Apr 21, 2026 City Council

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YOU MIGHT DO SO BY CALLING 877853524 SEVEN, OR (888) 788-0099. WHEN YOU DIAL THE NUMBER, YOU MAY THEN PUT IN OUR MEETING ID, WHICH IS 81052757417, AND OUR PASSCODE OF 593012. ALSO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AND THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS. YOU WE WILL DO SO. OR YOU CAN DO SO BY CALLING 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE TO OUR CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 409 19838115. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE MUTE OR TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES, YOUR ALL DEVICES, MOBILE DEVICES. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR INVOCATION, OUR PLEDGE AND OUR ROLL CALL. I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCILMAN KINLAW TO LEAD US IN A WORD OF PRAYER. THEN OUR PLEDGE AND OF COURSE, THEN OUR ROLL CALL. SURE. MAYOR, WILL YOU STAND WITH ME? OH, HEAVENLY FATHER, ONCE AGAIN WE COME HUMBLY TO YOU IN PRAYER. WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THIS COUNCIL, THIS CITY, THIS GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. WE ASK YOU TO CONDUCT THAT. WE CONDUCT OUR MEETING IN DECENT AND ORDER. WE ASK ALL THESE BLESSINGS IN OUR SON JESUS, I PRAY, WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 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, WE ESTABLISH A QUORUM. PLEASE. MAYOR MOSES HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS. COUNCIL MEMBER. HAMILTON. EVER FEEL. COUNCIL MEMBER.

BECKHAM HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. KINLAW HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, YOU HAVE A QUORUM. MAYOR THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, ITEM NUMBER TWO ON OUR AGENDA PROCLAMATIONS WE HAVE NONE THIS

[III.A.(1) Ash Garner Regarding Juneteenth Festival.]

AND PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS. THANK YOU. HOW Y'ALL DOING? WE'RE DOING WELL. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JASPER GARNER, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE JUNETEENTH COMMITTEE AND ALSO MISS GAIL PELHAM. I KNOW Y'ALL USUALLY SEE MISS GAIL PELHAM. SHE SHE'S USUALLY THE PERSON THAT I GUESS IS THE HOST FOR THE JUNETEENTH EVENT. AND SO ME AND MISS PELHAM HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR A FEW YEARS. I'VE BEEN DOING THE SOFTBALL EVENTS, AND MISS PELHAM HAS BEEN DOING THE JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL. AND SO WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT PUTTING ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER UNDER ONE UMBRELLA. AND SO THIS YEAR, ME AND MISS PELHAM TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ME BEING THE FACE OF IT AND ME TAKING OVER. AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT SHE'S BECOME ILL. AND SO NOW, YOU KNOW, IT HAS COME UPON ME TO, YOU KNOW, HANDLE BUSINESS FOR HER. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR BASICALLY THE SAME THING THAT SHE HAS GOTTEN OVER THE YEARS. AND ALSO THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS WE'LL BE CHANGING THE LOCATIONS.

OKAY. OKAY, SO LET ME SEE. SO THE DATES FOR THE JUNETEENTH EVENTS THIS YEAR WILL BE JUNE 4TH. THAT WILL BE THE FLAG RAISING. MISS CAROLINE, MISS CAROLINE, THE LIBRARIAN. SHE'LL BE THE PERSON THAT WILL BE OVER THE FLAG RAISING. AND SHE'LL DO IT DOWNTOWN JUST LIKE SHE DOES IT EVERY YEAR. OKAY, JUNE 19TH, WE WILL HAVE THE JUNETEENTH PARADE, AND THAT WILL BE FROM LAMAR UNIVERSITY ON PROCTOR TO THE PAVILION. AND FOLLOWING THAT, WE WILL HAVE THE JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL, AND THAT WILL BE FROM 6:00 PM TO 10:00 PM. AND THE NEXT DAY WILL BE

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AND SO I'M HERE TO ASK THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO. TO PARTNER WITH US AND TO PROVIDE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THIS EVENT SUCCESSFUL. AND THOSE THINGS WOULD BE BARRICADES FOR THE STREETS, FOR THE CLOSURES, POLICE PRESENCE, EMERGENCY EMS, TRASH CANS, FIRE DEPARTMENT, STAGE DECORATIONS FOR JUNETEENTH, AND ALSO DECORATIONS FOR THE FLAG POLES.

AND FOR JUNE THE 20TH, WE'RE ASKING FOR THE FIELDS TO BE THE FOUR SOFTBALL FIELDS ON LUCIAN ADAMS PARK TO BE REDONE AND. BARRICADES AS WELL. POLICE PRESENCE EMS. WATER AND ALSO ELECTRICITY. AND SO I GUESS THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO, I GUESS, HAVE A MEETING WITH THE CITY MANAGER SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS THESE THINGS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. IS THAT AND THAT'S IT. HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE CITY MANAGER? YOU HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY. SO YOU'D LIKE TO MEET WITH THE CITY MANAGER. YES, CORRECT.

REGARDING THOSE THINGS AND WHAT TYPE OF CONCESSIONAIRE YOU NEED TO HAVE IN PLACE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU? YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, CITY MANAGER. YES, MA'AM. WE WILL, AS WE NORMALLY DO FOR THIS EVENT. WE WILL ARRANGE THE MEETING AND INVITE ALL THE NECESSARY PARTICIPANTS, AS WE HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS WITH MISS PELHAM. OKAY? OKAY. YOU'LL SOON HEAR FROM US IF YOU'LL JUST CALL HIS OFFICE AND GET AN APPOINTMENT. THAT'D BE. YEAH, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.

OKAY? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU, MR. GARNER. ALL RIGHT, ALL

[III.B.(1) A Presentation by Pattillo, Brown & Hill, LLP Regarding the 2025 Audit.]

THANK YOU. SO THE PURPOSE OF AN AUDIT, WE'RE TRYING TO OBTAIN REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT WHETHER THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MATERIALLY CORRECT, THEY ARE FREE OF ANY MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS, WHETHER DUE TO FRAUD OR ERROR, THAT SORT OF THING. AND SO WE HAVE TO DEVELOP OUR OUR AUDIT PROCEDURES, ASSESS RISK, FOCUS ON COMPLEX AREAS WHERE THINGS COULD GO WRONG, BASICALLY IN THESE AUDITS. AND WE'RE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS AS WELL AS AUDITING STANDARDS SPECIFIC TO GOVERNMENTS. SO WE'RE ISSUING OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT ON PAGE ONE IS OUR AUDITOR'S REPORT. THIS IS REALLY WHAT USERS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WANT TO SEE ON PAGE ONE. THE SECOND PARAGRAPH, IT'LL SAY, IN OUR OPINION, THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PRESENT FAIRLY IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES, BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES DISCREETLY PRESENTED COMPONENT UNITS FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2025. SO WE'RE GIVEN AN UNMODIFIED OPINION. WE'RE SAYING THAT THIS IS FREE OF MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT, REASONABLY FREE. SO THAT'S A CLEAN OPINION.

THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE. THAT'S WHAT USERS OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WANT TO SEE AS WELL. WE ALSO ISSUE A SINGLE AUDIT REPORT, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY MORE AUDITS ON TOP

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YES, MA'AM. AND SO WHEN A LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPEND MORE THAN $1 MILLION, IT USED TO BE $750,000.

THEY UPPED THAT THRESHOLD. THAT TRIGGERS MORE AUDITS SPECIFIC TO FEDERAL OR STATE GRANTS. SO WE HAVE TO GO IN. THERE'S TEMPLATES TO THAT TELL US WHICH GRANTS THAT WE HAVE TO TEST BASED ON RISK FACTORS, BUT WE HAVE TO GO IN AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE GRANT REQUIREMENTS THAT THOSE CONTRACTS ARE BEING MET AND THAT THE THAT THERE ARE NO MATERIAL COMPLIANCE ISSUES WITH THAT. AND THAT GETS SENT, BASICALLY UPLOADED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SAY, HEY, THESE ARE THESE ARE CLEAN. AND SO FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, YOU'LL SEE THERE WAS $31 MILLION IN FEDERAL AWARDS. THAT MONEY COMES WITH STRINGS ATTACHED, YOU KNOW, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THERE'S USUALLY LOCAL PORTIONS THAT SOME MATCHING. BUT FOR THE FEDERAL PIECE, IT WAS 31 MILLION LAST YEAR. THAT WAS 30. AND THEN THE YEAR BEFORE THAT WAS ALMOST 20 MILLION. SO JUST A MAJOR PROGRAMS THAT WE TESTED THIS PAST YEAR WAS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND THE HAZARD MITIGATION PROGRAM. AND YOU'LL NOTICE FROM 2024 AND 2023, A LOT OF THESE SAME PROGRAMS ARE BEING TESTED. THOSE ARE THE ONES YOU'RE PROBABLY MORE AWARE OF. THEY'RE THE BIG ONES, RIGHT? LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THERE WAS AN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, MONEY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SENT OUT THAT YOU HAD TO SPEND.

SO FOR THIS YEAR, A LOT OF CAPITAL, ROADS IMPROVEMENTS, INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WHAT THOSE WERE. AND SO IN OUR SINGLE AUDIT REPORT, THERE IS A MATERIAL WEAKNESS OVER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, WHICH I THINK IS THE SAME ONE THAT'S BEEN THERE THE PAST COUPLE YEARS. ALTHOUGH THERE'S. AND SIGNIFICANTLY WHITTLING THOSE DOWN. I THINK IT'S THE LAST ONE LEFT. AND I'LL TOUCH BASE ON ON WHAT THAT ONE WAS HERE IN JUST A SECOND.

BUT OVER THESE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAD TO TEST, WE DIDN'T SEE ANY NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THAT.

AND SO AGAIN, THERE'S WE'RE BASICALLY GIVEN AN UNMODIFIED CLEAN OPINION ON THOSE GRANT AWARDS. BUT I'LL GO I'LL GO AHEAD AND TOUCH BASE ON WHAT THAT ON WHAT THE FINDING WAS, BECAUSE I THINK GOING FORWARD, MAYBE THIS NEXT YEAR, IT'S PROBABLY GO AWAY BECAUSE AS YOU WELL KNOW, WHEN WE STARTED, WE BASICALLY DID OUR FIVE YEAR ROTATION OF OUR FIVE YEAR AUDITS WITHIN TWO AND A HALF, THREE YEARS. SO WE WERE ALWAYS PLAYING CATCH UP. AND WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE TURNOVER WITH THE FINANCE TEAM. AND THEN LINH CAME IN. MICHAEL KNEW THIS PAST YEAR. SO WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME CHALLENGES. AND IT WAS BASICALLY RECONCILING THINGS THAT ARE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT, LIKE THOSE GRANT PROGRAMS, CASH, SOME BALANCE SHEET ITEMS. THEY'RE BIG NUMBERS. AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE VERY COMPLEX. SO IF YOU'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO PLAY CATCH UP AND GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE, WHERE THE NORMAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT A YEAR THAT WILL ESSENTIALLY GO AWAY BECAUSE THOSE ARE REALLY THE, THE ISSUES THAT WERE HINDERING GETTING SOME THINGS DONE ON TIME. BUT YEAH, THEY'RE LOOKING GOOD GOING FORWARD. I'D SAY THAT. BUT YEAH, THAT THAT SAME RECONCILIATION, INTERNAL CONTROL JUST OVER THE FINANCIAL REPORTING PROCESS IN GENERAL IS WHAT WE THE FINDING. BUT WHEN WE COME OUT LIKE OUR PLANNING PERIOD, WE COME OUT FOR A WEEK DURING INTERIM, WE SCHEDULE THREE, FOUR WEEKS AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE OF THE FISCAL YEAR. BUT DURING OUR PLANNING, WE ACTUALLY WALKED THROUGH DEPARTMENTS LIKE PAYROLL, CASH DISBURSEMENTS, CASH RECEIPTS, SEE HOW THEY'RE BEING DONE. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A BROAD ARRAY OF INTERNAL CONTROLS THAT THAT THE CITY HAS, AND WE HAVE TO TEST THOSE CONTROLS. SO OTHER THAN THIS ONE, THE OTHER ONES WERE WERE WORKING PROPERLY AS THEY SHOULD. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO TO ALL THOSE DEPARTMENTS. AND. THAT DO A GOOD JOB ON THE ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS. WE KNOW IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. AND THEN JUMPING INTO SOME HIGHLIGHTS, WE KNOW THE LET'S JUMP INTO THE CASH AND. NET POSITION OVER THE WATER AND SEWER FUND THAT IS ACTUALLY UP TOWARDS THE FRONT IN THE BIG FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THE BIG REPORT ON PAGE 19 AND 20, THERE IS A STATEMENT OF NET POSITION THAT ACTUALLY SHOWS

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IT'S THE TWD BONDS I THINK. SO THOSE ARE RESTRICTED. YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT, PAY YOUR MAKE YOUR EXPENSES AND THEN TURN AROUND AND SUBMIT THEM FOR THEM TO RELEASE FUNDS. BUT THEY ARE THERE. SO YOU'LL, YOU'LL SEE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, 2023 IN BLUE 2025. I THINK THERE WAS SOME. SO CASH BALANCES HAVE STEADILY GONE DOWN, BUT OUR NET POSITION OVERALL IS GETTING BETTER, NOT IN THE UNRESTRICTED NET POSITION. WE'RE IN LESS OF A HOLE. AND SO WE'RE COMING OUT ON THE OTHER END OF THAT. SO IN 2025, NET POSITION ACTUALLY INCREASED 4.3 MILLION COMPARED TO 2024, WHICH IT INCREASED 7.4 MILLION. SO STILL IN THE HOLE. BUT WE'RE COMING OUT BETTER OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHICH IS A POSITIVE SIGN. THAT'S GOOD. AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS YOUR GENERAL FUND, WHICH WHICH ALSO YOU'RE PROBABLY MOST WELL AWARE OF, THESE ARE WHAT YOU'VE BUDGETED FOR. MOST OF YOUR EXPENSES ARE IN HERE AND THAT'S ON PAGE. 13 IS YOUR BALANCE SHEET. YOU'VE GOT YOUR CASH, YOUR, THE, THERE AREN'T ANY LONG TERM CAPITAL ASSETS IN THIS FUND. THERE'S NO LONG TERM DEBT. THESE ARE ON A DIFFERENT BASIS OF ACCOUNTING. SO BASICALLY WHAT YOU BUDGET FOR KIND OF A MODIFIED IT'S MODIFIED ACCRUAL, BUT IT'S CLOSER TO CASH BASIS WITHOUT ANY LONG TERM LIABILITIES SHOWN THERE. SO THAT ON PAGE 13 AND 14. AND THEN YOUR INCOME STATEMENT IS 16 AND 17, YOU'LL SEE JUST SOME CHANGES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. WHAT USERS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE, THEY GENERALLY GO TO HOW MUCH EQUITY DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR GENERAL FUND GOING FORWARD? HOW MUCH OF THAT IS UNRESTRICTED OR UNASSIGNED THAT YOU CAN USE HOWEVER YOU PLEASE GOING FORWARD? AND YOU'LL SEE BACK IN 2023, WE COMPARED TO WHAT YOUR CURRENT YEAR EXPENSES WERE. AND TO SEE HOW LONG IS THAT GOING TO GET YOU GOING FORWARD. SO IN 2023 THERE WERE 70 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES IN THE GENERAL FUND, WITH 28.7 MILLION IN UNRESTRICTED EQUITY. SO YOU HAD ABOUT 4.9 MONTHS LOOKING FORWARD. IF YOU HAD TO USE THAT, THAT FUND BALANCE, HOW LONG IS THAT GOING TO GET YOU? THAT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN YOU ABOUT FOUR, 4.9 MONTHS AND IT'S GONE. IT WENT DOWN A LITTLE BIT IN 2024. AND THEN IT TOOK A DIVE IN 2025. BUT I WOULD I'M GOING TO TOUCH HERE BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED. SOME EXPENSES EXPENDITURES WENT UP TO 83 MILLION. BUT ALSO KIND OF WHAT HAPPENED WAS YOU'VE ALSO GOT THE HAZARD MITIGATION FUND, WHICH IS ON PAGE 17. AND SO THIS IS A VERY BIG GRANT THAT WE'VE HAD THAT WE HAD TO TEST FOR PART OF OUR GRANT, SINGLE AUDIT COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS. WELL, THOSE THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING SPENT IN A TIMELY MANNER, BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND REQUEST IT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THEY HAVE TO APPROVE THOSE EXPENDITURES AND THEN SEND YOU THE MONEY BACK. WELL, THERE'S A BIG DELAY IN THAT. AND YOU'LL SEE ON PAGE 17, THERE'S IT'S KIND OF $37 MILLION IN NEGATIVE

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YEAH, THERE'S 11 MILLION DUE FROM FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S. MOST OF THAT'S NOT EVEN COMING IN WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER YEAR END. SO THERE IS A BIG DELAY. AND THEN HAVING TO WHEN YOU GET INTO THAT POSITION, YOU HAVE TO BORROW FROM SOME OTHER FUNDS. SO THAT'S ESSENTIALLY BORROWING FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR A TIME PERIOD. THAT MONEY WILL GO BACK. BUT THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IS FOR THIS GRANT PROGRAM, MONEY'S HAVING TO BE SPENT, BUT IT'S NOT COMING BACK IN. AND SO WE'RE WE'RE ESSENTIALLY BORROWING FROM THE GENERAL FUND AT THAT POINT. BUT IT WILL SHOULD CORRECT ITSELF IN THE FUTURE.

BUT THAT WAS JUST ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING KIND OF OUT OF THE CITY'S CONTROL WHEN YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE FUNDS THAT YOU'VE REQUESTED FOR REIMBURSEMENT BACK IN A TIMELY MANNER. BUT UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IN THE GENERAL FUND IS STILL POSITIVE.

