIONS ARE MADE. THAT'S A SHAME. TRANSPARENCY. WE NEED IT. THERE'S A LOT OF CITIZENS THAT'S REAL UPSET ABOUT THE WAY THE STANDING ON THE ISLAND'S GOING. I GOT A CALL THIS WEEKEND ABOUT A BATHROOM FOR A PARK OVER THERE THAT'S STILL NOT REPAIRED. IT STAYS LOCKED AND WE CAN'T EVEN GET OPEN. YOU GO TO THE PORTA POTTY AND IT'S FULL OF FREAKING MOSQUITOES. AND THEY CAN'T EVEN LET THEIR KIDS GO TO THE RESTROOM IN THERE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REPRESENTING ON PLEASURE ISLAND. WE CAN'T GET IN. THE CONTRACTS BEEN BEEN SUPPOSEDLY PASSED TO HAVE THAT THAT RESTROOM PARK FIXED AND DONE AND IT'S NOT DONE. SO HOW ARE WE BEING TRANSPARENT WITH IT? HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GO BACK? AND WHEN THEY CALL ME, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO ANSWER THAT TO THEM? THAT'S BEEN GOING ON A YEAR NOW, RON. A YEAR THAT THAT BATHROOM AIN'T BEEN FIXED. LAST TIME I HEARD THE UPDATE ON THEM, IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE WRONG TOILETS WERE ORDERED. WE CAN GET TOILETS AT COBURN SUPPLY. LET'S GET IT DONE. LET'S DO SOMETHING WITH THAT ISLAND. OKAY. OUR CITY MANAGER, YOU HAVE YOUR LIGHT ON? YEAH. OH YOU DON'T I ALMOST FORGOT, OKAY. AND SO IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY, THE CITY MANAGER IS ONLY AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FUNDS IF IT COMES TO A BUDGET. THE COUNCIL HAS THE FULL AUTHORITY TO VOTE DOWN ANYTHING THAT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET. WE ASK FOR THE PLEASURE ISLAND DIRECTOR FOR HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS, EVERY SINGLE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT A BUDGET TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THE BUDGET. I CANNOT GO OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET TO APPROVE ANYTHING. THAT'S NOT TRANSPARENCY. ANYTIME I GO OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET AND MAKES A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL, I'M NOT BEING TRANSPARENT. EVEN MORE SO, THE COUNCIL HAVE ASKED SPECIFICALLY TO PUT ACCOUNT NUMBERS TO PROVE THE TRANSPARENCY, PUT THE ACCOUNT NUMBER ON THE ITEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS FUNDING AVAILABLE. THAT IS THE PUREST OF TRANSPARENCY THAT YOU CAN HAVE, THAT THE MONEY IS IN THE BUDGET AND IN THE BANK. IT CANNOT GET PURER THAN THAT. THERE IS NO HIDDEN AGENDA. IT'S NOT THE CITY MANAGER'S PROJECT. THE COUNCIL HAS A WORKSHOP, TWO WORKSHOPS, THREE WORKSHOPS AND THEN VOTES ON THE BUDGET. IT'S ALL IN, WHETHER IT'S IN THE CAPITAL OR IT'S IN THE RECURRING BUDGET. SO IT'S ALWAYS IN THE BUDGET. I HAVE ALWAYS EMPHASIZED AS WELL THAT THE DIRECTOR OF PLEASURE ISLAND, ANY TIME, EVEN IF IT'S IN THE BUDGET, THE ITEM BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE ADVISORY COUNCIL AND INFORM THEM AS WELL THAT THE MATTER IS GOING TO COUNCIL. HOW PURE CAN YOU GET TO THAT? IT'S IN THE BUDGET. IF IT'S IN THE BUDGET, I DON'T APPROVE THE BUDGET. THE COUNCIL APPROVES THE BUDGET. SO THERE IS TRANSPARENCY. THERE IS TOTAL TRANSPARENCY IN IT. THERE IS ABSOLUTE TRANSPARENCY IN IT WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, THE THE THE CITY MANAGER DOESN'T FLY BY THE SEAT OF HIS PANTS AND PUT ON A RESOLUTION IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. NO, NO, NO COUNCIL OF US THAT WE PROVE BY THE BUDGET. SHOW ME THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL AT ALL TIMES. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THANKS. WE WILL MOVE ON. OKAY. CITY. OKAY, OKAY. YOU'RE [02:45:05] ONLY GOING TO BE OKAY. YOU HAVEN'T TALKED ON SPOKE ON THIS TOPIC. COME ON, MR. REGINALD. I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF NAMES RIGHT NOW. ORIGINAL TRAINER, 3514 12TH STREET. PLEASURE HARLEM. LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT ON PLEASURE ISLAND. WHEN I FIRST MATTER OF FACT, I'VE BEEN THERE ON PLEASURE ISLAND FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, I GIVE MYSELF A HAND FOR THAT. LISTEN, WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE ISLAND. RAN THE ISLAND. WE GOT INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE NEEDED THE CITY. WE ARE NO LONGER A COMMISSION THAT PEOPLE THINK WE ARE AN ADVISORY BOARD. THAT'S ALL WE ARE. ALL WE DO IS ADVISE TO OUR DIRECTOR, GEORGE DAVIS. GEORGE DAVIS GETS WITH OUR CITY MANAGER THE THINGS THAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE. WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS ONCE A MONTH. WE SUBMIT WHAT WE NEED TO SUBMIT. WE GIVE IT TO OUR DIRECTOR. HE GIVES IT TO HIS BOSS, THE CITY MANAGER. AND THEN IT GOES FROM THERE TO THERE. IT'S NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT MYSELF, AS MUCH AS I LOVE PORT ARTHUR, WILL ALLOW ANYTHING TO GO UNLESS WE HAVE A MEETING AND WE GET DIRECTION FROM THE CITY MANAGER. WE DON'T RUN NOTHING ON ISLAND. SO I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO UNDERSTAND. AND IT'S YOUR DISCRETION THAT CHOOSES THE ADVISORY BOARD. COUNCIL CHOOSES US TO REPRESENT THE CITY. ALRIGHT, WE'LL NOMINATE US. HOW ABOUT THAT? SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS FOR US, SIT DOWN IS. LOOK, THAT IS NOT GILBERT GONZALES. THAT IS THE PEOPLE'S ISLAND. THANK YOU. OKAY. RIGHT. WE YOU HAVE TWO TIMES TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON ANY TOPIC. I'M JUST GIVING YOU A WARNING. MR. SCOTT, THIS IS YOUR LAST TIME. TWO TIMES. OKAY, TWICE. I GUESS THE COUNCIL VOTED ON THAT, RIGHT? NO, IT'S ACTUALLY PART OF THE ROBERT RULES OF ORDER. OKAY. YOU CAN PARLIAMENTARY TO SAY THAT. OKAY. CITY MANAGER, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU WELL. YOU KNOW ME WELL OKAY. SO I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU ONE QUESTION, RON, WHO IS IN THE REVIEW FOR THE AGENDA, WHO ALL PARTICIPATE IN THE REVIEW FOR THE AGENDA. IT'S THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS TWO ASSISTANTS. THERE'S A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR. YES. OKAY. YEAH. SO I JUST WANTED THE CITIZENS TO HEAR YOU NAME WHO ARE IN THE AGENDA REVIEW. NOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN AGENDA REVIEW AND YOU SEE EVERYTHING WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE SEE AND EVERYBODY SEE THE AGENDA TO REVIEW IT, THEN WHEN THOSE THINGS COME ON AGENDA, WE UNDERSTAND YOU. YOU'RE ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE MONEY AND EVERYTHING. BUT YOU CAN RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN I CAME UP HERE EARLIER THAT WE, THE CITIZENS JUST WANT TO KNOW, BEFORE YOU PUT THE MONEY OUT THERE, THAT THE PEOPLE WHO REVIEW THE AGENDA WILL BRING THINGS TO THE CITIZENS AND SAY, LET'S LET'S SEE IF THEY HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. JUST PUT IT OUT THERE, PUT IT ON THE AGENDA TO DISCUSS IT SO WE AS THE CITIZENS CAN HEAR IT AND SAY, OH, WE LIKE THAT. AND THEN YOU CAN BRING BACK RON, THE MONEY, THE BUDGET, WHAT YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND WE'RE OKAY WITH IT. SO IT'S A YOU HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE ON THE AGENDA REVIEW AND YOU ALL SEE WHAT'S ON THIS AGENDA BEFORE THE COUNCIL PEOPLE EVEN SEE. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, THINK ABOUT WHAT THE CITIZENS THINK ABOUT THIS. SHOULD WE LET THEM UNDERSTAND THIS OR DISCUSS IT WITH THEM BEFORE WE PUT THEIR MONEY INTO PLAY? THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD BE THINKING, AND THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY SHOULD BE THINKING. THAT REVIEW THE AGENDA. THAT'S THE TRANSPARENCY I'M TALKING ABOUT. I'M NOT ACCUSING YOU NOT BEING TRANSPARENT. I'M SAYING THAT TRANSPARENT SHOULD BE ALLOWED. IT SHOULD BE. IT SHOULD BE THERE FOR CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE BUDGET MONEY THAT IS TAXPAYERS. THANK YOU. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD IN OUR AGENDA. COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE ANY REPORTS OR ANY ITEMS OF. OKAY, I'D LIKE TO. YES, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK, RAISE MY HAND SEVERAL TIMES. OKAY. 3737 TEN DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR HIGHWAY I LIVE OUT ON PLEASURE ISLAND. I THINK THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSPARENCY [02:50:04] OUT THERE. WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE PROJECTS GOING ON THAT THE RESIDENTS OF ISLAND AREN'T AWARE OF UNTIL AFTER THEY'RE APPROVED. I SAT HERE LAST YEAR, AS I HAVE FOR EVERY SINGLE MEETING FOR THE LAST YEAR, AND I LISTENED TO MR. DAVIS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE ISLAND, TALK ABOUT HOW THERE WASN'T ENOUGH MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO FIX THE RESTROOMS. HERE WE ARE. AND HE SAID THAT WOULD BE DONE BECAUSE YOU ASKED HIM SPECIFICALLY, AND HE SAID THAT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF IN 2026 WHEN MONEY WAS ALLOTTED FOR IT. HERE WE ARE NOW IN MID-MARCH. RESTROOMS ARE STILL NOT WORKING. THERE ARE LEAKS ALL OVER THAT AREA, AND WE HAVE THIS SELFIE SIGN THAT THE CITY HAS SPENT MONEY ON COVERED WITH MOSQUITOES, AND NO ONE CAN EVEN USE THE RESTROOM AROUND THERE. I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK, BUT YOU BROUGHT UP THE RESTROOMS. IT'S PERTINENT TO THIS TOPIC AND THERE IS ZERO TRANSPARENCY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE. WE WANT THOSE RESTROOMS FIXED. WE WANT THE ISLAND AND WORKING CONDITIONS. WE WANT RUNNING WATER. WE'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE UNTIL WE GET THE INFRASTRUCTURE FIXED. ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GOING [V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST] TO MOVE TO NUMBER FIVE REPORTS. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF TWO MINUTES. COUNCIL MEMBERS. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING, YOU MAY PUT YOUR LIGHTS ON AT THIS TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY. IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD TO NUMBER SIX. UNFINISHED BUSINESS. WE [Vll. CONSENT AGENDA] HAVE NONE. NUMBER SEVEN CONSENT AGENDA COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO WITHHOLD, IF YOU WOULD GIVE ME THOSE NUMBERS, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION. I THINK WE ONLY HAVE. SEVEN ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO DOES ANYBODY LIKE TO HOLD WITHHOLD ANY? WE'RE ON PAGE FIVE. THERE'S NINE. NINE. WELL, I SEE YOU START WITH THREE. RIGHT. IS IT NINE. OH YEAH. ONE, TWO. OKAY. SORRY, MISS. THOSE NINE ITEMS. COUNCIL MEMBERS, I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER. DOUCETTE. YES, MAYOR. ITEM NUMBER ONE, PAGE FOUR. OKAY. ITEM NUMBER ONE. COUNCIL MEMBER NINE. ITEM NUMBER NINE. PAGE FIVE. OKAY. AND COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM. WAIT A MINUTE. HOLD UP. I'M SORRY. I THINK THAT'S THE END, NINE. YES, THAT'S THE LAST ONE AND NINE. RIGHT. ONE AND NINE. AND WHAT IS 48? 12. THAT'S ON THE THAT'S ON INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. MAYOR. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN ON PAGE FIVE. OKAY. AND IS THAT EVERYONE? OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION OF APPROVAL FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA WITHHOLDING ITEM ONE, ITEM SEVEN, AND ITEM NINE, ITEM ONE. IT'S ALREADY BEEN WITHHELD. IT'S ALREADY GOT IT. YEAH. YOU GOT IT LOU. YOU GOOD? I MAKE THEM. OKAY, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. I'D LIKE TO GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF ITEM ONE, ITEM SEVEN, AND ITEM NUMBER NINE. SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY NO'S? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE CONSENT AGENDA PASSES. WITH THOSE EXCEPTIONS, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO NUMBER ONE ON PAGE [VII.C.(1) P.R. No. 24742 —A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Front Line Mobile Health, Georgetown, Texas, For The Provision Of National Fire Protection Association 1582 Standard On Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program For Firefighters, Not To Exceed $78,000.00; Funding Is Available In Fire Department Account No. 001-19-047-5420-OO-30-OOO.] NUMBER FOUR PR NUMBER 24742A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH FRONT LINE MOBILE HEALTH, GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, FOR THE PROVISION OF A NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION 1582 STANDARD ON COMPREHENSIVE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICAL PROGRAM FOR FIREFIGHTERS NOT TO EXCEED $78,000. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNT NUMBER 0011904754200030000. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. DISCUSSIONS. YES. TIM DOUCETTE. YES. HOW YOU DOING? GOOD AFTERNOON. HOW YOU DOING? YEAH, I READ THROUGH IT. YES. AND MY QUESTION WAS IT REFERRED TO THE NFPA 1582? YES, SIR. AND WHEN I WENT BACK AND STARTED READING ABOUT 1582, IT SAID, THIS IS REALLY NO. 1582. NO. FROM WHAT I READ IS 1580 AND 1580 IS NOW INCUMBENT OF 1581, 82, 83 AND 84. SO THERE'S NO 1582, 1580. BUT WHEN I READ IT, IT TALKS ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU HAD IN HERE ABOUT CONDITIONING AND ALL THAT STUFF, BUT IT ALSO HAS THE PROGRAM THAT AN INDIVIDUAL CAN ACTUALLY BE A [02:55:02] MEMBER AND GET A BOOK THAT COVERS ALL OF THIS, ALL FOUR OF THEM. OKAY. AND THAT IS WHERE THE TRAINING COULD COME FROM. NOW, THE TRAINING COULD COME AS AN INDIVIDUAL BEING PROVIDED THE BOOK AND FOLLOWING THE BOOK ARE THE INDIVIDUAL CAN BE GIVEN THE INSTRUCTION. OKAY, SO I GOT THAT THIS IS GIVEN THE INSTRUCTION. SO WHEN I READ THE INSTRUCTION ANTONIO, I SEE THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING FOR 80 PEOPLE. AND I THINK EACH ONE IS $975 FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL. THE BOOK IS ONLY $165. THAT INDIVIDUAL COULD GET. NOW, WHY AM I MAKING THIS AN ISSUE? BECAUSE THE NINE, THE 975, YOU'RE SAYING. AND WHEN I. GOT READY. OH YEAH. OKAY, OKAY. THE 975 THAT YOU'RE SAYING IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE I READ THE WRITE UP AND I REALLY FELT IT WAS SOMETHING WE HAD TO DO. BUT WHEN I GOT INTO READING THE ACTUAL THING AND KNOWING WHAT IS, IS, IS A PROGRAM, IT'S SOMETHING DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THEY BE FIT. THEN I SAID, OKAY, YOU WANT 975 FOR APPROXIMATELY 80. BUT IT'S VOLUNTEER. YOU KNOW, IF IT'S SO IMPORTANT, WHY IS IT VOLUNTEER? WELL, WHEN I GO AND READ IT FOR $165, ANYBODY WHO REALLY WANT TO DO THAT, THEY COULD GET THE BOOK AND FOLLOW THE PROGRAM, AND IT'S GOING TO HELP THEM TO MEET ALL OF THESE THINGS YOU SAID. SO I'M JUST WONDERING, WHY ARE WE GOING TO APPROVE 975 FOR SOMEBODY VOLUNTEERING? AND IF IT'S THAT IMPORTANT, WHY IT AIN'T MANDATORY? AND IF IT'S JUST VOLUNTEER, WHY DON'T WE PAY THE $165 AND BUY THEM A BOOK? OKAY, SO IN THE STANDARD 1500 COVERS, ALL THE MEDICAL 1582 COVERS THE CANCER. SO BY NFPA STANDARD, WE HAVE TO OFFER EVERY EMPLOYEE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR CANCER SCREENINGS, THAT CANCER SCREENING HAS TO BE PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. THAT PERSON HAS TO BE EITHER A D.O. OR M.D. SO BY BY NFL STANDARD, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT FOR EVERY COMMISSION. FIREFIGHTER. IT'S NOT MANDATED THAT THEY DO IT, BUT WE BUDGETED FOR 115 PEOPLE, BUT WE DON'T GET 100% COMPLIANCE ACROSS ALL BOARDS. BUT WE HAVE TO BY POLICY, BY NFPA STANDARD, WE HAVE TO OFFER THAT TO OUR TO OUR PERSONNEL. OKAY. SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER THIS TRAINING. YOU CAN'T GO ANY OTHER ROUTE. SO IT'S NOT TRAINING. IT'S THE IT'S MEDICAL SCREENING FOR CANCER. OKAY. BUT THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO IT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE 165 AND STUFF. I JUST HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE. ME? IT'S LATE. YEAH, YEAH, I ACCEPT WHAT YOU SAY RIGHT NOW. IF I FIND ANYTHING DIFFERENT, I'LL ALWAYS COME BACK. OKAY? YES, SIR. YOUR ANSWER IS ACCEPTABLE RIGHT NOW. OKAY. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, MAYOR. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES [VII.C.