IT'S 1.8. GENERALLY, WE WOULD WANT TO SEE MOST GOVERNMENTS WANT TO SEE BETWEEN 2 AND 3 MONTHS. BUT REALLY, AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT IN A HOLE, THAT'S THAT'S REALLY THE MINIMUM. AND WHERE ANYONE WANTS TO SHOOT FOR IS REALLY JUST YOUR OWN RISK FACTORS THAT COULD CHANGE FROM GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT, BUT IT'S GENERALLY TWO MONTHS. SO IT'S NOT TERRIBLE. IT SEEMED REASONABLE REASONS FOR IT. IT'S NOT OVERSPENDING PER SE OR, OR MISMANAGEMENT OF THAT KIND OF STUFF. SO THE OTHER DELIVERABLE WAS ACTUALLY JUST A LETTER. IT'S A COMMUNICATION LETTER THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO. PRESENT TO YOU ALL. WE CAN GIVE IT TO YOU VERBALLY OR GIVE IT TO YOU IN WRITTEN FORM. WE JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S WRITTEN FORM IS EASIER, JUST LAYS OUT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES OVER THE AUDIT MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES. WHAT DO WE THINK IS RISKIER AREAS? YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME? CASH. THAT'S A HIGH RISK AREA, LONG TERM DEBT, SPLIT FUNDED DEBT, COMPLEX AREAS. WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS SOME MORE TIME ON THOSE KIND OF THAT'S BASICALLY IT. BUT THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION. IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, SURE. I HAVE A COUPLE OF LIGHTS GOING. COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW, HEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR REVIEW OF THE THE AUDIT, BUT I WANTED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE WEAKNESSES AND THE THREATS OF THIS AUDIT.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF WE'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING RIGHT, WE NEED TO GET SOME MORE TRAINING ON IT.

I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT. YES, I HEAR THAT. YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR STAFFING AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE TRAINED IN THOSE POSITIONS. BUT I NEED, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, NEEDED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, THOSE WEAKNESSES, THOSE THREATS, THOSE THINGS HAS TO COME. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT IN OUR RESERVES SO MANY MONTHS. SO WE TRY TO DO THAT. I THINK WE'VE WE'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH THAT OVER THE YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. BUT IN MY IN MY CASE, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE OF YOUR YOUR, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR OBSERVATION OF THE WEAKNESSES AND THE THREATS TO COME. IF YOU CAN ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR THAT, FOR ME, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. SO ACCOUNTING STANDARDS IN GENERAL ARE COMPLEX. THEY NEVER MAKE THINGS EASIER ON ANYBODY. BUT WE KNOW THE LAST, YOU KNOW, FEW YEARS THERE WAS TURNOVER IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. I THINK THAT WHEN WE STARTED, I CAN'T REMEMBER HER NAME, WHO IT WAS, BUT IT WAS JUST KIND OF HER. AND IT WAS HARD TO, YOU KNOW, COME IN, MEET NEW PEOPLE, FIGURE OUT HOW TO, YOU KNOW, HOW THE CITY WORKS THE FIRST, FIRST, THE FIRST AND SECOND YEAR OF A, OF A PICKING UP A NEW CLIENT IS ALWAYS THE HARDEST FOR EVERYBODY. BUT THEN LYNN CAME IN AND THINGS STARTED MOVING FASTER. SO WE WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF HER. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE BECAUSE WE WERE WE WERE ALWAYS PLAYING CATCH UP. I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR WE WE ISSUED LIKE THREE AUDIT REPORTS. NO, IT WAS FIVE. IT WAS FIVE AUDITS. AND AND IN THREE YEARS. SO THAT WAS THE CATCH UP THAT LYNN AND MICHAEL HAD TO DO. THAT'S THAT WAS THE THE BIG RISK. WHEN THERE'S TURNOVER, YOU LOSE SOME INFORMATION. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR FOR A LONG TIME AND THEN THEY LEAVE. NEW PEOPLE COME IN. IT TAKES TIME TO LEARN THE CITY, TO LEARN EVERYTHING ABOUT ALL THE COMPLEX AREAS. BUT THAT'S THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A RISK. AND SO THE LONGER LYNN

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ALL RIGHT. THANKS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST RISK OF TURNOVER IS LACK OF SEPARATION OF DUTIES.

SO GETTING PROPERLY MANNED IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, GETTING PEOPLE INTO PROPER ROLES IS JUST ENSURES THAT YOU'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO ACCORDING TO THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. AND WHEN PEOPLE HAVE LEFT AND THOSE ROLES ARE ARE VACANT FOR A WHILE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET THOSE CONTROLS BACK IN PLACE. SO. OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU. BUT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT. I MEAN, I THINK THE COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THAT. I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS TO BE AWARE WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOUR AUDITS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU INCLUDE THOSE STATEMENTS. BUT THE COLLECTION I DIDN'T HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT THE COLLECTION ASPECT OF IT. AS FAR AS THE PROCESS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT, MICHAEL.

OH, COLLECTION LIKE CASH RECEIPTS. EXACTLY. PROPERTY TAXES. EXACTLY. THOSE THINGS.

PROPERTY TAXES ACTUALLY ONE OF THE EASIER. OKAY. BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE, IT'S IT'S A LOT EASIER TO WE THERE'S A TRIAL BALANCE THAT SAY THIS IS HOW MUCH PROPERTY TAXES WE'VE COLLECTED.

IT'S A LOT EASIER TO TURN AROUND AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER COLLECTED THE, THE, THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT NUMBERS, THE TAX OFFICE, IT'S EASIER TO JUST TURN AROUND AND SAY, THIS IS HOW MUCH THEY COLLECTED. THEY WILL CONFIRM THAT WITH ME. YEAH. AND SO WHAT IT'S EASIER FOR US TO DO IS SAY, OKAY, THIS IS HOW MUCH IS ON THE BOOKS THAT MATCHES THAT CONFIRMATION. SO WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE OURS ARE WORKING PROPERLY. OKAY. BUT IT'S EITHER THAT ON STUFF ON TOP OF THAT, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE YOUR BANK RECONCILIATIONS ARE DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

AND THE REASON I SAY THAT YOU GUYS CAME UP WITH THE SCOPE OF WORK, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL IS, YOU KNOW, DUTY IS TO LOOK AT THAT SCOPE OF WORK AND TO ANALYZE THAT DATA AND TO PROCESS THAT DATA. SO MAYBE I NEED TO JUST GET OFFLINE WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS STAFF, WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND ASK THOSE DIRECT QUESTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO GET ANSWERED WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WEAKNESSES AND THREATS. THANK YOU MAYOR. OKAY. I PASSED OVER A FEW PEOPLE. I'M SO SORRY, CITY ATTORNEY. YOU HAD YOUR LIGHT ON? NO, MA'AM. I'M SORRY. OKAY.

MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCET. YES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I'M GLAD. COUNCILMAN KINLAW OPENING THE QUESTION BECAUSE THAT SEEMED TO BE THE PROBLEM. WE HEAR ALL THE GOOD THINGS, BUT WE DON'T HEAR WHAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON. I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOUR REPORT. I'M JUST GLANCING AT IT. AND THERE ARE THINGS. JUMPS, JUMPS OUT ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY THINGS THAT I'M CONCERNED WITH WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCES. YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON.

WE TALK ABOUT PERSONNEL TURNOVER. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT TOO. IT'S NOT SO MUCH AS PERSONNEL TURNING OVER, IT'S JUST FOLLOWING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. YOU SEE, THAT'S SOMETIMES THE BIGGEST PROBLEM. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS SOMEBODY DOING THINGS THEIR WAY AND HOW THEY WANT TO DO IT, AS OPPOSED TO THE PROCESS. WE FOLLOW THE PROCESS. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN WE HAVE A TURNOVER, WE'LL STILL BE DOING THE SAME THING AND THE RIGHT THING. OKAY. BUT ONE THING I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT, BECAUSE THIS IS THE IT JUST JUMPED OUT AT ME ON THE, I GUESS IT'S YOUR LETTER. THE SMALLER LETTER. YES. RIGHT. YES, YES. LET'S GO TO PAGE TWO AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SPLIT, THE SPLIT FRONT, THE SPLIT FUNDED DEBT. YES. OKAY. I'M NOT LIKE YOU GOT G, A AND B TO TALK TO ME ABOUT G, A AND BTA BECAUSE YOU WENT OVER MY HEAD WHEN YOU. OH, SORRY, G A IS THE GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES OKAY? AND YOUR BTA IS YOUR BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES. SO GENERAL, SOME OF YOUR SOME OF THE LONG TERM BONDS EITHER LEASES. IT COULD BE LEASES, FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS. THOSE ARE LONG TERM LIABILITIES. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SHOW UP IN YOUR GENERAL IN YOUR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS, BUT THEY SHOW UP IN THE BUSINESS TYPE FUNDS, YOUR PROPRIETARY FUNDS, WHICH IS BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES AND THEN GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES. WELL, A LOT OF THOSE BONDS, SOME MONEY IS DESIGNATED AND RESTRICTED FOR WATER, SEWER THAT NEEDS TO BE SEPARATE IN ITS OWN FUND BECAUSE IT'S RESTRICTED FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES. AND THEN SOME OTHER STUFF IS RESTRICTED FOR ROADS OR A SPECIFIC. A BUILDING OR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT. SO THEY

[00:30:03]

AND SO THAT THAT JUST FOR US AS AUDITORS, THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE RISK, THE HIGHEST, THE HIGHEST TICKET ITEMS, SO THAT WE IDENTIFY AS A RISK THAT JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO RESPOND TO THOSE RISKS. NOT THAT IT'S A FINDING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WELL, MY POINT OF BRINGING THIS UP, RIGHT, IS THAT'S BEEN A PET PEEVE OF MINE CONSISTENTLY ABOUT OUR FINANCES AND THE WAY WE APPROPRIATE THE MONEY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. YES. BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET MONEY SPECIFIC, SPECIFIC PURPOSES, THAT'S HOW THE MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT. THE OTHER THING IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INTERNAL CONTROLS, OKAY, WE HAVE ORDINANCE, OKAY? WE HAVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODES. SO NO MATTER WHO'S HERE OR HOW WE DO BUSINESS, THERE'S ALWAYS A BLOCK THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THAT BLOCKS PREVENTS US FROM MISAPPROPRIATING OR ABUSING TAXPAYERS MONEY. OKAY. YES, SIR. AND I READ THAT PORTION OF IT. I'M GOING TO GO BACK THROUGH THE THROUGH THE WHOLE REPORT. BUT ONE THING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, INTERNAL CONTROL THAT I'VE BEEN HARPING ON THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND THAT IS MONTHLY REPORTS. OKAY. YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HAVE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. IT'S NOT IT'S A GOOD IDEA. WE WOULD LIKE TO WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS WE GET A MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. WE DON'T GET IT. BUT THAT'S HOW COME WE CAN END UP WITH POINT THREE MONTHS OVER THERE, LEFT. AND THEN YOU COMING UP AND TELLING ME IN THE AUDIT THAT WE'RE THAT LOW, OKAY, THERE'S THINGS WE CAN DO AT VARIOUS TIMES TO STOP A SLIDE. YES, YOU'RE CORRECT. AND WE MUST WE MUST BE AWARE OF THOSE THINGS SO THAT WHEN THE TIME COME, WE CAN STOP IT HERE INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE BOTTOM.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE HEARING TODAY, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS AND WE ADDRESS THEM ON THE BASE. SO ANYTIME WE GET TO THE POINT WHEREBY WE'RE NOT TRENDING CORRECT, THEN WE CAN ALWAYS DO IT BECAUSE YOU, I MEAN, THE SAME WAY AT YOUR HOME, YOU KNOW, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THEY THINK FINANCE FOR A MUNICIPALITY IS A BIG DEAL. IT'S NOT. IF YOU CAN MANAGE YOUR FUNDS AT YOUR, ON YOUR PERSONAL SAVINGS OR CHECKING ACCOUNT, YOU CAN DO THIS TOO. IT'S THE SAME THING IF YOU KNOW YOU, YOU GOTTA KEEP THE CASH IN THE SAVINGS FOR THE HARD TIMES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE TO SPEND AND GO DOWN. SO I'LL GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE REPORT ITSELF, BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING OUT THE POINT THAT YOUR PRESENTATION WAS VERY GOOD. IT WAS VERY POSITIVE. BUT AS COUNCILMAN KINLAW ASKED YOU TO BRING OUT, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT RISKS FOR IMPROVEMENT, RIGHT? OH, YES. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE JUST GIVEN TO US AND WE JUST TAKE OFF WITH IT. THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE CONDUCT A WORKSHOP AND UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE, WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO.

THIS IS NOT NOTHING WE TAKE AND JUST PUT IT ON THE SHELF. CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. COUNCILMEMBER FRANK. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN DOUCET FOR HIS QUESTIONS ON INTERNAL CONTROL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I

[00:35:02]

OF COURSE, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. IF THINGS COULD BE DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER. YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT WE'RE TRYING TO SEE, OKAY, IS THERE ANY FINDINGS OVER THIS? IS THIS GOING TO HAVE B A A BIG MATERIAL WEAKNESS WHERE IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. AND SO WE KNOW CASH DISBURSEMENTS, THE BIG ONES WERE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. AND THEN SO PROJECTS COULD BE DONE. AND YOU'VE GOT SO MANY OF THEM. IT IS VERY HARD SOMETIMES TO EVEN GET THAT INVOICE BACK FROM THEM IN A TIMELY MANNER. I THINK THERE WAS ONE WE SAW WHATEVER CONSTRUCTION AGENCY IT WAS WHERE IT JUST OH, WE DIDN'T, IT JUST CAME IN. IT WAS FOR SEPTEMBER. THAT NEEDS TO GET BOOKED BACK AS AN EXPENSE AND PAYABLE. AND WE JUST GOT IT, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. SO IT GOES, IT KIND OF GOES BOTH WAYS. IT'S HAVING THE PROCESS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, BIG THINGS AREN'T GOING TO GET MISSED IS REALLY THE BIG THING THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON, WHICH WAS GETTING CAUGHT. PREVENTIVE MEASURES, BUT LITTLE LITTLER THINGS. COULD THINGS GET PAID OFF SOONER? IT IT DIDN'T RISE TO ANY LEVEL THAT WE THOUGHT THIS IS A THIS IS A FINDING TO THAT DEGREE, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY THAT WE HAD TALKED TO LINH ABOUT THAT HAD ANY BIG ISSUES OTHER THAN THE ONE OVER THE FINANCIAL REPORTING. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MR. AARON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. WE'RE GOING TO TRY. COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL AGREE SO THAT MR. AARON CAN MAKE HIS WAY OUT. WE HAVE ON PAGE NUMBER SIX THE RESOLUTION MATCHING OUR AUDIT. I'M SORRY.

SOMEBODY HAVE A QUESTION. OH. CITY MANAGER, YOUR LIGHTS ON. SORRY, MAYOR. REALLY QUICKLY. I JUST WANT TO THANK MICHAEL AND LYNN AND THE ACCOUNTING STAFF FOR A JOB WELL DONE IN TERMS OF HOW THEY HAVE COORDINATED THEIR EFFORTS WITH WITH THE THE AUDITORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON TIME. WE DID GET IT ON TIME. THERE WAS SOME CONCERN AS TO WHETHER WE WERE GOING TO MAKE THE DEADLINE, BUT WE DID GET IT ON TIME. WE HAVE A PROBLEM. THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM.

AS COUNCIL INDICATED. THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THAT BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET TO THE GOLD STANDARD BY ALL MEANS. BUT WE HAVE A ONE PROBLEM, WHICH IS A GOOD PROBLEM FOR THE CITY. WE HAVE MORE PROJECTS GOING ON HERE THAT HAS BEEN FEDERALLY FUNDED AT ZERO COST TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, AT ZERO COST TO TAXPAYERS AS AS THE AUDITOR INDICATED, THE MONEY GOES OUT, BUT IT TAKES MORE THAN 60 DAYS TO COME BACK. AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OVER, SINCE WE ARE DEPENDENT ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THAT CREATES A PROBLEM FOR US WITH OUR CASH FLOW, YOU KNOW, SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT IT'S A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE. IT'S RATHER IT'S BETTER FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO US THAN WE OWE THEM. ABSOLUTELY. IT'S BETTER FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO US THAN WE OWE

[00:40:06]

THIS IS STELLAR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. THANK YOU. AND IF I COULD ADD ONE ONE ITEM ON BEHALF OF LYNN AND HER STAFF MYSELF, WE WANT TO THANK PATILLO, BROWN AND HILL FOR DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB. WE DID DO FIVE YEARS FINANCIALS IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS, WHICH IS UNHEARD OF. WE DID SUBMIT THE 2025 AUDIT ON TIME IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS REGULATIONS, AND IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING TEAMWORK THAT WAS GOING ON. AND I JUST WANTED TO PASS ON MY THANKS TO THE FIRM. OH YEAH. THANK YOU. MICHAEL. CITY ATTORNEY, YOUR LIGHT'S ON. YES, MA'AM. I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FROM AS A CITY ATTORNEY FOR COMPLETING THE AUDIT IN TIME. IT WAS TRULY A PHENOMENAL FEAT.

IN FACT, MORE THAN A THOUSAND CITIES IN TEXAS DID NOT MEET THAT DEADLINE. AND THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL IS FILING SUIT AGAINST THEM FOR IT AND WILL BE PENALIZED FINANCIALLY FOR FAILING TO FILE. SO THE FACT THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO FILE NOT JUST ONE, BUT TWO IN A TIMELY MANNER, IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED AND MEANS A LOT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY. WOW. WELL THANK YOU. WE SURE APPRECIATE IT. AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE I'M GOING TO BRING UP THE FIRST RESOLUTION TO MATCH WHAT YOU JUST DONE WITH OUR FINANCIAL AUDIT. AND THEN THE ORDINANCE GUYS ON PAGE NUMBER EIGHT. SO ANNE IS HERE. SHE WANTS TO SPEAK BRIEFLY. IF YOU COULD COME UP. AND AS WE BEGIN TO VOTE ON THIS, WE'LL GET BOTH OF THESE OUT OF THE

[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 24872 – A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Accepting The Annual Audit For The Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2025, Approving The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report For The Year Ending September 30, 2025, And Approving The Single Audit Report As Of September 30, 2025. ]

[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7407 – An Ordinance Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Authorizing The Issuance And Sale Of City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Combination Tax And Surplus Revenue Certificates Of Obligation, Series 2026A In The Aggregate Principal Amount Of $12,415,000.00; Levying A Tax In Payment Thereof; Making Other Provisions Regarding Such Certificates Of Obligation, Including Authorizing The Preparation And Distribution Of One Or More Preliminary Official Statements And Authorizing The Preparation And Distribution Of One Or More Official Statements And Matters Incident Thereto; Awarding The Sale Of The Certificates; Authorizing The Execution And Delivery Of One Or More Purchase Agreements; Authorizing The Execution And Delivery Of One Or More Loan Agreements And Promissory Notes; Authorizing The Execution And Delivery Of A Paying Agent/Registrar Agreement; Authorizing And Confirming The Engagement Of Certain Professionals In Connection With The Issuance Of The Certificates Of Obligation; Finding And Determining That The Meeting At Which This Ordinance Is Passed Is Open To The Public As Required By Law; And Enacting Other Provisions Relating Thereto. ]

CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. SERIES 2026A IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $12,415,000, LEVYING A TAX AND PAYMENT THEREOF. MAKING OTHER PROVISIONS REGARDING SUCH CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, INCLUDING AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ONE OR MORE PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ONE OR MORE OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND MATTERS INCIDENTAL THERETO. AWARDING THE SALE OF THE CERTIFICATES, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF ONE OR MORE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS. AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF ONE OR MORE LOAN AGREEMENTS AND PROMISSORY NOTES. AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A PAIN AGENT REGISTRAR AGREEMENT. AUTHORIZING AND CONFIRMING THE ENGAGEMENT OF CERTAIN PROFESSIONALS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.

FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS ORDINANCE IS PASSED IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AS REQUIRED BY LAW, AND ENACTING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED THERETO. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. I GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN PRESENT TO US. HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MR. BURTON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE BACK IN PORT ARTHUR TODAY. ALTHOUGH I'M THE ONE STANDING HERE, THIS AGENDA ITEM IS A TRULY AMAZING WORK, A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT

[00:45:07]

SO ON THIS PAGE AND I THINK YOU HAVE A HANDOUT IN FRONT OF YOU, NOT ONLY DO YOU GET $4 MILLION GRANT, BUT THE 12,415,000 IS A BELOW MARKET INTEREST RATE. AND MR. BURTON MENTIONED IT EARLIER, THE ACTUAL INTEREST RATE ON THIS IS A 2.99698. IT'S LESS THAN 3%. AND WHAT THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD DOES WITH THIS PROGRAM IS THEY TAKE WHAT THEY BELIEVE THE MARKET RATES WOULD BE, AND YOU GET APPROXIMATELY A 30% REDUCTION TO WHAT THE OPEN MARKET RATES WOULD BE. SO YOUR YOUR IF YOU HAD GONE TO THE MARKET ON THIS, THAT BASED ON THEIR PROJECTIONS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT A 4.3 AND INSTEAD YOU HAVE A 2.99. SO LIKE I SAID, IT'S BELOW MARKET.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT THIS IS A 30 YEAR TERM, 30 YEARS FIXED, BUT YOU STILL HAVE A TEN YEAR CALL OPTION. AND SO IF INTEREST RATES GO BELOW 2.99, WE HAVE THE OPTION TO REFINANCE IT. YES, SIR. SO LIKE I SAID, IT'S TO IT'S 100% YOUR DISCRETION WHETHER YOU WANT TO REFUND IT OR NOT, BUT TO HAVE 30 YEAR LOCKED IN DEBT WITH A TEN YEAR CALL OPTION OF 2.99, AND THAT'S THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD PROGRAM. AND THE CITY CERTAINLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. JUST REAL QUICKLY WHEN WE WERE WORKING AND PUTTING OUR PROJECTIONS TOGETHER FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUANCE, THE PAR AMOUNT OF BONDS STAYED THE SAME. WE KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING IT WOULD BE 12 MILLION FOR 15. YOUR PROJECT FUND DEPOSIT IS JUST RIGHT AT WHAT WE HAD PROJECTED, A LITTLE BIT OVER $12 MILLION. WE USED A 3.5 INTEREST RATE, WHICH WHEN WE DO OUR TRUE INTEREST COST CALCULATION WAS A 3.66. AND THE TRUE INTEREST COST, AS I NOTED EARLIER, IS 2.99%. SO THE INTEREST RATE IS 66 BASIS POINTS LESS THAN WHAT WE HAD PROJECTED. AND THAT REFLECTS A REDUCTION OF THE INTEREST COST OF OVER $1.3 MILLION. AND THAT'S 1.3 MILLION FROM THE SUBSIDIZED RATE. IF WE WERE TO CALCULATE WHAT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE OPEN MARKET, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY MORE. AND COUNCILMAN DOUCET, BASED ON ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS EARLIER, THIS IS A DEBT THAT WOULD GO ON THE B T S. THIS IS WHAT WE CALL SELF-SUPPORTING. AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH LINH AND YOUR FINANCE STAFF THAT WE WILL THE CITY WILL BE USING WATER AND WASTEWATER REVENUES TO PAY THIS DEBT. SO THAT'S WHAT WE CALL SELF-SUPPORTING. IT'S A BUSINESS ENTERPRISE. IT'S ON THE UTILITY SYSTEM, WHICH WILL BE PAYING FOR THIS DEBT SERVICE. SO JUST REAL QUICK, IN SUMMARY, WE ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND THAT THE STAFF ACCEPT THIS OFFER FOR DIRECT PLACEMENT FROM THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD. IN DOING THIS, IT'S YOU'RE NOT ONLY DOING THE BOND SALE FOR THE 12.415, BUT THE $4 MILLION GRANT. THE 2.99 IS A TREMENDOUS RATE. AGAIN, AS I SAID EARLIER,

[00:50:08]

THE 4 MILLION THAT'S GOING TO BE FORGIVEN. CORRECT. SO THAT MEANS THAT WE ACTUALLY SPEND THE 16 MILLION. AND WHEN WE'VE PAID THE 12 MILLION, THEN THEY WILL FORGIVE THE OTHER 4 MILLION. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS IT'S ACTUALLY AT CLOSING. WHEN WE CLOSE, WE'LL THAT BY CLOSING MEMO THAT I PREPARE IS FOR 16 MILLION 415. AND THERE'S THE 4 MILLION PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS OR GRANT. AND THEN THERE'S THE 12 MILLION 415 FOR THE LOAN. AND INSTANTANEOUSLY WHEN IT CLOSES, THE $4 MILLION IS FORGIVEN. OKAY. AND YOU WERE ASKING TO EARLIER ABOUT THE PROCESS, THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD ACTUALLY ESCROWS THEIR YOUR FUNDS. YOU'VE CLOSED THEM, BUT THEY PUT THEM IN AN ESCROW AND THEY RELEASE THEM. WHEN YOU SEND INVOICES TO THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, THEY REVIEW THEM. AND WHEN THEY'VE REVIEWED THEM, THEN THEY RELEASE THE MONEY FROM EITHER THE THE GRANT OR FROM THE LOAN. WELL, WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT AFTER READING ALL THIS STUFF, WHETHER WE WERE GETTING THE 4 MILLION, I THINK THE LETTER FROM THE CONTROLLER THAT WAS IN THERE KIND OF INDICATED THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IT WILL BE THAT WAY, BUT I WASN'T SURE. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE BEFORE I VOTE. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND YOUR ANSWERING THE QUESTION. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY ANY OTHER LIGHTS? I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER LIGHTS. OKAY. LET'S VOTE AGAIN. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY NOS. THE AYES HAVE IT.

THE ORDINANCE PASSES. THANK YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. AND TO OUR DEPARTMENTS AND CITY MANAGER. WE THANK YOU ALL AS WELL. AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK IN OUR REGULAR AGENDA AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE DOWN TO OUR PRESENTATION OF

[III.B.(2) A Presentation Of Employees Service Awards.]

ELECTED OFFICIALS. OKAY, LET'S HOLD ON.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. AS THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER OFTEN ACKNOWLEDGE, OF ALL THE ASSETS THE CITY POSSESSES, OUR GREATEST ASSET ARE THE TEAM MEMBERS WHO DELIVER SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS EVERY DAY. THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR BY POLICY, RECOGNIZES OUR TEAM MEMBERS AT EVERY FIVE YEAR INCREMENT OF TENURE. BUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US 20 YEARS OR LONGER ARE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR SERVICE RECOGNITION DONE AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND TO BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL. AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TODAY. WE WANT ALL THE MEMBERS TO KNOW HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR THE YEARS OF SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE PRESENTED TO THE CITY AND THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN IN MAKING THE CITY THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE

[00:55:02]

NEXT WE HAVE MR. AMAL BARTON WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. MR. KURT BROUSSARD, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

MISS PATRICIA CASTILLO FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. 20 YEARS.

CONGRATULATIONS. OUR NEXT 20 YEAR EMPLOYEE, MISS ERICA FLORES, WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

MR. BARTON FRANCOIS, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

MR. TROY HOPKINS, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. MR. HOPKINS IS A COWBOYS FAN, SO WE KNOW HE'S ALL RIGHT. DEPUTY CHIEF JEREMY HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

CHIEF HOUSTON, IN ADDITION TO WEARING THE HAT OF DEPUTY CHIEF, IS ALSO THE CITY'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR. THANK YOU. MISS ANDREA JONES FROM THE CITY SECRETARY DEPARTMENT.

MR. DARRYL JONES, UTILITY OPERATIONS.

MISS TAMMY KING, PARKS AND RECREATION.

[01:00:12]

THANK YOU. MISS ROCHELLE MITCHELL, UTILITY OPERATIONS.

MISS CHRISTIE NED, CITY. SECRETARY. DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU. MISS CHANEL PERKINS, CITY MANAGER. DEPARTMENT.

THERE YOU GO. MISS TIA PERON FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

MISS. THANK YOU. MISS CAROLINE THIBODEAU FROM THE LIBRARY.

THANK YOU. I FEEL LIKE GIVING YOU A HUG LATER AND CLOSING OUT OUR 20 YEAR EMPLOYEES. MR. STEVEN WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR OF THE LIBRARY.

OH, NO. I GOT ANOTHER 20 YEARS. EASY. OKAY, I'LL FIND OUT. HONORING OUR EMPLOYEES WITH 25 YEARS OF SERVICE. MISS SHERRY BALLARD FROM THE CITY SECRETARY DEPARTMENT.

[01:05:28]

AND. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE MRS. KAREN JARMAN FROM THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT. SHE BROUGHT ALL OF IT WITH HER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT, MR. DAVE, MY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MR. KEITH PERKINS, POLICE DEPARTMENT.

PLEASE. MISS JENNIFER SIMMONS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND ROUNDING OUT OUR EMPLOYEES WITH 25 YEARS OF TENURE, MISS TAMIKA WILLIAMS, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

THANK YOU. WE MOVE NOW TO THOSE EMPLOYEES WITH 30 YEARS OF TENDER, AND WE START OUT WITH MISS WENDY BALLARD, POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MR. REGULATIONS. THANK YOU, MR. BRIAN CARTER, POLICE DEPARTMENT.

[01:10:28]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GEORGIE GRANGER WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS. GENTLEMEN. WHO KNOWS WHERE EVERYTHING IS IN PORT ARTHUR? MR. DEREK HOLLAND, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, G I S.

NEXT, WE HAVE MR. EDWARD SANDERS FROM THE CIVIC CENTER.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. APPRECIATE IT. MISS EVELYN THOMAS FROM THE CITY SECRETARY DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU. I JUST NEED YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND CONCLUDING, OUR 30 YEAR EMPLOYEES, MR. CLIFTON WILLIAMS FROM FINANCE PURCHASING.

MOVING NOW MOVING TO OUR EMPLOYEES WITH 35 YEARS OF TENURE. MR. CHRIS SIEGLER, POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU SIR. MISS DARLENE THOMAS PIERRE, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. USING 35 PLUS. LET ME TELL YOU, SHE'S GOING TO CLAIM SOME EXTRA. IS THAT IN DOG YEARS? NOW? THANK

[01:15:32]

YOU TELL THE STORY. YOU DID A GOOD JOB. SO WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DID HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF THE CITY'S TEAM WHO COULD NOT BE WITH US TODAY FOR THE PRESENTATION, BUT COULD WE JUST GET A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF OUR AWARDEES TODAY? AT THIS TIME, AS THE COUNCIL RETURNS TO THE DAIS, WE'RE GOING TO ASK ALL THE AWARDEES TO COME UP FRONT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A PICTURE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

OH, WELL. YOU DO. GREAT PEOPLE GOING TO THE FRONT. ROW. CONGRATULATIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY, EMPLOYEES, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS LET SOME LINE UP IN FRONT, AND THEN SOME WILL LINE UP RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF THE DAIS, RIGHT THERE. ALL THE TALK.

EVERYBODY IS TALLER RIGHT HERE. YES. OUR SHORTER ONES IN THE FRONT. RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS, KURT. 33 YEARS. AND Y'ALL WANT TO COME IN A LITTLE BIT. OH THERE IT. I GOT HOT ON TIA. YOU ARE NOT TALL. I KNOW YOU'RE NOT. ALL RIGHT, GUYS. WE'RE GOING TO. ALL RIGHT. ALL THAT CAN FIT BACK THIS WAY. AND THEN ALL THOSE THAT ARE SHORTER RIGHT THERE WHERE KAREN IS RIGHT THERE. KAREN RIGHT THERE. CLOSE IN TIGHT. CLOSE IN TIGHT. HEY, JOHN, MOVE THEM CHAIRS LIKE THIS. DARYL. YOU CAN MOVE THEM OUT THE WAY. YEAH, HERE. RIGHT HERE. MATT ADAMS, MATT ADAMS, COME BACK HERE. THERE YOU GO. YEAH. AND NOW THAT TABLE CAN MOVE UP. YEAH Y'ALL CAN PUSH IT UP. MOVE THE CHAIR. ONCE THEY MOVE YOU CAN MOVE THE TABLE UP. LET'S GET THE WAIT. LET'S GET THIS CHAIR OUT. THERE WE GO. MOVE IT UP. YEAH, JUST MOVE IT UP. CAROLINE. CAROLINE. MOVE BACK. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO WE ALL JUST KIND OF FIT IN REAL CLOSE. CAROLINE, CAN YOU GO TO THE FRONT? SHE'S SHORT. CAROLINE, CAN YOU GO TO THE FRONT? I NEED THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE YOU BACK HERE. CAROLINE. ALL RIGHT. ANDREA.

ANDREA AND DIETER, IF YOU COULD GET TO THE FRONT, PLEASE. COULD A FRONT WITH A SHORTER. YEAH.

I'M SORRY SAYING THAT. ALL RIGHT. ALRIGHT, GUYS, WE'RE READY. ON THE COUNT OF JEREMY, YOU CAN STAND ON THE TABLE. WOW. THAT'S NICE, THAT'S GOOD. OH. THAT'S OKAY, JEREMY, YOU STAND RIGHT THERE IN THE FRONT STILL. ALL RIGHT GUYS, WE'RE READY. WHO IS ON? IT'S ON YOU. ON YOU OKAY? OKAY. RAISE YOUR HAND RIGHT HERE. RIGHT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. TELL US WHEN. IF WHAT

[01:20:04]

NOW Y'ALL GO BACK AND FINISH THOSE YEARS OUT. CONGRATULATIONS. HEY, I HAD 30 YEARS, MIGHTY MAN. NO, I WAS AT 30. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MIGHTY MAN. YEAH. YOU ONLY GET ONE EVERY FIVE. YOU GOT TWO MORE EVERY FIVE YEARS. YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. OKAY, MAYOR. OKAY. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF, WE WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INDULGING US IN THIS ACTIVITY. AND WE THANK YOU. IT'S WORTH IT TO TAKE THE TIME.

IT IS IF YOU'LL MOVE THE PODIUM BACK FOR US, DOC. THANK YOU. I THINK EMPLOYEES DESERVE OUR HANDSHAKE EVERY FIVE YEARS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS SACRIFICE. YEAH. IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S NOT JUST KEEPS GETTING. I CAN'T STAND. THAT. THAT'S A LONG TIME. I WAS JUST SURPRISED SO MANY. AND THAT'S HOW THEY NORMALLY DO IT. I MEAN IT'S SURPRISING ALL THE TIME.

TAMIKA WILLIAMS I DIDN'T KNOW YOU. YEAH SHE'S BEEN WITH THE CITIZEN. I KNEW HE HAD A LOT OF YEARS 14 YEARS OLD. OH YEAH. NO NO SHAMIKA DID. SHE WAS 14. OH THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE TALKING HR SHE STARTED IN HR AT 14. WOW. RIGHT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO AS OUR I WISH WE HAD A LITTLE RECEPTION FOR THEM. I WISH WE HAD DONE THAT. WE WILL. LET THEM KNOW YOU APPRECIATE IT.

YES. ALRIGHT CITY EMPLOYEES, WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO OUR AGENDA. LET ME TAKE IT OFF.

YEAH. THAT'S TRUE. YEAH, YEAH. YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK ON COUNCIL. SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO OUR AGENDA. SO, CITY SECRETARY, LET ME KNOW WHEN WE'RE BACK. ARE WE ALREADY ON LIVE? OKAY, SO IF WE COULD CALL THE ROLL CALL ROLL, PLEASE ESTABLISH A QUORUM. THANK YOU. MAYOR MOSES HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCET HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS, COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FEEL PRESENT? COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM, COUNCIL MEMBER.

KINLAW, COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK, YOU HAVE A QUORUM, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. WE'D LIKE TO GET BACK ON WITH OUR AGENDA. I'D LIKE TO REALLY THANK THOSE EMPLOYEES AND OUR HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT FOR HANDING OUT THOSE SERVICE AWARDS TO OUR EMPLOYEES. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE TO THE CITY AT THIS TIME. WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE TO NUMBER TWO, PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS NUMBER UNDER PRESENTATIONS. WE'VE JUST DONE OUR SERVICE AWARDS. WE'RE NOW

[III.B.(3) A Presentation By Harry Crawford Regarding Pleasure Island Power Collective Clean Energy And Economic Development Project.]

THERE YOU GO. HARRY CRAWFORD, 2506. DON RIVER. THANK YOU. PEARLAND, TEXAS. SO WE WANTED TO COME AND BRIEFLY GO OVER GO ON THE RECORD TO LET CITY COUNCIL KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT

[01:25:08]

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO, TO BE HERE. SURE. THANK.

PROBABLY NEED SOME TECHNICAL HELP. OKAY. WHAT'S GOING ON? IT'S NOT MOVING, BUT JUST POINT AT THE SYSTEM, NOT AT THE SCREEN. IT SHOULD ADVANCE. THERE YOU GO. CAN WE GIVE HIM? YOU GOT A POINT. YEAH. OVER THERE. PUSHING UP AND DOWN. NO. CITY COUNCIL. THIS IS SHERRY VITO, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY. ATTORNEY. OKAY, WAIT A MINUTE. IN MANY DISCUSSIONS WITH MANY AGENCIES, THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION JUST ALLOW THE COMPANY TO HIRE A SURVEYOR.

RECORDING AND PROGRESS. DO SOME TESTING WITH THE SOIL. YEAH. HOLD UP AS THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT WHERE DID THIS COME FROM? THE PROPERTY.