(7) P.R. No. 24800 — A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Accept A 2nd Grant From Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB), Through Its Keep Texas Recycling Program, Funded By H-E-B For The City Of Port Arthur To Establish A Centralized Cardboard Recycling Facility In The Amount Of $85,000.00.] HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. LET'S GO NOW TO PAGE NUMBER FIVE. NUMBER SEVEN, PR NUMBER TWO FOUR 800. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT A SECOND GRANT FROM KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL CTB THROUGH ITS KEEP TEXAS RECYCLING PROGRAM, FUNDED BY HEB FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TO ESTABLISH A CENTRALIZED CARDBOARD RECYCLING FACILITY IN AMOUNT OF $85,000. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MOTION FOR APPROVAL? CAN I GET A SECOND? I GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND DISCUSSIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM. YES, I GUESS THIS IS FOR THE CITY MANAGER, I THINK. OH, THERE HE IS. SO I READ I READ THE BACKUP FOR THIS AND MY QUESTION IS, WELL, I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. IS IT GOING TO BE IN THE SAME LOCATION WHERE THE OTHER FACILITY THAT H-E-B IS DOING FOR RECYCLING GOING TO BE LOCATED BY THE LIBRARY, OR IS THIS GOING TO BE AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION AT THE AT THE BACK OF THE CIVIC CENTER? CIVIC CENTER? YEAH. SO THAT'S THE SAME LOCATION AS THE OTHER. OKAY. SO THAT ANSWERS MY FIRST QUESTION. AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION WAS AND SOME CITIZENS ASKED ABOUT THIS, IS THIS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE MANNED OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE GO DROP OFF AT. THERE'S [03:00:02] DESIGNATED DROP OFF AREAS. YEAH. SO IT'S GOING TO BE GATED AND IT'S GOING TO BE DESIGNED WHERE YOU COULD DROP YOUR CARDBOARD WITHIN THE WITHIN THE FACILITY. BUT ONCE A DAY SOMEBODY WILL GO THERE TO TAKE EVERYTHING AND MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAN AND STAYS NEAT. BUT YEAH, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET TO ALWAYS MAN IT. OKAY. YEAH. SO THE THE FIRST FACILITY THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE STILL GOING TO DO THAT'S, THAT'S GOING TO OPEN IN APRIL. SO IS THAT RIGHT. SO SO THIS IS THE SAME PROJECT. WHAT HAPPENED WAS PRICES ARE GOING UP ON EVERYTHING. IT'S SKYROCKETING. SO I WENT BACK TO KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL AND I REQUESTED ADDITIONAL FUNDS. I WROTE SOME STUFF BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. AND THEY APPROVED IT. SO THESE ARE THE ADDITIONAL 85 K TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY HOPEFULLY DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING FOR THIS PROJECT. IT'S ALL GOING TO BE FUNDED BY KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL SLASH H-E-B. OKAY. YEAH. SO IT'S THE SAME PROJECT. JUST MORE MONEY TO GET IT DONE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND ARE WE STILL GOING TO OPEN AT THE SAME TIME OR AND UNFORTUNATELY, NO, THAT WE CAN'T SPEND THE FUNDS UNTIL IT'S APPROVED TODAY. SO BECAUSE OF THAT IT'S BEING PUSHED BACK BECAUSE WE HAVE TO ORDER STUFF. WE HAVE TO ORDER THE THE COMPACTOR, WE HAVE TO ORDER A LOT OF MATERIAL, AND WE CAN'T DO IT UNTIL THIS GETS APPROVED. SO ONCE THIS IS APPROVED, I CAN WORK WITH THE FUNDERS TO GET STUFF ORDERED. SO WE PUSHED IT BACK PROBABLY ABOUT TWO MONTHS LET'S SAY. OKAY. SO THE EVENT IN APRIL IS JUST GOING TO BE KIND OF TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'RE EXPANDING THE PROJECT. THE EVENT IN APRIL WAS WAS WAS CANCELED. I'M NOT SURE WHAT EVENT IN APRIL. SOMETHING THERE WAS ORIGINALLY SOMETHING PLANNED FOR APRIL. YOU'RE CORRECT. BUT THAT HAS NOW BEEN THAT'S GOING TO BE RESCHEDULED PROBABLY FOR JUNE, MAYBE JULY, DEPENDING ON HOW QUICKLY WE CAN GET ALL THE MATERIALS IN AND GET EVERYTHING DONE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY I ANY NO'S. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. [VII.C.(9) P.R. No. 24812 — A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Increase The Purchasing Authority With Bound Tree Medical Through BuyBoard Contract 704-23 For Fiscal Year 2026 From $25,000.00 To $40,000.00, For The Procurement Of Necessary Emergency Medical Supplies Needed To Maintain Operational Readiness. Funding Is Available In The Fire Department Medical Supplies Account No. 00119-047-5212-00-30-000.] WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO NUMBER NINE ON PAGE FIVE PR NUMBER 24812A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO INCREASE THE PURCHASING AUTHORITY WITH BOUND TREE MEDICAL THROUGH BY BOARD CONTRACT. 70423 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 FROM 25,000 TO 40,000 FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF NECESSARY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONAL READINESS. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. MEDICAL SUPPLIES ACCOUNT NUMBER 00119047-52120030000. I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND DISCUSSIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER I MEAN MAYOR PRO TEM JUST SAID YES. BOY, ANTONIO, Y'ALL SURE WORK ME THIS WEEKEND. SORRY ABOUT THAT. ALRIGHT, JUST CLARIFICATIONS ON THIS ITEM, RIGHT? YOU ALL ARE ASKING FOR US TO INCREASE APPROVE RATHER. BUT THESE TERMINOLOGY AND STUFF WAS CONFUSED. ME OKAY, IT SAYS THAT WE ARE. WE HAD APPROVED A $25,000 BLANK PURCHASE ORDER. SO WHAT DID WE WE APPROVED A CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED. I'M LOST ON THE QUESTION. SO WE DID HAVE A BLANK APPEAL WITH THIS COMPANY FOR $25,000. YOU HAD A BLANKET? YES. SEE, THAT'S WHAT CONFUSED ME, BECAUSE WHEN I READ THE BACKGROUND, IT SAID COUNCIL HAD APPROVED A $25,000 BLANKET PURCHASE ORDER. OKAY. AND WE DON'T DO THAT. SO THAT'S MY FIRST THING THAT THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION BECAUSE I SEEN BLACK BLANKET ORDER. I LOOKED AT THE A LOT OF PURCHASES WE MAKE UNDER THE 25,000. I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THAT LIST AND I SEE A LOT OF THINGS SAYING BLANK PURCHASE ORDER. I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE WE GET THAT TERM AND WHAT'S OKAY. SO BASICALLY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST INCREASING. THE AND NOT TO EXCEED LIMIT THAT WE GAVE YOU THREW ME OFF. WE ACTUALLY INCREASE THAT THAT SAID NUMBER THERE TO OVER THAT 40 WHICH WOULD INCREASE TO A TOTAL OF $40,000. SO WE ASKED FOR 15,000. RIGHT? RIGHT. YES, SIR. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING. I'M TRYING TO TRACK YOU. OKAY. YOU'RE TRACKING GOOD. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR, BECAUSE WHEN YOU START SAYING BLANKET PURCHASE ORDER, IT'S THREW ME FOR A WHOLE LOOP. OKAY, I'M SAYING WE DON'T DO THAT. WHAT'S GOING ON? BUT YOU CLARIFY THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ANTONIO. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. OH. I'M SORRY. OKAY, OKAY. COME ON. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DEBORAH SCOTT, 37, 26 LAKESHORE DRIVE, PORT ARTHUR. AND I GUESS [03:05:03] MY QUESTION MAY BE DIRECTED TO YOU, SIR, FOR THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES. IS THERE SHELF LIFE ON ANY OF THESE PRODUCTS THAT YOU'RE PURCHASING? YES, MA'AM. SO WE HAD $14,000 WORTH OF MEDICATION THAT EXPIRED FOR US. TO GET NEW MEDICATION, WE HAVE TO PROPOSE ALL THAT STUFF HAS TO GO THROUGH OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR. SO THAT'S WHY WE SEE A BIG INCREASE. YES, MA'AM. SO THERE'S A SHELF LIFE FOR ALL MEDICATIONS. SO IN THIS IN IN THIS TOTAL AMOUNT WHEN IT EXPIRES, DO THEY REPLACE THE EXPIRED OR DO WE BUY SOME MORE OR I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING AT WHO'S DOING THE INVENTORY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MAINTAINING A LARGE INVENTORY, THAT WE HAVE SUPPLIES THAT'S GOING TO EXPIRE AND THEN WE HAVE TO REPURCHASE? YES, MA'AM. I GUESS THAT'S MY YES, MA'AM. ABSOLUTELY. SO WE USED TO HAVE WE WOULD JUST LIKE SUPPLIES. WE WOULD CHANGE OUT WITH OUR EMS COMPANY. SO WE VERY SELDOM HAD SHELF LIFE ISSUES. NOW WE DON'T HAVE LIFE SUPPLIES BEING CERTAIN LIFE SUPPLIES BEING ADDRESSED BY EMS PROVIDER. SO WE'RE HAVING TO PAY FOR MORE STUFF. AND WE'RE WE'RE HAVING TO PUT THAT COST OURSELVES. SO WHO'S MAINTAINING THE INVENTORY. SO WE HAVE A NEW MEDICAL DEPARTMENT ABOUT A YEAR OLD. SO THAT'S WHY IT'S KIND OF WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE. THAT PLAN IS TOTALLY IN EFFECT NOW. IT JUST SLIPPED PAST THE CRACKS BECAUSE IT'S NEW AND WE'RE TRYING TO OKAY, THIS ONE, THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WHAT I'M SAYING OKAY. AND SO AND SO THE THE EXPIRED SUPPLIES AND PRODUCTS. WHO PAYS FOR THE DISPOSAL ON THAT. US. NORMALLY WE DON'T SEE THAT. NORMALLY WE USE EVERYTHING. THIS JUST SO HAPPENED THEN WE HAVE THERE'S A WAY OF GOING THROUGH DEA AND ALL THAT STUFF TO GET THOSE MEDICATION WISE TO GET THAT EXPIRED. ANYTHING LIKE KERLIX AND STUFF THAT'S NONPERISHABLE. WE WOULD USE THAT FOR TRAINING AIDS. NO, BUT I MEAN THE DISPOSAL OF EXPIRED. I'M SORRY. ANTONIO. YEAH. THE THE THE THERE'S A DISPOSAL COST ON MEDICAL SUPPLIES. WHO PAYS THAT? US. SOMEBODY'S PAYING FOR IT. YOU KNOW, MA'AM, WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR ANYTHING TO DISPOSE OF. ANYTHING THAT'S OUTDATED. NO, MA'AM. ANYTHING THAT'S OUTDATED, LIKE MEDICATION. THERE'S A PROPER WAY OF DISPOSING THAT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE CURRENTLY DO. ANYTHING FOR US. LIKE KERLIX, NORMAL SALINE, STUFF LIKE THAT. WE JUST REUSE THAT FOR TRAINING. OKAY, SO WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT ISSUE AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THAT GOING FORWARD EITHER. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I ANY NOS. THE AYES HAVE IT. RESOLUTION PASSES AS WE GO TO NUMBER EIGHT ITEMS REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION. I'M GOING TO [VIII.A.(7) P.R. No. 24786 — A Resolution Approving A Returning Ship Building To Southeast Texas Program — Workforce Training Agreement Between The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation And Lamar State College Port Arthur In An Amount Of $380,593.06; Funds Available In EDC Acct. 120-80-625-5475-OO-OO-OOO.] PULL UP. IF YOU GO COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PAGE NUMBER SEVEN I'M GOING TO PULL UP NUMBER SEVEN. YEAH PR NUMBER 707 PR NUMBER 24786. A RESOLUTION APPROVING A RETURNING SHIP BUILDING TO SOUTHEAST TEXAS PROGRAM WORKFORCE TRAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND LAMAR STATE COLLEGE, PORT ARTHUR, IN AN AMOUNT OF $380,593.06 FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR EDC ACCOUNT NUMBER 120-80625547500000000. NOW I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SO MOVED. SO MOVED. SECOND. ANITA. THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO LAMAR FOR BEING HERE AND EDC, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND PRAYING FOR OUR THIS [VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 24456 — A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With Gillig LLC Of Livermore, California, For The Purchase Of Four (4) Battery Electric Buses And Associated Charging Infrastructure For Port Arthur Transit Through The State Of Washington Contract No. 06719-01, In The Total Amount Of $4,985,324.00; Providing That Funding Is Subject To City Council Appropriation In The FY 2027 Budget.] PROGRAM, THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NOW BACK TO NUMBER ONE ON PAGE SIX, PR NUMBER 24456, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH GILLIG, LLC OF LIVERMORE, LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA, FOR THE PURCHASE OF FOUR BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSSES AND ASSOCIATED CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PORT ARTHUR TRANSIT THROUGH THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. CONTRACT NUMBER 0671901. IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,985,324, PROVIDING THAT FUNDING IS SUBJECT TO THE CITY COUNCIL APPROPRIATION IN THE FY 2027 BUDGET, I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY. SECOND, ANY DISCUSSIONS? YES. SO EXPENSIVE. OKAY, I HAVE COUNCILMEMBER BECKHAM'S LIGHT WAS FIRST AND THEN COUNCILMAN KINLAW AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. SO I HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS AND A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT THIS. MY FIRST I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS FUNDING IS [03:10:07] COMING FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE. IT'S NOT NOT COMING FROM OUR BUDGET, BUT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO TO OUR BUDGET IN THE FUTURE FOR THE UPKEEP, MAINTENANCE. THE BATTERIES FOR THESE THINGS ARE ASTRONOMICALLY EXPENSIVE. THE TIRES ARE MORE EXPENSIVE. EVERYTHING ABOUT THESE TYPES OF BUSSES IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE DIESEL FLEET THAT WE HAVE. SO THAT'S THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION. YEAH. SO YEAH, THE INITIAL PURCHASE. YOU'RE CORRECT. THEY DO COST MORE THAN A LIKE A HYBRID DIESEL BUS. YES. BUT IN THE LONG RUN WE SAVE LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, WE DON'T DO OIL CHANGES AND OIL CHANGE ON A DIESEL BUS. HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO GET ALL THE FILTERS AND EVERYTHING. THERE'S NO OIL CHANGES. SO THERE ARE INITIAL HIGHER COSTS. BUT THE MAINTENANCE COSTS ON THESE BUSSES, IF WE MAINTAIN THEM PROPERLY, WHICH WE WILL, ARE GOING TO BE LOWER IN THE LONG RUN THAN WE WOULD FOR A DIESEL BUS. SO IN THE LONG RUN, IT ALL MORE OR LESS BALANCES OUT IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE FOR DIESEL VERSUS MAINTENANCE FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE. WHAT ABOUT THE COST OF REPLACING THE BATTERIES? HOW MUCH DOES A BATTERY COST FOR ONE OF THESE ELECTRIC BUSSES? SO THE BATTERY LIFE IT'S A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED. HOW IT WORKS. THERE'S SEVERAL WAYS YOU CAN DO IT. YOU CAN LEASE THE BATTERIES OR YOU CAN BUY THE BATTERIES OUT FRONT, OR YOU CAN GET EXTENDED WARRANTIES ON YOUR BATTERIES. SO THERE'S SEVERAL WAYS TO DO IT TO DEPENDING ON, I GUESS, WHAT, HOW YOU BELIEVE THE BATTERIES ARE GOING TO LAST. WE WOULD LIKE TO JUST TO PURCHASE THE BATTERIES. AND BASED ON WE ACTUALLY HAVE A COMPANY WE WORK WITH WHO MORE OR LESS GIVES US WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS PARTICULAR COMPANY, ANY COMPANY. THESE BATTERIES HAVE BEEN LASTING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY FOR OTHER AGENCIES, AND WE SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT COMPARABLE CITIES LIKE SIMILAR ENVIRONMENT OR WEATHER AS PORT ARTHUR. AND THE BATTERIES ARE LASTING. SO, I MEAN, I CAN'T GUARANTEE YOU THE BATTERIES ARE GOING TO LAST. OF COURSE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN, BUT BASED ON HOW WE'RE VIEWING IT, THE BATTERIES SHOULD LAST. BUT I GUESS TO REPLACE THE BATTERIES, THE CURRENT PRICES ARE AROUND 3 TO 400 K. LET'S SAY IF YOUR BATTERY SET GOALS. BUT BUT THEY COME WITH WARRANTIES. SO WE ARE GETTING A WARRANTY ON THE BUS. WE ARE GETTING A WARRANTY FOR THE BATTERIES AND THE SHELF LIFE OF THE BUSSES. I THINK THE FTA PUTS TEN YEARS IN THESE BUSSES, SO WITHIN TEN YEARS THAT'S THE SHELF LIFE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO KEEP THE VEHICLES BEFORE THE CITY COULD REPURPOSE THEM OR DO WHATEVER FOR THE VALUE OF THEM GOES DOWN. OKAY, WHAT ABOUT THE COST OF TIRES? I DIDN'T KNOW THIS UNTIL SOMEONE POINTED IT OUT TO ME THAT TIRES FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE ARE DIFFERENT AND MORE EXPENSIVE THAN TIRES FOR A TRADITIONAL VEHICLE. SO WHAT WOULD THE CONDITION OF THE STREETS THAT WE HAVE? THEY ARE DIFFERENT, SO THE TIRES ARE DIFFERENT, AND THAT'S BASED ON THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TRACTION. SO THE WAY THE MOTOR RUNS AND I'M NOT I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON THIS EXACTLY. BUT THE WAY THE MOTOR RUNS, IT DOES IT DOES WEAR OUT THE TIRE QUICKER AND WEIGHT OF THE BUS AND THE WAY THE BUS OPERATES. BUT THE PRICE OF THE TIRES ARE THEY DO COST A LITTLE BIT MORE. BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE. TIRES IN GENERAL ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE JUST FOR ANY BUS. RIGHT. AND THESE MIGHT COST 100 TO $200 MORE PER TIRE. OKAY. SO THE COST OF THE TIRES ARE A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE, AND WE DO GO THROUGH THEM A LITTLE BIT QUICKER THAN YOU WOULD IN A TRADITIONAL BUS. BUT IT'S NOT AN ASTRONOMICAL COST WHERE WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT. SO WHEN WOULD THIS START TO IMPACT OUR BUDGET? WHAT FISCAL YEAR WOULD WE BE LOOKING AT HAVING TO BUDGET FOR THIS? SO IT'S A RIGHT NOW WE'RE BEING TOLD IT'S AN 18 MONTH BUILD. SO 18 MONTHS FROM NOW, THE BUSSES, THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TOLD SHOULD ARRIVE. ALL WE GUARANTEE THAT. NO, BUT WE'RE BEING TOLD 18 MONTHS FROM NOW. AND WHAT I'M HOPING IS IF SOME OTHER IF SOMETHING HAPPENS SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEY HAVE TO THEY HAVE AN ORDER IN, THEY MIGHT SQUEEZE US IN AND WE CAN GET OUR ORDER EVEN QUICKER. BUT AS OF NOW, IT'S 18 MONTHS. THAT'S WHEN WE'RE EXPECTING TO GET THESE BUSSES IN. IT'S A LONG TIME WE GOT TO WAIT. EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO GET THEIR THEIR VEHICLES AND IT'S A SLOW PROCESS, BUT THE BUILD ISN'T GOING TO AFFECT OUR BUDGET. WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS AFTER WE RECEIVE THE BUDGET OR AFTER WE RECEIVE THE BUSSES, OKAY. AND THE MONEY THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE OUTSIDE SOURCE HAS BEEN SPENT ON THAT. YEAH. WHEN DO WE EXPECT IT TO START IMPACTING OUR BUDGET SO THAT WE NEED TO BUDGET FOR WHATEVER, WHATEVER MAINTENANCE OR EQUIPMENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? I MEAN, I, I BUDGET FOR TIRES EVERY YEAR AS PART OF MY REQUEST. IT GOES INTO MY IT'S PART OF MY OPERATING BUDGET. SO ANY ANY OF THESE NUMBERS WILL GO INTO MY OPERATING BUDGET. BUT IF I'M USING ELECTRIC BUSSES, I'M NOW NOT GOING TO I'M NOT PURCHASING DIESEL RIGHT NOW. I HAVE THE [03:15:02] BIG TANK OVER THERE. I PURCHASED A LOT OF DIESEL, SO THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO GO DOWN MY NUMBER FOR MY OIL. WE HAVE OIL. WE BUY THE BIG 55 GALLON THINGS OF OIL. WE WON'T PURCHASE THOSE AS MUCH BECAUSE WE STILL WILL HAVE SOME OTHER VEHICLES THAT UTILIZE THE OIL. BUT SO THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO GO UP AND DOWN. BUT LIKE I WAS SAYING, IT'S IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN ENORMOUS CHANGE IN MY NUMBERS. SO HAVE YOU DONE A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS? WHEN WE FIRST DID WHEN WE FIRST DID THIS PROJECT, WHEN WE BOUGHT THE FIRST TEN BUSSES, WE DID AN ANALYSIS OF OF HOW THIS WOULD LOOK IN TERMS OF THE COST VERSUS THE BENEFITS VERSUS IS THIS SOMETHING WE WANT TO GO FORWARD? YEAH, WE DID THAT. I THINK WE'VE HAD THOSE BUSSES NOW FOR ABOUT 5 OR 6 YEARS. SO WE DID THAT ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO. WE DID AN ANALYSIS OF DOES THIS MAKE SENSE FOR US. THAT'S THE ZERO EMISSION BUSSES RIGHT? ZERO EMISSION. CORRECT. YEAH. WE ALREADY HAVE TEN OF THEM OKAY. BUT ARE THESE THESE ARE NOT THE SAME AS THOSE. THESE ARE THE SAME BUSSES, JUST A DIFFERENT COMPANY OKAY. JUST A DIFFERENT GILLIG. OKAY. YES. OKAY. WELL THAT ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS. OKAY. I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW. IVAN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET TO THIS POINT. AND I KNOW WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING WE EVEN TALKED LAST WEEK ABOUT THESE BUSSES, BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THESE TYPE OF BUSSES HERE THAT WOULD OFFSET THE COST IN A MATTER OF TEN YEARS. SO AND YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION LAST WEEK ABOUT THIS, BUT TO HAVE ENERGY EFFICIENT BUSSES TO COME TO AGE WHERE WE AT AND A LOT OF THE OFFSET COSTS THAT WE USED TO PAY, WE WON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYMORE. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO TOOT YOUR HORN, MAN, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS, THIS HAS TAKEN ALMOST 2 OR 3 YEARS TO GET TO THIS POINT. YEAH, IT'S IT'S A PROCESS WE AWARDED FOR THIS ROUND. WE AWARDED MONEY, I THINK, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. SO TO GET TO THIS POINT WHERE WE'RE NOW READY TO SAY THIS IS WHAT WE WANT, IT'S A PROCESS WHERE YOU LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT BECAUSE SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMPANIES SELL THESE VEHICLES. SO WE'VE LOOKED AT THE DIFFERENT COMPANIES GILLIG, NEW FLIER, BYD, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS. WE'VE HAD TO MAKE SURE IT WAS DESIGNED PROPERLY AND MEETS OUR SPECS, OUR STANDARDS. YEAH. SO IT IS A IT IS A PROCESS TO GET TO THIS POINT. SO WE'RE FINALLY HERE AND READY TO GET THIS APPROVED BY COUNCIL AND GET OUR ORDER PLACED WITH THE COMPANY SO THEY CAN MAKE A SLOT FOR A BUILD. AND YOU ALSO SAID SOMETHING YOU SAID PROBABLY ABOUT 18 MONTHS AND YOU HOPEFULLY YOU CAN DO IT SOONER. WHAT DETERMINES IF YOU CAN GET IT SOONER IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. SO WHAT WOULD DETERMINE SOONER IS LET'S SAY I'M JUST EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY NEW ORLEANS HAS ORDERED BUSSES, RIGHT? AND LET'S SAY SOMETHING HAPPENS TO NEW ORLEANS AND THEY CANCEL THEIR ORDER STUFF, YOU KNOW, STUFF THAT HAPPENS IN THE INDUSTRY, THEY NOW HAVE AN OPENING. SO THEY MIGHT SAY, WELL, PORT ARTHUR ONLY HAS FOUR. PUT PORT ARTHUR IN THERE. OKAY. AND THAT WOULD BUMP US UP IN THE LINE TO GET OUR BUSSES EVEN SOONER, BECAUSE THE COMPANY DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE AN OPEN SLOTS. THEY WANT TO KEEP THE FACTORY MOVING. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING. WE ONLY HAVE FOUR, SO FOUR CAN EASILY GET SLOTTED IN. OKAY, MY LAST QUESTION. ADVERTISEMENT ON THE BUS. WHO DOES THAT? ARE WE RESPONSIBLE OR IS THAT THE COMPANY? YOU KNOW HOW I'M LOOKING IN ADVANCE OF WHAT WE NEED TO MARKET WITH THAT TYPE OF BUZZ, WITH THAT TYPE OF MONEY? IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE DO? IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO PRE ORDER WITH THE COMPANY THAT'S ACTUALLY BUILDING, BECAUSE WE ARE CHANGING THE FACE OF PORT ARTHUR. WE WANT THAT MESSAGE TO BE OUT THERE ALL THE TIME. SO WE'VE WE'VE DESIGNED LIKE LIKE THE OTHER BUSSES ARE WRAPPED. WE ALREADY HAVE A WRAP THAT'S BEEN DESIGNED AND IT'S PART OF THE COST. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BREAKDOWN, THERE SHOULD BE A COST THAT SAYS WRAP. SO THE BUS WILL COME WRAPPED. ALREADY WE'VE WE'VE AGREED UPON THE COLORS, THE DESIGN THAT'S ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. THAT'S PART OF THE WHOLE PROCESS AND THE COST DESIGN PHASE AND EVERYTHING. YEAH. THANK YOU MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER DOUCET. MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCET. YES, I HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION, IVAN. YOU KNOW, YOU TOUCHED ON IT. YOU SAID YOU CHECKED WITH ALL COMPANIES. HAVE YOU CHECKED WITH THE COMPANY AND HOW LONG THEY BEEN? PRODUCING PRODUCTS? BECAUSE WHEN WE GET THIS GRANT MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEY ALWAYS GIVING US THINGS. AND WE GOT TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF JUST HAVING IT FOR SO MANY YEARS. AND IT'S ON US. SO IT'S ALWAYS FAST MONEY. BUT FAST MONEY HAS TO LAST IN ORDER TO GET YOUR DOLLARS OUT OF IT. SO BASICALLY THIS COMPANY, HAVE YOU GOT YOUR COMPANY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ORDER THE BUS FROM? YEAH. SO THE COMPANY WE'RE ORDERING FROM GILLET. OKAY, OKAY. AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME BUSSES. WHAT WERE THE WHAT WERE THOSE BUSSES THAT GOT ON THE PROPANE? NEW BUSSES, THE PROPANE. AND THEY SET IN THE OPERATION CENTER. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GOT HIM OUT OF THERE BECAUSE THEY MUST HAVE ALL BEEN ON FLAT, BUT IT WENT THROUGH LITIGATIONS AND ALL. OH YOU SMILING. OH YOU'RE TALKING [03:20:05] ABOUT. OH OKAY. SO YOU WAS HERE. NO, I WASN'T HERE. BUT I'M OKAY. OKAY. BUT YOU. YEAH, YEAH. I TELL YOU WHAT. THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN OKAY. YEAH. WE'RE GETTING THIS KIND OF MONEY. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE PRODUCT THAT IS GOING TO BE ONE THAT WE CAN BENEFIT FROM, AND NOT ONE THAT GOING TO GIVE US. AND HEY, WE GOT HIM. OH, YEAH. THAT'S ON Y'ALL AND STUFF. AND WE AIN'T LIKE THAT. DON'T DO THAT OKAY. NO NO. YEAH. SO SO I WILL SAY THE COMPANY GILLIG IS 100 AND I BELIEVE LIKE 110 YEARS OLD OF BUILDING BUSSES IN THE NATION. SO THEY THEY HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF BUILDING VEHICLES THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY. WELL, YOU KNOW, THE BUSSES I'M TALKING ABOUT. SO YOU UNDERSTAND CLEARLY WHAT MY QUESTION WAS AND YOU SAID YOU ADDRESS IT. THANK YOU. YEAH. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. YES, I'M SORRY, I THINK CITY MANAGER. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD I CALLED THAT. OH, I'M LOOKING AT SOMETHING NEW. BUT ANYWAY, YOU CAN GO FORTH AND THEN CITY MANAGER IF YOU CAN MAKE YOUR COMMENT. YEAH. GO AHEAD. YOU CAN GO AHEAD OKAY. COUNCIL DUDE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT I THINK IT'S THOSE BUSSES WAS WAS HAVING FIRES AND EXPLOSION. SO WE HAD TO PULL THEM OUT. WE HAD TO PULL THEM. BUT MY QUESTION IS THE BATTERIES, THE COST OF THOSE BATTERIES. AND YOU SEE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THEM PROBABLY TEN YEARS OR GREATER. WELL, SO IT'S CALLED THE USEFUL LIFE. SO THE WAY THAT'S THE WAY THE FTA DEFINES IT TO US. SO THE USEFUL LIFE OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES, THEY GIVE US A NUMBER. SO FOR THESE ELECTRIC BUSSES IT'S EITHER 10 OR 12 YEARS I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. IT'S BETWEEN 10 AND 12 YEARS. THE FTA GIVES US A USEFUL LIFE. ONCE THAT USEFUL LIFE ENDS, THEN BASICALLY THEY'RE 100% THE ASSET OF THE CITY, AND THE CITY CAN THEN DISPOSE OF THOSE VEHICLES OR CONTINUE TO USE THEM WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY BACK THE FTA ADDITIONAL FUNDS, IF I'M MAKING SENSE. YEAH. SO IT'S ALL IT'S ALL VIA THE GRANT PROCESS OF HOW THEY VALUE DIFFERENT ASSETS THAT WE PURCHASE, LIKE THEY VALUE MY BUILDINGS. IF THEY WERE TO BUILD US, I SHOULD BE UP IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS SOON. WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A CANOPY FOR THIS. THEY'RE GOING TO VALUE THAT CANOPY. THAT CANOPY I THINK IS GOING TO HAVE 20 TO 25 YEARS USEFUL LIFE. SO TO PUT A VALUE TO THAT, AND AFTER 20, 25 YEARS, THE CITY COULD TECHNICALLY IT'S THEIRS. THEY CAN DO AS THEY CHOOSE WITH IT. YEAH. CITY MANAGER YEAH. SO, IVAN, I'M FOR CLARIFICATION. THE WHAT COUNCILMAN SAID ALLUDED TO WAS THE BUSSES THAT USE PROPANE. YEAH. AND THEY WILL CATCH ON FIRE EVERY I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT COMES FROM. SCOTT WAS THERE AS WELL. YEAH. BUT REMEMBER OKAY WITH THE NEW BUSSES THAT WE'RE GETTING AND I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS COUNCILWOMAN BECKHAM'S CONCERN, I THINK SHE WAS EXPLICITLY ASKING, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH HOW MUCH COMES FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO MAINTAIN THOSE BUSSES AFTER WE HAVE PAID THEM, WHICH IS A MINUSCULE AMOUNT, BECAUSE THE AMOUNT THE BUS IS SEEING THAT IT'S FEDERALLY FUNDED, IT CONTINUES TO BE MAINTAINED BY GRANTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. YES. SO THAT'S HOW IT WORKS. YEAH. SO I CAN EXPLAIN THAT. SO WE GET WE GET MONEY. IT'S CALLED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE FUNDS. THAT'S RIGHT. AND THOSE ARE THE MONIES I COULD USE TO REPAIR TO GET THE TIRES FOR THE OIL PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE. SO THAT IS THE 80 OVER 20. SO 80% FEDERAL, 20% CITY. BUT DEPENDING ON HOW THE NUMBERS ALL SHAKE OUT, YOU CAN GET CREDITS FOR IT FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO IT COULD BE 100%. SO THESE FORMULAS ARE VERY COMPLICATED, BUT A LOT OF THE MONEY TO MAINTAIN WILL COME FROM THE FEDS OR THE STATE UNDER DIFFERENT GRANT PROGRAMS THAT WE RECEIVE. YEAH. ALL RIGHT, I THINK WE'RE. MISS JOANNE, YOU HAVE A QUESTION I WANT TO KNOW. GIANT. YES, MA'AM. YOU CAN STATE IT AT THE MIC FOR ME. MISS JOANNE JONES, 640 EAST 10TH STREET. I WANT TO KNOW DURING A STORM, HOW LONG IF YOU HAD TO TRAVEL WITH THIS BUS AND THE HOW YOU KNOW, HOW LONG, HOW FAR COULD YOU TRAVEL WITH THIS BUS KNOWING THAT IT HAS TO BE RECHARGED OR WHATEVER? EVACUATED WITH THIS. AND I ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAD A WE HAD AN ELECTRIC BUS BEFORE AND WE HAD TO FLY SOMEBODY IN AND PAID FOR HIS SERVICE IN A MOTEL AND EVERYTHING IN ORDER FOR THAT BUS TO BE SERVICED BY THAT PERSON. I CAN REMEMBER THAT THAT HAPPENED. OKAY, OKAY. CAN YOU REMEMBER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE HERE OR NOT. I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE SECOND PART OF THAT QUESTION, BUT THE FIRST PART. SO WE [03:25:03] ACTUALLY TESTED THESE BUSSES OUT, NOT THESE BUSSES, OUR FIRST SET OF BUSSES, WHEN WE FIRST GOT THEM, WE DID A TRIP TO, TO AUSTIN ON THE BUS WHERE WE TESTED IT OUT. WE MADE IT AS FAR AS KATIE WAS STILL ABOUT 35% CHARGE. THERE'S A CHARGING PLACE IN KATIE AND THEN FROM KATIE, WE MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO I BELIEVE WE GOT PERMISSION FROM AUSTIN METRO. I'M SORRY CAP METRO TO CHARGE THERE, SO WE MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO AUSTIN. SO WE KNOW THAT THESE BUSSES THAT WE HAVE NOW COULD GO THERE. THIS BUS ACTUALLY HAS A BIGGER BATTERY THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET SLIGHTLY LARGER BATTERY. SO WE DEFINITELY KNOW WE CAN MAKE IT TO AUSTIN. AND ALONG THE WAY WE HAVE IDENTIFIED DIFFERENT CHARGING STATIONS THAT YOU WOULD TAKE THE BUSSES TO TO GET THEM CHARGED. THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. YEAH. BUS EQUIPPED FOR EVERY STORM THAT WE HAVE IN THIS AREA. YEAH, IT'S A IT'S A STANDARD BUS. IT'S JUST IT'S JUST ELECTRIC. SO YEAH. YEAH. THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT TOO. YEAH. WE HAVE TO HAVE YOU AT THE MIC AND TO RESPOND FOR THOSE YOU'RE YOU'RE DONE. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS YOUR LIGHTS OFF OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO ALL IN. EVERYBODY'S DONE WITH QUESTIONS OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I, I ANY NOS. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. WE'RE GOING [VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 24708 — A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Professional Services Contract With The Center For Transportation And The Environment For Project Management And Technical Advisory Services Related To The Deployment Of Four (4) Zero-Emission Buses For Port Arthur Transit, In An Amount Not To Exceed $154,000.00; Funds Available In Account 401-70-530-852300-60-000 Project TR23LNO CAP.PRO.] TO MOVE TO NUMBER TWO PR NUMBER 24708A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT WITH THE CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY SERVICES RELATED TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF FOUR ZERO EMISSION BUSSES FOR PORT ARTHUR TRANSIT, IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $154,000. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT 401-705308523-0060000. PROJECTS 223 LN OH CAP DOT PRO I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY NOS? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION [VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 24749 — A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Orders No. 1 And 2 For The Contract Between The City Of Port Arthur And Construction Managers Of Southeast Texas Of Beaumont, Texas, Increasing The Contract Amount By $67,002.50 To A New Contract Total Of For The Phase Il And Ill Roadway And Drainage Reconstruction At 101 H.O. Mills Boulevard; Funds Are Available In Account 307-13-037-852500-10-000.] PASSES. PR NUMBER 24749. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE AND TWO FOR THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $67,002.50 TO A NEW CONTRACT TOTAL OF $1,181,941.69 FOR THE PHASE ONE AND THREE ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE RECONSTRUCTION AT 101 MILLS BOULEVARD. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT 307 DASH 13-037-852500-10000. MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY DISCUSSIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER. MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THIS ONE, WHEN I READ THE CHANGE ORDERS. OKAY. IT'S FOR TWO CHANGE ORDERS. THESE CHANGE ORDERS, I START LOOKING AT BECAUSE A LOT OF TIME WE GET CHANGE ORDERS. IT'S EITHER DEALING WITH SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN A DESIGN, SOMETHING THAT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN OBVIOUS. OKAY. AND WHEN THESE WHEN SOMEBODY DESIGNED AN ENGINEER SOMETHING FOR US AND WE PAY THEM, THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DOING IT RIGHT. BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T DO IT RIGHT, THEY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR CHANGE ORDERS, NOT THE CITY. NOW, THESE TWO CHANGE ORDERS, THE FIRST CHANGE ORDER, IT SAYS A DAMAGED MANHOLE AND ABANDONED GAS PIPES WERE DISCOVERED DURING PHASE TWO. EVACUATION, EVACUATION AND ADDITIONAL ASPHALT REPAIRS ARE NECESSARY TO STRENGTHEN AN ADJACENT PARKING LOT. OKAY. AN INSPECTION OF THE CITY PROJECT MANAGER DETERMINED THESE ITEMS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, RESULTING INTO CHANGE ORDER ONE, AND THAT ONE IS FOR 48,797 50 OF THE WHOLE TOTAL. SO. WHO DID THIS THAT THEY CAN SEE A MANHOLE THAT WAS BACK. SO? SO THAT THAT MANHOLE, THAT MANHOLE WAS BURIED ABOUT THREE FEET. SO [03:30:03] MANHOLE SHOULD BE EXPOSED ABOVE GROUND. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IT. THE MANHOLE. WHEN THEY STARTED DOING THE EXCAVATION, THEY HIT IT. THEY DISCOVERED NOBODY KNEW IT WAS THERE. IT WASN'T IN IN ANY CITY RECORDS. IT DIDN'T SHOW UP ANYWHERE. NOBODY KNEW THAT MANHOLE WAS THERE. SO AS THEY'RE DIGGING, EXCAVATING OUT BECAUSE IT WAS RIGHT BY THE DRIVEWAY, THEY FOUND IT. AND WE HAD TO WE HAD TO ADDRESS IT SO WE COULD HAVE JUST SIMPLY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? BURY IT AGAIN. BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO DO IT. WE HAVE TO NOW LIFT IT UP PROPERLY SO THAT IN THE FUTURE, IF SOMEBODY IS DOING SOMETHING THERE, YOU'LL SEE IT. BUT THE MANHOLE, NOBODY KNEW IT WAS THERE. THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE. I KNOW IT WASN'T IN ANY SINGLE RECORD THAT WAS PULLED BY THE ENGINEER IN THE DESIGN. NOBODY HAD NO CLUE THE MANHOLE WAS THERE, BUT WE FOUND IT AND IT'S BEEN ADDRESSED, AND IT'S NOW SITTING ABOVE GROUND. AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, THEY'LL KNOW IT'S THERE. SO NONE OF OUR PLANS FOR THE SEWER SYSTEM SHOW THAT MANHOLE. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YEAH. NOBODY. NOBODY KNEW IT WAS THERE. OKAY, LET'S MOVE TO THE SECOND ONE. OKAY. THE ADDITIONAL. AND ALSO, I GOT A CONCERN WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT DAYS. OKAY? 35 MORE DAYS FOR THAT ONE. THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL DEMOLITION AND INSTALLATION OF PAVEMENT AND MOBILIZATION CREDIT HAS RESULTED IN CHANGE ORDER. TWO IN THE AMOUNT OF OF $18,205. NOW, THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL DEMOLITION AND INSTALLATION OF PAVEMENT. YEAH. SO ARE YOU ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT? THAT AREA WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, ARE YOU. WELL, I'M JUST I'M JUST I'M JUST TRYING. THAT'S A PARKING LOT NEXT TO IT THAT THE EMPLOYEES PARKING AS. YEAH. AS THEY WERE, AS THEY WERE DEMOING THE ACTUAL ROAD, THE PARKING LOT. THE BASE IS WELL, THE ACTUAL ASPHALT IS ONLY ABOUT 3 OR 4IN AND THE BASE ISN'T THE STRONGEST. SO AS YOU'RE EXCAVATING AND YOUR SAW CUTTING THAT STARTED TO CAVE IN. CAVE IN, CAVE IN, CAVE IN. SO WE HAD A COUPLE OF OPTIONS ON THE TABLE OF WHAT TO DO, AND WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE OPTION THAT YOU SEE IN THE CHANGE ORDER, BECAUSE WE HAD TO ADDRESS IT, IT WAS GOING TO CAVE IN MORE, CONTINUE CAVING IN. SO WE HAD TO SHORE IT UP SO THAT NOW THAT'S WHAT PART OF THAT IS WE'RE SHORING UP THAT THAT ASPHALT PARKING LOT. THANK YOU. EVAN. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY I ANY NO'S. THE [VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 24751 — A Resolution Authorizing The Rejection Of Bids For Section Four Of The Sabine Pass Community Center Spray Pad Project; Awarding Contracts For Sections One, Two, And Three; And Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Contracts With Commercial Chemical Products, Inc. D/B/A Poolsure And Oasis Waterplaygrounds, Inc. In The Total Amount Of $118,196.00 Funds Are Available In Account #307-15-043-8512-OO-10-OOO Project BU0026.] AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES WITH A MOVE TO NUMBER FOUR PR NUMBER 24751. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE REJECTION OF BIDS FOR SECTION FOUR OF THE SABINE PASS COMMUNITY CENTER SPRAY PAD PROJECT. AWARDING CONTRACTS FOR SECTIONS ONE, TWO, AND THREE, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS WITH COMMERCIAL CHEMICAL PRODUCTS INCORPORATED DBA POOL, SHUR, AND OASIS WATER PLAYGROUNDS, INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $118,196. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 307. DASH ONE FIVE, DASH 043851200. DASH 10000. PROJECT BU0026. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY DISCUSSIONS? MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE YES. WHEN I READ ALL THE BACKGROUND. I. I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WAS BACK. OKAY. WHEN I, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION. ADAM I NOTICED THAT THE BID YOU HAD FOUR SECTIONS TO THIS BID. OKAY. AND I LOOKED AT WHAT WAS SAID. AND ACTUALLY, YOU WANT US TO REJECT THE ENTIRE BID BECAUSE WE FOUND OUT THAT WE PROBABLY WASN'T SPECIFIC ENOUGH, THAT THE BID THAT WE RECEIVED DEALING WITH SECTION FOUR, THEN THE PALM TREE DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE WANTED OUT OF THE PALM TREE. THE OTHER THREE WAS ACCEPTABLE, BUT THE FOURTH ONE WAS NOT. SO THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO REJECT THE BID REJECTED JUST FOR NOW. WE'RE REJECTING JUST NUMBER FOUR AND WE'RE GIVING FOR ONE, TWO AND THREE. WE'RE ONLY REJECTING FOUR. YEAH. THE REJECTION OF BIDS FOR SECTION FOUR. CORRECT. JUST THE PALM TREES. THE ONLY ONE WE'RE GOING TO REJECT. OKAY. WHAT WAS THE DEAL WITH THAT ADAM I BLAME I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT. THE PALM TREES WE HAVE NOW ARE LOOK KIND OF LIKE PALM TREES. AND IN [03:35:01] THE SPECS WE I DIDN'T STATE IN THERE THAT THEY NEEDED TO LOOK SIMILAR TO THE PALM TREES THAT ARE THERE NOW OR GETTING SPECIFICATIONS, WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE. AND WHENEVER THE BIDS CAME IN AND I GOT PICTURES OF WHAT IT WAS THEY WERE BIDDING ON, THEY LOOKED A WIDE VARIETY. FRANKLY, THE SOME OF THEM DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A PALM TREE HARDLY AT ALL. SO IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WE WOULD REJECT IT. WE COME BACK LATER, BE MORE SPECIFIC SO WE CAN GET COMPETITIVE BIDS BECAUSE THEY WERE SOMEBODY WAS BIDDING ON ONE THAT WAS VERY CHEAP LOOKING AND DIDN'T REALLY LOOK LIKE A PALM TREE. AND THEN SOMEBODY ELSE'S BIDDING ON ONE THAT LOOKED LIKE A PALM TREE WITH THE DUMPING FEATURE. SO IT WASN'T FAIR TO COMPARE THEM. YEAH, BUT BUT THAT GUY THERE, DID YOU GO BACK AND TRY TO NEGOTIATE WITH HIM TO GET THE ONE THAT YOU LIKE AND STAY WITHIN THE REASONABLE CHANGE? BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE DONE A CHANGE ORDER, RIGHT? WELL, BECAUSE I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIME FRAME HERE BECAUSE THIS, THIS THING STARTED WHAT NOVEMBER WHEN YOU MADE THE ADVERTISEMENT AND STUFF? YES. THE PALM TREES HAVE NOT FAILED YET. THEY'RE JUST AT A POINT WHERE THEY'RE GETTING OLDER. AND WE ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT FEATURE OF THE DUMPING, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT FILLS UP THE WATER AND DUMP SOME PEOPLE MORE FUN. AND THAT IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THE OTHER ONES, WHICH IS TO DO THE PAINTING AND REPLACE SOME COVERS AND PICNICS AND TO GET THE VAULT OUT OF THE GROUND. SO WE JUST FELT LIKE IT WOULD BE BETTER TO, BECAUSE IF WE NEGOTIATED WITH THEM, WE'D HAVE TO GO WITH ALL OF THEM. YEAH. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE WHEN WE DO A FORMAL BID LIKE THAT, WE CAN'T CHANGE THE BID, SO WE CAN'T NEGOTIATE LIKE THAT. OKAY. THANKS. I'M GOOD. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY NOES? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE [VIII.A.(5) P.R. No. 24766 — A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 1 To The Construction Contract With Pavecon LTD, Of Houston, Texas, For The 13th Street Rehabilitation Project, Sabine Avenue To Neches Avenue. Funding Is Not Impacted. Project No. ST5095.CON.] RESOLUTION PASSES. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO NUMBER FIVE ON PAGE NUMBER SEVEN. RIGHT. PL R NUMBERS 24766A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE TO THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH PAYKAN L.T.D OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, FOR THE 13TH STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT. SABINE AVENUE TO NATURE'S AVENUE. FUNDING IS NOT IMPACTED. PROJECT NUMBER STREET 5095.COM. PERIOD. MAY I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY NOES? THE AYES [VIII.A.(6) P.R. No. 24767 — A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 2 To The Construction Contract With Pavecon LTD, Of Houston, Texas For The 13th Street Rehabilitation Project-Sabine Avenue To Neches Avenue. Increasing The Contract Amount Of $406,888.63 By $22,504.00, To A New Contract Amount Of $429,392.63. Project No. ST5095.CON. Street capital Account No. 307-21-053-8517-oo-10-ooo.] HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. NUMBER SIX PR NUMBER 24767. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER TWO TO THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH PAYKAN LIMITED OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR THE 13TH STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT. SABINE AVENUE TO NATURE'S AVENUE, INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $406,888.63 BY $22,504 TO A NEW CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $429,392.63. PROJECT NUMBER STREET 5095. CON STREET CAPITAL. ACCOUNT NUMBER 30721-0538517. DASH ZERO ZERO. DASH ONE ZERO. DASH 000. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED. SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY NOES? [VIII.A.(8) P.R. No. 24806 — A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Professional Services Agreement With Arceneaux Wilson & Cole LLC Of Port Arthur, Texas For The Final Design And Construction Management Of The Texas Water Development Board City-Wide Water Lines Replacement Project, In The Total Amount Of $824,695.00. Funds Are Available In Account No. 404-40-000-851600-00-000, Project No. M0005.Eng. A Notice-To-Proceed Will Be Issued After The Texas Water Development Board Project No. 62633 Loan Closing.] THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO NUMBER EIGHT PR NUMBER 24806A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ARSENAL, WILSON AND COLE LLC OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, FOR THE FINAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT OF THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD CITYWIDE WATER LINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT. IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $824,695, FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE ACCOUNT NUMBER 4044000085160000000. PROJECT NUMBER 20005 NG. A NOTICE TO PROCEED WILL BE ISSUED AFTER THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD PROJECT NUMBER 62633 LOAN CLOSING. MEGAN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY QUESTIONS? MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE YES, COUNCILMAN? IN REFERENCE TO THIS ONE, IN REFERENCE TO THE CONTRACT. RIGHT. I'M LOOKING AT DID WE ADVERTISE? OR DID WE DO ANY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION? THIS THIS WAS A IT'S A CONTINUATION OF JOB AND ABC IS ON AN [03:40:01] APPROVED LIST. WE DON'T WE DIDN'T DO AN RFP JUST FOR THIS. IN 2014 HWC STARTED THE PLANNING DOCUMENT WITH TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD. THEY THEN DID THE DESIGN OF THIS PROJECT AND STARTING AROUND BEFORE I GOT HERE AROUND 19, THEY STARTED APPLYING FOR FUNDING. WHEN I GOT HERE IN 22, WE STARTED IN EARNEST, APPLYING WITH HWC, APPLYING FOR FUNDING OF THIS JOB. WE'VE WE FINALLY RECEIVED FUNDING AFTER APPLYING FOR FOUR YEARS. WE THEY WENT THEY BECAME HAD MONEY AVAILABLE FROM 22 AND THEY AWARDED US THE 16 MILLION FOR THIS JOB. HWC HAS CARRIED THIS JOB SINCE 2014. UP TO DATE THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT. TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD IS FAMILIAR WITH THEM. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO WE USE A LOT OF ENGINEERING FIRMS. WE RECENTLY RECOMMENDED TEXAS'S LARGEST MINORITY FIRM FOR A JOB. THEY HAD ALSO APPLIED FOR THE FUNDING. AND IT CAME TO Y'ALL. WE AWARDED THEM A $4.6 MILLION JOB RECENTLY, I THINK PROBABLY REMEMBERED AS PART OF THE LEAD AND COPPER. WE'VE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC WORKS IS ALSO AWARDED THAT FIRM A COUPLE OF SMALLER JOBS. WE'VE WE USED OTHER MINORITY FIRMS HERE. WE WE USE OTHER LOCAL FIRMS AND NON-LOCAL FIRMS. THEY COME OFF OF THE LIST. BUT THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF AN EXISTING JOB. OKAY. SO SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE MAKE THIS COMMENT PART OF THE RECORD TODAY? OKAY. THIS IS A PROJECT. THIS IS A NEW PROJECT. OKAY. I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT A PREFERRED LIST AND ALL THAT STUFF. OKAY. ANYTIME WE HAVE A PROJECT, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO SEND OUT FOR REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR EACH PROJECT. AND THEN WE ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE A DECISION. I KEEP SAYING BEING REFERRED TO THIS PREFERRED LIST, BUT WHEN I READ THE PURCHASING LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODES AND STUFF IS SAID FOR EVERY PROJECT, IT DOESN'T SAY IF YOU HAVE A PREFERRED LIST, YOU COULD COME OFF YOUR PREFERRED LIST. SO ONCE AGAIN, THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION IS NO. WE DID NOT GO OUT FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. THAT'S WHAT I WANT ENTERED INTO THE RECORD. WE JUST CHOSE THAT OFF THAT LIST. THANK YOU KEVIN. COUNCIL MEMBER SO I HAVE ONE MORE LIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER FRANK. NO, YOU CAN YOU'RE FINE. I JUST I SIMPLY WANT TO RAISE FOR THE RECORD, WHEN I SAW THIS, $824,000 BEING AWARDED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT WAS TO ARSENAL, WILSON AND COLES. I DID ASK OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OVER THE LAST 24 MONTHS HOW MUCH MONIES HAD BEEN. NO, I NO OKAY. BECAUSE I DON'T KEEP THAT NUMBER IN MY MIND. NO, THAT'S WHY I SAY YOU COULD FIND IT OUT, BUT I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S WHY I SAID YOU COULD BE. YEAH, I WASN'T I DIDN'T NEED YOU ANYMORE. OKAY. BECAUSE I HAD REQUESTED. NO, I'M GOING TO NEED YOU, BUT I DON'T NEED YOU RIGHT NOW. AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR SUNDAY NIGHT. I'M HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU, BUT I DID. IT DID RAISE AN MY ANTENNA. AND I DID INQUIRE OF OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OVER THE LAST 24 MONTHS, ARSENAL, WILSON AND COLES WITH THE WITH THIS $824,000 WILL HAVE BEEN AWARDED $4 MILLION IN THE LAST 24 MONTHS. SO THAT CAN BE THAT CAN BE RECEIVED AND ACCEPTED HOW YOU WANT TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT IT. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF WORK GOING ON, BUT I WANT TO ENSURE THAT EQUITY IS BEING TAKEN, IS IS BEING USED WHEN WE'RE BRINGING THESE PROJECTS TO BEAR. SO AND NOT SIMPLY FUNNELED. SO I WANT TO DO THAT AND I WANT TO STATE THAT FOR THE RECORD. ALRIGHT COUNCIL MEMBERS, ARE WE READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY NOS. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. NUMBER NINE, PR NUMBER 24820. A [VIII.A.(9) P.R. No. 24820 - A Resolution Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, To Direct The City Manager To Send A Letter To The U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers That The City Has Leased Approximately 2,274 Acres Of City-Owned Land On Or Near Pleasure Island To Diligence Offshore Services, LLC., Whom Intends To Improve And Develop It. (Requested By Councilmember Lewis)] [03:45:02] RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO SEND A LETTER TO THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS THAT THE CITY HAS LEASED APPROXIMATELY 2274 ACRES OF CITY OWNED LAND ON OR NEAR PLEASURE ISLAND TO DILIGENCE OFFSHORE SERVICES, LLC, WHOM INTENDS TO IMPROVE AND DEVELOP IT, REQUESTED BY COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MOTION FOR APPROVAL? CAN I GET A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSIONS? YES. CITY OF CITY MANAGER. COUNCIL ON THAT BACKGROUND INFORMATION. 600 ACRES. THAT'S NOT ACCURATE. IT'S 900 ACRES. GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY. WE HAVE. OKAY. WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM. OKAY. ARE YOU OKAY? YOU NEED TO SAY YOU WANT TO SPEAK. YES, MA'AM. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL HARRY CRAWFORD, 2506 DON RIVER LANE, PEARLAND. NOT ONLY IS THE 600 ACRES WRONG, MISS ROXANNE, BUT THE 13.79 IS WRONG. THAT SHOULD BE 16.40. AND THEN THE 13 60.5 IS CORRECT. IS A TOTAL OF 2,276.9 ACRES. THAT WAS FILED WITH THE MEMORANDUM OF LEASE 2025 16414. JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RECORD REFLECTED THE PROPER ACREAGE. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. LET. ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE RESOLUTION AND THE DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OH I'M SORRY I AGAIN OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER EVER. YES, MA'AM. I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM WITH CITY ATTORNEY THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED TO US REGARDING WHO OWNED WHAT PIECES OF THAT LAND. I AM NOT DISMISSING US. SENDING A LETTER TO. ADVISE. WE ARE JUST HAVE LEASED THE LAND FOR IT TO BE DEVELOPED. I JUST DON'T WANT US TO HAVE EGG ON OUR FACE BY SAYING WE OWN SOMETHING AND WE DON'T. SO I JUST WANT TO OFFER CLARITY ON WHAT OF THE PIECES OF THAT PROPERTY YOU MAY HAVE EASEMENTS ON, OR OR UNCONFIRMED OWNERSHIP ON. I REMEMBER US DISCUSSING A PORTION OF PORTIONS OF THAT, SO I JUST WANT TO OFFER CLARITY. MAYOR. YEAH, JUST SHE'S GOT A QUESTION. SO TO THE CITY ATTORNEY IS ARE YOU ASKING THE CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION? OKAY. YES. OKAY. SHE SAYS SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. PREVIOUSLY, WE DISCUSSED WHAT PIECES OF WHAT PORTIONS OF PLEASURE ISLAND. THE CITY DID NOT HAVE FULL OWNERSHIP IN. AND THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, IN ADDITION TO THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT, OWNED CERTAIN OR HAD RIGHTS TO CERTAIN PIECES OF THAT PROPERTY. I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM IF ANY OF THE 2000 PLUS ACRES THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TONIGHT TO INCLUDE IN THIS LETTER WERE NOT ALSO A PART OF SOME OF THOSE THAT THOSE PIECES OF PROPERTY. PLEASURE ISLAND, PLEASURE ISLAND AND ITS BANKS AND ITS WATER IS, IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE WITH MANY DEEDS AND MANY SPECIFIC EXAMPLES, NOT EXAMPLES. SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS THAT STATE. I DON'T THINK I CAN GIVE YOU A GENERAL ANSWER. I HAVE PROVIDED YOU SOME HISTORICAL INFORMATION AND EXECUTIVE SESSION AND CAN DO THAT AGAIN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. OKAY, I'M ASSUMING IF WE SEND THE LETTER, THEN THEY'LL TELL US WHAT THEY WILL OR WON'T DO. THIS IS NOT THIS LETTER IS NOT TELLING THEM WHAT THEY OWN OR DON'T OWN. THIS LETTER IS SIMPLY INFORMING THEM THAT WE HAVE LEASED THIS LAND TO DILIGENCE OFFSHORE, LLC, AND THEY INTEND TO IMPROVE IT AND DEVELOP IT, AND THAT'S IT, WHICH IS PUBLIC INFORMATION. WOULD YOU JUST DESCRIBE CITY ATTORNEY IS WHAT I WOULD ASK FOR THE LETTER TO STATE. BUT THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS JUST READ INCLUDED LANGUAGE THAT [03:50:01] SAID CITY OWNED PROPERTY. THAT'S JUST THAT PART OF THE LANGUAGE IS MY CONCERN. IS CITY OWNED. MAYOR, CAN I SPEAK? WE'RE CLEAR ON IF WE'RE CLEAR ON THAT PART WITH THE TITLES THAT WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, THEN WE'RE WE'RE GOOD TO GO. THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR. CLARIFICATION. OKAY. SO BEFORE WE GET TO THE MR. CRAWFORD, I HAVE LIGHTS ON. SO I HAVE COUNCILMEMBER FRANK, THEN COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW. OKAY, I'M GOING TO HAVE COUNCILMEMBER FRANK GO AHEAD AND RESPOND. AND THEN MR. FORD. MR. CRAWFORD, YOU CAN RESPOND IN CONVERSATION TODAY BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION AND I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF IT GOING FORWARD. IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO FIND OUT FOR MYSELF AS I DIALOGED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE. SO MANY DEEDS, SO MANY AGREEMENTS, ANTIQUATED, NEW. GIVEN THE I MEAN, IT IS A IT IS A TANGLED WEB OF OF OF LETTERS AND UNDERSTANDINGS. BUT I BELIEVE THAT AS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WHO HAS ACTED IN GOOD FAITH WITH MR. CRAWFORD, THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE DO SEND THIS LETTER, AND THAT WE DO STIPULATE THAT DEVELOPMENT IS GOING FORWARD ON THE ISLAND, AND THAT THAT AS MUCH AS LIES WITHIN THEM, THAT THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS WOULD CEASE AND DESIST DOING WHAT IS. CAUSING SPOILS TO BE BROUGHT ABOUT AND PROHIBITING THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE PROGRESS ON PLEASURE ISLAND. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED, WHAT I THAT I ALREADY KNEW, BUT I THINK NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO BEAR, IS THAT THERE ARE DESIGNATED PLACES ON THE ISLAND WHERE SPOILS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PLACED. THEY HAVE BEEN ALREADY DESIGNATED AND ASSIGNED, AND SO ANY SPOILAGE BEING PLACED ANYWHERE ELSE OUTSIDE OF THOSE PLACES WOULD BE CONSIDERED OUT OF BOUNDS. AND IN MY DIALOG WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AS WELL, I FOUND OUT. AND THAT'S WHY QUESTIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT THAT THAT WE HAVE A WE HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM. AND THAT PROBLEM IS, IS THAT OTHER COMPANIES ARE PUTTING SPOILS AS WELL IN PLACES THAT THEY SHOULD NOT. AND SO THAT IS CREATING AN ISSUE FOR US. WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO GET THIS FIGURED OUT. WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING ON TO PLEASURE ISLAND IN THE FUTURE. LARGE PROJECTS. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIGURED OUT. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, THIS NEEDS TO BE HANDLED. AND SO WE NEED TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS RESOLUTION AND OUTLINE THAT. NOT NOT IN A WAY THAT IS ADVERSARIAL, BUT IN A WAY THAT BRINGS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING FOR ALL PARTIES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MR. CRAWFORD, COUNCILMAN FRANK, THANK YOU FOR THE UNDERSTANDING. DD SEVEN IS THE FEDERAL SPONSOR WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMING FORWARD AND BEFORE THIS COUNCIL AND GETTING A RESOLUTION TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE LEASE PROPERTY ON THE ISLAND FOR SPOIL PLACEMENT. THAT'S WHY Y'ALL GOT A PILL NUMBER 7402 ON THERE. THEY HAVEN'T HAD THAT IN A WHOLE LOT OF YEARS. AND SO ALL THOSE SPOILS THAT THEY PUT ON THAT PROPERTY, IT'S BASICALLY BEEN ILLEGAL BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE I'M TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT. THEY HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE EXACT TRACK OF LAND. THEY HAVE TO INCLUDE A LEGAL DESCRIPTION. IT HAS TO BE SIGNED BY THE LANDOWNER, WHICH IS THE CITY, AND IT HAS TO BE RECORDED IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. NONE OF THAT HAS BEEN DONE. SO ALL OF THE SPOILS THAT THEY PUT ON THERE AND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 THAT THEY HAVE OUTLINED TO GO ON PAGE EIGHT, THEY DON'T HAVE A DESIGNATION. WE HAVE METES AND BOUNDS ON 900 ACRES. ALL WE ASKING THEM TO DO, PLEASE DON'T PUT YOUR SPOILS ON OUR 900 ACRES. YOU STILL GOT ANOTHER 2000 SOMETHING ACRES AND P8 PUT THEM ON THAT. IF WE NEED TO HELP THEM BY CREATING SOME KIND OF AIR GAP AND DEVELOPING A PIPING SYSTEM IN OUR DESIGN, WE HAPPY TO DO THAT. I'VE COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL. I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. THEY CANNOT. THAT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN HERE. SOME GUYS SHOWED UP. I WAS WATCHING THE MEETING LAST WEEK. A JUDGE, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, HE CAME, SAID HE HAD DEEDS. NO HE DOESN'T. TONIGHT Y'ALL PLAN ON [03:55:06] GIVING HIM A DEED. BUT THIS, THIS, THIS QUICK, THIS WARRANTY DEED THAT Y'ALL ARE GOING TO VOTEOUNDS. THEY NEED TO TELL YOU WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THEIR SPOILS, BECAUSE IT'S ILLEGAL FOR THEM TO JUST GO OUT AND RUN A PIPE AND JUST PUT SPOILS ALL OVER YOUR PROPERTY. THAT'S THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO THAT. THAT'S CALLED A GOVERNMENT TAKING. IT'S THE GOVERNMENT TAKING. AND WHEN THEY WHEN THEY TAKE, THEN THEY GOT TO PAY THE CITY FOR TAKING THE LAND. BUT IF YOU READ MY LEASE LINE, ITEM NINE, SECTION NINE, THEY PAY YOU THE CITY FOR TAKING YOUR LAND, BUT THEY PAY ME FOR DAMAGES. I GOT A $5.3 BILLION PROJECT GOING ON. I DON'T THINK THEY WANT TO PAY ME. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT'S IN MY LEASE AND THAT'S THE LAW. SO ALL I'M ASKING IS THEY JUST STAY OFF OUR 900 ACRES. I'M HAPPY THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. AND AS FAR AS THE MOSQUITOES, I TOLD Y'ALL WHERE THE MOSQUITOES COMING FROM. IT'S COMING COMING FROM THE SPOILS. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER, I WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING. THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP AT MY AUNT'S FUNERAL. Y'ALL REPRESENTED WELL, PASTOR. THANK YOU FOR FOR BEING THERE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW. THANK YOU. MAYOR. QUESTION. CITY ATTORNEY, THE 900 ACRES THAT WE'RE SPEAKING OF THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THE CORRECTION ON WHERE WE ARE, WE WITHIN OUR LEGAL RAMIFICATION TO ACTUALLY SEND THIS TYPE OF LETTER TO THEM ABOUT THE SPOILS BEING DUMPED ON OUR PROPERTY THAT WE'RE LEASING? THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION THAT I WOULD RATHER DISCUSS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE IS COMPLICATED TITLE, AND WHEN WE LEAST THIS LAND TO DILIGENCE OFFSHORE. THE DEAL WAS DONE SO QUICKLY, MAYBE NOT QUICKLY IN HIS EYES, BUT CERTAINLY QUICKLY IN THE CITY'S EYES THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE FULL TITLE TO DETERMINE WHO OWNED THE LAND. SO IN THE LEASE AGREEMENT, WE TOLD THEM THAT WE WOULD LEASE THEM WHATEVER RIGHTS THE CITY OWNED TO THAT LAND, SUBJECT TO ANY ENCUMBRANCES OR EXCEPTIONS. AND SO THE ENCUMBRANCES ARE THE EXCEPTIONS CAN GET VERY LITIGIOUS AND COMPLICATED. AND I, AS YOUR CITY ATTORNEY, AM GOING TO WARN YOU ABOUT THAT. HOWEVER, SENDING A LETTER TO THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AS COUNCIL MEMBER, LEWIS HAS REQUESTED SIMPLY TELLING THEM THAT THE CITY HAS LEASED THE LAND TO DILIGENCE AND THAT DILIGENCE INTENDS TO DEVELOP. IT IS PUBLIC INFORMATION ALREADY, SO THERE'S NO PROBLEM IN AWARDING OR SENDING OUT THAT LETTER. BUT THERE WOULD BE, I THINK, LITIGIOUS MATTERS. IF YOU WANTED ME TO GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS SHOULD GET OUT, THAT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT QUESTION, A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LITIGATION MATTER. BUT COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS HAS ASKED THAT THE RESOLUTION BE PLACED ON, AND THAT'S INSTRUCTION THAT I TOOK AND IS NOW FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. OKAY. WELL, I TOO AGREE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEY CAN'T DO WHAT THEY WANT WITHOUT THE GOVERNING BODY BEING INVOLVED WITH THE DECISIONS THAT'S BEING MADE WITH PLEASURE ISLAND. SO I NEED MORE CLARITY. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TITLE OR THE AGREEMENT, BUT I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT 900. HE SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT TWO OTHER THOUSAND THAT THEY CAN. YEAH. JUST ONE SECOND THAT, THAT THEY CAN DUMP ON. BUT I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT 900. ARE WE WITHIN OUR BOUNDS AND LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS TO SEND THIS TYPE OF LETTER ON JUST THAT 900, NOT TO 2000. WE CAN WE CAN ADDRESS THAT LATER. BUT THE 900 CAN WE? BASED UPON YOUR RESEARCH AND TITLE RESEARCH, CAN WE JUST SAY, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY, AS A CITY ATTORNEY THAT WE OWN THE 900 ACRES. I'M GOING TO SAY AS A CITY ATTORNEY THAT WE CAN NOTIFY THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS THAT WE'VE LEASED WHATEVER RIGHTS THE CITY HAS TO DILIGENCE, AND THAT DILIGENCE IS INTENDING TO DEVELOP IT. OKAY, I GOT A COPY OF THE TITLE REPORT. COUNCILMAN KINLAW, IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU GUYS. ARE THE FEE SIMPLE? OWNERS OF THE WHOLE ISLAND. SHE DOESN'T KNOW THE. I'M SORRY, THE THE THE ATTORNEY DOESN'T KNOW. THE HISTORY OF THE ISLAND. HASN'T TAKEN TIME TO GO BACK AND AND LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE ISLAND. SHE HASN'T SHE HASN'T LOOKED AT IT. AND SO TO SAY THAT WE LEASED IT WITH ENCUMBRANCES. SEPTEMBER OF 2024, WE CAME AND ASKED, REMEMBER THAT 1933 EASEMENT I BOUGHT? I HAD ALREADY ASKED HER ABOUT IT A YEAR BEFORE. SHE NEVER ANSWERED ME. TO THIS DAY, SHE HASN'T ANSWERED ME. AND NOW HERE WE ARE ARGUING ABOUT IT. Y'ALL OWN THE PROPERTY. I JUST GOT THROUGH TELLING YOU THAT THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS DOES NOT HAVE A RECORDED ANYTHING THAT SAYS THEY CAN PUT SPOILS ON THAT PROPERTY. WHAT THEY DO HAVE RECORDED IS DOCUMENTS FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF STATE OF TEXAS THAT SAYS UPLANDS. THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO PUT THE SPOILS ON. IF THEY DON'T HAVE A METES AND BOUNDS OF EXACTLY WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING [04:00:04] THEM. SO THAT WOULD BE LIKE YOU TAKING THE WATER HOSE, PUTTING IT IN YOUR HOUSE AND JUST TURNED IT ON. IT'S GOING TO GO EVERYWHERE, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING OUT THERE. AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE LIKE SWIMMING POOL COMPARTMENTS AND GO IN THOSE COMPARTMENTS. AND EACH COMPARTMENT IS HAS A METES AND BOUNDS. AND THAT'S HOW THEY KEEP TRACK OF IT. SO IT DOESN'T GET OUT OF HAND. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THAT PERIOD. I THINK I THINK THAT THAT POSITION IS IS ON TO SOMETHING FOR ME AS FAR AS HOW I'M TAKING IT. BUT MY THING IS THIS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE SURE SENDING THIS TYPE OF LETTER TO THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, YOU KNOW, SAYING, HEY, WE'VE LEASED IT. THEY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS PROPERTY. I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THEY WOULD STOP DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING OR, YOU KNOW, I WOULD IMAGINE THEY WOULD JUST TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE LOCAL GOVERNING BODY AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO DO IT SOMEWHERE OR A DESIGNATED AREA. SO I WOULD LOVE TO GET A COPY OF THAT AS WELL. BUT IF WE'RE OKAY, I'M OKAY WITH, YOU KNOW, VOTING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON THIS BASIS ONLY. OKAY. THEY DON'T HAVE A DESIGNATION. WE'VE ALREADY ASKED FOR IT. OUR LAWYERS ASKED FOR IT. THEY DON'T HAVE ONE. WHY IS DD SEVEN COMING FOR A RESOLUTION TONIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN OPERATING ILLEGALLY. WE CALL THEM. WE TOLD THEM AND WE CAME AND TOLD Y'ALL. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE TRYING TO STRAIGHTEN EVERYTHING UP. THAT'S ALL THEY'RE DOING BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE COUNCIL IN ORDER TO PUT SPOILS ON THE ISLAND. PERIOD. THEY'RE COMING UNDER UNDER PR NUMBER 24 766. NO, I'M SORRY, THEY'RE COMING UNDER 770 402 SO THEY CAN GET THAT PERMISSION NOW BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN OPERATING ILLEGALLY. SO ALL THOSE SPOILS THAT THEY PUT ON YOUR PROPERTY, THEY ACTUALLY OWE YOU FOR IT. AND IN THE WORDS OF MR. HOLLAND, YOU OUGHT TO THANK ME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR. WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA. HOLD UP Y'ALL. WE HAVE I HAVE LIGHTS ON THAT I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE FIRST. JUST GIVE ME A SECOND. WE HAVE I HAVE COUNCILMAN COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, COUNCILMEMBER BECKHAM AND THEN MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. YES, I HAVEN'T FOUND ANY. TIFFANY. OH, AND TIFFANY, I'M SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER HAS HER HAND UP AS WELL. OKAY. SORRY. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. YES, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT WHO OWNS THAT P8. P8 IS OWNED BY THE CITY, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THAT WAS THAT WAS DEEDED BY THE CITY. I MEAN, THE STATE OF TEXAS. A HOUSE BILL EIGHT 19TH MAY, THE 18, 1931. IT'S OWNED BY THE CITY. THE CITY IS IT IS PATENT TO THE CITY. THAT'S WHAT THE SHELL RECORDS. THIS IS THE DOCUMENT SAID IT IS PATENT BY THE CITY. IT'S PATENT TO THE CITY. SO NOTHING CAN BE DONE OVER THERE WITHOUT COMING TO THE CITY COUNCIL. I CALLED DD SEVEN AND THE MANAGER TOLD ME THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. THEY DON'T HAVE ANY AGREEMENT, SO THEY DIDN'T GIVE THEM PERMISSION. SO I CANNOT FIND NO AGREEMENT ON P9 ON P8. P8 IS WHAT A 900 ACRES THAT, THAT WE LEASED TO TO THE WIND TURBINE PEOPLE. THERE IS NO DOCUMENTS WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR GIVING THEM PERMISSION TO DUMP ON P38. THAT'S TAKEN OF LAND, THAT'S WHY. WHERE IS THE CHECK WHEN YOU TAKE. WHERE IS OUR CHECK? THEY OWE US. IF THEY DON'T TOOK THE LAND, THEY DON'T POLLUTE IT. THEY OWE US MONEY THAT IS TAKING OF LAND. AND THEY ALSO GOT IN THIS 51 HERE IT TELLS YOU WHAT WHERE THEY CAN DUMP, THEY CANNOT DUMP OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON AVENUE AND RICHMOND AVENUE. THEY ARE WRONG AS TWO LEFT SHOES AND THEY ARE SQUATTING. THEY HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION. AND TRUST ME, THEY'VE BEEN MONITORING EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING HERE. THEY'VE BEEN MONITORING EVERYTHING. THEY'VE BEEN THEY'VE BEEN HEARING THE MEETINGS, BUT THEY NEVER OPENED THEIR MOUTH. I MEAN, I'VE BEEN WATCHING THEY'VE BEEN COMING TO THESE MEETINGS. EVERY TIME WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION. THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY RIGHTS TO DUMP ON P8, THE 900 ACRES THAT WE LEASED TO THEM. AND YOU SEE, AND THIS IS WHAT THE STATE LAW SAYS, IT TERMINATES. IT CLEARLY STATES IT IS HEREBY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED. THIS PERMIT IS TO TERMINATE AS MUCH AS SUCH TIME AS THE LAND INVOLVED IS TO BE IMPROVED. THEY DON'T HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON, AND IF THEY DON'T GET OUT OF THERE, THEY'RE GOING [04:05:03] TO BE EVICTED. COUNCILMEMBER BECKHAM, THANK YOU. THIS QUESTION IS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. IN LOOKING AT THE LANGUAGE OF THE RESOLUTION, IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS APPROXIMATELY 2274 ACRES OF CITY OWNED LAND. I'M ASSUMING BECAUSE OF DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND SOME OF THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT, THAT THE LETTER THAT'S GOING TO GO OUT TO THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS NOT GOING TO SAY CITY OWNED LAND, CORRECT. ACTUALLY, IT'S MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE MORE CLEAR. WE ANY CITY OWNED LAND AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS UNTIL THE TITLE POLICY HAS BEEN LEASED TO DILIGENCE. SO WHATEVER THE CITY HAS A RIGHT TO, WE'VE LEASED TO DILIGENCE ON THOSE 900 ACRES, ACTUALLY MORE ACREAGE THAN THAT. BUT IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE DESIGNATING THAT IT IS ENTIRELY CITY OWNED LAND BY PLEASURE ISLAND, WHERE I'M SAYING WHATEVER CITY OWNED RIGHTS WE HAD RELEASED TO HIM. OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE SPECIFIC IN THE LETTER, JUST LIKE WHAT YOU JUST SAID, I CAN AMEND I CAN AMEND IT TO SAY. ANY, ANY CITY OWNED LAND OF PLEASURE ISLAND HAS BEEN LEASED. OKAY. IF WE CAN MAKE THAT MOTION TO CHANGE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. MAY I GOT ONE MORE THING. OH WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA I GOT I SAID BECAUSE Y'ALL REQUIRED ME TO GET A MR. CRAWFORD TITLE POLICY, AND I PAID FOR A TITLE POLICY. THE TITLE POLICY SAYS THAT THE CITY OWNS THE PROPERTY, MR. CRAWFORD. YES, MA'AM. OKAY, LET ME FINISH WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE GOT THEIR LIGHTS ON TO SPEAK. AND I PROMISE YOU, I'LL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. YEAH, OKAY. WE WERE WITH THE. IS YOUR LIGHT ON? YES. OKAY. WAIT. CITY ATTORNEY, ARE YOU DONE? YOU'RE OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER FIELDS HAND WAS UP, AND I'VE OVERLOOKED HER THE ENTIRE TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER EVER FEEL. YES, MA'AM. THIS IS FOR CITY ATTORNEY. A PORTION OF HER SECOND TIME REQUEST HAS ALREADY BEEN STATED. BUT MY REQUEST IS IF WE CHOOSE TO SEND THE LETTER TO REMOVE THE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS CITY OWNED PROPERTY AND REPLACE, MAYBE WE CAN JUST SIMPLIFY WITH PROPERTY THAT THE CITY HAS LEASED. WHAT? I THINK THAT'S WHAT SHE JUST SAID. WHEN YOU LEASE PROPERTY THAT YOU DON'T OWN, I, I SAID THAT. PLEASE TELL ME. YEAH. PART OF THE DISCUSSION. YOU SIGNED AN AGREEMENT. WAIT A MINUTE. Y'ALL HOLD UP. HOLD ON JUST A MINUTE. OKAY, EVERYBODY HOLD ON. OKAY, ALRIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO GO IN ORDER AND NO ONE IS GOING TO SPEAK OUT OF TURN. I WILL GIVE EVERYBODY A TURN. I HAD NOT CALLED JUST YET, MR. CRAWFORD. THAT INCLUDES EVERYBODY IN HERE. SORRY, MAYOR. MAYOR. OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ORDER. WE CAN DISCUSS THIS STUFF AND DISCUSS IT THE WAY WE NEED TO DISCUSS IT. OKAY. NOW, COUNCILMEMBER, EVER FEEL COMPLETE YOUR STATEMENT, AND THEN I WILL HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY RESPOND BACK. YES, MA'AM. CITY ATTORNEY, I WAS JUST ASKING. I'M ASKING FOR WHAT YOU DESCRIBED. I AM AGREEING WITH WITH WITH WHAT COUNCILMEMBER BECKHAM JUST STATED TO YOU. I'M JUST ASKING IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO SIMPLIFY IT EVEN MORE AND JUST CHANGE THE WORDING THAT CURRENTLY STATES IN THE RESOLUTION. CITY OWNED PROPERTY JUST TO CITY LEASED PROPERTY. OKAY. NOW I'LL THANK YOU. ARE YOU PROPERTY LEASED BY THE CITY? OKAY. ARE YOU DONE? OKAY. ARE YOU DONE? THEN THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN RESPOND TO THAT. THE QUESTION IS WHAT SHE'S ASKING. CITY ATTORNEY, I'D LIKE TO REPLACE THE LANGUAGE. CITY OWNED LAND WITH RIGHTS TO LAND OWNED BY THE CITY ON OR NEAR PLEASURE ISLAND. OKAY, OKAY. WE NEED TO WRITE IN. IN THIS MOTION, IN THIS RESOLUTION, YOU'RE ASKING THAT WE CHANGE THE LANGUAGE AND MAKE THAT CLEAR RIGHTS. AND YOU HAVE THE LANGUAGE. I'LL LET YOU INSERT THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU'RE CHANGING IT TO SO WE CAN HAVE THIS RESOLUTION. CORRECT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. NOW I HAD YOU YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE? YES, MA'AM. CRAWFORD, I'M ASKING THE CITY NOW TO JOIN ME IN MY LAWSUIT AGAINST OLD REPUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANY AND TEXAS REGIONAL FOR $2.5 MILLION, BECAUSE SHE JUST SAID THAT. Y'ALL LEASE ME LAND THAT YOU DON'T OWN. THE TITLE POLICY SAYS THAT YOU DO. SO THAT [04:10:01] THAT'S A VOID POLICY. THEY GAVE ME A VOID POLICY. SO I APPRECIATE THE CITY PUTTING THAT ON RECORD. YOU JUST YOU JUST LEASED ME LAND THAT YOU DON'T OWN. THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID. OKAY. WHAT WHAT DID YOU SAY? TELL ME. LET'S GO BACK THROUGH IT FOR CLARITY, BECAUSE WE DON'T. YEAH OKAY. SHE MISSPOKE. YEAH, I THINK SO TOO, BROTHER KINLAW. YEAH. BUT I HOPE SHE DIDN'T BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY. PLEASE TELL ME THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEANT. CITY ATTORNEY. WE NEED THE LANGUAGE THAT WE'RE EDITING THIS, AMENDING THIS RESOLUTION FOR. I WANT TO REPLACE THE LANGUAGE. CITY OWNED LAND TO SAY THAT WE LEASED ANY RIGHTS THAT THE CITY HAS LAND TO, OWNED ON OR NEAR PLEASURE ISLAND. OKAY. CITY ONLY. OKAY. COULD YOU REPEAT THAT? SO. SO I'M ASKING THE QUESTION, MA'AM. MOSES, ARE Y'ALL SAYING THAT Y'ALL DIDN'T OWN THE 2276 ACRES? WE DON'T OWN IT. HOW YOU HEARD ME. SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T OWN. YES, SIR. THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S BOTTOM LINE. I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING. AM I THE ONLY ONE HERE? UP HERE? THAT'S NOT WHAT SHE'S SAYING. HOW'S SHE GOING TO LEASE ME SOMETHING THAT SHE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO LEASE? IT'S TRICKERY. OKAY? NO IT AIN'T. THE TITLE POLICY SAYS YOU OWN IT. OKAY. THAT'S RIGHT. WAIT A MINUTE, MR. CRAWFORD. ROXANNE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS SAID WE OWN IT. ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID WE OWN IT. WE NEED. LET ME GET TO THE POINT OF ORDER. THAT'S HER JOB. OKAY? OKAY. THE WHAT'S YOUR POINT? MY POINT IS, THE MAYOR HAS SAID ONE PERSON SPEAK AT A TIME. SHE RECOGNIZED THE PERSON IS LATE. LET'S DO IT. ORDERLY. NOW. THIS AIN'T 7:00 NO MORE. LET'S JUST LET. IF YOU RECOGNIZE, SPEAK. IF YOU'RE NOT RECOGNIZED, PLEASE DON'T TALK. ALRIGHT. LET'S GO. CITY ATTORNEY, WE'RE GOING TO NEED THE LANGUAGE FROM YOU ON WHAT WE'RE AMENDING THIS RESOLUTION TO BE OKAY. AND I KNOW YOU'VE SAID IT THREE TIMES. WE NEED TO HEAR IT AGAIN. FOR CLARITY. I'D LIKE A BREAK. I'M NOT TAKING A BREAK RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. I NEED TO THINK THIS THROUGH, OKAY? BECAUSE I THINK THAT THROUGH WHILE I GET THESE OTHER PEOPLE TO CALL ON. BUT I'M NOT TAKING A BREAK. WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS TONIGHT. OKAY? WHO'S AFTER COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM? HAVE YOU SPOKE TWICE? I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO DID WHAT. YOUR LIGHT IS TWICE. OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, YOU SPOKEN TWICE. COUNCILMEMBER BECKHAM SPOKEN TWICE. YOU CAN TURN YOUR LIGHT OFF. COUNCILMEMBER DOUCET, YOUR LIGHT IS ON. OH, YOU HAVE NOT SPOKEN TODAY. NO. OKAY. I'VE FORGOTTEN. CAN YOU GO AHEAD? OH, IT'S OKAY. OKAY, ALRIGHT. I JUST WANT TO. WHAT WAS SHE SPEAKING? NO YOU ARE WELL, YOU DON'T SPOKE SIX TIMES. I HAVEN'T EVEN SPOKE. I'M CONDUCTING. HE'S TALKING TO ME. NO, NO, NO. YOU'RE CONFUSED. WHY? MAYBE YOU KNOW, YOU SEE. RIGHT A MINUTE. I'M LOOKING AT THE SCORECARD. GO BACK AND FORTH WITH YOU. OKAY? COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, IF YOU'RE DONE SPEAKING, YOU CAN TURN YOUR LIGHT OFF. NO, I'M NOT DONE SPEAKING. OKAY, WELL. YOU OKAY? COUNCILMEMBER BECKHAM, PLEASE SPEAK. OKAY. SO. OH, DID I OVERLOOK YOU? OKAY, COUNCIL, I THINK YOU WERE FIRST. YOU GO AHEAD. I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN ONCE. LORD HAVE MERCY ON THE PROVISION. I'VE TAKEN TWO BILLS. I GO FIRST. GO. PLEASE SPEAK UP AND GET ME SOME SOME TYLENOL. OKAY. MAYOR PRO TEM, WE WE WE WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT CHANGING TERMINOLOGY FROM RIGHTEOUS CITY OWNED AND AND CITY OWNED. IT'S NOT DEBATABLE THAT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ON PLEASURE ISLAND. THAT'S NOT A DEBATABLE THING. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE TRYING TO BE THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID, IS TRIVIAL. IT IS TRIVIAL. THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE OWN THE LAND, RIGHT? THIS LETTER IS ONLY STATING THAT THE COURT LET THE RECORD KNOW THAT WE HAVE LEASED THIS PROPERTY RIGHT TO THEM. WE'VE DONE A CONTRACT, SO THAT'S NOT DEBATABLE. ABOVE ALL, IF WE HAD DONE WHAT I THOUGHT WE DECIDED TO DO, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE WITH THIS DISCUSSION. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO INFORM ALL COMPANIES WHO WAS PUTTING SPORES ON OUR PROPERTY TO CEASE. TO CEASE. SO I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, THAT WAS PLAIN THING. WE SOLD NOT JUST THE CORE. WE WEREN'T EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE CORE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE DOING IT. BUT WE DISCUSSED THAT WE WERE GOING TO [04:15:01] THEY NEED TO BE TOLD, STOP PUTTING SPORES ON OUR PROPERTY. AND IF WE DO THAT, THEN WE DON'T HAVE ALL THESE ISSUES. NO ONE IS TELLING THE COURT NOTHING, BUT THE PROPERTY IS BEING DEVELOPED. WE LEASING IT PROPERLY. DON'T PUT SPORES ON IT. THEY GOT ALL THE REST OF THE PLACES THEY CAN PUT IT AT. I'M QUITE SURE THEY'RE GOING TO REALIZE IT. THIS IS NOT STARTING. NOTHING. IT'S A SIMPLE LETTER JUST INFORMING. AND MY GOD. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, YES, JUST BRIEFLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO KNOW WHO GAVE THAT? I TOOK PICTURES OF PIPES COMING OUT OF THE SPOIL AREA, GOING INTO THE LAKE ON THE, ON ON THE SOUTH LEVEE. WHO AUTHORIZED THAT AND WHO'S, WHO'S MANAGING THAT? WHAT'S RUNNING INTO THE LAKE FROM THE SMALL AREA? AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF STUFF. I'M ALMOST FINISHED, BUT I'D LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THEY GOT GOING OFF SUBJECT. THEY GOT PIPES SUBJECT ON THE AGENDA COMING OUT OF THE LAKE, COMING OUT OF THE SPOIL AREA, DUMPING WATER IN THE LAKE. OKAY, OKAY. AND THAT'S WHY I WENT AFTER DD SEVEN AND THEY SAID IT'S NOT THEM. OKAY. THANKS. COUNCILMEMBER, WE WANT TO STAY ON TOPIC. COUNCILMEMBER BECKHAM, THANK YOU. THIS QUESTION IS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. AND I'M SORRY I DIDN'T BRING MY MARKED UP VERSION OF THE LEASE WITH ME BECAUSE I HAVE THIS HIGHLIGHTED IN MY VERSION. THERE IS A PROVISION IN THE LEASE WHEREIN WE STATE THAT WE ARE LEASING ONLY THE PROPERTY, THAT WE HAVE OWNERSHIP RIGHTS TO LEASE. DO YOU RECALL WHERE THAT IS IN THE LEASE AGREEMENT? SO WE CAN TRACK THAT LANGUAGE AND USE THE SAME LANGUAGE IN THE LETTER? IT'S UNDER ENCUMBRANCES. COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM. I MIGHT ADD, FURTHER ADVISE THE COUNCIL AS THE CITY ATTORNEY, THAT IT SHOULD NOT LITIGATE OR ARGUE USING AN IN OPEN SESSION. IT SHOULD BE DONE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. I THINK WE'RE JUST YOU'RE ANSWERING COUNCILMEMBER BECKHAM'S QUESTION. YEAH, I'M JUST I'M JUST WANTING TO KNOW SINCE WE PUT THAT LANGUAGE IN THE LEASE, IF WE COULD USE THAT SAME LANGUAGE IN THE LETTER. AND YOUR RESPONSE IS. YES, MA'AM, I'M LOOKING FOR I'M TRYING TO DO TWO THINGS. I'M TRYING TO WRITE THE LANGUAGE DOWN FOR YOU, AND I'M ALSO TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T GO OFF TOPIC. GREAT. LET'S DO THOSE. THAT'S WHAT. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED YOU TO DO. YES, MA'AM. AND I WAS ALSO TRYING TO DO A THIRD THING BY IDENTIFYING WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM IS ASKING ME FOR. SO IF YOU'LL GIVE ME JUST A FEW SECONDS, IT ALL WORKS. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. THANK YOU. MR. SCOTT. IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION. LET ME LET HIM ANSWER HIS QUESTION. I THINK, MR. HOFFER, YOU HAD A QUESTION. I SIT HERE REAL PATIENTLY LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION. NOW THE CONVERSATION IS ABOUT THE LETTER STATING WE OWN THE LAND AND NOW IT'S COME ABOUT LEASING. WE HAVEN'T EVEN SENT THE LETTER TO THE COURT. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE COURT IS GOING TO RESPOND. AND HOW ARE THEY GOING TO RESPOND IF THEY RESPOND TO US IN A WAY WHERE THEY NEED MORE INFORMATION OR BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT'S WHAT THE LETTER MEANS, THEN THEY CAN LET US KNOW, WHY ARE WE TIED UP WITH THIS ABOUT RELEASING LAND OR NOT? I'M I'M HERE AS A CITIZEN JUST LISTENING TO THIS. WE OWN THE LAND. WE GOT TO TRY TO PUT IT IN A WAY. WHY ARE WE MESSING WITH THE WORDS WHEN WE HAVEN'T SENT A LETTER TO THE COURT YET? WHEN WE SEND A LETTER TO THE COURT, THEY CAN SAY TO US, WELL, WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. WE WANT TO WE WANT TO MORE. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE COURT GOING TO SAY. THEY MIGHT SAY, OKAY, WE'RE FINE WITH IT. WE UNDERSTAND IT. SO WHY ARE WE WASTING ALL THIS TIME WITH THIS CITIZEN SITTING HERE LISTENING? I'M LISTENING. I'M LIKE, MAN, WHERE WE ARE LEASING ARE WE OWN IT. EVERYBODY SAY WE OWN IT. WE OWN THE PROPERTY. SO WE OWN THE PROPERTY AND WE PUT IT IN THAT LANGUAGE. SEND IT TO THE CORE. FIND OUT WHAT THE CORE SAY. IF THEY'RE OKAY WITH IT AND THEY UNDERSTAND IT, THEN IT'S A DONE DEAL. IT'S A DONE DEAL. YOU KEEP ASKING FOR LEGAL, LEGAL REPRESENTATION, LEGAL WORDS ABOUT THIS OR THAT. IT'S NOT REALLY NOTHING THAT LEGAL ABOUT. IF YOU PUT WE OWN THE LAND AND WE LEASING IT TO THEM, OKAY. THE COURTS CAN UNDERSTAND THAT SIMPLE PLAIN LANGUAGE AND COME TO A CONCLUSION. WELL, WE WANT TO DISCUSS THIS OR THIS. THEY [04:20:02] CAN BRING UP THOSE ISSUES. AND THEN THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL. THIS IS THE CORE CONCERNS. THIS IS THE CORE CONCERNS. JUST PLAYING WITH WORDS. DON'T PLAY WITH WORDS. SEND A LETTER. OKAY. I'M HERE AS A CITIZEN. ARE YOU TALKING TO ME DIRECTLY? NO, THAT'S NOT MY DECISION. NO, NO I'M NOT, MA'AM, I'M LOOKING AT YOU, BUT I'M LOOKING AT EVERYBODY. OKAY? OKAY. MAKE SURE. YEAH. I'M LIKE, I'M WAITING ON HER. PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL. OH, I LIKE LOOKING AT EVERYBODY. OH, OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. SO I WAS UP THERE ON COUNCIL, SO I DON'T MIND PEOPLE LOOKING AT ME OKAY. BECAUSE I DON'T MIND EITHER. OKAY. OKAY. SO LET'S NOT CHANGE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. LET'S NOT NOT CHANGE THE SUBJECT. THE SUBJECT? IS THIS WHAT I JUST SAID? WHY IS THE CORE HAS NOT SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THIS LETTER? AND YOU ALL ARE ASSUMING AND COMING TO SOME CONCLUSION THAT IT MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE LETTER GOING OUT. IT'S NOT A PROBLEM TO THE CORE. SAY IT'S A PROBLEM. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. I'M NOT REPRESENTING NOBODY. I'M LISTENING TO WHAT Y'ALL SAYING. I'M GOING LIKE, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM YOU'RE PLAYING? WANT TO PLAY WITH WORDS? WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? THE HOLD SOMETHING UP TO PLAY WITH WORDS. DON'T HOLD NOTHING UP TO PLAY WITH WORDS. FIND OUT WHAT THE COURTS SAY ABOUT THE LETTER THAT YOU NEED TO SEND OUT, AND IF ANYTHING NEED TO BE RECONSTRUCTED ABOUT THE LETTER, THEN THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN DO IT. AND YOU ALL CAN BE AWARE OF WHAT? WHAT THEY ASKED. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MAYOR MOSES, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS AND I'M GOING TO BE DONE WITH IT. IN THE LEASE, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO GET A TITLE POLICY THAT WAS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE LEASE TITLE POLICY. I HAD MY LAWYER OUT OF LOUISIANA, ONE RUN, ONE FROM 1933 UP TO 2024, SAID, Y'ALL OWN THE PROPERTY. NO ENCUMBRANCES. THEN I HAD ANOTHER ONE RAN WHILE WE WERE DOING THE LEASE. SAME THING CAME BACK. CITY OWNS THE PROPERTY. WE WENT TO THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, TOOK ALL THE INFORMATION, DID, HAD OUR RESEARCH ATTORNEY LOOK AT IT AND IT CAME OUT TO. THE PROBLEM IS DD SEVEN NEVER CAME AND GOT PERMISSION FROM Y'ALL AS A FEDERAL PARTNER TO GIVE THEM PERMISSION BECAUSE THEIR JOB IS TO IS CALLED LIENS. THEY LEASE OUT EASEMENTS RIGHT AWAY. AND WHAT'S GOING ON HERE NOW IS SOMEBODY TRYING TO SAY WE AGREED TO ENCUMBRANCES. THERE ARE NO ENCUMBRANCES. THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU. THERE ARE NONE. I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO SKULLDUGGERY THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS PROJECT OURS SINCE THE MINUTE WE GOT HERE. BUT WHAT THE LORD EXALTED, NO MAN CAN BRING DOWN. I'M NOT LEAVING. I RAN A TITLE POLICY. THE CITY OWNS THE PROPERTY. Y'ALL LEASED IT TO ME. I PAID ALL THE MONEY I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY. I'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST A YEAR AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GO FORWARD WITH MY PROJECT. NOW I'M HEARING THAT THE TITLE POLICY IS DEFECTIVE, SO I'M ASKING THE CITY TO JOIN ME IN WHATEVER I CAN SHOW YOU. THE LETTER THAT HAS ALREADY GONE TO OH OLD INSURANCE TITLE COMPANY IS ALREADY CALLED YOUR ATTORNEY. I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S ANSWERING THEM OR NOT, BUT HE CALLED THEM BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KNOW. BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE CITY HAS SECRETED THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A PIPELINE OUT THERE FROM SEMPRA. THEY SECRET THE FACT THAT I NOTICED YOUR ATTORNEY IN SEPTEMBER 2024 ASKING ABOUT THIS EASEMENT. SHE NEVER ANSWERED, NEVER SAID ANYTHING. JULY 30TH, MISS STOOD RIGHT HERE IN THE COUNCIL ROOM, AND SHE STATED SHE TALKED TO ALL THE AGENCIES. Y'ALL OWN THE LAND. THERE WAS NOBODY THAT HAD. Y'ALL DIDN'T HAVE ANY LONG TERM AGREEMENTS. ALL RIGHT. SO I'M JUST I'M JUST TELLING YOU. I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT Y'ALL DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. BUT THE 900 ACRES THAT Y'ALL LEASED TO US, WE ASKING THAT YOU ASK THEM NOT TO PUT ANYTHING ELSE ON IT. OKAY. WE THANK YOU, MR. CRAWFORD. THE RESOLUTION THAT WE'VE GOTTEN, THE PR NUMBER 24820 HAS BEEN AMENDED. I'D LIKE TO GET A MOTION FOR THE AMENDED RESOLUTION, AND I'LL READ IT. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO SEND A LETTER TO THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS THAT THE CITY HAS LEASED APPROXIMATELY 2274 ACRES OF ANY RIGHTS THAT THE CITY OWNS ON OR NEAR PLEASURE ISLAND, TO DILIGENCE OFFSHORE SERVICES, LLC, WHO INTENDS TO IMPROVE AND DEVELOP IT. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR THE AMENDMENT? SO MOVED. SO MOVED. CAN I GET A SECOND? SECOND? OKAY, I GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. I MEAN, ANY NO'S. OKAY, SO I HAVE ONE. NO, FOR THE RECORD. SO GO AHEAD. YOU WANT TO SEND THAT LETTER. LET ME FINISH THE VOTE. THE [04:25:04] MOTION PASSES THE RESOLUTION. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. I DO HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL. OKAY. WELL WE CHANGED WE AMENDED IT. SO WE STILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO YOU. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. CITY ATTORNEY, YOU'VE ADOPTED THE AMENDMENT. NOW WE JUST NEED TO ADOPT THE WHOLE RESOLUTION. I NEED TO DO WHAT? I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. WE'VE ADOPTED THE AMENDMENT. NOW WE NEED TO GO BACK AND ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED. OKAY, SO LET'S GO BACK TO PR NUMBER TWO FOR. DO I NEED TO REREAD THAT AGAIN? OKAY. SO I NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE OLD THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION AS AMENDED AS AMENDED. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND? SECOND ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY NOES? ONE NO. FOR THE RECORD, THE MOTION PASSES THE RESOLUTION. I'M SORRY. THE [VIII.A.(10) P.R. No. 24821 — A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Revised Professional Services Agreement With Freese And Nichols, Inc. In An Amount Not To Exceed $164,800.00; Funding Is Available In The Planning Professional Services Account Number: 001-13-031-5420-00-10-000.] THE RESOLUTION PASSES. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NOW TO NUMBER TEN PR NUMBER 24821A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A REVISED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH FRIESEN. NICHOLS INCORPORATED IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $164,800. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE AND THE PLANNING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ACCOUNT NUMBER 00113031542000. DASH 10000. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? FOR APPROVAL? SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSIONS? YES. MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE YES. WHEN I WAS READING THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION, IT SAID THAT THEY WE HAD CONTRACTED THEM TO REVISE THE CODE AND THEY THEY REVISED THE CODE. AND ACCORDING TO WHAT I READ, IT SAYS AFTER WE APPROVED THE REVISION, THEY CHANGED SOMETHING IN THE FORM THAT WE HAD. AND BECAUSE THEY CHANGED THE THE INFORMATION ON THE PHONE, IT DIDN'T REQUIRE CERTAIN MORE PORTIONS OF THIS CODE TO GO BACK AND BE REVISED. SO BASICALLY, YOU'RE ASKING US TO APPROVE THIS, BUT I'M SAYING, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN WHEN THEY SAW IT? SO THEY WENT BACK AND REDID IT. SO THEY GO BACK AND REDO IT. WHAT WHAT'S WHAT'S THE ISSUE. WHY DID IT HAVE TO COME BACK TO US? OKAY. WE WE APPROVED THE CONTRACT AND WE SENT IT TO FREEZE. AND NICHOLS, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY AGREED TO THE CONTRACT. BUT AFTER AFTER COUNCIL APPROVED IT AND WE SENT IT TO THEM, THEIR ATTORNEY DECIDED THEY NEEDED ADDITIONAL CHANGES. AND SO I DIDN'T WANT TO PROCEED WITH THOSE ADDITIONAL CHANGES WITHOUT FULL TRANSPARENCY FOR THIS COUNCIL TO APPROVE. BUT UNDER MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE INFORMATION THAT WE SEND WAS CHANGED FROM READING, IT SAYS THAT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN CHANGED. IT HAD NOT. THAT'S A MISINTERPRETATION. SO. IN THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION WHERE THEY SAID THAT WE ARE NOW ASKING FOR US TO APPROVE THESE CHANGES, YOU KNOW, SO WE ARE I AM ASKING THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE CHANGES THAT THEY MADE. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CHANGES THEY MADE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY NOES? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE [VIII.A.(11) P.R. No. 24823 - A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Agreements With Entergy Texas, Inc. To Participate In The Entergy "Power Through" Program For The Installation And Operation Of A Utility-Owned Natural Gas Generator At The Robert A. "Bob" Bowers Civic Center; Providing For Cost Sharing, Platform Construction. Funding Is Subject To City Council Appropriation Of The 2026-2027 FY Budget.] RESOLUTION PASSES. LET'S GO TO NUMBER 11. PR NUMBER 24823. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS WITH ENTERGY TEXAS INCORPORATED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ENTERGY POWER THROUGH PROGRAM FOR THE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF A UTILITY OWNED NATURAL GAS GENERATOR AT THE ROB A ROBERT A BOWERS CIVIC CENTER PROVIDING FOR COST SHARING PLATFORM [04:30:07] CONSTRUCTION. FUNDING IS SUBJECT TO CITY COUNCIL APPROPRIATION OF THE 2026 2027 FY BUDGET. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY NOS. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. WE'RE GOING [VIII.B,(2) P.O. No. 7401 — An Ordinance Authorizing The Sale Of Two CityOwned Vacant Tracts Of Land Located At 1919 Austin Avenue (PID #92571) And 1637 6th Street (PID #89786) And Further Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Special Warranty Deeds For The Conveyance.] TO MOVE NOW TO NUMBER TWO PL NUMBER IS THAT NUMBER TWO ON PAGE EIGHT PL NUMBER 7401. WE'RE IN ORDINANCES AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF TWO CITY OWNED VACANT TRACTS OF LAND LOCATED AT 1919 AUSTIN AVENUE. NUMBER 92571 AND 16376 STREET, NUMBER 89786, AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SPECIAL WARRANTY DEEDS FOR THE CONVEYANCE. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY NOSE? THE NOSE, THE EYES HAVE IT, AND THE [VIII.B,(3) P.O. No. 7402 — An Ordinance Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Special Warranty Deed Conveying Portions Of Land Along The Sabine-Neches Waterway On Pleasure Island To The SabineNeches Navigation District Of Jefferson County, Texas, For The Purpose Of Deepening, Widening, And Improving The SabineNeches Waterway.] ORDINANCE PASSES. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO NUMBER NINE, NUMBER PAGE NUMBER NINE AND NUMBER THREE, PL NUMBER 7402. AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED CONVEYING PORTIONS OF LAND ALONG THE SABINE-NECHES WATERWAY ON PLEASURE ISLAND TO THE SABINE-NECHES NAVIGATION DISTRICT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEEPENING AND WIDENING AND IMPROVING THE SABINE-NECHES WATERWAY. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALL IN. OH, SORRY, MISS CRAWFORD, NAME AND ADDRESS FOR ME ONE MORE TIME. TERRY CRAWFORD, 2506 DON RIVER LANE, PEARLAND. DD SEVEN IS COMING TO YOU ALL ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO POSTPONE ON THAT ISLAND WITH WITH THIS RESOLUTION, THE GOVERNMENT OWNS P NINE. THEY BOUGHT THAT YEARS AGO. THAT IS THEIRS. EVERYTHING ELSE, THEY NEED PERMISSION AND THEY HAVE TO GET IT FROM THEIR FEDERAL PARTNER, THE SPONSOR WHO IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A BILATERAL AGREEMENT OR A PARTNERSHIP PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT. DD SEVEN, Y'ALL PASSED THIS RESOLUTION WITHOUT. MY 900 ACRES BEING AFFECTED. AND IT'S OKAY, BUT Y'ALL GIVE THEM A BLANKET RESOLUTION AND THEY KEEP PUTTING SPOILS ON MY PROPERTY. AND WE GOT TWO BIG PROBLEMS. BIG, BIG PROBLEMS. BECAUSE Y'ALL GAVE ME A RESOLUTION. Y'ALL GAVE ME A LEASE BY RESOLUTION. THE LEASE WAS FILED. Y'ALL TOOK MY MONEY. THE LEASE WAS RATIFIED. NOW, IF YOU GO BACK AND YOU PUT SPOILS ON PROPERTY THAT YOU LEASE ME, TELLING ME YOU TOOK IT WITH ENCUMBRANCES, SOMEBODY SAID, CHANGE THE LANGUAGE. AND THEN THEY TURN AROUND AND VOTED NO FOR AFTER THEY GOT THEIR WAY. I'M TELLING YOU THAT IF Y'ALL ALLOW THEM TO KEEP PUTTING SPOILS ON MY 900 ACRES AFTER I PAID, GOT INSURANCE, GOT TYLER POLICY. TYLER POLICY SAYS THE CITY OWNS IT. I'VE ASKED MILLIONS OF QUESTIONS. TRY TO GET YOUR YOUR ATTORNEY TO ANSWER THE OBJECTIONS THAT WE SENT TO HER THAT ARE IN THE LEASE. SHE DOESN'T RESPOND TO US AT ALL. OKAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT PORT ARTHUR DOESN'T LIKE ME. I GOT THAT, SO SO BE IT. BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO BUSINESS, THIS BUSINESS. SO I WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO TELL ME WHO AM I SUPPOSED TO TALK TO BESIDES MISS ROXANNE? BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T ANSWER. SHE HASN'T ANSWERED ME FOR THREE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE. EVERYTHING I DO IS IN WRITING WITH HER AND SHE HASN'T RESPONDED. NOT ONE TIME. AND HERE WE ARE. HERE NOW. WE'RE HERE. WE'RE HERE, AND WE WE. SHE ALWAYS PUTS THE WORD OUT THAT I NEED TO STOP TALKING ABOUT LAWSUITS. BUT I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, ON THE RECORD, IF THE 900 ACRES DOES NOT GET EXCLUDED FROM THIS HERE. I'M COMING. Y'ALL BETTER LAWYER UP AND IT BETTER BE SOMEBODY BESIDES HER. ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE YES. WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE THE SPOILS WAS GOING TO BE PLACED THE LAST TIME WE WE WERE TOLD IT WAS GOING TO BE IN 11. YEAH, 11. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. SO IF IT'S GOING TO BE IN 11, THEN THIS AGREEMENT, YOU DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE ADDED THAT OR IS IT LIKE HE SAYS, IF WE JUST DO THIS LIKE IT IS, WE HAVE NO CONTROL. OR THEY CAN SAY WE DIDN'T SPECIFY. I THOUGHT THEY SAID PD 11 FOR THIS. RIGHT, RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT THE CITY [04:35:01] ATTORNEY CLEARLY SAID THAT SPOILS WILL BE PLACED. MR. GRIFFITH SAID THIS IS PD FIVE TRACKS THAT ARE RELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM ARE NOWHERE NEAR THE 900 ACRES. SO THIS CONVEYANCE OF LAND IS JUST ABOUT CONVEYING FIVE TRACKS THAT ARE NOT EVEN ON THE SAME SIDE. OKAY THEN. GOOD OF THE ISLAND. WELL, THAT'S ALL I NEED TO DO. ALL I WANT IS CLARIFICATION. OKAY, SO IF THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT LEASE PROPERTY, I GOT NO PROBLEM WITH IT. I JUST WANTED CLARIFICATION AND NOW I GOT IT. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM. I KNOW HOW TO. OKAY, OKAY. I'M GOOD. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, WE NEED TO PUT IN THIS LANGUAGE. EXCLUDING THE 900 ACRES, I CALLED THE MANAGER OF PD SEVEN TO AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE ANY AGREEMENTS. THEY SAID, MATTER OF FACT, THEY SAID PLEASURE ISLAND IS IS OUT OF THEIR JURISDICTION. SO WHAT HE SAID AND HE SAID THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAD DEALING WITH PLEASURE ISLAND IS WHEN WE 30%, 30%, THEY PAY DUTY, PAID 30% TO BUILD THAT LEVEE. THEY SAID THAT'S ALL OKAY. BUT THIS IS SAYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT. OKAY, OKAY. WE NEED A WHOLE LIST. CITY MANAGER. MAYOR, WE NEED TO HOLD THIS. I KNOW IT'S LATE THOUGH, BUT THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE RV PARK, YOU KNOW? YEAH. DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING. I KNOW IT'S LATE, AND IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE RV PARK ON PLEASURE ISLAND. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO. THAT'S WHAT I READ ABOUT. I READ THIS THIS RELATING TO THE RV PARK? YES. YEAH. SO WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH SPOILS? THAT'S RIGHT. SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SPOILS? NO, NOTHING. IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF PLEASURE ISLAND. I KNOW WHERE IT'S AT. RIGHT? I KNOW WHERE IT'S AT. YEAH. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SCOTT. THREE 3726 LAKESHORE DRIVE. AND I HAVE A QUESTION. I JUST AS LISTENING AS THE CONVERSATION WENT BACK AND FORTH. SO ON THE. I GUESS IT WAS THE ORDINANCE, THE TOPIC THAT Y'ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT. PAGE, THE PR NUMBER. SO JUST FOR MY CLARIFICATION, YOU WERE ABLE TO AMEND THE VERBIAGE TO BE MORE SPECIFIC ON THIS ITEM ON PR TWO 4820 THAT COUNCILMAN BECKHAM VOTED AGAINST. NO, THAT WAS THE RESOLUTION. THE RESOLUTION. SO YOU CAN AMEND THAT. BUT YOU DON'T YOU CAN'T AMEND THE PR NUMBER. I'M JUST ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION. WE WILL ENTERTAIN ANYTHING TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE WE DIDN'T ENTERTAIN. WELL, I MEAN, THE WHAT COUNCILMAN LEWIS WAS SAYING ABOUT BEING SPECIFIC ABOUT THE 900. SO YOU CAN'T AMEND THAT. WE COULDN'T AMEND IT. WE JUST DID NOT. THERE'S NOTHING ON THE TABLE TO AMEND IT. OKAY. YES, MA'AM. YEAH. I JUST WAS JUST WANTING MY UNDERSTANDING. NOTHING. SO YOU. SO I PUT THE MOTION ON THE TABLE. WE'RE IN DISCUSSION. YES. SO THERE'S NO AMENDMENT ON THE TABLE AMENDMENT FOR THIS ONE HERE? NO, MA'AM. OKAY, OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY I, I ANY NO'S ONE. NO. FOR THE RECORD. THE ORDINANCE PASSES ORDINANCE [VIII.B,(4) P.O. No. 7403 — An Ordinance Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Quit Claim Deed Disclaiming Any Interest To The Property Located At 937 Marian Anderson Avenue (Property ID #95508) To Jeffery Alexander Nelms.] NUMBER SEVEN, 402 PASSES. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ORDINANCE NUMBER 7403. NUMBER FOUR, AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A QUITCLAIM DEED DISCLAIMING ANY INTEREST TO THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 937 MARIAN ANDERSON AVENUE. PROPERTY ID 95508 TO JEFFREY ALEXANDER NELMS. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE ORDINANCE [VIII.B,(5) P.O. No. 7404 — An Ordinance Deleting The City of Port Arthur, Texas, Code of Ordinances Chapter 106. Traffic, Article IV. Stopping, Standing, Parking, Section 106-255 Prohibited Parking In A Residential District And Replacing It With Section 106-225 No Parking On Unimproved Surfaces; Providing For Penalties Not To Exceed $500 Per Day Per Violation; Providing A Savings And Severability Clause; And Providing for Publication And An Effective Date. (Requested by Councilmember Kinlaw)] PASSES. NUMBER FIVE, PL NUMBER 7404. AN ORDINANCE DELETING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. CODE OF ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 106 TRAFFIC ARTICLES FOR STOPPING STANDING PARKING. SECTION 106 255 PROHIBITED PARKING IN A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AND REPLACING IT WITH SECTION 100 AND 6-225. NO PARKING ON UNIMPROVED SURFACES, PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES NOT TO EXCEED $500 PER DAY PER VIOLATION. PROVIDING A SAVINGS AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THIS IS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW. I NEED A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SO MOVED. IT'S BEEN MOVED. I NEED A SECOND. SECOND. [04:40:05] IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? YES. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR. MAYOR. PRO TEM DOUCETTE IS FIRST AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW. OKAY, I READ THE BACKGROUND AND I READ WHAT WE WHAT WAS IN THE CITY ORDINANCE PRIOR TO US REQUESTING THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT. AND I'M JUST TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE THIS AMENDMENT SAYS WE'RE CHANGING FROM WHAT WE HAD, AND IT WASN'T SPECIFICALLY LIKE IT IS IN THE AUDIENCE, BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE TALKS ABOUT GRASS PARKING ON GRASS AND AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT WHEN WE SAY UNIMPROVED, OKAY, A FRONT YARD IS NOT UNIMPROVED. RIGHT? THE FRONT YARD IS NOT UNIMPROVED. I MEAN, YOU HAD TO YOU HAD TO SURVEY THE PROPERTY, YOU HAD TO PUT THE HOUSE ON IT. THEN YOU HAD TO DO A YARD THAT'S IMPROVED, UNIMPROVED. THERE'S SOME PROPERTY THAT'S A TRACT OF LAND AND THERE'S NOTHING ON IT BUT A TRACT OF LAND. BUT WHEN WE SAY UNIMPROVED, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IF THAT'S GOING TO COVER WHAT WAS IN THE OTHER ONE, BECAUSE THE OTHER ONE SPECIFICALLY TALKED ABOUT THE GRASS, WHICH NOW. SO I'M CONFUSED WITH JUST USING THAT TERMINOLOGY IN PLACE OF WHAT WE HAVE. OKAY. OKAY. YEAH, I WANT SOMEONE TO ANSWER IT. OH OKAY. CAN WE GET SOMEONE TO RESPOND TO UNIMPROVED WOULD BE THE OPPOSITE OF IMPROVED AND IMPROVED SURFACE IS DEFINED IN THE ORDINANCE IS DEFINED AS A SURFACE THAT WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED TO INCLUDE ASPHALT, CONCRETE, BRICK, OR ANY OTHER HARD DUSTLESS MATERIAL. OKAY, SO THERE'S ROADS, RIGHT? BASICALLY. OKAY. AND AND IT'S NOT ROADS, BUT IT'S AN IMPROVED SURFACE. OKAY. WELL WHAT I'M SAYING THOUGH IS IT'S NOT A FRONT YARD. OKAY. SO WHAT IS THAT. YEAH. I MEAN IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE FRONT YARD IS MADE OF. IF IT'S GRASS, THE PARKING OF A VEHICLE COULD NOT BE ALLOWED. IT HAS TO BE AN IMPROVED SURFACE. OKAY. SO ARE WE STILL GOING TO HAVE THAT PORTION? SEE THAT'S MY CONCERN WHEN WE CHANGED CHANGE THESE ORDINANCE. AND TALKING ABOUT WE'RE GETTING VERY SPECIFIC. BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT'S IN THE ORDINANCE AS IT STANDS NOW THAT IS VERY CLEAR. YOU KNOW, SO WHEN I READ THE NEW ORDINANCE THAT I'M FIXING TO VOTE FOR, WILL THAT INCLUDE WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT THE GRASS, OR IS IT GOING TO JUST USE THAT WORD UNIMPROVED? THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW. ARE WE GOING TO DELETE THE WHOLE SECTION WHERE THEY TALKED ABOUT THE GRASS AND REPLACE IT WITH JUST THIS TERM, WHICH DOES NOT ADDRESS SPECIFIC? THAT'S MY QUESTION. WELL. WELL, I'LL WAIT FOR AN ANSWER. I HAVE TO GET AN ANSWER. YOU GO. I THINK I'VE MADE IT REALLY CLEAR. NO YOU DIDN'T. I'M SORRY THAT YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT, SIR. BUT YOU CANNOT PARK A VEHICLE. DON'T RAISE YOUR VOICE AT AN UNIMPROVED SURFACE. IT HAS TO BE AN IMPROVED SURFACE. WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO? SURFACE IS DEFINED IN THE ORDINANCE AS ASPHALT, CONCRETE, BRICK, OR ANOTHER HARD DUSTLESS MATERIAL. OKAY, SO WHEN I ASKED THE QUESTION ARE YOU TELL ME, WHAT'S GRASSES INCLUDED? GRASS WOULD BE A VIOLATION. OKAY. SO IT'S THERE'S NO NEED TO GIVE ME A RESPONSE. I'M A COUNCIL MEMBER. AND ABOVE ALL, DON'T RAISE YOUR VOICE WHEN YOU'RE ADDRESSING ME. I'M NOT A PERSON THAT DISCOUNT. I RESPECT YOU, AND I EXPECT THE SAME. DON'T DO THAT. IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN. DON'T TELL ME I'VE READ IT. AND IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TALK TO ME THAT WAY. GET MY MESSAGE. ALRIGHT. BUT I HOPE THE COUNCIL DO ALRIGHT, BECAUSE YOU DO IT AGAIN. OKAY, I'M GOING TO PUT YOU IN YOUR PLACE. COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW, WE ALREADY HAVE AN ORDINANCE WITH PARKING IN FRONT YARD. I MEAN, IF WE DON'T KNOW THAT, I MEAN, THAT'S IN THE ORDINANCE, BUT [04:45:05] ALL WE WANTED TO DO OR WHAT I PUT THIS ON HERE, WAS TO PUT MORE TEETH IN SOME OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE. WE SAID WE WANTED TO CLEAN UP PORT ARTHUR. WE CAN'T DO THAT WITH THE TYPE OF ORDINANCE WE HAVE IN PLACE BECAUSE IT'S SO VAGUE. I PUT THIS ON HERE SO WE CAN PUT MORE TEETH IN IT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKING DOWN THOMAS BOULEVARD. SOME OF THOSE ESPLANADES WE TALKED ABOUT JUST TO PUT MORE TEETH IN IT, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR ORDINANCE. AND THEN WHEN IT'S TIME TO ENFORCE, THEY COME TO COURT OR THEY COME OR WANT TO BE LEGAL. AND THEY SAY, WELL, LOOK HERE. IT DOESN'T SPECIFICALLY SAY THIS. WELL, IT DOES IN A WAY. IT'S BROAD AND IT'S IT'S A MATTER OF INTERPRETATION LIKE YOU JUST MENTIONED. BUT THE REASON I PUT THIS ON, WE ALREADY HAVE IT IN THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU CAN'T PARK IN THE FRONT. PEOPLE JUST DO IT ANYWAY. THEY CAN'T PARK DOWN THOMAS BOULEVARD. THEY DO IT ANYWAY. AND THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR STREETS AND OUR CURBS AND GUTTERS AND DRAINAGE AND SEWER, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE THAT COME BEHIND US, YOU KNOW, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY PORT ARTHUR LIKE WE HAVE. SO THE REASON I DID THIS IS BECAUSE OF THAT MAYOR PRO TEM. GOOD. OKAY. GOOD ANSWER. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER. I HAVE A COUNCILMEMBERS LIGHT ON COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. SURE. NEIL. THE ORIGINAL FINE WAS WAS IT $100 OR 200? IT WAS $100. IT HAS NOW BEEN CHANGED TO UP TO $500. SO WHY DID WE JUST CHANGE THAT? THE AMOUNT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN? AS OPPOSED TO THE LANGUAGE AND STUFF? WELL, WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY TAKING A MAYOR. I'M SORRY. YEAH I UNDERSTAND, COUNCILMEMBER. GO AHEAD AND RESPOND. WELL, YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY CHANGING. YOU JUST PUT MORE TEETH IN IT. IT'S ALREADY IN THERE. $500. YEAH. BUT BUT IF YOU'RE YEAH THEY'RE PLAYING WITH THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT OKAY. BUT NO. WELL THEY'RE GETTING READY TO CHANGE THE DESIGN ON THOMAS CAN RECONSTRUCT THOMAS BOULEVARD. EXACTLY. THE BIG PROBLEM WITH TOWN BOULEVARD I DISCOVERED YEARS AGO. THEY DON'T HAVE A CURB, SO I'LL MAKE SURE THEY PUT A CURB ON IT. THEIR CARS UP. WHEN I'M WITH YOU. I'M WITH YOU, COUNCILMAN LEWIS. THE THING IS THAT WE WANT TO IMPROVE. AND IF WE DO THAT, AND WE. AND MY THING IS NOT TO JUST IMPOSE SOME TYPE OF FINE. WE WANT TO EDUCATE PEOPLE. YOU CAN'T DO IT. WE'LL GET THEIR ATTENTION. AND THEN POSSIBLY, YOU KNOW, THIS WHOLE CITY CAN SAY, WELL, LOOK HERE, WE UNDERSTAND WE CAN'T PARK IN THE FRONT YARD UNAPPROVED SERVICES. WE UNDERSTAND. IT'LL GET YOUR ATTENTION, IT'LL GET YOUR ATTENTION. AND THAT GOES FOR ANYTHING THAT GOES FOR THOSE CAR LOTS, THAT GOES FOR THOSE MECHANIC SHOPS. THAT'S PARKING ALL IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE, YOU KNOW, ON THE THE RIGHT OF WAYS ON THE SIDEWALKS. THEY JUST DON'T CARE. COUNCILMAN LEWIS. AND OUR OUR JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, EDUCATE THEM. AND IF THEY CHOOSE TO CONTINUE DOING IT, WE FIND THEM. AND WE HAD TWO TEETH. THAT'S ALREADY GOING TO BE IN THE ORDINANCE. AND JUST LIKE WE HAD THE NOISE ORDINANCE COMING TOMORROW, I HAD ONE GUY UP TO $1,500. HE FINALLY GOT HIS ATTENTION. COUNCILMEMBER HAVERFIELD. AND THEN MR. SCOTT, THANK YOU. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PUT MORE TEETH INTO OUR ORDINANCES. MA'AM. COUNCILMAN, SHE WAS TALKING. GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD STEP IN PUTTING MORE TEETH INTO OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE AND ALSO INCREASING THE FINE. MY QUESTION IS, IN THE EVENT THAT I KNOW THE FINE IS 500 PER VIOLATION PER DAY, AT WHAT POINT LIKE ON THE ESPLANADE WILL VEHICLES BE TOWED OR THEY JUST REMAIN THERE AND CONTINUE TO RAISE? I MEAN, RAKE UP FIVE. COUNCILWOMAN HAMILTON, THAT QUESTION TO ME, OR IS THAT FOR LEGAL OR ARE YOU WANTING TO GET MY DID YOU REQUEST. YEAH. WHAT WERE YOUR REQUESTS? WELL, YOU KNOW, I PUT THAT ON THERE. AND LIKE I SAID AGAIN, IT'S TO EDUCATE, YOU KNOW, IF IF YOU'RE PARKING, OF COURSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOME TYPE OF WARNING, SOME TYPE OF STICKER ON YOUR CAR. YOU CAN'T DO THIS. THAT'S WHAT I'VE DISCUSSED WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY, AS WELL AS CODE ENFORCEMENT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE. WE ALREADY HAVE IT IN PLACE. WE'RE JUST NOT ENFORCING IT, OR WE DON'T HAVE IT BEEFED UP ENOUGH TO GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE DOING IT. THE PHOTOS I GET, THOSE PHOTOS THAT YOU GET AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE ON THE COUNCIL, LOOK, OUR JOB IS TO EDUCATE YOU FIRST AND THEN IF YOU CHOOSE TO CONTINUE, JUST LIKE I SAID, THOSE MECHANIC SHOPS THAT CONTINUOUSLY PARK ON SIDEWALKS OR ESPLANADES AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, TIRE ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT IF YOU [04:50:04] DON'T CORRECT THAT THAT ACTION, WE'RE GOING TO EDUCATE YOU AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO FIND YOU. RIGHT. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT PART AND I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK IT'S GOOD. MY QUESTION IS WHEN YOU DO NOT COMPLY WHAT COMES NEXT. THAT'S THAT'S ON THAT PERSON OR THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT OWNS THAT VEHICLE. I THINK THAT GOES TO MUNICIPAL COURTS. AND ALONG WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY, WHEN THAT FINE IS BEING PRESENTED AT THAT COURT DATE. BUT OUR JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE EDUCATE THEM, LET THEM KNOW YOU CAN'T DO IT. AND THEN THAT PROCESS THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF HAS TO GO THROUGH ITS OWN PROPER CHANNELS. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MR. SCOTT, ANY OTHER. OKAY. I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, COUNCILMAN KINLAW WITH THIS THAT YOU PUT IN PLACE, WHAT IF A CITIZEN DECIDE TO CEMENT PART OF HIS WHOLE FRONT YARD? IS THAT OKAY? THEY CAN PARK THAT WAY. OR IF THEY DECIDE TO PUT ASPHALT IN THE FRONT YARD TO PARK THEIR CARS, WOULD THAT BE OKAY? YEAH, WE HAVE THAT NOW. WE ALREADY HAVE THAT IN OUR CITY WITH PEOPLE DEVELOPING THEIR FRONT YARD. I KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING. WOULD THAT BE OKAY? IT WOULD BE OKAY AS LONG AS THEY AS LONG AS THEY APPROVE IT LIKE THAT, THEY CAN. YES, SIR. SO THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED IMPROVING. YES. THE PROPERTY. YES, SIR. AND THEY CAN PARK ON THE CONCRETE OR ASPHALT THAT THEY PUT IN THE FRONT YARD. YES, SIR. OKAY, OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY I ANY NO'S. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE ORDINANCE PASSES AT THIS TIME. WE'RE GOING TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO MOVED OH OH SECONDS. ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I I ANY NO'S. EYES HAVE IT. YOU CAN GO HOME. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.