AND WE COULD NOT FIND ANY. OH, THAT'S A PART OF YOUR PRESENT. OH I'M SORRY. SORRY. WE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS PLAIN THAT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO PLAY. OKAY, OKAY. HELLO. I THOUGHT WE HAD. WE THOUGHT WE HAD SOME INTERFERENCE. KEEP GOING, I APOLOGIZE, I'M SO SORRY. GO AHEAD. OKAY, OKAY. YEAH, LET US KNOW THAT. YEAH, OKAY. IT'S ABOUT 20S. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO START IT AGAIN. YES. PLEASE. SHOOT. I MAY BE A LITTLE TECHNICALLY CHALLENGED ON WORKING THIS REMOTE. THAT'S OKAY. OVER THERE AND PUSH FORWARD. LEE, CAN YOU HELP HIM, PLEASE? TO ADVANCE THIS? I APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU. THE VERY FIRST ONE. YES.

YEAH. UP IN THE CORNER. GOT IT. THANKS. RIGHT THERE.

HELLO. CITY COUNCIL, THIS IS SHERRY VITO, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? IN MANY DISCUSSIONS WITH MANY AGENCIES, THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION IS JUST TO ALLOW THE COMPANY TO HIRE SURVEYOR AND DO SOME TESTING WITH THE SOIL. AS THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY. AND WE HAVE DONE A TITLE SEARCH, WE OWN THE PROPERTY AND WE COULD NOT FIND ANY AGREEMENTS WITH ANY OTHER ENTITY AT THIS TIME. SO WE JUST WANTED TO KIND OF BACK UP TO WHERE WE STARTED. OUR RELIANCE, OUR RELIANCE WAS ON THAT DAY WHEN WE STARTED MOVING FORWARD. AND SO WE MOVED ON, END UP GETTING A RESOLUTION TO TWO NINE THAT AUTHORIZED THE CITY TO SIGN A LEASE WITH US MAY OF 2025. AND THEN WE STARTED DOING SOME MORE OF OUR PLANNING AND ADDRESSING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING NOW. SO WE'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD TO BASICALLY TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE PROJECT AS IT PERTAINS TO THE REGION. AND SO, YOU KNOW, OUR PLAN WAS TO COME AND TO BUILD THE A DATA CENTER HERE, POWERED BY ITS OWN RENEWABLE ENERGY, HAVING ITS OWN SUPPORTING SYSTEMS AND A MICRO PORT TO GO ALONG WITH IT. THE PROJECT IS CALLED THE PLEASURE ISLAND POWER COLLECTIVE, AND IT WAS INTENDED TO TRANSFORM UNDERUTILIZED MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY OWNER

[01:30:01]

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WE, WE OUR PLAN WAS TO COME WITH COASTAL ONSHORE WIND, FLOATING SOLAR AND TRANSMISSION AND SUBSTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH WE WE CALL IT THE CONAN ENERGY CORRIDOR, 1200 MEGAWATTS OF BEST. THAT'S BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE, A TIER FOUR ADAPTIVE INTELLIGENCE DATA CENTER. AND THEN OF COURSE, THE THE PI ENERGY HUB, WHICH WOULD ALSO BE USED TO SUPPORT LNG BUNKERING. GO AHEAD. SO THE DIRECT JOBS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD AND THIS WAS OPPORTUNITIES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WAS 2500 TO 4000 DIRECT CONSTRUCTION JOBS, 6 TO 9 INDIRECT CONSTRUCTION JOBS. BUT WHAT THAT SAYS IS FOR EVERY ONE JOB THAT WE CREATE, THERE'S FOUR JOBS CREATED IN ANCILLARY BUSINESS AT THE BANK, AT THE MOVIE THEATER, AT THE RESTAURANT, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN YOU HAD YOUR CONSTRUCTION WAGE INJECTION. DURING THIS TIME, WHEN PEOPLE ARE WORKING 950 MILLION TO 1.6 BILLION. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC INJECTION IS 1.2 TO 2.4 BILLION. SO THE PROJECT ITSELF IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT'S THERE FOR DIRECT JOBS.

FOR PORT ARTHUR, THINGS GO AHEAD. SO WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, THE DIRECT PERMANENT JOBS, THOSE THAT STAY ON 450 TO 900 PEOPLE, THE INDIRECT AND THE INDUCED JOBS IS 1500 TO 3000 JOBS, WHICH MEANS IF YOU BUILD 15, IF YOU HAD 1500 3000 MORE PEOPLE, YOU NEED HOMES FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO STAY IN. AND SO GO AHEAD. THERE WE GO TO THE NEXT ONE. SO HIGH LEVEL LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S BEING CAUSED BY THE SLOWDOWN RIGHT NOW IS YOU'RE LOOKING AT 46.68 MILLION IN DELAYS, NOT JUST FUNDING DELAYS. THESE ARE DELAYS THAT ARE DELAYING JOB CREATION, DELAYING AFFORDABLE HOUSING DELIVERY TO PORT ARTHUR, DELAYING THE COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT WE HAVE CAME HERE TALKING TO YOU ALL ABOUT THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THE BUSINESS FORTIFICATION AND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED BY US NOT BEING ABLE TO GO FORWARD WITH OUR PROJECT THE WAY THAT WE NEED TO. AND SO ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE FOUND THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GO THERE IS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE CITY, THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY THAT WE SIGNED FOR ENCUMBRANCES. MA'AM, MISS LEE, CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT DOCUMENT? NOW? WE CAN GET OUT OF THAT. CLOSE THAT OUT. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU HAVE. CAN YOU MAKE IT BIGGER? NOW? I GUESS IT MAY. OR MAY I APPROACH YOUR ATTORNEY TO GIVE THIS TO HIM? OH, SURE. KEEP UP

[01:35:04]

THE OPENING STATEMENT OF THIS DOCUMENT SAYS THAT IN 1931, THE GOVERNMENT, THE STATE OF TEXAS ISSUED TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AN EASEMENT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO MAINTENANCE AND ALL THAT THEY HAVE TO DO ON THESE DREDGING AND PUTTING SPOILS ON PROPERTY, IT SAYS.

HOWEVER, SINCE THAT TIME, THE LAND HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, AND NOW THE CORPS WAS COMING TO THE COUNCIL ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO GO ON THE LAND. AND SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING THIS WHOLE TIME IS IN OUR LEASE. THE CITY WAS OBLIGATED TO GO BREAK OUT THE PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE AND SEPARATE IT FROM OTHER PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT THE CITY HAS.

WE ALREADY DID THAT. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT OUR COST. WE DID THAT. THE 900 ACRES HAS BEEN HAD. YOU HAVE THE METES AND BOUNDS OF IT, AND Y'ALL FINALLY WROTE A LETTER TO THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, PUTTING THEM ON NOTICE THAT YOU HAD LEASED THIS PROPERTY. BUT WE'RE WONDERING WHERE SABINE NATHAN'S NAVIGATION DISTRICT IS COMING FROM, TALKING ABOUT THEY GOT OWNERSHIP. THAT CAN'T BE. SO Y'ALL LEASED THE PROPERTY TO US, AND WE STARTED THIS VIDEO OFF WITH MISS VITAL SAYING SHE WAS A CITY ATTORNEY. CITY RAN ITS OWN TITLE POLICY, RAN HIS TITLE SEARCH, COULDN'T FIND IT. THEY OWNED IT, CITY OWNED IT. AND THERE WERE NO LONG STANDING AGREEMENTS WITH ANYBODY. HOW DOES SABINE-NECHES NAVIGATION DISTRICT CLAIM TO OWN THIS PROPERTY? AND THEN THAT SAME SB 612 THAT YOUR COUNCILOR SAID WAS AN ENCUMBRANCE THAT WE SIGNED FOR IN 2020? Y'ALL ALREADY THERE'S A LETTER IN THERE FROM THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS. GO AHEAD, RUN IT TO THE LETTER. THERE'S A LETTER IN THERE FROM THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO GO ON THE PROPERTY. SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN THEM AND US? THEY CAN'T JUST GO AND BE RUNNING ROUGHSHOD ON OUR PROPERTY. IF THEY HAD TO COME IN 2020 AND GET PERMISSION FROM YOU TO DO IT, THEN THEY REALIZED THEY DIDN'T OWN IT AND THE CITY REALIZED THEY DIDN'T OWN IT. RIGHT? I, I MEAN, WE GOT A PROBLEM BECAUSE SABINE NAVIGATION DISTRICT HAS ALREADY PUT OUT A LET THE CORPS GOT IT'S 2026 DREDGE SCHEDULE OUT TALKING ABOUT PUTTING 17,000,000YD■!T OF SPOIL ON PAR EIGHT. AND Y'ALL ALREADY SENT A LETTER TO THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS STATING THAT THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN METES AND BOUNDS OF IT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE 32.30 POINT SEVEN ACRES, THE 32 30.7 ACRES OF LAND THAT Y'ALL LEASED TO DILIGENCE. SO HOW IS SABINE NATHAN'S NAVIGATION DISTRICT? BECAUSE BECAUSE SB 612, IT DIDN'T GIVE THEM OWNERSHIP. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GOT INTO THE PROGRAM, BUT SB 612 THAT THEY'RE AROUND HERE SAYING THAT IT GIVES THEM THE RIGHT TO CLAIM TO BE OWNERS OF THIS PROPERTY, HAS NOT GIVEN THEM OWNERSHIP AT ALL. SO HAS THE CITY SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PROPERTY TO THE SABINE NAVIGATION DISTRICT THAT Y'ALL DIDN'T TELL US ABOUT? HAVE WE HAVE Y'ALL HAVE Y'ALL LEASED PROPERTY TO US THAT YOU DIDN'T OWN? SURELY YOU'RE NOT COUNTING ON SB 612 BECAUSE THAT DOCUMENT IS. Y'ALL BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD

[01:40:06]

WE WENT AS INSTRUCTED, GOT THE LAND SURVEYED. AS YOU CAN SEE, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS PRESENTATION, THAT'S WHAT WE CAME TO DO. WE DID THAT. AND THERE'S A LONG STANDING HISTORY OF PEOPLE IN THIS CITY THINKING THAT THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAS A RIGHT TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO ON THEIR PROPERTY. AND THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT TRUE. HB 2914 MR. PARKER AND SB 1072.

MR. PARKER, WHO WAS HERE PRIOR, SENATOR PARKER, WROTE A BILL THAT AFFECTED THAT 900 ACRES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, AND THAT 900 ACRES WE GOT SPECIFIC. METES AND BOUNDS.

THAT ADDRESSES THE 980 THAT Y'ALL NEEDS TO US OUT OF THAT 32, 30.7 ACRES THAT Y'ALL SENT A LETTER TO THE COURT TELLING THEM THAT YOU WERE TAKING THIS PROPERTY OUT OF THE LUMP SUM PROPERTY FOR THE CITY THAT'S IN OUR LEASE. YOU DID WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO BY THAT LETTER THAT YOU WROTE TO THE COURT, EVEN THOUGH THAT LETTER WAS FLAWED. Y'ALL SAID THAT IN RESOLUTION TWO, TWO, NINE THAT THE CITY LEASED US ALL THE RIGHTS THAT YOU HAD. AND Y'ALL SAID THAT IN RESOLUTION 108. THAT WAS NOT TRUE. Y'ALL CHANGED THE LANGUAGE IN 108, SAYING THAT THE LANGUAGE IN TWO, TWO, NINE SAID ONE THING, AND IT DID NOT SAY THAT I LET THAT SLIDE. THIS. I'M NOT GOING TO LET SLIDE. SOMEBODY NEED TO TELL ME WHY SABINE NAVIGATION DISTRICT IS SAYING THAT THEY GOT A RIGHT TO BE ON OUR PROPERTY, TALKING ABOUT TAKING OUT SIGNS DOWN AND ALL THAT. IT'S GOING TO GET SMOKEY AROUND HERE. I'M TELLING YOU, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT RIGHT HERE. IT SAYS THAT THE CITY ACQUIRED DIFFERENT TRACKS OVER EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. SOME OF THESE ARE UNENCUMBERED BY RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE NO LONGER RELEVANT, AND OTHERS ARE DEFINED DIFFERENTLY IN DIFFERENT DOCUMENTS. THE LEGAL MORASS REQUIRES A CLEAN SWEEP OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CAN BETTER. SO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CAN BETTER PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT ON THE ISLAND. A SINGLE PATENT. CLEAR DESCRIPTIONS AND UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS ACROSS ALL TRACKS WOULD ALLOW THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSIONS TO UNDERTAKE COMPREHENSIVE, COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. THAT WAS PATENT NUMBER 255 THAT CAME INTO PLAY. THEY CANCELED OUT 338, WHICH IS IN THAT DOCUMENT THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND RIGHT NOW, COUNCILOR, AND BROUGHT IN PATENT NUMBER 255. THAT WAS THE CLEAN UP. ALL. WHAT WAS GOING ON? THE THE ISLAND HAS ALWAYS BEEN BUILT FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO DEVELOP. IT WAS NOT PUT THERE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT A MOSQUITO HAVEN. ALL THE RECORDS SHOW YOU THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DEVELOPED, AND WHEN. EVERY TIME LAND GOT 12 FOOT ABOVE THE EBB AND FLOW OF THE TIDE, IT'S SUPPOSED TO REVERT TO THE CITY IN INCREMENTS SO YOU CAN DEVELOP IT. THAT'S WHAT THE RECORD SAYS.

WE TRYING TO DEVELOP. I WANT TO KNOW WHY SABINE NAVIGATION DISTRICT IS CLAIMING THAT THEY OWN IT. I WANT TO KNOW WHY WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE INCUMBENTS THAT WE ASK YOUR ATTORNEY TO GIVE US SINCE JANUARY, BECAUSE WE LOST A LOT OF MONEY. I'M GONNA GET MY MONEY BACK FROM SOMEBODY FOR REAL. HERE'S A DOCUMENT THAT Y'ALL SIGNED THAT SAYS THE LAND HAS, HOWEVER, BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY, AND THE COURT NEEDED PERMISSION FROM YOU TO GO ON THE CITY PROPERTY. IS THAT PROPERTY WE LEASING CITY PROPERTY? HELLO. IS THE PROPERTY WE LEASING CITY PROPERTY, MISS ROXANNE? YOU'RE DOING A PRESENTATION, SIR, I'M ASKING THE QUESTION NOW. I UNDERSTAND, BUT RIGHT NOW YOU'RE DOING A PRESENTATION. WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH YOUR

[01:45:03]

THERE WAS A KING OF SYRIA WHO ALWAYS WAS TRYING TO TAKE POOR ELIJAH OUT. AND EVERY TIME HE TRIED, HE ENDED UP BEING A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT. AND ONE DAY, ELIJAH'S SERVANT WENT FORWARD. THAT'S WHAT THE WORD I READ SAYS. HE SAID THAT HE WENT FORWARD AND HE LOOKED ALL AROUND HIM, AND HE SAW NOTHING BUT SYRIAN SOLDIERS. HE GOT NERVOUS. HE RAN BACK IN THE HOUSE AND HE TOLD ELIJAH, ALAS, MY MASTER, THEY GOT US SURROUNDED. AND I DIDN'T READ IN THERE WHERE IT SAID THE HOUSE HAD WINDOWS OR NOTHING. BUT ELIJAH TOLD HIM. HE SAID, FEAR NOT, FOR THERE'S MORE WITH US THAN THERE ARE WITH THEM. SO I'M SAYING THIS TO YOU, Y'ALL NOT FIGHTING ME BY TRYING TO KEEP US FROM MOVING FORWARD. THE LORD SENT ME HERE AND I CAME HERE FOR A REASON. I CAME HERE TO SHOW YOU THE BENEFITS THAT WE BRING INTO THIS CITY.

AND I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE. OKAY. WE THANK YOU. AMEN. WITH YOUR PRESENTATION. ANY QUESTIONS YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW? WELL, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I HAVE LIGHTS THAT ARE ON FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT YOUR PRESENTATION IS OVER. I'M FINISHED. OKAY. THANK YOU.

AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE, YOU HAVE YOUR LIGHT ON? YES. I JUST HAVE A FEW COMMENTS. YOU KNOW, WE ENTER THIS AS A PROJECT. IT CAME BEFORE US. LIKE ALL PROJECTS. WE AGREED, AS MR. CRAWFORD SAID, TO ALLOW HIM TO DO STUDIES AND TESTING BEFORE HE SIGNED THE LEASE. IT WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, A DECISION WAS MADE TO LEASE THE PROPERTY. WE WENT THROUGH THE PROPER FORMAT HERE AND PROCEDURES BY APPROVING A RESOLUTION TO LEASE THE PROPERTY. AND DURING THIS DISCUSSION I KEEP HEARING SOMEBODY QUESTIONING THE OWNERSHIP OF PLEASURE ISLAND TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. I'VE BEEN SERVING ON COUNCIL SINCE 2011, AND AT THAT POINT I UNDERSTOOD PLEASURE ISLAND BELONGED TO PORT ARTHUR. YES, SINCE 2011, I HAVE NEVER HAD ANYONE OR ANYBODY TO QUESTION THE OWNERSHIP OF PLEASURE ISLAND. AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT SINCE 2011, I HAVE SEEN THE CITY DEVELOP AND MANAGE ALL THE PLEASURE ISLAND. BUT THIS IS BECOMING RIDICULOUS. OKAY, WE NEED TO DEAL WITH BLACK AND WHITE. I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT IT'S ABOUT BLACK AND WHITE AND PRINCIPLES. IT'S NOT ABOUT IDEAS, THOUGHTS, AND PROCESS. SO WHAT WE NEED AS A COUNCIL TO GET PAST THIS, WE NEED SOMEBODY TO BRING US DOCUMENTATION TO SAY WHAT IS AND WHAT'S NOT. MR. CRAWFORD CONTINUOUSLY COME UP HERE READING DOCUMENTS AND THEY ALL FROM THE STATE. SO I DON'T SEE HOW ANYBODY WANTS TO SIT AROUND AND QUESTION THEM. BUT THERE'S ALSO OTHER DOCUMENTS.

IF WE HAVE OTHER DOCUMENTS, JUST AS MR. CRAWFORD COME BEFORE US, THIS COUNCIL SHOULD ALWAYS REQUIRE ANYTHING IN CONTRARY TO IT TO BE PRODUCED TO US. WE WE'RE HERE TO DO

[01:50:04]

NOT EVEN THE STATE. WE ARE HOME RULE. SO IF ANYBODY GOT ANY CLAIM, THEY NEED TO STOP ALL THIS INNUENDO AND COME BEFORE THAT PODIUM, AND WHEN THEY COME BEFORE THAT PODIUM, WE'RE NOW ON RECORDS. THERE'S TOO MUCH TALKING. WE CAN'T BE BOGGED DOWN WITH THIS PROJECT. LET'S MAKE DECISIONS. LET'S MOVE ON. LET'S STOP MAKING A MOCKERY OF THIS. IF THE PROJECT HAS BEEN APPROVED, IF THE PROJECT GOING TO WORK, GET IT GOING. BECAUSE WHAT I CONCERNED ABOUT IS AS LONG AS WE SAID YES TO THIS PROJECT AND I'VE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL THAT I DON'T SEE ENOUGH WORK BEING DONE, BUT I HAVE SOMEBODY COME BEFORE ME AND SAYS, YOU THE HOLDUP OF ME WORKING. I'M READY TO TELL HIM, HEY, YOU NEED TO MOVE ON BECAUSE YOU AIN'T GETTING THIS DONE. THIS IS NOT THE WAY A CITY DOES BUSINESS. AND I'M NOT SUPPORTING OR SPEAKING IN TERMS OF MR. CRAWFORD PROJECT. LIKE I SAID, I COULD CARE LESS. I SAID IT FROM DAY ONE. I DEAL WITH THINGS THAT ARE WITHIN OUR LIMITS, AND THAT WAS A LEASE AGREEMENT. I SAID, FROM DAY ONE, IF YOU DON'T WANT IT, DON'T LEASE THE PROPERTY AND MR. CRAWFORD HAS TO GO. WE MADE THAT CHOICE. ALL WE HAD TO SAY WAS, NO, I DON'T CARE WHAT HE DO. THAT'S OUR CHOICE. BUT WE DIDN'T. SOMEBODY BETTER START READING. ALRIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW. THANK YOU. MAYOR, JUST. THIS IS THIS HAS KIND OF BEEN A A LENGTHY PROCESS WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROPERTY. MY QUESTION IS I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO ADDRESS THIS TO OUR STAFF OR OUR

[01:55:02]

POINT OF ORDER FOR A MINUTE. OKAY. WHAT'S YOUR POINT? HE HAS RAISED HE HAS RAISED. HE HAS RAISED. I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR POINT. JUST A SECOND. ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD. IN THE MIDDLE OF SPEAKING. SO LET ME YOU HAVE YOUR LIGHT ON AND SPEAK AFTER COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW, AND I'M GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AT YOUR ORDER. COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW, CONTINUE. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND TO TO CONTINUE. THANK YOU MAYOR. IT JUST YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED TO KIND OF GET THIS TOGETHER. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE RAN OUR TITLE SEARCH TO GO BACK LAST 4 TO 19 30S, 1933, 1931. BUT FOR THIS DEVELOPER TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND EXPRESS HIS CONCERNS ON WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY, AND I IMAGINE YOU YOU ALSO RAN YOUR OWN TITLE SEARCH TO GET THIS INFORMATION. SO WE REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THIS PROJECT. HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS PROJECT AND BE EFFICIENT WITH IT? BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE GOT TO FIND OUT WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER BEING HERE FOR A WHILE THAT WE OWN THE PROPERTY AT PLEASURE ISLAND. WE HAVE A BUDGET. WE, WE, WE DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO. WE FINANCE PLEASURE ISLAND, WE DO ALL THOSE THINGS. WE'VE HAD OTHER DEVELOPERS WANT TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL. SINCE I'VE BEEN ON HERE AND WANT TO DEVELOP SOME TYPE OF BUSINESS OUT THERE, AND THEY ALL HAD TO COME BEFORE THAT PODIUM, YOU STANDING IN FRONT OF. SO IF WE DON'T OWN THE PROPERTY, IF WE HAVE SOME UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY OR SOME GRAY AREA, ALL THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, BECAUSE THIS COUNCIL IS THE GOVERNING BOARD OF PLEASURE ISLAND AND IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. SO I REALLY NEED TO GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED. I REALLY WANT TO JUST IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS PROJECT, THIS DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'VE HAD A LEASE WITH THE DEVELOPER, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE I'S ARE CROSSED AND, AND EXCUSE ME, THE T'S ARE CROSSED AND I'S HAVE BEEN DOTTED. SO IF WE HADN'T DONE THAT, I KNOW THAT'S ON SOMEONE THAT'S IN STAFF BECAUSE RECOMMENDATIONS BEEN BROUGHT TO THIS COUNCIL THAT WE OWN THE PROPERTY. SABINE NATURE'S AUTHORITY DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS FOR PLEASURE ISLAND. THIS THIS GOVERNING BOARD DOES. SO I REALLY NEED TO GET CLARIFICATION. I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO ANSWER THAT, MAYOR, IF THE MANAGER OR OUR ATTORNEY. BUT I WANT TO KNOW TODAY IF WE OWN THE PROPERTY AND OR IF WE DON'T, OR IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S COME UP IN DOCUMENTS THAT WE MAY HAVE A GRAY AREA, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE ALL THOSE THINGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN BOUGHT BEFORE WE DECIDED TO LEASE PROPERTY. I BUY PROPERTY ALL THE TIME. I'M AN INVESTOR, BUT I WANT TO KNOW IF I BUY A PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN CLEARED. TITLE SEARCH HAS BEEN CLEARED. SO CAN I GET THAT QUESTION ANSWERED? MAYOR, PRIOR TO GOING TO COUNCILMAN LEWIS? SURE. CITY SECRETARY, CITY ATTORNEY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RESPOND AND WE NEED TO I THINK THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD IS TO KNOW THE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP.

THIS IS A KIND OF THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF OTHER THAN OUR LAST MEETING, ALL THE INFORMATION BROUGHT TODAY. WE NEED TO CLEAR THAT AND MAKE SURE WE GIVE CLARITY. SO THE FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS I'M ACTUALLY VERY SURPRISED THAT WE HAVE SABINE NAVIGATION DISTRICT ASSERTING THAT THEY OWN THE PROPERTY. AND SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT EVIDENCE THEY HAVE OF THEM DOING AND SAYING THAT AND WHAT AUTHORITY THEY THEY SAY THEY HAVE. SO ANYTHING YOU HAVE, YOU'VE GIVEN ME SOME DOCUMENTS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I'M GOING TO. I'M STUDYING AND LISTENING TO EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY. SABINE JUST THINKS THAT THEY OWN THE PROPERTY. THE SECOND THING I WANT TO MENTION IS, IS, IS THE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY. WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH DILIGENCE OFFSHORE, WE DID NOT HAVE TITLE AT THE TIME. AND WE INFORMED YOU THAT WE DID NOT HAVE TITLE. YOU SAID, THAT'S OKAY. LET'S GO AHEAD AND LEASE IT TO HIM AND WE'LL LEASE HIM WHATEVER RIGHTS THAT WE OWN. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID. WE LEASED HIM WHATEVER RIGHTS WE OWNED TO HIM. AND IT WAS ACTUALLY MR. CRAWFORD'S RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH HE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED. IT WAS MR. CRAWFORD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THE TITLE, AND HE ACTUALLY CHOSE THE TITLE COMPANY AND GOT THE TITLE. AND I THINK IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE

[02:00:01]

ATTORNEY. SO I, I KNOW THAT IN THE 1931 DOCUMENT THAT WAS SENT. TEXAS HAD GIVEN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT THE RIGHT TO A PERPETUAL RIGHT AND EASEMENT TO WIDEN AND DEEPEN, DEEPENING THE CHANNELS. AND THE SECOND THING THAT THEY SAID WAS, I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THE DOCUMENTS IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME. IF YOU'LL GIVE ME JUST A SECOND. THE SECOND THING THAT THEY SAID. WAS THAT TEXAS GAVE THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT A PERPETUAL. RIGHT AND AN EASEMENT ALONG SABINE LAKE SIDE OF CANALS FOR DEPOSITING, DUMPING, PUMPING AND DREDGING MATERIAL. INTO THE PRESENT SHORE AND THE BED OF SABINE LAKE. HOWEVER, THEY ACCEPTED A CERTAIN AREA BETWEEN TWO POINTS OF THAT LAKE, AND IT'S BETWEEN HOUSTON AVENUE AND RICHMOND AVENUE, AND I BELIEVE THE RICHMOND AND HOUSTON AVENUE ARE THE ACTUAL AREAS THAT ARE CURRENTLY DEVELOPED. LIKE THAT'S WHERE LIKE THE MARINA IS AND THE RV PARKS. AND, AND SO THAT'S THE 1931 DOCUMENT THAT I DON'T THINK WAS REFERENCED IN THE TITLE THAT WENT BACK TO 1933. THAT'S, THAT'S ONE ISSUE. BUT THE OTHER ISSUE ABOUT SABINE-NECHES NAVIGATION DISTRICT ASSERTING THAT THEIR OWNERS. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT EVIDENCE WE HAVE THAT THEY'RE.

THEY'RE SAYING THAT SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AND SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. OKAY. WELL, THAT THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. CAN I SAY SOMETHING? CAN I SAY SOMETHING TO YOU, SIR? JUST A SECOND. I WILL, I WILL LET YOU RESPOND, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE DECORUM QUESTION. OKAY, WELL NOT NOW. COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS HAD HIS LIGHT ON. NOW, IF HE WANTS. SO COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS, I'LL SPEAK LATER. OKAY THEN. NOW YOU CAN SPEAK, MR. CRAWFORD. OKAY. WE STARTED THE PRESENTATION OFF WITH YOUR RESEARCH ATTORNEY SAYING THAT THE CITY RAN A TITLE SEARCH. Y'ALL RAN A TITLE SEARCH. THE CITY MISS RAN A TITLE SEARCH. SHE SAID IT RIGHT THERE. AND AND AND AND AND THIS DOCUMENT, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT I EMAILED, I FORWARDED ACTUALLY TO ALL Y'ALL, YOUR ATTORNEY, IF SHE LOOKS AT WHAT SABINE-NECHES NAVIGATION DISTRICT IS CLAIMING IS SB 612 THE SAME DOCUMENT THAT THEY HAD TO COME THAT'S IN THIS RESOLUTION THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND THAT Y'ALL SIGNED IN 2020, MAKING THEM GET PERMISSION TO GO ON THE PROPERTY. NOW, THE HISTORY OF PORT ARTHUR OF THIS ISLAND IS THAT I TOLD YOU EVERY TIME THAT THE PROPERTY GOT 12FT ABOVE THE EBB AND FLOW OF THE TIDE, IT TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY. THEY CANCELED OUT ALL OF THESE PATENTS. PATENT 338, PATENT 20, PATENT 80. ALL OF THEM WERE CANCELED OUT, AND THEY ALL CAME UNDER ONE PATENT. PATENT 255 AND PATENT 255 IS THE ONE THAT Y'ALL OPERATE. NOW. Y'ALL GOT ANOTHER AGREEMENT OUT THERE. 2006 THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS CAME TO Y'ALL IN 2006. AND, AND WHAT I JUST SHOWED MISS SHERRY OR THAT THAT PATENT THAT I JUST

[02:05:06]

THEY TOLD YOU YOU HAVE. SIR. SIR, EMAIL, SIR. OKAY, WE HEARD YOU AND WE'VE HEARD YOUR WE'VE HEARD YOU VERY CLEARLY AND WE'VE OUR ATTORNEY HAS ANSWERED. WE'VE GOT TO DETERMINE THAT BY HOW THEY'RE ASSERTING THAT THEY OWN THE PROPERTY. SO YOU HAVE TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK AND CALL THEM AND FIND THAT OUT. NOW, YOUR TITLE COMPANY, NO MATTER WHAT, MISS SHERRY SAID, YOU PAID A TITLE COMPANY, AND A TITLE COMPANY IS ENTITLED TO DO THE WORK THAT YOU PAY THEM TO DO, RIGHT? SO IF THEY DIDN'T GO BACK PAST A YEAR, TIME AND PERIOD, THAT'S NOT UP ON SOMEONE ELSE WHO SPOKE IT AT A MIC THAT'S ON THE TITLE COMPANY. YOU'RE PAYING TO GET THE WORK DONE, AND THAT IS, AND YOU'RE PAYING THEM TO DO THE WORK. I KNOW ABOUT TITLE WORK NOW. THAT'S SOMETHING I DO KNOW ABOUT. AND IF I'M PAYING THEM, THEY BETTER GO PAST. THEY BETTER GO TILL IT EXISTED. YES. OKAY, SO THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK WITH THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT AND DETERMINE WHO THAT IS. ANSWER ME. YOU GOT FIVE DAYS AFTER THAT, SIR. YOU CAN'T SMOKE HERE IN PORT ARTHUR. ARE YOU DONE? YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY. OKAY. I'M SORRY. I GOT TWO LIGHTS. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS WAS FIRST, AND THEN AFTER THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM. OKAY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND, WE HAVE AWARDED HIM A LEASE. WE ORDERED HIM A LEASE. ALL THE DOCUMENTATION THAT I'VE SEEN GOTTEN FROM THE THE STATE, THE FEDERAL ALL THESE DOCUMENTS HAS A RAISED SEAL ON THEM. YOU CAN'T FORCE THAT. THEY HAVE RAISED SEALS. THE CITY OWNS THE PROPERTY THAT RAISED SEAL. THE ONLY THING THAT'S LEFT. WE HAVE WRITTEN THE. ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WAS OVER THERE ON ON THE LAND, USING IT ILLEGALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. THEY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED TO VACATE. HE HAS THE LEASE. HE CAN'T SUE THEM BECAUSE THE FIRST THING THE COURT'S GOING TO ASK HIM WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ON THE PROPERTY. WELL, YOU HAVE NO YOU HAVE NO LEVERAGE NOW. OKAY. NOW. ONE OF THE THINGS, THE ONLY THING THAT IS LEFT RIGHT NOW, THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE ONLY THING THAT IS LEFT RIGHT NOW FOR YOU TO DO FOR AS I'M CONCERNED, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT ANY OUTSIDE ATTORNEY FEES FOR TO TIE THIS THING UP LEGAL. I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT. OKAY. BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CLEARLY ESTABLISHED. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS GO DOWN THERE AND GET THAT PROSECUTOR TO GO, TO GO TO JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURT EIGHT AND EVICT THEM. THAT'S ALL. THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S LEFT. EVICT THEM.

AND IF THEY DON'T, IF THEY DON'T WANT TO MOVE, GET THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO GO OVER AND EVICT THEM. THEY HAVE NO STANDING. AND I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT NO OUTSIDE WASTING TAXPAYERS MONEY ON OUTSIDE LEGAL FEES. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CLEARLY ESTABLISHED. WE'RE NOT GOING TO HIDE BEHIND AND PLAY THESE GAMES ANYMORE. HE GOT A LEASE THAT HE CANNOT ENFORCE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO FORCE THE PEOPLE OUT OF THERE. WE NEED TO GET THEM EVICTED AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, THE PROCESS, GO TO THE PROSECUTOR AND THE PROSECUTOR, GO TO JUSTICE, THE PSA AND GET AN EVICTION AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. KICK THEM OUT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM, THANK YOU. I'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEY'RE TIRED OF THIS. WELL, WHAT I'M TIRED OF IS US THREATENING TO BE SUED. SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW, AND THIS IS A QUESTION FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY. DO WE HAVE ANY INDICATION FROM THIS MAN THAT HE'S CURRENTLY REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL? BECAUSE IF THAT'S THE CASE, HE DON'T NEED TO BE AT THIS PODIUM WITHOUT HIS ATTORNEY. AND HE CERTAINLY DOESN'T NEED TO BE THREATENING TO SUE US. WE'VE GOT TWO OPEN LETTERS RIGHT NOW, DEMAND LETTERS WHERE HE'S THREATENING TO SUE US. AND HE HE SENT ME ONE THREATENING TO SUE ME. SO DO WE. DO WE KNOW IF HE'S REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL?

[02:10:01]

NO SIR, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT. OKAY, SO ANY. SO IF THEY WERE TO BE DEPOSITED, IF THEY WERE OR WANTED TO DEPOSIT. THE SPOILS OF THE DREDGING ON THE PROPERTY TO WHICH WE HAVE LEASED TWO DILIGENCE, THEY, THEY WOULD BE IN, IN, IN, IN ERROR. CORRECT. I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A LEGAL CONCLUSION. WHAT I COULD AT THIS POINT. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT SABINE-NECHES NAVIGATION DISTRICT SENT AN EMAIL OR LETTER TO MR. CRAWFORD BY WHICH MR. CRAWFORD SENT TO US, AND IN THAT MESSAGE SABINE-NECHES WAS ASSERTING THAT THEY HAD THE RIGHT TO DEPOSIT SPOILS IN THAT AREA OF PA DUE TO THAT 1931 ACT. WELL, I THINK AND LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION, BECAUSE IF, ACCORDING TO THE 1931, WHAT I'M HEARING IS, IS THAT THEY HAVE A PERPETUAL RIGHT TO DREDGE AND TO WIDEN AND TO DO AND TO HAVE ACCESS. BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THOSE SPOILS CAN BE PLACED AND MOVED. THEY DON'T HAVE TO. THEY THEY CAN BE BARGED OFF. THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE PLACED ON THAT AREA. IT'S MORE COSTLY. BUT IT, IT THEY DON'T HAVE TO PUT THOSE SPOILS ON THAT PROPERTY OR ON THAT LAND. AND THERE WAS AND THE LATER AGREEMENT WAS, WAS THAT WHENEVER WE DECIDED TO START DEVELOPING PLEASURE ISLAND, ALL OF ALL, ALL PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS WOULD BECOME NULL AND VOID FOR DEVELOPMENT SAKE. SO THAT WAS WHAT THAT'S A PART OF THE THE AGREEMENT THAT CAME AFTER THE 1931 AGREEMENT, I THINK IT'S IN THE 1933 AGREEMENT. SO I THINK IT PREVAILS OVER THE 1931 AGREEMENT THAT WHENEVER WE WOULD BEGIN TO DEVELOP, ANY DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD COME WOULD SUPERSEDE ANY KIND OF DREDGING OR ANYTHING, ANY RIGHTS TO DREDGING AND PLACING SPOILS ON THAT PROPERTY. SO I, I WANT TO CHECK THAT OUT AS WELL. SO YOU'RE CORRECT, SIR.

WE DID LEASE THE PROPERTY AND WE DID SEND NOTICE SAYING THAT THAT PROPERTY IS INTENDED TO BE DEVELOP. THE CITY IS IN NO WAY STOPPING MR. CRAWFORD FROM IN GOOD FAITH DEVELOPING THE PROPERTY. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH SABINE-NECHES NAVIGATION DISTRICT THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED, AND IF WE COULD BRING THEM TO THE TABLE TO RESOLVE THAT, THAT IS THAT'S THE LEAST WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. WELL, THE BOTH THE THE PROPERTY OWNER IS THE LEASER. WE ARE NO, WE ARE THE OWNER. YEAH. WE'RE THE PROPERTY OWNER. SO WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY. WELL, BOTH PARTIES HAVE STANDING. WELL, HE HAS STANDING WITH US. NO, HE HAS STANDING HIMSELF TO BE ABLE TO. BUT I THINK THE PROPERTY OWNER NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED TO DISCUSS WHAT'S GOING ON. WELL WE HAVE YEAH. OKAY, I THINK. AND SO THE MAYOR'S RIGHT. I THINK THAT'S THE NEXT STEP. YEAH. LET'S GET THAT CLARIFIED. THANK YOU. WE HAVE SEVERAL

[02:15:04]

NORMALLY PRIOR TO ANYBODY SUING YOU, THEY WILL MAKE A DEMAND. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DEMAND AND A THREAT. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU USE THE WORD THREATS, YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE SOMEBODY RUN AROUND THREATENING, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE DEMANDS. THE PERSON IS DEMANDING. AND AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED OR ANYBODY CONCERNED, IF THEY UNDERSTAND LOVE. SO THAT'S NOT A BIG DEAL BECAUSE YOU'LL KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO SEE YOU, BECAUSE YOU WILL THEN BE FOLLOWED WITH THE LAWSUIT. THEY WILL FILE UNTIL SOMEONE FILE A LAWSUIT. THAT'S JUST A DEMAND. WE EITHER WE ACCEPT IT AND UNDERSTAND IT. I KNOW PROBABLY MOST OF US HERE HAVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE WE ACTUALLY LET INDIVIDUALS KNOW WHAT WE EXPECT, OR WE WOULD GO AND SEEK LEGAL COUNSEL.

SO LET'S NOT GET UPSET BECAUSE WE NEED TO PUT OURSELVES IN MR. CRAWFORD'S SHOES. I'M TIRED.

I'M TIRED OF THIS. BUT I DON'T HAVE NO MONEY INVESTED IN THIS. I HAVEN'T SPENT NO MONEY AND WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. BUT LET'S NOT TAKE IT AS A THREAT. LET'S UNDERSTAND HIS FRUSTRATIONS TOO. YOU KNOW AS WELL AS OURS. I THINK THAT'S WHY THE COUNCIL IS GETTING TO THE POINT. WE WANT ANSWERS BECAUSE WE'RE TIRED OF MR. CRAWFORD COMING TO US AND PRESENT DOCUMENTS. OKAY, SO. BUT LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT THREATS. THAT'S A DEMAND.

DEMAND THAT WE LOOK INTO IT. AND IF WE ALL KNOW WHEN SOMEBODY MAKES A DEMAND, IF WE DON'T MEET THAT DEMAND OR SOMETHING, THEN THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SUE. WHO CARES? AIN'T WE AIN'T GOING TO BE THE FIRST TIME WE'VE BEEN SUED OR ANYBODY BEEN SUED. OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FEEL YOUR HAND IS UP? THANK YOU MAYOR. MY POINT MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE THREATS, NOT ABOUT THE DEMAND. TWICE TODAY IT'S BEEN STATED, I PROMISE YOU, PORT ARTHUR WILL CEASE THE FOLK. YEP. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT TAKING THREATS LIGHTLY DURING THIS PROCESS. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. YES, THE THREATS THAT I KNOW ABOUT ARE READ ABOUT OR

[02:20:05]

I HAVE NO MORE LIGHTS. I SEE CITY MANAGER STAFF REPORTS. WE HAVE NONE. NUMBER THREE, PETITION AND COMMUNICATIONS CONTINUE. EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION. WE'VE DONE THAT. CORRESPONDENCE

[III.F.(1) A Discussion And Possible Action Regarding The City Employment Vacancy. (Requested By Councilmember Doucet) ]

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THESE VACANCIES THINGS FOR YEARS. OKAY. AND I WANT TO FIRST TALK ABOUT VACANCIES. OKAY. WE AUTHORIZED VACANCIES POSITIONS, NOT YOU, NOT THE CITY MANAGER, NOT ETIHAD, THE THE COUNCIL DO WHEN WHEN YOU BRING US A BUDGET REQUEST FOR PERSONNEL, YOU ASK US TO FUND THESE POSITIONS WITH SALARIES AND BENEFITS. ONCE WE APPROVE THEM, IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FILL THEM. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO FILL THEM. YOU SHOULD NOT BRING THEM TO US. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THE MONEY INTO IT. SO I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY POLICY YOU GOT THINKING THAT DIRECTORS CONTROL IT. YOU NEED TO REVISIT THE POLICY. THOSE POSITIONS ARE ESTABLISHED TODAY. WE APPROVE THE BUDGET AND THE ONLY ONE AND THE ONLY WAY IT CHANGES. THAT'S IF YOU COME BACK TO US AND WE CHANGE IT. IT'S NOT Y'ALL JOBS. OKAY. NOW, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO THE COUNCIL IS WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR SO LONG, AND WE ALWAYS HAVE SOME TYPE OF EXCUSE OR SOME REASON WHY VACANCIES ARE NOT FILLED. YOU KNOW, WE FUND THESE POSITIONS WHEN WE DO A BUDGET. SO IF THE STAFF AND MANAGER REQUEST THAT WE AUTHORIZE A POSITION WITH BENEFIT AND WE SUPPORT THAT RECORD, THAT REQUEST, AND WE APPROVE IT, THEN THAT MEANS YOU SHOULD FEEL IT. BUT FOR SOME REASON, ALL IT HAS BEEN GOING ON BEEN DISCUSSED. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. ON HANDLING VACANCIES SO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS ANYMORE. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE MANAGER AND STAFF WILL UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU DON'T WANT THE POSITION, DON'T BRING IT TO US TO FUND IT. OKAY? MY. MOTION AND BEFORE I

[02:25:01]

AND I'LL MAKE THE MOTION AND THEN YOU CAN HAVE QUESTIONS ON IT ANYWAY. OKAY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WHEN THE COUNCIL APPROVES THE BUDGET DEALING WITH PERSONNEL AND THE MANAGER AND STAFF HAS ASKED THAT WE FUND POSITIONS THAT ARE VITAL. TO THE OPERATION IN THE SERVICE OF THE CITY. ONCE COUNCIL APPROVAL. IF THE POSITION IS NOT FILLED WITHIN 90 DAYS, THAT POSITION WILL BE FROZEN UNTIL THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE. NOT ONLY WILL IT BE FROZE, BUT THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR THAT POSITION NOT USED FOR ANY OTHER PERSONNEL MATTER. AND IF AFTER THE BUDGET IS APPROVED, A POSITION BECOME VACANT AFTER THE BUDGET IS APPROVED, IF A POSITION BECOME VACANT, THEN THE TIME FOR FILLING THE POSITION WILL BE DEPENDENT ON THE STAFF AND HR DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE, DUE DILIGENCE IN FILLING THAT POSITION BECAUSE WE FUND THINGS FOR 12 MONTHS. CAN I THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE MOTION? BUT BEFORE WE MAKE THAT MOTION, I, AS AN HR PERSON, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THAT TIME FRAME BECAUSE I'VE GOT TO BE ABLE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS INVOLVED IN THAT FROM WORKING IN HR FOR 20 YEARS. SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT. 90 DAYS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO. BUT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ON THE FLOOR YET, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE WITH THE ROBERT'S RULES. WE'RE ALL OUT OF SORTS, BUT I HAVE GOT TO SPEAK TO THE MOTION AND THE TIME FRAME. OKAY, WELL, HERE WE GO. FIRST OF ALL, THE DISCUSSION IS ON THE MOTION. AND AFTER THAT, WHEN YOU SPEAK, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ALSO RECOMMEND AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION. OKAY. AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION AT WHICH TIME WE WILL VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT FIRST AND THEN GO BACK TO THE GO BACK TO THE MOTION. I JUST LOST IT FOR A SECOND. I'M SORRY. I JUST GOT STUCK ON THAT TIME BECAUSE THAT TIME IS. YES. BUT YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY, ANY AMENDMENT, THEN IT THEN IT GOES TO A DISCUSSION ALSO. YES SIR. OKAY. OKAY. HE'S MADE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SO ARE WE GOING TO STEAL THIS 90 DAYS. HE'S GOT A SECOND. OKAY. HE'S GOT A SECOND. SO HE'S GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSIONS? I DO HAVE A DISCUSSION. OKAY. ON THAT. FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND 90 DAYS, THAT IS FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND FOR STAFF TO FILL A POSITION IN 90 DAYS IS ALMOST VIRTUALLY FROM IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE BY THE TIME YOU POST A JOB FOR THE TIME YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE A VACANCY. AND I KNOW THE PROCESS MAY HAVE CHANGED. YOU POST IT OUT FOR INSIDE FIRST, THEN YOU ADVERTISE OUTSIDE. IF THERE'S NO INSIDE VACANCIES AND THEN FROM THE INSIDE VACANCIES, YOU START TO PULL APPLICATIONS.

MY JOB SOLELY WAS TO PULL APPLICATIONS. SO THAT MEANS YOU HAD TO FIND SOMEONE THAT IS QUALIFIED TO FIT IN THOSE THAT CRITERION, AND THEN FROM THAT CRITERIA, AND THEN YOU SUBMIT THOSE TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. LORD, I'M GOING BACK 30 YEARS. BUT ANYWAY, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT PROCESS HAS CHANGED AND YOU GET IT TO THE DEPARTMENT HEAD, THEN THE DEPARTMENT HEAD HAS TO SCHEDULE INTERVIEWS AND GET THAT DONE. THAT ALONE TAKES 90 DAYS. THAT ALONE I HIRED IN OCTOBER OF 88. I INTERVIEWED IN APRIL OF 18. I INTERVIEWED FOR THE JOB IN APRIL OF 88 AND DIDN'T START UNTIL OCTOBER OF 88. AND SO THAT ALONE TOOK SIX MONTHS THAT THAT PROCESS OF 90 DAYS JUST HIRING SOMEONE. AND THEN IF IT HAS TO BE ADVERTISED IN THE IN THE PAPER FOR ANY SPECIFIC POSITIONS AS IF IT'S SKILL, CRAFT OR SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE OR PROFESSIONAL THAT HAS TO ADVERTISE FOR ANOTHER, ANOTHER THREE MONTHS TO BE ABLE OR AT LEAST SIX WEEKS ADVERTISED, GET THOSE BACK IN, WEED OUT THE PEOPLE THAT'S NOT QUALIFIED, GET THE TOP QUALIFIED PEOPLE, THEN SEND BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THEM. SO IT I WOULD THAT IS THAT'S TRYING NOT THAT'S TYING UP THE HANDS OF STAFF AND TO 90 DAYS IS JUST NOT INCOMPREHENSIBLE.

I'VE WORKED IN IT. I DID IT AND I'M TELLING YOU, 90 DAYS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO FILL A POSITION.

YOU NEED AT LEAST SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR THAT I WOULD SAY. I KNOW WE THINK THAT'S UNREASONABLE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE STEPS THAT I JUST PUT OUT THERE, POSTING A JOB INSIDE, GETTING THOSE

[02:30:04]

COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW, THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU, MAYOR. I JUST DON'T FEEL THAT THAT'S TRUE. I THINK THAT BASED UPON THE JOB I THAT'S OPENING, I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE TO GO. IS IT SOME TYPE OF POLICY THAT WE HAVE TO BID THE JOB IN BEFORE WE DO IT? IT'S WRITTEN IN. SO IF IT IS A POLICY LIKE THAT, IT IS. AND WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG, THE BID PROCESS THAT'S DOING IT IN-HOUSE, THESE THESE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY EMPLOYED WITH THE CITY. RIGHT. AND THEN WHEN WE GO OUT, WE, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WHEN I ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHY HAVEN'T WE FILLED THESE POSITIONS, I GET ANSWERS AND THEN I, I DID, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS TALK WITH YOU, DOCTOR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT AND INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE TO ME BECAUSE I'VE NEVER WORKED IN HR, BUT I'VE BEEN HIRED BEFORE IN THE PROCESS. AND GETTING THE INFORMATION FROM YOU, I THINK IS LIKE THREE MAJOR STEPS THAT A PERSON HAS TO GO THROUGH. AND YOU EXPLAINED IT TO ME. BUT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HAVING JOBS ON THE BOOKS, YOU KNOW, 60, 70 VACANT POSITIONS ON THE BOOKS, I LOOK AT IT ALL THE TIME. SOME JOBS ARE HYPERLINKED THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO ON AND APPLY AND SOME THAT THAT YOU CAN APPLY FOR BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING THE IN-HOUSE APPLICATION PROCESS.

BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING BETTER THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING BEFORE BECAUSE WE NOT ONLY JUST TAKEN THE YEAR, WE'VE HAD JOBS, WE HAVE VACANCIES. THAT'S BEEN ON THE BOOKS 3 TO 5 YEARS. DID YOU KNOW THAT? RIGHT. OKAY, SO WE CAN'T JUST SAY ONE. WE JUST CAN'T SAY COUNCILMEMBER. WE JUST CAN'T SAY ONE THING BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME JOBS. THAT'S BEEN 3 TO 5 YEARS STILL ON THE BOOKS THAT WE AS THIS COUNCIL BUDGET FOR YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND WE DON'T GET UPDATES ON WHY WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FILL THESE JOBS. OKAY. AND THEN THEN, YOU KNOW, MY THING IS THIS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO COME TO THE COUNCIL AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO NEED THIS JOB, AND IT'S BEEN ON THE BOOKS 3 TO 5 YEARS ALREADY, WHAT ARE WE DOING? WHAT I MEAN, WHAT WHAT ARE WE DOING? WE CAN'T FEEL IT. WE NEED IT. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WE'RE GOING TO JUST KEEP ON EVERY YEAR AFTER YEAR SAYING WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO FILL THIS JOB AND HOPE SOMEBODY COME, YOU KNOW, AND GET THIS JOB. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, MAYOR. AND I'M JUST SAYING I'D HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE. I KNOW THAT ON THE BOOKS UNTIL I JUST SUGGESTED THAT WE PUT THESE JOB VACANCIES ALL ON THE WEBSITE, IT HADN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE. THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THEN I WOULD HEAR THAT JOB DESCRIPTION NEEDS TO BE REVISED. YOU KNOW, I HEAR ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON. AND ALL I'M SAYING, IF A DEPARTMENT HEAD SUPERVISOR NEED THIS TECHNICAL PERSON OR PERSON TO WORK IN THEIR DEPARTMENT, WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG TO GET THIS PERSON HIRED? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY. SO IF IF, IF YOU CAN CLARIFY THAT DOCTOR FOR ME, I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE IF WE DO IT THE WAY THAT'S BEEN SUGGESTED AND SAYING IT TAKES A WHOLE YEAR, WE'RE GOING INTO ANOTHER BUDGET YEAR. THAT'S RIGHT. THEN WE GO TO ANOTHER BUDGET. SO YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO HIRE A PERSON. YES. IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION. YES. OKAY. I KNOW YOU'RE WAITING TO ANSWER DOCTOR THIGPEN. AND THEN I HAVE TWO HAND UP COUNCILMEMBER EVAN FIELD RIGHT AFTER THAT. OKAY. LET ME START OFF BY BEING SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN FILLING ALL THE POSITIONS THAT WE CAN BE FILLED. WE HAVE POSITIONS, OF COURSE, OF A VARYING SPECTRUM. AND ALSO ESPECIALLY COUNCILMAN KINLAW, YOU I KNOW YOU'RE AWARE THAT WE HAVE BOTH CIVIL SERVICE PROCESSES AS WELL AS NON-CIVIL SERVICE, AND THOSE TWO MOVE DIFFERENTLY. THE PROCESS AS IT WAS DESIGNED IN THE PERSONNEL POLICY, OF COURSE, WAS TO ALLOW THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE INSIDE THE ORGANIZATION TO HAVE A FIRST OPPORTUNITY WHEN THOSE POSITIONS BECOME AVAILABLE. SO THAT'S WHAT THE INTERNAL PROCESS IS. SOME JOBS, WE GO STRICTLY WITH THE INTERNAL PROCESS, BUT IF THERE'S A POTENTIAL THAT WE MAY NEED TO GO OUTSIDE, WE'LL DO BOTH. NOW, YOU MENTIONED SOME POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE BOOKS LONGER THAN A YEAR, AND YOU ARE CORRECT. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE NOT ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN TRYING TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS. IT JUST MEANS THAT WE HAVE NOT

[02:35:06]

[02:40:01]

NO. NOTED. OKAY, SO WE'RE BACK TO I HAVE LIGHTS ON. WE STILL HAVE A I HAVE, I ASKED FOR AN AMENDMENT AT LEAST 4 TO 6 MONTHS ON THIS ON THIS. SO IF YOU'RE SPEAKING TO THAT AMENDMENT, THEN YOU'LL I'LL RECOGNIZE YOUR LIGHT. MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCET, IS THAT YOUR. YES, YES IT IS, MAYOR. THANK YOU. OKAY. GO AHEAD. YES. NO. SIX MONTHS. WE HAVE TO TAKE ABOUT SIX. CITY MANAGER HERE. LET ME LET YOU GO BEFORE ME. WE GOT WE TALKING ABOUT SIX MONTHS. YEAH, THAT'S HALF OF A YEAR. WHAT'S THE PURPOSE? WANTING THE JOB. OKAY. MAYOR. YEAH, YOU WERE IN HR. THEY PROBABLY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN AND COMPLAINING ABOUT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE TIME FRAME. YES. ADVERTISING. YOU PUT THE JOB OUT THERE, YOU OPEN IT, YOU CLOSE IT. IT'S 30 DAYS. OKAY? YOU GET APPLICANTS, ALL RIGHT. YOU SEND THEM TO THE DIRECTORS FOR INTERVIEW. I'VE SEEN I'VE HEARD PEOPLE IN HR TELL ME, WELL, YEAH, WE OWN IT.

BUT THE DIRECTORS, THEY TAKE LONG. THEY DON'T GIVE US THE. THEY DON'T GIVE US THEIR

[02:45:04]

IT'S JUST WRONG. SO WHEN WE GET TO THE BUDGET, WHEN WE GET TO THE BUDGET, THE CITY MANAGER BETTER HAVE A GOOD EXPLANATION WHY I'M GOING TO FUND THAT POSITION AGAIN THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SITTING ON. I WILL GIVE IT TO THE COUNCIL TO DELETE IT FROM THE BUDGET. OKAY. LET'S GO WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION. INSTEAD. THE CITY MANAGER MAKES THE PERSONNEL SCHEDULE AVAILABLE TO THE COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL AS PART OF YOUR BUDGET WORKSHOP LOOKS AT THE PERSONNEL SCHEDULE. SAY YOU'VE HAD THAT POSITION OPEN FOR THE LAST NON-CIVIL SERVICE FIVE YEARS, FOUR YEARS OR IN THIS DEPARTMENT AN ENTIRE YEAR. THE PERSON HAS BEEN GONE. YOU'RE NOT FEELING IT. YOU DON'T NEED IT. TAKE IT AWAY. THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION. SOUNDS LIKE A

[02:50:03]

OKAY, SO LET'S TAKE THAT AS A RECOMMENDATION DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. ALL RIGHT.

WHERE YOU GIVE THE COUNCIL THE CHAINSAW TO TAKE POSITIONS OUT OF THE BUDGET WHEN YOU SEE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FILLED OVER A YEAR'S PERIOD, BECAUSE IT MEANS SOMEBODY IS DRAGGING THEIR FEET OR SOMEBODY LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO FILL THE POSITION. WOW, THAT'S MY MAYOR.

THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION. WELL, WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATION, I'LL PULL MY AMENDMENT TO GIVE. I WAS TRYING THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. I WAS TRYING TO HELP YOU. I KNOW TRYING TO FILL POSITIONS IS TOUGH, BUT. HELLO. I'LL PULL MY AMENDMENT FOR FROM 90 TO FROM TO FROM SIX MONTHS. FROM THE AMENDMENT AND THE MOTION. AND I'D LIKE TO REMOVE MY MOTION FOR THE 90 DAYS IN LIEU OF THE CITY MANAGER. GETTING HIS IDEA AND WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT TO US, AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL IN THE FORM OF A PRESENTATION OF WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO TO FILL POSITIONS. SO PLEASE. AND THEN AT THAT TIME, THEN COUNCIL CAN ACCEPT, I AGREE OR NOT. I AGREE COUNSELOR, WILL THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SPEAK TO THAT WITHDRAWAL. I MEAN TO THE THE MOTION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AMENDMENTS BEEN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION BEEN WITHDRAWN AND THE MOTION ITSELF.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION IN REFERENCE TO THAT? OKAY. GO AHEAD. MA'AM. MY REQUEST IS FOR STAFF TO PLEASE BRING BACK A PLAN OF ACTION OR TIMELINE. I'M SPEAKING TO OPERATIONS, A TIMELINE REGARDING THE HIRING PROCESS. SO I'M LOOKING TO SEE A POSITION IS REQUESTED WITHIN.

14 DAYS. I'M JUST SPEAKING HYPOTHETICALLY, WITHIN 15 DAYS OF POSTING IS MADE FOR THAT POSITION. THE POSITION IS OPEN FOR SIX WEEKS. APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED. THEY ARE REVIEWED WITHIN 15 DAYS. THEY ARE SENT TO THE DEPARTMENT HEAD. THE DEPARTMENT HEAD HAS 15 DAYS TO RETURN THEIR REFERRALS. APPOINTMENTS FOR INTERVIEWS ARE SCHEDULED. I WANTED TO SEE A TIMELINE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE IN THIS PROCESS AND NOT JUST SAYING, OH WELL, WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE 30 DAYS, WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE SIX MONTHS. SO IF WE HAVE A TIMELINE FOR EVERYONE TO FOLLOW ALONG THE PROCESS, I THINK WE COULD BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE OPERATIONALLY TO GET THIS DONE.

THAT'S A THAT'S AN AMENDMENT TO THE PERSONNEL POLICY. DOESN'T THE POLICY ALREADY ADDRESS THE HIRING PROCESS? BUT I THINK WE CAN AMEND THAT. ADDING THOSE STEPS, BRINGING AMENDMENT TOWARD COUNCIL FOR TO NARROW THAT THAT SCOPE OF TIME TO HIRE. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, YOUR LIGHTS ON. YEAH, I AGREE WITH THE CITY MANAGER. DON'T GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND BECAUSE THE WORK IS BEING DONE AND OVERTIME OR SOMETHING. THE WORK HAS NOT STOPPED. YEAH. SO IT'S BEING DONE. SO CITY MANAGER, CAN YOU LOOK AT IT, COMBINE THESE POSITIONS, SPREAD THEM AROUND, DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. WELL MANAGER WILL BRING A REPORT BACK TO US. I'M SORRY COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW. SO WE WOULD WE ACTUALLY WITHDRAWN EVERYTHING, RIGHT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY ACTION LIKE YOU GUYS BOTH. RIGHT. WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT. OKAY. RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR THE MANAGER TO GIVE US HIS

[III.F.(2) A Discussion Regarding How Resolutions Are Written. (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)]

[02:55:03]

[V. REPORTS / ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]

FEBRUARY OF 26. COME ON JT, COME ON. FEBRUARY. YES. BUT ANYWAY, I'M VERY HONORED AND HAPPY TO BE HERE AND I JUST WANT TO JUST SINCERELY THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY. AND I'M READY TO GET TO WORK. WE'RE READY FOR YOU TO GO TO WORK. TAKE THE NEWS MEDIA OFF MY SHOULDERS. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR MOVING SO SWIFTLY AFTER THE INTERVIEW AND GETTING JT HIRED AND ON BOARD COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PROGRESS OR ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. MAYOR PRO TEM OKAY, WAIT A MINUTE. MAYOR PRO TEM, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? OKAY, YOU HAD SOMETHING. COUNCILMEMBER MURPHY, JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT EARLY VOTING IS GOING ON. PLEASE GO OUT AND CAST YOUR VOTES. OH, AND WHILE WE'RE WE'RE SAYING THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M GLAD THAT YOU DID SAY ABOUT EARLY VOTING. WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO. WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT OUR LIBRARY POLLING LOCATION. THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR CALLED ME THIS MORNING, AND SHE'S JUST SAYING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO VOTE AT THE LIBRARY BECAUSE OF THEY DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO PARK, FIRST OF ALL. AND THEN SECONDLY, THEY'RE BEING BOMBARDED. SO IF WE KNOW OF ANYBODY THAT WE CAN KIND OF MENTION OUT THERE, SINCE THIS IS PUBLIC, OUR COMMUNITY INTEREST AND VOTING IS TAKING PLACE, WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD HAVE THOSE THAT ARE ON THE BALLOT PARK IN THE BACK OR THEIR WORKERS OR POLL WORKERS PARK SOMEWHERE ELSE, THAT WOULD HELP US TO CLEAR UP SOME OF THE TRAFFIC AND THEN AND HELP WITH THEM BEING BOMBARDED WITH, WE CAN'T REALLY WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING GOVERNANCE TO STOP SOMEONE FROM GOING UP TO A WITHIN 100FT. I THINK WE HAVE 100FT THERE. BUT IF WE COULD TALK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW, THAT WOULD HELP MAKE IT A LOT LIGHTER. AT OUR MAIN POLLING PLACE AT THE LIBRARY. MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE, IF YOU HAVE YOUR LIGHT ON. YES. OKAY. GO AHEAD. YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR SHERRY. OKAY. WELL, SHE JUST WITH THE MAYOR JUST SAID WE DIDN'T NEED TO COUNT. THAT HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT COMPLAINT HERE IN THE CITY. THAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THOSE SITES. ALRIGHT. NOW WE DO ELECTIONS. IT'S THE SAME THING WHEN WE DO ELECTIONS. WHEN YOU GO TO THE LIBRARY, YOU GO TO DIFFERENT SITES. PEOPLE WALK UP TO THE CAR, THEY CAN'T PARK BECAUSE YOU GOT ALL OF THE TENTS AND STUFF IN THE PARKING LOT. OKAY. THAT AREA SHOULD BE DESIGNATED A CAR WITHOUT THESE TENTS AND ALL THIS STUFF. THE ELECTION LAW, THE TEXAS ELECTION LAW STATES THAT NO VOTER PATH SHOULD BE IMPEDED WHEN THEY COME TO VOTE. THAT MEANS WHEN THEY DRIVE IN FROM THE POINT THEY GET TO THEIR PARK, WHEN THEY GET OUT THEIR CAR, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO WALK FROM THERE STRAIGHT INTO THE POLLING PLACE WITHOUT ANYBODY IMPEDING THEIR PATH. SO MAYOR PRO TEM, THAT'S ONLY WITHIN THE 100 FOOT FROM THE DOOR. THERE'S THERE'S

[03:00:07]

AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THERE MAY BE SOMETHING OUT THERE ABOUT ELECTIONEERING AND APPROACHING THE VOTER, BUT WE HAVE TO CONFIRM THAT. I TELL YOU WHAT I WAS JUST GOING TO TELL YOU. YES, SIR. WE'VE BEEN ON THIS. WE'RE NOT THERE. I WILL BRING YOU THE PART OF THE ELECTION CODE THAT SAYS IT'S NOT JUST THE 100FT. THAT'S THE POLLING PLACE. OKAY. I'D BE HAPPY TO SEE THAT. I'LL BRING YOU. THANK YOU. I'LL BRING YOU THE DOCUMENTATION. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU. CHERI. WE DID HAVE A MEETING. THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DEVELOP ON OUR END BY HAVING AN ORDINANCE PUT IN PLACE. IT'S OUR PROPERTY TELLING PEOPLE WHERE TO PARK, WHERE TO PUT THOSE TENTS AND WHAT TO DO. SO SHE'S LOOKING INTO THAT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT IN PLACE AS A AS COUNCIL AND VOTE AND PUT AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE THAT WILL ACTUALLY GOVERN OUR PROPERTY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE RULES IN PLACE ABOUT TAKING DOWN YOUR TENT AFTER YOU LEAVE FOR THAT DAY, NOT LEAVING IT UP AS A, YOU KNOW, IT'S, YOU KNOW, LEAVING IT UP OVERNIGHT AND CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE. I TALKED ABOUT IT WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL. SOMEHOW IT SLIPPED MY MIND AND WE DIDN'T GET IT COMPLETED. BUT WE ARE GOING TO GET THAT COMPLETED AND GET AN ORDINANCE TO OUR COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN. OKAY. I HAVE COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS LIGHT ON.

YES, WE DEALT WITH THIS BEFORE. WE HAVE. AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO. AND YES, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PARKING IN THE IN THE REAR. THAT'S RIGHT. THOSE PARKING IN THE REAR ARE THE LAST PART. SO WHY IS NOT BEING ENFORCED? WE DON'T HAVE IT IN WRITING. IT DIDN'T PUT IT IN WRITING. YES, SIR. WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE. OKAY. OKAY. YEAH. COUNCILMEMBER FRANK. YES.

I SIMPLY WANT TO REMIND SOME OF OUR CITIZENS WE'RE STILL SOME OF US ARE RECOVERING AND STILL REELING FROM THE EXPLOSION THAT HAPPENED AND TRANSPIRED IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE BEEN DOING, MAYOR, AND THANK ALL OF THE COUNCILMEN WHO'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN YOUR DISTRICTS FOR WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING FOR OUR CITIZENS. BUT I WANT TO REMIND OUR CITIZENS PUBLICLY THAT IF YOU SIGN A IF YOU SIGN A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH VALERO AND TAKE ANY MONIES YOU ARE, YOU ARE PRECLUDED FROM SIGNING WITH ANYONE ELSE, RIGHT? BECAUSE SO MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE TAKING THAT MONEY FROM VALERO. AND THAT'S FINE. THAT'S THE DECISION THAT INDIVIDUALS MAKE.

YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DO THAT. BUT I WANT INDIVIDUALS TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU CAN'T GO AND SIGN WITH ANYONE ELSE AND ENTER INTO ANY OTHER AGREEMENTS AFTER THAT. AND I THINK THERE ARE SOME OF OUR CITIZENS WHO NEED TO KNOW THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.

REMEMBER, TODAY IS A HOLIDAY FOR SAN JACINTO DAY. AND THE THERE'S THERE'S NO VOTING ON TODAY. SO I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S AWARE OF THAT VOTING WILL RESUME ON TOMORROW AND CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. YES. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT WHAT HE JUST SAID. I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT VIBRATION. BE SURE YOU CHECK THREE, SIX MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, CHECK IF YOU GOT A BRICK HOME, CHECK YOUR MODEL.

IT'S GOING TO THAT IT'S GOING TO SHOW. SO IF YOU IF YOU DON'T, DON'T BE SO HASTY TO SIGN UP ON SOMETHING AND THEN IT'S GOING TO SHOW THE MODEL GOING TO BE ALL CRACKED UP. I WAS AT HEB WAY DOWN ON ON GULFWAY DRIVE INSIDE. I THOUGHT THE ROOF FELL IN. YES SIR. THAT'S HOW BAD IT WAS. JUST THINK ABOUT EVERYBODY ON ON THE FENCE LINE. YEAH. YES, SIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NOW TO ITEM. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INPUT AND WHAT YOU

[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]

COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM DOUCETTE YES, MAYOR. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN ON PAGE FOUR. OKAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK SEVEN ON PAGE FOUR. OH, SAME ONE. EVERYBODY'S GOT THE SAME. OKAY.

OKAY. WELL, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION. MAYOR NUMBER THREE, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER THREE ON PAGE FOUR. YEAH. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW NO MAYOR.

[03:05:05]

THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THOSE TWO ITEMS ARE HELD WITHHELD PASSES. THIS TIME WE'RE GOING

[VII.(3) P.R. No. 24865 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Inter-Local Agreement Between Jefferson County, The City Of Beaumont And The City Of Port Arthur For The 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) And Receive Funding In The Amount Of $33,032.00, No Cash Match Requirement.]

ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, IS THAT I JUST NEED SOMEBODY TO TELL ME HOW BROAD IS THIS GRANT GIVING US MONEY FROM? WHAT WILL IT DO? IF. IF NOT, WE'LL JUST GO AHEAD ON WITH IT. OKAY. WHAT? I'M SORRY. WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS? I JUST NEEDED TO KNOW. I LEFT MY BACKGROUND INFORMATION. THEY'RE GIVING US MONEY. I DON'T I DON'T I DON'T THINK ABOUT PULLING THAT $33,000 AND THEY'RE GIVING US MONEY. I DON'T CARE WHY. OKAY. HEY, THAT'S. YES, SIR. YEAH. OKAY. Y'ALL, ARE YOU GOOD? I'M ON, I'M ON. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY NO'S? THERE ARE NO NO'S. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE

[VII.(7) P.R. No. 24884 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 1 To The Construction Contract With Brystar Contracting, Inc. Of Beaumont, Texas, For The 9th Avenue Pavement Improvement Project (Most Westward Lane) From Jimmy Johnson Boulevard To Lake Arthur Drive, For $50,890.00 Appropriated City Funds. Funding Available In The Capital Streets Account No. 307-21-053-8517-00-10-000, Project No. ST5023.CON. ]

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE G L O PROJECT. BUT THEN YOU REQUESTING WORK. BUT THE MONEY IS COMING OUT OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT. OKAY. AND SEE. THAT'S A NO NO. BUT FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, THAT'S THE THAT'S THE WAY WE'VE BEEN DOING. I WANT ALL THESE THINGS.

THEY'RE GOING TO ALL BE BROUGHT OUT. THEY'RE GOING TO ALL COME TO LIFE. IF IT'S THE G L O PROJECT, ALL REQUESTS FOR FUNDING SHOULD BE UNDER THIS. IF IT'S NOT THE G L O PROJECT, IT SHOULD NOT BE ATTACHED TO THE G L O PROJECT. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO JIMMY JOHNSON. WE HAD THE GEO, WE HAD A GRANT AND THE GRANT CALLED FOR THEM TO DO THE DRAINAGE. AND OF COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO REPAIR THE ROAD, BUT WE END UP HAVING A WIDER ROAD, A DEEPER ROAD. BUT THE FUNDS CAME OUT OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS, THE NEXT THING IS IF IT'S IN DISTRICT THREE, IT'S COMING TO THIS OUT OF DISTRICT MONEY. IF IT'S JUST COMING OUT THIS THIS TERM THAT'S USED TOO LOOSELY, THAT'S TOO LOOSELY. ANYTIME WE HAVE MONEY COMING

[03:10:07]

THE. STREET IN THE WITH THE EXTENSION AND STUFF THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY FOR THIS. I THINK IT'S 50,000, 50,000, 50,000, 890. YES, SIR. SO MY QUESTION IS HOW MUCH DID WE ALLOCATE FOR THIS? WELL, WE ALLOCATED THE MONEY FOR THE G L O. SO THAT WAS APPROVED. SO COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE MONEY FOR THAT CONTRACT WHEN WE DID IT. RIGHT.

SO NOW WE'RE ASKING FOR $50,890. SO ARE WE GOING TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT STREET RESERVE. RIGHT. YES SIR. HOW DO WE GET INTO THE BUDGET TO PAY FOR IT. SO WE STILL HAVE MONEY LEFT OVER. WE DON'T HAVE I MEAN, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION THAT REALLY WE WE HAVE MONEY AVAILABLE. WE WILL BE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS IN FUTURE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. SO WHAT WHY WE ARE ASKING IF YOU ALLOW ME I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT. SO SINCE IT'S A G L O PROJECT AND IT HAS LIMITS ALREADY DEFINED. SO WE AND THIS IS LIKE WE ARE IMPROVING ONE LANE, THE LANE NEXT TO IT WE FOUND VERY SOFT SPOT UNDERNEATH AND IT'S A LONG ENOUGH, LONG ENOUGH LENGTH. IF WE DON'T FIX IT, THE NEW WILL FAIL LATER, YOU KNOW, SO WE MUST FIX IT. BUT GELO HAS ITS OWN RULE, JUST LIKE YOU'RE ASKING. LIKE WE HAVE OUR OWN RULE WE NEED TO FOLLOW. THEY WEREN'T ALLOW ANY MONEY OUTSIDE OF THE ALREADY DEFINED SCOPE. SO. WELL, SEE, THAT'S. YOU SEE, THAT'S MY PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THESE GLOWS AND. AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE JUST THAT WHEN, WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THESE, THE MONEY, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THINGS AND WE WANT TO DO THINGS.

BUT SEE, WE ONLY GET X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS AND WE'RE NOT GETTING X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS.

THAT MEANS THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO START DOING ANY MORE, THAT MEANS THAT WE NOW HAVE TO PUT MORE INTO THE BUDGET. AND WHEN WE PUT MORE INTO THE BUDGET, THEN THAT'S DONE WITH AN ORDINANCE WHERE WE AMENDED THE BUDGET, WHICH I SAID 50 MILLION TIMES, BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU MEANT BILL, NOW EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S TRANSPARENT. WE'RE MOVING MONEY FROM HERE AND WE'RE PUTTING IT HERE. AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR, IT DOESN'T SHOW OVER THERE. IT SHOWS WHERE WE ACTUALLY SPENT IT, YOU KNOW, AND BUT SPENDING OUT THE POT OF MONEY AND WHEN IT'S COME TO STREETS, EVERY TIME, IT'S LIKE A RED FLAG TO ME. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. BUT, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU'RE ON TOP OF IT AND I SEE YOU EXPLAINING IT VERY WELL. YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SEPARATE THIS MONEY. SO WHEN YOU TURN IT INTO FINANCE, THAT MONEY IS TAKEN FROM WHERE IT IS TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF THAT POT. SURE. IF YOU GO OVER IN THE DISTRICT, YOU'RE TAKEN FROM THE OTHER DISTRICTS AND THAT'S NOT FAIR. OKAY, OKAY. FAIR COMMENT SIR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS COUNCILMEMBER FRANK? YEAH, YEAH I DO MAYOR. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. HI. HOW YOU DOING? I'M GOING TO USE THIS. MIKE, PULL YOUR MIC DOWN TO YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO USE THIS. I'M GOING TO USE THIS RESOLUTION TO KIND OF DRAW A LINE IN THE SAND BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE COMING BEFORE COUNCIL WITH A CHANGE ORDER. AND THEY'RE THEY'RE WE DON'T LIKE CHANGE ORDERS. NOBODY LIKES CHANGE ORDERS. IF YOU'RE BUILDING YOUR HOUSE, YOU DON'T LIKE A CHANGE ORDER. CHANGE ORDERS ARE ANATHEMA. THEY'RE A CURSE. YOU DON'T YOU DON'T WANT TO CHANGE ORDER BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COME. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE

[03:15:02]

AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS CHANGE ORDER. I KNOW, I KNOW YOU FIND THINGS. I KNOW WE LIVE IN A, I KNOW WE LIVE IN A CITY WHERE THAT ULTIMATELY THERE ARE NOT MAPS THAT WE'VE UPGRADED AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. BUT LISTEN TO THIS. AND I'M, I'M NOT, I'M, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE A LONG THING OF IT IN. IT SAYS THAT DURING THE COURSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION, PROGRESS WAS DELAYED WHILE THE CONTRACTOR AWAITED DIRECTION REGARDING THE POTENTIAL ADDITION OF A SUBGRADE IMPROVEMENT. WELL, WE CAN PUT A CLAUSE IN THAT SAYS THAT WE'RE FOUND HARMLESS BECAUSE OF DELAYS. THEY PUT IT IN OTHER CONTRACTS, WE CAN PUT IT IN THAT CONTRACT. BUT HERE, WATCH THIS. THIS OTHER THING SAID THAT THE CONTRACTOR WAS SUBMITTED AND CHANGE ORDER TO REMOVE THE PLATES. OH, THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT HAS REVIEWED THE REQUEST AND DETERMINED THE REQUEST CHANGE ORDER IS REASONABLE AND NECESSARY. SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT NOBODY KNEW IT WAS NECESSARY BEFORE WE BEGAN? HOW DO WE FIND OUT THAT? I MEAN, WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WAS NECESSARY BEFORE, IF IT WAS NECESSARY. I MEAN, THAT'S LIKE SAYING I'M GOING TO BUY A CAR, BUT I DIDN'T LOOK UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE IF IT HAD AN ENGINE. YOU GOTTA KNOW IF IT'S IF IT'S NECESSARY, IT'S NECESSARY.

THAT'S WHAT NECESSARY MEANS TO ME. AND SO WE SHOULDN'T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NECESSARY, BUT THAT WAS OVERLOOKED. SO I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT. THOSE ARE GREAT COMMENTS. SO IF YOU ALLOW ME, MAYOR, SO PLEASE, IF YOU'LL JUST PULL THE MIC UP TO YOU AS WELL. THAT'S IT. THAT'S GREAT. GO AHEAD RIGHT NOW. SO WHAT HAPPENED? SO WE WHEN ONCE WE REMOVED THE TOP TO FIX THE LANE, THEN WE DISCOVERED THIS. IT WASN'T SOMETHING YOU COULD YOU COULD FORESEE. SO ONCE WE SAW IT, WHAT YOU'RE READING IS IT MAKES SENSE THAT IF IT'S PERFECT SITUATION, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO SEND IT TO GEOTECH REPORTS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE ARE FIXING, WE HAVE THE RIGHT SOLUTION. THE DELAY WAS BECAUSE WE WERE WAITING FOR GEOTECH TO FINISH THEIR TAKE THE SAMPLES, FINISH THEIR REPORT, AND THEN WE HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS. SO. SO YOU DON'T DO X-RAYS? WE NO NO NO I'M NOT.

WE'VE HAD STRESS X-RAYS BEFORE. NO, THAT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE IF WE DO. YES.

THERE'S A COST. SO IT'S ABOUT YOU CAN DO UPFRONT COSTS IN EXPLORATION. NORMALLY WE DON'T WE AVOID THAT. THEN WE DO LIKE SPOT CHECK WHEN WE HAVE A NEED FOR IT. THEN WE DO THOSE. IT DOES COST MORE MONEY. IT DOES TAKE MORE TIME, BUT IT SAVES YOU MONEY IN THE LONG RUN, YOU KNOW? OKAY, SO THIS WAS UNAVOIDABLE. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOUR YOUR GENERAL COMMENTS THOUGH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER KINLAW. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND DIRECTOR, JUST TO KIND OF GET SOME MORE CLARIFICATION. YES, SIR. I SEE THE TREE THAT COUNCILMAN FRANK IS CLIMBING ON AND HE MAKES A VALID POINT. YES, SIR. BUT I WANT TO GO WITH THE ACTUAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE. LOOKING AT THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION, YOU HAVE TO REMOVE AND REPLACE ROADWAY 12.5 BY 200. YES, SIR. AT A COST. ON THE BACKGROUND, IT HAS 63,047. OKAY.

[03:20:03]

SO WE HAVE LIKE QUANTITIES. SO WE ARE MAKING MAKING PAYMENTS BASED ON THE QUANTITIES INSTALLED. SO SOMETIMES YOU ALREADY HAVE AVAILABLE MONEY. WE MAKE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND THEN WE ADD THE ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, SO THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE VERY COMPLEX BECAUSE THEY'RE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER. YOU REALLY CANNOT DRAW A LINE AND SAY, OKAY, THIS IS YELLOW AND THIS IS OUR MONEY. SO THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM THERE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHEREVER WE CAN, YOU KNOW? SO OKAY, BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THE TOTAL 1,048,519 AND $0.50, THAT'S THE TOTAL. BUT AGAIN, LIKE YOU SAID, I YOU KNOW, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE DON'T KNOW OTHER THAN WHAT YOU WANT TO GET THE CHANGE ORDER ON. IT'S WHAT YOU KNOW, WE'RE ASKING. SO THE DIFFERENCE OF THAT 13, 13,000, 12,000, WHATEVER YOU'RE SAYING, THAT'S COMING FROM A DIFFERENT POT OF MONEY. IT'S IN THE QUANTITIES IN THE SAME LINE ITEM. YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO USE THAT TERM. SO THE BID QUANTITIES, EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE BID QUANTITIES, IT HAS A LINE ITEM FOR EACH QUANTITY. LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A QUANTITY FOR DIRT, QUANTITY FOR PAVEMENT, QUANTITY FOR COMPACTION, WHATEVER YOU KNOW. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM THERE TO TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MY JOB AS YOUR CITY ENGINEER, TO PROTECT THE CITY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE OBLIGATE CITY THE MINIMUM POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL COST OR ANY KIND OF OBLIGATIONS.

SO WE MAKE OUR BEST EFFORT TO PROTECT THE CITY. THAT'S OUR GOAL, YOU KNOW, SO SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T APPEAR THE WAY IT IS PRESENTED. BUT BELIEVE ME, THIS IS WE PUT SO MUCH THOUGHT IN EVERYTHING. I WISH I CAN, I CAN BE, I CAN SHOW YOU EVERYTHING WE DO TO PROTECT THE CITY, YOU KNOW? OKAY, WELL THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION. ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE CONCERNS. THOSE ARE GREAT, GREAT COMMENTS THOUGH. OKAY. THANK YOU MAYOR.

I'M GOOD. COUNCILMEMBER REBECCA THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT'S OUR WINDOW OF TIME THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE COMPLETED. I'VE GOT TONS OF PEOPLE ASKING WHEN IT'LL BE DONE. SO WE ARE NOT ASKING ANY ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THIS ONE. SO I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT THE DEADLINE IS FOR IT. I'M SORRY. I'M STILL LEARNING ABOUT THE PROJECT, BUT WE HAVE NOT EXTENDED THE TIME. IT WILL BE FINISHED WITHIN THE TIME WE HAVE ALREADY ALLOTTED. OKAY, GREAT. IT'S A OF COURSE IT'S AFFECTING TRAFFIC. IT'S AFFECTING THE GOLF COURSE. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD SO MANY CHANGES IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IT'S ALL BEEN DONE VERY WELL AND VERY EFFECTIVELY, AND WE'VE COMMUNICATED IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. SO WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY ANY ISSUES OR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THAT. WE HAVE REALLY GOOD CONTACT THERE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TOO. YOU'RE WELCOME SIR. YOU'RE WELCOME SIR. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. YES. WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN IS YOU TEARING OUT THE WESTWARD LANE, RIGHT? YES. WESTWARD LANE. AND I HEARD YOU WHAT YOU SAID THE REASON WHY SOME UNFORESEEABLE. TELL ME SOMETHING. DID YOU FIND ANY REINFORCING RODS IN THE WESTWARD LANE WHEN YOU TORE IT OUT FOR THE CONCRETE? YOU. YOU'RE TEARING OUT. DID YOU FIND ANY REINFORCING RODS? I'M NOT FOLLOWING YOU, SIR. WELL, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE CITY STAFF WAS BARRED FROM BEING OUT THERE, AND THE DEVELOPER DID WHAT THE HELL HE WANTED TO DO.

OKAY. OH, AND I KNOW FOR I'M TALKING ABOUT PREVIOUS. NOT IT'S NOT ON YOU. AND THERE WAS NOT ALLOWED NOT. BOB MILES TOLD ME THAT. OKAY. BOB. NO NO NO NO THE REINFORCING ROD. SO NOW WE'RE HAVING TO RECONSTRUCT THIS. YOU KNOW WHAT, MR. BOWERS? WHO'S DEAD? NO, NO, NO, THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. I THOUGHT YOU SAID BOB BOWERS. I'M SAYING I'M ASKING HIM A QUESTION. WHEN HE HE TORE OUT THE WESTWARD LANE. DID YOU FIND ANY REINFORCING ROD? WHAT YOU PUT IN CONCRETE? YEAH. DID YOU FIND SOME REBAR? OH, GOSH. YES, SIR. THEY ALWAYS ARE. YOU CANNOT BUILD WITHOUT REBAR. WELL, WAS IT UP TO STANDARDS? THE REBAR YOU FOUND WAS UP TO STANDARDS, I THINK. SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? SO. BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT FROM THE EXISTING.

RECENTLY THE CURRENT CITY MANAGER TOLD ME, FROM JIMMY JOHNSON TO LAKE ARTHUR, REINFORCING WAS A HELL OF AN ISSUE. IT WAS NOT THERE. AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT CITY INSPECTORS WAS NOT ALLOWED OUT THERE. GO AHEAD. IT'S NOT ON YOU, SIR. I'M SORRY. I REALLY

[03:25:03]

LET'S LET THE RECORD REFLECT. WE HAVE ONE. NO. AND THE RESOLUTION PASSES. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NOW TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. AND NUMBER EIGHT, AM I ON CONSENT? OKAY, COOL. JESUS. PR? YES. NOW LET'S SEE. WAIT A MINUTE. YEAH, WE'RE ON CONSENT. WE'RE NUMBER.

WE'RE AT NUMBER EIGHT PR NUMBER 24887. A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO CON. I JUST APPROVED NUMBER SEVEN. WE APPROVED NOBODY. WAIT. NUMBER EIGHT. MAYOR, I'M SORRY, WE'RE ON NON CONSENT NOW. RIGHT. YOU'VE DONE YOUR TWO ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED. YES MA'AM. I'VE DONE ALL OF THOSE CONSENT. THAT WAS THE LAST ONE ON. SO YOU'RE ON NUMBER EIGHT RIGHT HERE. NON CONSENT. NO NO NO WE'RE ON NUMBER EIGHT. YEAH. NO WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED. OH WE APPROVED THEM. WHO. OKAY. WE'RE ON A SORRY. WE'RE ROMAN. ROMAN NUMERAL NUMBER EIGHT ITEMS

[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 24863 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Professional Services Agreement With PBK Architects Inc. Of Houston, Texas, For The Design Services Related To The Nature/Visitor Center On Pleasure Island In The Total Amount Not To Exceed $272,000.00; Funding Is Available In Account Number 450-00-000-8512-00-00-000 Project Number PI0012.DES. ]

THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR HELP. PR NUMBER 24863. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH P Q P B K ARCHITECTS INCORPORATED OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR THE DESIGN SERVICES RELATED TO THE NATURE VISITOR CENTER ON PLEASURE ISLAND AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $272,000. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 450-00000-8512-0000000. PROJECT NUMBER PI0 012. D E S, CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY NOES?

[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 24867 – A Resolution Authorizing The Procurement And Binding Of Commercial Windstorm Insurance Coverage For City Owned property; Approving An Annual Premium In An Amount Not To Exceed $1,638,725.00; Proposed Funding By: General Liability Insurance Fund 612-11-025-5410-00-00-000, $1,638,725.00. ]

[VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 24869 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Negotiate A Contract With [Vendor To Be Selected By Casting Of Lots] For July 4, 2026, Fireworks Display On Pleasure Island; Providing For The Selection Of A Vendor In Accordance With Section 271.901 Of The Texas Local Government Code, With A Projected Budgetary Impact Of $30,000.00. Account 001-01-005-5470-00-10 000/Project MA0066.]

[03:30:01]

DON'T MAKE ME START. I REMEMBER MY STUDIES. I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, SO WE GOT TWO COMPANIES THAT WERE TIED AT 30,000. WELL, ILLUMINATED. SO I PUT BOTH NAMES IN HERE. SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT INTO REVENUE IS GOING TO BE THE ONE WHY IT'S ON THE MAYOR. WOW. OKAY. THE MAYOR GETS THE CAST THE LOTS. OKAY. I'M CLOSING MY EYES. NO PEEKING.

HOLD ON. FIX, FIX. DON'T YOU DARE. YOU ALREADY KNOW I'M NOT EVEN LOOKING. THERE WE GO. WHO IS IT FOR? ALL THE TEXTS. ALL RIGHT. WHO IS IT? ROAR, ROAR OVER. TEXAS WILL BE THE COMPANY THAT WE'RE GOING TO INSERT THE NAME ON. PR NUMBER 24869. ALL RIGHT. ROAR OVER TEXAS. ALL

[VIII.A.(5) P.R. No. 24873 - A Resolution By The City Council Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas Approving A Principal Forgiveness Agreement With The Texas Water Development Board And Authorizing The City Manager As The Designated Representative Of The City To Execute A Principal Forgiveness Agreement; And Approving Other Matters Related Thereto. ]

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY NOES? THE

[VIII.A.(6) P.R. No. 24875 – A Resolution Of The City Of Port Arthur, Texas, Designating And Establishing The Port Arthur Convention And Visitors Bureau As The Exclusive Concessionaire For The Port Arthur Mardi Gras 2027 And Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With The Port Arthur Convention And Visitors Bureau. ]

YEAH, THEY, THEY ARE READY. THEY, WE HAD TO EXPLAIN SOMETHING AND WE DID THAT ON YESTERDAY. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I, I ANY NOS THE AYES HAVE IT. THE TABLE

[VIII.A.(7) P.R. No. 24883 – A Resolution Awarding A Bid And Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With SETEX Construction Corp., Of Port Arthur, Texas, For The W. 19th Street Drainage Improvement Project For The Amount Of $1,168,043.00. Funds Are Available In Account No. 169-07-015-8515-00-40-000 Project No. ARP006.CON.]

[03:35:01]

[VIII.A.(8) P.R. No. 24885 – A Resolution Approving The FY 2027 Contract Amendment No. 5 Between The City Of Port Arthur And The Department Of State Health Services For The Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program For $103,507.00 Of Federal Funding With A 10% City Match Of $10,351.00 For A Total Not To Exceed $113,858.00. This Contract Period Starts July 1, 2026, And Expires June 30, 2027. The Total Amount Of The Contract Is $341,574.00, Which Includes The City's 10% Cash Match Of $31,053.00. The Cash Match Is Budgeted In Account 101-23-061 5111-00-50-000. ]

[VIII.A.(9) P.R. No. 24886 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase, Through Premier Wireless Business Technology Solutions Of Houston, Texas, Via TIPS Cooperative Purchasing Contract No. 240101, Certain Camera And License Plate Reader Equipment And Related Services For Pleasure Island, Including All-In-One Battery Communication Systems, Solar Panels, Cameras, Chargers, Licenses, And Storage, Along With Shipping, Handling, Installation, Activation, Project Management, And Managed Services, In An Amount Not To Exceed $167,754.00; Funding Available In Account Number 450-00 000-8522-00-00-000 Project Number PI0013.EQU.CAM.]

[IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)]

PHYLLIS PHIPPS VERSUS CITY OF PORT ARTHUR CALLS NUMBER 26DV0589 IN THE 58TH DISTRICT COURT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS. NUMBER THREE, SECTION 551071 LEGAL ADVICE CONTRACT FOR THE STUDY. DESIGN PERMIT. CONSTRUCTION OPERATION OF A CELL THAT WILL RECEIVE WASTE THAT IS NOT PERMITTED UNDER THE CURRENT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. LANDFILL PERMIT REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK AND SECTION NUMBER FOUR. SECTION 551071. LEGAL ADVICE SECTION 551072 VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY IN SECTION 551087 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PURCHASE AND DEVELOPMENT OF 35.24 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED ON PLEASURE ISLAND. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THE ITEMS GOING TO BE HELD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? NO QUESTIONS. ALL IN FAVOR SAY I ANY NO'S RIGHT NOW AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO OUR CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION AT

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.